Category Archive : Sports

We picked the Milwaukee Brewers on September 15, 2005 as our Game of the Month for September and saw them pull out 7 runs in the top of the 3rd inning to take an early 9-0 lead. They increased that lead to 12-0 in the fourth. This was child’s play and one of our easiest Game of the Month predictions.

Not only were the odds on these Brewers better than any standard basketball game, but the odds of them winning were higher than any NBA basketball game I tried last season. We looked at this game from a multitude of angles and saw absolutely no reason why these Brewers should have gone -104.

The spread for this game was set so low because the Brewers are not a team that is going to be supported by gamblers, especially on the road.

First, the Brewers have been playing well after winning 6 L10 games against the struggling Diamondbacks of the weak NL West. The Brewers are an over-500 team against the NL West. Home field advantage is a legitimate argument in some cases, but not here. The Diamondbacks are a dismal 30-41 at home. They have a better road record.

Second, the Brewers are motivated by their loss last night. They lost in extra innings 2-1 with plenty of chances to win the game. Ricki Weeks single-handedly lost them that game by having 7 LOBs and runners in scoring position multiple times with less than 2 out. He went 5-0.

Third, the Brewers showed positive signs offensively as their meat of the order stepped up for all but a couple of hits. All it took was a couple of hits from the bottom or top of the orders to really make a run to get a ton of runs. The fact that they couldn’t do this last night actually bodes well for them today, as they will focus on their offense and really shut down.

Fourth, the Brewers sent Tomo Ohka, who has been a gem for them this season. In his only outing against the Diamondbacks, he allowed just 1 earned run and 4 hits in a 3-0 losing cause. He pitched very well, but his offense let him down. This is another motivating factor for the offense in this game.

Fifth, history was on our side, as a fantastic baseball betting system was uncovered that the Brewers were on the side of, indicating they were undervalued by about 50 points and should have been -160.

Blind betting systems may be good enough for your regular daily picks, but it’s important to combine that with seasonal trends and observations to really make a big play. As you can see, there were four strong arguments to make this a fantastic piece of work.

John Brodie is considered by many to be one of the best quarterbacks the San Francisco 49ers have ever had. With the great players that have played that position for the team, that’s really saying something. Under his leadership, the team had some very successful times, as well as some rough years. Through it all, he remained consistent and always kept them competitive.

Here’s a look at five things you might not know about John Brodie.

#1 – The first touchdown pass Brodie threw happened in Game 8 of the 1957 NFL season in a 31-10 loss to the Detroit Lions. The pass came in the fourth quarter, went 20 yards, and was caught by Billy Wilson.

#2 – A Washington Favorite
No player caught more touchdown passes thrown by John Brodie than 49ers great Gene A. Washington. Those two connected 27 times for touchdowns during their time together.

#3 – Let’s play the Rams again!
John Brodie threw more touchdown passes against the Los Angeles Rams, a total of 28, than against any other team.

#4 – Go ahead!
Many don’t know it, but Brodie was also a very good golfer. After his NFL career, he would eventually join the Senior PGA Tour. He also holds the record for the longest gap between appearances at the US Open. He played there during his playing days in 1959 and then returned to play in the tournament in 1981.

#5 – Almost a monopoly
In the 1972 NFL season, Brodie threw just nine touchdown passes. Seven of those, or more than 70%, went to 49ers wide receiver Gene A. Washington.

Baseball fans received a special treat in the Christmas edition of The New York Times, thanks to a column by Tyler Kepner. His gift to us was a quiz of fifty baseball trivia questions, thirty of which I answered correctly.

The question that intrigued me the most was about the history of the Most Valuable Player Awards, an answer that required five names. That number represents the number of MVPs whose first and last names contained four letters, and I’m proud to say I identified all five: Babe Ruth, Pete Rose, Vida Blue, Fred Lynn and Jeff Kent.

Even without those five MVPs, one could build a great team made up of players whose first and last names have exactly four letters. This is what such a list would look like.

Starting left-handed pitcher: Rich Hill

He teamed up with Clayton Kershaw to give the Dodgers a great pair of lefties, who were one of the main reasons Los Angeles won the pennant in 2017.

Starting pitcher: José Rijo

Cincinnati swept the Oakland A’s in the 1990 World Series, primarily because of this ace’s dominance of the Reds’ rotation.

