Nick G Sports Banter

Mookie Breathing Video

2010-10-15T18:01:00.000-04:00

2010 Nick G Sports Banter NFL Mock Draft

2010-04-21T19:57:00.014-04:00

1 – St. Louis Rams – Sam Bradford (QB, Oklahoma)
The only QB’s currently on the St. Louis roster are A.J. Feeley, Keith Null and Mike Reilly. With that said, there’s little doubt about who’s name will be called first at Radio City Thursday night.

2 – Detroit Lions – Ndamukong Suh (DT, Nebraska)
Anybody who watched what Suh did to Texas in the Big 12 championship game understands why he’s off the board next. An argument can be made that he was the most dominant DT in college football over the past 10 years.

3 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Gerald McCoy (DT, Oklahoma)
Phenomenal 3-technique DT who some think could be better than Suh. At the very least he’s poised to step right in day one and have a huge impact on the Bucs defense.

4 – Washington Redskins – Russell Okung (OT, Oklahoma State)
With Donovan McNabb on board the number priority for the Skins is finding someone to protect his blind side. Mike Shanahan will be thrilled when Okung falls to him at four. And just like that Washington is set for the next five years at quarterback and left tackle—arguably the two most important positions in football.

5 – Cleveland Browns (Via Kansas City) – Eric Berry (S, Tennessee)
New football Czar Mike Holmgren needs a quarterback (on both offense and defense), but he’s not enamored with Jimmy Clausen, especially as a top-ten prospect. Instead he trades up two spots to land the best pure football player in this draft, leapfrogging his old team in the process.

6 – Seattle Seahawks – Trent Williams (OT, Oklahoma)
Pete Caroll probably would have opted for Berry over Williams, but now turns his attention to what easily was the worst offensive line in the NFL last year. This is very high for a player with some questions marks, but he’s technically the next best OT on the board and Seattle must take him.

7 – Kansas City Chiefs (Via Cleveland) – Brian Bulaga (OT, Iowa)
Scott Pioli was more than happy to accommodate Mike Holmgren’s request for a trade, pocketing some extra picks, and still getting the guy he wants here. Bulaga is the most fundamentally sound OT in the class and was coached in college by Kirk Firentz, a guy Pioli trusts from their Dynasty Days together back in New England.

8 – Oakland Raiders – Rolando McClain (LB, Alabama)
It’s always a crap-shoot trying to predict the Oakland pick. However, it does appear like they’ll focus on their defense, especially with a glaring hole a middle linebacker. McClain manned the middle for Nick Saban’s national title team and should be a stud as an inside backer at the next level.

9 – Buffalo Bills – Dan Williams (DT, Tennessee)
Dez Bryant will be awfully tempting here, but new Head Coach Chan Gailey will opt for the safe DT over the enigmatic WR, especially after fielding one of the league’s worst run D’s in 2009.

10 – Jacksonville Jaguars – C.J. Spiller (RB, Clemson)
Jack Del Rio is firmly on the hot seat heading into 2010 and a splash is definitely needed to muster up some interest among a fading fan base. Fans are clamoring for Tim Tebow, but this is way too high for a player bound to go between rounds 2 and 3. Spiller would excite the masses and give Del Rio back the 1-2 punch he lost when Fred Taylor left town.

11 – Denver Broncos – Dez Bryant (WR, Oklahoma State)
I might never understand the thinking of so-called "whiz kid" Josh McDaniels, who seems poised to draft Oklahoma State’s prima donna WR, only days after trading away one of the NFL’s best pass catchers. But ever since he’s arrived on the scene in Denver he’s been a complete mystery. Why should Thursday evening at Radio City Music Hall be any different?

12 – Miami Dolphins – Jerry Hughes (LB, TCU)
Some may think this is high for the Horned Frog product, who has been labeled as a second-day prospect by many. But consider this: Bill Parcells is looking for a player to replace Jason Taylor and Joey Porter. And Hughes is the prototypical OLB for Parcells’ 3-4 scheme. Plus, there is precedent: back in 2005 while making the 11th overall pick for Dallas, Tuna went off the board and took the fast-rising OLB DeMarcus Ware from tiny Troy University…and look how that turned out. Could Hughes become Miami’s version of D-Ware?

13 – San Francisco 49ers – Earl Thomas (S, Texas)
If anybody understands the importance of a world-class safety it’s this organization. Blessed with one of the best ever in Ronnie Lott, Niner fans will welcome this Longhorn product to the Bay area with open arms, hoping he brings that enormous big-play ability with him from Austin.

14 – Seattle Seahawks – Derrick Morgan (DE, Georgia Tech)
For all the glitz and glam that was USC football under newly-minted Seahawks coach Pete Caroll, defense is this guy’s calling card. After being forced to use the 6th overall pick on second-best offensive lineman in the draft, Caroll and the Hawks turn around and draft the best pure DE in this year’s class.

15 - New York Giants – Sergio Kindle (LB, Texas)
Another coach potentially on the hot seat is New York’s Tom Coughlin. Lucky for him the perfect replacement for Antonio Pierce is sitting right here waiting for him at 15. Kindle was a monster at Texas and has the type of aggression and skill needed to succeed ferocious NFC East.

16 – Tennessee Titans – Jason Pierre-Paul (DE, South Florida)
Some think he’ll be a bust while others have compared him to former Titan DE Jevon Kearse. Quite a large disparity if you ask me. One thing is certain: South Florida wasn’t the number-one ranked team in college football during Pierre-Paul’s time by accident. Cowboys' Pro Bowl corner Mike Jenkins played on the same Bulls defense with Pierre-Paul, so we know this program can turn out stars. I suspect this QB terrorizer enjoys similar success.

17 – San Francisco 49ers – Jimmy Clausen (QB, Notre Dame)
One of Clausen’s biggest knocks is that he comes across as overly confident and cocky. And that’s because he is. He’ll need every ounce of that swagger to handle the enormous pressure of being anointed San Francisco’s next great signal caller, just ask Alex Smith. With the Notre Dame connection glaring obvious, let the Joe Montana comparison begin…now.

18 – Pittsburgh Steelers – Mike Iupati (G, Idaho)
Considering Ben Roethlisberger’s dramatic fall from grace, it sure would have been interesting to see what Pittsburgh would have done had Clausen dropped this far. That aside, the Steelers do the right thing and grab Iupati to sure up a major problem spot along their offensive line.

19 – Atlanta Falcons – Sean Weatherspoon (LB, Missouri)
Had Weatherspoon performed better in his final year with Missouri this kid could have been the first linebacker off the board, but he struggled. Good thing for him linebackers are in high demand this year. New York will decide between Kindle and Weatherspoon at 15 and Atlanta will take what's left. Improving their linebacker corp. is the number-one priority heading into Thursday night’s draft.

20 – Houston Texans – Joe Haden (CB, Florida)
The Texans lost Dunta Robinson via free agency to the Falcons. While this set back forces them to once again address the position with a first-round pick, they will be more than happy to see Joe Haden staring them in the face at this late juncture.

21 – Cincinnati Bengals – Jermaine Gresham (TE, Oklahoma)
Had Gresham came out last year he almost surely would have been the first TE off the board, ahead of Detroit’s Brandon Pettigrew. Despite a full year lost to injury Bengals brass can’t resist the idea of pairing this pass-catching marvel with franchise QB Carson Palmer.

22 – New England Patriots – Brandon Graham (DE/LB, Michigan)
In a more sophisticated and logical sense Bill Bellicheck is sort of like Al Davis on draft day—there’s just no telling what he’s going to do. Brandon Graham seems to have all the trappings of a Bellicheck player. And versatile linebacker is definitely a New England need.

23 – Green Bay Packers – Tyson Alualu (DE, California)
Green Bay has one of the best 3-4 linebacker units in the NFC. Now they just need that space-eating DE to keep their jerseys clean. Alualu is rocketing up draft boards and would look great along that D-line with last year’s first-round pick B.J. Raji and Ryan Pickett. Not to mention the 51 points they allowed in a Wildcard loss to Arizona is still front and center on everyone's mind.

24 – Philadelphia Eagles – Maukrice Pouncey (C, Florida)
Talk about a team filling a void via the draft. Philadelphia is in dire need of interior O-line help. Pouncey was the best center in the country last season. This kid was probably the best player on the Florida Gators aside from Tim Tebow during the Tebow era. When we look back in 5 years at the 2010 Draft this might be the best pick (and that’s coming from a Cowboys fan!).

25 – Baltimore Raven – Jared Odrick (DE, Penn State)
The Big Twelve Defensive Player of the Year gives Baltimore another stud along an already deep D-Line. Now the questions becomes: Do the Ravens like this player as much as all of the mock draft experts seem to think they do.

26 – Arizona Cardinals – Anthony Davis (OT, Rutgers)
Arizona can go a lot of different directions with this pick. The most likely scenario is to snatch Davis. He would immediately step in and start at left tackle, and that’s too great of a commodity to pass up this late in round one.

27 – Minnesota Vikings (Via Dallas) – Ryan Matthews (RB, Fresno State)
There’s nothing here that Dallas can’t live without, factor in that Minnesota probably needs to leap frog the Chargers and Jets to have any shot at Matthews and you have yourself one hell of a trade possibility. With Chester Taylor now in Chicago, Minnesota needs to find that hammer to lighten All Day’s load. Matthews is that guy and Dallas will be happy grabbing an extra pick to move down a few spots.

28 – San Diego Chargers – Kyle Wilson (CB, Fresno State)
I battled over this pick long and hard because I can truly see the Bolts drafting either Bama’s Mount Cody or UCLA‘s Brian Price. In the end I went with Wilson because he’s the next best corner after Haden, San Diego needs to replace Antonio Cromartie and Cody should be there when the Chargers pick again at 40.

29 – New York Jets – Taylor Mays (S, USC)
Wow, 29 picks before a Trojan comes off the board! What has the draft come too? This development pleases the Jets who are more than happy to add the flashy safety to a secondary that already includes Revis Island, the newly-acquired Antonio Cromartie and Jim Leonhard. If Mays turns out to be the player many expect this pick will make Jet fans quickly forget about the Kerry Rhodes trade.

30 – Dallas Cowboys (Via Minnesota) – Nate Allen (S, South Florida)
Dallas needs a safety and Mays wasn’t a good fit for their system at 27. Allen played in the same secondary with current Cowboys corner Mike Jenkins at South Florida and Jenkins has politicked internally for Dallas to draft his fellow classmate. With a huge void at FS Allen’s cover ability could place him front and center on one of the best defenses in football next season.

31 – Indianapolis Colts – Rodger Saffold (OT, Indiana)
Saffold played his college ball right in the Colts backyard. They need an OT and his style of play is better suited for Indianapolis than USC’s Charles Brown and Maryland’s Bruce Campbell.

32 – New Orleans Saints – Daryl Washington (LB, TCU)
The TCU Horned Frogs led college football in Total Defense, in terms of yards allowed, in 2008 and 2009. And Darryl Washington was a major reason why. The Saints could use a starter at either inside or outside linebacker and Washington can surely fill one of those spots.

2-18 -- The Nick G Show

2010-02-18T23:19:00.002-05:00

Welcome back to the brand new Sports Banter Radio. Today on The Nick G Show we discuss the men's Olympic hockey tournament. Fresh off a 6-1 victory over Norway is Team USA medal bound? Does Team Canada have a fatal flaw? And how good of a job did Brian Burke do when he constructed the Team USA roster? If you need your Olympic hockey fix you came to the right spot. Plus, it's NBA Trade Deadline Day! And one team made a power move heading into the Summer of LeBron...who was it and how might it affect the most anticipated NBA off-season in recent memory. It was a busy day in the world of sports and Nick Giarrusso has you covered, take a listen, leave some feedback and make sure to spread the word if you like the show...enjoy!

Have a take? Leave your questions or feedback at ngiarrusso@espnseattle.com. Everything submitted will be read during our mailbag segment on an upcoming show.

2-2 -- The Nick G Show (Segment 1)

2010-02-04T03:55:00.002-05:00

Welcome back to Sports Banter Radio. It's Wednesday of Super Bowl week and though Nick G isn't broadcasting live from 'radio row' in Miami, he still has you covered. What's the latest on Super Bowl XLIV? Why are the Colts considered such heavy favorites? Can the Saints pull of the upset? Need a Super Bowl fix...you're in the right place...take a listen to the The Nick G Show and join the debate.

Have a take? Send your questions and comments to ngiarrusso@espnseattle.com. All submissions will be answered during our weekly mailbag segment. Thanks, spread the word and keep listening.

2-2 -- The Nick G Show (Segment 2)

2010-02-04T03:48:00.004-05:00

One team is a model NFL franchise, steeped in tradition and success. The other is the historical polar opposite, having suffered through decades of ineptitude. Are these perceptions playing a role in people's predictions of Super Bowl XLIV? Nick G thinks so...take a listen to see if you agree.

2-2 -- The Nick G Show (Segment 3)

2010-02-04T03:18:00.003-05:00

On the final segment of today's show Nick G discusses his rankings of all 43 prior Super Bowls. Which one does he have rated best of all-time? And which one does he feel was the worst Super Bowl ever played? Take a listen to hear that...plus the latest of Dwight Freeney's ankle injury and how it may affect this weekend's game.

Five Plays to Remember: Vikes Oust Dallas From NFC Playoffs

2010-01-20T19:10:00.003-05:00

The Dallas Cowboys weren’t hot entering Sunday’s Divisional playoff game with the Minnesota Vikings, they were scorching. Their tidal wave of momentum started in New Orleans with a 24-17 win over the previously 13-0 Saints. They ended the year with back-to-back shutouts; dismantled Philadelphia in the season finale to clinch the NFC East title, and ended their 12-year-playoff victory drought six days later with another lopsided win over Philly. They entered the Metro Dome on a 4-game winning streak that felt more like 40. Meanwhile, the Vikings came in losers of 3 of their last 5. And this is why we play the game.

Sixty minutes later the Cowboys tidal wave left them soaked in defeat after a 34-3 loss, Minnesota was off to the NFC Championship Game, and the widespread theory that hot teams win in the playoffs was once again proven unsound. How did it happen? Here are five plays that helped send America’s Team home early:

1Q – DALLAS BALL – 10:59 – 3rd & 14– MINN 38

All week long the Cowboys emphasized the need to start fast. On their opening drive of the game they were well on their way to doing just that. Dallas moved the ball from their own 28 down to the Minnesota 34 with relative ease. Enter Ray Edwards. In what may have been his best game as a Viking, the fourth-year Purdue product was practically unblockable, until a knee injury forced him from the game in the second half. By that point he had already totaled three sacks and made life miserable for Dallas RT Marc Columbo. With Dallas facing a 2nd and 10, Edwards tracked down the speedy Felix Jones, tackling him for a four-yard loss. This set up his signature play of the afternoon. On 3rd and 14, Tony Romo was flushed from the pocket and Ray Edwards was waiting for him. Edwards laid a savage hit on the Dallas QB. Romo fumbled; Minnesota recovered, and Dallas got their first taste of just how ferocious the Vikings defense could be.

1Q – DALLAS BALL – 5:53 – 4TH & 1 – MINN 30

Some people say that Wade Phillips isn’t the right guy for the Dallas job. And those people were given a new round of ammunition at the end of the Cowboys’ next possession. With Dallas facing a pivotal 4th and 1 from the Viking 30, Wade Phillips had a decision to make: go for it or try a 48-yard field goal? Complicating the matter was Dallas’ field goal kicker, or lack thereof. See, kicking field goals has been a season-long issue for the Cowboys. So bad so, that they decided to release former Pro Bowler Nick Folk and sign journeyman Shaun Suisham, himself recently released by the Washington Redskins. Yet, Phillips still opted for Suisham, instead of showing faith in his offense to gain one yard. Predictably, Suisham missed. Moments later Brett Favre hit Sydney Rice for a 47-yard touchdown, creating a hole Dallas would be unable to escape from all afternoon.

2Q – DALLAS BALL – 6:37 – 2nd & 11 – DALLAS 28

If one play capsulated Minnesota’s dominance best, it was this one. In a tough blow to the Dallas offense, perennial Pro Bowl LT Flozell Adams was forced from the game with a sprained knee midway through the second quarter. And with that, the task of trying to contain All-World DE Jared Allen became even more enormous. Compounding the loss of Adams was Dallas puzzling decision to keep Jason Witten in to block Allen—one on one. And the strategy proved immediately deadly. On the next play, Allen got past Witten faster than the Roadrunner gets around Wile E. Coyote. The result was a blind-side sack causing a Tony Romo fumble. Minnesota recovered and seven plays later the Vikings would make it 17-3. Another drive was prematurely stopped and all hope for a Dallas comeback was quickly evaporating.

2Q – MINN BALL – 1:40 -- 3rd & 10 – MINN 8

The Cowboys’ best chance to creep back into the game came right before the half. Trailing 17-3, Dallas pinned Minnesota deep with a 51-yard punt. Starting from their own 8-yard-line, with only 1:51 remaining in the half, Vikes coach Brad Childress was content playing it safe. He ran Adrian Peterson twice and both times the running back was stopped for no gain. Now Minnesota was looking at a 3rd and 10, still from their own 8, and Dallas was one play away from getting the ball back in great position to possibly score before the half. But Chester Taylor took the 3rd-down handoff and scampered 14 yards up field for the 1st down. Another opportunity was lost and the resulting halftime score of 17-3 might as well have read: 177-3. It felt that lopsided.

3Q – DALLAS BALL – 1:14 -- 3rd & 10 – DALLAS 20

With Minnesota still holding a 17-3 lead as the 3rd quarter wound down, the Vikings would deliver the final dagger in emphatic fashion. With Dallas facing a 3 & out from their own 20 yard line, Minnesota dialed up the same thing that work for them all day…pressure. With Romo forced to act quickly he fired a pass toward the right flat, failing to see Vikings linebacker Ben Leber in the process. The play resulted in an interception and four plays later Minnesota would make it a three-score game on a 28-yard Ryan Longwell field goal. There was still a quarter left to play, but for all intent and purposes the game was over.

12-15-09 -- Seattle Mariners Hot Stove: The Jason Bay Sweepstakes

2009-12-15T14:16:00.005-05:00

So far, second-year Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik has had a brilliant off-season, acquiring Chone Figgins and Cliff Lee. But there is still work to be done. The Mariners are returning a lineup in 2010 that boasts one lone 20+ homerun hitter. So, with the need for a top-shelf power bat clearly obvious Nick G Sports Banter explores the following question: Should the Mariners enter the Jason Bay Sweepstakes? Take a listen as Nick Giarrusso and Matt Hardin try to answer that very question.

Simply click on the title of this post and enjoy the debate.

Seattle Mariners Hot Stove: The Case For Bay

2009-12-15T14:14:00.003-05:00

Take one look at the current Seattle Mariner’s roster and the need for a legitimate power bat becomes insanely apparent. The only player currently under contract who hit more than 20 home runs last season is Jose Lopez, with 25. Aside from that, the offense is pop-gun to say the least.

Enter: Jason Bay.

Not only is Bay the best power bat on the market, he’s one of the best power bats in the game. With four 30+ home run seasons to his credit Bay has shown the ability to hit for power in practically every situation. He hit well in the National League and the American League. He hit well in a pitcher’s park and a hitter’s park. He hit well for a last place team and a playoff team. The bottom line is that this guy is the difference-making, middle-of-the-lineup bat that the Mariners desperately crave. So what’s the downside?

Jason Bay critics will argue that his defense is below par and that he’ll probably be better suited as a DH in the foreseeable future. Oh, and let’s not forget he’s a right-handed hitter who would play half of his games in the righty death-trap that is SafeCo Field. All solid points, but I’d still sign Bay in a New York minute. Sure, his defense isn’t great, but if there’s ever a place for a sub-par fielder it’s in left. Plus, how much ground will Bay really need to cover with Franklin Gutierrez manning the left-field alley? As for the DH thing, I’d say this: Who cares? So what if Bay becomes a full-time DH at some point over the life of his contract? You’re paying for his bat, not his glove. If Bay keeps the seat warm for Dustin Ackley for a year or two, fine. If the M’s sign a better defensive left fielder, okay. If there’s ever a place that understands the value of a world-class DH isn’t it Seattle? Edgar Martinez carved out a hall-of-fame career as a DH, rarely stepping foot on the field. If the worst thing that happens is Bay becoming the new Edgar he’ll be worth every penny.

And what about playing in SafeCo Field? This argument makes me laugh. First, what are the Mariners supposed to do? Never even consider signing a big-name righty bat? Plus, it’s not like this rule about righties isn’t without exception. Remember the aforementioned Edgar Martinez? Or how about Alex Rodriguez, Brett Boone or Richie Sexson? All righties and all had great power years playing half their games at the dreaded Safe. And why are we forgetting about the other half of the games?!?! I’d love to have Jason Bay in places like The Ballpark at Arlington, Fenway Park and Yankee Stadium. Wouldn’t you?

I know it’s scary for a team to invest Bay-type dollars into a player with apparent shortcomings. This process would be much easier if every $20 million dollar player was a well refined, five-tool guy. But that’s simply not that case. Power is a rare commodity and commands huge dollars when up for auction on the open market. But all things considered, this market for Bay is pretty reasonable, especially when compared to what other power-bats of his ilk have recently signed for (see: Teixeira, Manny, A-Rod). He has his flaws, so his asking price is slightly reduced. This brings him right into the Mariners’ wheelhouse. And after all this, how can you forget that he’s from the Pacific Northwest (Trail, Canada to be exact) and has stated he would love to be a Mariner! Plus, he’s only 31 years old, just entering his prime as a power hitter. For all of the arguments that can be made against signing Jason Bay, I think there’s a pretty good one to be made in favor of it.

12-15-09 -- Seattle Mariners Hot Stove Podcast: A Look At First Base

2009-12-15T13:54:00.005-05:00

First, Chone Figgins was plucked away from the division rival Angels. Then, there was the blockbuster acquisition of ace pitcher Cliff Lee. What's next on Jack Z's hit list? With Seattle's second-year GM likely to trun his attention towards securing a first basemen, Nick G Sports Banter expolores what options might be on his radar? Will Russel Branyan return to the fold? Who are the other guys on the Mariners' short list? Is a blockbuster trade in the works?

Take a listen as Nick Giarrusso and Matt Hardin try and answer the question: Who's at first? Simply click on the title of this post and the podcast will begin...enjoy!

Seattle Mariners Hot Stove: Who's At First?

2009-12-15T13:49:00.003-05:00

The Winter Meetings have come and gone and the Seattle Mariners still have plenty of work to do. Not the least of which is filling a grand-canyon sized void at first base. This time last off-season, GM Jack Zduriencik addressed the very same hole by signing Russell Branyan to a one-year deal. And boy did that pay dividends, as Branyan was arguably the Mariners’ team MVP in 2009, blasting 31 homers en route to a career season. But with Branyan opting to test free agency, instead of re-upping for another year, the Mariners find themselves right back where they started—without a first baseman. Sure, Mike Carp and Jack Hannahan can play first in a pinch, but it’s fair to say that finding a more proven option is high on Jack Zduriencik’s list. Will the Moose return? Who else might the M’s be targeting? Or, does the second-year GM have a blockbuster in the works? Let’s take a look at some of the options Jack Zduriencik might have up his sleeve:

This conversation really needs to start with this preface: Every move the Mariners make this off-season will take Dustin Ackley’s future into consideration. The Mariners will not invest multiple years and huge dollars into players that will potentially block their major-league bound prospect. While there’s much speculation about what position Ackley will ultimately play at the major league level, there seems to be little doubt that he’ll end up with the big club sooner rather than later. In fact, many suspect that the North Carolina product could get a September call-up in 2010 and make the team outright in 2011.Wishful thinking, maybe? But Ackley seems to be that kind of a prospect. That said, GM Jack Zduriencik should be okay investing, if the right situation arises, long-term at first base. Yes, Ackley played first during his final year at UNC, but that was to save his arm following shoulder surgery. When Ackley finally trots out of the SafeCo dugout he’ll be heading towards either left field or second base, not first.

Without having to worry about blocking Ackley, Zduriencik is free to do what he pleases at first base. The quick fix would be to try and reacquire Russell Branyan. The fact that the two sides have failed to reach a deal makes sense. Branyan is coming off a solid year and is one of only two players hitting free agency off a 30+ homerun season, the other being Jason Bay. For the first-time in his career Branyan has some leverage in free agency and is trying to find a team willing to make a multi-year commitment. The M’s on the other hand saw Branyan’s back break down in September and are weary of being duped into an injury-riddled partnership with the Moose.

But don’t expect Jack Z to wait around for Branyan. Earlier this off-season the M’s were rumored to be talking with the Toronto Blue Jays about their first baseman, Lyle Overbay. That deal never materialized, but could always be a phone call away. According to reports from the Winter Meetings, Overbay is being heavily shopped by the cash-strapped Jays and his $8 million dollar salary is there for the taking. This could be a Jack Z’s number-one fall back plan.

The bland name that seems to continually pop up is Nick Johnson. At 31 years old, Johnson would become part of a first-base-by-committee approach, sharing time with Carp and/or Branyan. He’s solid defensively and has shown moderate pop when healthy. But therein lies the problem, Nick Johnson is never healthy. And the last thing the M’s need is an average, injury prone veteran. But, worst case scenario, the M’s could take a flier on Johnson’s affordable asking price and hope that he’s this year’s version of last year’s Russell Branyan.

Now for the guys I love: Carlos Delgado and Hank Blalock. Here are two names that haven’t been linked to Seattle, but that doesn’t mean Jack Z hasn’t taken a look. Right hip surgery ended Delgado’s 2009 season after only 26 games. Prior to that, Delgado was simply one of the best power hitters in big league history. He hit 38 homeruns in 2008, showing that there is more than enough pop left in his bat. Plus, he’s a lefty! With a resume of 11 30+ homerun seasons, a Delgado-type bat is exactly what the power-challenged Mariners need most. In fact, if I was Jack Z, he would be my #1 target. Entering 2010 at 37 years old, off a season lost to injury, Delgado might be the biggest risk-reward free agent on the market. He’ll command decent money, but is also likely to sign a one-year deal. With Seattle already looking at two injury-prone guys in Branyan and Johnson, why not pull a power-move and roll the dice with this Puerto Rican homer machine?

As for Blalock, in my opinion he’s the most under-the-radar free agent currently available. Nobody seems to be talking about him. Here’s another lefty that has four 20+ homerun seasons to his credit before his 30th birthday. He’d require a long-term deal, but he’s a pure slugger that would look very, very good in the middle of the Mariner’s lineup. And just like with Chone Figgins, you’d be plucking him directly away from a division foe.

And finally, there’s the shoot-for-the-moon option: Adrian Gonzalez. With only two years remaining on his contract with the San Diego Padres, Gonzalez trade talk has increasingly started to build momentum dating back to last season’s trade deadline. And the Mariners and Red Sox as the two teams most often tied to the Mexican first basemen. The asking price would be steep, probably something along the lines of Mark Lowe, Brandon Morrow, Triunfel and two other minor leaguers. But the M’s would make a deal of this nature in a second. Gonzalez is the type of player that would become your franchise centerpiece for years to come, but with a brand new GM down in San Diego, which has club control over Gonzalez through to 2011 season, the Pads are in no rush to trade their only good player.

Is the possibility of adding Gonzalez at some point over the next two seasons worth waiting for? Is Jack Z leave the door open for A-Gone and go the route of a one-year, stop gap? It all remains to be seen, as for the second time in his two years on the job Jack Zduriencik’s off-season could be defined by how he answers the following question: Who’s at first?

Catastrophe Avoided

2009-12-09T18:27:00.005-05:00

For a fleeting moment it appeared over. Tripled digits illuminated from every scoreboard in the stadium. Heisman hopeful Colt McCoy sat stunned on the Cowboy Stadium turf. The Nebraska Cornhuskers started rushing the field, apparently as the new Big 12 champions. And Mack Brown couldn’t believe what he was watching. With one finger pointed towards the roof, signifying his hopeful plea that one second should remain on the clock, the Texas coach prayed for one final play to try and keep a perfect season intact.

Thankfully for the Texas Longhorns this moment was temporary. And one minuscule second was placed back on the clock. With order now restored, kicker Hunter Lawrence nailed a 46-yard field goal and BCS chaos was averted. Texas 13, Nebraska 12.

In the here and now, devastation was sidestepped, a perfect season was salvaged and the chance to become champions remained. But in the larger picture, so much more was avoided. Imagine for a moment that one second wasn’t returned to the play clock and the final score read: Nebraska 12, Texas 10. How would the final moments of this improbable game be remembered? The answer to that question is simple: The final seconds of the 2009 Big 12 championship game would forever be remembered as one of the most baffling and costly screw ups in the history of college football. Oh what a difference one second can make.

How we got to this point was pretty shocking in the first place. For Texas, the only thing that stood in the way of a spot alongside Alabama in the BCS Championship was this game. And the #22 Nebraska Cornhuskers weren’t supposed to provide much of test. At least that was the conventional wisdom. Then the game started and the coronation quickly morphed into a backyard brawl. And Nebraska DT Ndamukong Suh was the main reason why. With a performance that showed the world why he’s projected to be the number-one pick in next April’s NFL Draft, Suh was a monster, sacking Colt McCoy a Big 12 championship game record 3 ½ times. Nebraska kicked a go-ahead field goal with less than two minutes remaining in the game. And suddenly, Texas was 1:44 away from letting a perfect season slip away.

What happened next? Let’s take a look at one of the more baffling finishes you will ever see:

1:44 On The Clock

Nebraska kicks off following Alex Henery’s 42-yard go-ahead field goal giving the Cornhuskers a slim two point lead. But inexcusably the ball is kicked out of bounds. And just like that the Longhorns are already at their own 40 yard line.

1st & 10 at TEX 40: Colt McCoy drops back, scans the field and finds Jordan Shipley at the 50 yard line. Shipley darts for the sideline and is tackled at the Nebraska 43. But that’s not all. A flag flies in ...blatant horse collar...tack on 15 yards…and after one play the Longhorns are in field goal range.

1st & 10 at NEB 26: With one timeout still in their back pocket the Horns have plenty of options. But this was not what Mack Brown had in mind. Ndamukong Suh blew the play up from the snap of the ball, sacking Colt McCoy for a loss of 2. Tick, tock…tick tock.

