It’s The Gift That Keeps On Ticking And Giving….Well It Is If You’re A Long Time Favre Fan

As much as I’m an avid NFL fan. I take little of note in the ongoing saga that is Brett Favre. He’s now become a one man soap opera that essentially has become the bread and butter for the likes of ESPN and their round the clock reporting on the latest details concerning the player.

Vikings' season ticket holders listen to a panel of Vikings' personnel discuss the upcoming season at a press conference convened in Minneapolis , Minnesota. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/Craig Warren......

And it’d appear that for all sense and purpose the Minnesota Vikings are quite prepared to hitch their reins to the aged veteran. It speaks little of their faith in the team’s incumbent quarterback in Tavaris Jackson. But then again that too is understandable. The player has struggled to find his footing within the league. Albeit that he’s now in his third year as a player but has yet to come into his own as a starter.

And for coach Brad Childress this may well be seen as a last ditch attempt by the franchise to actually make something of themselves. Widely considered to be amongst the favorites to make it to the NFC championship game last season. The Vikings having clinched the NFC North posting a 10-6 record, merely showed that they weren’t up to the task of being legitimately considered a postseason contender. Their postseason ambitions came to an abrupt end against the wild card berthed Philadelphia Eagles, with an unspiring performance in a 26-14 loss at the Hubert H Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota. That being said the way that the Eagles perfomed on the day. One seriously doubts that the Vkings had what it’d take to be their conferenc rivals. They played some inspired football and the Eagles’ Brian Westbrook had a career day against a Vikings’ defense that was found wanting.

Vikings' owner Zygi Wilf(left) seated alongside team coach Brad Childress with VP of Player Personnel Rick Spielman and player Chad Greenway take questions from the Vikings' season ticket holders . One of the main topics of discussion was the possible acquisition of retired quarterback Brett Favre. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ Michael Washington ..............

This upcoming season the team had what they believe to be a saitisfactory draft in terms of their picks. And with them having picks in the first , second , third, fifth and seventh rounds. They made sure that they bolstered their roster with the players they felt could contribute the team . Their most prized acquisition may well have been that of Florida Gator wideout Percy Harvin. A player with explosive presence and play. Albeit that along with the player there comes questions as to his attitude and other off the field issues. But all that may well be overlooked if he can replicate any of the form shown as when he played on the national championship winning team. Especially if he’s able to assist the Vikings’ versatile running back Adrian Peterson.

Vikings' quarterback Tavaris Jackson (7) watches as fellow quartetrback and temmate Sage Rosensels (2) throws a pass during mini camp at the team's training facility in Eden Prairie , Minn,. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ Aaron Breslin .......................

But with each passing moment that the clock ticks away. The more we’re now being held hostage by the antics of Favre. Over the past few seasons. It has been his custom that as the season ends , he makes that farewell announcement that he’s about to leave the game. Unfortunately for us there has yet to be a finality to this all. Last season it was no different as he exited stage left having left the New York Jets. There too we saw all of the traits that’ve become customary as to his play. There were moments of brilliance but then more often than not there were moments which indicated that his best days are now long gone and far behind him. His was the tendency wherein if all else failed . He’d resort to becoming the gunslinger with the errant arm. And it led to his and the Jets’ demise with the preponderance of turnovers and the sheer ineptitude shown by the team under Eric Mangini’s guidance.

Nadal Forced to Withdraw From Wimbledon, Federer Jumps For Joy

Roger Federer may be the greatest tennis player of all-time, but there is one player that he has struggled with over the past year: Rafael Nadal.

Nadal defeated Federer in straight sets at the French Open in 2008, and also defeated him in last year’s epic five-setter at Wimbledon. After that slam, Nadal took over the world’s No.1 ranking.

Nadal has played very well ever since becoming No.1, while Federer has had both success and struggles. Federer won the U.S. Open, defeating Andy Murray, but lost to Nadal at the Australian Open in another five-set thriller. The real test for Federer, everyone assumed, would come at the French Open, where he has never defeated Nadal. It was also the one slam that had alluded Federer. Luckily for Roger, Nadal lost in the second round of the tournament to Robin Soderling, and Federer was finally able to break through and win his first French Open title and also tie Pete Sampras for the most career slam titles at 14.

