Derek Daly admission re: Schumacher-Hamilton raises questions regarding stewarding procedure

Derek Daly, the driver representative on the stewards panel in Monza last weekend, is being quoted today as saying he regrets not punishing Michael Schumacher for a "blatant double-block" on Lewis Hamilton on lap 20.

Interestingly Daly's change of heart is not down to the fact that he sees the incident differently to how he did on Sunday – it's down to the fact that he didn't see the incident at all.

“On lap 20, race director Charlie Whiting asked the stewards to look at an incident between Massa and Trulli at the second chicane,” explained the former Tyrrell and Williams driver.

“While looking at the slow-mo video of this incident, I missed the Schumacher/Hamilton incident that happened at that moment.

“When I looked at it again at home, I believe that Schumacher should have been given a drive-through penalty. He was warned repeatedly, and this style of driving is not what you want the future generation of drivers to perfect.

"We as stewards probably let Charlie down with this one.”

Whether you agree with Daly or not regarding Schumacher's driving, his admission raises certain questions.

Clearly stewards cannot investigate one incident and simultaneously monitor everything that is happening out on track. But with the high-profile Hamilton-Schumacher battle being shown to millions on the international race feed – and with the lap 20 "double block" replayed and discussed by commentators all over the globe – surely the first time Daly analysed it should not have been at home?

Should there be a review of how stewards watch the races to make sure incidents like this are properly analysed by the appropriate people at the time?

It will be of no consolation to Hamilton now, but had Daly convinced his fellow stewards then and there that Schumacher was deserving of a drive-through, the Briton may have caught Alonso or even Button before the chequered flag.

Brian Urlacher leaves Chicago Bears after death of his mother

Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher has left the team after his mother, Lavoyda, died unexpectedly at her home in Texas, the team said Wednesday.

"My first priority right now is to be with my family as we mourn her loss and make the arrangements to lay her to rest," Urlacher said in a statement. "This is a very difficult and emotional time for us and I sincerely ask that you respect our privacy."

It is not known if Urlacher will be back in time for Sunday's game at New Orleans.

Urlacher had 10 tackles, an interception and a fumble return for a touchdown in Chicago's opening win over Atlanta.

"You can't replace a guy like that," Bears quarterback Jay Cutler said. "You can't find a guy like that in the league. He's the heart and soul of this organization. We all know he's going through a tough time right now, but we're going to respect his privacy and when he gets back we'll be here for him." 

MORE:

T.J. Simers: John Elway needs a better QB than Tim Tebow

Bill Plaschke: Oakland Raiders could use some brains with their brawn

Tom Brady, Wes Welker make New England Patriots history with 99-yard play

-- Houston Mitchell

Photo: Brian Urlacher. Credit: Charles Rex Arbogast / Associated Press.

Ancient Tim Wakefield celebrates win No. 200

 

Tim Wakefield wondered if it would ever happen. He was stuck on 199 wins for so long, would No. 200 ever come?

"Yeah, it did cross my mind after six or seven starts," Wakefield, 45, said. "I kept telling myself that the milestone doesn't determine me as a person."

It took eight outings, but Wakefield finally did it. He gave away 2-0 and 4-3 leads against the Toronto Blue Jays, but ultimately the Boston Red Sox 45-year-old knuckleballer picked up the win in an 18-6 rout of the Blue Jays on Tuesday at Fenway Park.

After the game, the Red Sox celebrated with champagne in the clubhouse, while in the stands, fans weren't willing to leave until Wakefield appeared.

"I've always said I've been very grateful to wear this uniform as long as I have," Wakefield said. "I've been very fortunate to live out a dream I had as a kid. I'm just thankful that it happened tonight, and I'm very grateful that it happened in front of our home crowd. The standing ovation I got when I walked off the mound in the fifth and in the sixth and to be able to go back out after the game was over with and share it with the 38,000 that were still here -- very special."

And just how old is Wakefield? His catcher during Tuesday's victory, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, was still a year away from entering kindergarten when Wakefield began his major league career.

MORE:

Angels go quietly in lonely confines of Oakland

Angels ace Jered Weaver to pitch on short rest

Angels' Peter Bourjos proves bigger than his miscue

-- Houston Mitchell

Photo: Tim Wakefield gets doused with champagne while celebrating his 200th victory with Red Sox teammate Jonathan Papelbon. Credit: Winslow Townson / Associated Press

Derek Daly admission re: Schumacher-Hamilton raises questions regarding stewarding protocol

Derek Daly, the driver representative on the stewards panel in Monza last weekend, is being quoted today as saying he regrets not punishing Michael Schumacher for a "blatant double-block" on Lewis Hamilton on lap 20.

Interestingly Daly's change of heart is not down to the fact that he sees the incident differently to how he did on Sunday – it's down to the fact that he didn't see the incident at all.

“On lap 20, race director Charlie Whiting asked the stewards to look at an incident between Massa and Trulli at the second chicane,” explained the former Tyrrell and Williams driver.

“While looking at the slo-mo video of this incident, I missed the Schumacher/Hamilton incident that happened at that moment.

