If a devastating loss at Lambeau Field wasn’t enough for the Chicago Bears it only got worse this morning when the Bears learned their six-time Pro Bowler is done for the season. Brian Urlacher, a familiar face associated with the Bears franchise, was injured in last night’s game against the Green Bay Packers. Apparently, Urlacher injured his wrist in the first quarter during the game and had surgery on the dislocated wrist this morning. While the arrival of Jay Cutler had hopes high in Chicago so did the play of their superstar Urlacher. However, now they will be without Urlacher and Cutler suffered four interceptions last night. So where will the Bears go from here?
Deborah Hilton
Sports Analyst
You can tell when it’s football season in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The lights are shining down on Heinz Field, terrible towels are waving, fireworks are setting off and Steelers nation is set for what they hope is another championship season. The Tennessee Titans came into Pittsburgh with one thing in mind-win the game and begin the season 1-0 but it didn’t turn out for them the way they had hoped. Ben Roethlisberger, two-time Superbowl quarterback, led his team to another nail biter coming back in the fourth quarter to force overtime. Tied 10-10 in the fourth quarter, Roethlisberger completed a bomb to Hines Ward; however, Ward did something out of the ordinary for the Superbowl forty MVP and fumbled the ball. The Titans gained control of the football but just let the clock run out forcing the game to overtime. Steelers nation held their breath while the coin flipped in the air because the Steelers haven’t lost a home opener in six years. There is one rule about overtime in football whoever scores first wins the game so if your team wins the coin toss it’s a huge advantage. The Steelers won the coin toss and started working their way all the way down the field without much help from Willie Parker and the running game. Once Roethlisberger and his teammates reached within field goal range they sent out their automatic ace Jeff Reed to kick the winning 33-yard field goal. Finally, after three plus hours the Pittsburgh Steelers pulled out the victory and look like they could be on their way to another winning season. Although, one negative note was that Troy Polamalu, one of Pittsburgh’s best defenders tore his MCL and is inactive for up to six weeks.
Deborah Hilton
Card Swap Sports Analyst
Under the lights in the Bronx on Friday night, what no other New York Yankee has ever done. Jeter collected his 2,722nd career hit as a Yankee passing the great Lou Gehrig for most hits collected by a Yankee ballplayer. What would be the most important hit of Jeter’s career came in the third inning when he ripped a single to right field. Moments after reaching first base, Jeter’s teammates rushed their captain and the fans stood for minutes cheering their beloved shortstop. Currently, Pete Rose, an infielder for the Cincinnati Reds, holds the record for most hits by any major league baseball player with 4,256. Future statistics show that Jeter could easily reach the record of 3,000 hits before his career is over but could he reach 4,257?
Deborah Hilton
Sports Analyst
During their 2009 preseason opener last night, the Philadelphia Eagles and their fans learned their beloved team signed reinstated quarterback Michael Vick to a two-year contract. Philadelphia fans are known for their true passion towards their team and some feel it was right and some don’t feel like Vick is the perfect piece to win a championship. Current Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb and Coach Andy Reid believe everyone deserves a second chance and that through all his prison time and probation that Vick learned from his wrongdoings. Vick was convicted on charges of holding illegal dog fighting operations where they killed, beat and drowned dogs. During a press conference this morning, Vick described the feeling of returning as “surreal” and thanked the Eagles organization, his advisor Tony Dungy and his family for all their help over the years. But where will Vick fit into the Eagles offense? Some say they could see Vick sharing time with Westbrook but some believe Vick will only be kept at the quarterback position. Others brought up the idea of the “wildcat”, a method that Miami used last year to score 40 points against the Patriots but that is probably not a possibility. So we will just have to wait and see where Vick can fit in. According to Commissioner Roger Goodell, Vick is allowed to play in two preseason games but has not yet been able to clear to play until Week 6. Don’t forget two years ago Vick was convicted on charges of holding illegal dog fighting operations where they killed, beat and drowned dogs. Vick and everyone close to him are saying he is a changed man and working very hard with the humane society and is ready to gear up and play football. Things should be interesting this year in Philadelphia especially when the Eagles are scheduled to fly to Atlanta and play the Falcons during Week 13.
Deborah Hilton
Sports Analyst
San Diego Quarterback, Philip Rivers has agreed to a contract extension with the Chargers. The extension is worth $92 million with about $38 million guaranteed. This will keep the franchise quarterback off the free-agent market for years to come.
Deborah Hilton
Michael Vick, Dante Stallworth and now Plaxico Burress. What do all these football athletes have in common? They all have been or are heading to time in prison. Following a hearing last week, Burress was sentenced to a two year prison sentence. However, that seems like too much of a harsh sentence considering what he did. Yes he entered a night club with a gun but it can’t be proved he brought it in to hurt anybody. He probably had no intention of using it unless he felt his own life was in danger. After a few hours at the club, Burress accidently shot himself in the leg requiring his teammate to give him a lift to the emergency room. A few months later, Burress was released by the New York Giants and then suspended indefintely by Commissoner Roger Goodell. Although, he did not have his gun registered in New York that was really the only crime he commited. Do you all remember Dante Stallworth from the Cleveland Browns? He willignly put himself behind a wheel highly intoxicated and killed a man. That is called vehicular manslaughter. He was only in jail for 30 days. Why should Plaxico be in prision for two years for something that was no way harmful to others?
