Phil Watson
I am a veteran of 20-plus years in the newspaper industry as a writer and editor, with my roots as a sports writer and later in my career transitioning to news. I also assisted with the development and maintenance of a newspaper website and also have experience in the advertising arena. As well as being a self-employed sports commentator with a syndicated radio show and blog, I contribute at HoopsHabit.com, BustaSports and PAC s Sports and Entertainment Forum.
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B.S., business communications, University of PhoenixMotto
I am a follower of the great philosopher Yoda: Do or do not. There is no try.
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Displaying Results 1 - 157 (of 157) for All Content
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Lyle Overbay Making Most of New Lease on Big-League LifeA funny thing happened on Lyle Overbay’s way to baseball’s scrap heap. The New York Yankees brought him in after he was cut by the Red Sox, thinking the veteran might help fill the void left when All-Star Mark Teixeira hurt his wrist in spring training.
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Winning is Why New York is a Yankees TownThe Yankees rule New York with an iron fist ... and it’s not even close. The Big Apple loves winners and no team in Major League Baseball history has done more of it than the New York Yankees.
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Putting Curtis Granderson in a Corner the Right Move for New York YankeesThe talk after Curtis Granderson was hurt in the second game of spring training was that plans to move him to one of the corner outfield positions would be scrapped. But now New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi appears to be changing his tune. -
Chase Headley is the Guy New York Yankees Should TargetWho is the one player who might just be available somewhere around the trading deadline in July who could be a franchise cornerstone for the New York Yankees? That guy is San Diego Padres’ third baseman Chase Headley. -
Robinson Cano and the No-Name New York Yankees Stay AfloatThis is a New York Yankee team like no other I can remember. Even during the struggles of the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Yankees threw a lot of familiar names on the field. They just didn’t play very well. -
New York Yankees Top 5 Early-Season FrustrationsThe New York Yankees are off to a better-than-expected start, with a 15-10 record heading into the final day of April. But there are still some frustrating aspects to the 2013 New York Yankees through the first month or so of the season. -
‘New-Look’ Toronto Blue Jays Look like Same Old JaysMuch was made during the offseason about the new-look Toronto Blue Jays after general manager Alex Anthopoulos pulled the trigger on a pair of monster trades. -
New York Yankees Should Just Put Kevin Youkilis on the DL AlreadyKevin Youkilis hasn’t played since April 20 and manager Joe Girardi “hinted” the veteran infielder could land on the disabled list if he isn’t able to play by Saturday, April 27.
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Derek Jeter Not Done but Will New York Yankee Captain Ever Be the Same?Given that the 13-time All-Star will be 39 years old on June 26, it’s worth entertaining the question of whether or not we’ve seen the last of Derek Jeter. -
Mark Montgomery Deserves a Call Up by the New York YankeesRight-handed reliever Mark Montgomery is toying with hitters at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre right now the same way he blew away hitters at two levels of the minors in 2012.
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New York Yankees: Jayson Nix Should Be Getting More At-Bats Against LeftiesThe New York Yankees have shown that they are vulnerable to left-handed pitching, at least through the first few weeks of the season. In seven games against lefties, New York has tallied just 21 runs, or three runs per game.
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Eduardo Nunez’s Offensive Struggle a Surprise ... MaybeMaybe New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman knew what he was talking about when he tried to downplay expectations for infielder Eduardo Nunez back in February. -
Five New York Yankees Who Could Have Been NFL Draft PicksWith the National Football League draft coming up next week, it raised the question of whether or not any New York Yankees might have heard their name called from the podium had they made a different career choice. -
How the Boston Red Sox Can Unite BostonIt was a strange but heartwarming sound at Yankee Stadium. The sounds of Neal Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline,” a staple at Boston’s Fenway Park for almost two decades, were cascading around the ballpark in the Bronx as New York Yankees fans sang along.
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Phil Hughes on Hot Seat for New York YankeesHow bad has Phil Hughes of the New York Yankees been in his first two starts this season? It’s probably good he doesn’t pitch in Cleveland. He’d be known as the Plain Dealer. -
New York Yankees Need to Lock Up Robinson CanoRobinson Cano is set to get a big payday at some point in the near future. The four-time All-Star and Most Valuable Player of this spring’s World Baseball Classic is in the final year of his contract with the New York Yankees. -
Nearly 3 Decades Before Jackie Robinson, Babe Ruth Helped Save BaseballHad Babe Ruth remained on the mound, he could have been a Hall of Famer. But with a bat in his hands, Babe Ruth became a legend ... and saved Major League Baseball along the way. -
Why Does Mariano Rivera Wear No. 42?Monday, April 15 marks the 66th anniversary of Jackie Robinson’s debut in the major leagues. All players will don No. 42 for that day’s games. For New York Yankees relief ace Mariano Rivera, it will be just another day at the ballpark. -
Alex Rodriguez Not Just New York Yankees’ Worst ContractThere is only one answer to the question of which contract is the worst in the history of the New York Yankees. That answer is the 10 years and $275 million bestowed upon Alex Rodriguez in December 2007. -
New York Yankees Manager Joe Girardi Right About Dumb SchedulingNew York Yankees manager Joe Girardi didn’t hold back in his criticism of Major League Baseball’s scheduling practices after the Yankees and Cleveland Indians were rained out for the second straight night at Cleveland’s Progressive Field on April 11.
