Sports Articles

2008-08-29 | Jim Murphy

Wildcat coach Rich Brooks has been vocal about the fact that the team’s offense is in rebuilding mode, but they should have a margin for error based on the play of their ball...

2008-08-29 | Jim Murphy

It wasn’t a perfect performance by any stretch of the imagination, and 4 BYU fumbles—including one in their own end zone recovered for a TD--allowed Northern Iowa to keep...

2008-08-29 | Jim Murphy

Johnson led 228 of the 250 laps run and would have led more had it not been for a substandard day for his pit crew. Still, Johnson gave notice to everything thinking that the Sprint...

2008-08-28 | Jim Murphy

Newcastle was never really in the game after that, finishing with only 4 total shots. Arsenal, meanwhile, went up 2-0 near halftime as van Persie scored his second of the...

2008-08-28 | Jim Murphy

The Wolverines looked pretty good in the first quarter, as they opened the scoring with a TD and scored a late FG to end the period up 10-6. Unfortunately, they appeared to be...

2008-08-28 | Jim Murphy

While Bowden’s Tiger teams have been solid since then, he’s not won as much of an ACC championship—let alone contend for a national title. The job of Clemson football coach...

2008-08-27 | Jim Murphy

Even though Virginia Tech was nominally a top 20 team, many observers have suggested that this might be the weakest Hokie squad in some time. In other words, their...

2008-08-27 | Jim Murphy

The Rainbows hotshot QB Colt Brennan is now playing for the Washington Redskins, and Hawaii is still taking its lumps from college football’s “big dogs”…er….”big...

2008-08-27 | Jim Murphy

The Trojans made it look frighteningly easy and raised questions about whether their #3 ranking might have them somewhat undervalued. They’ll get a chance to address that next...

2008-08-26 | Jim Murphy

The backstory of the (hopefully) impending Cro Cop/Overeem fight reads more like a script for “Days of Our Lives” than a fight preview. Most serious MMA fans know the Cro ...

2008-08-26 | Jim Murphy

There’s been talk of adding an instant replay component to the venerable sport for over a decade now. These calls were renewed during a high profile fan interference call when...

2008-08-26 | Jim Murphy

Following some significant injuries to the Giants’ defensive starters, Strahan was asked to reconsider his retirement by GM Jerry Reese. After considering a number of scenarios...

2008-08-25 | Jim Murphy

That perennial top tier club Arsenal shouldn’t have lost to Fulham is a serious understatement. Fulham had to move heaven and earth near the end of last season just to avoid...

2008-08-25 | Jim Murphy

The LPGA’s roster includes 121 foreign players from 26 countries. Of these, 45 are South Korean. Faced with a loss of sponsors and a declining fan interest, LPGA Carolyn...

2008-08-25 | Jim Murphy

Duckworth was best known for being the Blazers’ starting center on their great NBA Finals teams that starred Clyde Drexler and Terry Porter. His lackadaisical attitude toward...

2008-08-24 | Jim Murphy

He also may have ignited something that NASCAR has lacked in recent years—a good, old fashioned feud between drivers that are rivals on the track and just plain don’t like each...

2008-08-24 | Jim Murphy

The US men took motivation from the tragedy, however, and began a sizzling run at the games that culminated in a 3-1 victory over defending champion Brazil in the...

2008-08-24 | Jim Murphy

While the mainstream media invariably gushes about how “spectacular” these events are, they’re apparently easily impressed by even a “by the numbers” display of pomp and flash...

2008-08-23 | Jim Murphy

True, the 2008 US Olympic basketball team didn’t have a 43.8 average margin of victory like the 1992 “Dream Team”. They “barely scraped by” with a 27.9 average margin of...

2008-08-23 | Jim Murphy

The US women have never let the rest of the world make a compelling case that they’re less than dominant. This win represented their 33rd straight in Olympic competition...

2008-08-23 | Jim Murphy

Though the Americans could have been happy just to reach their first final since the gold medal run twenty years ago, they came out swinging and matched their heavily favored...

