Browsing today’s news
November 2, 2009
http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/news/story?id=4617600&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines < Golfer tests positive for steroids. This isn’t even an guy on the PGA tour, this is some no name who has to qualify. If steroids can help minor leaguers turn into major leaguers then steroids can turn Joe Schmos into PGA players.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4616312 < The Cleveland Browns have fired their general manager. To quote : “(He) was ushered out of the (team) facility by security around lunchtime Monday.” Unless the gm did something that has not been reported, this is a bad way to fire a guy and proof that the organization as a whole is a mess.
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=4613737 <Tom Cable is accussed of hitting woman. Look, I undertand that people make mistake. I have made my fair share but this is a consistent pattern in this guys history. Basically he hits people when he gets mad and captain obvious says that is wrong. This is not a guy that I would want coaching my team; he is a bad influence. He needs to be fired and banned from the NFL. This is worse than Pete Rose gambling on baseball.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4617252 Chargers waive future Hall of Famer Chris Chambers. If you watch Chargers games and I do (LA county is 200 miles away from San Diego so we get every Chargers game, lame I know.) this guy has something left in the tank. The Cowboys would be wise to pick him up.
http://sports.espn.go.com/boston/news/story?id=4616123 Rajon Rondo gets a huge contract. 5 years for 55 million. He may be overpaid but if he develops into a scorer then this contract is worth it. This is actually a steal for the Celtics. Rondo means more than 11 million dollars to the Celtics. The Celtics had to get this deal done or the fans would revolt.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=4616786 The Phoenix Coyotes have officially been sold to the NHL. This reminds me of the time MLB bought the Expos. Things turned out fine for the Expos, the will for the Coyotes.
Seeing as I am an educator and a youth coach, I love giving kids the notice that they deserve when they do something great.
Below is a link to a video of a 9 year old who scored a great goal. The poor goalie never saw it coming.
Some people do not like my Canucks pick to win the Stanley Cup. Here is why, I picked them:
I like the trendy pick of the Capitals but they do not have consistent goaltending.
As far as I am concerned, the Canucks were the safe pick because there are so many great teams that can come out of the East.
I like the Flyers but don’t feel confident about my pick of having them in the finals. Why, because Pittsburgh will give them a run for their money.
And finally, would you bet against the best goalie (Roberto Luongo) in the NHL?
eastern conference predictions, nhl
September 30, 2009
Well I don’t have as much hockey knowledge as Linda Cohn but I do love the game, and love playing it just like her. Anyway, here is the Eastern conference predictions. I really like this conference. 1-12 could easily dominate the western conference. This division was really hard because I had 12 teams that were capable of making the playoffs, wheras in my mind, I had 6 in the West.
1. Washington
They just got better in the offseason but will their goaltending hold up?
2. Pittsburgh
The defending champions only got better in the offseason.
3. Boston
They overacheived last year and Chara has nowhere to go but down.
4. Philadelphia
I really like this team to do tons of damage. If they didn’t have the Penguins in the same state and division, I would put them in first. Heck, I would probably put them in 1st in any other division except the Redwings/Blackhawks one.
5. New York Rangers
For starters, I think Gaborik will compete for MVP. I think he just needed a change of scenery.
6. New Jersey
Hard to bet against a team like this.
7. Florida
A lot of pepole are down on them because of Bouwmeester being gone but they will do some damage.
8. Carolina
Good team who is always a shoe-in for the playoffs.
9. Montreal
10. Toronto
11. Buffalo
Another team who I hate to bet against.
12. Tampa Bay
13. Atlanta
14. New York Islanders
Ha!
15. Ottawa
While, I did like the return of the Heatly trade, it seems the Senators are a team that has more work to do.
STANLEY CUP FINALS:
Philadelphia goes to the Stanley Cup and loses to Vancouver in 6.
nhl western conference preview
September 29, 2009
Hockey season is here. What does that mean? Well predictions of course.
1. San Jose
Will Heatly put them over the top? Maybe!
2. Vancouver
Now this is my pick to represent the west for the Stanley Cup final
3. Chicago
4. Detroit
They really left a lot to be desired against the Penguins. Worst part is, they only got worse. Their time is up.
5. St. Louis
I really like them to do some damage and knock out a contender or 2 in the playoffs.
6. Calgary
7. LA
I hate to put them in the playoffs but if they perform to their expectations and find solid goaltending then they belong.
