The Kings were Crowned Champs Last night....LA has never seen such a polite party crowd before
No Riots in LA after winning a Championship? Even the Cops are stunned
You have to realize that this series was over when the Kings went up 3-0. Sure, the Devils seemed to have fought back and were (in their minds) about to pull off a great comeback but even when they did "win" their two games, either of those results could have gone the other way (just like the first 2 games having gone to OT could have been split or gone in favour of the Devils). They didn't however and all those 2 losses did was galvanize a team even moreso then they had been. And really, their loss in Game 4 was more about nervousness and jitters then anything the Devils did overly well and Game 5 went to the Devils because of a lucky bounce off of Voyonov's shoulder. So even in "getting back into the series" the Devils were not outplaying the Kings at any point. It was just a matter of time and the right team won. That's all that matters.
The Jays are at the 1/3 mark of the season and are still hanging around in the incredibly tight AL East. At 31-30, they are only 4.5 games behind the division leader (but only 2 games up on last place Boston) so they have some work to do if they want to finally break that 19 year Playoff drought. It won;t be easy and now, with the release of Vladimir Guerrero (who tried to force his way up to the team when they felt he wasn't ready) and the loss of Brandon Morrow to an Oblique strain, that job could be that much more difficult.
If he is out for an extended period of time, then the Jays need to make a move....NOW!
Morrow was having an all-star caliber season, having reeled of 7 wins in his last 8 starts and a sub 2.50 ERA before he injured himself last night. His loss could be the catalyst for a trade which would possibly give the Jays a much need boost to make that leap and push themselves over the hump. The 2 big arms available right now (at least in the rumour mill) are both Chicago Cubs; Matt Garza and Ryan Dempster. Just to throw some fuel on the fire, here is my prediction on this. If Morrow is gone for 6-8 weeks, look for the Jays to push hard for a trade for both of these starters and here is what the package SHOULD include;
To the Cubs:
-1st Baseman Adam Lind
-Outfielder Travis Snyder
-Starting pitcher Henderson Alvarez
-Relief Pitcher Joel Correno
-Relief pitcher Francisco Cordero
To the Jays;
-Starting Pitcher Matt Garza
-Starting Pitcher Ryan Dempster
These 2 would look great in Blue Jays Jerseys....
If you were the Cubs, who are in DESPERATE need to revamp their team and getting younger as quickly as possible (both in the field and on the mound with Correno and Alvarez), wouldn't you do this? The Jays would get 2 quality starters directly into your starting rotation which would give them a REAL shot at securing themselves a Wild Card spot this year and some veteran savy to help Romero calm his ass down (he is just losing it WAY too often) as well as Hutchison and Drabek. Their starting rotation would be among the most solid in the league (once Morrow returns of course) but by adding these two veterans now, they would have a solid chance to stay in the hunt. Could we see some meaningful games in September?
There have been some great games so far in Euro 2012, including today's match between Russia and co-host Poland. The fan violence before the game was just retarded. People will take any opportunity they see fit to try and cause shit whether for a real reason or for perceived slights from years gone by but it didn't detract from the game, which was one of the best of the tournament to this point.
I have an issue with some of the ridiculous questions being asked of the players by the media during the tournament so far. Portuguese players were being asked why they didn't stick around after they lost to sign autographs, specifically Ronaldo (because that's the first thing players want to do after they lose, hang around the pitch after losing and sign autographs!?!?! ) and now Italian striker Antonio Cassano is "being criticized" over comments he made to an Italian reporter on Italian TV about not thinking there are any "queer" players (he used an Italian word for queer) in the tournament and he hopes there aren't any on the national team.
Why are soccer players being asked such stupid questions during an international tournament? It's bad enough when players are asked the standard questions about the game and their replies usually consist of the typical cliches we always hear about giving 100%, blah blah blah, but why would you venture into an area like that which has absolutely no bearing on the game whatsoever? Now he and his teammates will have to deal with this contrived controversy on top of the pressure of trying to win their next game. All to sell more newspapers, get more ratings back home, this idiot reporter may have just ruined his national teams' chances of moving on.
Love him or hate him, we don't pay to watch him give an opinion....
That is just the start of it. This shouldn't be a controversy at all, at least not to me. If you have an opinion, and someone asks you for it, what's wrong with expressing it? Cassano wasn't bashing anyone. He wasn't saying he agreed or disagreed with anything about being "Queer" as he put it. He simply said that it's their business and that was it. There is nothing wrong with telling people what you think. The reporter asked him his opinion and he expressed it. Athletes are not paid to use their brains and give out political opinions, they are in the positions they are in because of their physical prowess. You shouldn't be asking an athlete a political question in the height of their competition. That's like asking a surgeon in the middle of surgery if he can tell you about the political issues going on in Europe and see what kind of response you would get.
I know that was a bit of stretch but you see my point. Athletes should stick to their sport and the journalists who cover those sports should stick to questions that are appropriate to that sport in which they play/excel. Period. End of point....