2008-08-22 | Jim Murphy

Since the announcement of Day of Reckoning, speculation within the heavy metal community has swirled around the identity of the musical guest. Megadeth, whose United...

2008-08-22 | Jim Murphy

Unlike the US women, who fought through abysmal weather conditions in their championship match, the men had picture perfect conditions—in fact, the bright sun caused ...

2008-08-22 | Jim Murphy

Of course he’ll need to do *something* to improve on the team’s first meeting against the US in this Olympic Games. The teams met in the preliminary round and Spain...

2008-08-21 | Jim Murphy

Walsh and May-Treanor are considered to be the best female beach volleyball duo in the world, and the fact that they’ve now won 108 straight matches definitely bolsters...

2008-08-21 | Jim Murphy

There’s an old NASCAR adage that “if you ain’t cheatin’, you ain’t tryin’”. In light of this Joe Gibbs Racing deserves a commendation for their “effort”, but instead received some...

2008-08-21 | Jim Murphy

It was an ignominious end to 16 years of Olympic softball dominance by the United States, who had won three straight gold medals prior to their silver medal ‘consolation prize’ this...

2008-08-20 | Jim Murphy

A similar phenomenon could be at work in the main event of the Affliction: Day of Reckoning MMA card scheduled for October 11 in Las Vegas. The original main even was...

2008-08-20 | Jim Murphy

The US star pitcher Monica Abbott and Japan’s Yukiko Ueno put on a pitching duel worthy of Randy Johnson or Roger Clemens. Both women have pitched perfect...

2008-08-20 | Jim Murphy

Somehow the aforementioned media types are granting the Aussies a “moral victory” for only being down by 12 at the half. Not much of a “silver lining”, as the US Once...

2008-08-19 | Jim Murphy

The start against Chicago, in which have gave up 7 runs in 4 innings of work, was his first since June 10th. In the 4th inning his elbow began to stiffen, and he knew that it was...

2008-08-19 | Jim Murphy

The performance of the top US women’s beach volleyball team has been staggering and almost perfect—May-Treanor and Walsh have won 107 straight matches, meaning...

2008-08-19 | Jim Murphy

The US was led by Dwight Howard’s 22 points and LeBron James, who added 18. Kobe Bryant, Dwayne Wade and Chris Paul each contributed double digits to the balanced US...

2008-08-18 | Jim Murphy

Chelsea looked primed to make a statement in their first game under the helm of new manager Luiz Felipe Scolari, and did so emphatically. Chelsea had a reputation for being...

2008-08-18 | Jim Murphy

Edwards’ win in the Nationwide Series allowed him to narrow the gap between himself and series leader Clint Bowyer to 113 points. Edwards has won 3 Nationwide Series races...

2008-08-18 | Jim Murphy

Softball became an Olympic sport in 1996, and the US has won every gold medal since. This year’s team is looking to make it four straight and so far have laid waste to the rest of...

2008-08-17 | Jim Murphy

Roy’s surgery was performed by Blazer team doctor Don Roberts and involved the removal of a stray flap of cartilage. The procedure took only twenty minutes and no additional...

2008-08-17 | Jim Murphy

#4 got a huge standing ovation from the New York fans when introduced before the game, and they continued to cheer his every move during his short stint under center. His first...

2008-08-17 | Jim Murphy

The US hoop team demolished world champion Spain on Saturday morning by 37 points. Sum total margin of victory from this game and the Greek team that was also supposed to...

2008-08-16 | Jim Murphy

While Yang Wei was dominant, the American men were flailing and falling like drunken frat boys in a spring break bellyflop contest. American Jonathan Horton appeared more...

2008-08-16 | Jim Murphy

Fighters as a group have a tendency to stick around longer than they should, tarnishing their legacy by continuing to battle past their prime. The talented native of Cardiff...

2008-08-16 | Jim Murphy

Here’s the reality: the US destroyed Greece by 23 points. The Greeks were never in the game after the 1st quarter; the US led 51-32 at the half and coasted the rest of the way...

2008-08-16 | Jim Murphy

This year is no different, with Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers the men’s gold medal favorites and Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor expected to defend their 2004 gold...

