Brodeur Earns 500th Victory as Devils Down Flyers

Congrats to Martin Brodeur. Last night he became the second goal tender to reach the 500 win mark in his career as the New Jersey Devils beat down the Philadelphia Flyers 6-2. It was Brodeur’s fourth attempt at it but he was able to pull it off last night.

Brodeur joined Hall of Famer Patrick Roy as the only men to reach the milestone. Roy retired in 2003 with 551 wins.

“It means a lot,” said Brodeur, “We both played for some great teams. You play to be successful and I’ve been fortunate to play on good teams.”

I’m so happy for Brodeur. He deserves it so much. It’s just too bad that the Devils are so bad this year.

Tim Tebow makes history

Tim Tebow became the first player in NCAA history with at least 20 touchdowns passing and rushing in the same season as No. 14 Florida hammered Florida Atlantic 59-20 Saturday.

Teabow is considered by many to be the Heisman Trophy frontrunner at this point. Despite his individual success, the Gators were eliminated from contention for the SEC east title with their 3 loses and Georgia’s win.

Oklahoma goes down to Texas Tech

Texas Tech upset #4 Oklahoma last night, eliminating them from contention for the national title.

NFL Week 11 preview

Going into week 11 of the 2007 NFL season we’ve had a lot of surprises. Who would’ve thought that the Packers and the Lions would be leading the NFC north?? Who saw the Browns coming?? What happened to the Bears, Jets and LoL, the Colts?? They have lost two in a row for the first time in who knows how long. So I’ll stop rambling, heres my week 11 picks.

Cards at Bengals

The Cards are coming off a big victory over the Lions last week and believe it or not they are only one game out first place in the NFC west. The Bengals are having a disappointing season, they are 3-6 and last in their division. The Bengals also have a lot of injuries to deal with. The Cards will come up big and get the win on the road.

Pick: Cardinals

Browns at Ravens

The Browns and the Ravens are both coming off tough loses but these two teams are going in opposite directions. The Ravens hope that a change at quarterback will help jumpstart their offense which is currently ranked 28th in the NFL in scoring will only 15.3 points a game. Kyle Boller is not the answer and he will prove that this weekend.

Pick: Browns

Bucs at Falcons

The Bucs have had a decent year considering everything and right now they are currently in first place of the NFC south. Watch out for the Falcons though, despite being 3-6 and head coach Bobby Petrino seeming like he has no control over the team, they are still in the playoff race in the NFC. Wow.. LoL but they won’t win this week.

Pick: Bucs

Giants at Lions

This is a crucial game for both teams. Both teams came off loses, both are 6-3 and both are looking to get good seeding when the playoffs come around. The big key to this game though is the Giants defensive line vs the offensive line for the Lions. The Lions have a lot of guys that are banged up and their o-line is not playing well now and everyone knows how the Giants get after people. Look for it to be a long day for Jon Kitna.

Pick: Giants

Dolphins at Eagles

So the Dolphins are still looking for their first win of the season. They finally decided to play for the future and bring John Beck in. It’s tough though because he will be making his NFL debut in front of a hostile Philadelphia crowd. The Eagles will take this one and continue the Dolphins losing streak.

Pick: Eagles

Raiders at Vikings

The Vikings will be without rookie sensation Adrian Peterson for this one but they won’t need him. Chester Taylor will pick up the slack against the worst rushing defense in the league. This will be a low scoring game but expect the Vikings to come out on top.

Pick: Viks

Chargers at Jags

The Chargers are coming off a tough win against the Colts at home and now they are traveling to Jacksonville to take on the Jags and their defense. The key matchup here will be LaDainian Tomlinson against the Jags second ranked run defense. Philip Rivers will need to come up with a big game but I don’t see it happening. Look for the Jags D to come back and for the whole team to rally around the return of their quarterback David Garrard.

Pick: Jaguars

Chiefs at Colts

The Colts have lost two straight games, Peyton Manning threw 6 picks last week and they are riddled with injuries. For all of these reasons, the Colts will come up huge in this one. Peyton is going to have his way with the Chiefs defense.

Pick: Colts

Saints at Texans

Two weeks ago the Saints looked like they had revived their season winning 4 in a row, then last week they lost to the Rams at home. Come on!! They will come back though and take this game over Houston. The Texans secondary hasn’t faired very well and without their number 1 cornerback, Daunte Robinson who is out for the rest of the season due to a torn ACL, they will have a tough time against Drew Brees.

Pick: Saints

Panthers at Green Bay

The Panthers have lost three games in a row and have a revolving door at quarterback. Vinnie Testaverde will be calling the shots this weekend but it won’t be enough. The Packers number 1 passing offense will do it again this week.

Pick: Packers

Steelers at Jets

It’s been a very disappointing year for the Jets and it won’t get any easier this week. Ben Roethlisberger is playing great football right now and they will roll in this one.

Pick: Steelers

Bears at Seahawks

Cedric Benson is only averaging 3.2 yard per carry and Rex Grossman will be starting for quarterback. Don’t think that this is a going to be a new beginning for Grossman. He will probably get 2 picks before Lovie Smith pulls him but by that time it will be too late.

