tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72396719953333408502024-03-13T22:06:20.266-04:00RandoMangoA Brett Favre Hating ZoneUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1147125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239671995333340850.post-29170762694310631282011-06-27T10:10:00.001-04:002011-06-27T10:11:12.522-04:00One last thing before I quit...Morning all,<br />
I started this little foray into blogging way back in February of 1997 as part of the Toronto Raptors "Raptorschat" board (now RaptorsSpace). I had no expectations other than intending to do more than 99% of bloggers out there, which is code for "make it last beyond three entries" and that was definitely mission accomplished. After 488,000 hits there, moved to this forum a couple year's back and went almost daily for good stretches. <br />
<br />
A few of the things I've learned:<br />
<ul><li>if you want to get people to comment, just be honest about what you think of the state of the NHL</li>
</ul><ul><li>I seemingly never tire of hammering the Toronto Blue Jays </li>
</ul><ul><li>if you want people to comment, just post a countdown of hot ladies and sit back and watch the magic</li>
</ul><ul><li>Bukakke likes to party</li>
</ul><ul><li>the notion that golf isn't a sport, but a game, doesn't upset people nearly as much as I've seen in previous discussions over the years where some would act like I was insulting their wife's looks. Maybe people get that it's not all that different to poker, darts and bowling?</li>
</ul><ul><li>I'm pretty freaking good at<strike> betting</strike> picking prime time NFL games </li>
</ul>And finally, I think I've learned it is time to shut 'er down. Increasingly, have found it tough to get the time to write something that is worthy of your time and mine, though that certainly isn't for a lack of content...there's always a tonne of interesting going's on in the world of sports and beyond. I think other things and interest in other avenues - Twitter most notably - have taken my interest in those directions. Will I miss it? Probably not. I'm not shy about sharing my opinion on all matters sports with my pals over beers as it is, but maybe I will and end up quietly returning, perhaps when the NFL returns on schedule in September (it will happen). Who knows? Never would have thought I went almost 4.5 years on this, that is for sure. Maybe you'll see me at The Bleacher Report, where I've been an approved contributor for months but done nothing with?<br />
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Later all, it has been fun, like anything worth doing should be.<br />
<br />
TB<br />
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Follow along here at <a href="http://twitter.com/tenacioustbek">twitter.com/tenacioustbek</a>, and/or <a href="http://twitter.com/dailyeffyou">twitter.com/dailyeffyou</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239671995333340850.post-4018848016896798662011-06-23T11:09:00.004-04:002011-06-23T11:13:44.806-04:00Canada does it the hard wayA few weeks back, we referenced the <b>SI</b> players poll that had <b>A-Rod</b> rated as the most overrated player at 18%. <b>SI </b>ran the same poll on <b>Facebook</b> and fans gave a whopping 45% of the vote to <b>Derek Jeter</b>. <br />
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<b>SI</b> ran a half-page preview of the<b> WNBA</b> season. Seems wasted space, no? I did a double take to make sure it wasn't a <b>Kentucky Derby</b> preview.<br />
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How did the <b>Vancouver Canucks </b>take home so many trophies at the <b>NHL</b> Awards last night with all their "injuries"? Word is <b>Danielle Sedin </b>was dressed in<b> Stella McCartney</b>.<br />
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Only <b>Dick Griffin </b>at the <b>Toronto Star</b> could take the subject of <b> Jose Bautista</b> leading the <b>AL </b>in votes with five <b>Yankee </b>and two <b>Red Sox</b>, plus<b> Josh Hamilton</b>, and get it all twisted into some endorsement that he's truly more popular than the rest. Guess he has never heard of the term "vote splitting"? Let me know when he's the highest selling jersey, <b>Dickhead</b>. <br />
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If this doesn't get<b> Yankees GM Brian Cashman</b> an extension, nothing will: journeymen <b>Freddy Garcia </b>and <b>Bartolo Colon </b>have combined to deliver 157.1 innings pithed, with a combined ERA of about 3.20. Amazing. <br />
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Softball legend <a href="http://www.fark.com/cgi/go.pl?i=6312506&s=1"><b>Jennie Finch</b> is a proud mom to a boy named <b>Diesel.</b></a> No, for real.<br />
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Four minutes from the end o<b>f Canada's Under 17 World Cup </b>game against <b>England</b>, with the good guys down 2-1, <b>Canada</b> equalized for a 2-2 draw with the most unlikely of feats. Awesome. And is there a country in the world that produces goalies that make bigger mistakes than <b>England</b>? Impressively futile.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/n87oKk4BnPI" width="560"></iframe><br />
<b>Steve Nash</b> - love that guy - has some serious game in this <b>Chinese</b> ad.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/-4Z-cSkONUY" width="560"></iframe><br />
As <b>Hitler </b>references and news bloopers go, this one is one of my favs.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/0LIVt9RFvE4" width="560"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239671995333340850.post-25076377002259998512011-06-22T13:57:00.000-04:002011-06-22T13:57:45.656-04:00Toronto: Where Coaches Go To Get FiredThe <b>NHL</b> salary cap for next season is expected to rise by $5 million. Am I the only one that thinks the next time there is a labour war, the players are in for a far uglier time than they even saw last time? There's no way that league should have a high end of the cap north of $60 million when a dozen or so teams are for sale and or bleeding badly. And yes, I know it is revenue based, but that's heavily inflated by the financial performance of Canada's teams especially, and added to by a favorable currency exchange rate the last few years.<br />
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<b>Damien Cox</b> notes that <b> <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_229418255">Toronto's </a></b><a href="http://www.thestar.com/sports/basketball/article/1012890--cox-toronto-has-become-a-coaching-graveyard">five pro-sports teams have burned through 20 coaches in five years</a>. More than a few would argue<b> Leafs</b> coach <b>Ron Wilson</b> should have made it 21.<br />
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The rumoured <b>NFL</b> labour deal will not mandate an 18-game schedule, but will include Thursday night games each week. Me likes that muchly. There is some talk that the league will be back in business July 15th.<br />
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The <b>New York Post </b>says that <b>Donald Trump</b> is paid $65 million for <b>Celebrity Apprentice</b>, a show where celebs compete to raise money for charity. Perhaps<b> Donald </b>ought to lead the way at that pay rate? And no wonder <b>The Donald </b> has declined a <b>Presidential</b> run, he makes 162 times more than the President just for doing that show. Incredible. <br />
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<br />
Our boy <b>DeKev</b> will be taking in the <b>NHL Awards</b> tomorrow night at <b>Palms Casino</b> in <b>Vegas</b>. Hilarious story today about rookie of the year fav <a href="http://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/nhl/article/1013105--canes-rookie-skinner-discovers-you-can-t-hit-on-19-in-vegas">Jeff Skinner, who technically isn't even old enough at 19 to walk into the casino. </a>Remember DeKev, ALWAYS split 8's.<br />
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With <b>Derek Jeter</b> slated to come off the DL next week, and only needing 6 hits to reach 3,000, <b>Yankees </b>brass has to be sweating a July 1st-3rd visit to<b> Citi Field</b>. Can't imagine they want to see the <b>Mets</b> cash in on that one. Speaking of<b> Jeter</b>, just noticed there's<a href="http://cambridge-ice-park.ezleagues.ezfacility.com/teams/814105/Jeter%27s-Never-Prosper.aspx"> a slo-pitch team at the place me and the fellas play called <b>"Jeter's Never Prosper"</b>. </a><br />
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The <a href="http://guyism.com/celebrities/66-most-overrated-women-of-2011.html">66 most overrated women of 2011.</a><br />
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Loved <b>A-Rod's "Mr. Perfect" </b>impression last week... <br />
<iframe class="twitvid-player" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.twitvid.com/embed.php?guid=AJ9WE&autoplay=0" title="Twitvid video player" type="text/html" width="480"></iframe><br />
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The worst misses of the 2010-11 season, from around the world.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/wEgkVM6PMh0" width="640"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239671995333340850.post-37075878080434348642011-06-21T09:57:00.000-04:002011-06-21T09:58:45.506-04:00Bottle Service is not cheap<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://desmond.yfrog.com/Himg640/scaled.php?tn=0&server=640&filename=lgnk.png&xsize=640&ysize=640" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://desmond.yfrog.com/Himg640/scaled.php?tn=0&server=640&filename=lgnk.png&xsize=640&ysize=640" width="476" /></a></div>The <b>Boston Bruins </b>had a good time celebrating their <b>Stanley Cup </b>win on Saturday night after their parade. A bunch of them rang up a $156,000 tab at <b>Foxwoods Casino</b>. Am sure<b> Gary Bettman</b> et al are thrilled the players partied at at casino. Of course, that's not nearly as impressive as the tab <b>LeBron James</b> and his crew rank up at the <b>Wynn </b>in <b>Vegas</b>. Check out some of the prices there. Incredible, and having been there last November, I can verify that's no mock up.<br />
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Some days, articles I read elsewhere are so freakishly similar to things written here previously. Take this one that appeared in the <b>Toronto Sun</b> on <b>Sunday</b>, that noted how <a href="http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Fighting/UFC/2011/06/17/18298721.html">UFC fans didn't go and smash up Vancouver after the card two weekends back the way hockey fans did.</a><br />
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<a href="http://crazybartabs.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/bar-tab-tryst-wynn-las-vegas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://crazybartabs.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/bar-tab-tryst-wynn-las-vegas.jpg" width="297" /></a><b> </b><br />
<b>TSN</b> is airing an <b>NHL</b> mock draft featuring all of two - 2! - pretend GM's tonight. That's all I've got on that.<br />
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Why do<b> Boston Red Sox </b>games take 4 hours? <b>David Ortiz</b> had a 14-pitch, 7 minute AB last night. That's a lot of gloves-adjusting, spit-in-the-palms and hand-clapping between pitches.<br />
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<b>Jaromir Jagr</b><a href="http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/penguins/s_743092.html"> wants to come back to the <b>NHL</b>, and to suit up for the <b>Pittsburgh Penguins</b>.</a> Does he have anything left?<br />
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The<b> <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1367767224">Florida Marlins</a></b><a href="http://florida.marlins.mlb.com/fla/ballpark/seat_selection_guide_32.jsp"> new park will see them charging some very hefty ticket prices</a>. Guess they haven't paid attention to the dozens they draw game in and out, albeit in a non-baseball stadium in a brutal part of town? <br />
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In terms of fan interest, interleague baseball looks a hit. This past weekend saw the<a href="http://es.pn/iOQWW5%20"> largest collective attendance for a weekend since 2008.</a> Helped that <b>Florida</b> and <b>Toronto </b>were on the road.<br />
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<b>Toronto Maple Leafs</b> top boss<b> <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1367767220">Brian Burke</a></b><a href="http://www.torontosun.com/2011/06/20/burke-ordered-wilson-to-fire-coaches"> ordered <b>Ron Wilson</b> to change what he viewed as a "stale" coaching staff. </a> And why not? Sure the <b>Leafs </b>had a great run the final few months of this past year, but they've had special teams issues for years so why not change now? And hey, if you can bring in two guys that worked for the <b>New York Islanders</b>, why wouldn't you? Oh, nevermind.<br />
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<a href="http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/NHL/Playoffs/Vancouver/2011/06/16/18294986.html"><b>Terry Jones</b> from the<b> Edmonton Sun </b>weighs in on why the<b> Vancouver Canucks</b> were not<b> "Canada's Team"</b></a> like some said and thought they were as the lone <b>Canadian</b> team in the playoffs beyond the first round. This makes me laugh every time I read it: <b>Roberto Luongo</b> is signed through to 2022.<br />
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If you're on<b> Twitter</b>, <a href="https://twitter.com/intent/user?original_referer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.buckblunders.com%2F2011%2F06%2F20%2Fgame-74-vs-atlanta-braves%2F&region=screen_name&screen_name=buckblunders&source=followbutton&variant=1.0">be sure to follow <b>@buckblunders</b>.</a> Incredible how many mistakes <b>Suck Martinez </b>makes nightly. A solid one from last night: he said <b>Atlanta Brave Dan Uggla </b>was continuing to have "re-production" issues. Yeah, that or run production issues.<br />
