Dear Mikhail Grabovski: No More Suspensions—We Need You on the Ice!

by Eyebleaf…

Dear Mikhail Grabovski,

What’s good, my hot-headed, young Belarusian friend? Enjoying your time on the sidelines? I didn’t think so.

There’s zero offensive creation without you, Grabs. Let’s be honest, there isn’t much to begin with, but with you up in the press box things are about as quiet on the ice as inside Elliot Spitzer’s bedroom. You know, since he got busted for palling around with that crazy expensive hookers.

Tennis: Random Five Thoughts Before OZ

by Long John Silver…

With less than a week to go for the ‘HAPPY SLAM’, thought I would chip in with five random thoughts

1. Drums, Beat the Drums: MA-SHA (Maria Sharapova), the defending champion will not be in Melbourne to defend her title, shoulder problems withstanding. The last three out of four slams did not have their respective defending woman’s champion compete. Ominous Scheduling? Lets beat the drums … and see whether it still falls on ATP’s (sometimes acoustically challenged) ears
2. Leave HIM Alone: The pirate clam-diggers wearing, the ‘Just Do It’ Nike bandanna touting, the bulging biceps with sleeve-less tee wearing, long locks hair – Spaniard looks different now. The clam-diggers and the hair – shorter, the shirt that are sleeved now, what is the tennis marketing machine doing to our beloved Rafael … LEAVE HIM BE! I want my Pirate Poster Boy back … everything normal and saintly can be represented by a certain Swiss. Don’t change him into a marketing machine for tennis, at the atrocity of claiming he is growing up. How many of you miss the old Rafael?
3. The Flexing Scotsman and Lurkin’ ROD: I going to throw my hat inside the ring to claim that anything other than a second Sunday loss at OZ – Andy will go home disappointed. I think he is quite easily the hottest player going around at the moment. ROD bombed his way to the Doha final, am I the only one who thinks the American is unfairly vilified sometimes? I am throwing his name for a deep run at OZ
4. Rodge SPEAK: Federer normally lets his racket do the talking. But with mounting losses to Murray, I was surprised he spoke back (sign of some anxiety? because he never speaks back). He claimed that he was very surprised that we thought Murray was the favorite, as opposed to Rafael, Himself and Nole. Very different, is the FED trying to up the heat on Murray? Mind games or am I over-analyzing?
5. Creature V Creature: I love this feature in BR. Here is an example that I did with my F-1 boss Sara on the world championship decider in Brazil last year (Ferrari V McLaren). Basically we take an upcoming match and find two personnel to argue … he would win if, lose if and intangibles. Take a look at this one, in the last line there is a link to Sara’s article as well which argues the opposite. I want someone to join me in doing a similar thread, for the two semi-finals and the final in OZ. Let me know who’s is in? This isn’t a really a whom you want to win thing; it’s more of a pre-match analysis. Leave a message on my profile

Who Will Be The World’s First £100 Million Player?

by Jamie Ward…

In the wake of Manchester City’s audacious £100 million bid for AC Milan’s Brazilian playmaker Kaka, it looks inevitable that in today’s multi-billion pound football club ownership sideshow that the world record transfer fee will eventually reach the nine figure sum. But who will be the first player?

The outrage that surrounds Manchester City’s Abu Dhabi owners and their world record transfer fee offer—and the rumour of the £500,000 a week wages offered to Kaka—is not a new occurrence in football.

The first recorded transfer fee was apparently £700 paid by Newcastle United to Sunderland for the services of Scottish right back Andrew McCombie in 1904.

With the transfer of Alf Common from Sunderland to Middlesbrough a year later, the record transfer fee reached £1000 and the large figure for the time caused uproar across the country and amongst football governing authorities.

Long before the creation of the professional football league in 1885, wages and payments to players have been a major talking point amongst supporters and lawmaking governing bodies. Before the league was created, it was commonplace to offer inflated and illegal payments to players in order to secure their services.

The world record transfer fee has seen a steady and natural increase over the last 100 years and reached its peak around 2001—where the proverbial bubble burst and transfer fees declined.

