writing everything that just happened tonight, I couldnt bel

The end of the year is almost upon us and that means its time to start unwinding from your work schedule, get ready to spend countless hours with the relatives and start consuming as much food as possible.With all of that going on, the supposed Christmas break can become more hectic than your usual working schedule. So how do you ensure that during this time you can relax?By simply switching on the TV, getting yourself positioned on the couch and watching all the sporting action unfold.Only three rounds remain in the NFL and teams are dropping out of the playoff race quicker than Usain Bolt can run. With final standings and playoff ramifications on the line in every game, you really cant afford to miss it.In the NBA a clearer picture is starting to show amongst the top brass however, below that is a picture that resembles a Picasso painting. Whilst it may not seem like a loss in December is hugely critical, in the jumbled mess that is the NBA standings; every win counts.So which games cant you afford to miss this weekend?NFLTennessee Titans v Kansas City Chiefs - Monday @ 5am live on ESPN RedZoneChiefs are top of the AFC West and the current number two seed in the AFC. The Titans sit second in AFC South and need to win along with a Houston loss to take top spot and claim a Playoff spot.In the middle of a three game home stand, the Chiefs took care of the Raiders in Week 14 behind an impressive defensive showing. The Raiders receivers just couldnt find any clear lanes as the Chiefs blocked every route.The Titans held on to down the Broncos and remain joint leaders in the AFC South. Even after a lacklustre performance from Quarterback Marcus Mariota, the Titans run game behind DeMarco Murray led the way.Can the Titans capitalize on the Chiefs poor rush defense or will Marcus Peters and Eric Berry cause Mariota nightmares in the air?ESPN Pick: Chiefs at home to prove too strong. 24-10Odds: Chiefs $1.40 v Titans $2.95Philadelphia Eagles v Baltimore Ravens - Monday @ 5am live on ESPN RedZoneTalk about a do or die game, if the Eagles lose this one to the Ravens; their season is effectively over. The Ravens will be praying for a Bengals victory against the Steelers and a win here to reclaim the number 1 spot in the AFC North.After a tough loss to the AFC leading New England Patriots, the Ravens led by Joe Flacco will be hoping to get back to their defensive ways and stop the Eagles on their home turf.The Eagles are currently riding a 4-game losing streak and have only won one of their last seven games. Can Carson Wentz and the Eagles defense regain their early season form or will the Ravens put an end to their season?ESPN Pick: Defensive onslaught led by Terrell Suggs. 17-9Odds:?Ravens $1.39 v Eagles $3Indianapolis Colts v Minnesota Vikings - Monday @ 5am live on ESPN RedZoneExpect nothing but an out-and-out fight in this game, both teams need the win. With Playoff hopes evaporating for both sides, a win right now is a necessity.The Vikings have struggled since Round 5, going 2-6 in their last eight games. With the Green Bay Packers breathing down their necks and riding a three-game win streak, the Vikings need to right their ship at home.A much tougher situation lays ahead of the Colts, not only do they effectively need to win their final three games they need the Titans and Texans to lose at least two games each. Can Andrew Luck carry his side over the line?ESPN Pick: Luck to have a slow start but rally the troops late. 31-23Odds:Vikings $1.50 v Colts $2.60NBAChicago Bulls v Milwaukee Bucks - Friday @ 12pm live on ESPN2These two sides will meet three times in a two week span, with this game being the first in a mini back-to-back series. Can the Bucks get the season series off on the right foot at home or will the Bulls steal one?After surrendering a 20-point lead before eventually falling to the Wolves, the Bulls led by Jimmy Butler will be hoping to bounce back onto the winners list. Currently one of only five sides to give up under 100 points per game, can their defense stop the Bucks?Led by Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Bucks have shown glimpses of how good they can be. Narrow losses to the Spurs, Raptors and Warriors to go along with a victory against the Cavs shows that theyre on the verge.ESPN Pick: Giannis to do it all on the way to victory. 102-94Odds:?Bucks $1.67 v Bulls $2.20New York Knicks v Golden State Warriors - Friday @ 2.30pm live on ESPN2Were far enough into the season now that we can admit that the enigma that is the New York Knicks, has taken us all by surprise. Despite a tough overtime loss to the Phoenix Suns, the Knicks currently sit fourth in the Eastern Conference with a 14-11 record.Everyone remembers Derrick Rose proclaiming the Knicks as a Super Team, well now they get a chance to prove their worth against an actual Super Team.The Warriors sit atop the NBA standings with a 22-4 record and as many expected, their offense is a notch above the rest of the league. With Kevin Durant and Steph Curry fuelling the scoring output can the Knicks find a way to slow them down?ESPN Pick: Knicks defense not up scratch against rampant Warriors. 