gdvbranz's profile

gdvbranz
4959
Name: Greg Viebranz
Member since: January 16, 2006
Last visit: September 26, 2009

gdvbranz has posted 3 links and 29 comments to SportsFilter and 0 links and 0 comments to the Locker Room.

Recent Links

Amazing goal by Rick Nash: Even if you're not a Columbus Blue Jackets fan, you have to be impressed by this goal from Rick Nash. Click on the video highlights link and skip forward to about 2:25 into the clip. The slow motion, reverse angle replay they show offers the best look at what is sure to be in the running for the best goal this season. I'm glad the Jackets have locked this kid up in a multi-year contract!

posted by gdvbranz to hockey at 09:30 AM on October 27, 2007 - 10 comments

When does a pro sports league not follow its own rules? : Apparently when hockey refs assume a puck crossed the goal line, even thought the rules require "visible evidence" (e.g., actually SEEING the puck go across the line) to award a goal and overturn a "No Goal" call that was made on the ice. The visiting Columbus Blue Jackets lost to the Minnesota Wild last night when a phantom goal was awarded in overtime to the home team. The game was important for the Jackets, who trailed Minnesota by 7 points going into last night's game for the last playoff spot in the conference. Yes, I'm a Jackets fan, but I'd feel bad for any team that had this happen to them.

posted by gdvbranz to hockey at 09:40 AM on December 30, 2006 - 19 comments

Recent Comments

TV Station Runs Into Lenny Dykstra Pawning World Series Rings

Is it just me, or does Dykstra look extremely uneasy in this footage? I don't know if it's because the camera was there, because he realizes how desperate his situation is, or a combination of both. I feel bad for the guy, but he created this situation and now has to deal with it. What a shame.

posted by gdvbranz at 11:44 AM on September 26, 2009

You're working in the NHL War Room.

http://s86.photobucket.com/albums/k92/gdvbranz/Sequence.jpg

posted by gdvbranz at 04:30 PM on January 17, 2009

You're working in the NHL War Room.

Sorry folks - the link to the still images isn't working!

posted by gdvbranz at 02:44 PM on January 17, 2009

Junior Mint: The enduring popularity (and ubiquity) of the 1989 upper deck Ken Griffey Jr. Card

Rumor has is that Geideman is now working on a new set for Upper Deck NASCAR, including cards of Kurt & Kyle Busch, Jimmie Johnson, and a tribute card for Dick Trickle.

posted by gdvbranz at 08:21 PM on June 03, 2008

Rick Nash. Goal of the year.

Hey BoKnows...thanks for posting the other Nash goal. I posted that here the day after it happened and was getting dissed by everyone because they think Nash is a nobody. I'm a Columbus fan, live in Columbus, and think Nash is very underrated. Yes, he needs to step up his game a bit compared to previous seasons, but he's doing it this year. Hitchcock has been the best thing for this team since Johnny Mac decided to get the franchise in the first place! Nash stepped onto the national scene in last year's All Star game, though he got screwed out of the MVP honors. You read it here first...Nash will be thie year's MVP. He's the real deal and about to prove it once and for all.

posted by gdvbranz at 06:17 PM on January 18, 2008

Amazing goal by Rick Nash

Hey Grum...Toews' goal is incredible for what it is...a great display of stick handling and maneuvering a defense. Nash's goal is amazing for what it is...a great display of quick hands and immediate reaction to the situation. Both are up there as top goals, for sure. Thanks for sharing!

posted by gdvbranz at 09:21 AM on October 28, 2007

Chief Wahoo: A Modest Proposal.

As a man of European descent, I've always been offended by the New England Patriots logo(s) and team name. Remember their old helmet design, with the revolutionary war soldier about to snap the football between his legs? The stereotypical square jaw, tricorn hat and perfectly pressed uniform? I mean, c'mon already...enough it enough! None of the documentaries I've watched on the History Channel ever indicated that Revolutionay War soldiers had access to footballs, and even if they did, they probably would have cut them up to make shoes out of them. Sure, the Patriots tried to modernize the logo, but it's just not good enough for me. The jaw is still square...pobably even moreso than the one on the old helmet...and that damn stereotypical headwear is still present. I just don't get it. I have a modest proposal of my own. The New England Patriots should give the team a name that celebrates something for which the region is known. I propose the New Englad Clam Chowders, and the logo could be a littleneck clam. That way you keep both factions happy: those who prefer New England-style clam chowder, and those who prefer Boston-style clam chowder. I'll also entertain other ideas and logos that celebrate New England, so please feel free to post them here!

posted by gdvbranz at 07:53 AM on October 20, 2007

Bombed: New York Yankees Make Another Early Exit from Playoffs

Am I the only one who started thinking 'Was it over when the Germans attacked Pearl Harbor?' about half-way through SFValley_Dude's last comment? Great reference, tieguy. I wonder how many readers will get it and how many will think you're just really bad at history. Perhaps instead of firing Torre, Steinbrenner could just put him on double-secret probation?

