Once Again…..It’s On

On Thursday when the ball is tossed for the tip off of the first game of this year’s NCAA Tournament, it will mark the beginning of what I believe will be one of the most exciting and surprising tourneys we have witnessed in some time. The field is wide open and full of teams that have legitimate shots at making it to the Final Four and laying claim to the title of “Best Team in the Nation”. This is the best opportunity for fans to finally get acquainted with some of the lesser known stars who will soon be showcasing their talents in the NBA over the next few years like K-State’s Michael Beasley and Stanford’s Brook Lopez and to see future Lottery Picks like UCLA’s Kevin Love, UNC’s Tyler Hansbrough and Georgetown’s Roy Hibbert. This is a chance to see the best of the best go head to head on the game’s biggest stage. Will UCLA get to a third straight Final Four? Will Drake keep it’s dream season alive with a deep run? Will freshman O.J. Mayo lead USC to a National Championship in a sport other than Football? Can Coach Cal lead Memphis to the Promised Land? Will Coach K and Duke surprise everyone? All these questions and so many more will be asked and answered over the next few weeks. Here is a preview of how I think things will shake out over these exciting times:

East Region

Upset Special: (11) St. Josephs over (6) Oklahoma

St. Joe’s is a team that is peaking at exactly the right time. Led by senior Pat Calathes, they have a balanced attack and are one of the most dangerous three point shooting teams in the nation. If St. Joe’s perimeter shooting can offset the inside scoring of the Sooners fab frosh Blake Griffin they just might be able to pull out a close one against a team which is slightly overrated after coming out of a weak Big 12 this season.

Player To Watch

Tyler Hansbrough, University of North Carolina

Hansbrough is the best player on the best team in the nation. A dominant inside force who has stepped up his game to another level in each of his 3 seasons at UNC. He is a relentless scorer and rebounder who can also make the big block on the defensive end. The emotional leader of this squad nicknamed “Psycho T” for his intensity, Hansbrough seems poised to have his biggest impact now that the games have moved into the brightest spotlight.

Cinderella

(7) Butler Bulldogs

Butler lost only 3 games all year and beat major conference opponents Michigan, Virginia Tech, Texas Tech, Ohio State and Florida State by an average of 12 points. They are led by senior guard Mike Green who paced the Bulldogs in scoring and assists as well as rebounding (He’s 6′1!). Over the last two seasons, Butler has amassed a 12-1 record in games played on neutral courts and their only loss was to defending champion Florida in last year’s tourney.

Who Survives?

North Carolina

The Heels will essentially be playing home games in Raleigh and Charlotte. The return of point guard Ty Lawson from an ankle injury gives the Heels another weapon in what should be the easiest road to the Final Four of any of the top seeds this year.

South Region

Upset Special (10) St. Mary’s over (7) Miami, FL

The Gaels have a high octane attacking style that should pose major problems for the Hurricanes who lack the inside scoring punch to keep up with St. Mary’s. If Miami’s high scoring guard Jack McClinton falters the Hurricanes may be in for a long and painful contest.

Player To Watch

Derrick Rose, Memphis University

Rose is the best freshman point guard in the country. He brings superior ball handling skills and his decision making allows him to impact a game without having to dominate. While he doesn’t need to on a nightly basis, Rose can still take over games and is more than capable of leading his team to the Final Four.

Cinderella

(10) St. Mary’s Gaels

St. Mary’s is fueled by sensational point guard Patty Mills, a member of Austrailia’s national team, who leads the Gaels in scoring and rebounding. Center Daniel Kickert is an emerging star and the Gael’s have surprising size in 6-11 Omar Samhan and 6-7 defensive whiz Damioin Simpson. They could cause matchup problems and surprise a few opponents with their athleticism.

Who Survives?

Stanford

The Cardinal have changed their style of play this season and look like a team ready to reap the rewards of their new physical bruising attack. Led by 7 foot twins Brook and Robin Lopez and guard Anthony Goods, Stanford has become a team that will challenge every play at both ends of the floor as witnessed by them pushing top seed UCLA to the brink in two contests late in the season. Brook Lopez is a skilled post performer and teams with brother Robin to give the Cardinal a one-two rebounding punch that will allow them to get second chance opportunities and control the ball late in games.

Midwest Region

Upset Special (11) Kansas State over (6) USC

While the Trojans have incredibly talented super freshman O.J. Mayo and gifted sophomore forward Taj Gibson, they have gone through some rough stretches this season and have a tendency to be very sloppy at times. Kansas State and their super frosh Michael Beasley (who could be the No.1 pick should he declare) will take advantage of the sloppy play and dominate inside to give the Wildcats a surprising opening round upset victory.

Players To Watch

Michael Beasley, Kansas State University

Roy Hibbert, Georgetown University

Beasley is a player to watch for two reasons. First, he is capable of a dominant performance each time he takes the floor as evidenced by his 26.5 ppg average, 26 double-doubles and 11 30 point games during the regular season. Second, he is a one and done talent and will assuredly declare for the draft and leave college basketball after this tournament so catch his show while you still can at this level. Roy Hibbert is the anti-Beasley. Not flashy or exciting, Hibbert changes games with his commitment to defense and rebounding. If he would have left school after last season, Hibbert would have been a top 5 pick but he decided to return and try to lead Georgetown back to the Final Four. He may just get his wish.

Cinderella

(10) Davidson Wildcats

The Wildcats come into the tournament riding the nation’s longest winning streak at 22 straight games. They are led by Southern Conference Player of the Year Stephen Curry ( son of former NBA player Dell Curry) and are playing their games only two hours from campus in Raleigh.

Who Survives?

Georgetown

The Hoyas return four starters from the squad that reached the Final Four last season so their great chemistry is a huge plus. With dominant center Roy Hibbert and incredibly smart PG Jonathan Wallace, Georgetown boasts an inside-outside combo most other teams can’t match. This is a team where no one is afraid to have the ball in their hands come crunch time and have been rewarded time and time again for their mixture of smart play in a sophisticated system and bravado once that system breaks down.

