- 03:38 PM
- 05/17/08
Rushin' to the Olympics: Former Silver Stars guard Becky Hammons becomes a naturalized Russian citizen in order to compete in the 2008 Olympic games.
posted to Olympics at 11:12 AM CDT
Liverpool Co-Owner: Fans Hate Tom Hicks American billionaire George Gillett is kicking himself for buying Liverpool FC with fellow Yank Tom Hicks. Since Hicks scuttled a deal by a Dubai group that wants to buy out Gillett's 50 percent, the owners have gotten an enormous amount of hate mail and calls from angry fans, according to his co-owner. "The thing that angers fans the most is the prospect I might sell even one share of my stock to my partner," Gillett said in a radio interview. "They do not want him to have any controlling interest in this club -- they do not even want him to have any ownership in the club. As a result of that -- and it's been very difficult for my wife with the amount that I travel -- we receive many phone calls in the middle of the night threatening our lives -- death threats."
posted to Soccer at 6:43 PM CDT
Americans have no business sticking their noses in English football. It's a sport they do not understand.
Blah blah blah. Canadians said the same thing about hockey when he purchased the Montreal Canadiens -- yet now they are one of the best teams in the league. You don't have to understand the nuances of the sport to own a team, you just hire people that do.
posted at 11:07 PM CDT on March 29
Critics Go Ape Over LeBron James Magazine Cover A picture of NBA star LeBron James and the model Gisele on the cover of April's Vogue is attracting controversy over their pose. The shot taken by renowned photographer Annie Leibovitz has been compared by some detractors to King Kong holding Fay Wray. ESPN.Com columnist Jemele Hill called it "memorable for all the wrong reasons." The photo is remarkably similar to "Destroy This Mad Brute," a famous World War I recruitment poster.
posted to Basketball at 10:16 AM CDT
I don't see it and I didn't see it in any of the other photos from the shoot.
What do you think is the meaning of LeBron James looking angry on that cover?
I didn't see the anger as well. I thought it was just intensity. You know, as happens in sport?
Besides, if you see King Kong in this photo why is everyone trumping the fact that it's "racist" but nobody is saying that it's "sexist" in its portrayal of the female model as a helpless victim? Oh right, it's a FASHION MAGAZINE.
posted at 2:24 PM CDT on March 27
Top 10: Sports Superstitions. Sports are a competitive business, and athletes face a tremendous amount of pressure to always be at their best. Sometimes it’s not enough to just practice and train for hours on end, as players also need to have a mental edge, which often manifests in some strange and nonsensical behaviors and beliefs. Maybe performing the following rituals don’t make an athlete play better, but not adhering to them will certainly make them worse, if only in their own mind.
posted to Culture at 9:54 AM CDT
Henrik Lundqvist logged a record six shut outs in a season
Wha? Record? *ahem*
22-George Hainsworth, 1928-29
15-Alex Connell, 1925-26
15-Alex Connell, 1927-28
15-Hal Winkler, 1927-28
15-Tony Esposito, 1969-70
14-George Hainsworth, 1926-27
posted at 4:04 PM CDT on March 5
No Jokinen, Zednick's Throat Slashed During Hockey Game. Florida Panthers' forward Richard Zednik had his throat slashed by teammate Olli Jokinen's skate in Buffalo Sunday night while playing against the Sabres. Zednik is in stable condition following surgery to repair a "deep gash" in his neck, and the Panthers are flying his wife Jessica to Buffalo to be with him.
posted to Hockey at 10:02 AM CDT
Fan photos showing the extent of the blood loss.
(by that way, that's a really lousy pun there!)
posted at 10:52 AM CDT on February 11
In panning across the benches, all the players did look a little green afterward.
They weren't the only ones.
posted at 12:13 PM CDT on February 11
So if you mandate that hockey players should wear neck protection because of two freak incidents in over twenty years, does that mean that javelin judges should wear steel toed boots all the time?
posted at 1:27 PM CDT on February 12
What does $9,999 get you?
Greatness.
posted to Hockey at 10:25 AM CDT
He's from Ontario, and I think it's a sin in Canada to not acknowledge the creative genius that is Wayne Gretzky.
I think it depends on whether you have or have not seen his Saturday Night Live appearance.
posted at 8:12 AM CDT on February 11
Leafs fire G.M. Ferguson Fletch lives! Leafs fire General Manager John Ferguson and have replaced him with Cliff Fletcher on an interim basis.
posted to Hockey at 12:00 PM CDT
Doesn't exactly seem like a congruent business with the NHL. But it does explain a lot about the state of the Leafs today. Ownership-by-committee is rarely a winning proposition.
The Leafs make money hand over fist despite their shitty management and lousy on-ice product. It makes the pensioners a lot of money. The ownership has been the biggest problem with the Leafs over the last forty years.
posted at 4:36 PM CDT on January 22
Lacrosse: Buffalo Bandits forward John Tavares tops all-time NLL record. The 39-year-old surpassed Gait's record with four goals on Saturday in Buffalo's 17-13 win over New York. Tavares now holds the National Lacrosse League's golas record with 597. In the other NLL game this weekend Toronto Rock outlasted the Edmonton Rush 14-9.
posted to Other at 4:31 PM CDT
The amazing thing about Lacrosse players is that they really do it for the love of the sport. Their salaries are poor and often they need "real" jobs on the side to pay their bills. John Tavares, for example, was a math teacher at my high school (as well as coach for its lacrosse team, naturally). I never had him but some of my friends say he was a good teacher. Now, also an NLL record holder.
Oh yeah, his nephew's a pretty good hockey player too.
posted at 4:44 PM CDT on January 20
Rick Nash. Goal of the year. Sorry Toews. You've now got the second best.
posted to Hockey at 9:53 AM CDT
This remains my favourite Rick Nash goal.
posted at 5:37 PM CDT on January 19
Chris Bosh really wants to be an All Star.
posted to Basketball at 9:47 AM CDT
All-Star Games have always been, especially the fan voting parts, popularity contests. Only reason Yao Ming gets as many votes as he does is because half of China is voting for it. So things like this, clever little things that he obviously had fun making, are more than welcome.
