Bleacher Report - Articles by Dumont Walker

2009 College Football Pick'em: Week Five

Dumont Walker — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 19:51:00 -0400

The college football season is in full swing, and the upsets are coming fast and quick. If you love football there is no doubt that the 2009 college football season is what you've been waiting for. Lucky for me, and those of you who follow my advice, my picks have been on point thus far this season. Now, let's see if I can keep the magic rolling in this latest edition of the Walker-Sports College Football Pick'em.

LSU vs. Georgia

Georgia have been one of the strangest teams to watch all season. On paper they should not have found this level of success, yet every week they manage to sneak out a win. It's especially impressive considering the Bulldogs' carelessness with the ball; the offense is responsible for turning the ball over 12 times thus far this season.

LSU are entering the worse part of their schedule, they are at Georgia on Saturday and next week they have the Florida Gators. This two week stretch can make or break their season. Les Miles' team has looked very strong thus far this season. Once again the Tigers have a great defense and they appear to have found some stability at quarterback, which is something that has escaped them the past few seasons.

Georgia have been sloppy at times this season, but they always find a way to manage. Going between the hedges in Athens is never easy. That homefield advantage is mostly responsible for Georgia being favored by three and a half points.

Winner: Georgia wins the game, but LSU keeps it interesting and covers the 3.5 points.

USC vs. Cal

This game looked a lot better on paper last week. That was before the Cal Bears fell flat on their faces against Oregon last week. Jahvid Best is an amazing talent, there is no question about that, but Cal need to find other options on offense if they want to be successful.

USC always blow a game to a PAC 10 opponent, they have already done that this season, which means by past logic the Trojans should be good to go for the rest of the season. Matt Barkley is back under center and that will stabilize the Trojan offense. On defense USC simply needs to contain the edges and insure that Best does not go crazy.

Winner: The spread favors USC by 4.5 points. I'm all over this one. USC wins straight up and covers the spread with ease. Last week's performance against Oregon soured me on Cal for a while to come.

Oklahoma vs. Miami

Perhaps the most intriguing storyline coming out of this game is will Oklahoma's Sam Bradford take the field? As of right now the answer appears to be no. That being said, Oklahoma still have plenty of options. The key to this game will be the play of the Sooners defense. They have an extremely talented front seven on defense, arguably the best in the country. If they can generate pressure they will be able to rattle Harris in the pocket.

Miami took a thumping last week when they traveled up to Blacksburg to take on Virginia Tech. The problem was the Hurricanes were unable to protect their quarterback. As a result, they turned the ball over and fell behind. On Saturday the Canes will be in more comfortable confines when they return to Miami. This will help them a lot as the Canes look to close out one of the most difficult stretches in football. Miami have had a brutal month and the home crowd will have to help lift them as they look to close out yet another game against a top ranked opponent.

The spread on this game has grown to favor the Sooners by 7.5 points. A lot of people are hoping that Bradford will make a return this week, but Oklahoma don't need him if they want to win, they need defense.

Winner: Oklahoma wins the game straight out, but Miami covers the 7.5 points.

Michigan vs. Michigan State

Rich Rod is on a tear with his Wolverines and he is having fun. This week's Michigan press conference sounded like a comedy sketch from the way Rodriguez was cracking jokes as he spoke with the media. And why not? The Wolverines look better than they have in years. Freshman quarterback Tate Forcier appears to be the man to lead the Wolverines into the future. Currently he is second in the Big 10 in passing efficiency, but more importantly Forcier appears to be adapting to the Rich Rodriguez spread. The Wolverines are averaging 37.5 points per game.

Michigan State are off to a rocky start this season. Coming into the season many thought the Spartans had a chance to make a run at a Big 10 championship. Unfortunately poor decisions at the quarterback position have caused Michigan State to lose their last three games. That being said, this is an in-state rivalry, and it has been a close one over the years.

The spread favors the Spartans by three and a half points, which seems a bit odd considering the roll the Wolverines have been on as of late. This has been a close rivalry, and Michigan have held onto a slight edge. That could all come to an end on Saturday. This will be a gritty game but the Spartans will hold on and pull out the win.

Winner: Michigan State wins straight up and covers the spread.

Walker Sports College Football Poll: There's Plenty of Upsets

Dumont Walker — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 09:49:00 -0400

There were plenty of upsets this weekend across the college football landscape. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know there is plenty of movement in this week's edition of the Walker Sports College Football Poll, so let's not waste any more time and go right to the poll.

1. Florida Gators

Tim Tebow had the flu, but the Kentucky Wildcats were no match. A great first half and an average second half equals out to be another Florida win.

2. Texas Longhorns

UTEP never stood a chance. Colt McCoy and the Longhorns are on a mission that does not end until January.

3. Boise State Broncos

Yes you read this correctly, Boise State is in the top five in the country. The Broncos are legit and they will be in a BCS game. Just watch.

4. Alabama Crimson Tide

Hanging around, and they now have the blueprint to knock off Florida in the SEC Championship game should they get there.

5. LSU Tigers

See Bama.

6. Ohio State Buckeyes

Yet again the Buckeyes seem to be emerging as the cream of the crop in the Big 10. Expect another lost in a BCS game to the Big 12.

7. Virginia Tech Hokies

Jumping up a few spots after a very impressive win against the Miami Hurricanes.

8. Oklahoma Sooners

Next week's game against Miami could very well tell the story for the Sooners 2009 season.

9. TCU Horned Frogs

Great win in a hostile environment. The Horned Frogs proved they may be best team in the Mountain West and ready to contend on the national scene.

10. USC Trojans

Matt Barkley is back and the Trojans got themselves back on track just in time.

11. Oklahoma State Cowboys

Still need to find a way to get some defense or else this season will be a total loss.

12. Cincinnati Bearcats

At least someone is representing the Big East. Good luck in that rematch with Va. Tech.

13. Penn State Nittany Lions

Yet again Iowa comes in to ruin the perfect season. Man that's trippy.

14. Georgia Bulldogs

The Bulldogs are better than I thought but still don't see much of a future in the SEC East.

15. Houston Cougars

This team is really taking off. Knocking off Texas Tech last week was impressive.

16. Iowa Hawkeyes

Two years in a row the Hawkeyes have had what it takes to beat Penn State. This time they did it in front of 90,000.

17. Cal Bears

Talk about choking. Nothing about Saturday's game was good.

18. Kansas Jayhawks

Still hanging around in the Big 12 North, this will be an interesting journey for the Jayhawks.

19. BYU Cougars

It will be great to see the game when the Cougars and the Horned Frogs match up.

20. Mississippi Rebels

Ole Miss may be the one team that the Cal Bears can look at and say, "I'm glad I'm not them."

21. Michigan Wolverines

Rich Rod is putting the pieces together. Give him a few seasons and something big will happen.

22. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Great win over the Tar Heels has Paul Johnson's crew back into the mix in the ACC.

23. Nebraska Cornhuskers

Rebounding after a heart breaker on the road last week. All the Cornhuskers have to do is focus and worry about beating out Kansas.

24. Oregon Ducks

Chip Kelly has his team back on track. It took a while to install his ideals, but now his players are responding.

25. Miami Hurricanes

This is still a good team. They just played a better and more experienced team on Saturday.

2009 College Football Pick'em Week Four Recap

Dumont Walker — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 20:24:00 -0400

Week four of the college football season is complete, and there is plenty to talk about. You can rest assured, the Walker-Sports Top 25 poll will be shaken up for sure. However, this is College Football Pick'em, and we are here to talk about the games we picked last week.

Virginia Tech 31 def. Miami 7

The Virginia Tech Hokies came out and played Beamer ball. Two defensive touchdowns and one on special teams were all it took for Virginia Tech to knock off the upstart Miami Hurricanes team.

I was really surprised at the way Hurricanes quarterback Jacory Harris struggled under pressure. To this point of the season he has handled it very well, but the Hokies got to him and forced turnovers. Turnover means losses. That's why I was dead wrong on this one.

Georgia Tech 24 def. North Carolina 7

North Carolina has played some good football this year, but their shoddy offense was exposed. They could not get the ball into the end zone. Combine that with their defense going into a shell, and the Tar Heels had no chance to cover the two-point spread.

Oregon 42 def. Cal 3

I had some concerns about this game. Cal as a six-point favorite seemed a bit large. Judging from their performance on the field, it looked like the Cal Bears were more concerned with taking on USC next weekend than handling business against Oregon.

On another note, it appears that Chip Kelly has gotten his Oregon program back on track.

TCU 14 def. Clemson 10

This was one of those strange games where Clemson was favored despite being unranked. That being said, I told everyone to make a big play on TCU. Having seen the Horned Frogs play in person, I felt they had what it took to knock off the Tigers.

Clemson kept this game close and forced TCU to play from behind, but that simply was not enough.

Walker-Sports College Football Pick'em

Straight Up: 8-3

Against the Spread: 8-1

USA 7's End of the Season Awards

Dumont Walker — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 10:54:00 -0400

Once again it is my honor to welcome in our favorite rugby sevens experts UR7s.com. This week the boys from across the pond are handing out some post season hardware. There are definitely some names on this list worth noting, and a few funny stories as well.

The following article has been supplied by UR7s.com – the online home for everything rugby 7s.

