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Whip It Out Wednesday

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 05:57:56 GMT

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it" - George Santayana

Howdy folks, welcome to another Whip It Out Wednesday here at the Gab. Gonna be a whacky weekend with the kid’s birthday party coming up Saturday. On top of that, the brother in law is coming up from North Carolina; gonna stay with us for a couple of days. Not too bad of news, though… it’ll give me an excuse to buy extra beer!

Big weekend coming up in sports, too. Not only do we get the finals for several big conference tournaments in college basketball, but selection Sunday means it’s time to fill out the brackets. I’m pretty much expecting the same shitty performance I always put in, but hell, half the fun is being wrong 20 or so times, right?

Couple of teams qualifying for the Madness last night, with North Texas winning the Sun Belt, Butler taking the Horizon league and Oakland University winning the Summit League title. Gotta say I was hoping OU would get bounced by IUPUI. As a former OU student who was rammed in the ass by their piss poor financial aid department, I can honestly say that I’m looking forward to watching them get rolled by 30+ by whatever 1 or 2 seed they end up facing in the first round.

Outside of college basketball, the biggest news in sports seems to be the flurry of activity that’s taken place since the clock struck midnight on Friday. With no cap, seems a few teams are willing to break out the checkbooks more willy-nilly, with the Bears leading the charge. First they nabbed the biggest name available in Julius Peppers, giving him a deal worth a reported 91 million. They also grabbed Chester Taylor to compliment Matt Forte in the backfield. Good pair of moves for the Monsters of the Midway.

The other big moves involved trades, with Anquan Boldin going to the Ravens for 3^rd and 4^th round picks. Arizona then sent a 4^th rounder in 2010 and a 7^th rounder in 2011 for Safety Kerry Rhodes to the Jets.

As for the Lions, a pair of good moves on Friday, bringing DE Kyle Vanden Bosch and WR Nate Burleson into the fold. Vanden Bosch is a guy I really like with a high motor and pass rushing skills. Despite the fact that he’s getting up there in years, he’s still a hell of an upgrade over anybody they had at the position last year. Burleson gives the Lions a solid #2 at wide receiver to line up opposite Calvin Johnson. Not happy with those moves, the Lions also made a trade for DT Corey Williams with Cleveland for their 5^th and 7^th round picks, then sent their second 5^th rounder along with a 6^th rounder to Atlanta for CB Chris Houston. All in all, a nice set of moves for the Lions so far, but their work this offseason is far from done.

As of right now, the free agent pool is getting a little shallow. Of the available guys I’d love to see them bring in, the first name on the list is Kevin Mawae. The guy is not only a great leader, but he’s a hell of a durable player, and he gives Matt Stafford a solid veteran to learn from. Besides, Dominic Raolia is probably one of the five worst starting centers in the NFL, and would probably fit in better at guard. Aside from getting a veteran to mentor Stafford, I’d say Torry Holt would be a good fit in Detroit. He’s getting up there in age, but would flourish as a #2 or 3 and provide a great mentor for the best player on your roster, Calvin Johnson. Look, I think Megatron has had a hell of a career thus far considering what he’s had to work with, but the closest thing to a mentor he’s had in his time here has been Roy Williams… and that’s not exactly somebody you want your franchise guy modeling his game after. Another guy I’d love to see in Detroit… bring back Mike Furrey! Great community guy and a solid possession receiver, plus he’ll come cheap.

The other big NFL news this week… Big Ben and his Johnny Appleseed routine; except instead of planting apple seeds he’s raping women. Yeah, the first broad was less believable because of the whole civil suit instead of actually pressing charges, but now we’ve got another alleged victim pointing the finger at Roethlisberger. Sure, it might not be anything; it may have been consensual sex and this broad might be full of shit, too. But regardless of what comes from these charges, you really have to wonder where the hell this guy’s head is at. After the first charges were filed against you in Vegas, you have to finally realize you are a target. I can definitely see another bullshit ‘sex rehab” cop-out at the end of this story; that is, if he doesn’t wind up behind bars instead.

As for the Tigers, what do they have to do to get away from these phenoms? On Monday, they play the Braves and fall victim to the bat of rookie OF Jason Heyward, who hit a 450 foot shot during the game. Braves pitcher Tim Hudson compares the sound of the ball coming off this kid’s bat to a “30-ot six”. Even Jim Leyland left the game impressed with the young man, saying he’s one of the best young players he’s ever seen, even comparing his pitch selection to that of Albert Pujols. The very next day, the “meat” of their lineup gets schooled by Nats rookie Stephen Strasberg’s 98 MPH heat. Rough couple of days in spring for these cats for sure.

But they got a piece of good news as far as their AL Central hopes are concerned. Twins closer and registered Tiger-killer Joe Nathan appears to be gone for the year needing Tommy John’s surgery on his right elbow. Gotta say, this bodes well for the Tiger’s chances of winning the division, which will probably again be one of the worst in baseball overall.

And hey, UConn’s women’s basketball team won it’s 72^nd straight game last night, extending the women’s basketball record they set the night before. But no matter how much ESPiN wants people to pay attention, NOBODY FUCKING CARES. Calling this one of the greatest teams of all time is one of the stupidest things I have ever heard. MAYBE they are when it comes to the history of women’s basketball… but that’s kind of like saying the Lakers get to play a collection of the best middle school basketball players 72 straight times. Really, that’s how shitty the competition is for these gals.

As for the actual interesting story in women’s basketball, how about the ridiculous two game suspension given to Baylor’s Brittney Griner’s sucker punch on a Texas Tech player last week? So just because you’re one of only two women out there anywhere that has dunked a time or two you can assault somebody and just be suspended two games for it? Bullshit. If I thought for a second she actually had some sort of future in sports, I’d be even more upset about this… but the punishment of being WNBA bound is probably bad enough for her. Still, just like I said about LeGarrette Blount, she should not only be suspended longer, she should be in jail for assault. Just because it happens on a basketball court, football field or wherever doesn’t make it okay.

Well that’s it for me this week folks. I’d like to thank you all for reading and for any comments you leave on the way out. Happy Hump Day folks.

Latest Roethlisberger Accusations Changes Perceptions

Tue, 9 Mar 2010 15:38:11 GMT

“The Assembly has witnessed over the last weeks how historical truth is established; once an allegation has been repeated a few times, it is no longer an allegation, it is an established fact, even if no evidence has been brought out in order to support it.”

- Dag Hammarskjold

Isn’t that the truth, at least in how it pertains to Steelers Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger?

For Big Ben, as he’s come to be known by the fans and media, you would imagine that the first allegation would have been enough of an ordeal to have to go through. Sure, the court filings show that the woman involved more than likely entrapped the quarterback with the hopes of a get rich scheme of some sort, but it still left some nasty taste in people’s mouths.

Now comes the news of a new case involving the star quarterback in Milledgeville, Georgia, where a 20-year-old college student is alleging that Roethlisberger assaulted her on Friday, March 5^th in the bathroom of a nightclub where Roethlisberger was celebrating his 28^th birthday. The difference in this case is that the woman took her case directly to the police, rather than going for civil damages, and she did so immediately after the incident.

So where does that leave Roethlisberger, both in the eyes of the public or in the eyes of the law?

Well, in the eyes of the law, he is now a two-time accused sex offender. You can give a guy the benefit of the doubt after the first case because of the evidence against the accuser and the fact that it was a civil proceeding, but given the latest accusations were taken directly to the police, one has to wonder just how innocent the accused really is.

Then there is his decision to hire on Ed Garland as his attorney in the matter. Garland is the attorney that has represented many troubled sports stars when they’ve crossed the law, including Jamal Lewis in his cocaine distribution trial and Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis, when he faced charges in a double-homicide in 2000. The one thing that these clients share in common, as well as Dana Heatley and Adam “Pacman” Jones, who were also represented by Garland’s firm, is that all parties involved were guilty to some degree in the crimes they stood trial for, only to plead their charges down.

What does this say for Roethlisberger remains to be seen, but given that the police are already requesting DNA evidence from the quarterback, it already doesn’t look good.

So where does that leave Big Ben in the eyes of the public?

Well, Roethlisberger has done all the right things on the field. He’s played hard, fought through injuries, and he’s delivered two Super Bowls to the Steel City in his short career. Then again, he’s also contributed his share of headlines off the field, spotlighted by the two sexual assault allegations and the memorable motorcycle accident where Roethlisberger was missing both a helmet and a valid Pennsylvania motorcycle license.

While these are just three incidents, they are also three high profile situations that show a severe lack of judgment from a player who serves as both a role model for kids, as well as a leader on the field of play. Half the responsibility of being a quarterback in the NFL is being the marketable figurehead of the team. If the public sees you as a playboy loose cannon who cannot be trusted within the confines of the law, then in one of your primary roles as a player. As I said before, the public may be willing to overlook the first incident, and perhaps even the motorcycle crash, but when there is repeated pounding on the can, eventually its going to look dented, and nobody wants to buy a dented can.

And none of this even considers how NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is going to handle this situation. And let’s face facts, Goodell isn’t exactly one that waits to hear things out either is he?

As the facts unfold, both the law and the court of public opinion will cast their verdicts, but this much is true; you can only do so much to repair an image and part of that is making the right choices. Its obvious the lessons of right or wrong have fallen on deaf ears here.

California Crackbacks

Tue, 9 Mar 2010 07:29:06 GMT

Let me start by saying that if you haven't already heard, Big Toke went into the hospital for some surgery. I hope he is alright, and my thoughts and prayers are with you Toke! Hey Gabbers, a lot of us know him, so let's step up our game! I'm gonna try here:

My jacked-up state is going through an election for Governor and as usual, the normal bunch of lying, criminal, and weasley d-bags were nominated. Let me nominate somebody who I KNOW can clean up this state and get the job done. Now, I know the Terminator couldn’t do the job, so how ‘bout the ultimate badass:

Hey Chuck, would you please go “Walker, Texas Ranger” all over Sacramento and arrest and/or beat the living shit out of every single corrupt freaking politician in this damn state so we can start over? Bring Trivette and Cahill in her mini-skirt too! Hell, dig up C. D. Parker’s dead ass too - this state needs all the help it can get!

Now time to bust out some sports takes:

1. Ben Roethlisberger, what the hell are you thinking and why are you trolling the college club scene (which by the way are havens for underage-ers) for a hookup? Man, I’m trying hard to keep an open mind, but it appears that this dude is intent on dragging his name through the mud. My man, free piece of advice – stay the fuck out of the clubs, and if you’re gonna knock some boots, find a very discreet and willing MILF. Either that, or…

Which at this point may not be a bad option for ya! I’m not saying your guilty, but ALLEGEDLY doing something to a girl in a bathroom? Just because there’s a song out there whose lyrics include “I once got busy in a Burger King Bathroom”, it doesn’t mean you have to take the lyrics of the Humpty Dance too literally.

C’mon man, wake up before it’s too late!

2. Real NFL. A. J. Smith, GM of the San Diego Chargers is pissing me off. I don’t mind that he traded Antonio Cromartie, but to the New York Jets of all teams? What, getting punked by the Jets in the playoffs wasn’t enough, you have to go and trade him to a team whose one and only issue on defense was a CB to play opposite Revis? If the Jets can do anything to further improve their offense this offseason, I would have a hard time finding any team in the AFC who could keep up with them. At least the Chargers were smart enough to keep Darren Sproles, but he’d better get somebody to replace LaDanian Tomlinson, who it’s my hope will be picked up by another team (Hint – Miami Dolphins or San Francisco 49ers!).

3. AFL. The Arena Football League is back and it's damn cool with me! It’s slimmed down and that was a smart move. I know, it probably isn’t much of a hit elsewhere, but it’s not a bad product. Playing in April, May, June, and July is just as smart, and with the NFL Network agreeing to carry it, it just might work this time, provided they resist the temptation of trying to go “big time” again. At least it’s something to watch in the late spring into Summer!

4. NBA. I’m going to be very interested to see how things shake out in the West with the much improved Dallas Mavericks. I intensely dislike Mark Cuban, but not as much as David Stern does, so let’s not think that these guys are finals material. But these guys can definitely put a scare into the Lakers and make Stern squirm. The key will be having the ability to rest Jason Kidd and Dirk Nowitzki on occasion.

5. MLB. Way to go SF Giants and Barry Zito. Plunking the Sta-Puf Marshmallow Man (err, Prince Fielder) in retaliation for some celebration stuff last year is only gonna piss him off and he’s gonna go ape shit all over you during the regular season. At least we’ll have some good action when things get boring this Summer!

6. NHL. San Jose Sharks. Nice job Sharks! By beating the Habs then winning a thriller against Columbus, you’ve extended your home winning streak to 11. With Nashville and Florida next up in the Shark Tank, you should be able to keep on your roll. Now, don’t blow that #1 seed in May dammit!

7. Golf. It’s hard to believe that Fred Couples is now playing on the “Champions Tour”. Good to see he has two top three performances in his first two tournaments. He’s always been a great golfer, and let’s hope that his back holds out and he can give some fans a good show! With Tiger out, the Champions Tour may just be more entertaining that the regular PGA tour.

8. College Football. I’m intrigued by the hiring of Turner Gill at Kansas. I was a big fan of his when he played at Nebraska and was pleasantly surprised when he was successful as a coach at Buffalo. I hope he can calm the storm with the Jayhawks and return Jayhawk football to being competitive in the Big 12. He’s got a lot of work to do after Mangino’s successful, yet borderline abusive tenure.

9. College Basketball. St. Mary's surprise win over Gonzaga last night might have screwed a few other teams sitting on the bubble. Can't wait to see how this shakes out on Sunday. Could it be that the WCC gets more teams into the dance than the Pac-10? For now, it’s enough to know that Maryland (of all teams) clinched a share of the ACC title, my Seminoles may just make it to the dance, and UCLA bit the big one this season!

Question of the Week. How many teams does the Big East get into the Dance?

Douche Bag of the Week. The Police Department of Rahway, New Jersey. It seems as though a family decided to build a snow-woman shaped like the Venus de Milo. A loser who was offended by nudity complained to the Police, who actually went to the house and asked the owner to cover it up. I swear I weep for the future of America…

http://www.myfoxny.com/dpp/news/offbeat/nude-snow-woman-100303-apx

Music Pick of the Week. As with most people, I grew up listening to Journey. The boys from the bay are the shit! I have to tell you that they epitomize timeless music as even my kids have come to love their stuff. As usual, let me leave you with a taste.