Save the debates for who's numbers are better and who's contributed more for the end of the season when the games actually matter.
posted at 3:42 PM CDT on January 3
The NHL's new, edgy marketing campaing? Inspired by the Dallas Stars controversial billboard advertisment.
posted to Hockey at 12:15 AM CDT
Seeing that Dallas ad made me wonder if the Phoenix Suns would use a similar tactic making fun of the whole Tocchet thing (you'd think that an assistant head coach running a gambling operation would get equal press), but then I realized: nobody cares about the Coyotes.
posted at 2:40 PM CDT on September 4
I think that's a bit of a misnomer. You have to realize that "THE TRAP" and all those defensive systems that we hate and despise all pretty much originated on the bigger ice surfaces and they make use of the bigger ice surfaces. Bigger ice does not mean more scoring. It seems counter intuitive, but the smaller surface actually makes for a FASTER game since there's less room to cover and a shorter distance to the net. A lot of the European grew-up-on-large-surface players prefer the smaller ice sheet.
posted at 10:19 AM CDT on September 5
Eric Staal's bachelor party nets fourteen arrests. Sure, it ain't no refs on the take from the mafia, marquee quarterback in dog fighting imbroglio, or steroid (?) icon taking over one of the marquee records in the game, but, man, the NHL is MESSED UP.
posted to Hockey at 8:58 PM CDT
The one thing that's stupid and I can't figure out is why, with Jordan Staal being under 21, did they not party north of the border (they weren't far as it was) where the drinking age is 19. Do they hate Thunder Bay that much? I can't blame them.
posted at 4:05 PM CDT on July 26
Bettman Buggers Up Balsillie's Bid Canadian billionaire Jim Balsillie has accused NHL commissioner Gary Bettman of forcing the owner of the Nashville Predators to break off discussions about the sale of the team to Balsillie
posted to Hockey at 3:08 PM CDT
Canada is useless to the NHL as a moneymaking operation. At the very least, it takes care of itself with the TSN and CBC dollars. And that's why they would much rather have a team in KC than Hamilton.
The NHL got more money from TSN and CBC, because of the demand in the market here, than they got from NBC (zero dollars). Everything that Bettman does in trying to "expand the market" doesn't add up.
posted at 9:50 PM CDT on July 21
A Day in the Life of Curt Schilling
posted to Baseball at 3:01 PM CDT
Needs more mention of Curt Shilling's new... MMO!?
posted at 10:53 AM CDT on July 18
CONMEBOL not pleased with U.S. The South American Soccer Federation feels disrespected that the USA sent a second-tier team to the Copa America, the continents most important tournament. As an invited guest has the USMNT embarassed itself on the field and off?
posted to Soccer at 6:57 AM CDT
This is a tourney that doesn't count, so why not give the younger players a shot at getting a cap and some experience?
Well, the other thing to consider is that some of their star young players are currently playing in the U-20 World Cup, close to home in Canada.
posted at 1:55 PM CDT on July 5
World Cup of American Football : First U.S. national football team prepares for trip to Japan
posted to Football at 1:54 PM CDT
Six team tournament and not one of those teams is Canada? I can't figure that one out. Or is that Canada doesn't play American Football but, instead, plays Canadian Football?
posted at 5:38 PM CDT on July 3
Will the Blackhawks raise Kane? With the 2007 NHL draft coming up this weekend, there's no consensus No. 1 pick, although there is plenty of talent to go around. Who do you like, who should your team draft ... and who's the biggest draft bust ever?
posted to Hockey at 9:56 PM CDT
Yeah, I'm with Weedy. Raycroft was definitely a problem. He had a good stretch in January, but was shaky for most of the rest of the year. As was linked in the locker room before (by grum?), Leafs Defence Doesn’t Suck.
I wonder though. If a pretty good backup like Toskala is traded, what will happen to Bryzgalov? Giguere has been resigned and that's a team that can continue to be really good through next year and with Ilya, a pretty good goalie in his own right, they have trade bait that can make them even better. Kinda scary.
posted at 8:43 PM CDT on June 22
Not sure if you dicks know, but Raycroft used to tend goal for the Bruins. Ergo, he's awesome.
Jim Carey awesome?
posted at 10:10 PM CDT on June 22
London unveils logo of 2012 Games and immediately inspires derision and naughty thoughts!
posted to Olympics at 3:06 PM CDT
I think this mock up sums it up best (courtesy of some nameless site).
posted at 7:28 PM CDT on June 4
Pronger elbows way to Game Four suspension The NHL has suspended Anaheim Ducks defenseman Chris Pronger for Game Four of the Stanley Cup Finals for his elbow to the head of Ottawa Senators forward Dean McAmmond. This is Pronger's second sitdown of the playoffs -- but is one game enough for this offense?
posted to Hockey at 3:14 PM CDT
If the Ducks hold on and win the series, it will be a sad indictment of how little control the league has over it's image as a "dirty" league.
I don't know about that, but it will certainly cause a trend to build "grittier" teams. Speedy, talented teams were successful in the regular season and, of course, success is emulated. If Anaheim wins the Cup, then it will give the impression that big and tough and a lot of fights is what gets you to the top.
Then again, if Ottawa wins I'd never hear the end of it.
posted at 12:23 PM CDT on June 4
Cuban Plots Friday-Night United Football League Mark Cuban and investment banker William Hambrecht are planning a pro league to compete with the NFL. "We think there is more demand for pro football than supply," said Cuban, who believes the salary cap makes it easier for a rival to poach players drafted after rounds 1 and 2.
posted to Football at 5:51 PM CDT
CFL will never go bye bye. You honestly think the Canadian government would allow that?
Is that a rhetorical question, because my answer is "yes".
posted at 8:29 PM CDT on May 31
Stanley Cup Finals: Ten things to know about Anaheim Everyone in hockey says teams have to pay the price to get to the Stanley Cup Finals.
posted to Hockey at 2:26 AM CDT
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=209227&hubname=
posted at 1:44 PM CDT on May 29
Balsillie to purchase Predators You might want to see if you can transfer carriers for your Blackberry, Barry Trotz.
posted to Hockey at 9:44 PM CDT
Apparently RIM has purchased 26 acres of land just off the 401.
That'd be a really shitty location for a third Ontario team. If a team would move to southern ontario, then being closer to the Hamilton core -- closer to GO Transit and the 403/QEW -- would be the most logical choice.
