Saturday Sport: Gymnastics, Premier League, Pan American Games

The United States National Gymnastics Championships is currently ongoing at the Sprint Center in Kansas City Missouri.  These are part of the run up towards the World Gymnastics competition, held this October in Stuttgart, Germany, the US Olympic trials, to be held next June at St. Louis, Missouri, and to the 2020 Olympics, which will be held next July and August in Tokyo, Japan. 

This evening, the finals in the Men's Senior division will be contested.  This is a mixture of gymnasts competing in their college kit, and older athletes.  

The first six rounds took place on Thursday, the final rounds take place tonight. Currently leading the pack is Sam Mikulak.  This should be no surprise as he is well known to readers of this space.     Sam has been near the top of the elite in US men's gymnastics for several years.  In second place is Yul Moldaure, followed by Shane Wiskus and Akash Modi, who share third place.  Trevor Howard currently occupies fifth place, with Riley Loos close behind in sixth.  Today's featured competition should be exciting and hard fought.  If Thursday's competition was a foretaste, they will be spectacular. 

Lima will be filled with lots of jocks this afternoon, as the last weekend of the Pan American Games in Peru is filled with so many sports finals.  Currently the USA leads the medal count, with 240 medals, followed by Brazil,  Canada, Mexico, with Cuba rounding out the top five.  Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador and Peru complete the top ten in overall medal counts.  Most recently, Peru has taken the Gold Medal in Men's Karate.  Brazil has taken Dressage gold this week, with Mexico taking Silver. 

Today's competitions include action in at over 20 sports, some finals, some semifinals, such as in Men's Water Polo.  Archery, Soccer, Judo, Wrestling, Body Building, Table Tennis and Swimming are but a few of the Men's sports featured today. 

The English Premier League of Soccer kicked off last night, along with the French Ligue 1, as soccer ramps up across the old continent.  The Spanish La Liga begins next week.  

The inaugural English Goal in the new season was made in minute 8 of the competition between Liverpool, who made the goal, and Norwich.  Norwich last with one goal, to Liverpool's 4.  Today competition continues with games between West Ham and Manchester City, Crystal Palace and Everton, Burnley and Southampton, Watford and Brighton, Bournemouth and Sheff United, and Tottenham vs. Aston Villa. 

Ligue 1 began with an opening round last night, with Lyons beating Monaco,  but continues in earnest with many games on Tuesday. 

SR Sports Potpourri

There have been so many activities in the international sporting world, that we have not attempted to report on all of them. We'll try to catch you up.

The Gronk is retiring.

Well known to readers of this space, New England Patriot's Tight End Rob Gronkowski has announced that he will retire at age 29. The Gronk is so much fun to watch, and is unafraid to appeal to certain demographics, appearing frequently in Speedos or in the all together. He is the son and grandson of professional athletes, and his three brothers have all joined him in playing professional sports, one in Major League Baseball, and the other three joined him in the National Football League. 

The Gronk entertained us, on and off the field, for 8 years with the NFL, all with the Patriots. As a tight end he received many passes from the Patriot's perennial quarterback, Tom Brady. While Tom Brady seems to be trying to play pro football until he is fifty, the Gronk is stepping down at 29. Godspeed Gronk.

In PGA Golf, two weeks ago another story of longevity in pro sports was played out. Tiger Woods, the young phenom who won several Masters Golf Tournaments years ago, did so again, after a drought of 14 years. In doing so, he completed a comeback from personal and professional adversity on Sunday, including a divorce and medical problems, capturing his fifth Masters title and his 15th major tournament. This victory that snapped a decade-long championship drought and instantly returned him to the top of the sports world. At 43, Woods became the second-oldest winner of the Masters. 

The win led to a moment of agreement between President Donald Trump and former President Barack Obama. “What a fantastic life comeback for a really great guy!’’ the President said on Twitter. “To come back and win the Masters after all the highs and lows is a testament to excellence, grit and determination,’’ President Obama posted. 

With a closing round of two-under-par 70, Woods won out over a field of many, which had remained quite close until the final round. He edged out Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka, as well as Xander Schauffele. Woods’s overall score of 13-under 275 was one shot better than his total in his 2005 victory at Augusta. It was also the first time that Woods, who started the day two strokes off the lead, had come from behind in the final round to win a major tournament.

