So, a lot is being made of the random statistical anomalies from the Broncos-Steelers game on Sunday, and the religious connection. Tim Tebow’s favorite biblical verse is John 3:16. Tebow threw for 316 yards. Ben Roethlisberger threw a crucial interception on third and sixteen. The Steelers had the ball for 31.6 minutes, and Tebow averaged 31.6 yards per completion. Naturally, all of these statistics mean that God caers about football, right?
Um, no. Let’s be serious here – if whatever gods really care more about the outcome of some sporting even than the injustices and problems of the world, then maybe it’s time to get some new gods. Whatever higher powers one believes in definately have better things to do than to make sure that some scatter armed quarterback wins a football game. And if they don’t, then they have a severe issue with figuring out priorities.
Meanwhile, after every game, it’s customary to hear various athletes thanking God for their victory. So why don’t the players on the losing teams blame God for the loss? Steve Johnson of the Buffalo Bills did, and was soundly criticized for it. In all reality, he was right – if the gods want the opposing team to win, then they must want the other team to lose. And they certainly are in position to make sure that happens.
Sports comes down to strategy, skill, and luck – not some random higher power deciding who to favor based off how holy their life is. If that was really a major factor, then how did Roethlisberger win two Super Bowls? How do all of these people that no one would ever want to be around succeed time and time again? The reason is that they are, for that moment in time, simply better.
Tebow hit four passes that he may never complete again. Let’s not go overboard here. Sometimes a coincidence is just a coincidence.
Showing posts with label playoffs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label playoffs. Show all posts
Friday, January 13, 2012
Monday, June 13, 2011
Anyone Seen LeBron?
Remember the old television show/computer game entitled 'Where in the World is Carmen SanDeigo'? Well, it appears that a sequel has been made, and it stars LeBron James.
This recently completed NBA Finals was a matchup of two superstars that had a reputation for choking when it mattered in Dirk Nowitzki and LeBron. In what was supposed to be a coronation for the Heat, it was Dirk who shook off the mantle of being a choker, and turned into a cold-blooded crunch time assassin. LeBron, meanwhile, has an APB put out on him, since his fourth quarter whereabouts are completely unknown.
The playoffs are where legacies are made, and reputations confirmed. The Finals cemented LeBron's legacy alright - that he is a passive choke artist without the heart and determination to force his team to victory. No longer can he claim that he did not have the talent around him, and that it was the fault of the Cavaliers that he never won a title. Even with the talent the Heat surrounded him with, he still has the same amount of championships as the family pet.
Dirk, meanwhile, was surrounded with what could be considered a collection of role players and castoffs. If that description sounds familiar, that would be because LeBron thought that was what Cleveland put around him. The Mavericks, unlike the 'Champions-In-Waiting' Heat, understood the concept of being a team, that no one player was bigger than everyone else. They all played hard. They fought for everything they got in the series and in the playoffs. And, on Miami's home court, they slapped the crown off of the self-appointed 'King'.
And so, LeBron is left without a title yet again. Only this time, the only person he can blame is looking back at him in the mirror.
This recently completed NBA Finals was a matchup of two superstars that had a reputation for choking when it mattered in Dirk Nowitzki and LeBron. In what was supposed to be a coronation for the Heat, it was Dirk who shook off the mantle of being a choker, and turned into a cold-blooded crunch time assassin. LeBron, meanwhile, has an APB put out on him, since his fourth quarter whereabouts are completely unknown.
The playoffs are where legacies are made, and reputations confirmed. The Finals cemented LeBron's legacy alright - that he is a passive choke artist without the heart and determination to force his team to victory. No longer can he claim that he did not have the talent around him, and that it was the fault of the Cavaliers that he never won a title. Even with the talent the Heat surrounded him with, he still has the same amount of championships as the family pet.
Dirk, meanwhile, was surrounded with what could be considered a collection of role players and castoffs. If that description sounds familiar, that would be because LeBron thought that was what Cleveland put around him. The Mavericks, unlike the 'Champions-In-Waiting' Heat, understood the concept of being a team, that no one player was bigger than everyone else. They all played hard. They fought for everything they got in the series and in the playoffs. And, on Miami's home court, they slapped the crown off of the self-appointed 'King'.
And so, LeBron is left without a title yet again. Only this time, the only person he can blame is looking back at him in the mirror.
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Shut Up Roberto Luongo
Well well well. Someone on the Canucks seems to have a short term memory.
In an incredibly short-sighted comment, Vancouver goalie Roberto Luongo stated that the goal Maxim Lapierre scored on Tim Thomas would have been an easy save for him. Specifically, he feels that way because he plays in the paint, while Thomas is a more aggressive goaltender.
Obviously, Luongo did not watch the play because, if he did, he would have realized that Thomas was actually in the crease. He was not five to ten feet from the net, which is apparently where Luongo thinks that Thomas plays at all times. It was just a strange bounce off of Thomas' chest that went into the net. Sometimes, these goals happen.
Next, what business does Roberto Luongo have calling out any other goalie? At last check, Thomas has given up a TOTAL of six goals in the Stanley Cup Finals. Luongo gave up eight in one game. Thomas has given up two fewer goals in five total games than he gave up in one. In fact, two of Thomas' losses in the Finals are because the Boston offense forgot to get on the plane to Vancouver. Yes, Luongo has two shutouts, but if the puck is being fired directly into the goalies chest, even Betty White could make those saves.
Then there is the side effect of calling out Tim Thomas only makes him angry. And Vancouver won't like Thomas when he's angry. At this point in time, Thomas is making a case to be the MVP of the playoffs, regardless of whether or not the Bruins win. Now that he's been called out? All bets are off. Thomas has already taken his game to another level in the finals, but he will bring it for the next two games.
Yes, the Canucks have a 3-2 lead in the series, but this will be going back to Vancouver. Thomas has been called out by an inferior netminder who suddenly thinks that he's great again. We'll see how Luongo fares back in Boston.
In the meantime, shut up Roberto Luongo. You may have doomed the Canucks to another year without the Cup.
In an incredibly short-sighted comment, Vancouver goalie Roberto Luongo stated that the goal Maxim Lapierre scored on Tim Thomas would have been an easy save for him. Specifically, he feels that way because he plays in the paint, while Thomas is a more aggressive goaltender.
Obviously, Luongo did not watch the play because, if he did, he would have realized that Thomas was actually in the crease. He was not five to ten feet from the net, which is apparently where Luongo thinks that Thomas plays at all times. It was just a strange bounce off of Thomas' chest that went into the net. Sometimes, these goals happen.
Next, what business does Roberto Luongo have calling out any other goalie? At last check, Thomas has given up a TOTAL of six goals in the Stanley Cup Finals. Luongo gave up eight in one game. Thomas has given up two fewer goals in five total games than he gave up in one. In fact, two of Thomas' losses in the Finals are because the Boston offense forgot to get on the plane to Vancouver. Yes, Luongo has two shutouts, but if the puck is being fired directly into the goalies chest, even Betty White could make those saves.
