Here is a list of Sports Blogs ordered by Last Commented, posted by members. A Blog is a journal you may enter about your life, thoughts, interesting experiences, or lessons you've learned. Post an opinion, impart words of wisdom, or talk about something interesting in your day. Update your blog on a regular basis, or just whenever you have something to say. Creating a blog is a good way to share something of yourself with others. Reading blogs is a good way to learn more about others. Click here to post a blog.
Officiating in the NFL at an all time low
Last night in Green Bay the officials bad calls made the difference in a football game.
The Lions had other things to be frustrated with last night, including themselves.
But the officials made such a convenient target.
The Lions were rightfully angry with a number of calls, specifically the two phantom hands to the face calls on defensive end Trey Flowers which helped the Packers come back for a win.
“I didn’t think hands to the chest was a penalty,” Flowers said, via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. “I thought hands to the face, but I had him right here in the chest. The second time I changed it to right here [another spot on the chest]. That’s part of a move that I do and, yeah. So, nah, I don’t think that was a penalty, but they did, so . . .
“They saw something different than what actually happened and they called what they thought they saw. I was doing it all game. I didn’t know that was a flag to the chest, so I could change it to [another spot on the collar]. They called it again.”
Those weren’t the only calls that angered the Lions, as safety Tracy Walker was upset with a personal foul for a helmet-to-helmet hit when he was going for the ball. Officials explained afterward that intent wasn’t a factor, and that the foul would have been called even if Walker picked it off.
“Extremely pissed off right now,” Walker said. “It is what it is. Disappointed. Hurt. We had that game. it’s going – I’m going to say the same s—, we should have won it. It is what it is, though. Got to bounce back. . . .
“I feel like we could have had a better game and we was supposed to come victorious with that game but Green Bay came to play. There was some awful, awful calls, but we got to play through that. We got to overcome those, and so we didn’t, obviously, and we came up short.”
Walker was asked if he was worried about being fined, and he said he did not care.
“Detroit vs. Everybody,” he said. “I’m saying it. Detroit vs. Everybody. It’s awful.”
Of course, that would imply this year’s officiating problems have been unique to Lions games. They have not been, and that creates an issue the league can’t continue to ignore.
The Lions had other things to be frustrated with last night, including themselves.
But the officials made such a convenient target.
The Lions were rightfully angry with a number of calls, specifically the two phantom hands to the face calls on defensive end Trey Flowers which helped the Packers come back for a win.
“I didn’t think hands to the chest was a penalty,” Flowers said, via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. “I thought hands to the face, but I had him right here in the chest. The second time I changed it to right here [another spot on the chest]. That’s part of a move that I do and, yeah. So, nah, I don’t think that was a penalty, but they did, so . . .
“They saw something different than what actually happened and they called what they thought they saw. I was doing it all game. I didn’t know that was a flag to the chest, so I could change it to [another spot on the collar]. They called it again.”
Those weren’t the only calls that angered the Lions, as safety Tracy Walker was upset with a personal foul for a helmet-to-helmet hit when he was going for the ball. Officials explained afterward that intent wasn’t a factor, and that the foul would have been called even if Walker picked it off.
“Extremely pissed off right now,” Walker said. “It is what it is. Disappointed. Hurt. We had that game. it’s going – I’m going to say the same s—, we should have won it. It is what it is, though. Got to bounce back. . . .
“I feel like we could have had a better game and we was supposed to come victorious with that game but Green Bay came to play. There was some awful, awful calls, but we got to play through that. We got to overcome those, and so we didn’t, obviously, and we came up short.”
Walker was asked if he was worried about being fined, and he said he did not care.
“Detroit vs. Everybody,” he said. “I’m saying it. Detroit vs. Everybody. It’s awful.”
Of course, that would imply this year’s officiating problems have been unique to Lions games. They have not been, and that creates an issue the league can’t continue to ignore.
Looks like the Patriots are not the only ones guilty of 'deflategate'.
Video evidence of da Bears training camp. 