After handing out some European End of Season Awards last week, it's now the turn of the USA. It's proved another intensive but interesting rugby sevens season with the standards seemingly on the rise yet again. USA 7s coach Al Caravelli had much to ponder with so many players fairing well at both the USA Nationals Sevens and All-Star 7s Championships.

Plenty of discussion for you to interact on here; who have we missed out on? Who doesn't deserve their award? C'mon American Rugby fans let's hear your views...

Elite Team of the Year — Belmont Shore RFC

The only unbeaten 7s team in the country - winners of the Las Vegas Midnight 7s as well as the all important National 7s tournament.

Tournament of the Year — San Diego USA 7s

In what eventually proved to be San Diego’s swansong (for the next three years anyway) as hosts of the USA 7s, this year’s event was pretty special. The USA 7s were at their peak and stormed to the Cup last four to the delight of Petco Park—the home of baseball’s San Diego Padres.

Kenya conspired to lose to Uruguay and beat New Zealand on the same day with Argentina opening up the IRB World Sevens Series with their first Cup win since Los Angeles 2004. Special mention—Las Vegas Midnight 7s, US All Star 7s

Tournament Experience — New York 'Thanksgiving' Sevens 2008

Played in some insanely freezing temperatures, 100 teams from all over the world competed in seven divisions of play. With the skyline of NYC in the background it’s an incredible setting and illustration of just how far Rugby Sevens spans. Teams can train in Central Park in the days leading up to the tournament and then taste 'Thanksgiving' in one of the most amazing cities in the world.

The Big Apple has a bright future as far as Sevens goes! Special Mention - Cape Fear 7s

Funniest Moment — San Diego Invitational

The San Diego Surfers caused much amusement with the beefcake Islanders turning out in board shorts and Hawaiian Shirts against the semi-pro Olorun ID making for interesting viewing. UR7s News Editor Robin Heymann pasty pins getting a run out for America’s All Blacks, Hyde School, caused some ripples too.

‘Hard as Nails’ Award — Pillars of Hercules

In the open final of the New York Sevens, these boys went straight from winning their semi-final to a Final that went on for 40 minutes including two periods of Extra-time golden try. When the deadlock was finally broken they were almost to tired to celebrate! Funnily enough though, only an hour or two later they were leading the charge in the bar at the After Party.

UR7s USA All Star 7

1. Thretton Palamo — San Francisco Golden Gate

At 21 years old he already has 12 tournament appearances on the IRB World 7s Series. Palamo has captained the side recently, and has improved with each tournament, getting an increased amount of game time. He was a standout player for SFGG at Nationals. Special mention: Mark Roberts (Chicago Lions)

2. Kevin Swiryn — unattached:

One of the most talented rugby players in the USA, playing a major role in the USA 7s best outing in San Diego earlier this year. Swiryn has also captained the USA 7s side, and will do so again this coming season. Took a well deserved rest from 15s and 7s, with a rib injury, only coming back during the ITT 7s competition. Special mention: Riaan Hamilton (Belmont Shore RFC)

3. Cory Blair — Belmont Shore RFC

Silenced his critics with a sensational performance at the National 7s competition for Belmont Shore. Blair was on form all season, not only a try scoring machine, but putting in monster hits.

4. Nesi Malifa — Belmont Shore RFC:

The classy halfback from Belmont Shore was a key member of the 2008/2009 USA 7s side, and proved vital in many of their historic wins. Malifa, like Swiryn, was told to rest during the domestic 7s season and returned to ITTs playing a few minutes. Special mention: Jeremy Nash (Chicago Lions)

5. Teddy Omondi — Denver Barbarians

The Kenyan 7s international was central to Denver’s success this season, and even though he didn’t lift the National 7s title (like last year with Aspen), he was still outstanding for his new club. Special mention: Tai Enosa (Tempe)

6. Peter Sio - Belmont Shore RFC

The Belmont Shore captain was unbelievable this season, earning the MVP award at Nationals with his breath taking try scoring ability. Sio was brilliant on defense, and by far the best player in the country at Nationals this year. Special mention: Jone Naqica (San Francisco Golden Gate)

7. Mike Palefau - Gentlemen of Aspen

One of the most experienced 7s Eagles, Palefau produced another storming season for Aspen. He was superb at Nationals and ITTs, and has plenty more to show in this coming IRB 7s season. Special mention: Jason Pye (Gentlemen of Aspen)

UR7s.com is the most comprehensive website dedicated to the game of Rugby Sevens worldwide. It is home to the World Tournament Calendar, through which you can access tournaments right across the globe, hundreds of teams, footage, features, and chat. Over 100 tournaments and teams from the USA have already made their presence felt on UR7s.com—it truly is the only place for "everything 7s"

2009 College Football Pick'em Week 4

Dumont Walker — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 22:40:00 -0400

Back for another week of college football action. The BCS got rocked last weekend thanks to the USC dropping a game, and the Tennessee Vols taught us that Florida can be rattled. What can be expected in week four? That I don't know but you can believe that once again my picks will be spot on.

Miami Hurricanes vs. Virginia Tech Hokies

The Hurricanes and the Hokies have combined for some great games in the Big East, however since both schools made the conversion to the ACC, the rivalry has cooled a bit. Saturday afternoon, the rivalry is back on. The Virginia Tech Hokies are coming off an impressive victory over a much improved Nebraska Cornhuskers squad. On the other side of the ball you have the Miami Hurricanes, who look to be regaining their swagger both on and off the field. There is no doubt this game will provide great theater.

The Hokies Tyrod Taylor finally had his breakout moment last weekend when he lead Virginia Tech on an 80 yard game-winning drive. Taylor's emergence has kept the Hokies offense on track this season while they wait for their young runningbacks to get adjusted to big time football. On Saturday he will face another aggressive defense, that is closer to the one he faced in the season opener against Bama.

The Miami Hurricanes are quickly becoming the darlings of the NCAA, which is strange if you think about it, but also very good for college football. There is no doubt that this Miami team is legit. Jaccory Harris should have his name tossed into the Heisman balloting. He is a very athletic quarterback who knows how to buy time in the pocket. However, what makes him special is Harris' ability to throw the ball downfield. Having a solid arm helps to keep the defense honest and calm some of the aggressive pass rush schemes.

Despite being the home team, the spread is favoring the Miami Hurricanes by three points. This is a big game both in the ACC standings and on the national scene. Frank Beamer's Hokies just came off a big win against Nebraska weekend and could be suffering from a bit of a hangover. Miami looked sharp last week against Georgia Tech. It definitely seems like the U have gotten their swagger back.

Winner: Miami Hurricanes win straight up and cover the three points.

North Carolina Tar Heels vs. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

The Tar Heels are coached by Butch Davis who many consider the architect for the Miami Hurricane juggernaut of the '90s. After a brief stint in the NFL, Davis has settled in Chapel Hill, and after a few seasons of rebuilding he appears to be putting his mark on the Tar Heel program. UNC have plenty of questions to answer on the offensive side of the ball.

Mainly inconsistencies at quarterback have hampered North Carolina's attack. What Butch Davis has done for the Tar Heels is bring life to what is a very aggressive and dangerous defense. The speed and athleticism at the linebacker position make the Tar Heels a threat against any team.

Many thought the Yellow Jackets were the favorites to win the ACC in 2009. Paul Johnson has his version of the triple option running in high gear. Last week against the Hurricanes Georgia Tech were held in check. That was because the Cane's have more speed than your average defense. Against the Tar Heels, Georgia Tech will push the limits. The Rambling Wreck rushing attack has the opportunity to churn up yards on the ground and wear out the Tar Heels defense.

The spread on this game favors the Yellow Jackets by two and a half points, that's basically the cover the spread they give to any home team. However, despite the fact that North Carolina are the ranked team in this match up, Georgia Tech are still the better squad when it comes to executing X's and O's.

Winner: Georgia Tech cover the spread and wins the game.

Cal Bears vs. Oregon Ducks

This may be the most intriguing and underrated game on the weekend. During the preseason the Oregon Ducks were expected to make some noise both in the Pac 10 and on the national scene. All of those thoughts were put to rest when Oregon went down in burning flames in a season opener against Boise State. The damage done on the field was only out matched by post game altercations.

All of that being said, the Oregon Ducks are not a terrible team, they just need to find their identity under new head coach Chip Kelly. Slowly but surely this Duck's team is coming together. Oregon got through their non-conference schedule 2-1 and all things said, that is nothing to be ashamed of.

The Cal Bears are a very hot team right now thanks to the efforts of runningback Jahvid Best. There is no question that the Bears have the horses and are prepared to make a legit run at the Pac 10 title. The key for the Bears this weekend will be focus. Everyone in the state of California is looking forward to the Bears and Trojans game next week. However, that game will not mean a thing if Cal cannot knock off the Ducks in Oregon.

The spread shows Cal as a six point favorite. Cal have the talent to win the game but, they don't have the focus to cover the six point spread.

Winner: Cal wins the game, but Oregon keeps it interesting and covers the spread.

TCU Horned Frogs vs. Clemson Tigers

The Horned Frogs are a good team. Unlike some of their Mountain West counter parts, the Horned Frogs go on the road, play good teams and they know how to win. TCU have already traveled east once this year to whip up on an ACC team. However, that was the Virginia Cavalier and I assure you, the Tigers will not be that bad.