The first chance for Federer to break Sampras’ record begins this week, as Wimbledon gets underway Monday. Federer is arguably the best grass-court player ever, so it seems fitting that he has the opportunity to break the record on his favorite surface. Most everyone assumed that Federer would have to go through Nadal to get No.15, but once again, the world’s No.2 has caught a lucky break.

Nadal announced today that he has withdrawn from Wimbledon due to tendinitis in both his knees. From SportsIllustrated.com:

“When I start a tournament like Wimbledon, it is to try to win,” the No. 1-ranked Nadal said, “and my feeling right now is I’m not ready to play to win.”

Nadal called it “one of the toughest decisions of my career,” but he also added: “There’s no option. I don’t feel ready to compete 100 percent for two weeks.”

Nadal simply was not ready to return to the court, as evidenced by his exhibition loss to Leyton Hewitt. With this stunning news, the door suddenly is wide open for Federer. Nadal would have provided another extremely tough match for Federer. And though he is much too classy of a person to say something rude about Nadal’s injury (he called the news “sad”), he likely is a bit relieved that he doesn’t have to face the Spaniard in order to get the record.

Federer’s first round match is against Yen-Hsun Lu, which, let’s face it, should be a walk in the park for a player of Federer’s caliber. Federer’s section of the draw is very easy, as the next-highest ranked player is Fernando Verdasco, who is No.7.

On grass, and with Nadal absent, Federer should make history at Wimbledon.

USC Hires Kevin O’Neill

No college basketball program is currently facing as much turmoil as the University of Southern California. Over the course of the past year, there have been numerous allegations against former star guard O.J. Mayo and former head coach Tim Floyd. Those allegations led to an NCAA investigation that is still ongoing. With all of the possible sanctions facing USC, players and recruits have bailed, as the Trojans are without a signed recruit for 2009.

Floyd “resigned” a few weeks ago, and the Trojans were put in a tough situation, as the chances of immediate success look glim and all of the very good coaches have already been grabbed by programs. They went after Pittsburgh coach Jamie Dixon, who grew up in Southern California, but he declined the Trojans, twice. Lon Kruger, Reggie Theus and Jeff Van Gundy also turned down the position.

Things got a bit brighter for the troubled program today, as the Trojans announced that former Arizona interim head coach Kevin O’Neill has been hired t0 replace Floyd. From SportsIllustrated.com:

“We’re thrilled to have Kevin O’Neill as our men’s basketball coach,” athletic director Mike Garrett said in a statement. “I love his coaching philosophy and principles: he’s a no-nonsense coach who is very detail-oriented and prepares his teams well. He stresses defense and I’ve always believed that defense wins championships.”

“His 30 years of experience at the college and professional levels has prepared him well for this opportunity,” Garrett said.

For all of the trouble surrounding the Trojans, O’Neill is not a bad hire. He is a solid basketball who should be able to bring the Trojans back to some level of respectability. In his one year at Arizona, O’Neill went 19-15 and led the Wildcats to the NCAA tournament. Of course, the Wildcats and top-10 NBA draft pick Jerryd Bayless, as well as projected lottery-picks Chase Budinger and Jordan Hill. O’Neill will not have that kind of talent at USC this upcoming season. Four top players in DeMar Deroazan, Taj Gibson, Daniel Hackett and Marcus Johnson bailed. Hackett was originally expected to stay, as was Johnson, who received a rare waiver from the NCAA to become eligible to play a sixth year. Had Hackett and Johnson stayed, things would look much better for USC.

The key for the Trojans will be how hard the NCAA comes down on the program. If the Trojans can avoid the “institutional control” charge, they shouldn’t take too hard of a hit. But if the NCAA does decide that the Trojans have a lack of “institutional control,” scholarships could be taken away, games could be forfeited and they could also lose the right to broadcast games on television.

O’Neill immediately needs to get to work on recruiting in the Southern California area and see if he can convince the recruits who were allowed to back off their letter of intents to resign. But most all, he needs to run a clean program.