http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/recap?gid=20081228009&prov=ap
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP)—Nobody will remember the Detroit Lions came close to winning their last game. All anyone will know—now and forever—is 0-16.
The worst record in NFL history, a dubious distinction that will permanently stain everyone involved.
The Lions lost to the Green Bay Packers 31-21 on Sunday, making them the first team to go winless through a 16-game season. The 1976 expansion Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-14) were the last NFL team to complete a season without a victory.
“I’ve got to live with this,” center Dominic Raiola said. “I’ve been here eight years. This is on my resume.”
It’s also on the resume of Lions coach Rod Marinelli, who faces an uncertain future.
“No competitor wants to go through something like this,” Marinelli said. “This is not fun to go through, obviously. But there’s people going through a lot worse than this.”
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Asked what the next step might be if he does keep his job, Marinelli said, “Let me get through step one first.”
The Lions’ last loss didn’t come without a fight. After falling behind 24-14 midway through the fourth quarter, Kevin Smith’s 9-yard touchdown run put Detroit back within a field goal.
But Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers responded with a 71-yard touchdown pass to Donald Driver and the Lions’ Dan Orlovsky threw an interception on fourth-and-27 with 3 minutes left, dooming Detroit to futility of historic proportion.
“It’s just kind of numb,” veteran kicker Jason Hanson said. “It’s here. It’s been coming, though, a train rolling down the tracks for a while. We tried to stop it. We couldn’t.”
The Lions were building toward this for years and now have lost 23 of their last 24 games. The 0-16 record will be a lasting testimony to the Matt Millen era. With Millen as president of the team from 2001 until he was fired on Sept. 24, Detroit won only 31 games—none this year, of course.
It’s so bad that some Lions can’t remember the last time they won.
“I don’t ever want to be a part of this again,” Orlovsky said. “We haven’t won since, November of ‘07, maybe? I don’t even know the last time we won a game.”
The Lions haven’t won since Dec. 23, 2007, actually, when they beat Kansas City. Green Bay is where this woeful streak began at the end of last season. Since then, the Lions have lost 17 straight and have been outscored 551-281.
Marinelli has gone 10-38 in three seasons. His future has not been announced, but team owner William Clay Ford has decided the leaders of the front office, Martin Mayhew and Tom Lewand, will be back in some capacity.
“I am positive that every aspect of what we do as a football team has to be rethought and analyzed,” Hanson said.
Orlovsky was 22-of-42 for 225 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions for the Lions, whose bid to steer clear of the record book came undone in large part because of ill-advised penalties.
Rodgers was 21-of-31 for 308 yards and three touchdowns for the Packers (6-10), and Ryan Grant and DeShawn Wynn rushed for 106 yards each.
Green Bay Packers quarterback …
AP - Dec 28, 5:24 pm EST
After a disappointing season of their own, Rodgers said the Packers wanted a win to build momentum for next season. Left unsaid was that they didn’t want to be the only team to lose to the Lions this year.
“We didn’t want to lose, no, we didn’t,” Rodgers said. “But really it’s not on your mind once the game starts. I didn’t even think about it until the fans started chanting in the fourth quarter. They played hard, they really did.”
Packers coach Mike McCarthy didn’t want any part of the 0-16 discussion.
“I want to politely try to avoid the question here,” McCarthy said. “That’s tough. That’s a tough deal. But we were focused on winning the game.”
With the Lions trailing 14-7 early in the third quarter, safety Kalvin Pearson then put a hard hit on Grant to cause a fumble, and recovered the ball at the Packers 11.
Calvin Johnson caught a pass from Orlovsky and broke three tackling attempts to score a tying 14-yard touchdown with 10:20 left in the third quarter.
But the Packers drove for a 36-yard field goal by Mason Crosby early in the fourth quarter. After a three-and-out by Detroit’s offense, Lions linebacker Ernie Sims’ penalty for a late hit out of bounds on Grant played a key role on a drive that ended with a 5-yard pass from Rodgers to fullback John Kuhn.
Detroit Lions head coach Rod M…
AP - Dec 28, 5:13 pm EST
The Lions weren’t finished, as Orlovsky used two long completions to John Standeford to set up Smith’s touchdown with 8:34 left. After the ensuing kickoff, Rodgers reared back and threw deep to Driver, who blew past Lions cornerback Leigh Bodden and ran in for a touchdown.
Orlovsky led the Lions back into Packers territory, but a taunting penalty on Smith moved the Lions back near midfield and Orlovsky threw an interception to Nick Collins.
“It was a very bad, selfish decision,” Smith said. “I let my emotions get the best of me. It was tough, but it is no excuse.”
Perhaps more than anything, the penalties got Raiola riled up.
“Stupid,” Raiola said. “You know, just uncalled for. You’re in a game like that, you can’t do that. Just dumb.”
And very much like the Lions.
Notes: Green Bay’s Donald Driver and Greg Jennings each had 100 yards receiving Sunday. Combined with Grant and Wynn’s 100-yard rushing days, it is the first time in league history a team has had a pair of 100-yard rushers and 100-yard receivers in a single game, according to Elias. … Packers rookie TE Jermichael Finley caught his first career touchdown pass in the first quarter.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Monday, December 29, 2008
McNabb makes playoff - now the fans of Philly see him as Jesus lol
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs2008/columns/story?id=3798346
PHILADELPHIA -- Periodically, the critics have questioned his talent.
Repeatedly, they've questioned his leadership ability. Endlessly, they've questioned his ability to win the big game, to elevate the Philadelphia Eagles franchise to championship status, to speak up, speak out and ward off the palpable, alarming momentum that was calling for his ouster.
And all along, all Donovan McNabb kept saying was "I'll let my play do the talking."
