NFL: The NFL draft was held last week and Auburn’s Cam Newton was drafted #1 overall. This pick by the Carolina Panthers ended months of debate about who would go #1. In past years there has been a clear top pick, but this year there was a group of potential candidates with Newton, Texas A & M linebacker Von Miller and Alabama defensive tackle Marcel Dareus heading up the list. After Newton was taken #1, Miller was taken #2 by Denver and Buffalo snagged Dareus.
There was a few surprises in the first round. Many people believe that the Titans and Vikings reached when they picked Washington QB Jake Locker at #9 and Florida State QB Christian Ponder at #12, respectively.
MLB: Minnesota Twins pitcher Francisco Liriano has had many ups and downs in his short professional career. Back in 2006, Liriano went 12-3 with a 2.16 ERA and then had to have Tommy John surgery and missed all of the ’07 campaign. It took him all the way to 2010 until he even closely resembled the pitcher who burst onto the scene back in ’06. This season, after a horrible first month, Liriano was one or two bad starts away from being sent to the bullpen or dropped back down to AAA. That probably won’t happen now.
Liriano pitched one of the least likely no-hitters in MLB history this week. He walked six, but didn’t allow a hit while defeating the rival White Sox 1-0. What’s next for Liriano? Is he back or will this be an anomaly like the season Brady Anderson hit 50 homers and never came close to that before or after?
Horse Racing: The Kentucky Derby is this afternoon at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Injuries have led to a wide open field. The favorite, Uncle Mo, is unable to race due to a mysterious stomach virus. I don’t know much about horse racing, but since there is no favorite, today would be the day to bet some dough.
NHL: Boston will be taking on Tampa Bay in the Eastern Conference finals since both teams surprisingly swept their opponents in the previous round. Boston, the #3 seed, swept the #2 seed Flyers in a series that looked like an NHL team pitted against a team of twelve year olds. Tampa Bay, the Cinderella of the playoffs, ousted #1 seed Washington in four straight in a much closer series than it seemed. In the West, Vancouver leads Nashville 3-1 and San Jose leads Detroit 3-1.
30 year old freelance writer and The Father Life‘s resident beer columnist and sports editor. He also writes about fine beverages for drinkingmadeeasy.com and Chilled Magazine. On top of that, he writes about college and professional lacrosse for insidelacrosse.com. He’s also written for Genesee Valley Parenting Magazine, the Democrat and Chronicle Newspaper and ESPN.com. “Osburn on Tap” appears monthly in THE FATHER LIFE. For questions, comments, or if you have a story idea for Chris, throw him an email cosburn@thefatherlife.com. Also, follow him on twitter http://www.twitter.com/chrisosburn