Video of the Day: Crazy Play

What do you think? Horrible defense or great athleticism by the offense?

Is the NHL Serious or Delirious?

It's impossible to be a sports fan and not hear all the negative things the media has to say about the NHL. For all the bad stuff there's also some good, so I'll analyze the serious (good) and delirious (bad) about the NHL and give you my final verdict

Serious
-Much like the NBA, the NHL has an amazing group of young talent who are exciting to watch, and will help carry the league into the next decade.
-Following the strike the NHL got it right with its vasts amount of rule changes. The game has opened up a bit, and the shootout at the end of overtime adds an excitement that no other league has.
-The league's top starts don't seem as greedy as their counterparts in other leagues. Players like Sydney Crosby and Danny Heatley could have easily signed max contracts, but decided to take a few million less a season so their teams can sign more talent. This puts the NHL at a different level when you compare it to guys like A-Rod who's pursuing over 30$ million a year.
-Hockey Night in Canada is easily America's answer to Monday Night Football. Saturday nights watching the NHL on CBC still ranks among the top activities for a Canadian to do on a weekend. Plus the broadcast is pretty good too.
-Much like in Major League Baseball, it seems as long as you can make the playoffs, you have a great chance to win it all. In the past few years small market teams such as Edmonton, Carolina, Calgary, and Buffalo have all had some major playoff success.

Delirious

-Sure, the league has a ton of young talent, but the NHL still doesn't know how to market it's players. It seems like the average sports fan can name every mediocre player in the NBA, but ask them to name two players of the Phoenix Coyotes and their stumped.
-Speaking of the Coyotes, the NHL has way to many teams. There shouldn't be hockey teams in places where people actually don't play ice hockey, with the exception of LA. Having 32 teams in the league makes it way to watered down. It also makes it uncompetitive and boring.
-It seems like every week someone is taking an extremely violent blow to the head. Hockey is violent by nature, but it must come up with something to stop this before some has serious brain damage or even dies.
-Big market teams aren't getting it done. Having teams like Carolina and Anaheim win the Stanley Cup isn't good for business in the NHL, because when teams like that are playing in the finals no one cares, which means low TV ratings, which mean no money.
-A year after the league went on strike the salary cap got bumped up a few extra million. Isn't money the reason they went on strike in the first place?
-The people who run the NHL are flat out greedy. They're actually considering adding more teams in Kansas City and Las Vegas. More teams equal more players which will probably mean less true fans.

The Verdict

It's obvious that off the ice, the people running the NHL don't know what the hell their doing. But the bottom line is, hockey is a great game to watch, depending on what teams are playing. Players now are doing things that players 15 years ago could never do. They're faster, stronger and more athletic, which makes for more excitement. Hockey doesn't need the NHL, but the NHL needs hockey so hopefully ten years from now they'll have it together. FINAL VERDICT: Very close, but the NHL is serious.

So what do you think? Leave your comments about your comments whether you agree or disagree.
-Joe Osborne

Video of the Day:'Prime Time' Deion Sanders

While other sports get warmed up, MLB goes into what should be a busy offseason

The 2007 MLB baseball season has come and gone. Before I take a look at what should be a very eventful off season let's talk Red Sox. It was once again another lackluster World Series, but that should take nothing away from the accomplishments of the Sox. They once again had their backs against the wall, down three games to one in the ALCS, and came back to show everyone just how dominant they are. The 2004 championship was about breaking a curse, but this time around it was about putting a stamp on who the best team in baseball is. The Rockies didn't stand a chance against a team who had a great mix of talented vets and youngsters. From the look of things, the Sox have a great chance to be the best in baseball for years to come. Their hitting and pitching are both among the best in baseball, they have an enormously talented young core, not to mention an owner who isn't afraid to open his check book. No matter what any other team in baseball does this off season, Boston should once again be penciled in to take it all in 2008.