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Check out the <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/734913-ranking-the-most-blinged-out-championship-rings-in-sports/page/2">most blinged-out championship rings</a>. <br />
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<b>DeKev </b>passes on this great bit from <b>Jimmy Kimmel.</b><br />
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Also from <b>DeKev</b>, check out<b> Kevin Durant</b> getting loose in a local run this past weekend. Wow.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/OCJwoEHRU_A" width="640"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239671995333340850.post-24186284676794552112011-06-20T09:27:00.000-04:002011-06-20T09:29:07.199-04:00Summer!For the 17-year old <b>Vancouverite </b>that was photographed lighting a lit rag leading into the gas tank of a police cruiser, <a href="http://www.thestar.com/news/article/1011554--i-am-truly-ashamed-says-teen-involved-in-vancouver-riot">coming forward and apologizing takes some stones</a>, no doubt. It will cost very likely cost <b>Nathan Kotylak</b> a shot at the <b>Olympics</b> with<b> Canada's</b> water polo squad - yes, turns out we have one - but honest applause to the kid for coming correct. Don't hear the chorus of ostriches taking back their "rioters weren't <b>Canucks </b>fans or from <b>Vancouver</b>" line yet, which might be worse than the riot itself as far as ignorance goes.<br />
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<b>Buffalo </b><a href="http://t.co/LZAoLUZ"><b>Bills</b> fans should be nervous</a> about losing their team to <b>L.A.</b> <br />
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The <b>Florida Marlins</b> are now 1-18 for the month of June. Ouch!<br />
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The <b>NBA Draft</b> goes this Thursday night and the hand wringing in <b>Toronto</b> is already well in progress. I'm no fan of the "anti-Euro" view some have, but after taking <b>Andrea Bargnani</b> as #1 and seeing his less than rounded game, and giving the keys to that stiff <b>Jose Caleron</b>, I can see why some might be nervous at the prospect of another player from across the pond. <br />
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In series where the <b>Philadelphia Phillies</b> have visited an <b>AL West </b>team, they're now a perfectly terrible 0-6 in series wins. Why do I always find out these stats after?<br />
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Interleague play is going the way it typically has gone for a years. The <b>AL</b> is up 50-34. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://c0013819.cdn1.cloudfiles.rackspacecloud.com/x2_6ab9ddd" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://c0013819.cdn1.cloudfiles.rackspacecloud.com/x2_6ab9ddd" width="400" /></a></div>If you thought the <b>Toronto Blue Jays</b> playing "home" games at<b> Philadelphia</b> last year for the <b>G20</b> meetings in<b> Toronto</b> was lame, how about the <b>Florida Marlins</b>, who later this week will "host" the <b>Seattle Mariners</b> in <b>Seattle </b>because of - wait for it - a<b> U2 </b>show. But, judging by the picture at the right, it doesn't appear too many will even notice, other than the stench of "past it" emanating from <b>Sun Life Stadium</b>.<br />
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Speaking of the <b>Toronto Blue Jays</b>, the perfect storm is going to hit a home game. No, not an opener, or the <b>New York Yankees</b> or <b>Boston Red Sox</b> visiting: it appears likely <b>Roy Halladay </b>will pitch when the <b>Philadelphia Phillies </b>visit Toronto next weekend. Likely <b>Canada Day.</b> Somebody alert <b>Jays</b> staff at the <b>Rogers Centre</b>, they don't have a lot of practice with big crowds.<br />
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For all the talk of how great the <b>Toronto Blue Jays </b>pitching staff is or will be, it is worth noting that only three teams in all of baseball have given up more runs this year. <br />
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NHL salary cap has increased by 64 per cent since end of lockout. Started at $39 million cap. Floor is now $48 mil. Business is that good?<br />
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If <b>NFL</b> pre-season football is a joke, what does that make the<b> CFL's</b> version?<br />
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Here's a <a href="http://clutch.mtv.com/2011/06/17/racist-wwe-wrestling-moments/">top 10 of the most racist or xenophobic moments in WWE history.</a> Some of these are beauts. <br />
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Does it feel like <b>Summer </b>or what? <br />
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Left over from Wednesday is this gem of a quote: "These two teams hate each other but they despise each other". <b>Buck Martinez?</b> Nope, <b>Donald S. Cherry</b>, enemy of the <b>English</b> language and reason, between periods of Game 7. I even rolled back the PVR to make sure I heard it right. Damn <b>TFC</b> and<b> New England </b>had to be not only at the half, but at commercial, so ended up seeing the old dino.<br />
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One thing missed in the realignment discussion of Wednesday: two 15-team leagues would necessitate there are interleague games every day of the season so a team isn't left sitting.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239671995333340850.post-58014694426566863932011-06-16T10:40:00.002-04:002011-06-16T10:45:29.327-04:00Bru-win (thanks, GBVH)I could get into how embarrassing it is for your team to show up in a <b>Game 7</b> - at home - and effectively turtle in a 4-0 loss to a team you derided as inferior in goal at least. I could mock how the league's likely <b>MVP</b> this season<b> Daniel Sedin</b> guaranteed a win, <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/playoffs/2011/news/story?id=6664616">only to later backtrack and soften his words pre-game</a>, and then produce nothing of note. But why bother? The <b>Boston Bruins </b>should be the discussion here, because they were simply the better team top to bottom. Weeks back I said I didn't know how they were doing it with no true stars up front but maybe that was it, they got contributions top to bottom. And then there's <b>Tim Thomas</b>. There have been fistfuls of awesome goalies on playoff runs over the last few decades, and maybe it is the freshness of it, but I can't recall a performance over four rounds as awesome as that, and I've seen <b>Patrick Roy</b> (for me, still the most money goalie ever come playoff time), <b>Martin Brodeur</b> and more.<br />
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I could literally take down the internet with all my thoughts on the rioting last night so I'll try to keep it to a minimum. I will never - ever - understand how the response to your team losing in any game is to smash your town up. And I will never - ever - blame booze for it. I've got plenty of friends who would be listed as dependents if alcohol ever filed a tax return and not a single one has smashed up their town. I will also never - ever - understand what is so fascinating about people smashing up their town that you want to stick around taking pics and video of it, though I'm hoping that will aid in the clowns caught on digital being sent to the <b>Crow Bar Motel</b>. But for all the <b>Vancouver</b> snobbery I've seen and heard - and it is as beautiful a place I've ever been, maybe second to <b>Sydney, Australia </b>- there is these unassailable fact: <b>Toronto</b> never rioted when the <b>Blue Jays</b> won a pair of<b> World Series'</b> in the 90's, and <b>Philadelphia</b> - PHILAFREAKINGDELPHIA - didn't riot when the <b>Phillies </b>won a couple years back, or when the <b>Eagles</b> or <b>Flyers </b>lost. <b>New Yorkers </b>didn't smash up their town when the <b>Yankees</b> won - perhaps that is of routine. I'd love to know how many of the knuckleheads lobbing bottles, burning cars, smashing into stores and stabbing people have at one time or another derided soccer fans as nothing but a bunch of hooligans. So congratulations, <b>Vancouverites</b>. Way to do your city proud. Here's hoping you make the final and lose again next year, and that the cops don't come with half the restraint they showed early on last night.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a.yfrog.com/img612/8002/3elan.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="234" src="http://a.yfrog.com/img612/8002/3elan.png" width="320" /></a></div>Umm, what??<br />
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The <a href="http://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/nhl/article/1009328--two-game-7-tickets-sold-for-the-price-of-a-new-car">average ticket for last night's game in the resale market was $5,000.</a> Average! Some knucklehead paid $7,800 for each of his pair of tickets. Hope it was worth it!<br />
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Oh, and nice touch starting up the whining about injuries, <b>Canucks</b>. Am sure the <b>Bruins</b> were October fresh.<br />
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<b>Buster Olney</b> at <b>ESPN.com</b> says that between now and August 17th, the <b>Tampa Bay Rays </b>will play the <b>New York Yankees </b>and <b>Boston Red Sox</b> 20 times, and that a balanced schedule is more important to <b>Tampa, Baltimore </b>and<b> Toronto </b>than realignment. Right, but realignment would flatten that even moreso.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://desmond.yfrog.com/Himg738/scaled.php?tn=0&server=738&filename=lw8o.jpg&xsize=640&ysize=640" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://desmond.yfrog.com/Himg738/scaled.php?tn=0&server=738&filename=lw8o.jpg&xsize=640&ysize=640" width="320" /></a></div>I've seen some good anti-<b>Heat </b>pics this week, but really like this one. Let's just hope it doesn't end up on the back window of someone's car next to some lame graphic of how many people and pets are in their families. <br />
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Going into last night's action, the<b> New York Yankees</b> had <b>MLB's </b>third-best record (.569 win percentage). Despite being on pace for 92 wins, that would would be the <b>Yanks</b> second-lowest in 11 seasons.<br />
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The <b>Pittsburgh Pirates</b> are over .500 for the first time this late in the season since Aug 15, 1999. <br />
Speaking of the <b>Yankees</b>, with <b>Derek Jeter </b>on the DL, it is worth noting that the alleged <b>"Captain Clutch"</b> is batting .179 with runners in scoring position this season, the second worst in the majors for anyone with 75 plate appearances in such situations. His .649 OPS is ranked 138th out of 165 major leaguers qualified for the batting title. And nobody will think any warm body will not be able to replace his defence. <b> <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1640131509">Joel Sherman</a></b><a href="http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/yankees/injury_could_be_blessing_in_disguise_QsnHvYlLPpB1UschpLXnZN"> at the <b>NY Post</b> says<b> Jeter's</b> injury could be a blessing in disguise.</a><br />
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<b>Curtis Granderson</b> and <b>Mark Teixera</b> have combined for 42HRs for the Yankees, which is more than four teams - San Diego, Oakland, Minnesota and Houston - have in total.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lmvg5tnvYe1qlxgl0o1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lmvg5tnvYe1qlxgl0o1_500.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><b>Brock Anton, Canucks</b> fan, can expect a visit from the police any minute now. <br />
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It has been 15 years since a <b>Canadian</b> QB started in the not-so-<b>Canadian Football League</b>. 15?!?<br />
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Word is the <b>Winnipeg NHL</b> franchise is going to announce its team name and colours as soon as Tuesday. <br />
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If you saw none of the rioting videos, a small sampling below. This one is the longest of the bunch and gives a good taste of the kind of shit going on in <b>Van City</b>. <br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/4VzOUKODdZ4" width="425"></iframe> <br />
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Shame on you for lighting a 5-series on fire. Nice <b>Blake Griffin</b> impression from some loser <b>Canuck</b> fan. <br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/KR8rpXsuy6E" width="425"></iframe><br />
How about this nut shot for a <b>Vancouver Canucks</b> fan? <br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/2LBtDrcIntk" width="425"></iframe><br />
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Real smart, asshole.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/kD5l8p9b0P8" width="560"></iframe><br />
All 53 of <b>Lionel Messi's</b> goals this past season in one awesome 15 minute vid. You're welcome. <br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/poDn59tjNVM" width="560"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239671995333340850.post-55419661368678627782011-06-15T10:39:00.000-04:002011-06-15T10:39:52.241-04:00Anything of note happening tonight in the sports world? Oh yeah, that "Stanley Cup" thing comes to a conclusion. <b>Game 7</b>, as you all know, goes in <b>Vancouver</b> tonight with word the city is shutting down booze stores at 4pm to try to keep things under control. Yeah, closed doors will really slow down rioting crowds. I've barely hidden my disdain for the<b> Canucks</b> whining, diving and theatrics over the course of the playoffs, so it shouldn't be a big surprise I not only think<b> Boston</b> will win but am actually pulling for them, which is a surprise given my<b> Boston</b> hate, largely focused on the <b>Red Sox</b>. In big games, I look to the team with experience, which <b>Boston</b> has more of in <b>Mark Recchi</b> alone than <b>Vancouver</b> combined. I look to which team plays smarter, which is a huge edge to Boston with the likes of <b>Raffi Torres</b> and <b>Alex Burrows</b> on the other side. I look to the team that is coming in more loose, and the thought of <b>Roberto Luongo</b> with a proverbial noose around his neck right now doesn't inspire confidence, regardless of how well he's performed over the playoffs at home (exclusively). And if you're looking for the team with momentum, it has to be the Bruins who have been in every single game in <b>Vancouver</b>. Can the <b>Canucks</b> win a fourth at home? Sure. But there isn't a line anywhere that I wouldn't bet on<b> Boston</b> tonight. I'm saying <b>Bruins </b>win it 4-1.<br />
