William C. Rhoden discusses the latest clashes between athletes and the media.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
UFC 137: Nick Diaz admits "it sucks to fight BJ Penn, my first idol in MMA"
Nick Diaz has admitted that BJ Penn was his "first idol in MMA" and "it sucks that I have to fight him". Yet he knows to progress, he must beat the best. The UFC 137 main event has split the MMA world.
At UFC 137, Diaz meets the Hawaiian who has a very similar blend of boxing and BJJ.
Diaz said: “BJ Penn was my first idol in MMA. I got into this when I was 16, I bought a magazine with him in there and I pulled out the pictures of him and put them on my wall. It kinda sucks we are fighting but if you want to be the best you have to fight the best and it is what it is.”
Of course, Diaz was due to fight Georges St-Pierre for the UFC welterweight title before the well-documented change in opponent. The Stockton brawler, though, believes he will prove himself the best fighter in the world at 170lbs. He said: “If I have a good night, I can beat anybody. I can beat anybody in the world. My thing is I know I can train harder than anyone else. I know I can do that. And I know I can fight hard.”
Penn said: “I feel the best is still inside me. Early in my career I was so focused on getting the belt, or being the pound-for-pound No1 or talking smack about this guy or that guy… I changed as I got older. Right now, I feel I got a clean slate in the sport. I am happy with my career, winning two titles and beating some great fighters, but I also feel I have more to do, I have to get better and I have to show I am as good as people have said I am. Iʼm getting older, and this is a career to me but fighting is what I live for.
“As far as this thing as I have to hate everyone I fight, or proving I can outbox a boxer or tapout the best BJJ guy, I donʼt need to prove that anymore. What I want to do is fight hard, win some big fights, and see what happens. Iʼd like to win the title but I donʼt think about that. Getting a title shot is about timing. If Iʼd have got the decision against Jon Fitch, Iʼd have got a title shot already. But even though Nick Diaz is a top guy, beating him may not get me a title shot because the timing may not work out.
“But thatʼs cool. I am fighting for victory, to beat the best guys out there. And fighting Nick allows me to do that.”
KEYS TO THE CONTEST: While some were surprised by Pennʼs bold strategy of attempting out-wrestling NCAA Division 1 standout Jon Fitch, in his most recent bout at UFC 127 in February, and forcing a draw, BJʼs career stats show his wrestling is heavily underrated.
While Penn is highly-regarded for his boxing skills – his tally of 746 power-punches is the third best in the UFC– Pennʼs wrestling stats also make for impressive reading. The Prodigy scores with 64% of his takedowns, placing him tenth in UFC history in terms of offensive grappling.
His defensive wrestling is even more impressive; Penn stuffs 77% of all opponentʼs attempts to take him down. And considering Penn has once again brought in former nemesis turned BFF Matt Hughes as a wrestling coach for this camp, expect Pennʼs wrestling to be razor sharp at UFC 137.
(Stats courtesy of UFC media pack).
Analysis: Rangers Still Not Sharp, But Win in Winnipeg
Ryan Callahan’s goal midway through the third period gave the Rangers a 2-1 victory Monday night in Winnipeg.
Skating down the right side, Callahan attempted to slide a pass to an opponent outside the crease, but the puck caromed off Winnipeg defenseman Zach Bogosian and past goalie Chris Mason.
Ruslan Fedotenko’s redirection of a point shot by Dan Girardi on the power play opened the scoring early in the second period, but Nik Antropov answered for Winnipeg 10 minutes later.
Martin Biron made his first start of the season for the Rangers in goal and made 27 saves. A well-rested Henrik Lundqvist will be the starter when the Rangers play their home opener Thursday against the Maple Leafs.
Winnpieg out-shot the Rangers, 28-17. The Rangers completed its seven-game, season-opening trip with a record of 3-2-2. Despite only losing two games in regulation out of the seven, the Rangers will have to play much better to contend for the Stanley Cup this season.
Game Rating
Manitobans waited fifteen years for the return of the N.H.L. At this early stage of the comeback season, Jets fans are cheering everything. This game did not simmer until a frantic third period. Rating: 6 out of 10
Our Three Stars
1. Ruslan Fedotenko: A goal, an assist, plus a drawn penalty that led to the game-winning power play goal.
2. Martin Biron: Although Henrik Lundqvist started the first six games of the season, Biron did not look rusty.
3. Dustin Byfuglien: The immense Jets defenseman (latest estimate: 260 pounds) was a force for most of the night, especially in the offensive zone.
Rangers Plus/Minus
Plus: In a rarity this early in the season, the Rangers did not hold a parade to the penalty box. The Jets had only one power play.
Minus: Despite some line combination alterations by Coach John Tortorella, the Rangers were unable to sustain much of an offensive attack during five on five play for the second game in a row. During an intense 90-second stretch in the middle of the third period, the Jets had the Rangers scrambling in their own zone while they peppered Biron with shots.
Plus: Showing no favorites and identifying some uninspired play by Marian Gaborik, Tortorella benched the team’s leading goal scorer for all but three shifts in the third period.
Minus: After getting shut out by Edmonton on Saturday, the Rangers managed just 10 shots on goal after 40 minutes in Winnipeg.
Plus: Dan Girardi had assists on both goals and led the team with more than 25 minutes of playing time.
