RCJ Sports Blog

World Cup teams set

Russo1 — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:24:07 +0000

As for the sport the whole world plays, the 2010 World Cup field of 32 teams has been finalized.

Here it is, and how they qualified:

CONCACAF
United States, qualified Oct. 10
Mexico, qualified Oct. 10
Honduras, qualified Oct. 14

CAF
Ghana, qualified Sept. 6
Ivory Coast, qualified Oct. 10
Cameroon, qualified Nov. 14
Nigeria, qualified Nov. 14
Algeria, qualified Nov. 18

AFC
Australia, qualified June 6
Japan, qualified June 6
North Korea, qualified June 17
South Korea, qualified Sept. 6

UEFA
Netherlands, qualified June 6
England, qualified Sept. 9
Spain, qualified Sept. 9
Denmark, qualified Oct. 10
Germany, qualified Oct. 10
Italy, qualified Oct. 10
Serbia, qualified Oct. 10
Slovakia, qualified Oct. 14
Switzerland, qualified Oct. 14
Greece, qualified Nov. 18
Slovenia, qualified Nov. 18
Portugal, qualified Nov. 18
France, qualified Nov. 18

OFC
New Zealand, qualified Nov. 14

CONMEBOL
Brazil, qualified Sept. 5
Paraguay, qualified Sept. 9
Chile, qualified Oct. 10
Argentina, qualified Oct. 14
Uruguay, qualified Nov. 18

HOST
South Africa

The early favorites to win the world’s premier soccer competition next summer are Brazil and Spain, with 9-2 odds.

- Russo

Journal football picks - Week 12

Russo1 — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:13:19 +0000

With the high school season ending last weekend, the Journal staffers will pick more college games, along with all of the NFL games.

Through 11 weeks of football picks - or 352 games - Lenn Davis leads the league with a 245-107 record. Both Andrew Cutler and Padraic Duffy are in second place with records of 241-111, with Duffy having the best Week 11 with a 22-10 record.

I, Josh Russo, remain in last place with a record of 227-135.

Here are this week’s picks:

Week 12 - Nov. 17-23
Russo, Andrew, Jeff, Jim, Padraic, Lenn
North Carolina at Boston College
UNC, BC, BC, BC, UNC, BC
Duke at Miami
Miami, Miami, Miami, Miami, Miami, Miami
LSU at Ole Miss
LSU, LSU, LSU, LSU, LSU, LSU
Kentucky at Georgia
Georgia, Kentucky, Georgia, Georgia, Georgia, Georgia
Ohio State at Michigan
Ohio St., Ohio St., Ohio St., Ohio St., Ohio St., Ohio St.
Minnesota at Iowa
Iowa, Iowa, Iowa, Iowa, Iowa, Iowa
Iowa St. at Missouri
Missouri, Iowa St., Iowa St., Mizzou, Mizzou, Mizzou
South Dakota State at Western Illinois
SDSU, SDSU, SDSU, SDSU, SDSU, SDSU
Connecticut at Notre Dame
UConn, ND, UConn, ND, ND, ND
Penn State at Michigan State
Penn St., Penn St., Penn St., Penn St., Penn St., Penn St.
Wisconsin at Northwestern
NW, Wisc., Wisc., Wisc., Wisc., Wisc.
Kansas State at Nebraska
Nebraska, K-State, K-State, Nebraska, K-State, K-State
Oklahoma at Texas Tech
Tech, Tech, OU, Tech, OU, OU
Montana at Montana State
Montana, Montana, Montana , Montana, Mont. St., Montana
California at Stanford
Stanford, Stanford, Stanford, Cal, Stanford, Stanford
Oregon at Arizona
Arizona, Oregon, Oregon, Oregon, Oregon, Arizona

