Sports Report for 9/18/08

The Sports Report
9/18/08

* I missed the report for yesterday, so Ima add it to this one…

My Sports Piccz
Baseball – 7-8 (20-20-50%)
Football – 0-0 (0-1-0%)
College Football – NONE
Parlay – LOST (0-3)
Guaranteed – WON (2-2)

Major League Baseball
* In the American League…on Tuesday
· Cleveland def. Minnesota 12-9. Grady Sizemore (Cle) hit his 32nd homer of the year.
· MY WHITE SOX def. The Yankees 6-2. Gavin Floyd (CWS) got his 16th win of the year (16-7). Jason Giambi (NYY) hit his 31st homer on the year.
· Baltimore def. Toronto 2-0.
· Tampa Bay def. Boston 2-1. Carlos Pena (TB) hit his 29th homer of the year.
· Texas def. Detroit 5-4.
· Kansas City def. Seattle 6-3. Joakim Soria (KC) got his 39th save of the year.
· Oakland def. The Angels 8-1.

· In the National League… on Tuesday
· The Dodgers def. Pittsburgh 6-2.
· Philadelphia def. Atlanta 8-7. Brad Lidge (Phi) got his 37th save of the year. Ryan Howard (Phi) hit his 45th homer of the year.
· Cincinnati def. St. Louis 7-2.
· Washington def. The Mets 1-0.
· Florida def. Houston 5-1. Jeff Cantu (Fla) hit his 27th homer of the year.
· The Cubs def. Milwaukee 5-4. Ryan Dempster (CHC) got his 16th win of the year (16-6). Kerry Wood (CHC) got his 31st save of the year. Prince Fielder (Mil) hit two homers in the game (31,32). Alfonso Soriano (CHC) hit his 29th homer of the year.
· Colorado def. San Diego 10-3. Adrian Gonzalez (SD) hit his 34th homer of the year.
· Arizona def. San Francisco 2-0. Dan Haren (AZ) got his 15th win of the year (15-8).

· In the American League… on Wednesday
· Cleveland def. Minnesota 6-4.
· The Yankees def. MY WHITE SOX 5-1. Alex Rodriguez (NYY) hit his 35th homer of the year.
· Toronto def. Baltimore 8-7. BJ Ryan (Tor) got his 30th save of the year. Aubrey Huff (Bal) hit his 32nd homer of the year.
· Tampa Bay def. Boston 10-3. David Ortiz (Bos) hit two homers in the game (20,21).
· Detroit def. Texas 17-4. Miguel Cabrera (Det) hit his 34th homer of the year.
· Kansas City def. Seattle 5-2. Joakim Soria (KC) got his 40th save of the year.
· Oakland def. The Angels 3-2. Mark Teixeira (LAA) hit his 31st homer of the year.

· In the National League… on Wednesday
· Colorado def. San Diego 1-0.
· Philadelphia def. Atlanta 6-1.
· Pittsburgh def. The Dodgers 15-8. Adam LaRoche (Pit) hit two homers in the game (21,22).
· Cincinnati def. St. Louis 3-0.
· The Mets def. Washington 9-7. Carlos Delgado (NYM) hit his 36th homer of the year. Carlos Beltran (NYM) hit two homers in the game (25,26).
· Florida def. Houston 14-2. Hunter Pence (Hou) hit two homers in the game (23,24). Jeff Cantu (Fla) hit his 28th homer of the year. Hanley Ramirez (Fla) hit two homers in the game (31,32). Ricky Nolasco (Fla) got his 15th win of the season (15-7).
· Milwaukee def. The Cubs 6-2. Aramis Ramirez (CHC) hit his 25th homer of the year.
· Arizona def. San Francisco 7-6. Brandon Webb (AZ) got his 21st win of the year (21-7).

