The Main Event: The Champions League Final

The build up for the Champions League final has already started and its clear what the main story line of the show piece event is going to be: Messi vs. Ronaldo. The Daily Mail has hit it right on the head with the photo above. So lets get the hype machine rolling and hope for a great final.

Trophy is Hot Hot Hot!

Corinthians won the Paulista Championship over the weekend but something happened when they got the trophy it ended up on fire.

The Red Devils march on to Rome

For the second year in a row United are marching on to the European final. Ronnie is amazing and Park might be the most underrated player in the world and that showed in their 4-1 aggregate win over Arsenal. But I feel for Fletcher who will miss the final because of a red card. So the Only Time Will Tell Tailgating Crew will be marching back to Fado in Philly for the Final again.

More on the game later after I have a chance to watch it.

The Trap Door

Leeds, Charlton, Southampton, and Norwich have something in common. During the last decade all four of they have been in the greatest league in the world, the Barclays Premier League. Next year they might have something else in common, playing in League One, the third division of English football.

The lure of the Premier League is great but dropping out of the League can almost drive a team off a cliff. When teams go down they are saddled with large wage bills and have to do their best to trip them without the killing the product on the field and usually that is a dangerous balancing act.

Just take Charlton for example. A couple of years ago they were the model premier league team finishing safely out of the relegation zone, then something happened the fans at The Valley wanted more and that is when the slide started. First they parted ways with long time manager Alan Curbishley and then they tanked with the end of the season two years ago seeing them relegated to the Championship. Large wage bills and bad decisions saw them end this season relegated to League One.

At this rate Newcastle should watch out, going down could lead to the same slippery slope.

Sven has Swine Flu?

Top Picks Madden Style

The picks have been made, they have been introduced, and now its time to see what they look like in the new Madden Video Game. Here are a couple of the top picks:

Matt Stafford: Lions

Jason Smith: Rams

Aaron Curry: Seahawks

Tyson Jackson: Chiefs

More will be coming over the next couple of weeks.

OTWT Draft thoughts

The picks have been made and now teams get to see what they have selected. Here are some thoughts on the NFL Draft from the OTWT Scouting Department.
• Eagles fans always scream about them never drafting a receiver in the first round and this year they did with Mc9 and then got a guy to help take the toll off of Route 36.
• Another year another QB for the Jets and the New York Daily News sums up the trade with Cleveland and former head coach Eric Mangini: Thanks Eric.
• Remember Jet fans Sanchez only started approximately 16 games and that is not a good thing.
• The big winner in the draft was the state of New Jersey. Seven guys in the first round not bad for the Garden State.
• The Lions are in the process of building a nice little offense. Last year it was running back Kevin Smith to go with CJ now the lions add Stafford, Pettigrew and Derrick Williams. Maybe the Lions have figured this out.
• The Raiders should just pass on their first round pick. Hayward-Bay over Crabtree come on.
• Could Percy Harvin be the a new version of Randy White. A receiver who slid because of issues. Great boom bust player.
• The Bears got the best player during the draft process Jay Cutler.
• Glad the Bucs love Josh Freeman cause I think he might be one of the most over rated QB in the history of the draft.
• I think some NFL fans should watch some college football games before talking about their teams picks.

Squeaky Bum Time

The season is coming to an end and its squeaky bumb time.

OTWT: NFL Mock Draft

Hey its that time of the year again, where everyone is doing a mock draft and OTWT is no different. So direct from the OTWT Scouting Department here is our mock draft:

1. Detroit: Matt Stafford, QB, Uga.
2. St. Louis: Jason Smith, OT, Baylor
3. Kansas City: Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest
4. Seattle: Mark Sanchez, QB, USC
5. Cleveland:BJ Raji, DT, Boston College
6. Cincinnati: Eugene Monroe, OT, UVa
7. Oakland: Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech
8. Jacksonville: Jeremy Maclin, WR, Mizzou
9. Green Bay: Brian Orakpo, DE, Texas
10. San Francisco: Andre Smith, OT, Alabama
11. Buffalo: Michael Ohler, OT, Mississippi
12. Denver: Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU
13. Washington: Aaron Maybin, DE, Penn State
14. New Orleans: Darius Butler, CB, UConn
15. Houston: Rey Maualuga, LB, USC
16. San Diego: Chris Wells, RB, OSU
17. New York Jets: Josh Freeman, QB, Kansas State
18. Denver (from Chicago): Robert Ayers, DE, Tennessee
19. Tampa Bay: Brian Cushing, LB, USC
20. Detroit (from Dallas): Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Okie State
21. Philadelphia: Knwoshon Moreno,RB, UGA
22. Minnesota: Clay Matthews, LB, USC
23. New England: Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois
24. Atlanta: Malcolm Jenkins, CB,OSU
25. Miami: Darruis Heyward-Bay, WR, Maryland
26. Baltimore: Michael Johnson, DE, Georgia Tech
27. Indianapolis: Hakeem Nicks, WR, North Carolina
28. Buffalo: (from Philadelphia and Carolina): Everette Brown, DE, Florida State
29. New York Giants: Will Beatty, OT, UConn
30. Tennessee: Kenny Britt, WR, Rutgers
31. Arizona: LeSean McCoy, RB, Pitt
32. Pittsburgh: Larry English, DE, Northern Illinois

