Source: http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/d_advocate/comments/adam_larsson_makes_devils_roster/
Atlanta Trashers Carolina Hurricanes Florida Panthers Tampa Bay Lightning Washington Capitals Arizona Diamondbacks
The Rays won a crucial Game 1 of the ALDS versus the Rangers. This puts the Rays in the driver's seat of this series as they beat Rangers ace C.J. Wilson while throwing out their emergency starter, 22-year-old Matt Moore. However, Matt Moore lived up to all the hype, while C.J. Wilson never had full control over his pitches, and the Rays lineup punished him for his mistakes.
Here's why the Rays won.
zach Parise bryce Salvador Wade Belak Martin Erat Marcel Goc Jamie Lundmark
Have Clips, Will Tailgate is a daily web clip show featuring the coolest guys in tailgating talking about the hottest clips in sports.
Today, Rollin, Matt and Weston break down the five best WWE Assaults on Authority. From the Stone Cold Stunner to Shane McMahon, these are five crazy Assaults on Authority that you'll have to see to believe.
Thanks for watching. Be sure to come back daily to see the newest tailgate location.
Mike Fontenot Brett Pill Pat Burrell Jhan Marinez Anibal Sanchez John Baker
After just a few weeks, there's already bad news for Bears rivals: the new kickoff rule doesn’t hurt Devin Hester.
In fact, he may get MORE chances this season.
Why? Because for the last two and a half years Hester has primarily been a punt returner.
But this year he's going back to his roots and returning kickoffs, again, too.
Colorado Rockies Florida Marlins Houston Astros Los Angeles Dodgers Milwaukee Brewers New York Mets
Terry Francona might have made Chicago White Sox general manger Kenny Williams' search for a new manager a little more complicated. Francona parted ways with the Boston Red Sox this morning—apparently in amicable fashion—and now is wide open to entertain an offer from Williams to manage the White Sox.
Williams had Francona on his short list to replace Ozzie Guillen as White Sox manager, along with Dave Martinez and Sandy Alomar Jr.
Early indicators are that the White Sox will be led by either Martinez or Alomar, according to Sports Illustrated.
Steve Stone predicted that Williams would tab Alomar to lead the White Sox.
However, Williams is one who doesn't like to show his cards. He may very well have shifted his thoughts after Francona left the Red Sox.
Despite the historic collapse the Red Sox suffered in September, Francona is still a great manager.
That could light Williams' eyes while looking at Francona among other candidates for White Sox' manager.
Francona managed two World Series champions with the Red Sox. That includes the 2004 title that lifted the 86-year-old monkey off their backs and ended the Curse of the Bambino.
Being the manager who broke the Curse of the Bambino carries a great deal of weight for Francona in the White Sox' managerial search.
Also, he led the Red Sox in their rally from a three games to none deficit in the 2004 American League Championship Series against the Yankees, the first such rally in MLB playoff history.
That gives Francona even more weight.
Francona had a .574 winning percentage in his eight years as Red Sox manager and had a winning season in each season, something that no manager in White Sox history except Al Lopez has done.
With his track record as a winning manager and championship rings, Francona could put the White Sox back on track.
Francona managed in the White Sox minor league system from 1991 to 1995. While that doesn't mean a great deal, it does imply he has some familiarity with Jerry Reinsdorf and the nature of the White Sox minor league system.
Williams has a very good trio of possibilities in Alomar, Martinez and Francona. Considering that Francona is completely open, Williams might think harder about Francona.
Marcel Goc Jamie Lundmark Nick Spaling Pikka Rinne Mathieu Carle Lars Eller
The NFL is very hard to predict, but every once and a while there are big Sunday locks you just cannot pass up.
There are a number of toss up games for Week 4, and for a list of questionable lines to avoid, go here.
However, there are also easy plays you need to know about. Here are three teams that are sure to cover the spread on Sunday.
Atlanta Falcons
Favored at - 4 1/2, the Falcons should have no trouble covering against the Seattle Seahawks. It is a road game for the Falcons, and even though they've struggled away from home this season, the Seahawks are not a good team.
Atlanta's offense will be too much for the Seahawks, and they'll win by a touchdown with no problem. Matt Ryan, Michael Turner, Roddy White and Julio Jones will all have great games.
Seattle got their first win last week, but the Falcons will ruin any confidence the Seahawks may have. This pick is too easy not to play.
New Orleans Saints
The Saints are favored at -7, and they won't have any problem winning by 10 or more points against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.
