The Sports Scene: November 2011

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Saturday, November 26, 2011

It was about time. After a 149-day lockout which saw the cancelling of games, the decertification of the players' union, and a lot of name-calling and bitterness, the NBA owners and players finally reached a tentative agreement to end the NBA lockout and save the season.

While details of the deal were not announced publicly, there are reports that the players will receive around 50% of basketball related income, which is lower than the previous 57% they had gotten before. But, in the end, both sides realized the magnitude of what a lost season could mean in a tough economy and reached the agreement in the wee hours this morning.

The season is tentatively set to begin on Christmas Day with a triple header of Celtics @ Knicks, a Finals' rematch of Heat @ Mavericks and Bulls @ Lakers.

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Happy Thanksgiving 2011!

Happy Thanksgiving to all my readers and hope you guys enjoy a great day.

Here are my Thanksgiving football picks:

Packers @ Lions 12:30 PM ET on FOX
The Lions are having a breakthrough season, and at 7-3, are in position to make the playoffs for the first time since 1999. WR Calvin Johnson and QB Matthew Stafford are among the most lethal combo in the league, and the once maligned defense is 9th in the league now. If anyone can beat stop Aaron Rodgers and the undefeated Packers, it could be Detroit today. In the end, I like Green Bay's experience in a big game, though.

Dolphins @ Cowboys 4:15 PM ET on CBS
Although the Dolphins have won three in a row behind QB Matt Moore, don't expect the win streak to continue in Dallas. The Cowboys are just more talented than Miami, and will be looking to keep pace in the tight NFC East.

49ers @ Ravens 8:20 PM ET on NFL Network
Best matchup of the week in the NFL, with the surprising 9-1 (!) 49ers visiting the 7-3 Ravens in primetime on NFL Network. The storyline, of course, is brother coaches Jim and John Harbaugh, but look for two great defenses led by two great linebackers (Ray Lewis/Patrick Willis) to lay it all on the line tonight. I like the home team in a squeaker.

#25 Texas @ Texas A&M 8 PM ET on ESPN
Disappointing season for both teams, especially for A&M, which had Big 12 title aspirations at the beginning of the year. But the inability to hold halftime leads late have doomed A&M, whose defense has really struggled horribly at times this year. Texas, meanwhile, has had an up and down season and has had to go through growing pains at the QB position, with freshman David Ash and a young group of receivers. The Longhorn's defense has been great, but can UT put up enough points tonight in what could be final meeting between these two rivals in a while? Sadly, I don't think so.

My Thanksgiving Picks:

Monday, November 21, 2011

Galaxy Win MLS Cup

In front of a record crowd at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California the homeside Los Angeles Galaxy did not disappoint. Behind a 72nd minute Landon Donovan goal, the Galaxy win the 2011 MLS Cup 1-0 over the Houston Dynamo and their third championship in franchise history. The win caps off an amazing season for LA, which won the Supporters' Shield with a league-high 67 points in the regular season. It also finally gives DP David Beckham the championship ring that had been eluding him throughout his five year contract with LA.

For the Dynamo, playing without team MVP Brad Davis, who was out due to a quad tear, holding and keeping possession of the ball against the talented Galaxy was an issue all night long. Without Davis' service and dribbling ability, the Dynamo never really looked dangerous, and a great playoff run comes to an end one win short of the title.

Full highlights of the match are below.

Sunday, November 20, 2011

2011 MLS Cup Final Preview

Tonight, out in Carson, California, America's soccer champion will be crowned at the 2011 MLS Cup Final, with the Houston Dynamo taking on the host Los Angeles Galaxy. Each club, will be trying to win its third championship in team history. The match is set for a kickoff of 8 PM CT and can be seen live on ESPN or ESPN3.com.

My hometown Dynamo, the champions of the Eastern Conference, have been the hottest team in MLS over the last month. In their 2-0 win in the East Final over Sporting Kansas City, MVP Candidate Brad Davis tore his quad in the first half, and yet, the Dynamo got goals from Andre Hainault and Carlo Costly in the second half to stun a capacity crowd at Livestrong Sporting Park.

Meanwhile, the favorite LA Galaxy and its stars Landon Donovan, David Beckham, and MLS Defender of the Year Omar Gonzalez, this is a golden opportunity for them to finally pay off on their designated player investments over the last five years which has netted them several Supporter Shields but zero MLS Cup championships. After a 3-1 dismantling of Real Salt Lake in the West Final, the pressure on Bruce Arena's club to deliver a championship in what could be David Beckham's final game in MLS (his contract expires after the season) in their home stadium is enormous.

For the Dynamo, not having Davis and his golden left foot for the match hurts a ton. However, this team has stuck together throughout the playoffs, and through stifling defending in the back, and timely set-piece goals, Houston certainly has a fighter's chance to win the Cup tonight. Although, LA's talent-level is scary good, and it's their cup to lose, I have to go with my heart and pick my hometown team to shock the soccer world tonight.