Will be back Sunday with a small wrap up of the draft proceedings.

All Hail the Ginger Ninja

Sure he is not the same player that he used to be but Paul Scholes has always been class. Last night he played in his 600th game for United. So from one devil to another thank you Paul. Scholes might be the best English player over the last 15 years and he did it all with class, never looking for attention. So again Thanks.

He scores goals, galore,
He scores goals!
He scores goals, galore,
He scores goals!
He scores goals, galore,
He scores goals!
Paul Scholes - he scores goals...

Alex the Great

Sometimes ESPN hits a home run and that is exactly what they did with the E:60 feature on Alex Ovechkin. The feature really showed what type of character Ovie really is. Rachel Nichols does an outstanding job on the feature. Truly a must watch.

Toronto loves their Bills, wait no they don't

On my recent trip to Toronto one thing became clear, nobody cares about the Buffalo Bills playing games at the Rogers Center. The only time we saw anything was when we were walking around the Roger Centers.

Logo on the wall of the Rogers Center, the excitement of seeing it was something to behold

The official Bill Toronto Series Team Store, it was more like a storage closet

The only thing in all of the bars that we were in that featured JP Losman's Potential beloved Buffalo Bills.

So to say that Toronto has Buffalo Bills fever would be not be telling the truth. They care more about World Junior Hockey stars. Look out Toronto, the Bills and Jets are coming late this year.

A Little Slice of History

For the last couple of years hockey has been on the back burner, but this year after the great World Junior Championships, my love for hockey was back. During our recent trip Toronto, Wifey and I found sometime to take a walk down to the Hockey Hall of Fame and in the end it was well worth it.

The original Stanley Cup

The current Stanley Cup, you can even walk up and touch it

Patrick Roy Canadians sweater as part of the 100th anniversary of the Habs exhibit.

Robinson, LaFluer, Savard do you really need to say anymore.

Super Mario, Simply the Best. You guys have the Great One, I'll take Super Mario any day of the week.

The next Syd the Kid, John Tavares. His All Star Jersey

The Memorial Cup exhibit, Junior Hockey's version of the Final Four.

World Hockey Championship's Exhibit

There are great exhibits all of the hall, but standing next to the Stanley Cup is something that I will never forget. Here are more photos of my trip to the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Remembering Joe and Mitch

1993 is more then 15 years ago, but at the Rogers Center in Toronto it seems like just yesterday that Joe Carter took Mitch Williams deep into the night to win the World Series. Last week during my trip to Toronto I took a walk around the Blue Jays Shop at the Rogers Center and the moment is still all over the place.

A pillar at the shop features newspapers from that day

An action figure of the moment that Carter made Phillies fans cry. I thought about getting one for my friends over at Sox and Phils, but thought better of it.

Its one of the iconic World Series moments and in Toronto and Philly they are never going to forget it for very different reasons.

The Dream Dies

At some point Sir Alex was going to have to make a decision on what was going to be more important defending the League and Champions League title or trying to add the FA Cup to the cabinet.

Today we found that answer out as Fergie did what he had to do and picked a youth side to face Everton in the FA Cup semifinal, which they loss on penalties.

Rooney, Ronnie, and Carrick were all left at home after getting the job done earlier in the week at Porto. Fergie had to rest them at some point and he was not going to do it in a league game with Liverpool breathing down their necks. So this was the perfect chance. Now the stars will have a full week off before playing Portsmouth on Wednesday.

