Patriots, Italians, Russyans, Oh,my: Sports Wrap

     Well, sports fans, it's been quite a weekend.  Super Bowl XLIX is history.  It was some contest, with an unpredictable outcome that kept viewers and fans in their seats up until thee last 18 seconds.  Just when you thought it was over, it wasn't.  That 4th quarter of play: what a finish!  Patriots scored 14 points to take the lead with a few minutes to go.  Then, Seattle came back and went ahead, 28-24.  Then, the miracle catch:  a Wilson pass to Kearse on the Pats 5 yd. line-1st down and goal to go.  Then Marshawn Lynch carries to the 1 foot line, just short.  2nd down.  Then, Wilson passes over the middle-INTERCEPTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    A Patriots rookie, Butler, stepped up on the goal line and caught the pass intended for a touchdown.  Not to be.  Patriots, 1st and 10 to go from their own 1 foot line.  Brady does a hesitation call and draws the Seahawks line off the ball, 5 yard penalty!  Brady, takes the snap, kneels, Game over!  Then, Bedlam.  Final: Pats 28, Seahawks 24.

Australian Tennis Open
     Serena Williams rolled up her 19th Grand Slam victory by defeating her perennial rival, Maria Sharapova, 6-3, 7-6.   Maria accepted her runner up trophy with silent assent.  Serena mentioned that she still has to win 3 more titles to equal Steffi Graf's 22 Slam victories.

Russians Light Up World of Figure Skating in Stockholm
       Defying the odds,  3 Russyan women took the podium for a threesome, winning gold, silver, and bronze medals.  Gold went to Elizaveta Tukamysheva, the silver to her teammate, Elena Radionova, and the bronze to Anna Pogorilaya.  Nice to see some charm among Russyan athletes who have to contend with the international scorn heaped on their President, Mad Vlad Ras-Putin.

Italians Dominate Men in Australia
      Fabio Fognini and Simone Bolelli became the first all-Italian team to win a Grand Slam event since 1959.  They beat Frenchmen Nicolas Mahut and Pierre-Hugues Herbert, 6-4,6-4, in the Australian Open Final in Melbourne.

Dubai Golf
   Rory McIlroy extended his lead at the Dubai OPen Desert Classic to 4 strokes with a six-under-par 66 in the 3rd Round at Dubai.


Hope you enjoyed some events over the weekend.  Pray for snowmaybe next week.