Russo, Andrew, Jeff, Jim, Padraic, Lenn
Miami at Carolina
Panthers, Panthers, Panthers, Panthers, Panthers, Panthers
Cleveland at Detroit
Browns, Lions, Lions, Lions, Lions, Lions
Atlanta at N.Y. Giants
Falcons, Giants, Giants, Giants, Giants, Giants
Washington at Dallas
Cowboys, Cowboys, Cowboys, Cowboys, Cowboys, Cowboys
San Francisco at Green Bay
Niners, Packers, Packers, Packers, Niners, Packers
Indianapolis at Baltimore
Ravens, Colts, Colts, Colts, Ravens, Colts
Pittsburgh at Kansas City
Steelers, Steelers, Steelers, Steelers, Steelers, Steelers
New Orleans at Tampa Bay
Saints, Saints, Saints, Saints, Saints, Saints
Buffalo at Jacksonville
Bills, Jaguars, Jaguars, Jaguars, Bills, Jaguars
Seattle at Minnesota
Vikings, Vikings, Vikings, Vikings, Vikings, Vikings
Arizona at St. Louis
Cardinals, Cardinals, Cardinals, Cardinals, Cardinals, Cardinals
N.Y. Jets at New England
Jets, Patriots, Patriots, Patriots, Patriots, Patriots
San Diego at Denver
Chargers, Broncos, Chargers, Chargers, Broncos, Chargers
Cincinnati at Oakland
Bengals, Bengals, Bengals, Bengals, Bengals, Bengals
Philadelphia at Chicago
Eagles, Eagles, Eagles, Eagles, Bears, Eagles
Tennessee at Houston
Texans, Texans, Texans, Titans, Texans, Titans

NOTE: Making the 32 football picks each week are Journal sports editor Andrew Cutler, assistant sports editor Jeff Budlong, copy editor Josh Russo, reporters Jim Holland and Padraic Duffy, and Journal sports employee Lenn Davis. I select the games each week from high school, local college, national college and NFL schedules.

- Russo

Journal football picks - Week 11 results

Russo1 — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:58:42 +0000

A season of high school football is in the books, but the Journal will continue to pick college and pro games.

It was not the best week for anyone. Two people went 16-16 this week, including overall leader Lenn Davis, who has a four-game lead in the standings.

Good pick of the week: Jim Holland and I were the only two people to pick more than two of the high school championship games correctly. But we only picked three correctly. I correctly picked Sioux Falls Washington, Winner and Hitchcock-Tulare to win, and Jim correctly picked Washington, Howard and Hanson.

Bad pick of the week: We all went with our hearts and West River fans and picked St. Thomas More. The Cavaliers, who had lost four previous games in five years in the DakotaDome, lost to Milbank. But, they had a good season and I would pick them again.

Here are last week’s picks (Winning team in bold):

Week 11 - Nov. 10-16
Russo, Andrew, Jeff, Jim, Padraic, Lenn
Aberdeen Central vs. S.F. Washington
SFW, AC, SFW, SFW, SFW, SFW
St. Thomas More vs. Milbank
STM, STM, STM, STM, STM, STM
Winner vs. Tri-Valley
Winner, Winner, Winner, Tri-Valley, Winner, Winner
Emery-Ethan vs. Howard
E-E, E-E, E-E, Howard, E-E, E-E
Avon vs. Hanson
Avon, Avon, Avon, Hanson, Avon, Avon
Hitchcock-Tulare vs. Dell Rapids St. Mary
H-T, H-T, DRSM, DRSM, H-T, DRSM

Russo, Andrew, Jeff, Jim, Padraic, Lenn
West Virginia at Cincinnati
Cincy, Cincy, Cincy, Cincy, Cincy, Cincy
Notre Dame at Pittsburgh
Pitt, Pitt, Pitt, ND, ND, Pitt
South Dakota Mines vs. Trinity Bible
Mines, Mines, Mines, Mines, Mines, Mines
Miami at North Carolina
Miami, Miami, Miami, Miami, Miami, UNC
Florida at South Carolina
Florida, Florida, Florida, Florida, Florida, Florida
Auburn at Georgia
Auburn, Auburn, Georgia, Georgia, Georgia, Auburn
South Dakota State at Minnesota
SDSU, SDSU, Minnesota, SDSU, Minnesota, Minnesota
Nebraska at Kansas
Nebraska, Kansas, Kansas, Kansas, Kansas, Kansas
Iowa at Ohio State
Ohio St., Iowa, Iowa, Ohio St., Ohio St., Iowa
Stanford at Southern Cal
USC, USC, USC, USC, USC, Stanford
South Dakota at Cal Poly
USD, Cal Poly, USD, USD, USD, Cal Poly

