Monday, March 2, 2009

The Weekend That Was


NFL Free Agency Frenzy

Thursday at midnight was when NFL free agency officially began and it didn't take long for some big names to move.  The following are some of the bigger names and deals:

Albert Haynesworth signed a 7year $100 million dollar deal with the Redskins
Kellen Winslow was traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Matt Cassel and Mike Vrabel were traded to the Chiefs for a 2nd round draft pick
Brian Dawkins signed with the Denver Broncos
Chris Canty signs 6 year $42 million dollar deal with the NY Giants
Lito Sheppherd was traded to the NY Jets
Bart Scott signed with the NY Jets

Perhaps the bigger news from the weekend though was that Ray Lewis remains unsigned and that Denver was trying to trade quarterback Jay Cutler.  Apparently Cutler found out about this and was very upset as he felt betrayed to which I say get over it pal.

Jim Bowden Resigns

Jim Bowden has been the GM of the Washington Nationals since the teams inception in 2004.  Bowden leaves under the cloud of a federal investigation into the skimming of signing bonuses given to Latin American prospects.  When asked why he is leaving Bowden said, "I've become a distraction."

Bowden is the only GM the Nationals have had since the franchise moved from Montreal to Washington before the 2005 season, overseeing a team that went 81-81 in that debut season but has been below .500 ever since.  Last season, the Nationals were a majors-worst 59-102.

It seems that baseball can't go one week without having some sort of scandal tarnishing its name.

Return of Brodeur

Martin Brodeur returned to the net for the New Jersey Devils this weekend and went 3-0 with 2 shutouts.  The Devils were managing without Brodeur but I'm sure they won't complain having him back.  

His latest shutout moved him within three of tying Terry Sawchuk's mark of 103. It was also Brodeur's 547th career victory, moving him within four of tying Patrick Roy's league record.

Ogilvy Dominates Match Play

On Sunday Jeff Ogilvy defeated Paul Casey in the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship final on Sunday, 4 and 3, and it wasn't really that close. Ogilvy was 11 under par through the first 27 holes and had a 6-up lead. No offense to Casey, but the last nine holes were a formality.

Ogilvy is 17-2 in this event and has been in the final three of the last four years, winning it twice. He's the only player besides Tiger Woods to win three World Golf Championship events. The WGC scoreboard looks like this: Woods 15, Ogilvy 3. Still, when Ogilvy plays near his best golf, he looks as good as any player in the world, in any format, and this victory (the sixth of his career) jumps him to fourth in the world golf rankings. He already won the Mercedes Championship this year, though that tiny starting field makes it asterisk-worthy. He's still only 31, and he has the skill, experience (he won the 2006 U.S. Open) and killer mentality that could make him a rival for Tiger. Especially in match play.

Going for the Clean Sweep

Manchester United won the League Cup with a 4-1 penalty shootout victory over Tottenham on Sunday that kept the English league leaders on course for an unprecedented five trophies this season.

The victory gave United its second trophy of the season following December's Club World Cup title. The Red Devils also lead the Premier League by seven points, are in contention for the Champions League and play Fulham in the FA Cup quarterfinals next weekend.

As much as I hate Manchester United this would be a ridiculously impressive accomplishment and one that no one could deny is amazing.

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