Maple Leafs: Recap At the All-Star Break

by Bench Brawl…

Well, it has been an entertaining and eventful first half for the “Boys in Blue.”

Going into the season, the Toronto Maple Leafs organization made it known that this was to be the beginning of a complete rebuild of the franchise from the ground up.

Ron Wilson was named the 27th head coach of the Toronto Maple leafs on June 10, brining a 206-134-45 record to the franchise.

Cliff Fletcher had already made a few of moves in the offseason, beginning with the signings and acquisitions of Jamal Mayers, Curtis Joseph, Niklas Hagman , Jeff Finger and Mikhail Grabovski. This occurred in a span of about two weeks, from June 20 to July 3.

“Trader Cliff” didn’t stop there. Within two weeks of acquiring Grabovski from the Canadiens, Fletcher also acquired Ryan Hollweg in a trade with the Rangers for a fifth round draft pick for this year.

The biggest trade by far was probably the dealing of Bryan McCabe to the Panthers in exchange for Mike Van Ryn. It was widely thought that this trade was meant to do nothing but get a struggling McCabe out of town. So far, with Van Ryn playing a total of 17 games with nine points and a plus-2. McCabe has played 36 games, has 20 points and is a plus-6. It looks like the Panthers have gotten the better of this deal so far.There were several contract extensions and minor movement within the organization before the worst secret in the history of the NHL became a reality. Brian Burke became the 13th general manager in Toronto Maple Leaf history on Nov. 29.

Since then, Burke has made a couple of deals including acquiring Brad May from Anaheim and Ryan Hamilton from the Wild. Now, the Leafs at the All-Star break, sit at 11th in the Eastern Conference, 11 points out of a playoff spot. With a record of 17-22-8, the team is realistically where they should be.

The next couple of years are going to be tough to watch but all I have to say is be patient. We have waited a long time for something to look forward to and it would seem a shame to miss it.

The last game before the break was a 4-3 shootout loss to one of the best teams in the NHL—the Boston Bruins. Whether you could argue the Bruins were having an off night or not, it gives us all a little hope when our boys can hang with the best, even if it is only once in a while.

In my previous submission entitled “Toronto Fans need a reality check,” I wrote my opinion about Burke that wasn’t received very well. Thank you to Jeff who pointed out some glaring omissions on my part and to the rest of you who are trying to help me become a little better at doing this.

Oh, and Jeff, I think he just needs a haircut.

How Long Can Duke Stay No. 1?

by Jameson Fleming…

Mike Krzyzewski’s Blue Devils have ascended to the top of the rankings as Duke is the third different squad to secure the number one ranking in just three weeks. The Blue Devils did it with impressive wins over North Carolina State and Maryland while the formerly top ranked team Wake Forest dropped a home game against ACC foe Virginia Tech.

The Blue Devils were not a unanimous No. 1 as UConn received one first place vote, but did take in 11 of the 12 first place votes.

The ACC no longer has a strangle hold on the top spots, but still three teams in the top five with the other two being from the Big East. Across the board, the Big East is still the most represented conference with four teams in the top eight, five in the top 12, and seven in the top 25.

The ACC had the next most teams in the top 25 with four teams, though none ranked worse than 13th.

The SEC is finally represented again in the top 25. Kentucky and its undefeated start to conference play received the 23rd most votes. Florida is knocking on the door though since the Gators ranked 27th overall.

For a complete look back of last week’s results and this week’s upcoming games, Gary Parish’s Top 25 (and one) provides a look back and look ahead.

If you would like to participate in the B/R Top 25 poll, email me at [email protected]. In your e-mail, rank your top 25 teams, but also provide the link to your B/R profile. Voting will open for next week’s poll on Friday, Jan. 30 and will close Monday, Feb. 2 at 11 AM EST.

The rankings reflect the outcome of games up to Sunday, Jan. 25.