Starting pitcher: Rick Wise

One of the most dominant pitchers in the late 1960s and early 1970s, Wise was also a prolific hitter.

Relief pitcher: Gary Bell

Although a reliable reliever for a variety of teams, it was his short-lived tenure with the Seattle Pilots that led to Bell being immortalized in Jim Bouton’s book Ball Four.

Closer: Jose Mesa

The unorthodox reliever was one of the main reasons the Cleveland Indians captured two pennants in the 1990s.

Catcher: Tony Pena

Peña, one of the best defensive receivers of his generation, spent most of his career with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

First Base: Rule Effective

The slugger helped the Detroit Tigers claim the pennant in 1968, providing much of the offense that contributed to Denny McClain’s 31 wins.

Second baseman: Dave Cash

Not only was he a skilled fielder in both Montreal and Philadelphia, but he served as a potent point guard threat at the top of the batting order.

Shortstop: Joey Cora

Cora and her brother Alex formed a literal fraternity of great midfielders.

Third baseman: Jake Lamb

By having him play opposite All Star Paul Goldschmidt, the Arizona Diamondbacks boast one of the best corner infielder tandems in the game today.

Left field: Jose Cruz

His sweet swing and decisive hitting were key elements that made the Houston Astros contenders in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Center field: Alex Rios

He burst onto the scene with several great seasons in Toronto, where he displayed a rare combination of speed, power and arm.

Right field: Matt Kemp

Barely missing out on Ryan Braun’s chance to win an MVP, Kemp was traded back to the Dodgers this winter.

Designated Hitter: Adam Lind

Providing consistent power from the left side, Lind was a key addition that helped the Washington Nationals conquer the NL East last season.

Happy Halloween! If your franchise is on this list, then you know all about running rampant mutant fear. You’ve seen the scariest franchises in professional football, baseball, or basketball. Long seasons watching appalling performances from players so bad they give you goosebumps. The Front Office decisions are so scary that Hollywood is afraid to make a movie about it.

Our survey is based on a formula of what you have done for us lately. Super Bowls or great players on a team 40 years ago don’t carry much weight. We prefer things like recent success. Infamous players and owners. Fan support. And the city in which the team is located. There may be other creepy things we come up with as we go along.

Introducing, in all their brutality, the Scariest Franchises in Sports.

8) The Pittsburgh Pirates

Why are they so scary? Since losing a heartthrob to the Braves in the bottom of the ninth in Game 7 of the 1992 NLCS, the Pirates have yet to have a winning season. 500, but it was apparently all designed to further torture the fanbase. The team’s owners have turned losses into a profitable venture, earning nearly $30 million a year while dumping All-Stars in an effort not to pay them. How creepy.

7) Detroit Lions

The mere fact that they’re playing in Detroit is pretty scary, right? I’ve never been there, but I’ve talked to a few people who have (those who made it out alive) and they weren’t very nice to the Motor City. This franchise was so bad that it sidelined the greatest running back of all time, Barry Sanders, until his early retirement. They also have the current baddest player in the NFL, Ndamukong Suh, who has been fined for illegal hits multiple times and for the most part has refused to apologize, instead receiving fines from the National Football League.
Finally, the Lions are scary because they have only won one playoff game since 1957.

6) The Oakland Raiders

Even the Pirate in the helmet is scary in very few these days. This once proud franchise was eaten up by the same man who made them great, the late Al Davis. Entering this season, the Raiders were riding a 37-91 run and have been known for grim draft busts (JaMarcus Russell). Raider Nation, those guys who dress up like every day is Halloween, have given up on this franchise. The Raiders finished last in the NFL in attendance in 2010. The Raiders also get poor marks for the city of Oakland. It’s not a good sign when the fan base is more macabre than the team.

5) Los Angeles Clippers

It’s nerve-wracking when the other team in your hometown, playing the same sport, is so much better than you. The Lakers outperform the Clippers in almost every facet. You don’t have to look far to see why the Clippers are so terrible. Look at the draft. They used a No. 1 overall pick on Michael Olowakandi, a No. 2 pick on Danny Ferry, a No. 3 pick on Darius Miles and a No. 4 pick on Shaun Livingston. It’s impossible to miss so many #1 overall picks! He leads to missing the playoffs in 13 of 35 years.

