NHL Fantasy Pool Team... Will I win?

Ok so here is rundown of my Fantsy Pool team.. I was the eighth pick in a pool of eight... Yes ..Yes I know I was the last pick...
My forwards are as follows.
Rick Nash Columbus Blue Jackets, Shane Doan Phoenix Coyotes
Jonathan Toews (injured) Black Hawks
Jason Spezza (injurred) Ottawa Senators
Scott Hartnell Philadelphia Flyers
Patrick Kane Chicago BlackHawks
Jay Bouwmeester Calgary Flames
Francois Beauchmin Toronto Maple Leafs
Rob Blake San Jose Sharks
Kimmo Timonen Philadelphia Flyers
And My goalies are Marc Andre-Fleury of the Pittsburgh Penguins, and Steve Mason of the Columbus Blue Jackets..;
right Now I am in fifth spot but have been moving up.. If only Toews wasn't injured and the same with Spezza I would be better I am curious to your team setup and waht you think of mine..Let me know and keep me updated on how you do!

Tedd Ginn's returns set NFL single-game record in Miami Dolphins' win over New York Jets

Ted Ginn Jr. looked into the camera on the sideline after his first kickoff return for a touchdown Sunday and put his finger up to his lips, as if to say, "Shush." Seven minutes later, the Dolphins' speedster really left the Jets speechless when he scored on another kickoff return.

Ginn became the first player in NFL history to score two kickoff-return touchdowns of 100 or more yards in the same game, the deciding factor in the Dolphins' 30-25 win at the Meadowlands. He's the first player to return two kickoffs for a touchdown in the same quarter since 1967.

Ginn's runs provided a last word for the verbal skirmishes between the Dolphins and Jets this season, but certainly had Jets fans wondering why Gang Green continued kicking to him.

"We wanted to kick it in the middle and corral him," kicker Jay Feely said. "We had opportunities, we just didn't make the play."

Ginn's first touchdown return, a 100-yard dash, came off a kick that was misplaced and low, by Feely's own account. Ginn, a wide receiver who lost his starting spot after dropping several passes in Miami's loss to the Saints last week, cut to his left and then broke for the right sideline, scoring with 10:24 to go in the third quarter.

"We had lost leverage on the first one when he was out on the edge," linebacker Larry Izzo said. "On the second one, we had six or seven guys, including myself, to get him down and we didn't get it done there."

The second return was a master class in making something out of nothing. Ginn stopped at the 15-yard line, where blockers and would-be tacklers formed a wall. He danced past grabs by Izzo and Ryan Fowler and waited for an opening.

"I felt like I was trapped, you know, and I just tried to use my feet and play off my blocks," Ginn said of the 101-yard return. "My motive was to get to the outside, and once I got that opening, I turn on those burners and I'm gone."

The Jets had last given up a touchdown on a kickoff return in 2007. During special teams coach Mike Westhoff's nine-year tenure, the Jets had given up three before Sunday.

While the decision to kick the ball deep in Ginn's territory two more times was Westhoff's, Rex Ryan said he would not second-guess his special teams coach.

"I've got the best special teams coach in the league," Ryan said. "I will go to the grave, so to speak, defending what he says. I truly believe in him. If he says it's best to kick it deep, I trust him."

An article I enjoyed by Kristie Ackert
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

Rebuilding or just a BAD RENO for Leafs Nation

The Toronto Maple Leafs played the New York Rangers tonight!

This game ended in a 7 2 loss for the Toronto Maple Leafs and one has to wonder if the leafs have made the proper moves to create a good foundation for  this once storied franchise.

In the off season Brian Burke added what has already been publicised many times the so called sturdy and strong! which one would think would be a strong building set up! So far Komisarek, Beauchemin, and Orr have yet to provide a sturdy 'foundation'.

So far the new additions of Stallburg, and Gustavson have both been injured with less than 5 games into the season! and with Toskala playing the way he is we are not looking good in goal at all!

So yes, Leafs Nation is watching for Phil Kessel, but are they prepared to realize that this team is so far away from creating a solid foundation for his return that he may not even make a real impact and with first round picks already gone have the Leafs gone too far to be considered  in a rebuild period ,or are they just in a period of bad renovation with no end in sight!

Evaluating the 16 NFL teams with winning records through Week 3 with Don Banks

e the real deals from the flukes and fakes:We're just three weeks into the NFL's new season, and it's already starting to distinguish itself mightily from its predecessor, as seems to be the case each and every year in Roger Goodell's 32-team fiefdom.
Of last season's eight division winners, five start Week 4 south of .500: Miami, Tennessee and Carolina are a desperate 0-3, while Pittsburgh and Arizona, who just met in that memorable Super Bowl not quite eight months ago, are floundering at 1-2. All but the defending NFC champion Cardinals already trail by at least two games in their division race as September draws to a close.
(John P. Lopez breaks down the 16 NFL teams with a losing record here.)
They say a win is a win in the NFL, but we know all winning teams are not created equal. So with 16 teams, exactly half the league, currently at 2-1 or 3-0, let's sort through the crowd of first-month winners and try to separat

The Elite Class

Baltimore (3-0)nightmare scenario for about 10 years now has been the thought of the Ravens with a big-time offense, and it's a fear that has finally come true in the Joe Flacco/Cam Cameron era. Only New Orleans has scored more than Baltimore's 13 touchdowns, and the Ravens have been a model of consistency, scoring 38, 31 and 34 points in their three victories. The schedule is about to turn challenging the next three weeks -- at New England, Cincinnati, at Minnesota -- but Baltimore is a team that does everything well.
• Early season playoff potential: That run to the AFC title game last year was just the beginning.
New Orleans (3-0) -- What's not to like about this Saints team? They've won at home, they've won twice on the road. They've won with overwhelming passing, and on Sunday in Buffalo, they won with a running game (222 yards) and defense, sacking Bills quarterback Trent Edwards four times, hitting him 14 times, and limiting Buffalo's offense to 243 yards. When Sean Payton's club can win on a day Drew Brees throws for just 172 yards with no touchdowns, you know things have finally changed for the better in New Orleans. The Saints' next two games will either prove or disprove their elite status: home against the Jets, then the Giants.
• Early season playoff potential: The Saints won't be the NFL's feel-good story in this year's playoffs. This time, they're just good.
New York Giants (3-0)-- If I were a gambling man, I'd love the Giants. They've become one of the few NFL teams with a baseline consistency to their play. For the most part, you know what you're going to get from New York every week. They're methodical in how they win on the road (2-0 already this year), and they can beat you in so many ways: their two-headed rushing game, Eli Manning's underrated passing, or a defense that always seems to assert itself when necessary. With games at Kansas City and against Oakland in the coming two weeks, New York is also the league's best bet to start 5-0.
• Early season playoff potential: Tom Coughlin's guys haven't missed the postseason since Eli's rookie year, and it'll be an NFC-best five trips in a row in '09.
New York Jets (3-0) -- Nothing breeds confidence on a team more so than winning even when you don't have your "A'' game on any particular day, and that's why the Jets' Week 3 grind-it-out conquest of the Titans was valuable. Quality teams find a way to get the W even when they're not at their best. A huge test looms this week with New York's trip to New Orleans, but Rex Ryan has his Jets believing they're destined for great things this season, so no game will be too big for them. And check out that schedule. After the Saints, New York isn't likely to play another winning team until its much-anticipated rematch at New England in Week 11.
• Early season playoff potential: Even Eric Mangini took the Jets to the playoffs in his first season, and Rex Ryan is no Eric Mangini.

