The Bulls are still alive...

Eastern Conference finals

(Best of seven)

No. 1 Chicago vs. No. 2 Miami

(Chicago leads series 1-0)

Chicago 103, Miami 82

Miami at Chicago, 8:30 p.m., May 18

Chicago at Miami, 8:30 p.m., May 22

Chicago at Miami, 8:30 p.m., May 24

Miami at Chicago, 8:30 p.m., May 26 (if necessary)

Chicago at Miami, 8:30 p.m., May 28 (if necessary)

Miami at Chicago, 8:30 p.m., May 30 (if necessary)

With the way the Bulls have been playing I can only hope that tomorrow's game goes really well especially being at home and all. If you're a Bulls fan leave me a comment about how you feel this group of guys are doing. If you're not a fan then you can leave a comment as well just as long as it isn't rude or mean.

New Rules - Are they needed or not?

The following came in from the NFL and brought to you by UPI -

NEW ORLEANS (UPI) -- NFL owners meeting in New Orleans Tuesday enacted several rule changes, including moving kickoffs from the 30- to the 35-yard line.

Players on the kicking team will only be allowed a 5-yard running start, instead of 15 yards.

However, the owners declined a recommendation by the league's competition committee to move touchbacks from the 20-yard line to the 25.

In another change, the booth official will now confirm all questionable scoring plays. Coaches will still be allowed two challenges per game, gaining a third if they are correct their first two.

The owners also acted to end confusion on penalties for dead ball fouls. The end of a half will not be extended for those infractions.

The league decreed all playing surfaces must remain grass-colored.


Copyright 2011 by United Press International


Well,
I can already see that the idea of giving the kicking team only five yards to run will cause a few penalties due to passing the kick-off line with it being closer than before.

I can safely assume a lot of touch-backs will be the end result based on the added five yards. The league denied the addition of five yards to the touch-back from the 20- to the 25- yard line. I can see why they kept it at the original 20. The last thing the opposing team needs is an added advantage to driving the ball to the end zone.

I will also have to agree that the field should remain green and not any other color. It was green when it all started so it should remain green from now on.

Leave me a comment on what you think about the rule changes.

The wins just keep on coming...

With the Bulls winning these past few days it feels even better to announce that my 49ers have won a good game in overtime with a nicely placed field goal by Joe Nedney. I wasn't able to watch the game but from what I saw on ESPN.com and read on UPI it was definitely a good game. Here is UPI's coverage of the game -

NFL: San Francisco 23, St. Louis 20 (OT)
SAN FRANCISCO (UPI) -- Joe Nedney kicked a 29-yard field goal 9:39 into overtime Sunday, letting the San Francisco 49ers edge St. Louis 23-20.

The 49ers had taken a three-point lead on a 16-yard touchdown pass from Troy Smith to Michael Crabtree with 2:10 left in the fourth quarter, but Rams kicker Josh Brown forced an overtime when he hit a 33-yard field goal as time expired.

Smith tossed for a career-best 356 yards and a touchdown, going 17-of-28, and Frank Gore ran for 87 yards and a score on 22 carries for San Francisco (3-6).

The Rams, meanwhile, lost for the second time in three games.

Sam Bradford finished the game with 251 yards and one touchdown, and Steven Jackson gained 81 yards on 20 carries with a score for St. Louis (4-5).



Copyright 2010 by United Press International

Very nice -

You know, just when you think you have a fix on what a team can and can't do BOOM you get surprised. A big CONGRATS to the Bulls for delivering a good old fashion whoop ass. The fact that this team is still my favorite is not a shocker but the fact that they handed GS an ass kicking truly brings a smile to my face. Read the following for UPI and tell me if this wasn't a good game.


NBA: Chicago 120, Golden State 90
CHICAGO (UPI) -- A big game from Luol Deng helped Chicago take control early Thursday and the Bulls easily held on to crush Golden State 120-90.

Deng had 26 points, 11 rebounds and six assists in helping bring Chicago its second straight win. All four of Chicago's victories this year have come at home.

Derrick Rose added 22 points and 13 assists for the Bulls and Joakim Noah had 17 points.

The Bulls built a 66-38 halftime lead and their lead grew to as many as 33 points late in the third period.

