ACC Power Rankings - Football

So if you didn't know, the Atlantic Coast Conference did not have it's way this past weekend with two teams losing to FCS teams and others not doing well either. From this week on, I will be rolling out my own ACC Power Rankings regarding football. Also look for other ACC power rankings in the future (men's and women's soccer).

1. Virginia Tech - Despite losing to Alabama over the weekend, the Hokies get the nod as the top ACC football team so far. Virginia Tech played good enough to be winning heading into the fourth quarter, but the wheels came off shortly after. The Crimson Tide scored 14 points in the final quarter and looked as one of the nation's top teams.

2. Georgia Tech - The Yellow Jackets pummeled Jacksonville State, 37-17. Jonathan Dwyer and Josh Nesbitt each had more than 90 yards rushing combining for three touchdowns. Dwyer is easily the conference's best running back and will be tough to stop throughout the season.

3. Miami - Stunning state-rival Florida State on Monday earned the Hurricanes a No. 20 ranking in this week's poll. Quarterback Jacory Harris played phenomenally as he dissected the Seminoles' defense. If they can win two of their next three games (Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, Oklahoma) look out.

4. Florida State - After beginning the season in the top 25, the Seminoles have dropped out after losing a heart breaker to Miami at home. The Seminoles get a breather in Jacksonville State, before a statement game against BYU. Christian Ponder will be a difference maker on this team.

5. North Carolina - The Tar Heels have three preparation games, including this past Saturday's 40-7 win over The Citadel, before the bulk of their schedule strength begins. Ranked No. 19 in the country, North Carolina has yet to garner respect as a competitive ACC team.

6. Clemson - The Tigers were able to dismantle Middle Tennessee State with a 37-14 victory on Saturday, but missed star CJ Spiller in the second half due to an injury. He should return next week against Georgia Tech, which will help Clemson immensely with his speed, highlighted by a 97-yard kickoff return touchdown.

7. Boston College - The Eagles were supposed to have a rough year of transition with an off-season of turmoil, but Saturday did not show it. Their 54-0 beating of Northeastern may point to positive signs for this team and first year head coach Frank Spaziani.

8. North Carolina State -Ugly. A word that describes the Wolfpack's offense fairly eloquently. Scoring only three points in their season opener against South Carolina, N.C. State seemingly has many problems. Sophomore quarterback Russell Wilson showed no poise en route to an under 100 yard passing performance.

9. Wake Forest - The Demon Decons struggled Saturday against Big 12-foe Baylor to begin the year with a loss. Quarterback Riley Skinner tossed three interceptions to go along with his two touchdowns. This may be a difficult year for Wake Forest.

10. Maryland - 52-13. This is where the ACC continues to show diminished hope for this season. After being upset last season at Byrd Stadium, California got their revenge in the biggest of ways defeating the Terps in every way possible. Maryland has two mediocre opponents in James Madison and Middle Tennessee State at home up next. They will need to win both if they expect to contend for a bowl.

11. Virgina - The Cavaliers flat out got embarrassed on Saturday against FCS opponent William & Mary. In the 26-14 loss, quarterback Jameel Sewell threw for only 80 yards while William & Mary picked apart the defense.

12. Duke - The second of two ACC teams to lose to FCS opponents this weekend. This can't be to the surprise of many, but to those who believed Duke was in store for a bowl year it may have been. The Blue Devils were handed a home opening loss to Richmond, 24-16.

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American League West Preview

It has been a while since the last post. But not to worry - I am back and ready to roll. The next few days I will be cranking out previews for each of the divisions in the American and National Leagues. And without further ado: The AL West.

LA Angels: I think the Angels lost too much this season to make another run at the World Series. Losing K-Rod and Mark Teixeira was huge. Vladimir Guerrero is getting too old and Bobby Abreu has struggled ever since his days started with the Yankees. Napoli is a solid catcher and Howie Kendrick is good, but this team just doesn’t have enough to keep up with the AL East.

Oakland A’s: The Athletics revamped their team over the offseason and look to be contenders. I like their additions of Orlando Cabrera and Matt Holliday. Jack Cust is a solid player. Jason Giambi could be a great contributor now that he has escaped the confines of the New York City. Also, I have to love Nomar Garciaparra coming off of the bench.

Texas Rangers: I absolutely love the Rangers’ lineup. Kinsler, Young, Hamilton, Blalock, Saltalamacchia are all great young hitters with a ton of potential. The Rangers need to find an answer for pitching. Millwood, Padilla and Benson are not the answers they need to start their rotation off and ultimately win games.

Seattle Mariners: I like Erick Bedard being back and healthy, I think he will finally be what the Mariners were hoping he would. They need Felix Hernadez to finally establish himself as a go-to No. 1. Ken Griffey Jr. will be a good addition, but the Mariners just don’t have enough talent.

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Best Week in Big D Since 1996

FINALLY. The Cowboys not only dropped Terrell Owens, finally, but dropped Roy L. Williams as well. Many Cowboys fans had recently been pondering whether or not Jerry Jones still had any brain cells left after a series of risky and rash decisions. As the start of a new era in Dallas, this week has immense impact on the team as a whole and the chemistry of the team. Now after 2 1/2 seasons, Tony Romo finally has the chance to develop into the next Troy Aikman that the Cowboys are looking for him to be.

