The Blues are back on home ice tonight hoping to get the taste of their last poor effort out of their mouths. While I'm not necessarily expecting an improvement in the scoring department, the defense has suddenly gotten healthy. Pietro and Polak are back in the lineup tonight and that is good news.
To make room on the roster for Polak Ian Cole was sent back to Peoria. I was impressed with Cole in his short time with the Blues. He certainly looked the part on the ice and, if the Blues didn't exactly play well while he was here, it wasn't because the defense was poor.
Hopefully, having our pre-season top six defensemen on the ice will allow us to make things tough for the Canucks.
LGB
Monday, December 20, 2010
Sunday, December 19, 2010
The Weather Is Really Starting To Piss Me Off...
And I don't mean the usual winter weather we experience here in Wisconsin (state motto "We do nothing but drink beer and eat cheese and brats because its winter six months of the year you jackwagon"). No, its the weather in England that is annoying the hell out of me, especially since the UK can be absolutely crippled by 4 inches of snow. Well, they have had much more than 4 inches lately, the result of which is a slew of cancelled fixtures. My Notts County has played only once in nearly three weeks. Even the EPL, with its fancier turf managing systems, was decimated this weekend with only two matches being played one of which will not be the Chelsea v. Man U. game today.
It has gotten so bad I may be forced to desperate measures. Yes, that is right. Watching the NFL.
Luckily I have beer, cheese and brats.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
News Flash: Blues Still Cannot Score
Remember the old joke about the loser who couldn't get laid in a whore house? If so, then welcome to the 2010-11 version of the St. Louis Blues. Once again injuries have ripped out the heart of the team leaving it, frankly, flaccid.
Tonight's 4-1 home drubbing at the hands of the Sharks can be chalked up to one thing; lack of scoring. This team knows if it falls behind 1 or 2 goals you can pretty much predict the outcome. To hear the management talk, as I heard on the radio tonight between periods, it is next to impossible to trade for needs anymore.
I don't buy it. The same sorts of deficiencies and needs that have always arisen in the NHL are still there. To the perennial needs you can add a new one, i.e. making room for the salary cap, into the mix. Now, it is true, the types of deals can be a little restricted for those teams unable to take salary, but that should be when an organization loaded with prospects should be able to make a move. The Blues, unfortunately, seem to be convinced any such move would turn out to be the hockey equivalent of Brock for Broglio. Or they are at least living in fear of that possibility.
I'm not suggesting anyone make a panic move, but it is clear that the Blues roster is shy on NHL caliber talent right now. Given that Oshie will not be back for another three months (we hope) and Perron looks likely to be the Justin Morneau of hockey, sitting around and praying doesn't seem like much of a strategy.
At a bare minimum it might be nice to see someone with some offensive upside make the trip from Peoria...even if its only for a cup of coffee. We want to see effort, which is something we saw very little of Saturday night.
Perkins Is A Lumberjack And That's OK
DC United keeps making the moves: Timbers and DC United trade goalies
Cronin has "backup" written all over him, but at least he is an experienced backup.
This means, however, that DC is convinced that 20 year old Bill Hamid has what it takes to be a number one in MLS. Hamid looked pretty good in his action last year, but it was a perfect situation for a young player. The team was terrible and there was not a ton of pressure to be found. The early games of the upcoming season are going to matter in a way no DC game did matter after June last year. Hopefully, the kid is up to the challenge. If he isn't Cronin is going to see a lot of work.
The Portland Timbers have acquired goaltender Troy Perkins from D.C. United for goaltender Steve Cronin.
The Timbers, who join Major League Soccer as an expansion team next year, will also send D.C. United allocation money as part of the trade announced Friday. United will retain a portion of Perkins’ salary budget for next season....
Cronin has appeared in 56 regular-season matches over two seasons for Portland’s second-division side with a 26-11-19 record. He has played previously for the San Jose Earthquakes and the Los Angeles Galaxy.
Cronin has "backup" written all over him, but at least he is an experienced backup.
This means, however, that DC is convinced that 20 year old Bill Hamid has what it takes to be a number one in MLS. Hamid looked pretty good in his action last year, but it was a perfect situation for a young player. The team was terrible and there was not a ton of pressure to be found. The early games of the upcoming season are going to matter in a way no DC game did matter after June last year. Hopefully, the kid is up to the challenge. If he isn't Cronin is going to see a lot of work.
Vulture Culture - Part Two
Yesterday I looked at the potential pickings at forward positions offered by the Minnesota Wild roster as they fall out of contention. Today the distressed animal we are circling over is the Calgary Flames.
The situation Calgary finds themselves in certainly make something of a fire sale a necessity. Given the depth of competition in the West it seems unlikely the Flames could make serious noise this season. As constituted the Flames are a pretty old team (avg. age 29.7 years), and they don't have much room under the cap, only $1.7m. They may take awhile to accept that they are not going anywhere this year, but I've got to think they will eventually begin to look to the future.
Alex Tanguay: Age 30 LW 32GP 9G 16A +4
Given that Tanguay is the type of player Canadian hockey fans love to hate, and given he is playing well enough to score a much more lucrative contract on the free agent market after the season, Tanguay should be available. If the price was right I wouldn't have a problem with this move. However, given the fact Calgary probably won't begin to sell off early a bidding war could develop. I'd hate to see the Blues overpay for someone who can be as uneven in his play as Tanguay can be. Tough call.
Curtis Glencross: Age 27 LW 30GP 7G 5A +1
I like Glencross, and I would like the depth he could offer the Blues. That being said he's not really someone you think of as fitting in on a scoring line, is he? Pass, for the time being. One more long term injury to a forward and I'll reconsider.
Brendan Morrison: Age 34 C 32GP 5G 14A +4
He's inexpensive, gonna be a free agent at season's end, and he's picking up decent numbers. I'd take him.
Craig Conroy: Age 38 C 17GP 2G 0A -1
I put Craig on here merely for sentimental purposes. The next time I want him wearing the Bluenote is for the alumni team. Pass.
Olli Jokinen: Age 31 C 29GP 5G 10A -6
I don't care if Backes, Berglund and Boyes were all felled in a freak group shaving accident, I wouldn't want Jokinen near my team. Pass.
Niklas Hagman: Age 30 LW 32GP 8G 9A -6
Hagman still has a year on his deal after this one (at $3m), so he might not be made available in any event. But, if he is put on the market he might be worth a look see. 25-30 goals a season should be within his reach if he remains healthy. Plus the hit he would put on next season salary cap wouldn't hinder the Blues as they take care of some of the homegrown talent (especially Oshie, whose various injuries will probably keep him relatively affordable anyway.) I say yes.
The situation Calgary finds themselves in certainly make something of a fire sale a necessity. Given the depth of competition in the West it seems unlikely the Flames could make serious noise this season. As constituted the Flames are a pretty old team (avg. age 29.7 years), and they don't have much room under the cap, only $1.7m. They may take awhile to accept that they are not going anywhere this year, but I've got to think they will eventually begin to look to the future.
Alex Tanguay: Age 30 LW 32GP 9G 16A +4
Given that Tanguay is the type of player Canadian hockey fans love to hate, and given he is playing well enough to score a much more lucrative contract on the free agent market after the season, Tanguay should be available. If the price was right I wouldn't have a problem with this move. However, given the fact Calgary probably won't begin to sell off early a bidding war could develop. I'd hate to see the Blues overpay for someone who can be as uneven in his play as Tanguay can be. Tough call.
Curtis Glencross: Age 27 LW 30GP 7G 5A +1
I like Glencross, and I would like the depth he could offer the Blues. That being said he's not really someone you think of as fitting in on a scoring line, is he? Pass, for the time being. One more long term injury to a forward and I'll reconsider.
Brendan Morrison: Age 34 C 32GP 5G 14A +4
He's inexpensive, gonna be a free agent at season's end, and he's picking up decent numbers. I'd take him.
Craig Conroy: Age 38 C 17GP 2G 0A -1
I put Craig on here merely for sentimental purposes. The next time I want him wearing the Bluenote is for the alumni team. Pass.
Olli Jokinen: Age 31 C 29GP 5G 10A -6
I don't care if Backes, Berglund and Boyes were all felled in a freak group shaving accident, I wouldn't want Jokinen near my team. Pass.
Niklas Hagman: Age 30 LW 32GP 8G 9A -6
Hagman still has a year on his deal after this one (at $3m), so he might not be made available in any event. But, if he is put on the market he might be worth a look see. 25-30 goals a season should be within his reach if he remains healthy. Plus the hit he would put on next season salary cap wouldn't hinder the Blues as they take care of some of the homegrown talent (especially Oshie, whose various injuries will probably keep him relatively affordable anyway.) I say yes.
Friday, December 17, 2010
The State Of The Cards - December 2010 - Part One: Pitching
I thought it might be worthwhile to take a quick look at where the Cards' 40-Man roster sits as well move into the last two weeks of 2010.
Pitchers:
Major League Roster Locks/Probables/Possibles
Mitchell Boggs
Chris Carpenter
Ryan Franklin
Jaime Garcia
Kyle Lohse
Kyle McClellan
Trever Miller
Jason Motte
Fernando Salas
Francisco Samuel
Brian Tallet
Adam Wainwright
P.J. Walters
Jake Westbrook
Starting Rotation:
1. Wainwright
2. Carpenter
3. Westbrook
4. Garcia
5. Lohse
It's amazing what the Phillies signing of Lee does to one's perceptions. Not all that long ago I would have looked pretty favorably at this group of starters, particularly since we now know Westbrook had been banged up last year and, so, might improve when healthy. Today, I look at this fivesome and I feel nothing but dread. "What if Carp or Waino goes down? What if Garcia becomes afflicted with a severs case of the sophomores? And, Lohse?? Might we better served by putting a dead cat in the fifth spot?" etc. I'll take a deep breath and say, as constituted, the Cards have the third or fourth best starting staff in the NL.