· The playoff race looks like this…
· The AL East is led by Tampa Bay by 2 games over Boston.
· The AL Central is led by MY WHITE SOX by 2 ½ game over Minnesota.
· The AL West has been WON by the Los Angeles Angels!
· The AL Wildcard is held by Boston.
· The NL East is led by Philadelphia by ½ games over The Mets.
· The NL Central is led by The Cubs by 8 games over Milwaukee.
· The NL West is led by The Dodgers by 3 ½ game over Arizona.
· The NL Wildcard is held by The Mets.

· The League Leaders look like this…
· The AL Batting Average leader is Dustin Pedroia (Bos) .326
· The NL Batting Average leader is Chipper Jones (Atl) .365
· The AL Home Run leader is Carlos Quentin (CWS) 36
· The NL Home Run leader is Ryan Howard (Phi) 45
· The AL RBI leader is Justin Morneau (Min) 128
· The NL RBI leader is Ryan Howard (Phi) 137
· The AL Win leader is Cliff Lee (Cle) 22
· The NL Win Leader is Brandon Webb (Ari) 21
· The AL ERA leader is Cliff Lee (Cle) 2.41
· The NL ERA leader is Tim Lincecum (SF) 2.43
· The AL Saves leader is Francisco Rodriguez (LAA) 58 * RECORD *
· The NL Saves leader is Jose Valverde (Hou) 42

· My picks for the post season awards so far look like this…
· AL MVP – Justin Morneau (Min) or Carlos Quentin (CWS)
· NL MVP – Ryan Howard (Phi) or Carlos Delgado (NYM)
· AL Cy Young – Cliff Lee (Cle)
· NL Cy Young – Brandon Webb (AZ)

National Football League
· Minnesota benches QB Tavaris Jackson in favor of Gus Frerotte.
· Kansas City will be starting its THIRD QB in three weeks due to injury.

· The League Leaders look like this…
· Passing – Ben Roethlisberger (Pit) 136.3 rating
· Rushing – Adrian Peterson (Min) 263 yards
· Receiving Yards – Greg Jennings (GB) 258 yards
· Receptions - Brandon Marshall (Den) 18 receptions
· Sacks – John Abraham (Atl) 4 sacks
· Tackles – Jonathan Vilma (NO) 25 tackles
· Interceptions – Cortland Finnegan (Ten) 3 interceptions

National Basketball Association
· Gilbert Arenas will be out until December with an injured knee.

NCAA College Football – Top 25
· These are no scores from Top 25 teams…

· The League Leaders look like this…
· Passing – David Johnson (Tulsa) 241.58 rating
· Rushing – Shun White (Navy) 588 yards
· Receiving Yards – Dante Love (BSU) 433 yards
· Receptions – Kerry Meier (Kan) / James Casey (Rice) 29 receptions
· Interceptions – Daniel Charbonnet (TTU) 4 interceptions

Pro Wrestling
· There was a WWE Smaccdown House Show…
WWE Smackdown & ECW House Show Results - 9/15/08

Location: Montgomery, Alabama

- The Colons defeated John Morrison & The Miz.

- Chavo Guerrero defeated Jimmy Wang Yang.

- WWE Divas Champion Michelle McCool defeated Maryse.

- Jeff Hardy defeated WWE U.S. Champion Shelton Benjamin via DQ.

- Finlay defeated Mike Knox.

- WWE Tag Team Champions Curt Hawkins & Zack Ryder defeated Jesse & Festus.

- ECW Champion Matt Hardy defeated Mark Henry.

- WWE Champion Triple H & The Undertaker defeated The Great Khali & MVP.

· The ratings for WWE RAW are in and they were the worst of the year…A 2.6 rating.

· I got the TNA Impact Tapings for 9/18…THE DEBUT OF MICK FOLEY!!!
The following took place on Tuesday in Orlando, FL.

TNA Impact Tapings for September 18:

- TNA World Champion Samoa Joe came out to start the show. Joe ran down Sting once again saying he wasn't dedicated and didn't work the same schedule as everyone else in TNA.

