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Stoops, Arizona look for big-time program win

September 18, 2010 / Paul Costanzo

Under the direction of Mike Stoops, Arizona has won some very big games. The Wildcats knocked off a top 10 team three years in a row from 2005-07, with UCLA, California and Oregon all being their victims. This past year, Arizona even knocked off the Pac 10’s Goliath in USC.

But those wins all came late in the season, when Arizona had already piled up a handful of losses. One thing the Wildcats — who seem to perennially be thought of as a sleeper team — have not done, is capitalize on any preseason hype with a big-time early-season win.

They have the chance to do that tonight, though, when they play host to No. 9 Iowa. A win moves the Wildcats to 3-0 and gives them some serious national respect. It would also be a huge victory for the Pac 10, which is trying to assert itself as a top conference, even with a lethargic, and penalized, USC.

Can Stoops and Arizona pull it off? Click through for that prediction, and more from today’s games. Continue reading »

College Football, External Sports

A.J. Green Arizona Wildcats Arkansas Razorbacks Florida Gators Georgia Bulldogs Iowa Hawkeyes Jake Locker Michigan State Spartans Mike Stoops Nebraska Cornhuskers Notre Dame Ryan Mallett Tennessee Volunteers

Bucs partly to blame for Aqib Talib’s latest mistake

September 17, 2010 / Anthony Stalter

ATLANTA - DECEMBER 14: Cornerback Aqib Talib #25 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers watches play against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome on December 14, 2008 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

If Buccaneers’ cornerback Aqib Talib faces further punishment for attending Tampa Bay’s game against the Browns last Sunday, then the team needs to hold itself partly accountable.

Talib was suspended for violating the league’s personal conduct policy and apparently, the suspension prohibited him from participating in any team activities, which included attending Sunday’s game.

So imagine the NFL’s surprise when it found out that Talib watched the game not from the comforts of his own home, but from his personal suite at Raymond James Stadium. He now faces more punishment, although it’s unclear at this point what that’ll be.

Granted, Talib probably should have known that he couldn’t be at the stadium while he was suspended. But the Bucs are well aware that this kid isn’t the sharpest tool in the shed, so I’m wondering why someone with the team didn’t tell him to quietly sneak out the back door when they saw him sitting there watching the game. There surely had to have been someone affiliated with the team that saw Talib and said, “Hey, what a minute…”

Again, Talib doesn’t escape criticism for what can only be described as another dumb decision among multiple dumb decisions that he’s made since arriving to the NFL. But this one is on the Bucs.

External Sports, NFL

Aqib Talib Aqib Talib arrest Aqib Talib suspension Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tampa Bay Bucs

This is just a crazy, crazy play [video]

September 17, 2010 / John Paulsen

Let’s see — tipped ball, receiver manages to catch it and almost score, but he fumbles it just before he crosses the goal line and the defense gets possession on the 20 yard-line.

College Football, External Sports, Video

Cincinnati Funny videos great videos NC State

Despite lack of experience, Mattingly to replace Torre as Dodgers’ skipper

September 17, 2010 / Anthony Stalter

Aug. 02, 2010 - Los Angeles, California, United States of America - 2 August 2010: Dodgers hitting coach Don Mattingly (R) talks to Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman James Loney.

The Los Angeles Times is reporting that Don Mattingly will replace Joe Torre as the Dodgers’ manager for the 2011 MLB season.

An official announcement will be made Friday before the Dodgers’ game against the Colorado Rockies.
Mattingly has been the Dodgers hitting coach since the middle of the 2008 season, which was Torre’s first with the team. Before that, they were together with the New York Yankees.
The Dodgers announced earlier this season that Mattingly, who has never been a manager, would guide a team in the Arizona fall league, fueling speculation he was being prepared to take over the major league club.

The article reports that Torre may stay with the Dodgers organization in some capacity, although nobody knows at this point what role he would have with the club.

It’s been long believed that Mattingly would take over for Torre some day, but there has been recent speculation that the Dodgers were considering Tim Wallace for the position. L.A. hasn’t exactly been an offensive juggernaut under Mattingly’s instruction this year and considering he doesn’t have any managerial experience on any level, this could prove to be a bad move in the long run.

Although hey, he has been learning under Torre for the past couple of years, so maybe “Donny Baseball” will surprise.

External Sports, MLB

Dodgers rumors Don Mattingly Don Mattingly Joe Torre Joe Torre Los Angeles Dodgers