The Sports Column

john1981cr · Joined: 16 Aug 2006 Posts: 111

By Kevin Reavy
Inspin.com/WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

It was quite a week for favorites.

All four favorites in this past weekend’s NFL playoff games won, with the Colts defeating the Chiefs, the Seahawks edging the Cowboys, and the Patriots and Eagles putting away their divisional foes, the Jets and Giants.

Vijay Singh had the lead going into the final day of the Mercedes-Benz Championship.

The NBA’s Dallas Mavericks kept their winning streak alive, going 3-0 on the week, before Sunday's loss.

The NHL’s Phoenix Coyotes went ... just kidding.

(Seriously, if I ever mention the NHL and it has nothing to do with a casual mention about who won the Stanley Cup, a crazy fight involving a lot of blood and/or fans, or the cancellation of the NHL itself, just stop reading. You have permission.)

There just were not a lot of upsets, unless you count my screening of Stallone’s Rocky Balboa -- for the record, I was totally on board with a 59-year-old beating on the reigning heavyweight champ, and I thought Antonio Tarver acted with the gusto and zest of a seasoned vet. I just thought the cinematography and sound effects editing were, well, laughable.

On that note, here are the headlines of the week that’s passed:

Eli Gets a Sponsor

Safe Auto paid Eli Manning and Fox Sports an undisclosed amount of cash to sponsor his “aw shucks” face. His ability to mimic the look of someone causing a minor car accident after going three-and-out after several unsuccessful tosses at his receivers' feet and the uncanny comparison between Safe Auto’s “Minimum Coverage” slogan and the Giants’ offensive line just made it a no-brainer.

Bobblehead Blows It

Terrell Owens said that he was consoling Tony Romo, who was crying at his locker after bobbling the snap of a potential playoff game-winning field goal.

There are so many parts of that statement that just giddily delight the Eagles fan inside me.

Tom Brady Leads the Patriots over Jets

My bookie was grateful.

No Answer? No Problem

The Philadelphia 76ers had five wins in 24 games with Allen Iverson on the roster, and currently have four wins in their last nine games without The Answer.

Proving once again that, all along, Allen Iverson was keeping this team from playing the below-average style it is well capable of.

It’s perfect timing for a Sixers team that, already logically out of contention, has a chance to play out of the Greg Oden sweepstakes in this year’s NBA Draft, likely ending up with a fringe lottery pick with about as much a shot of making a difference in the coming years as David Stern does of being named commissioner of the And1 Streetball Tour.

(Your Little League coach was right -- it’s not all about winning the game. It’s about doing everything in your power to end up with as many of those damned pingpong balls as possible. And if that’s not right, watch the 76ers play. Rooting for them would be a far greater tragedy …)

Cowher Resigns

The Pittsburgh Steelers’ longtime head coach, Bill Cowher, known for his menacing jaw and fiery temper, resigned from his position last week to spend more time with his kids.

His kids are terrified.

(Insiders report they have been doing two-a-days on dish and vacuum duty for months in anticipation.)

That will do it for this week’s Sports Column.

Until next time, enjoy the news as it happens.

(And Cowboys fans, stay optimistic: Sure, your team’s season has ended with your QB sobbing on the sidelines … and your best wide receiver is having surgery on his hand … and your head coach is considering retirement or an aneurysm … and your owner is undoubtedly planning to bring in Ricky Williams, David Boston and John Rocker for good measure… but -- wait, what was I saying?)

WagerWeb Sports