Plus: The Rangers’ seven-game road schedule — opening the season with four games in Europe, a pit stop in Uniondale and three games in Canada — is over. After a day off Tuesday, the Rangers will have one practice and a morning skate to prepare for their home opener Thursday. Their next six games are at Madison Square Garden.
Plus: After Callahan’s goal gave them the lead, the Rangers established an effective forecheck that stymied Winnipeg’s ability to create scoring chances in the final 10 minutes of the game.
Plus: The Rangers blocked 14 shots, including Callahan’s gutsy stop of a Bogosian slap shot in the final minute.
Tortorella’s Take
“Except for that one shift where they ran all over us, I thought we defended well. To watch our guys start blocking shots the way they did, that’s what we have to start with. We still have to be consistent having the puck.
“We’re 3-2-2, eight points,” he said of the seven-game trip. “We still have a lot of work to do to try and play the right way. But in this league, you grab your points and get out of here. There will be times when we play our best game and lose.”
Rangers Want Stralman
The Rangers have reportedly made a contract offer to Anton Stralman, an unrestricted free agent who has played 212 games in his N.H.L. career with Toronto and Columbus. Stralman attended the Devils’ training camp last month and impressed the coaching staff, but the team decided to go with other defensemen and did not offer him a deal. The Rangers are in need of experienced defensemen because of the uncertain status of Marc Staal, who continues to suffer from concussion symptoms.
UFC 137: Mix and match and third time lucky for enigma Nick Diaz against BJ Penn
UFC legend BJ Penn and Nick Diaz meet in what is the third choice as the main event for UFC 137. The re-shuffle has the MMA world intrigued. The re-jigging has gone from Georges St-Pierre vs Diaz, to St-Pierre vs Carlos Condit – after Diaz was expelled for missing multiple news conferences – and then, due to a GSP knee injury, Penn vs Diaz as the main attraction.
Diaz has earned his place here, returning to the UFC after a career-defining 10 straight victories. He vacated his Strikeforce welterweight title when he expected to face St-Pierre for the UFC belt. In a previous run in the UFC, he was 6 wins, 4 losses, between 2003 and 2006, but this is the enigmatic character's time to shine.
Penn comes in, arguably, as the underdog. He drew against Jon Fitch in a title eliminator in February in Sydney, and has a record of 2-3-1 as a UFC welterweight, with both victories against fellow legend Matt Hughes.
Tale of the Tape
Penn Diaz
W-L-D 16-7-2 25-7, 1 NC
Age 32 28
Height 5’9” 6’1
Reach 70” 74”
Strength BJJ, Boxing BJJ, Boxing
On the main card, Cheick Kongo moves up to chief support, and seeks to become the fourth heavyweight with 10 wins in UFC history. The others are Frank Mir, Andre Arlovski, and Randy Couture, all with 10 apiece. No heavyweight has more wins than Kongo since his debut at UFC 61. Pedro Rizzo and Tim Sylvia also stand at 9 heavyweight victories in the UFC.
Similarly, no heavyweight has more wins than Matt Mitrione since his debut at the TUF 10 finale. The former Giants and Vikings practice squad member is unbeaten in five MMA bouts with four wins by knockout, but this will provide a major test for whether the loveable character has what takes in the heavy division. After losing back-to-back bouts against Cain Velasquez and Frank Mir in 2009, Kongo got back on track with a submission victory over Paul Buentello and a spectacular first-round knockout of Pat Barry in June. He also drew with Travis Browne after having a point deducted for grabbing the fence.
The ever-popular Mirko 'Cro Cop', the 2006 Pride Grand Prix winner, has lost back-to-back fights, each by knockout, and tries to avoid dropping three in a row for the first time. Nelson also enters on a two-fight losing streak for the second time and has never lost three in a row. The TUF 10 winner and former IFL heavyweight champion is just 2-4 in his last six bouts but each of his last six wins have been by knockout.
Scott Jorgensen vs Jeff Curran (bantamweight) was promoted to the main card after St-Pierre vs Condit and Brad Tavares against Dustin Jacoby were both shelved due to injuries. Curran returns to the UFC for the first time since 2004 when he lost a lightweight bout to Matt Serra – his only previous UFC contests. He also lost his last four WEC bouts from 2007-09. However, has won two straight and four of his last five overall and seeks his first three-fight winning streak since winning six in a row from 2006-07. Jorgensen has won six of his last seven with the only loss in that stretch coming to bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz.
At featherweight, Hatsu Hioki makes his featherweight debut against George Roop. Hioki has won four straight and is 12-1-1 in his last 14 bouts. Considered a top featherweight in the world, Hioki has won the Shooto lightweight and Sengoku featherweight titles. Roop comes off upsetting Josh Grispi by TKO in June.
The PRELIMINARY CARD has one contest which has fight of the night written all over it: Dennis Siver vs Donald Cerrone. Both teak-tough, seemingly impregnable fighters. It should be a fan pleaser. From this seat, I can't wait for the Cowboy v the Caveman.
Elsewhere on the prelimary card:
Tyson Griffin vs Bart Palaszewski
Brandon Vera vs Eliot Marshall
Ramsey Nijem vs Danny Downes
Chris Camozzi vs Francis Carmont
Dustin Jacoby vs Clifford Starks
New Jersey officials confirm Formula One race planned for 2013
Gov. Chris Christie and other New Jersey officials and promoters Tuesday confirmed plans for a Formula One street race along the Hudson River in June 2013.
