NFL Week 3: Top 3 Performances

Contributed by Emma Booth.
Regional Director, USA Sport Group.

If there is anything that all football fans can agree on, it is the ridiculous calls being made by the replacement refs, but the rest of the opinions are still divided, such as what were the top 3 performances in week 3? This is our choice…

3: Pittsburgh Steelers 31 - 34 Oakland Raiders
Ben Roethlisberger threw 384 yards and 4 TDs for the Steelers, but they could still not get past the Raiders. One of the better defensive teams in the NFL, Pittsburgh were usurped by a determined Oakland Raiders side, who scored the final 13 points of the game, including a 43-yard field goal on the last play of the game.

3 Sporting Events To Look Forward To

Contributed by Terry Gradwell.
Regional Director, USA Sport Group.

World Cup Final, Brazil 2014

Consider yourself to be a soccer fan? If so there can be no more mouth watering a thought than watching a World Cup final in Brazil. As much as my home country may claim to have given the sport to the world (contentiously) I would claim that the Brazilians have single handedly inspired, amazed, and enthused more generations of soccer players and fans than any other. Don’t worry if you cannot be in Rio for the final on July 13th. With almost half of the world’s population tuning into the previous final, I imagine you will be in good company watching from the comfort of your armchair.

NFL Week 2: Top 3 Performances

Contributed by Emma Booth.
Regional Director, USA Sport Group.

The Saints lost again, the Vikings nearly took their game into overtime again, and Tim Tebow is probably regretting his decision to move, as he spent the majority of the game on the bench, again. But what were the top 3 performances in week 2? This is our choice…

3: Baltimore Ravens 23 - 24 Philadelphia Eagles

With a fit Michael Vick, Philadelphia have themselves a game changer, and Vick helped the Eagles soar into their second victory. The Ravens were unlucky, but the Eagles were given a second chance, and took their chance well. The replay overturned the ref’s call of an Eagle’s fumble, which allowed Vick to score a TD with 1:55 left, and win the game.

NFL Week 1: Top 3 Performances

Contributed by Emma Booth.
Regional Director, USA Sport Group.

There have been weeks of build up, pre season injury concerns, questions surrounding who would start, who would play well, and wondering whether your team could turn hope into victory… And that was just as a fantasy football team owner. The NFL kicked off last week with Superbowl XLVI Champions, NY Giants, playing host to the Dallas Cowboys, and were turned over at home by the boys from Texas. But what were the top 3 performances in week 1? This is our choice…

3: Buffalo Bills 28 - 48 NY Jets
The Jets were the surprise team of week 1, winning comfortably against the Bills. Mark Sanchez threw 3 TD passes, including two to rookie Stephen Hill. And the Jets were in control against a very poor Buffalo, and even poorer Fitzpatrick. Not a bad start for a team tipped to struggle offensively this season.

Tennis: Andy Murray wins US Open

Contributed by Emma Booth.
Regional Director, USA Sport Group.

Murray’s Momentous Monday

In the billowing winds of Flushing Meadows, the Arthur Ashe Stadium saw history being made on Monday. Scotsman Andy Murray became the first British man to win a Grand Slam in 76 years; since Fred Perry won Wimbledon in 1936.

Murray had been runner up in four previous Grand Slam finals; 2008 US Open, 2010 Australian Open, 2011 Australian Open, and 2012 Wimbledon, but Murray’s season changed this summer, and new coach Ivan Lendl has done wonders with Murray, not just physically, but mentally. Murray used to be shaky in high pressure situations, but the past two tournaments has shown that Murray has changed, and can handle both the pressure of a final, and the physical demands.

Paralympic Round Up: Day 12

Contributed by Emma Booth.
Regional Director, USA Sport Group.

Back to Paralympic Round Up: Day 7

The Paralympic Games Closing Ceremony yesterday marked the end of a successful, triumphant and emotional two weeks in London for the 4,200 athletes who participated in 2012. Here are the highlights from the second half of the Paralympic Games.

Daniel Dias (BRA)

Daniel Dias competed in 8 swimming events this summer, and took gold in 6 of them. The 24 year old Brazilian freestyle specialist, only learnt to swim in 2004 and already has a total of 15 Paralympic medals to his name… He is the S5 Michael Phelps!

Oscar Pistorious (RSA)

The original ‘Blade Runner’, South African Oscar Pistorious took gold in the T42/46 4x100m relay, and silver in the 200m T44 final. But it was the last race of the Games in which he blew away the opposition; winning the T44 400m in 46.68 seconds – over 3 seconds faster than the USA’s Blake Leeper in silver.

Paralympic Round Up: Day 7

Contributed by Emma Booth.
Regional Director, USA Sport Group.

Click here for our 2012 Paralympic Games Preview!

With the Paralympics already proving a great success in London, and the athletes giving us great drama, here are the top medal winners of the Games so far:

Jacqueline Freney (AUS)

Jacqueline Freney has won six, yes six, gold medals in the pool, and she still has events to go. Improving on her 2008 Paralympic appearance, Freney has turned three Bronze medals into a plethora of golds, and that figure could still climb. At just 20 years old, we will see lots more to see of this Australian swimmer in the years to come.