Pick: Seahawks

Rams at 49ers

This is going to be a bad game but if the Rams can bring it together like they did last week with all their weapons on offense, they will win it.

Pick: Rams

Redskins at Cowboys

This year the Cowboys have emerged as one of the top tier NFC teams. Tony Romo and Terrell Owens are clicking on all cylinders. On the other side of the ball, Clinton Portis is having a solid season and even blessed us enough to break out the old costume routine. I love it!

The Skins will lose though.

Pick: Cowboys

Patriots at Bills

The Bills have been playing great lately. They are one of the hottest teams in the NFL. The Patriots are the Patriots though.

Pick: Patriots

Titans at Broncos

Whenever you mention the Titans you have to metion Vince Young but I wont this time. The Titans defense and running game will be what wins this game for them.

Pick: Titans

The all star ballot was released Thursday without Yi Jianlian on it. The speculation is that the NBA fears the voting power of the Chinese fans.

The 20 year old Milwaukee Bucks power forward has been impressive in his first month as a pro, scoring 11 points a game with 6.9 rebounds. He starts for the Bucks, replacing Charlie Villanueva in the starting lineup, who is on the All Star balloting.

Yi’s absence from the All Star game was all of Chinese newspapers Friday. Titan Sports Weekly said in an editorial.:

“The NBA does not dare to put Yi Jianlian on the ballot because the voting power of Chinese fans is too big.

If the NBA put Yi Jianlian on the ballot without careful consideration … he would surely start for the East.

The NBA fears that if a guy like Yi becomes an All Star and only scores two points in the game, they would lose the meaning of the All Star (game).”

The editorial referred to what happen with Yao Ming in 2003. Despite having a good season, Shaquille O’neal was still the dominant center in the west and Yao was still voted in front of his for the All Star game. This shocked players and fans alike. Yao has made the All Star team every year since, with large support from Chinese fans.

I actually like this move by the NBA. Not to take anything against Yi, but he is not an All Star yet. He would have surely been voted as the starter over move deserving power fowards in the East like Kevin Garnett for example.

Barry Bonds indicted

You’ve most likely seen the last of Barry Bonds in the Major leagues. After his indictment yesterday Bonds likely will get any offers to play next year. Regardless of the fact that he is still a free agent.

A lot of people have obviously been quick to bury Bonds because they believed that he was guilty all along. A lot of people have also accused the FBI of being motivated to pursue Bonds based on race. It is definitely something that needs to be considered when you think about that fact that Bonds has been the only MLB player who has been indicted and assuming that he did use steroids, he most definitely is not the only guy who used to them. At this point, in baseball if you DONT use steroids you are selling yourself short.

I normally hate when people play the race card but it just may be appropriate in this situation. You have to take into consideration, the fact that there are guys who are known steroids users and have not been indicted and some are even still playing. Everyone assumed that Mark McGwire used steroids so if thats the case, why isn’t he being investigated. Paul Byrd and Jason Giambi have both been caught and they are still playing.

So do you believe that race played any significant role in this investigation?

Alex Rodriguez returns to the Yankees

Alex Rodriguez will be returning to the Yankees after they agreed to a deal and even though it not the $300 million that Rodriguez and his agent Scott Boras were looking for, it is still the largest contract in sports history. A-Rod and the Yanks have agreed to a preliminary contract. According to sources the contract is a 10-year, $275 million contract. Thats a ridiculous check.

This eclipses A-Rods last contract which was 10 years for $252 million, given to him by the Texas Rangers. That was contract that Rodriguez opted out of and was controversially announced during game 4 of the World Series. This contract will keep Rodriguez in pinstripes until he is 42.

The contract has not be finalized yet but it is getting there. Rodriguez will also get paid higher in incentives if he breaks Barry Bonds home run record.

Derek Jeter in tax trouble

New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter, has been accused of not paying his taxes. This could cost the , the captain of the Yankees millions in back taxes.

New York tax officials say Derek Jeter should have been taxed as a state resident from 2001-03. Jeter claims that he is a Florida resident but he is accused of using his Florida address to avoid paying the high New York taxes.

Pay your taxes people, they will come for you.

Mets sign Yorvet Torrealba

The Mets can check off one more thing from their offseason shopping list when they signed Colorado Rockies free agent catcher Yorvet Torrealba, The New York Post reported Thursday. Torrealba isn’t the best catcher in the world but there were not many catchers available this offseason and Torrealba is definitely capable of handling a pitching staff.

The Mets could make the official announcement as early as Friday.

#2 seed Ducks lose in Arizona

The season of upsets continues in college football. Five of the last seven weeks, the #2 team has gone down to an unranked team.

The Oregon ducks lost big last night. Not in terms of the score but first they lost they’re superstar QB Dennis Dixon. Dixon, who many believed was the Heisman Trophy frontrunner, left the game during the first quarter when it his knee buckled under him. He was not hit, he just went down and at first glance it didn’t look like anything but it turned out to be bad enough that he would leave the game and not return.

