tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8629411364081304692024-03-12T22:16:05.663-04:00The Sports InformerJames Cholerashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17920163382430847647noreply@blogger.comBlogger413125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862941136408130469.post-68607914042735542032011-04-21T14:37:00.000-04:002011-04-21T14:37:46.374-04:00Major League Baseball Takes Over the DodgersOn Wednesday it was reported that Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig would be appointing a representative to oversee the finances and all aspects of the day to day operations of the Los Angeles Dodgers. The current owner of the Dodgers, Frank McCourt, is currently in the middle of a very messy and highly public divorce from his wife, and part owner of the team, Jamie McCourt which has left the financial stability of the franchise in disarray.<br />
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In a public statement issued by the league office Selig had this to say about MLB taking over for the McCourts, "I have taken this action because of my deep concerns regarding the finances and operations of the Dodgers and to protect the best interests of the club."<br />
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At this point Selig really had no choice. Frank McCourt is on the verge of bankruptcy, to the point where last week he had to borrow $30 million from FOX in order to meet the team payroll, and has been attempting to borrow money to try and save the team. It was reported that he had been trying to borrow $200 million from FOX in order to pay off his ex-wife (that's the amount she is supposedly due after the settlement) and keep majority ownership of the team which he purchased in 1998.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MRWWrtc441k/TbB5BXAL3cI/AAAAAAAAAZc/hrzQLIcQhKk/s1600/frank-mc1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MRWWrtc441k/TbB5BXAL3cI/AAAAAAAAAZc/hrzQLIcQhKk/s400/frank-mc1.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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The troubles for McCourt began in October of 2009 when he divorced his, then wife of 30 years, Jamie after accusing her of having an affair with her bodyguard/driver. At the same time he also fired her form her role as the team's chief executive citing poor performance at work.<br />
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What followed was a very public feud between the two that brought to light some disturbing information about the way the McCourt's operated the Dodgers. It was discovered that Frank McCourt had been using the team as his personal piggy bank and used team revenue to finance his lavish lifestyle in Los Angeles . The McCourt's also practiced nepotism hiring their son Drew to a front office position in which he received a salary of several-hundred-thousand dollars for services that no one can clearly define.<br />
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Other examples include the constant turn-over in the front office, most notably with public relations staff, as well as the payment of over 25 percent of a charitable organizations budget to personal friend Howard Suskin. Frank McCourt also came under fire recently for not having a Head of Security on salary which became a real issue when on opening day a San Fransisco Giants fan was beaten to a pulp outside Dodgers stadium by fans (the fans name is Bryan Stow and he is still in critical condition with brain damage).<br />
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Thanks to the public nature of the divorce proceedings all of that information came to light and has hurt McCourt not only in his wallet but also in the eyes of the league and the fans. Major League Baseball clearly does not want Frank McCourt to own the Dodgers and that was made quite apparent when they did not approve a the potential $200 loan from FOX that would have saved McCourt and allowed him to keep the team.<br />
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McCourt had another loan proposal drafted and sent to MLB for approval that has is still pending a decision by the league. This proposal would have McCourt receive cash up-front from FOX for a new TV agreement that over the course of the agreement could be worth as much as $3-$4 billion. If that deal were to be approved McCourt would be more than able to pay off his ex-wife and still be able to keep the team.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QqCtaRCvx1A/TbB5B1gxNtI/AAAAAAAAAZg/IQarIS1lb-0/s1600/61048463.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QqCtaRCvx1A/TbB5B1gxNtI/AAAAAAAAAZg/IQarIS1lb-0/s400/61048463.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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The real problem MLB has with McCourt is that all the the loans he has proposed involve him accepting money to pay off his divorce settlement and other non-baseball related debts. The league doesn't want this to become standard practice for owners (case in the point the Wilpons and the New York Mets) and they also don't seem to want McCourt to be an owner anymore as he has tarnished what was once one of the greatest franchises in baseball.<br />
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"My office will continue its thorough investigation into the operations and finances of the Dodgers and related entities during the period of Mr. McCourt's ownership," Selig said in a public statement to the media. "The Dodgers have been one of the most prestigious franchises in all of sports, and we owe it to their legion of loyal fans to ensure that this club is being operated properly now and will be guided appropriately in the future."<br />
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The crazy thing is that despite McCourt's disgraceful use of club finances the team has done quite well on the field. Since he became the owner the Dodgers have averaged 85 wins per year, won three National League West titles and reached the postseason four times. That is not a bad stretch especially when you consider the fact that payroll was cut in both 2010 and 2011 in an attempt to save McCourt some money.<br />
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At this point it would take a miracle for Frank McCourt to remain as the owner of the Dodgers. The $30 million loan he received from FOX bought McCourt a little bit of time but unless he can get his hands on more money quickly his reign as owner of the Dodgers has seemingly come to an end.<br />
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<b>Random YouTube Video</b><br />
<div style="background-color: transparent; border: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/S1jk4F1757A" title="YouTube video player" width="640"></iframe></div>James Cholerashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17920163382430847647noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862941136408130469.post-84940013121257514542011-04-20T14:17:00.000-04:002011-04-20T14:17:43.645-04:00UFC Fighters Refusing to Fight Friends/Teammates<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
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<div class="MsoNormal">One of the biggest issues currently facing the UFC is the recent epidemic of fighters refusing to fight their friends and training partners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While the UFC is trying to run a business and put on the most exciting fights possible for the fans fighters are flat out refusing fights and in some cases denying themselves an opportunity for a title.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">This is by no means a new phenomenon as fighters have always looked to avoid fighting their friends and training partners. It just seems that lately it has been occurring far more frequently. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The first major refusal to fight a friend, that I can think of, came from Anderson Silva. Silva had been cleaning out the Middleweight division and there was a growing theory amongst fans he would step up and fight at Light Heavyweight as well. The only problem was that at the time the Light Heavyweight champion was Silva's friend and training partner Lyoto Machida.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Although </span>Anderson had just come off back to back victories over light heavyweights James Irvin and Forrest Griffin he said that he would not be interested in making a permanent move to 205lbs if Machida was champion.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Even after Machida lost the belt to Mauricio “Shogun” Rua at UFC 113 Anderson still refused to move up to fight for the title. He still believed that Machida was in the conversation as a potential challenger for the title and didn't want to do anything to prevent Machida from getting a title shot. So despite fans desires to see a Silva-Machida superfight the hands of the UFC are tied as they can't force Silva to fight his friend and don't want to upset their biggest star.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4ey9GOytbmU/Ta8i6GFRR9I/AAAAAAAAAZY/5Wv7ZRuPD4E/s1600/110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4ey9GOytbmU/Ta8i6GFRR9I/AAAAAAAAAZY/5Wv7ZRuPD4E/s400/110.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal">Since all of that transpired more and more fighters have come out and said they would refuse to fight their friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For example Jon Fitch said that had Josh Koscheck beaten Georges St. Pierre he would have moved up to middleweight and challenged for a title there in order to avoid having to fight his American Kickboxing Academy training partner.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">In an interview with MMA Mania Fitch had this to say about the whole situation,"To me there's no reason to fight a teammate. It's just not a fight we're interested in at all. It's a situation where, if Koscheck is able to win the belt and defend the belt, I will move up to 185. [If Georges wins] I'll be waiting on the front doorsteps with flowers [for a title shot]." </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">A more recent example would be Rashad Evan’s initial refusal to fight Jon Jones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Obviously since Jones victory over Shogun at UFC 128 Rashad has had a change of heart. Now a war of words has begun and the two will fight at some point in 2011 but this is the exception and not the rule.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I can understand why fighters wouldn’t want to fight their friends and the people they train with as no one wants to be responsible for setting a friend’s career back by beating them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I mean i</span>f Jones does beat Rashad then Rashad may never get a title shot again and that’s a lot of pressure to put on a friendship. Guys make their living by fighting and if you're a title contender you are going to be featured on main cards and make more money. To beat a friend and therefore hurt his earning power is something that I'm sure no fighter wants to do.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Having said that the UFC is a business. When these fighters sign contracts with the UFC it should be under the assumption that they will need to fight anyone at anytime. The UFC is trying to pormote MMA and put on the best possible fight for fans and UFC matchmaker Joe Silva needs to have the freedom to make the best fights possible without having his hands tied because of friendship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> In the case of Rashad and Jones the UFC got lucky that they changed their minds and agreed to figh</span>t but that won't happen every time.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o9l4SD_xQ4A/Ta8i5utzl9I/AAAAAAAAAZU/UBVCEsk76Nw/s1600/f6098_evansjones_large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o9l4SD_xQ4A/Ta8i5utzl9I/AAAAAAAAAZU/UBVCEsk76Nw/s400/f6098_evansjones_large.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Another factor to consider is that these days a lot of the top fighters in the world train at the same gyms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jackson’s MMA, Black House and AKA are the home gyms of 4 of the current UFC champions and at least 10 fighters that would be considered top 5 in their weight class.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If guys from AKA refuse to fight one another then that's going to be a problem as that gym continues to grow and attract better fighters.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Staying with the theme of gyms by forcing training partners to fight it might also divide the gym. The best example of this is occurring presently with Rashad and Jon Jones. Rashad trained at Jackson's MMA long before Jon Jones did and now he has left the gym and is training elsewhere as he feels betrayed by Greg Jackson and the other coaches. Now other people that trained at Jackson's MMA have to take sides and the whole situation can get out of hand quick.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">In the case of Rashad and Jones if they had just agreed to fight in the first place the whole thing wouldn't have gone down the way it did. Instead they let public pressure and misinterpreted quotes from interviews guide their decisions. Had both fighters realized that they were involved in a business and put their friendship aside this mess could have been avoided.<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">The UFC needs to put a stop to this sort of behavior as soon as possible because if they don’t eventually it’s going to be hard for them to put on the fights that fans really want to see. Fighters need to realize that they are involved in a business and although it’s understandable they don’t want to fight their friends if you want to be a great fighter you can’t turn down fights.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Random YouTube Video</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"> <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/6IiMhA3QAAY" title="YouTube video player" width="480"></iframe></div>James Cholerashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17920163382430847647noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862941136408130469.post-67841280250393521622011-04-19T14:47:00.003-04:002011-04-19T14:54:06.105-04:00Cam Newton's Rising Draft StockOne of the best things about the lead up to the NFL Draft is reading every big writers Mock Drafts and seeing where they predict players will be taken. Its always interesting to see who climbs into the first round after an impressive Combine or Pro Day (Andy Dalton of TCU comes to mind) and conversely who falls out of the top 10 after being a consensus top pick forever (this year that is Nick Fairley from Auburn).<br />
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This year the player that has moved the most, in terms of where he has been projected to be taken, is Cam Newton. Despite the fact that Newton led Auburn to a National Championship in January and won the Heisman Trophy he wasn't projected as a 1st round pick. Many experts had him pegged as a 2nd or even 3rd round pick as it was believed he didn't have the skill set to make the transition to the pro style game.<br />
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There were also character concerns as all year long Newton had been involved in a highly publicized scandal concerning whether his father took money for him to play at Auburn. Lots of people wondered how much Newton knew and whether he was involved in the scandal and was letting his dad take all the heat. Then there was his controversial past at Florida most notably the alleged theft of a laptop and instances of academic cheating.<br />
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Needless to say when it came to Cam Newton there were more questions than answers.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sGAVYQjtu_g/Ta3YvR3xbII/AAAAAAAAAZQ/2BCaL6imNLM/s1600/cam-newton-auburn-tigers-bcs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sGAVYQjtu_g/Ta3YvR3xbII/AAAAAAAAAZQ/2BCaL6imNLM/s400/cam-newton-auburn-tigers-bcs.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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Fast forward a few months and all of a sudden Cam Newton is the popular choice to be taken #1 overall by the Panthers on April 28th. How did Newton go from being a possible 2nd or 3rd round pick to now being the favorite to be taken first overall?<br />
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The answer is actually pretty simple. For all his shortcomings in the character department, in which he does have many, there is no player in this draft with even close to the same potential that Cam Newton has. His combination of athletic ability and marketability can't be ignored and make him worth the risk of being taken first overall.<br />
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Since 2001 there have been 8 quarterbacks taken 1st overall (Michael Vick, David Carr, Carson Palmer, Eli Manning, Alex Smith, JaMarcus Russell, Matthew Stafford and Sam Bradford). Of those 8 quarterbacks only 3 have been busts (Carr, Smith and Russell) with the jury still being out on one (Stafford). That means that based on recent history Cam Newton has pretty much a 50-50 chance of being a total bust and crippling the Carolina Panthers for years to come.<br />
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Mel Kiper of ESPN stated the Panther's dilemma perfectly in his latest mock draft when he wrote, "There are immediate needs, and there is a decision that you believe will change the direction of your franchise for years to come." That's the important part right there. The Panthers need someone to market their team around as former stars such as Julius Peppers have left for free agency, or in the case of wide receiver Steve Smith, have become irrelevant. <br />
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Kiper continues by writing, "If they really see Newton as the transformative player that can be both a Pro Bowl quarterback and face of the franchise who draws a lot of buzz, they can make this pick. If talent alone was all they were concerned with, Newton would be an easy choice. But this pick also requires a belief in his development and maturity. Certainly, however, Newton's potential is significant"<br />
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There's that word again, potential. Whenever you draft a player it is always based on what you think their potential is. How good can they be as a professional and do they have the potential to become a superstar that can change the fortune of a franchise? I believe Newton has that ability.<br />
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In terms of athleticism there are no questions. Newton is an athletic freak and his showing at the Combine proved that. He ran the 40 in just 4.59 seconds, broad jumped 10 feet 6 inches and had a 35-inch vertical all while being 6'4 220lbs. He has incredible arm strength and can throw the ball 60 to 70 yards with ease. His performance made Trent Dilfer say, "The ceiling is so astronomically high for Cam Newton that the scouts, the GMs, the coaches are really going to be slobbering about the prospects of having him on their team."<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j5cvKCgMHFU/Ta3Yu1aM4uI/AAAAAAAAAZM/3qzw2j1rGVw/s1600/Newton03_1221962cl-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j5cvKCgMHFU/Ta3Yu1aM4uI/AAAAAAAAAZM/3qzw2j1rGVw/s400/Newton03_1221962cl-3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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The two biggest issues Newton has are accuracy and maturity. The accuracy is something that can be fixed with a little patience and some solid coaching. The maturity is something Newton is going to have to figure out on his own. <br />
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Before the Combine even started Newton was quoted by Sports Illustrated columnist Peter King as saying, "I see myself not only as a football player, but an entertainer and icon." While it is good to see that Newton realizes football is a business it does not look good when a college kid is talking about becoming an icon before he has even taken a snap in the NFL.<br />
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To me the one thing I always come back to when talking about Cam Newton is his performance in the Iron Bowl at the end of the Auburn season against Alabama. The game was in Alabama and Auburn fell behind early 24-0. If the Tigers didn't win then they could kiss a shot at the National Championship goodbye. <br />
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Instead of folding Newton led Auburn back and they eventually won the game 28-27 throwing for 3 touchdowns and running in another. It was probably one of the greatest performances I have ever seen and it really showed the greatness of Cam Newton. To pull off a victory like that, on the road and in a hostile environment all the while having to deal with talks of scandal and eligibility is impressive and proves Newton is a winner.<br />
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This is what coaches and General Managers look at. They look past the immaturity and the accuracy problems and see the potential for greatness that Newton has. It truly is undeniable and its why he more than likely will be the #1 overall pick come draft day.<br />
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<b>Random YouTube Video</b><br />