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<b>Canuck Daniel Sedin</b> is<a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/playoffs/2011/news/story?id=6659965"> guaranteeing a <b>Canucks</b> Game 7 win</a>. Given how he's performed of late, that's just another reason to hurt your man with a <b>Boston </b>wager. Have the <b>Canucks </b>not learned yet that chirping <b>Boston</b> hasn't exactly panned out for them?<br />
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The <b>Cleveland Indians</b> were 30-15 a mere 22 days ago. Since then they've been shut out more times (6) than they've won (5). Ouch.<br />
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<b>Yahoo! Sports</b> columnist <b>@DanWetzel </b>tweets: "Source w knowledge of<b> NFL</b> negotiations: by Friday could be "substantial framework if not a complete plan" to bring back to owners/players." In other signs of progress, have you noticed of late the rhetoric has quieted down substantially from both sides? This thing gets done with no season lost, as I've mentioned repeatedly for over the last year.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://desmond.yfrog.com/Himg612/scaled.php?tn=0&server=612&filename=1csmr.jpg&xsize=640&ysize=640" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://desmond.yfrog.com/Himg612/scaled.php?tn=0&server=612&filename=1csmr.jpg&xsize=640&ysize=640" width="238" /></a></div><b>Mark Cuban</b> is taking the<b> NBA </b>trophy everywhere since they've won it. I'm sure <b>NBA Commish David Stern</b> will be thrilled that this one has leaked (heyooo!) out. <br />
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A little disappointed that the <b>Toronto Blue Jays</b> have sent <b>Kyle Drabek </b>down to the minors. I was really enjoying his walk-infested, guaranteed-over-the-posted-total starts.<br />
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<b>Shaquille O'Neal</b> has often spoke over the years about a post-<b>NBA</b> career in law enforcement. Not sure how a<a href="http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Basketball/News/2011/06/15/18285111.html">llegations of a kidnapping to get a sex tape - starring him - returned</a> will play with that. He's not charged or alleged to be involved, but who steals sex tapes of other people back?<br />
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Haven't touched on baseball's realignment plans. If you've not heard, they're <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=6651634&campaign=rss&source=MLBHeadlines">finally considering balancing off the leagues at 15 squads a piece </a>with talk of <b>Houston</b> or<b> Florida </b>making the move to the <b>AL</b>. There's also talk that this<a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=6651634&campaign=rss&source=MLBHeadlines"> may lead to removing the divisions</a> - yes, please! - and see the top five teams qualify in a far more balanced format. If you're the<b> Toronto Blue Jays</b>, from a business perspective, you'll miss roughly a quarter of your home schedule being dates with the <b>New York Yankees</b> or <b>Boston Red Sox</b>, but, am guessing you'll like having a far more open route to the playoffs and playing meaningful games - in theory - longer into the year. Feasibly, you could see 3 or 4 teams from the traditional division make it. I love it. Not sure how they address interleague in that if a balanced schedule is the goal - and it should be - but have even seen some suggestion from the <b>Keith Law's</b> of the world that there is a chance, small albeit, that the <b>NL</b> even goes to a<b> DH</b>, which I personally would prefer. <a href="http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/rosenthal-realignment-proposal-022510"><b>Ken Rosenthal's</b> take suggests moving the <b>Boston Red Sox </b>to the <b>AL Central</b></a> helps as well, if they stay in divisions. Not sure how a city on the coast suddenly becomes in the middle, but that's just from a guy who doesn't like the geographical bent without fully going on geography. Here's my take: 15 teams in each, no divisions with balanced schedules, no interleague if you can't balance the schedule, ditch the DH. If you are to keep interleague, I suggest a rotation of three teams faced by each, home and away, and you keep changing opponents each year. Lose this fabricated "local rivalry" nonsense that exists only for a handful of teams. Thoughts?<br />
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I'm no fan of the whole "lime in beer" concept, but this ad featuring <b>UFC </b>octagon girl <b>Arianny Celeste</b> sure is damn good.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/xPpfcNinGLE" width="560"></iframe><br />
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Turns out <b>LeBron James </b>has made another<b><i> "The Decision"</i></b>. I still can't see him winning on his new team. Enjoy.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/9NHRD10DmCc" width="425"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239671995333340850.post-89836517629135455952011-06-14T12:04:00.000-04:002011-06-14T12:04:11.136-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ll-media.tmz.com/2011/06/13/0613-t-shirt-tmz-ex-wm-2-credit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="http://ll-media.tmz.com/2011/06/13/0613-t-shirt-tmz-ex-wm-2-credit.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Check out the shirt <b>Dallas Maverick DeShawn Stevenson </b>was rocking on Sunday night. If you can't guess, he's asking <b>Lebron</b> "how's my <b>Dirk</b> taste". Beautiful. We'll forgive the lack of a question mark. Guys with neck ink are not to be messed with.<br />
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Not sure which I like better: <b>"Luongoal", "LeBrongo"</b> or <b>"LuGongShow"</b>. Either way, <b>Roberto Luongo</b> is a shell of himself when he's outside the comforts of home ice. <b>Luongo </b>lasted all of three goals and less than a period last night as the<b> Boston Bruins</b> evened the <b>Stanley Cup Finals</b> at 3-3 with a 5-2 win. Maybe he shouldn't have been talking so much junk about the <b>Bruins</b> and how <b>Tim Thomas </b>hasn't been as forthcoming with compliments for <b>Luongo </b>as <b>Luongo</b> has of <b>Thomas</b>? Maybe that's because <b>Thomas</b> knows he's a mirage on the road? <b>Game 7</b> goes tomorrow night and it says here the <b>Bruins</b> win it. They've been close in every game in <b>Van City </b>and the <b>Canucks</b> aren't suddenly going to grow a pair after how badly they were abused last night, the <b>Sedin</b> twins in particular. If the <b>Bruins</b> score another pair quick, <b>Luongo</b> might not only not finish the game, he might well be done in <b>Canucks</b> colours, which I'm told would be his preference in any case.<br />
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The<b> Canucks</b> will be minus <b>Mason Raymond</b> if early reports of him having suffered a fractured vertebrae in that strange hit just 20 seconds into the game.<br />
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Bodog has its 2012 NBA championship odds up. Some notables: <b>Miami Heat </b>(5/2), <b>LA Lakers </b>(11/2), <b>Chicago Bulls </b>(6/1), <b>Oklahoma City Thunder</b> (8/1), <b>Dallas Mavs</b> (10/1) <b>Boston Celts </b>(12/1), <b>San Antonio Spurs</b> (20/1). <b>Bodog </b>gives the <b>Toronto Raptors</b> an <b>NBA</b>-worst 150-1 odds to win the 2012 title. Seems reasonable.<br />
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How big is first goal in this year's <b>Stanley Cup</b>? The team scoring first has won every game in the Stanley Cup final, as has the home team. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://cdn.someecards.com/someecards/filestorage/lebron-james-miami-heat-finals-choke-workplace-ecards-someecards.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="http://cdn.someecards.com/someecards/filestorage/lebron-james-miami-heat-finals-choke-workplace-ecards-someecards.png" width="320" /></a></div>It dawned on me this morning that back in December, when the <b>Cleveland Cavaliers</b> were hammered in <b>LA</b> by the<b> Lakers, LeBron James</b> took to <b>Twitter </b>and spoke of God seeing all and karma coming into play. If that was the case then, <b>LBJ</b>, it is double the case now. Enjoy, loser. I love that in years prior he would argue he didn't have enough help. Now, he's in the "didn't help enough" group. <b>LeBron's </b>8.9 point drop off from his regular season points per game average to what he averaged in the Finals is also historically the biggest drop off of any player. Here are the<a href="http://bit.ly/jKa1BG%20"> top jokes at <b>LeBron's</b> expense</a>. The <a href="http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-heat/sfl-miami-heat-lebron-james-s061311,0,2825040.story"><b>Miami Sun-Sentinel </b>says that the <b>Heat</b> could be broken down to just the Big 2.5 this off-season. </a> Me, I wouldn't be shocked to see them move <b>Chris Bosh</b>.<br />
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That's all for today, I've kicked the wounded dog named<b> LeBron </b>enough. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239671995333340850.post-39622169303458696782011-06-13T11:51:00.016-04:002011-06-13T11:59:27.198-04:00The Joy of Def-Heat - LeBron delivers on "not 1" portion of famed quoteOne thing clear during the entire <b>NBA Finals</b> was that the <b>Heat </b>core lack humility, and even after losing last night - decisively - they weren't showing any, though in a step forward, <b>LeBron James</b> did stick around to shake at least <b>Jason Kidd's</b> hand post-game. Over the weekend, we learned that <b>LeBron James</b> and <b>Dwayne Wade</b> were caught on camera mock coughing and sniffling, making light of <b>Dirk Nowitzki's</b> fever/flu going into game 5. Not sure how that works for them, considering they lost that game. In the end, the <b>Mavs </b>sent the <b>Heat</b> to defeat with a 105-95 win last night that any non-<b>Heat</b> fans were ecstatic over, judging by what I saw on <b>Twitter, Facebook</b> and via email. <br />
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I was thinking about the "most hated player" thing over the weekend and I've cemented<b> LeBron James</b> in my mind as that, particularly after last night (more on that below in the videos). There have been guys with huge profiles that make huge jack before, and have moved teams famously. One happens to play for my fav baseball team in <b>New York</b> and goes by the name of <b>Alex Rodriguez</b>. <b>A-Rod</b> has had a penchant for putting his foot in his mouth as much as <b>Fred Flintstone</b> in his prime, as does<b> LeBron</b>. But a few things<b> A-Rod </b>never did was hammer his previous team/city and in fact, hometown the way <b>LeBron</b> did. Nor did he make bold promises of seven plus championships before ever taking the floor (or field) with his new team. And when <b>A-Rod</b> had some playoff failures, he owned them. Not<b> LeBron</b>, he repeatedly points the finger at teammates both current and former and betrays his obvious talent and ability. <b>A-Rod </b>didn't talk down a media member the way <b>LeBron </b>did in telling him to watch the game-tape after Game 5 again and he "might come up with a better question tomorrow" for why <b>LeBron </b>disappeared. Which brings us to the next point, and one where you can't discuss <b>A-Rod</b> at all. I'm not sure there is a worse thing that you can be called in sport than a quitter, and we've seen twice now that <b>LeBron</b> has been referred to as a quitter. Last year against <b>Boston</b> he completely shut down and mailed in game five. This year, he did the same repeatedly in the Finals, averaging all of three points in the fourth quarter for the series. And even after<b> Dallas Mav DeShawn Stevenson</b> very publicly said it wasn't the <b>Mavs</b> defence that marginalized <b>LeBron</b> in Game 5 - a game<b> LeBron</b> was quoted as saying was do or die and the biggest of his life - and after noted hard man <b>Chris Bosh</b> (severe sarcasm there, folks) said they needed more of him, and <b>Dwayne Wade</b> said they needed more assertiveness from <b>LeBron</b>, he didn't exactly crank it up last night, did he? This guys fear of failure is damn impressive, but it doesn't lift him, it overwhelms him. <b>LeBron James</b>: quitter. Until proven otherwise, a big game nothing. A passenger. I love it.<br />
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The line of the post-game pressers last night went to a strangely-silent-til-after-the-game <b>Mark Cuban</b>: "who gives a fuck about <b>Lebron James</b>?" Well put, MC. Enjoy that title. And in a little blast from the past, check out this article from last <b>November </b>in which<a href="http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/11/28/1946608/cuban-cautioned-lebron-about-miami.html"> <b>Cuban</b> warned<b> LeBron</b></a> that no team have ever signed a couple free agents and automatically went on to win. <br />
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<b>LeBron James</b> took to<b> Twitter</b> to say that<b> God</b> said it wasn't his time to win. Yeah, the <b>NBA Finals</b> is right up there on <b>God's</b> "to do" list, <b>LeBron</b>. Grow the hell up. <br />
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The very hilarious and <a href="http://twitter.com/HaHaWhitePPL/status/80103425857159169">over the top <b>HaHaWhitePpl</b> post-game on Twitter:</a> The only thing <b>King James</b> is the <b>King</b> of, is never winning a fucKING championship.<br />