“When I looked at it again at home, I believe that Schumacher should have been given a drive-through penalty. He was warned repeatedly, and this style of driving is not what you want the future generation of drivers to perfect.

"We as stewards probably let Charlie down with this one.”

Whether you agree with Daly or not regarding Schumacher's driving, his admission raises certain questions.

Clearly stewards cannot investigate one incident and simultaneously monitor everything that is happening out on track. But with the high-profile Hamilton-Schumacher battle being shown to millions on the international race feed – and with the lap 20 "double block" replayed and discussed by commentators all over the globe – surely the first time Daly analysed it should not have been at home?

It will be of no consolation to Hamilton now, but had Daly convinced his fellow stewards at the time that Schumacher was deserving of a drive-through, the Briton may have caught Alonso or even Button before the chequered flag??

Sam Farmer previews NFL Week 2 [video]

Times NFL columnist Sam Farmer previews Week 2 in the NFL, taking a close look at winless teams that need a strong showing this weekend before the season gets away from them.

 

 

Why Rafael Nadal is suffering the same fate he dealt to Roger Federer, but at the hands of Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic has turned the tables on Rafael Nadal

As Rafael Nadal sat down in his chair at the end of the third set of Monday night's brutal US Open final against Novak Djokovic, for a split second, he was on his way back.

The Spaniard had been hustling, clawing, scraping his way through a match that Djokovic was winning by a seemingly peerless scoreline. A two-sets to love lead, with just five games dropped, that was all about depth. Nadal was short, Djokovic was deep.

But in the third set, an 84-minute torture-fest that fried the already fragile nerves of tennis fans around the world, Nadal remembered who he was. Rafa. The ultimate warrior. One of the most mentally complete tennis players there has ever been. The man who terrifies opponents with a single raised eyebrow, the picture of elemental brute force.

The forehands that had been struggling over the service line were suddenly fizzing through the deco turf, the slice backhand that had as much bite as a soft cheese began to push Djokovic back, and the two enused in a all-court tug of war that had the entire stadium doing serious damage to their fingernails.

Breaking the skinny Serb as he served for the title, Nadal lip-curled his way back into contention, feeding off Djokovic's aching back and suddenly worried disposition. Dominating the tie-break, Rafa managed to avoid not winning a set in a Grand Slam final for the first time.

But when he bounced off his chair to begin the fourth set, something curious happened. The same thing as had happened at Wimbledon. He had absolutely nothing left. No answers. No way back.

It was starkly reminscent of the way Roger Federer fell apart against Nadal in the final set of their Australian Open final in 2009.

Federer had been meant to win that match. Nadal had been run through the washing machine by Fernando Verdasco in a very late five-set semi-final, so exhausted by the end that the pair practically held each other up as they hugged at the net. Instead, he could only watch helplessly as the Spaniard made a mockery of their epic rivalry, screaming through the final set 6-2. And then came the tears. Federer blubbed at the microphone as he tried to justify to himself how he had lost to this man yet again.

"Tennis is, more than most sports, a sport of the mind;" Nadal writes in his autobiography. "It is the player who has those good sensations on the most days, who manages to isolate himself best from his fears and from the ups and downs in morale a match inevitably brings."

"With Federer, you have to put him under pressure, wear him down. Probe chinks that way in his game and his morale. Frustrate him, drive him close to despair, if you can."

That Nadal leads their head-to-head by 17-8 is all the proof you need that it works. Nadal took Wimbledon, he took the No 1 ranking, he took the Australian Open, and then he took the career grand slam, took them all from Federer.

And now with a sense of almost poetic reciprocity, Djokovic is doing the same thing to him.

At the start of this year, their head-to-head was 16-7 in Nadal's favour. That lead has been cut to 16-13. Having never won a single one of their five meetings in a tournament final, in 2011, the Serb has won all six. Having never beaten the Spaniard on clay in nine previous matches, in 2011, Djokovic has done so twice. And having taken Nadal's Wimbledon crown and the No 1 ranking, on Monday Djokovic took the US Open too.

Only Nadal, a man who admits he is constantly battling against his own self-doubt,  knows how much it has affected him. "I have to accept that I won a lot in the past," he said, his turn to try and hold back the tears as he spoke to the Flushing Meadows crowd.

"Six straight losses, for sure that's painful," he said. "But I'm going to work every day until that changes. [You must] accept the challenge and work."

But what exactly he needs to work on is at the root of his perplexion. He believes Djokovic is a better player because he makes less mistakes. Djokovic believes he is a better player simply because he believes he is. Admittedly, Nadal's execution was not inculpable. He hit short, he served slow. But it is the tactical puzzle that seems to be weighing most heavily on his brain.

Just as Nadal makes Federer boil over in his search for answers, Djokovic strings Nadal around the court as he seeks a way through. Just like Nadal uses his forehand to pummel the Federer backhand, Djokovic's forehand shoots through the Nadal backhand. And, perhaps most tellingly, just the way Federer frames shots against Nadal he would never dream of missing against anyone else, Nadal sends his weapons long and wide when he plays Djokovic.

That is where the breakthrough is needed. But if anyone can do it, Rafa can.