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New York Yankees April: Lots of AL East Action on TapCOMMENTARY | The New York Yankees will see a lot of the American League East in April. The Yankees will return home for three games with the Baltimore Orioles and later in the month travel to both Toronto and Tampa Bay. -
The Most Disappointing Teams in New York Yankees HistoryEvery franchise has teams that have built up expectations only to have the guys on the field crush those dreams like aluminum cans in a recycling machine. Three teams in New York Yankee history stick out like no others for disappointment. -
Why New York Yankee Fans Hate the Boston Red SoxCOMMENTARY | The New York Yankees. The Boston Red Sox. They go together sort of like peanut butter and tree bark, Abbott and Einstein or scrambled eggs and tire irons.
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Dearth of Runs New York Yankees’ Biggest Concern Through First Two SeriesWith the power exodus that occurred in the Bronx over the offseason, New York Yankee fans had to be wondering what sort of offensive attack the Pinstripers would be able to muster in 2013.
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Ryan Theriot Makes Sense for New York YankeesInfielder Ryan Theriot, late of the San Francisco Giants and the only player in baseball with two World Series rings from the last two seasons, could provide leadership and stability to the New York Yankees' infield.
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The New York Yankee I’d Bring Back? Thurman Munson is the Easy ChoiceIf there was just one Yankee I could magically bring back in his prime and plunk on the roster of the 2013 club, it would be Thurman Munson.
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CC Sabathia’s Velocity, or Lack Thereof, in Opener a Concern for New York YankeesCC Sabathia was one of the few New York Yankees’ stars who was on hand for the opener against the Boston Red Sox on Monday, April 1. Sabathia made his fifth consecutive opening-day start for the Yankees and was tagged with the loss.
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Why the New York Yankees Will Miss Nick Swisher in 2013After watching the New York Yankees stumble out of the games with an 8-2 loss to the Boston Red Sox on opening day Monday, April 1, I was struck by something I didn’t expect. The Yankees are a lot less fun to watch without Nick Swisher around.
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Offensive Struggles No Surprise for New York Yankees; Pitching Woes AreWith four All-Stars out of the lineup on the disabled list, there was an expectation the New York Yankees might struggle to score runs early in the season. But the expectation was that the pitching could help keep the Yankees afloat.
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New York Yankees Have MVP Candidate in Robinson CanoWhen thinking of players who could contend for the 2013 American League Most Valuable Player Award, one would be wise not to forget about New York Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano.
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Why the New York Yankees Will Win the AL East in 2013If the competition in the AL East wants to bury the New York Yankees, they’d better do it quickly.
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New York Yankees' Projected LineupWhen the New York Yankees open defense of their American League East title Monday, April 1 at home against the Boston Red Sox, the lineup won’t be something Bombers fans will recognize right away.
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New York Yankees Rumor of the Day: Lyle Overbay Late Winner of First Base SweepsNot a lot of people had Lyle Overbay as the winner in the battle to replace Mark Teixeira at first base for the New York Yankees for the opening of the 2013 season.
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Bracketology: The Best Players in New York Yankees HistoryFrom a field of eight all-time New York Yankee greats, this piece will count its way down to a champion—the greatest Yankee of all.
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New York Yankees Will Regret Indifferent OffseasonThe New York Yankees have traditionally been one of baseball’s most active players in the offseason free agency and trade markets. That is, until the last couple of years.
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Derek Jeter May Miss Opening DayA day after he was scratched from the lineup with stiffness in his surgically repaired left ankle, New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter sat out a second consecutive day on Wednesday, March 20.
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Derek Jeter Ankle ‘stiffness’ Another Potential Problem for New York YankeesShortstop Derek Jeter suffered an apparent setback in his return from a broken left ankle when he was scratched from the lineup with “stiffness” in his ankle.
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Offense, Health, Catching Three Giant Question Marks for New York Yankees in 2013The last time the New York Yankees failed to finish in the top half of the American League in runs scored, Bill Clinton was seeking a second term in the White House and NBC still dominated prime-time television.
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Derek Jeter on the Field a Reassuring Sign for Worried New York Yankees’ FansDerek Jeter had been working as a designated hitter for the past few games as he worked his way back into playing shape and against the Philadelphia Phillies in Tampa, Fla., he made his 2013 Grapefruit League debut back at his familiar post at shortstop.
