This evening, the Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Ottawa Senators in overtime, 4-3. Pavel Kubina potted his second of the night off a 3 on 2 rush to give the Buds their 4th straight win.
This result is important for Leafs Nation because Toronto is "battling" with Ottawa for mediocrity in the cellar of the NHL standings, and another Leafs win moves Toronto further and further away from the possibility of a number 1 pick.
The Leafs' fans who are cheering for losses by their team certainly had high hopes entering tonight's game - head coach Ron Wilson started Curtis Joseph for the first time since January 1, possibly suggesting Toronto is tanking games like this in order to improve their chances at the "next, next one", John Tavares.
Only in Toronto.
Only in Canada's largest city could losing be seen as winning. You see, this way, when the Leafs win, fans can be happy and when the Leafs lose, fans can say "at least this improves our draft position."
This line of thinking - particularly in the Leafs organization itself, which has no reason to deflect this type of thinking, as seats get sold regardless - is dangerous for a city which badly needs a championship by its most important franchise.
When one looks at the best teams of the last dozen years - Detroit, San Jose, Colorado, Pittsburgh, New Jersey - one can see (with the exception of Pittsburgh) that #1 picks are not necessarily important to their success.
Detroit is successful because it finds gems such as Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg in the later rounds. San Jose is successful because it develops its young players over many years, keeping their team in the running every season.
If the Leafs truly wanted to position themselves as a team in search of multiple winning campaigns, their focus would be on whom to draft in the 4th and 5th rounds and developing said players, rather than rolling the dice for Tavares.
Maybe the Brian Burke era will do this, I don't know. But losing begets losing, and hoping to finish 14th instead of 10th does nothing to the morale of the young players in your locker room now who need to learn how to win and how to improve.
Showing posts with label NHL. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NHL. Show all posts
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
So, We Meet Again...
Okay, it's obviously been a long time since I've posted anything on here, but with full time school and a full time internship (at TSN, no less), it's been hard to find the time to post my thoughts on the world of sports.
So, without further adieu...
- CC Sabathia signed with the Evil Empire today, 7 years @ over 160 mill. Not bad work in today's tough economic times if you can get it. Makes you wonder where that Sabathia to the Dodgers talk on Sunday came from. After weeks of speculation about CC's love of batting and wish to play in Southern California, it turns out in the end that money speaks louder than anything else. Or maybe it's just because pinstripes are slimming.
- With Sabathia and K-Rod (to the Mets) off the MLB free agent list, A.J. Burnett is likely the next big fish to find a new pond. Reports today put the Yanks and Braves 1-2 in the sweepstakes for the overrated right-hander, and it's anyone's guess where Burnett will end up. I'd love to see him join New York, just so long-suffering Blue Jays fans can watch him crash and burn in the Big Apple.
- Speaking of the Jays, a heartfelt goodbye to Ted Rogers. I worked for his company for 6 years, and while I never met the man, the one time he spoke to a group of us on a conference call really picked up the troops. He will be missed.
- While I was writing that, Nicklas Lidstrom won the Wings-Flames game for his team in overtime. And I cheered - not for the Wings win or the Flames loss, but for Lidstrom's game-winning goal for my fantasy hockey team. Sports have a much different meaning now with the advent of fantasy games.
- Was Bills in Toronto a flop? No, no, a thousand times no. Just because the game was garbage doesn't mean the experiment failed. The stadium was full (mostly) and we were able to showcase our city to the United States for something beside hockey. If the Bills hadn't put up a horrendous effort (7 days after another horrendous effort), we'd be praising how strong the experiment was. And to those who a) wanted the dome roof open or b) complained that the closed roof favoured the visiting Dolphins...grow up. Sunday was the coldest days of the year so far, and I doubt 50,000 people would have preferred sitting outside in that just to give their adopted home team a perceived advantage.
- Michael Phelps won the SI Sportsman of the Year. Chantal Petitclerc won the Toronto Star's Lou Marsh Award. It's almost like in Olympic years, no other sports matter.
- Does golf season ever end?
- This year's Winter Classic between Detroit and Chicago from Wrigley Field will get better ratings than last year's game by a mile... and will pass whichever college football game it is up against that afternoon. Mark my words. And if they put it in a Canadian city next year, the ratings will collapse. But put it in Yankee Stadium or Fenway Park...watch out.
- Why is no one talking about the Carolina Panthers for the Super Bowl this year?
- Why is everyone still talking about the New York Jets for the Super Bowl this year?
- There's lots of talk about salaries being cut because of the economic problems, but why is no one talking contraction in leagues? Both the NHL and the NBA have franchises which don't draw nearly enough people to sustain themselves now, and contraction will improve their talent pools immensely. And for the record, those franchises are Nashville, Florida, Atlanta, Tampa Bay, Phoenix and the Islanders for the NHL and Memphis, New Orleans, Charlotte, and Atlanta for the NBA.
- I'm the first one on board for the "let's get rid of Sean Avery from the NHL" train, but... If there's a belief that Avery needs "psychological help", then why hasn't it happened yet? There seems to be such a stigma in professional sports regarding mental illness, and to me, the perception is along the lines of homosexuality: the law of averages say it's there, but no one talks about it. If Avery does have some sort of mental illness, and he wishes to treat it, then we all need to back off. And maybe, in the long run, something like this will open the door for players to openly admit that they have issues with mental illness.
So, without further adieu...
- CC Sabathia signed with the Evil Empire today, 7 years @ over 160 mill. Not bad work in today's tough economic times if you can get it. Makes you wonder where that Sabathia to the Dodgers talk on Sunday came from. After weeks of speculation about CC's love of batting and wish to play in Southern California, it turns out in the end that money speaks louder than anything else. Or maybe it's just because pinstripes are slimming.
- With Sabathia and K-Rod (to the Mets) off the MLB free agent list, A.J. Burnett is likely the next big fish to find a new pond. Reports today put the Yanks and Braves 1-2 in the sweepstakes for the overrated right-hander, and it's anyone's guess where Burnett will end up. I'd love to see him join New York, just so long-suffering Blue Jays fans can watch him crash and burn in the Big Apple.
- Speaking of the Jays, a heartfelt goodbye to Ted Rogers. I worked for his company for 6 years, and while I never met the man, the one time he spoke to a group of us on a conference call really picked up the troops. He will be missed.
- While I was writing that, Nicklas Lidstrom won the Wings-Flames game for his team in overtime. And I cheered - not for the Wings win or the Flames loss, but for Lidstrom's game-winning goal for my fantasy hockey team. Sports have a much different meaning now with the advent of fantasy games.
- Was Bills in Toronto a flop? No, no, a thousand times no. Just because the game was garbage doesn't mean the experiment failed. The stadium was full (mostly) and we were able to showcase our city to the United States for something beside hockey. If the Bills hadn't put up a horrendous effort (7 days after another horrendous effort), we'd be praising how strong the experiment was. And to those who a) wanted the dome roof open or b) complained that the closed roof favoured the visiting Dolphins...grow up. Sunday was the coldest days of the year so far, and I doubt 50,000 people would have preferred sitting outside in that just to give their adopted home team a perceived advantage.
- Michael Phelps won the SI Sportsman of the Year. Chantal Petitclerc won the Toronto Star's Lou Marsh Award. It's almost like in Olympic years, no other sports matter.
- Does golf season ever end?
- This year's Winter Classic between Detroit and Chicago from Wrigley Field will get better ratings than last year's game by a mile... and will pass whichever college football game it is up against that afternoon. Mark my words. And if they put it in a Canadian city next year, the ratings will collapse. But put it in Yankee Stadium or Fenway Park...watch out.
- Why is no one talking about the Carolina Panthers for the Super Bowl this year?
- Why is everyone still talking about the New York Jets for the Super Bowl this year?
