Front Row.com Blog

 Dallas Cowboys – The Cowboys are returning a strong team that went 13-3. key additions are running back Felix Jones and free agent Pacman Jones if he plays. If not for an upset by the Giants on their home turf this is the best team in the NFC last year.

New York Giants – Eli Manning has answered his critics. Avoiding the post Super Bowl plunge and replacing Straham are their biggest challenges. Still, nobody is counting on a replay of last year and that figures in the Giants favor.

Philadelphia Eagles – McNabb, McNabb, McNabb. When the Eagles get this guy more than one quality receiver they’ll get dividends. Should McNabb struggle expect Kolb to play quickly. Trash talk between the defense and offense could also derail an Eagles playoff run. It’s up to Reid to make this team jell.

Washington Redskins -  Dan snyder kept his wallet under wraps this year. 10 draft picks means the Redskins plan on building a team the old fashioned way this time. With a new head coach in Jim Zorn the Redskins are the Wild Card in the NFC East but playing in the toughest division in the NFC makes them long shots.

Tags: sports by edrouant
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 It’s been a glorious three weeks. the month of June has seen me return from Iraq on R & R, get a daughter married, and celebrate two of my kid’s birthdays. It’s also reaffirmed my marriage and made me appreciate my family all the more.

 I know it’s been tough for you not to be able to read my witty outlay so let’s see what else has happened. In the NBA the Boston Celtics overcame some sloppy play to win a title that’s eluded them for many years. I have to say, the rest of the country hates Maine. First the Patriots, now they’ve got a Celtics team that could go on a streak.

Wimbledon is in full swing with the Williams sisters knocking them off right and left. Will there be a Serena – Venus matchup in the finals? On the men’s side Roger Federer is still in good shape. The U.S. now sucks in tennis. My feeling is that $4 a gallon gas is preventing us from getting to the courts for practice. Just a thought.

A peek at NASCAR shows Kyle Busch still kicking butt. Dale earnhardt fans finally got a victory. July looks like a great month with the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard and the Pennsylvania 500 on the list.

The MLB seeks the answer to this question: Can the New York Yankees make a run at it and force a Yankees – Red Sox classically historical rivalry ridden showdown at the end of the year. Last I looked the Yankees were at the bottom of the division. Now they’ve moved up a couple notches and are within striking distance. See what spending 150 gazillion dollars a year will get you?

Next Up: We begin our annual review of the NFL where Pacman wants a name change, Al Davis spends and spends and spends, the New England Patriots get a cupcake schedule, and Marshawn Lynch didn’t know he hit anyone. Seriously. That’s what his lawyer told him to say.  Also, Javon Walker is now the official Oakland Raiders Las Vegas tour guide and NFL commissioner Roger Goodel has floated the idea that maybe, just maybe, rookies are paid too much.   

Tags: sports by edrouant
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 All you Dale Earnhardt Jr. fans can break out the champagne. Earnhardt rode the fumes in his gas tank to a victory at the Life Lock 400. It was Jr.’s first win over 75 races and certainly gave his fans a well deserved reason to pop the cork. What made it even sweeter for Earnhardt lovers was watching Kyle Busch finish out of the Top 10.

Next up for NASCAR: Toyota Save Mart 350 at Infineon 

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 Awhile back I went through a whole scenario with Tiger Woods coming back from knee surgery to win at the U.S. Open. Another wild guess of mine may come through. Visibly ailing, Woods limped through enough holes to make a birdie on the 18th and force a playoff with Rocco Mediate. Mediate has never won a major championship and now faces the daunting task of beating the best player ever. The fact that Tiger Woods, crippled and hurting, could end up winning the U.S. Open in his comeback, only shows how far ahead he is of the rest of the pack.

Tags: sports by edrouant
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 Somwhere along the line the Los Angeles Lakers decided they wanted to play basketball. Facing elimination by the Boston Celtics, Los Angeles rebounded to push the series to 3-2 and send things back to Boston. But it wasn’t easy. The Lakers have consistnently blown leads in this series and they did it again last night. Now they’ll have to do the toughest thing in basketball: Win back to back contests on the roas when all the chips are on the table. While the Celtics may have lost an opportunity to seal the deal on the road, they have a definite advantage it will take almost a miracle for the Lakers to overcome.

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 After falling behind 2-0 in the NBA Finals, the Los Angeles Lakers came back to claim a win in Los Angeles at the Staples Center. At least. Kobe Bryant came back. The rest of the team seemed to be in some kind of a funk, forcing Bryant to put on one of his one man shows by scoring 36 points against the Celtics. If the Lakers want to claim their umpteenth championship, they’ll need a complete team effort, not a scoring frenzy from Kobe Bryant, something you can’t ask for every night.

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 As I write this, the sandstorm outside is unreal. I’m not kidding folks, we’re talking 35-40 mile an hour winds and sand out the yazoo, blasting away at everything. No sane person should be here of his own free will. Yet here I am.

In Boston they’re already counting their chickens after a spectacular win in the first game of the NBA Finals. I must admit I had little faith in the Boston Celtics after the Atlanta Hawks pushed them to the limit in the first round. I’ve been wrong before and I’ll be wrong again.

Meanwhile the oddsmakers are going nuts over Big Brown and Belmont. Will a cracked hoof nip the chances at a Triple Crown? NO, says the guy spackling a new hoof on to Big Brown. A little acrylic, a little fiberglass, and Big Brown is good to go.

Meanwhile, Barry Bonds, the home run king of the MLB, says for the millionth time that he is not guilty of taking steroids. Say it ain’t so, Barry.

Tags: sports by edrouant
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 Tiger Woods may not need golf lessons but he sure needs lessons in the art of dancing. Dancing around answering questions that is. In a recent interview Tiger allegedly said that nobody watches NHL Hockey anymore. Tell that to the fans with Stanley Cup tickets. Right now the Detroit Red Wings are facing a determined Pittsburgh Penguins team that captured the attention of hockey fans everywhere. Bad timing on that comment Tiger. maybe a special appearance on Dancing With the Stars is called for when that knee is strong enough to take the punishment. Learn to dance.

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 Seems like almost everybody hates Kyle Busch. He’s given them another reason to hate him, winning the Best Buy 400 yesterday, his 4th NASCAR win of the year. The victory puts him about 140 points ahead of the #2 Jeff Burton. The sad thing is that Busch has been on a hot streak lately and fans that don’t like him will more than likely have to suffer through several more victories before it’s all over with.

Next Up: Pocono 500, Lifelock 400, Toyota Save Mart 350

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 While I’m stuck over here in the burning desert sands of Iraq, you folks back in the states are fortunate enough to have a slew of great concert tickets available over the next few months. In my seething envy I’m going to list some of them :

Coldplay Concert Tickets - This stunningly good British foursome are on the road in support of their latest album. the first three were killers and this one doesn’t dissapoint in the least.

Jimmy Buffet Concert Tickets – Parrotheads Unite! Bffet is almost continually on tour and his concerts are some of the best laid back outings you’ll ever find

REM Concert Tickets – Of all the bands I’ve never had the chance to see, REM s the one I regret the most

Kenny Chesney Concert Tickets – I’ve never been a fan of country music but Chesney has something I really like. Also, I have a picture of my girls all dressed up in cowboy hats on their way to a Kenny Chesney concert. It’s one of my favorite pictures in the world.

American Idols Live Concert Tickets – While the whole American Idols thing escapes me, there’s no doubt that my wife and kids will be shanghaing the checkbook for American Idols Live tickets. Can’t deny the love affair between America and these suddenly famous crooners.    

Tags: concerts by edrouant
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