As I am sure you are all aware Terrell Owens has signed a 1-year deal worth $2 million with the Cincinnati Bengals. No, Orville Redenbacher stock has not risen. However I am ready to watch the fireworks. If the NFL network was smart they would show every Bengals game, if they did I would buy it. Bengal’s games are going to be must watch television, they will be like a reality show, sitcom, drama, and sports rolled into one. There is no question that this is good for the NFL. First off everyone is going to want to watch these games, second the league will get at least half of T.O.’s and Ocho’s contract back in fines. Seriously anything less than a million dollars in fines will be a miracle.
As far as real football goes, I am not sure whether it is Barnum or Bailey running things in Cincinnati right now, but either way they know as much about football as the Pirates know about baseball. They already have a solid receiving core after signing Antonio Bryant earlier this off-season. They made a shift to a more run focused team with Cedric Benson. They have a good defense and won the AFC north last season. So why sign a guy that has ruined every team he has played for.
I understand that the division got better this year, so the Bengals felt obligated to make a move. The Ravens got Anquan Boldin. Troy Polamalu is healthy, for now. The Browns will even be a little bit tougher. So the Bengal’s front office decides lets get a guy that makes his team worse, not better. Yes I know the Eagles went to the Super Bowl while he was on the roster. By the way he missed the playoff games that they won and played in the Super Bowl game that they lost.
So how will things shake out for them this season? I’m guessing 9-7 and no playoff appearance. Around week 15 Ocho and T.O. will probably kill each other or get themselves thrown out of the league. No matter what happens it’s going to be fun to watch, train wrecks always are.
By the way Owens missed his plane to Cincinnati and his physical, obviously he is very committed to winning.
Kamis, 29 Juli 2010
Rabu, 28 Juli 2010
The Future of the NHL...?
Were in the middle of the Stanley Cup Finals and I cannot help but think where is the sport going. I am an optimist when it comes to the future of anything. However I cannot help but think the thing I love more than anything is at a stalemate and not growing. I am able to face the facts and realize hockey has always been a niche sport and may never grow to be much more. It seems to me hockey will never be beaten in Canada, but it barely beats Soccer and Tennis in American television ratings.
The NHL has no “Look at me!” time of year this is the biggest problem. There are three big occasions in the NHL: opening day, The Winter Classic, and the Stanley Cup Finals. The first game takes place in the middle of football season and the MLB playoffs. The Winter Classic takes place on a day when everyone wakes up at 1:00 pm and is far too hung over to watch hockey. The Stanley Cup finals takes place at the same time as the NBA finals. Pittsburgh is probably the only city that cares about hockey more than basketball. So maybe a major overhaul of the schedule needs to take place. Either start it earlier or later, but it must change for growth.
I suggest later. Drop the puck on Thanksgiving. I realize the NFL owns that day, but I am not saying have two “football towns” play each other. Always use Canadian teams and non-football markets. This backs the season up by 1 ½ months and away from competition with the NBA and college football for your most celebrated events. The Winter Classic will need to be played earlier in the season, obviously. I vote for Christmas Day or Eve. The only thing to compete with on Christmas is bowl games that are not appealing. This also puts the Stanley Cup Finals into July. All that is going on in July is baseball. This allows the light to shine on the NHL rather than be pushed out of the spotlight.
The game itself needs to change. Yes, I realize those words make hockey purists lose their lunch. If you are content with low television ratings and being bullied by the other 3 major sports then you really do not care about the game. Fighting needs to be penalized harder. If you get into a fight you should be out for the rest of the game and if you get an instigator penalty you get a one game suspension. Yes I know “fighting is part of the game”, but it truly does push fans away. I like the fighting but if I am in a bloodlust mood I just watch the UFC. This will make the game more television friendly and add more skill. Instead of roster spots going to Donald Brashear, fans will get to see a guy that scores between 10 and 20 goals a year. This increases goal scoring around the league and increases ratings.
