Making A Late Run

Don’t look now but the Braves from Atlanta are taking a sniff at returning to the post season. They are the hottest team in baseball right now with a 7 game winning streak, 8-2 in the last 10. The Braves were written off by just about all experts, and fans alike needing to jump at least 3 teams. For the last month it was believed to be a 2 horse race in the senior circuit with the Rockies and the Giants - with the Marlins sprinkled in for good measure.

In the last couple weeks those teams have fallen off the page and the Braves have been playing like a team on a mission. The things that are majorly working against them is that they are rapidly running out of real estate with only 7 games remaining and still being down 2 games. There are no head-to-head games between the Rockies and the Braves and the 2 teams that the Rockies have left could just “look to the future” and dress a less then major league caliber lineup. I guess we will see how much the Dodgers and Brewers dislike the Rockies.

Team leader Chipper Jones came out in a rare public move to encourage the fans in Atlanta to come out to the park for the last games and be the teams’ 10th and 11th man. That didn’t work last night but maybe if they keep winning more people will be encouraged to go out. After the 14 straight playoff appearances and perhaps becoming numb to winning the Braves have been on the outside looking in to the playoffs. Maybe the fans will remember that playoff baseball is a special thing. The more people that go to the games the more it will have that feeling like there was in the mid 90’s when the stadium was packed and loud. When you've got the tomahawk chop going and the chant booming and the drum beating it can give you goose bumps.

Just like in many other sports it is hard not to think about the what if's...over 162 games there are always a few games that you think you should have won. A bad break here a bloop base hit or untimely error and you say "we'll get them tomorrow" and then at the end of the year you are left kicking yourself thinking 'what if'. The Braves have a very solid pitching staff ad they are the backbone of the run they are on right now. If the bats can stay consistent maybe they can make the improbable possible. It is a long shot but as a true fan I have to believe, believe in the now and hope for some luck.
I don't want to wait until next year...to be so close is just such a tease.

Whatever happens it has been a heck of a stretch and a good fight

GO BRAVES!

Around The Horn

GOLF - If there is anything that is more confusing then the Fed Ex Cup in golf I would be afraid to see it. The announcers and hi light people keep talking about it but to actually find out the standings is not easy. If this is your "Playoff" would you not want to put it out in the public eye a little more. I guess that if you have a scoring system that is near impossible to understand then I guess I would hide it too. The whole playoff thing is so trumped up to try and make tournaments seem more relevant and try and add some better ratings and to force more players to actually play in these tournaments. If not for the money Tiger would have shut it down for the season 3 weeks ago otherwise.. The NASCAR style playoff system just doesn’t work in golf...heck it barely works in NASCAR. It is so bad that Tiger Woods won the thing and was in the final pairing on a Sunday and was surpassed by Phil Mickleson who won the tournament and still it couldn’t draw people in. Mickleson won the tournament, Tiger hung on to win the overall championship and took home the $10M winnings. Mickleson at least had a good line saying, tongue in cheek - I win the tournament and Tiger is the one going home with $10 Million? -

NASCAR- Jimmie Johnson ran his typical Dover race and led the most laps in taking the checkered flag. The win now puts him into second place in the Sprint Cup Standings. Johnson is looking to go for a record 4th straight Cup Championship. As of right now he is in a great position going forward as he is a mere 10 points back. The only trouble with the win is that the driver that has won in Dover has never won the Championship, so he has that working against him. There is also the solid performances from Juan Pablo Montoya and veteran Mark Martin amongst others that are looking to de-throne the reigning Champion.


NFL- The worst possible thing happened in the Vikings game yesterday. Brett Favre threw a last second "gun-slinger" type ball that was grabbed in the end zone for a phenomenal catch by receiver Greg Lewis. After the game Favre said he didn’t even know who caught ball nor did he even know that the guy was even in the huddle but he knew it was a great catch. If people keep encouraging him and giving him praise he will never leave. What is even worse is that the Vikings will be playing the Packers this coming week and this is going to do nothing but bring more attention to Favre and that will just be an ordeal.

There were some just terrible throwback uniforms in play this weekend. Sure it is nice to honour anniversaries with these alternate jerseys but just because you call something vintage doesn’t make them nice or even appealing. The Seattle bright lime green jerseys looked like they were vests from a laser tag game that was just hit and the Houston Texans red "Onesie" was just awful. If you bring these alternate jerseys every week, at what point does it just become a regular uniform?

NCAA- Tim Tebow was sacked in the Florida game and his head violently hit the ground. He was taken to the hospital with a concussion. It is believed that the medical personnel for the Gators were by his side before he even hit the ground. When the chosen one goes down everyone goes triple speed.

Michigan is now 4-0! Trust me I am shocked but know that this is more of a fluke then the turning around of a bad team. Any win is a good win but I am not going to go crazy and overvalue the early record.

#6 California got blown out of the water by the un-ranked Oregon Ducks 42-3. How this happens is beyond me. What makes this loss even worse is that it was one of my "sure thing" Proline picks, you know the game you just throw in so you don’t have to worry about it...so yeah.... between that and Chelsea from some soccer league had a rough couple of tickets on Saturday.

Week 3 NFL Picks

Ok, so last week was, well a disaster. Need to make up for it this week!

There are some interesting games that should play out to be very close so we will see what side of the fence that I fall on this week.

Also I now officially hate soccer again. After Chelsea was unable to win a match and loose for the first time all year...and in the process SCREW OVER my Proline ticket. Guess that is what you get when you involve soccer in any part of your life. No good come from it. Lesson learned.

Poor Attendance In Baseball

When you are in the last 20 games of the baseball season, for many teams you know what your fate is going to be. You know that the playoffs are not in the cards and the games really don't mean much. Occasionally you will face a team that is still in the hunt and you can use the role of spoiler as motivation to go out and win the game or take a series. For some bubble players you play for your job next year. Maybe if you finish strong you will be in good favour with the management and keep your roster spot or position in the organization.

They always say that you have to play for pride and play for your teammates and that works to a point but you know you are not likely to get that same effort from everyone. This is no secret to anyone especially the fans. It is hard enough to get people to come to a game late in the season when you know your team is out of it and the likelihood of a great game is very slim. Watching highlights it is evident that getting a seat is not an issue.