Since 2002, when Roy Williams was drafted, the Cowboys' defense has struggled in giving up the big play quite frequently. Williams, as good of a hitter as he is, is probably the worst cover safety in the game today. Simply put, he is just plain atrocious. There is no question that Williams has skill and will certainly be a good addition to many defenses around the league. However, it was time for him to move along from Dallas.

His absence however, may be bittersweet. Recently, the Cowboys shipped starting CB Anthony Henry to the Detroit Lions for QB Jon Kitna as Romo's veteran back-up. So now that leaves two big holes in a secondary last year that battled with injuries the whole season. First of all, SS is a hole that was filled this past season by Keith Davis when Williams was put on IR with an injured forearm. However, at the end of the season, Davis suffered an MCL sprain and injured his shoulder, yet played through the injuries. The question there is whether Davis will be able to stay healthy throughout the entire season. Most likely he'll be just fine yet he needs a backup. So there is a hole at the SS position.

Then the CB hole. Henry was the starter that the Cowboys could lean on to cover the best receiver on the opposition. Newman will be back and hopefully can stay healthy this season to take back that role. However, that leaves an opening at the other corner. Now, the Cowboys have two young CB's who are skilled players in Orlando Scandrick and Mike Jenkins, however, both are young. That is putting a great deal of pressure on the youngsters to take over a starting role in the first few years of their careers. So there is the possibilty of a hole there.

And now to the offensive side of the ball. Although T.O. has a replacement in Roy. E. Williams (now he doesn't need the initial anymore!!) the offense is lacking a great slot receiver. Crayton can be the #2 receiver and Miles Austin is a solid #3 but a great slot receiver could add another aspect to the offense that will trip up defenses across the league. So that is another hole that could use some work.

So there are three major holes that need some work, whether through the upcoming draft or through free agency. Having just drafted a CB in the first round of last year's draft, it might be difficult to do the same thing again. Also, there are other holes that need some support as well. So Jones has an interesting few months t figure things out for himself and for his team. Because it has been 12 years since the last Dallas Super Bowl win and it has always been a source of pride for Cowboys fans to have the most Super Bowl titles, which now falls in the hands of the Steelers.

But Hallelujah Jerry. Finally, you have done something to take this team in the direction it needs to go in order to win a championship agian. Heck, maybe even a playoff game in general.

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Terrell Owens Cut by the Cowboys

In breaking news reported by ESPN.com's Michael Smith late Wednesday night, the Dallas Cowboys released their star, and often controversial, wide receiver, Terrell Owens.

Owens had been with the Cowboys for three seasons. In 47 games with Dallas, Owens registered over 3500 yards and 38 touchdowns. He has had over 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns in each of the three seasons as a Cowboy.

But his legacy in Dallas, like in San Francisco and Philadelphia, will be more judged on his downfalls than his accomplishments.

The 6'3", 13-year veteran is part of the long list of older players that have been cut this off season. He joins the likes of Marvin Harrison of Indianapolis, Fred Taylor of Jacksonville, and Derrick Brooks of Tampa Bay. The difference between Owens and these players are the reasons he was cut.

Owens was not cut to shore up money problems and save cap space. Owens was cut, instead, to save the team chemistry and allow quarterback Tony Romo to develop as a team leader.

After not getting along with former teammates Jeff Garcia and Donovan McNabb, Owens seemed to have found his match when he teamed up with Romo. The two formed a seemingly unbreakable bond, that was publicly broken this past season. Owens claimed that Romo was creating plays with tight end Jason Whitten behind closed doors. He felt that he should be the primary receiver and, therefore, see the ball more. Statistics showed that Owens actually received the ball more than any other teammates.

"There are several decisions on our roster we have to look at," Jones said at the time. "This is the time of year we do that. I'm not trying to be trite, but as you all know we're evaluating players in college, we're evaluating free agents and we're evaluating our own roster. This is an ongoing thing, not any different than this time last year."

As for the Cowboys, the loss of Owens will certainly hurt the offense. Dallas does currently have some options at wide receiver, but may be looking to pick up someone in the draft or through free agency.

Their current wide receivers:
Patrick Crayton
Roy E. Williams
Miles Austin
Issiah Stanback

Williams can be a solid No. 1 receiver, while Crayton is not shabby at No. 2. What the Cowboys need is a quick slot receiver, ala Percy Harvin of Florida.

Now onto Owens, who seems to have limited options. He is one of the most physically dominant receivers in the game and still seems to have a little in the tank. The huge hindrance against Owens is his brash personality, the reason why this topic has even come into question.

The Tennessee Titans, Baltimore Ravens, Miami Dolphins and San Francisco 49ers all come to mind looking for receivers.

Owens may find problems, as his expectations will be high when looking for a team: A playoff contender, a decent quarterback, and finally money.

The Cowboys paid Owens a $12 million signing bonus just last year, included as part of a new four-year, $34 million deal.

When this mess gets sorted out there will be a distinct winner and loser in this transaction:

WINNER - Dallas Cowboys
LOSER - Terrell Owens

The voices of Dallas Cowboy fans across the nation can be heard simultaneously rejoicing at this very moment.

