Sports Blog

If you can figure out the New York Giants, then fill me in. Are they trying to get Tom Coughlin fired? They are dangerously close to missing the playoffs, but will probably limp in for no other reason than no other NFC team looks poised to step up. I don’t like Couglin’s style - this team is better than their record but he isn’t the one to right the ship. If the Giants make the playoffs, the don’t have a prayer - and Tom Coughlin will be gone right behind them.

Read full text of LaDainian Tomlinson - Can’t Think of a Better Jersey Under the Christmas Tree...

What jerseys will show up under the Christmas tree this year? Reggie Bush, LaDainian Tomlinson and Tony Romo, of course.

Although we had a full slate of games yesterday, the games that blew me away were the San Diego Chargers/Denver Broncos and the Dallas Cowboys/New Orleans Saints.

Jake Plummer looked pretty upset on the sidelines yesterday as he watched Jay Cutler flush the Bronco season down the toilet – Shanahan made the move to Cutler prematurely. And how refreshing to watch a natural talent like LaDainian Tomlinson bust through Shaun Alexander’s record, giving credit to legendary predecessors like Walter Peyton.

Read full text of Only 3 Weeks to go in the Unpredictable NFL ...

Here is the short version of what went wrong for the New York Giants on Sunday:

• Penalties - 9 for 94 yards, including 4 costly personal fouls;
• Plaxico Burress’ newest responsibility - calling the timeout - when none was called;
• Kiwanuka’s interception...and immediate fumble;
• The Giants defense - with the game on the line, giving up a 42-yard pass to set up the Cowboys’ winning field goal;
• Brandon Jacobs sent in to pick up one yard at fourth-and-1, only to lose 3 yards, ultimately handing the Cowboys a field goal at the half;
• And the most frustrating statistic of all on Sunday - twice inside the Dallas 5-yard line, the Giants came away with field goals - leaving 8 points on the table;

Read full text of Eli Manning Isn’t the Only Problem with the New York Giants...

It’s not the Sunday Night Game In America this week on NBC (ie, the Flex Game), and I can’t blame Fox Sports for protecting it, but the Dallas Cowboys/New York Giants tilt at the Meadowlands this Sunday is clearly the game of the week in my books. And there is nothing like a good implosion behind locker room doors to bring out the best in a dysfunctional team.

Read full text of Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants – What A Rumble This Will Be...

If you have hockey fans on your holiday list, consider picking up a copy of Stephen Brunt’s new book Searching for Bobby Orr. Brunt, a columnist with the Globe and Mail Newspaper, writes a very insightful account about Bobby Orr - the person and the hockey player. Brunt clearly states that this is an unauthorized biography. I am fortunate to have a few memories of seeing Bobby Orr play, but honestly, I was just too young to remember much. Most of my memories of Bobby Orr come from my father and older brother. Having said this, Brunt is able to capture the magic of a player I still consider the greatest to ever play the game.

Read full text of “Searching for Bobby Orr” by Stephen Brunt - A Great Christmas Gift...

For those of you not familiar, 5 Div1A conferences feature a championship game, usually played between the top two teams in each division of their respective conferences.

This years' game should be as exciting if not more exciting than years past and each participating teams' fans will love to add to their memorabilia collection, one of our awesome football jerseys or some of our cool, fun and unique items such as coasters, hard hats, bike jerseys, banners, pennants, tumblers, golf bags, pool balls and many more!

This years participants from the MAC conference will be Ohio and Central Michigan. Ohio is at the top of the East division with a record of 9-3. Central Michigan, leads the West division with a record of 8-4.

Read full text of Conference Championship Games!...

There is definitely a recurring theme in the NFL these days – Tony Romo, Vince Young, Philip Rivers, Matt Leinart - all newborns to the starting quarterback role in the NFL and all wasting no time in solidifying their roles.

First we have Tony Romo, who could have come completely unraveled with all the early season upheaval in Dallas, but instead after being handed the reigns by Bill Parcells, has taken the Cowboys to the top of the NFC East. I hope the network execs are successful in moving the Cowboys/Giants game to Sunday Night on December 3rd – it is clearly the match-up of the week.

Read full text of Quarterbacks Better Produce – Or Grab Some Bench In This Year’s NFL ...

The NFL has done an outstanding job of scheduling this year, including the decision to turn Thanksgiving into a triple header. But now our focus turns to College ball. Teams are still jockeying for bowl games, and Ohio State is waiting to find out who they will meet in the BCS Championship.

Today’s game between LSU and Arkansas and tomorrow night’s Game of the Week between Notre Dame and USC will go a long way to clarifying the picture.

Read full text of College Football Takes Centre Stage – USC Vs Notre Dame In The Game Of The Week...

Happy Thanksgiving, America. While you’re preparing the turkey and selecting your seat for today’s NFL menu, here are a few tidbits to chew on. Nothing too heavy, just some thoughts:

• How crazy will the free agency sweepstakes get this year in Major League Baseball? Gary Matthews, Jr. – 32 years old. .313 with 102 runs, 19 homers, 79 RBI, .371 on base percentage – price tag? $50 Million for 5 years with the LA Angels. Am I the only one who thinks this is steep? What next? Does this put Barry Zito in Steinbrenner Land for at least 6 years at, I don’t know, $85 - $90 Million? And let’s not forget about a little negotiation going on between the Boston Red Sox and Scott Boras for a pitcher yet to even throw a ball in the Majors - Daisuke Matsuzaka. After dining in LA last weekend, Matsuzaka is back in Japan and the negotiations have officially begun. I still stay this deal doesn’t get done for under $100 Million.

Read full text of A Thanksgiving Day Feast - Baseball Free Agency and NFL Football ...