It wasn't too long ago that the Blue Jays manages the lowest attendance at Rogers Center that I believe they have ever had. Sure a bad economy has a great deal to do with low ticket sales and that is an issue for just about every team in every major sports league. For that matter take into account that a 3rd or 4th place team with no leadership at the top, little or no direction as a club as a whole and 5 year plan that is into it's 9th year is not the way to pack in the fans. Watching the game the other night there were either a ton of empty seats or a lot of people in blue shirts. Where is Shea Hillenbrand when you need him with his "this is a sinking ship" comment?

In Pittsburgh it is the same thing for similar reasons. Recently they had a game where paid attendance was 15,892, but turnstile count was about 3,000, and even that seems generous. Attendance was so sparse that the Pirates closed off the upper deck at PNC Park.

it is sad to see a pro game that is pulling in less then a Triple A franchise on a bad night. The Ottawa Lynx on a bad night could get that many people. The playoffs can't start soon enough to get some meaningful games being played again. There is few things better then Baseball in October.

Braves Skipper Set To Retire In 2010

For the second time in about as many weeks there has been news out of Atlanta that another prominent member to the Atlanta Braves family is having thoughts of retirement. This time it is a definite farewell tour for one of the games best, most successful and long lasting managers in baseball.

Bobby Cox, 68, announced that he had signed a 1 year contract extension that will take him through next season at which point he will step down and take on a 5 year position of consultant to the team. What that means isn’t clear other then he will still be part of the organization. After 50 years in baseball and still a passion for the game and what he does. He has said that the only way he would be able to leave and stick with it was to announce it publicly - to give himself a deadline of sorts. "I’ll believe it when I see it," Braves slugger Chipper Jones said. Cox is the only manager that he has known as a pro, and both were at the heart of the Braves historic run during the 90’s and early 2000’s.

A cigar-smoking baseball lifer, Bobby managed the Braves from 1978-81. At that time he left to head up north to manage the Toronto Blue Jays from 1982-85, the first time that expansion team began to become a serious contending team. In 1986 he returned to become GM of the Braves, when in June 1990 He fired the coach and appointed himself. He led the Braves to five NL pennants and a record 14 straight division titles from 1991-2005. He is a true great without a doubt Hall of Fame caliber. One of his greatest records is being the all-time record holder for ejections with 159.

It is great that Bobby will be going out on his own terms and not be the guy who hangs in too long and is just there because he is who he is and can not be moved out. It also gives the Braves a full season to find a suitable replacement.

It will be hard to see the Braves without Bobby in the dugout and even more so if Chipper isn’t there either. I knew this day may come eventually but it will still be strange.

Ottawa Senators Early Look

In a bit of a pre season preview for the Ottawa Senators there is some room for some cautious optimism as the team is being put together. The team may be more even now but are they better? There are other teams in the East that have also made moves to get better too. There will be plenty of teams with a good shot at the final 4 playoff spots. With the Dany Heatley situation now over (still would rather him in a Sens uniform but what can you do) and the new players in town and ready to go, the team is looking for an identity.

Without the "sniper" in the lineup the team will have to rely on everyone to help out with the load offensively. Maybe the team will be more free now to be more creative in the offensive end but along with that comes some real pressure. Over the last 2 pre-season games Mike Fisher has proven that he can score versus non elite or AHL players and may have played his way to center the 2nd line to start the season but can he do it when it counts is the question. Fisher is very hard worker but has shown struggles putting the puck in the net, which is frustrating because he has a great wrist shot and quick release, not to mention a very hefty contract that may be a little too steep for what he can give you. Speaking of overpriced players there are 2 more that spring to mind and those are Chris Neil and Chris Kelly. I didn’t want Neil to get re-signed this season and especially for the money that he got. The team now has the potential to run out a 4th line that is paid like a second line...but without the same level of talent.

There is also too many bodies on 1 way contracts and there are some young kids that could prove to be better fits given the chance. I have broken down some potential line combinations given the players available but there is room for movement. GM Bryan Murray has hinted that calls have been made around to see if other teams are in the market for some veteran players and based on some of the line that I have looked at there could and/or should be some players that could be moved out for cheap.

Right now this is how I see the team looking: With that there are also players that don’t seem to have a place unless other moves are made

Milan Michalek - Jason Spezza - Daniel Alfredsson
Jonathan Cheechoo - Mike Fisher - Alex Kovalev
Nick Foligno - Ryan Shannon - Chris Kelly
Chris Neil - Jesse Winchester - Jarkko Ruutu

Chris Phillips - Anton Volchenkov
Filip Kuba - Erik Karlsson
Chris Campoli - Alexandre Picard
Brian Lee

Pascal Leclaire
Brian Elliott

It will be interesting to see where these guys end up and if sent down how quick do they get called up - Shean Donovan Christoph Schubert Zack Smith Peter Regan Cody Bass

After final cuts are made maybe things will be more clear and there may or may not be less bodies to have to try and juggle. It would be a huge bonus and a good bit of managing if Murray can work out some deals to free up some money and some roster space while acquiring a few more draft picks going forward.

Week 2 NFL Wrap Up

So after a solid first week I have come crashing back to Earth. The record has taken a hit after some tough games and some tough point spreads. There was a few calculated risks that did not come through and some outright brutal picks. After all the dust settled I was the proud owner of a sobering 5-11 record.

Need to pull things back to respectability this week. After having it handed to me I need a moral victory to get this ship righted. After 2 weeks of watching teams maybe that will help figure things out going forward. Lets hope anyway.

Who said that parody in the NFL is a good thing?

First Sens Game Of The Year

After attending the Ottawa-Montreal pre-season game on Saturday night there are a few things that I have learned:

~Most Montreal fans are obnoxious, not all, that would be wrong to say as I know some good guys that like the team. Knowledgable fans are ok but seem to be in the minority. Heck before he Sens came along I have to say the were my favotite team. Maybe it is more the natives from that province that are the problem.

~ There are few things more annoying then stupid fans that don't know when and more importantly when not to sing the Ole Ole chant.

~ Full parking price for pre-season games should not be enforced

~ It is pre-season for everyone...especially the lady at the concession stand who had a lot of trouble working her cash register, pouring beer, giving back not only the correct change but any change at all ,and most importantly, there is in fact a difference between Canadian and Coors Light and when one orders a Coors they in fact would prefer a Coors. Granted a beer is a beer and not something to be wasted but when it comes to personal preference getting what you ordered would be a nice touch.

