Photo Gallery: Super Bowl XLIX (Patriots vs. Seahawks)
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Late defensive gem preserves SB 49 for Pats
By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Sunday, February 1, 2015
A late New England rally, followed by a stellar goal line stand in the final minute, helped the Patriots win their fourth NFL championship since the 1970 merger by edging Seattle 28-24 in the 49th annual Super Bowl.
The game, played before 70,288 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, was tied 14-14 at halftime.
Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was selected as the game’s most valuable player – his third – but the big play of the night belonged to New England defensive back Malcolm Butler, whose goal line interception of a Russell Wilson pass with 20 seconds left in the fourth quarter snuffed out a potential Seahawks game-winning drive and secured the title for the Patriots.
Brady threw for four touchdowns and 328 yards, and in the process, passed Joe Montana’s previous record of 11 Super Bowl touchdown passes.
Both teams did their best to make sure the game was about football in general, not the proper inflation of the game balls, which dominated pregame press conferences after the allegations following the Patriots’ 45-7 AFC championship win over Indianapolis.
Late in the fourth quarter, before Seattle set up with a 1st-and-goal at the New England 1 yard-line, an acrobatic catch by Jermaine Kearse set up the incredible finish. After Wilson’s pass was seemingly broken up, the ball floated in the air and landed in Kearse’s hands as he lay on the ground near the Patriot 15.
That eventually set up Seattle Coach Pete Carroll’s decision not to use Marshawn Lynch on second down at the New England 1. Butler read the play and made the pick, darting in front of intended receiver Ricardo Lockette. A series of penalties eventually moved the ball to the 15, allowing Brady to make the final kneel-down.
Carroll explained after the game that he and his staff felt New England was too difficult to run on initially and “was planning to run on third and fourth downs.” The play call surprised nearly everyone watching.
Seattle was leading 24-14 with just under eight minutes left in the fourth quarter. Brady responded with touchdown passes to Danny Amendola and Julian Edelman, the latter putting the Patriots up 28-24 with 2:02 left.
Seattle wide receiver Chris Matthews grabbed four passes for 109 yards and a touchdown, and Lynch ran for 102 yards. But Marshawn didn’t get the call in Seattle’s final possession, a decision that will haunt Carroll and the Seahawks for an indefinite period.
After the game, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell presented the Vince Lombardi Trophy to Patriots owner Robert Kraft, who called the commish out earlier this week in regard to the allegations of purposely deflated footballs.
The investigation into “Deflate-gate” is ongoing, but the Patriots have a fourth Lombardi Trophy to clean the fingerprints off of.
Cardinal Second Half Surge Beats Washington State
By: Joe Lami
It was a tail of two halves on Saturday afternoon at Maples Pavilion, as the Stanford Cardinal defeated the Washington State Cougars 57-56. At the end of the first half, Washington State actually had a two-point lead, 39-37. However, Stanford started to play better basketball in the second half, as the first half was a complete nightmare for the Cardinal, which saw 13 turnovers.
Washington State capitalized on those turnovers, scoring 14 points off of them in just the first half. The turnovers dwindled in the second half for the Cardinal, as they only lost the ball five times.
The Cardinal ended the day shooting 49% from the field, including a poor 39% from three-point land, but it was enough to keep Stanford’s 59-game winning streak over the Cougars going. The shots also stopped falling for the Cougars in the second half, as they made just seven of their 36 shots.
Lia Galderia led all scorers as she had 18 of Washington State’s points. Mariah Cooks added 14. The difference maker was the poor shooting for Tia Presley, who finished the night with four points on one of ten shooting.
Amber Orrange led the way for Stanford with 15 points. Erica McCall followed with 14. Brianna Roberson continues her strong play, as she scored 11. The Cardinal proved once again that they can play better basketball when it matters, but they prefer to just play better from the start.
The No. 12 ranked Cardinal return to action against the 16-5 Washington Huskies on Monday.
WSU snaps two-game Cardinal winning streak
By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Saturday, January 31, 2015
Washington State’s Ny Redding sank a pair of free throws with 5.5 seconds to play in the second half, then the Cougars held on for an 89-88 Pac-12 men’s basketball win over Stanford Saturday at Friel Court in Pullman, Washington.
