Rich Rodriguez Doesn't Have the Attitude to Beat Ohio State
by Ned Dutton (Scribe), November 16, 2008 Editorial
A new chapter in the greatest rivalry in sports will begin this Saturday when Ohio State and Michigan take the field. For the first time since 1995, Lloyd Carr will not be coaching the Maize and Blue. Instead, Rich Rodriguez will be exposed to the greatest spectacle in college football for the first time.
Forget, for a week, that Michigan is 3-8. Forget that Ohio State is favored by 19 points. Those numbers are meaningless—this is Ohio State-Michigan.
A win for Ohio State gives them a fourth consecutive Big Ten title. A win for Michigan saves their season, and gives the program momentum going into recruiting and the off-season as they prepare for next year.
Ohio State is playing for a BCS Bowl. Michigan is playing their bowl game. Read >>
GEORGE SIPPLE'S BLOG
U-M's Minor 'playing regardless,' but Threet, McGuffie likely out vs. OSU
By GEORGE SIPPLE • FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER • November 17, 2008
Quick update from Ann Arbor …
Michigan junior tailback Brandon Minor, who didn't play last week because of a number of injuries, said he would play this Saturday at Ohio State. Minor said a shoulder injury, more than anything else, was still bothering him.
When asked, Minor left no doubt about his availability. Read >>
Stop the presses: Tressel wary of Wolverines
Monday, November 17, 2008 By Tim May THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Ohio State is 9-2 and ranked No.10 in the country. Michigan is 3-8 and not even in the top half of the Big Ten.
Ohio State is riding a four-game winning streak in The Game under Jim Tressel, who has won six of his first seven in the series. Michigan made a change at head coach from Lloyd Carr to Rich Rodriguez in part because it was tired of being the grease for that Ohio State streak.
If the Buckeyes win, they will at least earn a share of a fourth straight Big Ten title. They will gain a berth in the Rose Bowl if Michigan State wins at Penn State in the battle of the other two conference co-leaders. Read >>
Michigan's Rodriguez tells some fans to get a life
By LARRY LAGE | AP Sports Writer November 17, 2008
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Rich Rodriguez loves to win and hates to lose as much as anyone.
Michigan's coach, though, tries to keep as much perspective as he can.
Rodriguez has his wife and kids around him after practices, at the team hotel and on bus trips to the stadium. His office door is always wide open, allowing visitors to say hello.
Heading into his first Michigan-Ohio State game -- where the Wolverines are expected to extend their dubious record with a ninth loss -- he tried to deliver a message to fans who have lost touch. Read >>
Fox pulls out of bidding for next round of BCS games
ESPN.com news services
Updated: November 17, 2008
Fox Sports has decided to pull its bid on the next round of television rights for the Bowl Championship Series college football games.
Fox's four-year deal with the BCS ends after the 2009 season. The Bowl Championship Series says it is close to a deal with ESPN.
"Currently, over 98 million homes receive ESPN," BCS coordinator John Swofford said in a statement. "With the ever-changing technology and as we look toward January 2011, when the first games in this package will be played, we know that the number of households that receive ESPN will only continue to grow." Read >>
by Darren Wong (Contributor), November 16, 2008 Editorial
Whether you love Lesnar, or just love to hate Lesnar, it appears that he is here to stay in the UFC heavyweight division. Since the fight between Couture and Lesnar began to gain steam, alot of the professional fighters and "experts" were predicting Couture to somehow find a way to overcome the odds yet again to beat Lesnar.
But despite the legend that Couture created for himself, I wasn't so sure that he would win. Yes, he beat Gonzaga and Sylvia in his last two fights, and overcome the odds many times, his MMA record stood at only 16-8, with losses to some of the best fighters in the sport.
Now, after the fight, it seems clear that the combination of age and size difference, against an equally skilled wrestler, was just too much for Randy to overcome. That being said, what else is there to say about these two fighters, the main event, and the UFC heavyweight division as a whole? Read >>
Arash Markazi > INSIDE MMA
UFC's White can rest easy -- Lesnar more than lived up to the hype
LAS VEGAS -- The bad guy won on Saturday and that's good news for the UFC.
As Brock Lesnar stood in the center of the Octagon with the UFC heavyweight championship belt strapped around his waist getting showered with boos after defeating fan favorite Randy Couture with a straight right behind Couture's left ear at 3:07 of the second round, the only one with a smile bigger than his was UFC President Dana White.