Rank, Team, Record (First Place Votes), Total Votes, (Rank Last Week) High and Low

1. Duke 18-1 (11), 274 (2), High: First, Low: Second

2. UConn 18-1 (1), 252 (3), High: First, Low: Sixth

3. Pittsburgh 18-1, 245 (5), High: Second, Low: Seventh

4. North Carolina 17-2, 242 (4), High: Second, Low: Eighth

5. Wake Forest 16-1, 234 (1), High: Third, Low: Eighth

6. Oklahoma 19-1, 229 (6), High: Third, Low: Seventh

7. Louisville 15-3, 208 (12) High: Fourth, Low: 11th

8. Marquette 17-2, 194 (9) High: Seventh, Low: 11th

9. Michigan State 16-3, 178 (7) High: Sixth, Low: 18th

10. Xavier 17-2, 154 (15) High: Ninth, Low: 17th

11. Texas 14-4, 152 (10) High: Eighth, Low: 22nd

12. Syracuse 17-4, 148 (8) High: Seventh, Low: 15th

13. Clemson 17-2, 145 (13) High: 10th, Low: Not Ranked

14. Butler 18-1, 119 (17) High: 11th, Low: 17th

15. Arizona State 16-3, 112 (16) High: Ninth, Low: Not Ranked

16. Purdue 15-4, 90 (19) High: 11th, Low: Not Ranked

17. Gonzaga 14-4, 81 (23) High: 15th, Low: 24th

18. St. Mary’s 18-1, 73 (22) High: 15th, Low: 25th

18. Illinois 17-3, 73 (28) High: 12th, Low: Not Ranked

20. UCLA 15-4, 71 (14) High: 13th, Low: Not Ranked

21. Memphis 16-3, 55 (Not Ranked) High: 18th, Low: Not Ranked

22. Villanova 15-4, 49 (21) High: 13th, Low: Not Ranked

23. Kentucky 16-4, 37 (26) High: 19th, Low: Not Ranked

24. Georgetown 12-6, 36 (11) High: 16th, Low: Not Ranked

25. Minnesota 17-3, 24 (20) High: 13th, Low: Not Ranked

The 10 Most Passionate Fan Bases in the NFL

by Bryn Swartz…

10. Denver Broncos

Denver Broncos fans are underrated. I don’t hear much about them, but they always rank in the top five in attendance. The team has sold out 301 consecutive home games and they have a season-ticket waiting list of 27,600. They also routinely have lots of support at away games, sometimes as much as one-third of the stadium.

They were ranked as the eighth most loyal fans in the NFL. They also have one of the wackiest forms of celebration—every time the opposing quarterback throws an interception, they stand up and scream, “INCOMPLETE!” at the top of their lungs.

9. Buffalo Bills

Give these fans credit. The Bills haven’t fielded a playoff team since the 1999 season but that doesn’t stop the fans from showing up to games. Last season, the Bills possessed the most season-ticket holders since the team went to the Super Bowl following the 1993 season.

That’s pretty impressive for a franchise that has suffered through four consecutive Super Bowl losses, the Music City Miracle, and zero Super Bowl wins in its history.

Give the fans more credit for showing up, considering the Bills’ home-field situation—they are the only NFL team to have two home sites, one in New York, and the other in Canada. Bills’ fans are famous for their tailgating, with parties frequently lasting the entire weekend leading up to a game.

They also routinely deal with -10 degree weather on game days.

8. Washington Redskins

The Washington Redskins ranked second in attendance during the 2008 season, despite finishing in last place in the NFC East. Fans have filled the stadium to capacity in six of the past eight seasons, sporting their trademark feathers and face paint.

They have sold out 327 consecutive games, dating back to the 1960s. This is the longest streak in the entire NFL. They also have a season-ticket waiting list of 200,000, which is the largest waiting list in the NFL.

Their fans were voted the 10th most loyal fans in the National Football League. Their stadium is located 45 minutes away from anything resembling civilization, but fans still flock the stadium.

Their patience is well-known and admired throughout the NFL, which has come in handy with the recent string of head coaches.

7. Dallas Cowboys

There’s no way I could leave Dallas Cowboys fans out of my top 10. Trust me, I wanted to, but it just wouldn’t be right.

I went through all 32 NFL teams today. There are more Dallas Cowboys writers than any other team on Bleacher Report.

The reference “America’s Team” may be debatable, but the Cowboys are the definition of a love ‘em or hate ‘em team. The Cowboys have fans in every city across the United States and no conversation with a Cowboys fan is complete without the phrases “five rings,” and “America’s Team.”

The Dallas Cowboys’ star has become a thing of legend. The only knocks against Cowboys’ fans are as follows:

1. Many are bandwagon jumpers from the dynasty in the early 90’s who have now transformed into ‘diehards.’
2. Texas Stadium was a joke. Matt Mosley of ESPN called Texas Stadium “one of the safest places in the league to wear an opposing jersey.”

6. Kansas City Chiefs

It’s simple: Kansas City is the sixth smallest market in the National Football League, yet they have had the second highest attendance over the past decade.

