Blogs Overall

My overall opinion about blogging! I though that blogging was very interesting and sometimes it was kind of fun. Of course I don’t like the fact that you have to post three times a week with two hundred and fifty words each time. If you didn’t have any requirements then it would never get done, but it was the right amount. We didn’t like the requirements because it was work but life only gets harder from here on out, so we’ll make it.

My blog topic was about sports, which I obviously enjoy. The thing I like the best about it was that I used ESPN.com a lot to find stories to talk about. I liked it because you can go on there and pick a story to read about. I ended up reading too many of the stories and not getting my blog post done during class. That alright I always had them turned in on time! It was very interesting the stories that you could come up with and the stuff that is released out there. You find out more about one person that you don’t even know then you know about a family member. Sometimes its not even related to sports, could just be something that is affecting their like or whatever. Overall I enjoyed doing the blogs, it wasn’t a tough assignment and you can blog about whatever you wanted to. If you can find a topic that you really like then you can find it to be really fun.

Baseball 2009

We had our first baseball game today of the two thousand nine season. We played our first game against Linn-mar and won ten to three. It was first round of the metro tournament which we play in every year; unfortunately it’s my senior season. The game was at twelve thirty at Kennedy of course because it is consecutively ranked number one field in the state. Year after year! Our second game was at six and we played Marion. We beat them eight or nine to four. I think? The first game I started in right field and got the ball about a whole two times!

We play tomorrow against Washington or Jefferson for the championship game of the metro tournament. That game is play at Vets memorial stadium, where the Kernels play. I couldn’t tell you what time it is at though, is that a bad thing? I do know that we have batting practice at four tomorrow that is all I am good for. We should win, if we can stay focused and hit the ball. Hopefully won’t make any costly errors, which we had more then an enough today. We won the metro tournament last year, and should repeat again this year. Of course I couldn’t tell you who we played...I remember playing Washington and Xavier? Maybe it was Jeff? Could have been but I honestly can’t think right now. Looks like we’re off to a good start and we hopefully be playing in Des Moines during the month of July.

NHL + NBA

The playoffs are taking place right now for both the NBA and NHL. In the NHL the Pittsburgh Penguins took on the Washington Capitols. A battle between Sidney Crosby versus Ovechkin two of the best players in the NHL. It was the seventh game between the two of the series for the playoffs. Crosby had twelve goals in the series, and 4 assists. Ovechkin had eleven goals and three assist in the series. Last night the game was all Pittsburg as they one six to two. Ovechkin struggled while on a break away and completely missed the shot, which should have been like stealing candy from a baby. He did end up with a goal by the end of night because the goalie made a rookie mistake and went out behind the goal. Then Ovechkin snagged the puck and put it in the goal, it was first goal for the Capitols.

The series between the Huston Rockets and the Los Angeles Lakers are also taking place currently in the sports world. First off I didn’t think that the series would even be this close. When I looked it was two-two and I was really surprised. The Lakers did win last night to put them up three to two in the series. Will there be a game seven? The Lakers dominated the floor winning by forty points. I turned it to the game and it was sixty-four to thirty-seven or something like that. This is when I decided to turn the channel.

More E:60

So I was watching E: 60 again the other night, at the same friend’s house as before. It was the final episode of the season. The first story was about Dustin Pedroia; He is the second baseman for the Boston Red Sox and stands about five foot eight inches tall. With his lack of height comes the cockiest player I have ever seen in my life. This man walks around with the biggest chip on his shoulder as is no body else exists in the world. It gives him his confidence to play the game, since baseball is about eighty percent mental. Besides the fact that he is so cocky, Pedroia is one of the most exciting players to watch in the game. He plays heart out every game that he plays in, yelling when he gets thrown out at second base, blaming the umpire for a bad call. He was told that he would never be any good in the MLB, but at only twenty-five years old he won the American league MVP last year.

The next interview that caught my attention was about Dana White and his creation of the UFC. He might be the most straight forward person that is alive, he tells you the way it is and it’s his way only. After growing up on the rough streets in a Boston neighborhood, he is tough….MAN! With his creation of the UFC he is all about the money, and couldn’t careless about anything else. Tito Ortiz a fighter that helped Dana White creates the fastest growing sport in the world got injured and needed surgery. Dana White denied paying for his seventy thousand dollar surgery, Ortiz has made the company over one hundred and thirty-seven million dollars.

Pro Athletes Continued...

This next story that I read about while on ESPN. Com, just clicking away on stories. It was about Tony Romo and how he tried out for the U.S. Open, which if you didn’t know is a major Golf Championship. Tony Romo is a Professional Quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys. Why is he playing golf trying to qualify for the U.S. Open? It’s just amazing how he can actually have opportunity to be decent enough to try and make the tournament. He lost by just a few strokes. What I am trying to say is these, pro athletes are good at sports and not just one but sometimes three of four.

Lebron James from the Cleveland Cavaliers, who got drafted in the NBA right out of high school, could be playing in the NFL too. He was an all state Wide receiver and it’s more built then half of the NFL. Carlos Zambrano is an ace pitcher for the Chicago Cubs and could be playing in MLS, but had to go where the money is at. There was Michael Jordan was the best basketball player of all time, but he wasn’t just good at basketball. He played professional baseball with the Chicago White Sox. It is just incredible how good these professional athletes are at sports. They are born with the give talent, but it transfers over into more then one sport. I mean Tony Romo playing golf? I laughed when I first heard this but then seemed realized that it’s normal among pro athletes.