:40 Seconds On The Clock

2ND & 12 at NEB 28: This is where things get downright scary if you’re a Longhorn fan. Following the Suh sack Texas appears in no rush. Honestly, looking back on it now, they seem like a pilotless plane. McCoy brings Texas to the line with :40 seconds remaining in the game. Mack Brown decides against using his final timeout. Colt McCoy decides against spiking the ball to stop the clock. Instead, McCoy takes the snap, rolls to his right, bounces off a blocked Suh, spins back towards his left and gets tackled for a one yard loss. Whew. National championship hanging in the balance and that’s the best you got. But wait, it gets worse.

:30 Seconds On The Clock

3rd & 13 at NEB 29: McCoy was tackled with exactly :30 seconds remaining on the game clock. At this point there should have been only two options:

A.) Get up to the line quickly and run a play. Brown and McCoy both know that Hunter Lawrence prefers to kick from the right hash. The ball was spotted on the left hash. Considering this would be the biggest kick of Lawrence’s life you would think the smart move would be to get the ball over to the right hash, call a timeout and try the field goal.

B.) Let the clock run down to under 3 seconds, call a timeout and trot Lawrence out for the game-winner from the left hash. This eliminates the possibility of a fumble, bad snap, ect and guarantees that you will absolutely have a shot at the game-winning kick.

With :25 seconds left in the game McCoy was up off the ground and the Texas players scattered around without direction. McCoy gazed, as if in a fog, back towards the Texas sideline. Whether or not McCoy suffered a concussion at some point during this sequence might never be known. Finally, the Longhorns are over the ball with :10 seconds remaining in the game. The ball is snapped with :07 seconds on the clock. No timeout. No spike. Texas is actually running a play!?!? It’s a designed roll-out to the right. Tick, tock. Ndamukong Suh explodes through the Texas line and is bearing down on the Heisman hopeful. With :04 seconds left McCoy throws a high archer out of bounds and is immediately drilled to the turf by Suh. Three, two, one and triple digits appear throughout the stadium.

0:01 Second On The Clock

4th & 13 at NEB 29: The previous play is reviewed and one second is placed back on the game clock. Nebraska fans will argue until the end of time that they got screwed here, but the right call was made. The rulebook states that the clock should stop once the ball hits something out of bounds. In this case that happened with one second still remaining in the game. Hate instant replay if you want, but the idea is to get it right, right? Despite their own stupidity and nearly epic end-of-game mismanagement, the Longhorns send Hunter Lawrence on to try a 46-yard field goal. Adding to the drama was the kick itself. Off the foot it seemed on a collision course with the left upright, but in the end it snuck inside the goalpost by less that a foot. Triple digits again appeared on the stadium scoreboard. But this time the final score read: Texas 13 Nebraska 12. Catastrophe avoided.

11-19-09 -- The Nick G Show

2009-11-20T01:06:00.004-05:00

Welcome to the NFC Blitz...part of the The Nick G Show on Sports Banter Radio. On this edition Nick G brings you on a full tour around the NFC. With ten weeks in the books are the Vikings and Saints on a one-way collision course? Are the Cowboys true Super Bowl contenders? And with the conference so bunched, who are the real wild card contenders? It's all right here on you home for NFL football...Sports Banter Radio.

Have a take? Let Nick G know about it. Send your questions and comments to ngiarrusso@espnseattle.com.

11-19-09 -- The Nick G Show

2009-11-20T00:32:00.003-05:00

Are you ready for some football? Sports Banter Radio has you covered. Did Bill Bellicheck make the right move going for it on 4th & 2? Are the Bengals the real deal? Will the Broncos free fall ever end? It's all right here on The Nick G Show's AFC Blitz. Take a listen as Nick G brings you on a spin around the AFC and gets you ready for the big week of NFL action ahead.

And don't forget to send your questions and comments to ngiarrusso@espnseattle.com.

11-18-09 -- The Nick G Show

2009-11-18T22:40:00.003-05:00

Welcome to Sports Banter Radio. Today on ‘The Nick G Show’ we discuss the future of Seahawks GM Tim Ruskell. Should he be fired? Should the Seahawks join the Holmgren & Shanahan sweepstakes? It’s all right here on ‘The Nick G Show’.

And don’t forget to join the discussion by sending your take to: ngiarrusso@espnseattle.com.

11-13-09 -- The Nick G Show

2009-11-14T22:32:00.004-05:00

Welcome to The Nick G Show on the all new Sports Banter Radio. On today's show Nick Giarrusso and 710 ESPN Seattle's Mike "Brownie" Brown discuss a busy week of Seattle sports news. From the Mariners resigning of Ken Griffey Jr., to Sunday's big Seahawks / Cardinal NFC West tilt, it's all here. Enjoy the show and thanks for listening.

10 Things to Keep an Eye on During Seahawks Training Camp

2009-07-30T03:01:00.008-04:00

There’s probably no team in football with a smoother start to their upcoming season than the Seattle Seahawks. After they open at Qwest Field against the lowly Rams, they can practically take a Kenmore Air puddle jumper to San Francisco for their week-two showdown with the 49ers. Then it’s back to Seattle for another winnable game with the Chicago Bears. Things will surely pick up in week four when the Hawks visit Peyton Manning and the Colts, but the schedule up to that point might as well have been penned by Coach Mora, it’s that favorable. But before the Hawks jump into the regular season, training camp awaits them at the VMAC. With a new coach, new coordinators and plenty of fresh new faces, this year’s camp is pivotal. Here’s what to look for over the next month as Seattle prepares for their run at regaining the NFC West crown.

1.) Bounce-back time – Let’s just get the obvious out of the way, shall we? If the Seahawks are going to contend for the NFC West title, Matt Hasselbeck, Walter Jones and Patrick Kerney must return to form. In a 2008 season littered with countless injuries these names topped the list. Anything short of Pro-Bowl-type seasons from any of the three will probably result in Seattle missing the playoffs.

2.) What can we expect from Aaron Curry? How big of a learning curve is there from the ACC to the NFC West? I guess we’re about to find out. Even the best linebackers have needed time to find their game at the next level. DeMarcus Ware and Shawne Merriman both have 20-sack seasons to their credit, but only had eight and 10 respectively in year one. The first step for Curry’s ascent is simple: Win the starting outside linebacker job. Coach Mora and defensive coordinator Gus Bradley will give him every chance to earn that role, but don’t expect D.D. Lewis to head to the sidelines quietly.

3.) Burleson vs. Branch vs. Butler – This could be the most competitive and exciting battle of training camp. Burleson’s blistering speed and down-field playmaking ability make him the pre-camp favorite to start opposite the newly acquired T.J. Houshmanzadeh. But can he bounce back from a torn knee ligament that took his 2008 season? As for Deion Branch, the honeymoon in Seattle could be over as head-turning rookie Deon Butler looks ready to make an immediate impact. These three bring plenty of question marks with them to VMAC, but they also bring a boatload of talent. Who will be the odd man out?

4.) Will Unger start? When the Seahawks were on the clock with the 48th overall pick in April’s draft, there was no doubt what position needed to be addressed: The offensive line. Enter the 6’ 5’’, 310 pound Max Unger from Oregon. Unger’s addition immediately upgrades the depth of Seattle’s interior o-line, but the question remains: Will he start in 2009? Walter Jones (knees), Mike Wahle (shoulder), Chris Spencer (back) and Rob Sims (torn pectoral) all missed significant time in 2008 but are now healthy. Factor in that Wahle is in year two of a five-year deal, Spencer is in a contract year, and new offense coordinator Greg Knapp is implementing a new zone-blocking scheme and, well, Unger’s chances to crack the lineup right away seem slim. It’s just another awesome subplot to keep an eye on this August at VMAC.

5.) Carlson…and then who? Think about this: How many tight ends are better than John Carlson in the NFC? Okay…you have Jason Witten, Tony Gonzalez and maybe Chris Cooley. After that you’d be hard pressed to come up with a better option than the second-year budding star from Notre Dame. Carlson’s rookie campaign was simply amazing considering he caught 55 balls for 600+ yards, all without four starting offensive lineman, no Matt Hasselbeck and a depleted wide receiver corp. Now that the offense is returning their full compliment of parts, it’s not that far fetched to envision John Carlson making the Pro Bowl. However, after Carlson the depth chart takes a dramatic plunge. John Owens, Cameron Morrah, Joe Newton and John Tereshinski round out the remaining tight ends on their way to camp. Somebody from this nondescript bunch will need to emerge as a solid-blocking tight end. Stay tuned.

6.) Paging Lawrence Jackson! Okay Seahawk fans, this might hurt a little. Here’s the short list of guys that were taken soon after Seattle selected 28th overall in the 2008 draft: Kenny Phillips (31), Phillip Merling (32), Donnie Avery (33), Eddie Royal (42), Matt Forte (44) and DeSean Jackson (49), just to name a few. Hindsight is always 20/20, but it would be a major understatement to proclaim this a big year for Lawrence Jackson. Last season the Seahawk defense allowed 378 yards per game. Some of that was due to injuries, some to poor play. Jackson falls into the latter category. It’s too early to label him a bust, especially with the extra tutelage he’s sure to receive from Coach Mora and new defensive coordinator Gus Bradley during camp. Will the light bulb turn on? Only time will tell.

7.) Two kickers, one spot? It’s an age-old question of roster management: Can a team afford to carry two kickers? Some coaches are vehemently against the idea; some feel they have no choice. This is just another question facing Coach Mora’s staff as camp nears. Last season Coach Holmgren decided to keep 2008 7th round pick Brandon Coutu on the roster all year, keeping him inactive for every game. Olindo Mare handled the kicking duties and handled them well, converting at an 88.9% rate. Both are back in camp looking to become the number-one guy. In fact, Coutu actually spent time in the offseason working with NFL veteran Morten Andersen and has publicly stated that he plans on winning the starting job. As for Mare, he still has one year remaining on a two year deal. Can Seattle continue to waste a roster spot every week on an inactive kicker? Can they afford to cut a guy with a year left on his deal? The question training camp will attempt to answer is this: Is kicking depth worth two spots on Coach Mora’s 53-man roster?

8.) How much will Leonard Weaver be missed? “He’s as talented a fullback as I’ve ever had”. Those were the words of Mike Holmgren on the recently departed Leonard Weaver. Yes, Weaver did miss 18 games over the last three seasons, but when he was on the field he was very good. However, faced with salary cap decisions on Weaver and fellow backfield mate Maurice Morris, Hawks GM Tim Ruskell decided to let them part. Now a battle is sure to rage in camp for the starting fullback job between the recently acquired Justin Griffith and second-year man Owen Schmitt. With only 870 yards of 2008 rushing production returning to their 2009 backfield, the Hawks are light on legitimate ball carriers. They need fullback to be a strength, not a weakness, and feel either Griffith or Schmitt can get the job done. Ding, ding, ding…Friday marks the beginning of yet another camp battle.

9.) Sleeper Seahawk – If there was a stud running back at the top of this year’s draft, (aka: Darren McFadden or Adrian Peterson) Aaron Curry probably wouldn’t be a Seahawk right now. However, Seattle wasn’t going to pay the likes of Knowshon Moreno or Chris “Beanie” Wells fourth-overall money. That’s fair, but running back still remains a serious issue heading into 2009. Sure, T.J. Duckett scored eight touchdowns in 2008, but he did so with only 172 yards. Factor in that Julius Jones didn’t even break the 700 yard plateau, and there are questions abound in the Seahawk backfield. One answer could be second-year man Justin Forsett. There’s no doubt that Forsett will get every opportunity to show what he can do during camp. He was the first running back drafted by the Seahawks since Maurice Morris was picked in the 2002. With Morris now out of the picture the Seattle backfield has become slightly less crowded. Now it’s up to the former Cal Bear to become a pleasant 2009 surprise.

10.) Chemistry – Look around the NFL. It’s no surprise that the good teams tend to have amazing chemistry, (see: Pittsburgh and New England) and the bad teams normally don’t (see: Oakland and Cincinnati). With a new coach, new defensive coordinator, new offensive coordinator, new playbook, new terminology, new players and a new training camp site; the Seahawks have a lot of moving parts that need to gel. If the most important thing facing this team is to stay healthy, the second will be developing team chemistry. Easier said than done, but then again isn’t that what training camp is for.

Extra Points: NFL Free Agency Preview

2009-02-25T22:53:00.004-05:00

Ray Lewis to Dallas? Shortly after the conclusion of Super Bowl XLIII rumors began to fly about Ray Lewis becoming a Dallas Cowboy. With free agency set to open in 72 hours, these rumors could easily become a reality. Baltimore has made it clear that they want Lewis back. However, the team is also dealing with resigning fellow linebackers Bart Scott and Terrell Suggs. Suggs was given Baltimore’s franchise tag, but the Ravens would ultimately love to lock him up long term. The team is also said to be working on a multi-year deal with Scott. When the offseason began Baltimore had designs on signing all three, hoping Lewis would give them a hometown discount. Lewis made his position on that pretty clear at the Pro Bowl, saying, “I don’t play less. If you don’t play less, you don’t take less. That’s just life.” With Baltimore expected focus on locking up their young linebacker tandem; Lewis’ days as a Raven seem numbered.

Prediction: Expect Jerry Jones to swoop in an offer Lewis a deal that Baltimore simply can’t match. Jones will hope that Lewis’ presence in the league’s most dysfunctional locker room will be enough to get his Cowboys back on track.

Show Me The Money The one player entering free agency who stands to gain the most is Albert Haynesworth. The Tennessee Titans have been working feverishly to try and keep the 6-6, 320 lbs beast off the market. Good luck. The former Tennessee Volunteer is expected to become the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history. Tennessee’s initial offer was rumored to be $36 million, over four years, with $20-$25 million guaranteed. Haynesworth’s camp rejected it swiftly. Tennessee countered but the two sides appear far from a deal. The Titans vigorous attempt to keep their defensive centerpiece must be applauded, but their efforts could be for naught as it’s expected that Camp Haynesworth will sign with the highest bidder.

Prediction: Like in Ray Lewis’ case, if all things were equal Haynesworth would stay with his current team. But all things are far from equal. Haynesworth’s agents were reportedly spotted dining with Daniel Synder at the NFL Combine, and rumors are floating all over the web that the Redskins are preparing an outrageous offer for the standout defensive tackle. Expect Synder to once again open his wallet and lure one of the best defensive players in the NFL to Washington, possibly with a staggering offer in the neighborhood of $100 million dollars.

McNabb to Harrison? Donovan McNabb wants to return to Philadelphia. And, more importantly, Philadelphia wants Donovan McNabb. After a recent clearing-of-the-air meeting between the two sides, both parties appear ready to move forward. But not before McNabb gets some help. Donovan publically announced that he wants Philadelphia to add some firepower before agreeing to a long-term deal. Aside from the T.O. experiment, Philadelphia has a long-standing position of being frugal when it comes to spending money on wide receivers. However, with their franchise QB openly asking for some added weapons, expect the Eagles to finally become players when free agency opens Friday.

Prediction: The Eagles know they need to get McNabb some help, but will do so in a fiscally sound way. I expect them to pass on giving a big contract to T.J Houshmandzadeh and instead pursue the recently released Marvin Harrison. Not only is Harrison from Philadelphia, but he would fit in perfectly opposite DeSean Jackson in the Philly offense. Donovan McNabb will get his help, but within Philly's budget.

Housh Heading West? Last season Cincinnati appeared to have a special 1-2 punch at wide receiver, with Chad Johnson and T.J Houshmandzadeh. It goes without saying that things didn’t go according to plan. Ocho Cinco was terrible after failing to broker an offseason trade out of Cincinnati. His status as an elite NFL wide receiver took a huge hit after a paltry 53 catch, 540 yard effort that yielded only four touchdowns. The person who benefitted the most from Johnson’s demise was T.J. Houshmandzadeh. In a light year for free agent wide receivers, Houshmandzadeh has clearly established himself as the best player avaliable. After finishing 2008 with his third straight 90+ catch season, there is little doubt that Housh is a #1 wide-out. Cincinnati’s surprising decision to use their franchise tag on kicker Shayne Graham, instead of on Houshmandzadeh, basically ensures that he will be bringing his game to a new NFL city in 2009.

Prediction: A lot of teams around the NFL will express interest in one of the best possession receivers in the game. Philadelphia, Seattle, Jacksonville, Oakland, Chicago, Kansas City, San Francisco and Tampa Bay can all use help at wide receiver. Donovan McNabb’s recent cry for help may turn Philadelphia into serious players. But at the end of the day, I expect the Seattle Seahawks to land T.J. Houshmandzadeh. Seattle desperately needs help at the position and will feel way more comfortable spending their money on a known commodity like Houshmandzadeh, instead of on a hit-or-miss first-round draft pick like Michael Crabtree. After playing college ball at nearby Oregon State, expect T.J to be making a return to the Pacific Northwest.

Free Agency Gets Windy
One: He’s 28 years old.
Two: He’s never been a starting tailback.
Three: He only has 342 NFL carries.

Yet, despite his age and inexperience Derrick Ward is hitting free agency as one of the league’s hottest commodities. Fresh off a 1,000-yard season, Ward is viewed by many as this year’s version of Michael Turner. Making up 1/3 of the New York Giants Earth-Wind-and-Fire backfield, Ward, the wind, was nothing short of spectacular when given a chance to play last season. His 5.1 career yards-per-carry average, coupled with his 228 pound frame, have him poised to cash in big time and finally become a feature back at the NFL level.

Prediction: The Giants understand Ward’s value better than anybody. Unfortunately for them, there’s only so much money to go around, and Brandon Jacob’s new contract virtually assures that Ward's time in New York is over. Last season’s rookie class was one of the best in NFL history, thus limiting the amount of teams looking to shell out big bucks for a running back. One team that has already expressed interest is the Cleveland Browns. The usually tight-lipped Eric Mangini recently mentioned Ward’s name among players he would love to sign. Ward followed that cue by telling Sirius Radio’s NFL channel that he wants to play in Cleveland. The rebuilding Browns will be active and I suspect Derrick Ward will be at the top of their shopping list.

A Reunion By The Sound: Is Seattle's Biggest Star Coming Home?

2009-02-18T20:03:00.004-05:00

For as long as baseball has been played great nick-names have been part of the game: The Babe; The Georgia Peach; The Say Hey Kid; The Mick; The Yankee Clipper; The Big Unit; The Bash Brothers; Hammerin’ Hank; Charlie Hustle; Stan the Man; The Splendid Splinter; The Wizard of Oz; Mr. October; The Rocket; we can go on forever.

That brings me to my personal favorite: The Kid. One of the first things I remember about baseball, or sports for that matter, was Ken Griffey Jr. I grew up in New York, a place where the West Coast sports scene gets about as much attention as European soccer. However, The Kid was a different story. He may have been playing closer to Alaska than Brooklyn or Queens, but it was almost like he was a Yankee or Met.

He arrived on the baseball scene when the soon-to-be alternative-rock generation was just becoming teenagers. It wasn’t long before his majestic homeruns and youthful exuberance captivated the country, just like Nirvana and Pearl Jam.

Fast forward two decades and things have flip-flopped. Now I live in Seattle and The Kid is a 39 year old outfielder without a job. Boy, it’s funny how time has a way of changing things.

Long gone are the back-to-back 56 homerun seasons. Or the slide at home plate in the ’96 playoffs that toppled Mattingly’s Yankees. Still, it’s impossible to forget a time when a 19-year-old kid from Donora, Pennsylvania came to the Pacific Northwest and lit baseball on fire.

From 1996-99 Griffey hit 209 homeruns. Ten years later and not a single steroid allegation, ever. It was probably the greatest half decade of homerun hitting baseball has ever seen. And it was clean. No horse steroids or anabolic steroids or HGH or the Cream or the Clear.

Yes, injuries may have ultimately reduced his numbers, but at least history will show that they weren’t inflated by performance-enhancing drugs. In a very dark period of Major League Baseball history, Ken Griffey Jr. did things right.

As the 2009 baseball season bears down on us, I think it’s a travesty that Ken Griffey Jr. can’t find a job. Last season, he played on only one and a half legs and was still productive, hitting 18 homeruns and 71 RBI’s. Two years ago, when the 37-year-old Griffey was healthy, he hit 30 homeruns with 93 RBI’s. The year before that; 27 homeruns and 72 RBI’s. The year before that; 35 homeruns and 92 RBI’s. It may be a far cry from those Seattle days, but it’s still pretty good.

If reports are accurate, then Griffey will be entering 2009 healthy. In my mind, that translates into a 25 homerun, 75+ RBI season---just sitting there---waiting to be had.

So how about a reunion in Seattle? How great would it be to see Junior come back to where it all began? How many times do we actually get the chance for a perfect ending in sports? Answer: Not that often. And, make no mistake; this would be the perfect ending.

With that said, I believe it’s time for Seattle’s new GM Jack Zduriencik to step up. At this point, Griffey could be had for a bag of balls and a rosin bag. Offer a one-year, five million dollar deal and he’s almost certainy yours. Even for a team trying to keep payroll down, money isn’t an obstacle.

Anybody following Zduriencik’s first offseason in Seattle is aware of the team’s new direction. He’s at the beginning stages of a full-blown youth movement, similar to the one he head-manned in Milwaukee. But the case can be still be made that Griffey would only help that process.

First of all, the current opening day left fielder on the Mariner’s depth chart is Endy Chavez. Chavez was a throw-in in the J.J. Putz deal. Griffey’s arrival would allow Chavez to slip into his more familiar role as a utility outfielder. Or even if Griffey played DH the majority of the time, he would not, in any way, impede the progress of the organization's youth movement.

Secondly, it’s not like a team who won 61 games last season, and who lost Raul Ibanez in free agency, can’t use the added production. This lineup is in dire need of some pop, even if we’re only talking about 20-25 homeruns.

And finally, the move would make Jack Zduriencik a hero among Mariner fans. It’s the single easiest way for this first-time GM to win an avalanche of fan support. Plus, it makes baseball sense. Not to mention the added revenue Griffey’s arrival would surely generate at the box office. All around, from every angle, this would be a win-win for Zduriencik and the Mariner’s.

As baseball waits for a new ambassador to carry the torch out of the Steroid Era, maybe it’s time to hand that torch back to Ken Griffey Jr. The Kid had a firm grasp on it before this era fully engulfed the sport. Now, twenty years later, baseball should be smart and once again turn to Griffey in their time of need. He’s one of the very few untainted giants of the game remaining that can somewhat validate this very awkward era.

Thank you, Ken Griffey Jr., for giving us all hope that this game can still be played the right way…clean. And hopefully fate brings you back to a place where a 19-year-old teenager earned the simplest and most fitting nickname you’ll ever find: The Kid.

If anybody in this era deserves to go out in style, it’s you.

Faced With A Decision: Will Fred Wilpon Bring Manny to Flushing?

2009-02-03T15:31:00.009-05:00

Every Met fan from Staten Island to Queens; Long Island to Westchester are all collectively thinking the same thing: We want Manny!

They think about the current Mets batting order: Reyes-Murphy-Beltran-Wright-DelGado-Church-Castillo-Schneider. It’s not that bad and probably good enough to win between 87-92 games. With the additions of J.J Putz and K-Rod the Mets, as currently constituted, could win the NL East. But realistically the Phillies are still better.

Now add Manny Ramirez. Add Manny being Manny. And more importantly, add the .330 average, the 30 homeruns and the 100+ RBI’s. Now take a look at Jerry Manuel’s lineup: Reyes-Beltran-Wright-Manny-DelGado-Church-Castillo-Schnieder. At the press conference you become better than Philadelphia and Chicago. Oh, and that little collapse issue everybody likes to talk about, well it would be forgotten, like the Dallas Green years. With Manny Ramirez this is a new team. The added payroll Fred Wilpon would need to sign off on would not only buy the best cleanup bat in the game, buy also some much needed distance from the team’s recent past.

So, if it’s such a great fit, what’s the delay? His name is Scott Boras. God only knows what he has Manny thinking these days. For starters, Manny was quoted towards the end of last season saying, “The price of oil is up and so am I”. Boras’ brainwashing was well underway. He entered this process with Manny thinking that $25-$30 million over 5 years, in the heart of a recession, was actually feasible. Boras is the ultimate conqueror of landmark contracts, and in the twilight of this off-season he’s trying to stir up another masterpiece. This time he’s selling the best right-handed hitter of a generation. Like a real generation, say 25-30 years. Not one of those commonly tossed around generations that only go back 10-15 years.

As I post this column, Boras and Ramirez appear steadfast in their desire to get big bucks over multiple seasons. Yesterday the Dodgers offered Manny a one-year, $25 million dollar deal. They instituted a 48-hour deadline and Manny rejected it. Now Los Angeles appears content moving on without him. What else can they do? Team Boras didn’t respond to LA’s previous 2-year, $45 million dollar offer from earlier this offseason. Man, would they to have that one back. But LA took it off the table. Then they offered salary arbitration. That was just a formality. Now they get rejected, in swift fashion, on a deal that would have made Manny the second highest paid player in baseball next season behind A-Rod. Dodger fans can’t say that Ned Coletti didn’t try. He just refused to get Borased.

New reports have LA turning to Adam Dunn and Orlando Hudson. They can sign both of those guys combined for less than Manny. With Spring Training a stone’s throw away, LA looks to be kicking Boras and Manny to the curb.

So where does this leave Ramirez? Last season, when negotiations started going south with the Yankees, Alex Rodriguez traded in Scott Boras for a group of Goldman Sachs execs and Warren Buffett. This year, Manny seems content letting Boras run the show. Though it must be asked: Does Manny have any say in this? Can he say, “Hey Scott, let’s take the Dodger deal, I like it in LA.” Or does his future soley rest in Scott Boras’ hands? Does Scott Boras EVER do what’s right for his clients?

Their strategy seems bizarre considering the suitors waiting in line for Manny’s services appear nonexistent. Boston is a non-factor for obvious reasons. The Yankees just spent half a billion dollars on three players. And even they have a limit, we think. The Angeles firmly stated they want nothing to do with this mess. Albert Pujols made his public cry for help, but that fell on deaf ears. Who’s left?

Well, the Giants were hoping for the Manny market to plummet to 1-year at around $15-$20 million. That doesn’t appear to be the case with Manny refusing LA’s latest offer. Manny would certainly help replace the draw Barry Bonds brought to Pac Bell, but not at Boras dollars.

Again, who’s left?

Meet the Mets. After signing Oliver Perez on Monday, their 2009 payroll sits at about $140 million, an all-time high. That’s despite the recent Bernie Madoff ponzi-scheme debacle, which saw the Wilpons lose millions. That’s despite recent news that Citigroup is considering rescinding their 20-year, $400 million dollar naming-rights deal for the Mets new ballpark, currently called Citi Field. The Wilpons publicly claim that the Mets and the Madoff mess are two completely separate money streams, and the $70 million spent on K-Rod and Perez suggests that’s true. With their offseason pitching needs now fully addressed, the Mets are nose-to-ceiling with the Wilpon’s self-imposed player budget.

So the question become this: Can Omar Minaya convince Jeff Wilpon to bump that budget up over $160 million for the next 2-3 years? We know Omar Minaya has a man crush on Manny dating back to his Expos days. We know he sees the obvious impact Manny would have on this team. Can Omar find a way to pull one more gigantic rabbit out of his hat? It would take one hell of a sales pitch, and Met fans don’t want anybody else in that room with Fred Wilpon except Omar.

The time has come for the conservative Wilpons to make a splash. Loosen your collar, untuck your shirt, kick off the penny loafers and get Manny Ramirez to Flushing, Queens. ASAP. We know the cost: Two years guaranteed, with a club option or incentives tied to a third. Financial impact: Between $60-$75 million. You’re in a new ballpark. You have a team poised to compete for the whole ball of wax. They need one more serious bat in the middle of the lineup. They need a fresh start. Jerry Manuel has spoken. The fans have spoken. Fred Wilpon, the message is clear: Go get Manny Ramirez.

We are firmly entrenched in the final hours of this off-season saga.The balls in your court Fred. Manny Ramirez is a phone call away. The World Series might be a phone call away. Are you content being good, or do you dare to be great?

The Five Most Important Plays of Super Bowl XLIII

2009-02-02T18:21:00.003-05:00

Super Bowl XLIII was one to remember. The Steelers came to Tampa looking to become the most decorated team of the Super Bowl era. Mission accomplished. After pulling out a thrilling 27-23 last-minute victory for the ages, Pittsburgh has separated themselves from the pack. The new benchmark: 6 Lombardi trophies. Here are the five most important plays from the latest chapter of Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl history:

1Q---14:16---PITT BALL---2nd & 8---PITT 30
How are Ben Roethlisberger’s ribs? Can Hines Ward contribute? The second snap from scrimmage of Super Bowl XLIII went a long way in answering both questions. The play saw Ben Roethlisberger roll to his right to avoid pressure and then fire an off-balance strike to Hines Ward. Ward was practically uncovered, finding a hole in Arizona’s zone. The play resulted in a 38 yard catch-and-run that brought the ball down to Arizona’s 32 yard line. Pittsburgh would go on to open the scoring with a field goal. But more importantly, the questions surrounding Ben Roethlisberger and Hines Ward where answered emphatically. They were here to play.

1Q---4:09---PITT BALL---3rd & 10---ARI 44
At the conclusion of this drive Pittsburgh would score their first touchdown. First, they needed to convert a third and long from the Arizona 44. The play epitomized how creative and elusive Ben Roethlisberger can be in the pocket. He seemed dead from the onset (think Eli Manning on the Tyree play). Big Ben was flushed to his left, he looked, nobody was open. Cardinals converged around him as he spun and sprinted for open real estate to his right. Then he stopped and fired a strike, across his body, back to the left sideline to Heath Miller. First down Pittsburgh. If Arizona prevented this broken play, the Steelers punt. Instead of it being Arizona’s ball, down 3-0; moments later it was 10-0 Pittsburgh.

