A Sports Fan’s Guide To The Most Unforgettable Sports Movies From The Last Ten Years
August 3, 2010 | Leave a Comment
When it comes to sports films, there are a few things that separate the good ones from the great ones. Sure, cheesy motivational music and 80s style montages never hurt, but a truly great sports film often has elements of truth and inspiration. Over the past 10 years, we have been subject to some pretty amazing sports movies.
The following are some of the greatest sports movies from the past decade.
When it comes to great movies about football from the last 2000-2009, one would be foolish not to include Disney’s Remember The Titans on their list. The true story of the first racially integrated football team stars Denzel Washington and the always great Will Patton.
Another great football movie that I will have to include is The Blind Side. If have not seen The Blind Side yet, you should definitely do so soon. This movie is incredible. I will not give away details but it is a true story, based on the book of the same name and there is nothing not to like about this film.
What list of sports films from this past decade would be complete without mentioning The Wrestler. You can argue that professional wrestling is not a sport, but there is nothing fake or funny about the way the industry is portrayed in this film. This is an incredibly moving film and Mickey Rourke nails the part.
One of my top 30 films of all time is Million Dollar Baby. I will not give anything away, but this is Clint Eastwood, Morgan Freeman and Hillary Swank at their finest. It is no surprise Hillary Swank walked away with the Academy Award for Best Actress with this film.
Another sports movie that I absolutely loved, and is definitely worth watching on an HD television is Riding Giants. This film tells the story of the pioneers of big wave surfing and is so visually stunning you may feel the need to get to the beach following watching it.
So that’s that. Let’s see what the next decade has in store for us!
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The Most Enjoyable Gridiron Films Ever
August 3, 2010 | Leave a Comment
Over the years, there have been some incredible football movies. Football is a sport that requires teamwork, sacrifice and enormous dedication, and when a film can encompass all of these elements, and more, it usually results in a great and memorable movie.
Regardless of the emotion the film may cause you to elicit, here is what I feel to be the best football films in recent memory.
Any best of list would have to include 2009’s The Blind Side. Sandra Bullock may have won an Oscar, but the true hero in this story is no doubt is the left offensive tackle whom which the Tuohys housed. This is a must see film for the whole family.
Another incredible football film, from a different decade is The Program. This film looks at the gritty underside of college football, and all the bad things that go along with it. I don’t think I have seen a football player as big as Latimer in this film, and this film remains one of my football favorites.
Going back in time, the 1974 version of The Longest Yard definitely makes my list. This movie starred Burt Reynolds in a role recently revised by Adam Sandler, the great QB Paul Crewe.
Rudy is another football movie that 100 percent makes the cut. Rudy takes us back to a different time in Notre Dame football history and through one man’s remarkable journey to conquer his goals. Another movie that is suitable for the whole family.
This list would not be complete if I forgot to mention Remember The Titans. Based on a true story, this film tells the tale of the first integrated high school football team in the South, and the journey these players, and their coach, must endure.
These are just some of the best movies about American football to come out in recent years, but there are surely others that warrant a second article.
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A Glance At The Games Of This Year’s World Cup Tournament
July 16, 2010 | Leave a Comment
The World Cup is always a universal spectacle. It seems that everyone in the world cares greatly about it, with the exception of the United States. Even this year, however, it seems like Americans are invested in the tournament more so than years past.
First off, I have to say I am a little disappointed with the action. The goal scoring is way down. Most of these games have either ended 1-0 or 1-1. As of today, only two teams have scored 3 goals in a game and as of this morning, no player had scored more than one goal. Here are some theories.
A new ball, called the Jabulani, was introduced for this year’s World Cup. It is supposed to bend more unpredictably than previous balls, however maybe its possible that its hurting the players goal scoring opportunities more than it is helping it.
Defensive effort. Are most teams stepping up on their defense this year? It is possible. This could explain a lack of scoring opportunities.
Is it possible that the vuvuzelas, also known as the terrible noise making horns, are distracting the players? As an American watch the game, I know it is distracting me.
Since it is technically winter in South Africa right now, temperatures have dropped. Certain star players have been seen wearing long sleeved shirts and you can visibly see people exhaling air. Maybe the conditions aren’t what most of the players are used to.
There have been a few shining moments in the tournament so far, however. The United States and South Africa both showed up in their first games, tying the favorites England and Mexico, respectively.
Unfortunately for the host country, they most likely will not see the second round. At the time this article is written, South Africa will have to beat France by a considerable margin in order to keep their tournament hopes alive. At least the country is bringing in money.
