In case you were too busy camping out for the Hunger Games premiere, here’s what you missed this past week in the world of sports …
NCAA BASKETBALL – The madness is growing and thousands of brackets were torn apart in the college basketball world, as the remaining teams competed in the Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight this past weekend. Only one major upset occurred, as Louisville defeated number one seed Michigan State in the Sweet Sixteen. Louisville then faced Florida in the Elite Eight, and overcame an 11-point deficit in the second half to earn the first ticket to the Final Four in New Orleans. Ohio State will follow Louisville there after taking down Syracuse, the number one seed in the East region. Kentucky and Kansas were the last two to advance to the Final Four after beating Baylor and North Carolina, respectively. Seeing as Kentucky could probably beat the Charlotte Bobcats, we’re going to make a bold prediction and say that the Wildcats will win the tournament next weekend.
HOCKEY – On Sunday, Quebec City mayor Regis Lebeaume, alongside Quebecor Media magnate Pierre-Karl Peladeau, announced that construction of a new amphitheatre will begin this coming September. Projecting the costs of the new building at about $400 million, Lebeaume and Peladeau hope that the project, which is expected to seat 18,000, will finally cement Quebec City’s hopes of getting a second chance at an NHL team. “The dream is becoming a reality,” Lebeaume said at the beginning of the press conference. Now, Lebeaume and the rest of Quebec City will move on from dreaming to praying that an NHL team will actually be brought in, reviving the Quebec Nordiques once again.
FOOTBALL – With the Peyton Manning signing in Denver, the Tim Tebow sweepstakes began. None other than the New York Jets received divine help and acquired the iconic quarterback on Wednesday afternoon. We can’t wait until Jets fans start chanting Tebow’s name after Mark Sanchez throws his first interception. In more controversial news, commissioner Roger Goodell doled out the punishments for the New Orleans Saints’ bounty program. As the school kids say, “he laid the boom”-Head Coach Sean Payton is suspended for the season, defensive co-ordinator Gregg Williams is suspended indefinitely, and the Saints lose their 2012 and 2013 second-round draft picks. Goodell has yet to announce the punishments for the players involved in the program, but expect them to be just as harsh. At least Mardi Gras was fun, right New Orleans?
GOLF – Ladies and gentleman, golf is relevant again. Nine hundred and twenty-three days had passed since Tiger Woods won his last PGA tour event, but on Sunday, the drought ended as Woods won the Arnold Palmer Invitational by five strokes. It was Woods’ seventh time winning this event at Bay Hill, and more importantly, it comes just two weeks before the Masters tournament at Augusta. Golf fans and analysts are undoubtedly riding the wave of momentum, wondering whether he can reclaim his past glory. He remains just four major tournament wins away from tying Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18. Expect this win to dominate the golfing world for the weeks leading up to Augusta.
