The Miami Dolphins edge the Jacksonville Jaguars 27-26 to win their 9th straight pre-season game

The Miami Dolphins’ match-up against the Jacksonville Jaguars started much like last week’s game against Tampa-rain, rain, and a lot more rain. The game was postponed well over an hour-and-a-half from the starting time which was supposed to begin at 7:30pm. Lightning was more of an impeding factor, nevertheless there was still football; and what a game it was.

The Jaguars scored first, on a safety, after the Dolphins were pinned back on the five yard line and Jacksonville took advantage blocking a failed punt attempt by Brandon Fields.

Miami’s offense then came alive, taking the ball down the field on a few clever wildcat plays which ended in a field goal to give the Dolphins a 3-2 advantage. Jacksonville would then head down the field with two big plays, including a 34 yard pass to wide receiver Mike Sims-Walker and another on some nifty footwork by David Garrard, which eventually led the Jags to a 9-3 lead.

The Miami Dolphins would strike back immediately minutes into the second quarter. Dolphins QB Chad Henne threw a 55 yard strike to Anthony Fasano as he took it down the sidelines to give the Dolphins a one-point lead. Early on, it seemed both teams’ defenses couldn’t stop their respective offenses.

Later in the second quarter, Jaguars quarterback David Garrard was shaken up after being tackled on a failed pass attempt. Back-up Luke McCown, who only accumulated two yards last season, filled-in for Garrard who didn’t return to the game.

Miami’s offensive line did a great job in the second quarter, providing Henne with a lot of time to help set up a clean 9-yard reception by Brandon Marshall. Centers Jake Grove and Joe Berger alternated series through the first half for additional evaluation on who would be the starter.

With 6:40 left in the 1st half, Chad Henne completed yet another touchdown pass to Anthony Fasano to spread Miami’s lead to 17-9. Following the score, Jacksonville gained good field position on a 36 yard kick-off return by RB Deji Karim. Miami’s defense would step up, most notably on a quarterback sack by nose tackle Randy Starks. The Jags would eventually score on a field goal by Josh Scobee to bring the Jags within five.

Dolphins back-up QB, Chad Pennington came into the game, late in the second quarter, and threw a 37-yard pass to Brandon Marshall. Pennington hasn’t had a big play like that since going down last season with a shoulder injury after starting just three games. Pennington would finish the drive with a 10-yard TD pass to Ronnie Brown to stretch the lead to 24-12.

Starting the third quarter for the Dolphins was third year QB Tyler Thigpen. He’s expected to be the third QB behind Chad Henne and Chad Pennington which means Pat White would be the odd man out.

The Jaguars first drive of the third quarter ended with a punt after a three and out by Miami. The only highlight for the Jags during the first five minutes of the third was a 19 yard rush up the middle by Rashad Jennings.

A pass interference penalty on Nolan Carroll gave the Jags good field position which led to a Luke McCown 3-yard TD pass to Brock Bolen.

Dolphins’ receiver Marlon Moore shined in the 3rd quarter similar the way he did in last week’s match-up against Tampa. He caught a 17 and 16 yard pass late in the 3rd quarter.

Miami’s defense stepped up early in the fourth quarter with a pass break up by Kevin Hobbs, whom is competing for a spot at cornerback and an interception by strong safety Jonathan Amaya. The Dolphins would stretch their lead to 27-19 on a field goal by Dan Carpenter.

Miami’s defense would falter nearing the end of the game with a strong drive by Luke McCown which led to a rushing TD by FB Brock Bolen to bring the score to 27 to 26. Dolphins outside linebackers Ikaika Alama-Francis and Charlie Anderson heard shouting from Tony Sparano after a few missed tackles and allowed excessive room for McCown to connect on easy passes.

The Dolphins won their 9th straight preseason game by the final of 27-26. Next week they’ll take on Atlanta at home. The game can be seen live on Friday at 7:00pm on CBS affiliate WFOR.

Miami Dolphins and Jacksonville Jaguars preview

The Miami Dolphins better beware of the Jaguars defense tonight at EverBank field. Miami takes to the field on the road at 7:30p.m. to face Jacksonville in their second pre-season game. The Jaguars have a lot to prove on the defensive side and there are a lot of battles happening including between third year defensive end Derek Harvey and rookie Austen Lane.

Lane has looked good in practice and has the intangibles to be an amazing player for the Jags. His speed, youth, and the ability he has to maneuver on the field with ease to reach the quarterback are just a few of the qualities which have gotten him the attention of Jags coach, Jack Del Rio.

However, Harvey has done an acceptable job his first two seasons, leading his team in quarterback pressures with 49 total. The former Gator defensive end also racked up 104 career tackles and played in all 32 games with the Jags; so he's still young and with a good amount of experience under his belt, is expected to start all year.

Dolphins' lineman John Jerry and Vernon Carey are going to have their hands full with Harvey, who despite all he's accomplished, is still considered to be somewhat of a bust for the Jags because his play didn't elevate the defense as a whole.

