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The Seahawk will be similar to Red_Queen's Turnip (http://www.werewolf.com/vb/showthread.php?t=130 13) in the sense that the thread will focus on the current events in a particular topic. In this case, Sports and fitness.
I will try to focus on many sports as possible, but you can expect most of my articles to be about the NBA, MLB, NFL, NHL and Division I NCAA sports.
Please feel free to ask me any questions you have and I encourage you to participate in this thread.
2007 Probowl
NFL.com:
HONOLULU (Feb. 10, 2007) -- Even while the star-studded AFC cruised to a comfortable lead in the Pro Bowl, Carson Palmer could sense a wacky finish lurking just beyond everybody's control.
"With this much talent, anybody could change the game at any time," the Cincinnati quarterback said. "You've got to expect something crazy to happen, because it will."
Palmer's hunch proved correct in the improbable final minutes -- but thanks to Palmer's poise and a costly NFC penalty, the AFC's Hawaiian vacation ended with another win.
Nate Kaeding kicked a 21-yard field goal as time expired to cap another strong drive led by Palmer, the MVP of the AFC's 31-28 victory in the 57th edition of the NFL's all-star game.
---
http://images.nfl.com/photos/img9988847.jpg
New York Giant's Tiki Barber plays last game of his career
Seahawk Sport Analyst Ludwig the Cat
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St. Paul, Minnesota --
Sunday, Febuary 11th, 12:43 A.M.
Let's just do a quick rundown of all of the head coaching changes in the NFL after the 06 season.
Arizona Cardinals:
Former Head Coach Dennis Green is replaced by Ken Whisenhunt, the Pittsburgh Steeler's offensive coordinator.
Dallas Cowboys:
Head Coach Bill Parcells retires and the Cowboys hire Wade Phillips. Phillips has been a Head Coach with New Orleans, Denver, Buffalo and Atlanta with an overall 48-39 record. The past couple of years he has been the defensive coordinator of the San Diego Chargers.
Miami Dolphins:
Nick Saban accepted a higher paying position at the University of Alabama, leaving the Dolphins behind. The Dolphins hired Charger's offensive coordinator Cam Cameron.
Atlanta Falcons:
Jim Mora Jr. (a pretty awesome coach) was fired after the 06 season. He is now assistant head coach / defensive backs coach of the Seattle Seahawks. The Falcons hired Bobby Petrino, Head Coach of the Louisville Cardinals (NCAA). Petrino left Louisville with an amazing 41-9 record as a Head Coach.
Oakland Raiders:
Al Davis, general manager of the Oakland Raiders said it was a mistake to fire Head Coach Art Shell back in 2004. After being hired for the 2006 season, Art Shell was fired again. The Raiders have hired 31 year old Lane Kiffin, offensive coordinator of the USC Trojans (NCAA).
Pittsburgh Steelers:
Bill Cowher (hate) has retired. The Steelers hired Minnesota Viking's defensive coordinator Mike Tomlin. Tomlin has become the third Head Coach in the Steeler's 74 year history.
Okami no hi
02-11-2007, 08:57 AM
I like this. I may not have anything to add, but if you keep it up I'll read it, it was good. Also, when is the next major football event and on which channel?
Well football season ended with the Probowl yesterday. NCAA Football ended weeks ago. The 2007 NFL Draft will be taking place sometime in late April though. Otherwise there won't be another game until August in the pre-season.
Okami no hi
02-11-2007, 11:22 AM
Noooo. You got me addicted to it and they'll be no more til' around April. :cry:
philodox
02-11-2007, 06:35 PM
Baseball season's starting to pick up. Spring training, pitchers and catchers are reporting in this week/next week, if memory serves. And I think Arena Football is starting in a few weeks - training camp opened this week for the Colorado Crush.
NFL Europe starts up in March and the CFL (Canadian Football League) starts in June. With those and Arena Football, you can get a football fix if you really need one.
Dolphins to host Giants in London on Oct. 28
NFL.com
MIAMI -- The Miami Dolphins will host the New York Giants at London's Wembley Stadium in the first NFL regular-season game to be played outside of North America, National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell announced.
Speaking in Miami two days before Super Bowl XLI, Commissioner Goodell said the game will be played on Sunday, Oct. 28 -- in Week 8 of the 2007 season -- and will kick off at 1 p.m. ET (6 p.m. local time).
NFL owners voted in October to play up to two games outside of the United States every year for the next five years, with the series kicking off with a single game in 2007. London was named last month as the site of that game, with the new Wembley -- due to open later this year -- now confirmed as the venue.
"The international popularity of the NFL grows every year," said Goodell in announcing the teams and stadium for the game. "That interest will be seen as the far corners of the world watch Super Bowl this Sunday. That is a fascination we will build upon. London and its international stature adds to the impact of the game."
The Giants-Dolphins game will be shown live in the United States on FOX-TV. Both teams will have a bye scheduled for the following week.
Sporting News Top 100 NFL Free Agents
Arizona Cardinals
10 Leonard Davis OT 6-6 365 Unrestricted Arizona
41 David Macklin CB 5-10 206 Unrestricted Arizona
59 Alex Stepanovich C 6-4 312 Restricted Arizona
Atlanta Falcons
13 Patrick Kerney DE 6-5 273 Unrestricted Atlanta
26 Matt Schaub QB 6-5 237 Restricted Atlanta
30 Demorrio Williams LB 6-0 232 Restricted Atlanta
54 Justin Griffith RB 5-11 232 Unrestricted Atlanta
Baltimore Ravens
4 Adalius Thomas LB 6-2 270 Unrestricted Baltimore
20 Jamal Lewis RB 5-11 245 Unrestricted Baltimore
Buffalo Bills
2 Nate Clements CB 6-0 209 Unrestricted Buffalo
21 London Fletcher-Baker LB 5-10 245 Unrestricted Buffalo
40 Chris Kelsay DE 6-4 275 Unrestricted Buffalo
Carolina Panthers
80 Drew Carter WR 6-3 200 Restricted Carolina
87 Chris Draft LB 5-11 232 Unrestricted Carolina
Chicago Bears
3 Lance Briggs LB 6-1 240 Unrestricted Chicago
27 Ian Scott DT 6-3 302 Unrestricted Chicago
94 Justin Gage WR 6-4 212 Unrestricted Chicago
Cincinatti Bengals
5 Eric Steinbach G 6-6 290 Unrestricted Cincinnati
8 Tory James CB 6-2 192 Unrestricted Cincinnati
37 Stacy Andrews G 6-7 342 Restricted Cincinnati
Rk. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Grade FA type 2006 team 2007 team
43 Justin Smith DE 6-4 275 Unrestricted Cincinnati
56 Reggie Kelly TE 6-4 255 Unrestricted Cincinnati
69 Landon Johnson LB 6-2 227 Restricted Cincinnati
88 Kevin Kaesviharn S 6-1 196 Unrestricted Cincinnati
Cleveland Browns
42 Alvin McKinley DT 6-3 294 Unrestricted Cleveland
52 Cosey Coleman G 6-4 310 Unrestricted Cleveland
79 Kelly Butler OT 6-7 334 Restricted Cleveland
83 Brian Russell S 6-2 207 Unrestricted Cleveland
93 Hank Fraley C 6-2 300 Unrestricted Cleveland
Dallas Cowboys
17 Marc Colombo OT 6-8 320 Unrestricted Dallas
23 Al Johnson C 6-5 311 Unrestricted Dallas
75 Andre Gurode G 6-4 312 Unrestricted Dallas
Denver Broncos
45 Kyle Johnson RB 6-0 242 Restricted Denver
51 Cooper Carlisle G 6-5 295 Unrestricted Denver
Detrot Lions
71 Cory Redding DT 6-4 290 Unrestricted Detroit
Green Bay Packers
44 Ahman Green RB 6-0 218 Unrestricted Green Bay
64 Kenderick Allen DT 6-5 328 Unrestricted Green Bay
Houston Texans
58 Shantee Orr LB 6-0 250 Restricted Houston
63 Antwan Peek DE 6-3 250 Unrestricted Houston
66 Glenn Earl S 6-1 215 Restricted Houston
Indianapolis Colts
1 Dwight Freeney DE 6-1 268 Unrestricted Indianapolis
33 Cato June LB 6-0 227 Unrestricted Indianapolis
48 Dominic Rhodes RB 5-9 203 Unrestricted Indianapolis
53 Jason David CB 5-8 180 Restricted Indianapolis
62 Nick Harper CB 5-10 182 Unrestricted Indianapolis
84 Jake Scott G 6-5 295 Restricted Indianapolis
96 Ryan Lilja G 6-2 290 Restricted Indianapolis
Jacksonville jaguars
38 Deon Grant S 6-2 210 Unrestricted Jacksonville
60 Ernest Wilford WR 6-4 218 Restricted Jacksonville
73 Ahmad Carroll CB 5-10 190 Unrestricted Jacksonville
Kansas City Chiefs
15 Kawika Mitchell LB 6-1 253 Unrestricted Kansas City
19 Damon Huard QB 6-3 218 Unrestricted Kansas City
36 Lawrence Tynes K 6-1 202 Restricted Kansas City
49 Jared Allen DE 6-6 270 Restricted Kansas City
85 Lenny Walls CB 6-4 192 Unrestricted Kansas City
Miami Dolphins
68 Kendyl Jacox C 6-2 325 Unrestricted Miami
89 Yeremiah Bell S 6-0 200 Restricted Miami
90 Donnie Spragan LB 6-3 242 Unrestricted Miami
99 Damion McIntosh OT 6-4 320 Unrestricted Miami
Minnesota Vikings
72 Darrion Scott DE 6-3 289 Restricted Minnesota
New England Patriots
6 Asante Samuel CB 5-10 185 Unrestricted New England
12 Daniel Graham TE 6-3 257 Unrestricted New England
76 Patrick Pass RB 5-10 217 Unrestricted New England
New Orleans Saints
22 Charles Grant DE 6-3 290 Unrestricted New Orleans
NY Giants
35 Gibril Wilson S 6-0 209 Restricted NY Giants
70 Shaun O'Hara C 6-3 303 Unrestricted NY Giants
81 Jay Feely K 5-10 210 Unrestricted NY Giants
Oakland Raiders
24 Tommy Kelly DT 6-6 300 Restricted Oakland
Philadelphia Eagles
7 Jeff Garcia QB 6-1 200 Unrestricted Philadelphia