Indianapolis (3-0) -- If there's a preseason prediction I'd like to have back, it's that the Colts would finally slip out of the 12-win neighborhood into the nine-win range and miss the playoffs. Indy just keeps rolling, and I thought their dismantling of the Cardinals on Sunday night was the sure sign of a team that's starting to figure out what it does best and how to attack its opponent. The Colts haven't lost a regular season game since last October (12 in a row), and Peyton Manning continues to be the single biggest difference-maker for his team in the NFL. Bar none.
• Early season playoff potential: With the Titans, Texans and Jaguars inspiring no confidence, who else but the Colts could represent the AFC South?

Taking Care of Business

Darren Sproles (above) has had to carry the load for the Chargers run game with LaDainian Tomlinson on the sidelines. Bob Rosato/SI Don Banks's Mailbag Submit a comment or question to Don Banks. Name: Email: Hometown: Question: SEND Follow Don Banks on Twitter

Minnesota (3-0) -- After the euphoria of Brett Favre's "Miracle at the Metrodome'' died down a bit Sunday night, you realized the Vikings shouldn't let their giddiness obscure just how close they came to losing at home to the resilient 49ers. If Dre' Bly doesn't drop that sure interception on Minnesota's penultimate drive, we're talking this week about the Vikings having failed their first test of the season against a quality opponent.
But Favre proved he can still beat you with his arm, and it shouldn't be overlooked that San Francisco was 0-of-11 on third downs against the tough Minnesota defense. Now let's see what the Vikings can do against a motivated Aaron Rodgers and that Green Bay offense.
• Early season playoff potential: We learned our lesson from the Jets' Favre era. Let's let the story play out in the NFC North this year.
San Diego (2-1)-- A pair of big fourth quarters have provided wins over Oakland and Miami, but the Chargers remain a team lacking in killer instinct and a four-quarter sense of urgency. Losing to Baltimore at home is no disgrace, but that's the sort of statement game San Diego needs to win, but rarely does. The Chargers have another chance to earn our respect this week, with their near-annual trip to Pittsburgh for a Sunday night affair. San Diego can't afford to let the Broncos run and hide in the AFC West like they did in last season's first half.
• Early season playoff potential: Should easily still be the class of the AFC West when all is said and done.
New England (2-1) -- The offensive balance the Patriots displayed in their 16-point win over visiting Atlanta on Sunday is a great sign, because that's the kind of pass-run mixture that helped New England earn three Super Bowl rings earlier this decade. The Patriots' red zone issues remain troubling, but they will play better in that phase of the game once Wes Welker returns to health and Tom Brady and Randy Moss get back in 2007-like sync.
• Early season playoff potential: The Jets and Patriots are both going to the playoffs. It's just a matter of who's the division winner and who's the wild card?
Philadelphia (2-1) -- The Eagles have sent us mixed messages. They out-classed Carolina and Kansas City, and were out-classed by New Orleans. But Philly clearly has more promising young offensive weapons (Kevin Kolb, DeSean Jackson, LeSean McCoy) than it has possessed in recent years, and Sean McDermott is finding his footing as the team's new defensive coordinator. With a bye this week, then games against Tampa Bay, Oakland and Washington, the Eagles should be 5-1 when November and the serious part of their schedule arrives.
• Early season playoff potential: There's a long way to go in this chapter of the Philadelphia story, but history tells us the Eagles will be in the fight until the end.
Atlanta (2-1) -- The Falcons failed their audition for breaking into the NFL's elite class with that 26-10 loss at New England on Sunday. But their only real focus at this point should be sticking close enough to first-place New Orleans in the NFC South to ensure their Week 8 and Week 14 games decide the outcome of the division's two-team race. The biggest concern I have about Mike Smith's team so far is a 24th-ranked run defense that's giving up 136 yards per game.
• Early season playoff potential: Nothing should be taken for granted with a franchise that has never posted consecutive winning seasons, but the Falcons are a good team that won't just fade away this year.
San Francisco (2-1) -- That was just about the most excruciating way imaginable to lose Sunday in Minnesota, and I can still see 49ers general manager Scot McCloughan sitting by himself in the Metrodome press box afterward, staring straight ahead in glassy-eyed disbelief. But something tells me 49ers head coach Mike Singletary has already turned getting "Favred'' into a teaching moment, and his team won't let the defeat distract them from winning at home this week against St. Louis. That would make San Francisco 3-0 in the NFC West, and put it in command of its division.
• Early season playoff potential: With Matt Hasselbeck hurt in Seattle, and Kurt Warner looking shaky in Arizona, the 49ers can see a clear-cut path to playing in January.
Green Bay (2-1) -- The Packers' rather ugly win at St. Louis was kind of the ultimate taking-care-of-business victory, but you've got to hit your layups in the NFL. Green Bay's protection problems got somewhat better after the first quarter against the Rams, but Aaron Rodgers now looks as if he's anticipating pressure at all times and seems willing to take off from the pocket at the slightest provocation. That's a troublesome development, because it's hard to see Green Bay getting where it wants to go this season unless Rodgers is sitting back and firing it downfield.
• Early season playoff potential: Whatever mojo the Packers had this preseason has largely evaporated, and the harsh realities of the regular season have set in. There's still plenty of promise, but so far, not enough production.

The Jury's Still Out

Denver (3-0) -- I give Josh McDaniels' team credit for entering October undefeated after going to hell and back in August. But beating the Bengals on a lucky bounce, and then handling the sad-sack Browns and Raiders shouldn't make anyone start printing playoff tickets in Denver. The Broncos are about to embark on two of the longest months an NFL schedule-maker can dish out in 2009: Dallas, New England, at San Diego, at Baltimore, Pittsburgh, at Washington, San Diego, and the N.Y. Giants. If the Broncos are anything better than 4-7 heading into December, I'll tip my hat.
• Early season playoff potential: Go back and read those previous two sentences once more, closely. Playoffs? Playoffs?
Dallas (2-1) -- I didn't see anything in Monday night's win over Carolina that will jump-start the hype machine in Dallas, but it was obvious that quarterback Tony Romo tried to remain patient and take what the Panthers were giving him, rather than force the issue and drown in another wave of turnovers. That's a good sign. Also, it's pretty remarkable the Cowboys rushing game, minus Marion Barber, produced its second 200-yard-plus rushing effort in a row -- a first for the franchise since 1979.
• Early season playoff potential: For a team that has perennially proved it can't finish the season strong in December, what's the point of making a playoff prediction in September?
Chicago (2-1) -- Jay Cutler has been superb since that embarrassing four-interception opener at Green Bay, and he's playing the position of quarterback far better than he ever did while he was rolling up glitzy statistics in Denver last season. The Bears are banged up on defense, and we still haven't seen enough impact out of Matt Forte, but Cutler gives them the chance to win games they normally would have lost in the past. The jury's still out, however, because we don't yet know how often the good Cutler will out-weigh the bad Cutler.
• Early season playoff potential -- With the Vikings, Packers and Bears a combined 7-2, with one of those losses coming head-to-head, the three-team race in the NFC North is shaping up just as expected. It's way too early to know which two teams earn a playoff berth.
Cincinnati (2-1) -- Yes, I know the Bengals are a play away from being 3-0 and the talk of the NFL. But they're also a play away from being 1-2 and in third place in their division, were it not for that stirring Carson Palmer-led, 16-play, game-winning touchdown drive against the Steelers. The Bengals are clearly better than they've been since 2005. But sustaining their momentum is now the next test. If Cincy really has grown up, it'll dispatch the woeful Browns in Cleveland this week without any messing around.
• Early season playoff potential -- Easy there, Bengals fans. Knocking off the Steelers at home was a great first step. But a trip to Baltimore looms in Week 5.

Which NFL team Will Win be the Last to Win?