123-101.Odds: Warriors $1.05 v Knicks $10Dallas Mavericks v Utah Jazz - Saturday @ 2.30pm live on ESPNSitting at the bottom of the Western Conference, Dallas Mavericks will be out to cause a major upset with a win against the Jazz, who look to be playoff bound.Without Andrew Bogut, the Mavericks have struggled mightily on the defensive end and whilst the Jazz arent a heavy scoring team, they still have major offensive weapons. The Mavs will be reliant upon marquee signing Harrison Barnes to get them across the line.The Jazz pride themselves on their defensive abilities and more often than not, they win games by shutting down opposition weapons and controlling the flow of a game. Rudy Gobert with his albatross like wingspan is a defensive player of the year contender and one the Mavs will look to avoid.ESPN Pick: Rudy Gobert to swat the Mavs challenge away. 96-78Odds: Jazz $1.35 v Mavericks $3.15Swell Waterfles . The All-Pro lineman got the leg bent under him while trying to make a tackle during the first half of a 22-20 overtime loss at Miami on Thursday night. The medical staff initially thought hed torn the ligament, and the test a day later in Cincinnati confirmed it. Swell Bottle Kopen . Murray beat Sam Querrey 7-6 (5), 6-7 (3), 6-1, 6-3 to clinch Britains opening-round victory against the United States on Sunday at Petco Park. "Im proud of the way Im playing just now, because I had to do a lot of work to get back to where I want to be," Murray said after celebrating with his teammates on the red clay court in a temporary stadium in left field of the downtown home of baseballs San Diego Padres. http://www.swellkopen.be/ . -- For the first time in two months, an opponent was standing up to Alabama. Swell Goedkoop . For the Wild it was their first win of the season and they now have a record of 1-1-2 while the Jets fall to 2-2. Jets start a six game home stand Friday with another divisional game, home to the Dallas Stars. Swell Bottle Belgie .C. Lions has come to an end. Banks told TSN on Jan 2 that he had no interest in playing out the option year of his contract with the Lions in 2014, and he again made that clear in a conversation with Lions GM Wally Buono last week.MIAMI -- The thoughts running through?Dee Gordons head after his first home run of the season ranged from hurried to confusion Monday night. The Miami Marlins?second baseman created one of the memorable sports moments of 2016 as he fought back tears on his way to home plate.It seemed like it took forever, Gordon said of rounding the bases. I was just trying to go back to my teammates as fast as possible, and I couldnt get there. I was just wondering why [Jose Fernandez] wasnt on the top of the steps cheering for me.This wasnt just any at-bat for Gordon. This was the first plate appearance for the Marlins organization after the passing of Fernandez, the superstar pitcher who died Sunday in a boating accident. That was something Gordon took very seriously.The left-handed Gordon came up with a plan to step to the plate and take a pitch right-handed while wearing a helmet in his size with Fernandezs No. 16 on it. Gordon then switched helmets and went to his usual left-handed stance, and his first swing was a monster shot to right field off New York Mets pitcher Bartolo Colon. That?sparked the Marlins to a 7-3 win.Gordon said hitting a home run -- his first of the season -- never crossed his mind.But what made Gordons leadoff home run even more miraculous is the fact that hes far from a power hitter. It took Gordon 304 at-bats this season to hit his first one out of the ballpark. For his career, Gordon is averaging one home run every 239.2 at-bats. But there was something special about this moment for Gordon on a night dedicated to Fernandez.There havent been many smiles from the Marlins the past two days. But Gordon was able to share a rare smile after his homer wwith teammate Giancarlo Stanton, who usually is the Marlins player delivering long-distance bombs.ddddddddddddPure emotion -- theres no other way it could be scripted, Stanton said of Gordons homer. Theres no other way that, unless youre in a movie rewriting everything that just happened tonight, I couldnt believe it. I just put my hands up and celebrated.It was a banner night overall for Gordon, who went 4-for-5 with a homer, two RBIs and a stolen base. Gordon had an RIP shirt made in honor of Fernandez and wore it under his jersey, which was another way for Gordon to keep Fernandez close during the game.It was only right for me to put it on, Gordon said. I know I wasnt supposed to wear it for batting practice, but thats a fine Im willing to take.Marlins president David Samson said before the game that the entire locker room will struggle to reset their equilibrium after Fernandezs death. Mondays win over the Mets was a small step in what will be a long healing process.Led by Gordons homer, Mondays performance was a fitting way for Marlins players to offer a tribute to their teammate who is gone way too soon. This might be the final time you see any Marlins player wear Fernandezs No. 16, especially if the boss -- owner Jeffrey Loria -- has his say.Nobody is going to wear [No. 16] -- I can tell you that now, Loria said. Nobody will wear that number again.If this was the last time we see a No. 16 jersey on the field for the Marlins, Gordon and the rest of Fernandezs teammates made sure it was represented in the best light possible. ' ' '