4) The Rams of St. Louis

There are weeks I just forget they’re still in the NFL. The Rams have slowly degraded, step by step, from those glory days of the “Great Show On Turf” to the point where they really don’t have anything to hang their hats on anymore. They are just boring to watch and the worst part is that they have one of the most horrible stadiums in the NFL. Fans seem asleep most of the time because the Rams only have one star power player and that’s Sam Bradford, and he still has a lot to prove.

3) The Kansas City Royals

They have a very nice stadium, but it just masks the underlying horror. The Royals have been flying under the radar as the epitome of the small-market team. Why else have they not been able to get away with not making the playoffs since 1985!! It’s because nobody cares. But it gets weirder for this franchise. Kansas City has finished as high as second in the division standings only twice since 1985. Although several perennial All-Stars began their careers in Kansas City: David Cone, Kevin Appier, Johnny Damon, Carlos Beltran and Jermaine Dye , to name a few. Few: The Royals constantly traded their best players to avoid paying them during their prime years.

2) The Toronto Raptors

The team’s nickname is one of the coolest and scariest in all of sports. That’s where this franchise ends. Almost every good player they’ve ever had wants out (Vince Carter, Chris Bosh). How about some Raptor jokes?

Q: What do the Toronto Raptors and the Opossums have in common? A: They both play dead at home and die on the way!

Q: What do you call 12 millionaires sitting around a TV watching the NBA Finals? A: The Toronto Raptors.

1) The Charlotte Bobcats

The Bobcats have been bad every year of their brief but unpleasant existence, but they outdid themselves in 2011-12. The Bobcats weren’t just bad, they were historically horrible. With 23 straight losses to end the lockout-shortened season, the Bobcats finished with a 7–59 record, the worst winning percentage (.106) by an NBA team. Hard to believe that Michael Jordan, the owner of the team, is in any way associated with this nonsense. Last year’s Bobcats were everything Jordan wasn’t as a player: unproductive, uncompetitive and unwatchable.

Dishonorable mentions. The Milwaukee Bucks. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Houston Astros, Buffalo Bills, Sacramento Kings, Cleveland Browns, and New York Mets.

1. Just do it! Too many aspiring dancers have convinced themselves, or let others tell them, that they ‘just can’t dance’, so they don’t even try to learn. If you can walk, you can learn to dance. Ballroom dancing is made up of steps, forward, backward, to the side, and in place. It is the combination of these steps in different ways that creates the pattern of a dance. Steps are learned one at a time, just like when you were two years old and learning to walk! Don’t let anyone discourage you, you CAN learn to dance!

2. Choose a studio carefully. All dance studios are not the same. It has been my experience that the best value for money is with a locally owned independent studio, rather than one of the national chains. This is not always the case, but I have found it to be true most of the time. I also strongly suggest looking for a studio that caters specifically to ballroom dancing, not one whose primary interest is ballet, tap, jazz, with just a couple of dance classes thrown in as an afterthought.

3. Sign up for a beginner group class first. I recommend this for several reasons. Group classes are usually quite reasonably priced, so there isn’t a huge initial outlay of cash. Everyone in the group is just like you, a beginner, so there’s less chance of feeling silly if you miss a step or two. (And you will, but so will everyone else. You’ll quickly learn to laugh it off and move on.) Whether or not you have a partner won’t matter in a group class. Most instructors will rotate partners in a class, partly to deal with an unequal number of men and women, but also to enhance each member’s ability to lead, if male, or follow, if female. There is plenty of banter and laughter during the group classes as everyone learns new skills and makes mistakes while doing so. They are always so much fun and you will be surprised how quickly you start to look forward to the next class. Classes generally meet once a week, usually for one hour, for a period of 6 or 8 weeks, at which time you can choose to continue with that class or choose another.

4. Don’t be discouraged! You’ll probably walk out of that first class feeling a bit overwhelmed and letting negative thoughts invade your head, telling you that you’ll never get it right. It’s just not true! Fortunately, you can’t remember when you were two years old and learned to walk for the first time. How many times do you think you fell on your butt before you crossed the room?

