PRESSBOX: J Schil’s Thought of the Week — January 19, 2011

(This post originally appeared on Press Box.)

“Most-watched television show last season.”

“Most-watched Divisional Round game ever with 43.5 Million viewers.”

“At the height of its popularity.”

Those are all accolades being thrown the National Football League’s way as the 2010-2011 season nears its end. Yet, labor peace seems far away.

Peter King of SI.com dropped this nugget on an internet talk show Monday. http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/01/17/king-some-owners-would-rather-lose-season-than-keep-current-system/

“I don’t think any of the major areas are getting closer,” King said. “The biggest area right now is that I believe there are owners out there — prominent owners — that if the system isn’t fixed to where it was a lot closer to pre-’06 levels than it is now . . . I think there are some owners would rather just lose the season.”

Well isn’t that wonderful.

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PATCH: Freehold Boro Beats Long Branch

(This article originally appeared on Freehold Patch.)

The Freehold High School boys basketball team (5-5, 2-4) used a strong second half to defeat Long Branch High School (0-8, 0-5) on Tuesday 67-47. Jesse Hunt led the Colonials with 27 points. Long Branch was led by Kenny Barron who had 14.

“A win is a win,” Freehold coach Ben DiBiase said afterwards. “We needed one. We lost three in a row, so getting of the schnide and getting one is big.”

The first half was a tale of runs. Freehold opened the game on a 10-2 run, featuring contributions from Hunt, Pat Mullin (who added 13 points), and others. At the end of the first quarter, it was 14-4 Freehold.

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PATCH: Neptune Beats Freehold Boro

(This article originally appeared on Freehold Patch.)

The Neptune High School girls basketball team, currently slated at number one in New Jersey, remain unbeaten (7-0, 5-0) as they defeated Freehold Boro High School (3-8, 1-4) on the road today in a Class B North battle. Syessence Davis led the Fliers with 23 points; Sarah Cobb led Freehold with five points.

“Well they’re the number one team in the state,” Freehold Boro head coach Jen Brzucki said afterwards. “We tried to give them the best game that we possibly could.”

Using a combination of a strong inside game, quick passing, easy baskets, and an aggressive press defense, Neptune took control of the game from the start. They scored the first six points of the game, four of them by Davis.

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PATCH: Toms River North Loses to Freehold Township

(This article originally appeared on Toms River Patch.)

FREEHOLD, N.J. – Playing without their best scorer in Jennifer Galamb, the Toms River North Girls basketball team (2-5) fell on the road to Freehold Township (8-0) 66-39 Wednesday. Without Galamb, who missed the game with a knee injury, the Mariners had no match for Freehold’s Ashley Stenftennagel and Michelle Johnston who had 18 and 15 points respectively. Kendall Kauffman led Toms River with 21 points.

“Their ability to shoot was ridiculous today,” Toms River North head Coach Vicki Guarneri said. “They just have five, six girls that can all shoot the ball. It was very impressive to watch.”

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PATCH: Freehold Township Beats Toms River North

(This article originally appeared on Freehold Patch.)

Behind 18 points from Ashley Stenftennagel and 15 points from Michelle Johnston, Freehold Township girls basketball team defeated Toms River North at home today 66-39. Kendall Kauffman led Toms River North with 21 points. The Mariners were playing without their top scorer, Jennifer Galamb, who missed the game with a knee injury.

“It was a very good offensive game, very team oriented offensive game,” Freehold Township head Coach John Sciarappa said.

“Their ability to shoot was ridiculous today,” Toms River North head Coach Vicki Guarneri said. “They just have five, six girls that can all shoot the ball. It was very impressive to watch.”

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PGA TOUR: What It Means: January 24, 2011

(This article originally appeared on Prosportsblogging.com)

Lot of stuff happened in the golf world today — here’s this week’s What It Means:

Everything Surrounding Martin Kaymer’s Sunday: First of all, he won today in Abu Dhabi — his fifth in the last 12 months — and is now the number two player in the world, supplanting Tiger Woods. He’s calm, cool, collected and absolutely dominant right now, winning by eight against a stacked field. He’s my Masters pick unless Tiger starts 2011 hot.

To me, Kaymer becoming number two is largely irrelevant — he’s going to be number one very shortly. What is more relevant is how fast he’s come on to the scene. He’s gone from “who?” to someone who has to be reckoned with. And fast.

Jhonattan Vegas Wins the Hope: The pride of Venezuela battled back from a three-putt on the final hole of regulation and a tee shot in the water on the second playoff hole to win his first PGA Tour event.

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PGA TOUR: What It Means: January 30, 2011

(This article originally appeared on Prosportsblogging.com)

A great week at Torrey Pines kicks off this week’s What It Means:

Bubba Watson Wins His Second PGA Tour event at the Farmers Insurance Open: Bubba is not all about distance anymore. Yes, he led the PGA Tour in driving last year at 314 yards, but his finesse shots — the wedges inside of 100 yards, and especially his putting — have improved so much since he first came out on tour. He was near the top this week in the greens hit in regulation stat, and he used a hotter putter to convert those strong wedge shots into birdies.

He made a 12 footer to win the tournament on the 72nd hole, in an extremely pressure packed situation. Good job, Bubba.

Phil Mickelson’s Second Place Finish: Let’s leave out the layup on 18 for a moment. After a dismal end to 2010 as his arthritis took hold and a so-so showing in the Middle East last week, Phil roared back strong with great all-around play this week, showing that his increased offseason practice regimen may well be paying off.

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GOLF: PGA Championship Staying on CBS Through 2019

The PGA Championship, Glory’s Last Shot, will stay on CBS Sports through 2019. The PGA of America and CBS came to an agreement on a revenue sharing agreement that will keep golf’s final major on CBS for the foreseeable future.

Jim Nantz is probably very happy at that news.

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GOLF: Play The 2012 PGA Championship This Summer

Every golfer dreams of being able to play the best golf courses in the world. This summer, you’ll have a chance to do exactly that — and play it in major championship shape.

Golf Digest is reporting that Kiawah Island will let resort guests play the course in August as it will play for the 2012 PGA Championship.

That, my friends, is a cool idea. GET ME DOWN THERE!

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PGA TOUR: 2011 Players Advisory Council Announced

The PGA Tour’s 16-player Players Advisory Council was announced today:

Jonathan Byrd, Michael Bradley, Ben Crane, Jason Day, David Duval, Jim Furyk, Tom Gillis, Charley Hoffman, Matt Kuchar, Billy Mayfair, Justin Rose, Webb Simpson, Paul Stankowski, Kevin Sutherland, Scott Verplank, Mark Wilson

So if you have a policy question, go to them. Or you can go to Steve Stricker and Paul Goydos who are joining the PGA Tour’s Policy Board to join Zach Johnson and Davis Love III.

(h/t Ryan Ballengee)

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