28 Donte' Stallworth WR 6-0 196 Unrestricted Philadelphia
67 Roderick Hood CB 5-11 196 Unrestricted Philadelphia
95 Michael Lewis S 6-1 222 Unrestricted Philadelphia
Pittsburgh Steelers
34 Max Starks OT 6-8 337 Restricted Pittsburgh
San Diego Chargers
14 Shaun Phillips LB 6-3 262 Restricted San Diego
18 Michael Turner RB 5-10 237 Restricted San Diego
65 Kris Dielman G 6-4 310 Unrestricted San Diego
Seattle Seahawks
25 Sean Locklear G 6-3 301 Restricted Seattle
29 Jerramy Stevens TE 6-7 265 Unrestricted Seattle
31 Josh Brown K 6-0 202 Unrestricted Seattle
39 Ken Hamlin S 6-2 209 Unrestricted Seattle
47 Chris Gray G 6-3 308 Unrestricted Seattle
77 Jordan Babineaux S 6-0 200 Restricted Seattle
86 D.J. Hackett WR 6-2 199 Restricted Seattle
San Francisco 49ers
91 Mike Adams S 5-11 195 Restricted San Francisco
St. Louis Rams
9 Kevin Curtis WR 5-11 186 Unrestricted St. Louis
82 Travis Fisher CB 5-10 189 Unrestricted St. Louis
92 Jason Fisk DT 6-3 300 Unrestricted St. Louis
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
98 Sean Mahan G 6-3 301 Unrestricted Tampa Bay
Tennessee Titans
16 Randy Starks DT 6-3 312 Restricted
50 Drew Bennett WR 6-5 206 Unrestricted Tennessee
74 Peter Sirmon LB 6-2 237 Unrestricted Tennessee
78 Colby Bockwoldt LB 6-2 237 Restricted Tennessee
97 Rien Long DT 6-6 300 Unrestricted Tennessee
Washington Redskins
32 Derrick Dockery G 6-6 345 Unrestricted Washington
Okami no hi
02-11-2007, 10:54 PM
Oooh, the Dolphins are going against the Giants. That sounds a bit interesting.
The season hasn't even started yet and i'm picking the Dolphins. If Daunte is healthy he's going to slaughter the NY Defense.
The Giants offense is nothing without Tiki. Even with Jeremy Shockey, it's a stretch to assume that Eli Manning can run an offense without his probowl runningback.
The Chargers fired Head Coach Marty Schottenheimer yesterday. Shottenheimer lead the Chargers to a 14-2 season and took them to the divisional playoffs.
Apparantly both Shottenheimer and General Manager A.J. Smith had a shakey relationship, but I still think that is no reason for Smith to fire the man who led the team to a near undefeated season.
A very poor move in my opinion. Shottenheimer shouldn't have any trouble finding coaching work elsewhere though.
philodox
02-14-2007, 06:26 PM
Unfortunately, the knock on Marty is that he can't win the big one. Still, it's a horrible move by San Diego, especially since their offensive and defensive coordinators are now head coaches elsewhere.
http://sportsillustrated.cn n.com/2007/writers/peter_king/02/13/marty/index.html Sportsillustrated link.
IMHO, this is a good thing. Any time the Chargers go titsup like that, my Broncos look better. Maybe they'll hire Art Shell for their head coach.
Semi-related: David Carr, the Houston Texans QB is now trade-bait. Rumors are swirling about the Texans picking up Jake Plummer, which would reunite him with Gary Kubiak (Broncos QB coach until he became the Texans head coach). Carr has a dismal record as QB, going 23-53, and being sacked 249 times (roughly about once a quarter).
Well the Chargers are looking at Norv Turner right now. I'm pretty sure Turner won't accept though, he wants General Manager power along with Head Coach. Although this would be a good opportunity to turn his career around and actually get a shot at HC/GM, since nobody just gives an Offensive Coordinator that kind of power straight from the job. It's not like he proved himself when he was Head Coach of the Raiders either.
I assume it was just a typo, but I thought Carr was sacked an average of 249 times a quarter.
Tim Hardaway hates gays?
ESPN
Former Miami Heat guard Tim Hardaway said on a radio show Wednesday afternoon that he would not want a gay player on his team.
"You know, I hate gay people, so I let it be known," Hardaway said. "I don't like gay people and I don't like to be around gay people. I am homophobic. I don't like it. It shouldn't be in the world or in the United States."
Hardaway was a guest of Miami Herald columnist Dan Le Betard on the Miami radio show Sports Talk 790 and was asked how he would deal with a gay teammate. When asked if he would accept an active player's coming out, such as that of retired NBA center John Amaechi, Hardaway replied: "First of all, I wouldn't want him on my team.
"And second of all, if he was on my team, I would, you know, really distance myself from him because, uh, I don't think that's right. And you know I don't think he should be in the locker room while we're in the locker room. I wouldn't even be a part of that," he said.
Hardaway later apologized for the remarks during a telephone interview with Fox affiliate WSVN in Miami.
"Yes, I regret it. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said I hate gay people or anything like that," he said. "That was my mistake."
Hardaway, who was in Las Vegas on Tuesday at a pre-All Star Game NBA Cares outreach event, was both a coach and player for the ABA's Florida Pit Bulls in 2006.
Hardaway played for five NBA teams from 1990-2003 and was a five-time All-Star. He finished with averages of 17.7 points and 8.2 assists.
philodox
02-15-2007, 06:34 PM
That sound you hear is Tim Hardaways' agent crying.
Meanwhile, in the land of NASCAR, Michael Waltrip did qualify for the Daytona 500, hours after apologizing for his part in a fuel-tampering scandal. Waltrips' crew chief has been suspended and fined $100,000, the team drector has been suspended, and Toyota's debut in Nascar has begun with a nasty skidmark. The team was also penalized 100 points in the standings, the first time points have ever been deducted before the season started. Nascar uses a point system that includes wins, laps completed, and a few other factors to determine the overall cup winner.
ESPN.Com
Scuffing baseball tops MLB rules changes
NEW YORK -- A major league position player who scuffs or defaces a baseball would be ejected and receive an automatic 10-game suspension under changes approved Friday by the sport's playing rules committee.
Previously, the penalty was to call the pitch a ball and warn the player. For pitchers, umpires have the discretion to issue only a warning if they determine the pitcher's actions weren't intended to alter the characteristics of a pitch.
As part of the first changes to baseball rules since 1996, the committee approved a recommendation from general managers to largely eliminate tie games.
Before this year, when an official game was called due to weather and the score was tied, the statistics counted and a new game was replayed from the start. Under the change, when a game is tied in the bottom of the fifth inning or later and is called because of weather, it will be suspended and resumed before the next scheduled game between the teams at the same ballpark.
If no more games remain between the teams at the same ballpark, it will be resumed when the teams meet at the visitor's ballpark. If it is the final scheduled meeting between the teams, it will be replayed from the start if it is needed to determine a postseason berth.
Under another change, a player may no longer step into a dugout to catch a foul ball. He still will be allowed to reach into a dugout.
A batter running to first base also will be allowed to exit the 3-foot lane in foul territory "for the sole purpose of touching first base," and a batter will lose the ability to run to first on a dropped third strike if he leaves the dirt circle around home plate unless he does so while trying to reach first base.
Previously, a player could run to first until he reached the dugout or his defensive position.
In another change, a batter who hits an apparent game-ending home run with less than two outs would be allowed to circle the bases if a runner ahead of him doesn't continue to home plate, thinking the game is over. If there are two outs when the play begins, however, the runner who abandons trying for home plate would be the third out and the home run would not count.
Another change allows pitchers to wear a multicolored glove if the umpire determines it isn't distracting. And a pitcher in the stretch position instead of a windup with no runners on base no longer will have to come to a complete stop.
With no runners on, a pitcher will be required to pitch within 12 seconds, the timing starting when the pitcher is in possession of the ball and the batter is in the batter's box, alert to the pitcher.
In addition, several changes were made to the scoring rules.
philodox
02-17-2007, 03:51 PM
Oh, that's going to be a fun change or 20. Yeeek.
Brett Favre to have ankle surgery
ESPN.com
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Favre
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Brett Favre will have ankle surgery in the next few weeks, and Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy says the three-time MVP will have plenty of time to recover for minicamps.
The 37-year-old quarterback was supposed to have surgery on his left ankle the day after the season, but skipped it and had yet to reschedule.
"Yes, we're looking to have it done ... in the next couple of weeks," McCarthy said.
