Weekly Top Tens - 1/15/14

WORLD GOLF RANKINGS (1/12/14)

Photo Credit: http://3jack.blogspot.com/2009/04

1. Tiger Woods (USA)
2. Adam Scott (Australia)
3. Henrik Stenson (Sweden)
4. Justin Rose (England)
5. Phil Mickelson (USA)
6. Zach Johnson (USA)
7. Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland)
8. Matt Kuchar (USA)
9. Steve Stricker (USA)
10. Sergio Garcia (Spain)

NBA LEADING SCORERS (PPG)

Photo Credit: http://origin.nba.com/2011/news/features

1. Kevin Durant - Oklahoma City - 29.8
2. Carmelo Anthony - New York - 26.0
3. LeBron James - Miami - 26.0
4. Kevin Love - Minnesota - 25.5
5. James Harden - Houston - 24.6
6. LaMarcus Aldridge - Portland - 23.6
7. DeMarcus Cousins - Sacramento - 23.5
8. Stephen Curry - Golden State - 23.0
9. Paul George - Indiana - 22.8
10. Blake Griffin - LA Clippers - 22.3

NBA LEADING REBOUNDERS (RPG)

Photo Credit: http://www.rantsports.com/fantasy/2014/01/02

1. DeAndre Jordan - LA Clippers - 13.4
2. Kevin Love - Minnesota - 13.1
3. Dwight Howard - Houston - 12.7
3. Andre Drummond - Detroit - 12.7
5. DeMarcus Cousins - Sacramento - 11.6
6. LaMarcus Aldridge - Portland - 11.0
7. Zach Randolph - Memphis - 10.6
7. Joakim Noah - Chicago - 10.6
9. Blake Griffin - LA Clippers - 10.4
10. Andrew Bogut - Golden State - 10.3

NBA LEADING ASSIST-ERS (APG)

Photo Credit: http://www.tcscomedy.com/category/sports/page

1. Chris Paul - LA Clippers - 11.2
2. Stephen Curry - Golden State - 9.3
3. John Wall - Washington - 8.6
3. Ty Lawson - Denver - 8.6
5. Brandon Jennings - Detroit - 8.5
6. Ricky Rubio - Minnesota - 8.2

7. Jrue Holiday - New Orleans - 7.9

8. Jeff Teague - Atlanta - 7.8
9. Kyle Lowry - Toronto - 7.3
10. Michael Carter-Williams - Philadelphia - 7.0

Remembering the 1995-96 Bulls

As it becomes more evident that yet another NBA season is going to go by where the Chicago Bulls record of 72 regular season wins won't be matched, I figured we'd take a moment to look back at that team and see who actually beat them.

Loss #1 - Game 6 - Orlando Magic 94 Chicago Bulls 88

Photo Credit: http://hoops-nation.com/community/topic/

Even without the injured Shaquille O'Neal, the defending Eastern Conference Champion Orlando Magic were a force to be reckoned with. While starting center Jon Koncak (career average of 4.5 points per game) didn't make anyone forget about Shaq, Penny Hardaway scored 36 points and the Magic overcame 24 turnovers to defeat the Bulls in Orlando 94-88. The Bulls shot just 39% from the field and missed nine of nineteen free throws in a losing effort. Despite the absence of Dennis Rodman, the Bulls won the rebounding battle 44-38 and grabbed 19 offensive rebounds, but ultimately their poor shooting doomed them, particularly in the third quarter when they scored just 14 points. Michael Jordan led the Bulls with 23 points, Scottie Pippen added 17 points and 10 rebounds and Toni Kukoc scored 16 off the bench. The Bulls would face the Magic three more times during the regular season and again in the Eastern Conference Finals winning all seven match-ups.

