Sports News 1

O.J. Simpson Finally Gets a Prison Sentance

noreply@blogger.com (news2me) — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 21:43:00 +0000

You would think that after getting away with the murder of his former wife in the most important case of the 90's O. J. Simpson would have learned his lesson. Instead of avoiding jail and enjoying his get out of jail free pass, he ends up doing something stupid again and this time he's getting the jail time that he deserves. Don't let him of easy. He decided to rob a hotel and this time he is not getting away with it. He looks at 9 years in jail and possibly as much as 33.

A broken O.J. Simpson was sentenced Friday to at least nine years in prison and as many as 33 years for a hotel armed robbery after a judge rejected his apology and said, "It was much more than stupidity."

The 61-year-old football Hall of Famer stood shackled and stone-faced when Judge Jackie Glass quickly rattled off his punishment soon after he made a rambling, five-minute plea for leniency, choking back tears as he told her: "I didn't want to steal anything from anyone. ... I'm sorry, sorry."

Simpson said he was simply trying to retrieve sports memorabilia and other mementos, including his first wife's wedding ring, from two dealers when he stormed a Las Vegas hotel room on Sept. 13, 2007.

But the judge emphasized that it was a violent confrontation in which at least one gun was drawn, and she said someone could have been killed. She said the evidence was overwhelming, with the planning, the confrontation itself and the aftermath all recorded on audio or videotape.

Glass, a no-nonsense judge known for her tough sentences, imposed such a complex series of consecutive and concurrent sentences that even many attorneys watching the case were confused as to how much time Simpson got.

Simpson could serve up to 33 years but could be eligible for parole after nine years, according to Elana Roberto, the judge's clerk.

The judge said several times that her sentence in the Las Vegas case had nothing to do with Simpson's 1994 acquittal in the slaying of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman.

"I'm not here to try and cause any retribution or any payback for anything else," Glass said. Simpson was immediately led away to prison after the judge refused to permit him to go free on bail while he appeals. Simpson's co-defendant and former golfing buddy, Clarence "C.J." Stewart, also was sentenced to at least 15 years.

Outside court, Goldman's father, Fred Goldman, and sister, Kim, said they were delighted with the sentence. "We are thrilled, and it's a bittersweet moment," Fred Goldman said. "It was satisfying seeing him in shackles like he belongs." The Goldmans took a measure of credit for Simpson's fate, saying their relentless pursuit of his assets to satisfy a $33.5 million wrongful-death judgment "pushed him over the edge" and led him to commit the robbery to recover some of his sports memorabilia. Simpson and Stewart were both brought to the courtroom in dark blue jail uniforms, their hands shackled to their waists with chains.

Simpson, who looked weary and had not been expected to speak, delivered a somber statement to the judge. As he spoke in a hoarse voice, the courtroom was hushed. His two sisters, Shirley Baker and Carmelita Durio, sat in the front row of the courtroom, along with his adult daughter. Both men were convicted Oct. 3 of 12 criminal charges, including kidnapping and armed robbery. "As stupid and as ill-conceived as it was, it wasn't something that was from this evil mind they teach us about," Simpson attorney Yale Galanter said before sentencing. "Not bright, not smart, not well thought out, but certainly not from an evil mind," Galanter said.

Most of the 63 seats in the courtroom were taken by media, lawyers and family members of the defendants. Fifteen members of the public were also allowed. After sentencing was over, the Goldmans left the courtroom and Kim threw her arms around her father and wept. Simpson's sisters declined to comment, but Shirley Baker said on her way out: "It's not over." Jurors who heard 13 days of testimony said after the verdict that they were convinced of Simpson's guilt because of audio recordings that were secretly made of the Sept. 13, 2007, robbery at the Palace Station casino hotel.

The confrontation involved sports memorabilia brokers Alfred Beardsley and Bruce Fromong. It was recorded by collectibles dealer Thomas Riccio, who was acting as middleman. "Don't let nobody out of this room!" Simpson commands on the recordings, and instructs other men to scoop up items he insists had been stolen from him.

On Tuesday, Glass is scheduled to sentence four former co-defendants who took plea deals and testified against Simpson and Stewart. Michael McClinton, Charles Cashmore, Walter Alexander and Charles Ehrlich could receive probation or prison time. McClinton could get up to 11 years; the others face less.

Portion from Associated Press

Michael Phelps Named 2008 Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year

noreply@blogger.com (news2me) — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 13:07:00 +0000

NEW YORK, Dec 02, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Sports Illustrated Group Editor Terry McDonell announced today that Michael Phelps is the 2008 Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year. Phelps is SI's 55th Sportsman of the Year and joins Muhammad Ali, Lance Armstrong, Michael Jordan, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods, among other athletic greats who have received this award.

The SI Sportsman of the Year is presented annually to the person or team who transcended the year in both athletic performance and character. The descriptor, "It is not for the victory alone that he is honored. Rather, it is for the quality of his effort and the manner of his striving," lifted from the pages of SI in 1957, represents the defining principle of the award.

"Michael Phelps as the 2008 Sportsman of the Year was the easiest choice I have made," McDonell said. "Look at what he did in Beijing last summer. I was there. I saw him race after race, win again and again - we all saw that. And then to know him now -- it is so obvious that he changed not only swimming, but also the entire Olympic landscape."

Two thousand eight was a year of powerful moments in sports. The New York Giants' dramatic Super Bowl win, Tiger Woods' U.S. Open playoff victory on one leg, the Nadal/Federer Wimbledon final and a last-second shot in the NCAA men's basketball championship, but it was Phelps' unprecedented eight-gold- medal, seven-world-record achievement in Beijing under the intense spotlight of a global audience that rises above all.

Phelps will be honored at a ceremony in Manhattan this evening along with Special Olympics founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver -- the first recipient of the Sportsman of the Year Legacy Award -- and SI Kids' SportsKid of the Year, Derek Andrews.

"It is for elevating his sport -- and all of us out of our seats -- with a beguiling grace and humility that SI honors Phelps with its 55th Sportsman of the Year Award," writes Alan Shipnuck in his profile of Phelps. The magazine hits newsstands on Wednesday and marks Phelps's sixth appearance on the cover of SI.

In Beijing Phelps delivered a performance for the ages in breaking Mark Spitz's 36-year-old mark of seven gold medals in a single Olympiad. Phelps won individual gold in the 400-meter individual medley, 200-meter freestyle, 200- meter butterfly, 200-meter individual medley and 100-meter butterfly to go along with team golds in the 4x100-meter freestyle, 4x200-meter freestyle and 4x100-meter medley relays. His 0.01-second victory over Serbia's Milorad Cavic in the 100-meter butterfly and his U.S. team's come-from-behind triumph over France in the 4x100-meter freestyle relay provided two of the most iconic moments of the 2008 Summer Games.

Other athletes named Sportsman on the strength of their Olympic performance include Bobby Joe Morrow ('56), U.S. Olympic hockey team ('80), Edwin Moses and Mary Lou Retton ('84), Bonnie Blair and Johann Olav Koss ('94).

About Sports Illustrated
SI is a multimedia sports brand that takes the consumer into the heart and soul of sports. The SI franchise is anchored by Sports Illustrated, the most respected voice in sports journalism which reaches a weekly audience of nearly 21 million adults, and www.SI.com, the magazine's 24/7 sports news website that delivers more than 150 original stories to its users each week. The SI franchise also includes Sports Illustrated Kids ( www.sikids.com), a monthly magazine targeted to kids age 8 and up; Golf Magazine and www.Golf.com; www.FanNation.com, a social networking and sports-news aggregation platform; www.SIOncampus.com, a website dedicated to college sports and the college sports lifestyle; SI Presents, the magazine's specialty publishing division; as well as SI Books, SI Pictures, SI Productions, SI Digital and SI Events. Founded in 1954, SI is a division of Time Inc., the world's leading magazine publishing company and a subsidiary of Time Warner.

Sports Illustrated
PR Newswire

Gilbert: LeBron to NY a 'media phenomenon ... that will pass in time'

noreply@blogger.com (news2me) — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 21:40:00 +0000

Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert isn't worried about his franchise player bolting for the Big Apple in 2010. Instead, Gilbert told CNBC on Monday that this is more an instance of perception than reality.

"This is not LeBron James saying this stuff, this is just a media phenomenon here that will pass in time," Gilbert said while appearing on "CNBC Reports."

"We're focused on this year and you know what, so is he, and he's focused on this year and next year and hopefully a long career in Cleveland, Ohio. We believe that and we think we have a great situation here and we're off to a great start."

James has three seasons left on a four-year contract extension he signed in 2006; the contract took effect in 2007 and includes a player option for the fourth season. If James declines the player option, he will become a free agent in 2010.

The Knicks are one example of teams attempting to clear out salary-cap space for a star-studded free-agent class in 2010. James said this week he wouldn't hesitate to leave Cleveland if another franchise offers him a better chance to win multiple NBA titles.