2Q---:18---ARI BALL---1st & G---PITT 1
Welcome to the play that will go down in Super Bowl infamy. With :18 seconds left in the half, and no timeouts, Arizona realistically had two, maybe three, shots at the end zone. At a minimum, the Cardinals were poised for an extra-point field goal to tie the score at 10. Considering the early 10-point hole Arizona found themselves in, Ken Whisenhunt would have been ecstatic to be up four or tied at the half. Instead, the NFL Defensive Player of the Year made the play of the year. As Warner dropped back throw he scanned left and fired a pass intended for Anquan Boldin. James Harrison read the play perfectly, stepping in front of Boldin for the interception. He then started rumbling downfield, a convoy emerged and 100 yards later he authored the longest play in Super Bowl history. Instead of Arizona putting points on the board, this stunning turn of events had Pittsburgh running into the half with a 17-7 lead.

3Q---7:41---PITT BALL---1st & 10---50
This drive was a classic example of Pittsburgh Steelers’ football. Sixteen plays, 79 yards, 8:39 elapsed, with important points added to the scoreboard. It was also helped significantly by three personal fouls against Arizona. You didn’t read that wrong, Arizona actually committed three personal fouls, on one drive, IN THE SUPER BOWL!?!? The worst of the three came on a first and ten from midfield. Karlos Dansby was called for roughing the passer after a Ben Roethlisberger pass fell incomplete. The call was borderline, but acceptable. In addition to the deflating affect it appeared to have on Arizona’s defense; Pittsburgh now had the ball 1st & 10 from the Arizona 35, instead of 2nd & 10 from midfield. The play symbolized the feeling of the game at the time, as everything was going right for Pittsburgh and poorly for Arizona. The Arizona comeback attempt would soon follow, but not before this personal foul ridden drive put them even further behind the eight-ball.

4Q---:42---PITT BALL---2nd & 6---ARI 6

Last year we had a play that will never be forgotten—Manning to Tyree. The deciding play of Super Bowl XLIII was just added to the list. Pittsburgh could have been conservative and played for the game-tying field goal. It would have been the first overtime game in Super Bowl history. However, overtime wasn’t on Pittsburgh’s mind. They went for the win. The drive as a whole was fantastic. Facing 1st & 20 from their own 12, Ben Roethlisberger and Santonio Holmes went to work. Ben to Holmes for 14. Ben to Holmes for 13. Ben to Holmes for 40. And then came the dagger. Out of the shotgun, with the end-zone 6 yards away, Roethlisberger dropped back to throw. He cocked and fired a rocket towards the back of the end-zone. Three Cardinals were standing right there, but the throw was perfect. Perfect. And the catch by Santonio Holmes was equally mind blowing. He stabbed it from thin air, tapped both feet, and held on to the ball as he fell to the Raymond James grass. It officially launched the Roethlisberger era in Pittsburgh. And this era will be remembered, like Bradshaw to Swann, for all of the memories Roethlisberger to Holmes left engrained in our minds during this drive. Especially the last one.

20 Things to Know Before Watching Super Bowl XLIII

2009-01-31T23:07:00.010-05:00

What Happens When Arizona’s Offense Has The Ball? How this question ultimately gets answered will be the story of Super Bowl XLIII. If Arizona can figure out Pittsburgh’s defense to the point of coming anywhere close to their 31.6 points-per-game playoff average, then they probably win. Can they protect Warner? Can they avoid costly turnovers? Can they scratch together a running game? And can they handle the adversity that the Super Bowl will surely generate? If the answer to most of these questions is yes, then Arizona will have a great shot to celebrate their first Super Bowl title. With the number-one defense in the NFL on the other side of the ball, it will be much easier said than done.

Harrison vs. Gandy - This is probably the best one-on-one matchup in the game. The task of trying to control James Harrison, the NFL Defensive Player of the Year, is a high priority for Arizona. This responsibility falls squarely on the shoulders of Cardinal left tackle Mike Gandy. Signed during the 2007 offseason after Ken Whisenhunt assumed control of the team, Gandy has been just as important as any other Cardinal in getting Arizona to Tampa. So far in the playoffs, Gandy has held sack-masters Jonathan Abraham and Julius Peppers sack-less. Sunday he draws his biggest test to date, as the NFL top sack dog will be waiting for him at Raymond James Stadium. From all angles this battle should be legendary and will go a long way in determining the outcome.

How does Pittsburgh Utilize Miller & Spaeth? If you like gigantic tight ends, look no further than the twin towers in Pittsburgh. Heath Miller stands 6’5’’, 256lbs; while Matt Spaeth measures in at 6’7’’, 270lbs. The duo has combined for 65 receptions, 650 yards and 3 touchdowns this season. Miller and Spaeth have come up big for Pittsburgh all season, keeping drives alive with big first down catches seemingly every week. With their size it’s no surprise that they are equally adept at blocking. And that may be the name of the game come Sunday. If Big Ben’s rib injury is worse than expected, the task of protecting Roethlisberger will be magnified. Keep an eye on the amount of time Miller and Spaeth stay in to block, compared to running routes. Also look to see how many two-tight-end sets Pittsburgh deploys early in the game. The way they utilize Miller and Spaeth in the first half will shed some light on the seriousness of Big Ben’s ribs.

The Santonio Holmes Factor - With Hines Ward clearly playing injured, Pittsburgh will need someone to step up and steal the show. Their leading candidate on paper is Santonio Holmes. Last week, Holmes’ big-play ability was on full display during a 65-yard catch-and-run touchdown. In addition to the passing game, Holmes will have the opportunity to be a game-breaker returning punts. Either way, Santonio Holmes needs to get loose and Mike Tomlin will do everything in his power to make that happen.

An Intimate Knowledge – By now you know that Ken Whisenhunt was Ben Roethlisberger’s offensive coordinator for his first three seasons in Pittsburgh, including their Super Bowl XL triumph. The question now becomes what impact does that 3-year experience play Sunday? Factor in Russ Grimm was also an integral part of that Pittsburgh staff, and one must wonder: Is there anybody in football who knows Pittsburgh better than Whisenhunt and Grimm? Answer: No. We all saw what happened when John Gruden was armed with a similar knowledge of Oakland in Super Bowl XXXVII. It remains to be seen if they still know enough two years later to duplicate that result same Sunday.

Strong Under Pressure – If we know one thing about Pittsburgh’s defense, it’s their desire to bring pressure. If we know one thing Kurt Warner, it’s his ability to handle it. Pittsburgh will blitz Warner all afternoon. Rattling him will be the hard part. Warner handles pressure as well as any QB, possibly ever. Woodley will be coming, so will Harrison, so will a host of other Steelers. Under heavy fire, expect Warner to hang in the pocket until the final second, get hit all day, but still deliver the football. Whether or not they can get to him fast enough to disrupt the timing of the Cardinal offense is the key.

Where’s Polamalu? As we know, Troy Polamalu is an ‘in the box’ safety. Sunday he’ll probably be an ‘everywhere’ safety. He’ll be near the line of scrimmage helping with the run. He’ll be flying through open gaps on blitzes. He’ll be in coverage. He will basically be everywhere. Last week, all the pre-game talk focused on Ed Reed, yet it was Polamalu who stole the show, returning an interception for a touchdown in the 4th quarter to ice the AFC title game. He’s a difference maker and the clear-cut leader of this stellar defense. Harrison may have received all the accolades this season, but Polamalu is the player keeping Ken Whisenhunt up at night. Arizona won’t hesitate to test him deep with shots to Larry Fitzgerald, in fact they're hoping for those opportunities. It’s the rest of the time that they’re worried about.

One Very Important Rib Cage – Hopefully Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin was right when he said Big Ben is “fine” and Hines Ward is “great” earlier this week. Makes me wonder why Roethlisberger had two, not one, but two, MRI’s on his ribs cage since the AFC Championship Game. No matter how you look at, this is not good for Pittsburgh. The last thing you want heading into the Super Bowl is an injured Ben Roethlisberger. Can you imagine a scenario where the Steelers’ record-breaking sixth Super Bowl title hangs in the balance with Byron Leftwich at quarterback? Every Steeler fan reading this article just cringed at the thought. But that could become a reality if Big Ben gets hit on those ribs.

Woodley vs. Brown – While James Harrison and Mike Gandy are waging war on one side of the line, LaMarr Woodley and Levi Brown will be doing the same on the right side. The first thing Ken Whisenhunt did after becoming the Cardinals coach in 2007 was draft Levi Brown with the 5th overall pick. Brown has been tremendous for Arizona, but will surely have his hands full with the former Michigan Wolverine. Woodley has been excellent in the postseason, with two sacks in both playoff victories. If Arizona feels more comfortable leaving Gandy on an island with Harrison, expect them to give Brown help. With or without it, Levi Brown will have Aaron Smith and LaMarr Woodley in his face all day. Is the Happy Valley product up to the task?

Fresh Edge – Seems like only yesterday that Edgerrin James was bickering about not wanting to be a Cardinal. He certainly wasn’t the first. Funny how a trip to the Super Bowl can fix things. James’ mid-season demotion has turned into a blessing in disguise for Arizona. Now James is fresh and back to his old Indianapolis form. He’ll do the heavy lifting in this game; Hightower will provide the spark, and Arrington will chip in when needed. With this group on the same page, it’s no surprise to see a previously run-deficient team averaging 110 yards on the ground in the playoffs.

An Underrated Line - For some bizarre reason, people seem to think that the Arizona offense line is a weakness. Let’s dispel the rumor. First of all, you don’t pass for more than 5,300 yards without an offensive line. Secondly, you don’t rush for over 110 yards per game in the playoffs without an offensive line. Third, the exact people questioning this group probably couldn’t name anybody on it. When Ken Whisenhunt took the job, his #1 priority was rebuilding the offensive line. First step was bringing offensive-line wizard Russ Grimm with him from Pittsburgh. Then he grabbed Penn State standout Levi Brown with the 5th overall pick in the 2007 draft. Directly following the draft he out-recruited 19 other teams to win the services of Kyle Sendlein. Sendlein was the starting center for the 2005 National Champion Texas Longhorns, yet went undrafted. Under Grimm’s tutelage he’s blossomed into one of the brightest young centers in football. Needing a left tackle, they stole Mike Gandy from Buffalo. Then Grimm went to work trimming down and coaching up Deuce Lutui and Reggie Wells. Its taken time to gel, but this group is far from a weakness—they’re the glue keeping this spectacular offense rolling.

It All Starts At The Draft – Both coaches have been on the job for two seasons. And both entered their positions under adverse circumstances. Tomlin had the unenviable task of following a coaching legend, Bill Cowher; while Ken Whisenhunt assumed control of a team many thought was incapable of winning. Two years later and those birds have stopped chirping. A major part of the formula has been nailing draft picks. Lawrence Timmons, Lamarr Woodley, Matt Spaeth and Limas Sweed are all Tomlin picks. Meanwhile, Whisenhunt's brain trust has had an equally keen eye for incoming talent, plucking Levi Brown, Steve Breaston, Kyle Sendlein, Dominique Rodgers Cromartie and Tim Hightower. Super Bowl teams are built through the draft and this forty-third edition is no exception.

The Super Bowl’s Other Defense – Ask Michael Turner about Arizona’s defense. Or DeAngelo Williams and Jake Delhomme. Or Brian Westbrook. This group has been holding the NFL’s most explosive player in check all postseason. Antonio Smith, Darnell Dockett and Bertrand Berry lead the way up front. With Arizona getting pressure from their front-four, playmakers like Karlos Dansby and Adrian Wilson have shined. The secondary features Dominique-Rodgers Cromartie, an emerging NFL superstar, along with Antrel Rolle and Roderick Hood. Rolle and Hood both have post-season INTs and are playing at a high level. It’s an understatement to say that this unit is gelling at the right time. I’m still trying to figure out what happened in New York, Philadelphia and New England, when the same unit allowed 151 points in three blowout losses.

Don’t Forget Special Teams – Time and time again, the Super Bowl is decided by special teams. Desmond Howards, Scott Norwood and Adam Vinatieri come to mind. Both of these teams bring elite kickers to Tampa. Pittsburgh’s Jeff Reed is automatic inside 40 yards and is a perfect 3-3 in the playoffs. Arizona’s Neil Rackers made the 2006 Pro Bowl and is 5-7 in January. In the Super Bowl points are usually at a premium, these two kickers will need to do their part.

Getting Off The Field – Third-down conversions will be hugely important stats during Super Bowl XLIII. Which team can keep drives alive? Which defense can get off the field? Arizona’s defense might be on an upswing, but they were still the fifth-worst team in the NFL in third-down defense. Pittsburgh’s offense was in the middle of the pack, converting 41.1% of their third-down conversions in 2008. Even if Pittsburgh hasn’t excelled in this department, it’s still an advantage. Meanwhile, the challenge for the Kurt Warner & company will be converting crucial third downs against the #1 third-down defense in football. Wow, that’s a shocker. Arizona’s offense has been converting at 41.9%, good for 11th best in the NFL.

The Quest For #6 – The historical significance of this game cannot be understated. Pittsburgh is currently tied with Dallas and San Francisco with five Super Bowl titles. With fifteen champions under their belts, the Steelers, Cowboys and 49ers have basically outlined what is necessary to win a title: Great quarterbacks and great defense. All three teams have had some of the best. Roger Staubach handed Dallas’ torch to Troy Aikman in the early 90s, Joe Montana handed San Fran’s to Steve Young around the same time, and now Ben Roethlisberger has a firm grasp on Pittsburgh’s torch, in a clean handoff from Terry Bradshaw. The whole point of the NFL is to win the Super Bowl. Bottom-line. If Pittsburgh is successful Sunday, they will break the tie and the argument about who’s got the best franchise around.

Anquan Boldin: The Super Bowl’s Sleeping Giant? Name another player in this game with more to prove than Anquan Boldin. Coming off an 89-catch, 1,038-yard, 11-touchdown season, despite missing four games, Boldin has become the forgotten man in Arizona’s offense. All the talk surrounding Arizona’s other star wideout has been about his sideline shouting-match with offensive coordinator Todd Haley during the legendary forth quarter drive that got Arizona here. With the media embroiled in a two-week love affair with Larry Fitzgerald, Boldin’s potential impact on this game has been lost. With two full weeks of additional recovery to the groin he injured against Atlanta, Boldin is 100% and ready to light Super Bowl XLIII on fire.

Super Bowl Winning QB vs. Super Bowl Winning QB – By my count, this is only the forth time that both starting quarterbacks in the Super Bowl were previous Super Bowl champions. It happened in Super Bowl’s X and XIII with Terry Bradshaw and Roger Staubach. Staubach was MVP of Super Bowl VI, before Bradshaw led Pittsburgh to their first title in Super Bowl IX. It happened again in Super Bowl XVIII when Jim Plunkett, MVP of Super Bowl XV, met Joe Theisman, winner of the prior year’s Super Bowl XVII. With history showing us just how rare of an event this is, Kurt Warner vs. Ben Roethlisberger is sure to be special. The winner walks away with ring number two and the inside track on an invitation to Canton.

The Trick Play – Trick plays are a staple of Ken Whisenhunt’s offense. In Super Bowl XL we all remember Antwaan Randle-El’s fake-reverse touchdown pass to Hine Ward. This postseason has seen the multiple versions of the flea flicker stifle opposing defenses. Pittsburgh might not know when it’s coming, or in what variation, but the expect something tricky from their old offensive coordinator.

Nick G Sports Banter Prediction – My gut feeling is that Arizona’s offense will find a way to score over twenty points. I know how the old saying goes, good defense beats good offense. That’s what makes this Super Bowl special. This is a great offense, firing on all cylinders, going up against a great defense, as stingy as they come. What gives? As we’ve seen in the past, I think the magnitude of the stage loosens things up and gives the offense a big advantage in Super Bowl games. I expect an underappreciated Cardinal defense to play well enough to win a game in the twenties. Prediction: Arizona 24 Pittsburgh 20. MVP: Kurt Warner.

Working Against History: The Cardinals Soar To New Heights

2009-01-25T21:39:00.007-05:00

Sport fans are all familiar with the struggles of the Chicago Cubs. One hundred years of baseball. No titles. The list of devastation borders on cruel and unusual punishment: The Curse of the Billie Goat; Ruth’s “called shot” in the ’32 Series; the black cat at Shea during the Fall of ’69; the heartbreaking loss to the Padres in ’84; Steve Bartman; and, of course, their latest disappointment this past post season. Call them cursed. Call it plain bad luck. Either way, the Cubbies have saddled their loyal fans with one very unenviable distinction. It’s a place atop the worst list in sports: Longest drought without a championship. For the Cubs it’s been a century and counting. So, next time you see a Cubs fan on the street, buy him a beer; he deserves it.

So, who’s next on this horrid list, you ask? You’ll find them on the opposite spectrum of the sports world. While the Cubs have been consistently competitive for much of their unfortunate history, still boasting one of the most passionate fan bases around, the same can’t be said for the runner up. With one week of Super Bowl XLIII coverage in the books, you probably know the answer. And it probably didn’t surprise you either. The Arizona Cardinals are the type of team you expect to see on this list. The words ‘Cardinals’ and ‘championship’ are about as polar opposite as the words ‘Wooden’ and ‘loser’. For as weird as it is to have a storied team like the Cubs atop the list, it seems naturally fitting to see the Cardinals second. If a Cub fan deserves a beer, a Cardinal fan deserves a six-pack.

The List:

Chicago Cubs – last title – 1908
Arizona Cardinals – last title – 1947
Sacramento Kings – last title – 1951
Detroit Lions – last title – 1957
Chicago Blackhawks – last title - 1961

As a charter member of the NFL, and the oldest continuously running professional football team in America, the Cardinals have had time on their side. Luck, on the other hand, has been a different story.

Formed in 1898, the Cardinals have called three cities home in their 110-year existence: Chicago, St. Louis and now Phoenix. That’s one more city than the franchise has championships. Those came in 1925 and 1947. As they’ve zigzagged across America, their time in the league has transpired in relative obscurity. Sure, there have been highlights. Four-time Pro Bowl quarterback Jim Hart was probably their best signal-caller before Kurt Warner, leading the Cards to seasons of 10-4, 11-3 and 10-4 from 1974-76.

And then there were the Cardiac Cards of the late 1990’s, led by Arizona State product Jake Plummer. Prior to this post season, the Cardinals franchise highpoint was a wild card round victory over the Dallas Cowboys in 1998. It marked the franchise’s only other playoff victory outside of their 1947 NFL title game victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. However these were very slight glimpses of light in an otherwise dark and ominous history of ineptitude.

Since the Packers won Super Bowl I in 1967, the Cardinals have experienced 29 losing seasons. Most of that time was spent playing professional football in a college stadium. For years games were blacked out throughout their home state, as Sun Devil Stadium sat half empty. Before realignment the NFL haphazardly dumped them in the NFC East. This forced them to travel twice a year to New York, Philadelphia, Washington and Dallas, despite being located on the other side of the country. They were the division whipping stick for decades, currently a combined 77 games under .500 against those old division foes.

Moves like drafting Arkansas kicker Steve Little ahead of future Hall-of Famer Ozzie Newsome and SB MVP Doug Williams with the 15th overall pick in the 1978 draft helped enhance their laughing-stock image. And, of course, none of us will ever forget the loss of Pat Tillman. Like no other, this franchise has been hard struck with countless years of awful football and even worse luck.

In typical Cardinal fashion, even their 1925 title is a widely debated matter. Back in those early days of the NFL, the league championship was awarded to the team with the best record. In 1925, that team was the Pottsville Maroons. However, in what has become one of the longest-standing controversies in NFL history, then Commissioner Joseph Carr suspended the Maroons, stripping them of the championship, for playing a previously arranged game at the conclusion of that NFL season with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish All-Stars in Philadelphia.

The Maroons’ participation in this game, won 9-7 by Pottsville, violated league rules, therefore handing the 1925 NFL title, by default, to the Chicago Cardinals. At the time the Cardinals refused to accept the title, yet history officially acknowledges them as the 1925 champions. In 1963, the NFL appointed a special commission to examine the issue. That committee voted 12-2 in favor of upholding Commissioner Carr’s decision. The matter appeared closed, but it wasn’t. Only five years ago, at the 2003 NFL owner’s meetings, the matter of the 1925 NFL championship resurfaced. This time the league voted 30-2 in favor of the original ruling.

To this day a strong contingent of Pottsville supporters still cry foul over that infamous 1925 season. They point to the season finale, where the Maroons beat the champion Cardinals 21-7 and to their win over Notre Dame. At the time top college teams were considered better than the emerging pro teams; and Notre Dame’s All Star squad was as good as any. If nothing else, it’s an interesting crevice in NFL history and another blemish on the timeline of Cardinals football.

The Arizona Cardinals’ history book might as well have been written by their arch rival. It’s that bad. 110 years; two championships, one disputed; five all-time playoff wins; and a 61-year title drought. As Pittsburgh enters Super Bowl XLIII as one of the most successful teams in North American sports, the Cardinals enter the game as virgins, not only to the Super Bowl, but to success in general. As Pittsburgh looks to pace the NFL with their record-breaking sixth Super Bowl title, the Cardinals are simply looking for a moment. A moment that is long, long overdue. It’s one that might not erase a century of losing, but it would certainly be worth the wait. For a team that has already accumulated more playoff victories in the past month than they had in their entire 110 years of existence, the Cardinals are hoping to have their name stricken from one list and added to another: The list of Super Bowl champions.

Game Story: Ravens Off To AFC Title Game; Stun Top-Seeded Titans in Nashville

2009-01-12T02:11:00.010-05:00

“Here come the Baltimore Ravens. The team nobody wants to play”

Those were the words of Ravens All-Pro Ed Reed, prior to Saturday’s Divisional Round playoff with the Tennessee Titans. As it turns out, Reed’s words proved prophetic, as the Ravens defeated the top-seeded Titans 13-10 at LP Field, and are headed back to the AFC Championship Game for the second time this decade.

Taken with the 18th pick out of Delaware in the April draft, Joe Flacco became the first rookie to win two playoff games in NFL history. While avoiding the big mistake, Flacco led a conservative but efficient Raven attack, going 11 for 22, for 161 yards and one touchdown. No interceptions. No fumbles. No problem for the former Fighting Blue Hen.

Flacco’s best pass of the day was a 48-yard strike to Derek Mason with 1:20 left in the first quarter, tying the game at 7.

Mason led Baltimore in receiving with 5 catches, 78 yards and the score.

"We've been confident in ourselves all year," Flacco said after the game. "It seems like we've been on the road for the longest time. It doesn't matter to us. We're going to go out there and battle the crowd, battle the other team, and give it our best."

Baltimore’s defense subscribed to the ‘bend but don’t break’ philosophy most of the afternoon, executing it to a tee. The NFL’s #2 rated defense excelled at getting off the field without relinquishing points, holding Tennessee to a paltry 4-14 on 3rd down conversions.

Ray Lewis and Bart Scott led the charge, each collecting a team-high 11 tackles.

Tennessee will have a hard time looking back and blaming anybody but themselves.

Uncharacteristic of a Jeff Fischer team, the Titans were sloppy all afternoon, committing 12 penalties for 89 yards and three crucial turnovers.

With 12:05 remaining in the half, Tennessee was forced to start from their own 1-yard line. However, Kerry Collins drove the Titans down to the Baltimore 32, before ending the drive with an interception to Samari Rolle.

On Tennessee’s next drive, they were again on the move, before losing the football when LenDale White fumbled on a third down run. The half ended, tied 7-7; with Tennessee kicking themselves for squandering the two possible scoring drives.

For Tennessee the most devastating turnover was still to come. With Baltimore holding a slim 13-10 lead, Tennessee’s sure handed tight end, Alge Crumpler, fumbled the ball over to the Ravens, one yard shy of the end zone. It was a crippling turnover that all but sealed Tennessee’s fate.

In addition to their undisciplined play, Tennessee also had to deal with the loss of running back Chris Johnson, towards the end of the first half. Johnson was in the middle of an amazing game, already gaining 100 yards (72 rushing, 28 receiving) when he injured his right foot.

Johnson opened the scoring on Tennessee’s second drive of the game, getting loose on the right edge for an 8 yard touchdown run. The Titan offense was never the same after losing the rookie, scoring only three points the rest of the way.

While Baltimore was playing it close to the vest with their young quarterback, Tennessee decided to let veteran Kerry Collins air it out. Collins did everything possible without the threat of a running game, completing 26 of 42 passes for 281 yards, no touchdowns. It was obvious that Collins’ first target was Justin Gage. Gage caught 10 balls for 135 yards. The combo did everything imaginable except find the end zone.

Ultimately, too many costly penalties and the three untimely turnovers; coupled with the loss of their best player, led to Tennessee’s demise.

With :53 seconds remaining in the game, Baltimore veteran Matt Stover trotted on the field to deliver the death blow. The 43-yarder was good off the foot, as Stover’s two fourth-quarter field goals were all Baltimore needed to get back to the AFC title game.

"I would say this would be the No. 1 [kick in my career]," Stover said, before adding, "but we've got some more kicks, too. So let's just be humble about that."

The Baltimore Ravens are now one game away from Super Bowl XLIII. They will need one more win away from home to get to Tampa. The immediate question is whether their road show will be traveling to San Diego or Pittsburgh next weekend?

“Here come the Baltimore Ravens. The team nobody wants to play”

Words have never been so true.

Photo from AP, quotes from ESPN.com

AFC Divisional Playoff: Baltimore Ravens @ Tennessee Titans

2009-01-10T15:54:00.007-05:00

Time: Sat. 4:30 PM ET
Weather: High: 46, Low: 27, 60% chance of rain, estimated 16 mph cross wind
Favorite: Tennessee by 3

The unusual thing about this year’s Divisional Round is that all four games feature teams that have already met during the regular season. It’s the weekend that many football purists consider the best of the playoffs, and it begins with a rematch of a week-five battle that saw Tennessee outlast Baltimore 13-10. That game wasn’t for the faint of heart, and I’ll assume in advance that this one won’t be either.

The deciding factor could be Baltimore safety Ed Reed. Reed has been the best football player in the NFL over the past month. Last week, he single-handedly altered the Ravens’ Wild Card game in Miami, intercepting two passes and returning one for a pivotal touchdown. Add Ray Lewis, Bart Scott and Terrell Suggs to the equation, and this Ravens defense is playing better than any other unit remaining in the 8-team tournament.

The key for Tennessee will be how quickly they get back into rhythm following their bye week. It’s well documented that defensive stalwarts Albert Haynesworth and Kyle Vanden Bosch will be returning to the Titan lineup. But at what level? With Tennessee’s offensive sure to be slowed by Reed & company, the Titans defense will need to match that effort to have any chance of advancing. Pay close attention to the Tennessee front-four early in the game, as their effectiveness will be paramount.

For the first time is years, the Baltimore offense is finally catching up to their defense. Stabilized by Joe Flacco’s impressive rookie season, Baltimore brings the league’s fourth-best rushing attack to LP Field; while Tennessee owns the NFL’s seventh-best ground game. Sensational Titans’ rookie Chris Johnson, who was held to only 44 yards in their week-five meeting, will need to have a much better day. Look for the team with more rushing yards to most likely advance to the AFC Championship Game.

As we know, playoff games are won in the trenches, and that logic will certainly hold true in this one. Unfortunately for Tennessee, this is the one area where they are wounded. On top of the questions surrounding the health of Haynesworth and Vanden Bosch, Pro-Bowl center Kevin Mawae has been ruled out with an injured right elbow. With Tennessee’s interior weakened on both sides of the ball, it’s easy to envision a repeat of the 2000 playoffs, when Baltimore upset the then #1-seeded Titans in Tennessee, en route to their Super Bowl XXXV victory.

Prediction: Baltimore 21 Tennessee 10

NFC Divisional Playoff: Arizona Cardinals @ Carolina Panthers

2009-01-10T15:44:00.004-05:00

Time: Sat. 8:15 PM ET
Weather: High: 59, Low: 38, 60% chance of rain, estimated 14 mph cross wind
Favorite: Carolina by 10

Barack Obama was recently named TIME Magazine’s Person of the Year. While the President-elect is certainly worthy of the nod, my vote would have gone to second-year Cardinals Head Coach Ken Whisenhunt. While Obama will be expected to lead the free world beginning January 20th, the task facing Whisenhunt two years ago was just as ominous. Taking control of a fledgling laughing stock, Whisenhunt now has the Cardinals knocking on the door of the NFC Championship Game; way faster than Obama could ever dream of fixing the American economy.

The turnaround began last season when Whisenhunt handed the reigns of the offense over to the 36-year-old Kurt Warner, burying first-round pick Matt Leinart on the Arizona bench. Whisenhunt showed faith in a quarterback that’ so many love to question.

And what happens when people unwisely question the hall-of-fame bound Kurt Warner?

He usually ends up with MVP-like numbers with his team in the Super Bowl mix. This season is no exception. Warner’s full-blown NFL resurrection (4,854 yards, 32 TDs) is the main reason why Arizona boasts the most explosive offense remaining in the playoffs. In fact, when they are firing on all cylinders, Arizona’s offense and Warner’s old Greatest Show on Turf attack, look eerily similar. The big question heading into this game revolves around one of Warner’s main targets, Anquan Boldin. Boldin pulled his hamstring while scoring a 71-yard touchdown in last week’s 30-24 win over Atlanta. He plans on testing the injury before the game, yet sources close to Arizona expect little, if anything, from Boldin. Anybody smell some cat and mouse? Either way, one thing is certain: Boldin is far from 100%. Arizona’s third wide-receiver, Steve Breaston, will be asked to help shoulder the load. Breaston has been phenomenal during his 2008 coming-out party; hauling in 77 catches for 1,006 yards. His productivity now becomes vital for Arizona.

Meanwhile, the #2-seeded Carolina Panthers enter the game 12-4, healthy, and ready to play. The Panthers are led by Head Coach John Fox, who is quietly becoming one of the best coaches of his era. The one thing Fox lacks is a Super Bowl ring, and this current group of Panthers would love to fill that void. I suspect Fox knows he’ll need to score in the high 20’s-low 30’s to beat Arizona, so look for him to alter his game plan and take numerous shots down the field to Steve Smith. The rest of the time, Carolina will look to grind out the clock with their two-back attack of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. As is normally the case with playoff football, pay close attention to who wins the turnover battle. In this particular game it could easily be the deciding factor.

The only thing that might slow down Arizona is the game-time weather. If this turns into a cold and rainy affair, edge Carolina. If not, look for Warner to pick apart Carolina’s defense, with or without Boldin. Once the Cards get rollin’, Carolina’s run-oriented offense will have a very tough time keeping up.

