Tragically hip

Terrell Owens had a gem of a quote at his Buffalo Bills presser, noting that he's gone from America's Team to North America's Team, with the Bills of course playing in Toronto annually now. Guessing that the locals in Buffalo will not appreciate that so much. Hot on the heels of that, somebody came up with 10 reasons T.O. should have gone to the CFL. Owens scored 58 touchdowns in 65 games over three seasons with the Cowboys, more than any other wideout in the NFL in that period...watching midgets fight is like watching regular sized people fight from far away...the FA Cup semi-final draw has taken place and Manchester United will take on Everton, and Hull City or Arsenal will face Chelsea...like the NFL with Ron Mexico and others, you can no longer buy a customized A-Fraud jersey. A-Rod will be out 6-9 weeks after wisely opting for surgery to repair the torn labrum in his hip. Coming back towards the end of April or in May is a far better option than being a bad step away from being out for that time come later in the year. His doctor figures the six week time frame is likely..I nearly broke a rib laughing at this site that illustrates how to pee with morning wood...seems that there is indeed a limit to what the New York Yankees can charge for premium tickets, as some remain unsold at their new palace. For a mere $325 per ticket per game, you can get some great seats. For $2,500, you can get real close..here's a peak at the 10 most gruesome sports injuries. Not sure how Eduardo's broken leg playing for Arsenal last year didn't make the cut, but there's sure some bad ones in this list...continuing with the quick hits today, here's a page with the best male photo bombers. Awesome stuff...I'm amazed it has taken so long, but a lawyer by the name of David Cornwell, in the running to become the new head of the players union, has spoken out and questioned the legality of Roger Goodell dispensing discipline on players for offenses off the field. I'll be shocked if he doesn't win some concessions in that regard if he gets to the bargaining table for the next labor deal...Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke on whether fighting will get banned in the NHL: "I will personally challenge anyone who wants to get rid of fighting to a fight." Funny, but Burke is getting far too serious over something that does little to nothing to enhance the game...Arsenal striker Eduardo ended the debate as to who scored the goal of 2009 yesterday. There won't be one better than this...back later with your PTP.

4:53pm EDIT: Niagara is your PTP for the night - that's NCAA hoops for the uninitiated. 9pm tip.

Champions League Dream Matchups

If the New York Rangers were comfortable under coach Tom Renney, that is about to change dramatically now that Renney is out and been replaced by John Tortorella, who ought to be a hit in New York. How has Pat Quinn been overlooked again? Makes no sense, when the Rangers are scoring a league low 2.33 goals a game and Quinn is an offense-first, offense-second coach...spring must be around the corner if Vernon Wells is battling injury again. Jon Heyman at Sports Illustrated notes V-Dub became a lot less durable after signing for $126 million...now comes word that the Jerry Jones issued gag order doesn't just apply to the coaching staff, but also the players. In response, Tony Romo issued a final press release saying "I don't see what the big deal is, I've been gagging since December, and every December."...if you're ever going to "develop a fever", today at about 2pm is a good time, especially if you can have it carry you through tomorrow. The next two days you'll see some of the best Champions League action of the year with such high profile matchups today as Manchester United at Inter Milan and Arsenal at AS Roma. Man U is minus stud defender Nemanja Vidic - best in the world in my book - through suspension. Inter Milan manager Jose Mourinho is hilarious - even when he loses, he claims to have been responsible for the other team rising up. His latest claim is his success at Chelsea caused United to step their game up. More and more, he's my fav quote in sports, up there with Charles Barkley. There's nothing he won't say...I haven't a clue what to make of this Randy Johnson tale - whether it is real or fake, but the story and the voice telling it are sure creepy...how do you define "fantasmagoric"? This save by the Dallas Stars Marty Turco, apparently...I've never understood why newspapers print spring training schedules or keep standings, but guess it is baseball, and data is never in short supply. Jacked for games to get started...the Toronto Maple Leafs are a team in the gutter, GM Brian Burke is talking openly about how they'll likely be there for at least another season, and payroll is down. How then do you explain hiking ticket prices 3.5% for next season?...this PTP thing is starting to wear on me again. Seemed so easy earlier in the month. I shall return! And return later today, I shall...have a great Tuesday.