Well, other than putting a second team in Toronto. But Bettman (or the Leafs) would never go for that.
posted at 1:49 PM CDT on May 24
The Goalies Archive claims to be "the very first website to present every goaltenders [sic] who played in NHL history." A great first stop should you ever wanted to know who the number one keeper for the Detroit Cougars was between 1926 to 1928.
posted to Hockey at 11:03 AM CDT
posted at 2:51 PM CDT on May 16
Top ten sports brawls in sports history. It’s no secret that sports can get pretty heated at times, and intensity and aggression are prized intangibles that lead to success. Athletes are forced to compete at or near an emotional threshold, which they are occasionally pushed over. When that happens, the uglier side of sports is revealed, as gloves are dropped, mounds are charged and punches are thrown.
posted to General at 10:21 AM CDT
I'd youtube it, but work forbids such non-revenue generating shenanigans.
Mine doesn't!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=8ydbATVriqA
with bonus typical YouTube retardocomments.
posted at 2:56 PM CDT on May 16
Sabres 0 - Senators 2
Red Wings 1 - Ducks 1
with apologies to lilnemo
posted to Hockey at 9:47 AM CDT
Every team in the NHL should play both.
I'd argue that every team in the NHL shouldn't play either one, but that's another topic.
Anybody get the sense that the Ducks' OT goal in game two pretty much decided the series right there? If Detroit had one, they'd likely have won the series; but now that the Ducks won, even though they just tied the series, it feels as though they've guaranteed themselves a finals appearance. Don't mean to diminish the Red Wings, and it's by no means set in stone yet, but it did come across as the pivotal point in the series.
posted at 4:06 PM CDT on May 14
It's not that I think Detroit is going to lay down and die or collapse, it's just that I think Anaheim is going to improve and improve and ride that momentum into the finals.
Of course, we'll see how much egg is on my face after tonight.
posted at 4:57 PM CDT on May 15
And this is why I'm not doing so hot in the confidence pool.
posted at 12:01 AM CDT on May 16
Bode goes indy: after 11 years as a member of the US Ski Team, Bode Miller elects to compete as an independent.
posted to Other at 5:21 PM CDT
That article is bizarre. BODE MILLER's cousin KILLS COP, with a Bode Miller photo right beside the headline.
posted at 11:21 AM CDT on May 14
Pistons 4 - Magic 0
Cavaliers 3 - Wizards 0
Nets 3 - Raptors 1
Bulls 4 - Heat 0
Mavericks 1 - Warriors 3
Suns 3 - Lakers 1
Nuggets 1 - Spurs 2
Rockets 2 - Jazz 2
posted to Basketball at 2:11 PM CDT
God the Raptors have disappointed me. After the home game split it was hopeful. They didn't play good AT ALL, but were still tied in the series. Things were looking up. I BOUGHT tickets for game 5. Then, not long after I bought those tickets, they played even worse than the shit they were calling "basketball" in their first two games. sigh.
posted at 2:29 PM CDT on May 1
Urlacher fined $100,000 for Super Bowl hat Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher was fined $100,000 by the NFL for wearing a cap during Super Bowl media day that promoted a sponsor not authorized by the league.
posted to Football at 6:59 AM CDT
That would be like most of us getting slapped with a $100 fine...not that much when you put it in perspective.
If I got fined for wearing a Pepsi had during Coke day, no matter whether it's $100 or $1, I'd be pissed.
posted at 12:14 PM CDT on April 19
Back of the line, Canadians! The National Hockey League has scheduled Saturday's Ottawa/Pittsburgh game for the afternoon instead of prime time, which means the U.S.'s NBC (which isn't coughing up a dime to carry hockey) gets the contest instead of the CBC (which pays $65M a year for the NHL television rights in Canada). "I made my feelings known in very strong terms that I felt that game should be in prime time," CBC Sports head Scott Moore said. "Bettman feels that he's doing the right thing for the game by exposing Sidney to the U.S. audience. I strongly disagree. I couldn't change his mind, and we're very disappointed about that."
posted to Hockey at 2:47 PM CDT
I think we should convince Mark Cuban to run the NHL.
http://www.thestar.com/article/171418
Probably wouldn't be that bad of an idea (at least, relative to Bettman)
posted at 12:34 AM CDT on April 12
Party Like It's 1994 The planets are aligning once again. The Rangers are going to the NHL Playoffs with the Devils and Islanders. I'm getting chills ...
posted to Hockey at 8:46 AM CDT
Before the start of the season, I wasn't a fan of three things: the shootout, Raycroft, and Ferguson.
The last few days didn't assuage me one bit.
Wasn't Edmonton supposed to get rolled over by the Wing juggernaut in the first round last year?
No. Quite a few people picked Edmonton to win. Not by virtue of Edmonton being so good, but mainly because of Detroit's recent playoff woes. It wouldn't be a surprise if the Flames knock them out of the first round. Huge upset my ass. No one is safe in the West.
(And if we're partying like it's 1994, does that mean that Vancouver is making the finals and shall we start early on overturning cars?)
posted at 10:14 AM CDT on April 9
Is it the stick or not? And if it is, is that OK?
posted to Hockey at 8:38 PM CDT
When the composite sticks started to gain popularity, they were known more for their ability to totally explode at the most inopportune times than they were for the added velocity of the shots.
Now add holes to that... is this stick going to be even more fragile than Lindros' head?
posted at 11:40 AM CDT on April 3
Jackpot Despite long odds, the Penguins will be in Pittsburgh for the next 30 years housed in a new arena they will pay next to nothing for. "Make no mistake about it -- without expanded gaming in Pennsylvania, the Penguins would be gone. The first puck would have been dropped next year in Kansas City."
posted to Hockey at 11:13 AM CDT
Colorado had the Rockies in the late 70's and they were gone in a heartbeat too (it was of course the same franchise & ownership, which might tell you something), but when the Avs showed up a decade-plus later, they didn't play to an empty seat for over ten years.
Well, it obviously helps to get a Stanley Cup quality team from the get go. Had the Nordiques of the mid-80s moved to Colorado, I have doubts that it would have gone quite as well.
If the Vancouver Grizzlies had won the NBA championship in their first year, rather than being a perpetually futile team, they'd probaby still be in Vancouver. And the Expos would likely still be in Montreal had that strike/lockout/whatever not killed their best ever chance for a penant.
