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The Cardinals franchise has been the laughingstock of the NFL for decades, but this team is one win from bringing home a Super Bowl Campionship. Like them or not its because of them that this years Super Bowl is already proving to be better than another year that involves the New England Patriots.

The Red Birds, who were just the 11th best team during the regular season, and suffered a huge loss to New England a little over a month ago, have now found themselves in the big game. Arizona can now move from the ranks of teams without a bowl appearance. Those that still remain are a small handful of teams including, New Orleans, Cleveland, Detroit, Houston, and Jacksonville.

Each playoff game for the Cardinals over the last couple of weeks has been like the last couple of minutes of an episode of Lost; it always leaves the audience in complete shock anticipating what could happen the following week. Before the 2009 season, they had one winning record in the last 23 years, and one playoff victory in the past 60 years. They had not played host to a playoff game since 1947, when they played in Chicago. They never had won two playoff games in the same season. In a franchise history dating to 1920, they are undefeated in home playoff games -- both of them.

As for this season, they had won no road games outside the NFC West, a division in which the Cardinals finished as the only team with a winning record -- at 9-7. Leaving many NFL fans asking if the team had only made it to the playoffs because of the weaker NFC West division they played in. But Arizona burned through the playoffs beating teams outside the NFC West. First, Matt Ryan and the red-hot Atlanta Falcons, the #2 seated Carolina Panthers and finally Donovan McNabb and the Eagles.

Is there enough left in the Cards to crown Arizona Super Bowl XLIII champions?

Depending on what source your checking. The Red Birds are 3.5 to 7 point underdogs against the five time Super Bowl Champion Steelers. But Arizona will have their chance to prove to the legions of NFL fans that they deserve to be there. In the famous words of Rodney Dangerfield, “ The Cards get no respect”, and it could be one of the biggest reasons why they are still playing football in early February. There's nothing more tired than the “we get no respect” card, but in this case nobody's ever accomplished more and gotten less respect, than the Arizona Cardinals. And for that reason alone it makes you want to say, “Go Cards”!
 

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The Tuskers, winless in two, drop to fifth place in their division as they fell to visiting San Fernando Valley in their home opener this past Saturday, 41-19.

San Fernando found the try zone early and led the match 14-0 midway through the first half. Kern County under pressure mounted a defensive stand against five San Fernando forward phases to keep them within two trys of tying the game. After winning a 50m scrum, the Tuskers moved up pitch with multiple forward phases driving the ball inside the San Fernando 22m line. Taking scissor from Mark Eberhard, rookie Jeremy Ramirez, broke two tackles as he raced in for the Tuskers first try of the match. A tough conversion attempt from the touchline was missed, and Kern County was within nine.

Twelve minutes later the Tuskers, would score their second try of the match from a series of forward phases that were started by a blocked clearance kick and a knock on resulting in a scrum to Kern County at the San Fernando 10m line. Winning the scrum, Tuskers Jeremy Roberts received the ball and ran straight up the middle and over the try line. A successful conversion brought Kern County within two points, 12-14, with two minutes left in the first half.

San Fernando began the second half with a kick off but regained possession after wining a scrum against the head, then gaining territory, scored their third try of the match, and with a failed conversion attempt, increased their lead to seven points. Kern County countered quickly with a strike from Steve Rodriquez, as he put on the moves and hooked up with winger support, Travis Johnson, who ran up the touchline, made a cut back to the middle and scored between the posts. The conversion was good and the game was tied 19-19.

The rest of the second half belonged to San Fernando as they wore down the Tusker defense with multiple forward phases resulting in three additional trys. Down by fifteen, Kern County moved the ball down the pitch several times but could not get past a stingy San Fernando defense The final blow came at the 80 minute mark with one final try and a successful conversion, giving San Fernando a 41-19 victory and improving their record to 2-0, and placing them 3rd in the division.

“We need to be more fit and continue to learn as the Tuskers are very young. There is much talent on the pitch that will only get better as the season progresses”, Tuskers head coach, Tim Antongiovanni stated after the match.

Jeremy Ramirez received the Kern County Man of the Match Award and the Kern Wood Award for biggest hit, went to Kelly Naden. The Tuskers have a bye this week and will resume play on Saturday, January 31st against the NC Gurkhas, at Emerald Cove Park. Kick off is at 1PM.

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As a red and white sea of confetti dropped from the stadium rooftop in Glendale, Arizona, as “We are the Champions” rang through the public address system, and players gathered on the field to celebrate the first ever Super Bowl appearance in Cardinals franchise history. Arizona WR Anquan Boldin was busy making his way from the stadium and away from the celebration after a brief encounter with reporters.

Has Boldin lost his mind and sank to a new level surpassing T.O. for the NFL’s biggest whiner?

