Mattie T’s Thoughts in the world of sports…(for the week of August 13-20)

What’s up Chicago!!

It’s your boy Mattie T (with a freshly shaven head) back to hit all my readers up with another blog to recap the week of sports.

We will begin with a former heavyweight champion who is attempting to make a comeback.

43 year-old Evander “Real Deal” Holyfield began phase one of his comeback attempt with a 2nd round victory on Friday against Jeremy Bates in Dallas, Texas.

Holyfield earned a techincal knockout with 4 seconds left in the 2nd round, giving him his first victory since June 2002.

“I was able to do the things I haven’t been doing in about five years.” Holyfield said. “I’m happy to be able to go out and fight the way i’m capable of fighting. I fought with a lot of confidence.”

Holyfield was able to end a career-long skid of 3 consecutive losses since his last victory over Hasim Rahman. Holyfield also appeared in ABC’s “Dancing With The Stars” last summer.

Holyfield also said that his next fight will be against Sinan Samil Sam of Turkey (5th in the most current WBC ratings). The fight will be scheduled to take place around November & will take place internationally.

Holyfield also added “I look at this as the first step. The next step is the major step.”

Holyfield is hoping that he can be on pace to take place in a title fight next year & call it quits by 2008.

Mattie T’s Thoughts:
This really doesn’t come as a surprise to me, considering that George Foreman won a title at the age of 45. This is such a great “feel-good” story for boxing, and i’m happy for Evander that he was able to complete phase one of what hopefully will become a successful comeback.

But…

You know i can’t let this go without adding a picture of an infamous ‘97 bout that EVERYONE knows about:

OUCH!!!

The Associated Press is reporting that five-time Olympic gold medalist Marion Jones failed an initial drug test in June for the U.S. World Championships in Indianapolis.

Jones’ “A” sample tested positive on June 23rd for the banned performance enhancer EPO. If a second, or “B” sample also tests positive, Jones would face a minimum two-year ban from competition.

EPO is an abbreviation for Erythropoietin, which boosts endurance. 2006 Tour De France winner Floyd Landis is currently being accused of using a “B” sample of testosterone, which helps build muscle & improve stamina.

Three-time Olympic medalist Justin Gatlin also tested positive for a steroid in April. The three have repeately denied ever using performance-enhacing drugs.

Mattie T’s Thoughts:

Yet more controversy regarding banned drugs & Olympic gold-winning athletes. This is exteremly disappointing to hear from someone who seemed like an icon in the late 90’s. I hope that Marion will be able to get her life together in the near future.

Here are the updated pennant & wild card races.

The New York Yankees have opened up a 6.5 game lead on the Boston Red Sox in the AL East after doing something that hasn’t been done in 63 years.

They swept their rival Red Sox in 5 games at Fenway Park.

The Yankees came to Fenway 28 years ago in September with a 4 game deficit and left tied for the division lead, a series known as the “Boston Massacre.” The Yankees ended up winning the AL East after trailing by as much as 14 games in the division.

The Yankees and Red Sox will meet again for a 4 game weekend series on September 15th from Yankee Stadium. It will also mark the final regular-season meeting between the two teams.

In the AL Central, the Detroit Tigers improved their lead to 6.5 games over the Chicago White Sox after a 7-1 victory tonight against the world champions.

Rookie sensation Justin Verlander won his 15th game of the season, joining Johan Santana of the Minnesota Twins & Roy Halladay of the Toronto Blue Jays as the only 15-game winners in the majors.

The Oakland Athletics have a 4.5 game lead on the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the AL West. The A’s will continue their road trip in Toronto & Texas this week before heading home next Monday to face Boston in a key 3 game series.

The Angels will host 7 critical games this week against the Yankees & Red Sox before heading to Seattle for a 3 game series next Monday.

The White Sox currently hold a half-game lead on the Twins for the AL Wild Card lead. The two teams will meet again on Friday in another pivotal 3 game series from U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago. Minnesota took 2 out of 3 from the White Sox this weekend at the Metrodome in Minneapolis.

There is also a developing story taking place in tonight’s game between the Oakland Athletics and the Toronto Blue Jays at the Skydome.

Toronto Blue Jays P Ted Lilly got into a altercation with manager John Gibbons after Lilly refused to give his manager the ball when he got pulled from the game in the 3rd inning after allowing 7 runs.

