Sports Injuries

Sports are a big part of lives in the country. This reporter has found some news showing athletes are becoming more seriously injured at younger ages. Here is the report.

week 2 predictions 52-28 week 1

PREDICTIONS FOR WEEK 2.
Thursday
Pittsburgh over Cincinnati
Friday
Utah over Utah State
Saturday
14 Ohio State over UCF (Central Florida)
Miami (FL) over 21 Kansas State
NC State over Connecticut
Minnesota over FCS New Hampshire
Tulane over Tulsa
Temple over Maryland
Penn State over Virginia
Auburn over Mississippi State
9 South Carolina over East Carolina
12 Clemson over Ball State
Boston College over FCS Maine
Miami (OH) over FCS Southern Illinois
Eastern Michigan over FCS Illinois State
15 Virginia Tech over FCS Austin Peay
Texas-San Antonio over FCS Texas A&M-Commerce
California over FCS Southern Utah
Colorado over FCS Sacramento State
North Carolina over Wake Forest
BYU over FCS Weber State
Washington State over FCS Eastern Washington
1 Alabama over Western Kentucky
2 USC over Syracuse
11 Michigan State over Central Michigan
Air Force over 19 Michigan
22 Notre Dame over Purdue
23 Louisville over FCS Missouri State
Texas A&M over 24 Florida
Massachusetts over Indiana
Rutgers over FCS Howard
Iowa over Iowa State
Kansas over Rice
South Florida over Nevada
13 Wisconsin over Oregon State
Tennessee over FCS Georgia State
Wyoming over Toledo
South Alabama over FCS Nicholls State
6 Florida State over FCS Savannah State
FCS Morgan State over Buffalo
Florida International over Akron
4 Oregon over Fresno State
3 LSU over Washington
5 Oklahoma over FCS Florida A&M
8 Arkansas over Louisiana-Monroe
20 TCU over FCS Grambling State
Colorado State over FCS South Dakota State
Georgia Tech over FCS Presbyterian
Ole Miss over UTEP
Bowling Green over Idaho
Ohio over New Mexico State
North Texas over FCS Texas Southern
FCS Western Carolina over Marshall
Texas Tech over Texas State
Arkansas State over Memphis
MTSU over Florida Atlantic
Northern Illinois over FCS UT-Martin
Louisiana-Lafayette over Troy
Western Kentucky over FCS Eastern Illinois
16 Nebraska over UCLA
San Diego State over Army
Kentucky over Kent State
Missouri over 7 Georgia
17 Texas over New Mexico
San Jose State over FCS UC-Davis
Vanderbilt over Northwestern
Houston over Louisiana Tech
SMU over FCS Stephen F. Austin
UNLV over FCS Northern Arizona
18 Oklahoma State over Arizona
25 Stanford over Duke
Arizona State over Illinois

Week 1 Prediction Results with 3 games remaining

Atlantic Coast Conference
North Carolina State loses to Tennessee= correct prediction UT 35 NCState 21
North Carolina over FCS Elon= correct prediction UNC 62 FCS Elon 0
Maryland over FCS William and Mary= correct prediction Maryland 7 FCS W&M 6
Virginia over FCS Richmond= correct prediction UVA 43 FCS Richmond 19
Boston College over Miami (Fl)= incorrect prediction Mia 41-BC 32
7 Florida State over FCS Murray State= correct prediction FSU 69 FCS Murray State 3
Wake Forest over FCS Liberty= correct prediction WF 20 FCS Liberty 17
Florida International over Duke= incorrect prediction Duke 46 FIU 26
Auburn over 14 Clemson = incorrect prediction Clemson 26 Auburn 19
Georgia Tech over 16 Virginia Tech

so far ACC Standings are 6-3 with 1 game remaining.