Then there is the side effect of calling out Tim Thomas only makes him angry. And Vancouver won't like Thomas when he's angry. At this point in time, Thomas is making a case to be the MVP of the playoffs, regardless of whether or not the Bruins win. Now that he's been called out? All bets are off. Thomas has already taken his game to another level in the finals, but he will bring it for the next two games.
Yes, the Canucks have a 3-2 lead in the series, but this will be going back to Vancouver. Thomas has been called out by an inferior netminder who suddenly thinks that he's great again. We'll see how Luongo fares back in Boston.
In the meantime, shut up Roberto Luongo. You may have doomed the Canucks to another year without the Cup.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
The Red Wings Comeback
Down 3-0 in their series to the Sharks, conventional wisdom would have said that the Red Wings were doomed. Yet, what was lost in the Sharks' fast start to the series was that all of the games had been decided by one goal. In fact, prior to the Red Wings winning Game 6 by a score of 3-1, every game in the series had been decided by one goal, with two of the games going to overtime. Any of the games in this series could have gone to either team.
What the Red Wings are doing is not unprecedented. This is the eighth time in the history of the Stanley Cup playoffs that a team down 3-0 in the series has come back to force Game 7. In fact, this is the third time this has occurred in the past calendar year, with the Flyers doing so last year against the Bruins and the Black Hawks doing so against the Canucks this year.
Coming back from down 3-0 to win a series is considered a rare accomplishment, mainly because it has only happened once in any other American sport. However, in hockey, this has occurred in three of the previous seven times that a game seven was forced by the rallying opponent. Prior to the Flyers last year, the New York Islanders and the Toronto Maple Leafs did so in 1975 and 1942, respectively.
While getting to this point is difficult in the NHL (this is only the eighth time in the 163 times a team trailed 3-0 in a series that a Game 7 was forced) these games really can go either way. Should Detroit win, it will be an exact 50-50 proposition for the team making the comeback to win out.
The Sharks do not exactly have a glowing record when it comes to playoff hockey either. They have consistently been a disappointment, going into the playoffs as a high seed, yet being upset early. While it appeared as though they may have exorcised the demons of playoffs past, the whispers and images of such disappointments have to be in their heads. If Detroit jumps out to a fast start in Game Seven, the Sharks are done.
This has been a great comeback by an experienced hockey team that knows how to win. Vancouver had better hope the Red Wings somehow lose in Game Seven.
What the Red Wings are doing is not unprecedented. This is the eighth time in the history of the Stanley Cup playoffs that a team down 3-0 in the series has come back to force Game 7. In fact, this is the third time this has occurred in the past calendar year, with the Flyers doing so last year against the Bruins and the Black Hawks doing so against the Canucks this year.
Coming back from down 3-0 to win a series is considered a rare accomplishment, mainly because it has only happened once in any other American sport. However, in hockey, this has occurred in three of the previous seven times that a game seven was forced by the rallying opponent. Prior to the Flyers last year, the New York Islanders and the Toronto Maple Leafs did so in 1975 and 1942, respectively.
While getting to this point is difficult in the NHL (this is only the eighth time in the 163 times a team trailed 3-0 in a series that a Game 7 was forced) these games really can go either way. Should Detroit win, it will be an exact 50-50 proposition for the team making the comeback to win out.
The Sharks do not exactly have a glowing record when it comes to playoff hockey either. They have consistently been a disappointment, going into the playoffs as a high seed, yet being upset early. While it appeared as though they may have exorcised the demons of playoffs past, the whispers and images of such disappointments have to be in their heads. If Detroit jumps out to a fast start in Game Seven, the Sharks are done.
This has been a great comeback by an experienced hockey team that knows how to win. Vancouver had better hope the Red Wings somehow lose in Game Seven.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Not Your Father's Mavs
In one corner, there were the L.A. Lakers. The two time defending NBA Champions, coached by the legendary Phil Jackson. They are led by the ultra intense Kobe Bryant, who practically seems to will his teams to victory. They are a team forged by the wars of the playoffs, tempered and galvanized by winning, and winning often.
In the other corner, there were the Dallas Maverics. A team that never played to expectations when the playoffs arrived, choking under the spotlight. Their owner Mark Cuban was known not just for helping to pull the Mavs out of continued mediocrity, but more for his continual wars with the officials and the league. Their biggest name, Dirk Nowitski, has the same reputation as his team - a force in the regular season, but invisible when it mattered most.
During the first round, the Lakers had issues with the New Orleans Hornets, specifically Chris Paul. The Lakers were the older team, and it would make sense that smaller, quicker guards would give them issues. However, the Lakers responded as they always have under Phil Jackson, and won that series in six games. Nothing to worry about here, just a minor blip on the radar.
Like the Lakers, the Mavs won their series in six games. However, that was the only similarity. They got to face off with another team that perennially disappoints in the playoffs in the Portland Trailblazers. They watched a 22 point lead slip away during Game 4 of that series. While they did end up winning the final two games, absolutely nothing suggested that the Mavs would pose any threat for the Lakers. In fact, the Mavs were actually the older team in the matchup.
So, the Mavs and Lakers were set to face off in the playoffs for the first time ever. This seemed surprising, given how both were constantly playoff teams over the past decade. Yet, they never ran into each other, mainly due to the Lakers extended runs in the playoffs, and the Mavs history of early exits. Easy series win for the Lakers, especially with home court advantage, right?
In Game 1 of the second round, the Lakers jumped out quickly, holding a 16 point lead in the second half. Looked like the same ol' Mavs, a team that just could not handle the glare of the playoff spotlight. Then something strange happened - they fought back. Rallying behind Dirk, the Mavs took their first lead with 19.5 seconds left, holding on as Kobe missed his final shot. Strange, but nothing to worry about yet. After all, the Lakers lost Game 1 in the first round and came back to win the series.
So, on to Game 2. Here the Lakers would redeem themselves and show that they were still the team to beat, right? Wrong. The Mavs utterly dominated the Lakers in practically all facets of the game, hitting clutch free throws and making three pointers while the Lakers found the rim with amazing consistency. Once again, Kobe did his best to keep them in the game, but defensive lapses continued to lead to easy baskets. In fact, this caused center Andrew Bynum to claim that there were 'trust issues' with the Lakers, particularly on defense. Hmm..... Now some cracks were beginning to appear in the armor.
To Game 3. This time, the Lakers were without Ron Artest, who was suspended for a game after his clothesline to J.J. Barea in the final minutes of Game 2. To start the game, Jackson rolled the dice and came out with a jumbo front line, with two seven footers in Bynum and Pau Gasol, and the 6'10 Lamar Odom. The lakers controlled the paint for much of the first half, holding a 51-47 lead at halftime. The game would go back and forth, with the Lakers holding a seven point lead with 5:05 left to play. The Lakers can't blow a second game in the series, right?
Wrong. The Mavs, once again led by Dirk, rallied with an 18-6 run to win the game by six. Phil Jackson had never coached a team that fell behind in a series 3-0. In fact, he had only been behind in a series 2-0 on six other occasions. Uncharted territory for both the Lakers and for the Mavs, who never had this type of playoff experience.