West Region

Upset Special (14) Georgia over (3) Xavier

Do you want to tell Georgia they can’t win this game? After wind damage forced postponement, The Bulldogs won three games in two days, including an unheard of two games in the same day, to win the SEC. Nobody is riding the wave of momentum that Georgia is right now and I’m willing to bet they can carry it for at least one more big game.

Player To Watch

Kevin Love, UCLA

What more can be said about the amazing freshman center of the Bruins? The 6-10 force has led the Bruins to another Pac-10 title and a No.1 seed with his combination of aggressive inside play, soft touch around the basket, great passing instincts and late season three point accuracy. Love will almost certainly exit after one season but he has the rare attributes and leadership qualities to carry this team to a Final Four berth and beyond.

Cinderella

(12) Western Kentucky

The Hilltoppers used a renewed commitment to defense to post a 27-6 record and outstanding play by Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year Courtney Lee (20.4 PPG) to beat teams in it’s league by an average of 11.5 points per game. Their full court pressure and intense man-to-man coverage could cause some matchup problems and could lead to some early round upsets.

Who Survives?

UCLA

Ben Howland will finally prove that he deserves to be mentioned whenever the discussion of “best coaches in the country” arises. Love and PG Darren Collison will guide UCLA through a very tough bracket and a third straight Final Four appearance.

FINAL FOUR

North Carolina, Stanford, Georgetown, UCLA

National Championship

UCLA over GEORGETOWN

I believe when it is all said and done, UCLA will emerge as the national champion. Their transition defense and the clutch shooting of Darren Collison and Josh Shipp will be enough to overcome the inside play of Roy Hibbert.

No matter who comes out on top, this promises to be one of the best tourneys in recent memory so sit back, relax and enjoy the games.

Thank You No.4

When Brett Favre announced his retirement two days ago, most of Packer Nation was in shock. Why would the franchise’s greatest player walk away from the game after one of the best seasons of his illustrious career? Why would the team’s unquestioned leader leave when the Pack looks to be so close to returning to the Super Bowl? Why wouldn’t he sign on for a chance to possibly write that storybook ending and go out on top? Favre’s retirement left his fans, his teammates, his peers and the media asking all these questions and yesterday at his press conference he provided them with the answer: It was the right time.

Everyone knows the story of Brett Favre, the fun loving country boy who handed off more than he threw in high school, was recruited by only one D-I college and signed there as a defensive back, was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons and had his name mispronounced on Draft Day, partied too hard and languished on the bench in Atlanta until Ron Wolf brought him to Green Bay and gave him a shot. It was almost as if his life before becoming a member of the NFL’s most storied franchise was the script for a hollywood movie about the underdog everyman who rises from modest beginnings and overcomes hardships to live out his childhood dreams but not even the best screenwriter could imagine what came next.

When Favre finally got his chance to show everyone what he could do on the field, he seized that opportunity and 16 seasons, 275 consecutive games, 160 wins, 442 touchdowns, 61,655 passing yards, 9 pro-bowls, 3 MVP Awards and 1 Super Bowl Championship later, he has become not only one of the greatest players to ever play professional football but a national icon. The leadership, talent, toughness and fortitude he displayed over those 16 years while playing the game with a genuine happiness and fun that you don’t often see in such a physical and demanding game made him a hero to millions of fans all over the world and made him the face of the Green Bay Packers and the NFL.

We all remember watching him as he played week after week with injuries that would have kept most players on the sideline. We all remember watching him battle his addiction to painkillers and his struggles with alcohol. We all remember the heartbreaking stories of family tragedies and loss he had to deal with while still trying to lead his on field family to victory on sunday afternoon. No one who watched him play that monday night in Oakland only hours after learning about the death of his father and lifelong coach Irvin, will ever forget him playing the game of his life with tears in his eyes all the while. No one who watched him lead the Packers to victory in Super Bowl XXXI will ever forget the sight of him running around the field with the smile of a child on Christmas morning after hitting Andre Rison with a perfect touchdown strike. No one who ever watched him play period, will ever forget the way he brought a sense of joy to the game like no other player before him. This is his true legacy as a player and as a person, the memories he supplied to everyone else.

Brett Favre had become bigger than just a football player. He had become bigger than what he truly is, just a regular person who happened to have extroardinary talent inside the lines on sunday. He had become a legend, a giant, a hero and in the eyes of packers fans,a savior and with every passing day his shadow over the game was growing larger and it was becoming harder for this simple country boy from Mississippi to fill.

Brett Favre holds every major passing record, he has set the standard for durability with his incredible ironman streak at QB, he is the NFL’s only 3 time MVP and has a championship ring, so the only question left is what more does he have left to prove? The answer is Nothing. That is what brings us to today, the first day of the official post-Favre era. He has fulfilled and i’m sure far surpassed every dream that he has had for himself in the game, he has conquered every challenge thrown his way by not only football but by life, he has brought the Green Bay Packers back to prominence amongst the league’s elite teams after years of ineptitude had cast a shadow over the once proud franchise and he has helped to raise the popularity of the NFL to an all-time high during his tenure. What more can we ask him to do when he has already done everything and more.

Brett Favre could have come back for one more season. He could probably play for five more seasons and nobody would complain. He could’ve gone through the meetings and the practices and the motions and went out on sundays and lined up behind center just like has every sunday for 16 glorious years. He might have even been able to bring another title to Green Bay but it wouldn’t have been the same. The smile would have been gone. The little boy playing a man’s game would have been a distant memory. The reason everyone connected with No.4 would have been missing. Brett Favre is an icon because he truly loved the game of football and it showed so brightly every time he stepped onto the field. Brett Favre is a hero because he inspired an entire generation young and old to believe in your dreams and work hard to make them come true. Brett Favre is a legend because he reached the pinnacle of his sport while never once forgetting where he came from and where his incredible journey began. Brett Favre is all of these things but more than any of these things he is a father and a husband and a son and a person. Sometimes we want to be selfish when it comes to our heroes and forget that they have lives and families outside the game and that there comes a time in the life of even the greatest athletes when real life takes precedent over sport. Brett Favre has given each of us 17 years to watch, to root, to imagine, to cheer, to celebrate, to cry and to dream and now it is time to thank him for all the wonderful memories and congratulate him as he moves on to the next successful phase of his life. Why did Brett Favre retire yesterday? Because it was the right time.