White couldn't have scripted a better ending to UFC 91 than the one he witnessed from his front row seat at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. While he billed the bout as "the biggest fight in UFC history" and pushed Lesnar's sole UFC win against Heath Herring, an average heavyweight, as if it was the most impressive win he had ever seen, the truth is White didn't know what he had in Lesnar until Saturday night. Read >>
Despite impressive win, Lesnar still a work in progress
By Franklin McNeil Special to ESPN.com Updated: November 16, 2008
LAS VEGAS -- There was never a doubt in Brock Lesnar's mind that he would become UFC heavyweight champion one day. That day came Saturday at MGM Grand Garden Arena before a sellout crowd of 14,272.
Lesnar, a powerfully built 6-foot-3, 265-pound mountain of a man, stopped defending titleholder Randy Couture at 3:07 of the second round. Although the fight's outcome wasn't a big surprise -- Lesnar was the favorite going in -- how it ended raised a few eyebrows. Read >>
MMA: Randy Couture is between a Brock and a hard place at UFC 91
Chris Parry, Vancouver Sun Published: Friday, November 14, 2008
Randy Couture grounds and pounds Gabriel Gonzaga during UFC 74.
ufc.com/handout
The biggest UFC card of all time pits 45-year-old MMA legend Randy Couture against giant former WWE wrestler Brock Lesnar, and over one million people are expected to pay $44.95 US each to tune in.
With big crowds at pubs and restaurants and in front of big screen TVs in living rooms around the world, not to mention the packed out crowd at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, the total audience could climb to over 15 million before a punch is even thrown.
by Josh Nason (Scribe), November 14, 2008 Preview/Prediction
Randy Couture (16-8) vs. Brock Lesnar (2-1) - UFC Heavyweight Championship
On Couture
What more can be said about the man known as 'Captain America'? At 45 years old, Couture has given hope to a generation of older athletes that they can still be relevant, competitive and a winner years after most people would have written them off.
He is the only five-time champion in UFC history and only the second to win titles in two divisions (BJ Penn). He's an Army veteran, a former three-time Olympic alternate and a multiple-time national wrestling champion at Oklahoma State.
Of course, this was back in the 1980s, but who's counting? Read >>
Ben Fowlkes > INSIDE MMA
Almost synonymous with MMA, the UFC aims to draw fans abroad
They say only a few industries thrive in lean economic times. Professional fighting, like alcohol, has typically done just fine. Whether you chalk that up to the simple need for distraction or you think it says something darker about the human soul, the Ultimate Fighting Championship doesn't care. It simply hopes the maxim holds true.
With competitors either struggling or folding, the UFC is thriving.
"I think we're starting to get to a level now where you've probably heard of 'ultimate fighting,'" UFC President Dana White said. "You've heard of it at some point, and the UFC is the brand." Read >>
Troubles land like punch on MMA
Save for UFC, promoters have dropped like flies By JARED BARNES For the Chronicle Nov. 12, 2008
With the breakout success of the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s reality show The Ultimate Fighter in 2005, mixed martial arts was declared the next big thing. Everyone wanted a piece of the action.
But the recent rise and fall of high-profile MMA organizations such as the International Fight League and EliteXC prove it takes more than a TV deal to make it in the business.
“Back when we were hurting, when we were bleeding millions of dollars, it would have been pretty easy to put a freak show on and go out and get a TV deal; it would have been pretty easy to do,” UFC President Dana White said. “Just having a TV deal isn’t going to make you a success in this business.
“Companies like the IFL and EliteXC learned that.” Read >>
MMA News
MMA NEWS: Kim Couture files suit against Affliction owner (w/ Penick Analysis) *UPDATE
By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief Nov 14, 2008
Kim Couture, wife of UFC Heavyweight Champion Randy Couture, has filed a lawsuit against Affliction owner Todd Beard in a Las Vegas court. According to MMAPayout.com "The suit alleges that Beard threatened Couture and seeks a restraining order preventing Beard or others working in concert with Beard from interacting, communicating and/or having any contact with Couture, including attending the events surrounding UFC 91 this weekend at the MGM Grand." The story also states that a temporary restraining order had been issued.
MMAPayout also obtained the application for the protective order and followed up on the exact nature of Couture's concerns. Read >>
Illinois v. Ohio State Football Picks & Predictions
Even though the No. 10 Ohio State Buckeyes are 8-2, they are still in contention for a BCS Bowl bid if they can close their season out strong and get a little help from some other schools. First though they have to head into Champaign and post a victory against Ron Zook’s Illinois Illini. Ohio State is a 9.5-point favorite to do so with the total set at 47.5.