TCU have made a name for themselves thanks to a stellar defense. Their 3-3-5 scheme is something that opposing teams don't see very often and as a result they have a hard time preparing for and executing against it.

Once again, there were high hopes in Death Valley. An early loss to Georgia Tech derailed some of that hype, but nonetheless the Tigers are a dangerous team. They still have arguably the best running back in the country with C.J. Spiller. He sat out part of Clemson's last game with a bum toe, but all indications show Spiller should be past that in time for Saturday's game.

This is another one of those unique matchups where the ranked team actually enters the game as an underdog. The spread favors Clemson by three points. One has to think this advantage comes from the raucous crowd that will be in attendance in Death Valley on Saturday evening. This is a very difficult game to chose, but I say go for the big play.

Winner: TCU wins the game outright and thus covers the spread.

U.S. Rugby Chat 16: NCAA and U.S.A. Rugby

Dumont Walker — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 12:03:00 -0400

We are back again for another episode of U.S. Rugby Chat, and as always we are joined by our friends from Heavensgame.com.

With fall arriving here in the States this week, we felt an appropriate topic of discussion for this week would be college rugby. No we aren't ranking teams, but we are talking about the state of college rugby and what can be done to grow the game.

As always I think Heavensgame provided us with some unique insights and we have a great topic.

Take a listen and enjoy.

PS: You can now take US Rugby chat on the road with you. Check us out on iTunes and download the latest podcast today.

Walker Sports College Football Poll: USC Takes a Tumble

Dumont Walker — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 09:23:00 -0400

Week three of the college football season saw plenty of top 25 action and a few upsets. With all that action, you know there was some shifting going on in the Walker-Sports College Football Poll.

1. Florida Gators

To be frankly honest, Florida did not look all that great against Tennessee, but they managed to get the win, keeping them perfect and keeping them atop the poll.

2. Texas Longhorns

The Longhorns accomplished something special in this week's poll. They leap-frogged Penn State for the second spot. Playing legitimate teams is worth something.

3. Penn State Nittany Lions

The Nittany Lions won again this past weekend, but they slipped in the rankings. That's what happens when you play Akron, Syracuse, and Temple. Penn State needs to get into their Big 10 schedule.

4. Ole Miss Rebels

Chalk up another win for this team. The QB is legit but I'm not sold on the team as a whole.

5. Cal Bears

This is the best Cal team in years. However, I'd like their overall chances a lot more if Washington hadn't knocked off USC this weekend. I don't see the Trojans dropping two conference games.

6. Boise State Broncos

With BYU being embarrassed this weekend, the Broncos just improved their chance to be a BCS buster once again.

7. Alabama Crimson Tide

The schedule is about to kick into high gear for 'Bama when they enter the SEC schedule next week. It will be interesting.

8. LSU Tigers

This is the other talented team in the SEC West looking to reclaim some of their greatness of just a few years ago. I expect big things from the Tigers.

9. Ohio State Buckeyes

The Buckeyes have shaken off the affects of the loss to USC. While I'm not crazy about this squad they still have what it takes to make a play for the Big 10 Championship.

10. Oklahoma Sooners

Still relevant, but they need to get healthy soon. Miami will be a hell of a test for the boys.

11. Virginia Tech Hokies

Knocking off Nebraska gave this team some legitimacy. However after watching Miami and Florida State, the Hokies are the third best team in the ACC at best.

12. TCU Horned Frogs

I like this team's chances to win the Mountain West. They are good, and the defense is flat out amazing.

13. USC Trojans

Once again the Trojans manage to choke against a weak Pac-10 opponent.

14. Oklahoma State Cowboys

The Cowboys are still hoping to stay relevant in the Big 12, and I believe they can.

15. Cincinnati Bearcats

The only team from the Big East in the poll, and that will remain the case for the rest of the year.

16. Georgia Bulldogs

I'm not sure exactly how they fit in with all the talent in the SEC but for now the Bulldogs have a home on the Walker Sports poll.

17. Miami Hurricanes

The Canes are on the comeback trail. The ACC and the rest of the country should be on notice.

18. North Carolina Tar Heels

Butch Davis is doing his best to put this program on the map.

19. Florida State Seminoles

Miami is on the way back, and so are the FSU Noles. It would be great to see Bobby Bowden go out on a high note.

20. BYU Cougars

Apparently I over calculated how talented the Cougars are. BYU proved they are a good mid-major team.

21. Kansas Jayhawks

Nebraska dropping a game this weekend at the very least makes the Jayhawks look stronger. The key for them will be solidifying their defense.

22. Michigan Wolverines

Rich Rodriguez is putting this program back on track. The Wolverines won't climb too high in this poll but Rome wasn't built in a day either.

23. Oregon State Beavers

Washington stole their roll as the PAC 10 giant killers, but they are still a force.

24. Washington Huskies

Knock off a top five team and you get noticed.

25. Nebraska Cornhuskers

Tough loss to Virginia Tech, but I like this team.

Rugby: Inside the Latest U.S.A. Sevens Camp

Dumont Walker — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 10:19:00 -0400

As we continue to expand our rugby coverage here on Walker-Sports, I am happy to bring in the sevens experts of UR7s.com. Today we are honored to have Dallen Stanford who had the opportunity to sit down with USA 7's head coach Al Caravelli and have a discussion about the latest USA 7's camp.

The following article has been supplied by UR7s.com – the online home for everything rugby 7s.

The 2009/2010 IRB 7s season is almost amongst us, with many of the international teams holding selection and training camps.

I was fortunate to speak to USA 7s head Coach Al Caravelli at length yesterday about his upcoming training camp.

About 32 players will be attending the three-day assembly, running from 11-13 September at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, San Diego. This marvelous facility has been used by the USA 7s team during the past three seasons and provides an amazing atmosphere for young sportsmen aspiring to be full-time professional athletes.

The U.S. fielded one of the youngest 7s teams in London and Scotland last year (the final leg of the IRB 7s series). This experience bodes well for 2009/2010 with Caravelli’s goal to use 20 players during the entire season (less than 20 would of course be ideal he said, but injuries and availability are always issues). This past season, more than 30 players represented the USA 7s team.

It sounds like a lot, but in part that larger number occurs in a World Cup year, with several players retiring and the latter part of the season being used as a rebuilding phase.

When I was first invited to a USA 7s training camp it was also the first time Caravelli had the opportunity to select his own squad. About 60 players were invited to that camp in 2006, which took place at West Point Military Base. Since then Caravelli has kept a detailed list of players on his radar, and has travelled the country high and low in search of potential stars, especially enjoying the USA Nationals 7s Championships.

“This year’s Nationals were extremely competitive, with the quarterfinals producing some of the best club 7s I have seen,” enthused Caravelli

“I was impressed with the level of fitness and speed”.

The USA All-Star 7s competition also showed a higher quality tournament, with several players impressing enough to get an invite to the USA 7s camp. Caravelli was able to get a look at some youngsters playing for the collegiate teams, and kept an eye on returning injured Eagles like Kevin Swiryn and Nese Malifa.

One aspect that didn’t help though was that not all the best players in the country were available to play in the all-stars in New York. This is something that happens each year, and many people have talked about doing away with the tournament or making changes.

The pool of rugby players in the United States is of course very limited, with many of the other competing IRB Sevens teams contracting full time professional 7s players.

South African 7s coach Paul Treu—whom Caravelli is often in contact with—has successfully secured the budget to contract his squad of full-time players in Stellenbosch, just outside of Cape Town. This is one of the reasons why Treu only used a very small number of core players and eventually won the 2008/2009 IRB 7s title.

The Olympic 7s decision happens next month, and with a positive outcome the hope is to contract a certain number of professional rugby players in the USA, taking a massive step in the right direction.

In San Diego this weekend, the squad of 32 players will undergo an extensive fitness test, as well as working on both defensive communication and offensive patterns.

They are set to play three matches against each other on Sunday, which will—as always—be fiercely contested. These games, together with many of the training sessions, are filmed for coach and player review.

Not all of the squad will take the field, though injured 7s Eagles Matt Hawkins, Shalom Sunuila and Tai Enosa in attendance. These players will be carefully reviewing any updated changes to the current system, which means that they will be up to speed for the next assembly.

USA Sevens Training Squad:

Cory Blair; Matthew Byrd; Benjamin Haapapura; Keikiokalan Misipeka; Brian Naqica; Leonard Peters; Mark Roberts; Dallas Robinson; Peter Sio; Kevin Wiggins; Fred Wintermantle; Marco Barnard; Ben Catania; Elliot Rechtin; Trevor Richards; PJ Komongnan; Ata Malifa; Iopu Sanonu; Shalom Suniula; Valenese Malifa; Jone Naqica; Mile Pulu; Efthimiou Dimitri; Jonathan Pratter; Michael Nelson; Suli Holani; Alex Ross; Eric Walton; Clint Whittler; Matt Hawkins; Tai Enosa and Kevin Swiryn.

UR7s.com is the most comprehensive website dedicated to the game of Rugby Sevens worldwide. It is home to the World Tournament Calendar, through which you can access tournaments right across the globe, hundreds of teams, footage, features and chat. Over 100 tournaments and teams from the USA have already made their presence felt on UR7s.com - it truly is the only place for "everything 7s."

