In case you were busy signing the greatest free agent in NFL history, here’s what you missed this week in the world of sports…
NCAA BASKETBALL – March Madness kicked off this past Thursday to the delight of both basketball fans and bored office workers, and in typical fashion, it was upsets galore in the second round. The Tribune’s bracket was busted after little-known Norfolk State shocked the country by defeating second-ranked Missouri, a team that many expected to advance to the Final Four. Another 15-seed, Lehigh, busted a few more brackets by taking down Duke in their opening round matchup. To demonstrate how ridiculous those upsets are, consider this: with the wins, Norfolk State and Leigh became only the fifth and sixth 15th-seeded teams, respectively, to have won their opening round matchup since the tournament was founded in 1939. The last 15th-seed to pull it off was Hampton University in 2001. And we still have a couple rounds left in the tournament.
FOOTBALL – NFL free agency continues to roll on, with the two biggest names coming off the market this past week. The endless coverage of where Peyton Manning will play finally came to an end on Monday, as it was reported that Peyton had started to negotiate a deal with the Denver Broncos. Manning will have an immediate impact on Denver, though it will be weird seeing a Bronco rather than a horseshoe on his helmet. The signing also has an impact on current Broncos quarterback and cultural icon Tim Tebow, who will now be traded in all likelihood. The most notable defensive free agent, Mario Williams, was claimed off the market by Buffalo-yes, Buffalo. In a move that was totally unanticipated before free agency began, the Bills handed Williams a six-year deal that amounts to about $100 million, $50 million of which is guaranteed. The contract is the most lucrative ever given to an NFL defensive player.
SOCCER – Alongside St. Patrick’s Day, Montreal was all hyped up on Impact fever this past weekend, as the team made their inaugural home opener on Saturday against the Chicago Fire. Davy Arnaud sealed his name in history, as he netted the Impact’s first ever MLS goal. The game, however, ended in a 1-1 draw. Montreal’s Olympic Stadium was sold out, and the atmosphere resembled that of a large rally-something McGill students are very familiar with. In other news, Toronto FC defeated the MLS defending champions, the Los Angeles Galaxy, to advance to the CONCACAF Champions League semifinals. They move on to play Mexico’s Santos Laguna in the next round on March 28.
HOCKEY – As the NHL grinds down the finish of the regular season, teams are slowly separating themselves from the rest of the pack. Pittsburgh is certainly pulling ahead, winning 11 of their last 12 games with Sidney Crosby making his return to the lineup on Thursday. With all of this in mind, here’s a prediction: the Penguins are going to be really hard to beat in the postseason. The surprise team of the league, the St. Louis Blues, were the first to reach 100 points, as they keep finding ways to win. Good news for Habs and Leafs players: they’re a day closer to hitting the links.
