King Isaiah Makes Right Choice

Lost in all the talk about soccer and hockey last week was the NBA Draft. I would love to pretend like I cared that much, but the reality was that it was a really weak draft. A guy who played only 300 minutes last year went first; a record number of international players followed; and my team moved up 3 spots to 24 to draft the leading scorer out of the Big East conference. The biggest news to me though was the 60th pick in the draft - none other than UW's own Isaiah Thomas.

For those doing the math at home, there are only 60 picks in the draft. While it is certainly an honor to be drafted at all, one has to imagine that this was a huge disappointment for IT. When he decided to come out, some were projecting him as a late first/early second rounder. Seeing him drop is initially shocking, but it really shouldn't be. Isaiah is a great player, but he is only 5'6 and not as explosive as his predecessor Nate Robinson.

I was firmly in the stay in school camp upon first hearing his decision. I mean, all the pieces were in place for a special senior season. If he was only to average 15 points per game, he would have left UW as it's all-time leading scorer. In addition, he would have been the premier player in the Pac-12 conference. On top of that, UW had the potential to be a top-20 team again. His stock could have been at an all-time high come draft time.

Being drafted so low should have been the evidence I needed to back up my theory, but instead, I think it has had the opposite effect. I think maybe, just maybe he made the right decision. Let's break it down a little more.

1. Staying in school another year would not have changed his height. Regardless of whether it is 2011 or 2012, he is still going to be 5'6. Physically he has nothing to gain.
2. What would happen if he was to blow out his knee while playing for the Huskies? Not only would his dreams go down the drain, but he would be losing a lot of money.
3. What if the Huskies backcourt logjam negatively impacted Thomas' production? What if Romar is unable to work the proper rotation and the Huskies flame out of the NCAA tournament in the first round? Then what?
   
4. The most important reason - he was drafted 60th in an extremely weak draft. What if Harrison Barnes, Jared Sullinger, Perry Jones, Terrence Jones and John Henson had come out? If he waited until the 2012 draft, there is a good chance he wouldn't be as lucky.
   

After some thought, I think the picture is remarkably clear. Thomas cares about the Huskies; being the all-time leading scorer probably would have fulfilled a lifelong dream. Unfortunately in doing so, it probably would hurt his professional career. While a second round draft pick is not guaranteed anything, he does get to take a shot at making the Kings in a year with subpar rookie competition. I think most of us romanticize staying in school - somehow, it is supposed to be pure and just. We want all players to be like Jake Locker and Andrew Luck and pass up millions to stay in school. For someone like Thomas though, it just doesn't make sense. He realized that this might be the best opportunity for him to make the league so he jumped at it. I think he may have in fact made the right decision (of course that is assuming that there is a 2011-2012 NBA season, otherwise Thomas will have to enter the league with more talent AND he won't have the UW scoring record to fall back on)

Instant (Over)Reaction: NE Revolution

For my daughter's 2nd birthday, we decided to take her to Qwest Field to see the Sounders play the Revolution. It was the third game she ever attended and we had hoped it would turn out better than the first two. We packed a bag full of food, books, diapers and extra clothes and headed off to Qwest in search of not only a win, but an enjoyable time...turns out we got both.

The Incident was pretty happy during the first twenty minute of the game, but when Tyson Wahl scored on an unexpected free kick, the stadium erupted and The Incident freaked out. We should have known better - she freaks out when it's just me and J-Will celebrating in our basement - 36k was definitely overwhelming.

We actually moved upstairs (300 level) for the second half and it turned out to be an excellent move. From a fan standpoint, we didn't get the comaraderie of standing the whole game, but we did get to sit down and be parent-fans. She was able to get some of her energy out and we were able to watch the game (when not reading to her). The seats provided certainly a different viewpoint - you could see the build-up and the spacing.

Besides a shot off the crossbar, the Revolution went away quietly in the second half as the Sounders improved to 8-4-7 after taking a full 9 points from 3 games over the span on 9 days. Now the team can focus on the Kitsap Pumas on Tuesday and the LA Galaxy on July 4th. Some random thoughts:

• I thoroughly enjoyed the offense. I'm not sure if anyone else agrees with me, but I thought the El Flaco-Friberg-Rosales-Levesque combo worked really well. There passing was crisp and provided a different look than normal.
• Props to Servando Carrasco for shutting down Shalrie Joseph. I think we all had the right to be worried going into the game without Ozzie, but Servando more than just filled in - he stepped up his game and shut down the big Grenadan.
• Mauro Rosales is the best player on the team right now.
• What can you say about Tyson Wahl? The guy was an afterthought his first two years in Seattle, but he has worked hard, reshaped his body to play outside back and has been the biggest surprise of the 2011 season. He has been solid on defense and now is becoming an offensive threat with not only assists, but goals as well
• Speaking of Wahl, anyone see his goal celebration? Kid didn't know what to do
• For the third straight game, this team had to overcome some adversity. Two weeks ago they had to play with 10 men for a half. Last week they blew a 2-0 lead. Yesterday they gave up a goal in the 3rd minute. I went into the game knowing it could be a trap game and it looked like that was how it was going to play out. Giving up goals is never a good thing, but it doesn't seem to bother this team right now.
• I haven't heard an update on Jeff Parke, but some people were speculating a concussion. Whatever the injury, he was replaced by Patrick Ianni early in the game - hopefully for both Jeff and the Sounders it is not serious.
• I will be interested to see who Sigi throws out on Tuesday against Kitsap. I think the backline will be Scott-Graham-Ianni-Leo. The midfield is a little tougher, but we might expect Montano, Estrada, Noonan and Seamon. Up front probably Jaqua and Fucito. The questions will be whether Alonso and Montero find themselves in the lineup after not playing yesterday and whether Micheal Tetteh finds anytime. Hopefully Boss gets the start in the net.
• I have been worried all season long that our position in the table was solely due to having played more games than everyone else...now after 19 games I honestly feel less concerned about making the playoffs. The West has 6 strong teams and 3 teams - PTL, VAN, Chivas - that won't even sniff the playoffs while the East has 3 decent teams and a bunch of also-rans. If we can't be one of the 10 teams the make the playoffs, then we might as well blow up the entire team.
  

Instant (Over)Reaction: NY Red Bulls

Four goals. Beautiful weather. Stadium beer. Limited traffic. Obviously last night was almost perfect. Here at JerseySounder I am in the business of staying levelheaded after most games, but I am going to allow myself to overreact just slightly for this write-up. Here are the facts: NY was without Henry, Rafa Marquez, Tim Ream and Juan Agudelo. They started two guys - Austin Da Luz and Stephen Keel - that I have never heard of. They were obviously not at full-strength. however, they did still have Dwayne DeRosario, Dane Richards, Joel Lindpere, Teimo Tanio and Jan Gunnar Solli so it's not like the cupboard was bare. We got off to a dream start and then saw the lead slip away. The disaster potential was high and then for the second week in a row, we showed a lot of heart - something that was missing earlier in the season. Instead of caving, the team stepped up and got the job done. I know the competition over the past two games wasn't the best, but I think the wins are uber-important to team psyche.

