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(10/22/12 2:00am)
Vince Marriott: This week, I can't wait to watch some NHL action! Oh, wait. I'll probably have to wait until next year for that. In the meantime, the lackluster NFL schedule this week may offer some hidden gems to provide entertainment on a Sunday that will probably not see many people leaving their beds until the late afternoon anyway. Both the Seattle Seahawks and the Detroit Lions have had up-and-down seasons thus far, but each of these squads has a great deal of talent on both sides of the ball, especially at quarterback. With Russell Wilson and Matthew Stafford lining up behind center for Seattle and Detroit, respectively, look for a well-run game that features myriad long balls and big play opportunities. (Sunday, 1 p.m., FOX)
(10/15/12 2:00am)
Vince Marriott: I still can't get over how happy I am that we're in the middle of the NFL season. No other sport compares. Within the NFL, however, there are some contests that stand out as truly spectacular, such as those in the NFC East. The Philadelphia Eagles, New York Giants, Washington Redskins and Dallas Cowboys play each other tougher than any other squads throughout the season, and on Sunday the Redskins will be traveling to New York to play the Giants. Even though the game does not feature my beloved (and terrible) Eagles, I'll still be tuning in to see football the way it was meant to be played two historic franchises duking it out in cold weather as thousands of inebriated fans pray that they won't have to spend the rest of the week working out wild card probability scenarios. (Sunday, 1 p.m., FOX)
(10/08/12 2:00am)
Vince Marriott: Baseball playoff season is upon us, and once more I can't wait for having every night of the week occupied by closely contested playoff series. This week, I'll be keeping a close eye on the series between the Baltimore Orioles and New York Yankees, as this matchup is of near-historic significance. The Orioles have long been the bottom-dwellers of the AL East, and this series gives them the chance to prove once and for all that they can take on the best baseball team in history (in terms of championships won). Even though the Yankees took the division this year, I expect this series to last a while, and Game 3 will be pivotal. (Wednesday, TBS)
(10/01/12 2:00am)
Vince Marriott: My What to Watch For picks have centered a lot on college football recently, but I can't think of anything I'd want watch this week more than No. 4 Louisiana State University taking on No. 10 University of Florida on Saturday. LSU keeps slipping in the polls due to some recent close finishes, but this was one of the teams favored to win the national title at the start of the season, and I still think that they have a great shot of going all the way. Florida is no joke, either. That state always seems to produce top talent, and the Gators tend to get the best of it. Even though No. 3 Florida State University seems to be the better team this year, there are too many players and coaches on Florida's sidelines that know how to win to count them out of the national title race just yet. (Saturday, 3:30 p.m., CBS)
(09/24/12 2:00am)
Vince Marriott: It's not often that one can point to a Dartmouth sporting event and say that it is in the national spotlight, but this Saturday's home football game against the University of Pennsylvania will be broadcast nationally on NBC Sports Network, and it's a game that no one should miss. After last season's heartbreaking 22-20 loss under the lights in Memorial Field's first-ever night game, the Big Green should be coming out with a very large chip on its shoulder. The Quakers always seem to come out on top at the last second when they play Dartmouth, and my hope is that I will finally get to see a Big Green victory in my final year at the College. If you can't be there in person, you should definitely check this game out on television. (Saturday, 12 p.m., NBC Sports Network)
(09/17/12 2:00am)
Vince Marriott: As a Philadelphia native, I always keep a particularly close eye on the sporting scene in the City of Brotherly Love. Recently, I have been astounded at how well the Phillies have been playing, pulling themselves up from near oblivion to become legitimate contenders for the National League wildcard berth. Even though they recently dropped three of four games to the historically bad Houston Astros and have traded or given away many of their most important players from the 2008 World Series run, I think that these guys are for real, but it may be too little, too late. Their series against the Atlanta Braves this weekend will do a great deal to determine the result of this race, and I won't be missing the first game on Friday night. (Friday, 7:05 p.m., MLBTV)
(09/10/12 2:00am)
Vince Marriott: Despite the start of the NFL season, college football has been great so far. Not only have there been several excellent upsets (hi, Arkansas), but several powerhouse teams have emerged as men among boys. While No. 20 Notre Dame and No. 10 Michigan State have yet to emerge as national title contenders, the historical significance of their matchup at 8 p.m. on Saturday is substantial. Both teams have long track records of strong performances at a national level, and the prime-time time slot makes it a watchable game for the average college student. This is one matchup you don't want to miss, as it provides both teams the chance to send a message. (Saturday, 8 p.m., ABC)
(05/14/12 2:00am)
Vince Marriott: For my last What to Watch For of the term, it's only fitting that I choose a Philadelphia sporting event. This time, I have to go with game two of the Sixers-Celtics series, as every other Philly team is either mediocre or eliminated at the moment. Even though watching game one on Saturday proved to be a particularly painful exercise, especially in the fourth quarter, I have to believe that the youth of the Sixers will prevail over the old men playing for Boston. Still, I expect both teams to put up a good fight, and there's no way that this series is going to be less than six or seven games. Besides, Dartmouth sports have pretty much wrapped up, so what else are you going to do? (Monday, 7 p.m., TNT)
