All World All Sports Blog

by Digger

Super Bowl XLII has many stories and records on the line as the New England Patriots (16-0) look to make the mark on history vs Eli Manning's red hot New York Giants (10-6).

Many may dispute whether or not the Giants represent the NFC's toughest team. Let there be no doubters, New York represents their conference as its' hottest team heading into Super Bowl XLII. This game marks the first time brother's have been starting QB's in the big game. Last year, Eli's big brother Peyton Manning won honors as the games MVP. Eli's flawless play of late has enthusiastic Giants fans eager for another Lombardi Trophy. Just think of how proud pappa Archie Manning would be if another one of his sons brings home a MVP trophy!

New England continues its' quest for perfection and this game is for all the marbles. Head Coach Belichick is the leagues best game planner and no doubt his team has been busy implementing and practicing formula's for success. Tom Brady is coming off one of the greatest seasons in NFL history (50 td's, 117.2 rating) leading this record setting offense filled with a wide array of weapons. They represent a monumental nightmare for defensive coordinators trying to execute game plans versus the likes of Randy Moss (23 td's), Wes Welker (112 receptions) and a very balanced attack. This team is a true dynasty with a mission statement.

Brady's stewardship, even on unsuccessful scoring drives, usually leaves opponents buried deep in their own terrority helping an aggressive bend but don't break big name defense with great field position to pressure foes. Tedy Bruschi, Junior Seau, Asante Samuel, Rodney Harrison and Mike Vrabel anchor a group of heavy hitters.

Odds makers currently favor New England by 12 points. The above combination has yet to taste defeat....

Here come the Giants!

Can they duplicate a page from prior Super Bowl XXV lore? New York's 1991 plan against the mighty Buffalo Bills offense was simple. Keep them on the sidelines. This plan somehow worked to perfection as the Giants contolled the ball for over 41 minutes and escaped with a thrilling 20-19 victory.

Giants Head Coach Tom Coughlin survived an early season barrage by irate former players and media types calling for his head on a platter. Many felt the team underachieved in '06 as they fell apart late in the season. When '07 began, New York found themselves 0-2 surrendering a mind boggling 90 points in two games. A goal line stand in Washington during week 3 rallied a beleaguered team... and the Giants season began to turn around by winning six straight.

One of the most intriguing stats of Giants success this year has been their ability to win road games... with their current streak at 10 consecutive victories. Manning has played mistake free football lately and the running game is firing on all cylanders. New York's two headed backfield is led by bruising Brandon Jacobs (1009 yards) and game breakering back Ahmad Bradshaw. Both players have been on their games behind an experienced and talented offensive line.

Wide receiver drops nearly cost the Giants all season long. This is unacceptable for the games biggest stage. So far so good in the playoffs as Plaxico Burress and veteran Armani Toomer have made big play after big play this post season. Speedster Steve Smith and dependable rookie TE Kevin Boss have been pitching in helping to move the chains downfield. Boss could be the most over looked player heading into the game. KB replaced an injured Jeremy Shockey and has made big possession catches in the cluch on Manning precision throws. One of the Giants biggest keys for success will be for Boss to exploit certain blitzing Patriot defensive schemes. He could be open all game long while matched up against slower linebackers or smaller defensive backs.

Ball control and precise playcalling. Can the Giants pull it off, chew up the clock, put points on the board and beat an unbeaten, heavily favored New England dynasty?

Yes! They'll have to be perfect to beat a Pats team some call the best in league history.

On defense, they'll have to keep a calm, cool and collected Tom Brady off balance. This is no easy task. However, the Giants front four is up for the challenge. Defensive End bookends Michael Strahan (9 sacks) and Osi Umenyiora (13 sacks) will need to bring big pressure to help out NY's banged up secondary. With most expecting NE to pass the ball early and often... DT's Fred Robbins and Barry Cofield will need to shut down a crafty running game. The Giants secondary will have to be on the ball and have the games of their lives. NE's attack is filled with gifted talent. NY's big play corners (Sam Madison and Aaron Ross) will have their hands full chasing after Moss and Welker. Both of these CB's are prone to giving up big plays presenting NY with difficult matchup decisions.

