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1). Next week on TV (5/15–5/21)
The NBA and NHL seasons are moving perilously close to the end, but it remains unclear who will emerge as champion. Detroit seems like a huge favorite in the NBA, but pretty much anything can happen in the NHL.
*All times Eastern.
Monday, May 15
Soccer, Chivas USA at New England (midnight, FSN)
If you’re up at midnight on a Monday, you’ll have a hard time finding anything better than this Major League Soccer battle.
2). USG Sheetrock 400 Chicagoland Speedway
A jubilant Dale Earnhardt Jr. broke through for his first Nextel Cup victory of last year’s season, using a two-tire strategy and holding off Matt Kenseth to win at Chicagoland Speedway.
"I was worried I was going to go winless this year," the relieved Earnhardt said after smoking the tires on his No. 8 Chevrolet and celebrating with his crew in the infield grass.
3). Detroit vs. Miami, the Sequel: “GOODBYE HEAT”
Well, well, well, it’s that time of the year again, with the NBA Playoffs for the Eastern Conference Finals. It’s all about matchups, NOT only ON but also OFF the court.
Here are the matchups: Detroit vs. Miami, the Sequel: “GOODBYE HEAT”
WEATHER: NO Beach vs. South Beach. Advantage: Miami
MUSIC: Madonna vs. Gloria Estefan. The “Queen of Pop” against the conga.
4). Chicago White Sox vs. Toronto Blue Jays
Rogers Centre
Mark Buehrle worked quickly and efficiently last Friday, looking a lot like Greg Maddux -- the pitcher he beat, in game the White Sox won 6-1 against the Cubs in the first Interleague game of the season.
The White Sox started trailing by 1 at the top of the first, but thanks to an efficient offense they managed to tie the game at the bottom of the first and from then on the game was all theirs.
5). Second Round Should be an Instant Classic
The second round of the 2006 NBA playoffs has the chance to be one of the closest and best rounds in recent history. Three of the four series should go at least six games, with the fourth including “King James” and the powerhouse Detroit Pistons. Not to blow my own horn, but only a Phoenix comeback against the Lakers kept my first round predictions from going 8-0.
6). Wagerweb.com Posts Odds for American Idol’s “Final Four”
San Jose, Costa Rica – May 9, 2006 – WagerWeb.com, one of the Internet’s largest betting sites with odds surrounding the hottest issues in the news, posted odds today allowing bettors to predict the winner from the four remaining contestants on the top rated television show, American Idol. Wagerweb.com CEO Dave Johnson predicts more bets for the Idol winner than the more than 10,000 they took in for the 2004 Presidential election.
7). Philadelphia Phillies vs. Milwaukee Brewers
Miller Park
The Philadelphia Phillies ended their longest winning streak since a 13 game streak in 1991. Glavine pitched seven strong innings and drove in a pair of runs to help the New York Mets beat Philadelphia 13-4 Wednesday night, snapping the Phillies nine-game winning streak.
It had been quite a turnaround for the Phillies, who opened 1-6 and finished 10-14 in April.
8). Austria vs. Croatia
Vienna, Austria 05.23.2006
Although Austria did not qualify for the FIFA World Cup in Germany, the National Team is still playing friendly matches to give continuity to the National squad and give opportunity to young players to demonstrate their skills in the international scenario.
One of those friendly matches will take place on May 23rd when they face Croatia in home soil, as part of the programmed FIFA dates for the teams to prepare for the World Cup.
9). Derby Winners Often Repeat in the Preakness
Six Kentucky Derby winners in the past nine years have captured the Preakness, four by 1˝ lengths or more.
That’s a good omen for Barbaro, who crushed the opposition, winning the 132nd Kentucky Derby and ending a 50-year losing streak by 3-year-olds resting five weeks or longer after their final prep.
Needles was off six weeks before his triumph at Churchill Downs in 1956.
10). Houston Astros vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
PNC Park
The Houston Astros got back on track Friday night behind an unlikely standout and the return of an old one. Adam Everett hit a two-out, three-run double in the eighth inning and closer Brad Lidge retired three straight in the ninth to get the save in the Houston Astros' 5-3 victory over the Texas Rangers.
It was about time for the Houston Astros to get a victory.
11). Breaking The Division Races Down On Memorial Day
Generally speaking, being in first place on Memorial Day is a good sign of things to come. Memorial Day typically marks the one-third mark for the Major League Baseball season, and by this point you have a pretty good idea of which teams are going to be in the running and which teams are dead and buried.
For instance, it’s fairly common knowledge on May 29 that the Royals aren’t going to be challenging for the AL Central crown at 11-37, 22 1/2 games behind the 35-16 Tigers.
12). Barbaro…our new hope!
