I’m pretty sure many of you can agree with me on the fact that it’s time for the hard hitting action to return. I’m tired of hearing about big name players in Green Bay (no names mentioned) whining about how he was forced to retire early to make the front office happy and now he wants to play again. Does anyone else feel sorry for Aaron Rodgers? This poor guy has gone through some traumatic experiences and has yet to be a full-time starter for an NFL team. He has seen his face value plummet during the NFL draft. He sat patiently at his table, waiting to hear his name called. He was considered to be a #1 overall pick and instead set the precedence for Brady Quinn. And now he’s got a future hall of famer claiming that he wants to come out of retirement and that the Packers should give him the starting job or release him. It has to do wonders for the kids confidence if the Pack’s front office was to even consider giving Favre the job back (whoops, mentioned his name…)

Then there is the situation in Dallas. Who else is waiting for this team to implode? You’ve got T.O. on the offensive side of the ball, teaming up with new found best friend Tony Romo. I still can’t get over the tearful escapade that Owens pulled when trying to show support for his starting QB. Then again, this team is my pre-season pick to win the Superbowl so I suppose I can’t bash them too much.

The defense includes recently re-instated Adam “Pacman” Jones, except that we’re not supposed to use the name Pacman anymore. So instead, Adam Jones the football player will now try to resurrect his career in big D. He has a lot to prove to the league and it’s not going to be easy considering he’s playing on the same squad with the likes of Tank Johnson and Roy Williams. Is this the 2008 version of “America’s Team”, criminal intent included with the whole package?

Jason Taylor is the newest Redskin and, obviously, this signing is going to lead to an immediate championship in Washington. I mean, c’mon, how can you not win a Superbowl when you have such a stellar QB in Jason Campbell and a defense bolstered by a future hall of famer? If you add this all in with the consistent rotation of wide receivers, the spectacular decision making that decided to take a TE with the second overall pick in their draft, and Dan Snyder (enough said), a non-betting man couldn’t pass up the offer to pick this team to go all the way. There is no way that the defending Superbowl champs and the NFC favorites are going to be able to contend.

New England would be smart to leave Wes Welker exactly where he is; the slot is his best position on the field and moving Jabbar Gaffney into the second spot would be the most outstanding move they could make. Losing Stallworth is not the end of the world and, quite frankly, Gaffney seems to have his heart in the game a bit more then Dante did. It’s hard to think of a team that had a 4th WR on their roster with the talent that Gaffney possesses. It makes it difficult to look past New England as a Superbowl shoo-in this season.

Jeremy Shockey has found a new home. He better change his attitude to play for a team as holy as the Saints. Shockey got what he wanted when handed a quick ticket out of the big apple and off to a team that has a potent offense that will know how to use him. His personal connections with head coach Sean Payton will be a great upgrade, not to mention his ability to spread the Saints offense out. Colston, Bush, and Shockey are now all targets for one of the best offensive-minded QB’s in the NFL… now all they need is defense… again.

There is so much going on in the NFL! We are only a week and a half away from the beginning of pre-season. Yes, it’s a tease, but it’s a start. Soon enough, September will roll around and Sundays will have meaning again! So until next time, sweet dreams of touchdowns, field goals, sacks, first downs, cheerleaders, Tom Brady, and anything else football related… you’re not human if you don’t sleep soundly with something this exciting right around the corner!

The American League has been the more stable of the two leagues of the MLB. Since 2000, there have been only 9 different teams in the AL playoff brackets, 5 of which have had at least 4 appearances in that time frame. Oakland, New York, Boston, Los Angeles, and Minnesota always seem to field a contending team each year. From a fantasy perspective, it’s hard to pass up players on those rosters when it’s obvious that they know what it takes to preform and to win.

This addition of The Power Alley will feature the strength of the American League teams as they wrap up the first half of the 2008 season.

1. Tampa Bay Rays – Thanks, guys, for completely ruining my theory that the American League post-season is more of a membership organization then an open-door policy. This team is for real; they are exciting to watch and the American League East is theirs for the taking as long as they can overcome this recent losing streak. Most of the players are too young to realize that they are going against everything baseball fans have come to expect which makes Tampa Bay that much more dangerous. The scary part is that there is more to come; the farm system is still chock-full of talent.

2. Boston Red Sox – This is more familiar territory. The Red Sox aren’t going to go away and the Rays need to understand that. David Ortiz will be back to destroying the ball soon. The middle relief is a little shaky but don’t expect that to continue because they know what it takes to win ballgames. The Red Sox have a lot of young talent as well which goes to show that they plan on sitting pretty near the top long after this season is over.

3. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim – When you want to see the epitome of a good, solid starting rotation, look no further than this team. They have quietly put together a rotation with a combined record of 45-24. Pitching is the key aspect to a successful playoff run and right now the Angels are looking pretty good in that department. Rumor has it that they will be trying to find a big bat at the trade deadline, and while they may need it now, the rest of their power hitters aren’t stupid; they know they’ve got a job to do and they’ll get it done.

4. Chicago White Sox – This team is the biggest underachieving team in the majors. They are in first place at the moment and have played like a first place team MOST of the time. Once again, a starter in the 5th spot of the rotation is holding up his end of the bargain; Gavin Floyd, just like Joe Saunders in LA, is a young pitcher who is playing like there is no tomorrow.

5. Minnesota Twins – The nemesis of Ozzie’s Sox have once again made their move on the division lead. The bats are heating up and it’s being noticed; Joe Mauer was just entered into the Home Run Derby over the All-Star break. And so much can be said on their new CF, Carlos Gomez. He filled Tori Hunter’s shoes quite nicely. It’s hard to look past the starting pitching but so far, so good.

6. New York Yankees – We all knew it would only be a matter of time before the Yanks entered the picture. With a little security in the starting rotation that they’ll probably find via the trade deadline, the Yankees are never short on offense. Rumor has it they are looking to sign Richie Sexon once he clears waivers. And if you think arguing that they’re all too old to play much longer, take a long look at the farm system which has been rebuilt nicely since early 2000′s. Twenty-six world championships has to mean something.

