Eugene Levy To Play In Preseason Game For The Houston Texans

Last week actor Billy Crystal had the honor of suiting up for The New York Yankees in a Spring Training baseball game. Crystal's appearance in pin stripes seems to be setting a trend in Hollywood, as it was announced this morning that actor Eugene Levy will see some on-field action in a preseason game for the NFL's Houston Texans.

Levy, who is best known for his roles in the 'American Pie' films and Canada's 'SCTV', claims to be the world's biggest Houston Texans fan. "I've been a huge Texans fan since they entered the league in 2002. I never miss a game, and even had a chance to see them play live in Kansas City two years ago. I'm their biggest supporter," said an excited Levy, who was wearing an autographed David Carr Texans Jersey.

It's still unclear what role Levy will play in the Texans first preseason game. "Ya know, I haven't really seen Eugene in action yet, but from early discussions with him we might decide to use him in a blocking role, such as a full back or tight end," said Texans Coach Gary Kubiak. Kubiak also went on to say that this isn't just a publicity stunt to raise the teams profile. "Eugene will see some serious playing time. We plan on using his at key times early in the game, and he won't be taken out until he gets injured, or if he decides to quit."

"This is like a dream come true," said Levy, who grew up being a fan of the CFL's Edmonton Eskimos. "I've already begun training. I'm doing twenty minutes a day on my elliptical trainer, plus I picked up some 'Hip-Hop Abs' DVD's. Levy is also changing his diet as he hopes to be in the best shape of his life come game time. "I switched from whole milk to soy milk," said Levy, who had a visible milk mustache.

Levy playing in an NFL game is a huge risk, not just for Levy, but also for the NFL. Due to the risk involved, Levy needed to sign a waiver stating that if he suffers a major injury, becomes paralyzed, or if he somehow dies, his family will not be able to sue the Texans, or the NFL.

Levy will attend some of the Texans off-season workouts, as he eagerly anticipates the release of the NFL's preseason schedule. He also announced he will be hosting a screening of his 2004 film 'New York Minute' for his new teammates. The film stars himself and the Olsen Twins, who play twins with opposing personalities who have a series of misadventures around the city of New York.

-Joe Osborne

Chris Bosh on CBC's 'The Hour'

Great interview with the NBA's most under-exposed player.

Winning Fantasy Baseball Advice

The baseball season is a few short weeks away, and fantasy baseball drafts are in full swing. Baseball fans everywhere are hooking up on the web, and in living rooms trying to put together the best possible fantasy roster. Is there a specific formula for winning in fantasy baseball? Not necessarily, but if you follow these tips, you'll be sure to be at the top of your league.

1. Do your homework- This may sound obvious, but there's more to do than seeing who had the most fantasy points last year. Check out reports on each team to see who's hitting where in the lineup. See who's pitching where in the rotation. A player who hits third in a lineup will be able to take advantage of much more opportunities, while someone hitting fifth will have less. Little things like this can make a huge difference in the fantasy world. If you're doing your draft online it's smart to do some research into specific leagues before you actually join one. See how the playoff format works, as well as what stats count towards fantasy points. Believe it or not, some leagues don't count stolen bases while some don't count walks. I'm not saying to study the draft like it's a medical exam, but a little planning will go a long way.

2. Target contract year players- A contract year player is a player who is in the last year of his contact. In other words, he'll be trying to have the best season of his career so he can make a ridiculous amount of money. If you have to choose between a few players, and one happens to be in his contract year, pick him. It's a no brainer. Last season Alex Rodriguez, Torri Hunter, Aaron Rowand, and Mike Lowell all had career years, and yes, they were in their contract years. Here a list of players who are worth mentioning that will be playing for a new contract: Bobby Abreu, Adam Dunn, Joe Nathan, Manny Ramirez, Francisco Rodriguez, C.C. Sabathia, Ben Sheets, Mark Teixeira, Milton Bradley, Pat Burrell, A.J. Burnett, Rafael Furcal, Jon Garland, Kenji Johjima, Derek Lowe, and Oliver Perez. These guys will all be playing for a big payday, and nothing can motivate a pro athlete like the almighty dollar.

3. Don't play favorites- The downfall of so many fantasy teams is that the owner is too biased towards their favorite team and players. This can especially hurt your team in the early rounds. Don't make risky picks in the early rounds just to get players you like. If one of your favorites is available and it doesn't seem like such a reach, then go for it, but if you know there's better players still around then steer clear. Also remember to not neglect players that you don't like. Just because you're a Red Sox fan doesn't mean you shouldn't pick Yankees players. In the late rounds it's a little safer to pick favorites, but avoid playing favorites in the first ten rounds.