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Heyward-Bey has strong showing at combine

Former-Maryland wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey was in Indianapolis over the weekend to participate in the 2009 NFL Draft Combine along with many fellow players.

Heyward-Bey had the fastest offensive 40-time, breezing though in 4.30 seconds. He also finished ninth among receivers in the bench press by lifting 225 pounds 16 times. Finally, he finished in the top 5 in the vertical jump (38.5 inches) and broad jump (10 feet, 6 inches).

The Terp standout seemingly has secured 1st round status among the elite receivers in the draft. Many draft experts like Todd McShay and Mel Kiper list Heyward-Bey as the 4th best receiver in the draft. Here are the guys he is behind:

1) Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech - Without a doubt the best receiver prospect in this draft in a longshot, despite the depth. Last year, he was named the Biletnikoff Award winner for the second consecutive season. He had over 1,800 yards receiving and 21 touchdowns two years ago. Crabtree has awareness of his surroundings, very elusive, and can snatch the ball out of the air whenever. He rarely drops a catch that he should make. He reads defense and understands his routes. At 6'2", Crabtree is a match up nightmare at times.

2) Jeremy Maclin, Missouri -Maclin hauled in 13 touchdowns and over 1,200 yards last season for the Tigers as their go-to threat. At 6'0", 200 pounds, Maclin has adequate size for an NFL wideout. What stands out to most, though, is Maclin's breakaway speed. He has great instincts and knowledge for breaking away from tackles. He jumps of the line very fast and isn't afraid to go across the middle. Maclin did, however, a season-ending knee injury in June of 2006.

3) Percy Harvin, Florida - At 5'10", Harvin does not present an intimating build whatsoever compared to his fellow receivers, but he presents explosiveness that trumps all. He had over 600 receiving yards with 7 touchdowns and then got 70 carries, over 600 yards, and 10 touchdowns on the ground last season for the Gators. Harvin has crisp route-running and has rare breakaway speed like Chicago's Devin Hester. The biggest knock on Harvin is his combination of size and durability: Has missed practice time with a hip pointer, tendinitis in knee and tendinitis in Achilles tendon, as well as heel surgery and ankle problems.

4) Darrius Heyward-Bey, Maryland - On the surface, Heyward-Bey presents the ultimate package for a wide receiver: possessing prototypical height, prototypical bulk and elite top-end speed. He is willing to go over the middle and up top in order to grab a pass. He is, however, an unpolished route runner and hasn't garnered enough elusive talents, despite his speed. At Maryland, he failed to catch many balls that he should have. In 2008, he had over 600 yards receiving and 5 touchdowns, as he failed to get the ball enough.

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Williams plays large role in upset

If you did not see on ESPN this past Saturday, the Maryland Terrapin men's basketball team upset then-No. 3 North Carolina at the Comcast Center, 88-85 in overtime.

The game itself was remarkable as the Terps battled back from 16 points down to tie the game and force overtime, eventually winning. Their was an enormous atmosphere that would get any recruit to sign their commitment form right then and there.

Greivis Vazquez played the game of his life, accouting for the third triple-double in school history. He finished 35 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists.

While I know you may already have the gist of the game and sifted through loads of analysis, I will present one point: Gary Williams.

The main reason why Maryland won on Saturday was because of the large differential in coaching between the two schools. North Carolina is easily a much more talented team from top to bottom, with at least six potential NBA players.

The Tar Heels were also one of the nation's hottest teams coming into the game. They were riding a 10-game win streak against the likes of Clemson, Miami, Florida State and Duke. North Carolina also got back 7-foot freshman phenom Tyler Zeller to add to its immense depth.

For some reason, though, the Terps played an entirely better game than the Tar Heels. They played with more passion, moxie, and heart. Sure their skills or size weren't comparable, but the Terps did not dwell on that fact.

The reason for all of this is head coach Gary Williams. Williams simply out-coached his ACC counterpart, Roy Williams.

"The best team won today," Roy Williams said after the game. "The stronger team, the tougher team, the better-coached team. Sorry to be so blunt, but that's the way it was."

Vazquez also added, ""Every Maryland fan should be grateful because that man right there can coach."

And in reality, both of them are right. Without Gary Williams, the Terps would not be 17-9. They would not be 14-2 at home. They would not have beaten Michigan State. And finally, Maryland, without Gary Williams, would have beat North Carolina on Saturday.

All of this with a undersized 6'6" center as the teams lone senior.

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Bud Selig "Doesn't Deserve Blame"??

I do not understand how Bud Selig, the MLB Commissioner can come out and make a comment to the media stating, and I quote, '"I honestly don't know how anyone could have done more than we've already done."'

Here's one thing you could have done, kept it quiet. Why did everyone have to hear about it before there was any real proof? The media blew this whole situation way out of proportion as soon as it got wind of steroid use in baseball. The media didn't really have any solid facts at the time, it was just taking up rumors it had heard around and expanding on them. You could have done the investigating quietly with a small group of trusted MLB officials and only let the word out when you were sure you had absolute proof that someone had taken steroids.

Here's another idea, contact the player before they have to hear about it from their wife calling saying, "Hey honey, you were just on TV. Guess what? They said that you do steroids." All it takes is a phone call to Bonds to tell him that you are investigating him for possible steroid use and ask him if he has anything to say. If not, continue your investigation until you have solid evidence and then go to the media with your findings.

