Columbus Crew Win the MLS Cup 2008

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On Sunday, November 23, 2008 at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California, the Columbus Crew won the Major League Soccer (MLS) Cup 2008 against the New York Red Bulls with a score of 3-1. The Crew of Columbus, Ohio was coached by Sigi Schmid. This was the Crew's first ever MLS title. Columbus Crew player, Guillermo Barros Schelotto was named the MLS Cup Most Valuable Player for his MLS Cup record three assists. Schelotto became the third player in MLS history to win both league MVP honors and the MLS Cup Final MVP, joining Tony Meola (2000) and Carlos Ruiz (2002).

Scoring Summary:
CLB -- Alejandro Moreno 1 (Guillermo Barros Schelotto 4) 31
NY -- John Wolyniec 2 (Dane Richards 2) 51
CLB -- Chad Marshall 2 (Guillermo Barros Schelotto 5) 53
CLB -- Frankie Hejduk 1 (Guillermo Barros Schelotto 6, Eddie Gaven 1) 82

Peter Eastgate Wins the 2008 World Series of Poker Main Event

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On Tuesday, November 11, 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada at the Penn and Teller Theater in the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino, Peter Eastgate won the 2008 World Series of Poker Main Event against Ivan Demidov. Danish poker player, Eastgate became the youngest player to win the WSOP Main Event at the age of 22-years-old. The previous youngest WSOP Main Event champion was Phil Hellmuth at 24-years-old. Eastgate won first place against 6,844 entrants ($10,000 buy-in). The final 9 players of the WSOP Main Event known as “The November Nine” played for a share of over $32 million on November 11, 2008.

List of WSOP Main Event Winners:
1st – Peter Eastgate - $9,152,416
2nd – Ivan Demidov - $5,809,595
3rd – Dennis Phillips - $4,517,773
4th – Yion Schwartz - $3,774,974
5th – Scott Montgomery - $3,096,768
6th – Darus Suharto - $2,418,562
7th – David “Chino” Rheem - $1,772,650
8th – Kelly Kim - $1,288,217
9th – Craig Marquis - $900,670

Philadelphia Phillies Win the 104th World Series in 2008

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On Wednesday, October 29, 2008, at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the Philadelphia Pillies won the 104th World Series versus the Tampa Bay Rays by winning 4 games versus 1 game in the best-of-seven games series. The 5th game of the World Series took two days to finish. The 5th game was rained-out on Monday, October 27, 2008 so the game had to be continued on Wednesday, October 29, 2008 with the last 3 innings. The Phillies last won the World Series 28 years ago in 1980.

Phillies left-handed pitcher, Cole Hamels received both the World Series MVP honors and the National League Championship Series MVP honors. Winning both MVP honors is also known as the double-double MVP. Hamels was 4-0 in the postseason with a 1.80 ERA. Hamels is the 5th player to win the double-double MVP since 1969.

Game 1 (10/22/2008): Phillies 3 @ Rays 2
Game 2 (10/23/2008): Phillies 2 @ Rays 4
Game 3 (10/25/2008): Rays 4 @ Phillies 5
Game 4 (10/26/2008): Rays 2 @ Phillies 10
Game 5 (10/27/2008): Rays 3 @ Phillies 4

Tampa Bay Rays Win the 2008 American League Championship Series

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On Sunday, October 19, 2008, at St. Petersburg, Florida, the Tampa Bay Rays won the American League Championship Series (ALCS) versus the Boston Red Sox by winning 4 games versus 3 games in the best of 7 series.

Tampa Bay Rays pitcher, Matt Garza, received the ALCS MVP honors.

Game 1 (10/10/2008): Red Sox 2 @ Rays 0
Game 2 (10/11/2008): Red Sox 8 @ Rays 9
Game 3 (10/13/2008): Rays 9 @ Red Sox 1
Game 4 (10/14/2008): Rays 13 @ Red Sox 4
Game 5 (10/16/2008): Rays 7 @ Red Sox 8
Game 6 (10/18/2008): Red Sox 4 @ Rays 2
Game 7 (10/19/2008): Red Sox 1 @ Rays 3

Philadelphia Phillies Win the 2008 National League Championship Series

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On Wednesday, October 15, 2008, in Los Angeles, California, the Philadelphia Phillies won the National League Championship Series (NLCS) versus the Los Angeles Dodgers by winning 4 games versus 1 game in the best-of-seven games series.

