Final Weekend!

After 159 games it all comes down to the final weekend for several teams in both the National and American Leagues. Friday marks the beginning of the final regular season three game series for every team in baseball. For some the fate of their season rests in these three pivotal games; for others it is merely a chance to go out on a high note and see what their young stars can do. Regardless of where your team stands it is sure to be one exciting weekend all across Major League Baseball.

Through Thursday night the following standings hold true:

NL East:
Phillies 89-70 - Next: vs. Nationals
Mets 88-71 1 Next: vs. Marlins

NL Wild Card:
Mets 88-71 - Next: vs. Marlins
Brewers 88-71 - Next: vs. Cubs

AL East:
Rays 96-63 - Next: @ Tigers
Red Sox 94-65 2 Next: vs. Yankees

AL Central:
Twins 87-72 - Next: vs. Royals
White Sox 86-72 .5 Next: vs. Indians

Oregon State Stuns #1 USC

21-0. Not an unusual score at halftime for a game featuring the #1 ranked University of Southern California. The problem for Trojans fans however is that for the first time in a very long time it was not USC who had the twenty-one point lead. Instead it was an unranked Oregon State team. A team who lost its first two games of the season, week one at Stanford and then the following week at Penn St.

Call it a two week layoff. Call it a big win hangover. Call it a fluke. Any way you call it the Beavers, not the Trojans, walked away from Thursday night's game winners by the score of 27-21.

Led by freshmen tailback Jacquizz Rodgers and his 186 rushing yards and two touchdowns Oregon States jumped out to a 21-0 lead before USC got their act together in the second half.

Trojan's quarterback and Heismen hopeful Mark Sanchez threw for 227 yards and three touchdowns but was picked off late in the fourth quarter putting an end to any possible comeback.

The loss, by the team who many believed to be the clear cut #1 team in the country, shakes up an already unpredictable college football season. It will be interesting to see how the rest of the season shakes out now that the mighty have fallen.

Giants Suspend Burress

The New York Giants have suspended wide receiver Plaxico Burress for one game for missing a practice without informing the team. The Giants have a bye in week 4 so he will serve his suspension during week 5 against the Seattle Seahawks. Burress has eight catches for 259 yards and a touchdown in three games this season.

Giant's coach Tom Coughlin had the following to say in regards to the suspension:

"We have had success here because of the team concept and the team concept means basically that everyone is accountable and responsible and that we don't let the other guys down. And that is what we are trying to do. This is a team that is focused and displayed mental toughness and they will do the same thing with regard to this."

Time for a Change in STL

Desperate times call for desperate measures. Thats what an 0-3 start and a coach on the hot seat will do to the St. Louis Rams as they have elected to bench quarterback Marc Bulger in favor of 38 year old Trent Green. The move was announced today by Ram's coach Scott Linehan. Green last played for the Miami Dolphins last season before suffering what many thought would be a career ending concussion.

"I think we'd be crazy if we didn't try something different because what we've done for the first three weeks is not working."

It is never a good sign if a team decides to bench one of its only recognizable players this early in the season. It is not a good time to be a Rams fan.

Steelers Injury Woes

The Pittsburgh Steelers will be without star running back Willie Parker and four time Pro-Bowl nose tackle Casey Hampton for Monday night's game against Baltimore.

Parker suffered a sprained left knee late in Sunday's game against Philadelphia. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin indicated that the injury may require Parker to miss more than one game but no time table has yet been established. 2008 first-round draft pick Rashard Mendenhall will make his first NFL start in Parker's absence.

Hampton is suffering from a groin strain and is only expected to miss one week.

Sox To Retire #6

1, 4, 8, 9, 27. Those are the only five numbers that the Boston Red Sox have retired in their storied history as a Major League Baseball franchise. On Friday they will do something that they have not in quite some time (2000) as they will add a sixth number to that list. Ironically, that number will be the number 6, worn proudly by Johnny Pesky for ten years as a player for the Red Sox and several more as a coach.

Pesky, who is best known for Fenway's right field foul pole which bares his name, has ties with all five of the other retirees. He played with Bobby Doerr (No. 1), Joe Cronin (No. 4), and Ted Williams (No. 9) and then coached both Carl Yastrzemski (No. 8) and Carlton Fisk (No. 27).

U-S-A!

For the first time since 1999 the United States captured the Ryder Cup, golf's version of the Olympics. Every two years the event is played with the United States taking on a usually dominant Europe team.

After losing the previous three Ryder Cups, the Americans, led by first time Captain Paul Azinger, were determined not to go down on home soil. They wasted no time getting out of the gates jumping out to a 5 1/2 to 2 1/2 lead after day one. Europe made a push day 2 by winning the day 4 1/2 points to 3 1/2 cutting USA's lead to 2. In the end it was the Americans, led by Ryder Cup rookies Bubba Watson and Kenny Perry, who sealed the deal putting the United States back in the winner's circle 16 1/2 to 11 1/2.

Saying Goodbye to Yankee Stadium

While Sundays in fall are usually reserved for watching football, there is something much bigger going on tonight. The house that Ruth built, Yankee Stadium, is hosting its final game in its 85 year life. It's been the home of 26 World Championships, Monument Park, Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Rodger Marris, Lou Gehric, Yogi Berra, and countless others. It's hosted the Pope, boxing matches featuring Muhammad Ali, and was the setting of the memorable "Win One for the Gipper" speech. It was their for the United States after 9/11. So as Andy Pettite throws the last first pitch in stadium history, we bid adu to a national treasure.

Yankee Stadium is a baseball cathedral, and the moments that have taken place there will last a lifetime. Goodbye, Yankee Stadium.

Dolphins Running Wild

In a very unexpected development the Miami Dolphins lead the New England Patriots 21-6 at half time. Led by three rushing touchdowns from Ronnie Brown and little trickery from the offense the Dolphins are looking less and less like a team that has won just once in their last twenty regular season games.

Matt Cassel and the Patriots will need to get their acts together in the second half if they want to avoid the upset.

Be sure to check back with WAY Back Sports throughout the day for the latest NFL week 3 news!

Sunday, Sunday, Sunday

Here we are once again! Its week 3 of the NFL schedule. Be sure to check in with WAY Back Sports all day for the latest NFL news.

This week's top match-ups include:

Dallas Cowboys (2-0) at Green Bay Packers (2-0)

Aaron Rodgers faces his first real test as he takes on what may believe to be the best team in the entire National Football League.

Jacksonville Jaguars (0-2) at Indianapolis Colts (1-1)

Traditionally a tough match-up between AFC South foes. The Jags will be looking to ride their high powered running game to their first victory. The Colts will look to build upon last week's victory over the Vikings. Dallas Clark will be back for the first time this season for the Colts, only improving an already powerful offense.

New York Jets (1-1) at San Diego Chargers (0-2)

Its may seem a little premature to say this but this game could be the make or break point in the season for the Chargers. 0-3 is a hole that they just may not be able to overcoming. With LT questionable there will be a lot of pressure put on the arm of Philip Rivers.