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Jets’ Sanchez Should Play Despite Minor Knee Pain
June 29, 2010 | Leave a Comment
New York Jets rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez has been a crucial factor in the teams 2-0 start, showing a poise and head for the game very rare for NFL newcomers. Still, there wasn’t much worry at the revelation that hes suffering from tendinitis in his right knee. The Jets announced Sanchez’s injury on Thursday, and hes listed as probable on the official NFL injury report. Based on comments from the quarterback and team officials, the prognosis sounds more optimistic than that.
Sanchez practiced on Thursday, and though he was seen stopping to stretch and rub his right knee on a few occasions didn’t seem to suffer any impairment in his mobility. He participated in the entire practice, and there didnt appear to be any sort of effort to prepare Kellen Clemens to assume the starting role. Clemens took his usual snaps with the team, though not any additional work that would indicate a concern that Sanchez wouldn’t be able to start.
After practice, Jets head coach Rex Ryan confirmed the injury while downplaying its significance:
“It’s not that big a deal. He has something. I don’t know how to describe it than just to say its a little tendinitis. But, he’s fine. I mean, he fully participated and moved around great, I thought.”
New York offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer was even more emphatic in his statement:
“Mark’s totally fine.”
Ryan then added a sarcastic note that brought laughs from the assembled media: “Make sure he’s on that list. I don’t mean anything by that.”
Ryan was referring to the Jets receiving a fine from the NFL for not properly disclosing injuries to then-QB Brett Favre late last season. Favre was suffering from a torn biceps tendon, though the team didnt list him on the official NFL injury report. The team was fined $75,000 while GM Mike Tannenbaum and former coach Eric Mangini were each fined $25,000 each.
The Jets are less optimistic about the condition of cornerback Donald Strickland, who is suffering from a sprained right ankle. Ryan didnt offer much basis for hope that hed be able to see action on Sunday:
“I don’t think he’s going to be able to play this week. I’m not declaring him out right now, but I don’t think there’s any way he’s playing this week.”
The Jets host the Tennessee Titans at the Meadowlands this Sunday afternoon. New York has been installed as a -1 home favorite, with the total set at 37. After that, the Jets will take to the road for their next two games. Theyll play the New Orleans Saints on October 4th before heading to south Florida to take on the Miami Dolphins the following Monday night.
Ross Everett is a freelance sports writer and highly respected authority on soccer betting. His writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sportsbooks and sportsbook directory sites. He lives in Las Vegas with three Jack Russell Terriers and a kangaroo. He is currently working on an autobiography of former energy secretary Donald Hodell.
Manchester United Shocked By English Premier League Upstart Burnley
June 29, 2010 | Leave a Comment
The English Premier League season is only a couple of weeks old, but newly promoted Burnley has already pulled off what may be the biggest upset of the season in all of European soccer. In their first home game at the top level of English soccer in 33 years, Robbie Blake scored early in the game and Burnley held on to upset reigning league champions Manchester United before 20,000 jubilant fans at their Turf Moor home pitch.
The Clarets were putting good pressure on Man U goaltender Ben Foster early in the game, and Blake made their effort pay at the 18 minute mark when he scored on a near post volley. Man U would hold a 19-9 shots on goal advantage for the game, and hold a lopsided 67%/33% time of possession edge.
Still, Burnley would hold the advantage on the big scoreboard at the end of the game thanks to the steady play of their netminder Brian Jensen who withstood the Man U onslaught to preserve the historic victory. Jensens biggest save came on a penalty shot by Michael Carrick just before halftime. Man U also had an apparent equalizer by Michael Owen ruled offside to add to the frustration of the afternoon. Afterwards, Burnley manager Owen Coyle commended Man U general Sir Alex Ferguson with his graciousness in defeat:
“Sir Alex dealt with defeat in the gracious manner I would expect of someone like that. He is the best manager in world football and I still expect Manchester United to be champions.”
Burnley has been the favorite to be relegated back to the Champions League, and they looked like they didnt belong after a 2-0 opening game loss to Stoke City. Coyle addressed the teams critics in his postgame comments:
“One or two have already written us off. I am not surprised about that. When you look at the financial side, we will have to produce every week. Outside this club, everybody looked at our first five games and expected we would be on zero points. We were disappointed on Saturday and we needed to be brave this time. Now we have a massive game on Sunday against Everton, although whatever happens we are three points better off than we were at this stage in the Championship last season.”
