Armchair Weekend in Review (February 9-11, 2007)
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by user JB82
Before we start the proceedings, I do want to point out a comment which was the first in last week's issue. This user said that many cruise ships have Internet cafes on board, as will mine. I hope to drop in and say hello (anonymously or otherwise) during next week.
With that out of the way, onto the business at hand.
Around campus
How the rivalry between the University of Florida Gators and the University of Kentucky Wildcats got to be a rivalry is beyond this reporter's logic. But, nevertheless, ESPN made this matchup their Saturday night game. Viewers who were waiting for Valentine's Day to go out or were otherwise indisposed got to see Billy Donovan's charges beat the 20th-ranked Cats on their home floor, 64-61. Had it been for Ramel Bradley's three-point buzzer beater, this game may have ended differently. The Gators also remained undefeated in SEC play this season.
Georgetown University celebrated the centennial of its men's basketball program and got a big gift in the process. With GU legends such as Patrick Ewing, Allen Iverson, Sleepy Floyd, and Alonzo Mourning in attendance, the 2007 Hoyas beat up on the eleventh-ranked Marquette University Eagles 76-58.
While Gonzaga University defeated St. Mary's College of California, 60-49, the big news involving the Bulldogs came off the court. Forward Josh Heytvelt, the West Coast Conference's leading scorer and freshman Theo Davis were arrested earlier in the day Saturday for possession of marijuana and psychidelic mushrooms. Upon hearing of the news, both players were given indefinite suspensions. Look for a remake of Cheech and Chong's "Up in Smoke" featuring these two. ;-)
There had to be some partying in the streets of Morgantown, West Virginia, as the Mountaineers of West Virginia University upset the second-ranked UCLA Bruins, 70-65. It was déjà vu for the Wizards of Westwood, as they lost to WVU in last year's NCAA Tournament.
Look for Duke University's Blue Devils to fall out of the Top 25 with a 72-60 loss to the University of Maryland Terrapins. The loss was the fourth in a row for the Fighting Krzyzewskis.
NBA Highlights
Gilbert Arenas has been one of the big stories in the NBA this year, but the Washington Wizards guard known for going on big scoring sprees was held to a measly nine points as the Wizards fell to the Portland Trail Blazers 94-73 on Sunday. Arenas wanted to humiliate Blazers head coach Nate McMillan for leaving him off the US national squad by dropping 50 on Portland, but as you just read, was unsuccessful in doing so. Gilbert Arenas, you're no Joe Namath...
- Speaking of the Wizards, they suspended Eton Thomas two games for getting into a scuffle with teammate Brendan Haywood. This was the second time they've gone at it this year.
Let's call this a lowlight. The Boston Celtics' cup of misery continued to be filled well past overflowing with the team's 17th straight loss on Friday night at the hands of the New Jersey Nets, 92-78. The C's followed it up with number 18 in a heartbreaking loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves,
The Interesting, Yet Rather Indifferent Part of the Article
A scary moment in the The League That Time Forgot on Saturday. During the third period of a wild game, Pittsburgh Penguins forward Robert Petrovicky and Toronto Maple Leafs center Kris Newbury engaged one another in your typical common-or-garden ice hockey brawl. What happened next was the scary part.
- Petrovicky gave a few haymakers to Newbury before the latter's head fell to the ice. Newbury lay motionless on the ice for a few minutes and was taken off the ice on a stretcher. The good news, though, is that he was alert and conscious later on. BTW, the Penguins won on a Jordan Staal overtime goal, the last of a hat trick, 6-5.
Prelude to Daytona
During the two-week period between the Super Bowl and MLB's Spring Training, there is a phenomenon which consumes Daytona Beach, Florida known as "Speedweeks". NASCAR's first event in this leadup to the Daytona 500 is the Budweiser Shootout, an annual race featuring the previous season's pole position winners. The top driver in the 20th edition of this race was Tony Stewart, as he held off 2007 rookie driver David Gilliland to take the checkered flag.
The next day, quialifying was held for the 500 itself. Unlike the other 35 races on the Nextel Cup schedule, only the top two positions are set in stone, and the rest are determined later in the week via the Gatorade Duel, a series of two 150-mile qualifying races. The front row for the 49th Daytona 500 will be the aforementioned Gilliland (a big surprise to this reporter) and seasoned veteran Ricky Rudd (haven't seen him in a while, it seems). Notables include ex-Formula One driver Juan Pablo Montoya in fourth and last year's winner (and defending Nextel Cup champion) Jimmie Johnson in the top ten.
However, there was some controversy afoot. Matt Kenseth and Kasey Kahne had their qualifying results disallowed after both their cars failed post-race inspection, while driver/owner Michael Waltrip has his ride impounded after someone noticed an unusual odor coming from an unknown, yet suspicious substance coming from inside the car.
Pro Bowl (as if you really wanted to know)
There was some noteworthy events from the Pro Bowl. First off, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees injured his left elbow after a hit from Baltimore Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs. Then, there was New York Giants running back Tiki Barber riding off into the sunset, but not before scoring the game's first touchdown. The game ended when San Diego Chargers kicker Nate Kaeding, who missed a field goal in their loss to the New England Patriots almost a month ago, booted a 21-yard kick to send the AFC over the NFC, 31-28. Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer was named the game's MVP.
Odds and Sods
- England's cricket team got revenge on the Aussies for their Ashes sweep by wielding the broom themselves in the first of three finals of the Commonwealth Bank Series. England scored 246/8 (50 overs) to Australia's 152/8 (27/27 overs).
- Hank Bauer, who was a New York Yankees outfielder during the team's World Series dynasty of the 1950s, passed away on Friday at age 84. Bauer is remembered in Yankee lore as the outfielder who made a diving catch to lock up the 1951 World Championship and a 17-game hit streak during the Series, a record which still stands. He was also known as "The Fighting Marine," due to his hard-nosed attitude on the field and the fact that he served in the US Marines during World War II. Bauer later became a manager, leading the Baltimore Orioles to an improbable World Series win over Sandy Koufax and the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1966. He was also manager of the Oakland Athletics, making the trip when they moved from Kansas City.
Condolences to Bauer's family, friends and contemporaries.
See you whenever (hopefully in two weeks)
Until then, as always, let's all be good sports...
