Damn you, Rogers!

Thanks to the fine folks at Rogers who took "I'm moving on March 13th" to mean "disconnect my stuff now", I'm internetless for the time being so a bare bones RandoMango it is today...the NCAA is looking at a rule change in football that would see taunting after a touchdown cost the team that scored that very touchdown. That might be the mose ridiculous rule idea I've ever heard in sport. I want to crack that Florida, Miami and USC would never score again but am more stunned that they're even contemplating it...the Oklahoma City Thunder are going to get good in a hurry. They've got a young stud in Kevin Durant to build around, and in the next two years, have five first round draft picks...as hot as the PTP was, it is cold this week. Almost following the weather patterns. 0-5 going against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Weird...couldn't have scripted it better for the meathead Leafs fans who have gone with the lame "Mats Sundin isn't a leader" garbage or questioning his talent over the years to see the Leafs lose in a shootout with the former captain delivering the death blow on the final shot. Beautiful. More impressive was the ovation Sundin received in the first frame...UFC95 had some fantastic finishes, Nate Marquardt's in particular in which he hit Wilson Gouviea from a half dozen angles in a few seconds. Diego Sanchez was a worthy winner over Joe Stevenson in the main event...the Toronto Raptors? You're dead to me...GBVH made an eye-popping comment last night: Toronto FC is but a month from opening the season at Kansas City. That has to mean it is going to get warmer fast, right?...when an Israeli born player is barred from competing in the United Arab Emirates like was the case this week with Shahar Peer, what is Serena Williams, frequent speaker on racism, doing at the tourney?...finally the Toronto media is asking the question. Says Steve Simmons at the Toronto Sun: "Shawn Marion must appreciate what he doesn't have in Steve Nash every time he looks for a pass and Jose Calderon isn't moving the ball to the open forward. And we wonder: is Calderon the guard to play the up-tempo style Colangelo desires?" No, plainly and truthfully...wonder how smart JP Ricciardi feels now inking Vernon Wells to his contract when producers of equal value like Adam Dunn or Bobby Abreu are pulling in fractions of his salary? Looked good at the time though, no?...with an inspired return yesterday, Alexei Kovalev got back in the good graces of Habs faithful, if not his coach and GM. He also became unofficially the first player to say he had a "hankering" to play...quick, get down on Liverpool -1 +109 for your PTP...have a great Sunday.

Craptors

Honestly, I've seen some horrible teams in my 35 years on this mortal coil, but I'd be hard pressed to say I've seen a bigger group of underachieving softies than the Toronto Raptors, who laid down at Madison Square Garden in a not-even-this-close 127-97 loss. Sam Mitchell is luckier than the person who will win the $48 million 6/49 draw tonight - hopefully me! - for being rid of these prideless pieces of trash. Trade them all, move the franchise - I don't care anymore...tough week for the Montreal Canadiens. First l'afaire Kovalev, and now comes word that the Kostitsyn brothers and Roman Hamrlik are tied up with a mobster. Bob Gainey is getting more morose by the minute...worse still is being a client of Scott Boras this week. If it isn't A-Rod and that whole circus, it is Manny Ramirez not being signed, or Xavier Nady and Johnny Damon having their assets frozen after some fraudulent investor robbed clients of money...Chelsea v. Aston Villa is the focal point of today's EPL schedule. Villa has been on fire most of the year, but have a feeling Chelsea will turn things around playing both Nicolas Anelka and Didier Drogba up front. I'm betting the Blues this morning...second baseman Orlando Hudson signed for a year and $3.4 million with the LA Dodgers. That, friends, is one hell of a bargain for a plus glove and bat...hope Carrie Underwood and Hillary Duff are friends now that Mike Comrie, dating Duff, joins Fisher, dating Underwood, on the Ottawa Sens after a trade yesterday...Canada hosts the U.S. in the World Baseball Classic in two weeks time at the Rogers Centre in Toronto. Pretty serious lack of buzz, no?...when someone asks you today how you're doing, just say "gruntled." Seriously, why isn't that an appropriate answer?...Mats Sundin returns to Toronto tonight for the first time. There is only one appropriate response, Leafs fans: cheers. Non-stop cheers. For him at least, the home team should be skewered. In honour of the man, here are Sundin's Top 13 moments...don't forget UFC95 is live on SportsNet at 3pm...have a great Saturday.

