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Last Word On Sports

Sports News Since 2011. Honestly.

Last Word On Sports Logo

Sports. Honestly. Since 2011

Month: January 2012

A Week of Upsets

Posted on by taketheleap
The Iowa State Cyclones beating #5 Kansas were just one of the crazy upsets this past week.

Well now, that was an interesting week. Let’s just get right to it and our Points of Interest from the past week:

  • Connecticut (was #24) lost their third straight to unranked Notre Dame, Sunday afternoon, 50-48. The loss drops UConn to 14-6 and out of the Top 25.
  • Kansas State (was #22) dropped to unranked Oklahoma on Saturday, 63-60. The loss also drops them out of the Top 25.
  • Speaking of the great state of Oklahoma, their other major university, Oklahoma State knocked off the #2 Missouri Tigers, 79-72, Wednesday night.
  • The lead image says it all: #5 Kansas walked into Iowa State, home of the Cyclones and were simply outplayed, 72-64. “Not in Kansas anymore”, indeed.
  • San Diego State (formerly #13) fell to Colorado State, 77-60, Saturday afternoon. The loss drops the Aztecs to #17.
  • Former #9 Georgetown loss to the roller-coaster Pittsburgh Panthers, 72-60, Saturday night.
  • Indiana (was #16) fell to #25 Wisconsin, in one of two ranked team losses this past week. Indiana falls to #20, Wisconsin moves up to #19.
  • The other ranked vs ranked loss came to Mississippi State, by way of the Florida Gators. The Bulldogs slip to #22 while Florida moves to #12.
  • The consensus “worst team in the country”, the Towson Tigers, got their first win this past Saturday over NC Wilmington, 66-61. The win snaps the Tigers 22-game losing streak, improving their record to 1-22.
  • The sole remaining undefeated team, Murray State, remains perfect at 21-0. They move up to #10 in the AP Poll.

 

This week promises some great matchups; here are your Games of Interest:

  • #20 Indiana goes to #23 Michigan; Wednesday, 6:30 EST.
  • #14 Georgetown welcome formerly ranked Connecticut, a game the Huskies will look to snap their three-game losing streak. Tip is Wednesday, 7PM EST.
  • #15 Marquette travels down to the still-hot Notre Dame Fighting Irish; with a win against Marquette, the Irish look to crack the Top 25. Tip is Saturday, 1PM EST.
  • #12 Florida hosts #25 Vanderbilt, Saturday, 1PM EST.
  • #16 Virginia travels to the surprising #21 Florida State; tip is Saturday, 1PM EST.
  • #4 Missouri hosts #8 Kansas, Saturday, 9PM EST.
  • #3 Ohio State at #19 Wisconsin, Saturday, 2PM EST.
  • #9 Michigan State hosts cross-state rivals #23 Michigan, Sunday, 1PM EST; this week could make or break the Big Blue’s season.

 

This is the point of the season where the contenders rise and the pretenders fall. With eight great games this coming week, five of them on Saturday, I am pretty sure my Saturday viewing schedule is planned out.

… and that’s the last word.

Mid-Week in the Serie A

Posted on by Frank Giuliano

 Week 20 Review of the Serie A

This past weekend, there was an incredible upset at the Stadio Via del Mare where US Lecce defeated Internazionale FC 1-0 to put an end to the Nerazurri’s winning streak at 7 games in Serie A.  A very slow AC Milan cruised by Cagliari 3-0 at the San Siro. SS Lazio jumps ahead of Inter in the standings with a 3-0 win at Chievo Verona. Despite having a 3-0 lead, Genoa FC defeated SSC Napoli 3-2 at the Marassi Stadium. Last and absolutely not least, Juventus FC defeated Udinese Calcio at the Juventus Stadium in Turin. This was a heck of a game! Good flow, plenty of chances for both teams and incredible saves from both keepers. This is how soccer should be played!

Mid Week Action – Week 21 Preview

We start off in Parma where league leader and still unbeaten, Juventus FC visit Parma FC at the Stadio Tardini. Last meeting between these 2 sides, the Bianconeri pummelled the Gialloblu 4-1. However, the last time Juventus lost a Serie A match was against none other than Parma. Ex-Juventino player Sebastian Giovinco will be in the line up for Parma. The Ducali will be lucky to get out of this fixture with a tie (my pick – Juventus).