The trap must die! The New Jersey Devils sent the league into the cellar in the late 90’s using it. Ever since inadequate teams have used it to be competitive. Something must be done to free up the neutral zone. I am not exactly sure how to do so. My suggestion is too lengthen the neutral zone, by at least 2 feet on each end. This will create more space to pass in for the break out. Also allowing players to gain more speed entering the zone. Maybe 4 feet does not make a ton of difference, but it will help smart teams.
There are many possibilities to improve the game. I believe these make the most improvement. I love hockey but hate the way the NHL is managed. Every fan that watched Gordie Howe will hate any changes. Any fan of Sidney Crosby deserves an improved game. There is no way to make hockey purists and prospective fans happy at the same time. I say let the baby boomers die off and take old time hockey with them. This is a great time to gain young fans. The NHL will never have another opportunity to market a superstar rivalry like Crosby and Ovechkin. The NBA made sure not to miss the boat on Bird vs. Magic and it saved that sport. The NHL is in a similar situation, lets hope their not left on the dock.
The NHL has no “Look at me!” time of year this is the biggest problem. There are three big occasions in the NHL: opening day, The Winter Classic, and the Stanley Cup Finals. The first game takes place in the middle of football season and the MLB playoffs. The Winter Classic takes place on a day when everyone wakes up at 1:00 pm and is far too hung over to watch hockey. The Stanley Cup finals takes place at the same time as the NBA finals. Pittsburgh is probably the only city that cares about hockey more than basketball. So maybe a major overhaul of the schedule needs to take place. Either start it earlier or later, but it must change for growth.
I suggest later. Drop the puck on Thanksgiving. I realize the NFL owns that day, but I am not saying have two “football towns” play each other. Always use Canadian teams and non-football markets. This backs the season up by 1 ½ months and away from competition with the NBA and college football for your most celebrated events. The Winter Classic will need to be played earlier in the season, obviously. I vote for Christmas Day or Eve. The only thing to compete with on Christmas is bowl games that are not appealing. This also puts the Stanley Cup Finals into July. All that is going on in July is baseball. This allows the light to shine on the NHL rather than be pushed out of the spotlight.
The game itself needs to change. Yes, I realize those words make hockey purists lose their lunch. If you are content with low television ratings and being bullied by the other 3 major sports then you really do not care about the game. Fighting needs to be penalized harder. If you get into a fight you should be out for the rest of the game and if you get an instigator penalty you get a one game suspension. Yes I know “fighting is part of the game”, but it truly does push fans away. I like the fighting but if I am in a bloodlust mood I just watch the UFC. This will make the game more television friendly and add more skill. Instead of roster spots going to Donald Brashear, fans will get to see a guy that scores between 10 and 20 goals a year. This increases goal scoring around the league and increases ratings.
The trap must die! The New Jersey Devils sent the league into the cellar in the late 90’s using it. Ever since inadequate teams have used it to be competitive. Something must be done to free up the neutral zone. I am not exactly sure how to do so. My suggestion is too lengthen the neutral zone, by at least 2 feet on each end. This will create more space to pass in for the break out. Also allowing players to gain more speed entering the zone. Maybe 4 feet does not make a ton of difference, but it will help smart teams.
There are many possibilities to improve the game. I believe these make the most improvement. I love hockey but hate the way the NHL is managed. Every fan that watched Gordie Howe will hate any changes. Any fan of Sidney Crosby deserves an improved game. There is no way to make hockey purists and prospective fans happy at the same time. I say let the baby boomers die off and take old time hockey with them. This is a great time to gain young fans. The NHL will never have another opportunity to market a superstar rivalry like Crosby and Ovechkin. The NBA made sure not to miss the boat on Bird vs. Magic and it saved that sport. The NHL is in a similar situation, lets hope their not left on the dock.
Well, there is always next year?
