There were some big upsets in college football yesterday but the top four teams either won or were idle.
Top ranked Florida State was idle. Second ranked Oregon University and third choice University of Alabama each won big but did not exceed the huge point spread in its game. Fourth ranked Oklahoma University did exceed the point spread in its national telecast vs Tennessee University. Fifth ranked Auburn University was idle.
The upsets included East Carolina beating Virginia Tech, Virginia University founded by Thomas Jefferson, taking Louisville University, where the great quarterback John Unitas once played, and Boston College, a six to one underdog, winning vs the University of Southern California.
The University of South Carolina beat the highest ranked team to lose yesterday. In a home game, South Carolina, coached by Steve Spurrier won (38-35) against sixth ranked Georgia University.
Steve Spurrier
As predicted here, the Phoenix Mercury swept the Chicago Sky in three straight games and captured the franchise’s third WNBA title.
By contrast, the NBA Phoenix Suns and NFL Arizona Cardinals have never won a league title in 72 combined years in Arizona. The baseball Diamondbacks have won one World Series.
Series MVP Diana Taurasi led the Mercury with 24 points in the clincher. Phoenix went (7-1) in the playoffs and was dominant in 5 of those wins.
Congratulations to coach Sandy Brondello and the entire Mercury organization. A different coach has guided the Mercury to their three titles: Corey Gaines coached the 2009 champions, while Paul Westhead coached the 2007 winners.
Westhead is the only coach to win both NBA and WNBA titles, having coached the 1980 Los Angeles Lakers to the NBA title.
Coach Brondello
The second week of the NFL season began with the now (1-1) Baltimore Ravens defeating the now (1-1) Pittsburgh Steelers. In my first NFL game predictions of the year, I believe the week one loser defeating the week one winner trend will continue. The predictions follow.
The New York Giants, are almost a field goal underdogs vs the Arizona Cardinals. The Giants, who lost last Monday night, will win vs the Cardinals, who edged the San Diego Chargers also last Monday night.
Speaking of the Chargers, they are 6 point underdogs vs what now must be considered a great Seattle Seahawks team. However, “S.D.” will at least keep it close vs Seattle. It will be a field goal game either way.
Finally on Monday night, the Indianapolis Colts will even their record at home vs the Philadelphia Eagles. Last week, the Eagles down (17-0) and 10 plus point favorites, won by 17 vs the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Last night I had a fabulous time at the NBC hit television show, “America’s Got Talent” at the one and only Radio City Music Hall.
It was great fun to watch the performers and the process of doing the live broadcast. The drama of the competition was stirring and watching up close I felt joy for those who advanced and compassion for those “sent home.”
Howard is remarkable as a judge on “America’s Got Talent.” He is the most honest judge ever on these types of shows, and of course, hilariously funny at just the right moments.
My seats were incredible thanks to Ronnie Mund, aka “Ronnie the Limo Driver,” who appears on the Howard Stern Radio Show, and also does security for Howard Stern.
It was interesting watching Ronnie as he worked security. His radio on-air character is very entertaining and he is sometimes the subject of abuse–although always in good fun. After seeing the “real” Ronnie working, I also know that he has a very serious side, and is a true professional.
Mr. Mund, who gave me a great thrill asking if I was Mr. B, was also kind and made my guest and I feel good. I have seen the three sides of Ronnie–he’s a fascinating guy!
As if seeing the wonderful show and meeting Ronnie was not enough, I also had a chance to talk to the beautiful (inside and out) Beth Ostrosky Stern.
So what does one say upon approaching a beautiful woman? I related a quick story from my late, great friend Beano Cook, who was the sports information director at Pittsburgh University. He once told me that Beth’s dad, Robert Ostrosky, was a good football player at Pittsburgh University. Beth thought that was “cool.”
The evening with all the nice people and great surroundings was “beyond cool” for me. Thanks again Ronnie and the entire NBC staff.
