The Frenchman put the put in the back of the net by using his hand, winning the game for France over Ireland in a very controversial game.
FIFA should respond by letting the result stand but banning Galas from World Cup 2010.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Shrink the league!
THN's Ryan Kennedy makes a very good case.
I would add this -- go to 78 games:
Two groups of 7 teams in each conference
6 teams x 6 games = 36
7 teams x 4 games = 28
14 teams x 1 game (cross conference) = 14 games
Total: 78 games.
Phoenix and one other team would go (Isles?).
I would add this -- go to 78 games:
Two groups of 7 teams in each conference
6 teams x 6 games = 36
7 teams x 4 games = 28
14 teams x 1 game (cross conference) = 14 games
Total: 78 games.
Phoenix and one other team would go (Isles?).
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Friday, October 30, 2009
Another Head Shot, Another Test for the NHL
This time it was Andrew Ladd, ejected three minutes into the game for a head shot on D'Agostini. Ladd should be suspended -- but Richards should be too.
NHL Fails the Mike Richards Test
Mike Richards clearly intended to injure David Booth (17 second video) and although he got 5 minutes for intent to injure and thrown out of the game, he was not suspended for that act.
Today, RotoWire.com commentator Janet Eagleson (available on Yahoo).
She wrote, "there’s a huge difference between a good, hard check in the heat of the action and a headshot when the opponent’s guard is down."
She's write, and the NHL needs to do something about it.
Today, RotoWire.com commentator Janet Eagleson (available on Yahoo).
She wrote, "there’s a huge difference between a good, hard check in the heat of the action and a headshot when the opponent’s guard is down."
She's write, and the NHL needs to do something about it.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Does the NFL Think the Concussion Problem Will Go Away?
The NY Times is not dropping the story.
The NHL should be proactive on this issue and not wait until it gets shamed into action.
The NHL should be proactive on this issue and not wait until it gets shamed into action.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
The Quiet Defencemen
Which D is best for you depends on the fantasy system you're playing, but it's clear that some D are excellent but ignored. The ESPN rankings are useful for anyone playing ESPN's system, but more useful are the projections over at CBS.
Wideman, Keith, Edler, Visnovsky, Enstrom, Bogosian, and Martin all deserve a look, if they're available in your league.
That's especially true if you have a roster spot open due to injury (Gonchar) or due to a player not working well with his coach (Roszival).
I'm betting on Marc Andre Bergeron to do well in MON. I drop Carlo Colaiacovo for him -- and the STL D is also a good bet.
Note that +/- is a key stat, so try to pick D who play for winning teams -- the strong exceptions being Jovanovski and Streit.
Wideman, Keith, Edler, Visnovsky, Enstrom, Bogosian, and Martin all deserve a look, if they're available in your league.
That's especially true if you have a roster spot open due to injury (Gonchar) or due to a player not working well with his coach (Roszival).
I'm betting on Marc Andre Bergeron to do well in MON. I drop Carlo Colaiacovo for him -- and the STL D is also a good bet.
Note that +/- is a key stat, so try to pick D who play for winning teams -- the strong exceptions being Jovanovski and Streit.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
A Secret Top 100 List at Yahoo.com?
No argument with who's number 1 but the ranking of the rest of the players (Chelios is #80, you'll never believe who's number 2) is quite surprising.
Any info on this?
Most of the other numbers don't make sense, but this one does.
Any info on this?
Most of the other numbers don't make sense, but this one does.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Data Shows Head Injuries Harm NFL Players
The data is in, according to The New York Times, which reported today on a of the health of NFL players found that among those aged 30 to 49, the incidence of "dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, or other memory-related disease" is 19 times the national average, at 1.9 percent. Among those over 60, the rate was over 6 percent.
The study, conducted by University of Michigan Institute of Social Research covered 1,063 retired players in 2008. It should be taken seriously, especially by those running programs in high schools and colleges where kids often play through injuries and pay a permanent cost for it.
The Times article concludes:
The study, conducted by University of Michigan Institute of Social Research covered 1,063 retired players in 2008. It should be taken seriously, especially by those running programs in high schools and colleges where kids often play through injuries and pay a permanent cost for it.
The Times article concludes:
"The league insisted that it was doing so only because the disease “affects many elderly people” well beyond N.F.L. players. And a pamphlet that the league gives every player about concussion risks states, 'Research is currently under way to determine if there are any long-term effects of concussion in N.F.L. athletes.'