The Oregon Ducks were ranked 2 in the country going into this game. The Ducks seemed to be destined to fall into the # 2 curse this year. Here are the teams that lost:

Oct. 6th – USC loses to Stanford

Oct. 13th – California loses to Oregon st

Oct. 18th – South Florida loses to Rutgers

Nov. 3rd – Boston College loses to Florida st

Nov. 15th – Oregon loses to Arizona

I feel sorry for whoever gets the #2 spot next.

Barry Bonds indicted on federal Perjury and Obstruction of Justice charges

Barry Bonds was indicted Thursday for perjury and obstruction of justice. Bonds was charged with lying when he told a federal grand jury that he did not knowingly use performance-enhancing drugs.

The indictment read:

“During the criminal investigation, evidence was obtained including positive tests for the presence of anabolic steroids and other performance enhancing substances for Bonds and other athletes.”

Bonds, who is a free agent, passed Henry Aaron this year to become baseballs all time home run king. The indictment comes as a surprise to many including John Burris, one of Bonds’ attorneys. “I’m surprised” said Burris. “but there’s been an effort to get Barry for a long time. “I’m curious what evidence they have now they didn’t have before.”

I’m curious just like him. I really thought we were done with all the Bonds talk about steroids but hopefully now we will be able to find out now once and for all.

Peavy wins NL Cy Young Award in unanimous vote

Its unanimous, Jake Peavy is the NL CY award winner. Peavy accomplished the pitchers version of the triple crown this year, leading the NL in wins, ERA and strikeouts. The San Diego Padres ace went 19-6 while leading the entire MLB in ERA with 2.54 and strikeouts with 240. Peavy’s year was ridiculous.

Peavy received all of the 32 first place votes. He finished the balloting with 160 first place votes. Last years winner Brandon Webb came in a distant second with only 94 votes.

Not to take away from Peavy’s accomplishment in anyway but Peavy had the chance to put the Padres in the playoffs. This is your ace, this is the guy you want to be pitching the big game. What does Peavy do, he gives up six runs and ten hits in 6 and 1-3. Brandon Webb’s team at least made the playoffs. I always think that coming through in the clutch should count for something but oh well.. Congrats to Jake Peavy on winning the award. Better luck next year.

Williams reinstated after 18-month suspension

After considering the status of Ricky Williams reinstatement for over a month, NFL commissioner reinstated the Miami Dolphins running back to the NFL according to a report by ESPN. Williams has been out of the league for 18 months for violating the leagues substance abuse policy. He repeatedly tested positive for marijuana.

Despite William’s problems in the past, Williams apparently went to a Boston area treatment center for various issues including social anxiety disorder. Doctors at this treatment facility have been very supportive of Williams’ potential return to the NFL.

Here is the timeline of Ricky Williams events since he initially “retired” from the NFL in 2004:

June ‘05 – Reinstated to the NFL

December ‘05 – Failed a drug test

April ‘06 – Suspended from the league for a year

April ‘07 – Failed drug test again (reinstatement delayed)

November ‘07 – To be reinstated

So this immediately asks the question, should the Dolphins take him back. Coach Cam Cameron has been very vague with this issue and hasn’t said that he wants Ricky Williams to be a distraction for the team but with the Dolphins being the only remaining winless team in the NFL, Williams can only help. If they don’t decide to bring him back then I’m sure there will be teams interested with the current shortage or quality RB’s in the league.

If you ran the Dolphins would you reinstate Williams?

What kind of trade value does Marbury have?

Has the Starbury era ended in New York? It definitely looks like it right now.

Stephon Marbury left the Knicks on a 6 am flight back home Tuesday. The short handed Knicks lost to the Suns as well 113-102 in Phoenix last night. When he got back he reportedly sent two text messages to the NY Post saying that he had permission to leave from coach Isiah Thomas.

According ESPN, a person close to the team stated that Marbury’s rage began when Eddy Curry told Marbury that he and Marbury were being pulled from the starting lineup against the Suns. After hearing that, Marbury immediately went to meet with Thomas. Five minutes later, an angry Marbury told his teammates that if wasn’t starting, he wasn’t going to play.

“Isiah has to start me,” Marbury fumed, according to the source. “I’ve got so much (stuff) on Isiah and he knows it. He thinks he can (get) me. But I’ll (get) him first. You have no idea what I know.”

Stephon Marbury has traditionally been a loser his entire career. Hes a great player but whenever a team acquires him, they always either start losing or continue losing.

Marbury actually would have some trade value though. According to ESPN reporter, Chris Sheridan, “If you are the owner or the general manager of a team looking to rebuild, one of the best assets you can have is a contract worth $21.1 million coming off your salary cap in the summer of 2009 when there will be a bumper crop of free agents that could include many of the players from the 2004 draft class who did not agree to contract extensions prior to the Oct. 31 deadline, including Andre Iguodala, Emeka Okafor, Luol Deng and Ben Gordon.”