Internazionale FC v US Città di Palermo. The Nerazzurri’s winning streak came to an end against US Lecce and thus, will be looking forward to bounce back in the win column. The first encounter this season was a 7-goal thriller with the Rosanero coming edging Inter to victory, 4-3. This time, it is expected to be very different as the Nerazzurri are currently in fine form. Having fan support at the San Siro as well should prove to be too much for Palermo to handle (my pick – Inter).

Udinese Calcio v US Lecce. Udinese is coming off a hard fought loss to Juventus at the weekend. Lecce, on the other hand, is coming off a huge upset against Inter. Udinese boasts a strong home record as they have only lost 1 game so far this year at the Stadio Friuli where it’s proven to be difficult to score against the bianconeri of Udine. The giallorossi of Lecce will not be pushovers though and will be aiming to get a second upset this week (my pick – Udinese).

SS Lazio v AC Milan. The Biancocelesti will be looking for revenge against the Diavoli after their Coppa Italia elimination at the hands of the Rossoneri. Oddly enough, Lazio has one of the worst home records in Serie A. Milan has to deal with their own issues as well, as there are plenty of injuries in the midfield. The Milan players have looked rather slow and sluggish at times this season and will have to be alert if they plan to stop Hernanes and Klose. However, with the experience the Milanisti have, they should still be able to give Lazio a run for their money. I expect a tough game for both teams. Even though Lazio’s home record is not impressive, they always play hard against the Rossoneri, the motivation is there as well as the fan support at the Stadio Olimpico (my pick – tie).

That’s the last word!

Week 20 29 Jan 2012
Catania 1 – 1 Parma
Cesena 0 – 1 Atalanta
Chievo 0 – 3 Lazio
Fiorentina 2 – 1 Siena
Genoa 3 – 2 Napoli
Juventus 2 – 1 Udinese
Lecce 1 – 0 Inter
Milan 3 – 0 Cagliari
Palermo 2 – 0 Novara
Roma 1 – 1 Bologna
Week 21 01 Feb 2012 (19.45 UK)
Atalanta – Genoa
Bologna – Fiorentina
Cagliari – Roma
Inter – Palermo
Lazio – Milan
Napoli – Cesena
Novara – Chievo(Thu 19.45)
Parma Preview Juventus(Tue 19.45)
Siena – Catania
Udinese – Lecce
FIXTURES
Week 22 05 Feb 2012
Cesena – Catania
Chievo – Parma
Fiorentina – Udinese
Genoa – Lazio
Juventus – Siena
Lecce – Bologna
Milan – Napoli
Novara – Cagliari
Palermo – Atalanta
Roma – Inter

A Comprehensive Look at the NHL: Playoff-Bound (Part 2/5)

Posted on by Grant Alexander

Welcome back! Yesterday we took a look at which teams are true contenders; that is, those teams I believe will not only finish the regular season strong, but will make considerable runs at the Stanley Cup.  Let’s continue by taking a look at teams bound for the playoffs.

Playoff Bound

This category is for teams that shouldn’t have too much trouble making the playoffs, but might not be considered legitimate Stanley Cup threats at this time. Look for possible line tweaks as these teams prepare to take on the heavy hitters listed above.

New York Rangers

The Rangers are atop the Eastern Conference in points, and I’m sure your asking yourself why they were not included in the Contender category. Well to put it simply, I don’t think they’re good enough. I didn’t to start the season, and I don’t think so now despite their impressive record. King Henrik does have the ability to steal games, and has proven that throughout his career, but I don’t see big playoff goals coming from this roster. They have an excellent, young, blue-collar defense. That, combined with Ludqvist, combined with their team defense has them as the only team that’s allowed fewer than 100 goals to this point. It’s pretty impressive, but I think they are going to need a few more guys that can put the puck in the net if they are going to make a run at the cup. Maybe they can make a few additions down the stretch. Vegas odds of winning the Stanley Cup are 8.5 to 1.

