BELEMASPORTTALK.COM

Boise State uses big plays to end TCU’s perfection

Administrator — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 08:19:22 +0000

Boise State, in furthering its reputation as a great mid-major not averse to gadgetry, edged TCU 17-10 in a battle of BCS busters before 73,227 at University of Phoenix Stadium and a national television audience.
The No. 6 Broncos (14-0) busted open a 10-10 tie midway through the fourth quarter on the strength of a fake punt. Kyle Brotzman coolly fielded a deep snap and tossed a perfect pass over the middle to a wide-open Kyle Efaw, who picked up 29 yards on the fourth-and-9 from the Boise State 33-yard line.
Boise State season started on the receiving end of a sucker punch by Oregon’s LeGarrette Blount on national TV, in perhaps the college season’s most shocking moment. It ended with a punch of their own on a surprising fake punt — which shouldn’t have been much of a surprise at all.

Houston Rockets might trade T-mac for Andre Iguodala

Administrator — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 17:29:53 +0000

Morey’s willingness to take on Iguodala’s big contract likely would depend what the 76ers were to include in their offer. If they threw in some good young talent such as Marreese Speights or Lou Williams the offer would certainly seem more favorable than if the 76ers required the Rockets to take on either overpaid player such as Elton Brand or Samuel Dalembert.
While Iguodala certainly would be expensive, there is no doubt he would help the Rockets. He is a good but not great scorer who provides stellar defense on either 2’s and 3’s without fouling and is a fantastic finisher at the basket and would take a lot off the scoring loads of Carl Landry and Aaron Brooks. He also would give the Rockets a true closer who can get the tough points at the end of games.
For the 76ers the motivation would be purely financial. They are not selling many tickets and while trading Iguodala would not help that they are already up against the projected $65 million luxury tax threshold for next year and cannot afford to pay the tax for a bad team.
And right now with the Rockets clicking, Houston should make a move to fill the void that is their weakness, the closer, and Iguodala really fills that spot.
Therefore if the 76ers are really willing to part with Iguodala and don’t give the Rockets a terribly toxic asset (see Brand, Elton) the Rockets should pounce. If they don’t they will either have to deal with taking another team’s trash or just buying McGrady out.

Brandon Marshall may have played last game for the Broncos

Administrator — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 16:43:20 +0000

The Marshall-McDaniels rift also may agitate the delicate locker-room chemistry that has mixed 20-some players held over from the Mike Shanahan era and 30-some players McDaniels brought in. All players were irked that the drama was poorly timed, considering a must-win game against Kansas City kicks off in a matter of hours. The ramification of this disciplinary action, however, figures to extend beyond the game against the Chiefs. And then there’s next season. Considering Marshall and Scheffler are about to become restricted free agents, they may already have played their last games for the Broncos.

Patrick Vieira to Red Bulls or Wizards?

Administrator — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 15:29:47 +0000

It seems a foregone conclusion that Patrick Vieira will depart the San Siro this coming summer for an MLS park near you. New York seem the obvious answer, but there are questions. Does he necessarily want a big market home? Will buddy Thierry Henry leave Barcelona early to come to the Red Bulls, and if he does, can the club convince one of the two or Juan Pablo Angel to take a pay cut? My second choice, based on team need and personality fit, would be Kansas City.

Evander Holyfield to fight in Uganda on Jan. 16. 2010

Administrator — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 15:12:41 +0000

Evander Holyfield will challenge Francois Botha for the lightly regarded WBF title in Uganda on Jan. 16.Organizers of the fight in Kampala’s Nambole Stadium said on Thursday that both fighters had signed contracts. A turnout of about 80,000 fans was predicted.
Organizers of the fight in Kampala’s Nambole Stadium said on Thursday that both fighters had signed contracts. A turnout of about 80,000 fans was predicted.
Holyfield’s last two fights were losses to Sultan Ibragimov and then to Valuev, a majority decision he disputed. Since then, Ibragimov has retired and Valuev surrendered his WBA title to David Haye.
Botha (47-4-3) has lost to Tyson, Lewis, Wladimir Klitschko and Michael Moorer, but retained his WBF title by drawing with Pedro Carrion of Cuba in Germany in October.
“Expect the fittest, toughest and best ever and extremely serious Francois Botha in Uganda in January. I owe my fans and members of Team Botha the performance of my life. I intend to make good on that.”

NFL Playoff Scenarios in the AFC

Administrator — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 18:22:43 +0000

Denver Broncos (8-7)
They currently hold down the No. 5 seed but don’t control their own destiny. Broncos would lose common opponents tiebreaker to Jets and head-to-head to Baltimore if all three teams are tied after Week 17.
REMAINING OPPONENT: Kansas City (3-12).

N.Y. Jets (8-7)
The Jets clinch playoff berth with win in Week 17. The New York Football Jets control their own destiny, but leaving with a “w” won’t come easy.
REMAINING OPPONENT: Cincinnati (10-5).