The biggest story this off season will no doubt be where Alex Rodriguez ends up. A-Rod's agent announced last night that his client will opt out of the remaining three years on his contract with the Yankees. It's no secret that A-Rod is looking to secure a deal worth thirty million plus a season, which seems somewhat ridiculous. The only thing more ridiculous than what A-Rod will be paid is the fact that a team will pay him the money in hopes of winning a World Series. But the question is, who is gonna pay this much for a guy who's had next to no playoff success, and has a reputation of dividing a club house? The funny thing is, there's probably a few teams lining up. If the Yankees have any sense at all, they'll stay away. After all, haven't they learned their lesson that a team doesn't need an All-Star caliber line up from one to nine to win a World Series? Sure it helps to have a few big bats, but a possible $300 million dollar bat who hasn't proved himself in the post season probably isn't the way to go for the Bronx Bombers. Several teams mentioned as possible suitors include the Cubs, Angels, and Dodgers. I don't expect to see A-Rod in any one of these uniforms next year. He's made it clear that it isn't about winning, it's about money. Expect to see A-Rod sign a similar type of deal that he did close to seven years ago with the Rangers. Big Money, with a mediocre ball club. I wouldn't be surprised to see him sign with the Orioles. Think about it.

Now on to a couple of center fielders who will be looking for big money too. Andrew Jones and Torri Hunter. Jones sure picked a good year to have a .222 bating average. He still managed to get over 100 RBI's but his low batting average may be a sign that his best years are behind him. For his career he has a modest .262 batting average, but not many outfielders can match his athleticism in the outfield. Wherever he ends up, and it won't be with the Braves, someone will overpay. As for Hunter, he's also a multiple time Gold Glover who's had a little more success at the plate for his career than Jones. Hunter has stated that he'd love to stay with the Twins, but their known for being extremely stingy with their money. The Twins are moving into a new stadium soon, and you'd think that they'd want the best possible roster. You'd think that roster would include Hunter. If Vernon Wells can sign a $126 million contract, these two guys should at least equal that, but I see them getting more.

Mike Lowell is smart. In his contract year, not only did he have the best season of his career, but he capped it off to win World Series MVP. So ya know what that means. Mike Lowell is gonna get paid. Lowell has always been a steady hitter with a career .280 average but in his second season with Boston he hit .324 with 120 RBI's. Lowell is 33, so teams will probably offer at best 4 year deals. If the Red Sox don't pay up, I know another AL East team who might have a spot open at 3rd base. And no, I'm not talking about the Devil Rays.

Another big name expected to be on the move is Miguel Tejada of the Orioles. Tejada hasn't been happy for a few years now, and it appears the new management is ready to trade him. If the Angels can't get A-Rod, expect them to make a push. Another team who is could use a bat at shortstop is the Blue Jays, although it might be tough for them to trade with a division rival. Jays GM JP Richardi is desperate as he could be fighting for his job, so expect him to try to swing deal.

The Marlins have said they won't move Dontrelle Willis. The Mets will probably try to get him anyways. Even though he had an off season with a 10-15 record, he's still a hot commodity, so he could easily be sporting a new uniform. And what about baseball best pitcher Johan Santana? The Twins might be smart to move him now if they don't plan on dishing out the big bucks for him when he becomes a free agents. Santana will be demanding A-Rod money when his turn comes around, and I doubt the Twins will be willing to break open the bank. Why not trade him now for a proven arm, a decent bat, and some prospects. I doubt it will happen this year, but ya never know.

Even though the World Series didn't have too much excitement it was a pretty good year. Records were broken, dreams were made, and tears were shed(mostly by Yankee and Mets fans). Baseball's off season is often the most intriguing in sports so it should be fun to see what happens. Enjoy it while it last, Spring Training is only about four months away!
-Joe Osborne

NBA Season Preview

Instead of going up and down the league and giving by two cents on each team, I decided to do a more reader friendly season preview where I make predictions on players and teams and tell you who will beat who in the NBA finals. Obviously the thousands of people who read this blog won't agree witch everything I have to say. That's why I'll ask you to leave your comments at the bottom and fill me in on some of your own predictions. It should be a great NBA season, so let's get started!

Most Improved Team- Atlanta Hawks: The Hawks have been basement dwellers in the East for years, and it's been a while since they contended for a playoff spot. The smart thing the Hawks have done over the past two or three seasons has been keeping it's strong nucleus of young players together. By adding AC Law and Al Horford to a team that already has some of the NBA's best young talent the Hawks look like a team who could be a force for a long time as long as they can stay healthy. Expect the Hawks to take the 7 or 8 spot in the East.