Loss #2 - Game 12 - Seattle Supersonics 97 Chicago Bulls 92

Photo Credit: http://www.hoopglobal.com/2013/09/top-10-alley-oops-gary-payton-to-shawn-kemp/

In a Preview of the 1996 NBA Finals, the Bulls took a 64-51 lead into the intermission, but mustered just 28 points in the second half, falling on the road to the Supersonics 97-92. Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp combined to score 51 points on 20 of 29 shooting and Seattle as a team shot 56% from the floor. Michael Jordan led the Bulls with 22 points but hit just 6 of 19 field goals and Scottie Pippen missed 9 of his 11 free throws. Starting center Luc Longley was one of the few bright spots for Chicago on offense as he had a season high 21 points in 28 minutes. Perhaps the toughest match-up for the '95-'96 Bulls, the Sonics would also take two games from Chicago in the NBA Finals before ultimately falling in six.

Weekly Top Tens - 1/8/14

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE LEADING SCORERS

Photo Credit: http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news

1. Billy McKay (Northern Ireland) - Inverness Caledonian Thistle - 14
2. Kris Boyd (Scotland) - Kilmarnock - 12
2. Kris Commons (Scotland) - Celtic - 12
4. Steve May (Scotland) - St. Johnstone - 11
5. John Sutton (England) - Motherwell - 10
6. Niall McGinn (Northern Ireland) - Aberdeen - 9
7. Steven Thompson (Scotland) - St. Mirren - 8
8. Kris Doolan (Scotland) - Partick Thistle -  7
8. Henri Anier (Estonia) - Motherwell - 7
10. 5 tied with 6

PORTUGUESE LIGA LEADING SCORERS

Photo Credit: http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2013/11

1. Fredy Montero (Colombia) - Sporting Lisbon - 9
2. Jackson Martínez (Colombia) - FC Porto - 7
3. Evandro (Brazil) - Estoril - 5
3. Derley (Brazil) - Maritimo - 5
5. 9 tied with 3

RUSSIAN PREMIER LEAGUE LEADING SCORERS

Photo Credit: http://en.ria.ru/sports/20130729/182474388.html

1. Artem Dzyuba (Russia) - FK Rostov-Na-Donu - 10
2. Miguel Danny (Portugal) - Zenit St Petersburg - 9
3. Yura Movsisyan (Armenia) - Spartak Moscow - 8
4. Georgi Peev (Bulgaria) - FK Amkar Perm' - 7
4. Andriy Voronin (Ukraine) - Dinamo Moscow - 7
4. Dame N'Doye (Senegal) - Lokomotiv Moscow - 7
4. Hulk (Brazil) - Zenit St Petersburg - 7
8. Spartak Gogniyev (Russia) - Ural - 6
9. 9 tied with 5

Top Tens - 1/1/14

FRENCH LIGUE 1 LEADING SCORERS

Photo Credit: http://www.hiilkubad.com

1. Zlatan Ibrahimović (Sweden) - Paris Saint-Germain - 15
2. Edinson Cavani (Uruguay) - Paris Saint-Germain - 12
3. Vincent Aboubakar (Cameroon) - Lorient - 11
4. Radamel Falcao (Colombia) - AS Monaco - 9
4. Alexandre Lacazette (France) - Lyon - 9
6. Filip Đorđević (Serbia) - Nantes - 8
6. Emmanuel Rivière (France) - AS Monaco - 8
8. André-Pierre Gignac (France) - Marseilles - 8
9. Darío Cvitanich (Argentina) - Nice - 7
9. Cheick Diabaté (Mali) - Bordeaux - 7
9. Nelson Miguel Castro Oliveira (Portugal) - Stade Rennes - 7
9. Bafétimbi Gomis (France) - Lyon - 7

ITALIAN SERIE A LEADING SCORERS

Photo Credit: http://www.ilcatenaccio.es/es/2013

1. Giuseppe Rossi (Italy) - Fiorentina - 14
2. Carlos Tévez (Argentina) - Juventus - 11
3. Rodrigo Palacio (Argentina) - Internazionale - 10
4. Alessio Cerci (Italy) - Torino - 9
4. Gonzalo Higuaín (Argentina) - Napoli - 9
6. José María Callejón (Spain) - Napoli - 8
6. Ciro Immobile (Italy) - Torino - 8
8. 6 tied with 7

