And if you saw their last meeting, you would know why.

It used to be all that mattered when the Clippers played the Lakers was whether Jack Nicholson bothered to show. In their second meeting this 2012 NBA basketball season, it just didn’t matter no more.

This one clearly mattered. By the final period, there threatened to be more technical fouls and near-fights than basketball plays. The basketball wasn’t that bad, either. Spectacular, actually, if you are measuring intensity. The Lakers will measure it any way you want. Led by that old hand, Kobe Bryant, the Los Angeles Lakers prevailed in a rough and rugged fourth period to win, 96-91.

Coming into this game, the Los Angeles Lakers had lost four of their last five games, including one to the Los Angeles Clippers. The Lakers play four of their next five games on the road and could ill afford to head that way with another loss to the Clippers, which would be four in a row, including two in the preseason.

With only one more meeting in the Hallway Series in April, the Los Angeles Lakers would have lost a season series to a team in its division, and with it possible playoff positioning.

Again, the Lakers took care of all that…

Read More » Lakers – Clippers Rivalry in the NBA just got awesome

You read that right.

While Super Bowl XLVI is coming to Indianapolis, Peyton Manning, one of the city’s beloved heroes, could be leaving town soon, judging by the comments the quarterback made a few days ago.

Comments that were able to reach Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay, the guy who engineered a huge revamp of the Colts front office which Manning didn’t like one bit.

After introducing new head coach Chuck Pagano, Irsay met with reporters and took some subtle but clear shots at Peyton Manning, the NFL’s only four-time MVP, who said earlier in the week that the Colts complex with so many getting fired wasn’t a healthy environment for his rehab from neck surgery.

”Look, I have so much affection and appreciation for Peyton,” Irsay said. ”We’re family, you know, we always will be and we are.” But then the team owner added, ”He’s a politician,” all the while admitting both he and Manning were ultra-competitive types.

That said, Irsay didn’t care for the tenor of some of Manning’s comments, which also made reference to not wanting to get into a war of words for public support.

”I don’t think it’s in a good interest to paint the horseshoe in a negative light…”

Read More » Peyton Manning could be leaving Indianapolis soon

The rematch is on.

Heading to Super Bowl XLVI, the New York Giants will play the New England Patriots in Indianapolis for a Super Bowl rematch.

Can the Patriots really beat the Giants for the Super Bowl this time? We’re asking because the last time these two teams did this, the New York Giants handed the New England Patriots their first and only loss of that year to win Super Bowl XLII and deny the Pats of breaking the undefeated campaign the 1972 Miami Dolphins did.

Yeah, you can just imagine how disappointed the entire fan base of the New England Patriots then. Imagine the huge wave of momentum they were riding then only for the New York Giants to snatch it away like that.

Super Bowl XLII. The first Patriots – Giants showdown in the ultimate game. For Pats fans, it is the game that cannot be watched, the game that shall not be mentioned, the game that has left permanent scars. Eight Patriots remain from the team that came so close to achieving the ultimate four years ago, only to walk away devastated after losing 17-14 to New York.

As far as Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and his players are concerned, they have already downplayed any significance with the past meeting. Only, that’s not the sense you get from the Pats who were part of Super Bowl XLII and would like nothing more than another crack at the Giants. Will avenging that loss play any role in the upcoming game? Will it factor in at all..?

Read More » Can the Patriots beat the Giants for the Super Bowl?

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to determine who Las Vegas oddsmakers are rooting for.

Apparently, some people were not betting on the New York Giants to turn it around this year and get to Super Bowl XLVI against the New England Patriots.

Yup, a number of sportsbooks in Las Vegas on the New York Giants winning the Super Bowl at long odds earlier into the season when the Giants were struggling. They were struggling so bad that there were odds as high as 80-to-1.

Jimmy Vaccaro, head of the Lucky’s Race and Sports Book, said in an interview this week that while he took only a few bets that could reap big payoffs for a Giants victory over the New England Patriots, he had heard from other oddsmakers who are at significantly greater risk.

”They got hit pretty hard at the high number,” Vaccaro said. ”If the Giants win this game, it could do some damage out here, there is no doubt. A lot of guys were rooting for San Francisco on Sunday, I can tell you that.”