Big East Conference
Connecticut over Massachusetts* = correct pick UConn 37 UMass 0
Temple over FCS Villanova = correct pick Temple 41 FCS 'Nova 10
Syracuse over Northwestern= incorrect pick NW 42 Syracuse 41
Pittsburgh over FCS Youngstown State= incorrect pick FCS YS 31 Pitt 17
FCS Chattanooga over South Florida= incorrect pick USF 34 FCS Chatt 13
Tulane over Rutgers= incorrect pick Rutgers 24 Tulane 12
25 Louisville over Kentucky = correct Louisville 32 Kentucky 14

so far Big East standings not too hot.. 3-5 making my overall predictions for games 9-8 with 1 remaining.

Big Ten Conference
UNLV over Minnesota = incorrect Minn 30 UNLV 27 3OT
24 Boise State over 13 Michigan State = incorrect MSU 17 BSU 13
Penn State over Ohio = Ohio 24 Penn State 14
Illinois over Western Michigan correct prediction Illinois 24 WMU 14
18 Ohio State over Miami (OH) = correct prediction Ohio State 56 Miami (OH) 10
Northern Illinois over Iowa = incorrect Iowa 18 NIU 17
Purdue over FCS Eastern Kentucky = correct Purdue 48 FCS EKU 6
17 Nebraska over Southern Mississippi = correct Nebraska 49 USM 20
12 Wisconsin over FCS Northern Iowa = correct Wisconsin 26 FCS NIU 21
Indiana over FCS Indiana State = correct Indiana 24 FCS ISU 17
2 Alabama over 8 Michigan = correct Alabama 41 Michigan 14

Big Ten Predictions are 7-4 making my predictions 16-12 so far

Big XII Conference
West Virginia** over Marshall correct WVU 69 Marshall 34
Tulsa over Iowa State= incorrect Iowa State 38 Tulsa 23
Kansas over FCS South Dakota State = correct Kansas 31 FCS SDSU 17
Texas Tech over FCS Northwestern State = correct TTU 44 FCS NWState 6
19 Oklahoma State over FCS Savannah State = correct OSU 84 FCS Savannah State 0
22 Kansas State over FCS Missouri State = correct Kansas State 51 FCS MoState 9
15 Texas over Wyoming = correct Texas 37 Wyoming 17
4 Oklahoma over UTEP = correct OU 24 UTEP 7
Baylor over Southern Methodist (SMU)
TCU HAS BYE

Overall Big XII Predictions 8-1 making my predictions 24-13 so far with 1 game remaining

Conference USA
UCF over Akron = correct UCF 56 Akron 14
Rice over UCLA= incorrect UCLA 49 Rice 24
UAB over Troy = incorrect Troy 39 UAB 29
FCS Appalachian State over East Carolina = incorrect ECU 35 FCS APState 13
Memphis over FCS Tennessee-Martin = incorrect FCS UTM 20 Memphis 17 
Houston over Texas State*= incorrect Texas State 30 Houston 13

so far my C-USA predictions are 1-6
my overall predictions are with 3 games remaining 25-19

Division 1A-Independents
BYU over Washington State = correct pick BYU 30 WSU 6
Navy over Notre Dame= incorrect pick ND 50 Navy 10
Army=BYE

my overall predictions for Independents 1-1 making my overall 26-20 with 1 game remaining

Mid-American Conference
Eastern Michigan over Ball State = incorrect Ball State 37 EMU 26
Central Michigan over FCS SE Missouri State = correct CMU 38 FCS SEMOState 27
Kent State over FCS Towson = correct pick Kent State 41 FCS Towson 21
6 Georgia over Buffalo = correct pick Georgia 45 Buffalo 23
23 Florida over Bowling Green = correct pick Florida 27 Bowling Green 14
Arizona over Toledo = correct pick Arizona 24 Toledo 17

my overall predictions with the MAC were 5-1 making my overall 31-21 with 1 game remaining