New Orleans is really finding a grove, and they're one play away from being 3-0 right now. Drew Brees has this team motivated, and the Saints cannot be stopped by the lowly Jaguars.
Expect Brees to air it out a ton, and for Mark Ingram and Pierre Thomas to get a good number of carries. New Orleans will put up a lot of points on Sunday, which makes this a safe bet because rookie Blaine Gabbert and the Jaguars will find it hard to score against an elite team.
Green Bay Packers
The defending Super Bowl champs are favored at -12 over the Denver Broncos, who struggled on the road against the Titans last week.
The Packers are far better than the Titans, and they'll be able to put up a lot of points against a weakened Broncos' defense.
Aaron Rodgers will connect with all of his targets multiple times on Sunday and this won't even be a contest. The Broncos can move the ball, but their offense isn't well rounded enough to compete against the Packers.
Kansas City Royals Los Angeles Dodgers Minnesota Twins New York Yankees Oakland Athletics Seattle Mariners
WWE Hell in a Cell Preview: Breaking Down the Triple Threat Match for the WWE Championship
Alberto Del Rio, John Cena and CM Punk have all been victims of the WWE's horrendous booking this summer.
For some reason unbeknownst to me, all three of these guys were given crappy, forgettable WWE Championship reigns that accomplished only two things: Adding to Cena's ridiculous amount of World title reigns, and completely negating all the build Del Rio's had over the past year or so.
Ironically, we now find ADR, Cena and Punk battling over that same WWE title once again, and this time it's Cena holding onto the strap after winning it from Del Rio at Night of Champions two weeks ago.
Given Del Rio's ridiculously short title reign, I don't think there's any chance he's going to win the belt back at Hell in a Cell. All you have to do is re-watch the end of Monday's Raw to realize that.
Del Rio came away looking like the strongest competitor when the show went off the air, and it's typical WWE booking to have the guy who looks the strongest on Raw lose at the pay-per-view.
Why? I have no idea, but that's what the WWE likes to do.
That leaves two possible choices for the winner of the first-ever Triple Threat HIAC match at Sunday: Cena and Punk.
Now, I know everyone is thinking that "Super Cena" will reign supreme on Sunday, but I actually don't. Survivor Series is just around the corner, and Cena is going to wrestle in a traditional 5-on-5 match alongside The Rock.
So, why put the title on Cena? You don't.
If I'm part of the WWE creative team, I have Punk get the pin on ADR on Sunday, Cena use his rematch against Punk at Vengeance, Punk win that match and then do Punk vs. Del Rio for the WWE title at Survivor Series.
Then again, you never know what those creative writers are going to do. I'm probably dead wrong.
Alex Hinshaw Ramon Ramirez Sergio Romo Brian Wilson Eli Whiteside Mike Fontenot
A week or so ago, no one really cared about this game. The Eagles were going to roll over the 49ers without a problem.
Now with Michael Vick's injured hand, and the 49ers playing moderately well, this just became a game.
Vick's injured hand isn't going to stop him from playing, but he has been less than standard this season. The "dream team" was supposed to run through the NFC, however, they are 1-2 and need this win just to regain some of their respect.
With Vick's injury, the man to stop has changed to running back LeSean McCoy, who has rushed for 345 yards in the first three games of the season. He is expected to have the bulk of possessions in his hands on Sunday.
For the 49ers, Frank Gore needs a statement game, and what better game to do it in than against a preseason Super Bowl favorite?
Alex Smith can continue to be conservative in his passing, but it will take more than that for the 49ers to get past the Eagles, especially with the stacked Philadelphia defense.
Steve Garrison Phil Hughes Damaso Marte Mariano Rivera Kerry Wood Francisco Cervelli
Philadelphia Flyers Pittsburgh Penguins Boston Bruins Buffalo Sabres Montreal Canadiens Ottawa Senators
It should go without saying that every NFL team needs to win every game. There are certain points in a season, though, when a team needs to win to maintain, or change, momentum.
It's too early in the season to say a game is a "must win" game. Some need a win now to keep things going or prevent a collapse.
Week 4 finds nine teams in that position.
Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/871493-nfl-week-4-9-teams-that-really-need-to-win
detroit red wings nashville predators St Louis Blues Calgary Flames Colorado Avalanche Edmonton Oilers
Source: http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/hockey/comments/blackhawks_update_their_injuries/
San Diego Padres San Francisco Giants St. Louis Cardinals Washington Nationals Jonathan Albaladejo Andrew Brackman
Source: http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/psh/comments/northwest_division_predictions/
David Clarkson Patrick Davis Tyler Eckford Mark Fraser Andy Greene zach Parise
Robbie Eal Joe Callahan Bryan Allen Mark Cullen Baltimore Orioles Boston Red Sox
Jeff Pearlman's Sweetness: The Enigmatic Life of Walter Payton hits shelves Oct. 4, but the necessary hysteria at concealed discretions have already made Pearlman's book into this year's Open.
Like Open, Sweetness appears (at least according to the extensive excerpt Sports Illustrated has featured this week) to tell tales of Payton's odd drug use and his troubles at home.
More specifically, Sweetness leaks the details of an extremely private man's life into the public domain, weaving tales of suicidal thoughts, painkillers and garage-kept nitrous oxide tanks, and a fascinating tale of how his wife (estranged at the time) and mistress simultaneously attended his Hall of Fame speech.
Of course, the holy trinity of suicide, drugs, and sex led to Pearlman's book being featured in SI (just as Open was), and likely the book is much more than an accentuation of exposing a purposely clandestine man for "who he really was."
Pearlman is a great writer (I've spoken to him on a few occasions through email, and he is really one of the better reporters we have today), but why did he feel inclined to expose such details about Payton? And more importantly, why do we care so much?
And you know we will care, and turn this book into a New York Times bestseller in the process. Just as Open became a No. 1 hit due to anecdotes of meth use and daddy issues, Sweetness will probably see the same fate due to the same circumstances that distances itself from other biographies that don't have the star caliber/shocking exposes.
Pearlman has a journalistic obligation to include such details, as it was apparently a major aspect of his life. If he didn't add those details, Sweetness would be a boring, elongated book about a secluded superstar, similar to any autobiography about J.D. Salinger.
At the same time, Pearlman must realize that these revelations are what is going to give the book attention. But why should we care about a grown man's troubles, especially one who died 12 years ago?
It is our cyclical attention span, and we will throw this story in to our personal vaults as soon as we find a story that is even more salacious (Open, at least from a controversial standpoint, didn't last too long in the public eye).
But we shouldn't get rid of this story. OK, maybe we can get rid of Payton's troubles at home, but special attention needs to be paid to his suicidal thoughts and his impulses for drug cocktails and his need for nitrous oxide tanks at home, desiring for highs that little kids usually attempt when they inhale balloons at their 5th birthday party. Payton, as we all know, died from a rare cancer in 1999, but it appears his life was in shambles medically even before that.
Payton relied upon deceiving medical professionals into giving him drugs to heal pains he suffered during his football career, and likely received little to no help from the NFL. The number of former NFL players who blast their heads off due to injuries suffered from playing football rises every year, and nothing ever happens.
Can Payton's suicidal thoughts, obviously brought upon from a decade of head-first hits and lackluster medical benefits, be the trigger that sparks some kind of public forum to get the NFL to give two shits about their retired players?
Payton is one of the most notable players in NFL history, and the fact that it appears little help was given to him by his former employer is pretty eye-opening. The waning years of Payton's life seem horrible, and for him, probably overshadowed all of his accomplishments in the NFL.
He took pills during his playing days, a victim of the shoddy care given to players during those days. That is almost excusable, due to the lack of medical knowledge we had. But by the 1990's, we knew about concussions. But it didn't end. Retired players began to take their own lives as the game got faster and stronger, and the NFL didn't "notice."
Perhaps Sweetness can begin some sort of movement to get the NFL to give more benefits to retired players, especially the older ones. We can only hope, or football is going to appear barbaric in less than a decade.
Mark Eaton Trent Hunter Andy Hilbert Bruno Gervais Dustin Kohn Andrew McDonald
"I think (Tyler) Zeller leads by example, kind of like I did when I was there, but he isn't as vocal," that's what Tyler Hansbrough said to CBS Sports regarding North Carolina's senior center, Tyler Zeller.
Tyler Zeller, the Tar Heels' co-leading scorer last year, was recently named as a 2011-12 Blue Ribbon Preseason All-America second team selection.
The 7-foot pivot player is arguably one of the most efficient post players in the country, but often gets overlooked by his more hyped teammates Harrison Barnes or Kendall Marshall.
The senior isn't as exciting as his predecessor, Hansbrough, but he uses his height and size efficiently to seal his defender to get easy baskets around the rim.