What if you had told yourself to just give up, this is too hard, I will never learn this? I guess we’d all keep on crawling! No, don’t give up. When you get home, try to repeat at least some of the steps you learned during that first class. Even if you can’t remember them when you get to your car, the next class almost always starts with a review of the last class. If you stick with it for the 6 or 8 week session, you’ll lose out with some basic movement knowledge under your belt, I promise.

5. What should you wear to go to class? The clothing that is worn to ballroom dance classes is as varied as the people who attend them. Some wear jeans or pants, some women prefer to dance in skirts or dresses. Wear clothing that is comfortable, perhaps a little baggy, to give you the freedom to move without constriction. Another thing to consider when choosing your clothing is the temperature. Most studios stay a bit chilly, so you may be tempted to wear a sweater or long-sleeved shirt. I would advise against this. Believe it or not, your body temperature will rise as you dance, to the point where some people actually sweat. A light short-sleeved shirt will serve you well. Be clean, casual and comfortable.

6. Your choice of shoes can make the difference between enjoying ballroom dancing and not even being able to master the steps. Please don’t make the mistake of wearing rubber soled shoes. They do not offer adequate traction for sliding, turning, or turning. A loafer type is good, or any shoe with a smooth sole. For women, a heeled shoe allows for attractive movements, but it’s certainly not a necessity when you’re just starting out. Later on, you may want to consider purchasing a pair of dance shoes. These are specifically designed to be worn on the dance floor and nowhere else. The soles are suede which allows them to slip on easily making twists and turns almost effortless. Some studios offer dance shoes for sale, or there are many online sites you can order from. I also do not recommend wearing open-toed shoes, such as sandals or flip-flops. Remember that you’re in a beginner’s class, and there’s always a chance that someone might accidentally step on those toes!

7. Arrive a few minutes before the class start time. There’s usually a sign-up sheet, and many studios give out name tags to help you get to know your fellow dancers. If you have dance shoes, you will need those extra minutes to change out of your street shoes. Arriving early also gives you a chance to mingle a bit with others who are there for the same class. Nothing disrupts a class more than someone who is late while the instructor is demonstrating a new step.

8. Commit to practice. You will never master ballroom dancing (or anything else for that matter) without practice. If you have a problem with a particular step or pattern, it’s perfectly acceptable to stay for a few minutes after class and go over it once or twice with your partner. Practice the steps at home once or twice a day, you’ll be surprised how much better you retain them throughout the week and it will make the next class so much easier. This is another benefit of getting to class early, it gives you time to practice those steps one more time before the instructor starts. Most studios also offer a weekly or monthly ‘practice party’ or ‘studio dance’. These are great for practicing what you’ve learned, as well as seeing the most successful dancers, which is what you’re striving to become! I cannot stress enough the importance of studio dances and the role they play in honing your dance skills. Plan to attend whenever possible, even if you are new and just starting out. Maybe even ESPECIALLY when you’re new and just starting out! Experienced dancers are always happy to help a newcomer, and the dances provide a perfect complement to their classes.

9. Enjoy all the non-dancing benefits of ballroom dancing. Through her dancing, you will find a boost in self-confidence, an increase in balance, and an improvement in posture. Through your dance, you will raise your heart rate, thus improving your cardiovascular health. Through your dancing, you will meet new people, make new friends, improve your social skills and possibly make new business contacts. The dance floor is a great equalizer. In a beginner’s class, everyone is a beginner, whether they are a doctor or a lawyer, a bricklayer, a waitress or a schoolteacher. During that hour each week, the stress of daily life simply melts away as you immerse yourself in learning the steps, listening to music, and connecting with your partner. It’s great therapy and much cheaper than a shrink!

10. Most important of all, HAVE FUN! It’s not a race or a competition, everyone eventually ends up in the same place, dancing with their partner and having a great time. You may experience moments of frustration with yourself or with your partner, but don’t let that overshadow all the benefits of becoming a ballroom dancer. If you find you’re not enjoying what you’re doing, consider a different dance. Maybe the foxtrot or waltz isn’t your thing, try the cha-cha, tango or swing. Over time, you will find your favorite and you can focus on that. I think you’ll end up like most ballroom dancers, loving them all and not wanting to stop until you’ve learned them all!

Welcome to the magical world of ballroom dancing!