“Oh boy, is this great?” That’s what Kent Dorfman said in “Animal House” many years ago. And that same question could be said right now about the eye-popping and heartwarming performance put up this past Saturday at Churchill Downs when Barbaro, the Florida Derby Champion, found his way to the winners circle in the 132nd Kentucky Derby.
His gritty and romping performance will be remembered for years to come.
13). “It’s Not Rocket Science”
Wagerweb.com has posted odds offering bettors the chance to predict which Major League Baseball team Roger Clemens will return to. Clemens is clearly enjoying the attention he is garnering from his four suitors. Let’s take a look at how Clemens has played this situation thus far, and how it will play out at the end.
THE EASY MARK:
Roger Clemens enjoyed opening day in Arlington Stadium, sitting next to owner Tom Hicks.
14). New England 300 New Hampshire International Speedway
Tony Stewart climbed the fence in front of the grandstand in what has become his trademark victory celebration. And a crowd of 100,000 at New Hampshire International Speedway roared its approval on last year’s race as he grabbed the checkered flag and pumped his fist in the air just as he did two weeks earlier after a victory at Daytona.
Trust me, I'll be glad to be panting like a dog when I get up there," he said.
15). The Yankees-Red Sox rivalry qualifies under both of these categories.
A New York-Boston bout is the greatest feud in all of sports. No other match up in professional sports offers as much history, hostility, and competition as when the Yanks and Sox assemble and prepare to battle. Where else can you see a 73-year-old coach thrown to the ground by the opposing team’s ace pitcher? The only place to catch such action and intensity is in the Bronx or at Fenway Park.
16). Oakland A’s vs. Texas Rangers
Barry Zito from the A’s is looking now like in his best days back in 2002 when he won the Cy Young award. Zito allowed eight hits over seven scoreless innings and the A's patiently battered Jamie Moyer in their third straight victory 7-2 over the Seattle Mariners last week.
"I just have a mentality where I'm going out there and not trying to be too fine, not thinking too much," Zito said.
17). The Subway Series: A Wild Ride
This weekend’s Subway Series between the Yankees and the Mets was one for the ages. Not only did the winning team triumph by one run in each of the three games, but the series as a whole was about as exciting as it could possibly have been.
Game 1 on Friday night had blowout written all over it when Randy Johnson gave up 6 earned runs in 5 innings pitched.
18). Arizona D’Backs vs. Cincinnati Reds
"I just had a bad day," said Cruz, who allowed the nine, runs in five hits, three walks and two hit batsmen. "That was the worst game in my entire career." But the D’Backs can’t worry too much about this game because they had their share of runs too, it was just a bad first inning for Arizona, and there’s a long season still ahead.
Lineup
1. Craig Counsell, SS.
19). Quarterly Report on Divisional Races --- NL CENTRAL
After a few weeks and with some surprises, the NL Central has begun to look a lot more as expected, particularly at the very top.
With a lineup containing the best player on the planet, the Cardinals have recently started to pull away and
seem well on their way to their third straight division title. Pujols’ numbers are mind-boggling (22 homers and 54 RBI).
20). This Week In The AL Central: Tigers Face Tough Stretch
The Detroit Tigers have been the early feel good story of the 2006 baseball season, but the most obvious questions persist, as with any team that's been out of the limelight for years and years
First off, are they for real?
Second, can they keep this up for 162 games?
We're about to find out - and soon.
The Tigers have started one of their most.
21). Switzerland vs. Ivory Coast
Basel, Switzerland 05.27.2006
Ivory Coast owes their historic qualification for Germany to an exceptional generation of soccer players who for the most part served their apprenticeship at the academy set up by Jean-Marc Guillou just outside Abidjan. Aruna Dindane, Kolo Toure, Didier Zokora, Arthur Boka, Blaise Kouassi and Barry Copa all "graduated" from Guillou's academy and formed the inside nucleus of it’s successful qualifying campaign.
22). Luxembourg vs. Germany
Freibourg, Germany 05.27.2006
Luxembourg is one of the tiniest countries in Europe, and is also one of the ones with less or none achievement at all in soccer. Luxembourg last made it to a European Soccer Championship in 1963, and to date this is the greatest claim to soccer fame for Luxembourg sandwiched between France, Germany and Belgium.
The Luxembourg Soccer Association's naming of former Danish star Allan Simonsen as head coach in January 2002 indicates a new level of commitment.
23). Rasheed, Leave the Predictions to the Experts
“We’re gonna win the game, I guarantee it.”
Do you recognize that quote? If you don’t, you should. This is probably the greatest prediction ever made by a player, in a time when player predictions actually meant something. Who is the player, you ask? None other than Joe Namath, predicting the outcome of Super Bowl III. The New York Jets were facing off against the Baltimore Colts and were 10-point underdogs.