Reporters from around the Tribune family tackle the question of the day, then you get a chance to chime in and tell them why they are wrong.
Dom Amore, Hartford Courant

Let's start off with the assumption that nobody is going to go 0-16 this year. That's once in a lifetime futility and the 2008 Lions deserve to have it all to themselves for decades. This year has spawned an inordinate number of 0-3 teams. Scanning the field of failures, my eyes are drawn to the Cleveland Browns as the least likely to win any time soon. They have scored 29 points and allowed 95, by far the worst ratio. They are at or near the bottom in every category except passing defense (16th), which makes sense since they are so bad against the run. They're going with inexperience at quarterback, not the way to stop a negative roll, and their schedule the next several weeks is unfavorable. Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times

KC CHiefs

Cleveland and Detroit are this close on a map, and even closer when it comes to bad football. So it wouldn’t be shocking to see the Browns follow in the staggering footsteps of the 2008 Lions and become the second NFL team to go 0-16. That said the Browns are still capable of pulling off a stunner, the way they did against the Giants last season. Miami could stay winless for awhile, depending on the health of Chad Pennington, seeing as the Dolphins’ next five opponents are a combined 12-3. But the team most likely to keep the bubbly on ice the longest is Kansas City, whose next five games are Giants, Dallas, at Washington, San Diego and at Jacksonville. If you can’t convert third downs, you can’t win. The Chiefs are seven for 36 in that department, including 0 for 11 on Sunday.

Ken Murray, Baltimore Sun
Based on what I saw Sunday in Baltimore, the Browns will be the last NFL team to win a game this season -- by a landslide. They don’t even play a winnable game until Week 11, when they travel to Detroit.
And they have only two other games they can be competitive in (unless Cincinnati goes in the tank again). On back-to-back Sundays in December, the Browns play at Kansas City and home against Oakland. I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re playing to avoid 0-16 infamy at that point.
The NFL is full of awful teams: the Browns, Rams, Raiders, Chiefs, Bucs, Redskins, Lions, Panthers. But the Browns have the worst combination of coaching, defense and quarterback of any team. They also have the worst uniforms. This team is more likely to stage a mutiny against Eric Mangini than it is to win a game this year.
Ethan J. Skolnick, South Florida Sun-Sentinel

http://celebritiestore.com/?string=cleveland

There’s an awful lot of awful in the NFL this season, but the Browns slouch below the rest. The Dolphins, Titans and Panthers are struggling, but at least they showed in 2008 that they can win. The Chiefs, Rams and Bucs are talent-starved, but at least it’s not already apparent that the players despise their new coaches. The Browns? Another story. Can’t fight karma. After earning the Mangenius label early with the Jets, Eric Mangini has been angering people ever since. The Browns foolishly hired him, and his draft-day blundering, torturous bus trips, needless secrecy and senseless fines seem to have already alienated fans, players and agents. The Browns have been outscored 95-29 and this season, not even the Bengals (Sunday’s opponent) can save them.

The Fan Favorite of?

So I called my blog 'The fan Favorite', but have I created Fan Favorites of my own?

I've yet to receive any inquiry's to my blog "The fan favorite"

Also I have mentioned that I am a Fan Favorite of 'Celebritiestore.com' and I will again let people know that if you type Celeb in the coupon field you will get free shipping and 40% off!


  Ok the promotion is done , but should I say what 'The Fan Favorite' Fan Favorite teams are?

Well I start with my Toronto Maple Leafs of course because I live in Toronto. As well I have a certain amount of respect of the Detroit red Wings. 2 NHL teams are not too much for a fan Favorite of the NHL.
So I then goto the MLS where of course my Favorite team is the Toronto FC . Although they are only in their third year I am upset they did not male the play offs.
I then goto the NBA where I don't watch so much so it's hard to be a fan favorite of a team there. So I then must lead to the NFL where I am a fan of the Philadelphia Eagles and feel ok to the fact that Micheal Vick is on the team. I still like Jeff Gordon and Dale earnhardt Junior in Nascar.

As well can anybody ever compare to Micheal SCHUMACHER IN THE Formula One Ferrari.
So now whats my fan favorite show it's 'The Office'

Anyways that's what this blog is about. which is what are you a Fan Favorite of?

Anything from movies television memorabilia, anything pop culture.

Well hope I get to hear what it may be!

Kessel: Two first rounds picks, too much?

Kessel: Two first rounds picks, too much?




Two 1st round draft picks and a second round pick... is what it took to land Kessel from the Bruins.



Myself, I would have forced the cards into the air and let them fall as they may via offer sheet. If the Bruins matched then so be it, if not then Kessel for a 1st,2nd,3rd via RFA compensation was fair in my opinion.



The following type of players is what I fear the Leafs may miss out on:



Mike Green (29th 2004)

Kopitar (11th 2005)

Statsny (44th 2005)

Giroux (22nd 2006)

Varlamov (23rd 2006)

Lucic (50th 2006)

Etc. (10th-60th)



Two of these calibre players on an entry level deal for three years, then the first SPC contract after that, and taking the 5.4mil for a free agent next year, would have been my choice...



Of course, landing a player like Mike Green 29th overall or Paul Statsny 44th overall is not the norm and waiting four years for a player like that to develop isn't necessarily what the Leafs need either....



So... myself, I'm going to stop trying to weigh this trade now and just look forward to what Burke does next and enjoy the rest of the preseason.

Oilers Blog-Pipeline August 4th by Maxbone

It has been reported and posted on the New York Rangers website that the team has walked away from the arbitration awarded amount of $3.9mil for Nicky Zherdev. This makes him an unrestricted free agent, free to sign with any team. Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal is reporting that the Oilers are not interested in trying to sign Zherdev. He played under Coach Tom Renney in New York before, and Renney was frustrated with Zherdev's lack of drive and determination. The Oilers were not willing to move a significant asset for Zherdev, nor were they willing to spend over-cap to bring him in. Betting is that Zherdev will end up signing with the KHL.




It's hard to say if this is a wise move for Edmonton. Perhaps the last thing the team needs is another player with questionable work ethic and desire to win. On the other hand, Zherdev's 58 points last season would have placed him second on the Oilers in team scoring. With few changes to the line-up occurring this off-season, some of the Oilers braintrust must be concerned about the offensive potential of this team.



So where do we go from here? Are the Oilers content to see if Dustin Penner can turn into the 30-goal man they hoped he could be when they signed him? Will Cogliano and Gagner be moved into the Top 6 forwards, and be given every opportunity to contribute offensively? Will Shawn Horcoff improve on his 50+ point season? Will young players like Jordan Eberle crack the line-up and be able to contribute significantly? Can the Oilers Top 4 defensemen, Souray, Visnovsky, Gilbert and Grebeshkov stay healthy all season, and be able to spark the offense to success? Questions, questions, questions.



Some pundits are suggesting that the Oilers will finish 12th in the Western Conference this season. I am not so pessimistic, but still, I see the Oilers being out of the playoffs with this current line-up. Unless Cogliano or Gagner can turn into a fully-contributing top line center this year, the Oilers are starting the season short two of three needed top line forwards. Their only go-to guy is Hemsky, and he is more of a play maker than a finisher.



Oilers GM Steve Tambellini stated after the Heatley fiasco that the team is content to go into training camp with the players currently on the roster. Considering their non-activity in respect to Zherdev, Tambellini’s statement should be considered accurate. Confusing, yet accurate. There are a number of teams facing roster issues in relation to the salary cap. Boston, San Jose, Philadelphia, Ottawa and Chicago are all teams that need to move a significant salary before training camp begins. The Oilers depth of young talent puts them at the front of the line in terms of having assets that could be moved to acquire an established forward. The question is, are the Oilers willing to be patient and intentionally miss the 2010 playoffs in order to keep their core of young players together for the future?