Mountain West Conference
Air Force over FCS Idaho State = correct AFA 49 FCS Idaho State 21
Nevada over California = correct Nevada 31 California 24
Colorado over Colorado State = incorrect CSU 22 Colorado 17
FCS Southern over New Mexico = incorrect NM 66 FCS Southern 21
1 USC over Hawaii = correct USC 49 Hawaii 10
Fresno State over FCS Weber State = correct Fresno State 37 FCS Weber State 10
San Diego State over Washington= incorrect Washington 21 SDSU 12

my overall Mountain West Conference predictions 4-3 making my overall 35-24 with 1 game remaining

PAC-12 Conference
Utah over FCS Northern Colorado = correct prediction Utah 41 FCS N Colorado 0
Arizona State over FCS Northern Arizona = correct prediction ASU 63 FCS N Arizona 6
21 Stanford over San Jose State = correct prediction Stanford 20 SJSU 17
Oregon State over FCS Nicholls State POSTPONED DUE TO HURRICANE ISAAC
5 Oregon over Arkansas State = correct prediction Oregon 57 Arkansas State 35

my overall PAC-12 predictions 4-0 making my overall 37-26 with 1 game remaining

SEC Conference
9 South Carolina over Vanderbilt = correct South Carolina 17 Vanderbilt 13
Missouri* over SE Louisiana State = correct Missouri 62 SELoState 10
Mississippi (Ole Miss) over FCS Central Arkansas = correct Ole Miss 49 FCS C Arkansas 27
Mississippi State over FCS Jackson State = correct Mississippi State 56 FCS Jackson State 9
10 Arkansas over FCS Jacksonville State = correct Arkansas 49 FCS Jacksonville State 24
3 LSU over North Texas = correct LSU 41 North Texas 14
Texas A&M v Louisiana Tech POSTPONED due to Hurricane Ivan

my overall SEC predictions 6-0 making my overall predictions 45-26 with 1 game remaining

Sun Belt Conference
Middle Tennessee State (MTSU) over FCS McNeese State = incorrect FCS McNeese State 27 MTSU 21
Florida Atlantic (FAU) over FCS Wagner correct FAU 7 Wagner 3
*UTSA over *South Alabama (USA) correct UTSA 33 USA 31
Western Kentucky over FCS Austin Peay correct WKU 49 FCS APSU 10
Louisiana-Lafayette over FCS Lamar = correct ULL 40 FCS Lamar 0

my overall SunBelt predictinos 4-1 making my overall 49-27 with 1 game remaining

Western Athletic Conference
New Mexico State over FCS Sacramento State = correct NMSU 49 FCS Sacramento State 19
Utah State over FCS Southern Utah = correct Utah State 34 FCS S Utah 3
FCS Eastern Washington over Idaho = correct FCS Eastern Washington 20 Idaho 3

my WAC predictions are 3-0 making my overall 52-27 with 1 game remaining

Predictions were made in June before the Penn State scandal penalties were released.
Matches in BOLD PRINT are LOSSES.
*=New to FBS Football
**= Teams new to conference.

Make comments here or at www.matthagensports.blogspot.com

   

          Join us at 102.5 FM The Game-Nashville ESPN Radio for all of your sports needs in the Nashville Tennessee area.

          If you don't live in the Nashville area join us at www.1025thegame.com or any of our mid-state affiliates.

High School Football is back at it again!!!

Joe Dubin

Michael "Sudzo" Waddell

         Join us tonight on 102.5 The Game with High School Blitz convering all of the Middle Tennessee area High School football games. Tune it at 9PM Central Time at 102.5 The Game ESPN Radio Nashville or www.1025thegame.com . BEST COLLEGE FOOTBALL COVERAGE IN TENNESSEE!!!