- The Prince Justice Brotherhood (Super Eric, Shark Boy & Curry Man) defeated Petey Williams, Johnny Devine & Jimmy Rave. After the match, Devine and Rave turned on Williams. Lance Rock joined in. Referee Shane Sewell freaked out again and took out Rock.

- Beer Money, Inc. and Jackie attacked Hector Guerrero. A match was announced for next week between Beer Money and LAX where the losing team would lose their manager forever.

- Sting cut a promo on his match with Samoa Joe at Bound For Glory for the TNA World Title.

- Booker T defeated "Black Machismo" Jay Lethal. Sharmell, not So Cal Val as previously reported, interfered to setup the finish.

- Rhino & TNA Knockouts Champion Taylor Wilde defeated Kip James & Velvet Sky. After the match, Awesome Kong took out Rhino and Wilde. They then put paper bags on their heads.

- Jeff Jarrett cut a promo in the ring running down Sting and Kurt Angle saying that people like Samoa Joe and AJ Styles were the backbone of the company before they showed up. Angle came out to run down Jarrett, saying he was washed up and challenged him to a match at Bound For Glory. Jarrett said he wasn't ready , but knows who is. At that point Jarrett directed everyone to the video screens where Mick Foley appeared saying, "Bang! Bang!" Angle had a shocked look on his face at the end of the taping.

· Here are the results from Tuesday Night’s ECW on Sci-Fi…
ECW on Sci-Fi

Nashville, TN

September 16th 2008

Commentators: Todd Grisham & Matt Striker

Report by: David Stephens of WrestleView.com

Matt Hardy is making his way to the ring and we are set to kick-off what is sure to be an electric ECW!

Matt Hardy v. Mike Knox

The crowd is once again heavily behind Matt Hardy. Knox backs Hardy into the corner and the Hardy Boy locks in a side headlock. Knox tries to side slam out of it but Hardy just drags him back down to the ring to continue the hold. Knox now locks in a side-headlock of his own. Knox runs to the ropes and hits a shoulder block. Hardy gets up and hits a couple of punches which sends Knox to the corner. Mike comes charging out with a big boot to Hardy’s face. Knox hits a scoop slam and then drives his knee down on the grounded Hardy boy. Matt’s in the benter of the ring and Knox applies a headlock. Hardy is whipped in to the corner and successfully Knox down to the mat and then hits a splash. Knox is back up and hits a fast scoop slam but the pin attempt is futile. Hardy tries for a small package but Knox powers out. Mike Knox hits a very hard lariat but Matt is able to get up before the pin. Matt makes Knox stutter thanks to a couple of kicks and punches and then hits the EPIC elbow from the second rope! Matt is pumping up the crowd and goes for a Twist of Fate but instead hits a really sick DDT. Knox is able to break up the pin by getting his foot on the bottom rope. Knox slides to the outside and Hardy follows. Both go for clotheslines and collapse together on the floor!

****Commercial****

As we come back Mike Knox has Matt Hardy on the ground in the middle of the ring with a headlock applied. Matt gets up and Knox hits a nice looking drop kick. The headlock is applied once again. One week I should count how many times wrestlers lock that move in each week on ECW because this is just ridiculous. Knox hits a side slam and goes for the pin but gets nothing. Same deal again doesn’t get to the three count. Knox lifts Hardy up to the third rope and tries to go up after him. Hardy kinda misses the moonsault, not sure what that was. Knox goes for the cover but Hardy kicks out.Knox is now working hard on Hardy and backs him into the corner. Knox tries to hit a running boot in the corner but Hardy is able to dodge and hit the Side-Effect! Hardy follows this up with a neck breaker and then a DDT from the second rope! Hardy is really working the crowd now and he hits the Twist of Fate!

Winner via Twist of Fate: Matt Hardy

In the back Tony Atlas is with Mark Henry. Atlas says that Matt Hardy is looking impressive and Henry verbally tears him apart for saying that. Saying the only reason that Hardy was able to win his match was thanks to Finlay and Hornswoggle’s help.Up Next: Miz & Morrison!