Pro Athletes

As I have noticed over the years about sports and being involved by playing baseball since the first grade. Every little kids dream is to be a professional athlete. If you play football, you want to be the next NFL star. If you play baseball you, want to be the winning pitcher for the World Series team. Think if you were for the Cubs when they finally win it again, half past never. If you play basketball, you want to be the next Michael Jordan or Lebron James making more money out side of the game then playing in one. Tiger Woods the most dominate athlete in the sports nation and who would want to play golf for the rest of their life?
Getting to the point of what I am trying to say, I never have realized how good you actually have to be to be a professional athlete. You got people who work their ass off everyday, day in and day out and never once see the field. Then you’ve got people who are lazy and get to play every game. The kid knows that doesn’t see the field knows hes not good. Then you’ve got the starter, who thinks he should be a professional athlete and thinks he is better then everybody. The problem with this is he/she doesn’t realize how good you actually have to be. The thing that gets me the most is that fact that most of these professional athletes could go pro in more then one sport

Wide Recievers

Well I logged on to ESPN about twenty-minutes ago and just clicked on some stories. The first story I read about was about the Bears trying to find a receiver because they are slacking. Last year hardly any wide receivers were drafted and then this year a lot went in the first round. Percy Harvin being a big factor and going to the Vikings. The bears have a few options as, Anquan Boldin and Braylon Edwards are both free agents. Even though the offers are on the table it is said that the Bears will not pick up on either of these free agents. I personally think that Boldin from the Cardinals would be a good choice; he is a pretty good receiver. Braylon Edwards is also a good choice, he plays for the brown which isn’t saying much but his name has been out there before. The bears hope is to get Devin Hester out there in the wide receiver position as their number one guy. Hester is real good player and is real quick but I don’t really like him at the receiver position. It almost like he is too go quick for his own good. Another thing is it could be the fact that he doesn’t have very good hands in my opinion.

The bears are not the only team looking for a receiver that can play the position. Baltimore is in the same situation out in Massachusetts with looking for receivers. It’s hard to find good receivers and it’s not cheap. Are the bears willing to fork out the money?

The Derby

The one hundred and thirty-fifth Kentucky derby is coming up here pretty soon. Tom McCarthy is seventy-five years old and has been training horse his entire life. He said it’s a dream of every horse trainer to raise the perfect horse that will be the winner. Always asking yourself for the three year process is this is going to the horse. McCarthy used to be a principal and biology teacher back in the day. Now he is going to leading his one and only horse that he has in his stable. His name his General Quarters! If General Quarters wins the race McCarthy will be the oldest man in history to raise and lead his own horse to a victory. The chances aren’t looking very good with the odds provided by the experts, but he will also claim the least likely win.


The Race is held annually on the first Saturday in May, in Louisville Kentucky. It is held for three year old full bred horses and is also know as the “most exciting two minutes in sports.” Doctor Ayers, I found it! The race is one and a quarter miles long. Those little guys that ride the horses remind me of little army guys that you would find on a birthday cake. I guess the call them jockeys, better be politically correct I don’t want one of them coming after me. The most interesting thing I have heard about horses lately though is that Jello is made from horses’ hooves.

My weekend of ESPN

What does wisdom teeth have to do with sports? Well first off I couldn’t play baseball this weekend because I had to get them out. Second I got my fair share of watching ESPN this weekend and third I couldn’t go swimming and my cousin Jeffery Kimbro’s this weekend… I had to sit and watch!

Well if you turned to ESPN at any point this weekend, you would have noticed that nothing has really been on besides the NFL Draft. This is probably one of the most exciting times of the year for footballs fans around the nation. It’s real neat to see which players are going to playing where next year. If you’re like me and are watching the draft and seeing who is getting who, then you are wondering how much money that player is going to sign for and how much he is going to be making in his future. The Detroit lions are getting a lot of good picks from what I have seen. Don’t feel like going to look up the names, but they are getting a good quarterback Stafford, which they need badly. Also they picked up a pretty good wide receiver, cant remember his name but he should be good. They got a decent offensive lineman too. The Jets picked up Iowa native Shonn Greene and another corner back from Iowa went right after him. There was an offensive line man that went like one seventeen from Iowa, I think. Cubs need to step up their game after this weekend…they played terrible Thursday through Saturday.

Wisdom teeth...

Well Friday at one o’ clock in the afternoon I found myself sitting in the waiting room at the oral surgeon’s office. Dr. Morio is his name, most may know his younger brothers Mike and 06’ graduate and Will who graduated last year. Will and I played baseball together last year, that’s how I know him. When they took me back to the room where I was getting my wisdom teeth pulled and opened the door and told me walk in. There was a single chair right in the middle of the floor and then it was basically just empty from there…. A few cupboards and something behind the chair and a window, but that’s about it. Basically something that you would see from a horror movie, only if the lights were off and thunder storming out, would have been perfect!

I was far from scared about the experience of getting my wisdom teeth pulled; I was more worried about what I was going to be able to eat more then anything. Since it was my first time being put under I didn’t know what to expect. You could tell when you were dowsing off and then you fell into this deep sleep. About forty-five minutes later I woke up and then went to target where I about ran over four different people because I made them move for me. The whole pain thing is completely overrated, it doesn’t hurt at all. I could eat just about anything I wanted, just took a while to chew it up. I just wish I didn’t have to ice/heat my cheeks anymore and wish the swelling would go down. Besides that getting your wisdom teeth pulled is way over exaggerated.