They haven’t won a playoff game since 1993, despite three home games (1995, 1997, 2003). But their fans still show up and turn the stadium red. The Chiefs have sold out almost 150 consecutive home games. Their stadium is frequently referred to as the loudest stadium in the entire NFL.

How could anyone not admire a Chiefs fan?

The Chiefs are also famous for their barbecue, easily the best in the NFL. The Chiefs are often referred to as the “Green Bay of the AFC,” which, as you’ll see, is a huge compliment.

5. Oakland Raiders

Oakland Raiders fans are awesome. I admire them more than any other fan base, with the possible exception of the Cleveland Browns. They have suffered through one of the most pathetic recent strings of losing in the NFL, maybe in all of professional sports.

Since going to the Super Bowl after the 2002 season, they have become the only NFL team to lose at least 11 games for six straight seasons. The 2006 Raiders team is frequently considered one of the worst teams in NFL history. But they still attract fans. Lots of fans.

Younger fans don’t realize the history of winning that is associated with the Oakland Raiders. They won the Super Bowl three times: 1976, 1980, and 1983. They’ve been to the Super Bowl five times, and they have won 15 division titles.

“Raider Nation” is one of the rowdiest fan bases in the history of the NFL, particularly the Black Hole section of the Oakland Coliseum. Sitting in the Black Hole is not a safe place for an opposing fan.

One lifetime Raider fan, asked to describe “Raider Nation,” responded with, “The massive Raider Nation is beyond doubt the sleaziest and rudest and most sinister mob of thugs and wackos ever assembled.”

Raiders fans dress up in ridiculous costumes for all of their home games. ESPN described them as “maybe the most fun group of fans in the entire league.”

4. Pittsburgh Steelers

My only complaint with Pittsburgh Steelers fans: They are possibly the most annoying fan base in the entire world. Every argument, every sentence, every breath, begins and ends with mention of the phrase “five rings.”

Why are the Steelers the best team in NFL history? Because the Steelers have five rings. Why do the Steelers have the best fans? Because the Steelers have five rings. Why is Troy Polamalu the best safety in the game? Because the Steelers have five rings.

But there’s no denying the unbelievable passion. The Terrible Towel has become “arguably the best-known fan symbol of any major pro sports team.” Since 1996, sales from the Terrible Towel have helped to raise $2.2 million for people with physical disabilities.

They have sold out every single home game since the 1972 season, a streak of 307 consecutive games. They have an incredible fan base on the road, and are often the only reason that the Cincinnati Bengals would sell out for a home game.

In November of 2007, the Steelers were ranked as the most popular local sports franchise out of all 122 teams in the MLB, NFL, NHL, and NBA. They also have the highest percentage of female fans in the NFL, ranking twice as high as the average city.

“Steeler Nation” has become legendary and will continue to expand if the Steelers win their sixth Super Bowl.

The only problem: The stats don’t back up their reputation. They were ranked as the 21st most loyal fans in the National Football League. They rank just 16th in percentage of seats filled since 1996, despite winning seven division championships in the last 13 years.

3. Cleveland Browns

Why are Browns fans so great? Their teams have never won—ever—and they continually support their franchise. They were ranked first out of all 32 NFL teams in “fan loyalty.” They routinely fill their 73,000-seat stadium despite cold temperatures and a dismal recent history, which includes zero postseason wins since the 1994 season.

They have the number one fan group in all of professional sports, the “Browns Backers”, which can be found in literally every city in the United States, and even in different countries.

Their fans can be visibly present at home games in the famous “Dawg Pound”, which is located in the east end of the stadium. Fans where dog paraphernalia to all of the games.

The Browns may have lost their team for four seasons, but they never lost their incredible passion.

2. Philadelphia Eagles

Everybody has heard stories about Philadelphia Eagles’ fans, most of them exaggerated. But face the facts.

They have the second highest capacity rating since 1996 (percentage of seats filled), only topped by the newly-established Houston Texans, who play in a much warmer atmosphere.

They were ranked as the third most loyal fans in all of football, trailing just the Cleveland Browns and Kansas City Chiefs.

Their fans are also knowledgeable. Ask an Eagles fan the quarterback before Donovan McNabb. He’ll know.

Their season ticket waiting list is over 70,000 and they rank in the top three in merchandise sales just about every season. The amount of fans that travel to watch the Eagles in summer training camp sessions is almost legendary, with up to 20,000 fans on some days. They have the most famous fight song in the National Football League.

The booing that is so regularly associated with Philadelphia fans, only Philadelphia fans, and nothing but Philadelphia fans?

