Lazy meaning, it took me so damn long to make up another post; however, there are alot of jokes in my usual columns, but I thought I would include some more serious topics as well. And no, I'm not adding pictures. The informational value of this entry is more then enough to compensate for no images, plus, I'm just in a hurry to post the damn thing.
Here are my NHL topics for the past while...
1 a – Daily Oiler Bashing – Starting on Saturday morning, Edmonton was 10th in the West, but only 1 point out of a playoff spot. I still believe Edmonton makes the playoffs.
1 b – I still believe Edmonton doesn't last more then 5 games in the playoffs.
1 c – Versus LA, and on a PP, Tom Gilbert had all kinds of time to make a decision on where to shoot the puck; however, he chose to shoot high. Is he retarded? Horcoff and O'Donnell were both infront and when you guys traffic infront of the net, the golden rule is to KEEP IT LOW! I think Don Cherry says some ridiculous things, but this is one I completely agree with.
1 d – With Lubo done for the year and LA only 4 points out of 8th spot (3 behind Edmonton), I wonder who really did win the Lubo-Stoll/Greene trade. Stoll and Greene are both under 26, combine for a little over 4.5 in salary, have a combined for 39 points and have played in all of LA's 53 games, while Lubo is 31 years old, is a 5.6 mil salary hit, had 31 points and only played 50 games.
1 e – Wow. Ethan Moreau absolutely blew up Dustin Brown. One of the biggest hits in the league this season, bar none.
1 f – Sam Gagner decided to take on Jack Johnson. Yea, not such a good choice. Sure, Gagner gets points for being 'brave', but all those points were erased when Johnson erased Gagner. Big time.
2 a – The wild West is ridiculous and it has been all year long: 10 points separate 5th from 15th. So, essentially, a 5 game win-streak could vault you from the West basement to a date with Chicago. Unbeileveable.
2 b – As of Saturday morning, Dallas was in 5th place. Sure they were some people's pre-season favorite to win the West, but after the Sean Avery debacle, the Morrow injury and Zubov injury, they have done a FANTASTIC job in turning that team around. To give a comparison, that would be as if Erik Cole had gone AWOL, and Shawn Horcoff & Sheldon Souray were done for the year, there is no way Edmonton would be even close to sniffing the playoffs.
2 c – I really do think SJ, Detroit, Calgary and Chicago are the class of the West. While teams 5-15 are all beating each other, the 1-4 teams are just beating everyone else.
2 d – Still on the West playoffs, there is only one team that allows more goals then they score – Dallas 164/166. Out East, the NYR are the only playoff team in the same position, 141/155
3 a – While we all argue and debate that Canada will have a dominant 2010 team, we all seem to argue about the 7-12 forwards and 4-5-6 Dmen, which really aren't a big deal. Sure these guys play 20+ minutes for their NHL team, but they won't be getting those minutes on the 2010 team. So, while Shane Doan, Corey Perry and Patty Marleau make huge contributions to their respective teams, how much of a real impact are they going to make on a superstar lineup as a 11th or 12th forward?
3 b – We all talk that Canada could field two 2010 teams, I would like to see what that 2nd team would look like... Sporer, I'll assume you'll get on that...
4 – There is news that Marty Brodeur may not be the autpmatic starter once he returns... and, I gotta say, I'm not totally surprised. We all know and have expereienced the 2 rules of playoff hockey... #1 – once you get in, anything can happen... and #2 – when you are riding a hot goalie, anything can happen. Clemmenson and Weekes have carried the NJD to 2nd in the East and I'm not so sure I would want to tamper with that... I understand Marty Brodeur's history speaks for himself, and personally, I think he gets the starting job, but I definitely would have a long conversation with my assistants and players. I don't think the decision is as easy as it should be...
4 b – And, am I the only one surprised that NJD are 2nd in the East?! How the crap did that happen?! Where did the NYR go?! NJD are 12-5-1 in their own divison (possibly the toughest division in hockey), while Edmonton is a mediocre 7-6-2 against the NW.
5 – Alright, I'm just going to go out and say it. Calgary's off-season moves have demolished Edmonton's. Cammalerri and Big Bert (on pace for a combined 60 goals) for roughly 5mil vs. Lubo and Cole (on pace for a combined 20 goals) for roughly 10mil.
5 b – I'll admit, I was stoked for Lubo and Cole. So, I guess, I'm eating my words again on this one. It funny how, I thought Souray would be a flop, yet he's our all-star and now I thought Cole/Lubo would put us over the top, and it's far from that... Galaxies far...
