What

To get the lowdown on the list of the nominees click here!

Who: Cam Newton, Auburn- Newton led Auburn University to a record of 13-0 and an SEC Championship. Auburn is headed to Glendale, Arizona to play in the BCS national title game. The quarterback can be credited for much of the Tiger’s success; he completed 165 of 246 passes for 2,589 yards and 28 touchdowns. But Newton is also known for his ability to run the ball, he rushed 242 times for 1,409 yards and another 20 touchdowns. Newton had 49 touchdowns for the season… it also helps that he is 6’6″. Based on performance alone, there is no reason why Cam Newton should not win the Heisman Trophy, but after an NCAA investigation on whether he took money or not to play at Auburn, he may also be the most controversial nominee as well!

LaMichael James, Oregon- James is the only non-quarterback nominee, but don’t count him out! James had nine 100-yard games this season and carried at least 25 times in eight of Oregon’s 12 games. The sophomore is also a smart cookie, he was named to the Pac-10′s all-academic team. The Heisman will not be the only time James will faceoff against Newton, the Ducks will also be going to Glendale, Arizona for a chance at the BCS national title. One thing going against James is his age. Though only three sophomores have ever won the Heisman, they have all been in the past three consecutive years… let’s see if James can make it four!

Andrew Luck, Stanford- Stanford only has one Heisman Trophy winner, but Luck hopes to become the second. Luck broke the school single-season record for 28 touchdowns, with only seven interceptions. Like Newton, Luck is also a good running quarterback, he is the team’s second-leading rusher and scored three rushing touchdowns. Not only can the guy run and throw but Luck is also tough. Watch him knock out USC Shareece Wright. This is the first time in school history Stanford will be going to the Orange Bowl on Jan. 3 against Virgina Tech. Luck helped lead Stanford to a record of 11-1, the school’s best season since the 40s. The team’s one loss came against other Heisman nominee LaMichael James and Oregon.

Kellen Moore, Boise State- Moore was responsible for Boise State being the NCAA darling that was challenging the BCS Bowl system. Boise State was undefeated for three seasons before they lost to Nevada over Thanksgiving weekend. Critics have long discounted Boise State because they are not in a major football conference and play a weaker schedule, but that didn’t stop Moore. The junior quarterback scored 33 touchdowns, had only five interceptions and was 71 percent of his passes for 3,506 yards.

Why it matters: The Heisman Trophy is the most coveted award in all of college sports. Newton is the overall favorite to win the award, but because there are strong accusations him and his father tried to solicit money from Mississippi State, it may hurt the Auburn quarterback’s chances. It was just this summer, the Heisman Trophy was taken away from Reggie Bush for similar accusations. This was the first time in the trophy’s history, the Heisman was forfeited by the winner.

Who to know:

What to know: Randy Moss traded from the New England Patriots to the Minnesota Vikings for a third round draft pick

Why you need to know it: Moss is a 7-time Pro Bowler receiver who was in the final year of his contract with New England. After the Pats gave Brady a contract but not Moss, the future Hall of Famer asked to be traded. Before the start of the season Moss said, “”When you have done so much and put so much work in, it kind of feels like I am not wanted. I am taking that in stride and playing my final year out and whatever the future holds is what it holds, but it is kind of a bad feeling — feeling not wanted. It is not like my production has gone down.”

Someone who did want Moss was Minnesota Vikings’ QB Brett Favre. Favre was  instrumental in getting Moss to come back to the team that drafted him and where he started his career. The Vikings were a Super Bowl favorite but are 1-2. Part of the reason for Minnesota’s  rough start are injuries to their recovers. Pro Bowler Sidney Rice is out for the first 6-weeks with a hip injury, and Percy Harvin is day to day with migraine headaches. The Vikings play the NY Jets on Monday night, and Moss is expected to be in a purple and gold uniform.

Yankees were the biggest movers in the trade deadline, acquiring Lance Berkman, Austin Kearns, and Kerry Wood

Meanwhile, the Boston Red Sox who are 6.5 games back from the Yankees traded for Jared Saltalamacchia. Saltalamacchia came from the Texas Rangers, who in return got  QB Chris McGuiness, RHP Roman Mendez, a player to be named later and cash considerations. Also acquiring “a player to be named later” are the New York Mets who traded Mike Jacobs to the Toronto Blue Jays.

