Careful How You Play Those Cards

The Texas Rangers let a good one get away Thursday night, allowing the St. Louis Cardinals to win game 6, bringing the MLB World Series down to the wire for game 7, where the Cardinals became champions. You never know what you have until it's gone, and even worse, they put a ring on it.

NBA players and owners are hoping not to make their season a goner, and as talks progressed this week, there is still hope of a full 82-game season. Rejoice. Eighty-two more occasions to compete for a man's attention.

I Noticed You, Noticing Me

If a bat hits a ball and no one is watching, does it make a sound? Does it even matter? This is pretty much the sentiment of the MLB World Series so far. With no marquee teams, nobody is really watching, but nevertheless, according to Monday Morning Girlfriend bylaw #652 we are obligated to inform you that the series is 3 games to 2 between…., wait who? Oh, yes,  the Texas Rangers and the St Louis Cardinals.

Also a faint memory, will be the Washington Redskins success for the 2011 NFL season, as they lost two key players Sunday. Running back Tim Hightower and wide receiver Santana Moss both suffered injuries, a torn ACL and broken hand respectively. Hightower is out for the season and Moss for five to six weeks, which will conclude the Redskins season anyway. The Indianapolis Colts might have wished their season were over too, as they suffered an embarrassing 62 to 7 loss to the New Orlean Saints who certainly came marching in. Having far better luck on the field than the Colts are the Green Bay Packers who are still undefeated at 7-0, thanks to humble and MMG-approved and single, QB Aaron Rodgers. They held off the Minnesota Vikings for victory. Say that three times fast. Actually, it’s not that hard.

What is hard, however, is being a rugby player. That’s essentially American football sans pads or protection. Sexy, but ouch. New Zealand got down and dirty, down under to win the World Cup on Saturday, over France.

One on One

One win for the Rangers and one for the Cardinals in the MLB World Series, but the NBA players and owners say deuces. They agree to disagree on labor talks with no future meeting scheduled. The season is looking bleak. But while we wait on basketball, there’s always college football to satiate, or act as a time suck, whichever way you see it. Check out this weekend’s big rivalry of Notre Dame against USC. Any sports bar is sure to offer a few prime prospects for this one. Go Team!

Monday Blues

Many people think Tiger Woods is a wiener. Some go as far to throw one at him. That's right, on the course, while Tiger was about to putt, a man rushed through the crowd and threw a hotdog, bun and all, toward Tiger. Yes, Tiger was behind, but it was going to take more than that to ketchup. In the end, it was Bryce Molder who got to relish in the prize money with his first win after playing 132 tournaments. Apparently good things do come to those who wait. Waiting is what NBA fans may be doing for their season which is supposed to start November 1. The sides had another "talk" over their prenup today, to no avail. The first two weeks of the season were looking as bleak as some of your prospects, and have now been cancelled by the commissioner, David Stern. Turning to baseball, the Detroit Tigers know a little something about bleak, being down two games to the Texas Rangers in the ALCS. Over in the NLCS, the Milwaukee Brewers and St Louis Cardinals are even at a game a piece.

When The Going Gets Tough

Nobody wants to get dumped. We all want to claim we ended things, or at the very least, insist it was mutual, which we know is never the truth. There's always a dumpee. Try telling that to ESPN or Hank Williams Jr., owner/creator of the Monday Night Football song we have heard for years. Turns out Hank isn't ready for our President, as he likened him to Hitler. As a result, ESPN decided to lose the song, but not if you ask Hank. He's singing a different tune and took his song and beat it. Whatever makes the healing easier, Hank.

And recovery can take time, even if you are Tiger Woods, who struggled again on the golf course Thursday, after a 7-week hiatus. Tiger fell out of the top 50 for the first time in 15 years, and conceded that his play was the worst putting he's ever done. We can think of worse.

But, if you are an NBA fan, nothing could be worse than not having a season, which is what things may be shaping up to be. This week, the preseason was cancelled, and the first two weeks of the regular season are being threatened. Why, you ask? Why else do people fight? Money. The owners and players, wallowing in their billions, can't agree how to split revenues. Tiny violin.