Most Disappointing Team- Cleveland Cavaliers: The Cavs were fun to watch in last years playoffs. They took advantage of a weak Eastern Conference to upset the Pistons and make the Finals. This year will be different as the Cavs now face some stiffer competition with the Celtics and Magic making major moves in the off season and the Baby Bulls being a year older. Michael Jordan didn't get it done without help from Pippen, Grant, and Rodman, and James won't get it done without..... Oh yeah, there is no one else on the Cavs. I see the Cavs having a first round playoff exit.

Ugliest Player: This award could be given out to a few guys in the league, and since I can't give it to Patrick Ewing or Detlef Scrempf, Eddy Curry wins by a nose. Has anyone since this guy lately?! He looks like he spent the off season on the competitive eating tour.

Most Improved Player- Raymond Felton: Last season Felton average 14 points and 7 assists while splitting time with Brevin Knight at the point. With Knight gone to the Clips Felton will get a lot more opportunities to score and to set up teammates. The addition of Jason Richardson will help open things up for Felton, and will also give Felton a good running mate on the fast break. Felton might not be that exciting to watch, but he'll establish himself as a good point guard this season. It's too bad the Bobcats stink worse than Eddy Curry's underwear after another day sweating it out at the buffet table. Well, maybe not that bad.

Most Disappointing Player- Dwayne Wade: Is Wade one of the top players in the league? Without a doubt. Is Wade coming off serious shoulder surgery and a knee surgery in the off season? Yes, and he's gonna miss the first bit of the season. I don't think Wade's play will be disappointing when he's on the court, I just don't think he'll play much due to his lack of durability, which is a huge disappointment to anyone who enjoys the game. I really hope Wade doesn't turn into one of these athletes who's career is ruined by injuries, because things are kinda starting to look that way. I'll be surprised if Wade plays more than 55 games this season.

Defensive Player of the Year- Ron Artest: Ron Ron is in a contract year and he's gonna want to get paid. He'll re-elevate himself to what he was originally known for. Hard nosed, in your face, shut down defense. Does anyone remember when Artest was a rookie with the Bulls and he applied for a job at Circuit City so he could receive the employee discount. Hilarious! That alone erases all of his on and off court hi jinx in my books.

Most Arrest- This is the hardest award to predict. There's so many bad apples out there, but I'm gonna have to go with Matt Bonner of the Spurs. This guy looks like he could snap at any given moment.

Coach of the Year- This is easily the most exciting award the NBA hands out. Time stands still and people sit on the ends of their seats eagerly awaiting for a winner. Yes, I'm being sarcastic, but I think Doc Rivers will come ot on the top of the heap this year. The Celtics will have a successful season, and gel early on in the year, which will be partially due to great coaching by Rivers.

Sixth Man Award- Leonardo Barbosa will win the award this year. Sure, he had a brutal playoffs, but on most other NBA teams he'd be starting. Plus, stepping in after Nash and Co wear down an opposing teams defense can't be to difficult for a player with his skill set.

Least Valuable Player- Rafael Araujo of the Jazz. Araujo did average a double double last year. Oh, I'm sorry, I mean two point and two boards a games. Why would anyone want this guy on their team. He contributes next to nothing on the court. Off the court he's busy trying to fit in with the other scubs in the league. And by the way, nice shark tattoo on your arm Araujo. I'm sure Raptors fans agree with my assessment of this guy.

Most Valuable Player- Kevin Garnett: Garnett's previous MVP season was with the Wolves when he was part of another talented trio with Sam Cassell and Latrell Spewell. This time around he's hungrier than ever and is part of a better group of players. His point production might go down a tad due to sharing the ball with Pierce and Allen, but overall he'll be better than ever. I feel bad for the rest of the East.

How they’ll finish

EAST

1. Celtics
2. Pistons
3. Bulls
4. Raptors
5. Magic
6. Cavs
7. Heat
8. Hawks
9. Wizards
10. Knicks
11.Nets
12. Bucks
13. Pacers
14. 76ers
15. Bobcats

WEST

1. Mavericks
2. Suns
3. Rockets
4. Spurs
5. Denver
6. Utah
7. Memphis
8. New Orleans
9. Golden State
10. LA Lakers
11. LA Clippers
12. Sacramento
13. Portland
14. Minnesota
15. Seattle

NBA Finals
Suns over Celtics in 7 games.