In the upcoming days, look for the following names to be associated with potential trades with Edmonton: Phil Kessel and Patrice Bergeron from Boston; Johnathan Cheechoo and Patrick Marleau from San Jose; Daniel Briere and Simon Gagne from Philadelphia; Jason Spezza from Ottawa; and Patrick Sharp from Chicago. Other names that could come up in conversation would be Brandon Dubinsky and another asset to Edmonton in a three-way deal for Dany Heatley, or Cheechoo and other asset being moved to Edmonton from San Jose for Heatley – Most likely if Edmonton enters into a three-team deal involving Heatley, it will be Cogliano, Smid and Penner being moved as was the original plan. Also, look for their to be talk about the Oilers moving one of their top 4 defenseman to either Columbus or the LA Kings. Would the Oilers be looking to reacquire Jarrett Stoll? Not likely. Dustin Brown and Alex Frolov are the more likely suspects to be sought by Edmonton. In respect to Columbus, an Oiler deal would be to acquire either a first-round pick or a young prospect like Jakub Voracek, whom the Oilers think highly of.



Should the Oilers look to free-agency, no one could be signed due to the Oilers present position against the camp. Both Brule and Smid are left to be signed, and the Oil have roughly $3mil in cap room to work with. Should the Oilers look to free agency, they might consider Mike Grier, Petr Sykora or Maxim Afinogenov.



Considering their non-activity in respect to Zherdev, Oiler fans should be prepared to see a season that looks remarkably like the last one.

The Office on NBC

By the way I am totally stoked to watch the new season of 'The Office' starting up on NBC.


I mean watching Steve Carrell and and B.J. Novak , Rain Wilson do all their antics is just about the funniest thing for me to watch.

I have been watching free office episodes on Justin.tv to keep insiync for this new season.

I know it will be another laugh fest for the year.

NHL Pre Season Toronto Maple Leafs Against the Boston Bruins

First thing I half to say is "Thank goodness the NHL season is so close to starting".

 I thought both teams played a very spirited game tonight. Although it ended up 3 2 loss for the Toronto Maple Leafs, I thought the Leafs showed the tenacious attitude we all thought Burke would bring to the team.


Between Colton Orr and Garnette Exelby there was alot of bodies being moved around the ice. Nazrim Kadri played a good game with flashes of creativity which all Leaf fans are looking for.

The Boston Bruins  Steve Begin and Wheeler led their team to the win with great passes and finishes for the Bruins.

Jeter surpasses Gehrig as Yankees' hit leader

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Derek Jeter surpassed Lou Gehrig as the New York Yankees' all-time hit leader with a single against the Baltimore Orioles Friday.
The 10-times All-Star shortstop lined the base-hit to right field in the third inning against Orioles right-hander Chris Tillman as the crowd of nearly 47,000 roared its approval.
"I never imagined, I never dreamed of this," Jeter, who grew up in nearby New Jersey as a Yankees fan, told reporters. "My dream was always to play for the team.
"Once you get here you want to stay and try to be consistent. This really wasn't a part of it. The whole experience has been overwhelming."
The entire Yankees team joined the 35-year-old Jeter at first base after the 2,722nd hit of his 15-year career.
"My team mates coming out, I didn't know they were going to do that," said Jeter, whose mother was in the crowd, wiping away tears. "It caught me off guard."
On a rainy night, thousands of camera flashes lit up Yankee Stadium each time Jeter swung the bat, fans wanting to capture the moment. When he landed on first and the Yankees began streaming out of the dugout, the flashes started again.
FINEST MEN
"For those who say today's game can't produce legendary players, I have two words: Derek Jeter," Yankees owner George Steinbrenner said in a statement. "Game in and game out he just produces.
"As historic and significant as becoming the Yankees' all-time hit leader is, the accomplishment is all the more impressive because Derek is one of the finest young men playing the game today."
"That combination of character and athletic ability is something he shares with the previous record holder Lou Gehrig."
Gehrig's career ended prematurely when the effects of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, took its toll on the Hall of Famer, known as The Iron Horse for his durability. The disease is now commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease.
Jeter has spent his entire career with the Yankees and is a four-time World Series champion.

Steve Grinsberg

FLEURY INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN FLAMES' CAMP

The Canadian Press
CALGARY -- Calgary is where Theoren Fleury started his remarkable NHL career. It may also be where he resurrects it.
In an interview with radio station The Fan 960 on Friday, the 41-year-old former all-star said an NHL team had invited him to training camp and he would arrive on Saturday. While Fleury didn't identify the team, several media reports said it was the Calgary Flames.
"I've basically been doing everything I can to prepare myself for tomorrow," Fleury told the radio station. "I think the biggest asset I have to bring to an organization is the experience that I have. That's what they're getting when they get me tomorrow."
"I'm still in shock, it's been a very long road," Fleury told TSN on Thursday after hearing he would be reinstated.
The Flames would not confirm Friday night if Fleury, who lives in Calgary and played 11 seasons there, was offered a tryout.
Fleury's last season was with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2002-03 when he was suspended indefinitely then for violating the NHL's substance abuse policy.
Fleury says he's sober now. The Oxbow, Sask., native asked for reinstatement and it was granted by the NHL and NHL Players' Association late Thursday night.
"I know Theo pretty well," NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said in Phoenix. "We had spent some time together when things in his life were a little less settled. Seeing him last night, he looked terrific, he sounded terrific, he seems to be in a good place, he's been sober for a number of years.
"We wish him well. I hope he can fulfil his dream and come back."
The diminutive forward made up for his five-foot-six frame during a remarkable NHL career. He scored 455 goals and added 633 assists in over 1,000 career games with the Calgary Flames, Colorado Avalanche, New York Rangers and Chicago between 1988 and 2003. He won a Stanley Cup in his rookie season with Calgary and was a member of the Canadian team that won an Olympic gold medal.
Fleury also battled alcoholism through his career.
"At heart I'm a hockey player first and foremost," Fleury said after one of his recent practices. "Obviously I didn't go out the way I wanted to.
"I knew something was wrong about 15 years ago. I just didn't have the tools to be able to deal with life. I started picking up really good tools to get to a point four years ago where I knew I could stop and continue and maintain my recovery and sobriety.
He will continue to participate in the after-care phase of the league's substance abuse program.
A return to the NHL after a six-year absence is a tall order. Defenceman Chris Chelios may have played in the NHL at 47 last season, but he'd never left it.
Forward Claude Lemieux, 43, played 18 games with the San Jose Sharks last season after a five-year absence. He had one assist and retired again.
Fleury had 12 goals and 21 assists in 54 games with the Blackhawks in 2002-03. He's played in Europe and in North American senior leagues since then.
He's operated a cement company in Calgary in recent years.

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Celebritiestore has a wide range of collectibles for everyones needs. I mean honestly if your a fan of Movies, Sports, and Music, they have everything.

Celebritiestore has alos told me that if you use the code"celeb" in the coupn fiels that you will reciece 40% off! and free shipping on any purchase over $40. Wow! I mean how awesome is that...

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Getting Ramped up For NFL and NHL

Ok so here's a quick quip about how excited I am for the NHL and the NFL to be starting up.

Yes summer is nearing it's end, but I must admit that we are coming up to best time of year for sports.

Racing is ending Soccer is gearing up and we have the NFL and NHL reading to roll for what should be an entertaining year considering all whats happened over the off season for both sports.