Monta Ellis scored 24 to lead the Warriors, who played without center David Lee (elbow). Golden State fell to 2-2 on a five-game road trip.

The Bulls shot 54 percent from the floor and missed just twice in 23 attempts from the foul line.



Copyright 2010 by United Press International

What a game indeed.

Playing very well...

It feels good to not be able to watch the game and still see the outcome look totally awesome. With a game like that who knows what's to come in the next few games. I will definitely be focusing on their performance - join me if you're a fellow Wolverine.

from the UPI coverage -


Michigan 42, Indiana 35
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (UPI) -- Denard Robinson completed a long pass and then ran in the game-winning score Saturday in No. 19 Michigan's 42-35 victory over Indiana.

Robinson found Junior Hemingway on a 42-yard pass with just 21 seconds remaining and on the next play scampered into the end zone to hand the Wolverines (5-0, 1-0 Big 10) a victory in the conference openers for both schools.

Robinson moved Michigan 73 yards on five plays during the decisive fourth-quarter drive. He was an offensive force, piling up 494 total yards and accounting for five touchdowns, including a 70-yard TD pass to Hemingway.

The Heisman Trophy candidate finished the day 10-of-16 passing for 277 yards while racking up 217 yards and two scores on the ground.

Ben Chappell, meanwhile, had a big day for Indiana (3-1, 0-1), setting school records for passing yards (480), completions (45) and attempts (64). He connected for with three touchdowns and an interception.



Copyright 2010 by United Press International

Sad, but not hurtful...

Well, the 49ers had themselves an interesting time this past weekend. Hoping to see a good game turned out to be a brutal butt whooping. I kept checking ESPN.com periodically throughout the game and I found myself stopping after half time. I knew that with it being the beginning of the season that they would need to get their game faces on before presenting some great games. The following is from a great site that I follow from time to time - please give it a read.

NFL: Seattle 31, San Francisco 6
SEATTLE (UPI) -- Matt Hasselbeck accounted for three touchdowns Sunday, passing for two scores and running for another, in the Seattle Seahawks' 31-6 rout of San Francisco.

Hasselbeck made a success of Pete Carroll's debut as head coach of Seattle (1-0) by going 18-of-23 through the air for 170 yards with one interception.

Carroll, who came to Seattle after nine years as coach at Southern California, entered the game with a 33-31 NFL career coaching record with the New York Jets (1994) and New England Patriots (1997-99).

Quarterback Alex Smith completed 26 of his 45 pass attempts for San Francisco (0-1), amassing 225 yards. Smith, however, tossed a pair of interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown by Marcus Trufant.



Copyright 2010 by United Press International

Head to head with each other...

"I brought them in together and had them understand why we made the decision and how important it is for them to continue to push each other and compete,"
Great words from the man in charge Mike Singletary. I would be happy with either quarterback running the team I love dearly. In an article at ArcaMax Sports/UPI that I read today they point out that Shaun Hill brought home 5 wins of the last 6 encounters towards the end of the season. Nothing against Alex Smith because I think he's great as well but let's use Hill for now and see where we stand by the end of November. I am really looking forward to watching my team play and kick some butt - game day for me starts when they have their opener against 08's NFC Champs the Cardinals. So whether we have Hill or Smith running things on the grid iron I just want others out there know that this season will be one to watch and one to watch closely.

Bring the proof...

This next section is from UPI...

SAN FRANCISCO (UPI) -- Barry Bonds wants a U.S. judge in California to dismiss most of the charges he faces from the steroids scandal, the San Jose (Calif.) Mercury News reported.

The charges, all felonies, stem from his grand jury testimony in the probe of BALCO, the lab cited for steroids distribution in 2003.

Bonds, 44, became major league baseball's all-time home run leader when he hit his 762nd round-tripper in the 2007 season, but was not signed in 2008 by any team.

He has denied knowingly taking illegal performance-enhancing substances.

The newspaper reported six lawyers representing him said in a pretrial motion Wednesday that 10 of the 15 counts Bonds faces should be dismissed for a variety of reasons, including one claiming that some of the questions posed to Bonds in the grand jury session were "fundamentally ambiguous."

The lawyers argued before U.S. District Judge Susan Illston in San Francisco.

Bonds faces up to 30 months in prison if he is convicted.