7. Oakland Athletics – Every year they trade away strong talent and it seems like every year people question if it is a good move to do so. But when you’ve made the playoffs 5 out of the past 8 years, there shouldn’t be much question. The same goes this year as well; the A’s have once again found a way to contend with a young pitching staff a group of players that know how to win. It’s unfortunate the majority of them will eventually end their careers in other cities.

8. Detroit Tigers - An unpleasant beginning for the fans and the team alike has turned into a sense of accomplishment as the Tigers have used the past 2 months to dig themselves out of the bottom of the AL Central. Despite Verlander’s struggles, he is still eating innings and the offense, led by Marcus Thames of all people, is starting to show signs of life. Don’t count the Tigers, or their players, out just yet. Needless to say, however, that the Tigers are one of those weird teams in the AL; they are hard to get a read on whether or not they will be for real over the next several years.

9. Texas Rangers – For a team that has almost two starting rotations worth of pitchers on the DL, the Rangers are hanging in there. Their outfield is tops in the league and Ian Kinsler is having an awesome year. With a healthy rotation, this team could be one of the most dangerous teams in the league.

10. Baltimore Orioles – Lately the surprising pitching has been doing exactly what everyone expected them to do-make mistakes. With a rotation that claims Daniel Cabrera as the most experienced major league starter, the O’s pitching has become suspect lately. On a good note though, Adam Jones is very quickly developing into the player the team had hoped he would become.

11. Toronto Blue Jays – The machine that Roy Halladay is keeps rolling through innings and picking up wins. It’s unfortunate the rest of the team can’t really seem to get on track with him. They are fast but don’t have much power and in order to contend in the AL East you’ve got to score runs with the long ball.

12. Cleveland Indians – Another team that has run into some bad luck with the injury bug. It’s a shame to see a team with so much raw talent sitting at the bottom of the division. Maybe with the return of some of their key components after the break, the Tribe will make a 2nd half push.

13. Kansas City Royals – No offense to Royals fans but this team won’t find their way out of the basement unless they can get some pitching help. Offensively, they are headed in the right direction with rising stars like Alex Gordon, Joey Gathright, David DeJesus, and Billy Butler. But the pitching consistently struggles, year in and year out, and somehow that’s going to have to change.

14. Seattle Mariners – Erik Bedard has struggled staying healthy, the offense has struggled hitting for power, and the team has struggled, well, with everything. Brandon Morrow leads the team with 8 saves. Richie Sexson has been given his plane ticket out of town, and the Mariners can’t seem to catch a break. 20 games out of first as we hit the All-Star break is not something to be real proud of; but hey, there is always Ichiro.

One of the best things about the game of baseball is how fickle it can be. One minute, a team can be struggling with no end in sight, and the next minute they have found themselves back in the thick of things. The American League is no different this year; there are 9 teams in the league that are .500 or better, and two more that will be above that mark with a 2 or 3 game winning streak. Winning is the priority of every single player on every single team; it’s just a matter of who wants it more. As a fantasy player, that’s your job to figure out. And if the past is any example, it’s not hard to figure out the teams that go out there year after year and have found a way to come out on top.

Next week’s Power Alley: National League

Favre seeks unconditional release from Packers, sources say

Of course it’s written by none other than Chris Mortensen. I mean it’s got to be a joke right? Why isn’t anyone involved saying anything at all about any of this? Shouldn’t information at least be given to Pack fans since they ARE the share holders? Why is it that Mortensen is the only one in the sporting world with access to these sources? That Chris—hoo-boy, had me for a second there…

But what if it’s legit? I am sitting here feeling worse than I did the day #4 retired. Now, not only do I have to deal with the fact that Brett won’t be walkin out on the field when the Pack play this season, I have to also endure the very real possibility that Favre, the gunslinger, MY QB could very well be sporting another uniform. Practicing with a high school team? Is it the apocalypse? Mid-life crisis? What is going on?

Naturally, because everyone KNOWS how much this little article Chris has crafted will effect me, I get slammed with emails, texts, phone calls. Just as a disclaimer right now—I’m at work, and I can’t be on the phone. It’s a little less conspicuous to text or type this here article though, so I’m sorry if I didn’t answer the phone calls. Anyway, among the speculation of where he could go (better not be a division rival) and guesses of how much I will be drinking tonight to get rid of the bittersweet taste in my mouth, my friend Ryan left me with some hope and insight. As a fellow Packerbacker, Ryan said (not verbadum) that maybe Favre’s coming back and going to another team so that he doesn’t disrupt the plans and the future that the organization has already been working towards; that maybe he wants to give the team and fans the opportunity to experience whatever Aaron Rodgers can bring to the table (while it might not be as good as Favre, I’m still confident the boy has talent—that’s me interjecting my opinion into what Ryan said). He hoped that was the reasoning at least. He seemed to be as completely dumbfounded as I was, but it makes sense. Maybe Favre is looking out for the good of the team. Maybe Ted Thompson isn’t as big of an arsehole for pushing Brett to retire and then not letting him come back as I had thought.  

While my mind is racing in a million different directions, I’m going to answer the few questions that people keep asking me:

Are you going to cry?

Cry at which part? If he stays retired–no. If he unretires, but stays with the Pack–no. If he unretires, but goes to a different team–you betcha.

 
Seriously, I won’t cry. But I will be pained by it.

Are you going to root for/be a fan of whatever team Brett goes to now?

I don’t plan to. I’ll always root for Brett though. If he comes back, I want him to succeed. For his sake (how he’ll go down in NFL history) and mine (I have the value of his rookie card in jeopardy here).

 Are you still a Packer fan?

I will ALWAYS be a Packer fan. Nothing will deter me. I’ve bled green and gold since I was 8. Favre won’t be on the team forever, these just happen to be unexceptionally horrid circumstances of that actually playing out. I support A-Rod as our QB and I still have every intention of going to Lambeau for a game come fall. GO PACK GO!

 What would happen if he went to the Vikings or the Bears?

