Charlie Weis Gets the Axe From Notre Dame

The inevitable is now reality in South Bend.

The most publicized and highly anticipated firing of Charlie Weis from America's most popular college football team is a fete accompli.

Weis was fired earlier today from the University of Notre Dame as its head football coach. Weis spent five tumultuous years with the Irish, culminated by a 6-6 season in 2009 with a group that some observers overrated as a team that could go 10-2.

When Weis arrived in South Bend in 2004, he was an automatic hero turning Brady Quinn into a potential NFL super star prospect. However, Quinn has gone on to have an horrific career with the Cleveland Browns, while Weis struggled to find a decent replacement over the past three seasons.

The Irish underachieved all season long as their defense failed to hold leads against Connecticut and Stanford at the end of the season that sealed Weis's fate. The Irish started 2009 at 6-2, but lost their last four games.

It is not known whom the replacement will be, but rumors are that Brian Kelly of Cincinnati could be coming in. Jon Gruden, the former Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach, was once rumored for the job years ago and could be a hot commodity again.

Eli Manning Denies That Foot Is Cause of Poor Play

A day after the team was notified that quarterback Eli Manning suffered a stress reaction to his injured heal, the quarterback today denied that the injury is the cause of the team's horrific slump during the past month and a half.

“In the games, it doesn’t bother me, and I don’t think about it. This is not something I am overly concerned with,” Manning said.

"It has been the same for probably the last three to four weeks; it’s nothing new. I can go out and practice and do all I need to do.”

Manning doesn’t believe he would eventually need surgery on his foot.

“It’s one of those things that time and rest is probably the biggest thing,” he said. “Having the weekend and the bye week and off week helped some. Time to rest it is helpful. It is not something I think will linger or bother me” (Yahoo Sports).

Therefore, it looks like Manning, who is third on the active list for most consecutive starts behind his brother Peyton, and former Jets and current Vikings quarterback Brett Favre, will get a chance to start on Sunday when the first place Dallas Cowboys pay a visit to Giants Stadium in a make or break game for Big Blue.

Giants QB, Eli Manning Could Be Done For The Year

More bad news for Big Blue:

Just days after the team failed to get off the plane in Denver on Thanksgiving, it appears that quarterback Eli Manning is still hurting from that heel injury he suffered in Kansas City back in early October.

Recalling that game, Manning appeared to hyperextend his calf when he threw a bomb down the sideline that fell incomplete. Manning had lept into the air and had come down badly. Doctors taped up his entire ankle and foot. Word at the time was that Manning suffered a heel injury and went on to play since that time.

However, tonight we are learning more about Eli's injury. Read more.

According to the A.P., Manning has developed a stress reaction in that same right foot which could lead to further injury and might possibly sideline him for a very long time.

It is not a fracture but a reaction. According to the same story, the Giants may take the precaution and shut down Manning right now, ending his 2009 season in order to save the quarterback from further pain and sparing him more complicated surgery.

That would mean David Carr, the former first round pick of the Houston Texans quarterback, and one of the most sacked quarterbacks in the league, will get to start for the rest of the year.

The Giants face the Cowboys next Sunday at Giants Stadium.

Nets Fire Lawrence Frank After 0-16 Start

The last time we saw a professional sports franchise lose its first 16 games of regular season play, the Detroit Lions set the NFL record for the worst NFL season ever last fall when they went 0-16 in 2008.

Well, even though the NBA is an 82 game season, an 0-16 start was more then enough evidence for the Nets to fire long time Head Coach Lawrence Frank. Read more.

Frank, who took over for Byron Scott in 2004, and helped lead the Nets to their second NBA finals appearance that year, has watched his team wane ever since. Frank compiled a record of 225-241 during his five plus years with the Nets and hasn't led this team to the playoffs since Jason Kidd was still the super star of the franchise.

The Nets have been plain awful this year, losing key players, i.e. Devon Harris to injury, and have played uncompetitive basketball all year, leading to an 0-16 start.

He was let go by Rod Thorn, the most overrated GM in basketball, early Sunday morning. Frank did not coach in the Nets Sunday night game at the Lakers, which the Nets are sure to lose, setting a new NBA record for the worst start in history, 0-17.

