As a New York Giants fan, I have never been particularly concerned about the presence or general existence of the New York Jets. Just as most Yankee fans feel about the Mets, the Jets are just there and for eight games a year MetLife Stadium turns green. Otherwise, they really don't affect me in any way. Lately, though, it's been pretty hard to ignore just how ridiculous the franchise's act is at this point.
Throughout head coach Rex Ryan's run the Jets have been the picture next to the term "media circus" in the sporting lexicon. The circus was wildly successful early with back-to-back trips to the AFC Championship Game in the 2009 & 2010 seasons. Then the wheels came off the bus. GM Mike Tannenbaum and Ryan allowed several key locker rooms guys walk away and the chemistry that carried the Jets in 2009 & 2010 suddenly evaporated. Football is a bit different than other sports. The team dynamic is so important to the daily function of a football team that I believe it cannot be overstated. Letting guys like Tony Richardson, LaDainian Tomlinson, Jerricho Cotchery, and Shaun Ellis go makes sense from an age and declining talent perspective. But the Jets failed to replace their veteran savvy and locker room presence. What has followed since has been a disaster to say the least.
Quarterback Mark Sanchez has been a turnover machine. There's no consistent running game. Receiver Santonio Holmes hasn't been healthy. All-Pro corner Darrelle Revis held out, came back, got hurt, and was shipped to Tampa. Ryan favorite Jim Leonhard got hurt and was then released. The vaunted Ryan defense was hemorrhaging points. Special Teams guru Mike Westhoff retired and promptly ripped the organization. The Rex Ryan tattoo scandal popped up. There was the Tim Tebow fiasco...the Brian Schottenheimer fiasco...the Tony Sparano fiasco...you get the picture.
Tannenbaum was fired over the offseason. Former Seattle Seahawks' salary cap guru John Idzik was hired as the new general manager. Tim Tebow was set to be released. It looked like things were actually moving in a fairly positive direction for the Jets. And then, of course, owner Woody Johnson and company found a way to screw it all up. They denied that they wanted to trade Revis and then sent him to Tampa Bay where he signed a non-guaranteed contract. Instead of cutting Tebow immediately, they foolishly thought somebody would trade for him before finally cutting ties with the embattled former Florida Gator. Then there was the signing of quarterback David Garrard and the drafting of quarterback Geno Smith. Then, on top of that, the Jets announce that Idzik will have a say in naming the starting quarterback. This was a very public undermining of Ryan's authority. He was already a lame-duck coach with his contract situation but to publicly undercut him like that sends a terrible message to the locker room. If the front office doesn't trust Ryan, then why are they letting him hang around? What are the feelings of the front office towards others in the locker room or coaches' office? Will players even want to play for Ryan at this point? The Jets have also done a masterful, as in masterfully awful, job of handling the Sanchez/Smith quarterback competition. Oh, did I forget to mention that Garrard, who hadn't played in a game in nearly two years because of chronic knee issues, retired because of those same issues? Smith practices and plays on a badly sprained ankle when he should've rested for a few days of camp. Sanchez then plays in garbage time of a meaningless preseason game and hurts his shoulder. When you add in the way Ryan addresses the media afterwards, it's hard to tell which quarterback the Jets want to see take the job (or fail miserably) more.
I'm not a big Rex Ryan fan but I do feel for the guy a bit. It's hard enough to be a head coach at any level, much less in the NFL. And while he has screwed himself on quite a few occasions, I still think he's getting a bit of a raw deal from Idzik and the Jets' front office. Idzik has not spoken with the media during training camp, leaving Ryan to fend for himself and answer questions of which he is not the sole decision-maker. The more I look at this, I think back to Bill Parcells commenting on how if you want the coach to cook the meal you should at least let him shop for the groceries. It looks like we have the inverse going on here. Idzik shops for the groceries and wants a say in how the meal is cooked. Johnson is giving him that and then some. I will be stunned if Ryan makes it through the season as the head coach. He looks embattled and completely defenseless at times during his media sessions. That's something I never thought I'd see after all the bluster he's spewed from the podium over the course of his career. It looks like this circus is still going strong but I don't believe Ryan is the ringmaster anymore.
Speaking of things going south for New York/New Jersey sports franchises, the New York Mets suffered another setback when star pitcher Matt Harvey partially tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow. Harvey recently tweeted that he would be back April 1 next year, bypassing Tommy John surgery. Naturally, GM Sandy Alderson has said that no actual decision has been made and they're waiting on another MRI before making any decisions. Things just seem to keep going downhill. Every time a glimmer of hope appears, that light gets snuffed out at Citi Field. The Mets also finally completely threw in the towel on this season, trading John Buck & Marlon Byrd to the Pittsburgh Pirates for a prospect.
