2012 MLS SuperDraft Report

Andrew Wenger at the Draft
Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Montreal Impact Surprise With #1 Pick


The MLS's newest expansion franchise, the Montreal Impact, had the 1st overall in this year's SuperDraft. Many expected them to pick F Darren Mattocks from Akron. However, the Impact surprised and selected Duke's D/M Andrew Wenger with the 1st pick. The former Blue Devil scored 17 goal and had 8 assists. With the 2nd pick, the Vancouver Whitecaps selected Darren Mattocks, who had 21 goals in 22 games.


Chandler Hoffman Slides To Philadelphia 


Former UCLA Forward Chandler Hoffman was expected to be taken as high as the 3rd pick. Hoffman wasn't chosen until Philadelphia Union took him with the 13th pick. Hoffman had 18 goals and 6 assists.

2 Goalies Selected In Draft

Only 2 goalkeepers were selected in this year's draft and both were taken within 2 picks of each other in the 2nd round. First was Ryan Meara from Fordham who ha 75 saves in 18 games. He went to Red Bull New York. Second, came Chris Blais, the former goalie of South Florida, who had 60 saves last season. Blais was selected by the San Jose Earthquakes.

Silva and Maund are going to call BMO Field  home this year
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Toronto FC Gets 2 1st Round Selections


Toronto owned the 4th pick in the draft and picked Luis Silva, midfielder from UC Santa Barbara. He had 17 goals and 10 assists in 22 games. They also owned the 12th pick through a trade with the Red Bulls with them last April. With the 12th pick, Toronto selected Defenseman Aaron Maund from Notre Dame.


The Supplemental Draft


The 19 teams of the MLS are not done drafting. On Tuesday, January 17th the MLS will have it's Supplemental Draft. The draft will have 4 rounds. Also, this is the 1st year of the MLS SuperDraft having just 2 rounds. So any 3rd round SuperDraft pick becomes 1st round Supplemental pick.

New Year's Day Sports: College Football or Hockey

New Year's has historically been a day of celebration, Dick Clark, and important college football bowl games. This year is a little different due to New Year's being a Sunday, the bowl games are moved back a day so the NFL games can be played. These games include the Rose Bowl Game, Orange Bowl, Sugar Bowl, and others. However, the NHL has a new New Year's game, the Winter Classic, that is really gaining attention and views. So can the NHL and Winter Classic take over College Football as New Year's sport?

The Rose Bowl Game is a New Year's Tradition
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First, lets look at the reigning champion, college football. We looked at the history of all the games played yesterday and games that were mostly played on New Year's Eve, Day, and January 2nd. I consider January 2nd part of the New Year's celebration because the bowl games are usually not played on New Year's if New Year's is on a Sunday. 

The Rose Bowl Game has been played on January 1st and 2nd every time in the bowl's 98 game history except twice. Both times were when the Rose Bowl was also the BCS National Championship. 


The Sugar Bowl was played on December 31st, January 1st and 2nd every time from 1935 until 2000. Since the 2000, 6 games have been played on dates other tha the 1st and 2nd of January. 


The Orange Bowl was been played on December 31st, January 1st, and 2nd from 1935-2000. Since 2001, the Orange Bowl has switched dates during the 1st weeks of January. Only 5 of the games since 2001 have been played on the 1st or 2nd.


The Fiesta Bowl was first played on various dates in December from 1971-1980. Then, starting in 1982, the Fiesta Bowl was played on New Year's Eve, Day and the 2nd until 1997. Since 1999, 4 games have been played on different dates.

The Cotton Bowl was a New Year's Classic
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The Cotton Bowl Classic was played on December 31st, January 1st, or 2nd every time except once from 1935-2010. It was played on January 7th last year and will be played January 6th this year.


The Gator Bowl was played on the New Year's Eve, Day, and the 2nd 24 times from 1946-1994. Since 1996, January 1st and 2nd has been the date of the Gator Bowl.


The Outback Bowl has been played on January 1st or 2nd every time except in 1986, the 1st ever edition of the bowl.


From 1947-1986 The Capital One Bowl was played on the 1st 13 times. Since 1987, the bowl has been played on the 1st or 2nd every time.


The TicketCity Bowl has only been around for 2 years and was played on January 1st in 2011 and January 2nd in 2012.


The reason for the Orange Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, and Sugar Bowl have not played all their games on January 1st or 2nd is because of the BCS. They like to spread out their games more. I think this is taking away from college football's tradition of New Year's games. 


The Winter Classic does not have as much history as some of the bowl games, but does have as much intrigue. The first regular season outdoor game was not a Winter Classic. It was on November 23, 2003 and it was between Edmonton Oilers and Montreal Canadiens in Edmonton. The idea for the game, called the Heritage Classic, came from an outdoor college hockey game between Michigan and Michigan State called the "Cold War" that attracted 74,554 fans two years prior. There has only been one other Heritage Classic, last year, in Calgary, between Calgary and Montreal in which Calgary won 4-0.