E:60 part II

On the next part of the show it was about Michael Vick and his sentencing for the dog fighting crime he committed. If you didn’t know Michael Vick was arrested for the fighting dog which is illegal in the United States. It said that Vick had over one hundred dogs that he was planning to fight. He had them in the backyard of his house in individual cages inside special built dog houses. The dogs that were rescued from Mr. Vick’s home were set up for adoption. They all had to go through a bunch of training classes that they passed and then were put up for sale. The training was aimed at how the dogs acted around meeting new people, little kids, and other dogs. Most of them passed pretty easy, surprisingly and are now really good family pets. A few of them were considered to dangerous to be adopted and will live the rest of their lives at these training shelters. Others are going to have to go through more intense training before released and others were considered injured or disabled.

There was a few other stories on the show, one was about an ex cowboy player that has been put in prison for the next seven and a half years. Don’t have his name. He was on his way home from the strip club and was following a car home, when he swerved left hitting three people, killing two. Then continued home, stating the he didn’t realize he hit some people that night, if you look at his car it was obvious he noticed what happened. He turned him self in two days later which no test could prove if he was drinking or not.

E:60

I went over to my friends yesterday and on our ride home from school at about noon thirty, he was telling me about this show that he saw on EPSN. I am pretty sure that I have seen it before but never really paid attention to the name. The show is called E: sixty, and yesterday I realized the high interest level that was involved. It’s an interviews usually about pro athletes and their off the field life. I recall watching the show a while back but really wasn’t paying attention to what it was called or anything. It didn’t involve pro athletes but also has stories about people or kids going through problems and how it affects their sports life. Like kids that have been paralyzed have to play in wheelchairs or physical disabilities that people are born with.

Yesterday they were talking about Alexander the great or Alexander Ovechkin, who they say is the best player in the NHL. The twenty-four year old Russian is an impressive player from what I have seen from the video I watched. Since Ovechkin is the best player in the best player in the NHL, not going to lie he is pretty damn good. Off the ice Alexander the great had a fetish for really fast cars and he wants to buy as many of them as he can as fast as possible. He normally goes one hundred and eighty miles per hour when he drives and in Russian he said he goes over two hundred. Ovechkin was given the key to the city of Washington D.C from the mayor. This erased any speed limit requirements in downtown Washington D.C.

Hockey

In other sports, I completely forgot about the NHL playoffs which also started this month. I have absolutely no clue how those are going, me and friends just realized the other day that they have began. Flyers played the Penguins today and cut the series to a one game lead. The penguins were looking for a three to nothing lead in the seven game series. The man Sidney Crosby didn’t score any goals in this game but didn’t have two assists in their loss. The Flyers beat the penguins six to three and got their first win of the series. Topic of discussions is between the mighty ducks and the sharks. Who will win the series between the two? The Ducks won game one and had one to zero lead in the series. I would like to see the Ducks win, seems like it has been forever since they have been any good.

I went to the Roughrider game last night; it was probably the best hockey game that I have seen in awhile. Even though the riders lost it was a very good game. We were up three to one in the first period then found ourselves down five to three during the second period. I can’t remember that well but then we tied it back up five to five at the end of the second period. Then were down five to six and tied it back up. Then with fifteen seconds left Indiana made a goal and put a end to the riders season.

NBA playoffs

Next topic of discussion is the NBA playoffs, which got started yesterday. For Some reason I didn’t think that they started until this Monday on the twentieth but I was actually yesterday when they began. The Los Angeles Lakes blew right by the Jazz earlier today at about three of clock this after noon. They scored sixty-three first half points on the Jazz. Kobe Bryant had twenty-four of the Lakers points, Trevor Ariza had twenty-one points and Pau Gasol added another twenty. After leading by twenty-two at half there was no way to stop that number one seed Lakers. This is only the first round, which makes the Jazz a number eight seed, but they weren’t looking to hot this afternoon. I mean the Lakers are obviously a much better team and probably won’t have any trouble winning this series. The won one hundred and thirteen to one hundred giving them an early lead and one step closer to the NBA Finals.

In other playoff games, seventy sixers beat the magic today, which is surprising to most of us or well maybe just me but I don’t know. They tied it up late in the game ninety right to ninety eight and then hit a game winning shot. Iguodala hit a twenty two foot jumper with two point two seconds left. He had twenty points in the game, eight rebounds and eight assist on the night. Philadelphia trailed by as much as eighteen points in the upset first round win over the Orlando Magic. This is only game on and look for the Magic to win the series.

Legion + Cubs/Cards

I’m not going to lie I should of started doing these blog post about four hours ago. Today I had baseball in Dyersville and didn’t make it past the couch once I arrived at home a little after six. We had to play Dubuque legion and lost both games, which isn’t normal but it was way to cold. Our spring league season is going pretty good, we have won six, lost four and tied one. Next weekend we are suppose to play in Ottumwa but I will not make because I to get my wisdom teeth pulled. Sucks, because their coach can’t make it through an inning without needing a cigarette and that’s pretty funny to watch.

In other baseball news that Cubs played that Cardinals in a four game series this weekend in Chicago. Only the most intense series of the year when the two have to play each other especially when you’re a cub fan. After lost on Thursday to the cardinals seven to four at Wrigley field, the cubs won two in row. Friday night they won eight to seven after Alfonso Soriano hit a two run homer in the eighth to give them the lead. This was to be the winning run for cubs. Last night Ramirez hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the eleventh inning. He was zero for five on the day and came up and hit a walk-off give the series lead to the cubs. The game for today got postponed due to rain in Chicago and is under conversation when this will made-up.

MVP?