Let's get to my random thoughts:

• The Wife wants me to let everyone know that she thinks her boy Zach Scott did everything he needed to do last night. She doesn't think he should be at fault for the own goal. I agree - it was Leo's fault for not marking. What I didn't like out of Scott were his many turnovers once he won the ball.
• Fredy went back to contributing nothing. Ok, he did a few nice things, but overall he seems to be too content to play make.
• What a nightmare night for NY keeper Greg Sutton. He should have done better with Friberg's goal, got unlucky with Ozzie's and obviously effed up on Roger's last. Goalkeeping is definitely going to hurt the Red Bulls come playoff time.
• I never thought badly of Leo Gonzales before his benching, but after seeing him last night, I am appreciating Tyson Wahl so much more. Wow, was Leo terrible.
• I loved how upset Jeff Parke got when DeRo maliciously fouled him in stoppage time. Very poor form by a guy who I normally respect - I don't care if you're frustrated from losing 4-2...you don't take someone out at the end of the game. I'm glad Parke popped up and got in his face -this team needs an edge like that.
• It looked like Mike Fucito has never practiced with Friberg, Rosales and El Flaco before. He was absolutely lost out there, which is a shame because the effort was their. The thing that was lacking was any chemistry.
• Mauro Rosales continues to move up in my pantheon of favorite Sounders. The dudes' motor never stops running.
• You needed to put a tent over the defensive circus that occurred after NY scored their first goal. Parke, Scott, Riley, Alonso and Gonzalez were terrible. The Wife mentioned around the 40th minute that in basketball, coaches would be calling timeout. It was a insightful comment not so much because she was right, but because it really got to the heart of what is amazing about this sport. Coaches can get killed for their tactics (or lack there of), but at the end of the day, they can't do anything to stop momentum andcalm nerves. The guys on the field needed to fight through the adversity - the only thing they had to save them was halftime. After the second goal, it was all about the 11 guys on the pitch and not the large, round guy on the sidelines.
• I think any other keeper might have saved the first NY goal, but Kasey simply doesn't have the lift he once did. That is not an indictment on him, just fact.
• Speaking of fact, I want to reiterate to the woman who sits in front of me that I love Roger Levesque. I love Roger and I love what he means to this team and the Seattle soccer community. The thing is - I also know that he shouldn't be going 90 minutes every game. Hell, he shouldn't even be going 30 minutes. He works his ass off, can play up to 6 positions and is the type of guy every team needs. But...he is also very limited in what he can do. Fortunately most of the time he knows that too and will not try to play outside of himself. It is an admirable trait. When we make fun of Roger it's all in good fun.
  
• With that being said, I know I speak for everyone in the stadium when I express the utter joy I had when Roger got not 1 but 2 goals. The first one, a header off a corner, was typical Roger. He really had no right scoring off a glancing header, but he put his head in a dangerous situation and hope for the best. It was an amazing goal. Then, the second goal was even more 'typical Roger.' He busted his ass and was able to take advantage of Sutton's gaffe for his second goal. No way Fredy Montero scores that goal - no, he wouldn't even had made that run. Roger not only has a constant motor, but he is also in the position where he needs to fight for minutes. We have come to expect shit like this from him all the time. I agree with my boy East Coast J-Will when I say "I love Roger Levesque"
• I'm a Brad Evans guy, but boy did I love the starting midfield. (Can you imagine what we would be like if Steve was still here? Our depth would be insane)
• Sunday is a trap game if I have ever seen one. We need to be prepared for NE to come in here and take it to us.
• Finally, kudos to the 46k fans who showed up to Qwest (whoops, I mean CenturyLink) last night. I feel honored every time (having myself sat through some tough MetroStars crowds in the last 90's) that I get to be part of the soccer movement that has taken the country by storm.

UPDATE: After watching the highlights for a half hour two more comments:

• An absolutely beautiful move by Friberg to get his shot off
• The College World Series strikes again! The past two years The Wife stayed home on a Thursday night game in June - both times the CWS postponed the Sounders game (2009 - she missed Ozzie's super goal against DC; 2010 - can't remember). Last night The Wife was by my side, but J-Will missed the first goal because of the UVA-Cal game. Sucky
  

Thursday Three

I know this is a little late, but I wanted to get three quick thoughts in today

1. The US beat Panama 1-0 last night to clinch a berth in the Gold Cup Final on Sunday. I didn't get to see the entire game, but was able to take one important thing from it: the team is not down on itself. Yes the earlier matches in the tournament should have been easier, but at the end of the day, the goal was to not only make the final, but win it. It doesn't ultimately matter that we lost to Panama in pool play - we beat them when it mattered and are one step closer to winning the tournament. I don't feel all that good about Sunday, but another US win on home soil would not be shocking. After all, this team never stopped believing and appear to be certainly unified. The indelible image from the game was Dempsey's reaction after he scored in the 78th minute. He did everything he could do to let everyone know that Donovan was the man. It was great to see because for over a year now I have questioned the pecking order on the team. The pink elephant for the past year was that Dempsey should actually be the alpha male on the team. He is not only playing in the top league in the world, but he can certainly be considered for Best XI honors in it. I'm not trying to take anything away from Landycakes - he is certainly a great player and maybe the most important to the team, but currently he is not the BEST player on the team. It would easy for Clint to be resentful, but by pointing all the attention onto Donovan, he showed me that he and Donovan are on the same page. I'm not sure they are best friends, but they certainly appear to recognize each others worth to the team. That to me is the most important thing moving forward.
   
   Speaking of Dempsey, at the age of 28, he now has 78 caps and 22 goals in the National Team uniform. Since 2006 he has averaged about 10 games a year meaning he will hit the 100 cap mark by the 2014 World Cup. This would put him in company with only 11 other American greats. If he then stays in the mix for National team minutes until the 2018 WC when he will be 36, he could be 3rd on the list behind only Donovan (135 and counting) and Cobi Jones (164) when he retires. As for goals, he is currently 5th on the list behind only Joe Max Moore (24), brian McBride (30), Eric Wynalda (34) and Donovan (45). At his current pace he will connect on #34 in 2014 meaning that he will retire as the second leading goal scorer in team history. Simply put, Clint Dempsey is on his way to become the 2nd best American field player in history. Not too shabby for a kid from podunk Texas (and someone who I meet in an airport before he became the player he is today).
   
   
2. So the Mets won Wednesday night on a 13th inning bases loaded Hit By Pitch. It was the team's first walkoff win of the year and it showed - the team actually came out and celebrated with Justin Turner like he had gotten a hit. Look I get it - Justin Turner should be commended for taking one for the team. He didn't jump out of the way - no, he stood his ground, got plunked (ok, he didn't really get plunked- it caught his jersey) and won the game. It was a great play....but to celebrate it by slapping him on the head and jumping up and down is certainly silly and overblown.
   
   
3. Rumors are circulating that UW Coach Lorenzo Romar is a potential candidate for the Minnesota T'wolves job. I know I speak for everyone in Seattle when I say: "LoRo, don't do it!" I know we are all a little biased because we are invested in his decision, but how can any rational thinking person think this is a good choice. I know we are talking about the NBA. I know most coaches never get that opportunity, but LoRo's situation isn't like others. He is no Rick Pitino or John Calipari. They don't have ties to their community - LoRo does. He is loved at UW not just for being successful, but because he is a Husky. He graduated from UW and now is leading them during their most successful era. Leaving UW at the current time before he becomes 'old' and 'stale' is a bad decision...leaving it for the T'wolves is even worse. This franchise is a mess and it's a job where he will get fired from in 3 years - not because of LoRo but because it's the T'wolves. If he could go to Portland or Phoenix or a California team, then maybe he would need to consider it...but Minnesota. NO - terrible decision.
   

Sounders-Red Bulls tonight. 45-50k expected in attendance. Nationally televised audience. NY missing Marquez, Ream, Agudelo due to Gold Cup and Henry due to Red Card suspension - we have to get the job done.

Much Ado about Jose

In what should be a surprise to no one, Jose Reyes told Mets GM Sandy Alderson that he will not talking about an extension during the season. He said that he did not want the talks to be a distraction, but really, he is just using his bargaining power to get the best possible deal for him come this off-season. To say that Jose is having a career would be an understatement - if he wasn't on the Mets he would be the leading MVP candidate in the National League. He is leading the league with a .336 average and has 20 doubles, 12 triples and 26 stolen bases. Quite simply, he is the player we all knew he could be.

Normally a season like this would be reason to celebrate, but I am having a hard time finding any joy in his season. I mean, no matter what happens, there is a good chance that we will be hurt. I honestly believe that if he re-signs with the Mets, there is a good chance he gets hurt and that we never see this Jose again. I also believe that if he goes elsewhere, the black cloud will be lifted and he will continue to tear the cover off the ball. Maybe I'm being overly pessimistic, but maybe not. Maybe, just maybe this is guaranteed to happen.