College Football Pick'em Week 3

Dumont Walker — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 20:45:00 -0400

Welcome back folks after taking a week off (sorry we didn't like enough of the games to place wagers last week). We are back for another edition of Walker-Sports College Football Pick'em. As always we are scanning the NCAA for the most intriguing football games, and giving our opinions and picks.

Florida vs. Tennessee

The Tennessee Volunteers are making the trip down to Gainesville to take on the Florida Gators. This game has a massive 29-and-a-half point spread. Typically this is the sort of scenario that I always tell you guys to stay away from. However, there is something different about this weeks match up. It's personal.

Tennessee's coach Lane Kiffen woke the sleeping giant when he accused Urban Myer and Florida of cheating. Now Myer is angry and you can ask the Georgia Bulldogs what happens when he becomes upset. Tim Teabow told the world last year that no-one would work harder than him. The world will see an example of that on Saturday.

Winner: Florida Gators to win and to cover the 29 point spread.

Nebraska vs. Virginia Tech

This is a very interesting game that has a lot of potential to get ugly, and I mean that in a good way. Virgina Tech and Nebraska are two similar teams. Both pride themselves on their defense and their intensity. Virginia Tech blew their first opportunity on the big stage earlier this season when they fell to Alabama. This is their shot at redemption. Va. Tech quarterback Tyrod Taylor is missing that "magical game moment" from his repertoire. He has always been a good athlete but he has yet to make his mark on a game where he can take over and put the Hokies on his back.

The line for this game favors the Hokies by five-and-a-half points. One has to think that three of those points have to be accounted for the fact that Lane Stadium and the Hokies have one of the best home crowds around. The black shirt defense of Nebraska is back, but the hometown crowd will give Virginia Tech just enough of a lift to overcome.

Winner: Virginia Tech wins and covers the spread.

Texas vs. Texas Tech

Believe it or not, there are a lot of similarities between this game and the Gators and Vols game, mainly revenge. Last year the Red Raiders ruined the Longhorns' shot at a national title. Everyone remembers the amazing catch Michael Crabtree had on the sideline to win the game. This year the rematch is earlier in the season, and the results will not be the same. You can expect this game to be Colt McCoy's first portfolio piece for his 2009 Heisman bid. The spread is a massive 18 points, and that makes me nervous.

I truly believe that Texas will punish Texas Tech, especially with the home crowd behind them. However, I don't feel they can cover the 18 points.

Winner: Texas wins straight up but fails to cover

Walker Sports College Football Poll: The Gators Keep on Chomping

Dumont Walker — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 12:36:00 -0400

Week three is already under way in the college football season, so lets not waste any time and jump right into this week's edition of the Walker-Sports College football poll.

1) Florida Gators

Florida is the top team in the country until someone can knock them off. This weekend, the Vols get a shot at that...yeah right.

2) USC Trojans

The game against Ohio State was tougher than most people, including myself, thought, but nonetheless the Trojans knocked off a good team and held onto their No. 2 ranking.

3) Penn State Nittany Lions

Still playing horrible teams, and still holding onto their top five ranking.

4) Texas Longhorns

If Colt McCoy is calling the shots, then this team is legit. I cannot wait for this year's Red River Shootout.

5) Ole Miss Rebels

They are hanging in there, but the true test will come when the Rebels enter their SEC schedule. Best of luck to them.

6) Cal Bears

I really like this team. Best is a stud running back and he still has my back for a Heisman vote.

7) Boise State Broncos

I love this team, BYU may be burning up the charts as the BCS busters for this season, but don't forget the original Boise State Broncos.

8) BYU Cougars

The Cougars still have a lot of work to complete if they want to find their way into a BCS game or a national championship game, but I think they may just have what it takes.

9) Alabama Crimson Tide

Bama has a chance to make up for their embarrassment last season in the Sugar Bowl. I don't know what it is, but I just get the vibe from this team.

10) LSU Tigers

The Tigers keep trudging along. The SEC West is wide open, and Les Miles' boys have a chance. They just need to hang in there.

11) Ohio State Buckeyes

Yes, the Buckeyes lost to USC on Saturday night, but they put up one hell of a fight.

12) Oklahoma Sooners

The Sooners are not the team I thought there were a few weeks ago, but nonetheless they still have some talent. Now if they could only get healthy.

13) Virginia Tech Hokies

The Hokies are a good team, but I can see them toppling form their spot in the poll and atop the ACC.

14) Georgia Tech

I like the triple option and I like Paul Johnson, just not sure this attack will work against some of the speed defenses in the ACC.

15) TCU Horn Frogs

Okay, so they beat the hell out of UVA. I can't say that's too impressive. However, on the whole TCU is an impressive team.

16) Oregon State Beavers

I'll admit this team is overrated.

17) Oklahoma State

Mike Gundy's boys let me down against Houston, but I don't think we have heard the last of the Cowboys.

18) Cincinnati Bearcats

If Brian Kelly is coaching this squad you have to think they have a chance at winning the Big East.

19) Texas Tech Red Raiders

This is not the team that we loved to watch last season, but there is a certain something. We shall see what they come up with against the Texas Longhorns this weekend.

20) Georgia Bulldogs

I'm just not convinced with this team. Truth be told, I think Mark Richt's job is on the line.

21) Miami Hurricane

I've said it once and I will say it again, the Canes are back. Watch out ACC.

22) North Carolina Tar Heels

The Heels are working it, but they are still a middle of the pack team overall.

23) Florida State Seminoles

They've suffered one loss, and that trip to BYU doesn't make things any easier.

24) Kansas Jayhawks

2-0 and cranking out quiet wins in the Big 12 North. Be careful because before you know it the Jayhawks could end up in the Big 12 Championship.

25) Missouri Tigers

See Kansas Jayhawks.

Caravelli Pleased with U.S.A. Rugby 7's Camp

Dumont Walker — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 18:20:00 -0400

Welcome back everybody today it is my honor to introduce our newest partner here at Walker-Sports. Please welcome in UR7s.com the leader in rugby sevens.

UR7s.com will be providing you with updates on the USA Sevens team, and other tournaments and games around the world.

The following article has been supplied by UR7s.com—the online home for everything rugby 7s:

The first camp of the USA Sevens team’s season was completed at the weekend and Al Caravelli, who is heading into his fourth season as head coach, is in the process of contacting players to let them know where they are in the pecking order.

The goal this season will be to have less than 20 athletes representing the USA during the IRB Sevens World Series, which, in turn, will provide the team with more continuity.

Following three days of fitness testing, defensive work, and inter-squad scrimmaging, Caravelli said he was overall very pleased with the athleticism and speed of the players involved, but added the fitness, while good, will need to improve.

“It was one of our fastest camps,” said Caravelli. “And what was nice was that two players who weren’t really on my radar before the All-Star Championships did really well.”

Dimitri Efthimiou of Mystic River and Suli whose full name is Aotealoa Holani Nahaou Unaloto both earned call-ups due to performances at the All-Star Championships as selection to this camp came from the athletes distinguishing themselves through the USA’s summer domestic Sevens schedule.

The season culminated with the US Nationals and All-Star Championships but Caravellli's meticulous preparation means he will be providing fitness programmes to all the players, before establishing what the next step is.

Gold coast and NACRA Sevens

The plan is to take the team to the Gold Coast Sevens in Australia November 7-8 and then to the North American Caribbean Rugby Association (NACRA) Sevens in Mexico City a week late before the first leg of the IRB Series begins in December at the Dubai Sevens.

But all that depends on funds. USA Rugby is in the red right now and the Sevens budget has been cut. Even though the team is looking ahead to a new 2009-2010 season, they are working off 2009 money, of which there is none.

Reports that an outside source might professionalise the team are tantalising, but as yet have not become reality.

“Not going to Gold Coast and NACRA wouldn’t be a disaster, but it would benefit us,” Caravelli said, pointing out that Australia will field four teams in Gold Coast for their national trial, and New Zealand, Fiji and Samoa are all expected to send two teams.

“If we missed those tournaments it wouldn’t put us at a disadvantage, but if we played, we would have an advantage,” Caravelli said.

Over 100 tournaments and teams from the USA have already made their presence felt on UR7s.com—it truly is the only place for 'everything 7s.

College Football Chat: Poor Coaching Choices

Dumont Walker — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 23:34:00 -0400

Thanks for coming back around for another week of Walker-Sports College Football Chat. This week we are talking about some of the poor coaching decisions we saw around the college football landscape this past weekend.

Jim Tressel, Charlie Weis, two solid coaching who failed to get it done in the clutch. A shame really because both of their teams played great games but the coaches took it out of the players hands.

Take a listen and tell us what you think. And as always we are looking for your feedback. Tell us what you think.

P.S. Our apologies to Cal's Jahvid Best. For some reason we blew his name and called him Snead. Yes we love Snead from Ole Miss, but he is no Best.

Walker Sports College Football Poll: Gators Still Chomping

Dumont Walker — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 22:46:00 -0400

One of my favorite things about college football is that every game matters. It's a short season, there's no playoff (yes I hear you BCS haters) and you have to win if you want a shot at a national title. What also makes college football great is the fact that good teams are willing to go on the road in week one and put their national title hopes on the line. You have to love that. Now lets take a look at who benefited from an early-season trip.

1)Florida Gators: The Gators went out and took care of business this past weekend. Really it's no surprise the Gators destroyed Charleston Southern. Nonetheless, Florida did what they needed to do and that was enough to hang onto their top ranking.

