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Saturday, April 30, 2011
John Beck Could be Washington Redskins? Starting Quarterback
9-Yr Old Wins Face on Kyle Busch's Truck & a Whopping Hundred Bucks
Griffin, a student at Wright Elementary School in Spring Hill Tenn., had his essay selected as the winner among submissions from children age 5-12 in the Greater Nashville area. The contest called for children to submit an essay of 150 words or less that described an experience and/or achievement that occurred within the past 12 months and affe...
Friday, April 29, 2011
Sure, I?d Love To Hear John Daly?s Thoughts Regarding Tiger Woods? Sexless Marriage
NASCAR Picks: Top Drivers at Richmond
Rk.Car NumberDriverAverage FinishHigh RatingAverage Driver Rating
111Denny Hamlin8.0150.0119.8
218Kyle Busch5.3140.6113.8
329Kevin Harvick8.6142.4112.1
424Jeff Gordon15.8135.297.8
514Tony Stewart8.9129.497.4
633Clint Bowyer9.8122.996.6
72Kurt Busch15.8144.294.1
839Ryan Newman11.0117.193.4
95Mark Martin12.0120.291.6
1048Jimmie Johnson16.1134.189.9
1131Jeff Burton14.5114.786.7
129Kasey Kahne17.8147.985.9
1388Dale Earnhardt Jr.19.0129.585.6
1447Marcos Ambrose11.8100.181.8
1599Carl Edwards17.8105.881.7
1616Greg Biffle15.8116.081.0
1756Martin Truex Jr.23.5113.179.9
1817Matt Kenseth18.8115.579.7
1942Juan Pablo Montoya21.4110.879.3
2020Joey Logano13.3100.177.6
2100David Reutimann19.498.775.0
221Jamie McMurray25.6101.169.0
2312Brad Kese...
Daily Zap: April 27th
 | NBA highlights from April 27th, 2011. Visit www.nba.com for more highlights. | From: NBA Views: 14807   171 ratings |
| Time: 02:32 | More in Sports |
Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rHoCclMaOY&feature=youtube_gdata
Red Wings look to bounce Sharks
They have faced each other in the playoffs four times before, with each team winning twice. The Wings have the unhappy recent memory, losing last year in the second round to the Sharks in five games.
The Wings are in a different situation than last year, when they were coming off a seven-game series against the Phoenix Coyotes.
"A lot of different things are different," Danny Cleary said. "We're a better team than we were last year. Obviously, we don't have the one-day layover from Game 7.
"We're looking for a little redemption. We all know the feeling we had when we lost and we want to keep going here. We've got a good team, and we believe we've got a real good chance."
The Sharks also won the season series, 3-1, so they have a bit of a psychological edge from that perspective.
"They got a good team, and they're going to present a good obstacle for us," Wings coach Mike Babcock said. "But we're looking forward to it, should be a lot of fun.
"They beat us last year and ended our season. That in itself should have us a little fired up and wary."
Here's a look at how the teams match up:
Forwards
Both teams have a lot of depth up front. Certainly the Sharks have the advantage in size while the Wings have the edge in experience.
Ryan Clowe led the Sharks with four goals and three assists in the first round against the Los Angeles Kings. Rookie Logan Couture, Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau and Ian White each had five points.
For the Wings, Pavel Datsyuk dazzled and deked his way to two goals and four assists in the four-game sweep of the Coyotes. Quietly, Valtteri Filppula had five points in the four games.
The Wings will get a boost by getting Henrik Zetterberg and Johan Franzen back from injuries. Zetterberg missed the entire first round with a left knee injury while Franzen missed Game 4 with a left ankle injury.
"It's been a while since I played, especially in a playoff game, so I'm fired up," Zetterberg said.
Defensemen
Dan Boyle is the workhorse for the Sharks, averaging 27:10 in the first round, the most of any player on either team. Douglas Murray, Jason Demers, Marc-Edouard Vlasic, White and Niclas Wallin round out the top six. Wallin, 36, was on the Carolina Hurricanes when they won the Stanley Cup in 2006.
Because of the success of his team, Babcock was able to spread the minutes around for his defensemen in the first round.
Six-time Norris Trophy winner Nicklas Lidstrom, a finalist for this year's Norris, turned 41 Thursday but finished second in the league among defensemen in scoring during the regular season. Niklas Kronwall, Brian Rafalski, Brad Stuart, Jonathan Ericsson and Ruslan Salei make up the rest of the top defensemen. Salei and Kronwall tied with Datsyuk as a plus-6 in the first round.
Goaltenders
Antti Niemi already has a Stanley Cup on his resume from last season with the Chicago Blackhawks, but he wasn't quite stellar in the first round against the Kings.
Niemi had a 3.99 goals-against average and .863 save percentage. However, Finnish countryman Antero Niittymaki will be ready if needed.
A lot of the focus before the first round was on Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard, playing in just his second postseason. Despite winning 37 games, Howard had a subpar sophomore season with a 2.79 goals-against average and .908 save percentage.
Yet Howard raised his play against the Coyotes, with a 2.50 goals-against average and .915 save percentage. The biggest difference was in his serious approach, when the easygoing goalie told reporters after the sweep of the Coyotes that he'd "smile in June."
Coaches
These two coaches know each other very well as Sharks coach Todd McLellan was an assistant on Babcock's staff in Detroit.
McLellan has won more than 150 games in his first three seasons in San Jose, only the second coach in league history to reach that mark. Mike Keenan won 152 games in his first three years with the Philadelphia Flyers.
But even McLellan's stellar resume doesn't quite match that of Babcock, the man who led the Wings to the Stanley Cup in 2008 and the Canadians to Olympic gold in 2010.