Uh, duh, he wouldn’t go to the Vikings or Bears. He’s not Darren Sharper or Ryan Longwell. He appreciates what a rivalry is…um…next question…

Do you still think it’s all for the sake of publicity?

If I was too proud to admit otherwise, I’d say yes. However, I think this article pushes it more to one side. Don’t you? I mean obviously there’s nothing Chris Mortensen wouldn’t do for the attention it’s giving him and ESPN (like meet secretly with his “sources” in back alleyways…ruthless bastard), but it’s gotten so detailed that Favre would hold a press conference to squash the rumors if it weren’t remotely true. Of course, now I can see why he waited until Ted was on vacation to break the news to him. 

 Despite all of this, there has yet to be confirmation from any of those involved that any of this is true. For all we know Chris could very well be playing a joke. Or just misinformed. Or just pulling a Dan Rather (if you don’t know what Dan Rather did, Google it). Oh bloody hell. If this doesn’t solidify my stance as a Packer fan, nothing will.

Author: Brenda Niemeyer
Contact: bniemeyern@gmail.com

Amid all of the speculation surrounding one of the greatest NFL quarterbacks my generation has had the priviledge of watching, I feel compelled to offer some insight apart from what the ratings-invested, sports media is reporting. A comment I received from an ESPN friend (thank you pgath) is really what pushed me to set the record straight. Not only am I a “Packerbacking Cheesehead”, I am also one of the biggest Brett Favre fans the state of Maryland has ever seen–if not THE biggest Favre fan (which, admittedly, in “Hog Country” is not really a difficult feat). Realistically, I should be one of those wishing for his return to once again grace the hardened field of the Frozen Tundra–his sanctuary. I should be one of those football fans who are buying into this mumbo jumbo as if it were legit reporting. I should be one of the homers looking up his projected worth as a starter vs backup in fantasy football. But I’m not. Why? Because I’m smarter than the 89.867% of sports readers who “know” he’s returning.

1. He told Coach McCarthy he has an “itch” to play.

I’m sure Bradshaw, Unitas, Elway, Marino, and Montana all got the itch to play after they retired too. When you’re used to preparing yourself physically and mentally to lead your team in the upcoming football season (which is not only your job, but will also inevitably define who you are and what you’re worth) for so many years, it’s difficult to just stop. No one has an easy time stopping what they enjoy doing, and Favre is no exception. Not to mention, the way Packer fans have embraced him and the way the NFL has embraced him is hard to ignore. Part of it’s ego I’m sure–if you’re considered “god-like” you don’t want to end up being ”a thing of the past”. And with training camp just around the corner, I’d be offended if he had absolutely no desire to play another season in Green Bay.

2. He texted Ted Thompson.

And? What was Thompson’s response? He was on vacation and they’d talk later. If Favre was returning, wouldn’t they have some sort of conference call or something immediately? For one thing, I’m not entirely sure Thompson wants Favre back. [While he'd be crazy to favor Aaron Rodgers in place of Favre, just hear me out. 1. It's a gamble--is it certain Favre will have the kind of season that he did last year? Is it certain he won't get hurt (which, in his older age, is likely) at some point and be out for the season anyway? 2. All that the fans, team, and city went through when Favre retired--Thompson doesn't seem eager to reverse all of that just to endure it all again later.] For another thing, Favre needs to sign his retirement papers and still workout those last minute details before training camp on July 28. Sure he has his agent for this kind of thing, but the Packers organization isn’t known for talking through their agents anyway. Not to mention, I have a feeling Favre will be invested in some way in the goings on of the Packers. If for nothing else, to offer occasional advice to new players.

3. Brett always holds Green Bay “hostage” during the month of July and ends up playing.

Yes, but this year he actually held a press conference and officially retired. The media turns this into a “hostage”-type situation year after year; heightening the intensity and drama for ratings purposes. All because baseball (which is the only other thing to write about during the month of July) isn’t exciting to report on until the playoffs.

4. He hasn’t signed his retirement papers.

Many retired athletes don’t sign their retirement papers right away. MANY. It’s called initially having better things to do. Like endorsements.

5. He said when he retired that he could still play.

He could, but that doesn’t mean he would. I can drive my car into a tree, but that doesn’t mean I will. It’s not like he had a career-ending injury. And Coach McCarthy’s offense doesn’t require Favre to throw the bombs like he did in the good-old days. It’s much more QB-friendly given the fact that it relies more on the YAC than it does on the arm of the QB.

6. There are two years still left on his contract.

And? Given the fact that he took a pay cut a few seasons ago to acquire/afford more talent means that 2 years on his contract is not comparable to 2 years on Tom Brady’s contract or 2 years on Peyton Manning’s contract. Plus, the team doesn’t consist of a number of Randy Moss/T.O.-type players who’s salaries are insanely demanding. Not to mention the amount of revenue accrued from the fans. The Packers organization has money, and they can afford those 2 years.

7. It’s not impossible to unretire. Plus, he’s going to the Dolphins. Or maybe even the Vikings.

It’s not impossible, but it’s not entirely respectable. Favre is too classy. He cares too much about his family, the team, the fans, the sport to unretire. But, for the sake of humoring this question, if he did unretire, he would stay with the Packers. No question. If he played for any other team, the fans would castrate Ted Thompson.

8. The fans are the ones who own shares in the team. And the fans (aka owners) want Favre, not Rodgers, next season.

Yes, but the fans have moved on enough to refrain from demanding a return by Favre (who are we to demand anything from him anyway?). Not to mention, we’ve all embraced the fact that it’ll be another building year in Green Bay. However, I don’t think Rodgers will do terrible. And our newbies last season proved that our youngins have talent and know what they’re doing. Inexperience is a thing of the past. Now, if we could only get that pesky defense upgraded…

9. He said he’d come back if Rodgers got hurt.

Well, he certainly has proven his status as a knight-in-shining- armor after leading the Pack into many 4th-Quarter/last-minute/come-from-behind victories. But I wouldn’t count on it. He said that high on emotion (he had just said he was retiring) and before we got Brian Brohm and Matt Flynn (that’s 2 back-up QBs).