Prediction: Arizona 31 Carolina 24

NFC Divisional Playoff: Philadelphia Eagles @ New York Giants

2009-01-10T15:39:00.005-05:00

Time: Sun. 1:00 PM ET
Weather: High: 33, Low: 21, 10% chance of rain, estimated 25 mph cross wind
Favorite: New York by 4

All over football people have been searching high and low for this year’s version of last year’s Giants. Well, I have a news flash for everybody: Stop the hunt! Last year’s Giants haven’t gone anywhere. In fact, this time around they’re the #1 seed in the NFC. Add in the fact that there’s no 18-0 monster looming around the corner, and we don’t need a search party to find the Super Bowl favorites. While everybody seemed to jump off the Giant bandwagon after the Plaxico Burress incident, make no mistake, this team is still the best in the NFL.

I hate to sound so presumptuous about an NFL playoff game, but the task facing Philadelphia Sunday is truly that enormous. Sure, the Eagles did beat the Giants a month ago, 20-14 at the Meadowlands. And sure, everybody knows the Giants lost three of four down the stretch. Yet despite not coming into the game with the same momentum they entered last year’s playoffs with, this team is still focused, rested and looking to make a statement.

This Giant team has thrived off self-motivation in the past, and all of the glowing talk surrounding Philadelphia is surely fueling their fire. Apparently, the Giants players, most notably Brandon Jacobs, had a few spirited, full-speed practices this week after growing restless with all the time away from the field during their bye week. They seem to be chomping at the bit to begin the defense of their Super Bowl crown. All of this doesn’t bode well for the Eagles.

Philadelphia will have their hands full Sunday, but they do have three things working in their favor: Donovan McNabb, Brian Westbrook, and their defense. All three will need to be in top form for Philly to walk into the Meadlowlands and leave with the victory. McNabb has been playing his best football of the year and so has Westbrook. But keep in mind that McNabb has a storied history of choking in big games, and for every dominating game that Westbrook has had this season, he’s disappeared in just as many.

If the Giants’ back-to-back effort falls short, it could very well be because of the loss of their big-play wide receiver Plaxico Burress. Burress’ impact on last year’s Super Bowl run cannot be understated. However, with 25 mph winds expected at the Swamp, this game falls right into the New York Giants wheelhouse. Expect the three-headed monster of Brandon Jacobs, Derek Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw to have a huge day, keeping the dreams of a repeat alive for another week.

Prediction: Philadelphia 7 New York 35

AFC Divisional Playoff: San Diego Chargers @ Pittsburgh Steelers

2009-01-10T04:51:00.005-05:00

Time: Sun. 4:45 PM ET
Weather: High: 25, Low: 24, 30% chance of snow showers, estimated 13 mph cross wind
Favorite: Pittsburgh by 6

Pittsburgh might have the league’s #1 defense, but this week they draw the unenviable task of trying to contain the league’s hottest quarterback. It’s no mistake San Diego’s resurrection from 4-8 to the Divisional Round happened to coincide with Philip Rivers’ terrific play. Since week 12, River has thrown 13 TDs and only two INT, playing the seven-week span to an average QB rating of 107.55. When it’s counted the most, Rivers has been at his best this season. When the two teams met on November 16, Rivers played his worst game of the year (0 TD, 2 INTs, 44.4 QB rating) and San Diego still only lost by a point, 11-10.

Both teams have one major injury of note. Pittsburgh’s quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is still recovering from a pretty severe concussion suffered two weeks ago in the regular season finale against Cleveland, but is expected to play. He had this to say Wednesday, “I had a little bit of a headache from putting the helmet on because it’s so tight. We’ll deal with it and move on.”

For the Chargers the news is not so good. LaDainian Tomlinson is expected to miss the game with what is being described as a torn tendon in his groin. LT, who was clearly limited in last week’s Wildcard win over Indianapolis, was clearly distraught about the injury when talking to the media Wednesday:

"It feels like something is tearing away from my leg. That's how I know that it's messed up because before, when I've had groin injuries, I haven't felt that. Whenever you feel a popping or like it's tearing, that's usually not good."

Without LT or Shawne Merriman, the task will be large for Norv Turner’s Chargers. But if last year’s 21-12 AFC Championship Game loss to New England showed us anything, it’s that this team travels well to the Northeast in January. Instead of being intimidated, San Diego fed off the Foxboro crowd during that game. Expect the same Sunday, in the last, and probably best, matchup of the weekend.

PREDICTION: San Diego 20 Pittsburgh 16

John Tavares and Victor Hedman Ready To Take The NHL By Storm

2009-01-08T01:20:00.008-05:00

Six months from now, one NHL GM will have a big decision to make. It’s the type of decision that can follow a team for years. One that can reestablish your franchise’s relevancy, immediately make you playoff caliber and leave you with a championship foundation to build around. Or it can leave you wondering how you failed to capitalize on such a golden opportunity, endlessly second guessing the logic behind your mistake.

Despite the high stakes, every GM managing a team near the bottom of the NHL standings is secretly rooting to be the guy to make the pick. They all want the chance to choose between the next great Canadian center or a Norris-trophy-bound defensive pillar? Do they prefer the next Yzerman or the next Lidstrom?

Do they select John Tavares or Victor Hedman?

On one side of the pond, Victor Hedman’s size and raw ability are blowing people’s minds in Sweden. Scout after scout who venture to see him play for Modo Hockey Ornskoldsvik, of the Swedish Elite League, all leave comparing the 18-year-old, 6’7’’, 230-pound Swede to a cross between Nicklas Lidstrom and Chris Pronger. He’s considered a once-in-a-generation defensive prospect, specializing in the nuances of the position.

Think back to all of the defensemen recently selected at the top of the NHL draft: Drew Doughty (2nd overall), Zach Bogosian (3nd overall), Alex Pietrangelo (4th overall), Thomas Hickey (4th overall), and Luke Schenn (5th overall). Then think about this: Victor Hedman is better than all of them, and if the scouts are right, he’ll be better than pretty much every other defenseman too!

The thing making this one of the most anticipated NHL drafts of all time is not only the out-of-this-world prospect in Sweden, but also the other one on this side of the pond. And his name is John Tavares.

There are good Canadian prospects, and then there are the great Canadian prospects. John Tavares would fall in the latter category. By all accounts he is destined for greatness in the NHL. For the past three and a half years the Ontario Hockey League has been terrorized by Tavares’ dizzying skill. Through three seasons Tavares scored 329 points in only 191 games, including a record-breaking 72 goals as a sixteen-year-old. If Hedman is a cross between Pronger and Lidstrom, then Tavares is a cross between Yzerman and Thornton.

Monday night the eyes of the hockey world watched the two juggernaut prospects battle for gold in the finals of the IIHF World Juniors. It only seemed fitting.

John Tavares was, as expected, running wild scoring 14 points in only five games, helping Canada outscore their opponents 41-11. Meanwhile, Victor Hedman and Sweden played some of the best defense the World Juniors have ever seen, surrendering only three goals in the preliminaries, en route to the finals.

On this night the super-talented Canadian machine was simply too much for Sweden, winning the game 5-1 for their 5th straight World Junior title. Hedman was slowed by an apparent shoulder tweak, while Tavares was held in check, tallying a lone assist. It was far from what many expected, yet a prelude nonetheless.

With their NHL destinations still a mystery to all, both players have been making a strong case for the number-one overall pick. While Tavares and Hedman are sure to go 1-2 in next summer’s draft, the question now becomes: In what order? And to who? Hence the dilemma facing that lucky GM come June.

If the season ended today, the New York Islanders have the best shot at being first on the clock. Would they opt to solidify their defense with Hedman, pairing him with recent all-star selection Mark Streit? Or would they choose to grab Tavares, put him on Kyle Okposo’s line, and start watching the goals fly?

Next worse is Atlanta. They had the number-two pick in last year’s draft and took hulking defensemen Zach Bogosian. It would seem very tempting to want Bogosian and Hedman on the same blue line. On the other side of the coin, Atlanta GM Don Waddell is probably envisioning of a dream scenario where he can add Tavares to play along side Russian sniper Ilya Kovalchuk.

Decisions, decisions.

Tampa Bay would love to have the Tavares/Stamkos connection light up the conference, but their main weakness is defense! Then there’s always Brian Burke lurking in Ottawa. The new Senators GM has always been known to wheel and deal on draft day, and his team is currently only three points better than the Islanders.

And therein lies the debate. Would they rather have the player many consider the next great Canadian center, following the likes of Gretzky, Yzerman, Lindros and Crosby. Or the Swedish reincarnation of the hall-of-fame bound Lidstrom, winner of six Norris trophies.

What will be valued more on draft day is anybody’s guess.

The debate will surely rage on until June 25th, when Gary Bettman steps to the podium at the Bell Centre in Montreal and ends the conversation. If you’re lucky enough to be a fan of a bottom feeder, I have one piece of advice: Start rooting for your team to lose; good luck, and I’ll see you when they pick the ping pong balls in May.

Photos used in this article were taken from elitserien.com and thehockeynews.com

Game Story: San Jose Sharks vs. Detroit Redwings

2009-01-07T19:04:00.001-05:00

Before the puck hit the ice for the opening faceoff a boisterous “Let’s go Redwings” chant had already broke out inside Joe Louis Arena. In Hockeytown they live for big games and Thursday night’s Western Conference showdown was as big as it gets at this early junction of the NHL season.

Unlike earlier this year, when Detroit was playing on the second end of back-to-back games, losing a 4-2 decision in San Jose, this time the Sharks came in after a 2-1 loss to Columbus the previous evening.

In the first period the quick turnaround seemed to affect the normally fast-starting Sharks.

Detroit struck first after Doug Lebda shuffled a pass to Johan Franzen as the pair entered the San Jose zone. Franzen quickly uncorked a snap shot from the high slot beating a surprised Evgeni Nabakov.

It only took one minute and twenty-seven seconds before the Red Wings would strike again. Using only their forth shot of the period, Pavel Datsyuk beat Nabokov five-hole, again from the high slot. It was a two-minute stretch that the Sharks goalie wished he could have back.

As the league approaches the mid-way point of the season, it’s been San Jose garnering all of the early season accolades. The Sharks entered the night with a 25-3-3 record; winners of 25 of the last 31 games, while accruing the most points in league history through 30 games.

Despite showering the Sharks with respect in seemingly every pre-game interview, it didn’t take long to realize that, on this night, Detroit was intent on matching the intensity created in the building by the fans, with their play on the ice.

Midway through the second period, Pavel Datsyuk floated into the San Jose zone as both teams were in the middle of a change. In classic Datsyuk fashion he flung a behind-the-back-pass to Marion Hossa, who was fresh off the bench to quickly one-time a laser top shelf behind Nabokov to give Detroit a 3-0 lead.

It was Hossa’s team-leading 17th goal of the year.

Detroit goalie Ty Conklin was solid in net stopping all 24 shots and improving to 9-4 on the year. Conklin was called on due to a lingering groin strain which relegated usual starter Chris Osgood to backup duty.

A solid Detroit effort morphed into a completely dominating affair in the third period.

Pavel Datsyuk, who was unstoppable all night, added a goal and an assist in the final period. It was the ninth time in the Russian’s career that he tallied four or more points in a game.

Valtteri Filppula made the game 4-0, scoring his 10th goal of the season, while Brad Stuart buried his first goal of the year to close the scoring late in the third.

The Red Wings outshot San Jose 28-24.

San Jose Head Coach Todd McLennan, who was a Redwing assistant coach during last season’s Cup run, probably envisioned a different outcome in his return to Detroit. But he knows that when the Detroit freight train gets moving, very few things can bring it to a halt.

Thursday night the Hockeytown Express was barreling down the tracks, sending a wakeup call to the Sharks and the rest of the hockey world.

Their message was simple: We are still the defending Stanley Cup champions, and despite what the records might indicate, still the team to beat in the NHL.

Game Story: Garfield Bulldogs vs. Ballard Beavers

2009-01-07T19:02:00.002-05:00

Life without Tony Wroten Jr. continued Tuesday night for the Garfield Bulldogs. And so did their quest to prove that they are still the team to beat in KingCo 4A.

Returning to action following their buzzer-beater victory Friday night, the Bulldogs (2-0) defeated the visiting Ballard Beavers (2-4) 71-48, in a game that was close early before morphing into an easy blowout win.

With the community still in an outrage over the Seattle Public School’s recent decision to remove the 15-year-old sophomore from the Garfield school district due to an ongoing residency issue, Head Coach Ed Haskins priority remained keeping his team focused on the court and not distracted by the controversy surrounding them off of it.

Early on it was senior Christian Blanks leading the Bulldog attack, scoring 11 of his 13 points in the first quarter.

Ballard held their ground early, relying on a sound fast break to gain a brief 17-16 lead midway through the second quarter.

The Beaver offense was seemingly stuck in neutral the rest of the evening, finally succumbing to Garfield’s superior athleticism and smothering full-court press.

Garfield’s defense prevented the Beavers from producing a double-digit scorer, holding Ballard senior Nick Palewicz to team-high nine points.

Senior Eric Taylor added eight points, while no other Ballard player scored more than four.

Meanwhile points were easy to come by heading the other way. The Bulldogs used a 14-1 second-quarter run to close the half up 30-18, before exploding for a 41-point outburst following the break.

One bright spot in a second half that mostly saw the Bulldogs lead hover around thirty points were the Gloyd brothers, Salim and Moussa. For the first time in their high school career, sophomore Salim Gloyd of Garfield, and senior Moussa Gloyd of Ballard were opposite each other in a brotherly duel.

Salim went 4-6 from the field for nine points, while his brother Moussa had two points, displaying the same tenacity on the basketball court that made him captain of the Ballard football team.

De’Andre Taylor led all scorers with 19 points, going a perfect 5-5 from behind the arc and 7-10 overall from the field. It was his second brilliant effort in as many games.

As the Bulldogs continue to define their identity post-Tony Wroten Jr., one thing is becoming clear: De’Andre “Dre” Taylor looks ready to fill the void---so far so good for the Bulldogs.

Mike Mussina: Oriole, Yankee, Hall Of Famer?

2008-11-25T03:16:00.004-05:00

The New York Yankees have been waiting since the conclusion of the regular season for word on whether or not Mike Mussina would be returning to their rotation in 2009. Wednesday afternoon they got their answer. Mike Mussina has decided to retire from Major League Baseball, ending his 18-year professional career.

With the Yankees already expected to be major players in free agency, the timeliness of Mussina’s decision couldn’t have been better. And, like always, the Yankees have a contingency plan. They have already reportedly offered a record-breaking contract to C.C. Sabathia, and are also rumored to be preparing free-agent offers for A.J Burnett and Derek Lowe. No need to shed a tear for the Bombers; something tells me they’ll be fine.

For Mussina, the question surrounding him is sure to shift from “Is he retiring?” to “Is he a Hall-of-Famer?”

This debate is the type we live for as sports fans. And in Mussina’s case, you’ll find staunch opinions on both sides of the Cooperstown fence.

Many believe Mike Mussina is a lock, maybe not on his first ballot, but eventually—without question—a lock. That contingent will shout from the rooftops the following fact—of the 16 Hall of Fame eligible pitchers 100 or more wins over .500, all 16 are enshrined in Cooperstown. Mike Mussina is 270-153, 117 games over .500.

That makes him a lock, right?

Not so fast. You see, the Mike Mussina Hall of Fame argument gets a little tricky from here.

His supporters will continue to blitz you with numerous facts and figures, ranging from his durability to his defensive prowess – and everything in between. After a deep breathe they begin…

“He was durable, man; nobody was more reliable than Moose.”

They have a point. Mussina started 30+ games in a season 12 times, along with pitching 200+ innings 11 times.

“And bro, don’t go tellin‘ me about that 20-win business…Mike got his 20 wins this season.”

Correct again. Mussina had arguably his best season in 2008, going 20-9 for New York, finally hitting the 20-win plateau for the first time in his 18-year career. However, this particular debate would have never been a Hall-of-Fame deal-breaker in the first place. Hall voters are smart enough to realize that Mussina had 5 seasons with at least 18 or 19 wins. They’re also alert enough to figure out that Moose would have probably hit the 20-win mark all the way back in 1994 and again in 1995, if not for strike-shortened seasons. It’s not a knock to win 18 or more games six times; that’s a good thing, people.

“Oh, and let me tell ya something…Moose pitched all 18 years in the AL East, over half in a hitter-friendly ball park, and don’t forget about the steroid era…Mikey pitched right through the heart of that thing and didn’t miss a beat!”

True. True. And true…Sort of.

Yes, Mussina pitched in the AL East his entire career. But come on, was the AL East the same monster it is now back in 1991? ’92? ’93? ’94? ’95? ’96? Didn’t think so. Still, this is not a knock; let’s just keep things fair and not consider it to be the great equalizer, either.

He did pitch in Camden Yards, but only up until 2000. He did pitch during the steroid era but only for half of his career. All are still valid points. However, if simply pitching in a hitter-friendly park during the steroid era is a deciding factor in gaining entry into Cooperstown, then the bar for entry has been significantly lowered. I hope we would all agree on this point.

“Well…what about his five All-Star appearances and his six Gold Gloves? The Moose did that! What do ya gotta say to that? Huh!”

It’s all very impressive, and I’m not being sarcastic, either. These are all the reasons that make Mike Mussina the ultimate fringe Hall of Famer. Herein lies the endless debate sure to had in Baltimore, New York and all over baseball, from now until…well, he either gets inducted or his eligibility expires in the year 2028.

So what about the other side of the coin? Glad you asked…

He didn’t win 300 games, falling 30 short.

He didn’t reach 3,000 career strikeouts, ending with 2,813.

No Cy Young’s.

No MVP awards.

What about postseason success?

Mussina was a pedestrian 7-8 with a 3.43 ERA in the playoffs.

No World Series ring.

The lone 20-win season.

The lone sub-3.00-ERA season.

Are you starting to get the point? Mike Mussina is the pitching version of Jim Rice. He’s a very good player, just not a Hall of Fame player. Rice, like Mussina, falls short in all of the major milestone categories. He doesn’t have 500 homeruns or 3,000 hits or a lifetime .300 batting average. And, like Mussina, a lofty postseason resume is not there to bail him out. Rice’s Hall of Fame fate has been hanging in the balance for the past 19 years, with 2009 marking his final year of eligibility.

This does not bode well for Mike Mussina.

To gain an even deeper understanding of how Mussina’s candidacy might be viewed, simply think about his predecessor, Tommy John. John might be known for the famous surgery that now bears his name, but he also has a strong case for induction. John has 18 more wins and a career ERA .34 points better than Mike Mussina.

However, like Rice, 2009 will be the final year that Tommy John can be inducted into Cooperstown.

When you take a close look at Mussina’s resume, a good case can be made in favor of his induction into Cooperstown or against it. He is a classic example of a fringe or borderline hall of fame player. He could get in, but he could just as easily sit and wait, year after year, like Rice and John, for a call that may never come.

Knicks Wheel & Deal, Become Big-Game Hunters in 2010

2008-11-24T20:31:00.007-05:00

With Stephan Marbury’s deal falling off New York’s books in a few short months, the Knicks knew they had one-max contract to offer during the summer of 2010.

After Donnie Walsh was done dealing Friday, they have two.

The theme of the day was not so much about addition but subtraction. By the time Walsh was done, Jamal Crawford, Zach Randolph and Mardy Collins were all gone. And so was one other very important thing—$27.5 million dollars from the Knicks’ 2010-11 payroll.

The first deal saw Jamal Crawford and his $10 million dollar 2010 salary shipped to Golden State for Al Harrington, whose contract expires following the 2009 season.

But Walsh wasn’t finished. Later in the day, Zach Randolph and Mardy Collins were also West Coast bound, traded to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for Cuttino Mobley and Tim Thomas.

Randolph is due $17.5 million in 2010, while Mobley and Thomas have deals that expire, like Harrington’s, after next season.

"I think that opening up cap space down the road for us is a big plus on our side, and I hope our fans understand that that can give us an opportunity to make the team better according to the plan that I've outlined," Walsh said following the trades. "So I'm trying to be true to what I said from day one, and that's what I'm doing."

Twenty months from now may seem like a long way off. For Donnie Walsh and Mike D’Antoni, who have had the summer of 2010 circled on their calendars since joining the Knicks, it can’t get here soon enough.

That’s when the biggest crop of free-agent talent in the history of basketball hits the open market. LeBron James. Dwayne Wade. Chris Bosh. They’ll all be available. And now the New York Knicks can not only afford Lebron, but also one of his friends.

Let the countdown begin!

As you can imagine, the rumors and speculation have already begun. So has the positioning among NBA franchises, which will surely be looking to add one of these superstars when the time comes. Detroit Pistons President of Basketball Operations, Joe Dumars, recently traded Chauncey Billups for Allen Iverson—not only to help this year’s team, but primarily to free up cap space two years from now.

All over the NBA, teams are gearing up, realizing that the first step towards having a shot in 2010 is to have money in 2010.

This is why Walsh should be given a medal. In one fell swoop, he reversed all of the countless mistakes made by his predecessor Isaiah Thomas.

How bad was it?

When Walsh got to New York he inherited the highest payroll in the NBA and a seemingly insurmountable salary-cap nightmare for the ages.

This is why Friday afternoon could end up being one of the most memorable in Knicks’ history. Not for acquiring Al Harrington, Cuttino Mobley and Tim Thomas within hours of one another, but for finally freeing themselves from the salary-cap hell Isaiah Thomas left behind.

Now Knick fans can dream big, real big, of a day when they might acquire LeBron James and Chris Bosh within hours of one another. If that happens New Yorkers will never forget the wheeling and dealing that took place on November 21st, 2008. It will forever be remembered as Donnie Walsh’s finest hour.

The Subway Super Bowl: Are The Giants And Jets On A February Collision Course?

2008-11-19T16:22:00.009-05:00

It’s January 28th 2009, and you can’t find a flight from New York to Tampa, no matter who you know or how hard you try. Flights leaving LaGuardia and JFK International airports have been booked for weeks and even neighboring launch pads, Newark International in New Jersey and little MacArthur Airport all the way out on Long Island, are booked solid. People around the New York metropolitan area have even resorted to making the 20-hour drive from New York to Tampa figuring, “what the hell, let’s make a road trip out of it!”

Even if you can find a way to get down there, good luck getting a ticket. This one is a scalper’s dream, and a seat will cost you in the neighborhood of $5,000, just to get into Raymond James Stadium. Even then you’ll probably be stuck on the pirate ship buried in the corner of the building.

Every hotel within 50 miles is being invaded by armies of people cloaked in green or blue—there hasn’t been a vacancy in weeks.

And the trash talking—it’s like nothing you’ve ever seen—unless you’re from New York, that is. At a moment’s notice anywhere in the city, you can hear the green people, “J-E-T-S Jets, Jets, Jets” and the blue people, “Back to back, baby! Come get some.”

It’s an unbelievable sight. The NFL is staging a Subway Super Bowl.

Last Thursday night we moved one step closer to making this once-improbable scenario a reality. Every Jet fan knew their team looked good so far. All you have to do is think back to the 56 points they hung on Arizona or the 47-point outburst against St Louis. The Brett-Favre-led Jets were on to something. But before the words “Super Bowl” could ever be uttered, or even thought of, they knew there was one team they had to beat—the New England Patriots.

Earlier this season Belichick’s crew got the better of New York, 19-10, in Favre’s first home game in the Meadowlands. This time the Jets got their redemption. Thomas Jones rushed for 104 yards, and the Jets defense played well most of the night, but it was Favre, more than any other Jet, who was responsible for the victory.

After a miraculous, last-second touchdown catch by Randy Moss sent the game to overtime, Brett Favre received one more chance to exercise the Jet demons of Patriot games past. The Jets won the toss; Favre got the ball, and 14 plays and 64 yards later New York was 7-3, in first place in the AFC East with an inside track towards a first-round playoff bye.

“It's a great, great feeling for us," Jets coach Eric Mangini said. "Everybody understands that this game was extremely important, and it's important because it allows us to make the next game extremely important. It's a really positive step for our team."

The Jets don’t have to look far to see what a Super Bowl champion looks like. They share a stadium with one. It could be said, quite confidently in fact, that the 2008 New York Giants are a better team than their 2007 World Champion counterpart. Three days after the Jets’ stirring win over New England, the Giants quickly reminded everybody who runs the town—and the entire NFL for that matter.

Their latest obstacle, the 6-3 Baltimore Ravens, came to town boasting the number-one-ranked run defense in the league. They left Giant Stadium 6-4. So Eli Manning must have torn them apart, right? Wrong. Instead the Giants ran the ball right down Baltimore’s throat, to the tune of 207 yards—so much for that number-one run D.

So far this season, the Giants have been equally remarkable on both sides of the football, currently owning the number-two ranked defense and number-four ranked offense in the NFL. And remember that old saying about needing to be good at running the ball and stopping the run to win championships? Well Tom Coughlin’s New York Giants got the memo. They also lead the NFL in rushing and are second best at stopping the run.

Eli Manning has enough skill players around him to fill two offenses, in addition to the best offensive line in the business. The defense is reminiscent of their late 80s glory day unit. Just swap out Taylor, Marshall, Carson and Banks with Pierce, Kiwanuka, Robbins and Tuck. It’s not exactly the same, but it’s close.

All totaled, the Giants are 9-1 and seem on a mission to show people that last year’s fluke—well it wasn’t so much of a fluke after all.

So how would Gang Green fair against the sure-to-be heavily favored champs? There is one particular game film that I’m sure both coaching staffs would take a gander at during Super Bowl week, and it’s not their annual week-three preseason affair. Last year the two teams met during week five of the regular season, on October 7th.

The Jets were the road team, despite playing in their home stadium. These are the oddities that go along with sharing a home. That day the 1-3 Jets were leading the eventual champs 17-7 at the half. Kerry Rhodes returned a fumble for a touchdown and those tricky Jets pulled out all the stops (remember Brad Smith’s touchdown pass to Chad Pennington?).

But all that did was anger the other New York team, who came out in the second half and exploded on a 28-7 run, cruising to a comfortable 35-24 final.

Of course the Jets didn’t have Brett Favre, among others, and the Giants still touted Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora opposite each other at defensive end. The two teams were heading towards vastly different prizes. For the Jets, it was a top-five draft pick; for the Giants—Super Bowl rings.

Boy what a difference a year makes.

After a significant step backwards last season, the Tannenbaum-Mangini regime managed to get things back on track quickly in 2008. So what was their formula? Sign quality free agents and nail your draft picks. And lately the Jets have been doing plenty of both. The list of free-agents that signed with New York reads like a roll call: Tony Richardson, Damien Woody, Alan Faneca, Calvin Pace, Kris Jenkins, the newly acquired Ty Law and, of course, Brett Favre.

While Super Bowl experience is hard to come by and the Jets haven’t gotten that far since 1968, this team has more than you might assume. Tannenbaum and Mangini have quietly assembled a pretty battle-tested core of Super-Bowl-experienced players. Favre, Faneca, Jenkins, Law, Woody and Thomas Jones have all played in the big game. If the Jets manage to get that far, they’ll have a head coach, along with this core of veterans who all have been to the rodeo before. That can only help, especially if they play the Giants, and the normal Super Bowl hype is multiplied times ten.

If the Jets are still considered a long shot to make the Super Bowl, and they are, then the Giants are the prohibitive favorite. Not only are they looking to become the eighth team in NFL history to win back-to-back titles, but they would also love to return to the scene of their only Super Bowl crime. Of the four Super Bowls the Giants have played in, they only lost once, eight years ago to the Ravens in Super Bowl XXXV. The venue was Raymond James Stadium, also the site of this year’s game.

How vindicating would another Super Bowl be for the Giants? Last year’s Super Bowl Cinderella talk would be replaced with one simple question: Can the Giants become the first team to win three straight Super Bowls? And those are two very different conversations.

All of this may be a tad premature. I’ll admit that. But with the two teams a combined 16-4, why not dream?

Back in August, when NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell stepped in to help settle the ongoing Brett Favre/Green Bay Packers saga, he helped grease the wheel for Brett’s eventual arrival in New York. At the time two teams were interested in Brett’s services—the Jets and the Buccaneers. If things continue down this road, it looks like Brett may get his chance to play in Tampa Bay after all—in Super Bowl XLIII.

The decade started with the 2000 Subway Series between the New York Mets and New York Yankees, which was one of the least-viewed World Series in the past eight years. Something tells me that if New York can somehow manage to duplicate the feat on the gridiron, people will tune in to watch this one.

One thing is certain though: Over two million New Yorkers would show up the following week for the ticker-tape parade, sure to ride down the Canyon of Heroes. The only question is: What color will they be cloaked in—green or blue?

New York Mets Hot Stove Preview: Omar Minaya's Championship Pursuit Continues

2008-11-17T17:08:00.009-05:00

No other team in Major League Baseball has suffered more disappointment over the past three seasons than the New York Mets. Just think back to how those years have ended and it’s easy to understand the urgency facing this organization as they head into the off-season.

In 2006 they were one hit away from the World Series before ultimately falling to St. Louis in game seven of the NLCS. That was followed by the greatest collapse in the history of baseball, as they blew a seven-and-a-half game lead with 17 to play at the end of the 2007 season. This past September was a repeat of last. This time it saw them build a three-and-a-half game lead after five-and-a-half months of baseball—before collapsing again.

Both years they were officially eliminated from playoff contention on the season’s final day.

What’s at stake as they move forward is bigger than simple wins and losses—it’s this group’s legacy. How will they be remembered? As chokers and underachievers who failed to get over the hump? Or will they finally prove their naysayers wrong and realize their World Series expectations?

To say that the New York Mets stand at a crossroads would be an understatement. They sit directly on the brink of being considered a success or a failure.

Staring down the barrel of the most important off-season in club history, Omar Minaya, fresh off a four-year contract extension, with the full support of ownership, has been given opportunity to finish the job he started.

With so much on the line, Met fans can only hope that the offseason wish list sitting on Minaya’s desk looks something like this:

Sign K-Rod – With Billy Wagner’s Tommy John surgery expected to keep him out until at least August, the #1 priority for New York is to find a new closer. Lucky enough for them, the best one in the business just happens to be a free agent. Francisco Rodriguez seems like the perfect fit, assuming K-Rod is okay with leaving Southern California for the pressure cooker of New York. An offer in the range of 5-6 years and $75-$100 million will probably be necessary, but at 26-years-old this kid is worth every penny and Omar Minaya knows it.