****Commercial****

Miz w/ John Morrison v. Evan Bourne w/ Ricky Ortiz

The two lock up in the ring and Evan Bourne slaps Miz and follows it up with some elbows. Bourne is whipped to the ropes and jumps over the apron, Miz comes running and is met with Evan’s shoulder which results in Bourne springing over the top rope for a spinning arm drag! Miz dodges a punch and kicks Bourne through the ropes to the outside! Miz slides out and lifts Bourne up and slams him into the barricade and then the ring apron. Miz now has Bourne back in the ring and has done a successful job of grounding the high flyer. Miz locks Bourne up in what appears to be a sideways surfboard. Regardless of what it is it looks like it hurts. Bourne manages to somehow attempt a roll up, but it is unsuccessful. Miz flips poor Bourne inside out and things aren’t looking good for Evan as he is locked into an abdominal stretch. Evan hits a really high kick and Miz flops down to the ring. Bourne hits a beautiful hurricarana followed by a standing moonsault. Miz is grounded and Bourne goes up to the top rope but Miz throws him off the top rope to the mat. Miz bounces off the top rope and hits some sort of spinning leg drop which was impressive in its own rite. Ricky and Morrison start acting up on the outside which causes a distraction which allows Bourne to lock in a crazy looking rollup that succeeds!

Winner via Rollup: Evan Bourne

****Commercial****

Jack Swagger v. Chase Stevens

Chase Stevens! Jack Swagger starts the match off with a huge spinebuster that rocks the arena. Chase Stevens gets up and lands some punches but is backed into the corner and Swagger chucks him via his neck across the ring. Swagger hits a gut wrench and Striker loves him. Swagger hits a vicious slam and is just demolishing Chase Stevens. Swagger hits the Blue Thunder Bomb and the former Natural did not have a very good night.

Winner via Blue Thunder Bomb: Jack Swagger

****Commercial****

Mark Henry w/ Tony Atlas v. Finlay w/ Hornswoggle

Mark Henry is big, strong, and ready to demolish his opponent. Finlay comes to the ring with a leprechaun. I love it. Finlay keeps getting behind Henry which keeps resulting in him getting squashed into the corners. Henry has the clear power advantage which is not that usual during Finlay matches. Henry keeps gets chucked down to the mat and has to resort to speed in order to break up and counter moves. Finlay is on the mat and Atlas gets in a cheap shot, what a jerk. Mark Henry throws Finlay to the outside and things aren’t looking so good for the Irish Legend.

****Commercial****

Henry locks in a vice grip and Finlay is hurting. Mark is just stomping and stepping on Finlay’s face. This forces the Irishman to roll out of the ring but Henry follows and slams Finlay’s head into the apron. Henry does some more stomping and tossing and then locks in a chin lock. Henry now locks in a bear hug, and Finlay, well Finlay may be about done. Finlay somehow manages to duck a splash in the corner and tries to throw everything he can at Mark, but Henry lays him out with a clothesline. Finlay is driven to the mat but dodges an elbow drop. Finlay slides to the outside and traps Henry’s head in the ring apron!Atlas is on the outside and takes a blow at Hornswoggle which was a bad idea as Finlay comes after him. Tony is trying to get away as Henry slides out near ‘swoggle. Finlay takes the distraction to hit Henry with the I.F.O.! [Irish Foreign Object]. Finlay counters out of a bearhug and goes for the pin and almost gets a three! Finlay hits a buttplant and tries to lock in armbar but is splashed front into the corner, twice. Henry hits the World’s Strongest Slam and it’s over!

Winner via World’s Strongest Slam: Mark Henry

· I also got the WWE Smaccdown Tapings for 9/19…
The following took place on Tuesday in Nashville, TN.

WWE Friday Night Smackdown Tapings for September 19:

- Michelle McCool defeated Maryse.

- Ryan Braddock defeated Festus via DQ. Jesse and Festus wrapped up Braddock in bubble wrap like they did to Kenny Dykstra the week before.