Championships sell. And Lemieux, as much as anyone, knows that from experience.
posted at 2:09 PM CDT on March 15
Rolling the Dice on the Rolling Ankle Peter Forsberg is traded from the Flyers to the Predators for Scottie Upshall, Ryan Parent and two draft picks. Response from Philadelphia.
posted to Hockey at 4:36 AM CDT
Now that I look into it, Nashville lost thier first 3 games against the Blackhawks this season.
In their defense, the Blackhawks were surprisingly decent at the start of the year... until Havlat got injured. And, well, the Preds started off a little slow.
posted at 4:15 PM CDT on February 16
The one knock is that neither one of the two has much playoff expirience,
I really think that makes NO difference. It takes a hot goalie to take you through the playoffs, not one with a lot of experience. Cam Ward and Roloson weren't exactly experienced playoff veterans last year.
posted at 5:51 PM CDT on February 16
Canadian Juniors win again! Canada's Junior hockey team has won its 3rd straight IIHF U20 World Championship. Russia was second, and the US won the bronze medal game earlier today over Sweden.
posted to Hockey at 4:11 PM CDT
What I can't figure out is why they'd schedule the gold medal game to be on a Friday. ARG.
Carey Price was great. Just as good, if not better, than Pogge last year (Leafs draft pick!) It's amazing how dominant the Canadian jrs have been these last three years. Three years ago was likely the most talented jr team ever. Last year was the most dominant ever. That's a hard act to follow, especially without Sutter, but they did well. Canadian hockey is alive and well!
posted at 10:57 PM CDT on January 5
I'll just ice this one and... oooaugh! Patrik Stefan of the Dallas Stars was on a breakaway towards an open net in the absolute dying moments of a game with his team up by one... only the puck took a bad hop... and he missed the net... and the puck went back up the ice... and the Oilers tied the game with only two seconds left in one of the craziest endings* to a hockey game you will ever see. *of course, the game didn't end there but went into OT and a shootout wherein Stefan's teammates bailed him out and got the win.
posted to Hockey at 11:53 AM CDT
This was a bizarre game. I was watching it off and on while switching to other things and I tuned out after it was 4-1 EDM in the third -- only to check back a few minutes later to see that it was 5-4 DAL. Unfortunately, I missed this play, but no doubt it was all over the TV the next day. Crazy. Craziest finish since that OTT BUF game in last year's playoffs.
(EDM had another crazy finish game last season against PHX, when they scored right off a face-off taken with 3 seconds left... just after a timeout was taken... by the other team... after the goalie smothered a puck shot in from beyond the red line (if he left it, the time would have ran out). That goal tied the game and EDM later won it in OT. Gretzky called it "the worst loss of his career". It was hilarious.)
posted at 10:51 PM CDT on January 5
The NHL to realign? The NHL has been trying for weeks to tinker with its schedule configuration, but is now considering a significant overhaul of the face of the league that includes realignment and a reduction in the number of divisions from six to four.
posted to Hockey at 1:56 PM CDT
Twice every three years.
I hope they bring back the Norris division. That'd be sweet.
posted at 6:10 PM CDT on December 22
PITG wins slots casino license for North Side of Pittsburgh I'm totally confused on how Pennsylvania can tell a company they don't want a FREE arena. I'm afraid the Penguins will moving come this summer unless the city comes up with something quick.
posted to Hockey at 9:26 PM CDT
Looks like, after all the conditions the NHL tried to put in place (where were such conditions when Winnipeg was in trouble?), that Balsille made the right move in withdrawing his bid.
Free arena? If the Pens want an arena, they should build it themselves.
posted at 11:59 PM CDT on December 20
"He should be a team player 100 per cent." A junior hockey player has been ousted from the Saint John Sea Dogs after he did not sign a Canadian flag that the team was sending to troops in Afghanistan.
posted to Hockey at 9:52 PM CDT
sickleguy should be renamed sarcasmguy.
posted at 10:55 PM CDT on December 19
Canada's Royal Winter Game Considered the first book ever written about hockey, one of the four known copies has been digitized for your viewing pleasure. Available in the page-turning Flash version or plain old HTML. Part of Backcheck: A Hockey Retrospective. [via uniwatchblog]
posted to Hockey at 11:09 AM CDT
Red Fisher then loaned the book to the Right Honourable Prime Minister Stephen Harper, a member of the Society for International Hockey Research.
Oh Canada.
Great link.
posted at 3:08 PM CDT on December 18
Movie to feature gay Toronto Maple Leaf The NHL and Toronto have given permission to use uniforms, etc. for the movie. Tom Cavanagh, former Ed star, will play the Leaf. No Love Monkey jokes, please.
posted to Hockey at 8:47 AM CDT
Canada has an empire?
posted at 7:19 PM CDT on November 24
Blue Jackets hire Hitchcock as coach Hitchcock was asked if he would be behind the bench when the Blue Jackets play his former team, the Flyers, on Friday afternoon in Philadelphia.
"You bet," he said twice.
posted to Hockey at 8:39 AM CDT
So by your scale, qbert72, is Lindy Ruff the equivalent of one of those old 50th anniversary couples you see in the occassional human interest piece on the news?
posted at 9:47 PM CDT on November 23
Hundreds to compete for Rock, Paper, Scissors Title. It's that time of year again for the 4th annual championships. With more then $8000.00 on the line it's time to warm up your fists and strategy.
posted to Other at 2:43 PM CDT
It's been covered for a lot of channels and so on. No live coverage, but you might see some highlights on the morning shows or see some writeups in various Magazines and so forth. FSN was there last year and I guess their guy liked the event enough to rip it off and host his own NON-SANCTIONED championship (everyone knows that this is the TRUE championship) which, I believe, was shown on A&E or something. They're also filming a RPS documentary right now.
Last year's champion went around to appear on multiple shows and was on a late night talk show or two, I think.
Here are some of my photos from this year's event and past years. Note: I was an official championship referee in 2003, but since have been a competitor. Not a very good one, unfortunately. I lost in the first round yesterday :(
posted at 12:52 AM CDT on November 12
A Brit won the tourney, ending the Canadian domination over the last few years. It's a sign that the sport is really gaining an international following.
posted at 1:00 PM CDT on November 12
Slow time? NHL hitting its stride. Grey Cup. NBA getting going. NFL mid-season. The RPS Championships are merely the icing on the sports cake.
posted at 5:34 PM CDT on November 12
NHL and Google sittin in a tree. A W E S O M E "NHL will provide in-season full-length games on delay to Google Video at http://video.google.com/nhl.html. Google also will receive select NHL classic games...This is the first time Google Video has worked with a major professional sports league in such a manner." [via]
posted to Hockey at 1:29 PM CDT
AWESOME
Also, to counter grum's GLEE, I present this anti-Glee Right here
posted at 9:03 PM CDT on November 1
the 1994 Final between the Canucks and Rangers.