~ The free Pizza at Pizza Pizza only apparently applies for a 24hour period...therefore a Saturday night 6-1 is good for pizza on Sunday not Monday as well. Even if their pizza isn't that good to begin with, when you expect a free slice it is disappointing when there is no pizza to be found.
Now I am just hungry and bitter

~ The line of Mike Fisher Peter Regan and Nick Foligno proved to look pretty good. If Regan can stick with the club we may have a nice little line combo, If not maybe Nick and Mike can work well as a combo.

~ Erik Karlsson was a + 3 and looked not at all out of place. He seemed to handle the puck as well or better then any of the other Sens blue liners - him making the team may not be a bad thing at all

~ Erik Karlsson may make the team....Brian Lee is in tough to make the team out of camp as he was a) not drafted by the Murrays b)He is on a 2 way contract C) there are a lot of bodies already on the back end and d) his mane isn't Marc Staal...the player they should have drafted with the 9th pick that year

~Sitting in good seats kind of spoils you, especially when you know the next time you go to a game it will be up in the 300's again, wedged in like you are in a can of sardines...without the oil

~ Most importantly when you take a broad to the game and she wants to go meet up with a friend for a minute in another section for the love of god go to the washroom first before she leaves. If you don't you will be stuck standing in the hallway holding a very effeminate Teal purse doing a little dance in one place in extreme agony waiting for said person to return. Not to mention missing the beginning of the final period...lesson learned I suppose... but let me assure you I am no further ahead for gaining this knowledge after I needed to know it.

All in all a good experience for the first game of the season. Hopefully I will be able to get to more and they will be good games. Taking in games in person is always a good time.

Week 2 NFL Picks

Here are my Week 2 NFL picks versus the spread. I went over .500 with a 9-7 record last week so hopefully I can match that or better it this week. Tough games to pick this week. (just laying the ground work should I fall on my face this week)

Chipper Ponders Future

I have just recently seen some very unsettling news in regards to my favorite player in baseball. Atlanta Braves 3rd baseman and probable Hall of Fame inductee Larry Wayne “Chipper” Jones. Chipper has hinted that if he does not have a good year and play up to his standards he may choose to retire following the 2010 season.

Chipper, 37, signed a three-year, $42-million contract extension in March that runs through 2012. He hit a career-best .364 last year, his third straight season over .320. But he has fallen to .269 this year. Injuries have been an issue over the last several years, he has reached 500 at-bats only once in his last six seasons, due to a long list of injuries. It began with constant foot problems then this year there have been issues with oblique muscle and lower back pain. "If I back up this year with the same kind of year next year, I don't want to play the game," Chipper told The Associated Press. "The game is not fun to me when I'm not playing up to my standards.
Jones ranks among the baseball's top switch-hitters. His 424 career homers rank third all-time for switch-hitters, trailing Mickey Mantle (536) and Eddie Murray (504). His career batting average is second to Frankie Frisch's .316 mark. He was also the NL MVP in 1999.

Jones has only 16 homers, 64 RBIs and a career-low .435 slugging percentage this season. But he says he believes he is physically capable of delivering the power he showed in 2007, when he hit 29 homers with 102 RBIs.

I have been a Braves fan since 1990 and enjoyed the great and historic run of 14 straight division championships and the World Series victory in 1995. I have followed Chipper’s career since he was drafted, come into the Braves system, and then become the back bone that Bobby Cox counted on for so many years with this great team. He is one of a very small number of players who look like they may just end their career playing for one team. Not something that you see too often in any sport anymore in the era of free agency. That will surely be the case if he does decide to hang it up after next year. Although he has never seemed to be the warmest of players but you never hear that he has trouble or issues with any of his teammates or coaches. Plus he and I have something in common...we both like going to the local Hooters.

A true team player he has done just about anything to help the team. He has restructured contracts to free up money so the team can either retain or sign other players that will help keep the team a winner. He came up as a short stop but moved to 3rd to sure up that spot. When they had the opportunity to get some big bats he made to shift to Left Field even though he was an All Star at Third. He then made the shift back into the infield when that proved to help out the team. Not a lot of All Stars would be willing to make that personal sacrifice for the good of the team. He is confident but not cocky, he is truly a winner and a leader and I only hope that he has a great year next year and decides to play out his contract. It is a special thing when your favorite player plays on your favorite team and stays there for the long haul. I know that I am not the only one who feels this way. Chipper will go down as one of the most celebrated Braves of all time. The always say that Derek Jeeter is a true Yankee...Chipper Jones is a true Brave

Good Luck Chipper lets keep it going for just a little bit longer.

Quick Hits

After a big win in the Big House my Michigan Wolverines have made it back to the cover of SI (look real close, top right corner). After a year of dread they are bag in the top 25...Sure it will likely only last a week or two but after the last couple years a 2 week rise to the top is worth celebrating. Wow, what a sad state of affairs when a 1" pic on the cover of SI is monumental.

John Tavares made his debut with the Islanders last night and was left off the scoreboard. I have heard more then one of the so called sports people say he disappointed by not scoring. Good lord people settle down. He's 18 in his first game action and it is only pre-season. I know that he comes in with high hopes but lets be realistic about what he is going to do and how quick he is going to come along. It took Steve Stamkos half a season to get his stride and Bobby Ryan (second pick after Sidney Crosby) played his final year in the OHL and then time in the AHL before he started lighting it up with the Ducks.

In soccer news, guys ran around, balls were passed back and forth and a bunch of players fell down in what appeared to be in immense pain - only to be back playing minutes later. In one game there was even a few shots taken and a couple actually went in....crazy all the action.

Kerri Walsh recently made a call to her Olympic partner Misty May-Treanor and the two have decided to pair up in the Ryder Cup style beach volleyball match. Though Misty may not be at 100% it will still great to see the two of them playing side by side again.

The sooner baseball can get to the playoffs the better. When we can get to a time where all the games count and every pitch is more important then the last the more exciting things will be. When you are at the end of September the majority of the games are basically garbage time...Time to bring on the playoffs!!

Be A Fan - Not A Fanatic

It is bad when fans riot after losing a game Sure it is not a good feeling but there is no excuse for acting like a jackass. Probably the only thing worse is doing the same thing after your team actually wins. It is one thing to celebrate a victory but deciding that the best way to show your team pride is to go out an set a fire or flip a Taurus...That is Taurus not tourist. Although both would be pretty bad and get you in a lot of trouble!