I have stated many times on this blog as well as other sport and nonsport blogs that if the man is dirty then please present the proof that doesn't extend to just words from people that might not have too good of a reliable background.

The man is innocent until "proven" guilty not considered guilty or assumed guilty. Bring the proof to the light and let's see it otherwise shut the piehole and remove the charges.

Good and not good...

Last nights game was fun to watch but at the same time it wasn't - most of you know that I'm a Bulls fan till the end. Most of you also know that I'm a big fan of King James as well - watching was a bit confusing because found myself yelling at the tv for Chicago to put a little more pressure on Cleveland and not allow the easy scores while cheering James on getting a nice shot off. If someone would of been listening they would of thought that I had either lost it mentally or just a nut sports fan that was undecided.
:)
The following report is from UPI's site - a great break down - give it a read and if you have any comments on the game last night please feel free to leave me a note saying so.

CLEVELAND (UPI) -- LeBron James poured in 41 points Wednesday and Cleveland used a run late in the second quarter to knock off Chicago 107-93.

James made 13 of 23 shots from the field and 15 of 16 from the line while grabbing nine rebounds and handing out six assists. Both teams came into the game with 2-2 marks in the early going this season.

Delonte West added 16 for the Cavaliers and Zydrunas Ilgauskas had 15.

The Bulls were within four points with three minutes remaining in the first half, but Cleveland went on a 12-4 run that gave the Cavaliers a 57-45 advantage at the break. Chicago came no closer than seven points during the final two quarters.

Ben Gordon led Chicago with 31 points.

At it again...

I don't understand how this guy can get into the rouble he does and still manages to to keep his job. It's reported that the recent incident isn't that bad - it's minor. I don't care if it's minor the point is and should always be keep your nose clean and stay focused on your career and not the bad habits that may or may not consume you. The following is from a reliable source (UPI) read it and see for yourself how they (the team) are trying to brush this off as something that should worry us and that we should just understand that things happen.

IRVING, Texas (UPI) -- Dallas Cowboys Coach Wade Phillips said Thursday he expects Adam Jones to play Sunday despite the cornerback's alleged involvement in a fight this week.

Jones, who served a one-year suspension for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy, reportedly became involved in an incident with one of his bodyguards while they were at a Dallas hotel Tuesday night.

Police were called to the scene, but no arrests were made and no charges filed.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said the player and his personal security guard were "kidding around."

"It went a little too far," the team owner said. "It went over the boundary. They resolved it and went home."

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said the league was gathering information.

"We're trying to determine all the facts," Goodell said. "It's clear there was some type of incident."

Michigan coming through after all...

This past weekend was a bit busy with me being Puerto Rico and all so I was unable to catch the game that from what I saw on Sports Center was one to watch. I know that Michigan has a history of coming from behind but coming from behind and actually getting the win feels great. Now that I'm back in the US I plan on catching the game this coming weekend. Hope to see the other die had fans supporting the team on tv. Great job Michigan!

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - David Gilreath caught a touchdown pass with 13 seconds left but eighth-ranked Wisconsin failed on a two-point try and Michigan posted a 27-25 upset.

Wisconsin committed a penalty on its first two-point try and failed in its next attempt to enable the Michigan Wolverines to overcome a 19-point halftime deficit.

Wisconsin was trailing 27-19 before Allan Evridge hit Gilreath on a 22-yard scoring strike. The Badgers converted the first two-point try, but an illegal receiver down field nullified the tying score.

Brandon Graham had two forced fumbles and three sacks for the Wolverines (2-2, 1-0 Big Ten). John Thompson added a 25-yard interception return for a touchdown for the victors.

Michigan gained only 19 yards and turned the ball over five times in the first half. Brandon Minor and Sam McGuffie each scored rushing touchdowns and Kevin Koger caught a 26-yard TD pass in the win.

Looking bad at this point...

BOSTON - Torii Hunter hit a three-run home run and Casey Kotchman added a two-run homer in a six-run sixth inning Monday to lead the LA Angels to a 7-5 win over Boston.

Vladimir Guerrero was 2-for-4 and with two runs for the Angels, who have won five of their last six games.

Juan Rivera and Jeff Mathis each had an RBI and the Angels left just four men on base.

Jered Weaver (9-8) was the winner after allowing three runs on six hits in 5 2/3 innings.

Francisco Rodriguez got his 44th save of the season.