Ronnie Mund
Marin Cilic’s performance in the semi-finals and finals, both of which he won in three straight sets to win the US Open, was one of the greatest in a long time.
I did predict Cilic to win in 4 sets but might have said three, had I spoken with “tennis expert,” Mike Weiner earlier. He was adamant in stating the wrong man (Kei Nishikori) was favored in the final match. His analysis, as was the case with the NBA San Antonio Spurs, was tremendous.
Another great performance is that of the WNBA Phoenix Mercury, who have completely dominated the Chicago Sky in each of the first two games of the best of five, WNBA finals.
I predicted the Mercury to win in three straight games and we shall see what transpires in game 3 at Chicago tomorrow night. At this point, I see little likelihood that the Mercury will not complete the sweep in that game.
Marin Cilic
The Washington Nationals enjoy an 8 game lead in the N.L. East and very likely will win a second divisional title in three seasons.
The team once known as the Montreal Expos, will most likely be making just their third post season appearance in this, their 46th season.
One appearance was in the strike marred 1981 baseball season, while the franchise was likely denied an appearance in 1994, when there was no post season played.
Last year’s NLCS opponents, and teams with rich post season experience, the St. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Dodgers, are the other division leaders in the National League.
St. Louis has a four and a half game lead in the N.L. Central while L.A. leads by three and a half games in the N.L. West.
With her U.S. Open final victory vs Carol Wozniacki yesterday, Serena Williams moved into a three way tie for third place in women’s grand slam titles.
It was Williams’ 18th grand slam title tying her with Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert, behind only Margaret Court (24) and Steffi Graf (22).
Williams earned 4 million dollars for her victory. As the prize amount was being announced, the telecast showed Evert talking with Navratilova, perhaps lamenting the fact that in their day, the prize money was not as great.
When referencing the fact that the THREE players (Evert, Navratilova and Williams) had 54 combined grand slam titles, CBS’ Bill Macatee said “54 titles BETWEEN them.”
“Between you and me,” the correct phrase for more than two, is “AMONG them.”
Serena Williams
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim not only have a seven game lead over the Oakland A’s in the A.L. West, but have a 4 game lead for the best record in the American League. The American League top seed will have home advantage in any post season series in which they participate.
The other virtually certain American League divison winner is Baltimore (Orioles). They enter the week with a 9 and a half game lead in the A.L. East.
The Angels and Orioles likely will be the top two seeds in the American League playoffs.
If that happens and each wins their divisional series, there would be a rematch of the 1979 ALCS. However there is a great deal of baseball to be played before the ALCS begins.
click for a highlight from 1979 ALCS
The odds of it happening were over 25 to 1 but there were upsets in both men’s semi-finals at the U.S. Open yesterday.
First, Kei Nishikori of Japan dispatched the tournament top seed and favorite, Novak Djokovic in 4 sets. Nishikori was a five and a half to one underdog.
In the day’s second match, Marin Cilic, a 3 to 1 underdog, beat Roger Federer in straight sets.
Now there is no big favorite in the men’s final on Monday afternoon. Cilic is a slight favorite and I pick him to win in 4 sets. Both players are in their first “Grand Slam” final.
Marin Cilic
There have been a number of teams that are out of playoff contention,
but have improved significantly in the 2014 baseball season.
One of those teams is the Houston Astros, who were projected to lose at least 100 games and instead are flirting with a 70-75 win season.
The Chicago Cubs are another non playoff team, but one which improved in 2014.
Both the Astros and Cubs have built good farm systems and many so called “experts” predict bright futures for each team.
That “diagnosis” is a negative to me. Included is Sports Illustrated, known for its “jinx” and certainly often outrageous, wrong predictions.
That magazine stated there would be a world title in the next five or so years for the Astros. Wish I could bet against that.
My perspective is that the Cubs and Astros showed improvement in 2014 and perhaps, even likely, their future is brighter.
