NFL Preseason : Football fans in Chicago are feeling good again about their starting QB Jay Cutler. One week removed from a disappointing performance, Cutler looked very good against the Giants starting defensive unit, going 8-of-13 for 121 yards, a touchdown and a 117.8 passer rating.
In their sports TV program, Television host Sonny Palermo and co-host Jarvis Simes discussed this game and gave out several other NFL picks in their weekly Thursday night show.
Chicago has been quarterback starved forever and it’s really remarkable that they have been as competitive as they have been over the years without a top pivot. The Bears finally have a legitimate top-tier QB and after week two of the preseason, it looks like Cutler is ready to deliver the goods.
Next week’s game in Denver between the Bears and Broncos has to be one of the most highly anticipated exhibition games in recent memory. We can only guess that Cutler is going to want to make rookie Denver Head Coach Josh McDaniels wish that he could have a do-over. Look for him to slice and dice a weak Denver team.
The sports portal will have the full analysis of this game posted up, with trends, picks and blogs from our experts. As well, they’ll cover this matchup for NFL during their live streaming TV shows.
Running back Matt Forte made his preseason debut against the Giants and picked up where he left off last year rushing for 58 yards on nine carries and racing untouched on a 32-yard scoring run.
Staying in the NFC North, Aaron Rodgers of the Packers has looked very sharp in his first two games after he torched Buffalo going 8 of 9 for 98 yards and two TDs. In two games Rodgers has produced five touchdowns in six drives.
Up the road in Minnesota where Brett Favre stunk the joint up in his debut for the Vikings, embattled quarterback Tarvaris Jackson threw for 202 yards and two touchdowns while completing 12 of 15 passes. Too bad he won’t see the field unless Favre struggles mightily.
Over in the NFC East the Cowboys were led by Tony Romo who went 18 of 24 for 192 yards in a 30-10 victory over the Tennessee Titans. Romo guided the Cowboys to 249 yards and 17 first downs in the first half. It’s a big year for Romo and he looks ready to take up the challenge.
Michael Turner is off to a hot start in both of his preseason games and had 65 yards on seven carries plus a touchdown against the Rams. Turner is going to have a tremendous year and is worthy of the first pick in anyone’s fantasy pool. Matt Ryan continues his steady play and finished two series going 7 for 8 for 81 yards with a touchdown pass to Tony Gonzalez. Look for that combination to light it up all year long.
Over in the AFC, Chad Ochocinco was a one-man wrecking crew in a very low scoring affair with the New England Patriots. A week after the Pats torched the Eagles, New England and Tom Brady didn’t look like the world-beaters everyone anticipates in 2009. Brady was ineffective going 4 for 8 for 57 yards and no scores. He was also knocked down twice.
Ochocinco caught three balls for 69 yards including a 35-yard catch and also stepped in as the place kicker and made the game winning extra point to beat the Pats 7-6. Carson Palmer didn’t play but should be back for the regular season.
The Bengals defense is showing signs of a good young aggressive defense that Marvin Lewis has quietly assembled by limiting the Patriots to two field goals. The Bengals will surprise a few folks if Palmer can stay healthy.
Peyton Manning righted his game after a disappointing first game going 10-14 and 167 yards and two touchdowns in three series of work against Philadelphia. Defensive End Dwight Freeney was everywhere applying lots of pressure up-field and looks great in the early going.
Sticking to the AFC South, David Garrard of the Jacksonville Jaguars had a strong game against the Bucs going 10-16 for 216 yards and one touchdown. Former Viking bust Troy Williamson looked unstoppable catching three balls for 147 yards and a touchdown. Williamson caught four balls for 74 yards in their first game and looks to finally be worthy of the 7th overall pick by the Vikings in the 2005 draft.
It’s still early and the next game is usually when the starters will play the longest, but the cream is starting to rise to the top.
