2012年10月10日水曜日
Remembering Budd Lynch
Mr. Lynch wasn’t just a great PA announcer, with his big, booming voice and old-school vibe. He was a genuine war hero, fighting for our freedom on the shores of Normandy on D-Day – June 6, 1944.
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Visits to The Joe won't be the same w/out longtime Red Wings PA announcer Budd Lynch.Legend in the hockey world passed away at 95.RIP.
— Todd Sharrock (@ToddSharrock) October 9, 2012
@detnews Budd Lynch was one of my heroes in the game of hockey. His kind demeanor will be missed as much as his distinctive voice. RIP Budd.
— Dave Strader (@TheVoiceDS) October 9, 2012
Sad to hear of the death of longtime Wings' PA announcer Budd Lynch, a war hero and true hockey icon, at age 95.
— John Kreiser (@jkreiser77nhl) October 9, 2012
Source: http://kuklaskorner.com/tmr/comments/remembering-budd-lynch
Francisco Cervelli Chad Moeller Jorge Posada Lance Berkman Reegie Corona Juan Miranda
NFL Power Rankings: The Good, Bad and Ugly Following Week 5
Every week, B/R NFL Lead draft writer Matt Miller graces us with his power rankings, and this week is no different. So, let's take a look at the good, the bad and the ugly from Week 5.
The Good
St. Louis Rams
Whatever Jeff Fisher is preaching out in St. Louis, his players are buying in. The 3-2 Rams are for real, and they're a force to be reckoned with in an NFC West division that's been much better than advertised.
The Rams now sit eighth in Miller's Power Rankings after beating the once-undefeated Cardinals at home. They're up six spots from No. 14 last week.
I'm not sure I'd put the Rams as a top-10 team just yet because I don't think they have the offense to be a playoff team. Quarterback Sam Bradford completed just a third of his passes against Arizona, and they've struggled to find good rhythm this year.
Regardless of the offense, the Rams are still a tough out for any team, especially in St. Louis. They might not be a Playoff team yet, but they're on the cusp.
Chicago Bears
Another week and another good win for the Chicago Bears. More importantly, the Bears are now 2-1 on the road, and we all know how hard it has been for teams to win on the road this year.
The 4-1 bears now sit in the sixth position in the Power Rankings, up five positions from last weeks poll and it's well deserved.
After heading into halftime in Jacksonville tied at three, the Bears exploded to score 38 second-half points and hold the Jags to none.
The Bears defense is reeling, and for the first time in a long time, they have an offense that can keep pace. With the way Chicago's defense is creating turnovers and big plays and the way their offense is playing, it's not out of the question to call them contenders right now.
The Bad
Green Bay Packers
It has not been a pretty start for the Packers in 2012.
After leading the Colts 21-3 at halftime, Green Bay's offense was shut down in the second half and were outscored 27-6, leading to an Indianapolis victory.
The Packers are now 0-2 on the road, and their offense doesn't quite look like the one we've become accustomed to seeing. Defensively, they look a little better in 2012 but still not anything to write home about.
If Green Bay doesn't turn it around soon, they could end up in big trouble. Their last-second loss in Indy dropped them only five spots to No. 10, but more trouble could be on the way.
Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals had a great chance on Sunday to walk away with a home win and head into the rival Cleveland game with a 4-1 record. But a poor game plan and defensive play turned that right around and they lost at home to the Miami Dolphins.
Cincinnati fell six spots to No. 14 this week and for good reason. I'm not really sure why the Bengals didn't challenge Miami deep with a receiver like A.J. Green and Andy Dalton's decision-making has been questionable, at times, this year.
If the Bengals want to make it back to the playoffs, they're going to have to win home games like this and not give them away. Coming off two straight road wins, Cincy looked to be in good position, but now, they're a middle-of-the-road team once again.
The Ugly
Buffalo Bills
Has there been a worse team in the last six quarters than the Buffalo Bills?
No. Simply, no.
Since leading the Patriots 14-7 at halftime of Week 4, the Bills have been outscored by the Pats and 49ers a whopping 90-17. That's unheard of.
Defensively, the Bills haven't lived up to all the preseason hype. Their front four who were supposed to be the elite pass-rushing group featuring Mario Williams has been nothing but a bust.