8. Columbus
9. Anaheim
they have turned themselves into a team like the Red Wings, Stars, Sharks, and formerly Colorado but this team has lost too many veterans.
10. Edmonton
11. Phoenix
I had this team in the playoffs until the Gretzky annexed himself. They are a very talented team and will do damage but does that mean that they will make the playoffs, no. If they were in a different division, I would consider puting them higher but the Pacific has some very solid teams.
12. Nashville
13. Dallas
After watching Marc Crawford ruin the Kings, I question if he can do anything with a more talented Stars team.
14. Colorado
Even though they are bad and lost Sakic and Ryan Smyth, I still find it hard to put them in last.
15. Minnesota
What can you expect from a team that lost their star player and their coach?
I was just reading Salary figures and it seems that NBA players get paid a lot more dough than NFL players (who are actually close in range but their contracts are not guaranteed), MLB players (where fans revolt when you pay someone more than 15 million), and of course NHL players (where 5 million is considered franchiise player money. Do you know what 5 million can buy in the NBA? It can get you 2 rookie contracts, it is not even as much as the MidLevel exception that it seems every player gets)
Steve Francis made $19,862,275 in salary. Tome Brady only made $18,000,000 million when you include endorsements. Tracy McGrady made $21,126,874 to be a shell of his former self. Stephon Marbury got paid $21,937,500 last season to attend Lakers games. Even Jermaine O’Neal makes more than Brandon Webb/Tim Lincecum CY Young pitchers, $21,352,500. If any of those guys were in the NFL they would have been released ages ago due to salary reasons. All those guys I mentioned make more than Albert Pujols who only makes $13,000,000.
And the thing is, in the NBA salaries only go up every year so add 12 percent to that 20 million. In baseball those are fixed salaries. At least in the NFL they have roster bonuses, but that is more like okay we didn’t cut you so here is more money you deserve anyway.
Yes the NBA has a salary cap and it is hard for players to cash in and get crazy money but it obviously isn’t that hard.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/more/specials/fortunate50/2009/ was used as reference for this article
Ryan Smyth, a true king
July 4, 2009
The Kings acquired Ryan Smyth for Kyle Quincey, Tom Preissing, and a 5th round pick. Finally some good news. They overpaid for a Penguins defensemen. 4 years and 15 million for Rob Scuderi.
I like that the Kings took their time and selected their guy carefully but there comes a time when you are too careful. I think Colorado was pissed that Smyth wasn’t what he was in Edmonton. You can’t hold age against him.
It is worth noting that Smyth had a no trade clause…Paging Dany Heatley?
In exchange the Kings dumped on Tom Preissing’s 2.7 million dollar minor league player contract. Quincey was a solid defenseman for a weak Kings defense; but I look at it that he was a waiver claim and we turned a waiver claim, a bad contract, and a 5th round pick into an all star.
Dany Heatly, a true King?
July 2, 2009
Dany Heatley must be pissing the Senators off. After rejecting a trade and collecting 4 million dollars of their money today, Ottawa must be thinking: “do we really want to trade this guy? is it worth it?”
Heatley even went as far as to meet with the Edmonton people about the trade. He still said no. My guess is that he must have a specific team in mind, like the Kings. My guess is he is trying to force Ottawa into dealing him to this specific team for what it wants to trade.
From a Hockey Fan, on the Gaborik signing
July 1, 2009
Every free agency it seems the New Yorks Rangers sign the best player to an expensive contract. Last year it was Wade Redden, before it was Scott Gomez and Chris Drury (the 2 best players unrestricted free agency had to offer at the time). All got insane contracts. And now another one: Marian Gaborik. Does this ever end? I was hoping that Gaborik would land with a team that needed his goal scoring ability like the Kings or even the Stars. The NHL may have instituted free agency to keep teams from being stupid but the Rangers sign whoever they want and the Kings are stupid enough or smart enough that they are almost at the salary cap floor.
a very bad free agency contract
July 1, 2009
Ask yourself: would you rather have your team take an albotros contract that you cant move for a couple of years in exchange for a couple of years from a decent aging player. And the player sits there and wastes space. Or would you rather your team suffer through players who make the minimum for a few years and know that when you find the right guy, he will be with your team for a long while.
4 years and 15 million for a goaltender who proved he was aging in 2007 (when the Blackhawks couldn’t give him away). All this based on a Stanley Cup season a while ago and a fluky year last year.
My name is Nikolai Khabibulin and I am the newest Oiler. Hello Edmonton, I am here to stay and I am not going away.