“I want to thank Lawrence for his more than a decade of service to the Nets, first as an assistant coach and then as the head coach for the past six and a half seasons,” Thorn said in a statement released by the team. “Lawrence always approached every day with a passion for his craft that was infectious, and his dedication to the game as well as his work ethic are to be both admired and appreciated. I wish he and his family only the best of good fortune in the future.”

The Nets are still holding out hope that they will eventually move to Brooklyn; that is, if the project is ever approved. Plus, the team is hoping that part owner and rapper Jay-Z can lure LeBron James to the miserable franchise after this season is over.

Keep dreaming Nets ... talk about a franchise that just doesn't get it.

Jets Win Thanks To Jake Delhomme's Turnovers

JETS 17

PANTHERS 6

If anyway was expecting to see something encouraging in this game, if the Jets won, they better forget about it. Even though the Jets beat the Carolina Panthers 17-6, this afternoon at Giants Stadium, the Jets offense continued to looked inept with Mark Sanchez leading the way.

If it were not for four interceptions by Jake Delhomme of the Carolina Panthers, the Jets probably wouldn't have won this one.

On the opening drive of the day, the Panthers had chewed up the Jets defense with suburb running by DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. The Panthers converted three first downs with those two, and it appeared that the duo of Williams and Stewart would become the headline of the day, then it all change.

Delhomme heaved up a pass to Steve Smith that was deflected and intercepted by Darrell Revis, who turned right and went right down the sideline for a 67 yard interception return for a touchdown.

Turnovers became the story of the day for the Panthers. Delhomme was totally erratic with his passes. He completed 14 of 34 passes for 130 yards and four interceptions. He just never had it, as he overthrew his receivers consistently.

In fact, one of Delhomme's interceptions ended up in the hands of Kerry Rhodes who did not start today due to his poor play this season. The Rhodes interception set up a Thomas Jones touchdown that gave the Jets a 14-3 lead in the second quarter.

The combination of Williams and Stewart was shut down after that opening drive. Williams finished with only 40 yards rushing, while Stewart totaled 35 yards on nine carries.

Mark Sanchez was not great for the Jets. The Jets made him throw mostly short, high percentage passes in order to cut down on his propensity to throw interceptions. Didn't help much, because Sanchez threw a pick in the fourth quarter that gave Carolina life albeit for a moment.

Sanchez completed 13 of 17 passes for 154 yards, and an interception. He was sacked three times. Box score.

NOTES: Sanchez was injured in the third quarter, when he was banged out of bounds on a QB draw as he tried to extend himself for a first down. He was out of the game for a series as doctors checked his legs. Kellen Clemens took some snaps and threw a pass, his first of the year.

Darrell Revis had two interceptions on the afternoon that were key to the Jets victory.

The Jets improve to 5-6 on the season, and will have to rest up fast, before heading up to Toronto for a Thursday night clash with the Buffalo Bills.

Charlie Wies's Career May Be Over After Lose To Stanford

STANFORD 45
NOTRE DAME 38

As Jimmy Clausin's hail marry was knocked down in the end zone by a couple of Standford defensive backs, the speculation that Notre Dame Head Coach Charlie Wies would be fired soon after the game, started to creep to reality.

The Irish held a 31-20 lead in the third quarter, and Wies and his coaching staff, watched the Irish melt under the heavy feet of senior running back Toby Gerhart and the Stanford Cardinal by the score of 45-38. Even when the Irish put up one of the best offensive performances of the year, it was the defense, Wies' weakness as coach of this club since he took over in 2005, that did him in.

As has been a pattern all year, the Irish blew a lead, and suffered a devastating lose. This one dropped the Irish to 6-6 on the year - an average team that will likely have no bowl appearance come December, leaving the Notre Dame Athletic Department to seriously consider firing Wies, if the decision hasn't been made already.


The game was excellent. It featured over 900 yards of combined offense, 83 total points, and four different lead changes.

With the Irish up 11 in the third quarter, Stanford started its comeback. First Gerhart took it up the middle from 10 yards out to get the Cardinal to within four, 31-27.