My WWE Summerslam prediction was pretty solid. While Ric Flair didn't make an appearance, Triple H did provide the assist to Randy Orton, making Orton a 10-time WWE Champion. Now, Triple H is touting Orton as the face of the company. How many chances does Orton get to be the face of the company? With John Cena out for the next 4-6 months rehabbing his torn triceps, Daniel Bryan has an opportunity to take center stage. It looks like he's getting the big face treatment with the way Triple H has been abusing him the last couple of weeks. But I still can't get past the fact that Orton is once again being pushed as the face of the company. He's got two strikes on the wellness policy and has been the subject of countless backstage rumors and frustrations over his decade with the company. It seems like when Trips isn't babysitting Orton, he's not doing much. Trips watched over him in Evolution then sent him to Smackdown where The Undertaker could take care of him. After that feud and a few shoulder injuries, Orton found himself right back on RAW with Trips. Orton then fell of the wellness wagon but he's got Trips watching out for him once more. Hopefully, Bryan can make his mark and Orton doesn't bury him. At least RVD will be getting a World Heavyweight Championship opportunity at Night of Champions.
The Cincinnati Bengals have been highly entertaining on Hard Knocks. They have been very open with the film crews and have quite the cast of characters, both players and coaches.
NBC's coverage of the Barclays Premier League is off to a great start. I'm loving the On Demand feature in which they allow you to replay the week's matches. I have been able to watch Tottenham's first two contests On Demand and not miss a beat!
One last note, if you can, give my friend Leo's blog on The Hockey Writers a read. It's some great stuff as he does a tremendous job covering the Albany Devils, the AHL affiliate of Jersey's Team. You can check it out here: http://thehockeywriters.com/albany-devils-day-jerseys-team-2012-13-highlights/
Until next time.
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Sunday, August 18, 2013
RG3 vs. McNabb vs. Shanahan and more on "Alfie"..... - 8/17/13
I feel like I've been living in a Washington Redskins/RG3 vacuum the past few weeks. I opened my Sports Illustrated last week to discover an excerpt from a recent book about RG3. Reading it was taking another trip back to that January Wild Card Playoff contest against Seattle which saw RG3 down in a beaten heap. The excerpt was a great examination into what NFL personnel like to term "the difference between being hurt and being injured." Then there was the news that RG3 hasn't been seeing eye-to-eye with head coach Mike Shanahan during Redskins' camp. And now an issue has apparently surfaced between RG3 and former Eagles/Redskins/Vikings quarterback Donovan McNabb. What to think about all of this? Well...a lot.
RG3 has been willing to speak his mind and be an individual from the moment he first appeared in the big-time sporting universe during his time as the starting quarterback at Baylor. He always had a big smile on his face and was very affable towards fans, teammates, and media alike. He wore his ridiculous superhero socks at the Heisman Trophy presentation. He single-handedly made Baylor football relevant again in the Big XII and across the country. He has staunchly defended his style of play through head and knee injuries during both his college and NFL tenure. His Redskins teammates are in his corner publicly and clearly are taken with RG3's warrior ethos. No one within the organization has questioned the decision to leave RG3 in the game when he was clearly hurt. I respect RG3's commitment to his teammates and his belief that he is Washington's best option to win no matter what his condition may be. He is the quarterback.
While I do respect it, this is where he loses me a little bit. I understand you believe in yourself and I understand that you are in tune with all you're capable of. I also believe this is born out of loyalty to the team. I wouldn't accuse RGIII of being a selfish guy. I do believe that everything he does on the field is done with the number one priority being winning football games for the Washington Redskins. However, there has to be a point where he sees that what he is doing is detrimental to the team. Backup quarterback Kirk Cousins is no slouch but there's also no doubt that RG3 is the quarterback for the foreseeable future in D.C. This isn't like Drew Bledsoe and Tom Brady back in 2001. RG3's career is just beginning. Washington was still in the game when the tide turned and RG3 was clearly not effective. At some point, the organization needs to step in.
This is where things turn a bit for me. While I wish RG3 would just shut up and play football (My feelings about mouthy athletes are already well-documented.), I have far more ire for the Redskins organization. I understand the win-at-all-costs mentality of the NFL but where is the line? When does the organization and its medical team have to put the best interests of the football team aside and look out for the best interests of the injured player? It was clear to anyone watching that RG3 was not himself. This also brings to mind head coach Mike Shanahan. Why in the world would Shanahan and his son (the offensive coordinator) continue to run the zone read stuff when the threat of RG3 running the football was non-existent by that point in the game. Not only was it damaging to their quarterback but it was also damaging to the team, stalling the offense at a point when they were still clearly in the football game. This stubborn refusal to adapt was a bit shocking to me. You would think a coach with the experience of Shanahan would know when to make an in-game adjustment. Plus, Cousins had led the 'Skins to victory in a must-win game a few weeks prior. There was also a lot of "he said," "he said" nonsense involving Shanahan and team orthopedist Dr. James Andrews. It's still a bit unclear as to who allowed RG3 to stay in the game. The only thing that is clear is that the quarterback would not come out of the game under any circumstances of his own doing.
At this point in both reading my own writing and reading various other materials I've grown absolutely sick and tired of RG3. I liked him a lot during his time at Baylor and I didn't mind him with the Redskins last year despite being a Giants fan. But all this constant babbling has shut me down. I'm tired of hearing about all of it. I just want RG3 to continue to rehab and he will play when he's ready. End of story. It seems like things were dying down a bit. Yes, there was still a lot made of his practice progress and the fact that he did participate in a full 11-on-11 drill at practice but at least it was still just an injury update, not a rehash of all that had gone wrong previously. It seemed like everything was good until Donovan McNabb spoke up.
