The Top Sports Stories Now Playing on Satellite TV

A typical year will bring a lot of drama from the sports world onto television sets, but there are rare instances when a year becomes special. From the World Cup appearance of a decent U.S. team to an MLB pennant race for the ages, it looks this year is one of the special ones. A Lakers-Celtics 7-game NBA finals has already raised the bar, but it looks like the best is yet to come. Follow the progress of these five stories on satellite TV as a special year in sports only gets better.

1. The battle for Lebron James. We've heard of the Battle of Gettysburg and the Battle of the Bulge, but this year the Battle for Lebron has officially gotten underway. Even though it looks like the NBA's top player would like to stay in Cleveland, management has never quite found a way to make the supporting cast worthy of James. Could he possibly make Miami an early favorite by joining the Heat? Would that almost guarantee the return of Dwayne Wade? NBA TV and ESPN will be covering all the drama.

2. The World Cup. Everyone keeps saying how soccer will never become popular in the United States, but you can be sure a strong showing at the World Cup would get millions of people interested. What would constitute a strong showing? Leaving the group stages and moving on to the final 8 teams would probably be what the U.S. team has to do in order to generate a real buzz. Their advance to the last world finals was a great moment, but they need to capitalize on that start. Follow the World Cup on satellite TV.

3. The return of Tiger Woods. Will this year end up being the Year of the Tiger? The Chinese zodiac would say so, but the world's best golfer has still got to prove that he can overcome a disturbing scandal and get back to his original love of golf. All the second-tier players are frothing at the mouth, knowing that the fall of Woods would mean they can take the place that is rightfully theirs. Special players like Woods only come along once in a generation (or more). If he can't return to form, golf will be changed forever.

4. The AL Pennant Race. It's been a few years since Yankees-Red Sox really heated up, but things have really gotten interesting with the return of the Rays. Three teams in the AL East, two teams from the Central and two out of the West are vying for the pennant. It's going to be a great year for anyone with an HD MLB package.

5. A new NL champion. Few fans like the idea of a dynasty, unless the one in question is your favorite team. This year's NL pennant looks like it won't be going to the Phillies, as numerous legitimate contenders have presented themselves for consideration. Atlanta and the Mets are trying to rule out a playoff appearance at all for the Phils.

See what type of sports coverage would come your way with direct star TV packages. From an NFL package on cable to baseball and world soccer, satellite TV will be covering the top stories of the year.

Best in the NFC in 2009?

We're almost midway through the 2009 NFL football season, and it's time to start speculating a bit. Everyone loves to talk about the playoffs and the Super Bowl, surmising which teams have the best shots at going all the way. The AFC has been very exciting, with the Colts playing their best football in several seasons and the Broncos stunning the football world with some very unexpected wins.

In the NFC, some of the teams with high expectations have been doing as well as expected, namely the New York Giants and the New Orleans Saints. Let's take a look at both of these teams.

The New York Giants are unbeaten through the first 5 weeks of football. They've been extremely strong, despite the losses of Plaxico Burress, Amani Toomer, and Derrick Ward, all key components to the team's offense last season. Guys like Steve Smith, Mario Manningham, and Ahmad Bradshaw have all stepped it up to another level, and this team has been great.

The New Orleans Saints might very well have the best offense in the NFL, and Drew Brees may very well be the best quarterback in the NFL. He makes magic happen every time he takes the field, and the Saints have been virtually unstoppable since week 1 of the NFL season.

Is there anyone else contending in the NFC? Perhaps the Philadelphia Eagles, and of course, the still unbeaten Minnesota Vikings, led by veteran Brett Favre.

The door is still wide open, and this is going to be one exciting fight.

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Arizona Cardinals Improve to 1-1 After Beating Jacksonville Jaguars

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The Arizona Cardinals had the strongest finish in the NFC last season. While the team barely made the playoffs, this didn't matter much once the post season had arrived. The team caught fire and scored big playoff wins against teams like the Panthers and Giants, advancing to the Super Bowl and nearly winning it against the Pittsburgh Steelers before a decisive 4th quarter Santonio Holmes touchdown won the Steelers the game, and the Super Bowl championship with it.

Kurt Warner had been uncertain about his NFL future, playing around with the idea of retirement. Anquan Boldin was unhappy with his status on his team and threatened to leave. Edgerrin James was lost to free agency, and was now on the Seahawks in Seattle. Many wondered what the fate of the Cardinals would hold in store in 2009.

The team opened up the season with a very disappointing win against the 49ers at home in Arizona. Losing a game that was expected by many to be an easy win was no way to start a football season.

Entering week 2, the Cardinals knew they'd have to make an impact if they wanted to set themselves down the right path. And that they did in Jacksonville against the Jaguars. Kurt Warner was nearly as effective as he's ever been, chewing up the Jacksonville secondary as he completed an amazing 24 of 26 passes. Tim Hightower looked great at running back, and the Cardinals receivers were equally effective. There was even time for Matt Leinart to enter the game, as this was an easy victory.

The Cardinals did exactly what they needed to do in week 2. They won, and they won big.

Enjoy an awesome Arizona Cardinals forum, at RootZoo Sports, home to the best NFL futures online.

MLB Gambling Probabilities - Braves at Diamondbacks Baseball

Starting pitchers for tonight's game are Kenshin Kawakami for the Braves who is -8 with an ERA of 4.91 with 36 Ks and 18 walks and for the Diamondbacks it is Ian Kennedy who is 3-3 with an ERA 3.46 with 65 Ks and 25 walks. Kawakami is longing for his first win tonight. Could the MLB Gambling lines and MLB Probabilities on tonight's game be affected by these numbers?

After winning four of the first 6 matches on their 10-game homestand, the Diamondbacks are feeling much better about themselves. Dontrelle Willis, a two time All-Star and former Rookie of the Year, just joined the team after they worked out a deal with the Tigers to get him. He paid off immediately for the team when he didn't give up a run in over 6 innings vs Colorado in a game last Saturday.

Arizona will need a good start from Willis because Atlanta will have Tommy Hanson pitching. Even vs Arizona, he has an impressive record. On May 15 he gave up five runs over 7 innings and struck out 10 of the Diamondbacks before the Braves won 11-1. On Saturday vs Los Angeles, he struck out 6 Dodgers and led the Braves to a 9-3 win.

The Atlanta Braves have claimed the last 5 matches of the seven they have competed against the Diamondbacks. What's amazing is that the Braves have utilized Kawakami in the opening rotation with his inconsistency. On Monday the Braves lost the series opener to the Diamondbacks which means they have lost 3 of their last 4 matches played. Tonight carries on the series.

At home the Diamondbacks hope to continue winning as they did by winning 3 of 4 from the Rockies just last weekend and considering they are in last place in the NL West and want to rise from there! Look at the MLB Gambling lines and MLB Probabilities on tonight's game!

The Arizona Diamondbacks are an even 14-4 this 2010 season at home while the Braves are only 14-19 while playing away and on the road. With that said, it looks that the Diamondbacks have a 55 % chance of winning this game. Will this have a negative effect on the MLB Gambling lines or MLB probabilities for the game?

The Atlanta Braves and the Diamondbacks Statistics:

The Atlanta Braves are: 34-25 SU

The Arizona Diamondbacks are: 23-36 SU

The Atlanta Braves lately:

While playing Wednesday's they are 5-5

Before they played the Diamondbacks they were 3-7

After they played the Diamondbacks they are 5-5

After their last win they are 8-2

The Arizona Diamondbacks lately:

While competing Wednesdays they are 2-8

Before they played the Braves they were 4-6

After they played the Braves they are 5-5

After their last loss they are 2-8

The following Match:

the Diamondbacks at home vs. the Braves, on Thursday, June 10

Currently the MLB Probabilities makers have the lines currently for the Diamondbacks at -1 ½ ( 165) and the Braves at 1 ½ (-185) and the Total - Over 9 ½ (-120) and under 9 ½ (EV) and the Diamondbacks are -118 and the Braves are 108 on the Money Line.

Sports-Gambling offers live sports betting odds and betting and provides chances to wager on sporting events, including the World Series, NFL Playoffs, and more.
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Pro Football - Will Seahawks' Woeful 0-2 Start Leave Them Out of the Chase For the Super Bowl Title?

If you set your goal to not only get to but win the Super Bowl this season, it is not a good idea to lose your first two games. During the 8-year period from 2000 through 2007 only 6 of the 70 National Football League teams that started the season at 0-2 went on the make the playoffs, much less win the Super Bowl.

So here come Mike Holmgren's Seattle Seahawks, all full of spit and vinegar and wimpering out while losing their first two games, a 34-10 thumping from the Bills in Buffalo and a 33-30 overtime loss at home to the San Francisco 49ers, a National Football Conference West Division rival.

In two games the Seahawks, which returned all 11 of their defensive starters (almost unheard of in pro football), gave up 33.5 points a game.