After a terrific 28 yard touchdown pass by Clausen to Golden Tate that put the Irish up 38-30, Gerhart did it all once again. This time, Gerhart threw the touchdown, an 18 yard option pass to Ryan Whalen to make it 38-36. The Cardinal converted the two point conversion to tie it up at 38.

Later, in the fourth quarter, Gerhart went untouched from five yards out to put the game out of reach at 45-38. Notre Dame tried desperately to comeback in the final minute, but two sacks of Clausen and a incomplete pass in the final seconds did in the Irish. Box score.

Almost an hour after the game had ended, Wies had yet to make an appearance in front of the media to address them in his weekly post game press conference.

Tiger Woods & Wife Unavailable For Interview

A day after Tiger Woods crashed into a tree and a fire hidrent, he and his wife Elin Nordegern are still unavailable to talk to police about that mysterious night.

From what we know, Woods crashed near his home around 2:25 Friday morning. His wife alledgely used a golf club to break the window to get him out of the car. Woods was knocked out unconscious, and was sent to the hospital and relaeased Friday night.

It is not known officially, if Woods and Elin were engaged in a fight prompting Woods to storm out of the house.

However, there was a story from the National Enquirer rumoring that Woods had been texting, and seeing New York night club hostess Rachel Uctitel for several months. Perhaps, Mrs. Woods was a little pissed off? Perhaps there is more than meets the eye with the golf club that was used to "free" Tiger?

Many rumors will likely be flying around online and in the news. Until both Tiger and Elin come and give us a full and complete story about the incident, we will just have to wait and see.

Bob Sheppard Calls It A Career As Voice Of Yankee Stadium

"Ladies and Gentlemen. Welcome to Yankee Stadium."

Since 1951, Yankee fans have grown used to that call and many others from the voice of Bob Sheppard, whose announced on Friday that he would end his historic role as the voice of Yankee Stadium.

Sheppard, 99, has not done a Yankees game since 2007, skipping all of 2008, which was the final year at the old Yankee Stadium, and the 2009 World Championship season that ended a couple weeks ago.

Sheppard has been very ill since his last day as the Yankees P.A. announcer. He was replaced by Paul Olden who is the current Yankees P.A. announcer.

Yankee fans will miss his voice, which many had termed the "voice of God."

Giants Are Dead On Thanksgiving

BRONCOS 26
GIANTS 6

As families across America got together to give thanks, celebrate good times, and cut the turkey, the New York Giants were getting cut like turkeys in Denver, Colorado.

The Giants were uncompetitive in a 26-6 loss to the Broncos, as the offense mustered only 267 yards, with the running game totaling up to a measly 57 yards. Brandon Jacobs continued his God awful season with just 27 yards on 11 carries, while Danny (D.J.) Ware gained only 27 yards himself on four carries.

The Giants have lost their ability to commit to the run, something that was a staple of the franchise over the previous two seasons that saw them win a Super Bowl, and capture an NFC East crown. The Giants avoided the run all night long, trying instead to play catch-up from the get go with the passing game.

Unfortunately for Big Blue that prolific passing attack that was lethal against Atlanta couldn't get moving against Denver's usually porous secondary. Eli Manning was sacked three times, picked off once, and thrown for 230 yards, most of which came in garbage time in the second half.

The Broncos did just enough on offense to hold off the Giants. After a Ware fumble, the Broncos were in great position to tack onto their 6-0 lead, and did so. First, Kyle Orton hit Brandon Marshall from 28 yards out. Marshall made a spectacular one handed grab to put Denver in business on the Giants seven yard line. Three plays later, Knowshon Moreno took it from the one yard line for the touchdown to give Denver a 13-0 lead.

Moreno rushed for 88 yards on 19 carries, while Orton passed for 245 yards with a touchdown and an interception, that was highlighted by a 17 yard TD strike to Brandon Stokely. Box Score.

The Giants fall to 6-5 on the season, and are lucky, and are on the brink of having their playoff hopes dashed. The Cowboys won earlier in the day on Thanksgiving, a 24-7 rout of the Oakland Raiders to improve to 8-3 and two games up on Big Blue. Both the Cowboys and Giants will square off next week at Giants Stadium.

Giants Survive Possible Collapse Versus Falcons

GIANTS 34

FALCONS 31

Wow! That was close.