Now, there was no chance the Mavs would sweep the Lakers, right? I mean, this is still the two time defending champions, with a Hall of Fame coach and one of the top two players in the league on their side. While no NBA team had ever blown a 3-0 lead in a playoff series, it felt like the Mavs would be the team to do so, given their playoff history. So, the Lakers had to win Game 4, right? Wrong again.
The Mavs jumped out quickly on the Lakers, hitting a record 20 3-pointers as they would go on to rout the defending champions in a 122-86 victory. Continuing their pattern of playing Jason Kidd on Kobe, and defending the perimeter, the Mavs were in control from the start. While they only led by 4 after the first quarter, it felt like a much bigger deficit. As soon as the second quarter started, the Mavs just continued to pull away, and the Lakers frustrations began to show, as Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum got thrown out of the game for cheap shots just 45 seconds apart.
All in all, not quite the ending for Phil Jackson that anyone expected. His last series in the playoffs culminating in his first time being swept as a coach? To the Mavs, a team with a history of underachieving? To quote Vizzini from The Princess Bride - INCONCEIVABLE!!
Now the west is wide open for the Mavs, as they match up well with either Oklahoma City or Memphis. Could the Mavs finally get back to the Finals, and avenge having the championship stolen from them in 2006?
In the other corner, there were the Dallas Maverics. A team that never played to expectations when the playoffs arrived, choking under the spotlight. Their owner Mark Cuban was known not just for helping to pull the Mavs out of continued mediocrity, but more for his continual wars with the officials and the league. Their biggest name, Dirk Nowitski, has the same reputation as his team - a force in the regular season, but invisible when it mattered most.
During the first round, the Lakers had issues with the New Orleans Hornets, specifically Chris Paul. The Lakers were the older team, and it would make sense that smaller, quicker guards would give them issues. However, the Lakers responded as they always have under Phil Jackson, and won that series in six games. Nothing to worry about here, just a minor blip on the radar.
Like the Lakers, the Mavs won their series in six games. However, that was the only similarity. They got to face off with another team that perennially disappoints in the playoffs in the Portland Trailblazers. They watched a 22 point lead slip away during Game 4 of that series. While they did end up winning the final two games, absolutely nothing suggested that the Mavs would pose any threat for the Lakers. In fact, the Mavs were actually the older team in the matchup.
So, the Mavs and Lakers were set to face off in the playoffs for the first time ever. This seemed surprising, given how both were constantly playoff teams over the past decade. Yet, they never ran into each other, mainly due to the Lakers extended runs in the playoffs, and the Mavs history of early exits. Easy series win for the Lakers, especially with home court advantage, right?
In Game 1 of the second round, the Lakers jumped out quickly, holding a 16 point lead in the second half. Looked like the same ol' Mavs, a team that just could not handle the glare of the playoff spotlight. Then something strange happened - they fought back. Rallying behind Dirk, the Mavs took their first lead with 19.5 seconds left, holding on as Kobe missed his final shot. Strange, but nothing to worry about yet. After all, the Lakers lost Game 1 in the first round and came back to win the series.
So, on to Game 2. Here the Lakers would redeem themselves and show that they were still the team to beat, right? Wrong. The Mavs utterly dominated the Lakers in practically all facets of the game, hitting clutch free throws and making three pointers while the Lakers found the rim with amazing consistency. Once again, Kobe did his best to keep them in the game, but defensive lapses continued to lead to easy baskets. In fact, this caused center Andrew Bynum to claim that there were 'trust issues' with the Lakers, particularly on defense. Hmm..... Now some cracks were beginning to appear in the armor.
To Game 3. This time, the Lakers were without Ron Artest, who was suspended for a game after his clothesline to J.J. Barea in the final minutes of Game 2. To start the game, Jackson rolled the dice and came out with a jumbo front line, with two seven footers in Bynum and Pau Gasol, and the 6'10 Lamar Odom. The lakers controlled the paint for much of the first half, holding a 51-47 lead at halftime. The game would go back and forth, with the Lakers holding a seven point lead with 5:05 left to play. The Lakers can't blow a second game in the series, right?
Wrong. The Mavs, once again led by Dirk, rallied with an 18-6 run to win the game by six. Phil Jackson had never coached a team that fell behind in a series 3-0. In fact, he had only been behind in a series 2-0 on six other occasions. Uncharted territory for both the Lakers and for the Mavs, who never had this type of playoff experience.
Now, there was no chance the Mavs would sweep the Lakers, right? I mean, this is still the two time defending champions, with a Hall of Fame coach and one of the top two players in the league on their side. While no NBA team had ever blown a 3-0 lead in a playoff series, it felt like the Mavs would be the team to do so, given their playoff history. So, the Lakers had to win Game 4, right? Wrong again.
The Mavs jumped out quickly on the Lakers, hitting a record 20 3-pointers as they would go on to rout the defending champions in a 122-86 victory. Continuing their pattern of playing Jason Kidd on Kobe, and defending the perimeter, the Mavs were in control from the start. While they only led by 4 after the first quarter, it felt like a much bigger deficit. As soon as the second quarter started, the Mavs just continued to pull away, and the Lakers frustrations began to show, as Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum got thrown out of the game for cheap shots just 45 seconds apart.
All in all, not quite the ending for Phil Jackson that anyone expected. His last series in the playoffs culminating in his first time being swept as a coach? To the Mavs, a team with a history of underachieving? To quote Vizzini from The Princess Bride - INCONCEIVABLE!!
Now the west is wide open for the Mavs, as they match up well with either Oklahoma City or Memphis. Could the Mavs finally get back to the Finals, and avenge having the championship stolen from them in 2006?
Thursday, May 5, 2011
The Bruins Playoffs
All season, the Bruins were a team that seemed to shrink away from adversity. They had problems with teams that would take the game to them. They would follow extended winning streaks with losing streaks. Their coach, Claude Julien, looked completely clueless behind the bench, appearing as more of a thinner Alfred Hitchcock clone than an NHL coach. The powerplay was anemic at it's best.
This continued into the playoffs against Montreal. The Bruins lost the first two games in Boston, with Montreal goalie Carey Price looking dominant. The Bruins then won Game 3, but promptly fell behind 3-1 in Game 4. Then Claude Julien did something completely out of character - he did something. He called a timeout, and just told his team to look at the scoreboard. It worked. The Bruins would go on to win the game.
Then came Game 7 of the series. History was against the Bruins here, as they had not won a Game 7 in years. Tim Thomas had never won a game 7. Zdeno Chara had never won a game 7. Julien had won one - against the Bruins while he was the coach of the Canadiens, so that was roughly the equivalent of someone beating up Helen Keller. Montreal seemed ready.
The game would go into overtime, and it felt like the Bruins would be done. Given their past history, it would seem that they would tighten up, and inevitably lose the game. Then something strange happened for the Bruins - they won. Suddenly, all sorts of demons were slain.