What Gabbers, I didn’t set the table enough for y’all? “I want to hear from a Gabber – REACT!!!”…

NCAA Basketball Spec Sheet 3-8

Mon, 8 Mar 2010 20:08:41 GMT

Call it the calm before the storm, the Colonial Finals between Old Dominion and William & Mary and the West Coast final between Gonzaga and St. Mary’s is tonight. Then a host of smaller conference finals will be contested for the next couple days as the major conferences start their opening rounds. As Ive said before, this is a hoop junkies nirvana. This is without question the best sports week of the year. I know people talk about bowl games and the drama of the baseball playoffs and the NFL’s road to the Super Bowl but for the sheer volume of games and the taut drama. Nothing beats championship week. For the next seven days the wall to wall basketball cannot be matched. And think this is the prelude to the real tournament…whats not to love???

Atlantic Coast
Conference Class-Power
Locks: Duke, Wake Forest, Maryland, Clemson
Playing Their Way In Florida State. Virginia Tech
Playing Their Way Out: Georgia Tech
Skinny on the ACC: Duke gets the top seed and after brutally housing North Carolina Saturday is in no danger of missing the tourney, and are shooting for a #1 seed. Wake is tottering badly but still is in line for a bid providing that they don’t lose to Miami or badly lose to Virginia Tech. Georgia Tech has really stumbled badly and if they lose to UNC in the ACC opening round they might get the boot. I only have 6 teams coming out of this conference, not 7 as some would want you to believe.
Atlantic Coast Conference Championships: Mar 11-14; Greensboro Coliseum; Greensboro, NC
Projected Bids: 6

Atlantic Ten
Conference Class-Mid Major
Lock: Temple , Xavier, Richmond
Playing their way out: Saint Louis , Dayton , Rhode Island , Charlotte
The A-10 Spec is: Temple, X and Richmond need only to win their opening round games in Atlantic City to feel totally safe. If Saint Louis gets to the A-10 semis they will get that 4th seed. The Rams, Flyers and 49ers have really stumbled down the stretch and need to make some serious noise on the boardwalk to have a real shot. But 4 is the most I see coming out here.
Atlantic 10 Conference Championship: First Round tonight on Campus Sites, March 12-14 Boardwalk Hall; Atlantic City, NJ
Projected Bids: 4

Big East
Conference Class-Power
Lock: Syracuse , Villanova , West Virginia , Georgetown , Pitt, Marquette , Louisville
Playing Their Way In UConn, Notre Dame
Big East Skinny: Any questions that folks had about Louisville being tourney worthy evaporated as they knocked off the then top ranked Orange at an emotional closing of Freedom Hall. Im still looking at 9 teams coming out of this conference, but Im still real shaky on UConn & Notre Dame, if the Irish lose in their first game after earning a first round bye they won’t go. UConn faces an even steeper climb; they need to win at least two games to solidify their chances.
Big East Championship Tournament: Mar 9-13 Madison Square Garden, New York City
Projected bids: 9

Big Ten
Conference Class-Power
Lock: Michigan State , Purdue , Wisconsin , Ohio State
Playing their way In: Illinois
Playing Their Way Out: Minnesota
The word on the Big Ten is: The lock teams are just that. Illinois is fading fast and faces an interesting rematch against a Wisconsin team that housed them in their own crib. If the Illini get another housing, they are not going anywhere but home for an NIT first round game. Minnesota is needing to win two games to even get back into the conversation.
Big Ten Championships: Mar 11-14 Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis
Projected Bids: 4

Big 12
Conference Class-Power
Lock: Kansas , Texas , Kansas State , Texas A&M, Baylor
Playing Their Way In Missouri , Oklahoma State
Skinny from the heartland: This conference is sending 7 teams...give a good argument against any of the teams listed. Mizzou and Oklahoma St. have to only guard against a bad first round loss in Kansas City next week and they are good.
Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship: Mar 11-14 Sprint Center Kansas City, Mo
Projected Bids: 7

Colonial
Conference Class-Small
Playing Their Way In: Old Dominion, Northeastern, William & Mary
Colonial Spec: Im seeing only one team coming out of this conference, and Old Dominion is the favorite in the Colonial final. But William & Mary has the chops enough to knock off the Monarchs and steal the bid. This is the matchup that the hoop junkies love, two teams with one bid at stake.
Colonial Athletic Association Championship: William & Mary vs. Old Dominion 7p (ESPN)
Projected Bids: 1

Conference USA
Conference Class-Major
Lock: UTEP
Hoping and Wishin’: Marshall , UAB, Memphis
Oh Say Can You C-USA Spec: With UNI winning the MVC im shifting numbers in projections. Im liking Memphis making a hard charge down the stretch to stay on UTEP’s heels. If the Tigers get to Saturday and the finals, win or lose I see them getting a bid. UAB is pretty much in the same boat so you may see a virtual play-in game for a bid in the C-USA semifinals if UAB and Memphis.
Conference USA Championships: Mar 10-13 BOK Center Tulsa, OK
Projected Bids: 2

Horizon
Conference Class-Mid Major
Lock: Butler
Hoping & Wishing
Spec on The Horizon: Butler & Wright State will clash for the Horizon Title and the big boy conferences are hoping Butler makes it 20 straight conference wins with a title win. Butler will not be kept on the outside win or lose and are shooting for a possible three or four seed.
Speedway Horizon League Championship: Wright State at Butler
Projected Bids: 1

Ivy
Conference Class-Small
In: Cornell
Spec on the Ivy Vine: Cornell gets the first guaranteed invite as they clinched the Ivy Group title Friday, they will be the only team coming out of this conference
Ivy Group Champion: Cornell
Projected Bids: 1

Missouri Valley
Conference Class-Mid Major
In: Northern Iowa
Hoping & Wishin’ Wichita State
Missouri Valley Skinny: It’s a sweet repeat for the Panthers who used a steady second half surge to hold off the Shockers. The big boy conferences breathe a bit easier, this is likely a one bid league.
Missouri Valley Mens Basketball Tournament Champions: Northern Iowa
Projected Bids: 1

Mountain West
Conference Class-Major
Lock: BYU, New Mexico
Playing Their Way In UNLV, San Diego St
Spec from the Mountains: I still have 4 teams coming out of this deep conference. Though the Aztecs really need to get to the MWC semis to feel safe about their chances. As long as UNLV doesn't take a first round pratfall they will get their invite.
Conoco Mountain West Championship Mar 9-13 Thomas & Mack Center Las Vegas
Projected Bids: 4

Pacific 10
Conference Class-Power
Lock: California
Playing Their Way In Arizona State
Playing Their Way Out: Washington
Spec from the left coast: Cal is the top dog here, but the Pac-10 tourney is wide open. I can see a couple teams coming out but that’s about it here. Im projecting Cal and Arizona State netting bids, and while Washington has the chops may need to get to the semis or the finals to get a real shot.
Pacific Life Pac-10 Championships: Mar 10-13 Staples Center, Los Angeles
Projected Bids: 2

Southeastern
Conference Class-Power
Lock: Kentucky , Vanderbilt , Tennessee
Playing Their Way In Florida , Mississippi St .
Spec is Down South: Florida blew a chance to solidify their tourney chances as they fell at Kentucky. The Gators may need to get to the SEC semis to feel really good about their chances. If the Gators fall in the SEC 1st round or lose to Mississippi State in the SEC quarters, they might be on the wrong side of the cut line.
SEC Championship Mar 10-14, Sommet Center Nashville
Projected Bids: 4

Western Athletic
Conference Class- Major
Lock: Utah State
Playing Their Way Out: New Mexico State , La. Tech
Spec on the WAC: This might be a one bid, because even though the Utah State Aggies have 22 wins and are leading the WAC, their numbers are so-so at best. If the New Mexico State Aggies or La. Tech steals the bid, Utah State could be on the outs.
Western Athletic Conference Championships: Mar 11-13 Lawlor Events Center; Reno, NV
Projected Bids: 1

West Coast
Conference Class- Mid Major
Lock: Gonzaga
Playing Their Way out: St. Mary’s
West Coast Spec: The big boys conferences are rooting hard for Gonzaga, if St. Mary’s pulls the upset, the selection committee will not leave the 11th ranked Bulldogs on the sideline.
West Coast Conference Basketball Championship: St. Mary’s vs Gonzaga 9p Tonight (ESPN)
Projected Bids: 1

There are others in the mix to be sure. The champions from the following conferences get an automatic bid (projected winners in parentheses/actual winners in bold ) : Amer. East (Vermont) , Atlantic Sun (Belmont/East Tennessee State) , Big South (Coastal Carolina/Winthrop), Big Sky (Northern Colorado) , Big West (Pacific), MAC (Kent State) , MAAC (Siena), MEAC (Morgan State), Northeast (Quinnipiac), Ohio Valley (Murray St.), Patriot (Lehigh), Southern (Appalachian State), Southland (Sam Houston State), Sun Belt (North Texas), Summit (Oakland), and SWAC (Jackson State)

Conference Breakdown
ACC-6
A-Ten -4
Big East-9
Big Ten-4
Big XII-7
C-USA-2
Colonial-1
Horizon-1
Ivy-1
Missouri Valley-1
Mountain West-4
Pac-10-2
SEC-4
WAC-3
WCC-1
Small Conferences-17
Total-65

Keep in mind that this is just spec, these are merely projections and we haven't even brought up the possibility of upsets. But those never happen, right?

Next Spec Sheet Wednesday

Cheers From The Cheap Seats!

YouGabSports NL Central Preview

Mon, 8 Mar 2010 19:45:20 GMT

As a division, the NL Central is the largest in all of baseball. With that being said, you’d expect that it could produce more than two teams with better than .500 records, but unfortunately, only the Cardinals and Cubs managed to pull off that feat in 2009. Still, the NL Central an interesting division to say the least. It features a multitude of young players on the cusp of stardom that can make or break their team’s season. The Cubs and Cardinals, while being the two teams that have dominated the division in recent years, lack the intimidation factor and are beginning to show signs that their time is coming to an end.

With that in mind, let’s break down the National League Central and see where the dice are going to fall this year.

Chicago Cubs

2009 Finish - 83-78 - 7.5 Games Back (2^nd Place)

Is there another team in baseball that embodies losing more than the Chicago Cubs? That’s not to say this is a team that has had a tough time dwelling at the bottom of the division or anything, it’s just hard to call a team a winner when they last won the World Series when Roosevelt was in office; Teddy, not Franklin. Still, the Cubs aren’t a team without hope. They have a solid base of players on both sides of the ball. They just need a little bit of luck, which as we know, is something the Cubs have lacked.

Offensively, this is a team that depends more on health than it does on talent. The line-up is paced by Derrek Lee, who quietly year-in and year-out puts up MVP caliber numbers and Aramis Ramirez, who more than any other Cub’s hitter, affects how this line-up comes together. From there, you have Alfonso Soriano, who could be a nice comeback player candidate this season if he can stay focused and has protection around him in the line-up. That’s where Marlon Byrd comes in. Byrd was signed as a free agent to give the team additional pop in the outfield, something he should be an immediate upgrade over the now departed Milton Bradley on.

From a pitching perspective, Chicago is strong in the rotation, with a top three of Zambrano, Lilly, and Dempster. After those three though, the drop off could be significant. The number four starter, Randy Wells, is coming off of a career year that saw him come out of nowhere to post a 12-10 record with a 3.05 ERA. Whether or not he can continue that is unknown for the 28-year-old, but if he can at least come close, it’ll be great news for the Cubs. The number five spot is up for grabs heading into Spring Training, between Tom Gorzelanny and Carlos Silva, neither of which appears to be a very attractive option, even at the end of the rotation. The bullpen is as equally jumbled as the bottom of the rotation, with Carlos Marmol set at closer and John Grabow at set-up, the rest of the relief corps are in disarray, especially after the news that Angel Guzman will opt for season, and perhaps career, ending surgery.

So with all this in mind, the Cubs are a team that could get it done, but need to get the necessary breaks to do so. Otherwise, they could just be a middle of the pack team just hanging around until mid-season.

Cincinnati Reds

2009 Finish - 78-84 - 13.0 Games Back (4th Place)

The Cincinnati Reds are a team on the verge of breaking through. A steady group of young hitters and pitchers have been landing in Great American Ballpark over the past few seasons and they appear about primed to take their spots in the Major Leagues.

The Reds resisted the urge to trade away the core of their pitching staff over the winter when they chose to retain both Aaron Harang and Bronson Arroyo and attempt to build the pitching staff around them and 3^rd year veteran Johnny Cueto, who showed signs early last season that he was turning the corner. Unfortunately, they will be without Edinson Volquez for most, if not all of 2010 after the pitcher underwent Tommy John surgery last August, but they replaced him with young Cuban fireballer Aroldis Chapman, who while a bit enigmatic as to what he’ll bring the team, is as electrifying a pitching prospect as any in baseball.

On the offensive side of the ball, the Reds are a solid unit. Leading the charge is first baseman Joey Votto, who will look to build off of a career year and continue his recovery from anxiety issues that otherwise may have allowed him to have an MVP caliber season in 2009. Add to the mix Brandon Phillips, Jay Bruce, and veteran Scott Rolen, and the core hitters are solid. Orlando Cabrera will replace Alex Gonzalez at shortstop, which will also help spark the offense in 2010.

Cincinnati could easily be the most surprising team in the National League this season, similar to the Tmapa Bay Rays in 2008, but the pieces will need to fall into place. For that to happen, Bruce will need to take a step forward and the pitching staff will need to gel early. This could easily be a second place team or a fourth place team in a tough division.

Houston Astros

2009 Finish - 74-88 - 17 Games Back (5^th Place)

A few years removed now from their team’s first World Series trip, the Astros are a team in turmoil. Ideally, they have themselves set-up to be players more in during the trade deadline rush than in the division race. They are full of key components, but none that will truly help this team contend.

The line-up is aging, but stock full of guys that know what it is like to have a big year, especially if Lance Berkman can find his stroke again, but consistency from year-to-year has always been an issue for Berkman. Carlos Lee is as steady a bat as they come in left field, and Hunter Pence will look to continue to build on a break-out season in 2009. Outside of those three though, the offense has an odd collection of youth and aging veterans, with no real direction as to which the team wants to commit to.