If the Giants can control the ball while keeping Brady off balance then victory will be within reach. Their game plan and execution must be flawless. Turnovers on offense are not an option and much needed by defenders. The Giants advantage will be their ability to control the line of scrimmage by opening running lanes for Jacobs, calling plays to free Boss and schemes to disguise defensive blitzing coverages. A tall task indeed. So far NY has shut down talented Dallas and Green Bay offenses proving ready to meet all challenges.

By all conventional wisdom the Patriots are on target to complete the NFL's first 19-0 season by way of an 41-23 romp.

Here at www.allworldallsports.com, we boldly proclaim the Giants will shock the NFL community and fans outside of New York.

GIANTS 27 PATRIOTS 25

by Digger

Israel's doubles duo, Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram, brought home their nations first ever Australian Open Men's Doubles Championship Trophy in dramatic style 7-5, 7-6 (7-4).

(read up at www.haartz.com)

This was the pairs first Australian Open finals appearance in seven tries. Erlich and Ram are no strangers to success having won 10 tournament titles and remain undefeated in Davis Cup play since 2005. Their victory was welcomed with great pride by their country.

Ram was quoted in Haaretz.com: "We're so happy to be the first Israelis. We made history today," he said. "I'm very happy for both of us. We believed we could win the Grand Slam title. We really believed in this."

The pair is currently contemplating playing at next months Dubai Tennis Championships in United Arab Emirates. Their decision will most likely be based on ATP providing security assurances. This would be a great opportunity for all nations in the area to take a step back from deep divisions so athletes from around the world can compete freely.

by Digger

Baseball's much publicized, scrutinized, blogged, beaten to death steroids/HGH saga will continue. Presiding over baseball with a blind eye towards integrity while keeping both hands open for record revenues at any cost... Major League Baseball Owners extended Commissioner Bud Selig's contract thru 2012.

Selig, a former Milwaukee Brewers owner, was expected to replace Fay Vincent only on an interim basis back in 1992. Vincent was very vocal with his displeasure of MLB owners who conspired back in '92 against the players by rigging contracts. MLBPA was ordered to pay $280M back to the players. During this termoil, it was Bud Selig and White Sox owner Reinsdorf, who lead the successful charge to remove Vincent from his post. Selig was then to take over temporarily.

An obvious conflict of interest question was raised soon thereafter and Selig relinquished control of the Brewers club to his daughter (as if that would fool anyone).

The owners now had what they had wanted all along. An insider they could control while baseball continued to operate with antitrust exemption. During his reign, steroids and human growth hormones stories ran rampid. MLB continued to refute rumors and failed to investigate claims by insiders and former players including MVP's admitted usages. During this time baseball players were hitting home runs at historic rates. Fans were returning to ballparks in record numbers. Scoring was up, television revenues were increasing, merchandizing and marketing venues were in full swing. Baseball owners were enjoying record revenues... and continue to do so.

Selig and baseball people in the know all acted as if they were astonished, amazed, flabbergasted to learn steroids rumors were true following the BALCO scandal. As all good coverup artists do... this group of conspirators tried to falsely pursuade the public they were to take serious action. This serious action amounted to hiring former Senator and current Red Sox Exec Mitchell to prepare the now famous "Mitchell Report" which basically gave a free pass to baseball owners and employees associated with the scandal.

If anyone believes baseball owners were in the dark, or Commissioner Selig, team doctors, trainers etc... then stand in line to buy a bridge. Most amazingly, our drive by media types have fixated more on players names than ownership accountability. In some cases, players were tipped off by league and team officials of impending drug tests thereby furthering a league wide coverup. Mitchell barely addresses this issue. Selig and owners have been given a free pass. And now, Selig gets rewarded by his buddies for diversionary tactics well done.