Dolphins’ receiver Brandon Marshall may be under a little bit of pressure, considering he dropped some passes in Miami's pre-season opener last weekend and also in this past week's practices.

He showed some frustration on the field during practice this week. For instance, after he dropped a pass, he angrily punted a ball up in the air which led some to speculate that he was having some troubles.

But as some seem to forget, this is just the pre-season and Marshall has to get accustomed to the offense and comfortable with Dolphins QB Chad Henne, who has some development issues of his own. Henne, who had problems with ball control and accuracy last season, has got to get in the mindset that everyone is depending on him and he's the future.

The pressure seemed to be an issue for Henne last year after he went 7-6 when Chad Pennington went down; and although he played better than was expected, he threw some costly interceptions in close games and had 14 picks in total. Winning 7 games though is very good considering he didn't expect to start last season. But with a league which seems to have more quarterbacks who are coming out of the gate winning like Matt Ryan and Mark Sanchez did, much more seems to expected out of second year quarterbacks.

Chad Henne, Brandon Marshall, and the Dolphins offensive line will get a chance to work on their craft against a stingy defense tonight versus the Jags. The game can be seen on CBS affiliate WFOR-TV at 7:30p.m. eastern.

Miami's new rockstar Nate Ness has traveled the NFL

Everyone is talking about the new shining stars of the NFL. Several young players put in incredible performances last weekend during most of the league's first pre-season games. Most notably, New York Giants rookie receiver Victor Cruz, scored three touchdowns in the 31 to 16 win over the New York Jets on Monday night football, including a one-handed well-defended catch which had the league buzzing.

The Miami Dolphins though, have a new superstar of their own in defensive back Nate Ness, who in the Dolphins' 10-7 win against Tampa, accumulated four tackles, successfully defended three passes, and forced two fumbles at critical times, including one in the red zone in the last three minutes of regulation.

However, the phenomenon who attended Arizona isn't a rookie; it's actually his second year in the league. He went undrafted in 2009 and was signed by the Browns as a free agent; and believe it or not, Miami is Ness' fourth stop in the NFL.

According to his biography on the Miami Dolphins' team website, after Ness was signed by Cleveland last year, he was released just two months later. Then a month later he was picked up by the New York Jets but then waived a mere 12 days later. Two days after that, he was signed by Seattle but, as luck would have it, he was released by the Seahawks just three days later.

Eventually Ness was signed by the Dolphins and here he is today, a player whom the Dolphins have needed who can cover the field well, tackle with amazing form, and can force turnovers.

Considering the moving Ness has done around the league in the past year, it's obvious why he is pushing so hard to make the squad this season. He'll have another chance to show off his skills Saturday night at 7:30p.m. eastern when the Dolphins visit the Jaguars. The game can be seen on CBS affiliate WFOR-TV.

Miami Dolphins Stay Positive Despite Injuries to Nate Garner and John Jerry

The bigger they are the harder they seem to fall, or in the case of Dolphins' guards Nate Garner and John Jerry, seem to get injured. Nate Garner, who is expected to back up Vernon Carey at the right offensive tackle spot, re-injured his left foot which is unfortunately the same foot he had surgery on during the off-season. According to a report by the Miami Herald, Garner may be out up to eight weeks after another medical procedure on that foot.

The rookie phenomenon John Jerry was also attacked by the injury bug. His right knee became extremely sore during Monday's practice. Jerry being the fighter he is tried to overcome the pain on Tuesday but his knee simply felt worse. He eventually felt better later on Tuesday and participated in drills but his injury is day to day.

Although the decision isn't final, Jerry is expected to start at the right offensive guard spot ahead of Corey Proctor. His enthusiasm and work ethic are just a few of the reasons why he's already gained a lot of respect in the locker room. The third round pick out of Ole Miss is expected to be back at full strength by the time the Dolphins play the Jacksonville Jaguars in a road game Saturday night. The game will be aired live on CBS affiliate WFOR-TV at 7:30p.m. eastern.

Elsewhere in the Miami Dolphins preseason storyline, the team has just signed guard Randy Thomas formerly of the Washington Redskins to compete for time at guard.

Unfortunately, in order to make room for Thomas, wide receiver Ryan Grice-Mullen was waived. He was signed as a free agent in early January.

Percy Harvin Passes Out During Practice: Something's Got to Give

Percy Harvin passed out at a Minnesota practice today after feeling dizzy and meeting with a team doctor. He was loaded into an ambulance without blaring sirens and the situation according to a report by the Associated Press appeared somber. The wide receiver out of Florida who had an amazing rookie season has dealt with migraines all his life; a situation which cost him to miss an incredible amount of practice recently.

It is without a doubt that football fans all across the NFL want to see Percy Harvin play. He's an explosive monster and when he gets loose in the open field, he's truly special to watch. But this recent bout with the migraines he has suffered with all his life really seems like it's taking a toll on the young player.

The truth of the matter is doctors have been unable to identify a solution to these migraines and for the long term safety of Harvin, he should perhaps take some time off and meet with multiple-and I mean multiple specialists from across the country to figure out what the issue is with his health.