4. Watch out for fallen stars- Make sure to keep an eye out for elite players who had sub par or injury plagued seasons last year. The majority of these players will drop to the mid to late rounds, and could turn out to be major producers for your team. Here's a list of players who had off seasons last year, who could bounce back to All-Star status: Vernon Wells, Barry Zito, Jermaine Dye, Julio Lugo, Dontrelle Willis, Andrew Jones, J.D. Drew, Roy Halladay, Pedro Matinez, and Jason Bay. There's no guarantee that these guys will get back to the top of their games, or in some of their cases stay off the DL, but they're easily worth the risk.

5. Try to get your catcher and second baseman early- Positions like first base and outfield are absolutely stacked with lots of solid options that will be available to you throughout the draft. Shortstop and third base don't have quite as much options, but there's still plenty of talent to go around. The same can't be said of the catcher and second base positions. Both C and 2B only have a few good players who will be solid producers for your team. Try to get a top four or five player at both of these positions, or you will be screwed. Not securing a top player at these positions means they will be your weakest link throughout the season. Obtaining a top catcher or second baseman will also give you a big edge on half of the teams in your league.

As a final note, I think it's obvious that Alex Rodriguez should be the top pick in any draft. He was the top player last year, he's in the prime of his career, and he hits in the middle of a very dangerous line up. After A-Rod, things get very debatable, but I'd go with Miguel Cabrera of the Tigers. Cabrera has been a top fantasy producer since he's been in the league, and now he's surrounded by some great hitters in Detroit.

Most importantly, don't forget that fantasy baseball is all about having fun. Try to find a league with players who are at the same competition level that you are and have a blast. I hope the above advice will help you get the edge in your league. Good luck in your drafts, and have a great fantasy baseball season!
-Joe Osborne

The Penguins Should Stick To Their Day Jobs

The video begins eight seconds in. This is possibly the worst display of acting by any athletes, which makes it hilarious.

Another Pathetic Day in Leaf Land

The NHL trade deadline is an opportunity for teams on the cusp to add some final pieces in hopes of having a successful playoff run. It also gives dwindling franchises the opportunity to unload some big contracts, and add some inexpensive pieces for the future. While teams like the Stars, Penguins, and Capitals added some talent to ensure some success for the stretch run, it was another unsuccessful day for the NHL's most dysfunctional franchise, The Toronto Maple Leafs.

It was a little over a month ago that Toronto's brass decided to fire John Ferguson Jr. as their GM, and named Cliff Fletcher as his temporary replacement. Fletcher was brought in to clean up the mess of undeserving large contracts, and underachieving talent that Ferguson left behind. Fletcher has a decent track record as an NHL executive, and even worked for the Leafs for six years in the 90's.

Fletcher's mission was clear: Trade Mats Sundin, and improve the team for the future. Neither has happened, which leads to one important question- What the hell is going on in Toronto? The team was unsuccessful in convincing Sundin to remove his no-trade clause so that they could trade him to a contender for some building blocks for the future. Why would Sundin want to stay in a losing situation and play for a team that wants to dump him, instead of competing for a Stanley Cup? I guess winning isn't everything to some people.

The inability to trade Sundin isn't entirely the fault of the franchise, but they dropped the ball at the trade deadline by not unloading some big contracts and adding high draft picks and prospects. Instead of dumping over paid players like Bryan McCabe and Darcy Tucker who had value on the trade market, the Leafs did practically nothing, and received two 5th round picks, and one 2nd round pick. I'm sure that will make a real difference.

There's a concept that the Leafs don't understand - Rebuilding. The Leafs have been held back and have been stuck in mediocrity for years due to their refusal to rebuild. Their fans and the media demand too much from them, which pressures them into making horrible decisions that affect them for a long time. Until the Leafs learn to rebuild, they will be in the same situation year after year. Building a successful sports franchise begins in the front office, and maybe that's where the problem is. The Leafs have an attitude that they're better than everyone else due to their history and incredible fan base. Unfortunately for the Leafs, until they learn to be like everything else, and rebuild when necessary, it will be a long time before their considered a serious contender.

-Joe Osborne

UFC 82 Preview and Predictions

If there's one word to describe the card for Saturdays UFC event, it's 'loaded'. The card features a main event that has the potential to go down as one of the greatest MMA fights in the history of the sport, as well as two fights that promise to be massive slug fests. The event also features a showcase of some of the best talent in the 170 lbs. division, and what could perhaps be an audition for a new contract for one of the UFC's most popular fighters. This card is so loaded that fights on the non televised portion of the event feature bigger names and better talent than the main card of several of the UFC's last events. Let's take a look at the fights that matter, and I'll tell you who's gonna win, and how.