Team Canada Reports

CALGARY — Roberto Luongo received a movie-star welcome Monday upon touching down at the Calgary International Airport.
“Roberto, Roberto” a gaggle of predominantly female fans shrieked in a bid to get an autograph from the captain and starting goaltender for the Vancouver Canucks.
Not 10 steps away, goalie Marc-Andre Fleury — a Stanley Cup champion, no less — shook his head in amazement at the reaction to his seatmate on an Air Canada flight from Montreal.
“He’s big,” Fleury said with a grin. “I’m just a low-key guy. I’ll sneak through.”
Fleury, Luongo and Martin Brodeur — three of Canada’s top goaltending prospects for the 2010 men’s Olympic hockey team — arrived on the same flight for the start of the orientation camp.
Players began arriving earlier in the weekend, with more than 30 of them arriving on Monday morning and into the afternoon.
They didn’t have much time to enjoy the moment, however, as the puck was slated to drop for the first practice at 6 p.m. MT at the Pengrowth Saddledome.
Cam Ward, of the Carolina Hurricanes, and Steve Mason, of the Columbus Blue Jackets, are also in the running for one of three goaltending spots for the Canadian team.
“I think it becomes a great problem for Canada to have so much depth in the goalie department,” Brodeur said. “I think it’s going to be a tough competition when it comes down to it.
“We have a lot of young goalies out here. I’ve been here a while with the experience.”
As a kid, Fleury pretended to be a little Martin Brodeur patrolling the rinks during shinny matches on the neighbourhood rink.
Now he’s battling Brodeur for a job with Team Canada.
“I liked him,” he said. “Even though he wasn’t playing for Montreal, I still looked up to him a lot.”
Media pundits figure Brodeur and Luongo are locks for the team. But Ward, for one, refuses to buy into any pre-camp predictions.
“I wouldn’t want to come to a Team Canada camp trying out for the third spot,” Ward said. “I’m coming in here with the hope to play.
“I’m certainly humbled that I’ve got the opportunity to come and be a part of these great players. It’s exciting. I’m ready for it.”
So is Steve Mason, the dark horse of the group at the tender age of 21.
“I’m not putting any pressure on myself,” Mason said. “I’ve got nothing to lose. I don’t know if anybody is counting on me making it. That’s my goal, and I think I can.”
Calgary Herald

Every Seinfeld Baseball Player Reference

Every Seinfeld Baseball Player Reference

July 27th, 2009 by NextRound in Links, MLB, Television

The thorough fellas over at Joe Sports Fan put together an aggregate list of every baseball player reference and appearance on Seinfeld and we found ourselves poring over it for twenty minutes. We recommend you do the same.

LINK: http://www.joesportsfan.com>>

Megan Fox Hypes New Movie, Girl-on-Girl Action

July 27th, 2009 1:42 PM by Hilton Hater

Tags: Megan Fox, Girl-on-Girl Action

Forget your thinking caps, movie fans.

For Jennifer's Body, the upcoming horror flick written by Diablo Cody, you just need your sexy shoes. Isn't that right, Megan Fox?

"I think I'm pretty sexy in it," the actress said at last week's Comic-Con press conference. "The movie is SO sexy! You better put on your sexy shoes for this movie!"

Megan Fox + tight black dress X vampire fangs = total hotness!

What makes the film so sexy? Fox has one hyphenated word for men everywhere: girl-on-girl.

"There's sort of a hint of, a little bit of a lesbian relationship that happens. There's a girl-on-girl kiss," Fox said of her character, a demonic high school cheerleader, and the girl played by Amanda Seyfried. "Beyond that, before every kill there is a seduction that occurs. The boys have to be seduced to get in close enough to the dead girl in order for her to devour them."

As for horror movies in general, they typically don't appeal to Fox.

"I actually have a very intense fear of the dark. he last horror movie I saw was in 2005, and I was 15 years old. After I saw it, I slept with my mother for two weeks afterwards!"

Man, how lucky is Fox's moth

Gears Of WAR! With Kate Beckinsale

Kate Beckinsale might be in Gears of War movie

News that Pearl Harbor, Aviator actress may appear in video game adaptation announced during Comic-Con

Mark Fujii

During Epic Games’ Gears of War Panel at Comic-Con 2009 in San Diego California, the director, Len Wiseman, and writer, Chris Morgan, of the upcoming film adaptation shared some details with fans about potential casting selections for the movie.

According to IGN, amongst the prospects to play Maria, the wife of one of the game’s protagonists, Dominic Santiago, Len Wiseman said he was interested in British actress Kate Beckinsale.

“If I can convince [Kate Beckinsale]—and I think I have a shot—I’d love to see that,” said Wiseman. He is also currently married to Beckinsale. Minor detail, that.

Though best known for her more dramatic roles in films like The Aviator and Pearl Harbor, Beckinsale is no stranger to making action flicks either. She starred in 2003 action movie Underworld as a sultry, leather clad vampire, and co-starred opposite Hugh Jackman in 2004’s Van Helsing.

However, contrary to Internet rumors that Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson would be starring in a Gears of War movie, Wiseman was quick to announce they were currently not pursuing the former WWE wrestler.

“A Doom connection would not be smart for us,” said Wiseman, referring to the 2005 film adaptation of the classic PC shooter franchise which was a box office flop. The Doom movie starred recognizable actors like Johnson and Karl Urban, but was scorned by critics and currently holds a Rotten Tomatoes rating of only 20%.

Wiseman said he wasn’t looking to “throw a bunch of strongmen into the ring and see who comes out victorious… I’m looking for an actor for the role and then put him into shape,” according to IGN.

Wiseman also added that he’s “always thinking who could play the best Marcus [the leading protagonist in Gears of War]. You want to get hooked into the character and then all the amazing spectacle.”

In addition to talking about some of the casting choices for Gears of War, the game’s executive producer, Rod Ferguson, talked about how they were taking steps to avoid the failures of past video game movies.

“You can be too tied to what is the game,” Ferguson said.

Ferguson then elaborated that creators “so oriented at grabbing the gaming audience, we don’t leave behind what shouldn’t be in the movie. We’re about making the best movie possible, not about making Gears of War the game into a movie” before adding that previous movie-game adaptations “haven’t been willing to let go.”

According to Ferguson, Epic Games, developers of the Gears of War video game series gave the film’s director and writer “basic stuff that are important” but otherwise only requested that Wiseman and Morgan “"make the best movie possible that fits [their] medium.”

One change that gamers could see in the movie that differs from the video game is the appearance of female COG soldiers. In the Gears of War video games, the cast is almost exclusively male. When asked if women soldiers would play a bigger part in the film than in the games, Wiseman said, “I’d love to see it happen. I’m a big supporter of that.”

Though a script or a firm plot has yet to be written out, Morgan told Comic-Con attendees that “Emergence Day is making its way into the film. That will be big.”

Emergence Day is a pivotal moment in the Gears of War video game’s storyline where an alien race called The Locust dig their way to the planet’s surface and begin waging war on humanity.

However, Emergence Day takes place before the events of the first Gears of War game, leading many to believe that the movie will be a prologue for the series rather than a sequel.

