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12/26/2011 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 2011 season in professional golf could be known for a few different things.
First, Tiger Woods won again.
Granted, it was his own unofficial event with 17 other players in the field, but a win is a win. Woods' Chevron World Challenge title was his first victory since the 2009 car accident that derailed his personal and professional life.
Ever since Woods lost his No. 1 world ranking, no one really claimed it as his own. Lee Westwood test-drove it. Martin Kaymer hung on for a time, but Luke Donald made it his own.
We had Rory McIlroy blow the Masters in epic fashion, then come back and win the U.S. Open so convincingly that the final round was less exciting than a tepid bath.
The team international events were excellent, as always.
Most of the majors on most tours were thrilling.
With some of the stars of the game on the downswing of their careers, new blood stepped up and performed.
But when it came to performance, the 2011 season belonged to one young lady.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR - The Year of Yani
All of 22 years old, Yani Tseng continued an old tradition on the LPGA Tour -- dominance.
First, it was Annika Sorenstam in the early '00s. Then, Lorena Ochoa owned women's golf until her retirement.
With both gone, Tseng, who bought Sorenstam's old house and must be inhabited with the Swede's presence, has risen to the top of the sport.
Tseng won 11 times worldwide, including seven events on the LPGA Tour, and two of the victories were majors. When she captured the LPGA Championship (by 10 shots), Tseng became the youngest golfer -- male or female -- to win four majors.
When she successfully defended her title at the Women's British Open, the same record applied -- youngest to five majors.
For a point of comparison, Tiger Woods collected his fifth major title at the age of 24. Sorenstam didn't win a tournament -- any tournament -- until she was 24.
Tseng almost had a third major of 2011, but finished as the runner-up to Stacy Lewis at the Kraft Nabisco Championship. Tseng squandered that title in the season's first major and didn't do that again.
She made 21 cuts in 22 events, finishing in the top five in 12 of them and the top 10 in two more.
She led the tour in scoring average by almost a FULL stroke and was the only player who averaged under 70 strokes per round. Tseng had almost 60 more birdies than anyone on tour and to top it off, she led the tour in driving distance.
Tseng is the No. 1 player in the Rolex Rankings and the No. 1 golfer in the world for 2011.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR - The major rookie
This was a tough call considering two rookies won majors on the PGA Tour in 2011.
Charl Schwartzel took home the Masters in thrilling fashion, making birdie at the final four holes to don the green jacket. But Schwartzel was an established European Tour competitor, so this honor goes to a more conventional rookie.
Keegan Bradley earned his PGA Tour card in 2011 thanks to his finish on the Nationwide Tour in 2010. He first broke into the winner's circle with a playoff victory over Ryan Palmer at the Byron Nelson Championship, but cemented his awesome rookie campaign at the PGA Championship at Atlanta Athletic Club.
Bradley overcame a five-stroke deficit with three to play in regulation to tie Jason Dufner, who limped into the clubhouse with three bogeys in his last four holes.
Bradley played the three-hole extra session in one-under par. He needed a two- putt par at the 18th and got it to become the third player in history to win in his major championship debut.
The nephew of Hall of Famer Pat Bradley became the first PGA Tour rookie to win twice in his first season since Todd Hamilton seven years ago. He should have been a pick for Fred Couples' American Presidents Cup team, but Bradley shouldn't have any trouble making next year's U.S. Ryder Cup team for Davis Love III.
SHOT OF THE YEAR - "I mean, he spun it. That's all you need to know."
There are few scenarios that offer more pressure than being in a playoff for the Tour Championship.
First, the victory itself is important. PGA Tour wins don't grow on trees. First place at the Tour Championship was worth $1.44 million and that doesn't grow on trees, either.
But there's money and there's obscene, silly amounts of money and the latter was the case at the Tour Championship. In addition to the $1.44 million, which is nothing to sneeze at, the winner of sudden death on this particular Sunday in September was going to walk off with $10 million more for winning the FedEx Cup.
