The New Orleans Saints defeated the Indianapolis Colts, 31-17 in the Super Bowl to nail their first ever NFL title.
Quarterback Drew Brees of the Saints made 32 of 39 passes for 288 yards and two touchdowns as he outperformed the Colts Peyton Manning to help the Colts rally back from a first quarter 10 point deficit.
The crowd went to a Mardi Gras frenzy as Tracy porter intercepted a manning Pass en route to a score that hand the Saints an unassailable 31-17 lead.
“We just believed in ourselves,” Brees said and as he added, “We knew the entire city, maybe an entire country behind us. We’re it was all meant to be. It was destiny. Mardi Gras may never end.”
The Saints proves to be a new inspiration for the New Orleans, which was battered by hurricane Katrina, claiming lives and leaving destruction.
Garrett Hartley helped the Saints mount a rally as he kicked two goals in the second quarter to cut the 10 point deficit to just points.
Pierre’s scoring pass coming from Brees put the Saints leading for the first time in the game 15-10 in the third quarter..
Manning who is poised to help the Colts capture its second NFL title in four years, wound up with 31 completions in 45 attempts for 333 yards, one touch down and one costly interception that hurt the Colt’s final campaign.
With the sweet victory over the Colts, the Saints finally clinched their much coveted title after 43 years.
Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo, the world player of the year made two goals on his first outing on the Champion’s League to lead his team chalk up a rousing 5-2 triumph over FC Zurich.
Ronaldo proved his record-breaking $135 million contract with Real Madrid is all worth him. During the game Ronaldo unleashed a trademark free kick at some crucial moments of the game, his exciting link play with similarly high-profile teammates Kaka and Raul, cemented the stature of Real Madrid as the world’s most popular club football.
Real Madrid President Florentino Perez was one of the responsible figures in the acquisition of Ronaldo, he convinced Spanish banks during the financial crunch that affected world economies to fund a $360-million that will attract players that could bring back the club’s reputation as a title contender after seven straight years of lackluster performance in the Champion’s League.
With most money spent on forwards rather than with defenders, pressure seems to be on the shoulders of Ronaldo.
“I never feel pressure,” the 24-year-old Ronaldo said. “I just work to score goals. I scored two and I’m really pleased for that but the important thing is to win games.”
Milan-based International Boxing Association lowered the weight divisions to 10 from 11 for the coming 2012 London Olympics.
The move enables them to include women’s boxing in the quadrennial games. Moreover, the total number of boxers that will compete in the Olympics is still 286, 250 males and 36 female boxers. In Beijing 2008, all of the boxers were males.
The latest weight categories includes: Light flyweight (46-49 kg.), flyweight (up to 52, kg.), bantam weight (up to 56 kg.), lightweight (up to 60 kg.), light welterweight (up to 64 kg.), welterweight (up to 69 kg.), middleweight (up to 75 kg.), light heavyweight (up to 81 kg.), heavyweight (up to 91 kg.) and heavyweight (91kg and above).
Many-time Philippine Chess Olympiad member Rogelio “Banjo” Barcenilla Jr. recently become a full-pledged Grandmaster joining the growing elite list of Filipino Grandmasters.
The Iligan City born Barcenilla which is now based in Texas, USA, whipped GM Zviad to gain his third and final GM result in the just concluded Copper State International Chess Championship held in Mesa, Arizona.
Barcenilla, a former Asian Junior Champion collected 7 points in 10 outings in the event that was won by Uzbek GM Timur Gareev which finished with 8 points.
With the feat Barcenilla became the 12th Filipino GM after Eugene Torre, the late Rosendo Balinas Jr., Joey Antonio, Bong Villmayor, Nelson Mariano II, Mark Paragua. Chess prodigy Wesley So, Darwin Laylo, Jayson Gonzales, John Paul Gomez, and Joseph Sanchez.
Rosendo accumulated 15 Elo points, boosting his Elo rating to 2518 and catapulting him to fourth among top Filipino woodpushers that is led by chess prodigy and World Under 16 No. 1 player Wesley So which totes 2646 Elo rating (the best ever Elo rating posted by a Filipino).
Torre, Asia’s first Grandmaster is at second place with 2560 points, a shave ahead of Rogelio Antonio, who had a 2559 points in the Fide ratings released last July 1.
What the RP Gilas Team lacks may amply be provided by a new prospect in banger Durian Townes. Lumbering at 6 foot 10, Townes who weights 550 pounds is a mainstay of the University of Arkansas Razorbacks. Townes’ heft and size may add ceiling to the relatively small RP quintet as well as intimidation inside the paint. He suited up with Utah Flash in the United States National Developmental League recently. Townes averaged 10 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in 132 games in four years (2004 to 2008) with the Razorbacks in the US NCAA.
The Philippines recently finished third in the Dubai with its import not contributing well to the team. He has cameo roles during the tournament and even sidelined twice in the tournament because of a sore knee. The Philippines is running against time to beef up its lineup with an American import that will undergo naturalization process.
American Football | howitzer | 
February 9, 2010 8:41 pm | 
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