Special teams
The Wings know they can't let the Sharks score at a 33.3 percent clip on the power play as the Coyotes did in the first round. Although the Sharks only had two power play goals in 23 opportunities against the Kings, they had the league's second-ranked power play in the regular season.
"One of the areas we've got to really improve in this series versus last series is our penalty kill has got to be good," Babcock said. "L.A. did a good job staying in in the series because (goalie Jonathan) Quick was solid and the penalty kill was good.
"If you let San Jose's power play get rolling, it'll be trouble for you."
As for the reverse, the Wings were fourth on the power play in the first round, scoring four times in 15 chances. The Sharks had an average penalty kill against the Kings, finishing ninth.
Intangibles
The questions facing the Wings are what effect the long layoff will have on them, what impact will Henrik Zetterberg have in his playoff debut and can Jimmy Howard continue his strong play in goal?
For the Sharks, it's the same question every year -- is this the year they get over the hump and win the Cup? Will the expectations weigh on them again or will they break through?
Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/nhl/article_external/red_wings_look_to_bounce_sharks/4643082
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Serena Williams = Hip Hop Artist?
Via TMZ:
We're told Serena hit the studio last week to lay down a few tracks ... and is working with a record label owned by Minnesota Vikings star Bryant McKinnie. During the session, we're told Serena did some work with renowned hip-hip producer DJ Clue ... and she wasn't half-bad.
Well.........it can't be any worse than her�trying to channel Madonna while singing Karaoke with her pals last month, right?� Right!?!�
Oh Lawd.
Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/tennis/article_external/serena_williams_hip_hop_artist/4622311
Roseman: Eagles Were Impressed By Jimmy Smith & Are Willing To Take Chances
Johnson leads HMS brigade to win at Talladega
It?s no wonder. After all, the four-car operation claimed the top-four starting spots during pole qualifying on Sunday and all four cars were around at the end to post top-10 finishes.
Jimmie Johnson led to way, claiming his first win of the season, beating Richard Childress Racing?s Clint Bowyer by 0.002 seconds, making Sunday?s race finish one of the tightest since NASCAR went to electronic scoring. Johnson?s margin of victory matches Ricky Craven?s margin of victory over Kurt Busch at Darlington Raceway in 2003 as smallest win margin in NASCAR in the electronic scoring age.
?It was fun,? Bowyer said after the race. ?We just came up a little short.?
The Roush Fenway Racing duo of Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle led the way with two laps to go, but were passed by HMS? Jeff Gordon and Mark Martin just before the field took the white flag ...
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Johnson leads HMS brigade to win at Talladega
It?s no wonder. After all, the four-car operation claimed the top-four starting spots during pole qualifying on Sunday and all four cars were around at the end to post top-10 finishes.
Jimmie Johnson led to way, claiming his first win of the season, beating Richard Childress Racing?s Clint Bowyer by 0.002 seconds, making Sunday?s race finish one of the tightest since NASCAR went to electronic scoring. Johnson?s margin of victory matches Ricky Craven?s margin of victory over Kurt Busch at Darlington Raceway in 2003 as smallest win margin in NASCAR in the electronic scoring age.
?It was fun,? Bowyer said after the race. ?We just came up a little short.?
The Roush Fenway Racing duo of Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle led the way with two laps to go, but were passed by HMS? Jeff Gordon and Mark Martin just before the field took the white flag ...
2011 NFL Mock Draft: Comparing Expert Mocks from Around the Web, Consensus Pick
There is only one day left until the 2011 NFL draft.
You already know that, but what you may not know is who the "experts" are considering as first-round picks. Have no fear, because I am here to compare what I have to what they have.
For this post, I will be taking a look at ESPN draft gurus Todd McShay and Mel Kiper Jr.'s most recent mock drafts.
These two guys love to debate, and it is rare that they agree on any topic. Their top 10 picks are all similar, but they both have stated that several trades will occur, which will cause a shake up in the top 10.
Stay tuned as I update you on who they have being drafted in the first round of the 2011 NFL draft.
Magic, Pacers Look To Avoid Elimination
Dwight Howard has had little to no help throughout the Magic's series against the Atlanta Hawks. The Magic are shooting .219 from behind the line in the series, and they've taken the second-most threes out of the 16 playoff teams. Howard meanwhile has been superb, shooting 66% from the field while scoring 32 points and [...]
Source: http://thebiglead.com/index.php/2011/04/26/magic-pacers-look-to-avoid-elimination/
Los Angeles Galaxy vs. FC Dallas: Back on the Revenge Tour
Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy hit the road on May 1 to take on Schellas Hyndman's FC Dallas at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas.
One player that the Galaxy will not have to worry about is 2010 MLS MVP David Ferreira, who suffered a broken right ankle in the Hoops' 2-1 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps.
“He’s a special player in this league,” Arena told LAGalaxy.com's Larry Morgan, “as evidenced by the MVP award last year and Dallas’ progression to the Cup final."
“He’s a terrific player and we want all good players on the field as much as possible.”
Of course, the G's will be without the services of Leonardo, who suffered torn knee ligaments and will be out for the remainder of the season.
“It just sucks for their team,” central defender Omar Gonzalez said. “He was the MVP last year and he carried them a long way. For them to lose a high-caliber player just sucks, like it did for us when we lost Leo. There have been a lot of injuries around the league, and it’s sad to see it happen."
“If he was on the field then we would have to keep an eye on him the whole game. But I’m sure they’ll put someone else in there who will have an effect like he did, or at least try to. Either way Bruce is going to show us film and we’re just going to focus on our game.”
