NFL: 2011 Week 8 Picks

Here are my picks for Week 11 of the 2011 NFL season:

Tennessee, New Orleans, NYG, Carolina, Baltimore, Houston, Buffalo, Detroit, New England, San Francisco, Cincy, Philly, San Diego

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GOLF: Webb Simpson Rule is Real, Reno Going Stableford

Couple golf notes:

1) The Webb Simpson Rule is now an official rule, effective January 1 of 2012. You may remember that Simpson lost the Zurich Classic of New Orleans after his ball moved after he addressed it. The rule now states that if the ball moves after you address it and you are not the reason why (i.e. it was wind, etc.), you are not penalized.

Good job by the USGA and the R&A.

2) The Reno-Tahoe Open, played opposite the Bridgestone Invitational, will use the modified Stableford scoring system next year. (That’s the format where you get points for birdies and eagles and lose points for bogeys and worse.) Hey, the tournament gets little publicity and bad field every year because it’s up against a World Golf Championship event, so maybe this will spark some interest.

3) Rickie Fowler and Rory McIlroy have won the fan votes to join Tiger on the 2013 version of his video game in the US and Europe respectively. Now if my man Rickie can just win a PGA Tour event.

4) The Associated Press’ Doug Ferguson reports that the PGA Tour has decided to delay sending out Player of the Year ballots until after the WGC-HSBC Champions event next week. If Keegan Bradley or Charl Schwartzel win, it could theoretically change some people’s minds.

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PGA TOUR: What It Means — October 23, 2011 — Disney

(This post first appeared on Prosportsblogging.com)

The final What It Means for the official 2011 PGA Tour season:

1) Congrats to Luke Donald on winning Disney, the money title, and quite possibly Player of the Year. He shot a 64 today, including six straight birdies after making the turn, capped off with a 45 foot bomb on 15. Absolutely sensational play, and he 100% deserves the money title.

[Read more]

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NEW YORK JETS: Week 7 Review

This was a huge win for the Jets. They go into the bye at 4-3, and finally beat a high quality football team.

The defense stepped up when it had to (thank you Darrelle Revis and Kyle Wilson), and Plaxico woke up.

Well done guys, nice 27-21 victory!

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NEW YORK JETS: Week 7 Preview

The Jets matchup tomorrow against the Chargers is arguably the biggest game so far this season. From Rex’s blunder to wanting to head into the bye at 4-3, this is a huge game. The keys:

1) Protect Mark Sanchez and let him throw. We saw in the 2nd half last week against Miami, open up the offense a bit and when he has time to throw has been very successful.

2) Run the ball and create play action.

3) Take advantage of the Chargers perennial lousy special teams.

4) Don’t do anything stupid.

Chargers 17
Jets 34

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NFL: 2011 Week 7 Picks

Here are my winners for Sunday’s games:

Cleveland, Detroit, Houston, Denver, Jets, Tampa Bay, Carolina, Oakland, Pittsburgh, Dallas, Green Bay, New Orleans, Baltimore

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NEW YORK JETS: Week 6 Review

A win is a win. It might have been ugly, but it was a win.

Now lets beat San Diego on Sunday and get to 4-3 at the bye.

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PGA TOUR: Children’s Miracle Network Classic at Walt Disney World Ends 2011 PGA Tour Season, Money Title

The last official PGA Tour event for 2011 is the Children’s Miracle Network Classic at Walt Disney World, which starts tomorrow. TV Coverage is Thursday-Sunday, 2-5pm ET on Golf Channel. One storyline is the guys trying to stay inside the top 125 in money, securing their PGA Tour card for 2012.

But the bigger storyline is Luke Donald trying to catch down Webb Simpson for the money title. Luke is trying to make history, becoming the first player in history to be a member of both the PGA and European Tours and win both money titles in the same year. Webb is hoping for the five year exemption that goes along with winning the money list.