Russo, Andrew, Jeff, Jim, Padraic, Lenn
Chicago at San Francisco
Niners, Niners, Bears, Bears, Niners, Niners
Buffalo at Tennessee
Bills, Titans, Titans, Titans, Titans, Titans
Denver at Washington
Broncos, Broncos, Broncos, Broncos, Broncos, Redskins
Tampa Bay at Miami
Dolphins, Dolphins, Dolphins, Dolphins, Dolphins, Dolphins
Jacksonville at N.Y. Jets
Jets, Jets, Jets, Jets, Jets, Jets
Cincinnati at Pittsburgh
Steelers, Steelers, Steelers, Steelers, Steelers, Steelers
New Orleans at St. Louis
Saints, Saints, Saints, Saints, Saints, Saints
Atlanta at Carolina
Falcons, Falcons, Falcons, Falcons, Falcons, Falcons
Detroit at Minnesota
Vikings, Vikings, Vikings, Vikings, Vikings, Vikings
Kansas City at Oakland
Raiders, Raiders, Raiders, Chiefs, Chiefs, Raiders
Dallas at Green Bay
Packers, Packers, Cowboys, Cowboys, Packers, Cowboys
Philadelphia at San Diego
Chargers, Eagles, Chargers, Eagles, Chargers, Eagles
Seattle at Arizona
Cardinals, Cardinals, Cardinals, Seahawks, Cardinals, Cardinals
New England at Indianapolis
Patriots, Colts, Patriots, Colts, Colts, Patriots
Baltimore at Cleveland
Ravens, Ravens, Ravens, Ravens, Ravens, Ravens

WEEK 11
Russo, Andrew, Jeff, Jim, Padraic, Lenn
19-13, 16-16, 17-15, 17-15, 22-10, 16-16

OVERALL (352 Games)
Russo, Andrew, Jeff, Jim, Padraic, Lenn
227-135, 241-111, 239-113, 237-115, 241-111, 245-107

- Russo

Who will stand alone at state volleyball?

Racechaser — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:44:18 +0000

Rapid City Stevens and Rapid City Central in Class AA, Custer in Class A, and White River and Lemmon in Class B. Which team has the best shot at winning a state volleyball championship at this week’s state tournaments, which start Thursday? The Class AA tournament is in Brookings, while Class A and B will be decided in Watertown.

A tough sell

Russo1 — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 06:39:33 +0000

Anyone out there see the movie Thank You for Smoking? In the movie, an advocate for the tobacco industry named Nick Naylor is trying to debunk criticism of cigarettes. Defending the tobacco industry would be a tough job. And the point of the movie: You have to be swift in debate and one heck of a salesman. You also do not have to defend yourself if you shift the argument.

Well, here is a guy with just as tough of a sell.

In the Journal on Page F5, we have one story that made me a little upset. The Bowl Championship Series - the entity - has hired a man to be the public face of the BCS. The man will try to tell the critics why the BCS is a system superior to a playoff system.

Let me share some quotes from the guy:

“My feeling is that I can help people understand it,” he said in a telephone interview. “A lot of the frustration with the BCS is because people don’t understand it.

“They think there is this hypothetical playoff which would just be a panacea. The fact is a playoff would be as contentious or more contentious than what we have now.”

“A playoff is just not right for college football.”

Either this guy - the former director of the NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament Bill Hancock - does not know what he is getting himself into, or he is one heck of an advocate.

What do you think?

- Russo

I agree with Belichick

Russo1 — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 23:55:33 +0000

I’m sure everyone’s already heard every angle on Patriots’ coach Bill Belichick going for it on a 4th-and-2 play at his own 28-yard line near the end of Sunday’s game with the Colts. But I will key in anyway.

I am happy to see that Belichick went for it. I know, a lot of people say he should have punted the ball, but the way the Colts were moving the ball against the Patriots, I can’t blame the coach - even though his team did not make it.

Now, as for the Jaguars’ Maurice Jones-Drew kneeling at the 1-yard line instead of scoring to put his team ahead, that I disagree with. Too many things can go wrong on a field-goal attempt and if you have a chance at points, take it.

- Russo

Journal football picks - Week 11

Russo1 — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 21:35:40 +0000

Here are the Journal’s Week 11 football picks:

Week 11 - Nov. 10-16
Russo, Andrew, Jeff, Jim, Padraic, Lenn
Aberdeen Central vs. S.F. Washington
SFW, AC, SFW, SFW, SFW, SFW
St. Thomas More vs. Milbank
STM, STM, STM, STM, STM, STM
Winner vs. Tri-Valley
Winner, Winner, Winner, Tri-Valley, Winner, Winner
Emery-Ethan vs. Howard
E-E, E-E, E-E, Howard, E-E, E-E
Avon vs. Hanson
Avon, Avon, Avon, Hanson, Avon, Avon
Hitchcock-Tulare vs. Dell Rapids St. Mary
H-T, H-T, DRSM, DRSM, H-T, DRSM