(05/07/12 2:00am)
Vince Marriott: Well, it seems as though Derrick Rose really did provide the spark that ignited the Chicago Bulls. Since his devastating departure in game one, Chicago has been hard pressed to live up to the lofty expectations that accompanied the team going into the playoffs. Even worse, the departure of Joakim Noah later in the series has only compounded the Bulls' problems. Meanwhile, the Sixers have been playing lights-out basketball thanks to the efforts of Spencer Hawes and Jrue Holiday, among others. With the Sixers up 3-1, this series seems to be reaching its conclusion, and it's looking like the Bulls are going to be going out with a whimper despite one hell of a regular season. (Tuesday, 5:30 p.m., NBATV)
(04/30/12 2:00am)
Vince Marriott: This Saturday, one of the most historic athletic events in the history of the United States is taking place the 138th running of the Kentucky Derby. This event has for over a century been the best measuring stick for speed, endurance and racing skill of thoroughbred horses in the country, and it shows no signs of disappointing this year. Hansen has a great shot, but Daddy Long Legs should also challenge for the title. Even if horse racing isn't necessarily your thing, the outrageous outfits and unlike celebrity attendees also provide for quality entertainment. (Saturday, 5-7 p.m., NBC)
(04/23/12 2:00am)
Vince Marriott: Even though there are plenty of real sporting events happening this week, I really can't see myself prioritizing any of them over the NFL Draft. Even though Andrew Luck is already guaranteed to go to the Indianapolis Colts, there will still be plenty of drama on the first two days to keep everything interesting. I can't stand the third day (I don't know or care about any of the players) or staring at Mel Kiper's hair for hours at a time, but the first few rounds provide better entertainment than any baseball, basketball or hockey game. Who will get drafted higher than expected? Who will drop? What trades will be made? All will be answered this Thursday and Friday. (NFL Network, Thursday and Friday, 8 p.m. and 7 p.m., respectively)
(04/16/12 2:00am)
Vince Marriott: There's nothing in sports like a good rivalry. Ohio State-Michigan, Lakers-Celtics and even Oxford-Cambridge have provided decades and even centuries of memorable matchups that often transcend the sports themselves. Still, none of these rivalries can match the intensity of Yankees-Red Sox baseball, because you never quite know what you're going to get. Whether its an intentional hit, a thrown bat or an all-out brawl, this rivalry rarely disappoints. On Friday (conveniently scheduled by Major League Baseball to happen on a weekend), these two teams face off for the first time this season, and it's not a game you want to miss. (Friday, 3:30 p.m., YES)
(04/09/12 2:00am)
Vince Marriott: Finally, the NHL is getting interesting. The pointless regular season has come to a close, and the playoffs have arrived. Even better, my Philadelphia Flyers are playing their in-state rival Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round. That means that I have at least four chances to sit and watch as Sidney Crosby gets violently slammed into the boards ... and cry to the refs about it. What could be better than that? Besides anything happening in the NBA, NFL or MLB, of course. With numerous other good matchups to watch over the next few weeks, hockey should provide a welcome diversion from what has recently passed for sports news, like what Tim Tebow had for breakfast. (Wednesday, 7:30 p.m., NBC)Jonathan Gault: The Barclays Premier League title is all but decided this season Manchester United appears a lock to win its fifth championship in six years but there is one trophy that the Red Devils won't get their hands on in 2012 the FA Cup. The world's oldest soccer competition is down to four teams, with two intense semifinals set for this weekend at hallowed Wembley Stadium. On Saturday, crosstown rivals Liverpool and Ever ton will meet in an extra-impor tant installment of their storied rivalr y. In the other game, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur will do battle for the second finalist spot. Chelsea is looking to win its fourth FA Cup in six years, but it also has a massive Champions League semifinal against Barcelona just three days later. Will they overlook Spurs, who haven't made the final since 1991? (Saturday, 7:30 a.m. and Sunday, 1 p.m., Fox Soccer)Dong Zhao: At the New York Yankees home opener on Friday, the fans at Yankee Stadium will get their first up-close look at prized off-season free agents Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson, who signed for astronomical contracts of $254 million and $77.5 million, respectively. The only problem for Yankees fans is that the two play for the visiting Los Angeles Angels. It will be a strange sight for Yankees fans, who are used to seeing their hometown team make these offseason splashes with the team's seemingly unlimited budget. The Yankees and the Angels will look to extend the great American rivalry between old money and new money on the baseball diamond. (Friday, 1:35 p.m., YES Network)
(04/02/12 2:00am)
Vince Marriott: There's no doubt that the premier sporting event of this week is taking place on Monday night, when the Kansas University Jayhawks take on the Kentucky University Wildcats in the NCAA National Championship game. Neither team's presence in the finals is much of a surprise, and Kentucky beat Kansas by a comfortable margin of 10 points early this season, but the past has no bearing on Monday. Each team's entire season will come down to how it plays over these last 40 minutes. The winner will remain immortal, while the loser will find itself subject to perpetual highlight-reel humiliation. Look for Kentucky to win, at least until Calipari does something to force the university to vacate its victories. (Monday, 9:23 p.m., CBS).