Eagles’ fans want to win. Now. They don’t play the “wait till next year” game. No offense to the Brooklyn Dodgers, but Eagles’ fans want a championship every season, and if—when—they don’t get one, they’ll let their players know. Players like Brian Dawkins and Jeremiah Trotter thrive on this type of treatment.

Philadelphia talk show host Glen Macnow once commented, “You could drop a Martian into Philly the day after a game, and within three minutes, he’d know whether the Eagles had won or lost.”

The bullying?

It’s toughness. Raiders’ fans do it. Sports Illustrated once claimed that Raiders fans are the only other group of fans that Eagles’ fans respect. Both pride themselves in bullying the opposition.

There’s nothing wrong with installing fear in the enemy. The old 700 level at the Vet—the Nest of Death—was the last place in the world a fan would want to wear a Cowboys’ jersey. The 700 level was worse than one of Dante’s levels of hell.

What is the favorite team of a Philly fan? The Eagles and whoever is playing the Cowboys.

1. Green Bay Packers

The greatest fans in the world. Better than Steelers fans. Better than Browns fans. Even better than Eagles fans.

The Green Bay Packers ARE Wisconsin. Nobody cares about the Milwaukee Brewers. It’s all Green Bay, all the time. Lambeau Field has been sold out in every game since 1960: win or lose. That’s almost 300 consecutive sellouts. Their season ticket waiting list is 78,000.

The fans brave the frequent sub-zero temperatures (remember the Ice Bowl?) to attend every single game. They’re loyal also—they were voted the fifth most loyal fans in the NFL.

Four things place the Packers above every other fan base:

1. The Lambeau Leap, which is the most famous touchdown celebration of all-time, giving the fans a brief moment to interact with the players.
2. The cheeseheads—those crazy yellow pieces of plastic Green Bay fans insist on wearing to each and every home game.
3. The owners. You know who owns the team? The fans. The Packers are the only non-profit, community-owned major professional sports team in the country.
4. The respect they give to their players. Never have I seen any team worship one player more than Packers’ fans worship Brett Favre. It’s more than the Bulls and Jordan, the Yankees and Jeter, and the Patriots and Brady.

The late, great Reggie White, a man I admire more than just about any athlete to ever live, agrees with me. Reggie had the pleasure of playing in front of the two best fan bases in the NFL, but he picks the Packers as the best fans in the world.

ESPN agrees with me. Before the 2008 season, the Packers tied with the Steelers as the best fans in the entire NFL. The edge was given to the Steelers, thanks to a tiebreaker decided by Pittsburgh native John Clayton (thoughts, Packers’ fans?).

Clayton was wrong. Green Bay, the team with more championships than any other team in the NFL, has the best fans in the world.

Aussie Open: An Australian Fairytale of Jelena Dokic and Rafael Nadal’s Stats

by Long John Silver…

Happy Australia Day and Indian Republic Day, everyone.

What better time to discuss the fairy-tale of Jelena Dokic at his Australian Open than Jan. 26, on Australia Day. A Serb by descent who plays for the Australian Southern Cross, Dokic has had quite an odyssey up to now. We always knew she had game, since she burst onto the scene in 1999.

In a typical earthy Australian way she would respond to a question with the following, after she lost to Rita Kis of Hungary 1-6, 6-2, 3-6 … “I lost to a player who has never been a player and, I guess, probably never will be.” You knew the media went to work on that remark.

She lost to Davenport in the semis (Wimbledon 2000) and to Serena Williams in the pre-quarters (U.S. Open 2000).  She also went down to Seles in the bronze medal match in the Sydney Olympics 2000. With a number of impressive performances after that year she was on the doorstep of that career-changing break … only that never came.

She had the misfortune of dealing with one of those demented coach-dad personalities. Richard Williams, Yuri Sharpov, Jim Pierce … Damir Dokic soon elevated himself into such pantheon of greats. The one general trend among all of them was, they were all (allegedly) insane.

Damir Dokic accused organizers of fixing draws; He would more often than not get into tussles with supporters who were rooting for the opponent; He was even ostracized from attending slams due to his uncivil, unacceptable behavior.

It was a constant distraction for the daughter, and it wore her down. She eventually parted ways with him in 2003, as she wasn’t winning matches anymore and was listless as to where her career was headed in the impending future.

By 2004–2005, she would return to Serbia to put back her life together, and after a tumultuous period she returned to Oz, deciding that she wanted to play for the Southern Cross. She would undergo severe depression and external problems, eventually coming out of them successfully.