I know the English press is going to kill him for playing the kids but he had to and its not like the kids were poor at times the kids gave the Everton first team all they can handle. So while the dream of winning everything is over , if they retain the two biggest trophies in the sport, his move to play the kids will be hailed as the right one.

Professional Tailgating: Spring Game Time

A college football spring game is the perfect time to fire up the grill and welcome back tailgating. So on Saturday the Only Time Will Tell Tailgating Crew made the trip up to the State University of the New Jersey for their annual Scarlet and White game.

The newest in Rutgers footwear

People were arriving early for the annual right of spring

It's hard to get any look at the team before the gameConstruction crews are going to work to complete the new sections of stands before the start of the season.

Rutgers corner Brandon Jones picks a D.C. Jefferson pass off during the game

Rutgers Spring Game

The Only Time Will Tell Tailgating Crew spend the day at the annual scarlet and white game. I think Rutgers found their starting quarterback and a new star is born on defense. Photos and videos to come tomorrow.

The King of Toronto

Hockey is king in Canada and during my recent trip to Canada, the Toronto Sun newspaper showed how big the game is. On Wednesday the Sun decided to break rank with other major newspapers in the country and not put the death of a local solider in Iraq on its front page.

So what was the big story that The Sun led with, sure it had to be something bigger then a solider death. To some it might be, The Sun lead with Toronto Maples Leaf's GM Brian Burke's comment about trading up in the June NHL entry draft to get John Tavares. Some scouts compare Tavares to Syd the Kid in Pittsburgh and getting the junior sensation would make the Leafs matter again. But come on putting this on the front of a major daily is something that the staff of The Sun should be ashamed of, this shows how much the game means to the people of the Canada and the city of Toronto.

Managers Looking For Work

The boy looks at how the economy has affected out of work managers, good piece of journalism.

Wiki Wayne

The boy explains the FA Cup, wikipedia style.

Sven has lost it

Sven weirds everyone out and Wayne always makes sure that he keeps the right amount of injury time. The muppets, as my friends at Sox and Phils, call them return to celebrate Easter.

Professional Tailgating: Rings Rings Rings

The game was dramatic, but all of the fans at Citizens Bank Ballpark Wednesday showed up for one reason to see the World Champions get their jewelry.

The Rings arrive in the stadium


The starting lineup of the Game 5 of the World Series is given their rings. Gotta love the way the fans treated Pat Burrell.

Professional Tailgating: Bling Bling edition

Instead of working on Wednesday, Only Time Will Tell decided to head over to Citizens Bank Park for the Phillies Ring Day. To some getting their ring is the first time that a player can really say that they are World Champions and Phillies showed that rally from seven runs down to win 12-11.

Former Red Sox's World Series Hero Derek Lowe throws between starts

Japanese Media, who is following Braves picture Kenshin Kawakami, hangout around the bullpen before the game.

Harry K throws out the first pitch before the rings are given out

The Phillies World Series rings arrive.

Brad Lidge wraps up the Phillies first win of the season.

Gimme Five

For the beloved Heels, the 2009 NCAA Tournament was a business trip. Get to Detroit and get the job done. That is what they did a dominating performance against Nova and then beating Michigan State in their own back yard for the title.

Here is how some of the papers on Tobacco Road cover the crowning of the new kings of college basketball.

The Charlotte Observer

News and Record

The News and Observer

Winston Salem Journal

The Sanford Herald

Sven is looking for a job

Fresh off getting the sack from Mexico, It is looking for a new job.

Hello Cal!!!

Moving on is hard on everyone and yesterday Memphis fans and Kentucky fans felt both sides as Kentucky hired coach Cal from Memphis to lead the Kentucky Nation. Here is how area newspapers covered the events.

The Commercial Appeal (Memphis)

The Courier-Journal (Louisville)

The Lexington Herald Leader (Lexington)

Only the Nats

Usually when a team gets a #1 overall draft pick, its hope for the future, but leave it to the Nationals to almost take all of that hope away. Last year was tough on Nationals fan, a team the lacked the talent to win at the Triple A level, could not compete at the major league level.

This year #1 overall player is San Diego State Pitcher Stephen Strasburg. Strasburg has been billed as the best pitchers to come out of college in a long time. Check out Strasburg striking out 23 batters vs. Utah. The fastball is amazing and he has a hammer to die for.

Ok so this should be a done deal, the Nats draft him, sign him and then wait for about 18 months and he will ready to pitch at the major league level. But this is the Nationals and its already starting to look like the Nats will never call Strasburg name during the draft later this year.