Buffalo needs to right the ship quick, or they could find themselves way out of the division race. I still think this is a very talented team, but you can only do so much if everybody isn't giving their all.
Kansas City Chiefs
A lot of things have gone wrong in 2012 for a Chiefs team that was supposed to compete for a division title. Sunday was no different.
After the defense and run game kept the team in competition with a very good Baltimore Ravens team, it became apparent that the Chiefs passing game isn't going to cut it. And the fans let quarterback Matt Cassel know.
After Cassel went down with an apparent head injury, disgruntled fans cheered the much-maligned quarterback while he was on the field. This obviously didn't sit well with Chiefs players or the media.
The fact that Chiefs fans would cheer to bring a guy like Brady Quinn in is something distressful in itself, but this team is heading down the wrong road and quick. Considering they play in the AFC West, they're not out of it yet, but they're quickly moving out of the picture.
Follow on Twitter: @dsnyder34
Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1365493-nfl-power-rankings-the-good-bad-and-ugly-following-week-5
Mike Fontenot Brett Pill Pat Burrell Jhan Marinez Anibal Sanchez John Baker
Bill Daly Talks Upcoming CBA Meetings
NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly joined hosts Gord Stellick and Craig Simpson on Sirius Channel 207 to address a range of issues. Daly also confirmed more scheduled talks between the two sides are set for this week – on Wednesday and Thursday in New York.
continue reading for a recap of the interview or listen to the inteview below (autoplay is on)...
Source: http://kuklaskorner.com/hockey/comments/bill-daly-talks-upcoming-cba-meetings
Philadelphia Phillies Pittsburgh Pirates San Diego Padres San Francisco Giants St. Louis Cardinals Washington Nationals
Wisconsin Badgers vs. Purdue Boilermakers: Complete Game Preview
The Wisconsin Badgers face the Purdue Boilermakers who are looking to take a commanding lead in the race for the Big Ten Championship game. With Montee Ball and the offense clicking, the Badgers look to win their seventh straight against Purdue.
Here is the complete game preview for this key matchup.
Cincinnati Reds Colorado Rockies Florida Marlins Houston Astros Los Angeles Dodgers Milwaukee Brewers
Arsenal Transfer Rumors: 5 Players to Make Them Premier League Contenders
Arsenal are undoubtedly a very strong side with a lot of potential.
However, seven points behind league leaders Chelsea and in seventh place, Arsene Wenger would obviously like to be in a stronger position as we head deeper into October.
Wenger certainly has a strong squad, but it is not without its weaknesses. Few would argue the Gunners' squad is not without defects and there is certainly more than one area that can be reinforced during the next transfer window.
Here are a few players who could help take Arsenal to the next level, even if they probably won't arrive in January.
columbus blue jackets detroit red wings nashville predators St Louis Blues Calgary Flames Colorado Avalanche
SPORTS CHART OF THE DAY: NFL Revenue Is Nearly 25% More Than MLB
Revenue in the NFL reached an estimated $9.5 billion in 2011-12. That is up $500 million (5.6%) from the year before, and $1.8 billion (23.4%) more than Major League Baseball ($7.7 billion).
Baseball's estimated revenues for the 2012 did grow at a faster clip than the NFL, up $700 million (10.0%) from the year before. NBA revenue rose 13.2% during their last full season (2010-11).
Meanwhile, the NHL is currently in a lockout, fighting over $3.2 billion in revenue, an 18.5% increase over the year before. But as they say, an increase of $18.5% over not-very-much, is still not very much...
Data via Plunkett Research and SportsBusinessDaily.com
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Bruno Gervais Dustin Kohn Andrew McDonald Matt Martin Frans Nielsen Dwayne Roloson
Minnesota Vikings Rise to Eighth in ESPN Power Rankings
Anybody who saw this coming should go to Vegas.
Now.
The Vikings, coming off a 3-13 campaign in 2011, have silenced critics by leaping to a 4-1 start and are tied for first place with the Chicago Bears in the NFC North.
The Vikings have risen from being ranked 30th before Week 1 to being ranked 8th in the latest ESPN NFL Power Rankings, jumping up six spots from the previous week.
The Vikings are very old school. The only true 'black-and-blue' team left in the Black and Blue division, the Vikings prefer to run the ball down defense's throats rather than line up five wide and air it out like their three divisional opponents.
