T-Bob comes to the Mount.

It’s not another teen movie. It’s one of the featured matchups in Saturday’s LSU-Alabama showdown.

T-Bob Hebert (pronounced A-bear) is LSU’s sophomore center. The Mount, of course, is Terrence “Mount” Cody, Alabama’s 6-foot-5, 355-pound senior nose guard.

The All-American is coming off one of his most prolific performances. He blocked two fourth-quarter field goals two weeks ago against Tennessee. The SEC recognized him as its Defensive Lineman of the Week.

Cody has LSU coach Les Miles’ attention. Miles said he’ll provide Hebert some help moving the mountain.

“We put two guys over the nose tackle and that nose tackle area,” Miles said. “He’s just a good player and a very good competitor. Our guys will certainly look forward to that challenge.

“I think it’s like any opponent that challenges you to bring out your best, and T-Bob will be inspired to play well.”

Alabama senior left guard Mike Johnson knows what he’s up against.

Asked if he faces Cody in practice, Johnson nodded and said, “Too many times.”

“It happens every week on Tuesdays and Wednesdays,” Johnson said. “We do an inside-run drill and I’ve had to go against him pretty often.”

Not that Hebert needs pointers, but Johnson offered some advice.

“It would probably be to get on him before he gets on you,” Johnson suggested. “Once he gets 350 pounds of momentum going, it’s pretty hard to stop the guy in his tracks. He is strong and he is agile and he is a freak for his size.”

The showdown against LSU features offenses that like to run the football and defenses designed to stop the run first.

Alabama is fourth in the SEC, averaging more than 217 yards per game on the ground. The Crimson Tide is first in the league in rushing defense, giving up just 64.6 yards per game on the ground.

Johnson said working against Cody and the defense throughout the week helped Alabama’s offense. But his respect for his teammates on the other side of the ball is evident.

“Just talking about Terrence, he is the prototypical nose guard that can take up double teams and two-gap center and does a great job at what he does,” Johnson said. “Some of the other guys up front like Brandon Deaderick, Lorenzo Washington and Marcell Dareus and linebackers like Rolando (McClain) and Cory Reamer, those guys are great at what they do.

“They are not just a great defense on Saturday, they are a great defense throughout the week because they work hard. Part of that comes against us as an offense. We’re lucky to have a defense to go up against like that on a weekly basis. It just makes us better in the long run. They are going to continue to get better at what they do and we’re going to continue to get batter at what we do.”
Sourced via oanow.com

Popularity: 4% [?]

After nine seasons in the NFL and three Super Bowl titles, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is about to embark on a new experience.

“It’s not too often that we fly east to play a game,” Brady said Tuesday in a conference call before Sunday’s regular-season NFL game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in London. “And to play in Wembley Stadium, it’s as historic a stadium (as there is) in the entire world. I think our team is all very excited for that.”

The NFL is playing at Wembley for the third straight year, and both teams will arrive in the British capital on Friday – only two days before the game.

“It’s a long flight but we’ll be prepared for it,” said Brady, who threw six touchdown passes for the Patriots (4-2) in the 59-0 win over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. “We’ll have our energy and we’ll be ready to go by the time the ball kicks off.”

The setting for this weekend’s game surely will be different for both the Patriots and the Buccaneers, with thousands of British fans wearing a variety of NFL shirts at the stadium. But it will just be another game for Brady.

“For us, the job’s the same: When the balls kicked off, the rules are the same for us, the field’s the same size,” Brady said. “We’re playing an opponent we study all week.”

Two years ago, the New York Giants and Miami Dolphins also arrived only days before. But last year, the New Orleans Saints and San Diego Chargers spent a week in London getting used to the differences.

“We’ll have a couple days to get acclimated to the time change,” Brady said. “The weather is pretty similar in London as it is here in Boston, so we’re pretty familiar with that. Try to get our rest before the game on both Friday night and all day Saturday, and really come out and play with a lot of excitement and energy on Sunday.”

