For entrepreneur Steve Sodell, the Super Bowl started in late October. That's when he and his staff of 12 began renting retail space in shopping malls and hotels across the Phoenix metro area—stuffing shelves with NFL-licensed T-shirts, hats, and other collectibles emblazoned with this year's Super Bowl XLII logo. By the day of the big game on Feb. 3, his makeshift merchandise empire will comprise 24 stores and 42 employees. Ten days later, business shuts down and Sodell starts planning for next year's Super Bowl in Tampa. "We have a very short window of opportunity to make our money," he says.
More From BusinessWeek.com • Slide Show: Super Bowl, Super Business • Slide Show: Sports' Most Expensive Ticket • The Ethics of Office Gambling
The race for Super Bowl profits is on. While the New England Patriots attempt to become the first team in the National Football League to reach a perfect 19-0 record, businesses across the country are banking on this game to be a bigger economic driver than any single sporting event in history.
Some records have already been set: The cost of a 30-second commercial during Fox's broadcast, $2.7 million, is the highest ever. So is the price tailgaters will pay to get inside University of Phoenix Stadium, between $700 and $900. But the cavalcade of businesses and entrepreneurs that have come to surround the Super Bowl—from snackmakers and electronics retailers to the bookies in Vegas and the hotel operators in Phoenix—are gearing up and holding onto hope that consumers will put aside concerns of a tightening economy and indulge in this Super Sunday with extravagant parties, big-ticket purchases, and vacations to Arizona.
Surprisingly, the NFL and the athletes on the field are not the richest beneficiaries of the big game. Players on the winning team each take home $78,000; on the losing team, each player gets $40,000. The league's biggest take is from merchandise hawked at the game venue, at the online NFL shop, as well as at retail stores across the country. The sales record for such merchandise was set in 1997, at around $125 million, and sales have hovered just below that amount in the years since.
The league also reaps a majority of the proceeds from ticket sales, which will amount to around $57.6 million this year, given a sellout crowd of 72,000 and an average ticket price of $800.
Super Ad Sunday
That's peanuts compared with what's at stake for some companies. Broadcasting fees from TV networks account for about half of the NFL's revenue during the regular season, but come Super Bowl time, all of the earnings from high-priced ads go to one host network. This year, that's News Corp.'s Fox.
The Super Bowl has become one of the few remaining must-see TV events for tens of millions of U.S. viewers. For many fans, the high-budget ads are part of the draw: According to a survey recently conducted by the Retail Advertising & Marketing Assn., 36.3% of consumers will tune in primarily to watch the commercials.
Last year, host network CBS charged Super Bowl advertisers an average of $2.4 million per 30-second commercial, contributing to total ad revenue of $243.6 million, including the network's pre-game and post-game coverage, according to marketing researcher TNS Media Intelligence. Fox has reportedly ratcheted up the cost of a 30-second commercial to $2.7 million. Total ad spending on the game and surrounding coverage could reach $275 million.
The Big TV Huddle
Electronics retailers may even be able to top that. According to a recent survey conducted by Arlington (Va.)-based Consumer Electronics Assn., 48% of high-definition TV owners who call themselves sports fans purchased their set to watch a specific sporting event. Not surprisingly, the Super Bowl was cited most frequently. Last year, CEA estimates the Super Bowl drove some $2.2 billion in sales of HDTVs.
"There are very few events that lend themselves to parties in front of the TV, and this is one of them," says Brian Lucas, spokesman for Best Buy. In recent years, Best Buy has played up Super Bowl season by bundling discounts on HDTVs, digital cable subscriptions, audio equipment, and next-generation DVD players. Others, including Circuit City, guarantee delivery and installation before the big game on sets purchased by Jan. 30.
An HDTV is a Super Bowl party plus, but snacks and beverages are a must. For years, makers of snacks, soda, and beer have marked the Super Bowl on their calendars as one of the strongest sales periods of the year. In the week leading up to the big game last year, 73 popular categories of food and beverage saw a combined $261 million boost in sales over an average week, according to research by ACNielsen. Tortilla chips were the single most popular snack among party-throwers, receiving a boost of 29%, or $13.4 million, over a normal week of sales.
Crunch Time
Frito-Lay, the PepsiCo-owned snackmaker that leads the tortilla chip category with its Tostitos brand, is gearing up. "The Super Bowl is the No. 1 snack food consumption day of the year," says Frito-Lay spokeswoman Aurora Gonzalez. "Leading up to the Super Bowl we increase production of potato and tortilla chips by more than 10 million pounds."
Perhaps no business has greater hopes for this year's game than the host city of Phoenix. When Tempe, Ariz., hosted the Super Bowl in 1996, economists at the Arizona State University College of Business estimated the game to have an economic impact of $306 million spread across local industries, from food and beverage to hotels and outdoor recreation. The event generated 6,100 jobs for local staff, and state and local tax revenues were up $27 million.
Seven years later, Arizona went after the Super Bowl again. Shortly after the opening of the new University of Phoenix Stadium in 2003, Phoenix put in a bid to host the Super Bowl that included $20 million worth of incentives, such as providing 20,000 top-quality hotel rooms and increased public safety measures. The investment could be well worth it: the Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee is projecting an economic impact between $400 and $500 million on the local economy.
The crowds have already started to gather in and around Phoenix, and they look intent on spending. During a phone interview, merchant Sodell continually pauses to help out customers. After a woman asks about a certain jersey that he doesn't have on the shelf, Sodell responds: "Give us your name and your size, and we'll hold one for you. They'll sell out in no time." He's hardly the only business hoping for a sellout.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Sunday, January 20, 2008
James Stewart out for Supercross 2 in Anaheim
James Stewart announced his decision to pull out of Anaheim-2 giving the injury is to his left knee a chance to heal. He originally injured it at Washougal and then aggravated it further at Anaheim-1 and Phoenix. Up on the big screens at A2, James delivered the bad news to the fans that it had been very uncomfortable for him all week. Fans are hoping that James will be ready for next weekend’s round in San Francisco
Friday, January 18, 2008
Ticketmaster to buy ticket reseller TicketsNow for $265M
Ticketmaster, the large ticket seller, said it would buy entertainment event ticket reseller TicketsNow for $265 million.
Ticketmaster has long been the monster of ticket sales, but it has been greedy, charging high fees for its service, and now it is facing increasing competition. Even this deal raises new questions for the company.
Announcement is here.
TicketsNow is a Web-based site specializing in music, sports and other live entertainment event tickets. Ticketmaster joins eBay and others in going after the large and growing reseller market. EBay bought StubHub, another market leader for $310 million a year ago. Some founders of StubHub have since launched another site called Viagogo, now one of Europe’s leading secondary ticketing website. Another player is Razorgator, backed by venture firm Kleiner Perkins.