Bill Haas and Hunter Mahan parred the first playoff hole, then Haas appeared to be in trouble at the second, the par-four 17th. Haas' approach landed in a pond next to the green, while Mahan was safely on with 25 feet for birdie.
Haas' ball was only in the water halfway, so he elected play his third from the edge of the lake. He blasted out, got the ball to check somehow and stopped it two feet from the cup.
Mahan missed his birdie putt and Haas tapped in for par.
They went one more hole before Haas won the playoff, the Tour Championship and $11.44 million.
"There was quite a bit of room there. His ball was maybe half in," Mahan said in a televised interview after the loss. "I mean, he spun it. That's all you need to know."
TOURNAMENT OF THE YEAR - The Masters
A beautiful spring Sunday in Augusta started with the promise of golf's best young player winning a major pretty early in his career.
Rory McIlroy was one shot clear after the front nine of the final round, then hit one of the worst tee shots in recent memory: At the 10th, his ball landed near someone's day room.
McIlroy finished with an 80 and became a non-factor on the back nine -- which is, after all, where the Masters really begins.
First came Tiger Woods' run.
He made the turn in 31 thanks to a 10-foot eagle putt at eight and found himself tied for the lead, but came up a little too short. Woods didn't birdie the par-five 13th and hit an amazing second to four feet at the par-five 15th, but lipped out the eagle putt.
Woods, Luke Donald, Geoff Ogilvy, Adam Scott, Jason Day, Angel Cabrera, K.J. Choi and Charl Schwartzel were the contenders.
Schwartzel, in the group behind Scott on Sunday, got up and down for birdie from behind the green at 15 to match Scott in first at 11-under par. Scott hit his tee ball to two feet at 16 and tapped in for birdie and the lead.
Schwartzel's tee ball at 16 came up 15 feet short of the stick, but he ran home the birdie putt to once again tie Scott. The young Australian hit a terrible drive at 17 and knocked his second into a bunker. His blast from the trap came up 12 feet short, but he made that par putt and stayed tied.
Day birdied 17 to get within one, but Schwartzel continued his incredible run with the putter. He sank a 10-foot birdie putt at No. 17 to move one shot clear.
Ogilvy and Donald got into the clubhouse at 10-under, but it was clear that the pair and Woods would come up a bit short.
It was down to Schwartzel, Scott and Day, but Day needed a birdie at 18. He got it, and Scott two-putted for par.
Schwartzel was one ahead with one to play. He found the fairway at the last, and his approach stopped 18 feet right of the flag. He had two putts to win his first major and didn't need them.
Schwartzel poured in the birdie putt, his fourth in a row, and walked off to Butler Cabin to put on his green jacket.
Needless to say, no one in the history of the Masters finished with four birdies in a row to win the tournament. Schwartzel finished the year ninth in the world.
GOOD YEAR
Donald - Became the world No. 1 with a great playoff victory over then No. 1 Lee Westwood at the BMW PGA Championship in late May. Is the first player in history to win the money title on both the PGA Tour and the European Tour in the same season.
McIlroy - Don't shed too many tears for poor Rory. After the epic collapse at Augusta, McIlroy responded in a big way at the next major -- the U.S. Open at Congressional. He essentially wrapped up the tournament by happy hour on Friday and ended up with an eight-stroke victory.
Day - Runner-up in the first two majors and became a top-10 player in the world.
Fred Couples - Won a major on the Champions Tour and his work as captain of the U.S. Presidents Cup team has been sensational. He went out on a big limb and tabbed Woods for the team almost a month before he needed to and Woods delivered. For the second consecutive Presidents Cup -- and second Couples has led the team -- Woods secured the winning point for the American side, but Couples' decision, coupled (pun intended) with his laid-back approach has made the U.S. team a powerhouse.
