2007 HAD IT’S SHARE OF THE GOOD…THE BAD AND THE UGLY…
IN HOCKEY…THE GOOD STARTED WITH THE ARRIVAL OF SYDNEY CROSBY AS THE NEW FACE OF THE NHL…
CROSBY TOOK HOME THE HART…THE ART ROSS AND THE PEARSON…
THE NEIDERMAYER BROTHERS WON A STANLEY CUP TOGETEHER IN ANAHEIM…
TEAM CANADA WON ITS THIRD STRAIGHT WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP…
AND THE VANCOUVER GIANTS WON THE MEMORIAL CUP IN FRONT OF A SOLD OUT PACIFIC COLISEUM…
THE BAD…WAS AN UNBALANCED NHL SCHEDULE THAT STILL DOES NOT ALLOW 10 EASTERN CONFERENCE TEAMS TO PLAY IN VANCOUVER THIS SEASON…THAT INCLUDES THE LEAFS…THE CANADIANS AND THE SENATORS…
THE UGLY…WAS THE INCREASED VIOLENCE IN THE GAME…CONCUSSIONS ARE NOW EPIDEMIC…AND THE NEW POSTER BOY IS CHRIS SIMON…WHO WAS SUSPENDED A TOTAL OF 55 GAMES FOR TWO SEPARATE ATTACKS…
IN BASEBALL…THE GOOD WAS THE PLAY OF THE BOSTON REDS SOX…
THE BAD…WAS THE MITCHEL REPORT…
THE UGLY…WAS BARRY BONDS…WHO’S NOW BEEN CHARGED WITH BOTH PERJURY AND OBSTRUCTION…
IN FOOTBALL…THE GOOD WAS THE NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS…AND THE SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS…
THE BAD WAS THE MIAMI DOLPHINS…
THE UGLY WAS MICHAEL VICK…
2007 HAD MORE THAN IT’S SHARE OF SCANDALS…
NBA REFEREE TIM DONAGHY WAS CAUGHT GAMBLING ON HIS GAMES…
MARION JONES WAS STRIPPED OF HER OLYMPIC MEDALS…
FLOYD LANDIS WAS STRIPPED OF HIS TOUR DE FRANCE TITLE…
THE NFL HAD A LONG LIST OF SUSPENEDED PLAYERS SUCH AS…PACMAN JONES…TANK JOHNSON AND CHRIS HENRY…
EVEN NEW ENGLAND HEAD COACH BILL BILLICHICK GOT NAILED IN SPY-GATE…
THE ONE THING THAT REMAINED CONSTANT THROUGH IT ALL WAS THIS…
“WE ALL KEPT WATCHING”…
IN 2007 MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL RAKED IN $6 BILLION DOLLARS IN REVENUE…AN ALL TIME HIGH…
AND IN ATLANTA THERE’S STILL A WAITING LIST FOR SEASONS TICKETS…TO THE FALCONS…
A LOT HAPPENED IN 2007…BUT IN TRUTH…VERY LITTLE CHANGED…
HAPPY NEW YEAR…
Monday, December 31, 2007
Friday, December 21, 2007
12 days of Christmas
INSTEAD OF THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS…
ALLAN MACDONALD AND KEVIN O’NEIL OF THE VANCOUVER SUN HAVE COME UP WITH THEIR 12 WAYS TO SAVE THE NHL…
ON THE FIRST DAY OF CHRISTMAS THEY WOULD FIRE GARY BETTMAN…
WHAT IS EVEN MORE IMPRESSIVE IN THAT ON THE 6TH DAY OF CHRISTMAS…
THEY WOULD FIRE GARY BETTMAN…
NO QUESTION BETTMAN IS THE WORST COMMISSIONER IN THE HISTORY OF MAJOR LEAGUE SPORTS…
TWO MAJOR LABOUR FIGHT IN HIS FIRST DECADE ON THE JOB ARE JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG…
WHEN YOU GO DOWN THE WISH LIST…ALMOST ALL OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THE NHL CAN BE DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO BETTMAN AND HIS FAILED VISION…
TOO MANY TEAMS IN TOO MANY CITIES THAT DO NOT WANT HOCKEY…INCLUDING NASHVILLE…
THE SCHEDULE…
THE 2 REFEREE SYSTEM…AND THE LOSS OF ESPN…
THE INSTIGATOR RULE WAS ALREADY IN THE PLACE WHEN BETTMAN ARRIVED IN 1993…
BUT HIS REFUSAL TO GET RID OF IT IS VERY MUCH ON HIS RESUME…
SO DOES THIS CLOWN HOLD ONTO HIS JOB???
SIMPLE…
GARY BETTMAN IS THE SMARTEST GUY AT THIS CIRCUS…
THE NHL IS FILLED WITH ABSENTEE OWNERS…
THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO ROUTINELY HAND OVER THE DAY TO DAY OPERATION OF THEIR TEAM TO THE HIRED HELP…
UNLIKE THE NFL…OR THE NBA…OR MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL…BETTMAN ANSWERS TO A VERY SMALL NUMBER OF OWNERS…
IT’S THEIR AGENDA THAT MATTERS…
TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF JUST BIZZARE THE NHL IS…CHECK THIS OUT…
IN THE FIRST 11 YEARS ON THE JOB…BETTMAN SIGNED THE SAME COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT THREE TIMES…
IT WAS A DEAL THAT ALLOWED PLAYERS SALARIES TO CLIMB FROM AN AVERAGE OF $560 THOUSAND TO $1.8 MILLION…
TO FIX THE PROBLEM BETTMAN BLAMED THE PLAYERS FOR TAKING THE MONEY…AND SHUT DOWN THE LEAGUE FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR…
THE LOCK OUT COST THE LEAGUE TWO BILLION DOLLARS IN REVENUE…
THE OWNERS WERE SO HAPPY…THEY GAVE BETTMAN A $2 MILLION DOLLAR A YEAR RAISE…
HE NOW MAKES $5.9 MILLION A YEAR…
AS FOR THE PLAYERS…THEY’RE BACK MAKING AN AVERAGE OF $1.8 MILLION A YEAR…
ON THE FIRST DAY OF CHRISTMAS…I’D MUCH RATHER FIRE THE OWNERS…
ALLAN MACDONALD AND KEVIN O’NEIL OF THE VANCOUVER SUN HAVE COME UP WITH THEIR 12 WAYS TO SAVE THE NHL…
ON THE FIRST DAY OF CHRISTMAS THEY WOULD FIRE GARY BETTMAN…
WHAT IS EVEN MORE IMPRESSIVE IN THAT ON THE 6TH DAY OF CHRISTMAS…
THEY WOULD FIRE GARY BETTMAN…
NO QUESTION BETTMAN IS THE WORST COMMISSIONER IN THE HISTORY OF MAJOR LEAGUE SPORTS…
TWO MAJOR LABOUR FIGHT IN HIS FIRST DECADE ON THE JOB ARE JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG…
WHEN YOU GO DOWN THE WISH LIST…ALMOST ALL OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THE NHL CAN BE DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO BETTMAN AND HIS FAILED VISION…
TOO MANY TEAMS IN TOO MANY CITIES THAT DO NOT WANT HOCKEY…INCLUDING NASHVILLE…
THE SCHEDULE…
THE 2 REFEREE SYSTEM…AND THE LOSS OF ESPN…
THE INSTIGATOR RULE WAS ALREADY IN THE PLACE WHEN BETTMAN ARRIVED IN 1993…
BUT HIS REFUSAL TO GET RID OF IT IS VERY MUCH ON HIS RESUME…
SO DOES THIS CLOWN HOLD ONTO HIS JOB???
SIMPLE…
GARY BETTMAN IS THE SMARTEST GUY AT THIS CIRCUS…
THE NHL IS FILLED WITH ABSENTEE OWNERS…
THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO ROUTINELY HAND OVER THE DAY TO DAY OPERATION OF THEIR TEAM TO THE HIRED HELP…
UNLIKE THE NFL…OR THE NBA…OR MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL…BETTMAN ANSWERS TO A VERY SMALL NUMBER OF OWNERS…
IT’S THEIR AGENDA THAT MATTERS…
TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF JUST BIZZARE THE NHL IS…CHECK THIS OUT…
IN THE FIRST 11 YEARS ON THE JOB…BETTMAN SIGNED THE SAME COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT THREE TIMES…
IT WAS A DEAL THAT ALLOWED PLAYERS SALARIES TO CLIMB FROM AN AVERAGE OF $560 THOUSAND TO $1.8 MILLION…
TO FIX THE PROBLEM BETTMAN BLAMED THE PLAYERS FOR TAKING THE MONEY…AND SHUT DOWN THE LEAGUE FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR…
THE LOCK OUT COST THE LEAGUE TWO BILLION DOLLARS IN REVENUE…
THE OWNERS WERE SO HAPPY…THEY GAVE BETTMAN A $2 MILLION DOLLAR A YEAR RAISE…
HE NOW MAKES $5.9 MILLION A YEAR…
AS FOR THE PLAYERS…THEY’RE BACK MAKING AN AVERAGE OF $1.8 MILLION A YEAR…
ON THE FIRST DAY OF CHRISTMAS…I’D MUCH RATHER FIRE THE OWNERS…
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Rivalries
IS ONE PLAYOFF MEETING ENOUGH TO ACTUALLY CREATE A RIVALRY???
NOT IN THE TRADITIONAL SENSE…
BUT IN TODAYS NHL TRADITION DOES NOT PLAY MUCH OF A ROLE…
THANKS TO THE SALARY CAP AND FREE AGENCY NO TEAM CAN STAY ON TOP FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME…
AND YOU NEED “TIME” TO BUILD A RIVALRY…
FROM 1995 UNTIL 2002…DALLAS…DETROIT AND COLORADO…CREATED THE BEST RIVALRIES IN HOCKEY AS THEY WENT TO 8 STRAIGHT CUP FINALS…
TONIGHT THE STARS ARE IN TOWN…
IT WILL BE THEIR FIRST VISIT TO VANCOUVER SINCE LOSING GAME 7 IN THE FIRST ROUND OF LAST SEASONS PLAYOFFS…
3 OF THOSE GAMES WENT INTO OVERTIME…
IT WAS NOT EXCITING HOCKEY…BUT FOR MARTY TURCO OF THE STARS IT WAS A BITTER DISSAPPOINTMENT…
HE PLAYED SOME OF THE BEST HOCKEY OF HIS CAREER…GIVING UP A TOTAL OF JUST 11 GOALS…
THE SERIES WAS NOT DECIDED UNTIL TREVOR LINDEN SCORED AT THE 7 MINUTE MARK OF THE THIRD PERIOD OF GAME 7…
SO IS ALL THAT ENOUGH TO NOW CALL THIS A RIVALRY…NOT REALLY…
HOWEVER THE CANUCKS DO HAVE 3 TEAMS THAT HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BECOME A LIGITIMATE RIVAL…
1) ANAHEIM…NOT ONLY DID THE DUCKS KNOCK THE CANUCKS OUT OF THE PLAYOFFS LAST SPRING…
BUT THERE ARE LOTS OF FAMILIAR FACES…BRIAN BURKE…TODD BERTUZZI AND BRAD MAY…
2) CALGARY…THE CANUCKS HAVE MET THE FLAMES 6 TIMES IN THE PLAYOFFS…THAT’S MORE THAN ANY OTHER TEAM…AND THERE’S ALSO MIKE KEENAN…
3) MINNESOTA…THE WILD BEAT THE CANUCKS IN A 7 GAME SERIES IN 2003…BUT THIS SEASON THERE WAS SOME FUEL ADDED TO THIS FIRE WHEN MATTIAS OHLUND GAVE MIKKO KOIVO A TWO HANDER…
OHLUND GOT 4 GAMES AND KOIVO IS STILL NOT BACK IN THE LINE UP…
DEREK BOOGAARD MAY STILL PLAY A ROLE…
PERHAPS THE BEST RIVALRY IN THE NHL BELONGS TO ANAHEIM AND EDMONTON…
TWO YEARS AGO THE OILERS BEAT THE DUCKS IN THE WESTERN FINAL…
CHRIS PRONGER IS NOW IN ANAHEIM…DUSTIN PENNER IS NOW IN EDMONTON…AND BURKE IS FIGHTING WITH KEVIN LOWE…
YEAH…IT’S A LONG WAY FROM SAY…THE RED SOX AND THE YANKEES…OR THE PACKERS AND THE COWBOYS…
BUT THIS IS THE NHL!!!
WHO KNOWS…IF THE LEAGUE HAD GREAT RIVALRIES…MAYBE WE’D STOP TALKING ABOUT CHRIS SIMON…
NOT IN THE TRADITIONAL SENSE…
BUT IN TODAYS NHL TRADITION DOES NOT PLAY MUCH OF A ROLE…
THANKS TO THE SALARY CAP AND FREE AGENCY NO TEAM CAN STAY ON TOP FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME…
AND YOU NEED “TIME” TO BUILD A RIVALRY…
FROM 1995 UNTIL 2002…DALLAS…DETROIT AND COLORADO…CREATED THE BEST RIVALRIES IN HOCKEY AS THEY WENT TO 8 STRAIGHT CUP FINALS…
TONIGHT THE STARS ARE IN TOWN…
IT WILL BE THEIR FIRST VISIT TO VANCOUVER SINCE LOSING GAME 7 IN THE FIRST ROUND OF LAST SEASONS PLAYOFFS…
3 OF THOSE GAMES WENT INTO OVERTIME…
IT WAS NOT EXCITING HOCKEY…BUT FOR MARTY TURCO OF THE STARS IT WAS A BITTER DISSAPPOINTMENT…
HE PLAYED SOME OF THE BEST HOCKEY OF HIS CAREER…GIVING UP A TOTAL OF JUST 11 GOALS…
THE SERIES WAS NOT DECIDED UNTIL TREVOR LINDEN SCORED AT THE 7 MINUTE MARK OF THE THIRD PERIOD OF GAME 7…
SO IS ALL THAT ENOUGH TO NOW CALL THIS A RIVALRY…NOT REALLY…
HOWEVER THE CANUCKS DO HAVE 3 TEAMS THAT HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BECOME A LIGITIMATE RIVAL…
1) ANAHEIM…NOT ONLY DID THE DUCKS KNOCK THE CANUCKS OUT OF THE PLAYOFFS LAST SPRING…
BUT THERE ARE LOTS OF FAMILIAR FACES…BRIAN BURKE…TODD BERTUZZI AND BRAD MAY…
2) CALGARY…THE CANUCKS HAVE MET THE FLAMES 6 TIMES IN THE PLAYOFFS…THAT’S MORE THAN ANY OTHER TEAM…AND THERE’S ALSO MIKE KEENAN…
3) MINNESOTA…THE WILD BEAT THE CANUCKS IN A 7 GAME SERIES IN 2003…BUT THIS SEASON THERE WAS SOME FUEL ADDED TO THIS FIRE WHEN MATTIAS OHLUND GAVE MIKKO KOIVO A TWO HANDER…
OHLUND GOT 4 GAMES AND KOIVO IS STILL NOT BACK IN THE LINE UP…
DEREK BOOGAARD MAY STILL PLAY A ROLE…
PERHAPS THE BEST RIVALRY IN THE NHL BELONGS TO ANAHEIM AND EDMONTON…
TWO YEARS AGO THE OILERS BEAT THE DUCKS IN THE WESTERN FINAL…
CHRIS PRONGER IS NOW IN ANAHEIM…DUSTIN PENNER IS NOW IN EDMONTON…AND BURKE IS FIGHTING WITH KEVIN LOWE…
YEAH…IT’S A LONG WAY FROM SAY…THE RED SOX AND THE YANKEES…OR THE PACKERS AND THE COWBOYS…
BUT THIS IS THE NHL!!!
WHO KNOWS…IF THE LEAGUE HAD GREAT RIVALRIES…MAYBE WE’D STOP TALKING ABOUT CHRIS SIMON…
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Chris Simon
THE PEOPLE WHO RUN THE NHL SIMPLY DO NOT GET IT…
TODAY THE LEAGUE SUSPENDED CHRIS SIMON FOR A MERE 30 GAMES FOR STOMPING ON JARKKO RUUTU...
YES SIMON WILL ALSO LOSE $300 THOUSAND IN SALARY…
BUT THE REAL ISSUE HERE IS THIS…
SIMON WILL BE ELIGIBLE TO RETURN THE ISLANDERS LINE UP ON FEBRUARY 21ST…
HOW CAN THIS BE???
SIMON HAS NOW BEEN SUSPENDED A TOTAL OF 8 TIMES IN HIS CAREER…
THE MAN IS SERIAL OFFENDER…
IN MARCH HE TOOK HIS STICK TO THE HEAD OF RYAN HOLLWEG OF THE RANGERS…
THAT EARNED HIM 25 GAMES…
CHRIS SIMON NOW OWNS THE TOP TWO LONGEST SUSPENSIONS IN NHL HISTORY…
NHL VICE PRESIDENT COLIN CAMPBELL CALLED THE INCIDENT…”REPUGNANT AND UNACCEPTABLE”…
TOUGH TALK…BUT ONCE AGAIN THE PUNISHMENT DOES NOT FIT THE CRIME…
SIMON COULD VERY EASILY HAVE ENDED RUUTU’S CAREER…
LET’S GET ONE THING STRAIGHT…
HOCKEY IS UNIQUE…
YOU NEED A CAR TO PARTICIPATE IN SPORT THAT USES MORE SPEED…
THE GAME IS PLAYED ON ICE…WITH BOARDS AND PLEXI-GLASS…
THERE IS NO “OUT OF BOUNDS”…
THE PLAYERS WEAR RAZOR SHARP SKATES AND EVERY ONE CARRIES A STICK…
THE ONLY SAFETY IN THE GAME IS THE RESPECT THE PLAYERS HAVE FOR EACH OTHER…
MORE AND MORE THAT RESPECT IS DISSAPPEARING…
THE RESULT IS A GROWING CULTURE OF VIOLENCE IN HOCKEY…
FOR WHATEVER REASON THE NHL HAS NO INTEREST IN ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM…
IT IS NOT A MATTER OF “IF”…BUT ONLY “WHEN” A PLAYER IS EITHER CRIPPLED OR KILLED IN THE NHL…
UNTIL THAT HAPPENS…ITS BUSINESS AS USUAL…
THE NHL SHOULD HAVE SUSPENDED SIMON FOR LIFE…
BUT IT SHOULD HAVE EVEN MORE…
THE NHL SHOULD HAVE COME OUT WITH A NEW AND MUCH TOUGHER POLICY TO DEAL WITH VIOLENCE IN THE GAME…
A POLICY THAT INCLUDES MASSIVE FINES AND GUARENTEES LIFE TIME SUSPENSIONS TO REPEAT OFFENDERS…
INSTEAD THE LEAGUE ONCE AGAIN STUCK ITS HEAD INTO THE SAND…
AS A RESULT…ON FEBRUARY 21ST CHRIS SIMON WILL BE BACK ROAMING THE NHL…LOOKING FOR HIS NEXT VICTIM…
TODAY THE LEAGUE SUSPENDED CHRIS SIMON FOR A MERE 30 GAMES FOR STOMPING ON JARKKO RUUTU...
YES SIMON WILL ALSO LOSE $300 THOUSAND IN SALARY…
BUT THE REAL ISSUE HERE IS THIS…
SIMON WILL BE ELIGIBLE TO RETURN THE ISLANDERS LINE UP ON FEBRUARY 21ST…
HOW CAN THIS BE???
SIMON HAS NOW BEEN SUSPENDED A TOTAL OF 8 TIMES IN HIS CAREER…
THE MAN IS SERIAL OFFENDER…
IN MARCH HE TOOK HIS STICK TO THE HEAD OF RYAN HOLLWEG OF THE RANGERS…
THAT EARNED HIM 25 GAMES…
CHRIS SIMON NOW OWNS THE TOP TWO LONGEST SUSPENSIONS IN NHL HISTORY…
NHL VICE PRESIDENT COLIN CAMPBELL CALLED THE INCIDENT…”REPUGNANT AND UNACCEPTABLE”…
TOUGH TALK…BUT ONCE AGAIN THE PUNISHMENT DOES NOT FIT THE CRIME…
SIMON COULD VERY EASILY HAVE ENDED RUUTU’S CAREER…
LET’S GET ONE THING STRAIGHT…
HOCKEY IS UNIQUE…
YOU NEED A CAR TO PARTICIPATE IN SPORT THAT USES MORE SPEED…
THE GAME IS PLAYED ON ICE…WITH BOARDS AND PLEXI-GLASS…
THERE IS NO “OUT OF BOUNDS”…
THE PLAYERS WEAR RAZOR SHARP SKATES AND EVERY ONE CARRIES A STICK…
THE ONLY SAFETY IN THE GAME IS THE RESPECT THE PLAYERS HAVE FOR EACH OTHER…
MORE AND MORE THAT RESPECT IS DISSAPPEARING…
THE RESULT IS A GROWING CULTURE OF VIOLENCE IN HOCKEY…
FOR WHATEVER REASON THE NHL HAS NO INTEREST IN ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM…
IT IS NOT A MATTER OF “IF”…BUT ONLY “WHEN” A PLAYER IS EITHER CRIPPLED OR KILLED IN THE NHL…
UNTIL THAT HAPPENS…ITS BUSINESS AS USUAL…
THE NHL SHOULD HAVE SUSPENDED SIMON FOR LIFE…
BUT IT SHOULD HAVE EVEN MORE…
THE NHL SHOULD HAVE COME OUT WITH A NEW AND MUCH TOUGHER POLICY TO DEAL WITH VIOLENCE IN THE GAME…
A POLICY THAT INCLUDES MASSIVE FINES AND GUARENTEES LIFE TIME SUSPENSIONS TO REPEAT OFFENDERS…
INSTEAD THE LEAGUE ONCE AGAIN STUCK ITS HEAD INTO THE SAND…
AS A RESULT…ON FEBRUARY 21ST CHRIS SIMON WILL BE BACK ROAMING THE NHL…LOOKING FOR HIS NEXT VICTIM…
Friday, November 2, 2007
YOUR WIFE SUES YOU FOR DIVORCE AND TAKES THE HOUSE…
YOU LOSE YOUR JOB…
SOMBODY STEALS YOUR CAR…
AND THEN YOU FIND OUT…YOUR KIDS ARE ON DRUGS…
AT THAT MOMENT OF UTTER DISPAIR…YOU LOOK UP TO THE SKY AND YELL OUT AT THE TOP OF YOUR LUNGS…
”WHAT ELSE CAN GO WRONG???”
THEN IT STARTS TO RAIN…
NOW YOU KNOW HOW THE VANCOUVER CANUCKS FEEL…
LASTNIGHT THEY WERE SHUTOUT 3-0 BY THE NASHVILLE PREDATORS…
THE TEAM WITH THE WORST ROAD RECORD IN THE ENTIRE NHL…
THE CANUCKS HAVE NOW LOST 6 OF THEIR FIRST 7 GAMES AT HOME…
NOT ONLY DO THEY NOW OWN THE WORST HOME RECORD IN THE NHL…
THIS IS ALSO THE WORST START AT HOME…IN THE HISTORY OF THE FRANCHISE…
NOW THE BAD NEWS…
KEVIN BIEKSA SUFFERED A DEEP CUT IN HIS CALF MUSCLE AND IS GONE FOR THE NEXT 2 MONTHS…
SAMI SALO TOOK AT A PUCK IN THE FACE…HE WILL NEED SURGERY…THERE’S NO WORD ON HOW LONG SALO IS GONE…
LUC BOURDON HAS ALREADY BEEN CALLED UP…
HERE’S THE PART WHERE THINGS GETS UGLY…
LASTNIGHT ROBERTO LUONGO LET IN TWO GOALS ON THE FIRST TWO SHOTS HE FACED…
THAT’S WHEN THE BOO BIRDS ARRIVED…
THE FANS IN THIS CITY ARE NOT SAYING “LOU”…THEY’RE SAYING…”BOO”…
BY THE END OF THE NIGHT…HEAD COACH ALAIN VIGNEAULT WAS SO DESPERATE HE BROKE UP THE SEDINS…
IN THE THIRD PERIOD THE CANUCKS ROLLED OUT A LINE OF…GET THIS…
NASLUND…ISBISTER AND HENRIK SEDIN…
THINGS ARE NOT GOING TO GET ANY BETTER ANY TIME SOON…
NOVEMBER IS A STEADY DIET OF…COLROADO…CALGARY…ANAHEIM AND MINNESOTA…
IT’S A GOOD THING THERE’S A ROOF ON GM PLACE…BECAUSE IT’S GOING TO RAIN A LOT ON THE CANUCKS THIS SEASON…
YOU LOSE YOUR JOB…
SOMBODY STEALS YOUR CAR…
AND THEN YOU FIND OUT…YOUR KIDS ARE ON DRUGS…
AT THAT MOMENT OF UTTER DISPAIR…YOU LOOK UP TO THE SKY AND YELL OUT AT THE TOP OF YOUR LUNGS…
”WHAT ELSE CAN GO WRONG???”