Charles Barkley, in an interview last week on "Dan Patrick Radio," said James has no business talking about a future with another team while he's a Cavalier.

"If I was LeBron James, I would shut the hell up," Barkley said in the Wednesday interview. "I'm a big LeBron fan. He's a stud. You gotta give him his props. I'm getting so annoyed he's talking about what he's going to do in two years. I think it's disrespectful to the game. I think it's disrespectful to the Cavaliers."

James, however, felt differently.

"He's stupid. That's all I've got to say about that," James said Friday night before the Cavaliers' game against Golden State.

Story from ESPN.com
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

Plaxico Burress Goes to Booking Facility on Weapon Charge

noreply@blogger.com (news2me) — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 20:08:00 +0000

Police escorted Plaxico Burress out of a midtown Manhattan police station in handcuffs Monday, placing him in a car in which he was taken downtown to be booked into jail before appearing in court.

Burress arrived to the 17th Precinct station shortly after 8 a.m. ET in a black Cadillac Escalade wearing jeans and a black coat. He was expected to be charged after accidentally shooting himself Friday night in the right thigh at a Manhattan nightclub.

The New York Giants star wide receiver was silent but held his head high as he was led out of the police station, where a crowd that included Giants fans hovered nearby with cell phone cameras. He was not visibly limping.

Burress planned to plead not guilty to a weapon possession charge during a Monday afternoon court appearance, his lawyer, Benjamin Brafman, said outside the police station.

ESPN legal analyst Roger Cossack reported that Burress could face up to seven years in prison if convicted on the felony charge of carrying a concealed weapon without a permit.

Burress had a concealed-weapon permit issued to him in Florida but records show it expired in May and New York does not recognize out-of-state permits anyway, New York media have reported.

"He is standing tall. He is a mature adult," Brafman said. "I think any professional athlete in this situation would be concerned."

The episode set off a frenzy that showed no signs of letting up Monday: Police said the case could expand beyond Burress, with authorities investigating Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce and whether the hospital failed to report the shooting. The NFL is closely monitoring the developments as well.

According to the New York Post, the hospital failed to report the gunshot as required by law after hospital personnel recognized Burress, despite his checking into New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center under a fake name, Harris Smith.

He also said he'd been shot at an Applebee's restaurant, the Post reported, citing unnamed sources.

A more detailed timeline of the evening also emerged. Police said Pierce, Burress and running back Derrick Ward arrived at the club with two other people around 11:30 p.m. Friday.

Burress had been allowed to bypass security, even though they knew he was armed, according to a law enforcement official who spoke with The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. The club is said to be fully cooperating in the investigation.

Around 12:05 a.m., as Burress was being escorted to a VIP area with a drink in one hand, he somehow ended up fumbling his gun and it discharged, hitting his thigh. Pierce was with him when that occurred, police said.

It's believed Pierce took Burress to the car and then left with him, according to police. The .40-caliber Glock was found in the glove compartment of Pierce's Cadillac Escalade, but it's unclear who put the weapon there.

Police are trying to figure out what happened in the two hours that followed. Burress showed up at the hospital around 2:20 a.m, and was discharged at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Police said they had to track Burress down by canvassing local hospitals, and he had been discharged from New York-Presbyterian by the time detectives got there Saturday. An administrator then refused to give detectives information, citing privacy rules, police said.

The gun was eventually recovered at Burress' house in New Jersey, authorities said.

Pierce was interviewed by NFL security at the Giants' hotel Saturday in Washington, Giants general manager Jerry Reese said.

Police and NFL security were also probing whether there was a third Giants player who was present or involved, at the very least for gathering more information on the incident, sources told ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen on Sunday.

The New York Daily News has reported that Pierce tried to hide Burress' gun. Pierce -- who started against Washington -- reportedly was present for the latest dramatic turn in a tumultuous season of fines and suspension for Burress.

"Antonio is working on trying to beat the Redskins right now," Reese said before kickoff. "That's where his focus is and where it should be right now."

Pierce deflected several questions after the game. He wouldn't say whether he has a lawyer and when asked if he is concerned about his own situation, Pierce replied only: "No. I'm fine where I'm at."

The case drew the wrath of Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who has waged a long fight against illegal guns during his time in office. He called for a full prosecution of state law that requires mandatory prison for carrying a loaded handgun.

"I don't think anybody should be exempt from that, and I think it would be an outrage if we didn't prosecute to the fullest extent of the law, particularly people who live in the public domain, make their living because of their visibility -- they're the role models for our kids," Bloomberg said.

Brafman refused to respond to media reports about an alleged coverup, other than to say: "I think a lot of what's been in the press is not accurate."

Brafman said Burress is feeling OK.

"If they let him play, he will be able to play," Brafman said. "I think he will be a superstar for the rest of his career."

"My hope is that it plays out well and he can continue his career, because he's a good person I think, with a brilliant athletic career. And it would be a terrible sadness if an isolated incident could ruin a life," Brafman said.

The NFL is monitoring the case.

"This is a law enforcement matter and we are continuing to cooperate fully with the police," league spokesman Greg Aiello said in a statement. "In addition, it will be reviewed under our league policies."

Brafman met with Burress for about an hour Sunday at the player's home in New Jersey.

"I would ask that his fans, the Giants and the media withhold judgment in this matter until all of the facts have been disclosed," Brafman said earlier in an e-mail to The Associated Press.

Brafman is a well-known criminal lawyer who has defended mobsters and other high-profile figures, including hip-hop impresario Sean "Diddy" Combs on a bribery and gun possession charge in 2001.

Giants running back Brandon Jacobs said he spoke to Burress on the phone after the Giants' 23-7 victory at the Washington Redskins.

"I called him and made a few jokes about the situation and his laugh is what I wanted to hear," Jacobs said, according to Newsday. "If he didn't laugh I knew he was going to be down, which he shouldn't be down. It's a mistake that happened, something that shouldn't have happened and that's that."

Before the shooting, Burress already had been ruled out of the game because of a leg injury.

Giants coach Tom Coughlin said he spoke to his players about Burress' situation but wouldn't get into specifics.

"We all are upset about what happened with Plaxico, and hopefully he's going to be fine and so on and so forth. That's our first concern," Coughlin said. "Once that was taken care of, we knew that he was OK, then the guys got right back to focusing on the reason we were here."

Coughlin wouldn't address Burress' future with the Giants, saying only, "Questions of that nature will be discussed going forward, I'm sure."

The team is considering placing Burress on the non-football injury reserved list, which would make him ineligible for the remainder of the season, sources told Mortensen. It also would allow the Giants to recover some money already paid to Burress.

Additionally, a source told Mortensen that Burress has as much as $4.5 million tied to play-time incentives and active-roster status.

Hours earlier, Reese and Giants president and CEO John Mara also avoided discussing what Burress' status with the team might be.

"I want to wait until we find out all the facts and circumstances before we make any determination," Mara said. "I don't know what happened there, and until we find out exactly what happened, I'm not going to make any comment or make any decision about what his future is."

Reese and Mara said they hadn't spoken to Burress, who hurt his hamstring two weeks ago and was going to miss the game against the Redskins because of that injury.

"I reached out to him," Reese said. "I did not get a return phone call."

Mara repeatedly said the Giants would cooperate with the police and the NFL in their investigations.

Burress caught the go-ahead touchdown pass in the Giants' Super Bowl victory against the New England Patriots in February, following a regular season in which he scored a career-high 12 TDs. He was rewarded with a $35 million, five-year contract, only hours before the current season.

Burress has 35 catches for 454 yards and four touchdowns while constantly drawing double coverage this season.

Off the field, he was suspended for a game against Seattle in October and fined $117,500 for missing a team meeting and failing to notify the Giants of his absence. He said he had a family emergency.

Burress also was fined $45,000 by the NFL for his conduct during a game against San Francisco in which he abused an official and tossed a ball into the stands.

"I don't think people understand how good of a person he really is," fellow receiver Amani Toomer said after catching a 40-yard touchdown pass in the Giants' victory Sunday. "A good heart. I think he's a good guy."

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

Sports Museum of Los Angeles Opens Today

noreply@blogger.com (news2me) — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 19:12:00 +0000

Today is the first day the public can check out the new Sports Museum of Los Angeles, just south of downtown Los Angeles at Main Street and Washington Boulevard. The Times' Greg Johnson recently took a tour of the facility, writing about both the many displays and the colorful man behind the museum:

The museum's sweet spot is an extensive Dodgers collection that fills a room in the nondescript building not far from Staples Center. Visitors can gawk at a champagne bottle, glass and handful of infield dirt that select guests were given on the day Ebbets Field opened for big league play. There is an original Ebbets Field turnstile, musical instruments from the Brooklyn Dodgers' fabled marching band, a few grandstand seats and even the logo of the demolition company that knocked the old ballpark down. Former Dodgers owner Peter O'Malley has described the collection as "the best that I know of."