Then he'd display his patented smile, of course, and invite his critics to kiss his you-know-what.
On Sunday afternoon, McNabb's play did his talking -- again -- in emphatic fashion in a 44-6 stomping the Eagles laid on the Dallas Cowboys in the regular-season finale. The Eagles, who seemed out of contention after McNabb was benched in a Week 12 loss at Baltimore that left them at 5-5-1, are going to the playoffs after all.
NFC East blog
ESPN.com's Matt Mosley writes about all things NFC East in his division blog.
• Blog network: NFL Nation
McNabb, presumably, will remain in Philadelphia after all. And all this whining about whether or not he should still be wearing Eagles' green once the 2009 season rolls around should evaporate just as quickly as any credibility Tony Romo supposedly had as a big-time quarterback.
Let the record show that McNabb is still a stud, something former Eagles' wideout-turned-McNabb's nemesis, Terrell Owens, wouldn't even try to deny at this point. McNabb certainly displayed the difference between a viable QB and a wannabe (Romo), despite Sunday's passing statistics (12-for-21, 175 yards and 2 TDs) that can be described as marginal, at best.
"It's not always about the numbers you put up," Eagles cornerback Lito Sheppard said after the game. "Especially with a lopsided game like this one. It's about the leadership a guy provides. Knowing he's the one you'll be able to turn to in the toughest of times. That somehow, some way, he'll come through in the end. When you talk about what motivates a locker room, especially after the way we almost ruined our playoff hopes by losing the Washington game last week, that's what you're looking for. It's what No. 5 gave us [Sunday]. It's what he's always given us."
I've been around McNabb for years, and when he alludes to how critics continuously motivate him, he isn't lying. He means it when he says, "I've been kind of revived, I guess. They've thrown me out. Ran over me. Spit on me. But I just continue to prevail. I continue to keep my chin high. Stay positive."
[+] EnlargeJames Lang/US Presswire
In November in Baltimore, Donovan McNabb's future with the Eagles seemed bleak after coach Andy Reid benched the star quarterback.
I've rarely been one to believe the last part from him. I fail to comprehend how even someone so strong-willed, so spiritual, can't be ultimately broken by the shrapnel of criticism McNabb faces -- especially when it seems so undeserved.
There is no doubt that McNabb has made his share of errors over the past 10 years. Indeed, he should have a career pass completion percentage better than 58.9 percent. His 60.4 percent accuracy this season is a little better, but still ranks just 18th-best in the league.
At 32 years of age, he is still one of the best in the game and has more than enough mileage left in the tank. So the fact that folks have called for the Eagles to trade him is beyond ridiculous -- particularly with the limited options swirling around the NFL.
Consider just a few of the other starting quarterbacks in the league this season: Tyler Thigpen, Dan Orlovsky, Ken Dorsey, Seneca Wallace, Tarvaris Jackson.
I mean, give me a break.
McNabb overcame the shock of being benched after the first half of the loss to the Baltimore Ravens to lead the Eagles to four victories in their final five games. Now 9-6-1, the Eagles head to Minnesota to play the Vikings in a wild-card playoff game Jan. 4.
That said, McNabb still is working without the threat of a reliable running game, something that coach/general manager Andy Reid has not provided, even with a star halfback in Brian Westbrook. And with the exception of Owens, McNabb's targets have not been star-quality. He's had Todd Pinkston one minute, Freddie Mitchell the next, followed by Greg Lewis and Reggie Brown and rookie DeSean Jackson, with a James Thrash thrown in in-between.
Essentially, nobody worth mentioning.
Yet over 10 seasons as an Eagle, McNabb has 29,320 career yards along with 194 touchdowns on his résumé. He's been to four NFC Championship Games and one Super Bowl. After Tom Brady and Peyton Manning, McNabb is on par with any of his quarterbacking peers.
The naysayers keep coming, holding McNabb accountable, acting like he's being coached by Bill Belichick. It's as if McNabb's presence was keeping the Eagles from developing one of The Matts (Matt Cassel or Matt Ryan instead of Kevin Kolb.
"I think it's easier [to deal with] now because I've been through these types of experiences for years," said McNabb, acknowledging how hard-core Philadelphians help him develop his alligator skin.
"When you go through [the criticism] for the first time, you don't know how to handle it. But with me being a part of something like that, with it happening over and over and over again, the way I continue to show that it never affects me is just going out and doing my job and having fun."
PHILADELPHIA -- Periodically, the critics have questioned his talent.
Repeatedly, they've questioned his leadership ability. Endlessly, they've questioned his ability to win the big game, to elevate the Philadelphia Eagles franchise to championship status, to speak up, speak out and ward off the palpable, alarming momentum that was calling for his ouster.
And all along, all Donovan McNabb kept saying was "I'll let my play do the talking."
Then he'd display his patented smile, of course, and invite his critics to kiss his you-know-what.
On Sunday afternoon, McNabb's play did his talking -- again -- in emphatic fashion in a 44-6 stomping the Eagles laid on the Dallas Cowboys in the regular-season finale. The Eagles, who seemed out of contention after McNabb was benched in a Week 12 loss at Baltimore that left them at 5-5-1, are going to the playoffs after all.
NFC East blog
ESPN.com's Matt Mosley writes about all things NFC East in his division blog.
• Blog network: NFL Nation
McNabb, presumably, will remain in Philadelphia after all. And all this whining about whether or not he should still be wearing Eagles' green once the 2009 season rolls around should evaporate just as quickly as any credibility Tony Romo supposedly had as a big-time quarterback.
Let the record show that McNabb is still a stud, something former Eagles' wideout-turned-McNabb's nemesis, Terrell Owens, wouldn't even try to deny at this point. McNabb certainly displayed the difference between a viable QB and a wannabe (Romo), despite Sunday's passing statistics (12-for-21, 175 yards and 2 TDs) that can be described as marginal, at best.