The Buckeyes two losses have came against some of the best teams in the nation, first against USC early in the year and then two weeks ago in a slugfest against the Penn State Nittany Lions. Now, after Penn State’s loss to Iowa last week Ohio State is tied for the lead in the Big Ten, but is going to need some help to win the conference title due to the head to head loss with the Nittany Lions. Read >>
Performing an Illini autopsy
ANATOMY OF DISAPPOINTMENT | Quest for winning season falters with youth, running game
November 14, 2008 BY HERB GOULD hgould@suntimes.com
What went wrong? Before Illinois played USC in the Rose Bowl last January, I asked coach Ron Zook if he was concerned that the Illini, in the third season of a major rebuilding project, were ahead of schedule.
''What do you want me to do?'' he said. ''Tell them no, and I'll take it the next time?''
Losing to the Trojans, no matter how lopsided the 49-17 score looked, was one thing. But now, the expectations that Rose Bowl trip created are coming back to haunt Zook. All along, he has been saying, ''We'll be a better team. That doesn't mean the record will be better. But the players are going to be better.''
They may be more athletic, but that hasn't translated where it counts. After going 9-3 in the regular season a year ago, including 7-3 after 10 games, Illinois takes a 5-5 record into its meeting with No. 10 Ohio State on Saturday (11 a.m., ESPN, 560-AM). Read >>
OSU football
Tressel warns that Illinois may be better than last year
Tuesday, November 11, 2008 6:15 PM By Tim May THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
The past couple of years in fact, the past couple of weeks have taught the Ohio State football team nothing is a given any more in major college football. So when Jim Tressel was asked this afternoon if a 10-2 OSU would be a deserving candidate for a BCS bowl game, he responded as expected.
"The only thought I have on that is you can't be 10-2 until you're 9-2 and being 9-2 is going to be a challenge," he said as he team zeroed in on its road trip to Illinois this week. "If we would become 10-2, we will get as our works deserve and it might be that (bid to a BCS bowl)." Read >>
Dantonio lifts MSU into title contention
By Rick Shepich DAILY PRESS & ARGUS • November 14, 2008
EAST LANSING — With one game remaining, the Michigan State football team finds itself in a place almost nobody envisioned it would be entering the season.
The Spartans (9-2, 6-1 Big Ten) are the No. 15 team in the Bowl Championship Series standings, ranked No. 18 in the Associated Press Top 25 and in position to nab at least a share of their first Big Ten championship since 1990.
While coach Mark Dantonio is far too measured to say he's surprised by this development, the players that lived the ups and downs of the past few years are marveling at just how far they've come. Read >>
SHANNON SHELTON'S BLOG
MSU's Dantonio: 'The Rose Bowl is our ultimate goal'
By SHANNON SHELTON • FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER • November 11, 2008
EAST LANSING -- After leading Michigan State to a 21-7 victory over Purdue on Saturday, Spartan coach Mark Dantonio went home with his family to watch the Penn State-Iowa game. Advertisement
He wasn’t surprised when he saw the Hawkeyes make the winning field goal to beat the previously undefeated Nittany Lions, 24-23, and throw a wrench into MSU’s path to a Rose Bowl berth.
“My first reaction was, ‘Iowa won,’” Dantonio said during his weekly news conference today. “There’s a lot of parity in college football, so it’s not surprising. It’s very difficult to win in an away environment, but credit Iowa because Iowa went through some adversity, and they continued to play well.” Read >>
Michigan Looks to Carry Momentum Against Northwestern
by Jason Barczy (Scribe), November 14,2008 Preview/Prediction
Northwestern Wildcats (7-3, 3-3) at Michigan Wolverines (3-7, 2-4)
Noon, Saturday at Michigan Stadium
Line: Michigan -4
This might quite possibly be the hardest game of the season to predict for Michigan, seeing how things have gone thus far.
After last week's dominating win at Minnesota, what team can I possibly expect to show up on Saturday after the Wolverines have stunk for the better part of the season?
Will Michigan revert back to form, or will they answer the call and carry momentum from last week to give the 15 seniors on the team their last home win at the Big House? Read >>
WOLVERINES OTHER SPORTS The Latest News, Updates and Opinions
Cliff Keen Arena to host Michigan wrestle-offs
by Antoine Pitts | The Ann Arbor News Friday November 14, 2008
The mats at Cliff Keen Arena will get a good workout Sunday with a preseason event by the University of Michigan wrestling team.
First, former Wolverine stars Ryan and Josh Churella will hold a free clinic demonstrating techniques and practice-planning instruction from noon-2 p.m.
At 2 p.m., the Maize and Blue intrasquad features the final wrestle-offs between teammates that will decide the starting lineup when the Wolverines open the following Friday at Lehigh.