Manny Ramirez homered and drove in three runs for the Red Sox, who have lost three of their last four.

Losing pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka (11-2) gave up six runs on seven hits in five-plus innings for just his second loss this season.

---

It's hard to watch Sports Center in the morning when I have to work but it's even harder to watch it and finding out that your team hasn't won a game in like five days.

The way things are going I hope they find they're issue and solve it fairly quickly because before they know it the season will end and they're going to find themselves trying to catch up.

Wake up fellas and the game going because as the defending champs you have a job to keep as well as a fan base to entertain.

Another bad one but it could of been worse...

ANAHEIM, Calif. - Garret Anderson drove in five runs with four of Los Angeles' 14 hits Friday, carrying the Angels to an 11-3 bombing of Boston.

The Red Sox slipped a half game behind Tampa Bay in the American League East after the Rays ended a seven-game losing streak earlier in the evening.

Los Angeles expanded its advantage over Oakland in the AL West to 7 1/2 games -- easily the largest lead in the majors.

Anderson singled in a run during the Angels' three-run first, added a solo homer in the fourth, singled in another run in the fifth and had a two-run base hit in the sixth.

It was Los Angeles' third win in four meetings with Boston this season. The Red Sox swept the Angels in the American League Division Series last year.

John Lackey (7-2) picked up the victory, allowing three runs on five hits in seven innings. It was only his second win ever over Boston in 12 starts.

Clay Buchholz (2-5), who has been in and out of the Boston rotation this year, took the loss. He surrendered four runs on eight hits in 4 2/3.

---

It's a good thing that I did not watch this game because from what I saw on the coverage it wasn't exactly the best performance. I'm looking forward to having them focus a bit more on the big picture and not let this game get to them. With the All-Star weekend over and the AL coming out on top they must feel a little bit good about that seeing that the NL has never won it but maybe their saving their explosion for later on in the season. I can only hope.
:)

A close one but not a win...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Gabe Gross hit a two-run homer Monday, helping the Tampa Bay Rays defeat the Boston Red Sox 5-4.

B.J. Upton hit a solo home run, and Carlos Pena and Jonny Gomes each had an RBI for the Rays, who have won six of their last seven games and have the best record in the majors.

James Shields (6-5) got the win after giving up two runs on five hits with a walk and five strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings.

J.D. Drew hit a solo homer and Mike Lowell went 3-for-4 with an RBI for the Red Sox, who scored twice in the ninth inning but left the potential tying run at third base.

Justin Masterson (4-2) got the loss after he gave up four runs on five hits with five walks and five strikeouts in six innings.

Tampa Bay 5, Boston 4

---

If only they would of kept the momentum going when it came down to the third base runner trying to get home for the tie. I have to hand it to the Rays because they have been performing at their best winning their last six of seven games. They put on a good show and were able to keep Boston back so that they can secure a win over them. Boston usually goes into a slump this time of year but I know that their drive for a second championship is deep within them and trust me when the time comes for it to be released there will be no one there to stop them.

After watching last night's game three between the final two teams Boston and LA I felt like Boston was not executing properly their complete attack for the win. Garnett and Pierce need to get their game going early on and keep it pumped throughout the night. They were both struggling and were only able to bring in 19 points total. Well let's see what game four will bring.

---

LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles Lakers, led by Kobe Bryant's 36 points, climbed back into the NBA Finals series with an 87-81 win over the Boston Celtics in Game 3 Tuesday.

The Lakers, 9-0 at home in the post-season, avoided falling into an 0-3 series hole. Game 4 will be Thursday in Los Angeles.

Sasha Vujacic came off the bench to score 20 for the Lakers, while Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom scored just four and nine points, respectively.

Boston was led by Ray Allen's 25 points. Allen hit five of seven three-point attempts. Kevin Garnett managed just 13 points -- missing 15 of his 21 shots from the field -- and 12 rebounds. Paul Pierce was even worse, missing 12 of 14 shots and finishing with just six points.

The Celtics have lost six of eight road games in the post-season.

NBA: LA Lakers 87, Boston 81

Keep them coming...

BOSTON - J.D. Drew produced both runs Sunday in the Boston Red Sox' 2-1 decision over the Seattle Mariners.

His solo homer broke a 1-1 tie with no outs in the bottom of the sixth inning.