Washington

I don’t know what to make of this team. They are poised to win another divisional title, but are well off the pace with the other top teams in the conference. I know Backstrom is a huge loss, and so is Mike Green (although he should be back soon), but this team is still better than their record shows, and way better than their ‘’goals for” stat shows. Nobody’s putting the puck in the net! I know they have a goalie now, and are embracing team defense, but it’s their high-powered offense that has made them such a threat over the last few years. I know Ovi is not producing the way he should, but he’s not the only one. I don’t see the Caps going deep this year with no Backstrom and low production, but hopefully things come around for them. Vegas odds of winning the Stanley Cup are 19 to 1.

Ottawa

Ottawa seemed to rebuild while nobody was looking. Many (including myself), thought that it would take a few years and that they wouldn’t be competitive until that time. They are definitely proving us wrong! The additions of young stars like, Karlsson, Greening, Condra, Cowen, Turris, Butler, and Smith, have bolstered their roster in record time. The youth movement has also helped the veterans on the team find their game. Michalek has emerged as a serious threat with the puck, and Spezza has returned to his All-Star form. The biggest surprise though has to be Alfredsson, who at 39 years old is playing like he’s in his 20’s. This team is still a few years away from being anything close to a cup threat, but good on them for staying competitive while they get there. Vegas odds of winning the Stanley Cup are 34 to 1.

Detroit

Detroit seems to be beating the system right now as they lead the league in points with a team made up of players in their mid to late 30’s. Oh, and a captain in his 40’s! Don’t get me wrong these players are uber talented and they do have a strong tradition of winning. I just don’t think they will be able to go the distance at their collective age. But, I have been proven wrong before, and I’m sure I will be again. Vegas odds of winning the Stanley Cup are 8 to 1.

St. Louis

Now here is an exciting team, and one that I have been waiting to emerge ever since they showed their young talent back in ’09 with a brief playoff appearance. Well that young team is finally starting to hit their prime with their core now in their mid 20’s. Couple that with the best goaltending tandem in the league and you have a recipe for success. I don’t think they quite have the talent to mount a cup run, but they do definitely have the grit to get there. I think some tweaking in the off-season could turn this team into a serious contender. Vegas odds of winning the Stanley Cup are 14 to 1.

Nashville

When you think of Nashville, you think of defense. They have one of the best goaltenders in the league in Rinne, and arguable the best defensive pairing in the league in Weber and Suter. And their top two prospects on the team are also a goalie and defenseman (Lindback, and Ellis). So where’s the offense? Well, that’s the question. They did add a proven sniper in Mike Fisher, but it’s not enough. Defense does win championships, but not over teams that have both. Hopefully these guys can pick up the pieces they need down the stretch cause otherwise they may be looking at another early exit. Vegas odds of winning the Stanley Cup are 15 to 1.

 

Well, there you have it – the list of teams destined for the playoffs, but perhaps not to go very deep therein.  Check back tomorrow where we take a look at teams “On the Bubble”.

…and that is the last word.

 

A Comprehensive Look at the NHL: The Contenders (Part 1 of 5)

Posted on by Grant Alexander

Part One of a Five-Part Series

As we put the current NHL season on hold for the All-Star break (a little over halfway through the season), it seems as good a time as any to take an in-depth look at each team, and see where they’re headed. The GM’s of each club will also be doing the same as they get together to enjoy the All-Star festivities. Which is also why you’ll start to see trades trickle in from now up until trade deadline day. But before we start speculating on possible trades, and who needs what, lets breakdown all 30 teams and see where they stand heading into the second half of the season.

For this breakdown, I’m going to divide the teams into 5 categories; “Contenders”, “Playoff Bound”, “On the Bubble”, “Purgatory”, and “Lottery Ball”.

Part One:  Contenders

This category is devised of great teams playing well. They were legitimate threats to start the season, and are playing like it now.

Boston

The defending champs are looking strong again. They boast the highest plus/minus ratio of any team, which includes the most goals scored. They also seem to be playing consistently well, both at home and on the road. I see a serious chance of a repeat here. Vegas odds of winning the Stanley Cup are 6.5 to 1.

Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh came out of the gate hot, then slumped a little, and now has recently got back on track. Don’t let that slump fool you though, the Pens have been missing half of their starting line-up at different times for the better part of the season! Two big pieces in Letang and Staal were out for extended periods of time. Malkin spent some time on the IR, and of course we all know what happened to Crosby. But now Malkin is tearing up the league, Letang is back and making a big impact, and Staal is set to come back next week. This team is a contender without Crosby, and with him, well lets just say having the best player in the world couldn’t hurt. Vegas odds of winning the Stanley Cup are 11 to 1.

Philadelphia

Philly has been a bit of a perennial powerhouse lately, but after a big makeover in the off-season, they came in as a bit of a wild card this year. Mission successful though, as the shake up is paying off in a big way. Giroux has emerged as one of the elite forwards in the league, and the Flyers are getting great secondary scoring from their acquisitions and prospects. The gamble on Jagr has also paid off nicely so far. Bryzgalov isn’t quite living up to his price tag but still seems to be getting the job done. The one big downfall is the loss of two of Philly’s key players. Briere has recently gone down with a concussion, with no timetable for return. And of course their captain Chris Pronger, which is a huge loss on the ice and in the dressing room. Despite the losses this team does have a recipe for success. They battle hard, and will be a threat come playoff time. Vegas odds of winning the Stanley Cup are 12 to 1.

Chicago

This is basically the same team that won the cup two seasons ago. Except now, these young players are just hitting their prime. After a hangover season last year, these guys are re-focused with only one thing on their minds, another cup. All of their big guns are firing, and “Captain Serious” is all business right now and shouldn’t be out of the line-up for more than a few games. Look for this team to go deep into the postseason. Vegas odds of winning the Stanley Cup are 12 to 1.

Vancouver

After almost tasting the cup last year, Vancouver is at it again. Same group of talented players but this time they have a chip on their shoulders. Led by the seemingly immortal Sedin brothers, anything short of cup would be a loss for these guys and the city of Vancouver. Vegas odds of winning the Stanley Cup are 7 to 1.

San Jose

Is this the year? It seems like a broken record with the Sharks, but I’m going to say it again, I think it could be. After losing in the Conference final in back to back years, I think they might finally have the right team dynamic to get them over the hurdle. The Sharks this year seem to have the added depth the teams of the past were missing. Which in a large part comes from the growth and maturity of some of their younger talent. Guys like Couture, Vlassic, Braun, McGinn, and Demers. That being said, the window is starting to close as the guys on the other end of the bracket, like Thornton and Boyle start to show their age. Vegas odds of winning the Stanley Cup are 13 to 1.

See you tomorrow for Part Two: Playoff-Bound

…and that is the last word.

UFC on FOX 2: The Good, The Bad and the Ugly

Posted on by Mark Modeski

If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a million times – with MMA you can never really plan how things are going to go. Sometimes things play out the way you wanted them to, and then other times you’re left scratching your head. UFC on FOX 2 left me feeling a little unsatisfied when all was said and done; like I sat down for a nice steak dinner, only to find my meat overcooked. There were good points, bad points and then one’s that were just ugly.

The Good:
As far as the outcome of the fights, the people got what they wanted. The main and co-main events were set-up under the pretence of the next fights to happen – it was expected that Rashad Evans would dominate Phil Davis, and that Chael Sonnen would grind out a victory. Each would go on to fight the champions of their respective champions. Fortunately, for the UFC and the viewing public the desired outcomes came to be.

Each of these upcoming championship bouts has great build-up potential. Rashad left Team Jackson so he could fight Jones prior to his injury late last year; there was a lot of trash talking after this took place. Chael Sonnen’s build up to his first bout with Silva was comical, until he stepped into the ring and almost ousted the MW champ; while he lost the match, he gained a ton of respect. A match-up between Sonnen and Silva has been what people have been waiting for since the end of the first bout – get ready for this one, it’s going to be a show!

Another positive in this fight was the addition of the seasoned commentator in Randy Couture with the post/pre fight analysis; having Goldberg and Rogan back ringside was nice too.