2)Texas Longhorns: Much like Florida, Texas had a cupcake for their season opener and the Longhorns looked sharp. Knocking off Louisiana-Monroe really is not difficult for a team expecting to contend for a national championship.

3)USC Trojans: Freshman quarterback? No problem. Lose your best wide out? No problem. The Trojans rolled on Saturday and thanks to an Oklahoma loss, USC jumped up into the third spot.

4)Penn State Nittany Lions: Penn State basically has a gift-wrapped schedule till they meet up with Ohio State later this year. Until that game, you can expect to see the Nittany Lions in the top-five of this poll every week.

5)Ole Miss Rebels: They looked real sluggish in the first half of their season opener, but thanks to some perseverance, the Rebels rallied to hold off Memphis and keep their spot in the top-10 of the Walker-Sports Top-25 Poll.

6)Oklahoma State Cowboys: Mike Gundy's boys opened their season with a big time opponent, and they survived. Not only that, but the Cowboys were able to jump a few spot in this week's polls.

7)Ohio State Buckeyes: Yes, Oklahoma State leapfrogged the Buckeyes this week. Why? Because it took an interception on a two point conversion to lock up an Ohio State win. Not impressive at all no matter how good a team Navy is. Got a problem with it? Don't worry the Buckeyes won't be in the top 25 after they blow their game next weekend to USC.

8)Cal Bears: Lost in the fray is just how impressive Cal looked this past weekend against Maryland. I fully believe this year's Bears can compete for a Pac 10 title.

9)Boise State Broncos: Sadly, this game is more remembered for what took place after the final whistle. However, what people should remember is that Boise State's defense destroyed a high-powered Oregon attack. Very impressive.

10)Alabama Crimson Tide: Well-played this weekend. Another season, another impressive season opener against an ACC team.

11)BYU Cougars: This is unheard of, an eleven-spot jump in the polls. Well that's what happens when you travel to a "neutral" site and take on a top-three team. BYU is a good football team.

12)LSU Tigers: The Tigers did not look overwhelmingly impressive in their season opener. However, they still got the win and that's more than some teams can say.

13)Oklahoma Sooners: Saturday's game was bad. However, things could get a lot worse for the Sooners with two All-Americans out. The entirety of the loss cannot be blamed on Sam Bradford's injury. The Sooners just looked bad.

14)Virginia Tech Hokies: I'll be the first to admit that the Hokies looked much better than I anticipated on Saturday night. Most importantly, Virginia Tech seems to have found a suitable replacement for Darrell Evans.

15)Oregon State Beavers: This is a bit of an inflated ranking, but for now the Beavers deserve it. Let's see if they can fight hard enough to hold onto it.

16)Cincinnati Bearcats: What they pulled on the road in a potentially hostile environment at Rutgers was impressive. The Bearcats are poised to win their second consecutive Big East Championship.

17)Georga Bulldogs: You have to give credit where credit is due. The Bulldogs went across the country and put on a very respectable display. Unfortunately for Georgia, they came out on the losing side.

18)Texas Tech Red Raiders: The Red Raiders are flying under the radar right now. That being said, I don't really see this team making a lot of noise this year. The biggest thing that could have happened to Texas Tech may have been Oklahoma losing two players.

19)Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets: The triple option was a success once again. It will be put to the test next week again Clemson.

20)Michigan State Spartans: The Spartans are looking to factor into the Big Ten title hunt. So far, so good.

21)Cincinnati Bearcats: What they pulled on the road in a potentially hostile environment at Rutgers was impressive. The Bearcats are poised to win a second consecutive Big East Championship.

22)Miami Hurricanes: Welcome to the Walker Sports Top-25, 'Canes. Great game on Monday night and welcome to the big time Jaccory Haris. I expect big things from this man.

23)North Carolina Tar Heels: The Heels looked good in opening action. I still have some questions about this teams performances at the skill positions, but overall this could be Butch Davis' best team since leaving Miami.

24)Florida State Seminoles: This is an 0-1 team but after what I saw on Monday night, I believe this is a very good team. The 'Noles will be in the mix come the end of the season.

25)Kansas Jayhawks: It's not often you can play well and drop but that's the story for the Jayhawks. They played well last weekend got an impressive victory but too many other teams accomplished more.

College Football Pick'em Week One Recap

Dumont Walker — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 18:23:00 -0400

Week One of the college football season is over, and what a great and wild ride it was.

It was great to sit down and watch football all day on Saturday, and it was great to wrap up the weekend with a great shootout on Monday night. Football is back baby! And to make things even better, I got off to a great start with my picks.

Oklahoma State 24 vs. Georgia 10: To be honest, I never saw this as that much of a competitive game, but it was the match up of two Top 15 teams. Oklahoma State looked good. After watching OU stumble out the gates, I'll say it right now, OSU has a legit chance to win the Big 12. Yes, I know Texas is still out there. The spread on this game had Oklahoma State favored by 5 1/2 points, easy cover and a win for me.

Boise State 19 vs. Oregon 8: Okay there's no point in recapping this one at all because frankly the only thing everyone will remember is the punch heard round the world, and that came after the game was over. The spread had Boise State favored by four points, I said Boise would cover, and win, those two points I was correct one. However, I did miss when I also predicted to take the over.

BYU 14 vs. Oklahoma 13: Without a doubt this game went down as the shocker of the weekend. Yet, if you followed my advice it was only a partial shocker. The spread favored Oklahoma by 22 points, I knew that was too much. People forget this is the exact same BYU team that was slated to compete for a national title last year. BYU got the cover, but they shocked me when they picked up the win.

Alabama 34 vs. Virginia Tech 24: For the second year in a row, Alabama has slapped around an ACC team in their season opener. This time the Hokies fell to the Crimson Tide. The spread liked Bama by 6 1/2, and they cruised to an easy cover. However, for what it is worth, Va. Tech put up more of a fight than I thought they would.

Walker-Sports College Football Pick'em

Straight Up: 3-1

Against the Spread: 4-0

LeGarrette Blount Mars Oregon-Boise State Opener with Sucker Punch

Dumont Walker — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 09:58:00 -0400

The college football season just started on Thursday night, and already we have our first controversy of the year. The Oregon Ducks had high expectations for the year, and all of those most likely came crashing down after an embarrassing loss at Boise State.

However, what is worse than the loss on the field is the actions of Oregon Ducks running back LeGarrette Blount. As the teams were heading to the locker room after the game, Blount decided to get one last hit in, and he did this by throwing a sucker punch.

Check it out for yourself. This behavior is completely unacceptable, and Blount should be kicked out of school. No questions asked.

2009 College Football Pick'em Week One

Dumont Walker — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 10:23:00 -0400

Welcome back college football fans. Did you miss us? I know we missed you. The 2009 college football season is here, and this year looks to be special. Now we have already broken down the conferences, and we’ve given you our top 25. All of that is well and good, but now it’s to play the games.

Just like last year, we are playing a little College Football Pick’em here at Walker-Sports. The process is simple; we pick our favorite games for the week, give them a brief rundown and then give you our picks. Join in on the fun if you like.

Georgia vs. Oklahoma State: Everything Mike Gundy has worked for in Stillwater Oklahoma comes to a head in the 2009 season, and the Cowboys will be tested early and often.

Oklahoma State is starting the season ranked ninth in the country. The expectations will be high, T. Boone Pickens has invested a lot of money into this program and getting a big win over 13th ranked Georgia would go a long way.

On offense Oklahoma State has all the usual suspects back. Zac Robinson is the best quarterback in the Big 12 that no one ever talks about. Redshirt freshman receiver Justin Horton will prove to be a nightmare to smaller defensive backs thanks to his massive 6’4", 250-pound frame.

Last year was supposed to be the year for the Georgia Bulldogs. However, things never came together quite the way head coach Mark Richt hoped as the Bulldogs struggled in the big games. Hitting the road and traveling to Oklahoma will put the Bulldogs to an early test.

For Georgia, the most important thing they can do is get solid production from quarterback Joe Cox who has been in the wings waiting for Matt Stafford to leave. To help Cox get comfortable as the signal caller, the Bulldogs will rely on their powerful offensive line and the efforts of running back Richard Samuel.

The lights will be bright in Stillwater all season long and dropping the season opener would prove to be disastrous for Mike Gundy. The Cowboys will want to get off to a quick start and rack up as many wins as they can before they hit their brutal conference schedule.

Georgia is still trying to live down last year’s disappointments, but they will have to wait yet another week before they get the program back on track. The spread has the Oklahoma State Cowboys favored by five-and-a-half points. That’s doable for an Oklahoma State team that has practiced in privacy for the 10 days in preparation for this game.

Winner: Oklahoma State to cover the spread and win.

Oregon vs. Boise State: The Broncos have reclaimed their thrown at the top of the WAC conference. Frankly they are poised to make another run to the Fiesta Bowl, with their weak conference schedule (can’t wait 'til Boise joins the Mountain West).

However, all those post New Year’s Day hopes could be crushed in week one if the Broncos fail to earn a win against Oregon, one of the few ranked opponents they will face all year. As always, Boise State will throw everything at Oregon including the kitchen sink. Quarterback Kellen Moore has a new target in speedster Titus Young.

For the Broncos, the key will be adjusting to game speed and doing it quickly. They do not want to find themselves playing catch up with the Oregon Ducks.