Crashing The Net

More random thoughts from the world of sports….

Can anyone remember a more exciting group of young point guards all playing at such a high level so early in their careers as Chris Paul, Deron Williams and Brandon Roy have so far this season? Paul is second in the league in assists while averaging 20.7 points per game and Williams is fourth in assists while averaging 19.5 points and both of them have their teams on a collision course with the postseason. Roy has stepped up in the absence of 1st overall pick Greg Oden to lead his resurgent Blazers within striking distance of the final playoff spot in the west. I can see these three being stalwarts in the MVP voting for many years to come as their teams continue to add players to compliment their ever improving games. This may even be the year that Chris Paul gets serious consideration for the honor if the Hornets can hold on to their division lead down the stretch.

I can’t remember a college basketball season where no one wants to step up and seize the title of “No.1 team in the nation”. North Carolina, UCLA, Memphis and Tennessee have all attempted to steal the crown but none have been able to make it through the door without watching it slip from their heads. I think this will make for an incredibly wide open tournament come March with as many as 12-15 teams having a legitimate shot of going all the way in a season ruled by parity. Is anyone truly scared of facing North Carolina, who have been playing without a true point guard, come March? I challenge anyone who has consistently watched UCLA this season when it seems that every time they play a quality opponent they seem to need a huge run at the end to pull out a victory to tell me that they will be able to walk this tightrope during the tourney and not end up getting burned. Anyone out there believe John Calipari is gonna coach his team to glory? Does anyone doubt that if Coach K motivates his troops they don’t have just as good a chance to annoy fans everywhere by winning it all again? The days of the UCLA’s, the UNLV’s and the Dukes are gone. The days of the dynasty and the four year starter carrying his team to the promised land are gone. Early entries into the NBA have turned college basketball into a place where any team can win on any given night and where sure things no longer reside. The days of the dynasty are gone and I never thought I’d say this but I for one miss those days.

…but not that much!

Let me get this straight, The Senators who have been near or at the top of the Eastern Conference all season after making it to the finals last season are going through a rough patch that has seen them struggle to put points on the board so the GM who missed out on adding any significant pieces (Marian Hossa?) to improve his ailing club’s chances to regain it’s form fires the coach and takes over the day to day coaching duties? This is just another example of the person who is truly responsible for the problem finding a way to escape blame by trying to anoint himself as the solution. If the Senators somehow come out of this nose dive and make it to the finals again, Bryan Murray will be hailed for his firing of John Paddock and will probably get a big new contract even though the true catalysts will probably be his very talented players. Murray is just another slickster who used a good coach as a scapegoat for his shortcomings as a GM and I hope that the Senators get knocked out in the first round so Murray gets what’s coming to him and follows the man he stabbed in the back onto the unemployment line.

How the West Was Won (and Lost)

Before the season began, most observers felt the favorites to win the NBA title this season were going to be the teams at the head of the top heavy eastern conference (Boston, Detroit,Orlando). Those squads made offseason moves to solidify their rosters and sprinted from the gates giving notice to the rest of the east that it was a three team race for the No.1 spot come playoff time. In the western conference, it has taken more than half a season to figure out who the front runners are in a much more tightly contested race but the flurry of deals at the trade deadline have shown us once again that one right or wrong move can change the whole landscape in an instant.

When the Los Angeles Lakers acquired center Pau Gasol from Memphis a few weeks prior to the deadline, it sent shockwaves throughout the West. Finally after facing constant double teaming, Kobe Bryant was given an inside presence to occupy the defense for the first time since Shaquille O’Neal was sent out of town and the Lakers dynasty crumbled. The Lakers could now pair Gasol with emerging big man Andrew Bynum and playmaking forward Lamar Odom to give Bryant a full compliment of options each time down the floor while also shoring up their rebounding on the defensive side. However, even with this move paying immediate dividends once Gasol took the court, The Lakers still could not be considered clear cut favorites in the West. The Suns with the three headed monster of Steve Nash, Amare Stoudamire and Shawn Marion, the Spurs with Tim Duncan and Tony Parker and the Mavericks with MVP Dirk Nowitzki also had legitimite designs on that title. With the deadline fast approaching and the balance of power possibly shifting, nobody was sure what these teams would do and surely no one expected the moves that would come next.

The Suns were the first to react to the Gasol move by making a deal which I for one still don’t understand. The Suns sent perennial all-star forward Shawn Marion to the Heat for Shaquille O’Neal. If this trade was made 10 years earlier, it would have been a highjacking by Phoenix (not to mention Marion would have been a high schooler) but this was not the same dominant, immovable franchise player O’Neal they had acquired, this was the oft-injured, frequently lumbering and seemingly on the downside of what has been a brilliant career O’Neal. This deal made no sense considering the type of run and gun, up and down tempo game the Suns employ on a nightly basis. It was obvious that this move was a knee-jerk reaction to the Lakers adding Gasol and the Suns thinking they needed a big man to compete in the postseason. In reality, what the Suns accomplished was breaking up a team that although it had not been a postseason juggernaut was playing some of it’s best basketball in years and whose chemistry could probably only be matched by San Antonio. After two weeks with Shaq, the Suns have lost 3 of 5 games he has played with the team including an embarrassing blowout by the Pistons at home on national TV in which O’Neal looked old and tired against a team without a dominant inside force.

The Mavericks responded to these moves as well by moving what looked to be a big piece of their future in an attempt to win now when they traded point guard Devin Harris as part of a large package of players (including the RETIRED Keith Van Horn) to New Jersey for Jason Kidd. The deal was held up for a few days due to no trade clauses and contractual issues but finally went through following the All-Star Game. Kidd is one of the best point guards in the game and his late game defense and rebounding will definitely help the Mavs. Another thing to remember about Kidd is he led the Nets to back to back NBA finals appearances without having the luxury of a supporting player with the talent of Nowitzki (yes Vince Carter is great but he’s no Dirk!). The Spurs, Jazz and last year’s surprise team, the Warriors opted to make only small moves or stand pat and the Nuggets, a team which most everyone thought would and should add a piece was deafeningly silent at the deadline.