Pickup games against North Carolina's all-time leading scorer will make Zeller better. Not many players have Hansborough's relentless attacking ability.
Zeller missed several games as a freshman and sophomore but was able to contribute fully last season as UNC became the ACC regular season champions and made it to the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament.
Zeller was Indiana's Mr Basketball as a high school senior and subsequently named as a McDonald's All American player. "I think he is the finest running big man in the country and he has a tremendous shooting touch to go with that ability to run the floor," said Coach Roy Williams upon Zeller's commitment.
With that skill set, Zeller blossoms thoroughly with Kendall Marshall's ability to feed the post correctly or in the Tar Heels' running game.
This is why UNC are not only the ACC favourites next season but are also the No. 1 preseason ranked team.
Zeller could have entered the last NBA draft but he told Adam Lucas he has unfinished business in college.
"Really, I've only played one year here," Zeller said. "My freshman year, I was part of that team but it was a very small role. They were very talented, and they just didn't need me as much. I came back for my sophomore year, and I got hurt. I was frustrated after those two years. We went to the NIT and I still hadn't really played in the NCAA Tournament."
Last year was the first year I truly was able to do that. To get there and see that excitement, now I know what it's like to play a part in a big-time team. We've got the opportunity to go a little further this year and hopefully win it all. I wanted to be a part of that."
Zeller's hunger for greatness and humility will carry him far, and he will take North Carolina with him.
He should set the precedent for his little brother, Cody, a freshman at Indiana.
Jonathan Albaladejo Andrew Brackman A.J. Burnett Steve Garrison Phil Hughes Damaso Marte
When Alexander Cartwright drew up the first modern baseball rules in 1845, I don’t believe he envisioned players with $100 million contracts or games played on fake grass inside domed stadiums.
Please follow Sports Page on Twitter and Facebook.
Join the conversation about this story »
See Also:
Anaheim Ducks Dallas Los Angeles Kings Phoenix Coyotes San Jose Sharks New Jersey Devil
These teams have played each other the previous two seasons, but this year both teams have a ton on the line. The Aggies are looking to bounce back from a tough home loss to Oklahoma State so they can get back up near the top 10 to challenge for a Big 12 Title and a BCS berth.
Arkansas falls into the same possibility though their BCS chances may be slim with LSU and Alabama near the top of both polls. However, all is not lost as these Razorbacks can still remain a scary team with all of their talent. Still on the line could be a possible New Year's Day bowl and a victory would certainly go a long way in their momentum against a foe that will be familiar come next season.
Cleveland Indians Detroit Tigers Kansas City Royals Los Angeles Dodgers Minnesota Twins New York Yankees
According to wrestlinginc.com, Zack Ryder was interviewed by WWE magazine and talked about the future of his YouTube show.
In the interview he talked about possibly ending the show once he is in a good position with the WWE.
During the interview, he was asked if he's concerned with viewers getting tired of the show.
Ryder responded:
Well, I'm tired of it already, so it wouldn't surprise me if some viewers get tired of it soon. Honestly, I can only do this show for so long before the charm kinda wears off. Once I get to where I want to be on TV, then there will be no need for the show, and that's a good thing.
In the interview he also talks about how "he decided to start the show to get himself noticed, which he knew would 'either work or get me fired.'"
Talk about a catch-22 for fans of "Long Island Iced-Z". Obviously, as fans we want to see Ryder fulfill his WWE dream.
However, it would be nice to see him produce a show on a more limited basis. Ryder has been very passionate about this show, but in previous interviews he has mentioned the cost alone is almost not worth it.
As it is, if he were to become huge in the WWE, chances are he would not be able to find the time to continue the show, mostly due to the WWE's road schedule being very brutal.
Over the years, we have witnessed wrestlers lose their families, health, and in some cases lives, in order to entertain us.
So the question is: Do you feel Z! true Long Island Story is an essential part of Ryder's career, or has it run its course?
Chicago Cubs Cincinnati Reds Colorado Rockies Florida Marlins Houston Astros Los Angeles Dodgers
Source: http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/hockey/comments/all_brendan_shanahan/
Los Angeles Dodgers Milwaukee Brewers New York Mets Philadelphia Phillies Pittsburgh Pirates San Diego Padres
WWE News: Why Did the Hell in a Cell Cage Lower on Monday Night Raw?
Monday Night Raw was rather lackluster this week, and I found very few hits but a lot of misses on the show.
It just seemed to me that things didn't click because the creative team was forced to build to Hell in a Cell in only two weeks, and thus, they rushed things as a result.