With all the financial problems of museums (like MOCA), is this the right time to open a new one? Johnson notes that the Sports Museum is operating as a for-profit business, but paperwork has been begun to convert it to a nonprofit. Admission is $17.50 for adults, $14 for seniors and students, $11 for children 5-12.

-- Shelby Grad

Los Angeles Times

LeBron Heading to The Knicks in 2010?

noreply@blogger.com (news2me) — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 18:50:00 +0000

While there is a lot of talk about LeBron James leaving the Cavs in 2010 after his contract expires, LeBron claims he has no idea where he will be going in 2010. He may stay in Cleveland. Some experts predict that the Knicks have the best chance of getting LeBron, but there are plenty of other teams that will be seeking him by clearing cap space for 2010 including Detroit, San Antonio, Chicago, Dallas, Houston and Miami.

Either way LeBron will be in the news a lot more with speculations up until he and the teams make their decisions.

Sports and Fitness Black Friday Deals Super List

noreply@blogger.com (news2me) — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 20:23:00 +0000

Black Friday is only days away it's time to start researching the sports and fitness gifts on your list and find the best deals I've provided a huge list from blackfriday.info With this huge alphabetical order of sports and fitness products including prices, where to buy it and a link to the ads for that product. Your sure to find something you like on this list. Enjoy the huge list and remember to bookmark this page so that you can come back and check out the list.

STORE	PRODUCT	PRICE
	100 LB Weider PowerSwitch Hand Weights See other products in the Sears Black Friday Ad.	$249.99
	15' Round Trampoline w/Bonus Ladder See other products in the BJ's Black Friday Ad.	$389.99
	170# Spinlock Grip Weight Set See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$109.99
	2000 Ct. 6mm BBs (Thursday Only) See other products in the Meijer Black Friday Ad.	$1.99
	20" Boys' Mongoose Axe Bike See other products in the Kmart Black Friday Ad.	$99.99
	20" Boys' Mongoose X-Jump Bike See other products in the Kmart Black Friday Ad.	$74.99