The NBA playoffs are coming up here very soon, April twentieth; I believe is the first night? The question is who is going to be the MVP this season? I was sitting at the breakfast table when I listening to some friends argue over this topic just the other day. The three players our there that were part of the discussions were, Kobe Bryant, Lebron James and Dwayne wade. Kobe Bryant who is arguably the best player in the NBA and is averaging twenty-seven point one points per game. In my opinion Kobe is the best player in the NBA, but then comes up the name of Lebron James. Lebron is no doubt going to be a name that sticks around for the next few years. Don’t get me wrong the man can sky, or in other words jump. The thing is Kobe is a much better outside shooter and can also throw it down. The last player that comes up is Dwayne Wade, averaging twenty-nine point nine points per game. Only problem with this is he is playing for a losing team with the Miami heat. In my opinion Kobe should win the MVP because I just think he is an over all better player then Lebron. Also Kobe lost his center Bynum and still led the Lakers to an early clinch of the Western Conference. The battle is between Kobe and Lebron; I don’t think Wade stands a chance.

The other question is who will win the NBA title? My pick : The Cleveland Cavaliers.

Michael Jordan

North Carolina native Michael Jordan might be the most competitive person of all time. Michael was inducted into the hall of fame this week and he said this isn’t such a good thing…He says that it marks the end of his career and “I don’t like that.” He wishes that this was happening about twenty years down the road and hoped that this day would never come. This just goes to show that Michael Jordan is one of the most competitive athletes in the world. Except this is only the littlest thing to prove this is true.

Michael Jordan is said to be to most competitive human being in the entire world by critics. Winning six national championships with the Chicago Bulls just isn’t enough the greatest legacy. Some say that Michael would try to get inside your chest to rip out your heart and stomp on it as part of his mental game. “This is not fun for me” –Michael Jordan stated once being inducted into the hall of fame. “What else is there to do,” after being inducted in to the hall of fame. Off the court Michael was always competing, most of the time it was with cards. Michael Jordan loves to gamble just to keep that edge of his competitiveness. Coach Roy Williams from North Carolina who just one another national championship said that one time he beat Michael in three straight games of pool, which led to Michael not speaking to him for twenty- four hours. Jordan has a love for golf and you have to be very competitive to be able to play that sport. Also had to play baseball just keep his competitive level. Always had to be the first one dressed, first in the shower, first out of the locker room. Jordan went into the business world and ownership of the Washington wizards, but he cant he make down to the court to watch a game, without getting upset and flustered.

Adenhart

The Chicago Cubs had their debut to the two-thousand nine season on Monday. They beat the Astros four to two, and Zambrano pitched a pretty good game through six innings. Tuesday night the cubs lost three to two through ten innings. Lilly got his first win last night as the Cubs beat the Astros in Huston eleven to six. Not that bad of start winning two out of three games and starting the season two and one.
How about them Yanks…Starting the season none for two. Supposedly they’re assumed to win the World Series, doesn’t look like a good start, even though it is still early. The Yankees all-star Sabathia gave up six runs in their opening game against Baltimore. Baltimore beat them ten to six the first game on Monday and then beat them again last night. That’s pretty embarrassing especially because the orioles are not good.

In other news….

Los Angeles Anaheim Angeles rookie pitcher, Nick Adenhart was killed in a car crash this morning. It happened just after getting done pitching in a game Wednesday night. The hit and run minivan drive ran a red light and struck two cars. Leaving two people dead at the scene and putting two injured in the hospital including Adenhart. After undergoing surgery, Adenhart passed away during the process. The other injured person is in a critical injured condition. The feeing hit and run artist was caught about a mile down the road, a short time later. He will be charged with a felony of Hit and Run.

NCAA basketball Finals

The National Championship will be play tomorrow night in Detroit between North Carolina and Michigan State. Michigan State defeated UConn Saturday evening in the Midwest verses East Final Four game. The defeated the Huskies eighty-two to seventy- three. North Carolina defeated number three seed Villanova from the west in their final four match-up late last night. The Tar-Heels defeated Villanova eighty-three to sixty-nine.

It will be North Carolina in the backyard of the Michigan State tomorrow night at the Ford Field Arena. The two teams met back on December third earlier this season. North Carolina handed it to Michigan State with a ninety-eight to sixty-three victory over the Spartans. They scored fifty-three first half points, compared to Michigan State’s thirty-nine. I have a feeling we will see the same turn out with UNC on top but it should be a much better game this time.

The women’s national championship will be on Tuesday between UConn and Louisville. Louisville knocked off Oklahoma a number one seed for the tournament sixty-one to fifty-nine. UConn remains undefeated after beating Stanford eighty-three to sixty-four. Connecticut led by thirty-one at one point during the game tonight. UConn will play Louisville on the seventh. This will be the third time that they will play each other this year, UConn coming out on top both times. They played for the Big East title a few weeks ago UConn won seventy-five to thirty-six. I think that the out come will be the same as the past two games but hopefully it’s a little bit closer then thirty-nine. Third time is a charm!

