NEW YORK JETS: Cimini: Jets Looking at Kicking Alternatives

Nick Folk has missed 5 of his last 10 field goals, and nearly missed an extra point against the Bengals last week. Apparently, that has the Jets brass very concerned. Rich Cimini of ESPN New York is reporting that:

The Jets, preparing for next Monday night’s first-place showdown against the New England Patriots, are expected to audition an unidentified kicker on Tuesday. The top free agents are Kris Brown, the former Houston Texan cut last week by the San Diego Chargers, and Jeff Reed, released recently by the Pittsburgh Steelers.

It’s unclear if the Jets are preparing to replace Folk or simply formulating a contingency plan in the event that he continues to struggle.

I said to my dad a couple weeks back I wouldn’t be surprised if a change is made and it sure looks like we’re headed in that direction — and if not, this is certainly a warning shot to Folk to pick up his game ASAP.

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GOLF: Jack Nicklaus Still Has Magic at Augusta

Yes, you’ve heard this before — Jack Nicklaus has won again at Augusta National.

This time it was a couple months ago, beating one of his sons, aided by a little bit of magic from the Golden Bear:

One thing Nicklaus doesn’t do much these days is what he did as well – if not better – than any person who has ever lived. Still, he plays often enough and has enough game to have shot a 68 last spring at Augusta National, where he won six Masters.

A couple of months ago, Jack II and his dad were back at Augusta National, site of his final major championship in 1986, when Jack II served as his caddy. On this visit, Nicklaus also invited Ken Still, a teammate on the 1969 Ryder Cup team who was celebrating his 75th birthday.

Age and injury have taken a toll on Nicklaus’ swing.

On the first day, Jack II shot 3-under on the par-3 course to beat his dad by two. But Nicklaus’ supremacy was on display again the following day, highlighted by an eagle-2 on the par-4 17th when he holed out with a five-iron from 157 yards into a breeze.

“He whipped me on the big course,” Jack II said. “Maybe he let me win the par-3 … actually he’d never let me win.”

That’s Jack Nicklaus, still refusing to act his age.

Gotta love it.

(h/t) Golf.com

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PRESS BOX: NEC Basketball: A Trip Around the Conference — November 29, 2010

(This post originally appeared on Press Box.)

Here’s a look at the NEC on this Monday:

1. Central Connecticut State (4-1)

Central continues to roll, opening up their conference schedule with a 54-50 overtime win against Monmouth on Saturday.

2. Long Island University (4-1)

Long Island suffered their first loss of the season Saturday against Saint Peters by a 65-62 score. LIU only shot 29 percent in the second half.

3. Quinnipiac University (3-1)

Quinnipiac opens up a five-game home stand against Maine on Monday night after going into Thanksgiving break with a victory over Dartmouth. Lance Brown went from his couch to the court in a matter of hours after becoming academically eligible.

4. Robert Morris (2-2)

Robert Morris lost to No. 9 Pittsburgh in the back door rivalry last week and now enters this week with a game tonight in Cleveland against another team that’s made a NCAA tournament appearance before – Cleveland State.

5. Wagner (2-2)

Wagner fell to Hofstra last weekend and enters this week at .500 on the season. This week they have two more out of conference tests before conference play begins: Bucknell and St. Johns against new coach Steve Lavin.

6. Mount St. Mary’s (2-3)

Mount St. Mary’s beat Florida A&M last weekend in the Global Sports Main Event Tournament. Next up for them is a matchup at home against Navy.

7. St. Francis (PA) (2-4)

St. Francis has lost two straight, including a close one to Hartford and in blowout fashion to Youngstown State, shooting only 15 percent from three. This week: the conference play opener against St. Francis (NY).

8. St Francis (NY) (1-3)

NY is coming off a loss to Brown and now can prepare for the aforementioned matchup against St. Francis (PA), looking to get their conference season off to a strong start.

9. Monmouth (1-2)

Monmouth fell to Central in their NEC opener over the weekend and now goes out-of-conference for a road matchup against Davidson.

10. Sacred Heart (1-4)

Sacred Heart’s next game is on Thursday as they open conference play against Mount St. Mary’s, looking to find themselves in a season that is purely about building for the future.

11. Bryant (1-5)

The Bulldogs come off losses to Harvard and Lehigh, the latter by 20 points. They open up their NEC slate this Thursday against Farleigh Dickinson.

12. Farleigh Dickinson (0-3)

They have played the least games of any team so far in the conference and come off a ten point loss to NC State over the weekend. Their final out-of-conference tune-up before conference play begins comes against Longwood.

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PGA TOUR: What It Means — November 28, 2010

(This post originally appeared on Prosportsblogging.com)

As the European Tour season concluded in Dubai amidst controversy, here’s this week’s What It Means:

Ian Poulter Being Penalized After His Ball Mark Moved: Poulter accidentally dropped his ball as he was preparing for a 40-foot birdie putt in the second playoff hole against Robert Karlsson. It hit his ball marker and it moved, thus leading to a one-stroke penalty. Karlsson sank a birdie putt and won the event.