Oregon will, once again, feature a high-powered offense; we all know that. LeGarrette Blount is looking to become the feature tailback for the Ducks. If their young offensive line can provide him a few holes Blount can figure to have a big game against a Boise State defense that is not always the strongest.

Speaking of defenses, Oregon will have to improve their defensive play if they want to stay in this ballgame. Last year they allowed Kellen Moore to throw for three touchdowns and 386 yards. If Oregon allows Moore to have that type of a game again, the Ducks will be running up the blue field the entire night.

The spread has Boise State as a four-point favorite in this game. Normally I would be a little hesitant to take Boise in such a big game this early in the season. However, I like what the Broncos offense can accomplish when given the opportunity to game plane, remember what they did with all that time to prep for the Orange Bowl?

I also like it when Boise plays at home. That blue field is distracting and despite being a small stadium (35,000) it is a very difficult place to play.

Winner: Take Boise State to cover the spread, and win the game. Just to be safe, take the over on the points here. These teams will score a lot. Trust me.

BYU vs. Oklahoma: The BYU Cougars will look back on the 2008 season as a disappointment, but you can rest assured that the Cougars have a short memory and will not dwell on last season’s shortcomings.

Quarterback Max Hall can find himself back on many people’s Heisman Trophy list if he can put together a solid performance in Dallas this weekend.

Lighting up the Sooners defense is always a good way to garner some national attention. As a team, BYU needs to weather the storm. The Sooners will come out firing on all cylinders and looking to test the Cougar secondary. If the Cougars' defense can test an inexperienced Oklahoma offensive line, they have a chance to make national headlines.

The Oklahoma Sooners are once again a top five team in the country. Sam Bradford is back, and he already has his tickets punched to December’s Heisman Ceremony. Despite opening with a ranked team, Oklahoma will consider BYU a tune up for the Big 12 schedule that will put the Sooners to the test. The key for the Sooners will be protecting their secondary which features two new starters.

Once again the odds makers in Vegas are going to have a field day trying to gauge the Sooners. Saturday’s game opens with a 22-point spread. Typically, I would say that should not be an issue for Oklahoma to cover, but they are playing BYU. They may not be a powerhouse, but the Cougars are far from being a push over.

On this one, I would say play it safe, take the dog BYU to cover the spread, but Oklahoma wins the game. I’d also consider taking the over on this game.

Winner: BYU to cover, Oklahoma to win outright.

Virginia Tech vs. Alabama: It seems like it was just yesterday when the Crimson Tide rolled into the Georgia Dome and destroyed an ACC opponent. Last year it was the Clemson Tigers who fell victim to Alabama, on Saturday night it will be the Virginia Tech Hokies. Virginia Tech comes into the game with their star tailback on the IR.

Tyrod Taylor is simple unimpressive to me and he will be exposed in week one against the complex pass rush schemes orchestrated by Nick Saban.

The spread favors Alabama by six-and-a-half points and I love that number. I don’t think this year’s Bama team is as good as the squad last year but they are still better than Virginia Tech.

Winner: Alabama to win and cover the spread.

Brett Favre Throws an Illegal Block

Dumont Walker — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 13:31:00 -0400

Brett Favre took the the field for the final time of the 2009 preseason on Monday night, and the fans got everything they ever bargained for.

Favre brought his usual flair and swagger. We saw him improvise, call his own plays, and do everything else in between. On the field he was solid, there is no doubt about that.

However, the most interesting play of the game took place late in the third quarter when the Minnesota Vikings decided to give the Wildcat formation a try and split Brett Favre out as a receiver.

Granted, Favre looked as comfortable as could be expected out wide; he proved that he has no clue what he is doing when throwing a block. Anyone who has played football knows about the crackback block, and Brett Favre threw a textbook perfect one on the Vikings' Eugene Wilson, too bad they are completely illegal.

I hate to say it, but Favre should be fined for this hit right here. It was completely uncalled for, and he hurt another player thanks to his dangerous play.

Steve Nash Plays Pickup Ball in Bejing

Dumont Walker — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 14:32:00 -0400

So it's become very typical for NBA players to travel to China during the offseason. It's obvious that the NBA wants to expand its business opportunities over there, and if the NBA is going you can believe that Nike and Adidas are not far behind. Taking advantage of these opportunities, Phoenix Suns guard Steve Nash traveled to China last week to do some promotions and charity work. While over there, Nash decided he wanted to make sure his skills on the court did not get to rusty.

So what is a two time NBA MVP to do when 3,000 miles away from home? You put on a costume and walk in on a local pickup game in the streets of Beijing. Check out this wicked costume that Steve Nash works out for himself.

Brett Favre Endagers a Goat's Life

Dumont Walker — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 16:37:00 -0400

It's pretty obvious that the top headline grabbers this summer have been Brett Favre and Mike Vick. However, oddly enough the similarities between the two gunslingers does not end there; apparently both men have the ability to put an animals health in danger.

According to authorities in Winona, Minnesota, a woman had a goat painted purple and gold locked in the trunk of her car and she was preparing for a sacrifice.

The goat, which had a '4' shaved into its fur, was found by mechanics when the woman brought her car into a shop to have a fan belt replaced. After hearing the animal crying in the trunk the mechanics rescued the goat, where it was then turned over to authorities.

The Wiona police department have confirmed this to be a true and very accurate story. Oh, did I mention the goat was found on Friday afternoon just hours before Favre would play his first game as a Minnesota Viking?

If nothing else, this story goes to show that people in Minnesota are just crazy!

What U.S. Sports Need, A Good Gambling Scandal

Dumont Walker — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 15:42:00 -0400

One sports scandal we're missing in the US lately is a good gambling scandal. I mean, sure, there was Pete Rose, who is still banished by baseball for betting on games, but that was years and years ago.

There's definitely not a lack of athletes behaving badly, as the headlines lately are filled with stories such as steroid abuse (A-Rod and who knows how many other players), players accidentally shooting themselves in the leg at night clubs (Plaxico Burress), dog fighting rings (Michael Vick), and drunken vehicular manslaughter episodes (Donte Stallworth).

While Charles Barkely has admitted in recent years to losing millions in Las Vegas casinos, that's about as close as we've gotten to a gambling scandal in professional sports in the US. No high-profile point shaving incidents, no players making big bets for or against their teams, nada, zilch.

It's not that we're excited by the possibility, just that it seems odd that it hasn't happened of late, as you'd think mixing athletes and money would lead to all sorts of betting mayhem.

Brett Favre Signs with the Minnesota Vikings. Go Figure

Dumont Walker — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 13:57:00 -0400

Okay we are going to make this short and quick. Brett Favre is back. Well, I guess he never left the NFL really. Favre has boarded a plane and currently he is in St. Paul, at the Minnesota Vikings camp.

Word is Favre has signed a deal worth about $12 million, and he will be on the Vikings roster in no time. According to Chris Carter he feels Brett Favre will play in Friday's preseason game.

However, I don't think that will be the case, most likely he will skip the last two preseason games work on his understanding of the offsense and then make his debut in week one.

I could go deeper on this subject but really, I'm just sick of talking Favre.

Oakland Raiders Coach Fight in Local Hotel

Dumont Walker — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 19:48:00 -0400

Fights in training camp are part of football. Matter of here at Walker-Sports we like it when teams fight in camp. A good fight can give a team a spark and help them work through the dog days of summer. Most coaches when taken off the record would tell you they concur on that front.

And then there is the Oakland Raiders who can't seem to get anything right. According to reports coming from Raiders camp in Napa Valley, Oakland head coach Tom Cable found himself in an altercation with one of his assistants.

Tom Cable got into a fight with defensive assistant Randy Hanson in the hotel lobby at the Napa Valley Marriott. Police were called to investigate the incident after it was determined that Hanson's suffered a broken jaw at the hands of Raiders coach Tom Cable.

Police said that Hanson refused to press charges, and unless he changed his mind they wold not peruse the case any further.

Steelers get caught up in some gun play

Dumont Walker — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 13:41:00 -0400

As commissioner of the NFL I'm sure there are some things that cause Roger Goodell to wake up in cold sweats.

Included in Goodell's nightmare, would have to be the image of players from one of his flagship franchises, posing for a picture that would make the boys from Death Row Records intimidated.

Members of the Pittsburgh Steelers were up in Pennsylvania taking part in a shooting exhibition with a local police department.

The day included using illegal guns that were acquired by the police department in raids.

Not that the Steelers did anything wrong, but this cannot be the image the NFL is looking for at this point in time.

Red Sox-Tigers Mound Brawl Video Is Worth a Watch

Dumont Walker — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 10:37:00 -0400

So we don't talk a lot of baseball here at Walker-Sports, mainly because we find it to be a boring sport unless we are actually at the park with a couple of friends. Nonetheless, every now and then something comes along that catches our eye here, and we have to make mention of it.

Last night, Aug. 11, 2009, was one of those nights when the Boston Red Sox literally went to battle with the Detroit Tigers. Baseball, for being a non-contact sport, does have the occasional brawl that is worth watching. Tuesday, the boys of summer went to battle, and we just had to bring it to you.

Josh Hamilton Drunk Photos as Bad as They Look

Dumont Walker — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 22:23:00 -0400

Sometimes life is just cruel and there are not many people who know that as well as the Texas Rangers Josh Hamilton.