My feelings on this part of the story are a bit complicated. I have always been a tremendous fan of McNabb. He is a Syracuse alum (as am I) and his contributions to the university both on and off the football field have been well-documented. McNabb then went on to become the most accomplished quarterback in Philadelphia Eagles history despite his rocky (at best) relationship with the fan base and the city. When McNabb was traded to Washington, things unraveled in a hurry. Shanahan questioned his conditioning; he was benched; then, despite signing an extension, he was released. After a so-so season with the Minnesota Vikings, that was the end of McNabb's NFL career. McNabb was not a guy who spoke out often on controversial issues during his NFL career but he has certainly not had a problem speaking out since becoming a TV analyst and former NFL quarterback. Now, on top of everything else, McNabb comes out and says that Washington has RG3 brainwashed. He then goes further and says how upset he is that RG3 doesn't seem receptive to his advice. McNabb has even gone as far as to paint himself as the old guard and an outdated commodity. I truly believe that McNabb simply wants to help RG3. It's no secret that are some outside of Washington who feel that RG3 has been far too open with the media. McNabb, perhaps better than anyone (think Rush Limbaugh incident), can understand some of the racial implications and stereotypes the media may be painting the confident RG3 with. What really comes to light with his comments is just how poor the relationship between Shanahan and McNabb is. It's clear the media will not give McNabb any leniency in this department but I get the feeling Shanahan is at fault just as much. Not all player/coach relationships and wine and roses. I have always defended McNabb but I fear that he is coming off like a whiner rather than a critical analyst. I have no problem with McNabb speaking his mind. That's his job and it's always refreshing to see former athletes turned commentators that can actually be critical of their former peers when necessary. But I don't understand what seems to be his need for acceptance from RG3. If the youngster doesn't want to heed McNabb's advice then so be it. Everyone has to learn in their own way. McNabb just seems to be trying to protect him. But sadly, most NFL stars tend to learn the hard way. As for McNabb and Shanahan, let's just say that won't be sitting across the table from each other at Thanksgiving dinner anytime soon. We'll see what the future holds for RG3. Can he stay healthy? Can he and Shanahan continue to work together? Can RG3 keep winning football games in D.C.?
Last post I wrote about my feelings about the exodus of former Ottawa Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson to the Detroit Red Wings. After venting, I noted that it all seemed too easy and there had to be more to the situation than meets the eye. Lo and behold, almost two weeks later, Alfredsson says goodbye to Ottawa and speaks openly about his departure. Alfredsson made his love for the city clear but he was also very clear that a contract impasse was something he couldn't get past. When Alfredsson worked out his last contract, it was done with the understanding that he would not play the 2012-2013 season. The extra year on his deal was solely a salary cap move to help the Sens. Then he played out the season (as he said he would) and decided he could play another season (2013-2014). But once again contract negotiations stalled. This is where Alfredsson's version of events gets vague. He didn't really get into the rest of the contract negotiations and even Ottawa GM Bryan Murray presented a vague statement that implied J.P. Barry (Alfredsson's agent) did not present his client with all the facts. Murray went further and mentioned that he and Sens owner Eugene Melnyk had discussed scenarios in which Ottawa both resigned Alfredsson and traded for Anaheim winger Bobby Ryan. As much as both Murray and Alfredsson said they were moving on, their words really said otherwise. It's clear that Alfredsson loves the city of Ottawa and its fans. It's also clear that Murray really did not want to lose his captain this way. I have no doubt that the first time Detroit visits Ottawa this season, all of those feelings will come back to the surface. I, for one, am still salty about Alfredsson's exit and hope that he does return to the organization in some capacity after his retirement. I also hope that the Bobby Ryan trade works out for the Sens. On top of that, I really hope that Alfredsson is productive and that his one-year term with Detroit doesn't mirror that of Mike Modano, another one-franchise icon who left under adverse circumstances.