Desperate for a win, and holding onto a 31-17 lead late in the fourth quarter, the Giants almost choked it up again, as the Falcons stormed back to tie the game at 31 forcing overtime with Big Blue.

This was not an easy game for the Giants. Eli Manning struggled to deal with the Falcons blitz early and often. First he fumbled a pass to put the Giants in a second and 23, and then he was picked off to kill the Giants first drive.

It looked pretty bleak for the Giants, but Manning and his receivers tightened those chin straps, and started playing some serious ball. In the middle of the second quarter with the Falcons up 7-3, Manning hit Hakeem Nicks down the sideline for 30 yards to set Big Blue up in Falcon territory. Then, Manning hit Kevin Boss from 28 yards out to give the Giants a 10-7 lead.

After Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan fumbled the ball into the hands of Osi Umineyora, the Giants started to put some distance between themselves and the Falcons. This time, Manning hit Boss from four yards out to give the Giants a commanding 17-7 lead.

But, things would not get any easier for the Giants. On the their opening drive of the second half, the Falcons got back into the game. Ryan hit Michael Jenkins for 28 yards on a third and 13 to spot the ball at the Giants 15. Three plays later, Jason Snelling took the ball in from the one yard line to get the Falcons to within three, 17-14.

After Brandon Jacobs scored a two yard touchdown to make it 24-14, the Faclons drove the ball on a 6:30 minute drive to set up a Jason Elam Field goal to cu the lead to seven, 24-17.

It appeared that the Giants had finally put the Falcons away in the fourth quarter, when Manning led the Giants on a 79 yard drive highlighted by a 27 yard pass to Mario Manningham to spot the ball at the Falcons 27. Later in the drive Manning hit, Madison Hedgecock for the touchdown to give the Giants a 31-17 lead.

Then it got really interesting.

Ryan completed seven straight passes, including a 18 yard pass to Tony Gonzalez, and a four yard touchdown to Eric Weems to cut the Giants lead to seven. After a Big Blue three and out, the Falcons were back in business.

Ryan hit Rody White for 22 yards, then Gonzalez for 14 more to the Giants 24. Finally with 28 seconds left, Ryan it Gonzalez in double coverage for the touchdown to tie the game at 31.

Giants Stadium was dead silent. Could the Giants blow another game at home? Could they continue on this path of self destruction?

Well the combo of Manning to Manningham thought differently. Manning hit a streaking Manningham for 29 yards, down the sideline to set it up nicely for Lawrence Tynees. Tynees came out and kicked the game winning field goal, as the ball shaved the edge of the goalpost for the Giants victory.

The Giants are now 6-4, and are still a game out of first in the NFC East. Box score.

Mark Sanchez & Jets Stink It Up Again In Foxboro

PATRIOTS 31

JETS 14

It appears that Rex Ryan may need a year's supply of kleenex, because after an uncompetitive showing against the New England Patriots, it is clear that Ryan's overhyped band of brothers are going nowhere but home this winter.

At 4-6 the Jets can kiss goodbye to their playoff hopes, especially with quarterback Mark Sanchez showing little improvement. Once again, Sanchez was on center stage, throwing four more interceptions, as well as getting stripped for a fumble in New York's embarrassing 31-14 loss to the rival New England Patriots.

In the first quarter, Sanchez threw the game away, literary, when he was picked off by Leigh Bodden, who went 53 yards for the touchdown to give the Patriots a 7-0 lead.

Defensively, the Jets had no answer for Tom Brady and company. Even though Gang Green got two sacks on the Pro Bowl quarterback, Brady was calm and cool in the pocket for most of the day, picking apart the Jets secondary for 310 yards.

He was helped by the presence of Wes Welker, who was not available to him in the week two meeting between these two teams. Welker had a record setting day, catching 15 balls for 192 yards. The Jets had a very hard time covering him; no matter who they put on the field the Jets could not stop Welker.

As for Sanchez, the quarterback continued to struggle. He was inept all afternoon. Throwing four interceptions, his fourth helped set up the Patriots final touchdown of the day in the fourth quarter. Sanchez completed only eight passes for 136 yards on the day. Box Score.