ESPN reports that the Chargers will be hiring Norv Turner as their next Head Coach.
He's not going to be a General Manager, but I guess he is okay with that.
philodox
02-19-2007, 07:16 PM
Washington, Oakland, and now San Diego. Any bets on what his record's going to be?
Washington, Oakland, and now San Diego. Any bets on what his record's going to be?
7-9
philodox
02-22-2007, 07:03 PM
I'll call it 9-7. Nobody can screw a team up that badly. Meanwhile in the AFC West, the Raiders have declined to pick up their option on Aaron Brooks, sending him looking for his 3rd team in 3 years. Prior to losing all 8 of his starts with Oakland/LA/Oakland, the highlight of which (for me anyway) was a 7-sack season-opening loss to San Diego.
The NBA trade deadline came and went, and nobody noticed.
Training camps are starting in baseball, and the season is filled with promise for everyone. Even the perennial kings of suck, the Rockies.
I guess that means Andrew Walters will be the Raiders new starting quarterback. I wish Seattle was playing Oakland this season, i'd love to watch Walters get destroyed again.
Also, the Royals are the kings of suck. The Rockies have nothing on the Royals when it comes to pure suckitude and overall lameness.
philodox
02-23-2007, 07:21 PM
Hmm. Okay, according to the standings, Tampa Bay was officially the King of Suck. Looks like KC was runner-up, and the Rockies qualified for Miss Congenialty.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/standings <- Link to witness the suck.
Don't worry about the Raiders qb. We'll make sure she gets a proper beatdown.
The Raiders will probably draft a QB in the first round. It will probably be Brady Quinn or Jamarcus Russell. Well, probably Russell unless Quinn does awesome in the combine.
Tomlinson's father killed in car accident
ESPN.com
WACO, Texas -- The father of San Diego Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson died Friday in a car accident that killed another man believed to be related to the athlete, authorities said.
Oliver Tomlinson, 71, of Chilton was killed in the 1:30 p.m. one-vehicle rollover, said Charlie Morgan, a Texas Department of Public Safety spokesman.
The pickup's driver, Ronald C. McClain, 48, was taken by ambulance to Waco's Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center, where he died around 4:40 p.m., Morgan said. McClain is believed to be another relative of Tomlinson's, Morgan said.
LaDainian Tomlinson was returning to Texas after being notified about the accident and his father's death, Morgan said.
Witnesses reported that a tire on the 1969 Chevrolet pickup truck blew, causing the truck to swerve out of control and flip over near an intersection east of Waco near Asa. Both men were thrown from the truck, Morgan said.
Jewel Tomlinson, Oliver's wife and LaDainian's stepmother, said her husband and McClain had been returning to Waco after a trip to the family home in Tomlinson Hill, the Waco Tribune-Herald reported in its online edition Friday. She said Oliver had been staying in Waco recently while recovering from an illness.
LaDainian Tomlinson, who won the NFL's MVP award last season, played football at Waco's University High School before going on to star at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth.
Broncos' Damien Nash collapses, dies
ESPN.com
Denver Broncos reserve tailback Damien Nash collapsed and died Saturday night after an appearance in a charity basketball game in St. Louis.
Nash, a two-year NFL veteran, was 24.
Agent David Canter confirmed his client's death, as did Denver team officials.
"The Broncos family has suffered a great loss with the passing of Damien Nash," coach Mike Shanahan said from Indianapolis, where he was attending the NFL's scouting combine along with general manager Ted Sundquist. "I am stunned and deeply saddened by this tragedy, and send my deepest condolences to Damien's family."
Canter, who is attending the annual NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis, was contacted after ESPN.com received reports of Nash's death from people close to other players who had participated in the basketball game. During a telephone interview, Canter, who was unaware of the incident, received a call from Denver officials confirming Nash's death.
"It's true," an obviously distraught Canter said. "It's true. I don't know what more to say right now, OK?"
Details of the incident were not yet available, and an official with the St. Louis police said an investigation was in its "very earliest" stages.
The proceeds of the event were to benefit the Darris Nash Find A Heart Foundation, which raises money for heart transplant research. The foundation was created last month after Darris Nash, 25, the older brother of Damien Nash, received a heart transplant.
Former Missouri receiver Sean Coffey was at the event with Nash and told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch there was no indication anything was wrong.
"Everything was normal. ... We were playing around at the game. ... He was fine," Coffey told the newspaper. "I give my best to his family. This is crazy. I can't believe this is happening. It was the first time I had seen him in a couple of years. I can't believe he's gone. I'm so happy I got to see him one last time."
A former University of Missouri standout, Nash entered the NFL as a fifth-round choice of the Tennessee Titans in 2005. He played three games with the Titans as a rookie, and then signed with Denver as a free agent last August. In his one season in Denver, he appeared in three games, rushing 18 times for 66 yards.
"The Denver Broncos organization is once again struck with profound sadness over the tragic loss of one of our players," team owner Pat Bowlen said in a statement. "This is a tremendous tragedy and our hearts go out to the entire Nash family."
Nash is the second Broncos' player to die since the end of the 2006 season. Two-year veteran cornerback Darrent Williams was shot to death in a limousine after leaving a Denver-area nightclub Jan. 1.
philodox
02-26-2007, 07:27 PM
RIP Damien.
The cause of death was still unknown as of yesterday evening. I havn't looked for any articles today.
philodox
02-27-2007, 06:52 PM
Yeah. They're saying his family has a history of heart problems.
The Broncos will be trading running back Mike Bell for Lions cornerback Dre Bly.
philodox
03-02-2007, 02:26 PM
And the broncos threw in George Foster.
Oi.
LV426
03-02-2007, 07:12 PM
Plummer retires to avoid trade to Tampa Bay
By Jason Cole, Charles Robinson and John Murphy
March 2, 2007
The Bucs want Jake Plummer, but the feeling isn't mutual.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made a deal to acquire the quarterback from Denver on Friday for a fourth-round draft pick in this year's draft.
But according to a league source, Plummer has decided to retire, nullifying the deal that would have sent him to Tampa Bay. Plummer apparently was not interested in joining a team which would not name him to an immediate starting spot, which the Buccaneers refused to do.
Plummer would have had to battle returning starter Chris Simms for the starting job in Tampa Bay. The deal also could have opened the door for an AFC West battle between the Broncos and Oakland Raiders for the rights to free agent signal caller Jeff Garcia, who has received initial interest from both teams.
Plummer lost his job in Denver last season to rookie Jay Cutler after playing inconsistently over the first half of the season. Plummer also fell out of favor with the Broncos during the playoffs in the 2005 season after a poor performance in the AFC championship game against Pittsburgh.
The 32-year-old Plummer finished last season with 11 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in 11 starts. Plummer played well in the previous three seasons, throwing 60 touchdowns and 34 interceptions in that span.
Plummer seemed to lose his confidence as last season progressed. After losing his starting job, Plummer was upset with how Denver coach Mike Shanahan dealt with the change. Plummer was particularly angry that he received a phone call from his position coach to inform him of the change rather than hearing directly from Shanahan.
philodox
03-02-2007, 11:25 PM
Yes, they have been boning jake. Bastards. They coulda at least tossed him to Houston.
Woops. I posted some incorrect information. The Broncos will be trading running back Tatum Bell (not Mike) and George Foster for Dre Bly.
philodox
03-08-2007, 01:26 PM
And Dre wants to be traded to Washington. Dammit.
Willis McGahee has been traded to the Ravens for a bunch of crap draft picks. The Bills are retarded.
Former Ravens runningback Jamal Lewis has been signed to the Cleveland Browns, and now the Browns are trying to get rid of Droughns. He's amazing.
The broncos made another trade, I forget who.
Seattle signed Atlanta Falcon defensive end Patrick Kerney, and released defensive end Grant Wistrom. Pissed me off, Wistrom was one of my favorite players. I'm hoping Kerney can step in and do the job with the same intensity that Wistrom had.
Joe Horn of the Saints is now an Atlanta Falcon! Der move by New Orleans.
Joey Porter of the Steelers is now a Miami Dolphin. Even bigger der move by new coach Mike Tomlin. I mean, come on. Why release Porter? Why? He's a beast, and probably the biggest reason the Steelers were kind of successful in 05.
Those are all of the major changes I can think of in the league right now. The only thing that matters is whether or not Seattle resigns Jerramy Stevens though. I'm going to make a livejournal and start hurting myself if they don't.
The Giants have traded wide receiver Tim Carter for Browns' running back Reuben Droughns, to replace now retired running back Tiki Barber.
NFL News
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Urlacher's $100,000 hat trick
http://assets.espn.go.com/photo/2007/0418/nfl_u_urlacher_195.j pg
ESPN:
NEW YORK -- Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher was fined $100,000 by the NFL for wearing a cap during Super Bowl media day that promoted a sponsor not authorized by the league.
NFL rules prohibit gear that advertises any product but a designated sponsor, league spokesman Brian McCarthy said Wednesday.
Urlacher was fined for drinking vitaminwater and wearing a vitaminwater hat during the media session in Miami leading to the title game. Gatorade is the NFL's official drink.
McCarthy said this is the first time such a fine has been levied. He added that $100,000 is the standard fine for such a violation at the Super Bowl. A violation during the regular season is $10,000. It is $50,000 at the Pro Bowl.
The fine recalls an episode involving Chicago quarterback Jim McMahon in the playoffs following the 1985 season, the previous time the Bears made the Super Bowl.