- R-Truth defeated WWE U.S. Champion Shelton Benjamin in a non-title match.

- Backstage, Vickie Guerrero tells Big Show she will make The Undertaker apologize tonight.

- Jeff Hardy defeated The Brian Kendrick. After the match, Vladimir Kozlov attacked Hardy on the entrance ramp.

- Carlito's Cabana with Carlito and Primo Colon. The guests were WWE Tag Team Champions Zack Ryder and Curt Hawkins. Carlito mentioned they will get a shot at the tag titles next week. Ryder and Hawkins lay them out and Jesse and Festus run out for the save.

- The Great Khali defeated Scotty Goldman. Khali vs. Kozlov is announced for next week.

- Backstage, La Familia (except for Vickie) were watching footage of Undertaker when the TV went to static and Undertaker appeared grabbing Chavo.

- WWE Champion Triple H defeated MVP. After the match, Vladimir Kozlov took out Triple H.

· I also got the TNA Impact Tapings results for 9/25…
The following took place on Wednesday in Orlando, FL.

TNA Impact Tapings for September 25:

- Jeff Jarrett came out and said TNA has signed its biggest acquisition ever and they will be on Impact next week. Kurt Angle came out saying he was the one carrying the company when Jeff left and said he was TNA's greatest acquisition ever. Jarrett mentioned he spoke to AJ Styles to get Angle his gold medal back. Angle thanked him and told him to get out of his ring. He trashed Jarrett as he left and Jarrett returned to accept Angle's challenge to a match at Bound For Glory.

- Abyss & Matt Morgan defeated The Rock and Rave Infection. After the match, Team 3D challenged any tag team in TNA to a tag team Monster's Ball match at Bound For Glory. Abyss was scared hearing that stipulation.

- Awesome Kong defeated an unknown women's wrestler. Roxxi disguised herself as Raisha Saeed attacked Kong. Saeed was shown tied up.

- TNA World Tag Team Champions Beer Money, Inc. & Jackie defeated LAX & Hector Guerrero. Per the stipulation, Guerrero is no longer the manager for LAX.

- Sting came out and cut a promo saying Jeff Jarrett can serve some people, but not him. He said Jeff called him to come to TNA the same time Vince McMahon approached him to come to WWE. Sting said he could have gone to WWE for the money, but he went with TNA because he liked the brand. He said he liked the brand until he got to know the wrestlers. Sting displayed photos of various wrestlers at this point. Showing a photo of Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard, he said they taught him to have eyes in the back of his head. Showing a photo of Dusty Rhodes, he said Rhodes taught him not to judge a book by its cover. Showing a photo of Hulk Hogan, he called him the greatest of all time. Showing a photo of Ric Flair, he mentioned how Flair made him a star. Showing a photo of Samoa Joe, Sting said this was a picture of someone who didn't know how to be a World Champion. He finally showed a picture of himself saying he can get the job done at Bound For Glory.

- TNA World Champion Samoa Joe defeated TNA X Division Champion Sheik Abdul Bashir. After the match, Joe said he has Sting's respect right here and started choking out Bashir again. The referee then reversed the decision.

- Booker T defeated AJ Styles. During the match, Christian Cage prevented Sharmell from hitting Styles with a briefcase. A miscommunication between Styles and Cage led to Booker getting the win over Styles.

· ECW on Sci Fi drew a rating of 1.2, which was down from last week’s 1.3 rating.
· Kevin Nash resigned with TNA.

Personal Notes
· Today wasn’t bad…I just sat around and chilled. Bein without cable wasn’t too bad, we got tha internet…lol
· This bitch has pissed me off all week. Im ready to go. GOD DAMNIT!

My Picc’z for TONIGHT’s Games
Baseball
· KC
· The Angels (P) (G)
· The Yankees (P)
· Toronto
· Tampa Bay
· The Dodgers (P)
· The Cubs
· Philadelphia (P)
· Cincinnati
· The Mets (P)
· Houston
· San Francisco (P)

College Football
· West Virginia –3