- There's lots of talk about salaries being cut because of the economic problems, but why is no one talking contraction in leagues? Both the NHL and the NBA have franchises which don't draw nearly enough people to sustain themselves now, and contraction will improve their talent pools immensely. And for the record, those franchises are Nashville, Florida, Atlanta, Tampa Bay, Phoenix and the Islanders for the NHL and Memphis, New Orleans, Charlotte, and Atlanta for the NBA.
- I'm the first one on board for the "let's get rid of Sean Avery from the NHL" train, but... If there's a belief that Avery needs "psychological help", then why hasn't it happened yet? There seems to be such a stigma in professional sports regarding mental illness, and to me, the perception is along the lines of homosexuality: the law of averages say it's there, but no one talks about it. If Avery does have some sort of mental illness, and he wishes to treat it, then we all need to back off. And maybe, in the long run, something like this will open the door for players to openly admit that they have issues with mental illness.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Top 10 Most Overrated Active Athletes
10) Michael Phelps - Swimming: Yes, 8 gold medals is quite an extraordinary achievement. But guys who finished 4th and 5th were breaking world records in that pool as well. Something tells me if Phelps was Chinese, we'd be questioning his age.
9) Maria Sharapova - Tennis: For all the accolades Ms. Sharapova receives, her domination seems to come only when the Williams sisters are off their game, either literally or mentally. If she recovers from her current injury well enough to beat them at Wimbledon next year, I'll be a believer.
8) Rick Nash - Columbus Blue Jackets: The former 1st-overall pick has only been a plus player twice in his pro career - with a + 5 and a + 2 last year, with no playoff appearances for his Blue Jackets. Add in that his highest point total was last year with 69, and it's easy to see why he shouldn't have a team built around him.
7) Donovan McNabb - Philadelphia Eagles: Too many injuries (only 3 seasons where he started all 16 games) and no ring means he shouldn't be put into the upper echelon like he is.
6) A.J. Burnett - Toronto Blue Jays: It's easy to get a career high in wins when you don't go the distance once all year and baseball's best pen is behind you. Halladay went the distance 9 times, A.J. - 0.
5) Michelle Wie - Golf: This one's hard because it's not really her fault. She's been placed as a sponsor's exemption in second-tier men's events rather than play with her own gender. Thankfully, her success at Q-school is the first step to getting back on track.
4) Francisco Rodriguez - Los Angeles Angels: Also not K-Rod's fault that he's here. His "record" 62 saves are impressive, yes, but playing on a great team helps. Not to mention the rule that even with a 3 run cushion, a save can still be recorded. He'll get a huge offer from a number of teams - the largest from the Mets, I'm sure, after this year's failures from the pen - and a decent number of pitchers could likely set the same record on this Angels team.
3) Brett Favre - New York Jets: It's hard to write this one after his 6 TD performance against Arizona today (although it would have been less had the Cards, you know, covered anybody), but Mr. Favre holds all the bad records for quarterbacks as well as the good ones. That comes with his Ripken-like starting streak and the natural law of numbers. If you play more than everybody else, you'll set more records than they will. He does get points, though, for saying today "Don't book your Super Bowl tickets yet."
2) Tom Brady - New England Patriots: Brady's inclusion on this list is tied to the performance of Matt Cassel, who so far has been good, not great, for the Pats. If Cassel improves as I think he will and leads the Patriots to the playoffs, Brady's mystique is gone forever.
1) Phil Mickelson - Golf: The reason Phil Mickelson is so popular is because of his endearing personality. Everyone loves him, and I think he's a very engaging character. His 34 PGA tour wins help his fame, but after finally breaking through the majors wall by winning 3, Phil has faded. He only has 2 wins this year, even without the omnipresent Tiger Woods over his shoulder. Everyone wants a rival for Tiger, like we have with Federer and Nadal in tennis. The only problem, Tiger has no rival, no equal. He is the best golfer ever, period. And much like Sergio Garcia (who narrowly missed this list), Phil Mickelson is rated higher by the media and by fans because of that desire.
9) Maria Sharapova - Tennis: For all the accolades Ms. Sharapova receives, her domination seems to come only when the Williams sisters are off their game, either literally or mentally. If she recovers from her current injury well enough to beat them at Wimbledon next year, I'll be a believer.
8) Rick Nash - Columbus Blue Jackets: The former 1st-overall pick has only been a plus player twice in his pro career - with a + 5 and a + 2 last year, with no playoff appearances for his Blue Jackets. Add in that his highest point total was last year with 69, and it's easy to see why he shouldn't have a team built around him.
7) Donovan McNabb - Philadelphia Eagles: Too many injuries (only 3 seasons where he started all 16 games) and no ring means he shouldn't be put into the upper echelon like he is.
6) A.J. Burnett - Toronto Blue Jays: It's easy to get a career high in wins when you don't go the distance once all year and baseball's best pen is behind you. Halladay went the distance 9 times, A.J. - 0.
5) Michelle Wie - Golf: This one's hard because it's not really her fault. She's been placed as a sponsor's exemption in second-tier men's events rather than play with her own gender. Thankfully, her success at Q-school is the first step to getting back on track.
4) Francisco Rodriguez - Los Angeles Angels: Also not K-Rod's fault that he's here. His "record" 62 saves are impressive, yes, but playing on a great team helps. Not to mention the rule that even with a 3 run cushion, a save can still be recorded. He'll get a huge offer from a number of teams - the largest from the Mets, I'm sure, after this year's failures from the pen - and a decent number of pitchers could likely set the same record on this Angels team.
3) Brett Favre - New York Jets: It's hard to write this one after his 6 TD performance against Arizona today (although it would have been less had the Cards, you know, covered anybody), but Mr. Favre holds all the bad records for quarterbacks as well as the good ones. That comes with his Ripken-like starting streak and the natural law of numbers. If you play more than everybody else, you'll set more records than they will. He does get points, though, for saying today "Don't book your Super Bowl tickets yet."
2) Tom Brady - New England Patriots: Brady's inclusion on this list is tied to the performance of Matt Cassel, who so far has been good, not great, for the Pats. If Cassel improves as I think he will and leads the Patriots to the playoffs, Brady's mystique is gone forever.
1) Phil Mickelson - Golf: The reason Phil Mickelson is so popular is because of his endearing personality. Everyone loves him, and I think he's a very engaging character. His 34 PGA tour wins help his fame, but after finally breaking through the majors wall by winning 3, Phil has faded. He only has 2 wins this year, even without the omnipresent Tiger Woods over his shoulder. Everyone wants a rival for Tiger, like we have with Federer and Nadal in tennis. The only problem, Tiger has no rival, no equal. He is the best golfer ever, period. And much like Sergio Garcia (who narrowly missed this list), Phil Mickelson is rated higher by the media and by fans because of that desire.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Time To Play Catch-Up...
It's been a while, mainly because summer turns the sports fan's mind to thoughts of things that aren't athletic, since the middle of the baseball season and the beginning of the CFL season aren't exactly huge draws. But, these last few weeks have seen some great and awful things in the sporting world, so it's time to play catch-up...
- This week, Toronto is the centre of the sporting world, and still no one seems to care. Fed and Rafa, Canadian Open with a real shot of a Canadian winning it, MLS All-star game with soccer's biggest star, David Beckham, and the Jays host Seattle and Asia's most famous baseball star, Ichiro. But yet, there is no buzz, no talk, no nothing here in the GTA. But if the Leafs were playing, watch out!
- Speaking of the Leafs, (former) captain Mats Sundin reportedly said that he will make his decision regarding his playing future on August 1. Funny, I thought it would take longer, but I just hope he sticks to it so we don't have to hear about this anymore.