Readers of this space will recall that the Indian Premier Leagues of Cricket is contested each April and May. The league is kind of a round robin playoff of India's best teams, and currently includes eight teams. The table remains close as the Chennai Super Kings head the standings with 16 points, certainly putting them into the playoffs. They are followed by the Mumbai Indians, the Dehli Capitals, and the Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Back in the USA, the NFL Draft was conducted this weekend, with a quarterback, of course, being the first pick. The University of Oklahoma's Kyler Murray was the top draft pick in this year's edition. Since the previous year's top finishers have the last pick in the first round, the New England Patriots chose last, with the 32nd pick. They chose N'Keal Harry, who played for the Arizona State University. He is a wide receiver, apparently the Patriots will fill their tight end vacancy from within...

Sport Sunday: Six Nations, Man U

In Europe, this is weekend four of five of Six Nations Rugby with a game between Ireland and France on tap for today.  Italy currently has no wins in the tournament, with France not much better at one from the bottom.  Wales currently heads the competition, with England close behind.  The middle ground is shared by Scotland and Ireland, with similar points totals.  The competition wraps up next week. 

In the USA, NCAA Basketball contests their conference championships this weekend, with many colleges hoping for a berth in the big dance, should they do well in their respective tourneys. 

In the English Premier League, Arsenal takes on Manchester United at Emirates Stadium this evening, in an important game for both teams. Arsenal seems to have the best position going into today's game.  Slightly.  Man U has already beat Arsenal at home once this season, and is hoping for another win.  A win could mean a Champions' League pick for next weekend, a lose is likely to land the disappointed team in the Europa League.  Arsenal need to do things differently to achieve a different outcome.  Needless to say both teams will be playing like never before. 

Sport Saturday: FIFA Club World Cup لإمارات‎, , Premier League

In England, in the Premier League, some of the old favorites are undergoing a resurgence in the current season, while some old favorites are disappointing their fans.  Liverpools has surged into first place in the standings, with 42 points.  Manchester City is in second place with 41 points, and in third, the Tottenham Hotspur, with 36.  Chelsea stands at number 4 in the table, with 34 points, with Arsenal just behind, also with 34.  

Manchester United, with millions of adoring fans from throughout the world, is considered to have fallen on hard times lately, and is just in sixth on the table, but the points reflect how far they are behind the top five.  They stand with 26 points.  At the bottom of the standings are Fulham and Southampton, both with 9 points.  They may want to use the January trading period to tweak their lineups. 

Upcoming games in Week 17 include Manchester City vs. Everton, Huddersfield vs. Newcastle, Crystal Palace vs. Leicester, Tottenham Hotspur vs. Burnley, Watford vs. Cardiff, Wolverhampton vs. Bournemouth, Fulham vs. West Ham, Brighton vs. Chelsea, Southampton vs. Arsenal, and Liverpool vs. Manchester United. 

In the United Arab Emirates, the FIFA Club World Cup began two days ago, with great fanfare.  This year's finals take place at two venues,  Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi and Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain. 

There are eight matches in all, with the quarterfinals currently underway.  Madrid will headline the tournament for the second successive year after the Spanish giants sealed a third consecutive Uefa Champions League in June with victory in the final against Liverpool. They are somewhat reduced this season, without Cristiano Ronaldo, but may yet find their way.  After all, they have Luka Modric, the midfield maestro who won the Champions League title with Real Madrid and then helped lead Croatia to the World Cup final, was honored Monday with the Ballon d’Or as world player of the year.

Al Ain, the 2017/18 Arabian Gulf League champions, represent the UAE and make their Club World Cup debut when they kick off the tournament against New Zealand’s Team Wellington, who qualify as Oceania champions. Meanwhile, Asian champions Kashima Antlers, of Japan, and African champions Esperance de Tunis, of Tunisia, are competing, alongside Mexico’s CD Guadalajara, the reigning Concacaf champions.  Argentina's River Plate have won the right to play for South America. 

Wellington was knocked out in the opening game against hosts  Al Ain, playing at home.  Today's knockout matches include Al Ain vs. Esperance de Tunis and the Kashima Antlers vs. CD Guadalajara. 

Saturday Sport: AFL

Excitement has reached a fever pitch this September, as the Aussie Rules football season has hurried toward a finish.  This has been an exciting season, and the battle for a place in the finals is taking place this weekend. 

That place has already been found by Melbourne, who triumphed over Hawthorn in Friday's match.  The Melbourne Demons beat the Hawthorn Hawks at the Melbourne Cricket Grounds.  The final score of 104-74 does not reveal the full excitement of the game.  The crowd of almost 100,000 witnessed the Hawks fight back, even in the last minutes of the game, but ultimately they could not pull off a win.  The very pro Melbourne crowd, proud of the homeboys who had not advanced so far in almost two decades, began celebrating early but then quieted as the score became closer.  They cheered raucously at the end, as Melbourne pulled off the win.