Here are my non-NHL thoughts of the past while...
1 a – I don't know if you heard, but A-Rod has done steroids. OF COURSE YOU'VE HEARD! WHO THE HECK HASN'T HEARD?! But, I read a great article on si.com that really focused on whether the 'roids actually affected his stats or not... read it, it will change your view on steroids for A-Rod.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/cliff_corcoran/02/13/corcoran.arod/index.html
1 b – Steroids. Some do them, some don't. The people that do, say it gives them an edge. The people that don't, say it's cheating. But, let me ask you, if EVERYONE did steroids then wouldn't the playing field be level? And wasn't the most exciting time in sports (Big Mac and Slammin' Sammy) during the steroid era? I understand that sertoids are unacceptable now, but so was homosexuality and integration.
1 c – I'm a huge A-Rod fan. He's (arguably) the best player in the game now and (arguably) the best player of all-time and he can play on my team any day of any week, Madonna or no Madonna.
2 – It's too bad you guys don't care about March Madness or college basketball because, it really is the one of the purest sports out there, their is: no money or endorsements, no contracts to worry about or signing bonuses. While players in the NBA, NHL and other pro leagues have 'guaranteed contracts', players in the NCAA have scholarships they have to maintain or they will lose them.
2 b – While there is the Oilers-Flames, Colts-Patriots, Lakers-Celtics and the Yankees-Red Sox, those don't even compare to the Duke-North Carolina rivalry. They have been battling twice-a-year since 1920, have combined to win 80% of the reg. season ACC titles and 60% of the ACC tournament titles. Not to mention they are #2 and #4 in all-time college victories. And, if that's not enough for you, Sports Illustrated ranked it the #2 sports rivalry of all time.
2 c – North Carolina beat Duke 101-87 on Wednesday. At Duke. With Duke up by 9 at the half. Deep.
2 d – While we touched on college logos and names, I think another thing that NCAA has done super well, is to keep the stadium names in tact. It's tough to sell a high profile match-up when it's being played at Pizza Hut Park (FC Dallas) or U.S. Cellular Field (Chicago White Sox) or Dick's Sporting Goods Park (Colorado Rapids), but the college level has names like: Freedom Hall (Louisville) and the Rose Bowl (UCLA) and Cameron Indoor Stadium (Duke).
2 e – Plus, there is nothing like having a great nickname for a stadium. A great nickname is more well-known then the actual stadium name? The best nickname: The Big House, aka. Michigan Stadium. Go to this link, brush up on your college history. You can click on the photos too. Man, I wish Rexall had a nice location like Neyland Stadium in Tennessee.
http://www.prepticket.com/album/823292:Album:75290/market/rocky_mountain/id/823292:Photo:75284
3 – Kobe or LeBron. Drew, I gotta say again, I think Kobe is the best until proven otherwise. Sure his scoring is down and the Lakers still haven't won without Shaq, but he's a regular on the all-star squad, and the MVP talks are always started with his name. Not to mention, his work on the defensive side of the ball AND, believe it or not, he's going to be making less money then LeBron after 2010.
3 b – Some other names to consider as 'franchise players', how about: Dwayne Wade, Deron Williams, Dwight Howard and yes, even Chris Bosh. You couldn't go wrong with Kobe, LeBron or any of those four.
4 – With the NFL season over and the off-season barely three weeks old, I thought I would ask for your thoughts on this coming season...
5 Obvious Questions.
#1 – Tom Brady + MAJOR surgery = ???
#2 – Is this the first year we have repeat champs, since the Broncos?
#3 – Is LT still among the elite?
#4 – Is Aaron Rogers Version 2.0 better then Version 1.0?
#5 – Is there a sophmore jinx for Joe Flacco/Matt Ryan?
5 Less Obvious Questions.
#1 – Ocho Cinco. TJ. Palmer. Would you break up the trio?
#2 – Josh McDaniels or Mike Shanahan?
#3 – The Clots. Still a dominant AFC power?
#4 – Which team has more problems: Seattle, San Fran, St. Louis, Oakland or KC?
#5 – Anyone disagree when I say that the NFC South is the best division in football?
4 b – Noone cares about Brett Favre. Neither does this blog.
5 a – I finally moved most of my crap out of my house. Hallelujah.
5 b – It turns out, when I clean my room, I find things. Like 1/3 of a bottle of tequilla from the infamous 'New Years Party'. Worm included.
Cheers.
-Smith
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