- Hey, possible retirements! While we're on the subject, what of Mr. Brett Favre? The latest news is that NFL Commissioner Gordon - oops Goodell - (sorry, Dark Knight hangover) wants the Pack to deal him. In any other league would the Commissioner openly tell a team what to do regarding one of their players? While I agree with Goodell, it's not his place to say, and it speaks to the arrogance of the league and its leader. Here's hoping, though, that the Packers trade the old man quickly to an AFC team that will fail to make a mark this season, if only to shut Favre up once and for all.
- The Jays, meanwhile, are 14-12 under Cito Gaston since his return. Good? Yes. But not great, and this team needs great if there's any hope for 2008. They need to win these next two in Baltimore and take the series against Seattle to gain some confidence, because after that, the Rays come to T.O., and Tampa Bay has dominated Toronto this year. Ah, who are we kidding? There's always next year.
Wow, do I hate the summer. Only 6 weeks until the baseball season gets interesting and real football begins. Until then, I'll be watching tennis and golf on the off chance something interesting happens. If not, the Jays will be on, and I'll continue to be disappointed.
- This week, Toronto is the centre of the sporting world, and still no one seems to care. Fed and Rafa, Canadian Open with a real shot of a Canadian winning it, MLS All-star game with soccer's biggest star, David Beckham, and the Jays host Seattle and Asia's most famous baseball star, Ichiro. But yet, there is no buzz, no talk, no nothing here in the GTA. But if the Leafs were playing, watch out!
- Speaking of the Leafs, (former) captain Mats Sundin reportedly said that he will make his decision regarding his playing future on August 1. Funny, I thought it would take longer, but I just hope he sticks to it so we don't have to hear about this anymore.
- Hey, possible retirements! While we're on the subject, what of Mr. Brett Favre? The latest news is that NFL Commissioner Gordon - oops Goodell - (sorry, Dark Knight hangover) wants the Pack to deal him. In any other league would the Commissioner openly tell a team what to do regarding one of their players? While I agree with Goodell, it's not his place to say, and it speaks to the arrogance of the league and its leader. Here's hoping, though, that the Packers trade the old man quickly to an AFC team that will fail to make a mark this season, if only to shut Favre up once and for all.
- The Jays, meanwhile, are 14-12 under Cito Gaston since his return. Good? Yes. But not great, and this team needs great if there's any hope for 2008. They need to win these next two in Baltimore and take the series against Seattle to gain some confidence, because after that, the Rays come to T.O., and Tampa Bay has dominated Toronto this year. Ah, who are we kidding? There's always next year.
Wow, do I hate the summer. Only 6 weeks until the baseball season gets interesting and real football begins. Until then, I'll be watching tennis and golf on the off chance something interesting happens. If not, the Jays will be on, and I'll continue to be disappointed.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
I Don't Know If I'd Call It A Frenzy...
So, Happy Canada Day and all that. Canada's lone baseball team is playing a series on the other side of the continent in another country. Remember when Canada Day weekend meant the Jays played the Expos every year? Ah, memories.
But of course, July 1 is the first day for unrestricted free agents to sign with new teams in the NHL. There were plenty of signings to satisfy the cravings of hockey fans who cannot wait the 3 months in between the draft and training camp, so let's break them down.
First, Brian Campbell signed the biggest deal of the day, going to Chicago for 8 years. Nice to see him mention the classy nature of the Sharks organization twice to James Duthie on TSN. Good luck, Brian. Your playing elsewhere next year helps me forget that you were in the penalty box for the elimination goal against Dallas. But, he's a great player and Chicago is looking dangerous in the years ahead - the next Pittsburgh. And apparently he owes Duthie dinner...
Speaking of Chicago, they also picked up Cristobel Huet today to (presumably) back up Nik Khabibulin. But, as was pointed out by Gord Miller, the B-Hawks are over the cap right now, and with two quality goalies, does this mean the end of the Bulin Wall in Chicago? Seriously, name the last team with two starting goalies that won the Cup. Exactly. One of these two will fail and either be traded or released by this time next year. Mark my words, it'll be Nik.
Meanwhile, Huet's former team, Washington, let him and his competition last year, Oleg Kolzig, go. So, to make up for it, they signed - say it with me now - former Hart Trophy winner Jose Theodore for 2 years. You know, Jon Stewart said it best about Sly Stallone, and it's oddly appropriate in this case: Once you win an Oscar, they can't take it away from you for any reason. So why would a team with 2 quality starting tenders let them both go to sign Theodore? Between Chicago, Tampa Bay (Kolzig's new home) and Washington, there will be failure in 2009.
And of course, it wouldn't be a free agent discussion with Mats Sundin, who was offered $20 million over 2 years to play in Vancouver. And of course, we won't hear his decision until, what? Thanksgiving?
All in all, not a bad day for these players. Once Marian Hossa and Jaromir Jagr sign, though, the frenzy will be over.
Oh.
The Jays are wearing red-coloured logos on their hats. That makes up for it.
But of course, July 1 is the first day for unrestricted free agents to sign with new teams in the NHL. There were plenty of signings to satisfy the cravings of hockey fans who cannot wait the 3 months in between the draft and training camp, so let's break them down.
First, Brian Campbell signed the biggest deal of the day, going to Chicago for 8 years. Nice to see him mention the classy nature of the Sharks organization twice to James Duthie on TSN. Good luck, Brian. Your playing elsewhere next year helps me forget that you were in the penalty box for the elimination goal against Dallas. But, he's a great player and Chicago is looking dangerous in the years ahead - the next Pittsburgh. And apparently he owes Duthie dinner...
Speaking of Chicago, they also picked up Cristobel Huet today to (presumably) back up Nik Khabibulin. But, as was pointed out by Gord Miller, the B-Hawks are over the cap right now, and with two quality goalies, does this mean the end of the Bulin Wall in Chicago? Seriously, name the last team with two starting goalies that won the Cup. Exactly. One of these two will fail and either be traded or released by this time next year. Mark my words, it'll be Nik.
Meanwhile, Huet's former team, Washington, let him and his competition last year, Oleg Kolzig, go. So, to make up for it, they signed - say it with me now - former Hart Trophy winner Jose Theodore for 2 years. You know, Jon Stewart said it best about Sly Stallone, and it's oddly appropriate in this case: Once you win an Oscar, they can't take it away from you for any reason. So why would a team with 2 quality starting tenders let them both go to sign Theodore? Between Chicago, Tampa Bay (Kolzig's new home) and Washington, there will be failure in 2009.
And of course, it wouldn't be a free agent discussion with Mats Sundin, who was offered $20 million over 2 years to play in Vancouver. And of course, we won't hear his decision until, what? Thanksgiving?
All in all, not a bad day for these players. Once Marian Hossa and Jaromir Jagr sign, though, the frenzy will be over.
Oh.
The Jays are wearing red-coloured logos on their hats. That makes up for it.
Friday, June 13, 2008
In a Few Years
In a few years, when we look back at the week that was in professional sports, we may realize that this week has had a profound impact on the sporting world more than we do today. In a stunning allegation, gambling's favourite son, former NBA referee Tim Donaghy, claimed that the outcomes of past playoff games were fixed by "company-men" refs who called the games in order to see the series extend to a game 7, and therefore, give the league the extra ratings it needed.
Many writers who covered one of the series in question, the West Final between the Kings and Lakers in 2002, said at the time that the calls in Game 6 were "offensively bad". Whether one believes the disgraced referee now or not, revelations like this, when tied to recent history, are too much of a coincidence to ignore.
If, in the next few weeks and months, more revelations of this sort come out against the NBA, the NFL's SpyGate will seem like minor shoplifting when compared to the game fixing the NBA will be accused of. How can we know it's not going on now? The league already admitted they wanted a Celtics-Lakers Final before the playoffs began; now we have one. Coincidence? When so much circumstancial evidence is presented, it's difficult to give the league a free pass. Let's hope the league steps up and tries to clean up after itself like baseball did after allegations of steroids.