"It's not always about the numbers you put up," Eagles cornerback Lito Sheppard said after the game. "Especially with a lopsided game like this one. It's about the leadership a guy provides. Knowing he's the one you'll be able to turn to in the toughest of times. That somehow, some way, he'll come through in the end. When you talk about what motivates a locker room, especially after the way we almost ruined our playoff hopes by losing the Washington game last week, that's what you're looking for. It's what No. 5 gave us [Sunday]. It's what he's always given us."
I've been around McNabb for years, and when he alludes to how critics continuously motivate him, he isn't lying. He means it when he says, "I've been kind of revived, I guess. They've thrown me out. Ran over me. Spit on me. But I just continue to prevail. I continue to keep my chin high. Stay positive."
[+] EnlargeJames Lang/US Presswire
In November in Baltimore, Donovan McNabb's future with the Eagles seemed bleak after coach Andy Reid benched the star quarterback.
I've rarely been one to believe the last part from him. I fail to comprehend how even someone so strong-willed, so spiritual, can't be ultimately broken by the shrapnel of criticism McNabb faces -- especially when it seems so undeserved.
There is no doubt that McNabb has made his share of errors over the past 10 years. Indeed, he should have a career pass completion percentage better than 58.9 percent. His 60.4 percent accuracy this season is a little better, but still ranks just 18th-best in the league.
At 32 years of age, he is still one of the best in the game and has more than enough mileage left in the tank. So the fact that folks have called for the Eagles to trade him is beyond ridiculous -- particularly with the limited options swirling around the NFL.
Consider just a few of the other starting quarterbacks in the league this season: Tyler Thigpen, Dan Orlovsky, Ken Dorsey, Seneca Wallace, Tarvaris Jackson.
I mean, give me a break.
McNabb overcame the shock of being benched after the first half of the loss to the Baltimore Ravens to lead the Eagles to four victories in their final five games. Now 9-6-1, the Eagles head to Minnesota to play the Vikings in a wild-card playoff game Jan. 4.
That said, McNabb still is working without the threat of a reliable running game, something that coach/general manager Andy Reid has not provided, even with a star halfback in Brian Westbrook. And with the exception of Owens, McNabb's targets have not been star-quality. He's had Todd Pinkston one minute, Freddie Mitchell the next, followed by Greg Lewis and Reggie Brown and rookie DeSean Jackson, with a James Thrash thrown in in-between.
Essentially, nobody worth mentioning.
Yet over 10 seasons as an Eagle, McNabb has 29,320 career yards along with 194 touchdowns on his résumé. He's been to four NFC Championship Games and one Super Bowl. After Tom Brady and Peyton Manning, McNabb is on par with any of his quarterbacking peers.
The naysayers keep coming, holding McNabb accountable, acting like he's being coached by Bill Belichick. It's as if McNabb's presence was keeping the Eagles from developing one of The Matts (Matt Cassel or Matt Ryan instead of Kevin Kolb.
"I think it's easier [to deal with] now because I've been through these types of experiences for years," said McNabb, acknowledging how hard-core Philadelphians help him develop his alligator skin.
"When you go through [the criticism] for the first time, you don't know how to handle it. But with me being a part of something like that, with it happening over and over and over again, the way I continue to show that it never affects me is just going out and doing my job and having fun."
Saturday, December 27, 2008
LA beats Boston - Ends Streak at 19
http://wbztv.com/sports/celtics/boston.celtics.los.2.895050.html
LOS ANGELES (AP) ―
Click to enlarge
Kevin Garnett drives past the Lakers' Pau Gasol in the first half. Garnett led the Celtics with 22 points.
Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images
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numSlides of totalImages Related StoriesLakers, Celtics To Meet For 1st Time Since Finals (12/25/2008)
Celtics Win Franchise Record 19th Straight Game (12/24/2008)
Related LinksMore Celtics News
Perhaps now the Los Angeles Lakers can put the anguish of losing the NBA finals to Boston and the embarrassment over the way the series ended behind them.
Kobe Bryant had 27 points, nine rebounds and five assists, Pau Gasol scored seven of his 20 points in the final three minutes, and the Lakers beat Boston 92-83 Thursday to snap the Celtics' franchise-record 19-game winning streak.
The game was the first between the teams since the Celtics romped to a 131-92 victory in Game 6 of the finals last June to win their first championship in 22 years and league-high 17th title. The Lakers blew a 24-point second-quarter lead in Game 4 at Staples Center to fall behind 3-1 -- a deficit that's never been overcome in the finals.
The victory was the 1,000th for Phil Jackson, enabling him to become the sixth NBA coach to reach that milestone. The 63-year-old Jackson has a career record of 1,000-423 in 17-plus seasons as coach of the Chicago Bulls and Lakers. He became the fastest to win 1,000 games, surpassing Pat Riley, who did it in 1,434 games.
"Here we are, a game that's been pointed to since the schedules came out," Jackson said beforehand.
The longtime rivals have met in the NBA finals 11 times, with the Celtics going 9-2.
The Celtics entered with a 27-2 record -- the fastest start by a two-loss team. They were in pretty good shape when Kevin Garnett put them ahead 81-79 with 3:57 remaining, but the Lakers went on a 13-2 run to finish the game.
Lamar Odom had 10 points and seven rebounds, and Sasha Vujacic also scored 10 for the Lakers (24-5), who won their 12th straight game at home, where they're 15-1. Andrew Bynum, who missed most of last season and the playoffs with an injured knee, had nine points and seven rebounds.
