Baily's Sports & Stuff

The bases were loaded for Florida in the ninth inning. No one out, three runners on. So Scott Wingo stepped up. In the tenth, Robert Berry and Jake Williams stepped up. In the 11th, Christian Walker stepped up. But the real support was provided by Florida. Two Gator errors in the top of the tenth got Walker from first to home on a steal as South Carolina beat Florida 2-1 in eleven innings. Florida had three chances in the ninth and tenth, but they blew it. In the ninth, the bases were loaded with no one out. A grounder was hit to second baseman Scott Wingo, who made a diving stop, then threw to home to get the runner out. Wingo had saved the game, and he would save it again. And it happened with the next batter. Wing fielded another grounder, threw home for one out, then Robert Berry threw to first for the third out of the inning. However, in the tenth, Florida threatened again. With a runner on second and two outs, Mike Zunino hit a single into left, where left fielder Jake ...

This years draft features players who have great basketball IQ's, players who can shoot, players who can rebound, players who can play defense, and much more. But only one team can possess a player, and only a few teams make picks that pay off. Here, we will predict what picks will pay off and what picks will not. Will college stars like Kemba Walker and Jimmer Fredette star in the NBA? Will international players such as Enes Kanter and Bismack Biyombo succeed in America? Let's find out. Pick that will pay off most: Kemba Walker to Charlotte Walker dominated college basketball and led Connecticut to a championship, and he is ready to star with the Bobcats as well. Kemba is athletic, he can shoot, he can drive, and he can play defense. Every team that picked before the Bobcats will regret not picking the dynamic Walker, who has the tools to change the NBA and bring basketball back to Charlotte. Pick that will not pay off: Kyrie Irving to the Cavaliers Everyone knew Cleve...

The College World Series may not receive as much hype as the MLB World Series, but it has lots of action and excitement you don't get from pro baseball. This years tourney has been no exception. Let's take a look at the action. Teams from defending champion South Carolina to Cinderella story California have been welcomed into the tourney, as the Gamecocks cruised through the tournament and Cal's only bump was Baylor, who was taken down by Cal's GW RBI single in the final game of the series. Although only five teams still remain, just about every team has fought through challenges to get as far as they have. North Carolina, Texas, and Texas A&M were eliminated during the CWS, but each team got farther than they expected. If we're talking about teams getting farther than they expected, California is the top candidate. The Bears almost went into baseball extinction, and now they are in the Top 5 of the College World Series. In the first round, the Bears pla...

OK, so we're about midway through the major league baseball season, and instead of the Pirates, Orioles, Indians, Mariners, and Nationals being the teams you don't want to be a part of, it's the Cubs, Twins, and Astros struggling, Cleveland atop the AL Central, and the Nats following an eight-game win streak. Sure. The Red Sox, Yankees, and Phillies are the three top teams in the majors. True, but that doesn't mean no surprises have been taken on this year. Michael Morse's 13 homers, 43 RBI's, and .309 batting average, plus a huge streak where he has dominated, have been instrumental for the Nationals. What about Josh Tomlin's eight wins for Cleveland and Jake Arrieta's eight for Baltimore? Brandon League tied for the MLB lead in saves? Is that what you expected out of last years bottom five? How about Seattle being only a half game back in the AL West, where the Rangers are? This year has been full of surprises, from Francisco Liriano and Justin V...

Boston trailed 2-0 in the first round of the playoffs. Montreal had two straight home games, where they could wrap up the series with two wins. Instead, Boston came through in the first round. And the second. Add the third. Finally, the Stanley Cup. Tim Thomas is the reason. Thomas turned away 37 shots, Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand scored two goals apeice as the Boston Bruins captured their first Stanley Cup title in 20 years. This was Boston's third Game 7 this postseason. Early on, Vancouver and their fans were ready for their second Game 7 of the postseason. It was 0-0 and both teams were playing evenly. However, it wouldn't be the home team with the first strike. Brad Marchand got the puck on a faceoff, and after skating around with it for awhile, he passed it to Bergeron, who fired a one-timer past Luongo for the first goal of the game. The momentum was on Boston's side. The Canucks didn't give up another goal in the first, but they also didn...

When the Giants lead a game 5-0, you can never expect it to be over. The Giants motto is torture, and if it worked last year, it is here to stay. Brian Wilson likes it. Before finishing off the game, the bearded closer allowed two baserunners, until he got Stephen Drew looking to end the game. Pablo Sandoval singled in a run in his first at-bat back. The Giants dominated early, as Sandoval's single on an inside fastball and Matt Cain's safety squeeze knocked in the first two runs. Andres Torres and Cody Ross, who doubled on a slider, scored the first two runs. If you though Ross stepped up in the fourth, he really made an impact in the fifth, as his two-run double on Josh Collmenter's fastball gave the Giants a 4-0 lead. Ross scored when Brandon Crawford got into a pickle in between first and second, and Ross sprinted home from third. In the fifth and sixth, Cain, who had pitched amazingly well, struggled, as he gave up a sacrifice fly and a three-run homer. Howev...