This carried over into Game 1 of the Flyers series. Both teams were fresh off Game 7 victories, so they both should have been ready. The Bruins went into Philadelphia, and steamrolled the Flyers with a 7-3 victory. In Game 2, the Flyers jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead, and it became possibly that the Bruins victory was an aberration. The Bruins would fight back, and force overtime due to the unbelievable play of Tim Thomas, who stole that game for them. Then came Game 3, where the seeds of last year were attempted to be placed into the minds of the Bruins players. Their response - a dominating 5-1 victory.
These Bruins are different than they had been. They are playing with confidence and a swagger. They are not backing down, and are actually initiating the play instead of reacting to it. Julien has always been more of a reactive, defensive minded coach, but the reins appear to have been loosened on the offense. Game 4 in Montreal was the turning point, and it may actually go a long way.
While they may not win the Stanley Cup this year, they are definitely playing like a contender, moreso than in years past. A collapse such as what happened in the playoffs last year would be a total shock, given how well the Bruins have performed.
This continued into the playoffs against Montreal. The Bruins lost the first two games in Boston, with Montreal goalie Carey Price looking dominant. The Bruins then won Game 3, but promptly fell behind 3-1 in Game 4. Then Claude Julien did something completely out of character - he did something. He called a timeout, and just told his team to look at the scoreboard. It worked. The Bruins would go on to win the game.
Then came Game 7 of the series. History was against the Bruins here, as they had not won a Game 7 in years. Tim Thomas had never won a game 7. Zdeno Chara had never won a game 7. Julien had won one - against the Bruins while he was the coach of the Canadiens, so that was roughly the equivalent of someone beating up Helen Keller. Montreal seemed ready.
The game would go into overtime, and it felt like the Bruins would be done. Given their past history, it would seem that they would tighten up, and inevitably lose the game. Then something strange happened for the Bruins - they won. Suddenly, all sorts of demons were slain.
This carried over into Game 1 of the Flyers series. Both teams were fresh off Game 7 victories, so they both should have been ready. The Bruins went into Philadelphia, and steamrolled the Flyers with a 7-3 victory. In Game 2, the Flyers jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead, and it became possibly that the Bruins victory was an aberration. The Bruins would fight back, and force overtime due to the unbelievable play of Tim Thomas, who stole that game for them. Then came Game 3, where the seeds of last year were attempted to be placed into the minds of the Bruins players. Their response - a dominating 5-1 victory.
These Bruins are different than they had been. They are playing with confidence and a swagger. They are not backing down, and are actually initiating the play instead of reacting to it. Julien has always been more of a reactive, defensive minded coach, but the reins appear to have been loosened on the offense. Game 4 in Montreal was the turning point, and it may actually go a long way.
While they may not win the Stanley Cup this year, they are definitely playing like a contender, moreso than in years past. A collapse such as what happened in the playoffs last year would be a total shock, given how well the Bruins have performed.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
The Bruins Power Play
The Achilles heel for the Boston Bruins this season has been it's power play. Over the regular season, they only converted on 16.2% of power play opportunities, which ranked 20th in the NHL. Of the teams that made the playoffs, the Bruins rank 13th, ahead of the Nashville Predators, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Los Angeles Kings.
At the trade deadline, the Bruins attempted to solve this problem by bringing in Tomas Kaberle. However, while Kaberle helps, he does not solve the problem at hand. The reason why the Bruins have not succeeded on the power play has nothing to do with the defensemen connecting on their passes - it is because they do not play in front of the net.
Teams that tend to be successful on the power play have players that are not afraid to screen the opposing goaltender, look for rebounds, and attempt to tip shots from the point. The bruins have one person that does that with any consistency - 43 year old Mark Recchi. Contrast this with a team like the Montreal Canadiens who thrive on the power play, and you will notice that they swarm the net. They always have bodies down in front of the goalie.
This further illustrates itself in this series. The Bruins have yet to score a power play goal, going 0-18 in the series thus far. Montreal, meanwhile, is 4-23. While this is not a great percentage, the four goal advantage can be huge. Case in point, the Canadiens won game 6 2-1 with two power play goals.
In order for Boston to improve, they need to get bodies in front of the goaltender. However, they have yet to show a desire to do so all season. Do not expect anything to change tonight.
At the trade deadline, the Bruins attempted to solve this problem by bringing in Tomas Kaberle. However, while Kaberle helps, he does not solve the problem at hand. The reason why the Bruins have not succeeded on the power play has nothing to do with the defensemen connecting on their passes - it is because they do not play in front of the net.
Teams that tend to be successful on the power play have players that are not afraid to screen the opposing goaltender, look for rebounds, and attempt to tip shots from the point. The bruins have one person that does that with any consistency - 43 year old Mark Recchi. Contrast this with a team like the Montreal Canadiens who thrive on the power play, and you will notice that they swarm the net. They always have bodies down in front of the goalie.
This further illustrates itself in this series. The Bruins have yet to score a power play goal, going 0-18 in the series thus far. Montreal, meanwhile, is 4-23. While this is not a great percentage, the four goal advantage can be huge. Case in point, the Canadiens won game 6 2-1 with two power play goals.
In order for Boston to improve, they need to get bodies in front of the goaltender. However, they have yet to show a desire to do so all season. Do not expect anything to change tonight.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Andrew Ference's $2500 Finger
For what he termed an 'inadvertant bird' after scoring a goal in Game 4 against the Montreal Canadiens, yesterday Boston Bruins defenseman Andrew Ference was fined $2500 by the NHL. Ference claimed that his glove got stuck, and that it was nothing more than an equipment malfunction. And the fact that he was looking right at the Montreal crowd while this happened was a bit of a coincidence, right?
Equipment and wardrobe malfunctions have been blamed for touchy situations since the infamous Janet Jackson Super Bowl halftime show. While her breast was briefly exposed, the only people that either wanted to see it or where excited by it happened to be her plastic surgeons. Whorish tops do not randomly rip on their own. And hockey gloves do not randomly have the middle finger get stuck, especially in situations such as that.
Now, looking at the crowd that received the 'accidental' middle finger, there is a potential reason for it. The Montreal crowd needs to have the team announcer list off the American players on the roster so that they do not boo the American National Anthem. These fans are the ones that called 911 to get Zdeno Chara arrested after putting a solid hit on Max Pacioretty. These fans are causing the Bruins to stay in Lake Placid, NY, and bus to Montreal for the games, because they would otherwise make it impossible for them to do anything outside of the hotel. These fans regard the Bruins as a gang of brutish thugs who have no business playing hockey, yet cheer for a team of diving pansies who react as though they got shot if an opponent so much as looks at them wrong. If any fanbase deserves the middle finger, it is the Canadiens fans.
So, good for you Andrew Ference. That may be the best $2500 ever spent.
Equipment and wardrobe malfunctions have been blamed for touchy situations since the infamous Janet Jackson Super Bowl halftime show. While her breast was briefly exposed, the only people that either wanted to see it or where excited by it happened to be her plastic surgeons. Whorish tops do not randomly rip on their own. And hockey gloves do not randomly have the middle finger get stuck, especially in situations such as that.