NCAA Predictions Week 1

Atlantic Coast Conference
North Carolina State loses to Tennessee
North Carolina over FCS Elon
Maryland over FCS William and Mary
Boston College over Miami (Fl)
7 Florida State over FCS Murray State
Wake Forest over FCS Liberty
Florida International over Duke
Auburn over 14 Clemson
Georgia Tech over 16 Virginia Tech

Big East Conference
Connecticut over Massachusetts*
Temple over FCS Villanova
Syracuse over Northwestern
Pittsburgh over FCS Youngstown State
FCS Chattanooga over South Florida
Tulane over Rutgers
25 Louisville over Kentucky

Big Ten Conference
UNLV over Minnesota
24 Boise State over 13 Michigan State
Penn State over Ohio
Illinois over Western Michigan
18 Ohio State over Miami (OH)
Northern Illinois over Iowa
Purdue over FCS Eastern Kentucky
17 Nebraska over Southern Mississippi
12 Wisconsin over FCS Northern Iowa
Indiana over FCS Indiana State
2 Alabama over 8 Michigan

Big XII Conference
West Virginia** over Marshall 
Tulsa over Iowa State
Kansas over FCS South Dakota State
Texas Tech over FCS Northwestern State
19 Oklahoma State over FCS Savannah State
22 Kansas State over FCS Missouri State
15 Texas over Wyoming
4 Oklahoma over UTEP
Baylor over Southern Methodist (SMU)
TCU HAS BYE

Conference USA
UCF over Akron
Rice over UCLA
UAB over Troy
FCS Appalachian State over East Carolina
Memphis over FCS Tennessee-Martin
Houston over Texas State*

Division 1A-Independents
BYU over Washington State
Navy over Notre Dame
Army=BYE

Mid-American Conference
Eastern Michigan over Ball State
Central Michigan over FCS SE Missouri State
Kent State over FCS Towson
6 Georgia over Buffalo
23 Florida over Bowling Green
Arizona over Toledo

Mountain West Conference
Air Force over FCS Idaho State 
Nevada over California
Colorado over Colorado State
FCS Southern over New Mexico
1 USC over Hawaii
Fresno State over FCS Weber State
San Diego State over Washington

PAC-12 Conference
Utah over FCS Northern Colorado
Arizona State over FCS Northern Arizona
21 Stanford over San Jose State
Oregon State over FCS Nicholls State
5 Oregon over Arkansas State

SEC Conference
9 South Carolina over Vanderbilt
Missouri* over SE Louisiana State
Mississippi (Ole Miss) over FCS Central Arkansas
Mississippi State over FCS Jackson State
10 Arkansas over FCS Jacksonville State
3 LSU over North Texas
Texas A&M v Louisiana Tech POSTPONED due to Hurricane Ivan

Sun Belt Conference
Middle Tennessee State (MTSU) over FCS McNeese State
Florida Atlantic (FAU) over FCS Wagner
*UTSA over *South Alabama (USA)
Western Kentucky over FCS Austin Peay
Louisiana-Lafayette over FCS Lamar

Western Athletic Conference
New Mexico State over FCS Sacramento State
Utah State over FCS Southern Utah
Eastern Washington over Idaho

Predictions were made in June before the Penn State scandal penalties were released.
Matches in BOLD PRINT are UPSETS.
*=New to FBS Football
**= Teams new to conference.

Make comments here or at www.matthagensports.blogspot.com

Different athletic backgrounds find common grounds among controversial topics!

                  For more information on this story follow my blog and watch these videos with Dr. Steve Smith and former Seattle Seahawk J.J. Jackson. This interview happened after several games of basketball between all of us.

Draft Time Once Again.

          Tonight is the 2012 NBA Draft and unless there is a tremendous shock.... Kentucky Freshman Anthony Davis will be going to the New Orleans Hornets with the first selection. Anthony Davis has also reportedly trademarked his unibrow, which is ridiculous in this sport's journalists opinion.

New Orleans Coach Monty Williams

Kentucky Freshman Anthony Davis

       
          The above picture is how the NBA Draft Lottery played out but there has been plenty of moves over the last few days,

           13 transactions have occurred for the round 1 picks and 17 picks for the round 2. Cleveland Cavaliers and Houston Rockets have made the most transactions.

           Kentucky Wildcats have 5 projected players in round 1 and 1 in round 2.

           The Boston Celtics are attempting to trade up and select Doc Rivers son Austin in the first round and have a father-son duo playing together.