10. Favre isn’t denouncing the rumors of a possible return.

Isn’t Madden ’09 coming out soon? Marketing people–it’s got his mug on the cover lest ye forgot. He may be a simple boy from Mississippi, but he ain’t stupid. Not to mention, if I were him, I wouldn’t even acknowledge the media with a response. He doesn’t owe anyone anything. Just because players have unretired in the past and the media is turning this into something with all of their speculation–that doesn’t mean he has to respond to it. Nor should he. When the Olympics start, this will all be old news anyway.

Back in April (after the whole “itching” comment leaked in March), Favre was quoted as saying, ”There are always second thoughts, but that’s not saying I am coming back…It might be nice to dream about it, but no.” On a side note: I love #4 to death, and it’ll be weird not seeing him play, but I wouldn’t want him to come back. He went out after a fantastic season with dignity and class. I want him to be remembered for this past season and not some ill-attempted, come-back season. He’ll be missed, but missed with nothing short of positive memories.

So, before you add him as a contender for a coveted QB spot on your fantasy team, keep in mind that ESPN just wants to boost their ratings, and you’re stupid if you honestly think he’s unretiring (you probably shouldn’t play fantasy football to begin with if you’re that stupid). If any of you readers out there would like me to offer a common sense explanation for any other “reason” that contributes to this fooey of “unretirement”, feel free to ask. I am more than happy to oblige and let you know why ESPN is full of idiot writers and has an idiot audience that hangs on every word these idiot writers have to say as if ESPN were the holy grail of sports reporting.

One day in the distant future, I plan on being the demise of ESPN.

Author: Brenda Niemeyer
Contact: bniemeyern@gmail.com

So get this. In six games at the top level of baseball, the peak of performance, the granddaddy league of them all, Jay Bruce has shown the world that the Reds should have probably had him on the roster from day one of the 2008 season. But nonetheless, his time has rolled around and we all are getting a glimpse of a prospect with some of the heaviest weight on his shoulders. The expectations are unfathomable.

This offseason, Bruce’s name was included in trade rumors throughout the Cincy papers almost as frequently as Bengal players’ names popping up for being arrested. His potential is beyond comparison of any other player making his way through any major league system.

He’s finally reached the major league level and so his production shouldn’t be surprising. But I don’t think anyone really expected him to start off on such a tear. Very rarely do rookies get called up mid-season and immediately have an impact on their team’s performance, especially a position player.

Well Jay Bruce is apparently not any normal “end of May” call up. In his first six games, Bruce has gone 13 for 22 posting a .590 batting average. He’s hit 2 homeruns, one of which has been the walk-off game-winning variety, he’s drawn 6 walks, and has 6 RBIs. He’s begun to argue that he deserved to be a 1st round pick.

Of course, one can say that it’s still early in his career. So many players have gotten off to great starts like the one Jay Bruce has shown. Shane Spencer began his career by being the life saver of the Yankees as they forced their way through the AL playoffs. His name will forever be remembered (or forgotten) as the rookie who had the clutch homers. Except that his career consisted of very little else.

The differences between Spencer and Bruce are clear-cut. For one, Jay Bruce has been projected as a superstar from the beginning. The Reds drafted him with every intention of him making his way through the minor leagues quickly and developing into a game changing player. As well, Bruce is batting in a lineup that doesn’t consist of the power hitters that the Yankees had. He’s surviving without support, and for that he’s on a whole different level.

Sure, he’s only been in the league for all of 6 games. It’s true, there is no way around arguing that he has been in the league more than 6 games. But in those 6 games he’s shown that he belongs in the majors.

He has a walk off home run, proving that regardless of his inexperience, he succeeded in a situation which included high pressure as well as self-control in order to do his job. Going up to bat with the game on the line in extra innings is far from a normal at-bat. He found his focus, he controlled his excitement and nervousness, and delivered.

He’s walked 6 times in 22 at bats. That’s more than a walk per game. Let me know if I’m wrong but, as a rookie player coming into the league, patience is something that is hard to come by. Players that are called up to the major league squad are going to swing at pitches that they know aren’t hittable in an attempt to prove that they are worth keeping around. It’s hard to teach fundamentals to young kids. And when it comes to fundamentals, choosing which pitches are worth swinging at and which ones aren’t is the most difficult. Some of the best players in the league aren’t fundamentally sound with this concept. But through 6 games, Bruce has shown patience at the plate. He has done more than enough to prove that he is willing to take each plate appearance as seriously as a bottom of the 9th, 2 out, bases loaded World Series situation.

6 walks in 22 at bats by a rookie… you’re crazy if you think that’s not an amazing stat.

Any way you look at it, Jay Bruce has shown that his intentions of becoming an elite MLB player are well on their way to developing. He’s proving to fans across the nation that the Reds did themselves a favor by keeping him in the organization. And while the team has a lot of work ahead of them to become contenders again, Jay Bruce is a player that they need to build around. He’s going to be unstoppable. I’m sure even Shane Spencer agrees.

Those were the questions I had going into Game 3. Just what the HECK is going on here? The Pens were supposed to be the team to give the Wings a run for the money. How could they lose both games, back-to-back, in Detroit, without so much as scoring a goal to defend themselves? And why was I finding myself so emotionally invested in what the PENS (one of my least favorite teams in the league) were doing, or not doing as was the case? Well, they certainly shut me up and restored my faith in Game 3. So how exactly did the Pens turn things around, and do they still have a shot at Lord Stanley’s Cup? In a couple of words, miraculously and yes.