Sir Alex Ferguson conceded that his team didnt play well:
“It was a bad performance considering the chances and possession we had. Maybe if we had got the penalty just before half time it would have made a difference but in saying that we were too frivolous with the chances we had. It has been a long time out of the top flight for them and you cannot deny them their victory.”
Burnley will host Everton this weekend, while Manchester United will try to get back on the winning track on the road against Wigan at DW Stadium.
Ross Everett is a widely published freelance writer and respected authority on World Cup betting. His writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sports news and sportsbook directory sites. He lives in Northern Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and an emu. He is currently working on an autobiography of former interior secretary James Watt.
Who Invented The Vuvuzela?
June 26, 2010 | Leave a Comment
In recent times the vuvzela has gained international notoriety, becoming the accessory of the 2010 World Cup football tournament in South Africa. But the origin of the instrument is a topic of controversy, there is no clearly defined point at which the horn was introduced but there are several parties that claim its invention.
The origin of the word is in itself victim of much dispute; some claim it comes from a Zulu word meaning ‘to make noise’ while others argue that it comes from a township slang phrase meaning ’shower’. Whether this origin regards showering people with noise or perhaps using part of a shower as a horn is unknown.
Some have a theory that the Vuvu is a variation of the Kudu horn used in battle and worship by various African tribes. This would suggest that the instrument has roots dating back hundreds or even thousands of years deeply rooted in African culture but so far it is not considered credible as there is no evidence.
The Nazareth Baptist Church of South African have made sweeping claims they invented the instrument at the turn of the 20th Century and it has been used in their worship ever since. Their claim has been disputed as although the horn has been actively used and recognised in South African football for several decades, they only raised the issue early in 2010. They argue that as a sacred instrument used in worship, it should not be allowed to be used in sporting events with no religious relevance. Leaders of the church have threatened legal action against the FIFA if they do not stop fans playing the instrument during matches.
South African football fan Freddie Maake claims to have invented the instrument in 1965 when adapting a bicycle horn, he later crafted a longer version from aluminium which he took to many local games and international events. Maake has pictures of himself dating back to the 1970s to support his claim and he even took it to the 1998 world cup in France. There is no doubt he was using a vuvuzela horn as far back as 1970 but still no hard evidence to support the claim that he invented it. The exact same horn was recorded being used in the 1978 world cup in Argentina, a country Maake had never visited but the instruments directly resemble that of his 1965 aluminium creation.
In 2001, ex -professional football player and founder of Masincedane Sports, Neil van Schalkwyk patented the design and mass produced a plastic version of the horn to market to local football fans but he had no idea it would be as popular as it has been. To date, Masincedane Sports has sold over 600,000 vuvuzelas, 100,000 of which were in the first week of the 2010 World Cup.
The infamous loud drone produced by the horn has proved unpopular with many visiting football fans in South Africa and even more watching on television around the world. FIFA officials are yet to enforce any rules on the use of the instrument but FIFA CEO Dr Danny Jordaan stated that “2010 will be the loudest world cup ever; South Africa hopes that the Vuvuzela will be recognised as a unique part of what will be a very special African world cup celebration.” Time will tell if the instruments will be used in other countries but international sales of the vuvuzela are in the millions, with only a handful of clubs and stadiums proposing to ban them at future events.
Wearer of the renowned Adidas Adizero Lionel Messi has stated he loves the atmosphere the Vuvuzela creates and would love to see it transfer to club football. Could we end up seeing crowds of fans in Manchester United Football Shirts making the noise next season?
Bengals Upset Packers On The Road
June 16, 2010 | Leave a Comment
The Cincinnati Bengals were able to withstand a last minute Green Bay Packers comeback bid, and held on to win their first game of the NFL regular season 31-24. The Packers last drive stalled on the Bengals ten yard line, the victim of a false start penalty in the waning seconds. Wide receiver Chad Ochocinco scored the eventual game winning points on a 13 yard pass from Carson Palmer, after which he did his own version of the fabled Lambeau Leap into a sea of less than hospitable fans.
NFL football betting devotees who took the Bengals as +9 road underdogs easily cashed their ticket with the outright victory. Both teams are now 1-1 against the spread on the 2009 NFL season. The 55 combined points scored easily went OVER the posted total of 41.
After the game, Ochocinco talked about his Lambeau Leap he performed after the game winning touchdown catch:
“It was fun. I had a little indecision on where to jump at first. I didn’t want to disrespect their tradition, so I was asking as I went along the line. I saw some Bengals fans that said it was OK.”