So ladies and gents, that's it! You either completly agree, think i'm absolutly nuts, or you're stuck somewhere in the middle. Either way, leave a comment and tell me how you feel and why. Enjoy the season!
-Joe Osborne

Week 8 NFL Predictions

Lions(4-2) @ Bears(3-4)
Detroit has been a pleasant surprise so far this season. They're also fun to watch. The Bears are in the midst of digging themselves out of a hole, and it looks like their QB situation is stable for now. This should be a fun game to watch, with lots of scoring. PICK:Bears

Steelers(4-2) @ Bengals(2-4)
The Bengals look like they could implode at any minute, although they have played somewhat decent at home where they have their two wins. The Steelers have looked like a great team at times but have shown inconsistency against the Broncos and Cards so far this season. Expect Willy Parker to run wild. PICK:Steelers

Raiders(2-4) @ Titans (4-2)
The Raiders sure have taken a fall after beating up on Miami a few weeks ago. They're starting to look like a team who'll get a top 5 draft pick again this year. Going into the season, the Titans didn't look they they had that impressive of roster, but so far they're really making things work. If your hoping to catch up on some sleep, this is the game to watch. PICK:Titans

Browns(3-3) @ Rams(0-7)
Remember the greatest show on turf? Well, that no longer exist for the Rams as they are now the kings of the 3 and out offense. The Browns on the other hand really seem to be turning things around with an explosive offense. The Browns D isn't all that special though, and it looks like this years biggest fantasy dud, Steven Jackson is set to return. PICK:Rams

Giants(5-2) @ Dolphins(0-7)
In the past two weeks the Dolphins have lost their best two offensive play makers. Chris Chambers got traded, and Ronnie Brown is out for the season with an injury. The Giants must be foaming at the mouth to take advantage of a weak Miami team. Expect a big game from the Giants D line, and a good game from Eli and Co. on offense. What a horrible game to put on display in London. PICK: Giants

Eagles(2-4) @ Vikings(2-4)
The Eagles have been really stinking things up, while the Vikes have pretty much met their expectations going into the season. No one could have predicted the season Adrian Petersen is having, and he'll easily be a top 3 fantasy pick next year. Donovan McNabb has looked very shaky this season and he could be on the verge of being washed up. PICK:Eagles

Colts(6-0) @ Panthers(4-2)
The Panthers are just one of those team that is hard to figure out. It seems a game could go either way when they're on the field. With the Colts, what you see is what you get. And what they've shown this year has been pretty damm good. PICK:Colts

Bills(2-4) @ Jets(1-6)
What the heck happened to the Jets? They made the playoffs last year and appeared to be on the way up. The Bills have played some very competitive football so far this season, although they've shown they can't play in the fourth quarter. PICK:Jets

Texans(3-4) @ Chargers(3-3)
The Texans have been battling the injury bug to some key players while the Chargers are battling some pretty crazy wild fires in San Diego. Houston has come back down to earth after a strong start, while the Chargers are trying to prove they belong among the leagues best. PICK: Chargers

Jaguars(4-2) @ Buccaneers(4-3)
Some guy named Quinn Gray is starting at QB for the Jags playing against a team who doesn't turn the ball over. Need I say more? PICK:Buccaneers

Redskins(4-2) @ Patriots(7-0)
The Skins have looked good far this season but they're on the road playing against one of the best teams in football history. Put it this way-The Skins chances of winning are about as good as Rosie O'Donnell's are of being on the cover of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition.PICK:Patriots

Saints(2-4) @ 49ers(2-4)
Going into the season one was a sexy Super Bowl pick, while the other was every one's favorite sleeper. Both have fallen way short of expectations so far, but at least the Saints are finally showing some signs of life. PICK:Saints

Packers(5-1) @ Broncos(3-3)
Why does it seem like the Broncos are one of those teams who hangs out in mediocrity every season? Mainly because they are, but this appears to be a bit of a down year for the team. This game has big playoff implications for the Pack in what could be a very tight NFC North.PICK:Packers

What do you think of my picks? Let me know if you agree or disagree. Make sure to check back for an upcoming NBA season preview as well as my take on the direction of the UFC.

Bandwagon Boneheads

It seems to happened once every year. No I'm not talking about doing your taxes or pesky June bugs (Although it's just as annoying), I'm talking about the herds of so-called baseball fans who jump on the Red Sox bandwagon every time they make the playoffs.