Game 7.
Some more 92-93 Penguins games would be nice. Mario at his prime. I think they have a game against Chicago, but some of those Wales Campbell series were great.
posted at 12:55 PM CDT on November 2
I just realized that I wrote "Wales Campbell" when I meant "Wales Conference". It's been so long since I've used those words, I guess I was too eager. NORRIS
posted at 2:23 PM CDT on November 2
Club orders Bulgarian player to get married Litex Lovech have ordered striker Ivelin Popov to get married in the coming year in the hope it curtails his wild living. "My bosses are right to want such a thing from me because they know my temper." Is there something lost in the translation here or is this a recipe for disaster?
posted to Soccer at 10:59 AM CDT
This won't end well.
posted at 2:22 PM CDT on October 29
NHL '94 Online. How to get started. Cue nerdgasm. I'm out of commission for most of the next 48 hours, but I'd love to hear anyone's experience with this.
posted to Hockey at 5:09 PM CDT
Gretzky was a puss in that game. If you breathed on him he fell over. Super Mario was truly the best in the game. So good my friends made playing with Pittsburgh illegal. One of the first great sports video games.
Mario was understandable. What was baffling was just how fierce Roenick was in that game.
posted at 10:44 PM CDT on October 27
Finding dirt on Chris Bosh is "harder than discovering clean on Ron Jeremy".
posted to Basketball at 3:32 PM CDT
I read the article up to the point where this was said:
"In the movie--think Spinal Tap with humor--"
BAH
posted at 10:28 PM CDT on September 29
The Worst Hockey Logos of All Time James Mirtle counts 'em down.
posted to Hockey at 11:18 AM CDT
Lastly, there are a surprisingly large amount of people from Mississauga that has purchased our software. How big is that town?
Mississauga is the largest suburb of Toronto and as its own city, it is actually one of the most populated cities in Canada. Some 700k people. Still a wasteland though (I know cause I spent 16 years there).
Nobody cares about the Ice Dogs though, crappy logo or otherwise. This is Leaf country.
posted at 1:06 PM CDT on September 21
France stop the samba. In this World Cup's biggest upset, France bundled out Brazil in a 1-0 quarterfinal win. What happened? Is France the new favorite? Next up: Portugal.
posted to Soccer at 9:53 AM CDT
Of the teams remaining, I think Germany has to be the clear favourite. And Italy the weakest of the four and the most fortunate to be there -- they got lucky in surviving their group, got a questionable penalty against Australia, and had the easiest (by far) knock-out round route.
France + Portugal should be interesting, though.
posted at 12:09 PM CDT on July 2
A lot of the hate existed for a long time before that incident. He just comes across as a smarmy arrogant dick that whines and cries at the slightest of fouls and isn't much of a team player. Not very endearing to the so-called "neutral fans" like me.
posted at 3:51 PM CDT on July 2
Oilers GM Lowe says Pronger has requested trade Oilers GM Lowe admitted Saturday that defenseman Chris Pronger has officially requested a trade and that the team has heard from his agent.
posted to Hockey at 10:29 PM CDT
All I have to say is: WTF, Raycroft? The Leafs give up a perfectly good goalie prospect (granted, they have a few, but still wait until their value rises) for Raycroft? Fucking Ferguson.
Oh yeah, too bad about that Pronger guy. So his wife was happy with staying in St.Louis, but not Edmonton? Bring out the whip.
posted at 9:48 AM CDT on June 25
Oh, and I'd ask people bitching about Vancouver getting Luongo and the Leafs getting Raycroft -- what do you think Toronto should have offered? What could they have offered?
Offer? They should be building internally rather than going for outsiders at the neglect of their prospects. This was the biggest fault of Quinn last year. He gave Allison and Domi more time than their young guys.
The Leafs have good prospects. They don't use them.
posted at 10:40 AM CDT on June 26
Luongo traded for Bertuzzi The NHL season might be over, but that doesn't mean that the action has stopped. In advance of the NHL Draft, "the Panthers have confirmed that they acquired Todd Bertuzzi, Bryan Allen and Alexander Auld from the Canucks in exchange for Roberto Luongo and Lukas Krajicek and a 2006 sixth round pick." Hindsight will determine who the trade "winner" was, but for this season, Vancouver has vastly improved. (But what happens to Cloutier now?)
posted to Hockey at 10:45 PM CDT
With Cloutier still in the Canuck fold, I'm wondering if this is going to become another Curtis Joseph situation.
posted at 10:46 PM CDT on June 23
Yeah, I was thinking Gerber too. Probably the best goalie available this summer. Best goalie that isn't old and rundown, at least (hey, you can get Hasek back!)
posted at 10:20 AM CDT on June 24
International Language of Hair
posted to Soccer at 6:17 PM CDT
I was expecting that Korean guy with the bleached hair to be on the list. Disappointing.
posted at 10:24 AM CDT on June 24
Three finalists for 2014 Winter Olympics The IOC Executive downselected Salzburg, Pyeongchang, and Sochi from the seven applicants. The final selection will be made by a vote of the full IOC membership. The selection was preceded by this report (PDF) (or download the conclusions only) from the IOC Candidature Acceptance Working Group.
posted to Olympics at 9:12 AM CDT
My prediction for Korea still stands. Also.
posted at 9:00 PM CDT on June 23
Our Top 10 moments from the NHL playoffs ESPN.com's Scott Burnside lists his top ten(plus two) moments of the 2006 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs.
posted to Hockey at 3:25 PM CDT
A bit of a lousy list since most of the "moments" aren't actually from any gameplay. If you're talking in game moments, I'd add:
* The crazy finish to Game 1 of OTT vs BUF, including the major gaffe that led to the OT goal.
* Campbell's hit on Umberger.
* Roloson to Peca breakaway.
* Elias' 6 point game against the Rangers.
* Ward coming in to Game 3 against the Canadiens, losing, and then winning the game... (and then six/seven straight?