THEN IT STARTS TO RAIN…
NOW YOU KNOW HOW THE VANCOUVER CANUCKS FEEL…
LASTNIGHT THEY WERE SHUTOUT 3-0 BY THE NASHVILLE PREDATORS…
THE TEAM WITH THE WORST ROAD RECORD IN THE ENTIRE NHL…
THE CANUCKS HAVE NOW LOST 6 OF THEIR FIRST 7 GAMES AT HOME…
NOT ONLY DO THEY NOW OWN THE WORST HOME RECORD IN THE NHL…
THIS IS ALSO THE WORST START AT HOME…IN THE HISTORY OF THE FRANCHISE…
NOW THE BAD NEWS…
KEVIN BIEKSA SUFFERED A DEEP CUT IN HIS CALF MUSCLE AND IS GONE FOR THE NEXT 2 MONTHS…
SAMI SALO TOOK AT A PUCK IN THE FACE…HE WILL NEED SURGERY…THERE’S NO WORD ON HOW LONG SALO IS GONE…
LUC BOURDON HAS ALREADY BEEN CALLED UP…
HERE’S THE PART WHERE THINGS GETS UGLY…
LASTNIGHT ROBERTO LUONGO LET IN TWO GOALS ON THE FIRST TWO SHOTS HE FACED…
THAT’S WHEN THE BOO BIRDS ARRIVED…
THE FANS IN THIS CITY ARE NOT SAYING “LOU”…THEY’RE SAYING…”BOO”…
BY THE END OF THE NIGHT…HEAD COACH ALAIN VIGNEAULT WAS SO DESPERATE HE BROKE UP THE SEDINS…
IN THE THIRD PERIOD THE CANUCKS ROLLED OUT A LINE OF…GET THIS…
NASLUND…ISBISTER AND HENRIK SEDIN…
THINGS ARE NOT GOING TO GET ANY BETTER ANY TIME SOON…
NOVEMBER IS A STEADY DIET OF…COLROADO…CALGARY…ANAHEIM AND MINNESOTA…
IT’S A GOOD THING THERE’S A ROOF ON GM PLACE…BECAUSE IT’S GOING TO RAIN A LOT ON THE CANUCKS THIS SEASON…
Thursday, November 1, 2007
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A STOPPABLE FORCE…MEETS MOVABLE OBJECT???
WE ARE ABOUT TO FIND OUT TONIGHT AT GM PLACE…
THE CANUCKS HAVE LOST 5 OF THEIR FIRST 6 HOME GAMES…THE WORST “HOME RECORD” IN THE ENTIRE NHL…
THEY MEET THE NASHVILLE PREDATORS…A TEAM THAT HAS LOST ALL 5 GAMES THEY’VE PLAYED ON THE ROAD…
THE WORST “AWAY RECORD” IN THE ENTIRE NHL…
SOMETHING HAS GOT TO GIVE…
WITH THE PREDATORS…IT’S UNDERSTANDABLE…
THE TEAM IS FOR SALE AND OVER THE SUMMER OWNERSHIP GUTTED THE ROSTER…
THE ISSUE WITH THE CANUCKS IS JUST AS SIMPLE…
THE CANUCKS HAVE FORGOTTEN WHO THEY ARE…
SOMEHOW BETWEEN THE END OF LAST SEASON AND THE START OF THIS SEASON THE PLAYERS IN THAT DRESSING ROOM GOT THE IDEA THAT THEY COULD WIN BY SHOWING UP…
TREVOR LINDEN PUT IT BEST THIS WEEK WHEN HE STATED…”WE’VE GONE IN THE WRONG DIRECTION”…
THAT MAY BE THE UNDERSTATEMENT OF THE YEAR…
NOW COMES THE CHALLENGE OF TURNING THIS SHIP AROUND…
THE FEAR CANUCK FANS HAVE…IS…THE SHIP THEIR WATCHING IS THE EXXON VALDEZ…
TO BEGIN WITH THE TEAM HAS BEEN DEALING WITH HEALTH ISSUES SINCE THE START OF TRAINING CAMP…
MISSING TONIGHT WILL BE…
JEFF COWAN…LUKAS KRAJICEK…RICK RYPIEN AND PERHAPS…WILLIE MITCHEL…
BUT AT THIS TIME OF THE SEASON…FANS ARE NOT LOOKING FOR EXCUSES…THEY ARE LOOKING FOR ANSWERS…
UNFORTUNATELY THERE IS NO ONE SINGLE ASPECT OF THE GAME THE CANUCKS HAVE TO IMPROVE TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM…
THEY ARE AVERAGING THE FEWEST SHOTS ON GOAL IN THE NHL…
THEIR FACE OFF PERCENTAGE IS THE LOWEST IN THE NHL…
AND THEIR PENALTY KILL IS 21ST OVER ALL…
LAST SEASON…THE CANUCKS HAD THE BEST PENALTY KILL IN THE LEAGUE…
IT DOES NOT HELP THAT GOALTENDER ROBERTO LUONGO IS NOT PLAYING LIKE…ROBERTO LUONGO…
HIS GOALS AGAINST AVERAGE IS NOW 2.92…
OF THE 30 STARTING GOALTENDERS IN THE NHL…LUONGO RANKS…25TH…
NOW THE GOOD NEWS…NASHVILLE HAS THE WORST RECORD IN THE ENTIRE WESTERN CONFERENCE…
IF THERE WAS EVER A TIME TO TURN THINGS AROUND…TONIGHT’S THE NIGHT…
WE ARE ABOUT TO FIND OUT TONIGHT AT GM PLACE…
THE CANUCKS HAVE LOST 5 OF THEIR FIRST 6 HOME GAMES…THE WORST “HOME RECORD” IN THE ENTIRE NHL…
THEY MEET THE NASHVILLE PREDATORS…A TEAM THAT HAS LOST ALL 5 GAMES THEY’VE PLAYED ON THE ROAD…
THE WORST “AWAY RECORD” IN THE ENTIRE NHL…
SOMETHING HAS GOT TO GIVE…
WITH THE PREDATORS…IT’S UNDERSTANDABLE…
THE TEAM IS FOR SALE AND OVER THE SUMMER OWNERSHIP GUTTED THE ROSTER…
THE ISSUE WITH THE CANUCKS IS JUST AS SIMPLE…
THE CANUCKS HAVE FORGOTTEN WHO THEY ARE…
SOMEHOW BETWEEN THE END OF LAST SEASON AND THE START OF THIS SEASON THE PLAYERS IN THAT DRESSING ROOM GOT THE IDEA THAT THEY COULD WIN BY SHOWING UP…
TREVOR LINDEN PUT IT BEST THIS WEEK WHEN HE STATED…”WE’VE GONE IN THE WRONG DIRECTION”…
THAT MAY BE THE UNDERSTATEMENT OF THE YEAR…
NOW COMES THE CHALLENGE OF TURNING THIS SHIP AROUND…
THE FEAR CANUCK FANS HAVE…IS…THE SHIP THEIR WATCHING IS THE EXXON VALDEZ…
TO BEGIN WITH THE TEAM HAS BEEN DEALING WITH HEALTH ISSUES SINCE THE START OF TRAINING CAMP…
MISSING TONIGHT WILL BE…
JEFF COWAN…LUKAS KRAJICEK…RICK RYPIEN AND PERHAPS…WILLIE MITCHEL…
BUT AT THIS TIME OF THE SEASON…FANS ARE NOT LOOKING FOR EXCUSES…THEY ARE LOOKING FOR ANSWERS…
UNFORTUNATELY THERE IS NO ONE SINGLE ASPECT OF THE GAME THE CANUCKS HAVE TO IMPROVE TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM…
THEY ARE AVERAGING THE FEWEST SHOTS ON GOAL IN THE NHL…
THEIR FACE OFF PERCENTAGE IS THE LOWEST IN THE NHL…
AND THEIR PENALTY KILL IS 21ST OVER ALL…
LAST SEASON…THE CANUCKS HAD THE BEST PENALTY KILL IN THE LEAGUE…
IT DOES NOT HELP THAT GOALTENDER ROBERTO LUONGO IS NOT PLAYING LIKE…ROBERTO LUONGO…
HIS GOALS AGAINST AVERAGE IS NOW 2.92…
OF THE 30 STARTING GOALTENDERS IN THE NHL…LUONGO RANKS…25TH…
NOW THE GOOD NEWS…NASHVILLE HAS THE WORST RECORD IN THE ENTIRE WESTERN CONFERENCE…
IF THERE WAS EVER A TIME TO TURN THINGS AROUND…TONIGHT’S THE NIGHT…
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
HockeyNight in Nashville?
TALK IS CHEAP…
NO WHERE IS IT CHEAPER THAN RIGHT NOW IN NASHVILLE…
MIDNIGHT TONIGHT IS THE WITCHING HOUR FOR HOCKEY IN THAT CITY…
OWNER CRAIG LEIPOLD HAS GIVEN EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS TO A LOCAL GROUP TO BUY THE TEAM…
THAT DEAL DIES WHEN THE CLOCK STRIKES 12…
RIGHT NOW…BOTH SIDES…AS WELL AS THE LOCAL POLITICIANS…ARE SAYING ALL THE “RIGHT THINGS”…
DON’T BELIEVE ANY OF IT…
THE TRUTH IS…THE PARTY IN THAT CITY IS OVER…
THE PREDATORS ARE LEAVING NASHVILLE AT THE END OF THIS SEASON…
THEIR FATE WAS SEALED THE DAY LEIPOLD PUT THEM UP FOR SALE…
THE KEY TO THE MOVE IS THE TEAM GETTING OUT OF THEIR ARENA LEASE…
TO DO THAT THE PREDATOR HAD TO AVERAGE LESS THAN 14 THOUSAND PAID ATTENDANCE THIS SEASON…
SO…IN THE SUMMER THE TEAM GUTTED ITS ROSTER…
GONE ARE PLAYERS SUCH AS…PAUL KARIYA…KIMMO TIMONEN…AND THOMAS VOKOUN…
THERE WAS NO ATTEMPT TO DIVE INTO THE FREE AGENT POOL…
AND NO ATTEMPT TO RE-SIGN HEAD COACH BARRY TROTZ…EVEN THOUGH TROTZ IS IN THE FINAL YEAR OF HIS CONTRACT…
TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH…THE ORGANIZATION IS NOT COMMITTED TO WINNING…
IT’S WORKING…THE PREDS HAVE NOW LOST 6 OF THEIR LAST 8…
THE RESULT IS THAT ATTENDANCE THIS SEASON IS AROUND 12 THOUSAND A GAME…
THE REASON THE LEAGUE WANTS THE TEAM MOVED TO KANSAS CITY IS SIMPLE…
THE NEW ARENA IN THAT CITY IS RUN BY THE OWNER OF THE LOS ANGELES KINGS PHILIP ANSCHUTZ…PERHAPS THE MOST POWERFUL PERSON IN HOCKEY…
THE NASHVILLE BID TO KEEP THE TEAM IS NOTHING MORE THAN A CHARADE FOR THE NHL…LEIPOLD AND THE LOCAL POLITICIANS TO SAVE FACE…
THE FACTS DON’T LIE…
THE MONEY MAN BEHIND THE NASHVILLE BID IS WILLIAM “BOOTS” DEL BIAGGIO FROM CALIFORNIA…WHO IS CONNECTED TO ANSCHUTZ AND OWNS THE NHL RIGHTS TO THE NEW ARENA IN KANSAS CITY…
TODAY WE LEARNED…DEL BIAGGIO HAS ADDED A NEW PARTNER IS DOUG BERGERON…WHO IS A CANADIAN BILLIONAIRE…ALSO LIVING IN CALIFORNIA…
AS A RESULT…THE PREDS WILL MOVE TO KANSAS CITY AT THE END OF THE SEASON…
SO TONIGHT AT MIDNIGHT…THE STAKE WILL BE OFFICIALLY DRIVEN THROUGH THE HEART OF EVERY HOCKEY FAN IN NASHVILLE…
NO WHERE IS IT CHEAPER THAN RIGHT NOW IN NASHVILLE…
MIDNIGHT TONIGHT IS THE WITCHING HOUR FOR HOCKEY IN THAT CITY…
OWNER CRAIG LEIPOLD HAS GIVEN EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS TO A LOCAL GROUP TO BUY THE TEAM…
THAT DEAL DIES WHEN THE CLOCK STRIKES 12…
RIGHT NOW…BOTH SIDES…AS WELL AS THE LOCAL POLITICIANS…ARE SAYING ALL THE “RIGHT THINGS”…
DON’T BELIEVE ANY OF IT…
THE TRUTH IS…THE PARTY IN THAT CITY IS OVER…
THE PREDATORS ARE LEAVING NASHVILLE AT THE END OF THIS SEASON…
THEIR FATE WAS SEALED THE DAY LEIPOLD PUT THEM UP FOR SALE…
THE KEY TO THE MOVE IS THE TEAM GETTING OUT OF THEIR ARENA LEASE…
TO DO THAT THE PREDATOR HAD TO AVERAGE LESS THAN 14 THOUSAND PAID ATTENDANCE THIS SEASON…
SO…IN THE SUMMER THE TEAM GUTTED ITS ROSTER…
GONE ARE PLAYERS SUCH AS…PAUL KARIYA…KIMMO TIMONEN…AND THOMAS VOKOUN…
THERE WAS NO ATTEMPT TO DIVE INTO THE FREE AGENT POOL…
AND NO ATTEMPT TO RE-SIGN HEAD COACH BARRY TROTZ…EVEN THOUGH TROTZ IS IN THE FINAL YEAR OF HIS CONTRACT…
TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH…THE ORGANIZATION IS NOT COMMITTED TO WINNING…
IT’S WORKING…THE PREDS HAVE NOW LOST 6 OF THEIR LAST 8…
THE RESULT IS THAT ATTENDANCE THIS SEASON IS AROUND 12 THOUSAND A GAME…
THE REASON THE LEAGUE WANTS THE TEAM MOVED TO KANSAS CITY IS SIMPLE…
THE NEW ARENA IN THAT CITY IS RUN BY THE OWNER OF THE LOS ANGELES KINGS PHILIP ANSCHUTZ…PERHAPS THE MOST POWERFUL PERSON IN HOCKEY…
THE NASHVILLE BID TO KEEP THE TEAM IS NOTHING MORE THAN A CHARADE FOR THE NHL…LEIPOLD AND THE LOCAL POLITICIANS TO SAVE FACE…
THE FACTS DON’T LIE…
THE MONEY MAN BEHIND THE NASHVILLE BID IS WILLIAM “BOOTS” DEL BIAGGIO FROM CALIFORNIA…WHO IS CONNECTED TO ANSCHUTZ AND OWNS THE NHL RIGHTS TO THE NEW ARENA IN KANSAS CITY…
TODAY WE LEARNED…DEL BIAGGIO HAS ADDED A NEW PARTNER IS DOUG BERGERON…WHO IS A CANADIAN BILLIONAIRE…ALSO LIVING IN CALIFORNIA…
AS A RESULT…THE PREDS WILL MOVE TO KANSAS CITY AT THE END OF THE SEASON…
SO TONIGHT AT MIDNIGHT…THE STAKE WILL BE OFFICIALLY DRIVEN THROUGH THE HEART OF EVERY HOCKEY FAN IN NASHVILLE…
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Canuck finger Pointing
WHEN IT COMES TO THE CANUCKS…
RIGHT NOW THERE’S A LOT OF FINGER POINTING GOING ON…
HEAD COACH ALAIN VIGNEAULT IS NOT HAPPY WITH THE WAY HIS TOP TWO LINES ARE PLAYING…
IN HIS WORDS…“THERE’S NOT MUCH GOING ON THERE”…”THERE HASN’T BEEN MUCH GOING ON THERE FOR A WHILE”…
COMBINED THE CANUCKS TOP 6 FORWARDS ARE A MISERABLE MINUS 17 ON THE SEASON…
UNFORTUNATELY THE DEEPER YOU LOOK…THE WORSE IT GETS…
LASTNIGHT IN DETROIT THE CANUCKS WERE OUTSHOT 40 TO 15…
AND IN THE FIRST 3 GAMES OF THIS ROAD TRIP THEY’VE BEEN OUT SHOT A STAGGERING…106 TO 54…
MARKUS NASLUND HAD TAKEN 48 SHIFTS IN HIS LAST 2 GAMES…HE HAS PRODUCED 1 SHOT ON GOAL AND NO POINTS…
THAT’S NOT MUCH FOR $6 MILLION DOLLARS…
WHEN IT COMES TO SHOTS ON NET…THE CANUCKS ARE NOW DEAD LAST IN THE ENTIRE NHL…
THE ONLY THING THAT HAS BEEN KEEPING THE CANUCKS IN MOST GAMES IS THEIR GOALTENDING…
ROBERTO LUONGO IS NOT NAMING NAMES…BUT HE DOES NOT HIDE THE FACT THAT HE’S FRUSTRATED WITH THE DIRECTION THIS SEASON IS GOING…
THE NATURAL RE-ACTION FROM FANS IS TO HOPE THE CANUCKS WILL FIND THEIR GAME…MUCH LIKE THEY DID LAST SEASON…
THE DIE HARDS WILL POINT OUT…
IN LATE OCTOBER AND EARLY NOVEMBER OF 06…THESE SAME CANUCKS LOST 6 OF 7…INCLUDING A 3-2 DEFEAT IN DETROIT…
THAT TEAM TURNED IT AROUND AND WENT ONTO WIN ITS DIVISION…
UNFORTUNATELY YOU COULD ONLY MAKE THAT ARGUMENT IF YOU HAD NOT WATCHED THE FIRST 10 GAMES OF THE SEASON…
THROW THE STATS OUT…TRUST YOUR EYES…LOOK IN THE MIRROR…AND TELL YOURSELF THE TRUTH…
THIS TEAM IS JUST NOT THAT GOOD…
LAST YEAR LUONGO WAS ABLE TO HIDE A LOT OF PROBLEMS…
24 TIMES THIS TEAM WAS ALLOWED TO PUSH GAMES INTO OVERTIME AND SHOOTOUTS…WHICH RESULTED IN 17 WINS AND 41 POINTS…
THAT’S NOT HAPPENING THIS SEASON…
AS IT SITS NOW…THE CANUCKS ARE NOT A PLAYOFF TEAM…
AND THERE’S NOT A WHOLE LOT GENERAL MANAGER DAVE NONIS CAN DO ABOUT IT…
IN THE MEANTIME THE LOSSES ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO PILE UP…AND THE FINGER POINTING IS ONLY GET WORSE…
RIGHT NOW THERE’S A LOT OF FINGER POINTING GOING ON…
HEAD COACH ALAIN VIGNEAULT IS NOT HAPPY WITH THE WAY HIS TOP TWO LINES ARE PLAYING…
IN HIS WORDS…“THERE’S NOT MUCH GOING ON THERE”…”THERE HASN’T BEEN MUCH GOING ON THERE FOR A WHILE”…
COMBINED THE CANUCKS TOP 6 FORWARDS ARE A MISERABLE MINUS 17 ON THE SEASON…
UNFORTUNATELY THE DEEPER YOU LOOK…THE WORSE IT GETS…
LASTNIGHT IN DETROIT THE CANUCKS WERE OUTSHOT 40 TO 15…
AND IN THE FIRST 3 GAMES OF THIS ROAD TRIP THEY’VE BEEN OUT SHOT A STAGGERING…106 TO 54…
MARKUS NASLUND HAD TAKEN 48 SHIFTS IN HIS LAST 2 GAMES…HE HAS PRODUCED 1 SHOT ON GOAL AND NO POINTS…
THAT’S NOT MUCH FOR $6 MILLION DOLLARS…
WHEN IT COMES TO SHOTS ON NET…THE CANUCKS ARE NOW DEAD LAST IN THE ENTIRE NHL…
THE ONLY THING THAT HAS BEEN KEEPING THE CANUCKS IN MOST GAMES IS THEIR GOALTENDING…
ROBERTO LUONGO IS NOT NAMING NAMES…BUT HE DOES NOT HIDE THE FACT THAT HE’S FRUSTRATED WITH THE DIRECTION THIS SEASON IS GOING…
THE NATURAL RE-ACTION FROM FANS IS TO HOPE THE CANUCKS WILL FIND THEIR GAME…MUCH LIKE THEY DID LAST SEASON…
THE DIE HARDS WILL POINT OUT…
IN LATE OCTOBER AND EARLY NOVEMBER OF 06…THESE SAME CANUCKS LOST 6 OF 7…INCLUDING A 3-2 DEFEAT IN DETROIT…
THAT TEAM TURNED IT AROUND AND WENT ONTO WIN ITS DIVISION…
UNFORTUNATELY YOU COULD ONLY MAKE THAT ARGUMENT IF YOU HAD NOT WATCHED THE FIRST 10 GAMES OF THE SEASON…
THROW THE STATS OUT…TRUST YOUR EYES…LOOK IN THE MIRROR…AND TELL YOURSELF THE TRUTH…
THIS TEAM IS JUST NOT THAT GOOD…
LAST YEAR LUONGO WAS ABLE TO HIDE A LOT OF PROBLEMS…
24 TIMES THIS TEAM WAS ALLOWED TO PUSH GAMES INTO OVERTIME AND SHOOTOUTS…WHICH RESULTED IN 17 WINS AND 41 POINTS…
THAT’S NOT HAPPENING THIS SEASON…
AS IT SITS NOW…THE CANUCKS ARE NOT A PLAYOFF TEAM…
AND THERE’S NOT A WHOLE LOT GENERAL MANAGER DAVE NONIS CAN DO ABOUT IT…
IN THE MEANTIME THE LOSSES ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO PILE UP…AND THE FINGER POINTING IS ONLY GET WORSE…
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Canucks
ON MOST DAYS…JESSE BOULERICE OF THE PHILADELPHIA FLYERS WOULD BE THE ONLY TOPIC OF DISCUSSION IN THIS CITY…
LASTNIGHT BOULERICE CROSS CHECKED KYAN KESLER IN THE HEAD…
IT WAS CHEAP…AND GUTLESS…AND ANOTHER EXAMPLE HOW THE NHL IS INCAPABLE OF POLICING IT’S PLAYERS…
KESLER SUFFERED A SWOLLEN LIP AND JAW…BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE…
IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS THE LEAGUE WILL HAND OUT A SUSPENSION…
HOWEVER THE NUMBER OF GAMES WILL NOT HELP THE CANUCKS WITH THEIR MUCH BIGGER NEED…
A HEART TRANSPLANT…
LASTNIGHT THE WHOLE TEAM SIMPLY DID NOT SHOW UP…
THE FINAL WAS AN 8-2 LOSS…BUT THE SCORE ACTUALLY FLATTERED THE CANUCKS…
IN TRUTH THEIR PERFORMANCE WAS MUCH WORSE…
THE DEFINING MOMENT CAME IN THE THIRD PERIOD WHEN MIKE RICHARDS SCORED AN UNASSISTED GOAL WHILE THE CANUCKS WERE ON A 5 ON 3 POWERPLAY…
AFTER THE GAME…MARKUS NASLUND CALLED IT…”EMBARRASSING”…
AARON MILLER LABLED IT…”AWFUL”…
PERHAPS WILLIE MITCHELL PUT BEST WHEN HE SAID…”WE LET EACH OTHER DOWN…IT WASN’T JUST ONE GUY IT WAS EVERYONE”…
HEAD ALAIN VIGNEAULT DID NOT WASTE TIME SENDING A MESSAGE…
THIS MORNING RYAN SHANNON WAS SENT DOWN TO THE MINORS…
SHANNON WAS MINUS 4 LAST NIGHT AND IS MINUS 7 ON THE SEASON…
MOST FANS ARE IN A STATE OF SHOCK AND IF YOU BOUGHT A TICKET OR SHELLED OUT GOOD MONEY FOR THE PAY PER VIEW BROADCAST YOU HAVE EVERY REASON TO BE UPSET…
NO TEAM CAN GUARENTEE A WIN EVERY NIGHT…BUT THEY CAN AND SHOULD GUARENTEE AN EFFORT EVERY NIGHT…
THAT’S WHAT WAS MISSING…AND THAT’S WHAT HEAD COACH ALAIN VIGNEAULT IS NOW FORCED TO ADDRESS…
STARTING FRIDAY NIGHT IN EDMONTON THE CANUCKS WILL PLAY 3 GAMES IN 4 NIGHTS…
HOW THEY RESPOND IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS…WILL TELL YOU EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT WHAT THIS TEAM IS REALLY MADE OF…
LIKE THE MAN SAID…”ADVERSITY DOES NOT BUILD CHARACTER…IT SIMPLY REVEALS IT”…
LASTNIGHT BOULERICE CROSS CHECKED KYAN KESLER IN THE HEAD…
IT WAS CHEAP…AND GUTLESS…AND ANOTHER EXAMPLE HOW THE NHL IS INCAPABLE OF POLICING IT’S PLAYERS…
KESLER SUFFERED A SWOLLEN LIP AND JAW…BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE…
IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS THE LEAGUE WILL HAND OUT A SUSPENSION…
HOWEVER THE NUMBER OF GAMES WILL NOT HELP THE CANUCKS WITH THEIR MUCH BIGGER NEED…
A HEART TRANSPLANT…
LASTNIGHT THE WHOLE TEAM SIMPLY DID NOT SHOW UP…
THE FINAL WAS AN 8-2 LOSS…BUT THE SCORE ACTUALLY FLATTERED THE CANUCKS…
IN TRUTH THEIR PERFORMANCE WAS MUCH WORSE…
THE DEFINING MOMENT CAME IN THE THIRD PERIOD WHEN MIKE RICHARDS SCORED AN UNASSISTED GOAL WHILE THE CANUCKS WERE ON A 5 ON 3 POWERPLAY…
AFTER THE GAME…MARKUS NASLUND CALLED IT…”EMBARRASSING”…
AARON MILLER LABLED IT…”AWFUL”…
PERHAPS WILLIE MITCHELL PUT BEST WHEN HE SAID…”WE LET EACH OTHER DOWN…IT WASN’T JUST ONE GUY IT WAS EVERYONE”…
HEAD ALAIN VIGNEAULT DID NOT WASTE TIME SENDING A MESSAGE…
THIS MORNING RYAN SHANNON WAS SENT DOWN TO THE MINORS…
SHANNON WAS MINUS 4 LAST NIGHT AND IS MINUS 7 ON THE SEASON…
MOST FANS ARE IN A STATE OF SHOCK AND IF YOU BOUGHT A TICKET OR SHELLED OUT GOOD MONEY FOR THE PAY PER VIEW BROADCAST YOU HAVE EVERY REASON TO BE UPSET…
NO TEAM CAN GUARENTEE A WIN EVERY NIGHT…BUT THEY CAN AND SHOULD GUARENTEE AN EFFORT EVERY NIGHT…
THAT’S WHAT WAS MISSING…AND THAT’S WHAT HEAD COACH ALAIN VIGNEAULT IS NOW FORCED TO ADDRESS…
STARTING FRIDAY NIGHT IN EDMONTON THE CANUCKS WILL PLAY 3 GAMES IN 4 NIGHTS…
HOW THEY RESPOND IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS…WILL TELL YOU EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT WHAT THIS TEAM IS REALLY MADE OF…
LIKE THE MAN SAID…”ADVERSITY DOES NOT BUILD CHARACTER…IT SIMPLY REVEALS IT”…
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Stanley Cup Hangover
IS THERE REALLY SUCH A THING AS A STANLEY CUP HANGOVER?