Suzann Pettersen - Two wins in 2011 propelled her to second in the world, but her role as the leader of the European Solheim Cup team earned her a spot here. After dozens of weather delays, even during the singles, Pettersen led a huge rally for her side by knocking off Michelle Wie in a classic show a gutsy putting. Caroline Hedwall, clearly inspired by Pettersen, overcame a 2-down with two to play deficit, then Azahara Munoz won 17 in the anchor match to give Europe the Cup. This was Pettersen's team.
BAD YEAR
Michelle Wie - Her Solheim Cup loss was understandable, but six top 10s in a season when you're supposed to be a star is unacceptable.
Bernhard Langer - Yes, the German star battled injuries, but he was the 2010 Champions Tour Player of the Year, and, despite a victory, finished 24th on the Charles Schwab Cup race.
Jim Furyk - He won the FedEx Cup in 2010 and fell to 50th in the world rankings by Christmas 2011. Furyk had a great Presidents Cup, but he barely made the team in '11 after being the best American in '10.
<< Wild hope to snap slide against streaking Avs
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A pair of Northwest Division teams heading in opposite
directions will meet tonight in St. Paul, as the sliding Wild host the surging
Avalanche at Xcel Energy Center.
The Wild have lost their last six games (0-4-2) and ent
<< Marchand highlights NHL's 'Three Stars'
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand, New York
Rangers sniper Marian Gaborik and Colorado Avalanche goaltender Jean-Sebastien
Giguere have been named the NHL's "Three Stars" for the week ending December
25.
<< Handing out NFL holiday gifts and grinches
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Guess Rex Ryan really has been naughty this
year.
The ever-bombastic Jets head coach's Christmas Eve meal consisted one of one
mighty big helping of humble pie courtesy of the crosstown rival Giants in
Sa
<< Rockets sign C Dalembert to multi-year deal
Houston, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Houston Rockets signed veteran center
Samuel Dalembert to a multi-year contract on Monday.
"Samuel is someone we had great interest in signing as a free agent," said
Rockets general manager Daryl
Jaguars place DE Roth, CB Youboty on IR >>
Jacksonville, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Jacksonville Jaguars placed defensive
end Matt Roth and cornerback Ashton Youboty on injured reserve Monday.
Roth hadn't played since suffering a concussion at Cleveland on November 20.
The 29-year
Syracuse remains solid No. 1 in AP poll >>
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Syracuse remained a solid No. 1 Monday in the
Associated Press college basketball poll.
The undefeated Orange (13-0) received 54 first-place votes, up one from last
week, after beating Bucknell and Tulane i
Rangers D Staal cleared for contact >>
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - New York Rangers defenseman Marc Staal
has finally been cleared for contact.
The 24-year-old blueliner is still on the road to recovering from a concussion
he suffered in February after a hit by hi
Vikings RB Peterson has torn ACL and MCL >>
Eden Prairie, MN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Vikings running back Adrian Peterson tore
both the anterior cruciate ligament and medial collateral ligament in his left
knee Saturday, but the team is optimistic he will be back early next season.
Minnes
The NFL preseason is approaching. Time for players, coaches and teams to turn over a new leaf. General managers have hired some new coaches, while coaches have added some offensive and defensive assistants to try and improve things. Here’s a look at some changes to look for in the preseason.
New York Jets: The Jets were one of the surprise teams in the NFL last season, making the playoffs under hard-driving first-year coach Eric Mangini. Mangini rebuilt the offensive line with rookies D'Brickashaw Ferguson (the No. 4 pick in the 2007 Draft) and Ohio State center (the 29th pick in the first round). This season he upgraded the defense with rookie linebacker David Harris (Michigan) while the secondary picked up a much needed top-notch corner in Pitt CB Darrelle Revis (No. 14 overall).