Two days after their four hour and 10 minute battle, both players are already back on the court,  four months of practice ahead of them between now and the next Grand Slam.

That's a lot of time for things to change. After all, it's the time it took Djokovic to become almost invincible.

ESPN analyst Tedy Bruschi rips Chad Ochocinco for innocuous tweet

 

How much anger can you stir up in 140 characters or less? Apparently, a lot.

In a seemingly harmless message praising the New England Patriots' Tom Brady, Chad Ochochinco tweeted: “Just waking up after a late arrival,I’ve never seen a machine operate like that n person,to see video game numbers put up n person was WOW.”

The nerve!?!

That apparently was enough to send ESPN NFL analyst Tedy Bruschi over the edge. In his WEEI-AM radio show, he went off on a bit of a tirade.

“Drop the awe factor, OK, Ocho, Chad, drop the awe factor," Bruschi said. "You’re not a fan, all right. You’re not someone who’s on another team or watching TV. You’re not an analyst. You’re a part of it. They want you to be a part of it. So get with the program because obviously you’re not getting it and you’re tweeting because you’re saying, ‘It’s amazing to see’? It’s amazing to see because you don’t understand it! You still don’t understand it and it’s amazing to you because you can’t get it.

“Stop tweeting and get in your playbook. Wake up! If you’re just waking up now — I don’t know when this was, six minutes ago? — get out your bed and get to the stadium and watch some film if you still think it’s amazing. If you’re in it and you know what you’re doing and you execute out there you don’t think it’s amazing. You know why? Because it’s what you’re supposed to do.”

We here at the Fabulous Forum think Bruschi may have harbored residual anger.

After all, earlier in the week Ochocinco wrote this contentious tweet: "Wishing all my NFL colleagues blessings,health and success as this season kicks off."

MORE:

T.J. Simers: John Elway needs a better QB than Tim Tebow

Bill Plaschke: Oakland Raiders could use some brains with their brawn

Tom Brady, Wes Welker make New England Patriots history with 99-yard play

--Melissa Rohlin

Photo: Chad Ochocinco. Credit: Jim Rogash / Getty Images.

Did the New York Giants originate the Gatorade shower?

FOOTBALL URBAN LEGEND: The New York Giants originated the "Gatorade shower."

During the 1986 National Football League (NFL) season, the New York Giants dominated the league as a whole. They went 14-2 and crushed their three playoff opponents on their way to a Super Bowl victory in January 1987 (their smallest margin of victory in the playoffs was seventeen points). After every one of the Giants' seventeen victories, the Giants would pour a bucket or cooler of Gatorade on head coach Bill Parcells. This "Gatorade shower" (or "Gatorade dunk" or "Gatorade bath," the act has been given a lot of different names over the years) became a national sensation in 1987, popping up from everywhere to sporting events (like the 1987 World Series) and Presidential celebrations (President Ronald Reagan was given a drawing for his 76th birthday party depicting Reagan receiving a Gatorade shower). Bill Schmidt, head of sports marketing for Gatorade, did not see the Giants do their celebration until the first round of the playoffs (where the Giants defeated the 49ers 49-3). When he did, Schmidt later recalled that he thought, "What the hell? I think I have died and gone to heaven." Gatorade naturally latched on to the celebration and marketed it heavily. It has now become a longstanding sports tradition, especially in the world of football.

But where did the tradition start? In his excellent book, First in Thirst: How Gatorade Turned the Science of Sweat Into a Cultural Phenomenon, Darren Rovell wrote about how the Giants first began doing the celebration in a section titled “The Inaugural Dunk.” Amazingly enough, it began as somewhat of an act of aggression! You see, in 1985 the Giants started the season 3-3. They hosted their divisional rival Washington Redskins on October 20, 1985 in a big game for both teams (the Redskins had also started the season 3-3). In the week leading up to the game, Bill Parcells gave Giants starting nose guard Jim Burt a lot of grief, telling him that Redskins offensive lineman Jeff Bostic was going to eat him up. So when the Giants won the game 17-3, Burt decided to celebrate/take his anger out on his coach by pouring the Gatorade cooler on Parcells' head. The next week, the Giants won again. This time, Burt enlisted Giants Pro Bowl linebacker Harry Carson, one of the most respected members of the team (and a favorite of Parcells) to do the dunk, figuring that if Carson did it, Parcells could not get mad. Burt did not really have to worry, as Parcells did not mind the dunks (the coach stated, “It’s fun. If you have fun, fine. It’s not all life and death”). The following season, while Burt felt that the bit was no longer original and did not want to do it anymore, Carson continued doing it after every Giants victory (Carson noted that Parcells was a superstitious man, so he would not want them to stop doing something that had “worked” before).

As a result, Carson and Parcells became the face of the dunk (Carson even ended up signing a $20,000 deal with Gatorade where they would use his image on a "How to dunk" promotional poster!). So clearly, the New York Giants, Harry Carson and Bill Parcells are what people think of when it comes to the "Gatorade dunk," and Rovell is quite correct as to the origins of how the Giants came to do the dunk. But was it actually the ORIGINATION of the Gatorade shower?

 Let's find out!