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Gossip On Sports: NFL Preseason
Tennis Results: Tennis WTA results 2nd update
Tennis Results: WTA results 2nd update
On Thursday, Tennis Results from the 4th day of the 700,000-dollar WTA Bank of the West Classic (x denotes seed):
2nd Round:
Serena Williams (USA x1) bt Melinda Czink (HUN) 6-3, 7-6 (9/7)
Venus Williams (USA x2) bt Alla Kudryavtseva (RUS) 6-1, 7-5
Marion Bartoli (FRA x8) bt Melanie Oudin (USA) 7-5, 6-4
Gossip On Sports: ATP Indianapolis Results Compared
ATP Indianapolis Championships results from the 5th day of the 450,000-dollar (x denotes seeded player):
1st Round:
Marcos Daniel (BRA) bt Taylor Dent (USA) 6-2, 6-4
2nd Round:
Alex Bogomolov (USA) bt Dudi Sela (ISR x2) 6-4, 7-6 (7/5)
Marc Gicquel (FRA x7) bt Jesse Levine (USA) 6-2, 6-2
Wayne Odesnik (USA) bt Igor Kunitsyn (RUS x4) 2-6, 6-1, 6-1
Sam Querrey (USA x3) bt Rajeev Ram (USA) 7-5, 6-3
Wayne Odesnik USA) bt Igor Kunitsyn (RUS x4) 2-6, 6-1, 6-1
Frank Dancevic (CAN) bt Benjamin Becker (GER x5) 6-2, 7-5
John Isner (USA) bt Denis Istomin (UZB x8) 6-4, 6-4
Dmitry Tursunov (RUS x1) bt Daniel (BRA) 6-3, 6-3
Robby Ginepri (USA) bt Eduardo Schwank (ARG) 6-7 (1/7), 6-3, 6-0
Was Obama’s 1st pitch a ball or Strike? Obama’s 1st Pitch All-Star Game
At the All-Star game, determined his ceremonial first pitch would reach the plate on the fly Tuesday night, Obama delivered - barely. St. Louis Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols helped him out in moving up to scoop the low toss inches off the dirt.
Obama said, "We did a little practicing in the Rose Garden. This is as much fun as I've had in quite some time. I did not play organized baseball when I was a kid and so, you know, I think some of these natural moves aren't so natural to me".
However, Television viewers were initially left to wonder whether the presidential pitch skipped. Many people at Busch Stadium were not completely sure.
Fox showed a replay from the center-field camera that proved the ball made it home in the air, when Obama later visited the broadcast booth.
Obama was at ease visiting the teams before the game and during his time on the air. Asked whether there were bailout funds to help the National League's losing streak, he cracked, "We're out of money."
Obama with a Chicago White Sox jacket, jeans and sneakers, and cheered by the sellout crowd, Obama walked out of the NL's dugout on the first-base side, shook hands with Cardinals Hall of Famer Stan Musial and trotted to the mound.
Obama went right to rubber, Fresh from warming up a day earlier on the White House grounds, all 60 feet and 6 inches away. The left-hander wound up and bit his lip as he let fly.
Obama grimaced slightly, but gave a fist pump when Pujols - a Gold Glove first baseman - made the neat grab with a specially made black mitt with "Obama #44" and an American flag on it.
Obama became the latest Chicago hoopster to try his hand at baseball. Like Michael Jordan, the president looked more comfortable in his other job.
Gossip On Sports: Twenty20 World Cup Updates
New Zealand meet South Africa on Tuesday in the Twenty20 World Cup and already punters have the dilemma of a dead rubber. Neither team needs to win this match as they are both through to the next round, although there will be much talk from the respective leaders about building “momentum”.
South Africa are hot favourites at 1.50 and have been so impressive that they have usurped India as favourites to lift the trophy. Those of a nervous disposition worry that the Proteas have peaked too early, a ridiculous suggestion given they have played one game proper - and they didn’t leave first gear.