NHL Winter Classic 2011 in Philly
Noah Graham/NHLI via Getty Images

The idea of an outdoor game on New Year's was brought up by Executive VP of NBC Sports Jon Miller. He got the idea in 2004 and was finally approved in 2007. Buffalo hosted the first ever Winter Classic on January 1st, 2008 between the Buffalo Sabres and the Pittsburgh Penguins. It was played at Ralph Wilson Stadium and had and attendance of 71,217. The game was tied at 1 when it went into overtime and then the shootout. In the shootout, Sidney Crosby scored the goal that won it for Pittsburgh. Next, came the 2009 Winter Classic played at Wrigley Field between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Detroit Red Wings. The Red Wings won 6-4. The next year, the Boston Bruins faced off against the Philadelphia Flyers at Fenway Park in Boston, with the game going to Boston 2-1. 365 days later, Heinz Field in Pittsburgh hosted the 2011 Winter Classic between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Washington Capitals, won by the Caps 3-1. And, finally, the 2012 Winter Classic between the New York Rangers and the Philadelphia Flyers at Citizen's Bank Park in Philadelphia. New York won 3-2.


There is a lot that is appealing about the Winter Classic. The game being played outdoors, the retro sweaters, the star players, great games, are just a few of many reasons the Winter Classic is one of the best sporting events of the year. These reasons are helping the Winter Classic become more of a tradition and more popular each year.


The 4th of July has pro, minor, and independent league baseball, Thanksgiving has the NFL, Christmas has the NBA, March has college basketball, and what does New Year's have. I think that right now college football has the edge, but, I believe hockey will soon be on par with college football. However, I don't think hockey can take over New Year's due to the number of bowl games it is up against. 

My Impressions of the NBA After The 1st Couple Days

-Miami Will Win


After just one game you can tell that the Miami players have a chip on their shoulders and they want the title very badly. LeBron James looked like he improved his game and doesn't want a repeat of last year. Dwyane Wade is still the same. The role players performed well, especially PG's Mario Chalmers and Norris Cole. Miami looks solid.


-The Lakers and Mavericks are Missing Parts


The Lakers and the Mavericks don't look good after their 1st couple games and it is for simple reasons. They are missing key parts. Dallas needs a big man that is good defensively and the Lakers need a younger playmaker to complement Kobe. If they don't get these players they will have a harder time becoming champions.


-Phoenix Will Not Play Well


I didn't think much of Phoenix this year and the loss against New Orleans proves it. They shouldn't lose to a team in New Orleans that just dealt it's best player and is rebuilding. Even with All-Star PG Steve Nash and rising star C Robin Lopez, the Suns don't look like they will win much. They are going to look to rebuild and that may include trading Nash.


-Sacramento May Surprise


After almost leaving for Anaheim and the Honda Center at the end of last season, the Kings won their first game of the season against the Lakers. I believe the victory is a sign that Sacramento may be on track for a breakout season. They have a surplus of young players including PG Tyreke Evans, G Jimmer Freditte and C DeMarcus Cousins, have a scoring threat in SG Marcus Thornton, and a few veterans to lead the rookies. They have the potential to make the playoffs, but a playoff run doesn't seem likely.


-Indiana Is Good


The Indiana Pacers just made the playoffs last year. This year, they are going to be a top team in the east. They have a scorer in Danny Granger, two big men in David West and Roy Hibbert, a playmaker in Darren Collison, and a good young player in Paul George. The only thing that may be holding them back is their lack of bench depth.

2011 College Football All-Americans and Bowl Predictions

The Full Count's FBS COLLEGE FOOTBALL ALL-AMERICA TEAM


OFFENSE                       


QB: Robert Griffin III, Baylor, #10
RB: Monte Ball, Wisconsin, #28 
RB: Trent Richardson, Alabama, #3
WR: Jordan White, Western Michigan, #83
WR: Robert Woods, USC, #2
TE: Dwayne Allen, Clemson, #83
T: Barrett Jones, Alabama, #75
G: David DeCastro, Stanford, #52
C: David Molk, Michigan, #50
T: Nate Potter, Boise State, #73
T: Matt Kalil, USC, #75


DEFENSE


DE: Whitney Mercilus, Illinois, #85
DT: Devon Still, Penn State, #71
DE: Melvin Ingram, South Carolina, #6
LB: Jarvis Jones, Georgia, #29
LB: Luke Kuechly, Boston College, #40
LB: Sammy Brown, Houston, #8
LB: Lavonte David, Nebraska, #4
CB: Morris Claiborne, LSU, #17
CB: David Amerson, NC State #1
S: Mark Barron, Alabama, #4 
CB: Tyrann Mathieu, LSU,#7


SPECIAL TEAMS/OTHER


K: Randy Bullock, Texas A&M, #28
P: Brad Wing, LSU, #38
KR: Tyler Lockett, Kansas State, #16
PR: Tyrann Mathieu, LSU, #7
All-Purpose: Brandon Boykin, Georgia, #2, KR/PR/CB/HB/Wildcat QB