McMahon wore a headband that said "adidas" in a playoff game against the New York Giants, and then-commissioner Pete Rozelle fined him $5,000 because the shoe company was not an NFL sponsor. The following week, in the NFC title game against the Los Angeles Rams, McMahon wore a headband that read "rozelle."
NFL News
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Vince Young named Madden 08 cover athlete
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ESPN:
Following a bang-up rookie campaign that saw him carry the undermanned Titans to a respectable 8-8 finish, Tennessee quarterback Vince Young has been chosen by EA SPORTS to be the face of Madden NFL 08.
Tennessee's Vince Young will be the face of Madden NFL 08.
Amid a flurry of rumors and speculations surrounding the identity of the Madden NFL 08 cover athlete, Young himself announced that he was on the cover during a live chat on ESPN.com. When asked if he was worried about the legendary Madden Cover Curse, Young replied, "I am on the cover and I am not worried about the curse."
Young started 13 games for the Titans in his first season after being selected third overall in the 2006 NFL Draft. After taking a few games to find his footing, the nimble QB led Tennessee on a six-game winning streak late in the year, pushing them on an improbable playoff charge that, despite falling just short, provides plenty of hope for the franchise's future.
After a career-defining performance in the 2006 Rose Bowl, a showdown for the national championship in which he scored the winning touchdown to lead his Texas Longhorns to a stunning 41-38 win over defending champion USC, Young's unique combination of size, strength and elusiveness led to his distinction of being the first quarterback selected in the draft. He justified the Titans' faith in his abilities by picking up steam toward the end of his rookie NFL campaign, completing over 60 percent of his passes in four of his final six games while rushing for seven touchdowns overall, including an amazing 39-yard scoring run that beat Houston in overtime in Week 14.
"To have my face on the cover of Madden, it means so much to me, my family, and my friends," Young said. "It's a phenomenal feeling, because you know everyone plays Madden. With my past and my history -- for me to get here, its means so much. It shows young kids that anybody can make it, if you work hard enough."
Young joins former Madden cover athletes Daunte Culpepper, Michael Vick and Donovan McNabb in a collection of quarterbacks that combine a good arm with serious running ability, but of the entire group, Young might have the most talent. If his rookie season is any indication, he's just begun to scratch the surface of his abilities, and the 2007 season should provide even more fireworks.
Still, of all his accomplishments, including winning the 2005 college national championship and being chosen as the 2006 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, Young said that ending up on the Madden NFL 08 cover fits right in with everything else: "Man, this ranks pretty high up there with all that's happened over the last two years."
NHL News
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Blue Jackets confirm firing MacLean as president-GM
ESPN:
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Columbus Blue Jackets fired president and general manager Doug MacLean, whose teams did not come within 19 points of the playoffs in the franchise's six seasons.
Team spokesman Todd Sharrock confirmed the firing on Thursday morning after several media reports said MacLean had been let go Wednesday night.
Principal owner John H. McConnell, minority owners and team officials met Wednesday and agreed to dismiss MacLean, the architect of a team that had gone 172-258-62 since joining the league in 2000 and 33-42-7 this past season.
Led by coach Ken Hitchcock, and with players such as Rick Nash and Sergei Fedorov, the Blue Jackets finished 23 points out of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Their record this season is 24th among the league's 30 teams.
Sharrock said team officials would hold a news conference later Thursday.
Jody Shelley, with the team from its first year, said he was stunned by the dismissal despite the lack of success by the team.
"As a player, I'm really surprised," he said. "You hear the rumors but you just figure it comes with not meeting expectations. Then when the other shoe drops, you're still shocked."
MacLean did not return messages seeking comment left on his cell phone.
NLL News
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Playoffs open this weekend
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Josh Sanderson and the Toronto Rock (6-10) will meet the Rochester Knighthawks (14-2) at Blue Cross Arena on Friday evening to open the 2007 Champion's Cup Playoffs.
NLL.com:
After an exciting finale to the regular season, the matchups for next weekend's Divisional Semifinal games are set. Colorado will host San Jose (Saturday, 4/21) and Calgary will host Arizona (Saturday, 4/21) in the West, while Rochester will host Toronto (Friday, 4/20) and Buffalo will host Minnesota (Sunday, 4/22) in the East.
Despite a three-game losing streak to finish the season, the Rock clinched the final remaining playoff spot as a result of two Philadelphia losses this weekend. Toronto, Philadelphia and Chicago each finished the season with identical 6-10 records, and each split the season series, 1-1, with both their East rivals. As a result, Toronto wins the tiebreaker based off of Divisional record. The Rock finished with a 5-7 record against East opponents, while Chicago finished 5-8 and Philadelphia finished 4-8.
The Rock will meet the top seeded Rochester Knighthawks at Blue Cross Arena on Friday evening at 8:05 PM EST. The Knighthawks are currently on a 12-game winning streak.
Buffalo will host the Minnesota Swarm on Sunday at HSBC Arena. The Swarm defeated Philadelphia and Arizona this weekend to wrap up the #3 seed in the East. Faceoff is slated for 2:00 PM EST.
In the West, Calgary beat Arizona and Edmonton in consecutive nights to go from being on the playoff-bubble to the #2 seed. Calgary, Arizona and San Jose all finish with 9-7 records, but the Roughnecks victory over Arizona on Friday swayed the tiebreakers their way. Calgary will host Arizona next Saturday at Pengrowth Saddledome. Faceoff is set for 7:30 PM MST.
Colorado clinched the West Division title with a split against San Jose this weekend. The Mammoth will meet the Stealth for a third consecutive game. The two teams will battle on Saturday evening at Pepsi Center. Faceoff is at 7:00 PM MST.
The following are the first round match-ups and overall seedings for the 2007 Champion's Cup Playoffs.
NBA News
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NBA arenas draw record 21.8 million fans in '06-'07
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NBA teams averaged 17,757 fans per game during yet another record-breaking season.
ESPN:
NEW YORK -- The NBA broke its attendance record for the third straight year, drawing more than 21.8 million fans during the 2006-07 season.
The league also surpassed its previous best by averaging 17,757 fans. The previous best marks were set last season, when the average of 17,558 fans led to a total of just under 21.6 million.
The top three teams in average attendance are all from the Central Division: Chicago (22,253); Detroit (22,076), and Cleveland (20,436).
Orlando, Portland, the Los Angeles Clippers and Houston all had attendance increases between 7 and 10 percent. The league had 600 sellouts, up from 471 last season and the most in over a decade.
"We are grateful for our fans' continued support," commissioner David Stern said. "The third straight year of record attendance reflects the NBA's ever-increasing popularity, as the world's greatest athletes continue to display the passion and dedication they bring to this great game."
The NBA last had three straight years of attendance increase during a four-year span from 1992-96.
MLB News
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Johnson wants another rehab start to test back
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ESPN:
PHOENIX -- Randy Johnson plans to make one more minor league start before joining the Arizona Diamondbacks' rotation.
The Big Unit, returning from offseason back surgery, will pitch for Triple-A Tucson on Thursday night. If all goes well, Johnson could pitch for the Diamondbacks against San Diego on April 24.
"I didn't feel I was ready," Johnson said. "I'm coming off back surgery. I didn't have a regular spring training, absolutely. I'm feeling good about everything, and I want to have one more productive start and know that it's my last start."
Arizona had thought Johnson's start at Tucson on Friday night would be his last tuneup. But Melvin said the club and the pitcher agreed he needed more time.
"He's at 20, 21 innings, which is a short spring, especially for a guy that's coming off back surgery," manager Bob Melvin said. "At some point in time, you go through that dead-arm period, and we feel like he's a little bit there right now."
Arizona reacquired the 43-year-old left-hander in January after he spent two frustrating seasons with the New York Yankees. Johnson won four of his five Cy Young Awards during his first stint with the Diamondbacks, from 1999-2004.
Also Monday, the Diamondbacks activated outfielder Carlos Quentin from the 15-day disabled list.
Quentin, who had been out with a shoulder injury, batted fifth and played right field against the Los Angeles Dodgers. His return prompted a shuffle in the outfield, with Eric Byrnes moving to left and Scott Hairston going to the bench.
To make room for Quentin, the Diamondbacks optioned infielder Brian Barden to Tucson. Barden was 1-for-10 in his first seven major league games this season.
NBA News
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Kings fire Musselman after one season
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Musselman was fired after the Kings went 33-49 in his only season as coach.
ESPN:
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- The Sacramento Kings fired coach Eric Musselman on Friday after just one tumultuous season.
The Kings went 33-49 and missed the playoffs amid infighting and unimpressive play. The club, which reached the postseason eight consecutive times before coach Rick Adelman was fired last summer, wasted no time removing Musselman but intends to take plenty of time to choose his replacement.
"We've got to sit down and look at the process and how we did it," Geoff Petrie, the Kings' president of basketball operations, said of last summer's coaching search.
"There was some concern -- not that we were out of the playoffs, but the way we were out of it. We just couldn't get the level of consistency that would allow us to [make the postseason]," he said.
The firing is a disastrous end to an experiment by Sacramento owners Joe and Gavin Maloof, who dropped Adelman last summer against Petrie's apparent wishes. The Maloofs eventually chose Musselman, a longtime NBA assistant coach who presided over two decent seasons with the Golden State Warriors from 2002-04.