2008-08-16 | Jim Murphy

As has been the case with Tampa’s improbable 2008 transformation from a perennial cellar dweller to the pacesetter in the AL’s most storied division, they’ve received timely...

2008-08-16 | Jim Murphy

The difference between the American men and women in gymnastics couldn’t be more glaring. While the US men preened and goofed around like they were making a lame YouTube...

2008-08-16 | Jim Murphy

Charlie Weis obviously has some goodwill in the bank, or else he’d have been pink slipped after Notre Dame’s brutal 2007 season. Any way you slice it, the year was a...

2008-08-16 | Jim Murphy

According to Arum, neither Pacquaio nor De La Hoya would budge from their proposed revenue split. De La Hoya reportedly sought a 70-30 split in his favor, while Pacquaio’s team...

2008-08-16 | Jim Murphy

That’s most definitely not the case in the rest of the world where, even with the Beijing Olympics underway, soccer (or ‘football’ as it’s called everywhere else but the US) is ...

2008-08-14 | Jim Murphy

The loss sent Nigeria to the quarterfinals and sent the Americans packing following a dismal 1-1-1 Olympic performance. That includes a 1-0 victory over a Japanese team...

2008-08-14 | Jim Murphy

Dwayne Wade once again led the US team with 19 points as he continued to excel in his role as the team’s “sixth man”. Dwight Howard added 14 points and LeBron James and...

2008-08-14 | Jim Murphy

Fedor’s relationship with the #1 US MMA promotion may even be chillier. After the demise of the Japanese MMA organization PRIDE, the Russian fighting god entered into ...

2008-08-13 | Jim Murphy

Whether Kobe was driven by business acumen or a desire to “one up” LeBron, its actually a pretty good idea and particularly with the Euro so strong relative to the dollar...

2008-08-13 | Jim Murphy

Crawford, a 4 time AL stolen base leader, had been in excellent form prior to landing on the DL. He’s hitting .273 with 57 RBIs and 25 steals, but during a recent 11...

2008-08-13 | Jim Murphy

One day after the US Men’s team walloped China by 31 points in what might be the most watched basketball game in history, the American distaff hoopsters did...

2008-08-10 | Jim Murphy

What’s really been impressive about the Tampa Bay uprising is how the entire team is contributing and the way that even potentially bad news has had a silver lining. Take the ...

2008-08-10 | Jim Murphy

Favre’s transparently fake “aw shucks” grin was on prominent display as another self absorbed egomaniac, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, officially welcomed...

2008-08-10 | Jim Murphy

Unlike Favre, who could only find one team with enough cap room who were also desperate enough to take him, Pennington had at least a half dozen teams vying for his services...

2008-08-10 | Jim Murphy

The US team will start Olympic play with a formidable starting lineup consisting of Jason Kidd at pointguard, Kobe Bryant at shooting guard, LeBron James at small...

2008-08-10 | Jim Murphy

As far as the football itself, Favre looked decent considering that he’d not practiced with the team before. He indicated at a post practice press conference that he still had a lot ...

2008-08-10 | Jim Murphy

After a dominant takedown to open the fight, followed by a barrage of GSP punches it looked as if Fitch wouldn’t make it out of the first round. He managed to survive...

2008-08-09 | Jim Murphy

According to US Cycling Team officials the athletes who apologized--Michael Friedman, Sarah Hammer, Bobby Lea and Jennie Reed—did so at their own behest and were not...

2008-08-09 | Jim Murphy

Russell was in a final scramble to make his division’s 119 pound weight limit. Having weighed 125 at most of the “tune up” events in advance of the games it was clearly a challenge...

2008-08-09 | Jim Murphy

From the team’s standpoint things really can’t get any worse with Favre under center, at least in the short term. Their schedule following a 4-12 season alone should allow the...

2008-08-08 | Jim Murphy

Ortiz has a child from a previous marriage, while this would be the 34 year old Jameson’s first. She previously suffered a miscarriage and failed in vitro, but since becoming...