If Rodriguez is gun shy about coming to New York, or if the Mets view his demands as too lucrative of an option, then they will immediately turn to Brian Fuentes. With three 30-save seasons on his resume, Fuentes enters free agency off a career-best 2.73 ERA season.

As is normally the case, money will be the biggest deciding factor on who will ultimately jog out of Citi Field’s new bullpen door, with the Mets ahead in the ninth, in 2009 and beyond.

Get Relief Pitching! – The Mets bullpen was atrocious last season, especially during the pennant race. Of course they lost Billy Wagner from early August on, so a new closer will help, but it’s not enough. The Mets are also in dire need of an eighth-inning specialist. After pouring over the list of free-agent options, you’ll quickly realize why this is the hardest part of the roster for a general manager to overhaul. Great bullpen arms are extraordinarily difficult to find.

There are 46 players considered free-agent middle relievers this offseason, and very few jump off the page. The good pitchers are all starters, and the teams lucky enough to have good relievers keep them.

One scenario that looks plausible would be signing Chad Cordero. He has ties with Minaya that date back to their Expos days, and the Mets have reportedly already expressed their interest. It will be impossible for Minaya to completely overhaul the entire pen, but adding a strong 1-2 punch at the backend would be an early holiday gift Met fans would love to unwrap.

Who’s In Left? – I should preface this section by reviewing the state of the outfield. Mainstay Carlos Beltran will again patrol center, while Ryan Church will enter his second year on the job in right. When healthy, Church has proven to be a solid middle-of-the-order bat and a fine fielder with an above-average throwing arm. So two thirds of the outfield is set.

So what do they do in left? Daniel Murphy appears to be a pure hitter who could always start the season, maybe in a platoon with Fernando Tatis and Endy Chavez. With farm-sensation Fernando Martinez marinating in the minors, the best move may be to simply stand pat.

The big pink elephant in the room is Minaya’s interest in Manny Ramirez, which is well documented. However his price tag appears way too high, as the Mets have yet to publicly throw their hat in the ring.

If a need to upgrade is desired, and Ramirez is out of reach, the Mets should turn their attention toward landing Raul Ibanez. Ibanez’s leadership and bat would be great additions to a club that certainly can use a little of both. A reasonable three-year deal would perfectly bridge the gap before Martinez is ready to take over the reins full time.

The Rotation – With Pedro Martinez not expected back and Oliver Perez entering free agency, the Mets should be in the market for a pair of starting pitchers. One strategy would be to simply resign Perez, leaving only one hole in the rotation. The problem: Perez’s agent is the infamous Scott Boras. With conversations likely to start at $15 million annually, the Mets may opt to look elsewhere, and early indications have them interested in landing former Red Sox and Dodger Derek Lowe.

This would leave the Mets with top four of Johan Santana, Mike Pelfrey, John Maine and either Perez or Lowe (assuming they land one of the two).

The best value on the market is clearly Ben Sheets. An injury-plagued second half will give a team the opportunity to acquire him way below his true value. With all of the dollars that New York is likely to shell out, this could be a great low-investment, high-reward addition to their rotation.

Orlando Hudson – I think it’s fair to conclude that the Luis Castillo experiment has been a complete disaster for New York. His injuries and underproduction have the Mets in quite a bind at second base heading into 2009.

Orlando Hudson would be the perfect way to solve this problem. However this would surely require that the Mets move Castillo’s albatross of a contract. Though costly, considering the Mets would still be paying some of Castillo’s contract and all of Hudson’s, this would bring the 2005, 2006 and 2007 gold glover, with a career .282 batting average to New York. The Mets will have serious competition, as teams are already lining up for Hudson’s services, but we can’t under Omar Minaya when he wants a player. And all signs point towards Omar wanting Orlando Hudson.

Guts – All the Mets have to do is peer 100 miles down I-95 towards Philadelphia to see what a gutsy team looks like. The Mets, on the other hand, seem to be mired in an ongoing, two-year identity crisis. Unfortunately for Omar Minaya, you can’t buy guts for $15 million a year on the open market—if it were only that simple.

With all of the magic and momentum from the 2006 season completely evaporated, the Mets, more than anything else, need to find themselves some guts. Adding the right type of new blood to the mix will help, but ultimately the task will fall on the core already in place. Somebody, at some point, will need to step up and say enough is enough, not with their words but in the way they play.

The outline above may seem like a lot. But before you go saying “Why don’t they just sign Sabathia and Teixeira and call it a day?”, think about it. They definitely need a closer. They definitely need at least one starter. They will definitely be looking to bolster the bullpen. And, like most big-market clubs, they will exercise their due diligence with anyone else who can help.

Money will be spent with caution, but make no mistake, money will be spent. Unlike Willy Randolph, Omar Minaya survived the team’s recent struggles, to put things mildly. He’s armed with over $26 million dollars that just fell off the Mets books. His relationship with ownership remains strong and this time of year their checkbook is always a phone call away.

What are the Mets restrictions? Well, C.C. Sabathia and Mark Texiera will not be discussed. Even the Mets, who just made Johan Santana the highest paid pitcher in history last off-season, will refrain from playing at the high-stakes table two years in a row. Aside from those two, Omar will be a shark in the water over the next few weeks, preying on every other free agent fish in the pond. When it’s all said and done, Omar is hoping that a change of scenery, some new players, and a dash of guts will be final ingredients needed to complete his championship stew.

Only time will tell.

Message to Joe Calzaghe: There's One More Hurdle Left — "Bad" Chad Dawson

2008-11-11T02:01:00.007-05:00

Saturday night wasn’t just another fight for Joe Calzaghe — it may have been his last fight. It wasn’t held in just any venue — it was in Madison Square Garden. And the opponent wasn’t just any fighter — he was Roy Jones Jr. For only the second time in his 46-bout professional career, the undefeated Welshman traveled to the United States looking to add another notch on his belt.

Earlier this year, on April 29th, Calzaghe ventured across the Atlantic for the first time, winning a split decision over Bernard Hopkins to win the Ring Magazine light heavyweight title — one legend down, one to go.

Now only six months later he was back in the States, at the Garden, looking for one more career-validating victory over another boxing giant. This time his sights were set on eight-time, four-weight champion Roy Jones Jr.

The fight had been rumored for almost a decade before the two boxers finally made it happen, negotiating the terms themselves via text message exchanges. It was Roy Jones Jr. who actually wanted the fight, viewing it as a way to eradicate the speculation that he was officially washed up at 39 years old. The fight made sense for Jones, considering a win over Calzaghe would indeed show the boxing world that the former champ could climb the mountain one final time.

Calzaghe was already on top of the mountain. As one of the most decorated boxers in British history, all Calzaghe wanted was one more boxing legend added to his ledger. One more trip to the U.S. so people wouldn’t claim the Hopkins fight was a one-time deal. One more big payday. This was the perfect way for Joe “Pride of Wales” Calzaghe to go out. Beat Roy Jones Jr. at Madison Square Garden, and then walk off into the sunset, as so few have been able to do — as an undefeated champion — 46-0.

Two great fighters coming together, for their own reasons, and making things simple: I want to fight you, you want to fight me…ok let’s fight! What a refreshing thing to see in a Don King and Bob Arum crazed boxing world.

The beginning and end of the Hopkins and Jones fights were eerily similar. Both times Calzaghe was knocked down in the first round, and both times Calzaghe regrouped to win on points. Though he was more dominant in the Jones fight, winning by unanimous decision, compared to his split decision in the Hopkins fight, the result was all the same. His record remained perfect.

So now what? Where does Joe Calzaghe go from here?

Enter: Chad Dawson.

Boxing purists see one final option, and it does not include riding off into the sunset, at least not yet. The clamoring has already begun for Calzaghe to fight Chad Dawson, the current IBO and IBF light heavyweight champion. Dawson is 26 years old, a perfect 27-0, and is climbing up the best pound-for-pound-fighter-in-the-world list with every fight.

Aside from being the only worthy fighter remaining in Calzaghe’s era, he also happens to be the mandatory challenger for his Ring Magazine light heavyweight title.

To his credit, Max Kellerman didn’t let Calzaghe leave the ring Saturday night without asking about a potential showdown with Dawson. As is usual in post-fight interviews, Calzaghe was noncommittal.

“There’s always someone young coming through,” Calzaghe said. “It was the same with Kessler.”

At the post-fight press conference it was once again an unavoidable issue.

"I just stepped out of the ring about 15 minutes ago, man," Calzaghe said. "Let me enjoy this fight before I think about fighting anybody else. What do you think I am? A sadist? Let me chill for a week or so. But Chad Dawson is a good fighter, a good fighter."

So why should Calzaghe fight Dawson? Hasn’t his legacy already been confirmed by cleaning out the super middleweight division? Winning the light heavyweight belt? By beating Hopkins and Jones? Hasn’t he done enough?

I guess the answer is Yes, if Calzaghe is at peace with knowing that he didn’t beat everybody. If he is OK leaving the sport with unfinished business. If he wants to answer the following question for the rest of his life: Why didn’t you fight Chad Dawson?

It certainly wouldn’t be a case of the old man getting thrown to the young wolf. In fact, the majority of people would probably say that Calzaghe would beat Dawson. All you need to do is think back to Saturday night, with Calzaghe as terrific as ever. Many would argue that there’s nobody in his class, including Chad Dawson.

Of course, Chad Dawson would argue that point. In a statement released directly following Saturday night’s fight, Dawson has his own idea on how Calzaghe should end his career.

"If Joe wants to have his grand farewell in Wales, I am ready to accommodate. My passport and world title belts are ready to travel across the pond. I'm ready to give Joe the opportunity to draw the curtain on his great career in front of his family and friends and 70,000 fans. It's the best fight in the light heavyweight division between two undefeated champions."

Everybody agrees that Joe Calzaghe is a great fighter. The reason he should fight Chad Dawson is simple — to cement his status as a legendary fighter, and to cement his legacy as a champion who fought every legitimate adversary of his time.

All he needs to do now is whip out his cell phone, shoot Dawson a text and let the negotiations begin.

Seeing Yellow: The Plight Of Wade Phillips' Undisciplined Dallas Cowboys

2008-11-06T00:33:00.002-05:00

If you want to find the most undisciplined team in the NFL, the search ends in Irving, Texas. In a year that began with “Super Bowl expectations”, the 2008 season is sputtering out of control. If any additional proof was needed to show us that the Dallas Cowboys are closer to the bottom of the league than the top, look no further than their loss at the hands of the New York Giants this past Sunday. With so many factors contributing to their recent fall from grace, none shine brighter than the mountain of costly penalties that continue to follow this team week in and week out.

Watch a Cowboy’s game and you are bound to see a Flozell Adams false start, multiple defensive encroachments, penalty after penalty on the secondary, blocks in the back during punt coverage, and usually a facemask or two for good measure. Some variation of the above happens every week.

For a season and a half, Dallas’ high-powered offense has covered up these mistakes. Sunday, without their usual Romo-led attack, it became impossible to ignore their lackadaisical ways. Entering the game as the most penalized team in the league, Dallas held true to form committing nine more infractions against New York in their 35-14 defeat.

Gone are the days when players would fear returning to the Cowboy bench after stupid penalties, the days when Bill Parcells’ ominous growl and a good tongue lashing would be waiting for you on the sidelines. All of that has been replaced by the player-friendly Wade Phillips regime. Now, accountability within Dallas’ free-wheeling style doesn’t exist, and penalties have become accepted as a way of life.

On numerous occasions Coach Phillips has been pressed about his team’s lack of attention to detail. Time and time again he offers the same rhetoric —that the penalties are on him and not the players.

When asked about where the accountability lies, following an eight-penalty effort in a blowout loss to St. Louis three weeks ago, Phillips said, “It’s always the head coach; it’s always the coach, and it always will be with me,” continuing to say “I’m not changing; I’m going to coach the way I coach, and I think they will respond. I think they will play hard, and I think we’re determined to do better, and that’s what we’re going to try to do.”

Things have not changed; in fact, they have gotten worse.

On an afternoon when they needed to be flawless, they were as sloppy as ever. Seemingly every time something positive happened, a yellow flag would fall on the Meadowlands turf. Nine penalties, including seven on the defense and special teams, mixed with four turnovers, handed the game to New York on a silver platter.

The Cowboys now have more losses in 2008 than they had in all of 2007. They head into their bye week floundering in last place in the NFC East, three full games behind the division-leading Giants, with their playoff hopes, like their play, deteriorating quickly. If Wade Phillips wants to assume responsibility for every penalty his teams commits, I guess it’s fair to assume he’ll accept responsibility when those same penalties are the root cause of his Pro-Bowl-stacked team missing the playoffs.

Game Preview: The Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants Battle In The Meadowlands

2008-10-30T00:43:00.008-04:00

The last time the Cowboys and Giants met, a trip to the NFC Championship Game was on the line. Now, 294 days later they meet again. What has changed in the past ten months?

Well, for the Giants, Michael Strahan retired; Osi Umenyiora suffered a season-ending injury and Jeremy Shockey has been traded.

The Cowboys on the other hand have undergone a ten-month span with more twists and turns than a Seinfeld episode. It started with HBO’s Hard Knocks and Super Bowl expectations coming from every direction, and it hasn’t stopped.

Tony Romo’s pinkie, the Pacman Jones saga, TO’s mindset, the Roy E. Williams trade, coaching controversy, mounting injuries and poor play have all contributed to the circus-like atmosphere slowly engulfing America’s Team.

This weekend the stakes are once again high, as the Cowboys look to salvage a season on the brink, and the Giants look to move one step closer to the NFC East crown.

The Walking Wounded

Dallas enters the game with injury concerns up and down their entire roster. For starters, Tony Romo will miss his third straight game due to his much-publicized broken pinkie. Rookie Felix Jones is still suffering from a hamstring pull and will be inactive.

Also missing the game for Dallas is starting guard Kyle Kosier (foot), cornerbacks Terrence Newman (abdomen) and Adam Jones (suspension) and linebacker Anthony Spencer (hamstring). As if that wasn’t enough, safety Roy Williams, wide receiver Sam Hurd and punter Matt McBriar have all been placed on IR and are out for the season.

The injuries continued piling up last week versus Tampa Bay, as two more Cowboys saw their names added to the injury report. This time tight end Jason Witten (ribs) and corner Anthony Henry (quadricep) were the victims. Both will attempt to play Sunday and should be considered game-time decisions.

When asked about the Cowboys’ injury situation, Giant defensive end Justin Tuck said “We don't want to have excuses like 'Romo is not playing, we didn't have this guy, we didn't have that guy.’” Despite Tuck’s desires, these injuries are a blunt reality for the Cowboys, as they limp into the Meadowlands this weekend.

How Long of a Rope Does Brad Johnson Really Have?

Brad Johnson will be starting his third consecutive game at quarterback for Dallas, in place of the injured Tony Romo. The Cowboys are 1-1 with Johnson under center and have not looked good in the process.

Johnson was awful in his first start, throwing three interceptions against a sub-par St. Louis secondary. Last week he was even worse, throwing for a measly 122 yards, averaging 3.7 yards per completion. As drive after drive stalled, the Texas Stadium faithful showered Johnson with their discontent.

To say that the Cowboy passing game has been handcuffed without Romo would be stating the obvious and this quandary has Dallas exploring their options. Following the win against Tampa Bay, speculation began about whether it was time to bench Johnson in place of third-string journeyman Brooks Bollinger.

This was amplified when Bollinger took snaps with the first-team offense during Wednesday’s practice. When asked about Bollinger’s availability Sunday, Coach Phillips said “We think we can go with Brad, and we’ll see what happens. We’re not going into the game saying if this guy doesn’t do anything we’re going to pull him.”

Two things appear certain: Johnson is will start the game; and Bollinger will finish it if Johnson’s struggles continue.

Another Classic Trench War

The Giants defensive line is the heartbeat of their team and a main reason why they come in 6-1, alone in first place in the NFC East. It was also the main reason why the Giants knocked the Cowboys out of the playoffs last year.

That will have to change Sunday, especially with a 40-year-old statue at quarterback. Despite losing Strahan and Umenyiora, the Giants amazingly haven’t missed a beat, leading the league in sacks, while owning the NFL’s third-ranked defense.

Once again, the key to victory will take place in the trenches, as the Dallas offensive line will attempt to slow down one of the most feared front fours in the business. Game-within-a-game matchups deserving your attention are Justin Tuck vs. Marc Columbo, Mathias Kiwanuka vs. Flozell Adams, and how often Barry Cofield and Fred Robbins collapse the pocket against the enormous interior of the Dallas O-line, led by Andre Gurode and Leonard Davis.

Just like in last year’s Divisional round, this game will most likely be determined right here — in the trenches.

The Plaxico Burress Saga

What else can a wide receiver ask for? A Super Bowl winning team…check! A franchise quarterback throwing you the ball…check!

A new contact extension making you one of the highest paid players at your position…check!

Apparently all of this is not enough for Plaxico Burress. As the Giants prepare for this week’s showdown with Dallas, Burress’ selfish attitude remains a hot-button issue in New York. Since his week one outburst, when he caught 10 balls for 133 yards, opposing defenses have managed to limit Burress’ production.

In the five games since, he’s averaged less than four catches and 45 yards receiving per game. He served a team-imposed suspension in week five for breaking team rules and has not necessarily been pro-Giants these days when speaking to the media. These are the antics that made him expendable in Pittsburgh.

The Giants already purged their team of one malcontent, shipping Jeremy Shockey to New Orleans. Is Burress next? With the Giants straight-edge operation clearly clashing with their star receiver’s poor attitude, something needs to happen to get this relationship back on track — cherry-picking a few touchdowns against a banged up Dallas secondary should do the trick.

Sunday afternoon these two fierce rivals renew acquaintances for the 93rd time. The Giants hold possession of one thing the Cowboys are looking for — a Super Bowl title. And the Cowboys hold possession of the one thing that eluded the Giants a year ago — the NFC East title.

With Romo and a slew of other Cowboys expected to return following their week ten bye, a win Sunday would officially get Dallas’ season back on track. For the Giants, nothing would be sweeter than to send the once-sexy-Super-Bowl-pick Cowboys back to Dallas with another loss and three full games back in the NFC East.

PREDICTION: New York 27 Dallas 16

Extra Points: Weekly Reflections From Around the NFL

2008-10-22T20:22:00.008-04:00

Drive Of The Week:

OAK 13 NYJ 13 --- 4:36 remaining in OT --- OAK ball, 1st & 10 at OAK 19

Sometimes the hardest part of having # 1 draft picks is dealing with the growing pains that go along with their development. Among all of the other things engulfing the Raiders lately has been a growing concern about whether JaMarcus Russell, the 2007 #1 overall pick, is the long-term solution at quarterback. With time dwindling away in OT, Russell and the Raiders got the ball at their own 19, and two throws later they were in position for the win. On the first play of the drive, Russell threw a dart to Javon Walker over the middle for 16 yards. Then, on the next play, Russell struck again. This time he found his favorite target, Zach Miller, near the left hash, on a play that went for 27 yards down to the Jet 38. All off a sudden the Raiders were in business, and also within range of kicker Sebastian Janikowski. After a Justin Fargas run lost a yard and Russell threw two conservative incompletions, it was time for Janikowski to attempt a 57-yard field goal for the win. It was the longest game-winning overtime field goal in the history of the NFL. And it was a drive that made us remember why JaMarcus Russell was the #1 pick. At least for one day the growing pains didn’t hurt.

STEP FORWARD / STEP BACK:

Step Forward:

Buffalo Bills – If anybody entered week 7 needing a big win to validate their record, it was Buffalo. Despite entering the week 4-1 and in sole possession of first place in the AFC East, people still questioned Dick Jauron’s upstart squad. San Diego came to Orchard Park red hot, off the heels of a huge 30-10 stomping of the Patriots, which appeared to get their season back on track. Enter Buffalo’s defense. They held LaDainian Tomlinson to 41 yards on the ground and gave Philip Rivers fits all afternoon, leading the way to a rather decisive 24-13 win. Validation granted!

Washington Redskins – Last week, the Redskins were a classic victim of the proverbial “trap game”. The momentum of a four-game winning streak, including back-to-back wins over Dallas and Philadelphia, vanished after a home loss to the previously winless Rams. With Josh Brown’s 49-yard, game-ending dagger still fresh in their minds, Washington rebounded in a big way Sunday, holding off the resurgent Browns 14-11 in FedEx Field. It wasn’t pretty, but it did provide insight into the bounce-back ability and mental toughness of Jim Zorn’s team.

Green Bay Packers – Peyton Manning came to Lambeau Field after reigniting his stagnant offense in a 31-3 demolition of Baltimore in week 6. Green Bay faced the prospect of entering their bye week 3-4, and losers of four of their last five. All eyes were on Aaron Rodgers, but it was Ryan Grant who stole the show. Finally getting back into game shape after missing training camp, Grant carried 31 times for 101 yards and a score. Now they enter the bye week 4-3 and feeling much better about their franchise running back, after his first 100-yard game of the year.

Step Back:

New Orleans Saints – Not only did the Saints lose their game Sunday 30-7 in Carolina, they also lost Reggie Bush. Injuries are part of football, but the injury bug has bitten this team harder than most. Now the walking wounded head to London for a home game at Wembley Stadium against San Diego, with their season possibly hanging in the balance.

New York Jets – There were the Jets…1:24 remaining…down by three…pinned at their own 5 yard line. This was why they got Brett Favre. Eleven plays later the Jets and Raiders were heading to overtime. After engineering an improbable game-tying drive in regulation, the Jet offense stalled in three overtime drives. By failing to finish the job, Gang Green left the Black Hole 3-3 and two games behind Buffalo in the AFC East.

Miami Dolphins – Miami’s wildcat offense has become the rage of the NFL. Sunday afternoon the Baltimore Ravens defense brought the rage to a screeching halt. With the 27-13 win, Cam Cameron’s return to Miami as Baltimore’s offensive coordinator was also a success. Baltimore leaned on Willis McGahee, who had his best game of the year, rushing for over 100 yards and a touchdown. Now the first-place Buffalo Bills come to town, in what now becomes a must win for the 2-4 Dolphins if they want to maintain any hope in the AFC playoff picture.

The Evolution of Kyle Orton

During the 2005 NFL Draft, six quarterbacks, including the likes of Charlie Frye, Andrew Walter and David Greene, were taken ahead of Orton. Now, four years into his NFL career, Orton is starting to prove he may be the best of a group that also included #1 overall pick Alex Smith and current starters Aaron Rodgers and Jason Campbell. His climb from the 106th pick to third stringer to starter to potential Pro Bowler has been remarkable.

In 2005, fresh off his first NFL training camp, Kyle Orton was immediately thrust into action when Rex Grossman went down in the preseason with a broken ankle. He led the Bears to a 10-5 record, including an eight-game winning streak. The success of the team aside, Orton failed to solidify his place in the lineup, playing to an NFL-worst 59.7 QB rating. When Grossman returned, just prior to the playoffs, Orton went back to the bench. When Chicago signed Brian Griese the following offseason, Orton became the third stringer and didn’t see a single snap in 2006. Orton took the demotion in stride and spent the next two years honing his game. The next time we saw him was at the end of the 2007 season. Amazingly enough he had gotten better, leading the Bears to a 2-1 record down the stretch. He played to a 80.1 QB rating, over 20 points better than in 2005. Kyle Orton was starting to figure things out. In training camp, he destroyed Rex Grossman in the open competition for the starting job. And boy, has he made the best of it. Last week the Bears scored 48 points. I’ll say that again…last week the Bears scored 48 points. Kyle Orton has looked like a totally different player. Proving this is no aberration, Orton’s QB rating is once again on the rise, currently at 91.4! FINALLY, the Chicago Bears have a quarterback!

Extra Points is a weekly column appearing every Wednesday during the NFL season. Agree, disagree, have your own thoughts? Email your feedback to jfk10261963@hotmail.com.

Eli Manning: MVP or Weak Link?

2008-10-22T02:55:00.012-04:00

Last season, just as Giant fans were set to run Eli Manning out of town, something clicked. Seemingly overnight, mistakes were minimized, if not completely eliminated. Three road-playoff wins and a Super Bowl upset later, Eli was king of New York. Forgotten were the previous four years of inconsistent play — touchdown here; devastating interception there — that left Giant fans bewildered and the team in flux. It’s no coincidence that as soon as Eli cleaned up his play, the Giants went from a good team to a great one. The organization spent four long years waiting on Eli Manning, and after watching him win a Super Bowl MVP, they had to assume the corner was finally turned. Wouldn’t you?

However, fast forward seven weeks into the 2008 season and ask yourself the following questions: Has Eli Manning developed into an elite quaterback? Or is he an average quarterback who has become good at limiting his mistakes?

When trying to evaluate Eli Manning’s evolution, the conversation must begin in one place — interceptions. In his first three full seasons, Manning threw 71 touchdown passes to 55 interceptions. That’s 1.14 interceptions per game and only 1.47 touchdowns per game. Last year, his TD to interception ratio was the worst of his young career at 24 touchdowns to 20 picks, despite leading the best Giant team in recent memory. The Giants had built a world-class defense, anchored by a fierce pass rush. They had one of the best offensive lines in football. And they had weapons: Plaxico Burress, Amani Toomer, Jeremy Shockey, Steve Smith, Sinorice Moss, Brandon Jacobs, Derrick Ward, and Ahmad Bradshaw. These are the type of players any quarterback would dream of being surrounded by. With a defense, a running game, time in the pocket and throwing options, the Giants gave Manning everything he needed to succeed, yet he was as inconsistent as ever. Five times he threw more interceptions than touchdowns and 11 times he failed to throw more than one touchdown pass. Manning remained the only question mark. When he limited his mistakes, the Giants usually won; when he threw picks, they usually lost. The contrast was stark. While his 24:20 regular season ratio barely got the Giants the wildcard, his 6:1 playoff ratio led them to a Super Bowl. Prior to the playoffs, Manning’s 2007 season did little to quiet skeptics who thought he was overrated and annoyingly inconsistent. Was Eli Manning ever going to blossom into the star quarterback people expected him to be? The jury was still out.

Winning a Super Bowl in New York goes a long way towards glamorizing the winning quarterback. Just ask Joe Namath, Phil Sims and Jeff Hostetler, who all remain legends within New York’s borders. For Eli Manning it provided overnight validation. Within the Giant organization, it provided a sense of vindication about their decision to trade Philip Rivers and a host of draft picks for Eli during the 2004 draft. Finally, Eli Manning had arrived. Right?

Based on his playoff performance, people felt like he had matured into an elite NFL signal caller. The month-long charge to a world title seemingly eradicated the question marks and inconsistency hovering over him like a rain cloud during his first four seasons. He was ready to light the 2008 NFL season on fire.

So which quarterback are we watching in 2008? The new Eli or the old Eli?

Yes, he has gone four of six games without throwing an interception, and yes, the Giants are 5-1. But what happens when you measure his production against some modest benchmarks that seem to follow every great NFL passer? How many 300-yard games does he have? How many multi-touchdown games has he tossed? Take a closer look and you’ll find the same old Inconsistent Eli Manning that frustrated Giant fans for years. Through six games Eli has yet to throw for 300+ yards and has only eclipsed 2 touchdown passes once, in week two versus the lowly Rams. In fact, in four of the six games Manning has thrown one touchdown pass or less. Last week was considered an aberration when the team flopped on Sunday Night Football, as Eli reverted back to his old ways, tossing 3 interceptions. Yet this week, the Giant passing game was once again non-existent. Why, you ask? Because Manning was once again shaky going 16/31, for 161 yards and one touchdown. His touchdown to interception ratio has improved in 2008, but he still ranks 15th in the league in quarterback rating, 14th in passing yards and 10th in touchdowns.

What about last year’s playoffs when Eli Manning “turned the corner”? Maybe that’s the problem. Did Eli Manning receive too much credit for the Giants playoff run? Was a tough New York media ready to shower Eli with praise once the team took flight? Take another look at Eli’s playoff performances and see for yourself.

Wild Card Game – 20/27, 185 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT

Divisional Round – 12/18, 163 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT

Conference Championship Game – 21/40, 251 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT

Super Bowl – 19/34, 255 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT

Those numbers are far from elite. They tell the story of a quarterback who did a nice job managing the game — one who was opportunistic and failed to make his signature mistakes. So I ask you: Did the Giants win because of Manning or in spite of Manning? Was their success predicated on Manning’s right arm or their savage defense? I think even the staunchest Giant fan would agree it was the latter. It was because of Osi Umenyiora, Michael Strahan and Justin Tuck. Eli Manning was essentially along for the ride. In fact, when Manning’s right arm was needed most, in the final drive of the Super Bowl, he threw two awful passes, both of which should have been intercepted. Football is a funny game though, and Brandon Meriweather and Asante Samuel both dropped those balls. New England’s perfect season wasn’t sealed, and the Giants still had life. Manning became remembered for his Super Bowl-winning touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress and not for a championship-ending interception to Meriweather or Samuel. Critics and fans alike finally praised him instead of questioning him. Confidence replaced doubt. The Giants were World Champions. All was forgotten. To the victor go the spoils, right?

Once again, the New York Giants are poised to make a Super Bowl run. Once again, they have the defense; they have the offensive line; they have the running game; and the playmakers are in place. And once again, it appears they have a question mark at quarterback. With four years of the same up-and-down play continuing in 2008, the Giants have learned a few things. They know they are a good team, but they also know that in order to once again be great, Eli Manning must limit his mistakes. Most of the time, they will win in spite of him, not because of him. As their journey continues, keep an eye on that touchdown to interception ratio; it certainly doesn’t tell the whole story, but it tells most of it.

New York Islanders vs. Buffalo Sabres 10/13/08

2008-10-16T01:29:00.001-04:00

Life without Rick DiPietro continued on Monday afternoon for the New York Islanders (1-2-0), as they played host to the Buffalo Sabres (2-0-0) in a Columbus Day matinee at Nassau Coliseum. As the team awaits DiPietro’s season debut, Joey MacDonald was once again called on between the pipes for New York. After surrendering a meager 4 goals on 55 shots over the weekend, MacDonald allowed 7 goals on 35 shots as Buffalo blitzkrieged the Isles 7-1.