But Musselman was a disappointment from Oct. 20, when he was arrested on a drunken-driving charge after Sacramento's first preseason game. Musselman later pleaded no contest to the charge and served a two-game suspension in February.
The Kings, who won two Pacific Division titles and reached the 2002 Western Conference finals under Adelman, struggled after an 8-5 start under Musselman. They eventually collapsed into a season-ending 5-17 skid despite returning largely the same roster that scared the San Antonio Spurs in a first-round series last season.
Petrie thought he had assembled a team capable of challenging for a playoff spot even while the club retools its roster, but the Kings fell out of contention during a 1-8 skid in March that included losses to Charlotte, Atlanta and Minnesota.
Sacramento finished the season with a 117-106 home loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night to cap a 20-21 record at Arco Arena. The Kings have sold out 354 consecutive home games, but those raucous crowds had little to cheer.
After years of dazzling the NBA with Adelman's uptempo offense, the Maloofs wanted to see an improved defensive team in the mold of San Antonio or Detroit. Though Musselman had a background in defensive coaching and an inexhaustible supply of motivational material, the Kings never took to his approach while yielding 103.1 points per game -- seventh-worst in the league -- even with vaunted defensive stopper Ron Artest in the lineup.
And the Kings' problems weren't confined to the court, where guard Kevin Martin's breakout season was perhaps the only major improvement. The unpleasant locker room was filled with infighting, and veterans Artest, Mike Bibby and Brad Miller all failed to take charge.
"They sense they all could have done more themselves and more as a group," Petrie said of his end-of-season interviews with the players.
The season was among the most discouraging in the history of a franchise that knows all about miserable basketball, including 15 consecutive losing seasons from 1984-98.
The club moved from Kansas City to Sacramento in 1985 and reached the playoffs twice with losing records before Adelman, Chris Webber, Vlade Divac and Peja Stojakovic transformed the team in 1999 -- also the same year the Maloofs bought the team.
But most of the key players on those teams aged and departed over the last three seasons, leaving Petrie to rebuild around Bibby and Artest, who added to his volatile reputation with another bizarre year. Animal control officers and police were called to his suburban home at different times during the winter, and he occasionally criticized teammates and disrupted practices.
After weeks of rumors surrounding Musselman's departure, the Kings made the move after Musselman met Friday with Petrie, who acknowledged he was already "leaning that direction." The Maloofs must pay Musselman about $5 million for the remaining two seasons of his contract.
"When the speculation about anybody's job security gets as heavy and personal as it has in the last few days, it's unfair to let that kind of thing drag on," Petrie said, citing widespread predictions of Musselman's demise in the Sacramento media.
Attempts to reach Musselman weren't immediately successful. Joe Maloof also didn't return a phone call seeking comment.
The Kings don't intend to start a coaching search until Petrie returns from an upcoming scouting trip to Europe, though Petrie intends to have a coach in place before the draft.
Musselman's assistants, including Scott Brooks, are still under contract to the Kings. Brooks could be among the candidates -- but the Kings seem more likely to go after an established NBA coach after attempting to tame a difficult locker room with a relative neophyte.
Longtime Spurs assistant P.J. Carlesimo interviewed for the job last summer, and the Maloofs have long spoken highly of Larry Brown, now an executive vice president with the Philadelphia 76ers.
And the day just got worse for the Kings: They also lost tiebreakers with Charlotte and New York, who also finished 33-49, to drop from eighth to 10th in the overall draft order.
Seahawk Sport Analyst Ludwig the Cat
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St. Paul, Minnesota --
Saturday, April 27th, 1:20 P.M.
I forgot to tell you all about the new posting format I set up here. If you haven't noticed yet, the news posts look a little different now.
This is the new format:
1. Sport
2. Respective logo
3. Subject Header
4. Related Image
5. Image Description
6. Source
7. Article
I think this new format will make my thread look cleaner, and perhaps seem like it's a little more worthwhile to read for those of you (almost the whole site) who are uninterested in sports. This new format will also allow for quicker navigation, so you can easily skip the articles that are related to sports that you do not care about.
For some articles, I may not be able to easily find a related image. I also don't want the images to be too large or too small. My objective is to create a fun, clean and easy to read thread. So if a news article does not have an image, I'm sure you can deal with it.
I really encourage anyone who sees this post to reply to the thread. I am asking for any recommendations, and if you would like me to start posting more about a specific sport I would be happy too.
NLL News
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Knighthawks defeat Rock, 10-6
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Rochester goaltender Pat O'Toole recorded 46 saves and allowed only six goals in net to secure the win over Toronto.
NLL.com
The Rochester Knighthawks edged the Toronto Rock 10-6 on Friday evening at Blue Cross Arena in Rochester and will host either Minnesota or Buffalo next Friday, April 27th at 8:05 PM Eastern in the Eastern Divisional Final. Despite a strong performance by Rock goaltender Bob Watson, the Knighthawks were able to jump out to an early lead and never trailed as Pat O'Toole was strong in net for Rochester. Mike Accursi scored three goals and Shawn Williams scored seven points on two goals and five assists to lead the Knighthawks to the victory.
The Knighthawks wasted little time getting on the board as Shawn Evans scored the first goal of the post season at 1:50 into the first quarter and Shawn Williams added another score less than a minute later. From there the defenses buckled down as neither team scored again until Shawn Evans added another goal at 13:35 into the opening period. Toronto was held without a score in the first period and Rochester lead 3-0 heading into the first break.
Pat Merrill netted Toronto's first goal of the game nearly seven minutes in the second quarter and Ryan Benesch added a pair of scores as the Rock closed the gap in the second. Rochester led 5-4 at halftime.
Pat O'Toole and the Knighthawks again held the Rock scoreless for an entire quarter, blanking Toronto in the third. Mike Accursi scored twice for the Knighthawks to extend Rochester's lead to 7-4 heading into the final quarter.
The Rock quickly closed the gap in the fourth, scoring two goals to pull within one (7-6), however John Grant answered with a score of his own to give the Knighthawks an 8-6 lead. Trailing by two late, Toronto pulled Watson from net for the extra attacker. However Rochester was able to hold off the Rock attack and added a pair of empty net scores late to secure the 10-6 victory.
Mike Accursi scored three goals and Shawn Williams scored seven points on two goals and five assists to lead the Rochester offense. Rochester goaltender Pat O'Toole recorded 46 saves and allowed only six goals in net to secure the win.
Rookie Ryan Benesch led the Rock with three goals while Toronto goaltender Bob Watson recorded 50 saves and allowed eight goals in the loss.
NFL News
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Fastest man alive in Bucs Minicamp
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ESPN:
TAMPA, Fla. -- Olympic 100-meter champion Justin Gatlin, facing a track and field suspension of up to eight years for failing a drug test last summer, is trying to launch a career in pro football as a wide receiver with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
"If [his speed] can transfer to football, you have a real threat," Bucs coach Jon Gruden said. "If it can't, then it won't work."
Gatlin, who is participating in the Bucs' rookie minicamp this weekend, said he last played football during his freshman year at Tennessee. He then concentrated on track, winning the 100 meters at the 2004 Athens Olympics and equaling the world record of Jamaica's Asafa Powell at 9.77 seconds.
"This is where I want to be," Gatlin said. "I didn't come here on my high horse, all mighty, and saying give me a locker and let me do what I want to do. I'm starting from the ground up, and that's where I want to start."
Gatlin said he worked out with Arizona and Houston. The Bucs have been the only team to bring him in for a formal workout. The team will decide after this weekend whether to sign Gatlin and bring him back for the club's next minicamp.
"He won a gold medal. He wants to give this a shot, and this is a good launching pad to see how quickly he picks it up, how natural he is and how far he has to go," Gruden said.
Gatlin faces the suspension following a positive test for testosterone and other steroids at the Kansas Relays last April. His appeal is pending and he said Friday that he has not given up hope of resuming his career as a sprinter.
In the meantime, he will try to make the transition from fastest man in the world to football -- as Bob Hayes did more than four decades ago. But he knows there is a lot more to making an NFL team than being the first runner to the finish line.
"Track and field, you go out there and run, you're the fastest guy, that's what it is, you're the fastest guy," Gatlin said. "In football you might have the fastest go route or the sickest cuts out there, but if you ain't what they're looking for out on this field then take a number and get in line."
NLL News
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ROCHESTER WINS EAST FINAL IN OT, 14-13
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John Grant (right) scored the game-winning goal in overtime to put the Knighthawks in the 2007 NLL Championship Game.
NLL.com
The Rochester Knighthawks defeated the Buffalo Bandits, 14-13, in a come-from-behind overtime victory at Blue Cross Arena on Friday evening. John Grant was the hero of the evening, scoring the game-winner only 26 seconds into overtime. The Knighthawks trailed 12-9 in the fourth quarter, but scored four straight goals to take a 13-12 lead, their first lead since the first quarter.
Delby Powless tied the game for Buffalo with a goal with 1:43 remaining to force overtime.
Mike Accursi led the Knighthawks with five goals, while Grant and Scott Evans each scored hat-tricks. Pat O'Toole made 47 saves in the win.
Five players scored two goals apiece for Buffalo - Mark Steenhuis, John Tavares, Brett Bucktooth, Kevin Dostie and Cory Bomberry. Mike Thompson finished with 48 saves in the loss.
NLL News
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ARIZONA BEATS SAN JOSE FOR WEST TITLE, 9-7
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The Arizona Sting won their second Western Divisional Championship in three years after defeating the San Jose Stealth.