BOWL PREDICTIONS


12/17/11: Gildan New Mexico Bowl- Temple def. Wyoming
12/17/11: Famous Idaho Potato Bowl- Ohio def. Utah State
12/17/11: R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl- San Diego State def. Louisiana-Lafayette
12/20/11: Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl- FIU def. Marshall
12/21/11: San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl- TCU def. Louisiana Tech
12/22/11: Maaco Bowl Las Vegas- Boise State def. Arizona State
12/24/11: Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl- Southern Miss def. Nevada
12/26/11: Advocare Independence Bowl- Missouri def. North Carolina
12/27/11: Little Caesers Bowl- Purdue def. Western Michigan
12/27/11: Belk Bowl- North Carolina State def. Louisville
12/28/11: Military Bowl Presented By Northrop Grumman- Air Force def. Toledo
12/28/11: Bridgeport Education Holiday Bowl- Texas def. Cal
12/29/11: Champs Sports Bowl- Florida State def. Notre Dame
12/29/11: Valerio Alamo Bowl- Baylor def. Washington
12/30/11: Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl- BYU def. Tulsa
12/30/11: New Era Pinstripe Bowl- Rutgers def. Iowa State
12/30/11: Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl- Mississippi State def. Wake Forest
12/30/11: Insight Bowl- Oklahoma def. Iowa 
12/31/11: Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas- Texas A&M def. Northwestern
12/31/11: Hyundai Sun Bowl- Georgia Tech def. Utah
12/31/11: AutoZone Liberty Bowl- Vanderbilt def. Cincinnati
12/31/11: Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl- UCLA def. Illinois
12/31/11: Chick-fil-A Bowl- Virginia def. Auburn
1/2/11: TicketCity Bowl- Houston def. Penn State
1/2/11: Outback Bowl- Michigan State def. Georgia 
1/2/11: Capital One Bowl- South Carolina def. Nebraska
1/2/11: Taxslayer.com Gator Bowl- Florida def. Ohio State
1/2/11: Rose Bowl Game presented by Visio- Wisconsin def. Oregon
1/2/11: Tostitos Fiesta Bowl- Oklahoma State def. Stanford 
1/3/11: Allstate Sugar Bowl- Michigan def. Virginia Tech
1/4/11: Discover Orange Bowl- Clemson def. West Virginia
1/6/11: AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic- Arkansas def. Kansas State
1/7/11: BBVA Compass Bowl- Pittsburgh def. SMU
1/8/11: GoDaddy.com Bowl- Northern Illinois def. Arkansas State
1/9/11: Allstate BCS National Championship Game- Alabama def. LSU

Harvard Crimson Men's Basketball Team Ranked?

With the new AP college basketball poll being released, history was made. Harvard is ranked in the AP Poll for the first time ever, at 25. The USA Today/ESPN Poll has the Crimson at 24. The last Ivy League team to make the AP Poll was Princeton in 1997-1998, where they peaked at 8. Princeton that year first made the poll in Week 3, while Harvard just made it in Week 4. Harvard has only made the NCAA Tournament once, in 1946. However, they made the CIT for the 2009-10 season and in 2010-11 they made the NIT.

Harvard won the Battle 4 Atlantis
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Harvard's success has probably surprised many people. To find the keys to Harvard's success, you need to look at the games they have played. In their first game they demolished D-III MIT Engineers, 76-49. Then, they beat Holy Cross  and Loyal Marymount, both away from home. Next up, was the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament. In the first round, they beat Utah convincingly. Then, the upset Florida State, at the time ranked 22nd, in a defensive battle, 46-41. In the finals they beat UCF, who upset UCONN in their semi-final. After that they defeated both Vermont and Seattle. 



There offense is not the biggest strength. The Crimson are averaging 67.6 point a game, ranked 192nd out of 345 teams. Their leading scorers are Senior F Keith Wright with 11.4 ppg, Junior F Kyle Casey with 10.9 ppg, Sophomore G Laurent Rivard with 11.1 ppg, and Senior G Oliver McNally with 7.9 ppg. Defense is easily one of the best in the country. They are ranked 10th in opponents points per game with 54.4 Opp. ppg.


The Crimson don't have the toughest schedule ahead of them. However, their game is probably the toughest. They are facing #9 and the last year's NCAA Tournament champion, the UCONN Huskies. I believe that they have a chance in this game, but playing away at the XL Center doesn't help. If they win, or even if they lose, I would expect much from Harvard.

The Biggest Week in Canadian Football This Year

This weekend is a big weekend in the world of Canadian Football. Not only is the Canadian Football League having it's 99th Grey Cup, but the Canadian Interuniversity Sport, the highest collegiate sport league in Canada, is also having it's football championship, the Vanier Cup. The Vanier Cup is on Friday and the Grey Cup is on Sunday, both at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver. Here's the preview of both games.

