As another school year rolls around, most sports’ fans turn their attention to collegiate sports, and while UVU is in its first year as a university, the athletic teams have been competing against other universities at the Division I level for several years. Not only has UVU held its own in D-I competition, but has left several universities known for their athletic teams with their tails between their legs.
In perhaps the best Olympic performance since Michael Phelps swam to eight gold medals the week before, Jamaica’s Usain Bolt bolted his way to history in the 100- and 200-meter sprints, setting new world records in each event. After dominating the 100-meter race earlier in the week with a world-record time of 9.69 seconds his encore was even more impressive. Absolutely burning up the track, Bolt beat former 200-meter world-record holder Michael Johnson’s record by turning in a time of 19.30. He is the first man since Carl Lewis of the United States to sweep the two events.
Eli Manning has won one Super Bowl, and John Elway has won two. Michael Jordan won three NBA Championships — twice — and Lance Armstrong raced his way to seven consecutive Tour de France victories.
A few weeks into the second half of the season, the Orem Owlz have let everyone else know who is the boss in the Pioneer League. After falling behind in the standings early, the Owlz have ripped off 14 consecutive wins to regain first place. The winning streak is a franchise best and has the Owlz rolling as the playoffs near. After winning the Pioneer League championship in three of the last four years, Orem is the team to beat when September rolls around.
Ever since the great American basketball disaster in 2004, the USA Men’s basketball team has played together as a team. No country has been a contest for this all-star roster, beating all the main contenders with their tenacious defense.
Former UV pitcher Kam Mickolio was called up to Major League Baseball by the Baltimore Orioles last week and with his first appearance will become the first UVU player to play in a big-league game.
The lady wolverines are back to uphold their champion reputation, which might take a little rebuilding considering how many seniors they lost last year.
Despite having a shaky 6-13-1 season last year, the women’s soccer team remarkably pulled it together by winning the United Soccer Conference tournament. This was the first conference win for UVU women’s soccer. So what can be expected this year? Coach Anderson replied, “We’re looking to repeat as champions.” With only nine upper classman and 20 freshmen and sophomores, this year the wolverines look to achieve greater expectations by winning more games and repeating as conference champions.
Home run derby night was a fitting name for the Owlz game on Friday thanks to the two home runs that gave them the “W” over the Helena Brewers.
In a chance to disprove the MLS cynic, Real Salt Lake came into last Monday’s match against Toronto FC looking to defend its home field and first place in the Western Conference with a win. Having been a laughing stock of the MLS in its first four years, RSL proved its relevance with a 2-1 win over Toronto.
After reporting to Green Bay Packers training camp last week future Hall-of-Fame quarterback Brett Favre made it clear that he wouldn’t be playing for his former team this coming season. Upon his arrival in Green Bay, Favre and coach Mike McCarthy met and discussed his future with the team before both decided it was best for Favre to move on.
After completing his senior season at UVU in the 2007-08 season Jordan Brady will continue his basketball career as a member of the Luxembourg Racing this fall.
This past week the Utah Jazz began the Rocky Mountain Review a little rocky, losing its first two games to the San Antonio Spurs and the Atlanta Hawks. Kosta Koufos, the Jazz’s 23rd pick in the 2008 draft showed an unimpressive five points and four rebounds starting his debut with the Jazz on last Fridays game against the Spurs. The Jazz made an embarrassing 29% from the field, losing 57 to 82.
As has become a trend in the NBA, superstars who are the cornerstones of their franchise are opting for less money to sign shorter deals. Following in the footsteps of LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Paul, point guard Deron Williams has settled on a three-year deal with an option for a fourth with the Utah Jazz.
Casper continued its winning streak against Orem and came closer to clinching first place in the pioneer league.