The New Jersey Devils may have finally found the answer to their financial problems (Thank goodness!!) after their $320 million sale to Philadelphia 76ers owner Joshua Harris and his partner David Blitzer. Just like that, Jersey's Team has seen the never-ending stream of bankruptcy rumors and financial troubles disappear. The new ownership group then made a phenomenal move in declaring that GM Lou Lamoriello will continue to be "the man," completely in charge of the hockey side of the team's operations. However, that didn't stop the new ownership team from making some changes on the business side of the operation as they begin to implement their vision. I am beyond relieved as a die-hard fan and season-ticket holder that the Devils will now have legitimacy and stability in the owners' box. Anyone can deny it as much as they want but there's no doubt that the Devils' financial situation has impacted the hockey side of things for the last several seasons. As passionate as former majority owner Jeff Vanderbeek was, his financial limitations hindered the club, particularly in the free agent category. The Ilya Kovalchuk fiasco from his initial contract to his shocking retirement to the KHL underscores all of that. Lamoriello seems very enthusiastic about the move and all of a sudden it seems like the sun is smiling on Jersey's Team. Columnist Tara Sullivan of The Record did a great job highlighting Lamoriello's excitement for the future, including many great quotes from the man himself. You can read it here: http://www.northjersey.com/columnists/Sullivan_Cloud_finally_has_lifted_off_Devils_excited_GM_Lou_Lamoriello.html?c=y&page=2
WWE Summerslam is Sunday and the stench surrounding the WWE Championship match between John Cena & Daniel Bryan grows more foul by the day. Now, Triple H will serve as the special guest referee for the contest. I smell a double-cross here. Perhaps an Evolution reunion/assist? Ric Flair made an appearance at the WWE2K14 video game roster reveal event. Orton is the reigning Money in the Bank winner and is not on the card right now. Could be quite the ending. Also, how is Cody Rhodes vs. Damien Sandow on the pay-per-view card while United States Champion Dean Ambrose vs. Rob Van Dam is stuck on the free kickoff show? Poor booking by the powers-that-be on that one. At least we can still look forward to "Best vs. Beast" as CM Punk and Brock Lesnar lock horns.
The New York Mets have finally accepted rebuilding and are starting to push the organization's top prospects through the system. Highly-regarded catcher Travis d'Arnaud made his long-awaited big league debut this weekend against the San Diego Padres. d'Arnaud joins a youth infusion that includes Zach Wheeler, Wilmer Flores, Jennry Mejia, Juan Lagares, Gonzalez Germen, and (of course) Matt Harvey. I'm glad that the Mets realize it's time to change their approach and give the kids a chance. They really have nothing to lose at this point. And they shed some big contracts this off-season. With a core of David Wright, Daniel Murphy, d'Arnaud, Wheeler, Harvey, & Jon Niese moving forward, things could actually be looking up at Citi Field. Oh, and highly regarded pitching prospect Noah Syndergaard has already pushed his way up to Double-A Binghamton. His last start: 5 IP, 10 K, 3 H, 0 R on 66 pitches.
And with that I will leave you with a photo of me and a banner outside Ottawa's Scotiabank Place featuring former captain Daniel Alfredsson.
RG3 has been willing to speak his mind and be an individual from the moment he first appeared in the big-time sporting universe during his time as the starting quarterback at Baylor. He always had a big smile on his face and was very affable towards fans, teammates, and media alike. He wore his ridiculous superhero socks at the Heisman Trophy presentation. He single-handedly made Baylor football relevant again in the Big XII and across the country. He has staunchly defended his style of play through head and knee injuries during both his college and NFL tenure. His Redskins teammates are in his corner publicly and clearly are taken with RG3's warrior ethos. No one within the organization has questioned the decision to leave RG3 in the game when he was clearly hurt. I respect RG3's commitment to his teammates and his belief that he is Washington's best option to win no matter what his condition may be. He is the quarterback.
While I do respect it, this is where he loses me a little bit. I understand you believe in yourself and I understand that you are in tune with all you're capable of. I also believe this is born out of loyalty to the team. I wouldn't accuse RGIII of being a selfish guy. I do believe that everything he does on the field is done with the number one priority being winning football games for the Washington Redskins. However, there has to be a point where he sees that what he is doing is detrimental to the team. Backup quarterback Kirk Cousins is no slouch but there's also no doubt that RG3 is the quarterback for the foreseeable future in D.C. This isn't like Drew Bledsoe and Tom Brady back in 2001. RG3's career is just beginning. Washington was still in the game when the tide turned and RG3 was clearly not effective. At some point, the organization needs to step in.
This is where things turn a bit for me. While I wish RG3 would just shut up and play football (My feelings about mouthy athletes are already well-documented.), I have far more ire for the Redskins organization. I understand the win-at-all-costs mentality of the NFL but where is the line? When does the organization and its medical team have to put the best interests of the football team aside and look out for the best interests of the injured player? It was clear to anyone watching that RG3 was not himself. This also brings to mind head coach Mike Shanahan. Why in the world would Shanahan and his son (the offensive coordinator) continue to run the zone read stuff when the threat of RG3 running the football was non-existent by that point in the game. Not only was it damaging to their quarterback but it was also damaging to the team, stalling the offense at a point when they were still clearly in the football game. This stubborn refusal to adapt was a bit shocking to me. You would think a coach with the experience of Shanahan would know when to make an in-game adjustment. Plus, Cousins had led the 'Skins to victory in a must-win game a few weeks prior. There was also a lot of "he said," "he said" nonsense involving Shanahan and team orthopedist Dr. James Andrews. It's still a bit unclear as to who allowed RG3 to stay in the game. The only thing that is clear is that the quarterback would not come out of the game under any circumstances of his own doing.
At this point in both reading my own writing and reading various other materials I've grown absolutely sick and tired of RG3. I liked him a lot during his time at Baylor and I didn't mind him with the Redskins last year despite being a Giants fan. But all this constant babbling has shut me down. I'm tired of hearing about all of it. I just want RG3 to continue to rehab and he will play when he's ready. End of story. It seems like things were dying down a bit. Yes, there was still a lot made of his practice progress and the fact that he did participate in a full 11-on-11 drill at practice but at least it was still just an injury update, not a rehash of all that had gone wrong previously. It seemed like everything was good until Donovan McNabb spoke up.