The Bucs remained winless at 0-6 after losing to the Carolina Panthers 28-21 on Sunday. The Bucs will be the “home” team in London, so the Patriots could win their first road game of the season at the iconic stadium.

“I’ve heard great things about this stadium. It’s an incredible stadium,” Brady said. “I’ve watched a lot of European soccer also, so I’m very familiar with the grounds they play on.”

Brady said he has also watched previous NFL games at Wembley on TV, so he is familiar with the field.

“It’s a soccer field, so I guess it’s pretty flat,” Brady said. “The grass (is) a little bit longer, which hopefully slows down the pass rush of Tampa Bay. That’s what I’m hoping. I always like it when they’re as far away from me as possible.”

The British fans, who generally prefer their game of football to the American version, are expected to fill the stadium for the third straight year.

“This is a game that we’ll be remembering for the next 40 or 50 years of our lives,” Brady said. “So we all want to go out and play as well as we can.”
Sourced via The Miami Herald

Popularity: 4% [?]

As the FIFA 2010 World Cup approaching, the intensity of the World Cup qualifying stages is hotting up. Portugal played against Denmark and needed a convincing win to keep their World Cup dreams alive. Unfortunately for them, they only managed a draw of 1:1 and unless something drastic happens it is unlikely that they will get to tour South Africa next year.

Argentina are in a similar position. They faced off against arch rivals Brzail in a clash of the titans. Unfortunately, they too suffered a defeat to the mighty Brazlians of 3:1. Is this the end for Diego Maradona’s team?

The might Spain destroyed Belgium 5-0. This was a supreme showing of their amazing killer abaility.

Here is a round up of yesterdays scores:

Results
05/09/09 22:00    Bahrain    0:0    Saudi Arabia
05/09/09 22:00    Spain    5:0 (1:0)    Belgium
05/09/09 21:30    Argentina    1:3 (0:2)    Brazil
05/09/09 21:30    Chile    2:2 (1:2)    Venezuela
05/09/09 21:00    Israel    0:1 (0:0)    Latvia
05/09/09 21:00    Turkey    4:2 (2:1)    Estonia
05/09/09 20:30    Switzerland    2:0 (0:0)    Greece
05/09/09 20:30    Slovakia    2:2 (0:0)    Czech Republic
05/09/09 20:30    Poland    1:1 (0:1)    Northern Ireland
05/09/09 20:30    Croatia    1:0 (0:0)    Belarus
05/09/09 20:00    Denmark    1:1 (1:0)    Portugal
05/09/09 20:00    Hungary    1:2 (0:1)    Sweden

05/09/09 20:00    Azerbaijan    1:2 (0:0)    Finland

05/09/09 20:00    Armenia    0:2 (0:1)    Bosnia-Herzegovina
05/09/09 19:00    Moldova    Moldova    0:0    Luxembourg
05/09/09 19:00    Russia    3:0 (3:0)    Liechtenstein
05/09/09 18:30    Paraguay    1:0 (1:0)    Bolivia
05/09/09 17:00   Ukraine    5:0 (2:0)    Andorra
05/09/09 15:30    Peru    1:0 (0:0)    Uruguay
05/09/09 15:30    Colombia    2:0 (0:0)    Ecuador

Popularity: 5% [?]

We are looking for your nominations for the best looking sport babes in the world. The nominations can include sport babes from around the globe, from any country, from any sporting code-the more the merrier.

Nominations close on 30 September 2009.

Send your nominations to to us by filling out the form below. You may nominate up to 3 athletes per time.

Popularity: 44% [?]

The Florida Gators' Riley Cooper comes up with a second quarter pass reception against Alabama on Dec. 6, 2008 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. AL DIAZ / MIAMI HERALD STAFF

GAINESVILLE University of Florida wide receiver Riley Cooper is returning for his senior season of college football.

