Author: Thomas Conroy (Page 17 of 28)

      Couch Potato Alert: 10/31

      October 31, 2008 /

      Florida vs. Georgia
      The winner of this game should become the SEC East representative against Alabama in the conference’s title game, while the loser will probably not play in a BCS bowl game. Florida has revenge on their mind; they remember Georgia’s end-zone celebration from a year ago. Bulldogs coach Mark Richt ordered the entire bench on to the field after scoring their first touchdown in a 42-30 victory. Gators coach Urban Meyer was upset by the antics but has downplayed the animosity between the schools this week. You can expect fireworks on the field this Saturday at the Gator Bowl. National coverage will begin at 3:30 PM ET on CBS. Click here for the official Florida vs. Georgia smack thread.

      Texas vs. Texas Tech
      Texas is completing the final leg of their gauntlet schedule; they defeated: then-No.1 Oklahoma on Oct. 11, then-No. 11 Missouri on Oct. 18, then-No.7 Oklahoma State last week, and now face No. 6 Texas Tech in Lubbock on Saturday evening. Another week, another Heisman Trophy candidate will line up against the Longhorn defense. Red Raiders quarterback Graham Harrell has thrown for 3147 yards with 28 touchdown passes on the season. The winner of this contest will have the inside track to win the Big 12 South title, a division that features four teams ranked in the top nine of this week’s BCS bowl standings. National coverage will begin at 8PM ET on ABC. Click here for the official Texas vs. Texas Tech smack thread.

      Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants
      Dallas Cowboys had home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs last season, thanks in large part to a pair of victories over the New York Giants that propelled them to a NFC East title. But the Cowboys postseason run came to a quick end, as the Giants defeated them during their improbable run to a Super Bowl title. The Cowboys are hurting coming into this week’s game, with quarterback Tony Romo missing his third straight game because of a broken right pinkie and tight end Jason Witten will be a game-time playing decision due to his broken ribs. 40-year-old Brad Johnson will be in charge of the Cowboys offense, and he has looked his age at times on the field. He has been sacked six times in two weeks, and against a Giant defense that leads the NFL with 26 sacks, Johnson’s lack of mobility will be a major concern for the Dallas coaching staff. Regional coverage will begin at 4:15 PM ET on Fox.

      College Football, Couch Potato Alert, NFL, Television

      A second NHL team in Toronto?

      October 24, 2008 /

      The NHL Board of Governors is privately discussing a plan to place a second hockey franchise in Toronto alongside the Maple Leafs. Their thinking is the Toronto market is big enough to support two franchises.

      Some members of the board feel the league would be better served by moving an existing team as opposed to granting an expansion franchise. They fear becoming the laughingstock of professional sports, as the NHL already has too many financially-troubled franchises. The board wants to concern themselves first towards making the existing franchises in the league solid before thinking about expanding to new markets.

      Media speculation is Canadian billionaire Jim Balsillie, developer of Blackberry, would become owner of the new franchise in Toronto as reward for his assistance in restoring the financially strapped Nashville Predators last season. He attempted to buy the Predators with the intent of moving the franchise to Hamilton, Ontario. The league blocked the move because it would have ruined the Buffalo Sabres’ share of the southern Ontario market.

      NHL

      Couch Potato Alert: 10/24

      October 24, 2008 /

      Oklahoma State vs. Texas
      Top-ranked Texas has won 10 straight games against OSU and have staged some incredible comeback victories during this streak. In 2004, Oklahoma State led 35-7 before surrendering 49 straight points to the Longhorns. In 2005, Texas trailed 28-9 late in the third quarter, only to rally and win. Last year, the Longhorns came back from a 35-14 deficit late in the fourth quarter to win on a field goal as time expired. This season, the Cowboys are 7-0 and are in the top 10 for the first time since 1988, but are they mature enough to finish a game against Texas? Regional coverage begins at 3:30 PM ET Saturday on ABC.

