Madden NFL 09 Gameplay Footage
April 30, 2008
First ever gameplay of Madden NFL 09!
Match Play: Wrestling With Tiger & Lorena
April 30, 2008
The topic to end all topics– What’s bigger: Wrestlemania or The Masters? For more of the Golfweek take, visit www.Golfweek.com
Brandt Snedeker Cries After Masters 2008 -Agony Of Defeat
April 30, 2008
You have to feel for Brandt Snedeker after battling for 4 days and having a rough round on Sunday to lose the Masters 2008 to Trevor Immelman. He loses it during the interview only 15 minutes or so after hitting his last putt.
Tiger Woods - “Oh Hell No”
April 30, 2008
Post round at Doral 2008.
Red Wings @ Avalanche 4/29/08 Game 3
April 30, 2008
Detroit Red Wings @ Colorado Avalanche 4/29/08 Game 3
Fantasy Baseball Matchup 4/29
April 30, 2008
http://www.CBSSports.com Amber Wilson takes a look at who’s hot and who isn’t in this week’s edition of Fantasy Baseball Matchup presented by Levitra.
Wednesday’s Playoff Preview
April 30, 2008
Visit http://www.nba.com/video for more highlights. NBA TV’s Andre Aldridge previews Wednesday’s pair of playoff matchups.
It Looks Like Woods Will Have to Settle for the Tiger Slam
April 30, 2008
Tiger Woods is some two hours into Sunday’s round, and as he heads to the back nine, he finds himself six shots off the lead. Eldrick stumbled his way to even par on the first nine holes, and at 5-under, he’s still looking up at Trevor Immelman and Brandt Snedeker, today’s final pair.
After a rocky begin to his Sunday round, Immelman recovered nicely, although he yipped a great birdie chance on No. 7. Still, with Snedeker at 2-over today, Immelman just needs to par out, and put pressure on the handful of players with a sliver of a chance to make a run.
As for Woods, his week can be summarized in two words: unlucky and frustrating. Of course, this applies to virtually everybody in the field, but most fans don’t care why Stephen Ames completed the weekend at 8-over.
That stated, when you’re talking about the world No. 1 there’s always a chance. Or that’s the perception, anyway. I guess, but all nine more holes of even par guarantees is that the Grand Slam talk will be over after the first major.
On the other hand, if Woods is going to make a move, it’ll probably take a 4-under effort coming in. Given the conditions and the way he’s played this week, I don’t see it happening.
Plus, Immelman, who hasn’t even thought about cracking a smile all week, is currently the ideal golfer on the course.
5 Things to Keep an Eye on: Suns at Spurs, Game 5
April 30, 2008
Filed under: Suns, Spurs, Western, NBA Playoffs, Phoenix
In another of our continuing series, five things to keep an eye out for tonight in the Suns-Spurs game tonight.
1. What You Currently Feel Is The Wall Against Your Back. Yes, Still: Okay, let’s get this out of the way. I don’t think there’s any way the Suns beat the Spurs tonight. We’ve seen San Antonio suck the life out of too many teams, in too many series, to believe they’ll even allow the possibility of something exciting to happen. But since I don’t want this column to read just about keeping an eye on how many empty seats there are in San Antonio (and there will probably be a few, knowing this crowd), I’ll humor the idea. The Suns are against the wall, again. They’ve been here many times this season, and every time, they’ve responded. But they also responded last game, and back to back responses is a whole other matter. Especially in San Antonio, versus an embarrassed Spurs club. If the Suns want to win, they can’t hold anything back. It all has to be on the floor. No other option. For a Suns team that’s known to coast, we’ll see if they can hold a consistent energy.
2. Full French > Half-Hill?: The rave on the internet this week is about how Mike D’Antoni finally wised up and started Boris Diaw, and how he’s the new savior of the Suns. I got news for you. I’m not buying it. It’s fine that Diaw got some good numbers in a blowout game in Game 4. And it’s fine that the Spurs let him back down whatever small forward was guarding him in the post. But he won’t find that tonight. He’s going to find Tim Duncan. At home. Angry. Unless Boris fully embraces the 3, he can’t be effective. And even if he does, everyone was so impressed with him guarding Tony Parker. But who guards Manu Ginobili? You really think both of them are going to have back to back bad games? Diaw is not the answer. Someone who can effectively play consistently is.
3. Liberty, Bell: Speaking of Raja Bell, he actually decided to rise to life in Game 4. It’s pretty simple, really. The Phoenix Suns cannot win tonight without Raja Bell playing well. His shooting is too important for them to spread the defense and create lanes for Nash and Amare Stoudemire. If he melts back into the darkness again, the Suns are going to be back in the dark with him, and this isn’t one they can come out of.
4. What About (Big Shot) Bob: Robert Horry played 20 minutes the other night, scoring 6 points and nabbing 7 boards. Some of that was garbage time. But as the playoffs get deeper, Greg Popovich is going to want to lean on him more. It’s just comfortable, like an old sweater that’s worn and has holes, but is too comfortable for you to throw away. At some point, though, Horry’s not going to be able to hit that big shot. Maybe tonight’s the night. Of course, we’ve been saying that for four years, so it’s totally likely he’ll kill the Suns again, be it with a three or by throwing Amare Stoudemire head first into a steel wall, hitting him in the head with a folding chair, and then breaking his arm with a crowbar. And then only getting suspended for one game for it, while Steve Nash gets suspended two for calling 911.
