For the second straight year, the Mumbai Indians sit in a delicate position, having only won two of their first seven games in the Indian Premier League. With the second half of its season to begin Friday when they face Rajasthan Royals, their performance could be extremely indicative of whether or not they make the playoffs.

Last year, Mumbai lost its first five games of the IPL season. Part of that streak could be attributed to the unfamiliar environment of the United Arab Emirates, where the season began because of the Indian general election. Once Mumbai arrived in India, they went on to win seven of their remaining nine fixtures. But there were multiple instances throughout the year when the then-defending champions played with a lack of confidence, that particularly influenced their batting. Whether it was getting used to not having the legend Sachin Tendulkar play anymore (he retired from all cricket in November 2013), or the pressure of expectation to repeat as winners, the Mumbai team of 2014 wasn’t the same team that won both the IPL and the Champions League T20 the year before. They made a miraculous recovery – capped off by a wild finish in their final group game – to qualify for the playoffs, but it’s fair to say this was a team that failed to reach its true potential.

2015 could be a case of new year, same results for Mumbai. Their main issue this year has been getting enough wickets to put opponents under pressure, notably early in the innings. In each of their five losses this year, Mumbai has allowed big innings from multiple players in a game; although their own roster has countered with solid performances on occasion, their bowling is arguably the one aspect they most need to improve in the second half of the season. Again, with the Rajasthan match to come on Friday, expect the result to be telling of how the team approaches the rest of the season.

Is it too late for Mumbai to salvage a playoff spot? Leave a comment below!

Thursday marks one year since Game 4 of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoff series between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Columbus Blue Jackets. Pittsburgh came into the series as the heavy favorite, but needed to rally to win both Games 1 & 3, while the Blue Jackets got their first-ever playoff win in the second overtime of Game 2. In Game 4, the Penguins got out to a 3-0 lead in the first period, and seemed poised to take a 3-1 series lead back to Pennsylvania. But the Blue Jackets rallied to tie the game in the final minute of regulation thanks to Brandon Dubinsky.

What followed was Nick Foligno’s overtime game-winner that tied the series at two games apiece. Relive the moment, as called by CBC’s Bob Cole…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfT2jlkqtLI

Here’s the call from Kenny Albert of NBCSN…

And Bob McElligott’s call on the Columbus Blue Jackets Radio Network…

The key for the franchise now is whether they can start making the playoffs on a regular basis. The Blue Jackets suffered several disappointing losing streaks throughout the season, and while the team won 12 of its final 13 games – its lone loss in that stretch coming in overtime, meaning a point – Columbus missed out a second straight postseason appearance. It’s the second time in three years that the Blue Jackets ended a season as arguably the hottest team in the NHL, only for it to be too little too late. Watch for the front office to make major decisions as the franchise strives for its ultimate goal of a championship.

Imagine being so furious over a business decision made by your favorite sports team, that you join with others to form a completely new team. That happened 10 years ago, following American businessman Malcolm Glazer’s takeover of Manchester United. Many Red Devils fans stopped supporting the Premier League club, choosing to form a team completely owned by its fans; thus, F.C. United of Manchester was born.

The club began playing in 2005, in Division Two of the North West Counties Football League – one of the branches in the tenth tier of the English system. Led by 18 goals from Rory Patterson, FC United finished atop the division, earning a spot in Division One. The 2006-07 & ’07-’08 seasons brought more promotions, as the team earned success at a rate not unlike the Premier League side. After missing out on the promotion play-offs during the first two years in the Northern Premier League’s Premier Division, FC United made three successive play-off finals, only to lose at the final step. The 2013-14 season saw FC United lose in the play-off semifinals, after finishing second out of 24 teams – only the league champion gained automatic promotion.

In 2015, after seven seasons in the seventh tier, FC United of Manchester are champions of the NPL Premier Division, clinching the title Tuesday with a 1-0 win over Stourbridge. It caps off a campaign where the club didn’t lose a league match from late November (against Stourbridge) through mid-April. Greg Daniels scored the goal to ensure the three points that guaranteed first place.