44 years ago today - "The Thrilla in Manila" - Muhammed Ali versus Joe Frazier (3)
Well worth a look back
Here's the complete fight;
Here's the complete fight;
This Past Weekend
In America this past weekend we celebrated the start of the 100th season if The National Football League. For 100 years the NFL has successfully created football widows. Some wives do all they can do to distract their husbands on football Sundays. Some actually enjoy the game and actively root for their favorite teams. Some succumb to their husbands by hosting football parties for their men and their friends. Some act like they are fans but really know very little about the game.
So this is a question for the ladies. What kind of football fan are you?
So this is a question for the ladies. What kind of football fan are you?
Tomorrow - Women's soccer finals - US versus Netherlands
It's at 11 am (est).
Although I generally find soccer boring, I may actually watch the final game, or match
Just out of curiosity, I checked the betting line on the game and found this interesting summary;
Although I generally find soccer boring, I may actually watch the final game, or match
Just out of curiosity, I checked the betting line on the game and found this interesting summary;
In response to:
The United States and the Netherlands boast two of the most raucous fan bases in the 2019 Women's World Cup. As fate would have it, the teams will collide in what should be an extremely lively setting for the 2019 World Cup final in Stade de Lyon on Sunday at 11 a.m. ET. Both teams won their semifinal matchups in thrilling fashion, with USWNT sneaking by England 2-1 thanks to an 83rd-minute penalty save by Alyssa Naeher. Meanwhile, the Netherlands bested Sweden 1-0 on a 99th-minute strike to the bottom left corner by Jackie Groenen. The USA is a three-time World Cup champion, while the Dutch are on a 12-match major international tournament winning streak after coming out on top at the 2017 Euros. Team USA is the -275 (risk $275 to win $100) favorite, while the Dutch are +765 (risk $100 to win $765) and a draw in regulation is +385. The over-under for goals scored is 2.5 according to the latest USA vs. Netherlands odds. Before you make your 2019 Women's World Cup predictions for the final, listen to the USA vs. Netherlands picks from European football expert David Sumpter.
Sumpter is an applied mathematician and author of "Soccermatics," a book that explains how math works inside the sport. Along with other experienced analysts, Sumpter developed the powerful Soccerbot model.
The Soccerbot reads current odds and all team performance data, calculates key metrics and predicts upcoming matches. In the three seasons since its inception, Soccerbot is up an incredible 2,000 percent on Premier League picks. That's right -- 2,000 percent.
The model is crushing its 2019 Women's World Cup picks, returning over $1,100 to anyone following it. The model correctly predicted the stunning Japan-Argentina draw (+825) -- a more than 8-1 long shot -- and its been red hot in the knockout stage, correctly calling the exact 2-1 score in the USA's dramatic victory against England, Sweden's shocking upset of Germany and the Netherlands' 2-0 win over Italy....
The model has taken into account the massive experience edge the United States has over the Netherlands. This is the third straight Women's World Cup final that the USA has appeared in. Meanwhile, the Netherlands is making its first ever appearance on the grandest stage of women's soccer. Team USA features a plethora of stars who played in the Women's World Cup final four years ago in Canada. That year, Carli Lloyd, a super-sub for the USA in France, netted the fastest hat trick in Women's World Cup history in the Americans' 5-2 victory over Japan that saw the USWNT crowned world champions for the third time.
Plus, the United States enters Sunday's match against the Netherlands having won 11 consecutive games at the Women's World Cup. They'll look to rely on their past experience to become the first country to win four Women's World Cup titles.
But all those stars don't guarantee that the Americans are the best value on the Team USA vs. Netherlands money line in the finals.
The model also knows that the Dutch are quickly ascending to the top of women's soccer and they're a serious threat to the United States' dominance of the sport. The Dutch qualified for their first Women's World Cup in 2015 and made it out of the group stage. Then, they shocked the world by going a perfect 6-0 to win the 2017 Euros. Now, they've won six consecutive matches after giving up just three goals in the 2019 World Cup bracket to earn their way to the final.