Closer:
Franklin
*sigh*
Set-up:
Motte
That's fine.
Lefty Specialist:
Miller
Got my fingers crossed. Too often these left handers will throw in a clunker of a season every other year.
Long men/Spot Starters:
Boggs
McClellan
That would leave one spot open for the rest to fight it out over. (2 spots if the Cards decided to go with 11.) Overall, the bullpen is what it is. I've seen better; I've seen worse.
Rest of 40-Man Pitchers:
Bryan Augenstein
Maikel Cleto
Blake King
David Kopp
Adam Reifer
Eduardo Sanchez
Of these only Sanchez it seems would have an outside shot of making the opening day roster, but only if a lot of players in front of him falter. Cleto's appearance on the 40-man is a little odd, but maybe the organization wants him to feel wanted.
I'll go over the position players later this weekend.
Pitchers:
Major League Roster Locks/Probables/Possibles
Mitchell Boggs
Chris Carpenter
Ryan Franklin
Jaime Garcia
Kyle Lohse
Kyle McClellan
Trever Miller
Jason Motte
Fernando Salas
Francisco Samuel
Brian Tallet
Adam Wainwright
P.J. Walters
Jake Westbrook
Starting Rotation:
1. Wainwright
2. Carpenter
3. Westbrook
4. Garcia
5. Lohse
It's amazing what the Phillies signing of Lee does to one's perceptions. Not all that long ago I would have looked pretty favorably at this group of starters, particularly since we now know Westbrook had been banged up last year and, so, might improve when healthy. Today, I look at this fivesome and I feel nothing but dread. "What if Carp or Waino goes down? What if Garcia becomes afflicted with a severs case of the sophomores? And, Lohse?? Might we better served by putting a dead cat in the fifth spot?" etc. I'll take a deep breath and say, as constituted, the Cards have the third or fourth best starting staff in the NL.
Closer:
Franklin
*sigh*
Set-up:
Motte
That's fine.
Lefty Specialist:
Miller
Got my fingers crossed. Too often these left handers will throw in a clunker of a season every other year.
Long men/Spot Starters:
Boggs
McClellan
That would leave one spot open for the rest to fight it out over. (2 spots if the Cards decided to go with 11.) Overall, the bullpen is what it is. I've seen better; I've seen worse.
Rest of 40-Man Pitchers:
Bryan Augenstein
Maikel Cleto
Blake King
David Kopp
Adam Reifer
Eduardo Sanchez
Of these only Sanchez it seems would have an outside shot of making the opening day roster, but only if a lot of players in front of him falter. Cleto's appearance on the 40-man is a little odd, but maybe the organization wants him to feel wanted.
I'll go over the position players later this weekend.
Vulture Culture
We may be rapidly nearing that time of the season when the Blues will have to start feeding on the rotting corpses of the NHL. The Blues have spent the better part of five years holding onto draft picks and stocking the organization with prospects. Not all of them can find the ice at the Drink Scotch. The whole point was to move some of them when needs arise. Given the open-ended nature of some of the injuries forwards have taken this year I'd say needs have indeed arisen.
One of those rotting corpses is the Minnesota Wild. In today's Pioneer-Press Tom Powers runs through some names the Wild would probably listen to offers for as the Wild is near the salary cap and going nowhere fast. Here are the options:
Andrew Burnette: Age 37 LW 30GP 6G 8A -6
This would definitely be a rental situation. Burnette is a solid experienced pro who wouldn't cost much in return, but I'm not sure there is enough upside here to merit the Blues moving on him. Pass.
John Madden: Age 37 C 28GP 4G 3A -12
Another cheap old guy, and exactly what the Blues do not need. We are up to our wazoos in fourth line players. Pass.
Antti Miettenen: Age 30 RW 25GP 7G 8A -5
Miettenen will be a free agent after the season, so this can certainly be viewed as a rental situation if the Blues wanted it to be. He's quick, and offer offensive upside compared to the pluggers the Blues have to make do with right now. As long as the price isn't exorbitant I say yes. Please.
Chuck Kobasew: Age 28 RW 16GP 2G 0A -6
I like Kobasew, but he's been banged up pretty good. Plus, he isn't really a "put the puck in the back of the net" kinda guy at the best of time. Pass.
I'll keep an eye out for other carcasses we might be able to pick over.
One of those rotting corpses is the Minnesota Wild. In today's Pioneer-Press Tom Powers runs through some names the Wild would probably listen to offers for as the Wild is near the salary cap and going nowhere fast. Here are the options:
Andrew Burnette: Age 37 LW 30GP 6G 8A -6
This would definitely be a rental situation. Burnette is a solid experienced pro who wouldn't cost much in return, but I'm not sure there is enough upside here to merit the Blues moving on him. Pass.
John Madden: Age 37 C 28GP 4G 3A -12
Another cheap old guy, and exactly what the Blues do not need. We are up to our wazoos in fourth line players. Pass.
Antti Miettenen: Age 30 RW 25GP 7G 8A -5
Miettenen will be a free agent after the season, so this can certainly be viewed as a rental situation if the Blues wanted it to be. He's quick, and offer offensive upside compared to the pluggers the Blues have to make do with right now. As long as the price isn't exorbitant I say yes. Please.
Chuck Kobasew: Age 28 RW 16GP 2G 0A -6
I like Kobasew, but he's been banged up pretty good. Plus, he isn't really a "put the puck in the back of the net" kinda guy at the best of time. Pass.
I'll keep an eye out for other carcasses we might be able to pick over.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
The Hockey Gods Are Trying To Kill Me
As if losing to the Red Wings wasn't bad enough, the Blues are now looking at another possible injury to a main cog in their lineup:
"Well, at least he's not dead!"
I'm sorry, but it has gotten to the point where it is impossible to see the "glass half full" moments in any of this. Right now the Blues are without Oshie, McDonald, Perron, Pietrangelo, Polak, and now Johnson. To make matters worse the Blues are still stuck in the old habit of only calling up "hard workers" from Peoria (otherwise known as the great untalented.) Given the length of the Blues rebuilding process it is pretty damning that they have no one to call up to fill a forward slot other than skaters like Cracknell, Porter or Scatchard.
On the blueline things are less critical, but if Pietro or EJ were to go down for a long time having a player like Jonas Junland over in Europe instead of being at least in Peoria could be less than optimal.
Tonight it is back on home ice against a superior Kings team.
Well...at least we will try hard.
A knee injury suffered by Erik Johnson is expected to keep the Blues defenseman out of tonight's game against Los Angeles, but club officials were reluctant Wednesday night to look past the next 24 hours.
Johnson left the team's game Wednesday seven minutes into the first period, after he was tangled up with Detroit's Pavel Datsyuk in the neutral zone. Johnson got up slowly, headed to the dressing room and didn't return.
It appeared that he was favoring his right knee, which is the one he had surgery on two years ago to repair a torn ligament and caused him to miss the entire 2008-09 season. But there were hints of relief that it might not be a re-aggravation of Johnson's prior injury.
"Well, at least he's not dead!"
I'm sorry, but it has gotten to the point where it is impossible to see the "glass half full" moments in any of this. Right now the Blues are without Oshie, McDonald, Perron, Pietrangelo, Polak, and now Johnson. To make matters worse the Blues are still stuck in the old habit of only calling up "hard workers" from Peoria (otherwise known as the great untalented.) Given the length of the Blues rebuilding process it is pretty damning that they have no one to call up to fill a forward slot other than skaters like Cracknell, Porter or Scatchard.
On the blueline things are less critical, but if Pietro or EJ were to go down for a long time having a player like Jonas Junland over in Europe instead of being at least in Peoria could be less than optimal.
Tonight it is back on home ice against a superior Kings team.
Well...at least we will try hard.
I Want Filet Mignon... DC United Gives Me Salisbury Steak
This simply isn't good enough: D.C. United selects veteran forward Josh Wolff with first pick in MLS re-entry draft
And Angel? Right now his rights lie with the Galaxy. (We will see if they can sign him.) A comment over at Goff's place sums up my feeling here:
I have zero confidence in this United team to bring in a forward who can do anything in MLS. Oh, I'm sure whoever they sign will have been the scourge of the Latvian league or whatever, but I'm just as certain they will be positively Allsoppian in their on field performances in DC.
Depressing.
D.C. United claimed former U.S. national team forward Josh Wolff with the first overall pick in the second stage of the MLS re-entry draft Wednesday.
He signed a one-year contract with a club-held option in 2012, United General Manager Dave Kasper said. Although terms were not disclosed, Wolff, who will be 34 in February, had to accept a salary cut after earning $220,000 with Kansas City this year.
He was with the Chicago Fire from 1998 to 2002, spent four years with Kansas City and played for 1860 Munich in Germany for 1 1/2 seasons before returning to the Wizards in 2008. This year, he had two goals and three assists in 25 league appearances (16 starts). In 2009, he scored a career-high 11 goals.