The record transfer fee has stood at a reported £47 million since 2001 and was paid by Real Madrid to Juventus for Zinedine Zidane. There have been several fees at around £30 million since that date, but none have come close to the record figure paid for the French player.

Since the 1982 transfer of Diego Maradona for £3 million from the South American club Boca Juniors to Spanish giants Barcelona, the figure has never gone more than four years without being broken and has normally changed, on average, every two years.

However, it has been eight years since the transfer of Zidane and with multi-billion pound investment in football coming from more than one club, it looks like it will not be long before someone smashes the £47 million pound figure paid at the start of the millennium.

Taking into account the natural increase and progression of the world transfer fee record—had it continued to be broken since 2001—and inflation of currency over the last eight years, the figure could be roughly somewhere around the £80 million mark.

The figure offered by the Manchester City owners may be a massive jump from the 2001 record, but it may just be that the future of football transfer fees has come earlier than predicted—especially when you take into consideration the reported £70-80 million offer for Cristiano Ronaldo by Real Madrid.

In 10 years from now, football supporters and governing bodies could be outraged by figures three times the £47 million pound record that is still held by Real Madrid.

But who will be the very first £100 million pound player and who will be the first to break the current world transfer fee record of £47 million?

• Kaka: AC Milan—aged 26
• Alexandre Pato: AC Milan—aged 19
• Stevan Jovetic: Fiorentina—aged 19
• Lionel Messi: Barcelona—aged 21
• Bojan Krkic: Barcelona—aged 18
• Sergio Aguero: Atletico Madrid—aged 20
• Cristiano Ronaldo: Man United—aged 23
• Wayne Rooney: Man United—aged 23
• Carlos Tevez: Man United—aged 24
• Fernando Torres: Liverpool—aged 24
• Lucas Leiva: Liverpool—aged 20
• Francesc Fabregas: Arsenal—aged 21
• Carlos Vela: Arsenal—aged 19
• Franco Di Santo: Chelsea—aged 19
• Giovani Dos Santos: Tottenham—aged 19
• Karim Benzema: Lyon—aged 21
• Lulinha: Corinthians—aged 18

Do you believe that world football will witness a transfer fee of this size?

Toronto Maple Leafs Need To Show Opponents Who’s Boss

by Derek Harmsworth…

“You can’t start a fire

You can’t start a fire without a spark

This gun’s for hire

Even if we’re just dancing in the dark”

The words of Bruce Springsteen. I am a huge fan of “The Boss” and a huge fan of the Maple Leafs. The fact it took me almost 240 articles to link them, a little surprising I must say.

It was great to see Steve Sullivan return to Toronto, playing well, and even getting his first point since returning after over 680 days on the shelf. Other than that, things were pretty bleak last night for Leafs Nation.

What we were treated to was another game where the intensity level just wasn’t there. And while all teams surely need to bring a level of intensity to the games, it is of particular importance for a less talented team like the Leafs.

It’s like Herb Brooks said to the “Miracle On Ice” team during training camp in 1980, “You think you’ll win on talent alone? You’re wrong! You don’t have enough talent to win on talent alone!”

Pekka Rinne played well for the shutout, and not to take anything away from the guy, but 17 shots on goal simply doesn’t cut it for an NHL team. And while the Maple Leafs are one of the teams in the NHL that has the most shots per game, it’s the times when they don’t get enough rubber on goal that stand out the most.

Particularly because they are likely all losses.

Perhaps something a little more concerning than the shots on goal is the overall lack of hunger this team has on some nights.

While there have been plenty of times this year where this club was praised for it’s hard working style, there have been more than enough times since the turn of the calendar where the effort simply hasn’t been there.

Last night was another one of those games.

Halfway through the game Paul Hendrick, the play-by-play announcer positioned between the benches, exclaimed almost shockingly that there was little to no chirping going on at all between the two teams.

Two teams, just going through the motions. It isn’t a wonder why they are where they are in the standings.

It’s like “The Boss” says, “You can’t start a fire without a spark.”

