These next few days are the ultimate precursor to March Madness with every bubble team, including Providence College, fighting for its life and a few dark-horses hoping to punch their ticket the hard way by running the table in their respective conference tournament. By Michael Parente March Madness is upon us and some might argue the days leading up to Selection Sunday are actually more intriguing than the tournament itself. This is the only time of year when the scenarios we’ve conjured up for months actually begin to play themselves out on the court during a hectic 48- to 72-hour stretch in which hopes are dashed and dreams are fulfilled.
Michael Parente
Forget everything you think you know about Luis Felix. After years of treating mixed martial arts like a hobby, the Providence-based lightweight is ready to go "all in" as he prepares for the toughest test of his career Friday night at Twin River Casino. "No more excuses," said Felix (10-7, 3 KOs), who'll face seven-time Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC) veteran Drew Fickett in the main event of "CES MMA XXII" on Friday, March 14th, 2014. "I've pretty much put everything aside to focus on fighting and make a run at being elite and making it to the next level. This is all I do now. No more secondary job. I'm pretty much all in at this point." Despite a tremendous wrestling background, which helped him become a state champion at nearby Cranston East High School, and his willingness to fight anyone at any given time, the knock on Felix through the years was his conditioning -- or lack thereof -- and whether or not he took the sport seriously. "In the past, I wasn't always all in," he said. "It was always fun, but I used it as a hobby." Don't worry Mr. Mara and Mr. Tisch. I've done this plenty of times in Madden so you have nothing to worry about Ryan Fox ---- @Spider_Fox87 The 2013 NFL season was a season most Giants fans would like to forget. Their team stumbled out of the gates to a 0-7 start. This was due to turnovers, sloppy blocking, and just an overall bad performance by the Giants’ offense. They were able to turn things around and finished the season on a 7-2 but ended up at 7-9 and missing the playoffs for a 2nd year in a row and the 4th time in 5 years.
Now going into the 2014 NFL Offseason, the talk is that the Giants need to address their needs at Offensive Line, Linebacker, and even Tight End. However there’s also the case of who do the Giants keep and who do they allow to walk. After following the team for over 15 years, yours truly decides to put on his General Manager cap and gives his opinion on what needs to get done. Stand aside Jerry, Scoop Fox is on the case. Dan Soden
Some teams get caught up in a struggle between loyalty and business, the Denver Broncos don’t see to be one of those teams. After 10 years with the Broncos, Champ Bailey will no longer reside in the house that Elway built. CBSSports.com’s Jason La Canfora broke the news earlier this week that the seven-time All-Pro cornerback would be released by the Broncos. Travis Barrett
Before we get to a look at newest Bruin Andrej Meszaros, it’s important to take a minute and remind everybody — particularly the growing number of “fan boys” in the New England hockey media — that there’s no need to go all Chicken Little on what the Bruins did at the NHL trade deadline. You can allow yourself to see Montreal acquiring Thomas Vanek from the New York Islanders and feel a small shred of panic: The popular story line you’re being fed is that Vanek is a “Bruins Killer.” Truth is, while he may have been a major thorn in the team’s side earlier in his career — with 30 goals and 61 points in 53 games against Boston — it’s not always been the case. Yankee Stadium will host its first college football game of 2014 on Saturday, November 8, when the Army Black Knights take on the University of Connecticut Huskies. The game will air on the CBS Sports Network with a kickoff time to be determined.
Hey everybody, it's time for your weekly #HumpDay edition of #PsychoSports with your crew of Michael Parente and the Pal on the mics while Fox is on the boards. On the doc today, a lot of NCAA talk with your PC Friars and what their chances are of making the March dance. Next we follow that up with the fall out of the NHL trade deadline with WBOB hockey guru Travis Barrett, including the 'Trade of the Day'. Then joining the crew is WBOB writer and founder of the sports website www.overtimenation, Dan Soden to talk some NFL free agency. Sprinkle in some Rondo talk and you got yourself one packed show where the mics are hot and the sports takes are hotter. Patriots' owner Robert Kraft (second from the left, and to be confused with Jay-Z) would be wise to invest his money in this year's deep free-agent class and save the bottle-popping for if and when his team wins another Super Bowl. Michael Parente
The best part about the NFL off season is all the talking heads and pseudo experts playing general manager with other people’s money despite never having spent a day in office. It’s an annual rite of passage in early March, right before NCAA basketball fever grips the sports’ world, and with the New England Patriots coming off an inspiring regular season followed by a deflating loss to Denver in the conference championship game, speculation will run rampant these next few weeks before draft day. Michael Parente
"CES MMA XXII" will be a judgment night of sorts for two of the region's brightest stars as they prepare for a challenge unlike any other. Hard-hitting heavyweight John Johnston will put his undefeated record on the line against a former Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC) contender for CES' vacant title and lightweight Luis Felix will face one of mixed martial art's most polarizing figures Friday, March 14th, 2014 at Twin River Casino in Lincoln, R.I. |
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