Friday Tidbits - 12/29/06
Last tidbits of 2006. The year has zipped on by. I'll start with some non-sports news. The nation lost a President (Gerald Ford) and a legendary performer (James Brown) this past week. Let's take a moment to reflect on the legacy they've left behind.
Jeff "Cherry" Garcia
Stop the presses. LT failed to score a touchdown. OK, back to the NFL portion of the tidbits. A backup QB stole the show in the Philly-Dallas game. No, it wasn't Tony Romo despite joking around with American Idol beauty Carrie Underwood. No, it was Jeff Garcia leading the way as Philly beat the Golden Boy and his 'Boys. I bet it felt good for Garcia to beat MeO. If you recall Garcia was the original QB MeO took shots at. Earlier in the year, McNabb got to enjoy a solid victory over MeO and the Cowboys. Fred Smoot got into a one car collision when his 2007 Rolls-Royce, driven by a friend, struck a guard rail in the early hours last Saturday. Smoot broke his jaw in five places. It has to be eating him up that he can't run his motormouth. The complete opposite of Smoot, Coach Brad Childress held this info until the next Wednesday. Childress also made the spotlight by cutting Marcus Robinson on Christmas Eve with one game to go. Not even the Grinch is that heartless. I guess Robinson shouldn't have spoke out about Childress. It's probably not getting a lot of play nationally, but Brad Childress has looked like a complete buffoon his rookie coaching career. Five of the NFC playoff spots are filled. NYG, GB, ATL, CAR, and STL are fighting for the last spot with 7-8 records. In the AFC, there wildcards are open. NYJ and KC have the edge at 9-6. Cincy, Jax, and Tennessee (behind a six game winning streak) have outside shots. Jokeland and Detroilet are battling for the #1 pick. Michael Strahan's return was short-lived. He came back just in time to watch his team get smoked. Now he's back on the shelf.
Stop the presses. LT failed to score a touchdown. OK, back to the NFL portion of the tidbits. A backup QB stole the show in the Philly-Dallas game. No, it wasn't Tony Romo despite joking around with American Idol beauty Carrie Underwood. No, it was Jeff Garcia leading the way as Philly beat the Golden Boy and his 'Boys. I bet it felt good for Garcia to beat MeO. If you recall Garcia was the original QB MeO took shots at. Earlier in the year, McNabb got to enjoy a solid victory over MeO and the Cowboys. Fred Smoot got into a one car collision when his 2007 Rolls-Royce, driven by a friend, struck a guard rail in the early hours last Saturday. Smoot broke his jaw in five places. It has to be eating him up that he can't run his motormouth. The complete opposite of Smoot, Coach Brad Childress held this info until the next Wednesday. Childress also made the spotlight by cutting Marcus Robinson on Christmas Eve with one game to go. Not even the Grinch is that heartless. I guess Robinson shouldn't have spoke out about Childress. It's probably not getting a lot of play nationally, but Brad Childress has looked like a complete buffoon his rookie coaching career. Five of the NFC playoff spots are filled. NYG, GB, ATL, CAR, and STL are fighting for the last spot with 7-8 records. In the AFC, there wildcards are open. NYJ and KC have the edge at 9-6. Cincy, Jax, and Tennessee (behind a six game winning streak) have outside shots. Jokeland and Detroilet are battling for the #1 pick. Michael Strahan's return was short-lived. He came back just in time to watch his team get smoked. Now he's back on the shelf.
Denver's new "Answer"
Allen Iverson got off to a good start with Denver. He started with 22 points and 10 assists. In his 2nd game with his new club he scored 28 while handing out 13 assists. His third game he shouldered the scoring load by pouring 44 pouts. He also dropped 10 dimes for his third straight double-double helping George Karl win his 800th game. Rip Hamilton dropped 51 on the Knicks in a triple overtime losing effort. It was almost a Final Four as the top four teams squared off Thursday. Dallas dumped Phoenix. San Antonio dropped Utah. Yao Ming will be shut down for a while after he fractured a bone in his knee. Another big man with a bum knee is New Jersey's Nenad Krstic. He'll miss the rest of the year with a torn ACL. Rashard Lewis will be on the shelf for two months after hand surgery. Chris Paul turned his ankle, and will miss a few games. D-Wade sprained his wrist, and coach Pat Riley thinks Kirk Hinrich did it intentionally. Jason Kidd thought he was funny calling the refs "three blind mice". David Stern didn't find the humor and slapped him with a $20K fine. Some positive news, Tracy McGrady and Ray Allen recently returned from injury. Dallas holds the NBA's best record at 22-7, sporting an 8 game winning streak. Memphis is the worst with a 6-24 record. Mike Fratello got the Donald Trump treatment for his losing ways.