Dallas returns to the air tomorrow night and from the few TV spots I have seen on it so far, it looks like it picks up almost as it had never left. All the major players are back including JR Ewing (Larry Hagman), Bobby Ewing (Patrick Duffy) and Sue Ellen (is that her name?). Now it will be more about their kids and grand kids and how they interact but the central theme of Oil tycoons and the relationship problems they have to deal with will be the same as the original series. It will be fun to see how this series plays out and whether it will be like the redux of Melrose Place (which bombed) or 90210 (which survived for at least 2+ seasons) or something entirely different. Only time will tell.
Spartacus certainly has a way with the ladies...Most tend to die after being with him
They have announced that this upcoming season of Spartacus will be the final season and that truly is a huge disappointment for me. It will return to air in January of 2013 on the Movie Network and according to creator and executive producer, Steven S. DeKnight, Spartacus: War of the Damned will be the "Epic Conclusion" of the Spartacus story. Personally, I think they really could have drawn it out over at least another 2 or even 3 seasons, which would have been great to see new characters being developed, older ones being allowed a chance to grow into more then what they have been so far, maybe see Crixus and Naevia have a family, possibly see how Ilithyia survived (if she did, I think she did) and her recovery, possibly even see if Spartacus himself will now try to find a woman to move on with since his wife is dead (and avenged) and his play toy or rebound sex-buddy (Mira) is also now dead and avenged as well.
<<SPOILER ALERT: Game of Thrones: Season 2>>
The 2nd season of Game of Thrones concluded a couple of weeks ago and the last 2 episodes were possibly the best 2 of the series so far. The battle episode in the 2nd to last episode of the year was spectacular in how it played out. Tyrion Lannister (played by Peter Dinklage) is the heart of the show and has turned himself into a true leading man. He has had a masterful season displaying not only his ruthlessness and cunning in dealing with all the pressure of being the "Acting" Hand of the King but also his heart and compassion in how he has clearly fallen in love with Shae, placing her in mortal danger if she were to ever be discovered.
His character has had the biggest leap in terms of importance in Season 2
There have been plenty of plot lines developing but 2 of the best have been Jon Snow and his transformation from shy member of the "Watch", referred to by the people north of the gate as "The Crows" into their somewhat defacto leader and now (possible) defector and how Robb Stark , now the "King of the North" has grown into the role left to him by his father and taken it to new heights. As we start looking ahead to Season 3, I wonder (having not read the books) where this story will go next.
When last we left off, the "Wildlings" seemed to have their army marching towards the gate and yet another battle about to begin, Stannis Baratheon has had a crushing defeat and is home licking his wounds, Theon Greyjoy (who had taken Winterfell, home of the Stark family) has been given up by his own people to Robb Stark and will most likely be executed for his actions (including burning Winterfell to the ground) and Daenerys Targaryen taking over control of her fortune by getting back her dragons and killing the kidnappers. Season 3 promises to be even more compelling as there are so many different ways that the story can go.
Last but not least, I feel the need to throw a few disparaging words towards TFC and their inept management team. They fired/let go/relieved their coach of his duties a few days ago when Aron Winter was replaced by Paul Mariner as Head coach of the team. It wasn't a big shock given the fact that they are now 1-9 on the season, setting records along the way for longest losing streak to start a year and longest goalless streak to start a season. The team has been around for 6 seasons and this is now their 7th coach in that same time. Truly pathetic. Yet somehow, the man who has made every single one of these changes, Tom Anselmi, is still (STILL!!!) in charge of making these decisions.
WTF does he have to do wrong to get relieved of HIS duties?!?! I mean could you imagine getting 7 chances in 6 years to pick someone for a job? I think after the 2nd or 3rd person is replaced, your bosses would have a sit down conversation with you and ask you what the fuck is going on, wouldn't they? Is everyone asleep at the wheel at MLSE right now? Only the Raptors seem to be heading in the right re-building direction. The Leafs are all over the place and can't seem to figure out what they want to try and attempt to go out and get (They should go get a goalie, a top forward, and then trade Luke Schenn, Mike Komisarek and your 5th pick and whatever else the Oilers want, for their #1 pick), the Marlies lost an OT Playoff game in the Calder Cup Final on an officials blatant Error and then there is the mess that is Toronto FC.
In happier times, Aron Winter is now just a footnote for a franchise in disarray
If they DARE to attempt to raise ticket prices again, I am OUT as a season ticket holder. In fact, if they don't offer a public apology to the city as well as offering to LOWER season ticket prices for the next 2 seasons, I may walk. I haven't gone to a game in over a year and have found it harder and harder to sell my tickets this season since the team has been putrid. The "FIRE ANSELMI" chants should be heard around the stadium any time now, the same BMO field that USED to be sold out to each and every game. TFC is NOT the Leafs. You can't expect people to keep coming to watch a crappy team year after year. Someone needs to tell the MLSE board about that before all interest in the team is gone.
I've had a busy few weeks with very little blogging getting done but that will change as I have a few issues I will be addressing in the coming week.
Stay tuned.
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