I said at the beginning of the season that I would put my trust in Alderson and I am going to stick with whatever he decides to do. If he trades him before the deadline, then I'll stand by him. If he keeps Reyes and then Reyes leaves, then I'll accept the draft picks. If he re-signs Reyes, I'll accept it. No matter what, I am going to trust Alderson - after all, he is the one person who can eliminate all emotion from the equation.

So what is going to happen? Well, it seems highly likely that Reyes is playing himself out of NY. Normally that means a player is spouting off at management, teammates and the press or that he is having a Jason Bay type season. This is the exact opposite - he is playing so well that his yearly salary is increasing by day. And with the whole Madoff-Wilpon mess, we are no longer like any other NY team. For once, we are going to be like Kansas City and actually lose our homegrown players because of financial restraints.

Jose is fully aware of his position. He knows that he is in a golden position. Last year the Mets had the power in any extension talks - he was coming off an injury ridiculed season and came into the season ranked in some circles behind Jimmy Rollins, Derek Jeter and Elvis Andrus, all which are ridiculous. Now he is in the position to get whatever he demands...HOWEVER, that only works for him if he doesn't get injured. Now no one can predict injuries, but I think we would be remiss to not mention his past. Over his previous 76 years, Reyes has been completely healthy (ie -played in 140+ games) in 4 season seasons. I don't want to use the phrase injury-prone when talking about him, but he has certainly been fragile over the years. And for someone who relies on his legs, that is not the best thing. If he gets injured in the final months of the season, the Mets look like geniuses while Reyes is left out in the cold. It's not a big gamble only for the Mets...the risk goes both ways.

I do want to say one last thing - the Mets have only themselves to blame for this situation. Maybe avoiding the 2007 collapse would not have helped them with the whole Madoff fiasco, but I know with certainty that our team would be in a different place today had we not choked. No way there would be a black cloud over us. No way we would be questioning whether Reyes was worth it. Hells no, if we win 2007 we win in 2008 as well. Just that alone would have been enough to keep Reyes, Wright and Beltran in the Mets pantheon.

Delayed (Over)Reaction: Toronto FC

This is exactly what makes Fredy Montero so frustrating. He can mope around the field, be out of rhythm and go 6 games without scoring a goal...and then on the turn of a dime he can be totally brilliant. It figures that the week after I denounced his play for first time in 2011 that he would shut me up. Had I not wrote what I wrote last week I would be riding high and telling all my fellow Sounders fans why they should have stuck with him. However, I openly questioned him and now need to be levelheaded about the whole thing.

One goal isn't enough to erase his play in many other games, but for one week it gives us hope and a chance to remember what exactly Montero can be. He can be inconsistent and he can be brilliant. For all we know this will lead to him a 10 game stretch like he had in 2010 where he put in 7 goals...or if could have been a singular blip in an otherwise lackluster performance.

Whatever the goal means for Fredy, it was huge for the Sounders. Going into the game, I said a loss would be unacceptable. i don't care if we were at Toronto - they were are not only terrible, but playing without their two best players in Alan Gordon and Julain deGuzman. In the first 10 minutes the Sounders took it too TFC - there was not a doubt in my mind that we would leave with the full 3 points. And then over the course of the next 30 minutes I started to question whether it would be our day. Throw in the Hurtado red card and suddenly I was hoping to leave with a draw.

I was in and out of the game in the second half, but I was encouraged when I saw the foursome of Alonso-Friberg-El Flaco-Rosales in the midfield. We may have been one man, but we had some dangerous opportunities. With TFC in the 4-3-3 late in the game, I figured we would have an opportunity for a counterattack if somehow we keep the ball out of our net. We got quite lucky when Javier Martina hit the post in the 81st minute and then in the 89th minute, Mauro Rosales got fouled and Fredy Montero stood over the ball 30 yards out. I told D-Lib to watch Fredy sky it and instead he put it over the wall and past Frei. It was a HUGE goal for the team and makes me feel good again about their chances. I know, I know it was against lowly TFC but sometimes you need that win when you are up against insurmountable odds.

Here are some other thoughts:

• The Sounders are now halfway through their schedule and sit in 3rd place with a 6-4-7 record. Their current pace of 1.47 points/game would certainly book themselves a spot in the playoffs. I looked at their remaining schedule and think 6-6-5 is more than reachable...you have to figure they would make the playoffs with a 12-10-12 record.
• Hurtado's second yellow is up in the air, but if anything I think he was lucky to be in the game as it was...he definitely could have gotten a penalty kick called against him in the first half.
• I am not in favor of my forwards always tracking back to play defense, but in every game their is always one time when they are needed. For the Sounders, that time came early in the game when Fredy disrupted a wide open Joao Plata two yards from the goal.
• I can only hope that Friberg and El Flaco get back into game shape, because it is a pleasure to see them play alongside Rosales. They are the best combination they have. Speaking of Rosales, he might be the most important player on this team right now.
• I want to tone down my last comment about the midfielders - I am still a Brad Evans fan and think he brings a lot to the game. Right now I think Friberg should be the odd man out of the starting 11. However, since he can play on either side or in the middle he is soo valuable.
• After Hurtado was sent off with his red card it was Zach Scott who came on as a sub instead of Pat Ianni. I have not heard anything about pat being injured, so either he is slightly in the doghouse or Scott has been overly impressive in Reserve games (btw- according to Wikipedia, Scott is the team's vice-captain..)
  
• We got NY at home on Thursday. Thanks to his 93rd minute red card, Thierry Henry won't be make the trip (sorry Mike I know you wanted to yell at him). Thanks to the Gold Cup, Tim Ream, Juan Agudelo and Rafa Marquez won't be there either. If somehow Dane Richards is not fit to go after representing Jamaica in the Gold Cup, this squad will really be shorthanded. If we can get the win I won't feel bad - this is a damn good team.
• Not the best night for Lamar Neagle in my opinion. Even worse for James Riley who had his hands full all night with Plata and definitely did not meet expectations.
  
• Fucito continues to work hard but hasn't gotten on the scoreboard yet - I love what he brings to the team, but at some point, don't we need to start treating him like all of other forwards when they go 4 games without scoring?
• In response to Montero's goal, my dad said, "What got into Fredy? What did he take a big shit before the game?"
  
• One nugget of information I learned from someone inside the Sounders organization - we should not expect to see Zakuani back this season. The organization realizes how valuable he is to this team in the long term and won't rush him back.
  

Getting excited for Thursday's game against NY. This is the first of three games they are opening the entire upper deck for, so I will be interested to see how many extra fans there areat the game. It will be a good indicator as to where the demand for tickets is.

Random Thoughts..

It's been a pretty busy couple of days around the house, but that doesn't mean sports has taken a backseat - just the blogging that has. Here are some of my random thoughts from the past few days:

• I don't want to downplay the unfortunate violence and rioting that followed the Canucks loss, but I want to make sure all soccer haters are aware that this can happen anywhere. Hate soccer for whatever reason you want, but don't assume that fan violence is only a soccer phenomenon. There are idiots in every city, including those in a sophisticated North American city.
• The advertisement on the back cover of my SI is for Chaps and implies that there are fathers out there who where Chaps while coaching little league. If I EVER wear Chaps to coach my kid, please please please find me and kick me repeatedly.
• The Mariners brought up heralded 2nd base prospect Dustin Ackley today. I continue to hear good things about him and am excited to see him play. Same goes for some of the other prospects around the league - Anthony Rizzo, Erik Hosmer and Mike Moustakas to name a few
• The Mets came into the night at .500 and then in typical fashion balked in the winning run in the 10th inning for the loss. That aside, I am really enjoying this team. If there was one negative of the previous regime it was that they seemed to give up when things were going poorly. Under Terry Collins they continue to fight. With Wright, Davis and Santana out, Bay hitting .214 and a combined 6-13 record for Pelfrey and Dickey they are still somehow one game under .500. It's been quite a ride so far.
• The Red Sox are showing how stupid people are for overreacting after their 0-7 start. Face it folks, 0-7 is not the end of the year when the season is 162 games long and you have the talent of the Sox. If it was the Orioles, then yeah, that's a problem, but this was the Sox we were talking about.
• I was accused of diving in my over-30 co-ed soccer game on Wednesday. It stuck with me for awhile, because I was on a breakaway and could not benefit in any way by going down. Add in the fact that I'm old - why would I intentionally throw myself on the ground?
• I'm sorry, but there is no way any of the Big 3 get traded this offseason. I know are calling for it, but it's just not going to happen. Regardless of what people think of their season, the Heat were 2 games from being NBA champs. While the LeBron-Wade partnering might not be perfect it was not the worst thing ever. Give them one more season before you think about breaking them up.
• I'm watching the Sounders-Whitecaps replay as I write this. It is a crappy reminder of what a letdown it was. But wow, what a strike and what a reaction by Hassli. Complete confidence.
• Speaking of the Sounders, if they don't win at Toronto this weekend, I can honestly say they won't win the MLS Cup. Toronto is terrible.
• Some were feeling for the Minnesota T'wolves after they finished with the worst record in the league and yet again did not win the NBA Draft lottery. Officially they have the 2nd pick, but with the news that 2009 draft pick Ricky Rubio is on his way over, it has to feel like they have two top-3 picks this year. I know Rubio has seen his stock drop a little of late, but I think he has the upside to be better than expected #1 pick Kyrie Irving. Combined with Kevin Love and possibly Derek Williams, Minnesota might finally have something to compete with.
• The best story of the Stanley Cup Finals has to be Tim Thomas, the once maligned Bruins goalie. Thomas was drafted 217th in the 1994 draft and toiled in the minors and Europe until 2002 when he finally got a shot at the NHL at age 28. He became the Bruins starter four years later in 2006 and won the Vezina Trophy for top NHL goalie in 2009. Yet the following year he was demoted to back-up and did not play a single game in the NHL playoffs. After starting goalie Tuukka Rask then imploded, Thomas was given one last shot at age 37. He got hot and led the team to the Holy Grail of hockey. Thomas played for 9 different teams prior to the Bruins and is a shining example of what can happen if you continue to push towards your goal.
• I just found out that Sounders midfielder Servando Carrasco has been dating US National Team star Alex Morgan for a few years now. The 21-year old star could potentially be the breakout player at the Women's World Cup this month. I was really impressed with what I saw - good for Servando. I'm a little jealous.
  
• Finally, Happy Fathers Day to all those fathers out there who read this blog. I am finding it harder and harder to get some quality time with the computer now that my daughter is more active, but over the next year I am going to try to continue to do what I do...and that is, write a crappy blog while trying to be a good if not great father. We'll see how that goes

[Update: I just read in The Book of Basketball that Jordan scored double digits in 866 consecutive games. Is that not one of the most ridiculous stats you have ever heard? HIs first and only single digit performance for the Bulls was in 1986. His next was in 2001 with the Wizards. Crazy]

What to Do in Vancouver?

I'll tell ya what - I am glad that I am not waking up Tuesday as Vancouver coach Alain Vigneault. I mean, after the Game 6 thrashing, he has a HUGE decision to make. Does he continue to throw Roberto Luongo in goal or does he make a franchise altering moment and go with back-up Cory Schneider in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals?

Maybe I'm crazy in even suggesting that Luongo shouldn't be the guy, but based on what I have seen I can't feel too good about his chances. Sure, he has only given up two goals in 3 games at home, but wow, what was going on in Boston? The Canucks got outscored 17-3 in three road games and Luongo was visibly shaken and a shell of himself. For all of his accomplishments - 308 career wins, a career .919 save percentage and the all-important Olympic Gold medal, he is crazy inconsistent (and always has been).

Maybe it is the case that he is totally comfortable at home. Maybe it is the case that Boston spooks him. I don't know what it is, but he has been a total headcase this series. It's not like he is letting in a bad goal here and there, he is getting absolutely mauled every other game.

In the Vancouver Olympics, Canada coach Mike Babcock made a bold move by benching Marty Brodeur in favor of Luongo and it turned out golden. Vigneault is going to have to make a similar decision. If it is the wrong one, it is going to send shock waves across Canada. A gold medal is one thing but bringing home the Stanley Cup to Canada would be entirely different thing. Hockey is Canada. Canada is hockey. If they lose Game 7 because Luongo was kept in too long, then it is going to a franchise altering decision. If he drops the ball, how can you continue to go with Luongo as your cornerstone? And do they need to rethink whether the Sedin's are the type of players to bring home a cup?

Instant (Over)Reaction: Vancouver

Saturday night had all the makings of a classic - beautiful weather in Seattle and the last-place Vancouver Whitecaps in town. Surely this was the week we broke out of our season long slump and put a good pasting on a team. This had to be it.

And then 20 minutes in, you knew it wasn't go to be it. From the start the game was nothing to get excited about. We controlled most of the possession, but continued to swing crosses in to 5'1 Mike Fucito, 5'8 Fredy Montero and 5'6 Mauro Rosales to no avail. It was like someone never told them that they couldn't win a header against Jay DeMerit.

Vancouver did nothing on offense all game - they are really terrible - and yet at halftime they had a 1-0 lead thanks to a Eric Hassli PK. At the time it looked a little soft, but after watching the replay I think it was a good call. Camilo beat James Riley in the box and Ozzie Alonso came in from the side and tripped him up. It was a poor tackle by Alonso.

The game continued on and I told The Wife we were not going to win. It just felt like we could do nothing right. And then out of nowhere, Tyson Wahl floated a ball in, Nate Jaqua put some pressure on the Vancouver defender and Mauro Rosales hammered home the finish off a bad clearance. We all breathed an initial sigh of relief but knew the job wasn't done. We still needed another goal and for the first time in a while, it felt like another goal was indeed coming. That's what funny about the sport - one minute you can't fathom your teams' performance and the next moment, you know something special is going to happen.

Luckily, good old momentum didn't let us down as Ozzie Alonso took a errant pass off of Pete Vagenas' back (thanks Pete!) and rifled a shot past Joe cannon from 20 yards out. It was a hell of a goal that led to my first jumping man hug (leave it to the Irishman). The stadium was euphoric and I remember saying that we needed to defend now - that there was a lot of time left. No less than 2 minutes later, Alonso made a mess of his trap inside our box and Eric "The Red" Hassli turned into Eric "The Sublime" Hassli as he vollied a shot from the corner of the 18 over the head of Kasey Kellerfor a wondergoal. I am a Sounders supporter through and through, but I have to give him tons of props. Obviously if Keller had saved it, it would have simply been looked at as a desperate attempt. Unfortunately for us, it didn't turn out that way. The goal was so shocking that his teammates didn't even know what to do after he scored - he silenced the crowd with what HAS to be the goal of the year. It was stunning.