For the past month, Cooper had been torn between returning to UF for the fall semester or quitting school to pursue a career in professional baseball. In June, Cooper was selected by the Texas Rangers in the 25th round of the 2009 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. Cooper played in a collegiate baseball league in Texas this summer but is now back in Gainesville.

“It was a tough decision — one of the hardest I’ve ever had to make,” Cooper said in a statement released by the University of Florida. “We have something special going on in Gainesville and I want to be a part of that.”

On Tuesday, Cooper’s father, Larry Cooper, told The Miami Herald that his son has agreed “in principle” to a contract with the Texas Rangers, allowing his son to play college football in 2009. A spokesman for the Rangers said Tuesday in an e-mail that Cooper has not signed with the Rangers and that “there is nothing to report.”

Players drafted by a major-league team must sign by midnight on Aug. 17.

“We aren’t sure when he’s going to sign and we’ll just leave it at that,” Larry Cooper said. “We’re just ecstatic that Riley is returning for his senior season of football with the Florida Gators.”

Cooper played football and baseball for Florida last year, but if he signs with the Rangers, he will no longer be able to play collegiate baseball, according to the NCAA’s rules on amateurism. Cooper still can play college football if he signs with the Rangers.

As a baseball player, Cooper batted .247 for the Gators last season with two home runs. He started 25 games but did not finish the season with the team. This summer, he batted .182 in 13 games for the McKinney Marshals of the Texas Collegiate League.

Cooper is much more accomplished as a college football player. He is the Gators’ most experienced wide receiver and an excellent downfield blocker in the Gators’ spread-option offense. Last season, Cooper made key plays in both the Southeastern Conference championship and the BCS National Championship.

The football team begins fall practice Thursday and Cooper is expected to participate, although he missed the Gators’ entire summer conditioning program and did not participate in spring practice. Cooper is the Gators’ only returning receiver who started in the BCS National Championship. UF defeated Oklahoma 24-14.

“We are excited to have Riley back as part of our 2009 team,” Florida coach Urban Meyer said in a statement. “He will be counted on heavily to be one of our go-to receivers. I’ve said numerous times during the offseason that we need someone to step up with the departure of [receivers] Percy Harvin and Louis Murphy.

“We haven’t had someone step up yet and Riley can certainly be someone that does.”

EARLY ENROLLMENT

Stephen Alli, a high school receiver who was originally expected to sign with the Gators in 2010, has graduated high school a year early and has been accepted by the University of Florida’s admissions office, a football team spokesman told The Miami Herald on Tuesday.

Alli, a 6-5 receiver who played for Andover (N.H) Proctor Academy last season, is scheduled to arrive in Florida on Wednesday. A native of Toronto, Alli could begin practicing with the Gators this week after his high school transcripts pass through the NCAA Clearinghouse.
Sourced via The Miami Herald

Popularity: 7% [?]

Ex-Florida Gator Reche Caldwell runs through passing drills at the United Football League ‘combine’ Saturday at Florida Citrus Bowl. (STEPHEN M. DOWELL/ORLANDO SENTINEL) (June 9, 2009)

When the subject of the United Football League surfaces, the only thing most everyone wants to know is if this thing is going to fly.

But if you listen to anyone involved with the UFL, they are quick to erase any doubtful thinking and litter the conversation with optimism ala a Barack Obama campaign speech. UFL officials not only plan to kick this league off in October, but to also do things the right way.

“It’s not going to be some kind of slappy league to the point where we’re just throwing something out here,” said former NFL quarterback Quinn Gray, a former Jacksonville Jaguars backup to Byron Leftwich and most recently David Garrard.

“The commissioner is going to put out the best talent. You’ve got a bunch of former NFL players, a bunch of former NFL coaches, and so it’s going to be a competitive league,”

Gray, 30, a former star at Florida A&M, was on hand Saturday as 52 free agents showed up at the Florida Citrus Bowl for a combine-type workout.