In other (seemingly) more important news, CBC did not renew the famous "Hockey Theme" song, leaving the door open for rival CTV to purchase it for TSN and for its Olympic coverage in 2010. Besides my obvious joy from this (being an intern at TSN this fall), I can't help but wonder if this is the beginning of the end for hockey on Canada's public broadcaster. Will CTV go after Don Cherry next? Bob Cole? And when will the next eventual bid for full broadcasting rights be? One year, two tops?
In a few years, we may look back at June 2008 and pinpoint this week as the time that the NBA hit rock bottom and the death of hockey on CBC. And if not, it's just another week in sports.
Many writers who covered one of the series in question, the West Final between the Kings and Lakers in 2002, said at the time that the calls in Game 6 were "offensively bad". Whether one believes the disgraced referee now or not, revelations like this, when tied to recent history, are too much of a coincidence to ignore.
If, in the next few weeks and months, more revelations of this sort come out against the NBA, the NFL's SpyGate will seem like minor shoplifting when compared to the game fixing the NBA will be accused of. How can we know it's not going on now? The league already admitted they wanted a Celtics-Lakers Final before the playoffs began; now we have one. Coincidence? When so much circumstancial evidence is presented, it's difficult to give the league a free pass. Let's hope the league steps up and tries to clean up after itself like baseball did after allegations of steroids.
In other (seemingly) more important news, CBC did not renew the famous "Hockey Theme" song, leaving the door open for rival CTV to purchase it for TSN and for its Olympic coverage in 2010. Besides my obvious joy from this (being an intern at TSN this fall), I can't help but wonder if this is the beginning of the end for hockey on Canada's public broadcaster. Will CTV go after Don Cherry next? Bob Cole? And when will the next eventual bid for full broadcasting rights be? One year, two tops?
In a few years, we may look back at June 2008 and pinpoint this week as the time that the NBA hit rock bottom and the death of hockey on CBC. And if not, it's just another week in sports.
Friday, June 6, 2008
One of the Funniest Things I Have Read In A Long While
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=gallo/080604
The NHL's "secret" response to Tiger Woods' comment that no one watches hockey anymore.
The NHL's "secret" response to Tiger Woods' comment that no one watches hockey anymore.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Time for a New Obsession
Well, another hockey season is in the books, and, for once, the best team in the regular season was the best team in the playoffs, and, as a result, no one can deny that the Detroit Red Wings were the NHL's best in 2007-2008. As much as everyone wanted to pick Pittsburgh, Montreal, or (gulp!) San Jose, the better team won. And we can't even complain that they rode a hot goalie or bullied their way to the Cup (ah, the Ducks): Detroit played smart, classy hockey and deserved to win.
But there is no hockey until training camp starts in September (yes, only 3 months from now), so now we must focus our attention on other sports.
First, the NBA.
Crap. Their final (heretofor referred to as "Finals") begins tonight and as I write this the Celtics lead by 5 with 5 minutes left in the first half. I guess that means I can turn the channel back in 90 minutes and very little will change. Any sport that has a referee with gambling and Mafia connections and another who was openly hostile against one particular player one year - Tim Duncan last year - then suspended for such hostility, then referees a series featuring that exact player the following year has some serious issues with fair play. Forget the SpyGate and steroid hearings, U.S. Congress; get your attention towards the unfair competition at hand in the NBA. Maybe that's why the league got their dream Finals match-up...
Okay, well, there's always baseball. But it's June, and virtually nothing is decided now. Oh, except that the Blue Jays are an average team and will likely stay that way throughout the rest of the year. Next.
The NFL season is still 3 months away, and hockey is 4. Maybe it's time I brush up on my CFL knowledge.
Or I could just stop watching sports...
Hmm...
How many teams are in the CFL again?
But there is no hockey until training camp starts in September (yes, only 3 months from now), so now we must focus our attention on other sports.
First, the NBA.
Crap. Their final (heretofor referred to as "Finals") begins tonight and as I write this the Celtics lead by 5 with 5 minutes left in the first half. I guess that means I can turn the channel back in 90 minutes and very little will change. Any sport that has a referee with gambling and Mafia connections and another who was openly hostile against one particular player one year - Tim Duncan last year - then suspended for such hostility, then referees a series featuring that exact player the following year has some serious issues with fair play. Forget the SpyGate and steroid hearings, U.S. Congress; get your attention towards the unfair competition at hand in the NBA. Maybe that's why the league got their dream Finals match-up...
Okay, well, there's always baseball. But it's June, and virtually nothing is decided now. Oh, except that the Blue Jays are an average team and will likely stay that way throughout the rest of the year. Next.
The NFL season is still 3 months away, and hockey is 4. Maybe it's time I brush up on my CFL knowledge.
Or I could just stop watching sports...
Hmm...
How many teams are in the CFL again?
Friday, May 23, 2008
Pens/Wings Prediction
I know, it's a boring title, but my creativity is waning a bit today; I'm even for the playoffs (7-7), so this is my big chance to finish above .500 for the NHL playoff season. Here goes nothing...
Penguins v Red Wings: Ignoring all the talk of youth v experience, this series, to me, is pretty simple: Pittsburgh has yet to lose at home in the playoffs. There is nothing like home ice advantage in the playoffs, and even if Pittsburgh loses the first 2 in Detroit, they will still be confident heading home for Games 3 and 4.
I see a split in the first 2, as Marc-Andre Fleury comes off a shaky Game 1 to steal Game 2 from Detroit. Pittsburgh sweeps at home, but loses their first chance at the Cup in a Game 5 defeat at Joe Louis. Game 6, on a Wednesday night in Pittsburgh, the Pens will knock off the President's Trophy winners and win their first Cup in the Sidney Crosby era.
And because the league and its writers want to anoint the new Gretzky properly, Sid the Kid will win the Conn Smythe. There's a very good chance that he'll deserve it.
Penguins in 6.
Record: 7-7
Penguins v Red Wings: Ignoring all the talk of youth v experience, this series, to me, is pretty simple: Pittsburgh has yet to lose at home in the playoffs. There is nothing like home ice advantage in the playoffs, and even if Pittsburgh loses the first 2 in Detroit, they will still be confident heading home for Games 3 and 4.
I see a split in the first 2, as Marc-Andre Fleury comes off a shaky Game 1 to steal Game 2 from Detroit. Pittsburgh sweeps at home, but loses their first chance at the Cup in a Game 5 defeat at Joe Louis. Game 6, on a Wednesday night in Pittsburgh, the Pens will knock off the President's Trophy winners and win their first Cup in the Sidney Crosby era.
And because the league and its writers want to anoint the new Gretzky properly, Sid the Kid will win the Conn Smythe. There's a very good chance that he'll deserve it.
Penguins in 6.
Record: 7-7
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
The Final (Boring) Four
So here we are, 2 rounds of the Stanley Cup playoffs down and they were fantastic. Great goals, sensational saves, and awesome alliteration were the name of the game. But, with 3 of the 4 remaining squads offering little to no appeal to the casual hockey fan, these playoffs will likely be as interesting as a NFL pre-season game.
Anyway, onto the picks, such as they are.
Pittsburgh v Philadelphia: For the last two rounds, I have picked against the Flyers (and, if you saw my 2nd round picks, you'll see that none of my predictions came through). But, there is something about Pittsburgh this year, and as long as Marc-Andre Fleury continues his strong play, the Pens will please us all and head to the Finals. Penguins in 6.
Detroit v Dallas: The new trendy Stanley Cup pick - now that the Sharks are out (tear) - is the Red Wings, but, after watching the Stars in a grueling series against the aforementioned Sharks and dominating the Cup champions, Detroit's first 2 series wins don't look that great by comparison. Marty Turco is the best goalie of the 4 remaining tenders, and Brendan Morrow is dominating the game like few others right now. Call it a hunch. Stars in 7.