And if the Maple Leafs want to turn this season around, they better begin to make some contact, and create the spark that will help them gain momentum, and eventually win hockey games.

Despite enjoying some success early in the season, it’s clear this Leafs team—which is just 2-8-0 in it’s last 10 games, is still trying to find its identity.

An identity which will surely take further shape in the coming months, as the trade deadline approaches.

UFC 93 Saturday Jan 17th Rich “Ace” Franklin VS Dan “Hendo” Henderson

by Louis “The King of Roncesvalles” Pisano…

The UFC makes its way to Dublin, Ireland and UFC former middle weight champ Rich Franklin and former Pride middle weight and light heavy weight champ Dan Henderson headline the card a fight fans have been waiting to see for years. This is going to be a war if the tale of the tapes holds true.
The 6’1 now 205 lb Rich Franklin (26-3-0) began his career at the light heavy weight class (never lost a fight at 205 lbs in the UFC) then moved down to 185 and became the UFC middle weight world champion beating Evan Tanner. In his first fight after moving back up to 205 lbs Rich fought Matt Hammel, a guy with excellent wrestling ability but still developing as a striker, Franklin buckled Hammel with a kick in the ribs ending the fight seconds after. As we’ve seen in his past fights Rich has great striking skills and from his recent training his cardio seems to have reached a new level, Rich’s camp describes Henderson’s big bombs as somewhat wild.
Dan Henderson (23-7-0) who possesses explosive knock out power in both hands, was the 183 lb champ in Pride, then moved up and won the 205 lb belt knocking out Wanderlei Silva in the third round, holding both belts at the same time. He fought Rampage Jackson after UFC bought Pride and the fight went the distance with the unanimous decision going to Jackson, in his next fight he took a round from Anderson Silva at 185 who is considered by most to be the best pound for pound fighter in the world, personally my vote goes to GSP (little Canadian bias)!
Overall this fight between two talented and experienced former champions could come down to heart, of which both have that of a lions buried in their chests. For the betting man Henderson is favoured at -133 and Franklin a slight underdog at +100. This match will definitely re-establish the winner’s career, and perhaps launch them into contention for a shot at the light heavy weight division title. No matter what, this fight will be a bloody battle of epic proportion and one I am looking forward to, big time!
The under card renews a rivalry between Mark “the Hammer” Coleman (15-8-0) and Mauricio “Shogun” Rua (16-3-0), which in the past has had some strong hatred involved, after Coleman broke Rua’s arm while taking him down in Japan in 2006. The ensuing chaos in the ring involved Coleman taking a few sucker punches and then stomping on Wanderlei Silva’s head, after he leapt into the ring during the ruckus. Rua believes they have a mutual respect for each other after all they shared dressing rooms in Japan over the years.
Mark is a legend in Japan having fought over there for years, and winning UFC 10 and UFC 11 tournaments and becoming the 5th man to be inducted into the UFC hall of fame on March 1st 2008. A very talented wrestler, Mark was a high school and collegiate champion, along with having wrestled in the Olympics for the USA, with a disappointing 7th place finish in 1992 in Barcelona. Personally he just seems a little nuts while training and in the ring, but some footage of him spending time with his two daughters shows that he is a loving, kind and caring father.
Mauricio “Shogun” Rua was considered one of the best 205 lb MMA fighters in the world possessing all the skills and phenomenal conditioning, and is looking to win his first UFC fight after recovering from some injuries over the past few years including the broken arm from Coleman and a knee surgery. At 23 he was the youngest to have become the Grand Prix Pride champion, and the Brazilians believe he still is the best 205 lb fighter in the world, which will remains to be seen and the question will be answered in near future. Rua is highly favoured in this fight at -400, with Coleman quite an underdog at +275. I say never count the old dog out, good luck Mark, and with the emotions involved in this fight anything could happen, should be a great one!
The other fights are:
Alan “The Talent” Belcher (12-4-0) VS Denis Kang (31-10-1)
Jeremy Horn (88-18-5) VS Rousimar Palhares (17-2-0)
Marcus “The Irish Hand Grenade” Davis (20-5-0) VS Chris “Lights Out” Lytle (36-16-4)
Martin “The Hitman” Kampmann (13-2-0) VS Alexandre “Baixinho” Barros (13-5-0)
Eric “Red” Shafer (12-3-2) VS Antonio “Sumaruy” Mendes (14-3-0)
Tomasz “Gorilla” Drwal (14-2-0) VS Ivan “Il Terribile” Sertati (10-2-0)
Tom “The Tank” Egan (4-0-0) VS John “The Hitman” Hathaway (10-0-0)
Denis Siver (12-6-0) VS Nate Mohr (8-5-0)
The card is packed and should be worth heading out to a bar or ordering into your own home I know I will be at my local pub taking in these fights!