But if you had arguably the best running back tandem in the NFL with Adrian Peterson and Toby Gerhart, you'd likely do the same. The Vikings are averaging 133 yards per game on the ground, which is ninth in the NFL.
The Vikings have a relatively balanced offensive attack (31.1 pass attempts/31.6 rushing attempts per game compared to 40.8 opponent passing attempts/24.6 opponent rushing attempts per game), and a huge reason they are 4-1 is the improved play of Christian Ponder. In his first five starts of 2011, Ponder completed 83 of 152 pass attempts (54.6%) for 1,042 yards, six touchdowns and six interceptions for a QB rating of 72.9 and an overall record of 1-4.
In his first five starts of 2012, Ponder is 109 of 158 (69%) for 1,082 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions and a QB rating of 95.5 with an overall record of 4-1. Ponder didn't throw a pick his first 146 pass attempts of the season before he was picked off by Tennessee Titans safety Robert Johnson at the end of the second quarter in the Vikings 30-7 win.
Something that Vikings fans have envied about the Green Bay Packers is how deep they've been able to draft and how good those players have been for them. Now, with a full-time general manager in Rick Spielman, the Vikings have put together a couple of good drafts.
Starting last season, the Vikings selected Christian Ponder 12th overall as their franchise QB. Their second-round pick, TE Kyle Rudolph, has become Ponder's favorite target and has four touchdown receptions this year.
Sixth-round pick Mistral Raymond began the season as the starting safety before injuring his ankle in the win against the San Francisco 49ers. Brandon Fusco, also a sixth-round pick, is the starting right guard for the Vikings.
The Vikings' rookie class of 2012 has looked incredible, too. Kicker Blair Walsh has hit 12 of 13 field goals this season, including a 55-yarder to send the season opener against Jacksonville to overtime, where he also hit the game-winner. Left tackle Matt Kalil is already a top-five tackle in the NFL, and DBs Harrison Smith and Josh Robinson have drastically improved a Vikings defensive backfield that gave up 28 points per game and only intercepted seven passes.
In correlation with the great play from the defensive backs, the defensive core as a whole has upped their game, giving up only 15 points per game so far in 2012.
The Vikings still have a long way to go to be respected in the NFL. While the surprising return to relevance is welcomed by Vikings fans, they still have a tough schedule ahead that will show how far they really have progressed.
They face Robert Griffin III, pending his concussion test results, this Sunday. They also have the Chicago-Green Bay-Chicago portion of their schedule coming up at beginning of December, as well as the 5-0 Houston Texans on December 23.
Regardless, it is exciting to see how drastically the Vikings have improved from last season, already surpassing their win total from 2011.
With the increased experience of Christian Ponder, the development of young players and the coming-out party for the defense, look for the Minnesota Vikings to continue to improve as they make a run at the playoffs.
Edmonton Oilers Minnesota Wild Vancouver Canucks Anaheim Ducks Dallas Los Angeles Kings
Rasheed Wallace Would Only Hurt New York
After two years of retirement, Rasheed Wallace is stepping back onto the court as a backup power forward for the New York Knicks.
Wallace will be the backup for Amar’e Stoudemire, but he is not ready to play quite yet.
According to the New York Post, Wallace is not practicing yet because the Knicks medical staff does not want to risk any chance of injury since Wallace has been out for two years.
What is he doing instead in order to get into shape? Boxing.
According to The Post, “In the past couple of years, the medical staff, spearheaded by cutting-edge medical director Dr. Lisa Callahan, has deemed sparring with gloves as a great tool to getting into basketball shape.”
Wallace was seen boxing on the sidelines during the Knicks' Monday night scrimmage. It seems like an ironic way for Wallace to get into shape, since he is known for his technical fouls.
Will Wallace benefit the Knicks or hurt them?
He has not played in the NBA for two years, and he has been on the sidelines during all of the team's practices. Head coach Mike Woodson has not yet said when Wallace will be able to practice on the court.
Plus, Wallace is getting older—he is 38—and it is going to take longer for him to get back in shape. And once that happens, what is he going to do to help the team, besides rack up the technical fouls?
At this point, the Knicks could suffer from their addition of Wallace. They need someone who can go into the game, give Stoudemire a break and keep his momentum going, not hurt it. Wallace will not be able to keep up with the speed and agility that Stoudemire exerts on the court.