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Matt Diaz, Eduardo Nunez, Kevin Youkilis Headline New York Yankees’ Spring DisappointmentsWhen it comes to talking about the disappointments of spring training for the New York Yankees, the immediate reaction is to think about the rash of injuries the team has experienced. But there have been some on-the-field disappointments as well.
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Mark Teixeira Injury with Team USA a Blow for His Real TeamThe New York Yankees became the first real victim of the World Baseball Classic this spring when first baseman Mark Teixeira injured his wrist while hitting off a tee with Team USA on Tuesday, March 5.
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Strange Days Indeed for the New York YankeesSince free agency became a part of the baseball landscape in 1976, no team has availed itself of it more than the Bronx Bombers. Reggie Jackson, Dave Winfield and Goose Gossage are just three of the Hall of Famers who followed the large stacks of cash.
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New York Yankees General Manager Breaks Leg SkydivingThe New York Yankees are so old that even their general manager has to go on the disabled list.Yankees general manager Brian Cashman was injured while parachuting with the U.S. Army’s Golden Knights parachute unit.
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Team Primer: New York Yankees Face Many Questions Heading into 2013It is a very different looking New York Yankees club that will take the field on April 1 against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium than the one that was swept out of the American League Championship Series last October by the Detroit Tigers.
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Eduardo Nunez Hopeful New Throwing Motion Can Save New York Yankees CareerInfielder Eduardo Nunez, at age 25, is rapidly becoming more suspect than prospect. His offensive skills have some New York Yankees fans excited, but his defensive woes during his short stays in the major leagues have been a cause of consternation.Also published on:
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New York Yankees’ Veteran Pitchers Will Be Fine, Regardless of Spring WorkloadNeither CC Sabathia, Andy Pettitte nor Mariano Rivera has thrown an inning in Grapefruit League play this spring for the New York Yankees. To anyone who is concerned by this, just a single question: So?
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Taking it Slow with Phil Hughes Injury Right Approach for New York YankeesNew York Yankees manager Joe Girardi said on Wednesday that right-handed pitcher Phil Hughes’ status for the start of the regular season could be in jeopardy, but that it is too early to tell.
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Five Bold Predictions for the 2013 New York YankeesThe New York Yankees enter the 2013 season with more questions than they have faced in nearly two decades. Not since the early 1990s has the team’s fortunes appeared, on the surface, to be so dire.
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Mason Williams the Best of the New York Yankees’ Prospects Heading into 2013While the New York Yankee farm system is thin on players who are ready to help the big club right now, the organization boasts several players currently at the low and middle levels who could potentially form the core of a new era of success in the Bronx.
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Johnny Damon Not the Answer for the New York YankeesJohnny Damon still wants to play baseball. That much was clear when the 39-year-old veteran told a New York radio station he would be willing to play for the New York Yankees for just the time that Curtis Granderson is going to be out with a broken arm.
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Is the New York Yankees’ $189 Million Era Over Before it Begins?The New York Yankees were trying to navigate the treacherous terrain between keeping second baseman Robinson Cano and following last year’s edict by managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner to keep the team’s payroll at less than $189 million by 2014.
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Will Brett Gardner Be the Center of Attention in New York Yankees Outfield?COMMENTARY | Center field for the New York Yankees has always been one of those positions, a glamorous job with a storied past. Think of the players who have patrolled that particular patch of grass over the years—Earle Combs, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle.
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Derek Jeter Back on the Field for New York Yankees ... Sort OfCOMMENTARY | Derek Jeter took part in full-squad drills at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Fla., on Monday, the first day of full-squad workouts for the New York Yankees this spring, according to the Newark (N.J.) Star-Ledger.
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New York Yankees Spring Training PrimerThe last time the New York Yankees entered a season with this many questions, Bill Clinton was still in the White House.
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Super Bowl XLVII Viewer’s GuideThe Super Bowl returns to New Orleans for the first time since 2002 when the Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers battle for National Football League supremacy on Sunday, Feb. 3. But Super Bowl Sunday has grown into an unofficial American holiday.
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Justin Upton, Giancarlo Stanton Not Likely to End Up in PinstripesCOMMENTARY | Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports.com wrote Sunday, Jan. 13, that he is surprised the New York Yankees aren’t in the mix to trade for Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Justin Upton and that the Yankees are making a mistake in not pursuing Upton.
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Hall of Fame Vote a Victory for Retroactive JusticeCOMMENTARY | The big news on Wednesday, Jan. 9, regarding the vote of the Baseball Writers Association of America for this year’s class of inductees for the Baseball Hall of Fame is that the writers have decided no one on the ballot was worthy.
