Monday Morning Recap

So, I think it just has to be said because... Well, it does... Don Cherry is an idiot. Don't get me wrong, I hate Pierre McGuire more then Cherry, but seriously, for someone who is an iconic figure in hockey (and prides himself on that), how the hell can he mis-pronouce so many names wrong?! Honestly, if he intentionally does it, then its f*cking retarded and he needs a wheelchair for being so handicapped. On his Rock'em Sock'em 20 DVD, he pronouces Saku Koivu's name as KOI-VOI. Seriously, thats not even close to what it sounds like! If it's possible, I think his mouth is louder then his suits... What a retard...

Here are my NHL thoughts of the week...

1 a – Daily Oiler Bashing – Finally, someone has taken hold of the #1 spot in Edmonton... Roli. And you know what, it should be his job for the rest of the year. End of story.

1 b – The Oil have won 3 in a row, Sporer got engaged, Sam Gagner actually scored... what is this, Hell freezing over?

1 c – Jeff Carter is 1st in goals, 3rd in shots... Ovi is 2nd in goals, 1st in shots... Vanek is 3rd is goals, 8th in shots... Parise is 5th in goals, 6th in shots... So, what does this all have to do with Ales Hemsky? LOOK AT THE NUMBERS! If you want him to score more goals, take more damn shots! He's 86th in goals and 46th in shots, no wonder he hasn't scored more then 20 in his career...

1 d – The West has 6 points separating 8th (Edmonton) and 15th ( St. Louis). All it takes is a 5-game streak to make the playoffs, or a 5-game skid to fall to the basement.

1 e – Remember when the Oilers were 'screwed over' with Michael Nylander? Yea, 5.5 million bucks for a combined 14 goals the past two seasons. He's an even bigger bust then Penner!

2 a – You know, I know we all know that Marian Hossa is the best UFA signing this off-season, but who was the worst? You wanna know? RYAN MALONE IN TAMPA!!! I thought Edmonton's deal with Penner was bad, but we only have him for another 4 years... Tampa has this bum locked up at 4.250 million for the next SIX YEARS! Disgusting.

2 b – You know who else has some messed up salary cap troubles? Montreal. Their four top players (Lang, Kovalev, Koivu, Tanguay) are all UFAs this season, not to mention 4 of their top six Dmen (Bouillon, Dandenault, Komisarek, Brisebois) are also UFAs. Throw in the fact the ROMAN F*CKING HAMRLIK is locked up for 5.5 MILLION for the next THREE years, and wow, you have a team that is just horrible at organization within the cap.

3 a – I pointed out that the Americans would be a tough team in 2010, but so will the Russians. They have (arguably) the two best players in the entire league in Malkin and Ovechkin, then throw in some guys named Datsyuk, Kovalchuk and Semin, mix in some Markov, Volchenkov and Gonchar, top it all off with Nabokov in goal and you have a pretty damn good recipe to score alot of goals and not allow many...

3 b - Remember last season, when Crosby was injured and Gino Malkin carried his team into the playoffs, on his back? Well, he only finished with 106 points that year. This season, he is on pace for 34G 100A 134P.

3 c – I think the Czechs will be in trouble in 2010. First, no Jagr. Second, look at the ages of some of their key players: Sykora (32), Lang (38), Elias (32). Third, they only have Vokoun, Pavelec and Schwartz playing on NHL teams in goal, which is definitely no Domink Hasek.

4 a – We all were in shock when San Jose (27-4-4) jumped out to the early NHL lead, but how about Boston (27-5-4)?! They have caught up to San Jose and are on pace for an astounding 132 points!

4 b – I think I might need to re-consider Marc Savard for 2010...