            Tonight's draft seems to have the makings of freshman galore. Here is the latest Mock Draft done this morning.

          

Crosby to King of the Hockey World!!

         Sidney Crosby has reached an agreement with his Pittsburgh Penguins to a new 12-year 104.4 million dollars.

         The Penguins annoucned this deal through their website on Thursday and they also announced his average annual salary will be 8.7 million.

         The new deal keeps Crosby a Penguin through the 2026 National Hockey League season. He has suffered from concussion related symptoms which have kept him out of many games the last two seasons but he has still proven how valuable he is to an organization.

         In 443 regular season games he has totaled 609 points which include 223 goals and 386 assists. He also has 90 points in 68 career playoff games including winning the Stanley Cup in 2009.

        Here is a link to some of his accomplishments throughout his historic career in all aspects of hockey.

Veteran Status Revoked!!!

          2003 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion Matt Kenseth has been a member of Roush-Fenway Racing since he began in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 16 years ago but now a mutual decision between him and Roush-Fenway co-owner Jack Roush has him going to a different organization after the 2012 season.

          Matt Kenseth is currently the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points leader with 1 win, the 2012 Daytona 500, 8 top 5's and 11 top 10's. He leads his current teammate Greg Biffle by 11 points and Dale Earnhardt Jr. by 14.

         Kenseth's NASCAR career began in the NASCAR Nationwide Series where he ran 248 races of a 16 year span. His first race was at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the 1996 Red Dog 300 and ironically his last race was the 2011 Top Gear 300 also at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Kenseth also entered only 1 NASCAR Candian Tire Series event in his career which was the 2002 Canada Day Shootout in Cayuga where we won.

         In 1998 Kenseth finished 2nd in the Nationwide series points which was his best of his career. He ended with 26 wins and 168 top 10's with 16 poles. This was also the season where he got his first win at the famed Rockingham Motor Speedway in the GM Goodwrench Service Plus 200 driving for former rival Robbie Reiser.


94 Matt Kenseth Cup Series Debut 28 Kenny Irwin Jr.

        His first Sprint Cup Series race was in 1998 at Dover Delaware filling in for Bill Elliot while he was attending his father's funeral. Kenseth has raced in 452 races with 22 wins and 220 top 10's with 7 poles. Matt Kenseth is also a 2-time Daytona 500 champion, one of a select few drivers who have accomplished this feat.

         Kenseth has signed a 2013 Sprint Cup Series contract but the details of where he will race has not been disclosed. Kenseth looks to be joining Joe Gibbs Racing, hall of fame NFL Head Coach, which makes it either a four car team or Joey Logano will be searching for a new ride.


         Either way Matt Kenseth is one of the best drivers NASCAR has seen and will do well with whomever he signed with.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. left Trevor Bayne right

          2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series Champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will take over Kenseth's ride leaving 2011 Daytona 500 Champion with a full-time ride in the Nationwide series.

Sports Interviews and Talk with an emphasis on Sociology

Matt Hagen interviewing sports sociology professor, Dr. Steve Smith.

          Dr. Steve Smith went to Eastern Illinois and DePaul as well as played basketball in the French B League.  He was my professor for sociology when I attended Pellissippi State Community College and has taught me about the different perspectives and aspects of sports and how they affect the world.

          This is the first edition of Sports Interviews and Talk. There will be new videos posted at least once a week regarding different sports topics. Some will be interviews and some will be solo stories.

Road Course Ringer stirs up the ending..

         

            During the Seargento 200 Danica Patrick was running extremely well during the Road America NASCAR Nationwide Race and was headed to tie her career best finish with a 4th until Jacques Villeneuve, a road-course ringer and former Formula 1 driver, decided to take things to a whole nother level.


Jaques Villeneuve



Danica Patrick

Max Papis

           On the last lap when Nelson Piquet Jr., was on his way to his first career Nationwide series victory in just his 3rd start Jacques Villeneuve, in the 22 Discount Tire Roger Penske Dodge, decided to dive-bomb into a turn below Danica, in the 7 GoDaddy.com JR Motorsports Chevrolet, after he was attempting to pass Max Papis, in the 33 Menards Richard Childress Chevrolet.