Is it time to bench the kid? Probably not, considering Gang Green is no longer a factor in the playoff race, but the Jets need to do something to shake the kid up, because he just doesn't get it.

Dick Jauron Fired As Buffalo Bills Head Coach

As it turns out, it is the Buffalo Bills who will be the first team to fire its head coach.

Dick Jauron is out in Buffalo, and he will be replaced by Perry Fewell on an interim basis. The firing of Jauron ends a period of mediocrity in Bills history. Jauron went 24-33 in his time with the Bills, including a dysfunctional 3-6 start to this season.

Last year, when Buffalo underachieved to a 7-9 record, many thought that the Bills would fire Jauron after the 2008 season, but, he was give an extension, which was a huge suprise.

Today, the Bills suprised us again with the firing, the first of what should be many to come this year.

The question now, is where the Bills will go from here? Mike Shanahan, Bill Cowher, Jon Gruden, Mike Holmgren, and Tony Dungy are all big named coaches with Super Bowl rings who are available. The Bills should seriously consider hiring one of these men to lead this franchise, which has not been to a playoff game since 1999.

MORE ON DICK JAURON...

Jaguars Out Coach & Out Smart Jets

JAGUARS 24
JETS 22

So much for Woody Johnson's proclamation on Saturday night that he believes his team can "absolutely" make it to the postseason. Maybe Johnson should stop sounding like a man desperate to sell seats in his new Jets/Giants Stadium, and more like an owner who is not satisfied with mediocrity.

The Jets found manifold ways to shoot themselves in the proverbial foot in Sunday's 24-22 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in front of 78,000 comatose fans at Giants Stadium.

Things looked ugly from the outset when Mark Sanchez threw an interception on the first snap of the game. The fans hadn't even settled in their seats by the time Sanchez started to screw things up for Gang Green.

From there, the Jaguars pounded the Jets defense with a ton of Maurice Jones-Drew. Drew had five carries on the Jaguars opening possession, including a 33 yard touchdown run to give the Jags a fast 7-0 lead.

The Jets offense was vanilla. They lucked out when the Jaguars on-side kick landed out of bounds but failed to do anything with the good field position, settling for a field goal to cut the lead to 7-3.

In the second quarter, the Jags continued to punish the Jets defense. Jones-Drew took the first carry for 15 yards to the Jaguar 45; later, he had a seven yard gain to move the ball into Jets territory at the 41. Next, David Garrard hit old timer Tory Holt for 17 to Jets 14 yard line. Finally, Garrard took the ball himself for an 11 yard touchdown to give Jacksonville a 14-10 lead.

The Jaguars poured it on later in the quarter, when Garrard hit Mike Sims Walker for a 26 yard touchdown to give Jacksonville a 21-10 lead.

The Jets could never get anything going offensively. In the third quarter, Sanchez threw his second interception, this one right into the hands of defensive end Quinton Groves who dashed 37 yards to the Jets four yard line. Groves could have easily scored a touchdown to make it 28-13, but Groves tripped over himself, costing Jacksonville the easy touchdown.

The stumble proved costly when Jones-Drew fumbled the exchange with Garrard, allowing Gang Green to recover and kill the Jaguars drive.

The Jets did nothing with it of course. Sanchez hit Braylon Edwards in the flat for a 41 yard gain, but Edwards fumbled the ball, and Jacksonville recovered. The Jaguars were unable to do anything with that second Jets gift, keeping the Jets in the game.

The Jaguars turnover proved costly. The Jets put together a wonderful 16 play 77 yard drive that concluded with a Thomas Jones touchdown to give Gang Green a 22-21 lead. The Jets attempted the two-point conversion; Sanchez rolled right and hit Edwards in the numbers. Edwards had the ball, then dropped it, costing the Jets any chance of taking a 24-21 lead.

The Jaguars knew this was their chance to take the game back. Garrard hit Marcedes Lewis for a 33 yard gain to the Jets 14 to put Josh Scobe in position to kick the game winner. Then, Jones-Drew made one of the smartest plays in the game.

Jones-Drew had an open hole to score a touchdown and give Jacksonville a 28-22 lead, but the running back, smartly, stopped his momentum and took a knee at the Jets one-yard line. The logic behind this?