This looks like a big win for the TicketsNow investors, who pumped in $34 million beginning in mid-2006. Investors include Adams Street Partners
, Draper Fisher Jurvetson
, DFJ Portage Venture Partners
and New World Ventures
.
Ticketmaster, owned by Internet conglomerate IAC, said it will create an integrated platform on which fans will be able to review and compare ticket availability and pricing for both regular and resale categories. Ticketmaster said it will work closely with the NFL, NHL and NBA and venue, promoter, and other live entertainment clients to offer ticket validation and delivery in the resale market.
Launched in 1999 and based in Rolling Meadows, Illinois, TicketsNow says it works with more than 800 vetted professional ticket resellers.
There are growing challenges to Ticketmaster’s main business.
Ticketmaster’s largest client, concert promoter Live Nation, has announced it will stop doing business with Ticketmaster at the end of this year and to start a competing ticketing service. The WSJ, which has a story on the Ticketmaster-TicketsNow deal, notes:
The acquisition raises potentially thorny questions for Ticketmaster, which has previously sued brokers who use automated programs called “bots” to scoop up tickets faster than regular fans can, and then resell them for big profits on sites such as TicketsNow. TicketsNow Chief Executive Cheryl Rosner said her site currently doesn’t make any effort to keep tabs on how its 800 registered sellers acquire the tickets they sell. Moriarty said Ticketmaster would attempt to root out people who used technology unfairly, although he declined to give specifics.
Ticketmaster has long been the monster of ticket sales, but it has been greedy, charging high fees for its service, and now it is facing increasing competition. Even this deal raises new questions for the company.
Announcement is here.
TicketsNow is a Web-based site specializing in music, sports and other live entertainment event tickets. Ticketmaster joins eBay and others in going after the large and growing reseller market. EBay bought StubHub, another market leader for $310 million a year ago. Some founders of StubHub have since launched another site called Viagogo, now one of Europe’s leading secondary ticketing website. Another player is Razorgator, backed by venture firm Kleiner Perkins.
This looks like a big win for the TicketsNow investors, who pumped in $34 million beginning in mid-2006. Investors include Adams Street Partners
, Draper Fisher Jurvetson
, DFJ Portage Venture Partners
and New World Ventures
.
Ticketmaster, owned by Internet conglomerate IAC, said it will create an integrated platform on which fans will be able to review and compare ticket availability and pricing for both regular and resale categories. Ticketmaster said it will work closely with the NFL, NHL and NBA and venue, promoter, and other live entertainment clients to offer ticket validation and delivery in the resale market.
Launched in 1999 and based in Rolling Meadows, Illinois, TicketsNow says it works with more than 800 vetted professional ticket resellers.
There are growing challenges to Ticketmaster’s main business.
Ticketmaster’s largest client, concert promoter Live Nation, has announced it will stop doing business with Ticketmaster at the end of this year and to start a competing ticketing service. The WSJ, which has a story on the Ticketmaster-TicketsNow deal, notes:
The acquisition raises potentially thorny questions for Ticketmaster, which has previously sued brokers who use automated programs called “bots” to scoop up tickets faster than regular fans can, and then resell them for big profits on sites such as TicketsNow. TicketsNow Chief Executive Cheryl Rosner said her site currently doesn’t make any effort to keep tabs on how its 800 registered sellers acquire the tickets they sell. Moriarty said Ticketmaster would attempt to root out people who used technology unfairly, although he declined to give specifics.
Ticketmaster Announces Agreement to Acquire Leading Online Ticket Resale Marketplace TicketsNow(R)
W. HOLLYWOOD, Calif. and ROLLING MEADOWS, Ill., Jan. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Ticketmaster, the world's leading ticketing company and an operating business of IAC (Nasdaq: IACI), today announced a major expansion of its ticket resale business by entering into a definitive agreement to acquire TicketsNow, the leading independent Web-based marketplace for music, sports and other live entertainment event tickets. The acquisition will make Ticketmaster a leading company in the resale category.
Ticketmaster will create an integrated platform on which fans will be able to simultaneously review and compare ticket availability and pricing in the primary, premium and resale categories. Building upon its existing TicketExchange resale marketplaces and partnerships with the NFL, NHL and NBA, Ticketmaster will work closely with its venue, promoter, team and other live entertainment clients to offer ticket validation and electronic ticket delivery to fans purchasing in the resale marketplace.
"Fans have embraced ticket resale, and the combination of Ticketmaster and TicketsNow will allow us to provide a safer, more reliable and efficient resale experience," said Sean Moriarty, President and CEO of Ticketmaster. "We are confident that combining TicketsNow's strong resale network with our audience and distribution capabilities will enable us to set a new standard in the resale category."
Launched in 1999 and based in Rolling Meadows, Illinois, TicketsNow works with more than 800 professional ticket resellers that are vetted to ensure the highest levels of accountability and integrity.
"TicketsNow is one of the most visited and trusted ticket resale websites and offers fans an outstanding selection of premium event tickets," said Cheryl Rosner, CEO of TicketsNow. "We have built our business by providing great service and technology to the broker community and by ensuring the quality of resellers in our marketplace. Combining with Ticketmaster will enable us to offer our partners a more compelling marketplace and provide even higher levels of service and security to fans of live entertainment."
The acquisition is subject to customary regulatory review, and Ticketmaster expects the transaction to close by the end of the first quarter. Upon closing, TicketsNow will continue to operate from its Rolling Meadows and Crystal Lake, IL locations. Cheryl Rosner will continue as CEO, and the company's current management team is expected to remain in place.
Ticketmaster will create an integrated platform on which fans will be able to simultaneously review and compare ticket availability and pricing in the primary, premium and resale categories. Building upon its existing TicketExchange resale marketplaces and partnerships with the NFL, NHL and NBA, Ticketmaster will work closely with its venue, promoter, team and other live entertainment clients to offer ticket validation and electronic ticket delivery to fans purchasing in the resale marketplace.
"Fans have embraced ticket resale, and the combination of Ticketmaster and TicketsNow will allow us to provide a safer, more reliable and efficient resale experience," said Sean Moriarty, President and CEO of Ticketmaster. "We are confident that combining TicketsNow's strong resale network with our audience and distribution capabilities will enable us to set a new standard in the resale category."
Launched in 1999 and based in Rolling Meadows, Illinois, TicketsNow works with more than 800 professional ticket resellers that are vetted to ensure the highest levels of accountability and integrity.
"TicketsNow is one of the most visited and trusted ticket resale websites and offers fans an outstanding selection of premium event tickets," said Cheryl Rosner, CEO of TicketsNow. "We have built our business by providing great service and technology to the broker community and by ensuring the quality of resellers in our marketplace. Combining with Ticketmaster will enable us to offer our partners a more compelling marketplace and provide even higher levels of service and security to fans of live entertainment."