Record: 6-6
Anyway, onto the picks, such as they are.
Pittsburgh v Philadelphia: For the last two rounds, I have picked against the Flyers (and, if you saw my 2nd round picks, you'll see that none of my predictions came through). But, there is something about Pittsburgh this year, and as long as Marc-Andre Fleury continues his strong play, the Pens will please us all and head to the Finals. Penguins in 6.
Detroit v Dallas: The new trendy Stanley Cup pick - now that the Sharks are out (tear) - is the Red Wings, but, after watching the Stars in a grueling series against the aforementioned Sharks and dominating the Cup champions, Detroit's first 2 series wins don't look that great by comparison. Marty Turco is the best goalie of the 4 remaining tenders, and Brendan Morrow is dominating the game like few others right now. Call it a hunch. Stars in 7.
Record: 6-6
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
La Forza Del Destino (Part 2:30)
{NB: As with the previous post, this is a personal rant and lacks a logical thought process, planned out arguments, and sometimes, even correct grammar.}
After Game 5's seemingly improbable comeback by the Sharks to get their series with the Stars back to Dallas, I wrote about the power of fate (La Forza Del Destino for me and the other 7 Sports Night fans) and my belief that this was the year for the boys in teal.
On Sunday night, I was glued to my television from 9 p.m. to just before 2:30 Monday morning when, after 3 and a half overtimes which followed 3 periods of tight play, Brendan Morrow - the Conn Smythe winner should Dallas win the Cup - scored on the power play after Brian Campbell was forced to take a tripping penalty.
After a day's reflection - and a night's sleep - I choose not to complain about it. I could focus on the non-calls before Campbell's trip was noticed, but the non-calls went both ways throughout the marathon. The Sharks' goalie, Evgeni Nabokov, was fantastic, and had no chance on the winning goal. The Sharks' offence was as good as Dallas', and had numerous chances to win if not for the brilliant goaltending of Marty Turco.
The Sharks' season is now over, and Ron Wilson would almost certainly be fired as coach. However, he deserves a lot of credit for keeping his team upbeat after a crippling 3-0 series deficit. Throughout the Dallas series, with the exception of the 3rd period of Game 2, either team could have won, as the Sharks and the Stars were evenly matched, and played that way, for the duration of the series.
Should Wilson be fired? I don't know. Doug Wilson, the GM, put all the pieces in place, and something intangible seems to be missing from San Jose. Is it the coach? Maybe. The captain? Possibly. One thing is for sure - it's not the goaltender. It's not Jeremy Roenick, who was fantastic throughout the playoffs.
Changes will need to be made, but if they are, one thing needs to be kept in mind. This is the only team who has made the second round for the last four seasons in a row. One wonders, though, how much longer this crew can push in order to finally win a Cup for San Jose. And for me...
After Game 5's seemingly improbable comeback by the Sharks to get their series with the Stars back to Dallas, I wrote about the power of fate (La Forza Del Destino for me and the other 7 Sports Night fans) and my belief that this was the year for the boys in teal.
On Sunday night, I was glued to my television from 9 p.m. to just before 2:30 Monday morning when, after 3 and a half overtimes which followed 3 periods of tight play, Brendan Morrow - the Conn Smythe winner should Dallas win the Cup - scored on the power play after Brian Campbell was forced to take a tripping penalty.
After a day's reflection - and a night's sleep - I choose not to complain about it. I could focus on the non-calls before Campbell's trip was noticed, but the non-calls went both ways throughout the marathon. The Sharks' goalie, Evgeni Nabokov, was fantastic, and had no chance on the winning goal. The Sharks' offence was as good as Dallas', and had numerous chances to win if not for the brilliant goaltending of Marty Turco.
The Sharks' season is now over, and Ron Wilson would almost certainly be fired as coach. However, he deserves a lot of credit for keeping his team upbeat after a crippling 3-0 series deficit. Throughout the Dallas series, with the exception of the 3rd period of Game 2, either team could have won, as the Sharks and the Stars were evenly matched, and played that way, for the duration of the series.
Should Wilson be fired? I don't know. Doug Wilson, the GM, put all the pieces in place, and something intangible seems to be missing from San Jose. Is it the coach? Maybe. The captain? Possibly. One thing is for sure - it's not the goaltender. It's not Jeremy Roenick, who was fantastic throughout the playoffs.
Changes will need to be made, but if they are, one thing needs to be kept in mind. This is the only team who has made the second round for the last four seasons in a row. One wonders, though, how much longer this crew can push in order to finally win a Cup for San Jose. And for me...
Saturday, May 3, 2008
La Forza Del Destino
{NB: This is a personal post, without the usual well thought out ideas that fill this page. Please keep that in mind.}
Friday night. 11:59. The clock literally about to strike midnight for the San Jose Sharks, ending their season with yet another second-round defeat, this time at the hands of division rival Dallas. Down 2-0 after 2 sloppy periods, I hang my head, begging for a miracle, but realizing that one will not come.
James Duthie and the TSN panel discuss the likely end to the Sharks season and how it is all but over after two.
{As an aside, should former Star Matthew Barnaby be allowed to comment on this series? He's clearly biased. Although Glenn Healy is clearly biased towards Dallas and that doesn't seem to matter...}
I look around my room. The first thing I see - my Sharks puck on top of my bookcase. I have been a San Jose fan since they entered the league in 1991, and am still anxiously waiting for a Stanley Cup. My hope for this year's team is falling.
Then it dawns on me. I open my closet to find my original Sharks jersey, circa 1991. Sure I was 10 then, and it clearly doesn't fit anymore, but this is a sign. I take it out and lay it on the bed.
Third period starts with the Stars on the power play. Brendan Morrow looks like he has the dagger with a goal, but it's immediately waived off, after replays show the puck went off his glove and in. No penalty on the cross check from Craig Rivet either. The tide is turning.
Patrick Marleau gets his third breakaway in as many games, but Marty Turco pokes checks him and perserves the shutout. No goal, but the confidence is building.
Christian Ehrhoff takes another dumb penalty, and common sense says pull him off the ice and send him to the minors forever for another stupid penalty in a playoff game, but the Sharks kill it off easily. But, it's still 2-0.
After the penalty, Joe Thornton steals the puck behind the Dallas net and throws it out front to Milan Michalek, who beats Turco to cut the lead to 1. After being invisible in the Calgary series, Michalek now leads all scorers in the series with 4 goals.
4 minutes later, the aforementioned Ehrhoff sets up the ageless Jeremy Roenick, who outlets to Brian Campbell, who shoots a bullet past Turco to tie the game. Campbell's finally on the scoresheet and the comeback is complete.
The jersey seems to have worked, and as the overtime starts, I sit up, jersey clutched in hand. The jersey I wore to school in grade 8 after the Sharks completed their improbable upset over the 1st seeded Red Wings in their first ever playoff round. The jersey I wore while watching Mike Gartner beat Arturs Irbe in game 7 of the Leafs-Sharks playoff. I think my tears are still on there, buried deep in the teal fabric.
The jersey I held in my hand when Joe Pavelski beat Turco above the glove hand to seal the victory for the Sharks in Game 5 to send the series back to Dallas 3-2.
The jersey I will leave on my bed throughout these playoffs from now on. The jersey I will clutch on Sunday night at 9.
Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.
And yes, there is something to be said about the power of fate.
It's been 33 years since the '75 Islanders came back from 3-0. And it was 33 years before that when the Red Wings did it to the Leafs.
La Forza Del Destino. The Power of Fate. 2 more wins to go.
Friday night. 11:59. The clock literally about to strike midnight for the San Jose Sharks, ending their season with yet another second-round defeat, this time at the hands of division rival Dallas. Down 2-0 after 2 sloppy periods, I hang my head, begging for a miracle, but realizing that one will not come.