Game 1: 4-0, Wings
The first period was scoreless and after a single goal by Mikael Samuelsson in the second, the Pens looked like they could still pull out the big W on this one—they have played worse and still won. However, the defense floundered, and the offense failed to get anything in the back of the net. Would I blame Marc-Andre Fleury solely? I could, but I refuse to. It doesn’t just come down to the goalie in these types of situations. The team has to be more of a united front, and they disassembled all at once in the third. In fact, they looked more like the Flyers did in the Eastern Finals—tired, out of focus, and discouraged. Just minutes into the third, Samuelsson got another one (both of his were unassisted by the way). Then at the end of the period, Daniel Clearly and Henrik Zetterberg scored goals three and four respectively within a mere minute and a half of each other (Zetter’s coming with just seconds left to play). Crosby’s line was completely shut down by Zetter and Pavel Datsyuk. Malkin was fumbling the puck all over the place. They’re lucky Nicklas Lidstrom’s first goal of the game didn’t count because of goalie interference on Tomas Holmstrom. He went after Fleury’s legs. Holmstrom is known for interfering with goalies because he’s always playing the puck right in front of them. It comes with the territory. I know Wings fans are up in a tizzy about it, but it’s all part of the Wings dynamic. Regardless, the Pens were proving my point about the West having more talent than the East this season because they were nowhere near the same level of play as their opponent. The Wings had 36 shots on goal, while the Pens only had 19. Here are highlights from Game 1*:

Game 2: 3-0, Wings
How many penalties did the Pens have exactly?  FIFTEEN, 11 of which were in the third period alone. Clearly they were getting frustrated, but making stupid penalties is no excuse. Especially against the Wings who are known for selling them like no one’s business. Take for example the goalie interference call against Petr Sykora for interfering with Osgood (see scuffle, to enjoy the proceeding fight). If Ozzie didn’t just topple over on that nudge…talk about annoying. He’s a goalie. He’s gotten hit by the puck harder than that. What’s worse, Ozzie is actually being compared to Martin Brodeur. I all but choked on my water when I read that (I happened to be drinking water at the time). Just because he posted two shutouts in the first two games? PUHLEEEZE! The guy only faced a total of 39 shots both games, where Fleury faced 70. I’m not impressed. If he faced 39 shots in a game and stopped them all, then I’d be impressed. Regardless, the Wings were only called for 8 penalties, 5 being in the third. Obviously, that doesn’t equate. What are Wings fans complaining about after this game? The roughing call against Gary Roberts for his hit on Johan Franzen. No, Roberts should not have to face a fine nor be suspended for a game or two. Franzen was f-i-n-e. He even came back and played in the very next shift. Lesson learned—Franzen could take a few acting lessons from his buddy Osgood. Here are highlights from Game 2:

Game 3: 3-2, Pens
First of all, I’m not a fan of hockey on NBC. Talk about total commercialization of the sport by the media (but it is getting attention, which the NHL needs, so I guess I shouldn’t really complain). “Inside the Ice” would get on my damn nerves if I were a player on either team. I would love to shove Pierre Mcguire, who annoyingly commentates on players SITTING RIGHT NEXT TO HIM, right into the boards because he is nothing short of a nuisance and fails to contribute much of anything the viewers hadn’t already figure out for themselves. Even the questions he asks in his on-ice interviews are painfully obvious and a waste of the precious moments a given player has in between periods. With that out of my system, Game 3 opened with chants of “Let’s Go Pens!”, and instantly I felt things would really go in the Pens favor at the Igloo.

In the first period, the Pens crushed a Wings power play by keeping the puck in Osgood’s corner. While the Pens are known for their power play kills, they were able to play the puck offensively rather than defensively—and the Wings couldn’t figure out how to respond. It was beautiful to watch, especially so early on in the game when everyone “knew” the Wings were going to win number three in-a-row. With around two and half minutes left in the first, Crosby scores the first goal of the game (and the first goal the Pens had in 137 minutes and 25 seconds) off a shot by Marian Hossa. The Wings may have gotten 9 of the first 10 shots on goal, but by the end of the period—the Wings had 9 and the Pens had 6. In the second, during a power play on Kronwall for hooking, Sidney scored again (with an assist by Hossa…again) putting the Pens up 2-0. Franzen managed to answer with a power play goal of his own, keeping the Wings within one. Part way into the third, the Pens pulled away with yet another two goal lead thanks to Adam Hall. The last ten minutes of the third was the fastest hockey I’ve seen all playoffs—the Wings felt the need to score and the Pens felt the need to win in order to stay in the series. With a little more than five minutes left in the game, Samuelsson found the net putting the Wings back within one. At this point I started wondering if the Pens could hold off the Wings in overtime because there was no way the Wings wouldn’t score to tie it up as fast as they were playing and with as much time as they had. Fortunately, my nerves were able to calm themselves as the Pens prevented overtime play and came out with a much-needed win, their first of the series. If I know anything, I know that Wings fans are going to complain about the hit Hal Gill had on Holmstrom late in the third period (there’s always something they complain about, isn’t there?). It was a clean hit and Holmstrom went into the ice (with full padding) and nothing more. But kudos to him for trying to draw a penalty—what an acting job. It’s just further proof the Pens need to hire the Wings’ acting coach. Honestly. Here are highlights from Game 3:

Committing fewer penalties, spreading out on the ice, and the position/line changes made all contributed to the Pens’ win. For starters, when the Wings play a calm and full Pens team, they aren’t nearly as good. Sure some roughing penalties can add to the momentum of a game, but incessant penalties like those seen in Game 2 are more physically and mentally damaging than anything else. I said that spreading out on the ice was a change the Pens had to implement after Games 1 and 2. Why couldn’t the Pens take a lesson from the Wings’ playbook and spread it out and capitalize on their strength of quick passing? Easy, they could, and they did. Instead of sticking to one side of the ice, hovering around the puck like 5-year old soccer players, they spread it out and took advantage of Ozzie’s weak side. It also helped them on defense—they were able to prevent Zetter from being blatantly open for a shot on goal again. The position/line changes made were tremendous. Having Crosby and Hossa on the same line proved effective, as Crosby scored two of the three goals with assists by Hossa. Not to mention, the Pens significantly improved in their shots on goal, getting a total 24 off on Ozzie in this game (the majority coming in the second period) by capitalizing on the weaker players of the Wings defense. Pulling Kris Letang in favor of Darryl Sydor, and finding a way to keep Holmstrom from doing much of anything in front of the net was beneficial to the Pens defense. They needed the experience of Sydor and Gill wouldn’t budge despite Holmstrom’s relentless effort to get around him.