		26" Mongoose Spire Mountain Bike See other products in the Kmart Thanksgiving Black Friday Ad.	$99.99
		48-Pack Golf Balls See other products in the Kmart Thanksgiving Black Friday Ad.	$14.99
		5-In-1 Sports Center Table Top Game See other products in the AAFES Black Friday Ad.	$17.99
		6-ft Mercury Air-powered Hockey Table See other products in the Sears Black Friday Ad.	$169.99
		7 Foot Convertible 4-In-1 Roll-Up Table See other products in the Sears Black Friday Ad.	$449.99
		7-Position Bench See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$69.99
		8 Foot Allendale Billiard Table With Table Tennis Top See other products in the Sears Black Friday Ad.	$499.99
		Ab-Back Bench See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$69.99
		Adidas 3-Stripe Composite Basketball See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$12.50
		Adidas and Select Nike Men's and Women's Golf Apparel See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	25% Off
		Adidas Beckham Gold Soccer Ball w/Coupon See other products in the Dicks Sporting Goods Black Friday Ad.	$9.98
		Adult Adidas Samba Indoor Soccer Shoes See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$29.99
		Adult Giro Encinal Bike Helmet See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$29.99
		Air Soft Pistols and Riffles See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	25% Off
		All Chrome, Hex, Steel & Neoprene Weights See other products in the Sears Black Friday Ad.	33% OFF
		Alpine Design 54 Rolling Can Cooler See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$9.99
		Alpine Design Furnace Creek Sleeping Bag See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$29.99
		Alpine Design Outfitter Mountain Bike See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$129.99
		Alpine Design Queen Bed w/Pump See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$19.99
		Alpine Design Sherpa Blanket See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$7.49
		Aquity Men's Or Women's Turboplus Complete Golf Club Set w/Coupon See other products in the Dicks Sporting Goods Black Friday Ad.	$99.98
		Baja DoodleBug 97cc Mini Bike See other products in the Northern Tool Black Friday Ad.	$224.99
		Baja Racer Gas Mini Bike w/Coupon See other products in the Dicks Sporting Goods Black Friday Ad.	$249.98
		Balanceball(Saturday Only) See other products in the Meijer Black Friday Ad.	$19.99
		Bodyfit Anti Burst Fitness Balls w/DVD See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$9.99
		Bodyfit MB450 Upright Bike See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$149.99
		Bolle, Smith and Hobie Sunglasses See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	25% Off
		Bowflex PR1000 Home Gym See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$589.99
		Bowflex SelectTech 552 Dumbbells See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$449.99
		Boys 20" "Camo Patrol" Mountain Bike See other products in the AAFES Black Friday Ad.	$71.00
		Boys' and Girls' Bladerunner Twist See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$29.99
		Boys' and Girls' Iron Horse 20" and 24" Anzer Peak Mountian or LZ1 BMX Bikes See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$109.99
		Boys' Junior Dunlop Goff Set See other products in the Kmart Thanksgiving Black Friday Ad.	$49.99
		Browning Nightseeker Knife Light Combo See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$14.99
		Bushnell Explorer 10x42 Waterproof Binocular See other products in the Gander Mountain Black Friday Ad.	$49.95
		Callaway Vector Cart or Stand Bag See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$59.99
		Callaway X460 See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$119.99
		Camo 52" Shotgun Or 46" Rifle Case See other products in the Menards Black Friday Ad.	$4.77
		Canopy Chair See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$24.99
		Celestron Astromaster Reflector Telescope See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$99.99
		Century Wavemaster See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$79.99
		Cleveland 588 RTG Wedge See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$59.99
		Cleveland Cg 10 Wedge Or Cg 11 Wedge Golf Club w/Coupon See other products in the Dicks Sporting Goods Black Friday Ad.	$50.00
		Cleveland Tour Action Complete Set See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$449.99
		Coleman and Alpine Design Tents See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$17.50-$125.00
		Coleman Castle Park Sleeping Bag See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$19.99
		Coleman Roanoke Sleeping Bag See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$9.99
		Corba 27 Mile Radio See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$24.99
		Daiwa Samurai Spinning Rod & Reel Combo w/Coupon See other products in the Dicks Sporting Goods Black Friday Ad.	$12.98
		Dalsy Red Rider Lever Action BB Gun (Saturday Only) See other products in the Meijer Black Friday Ad.	$24.99
		Double Ladderball (Saturday Only) See other products in the Meijer Black Friday Ad.	$14.99
		Double Shootout Arcade Style Electric Game Table See other products in the Sears Black Friday Ad.	$179.99
		DPMS A17 Soft Air Rifle See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$59.99
		Easton 7" Pop-Up See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$59.99
		Easton All-Sports Trainer See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$44.99
		Easton BSN2 Baseball Bat See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$129.99
		Easton Grand 8" Air Hockey Table See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$599.99
		Easton Redline Championship Bat Bag See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$24.99
		E Force Mayhem Racquetball Racquet See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$39.99
		Entire Stock of Loose Dumbbells and Weight Plates See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$1.74 - $83.44
		Entire Stock of Watches See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	30% Off
		Entire Stock of Weight Sets See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$69.99 - $139.99
		Eton American Red Cross FR-150 Emergency Crank Radio See other products in the Gander Mountain Black Friday Ad.	$29.95
		Everlast 100# Heavy Bag See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$49.99
		Everlast 50-lb Heavy Bag Kit See other products in the Sears Black Friday Ad.	$47.99
		Everlast 50-lb MMA Kit See other products in the Kmart Black Friday Ad.	$49.99
		Everlast Deluxe Heavy Bag Stand See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$89.99
		Everlast G70 Heavy Bag Kit See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$49.99
		Evolution Front Suspension Mountain Bikes See other products in the Kmart Black Friday Ad.	$68.88
		E-Zip Trailz Electric Bike See other products in the Northern Tool Black Friday Ad.	$399.99
		Fathom Golf Set See other products in the Kmart Thanksgiving Black Friday Ad.	$77.77
		Firepits See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	50% Off
		Fishing Rod & Reel See other products in the AAFES Black Friday Ad.	$4.99
		Fitness Accessories - Entire Stock See other products in the Kohls Black Friday Ad.	20-50% Off
		Flambeau Combo Tackle Station See other products in the AAFES Black Friday Ad.	$14.99
		Franklin Soccer Goals See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$17.50-$49.99
		Fuel Fitness Fe46 Elliptical Machine See other products in the Dicks Sporting Goods Black Friday Ad.	$499.98
		Fuel Fitness Ft96 Treadmill See other products in the Dicks Sporting Goods Black Friday Ad.	$499.98
		Full Auto Kit Air Soft Guns (Thursday Only) See other products in the Meijer Black Friday Ad.	$14.99
		GamePower Top Spin Elite Table Tennis Table See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$169.99
		GamePower Tournament Cup Soccer Table See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$99.99
		GamePower Trilogy 6' 3-in-1 Combo Table See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$179.99
		Gander Mtn Goose Down Jacket for Men & Women See other products in the Gander Mountain Black Friday Ad.	$49.95
		Gander Mtn Mossy Oak Camo Gun Case See other products in the Gander Mountain Black Friday Ad.	$14.95
		Gander Mtn Super Heavyweight Men's 9.5-oz Chamois Shirt See other products in the Gander Mountain Black Friday Ad.	$19.95
		Gander Mtn Women's 2-Piece Sleepwear Set See other products in the Gander Mountain Black Friday Ad.	$19.95
		Garmin Etrex H See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$79.99
		Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS Trainer See other products in the Costco Black Friday Ad.	$159.99
		Garmin NUVI 205 Auto Navigation Device See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$129.99
		Gazelle Edge Fitness Equipment See other products in the Kohls Black Friday Ad.	$89.99
		Girls 20" "Firefly" BMX Bike See other products in the AAFES Black Friday Ad.	$33.00
		Girls' Junior Goft Set See other products in the Kmart Thanksgiving Black Friday Ad.	$39.99
		Goalrilla Iii Inground Basketball System w/Coupon See other products in the Dicks Sporting Goods Black Friday Ad.	$599.98
		Gold's Gym Platinum Mid-Width Bench See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$149.99
		Gold's Gym Platinum Single-Station Home Gym See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$349.99
		Gold's Gym Platinum Smith Machine See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$649.99
		Gold's Gym Switchplate Dumbbells With Stand See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$249.99
		Halex Carbon XT Cabinet Electronic Dartboard See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$17.99
		Halex Lexington BT Cabinet Electronic Dartboard See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$79.99
		Harvard Convertible 3 in 1 Multi Game Table See other products in the Sears Black Friday Ad.	$349.99
		Harvard Multi Fun 3 in 1 Game Table See other products in the Sears Black Friday Ad.	$199.99
		Head MX190 Racquetball Racquet See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$49.99
		Head TiS10 Tennis Racket See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$49.99
		Head Ti Se Tennis Racket See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$39.99
		Head TLCrush Racquetball Combo Pack See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$18.99
		Healthrider 200 Upright Bike See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$299.99
		HealthRider Club H120T Treadmill See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$799.99
		HealthRider H70E Elliptical See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$399.99
		Healthrider H90E Elliptical See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$799.99
		Horizon LS645 Elliptical Machine See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$549.99
		Horizon LS780 Treadmill See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$549.99
		Intrepid Table Tennis Table See other products in the Sears Black Friday Ad.	$179.99
		Iron Grip Power Tower See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$109.99
		Iron Horse Quantum or Diamondback Topanga Mountian Bikes See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$324.99
		Kids' All Licensed Fishing Combos (Thursday Only) See other products in the Meijer Black Friday Ad.	$8.99
		Kids' Koolaroo 6-pc Tent Combos See other products in the Kmart Black Friday Ad.	$14.99
		Kryptonics Build n Rip Skateboard Kit See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$29.99
		Lifetime 42" Acrylic Fusion Portable Basketball System See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$99.99
		Lifetime 50" Steal-Framed Portable or In-ground Basketball System See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$199.99
		Light Em Up Air Tech Hockey See other products in the AAFES Black Friday Ad.	$17.99
		Louisville Slugger Blue Frame Ultimate Pitching Machine See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$129.99
		Men's 26" "Aggressor" or Women's 26" "Lili Rose" 18-Speed Mountain Bike See other products in the AAFES Black Friday Ad.	$56.00
		Men's 26" "Camo Patrol" Mountain Bike See other products in the AAFES Black Friday Ad.	$87.00
		Men's and Women's Bladerunner Advantage In-Line Skates See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$49.99
		Men's and Women's Columbia Northway Comfort and Trailhead Sport Mountain Bikes See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$169.99
		Men's and Women's Rollerblade Zetrablade See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$89.99
		Men's K2 EX0 and Women's Athena In-Line Skates See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$89.99
		Men's Tommy Armour Golf Apperel See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	50% Off
		Metal Detectors See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	25% Off
		Monster 2000 Count Paintballs See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$19.99
		MTA Mini Sport 3 Pk. Balls See other products in the Meijer Black Friday Ad.	$9.99
		Nike 1505 Tackician Football See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$15.00
		Nike and Adidas Daypacks See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	40% Off
		Nike Heart Rate Monitors See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	30% Off
		Nike Men's SP3 Saddle Golf Shoe See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$39.99
		NordicTrack A2350 Treadmill See other products in the Sears Black Friday Ad.	$649.99
		NordicTrack AudioStrider 800 Elliptical See other products in the Sears Black Friday Ad.	$649.99
		NordicTrack AudioStrider 990 Elliptical See other products in the Sears Black Friday Ad.	$799.99
		NordicTrack CX 1600 Elliptical See other products in the Sears Black Friday Ad.	$1299.99
		NordicTrack E5 SI Elliptical Trainer See other products in the Sears Black Friday Ad.	$499.99
		NordicTrack Elite ZI Treadmill See other products in the Sears Black Friday Ad.	$1499.99
		NordicTrack Fitness Balls See other products in the Sears Black Friday Ad.	$5.99
		NordicTrack Mini Trampoline See other products in the Sears Black Friday Ad.	$24.99
		Northwest Territory 6" Table See other products in the Kmart Black Friday Ad.	$29.99
		Orlimar OCG Complete Set See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$199.99
		Outers Universal 28-Piece Gun Cleaning Kit w/Aluminum Case See other products in the Gander Mountain Black Friday Ad.	$19.99
		Pelican Break Kayak Package See other products in the Gander Mountain Black Friday Ad.	$179.95
		Penn 18ct. Bag of Pressureless Tennis Balls See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$4.99
		Penn Champ 8-Pack Tennis Balls See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$15.99
		Pentax Whitetails Unlimited 10x25 and 10x50 Binoculars See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$39.99
		Perfect Pushup Travel See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$29.99
		Portable 50" Shatterproof Fusion Backboard Basketball System See other products in the Kmart Thanksgiving Black Friday Ad.	$149.99
		Portable Basketball Systems See other products in the Kmart Black Friday Ad.	$59.99
		Potomac 100 Es Kayak (Yellow) w/Coupon See other products in the Dicks Sporting Goods Black Friday Ad.	$199.98
		PowerBilt Square Driver See other products in the Kmart Thanksgiving Black Friday Ad.	$29.99
		Precept XP3 See other products in the Kmart Thanksgiving Black Friday Ad.	$7.99
		Prince D3 Royal or Pink Tennis Racket See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$79.99
		Pro-Form 380E Treadmill See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$389.99
		Pro-Form 380E Treadmill See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$269.99
		Pro-Form 380F Elliptical See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$269.99
		Pro-Form 480E Treadmill See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$449.99
		ProForm 7.0 CrossTraining Treadmill w/iFit Challenge Training Center See other products in the BJ's Black Friday Ad.	$599.99
		ProForm Crosstrainer 800 Elliptical See other products in the Costco Black Friday Ad.	$499.99
		ProForm CrossWalk 380 Treadmill See other products in the Sears Black Friday Ad.	$379.99
		Pro-Form i-Series 785E Treadmill See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$649.99
		ProForm XP CrossWalk 580 Treadmill See other products in the Sears Black Friday Ad.	$499.99
		Pro V2 Dozen Bag of Baseballs See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$5.99
		PushUp Pro(Saturday Only) See other products in the Meijer Black Friday Ad.	$19.99
		Quik Sports Authority Logo Chair See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$5.49
		Quik Weekender 64 See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$49.99
		Radio Flyer Fold 2 Go Trikes See other products in the AAFES Black Friday Ad.	$48.95
		RAM G-Force 12-Pack Golf Balls See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$5.99
		RAM G Force Complete Set See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$129.99
		RAM G-Force Junior Complete Set See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$59.99
		RAM Laser Cabretta Golf Glove See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$4.99
		Ramps See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	25% Off
		RAM Px Soft or Laser Beta Ti 18-Pack Golf Balls See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$7.99
		RAM Sensor Complete Set See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$99.99
		Rawlings 6-Pack Of Leather Baseballs w/Coupon See other products in the Dicks Sporting Goods Black Friday Ad.	$9.98
		Rawlings or Mizuno Ball Gloves See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	25% Off
		Rawlings Pro Preferred 50th Anniversary Gold Glove See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$149.99
		Razor E100 and E175 Electric Scooters See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$79.99
		Razor Ripstik or Street Surfing Wave Skateboads See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$64.99
		RBK 54" Glass Inground Basketball System See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$599.99
		RBK 54" Portable Basketball System See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$399.99
		Rebook Precision Trainer XT Heart Rate Monitor See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$29.99
		Reebok 8000 ES Folding Treadmill See other products in the Costco Black Friday Ad.	$499.99
		Regent Alpha LCD Darfboard (Saturday Only) See other products in the Meijer Black Friday Ad.	$9.99
		Royal Flush DLX Poker Table See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$79.99
		Schwinn 420 Elliptical Machine See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$589.99
		Selected Crosman or Gamo Air Rifles See other products in the Gander Mountain Black Friday Ad.	$99.95
		Shimano Sahara, Symetre and Sedona Reels See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	40% Off
		Shimano Sedona or Sahara Combos See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$59.99-$69.99
		Silver Line 7-ft Turbo Hockey Table See other products in the Sears Black Friday Ad.	$277.99
		Silver Scot 24-Pack Golf Balls See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$9.99
		Sims Skateboards See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	50% Off
		Sims Torch Jr Pro, Boost or Protocol BMX Bike See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$119.99-$249.99
		Sklz Hit-a-way Baseball Aid See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$14.99
		Sklz Hit-a-way Softball Aid See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$14.99
		SKLZ Hurricane Trainer See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$139.99
		SKLZ Pujols SweetSpot Bats See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$30-$34.99
		SKLZ Zip-N-Hit Pro See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$12.49
		Smith & Wesson M3000 Airsoft Shotgun See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$29.99
		Snowboard With Adjustable Bindings See other products in the Menards Black Friday Ad.	$7.77
		Sole E25 Elliptical With Free 15" LCD TV / Dvd Player See other products in the Dicks Sporting Goods Black Friday Ad.	$999.98
		Sole F63 Treadmill With Free 15" LCD TV / Dvd Player See other products in the Dicks Sporting Goods Black Friday Ad.	$999.98
		Spalding Beast 60" Glass Portable Basketball System See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$899.99
		Spalding Gold Series Basketball See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$19.99
		Spalding NBA Basketball See other products in the Kmart Thanksgiving Black Friday Ad.	$14.99
		Spalding NBA Competitive Basketball See other products in the Kmart Black Friday Ad.	$14.99
		Spalding Nba Pro Series Basketball w/Coupon See other products in the Dicks Sporting Goods Black Friday Ad.	$24.98
		Sportcraft 7' Fullerton Pool Tape w/Table Tennis Top See other products in the Kmart Black Friday Ad.	$249.99
		Sportcraft 90in Kingsford Billiard Table w/Cue Rack See other products in the Sears Black Friday Ad.	$389.99
		Sportcraft Bank Shot Basketball Arcade Game See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$94.99
		Sportcraft Ridgeway 7" 3-in-1 Combo Table See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$449.99
		SportsCraft Endeavor 7' Air Hockey Table See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$249.99
		SportsCraft Scottsdale 7' Billiard Table with Conversion Top See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$249.99
		Sportspower 11' Trampoline/Enclosure Combo See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$169.99
		Stack-On Sentinel 14-Gun Steel Security Cabinet See other products in the Gander Mountain Black Friday Ad.	$129.95
		Standard Zero Gravity Chair See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$29.99
		Stiga Aerotech Table Tennis Table See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$249.99
		Stiga Shadow Table Tennis Table See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$99.99
		S&W M3000 Soft Air Shot Gun See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$29.99
		Table Top Air Hockey See other products in the Sears Black Friday Ad.	$24.99
		Table Top Billards See other products in the Sears Black Friday Ad.	$24.99
		Taylormade Burner 07 Driver w/ Dozen Burner Tp Golf Balls w/Coupon See other products in the Dicks Sporting Goods Black Friday Ad.	$199.99
		TaylorMade Burner Driver w/1 Dozen Taylormade Burner Golf Balls See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$199.99
		TaylorMade Burner Golf Balls (Thursday Only) See other products in the Meijer Black Friday Ad.	$11.99
		Taylormade R7 460 Draw Driver See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$119.99
		Taylormade Rossa Putter See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$59.99
		Taylormade Tour Burner Driver w/ 2 Dozen Burner Tp Golf Balls w/Coupon See other products in the Dicks Sporting Goods Black Friday Ad.	$299.99
		TaylorMade Tour Burner Driver w/2-Dozen Taylormade Burner Golf Balls See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$299.99
		TGII Replique or Nike T90 Natural Soccer Ball See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$9.99
		Tippman Custom 98 w/20oz Tank See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$149.99
		Tommy Armour 855 Hybrid Irons See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$199.99
		Tommy Armour Hot Scot Cart See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$44.99
		Tommy Armour Silver Scot Cube Driver See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$59.99
		Tommy Armour Your Performance 12-Pack Golf Balls See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$9.99
		Topflite Xl3000 15-Pack Of Golf Balls w/Coupon See other products in the Dicks Sporting Goods Black Friday Ad.	$5.00
		Topflite Xl Extreme 12-Pack Of Golf Balls w/Coupon See other products in the Dicks Sporting Goods Black Friday Ad.	$5.00
		Triple Eight Helments See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$19.99
		Two Pistol Kit Air Soft Guns (Thursday Only) See other products in the Meijer Black Friday Ad.	$14.99
		Weider Club Olympic Bench See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$99.99
		Weider Combo Bench w/Lat Tower See other products in the Kmart Black Friday Ad.	$79.99
		Weider Mini Trampoline See other products in the Kmart Black Friday Ad.	$29.99
		Weider PowerSwitch 25lb Pair See other products in the Sears Black Friday Ad.	$59.99
		Weider Stability Balls See other products in the Kmart Black Friday Ad.	$5.99
		Welder Pro 290 Combo Bench See other products in the Sears Black Friday Ad.	$89.99
		Weslo Cadence CT 4.8 Treadmill See other products in the Kmart Thanksgiving Black Friday Ad.	$269.99
		Weslo Momentum CT 3.8 Elliptical See other products in the Kmart Thanksgiving Black Friday Ad.	$199.99
		Weslo Pursuit CT 3.8R Recumbent Cycle See other products in the Kmart Thanksgiving Black Friday Ad.	$149.99
		Weslo Pursuit E25 Exercise Cycle See other products in the Kmart Black Friday Ad.	$69.99
		Wildview TGL4MR Digital Scouting Cam See other products in the Gander Mountain Black Friday Ad.	$69.95
		Wilson GST Composite Football See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$14.99
		Wilson Hyper Titanium Distance 12-Pack See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$5.99
		Wilson N5 Tennis Racket See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$59.99
		Wilson Premium Edition Basketball w/Coupon See other products in the Dicks Sporting Goods Black Friday Ad.	$19.98
		Wilson Ultra Basketball See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$12.50
		Wilson Ultra Composite Football See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$12.49
		XP1 Folding Gaming Chair See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$29.99
		Youth Archaery Sets See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	25% Off
		Youth or Adult Nike Speedtack Receiver Gloves See other products in the Sports Authority Black Friday Ad.	$10-$15
		Yukon Firefall Sporting Scope w/Case See other products in the AAFES Black Friday Ad.	$74.99