Friday, December 19th, 2008

The Buffalo Bills made some dubious history with last Sunday's Meltdown at the Meadowlands, becoming the first team to blow a lead in the final two minutes on a defensive touchdown since 1981. Still can't figure how the notoriously hyper conservative coach Dick Jauron goes for a passing play in that situation...have to say, didn't figure Mats Sundin would end up playing for the Vancouver Canucks, signing for the balance of the year only. Maybe he's looking to acclimatize himself for the 2010 Olympics and defending the Swedish gold?...Toronto Maple Leafs goaltending reject Scott Cleminson is having an incredible run filling in for Martin Brodeur in New Jersey. Meanwhile, notes GBVH, Curtis Joseph doesn't look like he cold stop a beachball when he's gets put in the pipes to boost NHL scoring totals...last nights 8-5 win for the Boston Bruins was the first time this year the Bruins gave up five goals...Brett Favre made the Pro Bowl? I'd have rated him third best QB in the division and if not for Trent Edwards concussion that seemed to derail his season, he might've been the fourth best...incredibly, only 8% of Tiger Woods income as a pro golfer has come from actually golfing. The rest is from endorsements...the Champions League round of 16 draw went this morning and there are a few real tantalizing matchups - no pun intended on the "real". How about Chelsea vs. Juventus, Manchester United vs. Inter Milan and Real Madrid vs. Liverpool? I'm going to suggest Juventus, Manchester United and Liverpool escape those fixtures. Can't wait to see Man U's Sir Alex Ferguson and Inter's Jose Morinho resume their war of words...the Indianapolis Colts have come back when trailing by 7 or more six times this year, and the dreaded defensive touchdown - which always seems to do in a solid cover or under play - dropped Prime Time Picks to 18-13...good of the Colts Reggie Wayne to show us his plummer impression last night...Boston Red Sox owner John Henry says they've been outbid on Mark Teixera? Who has the cash to do such a thing? Come on, Brian Cashman!...former UFC champion Randy Couture is looking at retirement - wise - and doing movies, including one he'll star in alongside Sylvester Stallone and Dolph Lundgren. What is it, Rocky 4.5? Insert your joke about working with Stallone and the very washed up Lundgren "here"...Manchester United will face Liga de Quito from South America in the Club World Cup final in Japan on Sunday...a part of me would love to see the Toronto Raptors lose to the lowely Oklahoma City Thunder tonight, just to see the hand wringing increase in Raptorland...it was a record day for RandoMango yesterday: 581 hits, blowing past the previous high of 289...tickets to the new Yankee Stadium home opener are already going for a mere $45,000+ at StubHub... have a great Friday.

Another reason why Charles Barkley rules: check out his George W. Bush impression:

Tuesday, December 16th, 2008

The Fan590's Bob McCown says he's got a fantastic source who says Mats Sundin will indeed be a New York Ranger. Sun Media still says the Vancouver Canucks are in the mix. One thing is for certain: wherever Sundin signs, there won't be a shoe thrown at him at the presser...make that 18-12 for a tidy 60% on your Prime Time Picks. Going to get busy this week with a game on Saturday night as well...won't it be so very Philadelphia if the Eagles, suddenly hot, are left out of the playoff field because of that tie?...Mike Holmgren as the next coach of the Dallas Cowboys? Wonder how head-coach-in-waiting Jason Garrett feels about that? Shame the walrus wasn't in this year...well, at least you can say they're defending with some gusto now though they still can't rebound, but the Toronto Raptors still went down at home, again to Wince Carturd and the New Jersey Nets. The idea that Chris Bosh is going to stick around beyond his contract - which expires after next season - seems really unlikely to me...the Toronto Blue Jays are out of the mix on Rafael Furcal, says Joel Sherman at the New York Post...doesn't Tiger Woods caddy smack talking Phil Mickelson ring a lot like a guys mother or wife spouting off? The saying "know your role and shut your hole" never seemed so fitting...how about these for a Top 10 NHL hits?...with 52 points, the San Jose Sharks set an NHL record for most points through 30 games, topping the 1929/30 Boston Bruins. Of course, the extra point for overtime and shootout losses tends to help with that total...Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand figures that Arsenal will not be in the title chase this season. Cannot wait for someone at Arsenal to respond. Odd thing is, that aside from their coach Arsene Wenger, not sure any of them would or will, though you'd think William Gallas would have before his fall from grace...as stories about athletes go, tough to hear a better one than this one about the Chicago Black Hawks...have a great Tuesday.