Also on Tuesday night in Manchester, Salford City FC, a club partly owned by several former Red Devil legends (Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs, Gary & Phil Neville, and Paul Scholes), clinched the NPL’s Division One North title, meaning they’re headed to the seventh tier. But after seven years of trying to make the Conference, the joy of FC United fans is unmistakable.

What’s next for F.C. United of Manchester? For starters, there’s still one more league match to come Saturday, at second-place Workington, who would’ve still had a shot at automatic promotion had United failed to win on Tuesday. The main thing for fans to look forward to now, though, is the opening of their very own ground, Broadhurst Park. The club had hoped to open the new stadium during the 2014-15 season, but delays kept that from happening. The ground is set to formally open with a May 29 friendly featuring FC United and Benfica – the same Benfica that Manchester United defeated 4-1 in the 1968 European Cup Final. FC United show all the characteristics of a club setting goals and reaching them; with the club just two tiers away from the Football League, it will be interesting to see if they can keep this success rate.

Saturday marks the renewal of arguably the biggest rivalry of the Premier League era, when Chelsea hosts Manchester United at Stamford Bridge. It will mark the end of a five-game run for the visitors against several of their biggest adversaries – both longtime and modern – a run which began right after their most recent loss, in the FA Cup quarterfinals to Arsenal.

Following that home defeat to the Gunners, United refused to cave in with a fundamental 3-0 win over Tottenham, who had won on their last two trips to Old Trafford. Then came an always-intimidating trip to Anfield, which ended with another Red Devils’ win. Last week saw United win a Manchester Derby at home for the first time since Wayne Rooney’s incredible bicycle kick in 2011. Through 32 games, Louis van Gaal’s charges sit third in the Premier League, four points ahead of City (the difference between third and fourth in the league meaning an automatic spot in the Champions League group stage, or competing in the play-off round).

Following Sunday’s win, several Sky Sports pundits offered their views on the Red Devils’ recent form, including former United captain Gary Neville, who said he thought the club could get seven points from the games against Spurs, Liverpool, City, & Chelsea. The club has nine from those matches, with one still to come.

Chelsea, meanwhile, remain in the driver’s seat for a first EPL title since 2010. The Blues have only lost twice in the league all season, although they suffered disappointing results at home in both the Champions League and the FA Cup. Jose Mourinho and company were very close to picking up a win in Manchester earlier this season, only to be denied three points by Robin van Persie. Playing in front of a home crowd will likely have a major impact in how Saturday’s match goes.

It’s the end of a daunting stretch for Manchester United, one they have smoothly navigated so far. Will that form continue at Stamford Bridge?

The first golf major of 2015 begins Thursday: the iconic Masters at Augusta National Golf Club. Each major championship in the sport carries its own prestige, but there’s something unique about the tournament held every spring in Georgia, a different kind of respect given to a golfer when’s he introduced as a Masters champion. In 2015, almost 100 of the world’s best will compete at the famed venue, each competing for a chance to don the coveted green jacket. Here are a few narratives to keep an eye on.

More Glory for Rory?

The top-ranked player in the world was on fire during the second half of 2014, winning the Open Championship and a second PGA title. Had McIlroy not collapsed on Augusta’s back nine in 2011, he would’ve already finished a career slam; however, that just means 2015 could be the year for the Northern Irishman to do it. (If he wins the Masters, McIlroy would also have a chance to complete a “Rory Slam” – holding all four major titles at the same time – at the U.S. Open in June.) His finishes at Augusta have improved over the last few seasons – he was tied for eighth a year ago – and he can definitely be considered a favorite to win.

Is Tiger Back?