With the World Series set to begin this evening, this years team is no exception. People come out of no where and declare their love for a team who they probably can't even name five players. Where are these fans during the regular season, and why does it seem like the Red Sox attract more bandwagon jumpers than any other team in sports?

It probably dates back to a few years ago, when the Sox had their improbable World Series run, and came back from an 0-3 deficit to beat the evil Yankees. Back then it was the fashionable thing to cheer for the Sox to break the curse, just like it would be alright to cheer for the Cubs if they're ever able to have some playoff success. But come on now, the Sox got their ring, and come playoff time they're still every one's new favorite team. Give me a break. I never thought I could dislike any team as much the Yankees, but I think I do now. Actually sorry, I hate the Toronto Maple Leafs more but that's a story for another day.

And speaking of the Yankees, they're probably the main reason most people choose to cheer for the Red Sox. It's well publicized that the Yankees spend a hundred gazillion dollars each year on their roster, and that's one of the reasons people hate them so much. But people seem to forget, that the Red Sox only spend a few pennies less than the Yanks each season to have one of the most outlandish team salaries in sports history. But I guess that's ok, right Red Sox fans?

If there's one thing that bugs me as much as a Sox bandwagon jumper, it's a Red Sox fan who has an excuse for everything. One of my favorite sports stories from the summer is when 'The Golden Boy of Boston' Tom Brady was spotted wearing a Yankees ball cap, and Red Sox fans say he was simply wearing it as a disguise not to be recognized in public. Wow.

Are the Red Sox a good team? Nope, they're a great team. It's just flat out annoying that so many people who know nothing about baseball decide to cheer for them and rub it in when they win. So many Red Sox haters would love to see the Rockies sweep the Sox and shut up the bandwagon jumpers. But not me. I'd love to see the Rockies blowout the Sox 10-0 in game seven at Fenway Park. I bet the wagon would be pretty empty after that.
-Joe Osborne

The Fallout of the Fish

With all the talk of a perfect 16-0 season by the New England Patriots, people seem to forget about another team who could set an NFL record for their record. No, I'm not talking about the Colts possibly going 16-0 (because they won't), I'm talking about the Miami Dolphins finishing the season 0-16. And oh yes, it could happened!

The last team to have a win less season was the 1976 Buccaneers who had an 0-14 record. It's been over 30 years since a team has done the unthinkable and gone win less for the season, but here's why Miami could put up a big goose egg come the end of the season.

Going into the season Miami looked like a team who might be able to win five or six games. With an over the hill QB, a weak offensive line, no big time game breakers on offense, and a secondary that ranked among the leagues worst, Miami was a shoe in to have another top ten draft pick.

Things only got worse for Miami after loosing their over the hill QB Trent Green for the season a few weeks ago. Even though his best years were behind him Green still had some skills, and he had a veteran presence on the field. Now things look even bleaker at QB. Although Cleo Lemon has shown some potential, he's made costly turnovers and he doesn't to have what it takes to play great in close games.

The Dolphins made it clear that their in rebuilding mode by trading perhaps their only big game receivers Chris Chambers at the trade deadline. The teams best receiver now appears to be Mart Booker, who would be lucky to be the fourth receiver on a playoff team. It looks like the Dolphins will have to wait to Ted Ginn to develop, as he hasn't even come close to proving himself worthy of his 8th overall draft selection.

Their secondary is weaker than a senior citizen crawling outta bed to use the bathroom at three in the morning. After major injuries to Will Allen and Reynaldo Hill, teams will easily exploit the Dolphins through the air.

And if the Camel's back wasn't already broken, it's spine just got severed with Ronnie Brown now out for the season. The Fish must now turn to Jesse Chatman who was cut last year for being to fat, and rumour has it that Ricky Willaims might be back... If he can step outta the hot box.

All this combined with an aging front seven on defense is a recipe for disaster. But they do have Joey Porter! Yeah right, what a waste of space he turned out to be. The usually consistent Zac Thomas appears to have lost a step this season, and fresh off a great season Jason Taylor just isn't the same player.

The Dolphins could get a win this season, but it's gonna be tough. Even the Bills and Jets seem a few steps ahead of the Dolphins, but if they hope to win it will be against one of these teams. Their record stands at 0-7 and with a game Sunday against the Giants it looks like they'll start 0-8. On the bright side, Cam Cameron will get to screw up another high pick in the '08 draft.
-Joe Osborne