Monday, December 15th, 2008

A Prime Time Pick never felt so good as the Dallas Cowboys easily covered the three points in a 20-8 win over the New York Giants. Tonight, we're gunning for 18-12 and playing the Philadelphia Eagles at -14 to keep pace in the NFC playoff race...in Marion Barber, Felix Jones and Tashard Choice, the Dallas Cowboys have three fantastic running backs...you're up with 2 minutes to play in an NFL game. You run, right? Not the Buffalo Bills. They confounded the six losers who still play QB1 and called a pass play, leading to a big hit on QB JP Losman, a fumble recovery for a touchdown and a sudden win by the New York Jets...the Miami Dolphins haven't given up a touchdown in three games. Them or Jets will win the division if they win out, and to make it real interesting, they face each other in Week 17...scratch the Ottawa Sens off the list of possible destinations for Mats Sundin. He's expected to sort out his landing spot this week, with the New York Rangers, Chicago Blackhawks and Vancouver Canucks the likely landing spots...during the writing of this entry, Eli Manning was sacked again. And again...say what you will about the Pittsburgh Steelers not winning with a whole lot of style, the fact remains they're getting it done despite the NFL's toughest schedule. They're my pick to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl...in a move that ought to surprise nobody, Sean Avery is done in Dallas. Wonder if NHL owners will push for non-guaranteed deals at the next labour deal? Bryan McCabe would "never" play in such an environment, of course, but the world would adjust...so much for Chelsea going tops yesterday. Like the other top sides, they drew this week as well. This is shaping up to be the best EPL race in years, just for how many teams are in the mix...former Giant Tiki Barber admit that he was wrong about Eli Manning's leadership abilities. Thanks Tiki, what's next, the sky is blue?...have a great Monday.

Friday, December 12th, 2008

The picture to the left is not doctored in any way - that's UFCer Corey Hill's leg snapping like a twig when Dale Hartt blocked his kick at "UFC: Fight For The Troops" on Wednesday...I cannot recall the last time the Dallas Cowboys lost a game where there wasn't some sort of drama in the week that followed. The latest - just in time to face the New York Giants - is that Terrell Owens is sour (allegedly) over how tight Tony Romo and Jason Witten are, and that he thinks they secretly meet to sort out plays that would see the ball go to Witten more often. There are a whole heap of "behind the scenes" quotes from the dreaded Unnamed Source. Mark my words: the Cowboys will beat the Giants on Sunday night...the last two Phil Jackson-led teams to open 14-1 went on to win the NBA title. The LA Lakers are going to look to be the third...46-0 boxing champ Joe Calzaghe says boxing is a dying sport with too many champions and as a result, not enough stars. He also talked of how UFC's popularity has hurt the game stateside. Right about now, Jim Lampley is crafting an overly verbose retort to inform us that Calzaghe is being intellectually dishonest. Fact is, Calzaghe is dead on...the Mats Sundin sweepstakes are said to be down to the Vancouver Canucks and New York Rangers...Manny Ramirez is said to be so frustrated at the lack of movement in his contract discussions he's contemplating retirement. Yeah, that'll show the world, Man Ram! The upside? That'll be two straight years that super agent Scott Boras looks the fool with a big name client...Philadelphia Philly Cole Hamels has glossed the New York Mets "choke artists". How can you not love this guy?...if this isn't every photo of Marissa Miller ever published, it is damn close...Adam "Pacman" Jones neck injury could be career threatening? Somebody might want to check if Roger Goodell has a voodoo doll...have a great Friday.

