mikelbyl’s profile

I guess no one watched the game last night - the announcers were going on and on about what Petrino would have to do and how he was up to the task. Then Blank came on and talked about how they were going to work together to put things back together next season and wasn't it great that at least they had the coach to make it work. Then the announcers drafted a QB for him, going on and on about the long-term relationship between the kid and Petrino over several generations. Pretty funny in light of this news!

posted at 11:41 PM on December 11

It's amazing to realize how many very prominent current superstar hockey players for Canada (and Russia) were in the 87 junior tournament and on the ice for the brawl. The Canadian roster is online at the hockeycanada site and includes such big names as Shanahan, Theo Fleury, Pierre Turgeon, Glen Wesley, and Mike Keane.

posted at 05:36 PM on May 16

It has been all over the radio and newspapers in Montreal, but he's considered a local hero here, so it's not surprising. The most amazing thing about Gilles is that although his numbers - no world championships, only 7 career wins, etc. - are not great, I have read and heard many many driver laud him as one of the greatest of all time. And going back and seeing the footage of him - driving a full ground-effects car and locking the brakes and drifting around the corners like some kind of dirt-track driver (or snowmobiler!) is just amazing.

posted at 05:14 PM on May 08

Is Reche Caldwell coming back too? I'd be a bit concerned about the Pats if there were two guys trying to put the "I" in Team. On the positive side, we'll get to see if Billick really is a Jedi. "These are not the primadonnas you're looking for..."

posted at 11:42 AM on April 29

"Amateur" status for athletes is beginning-of-the-19th-Century code for "make sure no poor people or working people can participate under any circumstances. When "amateur" was invented as a category in athletics, people who worked in any kind of physical labor were considered "professional" and were excluded. Athletics were to be kept for the upper classes, thankyouverymuch. So, "amateur" athletics was always a sham, and in no way should it be something to aspire to. As far as players getting hurt - I think the professional league in which someone plays should be responsible for setting a universal policy, so that no single team has anything to say about it - and that should include insuring against problems with as robust a policy as the owners agree that they require. If they have not done so in this case, well, tough luck.

posted at 05:48 PM on April 20

The US was a very strong team at this competition and really gave Canada a run for its money in the semi-final, which came down to a shootout. As well Erik Johnson (D) and Patrick Kane (F) were both named tournament All-Stars and Johnson won an IIHF Best Player award as best D. The overall tournament MVP was Carey Price, Canada's goalie, who I am happy to say is a Canadiens draft pick.

posted at 04:26 PM on January 05

As many great backs in the NFL as there are that hit the ground running as rookies, there are just as many who take a year or two to develop. I think Bush is a lucky football player in terms of putting together a long and productive career to be on a team where he doesn't have to be "the guy" - they have lots of talent and can easily afford to let Bush develop and learn while knowing that he doesn't have to be the guy to win them the game. People have drastically underestimating Deuce McAllister's value all season as well. Going into last season he was considered a top-5 feature back (and then proceeded to get injured, but still), and earlier in his career was tagged as one of the best receiving RBs as well. So there's a lot of overlap between Bush and McAllister, and with Colston and some guy named Joe Horn on the team, there are a couple other folks who can catch a pass in NOLA as well. Bush was always going to have a bigger job to adjust to the NFL than many backs have. When the hole opens up in the NFL, it opens up a little bit for a split second and then often closes back up. You have to hit that spot pretty precisely to make anything work - and for a fancy footwork back who isn't a run-through guy but a run-around guy, it takes time to adjust. I still think that as we get deeper into the second half of the season, Bush is going to make his presence felt in a big way. Already last Sunday his game was clearly getting better than most of his game in the beginning when he still seemed lost. Once it sinks in that he just has to keep working and working really hard at it, this kid is going to be huge.