My feelings on this part of the story are a bit complicated. I have always been a tremendous fan of McNabb. He is a Syracuse alum (as am I) and his contributions to the university both on and off the football field have been well-documented. McNabb then went on to become the most accomplished quarterback in Philadelphia Eagles history despite his rocky (at best) relationship with the fan base and the city. When McNabb was traded to Washington, things unraveled in a hurry. Shanahan questioned his conditioning; he was benched; then, despite signing an extension, he was released. After a so-so season with the Minnesota Vikings, that was the end of McNabb's NFL career. McNabb was not a guy who spoke out often on controversial issues during his NFL career but he has certainly not had a problem speaking out since becoming a TV analyst and former NFL quarterback. Now, on top of everything else, McNabb comes out and says that Washington has RG3 brainwashed. He then goes further and says how upset he is that RG3 doesn't seem receptive to his advice. McNabb has even gone as far as to paint himself as the old guard and an outdated commodity. I truly believe that McNabb simply wants to help RG3. It's no secret that are some outside of Washington who feel that RG3 has been far too open with the media. McNabb, perhaps better than anyone (think Rush Limbaugh incident), can understand some of the racial implications and stereotypes the media may be painting the confident RG3 with. What really comes to light with his comments is just how poor the relationship between Shanahan and McNabb is. It's clear the media will not give McNabb any leniency in this department but I get the feeling Shanahan is at fault just as much. Not all player/coach relationships and wine and roses. I have always defended McNabb but I fear that he is coming off like a whiner rather than a critical analyst. I have no problem with McNabb speaking his mind. That's his job and it's always refreshing to see former athletes turned commentators that can actually be critical of their former peers when necessary. But I don't understand what seems to be his need for acceptance from RG3. If the youngster doesn't want to heed McNabb's advice then so be it. Everyone has to learn in their own way. McNabb just seems to be trying to protect him. But sadly, most NFL stars tend to learn the hard way. As for McNabb and Shanahan, let's just say that won't be sitting across the table from each other at Thanksgiving dinner anytime soon. We'll see what the future holds for RG3. Can he stay healthy? Can he and Shanahan continue to work together? Can RG3 keep winning football games in D.C.?
Last post I wrote about my feelings about the exodus of former Ottawa Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson to the Detroit Red Wings. After venting, I noted that it all seemed too easy and there had to be more to the situation than meets the eye. Lo and behold, almost two weeks later, Alfredsson says goodbye to Ottawa and speaks openly about his departure. Alfredsson made his love for the city clear but he was also very clear that a contract impasse was something he couldn't get past. When Alfredsson worked out his last contract, it was done with the understanding that he would not play the 2012-2013 season. The extra year on his deal was solely a salary cap move to help the Sens. Then he played out the season (as he said he would) and decided he could play another season (2013-2014). But once again contract negotiations stalled. This is where Alfredsson's version of events gets vague. He didn't really get into the rest of the contract negotiations and even Ottawa GM Bryan Murray presented a vague statement that implied J.P. Barry (Alfredsson's agent) did not present his client with all the facts. Murray went further and mentioned that he and Sens owner Eugene Melnyk had discussed scenarios in which Ottawa both resigned Alfredsson and traded for Anaheim winger Bobby Ryan. As much as both Murray and Alfredsson said they were moving on, their words really said otherwise. It's clear that Alfredsson loves the city of Ottawa and its fans. It's also clear that Murray really did not want to lose his captain this way. I have no doubt that the first time Detroit visits Ottawa this season, all of those feelings will come back to the surface. I, for one, am still salty about Alfredsson's exit and hope that he does return to the organization in some capacity after his retirement. I also hope that the Bobby Ryan trade works out for the Sens. On top of that, I really hope that Alfredsson is productive and that his one-year term with Detroit doesn't mirror that of Mike Modano, another one-franchise icon who left under adverse circumstances.