Vanier Cup 2011
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The Vanier Cup is going to be played between #4 McMaster Marauders and #1 Lavel Rouge et Or. The McMaster Marauders are based out of Hamilton have appeared in the Cup only once in 1967 and lost it by 1. Head Coach Stefan Ptaszek is in his 6th season. Starting QB Kyle Quinlan throws an average of 341.6 yards per game, which leads the league. 



Lavel Rouge et Or are located in Quebec City and have won their 6 appearances in the Vanier Cup. Every win has come since 1999, including last year's cup. They are led by head coach Glen Constantin, who is his 11th season.  Last year's Ted Morris Memorial Trophy (Vanier Cup MVP), RB Sebastien Levesque is the team's leading rusher with 117.7 years per game.



The 99th Grey Cup is going to have East Division Champion Winnipeg Blue Bombers (10-8) and West Division Champion BC Lions (11-7). Both were regular season division winners. Winnipeg beat the Hamilton Tigers 19-3 and BC beat the Edmonton Eskimos 40-23 to reach the Grey Cup. 

99th Grey Cup
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Winnipeg has a star filled defense. Jovon Johnson led the league with 8 interceptions and fellow DB Jonathon Hefney tied for 2nd with 6. DE Odell Willis had 13 sacks, tied for the league lead. Fellow D-Lineman Kenny Mainor and Jason Vega are also in the top 10 in sacks.

Blue Bombers base their offense on the run. With 2010 All-Star Fred Reid out, the Blue Bombers leading rusher is Chris Garrett. Garrett had rushed for 190 yards vs. Hamilton on 29 carries for an average of 6.6 yards. QB Buck Pierce threw for 3348 yards during the regular season.


BC is the opposite of Winnipeg, they are a passing offense, led by the Quarterback-Receiver combo of Travis Lulay (QB) and Geroy Simon (SB). Lulay threw for 4,815 yards, 2nd only to Anthony Calvillo. Simon caught 1,350 yards also 2nd in the league. SB Shawn Gore (836 receiving yards), SB Arland Bruce (755 yds), and WR Akeem Foster (593 yds) are other top wideouts. 


The Lions defense is led by LB Soloman Elimimian, who came in 2nd in the league with 98 tackles. DE Keron Williams had 11 sacks, which is tied for 3rd. Ryan Phillips and Dante Marsh led the team in picks with 4.

BC Place Stadium
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The stadium that plays home for both events is BC Place Stadium, which is in Vancouver, British Columbia. Opening in 1983 and renovated last year, BC Place is home to the BC Lions and Vancouver Whitecaps. Vancouver has has hosted 14 Grey Cups, 7 at BC Place, 7 at Empire Stadium. They last Cup to be played at BC Place was the 93rd Grey Cup, 6 years ago. The Vanier Cup has never been played in Vancouver. 


Here are my predictions:


VANIER CUP: Lavel Rouge et Or 38-McMaster Marauders 28


GREY CUP: BC Lions 35-Winnipeg Blue Bombers 31

MLB Will Drastically Change With New Labor Agreement and Astros Sale

Major League Baseball announced that they have a verbal agreement with the Players Union on a new labor agreement. Unlike the NFL and NBA, there was no lockout, lost games, or other bad stuff. There was not even a thought of a lockout. The labor contract is for five years, which would give MLB and MLBPA 20+ years of labor peace. The new deal also has some new ideas that will change the sport. Also, the recent sale of the Astros fits hand in hand with the news of the labor deal.

Interleague Play Logo
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First, is the sale of the Astros. MLB approved the sale of Houston to businessman Jim Crane, with the condition that the Astros move from the NL Central to the AL West. This move could happen as early as the 2013 season. This will give the AL and NL 15 teams. The NL Central will have 5 teams instead of 6 and the AL west will also have 5 teams instead of 4. The Astros have been part National League since 1962 when they came into the league with the Mets. With 15 teams in each league, MLB decided Interleague Play will extend through out the whole season. Interleague Play began in 1997. An American League team usually played 18 Interleague games while a National League team could play from 18 games to 12 games. 


Second, is the labor deal. As part of the labor deal, MLB has decided to add another Wild Card team, in both the the AL and NL, for the playoffs. That will make 5 playoff teams in both league, 3 division winners and the 2 wild card teams. The 2 wild card teams will  face off in a winner takes all, 1 game playoff. Other big parts of the deal are, restraint on money spent on players from the draft and on international amateur free agents, luxury tax on high pay roll teams, and there will be a lower percentage of free agents who's former team will receive the highest form of draft pick compensation. 


Also discussed was idea of 15 team leagues with no divisions.

In my mind the idea of the Astros switching leagues is an OK idea. I like that every division will have 5 teams. However,the idea of all-season interleague saddens me a little. I also loved when interleague was played. It was something I looked forward to. The idea of another wild card is a good idea. I think the extra wild card will add more suspense. The idea of the 15 team, no division leagues, is unique. I don't like it because I like how the alignment it is now.