NLL.com
The Arizona Sting jumped out to a 7-1 first half lead and held on to defeat the San Jose Stealth 9-7 at Jobing.com Arena in the 2007 NLL Western Divisional Final. With the victory the Sting captured their second Western Division championship in three years. Dan Dawson lead Arizona on offense with two goals and three assists for five points, while Rob Blasdell recorded 44 saves and allowed only seven goals in the victory in net. Arizona advances to face the Rochester Knighthawks in the National Lacrosse League Championship Presented by Edge Active Care on May 12th.
After the two teams traded a pair of early goals, the Arizona Sting scored six consecutive goals to take a 7-1 lead into halftime and would never trail. Sting forward Dan Dawson lead Arizona with two goals in the first half.
San Jose began clawing back in the second half. Gary Rosyski scrod four goals and despite San Jose outscoring the Sting 6-2 in the second half, Arizona held on to secure the 9-7 victory.
The Sting will make a return trip to the NLL Championship Game for the second time in three years on May 12th, after falling to the Toronto Rock in 2005. Arizona will face Rochester for the Champion's Cup.
Dan Dawson lead Arizona on offense with two goals and three assists for five points, while Rob Blasdell recorded 44 saves and allowed only seven goals in the victory in net.
San Jose was lead on offense by Gary Rosyski with four goals and three assists for seven points in the loss. Goaltender Anthony Cosmo recorded 28 saves and allowed nine goals.
NLL News
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EXPANSION TEAM AWARDED TO BOSTON FOR 2008
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John Wentzell, President of TD Banknorth Garden, NLL Commissioner Jim Jennings, Boston owners Tim and John Armstrong, and Head Coach Tom Ryan introduced the new Boston NLL franchise today.
NLL.com
The National Lacrosse League announced it has awarded a franchise to the city of Boston for the 2008 season. The Boston team becomes the league's fourteenth franchise, and will play its home games at TD Banknorth Garden, the home arena of the NHL's Boston Bruins and the NBA's Boston Celtics. The team also announced former NLL star Tom Ryan as Head Coach. The expansion Boston team will begin play in January of 2008.
"Our league and its member clubs are excited to be in Boston," said Commissioner Jim Jennings. "We have a lot of NLL fans throughout New England, and they will now have a team of their own."
The ownership group will be led by Tim Armstrong, President of Advertising and Commerce for Google. Armstrong is also a former lacrosse player at Connecticut College, where he was a defenseman and team captain.
"We are excited by the growth of lacrosse both here in New England and across America," said Armstrong. "Sports fans of New England will now have a National Lacrosse League team of their own to root for. TD Banknorth Garden is a great venue for indoor lacrosse, and we look forward to building this organization into a legacy franchise here in Boston."
The team also introduced their Head Coach, former NLL player Tom Ryan. Ryan, who retired as a player in 2002, brings nearly two decades of experience as a player and coach to Boston.
"I am excited for the opportunity to build this team from the ground up", said Ryan. "We have a dynamic team owner in Tim Armstrong, and everything in place to build a winning team here at TD Banknorth Garden that New England fans will love."
Ryan, 36, played nine seasons in the NLL, amassing 202 points (82 goals, 120 assists) in 95 career games. He began his pro career in 1995 in Boston, and went on to play with the Philadelphia Wings, where he was a member of the 2001 World Championship team.
"Tom Ryan was a fierce competitor in the professional game and back when I played against him in college", said team owner Tim Armstrong. "I couldn't be more excited to have him as the head coach who will lead our team onto the floor when we begin play in January of 2008."
Ryan has a wide range of coaching experience. Selected last October as Head Coach of the U.S. National Team, he will be leading Team USA in next week's World Indoor Lacrosse Championship in Nova Scotia, an event consisting of several NLL players who will be representing their home countries.
Ryan has also served as an Assistant Coach for the women's lacrosse teams at Towson University and Loyola College - as well as the men's lacrosse team at Connecticut College, where he earned his Masters degree in Psychology.
A 1993 graduate of Bowdoin College, Ryan was an All-American attackman and holds the school's record as the all-time leading scorer, which includes a 97-point Senior season (56 goals, 41 assists).
The Boston NLL team has begun accepting deposits for season tickets for their inaugural 2008 season. A $25 deposit will ensure great seats to catch all the NLL action. The team is also holding a Name the Team contest on their website, www.bostonindoorlacr osse.com.
NLL News
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KNIGHTHAWKS DEFEAT STING TO CAPTURE TITLE
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NLL Commissioner Jim Jennings presents the Champion's Cup to injured Knighthawks captain Mike Hasen, as well as current active captain Regy Thorpe.
NLL.com
The Rochester Knighthawks defeated the Arizona Sting, 13-11, in the 2007 NLL Championship presented by Edge Active Care at Jobing.com Arena on Saturday. John Grant was named Championship Game MVP with a three goal, five assist performance. The victory marks the first time Rochester has won the title since 1997. The Knighthawks never trailed in the game, holding a five-goal lead early in the fourth quarter before having to withstand a late Sting comeback.
Grant's goal 58 seconds into the fourth quarter appeared to be the beginning of the end for Arizona, giving Rochester an 11-6 lead. However, Arizona scored four straight to cut the score to 11-10. Craig Conn's goal, a diving rebound shot, capped the run with nine minutes remaining in regulation. With the crowd energized by the streak and Arizona pushing for more, Rochester's Luke Forget found Bill Greer, who scored on the ensuing faceoff to stop the bleeding.
Shawn Williams scored to put the Knighthawks back up by three, but Conn scored his fifth goal of the game only seconds later to cut the score to 13-11.
That's where Knighthawks star goalkeeper Pat O'Toole came in. O'Toole finished with 42 saves, including 11 in the fourth quarter, shutting out a powerful Sting offense playing with desperation.
"He's the best goalie I've ever seen," said MVP John Grant. "I'm proud to be on this team. This has been a different year for us."
Shawn Williams and Mike Accursi each joined Grant with hat-tricks, while Stephen Hoar, Bill Greer, Chris Schiller and Steve Toll each added singles. Scott and Shawn Evans were each held scoreless.
"This one was tough," said Sting captain Peter Lough. "We battled hard but they executed really well."
The game was tight early, with Rochester scoring the first two goals of the game, and Arizona notching it at two apiece early in the second quarter. The Knighthawks then opened the floodgates, taking the lead for good with five straight goals in a 6-minute span.
Williams capitalized on the Knighthawks first power-play of the game with a wide open shot on the crease, and Accursi followed it up with a quick outside shot. Moments later, Chris Schiller scored on a two-on-none break, making a beautiful fake-pass to teammate Sandy Chapman to knock Sting goaltender Rob Blasdell off balance. Grant would follow it with another power-play goal on an outside shot, and Stephen Hoar capped the run with a goal off the faceoff only 11 seconds later, forcing Arizona to take a timeout.
The Sting responded with two late goals, and a successful penalty kill to end the half, with the game in striking distance at 7-4.
After the teams traded goals to start the third quarter, Grant and Steve Toll scored back-to-back to re-establish Rochester's five-goal lead. Grant's goal came on a quick shot to the near corner, catching Blasdell off guard, while Toll, the league's Transition Player of the Year, scored shorthanded after a wide Sting shot off the boards led to a breakaway.
The teams continued to trade goals until the fourth quarter, setting the stage for Arizona's attempted comeback.
Conn finished with five goals and three assists to lead the Sting. Peter Veltman scored two goals, while four others added singles, including Sting leading scorer Dan Dawson. Dawson did chip in with seven assists, but holding him to only one goal was certainly a major accomplishment for the Knighthawks defense. Derek Malawsky finished with six assists as well. Blasdell made 48 saves in the loss.
It's not important news, but it's Griffey news so it gets posted anyway.
MLB NEWS
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Griffey's gesture wins Dodger fan's support
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There are Ken Griffey Jr. fans and there are Ken Griffey Jr. supporters. The two worlds met at Dodger Stadium, when the Cincinnati Reds outfielder won over a heckler with a one-of-a-kind souvenier. A new size-XXL athletic supporter.
ESPN.com
The fan, seated behind the Reds dugout, was riding Griffey all game long on Friday before Griffey turned the tables.
"We were getting eye contact from all the players when I decided I would give the Dodgers an extra edge," the fan, identified in the Cincinnati Post as Matt Schafer, 25, wrote on his MySpace page. "I was going to try and get in Ken Griffey Jr.'s head a little bit. He had to walk right by us to get to the dugout and I just couldn't help myself."
"So I started with the basics: 'you suck ... shouldn't you be on the D.L. ... too old for center ... that kind of stuff."
Griffey said he was happy to play along.
"He was just on me every time I came in," Griffey said. "Him being a little larger than normal, I just asked, 'Shouldn't you be wearing a support bra?' "
In the sixth inning, Griffey sent someone back to the Reds clubhouse to fetch the largest athletic supporter he could find. The accomplice wrote the number "3" and "JR" on the waistband, and Griffey put the supporter in a brown paper bag, rolled it up and tossed it to Schafer when he ran back onto the field.
Schafer, a musician from San Pedro, Calif., opened the bag, pulled out the athletic supporter and began twirling it on his finger, with stadium cameras broadcasting the man's reaction for posterity.
"He was like, 'Whoa!'" Griffey told the Cincnnati Enquirer. "I turned around before all that stuff happened, but I could hear that section just laughing. Then I turned around and just saw him twirling it in the air like a helicopter."