The barrage began with a Johan Hecht power-play goal after Brendan Witt was called for hooking mid-way through the first. The Islanders were in the midst of an aggressive penalty kill, when Hecht, recognizing that MacDonald wasn’t hugging the near goalpost, banked a shot into the net off his back. Less than three minutes into the second period Buffalo made it 2-0 when MacDonald failed to squeeze an incoming wrist shot, resulting in Adam Mair banging home the rebound. With half of the starting defense out with injuries and MacDonald far from sharp in net, Buffalo’s offense overwhelmed New York all afternoon.

“Joey might have suffered a little bit tonight,” said Head Coach Scott Gordon, “but he battled and has to find a way to get it back.”

The high-powered Buffalo attack was on full display as five different Sabres had multi-point games. Sloppy Islander play made things easy for Buffalo, as they put the game out of reach with a four-goal second period. The barrage was highlighted by a pair of tallies from sniper Thomas Vanek, one short-handed and the other on the power play. Buffalo tacked on two more goals in the third, which also saw Trent Hunter score the Islanders lone goal, his second in three games. Buffalo out-shot New York 35-24, with Patrick Lalime stopping 23 shots to notch his first win in a Sabres’ uniform.

With 11:17 remaining in the second period, a brawl ensued at center ice following a Jason Pominville goal that made it 4-0. The skirmish was amplified when Craig Rivet was the third man in on a pre-arranged fight between Nate Thompson and Adam Mair, who squared off directly after the draw. Brendan Witt’s status remains up in the air after hitting the back of his head on the ice during the exchange. The brawl ended with four players being ejected, as game misconducts were issued to Witt, Rivet, Sean Bergenheim and Patrick Kaleta. All totaled, the teams combined for 37 penalties and 147 penalty minutes.

With the team having a difficult time adjusting to the newly installed “overspeed” system; the coach offered some feedback. “We didn’t play a very good game,” said Gordon. “I didn’t feel like we were in sync. Our forecheck wasn’t on, our defensive zone coverage was off and we didn’t even change very effectively. This was collectively not very good.”

The Islanders will now look for answers, as they head to Florida on the first road trip of the young season. They are next in action on Thursday night against Barry Melrose’s Tampa Bay Lightning.

2008 NHL Season Preview

2008-10-16T00:27:00.018-04:00

1 – Detroit Redwings W1 – Entering the 2008-09 season, the defending champs are the decisive, odds-on favorite to repeat. That said, Detroit GM Ken Holland didn’t spend the summer drinking champagne from the Cup…he was busy. After locking up deadline-acquisition Brad Stuart to a long-term deal, he shocked the hockey world by signing Marian Hossa to a one-year, go-for-the-Cup contract. The pieces are certainly in place for a back-to-back run.

2 – San Jose Sharks W2– The San Jose Sharks’ post-season failures are well documented, yet once again they field one of the best teams in the NHL. This time around they hope new coach Todd McLellan, along with the addition of three former Stanley Cup champion defensemen — Dan Boyle, Rob Blake, Brad Lukowich — will be enough to finally climb the post-season mountain.

3 – Montreal Canadiens E1 – Montreal returns one of the most complete teams in the league, as they once again look to pace the Eastern Conference. Fans have already anointed 21-year-old, phoneme Carey Price the next Patrick Roy and his continued development will be pivotal to the Canadiens’ success. With normally high expectations amplified, there is only one thing that will satisfy the Montreal fan base — a 25th Stanley Cup!

4 – Pittsburgh Penguins E2 – With Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin both signed long-term, the Penguins should contend for conference supremacy on a yearly basis. The two looming questions immediately facing the Pens are whether Miroslav Satan and Ruslan Fedotenko can adequately replace Marian Hossa and Ryan Malone’s on one end of the ice and whether they can withstand the losses of Ryan Whitney and Sergei Gonchar on the other?

5 - Anaheim Ducks W4 – Last year the Ducks broke camp with a Stanley Cup hangover and without their two best players: Teemu Selanne and Scott Neidermayer. Yet, despite the distractions, they still managed 102 points and the fourth overall seed in the West. With Selanne and Neidermayer both in camp and the team refocused, expect Anaheim to get off to a fast start and possibly challenge Detroit for the President’s Trophy.

6 – Dallas Stars W5 – With Brad Richards now onboard for a full season and Sean Avery lured to Texas with a four-year, $15.5M deal, expect the Stars to maintain their place among the Western Conference elite.

7 – New Jersey Devils E4 – Lou Lamoriello had a relatively quiet off-season, but not before making a splash in the free-agent pond by bringing Bobby Holik and Brian Rolston back to New Jersey. If the Devils can stay healthy, these additions may be enough to put them back on top of the Atlantic.

8 – Philadelphia Flyers E5 – Philadelphia battled injuries and a 10-game losing streak last season before getting hot at the right time and charging to the Eastern Conference Finals. With expectations sky high, fans in Philly are hoping the injury bug doesn’t bite twice. So far so good, as reports from camp have former 40-goal-sniper Simon Gagne back at 100% after missing most of last year with a concussion.

9 – Washington Capitals E3 – Bruce Boudreau did an excellent job last season stepping in mid-year to lead the Capitals to a division title. Now Boudreau’s job is to mold Washington’s explosive, young core of Alexander Ovechkin, Alexander Semin, Nicklas Backstrom and Mike Green into a Stanley Cup championship nucleus. With Sergei Federov around for a full season, the learning curve could be expedited in the nation’s capital.

10 – Edmonton Oilers W3 - This offense will give Oiler fans flashbacks of their late-80’s team, who lit up the NHL. Goaltending will be an ongoing adventure, but should hold up enough for Edmonton to win the Northwest.

11 – New York Rangers E6 – Once again the Rangers had a busy off-season, turning over a good portion of their roster. Life without Jaromir Jagr will be judged by how well enigmatic winger Nikolai Zherdev adjusts to life on Broadway.

12 - Buffalo Sabres E7 – The positive thing about Buffalo’s disappointing ’07-08 season was that they began to establish a new identity without Chris Drury, Daniel Briere and Brian Campbell. The remaining stable of snipers includes Derek Roy, Jason Pominville, Thomas Vanek, Maxim Afinogenov and Jochen Hecht. With Ryan Miller picking up the rear, this team will light up the scoreboard on a nightly basis.

13 – Colorado Avalanche W6 – With starting goalie Jose Theodore and second-leading-scorer Andrew Brunette both gone, many prognosticators have Colorado missing the playoffs. However, this team still boasts one of the best defensive groups in the league, along with a host weapons on offense. Maybe the prognosticators are forgetting that the Avalanche lost more manpower to injury last season than any other team in the league. Well guess what…they’re healthy!

14 – Chicago Blackhawks W7 – Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane exploded on the NHL scene last season, immediately raising expectations in Chicago to a fever pitch. With things on a definite upswing, Chicago was able to land high-end free agents Brian Campbell and Christobal Huet. Exciting hockey has finally returned to Chicago, as this team could become the darling of the NHL.

15 – Boston Bruins E8 – Boston GM Peter Chiarelli knew that in order to build off last season’s success, he would need to improve an offense that ranked 24th in goals. Boston dabbled in the Marian Hossa sweepstakes before settling for Michael Ryder and Stephane Yelle. Chiaraldi is hoping that those signings coupled with the return of Patrice Bergeron will provide a spark to the Boston offense. While it’s unlikely that the Bruins deliver another championship to Title Town, they do have a legitimate chance of returning to the playoffs.

16 – Columbus Blue Jackets W8 – Is this finally the year that Columbus makes the playoffs? One thing is certain: There are more pieces in place then ever before! Free-agent acquisitions Kristian Huselius and R.J. Umberger will join Rick Nash to suddenly form one of the top lines in hockey. If Goalie Pascal LeClaire and a very strong D can duplicate last season’s success, Columbus fans might experience playoff hockey for the first time.

17 – Calgary Flames W9 – The Flames lost over 170 points of offensive production in off-season defections, and plan on replacing most of it with the additions of Mike Cammalleri and Todd Bertuzzi. If that plan backfires, Mike Keenan’s group will be taking a step back in his second year, and miss the playoffs for the first time since 2002-03.

18 – Carolina Hurricanes E9 – Questions were raised last season when Carolina moved former top-five pick Andrew Ladd to Chicago, then got even louder this off-season when Erik Cole was shipped to Edmonton. Couple that with losing Justin Williams during camp to a torn Achilles and scoring depth has suddenly become a major issue in Carolina.

19 – Ottawa Senators E10 – Ottawa hung on for dear life last year to make the playoffs for the 11th consecutive season, before promptly being swept by Pittsburgh in the first round. The Senators still have Dany Heatley, Jason Spezza and Daniel Alfredsson, but not much else. The window for a Cup Run has officially closed in Ottawa.

20 – Minnesota Wild W10 –Minnesota’s season center’s around the pending fate of superstar, free-agent-to-be Marian Gaborik. With the two sides apparently deadlocked after failing to come together on a long-term deal in the off-season, Gaborik’s time in Minnesota appears to be numbered. If your team is one explosive player away from making a serious Stanley Cup run, I would monitor this situation closely.

21 – Nashville Predators W11 – Barry Trotz is one of the league’s best coaches, as evident by his ability to get Nashville in the playoffs last season and push the eventual Cup-winning Red Wings to six games in the opening round. This time things will be much tougher, especially considering Alexander Radulov split Nashville for Russia in the off-season, despite still being under contract for one more year. Things will get worse before they get better for the Preds.

22 – Tampa Bay Lightning E11 – What’s up in Tampa Bay? Let’s start with a new ownership group who lured Barry Melrose back behind the bench for the first time in 13 years. Then Tampa Bay won the Steven Stamkos draft lottery; acquired Ryan Malone, Gary Roberts, Vaclav Prospal, Radim Vrbata, Andrej Meszaros, Matt Carle, Mark Recchi and Olaf Kolzig; and in addition locked up franchise stud Vincent Lecavalier to a 11-yr, 85M contract. Can it all come together in time to make a serious playoff push?

23 – Vancouver Canucks W12 – Vancouver tried to throw a boatload of money at Mats Sundin, but he balked at the idea of playing in Western Canada. The offense remains anemic, and once again Roberto Luongo will need to be the best goalie on the planet for the Canucks to have a serious shot of making the playoffs.

24 – Phoenix Coyotes W13 – Wayne Gretzky’s reclamation project continues to progress. At some point pressure will mount to finally make the playoffs, but in the meantime the Great One will preach patience as his team continues their ascent out of the NHL’s basement.

25 – New York Islanders E12 – Rick DiPietro, Rick DiPietro, Rick DiPietro. If the Islanders have any chance of keeping things respectable in the enormously difficult Atlantic division, DiPietro’s name will need to be mentioned among the Vezina finalists at season’s end.

26 – Florida Panthers E13 – Some would argue that trading away your best player is not a remedy for success. And they would be right! After shipping Olli Jokinen to Phoenix in the off-season, my guess is that teams are already lining up to acquire Jay Bouwmeester. The rebuilding process is heading in the wrong direction down in Florida.

27 – Toronto Maple Leafs E14 – Mats Sundin has left Maple Leaf fans, the team’s front office and the rest of the NHL blowing in the wind. Whether or not he returns to the league is anybody’s guess, but either way life post-Sundin has officially begun in Toronto – at least for now.

28 – St. Louis Blues W14 - The loss of Erik Johnson to a season-ending knee injury is simply devastating for St. Louis. This leaves the Blues staring down the barrel of another lost season and the unenviable fortune of remaining an NHL doormat.

29 – Atlanta Thrashers E15 – Ilya Kovalchuk remains one of the best players in the league, but with Marian Hossa dealt at last year’s trade deadline the rebuilding process is underway. The NHL is starting to lose traction in Atlanta and this upcoming season doesn’t appear likely to reverse the trend.

30 – Los Angeles Kings W15 – LA has accumulated a plethora of young talent, including Andres Kopitar, who just signed a 7-year, $47.6M extension. Unfortunately for LA, most of that talent is not ready to contribute. This puts the Kings in a very familiar place — the NHL Draft Lottery. The good news is that this year’s crowned jewel is Canadian forward John Tavares, who by all accounts is a franchise-changing player. The potential one-two punch of Kopitar and Tavares might have LA fans rooting for the other team this season.

One Hit Away

2008-08-20T09:44:00.003-04:00

Authors Note: The below column was written in the early morning hours following the New York Mets 3-1 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals in game 7 of the 2006 NLCS at Shea Stadium in New York.

October 17, 2006
3:14am

It’s times like this that you sit and wonder…why do we care so much? Why does the outcome of a trivial sporting event impact the lives of so many people? Roughly three hours ago, the New York Mets were one hit away from the World Series –– one hit. I was at the game, sitting in the upper reserves at Shea Stadium as the events unfolded. After the last pitch was thrown, resulting in Carlos Beltran getting called out on strikes, people funneled out of Shea like a bomb threat was announced over the PA. I stayed in my seat and watched. The Cardinals charged the mound, in our stadium, like the Yankees did in 2000, and they celebrated. I stayed in my seat and watched. This was supposed to be our moment. Once again another season ended on a loss.

The closer you get, the more it hurts. This one was like climbing Everest all the way to the top and then dying on the side of the mountain right before the final hike to the summit. All you can do is think about what could have been. All the years of caring, all the hours spent watching the games, all the money spent supporting your team, wearing your loyalty on your sleeve. Then when they finally get so close you can taste it, one short climb to the summit away, they come up empty. This is the ugly reality of being a sports fan. The majority of the time you’re left devastated and distraught, wondering if that one moment in time will ever come when the season doesn’t end on a loss. Right now I can’t help but ask myself if it’s all really worth it. Why does it really matter so much…if your team wins or loses? Why do so many of us care for our respective teams with that life-or-death intensity? Where does it come from? One thing is becoming increasingly more apparent: The fans seem to care more than the athletes about winning and losing. In this day and age, with so many outside influence$ pulling players in a million different directions, this has becoming increasingly truer. The only people who show any loyalty these days are the fans.

Once again it begs the question…Why do we care?

I envy those people who were never inflicted with the passion that so many of us have – what freedom. They are not burdened with having to bear the weight of all the losing. But at what cost do the rest of us pay to reap the pleasures of winning? What cost does the wildly rabid, consistently passionate and endlessly dedicated sports fans endure to experience those rare moments of bliss, that are, without question, few and far between. If you’re smart you remain mindful of the fact that this hypothetical moment, when your favorite team wins the championship, might never happen in the first place. That’s why this one really stung; they were one hit away – one hit.

Most people are passionate about something in life. Whether it’s music, the fine arts, politics, water skiing, scuba diving, shopping, literature, animals…you name it. However, having a passion for sports is a totally different beast. This passion brings you to your lowest point. It leaves you feeling empty inside. It makes you want to put a fist through the wall. This passion involves decade upon decade of losing, with no guarantee that winning will follow. And even if it does and you’re one of the lucky ones who eventually experiences a championship – it’s over in a flash! All you’re left with are photos and ticket stubs, autographed pictures of the legends, a leather bound Sports Illustrated magazine, a DVD season-in-review, old championship t-shirts and hats, and an indescribable longing for it all to happen again. And what about everybody out there in Sports Land who never gets to experience these special moments: The Bengal fans, Clipper fans, Bills fans, expansion teams, ect. What kind of awful hobby is this that they indulge in? What joy do these fans get from their teams? At the end of the day, think of the torture you’ve inflicted on yourself, all the games, the hours invested, the meaningless conversations, all the money down the drain, and all that’s left is absolutely nothing. No trophy. No parade. Nothing.

Again I ask…Why do we care?

The answer is simple: The reason we care is because all of the years of losing and the pain that comes along with it would have been completely worth while if Beltran would have hit a homerun in that final at-bat and sent the Mets to the World Series. The Subway Series loss to the Yankees in ’00; the Kazmir trade; Kenny Rogers walking in the series-ending run in ’99; the ‘worst team money could buy’ team in ’92; the season ending collapse in ’98; Strawberry signing with LA – it would have all been worth it. In the meantime, I’ll just add last night to the list and take solace in the thought that hopefully one day, one hit will change everything.

Major League Baseball Mid-Season Review

2008-07-18T14:40:00.028-04:00

Commissioner Bud Selig has continually preached through the years about creating competitive balance in Major League Baseball. What better time than now to put his words to the test? Has the luxury tax money trickling down to the small-and-middle market clubs helped them stay in the race? With half a season down and half to go, let’s take a look at how many teams are still competing for those precious eight playoff spots, and which ones are already DONE!

DONE!

Baltimore Orioles, Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians, Colorado Rockies, Houston Astros, Kansas City Royals, Pittsburgh Pirates, San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners, Toronto Blue Jays, Washington Nationals

The concept of being DONE! is quite simple: It means you’re unofficially eliminated from playoff contention. Some of the names on this list should be obvious, as Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Washington, Kansas City and Baltimore are once again having awful seasons. Every year these teams seem to master the art of being DONE! before the All-Star break. In contrast, Toronto and Seattle have at least tried to become competitive. Both have actively pursued and landed high-priced free agents over the past two off-seasons. Despite their aggressive approach, both have remained in the American League basement. The Astros are 13 games back in the NL Central – enough said. The two most surprising names on the list are Cleveland and Colorado. As we know, both played deep into October last season, with Cleveland losing in the ALCS and Colorado in the World Series, both to the eventual World Champion Boston Red Sox. All totaled, over 1/3 of Major League Baseball, 11 teams in all, are DONE! with three months of baseball still remaining. I wonder what Bud Selig would say about all 11 teams residing in small markets. With the game's economics as they are, the climb facing small-market clubs has become increasingly more difficult, as the teams with more resources continue to dominate the standings. So much for all that talk about competitive balance. Now, in no particular order, let’s see who’s for real from the rest of the larger pack.

CONTENDERS OR PRETENDERS?

Tampa Bay Rays – Look no further for the #1 surprise in all of baseball. Somehow this perennial doormat has remained among the league's elite for the entire first half. Finally, a small-market team has joined the party! The Rays recently sent a message to the Red Sox down in Tampa by sweeping a three-game set but have since lost seven straight to relinquish first place in the AL East heading into the All-Star break. Assuming Tampa returns to first-half form, they look poised to give the Red Sox, Yankees and everyone else in the American League all they can handle in the second half. Verdict: Contender

Boston Red Sox – Trust me, the Sox have taken notice of Tampa’s blistering first half. However, after all the talk about the Rays, it’s Boston in sole possession of first place at the All-Star break. The Red Sox, to a man, while cognizant of Tampa, are probably more concerned with the looming presence of the Yankees, who they lead by six games. The anticipated return of David Ortiz from a wrist injury that has sidelined him since June 3rd will provide Boston with an additional boost to begin the second half treck. Verdict: Contender

San Francisco Giants – Even though the Giants are 12.5 games off of the wild card pace, they remain only seven back in the lousy NL West. For a team 15 games under .500, the lone thing keeping them from DONE! status is their proximity to first. Verdict: Pretender

Texas Ranger – The Rangers are a classic example of a team trying to slug their way to a pennant. They lead the majors in runs scored but also in runs allowed. Currently 7.5 games off the division lead and 8.5 off of the wild card, the Rangers are bordering on irrelevancy. The one thing necessary to make a late-season charge is pitching, and that’s the one thing Texas lacks. Verdict: Pretender

Minnesota Twins – Every year the Twins seem to defy logic and compete admirably on a modest budget. This off-season the defects were worse than normal, as Johan Santana and Torii Hunter both left town for exorbitant money from larger-market teams. This caused expectations to start low, but they are suddenly rising as the Twins are only 1.5 games out of first place in the AL Central. With the White Sox just ahead of them and the Tigers beginning to heat up below them, the Twins will be in a dogfight to the finish in one of the most competitive divisions in baseball. Verdict: Contender

Milwaukee Brewers – The Brewers started the NL Central arms race by trading for ace C.C. Sabathia – a move that was immediately countered by Chicago’s acquisition of Rich Harden. Now the Brewers have paired a Sheets-Sabathia one-two punch with one of the most potent offenses in the game. The Brewers trail the wild-card-leading Cardinals by the slightest of margins and are now one of the most complete teams in the National League. Verdict: Contender

Philadelphia Phillies – The Phillies have lost 18 of 29 over the past month, allowing the Mets and Marlins to move within a hair of first place. We all know what this team can do when their bats get hot (see last September). The question for the Phils is whether they have enough pitching to maintain control of this three-team race and advance deep into October. Verdict: Contender

Los Angeles Angels – The Angels enjoy the largest division lead in the majors (6 games) going into the All-Star game. With only one player currently batting over .300, the Angels do all the little things necessary to win ball games. Expect LA to be in the mix for a bat at the trade deadline and easily cruise to the AL West crown. Verdict: Contender

Los Angeles Dodgers – The Dodgers have been an enigma all season. They came to camp with a team that, on paper, looked like the possible cream-of-the-crop in the National League. Yet things have failed to materialize in LA this season, as they limp into the break with a measly 46-49 record. The two things Dodger fans can count on is that they play in the lousy NL West and they have Joe Torre. Verdict: Contender

Detroit Tigers – If the New York Mets take the cake as the most under achieving team in the National League, then the same could be said about the Detroit Tigers in the American League. They quickly became everybody's sexy World Series pick this past off-season after trading for Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis. Then, aside from a two-and-a-half week stretch where they played great, the rest of the season has been a disaster. This team remains a complete question mark, but they have shown the ability to get hot and simply have too much talent to disregard. Verdict: Contender

Florida Marlins – The Marlins have a formula for success, albeit a strange one. They like to win the World Series and then trade their entire roster for prospects. They've executed this strategy twice in recent years, winning & dumping in ’97 and ’03. The moves they made following the ’97 season led to their ’03 title, and the more you watch this young crop develop, it looks like the trades following the ’03 title could lead to another one in the near future. In the second half we’ll see if they can pull off this Houdini act ahead of schedule? Verdict: Contender

St Louis Cardinals – How are the Cardinals leading the wild card, you ask? Well…Albert Pujols is hitting .350; Rick Ankiel has 20 homeruns; Ryan Ludwick made the All-Star game; Troy Glaus is having a bounce-back year; and free-agent-acquisition Kyle Lohse is 10-2. People in St. Louis are wondering if this is an aberration or the foundation for another unexpected World Series run? Verdict: Contender

Oakland Athletics – The A’s are six games above .500 and within reach of both the division lead and the wild card. The problem: Now they need exactly what they recently traded – pitching! Cost-cutting decisions to trade Dan Haren, Rich Harden and Joe Blanton have left the cupboard bare. These move, made with the future in mind, will prove costly in the present. Verdict: Pretender.

Arizona Diamondbacks – Arizona fans should thank their lucky stars that they have Brandon Webb and Dan Haren, because with them lies hope. The pathetic thing about the NL Central is that the 47-48 Diamondbacks actually lead the division. The D-backs are offensively challenged, but the one-two punch at the top of their rotation should be enough to win this weak division. Verdict: Contender

Atlanta Braves – The big questions surrounding Atlanta these days are whether or not they should trade Mark Teixeira? And can Chipper Jones bat .400? Aside from that, it’s just a matter of time before they're officially declared DONE! Verdict: Pretender

Chicago White Sox – The White Sox compliment their sporadic hitting with some of the best pitching in baseball. So far it’s been enough. Ozzie Guillen once again has his finger on the pulse of this team, as evident by their first-place status at the turn. They might not be as good as their ’05 counterpart, but they probably have enough pitching to make the playoffs. Verdict: Contender

Chicago Cubs – The year was 1908. Theodore Roosevelt decided to pass on a third term, handing the Presidency over to William Howard Taft; and the Model T was the hottest thing on the road. It was also the last time the Cubs won the World Series. One hundred years later, they are celebrating their Centennial anniversary with the league's best record. Carlos Zambrano and Rich Harden rival any one-two punch in baseball and their offense is explosive. How explosive? The Cubs are one of only two teams with over 500 runs, while leading the majors in run differential at +106. The Red Sox recently reversed the curse of the Bambino; is the curse of the Billy Goat next? Verdict: Contender

New York Yankees – The Bombers will be looking to take flight in the second half and close down Yankee Stadium with a bang. Injuries to major cogs such as Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Jorge Posada, Chien-Ming Wang, Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy, Johnny Damon, and Hideki Matsui have hurt New York. A healthy second half should be all the talent-laden Yankees need to get back to the top of the wild card. Another half like they just experienced and they’ll be on the outside of the post season looking in for the first time since 1993. Verdict: Contender

New York Mets – Saving the best for last? Well, maybe that’s a stretch, but the Mets are the hottest team in baseball. They are currently in the midst of a ten-game winning streak that has salvaged what appeared to be a lost season. Everything Jerry Manuel touches turns to gold, as the Mets are starting to look more like the World Series contenders they were projected to be, and less like the below .500 team they were two weeks ago. Verdict: Contender

Nick G Sports Banter Playoff Predictions:

American League:

AL EAST – Boston Red Sox
AL CENTRAL – Chicago White Sox
AL WEST – Los Angeles Angels
AL WILDCARD – New York Yankees

National League:

NL EAST – New York Mets
NL CENTRAL – Chicago Cubs
NL WEST – Arizona Diamondbacks
NL WILDCARD – Milwaukee Brewers

Divisional Round:

Boston Red Sox over Chicago White Sox; Los Angeles Angels over New York Yankees

Chicago Cubs over Arizona Diamondbacks; New York Mets over Milwaukee Brewers

ALCS:

Boston Red Sox over Los Angeles Angels

NLCS:

Chicago Cubs over New York Mets

WORLD SERIES: Boston Red Sox over Chicago Cubs

Rocco Versus Goliath

2008-06-16T23:24:00.005-04:00

Tiger Woods is younger and stronger. He hits the ball farther, has a superior short game, and putts better. He came to Torrey Pines having won on this golf course twelve times, six times as a professional. Rocco Mediate was just happy to have the priviledge of playing Torrey Pines this week, getting here as a regional qualifier. Rocco is in awe of this event, always has been, wearing U.S. Open pins he’s collected through the years on his hat as he plays. With two U.S. Open titles already under his belt, Tiger Woods is never in awe; he helps create the awe. Like his 30 on the back nine Friday or the two eagles on the back nine Saturday or his birdie putt on the 72nd hole to send this tournament to a playoff. There’s no disputing that Tiger is a golfing legend, maybe the best of all-time. Next up in his collision course with Jack’s record is an 18-hole playoff against Rocco Mediate, a golf vagabond, who, at 45 years old, has never contended at major championship. There couldn’t be a bigger mismatch to determine the U.S Open championship. This is the golf equivalent of David versus Goliath. It basically appears like a lamb is being sent to slaughter.

And that very well may be the case. Tiger will probably be too much for the 45-year-old Mediate. However, after watching how eloquently Rocco has negotiated the U.S. Open to this point — I’m not so sure. His disposition seems custom-made for going head-to-head with Tiger Woods. He shrugs off bad shots and laughs at the gallery after good shots. He seems to be thoroughly enjoying every second he spends atop the leader board, like he’s been waiting for this moment his whole life. And he has. He may be in awe of the U.S. Open, but for some reason he doesn’t strike me as a guy who is going to be in awe of Tiger Woods. He strikes me as the guy who’s going to come with his sticks firmly in hand, ready to play some golf. Something tells me this is going to be a war.

Anybody watching the past four days knows that Tiger is hobbled. His knee is far from 100 percent, and if this was any other tournament outside of a major, he would be nowhere near the course. And therein lies Rocco’s hope. If Tiger was 100 percent this week, the tournament would already be over. When Tiger is in top form, a one-on-one with Mediate would be trivial, and the result a forgone conclusion. But Tiger is not 100 percent, and that might be Rocco’s only saving grace. The question now becomes: Can the career journeyman outplay the hobbled legend?

The USGA did their best to force feed us a showdown between the #1 and #2 players in the world, deciding to pair Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson in the first two rounds. What they ended up with is even better: the #1 and #157 players in the world, head-to-head in a playoff for all the marbles. Tiger Woods versus Rocco Mediate — 18 holes for the 108th United States Open championship. The USGA was hoping for a Tiger/Phil showdown on Sunday; what they got is a Tiger/Rocco showdown Monday. Sometimes what you never see coming is better that what you originally wished for.

A Mile And A Half From Greatness

2008-06-07T14:34:00.012-04:00

Secretariat did it with a dominating flare. Seattle Slew did it with a shy curiosity. Affirmed did it with a rival on his hind leg. In such a small window of time the sport saw horse after horse prove to be Super. From 1973 through 1978 three of horse racing’s most prized gems galvanized the sport, giving it a Golden Era many thought would last forever. In the thirty years since Affirmed and Alydar foreshadowed Magic and Bird, the blatant reality of the task has become obvious to all. Winning the Triple Crown isn’t an annual rite of passage reserved for the best three-year-old on the planet, it’s a rite of passage reserved only for the best horses of all-time.

As always the latest pursuit of the three-peat brings us to Belmont Park and the 140th running of the Belmont Stakes. Since Affirmed, ten other horses have gotten to this point, winning in Kentucky and Baltimore. Ten other horses captured our imaginations. Ten other horses forced people to flock to Belmont in record numbers, to avoid missing a piece of history. Ten other horses were the odds-on favorite to win the Triple Crown, and ten other horses failed. The names probably still ring a bell: Spectacular Bid, Pleasant Colony, Alysheba, Sunday Silence, Real Quiet, Charismatic, War Emblem, Funny Cide and Smarty Jones. They all have one thing in common - their pursuit of horse racing’s greatest prize ended on the same mile and a half race track in Elmont, NY.

Once again a horse won the Kentucky Derby only to follow that up by winning the Preakness. Once again people are flocking to Belmont Park to avoid missing history in the making, as once again a horse is the odds-on favorite to win the Triple Crown.

Like always, experts seem to think this horse is different. That he’s too good to fall victim to the pitfalls of those before him. They point to the fact that he didn’t just win the Derby and the Preakness; he dominated the Derby and the Preakness. They’ll tell anybody willing to listen about his perfect 5-0 record with split times that rival the greatest of all-time. They yearn like the rest of us, not just for a great horse, but for a Super horse. One that can return the sport to the glory days of its past and produce another moment showcasing why this is the Sport of Kings.