The concern from oddsmakers has little to do with bettors wagering on the actual game, some say this game may break the Nevada record of $94 million bet on the 2006 Super Bowl between Pittsburgh and Seattle. Rather, the fear is based on what is known as futures betting.

Essentially, futures are the odds that sports books offer…

Read More » Las Vegas lose big time if the NY Giants win

But apparently, Pacquiao and his camp continue to come up with excuses to dodge the best pound for pound fighter in the world.

Sigh. That’s the only thing I can do at this point after what is looking like another escape act being made by boxing’s biggest joke, the third world moron himself, Manny Pacquiao.

In case you’ve been living under a rock lately, Floyd Mayweather Jr. has been calling out Manny Pacquiao on all kinds of media outlets lately, be it on TV, press conferences, over the phone, and even on Twitter. The undefeated best boxer in the world just wants to kick Manny Pacquiao’s ass and to have the rest of the world witness how pathetic this third world joke is, unfortunately for fight fans, Pacquiao still doesn’t want anything to do with Money May.

Yeah, sure, Pacquiao probably got his ”very intelligent” fans thinking otherwise. He got them thinking that it’s Mayweather who doesn’t want the fight to happen. But the fact of the matter is, Mayweather wants the fight more than anything. So much so that he already got May 5 booked in Las Vegas just for this fight.

So what’s Pacquiao saying now? Well, he is now saying that Las Vegas isn’t a big enough venue for the fight. Pacquiao and his people want to build a makeshift arena, claiming that the allure of both the Thomas & Mack Center and the MGM Grand Garden Arena, the hunting ground of the best fighters in the world if I may add, just isn’t good enough for Pacquiao’s third world ass.

They want to push the fight as far back as possible until…

Read More » Floyd Mayweather still wants to fuck up Manny Pacquiao

Who will be next to challenge Jon Jones?

The Ultimate Fighting Championship invades the United Center in Chicago on Saturday, January 28 for UFC on Fox 2 with an ultimate tripleheader.

In the night’s main event, former light heavyweight champion “Suga” Rashad Evans takes on undefeated former national champion wrestler Phil “Mr. Wonderful” Davis to determine the next challenger to the 205-pound title.


The 185-pound division will watch intently as Chael Sonnen meets Michael “The Count” Bisping in the Octagon. Plus, Chris Weidman hopes to keep his unbeaten streak alive as he battles against Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu master Demian Maia.


This outstanding two-hour broadcast airs live on FOX at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.

History was made when the UFC® debuted on FOX in November, as 5.7 million viewers (8.8 million peak) tuned in to watch Cain Velasquez battle Junior dos Santos for the heavyweight title. Now, fight fans around the world can gear up for another incredible night of action inside the Octagon® live on FOX.


“This is the show that officially starts our deal with FOX and we’re bringing what the fans want – a night packed with great fights,” UFC President Dana White said. “We’re kicking this thing off with an incredible tripleheader. Rashad Evans looked fantastic in his last fight against Tito Ortiz and he wants to get the belt back. But Phil Davis is no joke. He’s undefeated at 9-0 and has stormed through guys like Brian Stann, Alexander Gustafsson and Rogerio Nogueira. He wants the title shot just as bad as Rashad.”

Jon Jones will have his eyes on the UFC on Fox 2…

Read More » Rashad Evans and Phil Davis headline UFC on Fox 2

No question. But if their loss to the Bucks is an indication to the kind of heat Miami can dish out, then LeBron is in trouble.

Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra predicted before Sunday’s game against the Bucks that the team with the most energy would likely win. “This game won’t be about the schematics,” Spoelstra said in the opening remarks of his pregame news conference.

“It will be about a team that’s had a day off and a team that played last night. Who can bring a higher motor and more activity consistently will win this game.”

He was correct. The Bucks outhustled the Heat, which had trouble executing basketball fundamentals such as passing the ball. The Heat had 22 turnovers, recorded just nine assists and scored just 82 points, their lowest output so far this 2012 NBA basketball season.