According the the report by the Associated Press, after Harvin met with the team doctor he returned to practice but could be seen trembling and then began to be moving back and forth as if he was about to fall over. His teammates surrounded him and emergency medical specialists were called immediately. The Vikings called practice early and there's no word yet on his condition.

The offensive rookie of the year caught 60 passes and eight touchdowns last season. He became the first Minnesota player ever to catch touchdown passes in each of his first three games.

Brandon Marshall: NBA Aspirations

The Chinese philosopher Confucius once wrote, "A man who does not think and plan ahead will find trouble right at his door." Well Miami Dolphins wide receiver Brandon Marshall is sure following that train of thought as he's already considered a plan B just in case the NFL is forced into a lockout in 2011. Marshall who lettered three years as a high school basketball shooting guard, told the media last Thursday if the NFL is unable to reach a new collective bargaining agreement with the players association by next year, he'll try to get a workout with the Denver Nuggets or the Miami Heat.

Marshall is perhaps Miami's most prized acquisition this off-season. The club gave up two second round picks and signed him to a hefty 47.5 million dollar extension. So the Dolphins' front office was probably unhappy upon hearing of Marshall's comments considering the rough time he gave the Broncos last summer admist concerns over his contract and Denver's medical staff's misdiagnosis of his hip injury which eventually required surgery.

Marshall smiled Thursday as he told the media of his hoop dreams. He talked about how great of a shooter he is and how he has a 37-inch vertical leap. The Dolphins however are only concerned about how he'll perform on the gridiron this season. He's the highest paid receiver in NFL history and is expected to be a deep threat-adding depth to a receiving core which ranked 29th in the league for total yards per catch last season. There's much to be admired of his desire to ensure job security considering if there is a lockout, more than 1500 NFL players will be out of work. Whether or not he actually makes it on an NBA team is an entirely different story.

The New Big Three to Face the Old Big Three: Miami Unveils Season Schedule

The 2010-11 season schedule was released this week and first off to face the new big three of Lebron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh are the defending eastern conference champion Boston Celtics.

The Heat will face the Celtics on the road on Tuesday October 26th. It'll be a match-up of the new big three versus the old big three of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen, a squad which brought Boston the NBA title in 2008 and nearly brought the squad the title last season.


The "decision" by Lebron James to join the Miami Heat this off-season has brewed a firestorm from those overjoyed he chose to come to South Beach and critics who believe his career would have fared better in Cleveland instead of playing on what many call a super team. Nevertheless the Heat do in fact have one of the best if not the best team in the NBA and in two months Boston may have some trouble trying to trump a team which includes three of the top leaders in player efficiency.

NBA analyst and former coach Jeff Van Gundy was recently quoted as saying that Miami has the potential to surpass Chicago's 73 win season.

Heat guard Dwyane Wade even had to apologize about a month ago for suggesting that if Miami were to even lose 2 games back-to-back it would be equivalent to the shock of the 9/11 world trade center disaster. However it is fitting that Boston, the team that inspired the phrase big three will face off against the new super big three which is a team in Miami that could potentially dominate the league for years to come. To view the full schedule click on the following link http://www.nba.com/heat/schedule/.

Tiger Woods: Finally Faces the Public

Tiger Woods walked up to a podium early Friday and addressed a national audience to once again apologize for his infidelities. He apologized to fans, his business partners, and his sponsors. The richest golfer in the world talked about continuing his charitable efforts and also talked about his stay in sex therapy for cheating on his wife. He spoke about understanding why the press wants to know details of his life but made it clear those issues would be solely between he and his wife.

He spoke at great length about wanting to protect his family and criticized the paparazzi for following his family including his children and mother everywhere they went. He made a plea to the media to leave his family alone.

Woods defended his wife, Elin Nordegren, saying she never attacked him or touched him during the Thanksgiving incident when he ran into the tree with his SUV.

Then he began talking about Buddhism which was the religion he was taught as a child. He talked about drifting away from his religion and wanting to go back to his early teachings. Then he went into detail about what he learned in sex therapy which included relying on his religion and friends.

Woods answered what his golf fans wanted to hear which is that he plans to return to golf but he didn't give a exact time but said it may be in 2010. He apologized to his fellow golfers for holding the press conference during the same weeked the Accenture tournament will take place. He then asked the audience and viewers if they could one day believe in him again. After he finished speaking he hugged his mother.

Obviously what he said was well scripted and was devised to suit his wide purpose which was a plea for forgiveness from everyone. Clearly he wants to restore his image and I think he's well on his way. He appeared to come across as genuine despite the fact he was obviously rehearsed. But he was subdued and humble even when he was asking the media to leave his family alone. I believe the plea for his family resonated with a lot of people because he was very sincere. He was smart in that he didn't attack the media but rather respectfully revealed how his actions allowed his family to be negatively impacted by the mainstream press.

