Whether its taxes, health care or Russia, there is a lot of uncertainty in Washington and across the country. Luckily the sports world is giving us some clarity, so let’s see what’s going on…
TINK Sports Big-3
Here are three things you need to know:
1) The elite NFL teams were challenged this week but the Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers still lead the pack
2) The college football playoffs are finally set with the semifinals taking place New Year’s Eve
3) The NBA’s juggernauts, the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers, are hitting their stride
National Football League (NFL)
The NFL elite are strutting their stuff with the playoffs in sight.
Chasing the throne…Sunday night in Seattle was a playoff atmosphere as the Philadelphia Eagles took on the Seattle Seahawks with both showcasing their high profile, MVP-candidate quarterbacks. Eagles QB Carson Wentz is a ringer for Prince Harry while Russell Wilson’s better half is Ciara.
Source: CBS
Despite the (almost) royal connection, the Eagles lost the game and dropped into a tie with the Minnesota Vikings atop the NFC at 10-2.
Collision course. In the AFC the Pittsburgh Steelers squeaked by the Cincinnati Bengals Monday night and are tied with the New England Patriots for the conference’s best record at 10-2. The two leaders play each other Sunday, December 17 for AFC supremacy.
Lacking clarity. If you know any New York Giants fans, give them a hug. The Giants are a mess. The once-proud squad is a dismal 2-10 and benched their two-time Super Bowl winning quarterback Eli Manning after 210 straight starts (save the calculator – that’s 13 seasons!).
Their starting QB Sunday, Geno Smith, was ripped by his old coach, Rex Ryan, as not being very good. Ouch. Geno wasn’t happy and replied that Rex was a coward. Not surprisingly the Giants lost Sunday and heads rolled. The coach and general manager were both fired Monday.
Nice shoes! The typically reserved NFL allowed players to express themselves and promote their favorite charity with with “My Cleats My Cause.” Check out some of the fancy footwork:
Source: Chiefs.com
College Football
Lucky 13? After 13 games over three months it came down to a committee of 13 to determine the college football playoff teams. When the dust settled after Saturday’s conference championship games, the major question was Alabama or Ohio State for the fourth and final spot. The Tuscaloosa treat left coeds in Columbus crying.
Here are the playoff semifinals, to be played on New Year’s Eve:
#1 Clemson vs. #4 Alabama – An intensifying rivalry and rematch of the last two college football playoff championship games, with each team winning one
Source: Sports Illustrated
#2 Oklahoma vs. #3 Georgia
The winners play for the title January 8th in Atlanta.
Is it too late to get into college coaching? That’s what high school and flag football coaches across the country are asking themselves. Why? A couple college coaches got paid last week. Gus Malzahn inked a huge contract to stay at Auburn (seven years and $49 million), only to be topped by Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher going to Texas A&M for a monster deal (10 years and $75 million).
National Basketball Association (NBA)
It has become clear that the Boston Celtics and Houston Rockets are serious playoff contenders. Both teams are in first place in their conference.
Destined to meet…again? Don’t look now but the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors, the matchup in the last three NBA Finals, stumbled out of the gate but now find themselves in second place in the Eastern and Western Conference, respectively.
National Hockey League (NHL)
Surprised to see me? Unlike in the NFL and NBA, there are no dominant teams running away from the pack in the NHL.
The conference leaders, to the surprise of many, are the Tampa Bay Lightning, Columbus Blue Jackets and Toronto Maple Leafs in the East, and Winnipeg Jets, Nashville Predators and Los Angeles Kings in the West.
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See you next time…
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