I notice you got a jammy 80th minute equaliser at Ipswich. Methinks the Tractor Boys might be a different proposition next time. According to the BBC Huddersfield play Ipswich at the end of February, so by that time we should be in a play off position (ahem). It's quite strange wading through all this American football weirdness and finding someone talking about the Championship! I wonder if there are any Valencia supporters on here as well. Now there's a team.
Western Sydney Wanderers 1 - 0 Brisbane. Fantastic scenes at Parramatta Stadium, brand new entity defeats reigning champions....
To the surprise of no one that follows Canadian sport, Christine Sinclair won the Lou Marsh award for Canadian athlete of the year. Part of it is probably to spite the shocking decision to exclude her from the FIFA female player of the year ballot, but in truth no other single athlete captured the imagination of the country as much this year as Sinclair. Even if she and her teammates were brazenly robbed of their gold medals, there was no denying the brilliance of her performance at the Olympics, and, hard as it is to imagine, their run may be even more important to Canadian sports than men's hockey gold in 2010. It's too bad Georges St-Pierre fights so infrequently these days- he's going to end up being the greatest Canadian athlete of his generation to not win a Lou Marsh award. Perhaps if the fight with Anderson Silva ever materialises, and he somehow finds a way to win it, he'll finally get his due. edit: ugh... Youkilis to the Yanks. Can't blame him though, it's all on Red Sox management for driving him out of town. Still heartbreaking for a Sox fan
Now that another miserable Raiders season has been put to bed, it's time for the NFL playoffs. This week's slate of wild card matchups seems to be an unusually strong one, with interesting storylines and tough matchups to predict. With that in mind, it's time for picks. All predicted final scores are calculated through careful science and magic. Houston vs. Cincinnati Like most football fans, I would not consider a first round Texans choke much of an upset. However, fate has aligned for them, as they managed to draw the one playoff team more like to fall apart than themselves (the Falcons are in the NFC and have a bye, so they don't count). I think this piece of merciful scheduling will allow the Texans to right themselves. Not only do I think they will beat the Bengals, I stand behind my preseason prediction of a Houston Superbowl appearance. Prediction: Texans win 31-24 Green Bay vs. Minnesota Only an idiot would pick against the team that won the must win game between these very same two teams last week! Prediction: Packers win 35-10 Baltimore vs. Indianapolis So it's probably safe to assume the Ravens fans, second only to those of the Seahawks when it comes to disrupting opponents and providing an advantage for their home team, will be excited for this one. Probably the most important game of Flacco's career, they have history with the Colts. And by a cruel stroke of Luck, this will be the final game of the greatest player in team history. Prediction: Colts win 24-21 (OT) Washington vs. Seattle Easily my favourite matchup of the week. The underdog rookie star vs. the most exciting rookie in the last 10+ years. Beast Mode vs. the every bit as talented yet significantly less famous Alfred Morris. Two teams on long hot streaks. I have a hard time picking against either of them, but only one team can be the Superbowl Champions. With that in mind, I'm calling my shot and picking the Seahawks. Prediction: Game of the Week, Seahawks win 17-13 Edit: NHL lockout over, per two reliable sources from Canada's largest sports broadcaster TSN. As news of the deal broke, I happened to be listening to the song 'Lunacy,' by Swans. A more fitting song for this whole ridiculous saga has perhaps never been written. Maybe 'Everything Counts,' by Depeche Mode. Edit 2: I should say, a tentative deal has been reached. Still needs to be finalised and ratified. Still... it's sad how happy I am to have the NHL back. I miss complaining about the Leafs.