Deborah Hilton
Pedro Martinez, a 37-year old three time CY Young winner, is scheduled to make his season debut tonight against the Chicago Cubs. This will be Martinez’s first start since the Phillies signed him last month to a two-million dollar contract. Martinez has not pitched in the Major Leagues since throwing with the Mets back in 2008. He went 1-1 with a 5.11 ERA and 16 strikeouts in three rehab appearances. With the addition of Martinez to the starting rotation that meant someone had to return to the bullpen and the Phillies decided their guy would be 46 year-old veteran Jamie Moyer. While the Phillies feel good about the decision Moyer feels mislead and taking advantage of because he says in the off-season the Phillies told him he’d remain a starter throughout the whole season. Moyer signed a 2-year deal worth $13 million. However, this was all before they decided to sign the veteran Martinez. But what Moyer has to take in to consideration is that he has the highest ERA of starters in the National League with a 5.47 in just twenty-two starts. After learning of his demotion, Moyer was very upset and took it out on the pitching coach who earlier in the season said he would never move Moyer to the bullpen because of his age. Ironically, Moyer is in the bullpen now and everyone will have to wait and see how the forty-six year old can pitch in relief. Your browser may not support display of this image.
DEBORAH A.HILTON
CARD SWAP SPORTS ANALYST
Your browser may not support display of this image. Earlier today, the Toronto Blue Jays placed all-star outfielder Alex Rios on waivers. Even though there was a trade deadline of July 31st any team can place a player on waivers to seek interest or attempt to trade him closer to the push for the playoffs. Once a player is placed on waivers the team can let him go, negotiate a trade or pull him back off if a fair deal is made between the two parties. So, on Monday morning the White Sox acquired Alex Rios from the Toronto Blue Jays and are now paying a huge price for it. The White Sox will collect Rios’s contract and have to pay off the remaining $70 million until 2014 and may have to pick up the club option for 2015 which includes $13.5 million. Ken Williams, the White Sox general manager, who was interested in Rios during the trade deadline, is very happy that a deal could finally be reached. The Blue Jays chose to let Rios depart as a way to shed off some salary but this deal has the White Sox fans wondering if their pockets will become hurt. Just the other week, the White Sox acquired Jake Peavy, an all-star pitcher from the San Diego Padres. Peavy is due $48 million over the next three years, with a $22 million club option for 2013 or a $4 million buyout. However, Williams and the rest of the White Sox management believes they are not in a stressful financial situation and felt like the acquisitions of Rios and Peavy will help them make a postseason run this year. We will have to wait and see how these big money deals will work out in the future as well because several key players on the White Sox Roster are up for free agency after the season. Will the White Sox be able to keep slugger Jim Thome and all-star caliber outfielders like Jermaine Dye and Scott Podsednik? Are the White Sox on the verge of becoming big spenders now like the Red Sox and Yankees?
DEBORAH A. HILTON
CARD SWAP SPORTS ANALYST
Yesterday, Eli Manning, quarterback of the New York Giants, became the highest paid player in the National Football League. Manning and the Giants agreed to a six-year deal worth $97 million dollars and on average he will earn $15.3 million yearly and about one million per matchup. In 2004, Manning was the first overall draft pick in 2004 and appeared in his first Pro Bowl last season. Manning has also led his team to Super Bowl XLII where they stunned the New England Patriots and during the celebration ceremony Manning picked up MVP of the game.
Deborah A. Hilton
Card Swap Sports Analyst
During this time of year, baseball fans are mostly focused on the race in the AL East between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox; however, there is a more feared team in the AL West. This team calls themselves The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Securing their place at the top, the Angels lead their division with a 63-40 winning record and are looking to capture the division title. The Angles haven’t won many games with stellar pitching performances this year because of their new approach to the game-power hitting. Even after losing Guerrero and Hunter to the DL on July 7, the Angels have a dominant lineup of speed and power from batters one through nine. A huge contributor has been their free agent signing outfielder Bobby Abreu. This 35 year old veteran is hitting .380 since July 1st and his 22 steals are in the top rankings in the Majors. Kendry Morales, the other Angels outfielder filling in for Hunter has been just as productive. He belted two three-run homers on Sunday and is currently leading the team with 23. Obviously, the Angels aren’t missing two all-star outfielders. Even though the Angels are flying high right now, everyone knows pitching is what gets you far in the playoffs and they have shown that in years past. The Angels and their fans have seen their beloved team turn it on in the playoffs in previous years. But as long as the Angels keep hitting the long ball and stealing bases their postseason birth and a potential World Series Championship could look good in Anaheim.
Deborah A. Hilton
Card Swap Sports Analyst