Has he missed the fact that as a career-long Arizona Cardinal he is going to his first Super bowl Championship game? Or the fact that his name is now mentioned in the same breath with other top receivers in the NFL today. And lets not forget that he has a future hall of fame quarterback throwing to him and giving his team a serious chance to win a Super bowl Championship only five years after his NFL debut. More deserving players spend an entire career without ever having a shot at a
championship.

Forget all that, because Anquan Boldin is angry that he wasn't thrown to enough in the NFC Championship game against the Eagles. And that teammate WR Larry Fitzgerald was the major beneficiary in the game with nine catches, for 152 yards.

Although the recent sideline shouting match with the offensive coordinator, Todd Haley, during the disivion championship against the Eagles was latest incident to bring attention to the Arizona wideout. The trouble started last March when the Cardinals rewarded Boldins teammate WR Larry Fitzgerald with a four-year, $40 million contract extension. Although Boldin has three years and $12 million left on his contract, the Cardinals refused to extend Boldins contract after a request for extension last summer. Since then Boldin has expressed that he no longer wishes to remain with the Cardinals. I guess Boldin is the Cardinal's new Rod Tidwell!! SHOW ME THE MONEY!!

What a buzz kill if ever there was one. Arizona needs to get this guy straightened out fast because they are playing in their first Super bowl apperance in 61 years. The team doesn’t need this kind of distraction, as locker room jealousy is toxic to a team. not to mention the fans in Arizona deserve better than this. Haven't they suffered enough? The Cardinals have to be united if they hope to hoist the Lombardi trophy in 2009. Boldin needs to swallow his pride and be a team player. At least for two more weeks, then maybe Jerry Jones will sign him to a fat contract.

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Rucks, a maul, a scrum, are terms that are about as foreign to Americans as afternoon tea and crumpets. For decades rugby in the United States has been thought of as a game of brutality only played by folks across the pond. Contrary to that belief, the sport of rugby has an international following of over 70 countries, with team USA as the defending 1924 Olympic champions. The basics of the sport are the same as those of American football with some variations; players tackle, run, pass, and make touchdowns through goal posts. The field, referred to as the pitch, is slightly larger, and the ball slightly fatter. The biggest difference between rugby and football is protective gear. Rugby players don't wear padding or helmets. While that may have contributed to the sports reputation for being rough, most rugby fans and players believe that particular rap is undeserved. Amongst those is Kern County Rugby Football Club president and player, Ahmed Baameur and player-coach Ray Salazar.

The Kern County Rugby Football Club, also known as the “Tuskers”, have competed with other teams from the Southern California Rugby Football Union each Saturday from January to April for nearly four decades. The clubs past accolades include five Southern California North Division II Championships, six Southern California North Division III Championships, and a 4th place National ranking in 2004 in their division. There are over 30 active players ranging in age from 19-44, and over 100 past members in the community providing support in many ways. Kern County not only has a reputation for being one of the hardest hitting clubs on the pitch, but also for giving back to the community that supports them by participating in National Arbor Day Tree planting ceremonies, holiday toy drives, donating blankets and coats, as well as volunteering time to the Bakersfield Homeless Center each winter.

Tuskers who will play their 2009 season in Division II, along with rivals San Luis Obispo and San Fernando Valley, will be looking to improve upon their 2008 season which concluded with only two wins and a 7th place finish. Struggling due to player turnover, and the providing of playing time to younger players made for a rough 2008 season for Kern County, losing some matches by less than seven points.

“We are at a crossroads for our club this season. We are bringing up lots of younger players, with 1/3 coming from our High School League”, says club president Ahmed Baaumer, “ these young players make up 50 % of our team now”. The Kern County High School Rugby program is under the non-profit umbrella of the Kern County Athletic Association and is for players between the ages of 14-18 years of age. Currently there are teams based out of BHS, Foothill and Highland High Schools, and are open to any high school student from Kern County, regardless of the high school they attend. These clubs compete against each other and high schools as far away as Orange and Ventura Counties. The club views these young “ruggers” as the future of Kern County and great ambassador’s of the sport as they continue to grow in participation.

The club has made the high school program their number one priority over the next several years in an effort to build depth within the organization and to maintain consistent competitiveness for a chance at a Division I promotion. To assist in this strategy, the Kern County Rugby Football Club has launched the KCRFC Rugby Scholarship Program. Beginning this season a limited number of scholarships will be made available to young rugby players that have difficulty fulfilling the financial obligations of belonging to the club.

“ A major goal is to educate the school system that rugby is a graceful game”, says Ray Salazar who has been playing rugby in Kern County for 13 years. The 44 year-old player-coach, and high school wrestling star gave up softball for rugby and has never looked back. “This is such a beautiful sport, this is something that these kids can do after high school. It combines all the elements of wrestling, soccer and football.”