Perhaps that's why I think the WWE completely failed at what they were attempting to do at the conclusion of the show.
From F4Wonline.com (via SEScoops.com):
At the end of Monday’s RAW SuperShow, the Hell in a Cell cage that was hanging above the ring during the show was lowered over John Cena, CM Punk, Alberto Del Rio and Ricardo Rodriguez. WWE was reportedly pushing for a “who lowered the cage?” mystery heading into Sunday’s pay-per-view.
Is is just me, or did you guys not get that vibe at all?
I realize that the announcers were trying to play up the "who lowered the cage?" mystery, but I don't think it came across that way. I assumed, like I'm sure some of you did, that the WWE would have no storyline explanation of why the cage was lowered.
I mean, the company is famous for doing that after all.
Since it appears the WWE is actually going to address its storylines for once, though, I guess we can come up with some possible cuplrits: John Lauriniaitis, Triple H, Vince McMahon, Stephanie McMahon and Kevin Nash.
I'd be shocked if it was anyone else, but guess what? I don't think it really matters all that much.
Whoever lowered the cage didn't exactly do anything earth-shattering. He or she just allowed Punk, Cena and ADR to fight inside the cell, and that's what they're supposed to be doing anyway.
A.J. Burnett Steve Garrison Phil Hughes Damaso Marte Mariano Rivera Kerry Wood
The New England Patriots are coming off a huge divisional loss and will be looking to take it out on the Oakland Raiders this Sunday.
Tom Brady threw an uncharacteristic four interceptions, his total for all of last season, against the Buffalo Bills secondary, and the team blew a 21-0 lead, eventually falling 34-31 in Ralph Wilson Stadium.
Oakland is coming off a huge underdog win at home against the New York Jets last week and will have to find that magic again if they want a chance to upset for the second week in a row.
Darren McFadden is looking like the best running back in football right now and has been absolutely lighting it up on the ground. He is going to be the biggest factor in any chance the Raiders have against the Patriots.
Keep reading to find out more about this exciting Week 4 NFL matchup.
Where: O.co Coliseum, Oakland, California
When: Sunday, Oct. 2 at 4:15 p.m. EDT
Watch: CBS. DirecTV 716
Listen: Patriots: 98.5 The Sports Hub, Sirius 86. Raiders: KITS 105.3 (LIVE 105), Sirius 113
Live Streaming Audio: NFL.com Audio Pass ($29.99 for year, $27.99 team specific, $9.99 a month)
Betting Line: Patriots -4
What's at Stake?
The Raiders want nothing more than to show the league that they are for real. They went 6-0 in their own division last season, but won only two other games. Coming off a win against the New York Jets could be cause for a letdown.
If Oakland wants to be taken seriously, they'll have to at least show up and compete in this game.
The Patriots, on the other hand, want to reassert their dominance to the AFC. They also cannot afford to lose another conference game. Oakland will come with some fight and tenacity, and the Patriots will look to beat that confidence out of them early with quick-strike scores.
If New England gets a big early lead, it will be difficult for the Raiders to come back.
Patriots' Injury Report
Aaron Hernandez, TE
Hernandez did not practice on Wednesday and is questionable for Sunday. He is hoping to play, but his sprained MCL may keep him sidelined.
Patrick Chung, S
Chung practiced in the days leading up to the Bills game but ended up sitting out. The team desperately missed one of the only solid safeties on the roster out on the field that day.
Raiders' Injury Report
Michael Huff, S
Huff went down early in the game against the Jets last week with a concussion. Sanchez threw for a career high in his absence, as Matt Giordano, the backup, is just plain terrible.
Jacoby Ford, WR
Ford missed Weeks 2 and 3 after straining a hammy in the opening game. He should be back this week to add much-needed depth to an inexperienced receiving corps.
What They're Saying
Karen Guregian with The Boston Herald had a chance to catch up with Deion Branch after his very unproductive game against the Bills in which he did not record a single catch.
I just think overall, with the outcome of the game, had we won and not been on the loss side, it wouldn’t be a big deal. Me personally, I want to make sure I do a whole lot more to contribute to the game.
Look for Branch to rebound strongly and have a stat line consistent with his first two games of the season.
Vittorio Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle talked about coach Hue Jackson’s commitment to blocking:
If you don't have a ball on this football team, you're a blocker. We talk about it all the time. Whether it's a quarterback or anyone else. We gotta play for each other.
