2009 Takkle Best Blog Competition

Calling all sports bloggers!! Today starts the 2009 TAKKLE Best Blog Competition, and we want to know whose blog is the best of the best! Entering is very simple: fill out the competition entry form, choose from 1 of the 5 categories that best fit the theme of your blog, and submit! Applications will be accepted until 12/19/09 so make sure you get your entry form in soon!! Spread the word and tell your friends to vote for your blog so you can have the Best Blog bragging rights!!

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France Gets "Handed" the Win

The final qualifying games last night for the 2010 World Cup brought victory for some teams, and controversy for another. After an intense battle, the score remained 1-1 as France and Ireland competed in overtime, for the chance to play this summer in South Africa. As the game looked like it was progressing to end in penalty kicks, a long pass was sent to Thierry Henry who stopped the ball with his left hand, then tapped it over to William Gallas for the game-winning header.

Needless to say, Ireland fans, players, and coaches were baffled when no penalty was called against France for the handball. Unlike other professional sports, soccer does not allow the use of video replay, and must rely on referees to see what is happening at all time. This rule was unfortunate for Ireland who, as a result, will not advance to next year's tournament.

In interviews following the game, Henry admitted to the handball, but claimed it was the fault of the referees for not making the call. Should they have listened to Ireland's plea and dismissed the goal? Should video equipment be introduced into the game? Let us know what you think.

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High School Soccer Keeps Kickin'

It's the final week of the NJSIAA High School Soccer Tournament and games are intense! The semi-finals took place last night all across New Jersey as the Top 4 teams from each Group battled it out for a spot in the Championship. The team's endured round after round of intense struggle to make it this far, and will compete as the tournament comes to a close this weekend. Let's take it Group by Group:

Group 4: Clifton will take on Toms River South in the Group 4 Championship final. Clifton beat No. 11 Ridge last night, 1-0, in double overtime. Toms River South defeated Toms River North 4-3, also in overtime.

Group 3: Millburn, No. 5, will play Princeton (No. 12) for the Championship this Friday, Nov. 20 at The College of New Jersey. Millburn beat Montville after an intense battle going into double overtime, and finally ending the game 3-2 in the final shootout. Princeton was victorious over Moorestown 1-0 last night.

Group 2: Cliffside Park (No. 4) will face No. 9 Delran this Saturday for the final round of the tournament. Cliffside Park defeated Ramsey 1-0 to advance, while Delran beat West Deptford with the same score.

Group 1: Dayton will meet Palmyra Saturday at 4 p.m. in Hillsborough for the championship game. Dayton beat No. 20 ranked Wallington 2-1 in last night's game. After ending the game in penalty kicks, Palmyra defeated Metuchen 1-0.

Congratulations to all the teams that made it to their Group's State Final!! Check back next week to see who the champs are!

**All rankings are based on the The Star-Ledger Top 20**

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24-Hour Basketball Overload!!

And we thought March Madness was crazy! For the second year in a row, ESPN is hosting a "College Hoops Tip-Off Marathon," which shows 24 hours of college basketball. Featured during the 24-hours will be 12 consecutive men's games on ESPN in addition to 2 women's games displayed across other ESPN channels.

As for the main event, tonight's game to watch: Memphis vs. Kansas at 10 p.m. The two teams have not reunited since last year's National Championship game, when Kansas prevailed with much thanks to Mario Chalmers' game tieing 3-pointer. "The Shot" as it has become referred to allowed the Jayhawks to clinch the title in overtime with a score of 75-68.

So keep refilling those coffee cups and checking the scores, today's games are sure to help push you through the day!

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Lebron James to retire #23?

One of the highest regards in sports is to have your number retired, not just by your team, but by the association. In the vast years, and the thousands of players, only a lucky few have been graced with this honor.

This subject was recently under discussion after Thursday night's Cavaliers-Heat game. LeBron James blurted the idea during an interview, not to honor himself, but to honor and respect a former NBA superstar, Michael Jordan. LeBron has been sporting #23, the number most associated with Jordan, and decided the number should go into retirement for good. And what does this mean for other players with the #23? Well, James suggests everyone choose a different number. In order for the removal of the #23 from NBA jerseys, James would have to file a petition and get the signatures of NBA players and executives.