Andrei Arlovski (11-5) vs. Jake O'Brien (10-0): Everyone's been wondering where in the hell Arlovski has been the last few months. The pit bull has easily been one of the most popular fighters in the UFC over the past few years, but now he's on the last fight of his contract, and it's unknown whether or not the UFC will even re-sign him. It's widely believe that Arlovski has lost his edge. This is a great opportunity for him to regain the respect of fans and UFC management. His opponent is an undefeated wrestler, who holds a victory over top heavyweight Health Herring. Although O'Brien is undefeated, his chances of defeating Arlovski seem slim. Arlovski is just simply better, and should be dominate O'Brien.

PREDICTION- Arlovski by TKO in the 1st round.

Josh Koscheck (9-2) vs. Dustin Hazelett (10-3): Koscheck thought he was among the elite in the UFC's welterweight division, but Georges St. Pierre proved him wrong, and shut his mouth. Koscheck's climb to the top will begin again when he takes on Dustin Hazelett who has four fights inside the octagon, with his most recent victory coming against Canadian Jonathan Goulet. Although Koscheck is viewed as a jackass by most fans, it's hard to deny that he's well on his way to becoming one of the most well rounded fighters in the division. He entered the UFC as a wrestler and has developed into a talented mixed martial artist. Unfortunately for Dustin Hazelett, it appears he'll be a stepping stone as Koscheck will show off his ever evolving skills.

PREDICTION- Koscheck by submission in the 2nd round.

Diego Sanchez (17-2) vs. David Bielkhedan (12-5): Diego was about a win away from a title shot, but his championship dreams were derailed with two straight loses to Josh Koscheck and John Fitch. Diego needs a win more than ever, and will hope to take out his frustrations on David Bielkhedan who will be making his octagon debut. If Sanchez can get back to his old form, Bielkhedan could end up in the hospital. If Sanchez shows another lackluster performance however, he could be looking to find a new organization to fight for.

PREDICTION- Sanchez by TKO in the 1st round.

Jon Fitch (15-2) vs. Chris Wilson (13-3): It's been well documented that Fitch has won seven fights in a row. No need to waste your time with more analysis, because he's gonna make it eight in a row, and be first in line for a welterweight title shot.

PREDICTION- Fitch by submission in the 2nd round.

Evan Tanner (32-6) vs. Yushin Okami (21-4): Tanner will step into the octagon after about a year long layoff and hope to rebuild his career against the slow paced Yushin Okami. Tanner is one of the more exciting fighters in the history of the UFC, winning the majority of his fights by knockout. Okami on the other hand has gone to a decision in four of his last six fights. The winner of this bout will be close to the front of the line for a title shot, and don't be surprised to see an upset.

PREDICTION- Tanner by TKO in the 3rd round.

Chris Leben (17-4) vs. Alessio Sakara (12-6): This one could get messy. It would be surprising to see either fighter on their back at any point during the fight as both fighters love to scrap. Leben was a lot different in his last fight, both physically and mentally. Sakara is a big middleweight, who dropped down after getting his head knocked off by Houston Alexander. Leben seems too focused and motivated to lose, but anything can happen when two aggressive strikers are in the octagon.

PREDICTION- Leben by TKO in the 1st round.

Cheick Kongo (11-3-1) vs. Heath Herring (27-13): This is a match up between two of the biggest and best strikers in the heavyweight division. Kongo (who has an incredible name for a fighter by the way) impressed everyone and shot up the heavyweight ladder with a victory over Cro Cop last September, while Herring is 1-2 in the UFC with several exciting performances. Both fighting will be coming hard, as this could turn out to be a number one contender match-up, given the lack of serious competition in the heavyweight division. Kongo has gotten better in each of his previous fights, and this one should be no different.

PREDICTION- Kongo by unanimous decision.

Dan Henderson (22-6) vs. Anderson Silva (20-4): This main event is huge, and will have major implications for the middleweight division. After five straight dominating wins since entering the UFC, Silva is arguably the best fighter in the world. No one has come close to beating him, but Dan Henderson could be the man to do it. Henderson is a former Olympic wrestler who left the Pride organization as both the middleweight and welterweight champ. He holds victories over some of the worlds best, and claims to live in the clinch, which is where Silva has done alot of damage. As dominating as Silva's been, fans are yet to see how he responds to adversity, mainly because no one's been able to gain much of an advantage against him. This one is a real toss up and should go into the late rounds.

PREDICTION- Silva by unanimous decision.