This new mentality on blocking has been clearing working as the team is first in the NFL in rushing yards.
Patriots' Player To Watch: Vince Wilfork, DT
The Raiders are going to come out and try to run the football. The more time they take off the clock, the less time Tom Brady stays on the field.
Vince Wilford anchors the Patriots defensive line, and it will be key for him and the rest of the D-line to get a push into Oakland's backfield.
Raiders' Player To Watch: Jason Campbell, QB
If/when the Raiders fall behind, it will be on Jason Campbell to get them back in the game. New England has been very suspect is coverage so far this season, and they have given up a ton of yards.
How Campbell handles things early in this game will be key to the Raiders' success.
Key Matchup: Raiders O-Line vs. Patriots D-Line
The Raiders need to run the football to be successful. This matchup will change the whole dynamic of the game if Oakland can limit the amount of time Tom Brady stays on the field.
Also, the more time they give Jason Campbell in the pocket, the more likely he is to find open targets.
New England's secondary has been a problem this year, and Denarius Moore will be a problem for them to cover if he continues to play the way he has been playing.
Everything starts in the trenches with this game, and the only way Oakland has a chance is if they control it.
On the Hot Seat: Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Oakland
The Raiders have a number of talented, young wide receivers. Unfortunately, DHB isn't one of them right now.
The former No. 7 pick is still going to get his opportunities, but Denarius Moore is making the most of his chances, Jacoby Ford will be back soon, and Derek Hagan is actually a reliable target the Raiders are going to need before the season is over.
The Patriots secondary is a problem for them, and DHB needs to show up in some way, shape or form for this game.
Prediction: Patriots 31, Raiders 20
Calgary Flames Colorado Avalanche Edmonton Oilers Minnesota Wild Vancouver Canucks Anaheim Ducks
The second half has started off slowly with Eileen Gleeson, the Pea's manager, eager to get some fresh legs onto the pitch.
She obviously feels the exertions of the first half will impact upon her team as the half wears on with many expecting the full professional side of PSG to force the game.
Rachel Jenkins takes to the pitch on 55 to replace Wendy McGlone in midfield and you can almost see the superior physicality of PSG start to take control of the game.
Alex Hinshaw Ramon Ramirez Sergio Romo Brian Wilson Eli Whiteside Mike Fontenot
Source: http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/hockey/comments/bolts_getting_on_the_same_page/
Dustin Kohn Andrew McDonald Matt Martin Frans Nielsen Dwayne Roloson Jon Sim
Week 3 in the NFL was full of upsets and disappointments. It's too early to start calling out who's going to the playoffs and whose season is doomed, but there are plenty of indications of where the needle is pointing for some teams.
Teams like the Buffalo Bills continue to be on the rise whereas the Indianapolis Colts are already looking forward to 2012. There also teams like the 49ers that look like they could be a sleeper to win their division.
There were plenty of lessons to be learned from this week.
Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/868794-10-things-we-learned-from-week-3-in-the-nfl
Oakland Athletics Seattle Mariners Tampa Bay Rays Texas Rangers Toronto Blue Jays chicago blackhawks
Source: http://www.thesportsbank.net/nba/the-worst-national-anthem-mash-up-video/
Wade Belak Martin Erat Marcel Goc Jamie Lundmark Nick Spaling Pikka Rinne
Three weeks into the season, the New York Jets have started off the same way they did last year, sitting at 2-1. While they may have started off in similar fashion, there is a key difference between the team of 2010 and 2011, this year's team is better.
Just like many other teams, the Jets added new weapons to their team, only after they dropped a few key players from their 2010 roster. Some of those players include: Braylon Edwards, Shaun Ellis, Jericho Cotchery and Brad Smith.
Amid all of these losses, the Jets have returned in a stronger fashion than what most people have expected. With new additions like Donald Strickland, Plaxico Burress, Jeremy Kerley and more, the Jets look to make another playoff appearance and hopefully win a Super Bowl.
As always, feedback is welcome. Enjoy!
Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/868885-5-reasons-the-2011-new-york-jets-are-better-than-last-year
Milwaukee Brewers New York Mets Philadelphia Phillies Pittsburgh Pirates San Diego Padres San Francisco Giants
Source: http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/cluster/comments/a_quick_blog_status_update/
Minnesota Wild Vancouver Canucks Anaheim Ducks Dallas Los Angeles Kings Phoenix Coyotes
Saul Shuller lived a long, fulfilling life.
