Cyber Max

Just when most everyone (including myself) was ready to put the proverbial nail in the Chicago Cubs coffin, looks as though they are back in the NL Wild Card race to stay. After soundly thumping the Pittsburgh Pirates once again at Wrigley on Friday Afternoon, they currently sit 4

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As all the major domestic leagues have wrapped up, the Champions League final in Paris is the last major soccer event before this year’s World Cup. The Stade de France is a fitting location for both participating clubs, Arsenal and Barcelona. Barca’s enigmatic leader Ronaldinho started his European career with Paris Saint-Germain five years ago. For an Arsenal squad with a French coach and several players with roots in that country, Paris is a suitable setting for this final.

The current odds on which team will lift the trophy (including extra time and penalties) are as follows:

Barcelona -188

Arsenal +175

Barcelona are clear favourites and nobody is surprised to see them here. They are arguably the strongest team in Europe, and with names like Ronaldinho, Eto-o, Deco, Larsson, Messi, Giuly and Puyol that is hard to dispute. Barca are a supreme threat offensively, netting 22 goals in their 12 Champions League games this season. They exude skill and have no trouble displaying their bucket loads of talent game after game.

Having clinched the Primera Liga title comfortably, lifting the Champions League trophy would be a satisfying end to Barcelona’s season. They are unbeaten in their last 12 games in this competition and come into this match with a full and healthy squad. Led by Ronaldinho, FIFA’s World Footballer of the Year, Barca will be disappointed with anything less than victory.

This was to be a rebuilding year for Arsenal. Instead of splashing out on new players, they opted to save money ahead of their move into the new Emirates Stadium next year. That was clearly evidenced by a disappointing year in the Premiership, and eventual fourth-place finish.

But that certainly wasn’t the case in the Champions League. Arsenal took command and breezed through the group stage. But their performance in the knockout rounds was even more impressive as they didn’t concede a single goal - that against the likes of Villarreal, Juventus and Real Madrid no less. Indeed, Arsenal let in only two goals in their 12 Champions League games this season.

For the Gunners, it was something of a reversal of form. In the past few years, while Arsenal were lighting up the Premiership, they struggled in the Champions League. Now coach Arsene Wenger has come up with a winning formula in Europe that is based on discipline and organization.

A London club has never before reached the final of this tournament. But Barcelona have never won the Champions League either - a serious disappointment for a club of their stature. Whatever happens, this is set to be a dream final no matter where your allegiance lies.

Marc Carinci is a documented member of the Professional Handicappers League.
Read all of his articles at http://www.procappers.com/Marc_Carinci.htm

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Wow, what a clunker the USC Trojans put up against the Oregon Ducks last Saturday in Eugene. The offense didn’t click at all in the first half, the coverage and tackling from the defense was average at best. The buzz on the various sports forums and news feeds I was browsing through at the time was all tense (many who layed the points on USC no doubt) that the mighty Trojans may be falling from grace, and what a putrid effort they were putting up.

Did I fail to mention, USC won the game by 32 POINTS??? (they covered fairly easily, by the way)

USC has now outscored their first three opponents at a 178-47 clip. They boast probably the two best players in college football, quarterback Matt Leinart and running back Reggie Bush. Bush’s backup LenDale White would be starting, and possibly a Heisman candidate, if he played at most of the other teams in the AP Top 25. The defense that head coach Pete Carroll has been so unhappy with all season, only has to play decent for this team to be successful.

If you are an opposing team, as # 15 Arizona State will learn this weekend, you must play a perfect game, must score a time or two on defense or special teams and keep the USC offense on the sidelines to avoid getting blown out. Oregon indeed played above their heads during the first half and led 13-0 at one point, but one the Trojans got a halftime wakeup call from the coaching staff, they ran off 45 straight points.

How did Leinart describe the game, even as they trailed and pundits panicked ? He simply said it was “fun” to finally get a challenge. Goes to show you how “bored” the Trojans have been thus far, as other top 10 teams have been playing life or death football in their quest to be # 2. I still wanna know who those handful of guys are they keep voting the Texas Longhorns # 1 the last two weeks.

I wonder how much “fun” Vince Young and Co. will have in the Rose Bowl right after the New Year, if they are even fortunate enough to get there? With the dynasty that Carroll has built, the BCS is becoming increasingly irrelevant. I don’t imagine #3 or #4 crying this year about not getting a chance the face the Trojans.

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