DEPENDS ON WHO YOU TALK TO…
4 OF THE LAST 8 CUP FINALISTS MISSED THE PLAYOFFS THE FOLLOWING SEASON…
AND NO CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM HAS BEEN ABLE TO REPEAT SINCE THE WINGS DID IT IN 97-98…
KEEP IN MIND…THAT WAS BEFORE THE SALARY CAP…
NEVERTHELESS…YESTERDAY AFTERNOON THE OTTAWA SENATORS DROPPED NEW JERSEY 4-2 TO OPEN THE SEASON WITH A PERFECT RECORD OF 4 AND O…
HOURS BEFORE THE START OF THE SEASON THE SENATORS WERE ABLE TO GET DAN HEATLEY SIGNED TO A 6 YEAR CONTRACT…
SO FAR…HEATLEY HAS REPAID THE SENATORS WITH 4 GOALS IN 4 GAMES…
IN FACT THE BIG LINE OF…HEATLEY…SPEZZA AND ALFREDSON OWN 3 OF THE TOP 4 SPOTS IN NHL SCORING…
THAT INCLUDES ALFREDSON’S LEAGUE LEADING 8 POINTS…
THE DUCKS ARE A DIFFERENT STORY…
THEIR TWO WEEK ROAD TRIP FROM LONDON TO ANAHEIM CERTAINLY HAS TAKEN ITS TOLL…
ANAHEIM HAS JUST ONE VICTORY IN ITS FIRST 5 GAMES…
TOMORROW NIGHT THE DUCKS WILL PLAY THEIR FIRST HOME GAME OF THE SEASON…BOSTON IS IN TOWN…
IT WILL BE THEIR FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO RAISE THE BANNER THEY EARNED LAST SPRING…
HOWEVER THIS IS CERTAINLY NOT THE SAME TEAM…
MISSING ARE: …SCOTT NEIDERMAYER…TEEMU SELANNE…AND DUSTIN PENNER…
THE INJURY LIST INCLUDES MATHIEU SCHNEIDER…SAMUEL PAHLSSON AND J.S. GIGUERE…
THIS SEASON COREY PERRY AND RYAN GETZLAF ARE EXPECTED TO BECOME FIRST LINE PLAYERS AND ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE SHOWN FLASHES OF IT…
THAT’S ALL THEY’VE SHOWN…
THE DUCKS WERE ALSO COUNTING ON BOBBY RYAN TO MAKE THE TEAM…
RYAN WAS THE SECOND PLAYER TAKEN OVER ALL IN 2005 ENTRY…RIGHT BEHIND SIDNEY CROSBY…
AFTER 4 GAMES RYAN HAD JUST ONE POINT AND HAS BEEN SENT TO THE MINORS…
PRINTED ON THE DUCKS DRESSING ROOM WALL IS THE TEAM MOTTO…WHICH READS…
“NO COMPLAINTS…NO EXCUSES”…
LAST SEASON IT MADE A LOT OF SENSE…
HOWEVER BEFORE THIS SEASON IS OVER THE DUCKS MAY BE FORCED TO RETHINK
DEPENDS ON WHO YOU TALK TO…
4 OF THE LAST 8 CUP FINALISTS MISSED THE PLAYOFFS THE FOLLOWING SEASON…
AND NO CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM HAS BEEN ABLE TO REPEAT SINCE THE WINGS DID IT IN 97-98…
KEEP IN MIND…THAT WAS BEFORE THE SALARY CAP…
NEVERTHELESS…YESTERDAY AFTERNOON THE OTTAWA SENATORS DROPPED NEW JERSEY 4-2 TO OPEN THE SEASON WITH A PERFECT RECORD OF 4 AND O…
HOURS BEFORE THE START OF THE SEASON THE SENATORS WERE ABLE TO GET DAN HEATLEY SIGNED TO A 6 YEAR CONTRACT…
SO FAR…HEATLEY HAS REPAID THE SENATORS WITH 4 GOALS IN 4 GAMES…
IN FACT THE BIG LINE OF…HEATLEY…SPEZZA AND ALFREDSON OWN 3 OF THE TOP 4 SPOTS IN NHL SCORING…
THAT INCLUDES ALFREDSON’S LEAGUE LEADING 8 POINTS…
THE DUCKS ARE A DIFFERENT STORY…
THEIR TWO WEEK ROAD TRIP FROM LONDON TO ANAHEIM CERTAINLY HAS TAKEN ITS TOLL…
ANAHEIM HAS JUST ONE VICTORY IN ITS FIRST 5 GAMES…
TOMORROW NIGHT THE DUCKS WILL PLAY THEIR FIRST HOME GAME OF THE SEASON…BOSTON IS IN TOWN…
IT WILL BE THEIR FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO RAISE THE BANNER THEY EARNED LAST SPRING…
HOWEVER THIS IS CERTAINLY NOT THE SAME TEAM…
MISSING ARE: …SCOTT NEIDERMAYER…TEEMU SELANNE…AND DUSTIN PENNER…
THE INJURY LIST INCLUDES MATHIEU SCHNEIDER…SAMUEL PAHLSSON AND J.S. GIGUERE…
THIS SEASON COREY PERRY AND RYAN GETZLAF ARE EXPECTED TO BECOME FIRST LINE PLAYERS AND ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE SHOWN FLASHES OF IT…
THAT’S ALL THEY’VE SHOWN…
THE DUCKS WERE ALSO COUNTING ON BOBBY RYAN TO MAKE THE TEAM…
RYAN WAS THE SECOND PLAYER TAKEN OVER ALL IN 2005 ENTRY…RIGHT BEHIND SIDNEY CROSBY…
AFTER 4 GAMES RYAN HAD JUST ONE POINT AND HAS BEEN SENT TO THE MINORS…
PRINTED ON THE DUCKS DRESSING ROOM WALL IS THE TEAM MOTTO…WHICH READS…
“NO COMPLAINTS…NO EXCUSES”…
LAST SEASON IT MADE A LOT OF SENSE…
HOWEVER BEFORE THIS SEASON IS OVER THE DUCKS MAY BE FORCED TO RETHINK
Friday, September 28, 2007
LET’S BE CLEAR ABOUT ONE THING…
THIS IS STILL THE EXIBITION SEASON…
THE VANCOUVER CANUCKS DO NOT START PLAYING FOR KEEPS UNTIL NEXT FRIDAY…
IT MAY EXPLAIN WHY HEAD COACH ALAIN VIGNEAULT WILL GO WITH HIS KIDS TONIGHT IN CALGARY…
THAT INCLUDES CURTIS SANFORD IN GOAL…
WHILE MIKE KEENAN IS GOING WITH A LINE UP THAT WILL BE VERY CLOSE TO OPENING NIGHT…
THANKS TO AN AVALANCHE OF INJURIES THIS MONTH…
THE BIGGEST CONCERN THE CANUCKS HAVE IS NOT FINDING A GROOVE…BUT RATHER…FINDING THE ICE…
INSTEAD THEY WILL USE SATURDAY’S GAME IN EDMONTON AS THEIR FINAL TUNE UP…
THEN NEXT WEEK PUT THE FINAL TOUCHES TOGETHER IN PRACTICE…
IS THE WAY THE CANUCKS PLANNED IT???
NOT AT ALL…
AS A RESULT THE TEAM WILL GO INTO THE REGULAR SEASON WITH A NUMBER OF UNANSWERED QUESTIONS…
THE BIGGEST IS WHETHER OR NOT RYAN KESLER IS READY TO CENTER THE SECOND LINE WITH MARCUS NASLUND…
BRENDAN MORRISON SEEMS DESTINED TO START THE SEASON ON THE THIRD LINE WITH MATT COOKE…
ON DEFENCE…ITS UNLIKELY SAMI SALO WILL BE READY TO START THE SEASON…
WHICH MEANS…LIKE IT OR NOT…ALEX EDLER WILL LOG SOME BIG MINUTES…
PERHAPS THE ONLY THING THE CANUCKS KNOW FOR SURE IS THEIR SEASON WILL ONCE AGAIN REST ON THE SHOULDERS OF ROBERTO LUONGO…
AS MUCH AS HOCKEY FANS BELIEVE LUONGO IS THE BEST GOALTENDER ON THE PLANET…
THEY WITNESSED FIRST HAND IN THE PLAYOFFS…
LUONGO CAN NOT GET IT DONE BY HIMSELF…
LAST SPRING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE CANUCKS FINISHING FIRST IN THEIR DIVISION AND GETTING THE THIRD SEED IN THE PLAYOFFS…WAS A SINGLE POINT…
A SINGLE POINT BETWEEN 3RD AND 7TH…
ONCE AGAIN THIS SEASON THE WESTERN CONFERENCE IS THE TOUGHEST IN THE NHL…
COLORADO…EDMONTON…CHICAGO…AND LOS ANGELES ARE ALL BETTER…
QUITE SIMPLY THE CANUCKS CAN NOT AFFORD A SLOW START…
THAT’S THE IMPORTANCE OF THE NEXT 7 DAYS…STARTING TONIGHT IN CALGARY…
THIS IS STILL THE EXIBITION SEASON…
THE VANCOUVER CANUCKS DO NOT START PLAYING FOR KEEPS UNTIL NEXT FRIDAY…
IT MAY EXPLAIN WHY HEAD COACH ALAIN VIGNEAULT WILL GO WITH HIS KIDS TONIGHT IN CALGARY…
THAT INCLUDES CURTIS SANFORD IN GOAL…
WHILE MIKE KEENAN IS GOING WITH A LINE UP THAT WILL BE VERY CLOSE TO OPENING NIGHT…
THANKS TO AN AVALANCHE OF INJURIES THIS MONTH…
THE BIGGEST CONCERN THE CANUCKS HAVE IS NOT FINDING A GROOVE…BUT RATHER…FINDING THE ICE…
INSTEAD THEY WILL USE SATURDAY’S GAME IN EDMONTON AS THEIR FINAL TUNE UP…
THEN NEXT WEEK PUT THE FINAL TOUCHES TOGETHER IN PRACTICE…
IS THE WAY THE CANUCKS PLANNED IT???
NOT AT ALL…
AS A RESULT THE TEAM WILL GO INTO THE REGULAR SEASON WITH A NUMBER OF UNANSWERED QUESTIONS…
THE BIGGEST IS WHETHER OR NOT RYAN KESLER IS READY TO CENTER THE SECOND LINE WITH MARCUS NASLUND…
BRENDAN MORRISON SEEMS DESTINED TO START THE SEASON ON THE THIRD LINE WITH MATT COOKE…
ON DEFENCE…ITS UNLIKELY SAMI SALO WILL BE READY TO START THE SEASON…
WHICH MEANS…LIKE IT OR NOT…ALEX EDLER WILL LOG SOME BIG MINUTES…
PERHAPS THE ONLY THING THE CANUCKS KNOW FOR SURE IS THEIR SEASON WILL ONCE AGAIN REST ON THE SHOULDERS OF ROBERTO LUONGO…
AS MUCH AS HOCKEY FANS BELIEVE LUONGO IS THE BEST GOALTENDER ON THE PLANET…
THEY WITNESSED FIRST HAND IN THE PLAYOFFS…
LUONGO CAN NOT GET IT DONE BY HIMSELF…
LAST SPRING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE CANUCKS FINISHING FIRST IN THEIR DIVISION AND GETTING THE THIRD SEED IN THE PLAYOFFS…WAS A SINGLE POINT…
A SINGLE POINT BETWEEN 3RD AND 7TH…
ONCE AGAIN THIS SEASON THE WESTERN CONFERENCE IS THE TOUGHEST IN THE NHL…
COLORADO…EDMONTON…CHICAGO…AND LOS ANGELES ARE ALL BETTER…
QUITE SIMPLY THE CANUCKS CAN NOT AFFORD A SLOW START…
THAT’S THE IMPORTANCE OF THE NEXT 7 DAYS…STARTING TONIGHT IN CALGARY…
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Cam Neely
TODAY CAM NEELY AGREED TO JOIN THE FRONT OFFICE OF THE BOSTON BRUINS…
HIS OFFICIAL TITLE IS VICE PRESIDENT…
BUT IT’S NOT REALLY CLEAR WHAT EXACTLY HIS JOB IS…
WE DO KNOW THAT IT INCLUDES WORKING WITH BOTH GENERAL MANAGER PETER CHIARELLI…AND OWNERS CHARLIE AND PETER JACOBS…
NEELY ADMITTS HE WAS NOT IMPRESSED WITH THE DIRECTION THE BRUINS HAD BEEN HEADED OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS…
HOWEVER OWNERSHIP SOLD HIM THAT THE BRUINS ARE NOW SERIOUS ABOUT WINNING…
TALK ABOUT GOOD FAITH!!!
BOSTON HAS FINISHED LAST IN THE NORTHEAST DIVISION THE LAST 2 YEARS…AND HAS NOT BEEN TO A CONFERENCE FINAL SINCE 1992…
IN NOVEMBER OF 2005 THE BRUINS PULLED OFF ONE OF THE WORST TRADES IN NHL HISTORY…
JOE THORNTON TO SAN JOSE FOR MARCO STURM…WAYNE PRIMEAU AND BRAD STUART…
THORNTON HAS GONE ONTO WIN THE HART AND THE ART ROSS TROPHIES…
AS FOR THE BRUINS ONLY STURM REMAINS…
BY THE END OF THE SEASON BOSTON GENERAL MANAGER MIKE O’CONNELL WAS OUT OF JOB …
LAST SEASON THE BRUINS POINTED A FINGER AT HEAD COACH DAVE LEWIS…
AS A RESULT CLAUDE JULIEN IS NOW BEHIND THE BENCH…
SO WHAT MAKES NEELY BELIEVE THE BRUINS PLAN TO DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN RE-ARRANGE THE DECK CHAIRS ON THE TITANIC???
TO START WITH…ALL THOSE EMPTY SEATS…
LAST SEASON THE BRUINS WERE 25TH IN NHL ATTENDANCE…
NO QUESTION BOSTON IS A GREAT HOCKEY MARKET…
BUT THE FANS IN THAT CITY HAVE HAD ENOUGH…
BRINGING NEELY BACK INTO THE FAMILY…IS A MAJOR STEP IN REGAINING SOME MUCH NEEDED CREDIBILITY…
IN THE OFF SEASON THE BRUINS ALSO ADDRESSED THEIR GOALTENDING PROBLEMS BY ADDING MANNY FERNANDEZ…
AND THE TEAM HAS SOME VERY GOOD YOUNG TALENT IN PATRICE BERGERON…PHIL KESSEL…ZACH HAMILL AND MILAN LUCIC…
BUT THE REAL QUESTION REMAINS…WILL OWNERSHIP STEP UP AND SPEND THE MONEY WHEN IT REALLY COUNTS…
THERE’S A REASON THE BRUINS HAVE NOT WON A STANLEY CUP IN 35 YEARS…AND NOBODY SHOULD UNDERSTAND THAT BETTER THAN CAM NEELY…
HIS OFFICIAL TITLE IS VICE PRESIDENT…
BUT IT’S NOT REALLY CLEAR WHAT EXACTLY HIS JOB IS…
WE DO KNOW THAT IT INCLUDES WORKING WITH BOTH GENERAL MANAGER PETER CHIARELLI…AND OWNERS CHARLIE AND PETER JACOBS…
NEELY ADMITTS HE WAS NOT IMPRESSED WITH THE DIRECTION THE BRUINS HAD BEEN HEADED OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS…
HOWEVER OWNERSHIP SOLD HIM THAT THE BRUINS ARE NOW SERIOUS ABOUT WINNING…
TALK ABOUT GOOD FAITH!!!
BOSTON HAS FINISHED LAST IN THE NORTHEAST DIVISION THE LAST 2 YEARS…AND HAS NOT BEEN TO A CONFERENCE FINAL SINCE 1992…
IN NOVEMBER OF 2005 THE BRUINS PULLED OFF ONE OF THE WORST TRADES IN NHL HISTORY…
JOE THORNTON TO SAN JOSE FOR MARCO STURM…WAYNE PRIMEAU AND BRAD STUART…
THORNTON HAS GONE ONTO WIN THE HART AND THE ART ROSS TROPHIES…
AS FOR THE BRUINS ONLY STURM REMAINS…
BY THE END OF THE SEASON BOSTON GENERAL MANAGER MIKE O’CONNELL WAS OUT OF JOB …
LAST SEASON THE BRUINS POINTED A FINGER AT HEAD COACH DAVE LEWIS…
AS A RESULT CLAUDE JULIEN IS NOW BEHIND THE BENCH…
SO WHAT MAKES NEELY BELIEVE THE BRUINS PLAN TO DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN RE-ARRANGE THE DECK CHAIRS ON THE TITANIC???