L.A. Times September MMA Rankings

Heavyweight

1. Cain Velasquez

2. Junior Dos Santos

3. Alistair Overeem

4. Brock Lesnar

5. Fabricio Werdum

6. Daniel Cormier

7. Josh Barnett

8. Frank Mir

9. Antonio Silva

10. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira

The two biggest fights in heavyweight MMA will take place at the end of 2011. UFC will premier on Fox with a UFC heavyweight title bout between Cain Velasquez and Junior Dos Santos. It's wise for the company to make its network debut with a first rate main event. Then in December at UFC 141, Brock Lesnar will take on Alistair Overeem in a crucial fight for each man. Lesnar is returning from significant surgery while Overeem is making his long awaited UFC debut. Daniel Cormier surges up the ranks with a breakthrough knockout win over Antonio Silva. With elite wrestling skills and a rapidly developing striking game, Cormier is a future championship level fighter. He will face Josh Barnett in the finals of Strikeforce's heavyweight grand prix. Barnett advanced with a submissive win over Sergei Kharitonov. Finally, in an extremely busy month for heavyweight MMA, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira scored an upset win over Brendan Schaub in Brazil and will next rematch Frank Mir in Toronto.

Light Heavyweight

1. Jon Jones

2. Rashad Evans

3. Quinton Jackson

4. Lyoto Machida

5. Dan Henderson

6. Mauricio "Shogun" Rua

7. Gegard Mousasi

8. Thiago Silva

9. Forrest Griffin

10. Rich Franklin

On September 24, Quinton Jackson will have his chance to regain the UFC light heavyweight title when he takes on Jon Jones. Jones is heavily favored by most. Mauricio Rua scored an impressive win over Forrest Griffin at UFC Rio. Rua dominated the striking and scored a quick TKO victory that sends Griffin down the rankings.

Middleweight

1. Anderson Silva

2. Chael Sonnen

3. Yushin Okami

4. Mark Munoz

5. Vitor Belfort

6. Michael Bisping

7. Nate Marquardt

8. Demian Maia

9. Hector Lombard

10. Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza

Anderson Silva advanced his claim to being the greatest MMA fighter of all time with another masterful performance in a knockout win over Yushin Okami. The division is wide open after Silva. Chael Sonnen and Michael Bisping are probably in the best position to get the next shot at Silva. Jacare plunges down the rankings after a listless performance in a loss to relatively unheralded Luke Rockhold. Jacare was unable to use much of his world class jiu jitsu and faded as the fight progressed.

Welterweight

1. Georges St. Pierre

2. Jon Fitch

3. Nick Diaz

4. Jake Shields

5. Carlos Condit

6. Josh Koscheck

7. B.J. Penn

8. Martin Kampmann

9. Rory MacDonald

10. Jake Ellenberger

Georges St. Pierre was scheduled to face Nick Diaz for the UFC welterweight title in October, but after Nick Diaz no showed a pair of press conferences hyping the event, the UFC decided to yank Diaz from the bout. Carlos Condit will receive the title shot instead. Condit isn't the personality that Diaz is, but he has a similarly exciting style and hopefully will coax an entertaining bout out of St. Pierre. Diaz now looks to face B.J. Penn in the semi-main event at the same show. This weekend, Jake Shields returns to action following his title bout loss to St. Pierre. He will take on rising contender Jake Ellenberger.

Lightweight

1. Frank Edgar

2. Gilbert Melendez

3. Gray Maynard

4. Eddie Alvarez

5. Ben Henderson

6. Melvin Guillard

7. Clay Guida

8. Jim Miller

9. Anthony Pettis

10. Shinya Aoki

Clay Guida and Ben Henderson will fight in Anaheim at the same event as Velasquez vs. Dos Santos. If time permits, UFC would like to show the bout after Velasquez-Dos Santos to give mainstream viewers an exciting bout and the next challenger for the winner of Frank Edgar vs. Gray Maynard III. Melvin Guillard will look to win his sixth straight bout against Joe Lauzon on October 8.

Featherweight

1. Jose Aldo

2. Chad Mendes

3. Kenny Florian

4. Hatsu Hioki

5. Mark Hominick

6. Dustin Poirier

7. Diego Nunes

8. Joe Warren

9. Patricio "Pitbull" Freire

10. Erik Koch

Erik Koch moves into the rankings after the former number 10 Marlon Sandro suffered a spectacular knockout loss to Pat Curran in Bellator. Chad Mendes is in line to challenge the winner of Jose Aldo vs. Kenny Florian for the UFC featherweight title, but he didn't generate a lot of interest for that bout with a dull win in his last fight. Hatsu Hioki finally makes his UFC debut in October at UFC 137.

Bantamweight

1. Dominick Cruz

2. Joseph Benavidez

3. Demetrious Johnson

4. Brian Bowles

5. Urijah Faber

6. Miguel Torres

7. Scott Jorgensen

8. Wagnney Fabiano

9. Masakatsu Ueda

10. Renan Barao

The "California Kid" Urijah Faber should receive a raucous reception in his home area at UFC 139 in November when he takes on Brian Bowles. Demetrious Johnson and Dominick Cruz will fight for the UFC bantamweight title October 1.