The tell all of tell all's was Selig's testimony before Congress and the world a couple of short years ago when his opening statement lauded baseball's profitability and record revenues. As is this was to justify intentional ignorance... it was laid out for all to hear before lying of not being in the know despite countless newspaper reports from previous years. Maybe the FBI should be directed by this side show hearing to investigate truthfulness of Selig's comments.

Even Congress got in on the act protecting one of their own by praising Mitchell's work "and" Selig's. What a joke. I wonder how many of those elected individuals receive campaign contributions, and how much, by this powerful group of owners and their billion dollar businesses?

Selig received praise for his new stance on combating the games existing and now exposed problem. You've got to be kidding me! Here's a guy still in the boys club of owners who initially stonewalled any attempt to tackle this problem when it was first presented.

Of course the owners want to keep Bud in place. He's one of them. He makes them money. Don't be fooled for a minute thinking owners are happy to be ridding the game of cheaters. They were enablers in the highest form. Had the league been struggling at the gate, rest assured owners would have exposed players and contract cancellations would have soon followed... and soon thereafter another union vs ownership war would have taken place. Instead, baseball executives and general managers often discussed trades based upon who was juiced and paid for their services accordingly.

How is it during this age of media pit bull's does investigative journalim fly out the window? This story is aching to be researched in depth... and driveby's stay focused on diversionary statements instead of getting below the nonsense and into the guts of what's happening.

One of the first things Selig should have done, if he was a true Commissioner with backbone, was to levy absurd fines against all teams. It's the only way to make them shape up... hit 'em where it hurts... right smack in their wallets at no less than $50M/club. Afterall, if baseball was and continues to "enjoy" record revenues, then even $50M is a slap on the wrist easily recouped in short order.

Every team was in the know, each team employed cheaters, and at least one club official or employee from every single team had personal information something was seriously awry. Who told them to shut up or look the other way? And who stymied MLB's security from furthering ivestigations?

No wonder Selig has been rewarded for the of sports all time biggest scandals. He protected the puppet masters. And now he's here to stay, at least thru 2012.

by Digger

The NFL regular season returns to London in 2008. In 2006, a sold out Wembley Stadium (81,176 fans) hosted the New York Giants vs Miami Dolphins.

Both NFL and U.K. officials deemed the game a success. According to NFL.com, as a result of the game, American Football viewers in U.K. grew by 40%. This is tremendous news for NFL popularity as the game continues to market itself beyond our borders.

Regular season games outside of the U.S. will become the norm as the NFL's International Series will seek hosts world wide. In 2005, the largest ever regular season NFL crowd watched Arizona beat San Francisco before 103,467 prying eyes.

This was a great marketing ploy for the league. Increasing viewership around the globe will certainly generate millions in revenues for all parties. New tv contracts, team and league merchandise, sponsors and the like will all take advantage of this new opportunity.

As a huge football fan... what I'd like to see... is better games. The Giants vs the lowly Dolphins (1-15 this year) and the weak Cardinals/49ers should not be teams representing our country. Much better choices could be made from game play matchups to marketing possibilities. The most obvious, "America's Team" Dallas Cowboys. Or how about storied Champions such as Pittsburgh Steelers or current Champion Indianapolis Colts. So many teams who play the game the way it's meant to be played should be representing our sport. Afterall, these games should mean more than just revenues. It's about promoting our sport not only for viewership but also as a tool to increase enthusiasm for watching, learning and playing the game.

So far so good. Perhaps NFL Europe can be revived. If not, maybe this current format will suit all just fine.

by Digger

Rocket's Red Glare has a new meaning. One of baseball's best starting pitchers of my generation was exposed as an alleged performance enhancing drug user. Ever since, he has been attempting to vigorously defend his name and legacy.