Wallace has such a high chance of getting injured, along with the other three players on the team that are 38 or older, and the Knicks are already witnessing the trend of older players getting easily hurt. Last week, Marcus Camby strained his left calf and is out for seven to 10 days.
The Knicks should not have to deal with Wallace’s aggression, either. Maybe the boxing will help him lose that anger before he hits the court, but fans have to be skeptical.
Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1364638-knicks-rumors-rasheed-wallace-would-only-hurt-new-york
Eli Whiteside Mike Fontenot Brett Pill Pat Burrell Jhan Marinez Anibal Sanchez
2012年10月9日火曜日
Bryce Harper Got Snippy With A Reporter After Striking Out Four Times Against The Cardinals
Sometimes it is easy to forget that Bryce Harper is still a teenager and won't turn 20 for another week.
But then there are days like yesterday's game two of the NLDS in which Harper acts very much like his age, both during the game and after the game, when he got snippy with a reporter.
Harper first raised eyebrows when he started the game with half his face covered in eyeblack, much like The Ultimate Warrior of professional wrestling fame or John Randle of the NFL. It is a look Harper had used before being drafted, but something the Nationals promised he wouldn't do as a pro.
Well, it didn't help, as Harper struck out in his first two at bats. He then ditched the eye black completely for his third at bat. He would ultimately take the Golden Sombrero in the game, striking out four times.
Then after the game, Rick Hummel, a columnist for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, who is also a member of baseball's Hall of Fame, asked Harper if he was being "over-anxious" at the plate. Harper responded by asking if Hummel thought so. When Hummel responded in the affirmative, Harper sarcastically responded, "Maybe you should be a hitting coach," and then looked away.
Here's the video (via Dan Hellie of NBC4)...
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NBC Sports Carolyn Manno: photos and bio
Source: http://www.thesportsbank.net/nfl/nbc-sports-carolyn-manno-photos-and-bio/
Ottawa Senators Toronto Maple Leafs Atlanta Trashers Carolina Hurricanes Florida Panthers Tampa Bay Lightning
To be lucky or to be good, that is the question
Source: http://kuklaskorner.com/atg/comments/to-be-lucky-or-to-be-good-that-is-the-question
Lance Berkman Reegie Corona Juan Miranda Colin Curtis Kevin Russo Curtis Granderson
Jim Nill Finishes The Chicago Marathon
Paul,
Thank you for your donation! You have touched a young child's heart and helped to change their life forever. Your donation helped us acheive our goal of over $500,000 which will provide a community of 10,000 people in Zambia with fresh, clean, healthy water for the rest of their lives.
The Marathon was a great day and event, with 1.6 million people lining the streets of Chicago, cheering on the 45,000 runners from all over the world. The run itself was a great experience. My first 18 miles went very well, I found a great pace and stuck with it. The last 5-6 miles was grind as expected. My time for the 26.2 miles was: 4 hours 45 minutes.
It has been a inspirational to witness the change in people as we trained over the last 4 months for this great cause. Our "Northridge Ridge Runners" consisted of 275 people from all walks of live and to see their transformation and committment to this journey was wonderful to watch.
Thank you again for your support!
Take care!
Bekki & Jim Nill
Source: http://kuklaskorner.com/hockey/comments/jim-nill-finishes-the-chicago-marathon
New York Mets Philadelphia Phillies Pittsburgh Pirates San Diego Padres San Francisco Giants St. Louis Cardinals
WWE: 5 Reasons Team Hell No Is the Best Thing in WWE Today
Team Hell No is the best thing going on in WWE today. By combining Daniel Bryan and Kane, the WWE has finally figured out the best combination for the tag team champions. It has also created one of the most unique and interesting storylines in the entire organization for years.
Because of this, Daniel Bryan and Kane as Team Hell No will go down as a Degeneration X level storyline that people will remember for years to come.
Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1363879-wwe-5-reasons-team-hell-no-is-the-best-thing-in-wwe-today
Detroit Tigers Kansas City Royals Los Angeles Dodgers Minnesota Twins New York Yankees Oakland Athletics
Robert Griffin III Knocked Out Of Game After Nasty Hit To Head
Robert Griffin III was knocked out of today's game after taking a hard hit to the side of the head. RG3 was scrambling near the sideline when he lost his footing before being hit in the side of the head with a shoulder. He walked off under how own power and told coach Mike Shanahan that he was OK. However, he needed stitches to his chin and was later taken to the locker room for a concussion test.
