Armchair Weekend in Review (October 20-22, 2006)
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by user JB82
Another action-packed weekend goes under the microscope...
World Series: Finally, something to talk about!
- If a World Series is played, and noone watches it, does it really happen?
- IMO, that was the thought process going in. While the St. Louis Cardinals took the roar out of the Detroit Tigers 7-2 on Saturday night, it was Game 2 the following night that gave a predictably-lame Fall Classic a bit of intrigue.
- For those of you who don't know or didn't bother to watch, Tigers pitcher Kenny Rogers was suspected of having pine tar or some other foreign substance on his hand. While Cards skipper Tony LaRussa didn't go out a demand a search for anything offensive, Rogers was told that it was dirt and, after the inning was over, stepped aside to have it washed off.
- Also of note: Tigers closer Todd Jones almost pulling a Byung-Hyun Kim in Detroit's 3-0 win on Sunday night.
- Question before the house: Was it dirt? Was it pine tar? Is Rogers man or machine? In the words of Linda Richman, "Talk among yourselves, discuss..."
NFL: A Wild, Wooly Week 7
- The wildest of Sunday's game's featured the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Atlanta Falcons. With quarterback Ben Roethlisberger out due to a head injury, backup quarterback Charlie Batch was left ot sling it out with Michael Vick. However, it was ageless wonder Morten Andersen who won it for the Falcons in overtime, 41-38. This was only the second game to need the extra session this year.
- Another team to lose a quarterback was the Seattle Seahawks. Matt Hasselbeck injured his ankle in his team's 31-13 loss to the Minnesota Vikings
- Going into his team's tilt against the San Diego Chargers, Kansas City Chiefs head coach Herm Edwards knew that another loss at Arrowhead would all but ruin the Chiefs' season. Edwards got a win thanks to the foot of Lawrence Tynes, 30-27, despite lousing up another field goal and a point after attempt earlier in the game.
- MONDAY EXTRA: Even worse for the Bolts, there is word that Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman will be suspended four games for violating the league's substance abuse policy.
- The New England Patriots continue to hold the Buffalo Bills' number and dominate the AFC East. Further edification came on Sunday with a 28-6 rout.
- The Cincinnati Bengals provided the week's second thriller, thanks to an end zone interception by Kevin Kaesviham which sealed Marvin Lewis' squad's 17-14 win over the Carolina Panthers.
- History – sorta... Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicker Matt Bryant nailed a 62-yard field goal for a 23-21 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. The former New York Giants kicker's winning score was a yard shy of the record set by New Orleans Saints kicker Tom Dempsey in 1970 and theDenver Broncos' Jason Elam 28 years later. To quote Boston sportscaster Bob Lobel, "Why can't we get guys like him?"
- Dennis Green kept his cool this time, even though his Arizona Cardinals helped the Oakland Raiders get their first win of the year, 22-9. The 1976 Bucs can pop the corks, cos their distinction of being the only winless team in NFL history is safe for another year.
- The Indianapolis Colts pulled off a late rally to turn a 14-13 halftime deficit against the Washington Redskins into a 36-22 win. They are now one of only two undefeated teams so far this year.
- The other team is the Chicago Bears, who were off this week...
NCAA: Whole Lotta Drama
- The biggest game of Saturday turned out to be the University of Notre Dame's comeback win over the UCLA Bruins. With the Irish trailing for most of the game, Brady Quinn led the charge with a three-play, 35-second drive that ended with a touchdown run by wideout Jeff Samardzija. The defense held the Bruins, ending the game with a sack and the win, 20-17.
- Going in as 23-point favorites, the University of California Golden Bears were almost done in by the University of Washington Huskies, but thanks to a Marshawn Lynch rushing touchdown in overtime sealed the deal, 31-24. Lynch then celebrated the win by going NASCAR with a golf cart (or whatever they use for football).
- The night before, the West Virginia University Mountaineers managed to remain undefeated thanks to a 37-11 blowout of the University of Connecticut Huskies. Don't worry, UConn fans; basketball season is just around the corner...
- Despite the Ohio State University Buckeyes' 44-3 drubbing of the Indiana University Hoosiers, Chachi's boys have their archrival University of Michigan Wolverines breathing down their neck in the Bowl Championship Series thanks to a 20-6 win against the University of Iowa Hawkeyes. That game between the two four weeks hence looks very appealing right about now.
From Football to Fútbol
Over the Pond we go for highlights from the pitches:
- Manchester United knocked Chelsea from the top of the Premiership with a 2-0 win over defending FA Cup champion Liverpool and in spite of the Lions' 2-1 win over Portsmouth
- Things didn't go so well for the Devils' crosstown rivals, Manchester City: The Blues got shout out at Wigan 4-0. After the game, the club's chairman John Wardle said that he was "embarassed" by the Citizens' performance. And you think the Philadelphia Flyers NHL team have it bad these days?
- Some intersting news from Spain: La Liga powerhouse Real Madrid will sponsor a car in Formula One in next year's Spanish Grand Prix. It's unsure what team will have the club color paint job, but signs point to whatever team has Spanish driver Fernando Alonso on their payroll. Speaking of whom...
F1 at Brazil: Vale Michael Schumacher
- Sure, Alonso clinched his second title and Felipe Massa scored his second win of the year (and the first in his home country), but the day belonged to Michael Schumacher, who got a trophy from another sporting legend, Pelé, before the race and wrapped up a very astounding career with a fourth place finish. Finnish driver Kimi Raikonnen is reported to replace Schu after this year.
- Danke schön for the memories, Schu. And thus, an era in motor racing comes to an end
- See 2006 Brazilian Grand Prix for full results.
More Fast Track Follies
- Jeff Burton made a meteoric crash in the Chase for the 2006 Nextel Cup with a 42nd place finish due to engine trouble, going from top of the heap to fifth in the chase. Jimmie Johnson, the winner at Martinsville, Virginia in the Old Dominion 500, and Matt Kenseth, the last winner of what was then known as the Winston Cup, took full advantage.
- Apologies for not getting this in last week: The event at Portugal saw Spaniard Toni Elias take the win while with a second-place finish, Italian Valentino Rossi takes the top of the standings, leadnig American Nicky Hayden by eight points with the last race of the year next Saturday in Valencia, Spain.
That's all for this week
Until then, let's all be good sports...
