Monday Morning Recap - Wednesday Night Edition

I watched The Dark Knight for the second time last night and realized, the Joker made that movie. It's not a knock on Christian Bale, he was terrific also, but a movie just isn't a movie without a villain and a good movie becomes a great movie with a great villain. It's the same principle in sports. Would the Oilers truely be the Oilers without the Flames? What about the Red Sox, would they be the 'loveable losers' without the 'evil empire' Yankees? I don't think so. Anyways, that's my lead in to a week and a half of thoughts...

My NHL thoughts of the past week and a half...

1 a – Daily Oiler Bashing – What the crap is wrong with Robert Nilsson, is this guy an enigma or what? How many times is he going to be a healthy scratch before he gets his ass in gear and starts to contribute offensively? I would reccommend that we trade him, but who would want a guy that has been given up on TWICE in three years?

1 b – Garon is traded. So, with the assumption that Roloson doesn't resign, one could only assume that this is Deslaurier's team next season. I say this because, if the Oilers sign a goalie through the free-agent market, then what`s the point of even having Deslauriers or Dubnyk, they both can't be backups...

1 c – While TSN analyst offer up their thoughts, it's the radio guys I pay more attention to when talking about the Oilers. These guys do a 1-hour daily show, then on game days have a one-hour pregame show, watch the game, then do the post game show. Do you think Bob McKenzie watches all 82 Oiler games and discuss them at length? I doubt it, but these guys do. And when they say that they think Roli will re-sign for a one-year deal at $1.5 million because the goalie market is slim, then I believe them.

1 d – It's Sunday morning and the Oil are only 2 points out of 5th. Wow. With all the flack that I give this team, it's refreshing to know that they are playing at the elite level that everyone else is playing at.

1 e – Or they are playing at a low level like everyone else. Look at the GF and GA of the teams in 5th-12th in the West and how many give up more goals then they score; those aren't good stats for teams that are playoff pretenders/contenders.

2 a – Let's talk about something that we rarely mention: head coaching. Hypothetically, if MacT was to resign/fired, I think we all assume that Kelly Buchberger, Charlie Huddy, Craig Simpson or some other former Oiler would be the easy replacement. But is that the way to go? Is it better to promote within or bring in someone new? I'm sure neither of those really matter, when it all boils down to it, you are going to hire someone who has the same philosiphies and ideas as the management. Just thought it was interesting to think about.

2 b – Now, another question that never gets asked is, if/when is there ever going to be a foreign head coach? Would someone who has english as his 2nd language ever make it big in the NHL coaching ranks? I don't think there are even any assistents that are foreign in the NHL, but could this change? I presume the first choice would be a Russian one (Vyacheslav Fetisov) or maybe a Swedish one but what about some current players becoming coaches? Personally, I think some good choices would be: Teemu Selanne, Jere Lehtinen, Mats Sundin and Nik Lidstrom.

2 c – You know who would make the most colorful coach, Alex Ovechkin. The kid celebrates a goal like we have never seen, but could you imagine his reaction if his team got screwed out of a win because of a bad call? Hilarity would ensue.

3 – The NHL's basement division has been commonly known as the Southeast, but I think that might be about to change. Washington is 2nd in the entire conference and with Ovi, Semin, Backstrom and Green coming into their prime years, this team is only going to get better. And how about the Florida Panthers? They have quietly snuck into the 8th spot in the conference despite losing stars like Luongo and Jokinen. If Tampa does trade Vinny, they will no doubt get a package of top 6 forwards, good prospects and a plethera of quality draft picks. Carolina regularily dominates that division and players like Cam Ward and Eric Staal ensure that they will be stickin' around for awhile.

4 – I read a column on why Nik Backstrom should be traded from Minnesota and it included three reasons... 1 – He's a UFA at the end of the year and would ask for Lundqvist-type money ($35 mil - % years) 2 – Josh Harding has become a legit starting threat (and he's only 24, compared to the 30 year old Fin) 3 – Risebrough really doesn't have any other cards to play, the rest of his assets have minimal trade value or are untouchables. Seems like those are all fairly plausible reasons, but then he listed Detroit and Washington as the likely destinations. Interesting. While Osgood won it WITH the Wings last year, he didn't win it FOR the Wings and Washington is still trying to recover from the Huet release and Theodore signing. Seems like the guy semi-knows what he is talking about (this is the same guy who thinks Denis Wideman is the Norris winner).