Now, looking at the crowd that received the 'accidental' middle finger, there is a potential reason for it. The Montreal crowd needs to have the team announcer list off the American players on the roster so that they do not boo the American National Anthem. These fans are the ones that called 911 to get Zdeno Chara arrested after putting a solid hit on Max Pacioretty. These fans are causing the Bruins to stay in Lake Placid, NY, and bus to Montreal for the games, because they would otherwise make it impossible for them to do anything outside of the hotel. These fans regard the Bruins as a gang of brutish thugs who have no business playing hockey, yet cheer for a team of diving pansies who react as though they got shot if an opponent so much as looks at them wrong. If any fanbase deserves the middle finger, it is the Canadiens fans.
So, good for you Andrew Ference. That may be the best $2500 ever spent.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Mavs Lose Tonight - Take It To The Bank
Furthering the perception that the NBA is as scripted as the WWE, certain officials seem to have a direct impact on the games they are assigned to. When a home team is in danger of losing a playoff series that the league would benefit from by have the series continue, certain referees work those games. Certain referees work games based on what team winning would benefit the league. And, of course, there is the entire Tim Donaghy scandal, where David Stern still maintains that he was the only one betting on games, and that he was a 'rogue official'.
Despite Boss Stern claiming that he does not run the league as though he is a Mafia boss and that the games are not fixed, there are some disturbing trends with teams and officials. For a prime example, there is tonight's playoff matchup between the Dallas Mavericks and the Portland Trailblazers. The officiating crew is headed by Danny Crawford, an official that has adversely affected the Mavs whenever he is involved in one of their playoff games. With Crawford as an official in playoff games, the Mavs are 2-16, 4-14 against the spread. Without Crawford, the Mavs are 48-41 in the playoffs. The Mavs have been called for roughly 2.5 more fouls per game than their opponents, and have averaged 6.8 fewer free throws per game as well.
In fact, Crawford was the lead official in games 3 and 6 of the 2006 NBA Finals, where it is universally believed that the NBA gave the title to the Miami Heat. After falling behind 2-0 in that series, the Heat had a free throw advantage of 71 to 49.
Crawford being assigned to this games comes directly after the Portland Trailblazers coach, Nate McMillan, questioned how the Mavs had a 19 to 2 free throw advantage during the fourth quarter of game one. Well Nate, you won't have to worry about the Mavs having any advantage there tonight. Crawford being in Dallas pretty much assures that the series will be tied at one game each when the series shifts to Portland.
If gambling was legal, put your money on Portland. It would be a major upset if the Mavs won tonight, since they will be playing five on eight.
Despite Boss Stern claiming that he does not run the league as though he is a Mafia boss and that the games are not fixed, there are some disturbing trends with teams and officials. For a prime example, there is tonight's playoff matchup between the Dallas Mavericks and the Portland Trailblazers. The officiating crew is headed by Danny Crawford, an official that has adversely affected the Mavs whenever he is involved in one of their playoff games. With Crawford as an official in playoff games, the Mavs are 2-16, 4-14 against the spread. Without Crawford, the Mavs are 48-41 in the playoffs. The Mavs have been called for roughly 2.5 more fouls per game than their opponents, and have averaged 6.8 fewer free throws per game as well.
In fact, Crawford was the lead official in games 3 and 6 of the 2006 NBA Finals, where it is universally believed that the NBA gave the title to the Miami Heat. After falling behind 2-0 in that series, the Heat had a free throw advantage of 71 to 49.
Crawford being assigned to this games comes directly after the Portland Trailblazers coach, Nate McMillan, questioned how the Mavs had a 19 to 2 free throw advantage during the fourth quarter of game one. Well Nate, you won't have to worry about the Mavs having any advantage there tonight. Crawford being in Dallas pretty much assures that the series will be tied at one game each when the series shifts to Portland.
If gambling was legal, put your money on Portland. It would be a major upset if the Mavs won tonight, since they will be playing five on eight.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
NHL Playoffs Round One Preview
As the NHL playoffs are about to get underway, it's time for some Round One analysis. Broken down by conference:
East
Washington Capitals (1) v. New York Rangers (8): The Rangers had to fight to get into the playoffs, while the Capitals were able to rest Alexander Ovechkin for the majority of their last ten games. Aside from goaltending, the Capitals are greatly superior to the Rangers. However, all it takes is a hot goalie to eliminate a team from the playoffs, and the Capitals did have that happen to them last year. Plus, when on, Henrik Lundqvist is one of the best in the game. While this series will be more difficult that some would think, expect the Capitals to learn from their experience last season. Capitals in 6.
Philadelphia Flyers (2) v. Buffalo Sabres (7): The Sabres were one of the hottest teams heading into the playoffs, while the Flyers went cold at the end of the regular season, although one could argue that they were attempting to set up the matchups for later in the playoffs. The risk of that strategy involves running into Ryan Miller, who is more than capable of stealing a playoff series on his own. Meanwhile, the Flyers have the same problem they have had since the days of Ron Hextall - goaltending. Last year, they made their run with journeymen and backups in goal. Don't expect a repeat this year if Sergei Bobrovsky implodes. While the Flyers are more talented, Miller will keep the Sabres in this one, and might be the difference. Sabres in 7.
Boston Bruins (3) v. Montreal Canadiens (6): This may be one of the best playoff matchups in round one, just because of how much these teams hate one another. Factor in the Zdeno Chara hit, and this series could get nasty. The Bruins combination of size, skill, toughness, and goaltending has been great for most of the year. Tim Thomas is one of the favorites for the Vezina, and Nathan Horton has rediscovered his goal scoring touch recently. Montreal is going to have to hope to dominate on special teams, and draw the Bruins into dumb penalties to have a chance in this series. Expect the Bruins not to fall into that trap. Bruins in 5.
Tampa Bay Lightning (4) v. Pittsburgh Penguins (5): Even though the Penguins will be without Sidney Crosby and Evegni Malkin, they have played very well down the stretch. Despite that, the Lightning have a definite edge in scoring with Vincent Lecavalier, Steven Stamkos, and Martin St. Louis. Like Montreal, they dominate on the power play, and will need to draw the Penguins into penalties. However, the Penguins have a big advantage in net, with Marc-Andre Fleury against Dwayne Roloson. In fact, Mike Smith may actually be the better option for Tampa. This will be another matchup where goalies make the difference. Pittsburgh in 6.
West
Vancouver Canucks (1) v. Chicago Blackhawks (8): Vancouver has been one of the elite teams in the NHL all season. Boasting the Super Twins, Daniel and Henrik Sedin, they made opposing defenses seem pathetic. Meanwhile, the Blackhawks had to claw to get back into the playoffs to defend last year's championship. This year, the Hawks do not bear any resemblance to last season's team, as they needed to trade off quite a large chunk of the team due to cap issues. While the Blackhawks are still dangerous, they simply do not have the firepower to match up with Vancouver. Canucks in 5.