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Mariano Rivera to Get a Football Save?The New York Post reported on Sunday that Alabama coach Nick Saban turned to New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera for some inspiration as the Crimson Tide prepares for the Bowl Championship Series championship game in Miami on Monday, Jan. 7.
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Can Russ Canzler Be Right-handed Hitting Answer for New York Yankees?COMMENTARY | The New York Yankees added a right-handed bat on Friday, Jan. 4. Russ Canzler, a 26-year-old utility man who made 26 appearances for the Cleveland Indians in late-season action last season, was claimed off waivers.
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New York Yankees Facing a Power Outage in 2013?The Yankees set a franchise record in 2012 with 245 home runs en route to finishing second in the American League with 804 runs scored. But 78 of those dingers--32 percent of the team's total--left via free agency this winter.
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Austin Romine Apparently Not the Catcher of Present for New York YankeesCOMMENTARY | General manager Brian Cashman downplayed the chances that Austin Romine could emerge as the New York Yankees’ everyday catcher in 2013 ... at least to start the season.
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Is 2013 Finally the Year the Doomsayers Are Right About New York Yankees?COMMENTARY | The New York Yankees have been to the playoffs in 17 of the past 18 seasons. The only miss since 1995 came in Joe Girardi’s first year as manager in 2008.
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Yankees Finding Market Thin for Right-handed Hitting OFCOMMENTARY | The New York Yankees have seen four outfielders leave the Bronx this winter and only one has returned to this point.
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The 10 Most Ridiculous College Football Bowl Game NamesSince the early 20th century, college football teams have played for school pride, conference titles and bowl bids. A bowl game is supposed to be a college football player’s ultimate reward for a season well-played.Also published on:
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Austin Romine Can Be Answer to New York Yankees Catching QuestionCOMMENTARY | The New York Yankees will have a new catcher in 2013. That became a certainty when Russell Martin signed a two-year deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates on Nov. 29.
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Eli Manning-to-Mario Manningham the Top NFL Moment of 2012When Eli Manning connected with Mario Manningham for a 38-yard completion along the sideline in Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis on Feb. 5, the play by the pair of New York Giants also became the best moment in the National Football League in 2012.
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Achievements and Accumulations: The Top 5 Sports Milestones of 2012Sports are as much about the measurements as the victories. Athletes are compared by the numbers they compile, the home runs they hit, the yards they gain, the points they score, the goals they set up.
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Is it Time to Consider Sanctions for Schools that Poach Coaches?College football’s bowl season is supposed to be a reward for the schools that get there, a culmination of the work and sweat of a long season. But for 8 schools, that reward has been tarnished because their coaches have already moved on to the next gig.
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Thanks for the Memories: The Top 5 Sports Memories of 2012The sights and smells and sounds stay with us for years. Decades later, people can still tell you exactly what they were doing at the moment Carlton Fisk hit his iconic home run in Game 6 of the 1975 World Series.
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From the Sublime to the Ridiculous: The Top 5 Sports Tweets of 2012NBA Finals MVP LeBron James of the Miami Heat has nearly 6.7 million followers on Twitter. Backup catcher Ryan Lavarnway of the Boston Red Sox has a little more than 6,000 followers. But Twitter provides athletes of all abilities an audience.
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Kevin Youkilis a Yankee? Stranger Things Have HappenedCOMMENTARY | With Monday’s bombshell that third baseman Alex Rodriguez will need hip surgery for the second time in four years, it would appear that the New York Yankees are in the market for third-base help.
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Robinson Cano and the Uncertain Year AheadCOMMENTARY | This is a situation that is unfamiliar for the New York Yankees and their fans. A star player is entering the final year of his contract and there’s absolutely no guarantee he’ll be in pinstripes after the 2013 season.
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Celebrating the 12 Days of Christmas in SportsIt’s a great time to be a sports fan, but to paraphrase Dickens, in many ways these are both the best of times and the worst of times. With the holidays upon us and with an eye toward sports fans, it’s time to rewrite a Christmas classic.
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New York Giants Gifts Make for a Fan’s Super ChristmasThe New York Giants are the defending Super Bowl champions and nothing would make the Giant fan on your holiday shopping list happier than a gift that allows that fan to show their colors. Here are the top 10 holiday gifts with a New York Giants’ theme.
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Have a Brooklyn Nets Christmas: Something for Every Nets Fan on Your Holiday Shopping ListThe Nets have already given Brooklyn what it’s wanted for more than 50 years — a professional team to call its own. With a new team, Nets fans may have a lot on their wish lists this year. Here are the top 10 gifts for your Brooklyn Nets fan.
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No QB Controversy for San Francisco 49ersColin Kaepernick, the San Francisco 49ers’ second-round pick in 2011, was great against the Chicago Bears on Monday night, Nov. 19, while filling in for starter Alex Smith, who was out with a concussion. And he was good again Sunday, Nov. 25.