If the line-up doesn’t give away the team’s direction, the rotation doesn’t do much to clear up the picture either. While it appeared the Houston was ready to toss the eggs into the basket of young pitchers Wandy Rodriguez, Bud Norris, and Felipe Paulino, the front office went out and signed veteran starter Brett Myers to come in and contribute. Rodriguez enjoyed a fine 2009 campaign, and it isn’t out of the question to see him take over as staff ace in 2010 should the Astros choose to ship Roy Oswalt off at the deadline. The bullpen is equally muddled, with tryouts being held for the closer position between Brandon Lyon and Matt Lindstrom.

Even at this early point in the season, it is easy to see that Houston needs to begin a rebuilding process. Given what they can get for Lee, Oswalt, and Berkman at this stage in their careers, the Astros would be wise to try and stock up their system with as much talent as they can get. Allowing development time to a group of young players on the way to a fifth place finish is better than putting your veterans through it.

Milwaukee Brewers

2009 Finish - 80-82 - 11 Games Back (3^rd Place)

The Brewers are going to be an interesting team to watch in 2010. Here is a team that has gotten by on the longball in recent years, but after the acquisition of Carlos Gomez in the J.J. Hardy deal with Minnesota and the promotion of Alcides Escobar gives them a different look at the top of the line-up. Coupled with a pitching staff with a lot of questions, and this may be one very exciting season in Milwaukee, even if it isn’t fruitful.

Offensively, this as sound a team as there is in baseball. The tandem of Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun in the middle of the line-up is downright deadly. Coupled with a full season from third baseman Casey McGhee and a healthy return to form by Corey Hart and this line-up could have some serious punch to go along with the aforementioned speed. And that doesn’t even include Mat Gamel, who himself could be ready for action this year.

Pitching is a different story altogether. Outside of young staff ace Yovanni Gallardo, this could potentially be one of the ugliest rotations in all of baseball. Gallardo has his credentials, and the stuff to get it done as the ace. He’ll need to cut down on his pitch counts a bit, and that can be expected as he matures into a top of the rotation starter. The Brewers tried to get him help by bringing in Randy Wolf as a free agent, but Wolf may have reached last season in Los Angeles and may experience a decline in 2010. Outside of those two though, there is no telling what the Brew Crew will get from their final three starters, especially considering the four men fighting for the jobs are the enigmatic Dave Bush, Jeff Suppan, Doug Davis, and Manny Parra. All four of those men will test a solid bullpen, which the Brewers are counting their blessings they have.

Milwaukee is a good team, but they will learn shortly that you can’t win in Major League Baseball without solid pitching. Sure, you can outhit your opponent all you want, but when hitters slump and there isn’t anyone there to keep them in ballgames, you get a fourth place team.

Pittsburgh Pirates

2009 Finish - 62-99 - 28.5 Games Back (6^th Place)

“Ugh”. That is the collective exclamation that emanates from Pittsburgh year in and year out when it comes to their thoughts on the upcoming Pirates season. It’s a shame really. For a team with a rich history in the game to have fallen so far off the map has to weigh heavily on their fans. Looking forward to the prospects of 2010 won’t likely make them feel any better either.

This offense begins and end s with Andrew McCutcheon. The latest young star to be developed by the team, the question isn’t always how good he will be, but how long he will be with the team. McCutcheon showed during a brief stint last season that he is ready and will produce at a high level. Outside of McCutcheon, the only other offense on this team will come from Garrett Jones and perhaps Ryan Doumit, if he can stay healthy. The Pirates are hoping that a change of scenery will enable Lastings Milledge and Jeff Clement to realize their potential, but both are unknown quantities at this point. Then again, perhaps they will get lucky and Pedro Alvarez will be ready to step in right out of the gate.

Developing pitching is something the Pirates have done to middling results of late. They’ve managed to produce a bunch of middle of the rotation starters, but no one that has stepped up and dominated yet. Paul Maholm, Ross Ohlendorf, and Zack Duke all fit that mold, in that they occasionally get the job done, but none has overpowering stuff. The rest of the rotation is rounded out by young starters Charlie Morton and Kevin Hart, who both struggled in 2009 and may not contribute much outside of being placeholders in the rotation.

Death, taxes, and the Pirates having a top pick in next year’s draft are the three things you can count on in life. The carousel keeps spinning players out of town for the perpetual rebuilding project that next seems to finish. This year may be quiet on that front, with the exception of Doumit or Garrett Jones possibly drawing interest at the deadline. Otherwise, it’s just another day at the ballpark for the worst team in the majors.

St. Louis Cardinals

2009 Finish - 91-71 - First Place

The defending division champions look like a strong contender to repeat the feat in 2010. For the most part, the core of the team in unchanged from a year ago, so this is a team where we know exactly what we’re going to get; a well-rounded team with a solid offense and a pitching staff that knows how to win ballgames.

The Cardinals knew that they could only survive for so long with Albert Pujols and a bunch of role players. Inevitably, they knew they if they wanted to win another championship, they would have to surround him with at least one other strong bat in the line-up. They did just that when they acquired Matt Holliday a year ago, and then opted to resign him during the off-season. A full year with the tandem on the line-up, coupled with the expected growth of Colby Rasmus in center and another steady campaign from Ryan Ludwick and the Cardinals will click offensively. Their only obvious holes come on the left side of the infield, where they don’t have a solid answer to who will start at third or short in 2010.

The pitching staff is anchored by perhaps one of the best one-two punches in baseball with Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright at the top of the rotation. Insert Kyle Lohse and Brad Penny, who will be another year removed from arm problems, and four fifths of the rotation is solid. The only problem is, there is no good guess as to who will be the fifth starter, although Kyle McCellan and Rich Hill look to be the two competing for the job. The bullpen is solid, but the big question is if closer Ryan Franklin will be the same pitcher he was in the first half or the guy who pitched down the stretch and looked like he peaked too early.

For all intensive purposes, the Cardinals represent the team to beat in the Central. Unless something goes wrong with Carpenter or Wainwright at the top of the rotation or an injury to Pujols or Holliday, the Cardinals should be able to plug in any holes to make themselves a playoff team again in 2010.

Projected Finish

1.) St. Louis Cardinals

2.) Cincinnati Reds

3.) Chicago Cubs

4.) Milwaukee Brewers

5.) Houston Astros

6.) Pittsburgh Pirates

Monday Moaning 3-8-10

Mon, 8 Mar 2010 06:19:17 GMT

And the winner is..."The Hurt Locker"...

James Cameron must feel like that dude in the picture...That dope spent ten years working on his over the top special effects, CGI out the ass, sci-fi movie...And he lost "Best Picture" and "Best Director" to his ex-wife...OUCH!

But I wasn't surprised...SCI-Fi doesn't win at the Oscars...There were no surprises this year...There rarely are...Bunch of stuffy, uptight, ass kissing, douche-baggery..."The Hurt Locker" was a really good movie...Yes there is a lot of bullshit that wouldn't really happen in reality...But it's a movie...And a good one at that...

Moving on, this past week hasn't been the best for me...You can read up on my pain here...

http://thebeezewax.blogspot.com/2010/03/my-trip-to-oral-surgeon.html

Saturday the wife and I hit the movies...I was feeling better and wanted a couple hours away from the kids...We went and saw "Cop Out." You can read about that here...http://thebeezewax.blogspot.com/2010/03/beezes-reviews-cop-out.html

After the movie we stopped by Borders Books & Music...First, why don't we take Music out of the name...The music section has gotten to be the size of my half bathroom...And the music selection is for shit! Most of it is old...You know for the people who just upgraded from vinyl to CD's...No I don't need any Jim Croce...And I had the Led Zeppelin box set when I was 15...But wait...Borders is trying hard to stay hip...They've got f**king Radiohead CD's coming out their ass! We get it...Radiohead =you're too cool for the room...Way to play your computer...

Thom Yorke is a fruity dancing douche!

So we roam around the store for awhile...I see a huge sign that says '"CALENDARS"...We need a calendar...This Christmas was the first in my life that some one didn't give me a Lighthouse calendar...Yes, I love lighthouses...It's very odd, because I'm not a fan of water...So I go over and find...Nothing that resembles a calendar...Then after searching for an employee for more then 5 minutes, she tells me, "Whatever is there, is what we have"...I replied with, "You have nothing!" and walked away...

I ended up leaving with a book called "Odd Man Out" by Matt McCarthy...It's the story of him and his not so famous life in baseball...So far I'm enjoying it...I also got a cookbook that was marked down to $5...Has some really cool stuff in it I may be stealing for specials at The Fish House...The wife Grabbed some Dean Koontz book and something else...Oh, and a Alice in Wonderland book for the girl, (The most expensive thing we purchased) and a Sponge Bob book for the boy...

Speaking of the Little Beeze...We got a nice surprise when we got home...The sitter tried to clean most of it up, but his slick...You see, some artists work with oils...Some with pastels...Some with water colors...Some simply draw with pen or pencil...The Little Beeze apparently was working on a masterpiece in the bathroom, with toothpaste...Well at least it smells fresh in there!

I'll be honest, I haven't spent much time paying attention to sports this past week...Spring training games got underway...Not interested...The NHL trading deadline came and went...Over 50 players were moved around the league...But no major shake-up...Like all trading deadline days, it was hyped for no reason...

Sunday The Boston Bruins, and Marc Savard got dealt a blow they didn't want, as Matt Cooke of the Penguins put his forearm/elbow right upside Savard's head...Savard is out indefinitely...And I'm sure the league will be looking at the video since it was a head shot...

NFL free agency has gotten underway but I'll be honest...I'm not that well informed about it all...I know The Bears made the first big splash signing Julias Peppers to some insane money...And they also signed Chester Taylor...The Ravens made a good move grabbing Anquan Boldin...And the Jets secondary just got even better with the signing of Antonio Cromartie...But that's all I got on that...

One last thing before I go...I don't consider myself geek...But I do have a fondness for "STAR WARS"...I also have a fondness for sexy women...So when I saw this I thought...WOW! What a great idea...

Have a great week...

Later, The Beeze.

What's on My Mind!

Sun, 7 Mar 2010 12:01:35 GMT

What’s on my mind

The NFL is on my mind. Have you seen the proposed playoff OT format. It’s stupid. First the proposal only goes in effect for the playoffs! Why Not the regular season? OH sorry my blood boils every time I think how stupid this idea is.

Simply stated team A wins the toss. They score a field goal then team B gets a chance sounds good so far . Nice in Fair. But IF team A scores a Touchdown the game ends.

It’s the NFL they will be trading field goals for a month.(Of Course they way the kickers kicked in the playoffs there maybe a lot of misses). Here’s what I think if you going to have sudden death . Your defense needs to make a stop. Secondly , instead of complicating the rule get rid of “ Sudden Death” and Play an overtime period. One 15 minute period than a series of 5 minute periods if it is still tied. Yes I know an offense can hold the ball for 5 minutes . It forces the defense to make a stop,

Whats on my mind.

The Boston Media. I watch several of the news stations late last night and early this morning. John Lackey goes out pitches two nice innings, in his spring training debut as a Red Sox. They painted it like he just won game 7 of the World Series. On clown even put up a graphic saying “Me Likey Lackey” COME_ON!. The guy is a good pitcher but this is exhibition baseball and a non story

Incidentally heard an interview with lackey this week on the radio , He sounds alot like Hank Hill.

John Lackey Interview.
Hank Hill Sound Boards

Whats on my mind

The combine and the draft. Honestly, wake me up when it’s over.Tell me who went #1 overall. Tell me if the Patriots helped themselves. Then tell me how many of these guys will get limited time over the next 2 years and how many first and second rounders will be out in 5 years . I’d rather watch paint dry. Especially in the late rounds when the Raiders are picking Shitumaula Fuckayoua in 7^th round from the defunct Hofstra football program. I can’t wait to hear how Fuckayoua was great against the defunct Northeastern. Tell me when it’s over.

Whats on my mind.

A lot talk on the radio about Paul Pierce and trashing talking. Callers in Boston saying they don’t like Pierce. KG is the king of trashtalking but it’s ok for him so was Larry Bird and it was ok for him. Pierce was cast in a leadership role long before he was ready. He has great years on a bad team. This guy is now one the best players in the league. I just don’t get it. He has done everything the Celtics have asked him to do and more. I think the guy is an awesome player.

So That’s what’s on my mind ! What’s on yours.?

Hoser Hut Edition 6

Sun, 7 Mar 2010 05:41:31 GMT

To start, I am going to take this opportunity to congratulate the US hockey team on a job well done. No one had them in the running for a medal at the Olympics, but they stunned a few teams and left with a silver medal. Good job...no shame in that whatsoever. Miller was money for the US team. Good job on the Penguins fan to give him a bit of an ovation. He deserved it. I haven't seen too many visiting goalies get that type of attention. However, if I could have picked anyone off of the Canadian team to score the winning goal, it wouldn't have been this guy. Sorry, I know that there are some Pens fans here, but I am not a big Crosby fan. Great hockey player though.

If I could have picked anyone on that team to score the game winner, it wouldn't have been him. Now, the games are over, and he is back to his old tricks. No, not turning tricks, but taking dives.

The NHL season is back in action, and it looks like Colin Campbell has already gotten back into the swing of things with a prompt suspension on Maxim Lapierre. Lapierre deserved to sit for his blatant and dangerous hit on Scott Nichol. Boston fans should remember Lapierre as the guy that earned Lucic a suspension in last years playoffs. Looch took a seat for a (questionable in my eyes) crosscheck on Lapierre. Simple scrum in front of the net, and Looch's stick came up high after hitting shoulder pads. But I digress...Lapierre is a certified class A douchebag. Sorry if there are any Habs fans here, but there is no room in the game for that type of chickenshit garbage. Lapierre has no priors, but that didn't stop Campbell from sitting him for 4 games. Spin the wheel again Colin...big bucks no whammees!!!