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<b>Cleveland Plain Dealer</b> headline: "Decision:<b> Mavs</b>!" <br />
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Love the news that the <b>Mavs</b> brought the trophy, ugly though it may be,<a href="http://www.tmz.com/2011/06/13/dallas-mavericks-miami-heat-nba-championship-party-liv-nightclub-dirk-nowitski-mark-cuban/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter"> to the same club where<b> LeBron's </b>mom was arrested earlier this year.</a><br />
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Nevermind <b>"Real Sports"</b>, <b>MLSE </b>really should have named their sports bar<b> The Draught Lottery</b>. Admittedly, stolen by some random person on <b>Twitter</b>.<br />
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After <b>Vancouver </b>won Game 5, the <b>Canucks</b> attempted to sell the broadcast rights to their <b>Stanley Cup </b>parade. <b>NHL </b>said no. Karma has yet to respond, but it will get a chance tonight as these two go at it in <b>Boston</b> for Game 6 with the <b>Canucks</b> having a chance to close it off, despite only scoring six goals in five games to date. It says here this series is going seven, and the <b>Bruins</b> will win it.<br />
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In 45 seconds, <b>LeBron James</b> clearly illustrates he's the biggest motherfucker in sports. <br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/2dAa8CVOJLg" width="425"></iframe><br />
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<b>Adolf Hitler </b>weighs in on <b>LeBron's</b> flame out and the <b>Mavs </b>victory. <br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/6eES8xEjclQ" width="560"></iframe><br />
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<b>Vancouver Whitecap <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_820176102">Eric Hassli </a></b><a href="http://www.mlssoccer.com/videos?catid=114&id=15800">scores maybe the best goal I've seen in my life</a>. Incredible. So good the fans in <b>Seattle </b>even applauded him for it.<br />
<object data="data:application/x-silverlight-2," height="324" type="application/x-silverlight-2" width="480"><param name="source" value="http://mls.neulion.com/mlsvp/scripts/mls.xap"/><param name="initParams" value="catid=114,id=15800,shareembed=true,server=http://mls.neulion.com/mlsvp/,pageurl=http://www.mlssoccer.com/videos?id=15800&catid=114"/><param name="background" value="Transparent" /><param name="minRuntimeVersion" value="3.0.40624.0" /><param name="autoUpgrade" value="true" /><param name="Windowless" value="true" /><param name="enableHtmlAccess" value="true"/><a href="http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=149156&v=3.0.40624.0"><img src="http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=108181" alt="Get Microsoft Silverlight" border="0"/></a></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239671995333340850.post-82805907031115480062011-06-10T11:08:00.001-04:002011-06-10T11:48:21.273-04:00LeBron comes up small<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://desmond.yfrog.com/Himg736/scaled.php?tn=0&server=736&filename=1qr.jpg&xsize=640&ysize=640" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="http://desmond.yfrog.com/Himg736/scaled.php?tn=0&server=736&filename=1qr.jpg&xsize=640&ysize=640" width="320" /></a></div><a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/ian_thomsen/06/10/mavs.heat.game5/index.html?eref=twitter_feed"><b>Dallas</b> 112 <b>Miami </b>103.</a> Hey <b>LeBron</b>...oh-oh! You called that the biggest game of your life and came up with<i> that</i>? A sign in <b>Dallas</b> last night read: "not 6, not 7, not 8...points". To that, if all goes well in <b>Miami</b> in the next few days, you can add "not 6, not 7, not 8...championships" that <b>LeBron </b>spoke of. I really can't think of a more despised athlete right now. As for the game itself, ridiculously entertaining stuff.<br />
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What time is it in <b>Vancouver</b>? Twelve past<b> Luongo</b>. The <b>Canucks</b> host the <b>Boston Bruins </b>tonight in a pivotal game and with a world of pressure on the home side's goalie and team overall. A quick <b>Bruin</b> start would be awesome to see the panic set in. One group sure to panic is staff at the <b>Rogers Arena</b>. As soon as the game is done, they'll be working frantically to get the arena ready for<b> UFC 131</b> tomorrow night with <b>Junior Dos Santos</b> and <b>Shane Carwin</b> slated for what could be an explosive heavyweight main event.<br />
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For the first time ever last night, in 161 games,<b> David Ortiz</b> was hit by a <b>New York Yankee</b> pitcher. <b>CC Sabathia </b>finally drilled him on the leg after a couple days of talking junk and over the top celebration of a homer. You'd think that got the biggest ovation of the night at <b>Yankee Stadium</b>, right? Nope, when they showed<b> LeBron </b>and the <b>Heatles</b> lost, that got the biggest ovation. <b>Ortiz</b> blamed the media post-game for getting hit: "I finally got hit. I hope you motherfuckers are happy." Classy. The<b> Sox </b>are now 8-1 against the <b>Yanks </b>this year and have swept twice at <b>Yankee Stadium</b>. Word is in honour of the <b>Yankees </b>rapidly sinking season,<a href="http://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&source=video&cd=5&ved=0CEAQtwIwBA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DS-Xrlf3taEo&rct=j&q=taps&tbm=vid&ei=sDLyTf3DN4La0QHbzLT5Cw&usg=AFQjCNEnwVmXc8NhXMZKvHoMo4bVXPV24A&cad=rja"> there is talk of swapping out "God Bless America" in the 7th inning with this.</a><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-Xrlf3taEo"></a><br />
<b>Usain Bolt</b> says that he <a href="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/927021/usain-bolt:-i-could-play-for-man-utd-when-i-retire?campaign=rss&source=soccernet&cc=5901">could and hopes to play for <b>Manchester United</b></a> "because I've watched football over the years". If it were that easy, I'd be playing that, the <b>NFL</b> version, <b>NHL</b> and on your tube for some <b>WWE </b>action as well because I've "watched a lot". Give me a break, <b>Bolt</b>.<br />
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<b>TSN Radio's James Cybulski </b>asked<b> Dan Shulman</b> if <b>Jose Bautista</b> was approaching "legendary" status. Yeah, after a strong year and two months, the man's a legend. Freaking please.<br />
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<b>ProFootballTalk</b> looks at the<a href="http://bleacherreport.com/tb/b9Pl7"> top <b>NFL </b>candidates to move to <b>Los Angeles</b></a>. No such article appears for <b>Toronto</b>.<br />
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Big sports weekend ahead with both the <b>NHL</b> and <b>NBA </b>finals winding down. We could well see the end of the <b>NBA</b> season for quite some time if they go lockout. Enjoy.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239671995333340850.post-38533873369763620232011-06-09T09:11:00.001-04:002011-06-09T09:11:57.906-04:00<b>Road Warriors</b>, the <b>Vancouver Canucks </b>are not. Start with goalie <b>Roberto Luongo's </b>and his 2010-11 playoff splits, prior to tonight: HOME 9-3, 1.84, .937, 3 SO. ROAD 5-5, and the rest of his line going into last night, since gone worse: 3.31, .892, 0 SO. The<b> Bruins</b> pounded the<b> Canucks</b> on the boards, and the score board, for a 4-0 win that was rarely in doubt. Oh, and if you're keeping score at home, the <b>Canucks </b>five goals scored in four games isn't exactly awe inspiring stuff for a team that - incredibly hilariously - that one <b>CBC </b>talking head compared to<b> Barcelona</b> but was laughing too hard to recall who said it - yeah, compare one of the best teams ever with a team that's likely to be forgotten around<b> July </b>even if they do win. The <b>Bruins</b> scored 8 goals on <b>Cam Neely </b>night, and 4 on <b>Bobby Orr</b> night last night, and when the series goes back to <b>Boston</b>, they're going to be looking for a <b>Ray Bourque</b> night - 7 or 77 will do. Remember, you can't spell <b>"Canucks"</b> without "s-u-c-k". <br />
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The <b>San Diego Padres</b> have been shut out 10 times in 60 games. On the other side of the coin, the<b> New York Yankees</b> haven't been shut out 10 times since 1991.<br />
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The <b>Saskatchewan Roughriders </b>now<a href="http://my.si.com/1SXbig"> hold the rights to <b>Ohio State</b> cast-off <b>Terrelle Pryor</b></a>. Yeah, a season in<b> Regina </b>will really keep <b>Pryor </b>on the straight and narrow. How are the tattoo shops out there? <br />
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<b>Ecuador-Greece</b> played a soccer exhibition match at <b>Citi Field </b>in <b>New York</b>, home of the <b>Mets</b>. They drew 39,656 fans, or more than any<b> Mets</b> game other than home opener. Not bad for two teams that nobody would call powerhouses, or really at all interesting.<br />
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The list of athletes who have something objectionable posted on <b>Twitter</b> and <a href="http://deadspin.com/5809158/a-long-list-of-sports-figures-whove-also-claimed-their-twitter-was-hacked">later claim they were hacked </a>is a long one. Check it out, with the subject matter that cause them to come up with that story. <br />
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The <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/708537-wwe-over-the-limit-kiss-my-foot-match-and-the-15-grossest-things-in-wwe-history">15 grossest things in <b>WWE</b> history.</a> Can't believe <b>Chyna</b> didn't make the cut.<br />
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Quick on today as I'm into an all day meeting. Boo.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239671995333340850.post-91848334039851212662011-06-08T10:24:00.000-04:002011-06-08T10:25:05.427-04:00LeBron comes up small<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://8.media.sportspickle.cvcdn.com/44/67/7fd801f307da85a457b1fa6be1407787.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="http://8.media.sportspickle.cvcdn.com/44/67/7fd801f307da85a457b1fa6be1407787.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Umm...seriously? <br />
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Funniest comment I read after the <b>Boston Bruins </b>8-1 win <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/sportspickle">from <b>The Sports Pickle:</b></a> I'm suspicious. Usually when a Boston team is playing this well they're on steroids or have illegally filmed the opponent's practices. <b>Game 4</b> goes tonight in <b>Beantown</b>.<br />
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<b>Vancouver Canuck Aaron Rome </b>has been suspended for four games for his hit on <b>Nathan Horton</b>, who will be out at least four games with a concussion. How many games did<b> Sean Avery</b> get for talking junk about <b>Elisha Cuthbert</b> again? Was more than four, no? <br />
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The <b>Dallas Mavs</b> have evened the <b>NBA Finals </b>with the <b>Miami Heat</b> with am 86-83 win that landed right on the three point spread. Damn <b>Vegas</b> is good. No matter what happens next game in Dallas, the series will get decided in <b>Miami.</b> Can't wait to see what that kind of pressure does to <b>LeBron James</b> and <b>Chris Bosh</b>.<br />
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Since the <b>Toronto Blue Jays</b> media and fans love leading the league in <i>anything</i> so much, regardless of sample size, here's another: <b>Kyle Drabek</b> leads the game in walks issued and is on pace for 130 free passes. <b>ESPN's Keith Law</b> told <b>ESPN's Baseball Today Podcast</b> he'd be more surprised to see him sent down to the minors than hit the DL with an elbow issue. Oh-oh!<br />
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If you've been thinking it is a bit odd to see <b>Blackberry</b> so prominently advertising in the <b>Stanley Cup Finals</b> - an ad package worth into seven figures - then it shouldn't seem so odd to read from Forbes that the stories circulating are that <b>NHL Commissioner <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1348009259">Gary Bettman</a></b><a href="http://blogs.forbes.com/mikeozanian/2011/06/07/nhl-blackberry-sponsorship-means-balsilie-still-in-the-game/"> has told<b> Jim Balsillie</b> he'll get a team</a> provided he stays in line and doesn't make any more spectacles. <br />
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The <b>Miami Heat </b>parade route has been leaked already. Map to your right.<br />
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<a href="http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/cultist/Miami%20Heat%20Parade%20Map500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/cultist/Miami%20Heat%20Parade%20Map500.jpg" width="320" /></a>Here are <b>Michael Jordan's NBA Finals</b> point totals per game: 36, 33, 29, 28, 30, 39, 39, 26, 32, 46, 33, 31, 42, 44, 55, 41, 33, 28, 29, 36, 23, 26, 22, 31, 38, 26, 22, 38, 38, 33, 37, 24, 34, 28, 45. And someone wants to say that<b> LeBron James</b> is better than him? <b>LeBron</b> had all of eight points last night and was largely ineffective on both sides of the floor. Case closed, not that there ever was one. <br />
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Buster Olney notes that the <b>New York Mets</b> are playing without <b>Johan Santana, David Wright</b>, <b>Ike Davis</b>, and getting little from the corpse known as <b>Jason Bay</b>, and they're almost at .500. Not too shabby, <b>Mets</b>.<br />
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As if the city of <b>Detroit </b>hasn't had enough misery poured on it, word is the <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=6636897">Pistons are looking at Isaiah Thomas as coach</a>.<br />