SI Updates For Baseball

SHOW ME THE PLAYERS
Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi has set a July 28 deadline to complete a deal for 2003 Cy Young Award winner Roy Halladay. Baseball's non-waiver trade deadline is July 31. Ricciardi said July 6 he would field offers for Halladay, who is signed through 2010 and has a full no-trade clause. Ricciardi said he hasn't gotten an appropriate offer yet.
OUCH
All-Star knuckleballer Tim Wakefield is headed to the disabled list because of a lower back problem. Manager Terry Francona said Wakefield, who turns 43 next week, got hurt throwing on the side Saturday.
STINGER
Manny Ramirez is day to day after being hit by a pitch in the Los Angeles Dodgers 12-3 win over the Cincinnati Reds. A team spokesman said Ramirez was hit on the side of his left hand by a pitch from Homer Bailey leading off the third inning Tuesday night. He was replaced by pinch runner Juan Pierre. Ramirez went to a hospital for precautionary X-rays, which were negative.
SUSPENDED
Milwaukee Brewers hitting coach Dale Sveum was suspended three games and fined an undisclosed sum for yelling at umpires after a game in Cinncinnati. Baseball disciplinarian Bob Watson cited Sveum's "inappropriate and aggressive actions'' toward the umpires after the Reds' 5-3 win Sunday night. The suspension began with Tuesday night's game at Pittsburgh.
IN A LONG TIME
Sergio Mitre earned his first win since July 29, 2007, as the surging Yankees beat Baltimore 6-4. Mitre, who was called up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre before the game, allowed four runs, three earned, and eight hits over 5 2-3 innings in his first major league start since Sept. 15, 2007. Mitre missed the 2008 season and had elbow-ligament replacement surgery on July 15 last year. He agreed to a minor league contract with the Yankees during the offseason, then was suspended for the first 50 games after testing positive for a banned substance under the major league drug program. ... The Angels' Robb Quinlan hit first homer since May 4, 2008, against Baltimore, as Los Angeles beat the Royals 10-2 in the second game of a a doubleheader.
SIDELINED
Washington Nationals left-hander Scott Olsen will have surgery Thursday to repair the labrum in his left shoulder and will miss the rest of the season. The Nationals put Olsen on the disabled list Sunday. The decision to do the surgery was made after he was examined by Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala., Monday. Olsen made 11 starts for the Nationals, going 2-4 with a 6.03 ERA.
SLIDE
Boston lost to Texas 4-2 and has lost four straight for the first time since last July, scoring only eight runs in the stretch. The Yankees beat Baltimore 6-4 to break the tie for the AL East lead.
DANKS DOWN
John Danks will miss his scheduled start Wednesday for the White Sox against the Rays because of a blister on his left index finger. The White Sox do not expect Danks to miss more than one start, although the blister on his pitching hand has bothered him the past few outings. Losing Danks for an extended period would be a big blow for the White Sox. He is 8-6 with a 3.98 ERA.

Janet Denies Jackson Tribute Performance!

A representative for Janet Jackson has denied speculation that the singer will perform at her brother Michael Jackson tribute concert. Furthermore, her friend has also told New York Post about her exclusion from the gig, "Janet has plenty going on as it is - she's filming a movie ('Why Did I Get Married Too?' in Atlanta) and she's involved in Michael's kids' lives. These concerts are not about her and she respects that." Beside Janet Jackson, other stars who have been rumored to sing at the tribute concert are Justin Timberlake, Jackie Jackson, Tito Jackson, Jermaine Jackson and Marlon Jackson. While Janet has slammed down the rumor of her involvement in the project, Justin and the four remaining members of Jackson Five haven't given any word on that matter. AEG is expected to hold the tribute concert either on August 29 to mark Michael's 51st birthday or sometime in September. The gig reportedly will take place at London's O2 Arena where Michael was supposed to hold his "This Is It" gig with "the brothers performing, some sisters, and the stars that were influenced by him." Most recently, Michael Jackson's rehearsal footage for the canceled concert may be turned into a feature film with Sony Pictures in final talks to obtain the rights for the untitled Michael Jackson project. The movie is tentatively scheduled to arrive in theaters on October 30, and Kenny Ortega will possibly be tapped for helming job. As for its TV project, reports in the media revealed that the deal between AEG and NBC has reached a dead end. Other networks have also lost interest to secure the deal.

HOFFARTH: Dodgers, and their fans, get their Manny's worth

HOFFARTH: Dodgers, and their fans, get their Manny's worth
By Tom Hoffarth



Before getting any deeper into Manny Ramirez's business, pay attention to the Business of Manny Ramirez.
Days before tonight's Dodgers-Cincinnati Reds game, dozens of amateur entrepreneurs activated their eBay accounts in an attempt to shop around something they didn't even have their grubby hands around yet.
The limited-edition Manny Ramirez bobblehead is to be given out to more than 50,000 at the Dodger Stadium game that was announced as sold out four days ago -- the only other sellout this season that far in advance was Opening Day. It could be a real tipping point in testing true-blue Dodger fan loyalty for the dreadlocked, and often brain-locked, left fielder.
How do you separate dollars and sense? How many
FARTHER OFF THE WALL:Want to read more of Tom Hoffarth's musings? visit our Farther off the Wall blog.
Manny fans will keep the ceramic spring-loaded statue, which likely costs only a few bucks to create, versus those who try to resell it for the going rate edging past $50?
It's a social experiment we'll track over the next few days, to see how quickly the rats claiming unconditional love for him - good or bad, clean or enhanced - will exchange that, when push comes to shovel, for scooping up cold, hard cheese.
Today's quick-fix Internet auction culture encourages the virtual street hustling of things that we once upon a time coveted as something that reflected our personality and values. Not to get all Dr. Phil on this, but what does it say about our society of sports hero-worshiping when we're quickly able to put a PayPal



price on what should be untouchable? Ofcourse, some are jumping on the Manny-wagon to fleece others. It seems to be the American way.
But is some of this act of profiteering simply another indication that, no matter what a superstar does (i.e., Michael Jackson), the public needs to buy a piece of him to feel some sort of connection and validation?
"When I was watching Sunday's Dodger game on TV and I heard Vin Scully say that game was sold out, it reinforced three things to me," said David Carter, the executive director of the USC Sports Business Institute. "One, fans love free stuff. Two, they love to be part of a circus when it comes to town. And three, they don't care about how drugs and sports are related and are still willing to spend their hard-earned cash on it.
"Fans will talk a big game when it comes to all the problems of sports - drugs, labor strife, contracts - but they never go away and make a statement by not showing up or turning off an event. The sports industry knows that whatever happens, they'll come to the turnstiles for the excitement, whatever controversy or violations of sports and society have been done.
"What Manny represents is more valuable than who he is. There's no `there' there. He's someone who people think they can feel close to, represents all the escape and frivolity of sports. They can compartmentalize his off-field behavior with their fun at the stadium and live vicariously through athletes. But if they listen to him being interviewed and how he handled his suspension, it's very weak."
And even in a weakened economy, fans buy his stuff, selling their souls in the process, perhaps.
Just as Ramirez has not really explained the circumstances that caused his 50-game suspension, the Dodgers can remain as unapologetic about the Business of Manny. In concession stands on all levels of the park, Ramirez has easily become the franchise's MVP - the Most Valuable Product.
The $25 dreadlock wigs are the tip of the cash register receipt. At least four types of T-shirts are for sale with Ramirez-related designs, in the $28-$30 range. One of them actually has his image on it with the words: "Take Us To The Promised Land."
What would Jesus do? Pay cash or put it on His Dodgers logo Visa credit card to earn more reward points?
Chris Harvill, who runs the Art of the Game concession, has a booth on the concourse right behind the field-level seats that constitute "Mannywood." It's prime real estate for him to catch Mannyfreaks who are coming or going and can't find enough artifacts with his iconic image etched into them.
The surprise really isn't that a signed Ramirez baseball goes for a rather astounding $329. "He has a very unusual signature," Harvill said while showing a ball, and it's true. If you didn't know the signature said "Manny Ramirez," you'd think it was an inebriated Red Sox fan who just scribbled something derogatory about their former Green Monster menace.
No shock, either, that it will run you $439 for a 16x20signed photo (even as one of Kobe Bryant goes for twice that much).
Up on display is a dynamic, gritty, acrylic collage created by well-known local artist Stephen Holland that could be the ultimate Manny piece of work. And we all know what a piece of work Ramirez can be.
It sells for $1,650. There are 99 prints available, and Ramirez has signed 10 of them so far. Half of those have already been purchased.
Manny's Value: Perplexing.
I ran into a couple of kids who were waiting for the elevator on the Dodger Stadium club level. Impressed by my media credential, they asked the obvious question: Do you know Manny?
It would have been easy to reply, "Who really does?" But why corrupt the dreams of these 10-year-olds so early?
Admitting that I had talked to him and was going to do a story on him, they got their nerve up to ask: Can you get us Manny's autograph? I showed them the fine print on the pass: No autographs. But I turned it around on them: What would you do with a Manny autograph?
"I'd put it up on my dresser," one said. "I'd sell it!" the other exclaimed, almost at the same time.
The first one took a second to rethink his answer.
"I'd keep it for a while, then I'd see if I could sell it," he concluded.
Don't wait too long, kids. The business of Manny being Money isn't evergreen

Bookie From The Edge!