Congratulations to the Detroit Tigers for their victory over the NY Yankees. The Tigers head to the American League Championship Series, where they play the Texas Rangers.

Cut to the Chase

It's that time of year where sports fans can turn their attention to professional basketball. Yes, the NBA season started six months ago, but 82 games worth of commitment are dirty words. So why not just tune it when things are good and easy? Playoffs start Saturday. LeBron James is looking for place in the  finals after coming up a dollar short last season. Bitter, party of one, your table is ready. Lucky for LeBron and his Cavs, they play the Chicago Bulls in the first round. If not a sweep, it will be a Swiffer. On the west coast, Kobe Bryant is looking for reason #852 to be arrogant--another championship. But if basketball doesn't tickle your fancy, there's always the start of baseball, speaking of overly long seasons.
Oy vey.

Human Resources

Former baseball heavy hitter, Mark McGwire kicked off the week with an admission of steroid use during his career. Altruism? No. He just wanted a coaching gig with the Cardinals and had to come clean. No pun intended.

In other org changes, Lane Kiffin took over as head coach for USC since his predecessor,  Pete Carroll, jumped at the head coach job with the Seattle Seahawks. Kiffin was formerly the coach at Tennessee.

Speaking of pretty good coaches, for the second time in four years, Boise State football coach Chris Peterson won the Bear Bryant award that recognizes the nation's best coach.

And in less positive news, Washington Wizard Gilbert Arenas was charged with a felony for carrying a gun without a license. Word on the street, and locker room, is that he won't be a Wizard for long and if the law allows, his eighty-something-million-dollar contract will be voided. Nice way to start off the new year, buddy.

You're My Hero

We promise that baseball is over for now, but everybody loves a superlative, so we must mention that Tim Lincecum of the San Francisco Giants was named the winner of the Cy Young (best pitcher) award in the National League. This is his second straight win. Not bad for someone whose nickname is the "The Freak."

Who isn't getting an award this year is Allen Iverson. He can't keep an NBA team. Iverson, who did a brief stint with the Memphis Grizzlies (and by brief we mean a whopping 3 games), was released and is now threatening to come join the New York Knicks. Maybe for 4 whole games. Iverson, who used to be a one-man show back in his day, is now hardly the answer to any team's problems.

In other basketball news, LeBron James has a boo-boo. In a slight tantrum resulting from the frustration of losing to the Washington Wizards, LeBron dunked with a little extra "emotion" and hurt his wrist on the rim. This act is consistent with previous behavior (not shaking hands with the opposing team after a key loss) that hasn't exactly made him the poster child for good sportsmanship.

A quick note on college basketball: There are lots of games. Lots and lots of them. We won't trouble you with most, unless they are significant. College basketball gets supremely important in March during playoff season, so stay tuned for the madness.

Empire State of Mind

The New York Yankees won the World Series Wednesday night in the sixth game against the defending champion Philadelphia Phillies. To baseball fans, that's a great feat, as this makes the team's 27th championship win, the most of any American sports team. To non-sports fans, this means you now have one less sport to juggle, so you can focus on the NBA, NHL, NFL, and college football. That's all.

The (Monday Morning Girlfriend) Proof is in the Wedding

Here's proof that this Monday Morning Girlfriend stuff works. Phillies second baseman Chase Utley's wife told Access Hollywood, he fell for her after she tried to woo him with her feigned baseball knowledge. On their first date, she managed to drop the baseball term "sacrifice fly." Three years later, they are married. We'll say no more.

Wednesday brings game six of the World Series and your chance to score. A sacrifice fly is a fly ball that allows a runner to advance after it was caught. The following things have to happen in order to qualify as a sacrifice fly:

• There are fewer than two outs when the ball is hit.
• The ball is hit to the outfield.
• The batter is out because an outfielder or an infielder running in the outfield catches the ball (or would have been out if not for an error).
• A runner who is already on base scores on the play.

This is classic taking one for the team.

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Just when everything looked like it was going so well; one moment away from the big day; the Yankees lost to the Phillies in game 5 of the World Series. The celebration, should the chance ever come again, will have to wait until game 6 on Wednesday when the series moves back to the Bronx. The Yankees lead the series 3 games to 2.