Dirk Nowitzki was one of twelve from the field in the first half of the biggest game of his career. No one else was totaling big numbers...except Jason Terry, who was having the game of his career. Yet the Mavs were winning. In the second half, Jason Terry was off. Just like 1st half Dirk, he wasn't making any of his shots. Who would step up for him? Second half Dirk. That teamwork would pay off. Jason Terry scored 27, Dirk tallied 21, and the Mavericks won the franchise's first NBA title ever with a 105-95 win over the Miami Heat, who was led by 21 from LeBron James. The Miami Heat were expected to dominate Dirk and the Mavs with their big three of Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, and Chris Bosh, but LeBron and Chris Bosh struggled, and Dwyane Wade was on at times and off at times. Today was one of his off days. Wade scored just 17 points and turned the ball over five times, while LeBron turned the ball over six times. The Mavs had a lot of turnovers, but something the Mav...

When the Vancouver Canucks give up a series lead, you don't usually need to worry. But when your star goalie gives up 12 goals in less than two games, that's a problem. Would Luongo return? No need to worry. Luongo stopped 31 goals, Maxim Lappiere scored his second goal of the postseason and the Vancouver Canucks held off the Boston Bruins to take a 3-2 lead in the Stanley Cup Finals. The game was a goaltending duel for the first 44:34, just like Game 1, but Lappiere's shot from just past the left faceoff circle put the Canucks on the board. Luongo did the rest, and Vancouver won 1-0. Although Boston had more shots on goal (again), Tim Thomas was the one making the big saves. Whenever Vancouver had a scoring chance, it always seemed like a good one. However, one of the shots he didn't save was Thomas' fault. Lappiere put the shot right at Thomas, but Thomas couldn't handle the puck, and the puck dropped cleanly into the net, as fans started going crazy...

Any time Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, and the Miami Heat lead a series 3-1 with two home games remaining, you can just turn off your T.V. and forget about the series, because no surprises are coming. The Mavericks prevented that scenario. Dirk rebounded from a fever to score 21 points, including a huge layup with 14 seconds left, as Dallas fended off Miami 86-83 to tie the Finals at three. Game 5 is Thursday night in Dallas. Two of the three puzzle pieces were put in place for Miami, but by the way LeBron played, you would think he had a fever. BronBron scored eight points, shot three of eleven from the field, and made two of four free throws. Any time LeBron is that miserable, you'd think even the Heat had no chance. On this occasion, however, Dirk scored just 13 more than James, and he led the team in scoring. Jason Kidd had 0 points and three assists. Miami led for most of the fourth quarter, but with just over five minutes left, Jason Terry put in a fastbrea...

When it's 88-73 in Miami, the Heat are winning, and about six minutes remain on the clock, you know the game is over. Especially when all the momentum is on their side. All of those were factors. And yet Dallas won. Dirk Nowitzki's layup with 3.6 seconds left gave the Mavericks a 95-93 win over the Heat to regain home-court for the Mavericks. Three wins at home in the next three games would give the Mavericks the NBA Finals. Nowitzki scored the last nine for Dallas, a jumper, a left-handed layup, a three, and the game-winning bucket. However, Dirk finished with only 24, while D-Wade racked up 36 for Miami. Down 90-81, Dirk was in a double-team, so he kicked it out to Jason Kidd, who nailed a three. On the next Maverick possession, Jason Terry stepped up and nailed a jumper, and Dirk followed with a j of his own. All the momentum was on Dallas's side, but Miami still had the home crowd. After two offensive rebounds on a long possession, Dallas finally got the bal...

Tim Thomas needed to be Superman for the Boston Bruins. He knew how the Canucks always get so many great opportunities. And, with this knowledge, he turned back 33 shots. He also let in one. Raffi Torres scored with 18.5 seconds left to hand the Canucks a 1-0 series lead in the Stanley Cup Finals. Jannik Hansen and Ryan Kesler assisted on the goal, making huge plays to put Boston away. Roberto Luongo turned away 36 shots, including nine on a power play, as the Canucks used the power of their star goalie to gain another victory. Boston out-shot Vancouver, but couldn't get the puck in the back of the net. On the lone goal of the game, Ryan Kesler won a fight for the puck, passed it to Jannik Hansen on the right wing, and Hansen passed to Torres, who was coming down the left side. Torres chopped one just over the stick of Tim Thomas, and the Canucks won the game. The Bruins, who are 7-3 at home this postseason, had a chance to take home ice, win three more and capture th...

Defense has been a huge reason why the Miami Heat have been able to make it this far. They did a good job of containing Derrick Rose, the Big Three+One of Boston, and the 76ers. They have started on Dirk and the Mavs. By limiting Dallas to just 84 points, Miami took Game 1 of the NBA Finals 92-84 and a 1-0 series lead. Dwyane Wade scored 22, LeBron scored 24, and Chris Bosh scored 19. Wade made huge plays down the stretch, pulling up and knocking down jumpers when he got enough space. Dallas had trouble pressuring the Heat, and Miami made them pay. Dallas was on top in the third quarter, but LeBron and the Heat stole it when D-Wade started making huge plays. Miami was dominating down the stretch, they added the crowd to the game, and Game 1 belonged to Miami. Dirk Nowitzki scored 27 for Dallas, but he missed many shots that he normally makes or should have made. Nowitzki went 7-18 from the field, and 12-12 from the free throw line, but he couldn't make enough big sho...