The Pestana hotel group expands its presence in the world of tourism, and now in its commitment to anchor itself in the Caribbean, it is committed to one of the most important places in Cuba when it comes to attracting travelers. With this objective, it presents an excellent 4-star hotel that will make your vacation an unforgettable passage in your memory.

As of July 2013, Cayo Coco has a new hotel to further boost its position among the main tourist destinations on the island of Cuba. The impetus is provided by the Pestana hotel group which, after having expanded as a promoter in the leisure industry for a stretch of 40 years, has decided for the first time to set its sights on the large Caribbean island to ensure that they are not excluded from the possibility of offer its clients the undeniable blessings that the exuberant Cuban nature offers the visitor.

To this end, the Portuguese hotel group has built the Pestana Cayo Coco Resort Hotel next to one of the paradisiacal beaches found on the key within the Jardines del Rey area. The facility operates as an “all-inclusive” offering unsurpassed quality so that travelers return to their country of origin with a precious memory of their stay and immense recognition of the 4-star hotel category.

The hotel makes a vivid impression on the eye thanks to its modern architectural design and the vibrant colors that predominate on the facades, so that visitors never forget that they settled in a Caribbean environment to enjoy their vacations. The property has 11 three-story buildings where the 508 rooms are magnificently distributed; most of these are “junior suites”, although a selection of 20 “suites” are also available at the Pestana Cayo Coco if you wish. Regardless of their variety, guests can be sure that their rest will have all the comfort expected of a modern 4-star hotel: air conditioning, a small safe to store valuables, a properly stocked mini-bar, telephone , cable TV, Wi-fi Internet, hair dryer… Add to this the spaciousness of the bathrooms, the natural lighting and the usual cleaning of the rooms.

Like any beach hotel of choice, the Hotel Pestana Cayo Coco benefits from an excellent strip of sand where the traveler can lie down sunbathing, making use of the wide range of sun loungers offered by the facility, and soaking up the remarkable shades blue. on display by the sea. Likewise, the client has the option of making use of any of the other 4 swimming pools that this resort has, of which we highlight the largest located in the center of the facility, which has among its main attractions the presence of a pool very well stocked Snack Bar by the pool.

As for the hotel’s gastronomic offer, it is worth mentioning that the mentioned bar is not the only one available to refresh the client from the high Caribbean temperatures. There are 3 more; one is also a Snack-bar, another beach bar, and finally the best of all: the highly recommended “Bellomonte” Bar, in the lobby of the Pestana Cayo Coco Hotel. One of the essential requirements when considering the best bet for a hotel stay is definitely the quality of food service on offer, and to ensure this important standard, the hotel has opened the doors of 4 restaurants. Of them, the “Vista Alegre”, operates buffet style and offers international food; while the other three operate à la carte: “Piedmont” specializing in Italian cuisine, “El Rancho” with typical Cuban food and “La Tarraya”, located by the sea, where you can savor the delicacies of a superb barbecue while you enjoy the soft murmur of the waves and the warm sea breeze caressing your cheeks.

The entertainment of guests during their stay is another of the highest priorities of the management of the Pestana Cayo Coco Hotel and for this reason it has a whole range of services to complement the ideal stay in a place already so richly endowed by nature. In this sense, we can mention the sailboat available to guests to venture out to sea and delight in the coral wonders enclosed in a natural reserve that surrounds Coconut Cay, diving classes, horseback riding, bicycle rental and games participation organized by the hotel’s “recreation group” on the beach, as well as in the main pool of the facility.

In short, if you are thinking of spending your vacation in Cuba and you have not yet decided the destination of your trip, keep in mind Coco Cay where the Portuguese group Pestana is ready to receive you in their nest of pleasure in the Caribbean.

As sports fans, we spend a lot of time enjoying our favorite hobbies. We sit with friends in bars, living rooms, or sports venues to talk about the teams, players, and highlights. Here are some fun sports facts and snippets of general sports trivia to add to the next conversation.

SOCCER

Ticket prices for the first Super Bowl in 1967 ranged from $6 to $12. Today they can cost thousands of dollars!

In 1990, the San Francisco 49ers became the first team to score 50 points in the Super Bowl. They were also the first team to win five Super Bowl titles.