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And finally today, remember this original of yours truly: you can't spell <a href="http://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=9&ved=0CGkQFjAI&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guardian.co.uk%2Ffilm%2F2011%2Fjun%2F06%2Fhuman-centipede-sequel-bbfc&rct=j&q=human%20centipede&ei=DX_vTcjKDMLGgAeN3umUDw&usg=AFQjCNHoB96dN17QFtisI4BgCAx5diyJlA&cad=rja">"Human Centipede"</a> without "H-E-A-T". If you're not sure about what the former refers too, be sure to click the link.<br />
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In last night's <b>Toronto Blue Jay </b>victory, at the end of the second inning, play by play man <b>Buck Martinez</b> told viewers at the end of the second inning that "the jays are leading 5-3". The score was 4-1 at the time. But, there were 5 hits for the <b>Jays</b> and 3 for <b>KC</b>. <br />
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Chick fight at <b>Wendy's</b>, and this one gets real nasty. Is that a dude pounding on one at the end? Just goes to show, never mess with a woman's <b>Baconator</b>.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/nEuxvRIqMx8" width="480"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239671995333340850.post-31471938100579842002011-06-07T10:25:00.002-04:002011-06-07T10:54:55.240-04:00Bruins throttle Canucks<b>Game 3</b> of the <b>Stanley Cup Finals </b>saw things get real ugly in more ways than one. First,<b> Boston Bruin </b>playoff stud <b>Nathan Horton</b> was stretchered out after a nasty blind side hit from <b>Vancouver Canuck Aaron Rome</b>. If you didn't see the hit - what rock are you living under? Here it is again. Nasty. Had to laugh that post-game, <b>Don Cherry</b> said <b>Rome</b> would get <i>a game</i>. I've got my money on rest of the series, with 5-10 games to go next season. Of course, when<b> Ron MacLean</b> said between periods that <b>Horton</b> was "moving his extremities" when he left the building, <b>Cherry</b> added he was "moving his hands and legs too" so you can see what his thoughts are worth. And no, he wasn't being funny. <b>Horton's</b> playoffs are over with a bad concussion.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/pUYqTE3cnuQ" width="560"></iframe><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://media.thestar.topscms.com/images/ea/b9/395b24fc48bdabd77ed2446b34ad.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://media.thestar.topscms.com/images/ea/b9/395b24fc48bdabd77ed2446b34ad.jpeg" width="264" /></a></div>Of course, the other key way the game got nasty was on the scoreboard: the <b>Bruins</b> pasted the <b>Canucks</b> 8-1 after the <b>Horton</b> hit rallied them. Down the stretch, predictably, things got testy as they tend to do in blowouts, and players were getting tossed left and right and <b>Milan Lucic</b>, among others, even waved a pair of fingers in the face of Game 1 biter and all round dirt merchant <b>Alex Burrows</b>. There was a whole lot of hate on last night, and the Bruins took more than a few runs at the <b>Sedin </b>twins. <b>Game 4</b> goes tomorrow and it should be quite interesting, a lot more interesting than the first couple games were anyway. Up today,<b> Rome</b> is on the carpet with the league. <b> Damien Cox</b> speculated that he might get a game, five, or twenty...or <b>Horton</b> might get a delay of game penalty, such being the logic of <b>NHL </b>discipline. Solid.<br />
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The last year before this the active leader in wins as a pitcher had under 200 wins? How' bout 1879.<br />
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The <b>NFL</b> is<a href="http://bleacherreport.com/tb/b9LJa"> prepared for a season as short as eight weeks</a>? What would they do, just play divisional opponents? That'd be a real credible <b>Super Bowl</b> winner. <br />
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In <b>Dirk Nowitzki's</b> 1998 <b>NBA Draft</b>, six of the top 20 picks were white <b>Americans</b>. None made an <b>All-Star Game</b>. <b>Dirk </b>and the <b>Dallas Mavs </b>host<b> Miami </b>tonight in Game 4 of their final series.<br />
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Great story on <b>Cincinnati Red Brandon Phillips</b>. A 14-year old suggested to <b>Phillips</b> on <b>Twitter</b> that he should come out and watch his team play that night and with the<b> Reds</b> off that day, <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/Brandon-Phillips-shocks-Twitter-follower-by-show?urn=mlb-wp7003"><b>Phillips </b>surprised the boy and his team with an appearance. </a>Very cool.<br />
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If you're like me, this will stun you. The <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/nhl/2011-06-06-horton-stretcher_N.htm">nickname for <b>Boston Bruin Nathan Horton</b></a>, as confirmed by coach<b> Claude Julien</b>, is...believe it or not..."Horty".<br />
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Why I sometimes hate <b>NL</b> baseball:<b> LA Dodgers </b>pitcher <b>Ted Lilly</b> is now on an 0-42 run at the plate.<br />
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<a href="http://www.goldcup.org/page/GoldCup/Home/0,,12802,00.html">The <b>Gold Cup</b> is in full swing</a>, the<b> North</b> and<b> Central American</b> regional tourney. <b>Canada </b>faces the host <b>U.S</b>. in <b>Detroit </b>at <b>Ford Field</b> tonight. <b> Uncle Sam's Army</b> will be in a surly mood I'm sure after they were pounded 4-0 by world champion <b>Spain</b> on the weekend, but <b>Canada</b> has been known to surprise in this tourney. 8pm kickoff on<b> SportsNet One</b>.<br />
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The <b>Cleveland Indians</b> are sliding badly, having dropped five straight. Not good timing, with the rest of the division riding streaks of a game (<b>Chicago</b> and <b>KC</b>), three games (<b>Detroit</b>) and five games (<b>Minnesota</b>). The slide has seen the hot <b>New York Yankees</b> move into top spot in the <b>AL</b>. Not bad when the <b>Yankees</b> offence - homers aside - has yet to really get going this year.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239671995333340850.post-75785675875810412492011-06-06T10:16:00.000-04:002011-06-06T10:16:34.742-04:00The <b>Miami Heat </b>took a 2-1 series lead last night with an 88-86 win over the <b>Dallas Mavs</b> in the <b>Lone Star State</b>. The <b>Mavs</b> trailed most of the game and could never seem to find the extra gear to break away when they did get close. Needless to say, Game 4 falls under "must win" as 3-1 is curtains in the <b>NBA </b>typically.<br />
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The <b>Vancouver Canucks</b> are half way to their first <b>Stanley Cup </b>win thanks to Saturday's 3-2 overtime win. It has been a tight series thus far but the <b>Canucks</b> seem to be in total control of this one. Perhaps things change in <b>Boston</b> tonight for Game 3.<br />
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After <b>Chicago</b> series, <b>Scottie Pippen</b> was declaring that <b>LeBron James</b> was better than one <b>Michael Jordan. </b> So far this series, it appears to me at least that<b> LeBron</b> is more suited to comparisons with <b>Pippen</b> himself. And how awesome will it be if <b>Dwayne Wade</b> ends up taking the series <b>MVP</b>? I'm sure he won't even contain how happy he is that "<b>LeBron</b> came here and joined me". Emphasis on "joined me".<br />
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Love the indignation of <b>Jeff Van Gundy</b> during last night's Game 3 of the <b>NBA Final</b> when a pop held by a fan in the front row spilled on the floor when players chased a loose ball for the delay it caused. Yeah, the 87 timeouts a game are fine though. Come on. <br />
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Why interleague baseball continues to make no sense in terms of scheduling: the <b>Milwaukee Brewers</b> this year will face both the <b>Boston Red Sox </b>and <b>New York Yankees</b>. Their divisional rival, <b>St. Louis</b>, will face neither.<br />
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Baseball's schedule maker sure was kind to the<b> Toronto Blue Jays</b> the last four weekends as they've faced these cream puffs: <b>Minnesota</b>, <b>Houston</b>, <b>Chicago White Sox </b>and <b>Baltimore</b>, all last place teams save for the <b>ChiSox</b>, who just moved out of second last to <b>Minnesota</b> in the <b>AL Central</b>. The <b>Jays</b> start a set with the sinking <b>KC Royals</b> today.<br />
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June has been a dead zone for the <b>Toronto Blue Jays</b> the last few seasons, judging by this: from 2008 through 2010, the <b>Jays</b> have navigated the first two months of the season in a reasonable 91-73. But in <b>June</b>, they are a combined 31-47.<br />
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Former <b>NHLer <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1554353869">Donald Brashear</a></b><a href="http://sportsclimax.com/boxing/nhl-enforcer-brashear-wins-first-mma-fight/"> has entered the <b>MMA</b> ranks for his post-hockey career</a>, and opened with a win. <br />
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<b>Toronto FC's</b> director of player development <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/story/2011/06/02/sp-paul-mariner.html"><b>Paul Mariner</b> says the team is moving along </a>- at a snails pace was left unsaid - and continues to look for players with the right skill set to play the system manager <b>Aron Winter</b> is trying to employ. I'm all for the system, but the odd result along the way to show it will work long term wouldn't hurt. Saturday's scoreless draw at home against lowly <b>Sporting KC </b>may have been one of the dullest games I've seen ever. Speaking of <b>KC</b>, they've<a href="http://videos.kansascity.com/vmix_hosted_apps/p/media?id=92843581"> yet to play a home game this year as they await completion of their stadium, which is about done looking at this vid and in time for their June 9th home opener, and damn impressive.</a><br />
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<b>Texas Ranger Alexi Ogando </b>is a bit of a feel good story this year for coming from out of nowhere to a 6-0 record with a 2.20 ERA. That is, of course, if you ignore the five years <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=AmDkLL52RfQn334ZbsUfNjgRvLYF?slug=jp-passan_alexi_ogando_journey_majors_060311">he spent in jail for human trafficking</a>.<br />
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Speaking of the <b>Rangers</b>, they're scoring about two runs more a game when <b>Josh Hamilton</b> is in the lineup, so his health is a big deal to state the obvious.<br />
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There are currently 10 pitchers with a WHIP of 1.00 or less in baseball. In 2001 no pitcher posted a WHIP of 1.00 or less. Runs per game are also down for the fifth straight year. While the easy and obvious reason would be drug testing, <a href="http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/more_sports/more_than_just_ped_crackdown_behind_rGzoSGVUjdhcdzfLiYTj2H"><b>Joel Sherman </b>at the<b> New York Post</b> says "but wait, there's more!"</a><br />
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If <b>Carlos Zambrano</b> is looking for a way out of life as a <b>Chicago Cub</b>, his post-game tirade in which he <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/news/story?id=6629129&campaign=rss&source=MLBHeadlines">repeatedly called the team embarrassing, a <b>Triple-A</b> squad, and called out closer<b> Carlos Marmol</b> for how he pitched to <b>St. Louis Cardinal Ryan Theriot</b> late,</a> ought to do it. <b>Albert Pujols</b> hit two straight walk-off shots off the Cubs the last two days.<br />
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It took all of 17 minutes for the <b>Winnipeg</b> should-be-<b>Jets </b>to sell out their 13,000 season tickets. Never a doubt. Shame <b>Gary Bettman</b> didn't know that before he opened his mouth.<br />
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A 75-year old<b> Belgian</b> man cracks five soccer balls off the bar - intentionally - in 18 seconds. Damn good. Seems real too with the trees moving naturally in the background from what I can tell.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/APb1BLJoJt0" width="560"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239671995333340850.post-57564929605408596972011-06-03T10:15:00.002-04:002011-06-03T10:33:52.719-04:00When facing a decent opponent, it is always best to never give them a personal reason to fight harder when you're already winning handily. Guess <b>Miami Heat's Dwayne Wade</b> never figured that one out. He scored a three pointer with 7:14 left to put <b>Miami</b> up 88-73 in game two, and it looked like the <b>Heat</b> were going to coast to victory. Except he went and posed in front if the <b>Mavs</b> bench. Bad move. Immediately after, the fired up <b>Mavs </b>went on a 20-2 run and ended up winning the game 95-93. Game three goes in<b> Dallas</b> on Sunday. <br />
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Since the <b>NBA Finals </b>went to 2-3-2 format in 1985, a series has been tied 1-1 a total of 11 times. The winner of Game 3 has won all 11 Finals. Pivotal film, anyone?<br />
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Some <b>NFL </b>coaches are going through mock practices with the league locked out, some are looking like they're singers in a legendary rock band. See <a href="http://onestopnewsstand.com/seattle/pete-carroll-now-sings-for-guided-by-voices"><b>Pete Carroll</b>, lead singer of one of my fav acts ever, <b>Guided By Voices</b></a>? Thanks to <b>GBVH</b> for the linkage.<br />
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The <a href="http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/06/02/bills-to-unveil-new-uniforms-on-june-24/related/"><b>Buffalo Bills</b> will be launching their new uniforms on June 24th </a>during a four hour - that's FOUR hour - unveiling that will obviously not be including any current players.<br />