The New Jersey Devils may have finally found the answer to their financial problems (Thank goodness!!) after their $320 million sale to Philadelphia 76ers owner Joshua Harris and his partner David Blitzer. Just like that, Jersey's Team has seen the never-ending stream of bankruptcy rumors and financial troubles disappear. The new ownership group then made a phenomenal move in declaring that GM Lou Lamoriello will continue to be "the man," completely in charge of the hockey side of the team's operations. However, that didn't stop the new ownership team from making some changes on the business side of the operation as they begin to implement their vision. I am beyond relieved as a die-hard fan and season-ticket holder that the Devils will now have legitimacy and stability in the owners' box. Anyone can deny it as much as they want but there's no doubt that the Devils' financial situation has impacted the hockey side of things for the last several seasons. As passionate as former majority owner Jeff Vanderbeek was, his financial limitations hindered the club, particularly in the free agent category. The Ilya Kovalchuk fiasco from his initial contract to his shocking retirement to the KHL underscores all of that. Lamoriello seems very enthusiastic about the move and all of a sudden it seems like the sun is smiling on Jersey's Team. Columnist Tara Sullivan of The Record did a great job highlighting Lamoriello's excitement for the future, including many great quotes from the man himself. You can read it here: http://www.northjersey.com/columnists/Sullivan_Cloud_finally_has_lifted_off_Devils_excited_GM_Lou_Lamoriello.html?c=y&page=2
WWE Summerslam is Sunday and the stench surrounding the WWE Championship match between John Cena & Daniel Bryan grows more foul by the day. Now, Triple H will serve as the special guest referee for the contest. I smell a double-cross here. Perhaps an Evolution reunion/assist? Ric Flair made an appearance at the WWE2K14 video game roster reveal event. Orton is the reigning Money in the Bank winner and is not on the card right now. Could be quite the ending. Also, how is Cody Rhodes vs. Damien Sandow on the pay-per-view card while United States Champion Dean Ambrose vs. Rob Van Dam is stuck on the free kickoff show? Poor booking by the powers-that-be on that one. At least we can still look forward to "Best vs. Beast" as CM Punk and Brock Lesnar lock horns.
The New York Mets have finally accepted rebuilding and are starting to push the organization's top prospects through the system. Highly-regarded catcher Travis d'Arnaud made his long-awaited big league debut this weekend against the San Diego Padres. d'Arnaud joins a youth infusion that includes Zach Wheeler, Wilmer Flores, Jennry Mejia, Juan Lagares, Gonzalez Germen, and (of course) Matt Harvey. I'm glad that the Mets realize it's time to change their approach and give the kids a chance. They really have nothing to lose at this point. And they shed some big contracts this off-season. With a core of David Wright, Daniel Murphy, d'Arnaud, Wheeler, Harvey, & Jon Niese moving forward, things could actually be looking up at Citi Field. Oh, and highly regarded pitching prospect Noah Syndergaard has already pushed his way up to Double-A Binghamton. His last start: 5 IP, 10 K, 3 H, 0 R on 66 pitches.
And with that I will leave you with a photo of me and a banner outside Ottawa's Scotiabank Place featuring former captain Daniel Alfredsson.
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
Out of the sporting doldrums (and my wonder about "Alfie" leaving Ottawa)..... - 8/6/13
Football season is finally here!!!!! I can barely contain my excitement. We are officially out of the "sporting doldrums" and back to the wonderful world of sports we are used to. Football season has arrived and that means hockey season isn't far behind and that baseball season is getting closer to the excitement of the postseason and the English Premier League season is about to kick off as well. Finally back to the times that I thoroughly enjoy!
Last week I wrote a little bit about Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel. No sooner did I write about it that I come across an ESPN Outside the Lines piece and a Sports Illustrated piece revolving around Manziel's off-field plight as well. Both pieces were very well-written and will now see great followup as Manziel is in hot water yet again. There are several sources who maintain Manziel took compensation for autograph signings, which of course would be an NCAA "no-no." A&M has retained the same law firm that Auburn used in 2010 to keep quarterback Cam Newton eligible. Many will be keeping an eye on this as obviously the Aggies SEC and National Title hopes rest on the legs and right arm of Manziel. If Manziel does get suspended, don't be surprised if it's only for the Aggies' first two games. Week 3 sees defending national champion Alabama come to College Station for a nationally-televised SEC contest on CBS.
Here's the link to the excellent ESPN piece on Manziel, written by Wright Thompson: http://espn.go.com/espn/otl/story/_/id/9521439/heisman-winner-johnny-manziel-celebrity-derail-texas-aggies-season-espn-magazine
I have no desire to focus on the Biogenesis suspensions that are all the rage in Major League Baseball headlines right now. It is a well-known fact that I've never been a big Alex Rodriguez fan, going all the way back to his early days as a Seattle Mariner. I was always a Griffey fan and my admiration for his swing (one of the best the game has ever seen) was noted in a 2008 blog post that I can't seem to get a link up to at the moment. (I'll post it as soon as I can.) That said, I don't want to waste time talking about A-Rod, Nelson Cruz, Jhonny Peralta, or anyone else. Let's focus on the Kansas City Royals winning 12 of their last 13. Let's focus on the Los Angeles Dodgers winning 15 straight on the road. Let's focus on the Atlanta Braves defying every preseason prediction and running away with the NL East. Let's focus on the Oakland Athletics once again showing everyone they're never to be underestimated. And best of all, let's focus on the fact that the Pittsburgh Pirates, at 67-44 (with a .604 winning percentage), have the best record in baseball and we're a week into August. Those are the stories that should be dominating MLB headlines right now, not all of this PED nonsense.
The injury bug continues to make its way through NFL camps. Aaron Rodgers has lost his blindside protector as Green Bay left tackle Bryan Bulaga tore his ACL and will be lost for the season. After last week's rash of injuries, I thought maybe there would be a slowdown but here we go again. The Packers have options, including moving Marshall Newhouse back to left tackle after starting 28 games there the past two seasons. In addition to dealing with this, I'm also slightly curious to see how Green Bay splits backup quarterback reps to give recently-signed Vince Young an opportunity to compete for the job.