I know the MVP Award isn’t based on cumulative stats and consistency, but it is difficult to come up with the right formula for Derek Jeter to get the recognition he deserves - although I suppose this year, a trip to the World Series would definitely have helped his case. His stats were solid this year - .344, 34 home runs and 130 RBIs. So were Justin Morneau’s. Jeter also received the Gold Glove award this year. I REALLY value the Gold Glove. Jeter is the anchor for the New York Yankees. He would be the anchor on any team. He would make a difference on any team he played for. And putting up with the heat in New York should count for something – actually it should count for a lot.

Read full text of Derek Jeter – The Complete Player - Year After Year!...

On Thursday, after you watch the early game between Miami and Detroit, and then settle in for the late afternoon game between Tampa Bay and Dallas, many of us will then tune into the NFL Network for game 3 - Denver at Kansas City - well, at least some of us will. Thursday marks the first of eight televised games on the NFL Network.

According to Howard Bloom of Sports Business News, it seems that after the NFL completed lucrative multi-billion dollar deals with NBC for Sunday Night Football, ESPN for Monday Night Football, as well as deals with CBS, Fox and DirecTV, there were still 8 games left. Apparently, Time Warner Cable and Comcast were very interested in picking up these 8 games, but the right price wasn’t met (it seems the NFL left $400 million on the table, deciding that the 8 games might be a nice addition to their own network).

Read full text of Thanksgiving Is A Triple Header This Year - IF You Get the NFL Network...

This big XII showdown should be an exciting game for fans of both
teams. Nebraska, with a record of 8-3 has a very strong offense, evident by
the amount of points they have put up when victorious. Their combined
score in games they have won is 311-113!

Colorado, is 2-9 on the season and will be giving it their all to try
to improve their record by handing Nebraska a loss!

Both teams were idle this past week, so they will be well-rested and
ready to give fans a grid iron thrill this weekend!

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We’ve now officially entered that part of the year where football, both NCAA and NFL, take centre stage - and I watched way too much football this weekend!

Ohio State/Michigan Re-match? - We Have To Wait A Little Longer

I hope you caught the Ohio State/Michigan game on Saturday. It absolutely lived up to expectations and hype. What struck me about Saturday wasn’t just the on-the-edge-of-your-seat action of the Ohio State/Michigan game; it was the letdown that followed with the USC/Cal game Saturday night. There simply was no comparison between the match-ups. USC should have trounced #17 Cal, but the victory was not decisive. All we are left with is a big question mark - does USC deserve a berth in the championship game? Not yet. Even the BCS computer left Michigan deservedly at #2 after their narrow loss to Ohio State. I want to see how USC does next weekend against Notre Dame. They will lose if they wait until the fourth quarter to put serious points on the board against Notre Dame.

Read full text of What a Weekend for Football!...

Saturday – 3:30 pm – ABC – warm up the set and get comfy. It just doesn’t get any better than this – in any sport. Remember, this is the first time in over 100 years that these teams have been ranked 1 and 2. If you’re still not convinced to slot this in tomorrow, here’s a little stat to think about – the series record between Ohio State and Michigan is 24-24-2. And for the first time since 1973, both teams have perfect records.

With a loss tomorrow, Michigan will likely be knocked right out of the championship game. But let’s leave all that talk about the BCS on the sidelines for now. That can wait until next week – we have a game to play. A very special game.

I know the Boston Red Sox really took the August defeats at the hands of the Yankees hard, but I absolutely underestimated the devastation. As you know, I was sure that George Steinbrenner would win the Daisuke Matsuzaka sweepstakes. My god, the Yankees were resoundingly and firmly put in second place by the Red Sox insane bid of $51.11 million! Or were they?

Read full text of You Do the Math – The Boston Red Sox Didn’t...

Have a look at the NFL races – there are 12 teams on the bubble at 5-4 or 4-5. The San Diego/Cincinnati shootout was riveting. And the Sunday Night game between the Giants and the Bears gave all of us a glimpse at what we can expect from the playoffs. Remember the Baltimore Ravens of a few years ago? All defense and little emphasis on offense - low scoring games that appeared designed to put teams (and fans to sleep). It would appear that we are heading for a completely different style of playoffs this year. I prefer the end to end shoot-out style, the type of game where everyone – players, coaches and fans – is spent at the end. And this leads me to my second comment today.

Read full text of NFL Flex Schedule – Long Overdue...

This SEC showdown should prove to be a super exciting game. Auburn had only lost one game (to Arkansas by the score of 27-10) until this past weekend, where they dropped their second game, to Georgia by the score of 37-15. Even with this loss, anything Auburn (not only our awesome selection of game used football jerseys, but our incredible line of new merchandise items as well) is one of our biggest sellers! We have sold more Auburn hardhats than hardhats from any other school other than the #1 team in the country…. Ohio State!

Read full text of This weeks’ Game of the Week will be Auburn-Alabama!...

I can almost accept Terrell Owens’ dropped perfect pass from Tony Romo last Sunday that would have probably lead to a Dallas victory. Too bad. Division wins and losses usually mean the difference between heading to the post season and heading to your locker to clean it out.

What I will remember from last Sunday’s game is Terrell Owens and his celebratory nap in the end zone that cost the Redskins 15 yards in the process. Does this “player” ever have his head in the game? When will Bill Parcells step up and put an end to the on-field antics? Sunday’s loss to the Washington Redskins was devastating. Divisional victories ARE critical and looking down the road at some of their upcoming opponents, the Cowboys season will be over faster than you can say “bye bye Terrell Owens”.

Read full text of Will The Real Bill Parcells Please Stand Up?...