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<b>LA Angel of Anaheim Vernon Wells</b> has made $2,981,481.48 since he was placed on the DL. Only 8 current <b>Toronto Blue Jays</b> players make that much for the entire year.<br />
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It isn't <b>Georges St. Pierre</b> vs. <b>Anderson Silva</b>, but it might end up being even better. <b> GSP</b> is slated to fight <b>Strikeforce </b>champion <b>Nick Diaz</b> - <b>UFC</b> owns <b>Strikeforce</b> now, of course - on October 29th at <b>UFC 137</b> at <b>Mandalay Bay </b>in <b>Las Vegas</b>. <b>Diaz </b>is a beast, and won't stand by eating punches like <b>GSP's</b> last two opponents did. In other <b>UFC </b>news, they've got a free card on <b>SportsNet </b>tomorrow night at 9pm for the <b>Ultimate Finale</b> with<b> Ramsey Nejim</b> fighting <b>Tony Ferguson</b> for a contract in a too-tough-to-call fight, though I hope the former whips him. There's also<b> Anthony "Showtime" Pettis</b> fighting against the always electric <b>Clay Guida</b> in another fight aired. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKBOlSB5Jl0">You may remember <b>Pettis</b> from this highlite at the 9 second mark</a>.<br />
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Not sure why one would look to get an autograph from <b>Lionel Messi</b>, and<a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/soccer/06/02/messi.punch.ap/index.html?eref=twitter_feed"> then try to punch the man</a>. Word is <b>The Father</b> prevented said attempt from even landing on <b>The Son</b>.<br />
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Tweets the always hilarious @PaulyPeligroso: <b>Hitler </b>is a huge cock-block for dudes named <b>Adolf.</b><br />
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<b>Sidney Crosby</b> has only now been <a href="http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/breaking/s_740137.html">cleared for off-ice workouts</a> after his setback in early <b>April.</b> You get the feeling his condition is a whole lot worse than we've been told it is? What a shame it would be to see his career cut short - safe to say he's already lost some years off it - to concussions. That would make two guys who were top of the game - along with <b>Eric Lindros</b> - lost to concussions essentially.<br />
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The <b>Winnipeg NHL </b>franchise is selling season ticket packages in their <b><i>"Drive to 13" </i></b>(thousand) is under way for existing corporate and season holders of the <b>Manitoba Moose</b>, and they're over 4,100 tickets sold already with the general on-sale tomorrow at noon. I'm going to guess they do the 13,000 somewhere 12:30pm <b>Winnipeg</b> time. <a href="http://driveto13.com/presale.php">Follow along here.</a><br />
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That's it for today, back Monday. Have a great weekend.<br />
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<b>Foo Fighters <i>"Walk"</i></b> vid, inspired by the great movie <b><i>"Falling Down" </i></b><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/4PkcfQtibmU" width="560"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239671995333340850.post-84170970808783556352011-06-02T10:13:00.001-04:002011-06-02T10:14:33.409-04:00Canucks draw first bloodThe <b>Vancouver Canucks </b>opened last night's <b>Stanley Cup Finals</b> with a 1-nil win over the <b>Boston Bruins </b>with a goal in the dying seconds from <b>Raffi Torres</b>. There was no lack of intensity in this one, if not shots necessarily with the <b>Canucks</b> going shotless for the first 9 minutes of the middle period. I get that the league wants a game on Saturday, but do we really need two days off here with no travel required? <br />
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<b>Steve Buffery </b>at the <b>Toronto Sun</b> says, among other things, that<b> <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1644759789">Atlanta</a></b><a href="http://www.torontosun.com/2011/05/31/the-nhl-blew-it-in-atlanta"> didn't so much fail the <b>NHL</b> as the <b>NHL</b> failed <b>Atlanta</b></a> with a watered down product, and that "there aren’t enough goals. There aren’t enough open-ice plays. There are too many defensive schemes and systems." No, I am not <b>Steve Buffery</b>. <br />
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Interesting TV stat: more people watched Game 7 of the <b>Vancouver/San Jose</b> series in <b>Canada </b>than did in the <b>U.S.</b> And yet <b>U.S.</b> TV continues to drive the bus.<br />
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<b>UFC </b>heavyweight<a href="http://my.si.com/76ni80"> <b>Brock Lesnar </b>had surgery</a> on his colon to try to remedy his nasty recurring bouts with diverticulitis, and he will be out of action until early 2012, which now doesn't seem all that far away given we're in June. <br />
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As crazy memorabilia goes, <a href="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Wayne-Rooney-penalty-spot-Ewood-Park-Blackburn-Rovers-/250828149905?pt=UK_SportsMemorabilia_Football_Memorabilia_ET&hash=item3a6685d491%20">how about bidding on eBay on the penalty spot where <b>Manchester United's Wayne Rooney</b> scored the goal that took <b>United</b> to a record 19th English title</a>? The bidding is north of a million pounds sterling, or over $1.6 million <b>Canadian/U.S.</b><br />
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<b>Shaquille O'Neal </b>announced his retirement yesterday on <b>Twitter</b>. Of course, he might well be kidding, but if he's honest with himself, he'll shut it down. <b>Shaq</b> was a beast in his prime, as unstoppable as anybody has ever been, but it was a shame to see him bounce around to close out his career with a variety of injuries the last few years.<b> </b><br />
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A recent <b>SI </b>players poll had<b> Alex Rodriguez, Joba Chamberlain </b>and <b>Derek Jeter </b>as <a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/yankees/post/_/id/17260/a-rod-joba-take-si-poll-in-stride-jeter-not-so-much?utm_source=bleacherreport.com&utm_medium=referral">the top three most overrated players in the game.</a> Told of the news, two of them reacted well and laughed it off as the price of being on a big name, high profile team. The other was sour and surly. Any guesses who fell in what category? With so many allegedly overrated players, it is a miracle the <b>Yankees</b> are still winning the <b>AL East</b>. <b>Sweeny Murti</b> at <b>CBS</b> says <a href="http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2011/06/01/sweeny-says-is-yankees-slugger-alex-rodriguez-overrated/">A-Rod may say some dumb things, but to call him overrated is one thing only: jealousy.</a><br />
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<b>Colin Campbell </b>is giving up his duties - fired? - as the <b>NHL's </b>lead disciplinarian, with <b>Brendan Shanahan<i>. </i></b>taking over. <b><i>Memo to Shanny:</i></b> just be consistent in any way, good or bad, and you're a huge improvement.<br />
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The <b>Pittsburgh Pirates</b> have now won as many road games this year - 17 - as they won all of last season. Finally, they're on the upswing.<br />
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<b>Canadian </b>and <b>New York Met Jason Bay</b> has three extra base hits in the last 30 games, while pulling an $18 million paycheque. He must be heavily tied up with how his hometown <b>Vancouver Canucks </b>are doing.<br />
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<b>Bob Klapisch</b> of <b>NorthJersey.com</b> on <b>New York Yankee Bartolo Colon</b>: "no man shaped like a watermelon should be throwing 96-mph on the black." <b>BK</b> looks at the stem-cell procedure that seems to have given new life to the once fading <b>Colon</b>.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.media.sportspickle.cvcdn.com/23/24/b71cf8f06998a456afd09e25b03001e9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://3.media.sportspickle.cvcdn.com/23/24/b71cf8f06998a456afd09e25b03001e9.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Just one of a handful of rejected <b>Stanley Cup</b> promo pieces appears at right. <a href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/2tyfow/www.sportspickle.com/opinion/6578/rejected-stanley-cup-finals-promotional-slogans">Rest appear here.</a><br />
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Soccer's transfer season is already in full swing, with plenty of speculation about who the big name squads will chase, and where the big name players will head. <a href="http://blogs.soccernet.com/onthemove/">Check out this link for a great daily running summary of what is happening, and being heard.</a><br />
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Have a couple beers you favor and are wondering which is the better option in terms of lower calories and better efficiency in terms of better buzz for fewer trips to the bathroom? <a href="http://www.efficientdrinker.com/beer/complete-calories-abv.html">Wonder no more.</a> And while we're at it, <a href="http://beeradvocate.com/">the <b>Beer Advocate</b> will help you sort out which taste the best </a>on their probably ridiculous, overly pretentious scale.<br />
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Game 2 of the <b>NBA Finals</b> goes tonight in <b>Miami </b>and the <b>Dallas Mavs</b> really need to bounce back if they're to spare me/us the nightmare of the <b>Heat </b>winning the whole enchilada. The upside is they're certainly capable of great improvement over their game one showing. Tip off is 9pm Eastern.<br />
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That's it for today, back tomorrow.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239671995333340850.post-31407261783524569512011-06-01T09:55:00.000-04:002011-06-01T09:55:51.082-04:00Only Gary Bettman Can Screw Up A Gimme, Slam Dunk, Open Netter etc.<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">With the <b>Atlanta Thrashers</b> moving to <b>Winnipeg</b>, you'd think the league and team would get off to a good start in the 204, but not the <b>NHL</b>. First, <b>Gary Bettman</b> essentially goes asshole - as if he could go any other way - and tells the locals they need to have 13,000 season tickets and sell the building to make it viable, as if the local owners haven't already done that research and like that's some huge challenge in a 15,000 seat arena. That of course begs the question, how are all the franchises in the <b>U.S. </b>getting by with a lot fewer than those figures buying tickets? Hopefully somebody is forwarding <b>Gary Bettman </b>this piece by the<b> National Post's Bruce Arthur </b>that reminds him that<a href="http://sports.nationalpost.com/2011/05/31/nhl-needs-winnipeg-more-than-winnipeg-needs-nhl/"> the league needs <b>Winnipeg</b> more than <b>Winnipeg</b> needs the league.</a> Second, the <b>NHL</b> says that it won't realign for 2011-12, so <b>Winnipeg</b> will play in the<b> Southeast</b> division. The schedule for next year isn't out, so why wait? It isn't like the move totally sneaked up on them. Word is they'll flip conferences next year with <b>Detroit</b> finally moving to the <b>East</b>. Third, the team name hasn't been officially announced as <b>Jets</b>. <i><b> Memo to True North</b></i>: there is no other option, despite word you're leaning to <b>Manitoba Moose</b>. <b>GBVH</b> passes word from <b>Forbes</b> saying the average ticket price in <b>Winnipeg </b>is going to be $82, which would tie <b>Montreal</b> for second highest average price, trailing only <b>Toronto</b>. </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Oh yeah, the<b> Stanley Cup Final </b>starts tonight. Seems nobody is giving the <b>Boston Bruins </b>much of a chance in this one, and maybe that is just a product of living in<b> Canada</b>. But if I'm a betting man - and I am - I have a lot more faith in <b>Tim Thomas</b> than I do in <b>Roberto Luongo</b>. It isn't the sexy pick, but I'll take<b> Boston</b> to win this one in six, completing <b>Boston's</b> sweep of all the major titles in the last decade: <b>NFL, MLB, NBA,</b> and <b>MLS</b>. Incredible. Bastards.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">It is never wise to say a series is over after one game, but the <b>NBA Final</b> could well be with the <b>Dallas Mavs </b>throwing away a very winnable game - and they didn't cover to make it worse. The <b>Heat</b> won by six last night, and you get the feeling that the <b>Mavs</b> winning 4 of 6 is going to be a tough call. Word that <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/dallas/nba/news/story?id=6613978"><b>Dirk Nowitzki </b>has a finger injury </a>doesn't help. How hot are the <b>Heat</b> in Miami? Not very. Three hours before the first game in <b>Miami</b> last night, there were still 800 tickets left on <b>StubHub</b>.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Let's not get too carried away with this discussion seemingly everywhere about how flat the baseball standings are with so many teams hovering around .500 at the moment. We're not even a third of the way through the season for most teams. How many teams would be close to .500 in the <b>NFL </b>after 5 weeks? That said, in the 2000's, 59% of the teams holding a playoff spot on June 1st went on to make the playoffs. A <b>Yankee</b> fan will be pleased to note the <b>Yanks</b> were first on April 1st, May 1st and now June 1st, which the boys in my fantasy league will notice lines up with yours truly, although I've been on top every day in between save for two.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Clearly, <b>Dough Ford</b>, brother of <b>Toronto Mayor Rob</b>, hasn't learned a thing from the travails of <b>Jim Balsillie</b> when it comes to trying to attract a team. <a href="http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/05/31/torontos-doug-ford-continues-clumsy-quest-for-nfl-team/related/%20">Dough has been now musing about how Toronto is such a big market, so why would the NFL be in Jacksonville, </a>where they are only drawing 20,000 a game from his knowledge. Funny thing about that, <b>Dough</b>, is they actually draw 63,000+ which, while not tops in the league, isn't exactly <b>Argo</b> or<b> Blue Jays</b> numbers. Speaking of the<b> Argos</b>, somehow<a href="http://sports.nationalpost.com/2011/05/30/ford-brothers-arent-giving-up-on-nfl/"> Dough believes that the presence of an NFL team in Toronto wouldn't hurt the Argos.</a></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://sports.nationalpost.com/2011/05/30/ford-brothers-arent-giving-up-on-nfl/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: blue;"><br />
