It has been quite theyear in Sports, but you'll have to look elsewhere for your retrospectives. New Year's Eve is chock full of sportingevents, but the main focus is on New Year's Day.
The Ashes series wasdecided when Australia took the first three of the five Test matchesprogrammed. Nonetheless, some excitingcricket has continued as England came alive in the fourth test, this one at theMelbourne Cricket Grounds, and was only denied a win because of the greatbatting of Steve Smith, who hit a century for Australia, as they battledEngland to a draw. The Australia skipperstonewalled the English bowling attack to remain unconquered on 102 for histhird century of the series when the Test was called a draw late on the finalday. Australia only lost two wickets onthe fifth day but coasted through after lunch to finish on 263 for four withMitchell Marsh not out on 29. It was just the seconddrawn Boxing Day Test in 20 years. AlistairCook, batting for England had a record breaking 244 to open, but in the finalhours, Australia's Smith and Marsh salvaged the draw. There was a total attendance of 262,616 fansover the five days. There was some criticism of the lifeless state of theMelbourne Cricket Ground drop-in pitch. The series of Test Matches concludes at the historic Sydney CricketGrounds, January 4-8. In the United States 10games in the final week of the regular season of the National Football Leaguehave playoff implications, but most of those are of teams who playoffpossibilities could be altered, if they lose. In only one game, Carolina Panthers and the Atlanta Falcons — doboth teams have a real something atstake. It seems the New York Jets are always playing for glory against the NewEngland Patriots, and seldom finding it. The Pats are heavily favored in this game, but in Football, as in allthings, pride goeth before a fall. NewEngland has certainly proved this time and again, a great franchise, but onewho loves to be in the faces of all the other teams. They win often, but when they lose, it isalways a big loss. The Minnesota Vikings willhost the Chicago Bears this New Year's Eve. As the cookies have crumbled the Vikings no longer have a chance to clinch home-fieldadvantage throughout the playoffs, but they can get a first-round bye with awin or a tie. Even if they lose, they still stand a decent chance of a firstround bye. The New Orleans Saints (11-4) play the (4-11) Tampa BayBuccaneers. If they win, the NFC Southdivision is theirs, but they can also win it if the Carolina Panthers lose orif both teams tie. The Carolina Panthers can win the N.F.C. Southif they win and the Saints lose. They are favoured over the Falcons but theFalcons are battling for a wild card spot. A Happy New Year to allof our readers. Thanks for your involvement and participation. -- Posted By Rex to SR at 12/31/2017 12:15:00 AM -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "omnisport" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/omnisport. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