The Jets have added balance to the offense for QB Chad Pennington with RB Thomas Jones, essentially stolen from the Bears. He will upgrade a New York ground game that was 20th in rushing with a weak 3.5 yards per carry. They have their first true feature back since Curtis Martin. Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer prefers ball control, like his father Marty. In preseason, behind Pennington you’ll see second-year QB Kellen Clemens and mobile newcomer QB Marques Tuiasosopo.
Jacksonville Jaguars: The heat is on Jack Del Rio in Jacksonville as the Jaguars flopped last season despite a ton of talent. Keep in mind that under Del Rio the Jaguars have been outstanding in preseason with a 12-4 SU, 11-5 ATS August mark. online football betting Their defense is loaded, it’s the offense that has been stuck in first gear the last few years.
Enter a new offensive coordinator in Dirk Koetter, the former Boise State and Arizona State pass-happy coach. He will try and upgrade a passing game that ranked 24th last season. Del Rio has criticized wide receivers and Matt Jones this summer, both of whom have battled injuries. It will be interesting to watch the “new” Jaguars passing game in preseason.
Arizona Cardinals: Word out of Arizona is that the players like new coach Ken Whisenhunt, who was the Steelers offensive coordinator last year. We think of Arizona as all-passing because their running game has been awful of late because of a poor offensive line. However, keep an eye on the running game in preseason as they’ve made a lot of changes.
The new coach brings in Russ Grimm to coach the offensive line (Grimm did a marvelous job building the Steelers line). They took Penn State OT Levi Jones in the first round and signed two offensive linemen, Mike Gandy and Al Johnson, to provide depth. Reggie Wells was moved from right tackle to left guard and they want more speed out of the offensive line for pulling and traps, a Pittsburgh staple under Bill Cowher.
Atlanta Falcons: While all the attention has been focused on QB Mike Vick’s off-field problems, new coach Bobby Petrino is revamping the Falcons from an all-running team to a more balanced one. Petrino likes the experience of backup QB Joey Harrington and he has veteran backup Chris Redman, who used to play for Petrino at Louisville and knows his offenses better than anyone. Petrino wants Vick to be more of a pocket passer.
The addition of FB Ovie Mughelli is a sign Petrino wants a power rushing attack behind a physical fullback and newcomer WR Joe Horn should upgrade what was a below average wideout corps. Petrino is changing their old zone-blocking scheme to a more traditional in-line blocking scheme and the offensive line is bigger. Rookie DE Jamaal Anderson was grabbed in the first round and the secondary got younger with former Auburn cornerback David Irons, who the Falcons think was a steal as a sixth-round pick.
Cleveland Browns: The 2007 Browns look like a double-edged sword. There was the excitement of the offseason, trading for RB Jamel Lewis, upgrading the offensive line with Wisconsin’s Joe Thomas (the No. 2 pick in the draft) and free agent LG Eric Steinbach, then trading for Notre Dame QB Brady Quinn when he fell to No. 22. GM Phil Savage and head coach Romeo Crennel feel they have a talented, balanced offense with these new pieces, plus TE >Kellen Winslow and WR Braylon Edwards.
However, were these moves made in desperation? And were they foolish ones? The Browns gave up their 2008 first-round pick for Quinn and we all know QBs take time to develop. And even first-round QBs can be busts (Joey Harrington, Akili Smith). We also don’t know if the offensive line is that much improved (31st in rushing in 2007) and they did nothing to improve a defense that was awful against the run (142 yds pg allowed).
The Browns have a new offensive coordinator in Rob Chudzinski. This is a young offense and Quinn looked tentative, indecisive and inaccurate early in camp. Crennel will play Charlie Frye, Quinn and Derek Anderson in preseason. And there is a mixed bag for rookie QBs receiving significant starts: Tim Couch (14), Kerry Collins (13), Ben Roethlisberger (13), Vince Young (13), Joey Harrington (12), Matt Leinart (11) and Kyle Boller (nine). While all the focus will be on the Browns new-look offense, I’m more concerned with the defense.
