FIESTA!... FIESTA!...

Well it wasn’t the lights camera action game of touchdowns here and touchdowns there, but the ending was a thriller. The No. 1 Auburn Tigers defeated the No. 2 Oregon Ducks 22-19.  It was kicker Wes Byrun’s 19-yard field goal as time expired, that gave Auburn their first national championship since 1957.  Let’s see what was happening 54 years ago… The Russians launched sputnik, the Milwaukee Braves beat the New York Yankees in the World Series, and the #1 movie was Thee Ten Commandments.

My top play of the night goes to true freshman running back Michael Dyer who nearly forgot the play isn’t over until you hear the whistle. Thank God for his sideline! Dyer ran for 143 yards and was named Offensive Player of the Game. The Tigers perfect 14-0 season was led by their Heisman winning quarterback Cam Newton who threw for 265 yards and had 2 touchdowns.  As well as the all-star defense who had two interceptions and one fumble recovery.

The high power Oregon Offense was held below 37 points for only the second time this season. Oregon QB Darron Thomas threw for 363 yards and had 2 touchdowns. This was the SEC’s fifth straight national championship.  The Tigers were able to overcome everything and prove themselves worthy.  Congratulations Auburn Tigers you guys are the National Champions! Now the question is what draft pick will Killa Cam be? 

WELCOME TO THE PLAYOFFS BOYS!...

Once again Seattle proves the regular season means nothing once the playoffs roll into town. The 7-9 Seahawks sent the defending Super Bowl Champs home for some early R&R. Seattle’s 41-36 victory over the New Orleans Saints is causing everyone to look at them under a different light. Matt Hasselback threw four touchdown passes and Marshawn Lynch scored on an amazing 67-yard run, which happens to be my favorite play so far. This is the first playoff victory by a losing team. What does this say about the regular season? Should a team with a losing record even be allowed to play in the playoffs? Isn’t the whole purpose of the playoffs is to have the best compete against the best? Well I like it just the way it is. These are the moments in sports that make people believe. Who doesn’t enjoy cheering for the underdog! It truly was David beating Goliath. See you next week Seattle!

Rex Ryan finally has some good press to talk about. Nick Folk’s 32-yard field goal as time expiring pushed the Jets over Peyton Manning and the Colts. The Jets 17-16 victory was lead by LaDainian Tomlinson who had 16 carries for 82 yards and two touchdowns. The Jets now face the New England Patriots for the third time this year. Peyton Manning did everything expected of him. Manning had 225 passing yards and one touchdown. The Jets just had the ball last. New York’s last meeting with the Patriots is one they would love to forget. It was a beat down! Good thing for the Jets the regular season no longer matters.

Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, and the rest of the all-star Baltimore Ravens defense came to play. The Kansas City Chiefs were forced into five turnovers and held to only 25 yards in the second half. The Ravens are looking good on both sides of the ball. Joe Flacco threw for 265 yards and had two touchdowns. Reed who had 4 tackles relied heavily on his teammates after learning the search for his brother who jumped into the Mississippi River was called off. "Anytime you lose someone like that it just draws every one of us closer," Lewis said. Kansas City finishes the season with an NFL-record seventh straight playoff loss. The Ravens head to Pittsburgh where they split their season series with the Steelers, with each team winning on the other's home field.

Eagles lost… my heart hurts… Go Packers, great job… I hope they go to the Super Bowl so I can say my team lost to the Super Bowl Champs.

SUGAR AND SPICE AND EVERYTHING NICE... IF YOU'RE A WINNER!

It was an Ohio State victory as the boys defeated the Razorbacks 31-26 in the Sugar Bowl Tuesday night. The Buckeyes didn’t allow the much talked about improper tattoo and cash benefits received by five of Ohio State’s top players, including star QB Terrelle Pryor, ruin their shining moment.  

After the game Pryor apologized to the Buckeye faithful for the incident after accepting the 2011 Sugar Bowl’s Most Outstanding Player Award.  Pryor finished the game with 221 passing yards and two touchdowns.  Arkansas QB Ryan Mallett held his own with 277 passing yards and two touchdowns. The costly interception within the last minute was his only blemish. Surprisingly, the five Buckeye players investigated proved to be quite valuable. Daniel Herron rushed for a TD and had 87 yards rushing. Devier Posey added his own touchdown catch and a total of 70 receiving yards. Mike Adams started and anchored the offensive line at the Tackle position. And Solomon Thomas sealed the deal with the ending interception.

Umm… makes me wonder what would have happened if the NCAA decided not to allow the fab five to play. Each player is already suspended for the first five games of the 2011 season, but each player has the option of leaving for the NFL. What to do?… What to do!