        
           He punted Danica into the gravel trap causing her to get a 12th place finish instead of a top 5 and he ended up 6th.

           After the race was over Villeneuve was spotted on pit road with Tony Eury Jr., Danica Patrick's crew chief, having a heated debate.

           Afterwards Villeneuve brushed Eury off as if nothing had happened and didn't want to hear anything about it.

            Villeneuve was quoted saying "... It's not my fault so I don't really care." when NASCAR ESPN asked him about the incident.

            Twitter than was blowing up with reactions calling for penalties, suspension, fines and even Ryan Newman asking for a Nationwide ride in Watkins Glen just to take Villeneuve out since Villeneuve wrecks someone every time he enters a race.



Nelson Piquet Jr. Pole winner

       The ultimate thing though was the first win and pole in the Nationwide Series for former Formula 1 driver Nelson Piquet Jr. Congratulations to him. He is a full-time NASCAR Camping World Series Truck Driver.

2-Time All American Not invited???

          It seems like there is more controversy stirring up in Ohio State, and this time NOT from the football team.

          One of there star performers on the highly talented basketball team, 2-time all american Jared Sullinger is not invited to the NBA Draft June 28.

          Sullinger was told by some recruiters that he would not be drafted in the top-15 so he should not go to the NBA Draft. Ultimately Sullinger decided to watch it from a restaurant in Ohio.


           Sullinger played two outstanding seasons with the Buckeyes and led them both times to the NCAA Tournament. In his career he averaged just about 31 minutes per game, in a 40 minute game, 53 percent field goal shooting, 32.5 percent three point field goals, between 5-7 free throw attempts per game making 73.6 percent of them.

           As for his triple-double categories he averaged 17.3 points per game with 9.7 rebounds with an assist and steal each game. He also only averaged 1 foul per game with is really good in college.

           His stats became better in his sophomore season in every category except in rebounds where he dropped a little but he doubled his block total to make up for it.

            The Buckeyes won the Big Ten regular season titles and the 2011 Big Ten Tournament title. They finished 2nd in the Big Ten Title in 2012 losing 64-68 to Michigan State.

            The Buckeyes made the Sweet-16 both seasons he was with them and advanced all the way to the Final Four this year.

         

           This NBA Draft seems to have the makings of another Kentucky draft with many of their freshman entering. Anthony Davis is almost a guarantee to go to New Orleans with the the first pick.

          

          

Justice has prevailed once again!

          After a little more than 20 hours of deliberation the jury in the Child Abuse case of former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky came at around 11 p.m.

           The trial began Monday, June 11 with the prosecution calling up 8 of the 10 victims and character witnesses for the other two. Mike McQueary and members of Child Services also testified for the defense giving gruesome details of what happened to the children.

             In Pennsylvania however, expert testimony about child abuse and how it affects the victims afterwards is forbidden as well as all camera and recordings.

             Thursday June, 14 the prosecution rested and the defense took over. The case went to the jury on Thursday and they deliberated for approximately 8 hours.

              The jury reconvened today at 9 a.m., to rehear testimony from Mike McQueary, prosecution witness, and Dr. Jonathan Dranov, defense witness, which lasted 2 hours and then they deliberated until around 10:30.

               Sandusky's wife Dottie was the last person to testify for the defense before they rested and did not let Jerry Sandusky testify for himself. His adopted son, Matt Sandusky, was on the prosecution's rebuttal list if Sandusky did testify.

               Matt Sandusky went onto Rock Center and told them that that his dad had abused him to as a child which means that there maybe another trial.

               Jerry Sandusky was convicted on 45 of the 48 remaining charges. Here is the verdict sheet. The 3 counts he was found not guilty were, count 7, victim 2's 1st charge, felony involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, count 23, victim 5's 1st charge, misdemeanor indecent assault, and count 27, victim 6's 1st charge, misdemeanor indecent assault.