“Last year, we might have put a little bit of emphasis on him alone,” said defender A.J. DeLaGarza. “We know he’s a different player. Now, we can just do what we have to do and not have to worry about him."
“Obviously, I’d much rather play against him than have him out. It’s just unfortunate. He was MVP for a reason.”
Eric Avila was instrumental in FC Dallas's victory over Vancouver. Avila currently has a goal and an assist to his credit but is expected to play a bigger role on Sunday.
Other capable scorers include Brek Shea, George John and Milton Rodriguez, all who have a goal each. Marvin Chavez is the team's best provider, with two assists to his credit.
Defensively, the combination of of Jair Benitez, Jackson, captain Daniel Hernandez, John, Zach Loyd and Ugo Ihemelu will need to replicate their Western Conference Final efforts against David Beckham, Landon Donovan, Chad Barrett and the Galaxy attack without Ferreira.
Currently, FC Dallas goalkeeper Kevin Hartman has a 2-3-1 record and a 1.50 goals against average. His counterpart, Donovan Ricketts, owns a 3-0-2 record, a 0.40 GAA and a 87.5 percent save percentage.
David Beckham leads the Galaxy in assists with four and should get his share of free kicks to work with on Sunday. However, the Galaxy will win this game with solid ball distribution. Los Angeles defeated Portland with free-flowing sequences dictated by precision passing.
If the Hoops are unable to break up the possession game Los Angeles needs in order to win, Dallas will see payback coming their way.
Prediction:
This should be a Galaxy win. I like the Galaxy building on their win streak and creating chances based on sequences from short and intermediate passing. The absence of David Ferreira also plays into Los Angeles's hands.
Los Angeles Galaxy 3, FC Dallas 1
Kickoff is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. PT/7:00 p.m. ET and will be televised by Fox Sports West and Galavision.
INS & OUTS
Dreadful start for reserves
The LA Galaxy reserves were unable to replicate the efforts of the first team, falling to the Portland Timbers 3-1.
They will look to rebound on May 3, when they take on the Chivas USA reserves. Kickoff is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. PT/2:00 p.m. ET with the location to be determined.
Youth Academy Update
After taking the week off, the LA Galaxy Youth Academy will resume action on Saturday, April 30, when they take on Chivas USA. The Under-18s will kick off at 1:00 p.m. ET/4:00 p.m. ET while the Under-16s will clash at 3:30 p.m. PT/6:30 p.m. ET.
THe Under-16s are 14-2-1 (43 points) and are 5-2-0 in the Southern California Division of the US Soccer Development Academy. As for the Under-16s, they are 10-5-2 (32 points) and are 3-2-2 in the SoCal Division.
Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/679994-los-angeles-galaxy-vs-fc-dallas-back-on-the-revenge-tour
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
When was the last time the Chicago Cubs had a successful power hitting lefty?
2011 NFL Mock Draft: Quarterback-Hungry Teams and the Aforementioned Big Board
Okay, so if the big board in my last update holds any water whatsoever, I figure we can mostly apply it -- at least in terms of starting-caliber or eventual starting-caliber prospects -- toward the following quarterback-hungry teams:
- Carolina Panthers
- Buffalo Bills
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Arizona Cardinals
- San Francisco 49ers
- Minnesota Vikings
- Miami Dolphins
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- Seattle Seahawks
From there, let's break those teams down into a few categories.
The first category represents teams that could use an upgrade at quarterback from the 2011 NFL Draft class, but otherwise would get along alright if they do not target a passer:
- San Francisco 49ers
- Miami Dolphins
- Jacksonville Jaguars
Obviously the Niners would like to replace Alex Smith if they could and find a long-term starter, but they could get by with Smith if they absolutely had to. Similarly, the 'Phins might like to replace Chad Henne but could get by with him under center in 2011. Ditto the Jaguars and David Garrard, though Garrard and Henne certainly present more favorable quarterback scenarios than Smith.
If any of these three teams are enamored with a certain quarterback, they certainly can position themselves to draft him. But let's assume that there's a better overall talent at another position, and these three teams bite on that. Examples might be Patrick Peterson/Julio Jones (49ers), Mike Pouncey (Dolphins) and Ryan Kerrigan/Cameron Jordan (Jaguars.)
I should also note that the Seahawks could be in this category if they re-sign Matt Haselbeck.
Now, on to the next group, teams that need to strongly consider drafting a quarterback:
- Buffalo Bills
- Arizona Cardinals
Buffalo shouldn't look to stick with Ryan Fitzpatrick, but if they absolutely have to have Von Miller or Patrick Peterson, they might live with it. Similarly, Arizona might be in a good position to land Miller, who would be a perfect fit for their scheme, or even Peterson, and could rationalize sticking with Derek Anderson/Max Hall/John Skelton. Neither of these situations would be pretty, and both are certainly worse than the category above. But both suppose there's an absolutely superior talent at the position that cannot be passed up.
Now, the last category, teams that absolutely need a quarterback from the 2011 NFL Draft:
- Carolina Panthers
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Minnesota Vikings
- Seattle Seahawks
Carolina has no one at the position, unless Jimmy Clausen is subjected to genetic modification over the offseason. Cincinnati does not want Carson Palmer's little brother starting at the position. Minnesota currently has a converted wide receiver sitting at first-string, and a Hasselbeck-less Seattle is poised to go nowhere.
For those reasons, I think these four teams are the ones to keep the closest eye on when it comes to positioning to land a quarterback, either in the first or second round. More on that later.
Serena Williams -- Game, Set, Rapper?!
Permalink
Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/tennis/article_external/serena_williams_game_set_rapper/4620474
Monday, April 25, 2011
WWE Draft Results 2011: Randy Orton Moves and John Cena Stays
So, Captain America and The Viper moved back to Smackdown. Well, at least it appeared they had.