After Monday nights New England- Buffalo football game there was plenty of blame to go around after a horrible decision to run back a late punt by Bills return man Leodis McKelvin. McKelvin ended up coughing up the ball and the Pats recovered and from there went on to go down and score the game winning Touchdown. The Bills all but had the game won and that unbelievable decision cost them the victory.

Sure that was bad and fans should be outraged. It was a brutal play, a bad decision and should not be tolerated by the coaches but that is where it needs to end...unfortunately it did not. McKelvin returned home at around 1 a.m. Tuesday and discovered a message that included the game's score next to an obscenity painted in white in front of his home in suburban Buffalo. McKelvin said he doesn't want anyone arrested and still considers Bills fans to be the greatest and that may be the case but it is sad that it is always the rotten apple that spoils the bunch.

"I'm hoping it was just a bunch of kids, who probably didn't realize how big of an issue this would be," said his teammate Kawika Mitchell. "If it was some adults, that just makes it even more scary." ...He couldn’t be more right, especially coming off of the Sean Taylor tragedy where he was shot and killed in his home by intruders following a botched burglary attempt in November 2007. It is incidents like this that provoke players to carry and/or own guns.

This type of incident has happened before up here in Canada as well, so don’t think it was strictly an American thing. In the 2004 CFL playoffs Paul McCallum missed a crucial 18 yard field goal in an overtime game against the BC Lions. The Roughriders went on to lose the game, and outraged fans vandalized McCallum's northwest Regina home with eggs, dumped manure on his neighbour's property, and uttered death threats to his family. The incident made national news, and the football club and Regina's mayor Pat Fiacco both denounced the vandalism as an "isolated incident" of "hooliganism".

On the comedy show This Hour Has 22 Minutes, Shaun Majumder (playing a Roughriders GM) apologized for calling McCallum "a bum who could be outkicked by a goat missing a leg".

Lots of us get very involved in sports and our favorite teams but there is a line that should never be crossed. At the end of the day one must remember that these are people with families and deserve a little respect.

"Juan" Huge Upset At The US Open

Argentine youngster Juan Martin del Potro shocked five-time defending champion Roger Federer in five sets (7-5), 4-6, 7-6 (7-4), on Monday night to capture the title at the U.S. Open, the final Grand Slam event of the year. Due to weather the Men's Finals were pushed from the usual Sunday finish and took place late afternoon.

It was because of that it was one of those sporting events that you flip back and forth to while watching something else, kind of of a oh by the way there is a Major Title on the line right now. At first you look at the score and think good for the young kid, he is holding his own with the big dawg and at least keeping it competitive. Then you look back later and see a lot of 6's and 7's on the scorecard and think - this match must be over Federer must take this, until you take a closer look and do some quick math and think "Oh Man this could be one HUGE upset, can this kid actually take down the greatest player of all time...a man who hasn't lost in 41 straight matches at the US Open"

Federer seemed to have some issues with the officiating during the match as there were some questionable calls and rules interpretations that caused him to uncharacteristically vocal and did drop a few "Bombs" and some "Swears". It was nothing like the verbal assault that that Williams sister exploded into thank goodness. His public image is a lot more important then her's.

del Potro managed not only to win but also became the first player to knock off both Federer and Nadal in the same tournament. This can only help his confidence going forward. The 20-year-old del Potro earned $1.6 million for winning the U.S. Open and an additional $250,000 for finishing third in the U.S. Open Series. He also received a Lexus IS convertible automobile. Not a small accomplishment for a 20 year old (although he looks like he is 30 - he is no Greg Oden but he looks well beyond his years)

In any event this was one major upset and one great US Open final.

Week One Picks Wrap Up

So on the first week of NFL Football picks versus the spread I came out above .500 and that is a pretty good start for me. For the weekend games I went 9-6 but I also got the Thursday night game wrong so that brings the grand total to 9-7. With that record in the NFL I would be right on the cusp of making the playoffs. It is a good start and hopefully I can build on that success next week and get a little better each week.

Where I got into the most trouble was expecting too much from New England, San Diego and Indianapolis and underestimating Mark Sanchez of the Jets.


The way I figure it I wouldn't want to do any better on week one. I now have some room to get better, you don't want to set the bar too high too fast and have the Tiger Woods syndrome(where you may do good by other peoples standards but bad compared to yourself). Plus If I had done any better I may have been able to convince myself that I am better then I really am at picking games and I should play more Proline. Like they say on the commercials "Know your limit, play within it"

Weekend Wrap Up...Sunday Edition

As you are all aware based on my post regarding Saturday’s day in sports, Sunday was not to be outdone. It was the “true” kickoff of the 2009 NfL season with a full slate of games...a jam packed lineup. There was a lot of games that ended in blowouts or at least double digit wins. It may not make for the most entertaining of games but for week one any NFL football is good football. You can take notice that I didn't include any CFL updates as there would need to be something REAL BIG to happen to justify the space.

~ There was one of the craziest finishes in the Denver-Cincinnati that you will see in football when a tiped ball on a Hail Mary at the end of the game resulted in a crushing loss by the Bungles errr- Bengals.
~ In Green Bay Aaron Rogers went old school Brett Favre and orchestrated a late comeback to take down the Bears (Jay Cuttler threw 3 INT in his debut after being the toast of the off season and Brian Urlacher dislocated his wrist and may be lost for the year...not a good start).
~The Lions were the Lions and went to 0-18 as predicted.
~ Mike Vick was in a box watching his Eagles teammates and had a good view of Donovan McNabb going down with a injured and maybe broken rib...he has 1 more week for his suspension then maybe week 3 you may see Vick under center. That could be very interesting for both the Eagles and the NFL.
~ Rookie Matt Sanchez was solid in debut as Jets stymie the Texans...just another USC QB Standout. They may now be the second best QB factory next to Michigan - high praise indeed.

There was also some tennis being played and it was in the first mens Quarter Finals that there was a pretty big upset. #2 Rafael Nadal was taken down by #6 Juan Martin del Potro 6-2, 6-2, 6-2. Nadal was looking to complete the career Grand Slam but fell short and will have to wait at least another year for a chance at the US Open. del Potro was just to much for Nadal and will go on to play in the finals on Monday, weather permitting.