               Counts 16, 18 and 19 were dismissed by the Judge on Thursday morning before closing arguments and count 33 was dropped by the prosecution because it happened prior to the statute of limitations ruling in 1997.

               Joe Amendola, defense attorney for Sandusky, is one of the worst public speakers of all time.

Jerry Sandusky Trial

              The Jerry Sandusky trial is now in the hands of the jurors after the prosecution ended its case on Thursday and the Defense yesterday.

              Today Closing Arguments were made and around 1:00 eastern time the jury inherited the trial.

              Sandusky began with 52 counts of different forms of child abuse including molestation charges.

            

             Last week, the prosecution dropped one charge and today the judge threw out 3 more charges that were all brought on by alleged victim 4.

             This case has led to the firings of Penn State former President Graham Spainer (top-left), Atheltic Director Tim Curley (top-right) and former Hall of Fame football coach Joe Paterno (center).

             Coach Paterno was one of, if not the most esteemed coach in NCAA History staying with the Penn State program after he played for them. He coached them for almost 50 years. He won 2 National Titles and 24 Bowls in 37 appearances. The 24 bowl wins is a new record in NCAA.

            Hopefully the jury will find the correct decision for Jerry Sandusky and not have another situation like they did in Florida with the Casey Anthony verdict.

            GO PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS!!

Raggedy Ann and Replacements please!!!

          With the NBA Finals already completed four games... the officiating has been horrendous to say the least. The first game was officiated well spliting the calls and actually letting the players play.  Even with all of the whining and complaining by the Heat "Big 3" LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh.

          The last 3 games however, all won by the Heat, have been officiated horribly except for the first quarter of game 4. The refs have given James, Bosh, and Wade the significant calls and the big stars for the Thunder, Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook have been completely shunned.

         The first quarter of game 4 when the referees let them play... the Thunder completely manhandled the Heat with a score of 33-19 and a lead as big as 17 points. The Thunder ultimately lost the game by 6 and Russell Westbrook had 43 points. Even with those points he was being tossed like a ragdoll and shoved everywhere in front of the officials and nothing was being called.

               Durant was fouled numerous times throughout every game and even EVERY member of ESPN's show "First Take" said he was not getting the respect he deserves.

              In my opinion the series is The NBA Officials 3 The Thunder 1 and the Heat 0.

              Tonight is game 5 let's hope the NBA Officials let them play OR the Heat actually EARN a victory.

The Dark Knight Rises Again!!!

         For the first time since 2004 Dale Earnhardt Jr. is back in victory lane ironically on Father's Day at Michigan International Speedway. This was also the sight of his last win 144 races ago on the same weekend.

         Earnhardt Jr., won driving the number 88 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports with a paint scheme he helped create honoring the latest Batman movie " The Dark Knight Rises."

       The Michigan race was laced with new and more difficult things for the drivers to overcome including: a new surface, for the second week in a row (Pocono last week), faster speeds (an upwards of 225 mph listed at one point going down into turn 1, and a narrow groove but two factors came into play that no one expected.


       

                   NASCAR had testing Thursday at Michigan International Speedway to find out how the tires were going to react to the new surface. The tires would blister, or cause holes as seen in this pictures from Martinsville, causing holes and cuts in them after about 15 laps.

            NASCAR then ordered new tires which slowed down the speeds from Marcos Ambrose's record setting pole speed of 203+ mph. The new tires slowed the speeds down during the special 75 minute test session after the Nationwide race by almost 10 mph.

           Then the rains came and delayed the start of the race but no matter what happened Dale Jr., won and is now a serious contender for the Sprint Cup Series points sitting 2nd behind Matt Kenseth by 4.

FINAL 2012-2013 NCAA Football Standings

Bowl Mania Begins

ACTUAL BOWL LINE-UP 2012-2013

PREDICTED BOWL GAMES/MATCHUPS AND WINNERS

Before Bowls