The Maynes Event

An exciting week in sports deserves a thorough breakdown, but here we’re only going to go through some highlights.
Logically we’ll have to start with the New York Yankees winning their 27th World Series title. Twenty-seven titles for New York and no other team has won more than 10. The Yankees closed out the series in six games, winning the final game 7-3. Of course, with an almost $201 million payroll (the next highest team payroll is the Mets with $135 million and the lowest is the Florida Marlins with just under $37 million), how could they not win?
Then there’s football. Quarterback Drew Brees has helped to keep his team, the Saints, undefeated so far this season and has continued to prove himself as one of the elite quarterbacks in the league. He has electrified fans with his pinpoint accuracy, smart decisions and ability to put the ball where only his receiver can touch it.
Of course, when you mention an undefeated team with a top-tier quarterback, the Saints instantly come to mind, but a team with the same 7-0 record and the 2008-09 Offensive Player of the Year doesn’t get as much fanfare. Peyton Manning has led the Indianapolis Colts in a perfect season so far, but because they haven’t played as many quality teams as the Saints, nobody is giving them any love. Look for that to change if they keep up their winning ways.
There are two undefeated teams left in basketball. The Denver Nuggets are doing surprisingly well with a 5-0 start fueled by Carmelo Anthony and his league-leading 32.0 points per game. The Nuggets might find some trouble against the Miami Heat Friday, Nov. 6 and the defending scoring champion Dwyane Wade, who scored 40 points in Wednesday’s win against the Washington Wizards.
Speaking of the Wizards, point guard Gilbert Arenas is back after being out for most of two seasons and undergoing three knee surgeries. Arenas’ game is back to pre-surgery form; he’s averaging 27.6 points per game and 5.6 assists, but Arenas has been uncharacteristically quiet off the court, averaging far fewer words per press conference, saying he’s tired of talking and just wants to play basketball. No nicknames, no bubbly personality, no brash predictions; Agent Zero critics got what they wanted.
Boston has also managed to stay undefeated with a league-best 6-0. The Celtics barely squeezed out their last victory, which was against the team where Kevin Garnett made his name, the Minnesota Timberwolves. Garnett seems to be fully recovered from his knee injury, newcomer Rasheed Wallace has proven he can fit in and the one-two punch of Garnett and Wallace is definitely the fieriest frontcourt in the NBA. Ray Allen is still stroking, Rajon Rondo is a defensive dynamo, Perkins is doing the dirty work in the defensive paint and Paul Pierce is … well … being Paul Pierce.
Shaquille O’Neil and the Cleveland Cavaliers lost their first two games but have won their last three. Until Wednesday, Nov. 4, the Cavalier’s best ball came when the Big Shaqtus (oh yeah, that’s a name from his time as a Sun, but I’m sure there’s a new one now or will be in the very near future) was on the bench. Shaqovic hit some big foul shots and did work in the paint on Wednesday’s game against the Wizards however, and showed the fans why even when running on fumes, having the Diesel is a good thing.
And now we need to look to our own Weber State University for some outstanding statistics in basketball. It may be a bit early and the statistics may have been made against a team that wasn’t very good, but after Monday’s exhibition, where the men’s basketball team played the University of Colorado – Colorado Springs, I can’t help but be excited for the season. Damien Lillard scored a game-high 27 points, also adding seven assists. Hansen added 20 points, which included six threes. Lindsey Hughey had 17 points off the bench with eight of those points coming in under a minute. Franklin Session also had 17 points, his first two off of a thunderous dunk. The team hit its first 13 threes, Hansen hit six, Lillard hit all six he shot, and if it wasn’t for his one missed free-throw, would have had a perfect night in regards to shooting. The team shot over 62 percent from the field, over 73 percent from long distance, won 110-58, and if they can keep it up will be a very good team this year.
The Wildcats will have another exhibition game Saturday, Nov. 9 against Colorado Christian University and will begin their regular season Nov. 13 against Utah State University. The women will have an exhibition game Monday, Nov. 9 at 5 p.m.