From McGrady to Christie: A history of fallouts

By Jeremy Visser…

While happily watching Tracy McGrady limp through a blowout loss to the Raptors the other night, I got to thinking about some of other former Raptors and how well they fared after unceremoniously leaving town. McGrady, of course, didn’t fall on rough times immediately after leaving Toronto – he led the NBA in scoring in 2002-03 with Orlando and had a couple good seasons in Houston before his career hit the skids due to various injuries. This year he’s shooting below 40% from the field and scoring at his lowest rate since 1999, his second season in the league. Here’s a look at how some other ex-Raptors fared after their respective fallouts:

Vince Carter: Carter, of course, will always get the loudest boos in Toronto, and for good reason. Is there a more strained relationship between a former player and city than Carter and Toronto in all of sports? Carter’s numbers have dropped the past couple seasons in New Jersey, though just when it looked like he’d pack it in the same way he did in Toronto, he’s emerged as a strong second option to Devin Harris on an upstart Nets team. He also seems to save his best performances for the Air Canada Centre crowd.

Damon Stoudamire: Mighty Mouse was the original Carter in Toronto, taking the city by storm before deciding he didn’t want to be here anymore and forcing a trade. Though maligned in Toronto for a few years after the deal, Raptors fans seemed to stop caring after realizing he was nothing more than an average starting point guard that made the most of playing for an expansion team. After being cut by Memphis midway through last season, Stoudamire considered returning to Toronto before eventually choosing San Antonio. Toronto didn’t miss much – he averaged just 3.4 points in 31 games with the Spurs.

Antonio Davis: After a couple strong seasons in Toronto, Davis looked sure to bolt to Chicago, but ended up back with the Raptors only after the Bulls pulled a free agent offer off the table at the last second. AD wasn’t the same after re-signing, and eventually was traded to Chicago (in a move that also sent fan favourite Jerome Williams packing), where he fared no better. After spending some time with the Knicks, he was eventually traded back to the Raptors, where he hesitantly played the last eight games of his career in 2006. He hasn’t spent much time in Canada since due to his unfamiliarity with the metric system.

Doug Christie: Christie was appreciated in his five seasons in Toronto, but a falling out with then-coach Butch Carter led to an unhappy ending. After starting all 73 games of the 1999-00 season, his last with the Raptors, Christie was benched in the playoffs. His response? He rebelled against Carter by wearing a headband, an accessory the coach had openly said he didn’t want his players wearing (this was pre-JYD, mind you). Christie took his rebellious self to Sacramento, where he remained one of the league’s stronger defenders and continued to annoy people by communicating to his wife with hand signals for what seemed like entire games. He hasn’t played since 2006-07, when he made seven appearances with the Clippers.

Canada, U.S, and the Love For the Game

Ritters Rant

by Mark Ritter… There are rumblings that Vincent Lecavalier wants out of Tampa and may be considering a trade to the Belle Province to join the Montreal Canadiens, what a huge addition that would be for les Canadiens. Given what little Mats Sundin has brought to the table to the Vancouver Canucks you have to think the Habs are glad they “Missed out” on the Sundin race, if they manage to pull off the deal for Lecavalier they certainly will not feel like they came second.