Michigan coach Joe McFarland already has an idea of how some of the weight classes will shape out, but Sunday's a chance for the public to see who wins the starting spots. Read >>
November 13, 2008 No ifs or butts about it, this is the most beautiful bottom in the world.
It - and owner Melanie Nunes Fronckowiak from Brazil - were yesterday awarded the title at an international competition in Paris.
Judges hadclosely examined the rears of contestants from 26 countries and Melanie came top ... or should that be bottom. Read >>
Wellingborough mum hopes to be crowned best bum
Published Date: 11 November 2008
A Wellingborough mum is hoping her bum has what it takes to be crowned the best in the world today. Georgina Griffiths, 21, will be competing against finalists from 29 countries in the hope of earning the title of the World's Most Beutiful Bottom 2008.
The competition is run by underwear maker Sloggi and the owner of the winning derriere walks away with 15,000 Euros and a modelling contract with Sloggi. Most importantly, they will also receive an insurance policy for their prize-winning bum. Read >>
Brief chief puts best cheeks forward
Monday, 10 November 2008
The search for the world's most beautiful bottom reaches its climax on Wednesday with an underwear company choosing the champion in Paris.
For the second consecutive year, a panel of expert judges for underwear company sloggi will decide which man and woman has the world's most attractive derriere.
The final choice on who will be crowned the winners of the 2008 'Show me your sloggi' competition is made from 46 finalists from 29 countries. Read >>
The Sloggi website reports that they presented a show of their fashion at the V Festival, an annual music festival in England:
"Sloggi made their second and biggest performance at V Festival on of the biggest UK festivals of the summer!
The sloggi show started with the UK’s best break dance group ‘Flawless’ who wowed the crowd with their amazing dance and acrobatic show. Second up were the gorgeous sloggi dancers who performed a highly choreographed fashion show featuring the latest sloggi styles!" The V Festival is usually held in August.
Bush Marks Final Veteran's Day as Commander In Chief
By Paula Wolfson White House 11 November 2008
President Bush holds his hand to his heart during the playing of the National Anthem in New York, Tuesday, 11 Nov 2008
Americans paused Tuesday to honor the nation's military veterans. VOA's Paula Wolfson reports President Bush remembered their sacrifice in a speech delivered from the deck of an aircraft carrier that first saw combat in World War II.
In Europe and Australia, the 11th of November is called Remembrance Day or Armistice Day. In the United States, it is Veteran's Day.
The observance began to mark the end of World War I on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918.
But for Americans, it is a time to honor all those who served in the nation's military - from the Revolutionary War to the present. Read >>
Veterans Day at VA medical center in S.F.
John Koopman, Chronicle Staff Writer Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Old habits die hard.
In a small room at the San Francisco Veterans Administration Medical Center on Monday, a dozen old soldiers sat in wheelchairs to one side of the podium. It took awhile to get everyone situated, and politicians to talk. But these guys learned the finer points of "hurry up and wait" a long time ago.
Soon, the Veterans Day ceremony began. A color guard of JROTC students from San Francisco's Washington High School brought in the American flag.
Michael O'Neal pushed up from his chair and stood on his only remaining foot.
After a bit, everyone sang the national anthem. O'Neal raised his hand to his face and held the salute. A tear formed at the corner of his only remaining eye. Read >>
Verdun hosts sombre WWI ceremony
By Jonny Dymond BBC News, Verdun Schoolchildren took part in the ceremony alongside President Sarkozy
There are few settings as dramatic, or depressing, as Verdun.
The centrepiece of the battlefield is the Great Ossuary, a building of grey and blackened stone 137m (150 yards) in length that houses the bones of 130,000 soldiers cleared from the battlefield in the decade after the war.
Rolling down the slope in front of the ossuary is a field of tombstones, mainly simple stone crosses. The graves of 15,000 soldiers lie here.
At the bottom of this field dignitaries gathered under a heavy grey sky: French President Nicholas Sarkozy; the heir to the British throne, Prince Charles; the Governor General of Australia, Quentin Bryce; the President of the upper house of the German Parliament, Peter Mueller. Read >>
Michigan Wins "Little Brown Jug" 29-6 over Minnesota
by Big House Bob (Contributor), November 09, 2008
No matter how often you are defeated, you are born to victory. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
In a year with only two wins, and losses against rivals Michigan State and Notre Dame, the Michigan Wolverines took a step in the right direction on Saturday.
The Wolverines put together their most complete game of the 2008 campaign. The offense, led by the second- and third-string QBs, moved the ball effectively all day against the Golden Gophers defense.