We all left Qwest that night thinking that we let one slip away. Considering we were down 1-0 until the 80th minute, one might consider a draw a fair result, but we controlled the tempo and were up 2-1 with 6 minutes left. A loss like that leaves a bitter taste. And now some random notes:

• The Wife chants "Overpaid/Overrated" every time Fredy touches the ball. I have been trying to defend him noting that while he 'is paid to score goals' he brings more to the team than we think. After all, this is a team that lost its starting striker the night of the home opener...then it's back-up turned starter striker to a blood clot a few weeks later...and of course, the man who makes the team go to a broken leg. It's not like we are at full-strength and for a while I thought Fredy was contributing in other ways. Then I watched Saturday's game and I can honestly say that I did not see one positive thing out of him. Not one. OK, he tracked back once. And he took two shots on goal, but besides that not a single thing to write home about. I don't know what his problem is, but he either needs to fix it or we need to move him next year.
• A mentioned before, it was not the best night for Ozzie Alonso. In talking with my boys Irish Mike and D-Lib, we all agree that in fact, this has not been his best year. He is still making all the tackles we have become accustomed to, but he is turning the ball over way to much. I chalk it up to the fact that he is taking a more active roll in building up play. I think we are seeing that while he does has some offensive skill, he is best when he wins the ball and gives it to an attacking center mid to start the play
• James Riley continues to play solid D- so much so that Irish Mike is off his case.
• I can't believe that Miguel Montano got some playing time. He is just not good.
• Of course, I said the same thing about Lamar Neagle and he has quietly been solid. I'm not sure we can go the whole season without El Flaco and Friberg, but for now Lamar is doing admirably.
• Finally, nothing Sounders related, but the US lost to Panama in the Gold Cup. I assumed we would walk through the group and was initially shocked at the result. But when I take a step back, I guess I'm not the surprised. We are a team in transition right now. Howard, Dempsey and Donovan are still there, but we have a lot of young guys like Ream, Agudelo and to an extent, Altidore who still need some more seasoning. Add in that Jermaine Jones has not looked good since putting on the kit and that Michael Bradley may have regressed because of a lack of confidence, and this team should be in no way the favorite to win this competition. Count me as one of the few who are terrified by what Mexico might do to us the next 5 years (I hate you Chicarito)
  

Redemption for Dirk, Mavs

Those of you who read this blog with any regularity probably know my feelings towards LeBron James by now. I am not like the rest of America. I do not hate him for "taking the easy way out and joining D-Wade in Miami"...in fact, I totally get it. He's 25 years old and every day he gets to play alongside his good friend D-Wade AND he gets to live in Miami. How is that not a win-win situation? Now I know that he handled The Decision poorly...we all know that. I just forgive him easier than others because he made a few poor decisions along the way AND more importantly, I love to watch him play basketball. When he is at his best, he is nothing but amazing. He is a constant mismatch - no one in the league has the same skills as him. And when he drives the lane there is no stopping him.

His play in the NBA Finals was obviously below expectations, but I'm not one to harp on him for not scoring 35 points every game. I'm not one to get on him for passing up the game winning shot. I'm not one to say that D-Wade wears the pants in the family. Nah, none of that from me because I value his play more than others. What I do want to say though is that for once, watching LeBron James did not get me excited. I watched the entire second half of Game 6 last night and besides a late game three and some nice should-have-been assists, he was like any other player - he was average. And to me, that is the biggest indictment on LeBron: he just isn't exciting anymore. He is still the best all-around player in the league, but something seems to be wrong with this team's chemistry.

I respect LeBron and Wade for trying to work this crunch time thing out, but LeBron almost looks too passive these days. Wade is the one with a killer instinct - not the guy who can own ANY player in this league on ANY night. I hope they get it figured out not so that they can win titles, but so that the old LeBron comes back.

Now that the Heat talk is over with, let me just say how special the victory celebration was for the Mavs last night. I came into the series simply wanting it to go 7 but I didn't care who won. My buddy Gorman said it's the Seattle in me because there is no way the old me would have rooted for the Heat. Maybe so, but I just can't help it - I don't hate the Heat.

But as the time ticked down last night, I found myself openly rooting for the Mavs. I mean, how can you not? Take a look at that team. I still have no idea how this team put 100+ on the board when Dirk only had 21. Where did the scoring come from? A team that everyone predicted to lose to the Blazers in the first round somehow put their faith in each other and got the job done. I think most people figured they would be an easy out because they were both old and a bunch of outcasts. Jason Terry said it perfectly after the game - they had a collection of guys with stories. Dirk. Terry. Peja. Marion. Kidd. Chandler. Stevenson. Cardinal. As individuals, they all have worts, but they were able to hide them up for a magical run.

I definitely got a little choked up during the celebration (and then of course Stu Scott ruined it by being Stu Scott...). Dirk walked directly off the court into the locker room. This was a guy who left civilization for two months after the 2006 Finals - you know that was on his mind the entire time. He knew this was his last chance of being able to erase those painful memories. Not only did he do just that, but he has now cemented his status as a top 20 all-time player (not bad for a dude traded for Robert Traylor).


How can you also not feel good about Cuban? I know he is not everyone's cup of tea, but how can you not give him props for having Commissioner Stern hand the Larry O'Brien Trophy to Donal Carter, the man who founded the Mavs 31 years ago. A good deal of us were looking forward to the awkward exchange between Cuban and Stern but at the end of the day, Cuban threw a curveball. He didn't brag. He didn't rub it in Stern's face. Nope, he paid homage to a man who brought basketball to Dallas. It was pure class.

Finally, how can you not feel good for my old friend, Jason Kidd? This was a guy who led a dormant franchise to the NBA Finals two years in a row...a guy who has had his various off-the-court problems (french fry anyone?)...a guy who at one time was the best point guard in the league and is now lucky to be in the top half. Simply put, this is a guy who after 17 years finally won the NBA Title that he deserved to have many years before. He might not be able to guard Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Derrick Rose or Russell Westbrook anymore, but he can do something even more important - he can lead a team to a championship.

Amazing job, Mavs. Amazing job.

Forget the Cup Finals, Let's Talk Devils

The Stanley Cup Finals might be in full swing, but my boys JWM and Duker can't help but think about the NHL Draft (ok, ok, really they are obsessed). In the coming weeks, they will be joining me to do our first JerseySounder mock NHL draft (apparently this is what happens when your team misses the playoffs for the first time in 15 years). Prior to that we wanted to take the opportunity to talk about the Devils and their needs. The conversation was free-flowing over email. I threw some comments in here and there, but mostly this is all JWM and Duker.

Where do the Devils have the greatest need? Is it first line center? Is it a #1 defenseman? Is it the heir apparent to Marty? Hopefully Marty can last another year or two (that aside from the fact there aren't any goaltenders that rank in the top 20 of the 2011 draft - If need be a replacement to Marty can be found after the first round). Travis Zajac can return to form if and when Zach Parise returns to his left wing the chemistry those two have is much better than the Zajac-Kovalchuk combo. So that leaves us looking at #1 defensemen Lou has had a good stretch of turning lemons into lemonade but expecting Andy Greene to be elite may be a bridge to far (yes that was two cliches one sentence). So there's the lock if Adam Larsson is available - Lou sprints to the podium shout Larson's name and drops the mic on the ground like the end of a Chris Rock HBO special. But what about the second tier d-men Ryan Murphy and Dougie Hamilton should they be drafted before a Sean Couturier or a Gabriel Landeskog? The Devils need at D should be weighted accordingly for this draft.

Let's assume that Parise is on the team long-term...

My biggest problem with the Devils' personnel has been the need to identify a role for a particular player based on 1 skill. I think that the idea of a shut-down line is dead
and gone unless that line can score 10-15 goals apiece. A guy like Mike Green on D is a liability despite the offense he brings (I have to admit, this is a major letdown. I have had him on my fantasy team recently and love Green. When the media was considering whether to trade Brodeur, the Caps came up as a possibility and I would have jumped at it). They need to buck the trend of 1 dimensional players. I loved John Madden (me too) but his kind is simply less valuable anymore. Ryan Kesler is the Canucks' MVP because he's amazing on both ends of the ice. He was always a strong defensive forward and now he puts up a ton of points as well. Same thing for Datsyuk in Detroit.

Picking 4th carries a lot of expectations with it, not falling on your ass being one of them. I think the best way to hit a home run with the pick (or at least a triple depending on your view of the talent in the draft) is to find the best all around player. And for what it's worth, I think the Devils really need that player to be a defenseman, particularly one named Adam Larsson. For years they have been relying on a ragtag corps of defenders who are mostly adequate and sometimes really good (does anyone else remember Jonny Oduya's up-ice rushes?). Andy Greene is not a true number 1 defenseman, nor does he even belong on the top pairing. But we have come to rely on him to do this even when it's simply not in his wheelhouse. Neither was Paul Martin. There have been a lot of very polished lemons the last few years, but lemons nonetheless. Mike Mottau was decent but he's still just Mike Mottau at the end of the day.