The other two teams in the west considered to have a shot come playoff time have experienced opposing fortunes over the last few weeks. The surprising New Orleans Hornets who have been led by the stellar play of legitimate MVP candidate Chris Paul have continued to win and win convincingly (as evidenced by last night’s rout of the reeling Suns) as they make their run towards a division title while the Houston Rockets all but watched their hopes of contending go down the drain when center Yao Ming announced he would have season ending surgery on tuesday. The Rockets loss of Ming might be the saving grace for the Nuggets who have the inside track for the spot which will probably be vacated by the Yao-less Rockets.

While there is alot of basketball yet to be played and anything can happen in the NBA as we’ve seen many times before, it looks to me like the team that struck first in making the big move and not the teams that reacted later, will be the team to beat come playoff time, especially if they gain home court with the No.1 seed. Getting Gasol will probably bring the Lakers the closest they’ve been to an NBA title since Shaq left but will it be enough to conquer the “Boston 3 Party” or Detroit’s “Bad Boys”, my prediction is that it won’t be but it sure will be exciting to watch.

Trade Surplus

NHL general managers spent the whole morning and early afternoon yesterday on their cellphones and blackberries trying to pull off megadeals that would give their team an edge in the race to claim this year’s Stanley Cup. While the pool of impact players available began to dwindle in the days before yesterday’s deadline with the re-signing of Tampa Bay’s Dan Boyle, St.Louis’ Barrett Jackman and the news that Toronto captain Mats Sundin and Flames winger Alex Tanguay would not be moved, some teams were still able to pull off some major deals and set themselves up for the stretch run. No team wins the Stanley Cup on deadline day but with the right moves they can put themselves in a pretty good position to contend or with a bad move or two they can waive the white flag and begin the planning for next season. The true merit of the deals made yesterday won’t be judged for some time but here is a list of who I believe were the best and worst deal makers at the deadline.

Winners

1.Dallas Stars- The Stars, who have decided to open it up this season after being a defense first team over the last few years, acquired star forward Brad Richards from the Tampa Bay Lightning. Richards is an offensively skilled two way player who can also excel on the power play and special teams and has proven his mettle in the postseason by winning a Conn Smythe trophy for postseason MVP. By adding Richards, the Stars get the secondary scoring they have been looking for without losing much off their roster. Mike Smith played well but Marty Turco is the No.1 netminder in Dallas and while they may miss Jussi Jokinen’s shootout prowess and the grit of fourth liner Jeff Halpern, Richards work at both ends of the ice will more than make up for the loss of these role players. This may be the move that people look back at as a turning point should Dallas bring the cup home.

2.San Jose Sharks- It seems like the rich got richer in the west as the Sharks improved as well on deadline day. GM Doug Wilson identified his team’s most glaring weakness (of which it doesn’t have many) and went out and turned it into a strength with the acquisition of the top puck moving D-man available, the Sabres’ Brian Campbell. Campbell gives the Sharks an all-star presence on their blueline and a capable quarterback on their power play unit while bringing a decent amount of physicality with him as well. The loss of Steve Bernier, who was sent to Buffalo in the deal, will be offset by the return of forward Ryan Clowe. Once again, Wilson has proven himself as a GM not afraid to make the big move.

3.Washington Capitals- This year’s surprise team in the NHL, The Caps and GM George McPhee made some surprising moves yesterday to create depth in some important areas should the team continue into the playoffs. Getting Cristobal Huet from Montreal (in a move no one saw coming, least of all Canadiens fans) gives Washington two No.1’s at the goalie position (with Olaf Kolzig) and makes the decisions tough on coach Bruce Boudreau as to who will backstop the team come the postseason. The thought here is Huet will get the bulk of the work as he has been hot as of late and 21-12-6 so far this season. The Caps also acquired veteran forward and former “Best Player in the World” Sergei Fedorov from Columbus to team with fellow russian Alexander Semin and take some of the pressure of current “all-world” talent Alexander Ovechkin. While Fedorov is not the player he once was, he still provides strong two way play and if he gets hot could give the team some secondary scoring down the stretch. Adding agitator Matt Cooke gives the team some grit and someone to watch out for Ovechkin.

4.Columbus Blue Jackets- It wasn’t the moves that the Blue Jackets made that landed them on this list but the moves they didn’t make. Columbus GM Scott Howson, who is in for the long haul, basically waived the white flag on his team’s long shot bid to make the playoffs by sending captain Adam Foote to Colorado and Fedorov to the Caps. Howson was able to pick up some valuable draft picks and prospects while opening up some cap space for the offseason where he will probably be an active player in free agency. Overall, while some fans may be disappointed, Howson thought long term and the franchise will inevitably be better for it.

5-Pittsburgh Penguins- It’s tough for me to put the Pens on the winners side of this list even if they did acquire the best player available in Atlanta sniper Marian Hossa. Hossa gives Pittsburgh three of the top forwards in the league (along with Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin) and makes their power play the most talented we’ve seen in the league in years but it’s my feeling that GM Ray Shero paid way too high a price for a player that may very well be just a rental. I find it hard to see how the Pens will be able to afford Hossa when he becomes a free agent at season’s end. The Pens are obviously looking to win the Cup this season but at what cost to the future of the franchise. Angelo Esposito is a prospect who slipped after most observers felt he could be a no.1 overall pick only two years ago, Colby Armstrong and Erik Christiansen are talented young players who filled roles on this club and a first round pick is way too much of a package for a player who is anything but a sure thing come playoff time in Hossa. The Pens also recieved defensive forward Pascal Dupuis in the deal.

Losers

1.Montreal Canadiens- GM Bob Gainey promised fans he was going to add a big piece at the deadline then proceeded to move his team’s starting goaltender for a second round pick. In the most surprising and unexpected move of the day, Gainey handed over the reins of his team which has legitimate visions of a long playoff run to a 20 year old who has never played a single postseason contest in the NHL. Carey Price is the goaltender of the future in Montreal but no one thought the future would come so quickly. Gainey is a fan favorite and a legend in Montreal but if Price and new Backup Jan Halak should falter, all the goodwill he has built up over the years could quickly evaporate.