#1Roger Federer took on #4 Novak Djokovic in the other Quarter Final. Federer prevailed with a 7-6 (3), 7-5, 7-5 victory sending him to the finals. Federer is going for his 5th straight US Open. I guess that it wouldn't be a US Open without Roger in the finals.

Tiger Woods coasted to a runaway victory at BMW Championship Not surprising when pretty much lapping the field...It turned into a tournament for second place

What was overlooked on my Saturday summary was the Hall of Fame induction speech by Michael Jordan. Many have criticized him for being petty, arrogant and for lack of a better term putting himself on a pedestal looking down on everyone. There was no evidence of him being humble and talked about as much trash in his acceptance speech as he did on the court. Not a classy move but I guess we can’t expect any more from a guy who was never a team player and was known for berating players and teammates alike, trying to get guys traded and demanding that people be fired. In the book the Jordan Rules it give a true look at the kind of person that Jordan really is... detached from reality, not willing to let go and being stubborn and defiant until the end. I liked it better when I didn’t know what he was really like. The image of greatness I remember was much more pleasing.

What A Weekend - Saturday Edition

You know that it is getting close to fall. The sports scene is amped up and Saturdays and Sundays are jammed packed with games, big time games and tournaments, big time tournaments. Saturday was the first of these days and there was no lack of drama and stories, some were great and some were bad.

Lets start with the bad: Serena Williams - I never liked her. She never seemed to be that committed to tennis, playing only when she wanted too .The way that she carries herself leaves something to be desired. She always struck me as spoiled and a whinnier. That seemed to shine through at the US Open on Saturday when she was called on a foot fault. She then verbally abused the judge, pointing her racket and finger and yelling at her."I'm (expletive) going to take this ball and shove it down your (expletive) throat." When the judge went to the chair umpire to talk and complain about the situation Williams then disputed with the chair umpire and supervisor. A code violation for unsportsmanlike conduct was called by the umpire -- the call awarded the next point to Kim Clijsters, which ended the match with a 6-4, 7-5 final. With that the game was over and Clijsters was awarded the match. Williams said after the Match - "I haven't really thought if I have any regrets," about the tirade. "I try not to live my life saying, 'I wish, I wish,' but I was out there and I tried and I did my best." I hope that this sticks with her and tarnishes any legacy that she may have - It was just a classless move.

Now the good, and there was plenty of that to go around so I will just hit them all with some quick points because there are just too many to cover in depth.

~ My Michigan Wolverines completed a comeback upset over the 18th ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish. For a team that was just awful last year and have undergone a lot of turmoil over the first 2 weeks off the field this was a great win. The fact that it was lead by a freshman QB was icing on the cake...the cherry I suppose was that it was versus The Irish, the only 2 things better is a National Championship or beating Ohio State.


~ Speaking of Ohio St, they were beaten on a last minute drive by USC also lead by a true freshman QB. It was a drive that may be one of the best you will see all season. When you take into account the plays that were made, the players involved and being on the road in a hostile environment at “The” Ohio State. The win was huge for a potential run at the National Championship. In college football you can’t win a championship in the first few weeks...but you sure can loose one in that time.

~ The chosen one Tim Tebow led the University of Florida to destroy Troy 56-6. Tebow ended the day with 237 yards throwing and tied a career high with four touchdown passes on 15-of-24 efficiency and added 71 yards and a score on 13 carries. I think he is still in the Heisman race


~ Tiger was Tiger and even for him did something amazing. Woods broke the course record at Cog Hill and blew away the field Saturday in the BMW Championship with a 9-under 62 that gave him a seven-shot lead at -16. He is sure to be in the lead of the FedEx Cup standings and is poised to take that title again. Even with no majors this year he is still the Player of the Year. The guy is a machine and it proves that the only one who can beat Tiger is Tiger himself.

~ The New season for NASCAR starts this week and the Chase for the Championship is here. The top 12 drivers are “In the playoffs” and all have a chance to take home the title. Jimmie Johnson is in the hunt for a 4th title in a row but that will be very difficult as there are 11 others that want it bad and that leaves the odds highly against him.

And that was just Saturday, I will hit on Sundays action in my next post...What a weekend in sports!!

Idiot Plays Proline...Wins and Loses

Despite my better judgement I played 2 tickets, just to dip my toe into the water as week 1 is always an unknown. First ticket was a success, just a conservative cover my ass ticket that I usually get screwed over on by a last second Field Goal. Payout was small but the satisfaction was huge.

Now onto the lesson learned portion:
Measure twice cut once - - Always check your work and so on and so fourth.

On another modest ticket that was to be played I got all the games right! This is like...I can't put it to words!! HOWEVER...selecting on the submitted ticket game 6 instead of game 8 makes a huge difference. In the game I thought I was betting on I had Minnesota over Cleveland which was correct the game I actually selected I had KC Chiefs winning by 4 over Baltimore that was not going to happen the ticket was done before kickoff. In KC's defence the were tied 24-24 late in the 4th giving a little false hope into a big payday but I knew it was nothing but a pipe dream.

Lesson learned- until the next time. At least I recouped my loss and came out a very little ahead...$2.60 is still $2.60!!!

NFL Picks - Week 1

Here are my week 1 NFL Picks.

Through out the season I will be posting my weekly picks vs the spread. Hopefully I will have a good season of prognosticating and look forward to bettering my record from that of last year. That is what we all aspire to do right, get a little better all the time?

This is for entertainment purposes only and should not be used for gambling. If it is used for gambling do so at your own risk as my past record is less then stellar.

Here is to a great season of football...Time for Kickoff!

Done Deal Heatley To San Jose!

So there you have it, the game is over, the dance is done and the fat lady has sung. After months of uncertainty, speculation, and wonder the Ottawa Senators have completed a trade that has sent Dany Heatley and a 5th round pick to the San Jose Sharks. In return the Senators get Milan Michalek, Jonathan Cheechoo and a second round pick.


I can say that I have no idea at this point if I like this deal or not as far as the Senators go.Looks like in the end Bryan Murray was forced to cave and just give in. This may be the best deal that was available to avoid a distraction at camp but it looks like they didn’t win in this deal. They didn’t save any real money as Michalek earns $4,333,333 an Cheechoo $3,000,000. Just a 2 for 1 with a better pick next year.


Is this a better deal then Edmonton offered? (Andrew Cogliano, Dustin Penner, and Ladislav Smid.) Probably not, even though i didn’t much care for that one either but beggers can’t be choosers in a case like this I suppose. Maybe this frees Murray up to make some more deals as the season goes on, who knows, guess we will wait and see.