One explanation for their lapse of playmaking came from defensive coordinator John Marshall, who maintained that there were not many blown assignments as much as the players simply not trusting their teammates and overcompensating in their own areas to make up for what they perceived as a shortcoming somewhere else. It kind of sounds like they were minding everyone else's business but their own.

There are, of course, some other perhaps less plausible but more understandable explanations, such as spending too much time:

1) Reading the press clippings about how great they were going to be this year.

2) Placing a quick cell phone call to their agent to see what new endorsements might put them more in the spotlight.

3) Figuring out the quickest route to the hot dog stand after the first half ends.

4) Trying to figure out if that foxy looking blond in the 4th row on the starboard side is approachable.

The defensive front did record 8 sacks but the defensive secondary was last seen somewhere near Tukwila, 12 miles south of Qwest Field in downtown Seattle.

The six exceptions to the 0-2 rule of going nowhere fast were:

1) The 2007 New York Giants who went 10-6 and won Super Bowl XLII (Super Bowl 42 to people in the real world, as opposed to NFL executives).

2) The 2006 Kansas City Chiefs who went 9-7 and lost the AFC wild card game.

3) The 2003 Philadelphia Eagles who went 12-4 and made it to the NFC championship game.

4) The 2002 Atlanta Falcons who went 9-6-1 and made it to the NFC divisional game.

5) The 2002 Pittsburgh Steelers who went 10-5-1 and made it to the AFC divisional game.

6) The 2001 New England Patriots who went 11-5 and won Super Bowl XXXVI (Super Bowl 36 to people in the real world, as opposed to NFL executives).

Alexander Pope, the master of the heroic couplet, penned "Hope springs eternal in the human breast, Man never is, but always to be blessed" and so it is with the Seahawks.

After being mired in a pitiful state like fraternity boys caught with their pants down outside in the dead of winter, the Seahawks made a 180-degree turn at home last week and routed the St. Louis Rams (another division opponent) 37-13.

With all of Seattle's starting wide receivers banged up and left with major inexperience at the wide receiver position, the Hawks' handed off to Julius Jones 22 times for 140 yards (6.4 yards per carry), including a 29-yard touchdown scamper. They handed off to T. J. Duckett 19 times for 79 yards and 2 short TD runs, and that was that.

Did I mention that rookie tight end John Carlson (all 6-foot-5, 251-pounds of him) continues to look good and actually catches the ball when you throw it to him? Carlson comes to Seattle from Notre Dame. He is not the first great tight end from Notre Dame.

That honor belongs to the immortal Leon Hart, the 1949 Heisman Trophy winner and the only lineman to win 3 national titles in both college (1946, 1948 and 1949 national championships at Notre Dame) and pro football (1952, 1953 and 1957 NFL championships with the Detroit Lions).

Leon Hart is also the last and only 1 of 2 linemen ever to win the Heisman Trophy. He was an All American tight end on offense and defensive end on defense. That was when men were men rather than self-centered, spoiled, multi-millionaire, petulant stars who show up but don't always play for fear of being hurt.

Seattle has a bye this week but travels to New York on Sunday (10-5-08) to face the defending Super Bowl Champion Giants. We shall see if the Seahawks can duplicate their last game success at home while on the road in East Rutherford (NJ), where Giants Stadium is located. There is a rumor going around that the Giants are really happy to see the Seahawks coming, something about patting their 3-0 record.

Copyright © 2008 Ed Bagley

Read my other detailed, knowledgeable, interesting articles on pro football, including:

"Seattle Seahawks' Opener in Buffalo Proves an Awful Study in Ineptitude"

"Can the Seahawks Find the Grit to Deliver Holmgren a 2nd Super Bowl Winning Team?"

"About Super Bowl 42 - Here's a Different Slant on the Giants' Upset Win to Become World Champs"

2007 NFL Playoffs: Seattle Seahawks Croak as Packers Kick Them Silly in the Snowflakes, 42-20"

"Famous Quotes by Vince Lombardi, Green Bay's Immortal Packer Coach"

Find my Blog at:
http://www.edbagleyblog.com
http://www.edbagleyblog.com/Sports.html

BCS Strikes Again - Time For NCAA Football Playoffs

I think it is fair to say that America as a whole love playoffs and we love the exciting thrill of do or die games. We love March Madness for that reason. We love the NFL Playoffs for that reason. More so, we love champions, we love honoring the team that beats out every other team to claim that top spot. And no longer can we sit here and let the BCS dominate the college football postseason. Members of a House subcommittee in Washington are pushing for a change. One proposal is a 4 team play off. Personally, I think an 8 team playoff is the answer. Let the 4 bowl games (Orange, Fiesta, Rose, and Sugar Bowls) keep their name, add a semifinals, and then a championship. IT IS NOT THAT COMPLICATED.

People against this change are arguing that there are flaws with a playoff system. Some, like the TCU coach thinks the BCS helps out schools from smaller Conferences such as TCU and Boise State. What is he saying! You think Boise State who went 14-0 does not want a shot at winning the championship. Bill Hancock, the executive director of the BCS argues that the Regular Season is like a single game playoff system. No it is not. Because if it was, how did Boise State, TCU, and Cincinnati go undefeated and not have a chance to be number one?

Here is an excerpt from The BCS Chief: "The BCS has given teams like the Horned Frogs and the Boise State Broncos the chance to play in major bowl games, earn significant revenue, and become national powerhouses in college football. But more than that, the BCS has given such teams the chance to win a national title. Here is how Patterson explains it: "Is it easier to win one game for a championship? Or to have to win four? If you have a playoff, you practice and get on a plane and play. And if you lose, it's over. If you go to a bowl game, you're there seven days, and the kids can enjoy a place and get rewarded."

So how would a Playoff system not create revenue for these schools. Especially if they can even play more than one game- such as 2 or 3. Also, the BCS did not give such teams a chance to win a national title. Patterson the coach of TCU, is also clearly misguided. Yes winning a BCS bowl game means a lot to programs, but, why would winning a playoff game mean less? And who said winning a championship should be easy- you should have to beat the best teams in the country to earn the title.

All I know is that the BCS should be thrown out because it makes no sense, it hurts a lot more teams then it helps, and it only causes problems. Like in 2004- when USC and LSU were both champions. That should never happen, IT IS TIME FOR A CHANGE!

http://insideworldofsports.blogspot.com/

Minnesota Vikings 2006 Preview

The Minnesota Vikings have won 9 games per season for the past three years. It's been a while since they have broken that mark. Could this year be the one? In the weakened NFC, winning 9 games just might get you into the playoffs. The Vikings caused off-season waves by signing OG Steve Hutchinson. They also let QB Daunte Culpepper go.

Quarterbacks

As mentioned, Daunte Culpepper finally took off. The offense will rest on Brad Johnson's shoulders--yes he's still in the league. It seems like Brad Johnson has been around for quite some time. In fact, he's entering his 14th year in the NFL. Johnson is 38 and there are concerns about his durability. He still has some talent left, but it's fading. The Vikings also need to bring up a solid possible replacement for Johnson. Overall, the quarterback position is about average.

Running Backs

Chester Taylor figures to get the bulk of the carries this season. He's unproven though. He came over from the Ravens where he had 292 yards over 41 carries. He showed some potential, but we will have to see how he does in the starting role. The Vikings need Taylor to be a 1,000 yard rusher. To help him out, the Vikings signed FB Tony Richardson from Kansas City. He's a great blocker and could even be a pass recipient. At the bare minimum, the Vikings should be average in the running game. They have the possibility, thanks to the recent signings including OG Steve Hutchinson, to be above average.

Receivers

Koren Robinson should be the main target for Brad Johnson. This is good and bad. Robinson can get down the field and make some plays. However, he has the untimely ability of dropping critical passes. That's what caused Seattle to let him go--that and a host of personal issues. For shorter routes and critical possessions, Johnson should look to Travis Taylor. He's steady and will get you those critical catches. With a good mix, the Vikings could mix it up in the passing game. While they most likely won't be tearing up the field, they could be slightly above average.

Defense and Special Teams

The linbackers are the weak link in the defense. The Vikings are hoping the changes take, and their linebacker unit steps it up some. The defensive line will feature Pro Bowl snubbed Pat Williams. He had a great season in 2005 and should have been selected to the Pro Bowl--according to many. The secondary is full of veterans, and they could help make the difference. The defense has some work to do, but they could do a good enough job to win games. The special teams got a much-needed boost with the addition of long-time Green Bay Packer Ryan Longwell.

2006 Prediction

The Minnesota Vikings made some great moves in the off-season. If history is any guide, they will win 9 games this season. They have a mixed schedule. Eight of the games--Seattle, New England, Pittsburgh, Dallas, Washington, Carolina, Chicago (twice)--should be tough. Predicting them to win 8-9 games in 2006 is a pretty safe bet.