I think he did a great job although it was obviously staged and orchestrated. But I'm positive he didn't garner too much sympathy because at the end of the day, Tiger Woods has earned 100 million dollars from golf earning plus more from endorsements. I'm sure some of the companies may return to backing him; that's obvious. He has some work to do with rebuilding his family but I'm sure he won't have a problem with that. People won't forget about his infidelities but I don't think it'll matter. A year from now I suspect this will be a non-story and Woods will categorically return to form on and off the course and will always be considered the best golfer that has ever lived.

Darrell Green: The Fastest Baby Boomer Alive and Still Healthy

On February 15th of this year NFL Hall of Famer Darrell Green turned 50. Shortly after, according to his twitter account, he became the fastest baby boomer alive. Green claimed to have run the 40 yard dash in 4.43 seconds on his birthday. Who should doubt him? The answer is no one. He won all of the NFL fastest man competitions he entered; and ten years ago at age 40 he made headlines for running a tad bit faster forty time of 4.2.

Green is a two time Super Bowl champ and 7 time pro bowler whose storied career reads like 50 pages from the Guiness Book of World Records. Most of his records made prominent because of the 20 years he spent in the league. He holds the record for most career interceptions and most interceptions returned by a Redskins player in history. He holds the record for most games played by a defensive player in league history and at age 40, he signed a five year contract with Washington, a team he played with his entire NFL career.

But the story here is much bigger than the fact that Green can run a faster time than almost everyone half his age. The story here is a more positive story than the ones NFL fans have heard in the past few years. Green like Brett Favre, Warren Moon and Deion Sanders who've played long and illustrious career in the league and are in top physical condition for their age, are simply a rarity and should be celebrated.

In 2011, the NFL is expected to have a lockout as they try to figure out a new plan to split the revenue between owners and players. Other issues being discussed include how much dough to fork over to retired players especially the ones with health issues related or unrelated to football. For years now it's become widely accepted that players in the league are susceptible to health problems later on in life as a result of the physical nature of the sport. This problem became more of a serious issue when Hall of Famer Reggie White passed away at age 43 in 2004 of a cardiac arrhythmia. Many players have also suffered from heart problems and concussions. The most unexpected case occurred this year when All American defensive end Gaines Adams died of a heart attack at age 26.

So while NFL owners bicker back and forth with the players' union about shrinking profits, I hope providing substantive health benefits to retired players isn't pushed aside. In the meantime when you hear a story about a 50 year old beast running a 4.43 40 yard dash, all you can do is chuckle or think what the.......???

Another One Bites The Dust: Jim Leavitt Fired

On my previous blog, I talked about how several coaches are taking inadvertent leave of absences by making reckless decisions and now you can add USF Coach Jim Leavitt to the growing list. Leavitt was fired Friday for reportedly asking and or forcing players and assistant coaches to lie about an incident where he allegedly grabbed one of his players by the throat and slapped him. The University investigation into the incident concluded Leavitt did in fact choke and slap the player this past season. Unbelievable! Leavitt built the program at USF; how could he risk 14 years of hardwork by making an incredibly stupid decision? I cannot believe this abuse is going on in college football and my thought now is college athletes should be paid because I think it's a result of the mistreatment of college players at a much higher level.

There's so much money being handed around in college football and college sports in general and while I can appreciate the fact that the players are receiving an education it's appears more that these players' values to the coaches are underappreciated considering the way they are being treated. You never hear stories like this in the NFL. Yes, college is platform for growth but these coaches need to realize that these are young men and women not children to be pushed around and beaten. If USF determined Coach Leavitt was in the wrong in the incident then it is true because he was such a value to the program. There's no way they would have fired someone who contributed so much.

Colts & Saints Still Undefeated: Dolphins Will Cringe!

The Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints are still undefeated going into week 14 of the NFL season; making it the first time in history two teams have ever done so at the same time. The play of quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Drew Brees have been nothing short of exceptional considering the teams they have beaten, the talent they've faced, and their come from behind victory games.
Both of their most notable come-from-behind wins come at the expense of the Miami Dolphins. But before I begin talking about how Miami will look back and regret both of those losses let's focus on what the two undefeated teams have done lately.

Yesterday the Colts beat a very hot Tennessee Titans team which won 5 straight games. Granted, three of those Tennessee wins were against teams with records under .500 but they were still significant victories. Colts QB Peyton Manning has thrown approximately 3,685 yards this season with a 101 quarterback rating and 25 touchdowns under his belt. Not to mention, Indianapolis receiver Reggie Wayne just broke the 1000 yard reception mark on Sunday against Tennessee now with 1,035.

The Saints on the other hand should be commended for their play on offense and defense considering they have likely pro-bowlers on both sides of the ball. As a matter of fact since the pro-bowl is a week before the superbowl; if the Saints get there, they might as well fly to Miami two weeks in advance because many of their players will be part of both. I'm predicting Drew Brees will win if not at least share the MVP award this season. Brees has shocked the world with his miraculous if not earth shattering improvement this year. He's thrown for more than 3,500 yards with a 111 quarterback rating and 29 touchdowns which is higher than Manning. The one two three punch of Brees, Tight End Jeremy Shockey, and Receiver Devery Henderson has overwhelmed defenses this year; and Sedrick Ellis, Jonathan Vilma, and Darren Sharper might as well give their speeches now because all three will be selected for the pro-bowl this season.