The one-time baseball prodigy has gone to the top of the mountain, fallen down, dug his way back to the top, and with the recent images that surfaced this weekend, it appears he is back on his way to the bottom.

Everyone knows how Hamilton worked his tail off to kick a nasty drug and alcohol habit. During last year's MLB All Star game he stole the show. The hitting displace he put on during the home run derby.

With that display Josh Hamilton became the feel good story of 2008. What a difference a year can make. Hamilton has spent the majority of the 2009 season battling injuries. Despite that, he was elected to the All-Star game.

Many groaned at this election. Now the fans has more to complain about. It appears that during off season training in January, Josh Hamilton fell off the wagon.

One night out and Hamilton showed a moment of weakness. He took up drinking, which is a bad thing considering his past. What made matters worse was someone had a camera and captured it all on film.

While it may have been a temporary lapse in judgement, the images will remain on the Internet to haunt Hamilton forever.

Just Like a Fight in Training Camp, Walker's Rants Are a Sure Bet

Dumont Walker — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 10:38:00 -0400

Under a month away from the college football season and you can best believe that all of us here at Walker-Sports are bursting at the seams with excitement. That being said there is plenty of other entertainment going on in the sports world to keep us occupied till then, and of course there’s plenty enough to keep up ranting.

Tiger Woods shoots an average round to kick things off at the Buick Open, but then proceeds to torch the field over the next three days.

Now that is what I call a slump buster…

I can’t wait till 2011 when the Mountain West Conference brings in Boise State.

Then when the MWC has Utah, Boise State, BYU, and TCU there is no way they wont be qualified enough for a BCS automatic bid…

With Tavares Jackson suffering a knee injury, I wonder how long it will be before Rachel Nichols gets deployed back down to Mississippi?

At least the Pittsburgh Pirates trade away all their talent so they have an excuse for being horrible. What’s the Washington Nationals excuse?

I never thought I’d see the day when there was actual trash talking going on in swimming. Too bad it comes across as the lamest smack talk ever…

Another weekend, another rained out weekend at Pocono…

It’s August, that means NFL training camps, and what is a good training camp without a few fisticuffs…

Plaxico Burress is going to jail, that’s got to be the shock of the century. Heh…

Did the PGA just pull a LeBron with the Tiger Woods fart video?

Fedor goes to Strikforce and avoids/builds the Brock Lesnar hype just a little more…

Guess things are well in the Sunshine state with Urben Myer inking a new deal. Now how long till the Notre Dame faithful start that rumor mill back up…

Is baseball season over yet?

Boxer Rob Newbiggin seriously wants to become a woman and then fight as a woman. Now that is something I cannot even describe…

Looks like the Redskins blew it once again on a high profile free agent. Haynesworth has a bad knee and it will only get worse as time goes on…

The NFL teams taking hard lines against Twitter are just idiotic. Twitter is goes for the NFL…

Lou Holtz is thinking of running for Congress, I guess anyone can get into the Capital now a days…

Is the NBA still really trying to hype Shaq vs. Kobe? That whole thing has to be done with…

Walker Sports 2009 Preseason Top 25 Poll

Dumont Walker — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 10:40:00 -0400

As we continue our countdown to the 2009 college football season, there is one thing we have neglected to do this point, and it may be the most important part of all of this. It’s time for Walker Sports first Top 25 poll of the year. Y'all know the drill just like last season, we will be keeping you up to date with our very own version of the Top 25. Remember this isn’t the AP or the coaches poll, we actually know what we are doing here at Walker Sports.

1) Florida Gators: This one was easy. The Gators are the defending champions and they have Mr. Football Tim Tebow back running the show. You can bet that Tebow will suit up and play linebacker if he thinks it will help Florida go undefeated and win a second consecutive national title. The only weak spot on the Gators team is at the offensive tackle position. If they can address that issue, as well as tame the wild expectations of Gatonation, then the Florida Gators will repeat as SEC and national champions.

2) Texas Longhorns: Ask any Longhorn fan and they will tell you they were robbed last year by the BCS. Truth be told it’s hard to argue that point. For the 2009 campaign the Texas Longhorns have all the same faces back, including a hungry Colt McCoy. Unlike last season, this year Texas has gotten some favor from the scheduling gods. If Texas can maneuver an October stretch that includes Oklahoma, Missouri and Oklahoma State, they will be in the driver’s seat to win the Big 12 and earn a shot at the BCS Championship game.

3) Oklahoma Sooners: Once again the Sooners find themselves enter the season after suffering an embarrassment in the national title game. The difference is, this time around, the Sooners are bringing back all the familiar faces. Oklahoma returns Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford, who is looking to repeat his exploits on the field. The Sooners have the most prolific offense in the history of college football. Oklahoma will score points in bunches this year, it’s just a matter of will they be able to beat Texas and keep the ship afloat to get back to the BCS Championship?

4) USC Trojans: There is no question that Pete Carroll has built one of the all time great dynasties of all time out in Southern California. However, the streak of seven consecutive years of 11-plus victories, Pac-10 Titles, and Top 4 AP finishes could come to a crashing halt this season. Last season the Trojans were run by one of the all time great defensive units. Most of the guys on that unit will be playing on Sundays come fall 2009. To add to their problems, the Trojans are breaking in a new quarterback. It's first time in a long time the starting quarterback is not set in stone. USC will get through the 2009 season based on their overall talent and sheer athletic ability. But do not be surprised if they fail to make the Rose Bowl.

5) Penn State Nittany Lions: Penn State has a great quarterback in Daryll Clark and he will be called upon to lead the Nittany Lions through a talented Big Ten schedule. If Penn State can find any production from their receivers they could have a dangerous attack. A soft nonconference schedule will allow the Nittany Lions to remain in the Top 10 for a bulk of the season, but the final month of the Big Ten schedule could prove dangerous.

6) Ole Miss Rebels: Okay, I’ll be the first to admit that starting the season at 6th in the country is a bit of a stretch, but it’s possible that Ole Miss can make some serious noise this season. In Jevan Snead, the Rebels have the best passing quarterback in the SEC (no disrespect to Tebow). Ole Miss also has a very soft nonconference that includes two FCS teams. Most importantly for the Rebels is they avoid the Florida Gators. This is especially important considering that Ole Miss was the turning point for the Gators and you can be sure they want revenge. The trick for the Rebels will be not reading their own press clippings and staying focused.

7) Virginia Tech Hokies: Virginia Tech is without a doubt the class of the ACC. Once again Frank Beamer and Bud Foster will team up to produce one of the strongest special team and defensive units in football. If the Hokies can get consistent play from quarterback Tyrod Taylor they could look to factor into the national scene. Most likely the Hokies will sludge their way through a mediocre ACC and hope for a favorable matchup in the Orange Bowl.

8) Ohio State Buckeyes: It looks like the Buckeyes will finally lose their grip on the Big Ten this season, but that does not mean they are out of the race. Terrell Pryor has proven to be a great quarterback, and one would expect he will only build on what he learned last season during his freshman campaign. In many ways the Buckeyes entire season rest on their week two game against USC. Beat the Trojans, and the OSU becomes a national powerhouse. Lose to the Trojans, and it’s another typical year in Columbus.

9) Oklahoma State Cowboys: I’ll make no qualms about it; Mike Gundy is one of my favorite coaches in college football. His 2009 Oklahoma State Cowboys are poised to reach heights that no Cowboys team has ever achieved. Senior Zac Robinson is in his third year as the starting quarterback of one of the best offenses in college football. The only reason most people failed to mention OSU last season was they were overshadowed by conference foes Texas and Oklahoma. In 2009, the Cowboys have a favorable schedule that brings all the big hitters to their newly finished Boone Pickens Stadium. If newly appointed defensive coordinator Bill Young can get his unit humming the way he did while in Kansas, the Oklahoma State Cowboys may be in for a special ride.

10) California Bears: Jahvid Best is the best running back in the nation. If it wasn’t for the likes of Tebow, McCoy and Bradford you’d be hearing about Best and his speed all season long. Nonetheless, Jahvid Best is the linchpin of a very good running attack. A rushing game that guided the Golden Bears to a nine win season last year. Cal will once again ride a solid rushing attack with a responsible passing game and find success in 2009. The key for the Golden Bears will be getting out the gates early in the Pac-10. Opening games against USC and Oregon could make or break a story book season in Berkley.

11) Boise State Broncos: Get ready for another year of watching the blue turf on the 4 Letter Network. The Broncos reclaimed their thrown as kings of the WAC after allowing Hawaii to hold the title for a season. A 12-1 campaign that ended with a bowl game lost to TCU, once again proved that Chris Peterson is one of the great coaches in college football. After an opening hit out against Oregon, Boise State has a fairly easy schedule based on their standards. If the Broncos can stay focused all season there is a chance they could make another run at a BCS Bowl game.

12) Alabama Crimson Tide: The Tide almost put together a hell of a season last year when they jumped out to a 12-0 start. However, a 0-2 finish on the biggest stages brought Bama fans crashing back to reality. This year, Nick Saban and company will look to finish what they started. The key will be getting their offensive line to become the road graters they were at the beginning of the 2008 season. If the offensive line can open a few holes the Crimson Tide have the backs and the power running game that will chew up clock and dominate opponents, couple that with an always talented Saban defense and Alabama could be dangerous in 2009. To start the season the goal will be win the SEC and let the chips fall where they may.