Though last week's round of picks was fairly successful, I have much greater confidence in this new bunch. Even the one I hope I'm wrong about. So let's get to it... Denver vs. Baltimore It's no secret that I hate the Denver Broncos. My earliest memories of sports fandom involve the three teams I'm most passionate about- Wendel Clark scoring an overtime goal in the playoffs for the Leafs, Howie Long breaking the single game sack record for the Raiders. And, no less powerful though less specific, hating the Denver Broncos. I hate everything about the Broncos, from the ugliest uniforms in the history of professional sports, to the idiot who wears a barrel to games. The only thing that gives me as much pleasure in all of sports as a Leafs or Raiders win is a Broncos lost. All of this is to say, you can tell how little I think of the Ravens based on my pick for this game. Prediction: Ravens lose 10-24 San Francisco vs. Green Bay This should be the first great, memorable game of this year's playoffs. Two of the best teams in the league, led by excellent coaches, one boasting an excellent offense and barely adequate defense, the other a flakey offense and world class defense. Though my general rule for picking games I think are too close to call is to go with the team with the better quarterback, I think the 49ers are a little more well-rounded. Not like it matters, as the winners of this game are simply fodder for the next team I'm picking... Prediction: 49ers win 31-28 (OT) Atlanta vs. Seattle Picking against the Falcons in the playoffs is like gleefully marking the centre space of a bingo card. If there is one guarantee in the post-season, it's a Mike Smith/Matt Ryan meltdown. This isn't to say the Falcons can't make this interesting, if they score first they might actually begin to believe they can compete in the playoffs. Too bad Russell Wilson is getting the game's first TD. Prediction: Seahawks win 52-0 New England vs. Houston Only an idiot would pick against the team that blew out this same opponent earlier in the season! Prediction: Game of the Week, Texans win 35-28 In non-football news, Burke has been fired. Hours before the owners voted to ratify a new CBA that works to Burke's strengths. I so missed complaining about the Leafs... edit: The CBA ratification should be finalised this weekend, which means player movement can officially start happening again. If the word around Toronto is anything to go by, expect an edit in the near future celebrating and mourning the acquisition of Roberto Luongo from the Canucks. I'm not sure there will be another post in the thread before the Australian Open begins, so I'll make quick predictions now- on the men's side, I'm taking Murray over Djokovic in the final, on the women's, I'm taking Azarenka over Li.
Good grief. Shows how long I've not checked the thread for. Wouldn't say a sweeping counter-attack finished with aplomb was jammy, myself. Unlike Scott Loach's penalty save Since then, we've been very good, and are currently very bad. Can't win for love nor money (not helped by a referee booking a Sheffield Wednesday player twice a couple of weeks back and not realising it). 11 without victory, but got a point with a 92nd minute equaliser from Adam Hammill against Birmingham this afternoon. Wonderful goal, too: twisted inside, twisted outside, twisted back inside, curled a beauty into the top corner.
Dear the Baltimore Ravens: THANK YOU!! Dear Corey Graham: You are a hero. THANK YOU!! Dear overtime Peyton Manning: What a beautiful pass to Mr. Graham. Right on the numbers, couldn't have gone to anyone else. THANK YOU!! Dear the #1 seed Denver Broncos: Congratulations on winning as many playoff games as 32nd ranked 2-14 Kansas City! Hope the rest of your seasons with Manning end just as sweetly.
Haha. What a game. A punt return TD, a kickoff return TD, an interception return TD, a 70-yard TD with 31 seconds left to force overtime and more than five quarters played. Almost 900 yards of offense. All in single-digit temperatures. That will go down as one of the most thrilling playoff games in history.
It was as good a Divisional Round weekend as I can remember, even with the disappointing end for Seattle. Wilson's getting a ring before he's done. As disappointing as it is that both Hewitt and Stosur are already gone from the Australian Open, thus denying the home crowd their two best players, the Stosur match was certainly entertaining. It was a pretty good spoof of championship tennis. Good as Stosur is throughout the rest of the world, it might be better for her sanity if she just declines her invitation to the AO next year.
Darn, it's always 40C+ whenever i'm watching the Aussie Open. Mind you it is mid summer, but it is 12:10am too. Hoping Kvitova and those eyes go bye bye. Love an underdog. Hewitt never had a chance. Should have given up 5-6 years ago, which 95% Aussies agress with. Stosor was dissapointing, but have a look at her Aussie Open record and we all knew it ws coming. Benard Tomic is by far our best player going around right now, and his still in it. Only 20 years old. Was as high as 27th in the world but went odd (mentally) in 2012, but he has admitted to it, and wants a better ranking. He'll play Federer in R3 on Saturday night AEST. Should be a great game with the crowd going insane. He only recently beat Djokovic.
Kvitova/Robson was fantastic- some errors, sure, but also some excellent shot-making. Robson continues to improve, and I think she has a good chance at making it through to the 2nd week. I'm surprised she's not seeded yet, but I guess that'll come in time for the summer Majors. As for Kvitova, I want to like her because of her aggressive style of play, but the shrieks after every point won were driving me crazy. I know this is incredibly hypocritical because Azarenka is my favourite player, but at least her shrieks are funny because they're so ridiculous. Speaking of Azarenka I obviously loved her match today... even if it wasn't the best for the live crowd. She had her little scare in the 2nd set of her first match, so blowing her opponent off the court this time was welcome. I am also happy that Sharpova and Venus Williams play later today, as one of them has to lose. I'll admit, I wrote off Tomic when I saw he was in Fed's quarter and kind of ignored him. His 2nd round match was entertaining though, so hopefully he can challenge Fed and take at least a set.