* Hemsky's late goal against Detroit
* Brizgalov's three straight shutouts
* That one Dallas goal, which was the only nice thing they did during their implosion.
posted at 4:13 PM CDT on June 21
Worst fans - Buffalo.
I think that distinction should go to San Jose.
What grum said RE:Umburger hit. It was also the best CLEAN hit of the year and the guy wasn't injured badly, so you can put that guilty conscience away.
mkn: Ward helped Carolina win games 3-6 against Montreal in the first round;
I know, what I meant was that the Canes were losing game 3 when Ward stepped in (which they later won) not that Ward lost it. Me write bad.
posted at 9:06 PM CDT on June 23
Carolina Hurricanes win the Stanley Cup in Game 7 The Canes came out hard and had a 2-0 lead before the Oilers decided to show up in the third period. Great game, I think I've developed ulcers because of it.
posted to Hockey at 10:13 PM CDT
Greatest finals I've ever seen. Too bad Edmonton couldn't take it, but it was still a great series.
posted at 10:35 PM CDT on June 19
And boo to the CBC for not trying to explain that penalty shot/penalty/goal fiasco. (I thought they would have ruled that Jussi stopped it first, stopping the play, before dingus covered it in the crease.)
Er, they did. At the end of the intermission. Their on ground level guy relayed information from the ref -- the play was ruled dead BEFORE the puck got in the crease because an Oiler player touched it, hence you can't make a call on the penalty shot since the play was finished by then.
posted at 8:54 AM CDT on June 20
Cam Ward actually was the starter in October, but was supplanted by Gerber early in November.
Only because Gerber was injured and once he came back, Cam Ward was #2. I know this well cause I had him in the fantasy league EARLY, but after Gerber came back and he wasn't playing, I dropped him.
posted at 12:27 PM CDT on June 20
Brian McBride's 42nd Goal Lifts U.S. over Ghana, 110-109 "I will never be a soccer fan until somebody thinks of a way to increase scoring," writes Robert Scherer of Montgomery, Ohio. "Taking away the goalie would be a start."
posted to Soccer at 8:02 AM CDT
Yeah. I could do without those exciting saves, like that Japanese stop on the penalty or that Brazillian save off of the Australian. Who needs that?
This is the kind of person that says he wants more scoring -- but then if you were to suggest the NFL should switch to CFL rules, which are more offense focused, he'd blow a gasket at the suggestion of such perversions to his game. yawn.
posted at 9:56 AM CDT on June 19
Momma don't let your babies grow up to play... Surprising. Figured a few others would have been ranked higher - rugby for example.
posted to General at 8:34 AM CDT
Obviously, hockey is the safest sport to play.
posted at 7:17 AM CDT on June 16
From the absurd to the engaging, USA soccer blog offers a behind the scenes look Entry #28b: June 7, 12:49 p.m. (6:49 a.m ET) ... and speaking of Keller and Hahnemann, we can confirm that they've returned intact from Tuesday night's Tool concert. They even got some love on the band's blog on their web site: "No problems to report other than ... these strange dudes in the Tool dressing room. Wait a second, they're members of the U.S. World Cup soccer team (that's what's keeping the band from taking the stage on time)." Focus boys. FOCUS!
posted to Soccer at 8:53 PM CDT
That Zaire jersey looks like the kinds of shirts I see doofuses wearing down on Queen St West.
posted at 10:07 AM CDT on June 10
Anti-Climactic After a thrilling Game One, the Carolina Hurricanes took it to an undisciplined Oilers squad 5-0, taking advantage of home ice to open up a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven Stanley Cup Finals.
posted to Hockey at 5:58 AM CDT
It was a bad loss, but it was still a close game (until I started watchign) through a period and 19 minutes and 58 seconds. That late goal in the second killed Edmonton's chances for a comeback and they just didn't seem into it in the third.
It's still a bad loss though.
But, remembering SanJose, after they got manhandled in the first two games (granted, the scores were closer), did anyone think they'd win the next 4?
Similarly, after being blown out in game 1 and then losing a tight one in game 2, did anyone think that Carolina would beat Montreal?
If Edmonton can win their next game, they're back into the series. If not, then Edmonton will see the cup this year... being awarded to the other team.
posted at 12:40 PM CDT on June 8
Interesting shot blocking stats. Looks like the Oil Cans suck at that.
Yeah, I've watched them this year and they certainly sucked at that. ¬¬
Oil cans? What's the equivalent... Hurrican't ?
posted at 10:37 PM CDT on June 8
Rollie the goalie has an owie and will not be back in the series. Chris Pronger can do a lot of things, but can he play goal?
posted to Hockey at 8:28 AM CDT
[Oilers] aren't fast and young like the 'Canes and Sabres.
WHAT? Have you been watching the NHL for the last few years? Even before the rule changes, Edmonton's MO was skate hard and skate fast. They're just as fast as Carolina and they proved it in game 1.
No one was picking Carolina
Didn't Melrose pick Carolina to come out of the East? A few people picked Carolina. They were the Number 2 seed afterall.
This could not happen to a more deserving player. I hate seeing players get hurt, but after Roli dive this entire playoff, I'm glad karma bit him in the ass.
If Karma worked the way you seem to think it does, Justin Williams would be skating with a stick permanently protruding from his face.
posted at 2:52 PM CDT on June 6
The ghost of the WHA... the Carolina Hurricanes polished off the Buffalo Sabres 4-2 in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Final last night, setting up a Stanley Cup battle with Edmonton that features two former World Hockey Association teams battling for Lord Stanley's Cup.
posted to Hockey at 6:33 AM CDT
That's going to be one of the upsides of Edmonton being in it. The ice is going to be perfect there.
That wasn't exactly the case when, a week ago, it was 30C+ in Edmonton.
posted at 10:34 AM CDT on June 2
Gatlin Denied World Record - Gatlin's time of 9.766 seconds should have been manually rounded up to 9.77 seconds, which only equals Asafa Powell's (reinstated) world record.
posted to Other at 6:03 AM CDT
The only other sport I can think of that would use thousandths of a second would be swimming, and they have the benefit of using touchplates to determine exact finishes.
They do it in speedskating, and just like running, it's a manual start and photo line finish. If they can do it in speedskating, which goes a lot faster, they can do it for running. And they should. More records will be broken, which means more excitement for the sport.