The Grand Prix of America at Port Imperial would be a 3.2-mile course in Weehawken and West New York on the west side of the river across from Manhattan, with elevation changes up to 150 feet.
"I’ve been wanting to do this for years,” Formula One chief Bernie Ecclestone told Bloomberg.com. "You’ll be able to see the Manhattan skyline on TV."
It would be the second new Formula One race in the United States, which has been without F1 racing since the widely followed international racing series left the Indianapolis Motor Speedway after the 2007 U.S. Grand Prix.
Formula One already plans to add a race next year at Circuit of the Americas, a track in Austin, Texas, being specifically built for an F1 race.
Christie said at a news conference at the track's proposed site that "there's no public subsidy that's being put into running this race" in New Jersey, with expenses being covered by race promoters.
Officials also said the average price of a three-day ticket to practice, qualifying and the race would be about $360.
ALSO:
Dan Wheldon was an engaging young champion
Dan Wheldon's death hits racing community hard
IndyCar boss faces scrutiny in wake of Dan Wheldon's death
--Jim Peltz
Photo: New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (at podium) holds a news conference Tuesday at the Port Imperial Ferry Terminal to announce a Formula One race in 2013. Credit: Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images
NCAA student-athlete graduation rates at all-time high
The NCAA's graduation success rate has climbed to an all-time high, with more than eight of every 10 Division I student-athletes earning their degrees within six years, officials said Tuesday.
The 82% graduation rate for student-athletes who began college in 2004 is three points higher than last year and eight points higher than when the NCAA began collecting such data a decade ago.
"Academic reform is working," NCAA President Mark Emmert said. "Students are better prepared when they enter college, and they are staying on track to earn their degrees."
Officials were less pleased that graduation rates for football and men’s basketball players, while improving, remained below 70%.
ALSO:
Trojans to face well-balanced Stanford
Neuheisel says Hundley wasn't ready to play
-- David Wharton
Photo: NCAA President Mark Emmert. Credit: Lisa Helfert / PR Newswire
Terrell Owens works out, but no NFL scouts are there to watch
Owens, 37, who last played for the Bengals, did various drills, and caught passes for about 25 minutes. He didn’t look as though as had slowed down.
Former 49er star Jerry Rice was on hand, as were various media members, but no scouts.
ALSO:
Beanie Wells: Injury not as severe as Cardinals feared
Jaguar's Blaine Gabbert does just enough against Ravens
-- Broderick Turner
Photo: Terrell Owens in 2010. Credit: Ed Reinke / Associated Press
Ducks road trip starts with milestone for Coach Randy Carlyle
Randy Carlyle said he didn't know Tuesday's game at the Chicago Blackhawks marked his 500th as Anaheim Ducks coach until an autograph-seeker at the team hotel congratulated him en route to the morning skate.
That's what two straight losses and Tuesday's start of a critical, seven-game trip can do. Along those lines of tunnel-vision focus, Carlyle met briefly with both the defensemen and forwards to review recent slippages in play before the Ducks took the United Center ice to prepare for the Blackhawks.
"We just went over some of the things that transpired over the last couple of games, some of the things that ail us as a hockey club," Carlyle said. "We won’t have a chance at success unless we correct them. It wasn’t pointing any fingers. I wasn’t hard on anybody other than the fact that this is what’s happening and what we see.
"You tell me any different. If I’m providing you something you disagree with, let’s talk about it. That’s what we did -- very short, seven or eight clips for the defense. There were 10 clips for the forwards. Just a refresher of what’s going on out there."
As is his custom, Carlyle wouldn't reveal whether Jonas Hiller or Dan Ellis would start in goal. He wouldn't say whether left wing Patrick Maroon, recalled from Syracuse on Monday, would see any ice time.
What Carlyle would acknowledge is that the Blackhawks pose a stiff test at the start of such a daunting trip.
"We always take the same approach: I know it’s a cliché but this is the most important one," Carlyle said. "We’re playing a very good hockey team. We know they will come with a four-man rush. We know they’ve moved their scoring around with the creation of [Patrick] Kane in the middle. They’ve found combinations they’re happy with. Their groupings on defense are solid. And they have their goalie back. There are a lot of things to like about their team. We have to be prepared to match their energy and skill set."
-- K.C. Johnson in Chicago
Photo: Randy Carlyle. Credit: Jonathan Nackstrand / AFP / Getty Images
In Week 7, Passing Defenses Continue to Show Pop
Last week, I wrote that the monster passing numbers from the first five weeks took a serious body blow in Week 6, evidenced by a huge decline in passing touchdowns. The knockout punch was delivered in Week 7. After teams averaged over 240 passing yards per game through the first six weeks of the season, the 26 teams playing in Week 7 combined for only 4,997 passing yards this past weekend, a paltry 191 yards per game. Nowhere was this more evident — on Sunday — than in Cleveland, as the Seahawks and Browns put on a pitiful display. The Browns and Seahawks combined for 435 yards and 9 points. It was the worst display of offense in a game not affected by severe weather in over a decade. The Colt McCoy pass attempt watch marches on: he threw 35 passes in a game in which the Browns allowed only 137 yards and 3 points.