The only teams with the coin to step up and buy a ticket to these Sweepstakes are the Yankees and Red Sox, but the Mets might also be interested. The highest bidder gets 30 days to ink a deal. How high will the bidding go? $20 million? $30 million? The 26-year old Matsuzaka is coming off a very successful season in Japan’s Pacific League with a record of 17-5, an ERA of 2.13 and an impressive 200 strikeouts in 186 1/3 innings pitched.

Merry Christmas, Mr. Steinbrenner.

Monday Night Football is beginning to resemble a bad standup routine. Message to ESPN – football fans are intelligent. Bad jokes and sarcasm get in the way of the game. And if the game is a donkey, dumbing it down further only makes matters worse. If a commentator doesn’t add value to the broadcast, get rid of him. John Madden understands the football fan – he knows how to balance information and humour. Tony Kornheiser spews one bad joke after another. And when he started with his silly awards last Monday night – including showcasing Terrell Owens’ bad end zone behaviour, I turned the channel. Enough. Tony – you’re on a very short leash.

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I didn’t really expect much in the way of news coming out of the NHL General Managers’ Meeting yesterday in Toronto. It was more of a get-acquainted session for some of the new arrivals like Paul Holmgren and Garth Snow. My hope is that discussion over much-need schedule changes is re-visited sooner than later.

I’ve listened to all the so-called experts and haven’t really heard any feasible solution to the scheduling inequities. I recognize that the NHL faces several dilemmas –- 30 teams spread out over the North American time zones and 82 games to work with.

Read full text of Why Is The NHL So Hung Up On Rivalries Between 5 Teams?...

Halloween is over and it won’t be long before Lambeau Field is frozen. We are halfway there and it’s time to separate the impostors from the real deal. Don’t get upset if I haven’t covered your team. It’s a big league and not every team is really good or really bad. But, having said that…

Who has been a disappointment?

The mighty Pittsburgh Steelers were picked by many to at the very least win their division this season, but at 2-5, the defending Super Bowl champs have a tough road ahead, including upcoming battles with Denver and New Orleans, followed by Cleveland and Baltimore. They need more than a split to make something out of this season. Anything less and it’s over. Coach Cowher should sit Roethlisberger and hang his hopes on Charlie Batch.

Read full text of Time for the NFL Mid-Year Report Cards...

I read with great interest, one of Jim Caple’s recent articles on ESPN’s web site. Jim is one of the writers with the honour of casting a vote to decide who gets into the Baseball Hall of Fame. And next year’s ballot will include Mark McGwire.

Read full text of Mark McGwire… --- Just Answer The Question....

At what point in Sports – Amateur or Professional – am I supposed to look the other way when athletes cheat?

I have a message for the NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, and All Amateur Sports programs – cheating is not okay. It is not okay to continue moving the line because a certain amount of cheating is expected. At the risk of sounding self-righteous, what message are we sending kids who watch these sports? And what kind of a sham am I wasting my time watching?

If Kenny Rogers had a foreign substance on his hand in Game 2 of the World Series, then he should have been kicked out of the game and out of the Series. That substance didn’t look like dirt – and was washed off pretty quickly. And why didn’t Tony La Russa have a hairy fit over the whole incident? Is it because his pitchers are just as guilty of using some form of illegal means to get an edge? Is there an unwritten code in Major League Baseball that a certain amount of cheating is acceptable and expected? This is the World Series! Shouldn’t umpires be even more vigilant to ensure cheaters don’t prosper?

Read full text of Kenny Rogers Isn’t The Only Cheater ...

When the players stop responding - and just plain stop listening - it’s time to go. When Ed Snider promised “more changes” after the Philadelphia Flyers were thumped 9-1 by the Buffalo Sabres last Tuesday, there was speculation Ken Hitchcock would be out. I didn’t expect the departure of Bobby Clarke as well. The official line is he resigned. If so, I guess he saw the writing on the wall. There really was no way out this season - considering the Flyers 1-6-1 start.

One major shortcoming that will always follow Bobby Clarke around was his inability to ever snag a top-notch Goaltender - a major reason the team failed in their most recent trip to the Stanley Cup final in 1997. Also a major factor in their round one loss to the Sabres in last year’s playoffs.

Read full text of Ken Hitchcock and Bob Clarke Gone - And The End Of An Era...

Where will this Game 7 rank all time? It will be up there will classics like the 1991 Jack Morris triumph. Game 7 – just the words make your heart beat faster.

Last night’s game had it all. You want pitching? Jeff Suppan was masterful. You want defense? The Endy Chavez home-run rob will be on highlight reels for years to come. You want a Cinderella ending? OK – let’s choose Yadier Molina - a .216 hitter - to be the hero – one sweet swing for the ages!

And finally, let’s give the home town New York Mets one last chance by loading the bases against a kid with a grand total of 6 saves in the regular and post-season combined. And, just to rub it in a little, let’s give this kid, Adam Wainwright, one last batter to face; and let’s make that batter a horse - Carlos Beltran. Did you really think the kid could do it? No way. But he did – he threw the perfect 0-2 curve ball and Beltran just stood there – frozen…And that was it. Thud.

Read full text of Game 7 Magic is an October Pennant Classic!...

…that the now 6-0 Buffalo Sabres blew out the Philadelphia Flyers 9-1 on home ice last night wearing their original retro jersey from 1971. Hey Sabres Management – listen to your fans – bring the retro back for good!

If you didn’t catch the October 15th 60 Minutes interview with Bill Romanowski, you missed a very honest, candid look inside the pressure-packed, oftentimes violent world of the NFL. “Romo” as many of you know him, has retired after 16 years and 4 super bowls.

And although he never missed a game, the physicality with which he played football resulted, in his estimation, in somewhere between 8 and 20 concussions. And he never missed a game.

