SPORTS HUBS

If you are tired in playing farmville, real sports is a break. On the other hand, if you are tired in playing physical sports, then farmville will be very relaxing. If your internet is disconnected, a little frustrations will be drawn on your face; if that is the case then you need to engage yourself in physical activity. You need to play outdoor, or indoor if that would be more practicable. Whichever you choose, both are fun anyway. Happy playing.

The Eastern Conference won by skin of their teeth by edging out the equally star studded Western Conference side 141-139 in NBA-All Star Game before a record crowd in Dallas Texas.

Dwayne Wade was at his old fiery form as he collected 28 points and snatched the elusive MVP honors game, which was witnessed by 108,713 at the Cowboys Stadium.

Chris Bosh sealed the win as he converted crucial free throws for the East with five seconds remaining. Carmelo Anthony’s three-point attempt could’ve give the West the victory but his game-winning attempt came up short.

The prolific Cavalier guard LeBron James said, “To be in front of 108,000 fans, that was not a false number. You could look up in the stands, and there was not a seat open.”

The crowd was booing at Wade’s free throws but sill the Miami spitfirish point guard nailed his shots with the clock winding down to just 12.7 seconds, to help the East team surge ahead by two points. Hometown favorite Dirk Nowitzki converted a quick two points to tie the game, but the pair of free throws converted by Bosh in the dying minutes sealed the win.

Wade’s MVP conquest is a reminiscent of his MVP performance in their successful championship game against Dallas in 2006. 

Wade said, “I’ve had a little luck in Dallas. Of course 2006, is very, very memorable, something I dreamed of doing for a long time, winning the championship and I am lucky enough to win the MVP there.”

All roads trek to Texas as Dallas will host the NBA All-Star Game, but minus two legitimate superstars in Kobe Bryant and Allen Iverson.

Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers and Allen Iverson of the Philadelphia 76ers., will not play in the mid-season extravaganza that gathers best players prominent players rookies or veterans, the best and electrifying dunkers and deadly sharpshooters which is expected to be watched by a record-setting 90,000 fans, at the Cowboys Stadium.

Jason Kidd of the host Dallas Mavericks is handpicked by the NBA Commissioner David Stern to replace Bryant to man the guard position in the Western Conference.

Bryant missed the last three games because of an ankle sprain. New York Knick upstart David lee was picked by Stern to play for the Eastern Conference team. Iverson was sidetracked for the last five games for the last five games for the Sixers because of her daughter who is experiencing illness.

The Philippines golden run was put into a halt as it bowed to Britain 1-4 in the finals of the First World Team Pool Cup Championships held in Hanover, Germany to place 2^nd overall.

The British team composed of reigning World 9-ball championship Daryl Peach, 2008 World 10-Ball Titlist Darren Appleton, Karl Boyes, Mark Gray and Imram Majid, stamped their class over the favored Filipinos to capture the top prize of $100,00.

The Philippine team  consisting  of World 9-Ball and 8-Ball Champion Renato “Volcano” Alcano, former world number 1 Dennis Orcollo, two-time national titlist Lee Van Corteza, Antonio Lining, Warren Kiamco and Marlon Manalo took home the runner-up purse worth $50,000.

Greece and Russia, who were eliminated in the semis got $30,000 each in the World Pool Billiard Association tournament which lured pool sharks from 48 different countries.

The Filipinos won the first game which is the 8-Ball Scotch doubles 6-1, but the Britons bounced back to take the second game of the Scotch doubles by an identical score of 6-1.

The Britons swept the 9-ball game with Gray winning over Lining 8-2, Boyes nipping Corteza and Appleton cruising to a 7-1 triumph over his Filipino opponent in the second 10-ball game. Alcano was leading against Peach in the first 10-ball gae but action was halted after Appleton clinches the match for the Brits by taking the second 10-ball game.

Filipinos made it to the finals by beating Britain II, Czech Republic, Norway, Poland, and Russia to set up a championship match with the British team.

The Britons path to the finals includes victories over Norway, Israel, Germany, China and Greece. The Britons lost to Sweden but managed to get back in the thick of things by posting consecutive wins over Israel, Germany, China and Greece.

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.

Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao is still the world’s number one pound-for-pound in an online poll in a popular sports website even as Floyd Mayweather Jr. pulling out a comprehensive and decisive victory over Mexico’s Juan Manuel Marquez in Las Vegas.
The survey results given by Yahoo! Sports shows Pacquiao leading Mayweather as boxing’s current pound-for-pound king.
Yahoo! Sports asked online visitors, “Who is boxing’s pound-for-pound king?” Sixty-six (66%) favored Pacquiao, while Mayweather collared thirty-three (33%) and measly 3% meanwhile chose other boxers. Over 82,000 online voters participated in the survey.
Pacquiao wrested the coveted pound-for-pound title from Mayweather after taking his retirement in 2008.
Mayweather, made a comeback in a bid to recapture the pound-for-pound throne from Pacquiao after 21 months of retirement.
The left-handed Pacquiao made a stronghold at his number 1 status by piling up convincing victories over David Diaz, Oscar Dela Hoya and Ricky Hatton.
The Ring, a partner of Yahoo! Sports, said, “Pacquiao solidified his claim on the top spot after stopping David Diaz, Oscar Dela Hoya and Ricky Hatton in particular fashions. Mayweather couldn’t simply return to boxing after 21 months and overthrow the true king – no matter what happened on Saturday night.
The Ring added, “Mayweather might be very well be the best fighter in the world pound-for-pound title must be carried through. And hopefully Mayweather will get his chance or chances to do it.”

Pacquiao has begun training in Baguio City for his megafight with Miguel Sotto slated this November 14 in Las vegas. A win against the Puerto Rican will lined up the ferocious and feisty ring gladiator, the Pacman against Mayweather early or midway next year.

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.