TO START WITH…ALL THOSE EMPTY SEATS…
LAST SEASON THE BRUINS WERE 25TH IN NHL ATTENDANCE…
NO QUESTION BOSTON IS A GREAT HOCKEY MARKET…
BUT THE FANS IN THAT CITY HAVE HAD ENOUGH…
BRINGING NEELY BACK INTO THE FAMILY…IS A MAJOR STEP IN REGAINING SOME MUCH NEEDED CREDIBILITY…
IN THE OFF SEASON THE BRUINS ALSO ADDRESSED THEIR GOALTENDING PROBLEMS BY ADDING MANNY FERNANDEZ…
AND THE TEAM HAS SOME VERY GOOD YOUNG TALENT IN PATRICE BERGERON…PHIL KESSEL…ZACH HAMILL AND MILAN LUCIC…
BUT THE REAL QUESTION REMAINS…WILL OWNERSHIP STEP UP AND SPEND THE MONEY WHEN IT REALLY COUNTS…
THERE’S A REASON THE BRUINS HAVE NOT WON A STANLEY CUP IN 35 YEARS…AND NOBODY SHOULD UNDERSTAND THAT BETTER THAN CAM NEELY…
Friday, September 21, 2007
Dan Cloutier
IT WOULD APPEAR THE NHL CAREER OF GOALTENDER DAN CLOUTIER IS OVER…
TODAY THE L.A. KINGS PLACED CLOUTIER ON WAIVERS…AND PLAN TO SEND HIM DOWN TO THE MINORS…
AS A RESULT…CLOUTIER WILL NOT BE WITH THE KINGS WHEN THEY OPEN THE REGULAR SEASON AT THE END OF THE MONTH IN LONDON ENGLAND…
THERE IS CERTAINLY THE POSSIBILITY OF CLOUTIER BEING RE-CALLED IN THE CASE OF AN INJURY…
BUT IT IS HIGHLY UNLIKELY HE WILL BE CLAIMED BY ANOTHER TEAM…
HERE’S THE PROBLEM…
CLOUTIER HAS 2 YEARS LEFT ON HIS CONTRACT AT $3.1 MILLION PER SEASON…
ANY TEAM WILLING TO TAKE A GAMBLE WOULD BE ON THE HOOK FOR HALF THAT AMOUNT WITH THE KINGS PICKING UP THE REST…
THAT STILL WORKS OUT TO OVER $1.5 MILLION PER SEASON…
THAT’S A LOT FOR A GOALTENDER WHO CAN NOT SEEM TO STAY HEALTHY AND HAS NEVER SHOWN THE ABILITY TO WIN IN THE PLAYOFFS…
HERE IS A LOOK AT HIS RECENT MEDICAL RECORD…
LAST YEAR CLOUTIER MISSED 44 GAMES…THANKS TO A HIP INJURY…
THE SEASON BEFORE IN VANCOUVER HE MISSED 60 GAMES WITH A KNEE INJURY…
IN 2004 CLOUTIER WENT DOWN IN GAME 3 OF THE CALGARY SERIES AND WAS GONE FOR THE REST OF THE PLAYOFFS…
IT IS THE PLAYOFFS THAT HAVE BEEN THE SCENE OF CLOUTIERS BIGGEST NIGHTMARES…
IN 2002 THE CANUCKS WON THE FIRST TWO GAMES IN DETROIT…
GAME 3 IN VANCOUVER WAS TIED 1…ALL LATE IN THE SECOND PERIOD…WHEN NIK LIDSTROM BEAT CLOUTIER FROM CENTER ICE…
AS SOFT AS THAT GOAL WAS…THE REAL DAMAGE WAS THE MELTDOWN THAT FOLLOWED…
THE CANUCKS GAVE UP 14 GOALS IN THE NEXT 3 GAMES AND CLOUTIER WAS PULLED IN GAMES 5 AND 6…
IN 2003…THE CANUCKS WERE UP 3 GAMES TO 1 TO MINNESOTA…
THEN CAME ANOTHER MELTDOWN…16 GOALS IN 3 GAMES…INCLUDING 4 STRAIGHT IN GAME 7…
THE SAD PART OF ALL THIS…IS DAN CLOUTIER IS A QUALITY PERSON…
WHEN YOU UNDERSTAND THAT…YOU CAN UNDERSTAND WHY SO MANY COACHES AND GENERAL MANAGERS HAVE SUPPORTED HIM ALL THESE YEARS…
UNFORUNATLY TODAY IN LOS ANGELES…THAT SUPPORT RAN OUT…
TODAY THE L.A. KINGS PLACED CLOUTIER ON WAIVERS…AND PLAN TO SEND HIM DOWN TO THE MINORS…
AS A RESULT…CLOUTIER WILL NOT BE WITH THE KINGS WHEN THEY OPEN THE REGULAR SEASON AT THE END OF THE MONTH IN LONDON ENGLAND…
THERE IS CERTAINLY THE POSSIBILITY OF CLOUTIER BEING RE-CALLED IN THE CASE OF AN INJURY…
BUT IT IS HIGHLY UNLIKELY HE WILL BE CLAIMED BY ANOTHER TEAM…
HERE’S THE PROBLEM…
CLOUTIER HAS 2 YEARS LEFT ON HIS CONTRACT AT $3.1 MILLION PER SEASON…
ANY TEAM WILLING TO TAKE A GAMBLE WOULD BE ON THE HOOK FOR HALF THAT AMOUNT WITH THE KINGS PICKING UP THE REST…
THAT STILL WORKS OUT TO OVER $1.5 MILLION PER SEASON…
THAT’S A LOT FOR A GOALTENDER WHO CAN NOT SEEM TO STAY HEALTHY AND HAS NEVER SHOWN THE ABILITY TO WIN IN THE PLAYOFFS…
HERE IS A LOOK AT HIS RECENT MEDICAL RECORD…
LAST YEAR CLOUTIER MISSED 44 GAMES…THANKS TO A HIP INJURY…
THE SEASON BEFORE IN VANCOUVER HE MISSED 60 GAMES WITH A KNEE INJURY…
IN 2004 CLOUTIER WENT DOWN IN GAME 3 OF THE CALGARY SERIES AND WAS GONE FOR THE REST OF THE PLAYOFFS…
IT IS THE PLAYOFFS THAT HAVE BEEN THE SCENE OF CLOUTIERS BIGGEST NIGHTMARES…
IN 2002 THE CANUCKS WON THE FIRST TWO GAMES IN DETROIT…
GAME 3 IN VANCOUVER WAS TIED 1…ALL LATE IN THE SECOND PERIOD…WHEN NIK LIDSTROM BEAT CLOUTIER FROM CENTER ICE…
AS SOFT AS THAT GOAL WAS…THE REAL DAMAGE WAS THE MELTDOWN THAT FOLLOWED…
THE CANUCKS GAVE UP 14 GOALS IN THE NEXT 3 GAMES AND CLOUTIER WAS PULLED IN GAMES 5 AND 6…
IN 2003…THE CANUCKS WERE UP 3 GAMES TO 1 TO MINNESOTA…
THEN CAME ANOTHER MELTDOWN…16 GOALS IN 3 GAMES…INCLUDING 4 STRAIGHT IN GAME 7…
THE SAD PART OF ALL THIS…IS DAN CLOUTIER IS A QUALITY PERSON…
WHEN YOU UNDERSTAND THAT…YOU CAN UNDERSTAND WHY SO MANY COACHES AND GENERAL MANAGERS HAVE SUPPORTED HIM ALL THESE YEARS…
UNFORUNATLY TODAY IN LOS ANGELES…THAT SUPPORT RAN OUT…
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
The Race Card
THE RACE CARD…
IT JUST NEVER GETS OLD…
PHILADELPHIA QUARTERBACK DONOVAN MCNABB IS THE LATEST TO PLAY IT…
ACCORDING TO MCNABB…BLACK QUARTERBACKS IN THE NFL ARE UNDER MORE SCRUTINY THAN WHITE QUARTERBACKS…
IN HIS WORDS…”WE HAVE TO DO A LITTLE BIT EXTRA BECAUSE THE PERCENTAGE OF US PLAYING THIS POSITION…WHICH PEOPLE DIDN’T WANT US TO PLAY”…
WHEN ASKED ABOUT THE MEDIA PRESSURE CARSON PALMER AND PEYTON MANNING HAVE BEEN FORCED TO DEAL WITH…
MCNABB DISMISSES IT…
“THEY DON’T GET CRITICIZED AS MUCH AS WE DO…THEY DON’T”
THESE COMMENTS WERE MADE ON THE HBO SHOW…”REAL SPORTS”…WHICH GOES TO AIR TONIGHT…
LET’S GET A FEW FACTS STRAIGHT…
MCNABB IS TAKING A LOT OF HEAT THESE DAYS…NOT BECAUSE OF THE COLOR OF HIS SKIN…BUT BECAUSE OF HIS PLAY OF THE FIELD…PERIOD…
THE EAGLES HAVE LOST THEIR FIRST TWO GAMES OF THE SEASON AND HAVE SCORED JUST ONE TOUCHDOWN…
MCNABB HAS LOST 6 OF HIS LAST 7 STARTS…
LASTNIGHT WASHINGTON BEAT PHILADELPHIA 20-12…
THE STARTING QUARTERBACK FOR THE REDSKINS WAS JASON CAMPBELL…A BLACK QUARTERBACK…
THE BOOING MCNABB HEARD LASTNIGHT FROM THE FANS AND THE CRITIZISM HE READ THIS MORNING IN THE LOCAL PAPERS HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH RACE…
THIS IS ABOUT A LACK OF PERFORMANCE…WHICH GOES WITH THE JOB…
THE TRUTH IS MCNABB IS COMING OFF MAJOR KNEE SURGERY AND IS AT THE BACK END OF HIS CAREER…
QUITE SIMPLY HE’S NOT THE SAME PLAYER THAT TOOK THIS FRANCHISE TO THE SUPER BOWL IN 2004…
THERE THIS ALSO AN IRONIC TWIST…FOUR YEARS AGO MCNABB WAS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF “THE RACE CARD”…
RUSH LIMBAUGH WENT ON ESPN AND STATED MCNABB WAS GETTING A FREE PASS FROM THE MEDIA BECAUSE HE “WAS” BLACK…
AT THE TIME THE EAGLES HAD ALSO LOST THEIR FIRST TWO GAMES OF SEASON AND MCNABB HAD THE LOWEST QUARTERBACK RATING IN THE NFL…
NEVERTHELESS LIMBAUGH WAS LABLED A RACIST AND FORCED TO RESIGN…
SO WHAT PRICE DOES MCNABB PAY???
DOES HE HAVE TO RESIGN???
DOES HE HAVE TO APOLOGIZE???
DOES HE HAVE TO GUARENTEE THAT HE NEVER SAYS ANYTHING AS STUPID AND DAMAGING AS THAT AGAIN???
NO…HE JUST HAS TO BEAT DETROIT ON SUNDAY
IT JUST NEVER GETS OLD…
PHILADELPHIA QUARTERBACK DONOVAN MCNABB IS THE LATEST TO PLAY IT…
ACCORDING TO MCNABB…BLACK QUARTERBACKS IN THE NFL ARE UNDER MORE SCRUTINY THAN WHITE QUARTERBACKS…
IN HIS WORDS…”WE HAVE TO DO A LITTLE BIT EXTRA BECAUSE THE PERCENTAGE OF US PLAYING THIS POSITION…WHICH PEOPLE DIDN’T WANT US TO PLAY”…
WHEN ASKED ABOUT THE MEDIA PRESSURE CARSON PALMER AND PEYTON MANNING HAVE BEEN FORCED TO DEAL WITH…
MCNABB DISMISSES IT…
“THEY DON’T GET CRITICIZED AS MUCH AS WE DO…THEY DON’T”
THESE COMMENTS WERE MADE ON THE HBO SHOW…”REAL SPORTS”…WHICH GOES TO AIR TONIGHT…
LET’S GET A FEW FACTS STRAIGHT…
MCNABB IS TAKING A LOT OF HEAT THESE DAYS…NOT BECAUSE OF THE COLOR OF HIS SKIN…BUT BECAUSE OF HIS PLAY OF THE FIELD…PERIOD…
THE EAGLES HAVE LOST THEIR FIRST TWO GAMES OF THE SEASON AND HAVE SCORED JUST ONE TOUCHDOWN…
MCNABB HAS LOST 6 OF HIS LAST 7 STARTS…
LASTNIGHT WASHINGTON BEAT PHILADELPHIA 20-12…
THE STARTING QUARTERBACK FOR THE REDSKINS WAS JASON CAMPBELL…A BLACK QUARTERBACK…
THE BOOING MCNABB HEARD LASTNIGHT FROM THE FANS AND THE CRITIZISM HE READ THIS MORNING IN THE LOCAL PAPERS HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH RACE…
THIS IS ABOUT A LACK OF PERFORMANCE…WHICH GOES WITH THE JOB…
THE TRUTH IS MCNABB IS COMING OFF MAJOR KNEE SURGERY AND IS AT THE BACK END OF HIS CAREER…
QUITE SIMPLY HE’S NOT THE SAME PLAYER THAT TOOK THIS FRANCHISE TO THE SUPER BOWL IN 2004…
THERE THIS ALSO AN IRONIC TWIST…FOUR YEARS AGO MCNABB WAS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF “THE RACE CARD”…
RUSH LIMBAUGH WENT ON ESPN AND STATED MCNABB WAS GETTING A FREE PASS FROM THE MEDIA BECAUSE HE “WAS” BLACK…
AT THE TIME THE EAGLES HAD ALSO LOST THEIR FIRST TWO GAMES OF SEASON AND MCNABB HAD THE LOWEST QUARTERBACK RATING IN THE NFL…
NEVERTHELESS LIMBAUGH WAS LABLED A RACIST AND FORCED TO RESIGN…
SO WHAT PRICE DOES MCNABB PAY???
DOES HE HAVE TO RESIGN???
DOES HE HAVE TO APOLOGIZE???
DOES HE HAVE TO GUARENTEE THAT HE NEVER SAYS ANYTHING AS STUPID AND DAMAGING AS THAT AGAIN???
NO…HE JUST HAS TO BEAT DETROIT ON SUNDAY
Friday, September 14, 2007
One Great weekend!
IF IT’S TRUE THAT WEEKENDS WERE MADE FOR MICHELOB…
THEN GRAG A COLD ONE AND PULL UP A SEAT …
TO START WITH THE VANCOUVER WHITECAPS BEGIN THE PLAYOFFS TONIGHT…
IT’S THE FIRST OF A HOME AND HOME SERIES WITH PORTLAND…
IN THE MAJORS…THE YANKEES ARE IN BOSTON FOR THE START OF A THREE GAME SET…
A SWEEP BY THE RED SOX WOULD ALL BUT CLINCH THE AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST…
IT WOULD ALSO OPEN THE DOOR FOR BOTH DETROIT AND SEATTLE TO GET BACK INTO THE WILD CARD RACE…
ON SATURDAY THERE ARE 3 CFL GAMES INCLUDING THE LIONS AT HOME TO THE ARGO’S…
THE LIONS WILL ALSO BE PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE RIDERS AND THE STAMPS IN CALGARY…
IN HAMILTON…CASEY PRINTERS WILL PLAY HIS FIRST GAME FOR THE TI-CATS…
THE CANUCKS ARE STILL IN TRAINING CAMP IN VICTORIA…
TODAY THEIR JERSEYS WENT ON SALE…
SUNDAY THE TEAM WILL PLAY ITS ANNUAL INTRA-SQUAD GAME AND THEN HEAD HOME TO PLAY ANAHEIM MONDAY AT GM PLACE…
IN GOLF…IT’S THE PGA TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP…
THE FINAL EVENT OF THE TOUR’S PLAYOFFS…
TIGER WOODS HAS A BIG LEAD AND SHOULD EASLY WIN THE FIRST EVER FED-EX CUP…
IN THE NFL…ALL THE ATTENTION IS ON THE SUNDAY NIGHT GAME BETWEEN SAN DIEGO AND NEW ENGLAND…
NOT ONLY IS THIS A RE-MATCH OF LAST YEARS PLAYOFF GAME…AND NOT ONLY COULD THIS BE A PREVIEW OF THE AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME…
BUT IT WILL BE PLAYED IN THE SHADOW OF “SPY-GATE”…
TODAY THE HEAD COACH OF THE PATRIOTS BILL BELICHICK WAS HIT WITH A HALF A MILLION DOLLAR FINE FOR TRYING TO STEAL SIGNALS FROM THE NEW YORK JETS LAST WEEKEND…
THIS WILL HAVE MORE DRAMA THAN THE SOPRANOS…
THIS IS WHY YOU OWN A P.V.R…
THIS IS WHY YOU BUY CHIPS AND DIP IN THE GIANTS ECONOMY SIZE…
THIS IS WHY YOU HAVE VOICE MAIL…
THIS IS WHY YOU NEVER LET GO OF THE REMOTE CONTROL…
YOUR WEEKEND OFFICIALLY STARTS NOW…
THEN GRAG A COLD ONE AND PULL UP A SEAT …
TO START WITH THE VANCOUVER WHITECAPS BEGIN THE PLAYOFFS TONIGHT…
IT’S THE FIRST OF A HOME AND HOME SERIES WITH PORTLAND…
IN THE MAJORS…THE YANKEES ARE IN BOSTON FOR THE START OF A THREE GAME SET…
A SWEEP BY THE RED SOX WOULD ALL BUT CLINCH THE AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST…
IT WOULD ALSO OPEN THE DOOR FOR BOTH DETROIT AND SEATTLE TO GET BACK INTO THE WILD CARD RACE…
ON SATURDAY THERE ARE 3 CFL GAMES INCLUDING THE LIONS AT HOME TO THE ARGO’S…
THE LIONS WILL ALSO BE PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE RIDERS AND THE STAMPS IN CALGARY…
IN HAMILTON…CASEY PRINTERS WILL PLAY HIS FIRST GAME FOR THE TI-CATS…
THE CANUCKS ARE STILL IN TRAINING CAMP IN VICTORIA…
TODAY THEIR JERSEYS WENT ON SALE…
SUNDAY THE TEAM WILL PLAY ITS ANNUAL INTRA-SQUAD GAME AND THEN HEAD HOME TO PLAY ANAHEIM MONDAY AT GM PLACE…
IN GOLF…IT’S THE PGA TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP…
THE FINAL EVENT OF THE TOUR’S PLAYOFFS…
TIGER WOODS HAS A BIG LEAD AND SHOULD EASLY WIN THE FIRST EVER FED-EX CUP…
IN THE NFL…ALL THE ATTENTION IS ON THE SUNDAY NIGHT GAME BETWEEN SAN DIEGO AND NEW ENGLAND…
NOT ONLY IS THIS A RE-MATCH OF LAST YEARS PLAYOFF GAME…AND NOT ONLY COULD THIS BE A PREVIEW OF THE AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME…
BUT IT WILL BE PLAYED IN THE SHADOW OF “SPY-GATE”…
TODAY THE HEAD COACH OF THE PATRIOTS BILL BELICHICK WAS HIT WITH A HALF A MILLION DOLLAR FINE FOR TRYING TO STEAL SIGNALS FROM THE NEW YORK JETS LAST WEEKEND…
THIS WILL HAVE MORE DRAMA THAN THE SOPRANOS…
THIS IS WHY YOU OWN A P.V.R…
THIS IS WHY YOU BUY CHIPS AND DIP IN THE GIANTS ECONOMY SIZE…
THIS IS WHY YOU HAVE VOICE MAIL…
THIS IS WHY YOU NEVER LET GO OF THE REMOTE CONTROL…
YOUR WEEKEND OFFICIALLY STARTS NOW…
Monday, September 10, 2007
BC Lions
THE GOOD NEWS FOR THE B.C. LIONS…IS THIS…
THEIR DISAPPOINTING PERFORMANCE IN MONTREAL ON SUNDAY WAS NOTHING COMPARED TO WHAT BRITNEY SPEARED PULLED OFF A FEW HOURS LATER AT THE MTV VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS…
UNFORTUNATELY THE TWO DID SHARED A FEW THINGS IN COMMON…
NEITHER LOOKED PREPARED…
BOTH ARE CAPLED OF SO MUCH BETTER…
AND ALL OF IT WAS SEEN LIVE ON NATIONAL TELEVISION…
THE BIG DIFFERENCE IS THE TIME LINE…
IT’S TAKEN BRITNEY 4 YEARS…A DIVORCE…TWO KIDS…AND DRINKING AND DRUG PROBLEM TO BECOME THE TRAINWRECK YOU SAW LASTNIGHT…
THE LIONS MANAGED TO MAKE THE TRANSFORMATION IN LESS THAN 9 DAYS…WITHOUT THE CIRCUS…
WORD HAS IT BRITNEY PARTIED HARD IN LAS VEGAS FOR TWO STRAIGHT NIGHTS BEFORE HIS CRASHED AND BURNED ON SUNDAY NIGHT…
AS FAR AS WE KNOW THE LIONS WERE CLEAN AND SOBER…
NEVERTHELESS THE AL’S DESTROYED THE LIONS WITHOUT THEIR STARTING QUARTERBACK ANTHONY CALLIVO AND WITHOUT THE LEAGUE’S LEADING RECIEVER…BEN CAHOON…
MONTREAL PUT UP 447 YARDS OF TOTAL OFFENCE ON ITS WAY TO A 32-14 BLOW OUT…
HERE’S THE STAT THAT COMPETELY SUMMED UP THE LIONS DAY…
GEROY SIMON THE CFL’S MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER LAST YEAR HAD ONE CATCH…FOR 10 YARDS…
GAME…SET AND MATCH…
ROB MURPHY SUMMED IT UP BEST…
“WE DIDN’T EXECUTE AND WE GOT OUR ASSES KICKED”…
FORTUNATELY WINNIPEG DID THE LIONS A BIG FAVOR ON SUNDAY AND BLEW OUT SASKATCHEWAN…
IT LEAVES B.C. JUST ONE POINT OUT OF FIRST PLACE IN THE WEST…
SHOULD THE LIONS TAKE CARE OF TORONTO THIS SATURDAY…THE STAGE WILL BE SET FOR THE BIG SHOWDOWN ON THE 2ND IN REGINA…
DO THAT AND FOOTBALL FANS IN THIS CITY WILL FORGET ALL ABOUT SUNDAY’S MELTDOWN IN MONTREAL…
AS FOR BRITNEY’S ACT IN VEGAS LASTNIGHT???
THAT LIVES FOREVER…
THEIR DISAPPOINTING PERFORMANCE IN MONTREAL ON SUNDAY WAS NOTHING COMPARED TO WHAT BRITNEY SPEARED PULLED OFF A FEW HOURS LATER AT THE MTV VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS…
UNFORTUNATELY THE TWO DID SHARED A FEW THINGS IN COMMON…
NEITHER LOOKED PREPARED…
BOTH ARE CAPLED OF SO MUCH BETTER…
AND ALL OF IT WAS SEEN LIVE ON NATIONAL TELEVISION…
THE BIG DIFFERENCE IS THE TIME LINE…
IT’S TAKEN BRITNEY 4 YEARS…A DIVORCE…TWO KIDS…AND DRINKING AND DRUG PROBLEM TO BECOME THE TRAINWRECK YOU SAW LASTNIGHT…
THE LIONS MANAGED TO MAKE THE TRANSFORMATION IN LESS THAN 9 DAYS…WITHOUT THE CIRCUS…
WORD HAS IT BRITNEY PARTIED HARD IN LAS VEGAS FOR TWO STRAIGHT NIGHTS BEFORE HIS CRASHED AND BURNED ON SUNDAY NIGHT…
AS FAR AS WE KNOW THE LIONS WERE CLEAN AND SOBER…
NEVERTHELESS THE AL’S DESTROYED THE LIONS WITHOUT THEIR STARTING QUARTERBACK ANTHONY CALLIVO AND WITHOUT THE LEAGUE’S LEADING RECIEVER…BEN CAHOON…
MONTREAL PUT UP 447 YARDS OF TOTAL OFFENCE ON ITS WAY TO A 32-14 BLOW OUT…
HERE’S THE STAT THAT COMPETELY SUMMED UP THE LIONS DAY…
GEROY SIMON THE CFL’S MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER LAST YEAR HAD ONE CATCH…FOR 10 YARDS…
GAME…SET AND MATCH…
ROB MURPHY SUMMED IT UP BEST…
“WE DIDN’T EXECUTE AND WE GOT OUR ASSES KICKED”…
FORTUNATELY WINNIPEG DID THE LIONS A BIG FAVOR ON SUNDAY AND BLEW OUT SASKATCHEWAN…
IT LEAVES B.C. JUST ONE POINT OUT OF FIRST PLACE IN THE WEST…
SHOULD THE LIONS TAKE CARE OF TORONTO THIS SATURDAY…THE STAGE WILL BE SET FOR THE BIG SHOWDOWN ON THE 2ND IN REGINA…
DO THAT AND FOOTBALL FANS IN THIS CITY WILL FORGET ALL ABOUT SUNDAY’S MELTDOWN IN MONTREAL…
AS FOR BRITNEY’S ACT IN VEGAS LASTNIGHT???
THAT LIVES FOREVER…
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Casey Printers
NOTE TO THE PINHEADS…
CASEY PRINTERS IS NOT GOING TO SIGN WITH THE B.C. LIONS…
TO START WITH THE LIONS DO NOT HAVE THE CAP ROOM AND SECONDLY THEY ALREADY HAVE 5…COUNT ‘EM…5 QUARTERBACKS UNDER CONTRACT…
GENERAL MANAGER WALLY BUONO IS CURRENTLY PAYING THAT GROUP $750 THOUSAND DOLLARS…
THERE IS ALSO ANOTHER ISSUE…
PRINTERS WOULD NOT BE WELCOMED IN THE LIONS DRESSING ROOM…
IN THE WORDS OF ROB MURPHY…“THE CONSENSUS ON THE TEAM IS IT WOULD NOT BE GOOD IF HE CAME BACK”…
MURPHY WAS ONE OF MANY LIONS WHO WERE VERY UPSET WHEN PRINTERS SHOWED UP IN VANCOUVER BEFORE LAST YEARS WESTERN FINAL…
THOSE PLAYERS THREATENED TO THROW PRINTERS OUT ON HIS ASS IF HE ATTEMPTED TO COME INTO THE LOCKER ROOM…
NOBODY QUESTIONS PRINTERS ATHLETIC TALENT…BUT HIS MATURITY IS ANOTHER MATTER…
IN 2004 HE WAS NAMED THE MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER IN THE CFL BUT DID NOT PLAY IN THE GREY CUP…
PRINTERS NEVER GOT OVER THAT…
HE PUBLICLY CRITIZED BUONO…
“I WILL NOT FORGET HOW I WAS TREATED….I WON’T FORGET HOW I WAS TOYED WITH…THAT WILL ALWAYS STICK WITH ME”…
LET’S SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT…
CASEY PRINTERS HAS NEVER GIVEN A DAMN ABOUT ANYTHING OTHER THAN CASEY PRINTERS…
IN HIS SENIOR YEAR OF COLLEGE HE TURNED HIS BACK ON T.C.U. TO GET A BETTER DEAL WITH FLORIDA A AND M…
IT WAS A HUGE MISTAKE AND PRINTERS WAS NOT EVEN DRAFTED BY THE NFL…
HIS FOOTBALL CAREER APPEARED TO BE OVER WHEN THE LIONS GAVE HIM THE BIGGEST BREAK OF HIS LIFE…
IN 2003 THE LIONS NOT ONLY INVESTED THE TIME AND THE MONEY TO DEVELOP HIM BUT THE FOLLOWING YEAR GAVE HIM THE OPPORTUNITY TO START WHEN DAVE DICKENSON WAS INJURED…
HOW DID HE REWARD THIS TEAM???