The Cougars’ victory snapped the Cardinal’s two-game winning streak and negated a 33-point, nine-rebound effort from Chasson Randle.
DaVonte Lacy led WSU (10-11 overall, 4-5 Pac-12) with 25 points, followed by 14 points each by Josh Hawkinson, Ike Iroegbu and Que Johnson. Hawkinson also pulled down 11 rebounds.
The Cardinal (15-6 overall, 6-3 Pac-12) shot 42 percent from the field in the second half, after Washington State took a 42-41 lead into halftime. WSU shot 60 percent in the second half and 55 percent for the game.
The two teams combined for 50 personal fouls and 76 free throws in a foul-plagued game.
Washington State built a 78-70 lead with 3:22 left on two Hawkinson free throws and a long jumper by Lacy. Stanford responded with a 3-pointer by Rosco Allen and two foul shots by Anthony Brown, pulling the Cardinal to within 84-83 with 46 seconds remaining.
After Iroegbu was fouled on a rebound, he hit two free throws with :18 left that put WSU up 87-83. After Stanford got the ball back on a rare jump ball, Stefan Nastic’s basket trimmed the Cougars’ lead to 87-85.
Redding was fouled on the inbounds pass and sank both free throws. Stanford’s Dorian Pickens drained a 3-pointer as time ran out, accounting for the final score.
The Cardinal return home Thursday to host UCLA.
Finally, it’s time for the kickoff to Super Bowl 49
By DANIEL DULLUM
Sports Radio Service
Friday, January 30, 2015
PHOENIX, Arizona – Honestly, there’s not much left to dissect when it comes to Super Bowl 49, set for Sunday night at University of Phoenix Stadium in nearby Glendale. Every player and coach have been interviewed extensively, the parties roar on, and the National Football League continues to rake in the cash, even before one commercial airs on Sunday.
The game itself should be more competitive than folks may think. Both the Patriots and the Seahawks have been busy giving stock, boring answers to the multiple questions they’ve fielded over and over.
Their might be more of a sense of urgency for New England, since they’re a little older and the window of opportunity could be closing for Tom Brady to hoist the Lombardi Trophy one last time. Seattle has a younger roster and is set for another run or two.
The biggest tussle might be off the field, where the sniping between Phoenix and Glendale has been a wonderful undercard. Glendale resents all the attention downtown Phoenix has been receiving, and businesses in Phoenix are reaping the retail benefits.
We just learned today that disgruntled Glendale Mayor Jerry Weiers finally received game tickets from the NFL. He’s been bitching about this for weeks. Weiers told NPR that Glendale would bid for the Super Bowl every year if they could count on financial assistance from the NFL to help pay for increased police and security.
That’s one of the problems when a smaller suburb is on the hook for the necessities of hosting such a big event. Same problem will come up when Glendale hosts the NCAA Final Four in a couple of years.,
If Weiers thinks it difficult to squeeze money out of the No Fun League, wait until they deal with the hypocritical, money-grubbing NCAA.
As for the game, I think the Patriots will suck it up and win by 10. I do not advise anyone to take this information and apply it to any wagering. That’s illegal anyway, you know.
Photo Gallery: Super Bowl XLIX Halftime and National Anthem Press Conference
49ers’ Jed York to invest in Sacramento Republic FC
by Charlie O. Mallonee
Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson made a major announcement during his “State of the City” address Thursday evening concerning new investors in the Sacramento Republic FC soccer club. Johnson revealed that San Francisco 49ers owner Jed York and several others from the 49ers organization would be making an investment the Sacramento Republic FC to enhance the chances of Major League Soccer granting a franchise to the Capital City.
This announcement came on the heals of the news the Sacramento Kings are coming on board as minority owners of the Republic FC. From statements that were made after the announcement, it appears the investment by the York group will be similar to the Kings stake in club.
Paraag Marathe – President of the 49ers – said the 49ers have so many ticket holders in Sacramento it is a natural to invest in the area. Marathe went on to say, “There is something really special here in Sacramento. The electricity and passion of the fans, city here is invigorating. There’s nothing like it.”