13) Oregon Ducks: Chip Kelly has smoothly transitioned into the roll as head coach of the Oregon Ducks. With the transition he brings a gruff no nonsense East Coast personality that he hopes will rub off on his players. Last season the Ducks finished earned 10 victories on the field and finished ninth in the coaches poll. Kelly has already told his troops he expects to win a national championship this season. While that is unlikely the Oregon Ducks do have a chance to make a run at a Pac-10 title. The key will be getting off to a quick start against Boise State in Week 1.

14) Georgia Bulldogs: There is no question that the Georgia Bulldogs lost a lot of talent to the NFL over the offseason. While the 2008 campaign is considered to be a failure, the 2009 campaign could quickly become a successful one with just a few games breaking the right way for the Bulldogs. Once again the SEC East will prove to be very difficult, with their talent pool being rather shallow, I would not expect a lot from the Bulldogs. Even this 14th ranking is a bit of a preseason gift. That being said, Georgia will reach a bowl game and you will hear some faint rumblings from the Bulldog faithful.

15) Florida State Seminoles: Overall Florida State is most likely the second best team in the ACC, and most likely the best team in the ACC Atlantic. There are some hints the 'Noles have the talent they once showcased when they were the talk of the ACC. That being said, it will be the off the field stories that will determine the outcome of the Florida Sate season. Most likely the allegations will be enough to keep Bobby Bowden distracted from the task at hand, and most likely he will step down after the season.

16) LSU Tigers: It was not that long ago that the Tigers were one of the most feared teams in college football. Winning two national titles in five years will do that for a reputation. Last season LSU finished the season with a losing record in the SEC, but don’t expect that to be the case in 2009. The Tigers success will be based on the progression of sophomore quarterback Jordan Jefferson. If Jefferson can put it all together, and link up with senior wide out Brandon LaFell and tailback Charles Scott then the Tigers could find themselves as a player on that national scene yet again.

17) Oregon State Beavers: Last year, the Pac-10 championship was practically gift-wrapped for the Beavers, but cross state rival Oregon stood in the way. In 2009, it will be tough for Oregon State to break out and earn a shot at the Pac-10 title. The main reason for a backslide will be the rebuilding of the Oregon State defense. The Beavers lost all of their starting secondary and three fourths of their defensive line. If the offense can put up some big points in the early weeks, they may be able to keep things under control while the defense plays catch up.

18) Utah Utes: Last season the Utes were robbed of the opportunity to at least compete for the BCS Championship. All Utah did was finish the 2008 season with a 12-0 record. That’s the Utes second perfect season in the last five years. In 2009, head coach Kyle Whittingham is hoping to prove to the BCS officials and the rest of the country that Utah and the Mountain West Conference are legit contenders. Despite losing some good talent, expect Utah to play with a chip on their shoulder and expect some big things.

19) Texas Tech Red Raiders: Gone are Graham Harrell and all his passing accolades. But that does not mean the Red Raiders will ground their high powered attack, not as long as Mike Leach is calling the plays. Taylor Potts is the heir apparent to take over the signal caller position. He is not at Harrell’s status just yet, but Potts has the potential to grow into another talented gun slinger. The biggest setback for Texas Tech is they are starting two freshmen at the safety positions. In a pass happy Big 12 conference, one does not want to find themselves hurting in the secondary.

20) Michigan State Spartans: The Spartans are deep with talent. Despite having to replace their starting quarterback and running back, Michigan State is returning 14 starters. Combine that with no Ohio State on the schedule and Michigan State has a chance to take the Big Ten title. Even if that does not work out for them, you can rest assured the Spartans will participate in a New Year’s Day game.

21) Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets: It’s time for Paul Johnson to prove to the nation that his version of the triple option offense can work in the big leagues. Last season, the Yellow Jackets finished the season ranked fourth in the nation in rushing. This year teams have seen and experienced the speed of this offense and will be better prepared to defend the option. The key will be can the boys at Georgia Tech throw some new wrinkles and new ideas into their scheme that will continue to keep opposing defenses guessing. If the answer is yes, then the Rambling Wreck could be in for a big season.

22) BYU Cougars: BYU is always a veteran and seasoned team that know how to play when they hit the field. You can believe the Cougars consider last year’s 10-3 runs a failure after all the national championship hype they received in the preseason. This year the national championship talk is quiet, but if BYU can knock off both Oklahoma and Florida State in the first month of the season, you can believe they will become a network favorite to talk about.

23) North Carolina Tar Heels: Every year North Carolina has progressed under Butch Davis. 2009 the Tar Heels will look to take the next step and assert themselves on the national scene. The key to success will be finding some production out of what has been a stagnant running game. North Carolina needs to find away to avoid being drug down into the mediocrity of the ACC if they want to shine on the big stage.

24) Kansas Jayhawks: Todd Reesing is back yet again at quarterback (doesn’t it feel like he has been around forever?). The reason the Jayhawks make the Walker Sports Top 25 is because they have a great chance to win the Big 12 North. If Reesing remains healthy, then the Jayhawks have a chance to win the Big 12 North and perhaps earn a spot in the New Year’s Day game.

25) Cincinnati Bearcats: It is possible the Bearcats are the cream of the crop in the Big East. That doesn’t mean a lot, but it does mean the Bearcats have a chance at a second trip to Miami. The Cincinnati offense will be talented enough to put up some points. Tony Pike is back yet again, and he has the skills to lead the Bearcats through the treacherous Big East. Most likely the Bearcats won’t make any noise on the national scene, but they have what it takes to ruin the Big East for everyone else.

Stevie Williams, Tiger Woods' Gaseous Caddie, Lets It Rip on the 18th Hole

Dumont Walker — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 09:50:00 -0400

So Tiger Woods made his triumphant return to the PGA this past weekend by winning the Buick Open. Once again all is right in the world of golf. That's all well and good. However, what happened on the fairway of the 18th on Sunday is simply too funny to be overlooked.

We all know how uptight Tiger is about random noises while he is playing. He likes silence on the course, especially while he is in mid swing. Apparently Tiger's caddie, Stevie Williams, had some bad eggs for breakfast, and before you know it, he is calling some barking spiders and even Tiger couldn't keep a straight face.

This just proves that we are still five years old here at Walker-Sports.

Walker's Being Random, and He's Ranting

Dumont Walker — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 10:35:00 -0400

We are one week away from training camp, so till that happy day comes around, you guys are stuck listening to me rant about whatever, I feel like.

I know a few weeks back I said that Mark Martin was bad for NASCAR, but after watching today’s Brickyard, I remembered that it will be Jimmy Johnson who is the death of NASCAR…

Judging by Shaq’s television ventures and other media ploys, I have a good feeling he will come into the 09 season a few pounds overweight and Cleveland fans will once again suffer through a painful season…

It was great to see Ricky Henderson inducted into the Hall of Fame, but damn, I was hoping for some classic “Ricky moments.” I guess even the most extravagant can be humbled on the big stage…

I guess Lance Armstrong didn’t get a big enough dose of his special vitamins before the Tour. Don’t worry, next year he will have some new and improved meds…

Brett Favre, take your ass back to Mississippi and stay there, you’re an embarrassment to the league and to yourself…

T.O. should never be on television if it is nothing football related…

Mike Vick is reinstated to play football. He deserves it. He served his jail sentence, and now he deserves a chance to get back on his grind. That being said, smart move by Goodel to make him sit out at least opening week, to help keep the focus on the NFL and not Vick…

Remember when the New Orleans Hornets were the pick of the league? Well with the impending trade of Chandler for Okafor it’s safe to say, those days are long gone…

Tony Parker gets hurt overseas, Yao ruins his foot playing for China, Manu does the same playing for Argentina. How long before NBA teams start putting clauses in these guys contracts to keep them from playing international ball?

Watching the Denver Broncos implode will make for god television this season…

Since when did T.O. become the voice of reason in the NFL? We are in the midst of strange times I tell yea…

Congratulations to Xavier Rugby for finally stepping up to play with the big boys. Now it’s time to cowboy up…

Jason Whitlock, Shut up…

You know what I hate? Fans who swear they are abandoning their team cause of the owner and then proceed to snipe and moan at every move said owner makes…

I have a bad feeling Mike Vick is going to land in Ashburn, Va. Before it is all said and done, just wait and see..

Jim Johnson You Will Be Missed

Dumont Walker — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 09:36:00 -0400

I know this is not breaking news from us, but it needs to be said. The NFL and the Philadelphia Eagles lost a great man yesterday evening. Defensive coordinator Jim Johnson lost his battle with cancer yesterday.

As some of you may know, Johnson took a leave of absence from the team in May to continue his fight with the disease. Despite being a fighter, Johnson was not able to overcome this final battle.

For those who don't know, Jim Johnson was one of my favorite coaches in the NFL. Although I am by no way an Eagles fan, I loved the style of defense the Eagles played under Jim Johnson. He was a mad genus who kept his defense ramped up. They blitzed early and often.

More often than not they reeked havoc at the line of scrimmage and crippled the most powerful offense.

It saddens me to say the NFL has lost a true legend and a great man. He will be missed. And for those of you who care, please help and donate to cancer research so that we can find away to tame this beast that is taking so many great individuals from us.