If the Pens continue to play like this, the tides could very well turn in their favor. Fortunately, it didn’t take another Wings’ win for them to realize what was on the line. With the Wings up 2-1 in the series, my bet is it will be two-all after the next game—the Pens are comfortable at home, they have the momentum, they’ve clearly started learning from their previous mistakes. Game 4 is set for Saturday at 8 p.m. on NBC.   

Author: Brenda Niemeyer
Contact: bniemeyern@gmail.com
*all videos are courtesy of NHL Video

Has ANYONE seen Jason Taylor?

The sarcastic and most obnoxious answer would be “Why yes, I have seen Jason Taylor. He was on Dancing With the Stars and he finished in 2nd place because he’s awesome”. The second most obnoxious answer would be “Who the hell is Jason Taylor?”. Obviously he plays football, as explained in the missing persons description. He is tall and weighs a lot and is very skilled at what he does. In fact, he’s one of the best, not just presently but in the history of the NFL.

So obviously, when I ask if anyone has seen Jason Taylor, it is in reference to his presence on the football field. It is referring to the fact that he has stated that he won’t be attending anything related to the Miami Dolphins football training camps, workouts, or related activities. He wants to make his disassociation with the team very public. There is no Jason Taylor of the Miami Dolphins. The two entities are completely separate.

So get it straight. Says J.T.

The Dolphins aren’t denying anything. It would be stupid of them to attempt to do so. Taylor publicly stated his disapproval of the team’s handling of him and he has claimed several times that he wants out. Covering that up would be like trying to explain to an 18 year old kid that Santa Clause really does exist. But was their official statement, given by first year coach Tony Sparano, a little over the top? Did it delve too far into the deep thinking mind of the organization?

“I know that Jason is not going to be at any OTAs. I know that Jason will not be at any minicamps. I know that right now Jason is not going to be at training camp.”

May the truth be told. Sparano took it upon himself to let the nation know that their top defensive player has the ball in his court. Taylor has voiced his displeasure with the organization’s decision making as well as their attempts to please him by trading him away. Sparano further enforced Taylor’s remarks by personally stating that the Dolphins would not support a player, regardless of who he is, that did not want to be a part of the team. The voice of one cannot overpower the voice of hundreds that are involved.

Or can it?

With Sparano’s comments being made, the media addressed and attacked. They tore apart every word, mangling the very speech that left the rookie head coach’s mouth. With ruthless aggression, the heat against Tony Sparano intensified; each hour brought on more and more criticism. And as the smoke has begun to clear, as the confusion and the belligerence is settling, the avid sports fan can only ask one question: Why did he finish second on that stupid TV show?

But more importantly, were the Miami Dolphins wrong in publicly addressing the NFL world and stating that Taylor, while under contract, was still being disassociated by the team in accordance with the ruling of the front office? Were the Dolphins correct in taking an assumption that was made based on Taylor’s personal comments and twisting them into something that they obviously feel has a reason to be an issue that the rest of the league needs to know about?

For one, Jason Taylor went to the media with his own personal opinion. He let everybody know that he was the most disgruntled profiled name in the Dolphin’s organization. If you had no clue before, you should know now that Jason Taylor was not happy playing for a team that finished with a single win last season, a team that averaged less than 100 yards rushing per game, and a defense that had 14 (yes, only 14) interceptions all year. Or maybe it was the fact that starting QB Cleo Lemon threw for a grand total of 6 touchdowns all season (granted he wasn’t the starter for the ENTIRE season, let’s face it, he did start 9 games), the starting RB was 400 yards short of a respectable season, or that 30 total sacks as a team is what Pittsburgh, Baltimore, and Dallas claim as a stat against division rivals ONLY.

While he was injury plagued, that very fact may have made his decision easier; he had the pleasure of watching the future of failure in Miami from the sideline. He had the chance to get to personally know a roster consisting of 75% of players that won’t be wearing an NFL uniform in two years.

So was Jason Taylor right in throwing his team under the bus? Was he correct in claiming that he would not play for the Miami Dolphins because they botched attempts to rebuild by ignoring the future? Many can argue that he was in the wrong by going public about his disapproval of the front office. Fans can claim that Taylor should have kept his mouth shut and played the game through any rebuilding effort that the Dolphins might throw at him.

But it’s hard to see it. Miami has their pillow to cry on in Dan Marino; he was by far the best Quarterback to never win a Superbowl ring. It’s the excuse we all hear so there isn’t any way around it, Dolphins fans. Poor ol’ Dan. He suffered through his career with Miami in hopes to win that Super Bowl and it never came about. He played game after game after game. He came close but was never close enough.

And so Marino’s career ended with bare knuckles. Clenched, bloodless, white bare knuckles, balled into a fist of frustration. But more importantly, fists of frustration without a ring to compliment them.

Enter jason Taylor, another Dolphin who hasn’t won a ring and would like one before his career is over. The guy will be 35 years old this September and so time is obviously not on his side. The playing years are winding down which leads us to the debate…

Should we sympathize with the old man? Or is he just a grumpy grouch who wants more than he deserves?

Either way, it’s been a fascinating journey through the mind of an NFL superstar in Jason Taylor as well as an NFL franchise. There is still a lot of time set between now and the beginning of serious training camp sessions. For the next two months, Jason Taylor and the Miami Dolphins will be trying to figure each other out. But at the end, don’t be surprised to see the Dolphins dancing victoriously. Except that they’ll be dancing WITHOUT the stars because Taylor will be long gone and the Dolphins will be well on their way to rebuilding a respectable franchise without him.

Over the past decade and a half, the big shots for Major League Baseball have brainstormed to find ways to draw fans back to the game. Fans are losing interest for one reason or another; whether it’s the steroids scandal, the high numbers of foreign players being filtered in to replace the sub-par talent that our own country is producing to support our own past-time, or the fact that baseball has become quite possibly the slowest sport on the face of the earth.

And please disregard chess. I don’t need any snide comments.

Recently, in two Yankees games, calls have been made by umpires that have taken away home runs from the Yanks. The first call said that a shot to left field went foul when clearly it was a fair ball that should have been counted as a run. The second time, just yesterday, a ball bounced off of a stairway located just a few feet behind the outfield fence. The ball caromed back into play and the umpires claimed that it had hit the top of the fence and was not a home run.