The Bad:
This was FOX’s second fight card on conventional TV, and first full event card. With only three fights on the main card, and two of them with higher-level fighters, one would have expected some exciting action to match. Unfortunately, the main card did not deliver.

All three fights on the main card (Weidman v. Maia, Sonnen v. Bisping and Evans v. Davis) could best be described as uninspiring. Yes, each fighter did what he needed to do to win, and didn’t take any chances by playing too much into their opponents game – but, when trying to attract to viewers to a sport first impressions are everything. As a first exposure to MMA, the fights on FOX (not the undercard) may have left them feeling a little underwhelmed.

The Ugly:
To be determined.

Initial viewership numbers for the event were 4.37 million, which in my opinion is not up to expectations for an event of this size through this medium. This was likely due in part to the lack of strong marketing by FOX. Yes, they advertised the event on FOX, but only really did so with during Sunday/Monday Football and not with any great frequency at that.

What the final determining factor will be, as to whether or not this criticism will apply, is the final ratings when they come in (as they could be much higher). UFC on FOX 1 initially came out at 4.64 million viewers, but topped out at a more respectable 5.7 million viewers. So, we will wait and see.

Notable Results:

  • Rashad Evans defeated Phil Davis via decision after five rounds.
  • Chael Sonnen outpointed Michael Bisping in a closely contested fight. Sonnen’s dominance in the third likely won him the fight, as the first two rounds were too close to call.
  • Matt Weidman overcame Damien Maia in three rounds to pick-up the unanimous decision (incorrectly announced as a split).
  • Evan Dunham picked up a TKO via doctor stoppage over Nik Lentz in the second.
  • Cub Swanson also picked up a TKO in the second round against George Roop.
  • Charles Oliveira got back to his roots and a transformed a heel hook into a calf-slicer into a submission win against Eric Wisely.

…and that is the last word.

 

Review of week 19 and week 20

Posted on by Frank Giuliano

REVIEW WEEK 19

One of the main matchups from last week was the encounter between Atalanta and Juventus FC at the Stadio Atleti Azzurri d’Italia. Once again La Vecchia Signora imposed her strength and was victorious becoming the second team this year to defeat the Bergamaschi on home turf. In addition to that statistic, Atalanta became the 19th team that could not stop the Bianconeri whom remain undefeated. With that win, Juve became Winter Champions. AC Milan cruised by Novara 3-0 to keep pace with league leaders Juventus. The Derby of Emilia Romagna between Bologna FC and Parma FC ended in a scoreless draw, but both teams wasted numerous quality scoring chances. Udinese Calcio returned to winning ways with a 2-1 victory over Catania Calcio. Italian International Antonio Di Natale scored a sensational volley.  The bianconeri of Udine, therefore, kept pace with Juve and Milan. Diego Milito and Giampaolo Pazzini helped Internazionale FC jump to fourth place with a win against SS Lazio, the team that currently holds Serie A’s best road record. Finally, at the Stadio Olimpico di Roma, history was made – Francesco Totti’s brace not only helped AS Roma obtain 3 valuable points against Cesena Calcio with a 5-1 thumping, he surpassed Gunner Nordahl’s goal record of 210. Congratulations to World Cup winner and Italian International Francesco Totti!

Preview of week20

Let’s get right to it! ACF Fiorentina welcomes Siena FC in the Tuscan derby. The return leg in Florence is promising to be better than week 1 which ended in a draw. The Viola have been inconsistent, but at playing home and in a derby, it is expected they will put forth their absolute best (my pick – Fiorentina).

Chievo Verona v SS Lazio.  Chievo is looking for a huge win which will propel the Flying Donkeys to 6 points behind the Biancocelesti for an Europa league spot. Lazio is looking for a rebound game coming from a loss to Inter last week and a Coppa Italia loss to AC Milan in mid-week. They will be hungry for the win. Rumour stemming from the Lazio camp is that the Laziai is willing to release Djibril Cisse to go on loan and then acquire the services of Pippo Inzaghi from AC Milan (my pick is Lazio).

