Thursday, December 4th, 2008 - You could see it in Bosh's eyes...

How smalltime is hockey in the U.S.? It takes something like Sean "Uns"Avery - my creation, don't steal it - spouting off to make the top story at ESPN...when your team does everything but wave a white flag in a 39-point loss, and your team is a bit of a disappointment and 3-9 in the last dozen, somebody has to pay the price, and that somebody was Sam Mitchell, axed as Toronto Raptors head coach and keeping with the tradition of a Coach of the Year getting axed shortly thereafter. Don't feel bad for SMitch though, he's got $10 million coming his way as a parting gift, and has accumulated a fine collection of suits..it seems incredibly odd that for all the talk, there have still been no free agent signings. Not sure what CC Sabathia is waiting on, but if somebody - anybody - offered me $140 million, I'd be signing immediately rather than living in fear of some freak injury in the meantime while playing Guitar Hero, or more likely in Sabathia's case, cutting off a finger while eating...in telling Charles Barkley to shut up, Lebron James is the first Nike athlete of any significance to ever say anything remotely colourful. Think about it: Michael Jordan, Derek Jeter, (snore) - vanilla thinks these guys are boring...former Toronto Maple Leafs coach Paul Maurice didn't set the world on fire in Toronto, and other than a finals appearance with the Carolina Hurricanes, didn't distinguish himself there, but somehow, he's back in Carolina after Peter Laviolette was turfed...under the "Department of Bargain", you'll find Boston Red Sox and 2008 AL MVP Dustin Pedroia, signed for 6 years and $40.5 million...in a move that can only be about saving money, Notre Dame is keeping Charlie Weis on as its head coach. Didn't Ty Willingham get axed after fewer years and even better performance?...if you've ever been to a sporting event, you've likely navigated the short steps while holding a beer or two, wondering if you might slip and fall. One Ottawa man did just that, and not only did he fall, he fell 25 feet to the deck below...another Prime Time Pick for you tonight, and the ledger stands at 15-11. Oakland visits San Diego in a matchup that means little, unless you're talking about the piss-poor AFC West, where .500 might get you in. To do that, both teams would have to go on quite the roll. The Bolts are 10 point favs and based on their current level of play - and commitment - tough to see them covering that number. Hell, it wouldn't shock me if the Raiders won outright. Take the Raiders and the points, happy Thursday night...have a great day.

The WORST dive of all time, and the ref got hooked...

Wednesday, November 19th, 2008

The New York Yankees are about to offer AJ Burnett a five year deal worth $80 million. Seems a lot of money to offer a guy whose best year would be in 2014 but then again, when he's sliding into Andy Pettitte's salary slot, tough to argue against it too much. Mix in that possible deal, talk of $140 million to CC Sabathia for six years and $30 million to Derek Lowe for two years and you've got $250 million for three arms. Mix in Chien Ming Wang and Joba Chamberlain and that there is a playoff lock, and leaves plenty of time to develop Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy, or move them as necessary... Didier Drogba picked up a three game suspension for firing a coin into the stands. Seems more than a little light, no?...it was a fairly weak field overall in the American League's MVP voting, but I think Boston Red Sock Dustin Pedroia was the right choice for 2008. That said, I'd also bet - a lot - he never wins again...a mere 40 point night for Toronto Raptors all-world star Chris Bosh, albeit in a losing effort. More and more, I think the odds of him staying beyond his current contract are decreasing, and how does that franchise survive losing that guy if it ends up that way?...the Toronto Maple Leafs are now going where everyone assumed they would be in chasing Brian Burke. One question, how do the Leafs spin it if they don't get Burke? It'll take one hell of a name to not sour people on whomever ends up getting the gig...tie-breakers 7 through 11 in the NFL all are impacted negatively for the Pittsburgh Steelers by Sunday's non-touchdown call. One Vegas sportsbook operator even says the NFL should get it right and call the score 17-10...now that Mark Cuban has had charges pressed against him, he ought to be front of the line for NHL franchise ownership...Lebron James was booed at home a couple nights ago because rather than jacking up a shot to break 100 points - which would give everyone a free Taco Bell Chalupa - he ran the clock out in a Cleveland Cavalier win. For his part, James was none too impressed and said he'd have no problem signing with the New York Knicks when his contract runs out. Okay, I'm making up the part about the Knicks, but he did say ""I can't believe people who buy season tickets get worked up over a goddamn $1 (expletive) taco"....Ryan Dempster nailed down the first big contract of the baseball free agent season, $52 million over four years to stay with the Chicago Cubs...have a great Wednesday.