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...Manchester United are the 2005/06 Carling Cup winners following a 4-0 demolition of Wigan Athletic at the Millennium Stadium. United, as short as 8/13 on the day, took the lead after 32 minutes through Wayne Rooney but it was a three goals in six minutes salvo in the second half that devastated outsiders Wigan. louis Saha netted after 54 minutes, Cristiano Ronaldo on 58 and Rooney again on the hour to win the Cup in emphatic fashion.

With United not playing in the Premiership this weekend, chelsea extended their lead at the top to 15 points with an expected victory over Portsmouth. The Blues were overwhelming favourites at 1/6 and did not disappoint short-odds backers with second half goals from Frank Lampard...more

Champions League - Second Round Preview

...t this stage last season and were only edged out by a single goal against chelsea in the quarter finals.Verdict: AC Milan to qualify at 4/6.

Liverpool vs Benfica
The Reds take on the team who dumped Manchester United out of the Cup and are firm favourites to progress to the quarter finals. Liverpool were unbeaten and hadnt conceded a goal in 11 league and Cup games until Sao Paulo denied them the World Club Championship on 18 December. Benficas 2-1 win over Manchester United was a shock result, but one they are unlikely to reproduce. Ronald Koemans side are only sixth in their domestic league and are likely to see their interest in the Champions League come to an end at this stage of the competition.Verdict: Liverpool to qualify at 4/9.

Barcelona vs chelsea
This was the most "anticipated" draw in terms of a replay of last seasons second phase encounter. Barcelona have won 13 games straight in La Liga, while Chelsea have topped the Premiership since August, losing just one match, against Mancheste...more

Some Thoughts on the Super Bowl

...I am a genetically mapped New York Giant football fan which pretty much makes me just like millions of other DNA doomed dummies who for some unexplainable reason innately pledge their allegiance to a set of colors, numbers and helmet symbols for eternity. Like Canadian geese, we partner with a team for life, through thick and thin, good times and bad, seasons ending in playoffs and seasons ending with top five choices. It is the football gene and if you have it, you understand. Alas, if only marriage could work the same.

The fact is it isnt like marriage. It is not that we are in love with our teams and our teams in love with us. If that were true, it would be like a relationship, requiring everyones needs to be met, resulting in fans dropping the souring attraction of one team for the empty promises of another. Nope, love is not involved. Its a pathetic, sad, lonely one way street that is determined at birth. You are what you are: a Steeler, a Charger, a Seahawk, a Bengal, a Buccaneer. Some of us taste sweet victories frequently, while others wallow in self pity perpetually. It is no different from some people being tall and some people being short. It is my hope that someday stem cell research will produce a treatment to help some of my suffering brothers; for example, change a Cardinal fan into a Cowboy fan, giving them some hope of enjoying a winning season before they die.

It is our game. We dont particularly delight in watching our teams flounder amidst a room full of fence sitters, people without the gene. Youre either with us or against us. And when it is late October and all we can thin...more

NFL Draft Offers Gems for Fantasy Football Players

...en after the first round of the NFL draft that are worth drafting on fantasy football teams. Most notably is J.J. Arrington, taken at number 12 in round two by Arizona. Dennis Green loves this guy and hinted on draft day that Arrington will be his feature back. This guy is a compact runner and has a nose for the end zone. A feature back on an improving Cardinals team could be a big scorer for fantasy teams.

The easiest steal in your fantasy football draft will be Ryan Moats, taken in the third round by Philadelphia. Moats, a smallish tailback from Louisiana Tech, could surprise for an Eagles team in need of a star at the position. Although hell likely be relegated to special teams and third-down use early on, watch for him to emerge, especially if someone gets hurt. He is a quick slashing runner and a real workhorse, despite his 5-8, 210-pound frame. An eye-popping senior season saw him log 288 carries for 1,774 yards and 18 touchdowns. His 1,890 all-purpose yards set a school record, as he proved he can catch the ball with nearly equal acumen. With a career average per carry of 6.4 and 28 TDs, Moats is definitely worth watching. Grab this hard worker in the late rounds of your draft, and wait for him to get his turn. If the stars align in Philadelphia, you might just get yourself the steal of your fantasy football draft.

Here are a few other notables you ma...more