Armchair Weekend in Review (November 23-26, 2006)

by user JB82

Why is there a fourth day added on here, you ask. Because the Thanksgiving holiday here in the States gave us a good deal to discuss. So, be thankful for the AWIR and onward we go into an issue worthy of a turkey feast with all the trimmings...

Thanksgiving Day

To our US readers: When this author thinks of Turkey Day, two things come to mind: getting together with family and watching football. Here's my take on all four (the THREE NFL – starting this year – and one college) Thanksgiving games:

The Detroit Lions drafted Joey Harrington back in 2002, and had a mediocre career in Motown. After four seasons, the Miami Dolphins decided to take a chance on a turkey in shoulder pads. Well, while most everyone in the US was sated and in a tryptophane-induced stupor, Harrington threw for three touchdowns in a 27-10 return trip to Detroit. Something tells me this T-Day tradition has been one big gobbler in recent years...
Speaking of gobblers, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo had himself a Thanksgiving to remember. Further edification came with a five-touchdown performance – a team Turkey Day record – in a 38-10 beatdown of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This was enough to give him FOX Sports' Galloping Gobbler award.
The Kansas City Chiefs, with their long-time surrogate father Lamar Hunt in the hospital due to lung trouble, reeled of a 19-10 win against the Denver Broncos in the nightcap to the first-ever NFL tripleheader in league history. This game was probably the last for Jake Plummer as Broncos signal-caller, with unproven rookie Jay Cutler waiting in the wings.
Around the same time some 1500 miles away, the University of Miami Hurricanes football family payed tribute to fallen comrade Bryan Pata, who was gunned down a few weeks ago. A dramatic game then ensued – alright, I exaggerated a bit – when Canes running back Javarris James got a two-yard run into the end zone and Glenn Sharpe notched a late-game interception to seal an emotional 17-14 win against the Boston College Eagles.
- Despite the win, Canes head coach Larry Coker was given his walking papers the next day, but his tenure will end after the bowl season.

Black (and Blue) Friday

For those of you who were out shopping (or if you had to go to work), here's what you missed:

A wild, dramatic ending to the "Civil War": Down 27-20, University of Oregon Ducks quarterback Brady Leaf (Ryan's brother) fired a strike to Jordan Kent and got a two-point conversion to take a 28-27 lead against the Oregon State University Beavers in Corvallis. Some two minutes later, Beavers kicker Alexis Serna booted what would be the game-winner. Hadn't it been for a blocked Mike Evensen field goal, it might not have been a 30-28 win.
The University of Arkansas Razorbacks lost more than just the Golden Boot to the Louisiana State University Tigers. The Razorbacks, whose national title hopes were slim to none (Slim had already left town for the holiday) going in, saw their season go down the proverbial drain with a 31-26 loss to LSU. JaMarcus Russell threw for 210 yards to aid in the big win at Fayetteville. But all isn't lost; the Backs will contend for the Southeastern Conference title next week.
As millions of Americans went shopping for Christmas gifts and retailers across the country laughed all the way to the bank, the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers and QB Zac Taylor both cleaned up big-time. Not only did Taylor tie a school record with 43 touchdowns in a career, the Huskers got the two-for-one deal of a lifetime by defeating the University of Colorado Buffaloes 37-14 and punching the ticket to the Big 12 Conference championship game for the first time since 1999.