<b><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/in0k5f4rIgM" title="YouTube video player" width="640"></iframe> </b>James Cholerashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17920163382430847647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862941136408130469.post-47541715381224556512011-04-18T15:57:00.001-04:002011-04-18T16:06:01.681-04:00Despite the Officials Best Efforts the NBA Playoffs Have Been GreatWhat a crazy weekend in the NBA. It had everything. Big upsets (Atlanta beating Orlando, Memphis beating San Antonio and New Orleans beating Los Angeles), last second heroics (Shane Battier and Ray Allen) and some ridiculous individual performances (Derrick Rose and Chris Paul). There were 8 games and almost every one of them came down to the final possession with the largest margin of victory being only 10 points.<br />
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The weekend wasn't without its flaws however and the one that stuck out the most, and when it comes to the NBA always sticks out the most, was the officiating.<br />
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No other sport is hurt so much by the refs. Sometimes NFL games can be ruined by a ref making a bad call or calling a stupid penalty but for the most part the players decide the outcome. That's not the way it goes down in the NBA though as at times it seems like the biggest stars on the court are the officials. As Bill Simmons tweeted during the Bulls-Pacers game, "For any Bulls fans attending this game: don't forget, you're not there to see the teams, you're there to see Joey Crawford."<br />
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That tweet wasn't far off. Despite Derrick Rose putting on one of the greatest individual performances I have ever seen in the NBA Playoffs the real star of that game was Crawford. In that game alone there were 46 personal fouls called as well as 2 technical fouls (one to Pacers coach Frank Vogel and one to Bulls forward Luol Deng). The final score of that game was 104-99 for Chicago. The Bulls went 26-32 from the charity stripe meaning that exactly 25% of their total offense came from free throws.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dpiI7WclYaY/TayW9rw9JdI/AAAAAAAAAZE/fblKt8-oxto/s1600/crawford.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dpiI7WclYaY/TayW9rw9JdI/AAAAAAAAAZE/fblKt8-oxto/s400/crawford.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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But the Bulls weren't even the biggest benefactors of the whistle happy refs. In a 101-98 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies the San Antonio Spurs scored almost 38% of their total points from the line. They shot a total of 47 free throws making 36 of them. In that particular game there were a total of 60 personal fouls handed out by Ed Milloy and the rest of his officiating crew. I watched that whole game and I can promise you there weren't 60 plays that merited a foul call. It just so happens that every time Tony Parker or George Hill came within 8 feet of the basket a whistle got blown. <br />
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In total there were 445 free throw attempts over the weekend. That averages out to 55.63 free throw attempts per game. If I had to bet I would say that going forward that number is only going to get higher as well because these officials want to make sure they are "controlling the game" and not letting the players take over.<br />
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Here are the guys that got to the line the most over the weekend (Makes/Attempts):<br />
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Dwight Howard - 14-22<br />
Derrick Rose - 19-21<br />
Tony Parker - 12-16 <br />
Kevin Durant - 12-15<br />
LeBron James - 13-14 <br />
Dirk Nowitzki - 13-13<br />
George Hill - 11-13 <br />
Chris Paul - 9-12<br />
Chris Bosh - 9-11 <br />
Marc Gasol - 6-10<br />
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A lot of the guys on the list are players that drive to the basket and actually get fouled (Rose, LeBron and Durant) and Howard just gets hacked every time he touches the ball. The rest of the guys on the list though, especially Hill, Parker and Nowitzki, just drive to the basket and flail hoping the ref will bail them out, which more often then not they do.<br />
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Its not even just the free throws that are brutal. In two separate games officials made absolutely terrible calls that ended up deciding the game. The first was a non-call against Kendrick Perkins of the Thunder against the Denver Nuggets and the second was an offensive foul call against Carmelo Anthony in the final minute of the Celtics/Knicks game.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UXqnrcyOXLA/TayW-JW0gvI/AAAAAAAAAZI/P1Hz9dm27QY/s1600/DickBavetta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UXqnrcyOXLA/TayW-JW0gvI/AAAAAAAAAZI/P1Hz9dm27QY/s400/DickBavetta.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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The Perkins non-call was a blatant basket interference call that the refs somehow missed. With the Thunder down 101-100 Russell Westbrook put up a shot from 15 feet that bounced off the rim and then went in. The only problem is that Perkins tipped the ball in from under the basket as it was still in the cylinder. If the refs get that call right then the Nuggets are still up by one point with the ball and 1:06 left to play. That basket changed the momentum of the game and ended up titling the game in favor of the Thunder.<br />
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That non-call is nothing when compared to the atrocious offensive foul call against Carmelo Anthony. With the Knicks up 85-84 with possession of the ball Carmelo Anthony and Paul Pierce were jostling for position just outside the post area. Pierce was holding Melo's left arm and when Melo shook him off Pierce exaggerated and got the offensive foul call. Was it a foul? No and it is definitely not a foul you call with 21 seconds left in a playoff game. That gave the Celtics the ball and Ray Allen, being the best clutch shooter in NBA history in my opinion, nails the game winning 3.<br />
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Both of those examples gave the home team the advantage and you have to wonder if that's what made the refs blow the whistle. I personally think its because the officials can't keep up with the speed of the game and they blow the whistle based on assumptions and not based on what they actually see. Some of the refs in the NBA are in their 60s and 70s and yet they feel they can still run up and down the court with some of the best athletes on the planet. They see a guy drive the basket in an instant and then see bodies move and they just blow the whistle as a first reaction.<br />
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So maybe I am being too hard on the refs. Then again they are incompetent old men who seemingly want to make sure that basketball games are decided at the free throw line instead of during regular play. Yet despite the best the officials best efforts the first weekend of the NBA playoffs can be seen as nothing but a major success.<br />
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<br />
<b>Random YouTube Video</b><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/AMYKcx9eUQ4" title="YouTube video player" width="480"></iframe>James Cholerashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17920163382430847647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862941136408130469.post-83570999698873988582011-04-15T13:42:00.000-04:002011-04-15T13:42:21.182-04:00Why Barry Bonds and Manny Ramirez Should be in the Hall of FameThis was a big, and extremely controversial, week for MLB. Manny Ramirez surprisingly retired rather than face a 100 game suspension for testing positive during a random drug test and Barry Bonds was found guilt of obstruction of justice and now awaits sentencing in court. <br />
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With all of that going on the usual debate has popped up and has dominated much of the discussion of both Bonds and Ramirez. The debate of course is whether or not Barry Bonds and Manny Ramirez should be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. To me this shouldn't even be a debate as both Barry Bonds and Manny Ramirez 100 percent belong in the Hall of Fame and here is why:<br />
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If you go to the <a href="http://baseballhall.org/">Baseball Hall of Fame website</a> they quote their slogan in the top right hand corner of the home page. The slogan reads, "Preserving History - Honoring Excellence - Connecting Generations." In the top left hand corner of the same home page the official name of the Hall of Fame is written, "National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum." Based on the slogan and the official name of the Hall of Fame both Barry Bonds and Manny Ramirez deserve inclusion.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6QYEc9kIHIA/Tah6qP2ADTI/AAAAAAAAAY4/9RTI21CNOBk/s1600/barry-bonds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6QYEc9kIHIA/Tah6qP2ADTI/AAAAAAAAAY4/9RTI21CNOBk/s320/barry-bonds.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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If the point of the Hall of Fame is to preserve the history of baseball then how can Bonds and Ramirez not be included? Just because they cheated does not mean that they don't have their place in the history of the game. No one in baseball history has ever hit more home runs than Barry Bonds. How is that not integral to the history of baseball? Just because fans and writers don't like him doesn't mean he should be excluded from baseball history.<br />
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The same can be said for Ramirez who historically is one of the greatest right handed hitters in the history of baseball. His numbers are right up there with such baseball legends as Hank Aaron, Willie Mays and Frank Robinson. To deny him entry into the Hall of Fame would be the exact opposite of preserving history, it would be ignoring.<br />
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The most important word to focus on is 'museum.' If the Hall of Fame is actually going to be a legitimate museum for the game of baseball then how do you exclude players for taking steroids? That would be the same as the German National History Museum excluding the Holocaust. While it does make the country look bad it is still an important part of their history and to try and sweep it under the rug like it didn't happen is ridiculous. The same goes for players who took steroids. Baseball can try and pretend like it didn't happen but fans know and it makes the Hall of Fame look ridiculous for trying to exclude those players.<br />
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Nowhere on the Hall of Fame website does it have the word 'moral' written. The point of a Hall of Fame isn't to induct players based on moral character and personality. If that is the case then why is the Hall of Fame currently filled with blatantly open racists, alcoholics, drug users and convicted felons? Character and personality should have no bearing on whether someone is inducted into the Hall of Fame or not and if it does have some bearing then the word 'museum' needs to be removed from the title of the organization.<br />
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Then again this is nothing knew for the Baseball Hall of Fame. In the past they have refused to include some of the more polarizing figures in baseball history. Pete Rose, the man with more hits than anyone in baseball history, is not in the Hall of Fame because he bet on baseball. The list of records Pete Rose holds is astounding including most hits ever, most games played, most career at bats, most singles, runs/doubles/walks/total bases by a switch hitter and most consecutive seasons of 200 or more hits: 10. Yet despite his amazing playing career he has been excluded from the Hall of Fame and more than likely will never be inducted, which is one of the greater tragedies in sports if you ask me.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A9QeDA_aAHM/Tah6qzgPtWI/AAAAAAAAAZA/EphxLdTqsWQ/s1600/pete_rose-734249.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A9QeDA_aAHM/Tah6qzgPtWI/AAAAAAAAAZA/EphxLdTqsWQ/s400/pete_rose-734249.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
'Connecting Generations' is also listed as one of the principle values of the Baseball Hall of Fame. If that is the case then how will you connect the 80s to the late 2000s without showcasing the "Steroid Era" of the 90s and early 2000s? How do you know for certain who was on steroids and who wasn't? Maybe everyone was and only a few people got caught. A few years ago there was a reported list of over 500 players that tested positive for performance enhancing drugs yet only a few names were released. Who else was on that list and why haven't their names been released? <br />
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If the selection committee is going to deny Bonds and Ramirez, with Bonds never actually testing positive, then how can they induct anyone from that era?<br />
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The most common defense for not inducting someone like Pete Rose or Barry Bonds into the Hall of Fame is, "they are excluded because they cheated." This is a not a valid argument for exclusion in my eyes. The Hall of Fame is currently filled with pitchers who admitted to using illegal pitches throughout their careers. Guys would use sandpaper or a nail file to wreck the shape of the ball making it harder to hit and of course there is the infamous spitball used by pitchers such as Gaylord Perry and Don Drysdale. The pitchers that used these pitches broke the rules of baseball and yet still find themselves in the Hall of Fame. If they are included then why can't Barry Bonds be inducted as well?<br />
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By blatantly ignoring the purpose of the organization and the '"values" it supposedly stands for, the Baseball Hall of Fame has become a popularity contest. Players whose careers were far less impressive than someone like Rose's or Bonds' are being inducted. You're telling me Bert Blyleven is more important to the history of baseball than Pete Rose and Barry Bonds?<br />
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Excluding players such as Pete Rose, Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Mark McGuire and Sammy Sosa because they broke the rules of the game is a blatant contradiction of what the Hall of Fame is supposed to stand for. Why can these players not be inducted and then on their plaque have an inscription that states they tested positive for steroids? Is that really such a big deal?<br />
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Until the day that Barry Bonds, Pete Rose and Manny Ramirez are inducted into the Hall of Fame I will never look at the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum as legitimate. <br />
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<br />
<b>Random YouTube Video</b><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/cMkimxS_swA" title="YouTube video player" width="640"></iframe>James Cholerashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17920163382430847647noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862941136408130469.post-81301783063388372142011-04-14T15:10:00.000-04:002011-04-14T15:10:43.615-04:00NFL Rookie Wages Set to be CutLate Monday night documents were leaked from the NFL offices that outlined a proposed plan by the owners to cut almost 60 percent of guaranteed money paid to first round draft picks. The plan would free up a total of $1.2 billion by 2016 and that money would be diverted to veterans' salaries and benefits rather than being spent on players that have yet to play a down in the NFL. Also all players drafted in the first round would have to sign five-year fixed contracts*.<br />
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* Players selected in rounds 2-7 would sign four year fixed deals <br />
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Making changes to the rookie salary system was a major point of contention during negotiations before the lockout occurred as it should be. First round picks, especially quarterbacks, get paid way too much money considering they haven't actually accomplished anything. In almost every other sport there is a maximum rookie contract, or rookie wage scale*, that limits how much rookies can make. A system like that forces players to earn a big contract rather than simply being handed millions of dollars for possible future production.<br />
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* The owners leaked proposal does not include a rookie wage scale as contracts can still be negotiated on a case by case basis <br />
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The amount of guaranteed money first round picks receive is insane. From the year 2000 to the year 2010 the amount of guaranteed money first round players received went up 233 percent. In 2010 alone $525 million of guaranteed money was included in contracts ($50 million of which went to Sam Bradford, the 1st overall pick by the St. Louis Rams). That number needs to come down as paying players that young, that much money, before they have ever played a down not only gives them a feeling of entitlement but can also create animosity from veterans who had to earn their contracts.<br />
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Here are the last five #1 overall selections and how much guaranteed money they got:<br />
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Sam Bradford -$50 million <br />
Matthew Stafford - $41.7 million<br />
Jake Long - $30 million<br />
JaMarcus Russell - $32.019 <br />
Mario Williams - $27.125<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kmUzJNN8_Os/TadEWFxqOPI/AAAAAAAAAYw/HlmjmYlzHlA/s1600/s_pft_nfl_pftvrussell_100429_4x3.standard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kmUzJNN8_Os/TadEWFxqOPI/AAAAAAAAAYw/HlmjmYlzHlA/s400/s_pft_nfl_pftvrussell_100429_4x3.standard.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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Before the JaMarcus Russell bashing starts keep in mind that there are other quarterbacks who have been huge busts that cost their teams millions of dollars as well, maybe not as the same level as Russell but still. Matt Leinart ($12.9 million), David Carr ($15 million) and Joey Harrington ($13.9 million) are just a few that come to mind. Think of how crippling those contracts were to their respective teams.<br />
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In an interview with ESPN Philadelphia Eagles team President Joe Banner had this to say about the proposal to cut guaranteed money being given to rookies, "From a fairness standpoint, the simple concept to drive this should be that the players who contribute the most to the league should get the most money. What this system does is ensures players playing well in the NFL and bringing in fans and driving TV [ratings] will get the money that went to players who turned out not to be so good. And that is good for everyone." <br />
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The agents for these rookies might tend to disagree with Mr. Banner as this new proposed system would severely hurt the amount of money they would be able to make. Ben Dogra for example is the agent for Sam Bradford and he no doubt made a ridiculous commission on Bradford's contract with the Rams. If this proposed system was in place Bradford would have gotten only maybe $20 million guaranteed which would mean Dogra would have lost out on millions of dollars. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cZ6dRFirHLo/TadFimKpDzI/AAAAAAAAAY0/TvzWoQrHhDs/s1600/nfl_lockout.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cZ6dRFirHLo/TadFimKpDzI/AAAAAAAAAY0/TvzWoQrHhDs/s320/nfl_lockout.png" width="239" /></a></div><br />
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Its not just the agents who would be getting hurt by the proposed new rules. Veteran players would also suffer if the price to sign rookies was to be lowered. Some players in the league only have jobs because teams are hesitant to hand over large sums of money to unproven players. If the average cost of a rookie contract was to drop by the proposed 60 percent and veterans' salaries would go up by 60 percent then teams would be more likely to fill their roster with cheaper and younger players.<br />
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Player agent Peter Schaffer put it best when he said, "This will eliminate the veteran middle class because teams can have younger players who are making less and are under fixed contracts." He also called this proposed system, "scouting insurance" as it protects teams that screw up their first round picks in the draft.<br />
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Although it will more than likely get rejected I hope this proposal does become the rule. I hate seeing rookies that haven't done a thing in the NFL holdout because they want more money. They should have to earn their contracts as it would make them try harder and you would have fewer busts. No more guys like JaMarcus Russell getting paid their millions and then not caring or trying. Players are now going to have to play their ay to the big pay day (totally meant for that to rhyme).<br />