Jason A. Martin is a journalist for SportsJournalist.org, a sports journalist website. He also offers free football content via FootballContent.com. You can read even more articles at his football website.

NFL Players Are Different From You and Me

It's really difficult for the casual fan to understand just how incredibly, physically demanding the game of football is at the professional level.

If you're lucky enough to have the bird's eye view that I had for 35 years, on the sidelines, at the practice field, in the press box... then you saw it first hand. The first time you see a receiver with the skin on the palm of his hand split open because the pass he just caught from the quarterback was thrown so hard it turned the football into a weapon.

My first year covering the NFL, 1973, I shot sideline film at Dallas Cowboys games for WFAA-TV in Dallas, where I worked for Verne Lundquist, one of the best sportscasters in the business, then and now. What surprised me the most from the sideline were two things; 1) the speed and, 2) the sound.

Things at the NFL level happen in terms of split seconds. These guys are all huge, and yet they all move with a quickness that belies their size. You had to maintain perpetual alertness on the sideline, or you'd find yourself underneath a running back who just headed out of bounds.

The speed you see from the sidelines also gives you a much better appreciation of the job the game officials do. Until you've seen it up close, let me assure you, you could not have made the call better than the official. No way.

Later in my career, when I was one of the radio announcers for the Houston Oilers, I was conducting a post-game locker room live interview with Mike Barber, a big, tough tight end. As we spoke, Mike cut the tape off his ankles that all players have applied for run support. As he sliced the tape away, I noticed that the sole of his foot, from the heel to the spot where the toes joined, was bright, brilliant purple. I disconnected my microphone and asked Mike what had happened.

"I tore a tendon in the bottom of my foot," he told me.

"When?"

"Wednesday?"

"And you played today," I asked in disbelief.

"Yeah. And I practiced all week, too."

I stood there, gawking, my jaw probably hanging down.

"How could you stand it?"

"Well," he calmly explained in his southern speech, "the trainers take a syringe and they fill it up with Novocain, and then they put this long needle on it and stick the needle into the bottom of the foot. And if you can stand the pain of the needle, you can play, because nothing is as bad as the pain of that needle going into your foot."

I still couldn't grasp the concept.

"Doesn't that make your foot numb?" I asked him.

"Up to the knee."

"Then how can you run?"

Mike grinned the grin of the tough guy.

"They don't pay me to sit on the bench."

NFL football players are very different from you and me.

Mark Oristano is a 35-year veteran sportscaster who worked for the Dallas Cowboys, Houston Oilers, NFL Films and more. He is the author of A SPORTSCASTER'S GUIDE TO WATCHING FOOTBALL: Decoding America's Favorite Game. For more information visit his website, http://www.guidetowatchingfootball.com, or "Friend" Mark Oristano on Facebook and log on during Cowboy games and the NFL playoffs for real-time commentary. Signed copies of his book can be purchased for $12.50 by calling Mark at 214-546-3794.

Simple NFL Systems #112 - Favourites and Cold Weather Conditions

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After 14 years of actively handicapping NFL games versus the Vegas line, I have had the chance to explore literally hundreds of different trends based on a vast array of stats and situational factors, covering almost every facet of the game.

The key word above is 'almost' and one area I have not focused on up until this point concerns game conditions, a category which includes such variables as: game-time temperature, humidity and wind speed along with playing surface type as well as the general weather conditions (aside from temperature and humidity) present at the start of the game (i.e., Partly Sunny, Cloudy, Snow, Light Rain, etc).

The biggest reason I have ignored this data over the past decade-and-a-half is probably more an issue of timing than anything else: Making wagers based on weather conditions is a difficult task 6 days before a game is actually due to be played--which is roughly when my full analysis is normally released to my customers and anyone else that may be interested in some of the sample trends I provide.

Ultimately, the determination of whether or not a weather-based trend is or isn't in play has to be made in the 30-60 minutes before game-time, which obviously doesn't fit into my existing schedule all that well.

Despite this, I thought it still might be worthwhile to look at some of these factors over the summer of '08 and using game book data from the past 7 seasons, I have now added the following 6 columns to my database to allow for further study:

Temperature (TEMP)
Humidity (HUMD)
Wind Speed (WSPD)
Wind Direction (WDIR)
General Conditions (COND)
Playing Surface (SURF)

The first 5 of these are all based on the weather measurements taken at game-time and my data is not, unfortunately, advanced enough to account for whether the sun came out five minutes into a game that started out under a heavy-rainfall, or where the wind increased by 10 mph in the second half, etc, etc.

Also, while I tried my best to standardize and simplify the general 'conditions' listed in each game book (i.e., Chance of Rain, Partly Sunny, etc.), one on-site documenters interpretation of 'Light Snow' could look more like a 'Snow Storm' to someone else, depending on whether they happen to be from Florida, or Fargo.

Add the end of the day, this underlying subjectivity should be taken into account when attempting to use this information as a 'hard-and-fast' tool for handicapping purposes.

The various limitations of this data not with-standing, I have managed to locate a few interesting trends that have been present in the past 7 years and I will be showcasing some of these over the next few months in the form of 'Simple Systems' articles, exactly like this one.

One of the first things that jumped out at me after crunching the numbers for a few days is that: Favourites of at least 3 points are an excellent wager at a specific temperature range.

What is this temperature range you ask? It happens to be between 20 degrees Fahrenheit and 34 degrees Fahrenheit, the latter of which is just a hair above the freezing point of 32 degrees.

Favourites of at least 3 points that are playing within this temp range are an excellent 44-26 (62.9%) ATS since 2001, producing a profit of $1,540.00 at 10/11 odds ($110 wagered to win back $100 on each game). This situation has actually been equally powerful for both home favs and road ones. It is 37-23 ATS at home and a comparable 7-3 ATS on the road.

Before I go any further, there are some potential 'red-flags' that this situation raises which does put into question how well it may perform in 2008 and beyond.
The first is the fact that less than half the teams in the league have fallen into this situation (46.9% to be exact) since 2001--obviously, because many teams simply don't play in these colder outdoor conditions that often. In addition, we also happen to be dealing with a fairly narrow range as far as the game-time temperature goes that may or may not be truly significant over the long-run.

While I am cautionary about this trends future potential, it is certainly significant enough to warrant closer study in the coming season and I am even more confident of this fact after 2 Secondary conditions are added into the mix.

The first of these is to remove any games before Week 13 and in the Playoffs. This situation has had mixed results prior to Week 13 and in the Post Season, where a different set of rules apply as far as how teams typically behave versus the spread.

By including only games between Week 13 and 17, we are essentially only looking at contests within the month of December, where a temp range of 20 to 34 degrees is most prevalent anyway. Once this condition is added, the record improves greatly to 34-12 (73.9%) ATS.

The 2nd and final secondary condition for this situation is weather-related and it specifies that the game-time humidity is at least 50%.

Anyone familiar with the term 'humidex' is aware of the uncomfortable effect that higher humidity levels can have when combined with high temperatures.

What is not as well known is that fact that higher humidity levels can also increase the level of discomfort in cold conditions due to the effect of increased moisture levels in the air that can permeate into clothing, serving to make the air feel colder than it actually is.

Once again, in this case, the favourite seems to benefit and after eliminating all games with a below-average humidity level, this situation improves to 34-8 ATS (81.0%) with a profit of $2,520.00 over the past 7 years.

For those interested in using this situation in 2008: Here is a complete summary of all it's details.

(Notes: ASMR stands for Average Spread Margin Rating. A positive rating indicates a trend that is stronger than average versus the line, negative--weaker than average. TDIS% is the percentage of teams in the league that have been involved in this situation at one time or another. WT% is the percentage of teams that are .500 or better and SPR is the average spread for teams in this situation. For more details, please consult Page 13 of my 2007 NFL Game Sheets Guide.)

System #112 Summary

Primary Conditions (Building Blocks)
1) Favourite of > 3 PTS.
2) Game Time Temperature of 20-34 degrees Fahrenheit.

Secondary Conditions (Tighteners)
1) Week 13 to 17.
2) Game Time Humidity >= 50%.

System Stats
ASMR: 1.6
Home%: 76.2
Dog%: 0.0
TDIS%: 43.8
WT%: 85.7
SPR: -6.8
Top Teams: PIT(8); GB(7); NE(7); DEN(4)

System Record
Overall (Since '01): 34-8 ATS
2007 Season: 7-0 ATS
2006 Season: 2-1 ATS
2005 Season: 9-1 ATS
2004 Season: 6-2 ATS

Last 3 Results. Pick in Brackets
2007 WK17--GB 24 DET 13 (GB -4) W
2007 WK15--TEN 26 KC 17 (TEN -3.5) W
2007 WK15--CLE 8 BUF 0 (CLE -6) W

Dennis Arthur, a self-professed statistics junkie and American Football fanatic, has been providing innovative NFL analysis based against the Vegas point spread since 1999. For more wagering orientated articles like this one along with specialized team ratings and winning selections versus the spread, visit his site at http://www.armchairanalysis.com

Burn Fat and Lose Weight

If you are struggling with a lot of weight and are out of shape physically, you are not alone. Many people today, find themselves in this terrible situation that robs them of their happiness. They find themselves with a lot of unwanted body fat and develop low levels of self-esteem. They may give up hope, and they do. However, when all hope seem lost, you can decide that you will be victorious over your weight issues. The best thing to do for anybody in your situation is to be optimistic.