Clumbus Crew Beats NY Red Bulls in MLS Cup

noreply@blogger.com (news2me) — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 19:06:00 +0000

Major League Soccer's top honor goes to the Columbus Crew who where favored to win the championship. This is the teams first franchise championship. The managed to beat out New York's Red Bulls.

Chad Marshall snapped a tie in the 52nd minute and Frankie Hejduk added an insurance goal 30 minutes later as the Crew recorded a 3-1 triumph over the New York Red Bulls on Sunday in the MLS Cup Final.

League MVP Guillermo Barros Schelotto recorded a Cup Final-record three assists to help deliver a championship in his second season in MLS. Fittingly, the captain claimed MVP honors for Sunday's match as well.

"I'm still a little numb," said Columbus coach Sigi Schmid, who became the first head coach to win MLS Cup titles with two different teams. He won in 2002 with the Los Angeles Galaxy.

"You go through a lot of emotions when you win a game like this. I'm happy for our team and the city of Columbus. We stuck together all year. We're a team. The group was tremendous and worked hard every day. That's what got us here and that's how we did it."

Columbus cruised to the Supporters' Shield during the regular season but did not have much success against the Red Bulls, who took two of three meetings -- including a 3-1 victory at Giants Stadium on October 18 as New York was making its playoff push.

But the Crew were up to the task when it counted. In fact, they hardly let the Red Bulls garner any momentum at all.

After New York forward John Wolyniec leveled the match in the 51st minute, Columbus immediately answered and reclaimed the lead -- this time for good.

"I believe we were a better team the second half," Schelotto said. "The first half was tough for us. After our second goal, I thought we would settle down and were a better team at that point. I thought that we would hold on and clamp down on them and take it to the end and win."

Schelotto delivered a perfect corner kick right in front of the net to Marshall, who knocked home what proved to be the game-winner.

