In case you were too busy gymming, tanning, or laundering, here’s what you missed this past week (or so) in the world of sports …
HOCKEY — In KHL action … wait, what? Hockey is back? HOCKEY IS BACK! Rejoice, Canadians and those few Americans. We all thought the season was doomed, but on Jan. 6, the players and owners agreed to a new 10-year Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). A few highlights in the new CBA: 50-50 revenue sharing between the players and owners (down from 57-43); revenue sharing amongst teams in the league; and length caps on player contracts. The shortened 48-game season will get underway on Jan. 19, with us sitting glued to our television sets. Remember when some fans were rallying together and promised to boycott the first set of games when the league resumed play? Total jokes, guys.
NFL FOOTBALL — The Divisional round of the NFL Playoffs took place this past weekend. To no surprise, the New England Patriots easily handled the Houston Texans 41-28. The Patriots will duke it out with the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship game, after the Ravens defeated the Denver Broncos thanks to a late-game Peyton Manning interception. In the NFC, San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick ran for a postseason record 183 rushing yards and accounted for four touchdowns, as the 49ers took down the Green Bay Packers. Finally, a clutch drive by Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan sent the Falcons to the NFC Championship game, after Seattle overcame a 20-point half-time deficit.
NCAA FOOTBALL — Bowl season came and went over the holidays, culminating in the BCS Championship game last Monday night that pitted No.1 Notre Dame against No.2 defending champs Alabama. It wasn’t much of a contest, as Bama routed the Irish 42-14, thanks to MVP running back Eddie Lacy’s 140 yards on the ground. Bama quarterback A.J. McCarron threw for 264 yards and four touchdowns, but he was overshadowed in the media by his girlfriend, and 2012 Miss Alabama USA, Katherine Webb—cool. Head Coach of Alabama Nick Saban has led the program to three BCS titles in four years; so I think we can conclude that he’s pretty good at coaching college football.
BASKETBALL — We’ve almost hit the midway point of the NBA season, and there’s plenty to talk about. The Los Angeles Lakers’ chances of making the postseason are dwindling game by game, as the team has yet to develop any hint of chemistry. Dirk Nowitzki isn’t happy in Dallas—another struggling team—and suggested this past week that he may want to be traded. The New York Knicks have slowed down ever since Amar’e Stoudemire returned from injury. Meanwhile, Carmelo Anthony is now picking fights with Kevin Garnett, who is probably the most intimidating player in the league—really smart, Melo. Miami leads the Eastern Conference, and Oklahoma City is tied with the Los Angeles Clippers (ahem, not “Lakers”) for tops in the West. And what about those Raptors, you say? Well, they’ve won 10 of their past 14. Playoff push, here we go!