Garnett shot 11-of-14 in leading the Celtics (27-3) with 22 points, and he also had nine rebounds. Paul Pierce added 20 points and 10 rebounds, but didn't score in the fourth quarter. Ray Allen scored 14 and Rajon Rondo had 12 assists for Boston.
A 15-foot jumper by Gasol with 2:48 snapped an 81-all tie and put the Lakers ahead for good. Allen's 3-pointer failed, and Gasol scored from close range off an assist from Bryant with two minutes left, putting Los Angeles up by four and sending the crowd of 18,997 into a frenzy.
Garnett answered with a jumper to draw the Celtics within two, but Gasol's three-point play with 1:28 left put the Lakers on top 88-83. Gasol then blocked a 3-pointer by Allen, setting up Trevor Ariza for a dunk that gave Los Angeles a seven-point lead with 1:12 to go. Bryant's basket completed the scoring.
Boston's Eddie House made his only basket with 8:09 remaining to tie it at 75. Neither team led by more than two points after that until the Lakers took command down the stretch.
Pierce scored five points and Allen added three during an 8-0 run that put Boston ahead 64-62. Then, with Bryant on the bench, Odom made two 3-pointers, and the Lakers outscored the Celtics 9-3 to finish the third period and take a 71-67 lead.
Vujacic scored eight points and Bryant added six during a 16-5 run to begin the second quarter, giving the Lakers a 39-29 lead, and they were on top 51-45 at halftime. The Celtics shot 2-of-13 to begin the period and 7-of-12 to finish it. Boston attempted only two free throws in the half -- by Pierce with 13.5 seconds left.
Neither team led by more than three in the first quarter, which ended with the Celtics on top 24-23. Boston shot 61.1 percent to 47.6 percent for the Lakers, but committed six turnovers.
Notes: Boston's Glen Davis returned to action after missing two games because of a concussion sustained in a traffic accident last Sunday, and had four points and four rebounds in a reserve role. ... The Lakers played without backup point guard Jordan Farmar, who underwent knee surgery Wednesday and will be sidelined approximately eight weeks. ... The game marked the first time in NBA history that two teams met with so few losses (seven) this late in the season. ... The game was the 10th straight for the Lakers on Christmas. They have an overall record of 20-15 on Christmas including 11-6 at home. ... It was the Celtics' first game on Christmas since 2002. They have a 10-15 record, going 9-15 on the road and 1-0 at a neutral site. They have never played at home on Christmas. ... The game was the first on Christmas between the teams since 1970, when the Lakers won a 123-113 decision at the Forum in nearby Inglewood.
(© 2008 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
LOS ANGELES (AP) ―
Click to enlarge
Kevin Garnett drives past the Lakers' Pau Gasol in the first half. Garnett led the Celtics with 22 points.
Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images
1 of 1
Close
numSlides of totalImages Related StoriesLakers, Celtics To Meet For 1st Time Since Finals (12/25/2008)
Celtics Win Franchise Record 19th Straight Game (12/24/2008)
Related LinksMore Celtics News
Perhaps now the Los Angeles Lakers can put the anguish of losing the NBA finals to Boston and the embarrassment over the way the series ended behind them.
Kobe Bryant had 27 points, nine rebounds and five assists, Pau Gasol scored seven of his 20 points in the final three minutes, and the Lakers beat Boston 92-83 Thursday to snap the Celtics' franchise-record 19-game winning streak.
The game was the first between the teams since the Celtics romped to a 131-92 victory in Game 6 of the finals last June to win their first championship in 22 years and league-high 17th title. The Lakers blew a 24-point second-quarter lead in Game 4 at Staples Center to fall behind 3-1 -- a deficit that's never been overcome in the finals.
The victory was the 1,000th for Phil Jackson, enabling him to become the sixth NBA coach to reach that milestone. The 63-year-old Jackson has a career record of 1,000-423 in 17-plus seasons as coach of the Chicago Bulls and Lakers. He became the fastest to win 1,000 games, surpassing Pat Riley, who did it in 1,434 games.
"Here we are, a game that's been pointed to since the schedules came out," Jackson said beforehand.
The longtime rivals have met in the NBA finals 11 times, with the Celtics going 9-2.
The Celtics entered with a 27-2 record -- the fastest start by a two-loss team. They were in pretty good shape when Kevin Garnett put them ahead 81-79 with 3:57 remaining, but the Lakers went on a 13-2 run to finish the game.
Lamar Odom had 10 points and seven rebounds, and Sasha Vujacic also scored 10 for the Lakers (24-5), who won their 12th straight game at home, where they're 15-1. Andrew Bynum, who missed most of last season and the playoffs with an injured knee, had nine points and seven rebounds.
Garnett shot 11-of-14 in leading the Celtics (27-3) with 22 points, and he also had nine rebounds. Paul Pierce added 20 points and 10 rebounds, but didn't score in the fourth quarter. Ray Allen scored 14 and Rajon Rondo had 12 assists for Boston.
A 15-foot jumper by Gasol with 2:48 snapped an 81-all tie and put the Lakers ahead for good. Allen's 3-pointer failed, and Gasol scored from close range off an assist from Bryant with two minutes left, putting Los Angeles up by four and sending the crowd of 18,997 into a frenzy.
Garnett answered with a jumper to draw the Celtics within two, but Gasol's three-point play with 1:28 left put the Lakers on top 88-83. Gasol then blocked a 3-pointer by Allen, setting up Trevor Ariza for a dunk that gave Los Angeles a seven-point lead with 1:12 to go. Bryant's basket completed the scoring.
Boston's Eddie House made his only basket with 8:09 remaining to tie it at 75. Neither team led by more than two points after that until the Lakers took command down the stretch.