Russo, Andrew, Jeff, Jim, Padraic, Lenn
West Virginia at Cincinnati
Cincy, Cincy, Cincy, Cincy, Cincy, Cincy
Notre Dame at Pittsburgh
Pitt, Pitt, Pitt, ND, ND, Pitt
South Dakota Mines vs. Trinity Bible
Mines, Mines, Mines, Mines, Mines, Mines
Miami at North Carolina
Miami, Miami, Miami, Miami, Miami, UNC
Florida at South Carolina
Florida, Florida, Florida, Florida, Florida, Florida
Auburn at Georgia
Auburn, Auburn, Georgia, Georgia, Georgia, Auburn
South Dakota State at Minnesota
SDSU, SDSU, Minnesota, SDSU, Minnesota, Minnesota
Nebraska at Kansas
Nebraska, Kansas, Kansas, Kansas, Kansas, Kansas
Iowa at Ohio State
Ohio St., Iowa, Iowa, Ohio St., Ohio St., Iowa
Stanford at Southern Cal
USC, USC, USC, USC, USC, Stanford
South Dakota at Cal Poly
USD, Cal Poly, USD, USD, USD, Cal Poly

Russo, Andrew, Jeff, Jim, Padraic, Lenn
Chicago at San Francisco
Niners, Niners, Bears, Bears, Niners, Niners
Buffalo at Tennessee
Bills, Titans, Titans, Titans, Titans, Titans
Denver at Washington
Broncos, Broncos, Broncos, Broncos, Broncos, Redskins
Tampa Bay at Miami
Dolphins, Dolphins, Dolphins, Dolphins, Dolphins, Dolphins
Jacksonville at N.Y. Jets
Jets, Jets, Jets, Jets, Jets, Jets
Cincinnati at Pittsburgh
Steelers, Steelers, Steelers, Steelers, Steelers, Steelers
New Orleans at St. Louis
Saints, Saints, Saints, Saints, Saints, Saints
Atlanta at Carolina
Falcons, Falcons, Falcons, Falcons, Falcons, Falcons
Detroit at Minnesota
Vikings, Vikings, Vikings, Vikings, Vikings, Vikings
Kansas City at Oakland
Raiders, Raiders, Raiders, Chiefs, Chiefs, Raiders
Dallas at Green Bay
Packers, Packers, Cowboys, Cowboys, Packers, Cowboys
Philadelphia at San Diego
Chargers, Eagles, Chargers, Eagles, Chargers, Eagles
Seattle at Arizona
Cardinals, Cardinals, Cardinals, Seahawks, Cardinals, Cardinals
New England at Indianapolis
Patriots, Colts, Patriots, Colts, Colts, Patriots
Baltimore at Cleveland
Ravens, Ravens, Ravens, Ravens, Ravens, Ravens

OVERALL STANDINGS (320 Games)
Russo, Andrew, Jeff, Jim, Padraic, Lenn
208-122, 225-95, 222-98, 220-100, 219-101, 229-91

- Russo

Week 10 Journal football picks results

Russo1 — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 21:25:09 +0000

After 10 weeks - and 320 games - of football picks, Lenn Davis has a has a four-game lead in the overall standings. Jeff Budlong had the best Week 10 by going 21-11.

Smart pick of the week: Lenn Davis was the only person to pick Kansas State over Kansas,

Bad pick of the week : Every one of us picked Lyman to beat Emery-Ethan.

Here are last week’s picks (Winning team in bold):

Week 10 - Nov. 3-9
Russo, Andrew, Jeff, Jim, Padraic, Lenn
S.F. O’Gorman at Aberdeen Central
AC, AC, SFO, AC, SFO, AC
Brandon Valley at S.F. Washington
SFW, SFW, SFW, SFW, SFW, SFW
Dakota Valley at St. Thomas More
STM, STM, STM, DV, STM, DV
Todd County at Milbank
Milbank, Milbank, Milbank, Milbank, Milbank, Milbank
Wagner at Winner
Winner, Winner, Winner, Winner, Winner, Winner
Emery/Ethan at Lyman
Lyman, Lyman, Lyman, Lyman, Lyman, Lyman
Sully Buttes at Hanson
Hanson, Hanson, Hanson, Hanson, Hanson, Sully B.
Warner at Hitchcock/Tulare
Warner, H/T, H/T, H/T, H/T, H/T