Lebron and the Cavs

Lebron James scored thirty-eight points in the Cavaliers victory over the San Antonio Spurs. Eighteen of his points came in the first quarter, and also had six assists on the day. Cleveland has not lost three games in a row all season and they weren’t about to let it happen earlier today. The suffered a twenty-nine point lost earlier in the week in Orlando. The Cavaliers have been one of the teams to beat this year, just ending a thirteen win streak to the Wizards. It marked the longest win streak in the franchise history as the Cavaliers. They’re also one win away from tying the record for most wins against the western conference as an eastern conference organization.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have been almost perfect playing on their home court this season, with a thirty-seven and one record. Today the game was play in the Quicken Loans Arena, home to the Cavaliers and the victory was their thirty seventh this year. With and overall record with sixty two and fifteen in the two thousand eight, and two thousand nine season, the Cavaliers have the best record in the NBA. They sit at just a little over eight hundred winning percent out of a thousand with only five games remaining in the regular season. Even though they have a better record, in my opinion the Los Angeles Lakers are still my pick with already having claims on the Western Conference. Lebron is a beast but Kobe is still the man.

Opening Day...

Its seems that the season just ended, and it happens to be starting right back up again. On Sunday April fifth the beginning of the two thousand nine Major League Baseball season. The Chicago Cubs play on Monday the sixty, they play the Huston Astros. Figured everyone would want to know that. Zambrano will be the starter for the Cubs and as we all know he will be on the top of his game or completely worthless. Usually what happens is that his emotions control his performance during the game. If he is on his game then he almost unstoppable but if not then it won’t be good. His bullheaded attitude will get to him and the cubs will be behind before then even start. Oswalt will be the starter for Huston. HE IS A JOKE!

I was reading a magazine the other day that rated each team on a point system based of there chances of winning the World Series. The New York Mets and the Chicago Cubs were top teams from the National League to win their division, and odds of winning the World Series. In the American Leagues, the Yankees and Angels were among the top to win their division. Boston Red Sox and Yankees had the high ratings winning the World Series, but the only problem is they’re in the same division. If this magazine was based of depth charts, the Yankees must be up there to win it every year. We all know how that goes, they’ll end up choking. Since it was the first time I have read the magazine and just glimpsed at the points I don’t how the determine the points.

Tiger

Tiger Woods sank a sixteen foot putt on the eighteenth hole Sunday in Orlando Florida. The six times Woods has won the Arnold Palmer invitational, going five under for the tournament. Sean O’ Hair was leading the tournament seven under par when he felt the pressure of Tiger Woods creeping up his back. Tiger woods does it again, with a five stroke come back for the second time in his career. Tiger made a game winning shot on the seventy second hole for the Palmer Invitational title. Going on the last hole Woods and O’ Hair were tied dead even at four under par. Woods just did what he does best with a putter in his hand, making a sixteen-foot birdie on the last hole. This is the third time that Woods has won with a birdie shot on the eighteenth hole at Bay Hill, golf course in Orlando, Florida. The win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational marks woods’ sixty-sixth win of his career. They called this “Magic.”

Not to mention that Woods hasn’t played in a tournament for the past nine months…Due to a knee injury that took place last year and led to surgery on Tiger’s left knee last June. Woods hasn’t played since he won the U.S. Open in June two thousand eight. This is just one more thing that we can check off as we argue the most dominate athlete in the world. Tiger woods is the most dominate.

FINAL FOUR

Louisville the number one seed for NCAA tournament was beaten by the number two see Michigan St. in the Midwest region final. The Spartans defeated the Cardinals sixty-four to fifty-two, earning their final four spot. Garon Sutton led the Spartans with nineteen points and ended the game with ten rebounds. Durrell Summers had twelve points, ten in the second-half and had two key three pointers. The Spartans who led by seventeen points at one point the game will play number one in the West region, Connecticut. Louisville is eliminated from the tournament.

Number one seed in the West region remains alive after defeating Missouri in the elite eight game, Saturday night. Kemba Walker led the Huskies with twenty-three points. UConn defeated the Missouri Tigers eighty-two to seventy-five earning their third final four birth since nineteen ninety-nine. From here on out I think that UConn will win the national championship in Detroit. After I failed and decided to pick Louisville all the way. Uconn will play Michigan State next weekend.

Villanova, first upsetting duke and now PITT? The third seed Villanova upset Pittsburg last night give them their first final- four trip since nineteen eighty-five. The Wildcats won with point five seconds left on the clock, defeating Pitt seventy-eight to seventy-six. Nova shot twenty-two for twenty-three from the free throw line in their victory. The Wildcats were led by Dwayne Anderson with seventeen points and six rebounds. Reynolds made a last-second shot to seal the deal and send Villanova to a Final Four trip against North Carolina.

UNC defeated Oklahoma in the South region final earlier today, seventy-two to sixty. Carolina was head by eight or nine points the whole game against number two seed Oklahoma. Ty Lawson scored nineteen points and led the team with steals and assists also. Hansbrough added eight points and led the team with six rebounds. Player of the year Blake Griffin from Oklahoma had twenty-three points and nineteen rebounds in their loss. North Carolina will move on the Final Four and play East Champion Villanova. I think that it will be North Carolina vs. Connecticut.

Bracketology.

The brackets are out! March Madness beings in college basketball, the NCAA tournament picks have been made. The first game will be on March seventeenth between Alabama State and Morehead Stated. This game we decide who will be the sixteenth seed in the Midwest Region. The bracket has four regions: Midwest, West, East, and South. Each Region has sixteen teams that will battle for a final four position, which gives a total of sixty-four teams in the tournament. Round one will begin on March nineteenth and twentieth, thirty two teams will be eliminated. Region Finals will be on the twenty-eighth and nineth, leading to the Final Four. The Nation Championship will be played on April Sixth in Detroit, Michigan.

