- In the biggest boxing match of the year, Juan Marquez stunned the world by knocking out Manny Pacquiao. It was the first time in Pacquiao’s career that he lost a fight by getting knocked out.
- Marquez landed a punishing right hook at the end of the 6th round that connected, and knocked Pacquiao out. It was a needed punch as Pacquiao was winning the fight. He had knocked Marquez down in the past two rounds, and was winning on all the scorecards before the 6th round.
- This was the first decisive ending to a match between these two men, who had met three times previously with each fight going the distance and being decided on the cards (Pacquaio had been 2-0-1 against Marquez previously). Boxing promoter Bob Arum says that he sees no reason why there couldn’t be a fifth fight in this tremendous rivalry.
Messi Sets Record
- At Sportico we are contractually obliged to mention soccer at least once a quarter, and today seems like a pretty good time. Lionel Messi scored his 85th and 86th goals of this year (74 for his club team and 12 for his national team) in a 2-1 victory for Barcelona against Real Betis.
- That broke a 40-year old record previously held by Gerd Muller of West Germany. Muller scored his 85 goals in 60 games, while Messi has played in 66 games, with three more before the end of the year to add to his total.
- Messi is one of three finalists for the Ballon D’Or and having the best season of his already historic career, there should not be much of a debate as to whether or not he deserves it. This year Messi became the highest scoring player in Barcelona’s storied history.
Shields traded to Royals
- Yet another MLB team is making a move, as the Tampa Bay Rays have sent ace pitcher James Shields along with starter turned shutdown reliever Wade Davis to the Kansas City Royals in exchange for a package of prospects headlined by OF Wil Myers. Shields is the Rays' all-time leader in wins (87), starts (217), innings pitched (1,454 2/3), strikeouts (1,250), complete games (19) and shutouts (eight). The seven-year veteran has made a club-record four Opening Day starts.
- He goes to a Royals team that looks to be competitive for the first time in years, having already signed pitcher Ervin Santana and re-signed Jeremy Guthrie. Davis could join the rotation in addition to Shields, giving Kansas City a good starting rotation.
- In his final start for the Rays, on Oct. 2 vs. the Orioles, Shields struck out a club-record 15 Orioles in a complete-game two-hitter with no walks, but he sustained a 1-0 loss
- Before Rays fans boycott the team in 2013, it's worth noting that Myers was the minor league player of the year in 2012 and looks to be a Bryce Harper type, as he is a monstrous power hitter who started off as a catcher but was moved to the outfield to preserve his body. He could be up in the big leagues this season for the Rays, who need another big hitter to protect Ben Zobrist and Evan Longoria in their lineup.
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