Friday, November 21st, 2008

Line of the day on Tony Romo taking a homeless guy to the movies comes from Jim Rome: "Romo is a tremendous guy! Of course, if he can’t get them out of the first round of the playoffs this year, he’ll be taking Wade Phillips to the movies next." Too true...a strange, strange silence has suddenly descended around the subject of Mats Sundin's return to the NHL. Odd, no?...it wasn't exactly going out on top, but Mike Mussina is retirning after a 20 year win, his first. With 270 career wins, you'd think he's a borderline Hall of Famer. Mix in that he pitched his entire career in the traditionally tough AL East and he'd get my vote, provided I had one. He's the first pitcher to retire since 1920 winning 20+ in his final year. Interesting Mussina fact: he's buying the giant flag pole from the closing Yankee Stadium and having it shipped to his house in Pennsylvania...RM reader Blake got me thinking: the more I watch Toronto Raptors point guard Jose Calderon play, the more I am reminded of Wince Carter. The guy cannot get breathed on without rolling an ankle. Fittingly, Wince visits Toronto tonight. Who goes down first? Calderon also reminds me of something else: someone who should be entered in Jim Rome's "Rat Family"...another day, another AJ Burnett rumor. Word is the Toronto Blue Jays are ready to go up to five years for Burnett. I still think the best deal you can give Burnett is to overpay him for one year deals. Then watch him pitch like a mad man when motivated...14-7 for Prime Time Picks now. Hope you're along for that ride...have a great Friday.

Saturday, November 8th, 2008

The painful "will he or won't he?" saga of Mats Sundin appears as though it is a "he will", with December 1st as the likely return date for the legenary Swede. The Leafs don't seem a likely landing spot, and as mentioned here before, that is for the best for both. Where he does end up remains a mystery, but there could be some interesting trades coming as some teams look to clear cap room to try to land Sundin...the Oakland Raiders are an NFL worst 7-29 on the road since 2003...the LA Dodgers offer to Manny Ramirez is said to be two years and $45 million. No chance that is accepted. SI.com's Jon Heyman still has the Toronto Blue Jays listed prominently as a possible suitor. Makes a lot of sense, no?...that thud you just heard was the Toronto Raptors coming back to reality after a beatdown at the hands of the Atlanta Hawks last night...are the Montreal Canadiens for sale? Depends who you believe, but hard to figure that George Gillett would be airing such a possibility in their 100th season...Bud Selig and MLB want no part of Mark Cuban owning the Chicago Cubs. How does that make any sense? He took over the sad sack Dallas Mavericks and made them an absolute first class operation where players want to go now, so why not? Because he criticizes the establishment on occasion, and usually with good reason? Pathetic...that's it for today, Manchester United vs. Arsenal beckon...have a great Saturday.

Wednesday, November 5th, 2008

Check out T-Mac going throwback to his college days with the t-shirt underneath his uniform. Oh, wait, lazy-eye didn't go to college. My bad...the Ottawa Senators are real hot on getting Mats Sundin inked, which would give them two lethal lines presumably with a top four of Sundin, Jason Spezza, Dany Heatley and Daniel Alfreddson. Also said to be interested are the New York Rangers, Philadelpia Flyers, Montreal Canadiens, Chicago Blackhawks, Anaheim Ducks, and of course, the Toronto Maple Leafs. My money - and hope - remains on my second fav team, the Rangers...apparently the declining price of oil has been felt by Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich: he's fired 15 of Chelsea's scouts...another day of Champion's League action goes today. I'm starting to feel a fever coming on at about 2:45 that will take me out of the office...guess who studies show as the worst defensive player in all of baseball? Yours truly checks in at comment 179 (on page 9)...how's this for election news: AJ Burnett has elected to opt out of his contract with the Toronto Blue Jays and has declared free agency. No word on if the New York Yankees have a rule about nipple rings being added to his contract language...there has always been that argument that Martin Brodeur, while great, has been aided significantly by a team that is defence first and defence second. With Brodeur now out three months or more with an injury, it'll be interesting to see what kind of numbers Kevin Weekes puts up as he takes over between the pipes...co-NBA player of the week Chris Bosh and the Toronto Raptors travel to Detoilet to face the Pistons tonight in an early season measuring stick. Bet Jose Calderon is thrilled that Chauncey Billups is gone from the Pistons. He typically whips him...Former NCAA, Olympic, WWE and TNA wrestling champion Kurt Angle is taking his MMA physical today and plans to venture into that world. Will be real interesting to see how he progresses, especially as he has talked of wanting to fight the winner of Randy Couture and Brock Lesnar. My money says he'll do just fine. Angle made a passionate argument on The Max Kellerman show for why pro wrestling is a lot harder on you than MMA...I find it strange how many people in Canada religiously bash the U.S. and claim to be anti-media, but have slurped the kool-aid on Barrack Obama and the "change" he will bring. Fact is, he's as establishment as any other politico but a heavily liberal leaning media has built him up as the Second Coming. Will he do a good job? Sure. Considering who he is following, the bar is pretty low. But don't expect miracles and a sudden arrival of world peace and roaring financial markets. You'll be sorely disappointed, no matter what Oprah tells you. Besides, I'd wager the vast majority polluting Facebook and the like with their declarations of how proud they are of the U.S. for electing Obama don't know their ass from an electoral college..have a great Wednesday.