In his new book, “Romo: My Life On The Edge”, he confesses to using anabolic steroids (THG) and human growth hormone from 2001 to 2003. His supplier? -- None other than Victor Conte of BALCO fame (Bay Area Lab Cooperative). The same Victor Conte who supplied drugs to the likes of Tim Montgomery, Jason Giambi and Barry Bonds.

Read full text of What Will The NFL Learn From Bill Romanowski?...

Is there anything more fitting than a walk-off homer for the Detroit
Tigers to clinch the American League Championship series? Nothing
rattled this team. If there were concerns that they couldn't come from
behind, those concerns were put to rest Saturday night when they erased
a 2-0 Oakland lead. Now they get a week to rest up for their World
Series opponent. They will also don an unfamiliar role - they are no
longer the underdogs. And, due to a stupid Major League Baseball
decision, they automatically get home field advantage because the
American League team won the All-Star Game this year. I've never
agreed with this MLB twist - don't see the relevance of basing home
field advantage in the World Series on an exhibition meeting like the
All-Star Game. Nevertheless, the Tigers will now try to do what the
Yankees and the Athletics couldn't - win a series with so-called home
field advantage. What they must do is win both home games. If they
split these first 2 games, they give the advantage back. And we have
seen how that turns out.

My early prediction? Even though the New York Mets won last night in a
blow-out, I still think the St. Louis Cardinals will prevail. And I
think the Tigers will win the World Series. But, they'll have to win
the first two games at home to do it. They have a much better chance
of winning 2 of 3 on the road. A 3-game sweep on the road in the World
Series is a very high mountain to climb - even for the upstart Detroit
Tigers. If the Series goes to a 6th game, it will probably go 7. The
2006 Tigers are capable of just about anything - and destiny is on
their side...I just wish they were starting on the road.

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Ssshhhh - Don't tell the Underdog Detroit Tigers - but they are three wins away from a World Series appearance. This team just makes me smile. Last night, Barry Zito is plugging along, retires the first eight Tigers he faces, and then, wham, he's pulled after 10 of the next 13 Tigers reach base. Just another day at the ballpark for the 2006 Detroit Tigers. I don't care who they face in the World Series, I just hope they get there.

The playoff format is so interesting. And it's the same in all pro sports. You name it - football, hockey, baseball - the team with the best record gets to start at home - something that should be an advantage. I think the rule should be changed - the team with the winning record should get to decide whether or not they start on the road or at home. A split in the first 2 games is an advantage in games 3 and 4. Your top 2 pitchers shouldn't care if they pitch at home or not. I know, it's about last ups, too. But ask the New York Yankees if, in hindsight, they might have had a better fate had they started on the road. We'll never know. But what we do know is that there is usually a lot of pressure playing at home. Which brings me to my next point. Is it me, or do the Detroit Tigers even know they are in the post season? I really haven't noticed the heavy weight that starts to descend on a team trying to win a series. I did notice it in the New York Yankees and it was definitely apparent in the Oakland Athletics last night. But what's with the Tigers? Time will tell - but in the meantime, don't anybody say anything.

A couple of quick comments. Credit where credit is due. It seems George Steinbrenner agreed with me and decided to keep Joe Torre - good move, George. As I said yesterday, Joe Torre isn't the problem. Even Steinbrenner has trouble handing someone $7 million to go away. And no, there won't be an extension to the contract. So, now what?

Interesting comments by General Manager Brian Cashman about Alex Rodriguez. When asked about A-Rod's status, he replied "I fully expect him to be here. We're going to figure this thing out together". Fully expect? Figure what out? Huh? Okay - reading between the lines, moving A-Rod and his contract is not completely out of the picture. The no-trade clause is also obviously another big problem. Let's face it, life in New York for A-Rod must be borderline miserable right now. He would be smart to give Brian Cashman a list of teams he would consider moving to. And then get on with his life. That's if he can admit to himself that things in New York will never work out for him. What were those stats again? .290; 35 home runs; 24 (ouch) errors and .071 (OUCH) in the post season against that team from Tigertown. (By the way, A-Rod's stats in his last 12 post-season appearances? 4-41, no RBIs and an ugly .098). Joe Torre was criticized for moving him to 8th in the batting lineup. Rodriguez is lucky he got an at-bat. The Yankees are on the hook for $15,900,000 of A-Rod's $23,000,000 due in 2007. George will be willing to pay a big portion just to unload this contract.

And, finally, we all know that George Steinbrenner has new, bigger fish to fry. George needs pitching. Who doesn't? And he will hotly pursue negotiating rights to Daisuke Matsuzaka, MVP for the World Baseball Classic. Matsuzaka and the Seibu Lions will command big bucks. And George will be right there with the vault open. And what about other potential signings for the Yankees? Any interest in Barry Zito? What about Jason Schmidt? They already have Mike Mussina and I'm sure they want to keep him. Yes, many more ways for George to spend money. And spend he will. George will be spending a lot of time with Scott Boras in the off season - agent to Alex Rodriguez and, in all likelihood, the same agent for Daisuke Matsuzaka.

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George Steinbrenner is about to fire Joe Torre (unless he walks away
first), But Steinbrenner better do a lot more than that. He’s fixing
the one thing that isn’t broken.

George Steinbrenner is missing the obvious fact about his team - the
pitching staff was hanging on by a thread all season and his overpaid
prima donna, Alex Rodriguez, never lived up to expectations.

Reggie Jackson, the ultimate prima donna, said it best. When asked to
comment about Joe Torre, he responded "It seems like the great job he
was doing all year, all that's forgotten. I imagine you could blame a
guy for making bad moves, but I don't know how you can blame a guy for
the team going 20 innings in a row without scoring a run."