Weekends Are For Champions

In a much welcomed diversion from baseball and football, Serena Williams ended the tennis season against older sister Venus Williams in the WTA Championships in Qatar. As seemed customary this year, Serena emerged the victor over Venus. Serena played it cool, after showing out months prior at the U.S. Open, and instead celebrated her Sony Ericsson Champsionship win with a simple fist pump, a la Tiger Woods.

In November, one can only turn a blind eye to football for but so long, so along we go to football updates. Most notably in college football, Texas beat Oklahoma State, who is missing key wide receiver Dez Bryant, due to ineligibility. Texas is now ranked #2 in the AP Poll, ousting Alabama who held the spot for like forever. Oregon put a dagger in the heart of USC. Been there? In the NFL, the Baltimore Ravens did the honors and finally defeated the Denver Broncos. The Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints, on the other hand, can update their Facebook status with something obnoxious about still being unbreakable. Brett Favre's own might read: Current age: 40. Record with new team: 6-1. Getting booed upon my return to Lambeau field and beating my old team: Priceless.

Speaking of priceless, action on the diamond resumed in game 4 of the Major League Baseball World Series. The NY Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies kept it interesting with a tie game at the top of the 9th inning, but the Yankees eventually slid in a few, winning 7 to 4. The Yanks are up 3 games to 1 and need one more win to be the champs. Philly is thinking otherwise. Game 5 is Monday at 8 p.m. EST.

Remember the days when you would curl up talking on the phone to your boyfriend of two weeks, issuing thoughtful exchanges like, "I love you more." "No, I love you more." Well, that is what the World Series is shaping up to be. A back and forth expression of who has the most heart. The Yankees took game two over the Phillies, evening out the series a game a piece. Next game is Saturday at 8pm EST.

You play for bling and they do too. The Phillies won game one of the World Series over the Yankees, despite the fact that it was rainy (with a chance of sliders.) Game two Wednesday night.

Basketball, Anyone?

As promised Tuesday night was opening night for the NBA 2009-10 season. That meant date night for Cleveland Cavaliers' Shaquille O'Neal and LeBron James and Boston Celtics' Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce. While we're name dropping, Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers also had their opener against the Los Angeles Clippers. Ho to the hum. Anyway, Cleveland made a strong first impression, but as time went on true colors were revealed. Boston just wasn't that into Cleveland and left them wondering what happened. Lucky for the Cavs, a second, third and even fourth date is guaranteed, so even though Boston left with the ball in their court, there's plenty of more game playing to come.
What's also coming is the start of the World Series Wednesday. Yankees v. Phillies. Best of seven. Yes, we know, that's a long series and recognize that the best of seven could easily get the best of you.

I Got a Big Ego

This may come as a surprise to you, but all good things must come to an end. Brett Favre in all his might and wisdom (read: old age) just couldn't hang on to the Vikings' winning streak and the Pittsburgh Steelers stole the show. As upsets go, in college football, #10 Miami lost to unranked Clemson. A ranked team losing to an unranked team is the equivalent of losing your man to someone you deem, (how should we say this?) not nearly as attractive as you think you are. No fun.
If you are sick of baseball games taking over your, or his, life, rest easy, it's almost over. After a rain delay pushed game six to Sunday night, the Yankees put an end to the back and forth with the Angels. The Yankees won the pennant, or league title, and will face the Phillies in the World Series starting  Wednesday.
Just as baseball comes to an end, basketball bounces in with the official NBA season starting on Tuesday. You may have seen some games on TV the past couple of weeks, but those were pre-season games that basically just let players boast to each other "how I spent my summer vacation." Chances are the whole thing was Tweeted anyway. Is nothing worth saving for a face-to-face convo anymore? Sigh. Anyway, we digress. Perhaps the biggest off-season trade you should be aware of is Shaquille O-Neal to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Shaq joins LeBron James in a quest for media attention, oh and a championship too. How does that Kanye West song go again? Something about a big ego?

You're no stranger to drama, so you'll appreciate this. The Yankees, who were on their way to winning the ALCS coming into Thursday night's game, first looked like they were losing, then winning, but when it was all said and done, they lost at the bitter end. The Angels refused to bow out and want to watch over at least one more game, so back to New York, they go for game 6 on Saturday.

