The Guiding Light of Sports Business

This weeks installment of The Guiding Light of Sports Business.

Wednesday Morning Quick Hitters

The Boston Celtics opened up the 2008-2009 Season by remember a special Banner 17 Season, handing out rings and raising banners along with…oh yeah they had a game. The Celts played Eastern Conference Semis foe Cleveland Cavaliers and King James. Paul Pierce, who started the night crying, ended Cleveland’s night with 27 points and a few big 3’s along the way. The Celtics beat the Cavaliers 90 – 85.

Michael Redd scored 30 for the Milwaukee Bucks, but that did no good as the Chicago Bulls beat the Bucks 108 – 95.

Sam Bowie….calling Sam Bowie….errr….Greg Odin. Not the debut Mr. Oden expected. He left the game with a turned ankle and finished the game with ZERO points and 5 rebounds. The Lakers defended their Western Conference Championship by destroying the young Portland Trailblazers 96 – 76.

Bud Selig says we won’t play the rest of Game 5 until the weather is ready. Hmm OK Bud..

Jason Witten has broken ribs, possibly will play.

Ho Hum…Rams want to accuse Patriots of cheating…oh my

Ted Cottrell out for Chargers.

Game 5 Will Resume…

So Game 5 will not be resumed tonight, according to CBS Sports. The weather forecast tomorrow does not look good either, according to Weather.com. If they cannot resume this until Thursday, this favors the Phillies. Why? Because if the Rays force a Game 7, Cole Hamels will be on regular rest. Let’s just hope it doesn’t go that far.

Tuesday Morning "Soaked" Quick Hitters

Well another chapter in Bud Selig career has been written but this time he made the correct decision to suspend the game but sure can be questioned why it was started in the 1st place. The Philadelphia sky opened up in the 4th inning causing Bed Selig to be forced to suspend Game 5 in the 6th inning. Shane Victorino had a 2 run hit in the 1st inning for the Phillies 2 runs and Scott Kazmir held them down after that. Carlos Pena had a hand on both Tampa Bay runs, scoring on Longoria’s single in the 3rd inning and driving in BJ Upton in the driving rain in the top of the 6th. The game is scheduled to be resumed tonight at 8 PM, weather permitting.

The Tennessee Titans took solid control of the AFC clearly being head and shoulder pads above the competition. The Titans used a 17 point 4 quarter to top the Indianapolis Colts…who by the way are in deep trouble. The Titans win 31 – 21.

In Case You Missed These

Monday Morning Quick Hitters

Phillies Pheaver is at a…well, PHEAVER PITCH (Please no sequel) as the Philadelphia Phillies are 1 win away from taking home its 1st World Championship in 28 years. Joe Blanton pitched 6 strong innings and helped his own cause by hitting the 1st HR by a pitcher in 38 years. The Tampa Bay Rays could only muster 6 hits, including 2 HRs, 1 by Carl Crawford and the other by Eric Hinske, who replaced Cliff Floyd on the roster. The Phillies won 10 – 2. The Phillies lead the series 3 games to 1.

The New England Patriots continued the roller coaster season that is the post Tom Brady season, beating the St Louis Rams 23 – 17. Matt Cassell drove the team down the field on the 4th quarter, hitting Kevin “Not My Cigars” Faulk for a TD Pass with just over 3 minutes left. Deltha O’Neil, yep, that Deltha O’Neil intercepted a pass from the Rams QB Marc Bulger to seal the deal. The Pats are tied for the division lead with the Bills at 5 – 2.

A surprising display of defense from the Cowboys lead the Boys over the Tampa Bay Bucs 13 – 9.

The Washington Redskins used a stellar punt return TD by Santana Moss catch and finally beat the hapless Detroit Lions 25 – 17.

The Buffalo Bills, in a position to take control of the AFC East, floundered and turned over a victory to the Miami Dolphins, allowing the Dolphins to win 25 – 16.

The New Orleans Saints survived the trip to London and the lack of defense, and showed Londoners just how American Football is supposed to play, beating the San Diego Chargers 37 – 32. The win propels the Saints to 4 – 4 and drops the Chargers to 3 – 5.

Even after his 3rd interception, returned for a TD, Brett Favre proved he’s got a little left. Favre drove the team down for the game winning TD, hitting Laveranues Coles with less than 1 minute left to beat the Kansas City Chiefs 28 – 24.

After a defensive 1st half, the offenses broke loose in the 3rd quarter as the Carolina Panthers outlasted the Arizona Cardinals 27 – 23.

The Baltimore Ravens keep floating that Wildcat Offense or as Ravens Coach John Harbaugh calls it “Suggs Package” (referring to Terrell Suggs statements that Troy Smith should be the starting QB) as Ohio State product QB Troy Smith hit QB Joe Flacco on a pretty 43 yrd pass that almost resulted in a TD. The Baltimore Ravens beat the Battle of the Ryan Brothers and the Oakland Raiders 29 – 10.

Wake me up when it’s over…oh it’s over?!? The Houston Texans beat the Cincinnati Bengals 35 – 6.

The Pittsburgh Steelers defense did all it could do, holding the NY Giants to 16% Red Zone Efficiency, but Big Ben Roethlisberger threw 4 picks to help the New York Giants to a 21 – 14 win over the Steelers.

Is there any way Mike Singletary can play for the 49ers? The 49ers lost to the Seattle Seahawks 34 – 13. This is all that needs to be said.

Here are the BCS Standings
1 – Texas 6 – Georgia
2 – Alabama 7 – Texas Tech
3 – Penn State 8 – Florida
4 – Oklahoma 9 – Oklahoma State
5 – USC 10 – Utah

Saturday Morning Quick Hitters

#12 Boise State keeps its BCS hopes alive all while staying in the drivers seat in the WAC with a 33 – 16 win over Fresno St.

Rich Rodriguez finalizes 6 year deal with the Wolverines.

The World Series moves to Philly tonight ties 1 – 1. Weather may play a factor tonight, possibly eliminating an off day, causing games 3 – 7 to be played in 5 consecutive days. Charlie Manuel tries to calm everyone down.

Apparently up to 10 NFL players tested positive for banned substances.

Sources are telling ESPN, Carson Palmer done for season.

Santonio Holmes in a little trouble for “Special” Cigars…unlike Kevin Faulk…they are his.

Isiah Thomas seems to be in yet another fishy situation

If this doesn’t get you Boston Celtics fans ready….nothing will.

Cowbell Phever?

Thursday Morning Quick Hitters

The Philadelphia Phillies drew 1st blood in the 2008 World Series beating the Tampa Rays 3 – 2. The Phillies couldn’t draw that game up any better. Chase Utley got things going right off the bat, slamming a 2 run HR off Tampa Bay Rays’ starter Scott Kazmir in the 1st inning, and then Carlos Ruiz got a RBI on a fielders choice out.

The Phils were not perfect,leaving 11 runners in scoring position (a World Series record) while hitting an abysmal .111 (2-18) with runners on base. The Phillies led off 3 straight innings with a runner on, 4 total, and got a grand total of 2 runs off of those innings.

The Tampa Bay Rays runs came from a solo HR from Carl Crawford and a RBI double from Akinori Iwamura. Cole Hamels pitched 7 strong innings and the vaunted Phillies bullpen held serve to nail it down. The Phillies lead the World Series 1-nil.

Tom Brady has more surgery and the Pats are not happy.

Trouble brewing in New York?!? Brett Favre has to deny issues of spying…hmmm