James Duthie and the TSN panel discuss the likely end to the Sharks season and how it is all but over after two.
{As an aside, should former Star Matthew Barnaby be allowed to comment on this series? He's clearly biased. Although Glenn Healy is clearly biased towards Dallas and that doesn't seem to matter...}
I look around my room. The first thing I see - my Sharks puck on top of my bookcase. I have been a San Jose fan since they entered the league in 1991, and am still anxiously waiting for a Stanley Cup. My hope for this year's team is falling.
Then it dawns on me. I open my closet to find my original Sharks jersey, circa 1991. Sure I was 10 then, and it clearly doesn't fit anymore, but this is a sign. I take it out and lay it on the bed.
Third period starts with the Stars on the power play. Brendan Morrow looks like he has the dagger with a goal, but it's immediately waived off, after replays show the puck went off his glove and in. No penalty on the cross check from Craig Rivet either. The tide is turning.
Patrick Marleau gets his third breakaway in as many games, but Marty Turco pokes checks him and perserves the shutout. No goal, but the confidence is building.
Christian Ehrhoff takes another dumb penalty, and common sense says pull him off the ice and send him to the minors forever for another stupid penalty in a playoff game, but the Sharks kill it off easily. But, it's still 2-0.
After the penalty, Joe Thornton steals the puck behind the Dallas net and throws it out front to Milan Michalek, who beats Turco to cut the lead to 1. After being invisible in the Calgary series, Michalek now leads all scorers in the series with 4 goals.
4 minutes later, the aforementioned Ehrhoff sets up the ageless Jeremy Roenick, who outlets to Brian Campbell, who shoots a bullet past Turco to tie the game. Campbell's finally on the scoresheet and the comeback is complete.
The jersey seems to have worked, and as the overtime starts, I sit up, jersey clutched in hand. The jersey I wore to school in grade 8 after the Sharks completed their improbable upset over the 1st seeded Red Wings in their first ever playoff round. The jersey I wore while watching Mike Gartner beat Arturs Irbe in game 7 of the Leafs-Sharks playoff. I think my tears are still on there, buried deep in the teal fabric.
The jersey I held in my hand when Joe Pavelski beat Turco above the glove hand to seal the victory for the Sharks in Game 5 to send the series back to Dallas 3-2.
The jersey I will leave on my bed throughout these playoffs from now on. The jersey I will clutch on Sunday night at 9.
Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.
And yes, there is something to be said about the power of fate.
It's been 33 years since the '75 Islanders came back from 3-0. And it was 33 years before that when the Red Wings did it to the Leafs.
La Forza Del Destino. The Power of Fate. 2 more wins to go.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Now the Real Fun Begins
Not that the 1st round of the NHL playoffs wasn't great - because it was - but now, as we prepare for Round 2 tomorrow night, we can get ready to watch games with those "average" teams that get into the playoffs just to be knocked out early. The Nashvilles, the Bostons, and yes the Ottawas, are all calling their friends to book tee times today. It's time for the elite eight to show why they belong at this point in the playoffs.
EAST
Montreal v Philadelphia: When both teams are pushed to the brink in their 1st round series, the boring argument of rest v momentum gets thrown out the window. Thankfully. For the Habs, you can look at their near-collapse - followed by a dominating game 7 performance - either as an eye-opener or cause for concern. While it may be the latter, I don't think the Flyers pose a serious enough threat to make it worrisome. Canadiens in 6.
Pittsburgh v New York: As much as everyone - including me - wants to see the Pens advance to the East final, let me make these arguments for the Rangers: more experience with the likes of Jagr and Shanahan, the advantage in the pest department (who would you hate to play more? Avery or Ruutu? Exactly.), and, most importantly, superior goaltending. Sorry, Sid. Not this year. Rangers in 7.
WEST
Detroit v Colorado: As much as we'd all like a rematch of the great series these two teams had in the 90s, the absence of Claude Lemieux really dents that dream. Maybe the Avs can work out a deal to bring him back for the week. With Detroit's goaltending, or lack thereof, and the way Colorado played against Minnesota, I could see this one ending with an upset. Avalanche in 7.
San Jose v Dallas: The Sharks are in a similar spot to the Habs; taking to the max by a team that didn't belong to their talent pool. But while Montreal is inexperienced, San Jose isn't, and the scare against Calgary (and trust me, it was a scare) should wake up the Sharks. I hope. Sharks in 6.
Record: 6-2
EAST
Montreal v Philadelphia: When both teams are pushed to the brink in their 1st round series, the boring argument of rest v momentum gets thrown out the window. Thankfully. For the Habs, you can look at their near-collapse - followed by a dominating game 7 performance - either as an eye-opener or cause for concern. While it may be the latter, I don't think the Flyers pose a serious enough threat to make it worrisome. Canadiens in 6.
Pittsburgh v New York: As much as everyone - including me - wants to see the Pens advance to the East final, let me make these arguments for the Rangers: more experience with the likes of Jagr and Shanahan, the advantage in the pest department (who would you hate to play more? Avery or Ruutu? Exactly.), and, most importantly, superior goaltending. Sorry, Sid. Not this year. Rangers in 7.
WEST
Detroit v Colorado: As much as we'd all like a rematch of the great series these two teams had in the 90s, the absence of Claude Lemieux really dents that dream. Maybe the Avs can work out a deal to bring him back for the week. With Detroit's goaltending, or lack thereof, and the way Colorado played against Minnesota, I could see this one ending with an upset. Avalanche in 7.
San Jose v Dallas: The Sharks are in a similar spot to the Habs; taking to the max by a team that didn't belong to their talent pool. But while Montreal is inexperienced, San Jose isn't, and the scare against Calgary (and trust me, it was a scare) should wake up the Sharks. I hope. Sharks in 6.
Record: 6-2
Monday, April 7, 2008
April Is The Cruelest Month
The NHL playoffs are 48 hours away (approximately), and it's time to fail miserably at my predictions for the outcomes of the series. As always, any monetary loss that comes from following these picks will not be recouped by me.
EAST
Montreal v Boston: The Habs have a long history of riding rookie goaltenders to playoff glory (Patrick Roy, Ken Dryden), and they have dominated the Bruins this year. Even without Saku Koivu, it's hard to imagine Montreal losing this series. Canadiens in 4.
Pittsburgh v Ottawa: The Sens are in free fall; after starting out 16-3 this year, Ottawa has crumbled, finishing 7th in the East. Dysfunctional locker room, below average goaltending, injured captain against a team that is looking for revenge after losing to the Sens in 5 last year. Pens in 5.
Washington v Philadelphia: The hottest team in the Eastern Conference are the Capitals, and with the presumed Hart Trophy winner leading the way, things are looking up for Washington. Philly struggled in February and March, but picked it up late in the season to clinch a playoff birth. This one could go either way, and in those cases, I always go with the better goalie. Capitals in 6.
New Jersey v New York: The best series of the 4. The Rangers dominated Jersey this year, only losing one game. But, that game was Sunday's finale, where a Rangers win would have given them home ice. This one will go 7, and I have a hunch the Rangers will find a way to pull it out against Brodeur and the Devils. Rangers in 7.
WEST
Detroit v Nashville: It's hard to imagine, but the President's Trophy winners are forgotten in the world of Sharks, Ducks, and Penguins. But if the Wings lose to Nashville, heads will roll. Red Wings in 5.
San Jose v Calgary: Do you even have to ask? Sharks in 6.
Minnesota v Colorado: The Wild quietly won the the Northwest division this year, but with the addition of Foote and Forsberg, not to mention the cavalcade of talent that was there before, I can't see Minnesota taking this series. Avalanche in 6.
Ducks v Stars: The defending Cup champs are poised for another deep run this year, but the Stars should give them enough of a run to make things difficult for Anaheim in the second round. Ducks in 6.