Ironically, last week everyone was talking about a possible subway
series. The sudden implosion of Yankee bats does not rest solely on
the shoulders of Joe Torre. And it will take more than a coaching
change (and there will probably be a GM change too) to fix the Yankees.

They’re old. Everyday it was an adventure between the white lines
and the glue that held this piece of work together was Joe Torre. In his
11-year stint as Yankee Manager, he’s taken the Yankees to the playoffs
every year. And he’s won 4 World Series at the helm. His overall
record is 1079 and 699. Not Shabby - and Joe is not the problem.

Sure, George - bring in Lou Piniella. His aggressive and, at times,
explosive style might be what the overpaid, lazy Yankees need. One
thing I know for sure - it won’t be dull in the New York Zoo.

Of course, throwing more money at the problem won’t phase George
Steinbrenner either. What ‘s another 20 million or so when you’re in
the $200 million ballpark anyway.

The New York Yankees need pitching - Mike Mussina and Gary Sheffield
are both eligible for free agency. Aside from Derek Jeter and Jorge
Posada, the Yankee bats hit a dismal .173 in the Division Series.

And fielding errors? A-Rod had 24 errors all by himself this season.

A lot needs fixing in New York . But is firing the Manager really the
place to start?

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Watching the Detroit Tigers dismantle the mighty Bronx Bombers
yesterday was sweet!
And baseball, being the statistical wonder it is, proved once again
that great pitching does indeed beat great hitting - Although the New
York Yankees failed to show any signs of their season dominance in
hitting during the wild card series with the Detroit Tigers.

There were so many stories - where to start?

First of all, without the Wild Card format, Saturday’s game wound not
have happened. We need more teams in the playoffs. This was exciting.
And the season would have been more exciting if more teams had a shot
- more playoff spots, more shots - more excitement. You see, in
sports, anything really can happen.

Next - payroll. I won’t harp on this. But it is always satisfying to
see the Corporate, exclusive gated community we call the New York
Yankees go down in flames - and their $198,662,180 payroll with them.
The Detroit Tigers at $82,302,069 has a nice house too, but somehow you
feel the front door is open to all of us.

Alex Rodriguez - he will never be mistaken for Mr. October in New York.
Defensively, he is unreliable. He tries to cover it up with his bat,
but when his bat fails him, it seems the whole team is exposed. I
don’t think the Yankees will cut him lose. I guarantee that the first
item on George Steinbrenner’s agenda will be to get a copy of the list
of free agent pitchers - and he will pay, pay, pay. I hate the Yankees
- and this is why. If YOU can come up with a way to prevent the New
York Yankees from continually creating an uneven playing field in their
favour, let me know. Short of a hard cap, I can’t think of a solution.

I want to end on a happy note today. When the Detroit Tigers came
running back out onto the playing field last night, champagne in tow,
and proceeded to give their fans a champagne bath, I wanted to stand up
and cheer. This is a team that gets it. The fans are an integral part
of the baseball equation. Too often they are forgotten. We’ve all
seen the celebrations in the clubhouse, but to bring the celebration
back onto the field was magical. There were kids of all ages at
Comerica Field last night who will reminisce about this experience for
years to come.

Bye Bye Yankees - and good riddance.

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Some of us have long memories where Randy Moss is concerned. I remember when the Minnesota Vikings took a chance on drafting him when no other team would. I remember shaking my head and hoping the Vikings had not made a terrible mistake. For the most part, I enjoyed watching his obvious natural talent. He was instrumental in turning the Vikings Offense into one of the best in the NFL. Unfortunately, the wheels came off rather abruptly for Randy Moss in Minnesota.

Randy Moss is older but no wiser. And he will never be mistaken for a team leader.

In his interview on Saturday for Fox Sports Radio, at one point he remarked "This is not my team, I'm only playing here, so whoever they put out opposite of me, either I'll play with them or I won't play with them."

Lovely. Just pass the buck, Randy.

Randy’s never heard that if you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem.

He has nothing to lose by trying to lead by example both on and off the field – can you imagine Randy Moss holding his own team meeting? What a shock that would be!

Randy Moss is approaching 30 years old and is watching the Superbowl window get smaller and smaller.

It’s going to get very ugly in Oakland this year. We could use a talented Wide Receiver in Minnesota right now, but Randy Moss need not apply. You see, we’re also looking for someone who leads by example – you know, someone willing to go the extra mile…for the team. No, that’s not Randy Moss. Never was. Never will be.

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First we had Bob Clarke, Philadelphia Flyers GM, signing restricted free agent centre, Ryan Kesler, to a one-year offer sheet for $1.9 million U.S., thus forcing the Vancouver Canuck GM to match the offer. And, by matching the offer sheet, Kesler can’t be traded for at least one year under the new NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). Of course, this is also a substantial additional hit to the Canuck cap – you see, they only planned to offer Kesler $900,000! It also means the Canucks are banging their heads on the League Cap. Nice one, Mr. Clarke.

Now, we have Devils GM, Lou Lamoriello nicely twisting out of his own salary cap problems at the 11th hour after receiving NHL league approval to deem Alexander Mogilny unfit to play, triggering the “Long-Term Injury” Clause. As a result, his salary will not go against the cap. Savings - $3.5 million US. Nice one, Lou! Another great loophole in the CBA Game discovered!

As one anonymous GM said "This opens up a real can of worms for the league; this is going to get ugly."

I understand the anger. Mogilny’s over 35 and why is his situation any different from any other aging player? And there is a clause in the new CBA whereby a player who is 35 or older who signs a multi-year deal will have his salary counted against the team’s cap if he retires or is sent down to the minors.