Deion Sanders played with San Francisco in 1994 and with the Dallas Cowboys in 1995. Both teams went to the Super Bowl and both teams were victorious. Before that, Deion Sanders played with the MLB’s Atlanta Braves and went to the World Series in 1992. He is also the only player in professional sports to score a touchdown and hit a home run in the same week.

BASEBALL

Cy Young was credited with being the first Modern Era pitcher to throw a perfect game. Actually, the first professional baseball pitcher to do this was Lee Richmond on June 12, 1880 with the Worcester Ruby Legs.

The first black player to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame was Jackie Robinson in 1962. The first woman to be inducted was Effa Manley in 2006, not as a player, but as a team owner/manager.

Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr. both played for the Seattle Mariners. They are the only father-and-son players in MLB to have hit back-to-back home runs in an MLB game.

BASKETBALL

The Lakers have made the most NBA Finals appearances, but they don’t have the most NBA titles. They have 30 attempts with 15 victories. The Celtics have the most wins with 17 in 20 appearances.

The lowest scoring game in NBA history was between the Pistons and the Lakers in 1950, 19-18.

One of the reasons the New Jersey NBA team was named the Nets was because it rhymed with the other local professional teams, the Mets and Jets.

HOCKEY

With 472 minutes sitting in the penalty area, Dave Schultz aka “The Hammer” holds the record for most penalty minutes in a season.

Ron Hextall, playing for Philadelphia in 1987, was the first NHL goaltender to score a goal during a game.

Hockey fans bring sports towels to greet referees for bad calls and hats to throw on the ice if a player scores three goals in a game. In Detroit, fans will bring an octopus to throw on the ice if the Red Wings win the playoffs.

modern olympics

In 1980, the United States hockey team defeated the USSR in an incredible miraculous victory. However, that was not the gold medal match. They had to go on to defeat Finland to win gold.

The early Olympic Games featured a number of unusual sports: tug of war, sailors’ 100-meter freestyle, rope climbing, an obstacle course swimming race, an underwater distance race, and live pigeon shooting.

Curling has been a team sport at the Winter Olympics since 1998. It is played on ice with a polished granite stone and two brooms.

WOMEN IN SPORT

Jackie-Joyner-Kersee was the first and only woman to be named Man of the Year by “The Sporting News” (1988).

Janet Guthrie was the first woman to run the Indianapolis 500 in 1977. She finished in 29th place.

The first female gymnast to score a perfect 10 at the Olympics was Nadia Comaneci (1976 Montreal).

Who does not like to feel the emotion of placing a sports bet? I know what I do. The thrill of knowing you’ve picked the winner of the game is enough adrenaline to keep you awake during even the dullest of sporting events. What I love about free sports betting is that it’s more than just making money. It’s a mind game. You view the event as a game of chess, carefully understanding the strategy of both teams, looking for strengths and weaknesses. Then, when you’ve finally made your decision, you put money on the line and hope that your task paid off.

As sports betting continues to grow in popularity, more and more sports selection experts are needed to break down the game for the novice bettor. Working 9 to 5 sometimes doesn’t give you time to study the game and master it. We need trustworthy people to tell us the team to bet on. Now, how do you know who you trust or not? Well, there are companies that rank collectors based on units won or lost. Let’s say you’re an expert and someone is looking for free NFL picks, how do you know who to trust? A business can look up records of past NFL free picks and see how they performed in free sports betting. That’s the only way to know.

How does sports betting work? That’s a great question. Every sportsbook has a bookie who takes each game and decides what is the most even number that can be made on a line so punters can place on both sides. The bookie’s job is to make sure the line is even so the sportsbook makes money from the commissions.

The next time you place free sports bets, make sure you are aware of the different types of bets, such as the spread, money line, and total. Also make sure you don’t place a bet on your favorite team just because it’s your favorite. If the goal is to be an astute gambler, stick with the numbers, which aren’t your favorites.

The English Premier League season is now in full swing and rumors have been raging. We bring you some of the most exciting rumors going around today.

Will José Mourinho meet Didier Drogba?

Apparently, José Mourinho repeatedly pleaded with Florentino Pérez, president of his new club Real Madrid, to sign Chelsea forward Didier Drogba from the Ivory Coast. Remember, both Didier Drogba and José Mourinho teamed up at Chelsea in the latter’s three fruitful years spent with the Stamford Bridge club in the EPL. José was reported to have tried to persuade the money men in Madrid to bring Drogba up until the very last minute of the transfer day deadline. Of course, it’s one thing to say Mourinho wanted the star striker, but it’s a whole other pot of fish to imagine Chelsea would ever want to part with their talismanic goalscorer.