By not scoring, Jones-Drew guaranteed that his team would run the clock out on the Jets and give Jacksonville the opportunity to win the game in the final seconds. If Jones-Drew had scored, the Jets would have had a lot of time to march down the field for a game-winning touchdown.

Great play! Smart play! Unselfish play! Box score.

As a result, the Jaguars kicked the game winner with three seconds remaining in the game to give Jacksonville a thrilling 24-22 victory over the Jets. The Jets have lost five of their last six, and with New England, Carolina, Atlanta, Indianapolis, and Cincinnati on the docket in the Jets final seven games, you can call it curtains on the Jets 2009 season.

Mets Interested In Figgins

Here is one out of the "what are they thinking" category, and of course, it comes from the Mets.

Sure, the World Series victory for the Yankees is only a week old, but already MLB teams are gearing up for the 2010 season.

The Mets need a major overhaul after the debacle that was the 2009 season. Already the Mets are rumored to be interested in free agent outfield Matt Holliday, which would give them a needed power bat in left field, a position of weakness in 2009. And they are rumored to be in the sweepstakes, yet again, for Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay.

That is all good and fine, if the Mets can pull that off, however, it appears that the club is seriously considering signing Chone Figgins from the Angels. Figgins played third base for the Angels since taking over full time in 2004, and has proved to be an adept base stealer.

However, it appears that the Mets intentions to acquire Figgins is for all the wrong reasons. One, Figgins is also being targeted by the Mets divisional rival, the NL Champion Philadelphia Phillies to replace Pedro Feliez at third base.

The Mets basically want to acquire Figgins just to spite Philadelphia. This move makes no sense. The Mets already have a third baseman in David Wright, and Figgins would have to play out of position if he came to the Mets.

According to Joel Sherman of the N.Y. Post, the Mets would have to try to trade Luis Castillo in order to free up a spot for Figgins on the infield, otherwise they will have to plug Figgins in left field, and try to trade for a first baseman, or re-sign a 39-year-old Carlos Delgado.

As good as Figgins is at stealing bases, he is not a good fit for the Mets. The Mets need a power bat, and Figgins is not it. In 2009 Figgins hit .298, but blasted only five homers and drove in 54. Not exactly the kind of prodcution the Mets need.

Figgins would be a total waste for the Mets, especially if they remain handcuffed to Castillo; and, unless the Mets have hidden plans to move David Wright to first base this move makes little sense.

The Mets are better off staying away from Figgins.

Giants Suffer Worst Lose of the Season

CHARGERS 21

GIANTS 20

Many years ago there was Dan Marino's fake spike that stunned Jets fans at the Meadowlands in a season-shaking defeat for Gang Green.

Today, Philip Rivers had his Dan Marino moment at the Meadowlands. No, it wasn't against the snake-bitten Jets, who also call East Rutherford home, it was against the Giants.

In a game that the Giants needed to win in order to end a hideous three game losing streak and give themselves some hope of getting back into the NFC playoff chase, they choked it up in the final seconds, and, in turn, may have killed their season.

The first half of the game was a total blur. Both the Chargers and Giants traded extensive time consuming drives that ended in touchdowns that kept the game tied going into the half at 7-7. However, the Giants did have a chance to take the lead in this game. On their opening drive of the afternoon, the Giants got all the way to the Chargers 21 yard line; instead of going for it on fourth and short, Tom Coughlin elected to kick a field goal.

Tonight, he may regret that decision. Lawrence Tynes missed the ball, that's right, his foot kicked air not the football! Jeff Feagles got tackled on the play, killing the Giants opportunity to take a early 3-0 lead.

In the fourth quarter things got really interesting. With San Diego up 14-7, the Giants started to turn the tables. Manning hit Hakeem Nicks in the flat for a 29 yard gain to put the Giants in great position as the third quarter ended. The drive ended in a Tynes field goal to cut the deficit to 14-10.

Then on the Chargers next possession, Rivers was sacked by Fred Robbins for a loss of seven, and Darren Sproles was tackled by Justin Tuck for nine more yards to spot the ball at San Diego's own four yard line. The Chargers eventually punted.

Giants Stadium was rocking, and it appeared that Big Blue was ready to burst.