I still value Heatley very highly and he will remain my favorite player, regardless of the shennaniganz of the last 4 months. His presence in the San Jose lineup with the likes of Marleau, and Thornton amongst others will only help out the Sharks. They needed a shake up as they try to get over the hump and that is just what they get with Heater. For Ottawa, Cheechoo, who will likely play with Spezza does have a season where he managed to light up the net but that was 2005-2006 and is coming of of a jut dreadful season where he managed just 12 goals. Hopefully having a skilled center like Spezza setting him up he can get his trigger finger ready to fire. Milan Michalek is an interesting player and one with an upside. He had 23 goals 34 assists for 57 points. I have no idea where he will play, maybe along side Kovalev.

In a quote on his way out of town he said: ''I'm excited obviously, I'm excited to be a Shark,'' Heatley said. ''I want to thank everyone in Ottawa, the organization the fans, and the city. I had a great four years here (and) I'm happy to move on.'' Also Dany said ''I don't think I did anything wrong asking for a trade,'' - ''I have my reasons for it. If people think differently of me that's fine but I believe I did nothing wrong and I'm happy to move on.'' I know I am in the minority in Ottawa but I am going to wish him well, up until May he was a model citizen. He was great with fans, great in the community. He did take time to sign autographs and talk to people when approached. Like I said I never had a problem with him and he gave the team and the fans a hell of a 4 years and a trip to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Sports may be a game of what have you done for me lately but lets not forget too fast what good he did while he was here.

I will undoubtedly have more to say on the Heatley and Senators in the near future so feel free to drop by and have a read later.

Alone At The Top - Jeter Passes A Legand

The Captian came through on Friday night, cementing his place in Yankee lore. With a third inning single Derek Jeter surpassed Yankee legend, the Iron Horse- Lou Gehrig Leave it to Jeeets to do it on the anniversary of 9/11, a day that is so important to America and even more so in New York.

Going into the game Jeter was tied with Gehrig with NO. 2,721 hits, most of any Yankee all time. It is kind of surprising that of all the great players that have played for the Yanks that there has never been a member of the 3,000 hit club. Gehrig probably would have reached that mark had his career ended so suddenly in 1939 and then two years later, he passed away at the age of 37 from the disease that would later bear his name.

Jeter is younger then Lou was and should have enough baseball left in him to reach the 3,000 mark. Now I am a firm believer that the Yankees are the baseball version of the Toronto Maple Leafs. They are loved by many and fans are arrogant, obnoxious and loud. The kind of people that you just can’t stand to be around. They are the people that think that the team is the greatest thing since sliced bread and that they can do no wrong and any bit of reasoning or logic just falls on deaf ears. Sure it is annoying but there is little that one can do. I also understand that the sport is better for them, We have to face it baseball is good when the Yankees are good, It may make you sick, and it should but it is the truth - it really is true there is a fine line between love and hate.

It is with all that information that we have to acknowledge just how good Derek Jeter is and what a great player, leader and person he is. He is the James Bond of baseball....Guys want to be him, girls want to be with him. He is one of the smartest players in the game and has the looks and the skills that most people only dream of. Doing it all on the biggest of stages, as captain of the New York Yankees just ads to the appeal. When all is said and done he will likely be one of the most decorated Yankees of all time, he is already in the same breath as Mantle, Maris, Ruth, Gehrig and Domaggio. I am sure that Mr. Steinbrenner was of the most pleased to see Derek reach this Yankee milestone.

Thursday Night Pick

Football is here and tonight is the kickoff on NBC - Enjoy the action!

Tennessee vs Pittsburgh -6.5
Pittsburgh is still a strong team. Tennessee's defence is not as good since Albert Hainsworth left.
Take the defending champs and Big Ben - give the 6.5 pts

Cinderella Story Comes To An End for 17yr Old

Last night the clock struck 12:00 on the Cinderella story that was Melanie Oudin. After her recent run at US Open she has become America’s tennis princess. Oudin, 17, has become a household name at the U.S. Open, upsetting Elena Dementieva, Maria Sharapova and Nadia Petrova. ‘’I can compete with these top girls," Oudin said after defeating Sharapova. "And if I believe in myself, and my game, then I can beat them.’’ Very poised for a young player.

The story was both on the court and off as her "unscheduled" winning streak made her stay in New York last a little longer then anyone would have thought...especially whom ever represents her and books her accommodations. For a short time on Sunday, she had no place to stay. The 17-year-old and her family were forced to leave the Marriott Times Square hotel this weekend after their reservation had ended. Since nobody expected Oudin to still be playing in the second week of the tournament no extension was ever requested. She was quickly found new accommodations but not a distraction that a 17 year old needs in the middle of an unexpected Major Championship run.

On the tennis side of things she didn’t have any of the same difficulties. Oudin is the youngest American woman in the U.S. Open quarterfinals since Serena Williams a decade ago. It is not like she has had a free pass by any means either knocking off some pretty big names in the process. Maybe being so young was a good thing as maybe she was able to just go out and play and not have to think about what was happening. You can play much looser and much more free when there isn’t any pressure on you...a luxury that she will likely no longer have. She has opened the eyes of many people and the expectations have increased substantially in a very short period of time.

Oudin run was halted by ninth seeded 19yr old Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark in the quarterfinals 6–2, 6–2 Wednesday night. It was cool after the match during the interviews that they said basically - we don’t usually talk to the looser, but this is no looser- an interesting way to start an interview for sure. After talking with her the spoke with Wozniacki, who did just a great job playing to the interviewer and the crowd. She basically said I know that everyone here wasn’t rooting against me but rooting for Melanie, and she hoped that in the process that she won some people over and that they would root for her in her next match, which they probably will. It was a great interview and showed that she was not only a good player but a good person and a great winner.

It is great to have those stories along with some good tennis, especially on the woman's side. With Sharapova now gone and my little interest in either of the Williams sisters (Serena more so, she just bugs the crap out of me). Federer and Nadal may be on course to collide with each other on the men's so that is always great. It really makes for a more compelling tournament when you can have great action on the court and the coming out party of a young player, especially a young American at the US Open.