Reports have come out that Strasburg wants a $50 million contract when he is drafted. Yes that is right $50 million. How are the Nationals going to pay that much for a pitcher, hey last years pick Aaron Crow, a pitcher from Mizzou, never signed with the Nats because of an issue with his signing bonus. So I guess I better not go out and order a Strasburg National Jersey. So instead of having a once in a lifetime pitching prospect, we will draft Grant Green, a shortstop. Wow this is something to look forward to.

Divers are Wankers.

Divers are Wankers and that sums it up.

Bye Bye Billy

Two years ago Billy G was hired to lead Kentucky back to the top of college basketball, two years later it has all fallen apart. Billy G was fired as leader of the Wildcat nation, leading to one of the nations best programs looking for another head coach. Billy G was doomed after the cats did not make the tournament this year and was also doomed by his relationship with boosters and fans. So the rumor mill in the commonwealth is running wild. Here is how the Lexington's home town newspaper covered the events of yesterday.

Lexington Herald Leader

People are going to talk about different names for the jobs, but I'm going to go with Travis Ford. Ford, who is currently the head coach at Oklahoma State was part of the Unforgettables that lost to Duke in the Regional final almost 15 years ago.

The Kop's Favorite Conservative.

For the last year or so, people around Washington D.C. have been making MSNBC's Morning Joe they show they turn to in the morning. Former Congressman Joe Scarborough and Mika have been filling the country in on what is going on in the nation's capital, but something has changed over the last couple of months.

Scarborough has started to show his true colors, that he is a red. I know what people are thinking, we know that he is a conservative, so that is really not that big a deal. But Joe is a true Red, as in a supporter of Liverpool. Go back a couple of weeks after Liverpool defeated Real Madrid and Manchester United, the former Congressman from Florida started talking to Geoff Cutmore about the European markets opening and then starts talking about how Liverpool might have had the best week in English soccer history, but that was only the start.

Just take a look at Joe's Twitter page and the updates that came through last week, when Liverpool cut United's lead to one point:

• Talk soon. Go Liverpool.10:13 AM Mar 22nd from web
• Off to the village with Susan to see Liverpool take down Aston Villa and move within a point of Man U. Go Reds!!!10:03 AM Mar 22nd from web
• Liverpool takes on Aston Villa at noon, as the Reds continue their run against a sinking Man U club. Torres set to break LFC scoring record.7:13 AM Mar 22nd from web
• The dream lives! Man U is humbled by Fulham, while Chelsea's title hopes go up in flames at home against Tottenham. Go Reds!1:33 PM Mar 21st from web

As a United fan its hard for me to sit there every morning and watch this, but its good to see the game getting this type of support over here. Just remember Joe, even though we are on the same of the fence politically, I hope this season ends the way the last 19 have for Liverpool with no league title, besides that I will keep watching Morning Joe.

Champions League Predictions

I know the draw came out almost a week ago, but things have been busy around the OTWT home offices. Here are my predictions for the quarterfinals of the Champions League, which should be tasty. The ties will be played April 7/8 and the second legs will be played 14/15.

• Villarreal - Arsenal: Arsenal, they seem to be moving forward and could be a team that shocks the world in Rome.
• Manchester United - Porto: About five years ago this was the tie that introduced England to the Special One and changed English football forever, I think United will have an easy time with this one going through 3-0 on agg.
• Liverpool - Chelsea: Here we go again, I have this feeling that this year the games will be very different then they have been. I go with Liverpool on Pens.
• Barcelona - Bayern: The tie of the round, this has goals written all over it. I have this feeling that its going to be a United Barca final in Rome, so that would have to mean that Barca go through in an exciting tie.
  

Another year, another Prospects Handbook

Every early March, I head out to the book store in search of one item, the Baseball American Prospects Handbook. The book gives player development fans a little of the next great thing that is coming through the farm system. Sometimes they are correct and other they are not.

2002:Josh Beckett

2003:Mark Teixeria

2004: Joe Mauer

2005: Delmon Young
2006:Jeremy Hermida

2007: Phil Hughes

2008: Jay Bruce

2009:Matt Wieters

Reliving the Tournament Jordan Brand Style

Some NCAA Tournaments moments are great for some and painful for others, Nike's Jordan Brand show great moments from the painful side and boy are some of them funny.

Birthday


Discrimination


Unforgiven


Family