December 10, 2009

SportsFilter: The Thursday Huddle:

A place to discuss the sports stories that aren't making news, share links that aren't quite front-page material, and diagram plays on your hand. Remember to count to five Mississippi before commenting in anger.

posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 29 comments

From the "Better Late Than Never" stat department:

Martin Brodeur got his 103rd shutout on Monday, tying him for the all-time career lead with Terry Sawchuk. Since he already has the most career wins, is it still too soon to call him the greatest ever?

posted by MeatSaber at 06:06 AM on December 10, 2009

Everton has decided they don't have enough ineffectual midfielders and are sniffing around Landon Donovan.

Possibly a good move for Landon if he can get a run in the team and keep his sharpness up before next summer, provided he doesn't wear himself out.

He was underwhelming in Germany, but maybe the more robust style of the EPL will suit.

posted by Mr Bismarck at 09:26 AM on December 10, 2009

Since he already has the most career wins, is it still too soon to call him the greatest ever?

Nah, let's see him do without a mask.

Brodeur is certainly in the top three all time; I just don't know enough about judging stats between eras to say how he stacks up relative to his historical peers when adjusting for the era he plays in. Shorter seasons in the past, no overtimes, no shootouts (does a goalie get a W for a shootout win?), etc. That said, I would imagine the current era is a higher goal scoring era than prior eras, so I am sure Brodeur's GAA looks pretty good in context. And hell, a shutout is a shutout in any era (although it doesn't hurt to have a good defense/defensive system in front of you, as Brodeur has had largely throughout his career).

posted by holden at 09:27 AM on December 10, 2009

Nah, let's see him do without a mask.

or with pads that aren't the size of a mattress. Look at the pics of sawchuck, his pads are not much wider then his legs. The equipment today is so much bigger then it was back in the day

posted by Debo270 at 10:38 AM on December 10, 2009

I don't know if it's a plus or a minus - but Sawchuk played 20 years sans helmet and mask. Pretty scary, especially for a goalie.

posted by pullmyfinger at 10:45 AM on December 10, 2009

Possibly a good move for Landon

Only if he's looking to develop a crippling injury. Be interesting to see if he even makes it to the plane.

posted by yerfatma at 10:50 AM on December 10, 2009

The equipment today is so much bigger then it was back in the day

You have to remember that everyone is shooting significantly harder now too. Composite sticks and a 6'9 defensemen are breaking 110mph on the gun nowadays. Taking a Chara slapshop with those cardboard pads would probably be the end of your career.

posted by dfleming at 11:20 AM on December 10, 2009

Nah, let's see him do without a mask.

That picture of Sawchuk with the scars was done with makeup for a Life magazine article. It was used to represent all of the injuries he had over his career. His face never actually looked like that at any time.

Shorter seasons in the past, no overtimes, no shootouts (does a goalie get a W for a shootout win?), etc.

Yes, a goalie gets the W for an overtime or shootout win. That's where the comparison between Brodeur's win total and Patrick Roy's win total sort of falls apart.

posted by grum@work at 12:21 PM on December 10, 2009

That picture of Sawchuk with the scars was done with makeup for a Life magazine article. It was used to represent all of the injuries he had over his career. His face never actually looked like that at any time.

Perhaps a distinction without a difference (i.e., you are saying the same thing), but my understanding of that photo is that the photographer/make-up artist enhanced all of Sawchuk's existing scars. So, correct that he never had, for instance, all of those stitches or pronounced scars at one time, but I think those were accurate placements of actual battle wounds he had taken on over the years.

posted by holden at 01:09 PM on December 10, 2009

Yes, a goalie gets the W for an overtime or shootout win. That's where the comparison between Brodeur's win total and Patrick Roy's win total sort of falls apart.

As of right now, Brodeur has 576 wins with 33 of those resulting from a shootout. Nine more nonshootout wins and that will be a moot point.

However, unless the Devils have another run like they did from 2000-2003, Brodeur is going to fall short in the playoff wins department.

posted by MrFrisby at 01:38 PM on December 10, 2009

Donovan: Everton's 15th right now and would try anything to avoid relegation by March. Don't know if he's the way to go, though.

posted by jjzucal at 01:39 PM on December 10, 2009

Tiger Woods leaked sex tape.

posted by rcade at 03:10 PM on December 10, 2009

As a proud member of the Marty B fan club, I was waiting for him to break the record before I posted, but in light of that, I just wanted to throw something into the mix. When determining who may or may not have been the greatest on an inter-era basis, one defining factor should be the influence of the individual on the game itself. When the NHL changed the rules post-lockout to prevent goalies from going into the corner to play the puck, it was a direct response to Brodeur's dominance over the game. Part of the reason for his success is his ability to handle the puck like a third defenseman, and much of the Devils offense was predicated on that in the 90's. The man didn't complain (he was actually on the player advisory committee that approved the rule) he just went about with his business of winning games. I think that should be part of the argument that he is among the all-time greats, if not at the top of the heap.

posted by tahoemoj at 03:40 PM on December 10, 2009

Tiger Woods leaked sex tape.

That is so not right. Funny as hell but not right.

posted by BornIcon at 03:47 PM on December 10, 2009

Doubt Marty can catch Roy in playoff wins. The Devils would have to win 3 straight Cups just to get him within shouting distance. And even if that (God forbid) did happen, he'd be 40 years old after that run. Throw in the Olympics this coming February, and that's a ton of hockey to throw on an aging body you depend on for 75 games a season...

posted by MeatSaber at 04:53 PM on December 10, 2009

Another Tiger Woods sex tape emerges.

posted by JJ at 05:05 PM on December 10, 2009

The Hoser won't be out until tomorrow, so here's the Thursday nighter:

Pittsburgh (-10) at CLEVELAND [33]: There could be less scoring here than in the Woods compound this weekend. Steelers 19, Browns 10.

posted by wfrazerjr at 05:56 PM on December 10, 2009

Thanks rcade. Sweet.

posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 06:02 PM on December 10, 2009

Time for ice fishing season...

posted by MeatSaber at 06:30 PM on December 10, 2009

I think it was yesterday, but did anyone see the lunchtime (EST) Sportscenter that featured Herm Edwards screaming about Tiger Woods' moral failings? I want to believe I just dreamt it.

posted by yerfatma at 07:19 PM on December 10, 2009

Meatsaber, as a Minnesotan I applaud those crazy Canadians!

posted by dviking at 08:13 PM on December 10, 2009

Tiger Woods leaked sex tape.

Hilarious

posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 08:34 PM on December 10, 2009

Tiger Woods leaked sex tape.

Woods sex pic.

posted by Mr Bismarck at 09:58 AM on December 11, 2009

Whoa, how 'bout a NSFW, Mr. B? That's tawdry.

posted by yerfatma at 10:15 AM on December 11, 2009

Classic Mr. B! I don't know if you can hear that but that's me giving you a standing ovation.

posted by BornIcon at 11:07 AM on December 11, 2009

Tiger Woods leaked sex tape.

Another Tiger Woods sex tape emerges.

Woods sex pic.

I was going to check these out after work yesterday but I forgot. SFW? I can't tell if ya'll are joking.

posted by tron7 at 11:38 AM on December 11, 2009

SFW? I can't tell if ya'll are joking.

Only if you work for tree huggers.

posted by BornIcon at 12:02 PM on December 11, 2009

jj's and Mr.B's are likely SFW

posted by Scottymac at 12:03 PM on December 11, 2009

You're obviously not a tree surgeon. That's hard-core pr0n around these parts.
/whittles furiously

posted by yerfatma at 12:12 PM on December 11, 2009

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