When she came to Melbourne this year, her objective was to win the first round and take it each day as it came. Well, she did a little more than that. She won three more than she expected, and is squaring off against Safina tomorrow in the quarterfinals.

It’s undoubtedly been an odyssey, a quite romantic fairy tale one, at that. With the entire nation embracing her every match, she has done it the hard way, winning  all her four matches in three sets. She took down Paszek in three, followed it up by defeating Chakvetdatze in three as well, dethroned the 11^th seed Woznizcki in three sets, and last night she outslugged the intrepid, powerful Russian youngster Kleybanova (who put it past Ivanovic) 8–6 in the third.

Dokic went through the entire gamut of emotions during the three sets, being down in the first set only to come back and win it 7-5, losing the second set 5-7, being down a break and seeming down and out at 1-3 in the final set…but pushing on to leave everything on court by eventually out-rallying the powerful Russian, winning 8-6 in the third.

The entire Rod Laver was on its feet, for she spilled blood and guts to earn this victory. “I am going to have to cancel my week plans for I did not expect to stay in the tournament the second week,” Dokic would tell the Laver crowd in the post-match on court interview. The number of little stuffed dolls on hanging at the back of her backpack is incredibly adorable.

The win was only accentuated by the fact that she twisted her left foot very awkwardly at 6–6 in the third, but instead of calling the trainer she just played on. Her groundies are fluid—I think of Korda or Stich when I see her play—her shots are incredibly fluid but lethal nonetheless. The serene confidence reverberates in her every groundstroke, however. Her mannerisms reflect that of Lleyton Hewitt, especially during the exhorting cries of “Come ON.”

She is clearly savoring every moment of playing for Australia again as she confessed, and is someone who appreciates the present for what it is, soaking it all up—someone who understands that three months ago she would have never expected herself to be in this position with the entire country of 20 million embracing and cheering for her. She was visibly poignant yesterday after she won.

It has indeed been an Australia Princess Matilda fairy tale, as every evening the entire nation lives and dies with each point (reminds me of Hewitt’s run to the final in ‘05). Her next match is against Safina, albeit not an easy encounter, but definitely a winnable one.

If she can get through Safina, she has the probabilities on her side to get through Bartolli/Zvonareva. With Serena possibly in the final and an entire nation cheering for the clear underdog …

Who is to say … who is to say … Dokic might just complete the last two chapters of the Australian fairytale that the country has been craving—for a long time.

As they say in Oz, she is “True Blue, Matey”—meaning the pristine color or True Blue reflects the persona of someone who is passionate, loyal, and unwavering in her crusade towards achieving something for herself and her national flag.

Dokic is indeed True Blue. Happy Australia Day, Mate.

Cheers (continue …)

Addendum: With Andy Murray knocked out by F-Verdasco just an hour earlier, if anything it has made Rafael Nadal’s route a little less dangerous to the final. Ferdasco has been training hard with Gil Reyes and Cahill (in Las Vegas), the same two personnel who were with Agassi at the end of his career. As much as we are tempted to sharpen the dagger for Murray, give him an opportunity to come back. He is too good to not come back and play well for the rest of the year.

Get a load of this stat. Rafael dismissed (with a capital D) F-Gonzo 3, 2, and 4 in straights today at Laver. Here is another one, he has spent five hours in total on court at Oz this year, which is four hours less than the second highest player of the top 4. The third one sums it up for me on how well he is playing, compared to the other three.

The winner-unforced errors differential is +101 for Rafael, while second is Rodge with +31. Does it seem like Rafa is playing on another planet? I just don’t see how Rodge is going to find a way past Rafael. If you do know … make sure to send me a note, mate.

Can the Toronto Raptors Rebound?

by Matt Clarfield…

After a horrendous seven-game losing streak, the Raptors have bounced back and have won two convincing games against the Chicago Bulls and the Sacramento Kings.

Jose Calderon has been a big factor in this short streak, posting up 16 points and eight assists against the Kings and 23 points and 10 assists against the Bulls.

When healthy, the Raptors have a playoff-caliber team. With Andrea Bargnani scoring over 15 points in 16 consecutive games and averaging 22 points a game as a starter, he is starting to play like the player the Raptors drafted.

Chris Bosh is an All Star and a team leader, and he is the anchor of this team. Chris could start on any team in the NBA, without a doubt.