Orlando is one of four franchises in the inaugural season, along with San Francisco, Las Vegas and New York. And unless Michael Vick remains suspended from the NFL and ends up in the UFL, Gray could be the leading candidate as Orlando’s quarterback.

Regionality will play a big part in the league’s placement of players and Gray relishes the idea that he may wind up back in the Citrus Bowl where he took part in some great Florida Classic battles with Bethune-Cookman.

“The city of Orlando, they’ve been yearning for a team for years, regardless of what it is,” Gray said. “They had the Arena team and they’ve got the bowl games and of course the Florida Classic, so Orlando is going to be a great place for this team.

“The more guys from Florida A&M, Florida State, Florida — guys from this area … who are on this Orlando team is just going to bring more fans.”

Former Florida Gator and recent NFL castoff Reche Caldwell was another player working out Saturday.

“I played college here … I played here [Florida] my whole life until I got to the NFL,” said Caldwell, 30, a Tampa native, “so it will definitely be a great opportunity for everybody to come see me play if I get a chance to play here.”
Sourced via orlandosentinel.com

Popularity: 6% [?]

2009 marks the 50th season of Chargers football, a major league franchise with a brand of football that has grabbed the heart of a community over generations.

It has been 50 years since a group of six men, in love with football and desperate to lead their own professional franchise, agreed to start their own league. Thus, the American Football League was born.

And it didn’t take long for Southern California’s team and its lightning bolt emblem to grab the attention of the football world and so appropriately symbolize the spirit of the new franchise.
The original Chargers were a big-play, sudden-strike offensive-minded outfit that took the pro football world by storm. They played the game with abandon; a let-it-fly style that matched the lightning bolts on their uniforms.

The first play in Chargers’ history was a 105-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Paul Lowe that took all of 14 seconds off of the Los Angeles Coliseum clock.

Renowned offensive performers with names like Alworth, Lowe, Lincoln, Hadl, Post, Woods, Fouts, Joiner, Jefferson, Winslow, Muncie, Chandler and Humphries have passed the torch to Tomlinson, Gates, Jackson and Rivers to carry on the tradition today.

It’s that tradition of acrobatic athletes and edge-of-your-seat excitement that the San Diego Chargers will revive and honor throughout their 50th season in 2009, and Charger fans will be involved every step of the way.

“The Chargers are more than a football team to the people of San Diego,” said team President Dean Spanos. “Generations have grown up with this team. The Chargers are an institution; a lifestyle. Nothing else has shown it can unite this community and create great memories the way sports teams like the Chargers have done.

“50 years … that’s a lot of great memories.”

The team’s 50th Anniversary Celebration will focus on the fans’ three main passions: the greatest moments in Chargers history, the countless memories those moments have created, and the men that made them happen.

With so many great moments, plays and games in Chargers history, how could anyone possibly select the single greatest moment? That’s exactly what the fans are going to do. The team developed a list of the 50 greatest moments from which the Chargers Hall of Fame members along with a handful of team historians will reduce the list to the top 20 Greatest Moments. Fan voting will begin August 1 to determine the greatest single moment in team history. Voting will take place at all Brigantine Family of Restaurants locations and online at www.Chargers.com. Each home game will feature video salutes to these memorable moments culminating with an announcement of the single greatest moment at the Chargers-Redskins game on Jan. 3.

The Brigantine Family of Restaurants includes seven Brigantine Seafood Restaurants, three Miguel’s Cocinas, two Zócalos, Miguelito’s Sala de Artes y Comer and their newest addition, The Steakhouse at Azul La Jolla.

The 50 All-Time Greatest Chargers will be introduced during the Chargers’ 50th Anniversary Weekend, a three-day extravaganza set to take place Nov. 27-29 and culminating when the Chargers play the Kansas City Chiefs on Nov. 29. The weekend, presented by Coors Light, will begin with a giant Anniversary Celebration Party on Friday, Nov. 27. The team will also host a private party for the players on Saturday, Nov. 28 before introducing the 50 Greatest Chargers at the game the next day.