2.Ottawa Senators- No team in the east was more in need of some kind of spark than Ottawa. After sprinting out of the gates, The Sens have slowed to a crawl and are limping into the playoffs for the second straight season. Last Season they added Oleg Saprykin and cruised all the way to the finals before they were outclassed by Anaheim. This season, problems at goaltender (nobody wanted Ray Emery?..shocker!) and average play as of late signal bigger struggles ahead but all the Sens could muster after missing out on the Hossa sweepstakes was veteran forward Martin Lapointe for a sixth round pick. Lapointe is a proven winner and a locker room leader but at this point in his career he is nothing more than a spare part. The Sens needed a bigger move (wouldn’t Huet have been a perfect fit here?) but just couldn’t get it done.

3.Philadelphia Flyers- It seems that the Flyers were so busy assessing the state of their MASH unit, that they forgot it was deadline day. After sending minor leaguer Alex Picard to Tampa on Monday for veteran forward Vaclav Prospal, the Flyers were invisible yesterday. For a team that has lost 10 of 11 prior to the deadline but still finds themselves within striking distance of a playoff spot, it was curious that GM Paul Holmgren would do nothing. Was this the team’s way of silently waving the white flag?

4.Toronto Maple Leafs- It is almost unfair to put the Leafs on the list but here goes. Interim GM Cliff Fletcher was hamstrung by the ridiculous no trade clauses given to Mats Sundin, Tomas Kaberle, Darcy Tucker and Bryan McCabe by John Ferguson Jr. during his tenure as GM. Once Sundin and Kaberle announced they would not be moving, Fletcher was left with only spare parts (Belak, Kilger, Gill) to move and was only able to acquire some draft picks to throw onto this sinking ship of a franchise. A rumored trade of Kyle Wellwood never materialized and at the end of the day, Leafs fans were once again left shaking their heads.

5.New York Rangers- After Dan Boyle re-signed with Tampa, Kaberle decided to stay put and Campbell was moved to the Sharks, Glen Sather was left wondering how he would fill the team’s glaring need for a puck moving defenseman. Rangers fans meet Christian Backman, your new Garden whipping boy. Sather sent a fourth rounder to St.Louis for the underachieving blueliner who had become the Blues’ version of Marek Malik, thanks to his big frame but soft play in his own zone. Sather then made a deal with former underling Don Maloney in Phoenix sending one time first rounder and highly touted goalie prospect Al Montoya and project Marcel Hossa westward for two way winger Frederic Sjostrom and minor leaguers Josh Gratton and G David Le Neveu. It was a disappointing day for Rangers fans who had hoped to add some blueline depth to a corps recently depleted by injuries and continue the recent run that the team had been making.

While Western Conference powers like Anaheim, Vancouver and Detroit stood pat or made only minor moves yesterday and the Avalanche announced their intentions to win the Cup (unfortunately they meant the 1999 Stanley Cup…..Foote, Forsberg???..What happened Patrick Roy isn’t returning phone calls?), the Stars and Sharks solidified themselves as frontrunners and the Pens and Caps gave notice to the East that they were all in come playoff time. The one thing for sure after yesterday is the big winner is the NHL fan as the moves made on deadline day assure that this will be one of the most exciting playoff races and postseason tournaments in recent memory.

Clause and Effect

The ultimate goal of any professional athlete is reaching the pinnacle of their respective sport. In the NHL, that pinnacle is winning the Stanley Cup. Mats Sundin is one of the greatest players to ever lace up his skates and play the game of hockey but like so many others, he is still in search of his sport’s holy grail and yesterday when given a chance to possibly achieve that goal, he passed.

Sundin has been the face of the Toronto Maple Leafs as their captain for several seasons. A fan favorite who brings immense talent and leadership to what has been a dysfunctional organization over the last decade or so, Sundin is widely respected throughout the league as a “gamer” who brings it night in and night out. As the trade deadline approached over the last few weeks, rumors swirled that the Leafs were considering trading Sundin, an unrestricted free agent at season’s end, in an attempt to acquire some young assets who could help in righting what has been a ship lost at sea over the last few seasons. These rumors were met with varying opinions from the Leafs’ very vocal and committed fan base. While most roared against the trading of their beloved captain, a growing portion of the fans saw the upside in moving Sundin now and building for the future considering the team as currently assembled is not considered a contender to make any noise in this year’s postseason tournament.

The thought was that if  Sundin were to be moved to a contending team like the Red Wings or defending champion Ducks, he would be given an opportunity to play for the Cup and the Leafs could recieve a package of young players and draft picks that could bring them closer to returning to the upper echelon of teams in a wide open eastern conference as early as next season. Sundin could then decide to return to Toronto during the summer through free agency and rejoin a much stronger team for the foreseeable future. These plans were scrapped yesterday however when Sundin declined to waive his no trade clause and remain with the Leafs for the rest of this season.

Many fans and pundits rejoiced at his decision calling it “a show of loyalty” to the organization but I feel that it was just the opposite. Sundin was given the perfect opportunity to not only help himself but also the organization he feels so strongly about and he showed that what some critics have said about his desire to win might just be true after all. Nobody doubts that Sundin plays hard each shift and that he is a great leader and teammate but there are doubts about his ability to step up in the big games. By declining to waive his no trade clause, Sundin has done nothing to dispell those doubts.