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Caps In, Canes Out, Jays Dominate, Raptors Suck
That's Saturday's sports in a nutshell, folks. Washington did what Carolina couldn't - beat the Florida Panthers (a team long out of the playoffs) when it counted for real. As a result, the Canes are out of the playoffs this year, not too far removed from their Stanley Cup winning year. It just goes to show you how even the NHL is this year.
On the other side, the league, TSN, and NBC must be happy tonight; instead of having to show Carolina hockey this post-season, they get to show Alex Ovechkin and the exciting Capitals. Here's hoping they draw the Pens in the 2nd round.
The Jays won their second straight over the Red Sox, 10-2, in a dominating performance by the majority of the team. Jesse Litsch kept the Jays' starters' streak going of 5 straight strong outings by the starting staff. Tomorrow, one of the best pitching match-ups of the year (and it's only April) - Roy Halladay v Josh Beckett.
Apparently, the Raptors are still playing. I had no idea. You see, after the Leafs were eliminated and the Jays started this season, the Toronto sports media has ignored the Dinos. Good thing too - they lost again tonight, this time to New Jersey. They have now lost to Charlotte (twice), Atlanta, and the Nets this week. I should have faith in this team this year because...?
NHL playoff predictions coming soon...
Friday, March 28, 2008
Post #100 Means More Random Ramblings
First, am I the only one who is surprised by the fallout of the Jonathan Roy pummeling/subsequent suspension? Roy get 8 games for beating the daylights out of an unwilling participant, and the outrage sparks a debate on whether or not fighting in junior hockey should be banned.
While I think it should, as a long proponent of banning fighting at all levels of hockey - including the NHL - fighting generally involves two people who are, you know, interested in fighting each other. What Roy did was above and beyond cruel, and his famous father encouraging to do so was just as bad.
Roy Jr. should have been thrown out of the league, for good, and his daddy should have had his bags packed. But don't tell me that a ban on junior fighting would have saved this situation from happening. After all, when you watch the video (which I specifically will not link from here), you can't see a referee in sight.
When something of this magnitude occurs, it is only natural to discuss the ramifications for the rest of the league, and the sporting world in general. In this case, the Q sent a message to the hockey world that bullying is permitted in their game.
Second, a huge thumbs-up to Raptors point guard Jose Calderon. In a sporting world filled with narcissistic, selfish dolts, Calderon is a breath of fresh air. Before Wednesday's game against the Pistons, Calderon suggested to his coach, Sam Mitchell, that T.J. Ford take his place in the starting line-up. Calderon said it was the best move for the team, and he was dead-on. Toronto beat the far superior Pistons by 7. If more players acted like Jose, sports fans would be far less cynical.
Third, on the same topic, Calderon makes less than one million dollars this season, and is up for free agency. If Bryan Colangelo and his team don't resign the guard, the fallout will be epic for years to come.
Fourth, it has finally come to a head for the Leafs. Last night, Toronto lost 4-2 to the Bruins, taking any remote chance of playoff hockey away from the Buds. The best thing the Leafs can do for the rest of the season is to start Andrew Raycroft in net, so one of two things can happen: either lose more to get a better draft spot, or show him off as trade bait this summer. Either way, Vesa Toskala deserves a break after 26 straight starts for the blue and white.
While I think it should, as a long proponent of banning fighting at all levels of hockey - including the NHL - fighting generally involves two people who are, you know, interested in fighting each other. What Roy did was above and beyond cruel, and his famous father encouraging to do so was just as bad.
Roy Jr. should have been thrown out of the league, for good, and his daddy should have had his bags packed. But don't tell me that a ban on junior fighting would have saved this situation from happening. After all, when you watch the video (which I specifically will not link from here), you can't see a referee in sight.
When something of this magnitude occurs, it is only natural to discuss the ramifications for the rest of the league, and the sporting world in general. In this case, the Q sent a message to the hockey world that bullying is permitted in their game.
Second, a huge thumbs-up to Raptors point guard Jose Calderon. In a sporting world filled with narcissistic, selfish dolts, Calderon is a breath of fresh air. Before Wednesday's game against the Pistons, Calderon suggested to his coach, Sam Mitchell, that T.J. Ford take his place in the starting line-up. Calderon said it was the best move for the team, and he was dead-on. Toronto beat the far superior Pistons by 7. If more players acted like Jose, sports fans would be far less cynical.
Third, on the same topic, Calderon makes less than one million dollars this season, and is up for free agency. If Bryan Colangelo and his team don't resign the guard, the fallout will be epic for years to come.
Fourth, it has finally come to a head for the Leafs. Last night, Toronto lost 4-2 to the Bruins, taking any remote chance of playoff hockey away from the Buds. The best thing the Leafs can do for the rest of the season is to start Andrew Raycroft in net, so one of two things can happen: either lose more to get a better draft spot, or show him off as trade bait this summer. Either way, Vesa Toskala deserves a break after 26 straight starts for the blue and white.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Trade Deadline Was Anything But
So now that we are a day removed from the NHL's trade deadline, or, as Tony Kornheiser put it, "a national holiday in Canada", we can objectively look back at what was, in the end, an eventful day for the league.
The Pens acquisition of Marion Hossa from the Thrashers surprised many, as the consensus seemed to be that Montreal or Ottawa were the frontrunners for the sniper's services. But with the addition of Hossa and Hal Gill to the line-up, Pittsburgh is loading up for a championship run this year, which makes sense in the wide open Eastern Conference. I only hope for their sake that trading away such great young talent as Colby Armstrong and Angelo Esposito doesn't come back to bite them.
Staying in the East, Washington seems to be priming themselves for a playoff push, likely followed by a first-round loss. The Caps picked up Cristobel Huet from Montreal for a 2nd round pick, and took Matt Cooke off the hands of the Canucks. Will either of these moves make the Capitals a contender? No. Will the addition of old man Sergei Federov from Columbus? No. But it will be fun to watch, and I for one look forward to seeing both Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin in the post-season.
In the West, Dallas and my beloved Sharks made big splashes by getting Brad Richards and Brian Campbell, respectively. However, in the deep and talented Western Conference, those moves may end up being moot. Anaheim seems poised for another Cup run, and Detroit is always strong, their recent struggles notwithstanding.
One more point on the deadline; there are a lot of people out there who blame Mats Sundin for not waiving his no-trade clause. Two things to keep in mind: first, he's not the only one, as Bryan McCabe, Tomas Kaberle, Darcy Tucker, and Pavel Kubina all did the same thing (thankfully, as Kubina was set to go to San Jose on Monday, and, if that happened, no Brian Campbell for my boys.) Second, someone who has dedicated 13 years of his life to one organization, and more importantly, one city, deserves the right to say, "I want to stay." Any Leaf fan that chooses to jeer their captain for exercising his contractual right and stay in the city he loves should be ashamed of himself. Sundin is the best Leaf of the last 10 years, and one of the best ever, and Toronto sports fans should be honoured to have him play in blue and white, not fretting over the loss of 2 top prospects and a first round pick.
The Pens acquisition of Marion Hossa from the Thrashers surprised many, as the consensus seemed to be that Montreal or Ottawa were the frontrunners for the sniper's services. But with the addition of Hossa and Hal Gill to the line-up, Pittsburgh is loading up for a championship run this year, which makes sense in the wide open Eastern Conference. I only hope for their sake that trading away such great young talent as Colby Armstrong and Angelo Esposito doesn't come back to bite them.
Staying in the East, Washington seems to be priming themselves for a playoff push, likely followed by a first-round loss. The Caps picked up Cristobel Huet from Montreal for a 2nd round pick, and took Matt Cooke off the hands of the Canucks. Will either of these moves make the Capitals a contender? No. Will the addition of old man Sergei Federov from Columbus? No. But it will be fun to watch, and I for one look forward to seeing both Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin in the post-season.