Number one seed in the Midwest region, Louisville, will play the winner of the opening round game between Alabama State and Morehead State. The West region’s number one seed is Connecticut and they will play sixteen seed Chattanooga. East’s number one seed is Pittsburgh and they will play East Tennessee State. Last number one seed is North Carolina of the South region, will play Radford in round one. “Number one seed North Carolina will not make the final four because they are not good!”- Myself. They lost once again this weekend in the ACC division championship against Florida State, ending the regular season with four loses. I don’t think that number one seed Pittsburgh will go very far either. Missouri versus Memphis will be a good game assuming that both teams make it to the West region semifinals.

WBC

USA faces elimination in the World Baseball classic, after getting ten-run last night by Puerto Rico. Slightly embarrassing? I would say. The ten-run rule or technical terms called "The Mercy Rule is intended to keep humiliation out of Little Leaguer's games. Mark Derosa, Ex-Cubs player said that he didn’t he know that the Mercy rule existed. He was trying to relay the ball in from Dunn, who was playing right. When Derosa turned around and had no one to throw it to, he realized that the game was over. Turning around to the rest of the USA team walking off the field and Puerto Rico celebrating their victory in the seventh inning Saturday night. All Derosa could say was that was "Embarrassing", and that’s answer you will get from all the players on the team. Puerto Rico beat the United States eleven to one, giving them one loses in the second round of the World Baseball Classic.

The United States lose most valuable player Dustin Pedroia and Chipper Jones due to oblique injuries, and after getting ten-run by Puerto Rico. The United States played in a huge elimination game tonight against the Netherlands. The Netherlands were the topic of this tournament, after eliminating the dominate Dominican Republic in round one. The United States will advance after defeating the Netherlands nine to three tonight in Miami. Jimmy Rollins had a two-run homer in the second inning, and also had a triple and a sac-fly to score runs. The newest USA player Brian Roberts went three for three scoring two runs and two-runs for the Americans. Roy Oswalt got the win on the mound.

Thata boy!

As we all know Nate Hutchinson and his decision to throw a party four days before the state tournament. If you didn’t know he plays basketball for our favorite school, Linn-Mar. Nate a starter for the lions and his brilliant self had a party this past Saturday at his own house. He was arrested and then later released and charged with disorderly house, after underage drinking was present. Even though reports state that hutch was not drinking others disagree and gossip saying he blew .04? Rumor has it that the police arrived at the Hutchinson’s home Saturday night on a call about a fight. Supposedly a few kids from Cedar Rapids Washington showed up at the party because of a previous conflict between them and Linn-Mar students.

Hutchinson cannot participate in the state tournament this week after the coaches and his teammates voted not to allow him to play. Nate is a well-known player around the league as he is a starting player on the dynasty of Linn-Mar Lions. The cross town rival between Kennedy and Linn-Mar has been a sold out event during my four years as a student. In my opinion we should have beat them four out of the five times but what do you do. Linn-Mar being another top team in the state this year will lose their second best player for an underage drinking party. Way to go Nate! Not to mention that it’s his senior year, but this might cost the entire team a state title.

In my opinion, I think that the team and the coaches made the right choice, deciding that he could not participate in the tournament. There would have been huge controversy if they would have allowed for him to continue. As most would say that if it was any other kid, he would have been kicked off the team.

Blogging...

Although I am for the most part caught up on the post requirements, I do not find blogging too exciting. I enjoy finding stories in the sports world to blog about, but I just think the idea of a word count throws it off. Except I am very understanding of why this word count exist. Sports are the topics of interest in my blog; there is much to write about as sports change from day to day. I feel that as broad as I can make my topic, compared to others that I have read, most people seem to use it as away to express themselves. I wish I wouldn’t have narrowed my topic to just sports as I could blog about just life in general. I think this would have made blogging a bit more exciting. I will continue to blog about sports as long as the assignment still appears in the grade book.

A-rod

The story in major league baseball remains the same. Year after year for about the past six has been about someone and the use of steroids. First it was Pete Rose that was accused for the use of steroids. Everyone already knows of Rose’s history with the betting on games while playing on the reds back in nineteen eighty-nine. Rose who is the MLB all-time hits records holder with four thousand two hundred and fifty-six career hits. Next on the list is Mark McGuire who broke the record for most home-runs in a season back in 1998. Roger Clemens an outstanding pitcher for the Astros and Yankees throughout his career. Sammy Sosa, who was a former Chicago Cub, hit over sixty home-runs in multiple seasons. Barry Bonds, who broke the record of McGuire’s for most home runs in a season. Bonds also broke the all-time career home-runs set by hank Aaron. The record was 755 and now is held by Bonds with 762. None of these players will be in the Cooperstown hall of fame because of the use of steroids in their careers.

Alex Rodriguez, the highest paid player in Major league baseball was found guilty for the use of steroids. Tests that were taken back in two thousand and three turned out to be positive. The information was not supposed to be released, but accidents happen! Rodriguez who is on the path to setting the career record for home-runs will be removed from hall of fames to be inducted. If the results hold true one of the most respected players in the MLB will go down as the man who ruined baseball.

Super Bowl XLIII

The Super Bowl couldn’t have been a bigger nightmare for the Arizona Cardinals last Sunday night in Tampa, Florida. Pittsburgh starts off with a field goal in the first quarter and then adds a touchdown in the second before the Cardinals scored. Ten to seven and Arizona is about to go ahead until Kurt Warner throws an interception while in the Red Zone. Defensive player of the year James Harrison intercepted Warner’s pass and ran it back for a touchdown. The pick-six was the longest play in NFL history, one hundred yards as Harrison marched down the field, with little breath in the end. At half time the Steelers were on top seventeen to seven.

