Let Me Know

Let me know why a charging penalty was called.

Head was down. Player was gliding towards him. No extra strides.

Hmmm...penalty?

I Have a Dream

I have a dream, a dream where my starting goalie will hold the fort.

I have a dream, a dream where, if something goes wrong, my goalie will stand tall and make sure to back me up.

Martin Brodeur of the Devils shows the entire league how lucky the Devils are to have him as a goaltender. After coming back from an injury that has kept him out since Nov. 1 of 2008, he routinely throws up a big fat zero for the visiting Avalanche. Come on, first game back and putting up a goose egg, that is just insane.

This story pains me in so many different ways but there is only one that matters. The Toronto Maple Leafs who seem to have a problem keeping pucks out of their own net when it is needed the most just can't find someone who can mimic Brodeur. It just pains me to see how lucky some teams are when it comes to goaltending and how other teams just fall through the cracks, or in my case, pucks going through the hole between Vesa's legs.

I remember the days when Cujo and Potvin stood tall and never allowed mistakes made by their defencemen to bother them. It was a good time and a time I hope returns sooner than later. In my previous post I ripped the Leafs for their poor record of bringing in players and making a team that could actually contend for the Stanley Cup. Yes, I am angry at them for not putting in a real effort, I still stand behind my opinions about management seeking profits over Lord Stanley, but I hope to see a competitive team on the ice in the next 2-3 seasons.

Mr. Burke, go out and find someone to pick up the slack when our defencemen seem to be "Out For Lunch". Leaf fans who have stayed and cheered the Leafs through these tough times deserve it. These are the real fans even if they can not afford those tickets because management seeks to price them out.

Expensive Night Out

"The Passion That Unites Us All"
More like
"Thanks for your money, suckers!"

We all know that going to a game at the ACC when the Leafs are playing is not one of the cheapest and most friendly things you can do to your wallet. So, as I read the daily news, I bump into a little piece about how the Leafs are going to hike their tickets prices 3.5% for next season. The first thing that comes to my mind is, man, Torontonians are a bunch of F*CKING idiots!!!

Why are we so stupid and continually give MLSE our hard earned dollars when all we get back in return is a product that is defective. Would you ever continually purchase something even though it hasn't satisfied you in years? Would you keep going to the same grocery store knowing that there were rats roaming freely? Even though the food hasn't killed you just yet. That is going a little overboard but it does relate with the Leafs situation. Leafs have a terrible product but the fans of Toronto keep paying and going to this "grocery store" and contually buy and buy.

As I have expressed to my friends on numerous occasions, the only way the Leafs are going to put a winning team on the ice is when they are forced to, not by management, not by MLSE, and not by their true owners, the Ontario Teacher's Pension Plan. The only way the Leafs are going to field a winning team is when their profits are hit! What motivation do the Leafs have to put a winning team on the ice. They charge the highest average ticket price in the NHL, $95.33, but they continually sell out the ACC on a nightly basis. I would love to own a business like that. Produce a sh*t product and still have tremendous demand for it year in and year out.

I don't go to Leafs games because it is too expensive.

I don't go to Leafs games because I don't believe in their product.

I don't go to Leafs games because I would rather spend time sitting at home watching other NHL calibre hockey teams.

Yes, I do have to admit I do watch them on TV, once in a while. I don't watch from start to finish because they just don't do it for me anymore.

People of Toronto should start to realize that the Leafs are running a business and have a goal and sadly to say, it isn't winning a Stanley Cup and bring a parade to Yonge Street. It is to rake in the profits and give the owners, Teacher's Pension Plan, a nice gain in their investment. Come on, think logically here and check your loyalty for the Leafs at the door, why are the Leafs going to change their business plan when it continually succeeds? At this point in time, making profits and not the winning the Stanley Cup is their top priority.

B U T...