But, good old Lou found the “Long Term Injury” clause loophole. Good one, Lou!

Instead of anger and outrage, the other NHL GMs should get in the game. Learn the CBA - front to back. Play the game. It was only a matter of time before this chess game began. Anyone can pull this stunt – as long as the player’s condition stands up to the scrutiny of examination by medical physicians outside of the player’s own NHL organization.

Who will step up next? We are all going to learn a lot about the CBA this year. Last year, we waded through the new NHL rules – this is the year of the CBA. So sit back and enjoy – the fun is just beginning!

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As I was enjoying a wonderful day at Ralph Wilson Stadium on Sunday, I missed the episode in Tennessee where Titan defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth stepped on the helmet-less head of Dallas centre Andre Gurode.

I did catch the replay and like many football fans, waited for the NFL to take decisive action. There are countless situations where players are stepped on or punched, or god knows what else happens under the player piles, but I’ve never witnessed an incident as pre-mediated as this.

There was no doubt that Andre Gurode was completely defenseless. And, from all accounts, there was no exchange between the two players prior to the incident.

For someone to take advantage of a situation where a player’s helmet has come off and the player is lying on the ground is unconscionable.

For this senseless act of violence, Albert Haynesworth received a 5-game suspension. Not nearly enough. I frankly don’t care if he’s remorseful. Of course he is. (But, honestly, he didn’t seem very remorseful when he was chasing the official around after the flag was thrown). He appeared to be making an attempt to plead his case!

The NFL dropped the ball here. It was the opportunity to send a very clear message of Zero Tolerance. Period. If a player can’t control his emotions on the field, he doesn’t belong there. If a player deliberately commits an act that injures another player, the decision is easy – the player is gone and his season is over. Take some anger management courses and get your house in order.

As we know, Gurode received stitches above his forehead and below his eye. What if the eye had been struck and permanently damaged? What would the NFL have done then? Under these circumstances would Haynesworth have received a suspension for the duration of the season? Maybe. Probably. But it’s irrelevant. The litmus test should be “was there intent to injure”? If the answer is “yes”, the player is gone for the season – at the very minimum.

It remains to be seen what Jeff Fisher and the Titans will do regarding the penalty to their own player. Coach Fisher, a formal, sincere and personal apology to Albert Haynesworth by Andre Gurode is an essential first step.

Five games’ suspension – not enough…not nearly enough.

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Will you watch the baseball playoffs - wildcard games, division playoffs, World Series? Of course you will. But ask yourself how many regular season games you passed on because they simply didn’t mean anything. This is something Major League Baseball chooses to ignore.

The argument I hear all the time is that to add more teams to the playoff format would lessen the importance of the regular season and that the current format is designed to create pennant races.

NEWSFLASH - with so many teams out of the race by the end of July, much of the drama of pennant races never materializes. This is proven simply by the number of teams that did nothing at the trade deadline.

You can talk tradition. I would rather talk history and facts. It’s no coincidence that an extra layer of playoffs was added after the 1981 mid-season player’s strike.

It’s also no coincidence that MLB introduced the Division Series and wildcard teams in 1995 - again, after the bitter strike that resulted in the cancellation of the 1995 World Series.

Interesting that MLB only sits up and takes notice when fans put the pressure on.

Hey traditionalists - haven’t the wildcard races added a lot of much-needed excitement? And gate revenue. A Win-Win for the players, owners, and the fans.

This is the point. There are three key partners in this game - too often, the fans don’t receive their slice of the pie. I’ve had the thrill of watching my team clinch the pennant. And I jumped up and down when my team won the World Series. Every fan deserves the opportunity to experience a pennant run - speak up fans, it’s your game too.

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I was not surprised that Lance Williams and Mark Fainaru-Wada were sentenced to jail for refusing to divulge the source(s) who leaked the grand jury testimony regarding Barry Bonds, Jason Giambi and Tim Montgomery to name a few.

I am also not surprised that they have decided to appeal the judge’s ruling. As I said before, I can see both sides of the coin about this issue. However, I hope they fight this ruling all the way to the Supreme Court. They will ultimately lose and will in all likelihood serve some jail time - probably nowhere near 18 months - I hope. This, in some respects, would be a victory.

I have real concerns that muzzling the Press ultimately hurts us all. We have to ask ourselves why we have the Press in the first place. So Lance and Mark, please keep on fighting. There are stories that need telling and they won’t get told if people fear their identities won’t be protected.

No matter what happens, I am really glad that this particular cat is very much out of the bag!

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When I say “Jerry Rice”, what comes to mind? Superbowl Champion? Greatest Wide Receiver of all time? One of the most focused, classiest athletes there ever was? San Francisco 49er’s Golden Son?

What about when I say “Terrell Owens”? Here’s my take on what is going on in TO’s head these days – he is beginning to realize that for all the god-given talent he has (and he is talented), life is not turning out quite as he imagined. In his head, he should already have a Superbowl. He should be on the path to greatness. Instead, he is mired in self-doubt.

I’m sure you’ve read the Police Report from Tuesday Night available on The Smoking Gun. Now, reflect on the comments made by Publicist Kim Etheredge at the Press Conference yesterday. She is clearly the source referred to in the Police Report and her attempt to spin the facts on the day after is a desperate attempt to stop a runaway train. And it’s pretty feeble. Period. But, after all, it’s all about image, right? Do you believe her? I don’t – not for a moment. Talk about transparent.

Terrell Owens is an extremely fragile individual who has left destruction in his wake at every NFL stop.

This isn’t another end zone antic like the football signing after the touchdown on Monday Night Football, or the cell phone skit, or the attention-seeking controversial commercial he made with Nicollette Sheridan.

