Category: General Sports (Page 82 of 112)

SPORTSbyBROOKS.com (via Deadspin) posted this YouTube clip of Texas’ Converse Judson High School coach Jim Rackley scaring a sideline reporter. I warn you, if you look directly into coach Rackley’s eyes, fear will immediately hit you like a ton of bricks.

I shutter to think what those kids had to go through at halftime.

It was one of the greatest comebacks I’ve ever seen. In the California Division I high school football championship, perennial powerhouse De La Salle dominated Corona Centennial in the first half, jumping out to a 24-7 lead at the break. Things looked even grimmer for the Huskies when De La Salle scored again in the third quarter, increasing its lead to 31-7.

The Huskies (13-2) made it a game by scoring 24 consecutive points in the second half to tie the score, 31-31, with 8:17 remaining. Their big break came with the Spartans leading, 31-15, late in the third quarter.

Michael Czyz, punting for De La Salle inside its own 10, kicked the ball into up-back Jeff Stroud and the ball caromed into the end zone, where it was recovered by De La Salle for a safety, cutting the deficit to 31-17.

Centennial then started the ensuing drive at midfield, picked up a first down on fourth and five on a 10-yard reverse by Marsel Posey and then scored on a 34-yard pass from Matt Scott to Ricky Marvray, who broke a tackle at the 10 and scored to cut the deficit to 31-24 with 14.9 seconds left in the third quarter.

De La Salle led 36-31 with five minutes to play in the fourth quarter, but Centennial was unable to convert on a crucial 4th and 2 deep in Spartan territory. Centennial elected to try the option, a play that the Huskies used all season but one that didn’t have much success against the Spartans. Tailback Ryan Bass was stuffed for a loss and De La Salle took over on downs.

On De La Salle’s next possession, the Centennial defense forced a punt, but the Huskies’ final drive was cut short when the Spartans’ Blair Wishom picked off Matt Scott to effectively end the game, 36-31.

Both teams showed a ton of resiliency, which is just the kind of thing you want to see in a state championship game.

Years from now, when people look back on 2007, what will they remember as the defining sports moment? Geez, will they have to pick just one? We had crooked refs and sideline spy games, O.J. back in court, a memorable Rockies run, a damaging Rocket revelation, a Brett Favre revival and perhaps the biggest upset in college football history. Meanwhile, months after one franchise quarterback finally shut critics up and hoisted the Lombardi Trophy, another franchise quarterback was hauled off to prison for his role in a dog fighting ring. Nice.

We’ve done our best to recap the year’s biggest sports stories, staying true to tradition by breaking our Year End Sports Review into three sections: What we learned, What we already knew, and What we think might happen. Up first are the things we learned in 2007, a list that’s littered with scandal, steroids, espianoge and young sluggers.

To check out Bullz-Eye.com’s 2007 Year End in Sports, click here.

Remember when Boston teams and their fans were underdogs? Well, not anymore. After winning two of the last four World Series and sporting a payroll that only the Yankees can match, the Red Sox are public enemy #1 in Shawn Griffin’s book. As for the Patriots and Bill Belichick? Yep, Shawn’s sick of them too.

Wow to say the least, Shawn didn’t hold back his feelings in his rant. Any thoughts Boston or non-Boston fans?