But the weaker part of the lineup is the SG-SF spot. Anthony Parker is an average player and he is especially good in the clutch but they can not seem to fill the other position. Rotating through Jamario Moon, who is more of a Harlem Globetrotter then an NBA player, Jason Kapono, who has a great shot but is weak on defense and his physical skill isn’t great, and Joey Graham who is still developing his skills.

The Answer? Trade away Jermain O’ Neal for Shawn Marion. This trade has been in the rumour mill for a while now and it would provide the starter we are looking for. Marion would fit great into the three spot and the only thing we would lose is some depth for the big men. He is an above-average shooter with the potential to drive the lane and he will fit into the three spot perfectly.

We might have to throw in a draft pick but it would be worth it. Look for the Raptors to slowly but surely climb back into the playoff hunt.

TJ Grant Signs Deal With UFC: Makes Hometown Nova Scotia Proud

Sprint Cup Preview: Ragan, Burton, Harvick, Kurt Busch

by Hollis Warren…

9. DAVID RAGAN

Age: 23
Hometown: Unadilla, GA
#6 UPS Ford
Crew Chief: Jimmy Fennig
Owner: Jack Roush/John Henry

David Ragan did not disappoint me in 2008 by living up to my proclamation that he would be the series’ most improved driver. So I fully expect he and the 6 team to take the next step, find victory lane, and qualify for the Chase in the new season. The expectations have most definitely been elevated for Ragan in 2009, as one doesn’t have to look any further than the fact that UPS decided to sponsor him over everyone else that was available.

Putting the weight of the world on the shoulders of a 23-year old could be the recipe for disaster, but if anyone can handle the added pressure, it would be the calm and collected Ragan. And if he starts to stray because of the added responsibility, he will have Jack Roush, his senior teammates, and crew chief Jimmy Fennig there for support. Fennig turned Kurt Busch into a champion and could have won one or two with Mark Martin. His veteran leadership and guidance of a man young enough to be his son has the chance to produce huge dividends in the new year.

10. JEFF BURTON

Age: 41
Hometown: South Boston, VA
#31 Caterpillar Chevy
Crew Chief: Scott Miller
Owner: Richard Childress

Jeff Burton is a great February to August racer, qualifying for the Chase easily the past three seasons. But when the final ten events have rolled around, he and his team have not asserted themselves as serious championship contenders. Burton realizes the clock is ticking on his chances to win a title, and even they appear to be a long shot considering the fact that the last time a driver over 40 won the title was Dale Jarrett a decade ago.

That being said, this is still a quality team that will qualify for the Chase and find victory lane at least once or twice. I am sure Caterpillar feels fortunate to be associated with a winning team for the first time since they sponsored Jeff’s older brother. He will not disappoint. Jeff is certainly a sentimental favorite to win it all (along with a driver who I have yet to preview), but the entire RCR team has a tall mountain to climb in overcoming the Hendrick, Roush, and Gibbs powerhouses.

11. KEVIN HARVICK

Age: 33
Hometown: Bakersfield, CA
#29 Shell Pennzoil/Reese’s Chevy
Crew Chief: Todd Berrier
Owner: Richard Childress

Harvick, once the immature brat, has set a modern-era record by finishing 80 races in a row, a sign that he has matured into a dependable driver who will not take any unnecessary risks to chance a good points day. But while Harvick is always around at the checkered flag, that has yet to produce any Sprint Cup championships, or even serious contention for one. Will that change in 2009? I don’t think so, but look for Kevin Harvick to make another run at the Chase and find victory lane for the first time since the 2007 Daytona 500.

I think there are two big factors holding back Harvick, Burton, and RCR from taking that step from Chase participant to championship contender. One was alluded to by Burton this week, saying that the RCR teams need more speed and horsepower to compete with Roush/Hendrick/Gibbs and end their 15-year championship drought. The other has to be the lack of consistency. The 29 and 31 may have very few DNFs, but they will go weeks at a time without as much as a top 10. That can’t happen if you want to win a championship.

12. KURT BUSCH

Age: 30
Hometown: Las Vegas, NV
#2 Miller Lite Dodge
Crew Chief: Pat Tryson
Owner: Roger Penske

It wouldn’t be my annual season preview without a surprise pick to make the Chase. Frankly, Kurt Busch, the 2 team, and entire Penske organization are more capable than what they showed in 2008. You can blame Dodge all you want, but Roger Penske won’t accept running a second-rate team, and if the Blue Deuce doesn’t come out firing in 2009, I am sure some changes will be made to the team’s structure.