I think Sundin’s upcoming free agency was the overwhelming factor in his decision yesterday, not his loyalty to the Leafs. What if Sundin were traded to the Wings or Ducks, a team full of great players and still could not deliver in the big games while going for the Cup? His value, while it would still be high, could be seriously diminished come summer when he is on the open market. He has always been considered a great player who was just unable to carry a team whose management couldn’t get out of it’s own way at times, but what if the reality is Sundin is comfortable being in that situation and doesn’t feel the need to prove he is anything more. The comment he has been repeating for a few weeks since these rumors surfaced that he has “never believed in the concept of being a rental player” only creates more questions about his desire to compete for the sport’s ultimate prize. If Sundin is such a loyal player, why wouldn’t he jump at the opportunity to do anything he can to improve the organization he feels so strongly about (especially when at the same time he would have a shot at winning the cup), it makes no sense. He could easily return to his Leafs next season(an improved team due to the players acquired in a trade for himself), whether he wins a championship or not, and sign a deal which would most likely ensure he finishes his career there and goes into the Hall of Fame with a Toronto sweater on. What if  free agency comes about and Sundin is approached by another team with a max-money deal that he cannot turn down and leaves Toronto? Will the fans still be behind his decision if he leaves the team in a lurch with nothing to show for it? The truth is Sundin, like so many others who hide behind the word “loyalty” is only looking after himself in this situation and unless he somehow can use this whole debacle to rally his teammates and lead them on a surprising run into the playoffs and beyond, he has probably passed on his best opportunity to hoist the Stanley Cup during his career while at the same time ensuring that the Leafs will remain trapped in their current state of mediocrity for the foreseeable future.

Baby, I Got Your Money

As the league’s general managers, scouts, coaches and decision makers assemble in Indiannapolis this week at the meat market known as the Scouting Combine to prepare for the upcoming draft, another market is about to open for business. The NFL’s annual free agent frenzy will begin next week as all 32 teams will look to sign the one or two players that they believe could be the missing pieces to their championship puzzle.

Each year at this time, GM’s salivate at the thought of getting their hands on the one that got away, the player who they missed out on securing on draft day and have watched grow into an impact player for another franchise. When the opening bell rings this time around they will look to throw huge multi-million dollar contracts at these players with the hope that they can help bring their team to the promised land . While fans of these teams would love for their fearless leaders to run out and try to sign every big name available, this is the time that GM’s really make their money (or in some cases, throw their money away) because for every signing that leads a team to a long playoff run, there are many more that end up as nothing more than dollars down the drain.

This season’s free agent pool has been watered down somewhat because of the use of the league’s franchise tag on many of the true impact players ( Albert Haynesworth,  Nnamdi Asomugha, Ken Hamlin, Corey Williams,  Jared Allen and Dallas Clark amongst others ) which has removed them from play before the bidding on their services even began. However, even without these players, the free agency pool still contains some players who on the right team could make a huge impact but like every other offseason as we’ve witnessed time and time again, nobody for sale in this market comes with a guarantee.

Here is my list of the top 10 players available this year and what they might be able to offer potential suitors:

1- Asante Samuel- CB- New England

Samuel is second only to Champ Bailey amongst corners in the AFC. He is coming off a Pro Bowl season and as a member of the Patriots organization, he knows what it takes to win the big games. The removal of Asomugha and Marcus Trufant from this free agency class have only helped in assuring that Samuel will recieve the biggest contract of any player on the market.

Possible Suitors: Vikings, Jets, Dolphins

2- Randy Moss- WR- New England

The Pats chose not to franchise Moss after a year in which he broke the league record for touchdown catches. Moss is obviously a one of a kind talent at the WR position and has the most ability to change a game of anyone on this list but with Moss you always have to take the bad with the great. He is  an emotional and often moody individual who is prone to making comments to the media which at times can undermine his team and his coaches. While all seemed well during the Pats incredible run last season, once they were upset by the Giants in the Super Bowl, Moss publicly questioned his head coach and made remarks about possibly not returning to the team in the upcoming year. If a team out there feels they have strong leadership in the locker room and can weather the possible storm that adding Moss can bring then he could very well be the difference maker for a true championship contender.

Possible Suitors: Patriots, Packers, Buccaneers

3-Lance Briggs- OLB- Chicago

Briggs is a tackling machine. His speed and ability to run down plays makes him a valuable addition to any defense. While some critics say he was helped by the presence of Brian Urlacher in the middle, I say “Who wouldn’t benefit from playing alongside a Pro Bowler?”. Briggs, a pro bowler in his own right, would best be served joining a younger team looking for both on-field production and off the field leadership.

Possible Suitors: 49ers, Jets, Dolphins, Saints

4-Michael Turner- RB- San Diego

After 3 seasons in the shadow of LaDainian Tomlinson, Turner is ready to show that he can be a feature back. The subject of many trade rumors over the last 2 years, Turner is a speedy back with good vision who many expect to be able to carry a team if given the opportunity. The only concern of some GM’s around the league is the wear and tear he has taken as a backup and how long he can truly hold up with a full workload before he starts the inevitable breaking down of an NFL running back. My bet is he will give his new club at least 3 good years before he starts to slow down.

Possible Suitors: Dolphins, Chiefs, Seahawks, Lions

5- Antwan Odom- DE- Tennessee

Odom is entering free agency at the perfect time. The league is full of clubs looking for young edge rushers who can make a difference against the pass. The 26 year old Odom fits the bill and is coming off an eight sack season in which he seemingly only scratched the surface of his potential. The tagging of Allen by the Chiefs has opened up the door for Odom to cash in big time.

Possible Suitors: Redskins, Titans, Falcons, Bills

6-Flozell Adams- OT- Dallas

Once the Cowboys franchised Hamlin, they effectively waived goodbye to Adams and his huge frame. After a disappointing season in 2006, “The Hotel” bounced back with a very strong campaign and re-established himself as one of the top tackles in the game. The Boys would love to bring him back but only at a discount, which won’t be easy once he hits the open market and the offers start rolling in.

Possible Suitors: Cowboys, Giants, Buccaneers, Raiders, Texans

7-Bernard Berrian- WR-Chicago

Berrian is the next best deep threat available after Moss. His deep speed is enticing to many clubs looking for a weapon to stretch the field. The Bears would love to have him back but Berrian will probably look to go to a team where the QB situation is a little more stable than the revolving door that continues in the Windy City. The only concern is that he is prone to a case of the drops now and again.