Another year, and another bust of a trade deadline day. With the current salary cap in place, gone are the days of mulitple big name player deals. I can't believe that sports networks up here dedicate a day of solid coverage to find out that Peter Mueller was traded for Wojtek Wolski. When it was all said and done, Washington is looking much better. They didn't really move much, and are the most improved team after all the deals were done. And yeah, I'm still pissed at Scott Walker, much like I still hate Petr Klima. The losers at deadline day? Without a doubt, the leafs. Brian Burke, who I honestly believe is one of the most overrated GM's in the game, traded away Lee Stempniak for Matt Jones. That's right...the Matt Jones that is sidelined indefinitely with post concussion symptoms and played 58 games for San Antonio last year, collecting 6 points and a solid -35 rating. He should fit right in with Toronto's game plan. And if that plan is to keep sucking, they are on track.

Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli was on the radio earlier this week and stated that he made the Kessel deal with Toronto because he knew he would get a draft pick in the top 10. Burke shouldn't be insulted by this...that just means that Toronto would only have to stay their course of the last couple of seasons and finish just out of the playoffs for that to happen. Unfortunately for Burke, Toronto is second last in the league right now.

Washington is making a pitch for the next Winter Classic. They are hoping the game can be played at either RFK Stadium (46000) or at Nats Park (42000). I am not sure how the weather will cooperate as you move down the eastern seaboard, but Washington will probably be the lowest south that the NHL will go. But hey, what do I know. For all we know, Bettman is talking to the ownership group of the Panthers checking their availability.

Hell has officially frozen over. The Calgary Flames actually swung a deal with the Edmonton Oilers. The Sutter brothers are grasping at straws right now. They should be playing much, much better, but have in fact been shut out 4 x at home since January. Is there scoring really that anemic? Adding Matt Stajan and Steve Staios probably won't help much.

Fight of the week

Since the return of hockey from the Olympics, no NHL fights have really caught my eye as much as this one has. Two boys that just start throwing with everything they have. Funny thing is, Jeremy Yablonski and Jon Mirasty are actually very good friends off the ice. So here we go, Yablonski vs Mirasty Round 2.

Thanks for stopping by. Have a great week!

NCAA Basketball Spec Sheet 3/6

Sat, 6 Mar 2010 18:02:23 GMT

The invites are starting to go out, Kent State and Cornell are the first teams to clinch automatic bids and now the games get more fast and furious. Most of the bigger conferences begin to fight it out for their invites and the intensity will ramp up. This is the beginning of the best week of the year in basketball. I will begin to list conference tourney dates and sites where applicable in lieu of key games.

Atlantic Coast
Conference Class-Power
Locks: Duke, Wake Forest , Maryland
Playing Their Way In Georgia Tech, Clemson , Florida State
Playing Their Way Out: Virginia Tech
Skinny on the ACC: Maryland is now the top dog in the ACC, having defeated Duke. Wake has faded badly and is now in real danger of playing their way out, they will need to win at least one game in the ACC tourney to be safe. Clemson on the other hand has worked their way to bulletproof status. Florida State is pretty much safe, but not quite bulletproof as long as they don’t take a stupid loss in the first round of the ACC tourney they should be good. Georgia Tech needs to win a couple games in the Greensboro and Virginia Tech needs to get to at least Saturday (ACC Semis). Im not real sold on six teams going but I sure won’t speculate that seven teams get in…don’t believe that hype.
Key Games: North Carolina at Duke Saturday 9p ESPN So what if this isnt the usual clash of the titans, its always a fun game to watch
Projected Bids: 6

Atlantic Ten
Conference Class-Mid Major
Lock: Temple , Xavier, Richmond
Playing their way out: Saint Louis , Dayton , Rhode Island , Charlotte
The A-10 Spec is: Suddenly the A-10 contenders thinned out in a hurry, Saint Louis and Charlotte are needing deep runs in the A-10 tourney now. Dayton blew a golden chance to really improve their profile but lost in Richmond . Rhode Island smashed Charlotte and looks more like that 4th team that could come out of this conference. Barring a bad loss between now and the A-10 semis, I like the Rams chances here
Key Games: Charlotte at Rhode Island Wednesday 7p(A-10 regional TV) Both these teams are desperate for a win and the loser all but needs to win the A-10 tourney to get an invite
Projected Bids: 4

Big East
Conference Class-Power
Lock: Syracuse , Villanova , West Virginia , Georgetown , Pitt, Marquette , Louisville
Playing Their Way In UConn, Notre Dame
Playing Their Way Out: Cincinnati
Big East Skinny: Im gonna take a flyer here and say that both Marquette and Louisville are safe. I think that they have done enough to warrant their inclusion as long as neither take bad first game losses in NYC I think that they are safe. I think UConn have are a bona fide tourney team, but Im not sure that Notre Dame is. But I do think that the selection committee will take them both. I wish that I could say the same about my alma mater, Cincinnati . The Bearcats keep getting chance after chance to get a statement win but continue to waste these chances and have all but toasted their chances at making the tourney
Key Game: Syracuse at Louisville Saturday 2p (ESPN) Louisville closes down historic Freedom Hall and looks to do it in style upsetting the top ranked Orange .
Projected bids: 9

Big Ten
Conference Class-Power
Lock: Michigan State , Purdue , Wisconsin , Ohio State
Playing their way In: Illinois
Playing Their Way Out: Minnesota
The word on the Big Ten is: The Bucks have clinched no worse than a share of the regular season crown, Michigan State needs only a win over Michigan to gain a share and Purdue can also claim a share of the Big Ten title with a win. Im still not sold on Illinois being a tourney team. They need not flame out in Indy early or they might get left on the wrong side of the cut line.
Big Ten Championships: Mar 11-14 Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis
Projected Bids: 4

Big 12
Conference Class-Power
Lock: Kansas , Texas , Kansas State , Texas A&M, Baylor
Playing Their Way In Missouri , Oklahoma State
Skinny from the heartland: This conference is sending 7 teams...give a good argument against any of the teams listed. Mizzou and Oklahoma St. have to only guard against a bad first round loss in Kansas City next week and they are good.
Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship: Mar 11-14 Sprint Center Kansas City, Mo
Projected Bids: 7

Colonial
Conference Class-Small
Playing Their Way In: Old Dominion, Northeastern, William & Mary
Colonial Spec: Its Old Dominions tourney to lose, but the CAA always has its share of thrillers , Northeastern is the one team that could steal a bid but they and William & Mary would need to get to the final to have a real shot.
Colonial Athletic Association Championship: March 5-8 Richmond Coliseum, Richmond VA
Projected Bids: 1

Conference USA
Conference Class-Major
Lock: UTEP
Playing Their Way In: Marshall , UAB, Memphis
Playing Their Way Out: Tulsa
Oh Say Can You C-USA Spec: UTEP may very well be the only team coming out of this conference though, if Memphis or UAB can steal the C-USA tourney, the selection committee will not leave the Miners home. But as of right now, I only have this as a one-bid conference
Conference USA Championships: Mar 10-13 BOK Center Tulsa, OK
Projected Bids: 1

Horizon
Conference Class-Mid Major
Lock: Butler
Spec on The Horizon: Butler completed an unbeaten league schedule and is the heavy favorite to win here, the big boy conferences want nothing to do with Butler but are rooting hard for them to win, as they have made more than enough bones to get an at-large if they get upset at Hinkle.
Speedway Horizon League Championship: Mar 2 First Round at Higher Seeded Campus Sites, Second Round March 5 at Hinkle Fieldhouse, Semifinals Mar 6th at Hinkle Fieldhouse, Finals at Higher Seed
Projected Bids: 1

Ivy
Conference Class-Small
Playing Their Way In: Cornell
Playing Their Way Out Princeton , Harvard
Spec on the Ivy Vine: Cornell gets the first guaranteed invite as they clinched the Ivy Group title Friday, they will be the only team coming out of this conference
Ivy Group Champion: Cornell
Projected Bids: 1

Missouri Valley
Conference Class-Mid Major
Lock: Northern Iowa
Playing Their Way In Wichita State
Playing Their Way Out: Illinois State
Missouri Valley Skinny: UNI won the regular season title outright and has the #1 seed, this makes them the team to beat. The Shockers and Redbirds are not to be taken lightly, they will be tough outs and it wouldn’t surprise anyone if they stole the title and the Panthers take an at-large bid.
State Farm Missouri Valley Mens Basketball Tournament aka “Arch Madness”: Mar 4-7 Scottrade Center , St. Louis
Projected Bids: 2

Mountain West
Conference Class-Major
Lock: BYU, New Mexico
Playing Their Way In UNLV, San Diego St
Spec from the Mountains: I still have 4 teams coming out of this deep conference. Though the Aztecs really need to get to the MWC semis to feel safe about their chances. As long as UNLV doesn't take a first round pratfall they will get their invite.
Conoco Mountain West Championship Mar 9-13 Thomas & Mack Center Las Vegas
Projected Bids: 4

Pacific 10
Conference Class-Power
Lock: California
Playing Their Way In Arizona State
Playing Their Way Out: Washington
Spec from the left coast: Suddenly the wonks started realizing that the Pac-10 while weaker than usual, is not a one bid league. Im hearing that suddenly Washington & Arizona State both are in line to snare bids. I'm not too sold on the Huskies just yet. As long as they don't take an early loss in LA, they will move up in stature. But we will hold off on giving the Pac-10 more than 2 bids just yet.
Pacific Life Pac-10 Championships: Mar 10-13 Staples Center, Los Angeles
Projected Bids: 2

Southeastern
Conference Class-Power
Lock: Kentucky , Vanderbilt , Tennessee
Playing Their Way In Florida , Mississippi St .
Playing Their Way Out: Ole Miss
Spec is Down South: Im still debating on who the 4th team coming from his conference will be. I can't be really sold on the Gators, Bulldogs or Rebels since they all have way too many flaws to be legit. But I'm sure that this conference sends 4 teams. Kentucky is a bona fide lock for a #1 seed.
SEC Championship Mar 10-14, Sommet Center Nashville
Projected Bids: 4

Western Athletic
Conference Class- Major
Lock: Utah State
Playing Their Way Out: New Mexico State , La. Tech
Spec on the WAC: This might be a one bid, because even though the Utah State Aggies have 22 wins and are leading the WAC, their numbers are so-so at best. If the New Mexico State Aggies or La. Tech steals the bid, Utah State could be on the outs.
Western Athletic Conference Championships: Mar 11-13 Lawlor Events Center; Reno, NV
Projected Bids: 1

West Coast
Conference Class- Mid Major
Lock: Gonzaga
Playing Their Way out: St. Mary’s
West Coast Spec: The Bulldogs are the team to beat here, and unless St. Mary’s gets to the final and puts a mammoth scare or beats Gonzaga, this is a one bid league.
West Coast Conference Basketball Championships: March 5-8 Orleans Arena, Las Vegas
Projected Bids: 1

There are others in the mix to be sure. The champions from the following conferences get an automatic bid (projected winners in parentheses/actual winners in bold ) : Amer. East (Vermont) , Atlantic Sun (Belmont) , Big South (Coastal Carolina), Big Sky (Northern Colorado) , Big West (Pacific), MAC (Akron/Kent State) , MAAC (Siena), MEAC (Morgan State), Northeast (Quinnipiac), Ohio Valley (Murray St.), Patriot (Lehigh), Southern (Charleston), Southland (Sam Houston State), Sun Belt (North Texas), Summit (Oakland), and SWAC (Jackson State)

Conference Breakdown
ACC-6
A-Ten -4
Big East-9
Big Ten-4
Big XII-7
C-USA-1
Colonial-1
Horizon-1
Ivy-1
Missouri Valley-1
Mountain West-4
Pac-10-2
SEC-4
WAC-3
WCC-1
Small Conferences-16
Total-65

Keep in mind that this is just spec, these are merely projections and we haven't even brought up the possibility of upsets. But those never happen, right?

Next Spec Sheet March 8 or 9

Cheers From The Cheap Seats!!!

A TRUE TEXAS LEGEND

Sat, 6 Mar 2010 04:43:01 GMT

Texas is a land that has been witness to the births of many great people on its soil. Countless individuals emanating from the Lone Star State have been exceptional athletes, especially in the sport of football. Some of these men are amongst the best ever to have played the sport.

Homer Carroll Jones was born on February 18, 1941 in Pittsburg. He grew up in an area burgeoning with many excellent football players, including Homer's cousins Hall of Fame Wide Receiver Charley Taylor, of the Washington Redskins, and famous Cleveland Browns Defensive End Joe "Turkey" Jones. The cousins spent many days in their childhoods running around and playing various sports together. His mother was close friends with the family of Hall of Fame Running Back Earl Campbell, the Tyler Rose.

Homer not only excelled in football during his high school years. He was blazing fast, and was a top notch track star. He could run the hundred yard dash in 9.3 seconds, and the 200 yard dash in 19.9 seconds. He garnered the notice of several colleges, including Grambling State University and legendary head coach Eddie Robinson. Jones admired Robinson, because "Eddie opened the doors for us to play." After visiting Grambling, Homer then went to visit Texas Southern University with hesitation.

He wanted to run track at Grambling with Dallas native Stone Johnson, but he fell in love with the city lights of Houston over the rural setting of Grambling. Johnson would go on to run for the United States in the 1960 Olympics, then later die in 1963 a few days after breaking his neck in a preseason game with the Kansas City Chiefs and has had his jersey number retired since.

During his collegiate career at Texas Southern, Homer ran for the 1962 United States track team alongside Hall Of Fame Wide Receivers Bob "Bullet" Hayes and Paul Warfield. Jones and Hayes had many spirited races, which saw Jones winning more than he lost.

Texas Southern had many great players on the team during Jones' era, several who went on to play professional football. Men like Charlie Frazier, W.K. Hicks, Willis Perkins, Art Strahan ( the uncle of future Hall Of Fame defensive end, and also a Texas Southern Alumni, Michael Strahan), Warren Wells, Andy Rice, B.W. Cheeks, Gene Jeter, and Homer's close friend Winston Hill. In all, Texas Southern University has sent sixty men to the professional ranks of football thus far.

After his senior year, Homer was draft position in 1964 in the 20Th round draft choice of the New York Giants, the 278Th player chosen overall. He was also a fifh round draft choice of the Houston Oilers of the American Football League, the 33rd player picked in the draft. Jones decided to join the Oilers, which featured Hall Of Fame Quarterbacks George Blanda, and head coach "Slinging" Sammy Baugh. Also joining the Oilers in camp was undrafted rookie Willie Brown, a future Hall Of Fame cornerback. Jones hurt his knee in training camp then failed his physical, and was cut along with Brown. Homer was then intent on proving to the Oilers they had made the wrong decision.