How about not letting the government getting involved? Since when does Congress not have anything better to do but investigate the use of steroids in baseball. The Mitchell Report was a joke and has only damaged baseball more and wasted the taxpayers' dollars. Here's the thing in my opinion, no one has been "convicted" of using steroids yet, so the Mitchell Report has not done anything. There is no solid proof, yet, from anyone saying that a MLB player has taken steroids. This is MLB's issue, not the government's.

Although it is true that Selig doesn't deserve all the blame for steroids since obviously, any player who takes steroids is at blame. Also, we cannot forget the fact that the Player's Union was very tough to deal with when Selig tried initiating steroid testing early on. However, for the Commissioner to come out and say that he doesn't deserve blame is just plain dumb. Of course he deserves blame. He has ruined the sanctity of America's Pastime. He certainly did not do all he could to curtail the situation and stop it from spreading to the media. He certainly has not handled the situation well with any player who has been accused of steroids. He distastefully said that A-Rod (or A-Roid as he will know be known at Fenway Park) has "shamed the game" of baseball. Whether or not that is the case, it is unprofessional for the Commissioner to say something like that when you look at the past decade of MLB and all that the Commissioner has done to shame the game (remember that 2002 All-Star game that ended in a tie). In my opinion, when the entire game is turned upside down in a situation such as this steroids issue, the Commissioner should be taking responsibility for his actions, whether or not he is at fault, and taking the blame that comes with being the highest authority in baseball.

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Franklin named Freidgen's successor

Last Friday, athletic director Debbie Yow and football head coach Ralph Friedgen announced that offensive coordinator James Franklin would take over the reigns when Friedgen decides to step down.

Many high profile assistant coaches have been given the decision to accept a “head coach in-waiting” position, rather than leave for a head coaching job elsewhere. Franklin, like others, will be receiving a pay raise, but not necessarily increased duties.

On the national landscape, the successor title was recently given to Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp. Current head coach Mack Brown, though, still has eight years on his contract and doesn’t seem close to retiring.

The move allows Texas to have the same defensive system in place for years to come, as Muschamp is the fourth defensive coordinator in the last five years and was already fielding head-coaching offers from the likes of Clemson and Tennessee.

Maryland, while not on the prestige level of a team like Texas, just got Franklin back a year ago and do not want to see him leave for another school.

In Tallahassee, the Florida State Seminoles seem to be in the same position as the Terps when they appointed Jimbo Fisher as Bobby Bowden’s successor. Bowden, 79, may be stepping down sooner than later.

The move is one that has become increasingly popular over the past year because of the changes in the college football landscape. Along with FSU and Texas, Maryland joins Oregon, Kentucky and Purdue as teams that have designated successors.

Stability is one of the main factors for choosing a successor and also becoming more important in recruiting. This stability that has been jeopardized by the shuffling of college coaches around the country.

While recruits are being scrutinized for opting out of their commitments, sometimes it is for good reason. Many high school players commit to a program because of the relationship they have built with a coach.

When that coach leaves for another program or gets fired, the recruit is left to deal with a situation that he did not plan for.

Franklin is an obvious choice because of his recent success for recruiting in the area. He led all assistants this season, being credited for grabbing 11 of the 24 recruits for the Terps.

The haul included four 4-star recruits according to Rivals.com: DE DeOnte Arnett, DE David Mackall, RB Caleb Porzel, and OL Peter White.

If and when Franklin does take over, we will hopefully see a peaceful transfer of power like the United States just saw with President Barack Obama.

eckarddbk@gmail.com

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The Future of the MLS

David Beckham was supposed to revive Major League Soccer. In that he was successful, somewhat. He was a bit of a spark-plug in his first year although he spent most of the season riddled with injuries. Opposing attendances rose as people wanted to get the chance to see the amazing David Beckham and hoped to see a free kick he could bend. Although David Beckham now is trying to get a full transfer to AC Milan, I believe that his time in the MLS is not over.

When he is too old to play competitively in Europe, he will be welcomed back to the MLS with open arms, where he will still be better than most. The man who is revered around the world for his tremendous free kick abilities has not fully made his mark on the MLS yet. However, his presence, even if it is only for a few short years, has slightly rejuvenated the MLS. Now the MLS participates in the North American SuperLiga, a tournament that combines the top 4 MLS teams and 4 top teams from the Primera Division de Mexico. This tournament between the two rival soccer nations offered the largest winner's purse in North American soccer history and was a great way to add more heat to the fire between the rivalry of the two nations when it comes to qualifying for the World Cup in 2010. This tournament caused a great deal of excitement and will be a thrilling tournament for years to come because of the intensity that the players approach the games with.

Now back to Beckham for a second. I, for one, am not thoroughly convinced that he is one of the greatest soccer players of his time. There is no question that he is one of the best free kick takers in the history of soccer. There is no question that the English national team saw something in him at a young age when he started playing with them and was eventually named captain. However, in my opinion, he is not a complete soccer player. He simply doesn't play defense and doesn't have a whole lot of pace. He seems to me to be a role player who can elevate a team but cannot be the sole provider. With that said, in the MLS, a league well below the level of European leauges, he is one of the top players since most good American players now play overseas with European teams. Therefore, you will see Beckham back in the MLS, whether it is this season, or in a few years when he cannot keep up with the level of play in the Serie A. But he will be back, and will again rejuvenate the MLS.