The Melbourne Cricket Grounds will again be filled with excitement tonight.  The Collingwood Magpies will play the GWS Giants in this evening's action.  The Magpies had their opportunities to upset West Coast in their qualifying final clash, but now have to turn their attention to a semi-final contest – to keep their season alive – against Greater Western Sydney. The Giants were impressive in a 49-point hiding of Sydney, dismantling their crosstown rivals and keeping the Swans to their lowest score – since moving to Sydney – in a final. The Giants have won their last two contests, whilst Collingwood has won three of their last five competitions. 

 The English Premier League is back after a two-week hiatus. It is Liverpool, Chelsea and Watford who lead the way on 12 points apiece, with West Ham United at the bottom on no points.  The great majority of games will be played today, with two Sunday, and a matchup between Southampton and  Brighton and Hove Albion  on Monday night.

Don't forget the next to the last day of the Vuelta a Espana today.  The action should be keen. 

Saturday Sport: Premier League Finals and IPL, Preakness

In India:  This is the last weekend of regular play before the playoffs begin in IPL, India Premier League Cricket.  Saturday, the Rajasthan Royals take on Royal Challengers Bangalore, potentially for a place in the play-offs. Later, the  Sunrisers Hyderabad will be pitted against Kolkata Knight Riders, which also has playoff meaning.  Hyderabad have already reached the qualification round, as they are at the top of the standings.   

Unless they are creamed by Kolkata, they will remain at the top of the table, with Chennai second.  Kolkata are in third place and are, indeed, formidable  opponents.  Either of the Royals could best Kolkata in the standings, depending on the outcome.   On Sunday, Mumbai visit the basement team, Delhi with an NRR superior to even Bangalore's (0.384). Of course, Bangalore could either reduce the NRR gap or even overtake Mumbai in this regard depending on how big their margin of victory over Rajasthan is likely to be.

In the English Premier League, Manchester United have a chance to salvage the season, and their reputation, whilst meeting Chelsea.  United’s FA Cup rivalry with Chelsea is a mostly modern affair. The pair meet at Wembley Stadium in the cup final on Saturday, the third time they have done so since 1994.  Historically, they have clashed 14 times in the competition, with United winning eight of those games and losing only four. Nine of those encounters have come since that 1994 final, which United triumphed 4-0. 

United came from behind with goals in besting Tottenham Hotspur in the semifinals  to win 2-1. The semi-final was the first time United has beaten Spurs in London in five attempts.  United, who have won 12 FA Cups and will match Arsenal’s record 13 wins if they triumph, will be hoping for a similar change in fortune against a team which has also found it easy to beat them in England’s capital in recent years.

In the USA, in Baltimore Maryland, the Preakness Stakes will be run at the Pimlico Race track this afternoon.   The Preakness was first run in 1873, and is the second of the Triple Crown, run two weeks after the Kentucky Derby, and three weeks before the Belmont.  It is always run on the third Saturday of May. The course is 9.5 Furlongs, or 1 3/16 miles (1900m).   Justify, which won the Kentucky Derby two weeks ago, is a favorite. 

Saturday Sport: Football and Real Football.

European Soccer is heating up, with most of the months either in or entering their last month of competition.  

In the Premier League, what used to have been unthinkable has become matter of course.  Manchester City heads the standings, over Manchester United.  Storied Arsenal is at number six, and risks being left out of the Champions League competition again next year.  Crystal Palace is at the edge of the teams facing relegation, with Southampton, Stoke City, and West Bromwich Albion having that more and more becoming a reality.  

As can happen at this time of  year, many of the standings in the national leagues appear to have been frozen  at the top, and so barring surprises, little threat is seen for Bayern Munchen, Barcelona or Juventus, although in the case of Serie A, Naples is nipping at Juventus' heals.  Saturday's schedule is chock full of soccer action through the Continent and the British Isles.  

Champions Leagues is nearing the conclusion of another exciting year.  AS Roma shocked the soccer world by besting Barcelona 3-0 in the Champions League quarterfinals.  Barcelona had previously been undefeated in both the regular La Liga season and in Champions League play.  With that win, Roma enters a two game semifinal with Liverpool to determine who will advance to the finals.  Meanwhile, Real Madrid enters the same home and home arrangement with Bayern Munich to determine who will play in the finals from their bracket.  The games will take place April 24th  and 25th, and May 1st and 2nd.   