'It's time to edit that brochure,' said Kevin Mawae of the Tennessee Titans, the president of the N.F.L. Players Association. 'Now it's in their words and not just other people's.'"
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Notes About Lines
How ever good a player is, they won't have much of an impact unless they get more than 10 minutes a night or their name is Radulov.
Since Radulov's in Russia, I strongly recommend this excellent article from NHL.com about line combinations.
In ATLANTA, it's all about who gets to play with Kovalchuk, the guy who once scored six in a youth all star game. Right now, that looks like Antropov plus somebody else.
In BOSTON, it's about who gets to play with Savard, who put up a somewhat quiet 88 points in 82 games last year. Right now, the only person with a guaranteed spot on that line in Lucic.
Since Radulov's in Russia, I strongly recommend this excellent article from NHL.com about line combinations.
In ATLANTA, it's all about who gets to play with Kovalchuk, the guy who once scored six in a youth all star game. Right now, that looks like Antropov plus somebody else.
In BOSTON, it's about who gets to play with Savard, who put up a somewhat quiet 88 points in 82 games last year. Right now, the only person with a guaranteed spot on that line in Lucic.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Okposo's Concussion
The CBS Fantasy Hockey website has a great player news feature that today has disturbing information: Okposo was concussed by Dion Phaneuf during a game in Calgary yesterday.
I think this should take Okposo off your draft list -- and I hope that Okposo gets time to rest and heal.
I especially hope that Okposo doesn't play in the next Islanders game.
The NHL needs to take concussions seriously.
I think this should take Okposo off your draft list -- and I hope that Okposo gets time to rest and heal.
I especially hope that Okposo doesn't play in the next Islanders game.
The NHL needs to take concussions seriously.
Monday, September 7, 2009
Brassard is for real
Derick Brassard was doing better than a point per game for the Columbus Blue Jackets when he got into a fight and sustained a shoulder injury that ended his season.
With a new contract worth $12.8 million over 4 years, Brassard's coach has to put him in a position to score. Expect much from him this year.
With a new contract worth $12.8 million over 4 years, Brassard's coach has to put him in a position to score. Expect much from him this year.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Canucks Sign Schneider and Acquire Ehrhoff -- Will Luongo Be Even Better?
The Vancouver Canucks signed Mattheu Schneider and acquired Ehrhoff and Lukowich from the San Jose Sharks.
This increases the value of Boyle and Blake back in San Jose and also increases the value of Canucks goalie Luongo. The effect of the addition of the defensemen on Canucks youth powerhouse Bieksa.
This increases the value of Boyle and Blake back in San Jose and also increases the value of Canucks goalie Luongo. The effect of the addition of the defensemen on Canucks youth powerhouse Bieksa.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Opinion: Offer Theo Fleury a Two-Way Contract
The news says that Theo Fleury, now 41 and sober after the intervention of the NHL and AA, wants to play again, but managers seem unlikely to want to sign him.
Here's my recommendation: offer him a contract that could send him to the minor leagues. Ask him if he's coming back for the millions or for the hockey. I think he wants to play hockey.
If that seems unfair for a hero who overcame much including a sliced artery at age 13, then offer him a three-way contract that also pays him to coach.
The only problem with the latter idea is that the NHLPA might not allow it. Does anyone know if such a contract is allowed under the CBA?
Here's my recommendation: offer him a contract that could send him to the minor leagues. Ask him if he's coming back for the millions or for the hockey. I think he wants to play hockey.
If that seems unfair for a hero who overcame much including a sliced artery at age 13, then offer him a three-way contract that also pays him to coach.
The only problem with the latter idea is that the NHLPA might not allow it. Does anyone know if such a contract is allowed under the CBA?
Monday, May 11, 2009
Suspend Walker
The NHL must stand up to a sucker punch to the eye that fractured an orbital bone.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/Sunday-s-Three-Stars-Chara-Zetterberg-shine-in;_ylt=Ah83akGvM3gldxh6T3SsA0d_ppJ4?urn=nhl,162445
http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/Sunday-s-Three-Stars-Chara-Zetterberg-shine-in;_ylt=Ah83akGvM3gldxh6T3SsA0d_ppJ4?urn=nhl,162445
Monday, March 9, 2009
Sunday, March 1, 2009
A Three Conference Proposal
Brian Costello at THN wants to expand the playoffs to 20 teams so that Crosby can be there. As much as I like Sidney the Kidney, I think that the Penguins must not make the playoffs if they don't win enough games.
