It has all the common elements of a baseball game: pride, blood, sweat, tears, bats and balls. If only cricket had the same faithful followers as baseball. At the grassroots level, cricket is a less celebrated version of baseball, lacking in the pageantry and national attachment that has popularized America's pastime.
Dear Philadelphia Eagles fans and players: I was going to be classy. I wasn't going to say one word about it, reference it, mention the score - 41-37 - analyze it, let alone write a column about it. But then I remembered. I remembered the time "The Playmaker," Michael Irvin, lay motionless after his head was driven into the turf at Veterans Stadium by defensive back Tim Hauck.
With UNM football receiving most of the attention during the fall semester, it's easy to overlook smaller sports such as cross country. But the UNM men's cross country team has a pre-season ranking at No. 15 in the U.S. The ranking is the highest UNM has had since 1989, and it's the first appearance in the national poll since 2004.
After two weeks of the 2008 NFL season, there are 10 teams with an undefeated record of 2-0. Oh, and what a coincidence that both conferences share five undefeated teams a piece. I have joined the bandwagon and sadly must admit that the Dallas Cowboys can win the 2009 Super Bowl.
Nothing needed to be said. The score - 36-28 UNM - served as the sole motivating purpose for the Lobo football team's defense when it took the field with 1:27 left in the fourth quarter. "Every single guy knew that the game was on the defense's shoulders," linebacker Zach Arnett said.
After joining the UNM football team, Clint McPeek was told to eat a little bit more McDonald's. McPeek, who is UNM's 6-feet-1-inch, 227 pound Lobo back, has had to beef up, adding 50 pounds to his frame since coming to New Mexico. But all that weight is muscle.
UNM forward Hannah Hand continues to make her way up the all-time assist list. Hand, who came into Sunday's game with 14 assists, dished out 15 and 16 as UNM glided past the Knights of Fairleigh Dickinson 5-0 at the UNM Soccer Complex. She now trails alumna Laurie Hegedorn by only seven assists, with Hegedorn at 23.
That column I wrote a couple weeks ago in which I proudly proclaimed "America will finally - after waiting nearly 14 years - witness America's Team win its first Super Bowl since 1995" is starting to develop nicely. I'd call it a prophecy, but last time I did that, well, prophecy kind of faltered.
It didn't come as a surprise. After defeating No. 2-ranked Akron 1-0 on Friday at the UNM Soccer Complex, UNM's James Urbany bragged to GoLobos.com. "We're one of the best teams in the nation," he said. "We studied hard for this game. We knew each one of their players.
It was a stroke of luck that brought freshman outside-hitter Kelly Williamson to UNM. This summer, the UNM women's volleyball team was scheduled to visit China on a 12-day trip to Beijing and Shanghai. However, the sports traveling agency organizing the tour, TranSports Athletic Team Tours, declared bankruptcy 10 days before the team was set to depart.
Arizona's high-octane train comes barreling into University Stadium on Saturday to square off against the UNM football team. UNM fans won't have much to boast about after losing two consecutive games to TCU and Texas A&M, but fresh in their minds is last year's 29-27 come-from-behind victory over Arizona down in Tucson.
The UNM women's soccer squad showed it's a team that just won't quit, coming back from two goals down against Hawaii on Tuesday to force its second draw of the season. The Lobos scored two goals late in the second half to tie the game at 3-3. Neither team could capitalize in two overtimes.
It wasn't exactly the Lambeau Leap, but UNM forward Chris Wright did his own variation of the jump - the "Lobo Leap" - throwing himself into a small group of guys to the left of the Louisville goal after putting the Lobos up 1-0 in the 65th minute against the Cardinals Sunday at the UNM Soccer Complex.
Staff Report After starting off slowly, the UNM women's soccer team came around to beat Drake 1-0 on Friday at the UNM Soccer Complex. UNM head coach Kit Vela told GoLobos.com her team was a bit lackadaisical at the onset. "We were lethargic in the first half," she said.
Texas A&M proved Texas still has New Mexico's number when it comes to football, defeating UNM 28-22 Saturday at University Stadium. A&M became the second Texas-based team to beat the Lobos in consecutive weeks, with TCU pounding out a 26-3 victory against over UNM on Aug.
As if starting 0-2, throwing two interceptions against Texas A&M and being the scapegoat for sports pundits isn't enough, Lobo quarterback Donovan Porterie still has to fulfill an obligation he has in the locker room. He still has to lead. Compared to last year, when Porterie was 42-of-63 for 532 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions in the first two games, this season, Porterie is a combined 25-of-49 for zero touchdowns, three interceptions and a fumble.
The UNM volleyball team will rack up some frequent-flyer miles this month. Gearing up for a 12-game road trip, the Lobos will stop in Virginia, Nebraska, Texas, California and Nevada. "We're all excited to pack our bags," senior outside hitter Jeanne Fairchild said.
UNM football fans' pigskin parade was spoiled by TCU last week. Saturday, UNM and fans will look for a different outcome. And boy, are they in for a dandy. Although the nickname and colors - Aggies and crimson - are the same as rival NMSU, there is barely a scrap of tradition behind Saturday's marquee match with Texas A&M.
Three might be a lucky number for the UNM volleyball team. Three matches and three wins means a 3-0 start to the season. With the victories, the Lobos earned the right to call themselves the Lobo Classic Champions. "I think we did a tremendous job this weekend," head coach Jeff Nelson said.
The UNM women's soccer team secured its first win of the season on Friday, blanking the Baylor Bears 2-0 at the UNM Soccer Complex. Freshman Jael Fanning scored the first goal of the game off a corner kick from senior Hannah Hand to give the Lobos momentum early.
Solutions by The State News