The National Football League also is joining in the 50th Anniversary Celebration. In addition to the Chargers’ 50th Anniversary Weekend, the NFL has designated three Chargers games as “Legacy Games” to honor the 50th anniversary of the American Football League. Those games include San Diego’s season opener in Oakland on Monday night, Sept. 14; the Chargers-Broncos game in San Diego on Monday, Oct. 19, and the game in Kansas City on Sunday, Oct. 25.

For those games, the Chargers and their original AFL opponent will wear their chosen Throwback uniform from the ‘60s. The Chargers’ Throwback uniform is identical to the uniform worn by the 1963 AFL Championship team. The games will be played with a special set of commemorative game balls and the end zones and field markings will look as they did in the early days of the upstart AFL. Other anticipated features for the team’s Legacy Game at home include special commemorative uniforms for the Charger Girls, who will dance to the music of the 60s, as well as retro uniforms worn by the game officials.

The Chargers Team Store at Qualcomm Stadium will offer special 50th Anniversary merchandise, including a commemorative 50th Anniversary yearbook and a 90-minute historical DVD to be released in September. This merchandise will also be available at www.Chargers.com.

Chargers.com, the official website of Chargers football, will be the official site for the team’s 50th Anniversary Celebration as well. Through Chargers.com, the team hopes to provide the fans with every conceivable opportunity to enjoy and relive 50 years of Chargers football.

Beginning in September, fans will find a myriad of entertaining and informative looks back at the 50 years of Chargers football. The features will include:

• “This Day in Chargers History,” a daily reminder of the many impactful moments produced by the team

• “Where Are They Now” stories about the men who created those moments

• “Great Battles,” featuring the most memorable games against that week’s opponent

• “The Way it Was,” featuring the players’ recollections of a memorable time

• “I Remember When…” will be the fans’ recollections and fondest memories

• “Remembering the AFL” will take us back to the ‘60s and early days of the Chargers
Sourced via chargers.com

Popularity: 6% [?]

I’m thinking of three guys. One guy has two NFL MVP’s, a Super Bowl ring, and MVP, and is very close to assuring himself in the NFL Hall of Fame.

Another guy helped turn a franchise from a laughing stock to a Super Bowl team, and recently signed a five year extension worth $42.5 million.

Finally, a guy who has played in five Super Bowls, winning his most recent four, and is known as one of the most clutch kickers in NFL history.

Know who I am talking about? Many NFL fans will know the first guy is Kurt Warner, second is Jake Delhomme, and the third is Adam Vinatieri. All of these guys have at one point been near, or at, the top of the NFL in their respective position, and have had tremendous success in the NFL.

What some people may not know, is that these three guys have the NFL Europe league to thank for getting an opportunity to play in the NFL.

Kurt Warner was undrafted out of college, and after three years in the AFL, was given a chance to play in the NFL Europe league. Jake Delhomme actually backed up Kurt Warner when the two played for the Amsterdam Admirals, and was later sent to another team where he would split time with another quarterback (Pat Barnes).

Vinatieri also played for the Admirals (when the league was named the World League of American Football) in 1995, where he was able to hone his place kicking. After a year, the New England Patriots decided to take him on as their kicker.

If not for the NFL Europe, these three guys would have more than likely never received a real chance at playing in the National Football League. The league may not be remembered for developing all-star talent, but it no doubt was better than nothing. Unfortunately, NFL Europe shut down in 2007 after fan support continued to slip year after year.

But there is a sign that Europeans want to see American football. In 2007, tickets to the Saints and Giants game played in London sold out quickly, and there is serious talk about playing a Super Bowl in London in the near future.

So if the fans enjoy football, why was there little fan support for NFL Europe?