According to the PGA Tour, these are the scenarios for Luke to even have a CHANCE at passing Webb, keeping alive his shot at history:

If Donald wins: Should Donald win at Disney, he will claim the first-place check of $846,000. If that happens, Simpson would need to finish solo second (worth $507,600) to stay atop the money list.

If Donald finishes solo second: Should Donald win the $507,600 that goes with a solo second, Simpson would need to finish solo eighth or better to stay atop the money list. Solo eighth is worth $145,700.

If Donald finishes tied for second: A two-way tie for second is worth the aforementioned $413,600. If Donald accomplishes that, Simpson would need to finish in at least a four-way tie for 21st (worth $50,760) to stay atop the the money list. A three-way tie for second (worth $350,933.33) will not be good enough for Donald.

It’s one tall task.

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PGA TOUR: 2012 Schedule Released

This is the 2012 PGA Tour schedule:

Week Tournament TV
Jan. 2-9 Hyundai Tournament of Champions (Monday finish)
Kapalua Resort (The Plantation Course)
Kapalua, Hawaii GOLF
Jan. 9-15 Sony Open in Hawaii
Waialae Country Club
Honolulu, Hawaii GOLF
Jan. 16-22 Humana Challenge in partnership with the Clinton Foundation
PGA WEST (**Palmer Private Course, Nicklaus Private Course); La Quinta CC
La Quinta, Calif. GOLF
Jan. 23-29 Farmers Insurance Open
Torrey Pines Golf Course (**South Course, North Course)
San Diego, Calif. GOLF/CBS
Jan. 30-Feb. 5 Waste Management Phoenix Open
TPC Scottsdale (Stadium Course)
Scottsdale, Ariz. GOLF/CBS
Feb. 6-12 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am
**Pebble Beach GL, Spyglass Hill GC, Monterey Peninsula CC (Shore Course)
Pebble Beach, Calif. GOLF/CBS
Feb. 13-19 Northern Trust Open
Riviera Country Club
Pacific Palisades, Calif. GOLF/CBS
Feb. 20-26 World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship
The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Dove Mountain
Marana, Ariz.
Mayakoba Golf Classic
El Camaleon Golf Club at the Mayakoba Resort
Playa del Carmen, Mexico GOLF/NBC

GOLF
Feb. 27-March 4 The Honda Classic
PGA National (Champion Course)
Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. GOLF/NBC
March 5-11 World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship
Doral Golf Resort & Spa (TPC Blue Monster Course)
Doral, Fla.
Puerto Rico Open presented by seepuertorico.com
Trump International Golf Club Puerto Rico
Rio Grande, Puerto Rico GOLF

GOLF/NBC
March 12-18 Transitions Championship
Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club (Copperhead Course)
Palm Harbor, Fla. GOLF/NBC
March 19-25 Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard
Bay Hill Golf Club and Lodge
Orlando, Fla. GOLF/NBC
March 26-April 1 Shell Houston Open
Redstone Golf Club (Tournament Course)
Houston, Texas GOLF/NBC
April 2-8 Masters Tournament#
Augusta National Golf Club
Augusta, Ga. ESPN/CBS
April 9-15 RBC Heritage
Harbour Town Golf Links
Hilton Head Island, S.C. GOLF/CBS
April 16-22 Valero Texas Open
TPC San Antonio (AT&T Oaks Course)
San Antonio, Texas GOLF/CBS
April 23-29 Zurich Classic of New Orleans
TPC Louisiana
New Orleans, La. GOLF/CBS
April 30-May 6 Wells Fargo Championship
Quail Hollow Club
Charlotte, N.C. GOLF/CBS
May 7-13 THE PLAYERS Championship
TPC Sawgrass (THE PLAYERS Stadium Course)
Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. GOLF/NBC
May 14-20 HP Byron Nelson Championship
Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at Las Colinas (TPC Four Seasons Las Colinas)
Irving, Texas GOLF/CBS
May 21-27 Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial
Colonial Country Club
Fort Worth, Texas GOLF/CBS
May 28-June 3 the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide Insurance
Muirfield Village Golf Club
Dublin, Ohio GOLF/CBS
June 4-10 FedEx St. Jude Classic
TPC Southwind
Memphis, Tenn. GOLF/CBS
June 11-17 U.S. Open#
Olympic Club (Lake Course)
San Francisco, Calif. ESPN/NBC
June 18-24 Travelers Championship
TPC River Highlands
Cromwell, Conn. GOLF/CBS
June 25-July 1 AT&T National
Congressional Country Club
Bethesda, Md. GOLF/CBS
July 2-8 The Greenbrier Classic
The Greenbrier (The Old White TPC)
White Sulphur Springs, W.V. GOLF/CBS
July 9-15 John Deere Classic
TPC Deere Run
Silvis, Ill. GOLF/CBS
July 16-22 The Open Championship#
Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf Club
Lancashire, U.K
True South Classic
Annandale Golf Club
Madison, Miss. ESPN