Pierce scored five points and Allen added three during an 8-0 run that put Boston ahead 64-62. Then, with Bryant on the bench, Odom made two 3-pointers, and the Lakers outscored the Celtics 9-3 to finish the third period and take a 71-67 lead.
Vujacic scored eight points and Bryant added six during a 16-5 run to begin the second quarter, giving the Lakers a 39-29 lead, and they were on top 51-45 at halftime. The Celtics shot 2-of-13 to begin the period and 7-of-12 to finish it. Boston attempted only two free throws in the half -- by Pierce with 13.5 seconds left.
Neither team led by more than three in the first quarter, which ended with the Celtics on top 24-23. Boston shot 61.1 percent to 47.6 percent for the Lakers, but committed six turnovers.
Notes: Boston's Glen Davis returned to action after missing two games because of a concussion sustained in a traffic accident last Sunday, and had four points and four rebounds in a reserve role. ... The Lakers played without backup point guard Jordan Farmar, who underwent knee surgery Wednesday and will be sidelined approximately eight weeks. ... The game marked the first time in NBA history that two teams met with so few losses (seven) this late in the season. ... The game was the 10th straight for the Lakers on Christmas. They have an overall record of 20-15 on Christmas including 11-6 at home. ... It was the Celtics' first game on Christmas since 2002. They have a 10-15 record, going 9-15 on the road and 1-0 at a neutral site. They have never played at home on Christmas. ... The game was the first on Christmas between the teams since 1970, when the Lakers won a 123-113 decision at the Forum in nearby Inglewood.
(© 2008 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
Friday, December 26, 2008
ND ends 9 game bowl losing streak
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/wire/chi-ap-fbc-hawaiibowl,0,2114754.story
HONOLULU - Jimmy Clausen ended Notre Dame's long bowl drought -- and Hawaii's bid for a fourth straight Hawaii Bowl victory -- with a record-breaking passing night.
Clausen set Notre Dame bowl records with 401 yards passing and five touchdowns to lead the efficient Fighting Irish to their first postseason victory in 15 years, 49-21 over Hawaii on Wednesday night.
"I told the team that's the only thing I wanted (for Christmas). I just wanted to win a bowl game," Irish coach Charlie Weis said.
"I heard it a hundred times in the locker room after the game and they wanted to know what I was giving them for Christmas. I told them: 'a flight home."'
Golden Tate had six catches for 177 yards and three touchdowns, also Notre Dame bowl records, including a 69-yarder that sparked a 28-point outburst to help the Irish (7-6) end their NCAA-record bowl losing steak at nine.
"I'm very happy for Notre Dame. This was a great step forward for us," Weis said. "It leads us into 2009 with a good taste in our mouth."
With Weis calling the plays from the coaches box for the first time because of knee problems that require him to walk with crutches, the Irish were unstoppable.
The offense scored at will. The blitzing defense shutdown Hawaii's run-and-shoot. And the special teams wasn't too shabby, either.
"The guys came out here on a mission," Clausen said.
After the Warriors (7-7) scored to end Notre Dame's 28-point run, Armando Allen returned a kickoff 96 yards for a score. Allen also caught an 18-yard TD pass on the Irish's opening drive of the second half.
Weis said he had an injection in his knee before the game, but still couldn't walk. The last time he coached from the box was in 2001.
"It's 10 times easier. It's night and day easier," Weis said. "I haven't been up in the box since Drew Bledsoe got hurt. ... You don't want to do that long term, but calling a game from up there is pretty sweet. As a head coach, you want to be on the sideline."
It was evident Weis, who was all smiles after the game, and his players cherished its long-awaited bowl victory.
As Notre Dame was presented the Hawaii Bowl's pineapple-football trophy at midfield, each player came around to put their hands on it.
Notre Dame's victory was its first in the postseason since it beat Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl to end the 1993 season. The Irish also avoided consecutive losing seasons.
Clausen was confident and sharp, completing 22 of 26 passes. He racked up 300 yards passing and three TDs by halftime alone, sending the crowd home early.
The sophomore broke Brady Quinn's postseason school record of 286 yards passing set against Ohio State in the 2006 Fiesta Bowl.
Warriors coach Greg McMackin said, including his years in the NFL, Clausen was "as accurate as I've ever seen."
"He was outstanding, his receivers were outstanding," McMackin said.
With Notre Dame up 14-7, Clausen broke open the game by connecting with Tate on a 69-yard TD play, the Irish's longest play from scrimmage of the season.
Clausen faked a handoff, turned and heaved it to Tate, who had blew past cornerback Calvin Roberts along the left sideline. With the catch, Tate became the fifth Irish receiver to break 1,000 yards receiving in a season.
The Irish made it 28-7 with a second left in the first half on an 18-yard hookup between Clausen and Tate on third-and-goal. Hawaii challenged the play, but replays showed Tate got his left foot down before stepping out.
Tate followed it up in the third quarter with a 40-yard TD reception that pushed the lead to 42-7 and gave the Warriors flashbacks of the pounding they received from Georgia in the Sugar Bowl to end last season.
Clausen and Tate shared the MVP award.
Hawaii couldn't get much going. Quarterback Greg Alexander was kept off balance and on the run by the Irish defense, which had eight sacks and forced two turnovers.
The Warriors, who didn't call a running play until 6 minutes left in the first half, were held to 32 yards rushing.
Alexander was 23-of-39 for 261 yards, throwing 10- and 21-yard TD passes to Aaron Bain. Bain had a career-best eight receptions for 109 yards.
Hawaii fans had little to cheer about. One of the biggest roars came when the Notre Dame leprechaun's flagstick snapped in half as he charged out to the field. Notes:@ Notre Dame was designated the home team, so Hawaii wore white jerseys and used the visiting locker room and sideline. ... The Irish had player names on their jerseys for the first time since the Cotton Bowl to end the 1987 season. It renewed a tradition from the Ara Parseghian years when Irish teams did not have names on the backs of their jerseys during the regular season, but added them for bowl games.
