Thursday, 23 December 2010
Monday, 20 December 2010
I Stole Dustin Byfuglien | NHL Thrashers
This fall when I was getting ready for my NHL fantasy draft I made up a list of dudes that I wanted to draft if possible. It wasn’t my first rodeo. When the 5th, 6th and even 7th rounds went by I was amazed that I was still getting guys that were in my top 50 or 60.
However, the biggest surprise and maybe the biggest steal in the draft may have come in the 8th round. Because with the 99th overall pick in the draft I grabbed Atlanta’s Dustin Byfuglien and never looked back.
Just before our draft the reports had surfaced that the Thrashers were going to move Byfuglien back to the blue line even though he had lit up the world in the Blackhawks Stanley Cup run last summer. I don’t know if people were worried that the change was going to render him moot. Or if he was thought of so much as a power forward that his spot on defense would be in the 2nd or 3rd pair. But either way I was able to lock him up tight.
If you haven’t been paying attention to the stats this season then you are missing out for sure. Dustin Byfuglien is leading all NHL Dmen with 11 goals, 22 assists and 33 points. He also has 5 game winning goals. 4 goals and 10 assists on the power play. 35 penalty minutes. 132 shots on goal. And he’s a +8!
I’m getting more production from this guy than I could have ever hoped out of a mid-round pick.
He should be an All-Star but after 4 weeks of voting he was sitting in the 10th slot among defensemen.
He should be strongly considered for the Norris Trophy if he keeps this pace up. But we’ll wait to see what happens since he’s stuck in Atlanta.
The reason for the piece was really 2 fold… 1 to swoon over how awesome Dustin Byfuglien has been this year so far. And 2, to brag about getting him in the 8th round with 99th pick!
Tuesday, 14 December 2010
Can GSP Finish?
On Saturday night in Montreal we were all witness to UFC 124.
It was a card that got a lot of hype because of the Main Event between Georges St-Pierre and Josh Koscheck. A re-match that was in the making for a long time and cemented when the 2 fighters appeared together on the Ultimate Fighter as opposing coaches.
While many people were hoping that GSP would come and silence Koscheck with a KO or submission it wasn’t really a surprise to many that the fight went the distance with St-Pierre simply dominating the action. It has become his “style” in recent bouts, not taking chances, pacing himself and showing that in the end he is the better fighter.
He did that at the Bell Centre, without a doubt.
But the question now becomes, does GSP have what it takes to end someone in the Octagon?
The technical skill and know-how are indisputable, but it may be the unwillingness to take the big chance that sticks with him as far as fight fans are concerned. The discussion can and will always come back to wins and losses but until he takes someone down and gets a mid-fight decision people will have fuel for their fire.
I think the answer is most definitely a yes, Georges St-Pierre has the tools to knock a fighter out or to make them submit. Whether or not we see him take the chance and go for it again remains to be seen.
Almost Time to Say Goodbye to Roy Williams | NCAA UNC
As a life-long Tar Heels fan I have to admit right now that I’m pissed. Things are not going well. The team is losing. Our recruits haven’t made the difference that the fans have hoped for and we’re not even in the AP Top 25 anymore.
This season has already seen us lose 3 games. THREE GAMES! It’s only the 2nd week of December. The only ranked opponent that we’ve beaten so far is #11 Kentucky and that game goes down as an upset. Beating #11 used to be expected. It’s what we did. And that’s because we were #1.
The constant in this equation is Coach Roy Williams. Now I love Roy, I really do. He brought us the 2009 NCAA Title. I’ll always remember that and be thankful. But since then things really haven’t gone his way. I know that we lost pretty much everybody to the NBA after the nets got cut down. But still, it’s the coach’s job to make sure that the program is sustainable and that time marches on.
I never, ever, ever, thought that I would say this. But if the Tar Heels don’t get back in the AP 25 (and with this schedule it will be tough) and get win at least 2 round at March Madness I think it’s time to say goodbye.