The Giants quickly called and gave him a plane ticket to New York City. Upon his arrival, the Giants had Jones undergo surgery on his knee. He was given the jersey number 45, which was previously worn by Hall Of Fame Safety Emlen Tunnell, upon Tunnell's request. He nicknamed Homer "Seabiscuit", after the famous racehorse, because Jones was so fast. Tunnell, then a defensive backs coach for the Giants, took Homer under his wing to teach him the tricks of the trade.

He spent most of his rookie year recuperating while learning the game, but did get on the field for three games that year. He caught four passes for 82 yards, and returned six kickoffs for 111 yards. It was also the last year that Hall Of Fame Giants like Y.A. Tittle, Andy Robustelli, and Frank Gifford would play in the NFL.

One thing he learned was not to get too close to the wily veterans. In a game against the Detroit Lions, Homer ran into a clothesline thrown by Hall Of Fame cornerback, and Texas legend, Dick "Night Train" Lane. Homer said the lights went out. He could hear things, but saw nothing for a few minutes.

He also spent time watching players like Gifford throwing the ball up into the stands to fans after scoring a touchdown, and wanted to do the same thing when he reached the end zone. After the season, NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle put in a rule that players would be fined $500 for doing so. Jones was making $10,000 a year then, so he knew that throwing the ball into the crowd was no longer an option. He then thought of an alternative that would change the course of football history.

During the 1965 season, Jones was told ten minutes before a game that he would be starting. He responded by setting a Giants record, when he took a pass 89 yards for a touchdown on the first play of the game. It was the longest scoring play in the NFL that year. Upon arriving in the end zone, he spiked the ball into the ground. It was the first time in NFL history this would happen, and there has been thousands of players to pull off the same feat since. Though he feels celebrations have been taken way too far these days, Jones pioneered a part of the game many enjoy today.

He still was learning the game, being it was only his second year in the league. The Giants liked to line up Jones next to Hall Of Fame offensive tackle Roosevelt Brown in short yardage formations. Standing 6'2" and weighing 215 pounds, Homer was one of the biggest wide receivers in the league at that time. He also took pride in his blocking. One game against the Chicago Bears, he was lined up across from Hall Of Fame defensive end Doug Atkins. Brown told Jones to block him clean, because he didn't want Homer to anger the humongous Atkins. Homer took that lesson well, and played clean his whole career, even if some of his opponents chose not to.

Homer became a bigger part of the offense that year, catching 26 passes for 709 yards and 6 scores. He averaged a whopping 27.3 yards per catch, his career best. Though he was already becoming well known in the league, he incurred disrespect from trash talking opponents. In the 1966 season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Jones had already scored on a 75 yard touchdown pass when he came up against Brady Keys of the Steelers.

The Giants had the ball on their own two yard line, and Keys told Jones "What am I doing here covering you? I could be home eating chicken for dinner with my family."

Giants quarterback Earl Morrall what Homer thought. Homer said, "He's talking, so he's ready."

Morrall took the snap, reared back, and heaved the ball about 60 yards in the air. Jones snagged it and took it in for a 98 yard score. It is the longest play in the history in the franchise history of the Giants.

Homer then turned and told Keys, who was about fifteen yards behind him, "If you keep playing like that, you'll soon be eating chicken with your family every Sunday."

Jones finished the season with 48 receptions for 1,044 yards and eight touchdowns. He was a bona fide star in New York, and was often swarmed by fans when out and about in public. It was hard for Homer and his wife to eat dinner or watch a movie without him being bombarded with autograph requests.

The 1967 season saw Homer make his first Pro Bowl Team. He grabbed a career best 49 balls for 1,209 yards, an incredible average of 24.7 yards per catch. He also ran a ball 46 yards for a score. He led the NFL with 13 pass receiving touchdowns, and 14 total touchdowns. A local radio station polled fans on who the Giants MVP was, and Homer won. The station gave him a brand new convertible Cadillac for his achievement.

He returned to the Pro Bowl the next year after he caught 45 passes for 1,057 yards and seven scores. He would travel to both Pro Bowls alongside his friend, and Cowboys legendary quarterback, "Dandy" Don Meredith, since Don didn't live too far from him in Texas. Jones thinks Meredith is one of the most underrated players in NFL history, and said the man took a huge beating for the sake of victory.

Homer spent much of the 1968 year hanging out with his former college teammate Winston Hill. Hill was the starting Left Tackle for the Super Bowl Champion New York Jets. The pair would attend Joe Namath's famous parties, where people from all over the world would attend. Though Homer was enjoying his time in New York, he also longed for returning home to Texas.

He began to tire of playing football in 1969. Though he still managed to catch 42 passes for 744 yards and a score, he wanted to leave the game. Homer figured he had spent most of his life running and was still a young man at 28 years old. He noticed the aches and pains his body was feeling week to week as well. He said that when he was a rookie, he hurt from Sunday to Wednesday after a game, but now was hurting from Sunday to Sunday. He had seen the agony older players went through, and didn't want to grow old like that.

The Giants traded him to the Cleveland Browns after that season for two players, including future Pro Bowl running back Ron Johnson. He had no intention of playing ever again, but was coaxed into joining the Browns by his father. Homer had an aunt who lived in Cleveland and his father wanted Homer to take care of her,along with his cousin Joe "Turkey" Jones.

Upon joining the Browns, he was told that he would be the teams third receiver and return kickoffs. In the season opener, Cleveland played in the first Monday Night Football telecast on ABC. Jones led the Browns to a win by returning a kickoff 94 yards for a score, the first of its kind on MNF. He spent the rest of the year returning 29 kicks for 739 yards, a 25.5 yards per return average. He didn't get much time on the field, but he did take one of his ten receptions 43 yards for the last touchdown of his career. He then retired after that year.

Teams tried to get Homer to play again. The Saint Louis Cardinals traded for his rights, and the Washington Redskins tried to coax him out of retirement. George Allen, the Hall Of Fame coach, called Homer. He thought Homer may be interested in playing alongside his cousin Charley Taylor, but Jones was already fed up with football. In fact, he didn't watch a second of football again for over five years.

He says the toughest opponent he ever faced was Bobby Jeter of the Green Bay Packers. He also has tremendous respect for Cornell Green of the Cowboys. His favorite moment in Dallas was a post pattern he ran on Green and Renfro. The two collided, knocking themselves out of the play, as Homer took the ball for a score.

"Cornell was tough. It was easier for me to get open on Mel Renfro (a Hall Of Fame player with Dallas). He was cake compared to Cornell."

Some things then are as they are now. Like living in the fish bowl of New York City. The media also tried to stir controversy in those days. A reported once asked Jones if Bob Hayes was better than him. Homer, knowing the medias tricks full and well, carefully replied "What would you rather be shot with? A 22 or a 45?" Those were the jersey numbers of Hayes and Jones respectively.

Homer Jones holds the NFL record of averaging 22.3 yards per reception throughout his career. This is based on having a minimum of 200 receptions. What makes this more interesting is that Jones' former college teammate, Warren Wells, used to hold the record at 23.13. Wells caught 158 balls, so when the rule was changed to the current standard, Homer took his place in history.

Jones also holds the Giants franchise record for having 66.4 receiving yards per game over a career. His 4,845 receiving yards are the fifth most, and his 35 receiving touchdowns is still tied for the fifth most. The 218 receptions he had still rank 18Th best in team history as well.

Homer is back in Pittsburg the home he was born and raised in. He still interested in the game of football again, and keeps in touch with many of his peers. He is among the many veterans who feel the NFL disrespects those who made the game what it is today, and that they all have been short changed on the pension plan. The pension plan is not very good, and this is shown with Homer Jones. He had to get both hips replaced years ago, but was given only a $100 monthly increase by the NFL after being disabled after the surgery.

"The money these guys (owners, players) comes from us older guys. My top salary was $50,000, and today's players wouldn't even put on their socks for that amount. Let alone their jerseys."

Homer Jones is not only one of the greatest football players to ever have worn a New York Giants uniform, but he is one of the very best athletes to have been born in Texas. His career average of 22 yards a catch is amazing in any era, but if you consider the rules and playing conditions in those days, you would see how truly incredible he was.

Not only was the game much more violent then, but there was the ten yard chuck rule. Homer said it was like a boxing match just to get open. Players like Johnny Sample and Pat Fischer were guys Homer said were particularly rough. Then there were the playing conditions. Many times they would play football on dirt used for baseball in multi-purpose stadiums.

"Today they play football like they are in their living room.", Homer said.

So, when you sit back and enjoy the NFL today, give thought to the path it has traveled. Long before it was a multi-billion dollar business. Think of the men who played for the love of the game, not the salaries. Where earning a ring through winning meant more than buying one. Along those thoughts, you will see the men who paved the path we all enjoy today.

Men like Homer Jones. A true Texas Legend

]

The Gift Of Gab - March 2010

Fri, 5 Mar 2010 17:28:29 GMT

Hello fellow Gabbers!

So I was sitting at my desk this afternoon and thought I would update you on the state of things here at YouGabSports.

First and foremost, Felber, Sully, and I would like to thank each and every one of you for helping to make February the most successful month in the history of the Gab! During February, we saw more than 20,000 page views and over 10,000 unique visitors make their way to YouGabSports. Sure, we can sort of nitpick about those numbers because let's face it, the mass majority of those unique visitors were here because of the Olympics, or more importantly, because they were searching for images of the various female athletes taking part in the games and somehow landed here. Still, we're not going to worry about what those viewers were doing with their other hand, we're just going to take our numbers and make sure we don't look down.

In regards to a recent update, you'll notice that there is a new toolbar at the bottom of the page now. This bar is brought to you by SKYSA, through a partnership with our web provider Spruz. To this bar, we can add various apps that will allow you to do different things on the Gab. For instance, we have one added that will take you to a random blog post on the site. We have another labeled "Fantasy Sports", which will guide you to the fantasy sports leagues we currently have set-up. More importantly, the bar allows us to convey to you important messages about YouGabSports without having to take away from the front page itself. With that in mind, let us know what you think of this addition.

As mentioned above, there is a button on the toolbar marked "Fantasy Sports". Currently, YouGabSports has created fantasy leagues at CBS.com for their March Madness Bracket Challenge and also at Yahoo.com for their Fantasy Baseball league. For the time being, we have only created one baseball league, but as we found out last year, we had to run two to get everyone in. If you wish to sign up for these leagues, all you need to do is click on the link and sign in. The password for the baseball league is "yougabbaseball". We decided to host it on Yahoo this season because they have always been a stable engine and let's face it, Sporting News proved both during baseball and football that it was not.

On one final quick note, we want to hear what you think. What do you think of the layout? Is there something we need to add? Remember, as much as we want to keep new people coming in, our foremost concern is keeping everyone happy while here, so we are always looking to improve on a good thing so that it doesn't become stale.

Thanks again everyone. Let's get back to gabbing!

Friday Roundtable: Pipes

Fri, 5 Mar 2010 11:33:30 GMT

Sometimes things work out. Sometimes not. This is a truism of our lives, to be sure, but in this case I have to say the universe must've been paying attention to Old Mo.

Sometimes, pipes just burst or a discharge hose erupts. People have even been known to deliberately cap off their pipes because it's no longer desirable for those pipes to continue to operate. And sometimes accidents can simply break your pipes. Some like to simply relax with their pipes. My weekend was something of a memorable one - in a negative sort of way - but I like to think of the entire experience as the universe looking down favorably upon your somewhat slow witted and dullard scribe.

It seems that I had set my mind to doing some home improvement right about the time one of my bathroom pipes had decided that it had come to the end of its useful life. The end result was some 20 hours spent knee deep in fiberglass insulation, plumbing fixtures, copper tubing, and Sawzalls. Long about 2 AM Monday morning, I had finally gotten the state of affairs together enough to be able to turn the house water back on. As I climbed into bed - as I found a few hours later as I was getting ready for work, I spent the night sleeping encased in the wonderful insulating quality of fiberglass - I thanked my wife for not having killed me for destroying the house and having had to cut through the shower to gain access to the tub pipes. The wonderful new water feature in my kitchen below the bathroom wasn't as warmly received as I had hoped it would be.

As it happens, though, a claim on the homeowners insurance has led to the kitchen wall and ceiling being cut open and dehumidified. Honest to God, I can see the bathroom through the ceiling/subflooring exposed in the kitchen. So, there it is. I am officially an idiot. Plumbing is not for slow witted, dull writers and folks who are generally poorly conditioned to working with their hands.

How is it, then, that the universe could've been looking out for me? Well, it seems that the kitchen will now receive the professional paint job it should've had when we remodeled the place some 18 months back, and the late 1980's color-motif in the master bathroom will have to be gutted out and will be replaced with something a little more contemporary and a little less "Florida Marlins." I hope. So, it was almost like New Years' at the Mo Compound what with the promise of better things to come and all.

And with that little segue, we arrive on the sports page. As of 12 Midnight this morning, the NFL begans it's new year and no longer has a salary cap. Now because the salary cap was what the union agreed to for free agency rights (tit-for-tat as it were...which is somewhat different than the Erin Andrews story in as much as there was no "tat" involved there), players with less than 6-years of playing time are not allowed unrestricted free agency. Expect highly compensated non-performers to be released without worry of a salary cap hit, and high-performing players with less than 6-years of service time to be tendered lower than expected contracts because teams probably won't part with the draft picks required to poach the now restricted free agents. For a super guide on what the "new" rules are, check out the Mile High Report.

One of the first highly compensated non-performers to be terminated, Laveranues Coles was released by the Bengals today after failing to live up to expectations on the field, but apparently for having a positive impact in the locker room. So to replace him the Bungles are looking at...TO? Serious? Can you imagine a locker room that's already rather tenuous with man-child Chad Ochocinco and add to that Terrell Owens?

Meanwhile, O.J. Atogwe received a low tender from the Rams banking on the idea that no one else will offer him an unmatchable deal. The earthquake in Chile was powerful enough to shift the planet's axis. The NFL losing the salary cap is the sports equivalent.

