France: Swimming Worlds and OLYMPICS Preview

Each Summer Olympics year is a watershed year for swim fans, and 2016 promises to be no different.  Will the USA continue its dominance in this sport beyond the Phelps and Lochte era, or will other nations show their muscle?  We can't wait to see.

... plus medley relay breaststroke specialist, Giacomo Perez-Dortona of France.  Watch for him as the drama unfolds.

Name: Giacomo Perez-Dortona

Date of Birth: November 11, 1989 (Scorpio)

Hometown: La Seyne-sur-Mer, France

Height/Weight: 6'0"/181 lbs

Sport: Swimming

--- 2015 World Championships bronze medalist, 4x100 medley relay

--- 2014 European Championships silver medalist, 4x100 medley relay

--- 2013 World Championships gold medalist, 4x100 medley relay

NCAA Football Year End Review

by Rexswimguy:

Before we get too hyped for the next round of NCAA championship events, we would be remiss not to mention the Alabama Crimson Tide and their national football championship last month.  It was the Tide's fourth such championship in seven years, which is hard to fathom in such a fiercely competitive sport.  Who could not be awestruck?

 

Alabama 45, Clemson 40

Click here: Alabama vs. Clemson - Game Summary - January 11, 2016 - ESPN

... plus, your MVP for this year's championship game, #88 O.J. Howard.  With 208 yards and two touchdowns, I'd say he has earned his place in the record books.

Name: O.J. Howard

Date of Birth: November 19, 1994 (Scorpio)

Hometown: Prattville, Alabama, USA

Height/Weight: 6'6"/242 lbs

Team: Alabama Crimson Tide

Year: Junior

Position: Tight End

 

NFL Football Grudge Match today!

by Rexswimguy:

Today is the last day of the NFL Regular Season, sportsfans, so hopefully your team will have made it to the playoffs.  But, if not, there's always next season!

********************************************************

NFL Regular Season - Week 17

January 3, 2016

(Eastern Time)

8:30 PM: Minnesota Vikings (10-5) @ Green Bay Packers (10-5), NBC

full schedule: http://espn.go.com/nfl/schedule

********************************************************

And, for your very last game of the Regular Season, you get to see the Vikings take on the Packers for the NFC North Division championship tonight.  That would include the ever-popular tight end for the Vikings, #82 Kyle Rudolph.  Watch for him in action.

Name: Kyle Rudolph

Date of Birth: November 9, 1989 (Scorpio)

Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

Height/Weight: 6'6"/265 lbs

College: Notre Dame (2011)

Team: Minnesota Vikings

Position: Tight End

 

NFL Football Starts Tonite!

by Rexswimguy:  

It's here, and it's now, sportsfans.  

The 2015 NFL Regular Season starts TONIGHT!

full schedule: Click here: 2015 NFL Schedule | ESPN

**********************************************************************************

2015 NFL Regular Season - Kickoff Game

Thursday, September 10

(Eastern Time)

8:30 PM: Pittsburgh Steelers (0-0) @ New England Patriots (0-0), NBC

**********************************************************************************

And, as you likely know, Tom Brady's four-game suspension was nullified, so he will undoubtedly start for the Patriots tonight.  

All of which means that Jimmy Garoppolo fans will just have to be patient.  His debut as starting quarterback will get here in good time. (!)  Watch for him (mostly on the sidelines?) tonight.

Name: Jimmy Garoppolo

Date of Birth: November 2, 1991 (Scorpio)

Hometown: Arlington Heights, Illinois, USA

Height/Weight: 6'2"/225 lbs

College: Eastern Illinois (2014)

Team: New England Patriots

Position: Quarterback

 

PItcher: MLB Royals Greg Holland

Relief pitching has become more and more important in MLB over the years, and the success of the Kansas City Royals this past season validates that.  The unusual depth of the Royals' bullpen was a major factor in propelling them to the American League pennant win, and you shouldn't be surprised to see them in the World Series again this year either.

However, the Royals' single biggest asset in the bullpen is their right-hander, #56 Greg Holland, who celebrated his 100th career save last August.  You might say it was something of a prelude to his team's exciting run through the post-season.  In any case, he's gotta be one of our top jocks for 2014!

Name: Greg Holland

Date of Birth: November 20, 1985 (Scorpio)

Hometown: Marion, North Carolina, USA

Height/Weight: 5'10"/200 lbs

College: Western Carolina (2007)

Team: Kansas City Royals

Position: Relief Pitcher

--- 2014 Mariano Rivera Award

--- 2014, 2013 American League All-Star

Bats/Throws: Right/Right

Baseball: Pirates Pitcher Charlie Morton

Sunday Night Baseball takes us to Pittsburgh this week for the wrap-up of a three-game series between the Dodgers and the Pirates.   

Both of these teams are in hot pursuit of their respective division titles right now, with only a few weeks left.

************************************************************

2015 Major League Baseball - Regular Season

Sunday, August 9

(Eastern Time)

8:00 PM: Los Angeles Dodgers (62-48) @ Pittsburgh Pirates (64-44), ESPN

************************************************************

... plus veteran hurler, #50 Charlie Morton, who will be starting on the mound for the Pirates.  He began the season on the disabled list but has managed to compile a 7-4, winning record anyway.  Will he finish the season strong?

Name: Charlie Morton

Date of Birth: November 12, 1983 (Scorpio)

Hometown: Redding, Connecticut

Height/Weight: 6'5"/235 lbs

Team: Pittsburgh Pirates

Position: Starting Pitcher

Bats/Throws: Right/Right

MLB Debut: June 14, 2008

Boston-Detroit Baseball Tonite!

The All-Star Game is over for this year, and we're now well into the second half of the MLB season too, all of which means it's time to get serious about baseball.   

And, tonight's primetime game features two teams who definitely need to get serious if they hope to have a chance to make the playoffs.

*****************************

2015 Major League Baseball - Regular Season

Sunday, July 26

(Eastern Time)

8:00 PM: Detroit Tigers (48-49) @ Boston Red Sox (43-55), ESPN

*****************************

Shane Greene will be starting on the mound for the Tigers, and he could definitely use a good performance to even out his rocky season.  Watch for him tonight.

Name: Shane Greene

Date of Birth: November 17, 1988 (Scorpio)

Hometown: Clermont, Florida, USA

Height/Weight: 6'4"/210 lbs

Bats/Throws: Right/Right

MLB Debut: April 24, 2014