San Jose Sharks (2) v. Los Angeles Kings (7): Every year, the Sharks go into the playoffs looking like a contender. Seemingly every year, they get bounced in the first round. This year, Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleua, and Dany Heatley are back in the top half of the bracket. Once again, they face off against a talented team in Los Angeles, which boasts a good young squad. While their playoff experience says the Sharks should win this, they just do not have the toughness needed to prevail in the playoffs. This year will not be any different. Kings in 6.
Detroit Red Wings (3) v. Phoenix Coyotes (6): These two teams are essentially even on offense, despite the Red Wings having the better known cast of players. As such, this matchup should come down to special teams, goaltending, and experience. The Coyotes have an advantage on the power play, and a superior goaltender in Ilya Bryzgalov. However, the Red Wings are always in the playoffs, are battle tested, and just know how to win. For them, the regular season is just an extended preseason before the real games start. Experience will previal in this series, but it will be a good one to watch. Red Wings in 6.
Anaheim Ducks (4) v. Nashville Predators (5): This is going to be a matchup of good defense against a good offense. Corey Perry scored 50 goals this year, and teams up with Ryan Getzlaf, Teemu Selanne, Bobby Ryan and Lubomir Visnovsky to form one of the best scoring teams in the playoffs. Pekka Rinne will need to be unbelievable for the Predators to win this series, and while he is capable of stealing a couple of games, the Ducks are just too good. Ducks in 6.
East
Washington Capitals (1) v. New York Rangers (8): The Rangers had to fight to get into the playoffs, while the Capitals were able to rest Alexander Ovechkin for the majority of their last ten games. Aside from goaltending, the Capitals are greatly superior to the Rangers. However, all it takes is a hot goalie to eliminate a team from the playoffs, and the Capitals did have that happen to them last year. Plus, when on, Henrik Lundqvist is one of the best in the game. While this series will be more difficult that some would think, expect the Capitals to learn from their experience last season. Capitals in 6.
Philadelphia Flyers (2) v. Buffalo Sabres (7): The Sabres were one of the hottest teams heading into the playoffs, while the Flyers went cold at the end of the regular season, although one could argue that they were attempting to set up the matchups for later in the playoffs. The risk of that strategy involves running into Ryan Miller, who is more than capable of stealing a playoff series on his own. Meanwhile, the Flyers have the same problem they have had since the days of Ron Hextall - goaltending. Last year, they made their run with journeymen and backups in goal. Don't expect a repeat this year if Sergei Bobrovsky implodes. While the Flyers are more talented, Miller will keep the Sabres in this one, and might be the difference. Sabres in 7.
Boston Bruins (3) v. Montreal Canadiens (6): This may be one of the best playoff matchups in round one, just because of how much these teams hate one another. Factor in the Zdeno Chara hit, and this series could get nasty. The Bruins combination of size, skill, toughness, and goaltending has been great for most of the year. Tim Thomas is one of the favorites for the Vezina, and Nathan Horton has rediscovered his goal scoring touch recently. Montreal is going to have to hope to dominate on special teams, and draw the Bruins into dumb penalties to have a chance in this series. Expect the Bruins not to fall into that trap. Bruins in 5.
Tampa Bay Lightning (4) v. Pittsburgh Penguins (5): Even though the Penguins will be without Sidney Crosby and Evegni Malkin, they have played very well down the stretch. Despite that, the Lightning have a definite edge in scoring with Vincent Lecavalier, Steven Stamkos, and Martin St. Louis. Like Montreal, they dominate on the power play, and will need to draw the Penguins into penalties. However, the Penguins have a big advantage in net, with Marc-Andre Fleury against Dwayne Roloson. In fact, Mike Smith may actually be the better option for Tampa. This will be another matchup where goalies make the difference. Pittsburgh in 6.
West
Vancouver Canucks (1) v. Chicago Blackhawks (8): Vancouver has been one of the elite teams in the NHL all season. Boasting the Super Twins, Daniel and Henrik Sedin, they made opposing defenses seem pathetic. Meanwhile, the Blackhawks had to claw to get back into the playoffs to defend last year's championship. This year, the Hawks do not bear any resemblance to last season's team, as they needed to trade off quite a large chunk of the team due to cap issues. While the Blackhawks are still dangerous, they simply do not have the firepower to match up with Vancouver. Canucks in 5.
San Jose Sharks (2) v. Los Angeles Kings (7): Every year, the Sharks go into the playoffs looking like a contender. Seemingly every year, they get bounced in the first round. This year, Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleua, and Dany Heatley are back in the top half of the bracket. Once again, they face off against a talented team in Los Angeles, which boasts a good young squad. While their playoff experience says the Sharks should win this, they just do not have the toughness needed to prevail in the playoffs. This year will not be any different. Kings in 6.
Detroit Red Wings (3) v. Phoenix Coyotes (6): These two teams are essentially even on offense, despite the Red Wings having the better known cast of players. As such, this matchup should come down to special teams, goaltending, and experience. The Coyotes have an advantage on the power play, and a superior goaltender in Ilya Bryzgalov. However, the Red Wings are always in the playoffs, are battle tested, and just know how to win. For them, the regular season is just an extended preseason before the real games start. Experience will previal in this series, but it will be a good one to watch. Red Wings in 6.
Anaheim Ducks (4) v. Nashville Predators (5): This is going to be a matchup of good defense against a good offense. Corey Perry scored 50 goals this year, and teams up with Ryan Getzlaf, Teemu Selanne, Bobby Ryan and Lubomir Visnovsky to form one of the best scoring teams in the playoffs. Pekka Rinne will need to be unbelievable for the Predators to win this series, and while he is capable of stealing a couple of games, the Ducks are just too good. Ducks in 6.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Red Sox and Rays - Out Of Playoff Contention?
It is still very early in the baseball season, with the first week just being concluded. However, there are still two teams that have yet to taste victory. One is the Tampa Bay Rays, which may not be much of a surprise given the talent they lost this offseason. The second is the Boston Red Sox, which is shocking considering how most experts predicted them to win the World Series.
For the Red Sox or the Rays to win the World Series after this start would truly be historic. The worst start for a team to still make the playoffs is 0-5, by the 1974 Pittsburgh Pirates and the 1995 Cincinnati Reds. Both the Red Sox and Rays find themselves at 0-6 presently.
Now does this mean that both teams are already out of playoff attention? Not at all. If either of these teams lost six games in a row in the middle of the season, analysts would be paying much less attention. However, this is at the start of the year, where the accumulating losses are more obvious, especially when both teams have been swept by teams that were expected to be terrible (the Rays by Baltimore, the Sox by Cleveland).
The Rays have become just the second team to go from having the best record in the American League to 0-5, joining the 1905 Red Sox. They have been horrendous on offense, becoming the fourth team since 1919 to score one or fewer runs in five of their first six games. The Rays rank dead last in baseball in runs (7), batting average (.136), on base percentage (.218), and slugging (.260). The Sox, meanwhile, are 29th in batting average (.190) and 26th in runs (16). The biggest issue for Boston, even more than their offense, has been their pitching. They rank dead last in ERA (8.33), 29th in WHiP (1.68), had not had a quality start until today.