Terrell Owens overdosed Tuesday Night. He is a very troubled man who needs professional help. You can’t spin this. If the people around him really give a damn, including the Dallas Cowboys organization, they’ll end the circus before the circus hits the wall for good.

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To borrow a phrase from Joe Bowen, Toronto Maple Leaf TV and Radio Broadcaster, Bless You Boys!

How would you not get Goose Bumps as the Black and Gold came charging out of the tunnel last night. It is one of the defining moments of 2006 – and not just an emotional moment in sports – this team is good ---- really good.

The New Orleans Saints are going to make some noise this year. They have all the ingredients to make a run at the you-know-what.

I could say that the season is already a success – the Saints have already equaled their 2005 record of 3-13.

Yes, things are definitely looking up.

Any Predictions? I say no worse than 10-6 – maybe good enough for a wild card.

Do the math -- Parody + Emotion = Anything Can Happen

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What a story - Drew Brees and Reggie Bush vs Michael Vick and Warrick Dunn. Oh, and this isn’t even the story. The Story is New Orleans and the people of New Orleans. The Superdome stands almost in defiance to nature’s wrath. Not only is it still standing, it’s ready to welcome back the fans, the players and, yes, America.

We mustn’t let tonight’s festivities diminish the work still to be done in New Orleans. People have triumphed over some horrible conditions, but there is much work still to be done. We must also never forget the people who didn’t survive this tragedy.

Having said this, tonight is still an opportunity for the people of New Orleans to celebrate. This is their night. I have confidence that the National Football League will handle tonight’s game with dignity - not unlike the first games following 9/11.

I hope the good stories for New Orleans are only beginning to be written - from Reggie Bush’s donation of $86,000 for new turf so High School football could return at Ted Gormley Stadium in City Park, to the NFL’s $15 million contribution towards the $185 million repair costs to the Superdome.

New Orleans is first a community of people and these people are going to be smiling tonight - something not many of us thought possible a year ago. Because, on Tuesday, it’s back to reality and more struggles...until Sunday.

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I will be watching with great interest to see what happens to Mark Fainaru-Wada and Lance Williams, reporters for the San Francisco Chronicle. They may be facing jail sentences today for refusing to reveal their source(s) on their reporting of confidential grand jury testimony in which they exposed BALCO (Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative) and the use of performance-enhancing drugs by top U.S. athletes. Kudos also to the San Francisco Chronicle for having the guts to publish the leaks.

You may not know these 2 guys by name yet, but if it wasn’t for them, we would likely never have learned the identities of high profile athletes such as Jason Giambi and Tim Montgomery and their admitted steroid use. Barry Bonds, as you know, was also a central, key athlete subpoenaed by the Grand Jury. Based on his testimony, there is no doubt in my mind of Barry’s wide use of steroids – you, of course, can draw your own conclusions.

I could argue both sides here – witnesses who give grand testimony expect total confidentiality. Reporters routinely protect the anonymity of their stories. So here we are. Who’s right? Today’s outcome is pivotal to the news media and could potentially send shock ways through the justice system.

The use of steroids by amateur and professional athletes is finally out in the open in a big way. Now the big question – Does the First Amendment trump the Federal Justice System?

….I’ll be watching…

September. The kids go back to school and Maple Leaf fans flock back to the rink in anticipation of the Leaf’s quest for Lord Stanley. What else can I rely on? Leaf Fans whining about ticket prices. Save your breath. You are your own worst enemy. I hear the excuse all the time from season ticket holders - “I’ve had tickets for “x” number of years and as soon as “I” give them up, the Leafs will win the Cup”!

You see, here is the dirty little secret – the folks in Leaf Land know this. Their goal is to ring every blessed cent from you. So, rant all you want. With a cap in place, Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE) will continue to make gobs of money and you idiots will show up no matter what kind of product hits the ice. I hope they win the Cup too – I also hope they do it in my lifetime.

In the meantime – I’ll take a ride down the 401 to Ottawa and watch my Leafs at the away games – lots of seats – reasonably priced too!

Did anyone catch the story in the New York Daily News about Pete Rose and the autographed baseballs “I’m sorry I bet on baseball – Pete Rose”. Apparently, these were signed back in 2004 around the time his autobiography came out. Well, it seems 30 of these baseballs may soon be auctioned off by the family of the late Barry Halper, a sports memorabilia collector. The price? $1000 each. What next? Of should I say – Who is next? Why are fans so willing to create such a revenue stream for sports celebs who lie, cheat and laugh their way to the bank? And if you believe that none of the profits will make their way back to Pete Rose, you are kidding yourself.

Just once, I’d like to see sports fans send a message to sports stars who cross the line.

And who will be next? Well, Barry Bonds – step up please and grab as much cash as you can. Never mind that you are an arrogant, self-serving, egotistical jerk. And now that many of us believe your records are tainted – will it really matter when it’s all said and done?

How will history treat Pete Rose and Barry Bonds? At least Bud Selig had the guts not to reinstate Pete Rose. What will Barry Bonds fate be? Will his name go down in the record books without an asterisk? And will fans be lining up for signed baseballs long after he hangs up his bat? Of course they will.

Have you had a look at the new Sabres Jerseys? The NHL Buffalo Sabres are still a relatively young franchise – at least, they are if you’re a Leafs fan!

According to Frank Cravotta, Director of Creative Services, “It was easier to start from scratch. When your old logo is such an icon, it's hard to redo it”. Here’s a thought – why re-do it at all? It’s ok to tinker with the Jersey, but when the new model is unrecognizable to your existing fan base, what are you trying to accomplish? If the intention is to generate discussion among your fans, then mission accomplished!