5 a – I gotta say, I think Chicago has the pieces to give Detroit a run for their money for the next 5-10 years. Sharp (26), Kane (19), Toews (20), Ladd (22), Bolland (22), Eager (24), Versteeg (22), Campbell (29), Seabrook (23), Barker (22), Keith (24) and Aaron Johnson (25) are all guys I wouldn't mind having on my team; however, one has to wonder how Chicago is going to fit all of that talent under a cap. I guess if Detroit can do it, Chicago can too.


5 b – I think Campbell got over-paid at 7.140 mil a year for the next 8 years, but if that's what a team has to do, then that's what they have to do. Hint hint Tambellini...

Here are my non-NHL thoughts of the week...

1 a – Well, we all know where I'm going to start here. Indianapolis is playing January football, New England is not. The Colts have won NINE straight games and Peyton Manning should win his 3rd MVP award this season.

1 b – If Bill Belichick is such a genious and such a great guru, then why did not one, but TWO of his former assistents get fired yesterday (Mangini & Crennel)? Yea, shows how much of his talent 'rubbed off' on them...

1 c – Remember when we had that huge argument over, Who was the best QB of all time? Well, If you go by the # of TDs, its Brett Favre; however, if the worst QB is judged by the # of INT, then Favre would also be the worst QB in history. So, what about using the Passer Rating to find out who is the best? Here is the top ten...

10. Drew Brees – 87.94
9. Marc Bulger – 88.08
8. Chad Pennington – 88.89
7. Daunte Culpepper – 89.95
6. Carson Palmer – 90.12
5. Joe Montana – 92.26
4. Tom Brady – 92.93
3. Kurt Warner – 93.17
2. Peyton Manning – 94.72

And the #1 QB of all time...

1. Steve Young – 96.81

1 c – How crazy was yesterday in the NFL? 10 morning games, 6 with playoff implications. 5 afternoon games, 3 with playoff implications. 1 Sunday night game with a winner-take-all banner. Congratulations, NFL.

2 a – Well, I guess Notre Dame (6-6) should get SOME props for winning their bowl game by slaughtering Hawaii (7-6), 49-21. Ok, that's enough.

2 b – On the NCAA harcourt, Duke (10-1) is ranked #5 while Notre Dame (9-2) is ranked #7. I don't really know where I'm going with this, but it's just another thing that my teams are better then Drew's. Ha.

3 a – Well, Team Canada has shown that it can score goals (24 for, 1 against) and stop them. Yikes. Tavares has found chemistry with Esposito and DiDomineco, the line of Hodgson-Eberle-Boychuk has been electrifying, the checkers have emerged with Cormier and Della Rovere and you have Ennis playing ont he 4th line. Scary.

3 b – Someone told me that this defence wasn't very good and I think it was you, Sporer... Are you kidding me?

Thomas Hickey, #4 overall in '07 draft.
Alex Pietrangelo, #4 overall in '08 draft.
Colten Teubert, #13 overall in the '08 draft.
Cody Goloubef, #37 overall in the '08 draft.
Keith Aulie is 6'6 and 215 lbs.
Tyler Myers, 6'7 and 213.
Ryan Ellis, 15 goals and 48 points in 30 games in the OHL.
PK Subban, 33 assists in 29 games in Belleville.

It's not one of the worst, it's one of the best.

4 a – I think Tennessee and Pittsburgh should be wary of the #6 seed, Baltimore. Noone plays a better road-game then the Ravens.


4 b – Except maybe the Colts.

5 a – Drew, I know you watched UFC 92. How ridiculous was that?! I picked Silva, Nogueira and Griffin and they ALL LOST!!! Wow, could the UFC produced a better PPV for the viewers? I'm still in shock that Evans KO'd Griffin, I honestly thought he had an iron chin.

5 b – Sporer, I can run circles around in baseball, basketball, NFL, CFL, soccer and anything NCAA, so just because I don't follow NASCAR doesn't make me an idiot.

5 c – I don't follow NASCAR, you don't follow NASCAR, BUT I STILL KNOW MORE ABOUT NASCAR THEN YOU DO! Bluff.

Cheers.
-Smith