--Todd Martin

Photo: Cain Velasquez. Credit: Ethan Miller / Getty Images.

T.J. Simers: Manny Ramirez, the hits keep coming

 

Manny Ramirez was the best thing to hit Los Angeles.

And nothing that has happened recently changes that.

He was a performer, an overnight sensation in Los Angeles after arriving late in 2008, providing almost unmatched escape for those who find their release in sports.

It was so much fun, the anticipation and eventually the expectation that he was going to deliver something memorable.

He had big hit after big hit, and the Dodgers were suddenly a hair away from playing in the World Series. And it was the same again the following year.

Dodger Stadium was the happening place in town, something considered almost unfathomable right now.

Some folks later would say they almost had to stop what they were doing to watch TV and see whether Manny was going to do something extraordinary.

What more do you want from sports?

When he proved human the following year, the undoing of so many performers, he became a joke. That’s also part of the sports’ experience, fans turning quickly when betrayed by expectations or left disappointed.

First he was caught using a female fertility drug, resulting in a suspension, then came a drop in power, the fun-loving guy becoming more a recluse.

There was still a pinch-hit grand slam to win a game, a .290 batting average and what some folks forget, another shot at making the World Series. But Mannyworld was never the same.

And then he was gone, almost as quickly as he had arrived, and all the good times in Dodger Stadium were gone as well.

He would be caught again using something to juice his performance and faced another suspension, but he quit baseball instead.

Now he’s accused of slapping his wife in a domestic dispute, and how much lower can someone sink?

He appeared in court wearing a dark blue jumpsuit worn by prisoners. Interesting that no one reported it as “Dodgers blue.’’

Released on bail, and asked about the incident with his wife that prompted the call to police, he said, “That’s my problem, not your problem.’’

That’s Manny how we remember him.

E-mailers were quick to respond, one noting, “I see your boy Manny shines again. I can’t believe you ever defended this clown to sell papers.’’

It doesn’t seem as if a whole lot of people are interested in selling papers anymore, but I still like the idea. And I wish we had more clowns; there are so few characters anymore, with everyone striving to be politically correct and bland.

 Manny was a clown who could deliver entertainment like few others, so what was not to like?

Had someone said he was going to slap his wife and be placed in handcuffs, it would have been different.

Now as a columnist, I enjoy digging deeper to learn more about a great performer, sometimes finding a lousy human.

For the most part no one wants to hear of it -- if the athlete is doing well, most fans come to the conclusion that anyone who can do amazing athletic feats must be a terrific guy.

Maybe the critics had it right all along and Manny was a lousy human but because of his remarkable skills, some folks kept finding a reason to embrace him.

It happens all the time in sports, a bad guy doing well, becoming a good guy as a result until he goes wrong again.

Sports are all about being fickle. Gary Sheffield plays for the Dodgers, is one of the team’s best players, but threatens to quit if he doesn’t get more money. On opening day the fans boo him every time his name is mentioned, he hits a home run to win the game and the fans give him a standing ovation.

The separation between performer and human being is a tough one to grasp. Do you watch a Mel Gibson movie because he’s a great actor or stay away from it because he’s proved to be such a bad actor as a human being?

I still find Manny fascinating as a columnist, wondering how someone could rehab their reputation in Los Angeles, then chuck it aside seemingly overnight, the decline now continuing.

Is it as simple as saying, he’s stupid or a lousy human, or is he complex as a person as most people are?

MORE:

Manny Ramirez out of jail, ordered to have no contact with wife

Manny Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather Jr. and boxing's age-old issue

Bill Plaschke: Oakland Raiders could use some brains with their brawn

 --T.J. Simers

Photo: Manny Ramirez. Credit: Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times.

Angels open 2012 season at home, close on road

 

The Angels will open the 2012 season with a three-game series against the Kansas City Royals at home on April 6 before going on a road trip to face Minnesota and the New York Yankees. They will close the season with a six-game trip at Texas and Seattle.

The Angels will face the National League West in interleague play, including the annual home-and-away series against the Dodgers. The Angels will also play at San Diego and Colorado. The Arizona Diamondbacks and San Francisco Giants will play in Angel Stadium.

For more on the 2012 schedule later, go to www.latimes.com/sports.

ALSO:

Angels go quietly in lonely confines of Oakland

Angels ace Jered Weaver to pitch on short rest

Angels' Peter Bourjos proves bigger than his miscue

-- Mike DiGiovanna in Oakland

Photo: Erick Aybar, No. 2, celebrates with Torii Hunter, No. 48, and Alberto Callaspo after scoring on a throwing error by Brandon Allen of the Oakland Athletics on September 13. Credit: Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images.

N.F.L. Week 1 Film Review

A look back at some of the matchups in Week 1, via film analysis:

Lions O vs. Bucs D

Matthew Stafford and this offense had an excellent feel for Tampa Bay’s zone coverages. Detroit operated mostly out of three-receiver formations (Titus Young, Maurice Stovall and Tony Scheffler took turns serving as the third receiver). This kept the Bucs in their nickel defense, which the Lions gladly ran inside against. Jahvid Best ran with a lower center of gravity that last season and showed good patience and vision in locating cutback lanes. Because the Bucs only had two linebackers on the field (finesse-oriented Quincy Black and Geno Hayes), the Lion interior offensive linemen were often able to focus on defeating the defensive lineman in front of them (rather than getting to the second level).