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<br />
<b>Random YouTube Video</b><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/RJPesST-skg" title="YouTube video player" width="480"></iframe>James Cholerashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17920163382430847647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862941136408130469.post-257423458671598952011-04-13T13:31:00.001-04:002011-04-13T13:37:18.432-04:00The UFC Hype MachineWhat do Mark Hominick, Jake Shields and Yushin Okami all have in common? Well for one they are all #1 contenders for UFC titles in their respective weight classes. More importantly than that however what they all have in common is that despite the glowing praise from Dana White, Joe Rogan and others associated with the UFC they have no chance to beat Jose Aldo, Georges St. Pierre and Anderson Silva.<br />
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This phenomenon is what I like the call the 'UFC Hype Machine.'<br />
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The basic function of the UFC Hype Machine is get fans to believe that fighters, while excellent in their own right, have a chance of beating the best fighters on the planet. That's exactly what Aldo, St. Pierre and Silva are, they are pound for pound three of best fighters in the world and yet for some reason fans, including myself, always seem to doubt them heading into a fight.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PyCIj0zecQk/TaXbgVDJSiI/AAAAAAAAAYo/YY1869x8FBQ/s1600/Anderson-Silva-kicks-on-the-chin-of-Vitor-Belfort.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PyCIj0zecQk/TaXbgVDJSiI/AAAAAAAAAYo/YY1869x8FBQ/s400/Anderson-Silva-kicks-on-the-chin-of-Vitor-Belfort.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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If you watch <i>The Ultimate Fighter</i> then no doubt you have seen the new promo ad for UFC 129. The ad features Jake Shields in a locker room as Joe Rogan does voice over work listing all of Shields' best victories. The purpose of the ad is to get fans to believe that Jake Shields has a chance in hell of beating Georges St. Pierre on April 30th. If you watch Mixed Martial Arts at all then you know that this is just not possible. Shields has never faced anyone half as good as GSP and he will no doubt get severely outclassed when they meet.<br />
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Jake Shields is the latest example of the UFC hype machine at work. When the fight was first announced months ago I remember public reaction being 'he doesn't stand a chance against Georges St. Pierre.' Yet slowly but surely doubt starts to creep into the minds of fans and they start to believe that Shields might actually stand a chance, which is exactly what the UFC wants you to think.<br />
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The Hype Machine has been doing its work since long before Jake Shields arrived. Think back on Georges St. Pierre's last few fights. Going into each one of them the message from the UFC was always the same, "fighter X is the most dangerous opponent Georges has ever faced." They even said that about Josh Koscheck, who the first time he fought GSP at UFC 74 got absolutely man handled. Koscheck, Dan Hardy, BJ Penn, Thiago Alves and Jon Fitch. These are the men that GSP has not only beaten but absolutely dominated.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gGSKfK5liRk/TaXbg8SvULI/AAAAAAAAAYs/FTZ-mKsGO0c/s1600/jose-aldo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gGSKfK5liRk/TaXbg8SvULI/AAAAAAAAAYs/FTZ-mKsGO0c/s320/jose-aldo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Even when it comes to Anderson Silva, the best fighter in the world in the weakest division in the UFC, the Hype Machine is still extremely effective. Before he fought Vitor Belfort, Chael Sonnen, Demian Maia, Thales Leites and Patrick Cote there were fans who thought he could be in trouble. Yet other than Sonnen (who was on steroids and Silva had a cracked rib) they have all looked pathetic barely posing a challenge. Two of those guys (Leites and Cote) aren't even in the UFC anymore. Yet when Anderson faces Yushin Okami you better believe fans will think Okami has a chance.<br />
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How many fights will Anderson Silva need to dominate before fans finally realize he cannot be beaten? I mean the man hasn't lost since 2006. Georges St. Pierre hasn't lost a round 2007. Let me repeat so it really sinks in. He has not lost a single round in over 5 years of fighting. Yet Jake Shields (who is often in bad positions and barely pulls of victories) is somehow a serious threat? Jose Aldo hasn't lost since 2005, that's 6 years people, but Mark Hominick is being given a "punchers chance." <br />
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I'm not saying that the UFC is being dishonest in the way they promote fights. No the point is that fans keep falling for the same thing (I include myself here). We as fans watch <i>Countdown </i>and <i>Primetime</i>, we see the promos and we start to think, "yeah I could see him pulling off the upset." That is the power of the UFC Hype Machine. It takes rational MMA fans and gets us to completely disregard all the fights we have ever watched. All the evidence of domination we have witnessed in the past is forgotten in an instant and that's when the UFC has us right where they want us.<br />
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<br />
<br />
<b>Random YouTube Video</b><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/9e57dlq7ZA4" title="YouTube video player" width="640"></iframe>James Cholerashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17920163382430847647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862941136408130469.post-76603287055562185362011-04-12T15:06:00.001-04:002011-04-12T15:16:08.526-04:001st Round NHL Playoff PredictionsThe NHL playoffs kickoff on Wednesday and I couldn't be more excited. The regular season is fine and all but playoff hockey is a better representation of what real hockey is. Guys actually finish their checks unlike in the regular season and players actually try for the entire game, its awesome. <br />
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I just can't wait for that first double overtime game that takes until 2:35am to finish. And is there anything better then when someone throws a dirty hit in Game 2 officially signifying that the series just got chippy? <br />
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<br />
So here are my predictions:<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Western Conference </b></span><br />
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<b>(1) Vancouver vs. (8) Chicago</b><br />
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God damnit Dallas you mother f*&ing pieces of s%@* how did you not beat the f%$#@ing Minnesota Wild?! All the Stars had to do to make the playoffs, and keep Vancouver from playing Chicago, was beat Jose Theodore and some AHL callups. But I guess that's just way too much to ask for a team who boasts one of the best top two lines in the NHL. Just disgraceful.<br />
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As a Canucks fan am I worried that my team will get bounced from the playoffs for the 3rd straight season by the Blackhawks? Am I worried Roberto Luongo hasn't slept since the Stars lost and still has nightmares about Patrick Kane every night? Am I worried Vancouver's best faceoff man is half blind? Am I worried about the President's Trophy curse? Of course I am.<br />
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But I am also cautiously optimistic and here is why. Vancouver's penalty kill during the regular season was 3rd bets in the league at 85.6% while Chicago's was 25th at 79.2%. I don't see Corey Crawford stealing any games and becoming this years Antti Niemi.<br />
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Lastly with Dustin Byfuglien now on Atlanta and Troy Brouwer and David Bolland unlikely to be healthy for the series I don't think Chicago will be able to man handle the Canucks like they did the past 2 years. That should hopefully give the Sedins more room to work with.<br />
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Having said all that I could still see the Canucks getting swept and wasting another year as a Stanley Cup contender.<br />
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<b>Prediction</b>: Canucks in 6 (had to go 6 because if it goes 7 the Canucks are screwed. Maybe I should have gone with the reverse jinx on this one)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fCVxIQ-7cdI/TaSiI-mjEQI/AAAAAAAAAYg/0ILMD802zKw/s1600/kane-p-get-090629-584.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fCVxIQ-7cdI/TaSiI-mjEQI/AAAAAAAAAYg/0ILMD802zKw/s400/kane-p-get-090629-584.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<b>(2) San Jose vs. (7) Los Angeles</b><br />
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I could talk about how San Jose doesn't kill penalties half as well as LA does and how LA has a young team that is loaded with talent but really it would be a waste of time. <br />
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The only thing you need to know about this series is that the Sharks top line are what I like to refer to as "choke artists." Unless they are on the same team as Sidney Crosby, Eric Staal, Jonathan Toews, Drew Doughty, Chris Pronger, Corey Perry, Ryan Getlaf and every other great Canadian player in the NHL they aren't winning shit. No one to carry them means no chance of victory.<br />
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<b>Prediction</b>: LA in 6<br />
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<b>(3) Detroit vs. (6) Phoenix</b><br />
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List of players on the Detroit red Wings that have won a Stanley Cup: Pavel Datsyuk (2), Henrik Zetterberg, Brian Rafalski (3), Johan Franzen, Jiri Hudler, Nicklas Lidstrom (4), Nicklas Kronwall, Dan Cleary, Valtteri Filppula, Tomas Holmstrom (4), Kris Draper (4), Brad Stuart, Drew Miller, Darren Helm, Chris Osgood (3), Mike Modano.<br />
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List of players on Phoenix that have won a Stanley Cup: Ilya Bryzgalov, Ray Whitney.<br />
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<b>Prediction</b>: Detroit in 4 (yeah I said it. Phoenix shouldn't have a hockey team and they probably won't even sell out the building during their 2 home games. But keep pushing the NHL on people that could care less about the game Gary Bettman its noble work you're doing).<br />
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<br />
<b>(4) Anaheim vs. (5) Nashville</b><br />
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Nashville got so screwed here. They almost got to play Phoenix or LA both teams they more than likely would have won their first playoff series ever against but now they have to play Anaheim who will not be an easy out.<br />
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For me this series comes down to one player: Shea Weber. In order for Nashville to be successful Weber needs to play his best hockey and shutdown Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf. If he does that then Nashville might finally get over the hump and win a playoff series which I am really hoping for because Nashville is a solid team and Barry Trotz could use a break (I mean the guy has no neck he could use a win).<br />
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<b>Prediction</b>: Nashville in 7<br />
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<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Eastern Conference</b></span><br />
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<b>(1) Washington vs. (8) New York</b><br />
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Time to see if the Capitals new commitment to defense will pay off. Last year they got bounced in the first round by Montreal and rededicated themselves to playing 'playoff hockey' all season. It may have cost them in offense but they still won their division, got a first seed in the playoffs and had the 2nd best penalty kill in the league.<br />
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The Rangers barely got into the playoffs (Carolina choked at home against Tampa Bay on the final day of the season) and when I look at this team I wonder who is going to step up and be a leader in the playoffs. Henrik Lundqvist is an amazing goalie but he can't win the series on his own, not with the defense he has in front of him anyways.<br />
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The Rangers owned the Capitals during the regular season but I don't see them continuing that trend when it actually matters.<br />
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<b>Prediction</b>: Capitals in 5<br />
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<br />
<b>(2) Philadelphia vs. (7) Buffalo</b><br />
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They may have limped into the postseason (going 3-4-3 in their last 10 games) but the Flyers are a team that was built for the playoffs. They play physical hockey and across the board are in my opinion the most talented team in the NHL. Their goaltending is a real question mark but they made it to the Stanley Cup Finals with Brian Boucher in net last season so no need to worry there.<br />
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Plus if Chris Pronger plays in this series, which it looks like he will, then god help the Sabers forwards. he has built some pent up aggression sitting in the press box and no doubt he wants to kill somebody. Thomas Vanek better keep his head up.<br />
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I emailed my buddy Draper (biggest Sabers fan I know,well to be fair the only Sabers fan I know) asking him how many games he thought the Sabers would win. "2 if we are lucky." <br />
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<b>Prediction</b>: Flyers in 6<br />
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<br />
<b>(3) Boston vs. (6) Montreal</b><br />
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I was watching TSN today and they aired an interview with Travis Moen of the Canadiens asking him how he thought they were going to win the series. His response, "drive hard to the net and make Tim Thomas work." Not a bad strategy although there is one flaw I do see in it. The Canadiens don't have a forward taller than 5'4. How are these midgets going to drive to the net on Zedeno Chara? They won't even be able to get by Milan Lucic and Nathan Horton.<br />
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With all the bad blood between these two teams this year this series should be great to watch but I think its going to be pretty one-sided in terms of wins. The again my boys Carey Price and PK Subban might go off and pull off the upset, I kid I kid.<br />
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<b>Prediction</b>: Boston in 4<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-91VTXiuxu2s/TaSiJo8qFLI/AAAAAAAAAYk/zE1p7tJRPe0/s1600/HabsBruinsFight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-91VTXiuxu2s/TaSiJo8qFLI/AAAAAAAAAYk/zE1p7tJRPe0/s400/HabsBruinsFight.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<b>(4) Pittsburgh vs. (5) Tampa Bay</b><br />
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The fact that the Penguins played so well down the stretch despite missing Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby is mind bottling. Jordan Staal proved he can be a #1 center and everyone else stepped up their level of play. I don't think Crosby will be playing in this series but I don't think the Penguins will need him as they are a proven group with the best penalty kill in the NHL.<br />
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Steven Stamkos and Martin St. Louis combined for 190 points. Tampa bays next 4 top scorers combined for 183. Tampa Bay is a 2 man team that scored the 6th most goals in the NHL this year but had just 8 players finish with a + rating. They don't play good defense and their goaltending is mediocre at best. I mean Dwayne Roloson? Its not 2005-2006 anymore.<br />
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<b>Prediction</b>: Pittsburgh in 5<br />
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<br />
So there you go. Predictions that mean absolutely nothing from some random jackass on the internet. Enjoy the playoffs. I know I will.<br />
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<br />
<b>Random YouTube Video</b><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/bzVKyAyD2jc" title="YouTube video player" width="640"></iframe>James Cholerashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17920163382430847647noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862941136408130469.post-22619680682378961392011-04-11T14:22:00.004-04:002011-04-11T14:29:27.117-04:00Tara Sullivan Denied Access to Male Locker Room at Masters, Overreaction Ensues"Bad enough no women members at Augusta. But not allowing me to join writers in locker room interview is just wrong."<br />
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That is a tweet from female journalist Tara Sullivan of the <i>Bergen Record</i> from Sunday night after she was denied access to the male locker room at Augusta National Golf Club. The tweet was published at around 8:30 pm and thanks to the express nature of social media the story blew up in a matter of minutes. <br />
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The general public reaction was one of outrage as people simply couldn't wrap their heads around a female being barred from a male locker room. Naturally the majority of the outrage was directed at Augusta National due to their history of sexism (they currently have no female members) however some people were quick to blame the security guard who refused her entry.<br />
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This is where the overreaction began.<br />
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A common saying is that when you have a knee-jerk reaction often times you end up looking like the jerk. This saying rings especially true in this case as people were quick to call both Augusta National and the security guard sexist before getting all of the facts. If people had simply waited for the entire story to surface they would have realized that the whole situation was a misunderstanding and not some sort mean spirited and sexist act with the intention of embarrassing Tara Sullivan. <br />
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<b>Fact #1 - The security guard that denied Tara Sullivan was female not male like many assumed</b><br />
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Here is a quote from Tara Sullivan in an article she published this morning that ran in almost every major newspaper Monday morning,<br />
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"At the final portion of the hallway, the one that ended at the locker room door, I was told by a female security officer that I was not allowed in. I asked the security woman again why they had such a policy, and she told me it was because there was an open bathroom area in the locker room. She apologized for the rule, saying it was not her policy."<br />
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So rather than a male security guard rudely telling Tara Sullivan she wasn't allowed and not giving an explanation it was actually a female who, based on Sullivan's own story, politely explained to her the situation and what she understood was the policy of the club.<br />
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But rather than wait for that information to come out people just assumed it was a man who denied her. I'm not saying it makes it right because she was denied by a woman I am simply showing how jumping to a conclusion rather than waiting for facts can lead to overreactions.<br />
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<b>Fact #2 - Augusta National apologized as soon as they were informed of what occurred</b><br />
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Once the story broke many people were quick to blame Augusta National and point to their sexist past (myself included although I didn't blame them I simply stated I wasn't surprised based on their history). For those that are unaware in 2002 there was a large controversy over the lack of female members at Augusta National.<br />
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In response then Chairman Hootie Johnson stated publicly, "Our membership is single gender just as many other organizations and clubs all across America. These would include junior Leagues, sororities, fraternities, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and countless others. And we all have a moral and legal right to organize our clubs the way we wish"<br />
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That is sound logic and although it may not be politically correct and socially acceptable it is legally correct as Augusta National is a private organization who can create and enforce any policy it wishes. Since then the club has allowed female members to join the 'waiting list' although that was 9 years ago and there still isn't one single female member. But back to Tara Sullivan.<br />
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Once again in her own words, "I approached the media desk for an official reaction. An apology was translated to me shortly after and Masters media official Steve Ethun met with me personally."<br />