"He fits our style, he's intelligent and he has the leadership qualities that will benefit our younger players," Kasper said. "It's a solid fit."
With the U.S. national team, Wolff made 52 appearances and played in both the 2002 and 2006 World Cup as a substitute. According to Kasper, United approached Wolff following last week's first stage of the re-entry process, when only two players were selected, and began negotiations.
Despite this signing, it's "very possible" that United will acquire another experienced forward before training camp opens next month, Kasper said. The club is also in the market for a central defender.
And Angel? Right now his rights lie with the Galaxy. (We will see if they can sign him.) A comment over at Goff's place sums up my feeling here:
Excellent, at least we now go 3 deep at the forwards who don't score goals position. Now if we can move on to the center backs who don't defend...
I have zero confidence in this United team to bring in a forward who can do anything in MLS. Oh, I'm sure whoever they sign will have been the scourge of the Latvian league or whatever, but I'm just as certain they will be positively Allsoppian in their on field performances in DC.
Depressing.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
MLS Re-Entry Draft
Well, come Wednesday, if DC wants Juan Pablo Angel they can have him.
If they don't select Angel I will riot.
If they don't select Angel I will riot.
Saturday, November 27, 2010
The Big 12 Officiating Crew....
...doing the Missouri/Kansas game ought to all be raped in prison.
They are so obviously pro-Kansas it isn't even funny. Somebody is trying to make sure Mizzou doesn't cover the spread.
They are so obviously pro-Kansas it isn't even funny. Somebody is trying to make sure Mizzou doesn't cover the spread.
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Congrats To Andy Najar
Well, at least a DC United player won something this season: D.C. rookie Najar wins MLS award
D.C. United's 17-year-old star midfielder Andy Najar has been named the 2010 Major League Soccer Rookie of the Year.
Najar is the second player in D.C. United history to capture Rookie of the Year honors. The young Honduran joins 1998 winner Ben Olsen in the United honors list. Olsen became United's interim coach midseason and guided the young Najar who scored five goals and an assist in 26 League matches (22 starts). In all competitions, Najar netted seven goals and registered two assists. Najar is the first rookie to win the MLS award after coming directly from a club's youth academy.
The play of Najar was far and away the brightest part of a United season which had to be the most frustrating in their history. This is not a situation where Najar just stood out because the rest of the team struggled so badly - well, OK, that is a part of it, but anyone who saw Najar's game develop as the season wore on knows the kid is real good and getting better.
Coach Bradley better be thinking about capping Andy as soon as he can. There is no reason why Honduras should get him. (Hondurans might disagree, but I don't really care!)
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Blues Dropping The Puck Tonight
Let the madness begin already!
This is the year the Blues accomplish some things.
I predict:
1) Better than 6th place finish, and
2) At least get past the first round of the playoffs.
I've got a feeling.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
What Is It About The Post-Season...
...that turns MLB umpires into complete morons?
I don't get it. During the regular season MLB umpires are, by far, the best officials in American professional sports. Sure, you can complain about wandering strike zones, and howlers like the excrementally bad call which cost Armando Galarraga a perfect game, but, in general, you don't see officials changing the entire complexion of a game like they routinely do in the NBA, MLS, NHL and NFL.
Until they get into the post-season that is. Umpires the last few years have turned into complete choke artists. Last night's debacle in Minnesota is merely the latest example. (Plus the Rays were screwed out of a run as well by a phantom foul ball call.) It used to be bad calls in the post-season was defined by one play only, Denkinger in 1985. Today its take your pick.
I really think MLB is gonna have to increase instant replay if only to save the asses of umpires. Its quickly becoming obvious that they cannot save themselves by doing a better job of shaking off the yips.
I don't get it. During the regular season MLB umpires are, by far, the best officials in American professional sports. Sure, you can complain about wandering strike zones, and howlers like the excrementally bad call which cost Armando Galarraga a perfect game, but, in general, you don't see officials changing the entire complexion of a game like they routinely do in the NBA, MLS, NHL and NFL.
Until they get into the post-season that is. Umpires the last few years have turned into complete choke artists. Last night's debacle in Minnesota is merely the latest example. (Plus the Rays were screwed out of a run as well by a phantom foul ball call.) It used to be bad calls in the post-season was defined by one play only, Denkinger in 1985. Today its take your pick.
I really think MLB is gonna have to increase instant replay if only to save the asses of umpires. Its quickly becoming obvious that they cannot save themselves by doing a better job of shaking off the yips.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
I Love This
I have to say the first round of the baseball playoffs is quickly becoming my favorite sports time of the year. For one week there seems to always be a game on. I love being able to plop in front of the tube and know some high stakes action will be taking place somewhere.
Yes, the first two rounds of March Madness has the same vibe, but it is only four days. Plus there is the stop/start quality to the tournament which breaks up the continuity.
The only thing that could make it better would be MLB making the first round series best of seven.
I can dream.
Yes, the first two rounds of March Madness has the same vibe, but it is only four days. Plus there is the stop/start quality to the tournament which breaks up the continuity.
The only thing that could make it better would be MLB making the first round series best of seven.
I can dream.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
You Have Got To Be Kidding
So...Ken Burns' "documentary" about "baseball" in the 2000's doesn't mention Albert Pujols. I think this proves that Burns is the most ignorant MFer on the planet.
Friday, September 24, 2010
Bing Crosby: Historian
This is simply awesome: In Bing Crosby’s Wine Cellar, Vintage Baseball
How a near pristine black-and-white reel of the entire television broadcast of the deciding game of the 1960 World Series — long believed to be lost forever — came to rest in the dry and cool wine cellar of Bing Crosby’s home near San Francisco is not a mystery to those who knew him.
Crosby loved baseball, but as a part owner of the Pittsburgh Pirates he was too nervous to watch the Series against the Yankees, so he and his wife went to Paris, where they listened by radio.
“He said, ‘I can’t stay in the country,’ ” his widow, Kathryn Crosby, said. “ ‘I’ll jinx everybody.’ ”
He knew he would want to watch the game later — if his Pirates won — so he hired a company to record Game 7 by kinescope, an early relative of the DVR, filming off a television monitor. The five-reel set, found in December in Crosby’s home, is the only known complete copy of the game, in which Pirates second baseman Bill Mazeroski hit a game-ending home run to beat the Yankees, 10-9. It is considered one of the greatest games ever played.
And now all of us who were not alive at the time will be able to see it. That it recounts a crippling Yankee's loss just makes it sweeter.
Thank you Bing.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Just Imagine
Albert has just hit his league leading 40th and 41st home runs of the year.
Just imagine what he could do if he didn't have a bum ankle.
Scary.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
I Just Might Lose My MLS Fandom
From Steve Goff:
The day DC United moves to Baltimore is the day I cease to be a fan.
Good luck to them, but Baltimore doesn't mean shit to me. I didn't live in Baltimore for eight years, I lived in DC. I didn't have season tickets to a team playing in Baltimore, I had tickets to a team playing in DC. I'm not rooting for the fucking uniforms, I'm (mostly) rooting for a team tied to a specific place.
This sucks.
Club president Kevin Payne says that the process of identifying a location for a new stadium continues in Washington, Northern Virginia and Baltimore. The Maryland Stadium Authority's feasibility study, the first of many steps if a Charm City project goes forward, is expected to be finalized in the coming weeks.
The day DC United moves to Baltimore is the day I cease to be a fan.
Good luck to them, but Baltimore doesn't mean shit to me. I didn't live in Baltimore for eight years, I lived in DC. I didn't have season tickets to a team playing in Baltimore, I had tickets to a team playing in DC. I'm not rooting for the fucking uniforms, I'm (mostly) rooting for a team tied to a specific place.
This sucks.
Friday, July 2, 2010
The Benefits Of Not Being A "Win At Any Cost" Sorta Person
I just had a weird little few minutes. So, I'm watching the Ghana v. Uruguay match, and I'm generally rooting for Ghana. It was a nail biting match with Ghana taking the lead, Uruguay fighting back, and a see-saw battle taking up the rest of regulation and much of extra time. However, in the dying seconds of extra time a Ghanaian player took a dive. It was a terrible play. If they were allowed to give a straight red for a dive this would have merited it. It was dishonest, it was cynical, it was the very worst thing one can see in soccer, and (of course) the refs gave the foul against Uruguay. I went immediately from rooting for Ghana and wanting them to win, to hoping they didn't benefit from their bout of cheating. And, damn it all, they nearly did. A ball was sent in which took a couple of bounces, was cleared off the line once, and then was sent back on goal again only to be punched out by an Uruguayan not wearing a goalie shirt. Red card. Penalty kick. The red card and spot kick were very obviously the right call, but Ghana shouldn't have been given the free kick that led to the red card in the first place.
"Crap," I said to myself. "Ghana is going to be rewarded for cheating."
They weren't. One missed PK, a loss in the shootout later, and Ghana is going home.
It's too bad, as Ghana making the semis would have been a great story, but it would have ruined it for me if they had gotten their that way. I would have been okay with Ghana winning the shootout, but that never really looked likely.
Karma, it turns out, is indeed a bitch.
"Crap," I said to myself. "Ghana is going to be rewarded for cheating."
They weren't. One missed PK, a loss in the shootout later, and Ghana is going home.
It's too bad, as Ghana making the semis would have been a great story, but it would have ruined it for me if they had gotten their that way. I would have been okay with Ghana winning the shootout, but that never really looked likely.