Time To Lace Them Up And Hit The Ice

Thankfully the rookies are on the ice and the real camps will start up on the weekends for most of the other NHL teams in the league. I think everyone can agree that it was a long off season for not only the Ottawa Senators and their fans but fans of hockey in general. Around the league there has been a lot off off ice issues that have done nothing but make the league look bad, alienate fans and annoy just about anyone with any sort of vested interest in the NHL and professional hockey.

Locally, the Senators ended strong but still had a very disappointing season, making for an even longer off season. Of course there is little doubt where most of the interest lies, that of course is what is going to happen with Dany Heatley. Is he staying, is he going, where does he want to go, where will he not, why does he want to leave, how is this going to affect roster moves by the team? All valid questions and deserving of answers even if none seem close to being answered. The only people that are benefitting are the rumor bloggers that throw out names and "time lines" in hopes that maybe they can will something to happen or to merely keep coming back and getting plenty of hits to see what and if there was any developments....Is it going to happen to day? Nothing happening ...they can’t have him back, and so on and so forth. Ahhhhh Ahhhh Ahhhhh this is an ordeal!

Next there is the situation involving the Phoenix Coyotes. Who is going to own the team? Where are they going to play? Can the NHL get the team and if so how long will they stay in Phoenix? Will Jim Balsillie get the team? Can he move it? If so, for how much? If he get the team will the leagues board allow him to join the league? Can you own a team but not be allowed into the league? Painful questions every one of them. Yes looking at this list the are a lot of questions and there is a noticeable omission right here and that is ANY ANSWERS. I don’t think anyone at least on the fan side of things care. It is too bad because for the first time in maybe ever the team is starting to make progress on the ice and has the potential to be good on the ice...where that ice is may be interesting and who is signing the pay checks is any ones guess.

Then there is the ownership problems in Tampa where Len Barrie and Oren Koules can’t seem to get along and It looks like the NHL has stepped in to try to get one to buy the other one out. Infighting and a lack of direction was a big issue, hopefully Brian Lawton can keep the train rails.
Speaking of ownership, William (Boots) Del Biaggio III , former owner of the Nashville Predators, was sentenced to more than eight years in prison for bilking investors and banks...that is some good due diligence by the NHL, yet Jim Balsillie is bad....whatever.

What we need now is a distraction, and that distraction is players on the ice, competing for jobs, preparing for the season, and even for a lucky few looking to start hot and work their way onto their respective countries Olympic and World Junior rosters.

The Day The Music..Err.. Local Sports Radio Died

It may be time to look for a new TEAM... No I am not talking about Baseball, Hockey, Football or Basketball...I am talking about Sports Radio.

They say that video killed the radio star, but for that to be true there would have to be a star to kill. That is clearly not the case on Ottawa’s Sports Radio, The Team 1200. This little rant/post comes on the heals of the news that there is another change-up in regards to the on-air “talent” that the station will be throwing out on the airwaves.

It is like the management is making a deliberate effort to kill the station putting at least 1 person on each show that make a 3 hour show nearly un-listenable. TGOR (Three Guys On The Radio) has a new look as thy seem to have effectively traded “Stuntman” Stu to BOB FM for former TEAM morning host JR. JR is a fine addition as he is polished and competent but the loss of Stu is not a good thing. If they wanted a good and strong morning show dropping the dead weight would be a good start. “Jungle Jim’s” return following the untimely death of Buzz was one of the worst decisions that could have been made and retaining him is not in the best interest of the station. At the time maybe a familiar voice may have been a good bridge while a new replacement could have been ok, but only in the short term. His inability to be entertaining and his delivery is less then desirable at least in the sports radio format. Steve is a solid radio guy and when he stays on the rails is effective and some what interesting. If they focused on sports and not demeaning the 3rd co-host all the time it would make for a decent show. The only saving grace is Pierre McGuire from 8:08-8:30ish.

Then there is Glen Kulka and Lee Versage the afternoon fill in’s an usual hosts of Over The Edge 9-Noon. Kulka may have done a lot in his athletic career and continues to do so in MMA but that does not qualify him to be a radio host. Radio is supposed to be theatre of the mind, not a headache waiting to happen. When it is a constant battle to use the right words, and not make up words, constant repetition of the term “ Most Defiantly” just drives one up the wall. There is nothing worse on the radio is a host that feels the need to get louder and louder to try to make a point when half the time he doesn't understand the counter position that either other host are making or the callers themselves. If they need that slot filled maybe throwing on the Dan Patrick Show would be a smart decision, he actually has real guests and actually talks about sports. If there is concern that there won’t be enough hockey talk with Patrick 9-12 and Jim Rome 12-3, that could be made up with the morning show and the drive show.

As far as the 3-6 show, The Healthy Scratches with Steve Lloyd and Jason York is actually entertaining. York may not be always be at the best but it is entertaining for the most part. Lloyd does a good job and actually sounds like he should be on the radio.

The 6-7 slot with the Petros and Money guy with Chris Meyers is un-listenable. All it is is one person yelling over the other none really having anything good to say...not a good collection of radio gold throughout the day. During business hours one can get real sports radio on the Internet but in the car during the commute there are very few options. It is getting to the point where satelite radio may soon be the only option.
At least with XM there is all NHL Hockey Games, NBA Basketball, PGA Golf, Indy Car, ACC, SEC, PAC 10 and Big 10 NCAA Coverage. Serius has some interesting perks, most notably NFL Football and NASCAR but that is about it and I don’t think that is enough to get the job done. With Channels that feature the likes of Hockey Night in Canada Radio, CBC sports, CFL coverage, Soccer, Lacrosse, Hardcore Sports leaves something to be desired.

LA Temptation DL - Niki Ghazian

The nights are getting colder and the days are getting shorter and that is the signal that football time is upon us. Now I know that some people will focus on the CFL but that doesn't count. There is the NFL but it is still a bit away. Some others will mention the debut of the Friday night games from the Lingerie Football League but probably for a different reason. Football is football and all three have that in common but each game bringsits own element of entertainment. All three can involve some fun extra elements to a viewer...gambling of course, mind out of the gutters people. So above is a gratuitous photo, just because.

Ok now to the real business, which was, ah....oh yeah football. Kickoff has taken place in the ranks of the NCAA as of this weekend and already there has been some do-in’s a transpiring. On Thursday in the Boise St. game a player from Oregon, LeGarrette Blount lost his mind and did his best to go all Ron Artest and sucker punched another player not during the game but after the game, He then took a shot at one of his own players and then looked to get into the stands before being held back and taken away. So what was the start to his teams season may and should mark the end of his own season.