posted at 08:46 AM on November 14

Argentina has definitely become a great rugby nation in the past 8 or so years. I don't think anyone else should be joining the Six Nations - in fact, I'm not sure Italy really fits in there either. But that's a different issue. Being in the Southern Hemisphere I think it makes more sense to join Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa in an annual tourney. I guess the objection in the article about the fact that most Pumas play for French club teams is an issue - but then if they're not able or willing to overcome that internally, then maybe they *shouldn't* be tapped to join the tri-nations. There is a need for a greater range of annually scheduled competition in Rugby in general as well. Maybe instead of Italy, some of the other second-tier nations should be invited on a rotating basis to play in the 5/6-Nations? Perhaps an annual, Europe-based tournament with Italy, Romania, a couple of the other European minnows and Canada/US would be cool as well. I'm a little disappointed that the PacRim never really took off. Canada, the US and the other Pacific Rim countries except NZ but including Argentina would be a great tourney.

posted at 09:20 AM on November 09

I don't think Alexander's numbers were anything close to "horrible" thus far. 3 games at the beginning of the season is too small a sample size to really have much meaning. But then there's this: MVP Alexander out indefinitely with cracked bone in foot. There's your Madden jinx.

posted at 10:57 PM on September 25

I'm in a H2H Points-based fantasy league so I was psyched to note in the morning that Doug Davis - one of the rare times he made my lineup this year - had tossed such a gem. However this was blunted when I noted that my opponent had started Bronson Arroyo!

posted at 12:10 PM on September 06

When we used to get hockey and baseball cards they were for trading, but also for playing games with, winner take all, and definitely not for keeping in any kind of good condition. The best game was to bet on who could throw the card and get it closest to the wall from 5 yards or something. The precision measurement and astonishment if someone threw a leaner were priceless. Of course the winner kept all the cards thrown. Of course doubles were for bike spokes. Goes without saying. Coming from that context I always found it sad that by the late 80s or early 90s the kids didn't actually seem to enjoy the cards for their own sake but simply because they might have some kind of monetary value later on. Cards were more akin to butterfly collections than anything else. I'm kind of glad that the market collapsed. Maybe kids will go back to playing with the cards like they used to.

posted at 02:39 PM on July 25

I don't think he should get in on the first ballot, not because of steroids but because he wasn't a HOF caliber player. I think there is an argument to slide him in if a relatively weak year comes along due to his achievements hitting home runs. But other than those HRs, he never actually won much of anything. He was never the MVP, he was not great fielder, never really hit for average at all (he only had 2 full season over .300). He won a WS but only hit 5 HRs total in his playoff career (10 series - 42 games).

posted at 01:37 PM on July 24

I have nothing but sympathy, and agree that the anger directed at her in the OP is way over the top... But I think this whole attempt is very premature for Wie. I think she should either become dominant in the LPGA or go to Q-School like the rest of the would-be PGA tour golfers. And if I were the LPGA, I would set a limit on PGA events that you can compete in before you are disqualified from joining that tour.

posted at 10:09 AM on July 15

I don't think ARod belongs anywhere near that list. He's having a below-par season, but everyone goes up and down. Beltre is another story altogether. Clearly in the "should have known better" category - he was a perennial deep disappointment who in 5 years never came even close to being an elite player though always touted as a breakout candidate. Then ONE season of truly great performance and that's what Seattle decided was the "Real" Beltre when they brought him in. GMs who do that get what they deserve - most of the time, a bust.

posted at 09:21 AM on July 15

France was great against Brazil, and it was wonderful to see Zidane in such good form - and Ribery as well. But I think their hands are going to be full with Portugal, and I don't think Figo will be denied. And love him or hate him - I think he's an embarrassment - Cristiano Ronaldo has been one of the top 3 or 4 players in the tournament so far and I expect him to be in top form. On the other side, I think Italy has been a revelation simply because they're NOT the using most cynical and negative game plan, as Italy is prone to do most of the time. In fact against the US I even saw multiple Azzuri forget to dive in the box! I think notwithstanding that however, Germany will have a hefty push from their hometown supporters and they are clearly on form regardless. So - Germany - Portugal, with Germany probably taking the trophy at the end.

posted at 06:58 AM on July 03