As for the Miami Dolphins, let's just say allowing the Colts to beat them in week 2 and the Saints to come back in week 7 will prove to be very significant at the end of the season. First off, now that the Dolphins split the season series with New England after beating them 21-20 yesterday, they still have hope to win the AFC East.

The only problem is if the Patriots win out they'll take the division instead. Now this particular scenario could have been avoided had the Dolphins taken care of business with either the Saints or the Colts earlier this season. In both of those losses the Phins had a significant edge. In the Colts game the Dolphins controlled time of possession and even held a seven point fourth quarter lead but were unable to come out on top. In the loss against New Orleans the Dolphins owned the Saints for most of the game holding a 21 point lead in the 2nd quarter of that game and a 10 point lead late in the last.

So for all the fans who relish the Miami Dolphins' undefeated regular and post-season record, watch out because odds are it's going to end this year. They'll be no more trash talking and no more champangne glasses clinking by the former players of the 1972 undeated team. This is about the time of the year when those players come out of the wood work and start giving interviews about their annual celebration when the last undefeated team falls. But guess what? There are now two teams which are perfect and both these squads have two likely MVPs; so when Dolphins players and fans alike think back to those losses they'll be kicking themselves because they could have easily and I mean EASILY prevented Miami's record from being broken.

Tiger Woods' Car Accident: Truth Revealed

When I first heard news of Tiger Woods' accident outside of his Windemere home last Friday, I was very concerned about his well being but I was sure he'd recover from whatever injuries he sustained. The story from the beginning to me didn't make sense. From the fact that he hit the fire hydrant and tree he saw every day he left his driveway and the fact that he wasn't under the influence of alcohol or prescription drugs had me thinking there was more to the story. More suprising was to hear about the heroics of his wife. The way she ran outside the home and broke the window with a golf club to free her loving husband from the smashed Cadillac made me want to give her the nickname "Wonderwoman."

But the truth is there was in fact a lot more to the story. A story which the popular celebrity website TMZ.com was on to long before the accident ever occurred. The billionaire golf star who caught the attention of the world with his exceptional playing ability and clean image was reportedly having an affair with a New York waitress/bartender Rachel Uchitel. These reports first surfaced from the National Enquirer and TMZ days before the car accident. Many speculate this led Woods' wife, Elin Nordegren to a rage which included her scratching his face and chasing him outside their Orlando home with a golf club in hand as he tried to drive off thus causing the accident. This scenario to many is the one that makes the most sense but was never confirmed.

Tiger Woods decided to stay silent about the incident, which at the end of the day is a personal family matter he has every right to keep in-house. However, as a result of his silence to not only his adoring public but also to the Florida Highway Patrol who investigated the crash, the story became much bigger. Had he perhaps spoken to law enforcement, which by law he didn't have to, the public may have bought his side of the story which was that he crashed his car into a tree and his wife heroically rescued him. But even then, there was evidence which proved otherwise. The evidence included that the window which was smashed out by his wife with the golf club was actually not one but two windows and they were the rear windows in the back. These facts would support the tabloid scenario in which Woods' wife chased him with a golf club because she was angry about his alleged affair.

Woods of course denied such allegations and vehemently defended his wife. But to add insult to his injuries, a woman came forward days ago claiming she had a 31 month affair with Woods. This woman, Jaimee Grubbs is a 24 year old waitress from California who appeared on the VH1 reality show Tool Academy. Quite ironically, she appeared as a victim of a man who had another girlfriend while dating her but obviously now it's revealed she was having a relationship with Tiger Woods the whole time. This woman Grubbs, different from the first, paints a picture of Woods as an adulterer who has been involved in several relationships outside his marriage. To prove her claim of a relationship with Woods, Grubbs claimed to have hundreds of text messages, pictures and more of her connection with Woods. She produced a voice message with a person who sounds like Woods telling her to change her answering machine message because his wife was checking his phone and he didn't want her hearing another woman's voice.

Today Woods finally apologized for what he called "transgressions against his family." He also attacked the media circus which has surrounded his life the past week. But Woods knows the world he lives in and he shouldn't be surprised with the media at all. As a public figure, he should have been more careful with his actions. This woman, Jaimee Grubbs who has basically exposed Woods as an adulterer clearly doesn't care about him. In fact she used Tiger for fame and she's getting exactly what she wants. Former Tennessee Titans Quarterback, Steve McNair paid the ultimate price for his infidelity. He had a relationship with a young vulnerable girl who then shot him to death when her life spiraled out of control. Infidelity these days can mean death.

Grubbs, whom is doing everything in her power to expose Woods and their relationship is acting along the lines of "fatal attraction." Tiger Woods not only sacrificed the family life he shared with his wife and two children but he also put himself at great risk by having an affair with a woman who is clearly unconcerned about his interests.