[UPDATE] Griffin III suffered a "mild concussion." And according to Jim Corbett of USA Today, RG3 did not know the score what quarter the game was in after the hit.
Here's the hit. You can see the entire play below...
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Marcel Goc Jamie Lundmark Nick Spaling Pikka Rinne Mathieu Carle Lars Eller
Can the Yankees Still Trust CC Sabathia on Short Rest This Postseason?
Besides the fact that he's pitched 12 seasons in the major leagues and has nearly 200 wins to show for the effort, CC Sabathia has built his reputation as an ace by being durable.
Sabathia has averaged nearly 35 starts per season during his MLB career. But during the postseason, his left arm has seemed bionic when asked to start a game on three days' rest rather than the customary four that a starting pitcher receives between appearances.
Short rest was no problem for Sabathia during the 2008 season with the Milwaukee Brewers, when he made each of his final three starts of the regular season on three days' rest. The left-hander won two of those three games, allowing two earned runs in 21.2 innings.
After joining the New York Yankees, manager Joe Girardi leaned on Sabathia's ability to pitch effectively on short rest in the playoffs, preventing him from having to use a back-end starter.
During the 2009 ALCS, Girardi planned to go with a three-man rotation, knowing that Sabathia could pitch on short rest (and fearing that he would have to use Joba Chamberlain or Chad Gaudin as a fourth starter). The left-hander came back on three days' rest for Game 4 of the series, pitching eight innings and allowing one run.
Girardi went with the same strategy in the World Series, again going to Sabathia in Game 4. Though he didn't earn the victory, the Yankees won the game and took a 3-1 series lead as Sabathia pitched 6.2 innings and gave up three runs.
Surprisingly, Girardi didn't use Sabathia on short rest during the 2010 ALCS vs. the Texas Rangers when the Rangers took a 2-1 series lead. A.J. Burnett got the nod and was pounded for five runs over six innings in an eventual 10-3 loss for the Yankees. The Yanks went on to lose the series in six games.
If the intention was to use Sabathia in a shortened rotation for the 2011 postseason, rain postponing Game 1 of the ALDS against the Detroit Tigers nixed those plans. Sabathia only pitched two innings before rain forced the game to be called. The Yankees started him in Game 3 since he threw so few pitches in the rain-postponed opener.
Though the scheduling of the series didn't allow Girardi to start Sabathia again, the hefty lefty came back two days later—on what would have been his scheduled between-starts throwing session—to pitch 1.1 innings of relief. However, Sabathia did allow the Tigers to score a third run, giving Detroit the margin of victory in a 3-2 win and series clincher.
So how will the Yankees manager utilize his ace starter during the 2012 postseason?
Sabathia made 28 starts this season, the fewest games he's appeared in since 2006. He went on the disabled list twice this year due to groin and elbow injuries. However, Sabathia finished the season strong, pitching eight innings in each of his final three starts (all on four days' rest). He allowed four earned runs over 24 innings.
In Game 1 of this year's ALDS vs. the Baltimore Orioles, Sabathia looked ready to be the Yankees ace through the playoffs again. He was one out from a complete game, pitching 8.2 innings and allowing two runs before David Robertson took over to get the final out.
Sabathia threw 120 pitches in the Game 1 victory, which might hurt his ability to bounce back on short rest later in the series, if needed. Girardi could bring him back on three days' rest for Game 4, especially if he's concerned about the series going to a decisive Game 5. Of course, the series might not get to that point if the Yankees beat the Orioles in their next two games.
Pitching on short rest has sort of become the expectation for ace starting pitchers.
Cliff Lee took criticism during the 2010 postseason for not asking to pitch on short rest. As Yahoo Sports' Jeff Passan reported at the time, Lee said he would do it, but never went to Rangers manager Ron Washington to make the request. The unspoken assumption was that Lee didn't really want to break his routine, and the Rangers decided it wasn't worth asking him to.
No such reports or whispers have ever been written or voiced about Sabathia. Perhaps Sabathia will go to Girardi and ask to pitch on short rest. Maybe Girardi knows he can do it because it hasn't been an issue before.