US Lecce v Internazionale FC. Inter boss Claudio Ranieri is on the verge of matching former boss Jose Mourinho’s best run of form against Lecce. Diego Milito has found his form once again and Giampaolo Pazzini has also found his form scoring in last weekend’s match (my pick is Inter). Also some news out of the Inter camp Thiago Motta is on the verge of signing with PSG.

AC Milan v Cagliari. Massimiliano Allegri’s squad has been falling apart with injuries. Who will feature in the midfield for Milan this week- end? Merkel was sent on loan to Genoa in September, but the Rossoneri asked for him back due to all of the injuries. However, Merkel picked up an injury in the Coppa Italia win in mid-week and is therefore out of this fixture. Allegri is expected to start Stephan El Shaarawy against his old squad. El Shaarawy has shown a lot of patience for a 19 year old boy and is maturing quickly. Milan’s holding on to the Italian International has paid off. He will be the future of Milan and the future of Italy (my pick – Milan).

AS Roma v Bologna FC. The Lupi are looking for their fifth consecutive win in the Serie A. But will the defeat they suffered in the Coppa Italia mid-week affect their confidence? Bologna has struggled to

score goals all season, especially on the road, and playing in Roma will not be any easier for them (my pick – Roma).

Finally the game of the week! The 6-point match between Juventus FC v Udinese Calcio. Juventus remains undefeated. The Old Lady have played very well all season. Antonio Conte has brought back heart to the Bianconeri camp. They provide tough competition in the New Juventus Stadium. La Vecchia Signora will want to win this encounter which will distance these two sides by 6 points in the standings. Udinese has not made it easy for Juve at home in the past, and a battle is expected in this match-up. The bianconeri of Udine will be determined to show that they are not a fluke (my pick is a tie).

Thats the last word!

Week 19 22 Jan 2012
Atalanta 0 – 2 Juventus
Bologna 0 – 0 Parma
Cagliari 0 – 0 Fiorentina
Inter 2 – 1 Lazio
Lecce 2 – 2 Chievo
Novara 0 – 3 Milan
Palermo 5 – 3 Genoa
Roma 5 – 1 Cesena
Siena 1 – 1 Napoli
Udinese 2 – 1 Catania

 

Week 20 29 Jan 2012 (14.00 UK)
Catania 1 – 1 Parma(Sat 17.00)
Cesena Preview Atalanta
Chievo Preview Lazio
Fiorentina Preview Siena(11.30)
Genoa Preview Napoli
Juventus Preview Udinese(Sat 19.45)
Lecce Preview Inter
Milan Preview Cagliari(19.45)
Palermo Preview Novara
Roma Preview Bologna
FIXTURES
Week 21 01 Feb 2012
Atalanta – Genoa
Bologna – Fiorentina
Cagliari – Roma
Inter – Palermo
Lazio – Milan
Napoli – Cesena
Novara – Chievo
Parma – Juventus
Siena – Catania
Udinese – Lecce

NHL Skills Competition: Some Random Thoughts

Posted on by Lindsay Higgins

-Next time Montreal gets into a shootout, Randy Cunneyworth should have Price turn his back to the shooters. Or Tebow.

-How does the puck not fall off Tavares’ and Perry’s sticks when they wave them around? That shouldn’t work.

-Speaking of Corey Perry, it was nice of David Desharnais to lend him a stick for the Breakaway Challenge.

-Why could the hockey humor gods not have allowed us another year of Tim Thomas in Fastest Skater?

-Coming up: a feud between Pat Kane and Dwight Howard over who the REAL Superman is.

-Poor Shea Weber. In any other era, 106 mph would be phenomenal.

-I can’t help but wonder what my fledgling slapshot would hit on the radar gun. Maybe 30?

-I used to think players were incredibly brave for blocking Zdeno Chara’s shots. Now I just think they’re stupid.

2012 MMA Predictions

Posted on by Mark Modeski

With the first few MMA events of the year having been ushered in, now seems like as good of a time as any to make my 2012 MMA predictions.

Do I have a bit of an edge over other MMA-sages, because I am making predictions one month into the year? I would say “no”.  If there’s one thing that any fan of MMA knows, it’s that this sport is unpredictable as hell. So, with that said I am going to close my eyes, point and shoot…

Prediction 1: GSP will abandon the Welterweight title to move up to Middleweight.

