Marlins +115
Blue Jays -130
Overall Record:
NBA 30-21
MLB 24-15-1
NHL 0-1
College Football: 106-92-1
NFL 103-72-5
College Basketball 197-149-6
Archives for April 2009
MLB Bets of the Day – April 17th, 2009
April 17, 2009 by
A Love Story:Madden and Favre Retire Together
April 16, 2009 by
Isn’t it ironic that John Madden who today announced his retirement from broadcasting and Brett Favre who Madden would adopt if he could have retired in the same year.
UEFA…Then There Were Four
April 16, 2009 by
UEFA Champions League
Home and home competition between Europe’s top football (soccer) clubs from each of Europe’s top domestic leagues: England, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Germany, etc.
Purpose: Determine Europe’s top club team.
Manchester United vs. Porto
Defending UEFA Champions, Manchester United, returned to the UEFA Champions League semifinal for a second consecutive year behind an amazing goal from perhaps the world’s best player, Cristiano Ronaldo.
With only six minutes played, Ronaldo collected a pass from Anderson and let rip a shot from 30+ yards from goal. Porto keeper, Helton, had little chance of stopping the potent, imaginative strike.
United faced an uphill challenge after tying Porto 2-2 at Old Trafford in United’s home leg of the competition. Following the first leg, Porto was tied on aggregate goals (2-2) and held a significant lead in away goals (2-0). Additionally, no English team had ever beaten Porto on their home pitch.
On this night, however, United was more than up to the challenge. With Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic anchoring United’s defense, Porto were unable to find an equalizer despite three close attempts by Porto’s Bruno Alves during the opening period.
Next for United are Arsenal as for the second consecutive year three English teams—Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal—advance to the Champions League semifinals.
Arsenal vs. Villarreal
Tied 1-1 on aggregate goals after the first leg of their Champions League match with Villarreal, the Arsenal squad understood the challenge ahead of them: win the second leg of the competition by one goal or more to advance to the Champions League semifinals.
In Arsenal’s favor was Emirates Stadium, The Gunner’s home pitch. With the home fans behind them, Arsenal quickly left little doubt regarding the match’s outcome.
Theo Walcott’s strike at the ten-minute mark put Arsenal ahead to stay. Emmanuel Adebayor and Robin van Persie added to the score sheet in the 60th and 69th minute marks respectively, leading Arsenal to a decisive 4-1 win on aggregate.
Coach Arsen Wenger’s young Arsenal team looked dangerous and confident in dispatching a formidable Villarreal squad, setting the stage for a semifinal clash with defending Champions League title holders, Manchester United.
The pending Manchester United v. Arsenal semifinal has many delicious subplots: Wenger’s ongoing rivalry with United’s iconic manager, Alex Ferguson and Arsenal’s youth and talent v. United’s experience and formidable squad of defending champions. Whoever should emerge victorious, it’s positioned to be a classic for football (soccer) fans around the world.
May the best team win….
SportsUnderground Hat Tip of the Week Part Deux
April 15, 2009 by
SportsUnderground would like to extend a hat tip to Jay Busbee from Yahoo Sports! on this excellent article:
Quite simply the most amazing golf hole on the planet
SportsUnderground’s Opinion:
The Legends of Golf and Safari Resort in South Africa is now officially at the top of my list for places I must go on vacation. Each of the 18-holes was desgined by a different professional golf star along with stunning nature as far as the eye can see. Take all that and add an “X-treme 19th” hole that is 630 yards with a tee-box 1,400 feet high and you have me at hello. You must check out the video footage below and a separate hat tip to Padraig Harrington for getting a par.
MLB Bets of the Day – April 15th, 2009
April 15, 2009 by
Indians -120
Rangers -115
Cardinals +110
Overall Record:
NBA 30-21
NHL 0-1
MLB 21-15-1
College Football: 106-92-1
NFL 103-72-5
College Basketball 197-149-6
Chelsea Versus Liverpool What A Classic
April 15, 2009 by
UEFA Champions League
Home and home competition between Europe’s top football (soccer) clubs from each of Europe’s top domestic leagues: England, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Germany, etc.
Purpose: Determine Europe’s top club team.
Tuesday night’s return leg between Chelsea and Liverpool was a cracker of a game. Chelsea held a significant advantage heading into Tuesday night’s clash at Stamford Bridge after scoring three away goals at Anfield a week ago. Chelsea up 3-1 on aggregate had scored three away goals placing them in a dominant position. Liverpool had significant work to do if they were to overcome Chelsea’s 3-1 aggregate and two away goal advantage. The fireworks to come surprised and delighted everyone.