(Bobsled, luge, and skeleton also go by the thousands)
posted at 9:07 PM CDT on May 17
Booing: not just for Canadians anymore!
posted to Hockey at 11:26 AM CDT
Are the Oilers playing the Islanders all of a sudden?
posted at 2:36 PM CDT on May 15
Fear the flying V Anaheim Ducks sweep the Colorado Avalanche. Jaw dropping goal tending, 4 big, fast lines, and a greater desire win propelle the Ducks into the Western Conference Finals.
posted to Hockey at 8:40 AM CDT
And I agree about San Jose. They should be able to beat the Ducks, unless Bryzgalov can't be beaten.
They have to beat the Oilers first before they can start thinking about that match-up.
posted at 12:40 AM CDT on May 13
The Dominator may be back. Dom Hasek's practicing again. Ottawa says he won't skate in game three...but if Ottawa can turn this series into a six- or seven-gamer, then Hasek may very well become the x-factor for the Sens against his old team in Buffalo. So he may be back. Will it matter?
posted to Hockey at 4:14 PM CDT
Ottawa's coaching staff definitely doesn't want to put Hasek in there. When asked if he was going to do a goalie change, the coach responded that they weren't going to put Morrisson in net. A bit of a slap, that.
It's all moot now anyway. They can put the spirit of Sawchuck in net and it's not going to be enough to bring them back from a three game deficit.
posted at 12:32 PM CDT on May 11
second round has been a yawner
The NJ and ANA series, sure, but did you see the game last night? All, what, five hours of it? Amazing game.
posted at 5:02 PM CDT on May 11
Germany vs Greece philosophers (YouTube video). My soccer post about the priests vs imams reminded me of the classic Monty Python sketch "International Philosophy Match", which I just so happened to watch this week, on the Python revival show "Monty Python's Personal Best" on PBS. Now, thanks to YouTube, I can easily share this magical soccer match with you. The game is awesome but the winning goal is just fantastic.
posted to Soccer at 10:32 PM CDT
Other Monty Python sports related sketches: Twit Olympics, and, a personal favourite, the Hide and Seek World Championships.
posted at 1:39 PM CDT on May 7
And the nominees are... The NHL individual award nominess have been announced. Who will win the Calder Memorial Trophy (rookie of the year), the Frank J. Selke trophy (best defensive forward), the Hart Memorial trophy (MVP), Jack Adams award (coach of the year), James Norris Memorial trophy (best defenseman), Lady Byng Memorial trophy (most gentlemanly player), Lester B. Pearson award (MVP as voted by fellow players), or the Vezina trophy (best goaltender)?
posted to Hockey at 2:03 PM CDT
I'm sticking with my picks from the other thread, except I'll now choose Brind'amour for the Selke. I was pulling names out of my ass for my pick there. Everyone else I choseback then has been nominated, so despite my Round 1 picks at least I can be accurate about something hockey related.
posted at 4:46 PM CDT on May 4
A Tale of Two Seasons The Red Wings were built for the regular season. A column by sportsfilter's own wingnut4life.
posted to Hockey at 10:25 PM CDT
For every "bad" call you find going in favour of Edmonton, you can find a "bad" call going in favour of Detroit.
Was it a high stick? I don't know. It certainly looked like he made contact with the puck below the shoulders, so it definitely looked legal to me. Was it kicked? I don't know, I couldn't see anything. Maybe it was, but the Detroit defenseman didn't make things any easier for the refs by knocking Hemsky into the net.
Did Lidstrom perform a blatant mid-ice pick on a 5 on 3 in game three (or was it four?)? It certainly looked like it was a callable play (embelished or no), but it wasn't and it led to the game winning goal.
It works both ways.
Besides, it's not like one team had seven 5 on 3s while the other had none. *cough*
posted at 12:22 PM CDT on May 3
<strike> is deprecated and bad! Use <del> since that does the job of, well, deleting!
posted at 9:59 PM CDT on May 3
For Drury, Winning Is Not the Only Thing Drury, co-captain and center, has helped the Buffalo Sabres to a franchise-best 52 regular-season victories and a 3-2 lead over the Philadelphia Flyers in their first-round N.H.L. playoff series. As a youth, his Greater Bridgeport (Conn.) hockey team won the United States national amateur championship in 1989. Five months later, he hit and pitched his team from Trumbull, Conn., to the Little League World Series title with an upset of Taiwan. But after all that, winning is not the only thing on Drury's mind. i now have MY hockey team to get behind, least, as long as Drury is there.
posted to Hockey at 3:01 PM CDT
he Devils scored 17 goals in 4 games, with goals coming from 3 different lines.
Against the Rangers. A depleted Rangers team no less. Carolina is going to be a different beast, especially with the confident goaltender they have now. NJ might be on a roll, but Carolina has picked up momentum too and will likely carry it through the series.
the West has two cinderellas: Sharks and Ducks.
Aren't you getting a little bit ahead of yourself? Ducks haven't won yet. And, really, Colorado and Edmonton are the bigger surprises there.
posted at 12:34 PM CDT on May 3
8th Seeded Oilers knock out the President's Trophy winning Red Wings 4-2 . For just the 4th time since 1967, the #1 seed is eliminated in the first round. Is this the end of Legacy's time in Detroit and was this Yzerman's last game?
posted to Hockey at 3:04 AM CDT
There were mere seconds to go in the game, the Canes were up by one, the Habs's net was empty, the faceoff was in the Canes' end, but no Brind'Amour in the faceoff circle. WTF indeed.
Dude. The Canes had just iced the puck and you can't change players after an icing. Give Laviolette some credit.