As I said in the column posted earlier today, while I expected John Cena to stay on RAW, I have learned to never say never when it comes to the business, and especially WWE.
John Cena is the man, the prime focus of WWE, and the standard bearer for everything that company has become. He is the top guy. Then, out of the blue, he is the first trade, and he’s headed back to Smackdown.
But, no, at the very end of the program, Cena is traded back to RAW.
Wait, what? What in the world was all that for?
While we all try to make sense of that little debacle, let’s move on to the other half of this equation, Randy Orton.
This one I completely understand.
Randy is enjoying the biggest push of his career right now, as he has never been more over in WWE. His current face turn has him out popping everyone on RAW. The only other guy he was competing with for the top spot on the program was Cena himself.
With Orton no longer having to share the spotlight with Cena, he should now be able to flex his muscles as the number one guy on his respective program.
Randy Orton is the number two Superstar in the company, and now he has the opportunity to perhaps move ahead of number one.
Moving Orton also accomplishes another task: replacing The Undertaker.
If Undertaker is really hanging it up, perhaps sooner rather than later, then Smackdown will be in dire need of some big name talent to fill the void. With this trade, WWE can begin the transition from Taker’s era of dominance on Smackdown to the next chapter of Randy Orton.
Soon, fans will begin to accept that Taker is no longer around, and it will not be such a shock to the system when he actually does walk away for good.
Then of course, there is guy who is the reason this draft happened earlier than planned, Edge.
When Edge was forced to walk away, it threw a wrench into the machine, and when that is the case, something else has to happen, and happen fast. Injuries are a fact of life in this business, guys have to save their bodies and step back, then the promotion moves ahead with someone else. That’s the way it works.
Smackdown losing its two biggest names is a big problem. Now, those two names have been potentially replaced by one. Only time will tell if this is indeed the case.
Now, as far as the John Cena trade to Smackdown, then back to RAW. Well, to be honest, I’ve got nothing for this one. I mean, why was this even done? To mess with fans online?
Well, good one, Vince, you got us on that one.
I could go on and on about how this was a cheap stunt, designed to merely stir the fans up, create drama where none was needed.
But, you know, to be honest, I’m all for twists and turns. That’s what this business is all about. Now I will just sit back and see what happens next.
Villanova, money, & Big East expansion
First up, the latest on Big East non-expansion. WVU AD Ollie Luck offered comments that are being parsed carefully among Big East partisans.
“There are two sort of questions I think that people have,” Luck said. “One is really what are the facilities that Villanova is able to use and how do those fit into the Big East with what we have now with our football schools. Are those really at a level that are BCS, automatic qualifier appropriate for a conference like ours? I think that’s the first question and obviously the conference didn’t feel quite comfortable with all the information regarding what I would call the infrastructure question.”
“When we talk about adding a 10th member, the question is what does that 10th member bring and what are the other options, quite honestly,” Luck continued. “It’s sort of like buying a car, you don’t go and just look at one model. You look around and say what are the different options, what are the different prices, and what are the plusses and minuses? I think a lot of schools were interested in having a better sense of what other possibilities would be out there.”
Now it depends on what you focus on from there.
To me Luck seems to be saying the infrastructure question is the big issue. That the issue with PPL Park, especially with its present configuration is too small for a BCS team to support itself for very long. Without a clear timeline to even expand to 30,000 their budget projections — no matter how optimistic — become speculative or looking to run big deficits. I mean, I’ve said before that I was fine with Villanova going to 1-A, but the more I look at their plan, the more doubts and questions I have.
Their long-term budget and ability to compete should be a concern. Not knowing whether they will have a stadium that can support the program is a worry. Look at the history of programs in the BCS that hover around 30-35K in stadium size: Duke, Wake Forest, and Cinci. Yes Cinci and Wake have actually made BCS bowls, but the overall history of these programs do not suggest this is something to expect.
Of course, that’s with my biases. The boys of Nova see this as some sort of slap in the face to Villanova as not being a big enough program to for the Big East. That it is about appearances, not actual questions about how the program can operate in the long-term with such a small stadium. In fact some tie-in the the second paragraph where he talks of looking at other choices as confirmation. Apparently the idea of looking around or comparing other options is a flat out insult to Villanova.
Brian’s VUHoops piece, is actually a focus more on the impending demise of their 1-AA home in the CAA. James Madison is making infrastructure moves suggesting it is looking to jump to 1-A. Rhode Island is going to another conference. UMass is heading to 1-A and the MAC.
The UMass move is an interesting contrast to ‘Nova. Obviously they are in a basketball conference, but they wanted to see if they could pry their way into the Big East when they decided to go to 1-A football. It failed miserably, but they still continued to make the jump — at least to show that they belong at the level. Rutgers blogger OTB (who’s own bias has been that Villanova should never be a football member), sees this as the way Villanova should go if they truly want to play 1-A football. Rather than simply because of the fear that the Big East will split and they’ll be stuck with basketball schools (not that, that shouldn’t be a legitimate fear). The fact that UMass will be playing in a mid-west conference in a stadium 90 minutes from their campus probably isn’t a plan to emulate in my view.
Now Villanova fans are still surprised how their ride to Big East football was yanked away. When Villanova made a presentation to the Big East members at the Big East Tournament, it fell flat.
According to one person in the room that day, the presentation didn’t go well, for a very specific reason. Villanova’s president, the Rev. Peter Donahue, gave more an explanation of where things stood than a sales pitch. If he wasn’t going to be a real advocate, it was natural for his brethren to wonder where the former drama professor really stood. Were they supposed to get excited about ‘Nova joining them if ‘Nova’s president couldn’t?