So of course there was outrage. The horror of it all for these umpires to make human mistakes is just inexcusable. They need to go to the optometrist. They need to get laser surgery. They need to eat more carrots.

Damn lazy umpires.

The fact is, when was the last time a terrible call was made where runs were taken away that ended up affecting a game so much that the team that should have won actually lost. Even the Jeffrey Maier incident back in 1997 wasn’t a deal breaker. But all of a sudden, because two mistakes are made so close in time to one another that there is this huge call for instant replay in baseball.

Are you kidding me? That’s like asking for the death penalty instead of 20 years with parole.

Let’s not jump to extremes here, Bud Selig. There are several reasons why instant replay works in other sports and will absolutely, no questions asked NOT work in baseball. Use your brain, sir, and you’ll figure out that your attempts to revive the sport will be suffocated if you introduce the ability for umpires to review even a small list of plays throughout the game.

For one, your biggest push this past week has been to urge the umpires to enforce time limits on break time between pitches. You practically have “ol’ blue” pushing hitters into the batters’ box and yelling out to the mound for some of these guys to throw the ball. 12 seconds between pitches, you say. And only 20 seconds when there are men on base. You claim this will speed the game up; a game that has seen average playing time increase over 5 minutes in the past 4 years will become quicker, thus more intriguing, because all 9 guys in the lineup are being shoved forward when it comes time for them to bat.

So let me ask this question: Exactly how will instating replay speed the game up? I can answer it for you quite easily.

IT WON’T.

In fact, by allowing instant replay to become part of the game of baseball will only counteract your efforts to make the game more enjoyable by causing it to move faster. It will become an enemy of your campaign to prove to America that you really aren’t as incompetent as perceived. Your spur-of-the-moment antics to sweep the dust out of the dirty corners of the game to make it more presentable will come across as just that- nit-picky and time wasting.

I do have a solution, however, to your “time problem”. You can call me later to thank me when you finally discover that the reason the game has slowed down so much is because of the introduction and gradually overwhelming amount of sponsorship and media. Not only are TV breaks between half innings continuing to get longer and longer, teams have no limit to how many promotions and spectacles they can run in order to draw a dollar or two. If you instate a limit on that side of the game, perhaps you would find that games won’t take as long to play. It’s not like the players need all that time to prepare. That’s what batting practice is for.

But I digress.

There are other problems with installing instant replay. The notion now is that I.R. (you like that? it’s street for “Instant Replay”. Let people know you saw it here first) will only be used for home runs. It will only be used to argue (or prove) that a ball did in fact clear the fence, or in the Yankees case, that the ball did in fact bounce off the random yellow painted staircase dreadfully placed only feet from the playing field, and not off the top of the outfield wall.

But where exactly is the line drawn? How do you prevent something like this from becoming a slippery slope? Sooner or later, something is going to happen where there is a call for replay to be used.

But replay is only used for home runs… duh!

God forbid a ball is trapped under an outfielders glove but it’s called an out and the runner on 3rd base can’t score the winning run in the bottom of the 9th in game 7 of the World Series. And so people riot and cars are flipped and burned and police brutality gets called into question and the court systems don’t know what to do and entire cities fall into shambles. All because of instant replay. Don’t you understand the terrible consequences?

Wait, if instant replay is around, people will learn not to care. Sorry, I forgot.

Most sports who have instant replay have gone about it the right way, discussing it for a long period of time and figuring out the quirks that come with the package (minus the NHL). Baseball is talking about installing this system not even a business week’s worth of time after the initial play occurred that called into question in the first place. Honestly, how much can one professional league overreact?

The MLB focuses so much point on allowing it’s pitchers to warm up so that they don’t end up injuring themselves in the heat of battle. Relief pitchers are allowed a huge amount of time to warm up when they enter the game, all for the safety of the game more than anything else. Won’t instant replay counter that factor as well?

An opposing pitcher may find himself sitting in the dugout, waiting for the verdict of ONE PLAY. It’s more time spent sitting, not moving, then he should. Some innings can end up lasting longer than opposing players wish because they find themselves getting cold and their muscles getting tight while waiting. Once again, an operation that will only add time onto the length of the game, both short term (the time from the controversial play to the time it’s figured out) and long term (the addition of time to the length of the game while we all waited for some stupid decision to be made), is only going to cause more harm to a game that is struggling to regain it’s reputation.

Bud Selig, maybe you should take a long hard look at this issue in the winter meetings that will take place after the season. There is no place for this issue to be thought about at the end of May. The types of plays that require instant replay are few and far between and, quite frankly, the sacrifice it will take on the game is suicidal.

The Top Four

1. Boston Red Sox: How can anyone argue against this team being the best in the AL? Unless of course if you live in the Bronx but your team is pretty far down the list so I wouldn’t speak a whole lot of trash at this point. The Sox are owners of the most well rounded starting rotation in the league and quite possibly all of the MLB.

2. Los Angeles Angels: Speaking of pitching, how about this starting rotation? So young but so good so far, the Angels sport a fearsome offense to back up their youthful brilliance. Not to mention their weak AL West schedule will help their record look superb come August.

3. Tampa Bay Rays: So some people saw this one coming. The Rays have spent the entire past few seasons drafting and developing talent that is finally making it’s way to the major league club. And I’ll be damned if they aren’t going to be good for a while as long as they can hold on to these guys and not fall into the trap of making stupid baseball moves if the going gets a little tough. They’re only kids.

4. Chicago White Sox: Oh the wonders a hot streak can do for you. The White Sox have shot their way to the top of the division early and have been consistent as of late to put a little bit of a cushion between them and the competition. They better keep it up because the Central is full of teams that are hungry.

The Murky Middle

5. Oakland Athletics: It’s hard for me to bring myself to find faith in this team. Although, it’s tough to find confidence in several AL teams this season because they are all beating up on each other. The offensive power that this team has displayed thus far while fighting through an injury to Rich Harden should bring a little comfort to A’s fans.