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Want to Make the Holidays Bright for a New York Giants Fan? Here Are 10 WaysThe New York Giants became the first 9-7 team to win a Super Bowl last season. The road to the title was tough on fans.
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Former Yankee Prospect Brien Taylor the Ultimate Cautionary TaleTalent evaluation is always a crap shoot of sorts. But in baseball, the variables are many and the fine line between success and failure is much less defined than it can be in basketball and football.
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Notre Dame Finally Reawakens the EchoesFor the first time in the era of the Bowl Championship Series, which began in 1998, the nation’s most well-known program is at the top of the heap in college football. Notre Dame football is once again being talked about in the present tense.
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College Football’s Not-so-secret Dirty SecretCOMMENTARY | There is so much to love about college football; all the passion and pageantry. There is so much to loathe about college football; all the politics and preseason polls.
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Getting a Healthy Derek Jeter Back in 2013 More Important Than a Hurried Derek JeterCOMMENTARY | New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi said last week that it’s not certain whether or not shortstop Derek Jeter will be able to man his familiar post on Opening Day next season.Also published on:
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Sins of the Father: New York Jets’ Rex Ryan Embodies Some of the Best, Worst of His DadThe comparisons started just about from the moment Rex Ryan was named head coach of the New York Jets. It has to be a tough thing to forge an identity in the profession when you’re the son of one of the most notorious coaches the league has ever known.
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Christmas Peeps Blur Line of Identifiable Holiday TraditionsMy wife and I were on our weekly sojourn through the grocery store on Saturday, Nov. 10, when I saw a display that didn’t necessary surprise me but a product on that shelf sent me into a state of momentary shock.
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Thanksgiving 2012: Lawrence Taylor’s Pick-six Against Detroit Lions a Special MomentIt was a big play in an otherwise meaningless season. But because of when it happened, Lawrence Taylor's 97-yard interception return against the Detroit Lions in 1982 became a favorite Thanksgiving moment for a generation of fans.
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Yankee Farmhand Mark Montgomery Could Be in Pinstripes Sooner Than LaterRelief pitcher Mark Montgomery seems determined to show what a steal he was for the New York Yankees in the 11th round of the 2011 draft.
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The 10 Most Unusual Plays of the 2012 MLB SeasonIt never fails. Have 30 teams play 162 games apiece over six months some crazy … stuff … is going to happen. It’s been said baseball is a game of inches, but it’s also a game of people and sometimes those people do the darnedest things.
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CC Sabathia Rails Against Pitch Count, Innings LimitsCOMMENTARY | Newsday reported on Wednesday that New York Yankee pitcher CC Sabathia is progressing well in his rehabilitation after having a bone spur surgically removed from his left elbow two weeks ago.
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Roger Clemens, other so-called “steroid era” stars face uphill climb to Hall of FameMembers of the Baseball Writers of America who are entrusted with a Hall of Fame vote will face their biggest challenge to date from the so-called “steroid era” when voting on the 2013 Hall class.Also published on:
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Election Day Observations: Lengthy Wait a Polling Place SurpriseVoting in Ironwood, Mich., has always been a rather breezy process. Not so much on Tuesday, Nov. 6, as long lines and longer waits for polling booths to open up has been the order of the day.
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Impending Return of Mariano Rivera a Boon for New York Yankees FansMariano Rivera, baseball’s all-time saves leader and perhaps the greatest pitcher in postseason history, will be back with the New York Yankees in 2013.
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MLB Arbitration Will Be Less Active in 2012-13 OffseasonPlayers are eligible for salary arbitration under the following conditions: If they have played at least three full seasons but less than six or if they are within the top 22 percent of players with more than two years of service time.
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MLB Free Agency Changes Alter Offseason Landscape for 2013Free agency in Major League Baseball officially kicked off on Saturday, Nov. 3, with some new rules in place under the sport’s new collective bargaining agreement agreed to last winter.
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Torii Hunter a Great Potential Free-Agent Pickup -- Just Not for the New York YankeesThe New York Daily News reported on Thursday, Nov. 1 that the New York Yankees could target soon-to-be-free-agent outfielder Torii Hunter when the annual frenzy for players with expired contracts begins Saturday, Nov. 3.Also published on:
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Friday Night Game Against Washington Big on Many Levels for California Golden Bears: A Fan’s TakeThe California Golden Bears get to show off renovated Memorial Stadium in front of a national television audience on Friday, Nov. 2, when they host the Washington Huskies in prime time on ESPN2.
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What Are New York Yankees’ Closer Options After Rafael Soriano Opts Out? a Fan’s PerspectiveShocking no one, New York Yankees’ pitcher Rafael Soriano has opted out of the final year of his contract, according to a tweet from Major League Baseball released on Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 31.