I know it's been over a month but I'm still having a really hard time digesting Daniel Alfredsson leaving Ottawa to sign with the Detroit Red Wings. With the Wings moving to the East and being put in the newly-configured Atlantic Division, it won't take long for Alfredsson and the Sens to renew acquaintances. A lot has been made of Alfredsson's comments before Game 5 of this year's Eastern Conference Semifinals, when he stated that he didn't believe the Sens had anything left in the tank to come back and defeat Pittsburgh. Then for him to turn around and say that he felt the Wings gave him a better chance to win a Stanley Cup at age 40 was the stake in the heart of Ottawa and its fans. Alfredsson has played the heel turn perfectly and there's no doubt that Sens fans will vilify him to the fullest. The Sens even took a huge step forward, trading for Anaheim winger/goal scorer Bobby Ryan who will likely skate alongside Jason Spezza (who many believe will be the next Ottawa captain). It all seems too easy, wrapped up too quickly. After 17 season, 1,108 points, 14 playoff appearances, and an Eastern Conference title, Alfredsson is just walking away to Detroit. "Alfie" has made this whole thing very easy for Ottawa and its fans. He has completely embraced his heel role but something still doesn't sit right with me. Alfredsson had been Ottawa's captain since the 1999-2000 season. Canada's capital city had embraced the Swede beyond words. I have had the privilege of witnessing this first-hand, trekking to Ottawa this past May for Game 4 of Ottawa's Eastern Conference Semifinal series. Anytime Alfredsson's face came across the giant video board the crowd went into an absolute frenzy. I would say about 65-70% of the jerseys I saw in the crowd had "Alfredsson" stitched on the back of them. I, too, joined in and wore an Alfredsson player t-shirt with the captain's "C" on the front. Then, when the video board showed Alfredsson and mentioned his nomination for the NHL's Mark Messier leadership award, the crowd gave him a standing ovation during an otherwise mundane stoppage of play during the second period. Each period when the clock hit "11:11" the fans would start chanting "Alfie" over and over again for the next 11 seconds. Alfredsson also acknowledged the fans at every turn. This all begs the question of "why leave." I suppose we will never truly know but it just bothers me on so many levels. In today's sporting universe you don't see many players stay with one team their whole careers. I am lucky enough to have both Martin Brodeur & Patrik Elias currently with the Devils as well as the privilege of having seen Ken Daneyko spend his entire 21-year career with Jersey's Team as well. But these types of players are few and far between, regardless of sport. Dan Marino with the Dolphins, Derek Jeter with the Yankees, Cal Ripken Jr. with the Orioles, Tony Gwynn with the Padres, Chipper Jones with the Braves. I'm sure I missed a few but you get the point. The number is few and far between. And how about in Canada? Wendel Clark gets traded from Toronto to Quebec. Mats Sundin goes from Quebec to Toronto to Vancouver. Ryan Smyth leaves Edmonton and then comes back. Even Wayne Gretzky left. It seems that Canada just can't seem to find a hockey icon who is willing to ride it out. I really wanted to see that happen with Alfredsson and Ottawa. And even though I'm not a die-hard Sens fan, I will be very sad to see "Alfie" skate out in a Wings jersey next season.
As excited as I am to see Daniel Bryan get a WWE Championship opportunity at Summerslam, I can't help but get the sneaking suspicion that it will be "Mr. Money in the Bank" Randy Orton that actually walks out of Los Angeles with the title. I really don't want to see this and the fact that Orton is not booked on the card at the moment makes this a very high possibility. In other WWE news, if you get a chance to check out Total Divas on E!, do it. It's actually pretty entertaining television.
That'll do it for now. And don't forget, college football starts on the Thursday August 29th! Among that night's games are North Carolina/South Carolina, Utah State/Utah, Rutgers/Fresno State, and USC/Hawaii.
Last week I wrote a little bit about Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel. No sooner did I write about it that I come across an ESPN Outside the Lines piece and a Sports Illustrated piece revolving around Manziel's off-field plight as well. Both pieces were very well-written and will now see great followup as Manziel is in hot water yet again. There are several sources who maintain Manziel took compensation for autograph signings, which of course would be an NCAA "no-no." A&M has retained the same law firm that Auburn used in 2010 to keep quarterback Cam Newton eligible. Many will be keeping an eye on this as obviously the Aggies SEC and National Title hopes rest on the legs and right arm of Manziel. If Manziel does get suspended, don't be surprised if it's only for the Aggies' first two games. Week 3 sees defending national champion Alabama come to College Station for a nationally-televised SEC contest on CBS.
