Can they avoid stumbling in the end again?

The Netherlands rallied through qualifying for the 2010 FIFA World Cup with a perfect record, winning all eight of its qualifiers whilst scoring 17 goals and conceding only two. They finished 2009 ranked third in the FIFA World Rankings, but the concern is that this is a side that some times suffers inexplicable defeats.

In Euro 2008, for example, Netherlands looked almost unstoppable after winning their group games by scores of 3-0 over Italy, 4-1 over France and 2-0 over Romania. Yet in the quarterfinals they suffered a shock 3-1 loss to Russia after extra time. In 2009, there were no losses for the Dutch, however. They won six matches and drew four, scoring 18 and conceding only four goals.

The Netherlands are traditionally among the most technically proficient teams in the game and their passing can be a thing of beauty, but it’s the cutting edge they will be looking for in South African in 2010.

Assistant coach Frank de Boer, their second most capped player of all time, told the FIFA website: “We have a mission: that mission is to be champions of the world.” They have the players to do it. What they will need in South Africa will be consistency throughout the month-long tournament.

If there’s one clear advantage that the Netherlands has…

2010 WORLD CUP TEAMS
Can they avoid stumbling in the end again?
The Netherlands rallied through qualifying for the 2010 FIFA World Cup with a perfect record, winning all eight of its qualifiers whilst scoring 17 goals and conceding only two. They finished 2009 ranked third in the FIFA World Rankings, but the concern is that this [...]

2010 WORLD CUP TEAMS
Serbia will have a lot to prove in South Africa.
Serbia is in the 2010 FIFA World Cup as an independent nation for the first time. However, as Yugoslavia, they have plenty of previous World Cup experience.
The Serbians topped their qualifying group ahead of France and enjoyed a good 2009, recording nine [...]

The AFC East just became the best division in football.

With the addition of Brandon Marshall in the Miami Dolphins lineup this 2010 NFL football season, a trade that surprised a lot of teams since Marshall is a talented but troubled wide receiver, the AFC East just got interesting.

The Dolphins’ decision to acquire Brandon Marshall made the AFC East the best conference in the NFL. Add to that, Dolphins signed him to a four-year, $47.5 million contract with $24 million guaranteed, while giving up several second-round draft picks. This is a lot of money, and a big gamble on a guy who has had his share of on- and off-the-field issues.

With the addition of Marshall and the continued development of Chad Henne, the Dolphins are poised to be in the thick of things.

Take the Dolphins’ rushing attack and a quarterback who can actually stretch the field with his arm, and the Miami Dolphins offense now looks to be viable. The defense was solid last season, and they believe removing Joey Porter will allow them to actually get younger and more athletic at the linebacker position.

The New York Jets have made a lot of offseason acquisitions too like Antonio Cromartie, LaDanian Tomlinson, and Santonio Holmes all for relatively favorable terms for the Jets. Cromartie can be considered a gamble, but if he can return to his form of a few years ago, the Jets will have the best secondary in the league by far.

Mark Sanchez should be better after a full season under…

Serbia will have a lot to prove in South Africa.

Serbia is in the 2010 FIFA World Cup as an independent nation for the first time. However, as Yugoslavia, they have plenty of previous World Cup experience.

The Serbians topped their qualifying group ahead of France and enjoyed a good 2009, recording nine wins, two losses and one draw. One of those victories came in South Africa when the White Eagles beat the World Cup hosts 3-1.

The players representing Serbia can be found in the major European leagues, including England, Spain, Italy, and Germany, which means many of them are battle-hardened from playing in continental club competitions.

They have a chance with Nemanja Vidic in defense and the giant Nikola Zigic up front, they have power throughout the side. Milan Jovanovic has a decent strike ratio for his country, and scored five times in qualifying. Raddy Antic, former Luton midfielder and boss of Barca and Real Madrid is their coach.

Captain Dejan Stankovic has been playing international football for over a decade – he made his debut in April 1998 against South Korea, scoring two goals in a 3-1 win – and he brings an experienced and calm presence to the midfield. Behind him, Manchester United’s highly-rated Nemanja Vidic takes care of the central defense.

Serbia’s national team was previously Yugoslavia, from…

It looks like the Jets have once again signed a big name superstar who’s trying to prove something coming to the new season.

Yes, LaDainian Tomlinson will be playing for the New York Jets in the 2010 NFL football season. L.T. will be the Jets’ latest high profile superstar, joining the likes of Brett Favre, Bart Scott, Braylon Edwards and Antonio Cromartie who the Jets have signed the last few years, all were looking then to salvage what’s left of their playing days in the Big Apple.

But since LaDainian Tomlinson is joining the very team that ranked first in the league in rushing offense last season, there shouldn’t be any problems for L.T. to get going for New York right? After all, he made a career out of running the ball for years, even winning him the league MVP back in ‘06.