However, I do think that a three conference system would work well.
Here are my three conferences (feel free to suggest others): Northeast, West, and South. Each has 10 teams:
South
Carolina, Atlanta, Florida, Tampa Bay, Nashville, Dallas -- definte
Possible: St. Louis, Columbus, Phoenix, and Washington
Northeast
Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Buffalo, Boston, NY, NYI, NJ
West
Detroit, Chicago, Colorado, Minnesota, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, San Jose, Anaheim, Los Angeles
Playoff system:
Two possibilities: each conference winner ranked 1 2 3, followed by the remaining teams from any conference to 16.
Top 2, 3, or 4 teams in each conference make the playoffs. As long as there are matchups within a conference then teams match up within conference.
Examples:
If in round one, the three conferences provide 4 4 and 8 teams, round 2 they provide 2 2 and 4 teams in round three they provide 1 1 and 2 teams, and then the conference final is the winner of the deepest conference vs. the winner of the other playoff series.
In gets more complex if the three conferences provide 5 5 and 6 teams. The fifth ranked teams of two conferences play each other. In round 2, the conferences provide 3 2 and 3 teams. Again, the third ranked teams from two conferences play each other. In round 3, the conferences provide 2 1 and 1 teams, so then we're back at the situation above?).
Note that you could argue that giving the last placed team an opponent who is another last placed team benefits those last place teams. So you might, instead, pit the middle teams against each other. In the case of two conferences providing 5 teams each, each conference's third ranked team would play off against each other. In the case of two conferences with 3 teams each, the second ranked teams would play off against each other.
Change the number of games played in a season
This may be a counterintuitive playoff system but the three conferences provide a clean path to either 76 games or 84 games.
I would advocate 76 games: each team plays 4 games against the 9 other teams in conference, and 2 games against each of the other 20 teams.
You could get to 84 games this way: Each conference does break down neatly into two divisions, however, so you could have each team play 6 games against the four teams in its division, 4 games against each of the four teams in the same conference but a different division, and 2 games against each of the other 20 teams.
However, I do think that a three conference system would work well.
Here are my three conferences (feel free to suggest others): Northeast, West, and South. Each has 10 teams:
South
Carolina, Atlanta, Florida, Tampa Bay, Nashville, Dallas -- definte
Possible: St. Louis, Columbus, Phoenix, and Washington
Northeast
Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Buffalo, Boston, NY, NYI, NJ
West
Detroit, Chicago, Colorado, Minnesota, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, San Jose, Anaheim, Los Angeles
Playoff system:
Two possibilities: each conference winner ranked 1 2 3, followed by the remaining teams from any conference to 16.
Top 2, 3, or 4 teams in each conference make the playoffs. As long as there are matchups within a conference then teams match up within conference.
Examples:
If in round one, the three conferences provide 4 4 and 8 teams, round 2 they provide 2 2 and 4 teams in round three they provide 1 1 and 2 teams, and then the conference final is the winner of the deepest conference vs. the winner of the other playoff series.
In gets more complex if the three conferences provide 5 5 and 6 teams. The fifth ranked teams of two conferences play each other. In round 2, the conferences provide 3 2 and 3 teams. Again, the third ranked teams from two conferences play each other. In round 3, the conferences provide 2 1 and 1 teams, so then we're back at the situation above?).
Note that you could argue that giving the last placed team an opponent who is another last placed team benefits those last place teams. So you might, instead, pit the middle teams against each other. In the case of two conferences providing 5 teams each, each conference's third ranked team would play off against each other. In the case of two conferences with 3 teams each, the second ranked teams would play off against each other.
Change the number of games played in a season
This may be a counterintuitive playoff system but the three conferences provide a clean path to either 76 games or 84 games.
I would advocate 76 games: each team plays 4 games against the 9 other teams in conference, and 2 games against each of the other 20 teams.
You could get to 84 games this way: Each conference does break down neatly into two divisions, however, so you could have each team play 6 games against the four teams in its division, 4 games against each of the four teams in the same conference but a different division, and 2 games against each of the other 20 teams.
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