The veteran right-fielder pushed the other run across the plate when he was hit by pitch from Seattle starting pitcher Erik Bedard with the bases loaded and two outs in the third.

Five players had one hit for the Red Sox, who have won five of their last six games overall and 15 of their last 16 at Fenway Park.

Winner Justin Masterson (3-0) gave up an earned run and just three hits in six innings. Closer Jonathan Papelbon recorded his 18th save this season.

Seattle's run scored on a fielder's choice groundout by Yuniesky Betancourt in the top of the second.

The Mariners managed five hits in the sixth loss in their last seven games.

The losing pitcher was reliever Sean Green (1-2).

Boston's Manny Ramirez extended his hitting streak to 13 games.

Let the Finals begin...

BOSTON - The Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers, who make up the most tradition-bound rivalry pro basketball, open the NBA Finals Thursday.

It will be the 11th time the franchises have met for the league championship, with the Celtics having claimed eight of the previous 10 confrontations.

Boston dominated the rivalry when Bill Russell was the symbol of the team and the Lakers won the last two meetings with the tandem of Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Now it will be the Boston trio of Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce attempting to get the best of Los Angeles superstar Kobe Bryant.

Bryant has hit 50 percent of his shots and averaged 32 points a game in 13 playoff contests this season.

The Celtics, meanwhile, have played only one post-season game under the maximum. They were extended to seven games by both Atlanta and Cleveland before closing out Detroit in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals.

Boston won both regular-season meetings this season and will be at home for the first two games of the Championship Series. All games in the finals are scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. ET.

---

I can't wait to watch game one, I want to see which team will try to gain the lead early in the game. Who knows maybe my uncle can add the Celtics to his list of favorite teams right next to the Red Sox.

Add 1 more to the count...

BOSTON - J.D. Drew homered and doubled Tuesday to pace the Boston Red Sox to a 7-4 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays.

The Red Sox recalled Justin Masterson (2-0), who started Tuesday's game and got the win after allowing four runs on six hits in six innings.

Mike Lowell hit a two-run homer and Coco Crisp had a two-run double for Boston, which extended its home winning streak to 11 games.

Carlos Pena went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run and three RBI for Tampa Bay, which had a three-game win streak broken but maintained its lead in the American League East. Matt Garza (4-2) gave up seven runs on six hits in 5 1/3 innings.

Kicking butt in style...

BOSTON -- Mike Lowell and J.D. Drew hit grand slam homers Thursday to boost Boston past Kansas City 11-8 and give the Red Sox a four-game sweep.

Boston starter Daisuke Matsuzaka improved to 8-0 and closer Jonathan Papelbon recorded his 14th save this season.

Lowell had three hits and scored three times. Drew, whose grand slam in the bottom of the second inning erased an early 1-0 deficit, had two runs and two hits.

Kevin Youkilis and Julio Lugo both had two hits and one RBI while Dustin Pedroia drove in a run for the Red Sox, who completed a 7-0 home-stand.

Kansas City got two doubles, a three-run homer and five RBI from Miguel Olivo. Jose Guillen had four runs, three hits -- one a solo homer -- and three RBI.

Joey Gathright and David DeJesus added two hits each for the Royals, who have dropped five of six.

Losing pitcher Brian Bannister (4-6) was shelled for seven earned runs and 12 hits in 5 1/3 innings.

Adding another win to the total stat...

BOSTON (UPI) -- Kevin Youkilis' three hits and four RBI Sunday led the Boston Red Sox 7-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays.

Youkilis started the scoring with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the first inning, and then added a solo homer in the seventh and a two-run double in the eighth.

The eventual winning run scored on Dustin Pedroia's fourth-inning groundout, which gave Boston a 4-0 lead.

Coco Crisp and Jason Varitek had two hits apiece for the Red Sox, who completed a three-game sweep and have won five of their last six contests.

Winner Jon Lester (2-2) gave up an earned run and just four hits in six innings with three walks and five strikeouts.

Jonathan Papelbon retired the final four batters to earn his ninth save.

Tampa Bay got one RBI each from Carlos Pena, Akinori Iwamura and Carl Crawford, with Pena hitting a solo homer in the sixth.

The losing pitcher in his first start this season was Scott Kazmir (0-1).