HE TURNED DOWN A 3 YEAR DEAL WORTH 1.2 MILLION DOLLARS AND THEN RIPPED THE ORGANIZATION ON HIS WAY OUT OF TOWN…
WHY SOME FOOTBALL FANS IN THIS CITY STILL WANT HIM BACK…REMAINS ONE OF THE TRUE MYSTERIES IN ALL OF SPORTS…
CASEY PRINTERS IS NOT GOING TO SIGN WITH THE B.C. LIONS…
TO START WITH THE LIONS DO NOT HAVE THE CAP ROOM AND SECONDLY THEY ALREADY HAVE 5…COUNT ‘EM…5 QUARTERBACKS UNDER CONTRACT…
GENERAL MANAGER WALLY BUONO IS CURRENTLY PAYING THAT GROUP $750 THOUSAND DOLLARS…
THERE IS ALSO ANOTHER ISSUE…
PRINTERS WOULD NOT BE WELCOMED IN THE LIONS DRESSING ROOM…
IN THE WORDS OF ROB MURPHY…“THE CONSENSUS ON THE TEAM IS IT WOULD NOT BE GOOD IF HE CAME BACK”…
MURPHY WAS ONE OF MANY LIONS WHO WERE VERY UPSET WHEN PRINTERS SHOWED UP IN VANCOUVER BEFORE LAST YEARS WESTERN FINAL…
THOSE PLAYERS THREATENED TO THROW PRINTERS OUT ON HIS ASS IF HE ATTEMPTED TO COME INTO THE LOCKER ROOM…
NOBODY QUESTIONS PRINTERS ATHLETIC TALENT…BUT HIS MATURITY IS ANOTHER MATTER…
IN 2004 HE WAS NAMED THE MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER IN THE CFL BUT DID NOT PLAY IN THE GREY CUP…
PRINTERS NEVER GOT OVER THAT…
HE PUBLICLY CRITIZED BUONO…
“I WILL NOT FORGET HOW I WAS TREATED….I WON’T FORGET HOW I WAS TOYED WITH…THAT WILL ALWAYS STICK WITH ME”…
LET’S SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT…
CASEY PRINTERS HAS NEVER GIVEN A DAMN ABOUT ANYTHING OTHER THAN CASEY PRINTERS…
IN HIS SENIOR YEAR OF COLLEGE HE TURNED HIS BACK ON T.C.U. TO GET A BETTER DEAL WITH FLORIDA A AND M…
IT WAS A HUGE MISTAKE AND PRINTERS WAS NOT EVEN DRAFTED BY THE NFL…
HIS FOOTBALL CAREER APPEARED TO BE OVER WHEN THE LIONS GAVE HIM THE BIGGEST BREAK OF HIS LIFE…
IN 2003 THE LIONS NOT ONLY INVESTED THE TIME AND THE MONEY TO DEVELOP HIM BUT THE FOLLOWING YEAR GAVE HIM THE OPPORTUNITY TO START WHEN DAVE DICKENSON WAS INJURED…
HOW DID HE REWARD THIS TEAM???
HE TURNED DOWN A 3 YEAR DEAL WORTH 1.2 MILLION DOLLARS AND THEN RIPPED THE ORGANIZATION ON HIS WAY OUT OF TOWN…
WHY SOME FOOTBALL FANS IN THIS CITY STILL WANT HIM BACK…REMAINS ONE OF THE TRUE MYSTERIES IN ALL OF SPORTS…
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Sumit Series
35 YEARS AGO HOCKEY FANS IN THIS CITY GOT THE BIGGEST WAKE UP CALL OF THEIR LIVES…
IN GAME ONE OF THE SUMMIT SERIES…TEAM CANADA GOT BLOWN OUT 7-3 BY THE SOVIET UNION…
SUDDENLY IT WAS NO LONGER OUR GAME…
FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER CANADIANS HAD TO TAKE A HARD LOOK AT NOT ONLY THE STYLE OF OUR GAME BUT MORE IMPORANTLY HOW WE WERE TEACHING THE GAME…
IT HAS BEEN A LONG ROAD SINCE THAT FATE FULL DAY ON SEPTEMBER 2ND 1972…BUT IT WOULD APPEAR WE HAVE RECLAIMED OUR NATIONAL SPORT…
AFTER THE FIRST TWO GAMES OF THE SUPER SERIES IT IS CLEAR…
OUR BEST JUNIOR PLAYERS ARE NOT ONLY BETTER THAN THE RUSSIANS…BUT OUR COACHING AND OUR SYSTEM…ARE BETTER…
CANADA HAS WON THREE STRAIGHT GOLD MEDALS AT THE WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS AND HAS BEEN IN THE GOLD MEDAL GAME…6 STRAIGHT YEARS…
LAST YEAR THE TOP 6 PLAYERS IN NHL SCORING WERE ALL CANADIAN INCLUDING SYDNEY CROSBY WHO WON THE ART ROSS…THE HART…AND THE PEARSON…
ADD TO ALL THAT…THE STANLEY CUP CHAMPION ANAHEIM DUCKS HAD 16 CANADIANS ON THEIR STARTING ROSTER…INCLUDING SCOTT NEIDERMAYER WHO TOOK HOME THE CONN SMYTHE…
IT WOULD APPEAR THE FUTURE ALSO LOOKS VERY BRIGHT FOR HOCKEY IN THIS COUNTRY…
IN TWO YEARS HOCKEY CANADA WILL MOVE INTO ITS NEW STATE OF ART TRAINING CENTER IN CALGARY…
IT WILL COST NEARLY 300 MILLION DOLLARS AND WILL BE READY IN TIME FOR THE MENS AND WOMENS TEAMS TO PREPARE FOR THE 2010 WINTER OLYMPICS…
WHEN IT’S FINISHED HOCKEY CANADA SHOULD PLACE A MONUMENT OUTSIDE WITH A SIMPLE MESSAGE…
“7-3…LEST WE FORGET”
IN GAME ONE OF THE SUMMIT SERIES…TEAM CANADA GOT BLOWN OUT 7-3 BY THE SOVIET UNION…
SUDDENLY IT WAS NO LONGER OUR GAME…
FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER CANADIANS HAD TO TAKE A HARD LOOK AT NOT ONLY THE STYLE OF OUR GAME BUT MORE IMPORANTLY HOW WE WERE TEACHING THE GAME…
IT HAS BEEN A LONG ROAD SINCE THAT FATE FULL DAY ON SEPTEMBER 2ND 1972…BUT IT WOULD APPEAR WE HAVE RECLAIMED OUR NATIONAL SPORT…
AFTER THE FIRST TWO GAMES OF THE SUPER SERIES IT IS CLEAR…
OUR BEST JUNIOR PLAYERS ARE NOT ONLY BETTER THAN THE RUSSIANS…BUT OUR COACHING AND OUR SYSTEM…ARE BETTER…
CANADA HAS WON THREE STRAIGHT GOLD MEDALS AT THE WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS AND HAS BEEN IN THE GOLD MEDAL GAME…6 STRAIGHT YEARS…
LAST YEAR THE TOP 6 PLAYERS IN NHL SCORING WERE ALL CANADIAN INCLUDING SYDNEY CROSBY WHO WON THE ART ROSS…THE HART…AND THE PEARSON…
ADD TO ALL THAT…THE STANLEY CUP CHAMPION ANAHEIM DUCKS HAD 16 CANADIANS ON THEIR STARTING ROSTER…INCLUDING SCOTT NEIDERMAYER WHO TOOK HOME THE CONN SMYTHE…
IT WOULD APPEAR THE FUTURE ALSO LOOKS VERY BRIGHT FOR HOCKEY IN THIS COUNTRY…
IN TWO YEARS HOCKEY CANADA WILL MOVE INTO ITS NEW STATE OF ART TRAINING CENTER IN CALGARY…
IT WILL COST NEARLY 300 MILLION DOLLARS AND WILL BE READY IN TIME FOR THE MENS AND WOMENS TEAMS TO PREPARE FOR THE 2010 WINTER OLYMPICS…
WHEN IT’S FINISHED HOCKEY CANADA SHOULD PLACE A MONUMENT OUTSIDE WITH A SIMPLE MESSAGE…
“7-3…LEST WE FORGET”
Monday, August 27, 2007
More Vick!
MICHAEL VICK WAS IN COURT THIS MORNING TO PLEAD GUILTY TO DOG FIGHTING…
HE WILL BE SENTENCED ON DECEMBER THE 10TH…
VICK’S PERFORMACE TODAY MAKES IT CLEAR…HE NOW FULLY UNDERSTANDS JUST HOW MUCH TROUBLE HE’S IN…
TALK ABOUT DAMAGE CONTROL!!!
VICK APOLOGIZED FOR HIS ACTIONS AND SAID HE TAKES FULL RESPONSIBILITY…THEN ASKED FOR FORGIVENESS AND UNDERSTANDING…
QUOTE….”I MOVE FORWARD TO BETTER MICHAEL VICK THE PERSON…NOT THE FOOTBALL PLAYER.”
NEVERTHELESS VICK ADMITTED HE LIED TO…NFL COMMISSIONER ROGER GOODELL AND THE OWNER OF THE ATLANTA FALCONS ARTHUR BLANK…
HE SAID HE WAS ASHAMED AND DISSAPPOINTED IN HIMSELF…AND LABLED HIMSELF AS “IMMATURE”…
VICK DISCRIBED DOG FIGHTING AS A TERRIBLE THING…SOMETHING HE NOW REJECTS…
HERE’S THE KICKER…
VICK NOW SAYS HE HAS FOUND RELIGION…AND IN HIS WORDS…”I WILL REDEEM MYSELF…I HAVE TO”…
SO WHAT TRIGGERED THIS GREAT SPIRITUAL AWAKING???
NOW BEFORE YOU LABLE IT AS “A MIRACLE”…HERE’S THE REST OF THE STORY…
THE PLEA AGREEMENT DOES NOT GUARENTEE VICK ANYTHING…
HIS FUTURE IS NOW IN THE HANDS OF TWO MORTALS…
THE FIRST IS FEDERAL JUDGE HENRY E. HUDSON WHO IS NOT BOUND BY SENTENCING GUIDELINES AND HAS THE POWER TO SEND VICK TO JAIL FOR THE MAXIMUM OF FIVE YEARS…
THE SECOND IS GOODELL WHO HAS THE POWER TO SUSPEND VICK FROM PLAYING IN THE NFL FOR LIFE FOR HIS INVOLVEMENT WITH ILLEGAL GAMBLING…
VICK ADMITTS TO KILLING DOGS AND FINANCING THE GAMBLING BUT INSISTS HE NEVER PERSONALLY PLACED ANY BETS ON THE FIGHTS OR SHARED IN ANY WINNINGS…
THE BIG QUESTION NOW IS…WILL VICK’S CONFESSION BE ENOUGH TO SAVE HIS CAREER???
THAT’S WHAT HE’S REALLY PRAYING FOR…
UNDER THE NFL’S PERSONAL CONDUCT POLICY…MERELY ASSOCIATING WITH GAMBLERS CAN RESUSLT IN A LIFETIME BAN…
IN THE MEANTIME TODAY’S CONVICTION WILL COST VICK ABOUT $100 MILLION DOLLARS IN LOST SALARY…BONUSES AND ENDORSEMENTS…
SUCH IS THE PRICE OF SALVATION…
HE WILL BE SENTENCED ON DECEMBER THE 10TH…
VICK’S PERFORMACE TODAY MAKES IT CLEAR…HE NOW FULLY UNDERSTANDS JUST HOW MUCH TROUBLE HE’S IN…
TALK ABOUT DAMAGE CONTROL!!!
VICK APOLOGIZED FOR HIS ACTIONS AND SAID HE TAKES FULL RESPONSIBILITY…THEN ASKED FOR FORGIVENESS AND UNDERSTANDING…
QUOTE….”I MOVE FORWARD TO BETTER MICHAEL VICK THE PERSON…NOT THE FOOTBALL PLAYER.”
NEVERTHELESS VICK ADMITTED HE LIED TO…NFL COMMISSIONER ROGER GOODELL AND THE OWNER OF THE ATLANTA FALCONS ARTHUR BLANK…
HE SAID HE WAS ASHAMED AND DISSAPPOINTED IN HIMSELF…AND LABLED HIMSELF AS “IMMATURE”…
VICK DISCRIBED DOG FIGHTING AS A TERRIBLE THING…SOMETHING HE NOW REJECTS…
HERE’S THE KICKER…
VICK NOW SAYS HE HAS FOUND RELIGION…AND IN HIS WORDS…”I WILL REDEEM MYSELF…I HAVE TO”…
SO WHAT TRIGGERED THIS GREAT SPIRITUAL AWAKING???
NOW BEFORE YOU LABLE IT AS “A MIRACLE”…HERE’S THE REST OF THE STORY…
THE PLEA AGREEMENT DOES NOT GUARENTEE VICK ANYTHING…
HIS FUTURE IS NOW IN THE HANDS OF TWO MORTALS…
THE FIRST IS FEDERAL JUDGE HENRY E. HUDSON WHO IS NOT BOUND BY SENTENCING GUIDELINES AND HAS THE POWER TO SEND VICK TO JAIL FOR THE MAXIMUM OF FIVE YEARS…
THE SECOND IS GOODELL WHO HAS THE POWER TO SUSPEND VICK FROM PLAYING IN THE NFL FOR LIFE FOR HIS INVOLVEMENT WITH ILLEGAL GAMBLING…
VICK ADMITTS TO KILLING DOGS AND FINANCING THE GAMBLING BUT INSISTS HE NEVER PERSONALLY PLACED ANY BETS ON THE FIGHTS OR SHARED IN ANY WINNINGS…
THE BIG QUESTION NOW IS…WILL VICK’S CONFESSION BE ENOUGH TO SAVE HIS CAREER???
THAT’S WHAT HE’S REALLY PRAYING FOR…
UNDER THE NFL’S PERSONAL CONDUCT POLICY…MERELY ASSOCIATING WITH GAMBLERS CAN RESUSLT IN A LIFETIME BAN…
IN THE MEANTIME TODAY’S CONVICTION WILL COST VICK ABOUT $100 MILLION DOLLARS IN LOST SALARY…BONUSES AND ENDORSEMENTS…
SUCH IS THE PRICE OF SALVATION…
Friday, August 24, 2007
IT WOULD APPEAR THE FINAL CHAPTER IN THE TODD BERTUZZI…STEVE MOORE INCIDENT IS ABOUT TO BE WRITTEN…
FOR THE LAST TWO DAYS THE GENERAL MANAGER OF THE CANUCKS DAVE NONIS HAS BEEN IN TORONTO ANSWERING QUESTIONS FROM TIM DANSON…THE LAWYER WHO REPRESENTS MOORE…
THE CIVIL SUIT FILED BY MOORE NOT ONLY SEEKS DAMAGES FROM BERTUZZI…BUT ALSO NAMES…THE CANUCKS…BRAD MAY…FORMER GENERAL MANAGER BRIAN BURKE AND FORMER HEAD COACH MARC CRAWFORD…
MOORE IS DEMANDING $19.5 MILLION DOLLARS…
THE CANUCKS HAVE ALREADY PUT SOME DISTANCE BETWEEN THEMSELVES AND BERTUZZI…
A YEAR AGO THE TEAM ISSUED ITS STATEMENT OF DEFENCE WHICH DENIES…IT WAS NEGLIGENT OR LIABLE FOR THE ACTS…ERRORS OR OMISSIONS OF BERTUZZI…
THE NHL DOES NOT AGREE…
THAT’S WHY THE CANUCKS WERE FINED $250 THOUSAND DOLLARS…
NHL VICE PRESIDENT COLIN CAMPBELL INSISTS THE TEAM COULD HAVE…QUOTE…“DONE MORE TO CONTROL THEIR PLAYERS”…
ACCORDING TO THE CAMPBELL…
THE CANUCKS WERE WARNED BEFORE THE GAME…AND FORMER REFEREE IN CHIEF ANDY VAN HELLEMOND CALLED DURING THE GAME TO MAKE CERTAIN THERE WOULD BE NO TROUBLE…
IN BERTUZZI’S STATEMENT OF DEFENSE…HE DENIES HE RECEIVED ANY WARNINGS…
AT THE TIME BURKE ATTEMPTED TO DEFEND “HIS” POSITION BY STATING THAT THE FINE WAS…IN HIS WORDS…”HORRIBLY UNJUST”…
WHEN YOU ADD IT UP…CLEARLY SOMEBODY IS NOT TELLING THE TRUTH…
THE BATTLE IN THIS TRIAL IS NOT GOING TO BE SO MUCH…BETWEEN BERTUZZI AND MOORE…AS IT IS BETWEEN BERTUZZI…AND BURKE…AND MAY…AND CRAWFORD AND THE CANUCKS…
WHAT COMPLICATES THIS MATTER IS THE FACT THAT…BERTUZZI…BURKE AND MAY NOW ALL WORK FOR THE ANAHEIM DUCKS…
THERE IS LITTLE QUESTION MOORE IS GOING TO WIN THIS CASE…
BERTUZZI HAS ALREADY PLEADED GUILTY TO ASSAULT AND SERVED A YEAR OF PROBATION…
THE ISSUES NOW ARE…
WHO’S REALLY TO BLAME???…AND HOW MUCH IS IT GOING TO COST???
WE WON’T KNOW THOSE ANSWERS FOR AT LEAST ANOTHER SIX MONTHS…
BUT ONE THING IS CLEAR…
SOMEBODY IS ABOUT TO WRITE A SERIOUS CHEQUE…
FOR THE LAST TWO DAYS THE GENERAL MANAGER OF THE CANUCKS DAVE NONIS HAS BEEN IN TORONTO ANSWERING QUESTIONS FROM TIM DANSON…THE LAWYER WHO REPRESENTS MOORE…
THE CIVIL SUIT FILED BY MOORE NOT ONLY SEEKS DAMAGES FROM BERTUZZI…BUT ALSO NAMES…THE CANUCKS…BRAD MAY…FORMER GENERAL MANAGER BRIAN BURKE AND FORMER HEAD COACH MARC CRAWFORD…
MOORE IS DEMANDING $19.5 MILLION DOLLARS…
THE CANUCKS HAVE ALREADY PUT SOME DISTANCE BETWEEN THEMSELVES AND BERTUZZI…
A YEAR AGO THE TEAM ISSUED ITS STATEMENT OF DEFENCE WHICH DENIES…IT WAS NEGLIGENT OR LIABLE FOR THE ACTS…ERRORS OR OMISSIONS OF BERTUZZI…
THE NHL DOES NOT AGREE…
THAT’S WHY THE CANUCKS WERE FINED $250 THOUSAND DOLLARS…
NHL VICE PRESIDENT COLIN CAMPBELL INSISTS THE TEAM COULD HAVE…QUOTE…“DONE MORE TO CONTROL THEIR PLAYERS”…
ACCORDING TO THE CAMPBELL…
THE CANUCKS WERE WARNED BEFORE THE GAME…AND FORMER REFEREE IN CHIEF ANDY VAN HELLEMOND CALLED DURING THE GAME TO MAKE CERTAIN THERE WOULD BE NO TROUBLE…
IN BERTUZZI’S STATEMENT OF DEFENSE…HE DENIES HE RECEIVED ANY WARNINGS…
AT THE TIME BURKE ATTEMPTED TO DEFEND “HIS” POSITION BY STATING THAT THE FINE WAS…IN HIS WORDS…”HORRIBLY UNJUST”…
WHEN YOU ADD IT UP…CLEARLY SOMEBODY IS NOT TELLING THE TRUTH…
THE BATTLE IN THIS TRIAL IS NOT GOING TO BE SO MUCH…BETWEEN BERTUZZI AND MOORE…AS IT IS BETWEEN BERTUZZI…AND BURKE…AND MAY…AND CRAWFORD AND THE CANUCKS…
WHAT COMPLICATES THIS MATTER IS THE FACT THAT…BERTUZZI…BURKE AND MAY NOW ALL WORK FOR THE ANAHEIM DUCKS…
THERE IS LITTLE QUESTION MOORE IS GOING TO WIN THIS CASE…
BERTUZZI HAS ALREADY PLEADED GUILTY TO ASSAULT AND SERVED A YEAR OF PROBATION…
THE ISSUES NOW ARE…
WHO’S REALLY TO BLAME???…AND HOW MUCH IS IT GOING TO COST???
WE WON’T KNOW THOSE ANSWERS FOR AT LEAST ANOTHER SIX MONTHS…
BUT ONE THING IS CLEAR…
SOMEBODY IS ABOUT TO WRITE A SERIOUS CHEQUE…
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Hockey Night in Nevada
ARE YOU READY FOR HOCKEY NIGHT IN LAS VEGAS???