Well I've had about 72 hours or so to let it sink in. Sad to say I do not feel any better about it. I won't blame the officials or coaching or any individual players, for the embarrassing loss to the Canadiens. The team as a whole were to blame. There were maybe only 3 players that showed up for game 7 and wanted to win. Letang, Dupuis, and Kunitz played their asses off. Everyone else, well they could of left their sticks in the locker room. There is one thing that always prevails in the playoffs over all other attributes and that is "heart". This year's Penguins did not have it. They were lacking a lot of things but heart was the most obvious. This team did not have a real winger for Crosby or Malkin. Ponikarovsky did not live up to expectations at all. This was surprising to me. When the Pens traded for him I was very excited and thought he locked us into another cup run, now I think whoever signs him in the off-season is a fool. Bill Guerin became old this season and Kunitz is not a first line winger. Dupuis had a surprising number of goals this season but also is not a 1st line caliber winger. We are a team built with 3rd line wingers and 3 all-star centers. That has to change. This season's defense was a joke, a team can't win with 4 offensive defensemen. Last year Scuderi and Gill were lock down defensemen that were never going to score but kept other teams from scoring. That is what this team is lacking most. Thankfully Gonchar will not be here next season, even more exciting that frees up $5.5 million in cap room. There are at least four big nasty defensemen entering free agency that the Pens need to check out. Anton Volchenkov the big nasty shot blocker from Ottawa imagine pairing him and Orpik on your top D-unit. I realize Rob Blake is old but if he decides to come back next year he has certainly proven in these playoffs he can still play. Derek Morris is an excellent defensemen with atleast five good seasons left in him. Say what you will about Andy Sutton but he is a big tough guy with a lot of reach and a solid defensive defensmen. To solve our defensive problems we may need to sign two of these players. As far as solving our wing problem we are lucky that some guys are coming off the books. With Fedotenko and Pony leaving we gain some much needed cap space. I am hoping Guerin does the right thing and retires he has nothing left to offer or prove. If were lucky we will be able to re-sign Matt Cooke. As far as free agents go there is a plethora of worthy signings. Ray Whitney, Marek Svatos, Paul Kariya, Alex Tanguay, and Pavol Demitra. I think the Penguins just need one of these guys. If Jordan Staal finally takes that next step next year then the Penguins can finally do the inevitable. Make Evgeni Malkin into a right wing. If Staal could become a 30 goal scorer then there would be no worries with making Geno into Sid's right wing. This would finally resolve the issue of finding a wing for Sid and Geno they would have each other. Make Max Talbot the third line center and I see no loss of depth. if you add one of those free agent wingers and skate him on the 1st line you have the scariest 1st line in the NHL.
I do not want to take anything away from the Habs though. They played the perfect system to beat Washington and us. However it may be the most boring system in NHL history. Now the Eastern conference finals are going to be a painful series to watch. I personally will not be watching any of them and I could care less which team wins. I think the Blackhawks will beat either of them in 5 games. The sad thing is every bad team in the league will steal Montreal's system next year. It might be worse then when New Jersey was winning. The league was finally going in the right direction with the last two stanley cup winners having fun to watch systems. Now that an eight seed has made it this far all that great hockey disappears. My hope is that the Flyers dismantle them and then the Hawks crush Philly. Then everyone will forget cinderella.
I believe next year will be better. Shero will cut the crap(Gonchar, Fedotenko, Ponikarovsky) and replace them with players that want to win. This is a dynasty in the making all our best players have long term deals and our replaceable players have short term deals. The future is bright and its an exciting time to be a Pens fan.
I do not want to take anything away from the Habs though. They played the perfect system to beat Washington and us. However it may be the most boring system in NHL history. Now the Eastern conference finals are going to be a painful series to watch. I personally will not be watching any of them and I could care less which team wins. I think the Blackhawks will beat either of them in 5 games. The sad thing is every bad team in the league will steal Montreal's system next year. It might be worse then when New Jersey was winning. The league was finally going in the right direction with the last two stanley cup winners having fun to watch systems. Now that an eight seed has made it this far all that great hockey disappears. My hope is that the Flyers dismantle them and then the Hawks crush Philly. Then everyone will forget cinderella.