When Lilly left the mound for the locker room, Gibbons followed him. A team trainer & and a number of players then ran down the stairs.

Cameramen near the dugout saw Gibbons push Lilly first. A television camera later showed Gibbons with a bloody nose.

Canadian Press photographer Aaron Harris was one of the handful of photographers that witnessed the skimmish.

“Gibbons just went at him.” Harris said. “It looked like he (Gibbons) grabbed him & they disappeared. Then the whole dugout emptied back there. It was mayhem down in the tunnel.”

Gibbons also challenged infielder Shea Hillenbrand to a fight last month after Hillenbrand wrote on the clubhouse bulletin board that “the ship was sinking.”

Hillenbrand declined to fight Gibbons & and was designated for assignment very briefly after the incident. He was later traded to the San Francisco Giants.

Mattie T’s Thoughts:

There will obviously be lengthy suspensions forthcoming for both Lilly & Gibbons regarding this incident tonight. It sounds like Gibbons will get a very severe punishment from the MLB league offices for provoking the fight. This is probably about the ugliest in-house situation that we have experienced during a baseball game.

If you thought this was crazy, what if i told you that former New York Yankees P Ed Whitson broke one of manager (Billy Martin)’s arms and two of his ribs during a hotel bar fight in 1985? Martin also got into a confrontation with Reggie “Mr. October” Jackson during a national television game against Boston. Martin ended up getting fired 4 times in a 9 year span by the Yankees.
Let’s move on to the NL…

The St. Louis Cardinals continue to hold a 2 game lead on the Cincinnati Reds in the NL Central. St. Louis will begin a key 3 game series with the New York Mets tomorrow, who sport the best record in the National League.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have a 4 game lead on both Arizona & San Diego in the NL West. The Dodgers lost consecutive games last week for the first time in nearly a month (July 25-26th.) LA’s next 6 games are against Arizona & San Diego.

The Cincinnati Reds lead the NL Wild Card by 2 games over both Arizona & San Diego. The Philadelphia Phillies are just 2.5 games back in the race for the NL’s final playoff spot.

Cincinnati will hit the road Wednesday afternoon following their matinee game with Houston for a 9 game West Coast swing against San Francisco, San Diego & Los Angeles.

Now, on to the world of golf…

Tiger Woods has done it again.

Woods won his 12th career major on Sunday with a 4-under 68 to claim a 5-shot victory in the PGA Championship, leaving him 6 wins behind all-time leader Jack Nicklaus.

At the rate Woods is going, it won’t take long to him to catch up with the Golden Bear.

“It’s still a long way away.” Woods said. “It took Jack over 20 years to get his. It’s going to take a career, and i’ve just got to keep plugging along and keep trying to win these things.”

Woods has won 4 of the last 8 majors, and is the first player in history to go consecutive years winning at least 2 majors. His 3rd PGA Championship won on Sunday is two shy of the record Nicklaus holds with Walter Hagen.

“It’s really remarkable what he does.” a marveled Steve Stricker commented. “That’s just hard to believe, in our day and age, with all of the good players. He’s that much better than anybody else.”

Woods taped a list of Nicklaus’ records up on his wall as a child, dreaming of having the opportunity to break some of the Golden Bear’s records.

Now that he is 30 with a wife and the maturity that comes with life’s harshest tests, Nicklaus and his once unbeatable records are still what drives him.

“I just thoroughly enjoy coming down the stretch on the back nine with a chance to win it. That’s why i practice as hard as I do. It’s what i live for. That to me, is the ultimate rush in our sport.”

Nicklaus needed 25 years to pile up his 18 career majors. Woods has taken just 10 years to reach his & unless someone steps up to present a challenge, it won’t be long before Woods reaches Nicklaus’ record and creates some record books of his own.
When Tiger has at least a share of the 54 hole lead in his career, he’s 12-0 in the majors.

There are 7 months until the 2007 Masters begin at Augusta.

Mattie T’s Thoughts:

Tiger has seemed to have found his resurgence since missing the cut at the U.S. Open, shortly after his father’s death. He is carrying a ton of confidence on his shoulders and with a legendary record in sight, don’t expect Woods to slow down anytime soon as he continues to stake his claim as the best golfer to EVER play the game.