      Penn State vs. Ohio State
      A win on Saturday night could put Penn State in prime position to finish the season undefeated and earn no worse than their first Rose Bowl berth since the 1994 season. The best matchup on the field could be between the Nittany Lions offensive line vs. the Buckeyes defensive front. Penn State is the No. 1 rushing offense (235 yards per game) in the Big Ten, while Ohio State has the No. 1 rushing defense (97 yards per game) in the conference. And the Nittany Lions are trying to win in Columbus for the first time since 1978. Let the pushing and shoving begin. National coverage begins at 8:00 PM ET Saturday on ABC. Click here for the official Ohio State-Penn State smack thread.

      The World Series
      The World Series could become the wet series this weekend when it shifts to Philadelphia. The National Weather Service latest forecast predicts a 90 percent chance of rain on Saturday. Major League Baseball officials acknowledged that Philadelphia is going to get rain, but the main question for them is how long? Game Three is Saturday at 8 PM ET and Game Four is on Sunday at 8 PM ET; all World Series games are on Fox.

      New York Giants vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
      They first met as rookies in 2004, Eli Manning and Ben Roethlisberger have led their teams to Super Bowl victories and both appear to be in good shape for another title run this season. Roethlisberger developed faster at the quarterback position and led the Steelers to three straight road wins en route to a Super Bowl title in 2005. Two seasons later, Manning did the same, guiding the Giants to three road playoff wins before defeating the previous undefeated New England Patriots in the Super Bowl last season. Manning’s New York Giants travel to Heinz Field to take on Big Ben’s Pittsburgh Steelers in a rare matchup of 5-1 teams this Sunday. Coverage begins at 4:15 PM ET on Fox.

      College Football, Couch Potato Alert, General Sports, MLB, NFL, Television

      Brian Burke: Goodbye Anaheim, Hello Toronto?

      October 24, 2008 /

      The arrival of Anaheim Ducks general manger Brian Burke in Toronto this week fueled speculation that he in line to become the next general manger of the Toronto Maple Leafs. His situation is unique; Burke is completing the final year of a four-year contract and can become a free agent at the end of the season.

      Duck ownership has offered a contract extension and Burke hopes to have a decision for them by Christmas. The hold-up is all on Burke’s end, as he has some family concerns that need to be addressed before accepting any job offer in the NHL.

      The media has speculated that Burke is pondering a move back to the East Coast to be closer to his four children from a previous marriage. Burke’s other concern is his current wife’s broadcast career. They live in Southern California with their children and are trying to find balance between their respective careers.

      Toronto’s reaction is “no comment” to all of the rumors. They will interview everyone that is available next spring and hope to hire the best candidate to lead them back to the playoffs. Veteran NHL executive Cliff Fletcher is the current interim head of hockey operations for the Maple Leafs until a permanent replacement can be found.

      When asked if his situation is a distraction to the Ducks, Burke responded that his situation is no different than a player playing out their contract to become an unrestricted free agent and it shouldn’t be a distraction because he has communicated the team on all issues pertaining to his contract.

      NHL

      Mike Ditka for senator?

      October 20, 2008 /

      Many political experts view Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama’s easy win in the 2004 Illinois United States Senate race as the victory that catapulted him into the national spotlight and set him on his current path to the White House. But looking back at that victory, for a few days in 2004 there was a real possibility that Obama’s Republican opponent could have been Chicago Bears coaching legend Mike Ditka.

      Ditka spoke about his possible candidacy to CNN News in an interview, and he does play the “what if” game:

      “It would have been interesting, I’ll tell you that,” Ditka said, “I don’t know what would have happened if I had run. I really don’t. Could I have beaten him? Maybe. Maybe not.”

      Ditka added that he gave serious consideration to running as the Republican nominee, but citied family and business obligations in declining the invitation. A staunch conservative, Ditka stated that he is firmly behind the McCain/Palin ticket come November.

      NFL

      « Older posts Newer posts »

      © 2026 The Scores Report – The National Sports Blog

      Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