DUTCH EREDIVISIE LEADING SCORERS

Photo Credit: http://www.sc-heerenveen.nl/nieuws

1. Alfred Finnbogason (Iceland) - Heerenveen - 17
2. Graziano Pellè (Italy) - Feyenoord Rotterdam - 13
3. Lucas Piazón (Brazil) - Vitesse Arnhem - 11
3. Aron Jóhannsson (USA) - AZ Alkmaar - 11
5. Luc Castaignos (Netherlands) - Twente Enschede - 10
6. Quincy Promes (Netherlands) - Twente Enschede - 8
7. 8 tied with 7

Flashback Friday - the 2004 NFL Draft

As we get ready to enter 2014, for kicks let's look back at the first ten picks of the 2004 NFL Draft and see how they turned out:

1. Eli Manning - QB - Mississippi - San Diego Chargers

Photo Credit: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/991769-why-eli-manning-is-the-king-of-mississippi

Manning threw for over 10,000 yards at the University of Mississippi. He finished 3rd in the running for the 2003 Heisman Trophy, and won the 2003 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, 2003 Maxwell Award (best college football player in the U.S.), and 2003 SEC Offensive Player of the Year Honors. Manning's career in the pros started dubiously when he publicly stated that he'd refuse to play for the Chargers if they drafted him. San Diego, as a result, drafted but subsequently traded Manning to the Giants in exchange for Philip Rivers (the 4th pick), a first round pick in 2005 (Shawn Merriman), and a third round pick in 2004 (Nate Kaeding). As a pro, Manning has gone 84-66 as a regular season starter, thrown for over 35,000 yards, won two Super Bowls taking home the MVP both times, and made three Pro Bowls.


2. Robert Gallery - OT - Iowa - Oakland Raiders

Photo Credit: http://bleacherreport.com/articles

Gallery was a unanimous All-American in 2003 and won the Outland Trophy - the award for the best college football interior lineman. Unfortunately, while he played in the NFL for 8 seasons compiling 89 starts, he never truly lived up to the potential everyone saw in him in college. Gallery failed to make a Pro Bowl and announced his retirement from football in August of 2012.


3. Larry Fitzgerald - WR - Pittsburgh - Arizona Cardinals

Photo Credit: http://blog.cochran.com/wordpress/index.php/pitt-panthers-retire-larry-fitzgeralds-jersey/

In just two seasons with the Pitt Panthers, Larry Fitzgerald logged 161 receptions for 2677 yards and 34 touchdowns. He finished second in the 2003 Heisman voting to Oklahoma quarterback Jason White and won the 2003 Big East Offensive Player of the Year Award, was a 2003 All-American, and took home both the Fred Biletnikoff Award (nation's top receiver) and Walter Camp Player of the Year awards. His pro career has been highly successful as he's wrapping up his 10th year with the Cardinals. He currently has 840 receptions and over 11,000 receiving yards and 87 touchdowns. He's made 7 Pro Bowl teams and helped take Arizona to Super Bow XLIII where he caught 7 passes for 127 yards and two touchdowns.

Top Tens - 12/25/13

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE LEADING SCORERS

Photo Credit: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football

1. Luis Suárez (Uruguay) - Liverpool - 19
2. Sergio Agüero (Argentina) - Manchester City - 13
3. Daniel Sturridge (England) - Liverpool - 9
3. Yaya Touré (Ivory Coast) - Manchester City - 9
5. Wayne Rooney (England) - Manchester Utd - 8
5. Loïc Remy (France) - Newcastle Utd - 8
5. Aaron Ramsey (Wales) - Arsenal - 8
5. Romelu Lukaku (Belgium) - Everton - 8
9. Robin Van Persie (Netherlands) - Manchester Utd - 7
9. Olivier Giroud (France) - Arsenal - 7
9. Álvaro Negredo (Spain) - Manchester City - 7