Break out a Philly cheesesteak, because the Phillies are going to the World Series. Ryan Howard (above) was named MVP of the NLCS. The Phillies will likely meet the Yankees in the World Series, if the Yankees have it their way, and who doesn't want that? This is the Phillies' second consecutive appearance to the World Series. They are the defending champs.

They say it's okay for men to cry over sports. A few Yankees, including Derek Jeter, may have been holding back a quivering lip Monday night after losing to the Angels in another exciting game that interrupted your regularly scheduled primetime programming. The Yankees were halfway to sweeping the best of seven ALCS series, but now the divide is 2-1. Who knew baseball could be exciting? The Phillies commandeered another win over the Dodgers putting the Phillies up 3-1. One more win for Philadelphia and it's wrap for the Dodgers. Both games were won by a walk-off--by Jeff Mathis for the Angels and by Jimmy Rawlins for the Phillies. What's a walk-off you ask? Our friends at Wikipedia define it as "... a home run that ends the game. It must be a home run that gives the home team the lead (and consequently, the win) in the bottom of the final inning of the game—either the ninth inning, or any extra inning, or any other regularly scheduled final inning. It is called a "walk-off" home run because the teams walk off the field immediately afterward."
Back on the ranch, the San Diego Chargers were hoping to hand the Denver Broncos their first loss of the NFL season on a silver platter (Get it? Charger? Platter?) Ok, anyway, the Broncos prevailed and are now 6-0. Guess you can say they brought something to the table.

There you have it, USC's Matt Barkley proved that good guys do come out ahead. This doesn't bode well for your argument for dating a bad boy. Barkley and crew trumped Notre Dame's Clausen and co. This week's top three BCS ranked teams are Florida, Alabama and Texas. Florida nearly lost against Arkansas, which would have been a huge upset. Florida is probably a little upset anyway, since they lost the number spot in the AP poll to Alabama Crimson Tide. Red substances always seems to cause trouble...

But let's keep this professional, so onto the NFL. The Saints and Vikings remain undefeated after Sunday's games. The Saints did so by issuing a bruise to the ego of the New York Giants, who have now lost their membership to the undefeated elite. Perhaps scared of being put in the same category, New England's Tom Brady wasn't having all of last week's talk questioning his quarterbackhood, so he casually threw 6 touchdowns in a 59-0 pummeling over the Tennessee Titans. All that was missing was a latte in one hand, really.

Around the diamond, (not that one), the Yankees are up two games to one with a win over the Angels Saturday night that went in the wee hours of the morning. The Phillies have the advantage, two to one, after Sunday's game over the Dodgers.

It's Monday Morning. You've been briefed. Go forth and make a play.

Weekend Outlook: Cloudy With a Chance of Football

We've heard a million times that nice guys finish last. The theory will be tested again on Saturday as good guy Matt Barkley and the USC Trojans confront Jimmy Clausen and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Two respective QBs with enormous talent--one lives for God, the other thinks he is the gift of God. Saturday at 3:30p.m. EST is when it all goes down. In addition to this game, there are plenty of other top 25 matchups this Saturday, so if you don't hear from Mr. Man, take comfort that it's not another woman. It's about 20 other guys.

In the NFL, week six big matchups include:
NY Giants v. New Orleans Saints - two undefeated teams duke it out.
Denver Broncos v. San Diego Chargers - the undefeated tackles a rival.
Baltimore Ravens v. Minnesota Vikings - the best linebacker, Ray Lewis, and the "best" QB, Brett Favre go at it.
Big games, big players, lots of undefeated teams (Giants, Vikings, Broncos, Colts and Saints), so leverage your knowledge and get in where you fit in. Don't be afraid to ask your man questions, like "What are the Giants' chances of remaining undefeated this week? Or what do you think about Tom Brady not living up to the hype?" Just don't ask questions such as, "How many quarters are there in a game?" If you do, it will take more than this blog to help you.

The Dodgers won game two of the NLCS against the Phillies, splitting the series a game a piece.
The Yankees beat the Angels in game one of the ALCS.