THE NHL COULD BE IN THAT CITY BY AS EARLY AS 2010…
HARRAH’S ENTERTAINMENT HAS JUST ANNOUNCED PLANS TO BUILD A $500 MILLION DOLLAR ARENA JUST OFF THE LAS VEGAS STRIP…
THE OWNER OF THE LOS ANGELES KINGS PHILIP ANSCHUTZ IS A PARTNER IN THIS NEW ARENA…WHICH IS EXPECTED TO ATTRACT NOT ONLY THE NHL BUT ALSO THE NBA…
THAT GETS US TO JERRY BRUCKHEIMER WHO IS NOT ONLY ONE OF THE RICHEST PEOPLE IN HOLLYWOOD BUT ALSO A HUGH HOCKEY FAN…
BRUCKHEIMER HAS BEEN TALKING TO THE NHL FOR YEARS ABOUT GETTING A TEAM IN LAS VEGAS AND IS CLOSELY CONNECTED TO ANSCHUTZ…
ON THE SURFACE IT MIGHT MAKE A LOT MORE SENSE TO RE-LOCATE A TEAM…
CLEARLY HOCKEY IS NOT SELLING IN MARKETS LIKE NASHVILLE…ATLANTA…FLORIDA AND WASHINGTON…
BUT AN EXPANSION TEAM WOULD PUT AT LEAST 200 MILLION DOLLARS INTO THE POCKETS OF THE OWNERS…
IT WOULD ALSO SET THE STAGE FOR A SECOND EXPANSION TEAM AND ANOTHER 200 MILLION…
THE NBA IS ALSO VERY INTERESTED…
THAT LEAGUE HAS ALREADY APPOINTED A COMMITTEE TO STUDY WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO LOCATE A FRANCHISE IN LAS VEGAS…
NO QUESTION THE NBA WAS ROCKED BY THE BETTING SCANDAL INVOLVING ONE ITS OWN REFEREES…BUT POTENTIAL IS SO GREAT THAT THE LEAGUE IS STILL MOVING FORWARD…
IN FEBRUARY THE NBA STAGED ITS ALL STAR GAME IN VEGAS…WHICH WAS A HUGH SUCCESS…
IN THE MEANTIME…ANOTHER GROUP…R.E.I. OUT OF MICHIGAN HAS PLANS TO BUILD A SPORTS ARENA OM DOWNTOWN LAS VEGAS AS PART OF A 9 AND A HALF BILLION DOLLAR CASINO AND RETAIL DEVELOPMENT…
IT MEANS BOTH THE NHL AND THE NBA COULD EXPAND INTO VEGAS AND PLAY IN DIFFERENT ARENAS…
BUT WITHOUT QUESTION…THE ARENA PLANNED BY HARRAH’S IS THE ONE EVERYBODY IS TALKING ABOUT…AND HERE’S WHY…
THERE ARE 200 THOUSAND HOTEL ROOMS WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE…
VEGAS BABY…VEGAS…
PRATT OUT
THE NHL COULD BE IN THAT CITY BY AS EARLY AS 2010…
HARRAH’S ENTERTAINMENT HAS JUST ANNOUNCED PLANS TO BUILD A $500 MILLION DOLLAR ARENA JUST OFF THE LAS VEGAS STRIP…
THE OWNER OF THE LOS ANGELES KINGS PHILIP ANSCHUTZ IS A PARTNER IN THIS NEW ARENA…WHICH IS EXPECTED TO ATTRACT NOT ONLY THE NHL BUT ALSO THE NBA…
THAT GETS US TO JERRY BRUCKHEIMER WHO IS NOT ONLY ONE OF THE RICHEST PEOPLE IN HOLLYWOOD BUT ALSO A HUGH HOCKEY FAN…
BRUCKHEIMER HAS BEEN TALKING TO THE NHL FOR YEARS ABOUT GETTING A TEAM IN LAS VEGAS AND IS CLOSELY CONNECTED TO ANSCHUTZ…
ON THE SURFACE IT MIGHT MAKE A LOT MORE SENSE TO RE-LOCATE A TEAM…
CLEARLY HOCKEY IS NOT SELLING IN MARKETS LIKE NASHVILLE…ATLANTA…FLORIDA AND WASHINGTON…
BUT AN EXPANSION TEAM WOULD PUT AT LEAST 200 MILLION DOLLARS INTO THE POCKETS OF THE OWNERS…
IT WOULD ALSO SET THE STAGE FOR A SECOND EXPANSION TEAM AND ANOTHER 200 MILLION…
THE NBA IS ALSO VERY INTERESTED…
THAT LEAGUE HAS ALREADY APPOINTED A COMMITTEE TO STUDY WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO LOCATE A FRANCHISE IN LAS VEGAS…
NO QUESTION THE NBA WAS ROCKED BY THE BETTING SCANDAL INVOLVING ONE ITS OWN REFEREES…BUT POTENTIAL IS SO GREAT THAT THE LEAGUE IS STILL MOVING FORWARD…
IN FEBRUARY THE NBA STAGED ITS ALL STAR GAME IN VEGAS…WHICH WAS A HUGH SUCCESS…
IN THE MEANTIME…ANOTHER GROUP…R.E.I. OUT OF MICHIGAN HAS PLANS TO BUILD A SPORTS ARENA OM DOWNTOWN LAS VEGAS AS PART OF A 9 AND A HALF BILLION DOLLAR CASINO AND RETAIL DEVELOPMENT…
IT MEANS BOTH THE NHL AND THE NBA COULD EXPAND INTO VEGAS AND PLAY IN DIFFERENT ARENAS…
BUT WITHOUT QUESTION…THE ARENA PLANNED BY HARRAH’S IS THE ONE EVERYBODY IS TALKING ABOUT…AND HERE’S WHY…
THERE ARE 200 THOUSAND HOTEL ROOMS WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE…
VEGAS BABY…VEGAS…
PRATT OUT
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
The Race Card
LIKE IT OR NOT THE RACE CARD IS GETTING PLAYED IN THE MICHAEL VICK CASE…
BECAUSE LIKE IT OR NOT…RACE IS STILL A MAJOR ISSUE IN THE U.S….ESPECIALLY IN CITIES LIKE ATLANTA…
THE “N--DOUBLE A—CP” HAS NOW STEPPED IN…
R.L. WHITE THE PRESIDENT OF THE ATLANTA CHAPTER HAS NOW RIPPED INTO THE MEDIA…
IN HIS WORDS…”MICHEAL VICK HAS RECEIVED MORE NEGATIVE PRESS THAN IF HE HAD KILLED A HUMAN BEING”…
THE N—DOUBLE A--CP ALSO WANTS THE NFL TO ALLOW VICK TO PLAY AGAIN ONCE HE GETS OUT OF PRISON…
QUOTE…”WE FURTHER ASK THE NFL…THE FALCONS…AND THE SPONSORS NOT TO PERMANENTLY BAN MR. VICK FROM HIS ABILITY TO BRING HOURS OF ENJOYMENT TO FANS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY”…
CLEARLY THIS IS THE FIRST ATTEMPT TO PORTRAY VICK AS THE VICTIM…
WHITE REFUSES TO ACCEPT VICK IS GUILTY OF ANYTHING…
INSTEAD HE WENT SO FAR AS TO SUGGEST VICK HAS BEEN FRAMED…
IF YOU CAN BELIEVE THIS WHITE HAS NOW STATED THE CO-DEFENDANTS IN THE CASE LIED TO AS HE PUTS IT…”SAVE THEIR OWN NECKS”…
ACCORDING TO WHITE…VICK ONLY AGREED TO TAKE THE PLEA AGREEMENT TO…”CUT HIS LOSSES”…
THERE IS SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG HERE…
THIS IS NOT THE MESSAGE LEADERS OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY SHOULD BE SENDING…
WHAT VICK DID WAS WRONG AND HE IS GOING TO PAY A HEAVY PRICE FOR IT…
LET’S BE CLEAR ABOUT ONE THING…
THE REASON VICK IS UNDER ATTACK HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE COLOR OF HIS SKIN…
IT HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH THE FACT HE IS THE HIGHEST PAID QUARTERBACK IN NFL…
WHEN FORMER NBA REFEREE TIM DONAGHY PLEADED GUILTY FOR ILLEGAL GAMBLING DID ANYONE IN THE WHITE COMMUNITY JUMP UP AND DEFEND HIS ACTIONS…OR GO TO THE LEAGUE AND TRY AND GET HIS JOB BACK…ABSOLUTELY NOT…
DONAGHY BETRAYED A TRUST AND IS GOING TO JAIL…
BECAUSE LIKE IT OR NOT…RACE IS STILL A MAJOR ISSUE IN THE U.S….ESPECIALLY IN CITIES LIKE ATLANTA…
THE “N--DOUBLE A—CP” HAS NOW STEPPED IN…
R.L. WHITE THE PRESIDENT OF THE ATLANTA CHAPTER HAS NOW RIPPED INTO THE MEDIA…
IN HIS WORDS…”MICHEAL VICK HAS RECEIVED MORE NEGATIVE PRESS THAN IF HE HAD KILLED A HUMAN BEING”…
THE N—DOUBLE A--CP ALSO WANTS THE NFL TO ALLOW VICK TO PLAY AGAIN ONCE HE GETS OUT OF PRISON…
QUOTE…”WE FURTHER ASK THE NFL…THE FALCONS…AND THE SPONSORS NOT TO PERMANENTLY BAN MR. VICK FROM HIS ABILITY TO BRING HOURS OF ENJOYMENT TO FANS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY”…
CLEARLY THIS IS THE FIRST ATTEMPT TO PORTRAY VICK AS THE VICTIM…
WHITE REFUSES TO ACCEPT VICK IS GUILTY OF ANYTHING…
INSTEAD HE WENT SO FAR AS TO SUGGEST VICK HAS BEEN FRAMED…
IF YOU CAN BELIEVE THIS WHITE HAS NOW STATED THE CO-DEFENDANTS IN THE CASE LIED TO AS HE PUTS IT…”SAVE THEIR OWN NECKS”…
ACCORDING TO WHITE…VICK ONLY AGREED TO TAKE THE PLEA AGREEMENT TO…”CUT HIS LOSSES”…
THERE IS SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG HERE…
THIS IS NOT THE MESSAGE LEADERS OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY SHOULD BE SENDING…
WHAT VICK DID WAS WRONG AND HE IS GOING TO PAY A HEAVY PRICE FOR IT…
LET’S BE CLEAR ABOUT ONE THING…
THE REASON VICK IS UNDER ATTACK HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE COLOR OF HIS SKIN…
IT HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH THE FACT HE IS THE HIGHEST PAID QUARTERBACK IN NFL…
WHEN FORMER NBA REFEREE TIM DONAGHY PLEADED GUILTY FOR ILLEGAL GAMBLING DID ANYONE IN THE WHITE COMMUNITY JUMP UP AND DEFEND HIS ACTIONS…OR GO TO THE LEAGUE AND TRY AND GET HIS JOB BACK…ABSOLUTELY NOT…
DONAGHY BETRAYED A TRUST AND IS GOING TO JAIL…
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Trevor Linden
TREVOR LINDEN WILL PLAY FOR THE VANCOUVER CANUCKS THIS SEASON…
TODAY THE TEAM MADE IT OFFICIAL WHEN IT ANNOUNCED LINDEN HAD SIGNED A ONE YEAR CONTRACT…
WHATEVER ISSUES REGUARDING HIS ROLE ON THE TEAM AND THE AMOUNT HE WILL BE PAID HAVE ALL BEEN RESOLVED…
AT 37 YEARS OF AGE…AND HEADING INTO HIS 19TH NHL SEASON…THIS COULD VERY WELL BE HIS LAST SEASON…
IF HE PERFORMS LIKE HE DID THE PLAYOFFS…THEN THE ANSWER IS NO…
LAST SPRING LINDEN PROVED THERE’S STILL SOMETHING LEFT IN THE TANK…37 IS NOT A DEATH SENTENCE…
MIKE MODANO…TEEMU SELANE…AND ROD BRIND’AMOUR WERE ALL TAKEN IN THE SAME DRAFT AS LINDEN…
AND THERE ARE A FEW PLAYERS THAT ARE EVEN OLDER…SUCH AS…
JOE SAKIC…BRENDAN SHANNAHAN…AND CHRIS CHELIOS…
BUT CLEARLY THESE PLAYERS ARE THE EXCEPTION AND NOT THE RULE…
WHEN LINDEN HEADS OFF TO TRAINING CAMP NEXT MONTH…HE CERTAINLY WILL FIND A MOMENT TO WONDER WHERE ALL THE TIME WENT…
IN 1988 HE JUST 18 WHEN HE ARRIVED AT HIS FIRST TRAINING CAMP…FRESH OFF BACK TO BACK MEMORIAL CUP CHAMPIONSHIPS…
LINDEN SCORED 30 GOALS IN HIS ROOKIE YEAR AND MADE THE ALL ROOKIE TEAM…
IN THOSE DAYS EVERYTHING SEEMED POSSIBLE…AND IN 1994 HE LED THE CANUCKS TO THE 7TH GAME OF THE STANLEY CUP FINAL…
THEN SUDDENLY IT ALL FELL APART…
JOHN MCCAW BOUGHT THE TEAM AND SIGNED MARK MESSIER…
THE CANUCKS DID THE UNTHINKABLE AND STRIPPED LINDEN OF THE “C”…BY FEBRUARY MIKE KEENAN HAD TRADED HIM TO THE ISLANDERS…
THEN IT WAS MONTREAL…AND THEN WASHINGTON…
IN 2001 THE CANUCKS GAVE UP A FIRST ROUND DRAFT PICK TO BRING HIM HOME…
AS OF TODAY TREVOR LINDEN KNOWS HE WILL GET AT LEAST ONE SEASON IN THE NHL…
BUT MORE IMPORTANLY HE’LL GET ONE MORE SHOT AT WINNING THE STANLEY CUP…
WHAT A LONG STRANGE TRIP IT’S BEEN…
TODAY THE TEAM MADE IT OFFICIAL WHEN IT ANNOUNCED LINDEN HAD SIGNED A ONE YEAR CONTRACT…
WHATEVER ISSUES REGUARDING HIS ROLE ON THE TEAM AND THE AMOUNT HE WILL BE PAID HAVE ALL BEEN RESOLVED…
AT 37 YEARS OF AGE…AND HEADING INTO HIS 19TH NHL SEASON…THIS COULD VERY WELL BE HIS LAST SEASON…
IF HE PERFORMS LIKE HE DID THE PLAYOFFS…THEN THE ANSWER IS NO…
LAST SPRING LINDEN PROVED THERE’S STILL SOMETHING LEFT IN THE TANK…37 IS NOT A DEATH SENTENCE…
MIKE MODANO…TEEMU SELANE…AND ROD BRIND’AMOUR WERE ALL TAKEN IN THE SAME DRAFT AS LINDEN…
AND THERE ARE A FEW PLAYERS THAT ARE EVEN OLDER…SUCH AS…
JOE SAKIC…BRENDAN SHANNAHAN…AND CHRIS CHELIOS…
BUT CLEARLY THESE PLAYERS ARE THE EXCEPTION AND NOT THE RULE…
WHEN LINDEN HEADS OFF TO TRAINING CAMP NEXT MONTH…HE CERTAINLY WILL FIND A MOMENT TO WONDER WHERE ALL THE TIME WENT…
IN 1988 HE JUST 18 WHEN HE ARRIVED AT HIS FIRST TRAINING CAMP…FRESH OFF BACK TO BACK MEMORIAL CUP CHAMPIONSHIPS…
LINDEN SCORED 30 GOALS IN HIS ROOKIE YEAR AND MADE THE ALL ROOKIE TEAM…
IN THOSE DAYS EVERYTHING SEEMED POSSIBLE…AND IN 1994 HE LED THE CANUCKS TO THE 7TH GAME OF THE STANLEY CUP FINAL…
THEN SUDDENLY IT ALL FELL APART…
JOHN MCCAW BOUGHT THE TEAM AND SIGNED MARK MESSIER…
THE CANUCKS DID THE UNTHINKABLE AND STRIPPED LINDEN OF THE “C”…BY FEBRUARY MIKE KEENAN HAD TRADED HIM TO THE ISLANDERS…
THEN IT WAS MONTREAL…AND THEN WASHINGTON…
IN 2001 THE CANUCKS GAVE UP A FIRST ROUND DRAFT PICK TO BRING HIM HOME…
AS OF TODAY TREVOR LINDEN KNOWS HE WILL GET AT LEAST ONE SEASON IN THE NHL…
BUT MORE IMPORTANLY HE’LL GET ONE MORE SHOT AT WINNING THE STANLEY CUP…
WHAT A LONG STRANGE TRIP IT’S BEEN…
Monday, August 20, 2007
Michael Vick
MICHAEL VICK IS GOING TO JAIL…
NEXT MONDAY VICK WILL PLEAD GUILTY TO PROMOTING DOG FIGHTING…
THE QUESTION OF HOW LONG HE’LL SPEND IN JAIL IS STILL NOT KNOWN…
BUT OVER THE WEEKEND CNN WAS REPORTING THAT THE OFFER ON THE TABLE STARTED AT 18 MONTHS BUT COULD BE AS MUCH AS 3 YEARS…
VICK WAS FACING UP TO 5 YEARS IN JAIL AND WAS EXPECTED TO GET HIT TODAY WITH RACKETEERING CHARGES…
LAST WEEK THREE CO-DEFENDANTS FLIPPED AND REVEALED THAT VICK WAS MUCH MORE THAN JUST THE MONEY MAN…
ACCORDING THEM…VICK HUNG AND DROWN DOGS THAT DID NOT PREFORM…
EARLIER TODAY HIS LAWYER BILLY MARTIN ISSUED THIS STATEMENT…
“MICHAEL WISHES TO APOLOGIZE TO EVERYONE WHO HAS BEEN HURT BY THIS MATTER”…
NO WHERE IN THAT STATEMENT IS THERE ANY MENTION OF THE PAIN AND SUFFERING VICK AND HIS PARTNERS INFLICTED ON THE DOGS…
AS FOR THE PRICE VICK WILL PAY FOR THOSE ACTIONS…JAIL TIME IS JUST THE START…
THE DOG FIGHTING ALSO INVOLVED GAMBLING WHICH WILL ALLOW THE NFL TO BAN VICK FOR LIFE…
IN OTHER WORDS HIS FOOTBALL CAREER IS ALMOST CERTAINLY OVER…
THEN THERE’S THE MONEY…
TWO YEARS AGO VICK SIGNED A 10 YEAR CONTRACT WORTH $130 MILLION DOLLARS…
HE HAS ALREADY BEEN PAID $40 MILLION…
HOWEVER $37 MILLION OF THAT CAME IN THE FORM OF SIGNING BONUSES…
PLEADING GUILTY NOT ONLY ALLOWS THE ATLANTA FALCONS TO CANCEL THE CONTRACT IT ALSO OPENS THE DOOR TO RECLAIM ALL OF THOSE SIGNING BONUSES…
IF THE TEAM IS SUCCESSFUL IN THAT ATTEMPT…BY THE TIME PAYS HIS LEGAL FEES AND GETS OUT OF JAIL…VICK COULD BE FLAT BROKE…
THERE ARE THOSE WHO WOULD ARGUE THAT THE PUNISHMENT IS STILL NOT ENOUGH…
BUT THINK ABOUT IT…
VICK IS NOW 27 YEARS OLD…HE’LL BE 30 WHEN HE GETS OUT OF JAIL…
WITH NO FOOTBALL…NO MONEY…AND A CRIMMINAL RECORD…
WHAT DO YOU THINK HIS OPTIONS WILL BE???
FOR MICHAEL VICK THIS STORY IS NOT GOING TO HAVE A HAPPY ENDING…
IT MAY NOT BE ENOUGH…BUT DAMN…IT’S CLOSE…
NEXT MONDAY VICK WILL PLEAD GUILTY TO PROMOTING DOG FIGHTING…
THE QUESTION OF HOW LONG HE’LL SPEND IN JAIL IS STILL NOT KNOWN…
BUT OVER THE WEEKEND CNN WAS REPORTING THAT THE OFFER ON THE TABLE STARTED AT 18 MONTHS BUT COULD BE AS MUCH AS 3 YEARS…
VICK WAS FACING UP TO 5 YEARS IN JAIL AND WAS EXPECTED TO GET HIT TODAY WITH RACKETEERING CHARGES…
LAST WEEK THREE CO-DEFENDANTS FLIPPED AND REVEALED THAT VICK WAS MUCH MORE THAN JUST THE MONEY MAN…
ACCORDING THEM…VICK HUNG AND DROWN DOGS THAT DID NOT PREFORM…
EARLIER TODAY HIS LAWYER BILLY MARTIN ISSUED THIS STATEMENT…
“MICHAEL WISHES TO APOLOGIZE TO EVERYONE WHO HAS BEEN HURT BY THIS MATTER”…
NO WHERE IN THAT STATEMENT IS THERE ANY MENTION OF THE PAIN AND SUFFERING VICK AND HIS PARTNERS INFLICTED ON THE DOGS…
AS FOR THE PRICE VICK WILL PAY FOR THOSE ACTIONS…JAIL TIME IS JUST THE START…
THE DOG FIGHTING ALSO INVOLVED GAMBLING WHICH WILL ALLOW THE NFL TO BAN VICK FOR LIFE…
IN OTHER WORDS HIS FOOTBALL CAREER IS ALMOST CERTAINLY OVER…
THEN THERE’S THE MONEY…
TWO YEARS AGO VICK SIGNED A 10 YEAR CONTRACT WORTH $130 MILLION DOLLARS…
HE HAS ALREADY BEEN PAID $40 MILLION…
HOWEVER $37 MILLION OF THAT CAME IN THE FORM OF SIGNING BONUSES…
PLEADING GUILTY NOT ONLY ALLOWS THE ATLANTA FALCONS TO CANCEL THE CONTRACT IT ALSO OPENS THE DOOR TO RECLAIM ALL OF THOSE SIGNING BONUSES…
IF THE TEAM IS SUCCESSFUL IN THAT ATTEMPT…BY THE TIME PAYS HIS LEGAL FEES AND GETS OUT OF JAIL…VICK COULD BE FLAT BROKE…
THERE ARE THOSE WHO WOULD ARGUE THAT THE PUNISHMENT IS STILL NOT ENOUGH…
BUT THINK ABOUT IT…
VICK IS NOW 27 YEARS OLD…HE’LL BE 30 WHEN HE GETS OUT OF JAIL…
WITH NO FOOTBALL…NO MONEY…AND A CRIMMINAL RECORD…
WHAT DO YOU THINK HIS OPTIONS WILL BE???
FOR MICHAEL VICK THIS STORY IS NOT GOING TO HAVE A HAPPY ENDING…
IT MAY NOT BE ENOUGH…BUT DAMN…IT’S CLOSE…
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Elvis Lives!