SPANISH LA LIGA LEADING SCORERS

Photo Credit: http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/88/spain/2013/10/03/4308629

1. Diego Costa (Spain) - Atletico Madrid - 19
1. Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) - Real Madrid - 18
3. Antoine Griezmann (France) - Real Sociedad - 11
3. Javi Guerra (Spain) - Real Valladolid - 11
5. Pedro (Spain) - Barcelona - 10
6. David Villa (Spain) - Atletico Madrid - 8
6. Lionel Messi (Argentina) - Barcelona - 8
6. Karim Benzema (France) - Real Madrid - 8
6. Alexis Sánchez (Chile) - Barcelona - 8
6. Jonas (Brazil) - Valencia - 8
6. Carlos Vela (Mexico) - Real Sociedad - 8
6. Carlos Bacca (Colombia) - Sevilla FC - 8

GERMAN BUNDESLIGA LEADING SCORERS

Photo Credit: http://www.dw.de

1. Robert Lewandowski (Poland) - Borussia Dortmund - 11
1. Adrián Ramos (Colombia) - Hertha Berlin - 11
3. Mario Mandžukić (Croatia) - Bayern Munich - 10
4. Stefan Kießling (Germany) - Bayer Leverkusen - 9
4. Vedad Ibišević (Bosnia & Herzegovina) - VfB Stuttgart - 9
4. Raffael Araújo (Brazil) - Borussia Monchengladbach - 9
4. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon) - Borussia Dortmund - 9
4. Pierre-Michel Lasogga (Germany) - Hamburg SV - 9
9. 5 tied with 8

Sunday Sports from A to Z - 12/22/13 Edition

A is for Andy Dalton. The Red Rocket threw for 366 yards and 4 touchdown passes as the Cincinnati Bengals routed the Minnesota Vikings 42-14 today. The win clinched a playoff berth for Cincinnati and marked the first time in Bengals history that they've clinched a playoff berth in three consecutive seasons.

Photo Credit: http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2013/12/22

B is for Bowl Games. The Bowl Season kicked off on Saturday with four games. Colorado State scored 18 unanswered points in the final 3 minutes of the Gildan New Mexico Bowl as the Rams rallied to shock Washington State 48-45. Sophomore running back Kapri Bibbs ran for 169 yards and 3 touchdowns in the win, while Washington State's Connor Halliday threw for 410 yards and 6 touchdown passes in a losing effort... 25th ranked USC jumped out to a 35-6 halftime lead over Fresno State and cruised to a 45-20 win in the Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl. Quarterback Cody Kessler threw for 344 yards and 4 scores to lead the Trojans... The San Diego State Aztecs routed Buffalo 49-24 behind 229 yards and 3 touchdowns from junior running back Adam Muema in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl... Finally, in an interstate showdown at the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl, a missed 48 yard field goal with 9 seconds left allowed the University of Louisiana-Lafayette to hang on for a 24-21 win over Tulane. Tulane Senior running back Orleans Darkwa tied a career high with 3 rushing touchdowns in a losing effort.

Photo Credit: http://campusinsiders.com

C is for Champions League Draw. The Champions League draw for the Round of 16 is set with some big-time match-ups now on the slate. Here's a rundown of the eight pairings: Manchester City (England) vs Barcelona (Spain), Bayer Leverkusen (Germany) vs Paris Saint-Germain (France), AC Milan (Italy) vs Atletico Madrid (Spain), Arsenal (England) vs Bayern Munich (Germany), Zenit St Petersburg (Russia) vs Borussia Dortmund (Germany), Galatasaray (Turkey) vs Chelsea (England), Olympiakos (Greece) vs Manchester United (England), and Schalke 04 (Germany) vs Real Madrid (Spain). Some of the highlights involve Didier Drogba (Galatasaray) taking on his former club Chelsea and German star Mesut Özil (Arsenal) getting matched up with the German Champions Bayern Munich. Bayern Munich knocked out Arsenal in the first round of last year's tournament en route to the title. 

Photo Credit: http://www.eastbengaltherealpower.com