I still think we have some surprising depth at forward, which is not to say that Couturier, Ryan Strome or Jonathan Huberdeau wouldn't be great assets, but I just think that good, big, defensemen that can provide offense and defense while not making you nervous every time they're on the ice are pretty rare in the NHL. I think Larsson will fit that bill better than anyone available and any team that passes on him is missing something special.

We are in agreement that Adam Larsson is the homerun draft pick the Devils need. However, Larsson is a solid top three draft projection as just submitted by International Scouting Services (ISS).

My question now would be, what will the Devils do if Larsson is drafted prior to their fourth pick? (yes, that is the question. If Larsson is so amazing, then why would he be still available?) In most drafts there usually is a best overall defenseman, then a top offensive defenseman, and a top defensive defenseman. Murphy is your top offensive d-man and Hamilton is the top defensive d-man. Where should the team go?

Murphy's only downside is his size 5'10", however Jon Merrill is 6'3" so a Devils top D-pair
of Merrill and Murphy in 3 years would be pretty awesome. I'm not sold on Hamilton only because I don't want waste a #4 pick on a wrecking ball. So if Larson is drafted it comes down to a choice of Murphy vs. forwards Couturier, Landeskog, Mika Zibanejad, and Strome. It seems Murphy is pick the Devils will make with Larsson gone.

That's surprising to me since the weeks prior to writing this I was pushing hard for Couturier.

I would be very disappointed if they chose Zibanejad at 4. He might end up being top 10 worthy, but not top 5. (plus, I would have a terrible time with his name. If he does go to NJ, then I would have to nickname him Zibby)

The more I think about it, the more I've convinced myself that Larsson could be available at 4 (by the way, I loved your suggestion for Lou's selection, only it needs to be tinged with Chappelle: "we, the people of the Devils delegation, select with the 4th pick, the rza, the
gza, ol dirty bastard and Adam Larsson. out, bitches." Then drop the mic at Gary Bettman's
feet and walk away). (I think I prefer Lou asking Bettman if he has to choke a bitch)


Ok,ok, so what about trading down if Larsson is gone? Some one would want one of those Forwards, right?
I think there could be some really good value at D in the 10-15 range, but I'm not sure if it's worth trading down from #4 to get it, unless we could end up with a second first round pick. Nathan Beaulieu and Jamieson Oleksiak will probably both end up as mid-first round picks that turn out to be good pros. Maybe a ceiling of B, which isn't really saying much, but those are still the guys you win cups with.


I don't think it is that much of a stretch to assume Larsson could fall to the Devils. The Oilers are taking Ryan Nugent Hopkins (RNH) with the first pick to boost Taylor Hall's production. The Avalanche traded one of their better offensive players (Chris Stewart) for Erik Johnson so they will probably use this draft to restore their front line, and the Panthers drafted a the #1 defenseman last year (Erik Gudbranson) and still have nothing in their forward corps. Considering those scenarios I could easily see Larson falling to the Devs.

However, I think it best to plan for a rainy day. My new fear with Couturier is that he may be another version of James Van Riemsdyk. That may not be that bad, but I would rather have the pick be less of a work in progress. I think Huberdeau, and RNH are the top two if Larson is taken Landeskog will fall leaving the Devils with an interesting choice. Why not take Murphy if the defense is a glaring hole that needs to be fixed?

My concern with Oleksak was his numbers weren't that impressive at Northeastern especially when you compare him to fellow NCAA freshman defenseman Jon Merrill.

Finally my last argument for Murphy as plan B for the #4 pick is here at the 3:00 mark:


Ok, so Murphy looks pretty slick, but I go back to my concern from before: I don't think I
want a one dimensional player picked that high unless they are far and away better at that one thing than anybody else. Maybe Murphy falls into that category, maybe not. His size doesn't bother me, at all, just his ability to play defense. Don Cherry (I get CBC and refuse to watch hockey on versus, but I always wonder how much sway Cherry still holds. It's obvious you hold him in high esteem) kept saying he was really smart, so maybe that translates well to a good two-way game, but if he can only succeed by taking cues from his coach, how will he handle the Devils' coaching merry-go-round?

Edmonton takes the Nugent-Hopkins to play with Hall. Incidentally, I wouldn't take him with the 1st pick, but that's me. I think the Avs will take Landeskog as a power winger to play alongside either Stastny or Duchene...that or they trade the pick to Ottawa so they can draft him. I do think the Avs will use their second pick (mid-first round) to grab a defenseman, though. I think Florida will just take the flashiest key dangling in front of them, which will probably be Huberdeau (probably not the worst thing in the world).

Last thought: Strome should go top 10, but top 5 is a stretch. One of the things that I caught that I really liked in his bio on Fire and Ice was that he played a lot of lacrosse growing up. It makes me think of Joe Nieuwendyk and Adam Oates, 2 amazing face-off guys, both of whom grew up playing a lot of lacrosse (coincidentally, against each other). The Devils have a need for consistent face-off wins.

So I think it's safe to say that we beat this topic to death and after all is said and done we agree the Devils not only should draft Adam Larsson but there is a high probability they will get him. Plan B seems up for debate but either way Devils will get an impact player.


Ok, I'm jumping in at the end after everything has been thoroughly dissected. I can't say that I know as much about the Devils team needs as you guys (not to mention I don't know squat about any of these guys), but I obviously think Larsson is the guy. When I think of the glory years, the obvious thing that comes to mind was our defense. We've lost so many guys over the years and finally when Lou realized we that the cupboard was bare, he decided to overpay for a few guys that didn't work out. We are entering a new phase in our history but instead of just relying on Parise and Kovy, we need to get back to basics and play some defense.

Interestingly enough, the last time we drafted in the top 10 was 1991 when they picked a slick skating defenseman out of Kamloops. He subsequently went on to a Hall of Fame career. It would be extremely premature to suggest Larsson is that type of talent, but it's interesting to note.

Aside from defense, I think goaltending is the area of highest importance. I don't want to say it's of highest need right now, because Marty still has a year or two, but I think it's important to decide on a succession plan. We can't be left without a plan when Marty rides off into the sunset. Ideally I would love to sign a veteran ala Hedburg for a year or two before handing over the reigns to someone green. I don't want to ever overpay for a free agent goalie, but at the same time, I'm not sure we want to kill some young kid because of all the expectations. we have all seen how Elway's, Marino's, Ripken's and Roy's replacements did. It's hard to replace a legend. This isn't the year to draft a goalie in the first round, but it might not be a terrible idea to take one in the 2nd or 3rd round and see what you got.

LeBron and the Next Sports Villain

LeBron James is by all accounts probably the most hated athlete in America. The entire nation, save those in Miami and this blogger in Seattle, want to see him fail. People hate that he not only left his hometown of Cleveland but they hate the way that he did so. I don't need to describe it - you all know what happened. He let several teams wine and dine him even though all along he knew where he was signing. He joined forces with his main rival Dwyane Wade instead of bracing his inner Jordan and wanting to destroy Wade at every opportunity. He held The Decision. Then the Heat had their WWE style celebration before ever playing a game. Everything that occurred in the off-season just seemed to rub people the wrong way. He was instantly vilified.

The thing that I still can't get past is the fact that I honestly believe he is a good person who made some stupid mistakes along the way. I can fault him for The Decision. It was self-promoting and overall of poor taste. But I can't fault him for going to Miami. Everyone is ready to compare him to Jordan, but you know what? Maybe he isn't Jordan. Maybe no one will ever be like Jordan. Maybe LeBron is happy being second fiddle to Wade. Maybe he is happy simply playing with his friends. Maybe his basketball legacy isn't as huge a concern to him as it is to all of us. I honestly believe that one reason the nation got mad at him was because he instantly became something that we did not want him to be. We wanted him to become the best basketball player of all time. Instead, maybe he is what Simmons says he is - the modern version of Dr J. Freakishly athletic. Unstoppable. Too congenial to be an assassin.