Russo, Andrew, Jeff, Jim, Padraic, Lenn
Black Hills State vs. Dickinson State
BHSU, DSU, BHSU, DSU, DSU, BHSU
S.D. Mines vs. Valley City State
Mines, VCSU, VCSU, Mines, Mines, Mines
Chadron State at Western State
CSC, Western, CSC, CSC, CSC, CSC
Ohio State at Penn State
Penn St., Penn St., Penn St., Ohio St. , Penn St., Penn St.
LSU at Alabama
Bama, LSU, Bama, LSU, Bama, LSU
Southern Illinois at South Dakota State
SDSU, S. Illinois, S. Illinois, SDSU, SDSU, S. Illinois
Southern Utah at South Dakota
USD, S. Utah, USD, S. Utah, USD, USD
Oklahoma at Nebraska
Nebraska, OU, OU, OU, OU, OU
Duke at North Carolina
UNC, UNC, UNC, UNC, UNC, UNC
Kansas at Kansas State
Kansas, Kansas, Kansas, Kansas, Kansas, Kansas St.
Oregon State at California
Cal, OSU, Cal, OSU, Cal, OSU

Russo, Andrew, Jeff, Jim, Padraic, Lenn
Arizona at Chicago
Bears, Bears, Bears, Cardinals, Bears, Bears
Washington at Atlanta
Falcons, Falcons, Falcons, Falcons, Falcons, Falcons
Miami at New England
Dolphins, Patriots, Patriots, Patriots, Patriots, Patriots
Houston at Indianapolis
Colts, Colts, Colts, Colts, Colts, Colts
Baltimore at Cincinnati
Ravens, Ravens, Ravens, Bengals, Ravens, Ravens
Green Bay at Tampa Bay
Packers, Packers, Packers, Packers, Packers, Packers
Kansas City at Jacksonville
Chiefs, Chiefs, Jaguars, Jaguars, Jaguars, Jaguars
Detroit at Seattle
Lions, Seahawks, Seahawks, Seahawks, Seahawks, Seahawks
Carolina at New Orleans
Saints, Saints, Saints, Saints, Saints, Saints
San Diego at N.Y. Giants
Chargers, Chargers, Giants, Giants, Giants, Chargers
Tennessee at San Francisco
Niners, Niners, Niners, Niners, Niners, Niners
Dallas at Philadelphia
Eagles, Eagles, Cowboys, Eagles, Cowboys, Eagles
Pittsburgh at Denver
Steelers, Broncos, Steelers, Steelers, Steelers, Steelers

WEEK 10
Russo, Andrew, Jeff, Jim, Padraic, Lenn
17-15, 17-15, 21-11, 19-13, 18-14, 20-12

OVERALL (320 Games)
Russo, Andrew, Jeff, Jim, Padraic, Lenn
208-122, 225-95, 222-98, 220-100, 219-101, 229-91

- Russo

Best of luck to St. Thomas More

Racechaser — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:14:03 +0000

The St. Thomas More Cavaliers are not West River’s best hope, they’re the only hope at the state high school football championships starting today in Vermillion. With all due respect to Class 11B finalist Winner, which is technically west of the Missouri River, but still closer to eastern South Dakota than the west part. Good Luck to the Warriors, too.
St. Thomas More has its detractors. We’ve all heard the arguments before, but today More is representing Rapid City and West River on the big stage at Vermillion. — Jim H.

State football title game predictions

Russo1 — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 06:36:20 +0000

Sitting in a motel room in Yankton preparing for the state football finals tomorrow in Vermillion, I thought I’d share the Journal’s picks to win the six state title games.

Here are the games:

Class AA: Aberdeen Central vs. Sioux Falls Washington
Class 11A: St. Thomas More vs. Milbank
Class 11B: Winner vs. Tri-Valley
Class 9AA: Emery-Ethan vs. Howard
Class 9A: Avon vs. Hanson
Class 9B: Hitchcock-Tulare vs. Dell Rapids St. Mary

Here are our picks:

Russo
Sioux Falls Washington
St. Thomas More
Winner
Emery-Ethan
Avon
Hitchcock-Tulare

Andrew
Aberdeen Central
St. Thomas More
Winner
Emery-Ethan
Avon
Hitchcock-Tulare

Jeff
Sioux Falls Washington
St. Thomas More
Winner
Emery-Ethan
Avon
Hitchcock-Tulare

Jim
Sioux Falls Washington
St. Thomas More
Tri-Valley
Howard
Hanson
Dell Rapids St. Mary

Lenn
Sioux Falls Washington
St. Thomas More
Winner
Emery-Ethan
Avon
Dell Rapids St. Mary

Padraic
Sioux Falls Washington
St. Thomas More
Winner
Emery-Ethan
Avon
Hitchcock-Tulare

- Russo