I know, saying "...be optimistic" sounds cliche. However, if you keep thinking that you're too fat, or that you will never lose anymore weight, you won't. The best thing for you to do is to develop an optimistic mindset. Once you develop that mindset, you will start doing the right things that it takes for you to achieve your intended goals. Speaking of goals, it's very, very important to set goals before you start on your weight loss journey. In your mind you have a long-term goal(what you want to see instead of what you're seeing now). However, it's very important to set SHORT-TERM GOALS. When an NFL football team loses 6 games at the start of their season, their long-term goal after that will be to still make the playoffs. However, their SHORT-TERM one would be to win THE NEXT GAME. That is what you need to focus on, the SHORT-TERM, not the long-term one.

If you keep thinking about the long-term, you will be discouraged every time. You will be thinking that you're going to achieve that LONG-TERM goal overnight. However, if you focus on the SHORT-TERM one, you can achieve it overnight, or maybe in a couple days, then you can set another one. Going back to the example of the football team, once they win the first game, be it a field goal in overtime or a blowout, they can then focus their attention on winning the following game. However, if they focus on making the playoffs(long-term) they will continue losing games and then playoffs won't be possible. Okay, let's now apply this to your life. Once you achieve your SHORT-TERM GOAL(and you have unlimited shots at it) you can move on to the next one. And you just keep setting new ones until you've reached your desired body shape.

Being optimistic and setting goals are both very important to your success. However, the most important of all is working in a TEAM. Find some people that can be a part of your team. Friends, family, online communities are all examples of people that can be part of your TEAM. Recommend this article to them(and others like it) and have them as your guide in your routines, work-outs, diet-plans and everything else. Trying to lose weight alone, by yourself, will not get you the lasting results you want.

So, now you are ready to get started on your journey. Remember to be optimistic, set SHORT-TERM GOALS, and have a TEAM of people for support.

Michael is the developer of Toned6SixPac which is a place where anybody CAN and WILL find the SOLUTION to all weight-loss/fat loss problems. Visit Toned6SixPac right now and get the solution TODAY!

Philadelphia Eagles Could Win NFC in 2009

Hopes are high for the 09' Eagles. With the acquisition of Michael Vick, the Eagles fans should expect some wild cat offense perhaps - if Vick doesn't amount to much then he wasn't worth the headache. Vick could be a distraction and not worth the trouble. Until Vick does something on the field he isn't worth talking about.

The Eagles will have to worry about staying healthy all season. Donovan McNabb played all 16 games in 08' but has been injury prone the last 5 season or so. The benching of McNabb was the turning point of the 08' season and gave the Eagles the spark they needed. The eventually lost in the playoffs but the optimism to advance further in the playoffs in 09' is there.

The Eagles have a good running game with Brain Westbrook and LeSean McCoy with average receivers. The Eagles never had a really number one receiver since Terrell Owens, that didn't end well as we all know.. The Eagles defense is doing fairly well holding their opponents to a limited amount of yards. The Eagles were torched against the New Orleans Saints for 48 points, thankfully the Eagles won't play the Saints offense every week.

The Eagles are contenders to win the NFC East and possibly the NFC conference. Many believe Michael Vick will not be a major factor in the success in the Eagles - who will be is McNabb and how healthy he can stay during the course of the season. Kevin Kolb has performed very well in McNabb absence - throwing for 300 yards in two of his starts, for a back up QB that is almost unheard of. Kolb would be taken by many teams as a starting QB if the Eagles were willing to part with him - that isn't likely to happen.

For more conversations like this one, head over to the Philadelphia Eagles forum at RootZoo. Play some free sports trivia and much more.

10 Steps To Setting Up An NFL Football Pool

Without a doubt, one of dad's favorite activities is watching football. It is is quite possible that he is involved with several football pools at work or with his friends. This year, why not surprise him by setting up an NFL football pool for him.

To successfully set up a pool, several steps should be followed. This articles will give you those steps. As playoff time nears, go to ESPN.com and find the playoff brackets. You will find a blank tree and spaces for the 12 playoff teams. Make enough copies for all of the people you expect to participate in your pool.Assign point values for each of the successive four rounds ' 1 point for teams reaching the second round, 2 points for those making the third, 4 points for NFC and AFC champions and 8 points for the Super Bowl champ. Give yourself plenty of lead time to find eager participants. Make sure to hand out the brackets with the instructions to fill in the name of the winning team in each bracket. Have all participants fill in their brackets with pen. At this point, you will need to decide on an entry fee amount. When determining the amount, be careful to take into consideration the experience level of the participants. Too large an amount may scare off those with little experience!

It is possible that a tie may occur. An excellent way to break a tie is to have each participant indicate the combined total score of the two Super Bowl teams. The participants must now supply you with their entry fee and a copy of their brackets. At this point, make sure you watch plenty of football and cheer on your favorite teams! Create a bracket key after the Super Bowl by filling in all the correct winners and grade each entry by awarding corresponding points. The prize will be determined by the individual with the highest total points. As mentioned earlier, should a tie occur, use the combined total points as a tie-breaker.

If the concept of "winner takes all" is not to your liking, give the winner 75% and the 2nd place finisher 25%. Oh, I almost forgot, if you have a great deal of football knowledge, be prepared to field questions from those that don't. How much you help them is up to you, but remember that you may want them to participate in next year's pool! Good Luck!

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2007 Wagering MLB Baseball World Series

Before you know it, the baseball playoffs will be starting and then it'll be 2007 wagering MLB baseball World Series time. If you're an avid sports bettor, you always look forward to this time of year and 2007 wagering MLB baseball World Series time will be no different. You'll start gathering all of the information you can about the players and the teams in the series so you can make good betting decisions. You'll also be looking for a place to get the best betting odds on both the series outcome and the individual games. This will require considering many factors, and the best place to find everything you need is with a good internet sportsbook.

If you've registered with a sportsbook, it'll make everything a little easier for you during 2007 wagering MLB baseball World Series time. It just takes a few minutes to register and open a completely secure account. You can make your deposits to the account instantly and your winnings will be paid promptly. You'll also have access to opinions of experts who have watched the series teams all year long and know all there is to know about the teams and players. They can tell you which teams had the strongest hitting and pitching during the playoffs and how they'll probably do against their series opponent. With this information, you can do your 2007 wagering MLB baseball World Series time betting with more confidence than ever.

Thousands of sports bettors will rely on a good sportsbook during 2007 wagering MLB baseball World Series time and if you're one of them, you'll find there is no better way to place your bets and to increase your odds of winning.

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"Dandy Don" Meredith - A Great Dallas Cowboys Quarterback

The Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League are a fan favorite franchise. They have been a success on the field, playing at a consistently high level, since joining the league as an expansion team in 1960. In addition to their great success on the field, "America's Team" has been just as successful off the field and is considered to be one of the most valuable sports teams in North America. At the heart of the Cowboys great success on the field are the individuals who have contributed to the play. Endless players have donned the single star and blue and white jerseys of the Dallas Cowboys and taken to the field at Texas Stadium. Through its franchise history, the Dallas Cowboys have had a number of all-stars whose skills and achievements have contributed to Dallas Cowboys history. In the process some of them, such as Bob Lilly, Roger Staubach, Troy Aikman, and Emmitt Smith have become legends of the game. One of the most successful teams in the history of the National Football League, the Dallas Cowboys hold numerous league records, thanks to these players and countless others over the years. The Cowboys hold the league record for most consecutive winning seasons - 20 in all - from 1966 to 1985, as well as the record for most seasons with at least 10 wins (24). Additionally, they have been Superbowl Champions five times a record they share with the San Francisco 49ers and the Pittsburgh Steelers. The list of team records, a part of Dallas Cowboys history, goes on and on. A formidable team with an exceptional past, Cowboys football was particularly successful during the 30 year span from 1966 to 1996 during which time the team qualified for the playoffs 24 times, played in 14 NFC Championship games, won 19 division titles, and took to the field for 8 Super Bowls, becoming Super Bowl Champions five times. Quarterback Don Meredith was one man who contributed greatly to the early years of Cowboys football success. A student at Southern Methodist University, University Park, Texas, Meredith played college ball, starting as quarterback for three years. He was selected as an All-American in 1958 and 1959 and lead the Southwest Conference in passing completion percentage during his three starting years.