Baltimore Ravens (8-7)
The Ravens clinch playoff berth with win in Week 17. It’s simple: if they win, they’re in. While they would lose common opponents’ tiebreaker to New York (and Denver) in a three-way tie, they would own the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Broncos.
REMAINING OPPONENT: at Oakland (5-10). Oakland is usually a cake-walk, but they’ve beaten many of the elite teams this season.

Houston Texans (8-7)
Houston must win to have a chance, and they’ll also need some help. The Texans can only control what happens in Houston on Sunday, as they hope to get their first winning season in team history. The Texans need at least two 8-7 teams ahead of them to lose (BAL, DEN, NYJ), because of their inferior conference record.
REMAINING OPPONENT: New England (10-5).

Pittsburgh Steelers (8-7)
The defending super bowl champs are not going away without a fight. Because of their 5-6 conference mark, they’ll need to win and get some help to leap into one of the wild-card spots.
REMAINING OPPONENT: at Miami (7-8).

Miami Dolphins (7-8)
Wins against Jacksonville and New England were a big push for a playoff run, but two consecutive defeats to Tennessee and Houston will more than likely leave the Dolphins empty handed.
Overcoming a 0-3 start to the 2009 season and having two wins against the Jets build up their confidence, but their last home game is against the defending super bowl champs.
REMAINING OPPONENT: Pittsburgh (8-7).

Gilbert Arenas had firearms in locker

Administrator — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 16:54:38 +0000

Gilbert Arenas stored unloaded firearms in a container in his locker, according to the team, and the NBA is looking into the situation.The Wizards issued a statement Thursday night saying there was no ammunition in the locked container, and Arenas and the team have notified authorities and the league.
Arenas told The Washington Times he took his guns to the Verizon Center after his daughter, Hamiley Penny, was born this month. About a week later, he said he handed them over to team security to give to police.
The NBA’s collective bargaining agreement allows for players to legally possess firearms but prohibits them at league facilities or when traveling on any league-related business.“We’re aware of the situation and are working to gain a full understanding of the facts and relevant legal issues,” the NBA said in a release.
Arenas scored 18 points in Washington’s 109-97 victory at Milwaukee on Wednesday night. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound Arenas is averaging 22.2 points after being limited to 15 games during the past two seasons following three operations on his left knee over 1½ years.

Tracy McGrady seeking his best chance to win with NBA 2010 free agency

Administrator — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 17:40:20 +0000

Tracy McGrady said he would ‘of course’ choose a team based on seeking his best chance to win.Though he said again that his first choice would be to return to the Rockets next season, his last trip to Orlando’s Amway Arena also inspired him to say he would not mind a return to the Magic as a free agent. He even had a house picked out,sort of.
“If I was to come back, I was going to rent out (cousin Vince Carter’s) guest house,” McGrady said. “It is good to see him home, to keep the family in a Magic uniform. A lot of great memories here. The four years I played here were unbelievable years, some great games, great nights, a lot of memories I’ll never forget.”
McGrady said he would “of course” choose a team based on seeking his best chance to win.
“I’m excited about becoming a free agent, very excited about that,” McGrady said. “It’s a time in my career it’s all about winning. Stats and all that stuff don’t really matter to me. I’m all about trying to get a chance to win a championship. My first option is definitely Houston over any team. Houston is where I want to be. My wife and kids love it there. It’s home for us. But you can’t ever rule out coming back.”

Landry’s teeth leaves Dirk elbow Lacerated

Administrator — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 07:15:52 +0000

Houston’s Carl Landry was taken to a hospital after breaking teeth in a collision with Dirk Nowitzki during the second quarter of Friday night’s game between the Rockets and Mavericks.
Nowitzki drove into the lane and missed a short jumper with 9:28 left in the second quarter. He was fouled by Landry, who was hit in the mouth on Nowitzki’s follow-through.
Before going to the locker room for X-rays and three stitches to close a cut on his right elbow, Nowitzki, a right-hander, shot two free throws left-handed, converting one.
Nowitzki was still in the locker room at the start of the third quarter and the Mavericks said he would not return.

Falcons tackle Jonathan Babineaux arrested for possession of marijuana

Administrator — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 19:25:24 +0000

Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux has been arrested and charged with marijuana possession.County Police says the 28-year-old Babineaux had nearly 1½ ounces of marijuana and is charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. Intent to distribute charges can be brought any time someone has more than an ounce.
The Falcons drafted Babineaux in the second round out of Iowa in 2005.He signed a five-year, $25 million contract extension with the team in November 2008.
Babineaux has been arrested before in Gwinnett County. In 2007, he was charged with killing his girlfriend’s dog, a pit bull-mix , but the animal cruelty case was dismissed nine months later.An autopsy ruled the dog, Kilo, died of blunt force trauma to the head.
Babineaux also faces charges for having expired registration and driving without a license.He was released from the Gwinnett County jail Friday morning on $8,300 bond.