The acquisition is subject to customary regulatory review, and Ticketmaster expects the transaction to close by the end of the first quarter. Upon closing, TicketsNow will continue to operate from its Rolling Meadows and Crystal Lake, IL locations. Cheryl Rosner will continue as CEO, and the company's current management team is expected to remain in place.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Djokovic needs more quick matches
Novak Djokovic was grinning ear to ear after his 6-0, 6-2, 7-6 (5) first-round victory over the powerful German, Benjamin Becker, in the first round of the Australian Open.
Anna Chakvetadze never cracked a smile after her first-round gift.
Like his countrywoman, Jelena Jankovic, the Serbian Djokovic rarely sees a playing opportunity he doesn't like, which is why last year, he played 86 contests, the most of anyone in the top 10. Moreover he played numerous long, grueling matches, including a four-hour victory over Oliver Pacience at the French Open, where he reached the semis; four and five-hour wins at Wimbledon over Lleyton Hewitt and Marcos Baghdatis, where he also reached the semis; and a four-hour-and-40-minute win over Radek Stepanek at the US Open, where he reached the final before going down to Roger Federer. After falling flat on his back at the year-end Tennis Masters Cup, he took a much-needed break, laughingly saying that he did nothing at all.
"Well, I tried not to do anything," he said. "That's a real rest. That was necessary for me after such a long season. I needed really to take it easy. I was aware of the fact that I'm gonna start my preparation period a little bit later. Physically I'm ready, and mentally as well. I have a lot of motivation to do well this season, especially here in the Australian Open."
If Djokovic is to go far in Melbourne, he has to cut down on the amount of time spent on court, which means he's has to play a little more aggressively and take care of every opportunity. He's the favorite in his quarter, but Federer will more than likely be his semifinal-round foe and he'll have no chance in that contest if he goes in with dead legs.
"I am aware that I could go more to the net, maybe I could improve a little bit more my serve because I'm pretty tall," he said. "So I have a lot of potential in these things. I've been working on them recently, a lot. But it cannot come over the night. I am trying to use my opportunities during the match because I know that I'm a really good groundstroke player, powerful shots. I'm always trying to be aggressive. A lot of times in the match it happens that I can finish off the point in a shorter time."
Djokovic is thrilled that he's managed to reach No. 3 in the world and to be mentioned as one of the few players with shot at unseating the great Federer, but he's smart enough to know that with those accolades comes increased expectations. But he feels that he can handle it and accepts it as a part of his long climb to the top.
"It's natural that you feel the pressure," he said. "If you don't feel pressure something is wrong with you, but it's a matter of how you deal with the pressure. I'm trying not to think about that too much, about the expectations, about the people saying, 'You got enough quality to win a Grand Slam this year, especially in Australia or US Open, because of the hard courts.' It's very flattering when people, talk about me in the positive way, but, it kind of puts a lot of pressure. I'm only 20-years-old, so hopefully, you know, I'm going to have another 10 or 15 years of the professional tennis. I'm going to take it easy and try to focus myself on what I do."
Anna Chakvetadze is playing through many emotions. ( / Associated Press)
Djokovic has good reason to be joyful, as with Rafael Nadal, he's considered the prime contender to top-ranked Federer. Sixth-seed Chakvetadze has better reason to be glum, but because from the looks of her long and tried face while reflecting on her family's mugging at the hands of a group of robbers in the their Moscow home last December, she's a long way away from a full emotional recovery.
"Because I'm not at home, I'm trying to think about tennis and trying to forget it because if I think about it more I wouldn't be mentally ready to play," said Chakvetadze after she advanced to the second round when her opponent, Andrea Petkovic, retired with a right knee injury in the first game of their contest. "I feel better now. I'm OK and I'm trying not to think about what happened with me and my family."
What happened was that five-to-six unknown people wearing masks burst into their suburban Moscow home, tied up the Chakvetadze family, robbed them of some $250,000 worth of valuables and cash, and left Anna with a left finger injury and her father Djambuli bruised and beaten. Her mother, Natalia, and her 9-year-old brother, Roman, weren't harmed
"It was [a] good thing we were all together because my father and I just came back from an exhibition that morning, otherwise my mother and little brother would have been at home alone and it could have been worse," Chakvetadze, who couldn't practice for a week because her hand was too sore to grip the racket when she tried to hit backhands.
Four of the thieves were caught a couple of weeks later, but not until after the Chavetadze's had to hire around-the-clock security and install a new alarm system. Anna says they are considering moving out of crime-ridden Moscow to somewhere else in Russia.
"You can't control these things," Chakvetadze said. "It can happen to everyone. But it happened to me and before I felt safe in my house and I found out I wasn't."
The 20-year-old Chakvetadze entered last year's Australian Open without such a high ranking, but as an attractive darkhorse, as she had a standout end to 2006. Had the robbery not have occurred, she may have been an obvious semifinal pick, because December should have afforded her an opportunity to right her ship and gets the kinks out of her game after a less than mediocre fall season.
But she's lacking play and isn't speaking with much conviction. Like many of the multitude of Russian players, Chakvetadze sports a tough exterior. She didn't grow wealthy, or have gobs of money thrown at her at some well-branded U.S. academy, and had to work extremely hard under trying circumstances to earn her place in the game.
But while it's possible that she could harden her shell and turn things around during the first week of the tournament, but she wasn't too convincing, saying she was lacking confidence.
"I didn't really have any preparation for the season," she said. "I need matches."
Anna Chakvetadze never cracked a smile after her first-round gift.
Like his countrywoman, Jelena Jankovic, the Serbian Djokovic rarely sees a playing opportunity he doesn't like, which is why last year, he played 86 contests, the most of anyone in the top 10. Moreover he played numerous long, grueling matches, including a four-hour victory over Oliver Pacience at the French Open, where he reached the semis; four and five-hour wins at Wimbledon over Lleyton Hewitt and Marcos Baghdatis, where he also reached the semis; and a four-hour-and-40-minute win over Radek Stepanek at the US Open, where he reached the final before going down to Roger Federer. After falling flat on his back at the year-end Tennis Masters Cup, he took a much-needed break, laughingly saying that he did nothing at all.
"Well, I tried not to do anything," he said. "That's a real rest. That was necessary for me after such a long season. I needed really to take it easy. I was aware of the fact that I'm gonna start my preparation period a little bit later. Physically I'm ready, and mentally as well. I have a lot of motivation to do well this season, especially here in the Australian Open."
If Djokovic is to go far in Melbourne, he has to cut down on the amount of time spent on court, which means he's has to play a little more aggressively and take care of every opportunity. He's the favorite in his quarter, but Federer will more than likely be his semifinal-round foe and he'll have no chance in that contest if he goes in with dead legs.