While the Packers late game penalty sealed the victory, Bengals coach Marvin Lewis insisted that his team deserved it due to their performance:
“We didn’t do enough to win the game last week and you get what you deserve. Today, we were able to make one or two more plays and win the football game and that’s what counts. I think our football team understands that.”
Cedric Benson suggested that the Packers might have been a bit overconfident:
“Maybe a little, but you can’t blame them. They beat a very stout Bears team last week at home and I think they were feeling pretty good. But we’re men on this side of the football as well.”
Bengals QB Palmer gave the defense credit for the victory:
“I kind of felt like it couldn’t happen again. It wasn’t a feeling of ‘here we go again’ at all. I know our defense is too good. They have too much pride and weren’t going to let that happen again.”
The Packers take to the road for their next two games, beginning this Sunday in St. Louis against the Rams. Green Bay is a -6 road favorite in the contest, with the total set at 41. Theyll face the Minnesota Vikings on Monday night the following week, and then enjoy a bye week. The Bengals now face a rough scheduling stretch, beginning with the Pittsburgh Steelers at home on Sunday. The Bengals are a +4 home underdog against the Steelers, with the total set at 37. Theyll then head across state to face the Cleveland Browns in their traditional rivalry the following week before heading to Baltimore for a game against the Ravens on October 11th.
Ross Everett is a freelance writer and highly respected authority on World Cup betting. His writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sportsbooks and sportsbook directory sites. He lives in Northern Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and a kangaroo. He is currently working on an autobiography of former interior secretary James Watt.
Argos Home Woes Continue With Loss To Lions
May 26, 2010 | Leave a Comment
The Toronto Argonauts appeared to be on the verge of breaking their eight game home losing streak, entering the fourth quarter with a 25-14 lead over the BC Lions. Unfortunately, they ended up on the wrong end of a 36-28 final score that ran their streak of futility at the Rogers Centre to nine games. It was also Toronto’s ninth consecutive loss to BC. BC improved to 3-4 with the victory, while Toronto’s record slipped to 2-5.
Lions head coach Wally Buono made no excuses for the victory:
“I’m not going to apologize for playing well in the second half. If we play any kind of football in the first half maybe we don’t have to do this. That’s football. Nobody asks you at the end of the day whether you stole a win, they ask you how many games did you win? The game is 60 minutes.”
Lions QB Jarious Jackson concurred:
“I don’t feel like we stole one at all. I feel like we went out and played like we should’ve played in the second half. Most of the first half we were trying to manage the game, trying to see what they were doing defensively. Offensively, you definitely want to manage the game until you know what the defence is going to call in some situations. It took us the first half but I think in the second half we kind of were able to predict what they were going to do and I think we did a good job of countering it.”
Despite the loss, Toronto was generally pleased with the play of their replacement starting QB Cody Pickett. Pickett was named the starter after a dismal performance by Kerry Joseph the previous week against Montreal. Placekicker Justin Medlock also shined in defeat, tying a team record with 7 field goals. After the game, Pickett was less concerned about his performance than his teams struggles:
“It’s 20/20 that we needed to score another touchdown. Whatever we’re doing right now isn’t getting the job done.”
Argos head coach Bart Andrus was pleased with Picketts play in the losing cause:
“That was an ideal performance. Cody threw it well, was accurate and didn’t turn it over. The bottom line is we didn’t finish that one. When we do get it right for 60 minutes, it’s going to be a great thing.”
BC will welcome the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to Vancouver next Friday night. Toronto has a bye week, with the Calgary Stampeders providing the opposition on August 28th.
Ross Everett is a experienced freelance writer who covers travel, poker and sports handicapping. He is a staff handicapper for Anatta Sports where he is responsible for providing daily free sports picks. In his spare time he enjoys fine dining, fencing and deep sea diving. He lives in Las Vegas with four dogs and a pet coyote.
Montreal Maintains CFL Dominance With Win Over Winnipeg
May 17, 2010 | Leave a Comment
The Montreal Alouettes demonstrated the form that has made them the CFLs top team in a Saturday visit to Winnipeg. Anthony Calvillo threw four touchdown passes and the tenacious Montreal defense all but shut down the Winnipeg offense as the Alouettes prevailed easily over the Blue Bombers by a 39-12 score. The Alouettes improved to 6-1 in CFL play, while the Bombers dropped to 2-5.
