49ers shred Cardinals, Smith 18-19 through the air

Week Eight of the NFL finished on a dull notes with the San Francisco 49ers rolling Arizona 24-3 in a game nowhere near as close as the final score. The 49ers jumped out to a 17-0 halftime lead a and then basically ran the time out in a garbage time second half. Alex Smith had arguably his best game as a professional going 18-19 for 232 yards and three touchdowns, two to Michael Crabtree and a 47-yarder to Randy Moss. The Cardinals rushed the ball nine times for seven yards and could only manage a Jay Feely field goal. After opening the year 4-0, Arizona has lost four straight scoring just three touchdowns in their last 46 drives.

Wiz/Cavs, Celtics/Heat, Mavs/Lakers kick off NBA regular season

The 2012 NBA season opens on tonight with three games including a Celtics/Heat, Mavs/Lakers TNT double-header. At 7:00 PM EST, Washington meets Cleveland at the Quick. The Cavs are 5-point favorites, the total has been bet down from 191 to 189. John Wall is out for the Wiz, Kyrie Irving is probable for the Cavs. At American Airlines Arena in Miami, the World Champion Heat open their defense of the NBA title as 6-point favorites over Boston. The total has been bet up from 184 to 186. Lebron James is probable with a gimpy ankle. Kobe Bryant is a game time decision as the Lakers (-9) hot the Dirk Nowitzki-less Dallas Mavericks. The over/under opened at 187 but has been bet down to 185 1/2.

College and Pro Football News and Notes

in College Football ……….

Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson is expected to start Saturday vs Minnesota. Robinson took a hit to his right arm last week injuring the ulnar nerve of his right elbow and was unable to grip a football. He did not return after the second quarter.

Texas quarterback David Ash will keep his job but with a short leash. Colt McCoy’s brother Case is on deck. Ash was lifted in the fourth quarter of last week’s win over Kansas after generating no offense for three quarters. McCoy led the Longhorns to scores on their final two drives to secure a 21-17 win.

Florida Gator backup wide out Solomon Patton will be out for the year after breaking his arm against Georgia. Patton had just one catch for 14 yards but had 14 rushes for 140 yards. He was also an integral part of Gator special teams.

in the NFL ……

The NFL has moved it’s trade deadline back to Thursday because of possible complications from Hurricane Sandy. ESPN gives the latest lowdown.

MLB Free Agency Begins

MLB free agency in underway. Here is an update of the top 20 position players available and their current status compliments of CBSsportsline

Rank Player Last Team Pos Age AB HR AVG RBI Status

1 Robinson Cano Yankees 2B 30 627 33 .313 94 Signed by Yankees; 1 year, $15M club option

2 Josh Hamilton Rangers OF 31 562 43 .285 128 Unrestricted

3 David Wright Mets 3B 31 581 21 .306 93 $16M Club Option

4 Michael Bourn Braves OF 29 624 9 .274 57 Unrestricted

5 Brian McCann Braves C 28 439 20 .230 67 Unrestricted

6 B.J. Upton Rays OF 28 573 28 .246 78 Unrestricted

7 Nick Swisher Yankees OF 31 537 24 .276 93 Unrestricted

8 Curtis Ganderson Yankees OF 31 596 43 .232 106 Signed by Yankees; 1 year, $15M club option

9 Mike Napoli Rangers C 30 352 24 .227 56 Unrestricted

10 Carlos Ruiz Phillies C 33 372 16 .325 68 Signed by Phillies; 1 year, $5M club option

11 David Ortiz Red Sox DH 36 324 23 .318 65 Unrestricted

12 Angel Pagan Giants OF 31 605 8 .288 56 Unrestricted

13 Adam LaRoche Nationals 1B 33 571 33 .271 100 $10M Mutual Option

14 Shane Victorino Dodgers OF 31 595 11 .255 55 Unrestricted

15 Melky Cabrera Giants OF 28 459 11 .346 60 Unrestricted

16 A.J. Pierzynski White Sox C 35 479 27 .278 77 Unrestricted

17 Torii Hunter Angels OF 37 534 16 .313 92 Unrestricted

18 Stephen Drew Athletics SS 29 287 7 .223 28 Unrestricted; Option declined, 1 year, $10M

19 Scott Hairston Mets OF 32 377 20 .263 57 Unrestricted

20 Marco Scutaro Giants 2B 36 620 7 .306 74 Unrestricted

WSOP Main Event down to the Final Three

The October nine has been reduced to the final three at the main event of the World Series of Poker. Tonight, almost live on ESPN ….. Greg Merson, Jesse Sylvia, and Jake Balsiger will square off with the winner taking home $8.5 million, a diamond bracelet and the honor of being poker’s world champion. Merson leads the trio with 88.3 million in chips followed by Sylvia (62.7 million), and Balsiger (46.8 million). Six players were eliminated during Monday’s seven hour opening session. Merson and Sylvia are poker professionals. Balsiger is a 21-year-old college student from Arizona who suffered a life-threatening head injury when his was hit by a car on a bike 15 months ago.

Messi and Ronaldo head Ballon d’Or nominees

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo head a list of 23 nominees for FIFAs 2012 Ballon d’Or award as the world’s best player. Others nominated include Real Madrid’s Iker Casillas, Mesut Ozil, Karim Benzema, Sergio Ramos and Xabi Alonso. Barcelona’s Andres Iniesta, Sergio Busquets, Gerard Pique and Xavi Hernandez along with Atletico Madrid’s Radamel Falcao.

From the English Premiership, Mario Balotelli, Sergio Aguero and Yaya Toure from Manchester City are nominees, along with Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie. The other nominees not playing in Spain or England are Juventus players Andrea Pirlo and Gianluigi Buffon, Shanghai Shenhua’s Didier Drogba, PSG’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Bayern Munich’s Manuel Neuer and Santos (Brazil’s) Neymar.

The list will be trimmed to three on Nov. 29 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The winner will announced at the Ballon d’Or ceremony in Zurich on Jan. 7, 2013. The winner is determined by the most votes from coaches and captains of international teams, and reporters.

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