Tiger Woods announced several days ago that he would play in the Masters, ending a nine-week absence from the game. The 39-year-old is currently 111th in the latest world rankings, and is still searching for a 15th major title. Woods was in a similar kind of position 10 years ago; he arrived at the 2005 Masters looking for a first major in almost three years. But after nearly blowing a final-round lead, Woods beat Chris DiMarco in a playoff for his most recent win at Augusta. His chip-in for birdie at the 16th could be regarded as one of the most amazing shots of the decade.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRCjJi_uDp8

After that title, he went on to win five additional majors over the next three years. Now it’s been almost seven years since Torrey Pines; Woods is running out of time to catch Jack Nicklaus, is 2015 the season when the world sees another Tiger resurgence?

Defending champion Bubba Watson is also a favorite, as the University of Georgia alum seeks a third green jacket in four years. Whoever takes the prize come Sunday, golf fans can be guaranteed plenty of drama over the next four days.

It’s been less than two weeks since Australia won its fifth Cricket World Cup title, but to some cricket fans, the final may have felt like it occurred a month ago. Those fans won’t have to wait much longer for more exciting limited-overs competition, as the Indian Premier League begins its eighth season on Wednesday. Over the next two months, India and the world will be treated to arguably the most exciting T20 club tournament in the planet.

The first match of this year’s competition is one that will grab even a casual fan’s attention: the defending champion Kolkata Knight Riders against the iconic Mumbai Indians. Last season was a true roller coaster for Mumbai; they lost every game played in the UAE (the IPL was held there to start because of the ongoing elections in India), but Rohit Sharma and company rallied to make the playoffs, edging the Rajasthan Royals on a tiebreaker after this emphatic comeback in the last group game.

It will be a wild couple of weeks as clubs fight for the four playoff spots. Kings XI Punjab finished runners-up in 2014; can they gain a title this year? Chennai Super Kings have been perennial contenders under Indian national team captain MS Dhoni, while Royal Challengers Bangalore and Delhi Daredevils seek a return to the IPL’s elite. For Rajasthan, the question isn’t whether they’ve had nightmares about their late-season collapse, but how many times; their two games against Mumbai – April 14 & May 1 – were circled on the calendar the minute the schedule was released. Sunrisers Hyderabad posted a 6-8 record a season ago, and have the unenviable task of opening the new campaign at Chennai.

Overall, the IPL is a great introduction to anyone who hasn’t followed cricket previously, or who had a faint interest and wants to learn more about the sport. The best players in the world are ready to display their talent for everyone to see.

Since 1938, the National Invitation Tournament has been staged as a postseason competition for college basketball teams. Today, though, it is often looked down on by fans, and some players as well, as the tournament selects teams who don’t get picked to play in the NCAA Tournament. Whatever the general perception of the NIT may be, the competition does allow for exciting games when teams want to play in it.

Take Thursday night’s NIT Championship Game between Stanford and Miami. The Cardinal and Hurricanes went to overtime in an exciting contest in Madison Square Garden, a game that had Hurricanes alum Michael Irvin riding a roller coaster of emotions. For the semifinals and championship game, it’s a different mentality than earlier rounds, because the natural instinct for players in that situation is the excitement of knowing they’ll compete in a venue like MSG. But for both squads to reach the final round, they had to accept that a title here wouldn’t be as prestigious as an NCAA Championship. But a “glass half-full” outlook paid off very well for both Stanford and Miami.

The same can be said for West Virginia women’s basketball. The Mountaineers will play in Saturday’s WNIT title game against UCLA, after going to overtime in both their quarterfinal and semifinal matchups. WVU enjoyed home-court advantage in previous rounds, and with Saturday’s game in Charleston, will be playing in front of mostly Mountaineer fans. Head coach Mike Carey has mentioned the team’s desire to continue playing several times during this postseason run, and how getting to compete in a tournament, even if it’s not the NCAA, can give benefits to a program.

With the addition of other tournaments, like the College Basketball Invitational and the CollegeInsider.com Tournament, more schools, particularly those from mid-major conferences, now have a chance to face new opposition and exposure to new game atmospheres. Most of the time, if teams make an effort to play as well as they can, it makes for a winning combination, and leaves the average fan wanting more.