So, Sydney Crosby has his name engraved on the Stanley Cup and scored the winning goal in overtime to lead the Canadians to an Olympic Gold medal in a little more than a year. Ryan Miller, the USA goaltender who coughed up that goal has only a silver medal to show for his Olympic efforts and plays for a good, but historically hapless Buffalo team, has neither the cache nor the prowess that Crosby has. However, the dude has a smoking hot girlfriend - something that Syd the Kid apparently does not. Hard to say whose got the better deal. So, Crosby may be banging the puck between the pipes, but Miller seems to be more interested in banging a separate set of pipes.

One thing that seems sure, is that Yao Ming has pipes that are delivering the goods - his wife Ye Li are expecting their first child sometime in July. The issue from his country of origin is that because he is in the US receiving medical treatment and if the child is born in the US, that baby would be an American...and therefore would have the right to stay in the US and might not want to play ball in China. Given that both parents are basketball players, there is a good chance. Good thing they're concerned about the important things...

Do yourself a favor, go to the kitchen sink, turn on the tap, and grab yourself a glass of water...you never know when your pipes might give out. Keep those bananas from breaking.

Hockey Blog Vol. 17 Post Olympics, Post deadline

Thu, 4 Mar 2010 15:31:47 GMT

It’s that time of the week again. It’s time for the Hockey Blog.
This week I have a lot of opinions so that will be the bulk of it.

The Olympics
I’m not buying into the NHL will increase viewership due to the Olympics. I think a short term spike will increase viewership. But as soon as somebody watches the Atlanta Thrashers and Florida Panthers play, they will say that’s not what I watched. I thought (I have said this before). I thought it was nice to see 5 all star teams in the tournament and the USA and Canada rivalry which I think was made bigger than it actually was. I explained it to somebody that watched hockey for the first time and was all wrapped up in the rivalry. I said by Tuesday guys on these teams will be playing together again. I also think that rivalry would be much bigger if it wasn’t NHLers. The Hockey may not be as good but it would capture the true spirit of the Olympics.

NBC needed to show more Hockey in primetime on the network. The NHL should have insisted on that when they signed their contract with NBC. I’m not buying the IOC wouldn’t allow it. The IOC like the NHL is selling a product and I thought they dropped the ball on Hockey. They say the get more a cross of viewers with figure skating. I admit those folks are athletes and do amazing stuff on skates, But it all likes the same to me. It’s sort of like watching Nascar your just waiting for a crash.

Was it a good tournament as far as pure hockey goes it was outstanding and fun.
Congrats to the Canadian Olympic Team they wanted it more and I won’t talk anything away from them it was like playoff hockey just solid.

Trade Deadline
The Phoenix Coyotesshowed they were serious about competing. I thought they did an outstanding job of filling needs and making themselves better for the playoffs.

I thought it was a huge slugfest between Pittsburgh and Washington. Neither team let the other get one up on them. I

I thoughtBostonwho needed somebody to put the puck in the net they flunked. The Bruins had a bargaining chip that they wouldn’t use a First Round draft Choice from the Phil Kesseldeal. They refused to trade it. They had a shot atRaffi Torresor Wojtek Wolskibut it would have cost them that draft choice. Both players ended up elsewhere, Buffalo and Phoenix respectfully Are either one of these guys the solution probably not but it would have been a move toward a solution. But deals weren’t made. Denis Seidenbergis a nice player but he doesn’t help with the scoring. Maybe they rebuild but they were the best team in the NHL last year. This year they are a bubble team.

Toronto cleaned house. Dropped salary and are in rebuild mode.
Those are my final words.

Brett Favre returned to the NHL.
Are the Atlanta Thrashers out of there minds. They could have built a team around Ilya Kovalchukthey ship him out,. Who do the bring in the NHL’s answer to Brett Favre Chris Chelioswho will turn 60 next month (just kidding) Like FavreChelios doesn’t know when to hang them up. Unlike Favre, Chelios can’t play anymore. Can we just send the Thrashers up to Quebec because they aren’t really in an NHL city some transplantsf from the Northeast may attend a game more to see the Bruins, Rangers,, Flyersor Canadiens. They are a disgrace.

The Red Sox in the NHL
The Tampa Bay Lightninghave had a Boston Connection for many years. Phil Espositowas part of the original ownership group. John Tortorellacoached them for a few years he is a Boston Guy. Now Boston’s Jeffery Vinikwill be buying them he is a minority owner of the Boston Red Sox. According to NHL.com

Power rankings return
Next week.

Olde Tyme Hockey Picture
Last week No guesses It was 1980 olympian and former Blackhawk Jack O'Callahan.

Who is it?

Thoughts From the Couch -- 03.04.10

Thu, 4 Mar 2010 05:19:30 GMT

Happy Thursday Gabbers!

There's not much going on in the world of sports this week, but I did want to touch on something that may have went unnoticed.

Michael Vick wants to return to the NFC South, only this time he wants to play for the Carolina Panthers. (It took me a while to get over the nausea when I heard about this, but unfortunately it's true. Of all the fucking teams in the league, he has to pick my favorite team? Thanks, douchebag.)

In a recent radio interview on Atlanta's 107.9 "Gangsta Grillz Radio", Vick specifically mentioned the Panthers when asked which team he would like to play for next season.

As a Panthers fan, I don’t know how to say this other than to be blunt: HELL NO – we do not want you or need you on our team, Vick! Also, check out the name of the radio show – Gangsta Grillz Radio. If that doesn’t that just scream “I’m reformed, please take a chance on me and let me prove myself”, then I don’t know what does.

Seriously though, the Panthers don’t need Michael Vick. They already have a “who is going to be our QB in 2010″ situation, and that doesn’t need to be further compounded with Vick. Also, they don’t run the wildcat formation, which would be the only reason I could even fathom the team bringing him in. He’s not a drop-back passer, and he never was. He’s a gimmick quarterback at best, and his gimmick just doesn’t fit this team.

Also, his reason for wanting to join the team is just asinine. According to an article by Charlotte Observer blogger Charles Chandler, when asked why he wanted to join the team, Vick said: “Well, you know, it’s close to home. I like the uniforms. You get to play against Atlanta twice a year. Ain’t nothing better than playing against your former team, right? So, yeah, that would be a good look, it would be a good look.”

You like the uniforms? You can’t be serious. That’s part of your reason? Hell, if you want I’ll gladly purchase you a Panthers jersey and send it to you (if you want I’ll make it a Peppers #90, I hear they’re half-price).

I can understand wanting to get back at the Falcons because they are the team that released you, except when you consider that they released you because YOU WENT TO PRISON FOR RUNNING A DOG FIGHTING RING. They don't owe you a fucking thing - in fact, you should be grateful that you are even allowed back into the league after the shit you pulled, so wanting to get back at your former team should be the last thing on your list buddy.

(The picture isn't really relevant to this post, but I just think it's funny as hell.)

(Okay, this one's funny as hell too - but I'll stop now.)

And before I get blasted for saying he doesn't deserve to play because of his dogfighting arrest - it's really not even about that. (Seriously - it's not. I think it's fucking dispicable what he did, but he's paid his dues for the crime. I didn't agree with his sentence, but he did what was required of him by the legal system, and that's all that we can really ask of him.) I don't want him on the Panthers because I firmly believe he is a sub-par quarterback. He is a wildcat/gimmick player at this stage in his career, and he's not the standard "game manager" type quarterback the Panthers normally use in their offense. Also, he recently admitted that he was half-assing it while he played in Atlanta. If he's only going to give 50% effort and not be that great at his position, then why the hell would any team want to sign him and give him the starting job?

I understand that there is need for improvement over Jake Delhomme (Assuming he is the starter over Matt Moore. It's not as cut and dry as some may think it is - Moore will have to win the job in training camp before Delhomme is taken out of the starting spot for good). But, Vick is not an improvement in the passing game (as strange as that may seem - but statistically Delhomme is a better quarterback than Vick is), and his mobility is not as great as it was before he went to prison, so that advantage can be thrown out the window. Either way, unless the Panthers lose both Delhomme and Moore in the offseason, Vick does not improve the quarterback position for the 2010 Carolina Panthers.

Aside from the football aspect of it, Vick would be too much of a distraction. The Panthers aren't the type of team that feeds off of publicity at any cost (they're not the Cowboys), so I can't see any reason why they would consider bringing in Vick because they know it would cause too much of a distraction, and Jerry Richardson is not going to allow any negative publicity to infiltrate his team. (Hell, he told his own two sons to hit the road because they coudln't get along - what makes anyone thing he would bring in a player like Vick?)

When you combine the football and non-football related problems with this deal, there are too many reasons why this doesn’t make sense, and there aren’t enough pros to make it worth the risk. So please, Jerry Richardson, for the sake of everything that is good in this world – just say no to Vick.

Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments section.

Until next Thursday...

Whip It Out Wednesday

Wed, 3 Mar 2010 04:36:52 GMT

Well folks, another week in the books, and here we are at Hump Day once again. Been a good week around here, watchin some Olympic hockey, even a couple of NBA games, as I have been unable to avoid it and to stick to my boycott of the league for an entire year. I mean, it's friggin everywhere... and there is so little else on TV ever that's worth a shit! I think it's mostly the HD that is doing it... first time, there was a Bulls-Hawks game on and I said to myself "I'll just turn it on for a minute, I want to see how crisp the picture is in HD". An hour later, I'm back into it. God damn you NBA basketball... just can't avoid it, unelss you stop watching TV all together.

It might also be the lack of hockey for the past two weeks now. I've gotta agree with Fan, NBC did a piss poor job of deciding what to show on the bigger, HD parent network as opposed to what they showed on MSNBC and USA. Nobody gives two shits about downhill skiing, figure skating (well, maybe 12 year old girls and 40+ year old women who wish they were still skinny 12 year old girls that could get on the ice without falling through), or although I took a bit of a shining to it myself, curling. The Winter Olympics has one draw, and that's hockey. Not showing every hockey game that involved NHL level talent was about as stupid as it gets.

And staying with Olympic hockey for a minute, I've gotta say that the USA-Canada gold medal game couldn't have ended any worse. Hell of a game all the way up unitl that jerkoff Crosby wound up with the winner. Anybody else, and I'd just say "great game, USA did a hell of a lot better winning silver than I would have expected". But the anointed one getting the winner not only made me want to lose my breakfast, lunch and dinner, I believe it also gave me diabetes. Fuck you, Sidney Crosby. Go grow some pubes and get a man's name while you're at it.

And as for Commissioner Gary Betteman, you need to take advantage of this sudden American interest in hockey thanks to the USA's suprise run ot the gold medal game. This is as close to a position of power as you're going to get, and we all know who you need to talk to about getting some more national exposure. Go talk to the "powers that be" at ESPN, grab a night of the week they're not huckstering NBA basketball on, and get yourself some national exposure. It's a damn good product, it just needs someone to sell it.

And while I'm harping on things that have already been covered this week, I'd also like to revisit the story of Hall of Fame pitcher turned cantankerous Congressman Jim Bunning and his message of support to the unemployed and uninsured people of America. Yeah, he caved and the measure passed, but not without some eye opening public commentary by this fuckin joke of a public servant. First off, he's the only one in the entire collection of douchebags, morons and flat out scumbags that comprise our Congress right now to even oppose the extension of benefits to unemployed Americans... the only fuckin one. Then he's bitching about how the vote HE fillibustered into exhistance forced him to miss the Kentucky-South Carolina game last week. And during the arguments when another senator attempts to sway him towards the other side, his response to the plight of Americans who are unemployed and uninsured.... "Tough shit". That's for the people, for sure. Just goes to show you how out of touch these people we elect, mostly by default, really are... and how right South Park was in it's sattire involving the Terd Sandwich and the Giant Douche. Jim Bunning clearly falls a little into column A, and a little into column B. Even though you eventually did the right thing, Bunning, I still say go fuck yourself. When Bill Clinton, married to fuckin Hillary says working with you sends shivers up his spine, it's probably time to hang em up... and that was well over ten years ago. What a waste of 12 years of a Congressional seat.

Here's a bit of news that is going to rock your world, people... the Pro Bowl is going back to Hawaii... but staying in it's slot the week before the Super Bowl. And what does that mean? Probably that even fewer players are actually going to show up for next year's "game". I've said it before and I'll say it again... let's just scrap this joke of a game and think up some other way for the NFL's elite to waste a weekend in Hawaii.

Sticking with the NFL, with the combine going on, I can't help but let my mind wander to late April, and namely what the Lions will do with the #2 overall pick in this year's draft; and who will slip into the second round for the 34th overall choice. Of course, this year the NFL has decided to turn it into a 3 day event, which I think is total crap. Liked it a hell of a lot better when it was all done and over with in a day... less time for shity GMs like the Lion's brass to overthink and make idiotic trades and picks. But, as long as either Gerald McCoy or Ndamukong Suh are wearing Honalulu Blue and Silver next season I'll be somewhat happy... preferably McCoy, but I've still got a month and a half to ramble on about that. Hopefully Mayhew will stick with the plan and keep drafting the way he did last year. As much as I hate to admit it, Stafford looks like he was the right choice... the jury is still out on Pettigrew... and Delmas looked like a playmaker much of the year last year. Hopefully he keeps making good calls on the early picks and starts making more sensible picks in rounds 3-7... I still don't understand any of the picks after round 2 last year.

But I'll move on from one thing capable of making my head explode to another former thing that nearly made my head explode during his four years in Detroit, and that is Rasheed Wallace. After watching the Pistons-Celtics game tonight, I just have to ask the Bostonians around here if the guy is driving you bat shit crazy just yet. I mean, between the constant bitching about officiating, the hanging around the three point line all game long and maybe making 30% of em, and NOT rebounding... are you ready to ship his sorry ass out of town yet? I know I was about a year and a half into his tenure in Detroit. The man is quite simply the biggest waste of talent I have ever seen in my life.

And before I go, how about a good ol' fashioned happy trails to Allen Iverson. The 76ers announced today that he will not rejoin the team this year, likely ending his NBA career. PTI's Michael Wilbon claims he is "shocked" to see him go out this way; my question to that is why... yeah, in his early days he was one of the hardest working players in the NBA... at least during games. But over the past two seasons, he has successfully erased every one of those memories from my head, especially when he quit on the Pistons after about three fucking games. As far as I'm concerned, good riddance. Look, it's great that you've supposedly got your priorities right and are more concerned about family than the game of basketball... but when you're on paid leave and they see you leaving the fuckin club, that makes you nearly as big of a douchebag as Tiger Woods. So to Allen Iverson, I say... go fuck yourself. Nobody who actually pays any attention even cares anymore.