(03/26/12 2:00am)
Vince Marriott: Even though most of the country has been watching NCAA basketball over the past couple of weeks, there is still plenty of interesting NBA action taking place as the season winds down, as it seems like every game carries major playoff implications. When the Dallas Mavericks travel to Florida to take on the Orlando Magic on Friday, it will be a great game between two teams jockeying for prime playoff positioning. Dwight Howard decided to stay with the Magic because he thinks that Orlando has a chance of winning it all, and games like this will help determine whether or not this is a realistic goal. (Friday, 8 p.m., ESPN).
(03/05/12 4:00am)
Vince Marriott: College basketball's playoff system is perhaps the best in all of sports. Even though the regular season means a lot due to the importance of seeding, the ultimate measure of a team's prowess comes down to six do-or-die games in front of a national audience surrounded by tens of thousands of screaming fans. There's nothing else like it. Even better, the first two rounds, which require the greatest amount of time to watch, happen over spring break! So, if your friends all have a different break schedule (as they probably do), settle in March 15-18 to watch the original 64 teams get narrowed down to 16 and experience firsthand all of the storylines that will inevitably come up during this year's March Madness. (Thurs.-Sun., CBS).
(02/27/12 4:00am)
Vince Marriott: Basketball just had its All-Star Game and hockey playoff races are heating up, but all I care about this week is the NFL Combine. While its premise college athletes getting tested in repetitive, mundane ways may not attract most people, those of us who have played football understand the significance of what these athletes are accomplishing and can only watch in awe. To most, a quarterback running a "4.41 in the 40" means nothing, but to a football fan, the time Robert Griffen III ran during his workout boggles the mind and makes all of the mediocre times worth sitting through. Likewise, watching men bigger than your car bench four times the weight you do also provides somewhat of a thrill. Still, I'm partial to speed, which is why I'll be watching the defensive backs go through their tests on Tuesday on the NFL Network. (Tuesday, 7 p.m., NFL Network).
(02/20/12 4:00am)
Vince Marriott: Fine, I'll admit it the NBA has been awesome this season. My least favorite of the four major sports has finally proven that it can be carried by more than just four or five elite athletes running isolation plays down the court every time. Linsanity, the crushing dominance of the Miami Heat and Khloe Kardashian in Dallas have all given me something to watch for. On Wednesday, the Los Angeles Lakers will travel to the aforementioned Dallas to take on the Mavericks in what should be a great duel between two of the top teams in the Western Conference. Look for Dirk Nowitzki to continue his streak of average basketball playing it's been a rough season for the German superstar. (Wednesday, 9 p.m., ESPN).
(02/13/12 4:00am)
Vince Marriott: It's no secret at this point Jeremy Lin's got game. The previously unheralded Harvard alumnus has run circles around his opponents since taking over the starting point guard position for the New York Knicks on Feb. 6 against the Utah Jazz. He scored 89 points over his first three career starts, the most by any player since the merger between the ABA and the NBA in 1976. Not only is he a good individual performer, he wins games as well as the Knicks are 5-0 since he began to see significant playing time on Feb. 4 against the New Jersey Nets. On Tuesday, Lin and the Knicks are set for another test against the Toronto Raptors. While the Raptors haven't been anything special this year, New York can't afford many more losses, so it's a big game in its own right. (Tuesday, 7 p.m., MSG).
(02/06/12 4:00am)
Vince Marriott: Now that football season has drawn to an end and playoff races are starting to heat up, hockey can finally get some attention. Even if hockey is the forgotten step-child of the major sports, the Philadelphia Flyers have continued to prove they are worth watching, consistently showing they are among the best of the best. On Thursday, they will play host to a strong opponent in the Toronto Maple Leafs, a team looking to climb up the conference standings in anticipation of a deep playoff run. Couple this with the Flyers' need to sharpen their skills in anticipation of a high seed and you've got a quality game, especially for a Thursday night. Celebrate Winter Carnival the right way grab a beer (or two) and check out some good hockey before making the frat rounds. (Thursday at 7 p.m., NHLN).