But Cleveland-Seattle was just an appetizer for “Monday Night Football.” Against Jacksonville, the Ravens’ first 22 plays netted 6 yards. Baltimore had nine drives in the first half, and the Ravens never got close to getting a first down on any of them. Four of Jacksonville’s first-half possessions gained negative yards; a fifth series ended in a fumble. After 30 minutes, the game featured five fumbles, four first downs and just 29 yards of passing. Baltimore got its first first down with five minutes left in the third quarter. The two teams combined for 185 passing yards, the fewest in any game this season. Joe Flacco threw for only 137 yards on 38 pass attempts; only Jesse Palmer, Bobby Hoying, Kent Graham, Carson Palmer and Tommy Maddox have gained fewer yards on so many attempts since 1970. The Jaguars rookie quarterback Blaine Gabbert wasn’t any better — the Jaguars gained 73 passing yards on 24 pass plays. Once again, don’t write the obituary on pass defense just yet.
Another Big Day for Forte
Matt Forte leads the league with 1,091 yards from scrimmage in seven games. As Michael David Smith pointed out this week, his production as a percentage of his team’s offense is even more impressive. In a sloppy game against Tampa Bay in London, Forte was the game’s lone star. This year, he has accounted for 43.6 percent of the Bears’ 2,505 yards from scrimmage. Maurice Jones-Drew (39.3%, Jacksonville), Fred Jackson (38.0%, Buffalo) and Ray Rice (37.1%, Baltimore) are the only other players that have gained at least a third of their team’s offense. If Forte can keep up this pace, he will become the 19th player since 1940 to accumulate at least 40 percent of his team’s total yards from scrimmage.
Cornerback Heaven
The Kansas City Chiefs’ secondary took over a game Sunday. Left cornerback Brandon Flowers had two interceptions and returned one for a 58-yard touchdown. Right cornerback Brandon Carr intercepted a pass at the Kansas City 10-yard line to kill a Raiders drive before the half. Free safety Kendrick Lewis returned an interception 59 yards for a touchdown. Strong safety Jon McGraw had a fourth-quarter interception at the Chiefs’ 9-yard line to keep the shutout intact. Another defensive back, Travis Daniels, recorded Kansas City’s sixth interception of the day. What about Kansas City’s second-round pick from 2010, cornerback Javier Arenas? All he did was score a touchdown on offense, taking the snap as the Chiefs’ Wildcat quarterback and running 7 yards for the score.
Haven’t I Seen This Before?
In Matt Ryan’s first N.F.L. start, in Week 1 of the 2008 season, his first pass was a 62-yard touchdown strike to Michael Jenkins. In Christian Ponder’s first N.F.L. start, this past Sunday against the Packers, his first pass was a 72-yard connection to Michael Jenkins.
Gonzalez Reaches New Heights, as Do His Chasers
Tony Gonzalez caught five passes against the Lions, giving him 1,104 receptions for his career. That moved him into second place in N.F.L. history, behind only Jerry Rice. An incredible accomplishment for anyone, and Gonzalez is the only tight end in the top 20 on the career receptions list. He’s the greatest tight end in the history of the game, in my view, and deserves to be the first tight end to be inducted on the first Hall of Fame ballot.
But the record books may not be kind to Gonzalez for long. Antonio Gates became just the second tight end to catch 70 touchdown passes, and is “only” 22 touchdown catches away from tying Gonzalez (Gonzalez figures to make a run at the 100-touchdown mark).
With five catches against the Rams on Sunday, Jason Witten continues to be hot on the trail. Both Gonzales and Witten were rookies at age 21, and each missed only one game in their first eight seasons. That makes it easy to compare the two as Witten’s career progresses. Witten played in his 133rd game and has 653 receptions for 7,416 receiving yards. After 133 career games, Gonzalez had 595 receptions for 7,114 yards.
Burress Pulls a Bettis
Plaxico Burress played the role of hero Sunday, scoring all three Jets touchdowns to help lead a comeback against the San Diego Chargers. He also played the role of vulture: Burress became just the third player since 1960 to catch three touchdown passes while failing to gain at least 30 receiving yards. The first two? Tight ends Mack Alston (1975, Houston) and Eric Green (1990, Pittsburgh). Burress’s stat line for the day: 4 receptions, 25 yards, 3 touchdowns. His longest catch of the day was a 15-yard grab, on the one play in which he did not score. All of Burress’s touchdowns came from within the 5, making him just the fourth player in league history to score three touchdowns from inside that mark (Lance Alworth, Kellen Winslow Sr. and Marvin Harrison were the others). It called to mind Jerome Bettis’s 2004 season, when he had one game with 5 carries for 1 yard and 3 touchdowns and another with 6 carries for 9 yards and 2 touchdowns. Bettis led those Steelers in touchdowns, finishing ahead of… Plaxico Burress.
Emmitt Smith, Tony Dorsett… and DeMarco Murray
Tony Dorsett owned the Cowboys’ rookie single-game rushing record; he rushed for 206 yards against the Eagles in 1977. Emmitt Smith set the Cowboys’ rushing record with 233 yards, also against Philadelphia, in 1993. DeMarco Murray pushed both of them aside Sunday. His 253 rushing yards on 25 carries were the second most by a rookie since 1960, trailing Adrian Peterson. He joined Corey Dillon and Jamaal Charles as the only players in that span with 250 rushing yards on over 10 yards per carry.
On the other side of the coin, the Rams came into the week last in rushing defense. The Cowboys proceeded to run for more yards (294) in Week 7 than any team since the Raiders in Week 7 of the 2009 season. St. Louis is just the third team in the past 15 seasons to allow at least 1,100 combined rushing yards in their first six games.