I believe next year will be better. Shero will cut the crap(Gonchar, Fedotenko, Ponikarovsky) and replace them with players that want to win. This is a dynasty in the making all our best players have long term deals and our replaceable players have short term deals. The future is bright and its an exciting time to be a Pens fan.
NBA Playoffs
Its that time of year, the time of year sports fans should be drooling. The NHL and NBA playoffs are happening. Baseball season has kicked into gear. The NFL draft has just wrapped up. Its a glorious time of year for the sports world. There is one major problem with it though. The NBA playoffs are boring. They are predictable and no more exciting than the regular season. The games are horribly timed and scheduled. Since ESPN has broadcasting rights for the NBA, coverage and highlights are crammed down our throats all day everyday.
An average basketball fan can pick 7 out of 8 of the first round playoff series correct. Outside of the Mavericks and Spurs series everyone knew who was gonna win each series. Where is the fun in that. Upsets are fun, they draw fans into games that wouldn't normally watch. Had the Thunder gone to a game 7 against the Lakers ratings would have been through the roof. Instead you got series like Orlando dominating Charlotte for 4 games. Boring and predictable doesn't make me wanna tune in.
Playoff games seem to be no more intense than the regular season. In the NHL the style of play is completely different. In the NFL and MLB the drama is through the roof. In the NBA I just don't see it. Yeah the players want to win more, but there is no style of play change or more physicality. If you showed me footage of playoff game and a regular season game I couldn't tell the difference.
You get more NBA playoffs shoved down your throat this time of year than anyone can handle. I could not tell you how many I have heard about Lebron James elbow in the past week. Its a sore elbow. Its not like he missed a game or any playing time what so ever. Even more annoying is that no matter what the lead story for every sportscenter is The Cavs or Lakers game. Even if there is a great hockey game or NFL story or surprisingly if there was great basketball game. I don't care that Kobe scored 25 when they won by 15. Show me the overtime buzzer beater.
As far as I'm concerned you couldn't pay me to watch an NBA playoff game. I take the Stan Savran approach, "If they were playing the NBA finals in my backyard, I wouldn't open the blinds."
An average basketball fan can pick 7 out of 8 of the first round playoff series correct. Outside of the Mavericks and Spurs series everyone knew who was gonna win each series. Where is the fun in that. Upsets are fun, they draw fans into games that wouldn't normally watch. Had the Thunder gone to a game 7 against the Lakers ratings would have been through the roof. Instead you got series like Orlando dominating Charlotte for 4 games. Boring and predictable doesn't make me wanna tune in.
Playoff games seem to be no more intense than the regular season. In the NHL the style of play is completely different. In the NFL and MLB the drama is through the roof. In the NBA I just don't see it. Yeah the players want to win more, but there is no style of play change or more physicality. If you showed me footage of playoff game and a regular season game I couldn't tell the difference.
You get more NBA playoffs shoved down your throat this time of year than anyone can handle. I could not tell you how many I have heard about Lebron James elbow in the past week. Its a sore elbow. Its not like he missed a game or any playing time what so ever. Even more annoying is that no matter what the lead story for every sportscenter is The Cavs or Lakers game. Even if there is a great hockey game or NFL story or surprisingly if there was great basketball game. I don't care that Kobe scored 25 when they won by 15. Show me the overtime buzzer beater.
As far as I'm concerned you couldn't pay me to watch an NBA playoff game. I take the Stan Savran approach, "If they were playing the NBA finals in my backyard, I wouldn't open the blinds."