The Australian Open Simon V Monfils. WHAT a game. 1:40am (12:40am Melbourne time) If Simon wins, i'm not sure if it says his a legend or if Monfils is a complete screw up. Game of the open so far. Andy will destroy the winner though.
Sigh, I wish I could watch Australian Open coverage. Murray is through to round four. Bad news about Robson and Watson but they both put up a good fight from what I've read and they are both constantly improving. And I'm glad Nadal will be back soon, I have missed him!
Time to go, Simon. Thanks for promotion and that day at Wembley, but 12 without a win and capitulation after capitulation has seen us tumbling down the table towards the drop zone. We need someone who will get each player fighting for the shirt and for their teammates. I'd rather see some good passing football as well.
Aww, I missed it. I went to bed after the Fed/Tomic match so I'd wake up in time for hockey. Tomic did better this time, but I think everyone knew it was over when Tomic lost the 5-3 point in the 2nd set tiebreak. Including Tomic. Still, he played well enough to bring out the best in Fed, who made some ridiculous shots. Hopefully he got that out of his system ahead of his match with Raonic. And now NFL picks. Last week was a beautiful disaster, and suck it Broncos you lost. This week's picks will better, or we'll get a more palatable Superbowl matchup. Either way, here they are... Atlanta vs. San Francisco Oddly enough, I'm temped to take the Falcons. They finally got over their playoff yips, dispatched the finest young player in the game (with an assist from said player's incompetent coach), and boast home field advantage. I probably would, except that they are playing the best, most complete team in the league. They'll make a game of it most likely, but unless the 49ers self destruct, they're too well rounded, too deep, and too talented for the Falcons. Prediction: Game of the Week, 49ers win 35-21 New England vs. Baltimore Picking against the Ravens has yielded delightful results so far. Here's hoping it keeps delivering, and we get the Harbowl! Prediction:​ Patriots win 28-10 edit: Whoa Wawrinka! He's shown flashes of incredible talent before, but he's playing the match of his life tonight. Can he keep it up? If he gives Djokovic any opening, this whole thing could fall apart on him, but so far he is playing truly brilliant tennis. edit2: And just like that it's slipped away. Losing the 5-3 game was really the beginning of the end. I don't see Wawrinka coming back now... he had his chance, and couldn't finish it. Djokovic is much too good to give him a second chance.
Sitting here as the Djokovic Vs Wawrinka go into a 5th set. One of the strangest games i've seen. Hope the Joker takes the fifth. Edit 1:30am and 10-9 in the last. WHAT i game. Blown away, as i cannot pick a winner. Mind you it'll probably result itselfr in 2 mintes now i posted again.
Yeah, crazy, crazy match. Wawrinka came out on fire, like I've never seen him play before. That he still took it five after the heartbreak of the 2nd... and at the same time, that Djokovic held on... we're only a week in, and there have already been some incredible matches this tournament. Hopefully Djokovic has enough left to put on another match like this one.
Eliminating the Broncos AND the Patriots? I know who I'm cheering for in the Superbowl. Once again, thank you Baltimore. While I will be sure to officially predict against them, this team is playing so inspired behind their leader right now, even though they're playing the best team in football I think the Ravens have a real shot.
How good was the Djokovic and Wawrinka game! I was hoping Wawrinka would be able to pull off an upset but they both played so well. What a game! I was in Melbourne last week and caught a few of the earlier games, wish I was at Rod Laver to see that one though!
I used to back in high school, mostly because my friends were crazy about March Madness. After graduating, I kind of stopped following it.
Greatest time of the year! College basketball intrigues me in a way the NBA can't. They seem to care more because they're trying to get to that next level. The NBA players just...coast--they've got their money. Until playoffs of course. But the college players are less seasoned and thusly more awkward and more fun to watch develop. But that's just me. I wrote a college b-ball inspired story in fact
I'm inclined to agree with you. I see a lot more teamwork and respect in college basketball than I do in the NBA. Granted, I don't watch a lot of basketball, but I've noticed that NBA players whine and complain to the refs a lot. That's one of the nice things about high school and college basketball.