posted by gdvbranz at 06:22 PM on October 09, 2007

Youngest Player in 49 Years Makes PGA Cut

How do you think Michelle Wie feels about this?

posted by gdvbranz at 08:41 PM on January 13, 2007

Florida 41, Ohio State 14

Congratulations Florida, and yes, this is coming from an Ohio State fan (and graduate). I really wish OSU had shown up last night to give you the challenge you deserved, but if the shoe were on the other foot today, I'd probably be as happy as you are. OSU's offensive line stunk up the joint last night, Troy Smith underestimated the speed of Florida's defense, and our speedster injured his ankle while celebrating his opening kick return for a TD. Three strikes, we're out. (Not to mention that I think the coaches accidently grabbed John Cooper's old play book before leaving Columbus). But, I can take heart in one thing. At least I wasn't one of the many OSU fans who paid a few thousand dollars to fly to Arizona, scalp a ticket and come to wish I'd put the money into a flat-panel, 42" HD television instead. If I had dropped that kind of coin to watch that fiasco, I really be ticked off today. I'd offer one of you Gator fans the DVD I recorded the game on last night, but somehow it became damaged...very, very damaged. Go Bucks!

posted by gdvbranz at 04:27 PM on January 09, 2007

When does a pro sports league not follow its own rules?

If you go to a Blue Jackets game, you can tell who the fans are amd who's there entertaining clients because their company bought season tickets. There's a few of us (I used to go to the Cleveland Crusaders and Cleveland Barons games as a little kid) who've followed the sport all our lives, and a few of us who are thrilled to have a team in the state. I happen to live in Columbus, so I make it to a few games. It's enjoyable getting to watch guys like Federov and Foote, as well as up-and-comers like Nash and a couple of others.

posted by gdvbranz at 05:27 PM on January 02, 2007

When does a pro sports league not follow its own rules?

Psycho -- I agree that the Jackets getting called for 11 penalties was excessive. If you read the post-game comments by head coach Ken Hitchcock, that was his assessment of the situation. He didn't focus on the controversial overtime goal -- he was more critical about the team finding its way into the penalty box so many times, stating that they shouldn't have been in such a situation to begin with. MrFrisby, great analogy. I've also seen that happen with a goalie's glove crossing the goal line with the puck in it and the goal being counted. Maybe teams should become more adept at shooting the puck into each other's equipment and then sliding over the goal line!? (kidding, of course).

posted by gdvbranz at 05:42 PM on December 31, 2006

When does a pro sports league not follow its own rules?

You're right, Apoch -- even if they had waived off the goal, there was no guarantee the Jackets would have won. In fact, there was a penalty on the play regardless of the goal call, which means the Wild would have been skating 4 on 3. With that much open ice, it wasn't looking good for the Jackets anyway. Still a disappointing way to lose -- If we were going to lose, I'd rather see a shot ripped from the point that clearly hits the back of the net.

posted by gdvbranz at 10:29 AM on December 30, 2006

Young Buckeyes considering NFL draft

Just now getting back to the post -- been busy! Clevelander32 wrote, "To say Ginn is the only one who would go anywhere is the dumbest thing I ever heard." Re-read the post -- I didn't say he's the only one who would go anywhere, I said that he would probably get drafted a little higher than the other guys. I think this because he's a talented, multidimensional player (receiving/kick & punt returns) who has been in the spotlight longer than Gonzales, though there's no doubt that Gonzales is a hell of a player and invaluable to the Bucks. Honestly, I like Gonzales better than Ginn as well. Gonzales is a "go to" guy with great hands, and he's actually supposed to be slightly faster than Ginn. Whenever they enter the draft, it will be interesting to see who goes where and how high they're picked. All of them will play in the NFL, but I stand by my statement that Ginn would probably go higher than the others if they left early, only because of the attention he's received and because an NFL team could experiment with him in several other positions due to the potential he brings to the table. I don't think we've seen the best of Ginn -- just flashes of it. Stats don't lie, though -- here's the season review: CUMULATIVE STATS OSU While this is just for last season, I went back to past seasons as well -- Ginn has outperformed Gonzales each season in each category.

posted by gdvbranz at 10:20 AM on December 30, 2006

Young Buckeyes considering NFL draft

Tressel's a smart guy -- if you read the entire article, toward the end Gonzales says that Tressel suggested that he file the paperwork to be evaluated. To me, that means Tressel's not worried about what this all means. Think about it, though. That paperwork's going to come back showing most of those guys as a third or fourth round pick at best (except maybe for Ginn). Now Tressel can tell them, "Well, come back, stay healthy and have a solid senior year with me -- you're in a high profile program, everyone's watching us -- and you can easily move up to a first or second round pick in the next draft with a solid performance next season." The kids know what that means -- mo money, mo money, mo money! They won't care WHO they play for in the NFL, it's just that they've made it that matters to them.

posted by gdvbranz at 08:00 AM on December 16, 2006