Schafer had been won over.
"When Griffey came back in, I told him I was sorry about what [I] said about his mom and that I wanted to make up," he wrote on his MySpace page. "He shot me a grin. When he came out in the 8th [inning] he shot me another smile and I told him he still has the greatest swing in baseball. I hope he heard me, I think he did. I love Griffey."
In an e-mail interview with The Cincinnati Post, Schafer said he couldn't believe his story got so big, so fast.
"Griffey was so much fun that night. I know he was having fun with me too and it was all done in good taste. He is an incredible player with spectacular character," Schafer said via e-mail, according to the Post. "I hope we can laugh about that sometime again together. Maybe he will sign the now infamous jock for me."
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Sorry I didn't join in on the contest; I'm not so design-oriented.
In sports news this week, the Crosstown Classic here in Chicago has come and gone with the results standing thus: Cubs 2, Sox 1. We southsiders were much dismayed, but baseball fans in general were treated to some stellar plays during the series of three games criss-crossing back and forth between Wrigley Field on the North Side, and U.S. Cellular Field on the South.
On the subject of the Cubs, are any other major sports teams thought to be "cursed"? Do fans really believe that superstitious hexes can bring about ceaseless bad luck for the home team?
On the subject of the Cubs, are any other major sports teams thought to be "cursed"? Do fans really believe that superstitious hexes can bring about ceaseless bad luck for the home team?
I don't know anything about curses, but my Mariners probably have one. We use to have the best team in baseball in the mid 90's. We had Griffey Jr, A-Rod, Edgar Martinez, Carlos Guillen and even the legendary Randy Johnson on the mound and STILL no World Series!!
I've been wondering this for awhile. If you live in a city like Chicago that has two major league teams (The White Sox and the Cubs) who do you root for?
I loved the Cubs pitching rotation back a few years ago. Mark Prior, Kerry Wood, Greg Maddux, it was beautiful!
I've been wondering this for awhile. If you live in a city like Chicago that has two major league teams (The White Sox and the Cubs) who do you root for?Here at least, it depends on how "hardcore" a fan you are. If you're a die-hard loyalist, it's North Side/Cubs, South Side/Sox. If you're like me, it's just nice to watch a game where the city wins, no matter which team wins it for us.
Mostly it's just a good-natured rivalry, but it's not out of the question for a bar fight to break out between opposing factions on game days. Sox fans point out that the Cubs couldn't make it to the World Series if hell froze over, or Cubs fans ask Sox fans to name one player who was on the team pre-World Series win, just to see if they can do it.
I hate the White Sox almost as much as I hate the Athletics.
Now, I was born in Wyoming. People from Wyoming generally support the pro teams in Colorado. I know the Rockies and the Broncos are big there, Avalanche.. not so much. Wyoming isn't a hockey state.
Anyway, the Cubs are also favorites in Wyoming. I have no clue why. You'd think as far as an alternate team would go in Wyoming it would be the Mariners.
I'm a Seattle fan though because I grew up in northern Idaho. It's definitely Mariners/Seahawks territory up there.
Now that I am in Minnesota though, I find myself rooting for the Twins when they are on. My heart lies with the Mariners, but I still like to see the Twins win. Vikings, ehh I still havn't jumped on that bandwagon.
NFL News
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Keyshawn Retires
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ESPN:
LOS ANGELES -- Keyshawn Johnson has caught the damn ball in the NFL for the last time.
Johnson, who played a great game and talked one as well during an 11-year career, retired Wednesday despite several offers to continue playing.
He'll soon be expressing his strong opinions on ESPN.
"I wouldn't trade my career for anyone's," Johnson said at a news conference on the University of Southern California campus, where he starred before the New York Jets made him the first overall selection in the 1996 draft.
"I've done everything I wanted to do in my career," he said. "I just couldn't find one thing that could drive me back to playing football. As I learned from Bill Parcells -- the circus doesn't stay in town very long."
Johnson has agreed to a multiyear contract, and will appear on several ESPN telecasts, including pre-game shows on Sundays and Monday nights, and do some radio work as well.
At ESPN, Johnson will join the crew of Sunday NFL Countdown and Monday Night Countdown as an analyst. He will also contribute to a new weekly ESPN Radio NFL show hosted by Chris Mortensen and Bill Parcells.
"We're still working on all the different platforms they want me to be a part of," he said.
NHL News
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Ducks win first Stanley Cup in franchise history
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With his MVP win and a fourth Cup on his résumé, Scott Niedermayer joins an elite group of players.
ESPN:
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- The Anaheim Ducks were born on the silver screen and came of age by capturing the shiniest of silver cups.
They dropped the mighty from their name, but not their game and skated off with the first Stanley Cup championship in California history.
The 14-year-old Ducks captured the NHL title with a 6-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday night, ending the series in five games in front of the home folks again.
For the first time, the Stanley Cup can enjoy an NHL western home, and the Ducks' victory came at the expense of Canada. The cherished trophy was born in Ottawa, but no team north of the border has won it since Montreal in 1993.
philodox
06-07-2007, 11:08 PM
Corrected logo.
NHL News
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Ducks win first Stanley Cup in franchise history
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With his MVP win and a fourth Cup on his résumé, Scott Niedermayer joins an elite group of players.
ESPN:
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- The Anaheim Ducks were born on the silver screen and came of age by capturing the shiniest of silver cups.
They dropped the mighty from their name, but not their game and skated off with the first Stanley Cup championship in California history.
The 14-year-old Ducks captured the NHL title with a 6-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday night, ending the series in five games in front of the home folks again.
For the first time, the Stanley Cup can enjoy an NHL western home, and the Ducks' victory came at the expense of Canada. The cherished trophy was born in Ottawa, but no team north of the border has won it since Montreal in 1993.
Stupid, stupid commissioner
Ender
06-07-2007, 11:39 PM
I don't even want to hear about the goddamn ducks and their bullshit win. Niedermayer is a boot and always will be.
philodox
06-08-2007, 12:47 AM
Bluto: ...Wormer, he's a dead man! Marmalard, dead! Niedermeyer...
Otter: Dead! Bluto's right. Psychotic, but absolutely right.
Corrected logo.
Thanks. This is the logo I will use for all further NHL related posts:
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Ender
06-09-2007, 03:50 PM
may be my next tattoo as well.
may be my next tattoo as well.
http://boston-bruins-news.newslib.com/img/logo/781.gif
?
philodox
06-10-2007, 05:46 PM
NFL News
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Herndon signed to a 3-year deal by the Titans. (http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070610/SPORTS01/706100393/1027)
Don't that just make your ass chafe?
They need somebody to replace Pacman until his suspension is up.
Still thats a waste of a good corner
NBA News
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Spurs win NBA Championship
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ABC.com
The San Antonio Spurs beat the Cavaliers 83-82 in Cleveland to wrap up the 2007 National Basketball Association (NBA) championship.
The victory propelled San Antonio to a 4-0 sweep in the best-of-seven series in the NBA finals, handing the club their fourth title in nine seasons.
Manu Ginobili scored 13 of his game-high 27 points in the fourth quarter while series MVP Tony Parker added 24 points and Tim Duncan had 12 points and 15 rebounds for the Spurs.
The Spurs won previous crowns in 1999, 2003 and 2005.
Coach Gregg Popovich and forward Duncan have been part of all four Spurs championship teams.
Only Boston, Chicago and the Los Angeles Lakers have won more on the NBA's all-time champions list.
The Cavaliers were the eighth team in NBA history to be swept in the final, the first since the Los Angeles Lakers blanked New Jersey in 2002, and failed in their bid for Cleveland's first title in any major sport since 1964.
LeBron James led Cleveland with 24 points.
NFL News
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LaVar Arrington injured in motorcycle crash
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WTOPnews.com
LANDOVER, Md. - LaVar Arrington, a former member of the Washington Redskins and New York Giants, has been seriously hurt in a motorcycle crash Monday afternoon.
State Police say the crash happened about 1 p.m. on a ramp from Route 50 onto Interstate 495 near Landover. Police say Arrington's 2007 Kawasaki traveled off the ramp and into some gravel, where he lost control and hit a guardrail.
He was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.
He remains in stable condition at Prince George's Hospital Center. His injuries are described as non-life threatening.
Police say alcohol was not a factor in the crash. Arrington does have a license, but not a motorcycle license. He was given a ticket for driving the bike without a proper license and for failure to control speed to avoid a collision.
Washington drafted Arrington No. 2 overall in 2000, and he made three Pro Bowl appearances. Arrington bought out his contract after the 2005 season.
Arrington then joined the Giants but tore his Achilles' tendon in October and played only six games last season. New York released him in February as part of a salary cap purge under new general manager Jerry Reese, leaving Arrington to rehabilitate his injury while looking for another team.
While with the Redskins, Arrington became the team's most popular player and signed an eight-year, $68 million contract extension near the end of the 2003 season.
But Hall of Fame coach Joe Gibbs returned to the team with a new coaching staff in 2004, and Arrington's relationship with Washington began to sour. He hurt his knee early in the 2004 season and played in only four games.
In April 2005, after a second knee operation, Arrington criticized team officials for failing to support him during his injury. He also became involved in a dispute with Redskins owner Dan Snyder over a $6.5 million bonus Arrington said was missing from the final version of his contract.
The contract dispute was eventually settled, but Arrington then had a hard time getting on the field. He was used sparingly in the first six games of 2005 and didn't play at all in a loss against Denver. There was a sense that Arrington didn't fit well with defensive coordinator Gregg Williams' disciplined schemes.