Karma, it turns out, is indeed a bitch.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Terry Vaughn Is A Dishonest Official (And a Fucktard)
I'm guessing he is betting on the games he refs in. He looked right at the Schelotto handball and said it was a good goal. (Vaughn was maybe 15 feet away and had a clear unobstructed view.) THAT is not a "mistake." THAT is a crime.
Fucking cheating moron.
Fucking cheating moron.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Unforgivable
Jim Joyce ought to just fucking "retire" right now. His call taking away a deserved perfect game from Armando Galarraga simply beggars description. And let's get this clear up front: This was not a "controversial" call. This was to a normal baseball call what Charles Manson is to proper etiquette. This was an abortion of a call; an "I wonder was arsenic tastes like" call; a "kerosene works, why not gasoline?" call. To name this as "controversial" is to give way too much credit to the umpire. This wasn't close. This wasn't a "bang-bang" play or a 50/50 situation.
So when Paul White in USA Today writes:
Armando Galarraga of the Detroit Tigers came within one out -- and maybe one inch -or less -- of the third perfect game in the major leagues this season.
...this is pretty much the definition of journalistic fraud. This gives the false impression the play was close. It wasn't. Jason Donald was out by a good step and a half, and Donald knew it too. You could see on his face that he was horrified that Joyce had called him safe.
I am livid. The job of umpires is to protect the integrity of the game, and Jim Joyce just took a big hairy dump on it. Joyce stole something from Galarraga, from the history of the game, and from every fan of the sport.
It is truly unforgivable.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
League One Here We Come
A busy week means I'm a little late with this, but Notts County won the League Two Championship on Tuesday with a 5-0 thumping of lowly Darlington.
Today they thumped almost as lowly Cheltenham 5-0.
That is the way to say adieu to League Two.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Someone Call The Cops!
So I'm watching the Fulham v. Everton game today and it is a fairly entertaining match. It's 1-1 in the last 30 seconds or so, and although Everton has dominated large stretches of the match it is a pretty fair result. After all, Everton's only goal had come on an own goal.
However, then the refs decide they want to give the game to Everton, literally. First Everton's Louis Saha kicks the ball out of bound. It was very clear. Everyone in the park could see it...everyone, we are supposed to believe, except the assistant ref who gives it to Everton. Off the throw the ball comes bounding into the box off of the shoulder and arm of an Everton player. Because of the poor touch of the Everton player the ball was way, and I mean WAY, out of his reach. But the ref calls a bullshit penalty because after the ball had bounded away the Everton player clattered into a Fulham player. There is no way that is a penalty. If you think it IS, well, that just proves you are an idiot who knows nothing about the game.
Look, I root for each side because they each have American players, so I am hardly biased. I just want a fairly played match. All I can say is I'd love to see the bank accounts of the officials for today's game.
However, then the refs decide they want to give the game to Everton, literally. First Everton's Louis Saha kicks the ball out of bound. It was very clear. Everyone in the park could see it...everyone, we are supposed to believe, except the assistant ref who gives it to Everton. Off the throw the ball comes bounding into the box off of the shoulder and arm of an Everton player. Because of the poor touch of the Everton player the ball was way, and I mean WAY, out of his reach. But the ref calls a bullshit penalty because after the ball had bounded away the Everton player clattered into a Fulham player. There is no way that is a penalty. If you think it IS, well, that just proves you are an idiot who knows nothing about the game.
Look, I root for each side because they each have American players, so I am hardly biased. I just want a fairly played match. All I can say is I'd love to see the bank accounts of the officials for today's game.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
One Down, One To Go
Notts going up:
Graham Parker once sang the definition of the "lunatic fringe" was to be relegated to the third division. What does it mean when you are promoted to the third division?
On the table Notts is top by one point with five to play, plus they have a game in hand. Got to keep winning to take the league championship. We might as well as we are here already.
Notts County secured promotion to League One after a six-year absence with a comfortable win over Morecambe.
The League Two leaders underlined their title credentials with three goals in the opening 20 minutes.
Lee Hughes guided home Craig Westcarr's cross, Ricky Ravenhill netted with a superb 20-yard effort and Hughes then converted Ben Davies' free-kick.
Graham Parker once sang the definition of the "lunatic fringe" was to be relegated to the third division. What does it mean when you are promoted to the third division?
On the table Notts is top by one point with five to play, plus they have a game in hand. Got to keep winning to take the league championship. We might as well as we are here already.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Notts County Goes To Top Of The Table!
Holy jumpin!
County goes up by one point with 6 fixtures to go. They also have a game in hand.
Promotion to League One is all but assured.
County goes up by one point with 6 fixtures to go. They also have a game in hand.
Promotion to League One is all but assured.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
This Seems To Be DC United, Sadly
I was out of town last week and didn't get to see the destruction of DC United last week in KC, so tonight's game was my first look at the club.
All I can say is...fuck me. This was not a case of a team that just looked bad on a given evening. This. Team. Sucks.
Where to start? OK, it is time to face facts. Jamie Moreno's days a an MLS caliber player are over. He's been slow as molasses for a few years now but he had made up for that by being damn near impossible to push off the ball. Tonight Kate Moss could have muscled him off the ball. Its time for us to enter the second decade of the 21st century already, and Jaime needs to ride off into the sunset. I'll miss him, but somebody buy the man a gold watch.
I know its early days, but Christian Castillo looks like a bust. He lacks the pace to play wide, he lacks the touch to play inside, and he lacks the vision to play as a withdrawn striker. He's a triple threat.
Based on what I saw tonight I have serious reservations about the ability of Curt Onalfo to guide this team. The lineup was suspect, the scheme lacked imagination, and his substitutions were hit and miss. Generally speaking, the team gave off an air of laziness most of the evening, which often speaks to the coaching.
On the plus side Pontius played pretty well. Thus endeth the "plus side."
GASL's DC Player Ratings:
Troy Perkins - 5
Carey Talley - 4
Dejan Jakovic - 4
Juan Manuel Pena - 5
Rodney Wallac - 5
Brandon Barklage - 5
Kurt Morsink - 4
Santino Quaranta - 4
Cristian Castillo - 3
Jaime Moreno - 4
Chris Pontius - 6
Thabiso Khumalo (62) - 4
Andy Najar (70) - 5
Julius James (76) - 4
All I can say is...fuck me. This was not a case of a team that just looked bad on a given evening. This. Team. Sucks.
Where to start? OK, it is time to face facts. Jamie Moreno's days a an MLS caliber player are over. He's been slow as molasses for a few years now but he had made up for that by being damn near impossible to push off the ball. Tonight Kate Moss could have muscled him off the ball. Its time for us to enter the second decade of the 21st century already, and Jaime needs to ride off into the sunset. I'll miss him, but somebody buy the man a gold watch.
I know its early days, but Christian Castillo looks like a bust. He lacks the pace to play wide, he lacks the touch to play inside, and he lacks the vision to play as a withdrawn striker. He's a triple threat.
Based on what I saw tonight I have serious reservations about the ability of Curt Onalfo to guide this team. The lineup was suspect, the scheme lacked imagination, and his substitutions were hit and miss. Generally speaking, the team gave off an air of laziness most of the evening, which often speaks to the coaching.
On the plus side Pontius played pretty well. Thus endeth the "plus side."
GASL's DC Player Ratings:
Troy Perkins - 5
Carey Talley - 4
Dejan Jakovic - 4
Juan Manuel Pena - 5
Rodney Wallac - 5
Brandon Barklage - 5
Kurt Morsink - 4
Santino Quaranta - 4
Cristian Castillo - 3
Jaime Moreno - 4
Chris Pontius - 6
Thabiso Khumalo (62) - 4
Andy Najar (70) - 5
Julius James (76) - 4
Monday, March 22, 2010
Ugly
Sheesh....it is hard to get up and write anything about the Blues when they go and fucking choke away another two points at home AGAIN. Really, the Blues home record is a disgrace and, to my mind at least, speaks to the weakness of our group of core veterans especially on the blueline. I hate to say it, but I'm finding it difficult to imagine a Blues team going deep in the playoffs with Eric Brewer or Barret Jackman in their lineup, let alone Darrel Sydor or Mike Weaver. Please note, I'm not busting on these guys in the sense of saying they can't play, but I think results do speak for themselves.
Obviously, what we have isn't good enough, and I think it is unrealistic to expect Eric Johnson and Alex Pietrangelo will be able to anchor the defense without a couple of vets to provide a steady influences.
Those are vets we simply do not have, so we have to spend the offseason(s) acquiring them.
Obviously, what we have isn't good enough, and I think it is unrealistic to expect Eric Johnson and Alex Pietrangelo will be able to anchor the defense without a couple of vets to provide a steady influences.
Those are vets we simply do not have, so we have to spend the offseason(s) acquiring them.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
I Want My MLS
Unfortunately, I'm probably not going to get it: MLS players prepared to strike
When I look at the situation I have to, by and large, come down on the side of the players in this one. I simply think it is time to alter the structure put in place during the league's infancy. I certainly didn't support the players when after 3 or 4 season they began to make strike threats, it now is a different landscape. The owners cannot forever live on the "newness" of the league as being a reason why the original system must not be changed.
I'll point out, that I say this as one who only rarely takes the side of players unions in these types of disputes. Sometime, I take the "a plague on both your houses" approach, like in MLB back in 1994, but most often I side with the owners. The most recent example of that was the hockey lockout back in 2005.