Well, if he was five years younger, there wouldn’t be any problems alright. But at 30, that’s a little hard to say for sure. Still, Tomlinson’s age hasn’t fazed his confidence one bit and he feels his marriage with the New York Jets will equate to a Super Bowl title. He wouldn’t be there if he thought otherwise.

”He wanted to go to a team that he thought had a chance to compete for the championship,” Tomlinson’s agent Tom Condon said in an interview. ”He wanted to go somewhere where he had a chance to have a significant role, and so with the Jets he also was going to be very familiar with the offensive system.”

With the $5.1 million the Jets are paying Tomlinson, he’s got to be ”familiar with the system” alright. The Jets signed Tomlinson to a two-year contract and if it turns out that Tomlinson still got it…

Can you believe that?

With all the hype surrounding Super Bowl XLIV this Sunday, BetUS.com wants all of you to bet on a couple of movie stars who are having some sort of ”love spat” if you will.

Of course, since most of you still fantasize about Angelina Jolie, those folks from BetUS.com know ya’ll will bet on these betting odds anyway since the Super Bowl is still more than a couple of days away and you don’t have anything else to do.

And in case you haven’t heard, there are rumors that claim Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are splitting up. Of course, we have no idea if the rumors are actually true are not but as far as Brangelina is concerned, the Hollywood couple were having dinner when the rumors broke out.

So where did the rumors come from? Apparently, it all began after Brad Pitt’s real estate purchase. Pitt bought a new house next door to the one he currently shares with Jolie and according to the rumors, the house Pitt bought is going to be a bachelor pad so he and Jolie can split up.

The rumors also claim that Pitt wanted to live next door so he can still be close enough to the kids.

However, according to TMZ.com, the house in question was actually bought back in August of last year, that means Pitt already bought the house waaay before any of the rumors about them splitting up came out. TMZ also explained that Pitt bought the house so he could expand the sprawling estate he and Angelina already own.

Of course, that won’t stop you from speculating right? That’s why…

In case you didn’t know, the Pacquiao – Cotto fight ain’t the only big pay per view event this weekend.

Because as far as UFC president Dana White is concerned, he wants a piece of the viewing audience too. And since UFC 105 is in the UK, viewers around the world will get to see it first while they wait for Pacquiao and Cotto get it on. Yes, Dana White is one smart sonuvabitch.

And perhaps what makes him even smarter is the fact that he was able to get Randy Couture inside the Octagon once again. This time, Couture has Brandon Vera, a guy trying to establish himself as a title contender in the light heavyweight division.

Of course, a win over Randy Couture will do just that.

Couture, the former UFC heavyweight and light heavyweight champion, continues to be on top of his game as he faces Vera. Looking impressive even in his losses, Couture uses his base in Greco – Roman wrestling combined with ever improving boxing to grind away at opponents.

Vera on the other hand, has an 11-3 mark and has achieved a measure of success as a light heavyweight after a failed run in the heavyweight division. Vera also possesses a solid ground game and has fought strong grapplers before. Vera has a strong clinch game which will be tested by Couture.

So who’s your pick..?

Will we see some movers in the BCS rankings this week?

You know it, Week 9 of the 2009 NCAA college football season continues with more than a few huge games that could have an impact on the BCS standings after the weekend.

First, we have this game between the Georgia Bulldogs and the team on top of the BCS food chain, the Florida Gators. The annual showdown in Jacksonville will give the Bulldogs a chance to prove that they still belong in the mix with the top teams in the nation as they play the Gators.

The Georgia Bulldogs, who lost at home to LSU and Tennessee, gained some rhythm with a huge 34-10 win at Vanderbilt as they look to close the month with an upset over the defending BCS champions.

For Florida, all eyes will be on Tim Tebow and his sore shoulder. If he is able to play all out with no effects from the bruised non-throwing shoulder he suffered at Kentucky, Florida should put up a lot of points. The Gators are averaging more than 40 points per game, and Tebow accounts for…

At his age, no one can really tell for sure.

But if this fight was set ten years ago, Couture should be able to make quick work of Minotauro. With that said, can Couture, now at 46 years of age, still win inside the Octagon when he comes face to face with Nogueira at UFC 102 this Saturday?

The pair was originally scheduled to meet in 2007, but the clash was scrapped when Randy ”the Natural” Couture quit the UFC over a dispute with management and the promotion’s failure to sign the no.1 ranked heavyweight in MMA, Fedor Emelianenko.

But with Couture having since resolved his differences with Dana White’s MMA outfit, he will now face Antonio Rodrigo ”Minotauro” Nogueira inside the Octagon this weekend. Will this be a successful return to the UFC for the Natural or will this be a comeback Couture might just regret?

Couture is one of the most decorated MMA fighters of all time and has been the UFC’s heavyweight and light-heavyweight champion in his 12-year residency at the promotion. His key strengths over the years haven’t changed much; he still has phenomenal conditioning, crisp boxing and excellent Greco…