But maybe—just maybe—there will be a bit of doubt this year, as Sabathia broke down during the season. The guess here is that he'll get the call if needed and he'll answer it. Why think otherwise? Sabathia has always done what his team needed.
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Jeremy Stephens' Management Releases Statement on Arrest
UFC on FX 5 had almost as many headlines outside the cage as it did inside it. While other fighters were continuing to improve their careers others faltered. None more so than perhaps Jeremy Stephens.
The lightweight has been an exciting fighter during his UFC tenure but has always struggled to put together a string of impressive victories. His career may have stopped dead in it's tracks after being arrested prior to competing Friday night.
A lot of stories have been circulating the web and Dana White's explanation of the situation has been well documented. Now Stephens' management has released a statement regarding the situation including the events that caused a warrant to be issued:
In response to the recent arrest and allegations regarding Jeremy Stephens we would like to take this opportunity to reach out to his supporters and clarify some of the information that has been circulating in the media.
In 2011, Jeremy was attending a homecoming party in Des Moines, Iowa. A person in attendance became intoxicated and disorderly, and was asked to leave by the owner of the establishment. The intoxicated individual subsequently became involved in a physical altercation with another person at the event. We have learned that, as the featured guest at the party, Jeremy's name came up during the police investigation of the assault. (Evo Agents)
Stephens' management explained that he isn't exactly a hard guy to find and is just as confused as White as to why the authorities waited until now to take action:
Prior to being detained the morning of October 5, 2012, in Minneapolis, Jeremy had never been arrested in connection with the assault, contacted about any possible charge and or notified about any outstanding warrant by mail or any other means. Jeremy has lived at the same residence in San Diego and has maintained the same phone number for the past year or more. Jeremy also uses social media to provide updates on his training, and to thank fans, supporters, sponsors, and the UFC. In short, Jeremy is not a hard guy to find, which can be seen at www.LilHeathenMMA.com.
At this time, we do not know why Polk County (Iowa) authorities waited to have a warrant served on Jeremy until the morning of his fight. He arrived in Minnesota four days earlier, stayed at the hotel with other fighters for the event, and attended the public weigh-in on Thursday afternoon. Because he was arrested so close to the time of the fight, arrangements for his release could not be made in time for him to compete despite the diligent efforts of the UFC. Minnesota state officials were great to deal with, but Polk County kept changing the deal making it impossible to get Jeremy released.
It will take some time for this unfortunate situation to be resolved. We ask that everyone be patient and wait for the truth to come out. We also would like to thank Jeremy's fans who are standing by him during this tough time and especially Dana White and the staff at UFC for their incredible display of support for Jeremy throughout the ordeal.
There is nothing to hide, so we will keep everyone updated as things progress. (Evo Agents)
This seems to go with White's statements about how difficult the Iowa authorities were compared to the ones in Minnesota. As with all legal matters, it's a sit and wait type of game in which fans will have to wait for more information to be leaked out before passing judgement.
Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1363246-jeremy-stephens-management-releases-statement-on-arrest
John Baker Brad Davis Logan Morrison Mike Stanton Josh Bailey Mark Eaton
Michigan Football: How the Wolverines Can Climb Back into the Rankings
For a team that kicked off the season ranked No. 8, 2012 has not gone Michigan's way.
This was the year for them to make a statement. They opened their season at Alabama and faced a schedule filled with heavy-hitting opponents. If they were to climb into the top five, this was the way to do it.
What's ensued is a season of disappointments. The Wolverines didn't even put up a fight against the Crimson Tide, and three weeks later, they failed to score a touchdown in their loss to Notre Dame.
Now we're in Week 7, with the 3-2 Wolverines at the bottom of the AP barrel.
So the question of the hour is, how do they fix this?
The big answer is win out. That might be overkill just to get back into the rankings, but it would certainly get them a respectable ranking.
With games against Michigan State, Nebraska, Northwestern and No. 8 Ohio State still to go, the Wolverines have a chance to make a splash.
Winning out also puts them in great position for the Legends Division title. They would likely face a 2011 rematch with Wisconsin for the conference championship—another opportunity to prove their merit.
But winning out is easier said than done, and Michigan has to make some changes to get to that point.
Defensively they have to be better against the run.