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"I apologize," he said. "It was a complete misunderstanding by tournament week security and you should have rightfully been given access per the standard practices of major sporting events."<br />
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One more quick excerpt from Tara Sullivan's personal account, "I looked around for any official Masters representative, but didn’t see anyone."<br />
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So what happened was Sullivan was denied access to the locker room and there was no official present to correct the mistake that had been made. As soon as an official was notified an apology was given although at that time it was too late. <br />
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There was nothing that Augusta National could have done short of stationing an official right by the door to the locker room. In this case it seems as though Tara Sullivan was simply unlucky and to accuse Augusta National of purposely baring her is flat out incorrect.<br />
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<b>Fact #3 - The female security guard was "tournament week staff" </b><br />
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What does that mean exactly? It means that the security guard isn't a full-time employee of Augusta National and that she was hired on a 7 day contract to work just the Masters. Once the tournament ended she would effectively no longer be employed.<br />
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Therefore it would be fair to say she might not know 100% of the policies at the club and simply made a judgement call that was incorrect. She was clearly unaware of equal-access policy which Augusta National does have in effect and had an official been there at the time the situation would no doubt have been rectified.<br />
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Tara Sullivan even took some of the blame off the female security guard herself when she said in her recounting of the incident, "Augusta National does not allow women members, so perhaps security personnel could be confusing club policy with Masters policy."<br />
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As I said before it was bad luck for Sullivan and an unfortunate misunderstanding that has spiraled into a backlash against Augusta National for being "sexists."<br />
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<b>Fact #4 - Sullivan met her deadline and got her story on Rory McIlroy published</b><br />
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That obviously doesn't make up for what happened to her but in reality that's what this whole incident is about. A reporter wanted an interview but was denied access to the locker room. She eventually got quotes and the entire transcript of a group interview from her fellow journalists but she missed out on being there personally.<br />
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People were reacting like she was denied access to a cure for cancer. She was just trying to write a 700 word story and couldn't talk to her main interview subject directly. Context people, context.<br />
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I can understand why people would be upset over first hearing about a story like this. Its 2011 and females are still having to deal with incidents like this. A lot of the outrage I saw came from female journalists and members of the media which is shocking because if you are a professional journalist you should know that facts are king. Reacting without knowing the facts can blow up in your face and make you look foolish and had everyone just sat back and waited 12 hours they would have seen that this was just a case of misunderstanding and bad luck.<br />
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<br />
<b>Random YouTube Video</b><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/-ws1FMFTO7g" title="YouTube video player" width="480"></iframe>James Cholerashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17920163382430847647noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862941136408130469.post-16516689728451945632011-04-10T22:20:00.001-04:002011-04-10T22:25:31.485-04:00Carolina Hurricanes and Dallas Stars Crack Under PressureWin one game. That's all the Carolina Hurricanes and the Dallas Stars had to do to make the NHL playoffs.<br />
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Thanks to a New York Rangers loss earlier in the week all Carolina had to do was win at home against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday and they were in. As for the Stars they were given a ray of hope when the Chicago Blackhawks lost Sunday afternoon to the Detroit Red Wings. <br />
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But the pressure was too much as both teams ended up losing and will now have to watch the playoffs on television like the rest of us.<br />
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For the past 3 weeks the Hurricanes had been chasing the New York Rangers and the Buffalo Sabres for the 8th and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. It seemed that no matter how well they played, and they did play really well down the stretch, they just couldn't make up any ground. Then miraculously the Atlanta Thrashers beat the Rangers 3-0 on Thursday opening the door for the Hurricanes to sneak their way into the playoffs with a win over Tampa Bay on Saturday night.<br />
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It seemed like a dream scenario for the Canes as they were playing a team that had nothing to gain by winning and were playing them at home in the RBC Center where they were 22-13-5 on the year. Unfortunately for the Canes, and their fans, it quickly turned into a nightmare as the Lightning scored 3 unanswered goals in the 1st period to suck the energy right out of the building. The Hurricanes wouldn't recover and ended up losing 6-2 thus ending their season.<br />
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"I think there's a chance it was shock at 3-0," Carolina coach Paul Maurice said in an interview with NHL.com after the disappointing loss. "It happened so fast that you're shell-shocked a little bit, and then the enormity of how much you put into it and where it's at, I think that made it difficult for us."<br />
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Captain Eric Staal echoed his coaches sentiments, "We worked our butts off all year to have this opportunity at home and we didn't get the job done."<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1k8wb0JVLT4/TaJc3A8SXBI/AAAAAAAAAYY/ifJkELpwklE/s1600/80142_lightning_hurricanes_hockey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1k8wb0JVLT4/TaJc3A8SXBI/AAAAAAAAAYY/ifJkELpwklE/s400/80142_lightning_hurricanes_hockey.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I thought for sure the Hurricanes would make it into the playoffs. I figured there was no way they lose with Cam Ward in net and Eric Staal knowing what was on the line but clearly they choked. They didn't play a strong game defensively and didn't set the tone early instead playing a style of hockey more suited to Tampa Bay's strengths.<br />
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Luckily for the Hurricanes they aren't the only choke artists in the league as the Dallas Stars also blew their glorious chance to make it into the playoffs when they lost 5-3 to the Minnesota Wild on Sunday night.<br />
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The Stars were all but out of the playoff race going into the weekend but on Sunday afternoon they were given a second chance at playoff life. The second chance came thanks to a 4-3 Blackhawks loss at home to the Detroit Red Wings. The defending Stanley Cup champions knew they controlled their playoff fate and would be guaranteed the 7th or 8th seed with a win, but they blew it.<br />
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"I can't even believe we're here right now," said Hawks captain Jonathan Toews during his post-game press conference to the media. "It's so frustrating that it has to come down to this. I'm pretty much speechless."<br />
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If the Stars had beaten the Wild, the Blackhawks would have become the 5th team in NHL history to win a Stanley Cup one year and fail to make the playoffs the following season. The 1967-68 Maple Leafs, 1969-70 Canadiens, 1995-96 Devils and 2006-07 Hurricanes are the only teams to fail to make the playoffs the season after winning the Cup.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XK2k6lIKfNo/TaJc3UdYDxI/AAAAAAAAAYc/klahxYiU7qs/s1600/l5118393.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XK2k6lIKfNo/TaJc3UdYDxI/AAAAAAAAAYc/klahxYiU7qs/s400/l5118393.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
But the Hawks don't have to worry about adding their names to that list thanks to the choke job by the Dallas Stars and believe me it was a choke job. The Wild played backup goalie Jose Theodore instead of Niklas Backstrom and most of the Wild's best players (John Madden, Martin Havlat and Nick Shultz) weren't even in the lineup. No the Dallas Stars got shut down by a Wild team that was filled with minor league call ups and backstopped by a goalie that only started 28 games this year, winning just 14 of them.<br />
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Its crazy to think that two teams could play 81 games working so hard to try and get into the playoffs and then lose the most important game of their season to teams that had nothing to play for. In the case of the Stars they couldn't even beat a team that, based on the roster they put on the ice, looked like they were trying to lose.<br />
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Both teams will now have a full off-season to reflect on just how exactly they blew their respective chances to potentially win a Stanley Cup. You can't ask for much more than to control your own playoff destiny and for the Canes and Stars it was too much pressure to handle. Then again by losing both teams proved that they didn't deserve to make the playoffs and the teams that got in are the correct teams.<br />
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I am more pissed than shocked that the Wild won as I was banking on a Stars win so that my Vancouver Canucks wouldn't have to play the Blackhawks in the opening round. Now I have to sit and watch as Roberto Luongo gets ravaged by Patrick Kane backhands. Thanks a lot Dallas. <br />
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<br />
<b>Random YouTube Video (Fail compilation seems appropriate)</b><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/RIayeao7iks" title="YouTube video player" width="640"></iframe>James Cholerashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17920163382430847647noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862941136408130469.post-11615311506071283412011-04-09T14:12:00.001-04:002011-04-09T14:13:05.626-04:00Manny Ramirez's Shocking RetirementOn Friday Manny Ramirez announced that after 19 seasons he would be retiring from the game of baseball effective immediately. Only hours later it was revealed that Ramirez had tested positive for performance enhancing drugs in a random blood test during Spring Training. This being his second offense Ramirez would have faced a 100 game suspension but instead he chose to walk away from the game officially ending one of the most impressive, and controversial, careers in baseball history.<br />
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Reaction from players and managers all over the league was one of disbelief. "I'm shocked," said Colorado's Jason Giambi in an interview with ESPN. "He always kind of portrayed that he was out there, but he knew how to hit, man. He was unbelievable when it came to hitting."<br />
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In a conference call to the press Ramirez had this to say about his decision, "I'm at ease. God knows what's best [for me]. I'm now an officially retired baseball player. I'll be going away on a trip to Spain with my old man."<br />
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Had Ramirez not retired he would have become the first baseball player in MLB to get caught using performance enhancing drugs twice. The first time he was caught was with the Dodgers a few years ago and he was suspended for 50 games. Now at 38 years old and as a member of the Tampa Bay Rays Manny has chosen to retire rather than face his punishment. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N4DuJ5ylY20/TaChmUTinhI/AAAAAAAAAYQ/irMf1CY5WHM/s1600/Manny-Ramirez-21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N4DuJ5ylY20/TaChmUTinhI/AAAAAAAAAYQ/irMf1CY5WHM/s400/Manny-Ramirez-21.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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So far every article I've read or interview I've watched has had the same theme, 'what will Manny's legacy be and did he ruin it with this latest positive test?' Its an understandable question and a tough one to answer especially since another controversial baseball figure, Barry Bonds, is in the middle of one of the craziest trials in recent memory.<br />
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A lot of times I get accused for defending assholes and I guess that trend is going to continue because I am about to stick up for Manny Ramirez. <br />
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Maybe I am blinded by the fact that I am a Red Sox fan and he was so important in helping the Sox win both their World Series titles (MVP of the 2004 World Series) but I feel Manny's legacy will remain intact and here is why. In ten years no one will remember that Manny played for the Rays and the White Sox, they might not even remember he played for the Dodgers, much the same way people always forget Jerry Rice played for the Broncos and the Seahawks.<br />
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When people look back on the career of Manny Ramirez they will focus on his years with the Indians and the Red Sox and the fact that he got caught cheating twice will more than likely be forgotten. He had too many great and absolutely hilarious moments (like the time he dove to intercept the throw to the cutoff man) that will dominate the memory of the fans and overshadow his recent transgressions.<br />
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For me Manny Ramirez will always be one of the greatest right handed hitters in the history of baseball. If you look at his career numbers he ranks right up there with some of the best players in history such as Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Frank Robinson and Joe DiMaggio. His combination of power (555 career home runs good for 14th all-time) and his ability to hit for average (.312 lifetime career batting average) are extremely rare in today's game.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FhfUI-na0e8/TaChm_XAAkI/AAAAAAAAAYU/bexLhsGP3gs/s1600/tedwilliamshead-manny-being-manny.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FhfUI-na0e8/TaChm_XAAkI/AAAAAAAAAYU/bexLhsGP3gs/s400/tedwilliamshead-manny-being-manny.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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But it wasn't just his stats that made Manny so great. He was a rare breed in baseball, someone with talent and an actual personality. Too often the best players in baseball have the charisma of a brick wall and never look o enjoy themselves while playing. The same can't be said of Ramirez who had a childish energy about him and always seemed to be smiling and having a good time. That is why so many fans were drawn to him and enjoyed watching him play. Sometimes it seemed like he didn't care or that his work ethic was lacking but former teammates say otherwise.<br />
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For teammate Omar Vizquel told ESPN his thoughts on Manny, ""A lot of people don't take it really seriously when they talk about Manny Ramirez. But the guys who have been in the lineup with him and know how he works, his work ethic, he shows up at 2 o'clock every day, he takes extra batting practice every day and it doesn't matter if he went 5-for-5 the day before. He was constantly in the gym lifting weights. His work ethic was very, very good. And some people look at him on the field like, 'Who the hell is this guy? What is he doing?' There are actions that he does on the field that really don't reflect what type of player he was. But he was just an amazing guy."<br />
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Will he get into the Hall of Fame? Probably not anymore because for some reason baseball treats its Hall of Fame like its the Hall of Morals instead of a museum celebrating the history of baseball. I emailed Woody Paige of <i>Around the Horn</i> fame after Manny was caught the first time asking whether he would vote for Manny and this was his response, <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">James: I will not vote for players who have been found to use steroids unless the voting rules are changed." Since that won't be happening anytime soon Manny may be out of luck when it comes to the Hall.</span><br />
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It truly is a shame because Manny Ramirez had such a great impact on the game and brought so much joy to so many people. Ron Washington, manager of the Texas Ranger put it best, "You hate to see greatness all of a sudden just fade."<br />
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<br />
<b>Random YouTube Video </b><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/qxMzTtp78zg" title="YouTube video player" width="480"></iframe>James Cholerashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17920163382430847647noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862941136408130469.post-91921618354173887082011-04-08T15:10:00.001-04:002011-04-08T15:18:26.725-04:00Potential NBA Lockout Keeping Players Out of DraftWith so many different sports stories occurring everyday one of the bigger stories that many fans are unaware of is the almost guaranteed NBA lockout that is going to occur next season. While the NFL lockout may end in time for the start of the 2011 season the NBA lockout, according to league experts, is almost certain to cancel the entire season and its effects are already being felt as almost daily top prospects are declining to enter the draft and are opting instead to return to school.<br />
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The lockout itself will be initiated by the owners and led by NBA Commissioner David Stern with the main goal being the reduction of the current NBA salary cap. Other issues will be discussed as well such as the current age limit on entry into the NBA as well as the recent trend of players 'choosing' their team by forcing trades. This means that the current CBA will be voided and if a player is drafted they will more than likely miss their rookie season and may be joining a league that theoretically won't exist.<br />
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The uncertainty about the future of the league is already having an affect as some top prospects have decided to return to school rather than declare for the draft. The most high profile of these prospects is Jared Sullinger who last week stated that he would return to Ohio State next year for his sophomore season. Sullinger was considered to be a top 5 pick, with some experts even having him going 1st overall, but he has opted to return to school rather than becoming a pro.<br />
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Other top prospects who have stated they are returning, or who have yet to make up their mind, are North Carolina's Harrison Barnes, John Henson and Tyler Zeller, Arizona's Derrick Williams, Colorado's Alec Burks, Texas's Tristan Thompson and Jordan Hamilton and Vanderbilt's Jeffery Taylor and John Jenkins.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iqKEJseRdvY/TZ9TneE2ClI/AAAAAAAAAYA/uuSVcSsoOl0/s1600/Sullinger_Jared_ncaa_110113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iqKEJseRdvY/TZ9TneE2ClI/AAAAAAAAAYA/uuSVcSsoOl0/s400/Sullinger_Jared_ncaa_110113.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Not every top prospect has been scared away by the lockout though as earlier this week Duke's Kyrie Irving decided to declare for the NBA draft rather than come back for another season. Irving was considered a top 5 pick although with so many others staying in school he may now be the consensus #1 overall pick which no doubt had some bearing on his decision. <br />
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In an interview with the <i>Associated Press</i> the freshman point guard summed up his decision to become a pro, "it was really a tough decision for me. If I would have come back, I would have gained a lot more experience under Coach K. That was hard to let go, especially in the culture that's built here that I was a part of. It's something that I'll remember for the rest of my life. But on the other hand, deciding to go the NBA is just my ultimate dream," he added. "I've been dreaming about it for a while, and having that opportunity to be such a high pick at such a young age is an opportunity that many people won't pass up."<br />