Hotlanta, this year’s sleeper team, traded for Rick Ankiel and Kyle Farnsworth from the Kansas City Royals. Also in the National League, the San Francisco Giants made amends to their pitching staff by trading for pitchers Javier Lopez and Ramon Ramirez.

A depleted Chicago Cubs team traded for Blake DeWitt and minor league prospects to try and salvage any hope. The struggling LA Dodgers acquired Ryan Theroitt and Ted Lilly.

With so many names being thrown around… just look smart and know that the Yankees yet again made big moves.

San Francisco 49ers: Terrell Owens played for the San Fransisco 49ers from 1996 to 2003. He parted on rough terms after giving an interview to Playboy magazine where he insulated that 49ers quarterback Jeff Garcia was a homosexual. During the offseason in March 2004, Owens believed he was a free agent and reached a contract agreement with the Philadelphia Eagles, but the 49ers, believing they still had the rights to T.O, traded him to the Baltimore Ravens. The three teams reached a settlement before Owen’s case went to arbitration.

Philadelphia Eagles: On November 15, 2004, T.O appeared in an introductory skit for Monday Nigh Football with Desperate Housewives actresses Nicollette Sheridan. In the skit, Sheridan removes her towel in front of T.O, which outraged many for being too sexually suggestive. Problems first started between T.O and the Eagles during the 2004 season after he played hurt during the Eagles trip to Super Bowl XXXIX and did not think he received enough attention. T.O publicly criticized Eagles QB Donovan McNabb saying he got tired during the Super Bowl and that the Eagles would be undefeated if Brett Farve was QB. After continued outlandish public comments on McNabb and Eagles coaching staff, T.O was suspended for four games during the 2005 season and was later released by Philadelphia.

Dallas Cowboys: After singing with the Cowboys four days after his departure from the Eagles, T.O said he would try and maintain a low profile in Dallas. During his three seasons with Dallas, T.O had public spats with QB Tony Romo, blaming him for later being released by the team and even told reporters that he wished Jessica Simpson, Romo’s girlfriend at the time, would stop attending the games. Even during the Cowboys’ bye-week, Owens stole headlines by overdosing on hydrocodone in what many believe was an attempted suicide. T.O downplayed the event and criticized police for taking advantage of him to get media attention. During the Cowboys’ game against During a December 16, 2006 game against the Atlanta Falcons, T.O spit on DeAngelo Hall after a play early in the game. The NFL later fined Owens $35,000 for the incident. After the 2007 season, Dallas Cowboys coach Bill Parcells announced his retirement, when asked to comment on the situation, T.O told reporters he did not learn anything from the legendary coach.The Cowboys chose to release Owens in March of 2009. Owens claimed he learned of his departure by watching ESPN and was said to be blinded by the Cowboys.

After a brief stint with the Buffalo Bills, T.O will be in a Bengals uniform come August with other eccentric WR Ochocinco. Sounds like these guys need their own TV show… together.

It was anticipated the tournament would expand to 96 teams. Instead, the four additional teams will play four play-in games before the traditional Thursday/Friday opening round. The play-in games will be called the “First Four” and would be played the Tuesday or Wednesday after Selection Sunday (when the tournament teams are announced) and will be on truTV.

Two of the play-in games will be between the No.65-68 teams (as expected). Its winner will go onto to face the No.1 teams in Thursday and Friday’s games. The other two play-in games will between the final four at-large winners (the final four teams picked to be in the tournament).

1 Wizards John Wall G, Kentucky
2 76ers Evan Turner G, Ohio State
3 Nets Derrick Favors F, Ga. Tech
4 Wolves Wesley Johnson F, Syracuse
5 Kings DeMarcus Cousins C, Kentucky
6 Warriors Ekpe Udoh F, Baylor
7 Pistons Greg Monroe F, G’town
8 Clippers Al-Farouq Aminu F, Wake Forest
9 Jazz Gordon Hayward F, Butler
10 Pacers Paul George F, Fresno St.
11 Hornets Cole Aldrich C, Kansas
12 Grizzlies Xavier Henry G, Kansas
13 Raptors Ed Davis F, North Carolina
14 Rockets Patrick Patterson F, Kentucky

• There are 32 teams separated into 8 groups of 4 teams.
• In the first round, called the “Group Stage”, each group plays a round-robin style tournament, guaranteeing each team at least 3 games.
o A win is worth 3 points in the standings; a tie, 1; a loss, 0.
• The top 2 teams from each group advance to the “Knockout Stage”, where the World Cup turns into a 16-team single elimination tournament. Like March Madness, but with countries!
• The winner has bragging rights for four years until the next World Cup