Alexander the Average
Last night the Capitals were eliminated in 7 games by the Montreal Canadiens. Now before I throw any of my fan hood in the face of Caps fans, I applaud the Habs on what I would argue is the biggest upset in NHL playoff history. Even bigger than Dryden and the Canadiens beating Orr and the Bruins in the early 70s. I am blown away that Halak was able to stop almost 50 shots a night 3 games in a row, though I am not afraid of him in the 2nd round. The Caps were up 3-1 in the series and seemed to be in cruise control, then they stopped at KFC and a chicken bone got caught in their throat. They scored only one goal in each of the last 3 games of the series. Even losing a game 7 on home ice. They should be embarrassed, they were the best team in the regular season by a lot. The Canadiens were the eight seed, and arguably the worst team in the playoffs.
I am however torn over how I feel about this. As a Penguin's fan I am always happy to see Ovechkin come up short where Sidney Crosby excels. As a hockey fan I wonder if this upset is good or bad for the NHL. I am always in full support of what brings more fans and exposure to the games. Yes today and maybe even tomorrow everyone will talking about the Capitals choking. After that though do all those people stop watching the playoffs because the leagues biggest ratings draw, Alex Ovechkin, is no where to be seen. Last year's series between the Pens and Caps drew enormous ratings. This year they were slated to meet in the conference finals and potentially better ratings. Ask yourself this how many of your average hockey fans will tune in to watch one Flyers vs. Bruins game? I might watch the 3rd period but thats it. If it were the Flyers and Caps I would watch every game beginning to end. As a hockey fan I am not sure I am happy about the Capitals choking.
I said before the game if the Capitals lose, Ovechkin will never win a Stanley Cup. At least not with Washington. He may win it like Brett Hull or Ray Bourque, the cheap way. He will get one by jumping on the back of a true superstar. It might be Jonathon Toews in Chicago or Tavares or Stamkos or someone we don't know yet. I am certain now that he will never win a cup as the leader of a team. The exact opposite is true of Sidney Crosby. Sid at 22 years old has a stanley cup, gold medal, Maurice Richard award, and MVP. Alex has 2 of the 4, the 2 that don't matter. Sid plays great throughout the regular season then plays even better in the playoffs. Ovechkin plays great in the regular then cannot find the nexxt gear in the playoffs. I'll give Ovechkin credit he is a Corvette, but Sid is a Ferrari. Sid seems to be on his way to a second Stanley Cup and another MVP. If the Capitals exit does the Penguins any good it makes it blatantly obvious that Sidney Crosby is the best hockey player in the world. I would go as far as saying Ovechkin is not the second or even the third best. He might squeak into the top 5. Pavel Datsyuk is the second best player, just look at his accomplishments over the last 4 seasons especially the last 2. I do not even believe Alex is the best player on his own team, that is Nicklas Backstrom. He makes Ovechkin a better player and covers Ovechkin's short comings.
Ovechkin is a selfish player. He leads the league in shots every year because he cares about his stat line more than winning. Watch Ovechkin play a game and you won't see a hockey player you'll see a race horse. I use that analogy because he goes as fast as he can in one direction. He does not play defense or care if the man he should be covering scores. In Ovechkin's mind if his man scores he will score 2 to make up for it. His greatest enemy though his himself, he is a jerk. There has never been a superstar before that was a dirty player. At times he plays with an intent to injure other players. For example the knee on knee hit with Sergei Gonchar or the hit on Brian Campbell. I was most disgusted with him snowing the 5 year old Canadien fan, karma is a bitch aint it Ovie.
So what makes Ovechkin great. The answer is... nothing. There is nothing that Alex Ovechkin does thats sets him apart from the rest of the players in the game. Yeah he has a rocket of a shot, Chara shoots harder. He scores a ton of goals, Kovalchuk scores just as much. He is a great skater, Stamkos skates better. He hits really hard, so does Brooks Orpik. So Everything Ovechkin does well someone else in the league does it better. The thing Ovechkin doesn't do is the thing that the truly great players do/did. They make average players good and good players great. Mario made Rob Brown a 40 goal scorer. Gretzky made Kurri a superstar. Orr made Esposito a Hall of Famer. Ovechkin doesn't make anyone on his team better. He is made better by Nick Backstrom. Alexander Ovechkin is a great player but not an outstanding player, he is overrated.