Drafted by the Chicago Bears in the third round of the 1960 NFL Draft, Meredith was traded to the new Dallas Cowboys franchise for future draft picks where he spent the first five years as backup to Dallas Cowboys quarterback, Eddie LeBaron. In 1965 legendary Dallas Cowboys coach Tom Landry named Meredith as the team's starting quarterback. That same year "Dandy Don" Meredith lead the Cowboys to the NFL Playoffs. For the next four years Meredith would continue to lead his team to the playoffs with his toughness and determination. He was named to the Pro Bowl twice during his career and in 1966 was named the the NFL Player of the year. Unexpectedly, Don Meredith retired from professional football in 1969. Meredith is fondly remembered by Cowboys fans and in 1976 he was inducted into the Dallas Cowboy's Ring of Honour at Texas Stadium along with fellow Cowboy, running back Don Perkins.

Following his football career Meredith turned to TV where he worked as a colour commentator for ABC's Monday Night Football. After a three year departure to work at NBC, he returned to ABC Monday Night Football where he worked as a colour commentator, alongside Howard Cosell and Frank Gifford, until 1984. Meredith was known for his relaxed and light-hearted commentary on the game.

In his five years as starting Dallas Cowboys quarterback, Don Meredith left a mark on the team and the game. Thanks to many outstanding all-stars, the NFL Dallas Cowboys have been an exceptional team through the years. Don Meredith who played at the start of those years is fondly remembered by Cowboys fans and is an integral part of Dallas Cowboys history.

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Top 10 All-Time NFL RBs

Only one current running back - LaDainian Tomlinson - merits being named one of the NFL's all-time 10 best, and only one other guy who has played in the 21st century - Emmitt Smith - makes the list. Does that mean today's RBs are worse than before? No, but times have changed ... there are two reasons why the old-timers dominate this ranking.

First, although RBs remain roughly the same size, defensive tackles have become enormous and linebackers and strong safeties have gotten much faster and to counter that, a passing attack has become more prominent. Second, the 16-game season gives backs such a pounding that most teams use a "running back by committee" system or insert a second-stringer with a contrasting style to give their starter a rest, hence diminishing his importance.

OK, LaDainian and Emmitt, here are your partners.

1. Jim Brown. No one has ever combined power and speed the way Brown did at 6-2, 228. In his nine seasons before he abruptly retired in 1966 at age 30, he led the league in rushing eight times (a record). He also still holds the mark for most seasons leading the league in attempts (six) and most seasons leading in rushing TDs (five). Most impressively, of all the running backs who ever played and had 750 or more career attempts, Brown after all these years still has the highest average gain (5.2).

2. O.J. Simpson. Lots of backs are fast but no one ever as blazingly so as Simpson (9.4 in 100-yard dash), and none with his shiftiness and eye for daylight. He was the first player to rush for 2,000 yards in a season (he did it in just 14 games) and he holds the record for most 200-yard games (six). He led the league in rushing four times.

3. Emmitt Smith. When he retired in 2004 after 14 seasons, mostly with the Cowboys, the same precise footwork he displayed in winning "Dancing with the Stars" had earned him most of the NFL's career rushing records. These include most attempts (4,409), yards gained (18,355), 1,000-yard seasons (11), TDs (164) and 100-yard games (78). Enough?

4. Barry Sanders. He rates as pro football's most electric runner ever with his quick, darting moves and squirming switchbacks. Before retiring abruptly (a la Brown) after just 10 seasons, he had set a record (still holds it) for most consecutive games with 100 yards (14). He is second all-time in in most 1,000-yard seasons (10) and the third all-time rusher (15,269).

5. Walter Payton. He held most of the running records when he hung up his spikes in 1987 but they've since been broken. He still ranks second, though, in rushing yardage (16,726) and 100-yard games (77).

6. Gale Sayers. Until he suffered bad injuries to both knees, Sayers may have been even better than his Bears colleague Payton. Three times he achieved the amazing feat of scoring a rushing TD, pass reception TD and kick return TD in a game.

7. Tony Dorsett. He compiled 12,379 rushing yards in his career, second only to Payton at the time. He set the NFL record for longest run from scrimmage ... a 99-yarder.

8. LaDainian Tomlinson. He holds the record for most TDs in a season (28 in 2006) and has reeled off five 200-yard rushing games. At age 29 and hopefully some mileage left on those wheels, he can add to his rank of third in career rushing TDs (115).

9. Franco Harris. He rushed for 1,000 yards nine seasons but is best known for his quirky "Immaculate Reception" in his rookie year of 1972. With the Steelers trailing the Raiders 7-6 in the playoffs with five seconds to go, he snagged a Terry Bradshaw pass that had caromed off the shoulder pad of Oakland's Jack Tatum and ran it in for the winning score.

10. Eric Dickerson. No one has ever topped the 2,105 yards he gained in 1984. He got to 10,000 yards rushing faster than anybody ... in just 91 games (Brown needed 98, Sanders 103, Smith 106).

Among today's young RBs, Adrian Peterson of the Vikings has a chance to crack this list (he set a record last year when he gained 296 yards in a game, against a tough Chargers defense, no less) as does, presumably, rookie Darren McFadden of the Raiders. Ask me again in 2018. Marcus Allen (second in most career TDs with 123), Earl Campbell (led league in rushing three times) and John Riggins (rumbled for 11,352 yards in his career but in an oddity, he gained more yards after age 30 than before) are other guys to remember.

Gerry Storch is editor and administrator of http://www.ourblook.com - a political discussion/media analysis website that fills the gap between a blog and a book. In his journalism days, he was sports editor of Gannett News Service.

Seattle Seahawks' Opener in Buffalo Proves an Awful Study in Ineptitude

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Many Seattle fans grew physically ill watching the Seahawks NFL opener against the Buffalo Bills on the East Coast, and I was one of them. This was no way to start Mike Holmgren's final season in Seattle. Holmgren deserved better.

The Bills won 34-10 while controlling both sides of the line, watching Seattle's running game flounder like a wounded duck, watching the Seahawks' depleted receiving corps drop pass after pass, and watching Seattle's special teams unit miss tackles and give up 24 points. It was a study in ineptitude.

John Donne is his Meditation XVII said "no man is an island" but Seattle quarterback Matt Hasselbeck must have felt like he was on an island isolated without pass protection as he was knocked down more times than 10 pins at a bowling alley. There was little pass protection and, when there was, receivers dropped balls like little leaguers at play.

To add injury to insult, Seattle lost its only healthy, competent wide receiver as Nate Burleson suffered a torn ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) in his knee and will be lost for the season. Both veteran starters Bobby Engram and Deion Branch are injured and have not played yet this season.

It is not the end of the world (for fans who take these losses seriously and emotionally), but it could be the beginning of the end if the Seahawks do not snap out of it and get control of their game and future.

The Seattle Seahawks do not have modest aspirations this year, they aim to win the Super Bowl and send Mike Holmgren away from Seattle as the only coach to lead two teams to Super Bowl victories. Holmgren won a Super Bowl in Green Bay and has already led the Seahawks to the Super Bowl in 2005.

Seattle has lost its opening game before and done well. In 2005, the Seahawks lost to Jacksonville on the road, returned home to beat Atlanta and then won 12 of 13 games to assure home field advantage in the playoffs.

They went on to win the NFC West Division title and the NFC title before losing to Pittsburgh in the Super Bowl, a game that shall live in infamy as injuries to the Seahawks' secondary leading up to the Super Bowl cost them the game.

So how bad was the opening-game loss? Well, the mild mannered Mike Holmgren canned a player. Punter Ryan Plackemeier lost his job and place on the team as he was shown the door out of town.

Plackemeier was followed by Jordan Kent (who dropped too many passes) and Justin Forsett to make room for suspended players Rocky Bernard and Jordan Babineaux. The Seahawks immediately signed former Green Bay Packer punter John Ryan to replace Plackemeier.

After Sunday's inept performance, Holmgren could have fired any one of 20 players who underperformed and are overpaid. I'm glad to see Plackemeier hit the road. It puts the other players on notice that the dinky-dorking around is over; they need to start earning their salaries and privileged place in America as professional athletes.

Copyright © 2008 Ed Bagley

Read my other detailed, knowledgeable, interesting articles on college football, including:

"East Carolina Smacks West Virginia, Upsets Its 3rd Straight Ranked Team"
"No. 24 Alabama Stuns No. 9 Clemson, East Carolina Upsets No. 17 Virginia Tech"
"College Openers - 6 Teams Rush for 400+ Yards, 5 More Pass for 400+ Yards"
"Only 5 Games Highlight (College Football's) First Week, 29 Others Must Win Their Opener"
"It Is Going to Be a Very Long Season for Washington's Football Program"
"For the Michigan State Spartans, 7 Has Become a Very Uncomfortable Number"

Find my Blog at:
http://www.edbagleyblog.com
http://www.edbagleyblog.com/Sports.html

Denver Broncos Tickets

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Why Are Denver Broncos Tickets In Such High Demand?