Number retirement has occurred in other sports, but in a more traditional fashion. In Major League Baseball (MLB), the first and only player whose number has been retired by the league has been Jackie Robinson. Robinson, the first baseball player to break the racial barriers, sported the Brooklyn Dodger's uniform #42, which was retired on April 15, 1997.

Three years later in 2000, the National Hockey League (NHL), paid homage to the great Wayne Gretzky. Gretzky's number, 99, became the only retired number by the NHL.

Could #23, in honor of Michael Jordan, be next? After the years of wearing the same number, why has LeBron James had a change of heart? Don't players make an identity for themselves by their jersey number? Let us know your thoughts and why you choose YOUR team number. http://bit.ly/iIvRO

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Bulls (Not So) Buzzer Beater

Who doesn't love the roller coaster of basketball? A good game will be full of exhilarating highs, and disappointing lows. Last night's Nuggets-Bulls game was the epitome of this.

Down by 2 and with 10 seconds on the clock, Chicago's Derrick Rose made 2 free throws, to bring the game to a tie. Denver's Chauncey Billups was then fouled. Billups made the first free throw and missed the second to take a 90-89 lead. With three-tenths of a second remaining on the clock, and just as Bulls' fans were ready to go home, Brad Miller inbounded the ball and made the game-winning shot!

Or so they thought.

After taking ample time to review, the shot was overruled by the referees. According to them, and video replay, the ball was not off of Miller's fingers before the final buzzer. And just as easily as their spirits were up, Bulls fans left the United Center feeling nothing but sheer disappointment last night.

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College Basketball Tips Off

Last night launched the 2009-2010 NCAA College Basketball season. Victorious in the first games included North Carolina over Florida International, Ohio State over Alcorn State, California over Murray State, and Syracuse over Albany.

Syracuse's win last night led the team's coach, Jim Boeheim, to his 800th career victory. Boeheim now becomes the 8th Division I coach to reach this milestone. The team's victory was also important for morale, as they lost their top 3 scorers after last season.

Wednesday night brings the next set of games, but the real excitement begins this weekend; as a combined 245 games are set to take place. Get your game faces on, and your TiVo's ready, college basketball is officially here!

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Cal football can hope for the Best

Cal fans held their breath Saturday night as Jahvid Best was wheeled off of the field on a stretcher. After jumping into the end zone for a touchdown, Jahvid fell onto his neck/back, launching his helmet off, and knocking him unconscious. Medics rushed to his side as teammates took a knee and watched this Heisman Trophy contender lay motionless.

Sunday morning broke better news that Best had suffered a concussion, his second in 2 weeks, and remarkably no other injuries. With their all-star running back out this week, the Golden Bears still have to face upcoming games against Arizona, Stanford, and Washington. The teams temporary loss of Best and a record of 6-3, 3-3 in the Pac-10, puts on an additional pressure to come out with a winning season, and possibly a bowl game.

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SIX-CESS for the YANKS!!

Drumroll please...your 2009 World Series Champions are the New York Yankees! It seems like Joe Girardi can breathe a little easier today knowing his decision to start Pettitte last night, after only 3 days rest, worked out much better than Burnett's start on Monday. After two years of managing the team, Girardi was able to successfully bring the Yanks to a championship, a feat the former Manager Joe (Torre) hasn't done since 2000.

If you witnessed last night's game, I'm sure you would agree with this series chosen MVP, Hideki Matsui. Matsui's 2-run homer in the 2nd, followed by a 2-RBI single in the 3rd, in addition to a 2-RBI double in the 5th, earned him the MVP title as well as tying a World Series record with 6 RBIs.

This 27th World Series title was even more precious for the Yankees as they were able to celebrate the victory in their brand new stadium. The packed house, with over 50, 000 fans, knew this was the moment the team had been waiting for, craving for, since their last victory at home in 1999.

The festivities kick off tomorrow afternoon as the celebratory ticker-tape parade hits the NYC streets. As this marks the official end of the 2009 baseball season, fret not fans, less than 4 months until spring training begins!!

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Don't Blow It Joe!

For the second game in a row, Joe Girardi has chosen to use his starting pitcher after only 3 days rest. Lets hope this idea works out better for you tonight, Joe. With the winning game on the line, is this a smart move for the Yankees Manager? A.J Burnett's pull on Monday night, after only 2 plus innings, is evidence enough to make Yankees' fans apprehensive.

See how it all plays out tonight, Game 6, at 7:45. Don't forget to check back tomorrow for the game's analysis and highlights!!

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