Possible Suitors: Buccaneers, Patriots, Broncos, Steelers

8-Justin Smith- DE- Cincinnati

The former top pick is coming off a very disappointing season in which he only collected two sacks. Smith uses his speed to pressure quarterbacks and is a much better player than his stats would show. In this league, where pass rushers are coveted, Smith will probably be overpaid by someone.

Possible Suitors: Broncos, Colts, Texans, Jaguars, Vikings

9- Alan Faneca-OG- Pittsburgh

Faneca is one of the premier guards in all of football and is coming off a season that some said was his best in years. A technically gifted inside presence, Faneca brings stability and experience to any club which signs him. At 31, he may be only a year or two from a decline but for a team in need of immediate upgrade on the o-line, Faneca is a great add. If he were 28, he would probably be the top player rated on this list.

Possible Suitors: Packers, Browns, Ravens, Rams

10-Gibril Wilson- S- New York Giants

To the victors, go the spoils! Wilson is a rangy, hard hitting safety who will cash in on the success of his team after their Super Bowl victory. Wilson led the Giants in tackles in two playoff games and made several strong plays during their surprising run. A hard worker with good character who could be the missing piece for a team seeking help down the middle.

Possible Suitors: Cowboys, Browns, Raiders, Redskins, Eagles

Next week, most of these players will change uniforms and lifestyles (thanks to the millions they will make) and will pray that next year at this time they will be mentioned in the same breath as Reggie White and Trent Dilfer as great free agent signings and not with Larry Brown, Scott Mitchell and Alvin Harper as big money busts. No matter what happens over the next few weeks as these players come off the market and fans of the clubs that acquire them either celebrate or vilify their respective GM’s for the deals, the one thing that is for sure is that everyone will have an opinion but the only true measure of each move will come next season when the first coin is flipped and we get back down to business on the field.

Crashing the Net

Once again it’s time for some random rants on the world of sports…

First, A few weeks ago I wrote about how the goonish behavior displayed by the Philadelphia Flyers throughtout the first half of this season had to be examined and met with appropriate sanctions by the NHL and it seems as if nothing has really changed. Flyers cheap shot artist Steve Downie struck again the other night when he went after Maple Leafs winger Jason Blake, who had commented to the media about Downie’s suspension drawing hit on Ottawa’s Dean McAmmond, hitting him in the eye as Blake was being restrained by an official. The fact that Downie did this is no big surprise considering his past transgressions, however, the fact that longtime Flyers Senior VP Bobby Clarke responded to the incident by saying it was “a good thing” and “When he went after [Jason] Blake, I loved it,” once again proves that this isn’t just one player but an organization wide philosophy. Bobby Clarke’s comments once again put this franchise in a light that portrays them as classless. Clarke may have played for the Flyers during the era of the “Broad Street Bullies” but he was the talent for that team and not the muscle. Clarke was known for yapping and rabbit punching then hiding behing Dave Schultz and the others to protect him. Bobby Clarke needs to smarten up and realize this isn’t the “Wild West” NHL of the 70’s and if he keeps condoning this kind of behavior (and even praising it) that soon other teams will begin to retaliate against some of the Flyers top talent. Does anyone believe Clarke would “Love it” if Darcy Tucker did the same thing to Daniel Briere? As for Downie, do you think if Mats Sundin (6-5 231) would have made the same comments Blake (5-10 175) made, Downie would have been so quick to sucker punch him? I doubt it. The NHL players have a code of protecting their own so even though Downie escaped without a lengthy suspension or fine from the NHL, i’m sure the next time he plays the Leafs they will remember and look for payback and i’m sure Clarke will have different feelings about that.

Here is a video of the cheap shot and some commentary:

Second, I watched the BCS Championship game the other night (only because nothing else was on) and I have to say that the one player who took the field that really impressed me was not consensus top 3 pick Glenn Dorsey of LSU but Ohio State LB and tackling machine James Laurinaitis. This kid made plays all over the field from the line of scrimmage to 15 yards downfield. If a tackle was made it seemed like he was either wrapping the opposing player up or had a hand in it to the tune of 18 tackles. Laurinaitis, who is the son of wrestling legend Animal (of the Road Warriors and Legion of Doom) is only a junior but is expected by many to declare for this year’s draft. I personally think with his combination of speed and tackling ability he will be a star at the NFL level. If I was a GM in the upcoming draft looking for a linebacker (think Green Bay as a bookend with Ohio St. alum A.J. Hawk, the Bears as a replacement for Lance Briggs or even the Jets who may be looking to move MLB Jonathan Vilma) Laurinaitis would be at the top of my draft board.

Finally, there was some minor controversy this past week over the NFL Most Valuable Player Award voting. Patriots QB Tom Brady won the award while receiving all but one vote. The other vote went to Packers QB Brett Favre. This vote enraged some fans and media members who felt that Brady should have been the unanimous choice. This argument once again brings to light the problem with the naming of the award itself. In all professional sports, the MVP award is given out to the league’s most outstanding performer for that season. Unfortunately, many people believe that the most valuable player means the most valuable to his team not the player who had the best season statistically and this leaves room for much debate almost every time an award is bestowed upon a player. While Tom Brady obviously had the best season of anyone statistically, you could argue that Brett Favre or even Cowboys QB Tony Romo were more valuable to their teams success then Brady was to that of the Patriots. The same argument could be made in MLB where Alex Rodriguez had one of the greatest statistical seasons in league history but many felt that Detroit OF Magglio Ordonez was truly the most valuable to his team. Many times the voters do a good job of distinguishing the difference but occasions like these bring about the need for the various leagues to at least consider a change. In my opinion, these leagues should award two honors at season’s end, one for the player who has had the best season statistically and one for the player whose play was most integral to his team’s success. By doing this and instructing voters to choose by these guidelines instead of the fuzzy definition of “Valuable” they now adhere to, many of these controversies will be averted in the future and if the player who is most valuable also happens to be the one who has the best numbers then I’m sure they won’t mind making two acceptance speeches.

Time To Give Henrik The Keys To The Kingdom

Imagine on the first day of free agency next summer hearing the words “The Chicago Blackhawks would like to welcome Henrik Lundqvist to the organization”. It sounds like a fairy tale dreamed up by some overzealous fan but in reality it’s not that far fetched of a scenario.