2011 Rugby World Cup Final: End of a Great Tournament

2011 Rugby World Cup logo
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The Rugby World Cup has been held since 1987. The 7th annual Rugby World Cup recently played it's last game of the tournament. There are two main different types of rugby, rugby union and rugby league. The Rugby World Cup is the world cup for rugby. It was played in New Zealand and 20 teams participated. Those teams are Argentina, Australia, Canada, England, France, Fiji, Georgia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Namibia, New Zealand, Romania , Russia, Samoa, Scotland, South Africa, Tonga, United States of America, and Wales.


Here are 3 main points to remember about the tournament, from 3rd to 1st.


3. Performance of Teams

Tonga came within 2 points of making the knockout round
http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/home/teams/team=47/photo/index.html

There were 4 pools of 5 teams. Top 2 teams in each pool make the Knockout Stage. In Pool A, New Zealand went undefeated. Both France and Tonga went 2-2-0 (Wins-Losses-Draw), but France made the Knockout Stage due to having more points. Canada went 1-2-1 and Japan went 0-3-1. In Pool B, England never lost and Romania never won. Argentina went 3-1-0, Scotland went 2-2-0, and Georgia went 1-3-0. Pool C saw Ireland go without a blemish and Russia go without a victory. Australia went 3-1-0, Italy 2-2-0, and the US went 1-3-0. South Africa led Pool D with a perfect record, followed by Wales with a 3-1-0, Samoa 2-2-0, Fiji 1-3-0, and Namibia 0-4-0.


In the quarter-finals, Wales def. Ireland 22-10, France def. England 19-12, Australia def defending champs South Africa 11-9 and New Zealand def. Australia 33-10. That made the semi-final match-ups, France-Wales and New Zealand-Australia.

Morne Styen
http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/home/team
s/team=39/player=26292/index.html

2. Stat Leaders Are Led By South Africa's Morne Styen and New Zealand's Colin Slade 


South Africa's Morne Styen was the top scorer of the tournament with 62 points, 10 more then the runner-up. He also tied for  1st in conversions with New Zealand's Colin Slade. France's Vincent Clerc and England's Chris Ashton had the most tries with 7. Slade and France's Morgan Parra had the most points in 1 game this tournament with 23 points. Fiji's Vereniki Goneva had 4 tries in 1 game, this year's tournament record. New Zealand had the most overall points with 301 points. The biggest score differential of 1 game was a 87-0 win by South Africa against Namibia. 


1. The Finals


In the semi's New Zealand beat Australia and France beat Wales. That made the final New Zealand (All Blacks) and France. Both of these teams  faced each other in the final in 1987. The Australian Wallabies and Wales faced off in the bronze medal game, the same as 1987, too. The end result was different, though. In 1987 Wales won. Australia won this time 21-18.

New Zealand vs France
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Both New Zealand and France started the tournament in Pool A. In their earlier meeting, New Zealand won easily 37-17. The Final wasn't as one sided. New Zealand started off strong with Tony Woodcock scoring a try (5 points) but the conversion was missed. Then, in the second half, Stephen Douglas of New Zealand kicked a penalty to make it 8-0. France responded quick with a try scored by Thierry Dusautoir and Francios Trinh-Duc converted the conversion. That made the score 8-7. That's the way it ended with New Zealand winning it's 2nd championship, it's first since 1987.

2011 Baseball World Cup: Surprise after Surprise

2011 Baseball World Cup
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Every year there are many world cup's that happen that get little to no attention. The Baseball World Cup is one of them because there are no MLB players and it is not sponsored. The World Baseball Classic gets attention because it is based on Major League Baseball. This year Baseball World Cup, held in Panama was full of surprises.

When you think of international baseball you think of the US, Japan, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Cuba. Only Cuba and the US made it to the knockout stage. In Pool 1 there were Canada, Chinese Taipei, Greece, Japan, Netherlands, Panama, Puerto Rico, and USA. Australia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Germany, Italy, Nicaragua, South Korea, and Venezuela were the countries in Pool 2. The top 4 teams from each pool make the next round


In a packed Pool 1, Germany didn't win 1 game. The top teams were Canada and the Netherlands, both with a record of 6-1. Japan, which usually doesn't play it's best baseball in the World Cup, underperformed with a record of 2-5. Chinese Taipei also didn't play it's best with a 2-5 record to show for it. The US, Panama, and Puerto Rico had to fight for the last 2 spots in Pool A. Panama and the USA got it with a 5-2 and a 4-3 record respectively. 


Pool 2 was head by IBAF's (International Baseball Federation) number 1 ranked team, Cuba. Cuba posted a spotless 7-0 record. Germany was the exact opposite of Cuba, going a winless 0-7. Nicaragua didn't do much better, going 1-6 with it's only win against Germany. Venezuela and South Korea clinched their spot in the next round by both going 5-2. The Dominican Republic, Italy, and Australia all were fighting for the final spot. Australia ended up beating out the other two for the spot.