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Even before players started dropping out of the NBA draft it was already being labeled as one of the weakest in years. There was no consensus top pick as mock drafts had a constant rotation of Sullinger, Irving, Barnes and Williams going first overall and now with so many players deciding to stay at school the talent level of the 2011 draft may be at an all-time low.</div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"></div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"></div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">This is awful news for lottery teams that were really hoping to draft a franchise player to help turn their team around. What's happening now is that players that were considered 'bubble first-rounders' are now moving their way up the draft board because the better players are staying at school. This means that teams will teams be forced to use their 1st round picks on mediocre players who are extremely over valued and more than likely won't be able to provide the impact needed for those teams to improve.</div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cC56bfZU-qM/TZ9TnvcKClI/AAAAAAAAAYE/Ff1EiLDKi0g/s1600/Kyrie-Irving.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cC56bfZU-qM/TZ9TnvcKClI/AAAAAAAAAYE/Ff1EiLDKi0g/s400/Kyrie-Irving.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><br />
</div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">There is something positive to take out of this issue though as now more kids will have a chance to stay in school a year longer then they would have initially wanted to, which has multiple benefits. For one they will gain more experience playing another year, they will also grow both mentally and physically making them better prepared to enter the league when they do declare.</div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><br />
</div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">Staying for a second year might also convince some players to stay for all four years and actually graduate, which in theory is the purpose of going to college. Rather than going to a school for 8 months and then leaving as soon as possible more players might choose to stay until they earn their degree, which if they stay for 2 years they will be halfway to achieving. </div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><br />
</div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">The players that do declare for the draft and get selected will be joining a league that won't exist much like the players in the upcoming NFL draft. They may end up missing their entire rookie season and being forced to play overseas for a year just to stay in shape and be ready for when the lockout ends. That is if they can get a roster spot on an overseas team as no doubt more established players will be more sought after than untested rookies.</div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"></div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">If that is in fact the case then the players who opt to stay in school may be at somewhat of an advantage. The national exposure that college players receive is invaluable and may make them better prepared for when the league resumes. The players that are drafted may be forced to take an entire year off if they can't sign with a team overseas and that will really hurt their development.</div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><br />
</div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">No matter how the NBA lockout situation shakes out the damage has already been done There is enough doubt out there to force players to stay in school rather than entering the draft. A draft that was already short on talent is now even shorter and those bottom dwellers hoping to rebuild through the draft are going to have to wait another year.</div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><br />
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</div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">Random YouTube Video</div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/_tmMZv62BX4" title="YouTube video player" width="640"></iframe></div>James Cholerashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17920163382430847647noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862941136408130469.post-14681702796255865512011-04-07T13:56:00.001-04:002011-04-07T16:37:43.079-04:00Has The Ultimate Fighter Run Its Course?<div class="MsoNormal">When the Ultimate Fighter first aired back in 2005 the show was meant to showcase young up-and-coming fighters in the world of Mixed Martial Arts. The contestants were some of the best fighters not currently fighting in a major promotion and for the most part they were all extremely talented. Most of the competitors from the first few seasons still fight in the UFC today and some have even gone on to become champions. But that trend seems to be over as the latest crop of fighters in the past few seasons have been mediocre at best which leads me to wonder if TUF has run its course.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">If you look at the first 3 seasons of the TUF compared to the last 3 the level of talent isn't even close. The competitors on the more recent seasons seem far less experienced and in the case of the Heavyweights during season 10 unable to go more than 90 seconds before becoming exhausted. There have been a few diamonds in the rough here and there but overall the talent just isn't there.<br />
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Here are some of the fighters from the first 3 seasons that are still relevant within the UFC:</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Josh Koscheck</div><div class="MsoNormal">Forrest Griffin (former champ)</div><div class="MsoNormal">Stephan Bonnar</div><div class="MsoNormal">Diego Sanchez</div><div class="MsoNormal">Kenny Florian</div><div class="MsoNormal">Chris Leben</div><div class="MsoNormal">Joe Stevenson</div><div class="MsoNormal">Melvin Guillard</div><div class="MsoNormal">Rashad Evans (former champ)</div><div class="MsoNormal">Michael Bisping</div><div class="MsoNormal">Matt Hammill</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Now compare that list to the fighters from the last 3 seasons that are relevant or have a bright future (not counting the current season)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Brendan Schaub</div><div class="MsoNormal">Roy Nelson (barely counts as he was a well established fighter before appearing on the show)</div><div class="MsoNormal">Matt Mittrione</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal">Court McGee</div><div class="MsoNormal">Michael Johnson</div><div class="MsoNormal">Jonathan Brookins</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hVwiSX244zk/TZ36hc5EPRI/AAAAAAAAAX4/HVInRMvdBi0/s1600/the-ultimate-fighter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hVwiSX244zk/TZ36hc5EPRI/AAAAAAAAAX4/HVInRMvdBi0/s320/the-ultimate-fighter.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal">The level of talent has clearly dropped off as all of the really good fighters have seemingly already been found and are either fighting in a major promotion or working with solid camps and on the UFC radar. So over the past few seasons the fighters, and their performances, have been less than impressive and its starting to really hurt the show.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">If you have been watching this season you know what I am talking about. Only 2 episodes in and so far both fights have been brutal to watch. The lack of excitement compounded with the fact that both representatives of Team Dos Santos were top picks makes me less then enthused to watch the remainder of the season. Add that to the general lack of charisma that the coaches for this season (Brock Lesnar and Junior Dos Santos) possess and it makes for some dull television.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">But the lack of charisma from the coaches showcases yet another problem with the show. Since the fighters are so awful the show now needs to be carried by the personality of the coaches. This has morphed the show into a 10-12 episode hype video for an eventual fight. <br />
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This was especially evident when Rashad Evans and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson were coaches during season 10. Each episode would feature footage of the two fighters arguing with one another, one coach pulling a prank on the other and then the last 10 minutes were reserved for the fight. <br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I1P3v4iEWFo/TZ36hpUUvrI/AAAAAAAAAX8/X_hQi4w3V7Y/s1600/roynelson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I1P3v4iEWFo/TZ36hpUUvrI/AAAAAAAAAX8/X_hQi4w3V7Y/s400/roynelson.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">It was interesting television and it may have built anticipation for their fight, but it detracted from the actual contestants on the show. No fighter really got any airtime, other than Kimbo Slice, and by the end of the season I didn’t really care who won.<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal">The latest rumor is that the coaches will be middleweights Chael Sonnen and Michael Bisping. The two would then fight upon completion of the show with the winner of that fight becoming the No. 1 contender at Middleweight. That person would then likely fight Anderson Silva after he fights the current No. 1 contender Youshin Okami. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Now with Bisping and Sonnen being tagged as possible coaches, the dynamic of the coaches being more important than the fighters will be multiplied tenfold as both fighters have extremely big egos and love to talk trash. Will it be entertaining? Of course, but I was under the impression that the point of TUF was to showcase potential UFC fighters and get fans interested in their careers, not to hear two fighters disrespect one another.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I love TUF and I will watch it no matter what just because I'm an MMA fan, but I really hope the UFC either changes the format somehow or gets a higher level of fighter to compete because if the show continues the way its been going over the past few seasons then I think it might be time for TUF to come off the air before it does more harm than good.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Random YouTube Video</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/EQBWwQvu_zY" title="YouTube video player" width="480"></iframe></div>James Cholerashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17920163382430847647noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862941136408130469.post-25922703719771897612011-04-06T14:35:00.000-04:002011-04-06T14:35:38.884-04:00What's Cooler Than a Walk-Off Home Run?In short, nothing. The walk-off home run is by far the coolest moment that can occur in any sporting event and when witnessed live is nothing short of amazing. Yes other sports have their version of the walk-off home run like an overtime goal in hockey or a winning touchdown/field goal in football but neither of those moments match the true awesomeness that is a walk-off home run.<br />
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The walk-off home run is such a perfect moment for so many different reasons. For one it can only occur in the home teams ballpark due to the fact that in baseball the home team always bats last. Therefore, unlike in hockey, basketball or football no fans ever have to witness their team losing in such a devastating fashion at home. This cannot be emphasized enough as there is nothing worse than watching your team lose in their own building. Just ask Flyers fans who last year had to watch as the Stanley Cup was given to the Chicago Blackhawks at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia. <br />
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That particular Stanley Cup Finals illustrates another reason why the walk-off home run is king. Unlike the overtime goal in the 2010 Stanley Cup Finals, which no one other than Patrick Kane knew went in, the walk-off home run is a no-doubter that everyone in the building can see. Just the sound of the ball hitting the bat is all players and fans need to hear to know that the game is over. The batter tosses the bat to the side and like a giant wave you see the hands of every fan in the ball go up in the air out of pure joy.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aM00o7hFxh0/TZyfrUrrQdI/AAAAAAAAAXs/KUJPmhPA_f0/s1600/356452_display_image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aM00o7hFxh0/TZyfrUrrQdI/AAAAAAAAAXs/KUJPmhPA_f0/s400/356452_display_image.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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Hockey isn't the only sport that can have an anti-climatic finish to a game. Think about how many overtime football games end with a field goal. One team will win the coin toss and gain 40-50 yards and then the kicker comes on to try and win the game. Yeah its pretty exciting because there is always the chance the guy could miss but in comparison to a walk-off home run it isn't even close. Plus too often in football games only one team gets possession of the ball in overtime which really kills the excitement level. <br />
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But the best thing about a walk-off home run is that its just the batter out there on his own. Everyone in the entire stadium is focused on one person who can't rely on his teammates to win the game. He has to do it all himself and its because of all that extra added pressure that walk-off home runs are so great. In no other sport is there that much emphasis/pressure placed on just one individual and to me that makes the walk-off so great.<br />
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Although the idea of the walk-off home run is as old as baseball itself the actual term "walk-off home run" only became part of the baseball lexicon in the early 1990s. It was Oakland A's closer Dennis Eckersley who coined the phrase as he called a home run that ended the game "walk-off pieces" due to the fact that the pitcher had to walk off the field with his head hung in shame. Since then the walk-off has gone from having a negative connotation to a positive one as it now refers to the batter, who won the game, instead of the pitcher who lost it.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k6WTmXjoP5g/TZyfsIhSwFI/AAAAAAAAAX0/4xhnEqnNSp4/s1600/bill-mazeroski.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k6WTmXjoP5g/TZyfsIhSwFI/AAAAAAAAAX0/4xhnEqnNSp4/s320/bill-mazeroski.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
According to Baseball-Reference.com there have been 2944 walk-off home runs in the history of baseball. Who has hit the most walk-off home runs you ask? There is currently a three-way tie for 1st place as Frank Robinson, Mickey Mantle and Jim Thome all have 12 career walk-off homers to their name. Also worth noting is that of those 2944 walk-off homers 10 were hit by pitchers and 14 of them were inside the park walk-off home runs.<br />
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Some of the greatest moments in baseball history are walk-off home runs. Kirk Gibson's famously coming off the bench to hit the winning walk-off home run in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series. Bobby Thompson's "shot heard round the world" to win the pennant for the Giants in 1951. Carlton Fisk's "stay fair" home run to win Game 6 of the 1975 World Series. Joe Carter's World Series clinching home run in Game 6 back in 1993 and the most famous of them all Bill Mazeroski's home run to win Game 7 of the 1960 World Series which to this day is still widely considered the greatest moment in baseball history.<br />
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Every kid that has ever played baseball has always grown up dreaming of one day hitting that big walk-off home run that wins the World Series. Everyone wants that feeling of running the bases knowing that all your teammates are waiting at home plate to mob you while thousands of people cheer deliriously. It is a perfect moment and in terms of sports there is nothing cooler. <br />
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Random YouTube Video<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Qj2pXikeDRg" title="YouTube video player" width="480"></iframe>James Cholerashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17920163382430847647noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862941136408130469.post-80885806769415381422011-04-05T13:59:00.000-04:002011-04-05T13:59:05.290-04:00Shaka Smart Staying at VCUUpon leading the Rams of Virginia Commonwealth to their first Final Four appearance in school history it was widely believed that head coach Shaka Smart would be targeted by larger schools to fill their head coaching vacancies. That belief came to fruition yesterday as it was reported by the <i>Associated Press</i> that Smart had been offered the head coaching job at North Carolina State to replace Sidney Lowe who resigned earlier in the year.<br />
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Instead of doing what so many other NCAA coaches do, build a reputation at a smaller school and then immediately leave for greener pastures as soon a possible, Smart decided to turn down NC State. Instead of leaving Smart decided to stay and late last night signed an 8-year contract extension with VCU. According to a report by the <i>Richmond Times-Dispatch</i> the contract will pay Smart an annual base salary of $1.2 million with several bonus performance incentives (a big jump from the $325,000 salary he made this year).<br />
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In an interview with the AP Smart said, "I'm extremely grateful for the belief that [VCU president Michael Rao] and Norwood Teague [VCU Athletic Director] have shown and continue to show in our coaching staff and basketball program. Their support, in addition to the bright future that our student-athletes possess, makes VCU a very special place for me to be the head basketball coach. I'm very excited about the opportunities that lie ahead for both our program and our university."<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UxXwEX_YBnw/TZtV_KmNqDI/AAAAAAAAAXM/Vc5f03FWrzw/s1600/ncb_a_shakasmart_cmg_300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UxXwEX_YBnw/TZtV_KmNqDI/AAAAAAAAAXM/Vc5f03FWrzw/s320/ncb_a_shakasmart_cmg_300.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
It is extremely refreshing to see a coach stay with a "mid major" rather than leave for a more established program as too often there is zero loyalty shown. Smart, who turns 34 on Friday, has only been a coach for 2 years now and I think one of the reasons he stayed was because VCU gave him a chance to be a head coach at such a young age. <br />
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It is also being reported that VCU told Smart that they were going to make a bigger financial commitment to the basketball program and try and build off the success of this years team. New facilities are already being planned as well as a greater portion of the athletics budget being allocated to the recruitment of better players. When you factor that report in, along with the pay raise it makes Smart's decision to stay a lot more understandable.<br />
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In a statement made to the AP athletic Director Norwood Teague said, "True to form, Coach Smart's primary concerns were about his players, coaches and the overall support of the basketball program. We are honored that he has decided to stay a VCU Ram. He exemplifies everything that is right about college athletics, and VCU is ecstatic about the future under his leadership."<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mHfhmgD9deo/TZtV_ndv8YI/AAAAAAAAAXQ/zqBwrX7IN0o/s1600/alg_ncaa_joey_rodriguez_coach_smart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mHfhmgD9deo/TZtV_ndv8YI/AAAAAAAAAXQ/zqBwrX7IN0o/s320/alg_ncaa_joey_rodriguez_coach_smart.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Teague is not alone in his praise of Smart. Throughout VCU's run to the Final Four Smart has been constantly praised by almost every analyst and reporter for the job he had done and his attitude during games and practices. He seemed to have a genuine love for coaching and for his players and once the videos of him dancing with the team after victories and his participation in the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zarj8kKW0P8">"Ironman drill"</a> during practice hit YouTube it was confirmed that he was the real deal.<br />
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Aside from Kemba Walker he may have been the star of the tournament as his profile grew and grew with each VCU victory. I remember watching their first game and seeing him on the sideline in a polo thinking that he was the trainer and not the head coach. Now he is one of the more well known names in college basketball and a sports celebrity. Now is he wants to continue his success at VCU (55-21 in 2 seasons along with a CBI championship) he will need to parlay his new fame into a strong recruiting class for next year.<br />
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Despite Smart's success in this years March Madness tournament there are still a lot of things he needs to prove. The most important is that he can recruit as the current VCU roster was recruited by former coach Anthony Grant (now head coach at Alabama). Only time will tell is Smart will be successful but so far he has done a terrific job.<br />