In the West, Dallas and my beloved Sharks made big splashes by getting Brad Richards and Brian Campbell, respectively. However, in the deep and talented Western Conference, those moves may end up being moot. Anaheim seems poised for another Cup run, and Detroit is always strong, their recent struggles notwithstanding.
One more point on the deadline; there are a lot of people out there who blame Mats Sundin for not waiving his no-trade clause. Two things to keep in mind: first, he's not the only one, as Bryan McCabe, Tomas Kaberle, Darcy Tucker, and Pavel Kubina all did the same thing (thankfully, as Kubina was set to go to San Jose on Monday, and, if that happened, no Brian Campbell for my boys.) Second, someone who has dedicated 13 years of his life to one organization, and more importantly, one city, deserves the right to say, "I want to stay." Any Leaf fan that chooses to jeer their captain for exercising his contractual right and stay in the city he loves should be ashamed of himself. Sundin is the best Leaf of the last 10 years, and one of the best ever, and Toronto sports fans should be honoured to have him play in blue and white, not fretting over the loss of 2 top prospects and a first round pick.
Monday, January 7, 2008
The NHL's Backyard Rink
On New Year's Day, the NHL held its second regular season game outdoors, but the first to be played in the U.S., and the first to be broadcast nationally south of the border. In a dull game, Pittsburgh beat Buffalo 2-1 in a shootout, with wunderkid Sidney Crosby scoring the winning goal.
Frequent stoppages for snow removal aside, the game was a resounding success, as over 70,000 people braved the elements at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, New York, and NBC enjoyed their highest hockey ratings by a country mile.
There is, of course, talk now about making this an annual event, because if it worked once and everyone watched, why wouldn't it work again? And again... and again...
The problem here is that repeating a regular season game outdoors once a year, or even once every two years, has the very real potential of becoming stagnant and boring, something no league, or network, wants to have happen.
I think the outdoor game is a great idea, and the lack of offense aside, the Pens-Sabres game was immensely entertaining. But there is a better solution than merely playing a game for 2 points outdoors. (Oh wait, it's the NHL. 3 points.)
Why not have the All-Star Game played outdoors? The outdoor idea is still new enough to attract the casual or curious viewer, and showcasing the league's best talent in a game that ultimately means nothing will appease the GM's and coaches who fear the outdoor game may cost their team just enough points to miss the playoffs in the pathetic NHL.
Also, the game could be made into a real event, with the skills competition, oldtimers game, and rookie game also being played on the largest backyard rink. The players who have played in either Buffalo or Edmonton have already said they loved the game and are more than willing to do it again.
The league is calling in for a miracle, and the phone was answered with the results of the Winter Classic. Now the league needs the message to get through to the right people, and an outdoor All-Star Game should do that.
Frequent stoppages for snow removal aside, the game was a resounding success, as over 70,000 people braved the elements at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, New York, and NBC enjoyed their highest hockey ratings by a country mile.
There is, of course, talk now about making this an annual event, because if it worked once and everyone watched, why wouldn't it work again? And again... and again...
The problem here is that repeating a regular season game outdoors once a year, or even once every two years, has the very real potential of becoming stagnant and boring, something no league, or network, wants to have happen.
I think the outdoor game is a great idea, and the lack of offense aside, the Pens-Sabres game was immensely entertaining. But there is a better solution than merely playing a game for 2 points outdoors. (Oh wait, it's the NHL. 3 points.)
Why not have the All-Star Game played outdoors? The outdoor idea is still new enough to attract the casual or curious viewer, and showcasing the league's best talent in a game that ultimately means nothing will appease the GM's and coaches who fear the outdoor game may cost their team just enough points to miss the playoffs in the pathetic NHL.
Also, the game could be made into a real event, with the skills competition, oldtimers game, and rookie game also being played on the largest backyard rink. The players who have played in either Buffalo or Edmonton have already said they loved the game and are more than willing to do it again.
The league is calling in for a miracle, and the phone was answered with the results of the Winter Classic. Now the league needs the message to get through to the right people, and an outdoor All-Star Game should do that.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Is There An Echo in Here?
This past July, I mentioned that the Wednesday of the baseball all-star break was the worst sports day of the year, and I praised the NHL for releasing their schedule on that day.
Now, here we are, Tuesday October 2nd, the second worst day of the sports year. The baseball playoffs begin tomorrow after a fantastic wild-card playoff game last night in Denver. The NFL is always off during the week this time of year, and NBA training camps are getting set to open.
The NHL starts (in North America) tomorrow. How great would it be for this struggling league to open up with a huge slate of games on a night where NOTHING else is on tap? A league that has virtually no television exposure in the U.S. needs a break, and opening on a night against 3 baseball playoff series opening up is ridiculous.
I have no game to watch tonight, which is unfortunate, because tomorrow, I and other sports fans (especially in Canada) will have to choose between the Leafs/Sens and the Red Sox/Angels.
It shouldn't have to be this way, and the NHL had the control to change it for their own benefit. They blew it.
Now, here we are, Tuesday October 2nd, the second worst day of the sports year. The baseball playoffs begin tomorrow after a fantastic wild-card playoff game last night in Denver. The NFL is always off during the week this time of year, and NBA training camps are getting set to open.
The NHL starts (in North America) tomorrow. How great would it be for this struggling league to open up with a huge slate of games on a night where NOTHING else is on tap? A league that has virtually no television exposure in the U.S. needs a break, and opening on a night against 3 baseball playoff series opening up is ridiculous.
I have no game to watch tonight, which is unfortunate, because tomorrow, I and other sports fans (especially in Canada) will have to choose between the Leafs/Sens and the Red Sox/Angels.
It shouldn't have to be this way, and the NHL had the control to change it for their own benefit. They blew it.
Thursday, July 12, 2007
The Worst Day of the Year
In 2007, it is Wednesday July 11, and in most years, it is the second Wednesday in July.
This is the worst sports day of the year.
Between the middle of June and Labour Day weekend, the only major North American sport in operation is Major League Baseball, and its only competition in that time span in Canada is the CFL, and yesterday was the only day that there was no baseball anywhere across the continent, with their all star break concluding.
The NHL knew this, and took advantage of the media's free space to release their schedule for the upcoming season. On the Canadian sports news programs, this story was the focal point of their show.
The CFL, on the other hand, did not have a game on last night, instead sticking to their usual games on Thursday, Friday, and Sunday this week.
Sports news programs are an hour long and the sports section in the newspaper isn't any smaller on the worst sports day of the year. The CFL, already reduced to a minor league in the eyes of football fans, would have the full attention of Canada's sports media for a day, something any league that is not on top would relish.
A doubleheader on the Wednesday of baseball's all star break by the CFL makes a lot more sense than scheduling games on Sunday afternoons in September. But, maybe that's why the CFL is a minor league.
That and the lack of talented players.
This is the worst sports day of the year.
Between the middle of June and Labour Day weekend, the only major North American sport in operation is Major League Baseball, and its only competition in that time span in Canada is the CFL, and yesterday was the only day that there was no baseball anywhere across the continent, with their all star break concluding.
The NHL knew this, and took advantage of the media's free space to release their schedule for the upcoming season. On the Canadian sports news programs, this story was the focal point of their show.
The CFL, on the other hand, did not have a game on last night, instead sticking to their usual games on Thursday, Friday, and Sunday this week.
Sports news programs are an hour long and the sports section in the newspaper isn't any smaller on the worst sports day of the year. The CFL, already reduced to a minor league in the eyes of football fans, would have the full attention of Canada's sports media for a day, something any league that is not on top would relish.
A doubleheader on the Wednesday of baseball's all star break by the CFL makes a lot more sense than scheduling games on Sunday afternoons in September. But, maybe that's why the CFL is a minor league.
That and the lack of talented players.
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