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Bowl to end the 1993 season. The Irish also avoided consecutive losing seasons.
Clausen was confident and sharp, completing 22 of 26 passes. He racked up 300 yards passing and three TDs by halftime alone, sending the crowd home early.
The sophomore broke Brady Quinn's postseason school record of 286 yards passing set against Ohio State in the 2006 Fiesta Bowl.
Warriors coach Greg McMackin said, including his years in the NFL, Clausen was "as accurate as I've ever seen."
"He was outstanding, his receivers were outstanding," McMackin said.
With Notre Dame up 14-7, Clausen broke open the game by connecting with Tate on a 69-yard TD play, the Irish's longest play from scrimmage of the season.
Clausen faked a handoff, turned and heaved it to Tate, who had blew past cornerback Calvin Roberts along the left sideline. With the catch, Tate became the fifth Irish receiver to break 1,000 yards receiving in a season.
The Irish made it 28-7 with a second left in the first half on an 18-yard hookup between Clausen and Tate on third-and-goal. Hawaii challenged the play, but replays showed Tate got his left foot down before stepping out.
Tate followed it up in the third quarter with a 40-yard TD reception that pushed the lead to 42-7 and gave the Warriors flashbacks of the pounding they received from Georgia in the Sugar Bowl to end last season.
Clausen and Tate shared the MVP award.
Hawaii couldn't get much going. Quarterback Greg Alexander was kept off balance and on the run by the Irish defense, which had eight sacks and forced two turnovers.
The Warriors, who didn't call a running play until 6 minutes left in the first half, were held to 32 yards rushing.
Alexander was 23-of-39 for 261 yards, throwing 10- and 21-yard TD passes to Aaron Bain. Bain had a career-best eight receptions for 109 yards.
Hawaii fans had little to cheer about. One of the biggest roars came when the Notre Dame leprechaun's flagstick snapped in half as he charged out to the field. Notes:@ Notre Dame was designated the home team, so Hawaii wore white jerseys and used the visiting locker room and sideline. ... The Irish had player names on their jerseys for the first time since the Cotton Bowl to end the 1987 season. It renewed a tradition from the Ara Parseghian years when Irish teams did not have names on the backs of their jerseys during the regular season, but added them for bowl games.
HONOLULU - Jimmy Clausen ended Notre Dame's long bowl drought -- and Hawaii's bid for a fourth straight Hawaii Bowl victory -- with a record-breaking passing night.
Clausen set Notre Dame bowl records with 401 yards passing and five touchdowns to lead the efficient Fighting Irish to their first postseason victory in 15 years, 49-21 over Hawaii on Wednesday night.
"I told the team that's the only thing I wanted (for Christmas). I just wanted to win a bowl game," Irish coach Charlie Weis said.
"I heard it a hundred times in the locker room after the game and they wanted to know what I was giving them for Christmas. I told them: 'a flight home."'
Golden Tate had six catches for 177 yards and three touchdowns, also Notre Dame bowl records, including a 69-yarder that sparked a 28-point outburst to help the Irish (7-6) end their NCAA-record bowl losing steak at nine.
"I'm very happy for Notre Dame. This was a great step forward for us," Weis said. "It leads us into 2009 with a good taste in our mouth."
With Weis calling the plays from the coaches box for the first time because of knee problems that require him to walk with crutches, the Irish were unstoppable.
The offense scored at will. The blitzing defense shutdown Hawaii's run-and-shoot. And the special teams wasn't too shabby, either.
"The guys came out here on a mission," Clausen said.
After the Warriors (7-7) scored to end Notre Dame's 28-point run, Armando Allen returned a kickoff 96 yards for a score. Allen also caught an 18-yard TD pass on the Irish's opening drive of the second half.
Weis said he had an injection in his knee before the game, but still couldn't walk. The last time he coached from the box was in 2001.
"It's 10 times easier. It's night and day easier," Weis said. "I haven't been up in the box since Drew Bledsoe got hurt. ... You don't want to do that long term, but calling a game from up there is pretty sweet. As a head coach, you want to be on the sideline."
It was evident Weis, who was all smiles after the game, and his players cherished its long-awaited bowl victory.
As Notre Dame was presented the Hawaii Bowl's pineapple-football trophy at midfield, each player came around to put their hands on it.
Notre Dame's victory was its first in the postseason since it beat Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl to end the 1993 season. The Irish also avoided consecutive losing seasons.
Clausen was confident and sharp, completing 22 of 26 passes. He racked up 300 yards passing and three TDs by halftime alone, sending the crowd home early.
The sophomore broke Brady Quinn's postseason school record of 286 yards passing set against Ohio State in the 2006 Fiesta Bowl.
Warriors coach Greg McMackin said, including his years in the NFL, Clausen was "as accurate as I've ever seen."
"He was outstanding, his receivers were outstanding," McMackin said.
With Notre Dame up 14-7, Clausen broke open the game by connecting with Tate on a 69-yard TD play, the Irish's longest play from scrimmage of the season.
Clausen faked a handoff, turned and heaved it to Tate, who had blew past cornerback Calvin Roberts along the left sideline. With the catch, Tate became the fifth Irish receiver to break 1,000 yards receiving in a season.
The Irish made it 28-7 with a second left in the first half on an 18-yard hookup between Clausen and Tate on third-and-goal. Hawaii challenged the play, but replays showed Tate got his left foot down before stepping out.
Tate followed it up in the third quarter with a 40-yard TD reception that pushed the lead to 42-7 and gave the Warriors flashbacks of the pounding they received from Georgia in the Sugar Bowl to end last season.