24). “You’ve Got to Bet the Preakness”
This Saturday, I’ll be back at the same sports bar where I watched the Kentucky Derby. If you read my Derby column, I told you to throw out a couple of favorites (Lawyer Ron and Brother Derek), and keep Barbaro, despite history being against him. Unfortunately, I also told you that I like America’s favorite bet, the exacta. The exacta always seems do-able, and offers a chance to win some real dollars.
25). France vs. Denmark
One of the best teams in the history of soccer is France. They have participated in 11 editions of the World Cup. France's most successful years were the late 1990s, the generation of Zidane and others. This team played in the semifinals of Euro 96, two years later hosted and won the 1998 World Cup and two years later won Euro 2000.
They also won the UEFA European championship in 1984 and finished third in 1958 and 1986 in the FIFA World Cup.
26). The Sports Column
It’s been a good, bad and ugly kind of week for me.
I hit the trifecta at Pimlico--that’s good.
My Little League kids went 0-3 with Coach Reavy in attendance--that’s bad.
And Wednesday night, upon hearing of the reality demise of my “dawg,” Elliot Yamin, I was both sad to hear the news and disappointed in the realization that I had just watched 12 straight episodes of American Idol, spanning two months--that’s.
27). Carolina Hurricanes vs. Buffalo Sabres
Carolina might not have started the playoffs with good rhythm but as the first round series got under way against Montreal they started playing really good. They still are and after that they knocked out the Devils in round two 4-1 in the series.
The Hurricanes have speed on all four of their lines and their defense is mobile and gets the puck up the ice quickly.
28). Boxing Notebook: Corrales-Castillo III Should Be Mucho Macho!
Code Red! Code Red!
Saturday is the final clash between Diego “Chico” Corrales (40-3, 33 KOs) and Jose Luis Castillo (54-7-1, 47 KOs) for the lightweight championship of the world. Though 70 pounds south, they’re true heavyweights. Sportsbook odds are Castillo -220, Corrales +180 - based on what?
Tale of the tape: Corrales, 28, is a lightweight freak, 5-11 with a half-inch fist, forearm and thigh advantage over the 5-8, 32-year-old Castillo – plus a one inch bigger expanded chest, reach, bicep and calf.
29). Washington State Bans Online Gambling
In the ongoing battle of Internet poker and online casino gambling, the state of Washington passed a law banning online gambling making it illegal for any resident inside of the state to participate in online casino play.
If you are a resident in the state of Washington, and you are caught in the act of online wagering, you could face a penalty of up to 10 years in prison.
30). New York Mets vs. St. Louis Cardinals
Busch Stadium
Tom Glavine from the Mets had a great game against the Phillies that ended a nine game winning streak; Glavine pitched seven strong innings and drove in a pair of runs to help the New York Mets beat Philadelphia 13-4 Wednesday night.
The Mets pounded Phillies starter Cory Lidle (3-4) early, with eight players getting hits and all nine scoring while building a 10-0 lead through three innings.
31). Switzerland vs. Italy
After failing to qualify for the last two editions Switzerland claimed a place in Germany. In their last appearance in USA 1994 they made it to the round of 16 but fell 3-0 against runner-up Italy.
In the qualifying stage before the play-off second-leg defeat by Turkey, the Swiss had gone a full year and 14 straight games without defeats; evidence of the growing strength of a team that includes players who attracted rave reviews at various under-age levels.
32). Baltimore Orioles vs. Seattle Mariners
The Orioles had a long time without picking up a victory from the Red Sox. Finally they did it last week at Baltimore. Erik Bedard pitched seven effective innings for the Orioles, who had lost 13 straight to Boston -- including eight this season -- since Sept. 2, 2005. The victory also enabled Baltimore to end an eight-game home skid against the Red Sox.
33). Cleveland Indians vs. Detroit Tigers
Casey Blake from the Indians drove in two runs and extended his career-high hitting streak to 15 games to help lift the Cleveland Indians to a 6-5 win over the Kansas City Royals on Thursday.
"I don't really know why I did it," Blake said of his surprise bunt single in the second inning. "I guess when you feel confident you just do things without second guessing.
34). LA Dodgers vs. Atlanta Braves
The Braves loss a game against the Padres that only had two hits and they still manage to get the victory. It was the second time since 1985 that the Padres win a game with only two hits although the Braves had 5 hits only scored once in a game that was played in one of the toughest field to score the Petco Park.
The Braves are having a regular season so far.
35). French Open Preview: Nadal Will Slay The Clay Again
The second Grand Slam tournament of the 2006 tennis season has arrived, as the French Open begins Sunday in Paris.
The French Open is the crown jewel of the clay court season, and the top players in the world have gathered to test their skills and patience on the slow, red clay of Stade Roland Garros.
Here is a look at the title contenders, sleepers and long shots in the men's and women's draws.
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