Allen Iverson got off to a good start with Denver. He started with 22 points and 10 assists. In his 2nd game with his new club he scored 28 while handing out 13 assists. His third game he shouldered the scoring load by pouring 44 pouts. He also dropped 10 dimes for his third straight double-double helping George Karl win his 800th game. Rip Hamilton dropped 51 on the Knicks in a triple overtime losing effort. It was almost a Final Four as the top four teams squared off Thursday. Dallas dumped Phoenix. San Antonio dropped Utah. Yao Ming will be shut down for a while after he fractured a bone in his knee. Another big man with a bum knee is New Jersey's Nenad Krstic. He'll miss the rest of the year with a torn ACL. Rashard Lewis will be on the shelf for two months after hand surgery. Chris Paul turned his ankle, and will miss a few games. D-Wade sprained his wrist, and coach Pat Riley thinks Kirk Hinrich did it intentionally. Jason Kidd thought he was funny calling the refs "three blind mice". David Stern didn't find the humor and slapped him with a $20K fine. Some positive news, Tracy McGrady and Ray Allen recently returned from injury. Dallas holds the NBA's best record at 22-7, sporting an 8 game winning streak. Memphis is the worst with a 6-24 record. Mike Fratello got the Donald Trump treatment for his losing ways.
The Zito has landed.
Barry Zito stayed in the Bay Area afterall. No, he won't be donning an A's cap next year. He jumped ship to join Barry B*nds on the Giants. His 7 year, $126 million deal is the richest ever signed by a pitcher. Speaking of B*nds, Federal investigators were granted permission to use the names and samples of 100 MLB players who tested positive for steroids in 2003. Hopefully, this will let the cat out of the bag for some past users, and not have all the ire placed on B*nds and Mark McGwir*. The players' union in naturally fighting the union. I say tough crap. Your players cheated. You know your players cheated. Quit trying to cover it up, and take your medicine. Toronto's favorite Shea Hillenbrand is heading out west to Anaheim. Juan Rivera broke his leg in winter ball, and Hillenbrand's bat will help fill the void. John Gibbons and the Blue Jay fans will be hurt he didn't decide to return to Toronto. Ken Griffey, Jr. broke his hand, imagine that, at home. I bet he could break a rib sneezing. The Brew Crew got a new bartender. Jeff Suppan signed on for 4 years, $42 million. He has a career record of 106-101 and a 4.60 ERA. He did pitch for Kansas City though, which hurt that record. He is 44-26 over the past three years with the Cardinals. He also had an outstanding NLCS vs. the Mets going 1-0 with a 0.60 ERA in 15 innings. The Yankees signed Japanese import pitcher Rei Igawa to a five year, $20 million deal. Those same Yankees are shopping Randy Johnson to Arizona. I wonder if that's a sign that the Rocket may be making a return landing in the Bronx. The White Sox dealt Brandon McCarthy to Texas. Chris Brown, a former All-Star third baseman with the Giants died a month after a fire at his house. Earlier this month, former teammate Juan Uribe died in a car crash in the Dominican Republic.
Buffalo's Daniel Briere
Buffalo peppered Washington for six goals in the first period Tuesday night. They were motivated by a cheap shot Alex Ovechkin had on co-captain Daniel Briere the last time they played. Rick DiPietro recorded his third straight home shutout Tuesday. Blue Jackets goalie Pascal Leclaire's and Senators center Mike Fisher's bum knees will keep them out six weeks. Brenden Morrow, captain of the Dallas Stars, injured his wrist when he was stepped on with a skate. He'll be down for a while. Anaheim (62) and Buffalo (57) are still the top teams. The Northwest Division is as tight as a pair of Nicole Richie pants on Rosie O'Donnell. Vancouver leads with 39 points. There is a four-way tie for 2nd with 38 points. Sidney "Crosby Kids" still leads the league in scoring with 55 points. Anke Kopitar has taking the rookie scoring lead away from Malkin with 35 points. Dominik Hasek leads the league with an insane 1.82 GAA.
Buffalo peppered Washington for six goals in the first period Tuesday night. They were motivated by a cheap shot Alex Ovechkin had on co-captain Daniel Briere the last time they played. Rick DiPietro recorded his third straight home shutout Tuesday. Blue Jackets goalie Pascal Leclaire's and Senators center Mike Fisher's bum knees will keep them out six weeks. Brenden Morrow, captain of the Dallas Stars, injured his wrist when he was stepped on with a skate. He'll be down for a while. Anaheim (62) and Buffalo (57) are still the top teams. The Northwest Division is as tight as a pair of Nicole Richie pants on Rosie O'Donnell. Vancouver leads with 39 points. There is a four-way tie for 2nd with 38 points. Sidney "Crosby Kids" still leads the league in scoring with 55 points. Anke Kopitar has taking the rookie scoring lead away from Malkin with 35 points. Dominik Hasek leads the league with an insane 1.82 GAA.