Manning hit Mario Manningham for 14 yards to the Chargers 20. Then Eli lobbed a touchdown pass to Kevin Boss to give the Giants a 17-14 lead.

Late in the quarter, Rivers was picked off by Tyler Thomas, which appeared to have ended the game for Big Blue, but it was not the case.

The Chargers got the ball one more time with 2:05 to go, and Rivers put on a show. Rivers hit Malcom Floyd for a 12 yard gain to move the ball from the Chargers 39 to the Giants 49 yard line. Next, Rivers hit Antonio Gates for 10 more, and Darren Sproles for 21 to set up shop at the Giants 18 yard line. Then Rivers lobbed the ball to a wide open Vincent Jackson for the 18 yard touchdown.

The Chargers bench exploded with jubilation as 78,000 people sat in silent horror. The Chargers stole the game with 21 seconds to go. Eli Manning heaved up a couple of incompletions in desperation and was then sacked by Shawn Merriman to end the contest. Box Score.

This is by far the worse loss of the year for Big Blue. They couldn't afford to lose another game with Dallas and Philadelphia well ahead of them in the NFC East. Now the Giants will have to wait 14 days before they play a game again. This game will be one very tough pill to swallow.

Are the Giants in danger of watching their 2009 season come to an end before Thanksgiving? It's possible. After the bye, the Giants play the Falcons (5-3), Broncos (6-1), Cowboys (5-2) and Eagles (5-2). If the Giants aren't careful they could be 6-7, or worse, 5-8, before anyone knows it. The Giants are clearly on the brink of extinction.

YANKEES WIN WORLD SERIES

YANKEES 7

PHILLIES 3

Ball game over; World Series over; Yankees Win! DDDAAAAAAAAA Yankees Win!

For the 27th time in franchise history the New York Yankees are World Series Champions, and they did so by blowing away Pedro Martinez and the Philadelphia Phillies 7-3 in game six of the Fall Classic.

There was little doubt from the start of this game that New York was going to win this thing; Martinez was laboring early as he failed to record 90 mph on the radar gun in the games first two innings. In the bottom of the second, with Alex Rodriguez on first, Martinez served up a fat pitch to Hideki Matsui, who blasted the pitch deep into the Bronx night to give the Yankees a 2-0 advantage.

Andy Pettitte was just dandy on three days rest, as he was able to get through five and two thirds innnings tonight, giving up only three runs. He had good command and the win tonight gave Pettitte his sixth series clinching victory of his career.

But, the story of the night was Matsui. In the third, with the bases loaded, Matsui laced a single up the middle to bring home two more runners to give New York a 4-1 lead. There was some questionable managing on the part of Charlie Manuel of the Phillies, who decided to leave Pedro Martinez in the game to pitch to Matsui with the bases loaded. He could have gone to the lefty in J.A. Happ, but stuck with Pedro and got burned.

Finally, in the fifth, Matsui doubled into the gap to bring home Mark Tiexeria and A-Rod to make it 7-1 Yankees.

Mariano closed the deal by coming into the game in the eighth to record the games final four outs.

When the final out was recorded with a simple ground ball to second, the Yankees celebrated near the pitching mound by congregating in a large circle and jumping up and down, with the tune "We Are the Champions" ringing in the background.

CONGRATULATIONS NEW YORK YANKEES!! Box score.

Yankees Come Oh So Close To Stealing Game Five

PHILLIES 8

YANKEES 6

With a 3-1 lead in the World Series, some thought that the Yankees would mail in game five in order to have home field for game six, where they could clinch their world title in front of their own fans in the new Yankee Stadium.

Instead the Yankees did what a baseball team with a 3-1 lead is supposed to do, work like hell to try to end the series as soon as possible.

The Phillies bombed A.J. Burnett early in this game, posting up six runs in the game's first three innings. Chase Utley led the way, when he blasted a three run home run in the first inning to give Philadelphia a 3-1 lead.

In the third, singles by Raul Ibanez and Jayson Werth brought home two more Philly runs to make it 5-1 Philadelphia.

Cliff Lee was dominating the Yankees through the first six innings, and by the seventh, the Yankee bull pen was getting bombed as well. Utley and Ibanez lauched two rockets to right center field off of reliever Phil Coke to give Philadelphia an 8-2 lead.