During the last offseason, The New York Rangers signed two of the top centers in the game (Scott Gomez and Chris Drury) to multiyear megadeals and in doing so ensured the franchise would have playmakers and a leadership core long after team captain and franchise talent Jaromir Jagr decides to hang up his skates. The only harmful side effect to these signings was that they left the Rangers with little cap room to sign franchise goaltender and restricted free agent Henrik Lundqvist to a long term deal before the season began. Lundqvist and his agent instead agreed to terms with the team on a one year deal and both sides agreed to revisit the situation during the season.

Lundqvist has once again put together a stroong first half and will undoubtedly be amongst the candidates to be honored with the Vezina Trophy as the league’s top goaltender at season’s end. His steady and at times spectacular play has carried the Rangers early on and is the biggest reason that they are still in good position to make the playoffs even while the team has been suffering through a prolonged goal scoring drought and various growing pains with it’s young players. Everyone who watches the Rangers and all from within the organization acknowledge that Lundqvist is the most important part of the Rangers drive towards a championship, not only this year but in the future as well. It is time that Glen Sather and management open up the checkbook and make sure that Henrik knows his value to this franchise as well.

By signing Lundqvist to a long term deal now the Rangers can accomplish two goals. They can lock up their cornerstone at a relatively young age (think about the Devils signing Martin Brodeur to a 10 year deal early on and what having him with their franchise has meant and that’s the kind of security Henrik could give the Rangers) and continue to build around him and their considerable pool of young talent (Marc Staal, Dan Girardi, Petr Prucha, Ryan Callahan, Bobby Sanguinetti, Alex Cherapanov) while at the same time keeping him away from possible offers from other teams who might view him as the missing piece to their own championship puzzle. If Lundqvist makes it to free agency this summer, Would it surprise anyone if a team full of young burgeoning stars like the Blackhawks were to offer Lundqvist a max deal to turn their team from a possible playoff dark horse into a bonified contender? I believe Lundqvist would at least have to consider it (even with his desire to play in New York) with the upside of Johnathan Toews, Pat Kane, Brent Seabrook, Dustin Byfuglien and Martin Havlat (if he ever stayed healthy) being factors in his decision. What about former Ranger alum and broadcaster and now Blues GM John Davidson? Don’t you think J.D. would love a crack at adding Henrik to his roster in St. Louis after witnessing firsthand the effect he has on a team looking to regain it’s place amongst the game’s upper echelon. If Lundqvist somehow gets to free agency, there will be many suitors for his services and the Rangers will be forced to make some very tough decisions in order to retain him.

If the Rangers can get Lundqvist under contract before the summer it will also allow them to trade former first round draft pick and valuable bargaining chip goaltender Al Montoya in an attempt to shore up a young and inexperienced defense that has played extremely well so far this season but still could use a veteran presence and a power play quarterback on it’s blueline.The Rangers have many decisions to make as this year’s trade deadline approaches and even more decisions following the season but the one decision that seems abundantly clear is that they need to get Henrik signed long term now and avoid what would be an unmitigated disaster if he walks away. It’s time to hand over the keys to the castle to King Henrik and make sure he presides over his kingdom, in this case The Garden, for many years to come.

Don’t Stray from the Un-Beaten Path

Over the last four weeks, The Washington Redskins have played with a renewed sense of vigor and have salvaged a season which seemed to be all but lost following both the tragedy of Sean Taylor’s murder and a possible season ending injury to starting QB Jason Campbell.

When Campbell was hurt, the Redskins were sitting at 5-7 and were on the outside looking in when it came to the postseason tournament. Most fans felt the prospect of a trip to the playoffs was gone as the team handed over the reins to journeyman signal caller Todd Collins, a 13 year veteran who had not thrown a pass in a game in almost 3 years.

After yesterday’s victory over the Cowboys at Fed Ex Field, Collins is 4-0 as a starter and more importantly the Redskins are in the playoffs. Although Collins is the biggest reason for the Redskins resurgence, it was truly a teamwide effort as both Santana Moss and Clinton Portis stepped up their games and leadership roles and the entire defense has worked very hard to overcome the loss of it’s most talented player and captain. The Redskins are playing their best football as they head into Seattle for a first round matchup and it seems that the only question this team may face is what to do once Jason Campbell is healthy enough to take the field again, a scenario they could be forced to deal with as early as this coming saturday.

Jason Campbell is obviously the future of this franchise at the QB position. Before his injury, he had made huge improvements this season to his overall game and both the fans and organization were excited about his future as the team’s offensive leader. These feelings have not changed even with the emergence of Collins during this playoff push. However, even if Campbell is healthy enough to return this season, the best move for the Redskins is to keep Collins at QB for the remainder of the season. While none of the players would doubt Campbell’s ability to help them to advance to the Super Bowl, making changes to a team that is on such an emotional run right now would be a huge mistake.

This is not the first time that NFL fans have witnessed this scenario. The 1989 New York Giants stuck with relatively unknown backup Jeff Hostetler even after longtime starter and championship winning QB Phil Simms returned from injury and Hostetler repaid their faith in him by delivering a Super Bowl victory over the Bills. The 1997 Chiefs were led by starter Elvis Grbac who was injured after 9 games. Rich Gannon took over and was 5-1 as a starter before Marty Schottenheimer decided Grbac would start the final game of the season and the team’s first playoff game against the Broncos. Grbac played horribly in those games and the Chiefs were eliminated and the decision was roundly criticized as Schottenheimer’s worst coaching decision in a long coaching career.

Joe Gibbs is a Hall of Fame coach who understands his players and the fragile emotional environment that surrounds the Redskins since the death of Taylor earlier this season. It took alot for this team to come back and to rally around Todd Collins and Gibbs has stated his appreciation for this on many occasions. The most important thing the coach must do now is convince his young QB that this is no indictment of him or his ability to lead but that the best interest of the team is to stay the path which has lead them to this position. If all recent indications of the maturity and leadership abilities of Campbell are to believed, this should not be a hard sell for Gibbs at all.