The third quarter wasn’t anything exciting, the cardinals did hold the Steelers to just a field after having several chances for six. A twenty-one yard field goal by Jeff Reed added to the lead and Steelers were winning twenty to seven at this point. Forth quarter, Warner throws one yard touchdown pass to Larry Fitzgerald cutting the lead to six. Two points were awarded to the Cardinals defense after Justin Hartwig committed a penalty in the end-zone creating a safety! Arizona gained the lead with two minutes and thirty-seven seconds left with a sixty-four yard touchdown pass to Fitzgerald. When we all thought that the Arizona Cardinals were about to with their first Super Bowl as a Franchise…they didn’t! The Steelers marched right back up the field and with thirty-five seconds left Roethlisberger hooked up with Santonio Holmes to give the Steelers back the lead. There is debate; did Pittsburgh really win this game? With five seconds left and the Cardinals last chance to change the outcome of this game, Kurt Warner was accused of fumbling the ball. If you watch videos it is clear that his arm was moving in the forward direction as he released the ball. Was it an incomplete pass?

KOBE

Monday night Kobe set the single game record in the Madison Square Garden arena with sixty-one points. He passed the record after making two free throws with two minutes and thirty-three seconds left. Kobe is averaging twenty seven point five points per game. The previous record in the Garden arena was sixty points held by Bernard king. Third on the list is Michael Jordan with fifty-five points on March twenty-eighth nineteen ninety-five. On Monday Night the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the New York Knicks one twenty-six to one seventeen.
The Lakers played Monday night without seven foot tall center Andrew Bynum. Bynum is out for eight to twelve weeks after suffering a knee injury over the past weekend. In the first quarter of Saturday night’s game at Memphis, teammate Kobe Bryant drove to the basket and came crashing down into Bynum’s leg after missing the shot. “Bynum tore his medial collateral ligament in his right knee.” Bynum averages fourteen points per game and averages eight point two rebounds with the Lakers. He usually has two blocks in each game. Before the Injury occurred over the weekend Bynum was averaging twenty-six points a game. The question is how the Los Angeles Lakers do with out the contribution of two hundred eighty five pound center Andrew Bynum? Bynum was as first-round draft pick back in two thousand five and could now miss up to twelve weeks of this season. Los Angeles is thirty-nine and nine on the season, leading the Pacific division by twelve and a half games.

NHL All-Star Game

The All-Star game in Montreal tonight between the Eastern Conference and the Western conference. It was the second highest scoring game in NHL All-star history and only the fifth ever to end after regulation. The first period was all the eastern Conference with assists and goals by Alex Ovechkin and Alexei Kovalev. At the end of the first period it was four to two Eastern Conference with the lead. Early in the second period Martin St. Louis scored a goal with an assist from Thomas Kaberle. This gave the Eastern Conference a five to two lead over the west. By the end of the second period it was all tied up at eight a piece. Thirty two seconds into the third period Shane Doan put the west up one with an assist from Mike Modano and Dustin Brown. The west was up for the second time and all through the third period until sixteen minutes and twenty one seconds into the third. As Jay Bouwmeester tied it up at eleven with three minutes and thirty-nine seconds to go. They then headed for overtime, where no scoring occurred. Shootout! Vincent Lecavalier versus Roberto Luongo resulted in a save. Shane Doan’s shot against Tim Thomas resulted with a save. Alexei Kovalev scored a goal on Roberto Luongo on his shootout attempt. Rick Nash misses wide of the net against Tim Thomas. Alex Ovechkin’s backhand shot on Roberto Luongo went in for a goal with an end result of the East Conference Victory or the Western Conference.

Sixty One

Sixty-one years since the “Cardinals” have been to the Super Bowl and never as the Arizona Cardinals. The Arizona Cardinals have never won nor been to the NFL championship game in team history. Next Sunday Iowa native Kurt Warner will go up against Big Ben and the defense on the Pittsburg Steelers. Warner former St. Louis Ram and Super Bowl thirty four MVP better be at the top of his game next Sunday in Tampa. Warner had an outstanding season in two thousand eight going four hundred and one for five hundred and ninety eight completions. A total of four thousand five hundred and eighty three yards with thirty touchdowns! Hooking up with one of the NFL’s best wide receivers to ever play the game… Larry Fitzgerald. He scored twelve touchdowns in this past season. Also earned one thousand four hundred and thirty one yards on ninety six receptions resulting in fourteen point yards per reception. Thee elite Edgerrin James will play a key role if the Cardinals want to sustain a chance against this Steelers Defense. He didn’t have the best year in 08’ scoring only three touchdowns all season. His numbers don’t prove it rushing for five hundred fourteen yards on one hundred and thirty three carries. If the offensive line can provide some running room against the Pittsburg defense James could be a key factor in this game. Can this explosive offense on the Arizona Cardinals put up some point against the defense of the Steelers? Will they win their first Super Bowl in team history under Iowan Kurt Warner? To be continued…