So, are both teams out of it already? In the immortal words of Yogi Berra, "It ain't over 'til it's over." But the odds are certainly stacked against both clubs after the first week.
For the Red Sox or the Rays to win the World Series after this start would truly be historic. The worst start for a team to still make the playoffs is 0-5, by the 1974 Pittsburgh Pirates and the 1995 Cincinnati Reds. Both the Red Sox and Rays find themselves at 0-6 presently.
Now does this mean that both teams are already out of playoff attention? Not at all. If either of these teams lost six games in a row in the middle of the season, analysts would be paying much less attention. However, this is at the start of the year, where the accumulating losses are more obvious, especially when both teams have been swept by teams that were expected to be terrible (the Rays by Baltimore, the Sox by Cleveland).
The Rays have become just the second team to go from having the best record in the American League to 0-5, joining the 1905 Red Sox. They have been horrendous on offense, becoming the fourth team since 1919 to score one or fewer runs in five of their first six games. The Rays rank dead last in baseball in runs (7), batting average (.136), on base percentage (.218), and slugging (.260). The Sox, meanwhile, are 29th in batting average (.190) and 26th in runs (16). The biggest issue for Boston, even more than their offense, has been their pitching. They rank dead last in ERA (8.33), 29th in WHiP (1.68), had not had a quality start until today.
So, are both teams out of it already? In the immortal words of Yogi Berra, "It ain't over 'til it's over." But the odds are certainly stacked against both clubs after the first week.
Friday, March 4, 2011
The Heat have no heart
Last night, the Miami Heat lost to the Orlando Magic by a score of 99 to 96. At first glance, the score does not appear to be that big of a deal - after all, they only lost by three points. However, the Magic were down by 24 points in the third quarter, then went on a 40-9 run over the next fifteen minutes to pull out the victory.
This season, there have been six occurrences where a team has lost after pulling out to a 22 or more point lead. Miami has two of those six. Also, the Heat have seen leads of 15 points evaporate to the Knicks, and barely hung on to a victory over the Magic last month despite a 23 point lead. They also had a 23 point lead over the Indiana Pacers a couple of weeks ago, which they managed to hang on to.
This is a sign for the Heat, and is a damning indictment for what was supposed to be a team that should breeze through the calender towards their anointment as champions. Despite having a great deal of talent in their 'Big Three' of LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh, they lack the intangibles. They lack the killer instinct. They lack heart.
Looking at teams that the Heat may have to face in the playoffs, this promises to be magnified further. The Celtics of Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce would never allow this to happen. Kobe and the Lakers would never allow this to happen. Even the Orlando Magic have proven that they will not back down, and can stand up to the paper champions.
The Heat are similar to the classic schoolyard bully. They can dominate the weaker opposition with ease, but cannot handle it when someone stands up to them. In retrospect, should anyone truly be surprised by this? The foundation of the team is a player who quit during the playoffs last season (James), someone who has never made it out of the first round and has not displayed any leadership qualities whatsoever (Bosh), and someone who is going along with what his pals want (Wade). Yes, Wade has won a championship, but it makes one wonder how much of that should be attributed to an angered Shaquille O'Neal at this point. Could it be that Shaq carried Wade to the title, as opposed to the other way around, regardless of what the statistics may have said?
Yes, the Heat will make it out of the first round, mainly because they will draw a team that won't stand up to them. But it would be shocking if they made it past round two, especially with fortitude they have displayed thus far.
This season, there have been six occurrences where a team has lost after pulling out to a 22 or more point lead. Miami has two of those six. Also, the Heat have seen leads of 15 points evaporate to the Knicks, and barely hung on to a victory over the Magic last month despite a 23 point lead. They also had a 23 point lead over the Indiana Pacers a couple of weeks ago, which they managed to hang on to.
This is a sign for the Heat, and is a damning indictment for what was supposed to be a team that should breeze through the calender towards their anointment as champions. Despite having a great deal of talent in their 'Big Three' of LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh, they lack the intangibles. They lack the killer instinct. They lack heart.
Looking at teams that the Heat may have to face in the playoffs, this promises to be magnified further. The Celtics of Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce would never allow this to happen. Kobe and the Lakers would never allow this to happen. Even the Orlando Magic have proven that they will not back down, and can stand up to the paper champions.
The Heat are similar to the classic schoolyard bully. They can dominate the weaker opposition with ease, but cannot handle it when someone stands up to them. In retrospect, should anyone truly be surprised by this? The foundation of the team is a player who quit during the playoffs last season (James), someone who has never made it out of the first round and has not displayed any leadership qualities whatsoever (Bosh), and someone who is going along with what his pals want (Wade). Yes, Wade has won a championship, but it makes one wonder how much of that should be attributed to an angered Shaquille O'Neal at this point. Could it be that Shaq carried Wade to the title, as opposed to the other way around, regardless of what the statistics may have said?
Yes, the Heat will make it out of the first round, mainly because they will draw a team that won't stand up to them. But it would be shocking if they made it past round two, especially with fortitude they have displayed thus far.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Should the Bears be looking for another quarterback?
Early in the third quarter of their playoff game against the Green Bay Packers, Jay Cutler left the game with an apparent knee injury. However, at no point did it appear that Cutler actually injured his knee (which they are now claiming is a torn MCL). In fact, when asked directly about it, coach Lovie Smith directly contradicted his statements in back to back questions. When asked what happened, Smith claimed that he took a shot to the knee at the end of the second half. However, when asked a follow up question, Smith said the following: "He hurt his knee and he was out, all right? There's nothing else for me to tell you on that," Smith said. "I don't know exactly when it happened. He couldn't go, and we moved on. Let's go to some other questions, how about that?"
Usually, when someone injures themselves to the severity of what is being claimed about Cutler, they are receiving extensive treatment either on the sidelines or in the locker room. In fact, they are kept off that leg and carted into the locker room more often than not. You definitely don't see them wandering about the sidelines with their head down, with a look of complete apathy.
Cutler, for all of his talent, is not someone that wins football games. He makes stupid decisions with the football, throwing into double and triple coverage because he thinks that his arm is strong enough to get it there. He does not take the safe throws underneath to get the first down, because he is looking for the home run ball every time. He just doesn't have a head for the game. In fact, Jay Cutler is a lot like Brett Favre, only without the great receivers to bail him out for every misguided throw that he makes.
At this point of his career arc, Cutler has a lot of similarities to another quarterback with all of the measurables who could never win - Jeff George. Both possessed strong arms. Both put up gaudy stat lines. Yet, neither have ever been able to take a team to the Super Bowl, or win anything of consequence. The reason? Neither Cutler nor George were capable of making adjustments to their games nor were they capable of actually being a leader of their teams.
Given the fiasco that occurred last night, is it possible that the Bears would go in another direction at quarterback? This year's draft is anticipated to have a lot of solid quarterback prospects. Several big name quarterbacks should be made available by the teams they are presently on. Nothing is guaranteed for Cutler in Chicago right now.
Yesterday proved that teams cannot win without a leader at the quarterback position. Jay Cutler is not a leader. The Bears will not make the Super Bowl until they can fix that situation.