5. Some Teams Have It, Some Teams Don’t: I’m a firm believer that there is some sort of cosmic order that helps define things. Some teams have an ability to always survive, to always get what they need to happen to happen. Need a turnover? A questionable charging call. Need a missed free throw? A rare miss. Need a miracle? Tim Duncan hits a three. The Spurs are one of those teams. They get things to fall where they need them just enough to let their incomparable desire to win and effortless talent carry them the rest of the way. The Suns meanwhile, are the opposite. Always searching for that final break, the one moment of breakthrough, the sweet release of victory. And these teams usually never get it. That’s just the way the universe works some times. I think Nash understands that, and it’s why it doesn’t upset him more. So tonight may come down to those little things that separate the Suns and the Spurs. The caliber and gift of a champion, versus those that always find themselves just shy of it.
Second Round Playoff Roundtable
April 30, 2008
Filed under: General NHL, Rangers, Flyers, Penguins, Canadiens, Wings, Avalanche, Stars, Sharks, Stanley Cup
Click here for more NHL playoff previews.
After just one night off, it’s time to kick the NHL playoffs back into gear again with the start of the second round. The first round had a little something for everyone: Regional rivalries, four-game sweeps, plenty of OT and three Game Sevens. Not a bad showing if you asked me.
But the second round is looking just as compelling. In the East, we’ve got a pair of Original Six squads (New York and Montreal) taking on two of the more successful expansion franchises (Pittsburgh and Philadelphia). Out West we’ve got the renewal of the most intense rivalry of the 1990s (Avs/Red Wings) while the consensus pick to win it all — San Jose — gets to battle a team that’s experienced plenty of recent playoff disappointment in Dallas.
With that, it’s time to consult our distinguished panel.
Eric McErlain: Ok, let’s begin out in the West, where our first series is a renewal of hockey’s fiercest feud of the 1990s — Red Wings/Avs.
You’ll excuse me if everything old looks new again. No, Claude Lemieux isn’t around any longer, but Darren McCarty, Kris Draper, Kirk Maltby, Chris Osgood and Nick Lidstrom still are. On the Colorado side, it used to be that Joe Sakic was the only greybeard left to remember the old battles, but now Adam Foote and Peter Forsberg have returned to the fold.
In goal, it looks like the Avs have the edge with Theodore in net, as he seems to have regained the form that won him a Vezina and a Hart in Montreal. Then again, Chris Osgood was no slouch this year, and he’s got a Stanley Cup ring from 1998 to prove it. Does he still have the magic?
Earl Sleek: Well, in the first round I stated I was a large believer in the lower seeds, and it seemed like a good call–collectively they went 13-12. This round, however, I think I’m on the other side of the fence.
The Wings will be on a mission this round, and I don’t know how well the Avalanche can withstand a properly motivated Red Wings squad. Though there will be a lot of “renewed rivalry” hype, I don’t think this series will be that evenly matched.
John “J.P.” Press: I like Detroit here, and pretty swift, too. Yes, the Avs have a relatively healthy Forsberg (at last check), Foote, etc. But Detroit’s system flat-out works. The Wings swept the season series and shut Colorado out in three of the four games (all post-New Year’s, by the way). Colorado might win a game or two, but they ain’t winning four.
James Mirtle: Theodore’s the wild card here. He was their best player in the first round, and he’ll have to be against a much more potent offensive team.
Foote and Sauer will have their hands full trying to shutdown Zetterberg, too. The Red Wings aren’t as deep in terms of secondary scoring as their past Cup-winning teams, but that might not matter.
I think it’ll be a long, terrific series if Theodore comes to play.
Kevin Schultz: I think this series going to be better than most people anticipate. Sure, the Red Wings are a much better team on paper, but I think we learned from their series against the Predators that they’re not going to rollover people. In fact, parity is a trend all across the NHL. Six of the eight first round series went 6 or 7 games. It is just me or aren’t there usually more blowouts in the first round? I agree that Theodore will be a huge factor in this one, but even if he falters a bit it’s not going to be all that easy. I like the Avs a lot more than I liked the Predators (who really just rode Ellis for a lot of that series) and I think this series could easily go six or seven, in fact it probably should. I think the same can be said for the other three series. Look for this to be another close round.
Bruce Ciskie: There’s no way Colorado can keep up with Detroit for 60 minutes a game. However, if the officials are as inconsistent as they’ve been so far (it’s as if they’re not even trying very hard to be consistent, which drives me nuts and is a rant for a different day), Colorado can obstruct their way to a shot. They need to get Sakic and Forsberg loose from Rafalski and Lidstrom, and that’s not happening as long as Detroit is playing at home.
(Actually, there’s no guarantee that Mike Babcock will even worry too much about matchups. Kronwall and Stuart played competently enough against Nashville to make me think they can handle an occasional assignment against just about anyone.)