GOLF
July 23-29 RBC Canadian Open
Hamilton Golf and Country Club
Ancaster, Ontario, Canada GOLF/CBS
July 30-Aug. 5 World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational
Firestone Country Club (South Course)
Akron, Ohio
Reno-Tahoe Open
Montreux Golf and Country Club
Reno, Nev. GOLF/CBS

GOLF
Aug. 6-12 PGA Championship#
Kiawah Island Golf Resort (Ocean Course)
Kiawah Island, S.C. TNT/CBS
Aug. 13-19 Wyndham Championship
Sedgefield Country Club
Greensboro, N.C. GOLF/CBS
** – Host Course. # – Not PGA TOUR co-sponsored
PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup
Week Tournament TV
Aug. 20-26 The Barclays
Bethpage State Park (Black Course)
Farmingdale, N.Y. GOLF/CBS
Aug. 27-Sept. 3 Deutsche Bank Championship (Monday Finish)
TPC Boston
Norton, Mass. GOLF/NBC
Sept. 3-9 BMW Championship
Crooked Stick Golf Club
Carmel, Ind. GOLF/NBC
Sept. 10-16 Off week
Sept. 17-23 TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola
East Lake Golf Club
Atlanta, Ga. GOLF/NBC
Featured events
Week Tournament TV
Sept. 24-30 Ryder Cup
Medinah Country Club (Course No. 3)
Medinah, Ill. ESPN/NBC
Oct. 22-28 CIMB Asia Pacific Classic*
The MINES Resort & Golf Club
Selangor, Malaysia GOLF
Oct. 29-Nov. 4 World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions*
TBD, China GOLF
* – Unofficial money
Fall Series
Week Tournament TV
Oct. 1-7 Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open
TPC Summerlin
Las Vegas, Nev. GOLF
Oct. 8-14 Frys.com Open
CordeValle Golf Club
San Martin, Calif. GOLF
Oct. 15-21 The McGladrey Classic
Sea Island Resort (Seaside Course)
St. Simons Island, Ga. GOLF
Nov. 5-11 Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Classic
Walt Disney World Resort (**Magnolia Course, Palm Course)
Lake Buena Vista, Fla. GOLF
** – Host course

The big changes here are mainly that the Hyundai Tournament of Champions is a Friday-Monday affair, Hilton Head returns to right after The Masters, Greenbrier moves to July 4th weekend, and a couple minor other tweaks across the whole season.

45 total events, 37 regular season events, 4 playoff events, 4 fall series events. Strong schedule all around from the PGA Tour.

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GOLF: Q-School Update, Olympics Architect Update

Two quick golf hits:

1) Today is the start of the PGA Tour’s final Policy Board meeting of 2011. The main topic of discussion, according to Golf Channel’s Rex Hoggard, will be the revamping of Q-School, which will include making the Nationwide Tour the only way of getting to the PGA Tour and creating a “finals series” of events for PGA and Nationwide fringe guys to get/retain their cards. It’ll most likely start in 2013.

2) The people running the 2016 Olympics in Rio have announced that the architect(s) to the new golf course to be used for those games will be announced on December 23.

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