Bucs O vs. Lions D

The Bucs barely had the ball for the 20 minutes and never found a rhythm. Their offensive line contained Detroit’s active front four early on, but surprisingly, Detroit’s secondary blanketed Josh Freeman’s targets all afternoon (Tampa Bay’s lack of outside speed and quickness proved problematic). Detroit corners looked comfortable in their base Cover 2 in early downs and thrived in man coverage on third down. It wasn’t all the secondary, though. The player of the game was new middle linebacker Stephen Tulloch. He had two outstanding pass rushes as a quarterback spy and played fast in both coverage and run support.

Bills O vs. Chiefs D

The Bills played extremely well but did not quite dominate in the way the final score suggests. They took advantage of favorable field position in the first half and racked up yards with a few slow-developing downfield passes (credit Ryan Fitzpatrick and the offensive line for maximizing the time needed to make those plays happen). The biggest factor in the game was Buffalo’s ability to run on a Kansas City nickel defense that lacks a physical linebacking presence. Fred Jackson played with great tempo and fluidity, especially on stretch plays that put him at the second level with relative ease.

Chiefs O vs. Bills D

The No. 32-ranked run defense from 2010 faced the No. 1-ranked run offense from 2010. Shockingly, that No. 32 run defense kept the No. 1 run offense in check. The first-round rookie Marcell Dareus was fantastic at shedding blocks with power. Nose tackle Kyle Williams played with his usual energy and finally saw his fellow front seven mates keep up. Buffalo’s safeties were outstanding both in the box and over the top (virtually everything the Chiefs did through the air was underneath). Mistakes hurt the Chiefs more than anything.

Titans O vs. Jaguars D

The Titans never seemed interested in making Chris Johnson a part of the game plan. They clearly thought early on that Matt Hasselbeck could beat Jacksonville’s secondary. Problem was, Hasselbeck, despite relatively good protection all afternoon, struggled to establish timing with his receivers. He seemed to read the field after the snap more than before the snap. The Titans’ athletic third-year tight end, Jared Cook, was particularly disappointing. He was inept as a blocker (physical execution was slightly more of an issue than mental execution) and failed to capitalize on opportunities as a receiver. Jacksonville’s secondary was good but not great. Safety Courtney Greene might be viewed as a liability in coverage as the season progresses.

Jaguars O vs. Titans D

The Jaguars did all they could to hide Luke McCown…and the Titans let them get away with it. Tennessee willingly operated out of its base 4-3 defense while the Jaguars pounded the ball for three-and-four-yard chunks. Had the Titans blitzed safety Chris Hope in the first half as they did in the fourth quarter, we might have seen a different outcome. Maurice Jones-Drew showed his usual patience and slipperiness, and Deji Karim displayed drastically improved quickness as a third-down back. Neither made any particularly big plays, but both performed well enough to give the offense sustainability. McCown did not make any crucial mistakes, and he converted a huge third-and-eight late in the fourth quarter when he saw wideout Mike Thomas working against linebacker Barrett Ruud. Jacksonville’s elementary approach was enough in this game, but this formula probably won’t be enough most weeks.

Bengals O vs. Browns D
It’s hard to believe that Cedric Benson had 121 yards rushing. That was a product of a high volume of carries. Benson played well, the left side of the offensive line got movement, but there was never the sense that the Bengals were dominating on the ground. Credit Jay Gruden for running the offense through Benson. Andy Dalton was good in his one half of work. He had enough time and space in the pocket to pitch a tent. He was extremely accurate. Tight end Jermaine Gresham was Cincy’s go-to guy. The Bengals designed several nice plays for him that forced the safeties and linebackers to make tough decisions in zone coverage. The Browns needed more of a pass-rush outside. Lastly, left cornerback Joe Haden was absolutely fabulous.

Browns O vs. Bengals D
The lack of explosiveness of the Browns’ passing attack became evident, especially late in the fourth quarter when they had to run the hurry-up. The Browns manipulated McCoy’s reads by having all of his downfield throws in the first half come from a moving pocket (usually off play-action). This tactic is common with young quarterbacks; it slices the field in half and makes for defined reads. But it’s a limiting tactic over all. The Bengals had good activity from their front four. Both corners played well (Leon Hall especially), and safety Reggie Nelson had the best second-half performance of his thus far underwhelming career. Nelson was effective in coverage and made several clean, fast stops as an added defender in the box.

Andy Benoit is the founder of NFLTouchdown.com and an analyst for CBSsports.com. He can be reached at andy.benoit@NFLtouchdown.com or @Andy_Benoit.

Jenson: "McLaren are listening to me more, which is nice."

The body language on display from Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button following Sunday's race could hardly have been more different. Lewis, trying to say nothing, could not conceal his frustration with how things are panning out for him at present.

