The NHL Loves Movember! | NHL

Originally posted at Hockey-Fan.net

In fact, all month long, on the other side of this monitor Movember has been a living, breathing thing on my upper lip. It’s been scary – sad – creepy and overall a weird experience. But I know that I’ve been a part of something that has raised money and awareness to help fight men’s cancers and that’s a very good thing.

The NHL has had a significant enrollment with this year’s campaign and today we are proud to show off some of the ’staches that have shown up in progress reports around the league.

Enjoy and thank you for supporting Movember 2010!

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Originally posted at FanShots

I’m Thankful For Sports | Thanksgiving

Originally posted at The Reviews Are In

It’s Thanksgiving weekend in the United States so I figured that this was the perfect time to roll out a “things I’m thankful for in sports” post.  I’ll be honest, I’m thankful every day for the sporting world, it’s my haven of refuge when the world gets crazy – or I’m lazy on a Sunday afternoon.  But ‘tis the season to share our thanks, so here we go.

I’m thankful for John Wall.  Every year we get a new rookie class in the NBA and every year there are kids (yes, kids) that come to the Association after 1 year of college ball and start their professional careers.  However, it is rare that we get a player that breathes as much life into the league as John Wall does.  This is a guy that does the Dougie as he comes on the court, he smiles as big as he can and he plays his heart out.  With a triple-double already on his NBA resume you can be sure that the rest of the Wizards’ season is going to be the John Wall show.

I’m thankful for a 16 game NFL schedule.  I know that there’s talk of going to 18 regular season games and that’s going to be a big part of the next CBA, but I’m happy with what we have now.  There are already a ton of injuries and the way things are going this year with team records an 18 game schedule would just embarrass some folks.  It’s not worth the revenue NFL owners, please listen.  Please.

I’m thankful for Twitter.  And as much as I love my followers and the people I follow that’s not what I’m talking about.  I love Twitter the way that athletes use it.  We’ve got Charlie Villanueva (@CV31), Chad (Johnson) Ochocinco (@ochocinco), Paul Bissonette (@BizNasty2point0) are all entertaining with their Tweets most of the time and you can never be sure what’s going to be said next.  And then there’s Bill Simmons (@sportsguy33) from ESPN.com who is all over the Twitterverse and is also kinda my hero.  If you’re reading this you’re probably on Twitter, give these guys a follow and check to see if some of your fav athletes are Tweeting as well.

I’m thankful for the MLB offseason.  I know that yesterday I ruffled some feathers in Toronto and some other American League setting with my post about Manny Ramirez being introduced as a Blue Jay.  But that’s what this time of year is all about.  All 30 teams have decisions to make, players to sign and trade and release.  And there are lots of options that would make sense for each of them.  It’s a great time to be a fan and think about the possibilities as we get ready for Spring Training.

I’m thankful for Steven Stamkos, Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby.  I have a feeling that we are going to see these 3 names very near the top of the NHL scoring list at the end of the regular season just like we saw last year.  It’s not their production that I’m thankful for though.  I’m thankful for their youth and enthusiasm.  I’m thankful for their marketability.  I’m thankful for the fact that if the NBA or NFL or both get locked out next season the NHL can lean on these 3 guys as they push for more fans and viewers.

I’m thankful that the Heat aren’t running the table early in the NBA season.  I don’t even know if I have to explain this one.  As a sports fan I wasn’t looking forward to a potential 70 win season in South Beach.  And now that the Heat are 8-7 after their first 15 games I can smile for now and see what happens as the season goes on.

I’m thankful for sports.  I know that I said that already at the top of the post, but it’s very true.  Sports are what I love, what I write about, tweet about, watch on TV and the internet and what I’ve been dreaming about since I was a little boy.  I’m thankful that I get to come to work and film an NFL picks Vlog every week that some of you check out.  That I get to write stories about what’s going on in the sporting world and what I think about it.  And I get paid.  Sport is a big part of my life and I’m a happier person because of it.

For that I am thankful.


Happy Thanksgiving.

Manny Ramirez Introduced in Toronto

Originally posted at BlueJaysHomeGames.com

Joshua Murray

Toronto – The Blue Jays made their first major announcement of the offseason today adding a potential Hall of Famer and 500+ home run hitter to their already potent lineup.  General Manager Alex Anthopoulos had a big smile on his face as he introduced Manny Ramirez to the media as the team’s new designated hitter.

The 18 year veteran Ramirez was all smiles as he put on his number 99 Blue Jays jersey and his new cap over top of his flowing dreads.  Contrary to what some skeptical fans had suggested, Manny did not speak through a translator but instead spoke enthusiastically about coming to play with the Blue Jays in Toronto.

When asked about the decision to bring Ramirez to the team Anthopoulos offered a measured response, “After looking at the options and our desired direction of the team we were excited to be able to fit Manny Ramirez into our 2011 season roster.  We all know about the numbers that Manny has put up over the length of his great career and we are certain that he will be able to contribute to our current team and help us to improve in the American League East.”

While Anthropoulos sat on his left, Ramirez smiled as he heard the praise and positive words being spoken about him.

Ramirez, who has often been known as a fun loving individual, maintained his smile as he started answering questions from the media in attendance.  In response to a question about what he would be able to bring to the team Manny offered this, “I’m here to have fun and win baseball games.  Toronto is a city that I (have) loved for a long time and am happy to be here now.  I am healthy again and know that I can hit home runs and play for the full season and maybe more and help this team win in the AL East.”

The Ramirez interest started when former Boston Red Sox Pitching Coach, John Farrell was named the Manager of the Blue Jays.  It was no secret that Manny had thought about Toronto in the past, during the prime of his career but he was never a fit for the plans of the organization.

“When John Farrell was hired here I knew that this was the team that I wanted to play for in 2011.  John is a smart baseball guy and I know that he can make us a winner” Ramirez said when he was asked about what made him think about Toronto as a free agent this winter.

Financial terms of the agreement were not made public immediately but it is believed that Anthopoulos and Ramirez’s agents were able to agree on a 1 year contract worth somewhere between 6 and 7 million dollars with a team option for the 2012 season.

The addition of a healthy Manny Ramirez to the Blue Jays lineup will replace the 20 home runs that last year’s catcher, John Buck provided.

Note:  Anthopolous refused to name Adam Lind the starting first baseman for the 2011 Blue Jays but there are reports that the GM and Lind have been in contact and that the young slugger has started taking ground balls and working on his footwork during his offseason workouts.

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