And that's all for me this week, folks. Thanks as always for reading, and for any comments you leave on the way out.

Alex Rodriguez Carries Steroid Baggage Again?

Tue, 2 Mar 2010 14:46:44 GMT

“Did you ever notice that the first piece of luggage on the carousel never belongs to anyone?”

- Erma Bombeck

Luggage, or in a more accurate term baggage, is something that the New York Yankees have become used to carrying in recent year. With Andy Pettitte, Roger Clemens, Jason Giambi, Gary Sheffield, and most recently, Alex Rodriguez, the Yankees have a rich, recent history of being embroiled in steroid scandals. Fresh off of another World Series victory and coming out of a winter without controversy, 2010 was supposed to be the year that was all put behind them.

Unfortunately, that first piece of luggage always finds its way back around the carousel, and it eventually finds its owner. Unfortunately, the baggage again belongs to Alex Rodriguez.

On Monday, Rodriguez acknowledged that he is cooperating with authorities investigating a Canadian doctor believed to have conspired to smuggle human growth hormone and the performance enhancing drug Actovegin into Canada and the United States. Rodriguez’s connections to the doctor, Anthony Galea, are cloudy at best. He is known to have seen a chiropractor, who himself has connections to Galea, as part of his rehabilitation after hip surgery in 2009, but when questioned by the Yankees initially, told the team that he had never been seen by Galea directly.

However, according to the New York Times investigators’ records indicate that Galea had treated Rodriguez in the past. Coupled with his denial to answer questions about his dealings with Galea when probed by the media on Monday, Rodriguez again find himself in a sticky situation, both in regards to steroids and his relationship with the Yankees.

Now, in fairness, this investigation has also involved the questioning of Mets shortstop Jose Reyes, who saw Galea last season for treatment of calf injury using Galea’s blood spinning techniques, which the doctor used to help facilitate healing. Another client of Galea’s, Tiger Woods, will also likely be questioned about his connection to the doctor. Woods himself is no stranger to controversy, as he currently tries to rebuild his life after a torrent of infidelity claims have derailed his career and marriage in recent months.

Of course, the concern of the Yankees and, more importantly, Major League Baseball, has to be the correlation between these new events and the now infamous BALCO investigation, which really blew the cover off of the steroid problem in baseball.

Ideally, both sides want to believe that Rodriguez, Reyes, and any other athlete that may be tied to Galea are telling the truth and that their dealings with him were purely legal medical practices.

Whether or not the court of public opinion casts their verdict first is another story. Until then, someone is going to be saddled with baggage, and Rodriguez is the last person left standing near the carousel, so for now, he needs to claim the bag.

CALIFORNIA CRACKBACKS

Tue, 2 Mar 2010 04:56:40 GMT

Welcome Gabbers to my humble abode. Living in California is great (at least in my little corner of it), but dealing with the d-bags who run this state is another matter. So let’s get this party started.

1. Olympics. Is there a chance that ESPiN will be taking over the Olympics in the future? Only if we’re lucky! True, ESPN is f-ed up, but not to the level of NBC, which is truly run by a bunch of confused little suits who are so far out of touch with real people that its nauseating.

1A. Hey Apolo Ohno, if you’re not cheating, you’re not trying, and its only cheating if you get caught. You did, so stop whining about a judges decision to DQ you! Damn dude, first you piss off South Korea by flopping, now Canada by making wild accusations about Canadian judges on behalf of Canadian skaters? STFU dude, you’re a one man wrecking crew with respect to America’s relations to some of its only remaining friends!

2. I’ve got some serious venom for the NFL here. Did they seriously choose to have the Dallas Cowboys and Cincinnati Bengals face off in the Hall of Fame game the very year they enshrine two of the greatest players to ever play the game? Damn NFL, by bringing together the Cincinnati Bungles (including Ocho Cinco’s smack running) and America’s Crackwagon (including meglomaniac Jerry Jones and his jacked-up group of despicable bandwagon fans) in one place at one time, you are inviting distractions that will take away from seven greats of yesteryear! Memo to Canton, Ohio – Put your police on full alert during the 6^th through 8^th of August.

3. NBA. As expected, the Washington Wizards bought out "Z" Ilgauskas, which means he’s free to return to Cleveland on or about 25 March, just in time for the playoff run, which in essence gives him a 30 day rest so he’ll be fresh for the playoffs. Still think the NBA isn’t rigged?

4. MLB. It’s too early to discuss baseball. Ah, who am I kidding -

5. Hockey. Look, I'm not qualified to talk about this sport, but what’s left to say other than - Can it really be argued at this point what the most exciting sport is? I don't care whose side you were on in that Canada/USA game, it was a great one!

6. NASCAR. Kinda old news which IHM touched on a little bit. So Michigan’s NECKCAR track is banning smoking in grandstands, mezzanines, concessions, restrooms, suites and chalets at the track in Brooklyn in response to the new law going into effect May 1^st. Hey necks, first the moonshine gets outlawed, now the smokes, what’s next? Try that crap down south and the good ole boys will be rioting!

7. Golf - The Phoenix Open. Carry on ‘Zonies…I for one think it’s great to take out the stuffiness in Golf and let it get a little rambunctious. It makes Golf look cool and fun. Hell, why not have the 19^th Hole out in the Gallery or have some hot Arizona State co ed flash ‘em for a signature? I’d love to catch a golfer taking a hit of somebody’s beer, or even running some smack and maybe having a little fun. Where the hell is Steve Elkington? John Daly was tailor-made for this event too!

8. College Football. Texas to the Big Ten? Yeah, and monkeys might fly out of my ass! Hey Big Ten – come correct, go out and get West Virginia, a solid football and basketball school which can add competition to your non-competitive league! Stop being douche bags and go out and do it! Believe me, the Big East will survive without WVU!

Question of the Week. Who should be the next team to enter the Big Ten (err, 11)?

Douche Bag of the Week. Can anybody argue with my choice of Stephen A. Smith who referred to Tiger’s refusal to have reporters or discuss particulars as “punk and coward”? Stephen A. Smith of all people calling out anybody is amusing while at the same time, pathetic.

What Gabbers, I didn’t set the table enough for y’all? “I want to hear from a Gabber – REACT!!!”…

NCAA Basketball Spec Sheet 3/1

Mon, 1 Mar 2010 21:39:25 GMT

It is the first of March! That means all the half-stepping and perpetrating is over. Its time to separate the real contenders from those pretending to want to dance. This is the home stretch, where the teams who will get that call on selection Sunday. Over the next two weeks the basketball will be almost non-stop and the level of play will be heightened. This is the ultimate fix for a hoop junkie like me. Contrary to what some outlets tell you, this is the real beginning of March Madness not when the actual NCAA tourney starts on the 16th. This is where the real underdog can have their moment in the sun, players that you never have heard of knocking off supposed favorites and claiming their tourney ticket. I will begin to list conference tourney dates and sites where applicable

Atlantic Coast
Conference Class-Power
Locks: Duke, Wake Forest, Maryland
Playing Their Way In Georgia Tech, Clemson, Florida State
Playing Their Way Out: Virginia Tech
Skinny on the ACC: The three teams that are Locks are waiting for the ACC tourney in Greensboro. Georgia Tech & Florida State are getting closer to being safe, while Virginia Tech & Clemson are hurting their chances. Defending ones home court is paramount now
Key Games: Wake Forest at Florida State Wednesday 7p (ESPN2) The Seminoles make themselves a lock with a win Duke at Maryland Wednesday 9p (ESPN)Winner has inside track on the #1 seed in the ACC tourney
Projected Bids: 6

Atlantic Ten
Conference Class-Mid Major
Lock: Temple, Xavier, Richmond
Playing their way out: Saint Louis, Dayton, Rhode Island, Charlotte
The A-10 Spec is: The Xavier-Richmond game was all that it was hyped to be and more, if they play a 2-OT thriller like that in a couple weeks, hoop junkies will be in heaven. Neither team is in any kind of trouble and I see them both going. The quandary remains about the 4th team. I cant see the A-10 sending more than 4, and all the teams that are jockeying for that spot aren’t doing much to help their argument. Dayton housed UMass as expected and Saint Louis beat a decent Duquesne team but Charlotte took an ill-timed loss to George Washington while Rhode Island took an ill-timed loss to St. Bonaventure. With the selection committee looking for reasons to keep mid-major teams out, the Rams did not need this millstone loss on their resume.
Key Games: Charlotte at Rhode Island Wednesday 7p(A-10 regional TV) Both these teams are desperate for a win and the loser all but needs to win the A-10 tourney to get an invite
Projected Bids: 4

Big East
Conference Class-Power
Lock: Syracuse, Villanova, West Virginia, Georgetown, Pitt
Playing Their Way In Marquette, Louisville, UConn, Notre Dame
Playing Their Way Out: Cincinnati
Big East Skinny: Same old same old here. Syracuse might be ascending to the top of the basketball world right now with a stunning house job on Villanova. Notre Dame is the real mover, having picked up a big win over Georgetown. Cincy is running out of time and the sad thing is that they have had numerous chances to make a big impression but have failed miserably each time. UConn on the other time keep making big impressions with gutty wins and make have played their way in. Louisville is pretty safe barring a bad tourney loss. Marquette may need to get through a day or two in NYC to be considered safe. 9 is the max I’m seeing coming out here.
Key Game: Villanova at Cincinnati Tuesday 7p (ESPN2) Cincinnati is rapidly running out of chances to pick up another signature win in conference, beating the top ten Wildcats would be just that.
Projected bids: 9

Big Ten
Conference Class-Power
Lock: Michigan State, Purdue, Wisconsin, Ohio State
Playing their way In: Illinois, Minnesota
Playing Their Way Out: Northwestern
The word on the Big Ten is: Purdue may not be worried about getting into the tourney but their chances of a #1 seed are just about shot after losing a slugfest game with the Spartans. Ohio State is now the king of the mountain right now. Wisconsin is safe though they will likely be no higher than a 3 seed for the Big Ten tourney in Indy. Minnesota keeps hanging around and stole a tight game from Illinois. The Illini aren’t finished by a long shot and have resume strengthening opportunities coming in this the final week of the regular season.
Key Games: Illinois at Ohio State Tuesday 9p The Illini need to bounce back from a tough loss to Minnesota, while the Bucks now have their turn at being the team that Big 10 opponents are gunning for.
Projected Bids: 4

Big 12
Conference Class-Power
Lock: Kansas, Texas, Kansas State, Texas A&M, Baylor
Playing Their Way In Missouri, Oklahoma State
Skinny from the heartland: The Pokes made that impression that I was looking for. They roared out to a big first half lead and knocked off #1 Kansas in front of a giddy home crowd and have gotten themselves in position to get an invite, provided that they don’t take a bad loss between now and Selection Sunday. Missouri didn’t beat K-State in Manhattan (but what team outside of Kansas has?) but didn’t get housed and are still in good shape. This conference is sending all 7 teams listed here, book it.
Key Game: Kansas State at Kansas Wednesday 8p The Wildcats would like nothing better than to get payback for a heartbreaking loss to their hated in-state rival by ruining their senior day and breaking their NCAA high 58 game home win streak.
Projected Bids: 7

Colonial
Conference Class-Small
Playing Their Way In: Old Dominion, Northeastern, William & Mary
Colonial Spec: Its Old Dominions tourney to lose, but the CAA always has its share of thrillers , Northeastern is the one team that could steal a bid but they and William & Mary would need to get to the final to have a real shot.
Colonial Athletic Association Championship: March 5-8 Richmond Coliseum, Richmond VA
Projected Bids: 1

Conference USA
Conference Class-Major
Lock: UTEP
Playing Their Way In: Marshall, UAB, Memphis
Playing Their Way Out: Tulsa
Oh Say Can You C-USA Spec: UTEP is starting to open some daylight, and I think that gets them to lock status with Memphis getting housed at Houston. Marshall is struggling to keep pace but their numbers are very weak. UAB is in the same boat but they will have some say so in strengthing their resume in the next week to ten days. This could prove to be a very interesting finish
Key Game: Memphis at UAB Wednesday 7p The teams need the win to stay relevant on the bubble before the C-USA tourney
Projected Bids: 1

Horizon
Conference Class-Mid Major
Lock: Butler
Spec on The Horizon: Butler completed an unbeaten league schedule and is the heavy favorite to win here, the big boy conferences want nothing to do with Butler but are rooting hard for them to win, as they have made more than enough bones to get an at-large if they get upset at Hinkle.
Speedway Horizon League Championship: Mar 2 First Round at Higher Seeded Campus Sites, Second Round March 5 at Hinkle Fieldhouse, Semifinals Mar 6th at Hinkle Fieldhouse, Finals at Higher Seed
Projected Bids: 1

Ivy
Conference Class-Small
Playing Their Way In: Cornell
Playing Their Way Out Princeton, Harvard
Spec on the Ivy Vine: Cornell edged Princeton and now controls its own fate, win out and they get the first tourney invite
Key Game: Cornell at Brown Friday 7p The Big Red will be the first team to clinch an automatic bid to the tourney with a win.
Projected Bids: 1

Missouri Valley
Conference Class-Mid Major
Lock: Northern Iowa
Playing Their Way In Wichita State
Playing Their Way Out: Illinois State
Missouri Valley Skinny: UNI won the regular season title outright and has the #1 seed, this makes them the team to beat. The Shockers and Redbirds are not to be taken lightly, they will be tough outs and it wouldn’t surprise anyone if they stole the title and the Panthers take an at-large bid.
State Farm Missouri Valley Mens Basketball Tournament aka “Arch Madness”: Mar 4-7 Scottrade Center, St. Louis
Projected Bids: 2