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<b>Random YouTube Video</b><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/1fouvwilGWc" title="YouTube video player" width="640"></iframe>James Cholerashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17920163382430847647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862941136408130469.post-85400982048336184972011-04-04T14:33:00.000-04:002011-04-04T14:33:01.166-04:00Red Sox Nation Pushing the Panic ButtonOver the weekend the Boston Red Sox were swept by the defending American League Champion Texas Rangers and are now 0-3 for the first time since 1996. Even though there are 159 games left in the season Red Sox Nation is starting to worry and already there is talk about Carl Crawford being a huge bust and Jarrod Saltalamacchia aka Salty being unprepared to handle the full-time catching duties. As a Red Sox fan I definitely didn't enjoy watching my team get swept but I am by no means ready to throw away the season like it appears so many other have already done.<br />
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Yes Carl Crawford struggled at the plate in the first two games (he went 0-7) but once manager Terry Francona moved him down to 7th in the batting order he produced and went 2-4. I think Crawford will be fine and it may have been the pressure to produce right away that got to him a little and he just needed to be eased into the lineup a bit. Francona made the right move by adjusting his spot in the order and hopefully Crawford can gain some confidence moving forward.<br />
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As far as Salty is concerned that may be an actual issue. Over the weekend the Red Sox pitchers gave up 26 runs, 34 hits and 11 home runs which considering we used 2 out of our 3 best pitchers (Lackey is just awful I don't care how much weight he loses) is not good. Obviously the Ballpark in Arlington is a hitters park and home runs occur more frequently but its still a troubling statistic.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nykGphEG02c/TZoOHEVpNVI/AAAAAAAAAXE/ojyjavReXdQ/s1600/www.reuters.com.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nykGphEG02c/TZoOHEVpNVI/AAAAAAAAAXE/ojyjavReXdQ/s400/www.reuters.com.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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I think the Red Sox pitchers will eventually get used to Saltalamacchia and will get back to being their normal selves. They are probably too used to Jason Varitek who had been the catcher with the team for 10 years before finally being replaced this off-season. It may have been smarter for general manager Theo Epstein to ease Salty into the starting role by giving him more time to develop a relationship with the pitching staff but he probably thought that with the amount of offense the team would produce it wouldn't be a problem.<br />
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One thing to keep in mind about Saltalamacchiais is that he is only 25 years old and at one point Texas tried to convert him to a first basemen. Most 25 year old catchers are down in the minors trying to refine their craft and very few come up and make an immediate impact (Buster Posey being an obvious exception to this rule) so Sox fans would do well by having a little patience with our new starting catcher. He could help his own cause however by getting a hit. Against Texas he went 0-10 making him an even bigger target for hatred from Red Sox fans. <br />
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In an interview with ESPN Saltalamacchia had this to say for his performance, "I'm not going to judge my season on 10 at-bats right now. I was overaggressive, I was really amped up because it was the team I used to play for," he said. "I wanted to put good at-bats together. We were losing. I wanted to win. I was trying to get more aggressive and make something happen. I've got to learn to be more patient." I think Red Sox fans need to be a little more patient as well.<br />
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Another thing that a lot of fans are forgetting is that the Texas Rangers were the American League champions last year. Just because they lost Cliff Lee doesn't mean that they won't be an elite team in the American League and a potential World Series contender. Their batting order 1 through 9 is stacked beyond belief with guys that can hit for both average and power. They have Ian Kinsler, Micahel Young, Josh Hamilton, Adrian Beltre, Nelson Cruz, Mike Napoli and Elvis Andrus. That is a Murderers Row of talent and when you combine those bats with that ballpark the Rangers are an offensive juggernaut. <br />
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I did however read an article this morning on BusinessInsider.com that made me worry a little bit as they provided some historical evidence that makes the sweep at the hands of the Rangers a little harder to stomach. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FKEyUBq3zts/TZoOHSl_cwI/AAAAAAAAAXI/9yF4ziUEsgI/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FKEyUBq3zts/TZoOHSl_cwI/AAAAAAAAAXI/9yF4ziUEsgI/s320/images.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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According to the article of the 80 teams that have qualified for the playoffs over the past 10 years only 3 of those teams ever started a season 0-3 (the 2007 Phillies, the 2003 Braves and the 2001 Cardinals were the others). Now that data didn't take into account opponent or any variables it strictly looked at wins and losses to begin a season but it is still something to think about going forward.<br />
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Red Sox fans would do well to remember that the baseball season is a marathon and not a sprint. There were a lot of positive things that came out of the Texas series. Adrian Gonzalez looked great at the plate and it seems that Dustin Pedroia, Jacoby Ellsbury and Kevin Youkalis have all recovered nicely from their injuries last season. So while it was a bad series from a team perspective there are some individual performances that make the losses easier to take.<br />
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Luckily for the Red Sox, and their fans, the teams next series is against the lowly Cleveland Indians who in 3 games against the Chicago White Sox gave up 24 runs. The Indians managed to take 1 of 3 from the White Sox but they are a team that is rebuilding and hopefully the Red Sox can take advantage of that and get their first win of the season putting an end to the panic that has set in all across Red Sox Nation. <br />
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</div><b>Random YouTube Video</b><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/-OohMEJiX0Y" title="YouTube video player" width="480"></iframe>James Cholerashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17920163382430847647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862941136408130469.post-38647204959246528432011-04-03T15:26:00.001-04:002011-04-03T15:36:11.255-04:00Jacob Tucker Proves That White Men Can JumpJacob Tucker is a 5-foot-11 point guard who plays for the Blueboys of Division III Illinois College in Jacksonville Illinois. Don't let the height fool you though Tucker possesses a 50 inch vertical and an arsenal of dunks that would make even Blake Griffin jealous. Over the weekend Tucker used his ridiculous array of dunks to win the NCAA Denny's Slam Dunk contest that was held at the same time as the Final Four in Houston.<br />
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<span class="Text">The rest of the field consisted of players from Division I schools:</span> Pittsburgh's Gilbert Brown, St. John's Justin Burrell, Memphis' Will Coleman, East Tennessee State's Justin Tubbs, San Diego State's Billy White, Cincinnati's Darnell Wilks and UNC-Asheville's John Williams. Not only was Tucker from the smallest school at 5-foot-11 he was also the shortest competitor by about four inches.<br />
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Tucker, who was labeled as a "dark horse" by celebrity judge Karl Malone, was almost left out of the contest entirely as before a month ago he was an unknown playing for one of the smallest schools in the entire country (enrollment is just over 1000 students). But thanks to an <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEgcml1Wx1w">audition video</a> that went viral after being mentioned by Jim Rome on his ESPN television show Tucker was thrust into the national spotlight. He then went on to win an online vote thus earning a chance to compete.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I8EkrWBmaao/TZjGAJsKQhI/AAAAAAAAAXA/OkBbqdZSA8A/s1600/jacob_tucker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I8EkrWBmaao/TZjGAJsKQhI/AAAAAAAAAXA/OkBbqdZSA8A/s400/jacob_tucker.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span class="Text">“The last three weeks have been a blur,” Tucker said during an interview with his schools athletics website. “I never really expected this when I made the video – I wasn’t even sure it was good enough to get me into the contest – but it’s been an unbelievable ride.”</span><br />
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<span class="Text">Its nice to see that the NCAA caved to public pressure and let Tucker participate in the event as normally in the past a Division III athlete wouldn't be allowed anywhere near the Slam Dunk Contest. It really goes to show the power of social media and sites like YouTube and Twitter as without them Tucker would have had no chance of competing. The NCAA was smart to recognize the positive publicity they could get by allowing to participate and made the right decision.</span><br />
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<span class="Text">Here is the footage of his dunks from the contest:</span><br />
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<span class="Text"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/cXgjpLufrYs" title="YouTube video player" width="480"></iframe></span><br />
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<span class="Text">What I really like about Tucker is how well he has handled himself dealing with all the attention before and after the contest. He was clearly out of his element being the center of attention on a national stage but he didn't buckle under the pressure and not only performed well in the contest but did a great job answering questions during interviews. In all the videos I have watched and interviews I have read he seems like a really humble guy who was just happy to be there and excited to represent his school.</span><br />
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<span class="Text">People love an underdog story and Tucker fits the mold perfectly. Add that to the fact that his victory completely goes against one of the funnier stereotypes in sports (that white guys suck at dunking and can't jump) and you have yourself a perfect story.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<b><span class="Text">Random YouTube Video</span></b><br />
<span class="Text"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/N24fVEJyQKM" title="YouTube video player" width="640"></iframe></span>James Cholerashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17920163382430847647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862941136408130469.post-13159915428237945842011-04-02T17:21:00.001-04:002011-04-06T14:38:08.422-04:00How the Jays Can Compete With the Red Sox and YankeesI was at the Toronto Blue Jays game today (they won 6-1 and rookie pitcher Kyle Drabek was awesome) and couldn't help but notice all the empty seats. The announced attendance at the game was somewhere around 38,000 and since the capacity for the Skydome (I refuse to call it by its new bastard name) is 50,000 that means there were 12,000 empty seats. This got me to thinking about how much money the Jays were missing out on by not having sold those seats and what they could do with all of that extra revenue.<br />
<br />
So I looked up ticket prices on Ticketmaster and an average seat at a Jays game costs around $60 (now that number is subject to change based on the opponent as tickets for games against divisional teams like the Yankees and Red Sox cost more than a game against the Royals). Going forward I will admit this is some pretty sketchy math but stick with me because I swear there is a point to all of it.<br />
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tMRP16AYByA/TZeSMHffD3I/AAAAAAAAAW4/joIM3ctIznw/s1600/empty-stadium-blue-jays.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tMRP16AYByA/TZeSMHffD3I/AAAAAAAAAW4/joIM3ctIznw/s400/empty-stadium-blue-jays.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Now the biggest complaint from an average Jays fan is that the team will never make the playoffs as long as they are in the same division as the Yankees and Red Sox. Fans complain the Jays don't have the money to compete and insist on a salary cap being put in place to try and even the playing field. As a Red Sox fan I get into this debate a lot and luckily I have the following handy statistic to use in just such an occasion that usually wins me the argument:<br />
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In 2010 the Yankees sold 88.9% of all available tickets and had an average attendance of 46,491<br />
In 2010 the Red Sox sold 100% of all available tickets and had an average attendance of 37,610<br />
In 2010 the Blue Jays sold 39.9% of all available tickets and had an average attendance of 20,068<br />
<br />
That stat right there is why the Blue Jays can't compete financially with the Yankees and the Red Sox. Both of those teams sell more tickets, which also means they sell more merchandise at food/beverages at the ballpark. Those extra sales mean extra revenue that the team can then spend on signing better players. Its pure common sense and yet Jays fans don't want to hear it.<br />
<br />
Back to the math.<br />
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Based on the above statistic there were 29,932 empty seats per Jays game. If you multiply that number by 80 (the amount of home games the Jays had in 2010 remembering they lost 2 home games because of the G8) you get 2,394,560 tickets that went unsold. If you then take that number and multiply it by $60 (the average ticket price) you get $143,673,600. Now that is a shitload of extra cash that, had the Jays been able to sell out, could have been used to improve the roster of the team.<br />
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I understand that its hard to sell out every single game each year but think of what the Jays could do with all of that extra revenue (remember that just ticket sales and doesn't account for extra revenue from food, drinks, beer and merchandise). The team could instantly become a baseball powerhouse and return to the glory days of 1992 and 1993 when it won back to back World Series titles.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p8nRv9XNpJE/TZeShlyZbgI/AAAAAAAAAW8/O_E29RI0Jzs/s1600/toronto_blue_jays-9717.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p8nRv9XNpJE/TZeShlyZbgI/AAAAAAAAAW8/O_E29RI0Jzs/s400/toronto_blue_jays-9717.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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Imagine this Jays fans. Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Alex Anthopoulos makes a special announcement at a massive press conference presenting the math I just quickly showed you to the entire Jays fan base. He then says that if the Jays can sell out the Skydome for every home game he will use that extra money on players and make a run at Albert Pujols when he becomes a free agent at the end of the season.<br />
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Obviously it would be a long shot that Pujols would come to the Jays but with an extra $143 million to play with I think they might have a serious shot. The Yankees and Red Sox are set at first base and as Pujols aged he could become a DH still making him valuable in the later years of the contract.<br />
<br />
Now Pujols is a Blue Jay and fans start going to the games because they want to see him play and obviously the team would improve with his addition to the roster. All of a sudden fans realize that if they sell out every game for another season the team would be able to sign even more marquee free agents and just like that the Jays could compete with the Yankees and Red Sox. <br />
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I openly challenge anyone to find a hole in that logic. It can't be done. If Jays fans gave their team just 1 year of 100% attendance commitment they could overnight become a powerhouse. Its really quite beautiful in its simplicity.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Random YouTube Video</b><br />
<b><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Fw6J9OGSXpg" title="YouTube video player" width="640"></iframe> </b>James Cholerashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17920163382430847647noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862941136408130469.post-29276232951773757722011-04-01T15:04:00.001-04:002011-04-01T15:19:01.355-04:00The Real 'Fab Five' Controversy"For me, Duke was a person. I hated Duke, and I hated everything Duke stood for. Schools like Duke don’t recruit players like me. I felt that they only recruited players that were Uncle Toms" - Jalen Rose.<br />
<br />
That quote is from an interview that appeared in the ESPN documentary "The Fab Five" that aired a few weeks ago. The documentary was intended to tell the story of how five black freshmen players came to play for the Michigan Wolverines in the early 1990s and how they impacted on revolutionized the game of college basketball.<br />
<br />
What instead ended up happening was a public backlash over the 'Uncle Tom' comment and a back and forth between Jalen Rose and former Duke star Grant Hill about race, class and family. The controversy has made its rounds on all of the major sports talk shows and everyone has chimed in their with their opinion on whether or not Rose was justified in his comments or not.<br />
<br />
I for one will not be joining them. A few people have asked me to write about this but I just don't feel comfortable writing about race. The only time I have ever heard anyone use the phrase 'Uncle Tom' before was in stories I have read about the build-up to the Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier fight. I assumed it was a time period type phrase like that people didn't really use anymore as the language had evolved over the years. However upon hearing the public response to Rose using the phrase clearly it is an extremely derogatory word that African Americans find very offensive so I would rather just avoid writing about that topic entirely.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oM9PiLVJ3sA/TZYd8-zfbpI/AAAAAAAAAWo/0C5X8j0IlN4/s1600/fab5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oM9PiLVJ3sA/TZYd8-zfbpI/AAAAAAAAAWo/0C5X8j0IlN4/s400/fab5.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The other reason I don't want to discuss the public feud between Hill and Rose is because to me that wasn't the biggest issue I had with the documentary. The real issue is the main message of the film itself, that the 'Fab Five' revolutionized the game of college basketball and left behind a legacy that is still felt today. That claim couldn't be further from the truth as the only real impact the 'Fab Five' had on college basketball was the scandal they created by having most of their wins and on-court accomplishments taken away due to numerous NCAA rule violations.<br />
<br />
Their other legacy, as Jason Whitlock of Fox Sports so eloquently puts it, "The legacy of the Fab Five is that they were on the cutting edge of America’s unashamed embrace of style over substance." Normally I don't agree with Whitlock on most issues but on this one he is bang on. The 'Fab Five' never actually won anything as they came close to winning multiple NCAA championships but both teams were beaten soundly by far superior teams. They are most well known for their over-the-top celebrations of mediocre achievements and their desire to wear baggier shorts.<br />
<br />
Yet according to the documentary they were a revolutionary team that challenged the establishment and are still relevant today.<br />
<br />
If you watch the documentary itself at one point Jalen Rose says, "from the first day we stepped on the Michigan campus it was a revolution. It just so happened that this revolution was televised." Not a surprising comment considering Rose was part of the 'Fab Five' as well as being the executive producer for the documentary itself. Clearly this is a man that is trying to create a revisionist history of what happened in order to increase his own fame and standing within the world of basketball.<br />
<br />
Wearing baggy shorts, over celebrating mediocre achievements and having 5 freshmen start for a team are not revolutionizing basketball and to say so is a slap in the face to those that came before Rose and paved the way for him to even play NCAA basketball.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E6OGTFyz3Lw/TZYd9OKMSxI/AAAAAAAAAWs/PSi3XsT4ccw/s1600/custom_1231792979596_coaches1984johnthompson_t450_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="332" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E6OGTFyz3Lw/TZYd9OKMSxI/AAAAAAAAAWs/PSi3XsT4ccw/s400/custom_1231792979596_coaches1984johnthompson_t450_01.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Not once in the entire documentary does anyone mention the name John Thompson or the Georgetown Hoyas. John Thompson is the most famous black basketball coach of all time and his Hoyas teams of the 70s and 80s were the ones who were actually making an impact and revolutionizing the game of college basketball.<br />