THIRTY YEARS AGO TODAY ELVIS DIED…
WHETHER OR NOT YOU LIKED HIS MUSIC…WHAT YOU CAN NOT DEBATE IS THE IMPACT ELVIS HAD ON BOTH THE ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS AND THE VERY CULTURE OF AMERICA…
ELVIS WAS THE FIRST WHITE ARTIST TO SING BLACK MUSIC…
WITHOUT ELVIS THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO VEHICLE FOR ARTISTS SUCH AS RAY CHARLES…OR JIMI HENDRICKS…OR SNOOP DOG…
THERE WOULD BE NO HIP HOP…
NOW TAKE A LOOK AT THE MARRIAGE OF MUSIC AND SPORTS…
NONE OF THAT EXISTED BEFORE ELVIS…
IT’S NOT JUST THE HALF TIME SHOW AT THE SUPER BOWL…
MUSIC IS NOW A BIG PART OF HOW EA SPORTS MARKETS ITS VIDEO GAMES…
IT’S THE OPENING OF MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL…
IT’S HOW NIKE SELLS SHOES…
JOHN LENNON ONCE SAID…”BEFORE ELVIS THERE WAS NOTHING”…
HE WAS THE FIRST TO SHOW THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY HOW SEX SELLS…
NOW TAKE A LOOK AT HOW TODAYS ATHLETES HAVE LEARNED FROM THAT…
EVERY YEAR ESPN RATES THE HOTTEST FEMALE AND MALE ATHLETES…
SO DOES MAXIM MAGAZINE…
MARIA SHARAPOVA…DANNA PATRICK AND NATALIE GULBIS ARE SELLING A LOT MORE THAN JUST TENNIS…AUTO RACING AND GOLF…
JESSE PALMER PLAYED A GRAND TOTAL OF 8 GAMES IN THE NFL FOR THE NEW YORK GIANTS…
YET IN 2004 THE PRODUCERS OF “THE BACHELOR” WANTED HIM TO STAR IN THEIR SHOW…
PALMER MAY HAVE HAD A MINOR LEAGUE ARM…BUT HE HAD A MAJOR LEAGUE SMILE…
EVERY PROFESSIONAL ATHELETE IN THE WORLD OWES SOMETHING TO ELVIS…
IT HELPS TO EXPLAIN WHY EVERY YEAR 600 THOUSAND PEOPLE FLY TO MEMPHIS TO LINE UP FOR HOURS JUST FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TOUR GRACELAND…
THIS WEEK OVER 40 THOUSAND ARE EXPECTED TO PAY THEIR REPECTS…
30 YEARS AFTER THE DEATH OF ELVIS GRACELAND STILL TAKES IN $27 MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR…
IN ALL THE ELVIS BUSINESS MAKES A TOTAL OF $40 MILLION A YEAR…
NO QUESTION…ELVIS IS ALIVE…
WHETHER OR NOT YOU LIKED HIS MUSIC…WHAT YOU CAN NOT DEBATE IS THE IMPACT ELVIS HAD ON BOTH THE ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS AND THE VERY CULTURE OF AMERICA…
ELVIS WAS THE FIRST WHITE ARTIST TO SING BLACK MUSIC…
WITHOUT ELVIS THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO VEHICLE FOR ARTISTS SUCH AS RAY CHARLES…OR JIMI HENDRICKS…OR SNOOP DOG…
THERE WOULD BE NO HIP HOP…
NOW TAKE A LOOK AT THE MARRIAGE OF MUSIC AND SPORTS…
NONE OF THAT EXISTED BEFORE ELVIS…
IT’S NOT JUST THE HALF TIME SHOW AT THE SUPER BOWL…
MUSIC IS NOW A BIG PART OF HOW EA SPORTS MARKETS ITS VIDEO GAMES…
IT’S THE OPENING OF MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL…
IT’S HOW NIKE SELLS SHOES…
JOHN LENNON ONCE SAID…”BEFORE ELVIS THERE WAS NOTHING”…
HE WAS THE FIRST TO SHOW THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY HOW SEX SELLS…
NOW TAKE A LOOK AT HOW TODAYS ATHLETES HAVE LEARNED FROM THAT…
EVERY YEAR ESPN RATES THE HOTTEST FEMALE AND MALE ATHLETES…
SO DOES MAXIM MAGAZINE…
MARIA SHARAPOVA…DANNA PATRICK AND NATALIE GULBIS ARE SELLING A LOT MORE THAN JUST TENNIS…AUTO RACING AND GOLF…
JESSE PALMER PLAYED A GRAND TOTAL OF 8 GAMES IN THE NFL FOR THE NEW YORK GIANTS…
YET IN 2004 THE PRODUCERS OF “THE BACHELOR” WANTED HIM TO STAR IN THEIR SHOW…
PALMER MAY HAVE HAD A MINOR LEAGUE ARM…BUT HE HAD A MAJOR LEAGUE SMILE…
EVERY PROFESSIONAL ATHELETE IN THE WORLD OWES SOMETHING TO ELVIS…
IT HELPS TO EXPLAIN WHY EVERY YEAR 600 THOUSAND PEOPLE FLY TO MEMPHIS TO LINE UP FOR HOURS JUST FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TOUR GRACELAND…
THIS WEEK OVER 40 THOUSAND ARE EXPECTED TO PAY THEIR REPECTS…
30 YEARS AFTER THE DEATH OF ELVIS GRACELAND STILL TAKES IN $27 MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR…
IN ALL THE ELVIS BUSINESS MAKES A TOTAL OF $40 MILLION A YEAR…
NO QUESTION…ELVIS IS ALIVE…
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Michael Vick
BY THIS FRIDAY MICHAEL VICK WILL HAVE TO MAKE THE MOST IMPORTANT DECISION IN HIS LIFE…
ACCEPT A PLEA AGREEMENT FOR HIS ALLEGED INVOLVEMENT IN A DOG FIGHTING RING OR FIGHT THE CHARGES…
ALL THREE OF THE CO-DEFENDANTS HAVE ALREADY AGREED TO TAKE A PLEA AND TESIFY AGAINST VICK…
ON THE SURFACE IT WOULD APPEAR MICHAEL VICK HAS ONLY ONE OPTION…
HOWEVER VICK HAS ALREADY PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO THE CHARGES AND HAS ISSUED AN WRITTEN STATEMENT IN WHICH HE SAID HE LOOKED FORWARD TO...QUOTE…”CLEARING MY GOOD NAME”…
IN THE MEANTIME THE NFL IS STAYING ON THE SIDELINES UNTIL AFTER THE FEDERAL PROSECUTOR MICHAEL GILL IS FINISHED WITH THE FINAL DETAILS OF HIS CASE…
THAT IS EXPECTED TO HAPPEN ON FRIDAY…
IF VICK CHOOSES TO TAKE THIS MATTER TO COURT…HE COULD BE HIT WITH AT LEAST 2 MORE FEDERAL DOGFIGHTING CHARGES…
THEN NFL COMMISSIONER ROGER GOODELL WILL TAKE HIS TURN…
GOODELL IS EXPECTED TO SUSPEND VICK FOR AT LEAST THE REST OF THE 2007 SEASON…WHETHER HE TAKES THE PLEA OR NOT…
RIGHT NOW THAT’S THE LEAST OF HIS CONCERNS…
IF CONVICTED MICHAEL VICK COULD SPENT 6 YEARS IN JAIL…
LASTNIGHT VICK SAT DOWN WITH HIS LAWYERS TO DISCUSE WHAT HE WANTS TO DO…
KEEP IN MIND THE AMERICAN LEGAL SYSTEM IS FAR FROM PERFECT…
THE O.J. SIMPSON TRIAL IS A CLASSIC EXAMPLE OF THAT…
HOWEVER VICK HAS THREE EYE WITNESSES TO GO ALONG WITH A MOUNTAIN OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE…MUCH OF WHICH WAS FOUND ON HIS PROPERTY…
MOST EXPERTS AGREE IT’S TIME FOR VICK TO CUT HIS LOSSES…
THE CORPORATE SPONSORS ARE GONE…
THE ATLANTA FALCONS ARE GONE…
THE NFL IS ABOUT TO SAY GOODBYE…
AND HIS FRIENDS AND BUSINESS PARTNERS HAVE ALL TURNED AGAINST HIM…
MICHAEL VICK IS ALL ALONE NOW…AND IT WOULD APPEAR THINGS ARE ONLY GET WORSE BEFORE THEY START TO GET BETTER…
ACCEPT A PLEA AGREEMENT FOR HIS ALLEGED INVOLVEMENT IN A DOG FIGHTING RING OR FIGHT THE CHARGES…
ALL THREE OF THE CO-DEFENDANTS HAVE ALREADY AGREED TO TAKE A PLEA AND TESIFY AGAINST VICK…
ON THE SURFACE IT WOULD APPEAR MICHAEL VICK HAS ONLY ONE OPTION…
HOWEVER VICK HAS ALREADY PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO THE CHARGES AND HAS ISSUED AN WRITTEN STATEMENT IN WHICH HE SAID HE LOOKED FORWARD TO...QUOTE…”CLEARING MY GOOD NAME”…
IN THE MEANTIME THE NFL IS STAYING ON THE SIDELINES UNTIL AFTER THE FEDERAL PROSECUTOR MICHAEL GILL IS FINISHED WITH THE FINAL DETAILS OF HIS CASE…
THAT IS EXPECTED TO HAPPEN ON FRIDAY…
IF VICK CHOOSES TO TAKE THIS MATTER TO COURT…HE COULD BE HIT WITH AT LEAST 2 MORE FEDERAL DOGFIGHTING CHARGES…
THEN NFL COMMISSIONER ROGER GOODELL WILL TAKE HIS TURN…
GOODELL IS EXPECTED TO SUSPEND VICK FOR AT LEAST THE REST OF THE 2007 SEASON…WHETHER HE TAKES THE PLEA OR NOT…
RIGHT NOW THAT’S THE LEAST OF HIS CONCERNS…
IF CONVICTED MICHAEL VICK COULD SPENT 6 YEARS IN JAIL…
LASTNIGHT VICK SAT DOWN WITH HIS LAWYERS TO DISCUSE WHAT HE WANTS TO DO…
KEEP IN MIND THE AMERICAN LEGAL SYSTEM IS FAR FROM PERFECT…
THE O.J. SIMPSON TRIAL IS A CLASSIC EXAMPLE OF THAT…
HOWEVER VICK HAS THREE EYE WITNESSES TO GO ALONG WITH A MOUNTAIN OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE…MUCH OF WHICH WAS FOUND ON HIS PROPERTY…
MOST EXPERTS AGREE IT’S TIME FOR VICK TO CUT HIS LOSSES…
THE CORPORATE SPONSORS ARE GONE…
THE ATLANTA FALCONS ARE GONE…
THE NFL IS ABOUT TO SAY GOODBYE…
AND HIS FRIENDS AND BUSINESS PARTNERS HAVE ALL TURNED AGAINST HIM…
MICHAEL VICK IS ALL ALONE NOW…AND IT WOULD APPEAR THINGS ARE ONLY GET WORSE BEFORE THEY START TO GET BETTER…
Michael Vick
BY THIS FRIDAY MICHAEL VICK WILL HAVE TO MAKE THE MOST IMPORTANT DECISION IN HIS LIFE…
ACCEPT A PLEA AGREEMENT FOR HIS ALLEGED INVOLVEMENT IN A DOG FIGHTING RING OR FIGHT THE CHARGES…
ALL THREE OF THE CO-DEFENDANTS HAVE ALREADY AGREED TO TAKE A PLEA AND TESIFY AGAINST VICK…
ON THE SURFACE IT WOULD APPEAR MICHAEL VICK HAS ONLY ONE OPTION…
HOWEVER VICK HAS ALREADY PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO THE CHARGES AND HAS ISSUED AN WRITTEN STATEMENT IN WHICH HE SAID HE LOOKED FORWARD TO...QUOTE…”CLEARING MY GOOD NAME”…
IN THE MEANTIME THE NFL IS STAYING ON THE SIDELINES UNTIL AFTER THE FEDERAL PROSECUTOR MICHAEL GILL IS FINISHED WITH THE FINAL DETAILS OF HIS CASE…
THAT IS EXPECTED TO HAPPEN ON FRIDAY…
IF VICK CHOOSES TO TAKE THIS MATTER TO COURT…HE COULD BE HIT WITH AT LEAST 2 MORE FEDERAL DOGFIGHTING CHARGES…
THEN NFL COMMISSIONER ROGER GOODELL WILL TAKE HIS TURN…
GOODELL IS EXPECTED TO SUSPEND VICK FOR AT LEAST THE REST OF THE 2007 SEASON…WHETHER HE TAKES THE PLEA OR NOT…
RIGHT NOW THAT’S THE LEAST OF HIS CONCERNS…
IF CONVICTED MICHAEL VICK COULD SPENT 6 YEARS IN JAIL…
LASTNIGHT VICK SAT DOWN WITH HIS LAWYERS TO DISCUSE WHAT HE WANTS TO DO…
KEEP IN MIND THE AMERICAN LEGAL SYSTEM IS FAR FROM PERFECT…
THE O.J. SIMPSON TRIAL IS A CLASSIC EXAMPLE OF THAT…
HOWEVER VICK HAS THREE EYE WITNESSES TO GO ALONG WITH A MOUNTAIN OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE…MUCH OF WHICH WAS FOUND ON HIS PROPERTY…
MOST EXPERTS AGREE IT’S TIME FOR VICK TO CUT HIS LOSSES…
THE CORPORATE SPONSORS ARE GONE…
THE ATLANTA FALCONS ARE GONE…
THE NFL IS ABOUT TO SAY GOODBYE…
AND HIS FRIENDS AND BUSINESS PARTNERS HAVE ALL TURNED AGAINST HIM…
MICHAEL VICK IS ALL ALONE NOW…AND IT WOULD APPEAR THINGS ARE ONLY GET WORSE BEFORE THEY START TO GET BETTER…
ACCEPT A PLEA AGREEMENT FOR HIS ALLEGED INVOLVEMENT IN A DOG FIGHTING RING OR FIGHT THE CHARGES…
ALL THREE OF THE CO-DEFENDANTS HAVE ALREADY AGREED TO TAKE A PLEA AND TESIFY AGAINST VICK…
ON THE SURFACE IT WOULD APPEAR MICHAEL VICK HAS ONLY ONE OPTION…
HOWEVER VICK HAS ALREADY PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO THE CHARGES AND HAS ISSUED AN WRITTEN STATEMENT IN WHICH HE SAID HE LOOKED FORWARD TO...QUOTE…”CLEARING MY GOOD NAME”…
IN THE MEANTIME THE NFL IS STAYING ON THE SIDELINES UNTIL AFTER THE FEDERAL PROSECUTOR MICHAEL GILL IS FINISHED WITH THE FINAL DETAILS OF HIS CASE…
THAT IS EXPECTED TO HAPPEN ON FRIDAY…
IF VICK CHOOSES TO TAKE THIS MATTER TO COURT…HE COULD BE HIT WITH AT LEAST 2 MORE FEDERAL DOGFIGHTING CHARGES…
THEN NFL COMMISSIONER ROGER GOODELL WILL TAKE HIS TURN…
GOODELL IS EXPECTED TO SUSPEND VICK FOR AT LEAST THE REST OF THE 2007 SEASON…WHETHER HE TAKES THE PLEA OR NOT…
RIGHT NOW THAT’S THE LEAST OF HIS CONCERNS…
IF CONVICTED MICHAEL VICK COULD SPENT 6 YEARS IN JAIL…
LASTNIGHT VICK SAT DOWN WITH HIS LAWYERS TO DISCUSE WHAT HE WANTS TO DO…
KEEP IN MIND THE AMERICAN LEGAL SYSTEM IS FAR FROM PERFECT…
THE O.J. SIMPSON TRIAL IS A CLASSIC EXAMPLE OF THAT…
HOWEVER VICK HAS THREE EYE WITNESSES TO GO ALONG WITH A MOUNTAIN OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE…MUCH OF WHICH WAS FOUND ON HIS PROPERTY…
MOST EXPERTS AGREE IT’S TIME FOR VICK TO CUT HIS LOSSES…
THE CORPORATE SPONSORS ARE GONE…
THE ATLANTA FALCONS ARE GONE…
THE NFL IS ABOUT TO SAY GOODBYE…
AND HIS FRIENDS AND BUSINESS PARTNERS HAVE ALL TURNED AGAINST HIM…
MICHAEL VICK IS ALL ALONE NOW…AND IT WOULD APPEAR THINGS ARE ONLY GET WORSE BEFORE THEY START TO GET BETTER…
Monday, August 13, 2007
Madden '08
WHEN THE CLOCK STRIKES MIDNIGHT…IT WILL OFFICIALLY BECOME “MADDEN DAY”…
FOR FOOTBALL FANS WHO LOVE VIDEO GAMES…
AUGUST THE 14TH IS THE SUPER BOWL AND CHRISTMAS ALL ROLLED INTO ONE…
“MADDEN NFL 2008” WILL OFFICIALLY HIT THE SELVES IN 6 THOUSAND STORES ALL OVER NORTH AMERICA…
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF FANS IN THE U.S. WILL LINE UP FOR HOURS WAITING TO GET THEIR HANDS ON IT…
EA SPORTS WILL SEND OUT VIP COPIES TO PEOPLE SUCH AS ANDY RODDICK…SNOOP DOGG AND GREEN DAY…
LAST YEARS VERSION SOLD 1.8 MILLION AND THIS YEAR THAT NUMBER IS EXPECTED TO GO WELL OVER 2 MILLION…
IT’S NOT JUST THE FANS THAT ARE PLAYING…SO ARE THE PLAYERS…
FOR THE LAST 13 SUPER BOWLS EA SPORTS HAS HELD A “MADDEN TOURNAMENT” JUST FOR PLAYERS…
NEXT TO THE GAME ITSELF…THE TOURNAMENT ALONG WITH THE PLAYBOY AND MAXIM PARTIES ARE THE TOUGHEST TICKETS…
THE PLAYERS TAKE THIS REAL SERIOUS AND ALEX SMITH OF THE OF THE TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS IS THE TWO TIME DEFENDING CHAMPION…BUT THE REAL PRIZE IS TO BECOME THE PLAYER ON THE COVER…
AT LEAST IT USED TO BE…THEN CAME THE CURSE…
THE LAST SIX STRAIGHT PLAYERS TO BE ON THE COVER OF “MADDEN” HAVE ALL SUFFERED INJURIES THAT COST THEM THEIR SEASON…
THE LIST INCLUDES DAUNTE CULPEPPER…MARSHALL FAULK…MICHAEL VICK…RAY LEWIS AND DONOVAN MCNABB…
LAST YEAR SHAUN ALEXANDER BROKE HIS FOOT IN WEEK FOUR…THE MOST VALUABLE PLAYER OF 2005 STRUGGLED THROUGH THE WORST SEASON OF HIS NFL CAREER…
THIS YEAR LADAINIAN TOMLINSON OF THE CHARGERS WAS OFFERED THE COVER BUT TURNED IT DOWN…
THE OFFICIAL REASON GIVEN WAS MONEY…BUT HOW DO YOU TURN DOWN A COUPLE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR DOING NOTHING???
INSTEAD EA SPORTS GAVE THE COVER TO VINCE YOUNG OF THE TITANS…
WHETHER YOU BELIEVE IN THE CURSE OR NOT…
WHAT IS NOT OPEN FOR DEBATE IS THE SUCCESS OF THE GAME…”MADDEN NFL” REMAINS THE MOST SUCCESSFUL VIDEO GAME IN HISTORY…
2008 BEGINS IN JUST A MATTER OF HOURS
FOR FOOTBALL FANS WHO LOVE VIDEO GAMES…
AUGUST THE 14TH IS THE SUPER BOWL AND CHRISTMAS ALL ROLLED INTO ONE…
“MADDEN NFL 2008” WILL OFFICIALLY HIT THE SELVES IN 6 THOUSAND STORES ALL OVER NORTH AMERICA…
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF FANS IN THE U.S. WILL LINE UP FOR HOURS WAITING TO GET THEIR HANDS ON IT…
EA SPORTS WILL SEND OUT VIP COPIES TO PEOPLE SUCH AS ANDY RODDICK…SNOOP DOGG AND GREEN DAY…
LAST YEARS VERSION SOLD 1.8 MILLION AND THIS YEAR THAT NUMBER IS EXPECTED TO GO WELL OVER 2 MILLION…
IT’S NOT JUST THE FANS THAT ARE PLAYING…SO ARE THE PLAYERS…
FOR THE LAST 13 SUPER BOWLS EA SPORTS HAS HELD A “MADDEN TOURNAMENT” JUST FOR PLAYERS…
NEXT TO THE GAME ITSELF…THE TOURNAMENT ALONG WITH THE PLAYBOY AND MAXIM PARTIES ARE THE TOUGHEST TICKETS…
THE PLAYERS TAKE THIS REAL SERIOUS AND ALEX SMITH OF THE OF THE TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS IS THE TWO TIME DEFENDING CHAMPION…BUT THE REAL PRIZE IS TO BECOME THE PLAYER ON THE COVER…
AT LEAST IT USED TO BE…THEN CAME THE CURSE…
THE LAST SIX STRAIGHT PLAYERS TO BE ON THE COVER OF “MADDEN” HAVE ALL SUFFERED INJURIES THAT COST THEM THEIR SEASON…
THE LIST INCLUDES DAUNTE CULPEPPER…MARSHALL FAULK…MICHAEL VICK…RAY LEWIS AND DONOVAN MCNABB…
LAST YEAR SHAUN ALEXANDER BROKE HIS FOOT IN WEEK FOUR…THE MOST VALUABLE PLAYER OF 2005 STRUGGLED THROUGH THE WORST SEASON OF HIS NFL CAREER…
THIS YEAR LADAINIAN TOMLINSON OF THE CHARGERS WAS OFFERED THE COVER BUT TURNED IT DOWN…
THE OFFICIAL REASON GIVEN WAS MONEY…BUT HOW DO YOU TURN DOWN A COUPLE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR DOING NOTHING???
INSTEAD EA SPORTS GAVE THE COVER TO VINCE YOUNG OF THE TITANS…
WHETHER YOU BELIEVE IN THE CURSE OR NOT…
WHAT IS NOT OPEN FOR DEBATE IS THE SUCCESS OF THE GAME…”MADDEN NFL” REMAINS THE MOST SUCCESSFUL VIDEO GAME IN HISTORY…
2008 BEGINS IN JUST A MATTER OF HOURS
Friday, August 10, 2007
Canucks Court
THE LEGAL BATTLE OVER OWNERSHIP OF THE VANCOUVER CANUCKS HAS ONCE AGAIN PROVIDED SOME AMAZING INSIGHT INTO WHAT WENT ON WITH THE SALE OF THE CLUB TO FRANCISCO AQUILLINI…
FORMER OWNER JOHN MCCAW WRAPPED UP HIS TESTIMONY YESTERDAY…
AMOUNG THE GEMS THAT WERE REVEALED…
MCCAW HAD THREATENED TO SUE RYAN BEDDIE AFTER HE PUBLICLY STATED THAT HE AND HIS PARTNER TOM GAGLARDI WERE “SHAFTED” AFTER THE TEAM WAS SOLD TO AQUILLINI…
MCCAW ALSO SAID HE RECEIVED A CALL FROM TOM’S FATHER BOB GAGLARDI AND TOLD HIM HIS SON WAS “DEVASTATED” WITH NEWS OF THE SALE OF 50 PERCENT OF THE TEAM…
ACCORDING TO MCCAW…WHEN IT WAS MADE CLEAR THAT THE SALE WAS FINAL BOB GAGLARDI THEN OFFERED TO BUY THE REMAINING 50 PERCENT…
WHEN MCCAW REFUSED GAGLARDI THREATENED TO SUE HIM…
MCCAW THEN THREATENED TO SUE GAGLARDI…
ALL THIS TOOK PLACE NEARLY 3 YEARS AGO…
BUT THE CIVIL TRIAL HAS GIVEN US RARE INSIGHT INTO HOW NASTY THIS SALE WAS AND STILL IS…
IT’S NOT OVER…
MONDAY THE FINAL TWO WITNESSES WILLE ON THE STAND…
HOW’S THIS FOR A TWIST…ONE OF THEM IS GENERAL MANAGER DAVE NONIS…
AS IT STANDS NOW NONIS WORKS FOR AQUILLINI…
BUT IF GAGLARDI AND BEEDIE WIN THEIR CASE…THEY WOULD OWN THE TEAM AND NONIS WOULD HAVE HIMSELF A BRAND NEW BOSS…
WHAT ADDS TO THIS DRAMA IS THE FACT NONIS IS VERY GOOD FRIENDS WITH BRIAN BURKE…WHO IS ALSO VERY GOOD FRIENDS WITH GAGLARDI…
BEFORE THE SALE OF THE CANUCKS TO AQUILLINI…GAGLARDI WAS RUMORED TO HAVE APPROACHED BURKE ABOUT BECOMING THE PRESIDENT OF THE TEAM…
THE CLOSING ARGUMENTS IN THIS CASE ARE EXPECTED TO DRAG ON FOR THE REST OF THE MONTH AND IT MAY BE SOMETIME IN OCTOBER BEFORE THE JUDGE FINALLY HANDS DOWN A VIRDICT…
BUT ONCE AGAIN THIS WEEK WE HAVE BEEN REMINDED THAT JUST WHEN YOU THINK THINGS CAN’T GET ANY WIERDER…THEY GET WEIRDED…
FORMER OWNER JOHN MCCAW WRAPPED UP HIS TESTIMONY YESTERDAY…
AMOUNG THE GEMS THAT WERE REVEALED…
MCCAW HAD THREATENED TO SUE RYAN BEDDIE AFTER HE PUBLICLY STATED THAT HE AND HIS PARTNER TOM GAGLARDI WERE “SHAFTED” AFTER THE TEAM WAS SOLD TO AQUILLINI…
MCCAW ALSO SAID HE RECEIVED A CALL FROM TOM’S FATHER BOB GAGLARDI AND TOLD HIM HIS SON WAS “DEVASTATED” WITH NEWS OF THE SALE OF 50 PERCENT OF THE TEAM…
ACCORDING TO MCCAW…WHEN IT WAS MADE CLEAR THAT THE SALE WAS FINAL BOB GAGLARDI THEN OFFERED TO BUY THE REMAINING 50 PERCENT…
WHEN MCCAW REFUSED GAGLARDI THREATENED TO SUE HIM…
MCCAW THEN THREATENED TO SUE GAGLARDI…
ALL THIS TOOK PLACE NEARLY 3 YEARS AGO…
BUT THE CIVIL TRIAL HAS GIVEN US RARE INSIGHT INTO HOW NASTY THIS SALE WAS AND STILL IS…
IT’S NOT OVER…
MONDAY THE FINAL TWO WITNESSES WILLE ON THE STAND…
HOW’S THIS FOR A TWIST…ONE OF THEM IS GENERAL MANAGER DAVE NONIS…
AS IT STANDS NOW NONIS WORKS FOR AQUILLINI…
BUT IF GAGLARDI AND BEEDIE WIN THEIR CASE…THEY WOULD OWN THE TEAM AND NONIS WOULD HAVE HIMSELF A BRAND NEW BOSS…
WHAT ADDS TO THIS DRAMA IS THE FACT NONIS IS VERY GOOD FRIENDS WITH BRIAN BURKE…WHO IS ALSO VERY GOOD FRIENDS WITH GAGLARDI…
BEFORE THE SALE OF THE CANUCKS TO AQUILLINI…GAGLARDI WAS RUMORED TO HAVE APPROACHED BURKE ABOUT BECOMING THE PRESIDENT OF THE TEAM…
THE CLOSING ARGUMENTS IN THIS CASE ARE EXPECTED TO DRAG ON FOR THE REST OF THE MONTH AND IT MAY BE SOMETIME IN OCTOBER BEFORE THE JUDGE FINALLY HANDS DOWN A VIRDICT…
BUT ONCE AGAIN THIS WEEK WE HAVE BEEN REMINDED THAT JUST WHEN YOU THINK THINGS CAN’T GET ANY WIERDER…THEY GET WEIRDED…
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Barry Bonds
IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN PERFECT…
BARRY BONDS IS NOW THE ALL TIME HOME RUN KING…
HE IS THE SON OF AN ALL-STAR…
THE GOD SON OF A LEGEND…
LASTNIGHT BONDS HIT NUMBER 756 AT HOME IN SAN FRANCISCO…IN FRONT OF A SOLD OUT CROWD…ON NATIONAL TELEVISION…
HIS SON WAS WAITING FOR HIM AT HOME PLATE…
THE REST OF HIS FAMILY WAS IN THE STANDS…
THERE WERE FIREWORKS GOING OFF ABOUT THE CENTER FIELD SCOREBOARD…
AND TO TOP IT ALL OFF…HANK AARON APPEARED ON THE JUMBO TRON AND OFFERED HIS CONGRATULATIONS…
“PERFECT”…
WELL NOT QUITE…
THE CLOUD OF STERIODS HAS TAINTED BONDS AND HIS CAREER…
BASEBALL FANS WILL NEVER KNOW HOW MANY OF THOSE HOME RUNS WERE HIT CLEAN…
IT IS WIDELY BELIEVED THAT BONDS BEGAN USING STERIODS AFTER MARK MCGWIRE HIT 70 IN THE 1998 SEASON…
IF THAT’S TRUE THEN 310 OF THD 756 ARE DIRTY…
IT DOES NOT HELP THAT BONDS HAS BEEN A FAILURE AS A HUMAN BEING…
HE IS GROUND ZERO WITH TWO STERIOD INVESTIGATIONS…ONE BY THE FBI AND ONE BY MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL…
HIS PERSONAL TRAINER GREG ANDERSON HAS REFUSED TO TESTIFY AND REMAINS IN JAIL…
BONDS IS FACING CHARGES FROM THE IRS FOR TAX EVASION…
AND HE HAS CHEATED ON HIS WIFE…
BUT IT’S STERIODS THAT ARE WHAT HAS SPOILED HIS HISTORIC EVENT…
THE QUESTION NOW IS…DOES BONDS GET IN THE BASEBALL HALL OF FAME???
EVEN IF HE’S NEVER FOUND GUILTY OF DOING ANYTHING WRONG…IT’S NOT A GIVEN…
MARK MCGWIRE AND HIS 583 HOME RUNS RECEIVED JUST 23 PERCENT OF THE VOTE IN THE FIRST YEAR HE WAS ELIGIBLE…
SAMMY SOSA HAS OVER 600 HOME RUNS…AND MAY NOT GET IN…
RAFAEL PALMEIRO IS ONE OF ONLY 4 PLAYERS IN HISTORY WITH 500 HOME RUNS AND 3 THOUSAND HITS…
BUT PALMEIRO TOOK STERIODS AND LIED TO CONGRESS…HE’S NEVER GETTING IN…
AT THE ALL STAR GAME BONDS STATED…”THEY ALL SAY I’M THE MOST DISGUSTING THING BUT THEY ALL STAND HERE FOR ME”…
THEY MAY STAND BARRY…BUT YOU MAY NEVER RECEIVE THE ULTIMATE HONOR!!!