Ok, so it’s time to eat a little crow, the Philadelphia Eagles have to be this years NFL playoff surprise. They get full marks for traveling to New York and handing the Giants their heads. It would have been a much different game if New York Giants kicker John Carney had hit a few freak’ in field goals! If Carney makes those two field goals he missed the game sits at 23-17, allowing the Giants to engage in a much more conservative game plan, that said, the Giants were forced to take chances and came up lame. Losing is tough, even tougher for a New York team to lose to a team from Philly- wouldn’t want to hear the language coming out of the mouths of the Philly fans when the clock struck 00:00, ouch! I took the Giants to repeat as Super Bowl Champions against the surging Pittsburgh Steelers, guess they made a chump outta me, and about 100,000,000 other NFL fans, not many fans outside of Philly liked the Eagles. Damn, I wish I had laid a $100 down on them when I was in Vegas! Life is full of regrets, isn’t it? Oh, and “Thanks” for all of your comments saying that I would be wrong in my prediction, I received none, so y’all just as dumb as I am…I like Pittsburgh’s chances now…that outta make sure they don’t win it all now!

Rickey Henderson was a machine on the base paths, he terrorized opposing pitchers and catchers with his speed and determination, he was always a threat and a treat to watch, he made baseball exciting to watch, it didn’t matter if he played for your team or was a hated member of the opposition, Henderson brought excitement every game. Congrats on your induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame Rickey, thanks for the memories.

Tony Dungy has announced his retirement, and it’s a shame. Dungy was a great coach and perhaps a better man, Dungy was a class act. When you look at his career on the whole Dungy had tremendous success and takes away the honor of having been the first African American Coach to win the Super Bowl. Dungy will be missed.

What the heck has happened to the Minnesota Wild? This team was ranked in the top ten for the first ten weeks of the season and now looks lost. I am a firm believer that this team can turn it around but clearly the Wild misses Marian Gaborik large. This team could ill afford to lose a talent like Gaborik and it shows, might just make the Wild have second thoughts about letting Gaborik walk as a free agent at the end of the season. If Gaborik does decide to leave the Wild there are a couple of free agents that Minnesota might have a shot at, first Left Winger Zach Parise of the New Jersey Devils- he’s used to playing in a defense first system and we all know how cheap the Devils can be, second Right Winger Nikolai Zherdev of the New York Rangers- it may be tough for him to leave the bright lights of NYC, but the Rangers are running into cap issues and may have to let Zherdev slide. Sure, we could debate the merits of going after one of Detroit’s big three free agents, but we all know there is not a chance in H.E-double-hockey-sticks that Jiri Hudler, Johan Franzen or Henrik Zetterberg are heading to Minny.

This just in, the Toronto Raptors are a crappy team. I don’t know if it was the loss of fired Coach Sam Mitchell or if the Raps were just this bad to begin with, the reality is current Head Coach Jay Triano has done nothing to make this team better and that won’t help his situation this off-season. Look for Triano to be let go after the season ends.

Uh oh… looks like a Grand Jury is looking at indicting Roger Clemens on charges of lying while under oath; well, Roger, you arrogant toad, looks like you may have bitten off more than you can chew on this one. Hey, he’s not convicted yet, but if he is, it will certainly leave a huge stain on Rogers “Character”. If only Roger had told the truth and spoke out about Steroid use the way Andy Pettitte did, Pettitte is all but forgiven, if Roger had “Played ball” as he should have Clemens would be redeemed and he could get on with his life, but (and it’s a big BUT), Roger had to be so arrogant as to think he could outsmart Congress, I think Congress is going deep on Clemens.

Sure the NHL is in trouble, the economic times have brought about hardship for numerous franchises, it will be no different for MLB and I cringe to think about how it will affect the CFL. Fans staying away from popular sports is one thing, the CFL is quite another, there is no League on the planet that is more dependent on ticket revenue than the CFL, it says here it’s gonna be a tough year fro everyone in the CFL.

It’s early, but who do like in the Sean Penn/George St. Pierre UFC bout? Me? I’ll take GSP, but as the UFC has proved over and over again, anything is possible. Penn has freakish flexibility; GSP is as well rounded as they come. If nothing else it will be a hell of a matchup so make your reservations at your local drinking hole early.

Until next week

Peace!