The bottom line to me is this: it may come off as a stupid rule, but it’s his error, he knows it, called it on himself and ultimately is at fault for it. Does the rule need to be changed? Maybe? But I think the lesson to be learned here is (and I’ve done it over my 14 years of playing this sport): be very careful when you’re waiting to putt.

Martin Kaymer Winning the Race to Dubai: It’s the European Tour’s version of the FedEx Cup and Kaymer wrapped up a stellar 2010 — four wins, including the PGA Championship and a Ryder Cup victory with that huge title. Next up: world #1, which he may very well attain. Great season for Kaymer

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PGA TOUR: Cadillac Championship at Doral, Full Schedule Coming Thursday

Cadillac, Doral, and the PGA Tour announced today that the Cadillac will be sponsoring the Doral World Golf Championship event, to be called the Cadillac Championship.

PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem also said on the conference call that the full PGA Tour schedule will be released Thursday, and that “We have more tournaments than we can put on the schedule right now.”

That’s a little bit of a puzzling sounding statement gramatically but I believe what he means is that there’s no room on the Fedex Cup schedule for some Fall Series events which would like to be moved into the regular season.

There’s an announcement apparently tomorrow involving the Sony Open in Hawaii, and possibly another one (Finchem hinted at that), before the schedule gets released tomorrow. That could be a replacement in the Fall Series for Turning Stone. A spot opened up there after the Viking Classic replaced it in the regular season.

Also, the Cadillac people announced that it will be the GM brand to represent golf, and that Buick’s days in the golf business in that function are over.

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PGA TOUR: Link to GM-Doral-WGC Press Conference

If you would like to watch the announcement about the GM brand coming back to golf and sponsoring the World Golf Championship event at Doral and possibly other PGA Tour events, you can do so at this link.

At the time of economic downturn, it looks like the PGA Tour may have gotten very lucky and found another company to lead a great event into the future.

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TIGER WOODS: Talks to the Associated Press, Sponsors Coming, Urged to Play More Early

Tiger Woods spoke to the my Twitter pal Doug Ferguson of the Associated Press while in Australia about reflecting on the happenings of the past year.

It’s an interesting interview, one that I recommend reading as it also contains quotes from other players about Tiger.

Separately, Tiger’s agent, Mark Steinberg told CNBC’s Darren Rovell that he expects new sponsorship deals to be made shortly for Tiger and for him to have a new bag sponsor at some point for 2011.

In addition, Ron Sirak reported in Golf World last week that:

No one wants — or needs — Woods to have a comeback year more than PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem. Golf’s television ratings were off in 2010 — even as ratings for nearly every other sport rose. The tour’s current TV deal expires after 2012, and talks on a new pact will begin this year. Sources say Finchem is under pressure to improve ratings before the Masters and is reaching out to Woods to play more than he normally does in the first quarter of the year. In recent years, Woods’ pre-Masters U.S. schedule has been Torrey Pines, WGC-Accenture Match Play, Doral and Bay Hill. Will he help the tour by adding an event: say Northern Trust, AT&T Pebble Beach, Waste Management Phoenix or the Honda Classic? Stay tuned.

I hope that happens.

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PGA TOUR: Doral Sponsorship Announcement Tomorrow

I’ll give a shoutout to the new NBC Sports golf blog, ProGolfTalk, and Ryan Ballengee by linking to his story on the topic that the Doral sponsorship announcement (believed to be one of the GM brands) is tomorrow. They may also sponsor a new event in Detroit in 2010.

Doug Ferguson of the AP is also reporting that an announcement is forthcoming Tuesday about the Sony Open in Hawaii. I’d have to think that’s an extension from the Sony people.

Looks like the 2011 schedule may be here pretty soon.

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A J Schil Thought: Beatles and the BCS

The Beatles came to iTunes recently. Finally. It’s seven years too late for many, however, and it brings me to the topic of today’s thought: The Bowl Championship Series.

Sports Illustrated’s cover story recently about why the BCS doesn’t work is a must-read, no matter what side of the battle that you’re on.

This is my fear: we’re wasting time. Sports are at risk for getting cut due to money issues at schools. That hurts the student athletes who can’t afford college and lose the possibility of scholarships to help them pursue the American dream.

I’d like a playoff, but I really could care less what the resolution is.

My bottom line is that a resolution that WORKS FOR ALL PARTIES, and soon. Or else the fate of so many students will continue to rest in the hands of so few.

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PGA TOUR: President’s Cup Assistant Captains Announced

Captains Fred Couples and Greg Norman of the Presidents Cup announced today who their assistant captains will be for 2011.

For the US: Jay Haas and Michael Jordan
For the International Team: Frank Nobilo and TBA

All three announced so far are returners from 2009, with MJ being the most high-profile and apparently very successful.

The 2011 Presidents Cup will be played at Royal Melbourne in Australia.

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