The Netherlands is a young and hungry side, with only two players on the roster age 30 or older....
The United States and the Netherlands boast two of the most raucous fan bases in the 2019 Women's World Cup. As fate would have it, the teams will collide in what should be an extremely lively setting for the 2019 World Cup final in Stade de Lyon on Sunday at 11 a.m. ET. Both teams won their semifinal matchups in thrilling fashion, with USWNT sneaking by England 2-1 thanks to an 83rd-minute penalty save by Alyssa Naeher. Meanwhile, the Netherlands bested Sweden 1-0 on a 99th-minute strike to the bottom left corner by Jackie Groenen. The USA is a three-time World Cup champion, while the Dutch are on a 12-match major international tournament winning streak after coming out on top at the 2017 Euros. Team USA is the -275 (risk $275 to win $100) favorite, while the Dutch are +765 (risk $100 to win $765) and a draw in regulation is +385. The over-under for goals scored is 2.5 according to the latest USA vs. Netherlands odds. Before you make your 2019 Women's World Cup predictions for the final, listen to the USA vs. Netherlands picks from European football expert David Sumpter.
Sumpter is an applied mathematician and author of "Soccermatics," a book that explains how math works inside the sport. Along with other experienced analysts, Sumpter developed the powerful Soccerbot model.
The Soccerbot reads current odds and all team performance data, calculates key metrics and predicts upcoming matches. In the three seasons since its inception, Soccerbot is up an incredible 2,000 percent on Premier League picks. That's right -- 2,000 percent.
The model is crushing its 2019 Women's World Cup picks, returning over $1,100 to anyone following it. The model correctly predicted the stunning Japan-Argentina draw (+825) -- a more than 8-1 long shot -- and its been red hot in the knockout stage, correctly calling the exact 2-1 score in the USA's dramatic victory against England, Sweden's shocking upset of Germany and the Netherlands' 2-0 win over Italy....
The model has taken into account the massive experience edge the United States has over the Netherlands. This is the third straight Women's World Cup final that the USA has appeared in. Meanwhile, the Netherlands is making its first ever appearance on the grandest stage of women's soccer. Team USA features a plethora of stars who played in the Women's World Cup final four years ago in Canada. That year, Carli Lloyd, a super-sub for the USA in France, netted the fastest hat trick in Women's World Cup history in the Americans' 5-2 victory over Japan that saw the USWNT crowned world champions for the third time.
Plus, the United States enters Sunday's match against the Netherlands having won 11 consecutive games at the Women's World Cup. They'll look to rely on their past experience to become the first country to win four Women's World Cup titles.
But all those stars don't guarantee that the Americans are the best value on the Team USA vs. Netherlands money line in the finals.
The model also knows that the Dutch are quickly ascending to the top of women's soccer and they're a serious threat to the United States' dominance of the sport. The Dutch qualified for their first Women's World Cup in 2015 and made it out of the group stage. Then, they shocked the world by going a perfect 6-0 to win the 2017 Euros. Now, they've won six consecutive matches after giving up just three goals in the 2019 World Cup bracket to earn their way to the final.
The Netherlands is a young and hungry side, with only two players on the roster age 30 or older....
13 more reasons for the world to hate the USA
FIFA WOMEN'S WORLD CUP final USA 13 Thailand 0
The United States women's national team is off to a fantastic start at the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup in France. The Americans opened Group F play against Thailand in Reims, France, and comfortably found the back of the net three times before halftime. Comfortably is being nice -- they could have led by five or six at the break. Alex Morgan scored the opener 12 minutes in before the U.S. added two more through Rose Lavelle and Lindsey Horan. The three-time World Cup winners finished the first half with 15 shots and 73 percent possession.
The United States women's national team is off to a fantastic start at the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup in France. The Americans opened Group F play against Thailand in Reims, France, and comfortably found the back of the net three times before halftime. Comfortably is being nice -- they could have led by five or six at the break. Alex Morgan scored the opener 12 minutes in before the U.S. added two more through Rose Lavelle and Lindsey Horan. The three-time World Cup winners finished the first half with 15 shots and 73 percent possession.
