SportsHoncho

ZipCodeSports.com Database Update

Although its the middle of the College Bowl Season, its also the season for the next year's schedules to be solidified and released.  So with the bowl games in the background for noise, we have been gathering and uploading the new seasons as quickly as possible.  The following schedules have been uploaded to the website for the 2008 season (Click here to see all schedules uploaded to the database):

• Association of Tennis Professionals
• Women's Tennis Association
• Cowboy's Professional Rodeo Association CPRA
• International Professional Rodeo Association IPRA
• PBR Built Ford Tough Tour
• PBR Challenger Tour
• PBR Discovery Tour
• PBR Enterprise Tour
• Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association PRCA
• Women's Professional Rodeo Association WPRA

7 straight for Utah!

Utah beat Navy last night in the Poinsettia Bowl, for their 7th straight bowl win.  That is tied for the longest consecutive bowl wins in the nation.  Other awesome facts about Utah's bowl season:

• 6 straight bowl games appearances,
• 7 straight bowl wins,
• Utah is 10-3 in bowl games (.769)

A couple of strange things about the game: 

1. They gave Joe Dale the defensive MVP for the game... and as a Ute fan watching the game, we noticed how many times he screwed up on his assignment.  He got worked over several times by Navy's option offense, so I was a little surprised that he got MVP.  With that said, other than Martell Burnett, I can't think of anyone on Utah's defense that deserves it for a bigger play than the interception to end the game. 
2. The offensive MVP went to Brian Johnson, WHAT?  Darrell Mack had a much bigger game and performed consistently through the entire game.  Johnson struggled off and on throughout the game.  Alas, he is the QB so he gets the trophy.
3. The STRANGEST thing was the No-Call near the end of the game, when Utah's Brooks fumbles the ball, which hits the pylon and they do not call it a touchback for Navy.  They even reviewed it and didn't give the ball to Navy.  That was a bad call, and the refs are now admitting it.
4. I couldn't believe how many times the commentator with marbles in his mouth (Lou Holtz), said that Utah was probably the best of the Non-BCS schools.  Fact is we are better than some of the BCS programs, but that is great thing to hear from a nationally recognized expert.

Not the best game from the standpoint of consistency and winning in style, but it was a win, so its a great start to the Christmas weekend.

College Basketball and Database update.

Me and my brother-in-law, Wayne, went to the Utah basketball game today.   We both are having college football withdrawals, but are trying to fill it with college basketball.  Its hard to get into the basketball season with some football remaining (Poinsettia Bowl).  Good win for the Utes, they played very well the first half and kind of stalled in the second, they really need to work on finishing games and opponents.

ZipCodeSports.com database update:  The following schedules have been uploaded to the website for the 2008 season (Click here to see all schedules uploaded to the database):

• AMA Supercross
• Freestyle Motocross
• Toyota AMA Arenacross
• NHRA POWERade Series
• NHRA Lucas Oil Series
• NASCAR Sprint Cup
• NASCAR Craftsmen Truck
• NASCAR Nationwide Series
• Men's Champions Tour
• Men's PGA Tour
• Women's LPGA Tour

Tonight's Utah Jazz game, from the 8th row

Holly and I were fortunate enough to get some free tickets for tonight's Utah Jazz/Portland Blazers game.... and to top that, they were on the 8th row.  This is the closest I have sat at a Jazz game.  It is a much more intense game, as a fan, when sitting this close.  I generally enjoy college basketball more than the NBA, because the games are intense at any game, sitting anywhere in the arena.  But, I now know, an NBA can be just as intense, you just need to sit close enough to see beads of sweat.   We got the tickets from (stay with me) my brother-in-law's, high school friend's, brother's medical practice pool of tickets.  I will lobby for those tickets from now on. 

I was annoyed by the officiating.  Throughout the night there were bad calls going both ways.  After thinking about it for a while, that wasn't the problem, cause most of the calls were fouls or infractions.  The problem was the inconsistency shown by the officials.  Carrying the ball was called on one play (and it was carrying the ball), but the ball is carried all the time, they just don't call it.... same for traveling, and for personal fouls.  I heard a slap on skin, as someone took a shot, that shocked me (and the two players involved) there wasn't a call, and the ref was right in front of me.  I think if the officiating became more consistent, fans would complain less.  Yes, even I will not stop complaining, but as long as it is consistent, we won't complain that the refs are trying to fix the game, making makeup calls, or giving calls to the stars.  Just my thoughts about the officiating.

Unfortunately the Jazz lost, because they played horribly and couldn't buy a basket most of the game.  Portland's Martell Webster killed us with 25 points.  WHO, you ask?  Yeah me too!, WHO?  I texted a buddy at home and asked him "Who the he'll is Webster for Portland?" ('he'll' because, thats what the iPhone puts as a default entry when you type 'h e l l').  The Blazers were also killing us by playing zone defense.  The Jazz are in a slump, 4 straight losses, and need to figure out a zone offense, but should be fine.   

For those who don't get to see the Jazz on TV much, check out Deron Williams, he is AWESOME!.  Watch him sometime, he is fun to watch, can run the team, give out assists and score when needed.  He is one of the top five PG's in the league right now.

The start of 2008!

We are now collecting schedules for the 2008 calendar year.  We finished 2007 with 56,432! events loaded into the database, that is over 1,085 events every week.  I am hoping to double that for 2008.  We will start uploading 2008 schedules next week.