Mild-natured Knight
Bobby Knight tied Dean Smith on the All-time win list with his 879th victory over Bucknell. He lost his first attempt against UNLV to take sole possession of first. His next attmept will be against New Mexico on New Year's Day. Florida pounded Ohio State this weekend. Greg Oden was held to 7 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 blocks. Joakim Noah didn't do much offensivley, but Taurean Green picked up the slack with 24 points. #8 Wichita State had a rough weekend with New Mexico and USC handing them back-to-back losses. They were the first two losses of the year for Wichita State. USC upset #13 Washington Thursday night. #12 Texas A & M blasted Grambling State 101-27. Some games to watch this weekend are #7 Arizona vs. 7-2 Stanford, #9 Uconn vs. 9-1 West Virginia, #18 Nevada vs. 9-4 Gonzaga, and #4 Wisconsin vs. 8-2 Georgia. The game of the weekend is #1 UCLA vs. #13 Washington.
Bobby Knight tied Dean Smith on the All-time win list with his 879th victory over Bucknell. He lost his first attempt against UNLV to take sole possession of first. His next attmept will be against New Mexico on New Year's Day. Florida pounded Ohio State this weekend. Greg Oden was held to 7 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 blocks. Joakim Noah didn't do much offensivley, but Taurean Green picked up the slack with 24 points. #8 Wichita State had a rough weekend with New Mexico and USC handing them back-to-back losses. They were the first two losses of the year for Wichita State. USC upset #13 Washington Thursday night. #12 Texas A & M blasted Grambling State 101-27. Some games to watch this weekend are #7 Arizona vs. 7-2 Stanford, #9 Uconn vs. 9-1 West Virginia, #18 Nevada vs. 9-4 Gonzaga, and #4 Wisconsin vs. 8-2 Georgia. The game of the weekend is #1 UCLA vs. #13 Washington.
Rutgers Coach Greg Schiano
Bowl season rolls on. We're actually getting into the better ones. First, I'll recap this week's games. Troy rolled on Rice 41-17. South Florida beat East Carolina 24-7. San Jose knocked off New Mexico 20-12. Utah beat Tulsa 25-13. Hawaii pounded Arizona State 41-24. Central Michigan whipped Middle Tennessee State 31-14. Florida State beat UCLA 44-27. Oklahoma State beat Alabama 34-31. Cal thumped Texas A&M 45-10. Rutgers won their first ever Bowl game 37-10 over Kansas State. Upcoming games are Clemson-Kentucky, Oregon State-Missouri, Houston-South Carolina, Texas Tech-Minnesota, Purdue-Maryland, Navy-Boston College, Texas-Iowa, Georgia-Virginia Tech, Miami-Nevada, and Tennessee-Penn State. The Cotton Bowl pits Auburn against Nebraska, Wisconsin and Arkansas square off in the Capital One Bowl, Georgia Tech faces West Virginia in the Gator Bowl, USC and Michigan wage a War of Roses, Boise State and Oklahoma clash in the Fiesta Bowl, Louisville and Wake Forest go at it in the Orange Bowl, and the Sugar Bowl finds Notre Dame taking on LSU.
Bowl season rolls on. We're actually getting into the better ones. First, I'll recap this week's games. Troy rolled on Rice 41-17. South Florida beat East Carolina 24-7. San Jose knocked off New Mexico 20-12. Utah beat Tulsa 25-13. Hawaii pounded Arizona State 41-24. Central Michigan whipped Middle Tennessee State 31-14. Florida State beat UCLA 44-27. Oklahoma State beat Alabama 34-31. Cal thumped Texas A&M 45-10. Rutgers won their first ever Bowl game 37-10 over Kansas State. Upcoming games are Clemson-Kentucky, Oregon State-Missouri, Houston-South Carolina, Texas Tech-Minnesota, Purdue-Maryland, Navy-Boston College, Texas-Iowa, Georgia-Virginia Tech, Miami-Nevada, and Tennessee-Penn State. The Cotton Bowl pits Auburn against Nebraska, Wisconsin and Arkansas square off in the Capital One Bowl, Georgia Tech faces West Virginia in the Gator Bowl, USC and Michigan wage a War of Roses, Boise State and Oklahoma clash in the Fiesta Bowl, Louisville and Wake Forest go at it in the Orange Bowl, and the Sugar Bowl finds Notre Dame taking on LSU.
That concludes the Tidbits. As always, feel free to add any stories you liked this week in sports or discuss any of the stories I mentioned.
posted by Lester's Legends at 7:08 AM
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