As much as I'd love to have MLS start on-time, particularly since I've recently switched to satellite TV and can purchase the MLS season package, I have to cheer on the players this time.
I'm just hoping the owners cave soon.
UPDATE:
Further proof that even DishNetwork doesn't think there will be MLS anytime soon; only two weeks or so before the season begins, DishNetwork is still not allowing people to sign up for the Direct Kick service.
MLS players have voted overwhelmingly in favor of a strike if a collective bargaining agreement with the league is not reached in time for the season openers in two weeks, the Insider has learned.
In a written vote, more than 350 players supported a strike and only two opposed it, a source close to the situation said.
"We will not start the season without a new agreement," said a veteran player, who requested anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the negotiations. "To be quite blunt, it doesn't look good at all."
When I look at the situation I have to, by and large, come down on the side of the players in this one. I simply think it is time to alter the structure put in place during the league's infancy. I certainly didn't support the players when after 3 or 4 season they began to make strike threats, it now is a different landscape. The owners cannot forever live on the "newness" of the league as being a reason why the original system must not be changed.
I'll point out, that I say this as one who only rarely takes the side of players unions in these types of disputes. Sometime, I take the "a plague on both your houses" approach, like in MLB back in 1994, but most often I side with the owners. The most recent example of that was the hockey lockout back in 2005.
As much as I'd love to have MLS start on-time, particularly since I've recently switched to satellite TV and can purchase the MLS season package, I have to cheer on the players this time.
I'm just hoping the owners cave soon.
UPDATE:
Further proof that even DishNetwork doesn't think there will be MLS anytime soon; only two weeks or so before the season begins, DishNetwork is still not allowing people to sign up for the Direct Kick service.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Notts County: Going Out In A Blaze Of Glory?
Notts County have won four in a row under new manager Steve Cotterill. This puts the Magpies in a fantastic position to win automatic promotion to League One next season.
So, at this moment they are sitting one point out with three games in hand.
It's an enviable position, to be sure, but it is hard to get too excited when it seems likely Notts will not be allowed to keep its core players for next season. So, the jump up will, in all likelihood, be followed by a plummetting back to League Two.
We can only hope the fall stops there.
In the meantime, enjoy them going out in a Blaze of Glory.
League Two Standings:
Team P GD PTS
1 Rochdale 34 39 69
2 Bournemouth 35 8 63
3 Bury 35 5 61
4 Notts County 32 41 60
5 Chesterfield 35 8 60
6 Rotherham 33 8 56
7 Shrewsbury 35 7 55
8 Northampton 35 7 52
9 Aldershot 34 7 51
10 Dag & Red 34 4 51
11 Port Vale 35 6 49
12 Burton Albion 34 2 49
13 Morecambe 34 5 48
14 Accrington 32 -2 47
15 Crewe 35 0 46
16 Bradford 34 -6 43
17 Barnet 34 -9 38
18 Hereford 34 -15 38
19 Torquay 35 -3 36
20 Macclesfield 34 -9 36
21 Lincoln City 34 -20 35
22 Cheltenham 34 -16 31
23 Grimsby 35 -23 27
24 Darlington 32 -44 16
So, at this moment they are sitting one point out with three games in hand.
It's an enviable position, to be sure, but it is hard to get too excited when it seems likely Notts will not be allowed to keep its core players for next season. So, the jump up will, in all likelihood, be followed by a plummetting back to League Two.
We can only hope the fall stops there.
In the meantime, enjoy them going out in a Blaze of Glory.
Friday, March 5, 2010
A Blues Update
Don't think I'm not paying attention to the St. Louis Blues. Oh, I am:
I swear, it must be possibile for an entire team, made up as it is with players who are varying points in their personal careers, to collectively go through a sophomore slump. The entire first half of the season just had that feel. They didn't totally suck for extended stretches, but they never got it going either. And, it wasn't the sort of thing you could pin on only a couple players. Everyone underwhelmed, from Kariya & Tkachuk to Backes, Oshie and Berglund. Hell, even reliable players like Andy McDonald were just okay.
Now, however, everything looks different. I've seen the last couple of games (thank you free week of NHL Center Ice!), and, my God, are we playing well. We have four lines we can throw out there regularly. I keep watching them and saying to myself, "So, that's what that looks like. Huh. I'd forgotten." The D is doing what it has to, and EJ is growing by leaps and bounds out there. Mason, who didn't impress in the first couple of months, is now on top of his game. The role players are filling in their niches admirably. Hell, even the spare part they picked up, D'Agostini, looks like he should fit in well.
I have nothing to complain about for a change.
The St. Louis Blues are working on another late-season surge.
Paul Kariya scored twice, combining with Brad Boyes for a pair of goals during a 17-second span of the first period, and the Blues extended their winning streak to a season-best five games with a 6-1 victory over the Dallas Stars on Thursday night.
Alexander Steen, Patrik Berglund and T.J. Oshie added goals for the Blues, who've scored 23 goals during the five-game stretch.
Last season, the Blues closed with a 9-4-1 surge to earn a playoff spot.
"I'm new to the situation, but I'm aware of what happened last year," said coach Davis Payne, who took over for the fired Andy Murray on Jan. 2. "This is a new (season). We know exactly what we have to do and it's good for us to have that type of experience to know it's possible."
Chris Mason made 29 saves for the Blues, who boosted their road record to 18-9-4 in the matchup of teams attempting to climb into the Western Conference's top eight.
St. Louis has 69 points - one more than Dallas - and the Blues pulled even with Calgary at No. 9. Detroit holds the conference's No. 8 spot with 70 points.
I swear, it must be possibile for an entire team, made up as it is with players who are varying points in their personal careers, to collectively go through a sophomore slump. The entire first half of the season just had that feel. They didn't totally suck for extended stretches, but they never got it going either. And, it wasn't the sort of thing you could pin on only a couple players. Everyone underwhelmed, from Kariya & Tkachuk to Backes, Oshie and Berglund. Hell, even reliable players like Andy McDonald were just okay.
Now, however, everything looks different. I've seen the last couple of games (thank you free week of NHL Center Ice!), and, my God, are we playing well. We have four lines we can throw out there regularly. I keep watching them and saying to myself, "So, that's what that looks like. Huh. I'd forgotten." The D is doing what it has to, and EJ is growing by leaps and bounds out there. Mason, who didn't impress in the first couple of months, is now on top of his game. The role players are filling in their niches admirably. Hell, even the spare part they picked up, D'Agostini, looks like he should fit in well.
I have nothing to complain about for a change.
I Used To Rock!
I just spent a few minutes looking back over the posts from the very first month of this blog's existence, and all I can say is..... Holy shit! This used to be a fucking entertaining read!
It isn't anymore.... but it used to be great.
Crap changes.
It isn't anymore.... but it used to be great.
Crap changes.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Welcome To The Big Midwest!
O.K., so Rick Majerus is unhappy in the Atlantic 10 conference, or at least he is unhappy being in the Atlantic 10 conference while not having access to charter jet services. In either case, it has been suggested by Majerus himself, and by the likes of ESPN commentator Dick Vitale, that SLU wold be better off in the Missouri Valley conference.
To my mind, that notion is madness, unless SLU decides to give up entirely on any notion of being at least a semi-regular Top 50 team. They could do that, just give up and become the Fordham of the Midwest, though I doubt the alumni would take too kindly to the idea. The Missouri Valley is a nice little league, and that is all it will ever be, a little league. The idea that it is anything like a "mid-major" is simply stupid. There simply are too few teams in the MVC that could consistently be considered Top 50 caliber.
So, where does this leave the Billikens? Well, if they want to attempt to grow into something of a basketball power (however limited that is for a team not in one of the big 5 conferences), there are only two options: stay in the A-10, or be part of a new conference. In this post I will propose just such a new conference, which I will call the Big Midwest.
The Big Midwest will be built upon a couple principles:
1. Geographic Integrity:
Too many conferences in the NCAA today have too many member spread out over too large a territory. Granted, some of the bitching of Majerus is misplaced. After all, A-10 travel from St. Louis to Philadelphia is actually less than Big 12 travel from Ames to Austin, or ACC travel from College Park to Miami. Still, representing a region would be nice. For that reason, I'm proposing a conference where all teams are within 350 miles of Terre Haute, Indiana. This would encompass the better part of the Midwest, and thus the name of the conference would be apt.
2. Athletic Integrity:
Because of the variety of sports offered by schools, and the fact that not every school offers every sport, you get some weird conference affiliations. This plan would centralize the vast majority of the sports offered at the conference schools. Thus, Big Midwest schools would compete in the Big Midwest in every sport, thus enhancing the branding of the product, and giving a sense of stability to the programs.
With these two principlse in place, the league takes shape pretty quickly. I propose the following schools for the Big Midwest:
1. Bradley
2. Butler
3. Dayton
4. DePaul
5. Eastern Illinois
6. Evansville
7. Illinois State
8. Indiana State
9. Marquette
10. Murray State
11. Saint Louis
12. Southern Illinois
13. Valparaiso
14. Xavier
Thus, the most of the major urban market located with the 350 mile radius of Terre Haute are contained: Chicago, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, St. Louis, and Milwaukee. Only Louisville and Nashville would not be included, but there are no institutions in those cities that would fit into such a conference.