Woods' endorsement deals are nevertheless intact. Many of the advertisers who use him to sell their products like Nike and AT&T are sticking by him and really don't need not worry because he will keep winning tournaments and fans just the same. However, this new image of Woods is one fans will have to get used to. He's no longer the clean cut family guy whom although had a foul mouth on the golf course you simply thought was a perfect guy off of it. Woods said it best in his statement released today. He said, "I am not without faults and I am far short of perfect." He's getting criticized by his friends and his marriage is in peril.

This has been the best and worst year of Woods' life. After being the first notable athlete to reach the billion dollar mark to now be exposed as the most famous adulterer today just goes to show that nothing, no one, and no situation is as it appears at face value.

Tiger Woods: In Good Condition Despite Early Reports

Tiger Woods was not seriously injured despite initial reports about the top golfer's car accident outside his Orlando home. Woods only sustained facial lacerations and other minor injuries which is a complete relief from earlier news about the wreck. The latest reports say early this morning, Woods was backing out his driveway in his 2009 cadillac escalade and hit a fire hydrant. His wife reportedly heard the car crash and ran outside and helped him out of the vehicle by smashing the car window with a golf club. He was admitted to the hospital and soonafter he was released according to his publicist.

So why were earlier reports so wrong? How did minor injuries turn into serious injuries? Wow! It just goes to show how important fact checking is in major stories. Watching coverage of the accident all day, I noticed a high level of panic about Woods' future and whether he'll ever play again. Well the answer is yes; He'll play and win a lot more majors. Woods is the most famous athlete today and he'll bounce back despite the facial lacerations. Woods basically had a minor mishap which was obvious considering the initial details of the story. I'm glad he's okay and I think the story should go away because I'm sure Woods wants to put this incident behind him.

Tiger Woods' Car Accident: Seriously Injured

I'm always taken aback when I hear celebrities or sports stars getting into the typical misfortunes of regular Joes. Today for instance, the world's best golfer Tiger Woods is in serious condition after a car accident right outside his home in Orlando. Initial reports say charges are pending in the case and Woods may have been the only one involved in the accident which may have involved him hitting a fire hydrant and then running into a neighbors tree. He was reportedly driving a 2009 cadillac escalade and his airbags did not deploy which indicates everything went wrong for Woods in this accident. It all seems really minor considering his car was the only one involved and couldn't have been going more than 35mph coming out of his driveway but multiple reports say he is in serious condition.

Not much more has been revealed about the accident which comes a day after Thanksgiving; and surely during holidays you hate to hear bad news. I'm confident no matter how serious the injuries are that Tiger Woods will recover and bounce back. I was relieved to hear that alcohol was not a factor and I knew it immediately because Tiger is a smart guy and I doubt he would risk his career by driving drunk.

Woods is a 33 year old golf phenom currently ranked the number 1 golfer in the world. He joined the PGA tour in 1996 and has won 14 major championships and is a two time Fed Ex Cup champion. In 2008, he earned a reported $110 million in earnings and this year in 09' hit the one billion dollar mark. His accomplishments elevated because he achieved so much so quickly. He has 71 PGA tour wins third on the all time list. I reiterate, I'm confident no matter how serious the injuries, Tiger Woods will be back and I'm glad alcohol was not a factor. The Orlando Sentinel, ESPN and CNN are the sources of this report.

Allen Iverson's Retirement: The Result of a Bad Reputation

Let's not be coy about Allen Iverson's decision to retire. Although he is a future hall of famer who led the Sixers to the 2001 NBA finals and has the choice to call it quits whenever he wants, Iverson's retirement is the result of the negative image he's built over the years; and he is being forced out of the league. Iverson always had swagger from his playing days at Georgetown. He presented an attitude of confidence but more arrogance. But why not? He had exceptional abilities considering his small six foot 180 pound small frame.

The 10 time NBA All-Star has undoubtedly stamped an image of his excellence in the minds of basketball fans. He's tallied over 24 thousand points and nearly two-thouand steals in his career and his name comes up when considering the best players of the last decade. But the other image Iverson stamped in the minds of many was that of a troublesome player who couldn't win it all because he didn't exhibit the team player mindset. While he was a franchise player for the Sixers, his critics would say he was never a leader. This poisonous image stemmed from his battles with Larry Brown about practicing. With the sixers, Iverson made public statements about not wanting to practice with his team because he felt he didn't need to do so in order to gain success. I'm not quite sure his college coach, John Thompson, agreed with him. But of course hearing Iverson pick and choose when he wanted to practice didn't sway public favor towards him for obvious reasons. He then moved on to play with Denver in 2006 followed by Detroit in 08' and a three game career with Memphis this season. He was unhappy playing with the Pistons and the Grizzlies because he was coming off the bench.