Usually, when someone injures themselves to the severity of what is being claimed about Cutler, they are receiving extensive treatment either on the sidelines or in the locker room. In fact, they are kept off that leg and carted into the locker room more often than not. You definitely don't see them wandering about the sidelines with their head down, with a look of complete apathy.
Cutler, for all of his talent, is not someone that wins football games. He makes stupid decisions with the football, throwing into double and triple coverage because he thinks that his arm is strong enough to get it there. He does not take the safe throws underneath to get the first down, because he is looking for the home run ball every time. He just doesn't have a head for the game. In fact, Jay Cutler is a lot like Brett Favre, only without the great receivers to bail him out for every misguided throw that he makes.
At this point of his career arc, Cutler has a lot of similarities to another quarterback with all of the measurables who could never win - Jeff George. Both possessed strong arms. Both put up gaudy stat lines. Yet, neither have ever been able to take a team to the Super Bowl, or win anything of consequence. The reason? Neither Cutler nor George were capable of making adjustments to their games nor were they capable of actually being a leader of their teams.
Given the fiasco that occurred last night, is it possible that the Bears would go in another direction at quarterback? This year's draft is anticipated to have a lot of solid quarterback prospects. Several big name quarterbacks should be made available by the teams they are presently on. Nothing is guaranteed for Cutler in Chicago right now.
Yesterday proved that teams cannot win without a leader at the quarterback position. Jay Cutler is not a leader. The Bears will not make the Super Bowl until they can fix that situation.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
The Rangers Finally Win a Playoff Series
The Texas Rangers organization has been around for fifty seasons. They began their existence as the second incarnation of the Washington Senators franchise, after the original Senators moved to Minnesota. Coming into the league as an expansion franchise along with the Los Angeles (later California, then Anaheim, then Los Angeles of Anaheim) Angeles, they spent their first ten seasons in Washington before moving to Texas, where they play now.
Why the brief history lesson? Well, prior to last night, the Rangers franchise had never won a playoff series in their fifty years. They are, in fact, the only franchise to have not won a playoff series in that time frame. Yes, even the Montreal Expos won a playoff series before the Rangers (1981 against Philadelphia when Steve Rogers outdeuled Steve Carlton in Game 5). To be eclipsed in anything by a team as historically terrible as the Expos is a bit sobering.
The Ranges have had their opportunities in the past, having made the postseason in 1996, 1998, and 1999. Over those three trips to the playoffs, they had won a combined one game. Of course, in each postseason appearance, they ran into the eventual World Series champion New York Yankees. Featuring lineups filled with home run threats and a pitching staff that would not frighten any legitimate major league lineups, they tried to bash their way to postseason victory.
This approach changed with the introduction of Nolan Ryan as team president. Ryan introduced the concept of getting actual pitchers on the roster, pitchers that threw strikes and and could get out of trouble. This concept was extended throughout the Rangers system, and was capped off with the mid-season acquisition of Cliff Lee. Now the Rangers had a legitimate ace, which they have lacked seemingly over their entire franchise history. With ease, the Rangers made the playoffs behind their strong pitching staff and a potential MVP candidate in Josh Hamilton, winning the AL West by nine games.
After going up 2-0 in the series, the Rays fought back, evening the series at two games each. Game five was played in Tampa, and it seemed as though the Rangers franchise would once again find a way to lose in the postseason. The Rangers struck first, scoring a first inning run on a groundball by Hamilton on a hit and run with Elvis Andrus on second. The Rays would score in the third, making it a 1-1 ballgame, and seemingly opening the door for yet another Rangers playoff exit.
But the Rangers did not go away. Nelson Cruz stole third in the top of the fourth inning, and scored on the wild throw down the line. Cliff Lee held the Rays scoreless the rest of the way, as the Rangers tacked on insurance runs in the sixth and two more in the ninth innings, finally sending this franchise to the second round, where they face their old nemesis - the New York Yankees.
After the game, the Rangers went to celebrate. Previously, upon clinching their first playoff berth in over a decade, they had celebrated with champagne, as most teams normally do. However, their prized slugger Hamilton, who has a history of alcohol and drug abuse, was unable to celebrate with the team. This time, they grabbed Hamilton and brought him into the clubhouse to celebrate with them. Making certain that no one would be left out this time, they had bottles of Canada Dry ginger ale ready so that Hamilton could join in this time, and get a taste of the celebration.
Congratulations to the Rangers. It has been a long time coming, and definitely well earned.
Why the brief history lesson? Well, prior to last night, the Rangers franchise had never won a playoff series in their fifty years. They are, in fact, the only franchise to have not won a playoff series in that time frame. Yes, even the Montreal Expos won a playoff series before the Rangers (1981 against Philadelphia when Steve Rogers outdeuled Steve Carlton in Game 5). To be eclipsed in anything by a team as historically terrible as the Expos is a bit sobering.
The Ranges have had their opportunities in the past, having made the postseason in 1996, 1998, and 1999. Over those three trips to the playoffs, they had won a combined one game. Of course, in each postseason appearance, they ran into the eventual World Series champion New York Yankees. Featuring lineups filled with home run threats and a pitching staff that would not frighten any legitimate major league lineups, they tried to bash their way to postseason victory.
This approach changed with the introduction of Nolan Ryan as team president. Ryan introduced the concept of getting actual pitchers on the roster, pitchers that threw strikes and and could get out of trouble. This concept was extended throughout the Rangers system, and was capped off with the mid-season acquisition of Cliff Lee. Now the Rangers had a legitimate ace, which they have lacked seemingly over their entire franchise history. With ease, the Rangers made the playoffs behind their strong pitching staff and a potential MVP candidate in Josh Hamilton, winning the AL West by nine games.
After going up 2-0 in the series, the Rays fought back, evening the series at two games each. Game five was played in Tampa, and it seemed as though the Rangers franchise would once again find a way to lose in the postseason. The Rangers struck first, scoring a first inning run on a groundball by Hamilton on a hit and run with Elvis Andrus on second. The Rays would score in the third, making it a 1-1 ballgame, and seemingly opening the door for yet another Rangers playoff exit.
But the Rangers did not go away. Nelson Cruz stole third in the top of the fourth inning, and scored on the wild throw down the line. Cliff Lee held the Rays scoreless the rest of the way, as the Rangers tacked on insurance runs in the sixth and two more in the ninth innings, finally sending this franchise to the second round, where they face their old nemesis - the New York Yankees.
After the game, the Rangers went to celebrate. Previously, upon clinching their first playoff berth in over a decade, they had celebrated with champagne, as most teams normally do. However, their prized slugger Hamilton, who has a history of alcohol and drug abuse, was unable to celebrate with the team. This time, they grabbed Hamilton and brought him into the clubhouse to celebrate with them. Making certain that no one would be left out this time, they had bottles of Canada Dry ginger ale ready so that Hamilton could join in this time, and get a taste of the celebration.
Congratulations to the Rangers. It has been a long time coming, and definitely well earned.
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