I am going to call this my long-shot prediction, but it could happen. GSP is still out for at least 8-9 months, and on a restricted work-out routine; it gives him plenty of time to put on the weight needed to be a serious contender at 185lbs. The timing is perfect for him – he’s cleaned out the welterweight division, and he is at an age where he is starting to reach his peak.

Prediction 2: Anderson Silva will knockout Chael Sonnen.

I am pretty sure that Sonnen is going to beat Bisping this weekend, setting up the only match in the middleweight division that holds any interest to fans. I stand by the fact that Silva’s performance in the first fight was due to a back injury, and I think he will learn from the legitimate mistakes he made. Sub-prediction to this one: Silva will credit Steven Seagal with teaching him the KO technique.

Prediction 3: Gilbert Melendez will come to the UFC.

Probably the only top level lightweight not in the UFC. I have no doubt that Melendez will make his way from the floundering Strikeforce organization into the top heap in the UFC. Melendez will only be happy with his paltry paycheques and less-than-formidable competition for so long.

Prediction 4: Strikeforce will officially become the UFC “Farm League”.

I think this has already been slowly taking place since the UFC purchased Strikeforce, but I am pretty sure you’re really going to start to see the top level fighters immigrate to the UFC. The up-and-comers who aren’t performing in the UFC that Dana doesn’t want to let go will be downgraded to Strikeforce.

Prediction 5: Jon Jones and Anderson Silva will square off, and the winner will face GSP.

A guy can dream, can’t he?

Prediction 6:  UFC viewership pay-per-view numbers will decrease dramatically.

I think having so many events on FOX will have the opposite intended effect. Instead of pushing people to the PPVs, I am pretty sure viewers are going to feel as though they’re getting their MMA fixes filled on the free cards and pass on the $50 price tag for the PPV. I also think with so many events a lot of people who are “occasional PPV’ers” might get confused and miss when the premiere pay events are on.

Anything I am missing? Any other predictions? Feel free to chime in below.

… and that is the last word.

Transfer Window? Huh? A Brief North American's Guide to Trading Football Players

Posted on by Michael Kovacs, ADMIN

Let’s get something straight – in most parts of the world, football is what we call “soccer”.  What you may not know is that “soccer” is NOT, I repeat NOT, a word invented by North Americans.  In fact, it was a slang word used in England around the time the game was invented.  I’m not going to get into how I know this, though perhaps I will another time.  I admit it can be very confusing.  For the purpose of this site, which is based in North America, I will mostly use “soccer” or “international football” unless otherwise stated.

Do you have someone in the office that seems to be shouting at his/her smartphone or laptop a lot lately?  Are they shouting obscenities like, “I hate Chelsea!”, or “There is no way Ronaldo is going back to the BPL”?  How about, “Why doesn’t Wenger want to spend”?  If this sounds familiar, you likely have a footy fan in your midst.

The Premier League, the highest calibre of football in the UK, and quite possibly the world, are in the middle of its January transfer window.  What is a transfer window, you ask?  Let’s take  a look:

The transfer window is the time during which football clubs can “transfer” players from other countries to and from their rosters.  The player then registers for the club through FIFA, football’s governing body.  “Transfer window” is an unofficial term used to describe this period where transfers are open, or allowed.  According to FIFA, each nation’s football association decides on the time of its ‘window’, as long as it does not exceed 12 weeks.  Usually this is in the off-season, commonly during the summer.  The second transfer window occurs during the season and is typically only four weeks.

The transfer window of a given football association governs only international transfers into that football association. International transfers out of an association are always possible to those associations that have an open window. The transfer window of the association that the player is leaving from does not have to be open, only the association the player is going to has to be open.

The transfer fee is the money paid from one club for the transfer of the desired player from his current club.  The fee is not the player’s salary, only the rights to have him on the squad.

Here are the transfer windows for some of the bigger leagues:

England — End of season – August 31, January 1- January 31

Spain, Italy, Germany, France — July 1 – August 31, January 1-February 2

If that  isn’t clear, please drop a line and I can elaborate.

…and that is the last word.