Now, as VUHoops points out (and rightfully I think), Villanova didn’t seem to know about the doubts and serious questions other football members had about Villanova’s plan. Honestly, until the vote was postponed, no one really believed that Villanova wasn’t getting in, even if they didn’t like it.
That falls on the Big East officials — which should not surprise anyone — failing to let Villanova know that there were doubts among the members. The only other explanations are that the Big East thought that they still had enough support to strong-arm it through the membership regardless of objections. Or they were completely clueless about a shift by members on the move. The latter seems least likely since even by mid-March there were rumors getting out that some members were unhappy with Villanova’s plans.
If Nova wants to be in the Big East by 2014, they have until May 31 to get it done. Otherwise, it gets pushed back for another year. It is still unclear how strong the opposition is to Nova.
Nobody I talked to seems to even agree on how many current Big East football schools are against it. I talked to one person at a clear anti-’Nova school who suggested as many as six others were clearly against it in March, but none to the point that the proposal couldn’t be improved and objections dropped. Another Big East administrator said it was more like a few leaning against, but none being over-my-dead-body against. Villanova probably can’t get in unless six of the eight current football members sign off.
This isn’t going away.
Chicago Cubs: Why Cubs' Early Inconsistency Isn't a Surprise
Chicago Cubs Shaky, Inconsistent Start Should Come as Little Surprise to Fans
The 2011 season has not gotten off to a great start for the Chicago Cubs. After Sunday's loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers, their record fell to 10-11 on the season, placing them fourth in the NL Central through the first 21 games of the year, a game and a half out of first place.
The Cubs have been one of most consistently inconsistent teams in baseball, never winning more than two games in a row, but never losing more than two in a row, either. They've been unable to generate enough momentum to really challenge for the NL Central lead yet, and while they're well within striking distance, the deficit feels much larger than it actually is between the Wrigley Field inhabitants and the division leading Cardinals.
But, for anyone who looked at this squad before the season, the maddeningly inconsistent start to the year should come as little shock.
Sure, there was plenty of potential in the lineup; third baseman Aramis Ramirez is capable of putting up stellar numbers, as is first baseman Carlos Pena, while catcher Geovany Soto, shortstop Starlin Castro, and outfielder Marlon Byrd and Tyler Colvin are all capable of great things as well.
The rotation may have been potential laden as well, with the live arms of Carlos Zambrano, Matt Garza and Ryan Dempster leading the way, and plenty of promise in the bullpen.
Must Read: MLB Trade Speculation: 1 Asset Each Team Should Hold Onto Until July.
But, no one is going to confuse any of those players with rocks of consistency. Ramirez and Pena are as streaky as they come, as is Soto, while Colvin and Castro are still young and inconsistent. The rotation is led by two of the biggest hotheads in all of baseball, a pair of guys who can look like aces one game, and barely look like major leaguers in their next start.
This team's personality was designed to be streaky and inconsistent. They have the potential to be great, but the fact is, with the players at their disposal, everyone pretty much knew this was what we were going to get.
Sometimes, this team will have its bats working, and the pitching throwing marbles, and they'll look like playoff contenders. Other times, they'll be swinging whiffle ball bats, and lobbing grapefruit.
On top of that, they've got a rookie manager in Mike Quade, someone who has the skills to be a great manager, but is sure to hit rough patches of his own from time to time as he learns the ropes of managing in the big leagues.
When you combine all of those factors with the wonky Wrigley Field weather (that pesky wind), you've got the perfect storm for one of the most maddening teams in baseball this year.
Don't be surprised to see the Cubs rip off a big winning streak, only to follow it with a prolonged slump, or even to continue their up-and-down play from the first 21 games of the 2011 season. In the end, they'll probably finish about where they are now, fourth best in the division.
Packers Aaron Rodgers Brings Up A Good Point
Green Bay, Wisconsin maybe one of the best sports towns in all of sports. You would be hard pressed to find a townie that isn?t obsessed with the Green Bay Packers, so when Quarterback Aaron Rodgers speaks, everyone listens.
He tells ESPN 850 WKNR Radio his real concerns over the lockout spilling into September.
Rodgers says his biggest concern isn?t that he could miss one of his own paychecks, he fears what could happen�to all the people in Green Bay whose jobs depend on the revenue generated by the Packers.
The city of Green Bay could be one of the most effected if the NFL Lockout continues
?There?s too many people affected,? Rodgers said on ESPN 850 WKNR, via Sports Radio Interviews. ?You look at a community like Green Bay, those businesses that are around Lambeau and are in Green Bay, the hotels, stores, the restaurants, and bars are all really affected by a lockout, a prolonged lockout where we miss some time so I hope we consider them in this pro...
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Richard Cloutier: Why the Coyotes will NEVER go to Winnipeg + Randoms
What the Hell Happened to...Marlon Garnett?
Marlon was a college teammate of Steve Nash at Santa Clara, but arrived after Nash's freshman year where they upset Arizona as the #15 seed in the NCAA tournament.
Marlon received his call-up to the Celtics on February 12, 1999. That was the lockout shortened season. I actually attended 2 Celtics games that season and although I got to see Eric Riley play twice, Marlon didn't appear in either contest.
He'd appear in 24 games that season, averaging 2.1 points in a bit more than 8 minutes a night. After that, Garnett's claims &quo...
Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/nba/article_external/what_the_hell_happened_tomarlon_garnett/4613849
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Edwards holds on in Nashville
Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/edwards_holds_on_in_nashville/4612920
What Happens When You Mix Kevin Youkilis and Photoshop?