The USA is looking to put themselves on the map as an elite soccer team, but they have a lot of work cut out for them in order to do this. Between 1954 and 1986, the US did not even qualify for the World Cup. This long drought brought dire consequences to the popularity of the sport in the country. While there are surely quite a few diehard soccer fans in the States, our country’s love for soccer does not even come close to being comparable to soccer’s popularity abroad. With this in mind, the US has played with a chip on their shoulder over the past decade. Their slogan, “Don’t Tread on Me”, which Nike uses on much of the national team’s apparel, signifies this. (Don’t Tread) In 2002, the Americans advanced all the way to the Quarterfinals, which was the furthest they had ever gone in the World Cup. The last World Cup in 2006 was not as kind to the US, as they were unable to advance out of the group stage. There is reason for excitement this year, mainly due to the States’ strong showing in the 2009 Confederations Cup, advancing to their first international Finals appearance but losing a heartbreaker to powerhouse Brazil 3-2.

US Players to Watch

The US is led by midfielder Landon Donovan (Link), who has 42 career international goals, the most in US national team history. His midfield mates DaMarcus Beasley (Twitter) and Clint Dempsey (Link) will also be key to whatever success the US has in South Africa. Goaltender Tim Howard (Link) has been the starter for the national team since Coach Bill Bradley took over 2007, so hopefully that experience will allow him to be comfortable on the world stage. These veterans will play an integral role in how far the team advances, however the US does have some young talent that will have a huge impact, most notably 20-year-old striker Jozy Altidore (Twitter). Altidore recently sprained his ankle in a training session, but the coaches have assured everyone that he will be 100% for England on June 12th. This is a very good sign for the States, because he is arguably the team’s most talented goal scorer behind Donovan.

Our Group

This year, the US finds themselves in Group C with England, Algeria, and Slovenia. England is the clear favorite in this group, and the US will face them in their first game of the tournament on June 12th in a rematch of the Revolutionary War. England boasts some of the best players in the world in Wayne Rooney, John Terry, and Steven Gerrard. While a tie against England would be a moral victory for the US, it will be seen as a big disappointment if the US does not qualify for the Round of 16 by placing in the top 2 in this group. One can conclude this by looking at the latest FIFA rankings, which places England at #8, USA #14, Slovenia #25, and Algeria #30. While Slovenia and Algeria are no slouches, the 2010 World Cup would be a failure for the US if one of these teams advanced ahead of them.

The Contenders

Who else is there to root for just in case the Americans get bounced early from the tournament? Here’s a brief run-down of the favorites so you can choose your rooting interests appropriately:

Spain: Many experts’ favorite, Spain is the reigning 2009 UEFA Cup Champions and have some of the best players in the world, including Fernando Torres, David Villa, and Xavi. They were placed in a weak group and should be a lock for the Round of 16, but just reaching the knockout stage would be a huge letdown. Remember, the US beat Spain 2-0 in the Semis of the 2009 Confederations Cup in a huge upset.

Brazil: One of the favorites every year, the always-flashy Brazil boasts the best overall talent in the world and have no glaring weaknesses at any position. Their coach did face a lot of scrutiny for leaving star Ronaldinho off the roster, so it will be interesting to see how things pan out for the #1 ranked squad.

Argentina: Having perhaps the best player in the world in Lionel Messi could be enough for Argentina to make a serious run in the tournament. They had some trouble even qualifying for the World Cup though, so there are some definite question marks that could cause a lot of crying in Argentina.

Netherlands: Their bright orange jerseys may be a fashion no-no, but their play could sometimes be considered a masterpiece. Ranked #4 in the latest FIFA rankings, they have turned into the trendy pick to win the whole thing. I’ll believe it when I see it, but they will surely be fun to watch.

Germany: Germany does not have the flashiest players, but their inspired team play gets them deep into tournaments consistently. If there is one thing that anyone has learned from watching soccer over the past few years, it is to never count the Germans out. They are solid.

Portugal: Many women will surely root for Portugal simply for heartthrob Christiano Ronaldo, who happens to also be the most expensive player in the world. While Portugal does not have the same overall talent as some of the other premier teams, they definitely have the pieces in place to make an exciting run deep into the tournament.