Rodgers Fantastic; Packers’ Pass Defense Opportunistic: For Now
Aaron Rodgers is starting to enter the rarefied air that Peyton Manning used to inhabit. He’s so good, no one cares when he’s great. Otto Graham and Norm Van Brocklin are the only two players to average over 10 yards per pass during an N.F.L. season, and both of them did it in eras when teams played fewer games and passed less frequently. Small sample sizes enable incredible performances in rate statistics, and Graham and Van Brocklin are good examples of that. But Rodgers is averaging 9.9 yards per attempt after throwing 238 passes, nearly matching the performances of Graham and Van Brocklin over full seasons. And thanks to a sparkling 20:3 touchdown to interception ratio, Rodgers has the single highest adjusted yards per attempt average of any player in any season, with a minimum of 230 pass attempts. Rodgers has averaged at least 10 adjusted yards per pass attempt in six of seven games this season, a feat no quarterback had accomplished in more than four of his team’s first seven games. His worst performance of the season so far was a career day for many quarterbacks: 28 for 38 for 297 yards, 3 touchdowns and 1 interception, in a 27-17 win in Chicago.
The Packers’ pass defense has been nowhere near as productive as Green Bay’s offensive counterpart. The pass defense has been more opportunistic than anything, leading the league in interceptions while ranking fourth in interception rate (interceptions per attempt). The Packers are catching 4.8 percent of opposing passes this season, trailing only the Bills, Chiefs and Jets. All four teams should expect their rates to regress toward the league average for the remainder of the season. While those four teams have interception rates between 4.8 percent and 5.6 percent, no other team has intercepted even 4 percent of opposing passes.
History says that interceptions are largely random. From 1990 to 2010, 69 teams had interceptions rates of at least 5.0 percent after seven games. On average, those teams caught 5.8 percent of opposing passes while the league average rates for teams in those seasons was 3.3 percent. But over the remaining nine games, those teams had interception rates of just 3.7 percent (with the league average remaining at 3.3 percent). Those 69 teams went from interception rates that were 72 percent above league average to just 13 percent, essentially overnight. The Packers have the league’s best record, while the Bills have been one of the league’s surprise teams; the Jets have won three of their four games this season thanks in large part to Darrelle Revis interceptions, while the Chiefs won their third straight game after picking off six Oakland passes. If those four teams want their success to continue, they will need more than interception luck the rest of the way.
Foster, Johnson, Going in Opposite Directions
In 2009, the Titans’ Chris Johnson rushed for 2,000 yards and set the single-season record with 2,509 yards from scrimmage. That year, Arian Foster was on the Texans’ practice squad for most of the season. In 2010, Foster led the league in rushing yards, rushing yards per game, rushing touchdowns, yards from scrimmage and total touchdowns. The contrast between the two players’ career trajectories was on full display on Sunday. Johnson rushed 10 times for 18 yards, and his 2.2 yards per carry average is last among the 50 qualifying rushers. Johnson could only sit and watch from the sideline as Foster shredded the Titans’ defense, becoming the first player since at least 1960 with 115 rushing yards, 115 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns.
I Do Not Pretend to Understand Tim Tebow
For the first 54.5 minutes on Sunday, the Broncos looked completely inept on offense: 11 drives, 158 yards gained, 8 punts, 2 missed field goals and one fumble lost. Tim Tebow had completed 4 of 14 passes for 40 yards, while rushing six times for 48 yards. Including sacks, he was responsible for 25 plays and had gained a total of 61 yards. The Broncos had not scored a point. In the last five and a half minutes, Tebow completed 9 of 13 passes for 121 yards and 2 touchdowns and ran twice for 17 rushing yards. That doesn’t include the game-tying 2-point conversion, scored on a quarterback off-tackle power run (great explanation by Smart Football’s Chris Brown differentiating this from a quarterback draw). He went from Ryan Leaf to Aaron Rodgers seemingly out of nowhere, and provided even more drama for both the Tebow haters and the Tebow fan club. But as the Big Lead’s Jason Lisk points out, if not for a miraculous onside kick recovery, the talk of the day would be Tebow’s miserable performance, slightly hidden by some garbage-time numbers. Such is the saga of Tebow.
A cautionary note: It was hard not to have flashbacks to Vince Young’s fantastic comeback against the Cardinals in 2009, when he led the Titans on an 18-play, 99-yard drive in the final minutes of the game. On the last play, Young converted his third fourth down of the drive by throwing the winning touchdown pass. Young outdueled Matt Leinart – again — and led the Titans from 0-6 to 5-6. He received many of the accolades that Tebow is getting now, with comments that his “will to win” and intangibles mattered more than his passing prowess. The clock eventually struck midnight for Young, but don’t believe anyone who tells you he knows how the Tebow story will end.