As for sports programs broadly construed, the Big Midwest would be completely viable:
Basketball: 14 teams
Football (1-AA): 8 teams
Baseball: 12 teams
Soccer: 12 teams
Cross Country: 14 teams
Golf: 12 teams
Track & Field: 10 teams
Swimming and Diving: 7 teams
Tennis: 12 teams
This, to me at least, makes sense. Only Murray State's rifle team is left out of the Big Midwest men's athletic schedule, and the geographic balance is maintained.
By state:
Illinois: 5 schools
Indiana: 4 schools
Ohio: 2 schools
Missouri: 1 school
Kentucky: 1 school
Wisconsin: 1 school
For basketball play, I envision two divisions, East and West, divided thusly:
East Division:
Xavier
Dayton
Indiana State
Butler
Valparaiso
Evansville
Murray State
West Division:
St. Louis
DePaul
Marquette
Bradley
Illinois State
Eastern Illinois
Southern Illinois
This would make for an 16 game conference schedule (home and home in division, and one game with four teams from the other division) akin to what conferences like the ACC have already. Given the geographic proximity of the schools the natural rivalries that would develop are obvious (and some existing rivalries would be continued.)
To my mind, that notion is madness, unless SLU decides to give up entirely on any notion of being at least a semi-regular Top 50 team. They could do that, just give up and become the Fordham of the Midwest, though I doubt the alumni would take too kindly to the idea. The Missouri Valley is a nice little league, and that is all it will ever be, a little league. The idea that it is anything like a "mid-major" is simply stupid. There simply are too few teams in the MVC that could consistently be considered Top 50 caliber.
So, where does this leave the Billikens? Well, if they want to attempt to grow into something of a basketball power (however limited that is for a team not in one of the big 5 conferences), there are only two options: stay in the A-10, or be part of a new conference. In this post I will propose just such a new conference, which I will call the Big Midwest.
The Big Midwest will be built upon a couple principles:
1. Geographic Integrity:
Too many conferences in the NCAA today have too many member spread out over too large a territory. Granted, some of the bitching of Majerus is misplaced. After all, A-10 travel from St. Louis to Philadelphia is actually less than Big 12 travel from Ames to Austin, or ACC travel from College Park to Miami. Still, representing a region would be nice. For that reason, I'm proposing a conference where all teams are within 350 miles of Terre Haute, Indiana. This would encompass the better part of the Midwest, and thus the name of the conference would be apt.
2. Athletic Integrity:
Because of the variety of sports offered by schools, and the fact that not every school offers every sport, you get some weird conference affiliations. This plan would centralize the vast majority of the sports offered at the conference schools. Thus, Big Midwest schools would compete in the Big Midwest in every sport, thus enhancing the branding of the product, and giving a sense of stability to the programs.
With these two principlse in place, the league takes shape pretty quickly. I propose the following schools for the Big Midwest:
1. Bradley
2. Butler
3. Dayton
4. DePaul
5. Eastern Illinois
6. Evansville
7. Illinois State
8. Indiana State
9. Marquette
10. Murray State
11. Saint Louis
12. Southern Illinois
13. Valparaiso
14. Xavier
Thus, the most of the major urban market located with the 350 mile radius of Terre Haute are contained: Chicago, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, St. Louis, and Milwaukee. Only Louisville and Nashville would not be included, but there are no institutions in those cities that would fit into such a conference.
As for sports programs broadly construed, the Big Midwest would be completely viable:
Basketball: 14 teams
Football (1-AA): 8 teams
Baseball: 12 teams
Soccer: 12 teams
Cross Country: 14 teams
Golf: 12 teams
Track & Field: 10 teams
Swimming and Diving: 7 teams
Tennis: 12 teams
This, to me at least, makes sense. Only Murray State's rifle team is left out of the Big Midwest men's athletic schedule, and the geographic balance is maintained.
By state:
Illinois: 5 schools
Indiana: 4 schools
Ohio: 2 schools
Missouri: 1 school
Kentucky: 1 school
Wisconsin: 1 school
For basketball play, I envision two divisions, East and West, divided thusly:
East Division:
Xavier
Dayton
Indiana State
Butler
Valparaiso
Evansville
Murray State
West Division:
St. Louis
DePaul
Marquette
Bradley
Illinois State
Eastern Illinois
Southern Illinois
This would make for an 16 game conference schedule (home and home in division, and one game with four teams from the other division) akin to what conferences like the ACC have already. Given the geographic proximity of the schools the natural rivalries that would develop are obvious (and some existing rivalries would be continued.)
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Sunday, February 14, 2010
As Predicted
The Magpies are having a tough go of it today. I have to imagine the spirit in the club is low, given all of the off-the-field trials.
Fulham up 2 at the half.
UPDATED:
Fulham 4 - 0 Notts County
Valiant run ending in naught.
Maybe like the entire existence of the club?
Fulham up 2 at the half.
UPDATED:
Fulham 4 - 0 Notts County
Valiant run ending in naught.
Maybe like the entire existence of the club?
Saturday, February 13, 2010
A New St. Valentine's Day Massacre
Notts County plays Fulham tomorrow in the 5th round of the FA Cup tomorrow, and I expect them to get absolutely drilled. Notts had been having their finest season in a decade, but the wheels have fallen off the club. Old investors turned out to be con-artists who have, basically, bankrupted the club; ol' Sven hung around as long as he could, but that only turned out to be six months; new owner seems committed to keeping the club out of administration (which is good), but seems to envision them as a permanent 3 or 4 division side (which is totally fucking unacceptable.)
It's one thing to support a side that is down of their luck, but which had a history of some success and the prospect of getting back to successful ways one day. It's another thing to be supporting the equivalent of Dag & Red. I mean, if I was living in Nottingham supporting the local side even though they always offer an inferior product would be fine. But, I don't live in Nottingham. I live in the United States.
If things continue this way, I may have to rethink some things.
It's one thing to support a side that is down of their luck, but which had a history of some success and the prospect of getting back to successful ways one day. It's another thing to be supporting the equivalent of Dag & Red. I mean, if I was living in Nottingham supporting the local side even though they always offer an inferior product would be fine. But, I don't live in Nottingham. I live in the United States.
If things continue this way, I may have to rethink some things.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
A Modest Proposal
News concerning the U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame:
Given the historical importance of soccer to the St. Louis community, I believe the soccer powers that be ought to push to move the Soccer Hall of Fame permanently to the Gateway to the West.
No offense to Oneonta, which I'm sure is fabulous, but it's only claim to fame that I can see is that it is vaguely near Cooperstown. St. Louis, on the other hand, has World Cup history behind it, the Hermann Trophy, the (sadly long gone) NCAA soccer dynasty that was St. Louis University, and scores of U.S. soccer luminaries past and present. Also, the St. Louis community can be counted upon to support the Hall in a way few other communities could.
It makes sense.
*The financially stricken National Soccer Hall of Fame is departing its Oneonta, N.Y., facility and moving permanent displays to various locations around the country. Those sites are to be determined in the coming months. The Hall has existed since 1979 and been based at the current site for 11 years.
Given the historical importance of soccer to the St. Louis community, I believe the soccer powers that be ought to push to move the Soccer Hall of Fame permanently to the Gateway to the West.
No offense to Oneonta, which I'm sure is fabulous, but it's only claim to fame that I can see is that it is vaguely near Cooperstown. St. Louis, on the other hand, has World Cup history behind it, the Hermann Trophy, the (sadly long gone) NCAA soccer dynasty that was St. Louis University, and scores of U.S. soccer luminaries past and present. Also, the St. Louis community can be counted upon to support the Hall in a way few other communities could.
It makes sense.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Justice (The Lack Thereof In The NHL)
I'm just gonna say this: If experience is any guide, had the Blues "scored" the Red Wings "goals" last night, and the Red Wings had scored the Blues goals, the game would have ended 3-0 in regulation in favor of the Detroit. There is no way the first two goals would not have been called "kicked", or that the last goal would have either A) been blown dead as being "unsighted", or been ruled knocked in by a hand (which it was.)
Only when it will benefit their so-called "standard bearers" will the NHL call a back heel NOT a form of kicking. I guarantee you if the Blues (or Panthers or Hurricanes or any regular team) is playing Detroit or Pittsburgh, any back heeled goal will be called back as having been kicked.
Only when it will benefit their so-called "standard bearers" will the NHL call a back heel NOT a form of kicking. I guarantee you if the Blues (or Panthers or Hurricanes or any regular team) is playing Detroit or Pittsburgh, any back heeled goal will be called back as having been kicked.
This Is Wrong On So Many Levels
Another for the "What the fuck are they thinking" file: Brewers to erect 7-foot high statue of Bud Selig outside Miller Park
The Brewers are erecting a statue of baseball commissioner Bud Selig outside Miller Park and will unveil it on Aug. 24.
Selig headed a group that bought the Seattle Pilots in bankruptcy court in 1970, moved the franchise to Milwaukee and renamed it the Brewers.
Oh, wow. Someone call a sculptor, stat!
Really, this is the sort of stupid idea that usually only results in the aftermath of a head of state departing to the hereafter. And, yes, I'm thinking here of the McKinley monument in the Antietam National Battlefield Park, dedicated to the memory of the day the future President served coffee to troops while under fire.
I'm not joking. That really is what it commemorates. Compared to what they are planning to do in Milwaukee the McKinley monument seems downright sane.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Idiots Desist, Please
If you ever read stories about the Billikens on Stltoday.com you are often bombarded by fools who keep saying how SLU would be better off in the Missouri Valley Conference as opposed to the Atlantic Ten. This is utter nonsense on a stick, and the basketball RPI makes this abundantly clear. As of today the top six teams in the A-10 have an average RPI of 31.33. The top six teams in the MVC have an average RPI of 85.17.
