Armchair Weekend in Review (April 6-8, 2007)

by user JB82

Well, it was a busy weekend in the world of sports. In this, the first of what will hopefully be a weekly feature, I will give my two cents on the goings-on during the weekend

Those were the first words  ever written to introduce the AWIR. We lead off this edition with the event that was top story back one year ago this weekend.

Masters 2007: One weird weekend

A lengthened Augusta National Golf Course also became onepretty tough customer during the four days of the 71st Masters Tournament thanks to high winds and unseasonably cold temperatures. Defending champion Phil Mickelson was amongst the course's victims, knocking him out of contention on Saturday. Stuart Appleby, the third-round leader, also felt its sting. In the end, Zach Johnson prevailed as he shot a one-over-par 289 to become the 41st different golfer to win the prestigious tournament, and only the 33rd American to cop the Green Jacket. A tip of the AWIR hat to Appleby, who came close to giving Australia its first ever Masters champion, and to Tiger Woods as well (he was the favorite).

MLB Highlights

• Much ado has been made about Alex Rodriguez' troubles in the clutch. Well, at least for one day, the New York Yankees fans got off A-Rod's back after the Bronx Bombers third baseman hit a game-winning grand slam in the bottom of the ninth inning on Saturday against the Baltimore Orioles, 10-7. A-Rod was able to wipe out the bad taste of Kei Igawa's debut. This faithful reporter would like to see A-Rod do this against the Red Sox or the Mets, though.
  • But there was some bad news to report on the Yankees front: Left fielder Hideki Matsui was placed on the 15-day disabled list due to a strained hamstring.

• Once upon a time, Tom Glavine and John Smoltz were two of the Atlanta Braves' most imposing pitchers. Earlier this decade, Glavine signed on with the New York Mets while Smoltz took he closer's role in the ATL. Before A-Rod's miracle, the two friends and ex-teammates squared off against one another. The Braves got the better of the Amazins, winning on Saturday 5-3 and eventually taking two of three.

• Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Livan Hernandez saw his bid for the first no-hitter of 2007 go by the boards on Sunday thanks to a ground-rule double by the Washington Nationals' Ryan Zimmerman. However, the hit was of no consequqence as the D-Backs swept the Nats, 3-1.

• Minnesota Twins pitcher Johan Santana reached midseason form, fanning nine in a 3-1 win over the Chicago White Sox that same day.

• If you're looking for any higlights from Jacobs Field, there weren't any, as the entire setries between the Seattle Mariners and Cleveland Indians as wiped out due to lake-effect snow. This is the first time in 2 ½ years this has happened.

NHL Final Weekend

• The Toronto Maple Leafs entered the final Saturday of the regular season knowing that they were in a three-way tie for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. One slip-up by them or the other two teams – namely the New York Islanders and the Montreal Canadiens – would cost them and maybe one of the other teams dearly.
  • The Isles got to keep their playoff hopes alive thanks to a 4-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers, thus ending the latter's worst season ever.
  • Later that night, a rivalry from years gone by was renewed when the Habs and Leafs got together in Toronto. It was a wild scoring spree, but not even Michael Ryder's natural hat trick in the second period could save Canadiens as the Leafs eliminated them from playoff contention, 6-5. Legendary Habs goaltender Ken Dryden once said that this historic rivalry died at the hands of the Torontoans. On Saturday, the Leafs killed the Habs' playoff hopes as well.
  • The final day of the regular season (Sunday) saw the Islanders face the New Jersey Devils, knowing that a win would give them the 8th seed. The boys from Long Island needed a shootout to dispatch the Devils, 3-2, to get to the playoffs; thus, the Leafs earned the 7th seed.
• A big ol' "Congratulations" to the Buffalo Sabres, who clinched the President's Trophy for the first time ever on Saturday with a 2-0 shutout of the Washington Capitals. The Sabres inched the Detroit Red Wings for the league's best record with 103 points to cop the best record in the team's 37-year history. Talkin' proud, talkin' proud!

NBA Highlights

• The Washington Wizards began life after Gilbert Arenas on Friday with Lebron James leading the charge. The guard of the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers made it a close battle and came out of The Nation's Capitol with a 99-94 win on Friday night, scoring 25 points despite going 7-23 from the field.

• Congrats to the Toronto Raptors, who are back in the playoffs for the first time since Vince Carter was in the Great White North. The Raptors got 23 points from Chris Bosh in a 94-85 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers. The Chicago Bulls were happy to oblige with a 105-74 blowout of the New Jersey Nets.

• Kobe Bryant may have led the world with 34 points, but the Los Angeles Lakers laid an egg (not one of the Easter variety) against the Phoenix Suns, 115-107. Steve Nash added 25 points, while Leandro Barbosa scored 23 and Rajah Bell put in 22.

Across the Pond

• Manchester United seemed to have had a clear lead over Chelsea fo the Premier League championship, but a 2-1 ambush against Portsmouth kept the race wide open. Rio Ferdinand scored an own goal to give Pompey a 2-0 lead in the 89th minute, but John O'Shea's goal in stoppage time was too little, too late.

• Chelsea edged closer to ManU thanks to a 1-0 shutout over London rival Tottenham. Ricardo Carvalho scored the lone goal in the match at Stamford Bridge.

Fast Track

• Just because the Nextel Cup had the weekend off didn't mean there wasn't racing to be had. Case in point: Carl Edwards winning the NASCAR Busch Series race at Nashville Superspeedway. Edwards went back-to-back for the first time in the 2007 season, clinching a guitar-shaped trophy for his victory.

• Formula One also raced during the Easter weekend, putting on the Malaysia Grand Prix at Sepang, where defending World Champion Fernando Alonso pulled off the upset to win his first race of the season.

• Meanwhile, back on the North American continent, the Champ Car World Series opened its 2007 campaign at Las Vegas, Nevada. Australian driver Will Power had a good deal of will power in taking the checkered flag at Sin City, USA.

That's all for this week

I've said it before and I'll say it again: Until next week, let's all be good sports.

P.S. Here's hoping the Easter Bunny was good to you (for those of you who celebrate it)