racingmeridian.com

GRIDIRON..Michael Vick returns to the NFL tonight after a two year hiatus. Protesters are expected as the repentant proprietor of dog fighting kennels resumes what had been a very lucrative career. Vick is still young and did average 8.4 yards a carry while garnering over 1,000 rushing yards for the Atlanta Falcons in 2006. His leadership skills and character will be scrutinized as he takes the part time control of the ambitious Philadelphia Eagles…with all the fuss over the various inanities of new coach Josh McDaniels, it has slipped under the radar that the Denver Broncos made an excellent hiring in Mike Nolan, their new defensive co-ordinator. The Broncos are playing a 3-4 alignment and showing gumption and ferociousness not seen since the Orange Crush days. Yes, I know it is very early. But with their Kyle Orton lead offense sure to be a bust, it is interesting to see a resurgence in Bronco fortunes on the other side of the ball…have the Jacksonville Jaguars entered a period of stagnation? The team was rife with infighting last year and I don’t think those issues have been fully addressed. Coach Jack Del Rio is the early favourite in my “First Coach Fired” pool…something to keep in mind concerning Mark Sanchez, the rookie starting quarterback of the New York Jets; he only made 16 starts, ever, for USC. This is a very raw player who has demonstrated notable shortcomings during the current preseason. I don’t see even a .500 season for the Jets, despite their imposing defensive unit…the St Petersburg Times is reporting that Byron Leftwich will be given the starting job for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. I’ve agitated for this day for a long time and I have every confidence that Leftwich is going to make the most out of this “second chance”…ICE..Dany Heatley was at it again yesterday, darkly suggesting that there is more behind his trade demand than the public knows. We’ve told you what Bill Waters on AM 640 revealed to listeners; namely that Heatley feels the recreational drug use on the Ottawa Senators is poisoning the locker-room environment…FOOTIE..who doesn’t love Manchester United? The “draw” for the Champions League Group stage was released today and let’s just say the Red Devils placement is “favourable”.  Group B features CSKA Moscow, Wolfsburg, Besiktas and Man U. The tournament gets underway Sept 15^th, with the final being held May 22nd/2010 at Bernabeu Stadium in Spain (Real Madrid’s home grounds)…PONIES..Kieren Fallon, the great jockey and appalling degenerate, returns to the saddle in England next week after serving an eighteen month suspension for cocaine abuse. Fallon will ride for elite trainer Michael Stoute as he attempts to revive his career prospects. A stint at Betty Ford has the Irishman clear headed and focused, or so he says, but Fallon doesn’t stay in any situation for long without sabotaging his personal success. I’ll enjoy his riding while I can…the prestigious Travers Stakes is the feature at Saratoga on Saturday. The “Midsummer Derby” will feature a battle between Florida Derby winner Quality Road and Belmont Stakes winner Summer Bird. Notable by his absence is that twisted turd, the Kentucky Derby winner, the “horse that shall not be named”. The miserable brute has yet to win since upsetting Pioneer of the Nile, and a wheelbarrow full of my money, on the first Saturday in May…PUG LIFE..a rousing chat with the Pinoys today revealed that Manny Pacquiao remains ensconced in the Philippines while completing a film. Is life unfolding like Rocky 3? While Miguel Cotto - Clubber Lang sweats up a storm in the gym, Manny Pacquiao - Rocky Balboa gallivants around various projects, none assisting in the preparation for what will likely be his sternest test. Does Freddie Roach have to drop dead in the locker-room before the Pac Man turns his full attention to Cotto?…Fightnews reported all three Polish television networks provided live coverage of yesterdays announcement of the Tomasz Adamek - Andrew Golota heavyweight fight. Billed as “The Polish Fight of the Century” I am extremely bearish on the prospects for an entertaining spectacle. Golota does not have the intestinal fortitude to either prepare properly or fight with passion. I see a bloated over-the-hill pretender chopped down in expeditious fashion by the smaller Adamek…