<br />
Thompson was one of the first coaches to have all black starting lineups and he was also one of the first coaches to recruit black players from the inner city. It was Thompson and his teams that had to fight against racial inequality and rules like Proposition 42 that were intended to lower the amount of black athletes in the NCAA. Without the work of John Thompson and other trailblazers Jalen Rose might never have been able to play for Michigan.<br />
<br />
Plus Thompson and his Georgetown teams actually won something. Thompson still holds the record for most Big East conference championships (seven regular season, six tournaments) and in 1984 led his Hoyas to a National Championship by beating Houston in the Finals 84-75. Sure their shorts may have been way too short but they were making an impact on the game and on society. <br />
<br />
So while people are focusing on Rose calling Duke players 'Uncle Toms' the real issue is being overlooked. The 'Fab Five' revolutionized basketball by adding two to three inches of fabric on the length of shorts and that's it. <br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Random YouTube Video</b><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/NSZ_fV3fmXk" title="YouTube video player" width="640"></iframe>James Cholerashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17920163382430847647noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862941136408130469.post-24847860473433338792011-03-31T12:53:00.001-04:002011-03-31T12:54:07.348-04:00Mark Hominick Promises to Make Jose Aldo "Back Up" at UFC 129<div class="MsoNormal">“People haven’t seen him against a top level striker, he’s dominated everybody and he’s pushed paces on everybody so we will see what happens when he has to take a step backwards.”</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">That is what Mark Hominick (20-8) had to say to MMA Mania about his upcoming fight against Jose Aldo (18-1) at UFC 129 on April 30<sup>th</sup> in Toronto for the UFC Featherweight Championship.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Going into the fight Hominick is a massive underdog as Jose Aldo is one of the most well-rounded and exciting fighters in MMA and is widely considered to be in the Top 10 of the best pound for pound fighters in the world. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Aldo has a blackbelt in Brazilian Jui-Jitsu and is an incredibly dynamic striker that throws a variety of punches, kicks and knees. Some people have even taken to calling him the “Anderson Silva” of featherweights and after watching his highlight reel its easy to see why.<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Sgysl5bRgzw/TZSwxCMDclI/AAAAAAAAAWc/7jhTDSs--8w/s1600/53488.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Sgysl5bRgzw/TZSwxCMDclI/AAAAAAAAAWc/7jhTDSs--8w/s400/53488.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal">Yet as great as Aldo is he has never faced a striker as accomplished and technically sound as Mark Hominick. Hominick’s nickname is “the Machine” because he rarely shows any emotion when fighting or during interviews but more importantly because his technique is so machinelike. He throws crisp and accurate punches and his ground game is solid as well. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Hominick trains under Shawn Tompkins who is a world renowned kickboxing instructor at The Adrenaline Training Center in London, Ontario. Tompkins also works with other top UFC fighters such as Goran Reljic, Vitor Belfort and Wanderlei Silva. Hominick has also been working with some of Canada’s 2012 Summer Olympic boxing hopefuls in preparation for what he feels will be a “fight for the ages.”</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Aldo is aware of Hominick’s striking ability and although he is no slouch on the feet himself he has brought in a new striking coach to prepare for Hominick. He has started training with Andy Souwer who is a Dutch welterweight shoot boxer. He is two time K-1 World MAX champion (2005, 2007) as well as the reigning three time Shootboxing World tournament champion. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">With both Aldo and Hominick training primarily with striking coaches fans should expect this to be a standup fight with neither fighter looking to take the fight to the ground.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eL0QIIpZwYg/TZSxZGK0KfI/AAAAAAAAAWk/lC01k99yQEg/s1600/Jose-Aldo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eL0QIIpZwYg/TZSxZGK0KfI/AAAAAAAAAWk/lC01k99yQEg/s400/Jose-Aldo.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
If that is in fact the case and the entire fight is fought on the feet then one area of concern for Hominick should be Aldo’s leg kicks. During his fight against Urijah Faber Aldo landed some of the nastiest leg kicks I have ever seen and pretty much made Faber a cripple as he had to be carried to his corner after each round and then carried out of the Octagon after the fight was over. That doesn’t bode well for Hominick who in the past (case in point early in his fight against Yves Jabouin) has shown an inability to effectively check leg kicks. That very well could be the difference in the fight.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Many people are overlooking Hominick in this fight but I think he has a decent, yet small, chance of defeating Aldo. Hominick has never been knocked out by strikes before, he has knockout power of his own, his strikes have pinpoint accuracy, he pushes the pace by always moving forward and his liver punches are hard to prepare for and devastating. I’m not saying he is a better striker than Aldo but if he can keep it on the feet then at least he has a punchers chance.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">However if Hominick is indeed intent on making Jose Aldo “take a step back” then he needs to remember one thing: Jose Aldo trains at Black House with Anderson Silva and we all know what happens when you try and make a Black House fighter back up (just ask Forrest Griffin).</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Random YouTube Video</b><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/krsr3PN_yg4" title="YouTube video player" width="480"></iframe> </div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div>James Cholerashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17920163382430847647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862941136408130469.post-48616416251293119712011-03-30T15:29:00.000-04:002011-03-30T15:29:31.316-04:00Phillies Not a "Sure Thing" Just YetDuring the off-season the Philadelphia Phillies signed free agent pitcher Cliff Lee to a new 5-year $120 million contract. The feeling around baseball at the time was that with the signing of Lee the Phillies had all but booked their spot in the World Series (26 of 45 ESPN baseball analysts that were polled have the Phillies making it to the World Series). <br />
<br />
It seemed like a pretty safe bet as the starting rotation featured some of the best pitchers, not just in the National league, but in all of baseball. I mean with a rotation of Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Roy Oswalt, Cole Hamels and Joe Blanton how could the Phillies not be the consensus favorite? <br />
<br />
Yet aside from their phenomenal pitching staff the Phillies have question marks all over the field as injuries and age have caught up to them during Spring Training and are threatening to put a serious hitch in their World Series plans.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EmAdJaTN8zs/TZN8dBY_pvI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/_ySMlFrZC14/s1600/Mt_Rushmore_Phillies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EmAdJaTN8zs/TZN8dBY_pvI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/_ySMlFrZC14/s400/Mt_Rushmore_Phillies.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
So far during Spring Training no team has been as deeply affected by injuries as the Phillies. All-Star second baseman Chase Utley has a knee injury, closer Brad Lidge has a rotator cuff strain, Roy Oswalt suffered a neck contusion after being hit by a linedrive, Placido Polanco has an elbow injury and outfielder Dominic Brown fractured his right hand. <br />
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It's expected that both Polanco and Oswalt will be ready in time for the start of the season but Brown, Utley and Lidge will all start the season on the disabled list. Lidge is expected to miss anywhere from 3 to 6 weeks as is Brown and as for Utley there is really no timetable for his return as the Phillies don't want to rush him back and risk doing permanent damage to his knee.<br />
<br />
Stepping in for Utley will be journeyman Wilson Valdez, who despite hitting .396 so far in Spring Training, is a career .232 hitter and a serious downgrade defensively as well. But the injury to Utley hurts deeper as he was a valuable part of the batting order and the protection for Ryan Howard. Pitchers can now pitch around Howard as there is no other real power bat in the line up to worry about and that's where the Phillies are going to miss Utley the most.<br />
<br />
As for the injury to Lidge it could expose a real weakness for the Phillies, their bullpen. Last season Lidge went 1-1 with an ERA of 2.96 and converted 27 saves in 32 tries. During his time on the DL he will be replaced by either Jose Contreras (pitched 56.2 innings last year with an ERA of 3.34) or Ryan Madson (pitched 53 innings with an ERA of 2.55). Both are decent replacements for Lidge but if they move to take over the closer role someone else will have to step up and take over the 7th or 8th inning role and that would hurt the team as the Phillies don't have many quality arms in the bullpen.<br />
<br />
The injuries are simply one of the problems the Phillies face headed into the new season however as another issue the this team has to be concerned with is age.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oTC3ZXgLSnQ/TZN8eCy6BVI/AAAAAAAAAWY/xWtgRleTZ60/s1600/charlie-manuel-visiting-grays.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oTC3ZXgLSnQ/TZN8eCy6BVI/AAAAAAAAAWY/xWtgRleTZ60/s400/charlie-manuel-visiting-grays.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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The average age of this Phillies team is 30.9 years old officially making them the oldest team in all of baseball. <br />
<br />
Jimmy Rollins is 32 and has been slowly declining for the last few years now as his stolen base numbers have been dropping steadily (47 in 2007 to just 17 during an injury plagued 2010 campaign). Polanco is 35 and last season saw his offensive numbers drop in hits, stolen bases, runs, doubles, home runs, RBI and walks. Raul Ibanez who will be playing right field is 38 and last year failed to hit at least 20 home runs for the first time since 2004. Contreras, who is now the starting closer, is 39. <br />
<br />
Now the Phillies do have some of youth on the team (Brown and pitchers Antonio Bastardo and Andrew carpenter) and in the farm system (shortstop Freddy Galvis and pitcher Yohan Flande) but for the most part those players are all untested and stuck playing behind established players who, unless they get hurt, won't be relinquishing their roster spot anytime soon.<br />
<br />
Lastly the Phillies, and those who picked them to make it to the World Series, need to be worried about the batting order as with the loss of Jayson Werth to the Nationals and Chase Utley to the DL its not nearly as imposing as it once was.<br />
<br />
Shane Victorino<br />
Wilson Valdez<br />
Jimmy Rollins<br />
Ryan Howard<br />
Placido Polanco<br />
Raul Ibanez<br />
Ben Fransisco<br />
Carlos Ruiz<br />
Pitcher of the Day<br />
<br />
That lineup isn't really striking fear into the heart of the opposing pitcher. Aside from Howard there is no one in the order with any real power and for the most part the rest of the lineup are all contact hitters with a bit of speed. Now since the Phillies have such a dominant pitching staff they will probably only need 3-4 runs per game to win but that may even be hard to come by if Utley is out for an extended period of time.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bgNWnzVuzOM/TZN8dmCJGwI/AAAAAAAAAWU/gXb06c8h0so/s1600/phillies7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bgNWnzVuzOM/TZN8dmCJGwI/AAAAAAAAAWU/gXb06c8h0so/s400/phillies7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
If the Phillies really are going to challenge for a World Series then they will probably have to make a trade mid-season in order to acquire at least one or two bats. That will mean either parting ways with some of their prospects (which would hurt them moving forward and contribute more to the age problem) or trading one of their pitchers, more than likely Joe Blanton which wouldn't be too great a loss since once you get to the playoffs the rotation shrinks to 4 anyways.<br />
<br />
So there are some cracks in the Phillies armor. Their starting rotation may be one of the best ever but is it enough to cover up the glaring weaknesses in the rest of the team? Will Chase Utley be 100% when he comes back from injury or will his knee hinder his defense? Can the bullpen survive the injury to Brad Lidge? Can the Phillies hold off the Braves who look to be one of the better teams in the National League and are another favorite to make a deep playoff run? <br />
<br />
Right now I think this is a team that has more questions than answers. But those questions should be answered quickly as the season kicks off this weekend and the Phillies try and get back to the World Series for the 3rd time in four years.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Random YouTube Video</b><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/swL3ebr1_Do" title="YouTube video player" width="480"></iframe>James Cholerashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17920163382430847647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862941136408130469.post-77650470709883136862011-03-29T14:01:00.000-04:002011-03-29T14:01:03.484-04:00Georges St. Pierre/Jake Shields: Comparing Training Camps<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
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<div class="MsoNormal">During the broadcast for UFC Fight Night 24 Joe Rogan interviewed Jake Shields about his upcoming fight on April 30<sup>th</sup> against Georges St. Pierre for the UFC Welterweight Championship. The interview itself was pretty standard and I wasn’t really paying attention until Joe asked, “tell us how training camp has gone in preparation for this title fight.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jake Shields’ answer to that question is exactly why he is going to lose to GSP at UFC 129 in Toronto. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">“So far things are going great man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Camps going good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You know we just had Court Mcgee out here last week…we got Chael Sonnen coming out this week things are going good.”</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">From that one answer every fight fan out there should know that Jake Shields doesn’t stand a chance against GSP and here’s why:</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Jake Shields has never fought anyone like Georges St. Pierre before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure he has fought athletic guys and guys that can wrestle but he has never faced a fighter that is even close to being on the same level as GSP.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet despite that glaringly obvious fact Jake Shields has not changed the way he has prepared for this fight at all and by his own admission is going about training camp like its business as usual.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Now Shields may be keeping a lid on exactly what’s happening at his training camp but the UFC has planned a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">UFC Primetime</i> special leading up to this fight so the cameras will be there making lying a waste of time. Plus I don't really see Jake Shields as a fighter that plays mind games so really I think he is telling the truth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If that is indeed the case then he is in serious trouble.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">Looking at the current champions in the UFC they all have one thing in common, they train with great fighters at great camps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anderson Silva trains at Black House alongside some of the best fighters in the world (Jose Aldo, the Nogueira brothers and Junior Dos Santos).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jon Jones and GSP both train at Greg Jackson MMA as well as Grudge Training Center and Cain Velasquez trains at American Kickboxing Academy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The champions surround themselves with other elite fighters because they know the only way they can get better is by training with the best.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Jake Shields meanwhile is training for a fight against Georges St. Pierre by wrestling with Court McGee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Not to rip too hard on Court McGee who is a talented enough guy but </span>he is barely a prospect in the UFC Middleweight division and isn’t exactly well known for being a great wrestler. So I wonder what could Shields possibly hope to gain by training with him?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The rest of Shields’ training partners at Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu are a little more respectable as Nick Diaz, Gilbert Melendez and Nate Diaz all train with Shields regularly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These types of training partners may suffice when preparing to fight guys such as Martin Kampmann and Jason “Mayhem” Miller but when preparing for a fighter like Georges St. Pierre you need to get outside your comfort zone and train with the best otherwise you are just going to get steamrolled.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Now I know that both Nick Diaz and Gilbert Melendez are champions in Strikeforce but I don't put much weight into victories tallied in Strikeforce as I feel that the talent pool and level of competition falls well short of the UFC (an issue I would gladly debate with anyone at anytime).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That also only covers half the issue (good training partners) as the fact that Shields is doing nothing to step up his game for a superior opponent is the main concern I have.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">When it comes to training with the best and incorporating new training partners/coaches there is no one better than GSP.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When preparing for his fights Georges is constantly working with different fighters and trainers making sure that he is always evolving as a fighter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span>For example l</span>eading up to his fight against Josh Koscheck Georges trained with world renowned boxing coach Freddie Roach in order to improve his striking. Through his training with Roach GSP learned how to better incorporate his jab into his striking. He then subsequently used that jab to smash Josh Koscheck’s orbital bone and dictate the pace/location of that fight on his way to earning an easy victory.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">That’s the kind of effort Georges put into a fight against a wrestler.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He very easily could have outwrestled Koscheck like he did the first time they fought but instead he changed his gameplan and caught Koscheck completely off guard as no one expected Georges to stand and strike with that big right overhand Koscheck likes to throw.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Jake Shields on the other hand is the same fighter today as he was back in EliteXC.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He isn’t very good on the feet and prefers to take guys to the ground and submit them using his jiu-jitsu.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In his last 3 fights he has gone to a decision and in his fights against Dan Henderson and Jason Miller he was in a dominant position for pretty much the entire fight and couldn’t finish either fighter. Clearly Shields needs to make some adjustments to his game but it appears that he hasn't done that. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">All I know is that if Jake Shields goes about preparing for this fight like its business as usual and treating it like it’s just any other fight where he can take his opponent down and go for submissions attempts he is going to be soundly defeated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span>Random YouTube Video </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/3aIBF9hSI-I" title="YouTube video player" width="640"></iframe></span></div>James Cholerashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17920163382430847647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862941136408130469.post-76199141300460951242011-03-28T14:57:00.002-04:002011-03-28T14:59:29.421-04:00UConn On the Verge of HistoryLost in the madness that are the Cinderella like runs of the VCU Rams and the Butler Bulldogs has been the story of the UConn Huskies, a team that heading into the Big East tournament on March 8th had lost 4 of its last 5 games and was very much at risk of being left out of the NCAA Tournament. That losing streak is all in the past now as since that opening game of the Big East Tournament against DePaul the UConn Huskies have won 9 straight games in 19 days and are just 2 wins away from one of the best turnaround stories in College Basketball history.<br />