"I am aware that I could go more to the net, maybe I could improve a little bit more my serve because I'm pretty tall," he said. "So I have a lot of potential in these things. I've been working on them recently, a lot. But it cannot come over the night. I am trying to use my opportunities during the match because I know that I'm a really good groundstroke player, powerful shots. I'm always trying to be aggressive. A lot of times in the match it happens that I can finish off the point in a shorter time."
Djokovic is thrilled that he's managed to reach No. 3 in the world and to be mentioned as one of the few players with shot at unseating the great Federer, but he's smart enough to know that with those accolades comes increased expectations. But he feels that he can handle it and accepts it as a part of his long climb to the top.
"It's natural that you feel the pressure," he said. "If you don't feel pressure something is wrong with you, but it's a matter of how you deal with the pressure. I'm trying not to think about that too much, about the expectations, about the people saying, 'You got enough quality to win a Grand Slam this year, especially in Australia or US Open, because of the hard courts.' It's very flattering when people, talk about me in the positive way, but, it kind of puts a lot of pressure. I'm only 20-years-old, so hopefully, you know, I'm going to have another 10 or 15 years of the professional tennis. I'm going to take it easy and try to focus myself on what I do."
Anna Chakvetadze is playing through many emotions. ( / Associated Press)
Djokovic has good reason to be joyful, as with Rafael Nadal, he's considered the prime contender to top-ranked Federer. Sixth-seed Chakvetadze has better reason to be glum, but because from the looks of her long and tried face while reflecting on her family's mugging at the hands of a group of robbers in the their Moscow home last December, she's a long way away from a full emotional recovery.
"Because I'm not at home, I'm trying to think about tennis and trying to forget it because if I think about it more I wouldn't be mentally ready to play," said Chakvetadze after she advanced to the second round when her opponent, Andrea Petkovic, retired with a right knee injury in the first game of their contest. "I feel better now. I'm OK and I'm trying not to think about what happened with me and my family."
What happened was that five-to-six unknown people wearing masks burst into their suburban Moscow home, tied up the Chakvetadze family, robbed them of some $250,000 worth of valuables and cash, and left Anna with a left finger injury and her father Djambuli bruised and beaten. Her mother, Natalia, and her 9-year-old brother, Roman, weren't harmed
"It was [a] good thing we were all together because my father and I just came back from an exhibition that morning, otherwise my mother and little brother would have been at home alone and it could have been worse," Chakvetadze, who couldn't practice for a week because her hand was too sore to grip the racket when she tried to hit backhands.
Four of the thieves were caught a couple of weeks later, but not until after the Chavetadze's had to hire around-the-clock security and install a new alarm system. Anna says they are considering moving out of crime-ridden Moscow to somewhere else in Russia.
"You can't control these things," Chakvetadze said. "It can happen to everyone. But it happened to me and before I felt safe in my house and I found out I wasn't."
The 20-year-old Chakvetadze entered last year's Australian Open without such a high ranking, but as an attractive darkhorse, as she had a standout end to 2006. Had the robbery not have occurred, she may have been an obvious semifinal pick, because December should have afforded her an opportunity to right her ship and gets the kinks out of her game after a less than mediocre fall season.
But she's lacking play and isn't speaking with much conviction. Like many of the multitude of Russian players, Chakvetadze sports a tough exterior. She didn't grow wealthy, or have gobs of money thrown at her at some well-branded U.S. academy, and had to work extremely hard under trying circumstances to earn her place in the game.
But while it's possible that she could harden her shell and turn things around during the first week of the tournament, but she wasn't too convincing, saying she was lacking confidence.
"I didn't really have any preparation for the season," she said. "I need matches."
Giants GM Sabean might be disciplined
By Steve Henson
It sounds as if punishment for steroids distribution and use might go beyond the playing field and into the front office.
For many years the San Francisco Giants' clubhouse was the private playpen of Greg Anderson, who was Barry Bonds' personal trainer. Yet when team trainer Stan Conte informed general manager Brian Sabean that Anderson might be providing steroids to players, Sabean did nothing about it.
Rep. Henry Waxman, the chairman of the committee, asked Selig whether Sabean or Giants owner Peter Magowan should have reported the allegations against Anderson to the commissioner's office.
"Of course," Selig responded. "I don't want to say anymore because it's a matter I have under review."
Waxman was unrelenting.
"It's possible the Balco scandal could have been averted had Brian Sabean and Peter Magowan acted in a responsible fashion,'' he said. "Instead they seemed more intent on protecting Barry Bonds.''
Will Sabean be punished?
"You've raised a very valid point," Selig said. "It's of great concern to me. Why anybody is in the clubhouse besides the official team trainer is beyond me."
Selig repeated what he said in the aftermath of the Mitchell Report, that he will consider discipline on a case-by-case basis.
It sounds as if punishment for steroids distribution and use might go beyond the playing field and into the front office.
For many years the San Francisco Giants' clubhouse was the private playpen of Greg Anderson, who was Barry Bonds' personal trainer. Yet when team trainer Stan Conte informed general manager Brian Sabean that Anderson might be providing steroids to players, Sabean did nothing about it.
Rep. Henry Waxman, the chairman of the committee, asked Selig whether Sabean or Giants owner Peter Magowan should have reported the allegations against Anderson to the commissioner's office.
"Of course," Selig responded. "I don't want to say anymore because it's a matter I have under review."
Waxman was unrelenting.
"It's possible the Balco scandal could have been averted had Brian Sabean and Peter Magowan acted in a responsible fashion,'' he said. "Instead they seemed more intent on protecting Barry Bonds.''
Will Sabean be punished?
"You've raised a very valid point," Selig said. "It's of great concern to me. Why anybody is in the clubhouse besides the official team trainer is beyond me."
Selig repeated what he said in the aftermath of the Mitchell Report, that he will consider discipline on a case-by-case basis.
College Basketball Rankings as of Jan 15, 2008
AP Top 25
1.North Carolina (45)
2.Memphis (24)
3.Kansas (3)
4.UCLA
5.Georgetown
6.Tennessee
7.Duke
8.Washington St.
9.Indiana
10.Texas A&M
11.Michigan St.
12.Butler
13.Marquette
14.Dayton
15.Pittsburgh
16.Vanderbilt
17.Wisconsin
18.Mississippi
19.Texas
20.Xavier
21.Miami (FL)
22.Arizona St.
23.Rhode Island
24.Clemson
25.Villanova
For NCAA basketball tickets go to www.PlatinumTickets.com
1.North Carolina (45)
2.Memphis (24)
3.Kansas (3)
4.UCLA
5.Georgetown
6.Tennessee
7.Duke
8.Washington St.
9.Indiana
10.Texas A&M
11.Michigan St.
12.Butler
13.Marquette
14.Dayton
15.Pittsburgh
16.Vanderbilt
17.Wisconsin
18.Mississippi
19.Texas
20.Xavier
21.Miami (FL)
22.Arizona St.