Italy: Champions of the last World Cup in 2006, Italy has not looked sharp in their most recent international appearances, mainly in the 2009 Confederations Cup. Either way, I can guarantee no team wants to face “the Azzuri” and their strong defense early in the tournament.

Strasburg had an impressive college career at San Diego State where he played two seasons, including one no-hitter, before being drafted in the first overall by the Nats.

Strasburg pitched 9 innings and allowed three hits during Spring Training for the Nationals. This season, Strasburg has spent in the minors going 7-2 with a 1.30 ERA, 65 strikeouts and only 13 walks in 55 1-3 innings. Strasburg has impressed the Nationals enough that he will make his major league debt tonight at 7:05pm.

How big is tonight’s game? For starters, 200 media credential passes were requested and the game is expected to gross more than $1.5 million for the Nationals.

Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabera fielded the ball then threw it to Galarraga, who was covering first, to get the out…. or at least what Galarraga thought was the out. Umpire Jim Joyce called Donald safe much to the dismal of Galarraga, Tigers’ manager Jim Leyland, and the 18,000 fans at Comerica Park.

The Tigers ended up getting the next batter out and won the game 3-0, but after the game Joyce admitted he made the wrong call. “It was the biggest call of my career, and I kicked the (stuff) out of it. I just cost that kid a perfect game,” Joyce said. “I thought he beat the throw. I was convinced he beat the throw until I saw the replay.”

Only 20 pitchers in MLB history have pitched a perfect game. What is the difference between a no-hitter and a perfect game? In a no hitter, no batter reaches base on a hit. However, a batter can get on base if he is walked or reaches on an error. In a no-hitter… like the one Galarraga was robbed of, there are no base runners at all.

Despite the odds being against him, my advice to Galarraga is to make sure Joyce isn’t calling his next game.

Not quite Original 6: Though not an Original 6 team like the Blackhawks, the Flyers have a relatively rich history. They came into the league when the NHL expanded from 6 to 12 teams in 1967. Interestingly enough, Pennsylvania got two hockey teams when the Pittsburgh Penguins also joined the NHL. The Flyers have almost as many Stanley Cups as the Blackhawks with 2 (Chicago has 3), their last championship in 1975. While the Blackhawks may have dominated Team Canada in the Olympics, the Flyers were the last Stanley Cup winners with an all Canadian team including coaches.
Home-ice advantage: Yeah Chicago has some pretty good fans but so does Philly… Toronto Maple Leafs tuff boy Tie Domi even once got into a fist fight with a Flyer fan while he was in the penalty box. This is not a contest of who is wearing more face paint but comes down to line-changes. In the NHL, the home-ice teams gets the last line change. This is important for players to match up. The Chicago Blackhawks are the only team in the league that run four solid lines. However, the Flyers play 3 lines or 9 forwards and have the most goals of any team in the playoffs (54 goals in 17 games).
The Villain: Chris Pronger is easily one of the most disliked players in the league. It is easy to hate him… he is a hall of famer, plays physical, and has a gapped tooth. But ladies there is more dirt on Pronger that puts him in the Tiger Woods and Kobe Bryant Doghouse. After many playoff disappointments with his long-time team the St. Louis Blues, Pronger went to Edmonton and helped lead the Underdog Oilers to the Cup Finals where they lost to the Carolina Hurricanes in a heartbreaking Game 7. After the 2006 Cinderella Playoffs, Pronger abruptly left Edmonton and demanded to be traded, leaving many Oiler fans heartbroken and confused. Sighting personal reasons, it later came out Pronger had an affair with an Edmonton television reporter, and his wife gave him the ultimatum to get out of Edmonton and fast. Pronger won a Stanley Cup late in his career, when he finally found success with the Anhaiem Ducks in 2007. Hopefully Philadelphia doesn’t have any pretty girls…
Bring it Duncan Teeth: Keith may have lost some teeth in Game 4 of the Conference finals when he was hit in the mouth with a puck, but Flyer Ian Laperriere lost his teeth earlier in the season… fake teeth. Lappy wears a mouth bridge after losing his teeth earlier in his career. Back in January, Laperriere had a new bridge made but en route to him the teeth were stolen because the culprit thought the teeth were made with gold to make them stronger. Lappy is one of if not the best player on the Flyers, and he had to tape a TV commercial where he promoted a charity event the Flyers were doing with Soles4Souls.