I don’t want to start up fireRoyWilliams.com or anything, but I’m getting close.
I’ve got my eye on you coach. I’m sorry. But the time may be coming.
Love, Sarah.
Friday, 10 December 2010
My Top 5 Left-Handed QBs of All-Time | NFL
As a left-handed sports fan I have always had an affinity for left-handed athletes. When I was a kid playing baseball I pitched so I always paid special attention to dudes who threw left handed off of the mound. The same thing went on in football. I love watching the guys who rolled out and tossed spirals with the same hand that I did.
Today, because we’re elbow deep in the NFL season, I decided to look at the top 5 left-handed QBs in NFL history.
This is the best top 5 list that I could put together from the lists and info available on this wonderful thing we call the internet and it shakes down like this.
5. Michael Vick. Yup, he’s here already. That’s how few good left-handed quarterbacks there have been in the NFL. Vick does have the skill to perhaps climb this list and the way that he has matured since he came back to the NFL shows that there’s a chance that it good certainly happen.
4. Mark Brunell. He’s here too! Brunell is still hanging on in the NFL with the New York Jets but saw his best days in a Jaguars uniform. He was a 3 time Pro Bowler in his prime. Currently his career totals show 182 TDs, almost 32,000 yards passing and 176 games played. Not a bad career for a guy who played his college ball at Washington.
3. Boomer Esiason. Boomer is not only one of the best left-handed QBs of all time. He also has one of the best football names of all time. The Bengals great was a 4 time Pro Bowl QB and the NFL MVP in 1998 when he took Cincy to the Super Bowl against the 49ers. Boomer through for almost 38,000 yards, 247 touchdowns and played in 187 games.
2. Kenny Stabler. Stabler played for the Raiders for most of his left-handed career. Stabler also has an NFL MVP and Super Bowl ring to remember his career by. His 194 TDs isn’t a bad number at all and close to 28,000 yards is pretty good for the man.
1. Steve Young. Yes, that Steve Young! For 15 years Steve Young played in the NFL and was pretty darn good. He’s got 232 touchdown passes to him name as well as 43 rushing TDs, over 33,000 yards and had a QB rating of 96.8. Young will remain the left-handed quarterback that all other’s will be measured against for a long time.
Honorable mention goes to Denver rookie Tim Tebow… because he gets named on everything these days.
Thursday, 9 December 2010
Tuesday, 7 December 2010
Time to Stop Hating on the 2010-11 Sidney
Ladies and gentlemen, whether you are a hater or a lover of Sidney Crosby it’s time to stand up and take notice. We are 29 games into the Pittsburgh Penguins season and Sid is showing that he has found another gear. I’m not talking about speed down low, or on the drive home to Mario’s house. I’m talking about point production and goal scoring.
Unless you’ve been under a rock for the last month (that’s right MONTH) you’ll have noticed that Crosby is on quite a tear these days. The last time the Penguins played a game and number 87 didn’t record a point it was the 3rd of November. It is now the 7th of December. The streak has now come to 16 games. And we’re not talking about a point a game streak either my friends.
In that 16 game span Crosby has put up 17 goals and 13 assists for a total of 30 points. That’s ridiculous!
What we’re also seeing is a pace from him that we’ve never seen before. Right now he sits at 29 games played with 24 goals and 24 assists. The full season math breaks down like this; if Sid were to keep up this pace (which I doubt he can) he’ll end up with 82 games played, 68 goals and 68 assists for 136 points.
Now, I don’t see the season ending with Sidney Crosby having the same number of goals as he does assists. But without a quality winger to play with him (Chris Kunitz doesn’t count) he might just as well keep shooting the puck and sniping goals for himself.
I know that it wasn’t long ago that I wrote about Steven Stamkos being on pace for a huge year that could have included 82 goals and 50 in 50 games. But to be honest, if I were to give you a choice between that option and the option of Sidney Crosby finishing the season with upwards of 130 points which would you choose as most probable?
My money is on Sid.
Thursday, 2 December 2010
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