The 95-year-old “swore by Vitamin E, never showed a bad attitude and believed crossword puzzles kept his mind fresh.”
But there was one activity that spoiled his mind and soul – watching the Cincinnati Bengals.
Shuller obviously enjoyed a sense of humor. That was apparent when, on the day of his death, he described one upside:
“at least he wouldn’t have to watch another Bengals loss.”
Please follow Sports Page on Twitter and Facebook.
Join the conversation about this story »
See Also:
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/businessinsider/sportspage/~3/bDnf7c-asfM/bengals-obituarty2011-9
Montreal Canadiens Ottawa Senators Toronto Maple Leafs Atlanta Trashers Carolina Hurricanes Florida Panthers
As Mariano Rivera approached and then broke the all-time saves record, there was much speculation with respect to which records were the most unlikely to be broken. One record that could be broken but never will belongs to Hoyt Wilhelm.
In 1952, Wilhelm appeared in 71 games, all in relief. He set a record when he led the National League with a 2.43 ERA. No pitcher who worked exclusively in relief in a season had ever led in ERA. None have since Wilhelm did it.
Stu Miller, Diego Segui, Danny Darwin and Steve Ontiveros are relief pitchers who have led their league in ERA, but all started some games during the season they led in ERA.
The way the game is managed today prevents relief pitchers, even those such as Pedro Feliciano (92 appearances in 2010), Peter Moylan (87 appearances in 2009) and Johnny Venters (at least 84 appearances in 2011 so far) from working the necessary 162 innings to qualify for the ERA title.
Wilhelm pitched 159 innings, which qualified him for the ERA title since teams played 154 games. He was 15-3, which led the league in winning percentage (.833) with 11 saves, although in 1952, there was no such thing as a save.
The New York Giants decided to give the 29-year-old Wilhelm a chance as a relief pitcher. He became the greatest knuckleball pitcher of all time, better than even Phil Niekro. He appeared in 1,070 games, all but 52 of them in relief.
When he was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1985, Wilhelm became the first relief pitcher to become a Hall of Famer. When a baseball writer asked him about his success, he responded "I never went into a game and got all flustered up."
Catching Wilhelm's knuckler was always a problem. When he was at the Baltimore Orioles, Gus Triandos was the team's regular catcher, but backup Joe Ginsberg was behind the plate when Wilhelm pitched. Ginsberg explained that neither the catcher nor the hitter knew how the knuckleball would break.
Orioles manager Paul Richards invented an oversized mitt for Ginsberg to catch Wilhelm.
"We called it the elephant glove," said Ginsberg, "because it was shaped like an elephant`s ear. Paul Richards was very astute, very thorough. He took advantage of the fact that, at that time, there was nothing in the rule book restricting the size of a catcher`s glove."
New York Yankees manager Casey Stengel was upset when Wilhelm beat the Yankees, when the glove was used. Stengel claimed the glove was illegal. The Baseball Rules Committee agreed and changed the rule.
The catcher's glove could be no more than 38 inches in circumference or 15 inches from top to bottom. Richards` glove was 42 inches around and 18 inches long.
Wilhelm retired in 1972 at the age of 49. The most games he ever appeared in was 73 in 1964 with the Chicago White Sox. For his career, Wilhelm won 143 games, including a no-hitter against the Yankees,
He had 227 saves, 71 blown saves and according to Baseball Reference, in only three seasons was the ninth inning the most common inning in which Wilhelm entered a game.
No one will eclipse Joe DiMaggio's 56-game hitting streak, no one will win more than 41 games in a season as did Jack Chesbro in 1904, no one will break Mariano Rivera's saves record and no relief pitcher will win the ERA title.
Reference:
Lueck, William. "Hoyt Wilhelm First Reliever Elected to the Hall of Fame. New York Times. 26 Aug. 2002. p. B7.
zach Parise bryce Salvador Wade Belak Martin Erat Marcel Goc Jamie Lundmark
There's never a dull moment in the NFL.
Week 3 featured some huge upsets. A few big streaks ended, there were final second and overtime wins and there were even two safeties who scored.
With so much going on it was tough to tell who really shined through (and who blew it.)
With that in mind here are the awards for the best and worst from Week 3 in the NFL.
Andrew McDonald Matt Martin Frans Nielsen Dwayne Roloson Jon Sim Jason Arnott
129-128-5.
This is the record of college football favorites against the spread this season, according to RJ Bell of Pregame.com.
The means that Vegas has essentially set the lines perfectly.
Wow.