Liverpool, trailing 3-1 from the first leg at Anfield, stunned Chelsea with two first-half goals from Fabio Aurelio and Xabi Alonso. The score now tied 3-3 on aggregate, still favored Chelsea due to the Blues 3 away goals at Anfield. Nevertheless, things were just getting started.
Three consecutive Chelsea goals in the second half from Alex, Drogba and Lampard put Chelsea in the catbird seat, leading 6-3 on aggregate and away goals. However, this amazing match took another twist when Liverpool scored twice through Lucas and Dirk Kuyt to leave them a single goal away from an unthinkable victory.
Liverpool continued to apply pressure; however, an 89th minute Chelsea goal from Frank Lampard secured the victory for Chelsea. Match score 4-4 on the night, but Chelsea goes through to the semifinals based on the 7-5 aggregate score line.
What an amazing game. For those of us who follow European football, it was a joy to see such a free flowing offensive exhibition. This is what true football is about. No stifling defensive tactics deployed here. Coaches Rafael Benitez and Guus Hiddink seemed content for the game to be a wide open affair. Kudos to the coaches.
If only all coaches and teams adopted this philosophy, perhaps football (soccer) could garner the popularity in the US it rightfully deserves.
Next up for Chelsea in the semifinals is Barcelona, Europe’s top club team in my humble opinion. I’m picking Barcelona to win the whole shebang, so Chelsea should savor tonight’s great victory. Chelsea’s Champion’s League campaign will soon end at the hands of the eventual champions, Barcelona.
MLB Bets of the Day – April 14th, 2009
April 14, 2009 by
Brewers -135
Rangers -147
Indians +144
Overall Record:
NBA 30-21
NHL 0-1
MLB 21-12-1
College Football: 106-92-1
NFL 103-72-5
College Basketball 197-149-6
Sorrow and Remembrance Hits the MLB World
April 14, 2009 by
We are seeing that even the greats are not invinceable with the recent occurrences in MLB. The passing of two very colorful and honorable legends of baseball gives the feeling of sorrow covering the sports world like a fog.
It’s not that we lost an up and comer in Nick Adenhart just last week via a tragic accident, but now losing Hall of Fame voice Harry Kalas and one of the greatest stories of baseball in the 70’s in Mark ‘the Bird’ Fidrych.
What made Harry Kalas a bigger than life figure in Philly was his passion for every pitch of every game. He coined the phrase ‘Outta here’ when someone hit a homer as well as introducing the world to Hall of Fame 3rd baseman as Michael Jack Schmidt when he hit his 500th homerun.
Taking over for John Facenda as the voice of NFL films was not an easy task but Harry made the transition seamless.
Hall of Fame voice of the LA Dodgers Vin Scully said it best, “If there is one thing I’ve learned in all my years, and I haven’t learned much,” the 81-year-old Scully told his listeners, “but the one thing I’ve learned, don’t even waste your time trying to figure out life.”
In Mark Fidrych he gave baseball a shot in the arm in 1976 when his on the mound antics made him the Rookie of the Year and got him the distinct honor as the first player from any sport to be on the cover of Rolling Stone. A two-time All-Star Fidrych was killed on his farm in Mass while working on his dump truck.
The Baseball and sports world have lost a trio of men who had gave us a reason to love sports and realize how much life is so precious.
Hope Dworaczyk is a Hottie
April 13, 2009 by
Hope Dworaczyk
I’m not sure anyone is actually familiar with the name, but you might know her ex-boyfriend Jason Kidd. Hope is in April’s Playboy edition just one year after having one of Kidd’s children, but she seems to have rebounded quite well. Now don’t get Hope confused with ex-wife Joumana with whom Kidd had three children with before divorcing her due to “extreme cruelty” during their relationship. Kidd accused Joumana of intense jealousy, general paranoia, and many “false domestic abuse claims” to the police as why he wanted out. Is that really the reason or is it because he wanted to be with the likes of Hope Dworaczyk. Well, that is isn’t for me to answer, but he does seem to be enjoying being single and I can’t say I blame him. Play on playa!
Hope Dworaczyk
Giants Pitcher Nailed
April 10, 2009 by
If you haven’t already seen San Francisco Giants rookie pitcher Joe Martinez get hit in the head by a line drive then you have to see this video. I am truly stunned that Martinez was able to get up from the hit and even more surprising is he wasn’t really hurt in the whole scheme of things. The ball coming of Mike Cameron’s bat is hot to say the least and it appears to hit him flush on his head and close to his temple. This my friends is a miracle.