Round 2 placed all 8 teams that made it to the next round, Australia, Canada, Cuba, Netherlands, Panama, South Korea, USA, and Venezuela, were placed in 1 group. Each team places each other once. Top 2 teams make the finals, next 2 make the 3rd Place Game, and so on. Gaining way into the championship game were Cuba and Netherlands who both had 6-1. At 4-3, both Canada and USA got entry to the 3rd place game. Australia and South Korea won their way into the 5th place game. The 7th place game ended up being a between Venezuela and Panama


In the 7th place match, Venezuela beat Panama 8-3. In the 5th place match, Australia defeated South Korea 3-2. The 3rd place game between neighboring countries, the US and Canada, was cancelled due to rain.

Netherlands celebrates after winning the championship
Ratti/IBAF

The final was an intense match-up. The number #1 team in Cuba, who has won 3 Gold Olympic  Medals, 2 Silver Olympic Medals, 25 World Cup Titles, and 11 International Cup titles vs. the 6th ranked team in Netherlands, which has come in 2nd for the International Cup twice. The two met in the 2010 International Cup finals with Cuba winning 4-1. The first runner to cross the plate was Cuba's Frederich Cepeda on a sac fly in the top of the 4th. Netherlands quickly struck back in the bottom of the 4th, with two RBI singles by Bryan Englehardt and Jonathan Schoop, to make it 2-1. It stayed like that for 4 more innings. Then, in the top of the 9th, Cuba started to rally and got runners on 1st and 2nd with two outs. They couldn't score and the Netherlands won their first Baseball World Cup. They were led by INF Curt Smith, who won the World Cup's MVP award. Smith played the 2011 season for the Lincoln Saltdogs of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball. 

NHL Premiere in Europe

NHL Premiere Logo
http://3.cdn.nhle.com/kings/images/upload/2011/04/NHLPREMIERE_LOGO.jpg

For the last 4 years the National Hockey League has played some of it's preseason and early season games in Europe. This year was no different. There were 7 preseason games and 4 regular season games played this year.  4 teams made the trip, the Anaheim Duck, Buffalo Sabres, Los Angeles Kings, and New York Rangers. The games were played in Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Slovakia, Sweden, and Switzerland. For the preseason games, the NHL teams faced a local pro team. For the regular season, the NHL teams faced another NHL member.


The preseason games were called the NHL Premiere Challenge. The Rangers played the first 4 games. The first game was in Prague, Czech Republic between New York and HC Sparka Praha. The Rangers won 2-0. New York played in the next game in Gothenburg, Sweden, defeating the Frolunda Indians 4-2. In Bratislava, Slovakia, New York faced and beat HC Slovan Bratislava 4-1. For their final game, New York was dominated by EV Zug, 8-4 in Zug, Switzerland.


Anahiem played their only European preseason games in Helsiniki, Finland vs. Jokerit. They won in overtime 4-3. The Kings then played in Hamburg, Germany and beat the Hamburg Freezers 5-4. The last preseason game in Europe was played between Buffalo and the Adler Mannheim in Mannheim, Germany. The Sabres won in a blowout, 8-3. The NHL went 6-1 in the preseason games.


The first regular season games was between Anaheim and Buffalo from Hartwell Areena in Finland. The Sabres dominated from the get-go, with Thomas Vanek scoring on a power play within 5 minutes and then a goal a little later by Ville Leino. In the 2nd period, the Ducks started to rally when Nate Guenin scored. However, Buffalo countered the game with a Jason Pomiville goal and a Thomas Vanek PP goal.

A Fight for the Puck in Stockholm
AP Photo/Niklas Larsson

In the other game, the New York Rangers faced the Los Angeles Kings in Stockholm, Sweden was an overtime thriller. The first goal of the game was scored by LA's Anze Kopitar in the first period. The Rangers countered quickly with a goal, 5 minutes later, by Ryan Callahan. After a scoreless 2nd period, New York's Marian Gaborik broke the tie with 10 minutes left in the 3rd period. Then the Kings' Mike Richards scored the equalizer to put the game into OT. With less then 1 minute left in OT, Jack Johnson of Los Angeles scored the game-winning goal.


One night passed and then Anaheim and the Rangers faced off in Stockholm. Anaheim started off hot when Andrew Cogliano scored at the 9 minutes mark. But then no one could score for more than 2 periods. New York tied it up with less then 3 minutes left in the 3rd period with a Brad Richards goal. With everyone going cold again, it went into a penalty shootout, where again, scoring was scarce. After each team missed their first 3 goals, the Ducks' Bobby Ryan beat New York's goalie, Henrik Lundqvist to take the lead. New York couldn't tie it back up and Anaheim won 2-1.

Berlin's 02 World
Stuart Franklin/Bongarts/Getty Images

For the final game in Europe, Buffalo and Los Angeles played at the 02 World in Berlin, Germany. Both teams didn't score in the 1st period. Early in the second, Buffalo's Luke Adam scored to make it 1-0 and then scored again 3 minutes later to make it 2-0. Sabres' Paul Gaustad scored later in the 2nd. Los Angeles finally got on the board with 2 minutes left in the 2nd period with an Anze Kopitar goal. Drew Stafford of Buffalo put the game out of reach with an early 3rd period goal. Kopitar scored late in 3rd but it didn't matter. Buffalo won 4-2.