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"Born Ready" visits Maryland

Five-star recruit Lance Stephenson was in attendance during Maryland's 73-68 victory over the Miami Hurricanes on Saturday night. Stephenson is a 6'6" combo guard/forward from Lincoln, New York and is high school teammates with Maryland-bound center James Padgett.

After lots of conversation about Gary Williams recruiting tactics, he was able to successfully lure Stephenson to College Park to take his first official recruiting visit.

Stephenson from the outside looks like a phenomenal prospect. He has superb size for his position and is extremely athletic. He loves to attack the basket and is known for his toughness. Rated as one of the highest prospects in the nation, Stephenson would rejuvenate the Terrapin basketball program quickly.

He is 7th overall on Scout.com, 9th on Rivals.com, and 8th on ESPN.com. Many "experts" are penciling him in for the 2010 NBA Draft already.

The recruitment of "Born Ready" brings up two important questions for Maryland and coach Williams.

The first would be about whether or not Williams is becoming desperate or not. Stephenson is an amazing prospect, but he has a checkered background that should raise some questions. In the past, Williams would not continue recruiting a player with that past.

In early October, Stephenson was charged with sexually assaulting a 17-year old girl at his own school. While the charges and implications have not been made clear since then, his recruitment has taken a hit.

The other important question about his recruitment is about his impact on the roster. Currently, Maryland has two commits for 2009, and has one senior graduating: Dave Neal. With those changes, Maryland will have the NCAA maximum 13 scholarship players. Maybe Gary is hoping Vazquez will go pro, or someone will transfer.

Furthermore, Stephenson plays guard/forward, a position where the Terp's have considerable depth. If he were to go to Maryland, I would assume that Stephenson would be a starter, but how?

At guard Maryland currently has Greivis Vazquez, Eric Hayes, Adrian Bowie, Sean Mosely, and Cliff Tucker. With all of those players back next year, who will be riding the pine?

As a Maryland fan, it would be great to see Williams snag a recruit like Stephenson, because it would bring in lots of media attention from across the country. What I do not know, is how he fits in with this team.

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Super Bowl Mayhem

Kurt Warner almost got his second title and probably his second Super Bowl MVP yesterday but it was stolen right out of his hands, literally. The second to last play of the game he was stripped trying to deliver a downfield pass after scrambling to evade the onrushing Lamarr Woodley. Unfortunately for the Cardinals and Warner, Woodley got his hands on the ball and knocked it out of Warner's hand temporarily. It looked to some that Warner regained enough control to continue to move the ball forward for an incomplete pass. But not to the eyes of the refs or the men in the booth upstairs who quickly and quietly reviewed the play and saw nothing to overturn the call on the field.

When looking at a play such as this one, people need to understand the pressure that refs are under and the speed at which these events take place in real time. It is hard for viewers to see calls like this when slowed down to super speed so take a second and imagine what it would be like to call the play on the field. I am not saying that the refs and booth do not deserve some fault, there should have been a more in depth look at the play. However, it is unfair for fans to blame the Cardinals' loss on the refs.

The refs didn't force Kurt Warner to throw an interception in the end zone to James Harrison. The refs didn't shut down the Arizona running game. The Steelers did those things and deserve credit for the win. The Cardinals played strong, except for those first two drives of the game, and fought hard to the end. I wanted to see Kurt Warner on the 30-second drill go down the field for MVP #2 but it wasn't in the Cards.

On the other side, great credit must be given to one of the best developing young wide receivers in the league, Super Bowl MVP Santonio Holmes. The man was phenomenal, catching balls all over the field and running past many Cardinals defenders. Plus, that game winning catch was an okay grab, I guess. For a young receiver, Holmes showed last night that he has what it takes to take the place of Hines Ward in the near future as the premier receiver for Big Ben.

The Steel Curtain of the season showed up last night, but not nearly as they had done throughout the rest of the season. On the one hand, Harrison had the 100-yard pick-six and Woodley forced the fumble that sealed the game for the Steelers. On the other hand, although they held the Cardinals running game to 33 yards (not a big accomplishment this season) they gave up big yardage to Warner's arm. The Curtain contained Fitzgerald for most of the game but was unable to stop him on the second Cardinals' possession of the fourth quarter when Warner went 7-7 for 87 yards and a touchdown with 3 of those passes to LFitz, including the incredible TD reception. Then two drives later, Warner hooked up with LFitz again, this time for a 64-yard touchdown.

All in all, it was a rewarding experience to watch this year's Super Bowl. Normally a quiet defensive struggle, this game broke the norm and was interesting to watch and an all-around solid game of football, what you would expect from two teams with elite players on both sides of the ball.

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To Roger Goodell: Referees are crushing the game

The Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Arizona Cardinals 27-23 in Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa Bay, Florida on Sunday night in one of the most memorable Super Bowls of all-time.

Wait, didn't we say that last season when the immortal Patriots lost to the Giants of New York? It's hard to find a better game than last season's, but the Steelers and Cardinals certainly provided enough story lines and action.