I am however torn over how I feel about this. As a Penguin's fan I am always happy to see Ovechkin come up short where Sidney Crosby excels. As a hockey fan I wonder if this upset is good or bad for the NHL. I am always in full support of what brings more fans and exposure to the games. Yes today and maybe even tomorrow everyone will talking about the Capitals choking. After that though do all those people stop watching the playoffs because the leagues biggest ratings draw, Alex Ovechkin, is no where to be seen. Last year's series between the Pens and Caps drew enormous ratings. This year they were slated to meet in the conference finals and potentially better ratings. Ask yourself this how many of your average hockey fans will tune in to watch one Flyers vs. Bruins game? I might watch the 3rd period but thats it. If it were the Flyers and Caps I would watch every game beginning to end. As a hockey fan I am not sure I am happy about the Capitals choking.
I said before the game if the Capitals lose, Ovechkin will never win a Stanley Cup. At least not with Washington. He may win it like Brett Hull or Ray Bourque, the cheap way. He will get one by jumping on the back of a true superstar. It might be Jonathon Toews in Chicago or Tavares or Stamkos or someone we don't know yet. I am certain now that he will never win a cup as the leader of a team. The exact opposite is true of Sidney Crosby. Sid at 22 years old has a stanley cup, gold medal, Maurice Richard award, and MVP. Alex has 2 of the 4, the 2 that don't matter. Sid plays great throughout the regular season then plays even better in the playoffs. Ovechkin plays great in the regular then cannot find the nexxt gear in the playoffs. I'll give Ovechkin credit he is a Corvette, but Sid is a Ferrari. Sid seems to be on his way to a second Stanley Cup and another MVP. If the Capitals exit does the Penguins any good it makes it blatantly obvious that Sidney Crosby is the best hockey player in the world. I would go as far as saying Ovechkin is not the second or even the third best. He might squeak into the top 5. Pavel Datsyuk is the second best player, just look at his accomplishments over the last 4 seasons especially the last 2. I do not even believe Alex is the best player on his own team, that is Nicklas Backstrom. He makes Ovechkin a better player and covers Ovechkin's short comings.
Ovechkin is a selfish player. He leads the league in shots every year because he cares about his stat line more than winning. Watch Ovechkin play a game and you won't see a hockey player you'll see a race horse. I use that analogy because he goes as fast as he can in one direction. He does not play defense or care if the man he should be covering scores. In Ovechkin's mind if his man scores he will score 2 to make up for it. His greatest enemy though his himself, he is a jerk. There has never been a superstar before that was a dirty player. At times he plays with an intent to injure other players. For example the knee on knee hit with Sergei Gonchar or the hit on Brian Campbell. I was most disgusted with him snowing the 5 year old Canadien fan, karma is a bitch aint it Ovie.
So what makes Ovechkin great. The answer is... nothing. There is nothing that Alex Ovechkin does thats sets him apart from the rest of the players in the game. Yeah he has a rocket of a shot, Chara shoots harder. He scores a ton of goals, Kovalchuk scores just as much. He is a great skater, Stamkos skates better. He hits really hard, so does Brooks Orpik. So Everything Ovechkin does well someone else in the league does it better. The thing Ovechkin doesn't do is the thing that the truly great players do/did. They make average players good and good players great. Mario made Rob Brown a 40 goal scorer. Gretzky made Kurri a superstar. Orr made Esposito a Hall of Famer. Ovechkin doesn't make anyone on his team better. He is made better by Nick Backstrom. Alexander Ovechkin is a great player but not an outstanding player, he is overrated.
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