Clausen and Tate shared the MVP award.
Hawaii couldn't get much going. Quarterback Greg Alexander was kept off balance and on the run by the Irish defense, which had eight sacks and forced two turnovers.
The Warriors, who didn't call a running play until 6 minutes left in the first half, were held to 32 yards rushing.
Alexander was 23-of-39 for 261 yards, throwing 10- and 21-yard TD passes to Aaron Bain. Bain had a career-best eight receptions for 109 yards.
Hawaii fans had little to cheer about. One of the biggest roars came when the Notre Dame leprechaun's flagstick snapped in half as he charged out to the field. Notes:@ Notre Dame was designated the home team, so Hawaii wore white jerseys and used the visiting locker room and sideline. ... The Irish had player names on their jerseys for the first time since the Cotton Bowl to end the 1987 season. It renewed a tradition from the Ara Parseghian years when Irish teams did not have names on the backs of their jerseys during the regular season, but added them for bowl games.
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Bowl to end the 1993 season. The Irish also avoided consecutive losing seasons.
Clausen was confident and sharp, completing 22 of 26 passes. He racked up 300 yards passing and three TDs by halftime alone, sending the crowd home early.
The sophomore broke Brady Quinn's postseason school record of 286 yards passing set against Ohio State in the 2006 Fiesta Bowl.
Warriors coach Greg McMackin said, including his years in the NFL, Clausen was "as accurate as I've ever seen."
"He was outstanding, his receivers were outstanding," McMackin said.
With Notre Dame up 14-7, Clausen broke open the game by connecting with Tate on a 69-yard TD play, the Irish's longest play from scrimmage of the season.
Clausen faked a handoff, turned and heaved it to Tate, who had blew past cornerback Calvin Roberts along the left sideline. With the catch, Tate became the fifth Irish receiver to break 1,000 yards receiving in a season.
The Irish made it 28-7 with a second left in the first half on an 18-yard hookup between Clausen and Tate on third-and-goal. Hawaii challenged the play, but replays showed Tate got his left foot down before stepping out.
Tate followed it up in the third quarter with a 40-yard TD reception that pushed the lead to 42-7 and gave the Warriors flashbacks of the pounding they received from Georgia in the Sugar Bowl to end last season.
Clausen and Tate shared the MVP award.
Hawaii couldn't get much going. Quarterback Greg Alexander was kept off balance and on the run by the Irish defense, which had eight sacks and forced two turnovers.
The Warriors, who didn't call a running play until 6 minutes left in the first half, were held to 32 yards rushing.
Alexander was 23-of-39 for 261 yards, throwing 10- and 21-yard TD passes to Aaron Bain. Bain had a career-best eight receptions for 109 yards.
Hawaii fans had little to cheer about. One of the biggest roars came when the Notre Dame leprechaun's flagstick snapped in half as he charged out to the field. Notes:@ Notre Dame was designated the home team, so Hawaii wore white jerseys and used the visiting locker room and sideline. ... The Irish had player names on their jerseys for the first time since the Cotton Bowl to end the 1987 season. It renewed a tradition from the Ara Parseghian years when Irish teams did not have names on the backs of their jerseys during the regular season, but added them for bowl games.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Yankess spend $180 in one week - I hope they fail to make the playoffs
Unlike the Braves who use their farm system to find new talent, the Yankees simply steal players from smaller market teams.
http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins/36669524.html
NEW YORK - With one more bold stroke, the New York Yankees' spending spree went from wild to epic on Tuesday. CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett turned out to be mere stocking stuffers. Mark Teixeira, the first baseman with all-around skills, is the big package under their tree.
The Yankees agreed Tuesday to an eight-year, $180 million contract with Teixeira, the top position player in this year's free-agent market.
After signing Sabathia (eight years, $161 million) and Burnett (five years, $82.5 million), the Yankees downplayed their interest in signing Teixeira or Manny Ramirez, but team co-chairman Hal Steinbrenner asserted last week that "nothing was off the table."
With Teixeira's deal, the Yankees have lavished $423.5 million on three new players. The Red Sox had long appeared to be the most likely team to sign him, but their negotiations with agent Scott Boras broke down Thursday, and the Yankees swooped in -- their usual strategy with Boras clients.
"From the moment we arrived in Boston in late 2001, we saw it as a monumental challenge," Red Sox owner John Henry said in an e-mail to The Associated Press, a reference to being competitive with the Yankees. "We sought to reduce the financial gap [between the teams] and succeeded to a degree. Now with a new stadium filled with revenue opportunities, they have leaped away from us again. So we have to be even more careful in deploying our resources."
Teixeira will get a $5 million signing bonus, $20 million in each of the first two seasons, and $22.5 million in each of the final six years. He has a full no-trade clause.
"They have the revenue sources that most don't have, and they have a lot of money coming off the books this season," said Los Angeles Angels General Manager Tony Reagins, who had hoped to retain Teixeira. "So if they're willing and able to spend, I'm pretty sure they've made some good investments."
Teixeira, 28, is the type of hitter the Yankees hope will revive an offense that dropped from a major league-leading 968 runs in 2007 to 789 last season. The switch hitter batted a combined .308 with 33 homers and 121 RBI for the Braves and Angels. He has reached 30 homers and 105 RBI in five consecutive seasons.
Preparing to move into their $1.3 billion ballpark, the Yankees will hold the four largest contracts in baseball as they try to win the World Series for the first time since 2000. Third baseman Alex Rodriguez has the sport's highest deal at $275 million over 10 years, and shortstop Derek Jeter is second at $189 million over 10 years.
All of this is taking place in a city where cocktail party talk centers on the Bernard Madoff Ponzi scheme and the demise of Bear Stearns and Merrill Lynch.