The game itself was amazing to watch, kudos to the Pittsburgh Steelers for leading an unbelievable winning drive. Santonio Holmes is now a household name among receievers, while Larry Fitzgerald also didn't disappoint.

I do, however, have one major knock on the game itself: officiating.

I beg you to find a bigger game than the Super Bowl. There is a reason that commercials sell for $3 million for 30 seconds, the Super Bowl is the most anticipated game annually.

There are two major downfalls for the referees, though, in this game. The first late in the fourth quarter, when Arizona stalled and were forced to punt the ball. On the coverage, Arizona player Aaron Francisco went to cover the punt return when Pittsburgh linebacker James Harrison got in the back

Harrison, the 2008 Defensive Player of the Year, began to punch Francisco to the ground. Right when Francisco began to stand up, Harrison threw him back to the ground not once, but twice. It was an ugly display of what the NFL should not stand for.

The referees obviously saw this, as they called a personal foul, but they did not make the obvious call: ejection. Harrison should not have been allowed to come back and play in the game for the Steelers after totally going against the NFL rules.

The second infraction against the referees came in the second to last play of the game. Arizona quarterback Kurt Warner was scrambling in the pocket trying to find an open receiver, stepped up, and then was hit as he let the ball go.

The officials called this a fumble and gave the ball to the Steelers, who went ahead and kneeled to seal the game.

There were no official reviews. In the final two minutes of an NFL game, only the booth can call for reviews. In this case, they for some reason did not. The play was definitely controversial. Too many fans and viewers across the country, Warner looked as if his arm was coming forward, meaning an incomplete pass.

While I am not saying that Arizona lost the game because of this call, I am saying that it is a horrendous job by the referees to fail to look over the play. An extra five or ten minutes is all it would have taken. In arguable the biggest game of the year in any of the major sports, the referees just got lazy.

It is ridiculous that an official review was not called for. Arizona players and coaches were desperately pleading for a chance, but they were not given it.

It's a real shame that one of the Super Bowl's greatest games will be tainted by poor officiating.

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Resurgence of Mediocrity

Yes, the Terrapin men's basketball team finally won another game last night. Yes, Gary finally gave Sean Mosley a start. Hallelujah it's about time. After a series of solid first halves and abysmal second halves, the Terps finally played for a full 40 minutes last night against Miami. The Terrapin defense was smothering holding Jack McClinton to only 5 points at halftime and for most of the second half. They also forced 16 turnovers and scored 20 points off those turnovers.

It was good to see the team play with some passion in the second half for a change. The Terps always come out firing in the first 20 minutes of home games and whether or not they have the lead, they play with passion and excitement. Then it seems they lose all that momentum at halftime and can't seem to grasp it once again. Also, it helps when people start scoring again. Landon Milbourne led the Terps with 17 points, mostly in the second half. Dave Neal chipped in 11 and it seems Eric Hayes may have relocated some confidence in his shot that has been missing of late. Jin Soo Kim added a spark off the bench after being reinstated by the NCAA and Sean Mosley provided his usually spark with more solid play. Oh, by the way, Jin Soo Kim can dunk a basketball...that skinny frame does actually have enough muscle to reach the rim.

Greivis Vasquez was one assist shy of a triple-double which would have been the first since 1987 finishing with 11 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists. Although Greivis didn't score as much as his average, he certainly brought some much needed passion in the second half to a team that has been lifeless in the last 20 minutes recently. Greivis had his signature no-look pass when it was completely unnecessary and hopefully it landed him on a highlight reel somewhere so he can be happy. With that said, Greivis played well, clearly, and he deserves some credit for getting the team pumped up and ready to play again. Hopefully for everyone's sake the team will continue with this passionate play and win some more ACC games in an attempt to reach the Big Dance, which they still have a good shot at.

However, we must take all this with a grain of salt. Yes, the Terps won and everyone is happy that they finally saw another win. Yes, the Terps played a full 40 minutes of fundamental, passionate basketball. Yes, Greivis was an assist away from only the third triple-double in school history. Yes, even Jin Soo Kim got into the game and fired up the crowd with a dunk. Don't forget however that the Terps shot just 5-19 from behind the arc, an abysmal 26.3%. Not to mention the fact that they are shooting just over 30% from 3 point land on the season, good for the bottom third of Division 1 college hoops. Also, we did just beat Miami, not even close to being good in the ACC.

So take from this win that we have found a little bit of confidence in our shooting and we still have a shot at the tournament. Just remember that this game in no way, shape, or form means that we are back to where we should be this season and there is still a lot of work to be done. Now that we have some momentum hopefully we will be able to achieve our goals for the season.

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Super Bowl XLIII Preview

Out of all the teams in the Wild NFC, who would have thought that the Arizona Cardinals (9-7) would be emerging as the champion? I certainly did not, especially after they lost four of their last six regular season games.

Anyone remember the infamous Patriots game? A game in which the Cardinals could not handle the snow and lost 47-7 to a non-playoff team.

Well, onto my analysis for the game..