Thirty-one horses have gotten to this point and only 11 have survived. It’s been thirty years and again we stand only two and half minutes away from adding a twelfth name to that list. The most difficult test in Thoroughbred racing remains and will again be the difference between defining great from Super. Will we be witness to history? Will the end of one of the most exclusive lists in sports be altered to read "Secretariat, Seattle Slew, Affirmed, Big Brown?" In a mile and a half, we'll find out.

2008 NFL Draft Team-by-Team Grades

2008-04-29T00:09:00.006-04:00

NFC East
New York – B {Kenny Phillips (1), Mario Manningham (3), Andre Woodson (6)}
For the second year in a row Jerry Reese and the Giants walk away with high grades. The Giants landed two potential impact players (Phillips and Manningham) and a possible backup QB in Andre Woodson.
Philadelphia – D {Trevor Laws (2), DeSean Jackson (2)}
Philadelphia’s first mistake was trading out of the first round. DeSean Jackson is undersized and didn’t live up to expectations last season at Cal.
Dallas – A {Felix Jones (1), Mike Jenkins (1)}
The Boys’ had two first round picks and made them both count. Adding Felix Jones gives Dallas the perfect compliment to Marion Barber and the addition of Mike Jenkins solidifies a secondary that just acquired Pac Man Jones.
Washington – B+ {Devin Thomas (2), Fred Davis (2), Malcolm Kelly (2), Colt Brennan (6)}
After trading out of the first round, Washington went to work in round two. Devin Thomas, Malcolm Kelly and Fred Davis have tremendous upside and will help Washington transition to their new spread attack.

NFC North
Chicago – B {Chris Williams (1), Earl Bennett (3), Craig Steltz (4), Markus Monk (7)}
Chicago made shrewd pick after shrewd pick all weekend. Bennett could develop into the best slot receiver in the entire draft and Steltz will be a perfect fit in Chicago’s secondary.
Green Bay – D {Jordy Nelson (2), Brian Brohm (2), Patrick Lee (2), JerMichael Finely (3)}
I’m not a fan of Green Bay’s picks. They made Jordy Nelson the 1st wide receiver off the board? Then they took Brian Brohm? I’m sure there are more than a few confused Packer fans trying to figure this out.
Minnesota – D {Tyrell Johnson (2), John David Booty (50)}
Minnesota traded away their first-round pick for Jared Allen, leaving them with only one pick in the first four rounds. At the end of the day, Tyrell Johnson might be the only player from this group to make the team this summer.
Detroit – C {Gosder Cherilus (1), Kevin Smith (3), Caleb Cambell (7)}
Matt Millen needed to have a good draft more than anybody in the business this weekend. He steered clear of drafting another WR and pieced together some good picks. Millen’s track record is questionable to say the least, so we’ll have to wait and see if this class turns out to be anything more than just average.

NFC South
New Orleans – B+ {Sedrick Ellis (1), Tracey Porter (2), Adrian Arrington (7)}
Sean Payton’s #1 objective was to walk away with a stud DT. Trading up into New England’s spot was a brilliant maneuver by Payton, who now has the anchor he needed to properly run their 3-4 scheme.
Carolina – B+ {Jonathan Stewart (1), Jeff Otah (1), Dan Connor (3)}
John Fox and his staff made things happen. After securing Jonathan Stewart they moved back into the first round to get Jeff Otah. Franchise running back and starting left tackle – done and done! Not to mention Dan Connor, a projected first round LB, who they drafted in the third round. Job well done!
Atlanta – C {Matt Ryan (1), Sam Baker (1)}
Both first round picks are questionable. Ryan could be a Pro Bowler, but could be a bust. Then they moved back into the first round and reached for USC OT Sam Baker. With 11 picks, Atlanta’s draft looks more like quantity over quality.
Tampa Bay – B- {Aqib Talib (1), Dexter Jackson (2), Geno Hayes (6)}
The NFC South drafted well and Tampa Bay was no exception. Aqib Talib is a perfect cover 2 corner and I love the Dexter Jackson pick. Jackson was on a National Championship Div 1AA team and was one of the biggest weapons the sub-division had to offer.

NFC WEST
Seattle – D {Lawrence Jackson (1), John Carlson (2)}
Seattle needed a tight end in the worst way. They failed to pull off a trade for Jeremy Shockey and then missed out on the two best TE’s in the draft. Seattle fans: What’s worse – the refs in SB XL or this year’s draft class? It’s close!
St. Louis – B+ {Chris Long (1), Justin King (4)}
How can you not like St. Louis’ draft? Chris Long transforms that line into one of the most formidable in the league. They made five picks in the first four rounds, highlighted by stealing Justin King in the 4th.
San Francisco – D {Kentwan Balmer (1)}
Kentwan Balmer better be a big part of the Niner defense or else this draft was a complete disaster.
Arizona – A {Dominque-Rodgers Cromartie (1), Calias Campbell (2), Early Doucet (3), Timothy Highwater (6)}
Add a tremendous draft class to the list of things coach Ken Whisenhunt is doing right in Arizona. This class could easily yield two starters on both sides of the ball.

AFC East
New England – B+ {Jerod Mayo (1), Terrance Wheatley (2), Shawn Crable (3), Kevin O’Connell (3), Matt Slater (5)}
This class does not include the impact player you would have hoped for with a top-ten pick; but it does include two solid LB’s, 1 potential backup QB, 1 project CB and a kick return weapon. Believe it or not, Belichick did all of this without cheating!
New York – B {Vernon Gholston (1), Dustin Keller (1), Erick Ainge (5)}
The jury is still out on Vernon Gholston, but I suspect the Jets are drooling over having him and Calvin Pace coming off the edge of their 3-4. The Jets were critized for trading back into round 1 for Dustin Keller. Keller is a walking match-up problem for opposing defenses and it won’t take long for Jet fans to see why Mangini and Tannenbaum made this move.
Buffalo – B+ {Leodis McKelvin (1), James Hardy (2), Reggie Corner (4)}
People (like myself) thought Buffalo would take Devin Thomas with their 11th overall pick. Instead they grabbed McKelvin and still got the WR they were looking for in round two. Shrewd picks by the Buffalo front office should pay dividends down the road for the Bills.
Miami – A {Jake Long (1), Phillip Merling (2), Chad Henne (2)}
Long is the most sure-fire, can’t-miss prospect in the draft. Parcells liked Merling and Henne for a reason, so Dolphin fans should expect good things from them as well.

AFC North
Baltimore – A {Joe Flacco (1), Ray Rice (2), Tom Zbikowski (3)}
The Raven had 10 picks with seven in the first four rounds. Factor in that they probably drafted their QB of the future, RB of the future and next starting safety to play along side Ed Reed and you have quite a draft. Ozzie Newsome hit this one way out of the ballpark.
Cincinnati – C {Keith Rivers (1), Andre Caldwell (4)}
Marvin Lewis appears to be navigating a sinking ship. This draft class won’t help. Keith Rivers is the most boring top-ten pick selected and the rest of their decisions leave a lot to be desired.
Pittsburgh – B+ {Rashard Mendenhall (1), Limas Sweed (2), Dennis Dixon (5)}
The Steelers were thrilled to see Mendenhall there at 23. Big Ben asked the front office for a big WR and they listened; Limas Sweed could easily become a prolific weapon in their new pass-happy attack. Dennis Dixon might have won the Heisman if not for a late-season injury….is he the new Slash?
Cleveland – F {Beau Bell (4), Martin Ricker (4)}
Cleveland basically sat this draft out, having only 5 picks and zero in the first three rounds. That’s the cost of moving up in the draft, which they did last year for Brady Quinn.

AFC South
Indianapolis – C {Mike Pollak (2), Phillip Wheeler (3)}
Indy needs to be healthy next season more than anything else. With five picks in the 6th and 7th rounds, Tony Dungy and company were trying to pluck late round gems.
Tennessee – C+ {Chris Johnson (1), Lavelle Hawkins (4)}
The Titans really needed to get Vince Young some help at WR and ultimately waited until round four before addressing the position. They are very excited about Chris Johnson from ECU, but they reached by making him a first round pick.
Jacksonville – B {Derrick Harvey (1), Quentin Groves (2)}
How did Jacksonville do? Well, they decided not to make a last-minute trade for Jason Taylor, but they did walk away with two of the best DE’s in the draft. Depends on how you look at it.
Houston – C {Duane Brown (1), Steve Slaton (3)}
I’m always confused when teams trade up in the first round to grab players who are not first-round talents. That’s what I think Houston did by trading up for Duane Brown. He was probably the 7th or 8th rated offensive lineman in the draft. So why make such a strong push? After a few good drafts in succession, this one is tough to judge at this point.

AFC West
San Diego - D {Antoine Cason (1)}
The Chargers are stacked and were simply drafting for need. They added some depth, but with only five picks, this crop of incomers features Cason and little else.
Kansas City – A+ {Glenn Dorsey (1), Branden Albert (1), Brandon Flowers (2), Jamal Charles (3)}
By far and away the Chiefs had the best draft in the league. The fact that they were prepared to take Albert with the fifth pick and grabbed him at 17 shows how nicely things worked out for KC. They get Dorsey and Albert! Add in Brandon Flowers and Jamal Charles and chalk this draft up as a huge success.
Denver – C {Ryan Clady (1), Eddie Royal (2)}
Denver had their choice of OT and went with the highly touted Clady from Boise St. With so many OT’s to choose from, Denver will have to wait and see if they made the right pick.
Oakland – A {Darren McFadden (1), Tyron Branch (4)}
The Raider only had five picks, but when Darren McFadden is one of the five picks the draft class automatically becomes an A!

2008 Nick G Sports Banter NFL Mock Draft

2008-04-25T16:26:00.022-04:00

1 - Miami Dolphins – Jake Long (OT, Michigan)
The simplest mock pick of all-time. Bill Parcells zeroed in on his man and then made him the highest paid offensive lineman in the NFL. His record 5 yr, $57.75 million dollar contract includes $30 million guaranteed. The real drama begins with the next pick.

2 – St. Louis Rams – Glenn Dorsey (DT, LSU)
Internally the Rams are split on what to do. The personnel department favors Chris Long, but head coach Scott Linehan wants Glenn Dorsey. If the right offer comes along St. Louis could easily trade down, if not, expect coach Linehan to get his guy. After taking Adam Carriker last season, this pick will give St. Louis one of the youngest and most talented d-lines in football.

3 – Atlanta Falcons – Matt Ryan (QB, Boston College)
With the third overall pick the Atlanta Falcons have options. A call will be made to St. Louis to see what it would take to move up one spot and select Dorsey. If the price is too steep they will probably listen to offers from other teams looking to move up. In the absence of a trade partner, Matt Ryan will become Atlanta’s new signal caller. With Dorsey off the board Michael Vick’s job is officially gone.

4 – Oakland Raiders – Vernon Gholston (LB, Ohio State)
Al Davis had always been one of the most unpredictable guys in the NFL so this pick shouldn’t surprise people. Davis has apparently fallen in love with the physical specimen that is Vernon Gholston. The resigning of Justin Fargas and the confidence in youngster Michael Bush will help Davis resist the urge to draft Darren McFadden. You can already hear the Jet fans in Radio City going crazy…J-E-T-S Jets, Jets, Jets!!!

5 – Kansas City Chiefs – Chris Long (DE, Virginia)
Kansas City didn’t expect this! They thought Chris Long would be “long” gone by this point. This development will force them to put their offensive line concerns on the back burner. Jared Allen’s replacement will be the high-octane sack master from Virginia.

6 – New York Jets – Darren McFadden (RB, Arkansas)
Aside from Broadway Joe’s shining moment forty years ago, Jet fans have mostly experienced misery. From the Heidi Bowl to the Marino spike, bad draft picks to the Rich Kotite era, Jet fans have had little to cheer about. Things are about to change if Darren McFadden is still on the board.

7 – New Orleans Saints (from New England, from San Francisco) – Sedrick Ellis (DT, USC)
Sean Payton is in the middle of doing what was previously thought to be impossible, he is turning the New Orleans Saints into a winner. The process continues this weekend as the Saints are prepared to be active. They are currently trying to work out a trade for disgruntled tight end Jeremy Shockey and they will also be the most likely candidate to trade spots with New England. The Patriots could use a few things but it would be too expensive to address them here. They will have no problem finding a dancing partner in New Orleans. The Saints are in desperate need for a DT to anchor their 3-4 scheme and will do everything possible to make that player Ellis.

8 – Baltimore Ravens – Brian Brohm (QB, Louisville)
The Baltimore Ravens quarterback situation has been awful ever since their 2000 Super Bowl victory. Reports claim that they don’t see much of a difference between Matt Ryan and Brian Brohm. Most feel that Brohm is a late first/early second round prospect, but if Baltimore is convinced he’s as good as Ryan they won’t hesitate. This pick would turn the draft upside down and it is more likely than people think.

9 – Cincinnati Bengals – Keith Rivers (OLB, USC)
Marvin Lewis is officially on the hot seat in Cincinnati as things are getting out of control. Chad Johnson is the least of his concerns heading into the draft, as the Bengals have fielded some of the league’s worst defenses over the past two seasons. New defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer (formerly of Atlanta and Dallas) will petition hard to use this pick on his side of the ball. If they fail to move up for Ellis, Zimmer should still get his wish and add this big-time athlete to his unit.

10 – New England Patriots (from Cincinnati) – Branden Albert (G, Virginia)
One thing is for sure, Bill Belicheck will draft a good football player. The problem becomes trying to figure out whom? They will already be happy to have moved down and will now look to address a weakness (if they actually have one after going 18-1). They would probably like to get their hands on Rivers if he drops. Outside of that it would seem likely for them to address their offensive line. It proved to be their weakness in the Super Bowl XLII loss. Albert would immediately push either Stephen Neal or Nick Kaczur for the starting spot and add depth to an already good unit.

11 – Buffalo Bills – Devin Thomas (WR, Michigan State)
Quick Note: I flew to Buffalo this past season for the Bills/Cowboys Monday Night thriller. It was my second time up there for a game (went to a Bills/Patriots game in 1998 during college). Upstate New Yorkers are into their football and they create a great atmosphere to watch a game.. Fans should make a point to check this place out.

As for the pick, it should be WR, WR, WR, WR. Buffalo feels confident that Trent Edwards is their man and now it’s time to get him a weapon. They will have their choice of any wide receiver in the draft and most likely settle on Devin Thomas. Thomas has elevated to the top of a pretty deep wide receiver class. It is hard imagine Buffalo doing anything else.

12 – Denver Broncos – Chris Williams (OT, Vanderbilt)
Most people predict a run on CB’s at some point in the first round, but first there will be a run on offensive lineman. There are six first-round prospects in this group and with only two gone the cupboard is still full. Denver has their choice of either Ryan Clady, Chris Williams or Jeff Otah. Reports suggest they are leaning towards Williams because his mobility and athleticism should fit their zone-blocking scheme nicely. Clady might be rated slightly higher, but Williams makes more sense for Denver.

13 – Carolina Panthers – Ryan Clady (OT, Boise State)
The sudden retirement of Mike Rucker immediately puts Derrick Harvey on Carolina’s radar. This will be a tough choice for John Fox and company, but I suspect strengthening the offensive line with Clady will ultimately make the most sense.

14 – Chicago Bears – Jeff Otah (OT, Pittsburgh)
The Bears are fed up with Cedric Benson and Rashard Mendenhall would give their offense the spark it desperately needs. Even though it looks like a perfect match, I think Chicago will follow suit and upgrade their offensive line before addressing other needs. The quality of running available when they pick again will be a much better than the prospects remaining at tackle.

15 – Detroit Lions – Derrick Harvey (DE, Florida)
Detroit would love to unleash a pass rushing presence on the NFC North and Derrick Harvey would be great value at this spot. Obviously Rashard Mendenhall is an option along with Jonathan Stewart of Oregon. Then again, Matt Millen could always decide to take another wide receiver!

16 – Arizona Cardinals – Leodis McKelvin (CB, Troy)
One of Arizona’s biggest needs coming into the draft was cornerback, so they are thrilled to have the privilege of taking the first one off the board. It should be McKelvin from tiny Troy University in Alabama. McKelvin is a double-threat CB, bringing both solid cover skills and dynamic return skills with him to the next level. Troy recently produced DeMarcus Ware and I’m sure the Cardinals will be pleased with its latest product.

17 – Kansas City Chiefs (from Minnesota) – Dominique-Rodgers Cromartie (CB, Tennessee State)
Kansas City gets this pick from the Vikings as part of the Jared Allen trade and should look to improve their secondary. Ty Law’s return is a question mark and he’s old to begin with. Kansas City would get a player versatile enough to eventually play safety, but will arrive at camp looking to win a starting CB job. Chris Long and DRC should set Kansas City’s defense up nicely for year’s to come.

18 – Houston Texans – Rashard Mendenhall (RB, Illinios)
Let’s review: Reggie Bush has been decent in his first two professional season, while Mario Williams is becoming a bonafide beast. The #1 overall pick from two years ago has 18.5 sacks in his young career. The Texans don’t look so stupid anymore, do they! Houston is now ready to address running back and will be extremely pleased to see Rashard Mendenhall still on the board.

19 – Philadelphia Eagles – Mike Jenkins (CB, South Florida)
Andy Reid hates drafting wide receivers and will again take a pass here. Instead, he will do what he’s good at and pick a good defensive player. The Eagles hit the jack-pot by prying Asante Samuel from New England, but may end up losing Lito Sheppard in the near future. Some say Mike Jenkins is the best corner in the draft and Philly will love the chance to add another top-flight cover man to their arsenal.

20 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – James Hardy (WR, Indiana)
Joey Galloway and Ike Hilliard are a combined 68 years old, so getting young at wide receiver will be a top priority for the Bucs. James Hardy is a hit or miss prospect in my eyes, but his size (6-6, 220 lbs) and collegiate production (36 TD’s in three years) probably makes him the next receiver off the board.

21 – Washington Redskins – Phillip Merling (DE, Clemson)
The Skins made an unsuccessful push for Chad Johnson and would love if either Devin Thomas or James Hardy fell to them here. If not Phillip Merling should be their guy. Reports suggest Washington is in love with this player and he fills one of their glaring off season needs.

22 – Dallas Cowboys – Felix Jones (RB, Arkansas)
If Felix Jones was the primary back at a different school he would have been a top-ten pick. Instead, he split the backfield with Darren McFadden and still made All-American and 1st team All-SEC. His blinding speed would be the perfect compliment to Marion Barber and give the Cowboys a serious upgrade from the departed Julius Jones.

23 – Pittsburgh Steelers – Gosder Cherilus (OT, Boston College)
Taking the sixth offensive lineman only 23 picks into the draft will not excite Steeler fans. Even though they would love to go wide receiver here, protecting Big Ben is the more important task. Cherilus is the only first round prospect left on the board at this position and Pittsburgh has no choice but to make him a Steeler.

24 – Tennessee Titans – DeSean Jackson (WR, California)
DeSean Jackson was originally projected at the clear-cut #1 wide receiver entering the draft prior to the college season. A mediocre junior year saw his stock fall and his top-ten potential vanish. Still a first round talent, Tennessee will take a chance on his big-play ability while drastically improving their return game in the process.

25 – Seattle Seahawks – Fred Davis (TE, USC)
The Seahawks have been looking for a top-flight tight end throughout the entire Mike Holmgren era. As he enters his final year in Seattle, the task of finally securing a tight end will take center stage this weekend. Seattle has contacted the Giants about trading for Jeremy Shockey, but if that doesn’t get done expect Holmgren to grab the USC standout with his final 1st round pick as Seahawks coach.

26 – Jacksonville Jaguars – Kentwan Balmer (DT, UNC)
Jacksonville’s stout defense has suffered some major blows this off season. Marcus Shroud (traded to Buffalo), Sammy Knight (NYG), and Bobby McCray (Saints) have all left town. Jacksonville will probably use most of their early picks on that side of the ball, starting with the selection of Balmer to replace Shroud.

27 – San Diego Chargers – Jonathan Stewart (RB, Oregon)
The Chargers had a good thing going the past few years at running back with LaDainian Tomlinson and Michael Turner in their backfield. On a team with very few needs the free agent departure of Turner to Atlanta makes running back their first order of business. With Jonathan Stewart still on the board this pick is easy, and their 1-2 punch is restored.

28 – Dallas Cowboys – Aqib Talib (CB, Kansas)
The Cowboys figured they would be deciding between Antoine Cason and Brandon Flowers at this point in the round. The fact that one of the big-four corners fell in their lap will make Jerry Jones a very happy man. Adding Pac Man Jones and a 1st round corner to a secondary that already features Terrance Newman and Anthony Henry should makes this unit borderline elite.

29 – San Francisco 49ers – Limas Sweed (WR, Texas)
After making Alex Smith the #1 pick in the 2005 draft he will be given every opportunity to show he can become the man in San Fran. With the 29th pick, the Niners will hope Smith’s learning curve is reduced by the addition of the massively talented Sweed.

30 – Green Bay Packers – Brandon Flowers (CB, Virginia Tech)
There was a show on the NFL Network not too long ago that argued for Brandon Flowers as the top CB in this draft. After watching him on film it’s easy to see him developing into a pro bowl player. Green Bay will make Flowers the fifth corner to come off the board, and they might be getting the best.

New England Patriots – FORFEITED
Quietly Bill Belichick is furious about this whole situation. The NFL made him forfeit this pick because of the Spy Gate scandal, which went along with the biggest fine in league history. With players like Jerod Mayo, Quentin Groves, Dan Connor and Kenny Phillips still available, Belichick and Scott Pioli will be cursing under their breath in the Pat’s War Room on Saturday.

31 – New York Giants – Jerod Mayo (LB, Tennessee)
If Mayo is still on the board the Giants will throw a party. This kid’s stock has been rising for weeks and many feel he will ultimately turn out to be one of the best defensive players taken in the entire draft. After losing both starting safeties and two linebackers from their SB defense, Mayo will ease the blow of their recent defects, as they look to defend their crown in 2009.

2008 NFL Draft Preview

2008-04-24T13:15:00.007-04:00

What will Bill Parcells do with the #1 pick?

Shortly after 3pm on April 26th NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will walk up to the podium at Radio City Music Hall and put the ‘Big Tuna’, I mean the Miami Dolphins, on the clock. Bill Parcells is a draft day magician, but he hasn’t been forced to operate from the top spot since selecting Drew Bledsoe #1 overall at the 1993 draft. Times have certainly changed since then as this year’s #1 pick is slated to make over $30 million in guaranteed money. That said, Parcells would love to trade out of this spot and stock pile picks; however it’s highly unlikely that another team will relieve him of the burden. The #1 overall pick has become the equivalent of an NFL mine field – one wrong step and your franchise can explode! However, with Parcells behind the wheel, the Dolphins should be safe. Supposedly the Tuna poured over hours of tape on Matt Ryan before deciding he wasn’t worth the pick. It is also widely understood that Parcells has decided to pass on LSU stud DT Glenn Dorsey because of a combination of off-the-field problems and injury concerns. That leaves Miami deciding between Jake Long, Chris Long and possibly Vernon Gholston. The Dolphins will negotiate with all of them leading up to the draft. Unless a contract is reached with one of these guys prior to the draft, expect Parcells to keep everyone guessing before finally settling on Jake Long, the prototypical left tackle from Michigan. Thirty million dollars later the rebuilding project is officially underway on South Beach.

Is Vernon Gholston worthy of a top-five pick?

Every year there are those players who skyrocket up draft boards after the combine, only to climb a little higher after their school’s pro day. Vernon Gholston, outside linebacker from Ohio State, is a classic example. After having one of the best combine visits in years, Gholston followed that up with an even better performance at Ohio State’s pro day. In an NFL world where teams will give their right arm for a speed-rushing outside linebacker, Gholston’s stock has risen so high that the Miami Dolphins are now considering using the #1 pick on him. His ascent up the board has teams thinking he may be the next DeMarcus Ware or Shawn Merriman. So the question becomes: Has Vernon Gholston’s stock exceeded his actual worth? Will he be a player who will make the $20-$30 million-dollar investment worth the risk? From what I’ve seen the answer is clear – no. If this answer surprises you, then hear me out. Before the NFL combine and the Ohio State pro day, Gholston was projected as a mid-first-round pick. As teams scour this draft class for the next big-time pass rusher, Gholston’s pair of tremendous workouts have seemingly elevated him to top-five status in the eyes of many. Though he was a productive player at Ohio State, he was far from dominant. In fact, Gholston was a down right ghost on the field at times for Ohio State. As a senior he had 14 sacks in 13 games, but seven of those came against Wisconsin and Michigan. Think back to the National Championship game...do you remember Gholston making an impact? If you’re having trouble remembering Gholston’s performance, it may be because he was invisible that night, as LSU put up 38 points on Ohio State’s defense. At over $20 million in guaranteed cash, teams better be convinced that Vernon Gholston is more than just a guy who looked good with his shirt off at the combine; he better look good in pads on Sundays.

How good is Matt Ryan?

Selecting a quarterback at the top of the NFL draft is one of the biggest guessing games in all of sports. There were scouts who thought Ryan Leaf was a better prospect than Peyton Manning. Dan Marino was the fifth quarterback drafted in 1984, after the likes of Todd Blackledge and Tony Eason. Then there’s Alex Smith, David Carr and Joey Harrington, all recent top-three picks who have disappointed greatly. Picking a quarterback at the top of the draft is a crap shoot to say the least. For every Carson Palmer there’s a Rick Mirer. This year all of the hype surrounds Matt Ryan from Boston College. Like all who have come before him, he has the size and arm strength to suggest he can play in the NFL. Yet I honestly have no idea how good he will be. I’m the same guy who thought David Green (Georgia, 2005) was going to be an All-Pro, and he’s currently buried on the Seahawk practice squad. Predicting how well a quarterback will play at the next level is nearly an impossible task. Tom Brady wasn’t picked until the 7th round! Tony Romo went completely undrafted! You have better odds in Vegas throwing all of your money on black at the Roulette table than you do at predicting how good Matt Ryan will be in the NFL. One indication that Ryan might be rated too high is the fact that Bill Parcells reportedly spent hours evaluating every snap Ryan took at BC before concluding he wasn’t worth selecting with the Dolphins #1 pick. Atlanta and Baltimore will surely have a lot to think about between now and Saturday afternoon.

Where will Darren McFadden be calling home?

If you want to learn a little bit about how good Darren McFadden is, or you just need a quick refresher, simply go to You Tube and search ‘Darren McFadden highlight reel’. Then sit back and enjoy 9 minutes and 58 seconds of craziness. It will become obvious that he’s the total package and clear-cut grand prize of the 2008 NFL Draft. As Saturday afternoon quickly approaches the Darren McFadden sweepstakes is officially underway. How far will he fall? Will a team trade up for him? Will Al Davis grab him at four? Will he fall to the Jets at six? In 48 hours all of these questions will have answers, and Darren McFadden will have a new home.

A year ago Adrian Peterson fell all the way to seven and the Vikings walked away with the steal of the draft. This year a similar scenario is likely to unfold. Miami already made Jake Long the highest paid offensive lineman in the NFL. St. Louis has Steven Jackson. Atlanta lured Michael Turner away from San Diego, giving him 30 million plus in the process. That brings us to the Silver & Black…the Black Hole…the Oakland Raiders. Al Davis is as unpredictable as they come, and will be on the clock with the forth pick in the draft. We can only assume he’s fascinated with McFadden’s ability and is salivating just thinking about JaMarcus Russell and McFadden in the same backfield. Yet, if you listen to the ‘experts’, they will tell you that the Raiders are also in love with Glenn Dorsey. They will also tell you that Al Davis is strongly considering Raider-legend Howie Long’s son, Chris Long. And the latest report has Al Davis completely enamored with the speed of Ohio State LB/DE Vernon Gholston. Good luck trying to figure out what name will on the Raider’s card because it’s anybody’s guess. New York Jet fans will be hanging on every word that comes out of Roger Goodell’s mouth as he reveals the Raider pick. And if it starts with anything other than “The Raiders select Darr….”, then the place will explode! Kansas City, picking at five, is no obstacle unless they considering trading out of the spot. Deafening chants of J-E-T-S will engulf Radio City Music Hall. Expect one of the craziest scenes the NFL draft has ever seen if Roger Goodell says the following: “With the sixth pick in the 2008 NFL Draft the New York Jets select Darren McFadden, running back, Arkansas.” In 48 hours we will have all the answers.

The Race For Steven Stamkos

2008-03-24T17:32:00.009-04:00

As the NHL regular season draws to a close, many teams around the league are jockeying for position. Some are attempting to better their playoff seed and secure home ice while others are simply focused on making the playoffs. All of this makes for an exciting time of year in the NHL as the Stanley Cup Playoffs loom just around the corner.

Then there are the bottom-feeders. Their fate of a disappointing season has already been realized. Whether it’s due to underachieving players or a wave of injuries, these teams populate the bottom of the NHL standings. However, if you thought the remaining week of the NHL season doesn’t matter to these squads, you would be wrong. As they play out the final few games on their 07-08 schedules, the results will drastically impact one very important thing – who gets to draft Steven Stamkos.

As the lower-class teams sort out the NHL’s basement, here’s a look at what’s on the line in June and who’s in line to reap the benefits of a bottom-five finish.

The Players:

1.) Steven Stamkos – Position: C, Height: 5’11’’, Weight: 178lbs, DOB: 2/7/90, Hometown: Scarborough, Ontario
Ever since becoming the #1 pick in the 2006 OHL Draft, Steven Stamkos has been tabbed as an elite NHL prospect. His performance in the OHL over the past two seasons has separated him from all other prospects in the draft. Stamkos does a lot of everything and he does it all well. His staggering offensive production and overall game make him a virtual lock as the grand prize of draft.

Attributes:
- Explosive speed
- Small size but strong on the puck
- Will battle through checks and fight for the puck in scrums along the boards
- Excellent defensive player
- Possesses a big wrist shot and a very quick release
- Very creative player, good assist man
- Can finish with the best players in the world
- Excellent breakaway goal scorer
- Great character kid, has captain-like leadership ability

Stats:
2006-07 Regular Season – Sarnia Sting – GP:63 G:42 A:50 PTS:92
2007-08 Regular Season – Sarnia Sting – GP:61 G:58 A:47 PTS:105

2.) Alex Pietrangelo – Position: D, Height:6’0’’, Weight: 210lbs, DOB: 1/18/90, Hometown: King City, Ontario
Alex Pietrangelo could be the most NHL-ready prospect in this year’s draft, and he’s only 17 years old. After adding some size to his frame, Pietrangelo has silenced critics by showing a physical side to his game this past season. With no noticeable weaknesses to speak of, Pietrangelo is primed to become the first defensemen selected in the Entry Draft.