5 a – When it comes to sports, I can and will watch just about anything; however, there is just nothing more annoying then listening to someone just butcher a sport. Here are my top idiotic sports personalities...

a) Pierre McGuire
b) Bob Cole
c) Steve Ludzik
d) Any woman, except Jennifer Hedger
e) Don Taylor

By contrast, here is my top sports personalities

a) Bob McKenzie
b) Darren Dreger
c) Bob McCown
d) Tim McCalef & Sid Siexeiro
e) PJ Stock

5 b – I had to add this in: Bobby Ryan. Is this guy playing like a #2 overall pick or what? Everyone said he couldn't skate and he was already being tabbed a draft bust, but he has finally emerged out of the shadow of Sidney Crosby. Ryan has turned into a point per game player and regular contributer on the mighty (pardon the pun) Ducks.

6 – I read a question from a veiwer on some NHL show and he wondered if Tavares would pull a Lindros and refuse to play for the Isles. Wouldn't that be interesting. Let's say Tavares actually does that and refuses to play, the Isles could turn him into some HUGE players and players in a package deal for sure; however, I think Tavares has more respect and class then to hold out, but I wouldn't count on him staying for longer then his entry-level deal.

7 a – Fighting. People want it in, people want it out. Wasn't the big topic: headshots? Whatever happened with that? Nothing. So what should happen to fighting? Probably the same thing. You can't have a knee-jerk reaction based on the one incident of a tradgic death; however, despite my veiws that fights should be kept in the game, I do think the discussion is worth having.

7 b – On another topic, relocation. Everyone talks about the teams in the southern USA (Florida, Tampa, Atlanta) that should be reloctaed up to Canada because they are bleeding money like a 40-gun shot vicitm; attendance is down, the economy is a mess and the franchises are continuing down a slippery slope. But I think I want to jog all of our memory with a comment by John Ferguson Jr (yes, the former GM of the Leafs, now the director of scouting in San Jose) when he stated that it wasn't too long ago when Calgary and Edmonton were bleeding money and were up for relocation talks: the Canadian dollar was abismal and owners were in flux, but the league stood by the teams and the ship righted itself. So, what's the difference with these American teams? Why should the league abandon these teams? Personally, I'm all in favor of Winnipeg, Quebec City getting teams and Toronto getting a 2nd team, but I think it's still too soon to judge the floundering teams when the league did everything they could to help out the Flames and Oilers.

Here are my non-NHL thoughts of the past week and a half...

1 a – Sporer, good job with your Toonie Tuesday post, glad to see you like stealing the ideas of your fellow peers and bloggers. Fuckpalface.

1 b – Again, I gotta touch the topic of head coaches, but this time in the NFL. Does anyone else notice a 'changing of the guard' type mentality that is forming? Gone are the long time coaches Mike Shanahan, Tony Dungy, Mike Holmgren and John Gruden, and they have been replaced by names like Tony Sparano, Mike Smith, John Harbaugh and Raheem Morris. It's intersting to note that of the 29 (KC still does not have a coach, although rumors have them persuing Bill Cowher in 2010) teams with a head coach, 22 of them hired a head coach with zero head coaching experience at the NFL level.

1 c – Still on the NFL, I think the Superbowl is going back to the AFC this year and here's why: Offence wins games, defence wins championships. Pittsburgh and Baltimore have the #1 and #2 D's in the league and we have all seen it before with Tampa over Oakland, Pittsburgh over Seattle and the NYG over the high-powered Patriots last season.

1 d – Remember, I'm writing this on Sunday morning and my Superbowls picks are... Phili vs. Baltimore. I really want to jump on the feel-good story of Kurt Warner and their high-tempo offence because of three reasons: Lary Fitzgerald, they are playing at home and their D has really stepped up in the playoffs; however, my gut is telling me to go with the veteran proven McNabb-Westbrook-Reid combination. As for Pittsburgh, they have beaten Baltimore twice already, but only by a combined 7 points and we all know it's near impossible to beat a team THREE times in one year (take last years Superbowl as evidence). Also, Baltimore has scored on EIGHT of their forced turnovers and if Terrel Suggs and Samari Rolle are healthy, I'm sensing an 'upset' in the 'burgh.