Big League Stew is a terrific national baseball blog at Yahoo! Sports run by Kevin Kaduk. He decided to conduct a Kevin Youkilis photoshop contest, and it yielded some very amusing results.
Contestants were challenged to place Kevin Youkilis (who is in mid-slide) in a completely unrelated situation or environment. They also had the option of utilizing any number of Youk?s current and former teammates.
Click here to view the best entries as well as the first, second, and third place winners.
Mortal Kombat featuring Rick Porcello gets my vote, but which one is your favorite?
Alastair Ingram is the lead Boston Red Sox writer for the Rant Sports Network. For daily updates, follow Fenway Faithful Report on Twitter at @FenwayReport and join the fan page on Facebook.
Philadelphia Phillies: King Cole Rules From His Earthly Thrown
Friday, April 22, 2011
Have a Happy Easter Weekend ...
Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/golf/article_external/have_a_happy_easter_weekend/4608030
Milwaukee Brewers Pounce on Chance to Overpay Ryan Braun During Decline Years
Let?s try and put things into perspective before I opine why I think the Brew Crew were misguided in thi...
Kevin Na Taps A 16
Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/golf/article_external/kevin_na_taps_a_16/4562490
Johnson leads HMS brigade to win at Talladega
It?s no wonder. After all, the four-car operation claimed the top-four starting spots during pole qualifying on Sunday and all four cars were around at the end to post top-10 finishes.
Jimmie Johnson led to way, claiming his first win of the season, beating Richard Childress Racing?s Clint Bowyer by 0.002 seconds, making Sunday?s race finish one of the tightest since NASCAR went to electronic scoring. Johnson?s margin of victory matches Ricky Craven?s margin of victory over Kurt Busch at Darlington Raceway in 2003 as smallest win margin in NASCAR in the electronic scoring age.
?It was fun,? Bowyer said after the race. ?We just came up a little short.?
The Roush Fenway Racing duo of Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle led the way with two laps to go, but were passed by HMS? Jeff Gordon and Mark Martin just before the field took the white flag ...
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Finally Got a Look at the Jets? 2011 Schedule ?
Source: http://thebiglead.com/index.php/2011/04/21/finally-got-a-look-at-the-jets-2011-schedule/
Lamar and Kobe Run the Give-and-Go
 | Kobe Bryant finds Lamar Odom at the rim off the nice give-and-go play. Visit www.nba.com for more highlights. | From: NBA Views: 4139  87 ratings |
| Time: 00:25 | More in Sports |
Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19bwNaaUIsI&feature=youtube_gdata
Serena Williams Sexy Commercial Canceled For Being To Sexy. HA!
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Detroit Lions' 2011 Schedule NFL's Fourth-Toughest, Perfect for Respect
Seems like the Detroit Lions always get shafted when the schedules come out, don’t they?
Of course the Lions couldn’t have drawn the NFC West this year. They get the rough-and-tumble NFC South and the unpredictable AFC West.
And to make matters worse, they open with three of their first four on the road for the second straight year. The home game is against the AFC West champion Kansas City Chiefs, i.e. not any easier than the road tests.
But really, is a tough schedule something to whine about, or is it an opportunity?
If the Lions had the league’s easiest schedule and went 10-6, they would be dogged all year by “who have they played” criticisms (think last year’s Tampa Bay Bucs).
Playing the league’s fourth-toughest schedule leaves no room for doubt if the Lions have a breakout year.
Of course, talk of difficult schedules is usually a self-fulfilling prophecy. Strength of schedule is figured by opponents’ win-loss record. When a team has lost a lot of games, its schedule gets tougher just as a result of not playing one of the league’s worst teams (itself).
To drive that point home, the only teams with tougher schedules than Detroit are Carolina, Buffalo, and Denver. Yes, that’s right, the top three teams in the 2011 NFL Draft.
That said, much of Detroit’s difficult schedule comes from within the division, as well.
The Lions will draw the defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers on Thanksgiving, and then again for the season finale at Lambeau Field.
They get the NFC North champion Chicago Bears at home on Monday Night, and then at Soldier Field in Week 10, the week after the bye.
The Lions also get the NFC South. Yes, they will draw Carolina with that division, statistically the worst team in football.
But the NFC South is also home to last year’s No. 1 NFC playoff seed (Atlanta), the top NFC Wild Card team (New Orleans), and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who just missed the playoffs at 10-6.
The AFC West on the other hand is full of question marks, and the timing couldn’t be worse on most of the games.
The Chargers game is on Christmas Eve, smack in the middle of San Diego’s traditional late-season playoff push. They have that game at home the week after a trip to Oakland to play the up-and-coming Raiders.
The Lions draw the Chiefs in Week 2 for the Ford Field opener. The Chiefs should be fresh and looking to show the world that their 2010 playoff appearance wasn’t a fluke.
The Lions travel to Denver on Oct. 30, and knowing Denver, there will be four feet of snow freshly fallen for the game.
Factor in tilts against the schizophrenic 49ers and the Jason Garrett-led Cowboys at Jerry World, and the Lions aren’t exactly looking at a stroll through a field lined with cupcakes.
But an easy schedule wasn’t going to help the Lions test their limits, or build any respect for the organization. This is exactly the schedule the Lions need for 2011.
Seven games against playoff teams (Falcons, Saints, Chiefs, Bears x2, Packers x2) means the Lions won’t be able to sneak out a good season just by beating weaker opponents.
If the Lions have the kind of season many think they can, it will be because they took the fight to some of the NFL’s elite and won.
This might be the first season in a long, long time that they will be able to do just that.