Thursday, December 25th, 2008 - Merry Christmas!

It has been a fantastic year in sports, and AskMen presents a look at the Top 10 moments of the year and you could easily argue for others...thankfully, the NBA will break the sporting darkness that started with the conclusion of the Notre Dame-Hawaii game last night, including three games getting TV coverage. The big one goes at 5pm as the LA Lakers host the Boston Celtics in a rematch of last year's championship series...I know leagues value divisional setups for the rivalries they create, and how teams stay in playoff races longer. But something seems wrong with the idea that the San Diego Chargers could be in at 8-8 while the 11-5 New England Patriots could be out in the cold come playoff time...ESPN's Rob Neyer says that after the three big moves, the New York Yankees are indeed the team to beat in 2009. Me, I cannot wait to see if it pans out that way...so there are no college bowl games today, only a handful of hoops games, and the NHL has no games scheduled? Makes no sense to me, either. But at least the Toronto Maple Leafs Brian Burke's moratorium on not trading players withing the 10 days leading up to Christmas is up. Ought to be some interesting moves in the offing now for Tomas Kaberle and others...have a great Christmas. Back tomorrow.

Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008

Memo to Brett Hull: next time you survey your players about signing a guy like Sean Avery and they say "don't do it" - or Avery himself - you best listen. Avery has been suspended by the league, and would have been by the Dallas Stars, for referencing Calgary Flames defenceman Dion Phaneuf's girlfriend Elisha Cuthbert as his "sloppy seconds". On the ice, that stuff is the norm. Off it and to the media? Juvenile in the extreme. He's likely done in Dallas like Debbie, and what GM would pick up a guy that would bring that kind of infamy to the league? I've got one: Brian Burke...New York Giants receiver Steve Smith was robbed at gunpoint last Thurday. Anybody know if Plaxico Burress has an alibi? I'm a little sour it only came to me today after Burress self-inflicted gunshot wound: Plaxico beat another safety. Word is that he faces a minimum 3.5 years in the crowbar motel if convicted and New York mayor Michael Bloomberg has already gone on record as saying he'd be disappointed if he wasn't convicted. Nice knowing you, Plax. He's done for the season, and playoffs...after New England Patriot Wes Welker got de-cleated Sunday, here's fifteen fantastic hits in the NFL this year...and while we are at it, how about some great stadium sex acts...finally in today's video fun: Florida State Tuba Players vs. Wet Football Field. Who ya got?...as always, USC coach Pete Carroll is showing his opposition all kinds of respect. NCAA rules specify that a visiting team wears white or they'll forfeit a timeout per half. Pretty hefty penalty for such a triviality, no, timeouts being important and all? No biggie to Carroll. He wants his Trojans in red when they face UCLA...in a decision that should surprise nobody, Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo earned the Ballon d'Or as European player of the year. Unlike his EPL award for the same earlier, he actually thanked his teammates for this one...a mere 39 point loss for the Toronto Raptors as they visited Denver last night. Sam Mitchell needs to go. His "best before" date is about as gone as Charlie Weis...have a great Wednesday.

Tuesday, December 2nd, 2008

How good is Kobe Bryant? If he could've scored another 15 points on Sunday against the Toronto Raptors, and we all know he's treated them like a hotel employee in Denver over the years, he would have reached 22,000 at the age of 30 years and 99 days, beating Wilt Chamberlain by one day to become the youngest to achieve that mark in league history...Cris Collinsworth on NBC's Football Night In America: "I was an idiot for believing in the Jets."...Bob Costas, same show: "when is the last time a player brought a gun to a public place that helped make the situation better?" Sounds more and more like Plaxico Burress time with Big Blue is done. The big loss will be if Antonio Pierce gets suspended by the league for helping him dispose of the gun...remember that mess that the Pittsburgh Steelers called Heinz "Field" last year when they replaced the grass late in the year? Well, they've done it again, and it could be a big factor come Sunday when they host the Dallas Cowboys in the game of the week, though you could argue that Tampa visiting Carolina is just as big in terms of playoff implications...it wasn't the three point bulge they wanted, but Liverpool went top of the table with a draw against West Ham to give them a one point lead. Wonder if the NHL will ever see the wisdom of the three points for a win system?...when Stephanie McMahon says she'll make Monday Night Raw "bigger", and you only see her shot from the chest up, you have to wonder if she is referring to herself literally...one angle that the Bills in Toronto haven't tried - yet - the return of Ricky Williams to his old stomping grounds. That is about the only stone left unturned in their desperate bid to sell out. Well, that and to buy tickets in honour of the now-deceased Ted Rogers...speaking of Rogers, wonder what his departure from this mortal coil means for the Toronto Blue Jays? Interesting times ahead...the Week 12 NFL average for points was a whopping 52.3. And the CFL thinks it has the market cornered on high scoring football. Nope, not even close. In fact, the two are moving in opposite directions...just what the world needed: a Toronto Maple Leafs team 2-0 since hiring Brian Burke after beating L.A. 3-1 last night. The Leafs Nation no doubt thinks the turnaround will be that easy and fast...have a great Tuesday.