Though that reasoning doesn't apply to the Detroit game....
posted at 11:54 AM CDT on May 2
Malkin transfer could be costly "We're not asking for ($900,000) compensation from Penguins. Such a sum is a handout and we're not interested in handouts," Metallurg Magnitogorsk general director Gennady Velichkin told Russian media. "Put simply, they must buy his contract from us."
posted to Hockey at 1:22 PM CDT
This is precisely why the draft position of a lot of Russian players is dropping fast. I mean, there wasn't a single Russian drafted last year until 70th spot. NHL teams realize the risk. And with increasing talent coming up from other markets, Russian players are just going to get passed over more and more in favour of safer choices.
posted at 2:53 PM CDT on May 1
Legion of Broom The New Jersey Devils are the first team to advance to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Devils defeat the Rangers in the playoffs for the first time in franchise history with a 4 game sweep.
posted to Hockey at 10:37 PM CDT
I don't think they can. So far the Canadiens haven't found a counter to the Canes' stealthy stick-in-the-face maneuver.
posted at 11:47 AM CDT on May 1
Forsberg looks lost? Forsberg is invisible? I'm posting this because of the talk on another thread where the majority stated the Buffalo/Philly series was all but over. However, it has only just begun. When it comes to playoff hockey, Peter Forsberg is a man among boys.
posted to Hockey at 3:28 AM CDT
He wasn't? That's news to me.
posted at 7:42 PM CDT on April 29
Harry Potter and a gobbed jet of ire - Marina Hyde in the Guardian asks "is quidditch the worst fake sport ever?" Apparently, in the US, you have your own version (typical). What's your favourite fictional sport?
posted to Other at 9:10 AM CDT
Definitely Blernsball.
At Madison Cube Garden:
Fry: Hey, I'm starting to get the hang of this game. The blerns are loaded, the count's three blerns and two anti-blerns and the infield blern rule is in effect, right?
Leela: Except for the word "blern" that was complete gibberish.
[Something beeps. The blernsball falls into a hole and "Ball Locked" flashes on large screens. Machines come up in the pitch and the crowd cheers.]
Man: Multi-ball! [Another machine comes up.] Multi-ball! [The game turns into a pinball game with balls flying everywhere. The batter tries in vain to hit the many balls flying at him.] Blern! Blern!
[Another player rides a hover-cycle around the pitch with the bases exploding behind him. A bullpen opens and someone comes out riding a large spider. Fry scratches his head in confusion. Leela writes on her score card.]
Leela: Alright! Yes! Miller's on a pace to hit 70 blerns!
Farnsworth: He's good, alright. But he's no Clem Johnson. And Johnson played back in the days before steroid injections were mandatory.
Bender: Clem Johnson? That skin bag wouldn't have lasted one pitch in the old Robot Leagues! Now Wireless Joe Jackson, there was a blern-hitting machine!
Leela: Exactly! He was a machine designed to hit blerns! I mean, come on, Wireless Joe was nothing but a programmable bat on wheels.
Bender: Oh, and I suppose Pitchomat 5000 was just a modified howitzer?
Leela: Yep.
posted at 3:01 PM CDT on April 27
Also, I can't remember the name and it is pretty obscure, but in Sliders they once played a game that was a cross between basketball and a trivia show.
posted at 4:47 PM CDT on April 27
The Flyers win a good one being physical early, with some hard checks and minor scuffles. Even Forsberg was overly aggressive, getting 2 minutes for charging that only fired up the Philly faithful. Much Yuengling was drunk...
posted to Hockey at 12:51 AM CDT
Buffalo just started off way too lethargic in that game. Once they got going, they started skating cicles around the Flyers defenders -- but by then it was too little too late. All those late penalties kind of took the momentum out a bit.
What's more impressive is that Colorado managed to steal another one in the dieing minutes of the game. Who'd have thought that the Avs would be up 3-0 with Theodore in net!?
posted at 1:43 AM CDT on April 27
As a general rule, often the team that stays the healthiest has the best chance to play for the cup (look at TB last time). Canadiens' chances are kind of screwed now that Koivu is gone.
Similarly, if Yzerman doesn't play tonight, you have to wonder about their chances. Granted, the Wings without Yzerman are a FAR deeper team than the Canadiens without Koivu, but he's been their best player so far. I'm starting to think that I should have just picked the EDM upset instead of wafting on it and just giving DET a marginal 7th game win.
posted at 2:51 PM CDT on April 27
ottawa scores 8, yahoo shows fight I think it is funny how Ottawa scores an impressive eight goals in the hockey game against Tampa, and then Yahoo shows Chara fighting with Lecavalier on the game recap. see! fighting is still better than scoring! idiots.
posted to Hockey at 12:24 AM CDT
I don't think showing a fight in the recap -- a fight in which a TB player is getting beat on -- is all that odd. It's like this grand metaphor for what Ottawa did to TB on the scoreboard and works better than a single goal highlight would. yeah.
It would be just as appropriate as showing the two Flyer players knocking each other out with a body check because the one Sabre they were gunning for was just too fast for them to nail. That's about a perfect analogy for how that series is going.
It's all about the metaphors and analogies. Yahoo is on top of it. Yes.
---
This first round has been weird thus far. Every game is a either complete blowout or a tight one goal affair midway through the third period. And if a game sometimes look like it'll be a blowout, the other team sometimes manages to make it a tight one goal third period.
There's been a lot of comebacks from two or even three goal deficits this year. It's been a great first round so far (unless you're a Carolina or Dallas of Philadelphia fan).
posted at 10:52 AM CDT on April 26
For someone that hates "fighting" and how it appeals to "fans", but obviously "loves" the quotes on random "words", you "sure" do comment on all the "fight" related threads. Even the non-hockey ones?????????
http://www.sportsfilter.com/members/search_comments.cfm?user_ID=6250
posted at 9:01 PM CDT on April 26
Today was a perfect example of how officiating isn't working all that well in the playoffs. The NHL has instilled a fear into the refs that if they don't make the calls, they are out of the job. So they look for the calls, and now everytime a stick or hand comes near a player it is a penalty.
Meanwhile, Dumont gets speared, Koivu gets a stick in the eye, players get boarded... and nothing.
posted at 9:05 PM CDT on April 26
Coach of the Year (III): Today, Marc Crawford was fired as head coach of the non-playoff-bound (and seriously underachieving) Vancouver Canucks.
posted to Hockey at 7:08 PM CDT
4) In milliseconds, how long will it be before we see rumours about Quinn going back to Vancouver?
And Crawford going to Toronto has already been talked about on CBC. No surprise there. It seems as though during the intermissions, they talk more about the teams not in the playoffs (Leafs, Canucks) than those that made it.
posted at 7:57 PM CDT on April 25
It kind of does feel like you betrayed your country.
Nationalism is stupid. What the Olympics should be about is athletes and sports and co-operation and fair play; not this nationalist bullshit and corporate sponsorship and politics (I'm looking at you Beijing).
Yet there are people that think that athletes pursuing their dreams to play in the Olympics, even if it means going to another country, is what's wrong with the Olympics? THIS out of all things? No, to me that's what's right.