There will always be Sabres fans who identify with the original classic blue and gold jersey complete with the swords. I’m personally looking forward to seeing this Jersey resurrected during 15 Home Games this year – rather nice memories from the days of the French Connection.

Well, Sabres Fans – ultimately, it is up to you. Speak up! It’s interesting – Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings, Boston Bruins, New York – none of these franchises would consider changing their logos – why? Because you don’t mess with tradition.

Ever wonder why there are never any vacancies on the International Olympic Committee (IOC)? What a gig. You travel all over the world sponging off any city that will have you. You are wined and dined. Everyone is out to impress you. And why? Because every 4 years, cities fall all over each other, trying to “win” the coveted role of Olympic Host.

The latest controversy has flared up in Vancouver, Canada, where – surprise surprise – the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Committee (VANOC) is reporting venue construction costs have leaped up an additional $110 million – the new venue price tag is now $580 million. And where is VANOC heading now? Straight to the various levels of government – a mere stopover en route to the average citizen’s wallet. Remember, the total budget for the 2010 Winter Games is (was) a mere $2 billion.

It is criminal the amount of money wasted on the Olympic Games. Every 4 years, it’s the same story. Each country boasts about how many medals it will win. We enjoy the couple of weeks of events and then forget about the athletes for another 4 years. While the host city spends the next who knows how many years paying off the debt, a bunch more world city politicians fall all over the IOC for the honor of being the next sucker. What a racket.

Here’s a thought – stop wasting money on Olympic bids and sites. The security costs alone are prohibitive. Put this money into training facilities only. Then send the athletes to the 2-week party hosted by the “winner”. It will still be a fraction of the money poured down the Olympic drain.

Ask the people of Montreal, Canada what they think of the Olympics. They hosted the 1976 Summer Olympics – the red ink will finally be gone this year!

Any predictions on the final price tag for the 2010 Winter Games? I say at least double it. All for a handful of medals. The only winners in the Olympic Games are the one or two athletes that shine so brightly that they receive solid gold endorsements – and the city that hosted the games will never see a dime.

I know what you are going to say – both the 1988 Calgary Olympics and 2002 Salt Lake Games made a small profit. Big deal.

Ah – Hockey Season! Right about this time last year, some of us were still a bit bruised over the lockout. Others were quick to forgive and get on with it. I fit into the latter category. I love the instituted changes – we’ll talk about them another day. With the lockout still visible in the rearview mirror, stand up if you were expecting a signing remotely in the neighbourhood of Charles Wong’s latest debacle - Rick DiPietro? - 15 Years? $67.5 million? The New York Islanders resemble a runaway train. Who in their right mind signs a player to a 15-year contract in a league with a hard cap? Why would any organization put itself in a 15-year straightjacket? This may be the only way to top the catastrophe of the Alexei Yashin deal. Isn’t 10 years for $87.5 million enough of a disaster for the Islanders? And when did a player with a season 3.02 goals against average become franchise material anyway? This deal is financial suicide. And I haven’t even mentioned the potential impact of this deal on other Islander players. Will retiring on the Island continue to give Rick DiPetro a warm and fuzzy feeling if he can’t live up to expectations?

Neil Smith is probably breathing a sigh of relief that he escaped the Long Island Zoo. This is one contract I wouldn’t want attached in any way to my GM resume.

In baseball, you know that theYankees and Red Sox will always have a shot to go the distance. Life in the NFL is never that certain – at least my crystal ball wasn’t working yesterday. So many moments worth comment. OK, I didn’t expect the Packers to beat the Bears, but I also didn’t expect a shutout. If things continue, we will see a changing of the guard in Green Bay sooner than later. Next week, it’s the New Orlean Saints and the Drew Brees/Reggie Bush show. Brett, it’s time to step aside – your season will be better spent mentoring Aaron Rodgers – then, if he can’t do the job, at least Green Bay can go to the well in April for another QB. If you are a Bills fan, you have to be pleased with the descent performance against the Pats. No victory, but at least you have no choice – it’s JP or nothing. Get in line behind Green Bay at the well. Now to the team that I can’t wait to see more of – the Ravens. If Steve McNair remains healthy, his methodical play and Baltimore defense will wreak havoc and give teams fits this year. Wouldn’t you have loved to be a fly on the wall in the Tampa dressing room after that one! How are things in Jets Land today? Pretty rosy I think. Chad Pennington is off to a great start. Next week, they welcome the Pats to their friendly confines. I can’t wait. I know it’s still early, but there are so many storylines this year – the veterans and the rookies. How many wins will it take the win the NFC East this year? Dallas fans are already crunching the numbers – they’ll be glued to the tube tonight – the Skins should walk all over the Vikings - but as week one has shown us, the fans in Carolina are still shaking their heads. Monday morning may be the start of a new work week, but without it, we wouldn’t have Monday Night! Enjoy.

One of the smartest moves the NFL has ever made was creating an Opening Day and showcasing the Superbowl Champs. After a long, hot summer, football season is finally here. It’s my Christmas Day! All teams are on an equal footing. Every team has the same chance, the same sense of hope and the same goal. Sixteen Games and no one wants to get off to an 0-2 start. If you’re like me, you’ve already carefully scanned your team’s schedule. You’ve already determined how many wins it will take to win the division or just grab a wild card spot. You know which teams are going to give you grief. You hope your quarterback stays healthy. You hope that franchise player who missed most or all of last season comes back true to form. You can’t wait to see how the class of 2006 performs. Who will successfully make the jump from College to the Big Show? No matter what happens, we all know it rarely turns out as predicted by all the experts. I’m no expert, but I’m passionate about sports – and this is NFL Opening Day. A day like no other. Enjoy the ride – like summer, the season will be over way to soon…