Kurt Busch is still one of the best wheelmen in the garage, although he got shuffled out of the picture by his brother and own struggles a year ago. I think he, and his long-time crew chief Pat Tryson, have something to prove to the NASCAR world. This team won’t bring home their first championship, but I look for a rebound in their performance this season. Look for them to be strong at the typical Busch favorites such as Pocono and Bristol, and sneak into the Chase. Also look for them to get back to victory lane, which they only reached in 2008 because of pure luck.

Real Games to Watch

by Mike Henderson…

Every weekend, there seems to be about seven or eight must see games in NCAA basketball. And every weekend, CBS picks up the Big Ten or ACC or Big East match-up with the big names (Duke et al) that will attract viewers for that reason alone. As a non-reformed college hoops addict, I am eternally grateful to ESPN.
On Saturday, two of the better games of the year were played by the lesser knowns. Not totally unknown, but not always in the limelight. Perennial mid-major heavyweight Xavier travelled to Baton Rouge to take on the LSU Tigers, who have recently emerged as the favourite to win the SEC west. The first half alone was worth the two hours. After trailing by ten early, LSU rallied, went ahead, fell behind, went ahead - well, you get it. Great shot after great shot fell and the pace of the game was tremendous. LSU found it harder to score in the second half against what is a very good defensive team in Xavier, and eventually fell by ten. There was no disappointment for anyone watching (bettors aside) and the teams both knew they were in a war.
Another mid-major battle was better. 2006 Final Four darlings, the George Mason Patriots lined up with the Virginia Commonwealth Rams, with the loser falling out of a tie for first in the ultra-competitive Colonial Athletic Conference. The Patriots, playing without second-leading scorer, John Vaughan, who collapsed on the foul line earlier this week in a game against Northeastern, fell behind by fifteen in the second half, only to make the proverbial monumental comeback and get within one. A pair of threes iced it late for VCU but what a game! I was certain that there were about fifteen thousand at the game and was shocked to see the attendance figure of  7,600, because that place was rockin’. Oh yes, and if you haven’t seen Eric Maynor play, do. The announcer’s name escapes me (sad, I know) but his understatement stuck with me. “Boy, is he good.”
I don’t think any of these four teams will be in the Final Four. Only two or three of them could even be in the tournament at the end of the season. But I love watching teams that play every game like it’s their last. Maybe the talent level isn’t the same but who cares? And who doesn’t want to watch players like Maynor or Marcus Thornton of LSU?

The Big Boys: Georgetown and Notre Dame have both been exposed for their lack of depth in a tough Big East Conference. Because of the hype and pre-season build up for this league, both are almost assured of invitations to the Big Dance. However, it would be nice to see them win some games too.
Duke keeps rolling, even without a big man. No, I don’t count Zoubek. Yes, I like Coach K (spell check will only acknowledge his last name as a phonetic conundrum) but I don’t have much love for Duke. They will be number one in the polls this week.
I still think Pittsburgh and North Carolina are the two best teams. If Dejuan Blair doesn’t have foul trouble, no way Pitt loses to Louisville. And NC will show why they are the pick to win it all in short order. They came down to earth hard and the ACC will feel the repercussions.

Around the Rim: Willie Galick of Nanaimo, BC is averaging eleven points and six rebounds for the CSU Northridge Matadors in the Big West. Freshman Adam Folker of Markham averages three points and three rebounds per game for the UC Irvine Anteaters in the same conference. Sophomore Jon House, a native of Guelph, is contributing eight points and four rebounds per game with the Belmont Bruins of the Atlantic Sun conference.

Ritters Rant

by Mark Ritter…

Ok, so here’s the thing, I managed to get on XM NHL 204 the other day, where I had the pleasure of speaking to NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman. So, I asked him, “We have all heard the debate about fighting in hockey and there are various stances on that, the thing that has not been answered is this, how vulnerable is the NHL to a lawsuit if one of the players died on the ice?” Bettman’s response? Well, to paraphrase (The man can talk), Bettman said that “All players assume a certain amount of risk on the ice and he felt the NHL was not vulnerable to such lawsuits…, basically Mr. Bettman feels the NHL would go through a lawsuit completely unscathed.” What he didn’t say was whether or not the players had to sign a waiver of sorts as a condition of their contracts, I would be quite curious to find out if the players do have to sign such a waiver, if not, Bettman isn’t as smart as we think he is…ahh well, as my Brother said the other night, “Don’t try to out-lawyer a Lawyer”…Thanks for the straight answer Gary….