Steelers

Will the Pittsburgh Steelers win another Super Bowl? Ben Roethlisberger and company will play the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl forty three in Tampa Bay, Florida. Big Ben completing two hundred and eighty-one out of four hundred and sixty nine passes with three thousand three hundred and one yards. Don’t forget! He also had seventeen touchdowns in the two thousand eight season. Willie parker averaging three point eight yards per carry with only five touchdowns this past season, slightly emabrrasing? Not to mention his total yardage of seven hundred and ninety-one….Something to acknowledge the man doesn’t turn over the football. On two hundred and ten carries came zero fumbles from the hands of Willie Parker. Everyone knows Mr. Hines Ward of the Steelers organization and his ability to play the game. Ward averaged twelve point nine yard on eighty-one receptions in two thousand eight. Contributing seven touchdowns and running for one thousand forty-three receiving yards.
Let’s talk Defense! Number ninety-two on the other side James Harrison and your defensive player of the year. Not the happiest or most socializing person in the world as he sets a sack record and headed for the super bowl. Harrison skipped out on a Pittsburg collective cup Iron City beer and went home to watch some cartoons instead. Why so angry? It lies on his back with being cut four times in the hot dreading summer months and his idea of resorting to becoming a bus driver.
His response…
"If I know you, I may be talkative," Harrison says. "If I don't know you, I may not say a word. If I don't say a word, my natural look is mean, so people take that as being scary."
James Farrior another big name in this outstanding Steelers defense. Farrior ended the two thousand eight seasons with a total one hundred and thirty three tackle…Along with four sacks! Will the steelers defense stop the explosive offense of the Arizona Cardinals? To be continued...

Playoffs

Number one seed Titans are knocked off by Baltimore’s outstanding Defense and thanks to Matt Stover, who kicked the winning field goal with fifty-three seconds left. The Baltimore Ravens beat the Tennessee Titans thirteen to ten on Saturday. I would have liked to see the Titans go all the way after the tremendous season that they had, but life goes on.

The Arizona Cardinals walked all over the Carolina Panthers Saturday night in North Carolina. Burlington, Iowa native Kurt Warner led the Cardinals to victory with two touchdowns and only one interception. Warner went twenty-one for thirty-two with two hundred and twenty yards. Wide-receiver Larry Fitzgerald had eight receptions for one hundred and sixty-six yards along with one touchdown. The Cardinals defeated the Panthers thirty-three to thirteen.

Donovan McNabb and the Eagles take the defending champions New York Giants out of the picture. McNabb had one passing touchdown and one rushing touchdown for the Eagles in their victory. The Eagles defense has been playing very well lately forcing the giants to kick two field goals and not allowing them to score a touchdown. The Eagles move on to next weekend after defeating the Giants twenty-three to eleven.

Pittsburgh’s Rushing offense is what led the Steelers to victory over the San Diego Chargers. Willie Parker rushed for one hundred and forty six yards on twenty-seven carries with two touch downs. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger threw for one hundred and eighty one yards with a touchdown to miller. The Steelers will face the Baltimore Ravens next weekend the AFC Champion after defeating the chargers thirty-five to twenty-four.

Pacman...

The Dallas Cowboys release Adam “Pacman” Jones after series of incidents that have occurred since June of two thousand seven. A conflict between Jones and the victim inside a Suburban Atlanta strip club back in June led to the victim and two others decision to leave the club. Followed by their departure from the strip joint was a load of bullets that struck their car. Stories report that Jones ordered someone to fire upon the car after his argument back inside the club.

Before the season got started in two thousand seven Jones was suspended for multiple off the field incidents keeping him from playing in six of the games. He then missed the seventh game due to injury. Jones spent his suspension in an alcohol rehabilitation program at the age of twenty-five. The Cowboys decision to trade Jones had a lot to do with his suspension and also multiple other problems that occurred with his former team the Tennessee Titans. Pacman was first round draft pick back in two thousand five and has been arrested six times. Along with his six arrests the police have been involved with twelve situations dealing with Jones since joining the Titans organization. "If I beat myself up, who will take care of me?" Jones said, according to the report. "Football means a lot to me, but it's not everything. It's not like I'm taking it pretty good. I love me some me." The Cowboys will be granted a fifth-round pick in the two thousand nine draft due to the fact that Jones got suspended once again.

UF24-OU14

The Florida Gators win another National Championship on Thursday night January eighth two thousand nine. Tim Tebow rushed for one hundred and nine against the Oklahoma Sooners defense. This put Tebow third on the list for most rushing yards by a quarterback in the BCS title game. Tebow went eighteen for thirty passing on the night with two touchdowns and two interceptions.

The question that needed to be answered was could the gator defense stop the offense of the Oklahoma Sooners who averaged fifty five points a game. Well the Florida defense definitely showed up to play causing two interceptions and a very important goal line stop. It was third down and the Sooners were on the one yard line about to score and go ahead of the gators fourteen to seven. Florida defense comes up with a big stop here causing a forth down for quarterback Bradford (OU) and company. Torrey Davis number ninety-five tackled the Sooners running back Chris Brown by his shoe strings forcing a turnover on downs for Oklahoma. Later in the quarter the Sooners were in the red zone once again and the gator defense comes up wit h another huge play. Wright the safety for Florida intercepts Bradford after the ball was juggled between three other players. During the third quarter the gators went up fourteen to seven after Percy Harvin had a two yard run for a touchdown. The fourth Quarter belonged to the Florida Gators. Following an Oklahoma eleven yard touchdown pass early in the quarter, the gators responded with a field goal putting them ahead seventeen to fourteen. They then sealed the deal with a touchdown after another Florida interception. Many thought that this was going to be an offensive show down between two teams who both averaged over forty-five points a game. Florida’s defense is what gave them the edge in this battle with three game changing plays. Both teams made mistakes, but Oklahoma could have had this game one if the wouldn’t have made those crucial red zone turnovers.

The two thousand eight football standings come to end with Florida number one followed by undefeated Utah as number two. USC, who my opinion is number one in the country finishes third, Texas fourth and Oklahoma fifth. For all of us Hawkeye fans out there, Iowa nine and four finishes at number twenty on the AP top twenty-five.