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Jeff Tedford Squarely on Hot Seat After California Golden Bears Routed at Utah: A Fan’s ViewThe only thing that might be saving California head football coach Jeff Tedford from more scrutiny after the Golden Bears were routed at Utah, 49-27, is the euphoria in the Bay Area over the San Francisco Giants taking a 3-0 lead in the World Series.
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New York Yankees Had Some Special Moments in 2012 SeasonThe New York Yankees won the American League East Division title in 2012 with a 95-67 record, their second straight division crown and fourth straight postseason appearance.
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If Mariano Rivera is Done, He May Be the Last of a Disappearing Breed of Closer: A Fan’s PerspectiveMariano Rivera, the 42-year-old is the all-time saves leader in MLB history with 608, insisted he would be back in 2013 after suffering a knee injury in May. But Yankee general manager Brian Cashman said Thursday that Rivera isn't sure he will be back.
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New York Yankees: 2012 Ends in Postseason DisappointmentThe New York Yankees returned to the playoffs for the 17th time in the last 18 seasons in 2012, finishing as the top seed in the American League and winning their second straight AL East title with a regular-season record of 95-67.
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Move to Brooklyn Provides Hope for Long-suffering Nets FansThe Brooklyn Nets are a franchise that has endured through two leagues, four names, nine home courts, 399 players, 20 coaches and 46 seasons that have included just 16 winning years.
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New York Giants Rookie David Wilson Has a Hall of Fame Mouth, at LeastRookie running back David Wilson of the New York Giants made headlines this week for all the wrong reasons when he told Newsday columnist Bob Glauber, “I think at the end of my career, I’ll be in the Hall of Fame.”
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Election Photos: A Swing Corner?A swing corner in a swing state, Michigan, shows how close this campaign really is.
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Election Stories: Politics are Hard for a Disenfranchised CentristBetween living in these politically polarized times and living in the swing state of Michigan, where there are also several hotly contested Congressional, state and regional races, it’s been difficult to stay above the fray.
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Big Game a Big Dud for California Golden BearsThe California Golden Bears came into the earliest edition of the Big Game on Saturday, Oct. 20, with momentum, having won two straight games. The Stanford Cardinal came out of the earliest edition of the Big Game with possession of the Stanford Axe.
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Alex Rodriguez Has Been a Lightning Rod for Controversy as a New York YankeeAlex Rodriguez is no stranger to controversy in his career but his nine seasons as a New York Yankee have taken controversy to new heights.
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Bronx Bummer — New York Yankees Face a Winter of Discontent After Playoff Disaster: A Fan’s PerspectiveThe New York Yankees were swept in a best-of-7 series for the first time in 36 years when the Detroit Tigers finished them off in the American League Championship Series on Thursday, Oct. 18, 8-1.
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A-Rod’s Postseason Struggles Continue in 2012The will-he-or-won’t-he story of Alex Rodriguez and his presence in the New York Yankees’ lineup in the American League Championship Series has become the big story of the postseason in 2012.
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An October Big Game Something New for California-Stanford Rivalry: A Fan's ViewThe University of California and Stanford University first staged what has come to be known as The Big Game in 1892. Until this year, that game had never been played in October.
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Alex Rodriguez Trade Rumors a Reminder that Things Seldom End Well for Superstar AthletesIt was reported Wednesday that a joking conversation between New York Yankees president Randy Levine and Miami Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria could turn into serious talks between the franchises. The subject of that joke/trade discussion is Alex Rodriguez.
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Lineup Changes for Game 3 of ALCS Don’t Make a Difference for New York Yankees: A Fan’s PerspectiveHeading into Game 3 of the American League Championship Series on Tuesday, Oct. 16, New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi gave into desperation.
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Halloween 2012: Beware of These 10 Sports CursesSports fans have a love-hate relationship with the so-called curses of sports. There are curse mythologies out there to explain everything from why teams don’t win championships to why players suffer inexplicable injuries.Also published on:
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Debate 2012: The 10 Biggest Questions in Sports for the Presidential ContendersThere is a huge divide between Democratic president Barack Obama and his Republican challenger in 2012, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney on the subject of sports.
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Debate 2012: Expanding Instant Replay MLB’s No. 1 IssueThe biggest issue facing Major League Baseball right now is its stubborn reluctance to move into the 21st century with regard to using instant replay on a broader basis.Also published on:
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History Not on New York Yankees’ Side in ALCS: A Fan’s PerspectiveIt’s come to this: The most storied team in Major League Baseball history now must try to find inspiration from one of its former New York neighbors if it wants to stay alive in the 2012 playoffs.
