Sport Sunday

Today are the men's finals at the US Open of Tennis, Flushing Meadows, Queens, New York.  An injured Rafa Nadal dropped out of the match on Sunday, but the players in the finals are not unknown to our readers.  Novak Djokovich will square off against Juan Martin del Potro on Sunday, in the finals match.  The Argentine del Potro was the 2009 champ at Flushing Meadows.  With Federer and Nadal out, Djokovich had a straight shot towards the finals.  The action should be heated up this afternoon. 

The first Sunday of NFL action will be crowned on Sunday night.  The game will be a contest between two of the classics of the sport, the Chicago Bears against the Green Bay Packers.  The race for the championship began Thursday, the race for domination of NFC North begins with the Bears-Packers grudge match. 

In Rodeo:  The 25th PBR Unleash The Beast returns to Springfield, Missouri, with finals this weekend.   The PFIWestern

.com Invitational presented by Bass Pro Shops has been contested this weekend.  Missouri State University’s JQH Arena will host the top bull riders in the world for the 10th consecutive year. Even on TV, you will be able to experience non-stop, nail-biting, edge of your seat excitement when the “toughest men on dirt” battle with 2000-pound opponents through the most harrowing 8 seconds in sports.

Sport Sunday

While you were sleeping, or maybe right now (check your local sport channel!) Roger Federer played Rafael Nadal for the men's finals in the Australian Open of Tennis.   True fans are holding forth that this may be the greatest match of all time, with the winner being held up through history as the greatest male player, ever...  Also, the Final-round play in golf's Qatar Masters in Doha, part of the European Golf Season. 

The Extreme Sports Winter X Games Aspen 2017 continues today in Colorado, U.S.A.   Day 4 competitions include freestyle skiing,  snowboarding, and snowmobiling. 

Total Africa Cup of Nations continues Quarterfinal play today in Gabon.  Games are spread throughout the country this weekend, with two games yesterday and two games today.  RD  Congo meets Ghana today at the Stade Oyem, in Oyem, while  Egypt meet Morocco at Stade Port Gentil , in Port Gentil.  Saturday, Burkina Faso beat Tunisia to become the first semifinalists, and Senegal lost to Cameroon to enter the Semifinals. 

In the United States, the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Tour continues today in Sacramento, California.  Round one went to top ranked Jess Lockwood.  Round two to Gage Gay. 

NCAA College Basketball, Michigan at Michigan State.  Seniors Zak Irvin and Derrick Walton Jr. lead the Wolverines against a young Spartan team featuring freshmen Miles Bridges and Nick Ward. Michigan State has won the last four meetings, but trails the overall series 90--80.  Also, the number one ranked Villanova Wildcats hosts the Virginia Cavaliers. 

 In 20 Twenty limited over Cricket, India takes on Great Britain, at Nagpur, a rematch.  England won the first meeting between these teams last week.    

 

In Hockey, the NHL All Star Game is played this afternoon.  Los Angeles, California, hosts the 62nd midseason showcase. The game features a three on three playoff.  The skills competition Friday brought lots of excitement, but the "pro am" game, between pop celebrities and hockey legends held lots of excitement, with Justin Bieber surprisingly  proving to be the start of the show with the hockey stick.  Sidney Crosby (Metro), Carey Price (Atlantic), P.K. Subban (Central) and Connor McDavid (Pacific, the 2016 champ) serve as captains.  In the interspersed pop show, Nick Jonas, Fifth Harmony, Carly Rae Jepsen join the lineup of special guests. 

 In this Sunday pause before next Sunday's Super Bowl, the NFL All-Star game, the "Pro Bowl,"  returns as the AFC plays the NFC at Camping World Stadium in Orlando.