Mike Wallace and Steve Smith Channel Their Inner Maynard and Alworth
From 1960 to 2010, only 17 players gained at least 700 receiving yards on 20-yards-per-reception in their team’s first seven games. Nine of those performances came during the high-flying 1960s, with over half of those coming from players in the American Football League. With the rise of the West Coast offense and other horizontal passing systems, only one player hit those thresholds between 1993 and 2009: Isaac Bruce. Brandon Lloyd caught 35 for 709 in the first seven games of 2010, and both Steve Smith and Mike Wallace are having big seasons as deep threats so far this season. Wallace led the league in yards per reception as a rookie in 2009, then increased his average reception length in 2010. But he has never been as productive as frequently as he has been this year. Smith had some huge years in the middle of last decade, and is now experiencing a career revival with the strong-armed rookie Cam Newton. Against the Redskins, Smith caught 7 passes for 143 yards, his fourth game of the season with at least 140 receiving yards and a 20-yards-per-carry average. Playing in Arizona, Wallace set a franchise record by catching a 95-yard touchdown pass, and became the first player since Isaac Bruce in 2000 with six straight games with at least one 40-yard reception. Don Maynard and Lance Alworth would be proud.
New Orleans and Manning Witness Another 62-7 rout
There have been two games in the history of the regular season to end with the score 62-7. Both games happened in New Orleans, with a dejected Manning on the losing team’s sideline wishing for better teammates.
In 1973, it was the Atlanta Falcons who roughed up the Saints in the season opener. Atlanta would go on to lose its next three games and score only 15 combined points, but the Falcons were near-flawless against New Orleans. Archie Manning ended the game on the sideline, after throwing five interceptions in 13 pass attempts.
The other game happened on Sunday night, also in New Orleans. This time the Saints rolled, making a mockery of a prime-time matchup. Archie’s son Peyton looked on, helpless, as the Colts continued their descent into the bottom of the league.
Before the season, I thought that the Manningless-Colts would look out of sync and be without an identity, and could stumble to 3-13. That seems to have been an optimistic viewpoint.
As for the Saints, all of their aspirations remain in front of them. They remain a top Super Bowl contender, and Drew Brees’s presence means they can beat any team in the league. Brees now has 2,477 passing yards, the most since 1960 (and almost certainly ever) by a quarterback after his team’s first seven games. He’s over 400 yards ahead of where Dan Marino was at this point in 1984. That may be surpassed next week, though, if Tom Brady can pass for 315 yards or more against the Steelers.
Chase Stuart contributes to Pro-Football-Reference.com and to Footballguys.com.
Beanie Wells: Injury not as severe as Cardinals feared
Beanie Wells won't require surgery after the right knee injury that initially had the Arizona Cardinals pretty worried, Coach Ken Whisenhunt said Monday.
"I think it's good because at one point yesterday, we thought he might be done for the year," Whisenhunt said. "Now it certainly doesn't appear that way."
There is no timetable for the return of Wells, who has 423 rushing yards and six touchdowns this season.
"I don't want to set the young man up for failure, if he gets out there Wednesday [in practice] and it's a struggle," said Whisenhunt, who offered no further details on the injury other than to say that the knee is "stable."
Wells took a hit to the knee during the second quarter of the Cardinals' 32-20 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. He left the game with swelling and did not return.
"I don't really remember when it happened," Wells said. "I know I took a [hit] early in the first quarter and the second quarter I kind of felt something in there and took another shot."
Wells was seen wearing a T-shirt with the words "Marked Man" on it at the Cardinals' practice facility Monday.
ALSO:
New Orleans trounces the Colts, 62-7
Would you want Tim Tebow as your team's starting QB? [Poll]
-- Chuck Schilken
Photo: Beanie Wells. Credit: Paul Connors / Associated Press
Will the World Series go to seven games and, if so, who will win?
Not that anything about the World Series between the Texas Rangers and St. Louis Cardinals has been predictable, but writers from around the Tribune Co. will do their best to forecast the outcome. Check back throughout the day for their responses and join the discussion by voting in the poll and leaving a comment.
Phil Rogers, Chicago Tribune
Mike Napoli and his Rangers teammates had no choice, really. If they were going to win the World Series, they had to find a way to win Game 5, and they did. Now they go to St. Louis with a chance to end it Wednesday night, but they’re not going to celebrate this soon. This World Series has been one of the best in a long time, and it deserves to go to the distance, which it will.
My original pick was Rangers in seven, and I’m sticking to it. I say that the Cardinals will win Game 6 behind big games from Jaime Garcia and Albert Pujols, but that the Rangers will come back to grab Game 7, scoring early and often against starter Kyle Lohse and a bullpen that has been exposed as the Cardinals’ fatal flaw. Look for Ian Kinsler to step up with a big hit or two, and the Rangers to string together shutout innings late in Game 7.
Peter Schmuck, Baltimore Sun
History tells us that the World Series team that wins Game 5 to take a 3-2 advantage goes on to win the title 66 percent of the time, which makes a pretty strong case for the Texas Rangers winning their first championship. All they have to do is win one of the next two games against the team that had the worst regular-season record among this year's eight playoff teams.
Except it isn't going to go down that way. Cardinals Game 6 starter Jaime Garcia is coming off a terrific seven-inning performance in Game 2 that went to waste when the bullpen blew up in the ninth inning. He'll drag the Cards into Game 7 and they'll have the home crowd behind them with all the candy on the line. If they can just get manager Tony La Russa and bullpen coach Derek Lilliquist a couple of bluetooth headsets, they should complete their unlikely late-season comeback.
Bill Kline, Allentown Morning Call
With the World Series tally at Rangers 3, Cardinals 2, General Sports Fan Interest 0, if there’s any compassion at all for television viewers, this prime-time nuisance will go away Wednesday night with a Texas victory.
Is this an East Coast bias? Guilty. Is this discrimination against Middle America? Guilty. Is this bitterness that the Series is not a Phillies-Yankees smackdown between baseball’s best teams over 162 games? Guilty.