The Michigan defense, which gave up 48 points last weekend, held the Gophers to six points in their final trip to the MetroDome, where the Wolverines are 12-0. Read >>
Michigan comes up with big win over Gophers
Sunday, November 9, 2008 2:03 AM EST
By Paula Pasche Journal Register News Service
MINNEAPOLIS — As the Michigan Wolverines ran through the locker room door after Saturday’s 29-6 win over Minnesota — with senior Brandon Harrison toting the Little Brown Jug — longtime equipment manager Jon Falk had enough high-fives and slaps on the shoulder for everyone.
Over and over he repeated, “That’s Michigan football, that’s Michigan football.”
Falk’s been around 35 seasons. He should know. Read >>
Spartans, Ringer have a rosy outlook
November 9, 2008
Javon Ringer stood outside Spartan Stadium, celebrating with Michigan State fans and carrying a red rose.
Ringer and Michigan State will have a chance to play for a piece of the Big Ten title -- and possibly even a Rose Bowl berth -- thanks to a 21-7 victory Saturday against Purdue in East Lansing, Mich.
The No. 18 Spartans (9-2, 6-1 Big Ten), who are off next week, will rest up for a Nov. 22 showdown at No. 3 Penn State (9-1, 5-1). Read >>
Carlino impresses with his 9 tackles
By Mike Carmin / Lafayette Journal & Courier Posted: November 9, 2008
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Two difficult environments, two solid games for Purdue's Chris Carlino.
The freshman middle linebacker from Fishers was part of a defense that held Michigan State to 300 total yards, but it wasn't enough as the Boilermakers dropped a 21-7 decision at Spartan Stadium.
Carlino collected seven tackles during the Oct. 11 loss at Ohio State but topped that mark with nine Saturday.
"He impressed me today," Purdue defensive coordinator Brock Spack said of the Hamilton Southeastern High School graduate. "He's played well in two tough venues, here and Ohio State." Read >>
Brent's Big Blog's Bio: BigTenNetwork.com editor Brent Yarina takes you around Big Ten athletics, on and off the court. One week a national title contender, the next a Rose Bowl contender Nov 8 2008
What a difference a week makes.
One week after looking like it was in prime position to make a potential run at the BCS title game, No. 3 Penn State has work to do just to make the Rose Bowl, thanks to Saturday's 24-23 loss at Iowa.
An invitation to Pasadena would be a great consolation prize, no doubt, but isn't it crazy how the team that's looked like the class of the conference all year could now be left out of the Big Ten's grandest bowl?
How is that? Well with Saturday's last-second loss, the Nittany Lions are no longer atop the Big Ten standings. That distinction goes to Michigan State, which has very quietly amassed a 6-1 conference clip to sit a half-game ahead of Penn State and Ohio State. Read >>
Perfect: Calzaghe dominates Jones to go out a winner
By Tom Pedulla, USA TODAY
NEW YORK — In what was billed as the "Battle of the Superpowers," only one of them was present in the Madison Square Garden ring.
Super middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe extended his perfection to 46-0 with a unanimous 12-round decision against Roy Jones Jr. Saturday night in what might have been the final bout for both fighters.
It was the second huge victory this year for "The Pride of Wales," who gained a split decision against aged but cagey Bernard Hopkins on April 19 in Las Vegas. Read >>
Final Statement? Calzaghe Rises from Deck to Dominate Game but Outgunned Jones
By Thomas Gerbasi (Nov 9, 2008)
NEW YORK, November 9 – If Joe Calzaghe walks away from the boxing world after tonight’s dominant 12 round unanimous decision win over Roy Jones Jr. at Madison Square Garden, he will leave with 46 wins, world titles at super middleweight and light heavyweight, and a legacy as one of the greatest boxers ever to hail from the United Kingdom. If Jones decides to do the same, he will leave with similar accolades that will ultimately land him in the Hall of Fame, but after his gutsy effort he will also exit the game with another moniker that may have eluded him throughout his storied career – not of boxer, but as fighter.
“I’m not sure,” said the 39-year old Jones when asked about retirement. “I’ll have to talk to my team, and if I feel good, I’ll continue to fight.”
“I’ll have to sit down and think about it,” said Calzaghe regarding his future. “It might be my last fight.” Read >>
Jones looks his age in loss to Calzaghe
By Lyle Fitzsimmons, Contributing Boxing Editor
New York, NY (Sports Network) - Roy Jones Jr. was hoping to be his old self on Saturday night.
Instead, before a vocal crowd 14,152 at Madison Square Garden, he just looked old.
The former four-division world champion provided a highlight-reel moment with a first-round knockdown, but never equaled it the rest of the way en route to a methodical, bloody decision loss to unbeaten Welsh import Joe Calzaghe for the Ring Magazine light heavyweight championship. Read >>
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