Attributes:
- Smart with and without the puck
- Very mature
- Outstanding vision
- Tremendous poise on the ice
- Instinctively knows when to pinch
- Good at keeping the puck in the offensive zone
- Offensively gifted defensemen
- Great plus/minus player, very responsible on the ice

Stats:
2006-07 Regular Season – Mississauga IceDogs – GP:59 G:7 A:45 PTS:52
2007-08 Regular Season – Niagara IceDogs – GP:60 G:13 A:40 PTS:53

3.) Cody Hodgson – Position: C, Height:5’11’’, Weight:182lbs, DOB:2/18/90, Hometown: Unionville, Ontario
After being a middle first-round pick in the same OHL draft that saw Stamkos go first overall, Hodgson has quickly progressed into a top-five talent. One strength he has proven to all scouts is his never-ending ability to improve his game. Whoever gets lucky enough to add this center icemen to their equation will be getting a game-changing player for years to come.

Attributes:
- Very fast, quick first step gets him in open ice quick
- Above average, accurate shot
- Very strong on his skates, tough to knock off the puck
- Good anticipation on the ice
- Will be a top PK and PP contributor
- Possesses game-changing ability

Stats:
2006-07 Regular Season – Brampton Battalion – GP:63 G:23 A:23 PTS:46
2007-08 Regular Season – Brampton Battalion – GP:68 G:40 A:45 PTS:85

4.) Drew Doughty – Position: D, Height: 5’11’’, Weight: 213lbs, DOB:12/8/89, Hometown: London, Ontario
Drew Doughty is a defenseman in the mold of Brian Campbell. He is a fast, offensive-minded player who plays very well in his own end. After an eye-opening 2006-07 season Doughty’s numbers dipped a bit this past year. One reason for the step back could be the amount of hockey he played, contributing to the Canada/Russia junior series, the World Juniors, the CHL prospects game, the OHL All-Star game, all while averaging over 30 minutes a night with the Guelf Storm. All totaled he has played more minutes than most prospects and is currently the 2nd North American and 3rd overall prospect by Central Scouting.

Attributes:
- Good Speed
- Cannon slap shot
- Deadly power play point-man
- Excellent breakout passer, overall passer
- End-to-end rusher
- Good use of feet when stick is tied up

Stats:
2005-06 Regular Season – Guelf Storm – GP:65 G:5 A:28 PTS:33
2006-07 Regular Season – Guelf Storm – GP:67 G:21 A:53 PTS:74
2007-08 Regular Season – Guelf Storm – GP:58 G:13 A:37 PTS:50

5.) Kyle Beach – Position: C, Height: 6’0’’, Weight:202lbs, DOB: 1/13/90, Hometown: Kelowna, British Columbia
Kyle Beach is the type of hockey player every team needs – a workhorse. He is a very instinctive, creative center who will out work everybody on the ice. Kyle is a very scrappy, tough kid who can still score the highlight goal. Beach should be able to fight and score with the best of them at the next level.

Attributes:
- Toughness, will drop the gloves
- Scrappy player
- Good speed
- Above average offensive ability
- Hard worker, good teammate

Stats:
2006-07 Regular Season – Guelf Storm – GP:67 G:21 A:53 PTS:74
2007-08 Regular Season – Guelf Storm – GP:58 G:13 A:37 PTS:50

Teams in the Hunt:

1.) Los Angeles Kings – 66pts
The Kings currently sit in the driver’s seat for the privilege of picking Steven Stamkos. They are currently tied with the Lightning, but play one fewer game and have a more challenging schedule.

2.) Tampa Bay Lightning – 66pts
Tampa Bay fans must be dreaming of a Stamkos/Lecavalier connection, however the schedule doesn’t help. Three of their final seven games are against Florida and Atlanta, which are all winnable. Meanwhile they will be counting on Los Angeles to beat the likes of Anaheim, Dallas and San Jose this week – edge LA.

3.) Atlanta Thrashers – 70pts
Fresh off the heels of losing Marion Hossa at the deadline, Atlanta looks primed to replenish the stock in June’s draft. They are currently only four points off the Stamkos pace, but they do have five games remaining compared to LA’s six. All Thrasher fans can do is hope that Ilya ‘The Great’ has an off week.

4.) St. Louis Blues – 72pts
After making the playoffs for two straight decades, the Blues have become a familiar friend of the NHL’s basement. With back-to-back games against the Redwings this week the Blues will most likely walk away with a top- five pick.

5.) New York Islanders – 73pts
The Islanders seemingly went from playoff contenders to bottom feeders overnight. A rash of injuries and the loss of Rick DiPietro didn’t help matters on Long Island. Now they face six difficult division games, including two home-and-homes, one with Pittsburgh and one with the Rangers. The only question remaining for the Isles is whether or not a top-three pick is within reach?

Remaining Schedule:

LA – 66PTS - @ANA / PHO / DAL / @SJ / SJ / ANA
TB – 66PTS – FLA / WASH / CAR / ATL / @CAR / @WASH / @ATL
ATL – 70PTS - @FLA / @CAR / @TB / FLA / TB
STL – 72PTS – DET / @DET / CHI / NASH / @NASH / COLU / @COLU
NYI – 73PTS – PITT / @PITT / PHI / NJ / NYR / @NYR

NHL Deadline Day - Winner & Losers

2008-03-05T14:59:00.021-05:00

Historically, the NHL trade deadline is one of the most exciting days on the hockey calendar – the 2008 deadline did not disappoint. The trades came in one by one, as NHL fans were glued to computers, radios, and televisions all throughout North America. With several teams gearing up for the stretch run and numerous big-name players now calling a new city home, here’s a quick recap of the winners and losers from the NHL’s craziest day.

WINNERS

Turning Back The Clock - Peter Forsberg’s surprising 180 earlier in the week turned out to be Colorado’s gain. The Avalanche should be applauded for luring Forsberg back to the NHL, even if the status of his injured foot remains unknown. The deadline additions of Ruslan Salei (from Florida) and Adam Foote (from Columbus) will add gritty depth to the blue-line. Colorado views themselves as a now team; and these are certainly now moves; the next step is now making the playoffs.

Lamoriello Adds Depth - The Devils have been playing great hockey leading up to the deadline giving Lou Lamoriello the confidence to make a move. The deadline acquisition of Bryce Salvador will be lost amidst Tuesday’s high-profile player movement; however this was just what New

Jersey needed.

Crosby’s Kurri? - Marian Hossa’s landing spot was determined Tuesday just after the 3pm deadline as TSN in Canada reported that Pittsburgh landed the Slovakian scoring machine. Pitt GM Ray Shero pulled off the move of the day and will now turn his attention to signing Hossa to a long-term deal. The immediate impact? Pittsburgh just became the team to beat in the East!

Stars add a Conn Smyth - Great play all season had Dallas Co GM’s Les Jackson and Brett Hull big-game hunting at the deadline. The 2004 Conn Smyth was their target, and acquiring him became a reality after Brad Richards agreed to waive his no-trade clause and join the Stars. Mike Modano isn’t complaining considering the new GM tandem just delivered him the best line-mate he’s had since…well…Brett Hull.

Buffalo Let’s Another Star Go Free? Do the Buffalo Sabres have a clue? First they allowed Danielle Briere to leave town, then Chris Drury. This time it’s Brian Campbell. Once again the Sabres let another young superstar leave Buffalo without a fight. This time it was the San Jose Sharks reaping the benefits of Buffalo’s blunder, and it will not take long for Campbell to feell right at home in the Shark Tank.

LOSERS

Capital Mortgage? -Some might consider the Caps one of the day’s winners considering they acquired Sergei Federov and Christibal Heut – I don’t. Washington essentially lost two second round draft picks on Deadline Tuesday, sending one to Montreal for Huet and then sending last year’s second round selection, Theo Ruth, to Columbus for Federov. Trading away the future for the present will prove to be a mistake in the Capital City.

Beantown Negligence – It’s my opinion that the Boston Bruins are the Eastern Conferences biggest sleeper team. That said they certainly could have used a boost at the deadline. Once again, the poor Bruins management failed to come through in a time of need. Will someone please buy this team from Jeremy Jacobs and put Bruins fans out of their misery?

Ladd for Ruutu? – On June 26th, 2004 the Carolina Hurricanes used the forth pick in the NHL Entry Draft on Andrew Ladd. Since then Ladd has steadily increased his production and understanding of the pro game. Still only 22 years old, Ladd appears on the precipice of becoming a top-notch power forward at the NHL level. Unfortunately for Hurricane fans Ladd no longer calls Carolina home after a deadline day deal sent him to Chicago for Tuomo Ruutu. The Blackhawks pulled off a heist and now have another top five pick to go along with Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane. This is another classic example of giving up on a prospect too soon…Chicago fans should be ecstatic.

Knee-Jerk Reaction – The Tampa Bay Lightning were looking to dump salary at the deadline, and found a taker in Philly GM Paul Holmgren. With the Flyers falling fast (1-7-2 in their last 10) and holding on the 8th seed by a single point, Holmgren hit the panic button and added the overpaid and underachieving Vaclav Prospal. Knowing that they needed to do something to save a season spiraling out of control, Philadelphia did not choose wisely.

Detroit, Wake Up Its Deadline Day! – No Sergei Federov reunion; no Marion Hossa; the Redwings were rumored to in the hunt for a big name, yet all they walked away with was veteran defensemen Brad Stuart. This is not what Detroit fans had in mind coming into the day!

From Amherst to Memphis: Coach Cal Brings His Act Down South

2008-02-21T17:02:00.010-05:00

Having the #1 ranked team in America is the goal of any college coach. John Calipari is no exception. In fact, there was a time not too long ago when he resurrected a basketball program nestled in Western Massachusetts’ Pioneer Valley. All he has to do is close his eyes to remember a time when he led UMass to the top of the NCAA polls and had their fans dreaming of a national title banner hanging from the Mullins Center rafters. There is certainly something inside of this man that loves the challenge of creating a giant – in the most improbable of places. It doesn’t take long after his arrival on campus for big-time college basketball to follow. The country’s top recruits, #1 ranked teams, top seeding in March and runs to the Final Four have followed Calipari from Amherst to Memphis.

A decade ago, the eyes of the sporting world were fixed on the campus of the University of Massachusetts for a matchup between the top-ranked Minutemen and the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. Does Marcus Camby vs. Tim Duncan ring a bell? UMass won that game, and plenty of others. Marcus Camby was named national Player of the Year and led UMass to the Final Four.

John Calipari had brought UMass to the top of the NCAA world, just as promised.

Here’s the problem…go look in the NCAA record books and you will find no mention of this accomplishment, as if it never happened. Why you ask? The NCAA struck UMass’ accomplishment from their records as punishment for multiple NCAA infractions – that’s why. Calipari’s run at UMass became tarnished, concluding under the cloud of scandal. Marcus Camby ran to the NBA; Coach Cal left town quicker than a Peter Pan bus; and the program was left in ruins. NCAA sanctions, penalties and scholarship deductions immediately handcuffed the program. Ten years and three coaches later, UMass is still trying to sort their way out from under the wave of corruption that Coach Cal left behind.

That brings us to Saturday night’s mega matchup when his new team, the top-ranked Memphis Tigers, host the #2 ranked Tennessee Volunteers. The eyes of the nation will again be fixed on a John Calipari reclamation project – this time in the Memphis heartland instead of the Massachusetts valley. John Calipari has again delivered on his “hire me and I will bring big-time college basketball to your school” promise – but at what cost? Did that promise make any mention of running a clean program? This is the major question that has gone largely unanswered during Memphis University’s meteoric rise. The last time John Calipari coached a #1 ranked team, his program was penetrated by corruption. The things that happened under his leadership were so bad that, to this day, the NCAA fails to recognize that UMass even existed in 1996.

Now he coaches another #1 team, again laden with America’s top recruits. The question begs to be asked: Has John Calipari simply cleaned up his act, or is he up to his same old tricks? The same tricks that have Kelvin Sampson about to lose his job at Indiana. The same tricks that give college basketball a bad name and force the NCAA to rule with an iron fist. If you’re a Memphis supporter these thoughts never enter your mind. What happened in the ’90s at a school 1,300 miles away is not your problem. They would argue that history couldn’t repeat itself because John Calipari simply wouldn’t be that stupid!

Is it that far-fetched to speculate that Coach Cal might not know any better or to suggest that he may be duplicating the things that worked at UMass? Are we to believe that his indiscretions were left behind in Amherst, while this recent success has cleanly followed him to Memphis? Are we supposed to just forget history?

Either way, Memphis fans will enjoy this moment Saturday night. They will continue to enjoy the national attention the program is receiving and relish the excitement that March will surely bring. This is what John Calipari lives for – delivering great college basketball, as promised. However, if his prior blind-eyed corruption turns out to be a trend instead of an aberration, Memphis will see the other side of a Coach Cal program. The side where the NCAA tears the program down just as quickly as Calipari built it up – as if it never happened!

A President's Day Matinee

2008-02-20T00:23:00.006-05:00

The Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum was sold out for the ninth time this season as the New York Islanders (28-25-7) hosted the San Jose Sharks (31-20-8) in a President’s Day matinee. Trailing 2-0 after a Joe Thornton goal early in the third period, the Islander’s offense came to life, scoring three straight times for a come-from-behind 3-2 victory.

The game was littered with penalties as both teams had their special team units on display all afternoon. Despite almost half of the game being played on the power play, both squads failed to convert on their chances, as San Jose went 0-7 and New York 0-6 with the man advantage. Both teams wasted full two-minute, five-on-three power plays in the first period. San Jose struck first early in the second period as Marcel Goc skated out from behind the net and roofed a shot over Rick DiPietro. Evgeni Nabakov was forced from the game later in the second after a Radek Martinek slap shot found its way through his mask, busting open his nose. Failing to capitalize on this opportunity, the Islanders managed only one shot on San Jose backup Thomas Griess. San Jose’s stingy defense helped the minor-league call up get through the second period virtually untested. In true hockey fashion, Nabokov returned for the third period, stitches and all, but the effects of the Martinek shot lingered and appeared to have an impact on his game.

Trailing by two after Thornton’s tally, the Islanders continued their ‘business as usual’ approach. The hard work finally paid off when Andy Hilbert crashed the net looking for a Bill Guerin entry pass, finding a way to jam home his seventh goal of the season. Mike Comrie quickly followed, scoring his 18th and fanciest goal of the year, pulling off a schoolyard move to get past two San Jose defenders before catching Nabakov off guard with his shot. At 11:19 of the third period the Islanders struck again, scoring their third goal in just under seven minutes. The game winner came off the stick of Freddy Meyer, who rushed down the right wing and snapped off a wrist shot through a defender and past Nabokov. The flurry of goals were a welcome dose of offense for a team having difficulty generating scoring chances, let alone a goal, through the games first 43 minutes. Winners of four in a row, the Islanders recent resurgence leaves them one point behind the Boston Bruins for the eighth and final playoff spot, and only three points behind the sixth-seeded New York Rangers. The Islanders will be looking for their fifth straight win Wednesday night when they visit the Washington Capitals.

Notes:

-Islander defensemen Andy Sutton injured his hamstring during the final two minutes of the game when he fell awkwardly after finishing a check on San Jose forward Jeremy Roenick. He is scheduled for an MRI Tuesday. If the injury causes him to miss time he would join a growing list of Islander defenders currently populating the injury report; Chris Campoli (shoulder), Bruno Gervais (oblique), and Brendan Witt (knee).

-Islander coach Ted Nolan spent the first period in his Coliseum office, speaking with his son Jordan Nolan about the sudden death of Mickey Renaud. Renaud was Jordan’s teammate and captain of the Ontario Hockey League’s Windsor Spitfire. A fifth round pick in the 2007 NHL entry draft, Renaud died Monday shortly after collapsing at his parents' home in Tecumseh, Ontario. Ted Nolan put it best saying "He was my son's teammate and good friend, and it was tragic," continuing to say, "Sometimes there's a lot more important things to me than a hockey game." Renaud was 19 years old.

The Respect List

2008-02-13T01:32:00.016-05:00

G-MAN'S WEEKLY POWER RANKING
1/28/08 - 2/12/08

1.) New York Giants (2) – The road to a Super Bowl title has never been more daunting than what the New York Giants faced during the season’s final month. Three straight road games, all against division champions, followed by the enormity of facing an 18-0 team in the Super Bowl. Underdogs throughout their entire journey, these Giants emerged from this eight-team tournament as the undisputed champion of the world. Congratulations to the G-Men on a job well done, even if I still can’t believe it happened.

2.) Boston Celtics (9) – The Celtics are 17-0 vs. the feared Western Conference this season. This includes two impressive wins in the past 10 days against Dallas and San Antonio, both on national TV, both without KG. If Boston isn’t the best team in the NBA then I must be missing something.

3.) Detroit Redwings (4)– The mighty Wings have stumbled of late, dropping their last four contests, including a home-loss to archrival Anaheim (making their first power ranking appearance of the year below). This current losing streak, coupled with the loss of sparkplug forward Dan Cleary, may have Detroit GM Ken Holland looking to make a deal before the February 26 trade deadline.

4.) Memphis Tigers (6) – Still undefeated and still the #1 team in America. The February 23 showdown against the top-ten Volunteers can’t get here quick enough!

5.) Duke Blue Devils (NR) – In a classic Duke/UNC game, with the teams ranked #2 and #3 in America, the Blue Devils marched into Chapel Hill and beat the Tar Heels 89-78. When the Blue Devils heat up behind the arc, they have proven they can play with any team in America, hitting 13 3’s in front of the Dean Dome faithful. DeMarcus Nelson, Gerald Henderson and Greg Paulus lead a 21-2 group — just looking for trouble in the NCAA this season.

6.) New York Mets (NR) – I’ll be the first to admit that it’s rare to see a baseball team appear in a February power ranking, especially considering pitchers and catchers haven’t even reported yet. For this to be the case something earth shattering needs to take place –– acquiring the best pitcher on the planet falls into that category. Say it with me everybody…Johan Santana is a Met…Johan Santana is a Met…Johan Santana is a Met...Believe it or not Met fans, the off-season dream has become a reality!

7.) Tiger Woods (7) – Tiger Woods detractors will point to his apparent inability to come from behind to win a tournament, especially majors. This past weekend in Dubai, Tiger once again silenced his critics. Trailing by four shots entering the final round, Woods birdied six of the final nine holes, shooting a final round 65 en route to a remarkable one-shot, come-from-behind victory. Tiger is now two for two on the young season, and I think it’s fair to say that the PGA Tour has officially been put on notice.

8.) Detroit Pistons (NR) – The Pistons have won nine straight and, near the all-star break, are looking as cohesive as we’ve seen them all season. Only three games behind Boston for the Eastern Conference lead, keep an eye on Detroit down the strech as they look to wrestle home-court advantage away from the resurgent Celtics.

9.) Anaheim Ducks (NR) – Scott Neidermayer is back; Temmu Sellanne is back; and it appears the Anaheim Ducks are back. After showing a classic case of Stanley Cup hangover, the return of the Conn Smyth MVP and 48-goal sniper has helped Anaheim rediscover their form. In the midst of a five-game winning streak that includes a 3-2 win over the Red Wings in Hockeytown, the Ducks appear ready to reclaim Western Conference supremacy down the home-stretch.

10.) Jimmie Johnson (NR) - One of my fundamental beliefs is that auto racing should get more love in the mainstream media, so I’m here to give it a little off-stream. NASCAR’s two-time defending champion is Jimmie Johnson - the same Jimmie Johnson who won the 2006 Daytona 500. Why is he tenth in this week’s poll you ask? Go look and see who’s on the pole in the 50th running of the Daytona 500 this Sunday afternoon and you’ll find your answer. Sorry to bore you with the obvious, racing fans - I’m just trying to bring everyone else up to speed.

By Nick Giarrusso

The Respect List

2008-01-29T19:05:00.003-05:00

G-MAN'S WEEKLY POWER RANKING
1/21/08 – 1/27/08

1.) New England Patriots – Stop and think for a second before you go around telling people this week that the Giants are going to beat the Patriots! In fact, if you’re even conjuring this thought up in the first place, you must be from some alternate universe, known to the rest of the world as the New York metropolitan area. Teams that would have a chance in this game would be the ’88 49ers, ’75 Steelers or the ’92 Cowboys, but certainly not the ’07 Giants. Now the ’86 Giants would make this a football game, bottom-line. The ’90 Giants probably would, too. This ’07 version? Please!! These are the ’07 Patriots we’re talking about, right?

What do you get for being the #1 team in the inaugural ‘G-Man’s Weekly Power Ranking’?
An extra paragraph of me telling everybody how good you are!

I recently spoke with a good friend from Boston, who brought this nugget of information to my attention: What do the last 5 Patriot games have in common? They were all played in the cold Northeast winter of either New York or Boston, in conditions that could slow down even the best of offenses. The Super Bowl in contrast will be played indoors, on turf, completely removing weather from the equation. My guess is that this is music to the ears of Patriot fans and something New Yorkers would rather place in the fogedaboutit category.

2.) New York Giants – The New York Giants picked the right time to start playing their best football, winning road playoff games against all three NFC division champs. The Gints now find themselves with one more hurdle to climb, and that hurdle is the size of Everest (see above). Despite their odds, the Giants are positioned where the other 30 teams in the league would love to be, 60 minutes away from a Super Bowl title.

3.) Novak Djokovic – After two years of solid showings in major championships, including two semi-finals (’07 French, ’07 Wimbledon) and one final (’07 US Open), this 20-year-old Serb has finally emerged from the Federer/Nadal stranglehold on the sport. His rise to #3 in the world (or in other words, the next best player not named Federer or Nadal) has been impressive. A player who excels on all surfaces, Djkovic now turns his sights to The French Open, where he has bowed out in each of the last two years at the hands of two-time defending champ Rafael Nadal. If seeding holds true, these two would meet in the semi-finals at Roland Garos come June, in what could be the best match of the ATP season.

4.) Detroit Redwings – How does a team lead the entire NHL by 12 points and their own conference by 17 at the All-Star break? Go look at the Detroit Redwings roster and you will quickly find your answer. We all know about the Zetterbergs, Datsyuks and Lidstroms of the world, but take a closer look and you will see what makes this team great: it’s Daniel Cleary’s 18 goals and 19 assists, Brian Rafalski’s blue-line presence and Jiri Hudler and Tomas Holmstrom’s 30 combined goals. Add in the likes of Kronwall, Lebda, Lilja and Chelios on defense with Chris Osgood (20-3) and Dominick Hasek (17-7) between the pipes and it all starts to make sense. Hockeytown is alive and well, primed for the real fun to begin — the Stanley Cup playoffs!

5.) Maria Sharapova – Anna Kournikova made a career out of her good looks; Maria Sharapova is accumulating major championships to go along with hers. The Russian bombshell added the Australian Open to her growing list of on-court accomplishments. She easily cruised past three of the top four seeds, including Justine Henin-Hardenne who was in the midst of a 32-match unbeaten streak. With her third major in tow (’04 Wimbledon, ’06 US Open, ’08 Australian Open), a 21-year-old Sharapova will head to the French Open, looking to finish off her career grand slam and reaffirm to the tennis world that we have officially entered the World of Sharapova.

6.) Memphis Tigers – John Calipari’s Memphis Tigers entered the week as the #1 team in the country for the first time this season. One staple of a Coach Cal team is a willingness to play anybody, anywhere. This has never been more evident than this season’s schedule to date. The Tiger’s are 19-0 compiling numerous non-conference victories. The hit list includes Oklahoma, Uconn, USC, Cincinnati, Georgetown, Arizona and Gonzaga. They now enter the Conference USA portion of their schedule and have designs on being the first team to enter March Madness undefeated since the 1991 Running Rebels.

7.) Tiger Woods - In his first appearance on the PGA TOUR this season, Tiger Woods murdered the field at the Buick Invitational. He shot 65, 67, 66 and 71 to go 19 under par on the weekend, winning by eight shots. His $938,000 take-home prize is more money than most golfers on tour will gross over the entire season. With his game already in top form and Augusta still two and a half months away, the only question that remains to be seen is not if Tiger Woods will win another major this year, but just how many?

8.) New Orleans Hornets – Hello, America, we are the New Orleans Hornets. You might remember us as the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets, or maybe you know us as the Charlotte Hornets, where we called home until the end of the 2001-02 season. Now that we finally found a permanent resting place, things have settled in quite nicely. We lead the Western Conference with a 31-12 record. We have bona fide league MVP candidate in Chris Paul. We are 8-1 in 2008; 9-1 in our last 10 and have won our last six games by 14 or more points. Oh yeah, that includes the throbbing we gave the World Champion Spurs on Saturday night (102-78) at the Alamo Dome. Once again, allow us to introduce ourselves, we are the New Orleans Hornets, and you can find us at the top of the Western Conference standings!

9.) Boston Celtics - The Celtics were the talk of the league during the first third of the NBA season as they started their campaign 29-3. In fact, they were winning games in such a dominating fashion that Boston fans were having flashbacks of Bird, McHale and Parrish. Now let’s not hit the panic button or anything, but Garnett, Allen, Pierce and company have gone 5-5 in their last 10. Still, they have the best record in the NBA, and help might be on the way in the form of the 13-year veteran point guard Damon Stoudamire — stay tuned!

10.) Uconn Huskies Women’s Basketball – If it’s not Pat Summitt’s Tennessee Volunteers, it’s Geno Auriemma’s Uconn Huskies atop the women’s college basketball rankings these days, as is the case this season. The women Huskies are a perfect 19-0 with a tremendous comeback win over #3 ranked UNC this week. Down by 11 at the half, Uconn saved their best basketball of the season for the second half, outscoring the Tar Heels 49-27 to rally for the win. With five more ranked opponents remaining on their schedule, Uconn is sure to be tested down the stretch. Then there are the aforementioned Tennessee Volunteers, who are ranked #2 in the country and will most likely be the biggest March roadblock between Uconn and a sixth national championship.

By Nick Giarrusso

Super Bowl XLII Preview

2008-01-25T17:47:00.003-05:00

New York Giants vs. New England Patriots
Super Bowl XLII
Glendale, AZ

The pursuit of perfection continues on Sunday night for the 2007 New England Patriots. After compiling an undefeated 16-0 regular season in which they disposed of all comers, followed by two successful playoff victories, the Pats must now gear up for the grand daddy of them all — Super Bowl XLII. If successful, they will achieve the season’s main goal and hoist the Lombardi Trophy for the fourth time this decade. With the weight of history firmly on their shoulders, the New York Giants will be waiting for them in Arizona and will be coming to The University of Phoenix Stadium with upset on the mind.

Teams have been able to travel down the path towards beating the 2007 Patriots, but none of them have been able to finish the job. In week six, the undefeated Dallas Cowboys were leading in the third quarter before being outscored 27-3 in the game’s final 20 minutes. The 7-0 Super Bowl Champion Colts followed; they were up by ten points in the fourth quarter at the RCA Dome and still came up on the short end of a 24-20 final. Both the Eagles and Ravens in back to back weeks gave the Patriots all they could handle, but despite their efforts both lost by a field goal. The season concluded with another scare — this time on a cold December evening in front of a raucous Giant Stadium crowd. Trailing the Giants 28-16 deep in the second half, New England’s offense finally came alive as they pulled out a 38-35 nail biter.

In the playoffs, both Jacksonville and San Diego managed to hang around for the first half. New England was tied with the Jaguars at 14, and then a week later led by the narrowest 14-12 margin against a game Chargers team. Despite not being at their desired best, both second half performances allowed them to escape the early rounds unscathed. Perfection has been the name of the game this season for New England, even in the face of some serious opposition.

So what’s the point?

Well, maybe this shows us that the Patriots are more vulnerable then most people think. If New York can somehow play near perfect football while taking advantage of these few areas of vulnerability they might be in a position to survive Sunday night. If not, close your eyes because as New England has shown us many times this season, things can get ugly quick.

The Patriots have scored at least 20 points in every game they’ve played, and over 30 points 12 times, en route to breaking the NFL single-season scoring record. Right off the bat, one would assume that the Giants would need to score in the high 20’s, low 30’s, at a minimum to have a chance of winning. Getting to this total is a very reasonable expectation for New York, as six different teams have scored 24 or more points against New England’s defense this year. As for the Giants, they’re offense has been explosive in their own right at times, scoring over 30 points on six different occasions. And let’s not forget they haven’t lost away from Giant Stadium since September 9, that’s ten in a row on the road, with their last loss virtually occurring in the pre-season.

The harder part of this equation is stopping Tom Brady and the most potent offense in league history. Just like most great teams, New England has one of the NFL’s most impressive offensive lines. Tom Brady had an ungodly year, throwing for 4,800 yards and an NFL single-season-best 50 touchdowns. Randy Moss has broken multiple records, including Jerry Rice’s single-season touchdown record with 23. Lost in this ‘Brady to Moss’ aerial barrage was Wes Welker. Since coming over from Miami he’s hauled in 112 regular-season balls, while becoming the NFL’s top slot receiver. Donte Stallworth can stretch you deep; Ben Watson has always been a Brady favorite; and the backfield averages 4.4 yards per carry. By the way, they don’t throw interceptions or fumble or commit costly penalties. Though they have been controlled for stretches of games, they have never been defused for a full 60 minutes. It’s now New York’s task to try and control the uncontrollable and limit the Patriot’s offense to simply having a good showing, instead of a great one.

Will February 3 be the day when the 2007 New York Giants become remembered forever? A day when the names Manning, Strahan, Toomer and Burress become as synonymous as Gifford, Huff, Taylor and Simms? Or will it be the day when the 2007 New England Patriots finally complete their unblemished voyage, and claim the unquestioned label of the best team of all-time? They have managed to avoid all of the potential bombs in their way up to this point. Will one finally detonate this Sunday in Arizona?

By Nick Giarrusso