And You Thought College Football Realignment Was Crazy?

One of the top stories of the sports world of the last year has been NCAA conference realignment, which is mostly about going to the best football conference. It all started when the University of South Dakota Coyotes moved from the Great West Conference to the Summit Conference. Then it heated up when the University of Colorado Buffalos and the University of Utah Utes moved to the PAC-12. Next came total chaos. There were so many rumors and moves that many people couldn't keep up. All this did not affect colllege hockey because colllege hockey has it's own conferences. However, college hockey had it's own conference shake up that in some places is crazier then the college football realignment.

Michigan, the college with the most NCAA men's hockey
titles, is leaving the WHCA for the Big Ten
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Before the realignment, there were 5 conferences and 1 independent team. The conferences were the Atlantic Hockey Association, Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA), ECAC Hockey, Hockey East Association, and the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA).  The madness of realignment started on March 21st when the Big Ten announced they were going to sponsor hockey, starting for the 2013-2014 season. Ohio State, Michigan, and Michigan State left the CCHA to go to the Big Ten. Minnesota and Wisconsin went to the Big Ten from the WHCA. Penn State, who is adding a hockey team which will start play in 2012-13, will also join the Big Ten.


Then about 4 months later rumors popped up about a new conference that would take teams from the WHCA and the CCHA. On July 13th, the rumors were rumors no more. The National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) was officially formed with 6 charter members, Colorado College, Denver, Miami-Ohio, Minnesota-Duluth, Nebraska-Omaha and North Dakota that would start play in the 2013-14 season. They all came from the WHCA. In September, St. Cloud State and Western Michigan announced that they will join the NCHA, leaving the CCHA.

Will the CCHA just become a memory of the past?
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Due to the realignment, the WCHA took 4 teams, Alaska-Fairbanks (known as just Alaska), Ferris State, Lake Superior State, and Northern Michigan from the CCHA. This has put the CCHA in a tough situation. As of October 4th, they have only 2 teams, Notre Dame and Bowling Green. Bowling Green is has been offered a spot in the WCHA and Notre Dame is weighing it's options. However, this doesn't mean the end of the CCHA. Independent Alabama-Huntsville could join the league. Minnesota State-Moorhead is trying to launch a team to play Division 1. They could also get some Division 3 teams.


Here are what the conferences will look like in 2013-14 as of today.
Atlantic Hockey [No Moves]: Air Force, American International, Army, Bentley, Canisius, Holy Cross, Mercyhurst, Niagara, RIT (Rochester Institute of Technology), Sacred Heart, UCONN (Connecticut)
Big Ten [New Conference, Gets 6 Teams]: Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Penn State, Wisconsin
CCHA [Loses 9 Teams]: Bowling Green, Notre Dame
ECHA [No Moves]: Brown, Clarkson, Colgate, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Princeton, Quinnipiac, Rensselaer, St. Lawerence, Union, Yale
Hockey East [No Moves]: Boston College, Boston University, Maine, UMASS (Massachusetts), Massachusetts-Lowell, Merrimack, New Hampshire, Northeastern, Providence ,Vermont
NCHC [New Conference]: Colorado State, Denver, Miami-Ohio, Nebraska-Omaha, North Dakota, St. Cloud State, Western Michigan
WCHA [Gains 4, Loses 8]: Alaska, Alaska-Anchorage, Bemidji State, Ferris State, Lake Superior State, Michigan Tech, Minnesota State, Northern Michigan
Independents: Alabama-Huntsville 
Note: New teams are in italics


With questions that still haven't found their answers, college hockey is in for one wild ride.

MLB Awards Preview

AL MVP

Winner: Jacoby Ellsbury, Outfielder, Boston Red Sox

Jacoby Ellsbury
http://www.iayork.com/Images/2009/12-17-09/EllsburyDive.png

After a year lost to injuries, the Red Sox wanted Jacoby Ellsbury to be healthy and to play well. Boston got much more then that. Not only did Ellsbury play in 158 games, he is my prediction for MVP. Ellsbury is batting .321, 32 homers, 105 RBIs, 39 steals, 46 doubles, 212 hits, 134.2 runs created and .552 Slugging percentage. He is in the top 10 in all those categories. His defense was outstanding, too. He had a perfect fielding percentage of 1.000, which means he had no errors, and 6 assists. Ellsbury has a lot of competition for the award, however. There is his teammate 1B Adrian Gonzalez, Yankees OF Curtis Granderson, Blue Jays OF Jose Bautista, and his main competitor, Tigers P Justin Verlander. The reason I believe Ellsbury beats Verlander is because the voters won't believe a pitcher can't beat out an every day player.


Close 2nds: Curtis Granderson, Outfielder, New York Yankees; Adrian Gonzalez, 1st Base, Boston Red Sox; Justin Verlander, Pitcher, Detroit Tigers; Jose Bautista, Outfielder, Toronto Blue Jays.