Tuesday, November 4th, 2008

About the only thing that doesn't make sense about the big NBA trade that has Allen Iverson off to Detroit with Chauncey Billups and Antonio McDyess heading to Denver is the timing of it, less than a week into the season. The Toronto Raptors will get the first look at The Answer in a Pistons uniform Wednesday night. For my money, A.I. ranks as a top ten guy I'd pay to see watch in any sport in the last decade...John Daly says "nothing is going right in my life is right now." Umm, right now? But while we're at it, how about eight great J.D. moments...it has been seven consecutive drafts since the Dallas Cowboys drafted a quarterback. They might want to think about taking one next time around. Or two. The lack of a capable backup could well cost them a playoff spot this year...not sure if you were aware, but there is an election in the U.S. today...spotted next to legendary retired Newcastle United striker Alan Shearer at their 2-0 win over Aston Villa yesterday: Toronto FC coach John Carver, a former Magpie staffer himself...Mats Sundin is said to be less than a month away from his NHL return, destination unknown. For his sake and the Leafs, I hope it is not together again. He deserves better than the morons of "Leafs Nation" and the Leafs need to win fewer games this year, not more...the Brady Quinn era starts for the Cleveland Browns on Thursday night. Wonder if the Browns regret signing Derek Anderson to that big contract in the off-season? He looks a shell of the guy we saw most of last season. Given that the Cowboys traded that pick to Cleveland that netted Quinn, I expect him to be nothing short of a Hall of Famer, even for a former Domer...cannot wait for the baseball wheeling and dealing to get started. It is gonna get wild, with Milwaukee already offering 4 years and $100 million to CC Sabathia...16 of the last 17 times the Washington Redskins won the game immediately preceding the U.S. election, the incumbent party - the Republicans in this case - won the subsequent election. With the Skins losing last night, well, we know that streak isn't in play...that's now 10-6 and +435 on the year on Prime Time Picks. Hope you're playing along at Pinnacle...another day of Champions League group play goes today, with the final 16 spots in site for more than a few sides. I've got a small wager on Barcelona at -2.5 to pound Basel so will be watching that intently...have a great Tuesday.

Friday, October 10th, 2008

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison was fined $20,000 for criticizing officials after a bad call on Sunday. His comment is an instant classic: “You don’t make a call like that unless he might have money on it.” Betting - no pun intended - that has NFL Commissioner Rodger Goodell way more round up than a Pacman dust-up in a bathroom...Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk wants Mats Sundin, a message he delivered in Sweden last week...it was a banner night for the Detroit Red Wings last night, as they hoisted theirs, and a banner night for the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs, who rained on their parade in winning 3-2. Here comes the irrational hopes of the dreaded Leafs Nation...the Philadelphia Phillies rode a pair of homers to a 3-2 win in the series opener against the LA Dodgers. Game two goes at 4:20 Eastern, with game one of the ALCS following at 8:30...here's 10 reasons to care about the NHL, including snazzy new threads from the Carolina Hurricanes...just so Bukkake isn't left disappointed, Pacman Jones is playing this week...remember Clint Malarchuk, one time NHL goalie who famously had his jugular cut? As if that wasn't enough, he accidentally shot himself. In the face...the average score of the New York Giants first four wins is 32-12...good start for the Calgary Flames Craig Conroy and Rene Bourque: -4 last night...looks like the fine folks at EliteXC are under investigation for match fixing for last week's Kimbo Slice/Seth Petruzelli fight. Problem one if they were working a fix was that Petruzelli played the part of Butch Coolidge from Pulp Fiction and didn't work the fix, instead winning the fight...one big sign that the Leafs management is heading in the right direction: Don Cherry says they're not...Curtis Joseph and Shania Twain? Seriously? First Mutt, now Cujo?...have a great Friday.