At this point it appeared that the game would turn into a laugher and the Yankees would accept defeat in order to play another day in the Bronx. Not so fast.

In the eighth inning, the Yankees finally got to Lee. Johnny Damon led the inning off with a single, and Mark Tiexeria followed with a double to make things a little more interesting. Then, Alex Rodriguez lined a double off of the glove of Raul Ibanez to plate Damon and Tiexiera to make it 8-4. Lee was taken out for Chan Ho Park who worked around a sacrifice fly by Robinson Cano to get Philadelphia out of the inning still up 8-5.

The Yankee comeback made it clear that the Bombers had every intention of winning game five, and ending this series.

In the ninth, things continued to get dicy for the Phillies. Jorge Posada led off with a double off of Ryan Madson. Then, Hideki Matsui singled to put two on with nobody out for Derek Jeter. Jeter promptly grounded into a double play; Posada scored from third to make it 8-6, but there was no one on with two out.

Damon came up to bat again, and drilled a 2-2 single past second base to make things hot again. With Mark Tiexeria and Alex Rodriguez looming, it looked for sure that the Yankees would come back and win the World Series. In fact, no team had ever come back to win a World Series game from three plus runs down; this appeared destined to become the first. Box score.

Instead, Tiexeria struck out swinging on a nasty change-up in the dirt to end the game sending the series back to the Bronx. The Yankees will indeed look to close things out at Yankee Stadium.

Yankees Now One Win Away From 27th Championship

YANKEES 5
PHILLIES 4

Game four was a microcosm of the entire season.

In a year that has been full of wild twists and turns, game four of the 2009 World Series was no different, as the Yankees avoided potential disaster to grab yet another game from the Philadelphia Phillies to take a commanding 3-1 series lead.

With the score tied at two in the fifth, the Yankees appeared to take full control of this game, when Derek Jeter A.K.A. Captain Clutch, drilled an RBI single past short stop to drive home Nick Swisher to give the Yankees a 3-2 lead. Later, Johnny Damon laced a single to right to drive home cabrera to give the Yankees a 4-2 lead.

C.C. Sabathia wasn't great tonight. He didn't have a lot of good control. In six and two thirds innings, Sabathia gave up seven hits and walked three. He was putting men on in every inning, and some how, pulled a Houdini act every time, getting out of it.

However, in the seventh inning, Chase Utley, who killed Sabathia in game one with two home runs, went yard again, a solo shot to trim the Yankee lead to 4-3. Joe Girardi, knowing that his ace was struggling took Sabathia out of the game.

Turned out that going to the pen was not going to make things any better for the Bronx Bombers. Joba Chamberlain gave up a solo home run to Pedro Feliz in the bottom of the eighth to tie the game, and all but cost the Yankees any momentum in the ball game.

In the top of the ninth, facing Phillies closer Brad Lidge, things didn't look too good early for the Yankees. Lidge was able to Hideki Matsui to pop out, and Jeter to ground out. With two out, it looked really bleak for New York.

Then Johnny Damon stepped to the plate. Damon hit a harmless single. Then on a base hit by Mark Tiexeria, the Phillies totally botched up the play. Pedro Feliez, who is the Phillies third baseman was covering second on teh steal, since the Phils were in a defensive shift on Tiexeria. When Damon stepped on second, he noticed that Lidge was not covering third, and went ahead and stole third base as well. A terrific example of heads up baseball.

With two on and two out, it was time for Alex Rodriguez to answer the $300 million question: can he deliver a game winning hit in a World Series game? The answer is...YES! Rodriguez drilled a double off the left field wall to drive him Damon to give the Yankees a 5-4 lead. Jorge Posada followed with a two RBI single to make it 7-4 Bombers - putting the kabash on the Phillies night.

Mariano Rivera settled things down easily in the bottom of the ninth to save the game for the Yankees. Box score.

The Yankees are now up 3-1 on the Phillies, who have found one way after another to cough up two games at home. They had a 3-0 lead on New York in game three and blew it, and, had a chance to steal one from the Yankees with Sabathia on the mound.

The Yankees can close out title number 27 Monday night, when A.J. Burnett squares off against Cliff Lee.