The team is allowing 156.8 yards on the ground per game; not too bad. But their opponents down the stretch rely on the run and will bowl right through this defense.
Combined, the Wolverine's remaining opponents are averaging nearly 200 yards per game.
With their win over Purdue, it looks like the defense is turning a corner. The Wolverines held the Boilermakers to just 213 yards while forcing two fumbles and two interceptions.
Of course, Brady Hoke is never one to be satisfied with his defense. After the game, he was quoted as saying the D "Didn't tackle worth a dog."
Offensively, UM needs to keep playing cleaner. That starts and ends with quarterback Denard Robinson.
Robinson is having his usual electric season, averaging 188 yards passing and 135 yards rushing per game.
However, he's already thrown eight interceptions on the season. His current pace would have him at about 20 by season's end.
This all goes back to Michigan's mystifying offensive road woes. The Wolverines are outscoring opponents 94-38 at home, but are being outscored 64-67 on the road. More than half of Robinson's INTs are in away games.
With big visits to Nebraska and Ohio State down the stretch, this offensive unit needs to learn to score in a hostile environment.
While the battle is still an uphill one, Michigan has the pieces to finish the season strong. They were No. 8 for a reason, and still have a shot at a good BCS bid.
While winning out is a challenge, if they keep playing like they did last week at Purdue, they've got a great shot.
Josh Bailey Mark Eaton Trent Hunter Andy Hilbert Bruno Gervais Dustin Kohn
The Ohio State Marching Band Did The Most Impressive Halftime Show Ever
During the Ohio State vs. Nebraska showdown this past Saturday, the OSU marching band took the field at halftime and stole the show from the two teams actually playing football.
The marching band played and acted out 9 minutes of classic video game music including songs from Super Mario, Zelda, and Pokemon. The most impressive act happens around the 1:25 mark when the marching band plays a huge game of Tetris.
You'll wonder where you stored your Game Boy after you watch this nostalgia-inducing show put on by the Ohio State University marching band:
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Phil Hughes Damaso Marte Mariano Rivera Kerry Wood Francisco Cervelli Chad Moeller
2012年10月8日月曜日
Morning Line
-John Davidson,who recently parted ways with the St. Louis Blues. More on Davidson from Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch.
Source: http://kuklaskorner.com/hockey/comments/morning-line7
Brad Davis Logan Morrison Mike Stanton Josh Bailey Mark Eaton Trent Hunter
NBC Sports Carolyn Manno: photos and bio
Source: http://www.thesportsbank.net/nfl/nbc-sports-carolyn-manno-photos-and-bio/
Florida Panthers Tampa Bay Lightning Washington Capitals Arizona Diamondbacks Atlanta Braves Chicago Cubs
Recapping The Season That Hasn’t Started
June 25, 2013 -- One reporter's look back at a spectacular NHL season:
October 11: On Opening Night, the stars are Jarome Iginla and Alex Pietrangelo. The defenceman plays almost 40 minutes and picks up three assists as St. Louis beats Colorado 4-3 in overtime. Blues coach Ken Hitchcock walks into his post-game media scrum and says, "You can fill in your Norris Trophy ballot right now."
Meanwhile, Cory Schneider makes 52 saves off Calgary players not wearing the number 12. But Iginla scores three times on three shots, including the winner with 2:37 to go. The third score is an empty-netter, after which the Flames' captain tries to give the puck to new head coach Bob Hartley. But Hartley gives it back, saying, "He had a lot more to do with the win than I did."
October 12: The lights go dark at the Staples Center. The video screen replays the last moments of the Kings' Stanley Cup victory over New Jersey (called by Bob Miller and Jim Fox, of course). After a few shots of the celebration, the crowd is stunned into silence by the face of Dodger legend Sandy Koufax. "I'm proud to see LA's hockey team join the list of this city's champions," he says in a video message. Then, we switch to a grinning Kobe Bryant, who adds, "It's about time."
continued
Source: http://kuklaskorner.com/hockey/comments/recapping-the-season-that-hasnt-started
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Drew Brees Breaks 52-Year-Old NFL Record With Another Beautiful Touchdown Pass
Drew Brees threw a 40 yard touchdown pass to Devery Henderson early in the Sunday Night Football matchup with the San Diego Chargers. But while this looked like just another pretty pass from Brees, this one broke a historic NFL record.