23.Rhode Island
24.Clemson
25.Villanova
For NCAA basketball tickets go to www.PlatinumTickets.com
Brady defends Romo and pre-playoff vacation
Any criticism surrounding the Romo-Simpson bye week vaction is "absurd'' according to New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. Speaking during his weekly appearance on WEEI, a sports radio station in Boston, Brady took up for Cowboys QB Tony Romo according to the Dallas Morning News.
"Everybody has lives," Brady said. "We work seven months, eight months, out of the year. You still have a life to live. On the weekends you do whatever you do to relax and rejuvenate. It's not like they can go to the local eatery in Dallas and hang out."
Brady stated what really made the difference: "If they caught the ball in the end zone at the end, nobody makes any mention (of the Mexico trip)," Brady said. "You alleviate a lot of criticism by winning. That's what I've realized for eight years."
Source: Dallas Morning News
For tickets to the NFL palyoffs or the Superbowl go to www.PlatinumTickets.com
"Everybody has lives," Brady said. "We work seven months, eight months, out of the year. You still have a life to live. On the weekends you do whatever you do to relax and rejuvenate. It's not like they can go to the local eatery in Dallas and hang out."
Brady stated what really made the difference: "If they caught the ball in the end zone at the end, nobody makes any mention (of the Mexico trip)," Brady said. "You alleviate a lot of criticism by winning. That's what I've realized for eight years."
Source: Dallas Morning News
For tickets to the NFL palyoffs or the Superbowl go to www.PlatinumTickets.com
Pageant of the Masters hopefuls audition for show
story by OC Register
Prospective Pageant of the Masters posers answered casting calls on Saturday, and on Jan. 5 and 6 at the Festival of Arts grounds, hoping to land a role in the show of real-life vignettes for 2008.
This year's theme, "All the World's a Stage," re-creates paintings and statues that look at theater life.
The 2008 Pageant of the Masters will be staged July 9 through August. 30, with the 10th gala benfit performance on August 23.
For tickets to the Pageant of the Masters go to www.Platinumtickets.com or call 888.633.6657
Prospective Pageant of the Masters posers answered casting calls on Saturday, and on Jan. 5 and 6 at the Festival of Arts grounds, hoping to land a role in the show of real-life vignettes for 2008.
This year's theme, "All the World's a Stage," re-creates paintings and statues that look at theater life.
The 2008 Pageant of the Masters will be staged July 9 through August. 30, with the 10th gala benfit performance on August 23.
For tickets to the Pageant of the Masters go to www.Platinumtickets.com or call 888.633.6657
Monday, January 14, 2008
Jag on Brady: 'He ain't all that'
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Perhaps you were impressed with Tom Brady's record-setting performance in beating Jacksonville on Saturday.
If so, you weren't Jaguars rookie safety Reggie Nelson.
"He ain't all that … He's all right," Nelson said.
Ah, Reggie, are you sure he ain't more than all that? Brady did, after all, set an NFL record by completing 92.9 percent of his passes (26 for 28 for 262 yards and three touchdowns) to lead New England to a 31-20 playoff victory.
It was the near-perfect game for the quarterback of the perfect team.
"It was a check down game," Nelson said, suggesting that most of Brady's completions were short and underneath the pass coverage. "Anybody can go 26-of-28 in a dump-down game."
Down the hall, "he ain't all that" dumbfounded Randy Moss.
"What?" Moss said. "It wasn't impressive? When you lose you're going to say things that (are) really inappropriate. You're talking about the MVP, that's Tom Brady.
"I'm not even going to respond to that."
Nelson's opinion might stem from the sheer frustration of having Brady carve up his Jags despite their almost perfect execution of the game plan.
Jacksonville focused on shutting down the deep threat – especially Moss (just one reception) – and, as Nelson noted, make Brady check down, or throw to short, underneath patterns.
It might have worked, too, if Brady hadn't completed nearly every throw.
"It was a little disappointing he missed two," smiled coach Bill Belichick.
And one of them was a drop by Wes Welker.
That's what makes Brady not just the MVP of the league this season, but the pure championship winner of this generation. He has the Patriots at 17-0 and barreling toward their fourth Super Bowl title not because he always makes the flashiest plays – although he does that, too – but because he almost always makes the right one.
"He doesn't force anything," said Jags safety Sammie Knight. "He's going to take what you give him. He's made a living throwing to backs and underneath."
If the Jaguars were going to stop the long ball, Brady had no problem nickel and diming them with short, smart passes.
"If you're taking two guys every play and putting them on Randy, then you leave a lot of guys one-on-one," Brady said.
Brady almost sounded like Nelson by calling it "easy." But that's his normal way of deflecting praise onto his teammates. He may be the supermodel-dating playboy, but he loves shrugging it all off and going with the aw-shucks routine.
"Those guys, when they are open like that, that's my job to hit them," Brady said. "They were open every time. It's easy when you have receivers that are open all the time and an offensive line that never lets anyone touch you."
None of his teammates would let him get away with that. Each told of Nelson's comments reacted with a bit of anger "I can't say what I want to say," said wide receiver Donte Stallworth.
Underneath passes or not, 26-of-28 is a record for a reason.
"This is the NFL. If this was high school, yeah (it might not be 'all that')," Stallworth said.
Brady had already conducted his postgame interview by the time Nelson spoke. His play said enough, though.
The Pats had five scoring drives (with a missed field goal on a sixth). The team's other two offensive possessions were a one-play kneel down to finish the first half and an attempt to wind down the clock late in the fourth.
Big play or not, they couldn't have operated much better with Brady serving as the game-plan buster, laying waste to Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio's defensive plot.
"Unfortunately, Tom didn't slip on the way to work today," Del Rio said.
Back in the Jags locker room, there wasn't much to say. The secondary that allowed a record performance had done exactly what they were told to do and still couldn't stop New England.
So all four starters stood in front of their lockers, conveniently lined up in a row, and all four just shrugged at what had happened, although the other three were more gracious than Nelson.
"He's good," Nelson finally conceded before packing his bag and heading for the offseason. "He's a good quarterback."
Yeah, for an unbeaten MVP, Tom Brady's not too bad.
If so, you weren't Jaguars rookie safety Reggie Nelson.
"He ain't all that … He's all right," Nelson said.
Ah, Reggie, are you sure he ain't more than all that? Brady did, after all, set an NFL record by completing 92.9 percent of his passes (26 for 28 for 262 yards and three touchdowns) to lead New England to a 31-20 playoff victory.
It was the near-perfect game for the quarterback of the perfect team.
"It was a check down game," Nelson said, suggesting that most of Brady's completions were short and underneath the pass coverage. "Anybody can go 26-of-28 in a dump-down game."