Mountain West
Conference Class-Major
Lock: BYU, New Mexico
Playing Their Way In UNLV, San Diego St
Spec from the Mountains: The question isn’t about New Mexico or BYU, both have been spot on locks for about three weeks, its if this conference gets 4 teams. Both San Diego State and UNLV are in line for bids, the numbers are a little dicey but both have good wins. UNLV split with BYU, New Mexico and San Diego State so they have the signature wins. The Aztecs split with New Mexico and UNLV but have a couple nasty losses and so-so RPI numbers. I’ll increase the number to 4 right now, provided the Aztecs can get to the MWC semis or finals they should be good to go.
Key Game: TCU at New Mexico Wednesday 8:30p The Lobos clinch the MWC outright and the top seed in the MWC tourney with a win.
Projected Bids: 4

Pacific 10
Conference Class-Power
Lock: California
Playing Their Way In Arizona State
Playing Their Way Out: Washington
Spec from the left coast: Stop saying that the Pac-10 is a one bid league, I refuse to believe that this power conference will only send the team that emerges victorious Saturday after next in LA. I still see two teams coming out here, likely Cal and Arizona State. Though the Sun Devils got housed up in Berkeley by the Golden Bears, I still give them a good shot at getting selected…as long as they don’t take a needless loss between now and the Pac-10 finals.
Key Game: Southern Cal at Arizona State Thursday 8:30p The Sun Devils need to win out and get to the Pac-10 semis to stay in contention for a bid. Beating the Trojans is far from a gimme.
Projected Bids: 2

Southeastern
Conference Class-Power
Lock: Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Tennessee
Playing Their Way In Florida, Mississippi St.
Playing Their Way Out: Ole Miss
Spec is Down South: Those that were doubting that Tennessee was a legit team got a reality check as the Vols knocked off their second top 2 team this season. The Vols are a spot lock. Florida was just about kick back as safe and they took a pratfall, losing to Georgia which may offset their sterling win over Tennessee. Ole Miss has played its way back into contention but are still on the outside right now. Mississippi State is still a team I can’t be sure of, I’ll leave it at four but the SEC could get one more depending how things shake out in the smaller conferences.
Key Game: Vanderbilt at Florida 7p Tuesday (ESPN) The Gators will feel a lot better if the knock off the Commodores.
Projected Bids: 4

Western Athletic
Conference Class- Major
Lock: Utah State
Playing Their Way Out: New Mexico State, La. Tech
Spec on the WAC: This might be a one bid, because even though the Utah State Aggies have 22 wins and are leading the WAC, their numbers are so-so at best. If the New Mexico State Aggies or La. Tech steals the bid, Utah State could be on the outs.
Key Game: New Mexico State at Utah State Saturday 9p Two sets of Aggies clash in what might be a WAC championship preview.
Projected Bids: 1

West Coast
Conference Class- Mid Major
Lock: Gonzaga
Playing Their Way out: St. Mary’s
West Coast Spec: The Bulldogs are the team to beat here, and unless St. Mary’s gets to the final and puts a mammoth scare or beats Gonzaga, this is a one bid league.
West Coast Conference Basketball Championships: March 5-8 Orleans Arena, Las Vegas
Projected Bids: 1

There are others in the mix to be sure. The champions from the following conferences get an automatic bid (projected winners in parentheses) : Amer. East (Vermont) , Atlantic Sun (Belmont) , Big South (Coastal Carolina), Big Sky (Northern Colorado) , Big West (Pacific), MAC (Akron) , MAAC (Siena), MEAC (Morgan State), Northeast (Quinnipiac), Ohio Valley (Murray St.), Patriot (Lehigh), Southern (Charleston), Southland (Sam Houston State), Sun Belt (North Texas), Summit (Oakland), and SWAC (Jackson State)

Conference Breakdown
ACC-6
A-Ten -4
Big East-9
Big Ten-4
Big XII-7
C-USA-1
Colonial-1
Horizon-1
Ivy-1
Missouri Valley-1
Mountain West-4
Pac-10-2
SEC-4
WAC-3
WCC-1
Small Conferernces-16
Total-65

Keep in mind that this is just spec, these are merely projections and we haven't even brought up the possibility of upsets. But those never happen, right?

Next Spec Sheet March 5 or 6

Cheers from the Cheap Seats!!!

buzz from the bleachers

Mon, 1 Mar 2010 19:41:10 GMT

Like everyone I was glued yesterday's gold medal USA-Canada rematch, but I was a little late getting to that game. I got hung up watching a great college basketball game on ESPN2. I flipped over just in time to catch the second overtime between then-24th ranked Richmond and current-25th ranked Xavier in a big Atlantic 10 match-up. Even though I didn't watch from the beginning and though i knew the gold medal game was just starting, I had to see how that game ended. Who can pass up on a college hoops game, especially so close to the big tournament? Well, long story short, it was your typically exciting second overtime period with Xavier taking an initial lead only to have Richmond battle back in the final minutes. With Xavier up by two and the score at 78-76, Richmond had a great chance to send this into a third OT, but they missed on an inside drive, which luckily allowed me to switch over to NBC. Xavier now sits tied for the atlantic 10 lead with Temple (currently ranked 16th). That being said, the Atlantic 10 now has 4 teams with 20 or more wins (Temple, Xavier, Richmond, and Rhode Island) and 3 teams on the verge with 19 wins. All and all, they gotta be making some of the powers that be feel a bit nervous for their chances and should provide some definate entertainment in whichever tourney they make it into.

Back to the big game, which should go some way into bringing the NHL back into the spotlight, at least for a little while. Everyone knows all eyes are shifting to the NCAA this month, but the NHLers put on a great show at the olympics. Amidst talk and rumors of commissioner Gary Betteman not wanting his NHL players participating in future winter games, I would suggest the powers that be stop and see what kind of reception they get this week as play resumes. You can tell right here on the gab that hockey certainly has received a huge shot in the arm during the games. Fans who might've still harbored anger towards the 04-05 lock out forgot all about it and embraced the stars of the game as they competed for their countries. Seeing the excitement of the games and the well placed ads for next Sundays classic rivalry between the Red Wings and Blackhawks should vault the sport back into more than a few sport fans viewing rotation. If this tide of excitement around the sport fades and the olympic break really does seem to hurt the league by wearing out its stars, then maybe a discussion of keeping NHLers out of the games would be worth starting. If people come out and watch NHL games to see stars from the games like Ryan Miller, Zach Parise, Patrick Kane, or Crosby then you owe it to the one of a kind spectacle of olympic hockey and should relish the idea of your league's stars going out and trying to match the thrilling competion in 2014.

Meanwhile, sunday also offered up the NFL scouting combine. Anyone who enjoys seeing a basic workout done must have been more than satisfied there. None of the elite QB prospects threw, though Cincy's Pike and Jevan Snead were in attendance. But, if there wasn't enough interest to televise the NFL's quarterback challenge with proven vets anymore, were there really that many people who wanted to tune in and watch this? Are people that into football? I really don't see the point of televising the combine and I can barely see what good it does for the coaches and GMs of the league. For most of these guys, you have 3-4 years of game film to go over. Does a 40 yard dash without pads and with nothing to show for it really prove how a guy is going to function in the NFL? Does that leave much analysis for his heart; how a guy is going to respond when he's out there on the field?

Last season, all signs pointed to the obvious choice of Michael Crabtree or maybe Jeremy Maclin going as the first receiver selected. But both were snubbed by Jerry Jones of all people in favor of Darius Heyward-Bey for his speed. Bey had many issues, the most glaring being his catching ability. He caught 9 passes for 1 TD in 11 games in his rookie season. Maclin caught 55 passes and had 4 TDs, and even in a hold-out shortened season Crabtree snagged 48 passes and found the end zone twice.

The combine really doesn't produce many game measurable statistics. If anything it places undue pressure to perform on these guys. The fastest or the strongest isn't necessrily the best, though with some owners it does apparently move you up the draft board.

Finally, i thought I'd entertain my inner history minor by posting some notables from sports or miscellanious history that occured today: March 1.

1912: Albert Berry makes first parachute jump from an airplane
1941: Captain America appears in comics and Elmer Layden becomes 1st NFL commish
1949: Joe Louis retires as heavyweight champ
1969: Mickey Mantle retires
1988: Wayne Gretzky passes Gordy Howe in NHL assist record with his 1,050th (he had 1963 in his career)
1989: Ben Johnson's coach admits Johnson began using steroids back in 1981
1993: Anneheim Mighty Ducks are created
notable birthdays: former NFL commish Pete Rozelle, Roger Daltrey of the Who, TV's Alan Thicke, Ron Francis, Chris Webber, and Stephen Davis

Let The Trades Begin

Mon, 1 Mar 2010 16:40:55 GMT

First of all Congratulations to the Canandian Olympic Hockey Team for winning the Gold in OT . It was agreat tournament and there is no shame in the Silver for the USA.

March 1, 2010 11:00am est
The NHL lifted the trade embargo that was imposed during the Olympic Games.As expected the Florida Panthers made a deal sending defenseman Jordan Leopold to the Penguins for a 2010 2nd rounder.According to It should a very busy few days as the Trade deadline is Wednesday at 3pm. I’ll try to update this over the next few days.if you would like more details of this deal check out John McGourty NHL.com

March 01, 2010 4:05pmest
Blackhawks got some goaltending help(MAYBE) sending Goalie Joe Fallonto the Blues for Goalie prospectHannu Toivonen, and defenseman Danny Richmond. Goalie Antti Niemiis a restricted Free agent at the end of the season. According to NHL.com's Mike Morreale

March 01, 2010 8:35pmest
According to the Edmonton Oilers website The Oilers have traded Defenseman Denis Grebeshkove to Nashville
for a 2010 second round draft choice.

March 01, 2010 11:45pmest
The Anaheim Ducks have traded Winger Evengy Artyukhinto Atlanta for Defenseman Prospect Nathan Oystrickand a conditional 2011 Draft Pick according too Curtis Zupke "The Ducks Blog" at The Orange County Register

March 2, 2010 1:30pm est
Quiet,Quiet.
One move the Thrashers have signed Chris Chelios according to theThrashers Website No details were disclosed. Chelios played 44 games with the Chicago Wolves this season.

March 2, 2010 2:49 pmest
According toOttawa Senators website They have acquired Defenseman Andy Sutton from the NY Islanders for 2010 second round draft choice that the Senators acquired from the Sharks.

March 2, 2010, 9:00pmest
According to NHL.com The Blackhawks acquired Defenseman Nick Boynton from Anaheim for Future considerations. he has been assigned to their AHL team

March 3, 2010 6:15am est
According to Pittsburgh Post gazzette's Dave Molinari The Penguins acquired left winger Alexi Ponikarovskysending prospect Luca Caputiand Defenseman Martin Skoula to Toronto

March 3, 2010 10:35 est
WEEI Radioin Boston is Quoting TSN,CAsaying the Bruins have sent DefensemanDerek Morris back to Phoenix for a 2011 4th rounder

Bruins made another a deal on Late Tuesday Dan Rowinski WEEI.com They acquired Defenseman Cody Wild from Edmonton in exchange for prospect Mark Marquardt

TSN,CA is also reporting that the Montreal Canadians have traded forward Matt D'Agostini to St Louis for Prospect Aaron Pulushaj
Late Tuesday

March 3, 2010 11:15est

According to Terry Koshan of The Toronto Sun. The Leafs
have moved Martin Skoula to the Devils for Future Considerations most likely a prospect.

March 3, 2010 11:55am est
Things are heating up twwo deals have been made according to TSN,CA The Carolina Hurricans have sent Defenseman Aaron Ward to the Ducks for Goalie Justin Pogge and a 4th round draft pick.

Mean while The Bruins have made a deal with Florida sending RW Craig Weller, RW Byron Bitz and a 4th Round Draft Choice for Defenseman Denis Seidenberg and Prospect Defenseman Mathew Bartkowski who is currently playing for Thee Ohio State University.

March 3 2010, 1:15pm est (1:45 minutes to go)
According to The Denver Posts Adrian Dater The Avs have traded left WingWojtek Wolski to Phoenix for forwards Peter Mueller
and Kevin Porter

The Hurricanes have sent Scott Walker to Washington for a 7th 2010 Draft Choice.

March 3 , 2010 2:15pm est (45 minutes to go)
All from NHL.com
The Red Wings have sent F Kris Newburyto the Rangers for Forward Jordan Owens
The Coyotes got Mathieu Schneiderfrom the Canaucks for future considerations
The Kings got F. Jeff Halpernfrom Tampa for Forward Teddy Purcelland 3rd round Draft pick 2010
The Wild sent Eric Belangerto Washington for a 2010 2nd rounder
The Ducks and The flames swaped a pair of Goalies. The Ducks sent Vesa Toskalato Calgary for Curtis McElhinney

March 3 2010, 3:30pm est (it's Over)
More deals will be trickling in over the next few hours but here is an update from TSN,CA
The Capitials get Milan Jurcinafrom Columbus for a 2010 6th rounder
Sabres gets Raffi Torresfrom Columbus for Nathan Paestch and a 2nd round Pick
Thrashers getClarke Macarthurfrom the Sabres for a 3rd and 4th round draft choice
Coyotes get Lee Stempianekfrom the Leafs for a 4th and a 7th round draft choice
The Caps get Joe Corvoand send Brian Pothierand Oskar Osalaplus a second rounder to the Hurricanes
The Kngs get C Fredrik Modinfrom the Blue Jackets for Future considerations
The Ducks acquire G Joey Macdonaldfrom the Leafs for a 2011 7th rounder
The Canuacks get Andrew Albertssending a 3rd round draft choice to the Hurricanes
The Pathers get C Mathieu Roysending C Matt Rustto Columbus
The Oilers get Ryan Whitneysending D Lubomir Visnovskyto the Ducks
The Leafs get D Chris pelusosending a 6th rounder to the Penguins
The Preds get C Dustin Boyd and send 4th rounder to the Flames.

March 3, 2010 7pm est
Final deals
The Coyotes were very busy at the end.
They traded a 2010 6th rounder to The Ducks for cPetteri Nokelain they sent DAnders Eriksson to the Rangers for G Miika Wikman and 2011 7th round draft pick. They also acquired LW
Alexandre Picard From Columbus in exchange for FChad Kolarik
The Avs acquired Stephane Yelle and RW Harrison Reed from the Hurricanes for C Cedric Lelonde Mcnicolland a 6th round 2010 prospect
The Flames and The Oilers traded Blueliners The Flames getting Steve Staios The Oilers receiving Aaron Johnson and either a 2010 or a 2011 3rd Round draft Pick