Carolina Panthers: Coach Jon Fox loves the ground game, but Carolina has made some interesting changes for 2007. Fox fired offensive coordinator Dan Henning and brings in Jeff Davidson to run the offense. Davidson has brought in zone-blocking schemes to the Panther offense, a dramatic change for a system that's been built around a power-running style.
In zone-blocking, offensive linemen are responsible for blocking any defender who appears in their zone, instead of focusing on one defender. The Broncos and Falcons have had success with the system, which features smaller, more athletic offensive linemen and can create running lanes on the inside and outside. Keep an eye in preseason on how Carolina adjusts as it will take time to learn the system. Fox has been one of the top coaches in preseason, with a 15-5 SU, 12-7-1 ATS August record.
Dallas Cowboys: WR Terrell Owens is still here, but QB Drew Bledsoe and Bill Parcells are gone. New head coach Wade Phillips takes over, replacing Parcells. He ran the Chargers defense last season. Phillips was chosen by teary-eyed owner Jerry Jones partly because he is one of the best 3-4 coaches in football and the Cowboys have loaded up on players for that scheme.
Remember that Phillips was blitz-happy with the Chargers last season and early reports out of the Dallas camp have mentioned how the Cowboys have been blitzing a lot, a departure from Parcells. The theme of the 2007 Dallas defense appears to be one of attack.
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Trash talk has a place in every competitive endeavor (except baseball; those stirrup-wearers are too busy chewing on their sunflower seeds and their supplements to worry about what their opponents are doing).
Fantasy sports is no exception. Any intelligent discussion of the subject would probably start with a thesis statement or a definition of terms. Thankfully, this wont be an intelligent discussion.
Let me just say that I am happy to take a place in this space alongside my talented colleagues, even our commissioner. (You should see how she bleats like a demented paper boy about league fees on our fantasy site).
Trash talking, I would argue, is primarily about amusing your friends, their sheeplike demeanors and sloping foreheads notwithstanding. The best place I have found for football trash talking is at www.SportsAlarm.com.
Beyond the entertainment factor, though, I would recognize that the sophomoric ritual has one advantage, when properly applied. It magnifies your fantasy triumphs and mitigates your fantasy failures by transforming the eventual point total into an afterthought. Winning makes it seem like your opponent really is a truss-owning, lapel-pin-wearing nitwit. And in defeat, trash talk can be the air bag to break the fall from your hyperbolic heights. The plug-necked yahoos on your team, you can say, will be sacking groceries by the end of the season.
The best trash talk, in my view, is layered and nuanced. And it doesnt focus only on your opponents team. It picks apart your opponent. The idea is to create a shock-and-awe-scale blizzard of nonsense, and the goal is to make your opponent drop his hands from his keyboard in exasperation.
What team does your opponent root for? Accuse a Giants fan of having a Joe Namath pillowcase. Wheres your opponent from? Give a look of concern no matter his reply, then say, I'll try to type slower for you next time. Is your opponent into politics? Label everyone a tax-and-spend corporate shill.
Cap all that with a liberal application of irrelevance. For instance, dont just conclude by saying your opponent is a twerp who drafts like my grandmother. Say that your opponent is a sweater-wearing, eyebrow-plucking twerp who drafts his team about as well as Zsa Zsa Gabor gave acceptance speeches at the Oscars. By the time your foe makes sense of that, his starting running back will have had puppies.
But what about you? Hmm? Recall a memorable slam? Have a tried-and-true technique? Know someone who seems impervious to insult? Take a moment and tells us about it. Put together some (fit-for-publication) thoughts. You wont be too busy returning phone messages from your friends, Im sure, to reply.
In addition to the trash talking, the Sports Alarm has a huge gallery of high resolution pictures of beautiful women and models in bikinis. The most popular models are: Lindsay Lohan, Carrie Underwood, Alessandra Ambrosio, and Paris Hilton.
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