In a previously written blog from December 13th, I held back no punches re: MLB's Mitchell Report on HGH (human growth hormones). This opinion piece points out how the very brief (and unproven) list of exposed players was nothing more than red meat thrown to blood thirsty reporters and fans all wanting to know the games cheaters. One problem with this incomplete list, Mitchell states every single team in MLB had players abusing performance drugs. However, he only listed a few names taken from indicted informants. One of Mitchell's most glaring flaws, which screams for attention while being ignored by mainstream journalists, is the ommission of first hand witnesses beyond two pleading for their freedom. If all teams had juiced players, certainly he could have cut a deal with at least one locker room attendant or bat boy or team trainers. Afterall, this farce of an investigation played out over a year and lacked any true substance beyond recommendations for the future. Mitchell should have provided player names from teams league wide instead of mostly from his hated rivals in New York (Mitchell is a Boston Red Sox Executive) out players from every team of kep naming names from all MLB clubs or none at all beyond those players already admitting involvement.

Back to the point at hand. How does one (Clemens) defend his name if truly innocent? The damage has been done. Clemens and others had their names exposed and splashed from headline to headline. Some players admitted trying or using. Most will remain silent. Roger Clemens has flatly denied ever using foreign or illegal substances. He's in the process of suing a former friend turned government witness and held a somewhat animated press conference this past week addressing this accusation.

Upon conclusion of Rocket's press conference... sports reporters remained skeptical and many have spoken of how Roger has yet to say anything to sway their personal beliefs. If Roger is innocent, how does he defend his name without creating further doubters? Guilty by association seems to be ruling the day in baseball. As a league, they've earned it. As individuals, time will tell.

For a decade the likes of Pete Rose denied betting on baseball before finally admitting he broke the games cardinal rule. Barry Bonds apparently lied to a Grand Jury and is now facing Federal perjury charges. McGwire flat out refuses to address his past. Palmeiro's finger waving at Congress. Blatent skepticism and denials towards Jose Canseco's tell all book had drive by media types painting him as a loon. Turns out, he was right on (and denied entrance to Mitchell's public news conference). Time and time again, guilty parties always profess "not guilty" until evidence or a new book evokes an admission.

So from where I sit, at least for the short term, Roger Clemens is in a no win situation until one of two things takes place (if ever). Clemens needs to show evidence of being set up or MLB needs to provide evidence he took HGH (by cancelled check, purchase order, delivery receipt etc). Reality dictates, niether will ever happen and it will be left up a skeptical public to believe or discard.

George Mitchell completely slimed his way thru this bogus report. He offered very few original opinions or facts regarding alledged abuses and relied heavily on testimony from indicted men trying to trade their way out of a jail sentence. Hand selecting a choice few names instead of fulling his duty for which he was charged is unacceptable.

Roger may never clear his name from skeptical minds. Damage to public opinion has already been done. Unless a dramatic turn of events occurs... he's probably forever associated with doping... guilt or innocence not withstanding. There will be no trial. He is charged with no crime. Clemens verdict rests solely with public opinion.

Good luck Roger... one way or another you're going to need it.

by Digger

Various forms of online fantasy sports simulation games have forever changed how fans root for during sporting events. It wasn't long ago, before the internet explosion, anyone rooting for an opposing player vs a home town team would be treated as treasonous traitor by friends and family members.

When favorite teams are winning by wide margins, fans now often root for opponents when fantasy points are involved. It is common practice to hear fans proclaim their team will be victorious ... and at the same time root for an opponents player to score big fantasy points.

This adds a new dynamic to watching games which has greatly enhanced fan/viewer participation. All major sports feature games produced from various vendors. Interactive games coinciding with live broadcasts are becoming increasingly popular as the internet age has brought fans to the best seats in the house... right in front of a pc screen.

Not all sports fantasy games are live. A few companies have created games featuring all time players using various formulas for simulating fantasy results.