There was a strange moment (strange in terms of its timing, in front of a handful of journalists) when Ron Dennis walked over to where we were sitting and put a consoling arm around him, saying "you know you can call me whenever you like". It was both touching and revealing.

Jenson, by contrast, looks and sounds like a man who is at peace with himself. His driving since Hungary has been sublime even if his qualifying/starts remain a source of frustration. What struck me most was his appraisal of why he feels he is driving better now than he did when he won the world title in 2009.

"It is to do with confidence after winning the world championship," he said, "feeling the team around me and being in a good place off the circuit. I am really working well with the people within the team; the engineers and the mechanics.

"I took my engineers and mechanics out for dinner on Saturday night in Italy. It is not for a competitive edge over Lewis’s side of the garage, it was to pay them back for all the hard work they have done. These guys work long hours and having a bond with your team is important. You might not think it is going to gain you anything, but it definitely does.

"I am very confident in my engineer [Dave Robson] and he understands the way that I work. We have a good rapport and that makes a big difference.  At the moment we are working on developing the car for next year and they are really listening to what I have to say – the things I don’t like and the things I want to improve.

"Every time I drive the simulator we test something that I specifically want. I am really enjoying that and we are making really good progress for next year."

Asked whether his feedback was improving with age, and whether he is having a bigger say in how the car develops, Jenson said something interesting. "I don’t think I am having more of a say but I think they are listening more which is nice," he said. "Maybe that comes with winning the world championship, having the confidence within you. Some teams listen more than others.

"When I arrived here there were so many amazing things that I was gobsmacked with but there were one or two areas where I thought, “Why are they doing that? Why aren’t they doing this?” You give them your input and you try new things; it helps Lewis and it helps me.  We do have really good input, Lewis and me. The team really listen and it moves the car forward."

Was Jenson hinting that he is now the driving force in terms of the car's development rather than Lewis? Possibly, although I don't think that was his intention. I don't think he was necessarily trying to turn up the heat on Lewis. He just wanted to show how confident, how comfortable, he is feeling at McLaren right now. Which possibly amounts to the same thing.

Nine points ahead of his team mate with six races to go. Can he keep it going?

Sunderland are still paying the price for failing to pay Darren Bent what he wanted

To lose one top class striker is careless, to lose two unfortunate, to lose three a concern, to lose four downright worrying.

Steve Bruce has had Kenwyne Jones, Darren Bent, Asamoah Gyan and Danny Welbeck leading the line since he became Sunderland manager in May 2009, but all four are now playing elsewhere.

It is not necessarily the manager’s fault, he has been forced to let some leave, as well as forced others out, but Sunderland’s inability to hold on to their goal getters is the failing that undermines them most.

Jones’ lethargy could infuriate a saint renowned for his patience, so Bruce sacrificed him to bring in Gyan, who in turn thanked him by agitating to leave as soon as his agent – or agents – told him he to.

The Ghana international scored 13 goals in his first season in England, had been tipped by Bruce to break the 20 barrier in pre-season, only to pack his bags at the weekend for the footballing, erm, Mecca of Al-Ain and Abu Dhabi.

An error in character assessment may well have been Bruce’s only crime there, while Welbeck did so well on loan at Sunderland last season he has returned to Manchester United and kept both Dimitar Berbatov and Michael Owen out of the side. Bruce cannot be blamed for the failure to persuade Sir Alex Ferguson to let him return for another year.

The manager deserves to be given the benefit of the doubt on two others. Jones continues to infuriate at Stoke, a team with a style of play which should fit him perfectly, while Gyan, at 25, has either been badly advised, or blinded by cash, to swap the Premier League for the United Arab Emirates.

Bent, though, is another matter. Sunderland’s problems effectively began the moment he decided he’d had enough on Wearside and it is difficult to escape from the feeling more should have been done to keep him, no matter the financial cost.

In January, before Bent handed in his transfer request and left for Aston Villa, Sunderland were sixth in the Premier League and pushing for a European place.

Fast forward to September and the Black Cats have won just one game at the Stadium of Light since New Year’s Day and have scored just twice in five games this season.

Bent, meanwhile, has banged in ten for Villa in just 21 appearances and forced his way, not just back into the England squad, but until injury forced him to miss the European Championship qualifiers against Bulgaria and Wales, Fabio Capello’s starting line-up.

Like Gyan, at the route of Bent’s grievance with Sunderland was money. After one excellent season at the Stadium of Light, he wanted to renegotiate his contract, which was worth around £40,000-a-week and asked for £60,000.

He used interest from Turkish club Fenerbache to put pressure on Bruce and the board, threatened to leave, and didn’t.

With a huge proportion of turnover already spent on wages, Sunderland refused to bend to Bent’s demands and bad feeling festered.

Quinn argued the striker had only signed a deal 12 months earlier and been happy with the terms on offer then. He feared, with good reason, that should Bent get a big pay rise after one good season at the start of a four year deal, others would expect the same.

The bad feeling was fuelled further by the striker’s decision to pursue a personal relationship with the manager’s daughter, Amy, but Bent, Sunderland’s talisman and symbol of ambition, lost his way and Sunderland lost the player that made a good side a potentially excellent one.