The truth is that up to his signing with Miami, LeBron had never done anything to bring the ire of America on him. He was on the cover of SI at age 16 and he was from a single parent family. Yet somehow he stayed squeaky clean. Besides an incident with his mom getting a car when he was in HS, can you think of one thing that he has done wrong? Go ahead...I believe that sound you hear is crickets chirping. The fact remains that he has never done one thing off the court to question his personality. From what I have read in several places many reporteres that follow him on a dailybasis would be honored to have him as their son or as the boy dating their daughter. LeBron is a good guy and squeaky clean...hell, even church boy Dwayne Wade can't say that (look up his relationship with his ex wife and his kids...)

The discussion of LeBron as a villain brings me to a teenager named Bryce Harper. For those of you who don't know Harper, he too was on the cover of SI at age 16, touted as 'Baseball's Chosen One' (actually really ironic looking back now considering what has happened to LeBron) . Of Harper, Tom Verducci said "Bryce Harper is a scouting director's perfect prospect. He has size, speed, power, intelligence, a lefthanded bat, an appetite for work, a strong arm, the ability to catch and the athleticism to play almost any other position, plus a happy home life."

Harper was drafted #1 by the Washington Nationals in 2010 and is currently playing minor league ball for the Hagerstown Suns of the Single A South Atlantic League. Even though he crushed major league pitching in spring training and even though he has 14 homers and 42 RBI so far this season, the Nats are saying they won't rush him and that he will stay in the minors for the entire year. That is a good thing for Harper, for opposing pitchers and for America. Eventually he is going to be in the majors (I have no doubt that he will be a star) and that is when the nation will truly find out his secret...

When Stephen Strasburg emerged on the scene last year he provided the game with a jolt of excitement. People loved the arm. They loved the potential and they weren't turned off by his personality. He knew he was good, but he also handled himself well. He was was the game needed. Now, it would be too easy to get caught up in Harper the same way we got caught up with both LeBron and Strasburg - we want to witness greatness, especially greatness at an early age. The difference with Harper is that...well...he apparently is a prick. He knows how good he is and he has a chip on his shoulder. He is every bit the 18 year old prodigy who has been put on a pedestal. Teammates don't like him and soon, once the rest of America learns more about him, I bet we won't like him either.

You may have seen the video on this already, but if not, Harper made news Monday night for admiring his home run and then blowing the pitcher a kiss as he headed home. It was a total bush league move and one that definitely will get him thrown at the next time at bat. The problem is that I doubt that will bother him. The next time up he will display his uncanny power and show everyone why he is that good. Simply put, he is everything LeBron James was not. He is a cocky 18 year old who thinks he is better than the game. I can say with certainty that he is going to take over LeBron's role as most hated athlete in America. There is no doubt in my mind - we all know guys like him. They never learn. They never grow up. They always remain brash, cocky and terrible members of society.

I cannot wait to fill this blog with more venomous posts about Harper and his ego. It should be a lot of fun.

[UPDATE: Just listening to ESPN Radio and Buster Olney compared him to Barry Bonds. Well, that is not good from a likeability standpoint]

Continued Excellence...and other things

This right here is the Bucknell logo. Take a look at it because it means excellence. It's hard not to become a snob when your team was recently named the Patriot League's best athletic department for the 17th year out of the past 21 years, including 13 of the past 14. I know that we are minnows against elite competition, but against our main rivals we are untouchable (I'm talking to you Lehigh, Colgate, Holy Cross, American, Navy, Army, Lafayette). Every year we get it done thanks in large part to the success of the less glamorous sports such as track, swimming and cross country, but this year was extra special as the Bison won 3 of the 5 most important titles - men's basketball, men's lacrosse and men's soccer. It is good to be a bison. Ray for the Orange and the Blue.

********

Two other things that are on my mind this morning:

First, great response by the Bruins last night. I questioned whether the heartbreaking losses in Games 1 and 2 would be too much for the B's to overcome, but after the loss of Nathan Horton they erupted for 8 goals in two periods at home. I think it would be easy for most people to assume that Boston will win game 4 and make it a series. I'm not as convinced. I mean, sure 8-1 is humiliating but so is 5-1. At some point you have to believe that the Canucks realized they weren't going to overcome the emotion of the Bruins. They took the loss and tried to stay healthy knowing they were still up 2-1. Give the Bruins credit though - instead of collapsing, they went the other way. I think it might be a one time thing and that the series will be even form here on out. All the crazy shit has happened - a goal with 18 seconds left, a goal 11 seconds into OT and now a 8-1 killing. It is bound to be normal from here on out.


Second, it struck me that for all that is being made about the Mets payroll next year, the new regime will ultimately be judged by what they do over the next few days. Sandy Alderson brought with him Paul DePodestro and JP Riccardi to help make the organization more efficient and less top heavy. Sure, the Mets can continue to spend money like any good NY club does, but they can also be smarter with their drafts. In the first two rounds this year, they selected Brandon Nimmo, an OF from Wyoming (and the first Wyoming player ever to be drafted above the 4th round) and RHP Michael Fulmer from Oklahoma. I don't know anything about any of these players, but in reading some reviews, it sounds like they didn't go the safe route and instead drafted based on a ceiling. With Nimmo, they apparently like his raw power, his arm and the fact that he is a lefty bat. Interestingly though, the state of Wyoming doesn't sanction baseball as a sport, so his only competition has been AAU stuff. Some wonder if he has seen proper competition, but to his credit, he was named MVP of the Under Armor All-American Game. Fulmer, meanwhile, is a righty pitcher with a great curveball who flew under the radar. Both picks appear to be surprises (and I never feel good about HS pitchers), but I will reserve judgment for another 3 years on whether the new regime knows what they are doing - I can't believe either pick will be anything more than a long-term projects.
[Update: An interesting tid bit- apparently both Nimmo and Fulmer committed to play ball at the University of Arkansas this year, so maybe we have someone there that is giving us some information]

Weekend Review

There were several times over the weekend when I wanted to get on the old computer and type away, but then I remembered that the weather was amazing and that I needed to get outside. Of course I caught a few events live, but overall, most of my time was spent reading the reviews on the interweb. Here are my somewhat delayed thoughts:

• I have to start off with the NHL where the top seed Vancouver Canucks are two wins away from their first Stanley Cup in 40 years (and Canada's first in 18 years). Both wins were in dramatic fashion - Game 1 won with 19 seconds left; Game 2 won 11 seconds into OT - and should test what the Bruins are made of. Sure they get to go home for two games now, but I have to wonder if their psyche is shot. I mean, those are excruciating ways to lose.
  