He parted ways the Grizzlies this season wanting and expecting to get picked up by another team. While the New York Knicks showed strong interest in Iverson they were the only ones. The Knicks eventually decided against picking up Iverson claiming he would take playing time away from the younger players who need to develop. But his critics say it's because he's a drama filled athlete who would be a negative influence on the players in the locker room. The Knicks have had their fair share of drama filled players. Most recently Stephon Marbury who is currently a free agent, caused a lot of infighting with the dysfunctional Knicks feuding with both Larry Brown and Isiah Thomas. Not to say Iverson and Marbury's situations are equally comparable but if Iverson's critics are correct, the Knicks may have wanted to avoid issues that would arise from a very "opinionated" player like Iverson on the squad.

Last year, Iverson averaged 17 points per game for the Pistons and his former coach George Karl said he's surprised no one is giving him a chance. But if you consider the fact more and more sports teams in and out of the league are opting to avoid troubled players despite their talent, this isn't much of a surprise. Iverson is 34 years old and even though he would make an immediate contribution to any team on or off the bench for most teams he simply isn't worth the risk.

According to the report about the retirement from NBA analyst Stephen A. Smith, Iverson still believes he has a lot of skill left in the tank. His statement to Smith indicates he wants to play but since no team has interest, it's better to save face and just retire rather than stay a free agent with diminished hopes that a team will take him. I'm almost certain this isn't the way Iverson envisioned leaving the league but it's the reality. Perhaps this isn't the end for Iverson; who still has talent; and of course it wouldn't be the first time a player returned from retirement. But by the way everything transpired it really just seems like it's over.

Congratulations New York Yankees!!!!!!!

The New York Yankees won their 27th World Series last night in a 7-3 win over the Defending Champions Philadelphia Phillies. It was a fitting win for a team which hadn't won the title in nearly a decade. Hideki Matsui was named the series MVP and if you watched the game at any point in the first four innings you would've seen why. His performance last night combined with what he had accomplished throughout the series without question made him the most deserving player on the NYY squad. Matsui tied the WS record with six RBIs, the most significant of them hit off Pedro Martinez. You can literally say Hideki Matsui owned Pedro Martinez.

They did it at the new Yankee stadium, under manager Joe Girardi, who also won the world series three times as a player. It was a memorable night for Yankee fans who were perhaps ultimately glad that the Phillies forced a game six so their team could return to the Bronx and win it in front of all the fans. Celebrities and Political powers in attendance included Mayor Michael Bloomberg, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Regis Philbin, Donald Trump, and many more.

But getting back to the baseball side of things, WOW!!! They did it again. And finally Alex Rodriguez gets the playoff monkey off his back with his great performance during the post-season. Amidst all the steroid chatter and admissions which preceded the season, it seems like everything is all behind him and the world is right.

Another side story is the declining health of Yankees owner George Steinnbrenner. He was unable to make the trip from his home in Tampa but it is his efforts and money which brought this team together and made it the unbeatable contender. The amount of talent the Yankees brought in this year alone guaranteed them a championship and Steinbrenner was probably celebrating big time back in Florida.

I'm glad to see the Yankees win; unlike many others who immediately began talking about how New York's $200 million payroll gave them the automatic edge over any team. It may be true to an extent but then you have to look at the Florida Marlins, the team able to do it twice with the lowest payroll in MLB. The Marlins are my favorite team by far and despite the fact that they have the lowest payroll, I have no angst against the Yanks for being well managed, having an owner who wants his team and the community taken care of, and having players who have a sheer passion to win. So congratulations to the 2009 World Series Champion New York Yankees for winning their 27th title.

Brandon Spikes' Eye Gouging: A Half Game is Not Enough

I was literally stunned when I saw Florida Linebacker Brandon Spikes attempting to gouge the eyes of Georgia runningback Washaun Ealy in the Gators win over the Bulldogs on Saturday. I don't know Spikes personally, but from interviewing him and hearing all the positive comments he receives from his coaches and teammates, seeing the video of him sticking his fingers into the helmet of Ealy was very disturbing. Although I feel a half game suspension is not enough, I'm not going to go as far to say that he should be suspended for more than one game. I think a one game suspension would have sufficed considering what he did, his apology, and the fact that Ealy himself said he doesn't think Spikes should have been suspended at all. The Florida program actually handed down the half suspension and the Southeastern conference agreed with the decision.

I've heard and seen a lot from the media about Spikes' suspension being too light considering Oregon running back LaGarrett Blount's season long suspension for sucker punching a Boise State Defensive end after the Ducks' lost early this season. I think the two situations differ and shouldn't be compared because one incident occurred during the game where the emotion was high and the other occurred after the game where tensions were also high but there was also premeditation on the part of Blount. Quite honestly, I think Blount's suspension was too harsh anyway but it was the Oregon program which handed down the ruling.