Down the hall, "he ain't all that" dumbfounded Randy Moss.
"What?" Moss said. "It wasn't impressive? When you lose you're going to say things that (are) really inappropriate. You're talking about the MVP, that's Tom Brady.
"I'm not even going to respond to that."
Nelson's opinion might stem from the sheer frustration of having Brady carve up his Jags despite their almost perfect execution of the game plan.
Jacksonville focused on shutting down the deep threat – especially Moss (just one reception) – and, as Nelson noted, make Brady check down, or throw to short, underneath patterns.
It might have worked, too, if Brady hadn't completed nearly every throw.
"It was a little disappointing he missed two," smiled coach Bill Belichick.
And one of them was a drop by Wes Welker.
That's what makes Brady not just the MVP of the league this season, but the pure championship winner of this generation. He has the Patriots at 17-0 and barreling toward their fourth Super Bowl title not because he always makes the flashiest plays – although he does that, too – but because he almost always makes the right one.
"He doesn't force anything," said Jags safety Sammie Knight. "He's going to take what you give him. He's made a living throwing to backs and underneath."
If the Jaguars were going to stop the long ball, Brady had no problem nickel and diming them with short, smart passes.
"If you're taking two guys every play and putting them on Randy, then you leave a lot of guys one-on-one," Brady said.
Brady almost sounded like Nelson by calling it "easy." But that's his normal way of deflecting praise onto his teammates. He may be the supermodel-dating playboy, but he loves shrugging it all off and going with the aw-shucks routine.
"Those guys, when they are open like that, that's my job to hit them," Brady said. "They were open every time. It's easy when you have receivers that are open all the time and an offensive line that never lets anyone touch you."
None of his teammates would let him get away with that. Each told of Nelson's comments reacted with a bit of anger "I can't say what I want to say," said wide receiver Donte Stallworth.
Underneath passes or not, 26-of-28 is a record for a reason.
"This is the NFL. If this was high school, yeah (it might not be 'all that')," Stallworth said.
Brady had already conducted his postgame interview by the time Nelson spoke. His play said enough, though.
The Pats had five scoring drives (with a missed field goal on a sixth). The team's other two offensive possessions were a one-play kneel down to finish the first half and an attempt to wind down the clock late in the fourth.
Big play or not, they couldn't have operated much better with Brady serving as the game-plan buster, laying waste to Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio's defensive plot.
"Unfortunately, Tom didn't slip on the way to work today," Del Rio said.
Back in the Jags locker room, there wasn't much to say. The secondary that allowed a record performance had done exactly what they were told to do and still couldn't stop New England.
So all four starters stood in front of their lockers, conveniently lined up in a row, and all four just shrugged at what had happened, although the other three were more gracious than Nelson.
"He's good," Nelson finally conceded before packing his bag and heading for the offseason. "He's a good quarterback."
Yeah, for an unbeaten MVP, Tom Brady's not too bad.
Chicago rookie Joakim Noah benched by Bulls teammates for Atlanta game
ATLANTA (AP) -- Chicago Bulls rookie Joakim Noah was benched for Sunday's game against the Atlanta Hawks -- by his teammates.
They delivered a unanimous vote after the rookie from Florida was involved in a confrontation with assistant coach Ron Adams in practice before Friday's game at Philadelphia.
Noah was inactive for the Philadelphia game for internal disciplinary reasons, but the players told interim coach Jim Boylan one game was not enough.
"We have a chance to salvage this season and we just need everybody on the page," said Bulls veteran guard Adrian Griffin. "It's one of those things that I believe is going to bring us closer.
"Everyone on this team knows what Joakim can do and we just look forward to getting him back on the court."
A subdued Noah, who is averaging 4.2 points and 3.1 rebounds in 12.3 minutes, sat at his locker before Sunday's game.
"They just told me what I did was unacceptable and I'm just going to move on from here," Noah said. "I've just got to accept it. What do you want me to say? I've just got to move on. There's nothing I can do about it."
When asked if he believes the two-game suspension is too severe, Noah said "Ask the players who made the decision. I don't know. ... Do I agree with it? It doesn't make a difference. I respect my teammates."
Boylan, promoted to head coach on Dec. 27 after Scott Skiles was fired, said the suspension resulted from more than one incident.
Boylan called Noah "a great kid," but noted he's been involved in "a couple of situations where he's been late or not doing what the Chicago Bulls do. So the cumulative aspect of this is definitely part of the reasoning for the players doing what they did."
"This isn't college anymore," Boylan said. "It's the NBA. This is professional sports."
He said the team felt Noah needed to sit another game.
"They felt it deserved more," Boylan said. "It was the entire team that felt that way, so I back my team and the decision that they made, and appreciate the leadership that they've shown."
Atlanta rookie Al Horford, who played with Noah at Florida, called the ninth pick in the draft "very emotional" and "very competitive."
"I just feel it's a learning experience for everyone in general," Horford said. "If you cross a line in something like that, there's consequences to it. ... He wants to win really bad. I think people will figure him out as time goes on."
They delivered a unanimous vote after the rookie from Florida was involved in a confrontation with assistant coach Ron Adams in practice before Friday's game at Philadelphia.
Noah was inactive for the Philadelphia game for internal disciplinary reasons, but the players told interim coach Jim Boylan one game was not enough.
"We have a chance to salvage this season and we just need everybody on the page," said Bulls veteran guard Adrian Griffin. "It's one of those things that I believe is going to bring us closer.
"Everyone on this team knows what Joakim can do and we just look forward to getting him back on the court."
A subdued Noah, who is averaging 4.2 points and 3.1 rebounds in 12.3 minutes, sat at his locker before Sunday's game.
"They just told me what I did was unacceptable and I'm just going to move on from here," Noah said. "I've just got to accept it. What do you want me to say? I've just got to move on. There's nothing I can do about it."
When asked if he believes the two-game suspension is too severe, Noah said "Ask the players who made the decision. I don't know. ... Do I agree with it? It doesn't make a difference. I respect my teammates."
Boylan, promoted to head coach on Dec. 27 after Scott Skiles was fired, said the suspension resulted from more than one incident.
Boylan called Noah "a great kid," but noted he's been involved in "a couple of situations where he's been late or not doing what the Chicago Bulls do. So the cumulative aspect of this is definitely part of the reasoning for the players doing what they did."
"This isn't college anymore," Boylan said. "It's the NBA. This is professional sports."
He said the team felt Noah needed to sit another game.
"They felt it deserved more," Boylan said. "It was the entire team that felt that way, so I back my team and the decision that they made, and appreciate the leadership that they've shown."
Atlanta rookie Al Horford, who played with Noah at Florida, called the ninth pick in the draft "very emotional" and "very competitive."