</span></u></a></span> </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://jocksbehindbars.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Aqib-Talib-mug-shot-3-30-250x187.jpg%20" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://jocksbehindbars.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Aqib-Talib-mug-shot-3-30-250x187.jpg%20" /></a></span><span style="font-size: small;">Of <b>Jose Bautista's</b> 20 home runs, 9 have come against last place teams in <b>Minnesota</b> (7) and <b>Houston</b> (2). </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">As mug shots go, this one of<a href="http://jocksbehindbars.com/featured/bucs-aqib-talib-indicted/%20"> just indicted <b>Tampa Bay Buc Aqib Talib</b> </a>is a real gem.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> If I had a mug shot like that, I wouldn't even bother with a lawyer.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">If you're a fan of <b>ESPN's</b> dynamite <b>30 For 30</b> series, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/ESPN-Films-Limited-Collector-Set/dp/B004OSVTRW/ref=pd_cp_d_2%20">you can now order all the DVD's in one set</a>. Solid.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> I may have mentioned this before.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Wondering<a href="http://www.theawl.com/2011/04/the-nhls-goal-horns-in-order%20"> what all 30 of the <b>NHL</b> arena's goal horns sound like</a>, because they don't score as often as they used to? Wonder no more. Can't say that the<b> Montreal</b> and <b>Toronto</b> ones sound overly familiar, nor do I recall them typically using horns.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>MLB </b>has never had an openly gay player, <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mcanaer01.shtml">but it has had <b>Ernie McAnally</b></a></span><span style="font-size: small;">.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Say what you will about</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Swedish</b> soccer player</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Zlatan Ibrahimovic</b>, now with <b>AC Milan</b> in <b>Italy</b>, but the dude is a winner. 8 titles in 8 years, with 5 different clubs in 3 countries.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">That's incredible.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The <b>Seattle Sounders</b> fans raised the bar on the<b> Portland Timbers</b> in their heated confrontation a few weeks back. This is freaking awesome. </span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Seattle's</b> average attendance</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">of 36,000+</span><span style="font-size: small;"> would be 9th in</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><b><span style="font-size: small;">English</span> </b><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Premier League</b>, 6th in</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><b><span style="font-size: small;">Spain's</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></b><span style="font-size: small;"><b>La Liga</b>, 2nd in</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><b><span style="font-size: small;">France's</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></b><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Ligue 1</b>,</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">and</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">4th in</span><b><span style="font-size: small;"> Italy's</span></b><span style="font-size: small;"><b> Serie A</b>.</span> </div><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/2a9aB8i92SQ" width="560"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239671995333340850.post-13450913827075351732011-05-31T11:21:00.000-04:002011-05-31T11:21:21.211-04:00The<b> NBA Final</b> gets under way tonight in <b>Miami</b> with <b>Dallas</b> visiting. Not sure who I like in the series, but know I love the <b>Mavs</b> at +4.5 tonight. They've had a ridiculous record against the spread the entire playoffs, especially on the road. <br />
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<b>Manchester United</b> long-timer <b>Paul Scholes </b>has retired, and the accolades don't get better than <b>Zinedine Zidane </b>calling him the best midfielder of his generation. <a href="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/feature/_/id/924793/who-can-replace-paul-scholes?&cc=5901">Who replaces him at <b>United</b>?</a> If the stories are true, could be <b>Wesley Sneijder</b> or <b>Luka Modric,</b> among other possibilities. Either would be considerable improvements.<br />
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Smooth as sandpaper that <b>Buck Martinez</b>. In talking about <b>Breast Cancer Awareness</b> during last night's <b>Blue Jay </b>beatdown of the<b> Cleveland Indians</b>, he seemed to omit the middle word. Add that to other recent transgressions including butchering the pronunciation of some guy named <b>Jose Bautista's</b> last name.<br />
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Had a good laugh last week over the ever-bitter <b>Scottie Pippen</b> suggesting that <b>LeBron James</b> might be better than<b> Michael Jordan</b>. Said the <b>BlackSuperhero</b> on <b>Twitter</b>: Damn, I guess <b>Jordan, Kobe </b>and <b>Sonic</b> are the only ones that care about rings these days.<br />
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<a href="http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/england/story/npower-championship-play-off-final-swansea-reading-wembley-premier-league-053011">What is a spot in the <b>English Premier League </b>worth to a team in the division below? About $150 million</a> <b>Canadian</b>, and <b>Welsh</b> side <b>Swansea City</b> are the winners after downing<b> Reading</b> yesterday in a wild 4-2 game that sees <b>Swansea</b> promoted to the <b>EPL</b>. <br />
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<a href="http://warmingglow.uproxx.com/2011/05/pop-up-videos-coming-back-to-vh1"><b>Pop Up Video</b> is back in the fall</a>? Hell yes!<br />
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Still playing a bit of catch-up after the two weeks down, so forgive some of the more dated subjects. <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=6575570"> <b>Ray Lewis </b>says that crime will increase if there is no <b>NFL</b> season</a>. Is that a threat, <b>Ray</b>? I'd be staying out of any place <b>Ray </b>is, especially if there is a limo nearby. Watch from a minute in.<br />
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When bearing down on an empty net in soccer, it is important to remember that balls bounce, particularly on shoddy fields. This is an awesome, awesome miss from close range.<br />
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At some point this week, the <b>NBA </b>and <b>NHL</b> finals will both get under way, contested by teams we can't remember by the time it rolls around. For compelling though, I believe the <b>NBA</b> final blows the <b>NHL</b> away.<br />
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<b>Jason Terry </b>of the<b> Dallas Mavericks</b> is taking confidence to new levels. He's vowing that if his squad loses the <b>NBA Final,</b> that<a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/dallas/nba/news/story?id=6605599"> he'll have the tattoo of that ugly trophy the <b>NBA</b> awards to its champion removed from his arm</a>. Ouch. He best be winning then!<br />
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<a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/691904-50-best-trash-talk-moments-in-sports#/articles/691904-50-best-trash-talk-moments-in-sports/page/2">Top 50 best trash talk moments in sports</a>, with video.<br />
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<b>Hockey Canada</b> is going to a place where the <b>NHL</b> hasn't had the sack to go: they're<a href="http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/News/2011/05/30/18210006.html"> banning all head hits</a>. Period. That said, the rules don't apply to the independently operated junior loops.<br />
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One of my fav website to follow is the page at <b>Baseball Prospectus </b>- updated daily - that <a href="http://www.baseballprospectus.com/odds/">forecasts teams' final records and their odds of making the playoffs.</a><br />
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<b>Chicago White Sox</b> starter<b> <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1152041158">John Danks</a></b><a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/whitesox/ct-spt-0530-white-sox-blue-jays-chica20110529,0,6671655.story"> is no fan of<b> Toronto Blue Jay Jose Bautista</b></a>, who he told to quit acting like a clown in slamming his bat down after a pop up with the <b>Jays</b> leading 9-1. Will be interesting to see the react to that one. If it were <b>A-Rod</b>, I'm sure <b>Jays <strike>Nation</strike> Hamlet</b> would be singing a different tune.<br />
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Be very afraid, <b>NBAer</b>, the l<a href="http://aol.sportingnews.com/nba/story/2011-05-16/sbj-nba-proposes-45-million-hard-salary-cap">eague is said to be chasing a $45 million hard cap</a>, a huge change from where they are today. <br />
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Have a great Monday!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239671995333340850.post-51746748515060928492011-05-27T11:44:00.002-04:002011-05-27T11:47:00.802-04:00Take your time getting that Final started, NHLFirst there was <b>Chris Bosh</b> selling a phantom blow and then last night, <b>Lebron James </b>acted like he got snipered when he wasn't even touched and then winked to his bench after drawing the foul. Stay classy, <b>Lebron</b>. The <b>Heatles</b> downed the <b>Chicago Bulls</b> last night thanks to an 18-3 run to close the game to complete a 4-1 series win. They'll get the <b>Dallas Mavericks</b> next in the<b> NBA Final</b>. <br />
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Hard not to figure out who is running the show in the<b> NHL</b> when the <a href="http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=563806&navid=mod-rr-headlines"><b>Stanley Cup Finals</b> schedule</a> gets announced by <b>NBC</b> and not the league. For the efforts of winning the <b>President's Trophy</b> and<b> Western Conference</b>, the <b>Vancouver Canucks</b> will have all their games - home included - starting at 5pm local time. That's a joke. Also a joke: they're starting Wednesday, after the <b>Eastern Conference </b>sorts out its winner tonight in <b>Boston</b>.<br />
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After losing Wednesday, <b>Toronto Blue Jays </b>starter <b>Jo-Jo Reyes</b> has 28 consecutive winless starts dating back to June 13, 2008. Over that time period, 67 pitchers have won 28 or more games. The most wins since Reyes' last win:<b> CC Sabathia</b> has 58, <b>Roy Halladay</b> has 56, <b>Jon Lester</b> has 52, <b>Justin Verlander</b> is at 49, and surprising - to me anyways - <b>Bronson Arroyo </b>has 46.<br />
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What do <b>Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Isiah Thomas, Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwan</b>, <b>Tim Duncan, Shaquille O'Neal</b> and <b>Kobe Bryant </b>have in common? Answer: one of them has been in the <b>NBA Final</b> since 1979. And salary caps ensure parity. Uh-huh. <br />
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<b>Ian O'Conner</b>, author of the new book on Derek Jeter, says the day the <b>New York Yankees </b>ask <b>Derek Jeter</b> to move from<b> Short Stop</b> is the day he retires. Don't be shy now, <b>Brian Cashman</b>.<br />
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The <b>Boston Red Sox</b> have 28 runs their last two games. The <b>San Diego Padres</b> have 12 runs in their last 9 games. <br />
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<b>NFL Commish Roger Goodell</b> is still beating the drum of an <a href="http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/05/27/goodell-says-season-ticket-holders-want-18-game-season/">18-game <b>NFL</b> season, saying it is something season ticket holders want.</a> When season ticket holders are paying full ride for four pre-season games, of course they're going to want an 18-game, 2 pre-season package instead. That's hardly sound surveying.<br />
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The <b>Champions League </b>final goes tomorrow and while the head says <b>Barcelona</b>, it isn't clear in my mind like it was weeks back. I think <b>Manchester United</b> just might win this one, with a 2-1 scoreline in <b>Edwin Van Der Sar's</b>, and possibly <b>Paul Scholes</b>, swan song, though<b> Scholes </b>won't be starting if this article showing <a href="http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/3601132/Revealed-Manchester-United-team-to-face-Barcelona-in-the-Champions-League-final.html?CMP=EMCeb12"><b>United's</b> starting lineup </a>is true.<br />
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The <b>Wal-Mart Bounce</b>. There are no words.<br />