OFFENSE:
Pittsburgh - The Steelers will be going into Tampa Bay relying on their young, but experienced quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Big Ben has already won a Super Bowl, but he has been inconsistent all year. He has thrown 17 touchdowns and 15 interceptions with a completion percentage just under 60 (59.9). The main concern for the Steelers should be the ability for Roethlisberger to hold on to the ball. By not throwing any interceptions, he should put the Steelers in a position to win. Pittsburgh will also be relying on the legs of their running back Willie Parker. Parker, who returned from injury a few weeks ago, was able to scamper for 147 yards and 2 touchdowns against a very good defense with Baltimore.

Arizona - When you think of the Cardinals offense, all first thoughts should be directed straight to their Wide Receivers. One of the best tandems in the game, Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin make a deadly combination. Fitzgerald has been the star, though, already amassing 419 yards, an NFL Playoff record. He has also grabbed five TDs. At quarterback, Arizona will be staying with longtime veteran Kurt Warner. Already winning a Super Bowl with St. Louis, Warner knows how to deal with the spotlight.

Edge: Arizona Cardinals - Fitzgerald is just too good.

DEFENSE:
Pittsburgh - While the Baltimore Ravens certainly had a great year defensively, they have been totally outdone by Pittsburgh. The Steelers tout one of the best defenses that the NFL has seen since the 2000 Ravens. Up front, the Steelers rely on the big Casey Hampton to plug up any running holes. The linebackers are tough and fast, with James Farrior and James Harrison. Finally, you cannot forget about S Troy Polamalu, who will be trying to cause disruptions everywhere on the field.

Arizona - While the Cardinals boast some big names like Darnell Dockett, Antrel Rolle and Adrian Wilson, they have not played well defensively during the regular season. They have, however, turned it up a bit in the postseason. The defense has been able to hold teams under 25 points through the post-season, while their offense scores in the 30s.

Edge: Pittsburgh - who are we kidding?

COACHING:
Pittsburgh - The Steelers will be led by Mike Tomlin, who is in his second year at the helm. Tomlin took over when former-coach Bill Cowher decided to retire. Tomlin has found great success since taking over, with two division titles already. He has formed a bond with his quarterback, and brings a defensive intensity. A former defensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings, Tomlin likes to suffocate the opponents before they have a chance.

Arizona - The Cardinals, on the other hand, will be led by another second year head coach: Ken Whisenhunt. The ironic part is, Whisenhunt was a leading candidate for the Pittsburgh job when Cowher retired. The job went to Tomlin instead and Whisenhunt opted for Arizona. Whisenhunt was a coach for five years in Pittsburgh, and knows much about their players and system. He also is a mastermind of trick plays.

Edge: Arizona - Can't go against a former Pittsburgh coach


PREDICTION - While Arizona has a great offense and coach, Pittsburgh's defense has been too good all year. Arizona will have trouble running the ball from the very beginning like they have against almost every other team they have faced. Their wide receivers are good, but Pittsburgh knows they will be trying to air it out and stop it quickly. The Cardinals defense is not good enough to win a close game, and as we've seen against the Ravens multiple times, Pittsburgh can lead game winning drives with ease.

Pittsburgh 24, Arizona 14.

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Joe Torre rip's Yanks in new book

Joe Torre, who was practically booted out of New York last off-season, has written a tell-all book with Sports Illustrated writer Tom Verducci called "The Yankee Years" and his set to debut on February 3rd.

The book supposedly bashes several Yankee's players, coaches and front office personnel including star third baseman Alex Rodriquez and general manager Brian Cashman.

"I think it's important to understand context here. The book is not a first-person book by Joe Torre, it's a third-person narrative based on 12 years of knowing the Yankees and it's about the changes in the game in that period," Verducci told the site. "Seems to me the New York Post assigned this third-person book entirely to Joe Torre and that's not the case. In fact, if people saw that Post story they probably noticed there are no quotes from Joe Torre in it. Joe Torre does not rip anybody in the book. The book really needs to be read in context."

"It's a much larger book about the Yankees," Verducci continued. "Not only how the game changed around them, but the growth of information analysis, revenue sharing, growth of intellect in front offices, changes in Red Sox ownership, the Steroid Era, etc."

ESPN and other media outlets have reported that the book goes into detail about how Rodriguez is "A-Fraud" and how Brian Cashman did not support him throughout the winter meetings with Owner George Steinbrenner.

The book is supposed to be a huge hit when it comes out, but it begs the question: Was it really needed?

If the reports are true, this book will go to damage multiple reputations and relationships. First off is Rodriguez's, but you also have to look at Torre.

Torre led the Yankees to four World Championships during his reign in NYC. He created a great dynasty that will be talked about for years. He also will be forever remember as one of the greatest to put on the pinstripes.

But now? By throwing his former team under the bus and exposing what shouldn't be exposed, Torre officially burned the bridge with his former employer. People also may look at this, as a cheap way to get back at a team that gave him the short end of the stick.

Maybe Torre isn't who we actually thought he was. While Torre may be rolling in the money after this debut, his creditials as one of the games greatest will surely be deteriorating.

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Madness in Maryland

If you haven't heard, the University of Maryland men's basketball coach, Gary Williams, is under heavy fire from an assortment of troubling events. The first would be the devastating loss to their "rival", the Duke Blue Devils, by a whopping 41 points last Saturday.