No matter which type of sports game fans choose to play, live vs simulated, from Baseball to Rugby to Bass Fishing... online games have tremendous interaction on their message/bulletin boards. Many friendships have been forged from one common bond... sports. Sometimes groups of fans splinter off into their own leagues within a league... usually optimizing player participation.

In one of my baseball games, a group of us met for the first time for a Yankees game in the Bronx. Others have traveled to stadiums across the country, met at sports bars etc.

Due to increased popularity and competition between vendors, many games which were once offered for a set price are now being offered for free. Every major sports league sponsors games or has an officially licensed product (as do major sports tv/radio networks).

These games have also changed water cooler talk at offices around the world. No longer do suffering NY Knicks fans have to dwell on their losing ways... now some brag of how Dirk Nowitzky's triple double bailed out their team the previous night or Jets fans boasting of Randy Moss breaking the single season touch down record helped win a league title.

A whole new dimension to sports is talking hold.... pick a sport and give it a shot. Buyer beware... games can become addicting!

by Digger

2008 is here. Happy New Year sports fans!

The sports world is already buzzing on our first day of 2008:
NFL's New England Patriots (16-0) looking to become Super Bowl Champs & 19-0.
Manchester United's (15-3-3, Premier League) return to glory.
NCAA Football is about to crown a new national champion.
Major League Baseball Spring Training begins next month and much much more.....

There will be new records, MVP's, rookies and action packed excitement as fans fill stadiums... tune in via televisions and radios from around the world.

One question? Have fans and athletes learned any lessons from difficult events of 2007?

This past year treated fans across the planet to exceptional moments in sports history in nearly every major category. Unfortunately, last year was also marred with tragedy, deception, greed, gambling, mafia infiltration, steroids, cheating and death. Very few sports escaped scandal. From NASCAR to soccer to football to baseball to referees fixing games to doping to suspensions to murders and so on...

I wonder how many up and coming athletes currently doping or experimenting soaked up how the sporting world is finally getting serious? How public humiliation impacts suspected/suspended players and their families, if at all? Realize how this could ultimately lead to disbarment from their beloved professions or school teams, loss of scholarships, contracts, endorsements... and most importantly premature health deterioration or loss of life.

2008 is a new year filled with new hope, optimism and opportunities for positive growth. Wouldn't it be great if all athletes, from our youngest children right on thru retired has-beens, can finally dismiss all disingenuous actions in preparation for athletic events from active participation to viewing? Is it really that hard to do? Hopefully, in all arenas of life, wisdom learned will create positive results in the days to come.

Leading by example rarely exists in our society. Preached often but rarely practiced. When did morality get replaced by greed? This is a far reaching problem which extends well beyond the realms of sports.

Hope is only a word if not supported by positive "actions". Stand up to evil infiltrations into the sports world. Lead by example not empty rhetoric. Educate kids of our world pitfalls and dangers related to cheating, doping, and other misguided activities... not just in sports, but also in the game of life.

"Just Say No" seems to have evaporated from public consciousness. Ronald Reagan's White House pushed this aggenda back in the 1980's. Former Topps President and CEO, Joel Shorin, joined forces with President Reagan's much publicized campaign against drugs infecting America's youths. Topps aggressively assisted by sloganing "Just Say No" messages on wrappers of Topps trading cards sold world wide.

In addition to teachings from within families and educational institutions perhaps it's time for more public companies to actively promote positive images in relation to their product or product message. Multi-billion dollar corporations with marketing budgets in the tens of millions might be better served promoting positive messages while joining the fight vs drugs and other abuses. It's almost a little surprising these companies haven't realized from a greed standpoint how a jingle could keep their products in minds for years to come. Who knows, perhaps upon reading this someone will see the light?

Many who have crossed various lines often express regret and shame years later for foolish choices made years earlier. A perfect opportunity to council and educate up and comers on the pitfalls of past mistakes.

2008 can become the year sports turns the corner and weeds out most evils which demonize or bring temptations to athletes of all ages.