Because the sorry subplot here is that the over-managed Cardinals and their know-it-all skipper are lucky just to be in the playoffs. The Rangers are more deserving, their fans thirstier. Look for Nelson Cruz to play longball and the Rangers to romp Wednesday in a game that will drag on almost as long as the holiday shopping season.
RELATED:
Photos: World Series, Rangers vs. Cardinals
Tony La Russa's call to arms falls on deaf ears
Texas Manager Ron Washington pushes the play button
Mike Napoli delivers again for Rangers in Game 5 victory
Left photo: Albert Pujols. Credit: John G. Mabanglo / EPA
Right photo: Texas' Mike Napoli. Credit: Tom Fox / Dallas Morning News / MCT
Manny Pacquiao prepares for his next fight [video]
Two professional boxers anxiously waited their turn to spar against Manny Pacquiao last week at Wild Card Boxing Club. More than just pride was at stake.
If they could knock him down, they would win $1,000.
It's an offer that Pacquiao's camp has made to every fighter who has entered the ring against him at his gym in Hollywood. So far, no one has won the prize.
After fighting a few rounds with Pacquiao, Ray Beltran (25-5, 17 knockouts) left the ring drenched in sweat.
"He's really, really hard," Beltran said.
When asked what are Pacquiao's strengths, Beltran replied, "Everything."
The boxing world is holding its breath that a superfight between Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. will happen in the near future.
There may be a lot of people turning blue. Pacquiao isn't one of them.
"I don't need him in my boxing career," he said. "I'm already satisfied with what I've achieved in boxing. I think I accomplished all of my dreams."
Though Pacquiao declined to comment on Mayweather's recent controversial victory against Victor Ortiz, his trainer, Freddy Roach, was quick to call Mayweather's knockout punch a sucker punch.
"Not a bit of a sucker punch, definitely a sucker punch," Roach said.
When asked if Pacquiao, who is notorious for showing his competitors mercy, could be vulnerable to receiving that type of a punch if a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight happened, Roach said that Pacquiao "would have no problem" knocking him out.
Both Pacquiao and Roach said that when they first met, they knew they would be a great fit.
"My first impression when we do meet?" Pacquiao said. "I liked him."
Said Roach: "I never really met anybody that had the explosion that he has in his punches. . . . For a little guy, he weighed 122 pounds back then, it was just amazing."
Roach said that Pacquiao had only one good hand when he first started training him. After he lost to Erik Morales, Roach decided that needed to change.
"I told myself it was my job to make his right hand as good as his left."
Roach seems to have kept his word.
Pacquiao hasn't lost a fight since then.
MORE:
Q & A: Manny Pacquiao is ready to settle things
Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez, round three
--Melissa Rohlin
WTA Championships Diary: Petra Kvitova the favourite as stars gather in Istanbul for season finale
The stars of the WTA at the official draw ceremony
Action stations
Today marks the first day of the TEB BNP Paribas WTA Championships in Istanbul, Turkey, the WTA's season ending crown jewel, which brings together the top singles players and doubles teams of the year. Here are a few bits and bobbles in the run-up to the season finale…
Surviving adversity
The preparations for Istanbul's first stint as host of the year-end Championships were dealt a bit of a shudder when the 7.2 earthquake hit the Van region of Eastern Turkey on Sunday morning, as almost 1,000 buildings collapsed killing hundreds. With the players sending their best wishes to all those affected, the official player party and various other promotional activities were cancelled.
Old vs new
The week's field of eight players, seven of whom are from different nations, has quite an eclectic mix of year-end championships' experience. Top of the list is Maria Sharapova, who is making her fifth appearance, and won the whole thing in 2004. Next is Vera Zvonareva, who is on visit number four, then Caroline Wozniacki and Victoria Azarenka both on number three, Sam Stosur is on appearance number two, and Agnieszka Radwanska is making her first proper visit, although she appeared as an alternate in 2008 and 2009. And there are two total first-timers – Petra Kvitova and Li Na.
Azarenka, Li and Stosur are joined by Sharapova in what is the White group, while Wozniacki, Radwanska, Zvonareva and Kvitova make up the Red group.
Boys in town
The WTA's leading ladies were joined by two sporting gods (forgive the artistic licence) over the weekend in the form of Rory McIlroy, Wozniacki's beau, and Sasha Vujacic, Sharapova's fiancee. Rory's visit was fleeting as he had to disappear back to the golfing world, but Sasha will be a more permanent fixture, which is good news for those wanting fist-pumping tips. He's playing for a Turkish basketball team during the NBA off-season, although is apparently nursing a broken finger.
Breezy in the Bosphorus
Gusty breezes are certainly not lacking in the straights of the Bosphorus, to the extent that Sunday's draw had its very own natural wind machine for the official photos of Sharapova and co. It's just as well the tennis is indoors, as otherwise we'd be seeing a lot of ball tosses.
Turkish people like…
Banks, barber shops and screeching tyres. And meat. Lots of it.
Here to stay
Congratulations to WTA CEO Stacey Allaster, who has signed on for another five years as the proverbial mother hen of women's tennis. May her hard work continue.
Joining up?
The jury still seems to be out on combined events and whether they work or not, but that hasn't stopped Allaster floating the idea that the WTA and ATP could look to hold their season-enders together. How it would work with the calendar, of course, remains to be seen, but it's an interesting proposition, and is all part of the drive towards greater cooperation. She also mentioned that the tours are seeking to align their broadcast rights from 2017.