Mark Ingram is on the cover of NCAA '12
Ingram was the 2010 Heisman Trophy winner and is projected as a first-round pick in next week's NFL Draft.
Ingram beat out Washington QB Jake Locker, Auburn DT Nick Fairley, and Oklahoma RB DeMarco Murray in an online vote to be the cover athlete, according PastaPadre.com.
Rory McIlroy Handles Post-Masters Interview with Class, Maturity
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
New York Giants 2011 Schedule: How Many Games Will the Giants Win?
The New York Giants 2011 Schedule is officially out, released on Tuesday by the NFL. Now the biggest question is, how many games will the Giants win and will they make the playoffs in 2011?
To do so, the Giants better get off to a quick start with the first seven games consisting of home games with the Rams, Seahawks, Bills and winnable trips to Washington and Arizona and a stiff test at Philadelphia. Anything worse than a 5-2 record out of this stretch and the G-Men are destined to be left out of the playoffs for the second straight season.
The second half of the season is downright brutal for the Giants as they have to travel to New England and San Francisco in Weeks 8-9, return home to face three playoff teams in the Eagles, Saints and Super Bowl Champion Packers, return home to face the Redskins before closing out the season with road games against the Jets and Cowboys.
Despite the schedule only being ranked as the 22nd-toughest in the NFL, I don't think the Giants will make the playoffs in 2011-12 because the second half of the season is a Murderer's Row to navigate and Tom Coughlin's teams have a habit of buckling down the stretch.
WWE Raw Video: Watch The Latest Awesome Kong WWE Promo
Last week on Raw, WWE teased viewers by running one of the creepiest vignettes that they have done in a long time.
It featured Awesome Kong in the background, and she flicked the head off of a Barbie doll. This week, another vignette and another destroyed Barbie doll.
This time, Kong pulled the legs off of the doll’s torso. I have to say that I really like these vignettes.
In fact, it would not surprise me in any way if these vignettes are even better than Kong’s actual run in WWE.
I don’t say that because she is a bad worker. It’s just because of WWE’s history with female wrestlers.
She will probably be a big deal early on, but then fade off into the distance within a couple months.
If you haven’t heard, Kong’s name will be changed when she officially debuts in WWE. It’s been reported that the company has filed a trademark for the name “Kharma.”
No matter what you want to call her, when she finally does debut, it will feel like a big deal.
WWE has given more time and effort to promoting her debut with the company than any female wrestler that I can recall. Perhaps they know their women’s division is a joke and really want it to be about the work in the ring, and not always the looks of the women.
It’s doubtful given that Vince McMahon is a pervert, but one can dream a little bit.
No matter what happens, sit back, relax and enjoy the video.
Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/670509-wwe-raw-video-watch-the-latest-awesome-kong-wwe-promo
No suspension for Raffi Torres
Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/nhl/article_external/no_suspension_for_vancouvers_torres/4580303
Monday, April 18, 2011
5 ways to improve the Masters
Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/golf/article_external/5_ways_to_improve_the_masters/4524154
Arsenal & Tottenham Duo Scoop PFA Awards
?I am more than delighted really,? said Bale. ?It is a massive award and it is a great honour to receive, especially from other fellow professionals.
?It is a honour really when you look at the names that have won it before and it just makes you go ?wow? really.
?There haven?t been too many Welshman to have won the trophy but it is great and it is great for me personally.
?It is a massive award and it is a great honour to receive, especially from other fellow professionals. ?�
?And it is not just for me, it is for all my team-mates that have helped me through the season and it is kind of for everyone really.&#...
Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/soccer/article_external/arsenal_tottenham_duo_scoop_pfa_awards/4578292
Rory McIlroy Handles Post-Masters Interview with Class, Maturity
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Harrison Barnes returning to UNC?
North Carolina freshman Harrison Barnes may be returning to school for his sophomore season. He was one of the most highly-touted players entering the season and was expected to be one-and-done.
McLaren's Hamilton wins F1 Chinese Grand Prix
Matt Garza continues to pitch poorly. Is the air still too dry?
After selling the farm for Matt Garza, the last thing Cubs fans want to see is for him to struggle out of the gate. But his first 3 starts have certainly been a struggle.
After complaining about the dry air in Arizona leading to his struggles this spring, he doesn't have that excuse anymore.
So why is he pitching so poorly? Speculation abounds:
Bruce Miles of the Daily Herald suggests that he is throwing too many strikes.
ChiCitySports.com suggests that he is not throwing enough fastballs and getting beat on his "soft stuff".
Or perhaps he's just unlucky.
Whatever the issue is, Garza is not endearing himself to Cubs fans. So far he has blamed the dry air in Arizona and taken a veiled shot at his pitching coach. Sometimes you have to take the blame for your own poor performances.
Can he turn it around this season? His track record certainly says that he should. However, if his "slump" continues much longer...
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Freshman Forward Harrison Barnes Returning to UNC for Sophomore Season
The Top 25 Fastest Players in NFL History
There has always been a "need for speed" in the NFL.
Finding fast players to put on the field is, in some ways, as important as selecting players of size and strength.
This is true particularly at the skill positions. If you don't have guys who have the ability to pull away from defenders, you may have trouble putting points on the board.
The following is a list of the 25 fastest NFL players of all time.
These are individuals who could chase you down or leave you in the dust.
They might not all end up in the Hall of Fame, but they sure are able to fly.
Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/665410-the-top-25-fastest-players-in-nfl-history
Penn State's 'New' Uniforms Are Official
Of course, Joe Paterno had the final say. "We went to Coach Paterno and said, 'Coach, we really don't have to have that white trim on there anymore,'" Brad "Spider" Caldwell says in the video. "He's like, 'We don't need that anyway. So let's go back to the way we used to be.'"