So Spoelstra gave his players an off day Monday to rest their bodies and prepare for what will surely be an emotionally charged game Tuesday. The Heat plays host to the Cleveland Cavaliers, the team LeBron James used to play for, which went 1-4 against the Heat last season.

Monday was just the Heat’s second off day this season and first since Dec. 26, the second day of the season.

“I love days off; I’m sure everybody does,” forward Chris Bosh said. “When you’re going for seven or eight…”

Read More » Can LeBron James bring the Heat to the Cavaliers?

He better.

With one of their former drivers, Kimi Raikkonen, making his return to F1, the pressure is on Lewis Hamilton to get back to championship form this 2012 F1 season.

Yes, McLaren is expecting an intense in-house fight this season as Lewis Hamilton attempts to get back at team-mate Jenson Button for beating him last year.

Last year’s Championship, which was marred by controversy both on and off the track for Lewis Hamilton, was the first in which the Brit had been beaten by his team-mate. And McLaren’s Neale reckons it could be just the spark that Hamilton needs to turn his fortunes around.

“Drivers don’t like being beaten by their team-mate, and world Champions don’t like being beaten by anybody else either,” he said during the Autosport International Show.

“Given the nature of Lewis being a fiercely competitive and driven individual, that was never going to sit easy with him. But it certainly wasn’t an annus horribilis for Lewis by any means because we did win multiple races, but by his standards and ours it was a year for some learning and reflection.”

“A lot of work has gone on over the winter to build a car to enable both guys to come back and get the job done, and for Lewis a chance to reflect on 2011 and come back as the man he’d like to be.”

The McLaren managing director, though, insists…

Read More » McLaren counting on Lewis Hamilton to step up

That, is easier said than done.

When the Baltimore Ravens travel to Foxborough, Mass., for Sunday’s 2012 AFC championship game, they may face more than just one opponent in the New England Patriots.

How come? Because the Baltimore Ravens will be tasked with contradicting a history of dominance at Gillette Stadium, where, since 2002, the New England Patriots have won more regular-season games (67) and postseason contests (eight) than any other team in the NFL.

The New England Patriots have dropped just two playoff games at home, but both losses occurred in back-to-back years beginning with the Ravens’ 33-14 demolition in the 2009 postseason. Still, the Ravens understand the challenge that awaits them.

”I think anytime you get a team that plays really well at home, they are in a lot of games and they are winning a lot of games,” quarterback Joe Flacco said. ”If you give [fans] something to cheer about, they are going to be loud and they are going to be positive for that team.”

”That is the biggest thing with playing there. They have a good football team. They win a lot of games. They are in a lot of games. There is never really a point in the game where they are not excited about what is going on with their team. I think it is our job to go in there and play the way we can play and try and play well so we can take them out of it as much as we can.”

They need too, especially with a trip to Super Bowl XLVI at stake…

Read More » Can the Ravens beat the Patriots in Foxboro?

The Giants believe so.

A new generation of Giants receivers has come to praise Eli Manning as they head for their matchup with the 49ers with a ticket to Super Bowl XLVI at stake.

These New York Giants do not throw their hands up in disgust on the rare occasions Manning overthrows them, or doesn’t see them. They do not read his placid expressions as a sign of passivity. They marvel at — not mock — his quiet leadership approach.

Here is Jake Ballard, the second-year tight end and, like Victor Cruz, an undrafted rookie in 2010, quoting from the receivers’ Book of Eli with the hours counting down to the NFC championship game Sunday at Candlestick Park against the San Francisco 49ers.

“There’s a lot of pressure coming into a season on a team like this,” Ballard said. “And if you walked in and are working with a veteran quarterback, and you make a mistake and he’s ripping you apart, putting you down or making it obvious on the field that it’s your fault, then that would make a tough situation even worse.”

“Eli doesn’t approach it that way. I know that when me and Victor came in, we didn’t know everything and we still don’t. But when we made a mistake, ran the wrong route, he always took the time to help us. That’s what good leaders do. They realize the team’s not just made of vets. You have to be willing to accept other people’s mistakes and Eli is great with that, one of the best.”

Ballard shrugged and continued: “I don’t know how he was…”

Read More » Can Eli Manning lead the Giants past the 49ers?