Because of the sheer volume of college teams, you still have a better chance at getting value betting on CFB than most other sports.
But that 129-128-5 statistic is just a friendly reminder that Vegas will always get it right in the long run.
Please follow Sports Page on Twitter and Facebook.
Join the conversation about this story »
See Also:
Mathieu Carle Lars Eller Hal Gill John Madden Petr Kalus Colton Gilies
Jonathan Albaladejo Andrew Brackman A.J. Burnett Steve Garrison Phil Hughes Damaso Marte
First the Big-12 were going to merge with the Big East and form a super-conference once Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State left for the Pac-12. Then they decided not to and each conference was committed to making things work on their own.
Now, UConn wants out and they have the ACC on their mind.
“I think there was expectancy built up initially that this was quickly going to be resolved. That’s clearly not the case. The ACC has the first decision to make and that’s whether they’re going to stay at 14 teams or stay at 16. said Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy. I know that there’s one team, one school that they would like to get into the ACC that would guarantee them going to 16 teams and that’s been speculated to be Notre Dame. I suspect that that’s true. I don’t know how likely that is to happen or not happen. Although, I tend to think it’s not terribly likely.
“Beyond that, then you fall back to the Big East. The Big East then has to rebuild itself to fill the loss of the two teams that left and has to worry about its ability to compete on the major sports of basketball and football in particular, as well as how do we make that work for student athletes.”
I would think that if UConn was so valuable to the ACC, they would have already been invited to join. But could you imagine that basketball conference if they actually did?
Anyway, this just proves that the Big East is not committed to making things work and it's just a matter of time before the conference folds all together.
Every team is out for themselves, all they're waiting for is the opportunity to present itself.
Philadelphia Flyers Pittsburgh Penguins Boston Bruins Buffalo Sabres Montreal Canadiens Ottawa Senators
Michael Jordan is a wealthy man.
He earns more money in endorsement deals now than he did while winning six NBA championships.
Forbes estimates Jordan earned $60 million over the past year through contracts with Nike, Gatorade and others. At the height of his playing days, the Chicago Bull only made $50 million in endorsement deals.
Jordan’s annual earnings place him behind only Tiger Woods as the world’s highest-paid athlete.
“His Airness” hasn’t laced up the Air Jordans in eight years. And that’s if you count his Wizards comeback. So how does he still dominate consumers like they’re Bryon Russell or Craig Ehlo?
The Jordan Brand, a Nike subsidiary, enjoys annual revenues topping $1 billion. Its U.S. basketball shoe market share is 71%, according to SportsOneSource, and includes endorsers like Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul.
Jordan signed with 2K Sports last year to become the cover athlete of NBA 2K11. It promptly became the No. 1 selling NBA video game of all-time.
He also owns five restaurants, a North Carolina dealership, and a basketball team.
The Charlotte Bobcats majority owner has the most to gain from this business venture. But it won’t be easy turning around a team said to be losing $20 million annually.
Fortunately, the public will adore him even if he never turns Charlotte into a winner.
Jordan’s N-Score of 682, which measures appeal, likability and awareness, rates him nearly 300 points higher than the next athlete. In a Nielsen poll, 93% of those surveyed say they like Jordan. Conversely, 49% of respondents dislike LeBron James.
It’s good to be the real king.
Please follow Sports Page on Twitter and Facebook.
Join the conversation about this story »
See Also:
Josh Bailey Mark Eaton Trent Hunter Andy Hilbert Bruno Gervais Dustin Kohn
ORIGINAL POST
Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay said that Peyton Manning will not come back until the 2012 season at a breakfast this morning, according to WISH-TV in Indianapolis.
The announcement is not official, but the TV station says Irsay told donors that Manning wouldn't be able to practice until at least December.
No one really expected Manning to rush back this year, especially considering the dreadful 0-3 start that the team has suffered.
So this just solidifies what we already assumed.
UPDATE
Irsay denies the WISH-TV report.
"I didn't say Peyton out 4season FOR SURE,keeping him on ActiveRoster n taking it month by month/Outside chance of return n December possible" he tweeted.
It's hard to tell what happened considering that we don't have the verbatim quote from Irsay's breakfast. But his "clarification" wasn't overly optimistic about Manning's chances of coming back this season either.
Please follow Sports Page on Twitter and Facebook.
Join the conversation about this story »
See Also:
San Jose Sharks New Jersey Devil New York Islanders New York Rangers Philadelphia Flyers Pittsburgh Penguins