Some early Highlights
~ Notre Dame needed to start strong just to save face, they did with a 35-0 win
~ Michigan, which had the worst season maybe ever in Ann Arbour last year, allegations of NCAA practice violations and a coach involved in a legal Real Estate situation also needed a big win did so with a 31-7 win
~ In a huge upset not only to the team but for Heiseman candidate Sam Bradford as Oklahoma lost 14-13 to BYU
~ The #1 Florida Gators led by the chosen one Tim Tebow held on in a tight one 62-3
~ Unfortunately Ohio St. held on to win in a tight one over Navy winning by 4. Stupid Buckeyes

If this is how the season is going to go it should prove to be very entertaining and full of story lines...and we havn’t even mentions the giant elephant in the room, yep thats it the dreaded BCS debate which will sure to show it’s dirty little head, probably sooner then we all may want and/or think.

Enjoy the Saturday pigskin action, maybe the only sport where each regular season game can make or break any hope of a title opportunity!

Morphin' Into An MMA Fighter

Jason David Frank, the Green and White Power Ranger is set to become an MMA fighter....seems like a natural transition There is no word if he will be bringing the Dragon Power Coin or either the Sword of Darkness or the Dragon Dagger to the ring with him as a good luck charm or possible weapons if things start to go bad. As of yet Zordon has yet to sign on as his trainer or mentor in his endeavour into the Octagon.

JDF has signed on with Suckerpunch Entertainment to begin his fighting career. JDF has been training with UFC lightweight Melvin Guillard and has been working on his ground fighting skills, a discipline he was lacking when he first thought about entering MMA in 2007 (before it fell through and forced him to put off his debut).
"My style was missing the ground fighting. I have my blue belt in BJJ from Gracie Baja now, but we needed to have that ground game integrated into Tose Kune Do. There was a blank there. So we added wrestling, BJJ, etc., to it," Frank said

He already has a strong background in martial arts as he started when he was 4 and holds a sixth degree black belt in karate. In 1994 he created his own martial art, Tose Kune Do, The Way of the Fighting Fist. He is also a member of the World Karate Union Hall of Fame, alongside the likes of Chuck Norris and Dan "The Beast" Severn.

This may be funny and on the surface look like a joke but who knows, he may surprise some people and make a name for himself as JDF and not just a guy from a kids show that rode around in a giant mechanical dinosaur. At the very least his career may be interesting to follow. I will tell you one thing, I will make a special point to watch if he can Kimberly aka. The Pink Ranger (Actress: Amy Jo Johnson) to stand in his corner!!

Leclaire's New Headgear

Pascal Leclaire's new mask

I like it, it has original O with the red and black stripes and the Warrior on the side which is nicely detailed. My only criticism would be that it has the look of a World of Warcraft character. I just hope that this isn't a sign that he is going to spend too much time online playing make believe and not focusing on being a #1 goaltender. There doesn't seem to be much on the front in the forehead are which looks a little odd but I will still give it a thumbs up. The rest of his gear is to have a red, black and white barber pole look to it. He is with Sherwood and they have come up with his gear to have a similar look and colour scheme from the Original Senators look from the 1920's.
Now if he can manage to stop a few pucks and not just look good in the nets then that will go a long way towards him being embraced by fans and management.

Best and Worst For A Wednesday

Best: If you are Roberto Luongo, signing a 12-year contract extension worth $64M is definitely a best. If you are the Vancouver Canucks you hope that he continues to be the goalie he is now for a looooog time and remains healthier then another long term contract goalie that plays for the Islanders. If that is the case it may be a win win.

Worst: World No. 1 Dinara Safina had to come from behind in the third set in order to win her first-round match. She narrowly avoided being the first #1 seed to fall in the first round of a US Open. There is no reason it should have been as close as it was.

Best: Adam "Pacman" Jones is going the Canadian route to get back into the NFL. It appears that he will suit up for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. I know that the CFL isn’t the most compelling thing to watch but this has the potential to be a train wreck which is always fun to see. Plus revenue at local strip clubs are likely to go up and patrons can make money going to the rippers if Pacman decides to make it rain.

Worst: Adam "Pacman" Jones is on his way to the CFL. It is like this league is the equivalent to house arrest for troubled NFL players?

Best: Ottawa Senators defenceman Jason Smith has announced his retirement. After 16 NHL seasons, 1,008 games and being captian of 2 clubs he is able to walk away on a high note. Also this frees up the Sens for $2.6M off their cap in the event that they can’t move Heatley before teh beginning of the season or if they do make a move may allow them to make another move for scoring help upfront...where they may be lacking.

Worst: Anything that comes out of the Phoenix courtroom today as Judge Redfield T. Baum determines whether Jim Balsillie can remain in the hunt for the Coyotes. This saga over the club and who owns it or where they may play is played out and it is probably safe to say that most people just want to end the madness

The Coverage Of Sports

As many may be aware TSN, as part of their 25th anniversary has been on the road with their Sportscenter broadcasts hitting different city’s and towns across the country.
Kraft signed on as the title sponsor and is giving $25,000 to each stop on the trip to help in funding for various sports facilities. Great for TSN and great for the cities that were involved.

Today marked the day that TSN hit the "airwaves" for the first time in 1984 at 12 noon. This changed the way that people in this country could follow and watch sports. September 1 is a very significant day for all sports programming across the board. It is 30 years to the day for ESPN to hit the air as the first all sports programing network on September 1, 1979 as well as the 20th Anniversary for TSN’s french sister station RDS which came on September 1, 1989.

We may take it for granted now, having all this coverage of events and information at our fingertips but imagine a time when that wasn’t so. We can get a Jays game almost every night of the week and if there isn’t a game you can probably find a Red Sox or Yankees game picked up. Long are the days where you were lucky to get 1 game a week on a Saturday. Wide world of sports was where you would get to see a game and not always in its entirety. During the winter there is close to a game a week thanks to these channels. I don’t much care for the blackouts that they have for regional games. I think that If I am paying for 4 Sportsnet channels I should be privy to everything that they show just because I am in the Sens region doesn't mean that I don't appreciate watching a Calgary Flames game.. Just another of my major issues with some of the sports leagues and the CRTC. Having the option to see these events is still great to have even with the restrictions.

For the sports lovers out there, this is an anniversary that you should not miss and continue to honor each year!