"I just feel it's a learning experience for everyone in general," Horford said. "If you cross a line in something like that, there's consequences to it. ... He wants to win really bad. I think people will figure him out as time goes on."
Sunday, January 13, 2008
New England 31, Jacksonville 20
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) -- Tom Brady set another record and thinks he deserves one more award.
The dimple-chinned quarterback with the winning smile took the snap -- after faking as if the ball had gone directly to running back Kevin Faulk -- and threw the go-ahead touchdown pass in the New England Patriots' 31-20 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Saturday night.
It was just one of his 26 completions in 28 attempts, an NFL record 92.9 percent for regular-season and playoff games.
"I'm looking for my Academy Award on that play," said Brady, already named the MVP and offensive player of the year. "They bit on the run pretty good."
Brady caught the snap, jumped with his empty right hand raised high, then shifted the ball from his left hand and threw a 6-yard scoring pass to Wes Welker that gave the Patriots a 21-14 lead six minutes into the third quarter.
By the time it was over, they had advanced to the AFC championship game for the second straight year and remained perfect at 17-0, matching the 1972 Miami Dolphins, the only team to go unbeaten from the first game of the season through the Super Bowl.
The old NFL accuracy record was 91.3 percent (21-of-23) set by Vinny Testaverde with Cleveland in 1993. The old playoff record was 88 percent set by Phil Simms in the Super Bowl after the 1986 season. Simms watched Brady best his mark from the broadcast booth.
Add that to Brady's record of 50 touchdown passes, one more than Peyton Manning threw in 2004, and it's been a spectacular season for the two-time Super Bowl MVP.
Then, forget about it.
"The thing about it now is that none of it matters." Brady said. "For 17 games, it all comes down to this and we were here last year. I hope we perform better."
Last season, the Patriots lost to Indianapolis in the AFC title game, 38-34, after squandering an 18-point lead. They could meet again; New England will be host next Sunday at Gillette Stadium to the winner of Sunday's game between San Diego and Indianapolis.
The Patriots beat both this season and coach Bill Belichick said he has no preference.
AP - Jan 13, 12:11 am ESTMore Photos"We don't have any control over it," he said.
It seemed the Jaguars (12-6) had that same problem when it came to stopping Brady, who had just two completions longer than 14 yards.
"It was a dump-down game," Jaguars rookie safety Reggie Nelson sniffed. "Anybody can go 26-of-28 in a dump-down game."
Nobody ever has, and Brady did it mostly without Randy Moss, who had only one catch against double- and triple-coverage.
"They went back to the old way of covering me," Moss said. "We win as a team. I've never been a greedy guy. I'm not going to start now."
Brady hit all the other receivers -- throwing for three touchdowns and 262 yards.
"When they're open like that, it's my job to hit them," he said. "They were open every time, so it's easy to play quarterback."
And he was sacked just once, on the Patriots' first offensive play.
"You can't have a guy like Brady sitting back with time -- 5, 6 seconds -- to find a receiver because, believe me, he's going to find a receiver," Jaguars defensive end Paul Spicer said.
While Jacksonville's defense struggled to stop Brady and crew, New England's defense had no such problems against the Jaguars' one-two rushing punch of Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew. The league's second-most productive duo during the regular season combined for just 66 yards.
AP - Jan 13, 12:10 am ESTMore PhotosIt was the Patriots who dominated on the ground as Laurence Maroney rushed for 122 yards, including a 1-yard touchdown.
Jacksonville became just another team that couldn't stop the Patriots, and they're not done yet.
"Brady's been great all year," Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio said. "He's as good as they come."
Brady completed his first 16 passes before the next one went off the hands of Benjamin Watson, who caught two others for touchdowns.
"You always think you should catch anything," Watson said. "Hey, my bad."
The next nine passes found their targets before one went right through Welker's hands with 6:46 left in the game.
One throw the Patriots didn't make may have helped the Jaguars take a 7-0 lead. David Garrard completed an 8-yard touchdown pass to Matt Jones on their first possession. He threw as he was going down while in the grasp of Mike Vrabel, and his knee might have touched the turf before he released the pass.
Belichick pulled the red challenge flag from his sock, but held on to it.
"It was just too late by the time we got a look at it," he said.
Brady tied it on the Patriots' first possession with a 3-yard scoring pass to Watson.
AP - Jan 13, 12:04 am ESTMore PhotosNew England capitalized on Garrard's fumble on Jacksonville's second possession when he was hit by Ty Warren and Vrabel recovered at the Jaguars 29. On the first play of the second quarter, Maroney ran in from the 1.
But Garrard, in just his second playoff game, kept matching the success of Brady, a two-time Super Bowl MVP. He completed 22 of 33 passes for 278 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.
"They're explosive and they're efficient," Garrard said. "We felt we could fight fire with fire."
Garrard directed a 95-yard drive after Jones-Drew misplayed the kickoff and recovered at his own 5. With an excellent blend of passing and running, the Jaguars covered those 95 yards in 11 plays -- never even reaching a third down -- and tied it on Garrard's 6-yard pass to Ernest Wilford.
The Patriots then moved to the Jaguars 19, but a chop block against guard Stephen Neal set them back 15 yards and Stephen Gostkowski ended up missing a 35-yard field goal, leaving the score tied at 14 at halftime.
Then the Patriots went ahead on Brady's acting job and the Jaguars couldn't come back they way they did a week earlier when they beat Pittsburgh 31-29 on Josh Scobee's 25-yard field goal with 37 seconds left.
One of their last chances ended when Rodney Harrison intercepted Garrard's pass with 4:34 left. That gave Harrison four interceptions in his last four playoff games, tying Aenaes Williams' record for the NFL's longest playoff streak.
"Rodney's interception at the end sealed it," Brady said. "We really needed that play."
Notes
Gostkowski was 8-for-8 before missing his first field-goal attempt in his four playoff games. ... Welker, who tied for the NFL lead with 112 receptions, added a game-high nine for 54 yards. ... The Jaguars' streak of 11 games scoring at least 24 points ended.
(article by Yahoo)
The dimple-chinned quarterback with the winning smile took the snap -- after faking as if the ball had gone directly to running back Kevin Faulk -- and threw the go-ahead touchdown pass in the New England Patriots' 31-20 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Saturday night.
It was just one of his 26 completions in 28 attempts, an NFL record 92.9 percent for regular-season and playoff games.
"I'm looking for my Academy Award on that play," said Brady, already named the MVP and offensive player of the year. "They bit on the run pretty good."
Brady caught the snap, jumped with his empty right hand raised high, then shifted the ball from his left hand and threw a 6-yard scoring pass to Wes Welker that gave the Patriots a 21-14 lead six minutes into the third quarter.
By the time it was over, they had advanced to the AFC championship game for the second straight year and remained perfect at 17-0, matching the 1972 Miami Dolphins, the only team to go unbeaten from the first game of the season through the Super Bowl.