Denver Broncos tickets are often hard to find because they are always in such high demand from their many fans. In fact whenever the team takes the field in their home stadium the tickets have always sold out since the franchise joined the NFL in 1970 with very few exceptions. So at every game the one thing you can not count on is seeing one of the stadium's 76,000 seats empty.

It is established tradition that dictates that the attendance for each game should be announced to the crowd. Fans have often been heard to boo to emphasize their loyalty to the team when the number of no shows is announced. The stadium itself is situated next to the former location of the now demolished Mile High Stadium. The scenery around the stadium consists of a truly arresting view of the Colorado mountains and beautiful new landscaping that covers where the old structure once stood.

It has been said that this stadium is notorious for giving its team an almost unfair advantage over visiting teams. The packed crowds and the echoing screams make it difficult for the opposition to play. The height of the stadium's location can also be a factor and reminders of that fact abound. An example of this is an extremely hard to miss mural just outside the visiting team's locker room.

The team was founded in 1960 as part of the American Football League. In the beginning their winning seasons were few but they did win the first ever AFL game. Their first real and lasting successes came when they joined the National Football League. Successes which includes achieving two Super Bowl Championships in the 1990's. Other championships that the team has won include 6 AFC conference championships, 10 division (AFC West) championships, and 20 NFL playoff appearances.

One reason then for Denver Broncos tickets to be in high demand seems to be the loyalty of the team's fans. Fortunately for them there are many ways to obtain a coveted seat in the arena in which their favorite team plays. Such as by phone, internet, mail, or in person.

Denver Broncos Tickets can be found at http://www.AllianceTickets.com

Super Bowl 44 Story Line - Peyton Manning Vs Drew Brees

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This Super Bowl should have been moved to the Superdome, if only to highlight the epic Quarterback battle between Peyton Manning and Drew Brees. New Orleans is the City of the 'Aints, the infamous paperbag fans, the years of Coach Mora and the kinship of the Manning family. Then followed Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath. The City of New Orleans deserves the celebrity and spectacle, never mind the revenue that a Super Bowl will bring.

Both Drew Brees and the Manning family have been deeply involved in the storied history of what is an epic American city, living a fairy tale story this year.

The highlight of this game is the legacy of the Manning family, led by Archie, against the valor of Drew Brees. Archie Manning, former Quarterback of the New Orleans Saints, brought excitement to the city, where there was none. Archie Manning drafted in 1971 by the New Orleans Saints, after a stellar career at Ole Miss, became one of the favorite sons of the city of New Orleans.

Archie raised his family, among them Peyton and Eli in New Orleans before sending them off to college and NFL stardom. Peyton and Eli have done what Archie was not able to do, win NFL Championships. In lieu of the success of the Saints franchise, the Manning family is one of the more storied New Orleans sports families.

In August of 2005 the City of New Orleans was hit with one of the most devastating natural disasters, when Hurricane Katrina nearly destroyed the city, with thousands being displaced from their homes, and scores losing their lives. The Superdome was nearly destroyed.

In 2006, Drew Brees signed as a free agent with the New Orleans Saints and thus started the march to the playoffs under the leadership of Coach Sean Payton and Drew Brees. Since joining the Saints, Brees has brought credibility and became the missing piece in their desire to become an elite NFL franchise. Other pieces were added before and after Brees' arrival, but his leadership and ability has been the key to their success.

As much as his leadership on the field has been important to the Saints success, his off field involvement has endeared himself to the citizens of New Orleans, and Americans alike. This is a fan base that has always supported its team, even through the difficult years. Brees has helped bring a sense of purpose back to the city, and has been aided by other prominent figures. Drew Brees has been called "an athlete as adored and appreciated as any in an American city today."

Peyton also has a history with the Saints organization as well. While in high school, he would attend Saints training camp with Archie Manning, who was a Saints sportscaster at the time. During one training camp interview, then coach Jim Mora, Sr. told reporters that Peyton Manning had the best arm of anyone in training camp. Of course at the time, one of the Saints Quarterbacks was sitting out due to a contract dispute.

Nevertheless, Peyton Manning was viewed by many as headed to NFL prominence.

This game comes down to Peyton Manning and Drew Brees, an endearing story, and a wonderful backdrop to this game. Both quarterbacks possess a cerebral nature that sometimes leave opponents and teammates alike befuddled at their skill. Combined with their natural athleticism and desire to win, they provide the ability to have teammates take their game to new heights.

My view of this game is to simply enjoy the thought and analytics that both quarterbacks will show. While neither is flawless, and both can be beaten, they are a pleasure to watch for the football purist. Peyton understands his team's offense to such a great extent, that his game calling at the line of scrimmage is unsurpassed.

Drew Brees has the ability to put the ball in exactly the perfect spot, where only his receiver can catch the ball. His attention to detail has finally brought him to the pinnacle of his game. A Super Bowl victory for him would be the culmination of all his years of hard work and studying the game. One can say that he deserves to win Super Bowl 44, not only for past struggles, but for the City of New Orleans.

The countdown has begun, the wings have been ordered, and the tables have been set. Let the footballs fly and just have fun watching this game. It promises to be one of the best yet.

A J Cusimano

I am a writer whose passion includes both college football and NFL, as well as Major League Baseball. My favorite teams include the New York Giants, and Detroit Lions in the NFL. Favorite College Football teams to write about include the Beavers of Oregon State. My favorite baseball team is the World Champion New York Yankees.

I am always looking for opportunities to expand my portfolio of articles, by accepting assignments within these topics.

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LT Done in San Diego, Where Should He Go Next?

LT was finally released by the Chargers, and now every media member can say they predicted this would happen, even if they were a year late. Seeing how he played this year, it's no surprise. Norv Turner tried to keep him on the team by playing him as much as he did in the playoffs. If he came up big and won them a couple games, he would probably still be on the team. Since he stunk it up, he's looking for a new team. It's about time, he's not selling Bolts tickets anymore anyway.

When he goes to a new team, they should look at the tape of LT sulking on the bench every big playoff game that he spent time on the bench. He needs to realize his place as a backup now if he does want to go to a contender as rumored. If he wants the paycheck and a chance to start, expect him to go to a team like the Texans or Lions. The only team he can really say he's going for a ring is if he goes to the Colts or Patriots. There is too much uncertainty between years in the NFL to go to a team like the Vikings or the Saints and expect to be in the NFC Championship game.

Rumored new teams for LT:

Redskins - Portis is in a similar situation as LT, getting old, getting hurt. They aren't grabbing LT.

Eagles - Same situation as the Redskins, but LT could go there for a league minimum type salary to play on a playoff team behind LeSean McCoy, but the Eagles would be better off with a goal-line back like LenDale White, who would cost a mid round draft pick.

Texans - This is a good chance to happen, the Texans love looking at big name RBs who are kicked off their old team (signed Ahman Green, seriously pursued Larry Johnson).

Colts - Would sign him if he took a huge pay cut, not sure that the Colts would want his ego/attitute, they don't usually sign players like LT. The Colts need to do something for their horrible rushing attack though.

Patriots - I see this as likely as the Texans, but the Patriots won't touch him before the draft shakes out. Also, he would have to take a big pay cut. The Patriots need a young RB and a veteran RB. It really depends on if they want to bring Fred Taylor back. If they do, LT won't have a spot on this team. He could be the Kevin Faulk of the offense and provide an upgrade at that role.

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The NFL Network Fuels the Fire Between Cable and Satellite Providers

Since its inception in 2003, the NFL Network has provided football fans with a place to watch their favorite teams play their favorite sport. It airs several regular season prime time games as a "Run to the Playoffs" feature each season. In addition, the NFL Network provides more than 50 preseason games, as well as replays of classic games and previous Super Bowls. The broadcasting also provides not only coverage of the NFL Draft, but even coverage of the scouting process. This is an excellent resource for the die-hard NFL fan who seeks immersive coverage of the sport of Football, from the preseason through the playoffs and the Super Bowl.

One of the areas that the Network has struggled with, however, has been its relationship with several of the major cable companies. While satellite providers like DirecTV have been quick to reach agreements with the NFL network (DirecTV now includes the NFL Network as one of its new HD channels, for example), cable companies have been more resistant. The dispute comes, largely, from the fact that the NFL network would like to be included in a basic- or extended-tier cable package, while cable providers have generally wanted to relegate the NFL Network to a sports-only package.

Certain cable providers such as Time Warner Cable have refused the NFL Network's request to offer their network to their core subscribers through their basic entertainment packages. Relegating the NFL Network to a specific sports-only package would wind up severely limiting viewership. This would impact the league and the network as well as many of its fans who subscribe to these cable services. The NFL Network has, in response, recommended to fans that they switch to one of the satellite companies, like DirecTV. The NFL Network maintains an advertising campaign to this end, and even encourages their fans to contact their cable companies, asking the cable companies to add the network to their basic packages. In addition, in order to try to reach as many fans as possible, the NFL Network went so far in December of 2007 as to attempt to enter into arbitration with Time Warner Cable, an offer which Time Warner Cable rejected.