Sunday, November 30th, 2008 - "Yes, that actually is a gun in my pocket"

Brian Burke was the Vancouver Canucks GM when Todd Bertuzzi suckered Steve Moore. Wonder how current Maple Leaf and Steve Moore's brother Dominic feels about his new GM?...I'm sure NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will be thrilled that New York Giant Plaxico Burress was packing heat in a New York bar. The gun went off and Burress shot himself in the leg. Giant teammate Antonio Pearce tried to hide the gun, and Burress is expected to be arrested on felony weapons charges any day now. That said, if you've read the latest issue of ESPN The Magazine, you'll see that NFL players have significant security concerns and live in constant fear...New York Knicks GM Donnie Walsh says that Stephon Marbury's status will be "resolved" come Monday. To me, if the guy refused to play and honour his contract, that should be a firing offence where there's no buyout...14-10 now on Prime Time Picks after three straight losses but up comfortably on the year. 15-10 is a tidy 60% so it'll have to be a winner tonight to do just that. Minnesota (-1.5) hosts Chicago and tough to not like the Vikes in this one: they're 4-1 at home, and have the revenge factor in play after losing 48-41 to the Bears on October 19th. The winner on this one could well be playoff bound while the loser is left reeling at .500. Also loving Buffalo today (-6.5) and New Orleans (+4.5), the latter simply because the team that beats Detroit the week prior still has yet to cover the following week, and that'd be Tampa Bay in this case. Get your gamble on at Pinnacle...thanks to the Detroit Lions historic run. 3-13 may only get you the 5th pick in the 2009 draft when since 2002, it has guaranteed you the #2...Gabe Morency, who needs no introduction, has a fantastic new website up. Check it out...in college hoops, the University of Dayton missed all 24 three point attempts they took, and still won. That 0-24 showing is a record...Andy Pettitte is feeling unloved by the New York Yankees, and may join old manager Joe Torre in L.A. as a result. Sorry, Pettitte, but you're not worth $16 million anymore, not after that season, and if the Yanks are playing footsie with younger, more talented guys, such is life...have a great Sunday.

Friday, November 28th, 2008

It took longer than anyone expected once he came free, but Brian Burke has finally landed in the Toronto Maple Leafs GM chair. Burke has a six year deal to do what nobody has been able to in forty plus years. Not sure who will be happier about the move, Leafs fans, or the media? Burke is nothing if not a good quote...it was romp central in yesterday's NFL action, though the Philadelphia Eagles sure surprised in showing signs of life in hammering the visiting Arizona Cardinals. The Dallas Cowboys are starting to look like they've turned their season around as the offence is moving the ball with ease, though it was Seattle they played. Up next: Pittsburgh, the New York Giants, Baltimore. That'll tell the tale. Oh, and the Detroit Lions are looking every bit like a team that has "0-16" in its sites..Toronto Raptor Chris Bosh is eyeing the MVP award for this year and openly talking about it. The way he's playing, it shows...Toronto FC goalkeeper Greg Sutton thinks the squad can make a run for the playoffs and championship next year. He must know something about pending player moves because the team still lacks scoring punch...Allen Iverson skipped practice. Go ahead, say it to yourself, you know you want to...a pair of Buffalo Bills fans have a petition going to have the Rogers Centre roof open for the Bills game against Miami in a couple weeks. People who start petitions are losers, as are those that sign them...three straight losses for Prime Time Picks after six straight wins. Streaky...the three leading scorers in the NBA: Lebron James, Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh. All free agents in 2010..have a great Friday.