• As for the city of Vancouver, I am amazed at the shots of Granville Street (no links, google it yourself) during the game. The street is completely closed of because of people shoulder to shoulder -it almost seems like a scene out of the movies. I know the B's haven't won in like 30 years and are a nice story, but how can you not root for Vancouver?
• Has there ever been a more dominant individual performance than what Rafael Nadal is doing at the French Open? In beating Roger Federer (again) in the final, he has now won 6 of the last 7 French Open's and has lost like 5 sets total during his reign (I don't know the exact number, but I'd be hard pressed to think I was off by that much). I woke up and watched the first set yesterday morning - Federer was up 5-2 and Nadal had just called timeout to get his foot looked at for blisters. I thought maybe he was vulnerable. Then after a brief nap I wokeup and it was 5-5...and then 7-5 Nadal. He had stormed back and at that moment I knew Federer was done. Credit to Roger for forcing a 4th set, but Nadal was never losing. He is 5-0 against Roger at the French and he makes him look like a mere mortal, not a man who has won 16 Grand Slam titles.
• The Mets finished off their series with the Braves with a nice 6-4 win thanks to some brilliant pitching by RA Dickey. They finished their homestand with a 5-5 record, but you would be crazy to feel exactly good about it. In each of their 5 losses, they took the lead into the 7th inning, only to see the bullpen let them down. Some people might be encouraged by this, but at the end of the day, wins are what counts. I will talk about how this season is a wash and that really we should be seeing what we have in the minors (hello, Justin Turner and Dillon Gee!), but man, you have to win those games. Or at least 4 of them. Good teams don't blow 7th inning leads.
• I watched some WNBA over the weekend. During the first quarter, they interviewed the new president (or maybe commissioner, I'm not sure) who was attending her first live WNBA game ever. Apparently this woman grew up watching the Cavs so she is not completely oblivious to basketball. When asked what the NBA lockout means to the WNBA (a legit question if you ask me since fans have to go somewhere else), she said "You know, I'm focused on the WNBA right now. The level of play is great. And my job is to get people to come out and see the game." So let me get this straight, a person who has never been to a game before is now in charge of getting people to come to games. Some might say that this outside the box thinking might be good (afterall, the old regimes didn't work so why not try something new), but to me, it just reeks of minor leagues.
• NBC and Versus had the collegiate Rugby 7's national championship on over the weekend. Overall it was pretty exciting even though I knew 25% of what was going on. I think the final was Notre Dame-LSU...
• The US Men's National Team got absolutely crushed by Spain. I think we all saw this coming, regardless of how much the announcers wanted to plant the seed of doubt in our heads suggesting that the recent Madrid-Barcelona clashes would split the team. I'm a little interesting in why Bradley went with the squad he did. I get that the Gold Cup is right around the corner and that he wants the likes of Dempsey, Donovan, Bocanegra and Bradley ready for those games. I get that a friendly before the Gold Cup is a nice opportunity for other players to get minutes, but I question whether Spain was the right opponent then. If you're gonna try out a new squad, wouldn't an easier opponent be better? I know Lalas opined at halftime that the team would be better as a result of this, but I think that only holds true if the young players are not easily scared. If the performance motivated Ream, Lichaj, and Agudelo, then great. But if it affected their psyche, then that's not good.
• Speaking of the team, I am excited for their match against Canada on Tuesday. I am a bit scared of Chicarito and Mexico though, especially after their 5-0 thrashing of Cuba last night. I don't like that he will be running at our defense for the next 10 years...
  
• Moving over to the women's team, I watched the final 25 minutes of the game against Mexcio on Sunday. It was their final game before the World Cup in 2 weeks and we outshot Mexico something like 30-3. The reports are that even with that advantage, they didn't play all that well. The only thing I know is that I saw the next great one, a 21-year old named Alex Morgan. She came on as a late sub and was just fabulous. She was active, energetic, skilled and not afraid to make a play. I am excited to see hew career unfold.
• There will be no Sounders review from the weekend...really, the game was boring all around. Lamar Neagle had an early opportunity off a header which was saved by Sean Johnson. Kasey Keller made some saves. Fredy Montero sat again. Neither team could score. It's not a terrible result considering it was on the road, but I would have liked to see a full 3 points. This weekend's match against Vancouver has to be a victory though
• The newly relocated Winnipeg NHL franchise (just call them the Jets, ok?) sold 13,000 season tickets in under an hour. Good for them. Now I just hope free agents will want to go there and that their are enough businesses in the city to keep the team competitive.
• Wow, has it been 20 months already since Plaxico Burress wasthrown in jail? I still think it is crazy that Burress went to jail for 20 months for gun possession while other players are involved in domestic violence or are repeat drug offenders get off with community service time. Obviously some team will take a chance on him-it will be interesting to see who though
• Finally I wanted to give a shout out to the Mariners. I know I rip on them a lot, mainly because I'm a Mets fan and I need to focus my angst on some one, but wow they are playing some amazing ball right now. After being 6-13 on April 20, they have now gone 25-15 in their last 40 and sit 2.5 games out of first in a weakened AL West. Ultimately I'm not sure that their offense will hold up, but that pitching (3.32 team ERA)...man, that pitching is solid and should keep them in the race until at least August.

Finally, for those who are jonesing for more hockey coverage, JerseySounder is hoping to have a NHL Draft preview up sometime in the next week, so be on the lookout. tomorrow I will be beating my chest at Bucknell's continued dominance.

Obscure Sports Weekly, vol. 3: Professional Hockey in North America

These thoughts are in regard to the recent sale of the Atlanta Thrashers to a bunch of Canadians who are going to move the team to Winnipeg. The ink hadn't dried on the bill of sale before the moving trucks arrived at Phillips Arena in Atlanta...

Oh Canada. I have no love for the Atlanta Thrashers. Hockey was granted a second chance in this city and, due to general incompetence and ambivalence by the owners and management, the team was never given the opportunity to thrive. They lost Kovalchuk, who really loved the team. They lost Hossa. They lost Heatley, and while I understand that story had much different details surrounding it, his demeanor changed drastically when he landed in Ottawa (In other words, I believe he would have left anyway). To a lesser extent, they lost Savard. Hell, they even lost Bobby Holik. I know that last one sounds like a joke, but never one to mince words, Holik loved playing in Atlanta.

I did know actual Thrashers fans while I lived there. I went to some games with them. Some of them were very knowledgeable. Unfortunately, there simply weren’t enough of them to support a team in the city where the biggest sports franchise is UGA football. Followed by Auburn football. Followed by the Braves and Falcons and Georgia Tech. In the end, the people didn’t care enough to make it a wise business decision to stay in town. I get it. I agree with it. It’s unfortunate that the team will leave but the reality is that most people (in and out of Atlanta) won’t notice.

That said I have a huge problem with how the league handled this. For longer than I can remember, the Phoenix Coyotes have been a hot mess. Gary Bettman and the NHL have jumped through hoops, flaming hoops and acid-dripping hoops to keep that team in the desert. TO KEEP THAT ICE HOCKEY TEAM IN THE DESERT. And when they couldn’t squeeze through the hoops, they reshaped them enough so they could get by. It was an affront that Jim Balsillie wanted to buy the team and move them to Ontario. That could not happen. What would all 16 hockey-loving Phoenxicians do if the team moved to Hamilton? Would the Coyotes “fans” even care? I’m still skeptical that such a person exists.

It seemed like every week brought another story about the debacle of an ownership situation in Phoenix. So right now, the team is basically run by Gary Bettman. Yes, the same Gary Bettman that allowed the lock out to wipe away an entire season. Yes, the same Gary Bettman that kind of looks like Count Chocula. Yes, the same Gary Bettman that was sent to the NHL by David Stern to destroy it (and he has been quite successful). The same Gary Bettman that excitedly kept the league from re-joining ESPN’s broadcasting services, thus helping ensure its place in Rob’s weekly column on obscure sports.

Keep in mind, the Coyotes are the same team that left Winnipeg 15 years ago and have been terrible both on and off the ice ever since. Really, we’ve reached 15 years of ineptitude already? My, how the time does fly when you’re trying to nurture a sport dependant on ice in a climate that can’t support the natural formation of ice.

So after limitless press trying to force the Coyotes into relevance, both at the NHL level and professional sports level (I’m sure more people outside of Idaho could correctly pick out Boise State’s mascot than could identify the name of the Phoenix hockey team), they will stay in Phoenix for another year. And high praise to all for making this happen because the true rapture would have come on the heels of the Coyotes leaving for Canada. So the Coyotes stay and VERY unceremoniously, the Thrashers are sold and moving within a week. I just don’t understand how they can be reduced to such an afterthought when relocation is always such a feared idea. The league has taken control of several teams over the years to ensure they stay put (Buffalo, Ottawa, Pittsburgh, Phoenix) but before push came to shove, they basically said fuck it with the Thrashers. No, that’s OK, we’d rather pick our battles in order to keep the Coyotes in Phoenix.

So it’s not that I’m upset that the Thrashers are leaving; they should have gone to Hamilton and become the Hamilton Mounties or something. I’m upset that they were so disregarded by the NHL and Gary Bettman, that such high stock has been continuously placed in the desert dogs. The Coyotes are the team that belongs in Winnipeg.

This is all just one more reason why I love the sport but hate the league. Well, this is mostly just about how I hate the league and its leadership.