The Crew maintained control throughout the rest of the second half with an aggressive offensive mentality -- and that paid off once again in the 82nd minute.

Schelotto lofted a high lob pass to Hejduk, who scored on a header to essentially put the game out of reach, all but officially bringing the Philip F. Anschutz Trophy to Columbus.

"I think we were the better team with better chances to score," Red Bulls coach Juan Carlos Osorio said. "We limited them to one chance and they put it away. We came out strong in the second half, got back in the game.

"Then to give up a goal so soon off a corner was very disappointing. It was too easy. My guys played with pride and passion, and that's all I can ask for."

Alejandro Moreno, who led the Crew with nine goals this season, opened the scoring in the 31st minute Sunday. From the right side of the box, the Venezuelan forward dribbled a soft roller just past the outstretched arm of New York goalkeeper Danny Cepero. The ball slipped inside the left post for a 1-0 lead.

"The field was a little weird. It was spongy, it took us a while to get used to it," Marshall said. "We were under a lot of pressure in the first half and getting that goal against the run of play was what we needed at that time.

"They're an offensive-minded team and that's what we expected. They're good at switching around to confuse defenses and with the speed of Dane Richards, we're lucky to have gotten away in the first half with just one goal."

Early in the second half, the Red Bulls answered as Wolyniec redirected Dane Richards' pass with his left foot and poked it past goalkeeper William Hesmer to knot the game at 1-1.

But Schelotto and company ultimately were too much for New York, as Columbus claimed the league title in its first-ever appearance in the MLS Cup final.

It was a fitting end to what was often a dominant regular season for the Crew, who compiled 17 victories and 57 points during the season. That included a nine-game unbeaten streak that lasted more than two months before, ironically, the Red Bulls' aforementioned 3-1 triumph in October brought it to an end.

Schelotto posted a league-best 19 assists and added six during the postseason.

The Crew rebounded after missing the playoffs the last three years, as they finished in sixth in the Eastern Conference each campaign. They defeated the Kansas City Wizards, 4-1, in their first-round aggregate series before outlasting the Chicago Fire and their stingy defense in the conference final.

"We had a rough spot in June and July, but we put that behind us," Moreno said. "My hat's off to Sigi and it's great to win in L.A."

For the Red Bulls, the road to the title game was a lot rockier. In fact, they needed a bit of help from Columbus to even qualify for the playoffs.

New York had a chance to clinch a spot in its regular-season finale, but dropped an unimpressive 5-2 decision to Chicago. However, the Crew's 1-0 win over D.C. United delivered the fourth and final Western Conference playoff berth to the Red Bulls.

They upset the two-time reigning champion Houston Dynamo in the first round and advanced to the MLS Cup final with a 1-0 victory over Real Salt Lake in last weekend's Western Conference final.

Schelotto became the third player to win both league MVP and MLS Cup MVP honors in the same year.

Tony Meola was the first, accomplishing the feat in 2000 as he backstopped the Kansas City Wizards to their MLS Cup championship. Carlos Ruiz did it two seasons later, following a 24-goal season with a golden goal in the Cup final to give the Los Angeles Galaxy their first MLS title.

U of M Falls to No. 10 Duke in 2k Sports Classic Final

noreply@blogger.com (news2me) — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 16:27:00 +0000

Can University of Michigan be good at basketball again? They haven't been good since the fab 5 days. Some how they made it to the 2k Sports Classic Finals. Although, Duke is not the greatest team this year either, they have always been a good competitor due to their awesome leadership of coach K. Michigan's new coach might actually get them back to March Madness. They might actually give close by Michigan State some competition as MSU is always a great team thanks to Coach Tom Izzo.

The University of Michigan men's basketball team fell short in its bid to upset its second top-10 opponent in as many nights as the Wolverines dropped a 71-56 decision to Duke (No. 10 AP/No. 5 ESPN/USA Today) in the championship game of the 2K Sports Classic benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer Friday night (Nov. 21) at Madison Square Garden. U-M (3-1) put forth a strong effort in the first half and trailed by just eight points at the break, but the Blue Devils (5-0) opened the second half with an 8-2 run to build a double-digit lead that stood for the remainder of the contest.

Michigan will have another crack at Duke in two weeks when the Wolverines host the Blue Devils on Saturday, Dec. 6, in front of a sold-out crowd of 13,751 in Crisler Arena (ESPN).

Sophomore Manny Harris (Detroit, Mich./Redford HS) notched his third 20-point effort of the season, finishing with a game-high 25 points while hitting all but one of his 12 free-throw attempts. Junior DeShawn Sims (Detroit, Mich./Pershing HS) had another strong outing, tallying 10 points and three rebounds off the bench. Sophomore Kelvin Grady (Grand Rapids, Mich./East Grand Rapids HS) gave a solid effort with a game-high six assists to go along with five points and four boards, while senior/junior Zack Gibson (Grand Blanc, Mich./Grand Blanc HS) contributed six points and five rebounds.

Michigan, which advanced to the championship game with a 55-52 upset win over No. 4-ranked UCLA less than 24 hours before tonight's tip, had trouble finding a rhythm on offense for a majority of the contest. U-M finished the game shooting just 36 percent from the field (19-of-53), including 27 percent from three-point range (6-of-22).

Duke extended a 39-31 halftime lead to 14 points by putting together an 8-2 run while limiting the Wolverines to just two free throws in the first 3:39 of the second half. Harris kept Michigan in contention by scoring the team's first nine points of the half, including a fast-break dunk that cut Duke's advantage to 47-38 with 15:14 left in the game.

U-M had difficulty gaining any further momentum as the Blue Devils held the Wolverines without a field goal for a span of 7:04 while pushing their lead to 59-42 at 8:37. Harris and Sims gave Michigan hope by combining for the team's next 12 points, but U-M was unable to draw any closer than 65-53 in the remaining minutes of the game.

Duke jumped out to a 9-2 lead in the first 3:06 of the action, converting on four-of-six attempts from the field while limiting the Wolverines to just a pair of Harris free throws. Gibson stepped up and delivered back-to-back layups to narrow the gap to 9-6 at 14:36.

With the Blue Devils leading 12-6, Grady came off the bench and promptly hit the team's first three-pointer before draining a soft baseline jumper to keep the Duke lead at 14-11 with 12:32 remaining in the first half. Sims followed Grady's lead as he entered the game and collected a pair of baskets to cut the deficit to 17-15 at 11:02.

Duke came out of the television timeout and strung together an 8-0 run over a span 1:55 to extend its lead to 25-15 with 8:57 left until the break. The Blue Devils sustained a double-digit cushion over the next three minutes of play until freshman Stu Douglass (Carmel, Ind./Carmel HS) knocked down a triple in transition to trim the Duke advantage to 29-22 at the six-minute mark of the first half.

Michigan scored five unanswered points in the closing minutes of the half, with junior/sophomore Anthony Wright (Sterling, Va./Oak Hill Academy) draining a three-pointer and Gibson slamming home two off fifth-year senior C.J. Lee's (Pittsford, N.Y./Pittsford Sutherland HS) steal, resulting in a 35-29 Blue Devil lead with 2:42 to play. Duke responded with four quick points, but Harris hit a tough jumper in the final minute to keep the deficit in single digits, 39-31, heading into the break.

NFL Economic Problems in 09 - Commissioner Roger Goodell

noreply@blogger.com (news2me) — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 15:29:00 +0000

Everything business is affected by the U.S. including the NFL. According to Commissioner Roger Goodell the NFL is currently having hard times even though it has been the most successful sports business. Does this mean that all the sports leagues are having economic problems? Most likely yes. A major problem is advertising, the advertisers have a lower budget to spend on advertising and as we all know advertising with the NFL is not cheap.
The party line from many of the larger sports and broadcast properties has been that they remain largely unaffected by the current economic squeeze. However, a recent memo from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to league staffers warns of impending new business shortfalls at what is usually seen as America ’s most successful sports property.

“Our costs are rising and our league revenues are under pressure,” Goodell wrote, in what appears to be the first admission of economic shortfalls at the NFL. “…This means we must carefully control our costs on a daily basis and aggressively identify new sources of revenue.”

While every corporate captain is charged with maintaining or cutting overhead during this tight market, Goodell indicates that the league’s budget projections are imperiled. “We remain committed to the bottom-line budget results that our league entities projected to the clubs for the 2008-2009 fiscal year,” he wrote. Without explaining the likely budget shortfalls, Goodell goes on to say, “I have asked Finance to coordinate across all departments as we make the necessary adjustments to meet our financial projections. We will all see and feel the effect in our travel, events, promotional spending and other areas.”

While declining to specify which NFL revenues are “under pressure” or what steps the league is taking to reduce costs, league spokesman Brian McCarthy said, “No business is immune to current economic conditions, including the NFL. Revenues are under pressure because we have partners and sponsors that are responding to a weak economy and higher costs. Like our partners, we are proactively and pre-emptively looking carefully at our expenses.”

