 | |
5. No hockey? No problem!
Vincent Lecavalier might not have a chance to play for the Tampa Bay Lightning next season. So the only thing he can do at this point is take out his frustrations on the rest of the world. Lecavalier scored with 3:45 left to go in overtime to defeat the Czech Republic 4-3. The victory has propelled the Canadians to Tuesday's championship game against Finland. "Scoring in overtime for your country to go to the finals is pretty high in my career for sure," said a victorious Lecavalier. Another great accomplishment would be another Stanley Cup trophy. When that will happen for Lecavalier is anyone's guess.
4. From Russia With Love . . .
The U.S. Open was filled with more stories and controversies than actual tennis. The tournament started with a bunch of drooling about what Serena was wearing. It moved on to officiating that made gymnastics judges look accurate. The Denkinger-like call led to protests of racism from Richard Williams, but through it all, one woman remained. 19-year-old Svetlana Kuznetsova crushed Elena Dementieva 6-3, 7-5 on Saturday night in what was the very first all-Russian final. Russian women had never won a major before as recently as four months ago. Oh, how times have changed! Anastasia Myskina won the French Open, Maria Sharapova conquered Wimbledon, and now Kuznetsova has a US Open championship. When reached for comment, Serena Williams had the following to say: "NYET!"
3. Just when you thought the Astros' streak was pretty impressive . . .
The Philadelphia Phillies come along and make the NL Wild Card race more complicated than quantum physics. There are now six teams within four games of each other, and that came about with the Phillies winning their sixth in a row 4-2 over the Mets. The Giants are now in the Wild Card lead as of Sunday night, and Barry Bonds continues his run as "Greatest Senior Citizen Athlete. Ever." Bonds reached base for the 200th time this season via bases on balls. And he's very good at walking as he broke his own single-season walk record. And on the American League side, the demise of the Yankees has been greatly exaggerated. They beat the Orioles today 9-7, still lead the Red Sox and El Duque has been pitching out of his mind with an 8-0 record. Some things still don't change, right Beantown?
2. K-State can beat Oklahoma with ease, but Fresno State?
Last season the Kansas State Wildcats obliterated the juggernaut that was the 2003 Oklahoma Sooners in the Big XII championship. Now you would think that would set up some kind of momentum for next season, but with apologies to Lee Corso, not so fast my friend! K-State was taken out behind the woodshed by the Fresno State Bulldogs to the tune of 45-21. For sixty minutes in The Little Apple, it felt just like 1988. And since 1988, the Nebraska Cornhuskers have lost a grand total of seven games in Lincoln. But times they are a-changing and Southern Mississippi proved it. The Golden Eagles came up from Hattiesburg and beat Big Red 21-17. However, one traditional power lives on in the face of Touchdown Jesus. Cheers, cheers for Old Notre Dame as they beat Michigan 28-20. Freshman Darius Walker rushed 31 times for 115 yards and two fourth quarter touchdowns. And somewhere, Knute Rockne's Irish Eyes are Smiling.
1. C'mon, what do you really think is number one?
I think you know what number one is judging by how much time you spent painstakingly putting together your NFL fantasy squad. And the first week has given us more storylines and subplots than a month's worth of soap operas. The Cleveland Browns whipped the Ravens 20-3, and limited Jamal Lewis to only 57 yards today after he set an NFL single game rushing record of 295 yards against them last season. Carson Palmer looked sharp in a 31-24 loss to the Jets. Joe Gibbs made his return to the NFL a triumphant success with a Redskins' 16-10 victory over the Bucs. In Philly, Donovan McNabb and TO might tell you that if it looks like a touchdown and it smells like a touchdown, then by golly, it must be a touchdown. The Lions finally win on the road; the Texans finally lose a season opener. Yes, more excitement than you can shake a stick at. But your fantasy team still stinks, right?
Compiled by Matthew Tray