The All-Star festivities have some good moments, but the game itself is still a drag. The best idea I have heard is to play the game outside. The players love it, it gives them a reason to show up and it would give more fans a chance to watch the game, it’s a win/win situation. Here’s hoping they do something to spice things up, the current format stinks!

Best bet for the Super Bowl, don’t bet! It’s been a tough year for betters, but it’s hard to stay away from the Super Bowl. Me? I am taking the Pittsburgh Steelers and the over. I also like the Steelers to score first and the Steelers to lead at the half…then again, what the heck do I know, I am a hockey guy…Guess that means you ought to take the Arizona Cardinals.

Think fast, which free-agent signing has had the biggest impact on their NHL team? The Atlanta Thrashers signed unrestricted free-agent Vyacheslav Kozlov in the summer, the signing got little ink in the papers, to date Kozlov has 16 goals and 26 assists, good enough for 42 points and the biggest point total amongst all UFA’s. Just don’t look at Kozlov’s plus/minus numbers, they are terrible! Some other notable free agents? Ray Whitney, Carolina Hurricanes, has 15 goals, 24 assists, good enough for 39 points- Mark Streit, New York Islanders, this underrated defenseman has 8 goals and 27 assists, 35 points is better than some pretty great defenseman, such as, - Mike Green, Washington Capitals, (12-21= 33 points), Shea Weber, Nashville Predators, (14-18= 32 points), Nik Lidstrom, Detroit Red Wings, (7-25= 32 points), Sheldon Souray, Edmonton Oilers (12-19= 31 points), not too shabby given all the bad press the Islanders got for signing Streit…  How do I see the bottom 5 teams in the NHL turning out? 5. Ottawa Senators- While hot at the break, the Sens will revert to their inconsistent ways. 4. Toronto Maple Leafs- The fire sale will be fast and furious, paving the way fro a bottom five finish for sure.  3. Tampa Bay Lightening- Financial woes, trade rumors, the eventual departure of Vincent Lecavalier and bad defense will kill this team, fans will be excited all summer long dreaming of Steven Stamkos and John Tavares playing on the Power Play together. 2. Atlanta Thrashers- This is Ilya Kovalchuk’s team, the reality is there is not much else here, a bottom two finish is definitely possible. 1. New York Islanders- This team is horrible now, wait until they trade Bill Guerin…Worst team in the NHL, bar none…Anyway you slice it, it’s going to be a nightmare for John Tavares, all 5 of these teams are a complete mess, all 5 of these teams need a “Hero” and fast, that’s a ton of pressure for a young man (See Steven Stamkos). With most scouts saying they believe Stamkos is/was the more NHL ready player, look for Tavares to struggle wherever he ends up. Sure, he’s a heck of a talent, a savior? Not right away, perhaps 2013…  So, for arguments sake, let’s say the Leafs do crash and burn and end up with a top 8 pick, who do I pick? if they pick in the 1 spot I, like everyone else on the planet, take John Tavares (Centre), in the 2 spot I take Victor Hedman (Defenseman)- never-mind the bad tournament, he’s for real. In the 3 spot I take Jared Cowen (Defenseman), in the 4 spot I take Matt Duchesne (Centre), in the 5 spot I take Ryan Ellis (Defenseman)- Ellis might be small, he might look like he’s 12 years old, but he’s talented and full of spunk, Ellis will be the “Sleeper of the draft”..in the 6 spot I take Evander Kane (Centre), in the 7 spot I take Jordan Schroeder (Right Winger), and in the 8 spot I take Lukes Brother Brayden Schenn (Centre/Winger)- Schenn may not be flashy, but he’s consistent and will play in the NHL as a top six forward for a decade at least. Ok, let’s face it, the draft is a bit of a crap shoot, but after watching the World Junior Tournament I loved what I saw from the Canadian team, give me heart and passion all day long over those fancy-dance pansy sniffers, this is a deep draft, thanks in the most part to Canada’s plethora of talent, the US and Europe has a weak class…Want a couple more sleepers? Olivier Roy (Goaltender)- may not be the second coming of “Patrick”, but he just might be the class of this draft in the nets, Dmitry Kulikov (Defenseman)- This kid could get top 10 consideration, definitely an underrated player at this point in the season, Taylor Doherty (Defenseman)- underrated due to his lack of size, it says here the teams that pass him by will regret it.  Until next week,  Peace!

Fantasy Hockey Fails

by Eyebleaf…Honestly, nothing hurts quite like f***ing up in fantasy hockey. It haunts you. A small piece of me dies each time I hear the name “Dennis Wideman.”