I personally like it, though most of you voted against the changes in our poll when this was first discussed.
Follow LBU on Facebo...
Friday, April 15, 2011
New England Patriots: Is Randy Moss Destined (Again) for Foxborough?
From the very point Randy Moss landed in Minnesota, the numbers were disappointing. The Patriots rode high and became the unpredictable system that saw them to three Super Bowls and the last modern day dynasty...or at least a decent enough clone that saw them as favourites for a fourth just a few short months ago.
This season, Moss played as many games for New England as he did in Minnesota. In Minnesota, he was used a little more but his mind was still in New England, and it got him ultimately put in the Tennessee Titans organization, where he played eight games and nabbed three less receptions than he had with the Patriots in the four games he played. He didn't even score a TD with the Titans!
With his mind and body in New England for his return in a Halloween clash with his former mates, four weeks after the trade, he expressed how much he missed the team. This was following the game, a 28-18 loss to the Pats, and his finishing with one reception for eight yards.
"The captains, [Vince] Wilfork, Tommy Boy [Brady], [Jerod] Mayo, Kevin Faulk ... I miss those guys," Moss said.
"I miss the hell out of them—every last helmet in that locker room."
He went on in a rant that day, not giving reporters a chance to ask a question, claiming at that point not to be doing interviews for the rest of the season and when prompted for an interview, that he would be the interviewee as well as the interviewer.
He finished that rant with, "I don’t know how many more times I am going to be up here in New England, but I am going to leave the New England Patriots and Coach Belichick here with a salute. I love you guys. I miss you. I’m out."
Those sentiments have not changed. In an interview last Wednesday with KFAN 1130 in Minneapolis, Moss flat out professed his love for the team that turned a mediocre player in Oakland into the biggest threat in the NFL in 2007 when he grabbed an NFL-record 23 TDs.
“If you ask me where my heart and where I’m happy is,” Moss said, “I love Tom Brady and I love playing for Coach Belichick.”
That being said, there are tons of free agents out there this year including former Pat Donte' Stallworth, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Terrell Owens and possibly Chad Ochocinco, the latter two arguably being as reputable as Moss himself. Ochocinco may need to give up on keeping in shape with the MLS' Kansas City franchise, but that shouldn't be a problem if he is offered a lucrative contract.
The Pats, however, may not need a deep threat as the wideout corps they have now seems to be more handy with shorter, more precise plays that drain the clock and put up plenty of points in the process, as evidenced in the games following their 34-14 loss to Cleveland on Nov. 7.
Wes Welker, Julian Edelman and Brandon Tate are all smaller bodies and don't strike fear into the hearts of defenders in terms of deep threats. I mean, Deion Branch has made up for the loss of Moss, but is that enough?
Should this team go for some of the guys listed above? Do you see Owens or Ochocinco wearing a Patriot jersey in 2011? How about Houshmandzadeh?
Post a comment, what do you think?
Chandler Parsons Signs With Priority Sports For Representation
This year, many agents had their eyes on two players who were certain to be leaving Gainesville to hopefully go play in the NBA: Chandler Parsons and Vernon Macklin. �Macklin has not yet chosen his agent. �Yesterday, Parson?s chose his. �Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports is in charge of making sure that Parsons trains hard up until Draft Day and puts himself in the best position to be as high of a draft pick as possible.
Priority Sports has been interested in Parsons for a very long time, but so have a few other agencies. �Wasserman Media Group, Lagardere Unlimited, and ASM Sports were all pitching the former Gator. �For a long time, rumor had it that Parsons was choosing between Lagardere Unlimited and Priority Sports, but just yesterday, I heard that Justin Zanik of ASM Sports (the company that also represents Taurean Green and Marreese Speights) might have been the man in 2nd place. �Either way, the only thing that matters is that Parsons is now a Priority Sports client, and I have no doubt that he will be represented well by Mark Bartelstein and his team of agents.
Priority emerged from the pack based on the company?s close relationship with Coach Billy Donovan, representation of former Gator David Lee, and the amount of attention Parsons received from various people at Priority over the years.
Chandler Parsons Signs With Priority Sports For Representation from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Agent News, Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Contract Negotiations, NCAA Rules and Regulations.
If this NASCAR thing doesn?t work out, Harvick?s got a new job
Obviously, this was a totally orchestrated deal; Harvick met with both fans and company officials. But he had fun with the whole deal, at one point motioning toward nearby Coors Light and Miller beer stacks and saying "Remember, everything on this side is contaminated."
Harvick kept hauling beer until the shelves were filled. So, yeah, if this NASCAR thing falls through, he's got a second life available as a rack jobber.
Dallas Clark plays a cop on Criminal Minds
Packers Greg Jennings on Criminal MindsDallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Calendar Shoot Fitting
Thursday, April 14, 2011
The 1999 Ohio State vacated Final Four team. Where are they now?
Scoonie Penn- In the 98-99 season, Penn was named Big Ten Player of the Year.� Penn was drafted in the second round by the Atlanta Hawks in the 2000 NBA Draft. He didn?t make the team and took his skills to Europe. Since 2000 he has played for 13 teams in Europe and one year in the NBA D-League (2002). Currently he plays for Prima Veroli which plays in the Italian second division LegADue. Penn says he has no regrets with how is life has turned out. He said he would still like to play in ...
David Beckham?s Pepsi Viral Ad; Is It Real?
What do you think?
Becks recently told the Toronto Star the kicks were real. His reasoning, ?I spent five or six hours on the beach so I had a lot of time to practice.?
And it?s pretty much my duty to remind you how sexy he is anytime I discuss him.