To give you some idea of context here, the Colonial Athletic Conferece, home of such basketball powers as VCU, Northeastern, and William & Mary, scores a 80.17 for its top six teams; the WAC, containing such stalwarts as Utah State, Louisiana Tech, and New Mexico State, come in at 95.33 in the rankings.
The top six teams in the Big 10, on the other hand, score a 29; the SEC scores a 33.
So, you really want to be in a league sitting somewhere between the CAA and the WAC, instead of a league sitting somewhere between the Big 10 and the SEC?
Good luck with that.
To give you some idea of context here, the Colonial Athletic Conferece, home of such basketball powers as VCU, Northeastern, and William & Mary, scores a 80.17 for its top six teams; the WAC, containing such stalwarts as Utah State, Louisiana Tech, and New Mexico State, come in at 95.33 in the rankings.
The top six teams in the Big 10, on the other hand, score a 29; the SEC scores a 33.
So, you really want to be in a league sitting somewhere between the CAA and the WAC, instead of a league sitting somewhere between the Big 10 and the SEC?
Good luck with that.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
I Don't Remember Reading About This
Yikes. I mean yikes:
Breaking more than a decade of silence, former U.S. soccer coach Steve Sampson said Tuesday he dropped John Harkes from the national team roster two months before the 1998 World Cup because the American captain was having an affair with the wife of teammate Eric Wynalda.
Harkes has long denied having an affair with Amy Wynalda.
Wynalda brought up the situation Monday night during a discussion on "Fox Football Fone-In" about a scandal in England over an alleged relationship between current English captain John Terry and the former partner of Wayne Bridge, his teammate on the national squad.
Sampson told The Associated Press on Tuesday he was glad the story was coming out now because "maybe people will have a little better of an understanding of what happened in the final months leading up to the World Cup."
---
Wynalda said he spoke out during the program he co-hosts on Fox Soccer Channel because he was asked about Terry, who has been front-page news since Saturday in British newspapers.
"There's a lot of similarities between what happened to us in '98 and what's happening now to England," Wynalda told the AP. "It's an unfortunate time for England, because I know how that can affect a team firsthand. Obviously, we all know how we did in the World Cup in '98."
Somehow Harkes forgot to put this into his book.
That is ironic because it seems, evidently, he's quite good and putting things into stuff.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Woooo - HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Go you Pies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wigan 0 - 2 Notts County
I really thought Notts had blown it when they gave up a late lead at home to force the replay. To go in an beat a Premiere League team on their home ground is simply fantastic.
Good going lads!!
Wigan 0 - 2 Notts County
Notts County stunned Wigan with two late goals in their fourth-round replay to set up a clash with Fulham in the fifth round of the FA Cup.
League Two County, the lowest-ranked side remaining in the competition this season, eventually took the lead via a powerful header from Stephen Hunt.
Gary Caldwell then turned a Ben Davies cross into his own net only three minutes later to silence the crowd.
Wigan will rue a host of saves from County goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel.
The hosts, who came back to draw the first game 2-2, were on top for long periods but failed to find a way past the inspired keeper who turned in a performance reminiscent of his father Peter.
I really thought Notts had blown it when they gave up a late lead at home to force the replay. To go in an beat a Premiere League team on their home ground is simply fantastic.
Good going lads!!
Steve Ralston Signs With AC St. Louis
This is a nice feel-good story of local boy made good:
It's great to see Ralston so pumped up about going home to build something, and I have to think the soccer fans in St. Louis are getting just as excited.
But, I'm in a quandary. I don't live in St. Louis anymore, but I'm still emotionally tied to the community. It never mattered in soccer (except the college game where I support SLU), as St. Louis didn't have an MLS club. My attachment to DC United it thus secure. However, in the lower leagues I've been following the Minnesota Thunder, as they are only forty minutes away and I can make multiple games a season. Do I switch to AC St. Louis now?
Ugh... I've no idea who I'm gonna wind up rooting for.
UPDATE:
Of course, I should have said "Un-named team formerly known as the Minnesota Thunder" but old habits die hard. Of course, if no teams comes together maybe I won't have an issue at all. That would suck. I've enjoyed going to the matches.
It took AC St. Louis exactly one signing to establish its St. Louis coaching and player connection.
That connection is midfielder Steve Ralston, who was announced Monday as the first player signed by the new professional men’s soccer team. Ralston, a native of Oakville, also will serve as the team’s assistant coach.
Ralston has played 14 seasons in Major League Soccer, the last eight in Boston with the New England Revolution. He’s been part of the MLS since it began, was the league’s rookie of the year, and holds several MLS records.
“My contract was up in New England, and negotiations were going OK,” Ralston said. “When I heard about this team in St. Louis, I asked my agent a couple weeks ago to give them a call and see what was up with that. It all snowballed pretty quickly.”
Ralston said he could have played another year in the MLS, but saw AC St. Louis as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to help build a new team from the ground up in his hometown. “It was a chance to be part of something pretty special here,” he said.
It's great to see Ralston so pumped up about going home to build something, and I have to think the soccer fans in St. Louis are getting just as excited.
But, I'm in a quandary. I don't live in St. Louis anymore, but I'm still emotionally tied to the community. It never mattered in soccer (except the college game where I support SLU), as St. Louis didn't have an MLS club. My attachment to DC United it thus secure. However, in the lower leagues I've been following the Minnesota Thunder, as they are only forty minutes away and I can make multiple games a season. Do I switch to AC St. Louis now?
Ugh... I've no idea who I'm gonna wind up rooting for.
UPDATE:
Of course, I should have said "Un-named team formerly known as the Minnesota Thunder" but old habits die hard. Of course, if no teams comes together maybe I won't have an issue at all. That would suck. I've enjoyed going to the matches.
Monday, February 1, 2010
AC St. Louis Becomes More Tangible
Well, today is the day NASL side AC St. Louis announces its first signing. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch is speculating that out of contract Steve Ralston, late of the New England Revolution in MLS, may be the guy. If so that would be quite a nice way for AC St. Louis to start.
It should be interesting whichever way they go.
More later on today....
It should be interesting whichever way they go.
More later on today....
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Good Great Day For Notts County
This is a red letter days for the Pies in more ways than one. Firstly, on the pitch they sent off Dar & Red, who had been above them in the table when the day began, by a 3-0 scoreline. That Notts did so on the road made it even sweeter.
Secondly, and maybe more importantly, Notts were able to secure new investment for the club. From the BBC:
After Munto Finance backed out late last year things were looking kinda dicey for the club. However, I have to believe having a name like Sven-Goran Eriksson associated with the club helped secure the new money men.
I for one would be happy if the rest of the drama for Notts County is on the playing field the rest of the season.
Secondly, and maybe more importantly, Notts were able to secure new investment for the club. From the BBC:
Notts County have secured a deal with an investor that will clear their debts and provide them with extra funds.
The terms of the investment, and the identity of the investor, will remain confidential until final due diligence is completed within the next 28 days.
The League Two outfit faced the prospect of finding £2m by Wednesday after HM Revenue & Customs served them with a second winding-up petition.
But HMRC have informed the club they are satisfied with the current deal.
After Munto Finance backed out late last year things were looking kinda dicey for the club. However, I have to believe having a name like Sven-Goran Eriksson associated with the club helped secure the new money men.
I for one would be happy if the rest of the drama for Notts County is on the playing field the rest of the season.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Heartbreaking
So close....: Notts County 2 - 2 Wigan
I know there are those who say the FA Cup has lost its shine, but this is the kind of thing that makes it such an intriguing thing for the average American sports fan. Hell, in this country you have college football and basketball teams that refuse to schedule lesser teams that could actually threaten them in order to protect their status as the "big boys." It's a damn shame because an event like the FA Cup does provide the potential for great theater.
A late Ben Watson goal allowed Wigan to claw back a two-goal deficit and force League Two's Notts County to an FA Cup replay just when a shock looked likely.
Watson struck from six yards after County failed to deal with a corner.
County had gone into the break 2-0 ahead thanks to a close-range strike from the impressive Lee Hughes and Ben Davies' dipping free-kick.
But Jason Scotland combined with Hugo Rodallega to beat Kasper Schmeichel and make it 2-1 before Watson's equaliser.
Wigan manager Roberto Martinez had warned his side that their opponents possessed players who were more than capable of playing higher up than League Two.
On this display, Notts County certainly proved that to be case, with midfielders Davies and Neil Bishop shining under the FA Cup spotlight.
But the Magpies did not have quite enough quality to put Wigan to the sword as the Latics, 62 league places above their hosts, dominated the second half and take the match to a replay.
I know there are those who say the FA Cup has lost its shine, but this is the kind of thing that makes it such an intriguing thing for the average American sports fan. Hell, in this country you have college football and basketball teams that refuse to schedule lesser teams that could actually threaten them in order to protect their status as the "big boys." It's a damn shame because an event like the FA Cup does provide the potential for great theater.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
I'm An Idiot
Really, no one on earth should listen to me discuss the Billikens. I was convinced, when the season began, that the youngest team in Division One basketball was in for a horrendous season. Back on Armistice Day, I fearlessly predicted a seven win season for the Bills proving, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that I'm a class A moron.