NL MVP

Ryan Braun
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braun_display_image.jpg?1271674339

Winner: Ryan Braun, Outfielder, Milwaukee Brewers


While the Brewers were rolling this year, no one payed much attention to Ryan Braun. Well, he has been having one of the best seasons in a while. He has a .332 average, 33 HRs, 111 RBIs, 33 SBs, .397 OBP, .597 Slugging, .994 OPS, 187 hits, 109 runs, and 38 doubles. He is in the top 10 in all of those categories. Braun also has a 8.92 Runs Created per 27 outs. Hitting isn't Braun's only case. He has a fielding percentage of .996. Braun's only compition is Dodgers Matt Kemp who is having a similar type season. However, the Los Angeles Dodgers are 82-79 and were never in playoff contention. Braun, however, led the Brewers to the playoffs with 96 wins.


Close 2nds: Matt Kemp, Outfielder, Los Angeles Dodgers

AL Cy Young


Winner: Justin Verlander, Detroit Tigers


When you win 24 games and only 5 losses, it is hard not to win the Cy Young Award, but stats aren't every thing for Verlander. He has not pitched less then 6 innings all year, the highest amount of runs he has given up is 6, and the highest batting average for one of the games is .200. His stats just back up his record. A 2.40 ERA (1st in AL), 250 strikeouts (1st in AL), and 0.92 WHIP (1st in AL). Sabermetrics back Verlander up too. He has a 8.96 Strikeouts per 9 innings, 7.0 Wins Above Replacement Player, 62.6 Value Over Replacement Players, and 3.03 Fielding Independent Pitching. 


NL Cy Young


Winner: Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers


There are 5 viable options for the NL Cy Young. The player who I think will win is the only one of the five who isn't in the playoffs. Clayton Kershaw of the Dodgers has played like his team was in the playoffs every game. He led the NL with 21 wins, 2.28 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, and 248 strikeouts. Sabermetrics also helps Kershaw's case. He has a 2.01 component ERA, 9.57 Strikeouts per 9 innings, and a .260 batting average on balls in play. His 2.63 defensive independent ERA proves he has the defense factor on his side. 


AL Rookie of the Year


Winner: Jeremy Hellickson, Pitcher, Tampa Bay Rays


This is one of the toughest choices of the award season. There are two players I believe can win the award, Tampa Bay Rays Pitcher Jeremy Hellickson and New York Yankees Pitcher Ivan Nova. After looking more in depth at both players stats and performances, I picked Hellickson to win it. He is 13-10 with a 2.95 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 2 complete games and 117 strikeouts. Hellickson also has a .217 ERA on balls in play, 5.57 strikeouts per 9 innings, and a 2.95 component ERA.

Craig Kimbrel
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lorida+Marlins+v+Atlanta+Braves/GipGMAV
9Zz2/Crag+Kimbrel

NL Rookie of the Year



Winner: Craig Kimbrel, Pitcher, Atlanta Braves


After losing Billy Wagner to retirement, the Atlanta Braves needed to find their next closer. Craig Kimbrel was chosen to take the 9th inning role. Then, from day 1, Kinbrel showed he was the man for the job. He set records as a rookie in saves with 46, breaking Neftali Feliz's record set last year. The 46 saves is also tied for the league lead.  He also has 126 strikeouts in 79 games. Even though he floundered in the last game of the season, there is no one else who comes close to him.

Joe Maddon
http://angels.ocregister.com/files/2008/11/joemaddon.jpg

AL Manager of the Year


Winner: Joe Maddon, 6th Full Season as Tampa Bay Rays Manager


Only one manager today could convince a team in September they can make the playoffs after being down by 9 games in the Wild Card. Only one manager today can convince his team that even though they are down by 7 in the 8th inning of the last game where they need to win to make the playoffs there is hope. That man, Joe Maddon, did all that this year. I can't think off anyone else who can win this award.


NL Manager of the Year


Winner: Kirk Gibson, 1st Full Season as Arizona Diamondbacks Manager


The Arizona Diamondbacks were expected to win less then 70 games this year. Flash-forward to August, they are in the playoff hunt. Now look at them today. NL West Champions with a 94-68 and 8 games ahead of defending NL west and World Series champs, the Giants. There is no other team that had the turn around the Arizona Diamondbacks this year.

Vogelsong in Japan
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Ryan-Vogelsong.jpg

MLB Comeback Player of the Year


Winner: Ryan Volgelsong, Pitcher, San Francisco


After not playing in the majors for 4 years, no one thought Ryan Vogelsong at age 34 would amount to any thing this year. However, he shined in one of the best rotations in baseball. It all started on April 28th when Barry Zito was scratched from his start. San Fransisco manager Bruce Bochy decided to give Vogelsong the start. He pitched 5 and 2/3s and gave up only 2 runs. After that he never looked back. He finished the year 13-7 with a 2.71 ERA and was an NL All-Star. He never had more the 6 wins a season before this. There is no one else who comes close to Vogelsong in this category.