If the profits start to dry up management will be forced to put a contender on the ice. For all of you people who keep complaining about the price increases, STOP GOING TO THE GAMES!!! Talking all the smack about how expensive the prices of the tickets are is going to do nothing but fall on deaf ears.

The simple solution is to stop giving your hard earned dollars to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

PGA Tiger Update

The truth is the PGA Tour is a mere skeleton without Tiger Woods. He is the meat which satisfies the most important people in the golfing world, the fans, and without him TV ratings are simply crap.

It is the exact situation all leagues around the world go through. A star who carries the league to another level and captures the imagination of young and old while growing it's fan base. I am very happy to finally read news about Woods that isn't related to his rehab and when he was planning on getting back to competing on the PGA Tour.

Woods returned to the Tour by winning his first round match at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Tournament. (Side Note: He beat Brendan Jones, 64th in the world).

I didn't have a chance to watch any of it but after reading a few articles around the internet, I saw a theme, he was walking and swinging like he was a brand new man. His body seemed to have healed and is now stronger than ever. Just think about the fear that other golfers must think when they see, hear, and read about how strong Woods is and what he was able to do with a serious injury (US Open, leg injury, surgery, you've heard it before).

Just think about the statement it would be if Woods found a way to win this tournament. His first tournament back and he takes the title. This guy is unstoppable and it seems all the players know it. Please tell me, where is the next guy who is actually going to compete against Tiger and make him sweat when it comes to Sunday's back-9? Seriously, who the hell is going to make Woods sweat.

Tiger Woods is back and for all those golfers out there who won tournaments and had that sense of being able to win every time they teed up on Thursday, think again.

What is up with the strap going across the laces? I bet it gives more support but it just looks out of place. I like the white mesh, plain and simple but something I would definitely not purchase.

Truth

This is only funny because it's the truth.

I can't wait to see Tiger teeing it up, roaming the freeways, and fist pumping with his red shirt on Sunday. I have enjoyed watching some golf in his absense but it does seem a little more interesting when Tiger is in the hunt and playing for a championship on Sunday.

Unfair Indeed

LBK leaves me speechless. I second the announcer, "It truly is unfair!"

QB & WR

My love of the passing game, as evident with my love with Warner/Bruce/Holt, is something always keep an eye on during any NFL season.

The Colts are apparently going to release WR Marvin Harrison and break up the Manning/Harrison duo that put fear in the eyes of defensive coordinators around the league. In the past two seasons, Harrison has been suffering injuries and this was inevitable. With the economics of the NFL and the need for salary cap space it was a no doubter. Hopefully Harrison can find a team that can rejuvenate his career.

Throw him with Bruce and Warner. Wow, that would be amazing to watch. Well, not anymore but it would look great on paper. I am such a sucker when it comes to the passing game.

Speechless

The way he spins and uses the boards is absolutely amazing. This kid just keeps doing what he loves to do, score. To be honest, I had a little hatred towards him because of where he comes from. No, I am not racist and I am not saying I hate him because he is Russian. I hate him as a hockey player because he does not come from the great land of Canada. Go Canada Go!!!

Remember in the World Junior's a few years back when Ovechkin and Crosby went at it? Where Crosby hit Ovechkin and he had to sit off because of a shoulder injury. I am starting to warm to Ovechkin. He just keeps on amazing me with his ability to score. Now to think of it, I'm starting to lose interest in Crosby. He needs to just play hockey and stop being a little baby. I'll keep that for another post in the future when Crosby exhibits some of this baby crap.

Hey Leafs, start putting some money into the scouting department and try and build a team through the draft! Please!!

Moneyball...The Movie!

For all of you who are serious fantasy baseball players this is for you.

Moneyball, a book written by Michael Lewis, is about how Billy Beane (A's GM) manages/builds his team on a shoe-string budget through statistical methods. If you have not read this book, I would strongly recommend it. Even if you are not a huge stats nut it is a very intesreting and easy read. This book is now going to be a movie and according to IMDB, Brad Pitt will play Billy Beane. Just some info for ya.