Salazar and Baaumer both agreed that the clubs main focus for 2009 is to build depth by starting even more youngsters this season. “I want guys that are going to be here. We don’t care about superstars. Come to practice, work hard and you will get time on the field”, stated Salazar. He finished by saying, “My goal as a coach is that when we leave this game these kids will take over this club. Hopefully, we have coached them well and have taught them about respect and honor, and I think it will go along way on the field and in their life”

I asked club president Ahmed Baaumer what we might expect from the Tuskers this season. “ We have an excellent front 8, one of top 3 in our division, and we have solid backs. I think we should have no less than a .500 season. If we beat San Fernando and Back Bay on the road, we could make the playoffs”

The Tuskers opened the 2009 season with a 24-10 loss last week to host Pasadena. The first home game, vs. San Fernando, will be Saturday, January 17th, at Emerald Cove Park. Kick of is at 1PM.
 

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There were a few faces missing from the first stop on the 2009 PGA Tour besides Tiger, as the season kicked off last weekend with the Mercedes Benz Championship in Kapulua, Hawaii. One of those missing in action was 1990 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year, John Daley.

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Teixeira signs with the Yanks, K Rod goes to the Mets, and Manny Ramirez is out of the contention for Anaheim. This years off-season woes begin with last seasons trade of Casey Kotchman for Mark Teixeira, and now the Angles have neither. Instead the Angels are assigning first base duties to Kendry Morales, the 25-year-old who is a .245 hitter in 377 major league AB's. Morales will play first base when he's not DH-ing. This season’s 40-man roster is not shaping up to most Angels fans expectations.

Anaheim fans don’t fret yet. There is still a wide open market in the American League, and Angels' scouting director Eddie Bane can gaze on a bountiful bounty of draft choices this year. If the Angels hadn’t signed a free agent of their own, Bane would have had five picks in the first two rounds next June. But with the recent signing of free agent CP Brain Fuentes to a two-year, $17.5 million contract, the Angels cut their draft picks to four. Since Fuentes is a Type A free agent and was offered salary arbitration by Colorado, the Rockies will get the Angels’ first-round draft choice in 2009 plus a sandwich pick. The Angles will save $3 million a year in the closing pitching position. The debate will be whether the Halos greatest need was a third great reliever instead of one good cleanup hitter.

 Among some of the latest rumors is one that has the Angels eying an over abundance of free agent corner fielders in New York. Players that some feel the Yankees may be willing to deal. Among those speculated are Hideki Matsui, Nick Swisher and Xavier Nady. Personally I don’t see it. However, with the possibility of Garret Anderson departing soon, the Angles may want to pick up another corner fielder. The Angels have already dismissed Adam Dunn and don’t seem excited about Pat Burrell, Bobby Abreu or Milton Bradley. With Vlad Guerrero, the recently re-signed Juan Rivera, a healing Gary Matthews, Reggie Willits and maybe Chone Figgins, should Brandon Wood displace him from third. The Angels seem to be happy with their options to anchor centerfielder Torii Hunter.

Mike Napoli and Jeff Mathis continue to raise the debate behind the plate. In early November rumors spread the both Napoli and Mathis had been shopped to the Red Sox as a possible replacement should Boston catcher Jason Varitek demand too much money. But those rumors diminished. Napoli, who has big-time power (a home run every tenth at-bat in 2008), was the Angels’ fourth most valuable hitter in 2008. Mathis, on the other hand, was the Angels least valuable hitter, 40 runs worse than Napoli in just a bit more playing time. So why don’t the Angels trade him? An overabundance of tradable catchers, and Mathis is the best backup the Angels have. The Halos are wise in holding onto Mathis. Unless something of value comes along, the Angels should not give him away for nothing.

The Anaheim bullpen with the exception of the addition of Fuentes will remain the same as 2008. Starting pitchers John Lackey, Ervin Santana, Joe Saunders and Jered Weaver are firm starters for the franchise. There will possibly be a hole in the rotation as free agent Jon Garland is unlikely to return. Unless Kelvim Escobar, who is expected to return by summer, can fill the rotation, Dustin Moseley, Justin Speier and a few Angel’s prospects may be competing for the No. 5 spot.  Scot Shields and Jose Arredondo will be expected to operate in the set up pitching spots, and finally Darren Oliver returns after a brief free-agent foray as a solid left handed reliever.

This off-season signing period has been fast and furious so far. The big names, except for Manny Ramirez, went reasonably quick. The prices on the others seem to be dropping, and teams are playing a waiting game, most likely because of economic concerns. The Halos have options at all positions, although perhaps not the ones many of Anaheim fans desire.