CFL bettors who backed Montreal cashed their tickets as the Als easily covered as -8 road favorites. Montreal improved to 5-2 against the number while the Blue Bombers slipped to 4-3 against the spread. The combined 51 points scored exceeded the posted total of 47, leaving each team with a 4-3 edge to the OVER this season.
Calvillo not only through four TD passes, he through three consecutive passes for touchdowns which is a feat that he cant recall accomplishing previously in his lengthy professional career:
“Somebody mentioned that to me out there. I didn’t realize that and they asked me if it’s ever been done or if I’d done it before and I can’t recall.”
Montreals defense held Winnipeg to four FGs and recovered four Blue Bomber turnovers that led to Alouette scores. After the game, Calvillo gave all of the credit for the victory to the defense:
“Our defence put us on the short field throughout the night and we capitalized on the turnovers. We have a lot of work to do. We had a few dropped passes, a few misreads by myself and two turnovers. We’re always looking to improve and we definitely have to improve on offence.”
Kerry Watkins caught one of Calvillos touchdowns and spoke of the effort and his pleasure in playing with the CFL legend in his postgame interview:
“It’s a great accomplishment, but something we don’t keep track of. It’s an honour. That’s a living legend. I’ve been so fortunate to play my whole (six-year) career with him.”
Bombers head coach Mike Kelly, who also serves as the teams offensive coordinator, suggested that there was nothing wrong with the offensive tactics:
“There’s nothing wrong with this scheme. I’ve seen this scheme work 1,000 times .If you want to get right down to it, we have to block when we need to block and catch when we need to catch and throw to the right people. And right now we’re not doing those things so we’ll continue to look at it.”
Winnipeg defensive tackle Doug Brown concurred:
“Let’s put it this way, we were in a good enough dogfight without as many critical errors as we made ourselves. You play a team of this calibre, the last thing you need to do is dig yourself your own hole with penalties and turnovers and missed tackles and not executing our assignments and so on and so forth.”
Both teams return to action next Friday night, as Montreal hosts the Saskatchewan Rough Riders and Winnipeg heads out on the road to play the BC Lions.
Ross Everett is a freelance sports writer and highly respected authority on World Cup betting. His writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sportsbooks and sportsbook directory sites. He lives in Las Vegas, Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and an emu. He is currently working on an autobiography of former interior secretary James Watt.
Gamecocks Beat Wolfpack As College Football Season Gets Underway
April 18, 2010 | Leave a Comment
The South Carolina Gamecocks offense didn’t look particularly sharp in their season opening contest at North Carolina State. Of course with the way their defense was playing, they didn’t have to be. Brian Maddox scored on a one yard run in the first quarter for the only touchdown of the game as the Gamecock defense completely shut down the Wolfpack offense en route to a 7-3 South Carolina victory. The win gave the Gamecocks their second straight season opening victory over North Carolina State–South Carolina won 34-0 in Columbia to start the 2008 football season.
College football betting enthusiasts who backed South Carolina cashed their tickets as the Gamecocks won outright as +5 road underdogs.
The Gamecock defense held NC State to 11 first downs and just 133 yards of total offense. Nothing worked for the Wolfpack who were equally as inept running the football (59 yards) as they were passing (74 yards). After the game, South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier gave credit for the victory to the effort of his defense:
Our defensive guys played their hearts out. Played good, solid football.
Spurrier has only lost once in his last twenty opening games (19-1). The Gamecocks defense shined in last years season opening win over the Wolfpack, earning a shutout with an uncannily similar statistical performance (10 first downs, 138 total yards).
North Carolina State head coach Tom OBrian pointed to the teams poor pass protection as the biggest liability:
We couldnt get anything going. And with our pass protection, we had Russell Wilson running around too much.
South Carolinas Stephen Garcia didnt put up stellar numbers himself, passing for 148 yards on 13 of 22 with an interception. Still, he picked up important first downs at the right time which enabled the Gamecocks to preserve the victory.
Next up for South Carolina is a big game at Athens, GA against their hated SEC rivals the Georgia Bulldogs on Saturday, September 12th. North Carolina State will have a good chance at getting on the winning track next weekend as they host FCS/1-AA Murray State.
Ross Everett is a widely published widely published freelance sports writer and highly respected authority on World Cup betting. His writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sportsbooks and sportsbook directory sites. He lives in Northern Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and a kangaroo. He is currently working on an autobiography of former energy secretary Donald Hodell.