NFL Picks: Week 11

11/20	Bills	vs	Dolphins	‎-12:00 PM (CT)

11/20	Panthers	vs	Lions	‎-12:00 PM (CT)

11/20	Bengals	vs	Ravens	‎-12:00 PM (CT)

11/20	Cowboys	vs	Redskins	‎-12:00 PM (CT)

11/20	Jaguars	vs	Browns	‎-12:00 PM (CT)

11/20	Raiders	vs	Vikings	‎-12:00 PM (CT)

11/20	Buccaneers	vs	Packers	‎-12:00 PM (CT)

11/20	Cardinals	vs	49ers	‎-3:05 PM (CT)

11/20	Seahawks	vs	Rams	‎-3:05 PM (CT)

11/20	Chargers	vs	Bears	‎-3:15 PM (CT)

11/20	Titans	vs	Falcons	‎-3:15 PM (CT)

11/20	Eagles	vs	Giants	‎-7:20 PM (CT)

11/21	Chiefs	vs	Patriots	‎-7:30 PM (CT)

Last week: 7-9
Season record: 92-54

Sunday, November 13, 2011

NFL Picks: Week 10

11/13	Cardinals	vs	Eagles	-12:00 PM (CT)

11/13	Bills	vs	Cowboys	-12:00 PM (CT)

11/13	Broncos	vs	Chiefs	- 12:00 PM (CT)

11/13	Texans	vs	Buccaneers	-12:00 PM (CT)

11/13	Jaguars	vs	Colts	- 12:00 PM (CT)

11/13	Saints	vs	Falcons	-12:00 PM (CT)

11/13	Steelers	vs	Bengals	-12:00 PM (CT)

11/13	Rams	vs	Browns	-12:00 PM (CT)

11/13	Titans	vs	Panthers	-12:00 PM (CT)

11/13	Redskins	vs	Dolphins	-12:00 PM (CT)

11/13	Ravens	vs	Seahawks	-3:05 PM (CT)

11/13	Lions	vs	Bears	- 3:15 PM (CT)

11/13	Giants	vs	49ers	-3:15 PM (CT)

11/13	Patriots	vs	Jets	-7:20PM (CT)

11/14	Vikings	vs	Packers	-7:30 PM (CT)

Last week: 5-9
Season record: 85-45

Sunday, November 6, 2011

2011 MLS Cup Playoffs: Conference Championships

Eastern Conference
Houston Dynamo @ Sporting Kansas City
Today 4:30 PM CT Fox Soccer

The top two seeds in the Eastern Conference advanced with relative ease, as both KC and Houston won both their games with their respective opponents (Colorado and Philly, respectively). This should be a showdown at Livestrong Sporting Park, with a lot of firepower from both sides. The top two set-piece teams in the league, dead ball situations with Houston's Brad Davis and KC's Graham Zusi will be key to who wins the match. In addition, KC trio of Teal Bunbury, Omar Bravo, and Kei Kamara up top are among the most explosive in the league, while Houston's duo of veteran Brian Ching and the speedy Calen Carr are just as productive.
It's truly a tossup, but I have to go with my hometown Dynamo in a one-goal squeaker, potentially decided in extra time or penalty kicks.

Western Conference
Real Salt Lake @ Los Angeles Galaxy
Today 8 PM CT ESPN

It's a rematch of the 2009 MLS Cup, in which RSL stunned LA in penalty kicks to win its first championship. Expect another classic tonight. RSL is in form after impressively taking out Seattle thanks to a convincing 3-0 first leg win at Rio Tinto and holding for a 3-2 aggregate win after losing 2-0 in Seattle. Always solid in the midfield with stars Kyle Beckerman and Javier Morales, the key for RSL is staying solid in the back, where they have had problems at times this season with breakaways and quick counters. Against David Beckham, Landon Donovan, Juniho, each of which can turn a giveaway into a goal very easily, RSL must be very careful. In the end, I think LA advances behind more possession and finishing, which they didn't do last year against FC Dallas in the West Final.

NFL Picks: Week 9

11/06	Falcons	vs	Colts	-12:00 PM (CT)

11/06	Browns	vs	Texans	- 12:00 PM (CT)

11/06	Dolphins	vs	Chiefs	- 12:00 PM (CT)

11/06	Jets	vs	Bills	- 12:00 PM (CT)

11/06	Seahawks	vs	Cowboys	- 12:00 PM (CT)

11/06	49ers	vs	Redskins	- 12:00 PM (CT)

11/06	Buccaneers	vs	Saints	-12:00 PM (CT)

11/06	Bengals	vs	Titans	-3:05 PM (CT)

11/06	Broncos	vs	Raiders	-3:05 PM (CT)

11/06	Packers	vs	Chargers	-3:15 PM (CT)

11/06	Giants	vs	Patriots	-3:15 PM (CT)

11/06	Rams	vs	Cardinals	-3:15 PM (CT)

11/06	Ravens	vs	Steelers	-7:20 PM (CT)

11/07	Bears	vs	Eagles	-7:30 PM (CT)

Last week: 10-3
Season record: 80-36

The Sports Scene