The Superbowl Kid
It seems so long ago now that a virtually unknown back-up QB for the New England Patriots replaced an injured Drew Bledsoe. The rest, as they say, is history. Of course, I'm referring to Tom Brady. Tom Terrific. Touchdown Tommy. The G.O.A.T.
At age 41, Mr. Brady is heading to his ninth Superbowl. It boggles the mind really. Love him or hate him, the numbers don't lie. Credit needs to be divided between a whole cast of talented characters including coach Bill Belichick, owner Robert Kraft, and a diverse and viable Patriots roster but it's Tom Brady who takes center stage and here are a few reasons why.
Regular season wins by a starting quarterback (207)
Most passing yards, regular season and playoffs (81,431)
Most passing touchdowns, postseason included: 590
Most touchdowns thrown to different receivers (71)
Division titles (16)
Playoff games started (39)
Playoff wins (29)
Playoff touchdown passes (73)
Playoff passing yards (10,917)
Super Bowl appearances (9)
Super Bowl wins (5)
Super Bowl MVPs (4)
Super Bowl touchdown passes (18)
Super Bowl passing yards (2,576)
Congrats to the Patriots and Tom Brady. This transplanted fan is rooting for ring #6.
At age 41, Mr. Brady is heading to his ninth Superbowl. It boggles the mind really. Love him or hate him, the numbers don't lie. Credit needs to be divided between a whole cast of talented characters including coach Bill Belichick, owner Robert Kraft, and a diverse and viable Patriots roster but it's Tom Brady who takes center stage and here are a few reasons why.
Regular season wins by a starting quarterback (207)
Most passing yards, regular season and playoffs (81,431)
Most passing touchdowns, postseason included: 590
Most touchdowns thrown to different receivers (71)
Division titles (16)
Playoff games started (39)
Playoff wins (29)
Playoff touchdown passes (73)
Playoff passing yards (10,917)
Super Bowl appearances (9)
Super Bowl wins (5)
Super Bowl MVPs (4)
Super Bowl touchdown passes (18)
Super Bowl passing yards (2,576)
Congrats to the Patriots and Tom Brady. This transplanted fan is rooting for ring #6.
online today!
England v Springboks
***KICK-OFF IS SCHEDULED FOR 17:00 (SA TIME)***
Today's referee is Angus Gardner from Australia.
To date, Gardner has refereed in 17 Test matches, five of which involving South Africa, with the Springboks winning two of those.
The two assistant referees are Jerome Garces from France and Ben Whitehouse from Wales, while Irishman Olly Hodges is the television match official (TMO).
THIS opening game of the autumn period is set for Saturday, November 3.
Kick-off is at 3pm. (UK Time)
It's two years since South Africa played England here, when the hosts ran out 37-21 winners.
May the best team win.
Today's referee is Angus Gardner from Australia.
To date, Gardner has refereed in 17 Test matches, five of which involving South Africa, with the Springboks winning two of those.
The two assistant referees are Jerome Garces from France and Ben Whitehouse from Wales, while Irishman Olly Hodges is the television match official (TMO).
THIS opening game of the autumn period is set for Saturday, November 3.
Kick-off is at 3pm. (UK Time)
It's two years since South Africa played England here, when the hosts ran out 37-21 winners.
May the best team win.
A Blog is a journal you may enter about your life, your thoughts, interesting experiences, or lessons you have learned. It's your own page on Connecting Singles that you can update on a regular basis, or just whenever you have something to say. You can write about an opinion, impart words of wisdom, or talk about something interesting in your day. Creating a blog is a good way to share something of yourself with Connecting Singles members. Reading blogs is a good way to learn more about members you have met here. Please be sure to read the blog rules before posting.
Would YOU like to post a blog on Connecting Singles? Have you written blogs that you'd like to share with other members? Posting your blogs shows your skill and creativity and helps members get to know you better. Your blog will appear on the Connecting Singles Blogs page and also in a link on your profile page. Click here to post a blog »