Game 1 (10/9/2008): Dodgers 2 @ Phillies 3
Game 2 (10/10/2008): Dodgers 5 @ Phillies 8
Game 3 (10/12/2008): Phillies 2 @ Dodgers 7
Game 4 (10/13/2008): Phillies 7 @ Dodgers 5
Game 5 (10/15/2008): Phillies 5 @ Dodgers 1

Detroit Shock Win 2008 WNBA Finals

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On Sunday, October 5, 2008, in Ypsilanti, Michigan, the Detroit Shock won the WNBA 2008 Championship against the San Antonio Silver Stars. The Detroit Shocks swept the San Antonio Silver Stars in 3 straight games to win the 2008 WNBA Finals.

Katie Smith of the Detroit Shock won the MVP honors.

Game 1: DET 77, SAN 69 Box Video
Game 2: DET 69, SAN 61 Box Video
Game 3: DET 76, SAN 60 Box Video

Roger Federer and Serena Williams Win 2008 Tennis US Open

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On Monday, September 8, 2008 at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing Meadows, New York, Roger Federer of Switzerland defeated Andy Murray of Britain in straight sets of 6-2, 7-5, 6-2 to win the 2008 Men’s Tennis US Open championship. This is 27-year-old Federer’s fifth straight US Open Title and his 13th Grand Slam title, which is 1 title away from tying Pete Sampras' 14 Grand Slam titles. Federer is the second man since Bill Tilden in 1924 to win the US Open title 5 times in a row. Federer won $1.5 million for the 2008 US Open title.

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On Sunday, September 7, 2008 at Arther Ashe Stadium in Flushing Meadows, New York, Serena Williams of USA defeated Jelena Jankovic of Serbia in straight sets of 6-4, 7-5 to win the 2008 Women’s Tennis US Open championship. This is 26-year-old Serena Williams’ third US Open championship title. Williams won Grand Slam titles at the U.S. Open in 1999 and 2002. Williams won $1.5 million in prize money. Williams got the No. 1 women’s tennis rank with this victory.

The 2008 Tennis US Open took place from August 25 – September 8, 2008. The tournament ended on September 8 instead of September 7 due to a rain delay on the night of Sept. 6.

Giants Beat Redskins in 2008-2009 NFL Season Opener

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On Thursday, September 4, 2008 in Giant Stadium, at East Rutherford, New Jersey, the New York Giants defeated the Washington Redskins 16-7. Eli Manning started the scoring with a 84-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run. Giants kicker, John Carney, kicked 3 field goals. The Giants scored on their first 4 possessions. The Redskins scored with a Jason Campbell 12-yard touchdown pass to Santana Moss with 13 seconds left in the first half. This was the opening game of the 2008-2009 NFL Season.

29th Olympiad Closes in Beijing China

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On Sunday, August 24, 2008, the 29th Olympiad closed in Beijing China. China was the winner of the 2008 Summer Olympic games with a gold medal count of 51 gold medals. United States came in second with 36 gold medals. Russia was third with 23 gold medals. This is the first time that China has won the gold medal count. The next Summer Olympiad which will be the 31st Olympiad will be held in London, Britain in 2012.
Top 3 medaling countries of the 29th Olympiad:
1. China – 51 gold, 21 silver, 28 bronze = 100 overall medals
2. United States – 36 gold, 38 silver, 36 bronze = 110 overall medals
3. Russia – 23 gold, 21 silver, 28 bronze = 72 overall medals

Usain Bolt Sets Olympic and World Track Records

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On Friday, August 22, 2008 in Beijing, China, 23-year-old Usain Bolt of Jamaica won the gold medals in the track 100 meter, 200 meter, and 4x100meter relay of the 29th Olympiad. Bolt broke the world record for the 100 meter race with a time of 9.69 seconds. Bolt also broke the world record for the 200 meter race with a time of 19.30 seconds. Bolt and his teammates, Nesta Carter, Michael Frater, and Asafa Powell broke the world record for the 4x100meter relay with a time of 37.10 seconds.

Michael Phelps Sets 8 Gold Medal Olympic Record

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On Sunday, August 17, 2008 in the 2008 Summer Olympics at Beijing, China. Michael Phelps of USA set the new 8 gold medals in a single Olympiad world record. Phelps beat Spitz’s 7 gold medals record.
Phelps also received the FINA, the sport’s governing body, best swimmer of the meet award. Phelps received gold medals in these swimming events:
1. 400 individual medley
2. 4x100 freestyle relay
3. 200 freestyle
4. 200 butterfly
5. 4x200 freestyle relay
6. 200 individual medley
7. 100 butterfly
8. 4x100 medley relay

Padraig Harrington Wins Golf’s 90th PGA Championship

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On Sunday, August 10, 2008, at Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Township, Michigan, Padraig Harrington of Ireland won the 90th PGA Championship.
Harrington won $1,350,000 for first place. Sergio Garcia of Spain and Ben Curtis of USA won $660,000 for tying second place.