1 e – Well, f*ck my picks, I pretty much got ass raped by Neil Patrick Harris. Arizona did exactly what I pointed out they would do, but Phili decided it only wanted to play one half of football. As for Pittsburgh, it was what it always is between these two teams, a smash-mouth style of play. Baltimore failed to win the turnover battle and Joe Flacco's cinderella run finally came to a crashing hault with three picks. Pittsburgh is the early 6.5 point favorite over Arizona in Superbowl XLIII.

1 f – One more NFL topic, what do Romeo Crennel, Eric Mangini and Charlie Weiss all have in common? They left Bill Belichek's staff and have floundered in their new homes (two have been fired already). Now, Scott Pioli has left to become the GM of the Cheifs and Josh McDaniels has left to become the coach in Denver. I'm sorry, but do they not see the pattern?

2 a – Big Ben. Roethlisberger that is. How under the radar is this guy? I'm not saying he is in the Manning or Brady class of the league, but he's making his 2nd Superbowl in only his 5th year as a starter. Sure he doesn't win games for the Steelers, but he sure doesn't make the mistakes to lose them games either. And although his stats don't get him the credit he deserves, his win-loss record (52-20) certainly should place him among the best of *dare I say it* all time. If he plays 10 more injury-free years, I think he is definite candidate for the HOF.

2 b – Warner or Roethlisberger will become one of only ten quarterbacks to win multiple Superbowls. That's some elite company.

3 – Team names. First off, I don't understand how franchises can use the same name. Of all the things you can name your team after, why would you copy something that someone else has already made famous, wouldn't you want to start you own identity? But if you are going to copy a name, why the crap would you pick the Cardinals? Doesn't exactly instill fear into the opponents hearts when they know they are playing some fairy-looking summer bird.

3 b – On the same topic, I think we need to talk about the lame and great names, logos, jerseys that are out there. While the professionals leagues duplicate names, use some pretty basic names and have already named a team after every single bird imaginable; it's the college teams that really get the creative juices going: the Duke Blue Devils, the Syracuse Orange, the TCU Horned Frogs, the Arkansas Razorbacks, the UNC Tar Heels and the Wake Forest Demon Deacons are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to college names...

4 a – Tennis season is uponn us now (Aussie Open starts today) and I watched a show that was giving a run down of the greatest payers ever... Bjorn Borg, Pete Sampras and *ta da* Roger Federer. All of these men won over 80% of their lifetime matches. Federer has 57 career wins and 13 majors and is on pace to break the all-time tournament wins record of 104 (Borg) and the Majors record of 14 (Sampras). It's pretty amazing to think that we could be watching someone who is the absolute greatest, most dominant athlete ever in their sport.

4 b – That goes for Tiger too.

5 – The Score Tonight and Peyton Manning commercials. Sheer comedy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SlywIx5reiI&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6mfDJ02VCY

6 a – I hate the Manchester United football club; however, I do have a love affair with some of their players. In fact, I think two or three would make my starting 11: Rio Ferdinand and Ronaldo for sure. Throw in some Ashley Cole, Frank Lampard, John Terry and Didier Drogba from Chelsea, Fernando 'El Nino' Torres and Stevie G from Liverpool, Robin van Persie and Cesc Fabregas from Arsenal, and finally Shay Given from Tottenham in goal. And to think, that's only from the English Premier League.

6 b – You know why else soccer is the most DOMINANT sport in the world? Because they throw out $150+ million dollars as a transfer payment for ONE player. It's the most watched sport and the most lucrative, I mean, who sponsors the NHL: RBK and Versus? And who are the major sponsors for soccer: Sony, Toshiba, Adidas and Nike. On a side note, it should be noted that Bolton, of the EPL, plays their home games at RBK Stadium, yea a hockey manufacturer sponsoring soccer. Eat it.

7 – Here are some things (some more disgusting then others) in life that you just gotta f*ckin' hate...
a) when a zit is too pre-mature to pop
b) when you wipe and some poop gets on your finger
c) when you sneeze and that goopy sh*t comes out
d) when you get sacked, but only the tip is grazed
e) when you pee and two streams come out
f) when you sniff up a booger and it comes out your mouth

Cheers.
-Smith