This isn’t the first situation the NCAA has had with players selling signed jerseys or personal items for a profit. Georgia’s star receiver A.J. Green was suspended four games this season for selling his jersey, but Heisman winner Cam Newton of Auburn was able to walk away with just a warning after his father supposedly tried to sell him to Mississippi State.

The NCAA needs to set some kind of standard where players and those close to them are held accountable for their actions. Prime example, the whole USC and Reggie Bush saga! The NCAA needs to be more consistent with their sanctions because these rulings aren’t cutting it with the public. Remember people its all about maintaining an “image” in the sports. 

KILLING ME SOFTLY... THE LIFE OF A SPORTS FAN!

As I sat down to write my blog today I was thinking about the ups and downs of being a sports fan. What it really means to live and die for your team. I know when my favorite player Michael Vick was going through his legal matters, I couldn’t watch SportsCenter, I couldn’t read anything online, in the paper, or listen to the radio.  I had to resort to waking up to the Disney Channel, in order to feel some happiness. I know all my friends were wondering how did I become such a Disney freak, blame Michael lol.

I told myself before I die I want to write a book called “Say It Isn’t So: The Heartbreak of Being a Sports Fan… or something to that sort. The juice of it will be to highlight all those sports moments where even if you weren’t a fan of that particular team, you felt their pain or at least pitied them. A few of those moments come to mind… remember when the Chicago Cubs had only five more outs against the Florida Marlins in the NLCS, only five more outs to the World Series, and He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named… cough cough Steve Bartman stuck his little hand out to catch the invisible fly ball.  Or… remember when my beloved New York Yankees allowed the Boston Red Sox to come back and win the ALCS after they were up 3-0. I still can’t watch replays or highlights of that series. And even if you aren’t a New England Patriots fan how great would it have been to witness a team go 19-0.  I still hate Eli Manning for that one.

Even with the heartache I couldn’t imagine life without sports. As a fan, you live for those jaw dropping, heart stopping, once in a life time moments.  And there is no better feeling than to witness your team sail into victory.  You gotta love it!

WE PLAY TO WIN THE GAME... AND TO MAKE IT TO THE PLAYOFFS!

The NFL 2010-2011 Regular Season comes to the end, and I would have to say I wasn’t disappointed. This season we saw the return of Michael Vick, who in my opinion played one of the best Monday Night Games ever. Vick’s fellow Eagle, DeSean Jackson, had the most impressive punt return of the year.  It gave the Eagles full control over the NFC East, and showed us all the changes are needed in New York.

Mr. GQ Tom Brady has my vote for MVP. Today he set the NFL record for consecutive passes without an interception, sending his streak to 335, and finished the year with a 111.0 passer rating. Now for the nobodies, who have become somebody. Houston Texans Arian Foster rushed for 1,616 yards with 16 touchdowns. Denver Broncos receiver Brandon Lloyd, who has been in the league for eight years, led the league in receiving yards with 1,448. And finally, Miami Dolphins Cameron Wake finished with 14 sacks placing him 3^rd overall in the league.

There were also many surprises this year, first the Tampa Bay Buccaneers starting over 10 rookies and finishing the season 10-6. The Chicago Bears went 11-5 and clinched a first-round bye. Finally, the Kansas City Chiefs, who finished 10-6 and made it to the playoffs, a feat that hasn’t been done since 2006.

Now with achievements comes disappointments. My first disappointment would be the whole Dallas Cowboy organization. Jerry Jones has invested too much time, money, and energy into giving the “boys” everything to win.  Randy Moss one of the best wide receivers to ever play the game seemed to have forgotten that you’re only as good as your last game, and nothing you’ve done before really matters.  The T.Ocho show should only be found on Versus and not the football field.  And poor Donovan McNabb, it’s so sad to watch him roam around the bench looking all-helpless, someone please get him a magazine or something for next season.

On a lighter note, I give my Defensive Player of the Year award to Osi Umenyiora, who finished the year with 13.5 sacks and an amazing 10 forced fumbles. Comeback Player of the Year would be former first round pick out of USC ‘Big’ Mike Williams, with 65 reception, 751 yards, and two touchdowns. The Coach of the Year award goes to the youngest coach in the league, Raheem Morris of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who lead the young Bucs to a 10-6 record and just missed the playoffs after most analysts predicted they would have 3 wins or less this year. Lastly, my new award MEPTW (Most Exciting Player to Watch) goes to Michael Vick. This year Mr. Vick reminded us of how special of an athlete he is and proved that he can be an efficient passer finishing the year with over 3,000 passing yards, 21 touchdowns, and a QB rating of 100.2 while also adding 676 yards rushing and 9 touchdowns in only 12 games! I can’t wait for the playoffs. Bring it on boys… I love me some football!