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California Golden Bears on Right Track with Back-to-back Wins: A Fan’s PerspectiveC.J. Anderson had a big night Saturday, Oct. 13, for the California Golden Bears, rushing for 112 yards on 15 carries and scoring two touchdowns as the Golden Bears beat the Washington State Cougars in Pullman, Wash., 31-17.
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New York Yankee Fans Getting an Unwelcome Glimpse of the Future: A Fan’s PerspectiveDerek Jeter and Mariano Rivera will always have a special place in the hearts of Yankee fans. They, along with pitcher Andy Pettitte, are all that remain from baseball’s last dynasty.
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A Fan’s Primer for the American League Championship SeriesThe New York Yankees and the Detroit Tigers survived tough five-game series in the American League Division Series to reach the AL Championship Series, which opens at Yankee Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 13. The entire series will be broadcast on TBS.
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New York Yankee Offense Needs a Game 5 Spark; Here’s How to Get It: A Fan’s PerspectiveNew York Yankee sluggers Alex Rodriguez and Curtis Granderson are a combined 3-for-32 with 18 strikeouts and zero RBI through the first four games of the 2012 American League Division Series against the Baltimore Orioles.
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After Raul Ibanez Wins One for the Aged, Yankee Fans Left to Ponder: Whither A-Rod?Game 3 of ALDS against Baltimore Orioles was the sort of postseason night New York Yankee fans have almost come to expect from Alex Rodriguez after nine seasons in the Bronx: 0-for-3, two strikeouts.Also published on:
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California Golden Bears Head to Washington State Seeking a Win Streak: A Fan’s TakeThe California Golden Bears go on the road for the third time this season on Saturday, Oct. 13, when they visit the Washington State Cougars in a matchup of teams at the bottom of the Pac-12 Conference’s North Division.
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Baseball-inspired HaikuA poem written using the rules of Japanese Haiku, inspired by the baseball playoffs.
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The 10 Least Likely World Series Teams of the Divisional EraBaseball’s postseason format makes it possible for teams to make unlikely runs through October against favored, sometimes heavily favored, opponents.
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Top 10 World Series Heroes of the 21st CenturySo who becomes a World Series hero and why do they become one? In general terms, it could be a future Hall of Famer, a solid role player or a player destined to go down in history as just some guy.Also published on:
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2002 World Series: Angels vs. Giants a Classic Fall ClassicThe 2002 World Series featured just a little bit of everything – a pair of wild-card teams meeting for the first time in baseball history, late heroics, some outstanding pitching performances and a breakout performance in defeat by a superstar.
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World Series 2012: Reggie Jackson’s 3-homer Barrage in 1977 Made Him a Fall Classic LegendReggie Jackson cemented his legacy as a World Series legend on the night of Oct. 18, 1977, at Yankee Stadium.
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Returning to Bronx with Split Not a Guarantee New York Yankees Will AdvanceThe New York Yankees left Oriole Park in Camden Yards with the split they were hoping for. The Baltimore Orioles evened their American League Division Series on Monday, Oct. 8, with a 3-2 victory in Game 2.
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Photos: First Snow of 2012 in Western Upper Peninsula in MichiganSnow officially came to the Western Upper Peninsula of Michigan the night of Friday, Oct. 5, when one inch fell in Ironwood, Mich., during the 24-hour period ending at 7 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 6, according to the National Weather Service.
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Ninth-inning Rally in Game 1 Calms Nervous New York Yankee FansAs the innings grew later during Game 1 of the American League Division Series and the score remained tied, all of those eye-popping statistics in close games for the Baltimore Orioles started to loom large for the New York Yankees.Also published on:
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Zach Maynard, California Golden Bear Defense Deliver Blowout of No. 25 UCLA: A Fan's TakeIt looked like more of the same for the California Golden Bears when junior quarterback Zach Maynard’s first pass attempt of the game against the No. 25 UCLA Bruins was intercepted Saturday night, Oct. 6.
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Baltimore Orioles a Scary Opponent for New York Yankees in Division Series: A Fan’s PerspectiveWith a 5-1 victory over the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas, on Friday night in the American League’s inaugural Wild-Card Playoff, the Baltimore Orioles punched their ticket to the Division Series against their AL East rivals, the New York Yankees.
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New York Yankees’ Top Postseason Moments Since 2001The New York Yankees have won just one World Series title since the turn of the century despite qualifying for the postseason each year but one. But that doesn’t mean the last decade-plus haven’t had their share of big moments. Here are 10 of those.
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CC Sabathia to Start Division Series Opener for New York Yankees: A Fan’s PerspectiveNot surprisingly, manager Joe Girardi will give the ball to ace CC Sabathia when the New York Yankees open their American League Division Series on Sunday, Oct. 7, against either the Texas Rangers or Baltimore Orioles.