Hey,
It's Bookie.
We made more big concert announcements this week. It started with Arctic Monkeys, they'll be taking over the Kool Haus on September 29th. American-Irish rockers Flogging Molly are playing at Sound Academy on October 21st. And V-Fest returns to Ontario, but this time they're bringing this rock show up the 400 to Burl's Creek Park! Nine Inch Nails, Franz Ferdinand and The Pixies are just a few bands that will take the stage. Don't miss this one!
Here is what's happening in Toronto this week:
The Dead Weather @ Kool Haus on WednesdayDepeche Mode @ The Molson Amphitheatre on Friday
Wanna read my blog? Click here!
Gotta Go,
Bookie

Ricky Henderson Documentary!

July 17, 2009 - MLB Network will televise the premiere of Rickey Henderson: Leadoff Legend, a documentary from MLB Productions, on Sunday, July 19 at 9:00 p.m. ET, one week prior to Henderson's induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. MLB Network will also televise the 2009 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony live from Cooperstown, New York on Sunday, July 26.
Narrated by Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins, who is from the Oakland area and idolized Henderson growing up, the documentary focuses on how Henderson's record-breaking career redefined the leadoff position. The film contains footage from Henderson's exclusive two-hour interview for the project and showcases why he is considered one of baseball's most entertaining characters and most dominant players. Several former MLB players, teammates and journalists are also featured, including MLB Network's Bob Costas, Harold Reynolds, Al Leiter and Barry Larkin, John Franco, Tony Gwynn, Torii Hunter, Dave Parker, Wally Joyner, Carlton Fisk, Tim Raines, Bert Blyleven, Vida Blue, Doug Glanville, Vince Coleman, Steve Stone, Dwayne Murphy, Rick Rizzs and Ed Randall.
A 7-minute preview of the film is available via the following FTP address: ftp://mlbftp245.mlb.com.
Username: media.access
Password: DownLoad123 (Capitalize the 'D' and the 'L')
Courtesy: MLB Productions/MLB Network

2009 Giants Look SWEET!

It’s that time of year again, the dreaded doldrums of NFL activity. No draft, player trades or training camps to analyze.
So we decided to get a jump on the 2009 season by publishing our picks for the NFL playoffs. We’ll review a team a day for the next 12 days and offer our season win totals prediction for each team. Without publishing our full process, we’re offering a short summary of why we have chosen each team to make the postseason. The season win totals numbers are taken from bookmaker.com at the time of publication.
Before making our 2009/10 playoff team picks, we analyzed the past 10 years of performance straight up (SU) and against the spread (ATS) while also taking into consideration the strength of schedule (SOS) rank and the year-over-year win percentage for each team. Additionally, we took into consideration the ranking of each team with regards to points scored and/or allowed (PS/PA) by the offense and defense over the past three seasons. New York Giants OU 9.5
The Giants finished 2008 with 12 wins, giving them two consecutive years of double-digit wins. Since 2006, teams that win 12 games average 10 wins the following season with 67% of teams winning 10 or more games.
Since 1999, only seven teams have won at least 10 games three or more years in a row: Denver ‘03-’05, Green Bay ‘01-’04, Indianapolis ‘02-’08, New England ‘03-’08, Oakland ‘00-’02, Philadelphia ‘00-’04 and St. Louis ‘99-’01. The Giants are poised to join the triple-double club and it may rest upon their defense. Teams with a defense that allow 295 or fewer points in a season, follow up winning an average of 9 games. And 38% of those teams win 10 or more games.
New York enters the 2009 season with an SOS of .527, the 23rd easiest schedule in the league. They finished the regular season with the 5th best PA defense and 3rd best PS offense. Since 2006, teams that finish with a top 5 defense win an average of 9.5 games the next year. And teams with a top 3 offense follow up winning an average of 10.2 games the next year.
The Giants Points Scored/Allowed differential was 133 for the 2008 regular season. Over the past ten seasons, when a team’s Points Scored/Allowed differential is 133 or more and their defense allowed less than 295 points the previous season, the average number of wins the next year is 9. And nearly half of those teams win 10 or more games.
Sure, we have concerns over the loss of Burress and the injury to Boley but the leadership of this team has remained intact. We believe the Giants are going to be one of the best teams in the NFC this year and should win at least 10 games.
Pick: Giants Over 9.5
The Giants have been profitable five times the last ten seasons and only once following a year when they won more than 8 games. It’s going to be very tough to find value with the Giants this year and the best value appears to be the division odds. To win the division, the current number on the Giants is +190.

Realit With T.O.?

Supposedly T.O. is to start his own Reality Show.
I mean seriously is that even possible with this guy.

I bet the Buffalo Bills are really happy about this (insert Sarcasm Here)

This show is due to air on VH1......

This should be great for the NFL....lOL

Detroit Rocks It, K Style

BY BRIAN McCOLLUM • FREE PRESS POP MUSIC WRITER • July 17, 2009

Take a much-loved local star, thousands of charged-up hometown fans, a region's hunger to let its hair down, and this is what you get: a blockbuster party with Kid Rock in Detroit.
Comerica Park was humming Friday as Rock rolled out his two-day rock 'n' roll festival, capped by an evening performance before 40,000-plus.

In front of the stadium, fans gathered for a rambunctious but good-spirited afternoon of beer, bands and motocross bikes, the lead-up to what had been deemed the concert event of the year.

With celebrities ranging from Bob Seger to Cuba Gooding Jr. among those due for the festivities, Friday had all the feel of a big-time event, the culmination of Kid Rock's two-decade hometown career. It was a day of moments big and small. Here's a glimpse:

2:14 p.m.: Inside quiet Comerica Park, where stage and lights crews finished their major work Thursday night, it's the calm before the storm. But Detroit Tigers head groundskeeper Heather Nabozny is nervous -- and she's not even the one who will be playing for 40,000-plus people. This outfield turf is her baby, and right now it's covered by acres of plastic protector and tons of stage equipment.
"In a little while I'm going to see 10,000 people out here," she says, placing her hands over her face in exasperation.
Previous concerts such as the Rolling Stones left Tigers players griping about the field condition. But today's relatively cool temperature ought to help, and next week Nabozny's crew will dye and fertilize the grass to guide it back into shape.
"I just hope it's OK," she says.

2:46 p.m.: The street party is rolling in front of the stadium, where the drinks and high spirits are flowing for several hundred fans.
Among them is a very familiar-looking character: In his fedora and sunglasses, Kevin Smyth of Ontario is the spitting image of Kid Rock. A continuous stream of partyers comes his way for handshakes and photos. A group of stadium staffers nervously approaches. "It's an honor," says one.
Few stop to wonder why Rock would be hanging around near the portable toilets the day of his show. Smyth shrugs: "When it's somebody's dream, how do you tell them I'm not him?"

3:45 p.m.: The party takes flight for a cheering crowd as two motocross freestylers rev up their bikes and launch themselves up a ramp, spinning and flipping 30 feet over the parking lot.
With a DJ spinning classic rock tunes, hundreds pack into the party zone outside Cheli's Chili Bar. Five hours before Kid Rock takes the stage, you can already feel the momentum building.
"This was a great idea," says Terry Steele, 39, of Milford, scanning the noisy crowd around him. "Kid Rock should do this every year."
"It's almost like Vegas -- the music going over there, the dancing over here, so many different people," says Rick Tibeau, 53, of St. Clair. "It's just a ball."