It only took Junior Seau four days to realize that he still has something left in the tank.

Seau signed with the New England Patriots on Thursday, four days after announcing his retirement from the NFL.

Seau held a lavish retirement ceremony last Monday at the San Diego Chargers’ headquarters, announcing his retirement after 16 years in the NFL. Seau also added that no teams wanted or needed him. However, he didn’t rule coming back if the right situation came up.

One phone call changed his decision.

The New England Patriots called Seau on Tuesday, needing some help for their banged-up linebacking corps.

Pro-Bowler Tedy Bruschi is currently nursing a broken wrist, & both Chad Brown and Monte Beisel are both hurt.

The Patriots lost 12 year veteran Willie McGinest to the Cleveland Browns over the off-season.

“When a championship team calls, you’ve definitely got to answer the call and definitely look into it.” Seau said. “That’s what i did.”

“Obviously we understand where their focus is, to win championships. That’s something i’m missing in my career. I just felt it was an opportunity I needed to seize.”

Seau has not been to the playoffs since the Chargers lost a 35-20 decision to the Indianapolis Colts in December of ‘95. He appeared in 7 games last season before suffering an Achilles tendon injury. Seau finished his ‘05 season with 43 tackles, 1 sack & two passes defended.

Seau will be reunited with safety Rodney Harrison, his teammate for 9 seasons with San Diego. Harrison signed with New England following the 2002 season and won a Super Bowl in just his 2nd season with the Patriots.

Seau has played in 230 games (the most of any active NFL linebacker) and has recorded 1,724 career tackles.

Seau will also ask McGinest his permission to wear jersey #55. The two both attended USC, but Seau got to wear his #55 before McGinest did.
“I definitely respect Willie and the franchise here.” Seau said. “I’ll definitely lob him a call and ask if i can wear the number. I’ll respect him in that way.”

Mattie T’s Thoughts:

This is obviously a great move for Seau, as New England is one of the few teams in the AFC who will have a shot of representing the conference in Super Bowl XLI next February. Having Rodney Harrison back helps also, as the two should create some big plays together just like they did during their time in San Diego.

Now, on to the NBA…

The United States recorded a 111-100 win over Puerto Rico in Saturday’s opening round of the 2006 FIBA World Championship.

Team USA used a 14-5 second quarter run to take the lead for good during Saturday’s contest. Carmelo Anthony led the way with 21 points on 9 of 15 shooting despite early foul trouble.

Anthony was impressed by Team USA’s defense despite giving up 100 points.

“I think from the second quarter on, our defense was good. The first quarter, we gave them too many points. (23) We let them score, we let them into the middle of the court a lot, but we sat down at the end of the first quarter and said if we wanted to win, we were going to have to do it on the defensive end.”

LeBron James and Kirk Hinrich both added 15, as Team USA had 6 players score in double-figures.

Orlando Magic guard Carlos Arroyo had a team-high 26 for Puerto Rico in the loss.

Team USA continued to roll on Sunday with a 121-90 win over Yao Ming’s Chinese national team.

The U.S. used an early 14-2 run to blow the game open and hand China yet another blowout loss, this time with Ming on the sidelines. Team USA also beat China 119-73 on August 7th, a game which Ming did not play in. (foot)

G Chris Paul, who finished with 13 points and 8 assists, enjoys running the high-octane Team USA offense. (averaging 116 points in the first 2 games)
“It’s too much fun, it’s been the greatest experience ever.” commented Paul. “You’re pushing the ball upcourt, you might have LeBron on one wing, Carmelo, D-Wade, Dwight Howard down low finishing. It’s like a dream come true. It makes my job so much easier in that i can’t really make a bad decision.”

Dwyane Wade led the U.S. with 26 points in only 18 minutes of action. Dwight Howard also added a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds.

Houston Rockets star C Yao Ming scored 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in a losing effort.

Team USA’s next game will be against 1-1 Slovenia on Tuesday. Early risers can catch the game on ESPN2 at 6:30 am Eastern Time.

And on that note,

Next week, I will update the pennant races around baseball as well as go over some key NFL pre-season injuries & also provide more updates on Team USA.

Don’t forget to leave feedback, feedback, FEEDBACK!

Until next time,

Mattie T

Sports Writer for BMS Radio Chicago

www.bmsradio.com