The fallout of this event will help determine some championship fights for later in the year, as well as set up some possible intriguing match ups. With victories by Koscheck and Sanchez, we could see them square off in a grudge match. Also, what will become of the middleweight division with a win by Silva? Will he continue on as the dominant force atop the division, or move up a weight class and join the UFC's most competitive division? Whatever happens this Saturday it will be lots of fun to watch. Events this loaded don't happen as often as they should in the UFC, so have a blast watching it!

-Joe Osborne

Surprise, Surprise

Another Major League Baseball season is on the horizon with players reporting to spring training camps this week. All the hot talk surrounding baseball lately seems to be about who did and didn't do steroids, but I'm choosing to stay away from that and discuss the on field issues instead. No one could have foreseen the improbable run by the Colorado Rockies last season. Then again, no one would have predicted the Chicago White Sox to go all the way in 2005, and the same goes for the Marlins in 2003. The point that I'm trying to make is that there's usually at least one team throughout the MLB season that surprises everyone to have some type of success in the playoffs. I decided to pick one team from each division who has the best chance to upset some of the favorites on the way to some post season success.

AL EAST- Toronto Blue Jays: The AL East is perhaps the easiest division to predict, but this year things could be different. The Jays have underachieved the past few seasons due in part to injuries and inconsistent pitching. The core of the team has been together for a few years now, and most of their best players are in the prime of their careers. The Jays finished sixth in the A.L. last season, which some could see as a bright spot considering their top pitcher Roy Halladay was on the shelf for a good part of the season with injuries, and their highest paid player Vernon Wells had one of the worst seasons of his career. The Red Sox seem untouchable at the top of the division, but the Jays stand a realistic shot at the Wild Card if the team stays healthy. The addition of David Eckstein and Scott Rolen brings some playoff experience and perhaps a winning attitude to a team that desperately needs it. There's a lot of 'ifs' surrounding this team, but the rest of the A.L. should watch out if they can get their act together.

AL Central- Chicago White Sox: What the hell happened to this team? After winning the World Series in 2005 the team had a steady decline until they pretty much hit rock bottom last season. The team won 90 games in 2006 and with the exception of a few role players, the same same roster is pretty much in tact. This team stands a realistic chance of winning some games this season as their division won't be as tough as last season. The Twins seem to be going into rebuilding mode, while the Tigers are a big injury or two away from not living up to all their hype leading into the season. The Chi Sox will go one of two ways this season, and with a little luck they could be on the rise.

AL WEST- Oakland Athletics: Since the year 2000 the A's have made the playoffs five times, including four division championships. During all that winning Oakland's roster has been largely made up of no name players with big name skills. The only problem with the A's is that they dump those players a few years later for prospects, then do it all again. As aggravating as this may be for A's fans, it's a system that seems to work. The A's are like the little engine that could, spending next to nothing and having some success doing it. Fans shouldn't be shocked if they put it together again this year and win the division.

NL EAST- Atlanta Braves: Making the playoffs use to be automatic for the Braves, but not anymore. Their core of players from those years is gone, and they're well on their way to rebuilding a strong team. They finished six games over .500 last season when most people thought they'd be somewhere near the basement. They lost Andruw Jones, but added Tom Glavine to what should be a good rotation. They probably won't be able to win the division, but the Wild Card is a strong possibility.

NL Central- Houston Astros: The Astros had a horrendous season last year, but made some moves in the off season that could payoff. The Astros have a pretty decent roster but their problem has been staying healthy. The addition of Miguel Tejada will add some major pop to the middle of their line-up, and he should fit in great with Carlos Lee and Lance Berkman. People also forget that outfielder Hunter Pence was on his way to a rookie of the year season by hitting .322 with 147 hits in 108 games, but of course he got injured. The NL Central wasn't exactly the league's best division last year, so the Astros stand a pretty good chance of being competitive.

NL West- Colorado Rockies: So the Rockies won the N.L. last year, and it appears no one is giving them a chance to get it done again this year. Their division got tougher with the D-Backs adding Dan Haren, and some major moves by the Dodgers, but the Rockies World Series roster is still pretty much in-tact. It may be a tad ridiculous to say the Rockies will be a surprise team this year considering their 90 win season last year, but they're just a team that people don't associate with winning. They play in a tough division, but they have some unreal hitters and overall as they team they're still getting better.

Now before people jump down my throat, remember that in no way are these my division winner predictions. They are simply teams I think have a good chance of surprising some of the over-hyped favorites. My complete MLB season preview which will include team and player predictions will be available in a few weeks. Until then, enjoy spring training!

-Joe Osborne