The quality of the league was questionable, the marketing was terrible (especially in the U.S.), and many fans say they had much rather see the “real deal,” than fourth and fifth string players from NFL teams. If the NFL were to get serious about offering a quality football league in Europe though, there would be a much better chance of success.

Whatever the case, a developmental league is needed for football. We do have several leagues coming up, such as the UFL and AAFL, but neither of those are associated with the NFL. NFL Europe is directly related to the NFL, which would be much more efficient for teams looking to develop young players.

Since American Football is more popular than ever worldwide, and the Europeans are showing interest in it, it would make sense for the NFL to give NFL Europe one last shot. If that doesn’t succeed, than there would probably be more than enough cities in the U.S.A. willing to accept an NFL Developmental team.

Because without developmental leagues, we could be missing out on the next NFL superstar.
Sourced via bleacherreport.com

Popularity: 7% [?]

Goodell says the NFL and the teams that have played at Wembley over the last two seasons have been blown away by the response of UK NFL fans.

The Commissioner now says that a second regular game could be moved overseas, and could be in London or another UK venue due to the success of the Wembley games.

“The fan reaction we’ve had in London has been extraordinary. We would like to feed that passion,” Goodell said after speaking at the Charlotte Touchdown Club.

“We have a great fan base in the UK. There have been discussions of taking the second game and playing it in another market in the UK. That’s something that we’ll evaluate.

“Whether it’s two consecutive games in the same stadium, we don’t necessarily know. But we have a great foundation.”
Games

The New York Giants beat the Miami Dolphins on the way to their Super Bowl success in 2007, while the New Orleans Saints beat the San Diego Chargers 37-32 in an entertaining game last year.

The New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers will face off at Wembley in October this year, and fans have already gobbled up the majority of the tickets to another sell-out.

Although reports of a possible Super Bowl in London or even a future team based in the UK still appear far fetched, a second regular season game in the UK in 2010 does seem an option.

Plans will be discussed at next week’s league meeting, as the NFL also look at extending the season from 16 to 18 games, which would give more room to include a second overseas game.

Goodell says that teams that have played at Wembley have all thought the process to be a worthwhile exercise.

Experience

“I think the teams have had a great experience that have gone over,” Goodell said.

“We’ve been able to build on that and I think teams recognize it’s an honour and a privilege to go over and play there. And it can be done without impacting the team negatively.”

This year’s game will go down as a home clash to Tampa Bay, meaning they lose a game staged at Raymond James Stadium – but that is the only negative according to Goodell.

“The negative is taking the home game away from the fans,” Goodell said.

“It’s another reason why potentially restructuring the season and changing two preseason (games) into regular-season (games) can be something that we find is beneficial to the fans.”
Sourced via skysports.com

Popularity: 6% [?]

Representatives for the new Dallas Cowboys stadium and the Cotton Bowl have confirmed their interest in hosting the FIFA World Cup matches in 2018 or 2022, the USA Bid Committee said Thursday.

The two venues are among 58 major stadiums up for consideration for the World Cup tournaments. Only 49 major metropolitan areas have venues vying for the host designation.

“We are very pleased by the impressive response, and are certainly gratified by the enthusiasm and thorough understanding everyone has shown for this unique opportunity,” said David Downs, the executive director for the USA Bid Committee. “The benefits to a host nation, and particularly to the venue cities where the matches could be played, are numerous and lasting. Tourism, economic impact, meaningful global exposure and a legacy of being at the center of a FIFA World Cup™ competition await host venues and cities if we are fortunate enough to stage the tournament here in 2018 or 2022.”

In order to be considered, public officials and executives representing the different host nations have to be able to provide a minimum of 12 stadiums capable of supporting 40,000 or more spectators. Stadiums with a minimum capacity of 80,000 are needed to host the Opening Match and Final Match of the World Cup.

Sourced via bizjournals.com

Popularity: 6% [?]