Here's the link to the excellent ESPN piece on Manziel, written by Wright Thompson: http://espn.go.com/espn/otl/story/_/id/9521439/heisman-winner-johnny-manziel-celebrity-derail-texas-aggies-season-espn-magazine
I have no desire to focus on the Biogenesis suspensions that are all the rage in Major League Baseball headlines right now. It is a well-known fact that I've never been a big Alex Rodriguez fan, going all the way back to his early days as a Seattle Mariner. I was always a Griffey fan and my admiration for his swing (one of the best the game has ever seen) was noted in a 2008 blog post that I can't seem to get a link up to at the moment. (I'll post it as soon as I can.) That said, I don't want to waste time talking about A-Rod, Nelson Cruz, Jhonny Peralta, or anyone else. Let's focus on the Kansas City Royals winning 12 of their last 13. Let's focus on the Los Angeles Dodgers winning 15 straight on the road. Let's focus on the Atlanta Braves defying every preseason prediction and running away with the NL East. Let's focus on the Oakland Athletics once again showing everyone they're never to be underestimated. And best of all, let's focus on the fact that the Pittsburgh Pirates, at 67-44 (with a .604 winning percentage), have the best record in baseball and we're a week into August. Those are the stories that should be dominating MLB headlines right now, not all of this PED nonsense.
The injury bug continues to make its way through NFL camps. Aaron Rodgers has lost his blindside protector as Green Bay left tackle Bryan Bulaga tore his ACL and will be lost for the season. After last week's rash of injuries, I thought maybe there would be a slowdown but here we go again. The Packers have options, including moving Marshall Newhouse back to left tackle after starting 28 games there the past two seasons. In addition to dealing with this, I'm also slightly curious to see how Green Bay splits backup quarterback reps to give recently-signed Vince Young an opportunity to compete for the job.
I know it's been over a month but I'm still having a really hard time digesting Daniel Alfredsson leaving Ottawa to sign with the Detroit Red Wings. With the Wings moving to the East and being put in the newly-configured Atlantic Division, it won't take long for Alfredsson and the Sens to renew acquaintances. A lot has been made of Alfredsson's comments before Game 5 of this year's Eastern Conference Semifinals, when he stated that he didn't believe the Sens had anything left in the tank to come back and defeat Pittsburgh. Then for him to turn around and say that he felt the Wings gave him a better chance to win a Stanley Cup at age 40 was the stake in the heart of Ottawa and its fans. Alfredsson has played the heel turn perfectly and there's no doubt that Sens fans will vilify him to the fullest. The Sens even took a huge step forward, trading for Anaheim winger/goal scorer Bobby Ryan who will likely skate alongside Jason Spezza (who many believe will be the next Ottawa captain). It all seems too easy, wrapped up too quickly. After 17 season, 1,108 points, 14 playoff appearances, and an Eastern Conference title, Alfredsson is just walking away to Detroit. "Alfie" has made this whole thing very easy for Ottawa and its fans. He has completely embraced his heel role but something still doesn't sit right with me. Alfredsson had been Ottawa's captain since the 1999-2000 season. Canada's capital city had embraced the Swede beyond words. I have had the privilege of witnessing this first-hand, trekking to Ottawa this past May for Game 4 of Ottawa's Eastern Conference Semifinal series. Anytime Alfredsson's face came across the giant video board the crowd went into an absolute frenzy. I would say about 65-70% of the jerseys I saw in the crowd had "Alfredsson" stitched on the back of them. I, too, joined in and wore an Alfredsson player t-shirt with the captain's "C" on the front. Then, when the video board showed Alfredsson and mentioned his nomination for the NHL's Mark Messier leadership award, the crowd gave him a standing ovation during an otherwise mundane stoppage of play during the second period. Each period when the clock hit "11:11" the fans would start chanting "Alfie" over and over again for the next 11 seconds. Alfredsson also acknowledged the fans at every turn. This all begs the question of "why leave." I suppose we will never truly know but it just bothers me on so many levels. In today's sporting universe you don't see many players stay with one team their whole careers. I am lucky enough to have both Martin Brodeur & Patrik Elias currently with the Devils as well as the privilege of having seen Ken Daneyko spend his entire 21-year career with Jersey's Team as well. But these types of players are few and far between, regardless of sport. Dan Marino with the Dolphins, Derek Jeter with the Yankees, Cal Ripken Jr. with the Orioles, Tony Gwynn with the Padres, Chipper Jones with the Braves. I'm sure I missed a few but you get the point. The number is few and far between. And how about in Canada? Wendel Clark gets traded from Toronto to Quebec. Mats Sundin goes from Quebec to Toronto to Vancouver. Ryan Smyth leaves Edmonton and then comes back. Even Wayne Gretzky left. It seems that Canada just can't seem to find a hockey icon who is willing to ride it out. I really wanted to see that happen with Alfredsson and Ottawa. And even though I'm not a die-hard Sens fan, I will be very sad to see "Alfie" skate out in a Wings jersey next season.
As excited as I am to see Daniel Bryan get a WWE Championship opportunity at Summerslam, I can't help but get the sneaking suspicion that it will be "Mr. Money in the Bank" Randy Orton that actually walks out of Los Angeles with the title. I really don't want to see this and the fact that Orton is not booked on the card at the moment makes this a very high possibility. In other WWE news, if you get a chance to check out Total Divas on E!, do it. It's actually pretty entertaining television.
That'll do it for now. And don't forget, college football starts on the Thursday August 29th! Among that night's games are North Carolina/South Carolina, Utah State/Utah, Rutgers/Fresno State, and USC/Hawaii.
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