6. Baltimore Orioles: The East has proven time and time again since the season began that they intend to be the strongest division again this year. Except this time help is being provided by the surging, surprising O’s. Led by a pitching staff that is exceeding expectations, Baltimore is again fun to root for. Daniel Cabrera for Cy Young? Don’t count it out just yet.

7. Minnesota Twins: Another surprise team who have avoided the radar for the most part. Carlos Gomez is looking like the most successful part of the Johan Santana trade and the Twins are hardly missing the pitching so far. While there isn’t much chance for post-season play this year, the Twins have a much better core then anyone thought before the season began.

8. Cleveland Indians: It almost breaks my heart to have to put Cleveland so high up on this list. They head the category of the most under-performing teams this season. Granted it’s hard to come in with such high expectations, the hitting is letting down awesome performances by the starting pitching. A balance is needed to come out on top. Don’t expect the Tribe to be down and out just yet however.

9. New York Yankees: In order to cover myself, I can’t keep the Yankees off this list any longer. Every year it seems they start of slow and end up destroying people by the time the all-star break rolls around. Look for their hitting to get back on track and the injury bug to wear off soon. There’s only one thing to remember… A-Rod is back.

10. Texas Rangers: Does the name Sidney Ponson ring a bell? While Texas has struggled more than any other team to keep a healthy starting rotation, Ponson has stepped up his game to keep the Rangers around the .500 mark. The West is weak and the Rangers have just as much of a chance as anyone else to grab the division title, especially if they can get their players healthy for a late push.

The Bottom Four

11. Detroit Tigers: No one can really think that this team can continue to not score runs, right? Their stats look horrendous at the moment but, just like any other veteran team (see above #8), the offensive power will find it’s way back. The pitching is another question- will the young staff have a elongated collapse?

12. Toronto Blue Jays: Talk about a fall from grace. Before last season, the Jays were thought to be able to hang with the big boys of the East, and did for the most part. But now they find themselves struggling to keep their heads above water in what has turned into a 5 team race for the AL East championship.

13. Kansas City Royals: Once again, KC will have to suffer through a miserable season because they won’t seem to spend the money on the veterans that matter. There are a few bright spots however: Zack Greinke is pitching extremely well and Billy Butler has a future ahead of him; the only question is whether or not the Royals can keep them both around.

14. Seattle Mariners: The lowly basement of the AL belongs solely to the Mariners. Their pitching has been less than spectacular, the bullpen has been inefficient, and the offense has not shown it’s face. One can only hope that they are blessed to be in the West (yes, it rhymes… sort of) which gives them some sort of glimmer of hope.

So there you have it. Don’t worry about following the rest of the season because I’ve just revealed to you the outcome of every team. You can thank me later. Seriously though, the AL is going to end up being such a weird race to follow; predictions, no matter how hard baseball provides to be each year, are even more difficult this season. Stay tuned because maybe, just maybe, I’ll update.

Have a question or comment? Leave it below or email us at CaseInPointSports@yahoo.com, your feedback is always appreciated.

What have you been thinking all of these years? I mean, seriously, what has been running through your head? You can make up excuses all you want for why you do the things you do, whether it’s bad luck or some combination of several mental incapacities, but when it comes down to it, the reason you’re in the situation you’re in is because you don’t know how to use your head. It’s the reason why you have been through so many ridiculous situations in your life that you probably can’t tell one crazy event from the other. And it’s probably the reason why you never developed into anything more than an over-hyped high school QB who has found himself falling from the pinnacle of college football to trying to make a subdivision roster in order to save face.

First of all, at the young age of 14, you got shot by your sister’s boyfriend, nearly ending any chance of having a career, all due to a practical joke you tried to play. Your attempt to jump out and scare your sister led to a man carrying a gun while on a date with your sister to point it at you and pull the trigger. I don’t care who you are, if anyone in your immediate family is dating someone that feels the need to tote a gun with him wherever he goes and is willing to pull it out (and fire!) on someone that is playing a practical joke, then you should probably start to rethink the situation you’re in. You could suggest to your sister that maybe she should find someone that isn’t so worried about his safety that he feels the need to illegally carry a concealed weapon on his person at all times.

After verbally committing to Texas then going back on your world, you ended up at LSU, a powerhouse football school with a history and a strong current reputation. You signed with the intentions of becoming the next best thing to happen to the school this side of Shaq. But once again you found a way to turn the attention away from your football talent and shine bright and hot onto your off-field activities. After your brother was arrested and charged for attempting to counterfeit money, your name was dragged into the case. And while you were never found to be directly involved… once again, you lie in the bed you keep.

Your struggles to become the QB that everyone thought you would develop into was a direct result of everything else you involved yourself in. The starting position you never won was yours for the taking. But the decisions you made throughout college caused your focus to stray away from football. You couldn’t keep up with the game.

It’s really too bad. You have the talent and the football intelligence to lead a great football school like LSU to great heights. You could work out those inconsistencies with the top notch coaches at a perennial school. But you chose to take the low road. You took the path with all the bumps and obstacles. Maybe you didn’t mean to. But maybe you made those choices because it was familiar to you. You came to a fork in your journey and you followed the road less taken except that you had nothing more to prove. All you had to do was go with the flow.

You never found a way to turn around your life after going to school and finding that it was hard to pull away from the rough-and-tough life style of brothers with fake money and sisters with gun-carrying boyfriends. You attempted to use a fake ID to gamble and eventually pissed LSU off so much that Les Miles kicked you off the team. From your absence for mandatory meetings to reports of failed drug tests, you let your future drain away. Everything had been laid out in front of you and disappeared, not because of the actions of others, but because of your lack of action to take yourself out of unfortunate situations.

So now, it’s Jacksonville State. In it’s own right, the Gamecocks are a very good football program in Division I-AA subdivision. Perrilloux should be counting his blessings that a school with such success turned to him and offered him a second chance. But however lucky his case may be, there is only one person that needs to understand the situation he’s found himself in. And based on his past, Ryan Perrilloux’s decision-making is still up in the air.