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New York Yankees Face Unprecedented Challenge as AL’s Top Playoff Seed: A Fan’s PerspectiveUnlike most years, the higher seeds will not start the Division Series at home. Instead, the Yankees won’t know where they’re going until Friday night, and then will head to either Arlington, Texas, or Baltimore to open the playoffs on Sunday.Also published on:
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Panic Time for California Golden Bears with UCLA Bruins Coming to Town: A Fan’s TakeThe Bears, coming off a 27-17 loss to the Arizona State Sun Devils at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 29, are 1-4 overall this season and are off to an 0-2 start in Pac-12 play. The road doesn’t get any easier, with No. 25 UCLA (4-1, 1-1) coming in.
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MLB Postseason: Top 10 Playoff Performers of the 21st CenturyListed here are the top 10 playoff performers – five hitters and five pitchers – in Division Series and League Championship play since 2001.
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MLB Postseason: 10 Most Memorable Home Runs of 21st CenturyListed here are the 10 most memorable home runs in Division Series or League Championship Series play since 2001.Also published on:
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MLB 2012 Postseason Schedule for American LeagueThe schedule for the American League postseason (all times TBA, broadcast network included),
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MLB 2012 Postseason Schedule for National LeagueThe schedule for the 2012 National League postseason (all times TBA, broadcast network included).
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MLB 2012 Postseason ScheduleThe schedule for the Major League Baseball postseason (all times TBA, broadcast network included).
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MLB Postseason: Top 10 Playoff Pitching Performances of 21st CenturyListed here are the top 10 playoff pitching performances since 2011 in the Division or League Championship Series.
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Not Many Happy Returns to Memorial Stadium for Cal Golden Bears: A Fan's TakeThe California Golden Bears are now 1-4 on the season and 0-2 in Pac-12 Conference play after being dominated up front offensively – again – in a 27-17 loss to the Arizona State Sun Devils on Saturday, Sept. 29.
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Top 10 Overused Sports Cliches: The Language of SportsIt was the inimitable Crash Davis from the classic 1988 film “Bull Durham” who told us in no uncertain terms the importance of the cliché to the language of sports.
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Cal Golden Bears Return Home Seeking Offensive Consistency: A Fan’s TakeThe California Golden Bears return home to freshly renovated Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, Calif., Saturday, Sept. 29, for a 4 p.m. EDT matchup with the Arizona State Sun Devils that will be carried nationally on the FX cable network.
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Photo: Fall Color Comes Early in Michigan's Upper PeninsulaFall color often comes to Michigan's Upper Peninsula by what the calendar says is still late summer
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MLB Triple Crown: Miguel Cabrera of Detroit Tigers Has a Real ShotOnly 15 major-league baseball players have ever worn the sport’s elusive Triple Crown but Miguel Cabrera of the Detroit Tigers in 2012 has a legitimate chance to become the 16th.Also published on:
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Is Cal Golden Bears Coach Jeff Tedford Losing His QB Touch? A Fan’s ViewCalifornia Golden Bears head coach Jeff Tedford has something of a reputation as a quarterback guru, having nurtured six future NFL quarterbacks during coaching stints at Fresno State, Oregon and California.
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Five Biggest Wins for California Golden Bears Football in Past 30 YearsCalifornia has enjoyed some monumental victories over the last 30 years, a period beginning with the 1982 season and going through 2011. Here are the five biggest victories by the Golden Bears in that time.
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Andy Pettitte’s Top Wins as a New York Yankees PitcherAndy Pettitte broke into the major leagues with the New York Yankees in 1995 and the lefthander has been going strong during a 17-year career that has produced 244 victories, including 207 as a Yankee. Here are his top wins in pinstripes.
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The Longest MLB Games Ever Played by TimeA selection of some of baseball’s longest games, by time played.
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The 10 Longest Extra-Inning Games in Baseball HistoryHere are the 10 longest games in Major League Baseball history, based on the number of innings played.
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Cal Golden Bears Have Produced Their Share of NFL BustsThe California Golden Bears have produced some great players through the years; there have also been some colossal busts that have come out of the program.
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New York Jets Are Flat Out in TroubleThe New York Jets' offense has been pretty offensive through the first three weeks of the preseason.
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New York Yankees' History Full of Late-Season Magic: Top 10 MomentsThe New York Yankees have had a lot of magical moments throughout their long history. Here are the top 10 late-season moments from the last 20 years.
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Waiver Deals in Major League Baseball: The 10 Biggest in HistoryWaiver deals have played a big role throughout baseball history. Here are the 10 most influential of all time.Also published on:
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Ben Johnson Disqualification in 1988 an Olympic-sized ShockerWhen Ben Johnson was stripped of his Olympic gold medal in 1988, it sent shock waves through the track-and-field world that are still felt today.Also published on:
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An Observer's TaleA story detailing the observations of an undercover space explorer visiting another planet.