Fortunately for fans that are caught in the middle of the satellite-cable battle over the NFL Network, the playoffs are still being broadcast over the air, via the regular-season affiliates. This means that the AFC playoffs will be aired on FOX, while the NFC playoffs will be aired on CBS. Super Bowl XLII is set to be aired over the air on the Fox network.

Whitney Alen is a Direct TV expert and has over 10 years experience in the satellite tv industry.

5 Sports Packages That Deliver the Goods Via Satellite

It has become fairly clear what every sports fan wants these days. For starters, you don't want to be left without access to the big showdown whenever it is happening, wherever it is happening. Second, you want the best picture quality that can be delivered to a TV screen. All in all, it's not asking for too much Nowadays a fan can get all that, plus have the opportunity to check into new sports and new teams. Here are five high def packages that deliver the goods on satellite networks.

1. NFL Sunday Ticket. When Sunday rolls around during the NFL season, there's no doubt in a football fan's mind that everything else will take a back seat to the big game. The Sunday Ticket package is the key to getting all the action in high def technology. The big networks don't have the game you want? There is some local blackout blocking your access? With this package, you're never left outside without a ticket. It's the answer to the hungry football fan's cravings.

2. NBA League Pass. There are many ways to describe national coverage on the NBA these days. Meager, insufficient and unsubstantial are a few words that come to mind. While Allen Iverson has been known as the Answer for years, you might look to this package as the latest answer as Iverson heads toward retirement. Plenty of NBA action that had zero coverage in the past can come to your screen in high definition. Once you couple that with NBA TV and ESPN, you'll get your fill of prime-time hoops.

3. NHL Center Ice. The NHL is gaining in popularity by the year, making Canada's sport actually one of the real American Pastimes. Maybe it's the Cinderella stories like the Philadelphia Flyers of 2010 that are reeling in the fans, or maybe it's the intensity of the action every night in the rinks around North America. This is not a gentleman's game by any means, but a clash of violence and skill.

4. MLB Extra Innings. For the sports package with the most coverage of all, you'll do yourself a favor by picking up MLB Extra Innings. Baseball season is completely stacked with action for six months - and that's before the playoffs. Games are beamed in nightly from around the country, making it hard to pick which ones to watch. Of course, using some of the split-screen options, you don't have to decide on just one. There is no better way to follow the pennant races as the season heats up.

5. Regional network packages. Maybe the unsung hero of all the packages is the regional network pack. Thirty-plus networks from around the country are at your disposal, meaning no sport is left out and no team is shunned for any of the seasons. You'll cover a lot of bases when you get access to multiple sport cities like Los Angeles, New York and Philadelphia. It might possibly deliver the most overall bang for the buck.

Check out the options from Direct TV when you want total sports coverage. The directtv sports packages will never leave you on the outside looking in.

Bears

Let's take a look at how the Bears have been doing over the last couple of years. We see in 2000, the bear's owner growls as another awful 5-11 season played by Rookie LB Brian Urlacher, the Bears 1st Round of pick out of New Mexico. Urlacher draws comparisons to Dick Butkus as he earns NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.

In 2001, nobody really expected much from the Bears. This was their final year at Soldier Field before renovation. Even though, the Bears were a young exhilarating team founded on a strong defense.

After losing their first game, the Bears won their next four and were in first place in the NFC Central. A week later against the Cleveland Browns the Bears trailed by 14 points under 2 minutes to play a TD and a recovered onside kick set up an incredible game tying Hail Mary, which sent the game to OT, where Brown continued his accomplishment of a week earlier to get the Bears to 6-1.

The Bears would only lose 2 more games the rest of the way, good enough to win their first division title in 12 years with a 13-3 record, as exciting RB Anthony Thomas earned Offensive Rookie of the Year honors, and Dick Jauron earned coach of the year. The luck would run out in the playoffs, as the Bears lost 33-19 to the veterans, "The Philadelphia Eagles" in the Divisional Round.

In 2002 with Soldier Field under construction, the Bears had to play their home games at the University of Illinois in Champaign, which was over 136 miles away from Chicago. The Bears would get off to a strong start by rallying in the 4th Quarter to win their first two games.

The Bears would suffer numerous injuries to every position, as the traveling seemed too much for them to handle. The Bears endured a frustrating eight game losing streak. The Bears would not recover, as they finished in 3rd place in the NFC North with a terrible record of 4-12.

In 2003, the Bears season got off to a rough start as they were disgraced their name in their two first games on the road. Following an early bye week, the Bears returned home to Chicago and a brand new version of Soldier Field, which had been completely redone. In their first game at Soldier Field II the Bears would host the Green Bay Packers on Monday Night Football.

They were beaten 38-23. Nevertheless, with an eye to the future the Bears would take on rookie Rex Grossman in the final three games. Grossman would look sharp leading the Bears to two wins, as the Bears finished with a 7-9 record b y winning four of their last six overall. It was not enough to save Coach Dick Jauron's his was told to hit the caboose as Lovie Smith following the season replaced him.

In 2004, new Coach Lovie Smith the season would get off to a terrible start as the Bears lost at home to the Detroit Lions 20-16. Nevertheless, a week later they would bounce back with a great 21-10 win over the Green Bay Packers on the road.

The rest of the time the Bears would have to scramble, as they could not find a starting QB trying out Criag Krenzle, Jonathan Quinn, and Chad Hutchinson along the way as they stumbled their way to a last place 5-11 season.

Now in 2005, by the time this year is over injured QB Rex Grossman might as well be Wally Pipp as Rookie Kyle Orton has a chance to be this year's Ben Rothlisberger. Nevertheless, the Bears team is not doing as well as the Steelers and a strong good playing rookie will not be enough as the Bears end the season in last.

http://www.authorsden.com/staceydchillemi

Minnesota Vikings Vs New Orleans Saints - Can Vikings Win Superbowl 44?

With Super Bowl XLIV or plainly just go back to using 44 in South Florida merely few days away to go, it has never been too early to start reflecting on all the probable matchups, with all their interesting storylines. Taking in the scope of the complete 12-team playoff field, in any case while it lasts, here is a simple sample prediction of the top 10 hoped-for Super pairings. First is Jets vs. Packers, these are the two former Brett Favre's who will meet in the Super Bowl, but he is not there. Second is Chargers vs. Saints, The Drew Brees Bowl, it will be a battle of the Brees against Philip Rivers, the quarterback who substituted him in San Diego, would be the primary storyline of the game.

Third is the Colts vs. Vikings, Will this be an exhibition matchup? It will be Peyton Manning versus Brett Favre. This may be a journalist item for a real article write up. Fourth is Chargers vs. Cowboys, Wade Phillips was picked up by Jerry Jones in the early 2007 as his head coach and the other choice would have been Norv Turner for the job. Both Phillips and Turner have cached three different NFL teams but have not ever won in a Super Bowl. This will be a Vindication Bowl. Firth is Saints vs. Colts, It is every Manning for himself on the Super Bowl, especially with Peyton playing against Archie, his fathers former team. Sixth Jets vs. Vikings, Favre will face the team he made that 2008 cameo role. Most probably by now the Jets fans have forgiven him for tanking at the season end and in the process getting New York's head coach fired.

Seventh Jets vs. Vikings, it will be very interesting to see Rex Ryan the New York head coach seeking revenge against the team that fired Buddy Ryan his father after being winless for three straight playoff trips from 1988-90. Eight is Saints vs. Patriots, the Saints were blown out in Week 12 and surely the Patriots would love to try again and stop the team that beat them in the Superdome. NIneth is Ravens vs. Eagles, a great match up between coaches, the mentor and the protégé. It will be Coach Andy Reid against John Harbaugh his former assistant in the Eagles. Last is Colts vs. Cowboys, this will be a remake of the Blooper Bowl, Super Bowl V which should be forgotten, this is a pairing that makes the top list of Super Bowls worst-played. Now you can make a pick on the Super Bowl 44 Matchups.

Get the latest updates about the Vikings vs Saints games on a http://www.americanfootballblog.com/minnesota-vikings-vs-new-orleans-can-vikings-win-superbowl-44/

NFL Preseason Football Handicapping Tips Part 1

Successful wagering during the NFL exhibition season calls for very different tactics than during regular season games or playoffs. Unique conditions are in place, requiring a diverse set of handicapping strategies. In Part 1 of PRO INFO SPORTS NFL Preseason Handicapping Tips, we'll cover the strongest single predictive element for these practice games - COACHING.