But the more troubling is his interactions with the athletics department at the university. On Monday afternoon, reporters asked Williams about former signees Gus Gilchrist and Tyree Evans decisions to not be at Maryland. Williams responded it is not his fault that the two players are not currently on the roster.

While those two players are now gone and talk should be put to rest, many bring up Williams' recruiting woes during hard times. After the Duke loss, Maryland let Boston College come from 17 behind to win at the Comcast Center Tuesday night.

The worst part of it all, is that Senior Associate Athletics Director Kathleen Worthington took offense to the comments made by the head coach.

Worthington called the Baltimore Sun and said: "I want to clarify the facts and the timing and the decision process of these situations. It was my recommendation that we not sign a release for Gus [Gilchrist]. I didn't want to release him. It was the head coach's decision. No one else released Gus."

After the Boston College loss, Williams certainly felt the pressure and lashed out a heated response."Kathy Worthington does not speak for me. She has never won a national championship. She has never done anything. She is an associate AD. She doesn't speak for me."

Since those comments, there has been no media contact by the players, the coach, or any athletic department officials.

The damage has certainly been done though.

There is much chatter about the job security of the once loved coach. He resurrected the men's basketball program after horrible NCAA infractions and the loss of all-time great Len Bias. He brought over ten straight NCAA Tournament Berths. He also brought the programs first Final Four in 2001.

And then he won the 2002 National Championship with gritty players like Juan Dixon and Lonny Baxter.

Gary Williams is the face of the Maryland Terrapin basketball team. Many people across the country look at him like an elite coach. But for some reason, fans across the area feel like he has out stayed his welcome.

Those people are the ones going off on message boards, blogs, and other new media. Those people are the ones that love you the first day, hate you the next.

Maybe the momentum is building for Gary's exit. I for one hope that it is not.

Like said earlier, Williams is the face of the program. Working and talking with important Terrapin Club members monthly, I have realized what has really made this program.

Without Williams, their would be less revenue from donations and season tickets than ever before. The people that are donating and supporting the program are the ones that are in the stands until the buzzer.

These are the people that still savor the chance of going to the NCAA Tournament. They will look for every nook and cranny to get there. Finally, without these donors and supporters there would be no National Championship.

I agree Gary Williams needs to make changes in order to be competitive. The world of college basketball and recruiting changes by the week. Recently the NCAA mandated that 7th graders are official basketball recruits.

What I do not agree with are the cries for Williams resignation or termination.

As a sign said during the Boston College game:
"In Gary We Trust"

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The Boston Slump

After a terrific start to the seasons by the Bruins, the Celtics, and the Boston College Eagles things have come to a sudden halt. Whether it is the constantly gray days, or the emotional toll on the players, or the winter chill, but Boston sports teams have been having a rough start to the new year.

The Boston Celtics had the best start in franchise history and amassed a 19-game winning streak, the longest in team history. Going into the game on Christmas Day against the Los Angeles Lakers, the Celtics were on an incredible high. They were playing well, and more importantly, they were wining games in which they weren't playing especially well. Then all the good things that had happened up to that point came crashing down. The Celtics played okay that day but didn't have anyone to take over in the 4th quarter. Pau Gasol was the man for LA in that situation and led the Lakers to the victory. That began the decline that is now the Boston Celtics. The team has lost 7 of 9, the most recent, last night to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavs now have the lead in the Eastern Conference over the Celtics who are in serious need of a win. The team has clearly worn itself out in that incredible win streak and is now dealing with sloppy play, poor shooting, and many more turnovers than usual. The team needs to rally itself again around one win and take it from there. Ubuntu, the Celtics' motto of togetherness last season, is going to need to shine through again as the players regroup and right the ship.

Another Boston team, the Bruins had a wonderful start to the season. Many young players were stepping into the spotlight and playing extremely well. The goaltending was terrific, both from Tim Thomas and Manny Fernandez. The team was leading the Eastern Conference and scoring as well as playing solid defense. They have just recently hit a small patch of ice along the road and lost two straight at home. The first, a 4-2 defeat at the hands of the Buffalo Sabers snapped the Bruins 10-game winning streak and the first home loss since late October. Then, 3 days later, the Minnesota Wild came to town and downed the Bruins 1-0. The Bruins played well in these 2 losses but we unable to finish their chances and thus lost both. The Bruins have returned to their winning ways with a 3-goal 3rd period against the Ottawa Senators. The Bruins (64 pts) are still atop the Eastern Conference and are skating strong at the midway point of the season.

Even bigger news was the upset of the University of North Carolina Tarheels at the hands of the Boston College Eagles in college basketball. The Eagles shocked the nation and the then-#1 ranked Tarheels. Tyrese Rice led the way with 25 points for the Eagles in the win.

BUT, the next game the Eagles played was at home against the Harvard Crimson, which the Eagles lost 82-70. The story with the Eagles and Tyrese Rice seems to be inconsistency as Rice has had wonderful nights, such as against the Tar Heels and his tournament play his freshman season, and then the next night he will be abysmal and nonexistent. Rice had three points until the final 4 minutes of the game and finished with 14 as Harvard beat a ranked opponent for the first time in school history.

The New Year has not seen the best of Boston sports but the year is still young and there is plenty of time to regain control of the top spot for the Celtics, retain control of the top spot for the Bruins, and retain a ranking for the Eagles.

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