There are trade rumors going about that the Wolves are considering trading Garnett to the Celtics. The trade would be Al Jefferson, Gerald Green, Sebastian Telfair, Theo Ratliff and a fifth round draft pick for KG. Still, this is just a rumor.
Thoughts?
philodox
06-19-2007, 06:12 PM
There are trade rumors going about that the Wolves are considering trading Garnett to the Celtics. The trade would be Al Jefferson, Gerald Green, Sebastian Telfair, Theo Ratliff and a fifth round draft pick for KG. Still, this is just a rumor.
Thoughts?
huh? Who? Oh...basketball. *goes back to hockey and football rumormill, bitches about Statsny getting the high hard one in the Calder race*
Yeah I dont even know who any of those people are besides KG, and thats only because he's a local hero
NHL News
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Bruins turn to Julien to return Original Six franchise to playoffs
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ESPN:
BOSTON -- Claude Julien wants the Boston Bruins to play more aggressively. Maybe that will make his bosses less aggressive in changing coaches.
Sitting in the same room where Dave Lewis was introduced as coach less than a year earlier, Julien vowed Thursday to turn mild-mannered forwards into hard-hitting forecheckers for a team that hasn't won a playoff series in eight years.
"We want to be aggressive, a physical type of team," the Bruins' new coach said.
But what about the frequent turnover in the job? Julien is the Bruins' third coach in the past year and 17th person to hold that job in the past 30.
"I didn't really look at that at all," said Julien, fired April 2 as coach of the New Jersey Devils, "because you just have to feel confident in your abilities to do the job and I do feel that."
Lewis, who took over last June 29 after Mike Sullivan was fired, was let go last Friday. Julien had "the inside edge" from the start among four candidates and his deal was finalized Monday, general manager Peter Chiarelli said. He and Julien wouldn't disclose the length or value of the contract.
Chiarelli wanted a coach who pushed his team to forecheck hard and held them accountable if they didn't. Lewis, who didn't do that, and Julien are both soft-spoken, pleasant men. But Chiarelli, hired May 29 last year after serving as Ottawa's assistant GM, was confident that Julien would keep after players.
"He demands that his players do what he wants to do," Chiarelli said. "I know a lot of guys are looking for a screamer. He's not, but he's a very passionate guy and disciplined. He demands accountability. You may not see it in the media, but he demands it."
So do the fans, especially after the Bruins missed the playoffs for the second straight season and gave up 70 more goals than they scored, the second-biggest differential in the NHL. They had the third-worst record in the Eastern Conference despite adding high-profile free agents Zdeno Chara and Marc Savard.
The Seahawk will return in August.
Seahawk Sport Analyst Ludwig the Cat
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A-Rod is one homerun away from 500. Bonds is one homerun away from 755. Kevin Garnett of the Timberwolves was traded to the Boston Celtics. Eric Gagne was traded to the Boston Red Sox. Luis Castillo of the Twins was traded to the New York Mets.
philodox
08-04-2007, 01:54 AM
Seahawk Sport Analyst Ludwig the Cat
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That wasn't analysis!
Seahawk Sport Analyst Ludwig the Cat
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Last night A-Rod hit #500 and Barry Bonds hit #755.
ThrasherCub
11-23-2007, 12:14 AM
NHL News
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NHL-worst Capitals fire coach Hanlon, promote Boudreau from AHL
NHL.com
ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) -Glen Hanlon was fired as coach of the NHL-worst Washington Capitals on Thursday, with the team off to its slowest start in 26 years.
Hanlon, in his fourth season at the helm, was told of the decision a day after loud boos and chants of "Fire Hanlon!" echoed through the arena during a 5-1 home loss to the Atlanta Thrashers, Washington's fifth consecutive defeat.
"He understood that it had to be done. We had talked after our game on Monday night and had some concerns about whether he was losing the team," general manager George McPhee said at the team's practice facility.
"For the most part this year, I thought we were a team that played hard and wasn't getting rewarded. But the last few games it looked like we'd lost the team, and you can't ignore that. You have to do something about it."
Hanlon will be replaced on an interim basis by Bruce Boudreau, the coach of the Hershey Bears, Washington's American Hockey League affiliate.
Boudreau got a call from McPhee at about 7 a.m. Thursday, hopped in his car and drove for nearly 3 hours, then ran the Capitals' practice, barking instructions and making the last player to reach a huddle skate a lap.
He will make his NHL coaching debut Friday at Philadelphia.
"I haven't really had a lot of time to focus on too much, except that it's unfortunate because Glen was a good friend of mine," Boudreau said. "But at the same time, I've sort of waited 32 years for this opportunity, so I'm looking forward to the challenge."
Boudreau, who played for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Chicago Blackhawks, is familiar with several of the Capitals' players, having coached seven current members of the roster at Hershey, which he led to the 2006 Calder Cup title.
He takes over a club that is 6-14-1 for 13 points, four fewer than any other team in the league through Wednesday.
McPhee met with the players Thursday and "told them they should meet together for a little bit and talk about what's been going on here, because some of them have to pull up their socks."
After beginning the season 3-0, the Capitals have lost nine of 10 games, and 15 of 18, leaving them with their lowest 21-game point total since having 12 in the 1981-82 season.
"It's a new page," star forward Alex Ovechkin said after the team's first practice under Boudreau.
Expectations among the Capitals - from team owner Ted Leonsis right down to Ovechkin and other players - were high entering the season, because of the addition of a few free agents and the team's top pick in the 2006 draft.
But other than Ovechkin, the team has had plenty of trouble scoring, and the problems have spread to other areas in recent games. Washington keeps falling behind and failing to recover, going 1-10-1 when opponents score first, and turnovers and poor line changes have been increasing.
"Hopefully a fresh voice will get some guys going here," goalie Olie Kolzig said.
Hanlon leaves his first NHL head coaching job with a 78-123-9-29 record.
After Wednesday night's loss, he was asked whether he believes his players can turn things around.
"Of course I do - or I wouldn't go in tomorrow," Hanlon replied, his voice soft and words slow. "You never stop believing. That's the real hard part of handling losing, is that you can never stop believing. ... I believe in the players."
The Capitals promoted Hanlon from assistant coach to head coach in December 2003, replacing the fired Bruce Cassidy. Washington wound up finishing last in its division that season, as well as in each of Hanlon's two full seasons.
But after slumping to 27th in the 30-team NHL in both 2005-06 and 2006-07 - when they had the lowest payroll in the league - the Capitals came into this season counting on being an improved club, an optimism reflected in the motto, "New Look. New Season. New Attitude."
Leonsis proclaimed "the rebuild is over" in an interview with Associated Press reporters and editors two days before the start of training camp, while Hanlon spoke early in the regular season about the team being ready to "shift from development to winning."
"Glen did a real nice job bringing some of our young players along," McPhee said. "It's not an easy thing, this process of trying to build a team and build a winning team. It takes time."
Rainheart
06-22-2008, 05:18 PM
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Two-time Top Fuel champ Kalitta killed during SuperNationals qualifying
ESPN.com
ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. -- Scott Kalitta died Saturday when his Funny Car burst into flames and crashed at the end of the track during the final round of qualifying for the Lucas Oil NHRA SuperNationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.
The NHRA said the 46-year-old Kalitta -- the 1994 and 1995 Top Fuel season champion who had 18 career victories, 17 in Top Fuel and one in Funny Car -- was taken to the Old Bridge division of Raritan Bay Medical Center, where he died a short time later.
Kalitta's Toyota Solara was traveling at about 300 mph when it burst into flames.
The Palmetto, Fla., resident started his career at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in 1982. His father, Connie Kalitta, was a longtime driver and team owner known as "The Bounty Hunter," and his cousin, Doug Kalitta, also drives competitively.
"We are deeply saddened and want to pass along our sincere condolences to the entire Kalitta family," the NHRA said in a statement. "Scott shared the same passion for drag racing as his legendary father, Connie. He also shared the same desire to win, becoming a two-time series world champion. He left the sport for a period of time, to devote more time to his family, only to be driven to return to the drag strip to regain his championship form. ... He will be truly missed by the entire NHRA community."
Kalitta had most of his racing success in Top Fuel, highlighted by his series titles in 1994 and 1995. He retired from racing in 1997, sitting out most of two seasons before returning for a 10-race campaign in 1999. He sat out three more seasons following that brief stint and then returned again in 2003, joining cousin Doug as a second driver for the family's two Top Fuel dragsters.
Kalitta started his pro career in Top Fuel in 1982, running limited events for four seasons before moving to Funny Car in 1986 for his first full season of competition. He returned to that category full-time in 2006.
One of only 14 drivers in NHRA history to win in both premier nitro categories, Kalitta's last victory came in Chicago in 2005 in Top Fuel. He had a runner-up finish two weeks ago in Chicago, his 36th career NHRA final-round appearance.
He's survived by his father, wife Kathy and sons Corey, 14, and Colin, 8.
NASCAR Nationwide Series driver Brad Keselowski -- a native of Rochester Hills, Mich., about 20 miles away from Kalitta's hometown of Mount Clemens -- learned the news from a television report.
"That really hits close to home," Keselowski said after winning the pole position for Saturday night's race at the Milwaukee Mile in West Allis, Wis. "[He was] a friend of my family's, and I send my thoughts and prayers out to him. That's tough to hear."
Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press
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