<object height="390" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/O1tufujnbzU&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/O1tufujnbzU&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="640" height="390"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239671995333340850.post-6067618397186458652011-05-26T10:39:00.000-04:002011-05-26T10:39:52.976-04:00The Mavs carry the hopes of sports fans everywhere<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://thebiglead.fantasysportsven.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Monta-Ellis-planted-a-tree-on-his-chest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://thebiglead.fantasysportsven.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Monta-Ellis-planted-a-tree-on-his-chest.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Check out the ink on <b>Monta Ellis </b>of the <b>Golden State Warriors</b>. Wow. <br />
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Nice work by the knuckleheads at the <b>Canadian Soccer Association</b> - and what could we expect of them but stupidity? - in putting the safety of fans and players at risk by trying to force-fit the <b>Canadian Championship</b> at <b>BMO Field</b> last night in the middle of a <strike>torrential</strike> biblical downpour with lightning flashing last night. Guess they didn't notice the stands are, you know, metal. The game was called with <b>Vancouver</b> leading 1-0, but wasn't an official game as it didn't reach the 75th minute, so will be replayed in full on July 2nd at <b>BMO Field</b>.<br />
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I made a crack on Twitter about it being hard for <b>Buck Martinez</b> to not trip over his words as it must be hard to speak with <b>Jays </b>dick in your mouth and I immediately get followed by somebody who has<a href="http://www.buckblunders.com/"> a site called <b>"Buck Blunders"</b></a>. Exactly how it sounds. Remember when he was a great colour guy? Was that real, or was that just <b>Dan Shulman</b> carrying him?<br />
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The <b>Dallas Mavericks</b> finished off the <b>Oklahoma City Thunder </b>- and you'll be hearing plenty from the Thunder the next few years - to take the West and await a date with most-likely<b> Miami</b>, where they'll carry the hopes of <b>Heat Haters</b> everywhere.<br />
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The <b>Tampa Bay Lightning</b> scored an impressive win over <b>Boston</b> last night to take their <b>Eastern Conference </b>championship to a 7th game tomorrow night. Awesome run by <b>Steve Yzerman's</b> crew, and quite the turnaround no matter what they do tomorrow. <b>Martin St. Louis</b> is a pint sized beast.<br />
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<b>GBVH</b>, brother of <b>RM</b>, son of<b> Flicka</b>, noted that in the <b>Chicago-Miami </b>game on Tuesday night, with four minutes left to play, the <b>Vancouver-San Jose NHL</b> game was intermission. In the time it took to complete the four minutes of hoops and a five minute OT, the hockey game's third period had already begun and finished. The forced drama of <b>NBA</b> timeouts is beyond ridiculous, and if I were to rank the worst things in sports, that would have to rank near the top of my list.<br />
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<b>St. Louis Cardinal Albert Pujols</b> has been top 3 in <b>MVP</b> voting in 8 of his first 10 seasons, with three wins, but only once has he been among even the <b>National League's</b> top-10 salaried players when he came in 9th in 2006. He's not exactly having a contract year for the ages this year, is he?<br />
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Poor <b>Andrea</b> (that's pronounced: <span class="name">AN-dree-uh</span>) <b>Bargnani</b>. <b>GM Brian Colangelo</b> cracked him weeks back for his lack of effort on defence and in rebounding - shortcomings so obvious <b>Stevie Wonder </b>can see them -and <a href="http://www.thestar.com/mobile/sports/basketball/nba/raptors/article/996278--bargnani-asks-for-warm-climate-better-role-if-he-s-not-a-raptor"><b>Andrea's</b> panties are in a bunch and he wouldn't mind moving to another team</a>, preferably in a warmer climate. Don't let the door hit you, plank. <br />
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Isn't it a bit odd that <b>NHL</b> players won't touch the<b> Conference</b> trophy but have zero problem putting on the <b>Conference</b> championship hats and t-shirts? Uh...ok.<br />
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Baseball is a cruel, vicious game. <b>Toronto Blue Jay </b>starter <b>Jo Jo Reyes</b> is winless in 28 trips to the bump, but the <b>Philadelphia Phillies </b>second baseman <b>Wilson Valdez </b>picked up the "W" for the <b>Phil's</b> last night in a 19 inning win over the <b>Cincinnati Reds</b>.<br />
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It is worth noting that the <b>San Francisco Giant </b>fan beat into a coma by <b>LA Dodgers</b> fans on opening day won't have to worry about his kid's tuition for college: <a href="http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpp/news/barry-bonds-to-pay-future-college-costs-for-beaten-giants-fans-children-ncxdc-052611"><b>Barry Bonds</b> will be taking care of it</a>. Good on you, <b>BB</b>.<br />
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Now former <b>Chelsea</b> manager - and how insane are they ditching that guy because they had the nerve to finish second in the <b>EPL</b> and bow out in the semis in the<b> Champions League</b>? - <a href="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/916737/carlo-ancelotti:-i%27d-take-wayne-rooney-over-lionel-messi?cc=5901"><b>Carlo Ancelotti</b> says he'd take <b>Wayne Rooney</b> over <b>Lionel Messi</b>. </a> I love <b>Rooney</b>, but that's another planet entirely as I'm not sure I've ever seen <b>Messi</b> have a bad game - quiet ones, sure - or do anything that hurt his team like virtually every other player - <b>Rooney</b> included - can and does.<br />
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<b>Foo Fighters</b> main man <b>Dave Grohl </b>does limericks at a show last week: There once was a hooker from <b>Dallas</b>, who used a dynamite stick as a phallus, they found her vagina in <b>North Carolina</b>, her asshole at <b>Buckingham Palace</b>.<br />
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<b>Ivan Hrvatska</b> is a big, big fan of the <b>Vancouver Canucks</b>, and has a remix of his 2008 classic saluting the team's playoff win.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/4bS71YQ64jg" width="560"></iframe> <br />
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Half-time at the <b>Miami Heat-Chicago Bulls</b> game. Wonder what this cameraman was thinking of? <br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/80M1J4rRXb0" width="560"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239671995333340850.post-4692343115140541922011-05-25T09:54:00.002-04:002011-05-25T10:37:14.567-04:00We're back!After a couple weeks down after the birth of my awesome little boy - the second - we're back in business. Man a lot happens in the course of a couple weeks! <br />
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After Monday night's gag job, up 15 late in the fourth quarter and letting the <b>Dallas Mavericks</b> steal it, it is going to be real tough for the<b> Oklahoma City Thunder</b> to shake the name <b> "Chokelahoma City Blunder"</b> loose. Looking increasingly like the hopes of the world will be pinned on the <b>Mavs</b> to not let the <b>Miami Heat </b>win the title, with the <b>Heat</b> holding a big 3-1 lead over the<b> Chicago Bulls</b> in the <b>East</b>.<br />
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It took overtime and five mostly tough, tight games, but the <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/recap?gameId=310524022"><b>Vancouver Canucks </b>are back in the <b>Stanley Cup Final</b> for the first time since 1994</a> and carrying the misguided hopes of a nation, from all I'm reading. The <b>Sharks</b> went out 3-2 in overtime last night and the <b>Canucks</b> will await the winner of the<b> Boston-Tampa Bay </b>series, which sits at 3-2 for the <b>Beantowners </b>right now. <br />
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With the sad death of <b>Randy "Macho Man" Savage</b> last week, <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/post/Over-25-percent-of-the-performers-from-Wrestlema?urn=top-wp132">over 25% of the WWE "superstars" that appeared at <b>Wrestlemania 7</b> - because we hate<b> Roman </b>numerals on events - have now died, 14 of 51.</a> That was 20 year's ago, if you're wondering. Crazy. <b>Savage</b> was, for my money, one of the five best to ever grace the ring. My other favs in no particular order: <b>Ric Flair, Shawn Michaels, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin </b>and <b>The Rock</b>. I was torn between <b>Bret Hart, Edge </b>and <b>The Rock</b> for the fifth, but gave The Rock the nod on stronger stick work. Add your five in the comments if you will.<br />
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That was an awesome<b> Jose Canseco</b> impression <b>Jose Bautista </b>pulled. Relax people, I'm not going there, I'm referring to his play in the outfield last night that let not-exactly-fleet-footed <b>Jorge Posada</b> stretch a bottom of the 9th single into a double, allowing the <b>Yanks</b> to complete a rally from down 4-1 into a 5-4 win over <b>Toronto</b>. Not sure how the <b>Yanks</b> are in first in the<b> AL East</b>, they've been mostly awful for three plus weeks.<br />
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<b>Toronto FC</b> host<b> Vancouver Whitecaps</b> tonight to decide the <b>Nutrilite Canadian Championship</b> after last week's 1-1 draw in <b>Hongcouver</b>. I won't get into what that means for tonight - if you already care, you already know.<br />
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Only thing I'll say on<b> Posada's</b> episode last week is this: when<b> Alex Rodriguez </b>was dropped from clean-up to eighth in the playoffs a few years back - a far bigger drop than moving from 7th to 9th like Posada was asked to - he didn't ask for a day off or remove himself from the lineup. And some still call <b>Posada</b> a team guy? Please. Stuns me that nobody mentioned this.<br />
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The<b> San Francisco Giants </b>have 13 wins at home this year, and seven of those have come on walk-offs. <br />
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It is <b>Champions League </b>week, the last big game on any club soccer calendar for this season, with <b>Manchester United, EPL</b> champions, facing <b>Barcelona, La Liga</b> champions, in <b>London, England</b> this Saturday. Can't wait. Legend <a href="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/917759/pele:-javier-hernandez-can-be-the-next-lionel-messi?cc=5901"><b>Pele</b> thinks that <b>United's</b> rising star<b> Chicharito</b> has a chance to be as good as <b>Lionel Messi</b>. </a> That's...something.<br />
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<b>Kristian Jack</b> at <b>The Score</b><a href="http://blogs.thescore.com/footyblog/2011/05/23/kjs-notebook-201011-epl-review-of-the-season/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+TheFootyBlog+%28The+Footy+Blog%29"> reviews the <b>EPL</b> season </a>that's now in the books, looking at each team and what their top players were, and who reasonable transfer targets might be.<br />
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Question: do you think the <b>NFL</b> players would rather see a more stringent labor deal, or seeing<a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=6512384"> <b>WADA </b>handle drug testing, like the <b>NFL</b> is saying it might </a>move towards for handling testing? I'm guessing most would prefer the former.<br />
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This one makes my blood boil. The <a href="http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20110508/SPT04/305080051/Reds-ticket-prices-likely-changing"><b>Cincinnati Reds</b> are likely moving to a dynamic ticket pricing system,</a> the same type thing you see used by airlines that sees prices fluctuating on demand. If that is a trend setter, and I would bet it is if it works, I shudder to think what that will do to ticket prices whenever an on sale date is hit.<br />
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<b>Ninja Turtle Soup</b>, from the good folks at <b>Epic Meal Time</b>, featuring the most amazing shredder/grater I've ever laid my eyes upon.<br />
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<b>Andy Samberg</b> and <b>Justin Timberlake</b> are back with another awesome <b>SNL Digital Short</b>, reminding you of <b>The Golden Rule:</b> it's not gay in a three-way.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/eCTKyIC19TU" width="425"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239671995333340850.post-15215195787752574312011-05-24T10:03:00.001-04:002011-05-24T10:03:13.572-04:00Blogger down!Can't log into the site - looks like a network wide problem - so another day delay for the return of RM.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239671995333340850.post-39165572006318013472011-05-19T12:14:00.001-04:002011-05-19T12:28:34.228-04:00Sponsor me on my Great Strides Walk Page. I am taking steps to cure cystic fibrosis.Hey folks,<br />
I'll be back at it Monday but in the meantime, hoping you can spare some of your hard earned dollars for a bunch of my friends that are raising money for a great cause next weekend - Cystic Fibrosis - that affects many people, including two kids of one of my best friends. No amount is too small. Please give before the walk on Sunday, May 29th. Thanks.<br />
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Click the link to go to the sponsor page. <br />
<a href="http://my.e2rm.com/personalPage.aspx?registrationID=1081858&langPref=en-CA&Referrer=direct%2Fnone">Sponsor Deno's Dream Team in the Great Strides Walk Page. I am taking steps to cure cystic fibrosis.</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0