Watts and Croyle both led their respective Alabama teams to a 10-win season in their final go-around

Watts and Croyle both led their respective Alabama teams to a 10-win season in their final go-around.  In previous years, Alabama fans have expected a lot from Wilson, especially based on his performance as a quarterback in high school at nearby Hoover High. Wilson won multiple State titles as the leader of the Bucs, and many Bama fans expected that same success from him at Alabama.  In two years as a starter, that success hasn't been seen, as Wilson has posted a 14-14 record. The personal success, however, has been there, with Wilson holding or on pace to set every quarterback record in Alabama history. A week has passed since my last attempt at predicting the future and as anyone who read it will tell you, I got it completely wrong!Turkey didn't get knocked out did they?Switzerland were good enough to win but the Czechs weren't good enough to get through!And finally, Sweden were useless after all!So where does that leave us?Well Turkey are the Euro 2008 surprise package and fair play to them. They have come back from the dead not just once but twice to keep themselves in Europe's biggest show!2-0 down to the Czech Republic and with time running out, the Turks staged the ultimate comeback to win 3-2. Absolutely fantastic!Surely though my other tournament pick Croatia wouldn't suffer a similar fate?Well wrong again Andrew!After a goal less 90 minutes the game went to extra time with Croatia snatching victory in the 119th minute!That is to say, they should've gone on to win and probably would've against anyone but the resilient Turks.I salute Turkey for their team work and the passionate fighting spirit that has made their tournament such a success!Good luck to them in the semi finals and I really hope this article doesn't end their winning streak.But if you're looking for an overall winner, I'd better say Germany After all, I've suggested everyone else!. There were a number of misfields, bad deliveries and general mistakes which took the pressure of New Zealand somewhat.The best teams are ruthless, they don't let teams scratch their way out of enormous holes as England did in the field today.Nevertheless, England were very much favourites to chase this relatively low score down though.Luke Wright was never going to be a factor in an attritional game such as this, and sure enough he went for just 2 in the first over playing a horrible andunnecessary shot.Kevin Pietersen soon followed, he got himself out with a tame chip shot to Grant Elliott. Ravi Bopara was, in fairness, dismissed by an excellent catch, although his 27 had been somewhat fortuitous.But this didn't matter. England were 62 for 3 with Ian Bell and Paul Collingwood at the crease.The situation wastailor made for Bell to prove himself.He looked comfortable He looked calm.

He looked set.As an grinding, accumulative test batsman, his style was suited to the conditions and the position England found themselves in.Could he handle the pressure, and for the first time in his career produce the match winning innings?No.On 20, he swung loosely at a ball which would have been called a wide, and chipped it up to McCullum.Owais Shah was then dismissed, caught off a very good Southee delivery for 0. Tim Ambrose followed four balls later for 0, attempting to play the cut shot (his only shot) to a ball which bounced to high to be cut.Collingwood offered some resistance, but when he was dismissed for 34 the game was up.England went on to lose by 22 runs.Yes, the conditions played a part, the New Zealand bowlers bowled adequately, but the batsmen simply threw their wickets away. If England has applied themselves to their batting in the same fashion as Grant Elliott had, there would have been no problem. Surely they could see this?Ian Bell was the key, for me, there is no excuse for his abysmal dismissal for 20 and no excuse for his not adding a match winning score. That is not to let the other batsmen off the hook, they were all severely disappointing today. England can blame no one but themselves for this defeat, they threw the match away after New Zealand looked to have lost it in the first hour.. 2.90 ERA, 5 CGs, 114 IP), Sean Marcum (5-4, 2.65 ERA, 98.3 IP), Jesse Litsch (7-3, 3.70 ERA, 82.3 IP), Dustin McGowan (5-5, 4.15 ERA, 89 IP), and AJ Burnett (6-7. has given Ricciardi the green light to spend as he sees fit.Nine players are signed with the team until at least 2010 and it will be difficult for Ricciardi to unload any of these contracts.It is unclear how this whole mess will be resolved. If all goes well, Gaston will have a home in Toronto and Ricciardi's job will be safe.However, Gaston's job will be "evaluated" at the end of the season if he can't turn the team around and Ricciardi could come under some heavy scrutiny as soon as the end of the season. .

            Well not the return the Red Sox's were looking for. The week in which the Red Sox's lose Curt Schilling for the rest of the season and probably forever they were lookingforward to the Dice mancoming back with a bang. Well there was a bang and it was off the bat off Aaron Miles in the first inning during which Dice K gave up 7 Earned runs on 6 hits Talk about not the result the Red Sox's wanted Dice K was not only wild but looked confused on the mound. Looking like the Dice K of last year not the Dice K of this year. His So called gyro ball was flat and his fastball had no location and no pop. It seemed Varitek caught 10 pitches for strikes and the rest were put in play or were balls.  Dice K was not ok.    The Red Sox's had salt put on their wounds as the Yankees got a Fabulous start out of Dan Giese but could not take advantage as they lost 6-0. .