Theodore gives his team a chance, but no superior a shot than Dan Ellis gave Nashville. And Theodore is more prone to let in that horrific center-ice goal that Lidstrom picked up in Game Six.
Eric McErlain: Which brings us to San Jose-Dallas. Before the begin of the season, I think everyone id’s two problems with Dallas — scoring punch and physicality. For the most part, our Western Conference Roundtable last time completely wrote them off. Is there something we’re missing about this team, or perhaps we just overrated Anaheim, especially in light of all the personnel losses from last season?
Earl Sleek: I think Anaheim was overrated, or at least in the matchup specifically to the Stars. The Ducks’ main problem in the first-round series was that basically, any time Dallas took a lead, it was pretty much game over. The Ducks wouldn’t produce shots, while surrendering even more chances than they’d when the game was tied. Dallas certainly deserves credit for a lot of that, but it’s not like they were doing it to a team that had a lot of offense anyway. I think the Sharks are a different squad entirely who showed plenty of ability to rally from game deficits, and I think there are several areas San Jose can exploit that Anaheim could not.
I think the Sharks take this series, and I don’t think there will even be a Game Seven this time. The main thing the Sharks have to worry about is their capability to shut out the second round (they have lost the last two postseasons in the second round despite leading the series 2-1 both times). Still, I think having those disappointments in previous years (plus a pretty serious scare in Round One) makes the Sharks less likely to melt down in Round Two this year.
(Curiously, our panel had nothing else to say about this series.)
Eric McErlain: Ok, on to Philly-Mtl. Both teams are coming off brutal seven game series. The Philly power play is unreal, but Montreal’s is even better. Philly seems to be at their best when they’re forecheck is working ideal, and I suspect they’ve a tad of an edge when it comes to physical play, both up front and on the blue line. And while Martin Biron came up big in Game Seven against the Caps, he proved vulnerable the rest of the series. Carey Price is just better.
Kevin Schultz: Not to be lame, but I agree with almost everything you stated. Although I do have to add one more thing… If the Habs win this series, will it be the end of Montreal as we know it? The celebration would be epic (and
probably really destructive).
And while Price is certainly the superior goalie, I’m curious to see how he responds to the pressure as this thing goes along. The longer the Habs are in this, the more it is going to come down upon him. It’s been 15 years and there’s no doubt the fans want this bad (who wouldn’t?). I know he’s been in large spots before, but he has yet to face second round/conference final/finals pressure at this level. I’ll certainly give him the benefit of doubt, but I think it’s something to watch.
Patrick Lackey: I think this is a pretty poor draw for the Habs, honestly, for lots of the reasons you mentioned. They don’t match up terribly well with the Flyers physicality and Philly has the firepower to at least hang with them on the offensive side of things. Price is certainly better than Biron, but he was pretty inconsistent against Boston and I think his age and inexperience could certainly be a factor. Of all the top seeds that got stretched out in the first round (which we’ll classify as Montreal, Detroit, and San Jose), I thought the Canadiens inability to put Boston away was the most telling, just because they shouldn’t have had a problem with them. I don’t think that bodes terribly well for their future, but I suppose last night taught us that momentum is pretty meaningless in these playoffs.
John “J.P.” Press: My advice to Montreal? Shoot high-glove. But I’m going to go with Philly in this one. They’re meaner, and starting to remind me a tiny of last year’s Ducks (with the exception of between the pipes).
Bruce Ciskie: After watching Price turn into a human sieve a couple times against Boston, I’m not sure this goaltending matchup is a slam-dunk. Biron had his moments of sievetacular play against Washington, but the advantage of facing the Habs is that they don’t have an Ovechkin-like striker (Kovalev is as close as they get).
Philadelphia’s physical advantages will overcome Montreal’s speed, at least at times (especially if the officiating allows them to). The Canadiens can’t play impatient hockey. They need to be sound defensively and pounce when Philadelphia gives them chances.
I think Montreal wins this series, but they’re going to have problems dealing with Philly’s strength and energy.
Eric McErlain: Which brings us to what might be the biggest matchup of the 2nd round: Rangers-Penguins.
Pat Lackey: Ah, I’m completely unable to be impartial at the moment with this series, but I’ll give you my thoughts anyways. As a Pens fan, I’m terrified of the Rangers, but I’m not sure why. It’s honestly not Fleury, I think he’ll be more than fine. He’s been great since coming back from his ankle injury and seems to be getting superior each time. I suppose it’s just because I don’t know how this team is going to respond to an honest-to-goodness playoff challenge. They were great against Ottawa, but Ottawa folded each time the Pens turned up the heat. My gut says their over the playoff loss last year, but it’s just hard to tell with a team lead by such young guys. Honestly, I just graduated from college a year ago and am thoroughly alarmed that this team’s hopes rest almost entirely on players my age or younger.
James Mirtle: I’ll say this much: Despite the fact he’s the only goaltender ever to be nominated for the Vezina in each of his first three seasons, Lundqvist continues to be underestimated. He’s terrific — and I think he’ll be the difference in this series
Tom Renney also has the Rangers playing great defence this season.