4:26 p.m.: Mostly positive reviews are flowing in for Kid Rock's Bad Ass Beer, which is making its debut here this weekend. Inside Cheli's, bartenders say they're moving plenty of the American-style lager -- at $3.50 a cup -- to curious connoisseurs.
"It's a good sipping beer," says Derek Lecki, 21, of Davisburg,. He's on his fifth cup.
"It's got a lot of flavor, and we've already figured out if you put an orange in it, it's awesome."
5:45 p.m.: Here we go: With lines wrapped around the block and a palpable buzz in the air, the gates have opened. Fans with general admission tickets stream onto the Comerica Park field, jostling for prime spots by the outfield stage. Tens of thousands more will be occupying stadium seats.
Detroit and Wayne County police officials say there have been minimal crowd problems to this point, but the afternoon of drinking has led to a few staggering fans who are starting to catch officers' eyes.
6:31 p.m.: The stadium is far from full, but the assembled audience lets out a holler as opener Robert Randolph & the Family Band hits the stage, rolling into a set of gritty rural funk. The night's soundtrack has started.
Some fans have already donned the souvenir T-shirts they purchased today.
There's a little bit of everything here: jeans, short-shorts, hip-hop apparel, Stetsons, polo shirts and an array of Kid Rock tour shirts stretching back many years.

7:50 p.m.: In front of a fast-filling stadium -- and with gawkers enjoying a free concert through the fence on Montcalm Street -- Lynyrd Skynyrd kicks into "Saturday Night Special" and a set of vintage Southern rock.
Ten minutes earlier, Kid Rock protege Ty Stone took the stage alone to serve up an a capella rendition of the national anthem, punctuated with a roaring flyover by a military bomber.
In a handsome stadium lobby, Kid Rock friends and family members assemble en route to their VIP seating. "This is a huge weekend for us," his brother Billy Ritchie said earlier in the day. Kid Rock, viewing the evening as a professional milestone, has invited a diverse cast of characters from throughout his career, including people who lent a hand in the early days.
"It's still a lot of pressure," Rock said earlier in the week. "You can never really explain this to people, as much as I've tried to -- dealing with all your family and friends, trying to have them understand that this is still a job."
9:18 p.m.: Kid Rock is already officially late to the stage, but you won't hear complaints from a crowd that seems to be relishing the magnitude of this moment. The packed stadium audience hums with a steady energy as Motown tunes and Bob Seger tracks play over the PA. It feels like an old-school summer rock show.
Out on the concourse, Kim Bent of Grand Rapids catches a final cigarette before heading back in to rejoin her friends at her seat. She marvels at the hard-partying, friendly crowd.
"It's energetic and extremely chill at the same time," she says. "It just has the feel of a huge event."
Michigan needed this night, she says: "Kid Rock brings a positive energy to a very negative situation. This is the kind of night that makes you forget everything."

9:52 p.m.: A flash of lights. Towers of flame. A spray of fireworks. And Kid Rock, emerging from the shadows to a massive roar. Lasers dance across the baseball stadium as black-clad Rock and his band charge through "Rock n Roll Jesus."
The night will belong to history: From up in the press box, the floor of Comerica Park is a sprawl of little white lights -- thousands of cell phones being held aloft to chronicle the moment.
With Rock strutting and working the full breadth of the stage, the songs come rat-a-tat-tat: "Son of Detroit," the Rolling Stones' "Tumbling Dice," "American Bad Ass," "Lowlife (Living the High Life)." All is precisely synchronized, motifs from other tunes slipping in and out like a carefully arranged suite.
Even when he was playing small venues, Kid Rock was delivering a stadium-sized show. As he commands a sea of punching fists during "All Summer Long," it feels like he's finally where he was always supposed to be.

11:07 p.m.: Gifted vocalist Jessica Wagner trades vocals with Rock on a loose but upbeat rendition of the Jackson 5's "ABC," a tribute to the late Michael Jackson. It's one of several cover tunes Rock is sprinkling into his set, an array that sounds like a spin down the classic-rock dial: Sly & the Family Stone's "Everyday People," Ted Nugent's "Cat Scratch Fever," the Georgia Satellites' "Keep Your Hands to Yourself." Rock's own "Wasting Time" gets placed atop "Paradise City" by Guns N' Roses.
Having locked in with Rock from the get-go, the crowd remains fully engaged even as the band hits a mellow midshow stretch, swaying and singing along to tunes like "Drift Away," "Picture" and a reworked "Cowboy." Two big video screens bring the action to fans in the cheap seats, but these are fans who don't need many cues -- a hometown audience that's well acquainted with the rituals of Rock's live sets.
That's obvious when fans immediately latch onto the call-and-response portion of his traditional "3 Sheets to the Wind" schtick, and Comerica Park fills with 40,000 voices hollering "Ki-iid Rock-Rock" before Rock takes to the turntables for his showoff DJ routine.
11:33 p.m.: Searchlights and lasers sweep the park as the opening notes of "Bawitdaba" rumble to life. The supersized rock song has been Rock's signature live number for a decade, and he pulls out all the visual stops for a production bordering on epic. Another few rounds of pyro, strobes and booms, and Rock closes out his regular set with a hearty "God bless you and good night."
A mercifully brief break precedes the encore, where Rock debuts a poignantly targeted ballad, "Times Like These," a stay-strong ode to battered Detroit that includes the line, "I won't leave because this here's my hometown."
"Tough times make for tough people," Rock tells his 40,000 friends before closing it all out with a red-white-and-blue version of Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the USA." Night one is in the bag.
Just more than two hours after Kid Rock hit the stage, the stadium lights ease back on and fans chatter loudly as they stream out to the streets. Some will head to the after-party with DJ Paradime at Motor City Casino; some will be back here tomorrow. And somewhere backstage, you figure, Kid Rock is feeling pretty good right now about the spectacle he just waged for his hometown. After this taste of stadium grandiosity, you wonder if he'll ever be able to cram his show back into a local arena.
Detroit may have just landed a new tradition.

EA Sports' NHL 10 to fulfill your every fantasy

Fri Jul 17, 2009 2:26 pm EDT
EA Sports' NHL 10 to fulfill your every fantasy
By Sean Leahy
The biggest omission from the last few editions of EA Sports' NHL series has been the fantasy draft. Gamers who pick up NHL 10 in September will be happy to know that the fantasy draft will be back, along with some more cool additions.
Users will now be able to begin their franchise modes with the choice to build their team however they wanted, and not have to wheel and deal with the preset or updated rosters to get their squad to their liking.
In NHL 10 producer Andy Agostini's latest blog, he drops some nuggets on the fantasy draft, as well as the brand new Be-a-GM mode. You can also check out his video diary here, courtesy of Operation Sports.
Anyone catch the Los Angeles Kings looking to draft Evgeni Malkin(notes)? Is that Bruce Garrioch behind those controls on the video?
The "GM Reputation" feature is another addition that brings more realism to the game. No longer will you be able to badger a team about trading Jarome Iginla(notes) for your backup goaltender straight up without that offer affecting your ability to swing deals in the future. Also, signing highly-rated players to contracts and trying to swap them immediately for cheaper talent will hurt you in the free agent market.
Fans of the NHL series have complained in the past about how the game and franchise mode doesn't follow many of the rules in the current collective bargaining agreement. Enter 'contract buyouts' for NHL 10 as Agostini writes:
"I have read on some message boards saying we don't have a way to cut a player during the year. So just to clarify the CBA rules says you are not allowed to release a player during the season. The only way you can release a player is to buy him out in the offseason or put him in the minors during the season but still pay his full salary while he is there."
It seems like every week EA releases more information that makes you jazzed about the upcoming release. The "Prospects Game" with all draft-eligible players is a nice addition and is a much better way to determine how a guy plays rather than reading about his skill set from one of your "scouts".
Already packed with the new first-person fighting engine, board play, Be-a-GM, improved franchise mode as well as the returning Be-a-Pro mode and EA Sports Hockey League, is there anything else that the good folks at EA are withholding from us at the moment?
Related: Evgeni Malkin, Jarome Iginla, Los Angeles Kings