2008-08-08 | Jim Murphy

As is inevitable with this type of cross promotional negotiation, there are a few contentious issues that need to be resolved. In addition to the obvious—who gets what ...

2008-08-08 | Jim Murphy

If more evidence were needed as to just how far Favre’s stock as a “character guy” has sunk, the Packers were so concerned about the potential for being “sandbagged...

2008-08-06 | Jim Murphy

LeBron’s PR flaks have been spreading the word that he’d be willing to play in Europe—at least for a year or two—assuming that the checks had enough “zeros” on the end. The...

2008-08-06 | Jim Murphy

It’s easy to dismiss Ortiz’s signing as a case of a company paying higher than market value for an over the hill fighter, but that assessment is incorrect. It’s important to...

2008-08-06 | Jim Murphy

To underscore just how little trade value Favre has at this point reports suggest that the Packers will send him south for a single draft choice, which will escalate based on #4’s...

2008-08-05 | Jim Murphy

In the main event, WEC welterweight champion Carlos Condit survived the toughest challenge of his title reign to emerge victorious over tough judoka turned striker Hiromitsu Miura...

2008-08-05 | Jim Murphy

LeBron’s PR flaks have been spreading the word that he’d be willing to play in Europe—at least for a year or two—assuming that the checks had enough “zeros” on the end...

2008-08-05 | Jim Murphy

For his part, Favre continued with his fawning pseudo-humility by trying to suggest that the “stalemate” with his former team was due to circumstances beyond his control...

2008-08-04 | Jim Murphy

McCarthy’s statement also included this caveat about the whole situation: “Frankly, Brett's change of mind put us in a very difficult spot. We now will revise many actions...

2008-08-04 | Jim Murphy

Skip Caray died in his sleep in his Atlanta home on Sunday. He was 68. The cause of death has not yet been determined, but a number of health challenges had prevented him from...

2008-08-04 | Jim Murphy

The main event of the card will be a compelling heavyweight matchup between former UFC champions Andrei Arlovski and Josh Barnett. The winner of the matchup will...

2008-08-03 | Jim Murphy

On the Boston end of the transaction, there is a sense of relief tinged with regret. Ramirez is one of the more bizarre characters in a sport that’s historically had no shortage...

2008-08-03 | Jim Murphy

What Stann lacks in formal martial arts training he more than makes up for in “real world” toughness. He’s an accomplished athlete, who played football at the Naval Academy...

2008-08-03 | Jim Murphy

Back east, the name calling and recriminations from Red Sox fans and players continued. Outspoken pitcher Curt Schilling suggested that the entire deal was orchestrated by...

2008-08-03 | Jim Murphy

Lucas returned to the team’s training camp in at Wofford College in Spartanburg, SC on Saturday though he wasn’t required to be there. Lucas showed up to attend a fan open...

2008-08-03 | Jim Murphy

The problem for the Packers is that none of the three options is particularly attractive. The team has made clear that #4 would be as welcome in the Packers’ camp as...

2008-08-02 | Jim Murphy

Favre is now coming to several realizations that he should have known all along—that his “un-retirement” isn’t exactly fair to his former team and to his...

2008-08-02 | Jim Murphy

The victory on Wednesday night raised the Northsiders’ record to 26-30 away from home. The Brewers’ loss, conversely, extended their season high home losing streak to 5...

2008-08-02 | Jim Murphy

The good news for Brennan is that he’s done with his college football career and won’t have to worry about facing the “Dawgs” again. The bad news for the rest of the NCAA is...

2008-08-01 | Jim Murphy

Packers’ President Mark Murphy met with Favre and his agent in Hattiesburg, MS and while neither side had any public comment several media outlets reported on the...

2008-08-01 | Jim Murphy

The 3 straight Cubs victories are something of a reversal in form, as the team hasn’t been particularly strong away from Wrigley Field this season. The victory on ...

2008-08-01 | Jim Murphy

One liability with the “NBA All Star” concept is that it frequently produces teams with plenty of talent and very little on court leadership. That’s not the case this year where LeBron...