The league’s largest businesses, like television revenue, are contractually guaranteed. Sources identified the revenue shortfall as being principally in the media sales and sponsorship areas.

Consultant Marc Ganis, who has advised several NFL teams, also identified the league’s licensing business as “feeling pressure” during a period of overall dismal retail results. He added that Internet and mobile business had not developed as quickly as hoped. “Not just for the NFL, but for all leagues, but I have no doubt they will get there eventually,” he said.

Noting the dismal state of the auto industry, particularly the trucks and SUVs that have been heavy NFL advertisers, he cautioned, “you can’t overstate the impact the auto industry’s problems have with the NFL and every other sport.”

A senior marketer for a large NFL sponsor said he had noticed one key difference in meetings with the NFL this year. “They are more sales-focused than ever, even to sponsors who already have big investments, and this probably explains that,” the marketer said. “And it does make you stop and think, ‘If they aren’t writing new business, who is?’”

If the NFL’s new business is down, it raises intriguing questions about the continued growth of any large sports property. Can sports expect the corporate gravy train to continue, even after a correction in the economy? For now, it’s the slowest corporate sales environment since the post-9/11 freeze.

“Every client or would-be client is trying to get in the door for the minimum amount and stretch their dollars even while they are doing that,” said NHL sponsorship chief Keith Wachtel. “When brands are trying to do more with less, it means the properties have to be more creative.”

“While we have seen dramatic growth in recent years for things like corporate hospitality and sponsorships, we are worried about that continuing,” said Sam Kennedy, Red Sox executive vice president and chief sales and marketing officer.

Kennedy cautioned early this year that the team was unlikely to meet sales projections despite winning a World Series title. “We haven’t seen any dramatic cut, although we have had some 2009 planning with sponsors who have told us some stories about their business that aren’t pretty. We [Fenway Sports Group] also have a sizable NASCAR investment, and while I am no expert, the word around the garage is that unless you are running among the top 10 or 15 cars, it is going to be very tough to attract tier-one sponsors.”

Octagon President Rick Dudley, himself a former MLB, NHL and NFL marketer, said that brands with sports portfolios continue to plan and activate, “but the thought of taking on anything new is usually dismissed immediately, there just aren’t a lot of available funds,” he said. “How long this condition lasts is the question we’d all like the answer to.”

NBA Free Agents in 2010 Lots of Superstars

noreply@blogger.com (news2me) — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 12:58:00 +0000

The 2010 free agents include plenty of big names which may lead to many big named players going to other teams. This could drastically change which teams become title contenders and which teams become losing teams. As a hand full of the top NBA players are free agents. Will LeBron choose another team?

The NBA's latest version of a long-running presidential election involves LeBron James and more than a dozen other high-profile candidates. The issue: Where will they land when they become free agents in 2010?

This promises to be the most provocative free-agent class of the post-Jordan world, with the Pistons, Nets and (launch Darth Vader intro music) Knicks among the dozen or more teams potentially lining up to recruit and sign one or more of the game's biggest names. But ... and a big but this is ... it's a story that won't be consummated until the summer after next. Indeed, nothing may come of all the speculation, should LeBron and his fellow stars decide to re-sign with their current teams, as they very well may do.

"I find it sort of strange,'' said Henry Thomas, agent to potential 2010 free agents Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. "The reality is it's two years away. I don't know why there's so much talk about it.''

It's because this is the NBA's Next Big Thing. The previous Next Big Things were the impending divorce of Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant (which was realized), followed by the imminent departure of Kevin Garnett from Minnesota, which was anticipated for two excruciating years (and which happened), which begot the issue of Kobe's on-and-off desires to leave the Lakers (which is now off). That leaves us looking past the next two seasons to a summer of free-agent movement that may never come to be.

Adding relevance to the conjecture is the possibility of LeBron's moving to New York, enabling the NBA to seize its biggest market and instigating an N.Y.-L.A. rivalry of LeBron vs. Kobe that could dwarf the Celtics-Lakers wars of the 1980s.
So here's a primer to help get you through the two long winters of incessant blogging, talk-radio tirades and Internet predictions that lay ahead. We start by looking at the key players.

• LeBron James, Cavaliers. His opt-out clause in 2010 is driving this story. "When I decide to make that decision, it is basically to put me in a position where I feel like I can win multiple championships,'' James said before scoring 31 points in a victory Tuesday at New Jersey. "If it's staying here, then I will be here. If it's moving elsewhere, then I will have to look at all my options.''

The chronic speculation that LeBron will bolt for New York (or to New Jersey, though that is less likely now that the Nets appear less likely to move to Brooklyn) has been based entirely on the provocative idea of his becoming the biggest thing in the Big Apple. But here, now, he is saying that winning championships is his most important consideration.

And of course that is true. If he wants to become the world's top star and surpass the global acclaim of Michael Jordan, then he needs to win at Jordan's level. Moving to New York and failing to win there would ultimately deem him a huge failure.
If the Cavs assemble the makings of a championship team around James, then how can he explain a decision to leave? Cleveland is, as he reminds us constantly, his hometown (he is from nearby Akron). It is not going to reflect well on LeBron if he were to abandon his valued home in order to go for the glitz of New York.

The Knicks would need to create a highly talented roster around him, in which case LeBron could make the criticism vanish by winning, much as Shaq made everyone forget the nastiness of his departure from Orlando by earning three titles in L.A. There is no doubt that winning multiple rings in New York (which won the last of its two championships in 1973) would be a bigger achievement than if he won on any other platform.

But it would also be a heartwarming story if he were to maintain loyalty to his hometown while turning the small-market Cavs into the capital of the basketball world. It would, as marketing people like to say, brand him as no other star has ever been branded, because it would give his mission the appearance of being about something more important than money. It would be a story of investing himself in his hometown.

To become the equal to (or eclipse) Jordan, LeBron must be universally loved. People would love him for staying in Cleveland.

Plus, there are billions of people in China who won't view LeBron any differently whether he's in New York or Cleveland. Most of his potential consumers around the world won't know the difference. They'll want to buy his jersey and shoes regardless of the colors.

I'm not saying he isn't going to sign with New York; all I'm saying is that when people say James is definitely leaving Cleveland, that he's made his decision already, I don't buy it as anything close to a sure thing. And you shouldn't, either, because it makes no sense for him to decide right now. He may be leaning one way or the other, or he may even be promoting rumors of his departure in order to pressure the Cavs to keep improving the roster because he wants to stay and win championships in Cleveland. Who knows?

If I have to make one prediction, let me start by saying this: He isn't going to move to Detroit, because that would be a lateral move. No upside for him there. I don't claim to know what James is thinking, but the only move away from home that makes sense is for him to go to either the Lakers (which isn't likely to happen, because Kobe isn't going anywhere) or the Knicks. Ultimately, I think it's going to be a simple decision: Cleveland or New York.

• Chris Bosh, Raptors. For all of the other teams with cap space, Bosh becomes the top available target. Every city he visits brings questions of where he might be playing in 2010-11, Bosh acknowledges.

"There are too many ifs,'' he said. "I just work on being happy right now and helping this team and trying to be the best player I can be. By thinking about it too much, you won't end up thinking about playing basketball. You'll think about two years from now. I'm not a person who thinks like that.''

There is a feeling throughout the league that Bosh, a Texan, will consider a move enabling him to return to the United States and eventually raise a family on home soil. Rival NBA executives argue that Bosh hasn't been celebrated as much while playing for a Canadian team as he would be on an American roster.

Bosh, however, doesn't hint in public that he would be happier playing for another franchise. And, as Raptors president Bryan Colangelo points out, Bosh was voted by fans to start in the 2007 All-Star Game, a clear signal his association with the Raptors isn't necessarily hurting his profile. (Bosh finished third among Eastern Conference forwards in balloting last year behind Garnett and James, an outcome that no market could have altered.)

"Chris is in the MVP conversation this year, he's been an All-Star, he's been on USA Basketball and he was a key member of the gold-medal team last summer,'' Colangelo said. "All of the accolades have been coming to him.''

Toronto is itself one of the largest markets in North America, and Colangelo has a long track record of making bold moves to build contending teams (see: last summer's trade for Jermaine O'Neal).

"The corporate base and economic climate is a lot better in Canada than it is south of the border,'' Colangelo said. "Not only is he getting accolades and attention, but he's also got an entire country to market to in addition to the U.S. He is the cornerstone of this franchise, and not many players have the opportunity to say they are the cornerstone.''

The Knicks are expected to make a run at Bosh, depending on the decision of LeBron (or maybe in addition to him, if they were somehow to amass enough cap space); so could the Pistons, Nets and -- provocatively -- Miami, Houston and Phoenix, who represent three markets that NBA players traditionally covet. But the truth is every franchise with room under the cap will be interested in Bosh, a team-first, 24-year-old power forward whose early season numbers (25.5 points, 11.0 rebounds) denote continual improvement.