With the touchdown, Brees has now thrown a touchdown in 48 straight games, breaking Johnny Unitas' 52 year old record.
You will notice in the video that suspended Saints coach Sean Payton is in attendance. He was permitted to attend this week's game after a special request was made by Brees.
Here's the play (via NBC Sports)...
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Dwayne Roloson Jon Sim Jason Arnott David Clarkson Patrick Davis Tyler Eckford
RG3 Injury Update: Rookie's Toughness Will Keep Him Around as Redskins Starter
Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III went down with an ugly injury that gave him a concussion and knocked him out of their loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, but his toughness and value to the team will translate to no missed time from the injury.
A hit from Sean Weatherspoon knocked him out of the game, and it may not be the only game that he gets knocked out of if he's going to be the true type of dual-threat quarterback that can win games.
But he'll take a few days to get over it and be right on track to start next weekend. Griffin made that much clear on Twitter after the game, while giving a shoutout to his fans that had been supporting him.
Thank you for all the prayers & supportI'm ok and I think after all the testing I will play next week.
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) October 7, 2012
If this were a leg injury or a throwing arm injury, then there would be much more cause for concern. But mild concussions don't generally take weeks to recover from, and we wouldn't expect RG3 to miss time from one.
If the Redskins have to go without Griffin for an extended period of time, then it'll be catastrophic for their chance of success.
RG3 has gone for over 1,000 yards, a passer rating of 103.2 and four touchdowns to go along with more than 230 yards rushing and four rushing TDs.
Those are absolutely eye-popping numbers for a quarterback in his first season not only starting, but even playing in the league. And he's done all of it without a true experienced mentor behind him as his backup is a fellow rookie—Kirk Cousins, who made his NFL debut Sunday.
RG3's year so far has been nothing short of spectacular, which is why we as well as the Redskins would be adversely affected by his absence.
David Clarkson Patrick Davis Tyler Eckford Mark Fraser Andy Greene zach Parise
Andrew Luck's Game-Winning Drive Shows Dumping Peyton Manning Was The Right Move
When the Colts faced the Packers today, it was the rookie, Andrew Luck, that led a 14-play game-winning drive, leaving the reigning MVP, Aaron Rodgers, the tough-luck loser. And all of a sudden it looks like the Colts made the right decision in dumping Peyton Manning as Luck looked like a ten-year veteran on the final drive.
On the day, Luck went 31-55 for 362 yards and two touchdowns. But no passes were bigger than his collection of bullets in the final 4:30.
Here is every play of the final drive in less than three minutes. But if you are pressed for time, go straight to the 1:15 mark where Luck converts a huge third-and-long...
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Liverpool vs. Stoke: Reds Continue to Frustrate After Scoreless Draw
It's been a frustrating season thus far for Liverpool, and it didn't get any better for the Reds after a scoreless draw on Sunday with Stoke.
The Reds looked like the better team for the majority of the match, controlling possession for almost two-thirds of the contest. But, in what has seemed to be the story line for Liverpool all season, the Reds just couldn't convert.
In the second half, the Reds were in almost full control of the ball, but just couldn't seem to create any clear-cut chances against Stoke's heavily defensive style.
The players were frustrated and the fans only added to it as they rained down chants of "you’re not famous anymore." A chant that only built on the tongue lashing the players received earlier in the week by Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers, who called his team "lazy" after a loss to Udinese on Thursday.
But, the message didn't seem to have much of an effect.
Stoke controlled the style of the game and were just more physical than the Reds on the ball. Stoke won many of the one-on-one battles, and refused to allow Liverpool a comfortable possession on their end of the pitch.
Liverpool did get three times the amount of shots on goal (18 to six) than Stoke, but their keeper only had to make two saves. The Reds had a couple of close calls on set pieces, and Luis Suarez got a bit unlucky on a hard shot that hit the post. But, overall, it was a comfortable defensive match for Stoke.
The draw didn't do much to help the Reds move up in the standings either. They’re still on the bottom half of the table, and after the draw it's sure to be another frustrating week in the Reds camp.
If Liverpool doesn't get it together soon, it will be a very long season for everyone fans and players alike.
Jamie Lundmark Nick Spaling Pikka Rinne Mathieu Carle Lars Eller Hal Gill
Everything You Want To Know About The Sexiest CEOs Alive!
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