How in the world can they afford this?
• The Yankees already own about one-third of their own regional sports cable network.
• They've started their own concession company in conjunction with the Dallas Cowboys.
• They have a new, $1.3 billion ballpark opening in April.
• The top ticket at the new Yankee Stadium goes for $2,500 next season.
The new stadium on the north side of 161st Street is 63 percent larger than the old, with four merchandise stores instead of one, and 13 restaurants, lounges and food courts for the public, including a martini bar and a steak house. There are 51 available luxury suites priced from $600,000 to $850,000 each, up from 19 at the old ballpark.
Even without the income from the new stadium, the Yankees already have paid out the top average salary in the major leagues for the past 10 seasons, according to the Major League Baseball Players Association. This year's $223 million final payroll, according to the commissioner's office, was more than double the $96 million MLB average and more than eight times Florida's $27 million.
Yet, the Yankees do help subsidize the other teams. New York is paying $26.9 million in luxury tax -- just $141,000 less than the payroll for the Florida Marlins' entire 40-man roster. Throw in revenue-sharing payments, and the Yankees are contributing $110 million to Major League Baseball for this year.
"As long as we follow all the rules, which we do, provide hundreds of millions of dollars, as we have over the past several years to other teams, and spearhead enormous revenue to the commissioner's office, networks and other entities, people should allow us to run our business the way we think is the most appropriate," Levine said.
And still, the Yankees haven't won the World Series since 2000 and haven't even won the AL pennant since 2003.
This article includes material from the Associated Press and the Hartford Courant.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Meeks score 46; hits 9 three points
http://www.govolsxtra.com/news/2008/dec/20/meeks-scores-46-points-kentucky/
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Kentucky’s been making the hour-long trip from Lexington to Freedom Hall for 50 years.
No Wildcat in the hallowed arena’s long history has enjoyed a game like the one Jodie Meeks put together on Saturday.
Meeks scored a career-high 46 points — the most ever by a Kentucky player on the home floor of archrival Louisville — as the Wildcats roared past Appalachian State 93-69.
“I just told him to make all his shots and he followed what I said,” coach Billy Gillispie said with a laugh. “It’s all coaching.”
Well, that and the kind of hot streak that had Meeks threatening the history books.
The junior guard did it all, making 14-of-21 field goals, including 9-of-14 3-pointers and hitting 9-of-10 free throws for Kentucky (8-3). Meeks’ total was the most ever by a Kentucky guard and the highest point total by a Wildcat since Dan Issel scored 47 against Alabama in 1970. His nine 3-pointers tied a school record set by Tony Delk in 1996.
“I had a pretty good idea I was hot,” Meeks said. “I was trying not to force shots. My teammates told me to keep shooting. It was hard not to.”
Patrick Patterson added 19 points and seven rebounds for Kentucky (8-3), though the Wildcats didn’t need much more than Meeks to win for the eighth time in nine games.
Working off screens for jumpers, driving through the lane, getting out on the break, Meeks put together the kind of dazzling all-around display that made his injury plagued sophomore year a distant memory.
“Forty-six points, that’s a lot of points,” Gillispie said. “That’s really hard to do. It’s not like he wasn’t being guarded.”
Kellen Brand had 16 points and Ryann Abraham added 14 points for Appalachian State (4-4), but the Mountaineers shot just 33 percent from the field and had no answer for Meeks.
“He made tough shots,” said Appalachian State coach Houston Fancher. “He made shots coming off down screens, shots in their transition offense and he finished plays on the break.”
Meeks outscored the Mountaineers by himself in the first half, pouring in 24 points as the Wildcats took a 53-21 lead at the break and cruised in the second half.
The only suspense over the final 20 minutes would be whether Meeks would become the fourth Kentucky player ever to top 50 points in a game. He gave it a shot but tired late, missing his last two 3-point attempts.
Gillispie said he hadn’t planned on keeping Meeks in the game so long, but decided to let it ride after watching Meeks hit a 3 with more than four minutes left that pushed his total to 46.
“I was going to leave him in until he got to 40, then all of a sudden he went from 38 to 46 in a hurry,” Gillispie said. “That’s OK. He can do that again if he wanted.”
Meeks departed to a standing ovation with less than a minute to go as the crowd chanted “Jo-die! Jo-die!”
Meeks got started early, hitting a 3-pointer during Kentucky’s game-opening 10-0 run. The Mountaineers managed to cut the deficit to six before the Wildcats put together a 15-0 burst midway through the first half that pushed the lead to 32-11.
“We were just sort of shell-shocked there to come out,” Fancher said. “They ran off and left us and we didn’t answer.”
The Wildcats — who entered the game averaging 17 turnovers a game — gave it away 15 times against the Mountaineers, most of those in the second half with the game already well in hand.
Kentucky went nearly 10 minutes without turning it over. The Mountaineers were hardly as crisp, struggling to hold onto the ball as the Wildcats overwhelmed them from the start.
“We missed some shots early but I think we got really good shots and forced those guys to really play defense,” Gillispie said.
The Mountaineers came in averaging 80 points a game but couldn’t get it going against the bigger, stronger Wildcats. Appalachian State tried to pound the ball inside early but missed its first eight shots. By the time Brand ended the drought with a layup, the Mountaineers already trailed by double digits.
Kentucky forward Ramon Harris scored four points had two rebounds in nine minutes in his first game since being hospitalized with a neck injury on Dec. 3.
“I’m feeling a little sore, a little winded,” Harris said. “When I took my first hit on a rebound it built a little more confidence. It’s just a blessing to be playing basketball again. I couldn’t feel my fingers or my toes (when I got hurt) and that’s a really scary feeling.”
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