The past weekend was an incredibly active one in the sports world. There were inspiring stories and there were especially heartbreaking ones for fans and players alike. To kick things off, Jim Durham, we will sorely miss you. Your presence and your insurmountable contribution to the game of basketball will be remembered by many! Whether Jim was commentating for Bulls games during their legendary run or whether he was acting as the voice of basketball for ESPN, his commentary was always animated, relevant and entertaining. He left us much too early, at just 65 years old, and will forever be seen on a different plain for weaving masterful storytelling into his commentary.

After we received this heavy news, we were informed that the NHL has decided to cancel the Winter Classic game, which was scheduled to take place on January 1st, 2013. There are many enraged fans, particularly those from Detroit and Toronto, the two cities whose teams were scheduled to play. The NHL consistently receives its highest television ratings (with the exception of the Stanley Cup Playoff games) from this game. As a result the underlying question is ‘How is this going to affect the NHL when it was just beginning to shed its “second fiddle” status?’ Following the recent success of expansion teams such as the Phoenix Coyotes and Tampa Bay Lightning, the trend was finally headed north. We hope this won’t affect that trend negatively.

Some very interesting discussions have picked up of late surrounding the now-controversial New Orleans Saints of the NFL. After the astounding implications of the “bounty-gate” scandal, many people feel that the Saints will not be able to shed their negative criticism for a long time. However, one thing is clear -- Saints head coach Sean Payton is missed at the helm. After a sub-par start, the Saints are at the bottom of their NFC South division looking up at a surging Atlanta Falcons team that shows no signs of easing up. However, Payton’s contract extension has now been declared void by the NFL, and as a result, the next time Payton is eligible to coach, he may very well be in new colors from the familiar gold and black fleur-de-lis we are accustomed to.

Next, we’d like to congratulate Guan Tianlan! At just 14 years old, Guan will become the youngest player in history to ever compete in the esteemed Masters event next April. The China native of just 125 lbs has a drive of over 220 yards, but he will be up against the most talented competition he has ever faced. However, on a recent conference call, his steely response showed poise and confidence beyond his years. His idol has always been Tiger Woods, and individuals who have seen Guan play say that the same determination and focus are present in his game. We are excited to see how he fares!

Finally, Redskins Nation is up in arms about the recent comments of Head Coach Mike Shanahan. Shanahan infuriated Washington fans by insinuating that the season was over, and therefore why try? However, when he was questioned publicly his story was completely different, and he claimed his comments were misconstrued. It’s clear that the former Broncos coach is upset about the lack of growth on his young but exceptionally talented team. In the midst of such a lucrative contract we wonder how Redskins management will respond.

What were your favorite highlights from this past weekend?

*Scientists have no conclusive evidence as to whether or how the reduction of g forces during impacts reduces the number or degree of concussions and head injuries. GelDefenderTM products provide supplemental padding as well as cooling and comfort benefits when used with helmets and caps. Participants in activities in which head impacts can occur should always use tested and approved helmets for protection. However, no helmet or supplemental padding can protect the user from all serious head or neck injuries that can result from impacts.