Sports World Heats Up Over Weekend

It was a huge weekend for sports.  The 2011 Masters champion was crowned, the Red Sox and Yankees duked it out in Fenway and the NBA playoffs are quickly approaching.

What and exciting weekend to be a sports fan.  Baseball, Basketball, Golf and even Hockey were awesome to watch.  I know that as a sports junkie I was in heaven.  It all started on Friday when the Yankees and Red Sox began their first series of the 2011 season.  The Sox were coming into it with an 0-6 record and grabbed their first win of the season Friday afternoon.  The Yankees would get their revenge on Saturday with a 9-4 win thanks to some big bats and soem big help from the bullpen.  So the series was all tied up going into Sunday night so both teams brought out their big guns.  CC Sabathia on the mound for NY and Josh Beckett for Boston.  Beckett was nothing short of brilliant, something that pained be greatly as a Yankee fan.  CC Sabathia tried to maintain, and got out of trouble a couple times but after 6 straight losses the Red Sox bats were bound to come to life this weekend.  Boston wins the third game 4-0 and takes the weekend series 2 games to 1.   I can't wait for the next series these two play in May at Yankee Stadium.

Another sporting even that had my attention this weekend was the 2011 Masters at Augusta.  Many golfers were chasing the green jacket but only one can take it home.  There was a lot of talk about Tiger Woods coming back to win a fifth jacket, but he falls short.  Woods did have a fantastic performance on Saturday and Sunday but it just wasn't enough to offset an poor opening round, he finished in a tie for fourth at -10.  Going into the final round it looked like 21 year old Rory McIlroy would be winning, but he fell apart in epic fashion.  After more than 6 players took a crack at the lead just one man stood at the top, South African Charl Swartzel took home his first green jacket.  He finished up at -14 and is the first man to finish the Masters on four straight birdies.  I'm lucky if I get 4 birdies in one golf season.

We are quickly approaching the NBA playoffs and some  teams are surging while others are collapsing.  The Knicks have now won 7 in a row with their 110-109 win over the Pacers last night.  Looks like New York will have no problem wrapping up the 6 seed in the Eastern conference.  Chicago is also surging in the East, they beat up the Magic 102-99 to extend their lead in the number one spot.  The Boston Celtics on the other hand are limping into the playoffs.  They were in the one spot in the East for most of the season, but with their loss to the Heat last night they fall into the three seed.   The Miami Heat are also playing well heading into the post season, they move a little closer to Chicago and take the two seed from Boston.

Out West things are also looking a little scary for the Los Angeles Lakers who drop a 5th straight game last night.  The Thunder beat them 120-106.  The Lakers have maintained their spot in the 2 seed in the West all season but the Dallas Mavericks are taking advantage of those Lakers losses and could creep into the 2 spot if LA doesn't turn things around.  No one is going to catch up to the San Antonio Spurs who have maintained the best record in the NBA for the entire season.  I know a lot of people say they don't like to watch the NBA but it is so exciting this time of the year and the playoffs are phenomenal.  I can only hope that next weekend is just as exciting.