More decisions made on Saturday

The last time the University of Southern California Trojans and University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish met, Trojans QB Matt Leinart got a little help from running back Reggie Bush to give the Trojans a 34-31 win over the Irish in South Bend.
- Since then, Leinart and Bush have gone to the NFL. But the two teams met in Los Angeles on Saturday, and this time around, it was no contest. Not only did USC beat up on the Irish 44-24, but they moved up a spot to second in the Bowl Championship Series.
The Georgia Tech Yellowjackets may have lost their annual clash against the University of Georgia Bulldogs, 15-12, but they still have a shot at the Atlantic Coast Conference Coastal Division.
The Wake Forest University faithful had a lot to celebrate on Saturday: their Demon Deacons beat up on the University of Maryland Terrapins, 38-24, to clinch the ACC Atlantic Division and a spot in the conference's title game.
Last year, the Boise State University Broncos were left out in the cold as the University of Utah Utes got one of the last BCS spots available. Well, BSU fans and players can celebrate, as they will likely get a berth this year with a 38-7 romp against the University of Nevada Wolfpack.
Speaking of the U of U, the Utes suffered a setback in the most dramatic ending of the day. With four seconds to go, Brigham Young University quarterback John Beck connected with [[Jonny Harline on a short third-down Hail Mary to score a 33-31 come from behind win.
Back to the Big 12 for a second: Nebraska will face the University of Oklahoma Sooners in the conference title game by virtue of a 27-21 win over the Oklahoma State University Cowboys.
Steve Spurrier got his biggest win as University of South Carolina head coach as his Gamecocks got a 31-28 win over their in-state rival, the Clemson University Tigers.
The University of Florida Gators tuned up for the SEC title game with a 21-14 win over the Florida State University Seminoles.

Playing for pay

And finally, we end this football feast with highlights from Sunday:
- The Atlanta Falcons came into their game against the New Orleans Saints knowing that one more loss would surely send them over the cliff. Sure enough, the Saints gave the Falcs what they didn't want, 31-13, thanks to a two-touchdown performance from Deuce McAllister. However, Falcons QB Michael Vick wasn't impressed, though he told the fans they were number one, if ya know what I mean... ;-)
- While they commited many a miscue, the New England Patriots (four fumbles in the game) managed to hold off the Chicago Bears' division celebration with a 17-13 win over the Monsters of the Midway. Both teams combined for an astonishing nine turnovers during the game, BTW.
- Speaking of miscues, the New York Giants commited one too many of them in the fourth quarter and managed to shoot themselves in the foot to turn a sure 21-0 shutout into a devestating 24-21 loss to the Tennessee Titans. Amongst the bad decisions was Mathias Kiwanuka's lack of sending Titans quarterback Vince Young to the ground and Eli Manning pulling the football equivalent of an "Alex Rodriguez", getting picked off when he should have thrown the ball out of bounds. Look out, A-Rod, you've got company in the New York choke department.
I don't know about you, but I'm plenty full! No more for me, thanks...

Roundball Highlghts

NBA: The resurgent Chicago Bulls had a weekend to remember. On Friday night, Allen Iverson dropped 46 points on them in a 123-108 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, and then rebounded with a 101-97 win over the New York Knicks wherein head coach Scott Skiles got the gate very early in the second half after exercising his First Amendment rights in the wrong manner, if you know what I mean...
Upsets of the early season in college hoops: The University of Kansas Jayhawks got 21 points from sophomore Julian Wright as they upset the defending champion Florida Gators 82-80 in overtime. Meanwhile, the sixth-ranked LSU Tigers got pantsed by the Wichita State University Tigers, 57-53.
Congratulations to the Butler University Bulldogs, who upset the Gonzaga University 79-71 to win the Preseason National Invitational Tournament.

Across the pond

Just because we stuffed ourselves silly with American football doesn't mean we should forget our friends over in England and in Europe:

The Premiership chase is still in full swing as the top two clubs, Chelsea and Manchester United, played to a 1-1 draw on Sunday.
Talk about the power of the AWIR! Not two weeks after telling them to right the ship, the Good Ship Benitez gets a 1-1 draw against Middlesborough to go to eighth in the FAPL table.
For now, Newcastle United has escaped the clutches of relegation thanks to a 1-0 win over Portsmouth.

Odds and Sods

NHL: New York Rangers right wing Jaromir Jagr scored the equalizer against his old mates, the Pittsburgh Penguins, but another former Pen, Martin Straka, nailed the game-winner three seconds from a shootout, 2-1.