Today's round robin matches
Petra Kvitova v Vera Zvonareva (Red group)
The honour of opening the very first WTA Championships in Turkey goes to Petra Kvitova, making her season finale debut. The wimbledon champion hasn't exactly been firing on all cylinders since shocking Maria Sharapova to win Wimbledon. But she's dusted off her groundstrokes a bit in recent weeks, and received a huge confidence boost after winning Linz two weeks ago. That, and the way her game works on hard courts, has prompted the bookies to list the 21 year-old, newly invested as world No 3, as the favourite. But she'll have her work cut out against Vera Zvonareva, the epitome of hard court defence. Kvitova should edge it in two close sets to narrow her losing record against the Russian.
Caroline Wozniacki v Agnieszka Radwanska (Red group)
The battle of the Polish-borns. Wozniacki has her sights on that year-end No 1 ranking, but to get there, she'll have to do what she does best – stay solid from the back. She leads the head to head against her good buddy 4-1 but Radwanska is coming off a two-title tear in Tokyo and Beijing, and has lost just one match since the US Open. Still, a well-rested Wozniacki should be able to handle whatever comes out of the Radwanska tool kit.
Maria Sharapova v Samantha Stosur (White group)
As Sam rather cheerily aluded to, the Australian doesn't have the best record against the multi-Grand Slam champ. Stosur is yet to win a set in her nine previous meetings with the Russian, but all eyes will be on Sharapova's ankle, and whether it can stand up to shuttling side to side along the baseline in the face of Stosur's power. If she plays the sort of first-strike tennis that won her the US Open title, the Aussie has a shot. Still, if Sharapova's back in the zone after an extended break since Tokyo, it's likely to go her way.
Catch phrase
"East meets West"
You'll be hearing it a lot.
The daily click
The ebullient Ipek Senoglu takes you on a tour of the tournament..
Rugby World Cup 2011: Bring me those lamb chops…the good and the bad of an amazing tournament
The hangover is gone, the mild blues are gone and I've caught up on sleep – the past six weeks had taken their toll. The hangover is easy to explain – the All Blacks won and we celebrated with gusto.
Fit for the Cup. And a bbq...
The mild blues? I always get them after a Rugby World Cup. It's an event I look forward to for the best part of four years. And then, when the lights dim for the last time after the final, the rugby landscape just seems so barren again. We don't even have autumn internationals to look forward to this year.
But what a ride it's been. The early-morning fixes while I watched games on telly in the UK – I missed a total of only two games – and the time I spent in New Zealand were, as Kiwis like to say, just simply awesome.
What a tournament! In today's money-hungry times it may not have made the most sense to award RWC 2011 to New Zealand, but nobody in the world brings as much single-minded passion to the event as the rugby-mad Kiwis. Take a bow, it was a brilliantly organised and the most fun World Cup I've been to! And so a few other acknowledgements and disappointments (and please let me know yours, I fully appreciate there are countless other highlights and lowlights out there)…
RWC JOYS
The All Blacks finally shaking off that four-yearly monkey. Nay, it was a bloody gorilla on their backs! They've been the most consistent and impressive team at this tournament – and for most of the years between world cups since 1987 – and it's simply grand that they've now got the cup to show for it.
The hosts – warm, welcoming, always ready with a beer and some banter. There was a fear they'd care only about the All Blacks, but they embraced one and all.
The so-called minnows – always gallant in defeat, always immense in their contribution. I've changed my mind on an earlier suggestion to limit RWCs to the top 12 teams in the world. Their commitment to RWC 2011 was outstanding… none more so than Tonga getting one over France. Will South Auckland ever forget that day?
RWC DISAPPOINTMENTS
A lot of the refereeing – inconsistent, often overbearing, often lax. None more so than at the crucial breakdown. Always a great pity when referees, not the players, decide matches. And it's something that demands urgent IRB attention. Springbok and Wales fans will always claim – rightly or wrongly – that referees cost them a shot at glory.
France being fined for advancing on the haka – what an absolute lot of nonsense. France made a fantastic gesture, and the All Blacks, I have no doubt, would have respected that acceptance of the challenge. Pull your heads in, IRB. What a petty, pedantic response by the blazers.
Quade Cooper – so much promise, so much lip, so little class. And Sonny Bill Williams, who was meant to set the World Cup alight, but never more than flickered.
Dan Carter's injury – this was meant to be his big moment on home soil, but he was cruelly robbed of that opportunity. Big credit to the man for the way he dealt with the hammer blow.
England – what a rabble who couldn't maintain discipline for a maximum of six weeks. Even more lamentable was their constant defending of the antics – "it was all the media's fault" – and the misguided belief that they were playing well. A team that believed its own hype and hot air, only to plummet to earth. Fair play then to Lewis Moody, for describing them as 'at best naive and at worst totally unacceptable'.
And finally, just before this blog takes a break, a few thanks: to each and every reader of this blog. We've agreed and disagreed – and I would not want it any other way. You've been great. And to Maximuscle, for being the power behind my adventure to New Zealand. Your support for a trip of a lifetime was immense.
My rugby cup has runneth over… See you soon again.
Sponsored by Maximuscle and the Cyclone Challenge – build muscle in 30 days or your money back – www.maximuscle.com/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)