BARRY BONDS IS NOW THE ALL TIME HOME RUN KING…
HE IS THE SON OF AN ALL-STAR…
THE GOD SON OF A LEGEND…
LASTNIGHT BONDS HIT NUMBER 756 AT HOME IN SAN FRANCISCO…IN FRONT OF A SOLD OUT CROWD…ON NATIONAL TELEVISION…
HIS SON WAS WAITING FOR HIM AT HOME PLATE…
THE REST OF HIS FAMILY WAS IN THE STANDS…
THERE WERE FIREWORKS GOING OFF ABOUT THE CENTER FIELD SCOREBOARD…
AND TO TOP IT ALL OFF…HANK AARON APPEARED ON THE JUMBO TRON AND OFFERED HIS CONGRATULATIONS…
“PERFECT”…
WELL NOT QUITE…
THE CLOUD OF STERIODS HAS TAINTED BONDS AND HIS CAREER…
BASEBALL FANS WILL NEVER KNOW HOW MANY OF THOSE HOME RUNS WERE HIT CLEAN…
IT IS WIDELY BELIEVED THAT BONDS BEGAN USING STERIODS AFTER MARK MCGWIRE HIT 70 IN THE 1998 SEASON…
IF THAT’S TRUE THEN 310 OF THD 756 ARE DIRTY…
IT DOES NOT HELP THAT BONDS HAS BEEN A FAILURE AS A HUMAN BEING…
HE IS GROUND ZERO WITH TWO STERIOD INVESTIGATIONS…ONE BY THE FBI AND ONE BY MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL…
HIS PERSONAL TRAINER GREG ANDERSON HAS REFUSED TO TESTIFY AND REMAINS IN JAIL…
BONDS IS FACING CHARGES FROM THE IRS FOR TAX EVASION…
AND HE HAS CHEATED ON HIS WIFE…
BUT IT’S STERIODS THAT ARE WHAT HAS SPOILED HIS HISTORIC EVENT…
THE QUESTION NOW IS…DOES BONDS GET IN THE BASEBALL HALL OF FAME???
EVEN IF HE’S NEVER FOUND GUILTY OF DOING ANYTHING WRONG…IT’S NOT A GIVEN…
MARK MCGWIRE AND HIS 583 HOME RUNS RECEIVED JUST 23 PERCENT OF THE VOTE IN THE FIRST YEAR HE WAS ELIGIBLE…
SAMMY SOSA HAS OVER 600 HOME RUNS…AND MAY NOT GET IN…
RAFAEL PALMEIRO IS ONE OF ONLY 4 PLAYERS IN HISTORY WITH 500 HOME RUNS AND 3 THOUSAND HITS…
BUT PALMEIRO TOOK STERIODS AND LIED TO CONGRESS…HE’S NEVER GETTING IN…
AT THE ALL STAR GAME BONDS STATED…”THEY ALL SAY I’M THE MOST DISGUSTING THING BUT THEY ALL STAND HERE FOR ME”…
THEY MAY STAND BARRY…BUT YOU MAY NEVER RECEIVE THE ULTIMATE HONOR!!!
Friday, July 20, 2007
Nashville Predators
WHO ARE THE NASHVILLE PREDATORS KIDDING???
YESTERDAY THE TEAM HELD A TICKET RALLY AND SOLD 750 SEASON TICKETS…
THE HOPE IS THE PREDS CAN AVERAGE 14 THOUSAND FANS THIS SEASON…
THAT WOULD KILL THE OUT CLAUSE IN THEIR LEASE…
THIS IS A TEAM THAT COLLECTED 110 POINTS LAST SEASON…THE THIRD BEST RECORD IN THE ENTIRE NHL…
AND YET DREW AN AVERAGE OF JUST 13, 815 FANS PER GAME…
THE MESSAGE IS CLEAR…
NASHVILLE IS NOT A HOCKEY TOWN…
OWNER CRAIG LEIPOLD HAS LOST 70 MILLION DOLLARS SINCE HE WAS AWARDED THE FRANCHISE…
AND THAT INCLUDES 27 MILLION IN THE TWO SEASONS AFTER THE LOCK OUT…
THE NEW CBA REQUIRES A TEAM TO SPEND A MINIMUM OF $34.5 MILLION IN SALARIES THIS SEASON WHICH MEANS THE PREDATORS WOULD NEED TO AVERAGE 16 THOUSAND FANS JUST TO BREAK EVEN…
THAT’S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN…
THIS SUMMER THE TEAM HAS GUTTED ITS ROSTER…
GONE ARE…PETER FORSBERG…PAUL KARYIA…TOMAS VOKOUN…KIMMO TIMONEN AND SCOTT HARTNELL…
NASHVILLE IS NOT EVEN EXPECTED TO MAKE THE PLAYOFFS…
IN THE MEANTIME JIM BALSILLIE STILL HAS AN OFFER OF 238 MILLION DOLLARS ON THE TABLE TO BUY THE TEAM AND MOVE IT TO HAMILTON…
THE ONLY THING STANDING IN HIS WAY IS NHL COMMISSIONER GARY BETTMAN…
BETTMAN HAS PLENTY OF PERSONAL REASONS TO KILL THIS DEAL…
NONE OF WHICH ARE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE NHL…
TO START WITH…IT WAS BETTMAN WHO CONVINCED LEIDPOLD TO PUT A TEAM IN NASHVILLE…
ITS FAILURE IS BETTMAN’S FAILURE…
THERE IS ALSO A NEW ARENA IN KANSAS CITY OWNED BY THE ANSCHUTZ FAMILY…WHO ALSO OWN THE L.A. KINGS…
BUT WHY WOULD YOU TRADE ONE FAILED U.S. MARKET FOR ANOTHER FAILED U.S. MARKET…
AND THAT GETS US TO THE TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS WHO ARE STRONGLY OPPOSED TO HAVING ANY COMPETITION IN SOUTHERN ONTARIO…
IN THE END…THIS IS NOT ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE NASHVILLE PREDATORS…
THIS IS ABOUT THE FUTURE OF GARY BETTMAN…
THE NEXT NHL BOARD OF GOVERNORS MEETING IS SET FOR SEPTEMBER IN CHICAGO…
CLEARLY BETTMAN HAS OVERSTEPPED HIS BOUNDS…AND HAS PAINTED HIMSELF INTO A VERY SMALL AND TIGHT CORNER…
750 NEW SEASONS TICKETS IN NASHVILLE ARE NOT GOING TO BE ENOUGH TO GET HIM OUT OF IT…
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Free Agents
AS OF 4 O’OCLOCK THIS AFTERNOON NHL TEAMS HAVE SIGNED A TOTAL OF 71 FREE AGENTS…
AND THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE DOZENS OF PLAYER WHO HAVE SIGNED CONTRACT EXTENTIONS WITH THEIR EXISTING TEAMS…
THE LANDSCAPE OF THE NHL HAS BEEN DRAMATICALLY CHANGED…
THE BIG WINNERS INCLUDE…
THE NEW YORK RANGERS WHO LANDED SCOTT GOMEZ AND CHRIS DRURY BUT WERE ALSO ABLE TO RESIGN BRENDAN SHANNAHAN AND HENRIK LUNDQVIST…
THE COLORADO AVALANCHE ADDED RYAN SMYTH AND SCOTT HANNAN…
THE PHILADELPHIA FLYERS SIGNED DANIEL BRIER…KIMMON TIMONEN AND SCOTT HARTNELL…AND PULLED OFF A TRADE WITH EDMONTON GIVING THEM JASON SMITH AND JOFFREY LUPUL…
THE ST. LOUIS BLUES OVER PAID TO GET PAUL KARIYA AT 6 MILLION A SEASON…BUT THEY ALSO RE-AQUIRED KEITH TKACHUK…
THE LEAFS ADDED JASON BLAKE AND ALSO TRADED TO GET VESA TOSKALA…WHO THEY SIGNED TO A TWO YEAR EXTENSION…
THE L.A. KINGS OPENED UP THEIR CHEQUE BOOK AND ADDED…BRAD STUART…MICHAL HANDZUS…LADISLAV NAGY…TOM PRESSING AND KYLE CALDER…
BUT THE BIGGEST WINNER WAS PITTSBURGH…
GENERAL MANAGER RAY SHERO UNDERSTANDS THAT THE FUTURE IS NOW…WHICH IS WHY HE NOT ONLY RE-SIGNED GARY ROBERTS AND MARK RECCHI…BUT ALSO ADDED DARRYL SYDOR AND PETER SYKORA…
SHERO SAVED THE BEST FOR LAST…
HE SIGNED SIDNEY CROSBY TO A 5 YEAR EXTENSION FOR $43.5 MILLION…WELL BELOW MARKET VALUE…
THE PENGUINS NOW HAVE A SIX YEAR WINDOW TO WIN THE STANLEY CUP…
THE BIGGEST LOSER OF THEM ALL WAS BUFFALO…
THE SABRES LOST DRURY…BRIER AND ZUBRUS AND GOT NOTHING IN RETURN…
BUFFALO HAS BEEN TO THE EASTERN CONFERNCE FINAL FOR THE LAST 2 YEARS…
THIS SEASON THE SABRES WILL BE LUCKY TO MAKE THE PLAYOFFS…
AS FOR THE CANUCKS…THEIR BIGGEST SIGNING WAS AARON MILLER…
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY GENERAL MANAGER DAVE NONIS WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE CORE OF HIS TEAM TOGETHER…
WHETHER THAT’S ENOUGH WILL NOT BE KNOWN UNTIL AT LEAST CHRISTMAS…
AND THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE DOZENS OF PLAYER WHO HAVE SIGNED CONTRACT EXTENTIONS WITH THEIR EXISTING TEAMS…
THE LANDSCAPE OF THE NHL HAS BEEN DRAMATICALLY CHANGED…
THE BIG WINNERS INCLUDE…
THE NEW YORK RANGERS WHO LANDED SCOTT GOMEZ AND CHRIS DRURY BUT WERE ALSO ABLE TO RESIGN BRENDAN SHANNAHAN AND HENRIK LUNDQVIST…
THE COLORADO AVALANCHE ADDED RYAN SMYTH AND SCOTT HANNAN…
THE PHILADELPHIA FLYERS SIGNED DANIEL BRIER…KIMMON TIMONEN AND SCOTT HARTNELL…AND PULLED OFF A TRADE WITH EDMONTON GIVING THEM JASON SMITH AND JOFFREY LUPUL…
THE ST. LOUIS BLUES OVER PAID TO GET PAUL KARIYA AT 6 MILLION A SEASON…BUT THEY ALSO RE-AQUIRED KEITH TKACHUK…
THE LEAFS ADDED JASON BLAKE AND ALSO TRADED TO GET VESA TOSKALA…WHO THEY SIGNED TO A TWO YEAR EXTENSION…
THE L.A. KINGS OPENED UP THEIR CHEQUE BOOK AND ADDED…BRAD STUART…MICHAL HANDZUS…LADISLAV NAGY…TOM PRESSING AND KYLE CALDER…
BUT THE BIGGEST WINNER WAS PITTSBURGH…
GENERAL MANAGER RAY SHERO UNDERSTANDS THAT THE FUTURE IS NOW…WHICH IS WHY HE NOT ONLY RE-SIGNED GARY ROBERTS AND MARK RECCHI…BUT ALSO ADDED DARRYL SYDOR AND PETER SYKORA…
SHERO SAVED THE BEST FOR LAST…
HE SIGNED SIDNEY CROSBY TO A 5 YEAR EXTENSION FOR $43.5 MILLION…WELL BELOW MARKET VALUE…
THE PENGUINS NOW HAVE A SIX YEAR WINDOW TO WIN THE STANLEY CUP…
THE BIGGEST LOSER OF THEM ALL WAS BUFFALO…
THE SABRES LOST DRURY…BRIER AND ZUBRUS AND GOT NOTHING IN RETURN…
BUFFALO HAS BEEN TO THE EASTERN CONFERNCE FINAL FOR THE LAST 2 YEARS…
THIS SEASON THE SABRES WILL BE LUCKY TO MAKE THE PLAYOFFS…
AS FOR THE CANUCKS…THEIR BIGGEST SIGNING WAS AARON MILLER…
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY GENERAL MANAGER DAVE NONIS WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE CORE OF HIS TEAM TOGETHER…
WHETHER THAT’S ENOUGH WILL NOT BE KNOWN UNTIL AT LEAST CHRISTMAS…
Monday, July 9, 2007
WELCOME TO THE NEW NHL…SAME AS THE OLD NHL…
TODAY THE CANUCKS SIGNED KEVIN BIEKSA TO A THREE YEAR CONTRACT EXTENTION…
THE PRICE…$11.25 MILLION…
THIS FOR A DEFENCEMAN WHO HAS PLAYED A GRAND TOTAL OF ONE FULL SEASON IN THE NHL…
NO QUESTION BIEKSA WAS THE BIGGEST AND NICEST SURPRISE OF LAST SEASON…
BUT THAT’S ONE SEASON…
THE REALITY IS KEVIN BIEKSA WOULD HAVE BECOME AN UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT NEXT SUMMER AND IF HE HAS ANOTHER GOOD SEASON HIS PRICE TAG WOULD HAVE GONE THROUGH THE ROOF…
AS IT SITS NOW…BIEKSA IS SET TO MAKE $3.75 MILLION IN A YEAR FROM NOW…
ONLY ROBERTO LUONGO IS GUARENTEED TO MAKE MORE…
HE ALSO WILL BECOME THE HIGHEST PAID DEFENCEMAN ON THE TEAM…
NEXT YEAR MATTIAS OHLUND…WILLIE MITCHEL…AND SAMI SALO ALL WILL MAKE $3.5 MILLION…
UNDER THE OLD CBA BIEKSA WOULD NOT HAVE BECOME AN UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT UNTIL HIS WAS 31…
THAT’S 5 YEARS FROM NOW…
UNDER THAT SYSTEM BIEKSA WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN OFFERED ANY WHERE NEAR THE MONEY HE LANDED TODAY…
LAST WEEK THE EDMONTON OILERS SIGNED RESTRICTED FREE AGENT THOMAS VANEK TO A SEVEN YEAR OFFER SHEET WORTH $50 MILLION DOLLARS…
VANEK LIKE BIEKSA WAS COMING OFF HIS FIRST GOOD SEASON…
BUFFALO HAD NO OPTION BUT TO MATCH…
HAD THE SABRES WALKED AWAY…NOT ONLY WOULD THE OILERS HAVE BEEN ON THE HOOK FOR $50 MILLION BUT THEY ALSO WOULD HAVE SENT FOUR…COUNT ‘EM…FOUR FIRST ROUND DRAFT CHOICES TO BUFFALO…
THE CANUCKS NOW HAVE THEIR TOP FOUR DEFENCEMEN UNDER CONTRACT LONG TERM…
YOU CAN ARGUE GENERAL MANAGER DAVE NONIS HAS OVER PAID…
BUT THE NHL TODAY IS VERY MUCH LIKE VANCOUVER REAL ESTATE…
IT’S A SELLERS MARKET…
TODAY THE CANUCKS SIGNED KEVIN BIEKSA TO A THREE YEAR CONTRACT EXTENTION…
THE PRICE…$11.25 MILLION…
THIS FOR A DEFENCEMAN WHO HAS PLAYED A GRAND TOTAL OF ONE FULL SEASON IN THE NHL…
NO QUESTION BIEKSA WAS THE BIGGEST AND NICEST SURPRISE OF LAST SEASON…
BUT THAT’S ONE SEASON…
THE REALITY IS KEVIN BIEKSA WOULD HAVE BECOME AN UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT NEXT SUMMER AND IF HE HAS ANOTHER GOOD SEASON HIS PRICE TAG WOULD HAVE GONE THROUGH THE ROOF…
AS IT SITS NOW…BIEKSA IS SET TO MAKE $3.75 MILLION IN A YEAR FROM NOW…
ONLY ROBERTO LUONGO IS GUARENTEED TO MAKE MORE…
HE ALSO WILL BECOME THE HIGHEST PAID DEFENCEMAN ON THE TEAM…
NEXT YEAR MATTIAS OHLUND…WILLIE MITCHEL…AND SAMI SALO ALL WILL MAKE $3.5 MILLION…
UNDER THE OLD CBA BIEKSA WOULD NOT HAVE BECOME AN UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT UNTIL HIS WAS 31…
THAT’S 5 YEARS FROM NOW…
UNDER THAT SYSTEM BIEKSA WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN OFFERED ANY WHERE NEAR THE MONEY HE LANDED TODAY…
LAST WEEK THE EDMONTON OILERS SIGNED RESTRICTED FREE AGENT THOMAS VANEK TO A SEVEN YEAR OFFER SHEET WORTH $50 MILLION DOLLARS…
VANEK LIKE BIEKSA WAS COMING OFF HIS FIRST GOOD SEASON…
BUFFALO HAD NO OPTION BUT TO MATCH…
HAD THE SABRES WALKED AWAY…NOT ONLY WOULD THE OILERS HAVE BEEN ON THE HOOK FOR $50 MILLION BUT THEY ALSO WOULD HAVE SENT FOUR…COUNT ‘EM…FOUR FIRST ROUND DRAFT CHOICES TO BUFFALO…
THE CANUCKS NOW HAVE THEIR TOP FOUR DEFENCEMEN UNDER CONTRACT LONG TERM…
YOU CAN ARGUE GENERAL MANAGER DAVE NONIS HAS OVER PAID…
BUT THE NHL TODAY IS VERY MUCH LIKE VANCOUVER REAL ESTATE…
IT’S A SELLERS MARKET…
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Cory Schneider
SOMETIMES THE BEST DEAL YOU MAKE IS THE ONE YOU DON’T MAKE…
IT’S ONLY NATURAL FOR CANUCK FANS TO WONDER WHY GENERAL MANAGER DAVE NONIS DID NOT DO MORE AT THE START OF UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENCY…
NOW STOP…TAKE A DEEP BREATH…AND ASK YOURSELF…IS TODD BERTUZZI REALLY WORTH 8 MILLION DOLLARS OVER THE NEXT 2 YEARS…
IN 2003 BERTUZZI SIGNED A 4 YEAR DEAL WITH THE CANUCKS…WORTH $28 MILLION DOLLARS…
HE PRODUCED A GRAND TOTAL OF 45 GOALS…
THAT WORKS OUT TO BE $620 THOUSAND DOLLARS PER GOAL…
LAST YEAR THE BOSTON BRUINS SIGNED ZDENO CHARA AS AN UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT…
CHARA IS NOW PAID $7.5 MILLION DOLLARS A SEASON…
IN HIS FIRST YEAR AS A BRUIN HE WAS A MISERABLE MINUS 21…
AS YOU MAY KNOW THE BRUINS MISSED PLAYOFFS…
ANSON CARTER WANTED $9 MILLION OVER 3 YEARS…
THE CANUCKS PASSED…
LAST SEASON CARTER SCORED A DISSAPPOINTING 10 DOLLARS FOR COLUMBUS AND CAROLINA…
INSTEAD THE CANUCKS TOOK CARE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PIECE OF BUSINESS ON THEIR PLATE…
NONIS FINALLY GOT GOALTENDER CORY SCHNEIDER TO SIGN AN NHL CONTRACT…
HAD SCHNEIDER GONE BACK TO BOSTON COLLEGE FOR ANOTHER YEAR HE WOULD HAVE BECOME AN UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT NEXT SEASON…
IT SETS UP THE POSSIBILITY FOR THE CANUCKS TO PACKAGE UP SCHNEIDER AS PART OF A MULTI-PLAYER DEAL THAT COULD ALLOW THE TEAM TO MOVE EITHER NASLUND…MORRISON OR OHLUND…
THE CANUCKS ALSO TOOK CARE OF SOME OTHER HOUSE CLEANING…
FIRST NONIS RE-SIGNED DEFENCEMAN LUKAS KRAJICEK…
AND THEN ADDED SOME DEPTH BY SIGNING TWO VETERAN FORWARDS IN BYRON RITCHIE AND BRAD ISBISTER…
THE CANUCKS ALSO PASSED ON RE-SIGNING GOALTENDER DANY SABOURIN WHO IS GOING TO GET MORE PLAYING TIME IN PITTSBURGH…
IT OPENS THE DOOR FOR DREW MCINTYRE TO BECOME LUONGO’S BACK UP FOR NEXT SEASON.
NONE OF THIS ALL THAT SEXY…
BUT WITH $42 MILLION DOLLARS ALREADY SPENT ON 15 PLAYERS…THERE WAS NO WAY THE CANUCKS COULD STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND GO AFTER PLAYERS SUCH AS…
RYAN SMYTH…SCOTT GOMEZ…PAUL KARIYA…CHRIS DRURY…AND DANIEL BRIERE…
COMBINED THOSE 5 PLAYERS NOW HAVE CONTRACTS WORTH NEARLY $200 MILLION DOLLARS…
AT THE END OF THE DAY THE CANUCKS DID NOT MAKE A MAJOR SPLASH…
BUT RIGHT NOW THEY ARE A BETTER TEAM THAN THEY WERE 24 HOURS AGO…
IT’S ONLY NATURAL FOR CANUCK FANS TO WONDER WHY GENERAL MANAGER DAVE NONIS DID NOT DO MORE AT THE START OF UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENCY…
NOW STOP…TAKE A DEEP BREATH…AND ASK YOURSELF…IS TODD BERTUZZI REALLY WORTH 8 MILLION DOLLARS OVER THE NEXT 2 YEARS…
IN 2003 BERTUZZI SIGNED A 4 YEAR DEAL WITH THE CANUCKS…WORTH $28 MILLION DOLLARS…
HE PRODUCED A GRAND TOTAL OF 45 GOALS…
THAT WORKS OUT TO BE $620 THOUSAND DOLLARS PER GOAL…
LAST YEAR THE BOSTON BRUINS SIGNED ZDENO CHARA AS AN UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT…
CHARA IS NOW PAID $7.5 MILLION DOLLARS A SEASON…
IN HIS FIRST YEAR AS A BRUIN HE WAS A MISERABLE MINUS 21…
AS YOU MAY KNOW THE BRUINS MISSED PLAYOFFS…
ANSON CARTER WANTED $9 MILLION OVER 3 YEARS…
THE CANUCKS PASSED…
LAST SEASON CARTER SCORED A DISSAPPOINTING 10 DOLLARS FOR COLUMBUS AND CAROLINA…
INSTEAD THE CANUCKS TOOK CARE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PIECE OF BUSINESS ON THEIR PLATE…
NONIS FINALLY GOT GOALTENDER CORY SCHNEIDER TO SIGN AN NHL CONTRACT…
HAD SCHNEIDER GONE BACK TO BOSTON COLLEGE FOR ANOTHER YEAR HE WOULD HAVE BECOME AN UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT NEXT SEASON…
IT SETS UP THE POSSIBILITY FOR THE CANUCKS TO PACKAGE UP SCHNEIDER AS PART OF A MULTI-PLAYER DEAL THAT COULD ALLOW THE TEAM TO MOVE EITHER NASLUND…MORRISON OR OHLUND…
THE CANUCKS ALSO TOOK CARE OF SOME OTHER HOUSE CLEANING…
FIRST NONIS RE-SIGNED DEFENCEMAN LUKAS KRAJICEK…
AND THEN ADDED SOME DEPTH BY SIGNING TWO VETERAN FORWARDS IN BYRON RITCHIE AND BRAD ISBISTER…
THE CANUCKS ALSO PASSED ON RE-SIGNING GOALTENDER DANY SABOURIN WHO IS GOING TO GET MORE PLAYING TIME IN PITTSBURGH…
IT OPENS THE DOOR FOR DREW MCINTYRE TO BECOME LUONGO’S BACK UP FOR NEXT SEASON.
NONE OF THIS ALL THAT SEXY…
BUT WITH $42 MILLION DOLLARS ALREADY SPENT ON 15 PLAYERS…THERE WAS NO WAY THE CANUCKS COULD STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND GO AFTER PLAYERS SUCH AS…
RYAN SMYTH…SCOTT GOMEZ…PAUL KARIYA…CHRIS DRURY…AND DANIEL BRIERE…
COMBINED THOSE 5 PLAYERS NOW HAVE CONTRACTS WORTH NEARLY $200 MILLION DOLLARS…
AT THE END OF THE DAY THE CANUCKS DID NOT MAKE A MAJOR SPLASH…
BUT RIGHT NOW THEY ARE A BETTER TEAM THAN THEY WERE 24 HOURS AGO…
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