Saturday, November 22nd, 2008

Clearly, the sports editor in Tulsa was having some kind of fun in the picture at the left...Toronto Raptor Jose Calderon is to defence what Gilligan is to navigation. His "coverage" of Vince Carter in the dying seconds of overtime was abysmal, and that is putting it mildly. For all the credit he gets heaped on him for his efficient (read: dull, predictable, plodding) running of the offence, he gets no true criticism of just how dreadful he is defensively. The Raptors kept the wrong point guard...not much better in my books than a cold Saturday morning spent catching some English Premier League action and today, there are a couple great matchups. Arsenal visits Manchester City for one, and Manchester United visits Aston Villa for another. Should be great stuff...8 years and $160 million for Mark Teixera is the rumored offer coming from the Anaheim Angels. That is a big, big deal. That said, Tex could well be worth it as arguably the best first base bat and glove this side of Albert Pujols...word is that Brian Burke could be the Maple Leafs GM by tomorrow. Frankly, if that pans out, that took longer than I figured it would...a big night in Montreal tonight as Patrick Roy returns to the Canadiens inner circle for his jersey retirement. Wonder if he'll have any words for Mario Tremblay? Meanwhile, the Maple Leafs will be honoring Wendel Clark's #17. That there tells you all you need to know about those two franchises: one is honoring a Hall of Famer and champion, the other an overrated blue collar fan fav. Who's next, Tie Domi? Ripping off the New York Yankees Jason Giambi promo this year, the Leafs will be giving fans moustaches...in typical enabler fashion, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones says he owns some of the blame for Adam "Pacman" Jones most recent brush with the law because he hired the bodyguard Pacman mixed it up with. In related news, Jack Daniels has also declared he's partly to blame...have a great Saturday.

Thursday, November 13th, 2008

Houston and Phoenix got in a brawl last night - how is Yao Ming not raining haymakers in this or any picture?...Brian Burke's days in Anaheim are done, and no doubt some Toronto media outlets (read: Toronto Sun) will have their chests puffed out over predicting he'd be free by Christmas. If he's not the Toronto Maple Leafs GM and President before the week is out, I'll be shocked...Gregg Zaun railed on about his allegedly poor treatment by JP Riccairdi this past season from Toronto, and hopes to land with a contender. It would be good if somebody told him that he is Gregg Zaun...Liverpool could be for sale, unless American owners Tom Hicks (also owner of the Texas Rangers) and George Gillett (also owner of the Montreal Canadiens) can come up with $525 million (USD)...also needing some cash to cover some bad debt and rising stadium construction costs: Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, who needs $350 million...the Baltimore Orioles are getting new uniforms, if you care...the latest FIFA world rankings are out, and somehow, Canada climbed three spots to #81. England is also back in the Top 10...Stephon Marbury is going to the Gregg Zaun School of Self-Esteem. He thinks the San Antonio Spurs would be a good fit for him. Guessing the Spurs think a little differently...if Mats Sundin is coming back to the Maple Leafs, he'll be looking for a new place to live as he sold his previous house last week for a mere $5.7 million. Sundin, for his part, told a Swedish publication he'll likely be back this calendar year...if anyone were to say that Ontario could "probably" support another NHL team, their sanity would be questioned for even suggesting that it is anything less than a certainty. When it is the commissioner, Gary Bettman, you have concrete evidence the man just doesn't understand the game or the people who support it. In any other industry, a leader would be fired for such a plainly wrong statement...Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz says he knew Manny Ramirez had to go. He didn't mention that his bat disappeared at the precise time the far better ManRam jetted off to L.A...with The Office making a trip north to Winnipeg tonight, how about the 20 Funniest Moments From The Office?...the Toronto Raptors thin roster is about to be seriously exposed if Jose Calderon is out for any length of time. Judging from last night, it doesn't look like Will Solomon or Roko Ukic are ready to carry any significant minutes. Meantime, TJ Ford is averaging 17 points and 5 assists in Indiana...have a great Thursday.