Let's look first at other All-Stars who may be on the 2010 list:
• Dwyane Wade, Heat: Unlikely to leave Miami, a destination market with ambitious management (though if he were to enter the market, he would join James and Bosh at the elite level).
• Amaré Stoudemire, Steve Nash and Shaquille O'Neal, Suns: It would make sense for the Suns to attempt to rebuild around the explosive Stoudemire, who will be 27; Nash will be 36 and Shaq will be 38.
• Dirk Nowitzki, Mavericks: He will be 32 with 12 years of NBA mileage.
• Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady, Rockets: Yao has shown no inclination to leave; McGrady will be 31 with a history of injuries.
• Michael Redd, Bucks: See McGrady.
• Manu Ginobili, Spurs: He will be 33.
• Ray Allen and Paul Pierce, Celtics: Allen will be 35; Pierce is unlikely to opt out of a contract that will pay him $21.5 million in 2010-11.

So, for teams hoping to invest their cap space in a pair of young All-Star legs, the options are LeBron, Bosh and maybe (though less likely) Wade or Stoudemire.
And the Hawks' Joe Johnson: Don't forget him. Not only will he be just 29, but Johnson also is emerging as a big-shot star with three-point range and playmaking skills that would enable him to fit into any contending lineup. He looks more and more like he's a Piston in the making (which is not to say that the whims of the market will marry them together).

Now let's look at the leading teams in contention to make a play for these stars:
• Knicks: It isn't complicated. The trick here is for them to clear away high-salaried players (such as Eddy Curry, owed $11.3 million in 2010-11, and Zach Randolph, who will make $17.3 million that season, which is helpfully the expiring year of his contract) while building a team that can win once LeBron is plugged in. As spelled out by LeBron himself -- he wants to win multiple championships -- the Knicks can't expect to land him by merely unloading bad contracts; team president Donnie Walsh must also bring in good players in order to make LeBron an offer he can't refuse. Walsh has shown his understanding for this dynamic by refusing to merely give away Randolph to the Clippers and other suitors; he knows he must retrieve assets in return.

The good news is that coach Mike D'Antoni has already succeeded in installing his up-tempo system during New York's surprising 6-5 start, which should raise the value of Knicks players and make them easier to trade. The open-floor opportunities D'Antoni has created for lesser players surely whets LeBron's imagination.
The ultimate goal for the Knicks will be to create enough cap space to recruit two free agents, much as the Magic did in their 2000 bonanza signings of McGrady and Grant Hill. Imagine a package deal of LeBron and Bosh ...

• Cavs: Keep in mind that they will have cap space in 2010 to retain LeBron and sign a max star to accompany him. If they can earn an early long-term commitment from James toward the end of next season, then maybe they can make a run at Bosh, Johnson or Stoudemire -- or make a trade for an expensive star from a team looking to create cap space.

In the meantime, expect the Cavs to dangle one of their expiring contracts at the trade deadline. As much as they like the chemistry of their current rotation, they're probably one very good player away from winning it all this year. The Cavs remain a one-star show, and going back to the arrival of Bird and Magic 30 seasons ago, the only teams to win a championship with fewer than two stars have been the 1993-94 Rockets (around Hakeem Olajuwon) and the 2003-04 Pistons (who, in fact, did not have a traditional scoring star on their roster).

• Pistons: Their priority is to land a big-time player this summer with the cap space derived from the expiring deals of Allen Iverson and Rasheed Wallace. The Pistons will be players in 2010 as a secondary option.

• Nets: Their franchise uncertainty makes their role in 2010 impossible to predict. Will they move to Brooklyn? Will they be sold and moved to another market?
• Bulls, Rockets, Heat, Suns, Trail Blazers, Kings, Spurs, Raptors: These are among the many teams that could develop enough space to make a run at a major free agent. As noted above, however, the demand for young talent will far exceed the supply.
We close with one crucial lesson: Can you guess how many max free agents have led their new teams to a championship?

The answer is one and only one: Shaq, with the Lakers.
"That is an amazing stat,'' Pistons president Joe Dumars said. "The only thing I will say is that I think it's imperative that you continue to make your team better. Whether you can guarantee a championship or not, you can't pass on adding a great player to your team.''

But keep in mind over the next two years, as we all get carried away talking about the myriad possibilities, that free agency is the NBA's biggest boondoggle. There is only one player in this market likely to step in Shaq's sneakers and lead his new team to a championship, and only then if all of the complementary pieces are placed around him. That player is LeBron James.

Allen Iverson Has Mojo in Motown

noreply@blogger.com (news2me) — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:50:00 +0000

Allen Iverson is finally getting into the groove after being traded to the Pistons. The Star has had some good games recently. He helped the Pistons Snap Cavaliers winning streak. Now, Detroit and Denver are starting to see that their trades are working out for them both players Iverson and Billups have been playing great with their new teams. Expect both of these teams to make a run in the playoffs as Detroit always does.

Allen Iverson has fit in well with the Detroit Pistons. Chauncey Billups has been every bit as good — or better — with the Denver Nuggets.

Iverson, acquired from Denver for Billups, Antonio McDyess and Cheikh Samb, scored 23 points in Detroit's 96-89 home victory over Cleveland on Wednesday night.

"It's early, but it's exciting," Iverson said.

Detroit ended Cleveland's eight-game winning streak and has won four of its last five after dropping its first two games with Iverson in the lineup.

"It's way too early to know anything about them," Cleveland's LeBron James said.

Billups scored 22 points in Denver's 91-81 road victory over San Antonio. The Nuggets have won four straight to improve to 7-1 since adding Billups.

"We've had a tough eight or nine games where we've played some tough teams in some tough buildings, and we've been successful," Billups said. "We've just got to try and continue to build on what we've done."

ESPN Outbids Fox Sports and Wins B.C.S. Rights

noreply@blogger.com (news2me) — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 03:19:00 +0000

ESPN is proving once again to be the world wide leader in sports. They have the money to prove it. By Out bidding Fox Sports and taking over the B.C.S. championship games. This will mean less people who don't have ESPN will be able to watch the games. But the good news is ESPN always provides great game coverage and they deserve a chance to host the biggest college game.

With a significantly higher bid and plans to broadcast all of the games on cable, ESPN snatched the rights to college football’s Bowl Championship Series from 2011 to 2014.

Fox Sports, the current rights-holder, pulled out of the bidding Monday, and ESPN announced its deal Tuesday. Several reports said Fox would not offer more than $100 million a year while ESPN agreed to pay $125 million for television, radio, digital, international and marketing rights. Digital rights include the operation of the official B.C.S. Web site, and the simulcasting of games online and for mobile devices.

Neither officials with the B.C.S. nor ESPN would confirm the terms of their agreement.

ESPN’s president, George Bodenheimer, said the network planned to keep all of the games on ESPN and not broadcast any on ABC, but would not charge cable providers a premium. ESPN is available to about 98 million homes on an extended basic-cable tier. Disney owns ESPN and ABC.

Fox was paying $82.5 million a year for the current four-year deal to broadcast the Fiesta, Orange and Sugar Bowls, as well as the B.C.S. championship game. The new deal covers the Fiesta, Orange and Sugar Bowls from 2011 to 2014 and the championship game from 2011 to 2013. The Rose Bowl retains a separate agreement with ABC and is the scheduled home for the title game in 2014.

“ESPN provides tremendous regular-season coverage of college football,” said John Swofford, the B.C.S. coordinator and the commissioner of the Atlantic Coast Conference. “The culture they’ve created is a natural fit for the B.C.S., and you can’t overlook the financial difference. It’s substantive.”

ESPN has long made college sports a backbone of its coverage, starting with its early broadcasts of college basketball. It has grown into a significant part of its franchise.

Fox officials made a point about allowing a major sporting event like the B.C.S. to move to cable when they announced the network had pulled out of the bidding.

“Even with today’s vast economic uncertainties, Fox Sports made a very competitive bid to keep broadcasting B.C.S. games free to every home in America, one that included a substantial rights fee increase and certainly as much as any over-the-air network could responsibly risk,” Fox said in a statement. “Unfortunately, the university presidents and B.C.S. commissioners were not satisfied, and they’ve decided to take their jewel events to pay television.”

Swofford, though, said he was comfortable moving the championship off over-the-air television.

“You’re talking about a situation where we’re seeing more and more sporting events go to cable,” Swofford said. “Certainly, I think that the college football community, people who truly follow college football, are extremely well tuned into ESPN.”

The end of the ESPN deal coincides with the date — 2014 — through which the B.C.S. commissioners have agreed to keep their current championship system in place. The commissioners met last April and considered a playoff proposal by Mike Slive, the commissioner of the Southeastern Conference, but voted against it and put off considering any changes until the end of the next television deal.