The real football is of course being played in Australia, as the Aussie Rules football season continues, entering the fourth weekend round.  Saturday's games pit the GWS Giants against the Fremantle Dockers, the Richmond Tigers against the Brisbane Lions, the Western Bulldogs against the Sydney Swans, North Melbourne against Carlton, and the West Coast Eagles against the Gold Coast Suns.  Sunday will feature the typical three games, but maybe more on that tomorrow. 

Saturday Sport: NCAA, La Liga, and Arsenal

Saturday marks the beginning of the NCAA final four in the Men's Basketball Tournament.... and then there were four....  

The Loyola-Chicago Ramblings are serving as this decade's Cinderella, the 11th seed which made it to this level, with the help of a nun.  The Michigan Wolverines are the football power, the number three seed who marched through their bracket.  The Villanova Wildcats are the seeming small-school power, make that private, Catholic, university.  They are a power from time to time, and have returned with full force this year, along with their just featured priest chaplain.  The Kansas Jayhawks are the historic "blue blood" involved at this level, this year.  Michigan could also be said to fill that bill, a Big 10 powerhouse, but both public universities in Kansas appear doomed to be considered only basketball powers.   

The Final Four is set, the 2018 NCAA Tournament's end in sight. It has  never looked so compelling.  In the day's second game, the Villanova offense is the best in the nation in many aspects,  averaging 86.6 points per game and producing 436 three-pointers. Meanwhile, Kansas averages 81.4 points and has made 40.3% of its three pointers. The Jayhawks also feature an interior advantage with 7-foot center Udoka Azubuike, whose Villanova counterpart, forward Omari Spellman, is only 6-9. Kansas has thrived on the big stage this season, going 4-0 against teams ranked in the top 10. Villanova is seeking its second national championship in three years and will rely heavily on junior guard Jalen Brunson, the Associated Press national player of the year who also started on the team that won the 2016 title. Kansas' do-everything equivalent is senior guard Devonte Graham, the only player in Division I averaging at least 17 points, seven assists, 1.6 steals and fewer than 3.0 turnovers per game. 

At the end of the evening, we will be said to have experienced a great several hours of basketball. 

In Spanish La Liga Soccer, Barcelona’s attempt to become the first Spanish team to stay unbeaten for an entire Primera Liga season will face its toughest test on Saturday with a visit to Sevilla – the team they will also meet in the Copa de Rey final on April 21.  Barca, who are 11 points clear of Atletico Madrid with only nine games to play, also have to face Real Madrid at home in May, but Sevilla away has long been one of their trickier away games, one where Barca failed to win in their 2014-15 treble season and where they lost the following year.  

Barcelona, who have won their last four games against Sevilla, will be encouraged that both Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid have bested them recently.   Sixth in the standings and inconsistent, the Andalusians pushed Barca hard in a 2-1 defeat at Camp Nou in November. 

Sevilla, however, has other priorities.  Their players are on a high after knocking Manchester United out of the UEFA Champions League with a win at Old Trafford and they will face Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals with the first game at home on Tuesday.  There is a belief that they can win a first ever Champions League, a view not shared by the wider football community.  Fourteen points behind Valencia in fourth, Sevilla will not finish in the top four to qualify for next season’s Champions League.

Barca, are unbeaten in Europe and host Roma next week in the Champions League last 16, have all their players back – although not all in one piece - from international duty. Barca will be hoping that by May he will be basking in the glow of more trophies – and an unbeaten league season.

After a three-week break for some, and two for others, the Premier League is back for the final stretch of eight games that will complete the 2017-18 season.  Chelsea will look to Eden Hazard to inspire them against Tottenham Hotspur.   Liverpool will look for more goals from Mohamed Salah at Crystal Palace this weekend.  

Leicester City's Jamie Vardy will be their main goal threat at Brighton. Brighton have done superbly to be in a position where they are six points clear of the relegation zone with eight games to go. Chris Hughton's men are tough to break down but this could well end up as honours even with Jamie Vardy in good form for Leicester.  

Manchester United, takes on Swansea City, in a game most critics think will go their way.   United are not firing at full cylinders but despite Swansea being rejuvenated the pace of Marcus Rashford and the strength of Romelu Lukaku should mean that Jose Mourinho's men maintain their grip on second place in the Premier League.  

Stoke City takes on the Gunners, and  desperately needs points to avoid relegation.  Arsenal are Arsenal, even if they have disappointed fans the last few years.   Arsenal have built up some confidence with their Europa League success over AC Milan and Mesut Ozil will fancy his chances of doing some damage to the Stoke backline. 

Chelsea realistically must win over the Tottenham Hotspur, to stay in the hunt for a top-four finish in the Premier.  They beat them in August and should be able to do it again.