The main force behind the York group becoming involved locally was Mayor Kevin Johnson. Johnson is the one who introduced York and the others to Sacramento Republic FC lead investor Kevin Nagle. Johnson has made it clear that he sees a soccer only stadium as a key component of the rail yards development area.
Marathe indicated the York group believes in Sacramento as sports town and also as a development area. York’s family business background is built on the development of commercial property.
Marathe also stated the York group is “looking forward to leaning on its stadium expertise” having just opened Levi Stadium in Santa Clara in 2014.
The Sacramento Republic FC is hoping the power of two major sports franchise owners will give them an advantage as they try to convince Major League Soccer that its 24th franchise should be located in Sacramento.
Katy Perry Set to Perform in Super Bowl Halftime Show
by Shawn McCullough
In the biggest game of the year, the Patriots and the Seahawks will battle for the Lombardi Trophy, but halfway through, one of the biggest pop icons with take the stage to entertain the world.
Katy Perry will perform in the Super Bowl XLIX Halftime Show in Phoenix.
“I feel very honored and very proud and very blessed that I get to play the halftime show at this age,” said Perry. “I feel like it’s an incedible, humbling, spiritual experience in some ways.”
She will be joined by special guest Lenny Kravitz.
“Lenny is going to be sharing the stage with me. We’ve worked up something incredibly soulful, of course he brings the soul and I think it’s just going to make the night even sexier.”
Perry will be following some legendary Super Bowl Halftime Shows from the past including Michael Jackson, Bruce Springsteen, Madonna, Paul McCartney and Prince.
Asked about what she wanted to be remembered for after the show, “I just hope at the end of the day that over 100 million people are smiling in unison and I want for all of it to be about the music.”
Perry said that she will be rooting for the Seattle Seahawks because of her close friendship with Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson.
Kings buy into Sacramento Republic FC soccer team
by Charlie O. Mallonee
The Sacramento Republic FC announced on Wednesday that the Sacramento Kings have become investors in the team. Republic FC’s lead investor Kevin Nagle is a minority owner of the Kings.
“We shared early on out desire to have the Sacramento Kings as a part of our efforts to secure MLS for Sacramento,” said Nagle. “Their investment in FC, and support of out bid for expansion rights, is just one reason more reason why we are “Built for MLS.”
“This is another major step in revitalizing downtown and making the entire Sacramento region an even better place to work, live and play. We’re committed to our vision of making Sacramento the world class city its citizens deserve,” – said Kings Owner and Chairman Vivek Ranadivé.
“Vivek and the Kings have brought visionary leadership to Sacramento,” said Mayor Kevin Johnson. “They are the perfect partners for the City of Sacramento and Sacramento Republic FC in this transformational opportunity. All of us are building Sacramento into a city that will set the example for the way sports and culture interact with American cities in the future.”
Additional details about the partnership will be released in tonight’s State of the City address.
Sacramento is a finalist for what is believed to be the final franchise in the next round of expansion by Major League Soccer. Minneapolis-St. Paul and Las Vegas are also vying for the franchise opportunity.
Sacramento has identified space in the Railyards Development in downtown Sacramento as the location for a soccer only stadium. MLS is believed to be partial to downtown stadiums for its franchises.
Cardinal ramble past Washington
By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Wednesday, January 28, 2015
Stanford’s road trip to the state of Washington is off to a good start, as the Cardinal took advantage of a shorthanded U of Washington squad and prevailed 84-74 Wednesday at Seattle.
Anthony Brown netted 23 points, grabbed seven rebounds and had three assists for the Cardinal (15-5 overall, 6-2 Pac-12), while Stanford center added 17 points – 15 in the first half. Chasson Randle scored 20 points and Marcus Allen chipped in with 12 for the Cardinal.
Nigel Williams-Goss topped the Huskies with 17 points. Followed by Mike Anderson with 16 points and Quevyn Winters with 13.
The Huskies (14-6, 3-5) were without 7-foot center Robert Upshaw, who was dismissed from the squad for violating an unspecified team rule.
Stanford built a 12-point lead in the first half, and maintained that advantage throughout the second half and leading by as many as 26 points. The closest the Huskies could get was pulling to within 10 in the final minute.
The Cardinal’s road trip continues Saturday when they travel to Washington State. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m.
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