To wit: Saint Louis beats Fordham 75-48
Alright, fine, so the competition was hardly stellar, but you can only play to win the games on your schedule. Besides, I was convinced the Billikens would struggle to win even these games. Obviously, I didn't count on two factors; 1) Majerus can coach a little bit, and 2) Majerus is recruiting a better class of player to SLU. That this sophomore dominated and led team is competing well night after night, home and away, speaks volumes.
Next time I'll remember that not all recruits are created equal. I'll also remember not to make any predictions.
To wit: Saint Louis beats Fordham 75-48
ST. LOUIS (AP)—Freshman Cody Ellis had 14 points and nine rebounds in his first career start, helping Saint Louis put away Fordham 75-48 on Wednesday night.
Kwamain Mitchell added 13 points and five assists with no turnovers for Saint Louis (12-6, 3-1 Atlantic-10), which held Fordham (2-15, 0-5) to 33 percent shooting and forced 20 turnovers
Alright, fine, so the competition was hardly stellar, but you can only play to win the games on your schedule. Besides, I was convinced the Billikens would struggle to win even these games. Obviously, I didn't count on two factors; 1) Majerus can coach a little bit, and 2) Majerus is recruiting a better class of player to SLU. That this sophomore dominated and led team is competing well night after night, home and away, speaks volumes.
Next time I'll remember that not all recruits are created equal. I'll also remember not to make any predictions.
15th (Or 3rd) Time A Charm
Notts finally got to play its 3rd round FA Cup game after winter weather postponed the game twice:
Hughes has been on fire all season, as his 17 goals leads all League Two scorers.
Well, at least we won't have long to wait for the match-up against Wigan, as long as a blizzard doesn't hit Nottingham between now and then.
GO PIES!!!
After a drab first 45 minutes the second half burst into life when Stephen Hunt toe-poked the opening goal for the home side from five yards.
Forest Green refused to yield and hit back through striker Isaiah Rankin's venomous effort into the bottom corner.
However, one minute later Magpies top scorer Lee Hughes curled in the winner.
Notts County will meet Wigan at Meadow Lane on Saturday for the League Two side's first FA Cup fourth round tie in 15 years.
Hughes has been on fire all season, as his 17 goals leads all League Two scorers.
Well, at least we won't have long to wait for the match-up against Wigan, as long as a blizzard doesn't hit Nottingham between now and then.
GO PIES!!!
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Maybe God Doesn't Hate Us After All
Good news for a change:
Good....no, great news.
USA midfielder Clint Dempsey suffered "moderate damage" to a ligament in his right knee and will not require surgery, Fulham officials announced Tuesday evening.
Dempsey, a key element in the American effort and Fulham's most impressive player this season, was hurt over the weekend, raising fears that he would miss the World Cup. However, in a release posted on its Web site, the club said that "early indications are positive in that no operation is required. At this stage, it is thought that the injury will not prevent him from featuring for Fulham, prior to the end of the season."
Lyle Yorks, Dempsey's agent, told the Insider: "The results [of the scans] show that he will be back playing for Fulham this season ahead of the World Cup. The nature of the injury is not as serious as it was reported after the Blackburn game."
Added USA Coach Bob Bradley: "We are confident that Clint will be ready to be an important part of our team during the World Cup."
Good....no, great news.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
USA World Cup Looking Grim Already
Shit....not again: Dempsey Crisis Watch
What the hell did we do to be so snake bit? First Charlie Davies damn near dies, then Onyewu's knee gets shredded, and now Dempsy's knee explodes.
The trouble with the US side is we have no depth to speak of at any position other than goalkeeper. If past experience is any guide we can expect to see under-talented but "hard working" players get most of the minutes to replace the likes of Davies and Dempsy. I'm not sure there is a replacement for Onyewu worthy of the name, but at least there is a chance he could return by the summer. However, what kind of form could he possibly have?
Pessimism is the order of the day I'm afraid.
Dempsey had played very well in the first half of Sunday’s match against Blackburn and nearly gave the Cottagers a lead. But, in the 62nd minute, the Texas native limped off the pitch. Blackburn went on to defeat Fulham 2-0 but, more importantly, Dempsey could have a serious knee injury to contend with just five months before the World Cup.
Fulham Manager Roy Hodgson said the injury did not look good, mentioning that the winger could have cruciate ligament damage in the knee. An injury to the knee ligaments could sideline Dempsey for months but there won’t be a definitive answer until Monday. USA fans have to be holding their breath for the next 24 hours because, judging by early reports, the prognosis does not look positive.
What the hell did we do to be so snake bit? First Charlie Davies damn near dies, then Onyewu's knee gets shredded, and now Dempsy's knee explodes.
The trouble with the US side is we have no depth to speak of at any position other than goalkeeper. If past experience is any guide we can expect to see under-talented but "hard working" players get most of the minutes to replace the likes of Davies and Dempsy. I'm not sure there is a replacement for Onyewu worthy of the name, but at least there is a chance he could return by the summer. However, what kind of form could he possibly have?
Pessimism is the order of the day I'm afraid.
Monday, January 11, 2010
I'm Tired Of Fucking Holier Than Thou Sportwriters
I'm talking about motherfuckers like Tim Brown of Yahoo Sports:
This coming from a member of a profession that basically allowed the steroids era to happen without a fucking whimper. But that should come as no surprise as sportswriters as a group consistently looked the other way when baseball players were juicing up one way or another. When players in the 1950's through the 1980's were taking speed and getting benefits on the field sportswriters knew it and looked the other way. And where are those players nowadays? In the fucking Hall of Fame. And who put them there? The fucking sportswriters.
I'll say this, every so called "journalist" who was active in the speed era and sat on their fucking hands and didn't tell the truth should be kicked out of the Hall as well.
Sportswriters are proving themselves to be nothing but the fucking scum of the earth (with a few notable exceptions.)
Well, of course he did.
And now that he wants something – a job, a reasonably nonbelligerent working environment, peace of mind, forgiveness, I suppose – Mark McGwire has come a little closer to the truth.
He and his handlers typed out a statement, sent it along to the Associated Press and, presumably, put their hands over their ears. He later sat for an interview with Bob Costas and was inarguably contrite.
Turns out, he had a damned good reason not to talk about the past, but we knew that, and he knew we knew, so what exactly do we have today, the day McGwire simply confirmed that so many of those home runs were manufactured not in a batting cage, but in a lab (and not in a bathroom stall)?
For one, we have a man so used to hiding and lying that, years after cheating a nation of baseball fans, he feels sorry for … himself.
“Looking back,” he wrote, “I wish I had never played during the steroid era.”
Really.
This coming from a member of a profession that basically allowed the steroids era to happen without a fucking whimper. But that should come as no surprise as sportswriters as a group consistently looked the other way when baseball players were juicing up one way or another. When players in the 1950's through the 1980's were taking speed and getting benefits on the field sportswriters knew it and looked the other way. And where are those players nowadays? In the fucking Hall of Fame. And who put them there? The fucking sportswriters.
I'll say this, every so called "journalist" who was active in the speed era and sat on their fucking hands and didn't tell the truth should be kicked out of the Hall as well.
Sportswriters are proving themselves to be nothing but the fucking scum of the earth (with a few notable exceptions.)
Saturday, January 2, 2010
They Better Win Tomorrow
Tomorrow, in the third round of the FA cup Notts County is playing Forest Green. Forest who? you say. Well, from the BBC:
If Notts really have pretensions of the Premier League in the next decade (and not the freaking Blue Square Premier league) they need to start beating the minnows. The last two years Notts got themselves knocked out in Cup competition by the likes of Havant and Waterlooville (?????) and Kettering Town.
It hurts.
The tie in context
• Forest Green Rovers, at fourth bottom in the Blue Square Premier, are the lowest ranked club still surviving in the FA Cup.
• They are also one of four clubs from the fifth level to have fought their way through to the third round.
• This is the only tie pitting a non-league side with one from League Two.
Gulf in class
• At fourth in League Two, Notts County are 41 places higher than Forest Green Rovers in the pecking order.
If Notts really have pretensions of the Premier League in the next decade (and not the freaking Blue Square Premier league) they need to start beating the minnows. The last two years Notts got themselves knocked out in Cup competition by the likes of Havant and Waterlooville (?????) and Kettering Town.
It hurts.
Blues Dump Murray
Why is it, even though I've been expecting this story to pop up on StlToday everytime I've brought up the site for the last week, it still shocked me to see it?
God only knows what we will get in Davis Payne. He's an organization guy, I guess, but then so was Mike Kitchen.
We shall see, and right away as we've got the HAwks tonight.
The Blues have fired head coach Andy Murray this morning. Davis Payne, who was the head coach of the Peoria Rivermen, has been named the interim head coach.
Here’s the press release from the Blues . . .
ST. LOUIS - St. Louis Blues President John Davidson announced Saturday that the club has named Davis Payne as Interim Head Coach. Payne becomes the 23rd coach in the history of the St. Louis Blues replacing Andy Murray, who was relieved of his duties.
“Davis is very knowledgeable of the players in our organization and we feel he is the best candidate to coach our team,” said Davidson. “He has nine winning seasons at the minor league level which includes an ECHL Championship in 2006.
“I would like to thank Andy Murray for the job he has done here the past four seasons,” continued Davidson. “He was an intergral part in turning the St. Louis Blues around. He is a true professional and I wish him the best of luck in the future.”
God only knows what we will get in Davis Payne. He's an organization guy, I guess, but then so was Mike Kitchen.
We shall see, and right away as we've got the HAwks tonight.
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