Some coaches do not care if they lose a preseason game, while some coaches hate to lose any game at all - even exhibition games. This is a good time to look for a team that's coached by a guy who has a stated goal of winning the game. Some coaches are looking to establish a winning atmosphere in a particular role - at home, on the road, against superior competition, etc. Again, this would be a situation to back such a head coach and his team. New coaches are taking their first tour as captain of the ship. These rookie coaches are naturally eager to get that first "W" under their belt to prove to themselves, the team owner, and the rest of the league they can win, even if it's just a preseason game.

On the other hand, some "new" coaches aren't new at all. Veteran head coaches that are simply changing cities do not figure to make winning an exhibition game a high priority.

Other "Play ON" situations involving head coaches in the NFL preseason:

* A team with a new head coach or assistant that was previously with his new team's current opponent. This situation is especially strong if the coach left with a bitter taste in his mouth and/or his new team is an underdog. These coaches know their ex-team and ex-players very well, and if the schemes they left behind are still in tact, they will have a a huge gameplanning edge.

* A team with a coach that is gameplanning for his opponent. Most coaches don't do this for a preseason game, but if a coach is studying films of an opponent's schemes and plans plays to attack those specific schemes, he is playing to win.

* A coach that has a rivalry with another coach and wants to beat him. When there is bad blood between 2 coaches, expect an extraordinary exhibition game between them.

* A coach in a historically strong preseason situation. Some do better at home, on the road, as an underdog, or even a favorite.

* A coach whose job is on the line. Coming off a poor year and on the hot seat, such a coach will tend to be more motivated than one who knows he has job security.

Finally, play ON a coach that is gaining an advantage for his team by not adhering to the preseason "formula" which is as follows:

Game One - Starters go a couple of series or about one quarter; top backups into the second half; then mostly reserves, rookies and free agents the rest of the way.

Game Two - Starters go most or even (or all) of the first half; backups deep into the third (or early fourth) quarter; reserves the rest of the way.

Game Three - This is usually a team's main dress rehearsal for opening day. Starters play one-half to three-quarters of the game, backups most of the rest of the way; reserves see action depending mostly on the situation.

Game Four - This is often a "throwaway" game for coaches, who are usually much more concerned about their opening-day opponent than they are about this practice finale. Starters often play only a couple of series or so; maybe less; some maybe not at all. Any key players with nagging injuries will be held out. Backups and reserves play the majority of the game, with promising youngsters getting one final chance to win a spot on the roster.

Some coaches like to start out the preseason with a win, and then look at their players in the other games. Some like to get 2 wins before relaxing and looking at players. Some may use the 2nd game as the regular season dress rehearsal instead of the 3rd. Some coaches may feel it's very important to win the last exhibition game for the sake of momentum.

An example of taking a coach's approach to a preseason game came in a previous match-up between New England and Arizona. The Patriots were 3'-point home favorites. In giving our nod to New England, our GAMEDAY INVESTMENT e-LERT STAR SELECTION noted:

"Matt Leinart makes his NFL debut Saturday night, when the Cardinals travel to Foxboro, Massachusetts to play the Patriots. The USC Heisman Trophy winner ended a prolonged holdout by signing a contract earlier in the week and is expected to play the second quarter here in relief of starter, Kurt Warner. Leinart will compete with John Navarre for backup quarterback...

...While Leinart may indeed have a long and productive career in the league, he figures to be in way over his head here. He's had little time to practice with Arizona and has never even attended an NFL game. Making a rookie debut on the road against the Patriots, who love to confuse opposing QBs with various schemes and blitzes even in the preseason, is not a recipe for success. New England's defenders will be very motivated to give Leinart a rude welcome to professional football.

Getting Leinart a crash course in game experience is obviously the goal for Dennis Green here, and not necessarily winning the game. The Cardinals enjoyed a huge win last week, as they christened their new stadium with a victory over the Super Bowl champion Steelers. Usually, a win in the preseason allows a coach to feel zero pressure the following week, and he can look at players, which is the case here."

Indeed, Dennis Green threw Leinart to the wolves in a way that he certainly would not have in a regular season contest. The Patriots devoured the rookie and the rest of the Cardinals, winning a 30-3 laugher.

Again, If you can find a mismatch in how two teams are approaching a preseason contest, you've probably found a golden opportunity.

In our upcoming Part 2 of the series on PRO INFO SPORTS NFL Preseason Handicapping Tips, we'll tackle MOTIVATION.

Jerry Fox is an professional sports handicapper for ProInfoSports.com. Along with selling his premium expert sports picks and sports handicapping systems, he offers free sports picks, sports handicapping systems, and free sports handicapping tips.

Winning in Youth Football

As a youth football coach your goals should be making sure the players are having a good experience and are learning the game of football. A solid repetition of the fundamental skills should be carried out throughout the year, helping each player reach his potential for that season.

That being said, I have the theory of why not try to win while you're accomplishing the above goals. I'm not talking about the very young flag leagues where no score is kept. We all know every parent on the sideline and most of the players keep the score anyway. I do not endorse keep score, counting wins or losses and acting like Vince Lombardi in these developmental leagues. Move the players around, giving everyone a chance, and ignore any type of record keeping.

I do believe in having all teams prepared, so even if you are coaching in a developmental league, do not embarrass the kids. Have them ready to play and make sure their fundamentals are solid. When you get to the keeping score level with records and playoffs, by all means try to win. Try to win, but noty at any costs.

Winning the championship, even at the Pop Warner level, feels great and will remain with you forever. How many chances you get to play for the title will depend on many factors. The main factor is the size of the town you are coaching for (if it is a travel team) and more important is how the players are divided up. If it is a draft and the teams will be split evenly you will have less chances of building a powerhouse. If you are fortunate to live in a large town who plays smaller towns, chances are you will play for many championships. I coach in the second smallest city in our conference yet have made the title game in two of the past three seasons. Over the twenty years, my teams play for the title about every three years. Unlike the higher levels of football, youth football does not see many upsets. The bigger towns with a larger number of players win the majority of the games.

It is not a common occurrence for my town to win titles. The city I coach for has been crowned champion only four times in the past two decades. It seems the only city with a longer dry spell is the New Orleans Saints. They arrived at the Super Bowl being victorious in only two playoff games in forty two years. The 2010 Saints team won their first two playoff games, equaling the all time win totals, and finished the job by winning the Super Bowl. You could visualize the confidence of the entire organization, particularly following the second half onside kick to open up the 3rd quarter. Talk about a bold move, proving the Saints showed up to win the game. The Saints were not shy, stating late in the season their goal was to go undefeated, unlike the Indy team who openly quit on the NFL, fans and themselves once they had secured home field advantage in the playoffs.

Enjoy the thrill if you ever get the opportunity to compete for a title as it is one of the most electrifying experiences you can have in youth football.

Jim Oddo has been coaching pee wee, flag, pop warner and youth football for over 23 years. He has attained an 80+% winning percentage. Read how to win with over 400 FREE tips and posts regarding every area of little guy football at: http://footballplaybooks.info. In addition to coaching tips, there are many different offensive and defensive playbooks all modified in Youth Football Playbooks.

Watch NFL Playoff Games Online - Do This And Never Miss Your Favorite Team Play Again

Doesn't it just drive you crazy? Your favorite NFL team made it to the playoffs, but the game is outside your local area. You want to watch the game, but your cable or satellite TV service provider isn't carrying the game. Now your really stuck...or are you?

If you aren't satisfied with watching whatever NFL game happens to be televised in your local area, then you need an alternative solution to all those blacked out playoff games. Let me tell you able an inexpensive solution that will let you watch NFL playoff games online.

One of the most cost effective solutions is a piece of easy to install PC satellite TV software that will let you to watch NFL playoff games online! The service I use to watch NFL games and other premium sporting events online is inexpensive, easy to use and I don't pay a monthly bill. Let me take the opportunity to tell you how you can take advantage of this software for yourself.

Now that I can watch NFL playoff games online, I never miss a game that's important to me. I can turn on my computer, activate my internet connection and watch any sporting event I want. I can even switch between any game that happens to be playing regardless of the viewing area or imposed black outs. You can even connect your computer to your large flat screen TV, run your software and watch NFL playoff games online with your family room TV!

You can get a top of the line premium satellite service that includes everything you need for a one-time payment of $99. The best thing is that $99 costs less than one weekend of pay-per-view games. That's all you have to spend to watch NFL playoff games online. You can access over 4000 channels and you'll never get surprised by hidden charges. It's still a bargain even if the football season if halfway over. Don't forget you will have lifetime access to watch any other sports you like as well. Keep up with all your favorite teams without paying extra.

Besides being able to watch NFL playoff games online, you can watch your regular TV shows, premium movie channels as well as programs from other countries. You really can't beat the value of this piece of software when you stop to think about how much regular satellite TV providers charge in monthly fees and rental equipment.

Why are you still missing your favorite teams play? Get in on the action today with Satellite TV for PC Titanium Edition for the best sporting events value! Watch NFL playoff games online!