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Head coach Jim Calhoun, who has been the head coach at UConn for 25 years put it best during an interview with the <i>New York Daily News</i> when he said, "I've been fortunate over 39 years to have a lot of teams do a lot of different things, but never could I imagine the team winning nine games in tournament play in 19 days. These brothers, this unique group of young guys, have just given me a thrill beyond compare."<br />
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Even the players themselves admitted that what they have accomplished so far is truly special, "I didn't know what to expect after losing four out of five and everybody's confidence was down," sophomore center Alex Oriakhi said to the <i>Boston Herald</i>. "But we had two great practices before we went off to the Big East Tournament. (Calhoun) said, 'I'm not going to quit on you guys, I'm not going to let you quit.' ... That changed everything."<br />
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</div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"></div>After winning the Big East Tournament by winning 5 games in 5 nights UConn earned a #3 seed in the NCAA Tournament and were immediately targeted by "bracketologists" as being a weak 3 seed and a possible early upset pick. I remember watching the CBS preview show before the tournament started and hearing Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Seth Davis talk about how UConn wouldn't be able to keep their momentum going as they would be exhausted both mentally and emotionally after winning 5 games in 5 nights.<br />
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One of the big reasons so many people were doubting the Huskies is because the team was being carried by player of the year candidate junior guard Kemba Walker all season long. Walker was looked at as being the only scoring option on the team and it was thought that if you could shut him down then the rest of the team would fold. There was also concern about the fact that UConn starts 3 freshmen (guard Jeremy Lamb as well as forwards Tyler Olander and Roscoe Smith). Yet so far the freshmen have played great and no one has been able to slow down Walker as he is averaging 26.3 points per game so far during the tournament and has continued to hit clutch shot after clutch shot.<br />
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But Walker hasn't had to do it all by himself as other players on the team have stepped up their level of play to take some of the pressure off of him. Jeremy Lamb, who averaged just 9.6 points per game during the regular season, has blossomed into a legitimate second option and is chipping in with 16 points per game so far in the NCAA tournament. Even Walker's backup, freshman guard Shabazz Napier, has been effective coming in for Walker during the West title game against Arizona and playing 30 minutes as well as scoring 10 crucial points.<br />
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Even Arizona's head coach Sean Miller acknowledged UConn's completeness as a team during an interview with Greenwichtime.com, "for freshmen at this stage to hold their poise with what was at stake is a tremendous compliment and credit to them. That's why they're in the Final Four, because it's not just Kemba Walker. It's the overall team effort and poise that UConn has."<br />
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</div>During their current 9 game winning streak UConn has beaten DePaul, Georgetown, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Louisville, Bucknell, Cincinnati, San Diego State and Arizona. They are now 30-9 on the season and most impressively 21-0 against non-conference opponents yet they because they aren't a #11 or #8 seed they are being overlooked. I understand why VCU and Butler are grabbing most of the attention but to overlook a team that has pulled off such a ridiculous run would be doing them a great disservice.<br />
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UConn is now just 2 wins away from winning a National Championship and completing a win-streak that seems like its right out of a movie. A winning streak that would rank as one of the best tournament performances of any team in college basketball history.<br />
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<b>Random YouTube Video</b><br />
<b><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/6D8aAC4jrPM" title="YouTube video player" width="480"></iframe> </b>James Cholerashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17920163382430847647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862941136408130469.post-31980290007631526102011-03-27T14:38:00.003-04:002011-03-27T14:51:32.030-04:00Boston Celtics Screwed Without Kendrick PerkinsWhen the Boston Celtics traded Kendrick Perkins to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Jeff Green the best way to describe the reaction from around the league was shock. Even the players themselves were taken aback by the trade as it seemingly came out of nowhere. That trade happened more than a month ago on February 24th but the effects are still being felt today as the Celtics are currently playing some of their worst basketball of the seasons and never seemed to fully recover from the loss of Perk.<br />
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From a basketball point of view I can understand why Celtics General manager Danny Ainge made the deal. Kendricks Perkins has had a history of injury problems and was in need of a new contract that the Celtics more than likely wouldn't have been able to afford. He didn't have a lot of offensive upside and since Rondo disappears at the end of games that meant that 2 out of the 5 guys on the floor during crunch time were useless on offense.<br />
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Another factor to consider was that going into the playoffs the Celtics knew that if they made it to the Finals they would probably have to face the Heat, Knicks and Lakers which means playing against LeBron, Carmelo Anthony and Kobe Bryant. The only person on the Celtics who can guard those guys was Paul Pierce and if he had to play shutdown defense every game it would have detracted from his offensive game which the Celtics heavily rely on. So the Celtics needed another solid defender to take some pressure off Pierce. Jeff Green fits that mold perfectly and I think once the playoffs start he will prove himself to be a solid role player and exactly what the Celtics needed.<br />
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Ainge was also banking on Sahquille O'Neal and Jermain O'Neal being able to stay healthy and contribute valuable minutes every night. With those two, as well as Glen Davis, taking up all of the front court minutes it made Perkins expendable and so he was traded. <br />
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So that's strictly the basketball side of things.<br />
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From a team chemistry point of view there isn't a worse trade I could think of as far as the Celtics are concerned. Perkins was well-loved by the fans as well as everyone on the team and was Rajon Rondo's best friend. He was a great teammate always sticking up for anyone on the team and he would do anything the coaches asked him to do to help the team win. The guy bled Green and White and he was shipped out of town with seemingly no warning to either himself or the rest of the team.<br />
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The first game after the trade the Celtics played the Denver Nuggets and lost 89-75. The entire game they looked disinterested, shell-shocked and lifeless which led Bill Simmons, a lifelong Celtics fan and writer for ESPN, to tweet, "Congrats on the 2011 title, Laker fans. And congrats on making the Finals, Chicago fans."<br />
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That game has really been a microcosm for the rest of the Celtics season as they are currently playing with such a malaise that it makes their games really hard to watch. Rajon Rondo has been awful since the trade showing only flashes of his old self and his body language is terrible as he looks like he is constantly pouting and like he wants to be anywhere but on the court. Kevin Garnett has had poor shooting nights and doesn't have anyone to growl with and scream alongside anymore. Paul Pierce has had questionable shot selection and Ray Allen’s role in the offense is almost non-existent now that Green is on the team.<br />
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Simply put without Perk the Celtics just don't have the same swagger.<br />
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Head Coach Doc Rivers addressed the problem recently during an interview with the <i>Boston Globe</i>, "The way we're playing shocks me," Rivers said. "Our attitude shocks me. We're just not ready to win any games right now the way we play, the way our approach is to basketball games."<br />
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The Celtics are 9-7 since the trade and have lost some key games to some awful teams including home losses to the Charlotte Bobcats, the Los Angeles Clippers and the Memphis Grizzlies. They have also lost games to the lowly New Jersey Nets and the Philadelphia 76ers. Most importantly they have dropped out of the #1 seed in the East and now sit 2.5 games back of the Bulls and only and 1/2 game up on the Heat. Without the #1 seed the Celtics road in the playoffs is going to increasingly more difficult as they will more than likely have to go through both the Knicks and the Heat to get to the Finals.<br />
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But the Celtics shouldn't even be thinking about the Finals right now because without Perk the team must now rely on veterans like Shaq and Jermaine O'Neal who surprise surprise are both hurt. Simmons also had something to say about that, "I guess you can't blame Danny - there was no way to know that 58 year old Shaquille O'Neal might be injured come playoff time."<br />
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Ainge has a different opinion however as in a recent interview with the <i>Boston Globe</i> he had this to say, "these games aren’t lost because Shaq [O’Neal] and Jermaine [O’Neal] aren’t playing. The guys that are in uniform and playing, we have plenty to be winning games. I think everybody in that locker room will tell you we haven’t been playing as well as we’ve been capable of playing."<br />
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Doc Rivers echoed Aigne's feelings to <i>ESPN</i>, "I know what we have in the locker room is good enough to win a title, as far as talent. I also know that right now, in our minds, we're not good enough. Until we move to that next step -- they were there earlier in the year and they were there other parts -- but right now they are not."<br />
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Celtic defenders point out that last year the Celtics went through a similar funk after the All-Star break and only played .500 basketball yet still made it all the way to Game 7 of the NBA Finals. If that's your defense then just remember that Perkins was a big part of that playoff run and the Celtics players themselves have come out and said had Perkins not gotten injured during Game 6 they would have won Game 7 in Los Angeles. <br />
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The window of opportunity is quickly closing for the Celtics as "the Big 3" are all in the final stages of their careers. If the team doesn't win it this year then they might not get another shot. I think that Celtics fans will look back on this team 10 years from now and think about what could have been had they not traded away Perkins.<br />
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<b>Random YouTube Video</b><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/hFJSfiS6FCI" title="YouTube video player" width="480"></iframe>James Cholerashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17920163382430847647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-862941136408130469.post-86684530226125789332011-03-26T11:15:00.000-04:002011-03-26T11:15:27.488-04:00Players are the Solution to NHL Headshot ProblemI am starting to get really fed up with all of this talk about head shots and concussions in the NHL. There are two exciting playoff races going on in both the Eastern and Western conferences and all anybody can talk about is what to do to "make the game safer." I understand it's an issue that needs to be dealt with but there is more to hockey then just head shots. I mean is it too much to ask that Sports Center show the highlights first before going right to footage of the cheap shot du jour?<br />
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My real problem is that nobody is offering any real solutions on how to make the game safer or eliminate headshots. Everyone just makes obvious statements like, "the guys are a lot bigger and the game is a lot faster." No shit its called evolution and it's happening in every sport not just hockey. Football is dealing with the same issues but you don't see the NFL Network running a series like <i>Crisis on Ice?</i> like Sportsnet did the other night. These type of statements don't help anyone and simply make the discussion go around in circles without ever coming to a clear solution.<br />
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It's obvious that the new rules and sanctions put in place the NHL are not having an affect on the players as every night there is a headshot in at least one game in the NHL. So why make your league look foolish by implementing new rules and having the players ignore them making it seem as though the league is a joke and has no real authority over the players? Why continuously overshadow the game with meetings and conferences where nothing really gets done and people aren't happy with the result?<br />
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So I have taken it upon myself to come up with a possible solution to the current epidemic of concussions and headshots and it's so simple I am surprised no one has thought of it yet, and if they have they stole the idea from me. Now it obviously isn't perfect and it would take a lot to make it happen but if you actually look at the issue its the only way to put an end to the debate once and for all.<br />
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What's the one thing current and former players constantly say when asked about outsiders commenting on concussions and headshots? "They never played the game so they have no idea what they are talking about." That's a valid point. I have never played in the NHL so my opinion obviously doesn't carry much weight to the current players of the NHL.<br />
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And what's the one thing general managers, owners, fans and members of the media say when they make suggestions on how to fix the game? "It's all about player safety. We need to ensure that our players can remain on the ice and not have to worry about getting killed out there." Yet another valid point as fans, owners and general managers don't like it when their players get hurt.<br />
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So what's the common connection between both points? The players.<br />
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If players are saying that people outside of the game should shut up because they don't know what they are talking about then obviously the solution to the problem needs to be created by the players. If owners, general managers and fans want the players to be safer the only people that can actually ensure that the game is safe are the players themselves because really 'safe' is a relative term. What you and I might consider safe may be completely different from what an NHL player considers safe. Therefore the only way to put a stop to headshots or at least put a stop to the discussions on headshots are the players.<br />
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So here is my solution: at the end of the season gather all the members of the NHLPA and hold a conference discussing concussions and headshots. Have every single player in the league there and make them sit down and lay out the ground rules for headshots and dealing with suspensions. At the end of that conference have the players vote on how they would like to punish players or enforce theses new rules. Whatever decision they come up with is final and cannot be changed by owners, general managers or even Gary Bettman and Colin Campbell. This way if anything happens to the players the NHL can simply say, "they are the ones playing the game and they are the ones who created the punishments so if they don't like it they have no one to blame but themselves."<br />
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This may take away authority from the NHL slightly but really why should Colin Campbell be the one deciding what is right and wrong on the ice? The players are the ones who are at risk and the ones that actually play the game so why does it not make sense that they have a say in how things are enforced? A common statement that hockey pundits usually use is that 'hockey players enforce themselves on the ice by fighting guys that hit star players and things of that nature'. So if that's true why not just make it official and let players enforce the game itself.<br />
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If you feel like that's giving too much power to the players then here is a slight compromise or a possible twist on this idea. Replace Colin Campbell with recently retired players and make up a small committee that will be in charge of handing out the punishments. Get a group consisting of guys like Chris Chelios, Rob Blake, Scott Niedermayer, Brendan Shanahan, Joe Sakic and Scott Stevens. Combined they have been involved in almost every scenario that could ever happen on the ice and they were all well rounded players with tones of knowledge about the game. Let them decide how many games Matt Cooke should have gotten or whether or not he should still even be in the league.<br />
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Players have a different viewpoint than everyone else because they are the ones on the ice every day. For example after the Chara/Paciaretty incident a lot of NHL players were asked about their thoughts on the hit. About 90% of them said it was an accident and that Chara should not be suspended while fans, including myself, and media members wanted Chara to miss at least 1 game. If the general consensus around the league is not to suspend him then who are we to argue <br />
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Hypothetical situation. Let's say that the the players voted that any headshot of any kind result in a 1 game suspension. So even if it's a dirty hit the payer gets 1 game because that's what the players decided. Then for arguments sake let's say Steve Ott goes out and just blatantly headshots Danny Heatley as retribution for that dirty elbow he received a week ago. Under the rule created by the players Ott would receive a 1 game suspension and that's it. He would no doubt be dealt with next time the two teams played but as far as suspensions go he would get his 1 game. It wouldn't matter if it was deemed intentional or if Heatley got seriously hurt because that's the appropriate punishment the players voted for. <br />
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Now no one on the Sharks could complain to the league or the media because they would look like hypocrites and pussies which is never a good look in the NHL. Now the media wouldn't be able to turn the story into a fabricated epidemic and try and grab ratings off of a useless discussion. The players could focus on the game and the NHL wouldn't have to constantly be answering questions about how they were going to deal with every hit.<br />
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Obviously this is a vastly flawed system and some people might take advantage of it but it would at least put an end to all of this annoying debate and discussion. The NHL can go ahead and make up all sorts of new rules and sanctions about headshots and concussions all they want but unless the players make a change to the way they play then it's all for nothing. It's up to the players to make the change. So why not just simply the process and let the players make the new rules and go from there. The league would avoid a lot of negative publicity and we could go back to talking about hockey instead of concussions.<br />
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Seems like a common sense win-win to me. <br />
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<b>Random YouTube Video </b><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ymsHLkB8u3s" title="YouTube video player" width="480"></iframe>James Cholerashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17920163382430847647noreply@blogger.com0