Transfer requests were handed in and rejected. Bent wanted, to coin a phrase from the Hip-Hop music he loves, “get paid” and knew he would if he left to join another club looking for a 20 goal a season centre forward.

Bent had the game’s most valuable commodity, goals, and wanted to earn his market value. There was little thought of loyalty or gratitude for Sunderland rebuilding his career after two confidence-draining seasons at Tottenham, but he is not alone there in a game where money does not just talk, it shouts and screams and stamps its foot for attention.

The question is, should Sunderland have agreed to his demands?

From a pure footballing perspective, of course they should, but Sunderland would never dream of playing in black and white and neither is this issue.

Keep Bent happy and they kept one of the best centre-forwards in the division, but risked upsetting others, not least owner Ellis Short who has covered the club’s losses for the last three years.

Bent wanted too much too soon as far as Sunderland were concerned. Unfortunately, for them, Villa were prepared to pay him what he wanted and Bent’s goals for them ensured they stayed clear of relegation last term.

Sunderland are a poorer side without Bent, that is obvious, but Bruce will build again. The signing of Nicklas Bendtner from Arsenal could prove an inspired one. Young, hungry and with a point to prove, the Dane needs Sunderland almost as much as they need him over the next nine months.

Bruce needs goals, from somewhere, anywhere. With Gyan gone, Sunderland will have to lean far more heavily on South Korean Ji Dong-Wong and the 18-year-old Connor Wickham than they ever intended and that is a risk.

With Fraizer Campbell still to return from a second serious knee injury in the space of two years in the spring and with money to spend in January on Gyan’s replacement, Sunderland have room for improvement, but Bruce has to get them to that window first.

Goals win games and Sunderland desperately need one of those to ensure a disappointing start to the season does not turn into a terrible one. Bent is sorely missed.

Rugby World Cup 2011: The Cold War has ended, but the revolution continues in Russian rugby

A return to the Cold War as Russia and the United States meet in New Plymouth on Thursday? KGB versus the CIA? Underhand surveillance of the other's training methods? Slipping a bit of polonium 210 into the Eagles' diet?

None of the sort, says Paul Pook, a Welsh native who's now the fitness coach for Russia. "The players are young, bright and modern. They're obviously aware of history, but have no hangover in that regard. That said, the public may see it slightly differently … and still hope to get one over the old enemy.

"From our point of view this game is fantastic because of the long history between old Soviet Union and the US, and that can only help to make the game more prominent and raise the profile of the sport in Russia."

The biggest change, Pook says, lies in the players' attitutes, training and diets – it's been a real modern-day revolution. Previously it could be a ramshackle lot, but the Russians have cast off their bear-fur jumpers for the most modern gear, training methods and nutrition.

"The players have been like sponges, soaking up new methods, foods and attitudes. The normal diet in Russia is often high fat, high sugar - pancakes can feature 2-3 a day with meals – so players' revamped regimes are all very exciting for them."

Proof of the sea change lies in the pudding. So nowadays, instead of a visit to the local for a deep-fried yak burger and a shot of vodka after training, the Russians jump into ice baths and tuck into a high-tech arsenal of products. 

Pook readily acknowledges, though, that this revolution will take a long time to show real effects. "We have to be realistic about our chances at this World Cup. The USA is probably our biggest game. As for Australia, Ireland and Italy, we simply hope to gain their respect. Ultimately, we hope that playing on the big stage will help grow game in Russia."

This blog is supported by Maximuscle, who supply the Russian team with Ache Free, Beta Alanine, Immune Support, Promax, Cyclone, Promax Bars, Promax Diet, Progain Flapjack, Viper Active Gel, Viper Active & Recovermax. http://www.maximuscle.com

Raiders Put Trust in Janikowski

When Sebastian Janikowski tied the N.F.L. record by making a 63-yard field goal to end the first half against the Broncos on Monday night, few on the Oakland side of the field were surprised. Janikowski routinely kicks 65-yarders in practice, and made one from 70 in pregame warm-ups Monday.

It was not even the longest kick the Raiders have had him attempt in a game. Lane Kiffin let Janikowski try a 64-yarder in 2007 and a 76-yarder in 2008. (The first was long enough but hit the right upright; the second was a bit out of range, even for Janikowski, though in his defense he was kicking into the wind.) Under Tom Cable in 2009, Janikowski set a team record by hitting from 61 yards in a game against the Browns.

But the best part of Monday night’s kick might have come before Janikowski trotted out to take it. With 17 seconds left, the Raiders declined the chance to get him a little closer and instead ran Michael Bush right for no gain. What appeared to be a wasted play was in fact a favor; the left-footed Janikowski, nicknamed the Polish Cannon, prefers to kick from the right hash mark.

“Most teams would be like, ‘Man, why are they running the ball in that situation?’ ” Raiders quarterback Jason Campbell said. “We ran the ball because we have trust in him.”

Janikowski said he had now achieved two of the three goals he set for himself when he entered the league: to play 10 seasons (he is starting his 12th); to match the record for the longest field goal, set by Tom Dempsey in 1970 and matched by Jason Elam in 1998; and to win a Super Bowl.