The old NFL accuracy record was 91.3 percent (21-of-23) set by Vinny Testaverde with Cleveland in 1993. The old playoff record was 88 percent set by Phil Simms in the Super Bowl after the 1986 season. Simms watched Brady best his mark from the broadcast booth.
Add that to Brady's record of 50 touchdown passes, one more than Peyton Manning threw in 2004, and it's been a spectacular season for the two-time Super Bowl MVP.
Then, forget about it.
"The thing about it now is that none of it matters." Brady said. "For 17 games, it all comes down to this and we were here last year. I hope we perform better."
Last season, the Patriots lost to Indianapolis in the AFC title game, 38-34, after squandering an 18-point lead. They could meet again; New England will be host next Sunday at Gillette Stadium to the winner of Sunday's game between San Diego and Indianapolis.
The Patriots beat both this season and coach Bill Belichick said he has no preference.
AP - Jan 13, 12:11 am ESTMore Photos"We don't have any control over it," he said.
It seemed the Jaguars (12-6) had that same problem when it came to stopping Brady, who had just two completions longer than 14 yards.
"It was a dump-down game," Jaguars rookie safety Reggie Nelson sniffed. "Anybody can go 26-of-28 in a dump-down game."
Nobody ever has, and Brady did it mostly without Randy Moss, who had only one catch against double- and triple-coverage.
"They went back to the old way of covering me," Moss said. "We win as a team. I've never been a greedy guy. I'm not going to start now."
Brady hit all the other receivers -- throwing for three touchdowns and 262 yards.
"When they're open like that, it's my job to hit them," he said. "They were open every time, so it's easy to play quarterback."
And he was sacked just once, on the Patriots' first offensive play.
"You can't have a guy like Brady sitting back with time -- 5, 6 seconds -- to find a receiver because, believe me, he's going to find a receiver," Jaguars defensive end Paul Spicer said.
While Jacksonville's defense struggled to stop Brady and crew, New England's defense had no such problems against the Jaguars' one-two rushing punch of Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew. The league's second-most productive duo during the regular season combined for just 66 yards.
AP - Jan 13, 12:10 am ESTMore PhotosIt was the Patriots who dominated on the ground as Laurence Maroney rushed for 122 yards, including a 1-yard touchdown.
Jacksonville became just another team that couldn't stop the Patriots, and they're not done yet.
"Brady's been great all year," Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio said. "He's as good as they come."
Brady completed his first 16 passes before the next one went off the hands of Benjamin Watson, who caught two others for touchdowns.
"You always think you should catch anything," Watson said. "Hey, my bad."
The next nine passes found their targets before one went right through Welker's hands with 6:46 left in the game.
One throw the Patriots didn't make may have helped the Jaguars take a 7-0 lead. David Garrard completed an 8-yard touchdown pass to Matt Jones on their first possession. He threw as he was going down while in the grasp of Mike Vrabel, and his knee might have touched the turf before he released the pass.
Belichick pulled the red challenge flag from his sock, but held on to it.
"It was just too late by the time we got a look at it," he said.
Brady tied it on the Patriots' first possession with a 3-yard scoring pass to Watson.
AP - Jan 13, 12:04 am ESTMore PhotosNew England capitalized on Garrard's fumble on Jacksonville's second possession when he was hit by Ty Warren and Vrabel recovered at the Jaguars 29. On the first play of the second quarter, Maroney ran in from the 1.
But Garrard, in just his second playoff game, kept matching the success of Brady, a two-time Super Bowl MVP. He completed 22 of 33 passes for 278 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.
"They're explosive and they're efficient," Garrard said. "We felt we could fight fire with fire."
Garrard directed a 95-yard drive after Jones-Drew misplayed the kickoff and recovered at his own 5. With an excellent blend of passing and running, the Jaguars covered those 95 yards in 11 plays -- never even reaching a third down -- and tied it on Garrard's 6-yard pass to Ernest Wilford.
The Patriots then moved to the Jaguars 19, but a chop block against guard Stephen Neal set them back 15 yards and Stephen Gostkowski ended up missing a 35-yard field goal, leaving the score tied at 14 at halftime.
Then the Patriots went ahead on Brady's acting job and the Jaguars couldn't come back they way they did a week earlier when they beat Pittsburgh 31-29 on Josh Scobee's 25-yard field goal with 37 seconds left.
One of their last chances ended when Rodney Harrison intercepted Garrard's pass with 4:34 left. That gave Harrison four interceptions in his last four playoff games, tying Aenaes Williams' record for the NFL's longest playoff streak.
"Rodney's interception at the end sealed it," Brady said. "We really needed that play."
Notes
Gostkowski was 8-for-8 before missing his first field-goal attempt in his four playoff games. ... Welker, who tied for the NFL lead with 112 receptions, added a game-high nine for 54 yards. ... The Jaguars' streak of 11 games scoring at least 24 points ended.
(article by Yahoo)
Friday, January 4, 2008
Monthly Ticket Searches (December 2007)
The following are the top 5 ticket searches (PlatinumTickets.com) for the month of December 2007
Pageant of the Masters Tickets
National Finals Rodeo Tickets
Wicked Tickets
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We provide tickets to all events throughout the country. We specialize in all major events.... NFR Tickets, NFL Tickets, Pacific Life Open Tennis Tickets and all concert tickets and theatre tickets
Pageant of the Masters Tickets
National Finals Rodeo Tickets
Wicked Tickets
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Boston Red Sox Tickets
We provide tickets to all events throughout the country. We specialize in all major events.... NFR Tickets, NFL Tickets, Pacific Life Open Tennis Tickets and all concert tickets and theatre tickets
Weekly Ticket Searches (December 23-29)
The following are the top 5 ticket searches (PlatinumTickets.com) for the week of December 23-29, 2007
Pageant of the Masters Tickets
New York Yankees Tickets
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We provide tickets to all events throughout the country. We specialize in all major events.... NFR Tickets, NFL Tickets, Pacific Life Open Tennis Tickets and all concert tickets and theatre tickets
Pageant of the Masters Tickets
New York Yankees Tickets
Boston Red Sox Tickets
Chicago Cubs Tickets
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We provide tickets to all events throughout the country. We specialize in all major events.... NFR Tickets, NFL Tickets, Pacific Life Open Tennis Tickets and all concert tickets and theatre tickets
Aerosmith, Kid Rock to Rev Up Harley-Davidson Summer Event
Aerosmith and Kid Rock will headline the Harley Owners Group's (H.O.G.) 25th anniversary concert Aug. 28 at Miller Park, home of the Milwaukee Brewers. The concert caps the free, day-long Club H.O.G. 25th anniversary celebration that coincides with Harley-Davidson's 105th Anniversary events during Labor Day weekend in Milwaukee.
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