Will Liverpool part with two midfielders in exchange for a striker?

Another rumor going around is that Liverpool are willing to offer both Brazilian midfielder Lucas Leiva and Dutch striker Ryan Babel in exchange for West Ham striker Carlton Cole. While Carlton Cole is undoubtedly a striker of high pedigree, one has to wonder what Liverpool fans think of the proposed deal. Also, neither player was apparently willing to leave Anfield for Upton Park, which is probably not surprising given that West Ham is very likely to struggle this season, having barely managed to stay in the top flight of the English Premier League. in the last season.

Will Arsenal sign a new goalkeeper?

As any die-hard Arsenal fan will argue, they only fell out of the main league title race last season due to lax defending and fairly glaring mistakes from goalkeepers. Well, it would have been news to his ears to hear that manager Arsene Wenger was looking to remedy that situation as his team enters the new season. Unfortunately, word on the street is that Arsenal missed out on signing a reliable goalkeeper, Mark Schwarzer from Fulham, as Mark Hughes, Fulham’s new manager, was unable to find a suitable replacement in time for the signing deadline. English Premier League transfer from August 31.

The Boston Celtics’ recent NBA title effort not only set a record for the largest margin of victory in a championship game (39 points), but also became the largest single-season improvement in history.

A year ago, the Celtics finished 24-58 and died last in the NBA Eastern Conference. This year they went 66-16, winning the Atlantic Division title and the Eastern Conference title before defeating the Los Angeles Lakers, 131-92, in the sixth and final playoff game to win their 17th NBA title. NBA and the first since 1986, erasing a 22-year drought.

It was an incredible beating from the Lakers led by Kobe Bryant. It seemed like all the Celtics threw was after great ball movement, while the Lakers bragged that the “triangle” offense stalled when the Celtics cut their passing lanes. Los Angeles was left with Kobe receiving the ball at half court and trying to singlehandedly create points against 5 Celtics. Kobe was 7 of 22 from the field for 22 points.

“They were definitely the best defense I’ve seen in the entire playoffs,” Kobe said. That Kobe, he’s as smart as a tack.

Kobe had very little help in helping the Lakers win the title and take his place in history as Michael Jordan’s equal. Maybe another year. LA coach Phil Jackson, who had tied Boston’s legendary coach Red Auerbach with 9 NBA titles, will also have to wait another year, assuming he can find some aggressive players on the playing fields of Los Angeles.

Maybe someone like backup James Posey, who came to play for the Celtics and got ugly with the Lakers. It was posey here, posey there, posey everywhere. Drain 3’s. In your Laker face.

Boston general manager Danny Ainge, a member of the last NBA champion team in 1986, made the key moves for the Celtics to take over the title. Ainge picked up Ray Allen (an All-Star and one of the NBA’s purest shooters) from the Seattle Supersonics, and Kevin Garnett (10-time All-Star and 2004 MVP) from the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Ainge then added forward James Posey, center PJ Brown and guard Sam Cassell. Suddenly, coach Doc Rivers had a hungry team, mainly because All-Stars Paul Pierce, the Celtics’ go-to man, Allen and Garnett had never won an NBA title.

The result in the title game found Garnett with 26 points and 14 boards, Allen scored 26 and Pierce, the Finals MVP, added 17. Guard Rajon Rondo had 21 points, 8 assists, 7 boards and 6 robberies. In short, the Celtics brought a team to the playoffs, and the Lakers brought Kobe.

It must have been pretty sweet for the Celtics, who were pushed to 7 games by both Atlanta and Cleveland before beating Detroit in 6 games to win the Eastern Conference title. And then Kobe and the Lakers came along, and Boston rented a steamroller and whipped up the Lakers who will gloat in Boston until at least the next century.

And so Celtic’s season ends with an NBA title. Kevin Garnett became the NBA Defensive Player of the Year, an All-Defensive First Team selection, and All-NBA First Team Player. Paul Pierce became an All-NBA Third Team player and NBA Finals Most Valuable Player.