In no way am I defending Spikes. In fact he could have caused serious damage had he actually punctured the eyes of Ealy. But I can't be sure his actions were premeditated which is a very important argument when evaluating this situation. Also, I don't agree with the comments about there being a double standard just because Florida is the number one team in the nation. Who cares? If the NCAA felt the suspension was too light, they could have stretched it out to a full game or more but they didn't. So all the whining about there being a double standard is absurd. The fact of the matter is, Spikes apologized, Ealy is fine, and a ruling was handed down which was fine with the SEC. So my final word is Spikes learned from this situation, it'll probably never happen again, and all the innuendo about the suspension being unfair should end.

World Series Prediction 2009 (Phillies Will Come out on Top)

After evaluating the first two games of the World Series I can make an honest prediction as to who will win it all. I would've been disingenuous if before the initial match up I thought I could make a plausible guess as to who would take it all even though I typically make predictions anyway. These two teams are so evenly matched from Cliff Lee and C.C. Sabathia to Alex Rodriguez and Ryan Howard, down the roster there is not an unmatched player on either squad.

The first two games of the world series were marked by two great pitchers Cliff Lee and A.J. Burnett both winners in game 1 and game 2 respectively. Lee obviously exceptional in game one on the road at Yankee stadium allowing just six hits, 10 strikeouts, and no walks. And who can forget the behind the back catch he made look so easy off Robinson Cano which he threw to first for the out and then simply smirked. Mr. Lee has confidence up the ying yang which I know makes Charlie Manuel wishes he could start him every game. Thanks to Lee, a home run by Chase Utley and other great at bats from Shane Victorino and Ryan Howard, Philadelphia took game one easily. Game two however was a must win for the Yankees because they didn't want to go to Philly down 0-2. A.J. Burnett stepped up big time and his curveball proved a major challenge for Philly as the Yankees took Game 2 by the final of 3-1.

My prediction is the Phillies will win the series in five games. There's no doubt the Yankees have unbelievable weapons such as Hideki Matsui, Mark Texeira, "Hit Man" Derek Jeter, and Alex Rodriguez. And obviously pitching is a huge factor as well. But I believe the pitchers are evenly matched; clearly in the first two games Lee vs Sabathia & Pedro Martinez vs A.J. Burnett were all fantastic. In game three Cliff may return and Sabathia can start as well. Then you have the other potential starters such as Andy Pettite who'll likely get New York's second series win. But I truly believe the Phillies want it more because they're the underdogs even as defending champs. In all truth I like the Yankees even though I've declared all loyalties to the Florida Marlins. Nick Swisher definitely my favorite player on the team because of his ability to make big plays when it counts the most.

But for Philly, Cliff Lee, Pedro, Brett Myers have the swagger necessary to stop the Yankees. Even though Martinez lost game two, he played well. I didn't think Mark Texeira was going to have contact with that fast pitch he did. And Yankees fans know that game could have gone either way. I'm always afraid of Derek Jeter's at bats because he also has the smooth ability to make contact with the ball and make a great play. It's tough to decipher which team has the edge because there's so much talent on both rosters. But like I mentioned earlier, I'm going to go with Philadelphia simply because I believe they want it more. We'll see.

Braylon Edwards: Booted from Cleveland

Rule number one as a resident of Cleveland is you don't mess with King Lebron James or any of his friends because if you do then you'll be kicked out of town. Former Browns Receiver Braylon Edwards who now plays for the Jets punched one of Lebron James' friends outside a nightclub last weekend. The punch somehow motivated the Cleveland Browns front office to trade this talented receiver who in recent games hasn't done much to impact his team or the city of Cleveland.

Days after the punch, which was to a 5 foot 9 139 pound guy, Lebron James cried jealousy, saying Edwards doesn't have the professionalism required of an athlete of his caliber. Edwards of course understanding he made a mistake by pummeling a friend of the King said he has the upmost respect for Lebron...but it was too late. A few days later Edwards learned he was traded to the Jets and King Lebron's power hold on the city of Cleveland grew even stronger; because people now understood who was in charge.

Point being, you can't cross the the most important athlete in town no matter what you do or who you are because there will be consequences.

Tim Tebow's Concussion: The Day the Earth Stood Still

I don't want to get into too much about this but didn't your heart just drop when you saw Tim Tebow laying on the field almost motionless after being hit hard in last Saturday's matchup between the Gators and Kentucky. For so long, the intrigue about Tebow was his ability to take hard hits and even give them and stay in the game as if nothing happened. His nickname is Superman and I think too many people began to take it almost literally before last weekend when they saw their hero taken down and sent to the hospital with a concussion. Even if you're not a Gator fan, you must have been affected in some way. The Kryptonite play which left football fans talking illustrated that Tebow is human like the rest of us; but it also in a way helps football fans who don't neccessarily like the Gators appreciate what Tebow has done throughout his career. He is the most talented and physical Quarterback in the history of college football. With two national championships under his belt and having won the Heisman trophy his sophomore year, Timothy has given Gator fans bragging rights for the next decade. This hit on Tebow, which for Gator fans will be known as the day the earth stood still, will inevitably help him. Why? Because many who vote on the Heisman will look back and say, wow, even after a concussion Tim Tebow returned to lead his team to an undefeated season and SEC championship.