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by Martin Fitzpatrick… 
Just a week ago, close friends and fellow Scottsdale residents Geoff Ogilvy and Paul Casey made the three-hour drive together from Scottsdale to Tucson to check out The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club.
Rarely has a three-hour drive paid off as much as it has Ogilvy and Casey.
The two close friends will face off against each other in tomorrow’s 36-hole final match to determine the winner of the year’s first World Golf Championship event.
From his first tee shot of the day, Ogilvy went on what is beginning to become one of his trademark streaks of completely flawless golf.
Ogilvy calmly and quietly went about eliminating teen-age phenom Rory McIlroy in the quarterfinals before knocking off Stewart Cink in the semi-finals.
Incredibly, Ogilvy made just one bogey all day while shooting 14-under par over 33 holes.
Although a fairly consistent player over the past few years, Ogilvy has been prone to go on streaks that are nothing short of astonishing.
Over the course of three events in 2008, which included a win at the WGC-CA Championship, Ogilvy did not card a bogey in more than 160 holes.
When Geoff Ogilvy is in the midst of one of his remarkable streaks, there are very few players on the face of the planet that can hope to beat him.
However, flawless play like this inevitably does not last forever and Ogilvy’s streaks tend not to last more than a week or two as if the golf gods decide that they have seen enough of a player perfecting a game that was never meant to be perfected.
Paul Casey took a far less dominant road to tomorrow’s final match against Ogilvy.
Casey defeated Sean O’Hair 4&3 in his morning match.
Although Casey did finish 15 holes at three-under par, he was lent a large helping hand from the food poisoning O’Hair had suffered on Friday night and was still suffering from during his quarter final match on Saturday.
Casey did not play anywhere near his best golf in his afternoon semi-final match against fellow Brit Ross Fisher.
Fortunately for Casey, Fisher spent more time navigating through the cacti than he did in the fairway and Casey was able to finish him off with a birdie on the 17th.
Ogilvy, who won the event back in 2006, heads into tomorrow’s final match with 16-2 career record in the Accenture World Match Play event.
Ogilvy’s career World Match Play winning percentage of 87.5 is better than that of even Tiger Woods, albeit Woods has played almost double the number of matches.
If Ogilvy’s current streak continues into tomorrow, Paul Casey will surely have his hands full.
by Stoker Dafire… 
When ring announcer Michael Buffer utters his famous five words tonight in Houston, Texas, two of the world’s top lightweights will be called to battle.
Juan Diaz’s IBO Championship and the vacant WBA and WBO titles will be on the line when he faces Juan Manuel Marquez on Saturday night at the Toyota Center.
Marquez (49-4-1, 36 KOs) is a former featherweight and super featherweight champion fighting for only the second time at his new weight of 135 pounds.
He beat Joel Casamayor by technical knockout last September in his lightweight debut but needs a victory over Diaz to have a chance of lining up another bout with nemesis Manny Pacquiao.
The two fought to a draw in May 2004, and Pacquiao got the controversial decision in the rematch last March.
But first comes Diaz.
“If I win,” Marquez said, “it could mean great things for me, even more important fights.”
The Houston-born Diaz (34-1, 17 KOs) is trying to win back the WBA and WBO belts he lost to Nate Campbell last March. Campbell was stripped of the titles earlier this month when he came in overweight for his fight with Ali Funeka.
“This is the type of fight I’ve been waiting for my whole life,” Diaz said. “They’re going to have to carry me out (on) a stretcher in order for me to lose that fight on Saturday night.”
Marquez, 35 years old and thereby 10 years Diaz’s elder, is a national hero in Mexico, but he agreed to fight in Diaz’s hometown.
Marquez admits that Diaz is a high-volume puncher who brings an awkward style.
He just smiles when reminded of Diaz’s apparent advantages.
“I feel very confident because I have been training very hard,” Marquez said. “I know I have a difficult fight, but (it’s) not impossible to win.”
Diaz rebounded from his loss to Campbell by beating Mick Katsidis in Houston last September. Marquez is a steep upgrade in class, a 15-year professional known for accurate punches and knockout power.
Diaz said his plan is to wear down Marquez and pounce in the late rounds.
“He’s a great, legendary fighter,” Diaz said. “He’s very smart in there, but he’s also 35 years old. I’m 25. I believe my youth is going to carry me to the victory.”
Marquez was 134 1/4 pounds whereas Diaz was 134 1/2 at Friday’s weigh-in.
Before they face off on Saturday night, unbeaten WBA featherweight champion Chris John will make his North American debut against Houston native Rocky Juarez, a silver medalist at the 2000 Olympic Games.
John (42-0-1, 22 KOs) has boxed mostly in his native Indonesia. He wants to put on a show for the national television audience on Saturday and hopes to land more fights (not to mention bigger paychecks) in America.
“It’s the most important fight of his life,” said Craig Christian, John’s trainer. “If he loses here, they won’t want him back. He wants to fight here all the time.
“He wants to put on his best performance for the American public so, hopefully, they’ll want him back.”
John won the belt with a 12-round decision over Osamu Sato in Japan in June 2004.
He settled for a technical draw against Jose Rojas in December 2004 but has won eight title defenses since, including a 12-round decision over Hiroyuki Enoki in Japan last October.
Christian expects Juarez to come straight at John and try to corner him. Christian said John is the more versatile fighter and will be able to adjust to whatever strategy Juarez throws at him.
“Through the blood, sweat, and the pain we fought like giants on ward to victory.”
- Anonymous
by Graeme Boyce… 
Well, with Trade Deadline looming, I’m beginning to believe that neither Nik Antropov nor Alexei Ponikarovsky are moving any time soon, though I’d love to see the former shipped out in exchange for Pronger. Apparently it’s a sellers market. In my humble opinion, and I’ve said it before, Brian Burke should package a gutsy blockbuster trade, which would include Tomas Kaberle and Scott Niedermayer.
Nonetheless, after having stopped by a few Leafs-friendly pubs this past week, many fans are without too much difficulty entertaining the prospect of a Maple Leafs team that does not feature the so-called Twin Towers. As the team closes out a disastrous year, injuries to Van Ryn and Finger will put the pressure on the young blueliners: Sifers and Schenn, and certainly Stralman if Kubina ships out.
Speaking of bringing it up a notch, Ian White has had a really good year, and I wouldn’t trade him, but he’d admittedly be an asset to any playoff bound team, not to mention both Dominic Moore and Matt Stajan. But I wouldn’t trade them either. Notwithstanding the Leafs’ vikings Frogren and Hagman, who have been instrumental in the Leafs victories lately, playing with a ton ‘o spunk night after night, I’d trade the Euros. Surely Bates Battaglia couldn’t do any worse.
Since Kaberle’s injury, the team hasn’t really fared that badly. Although Grabovski isn’t ending the season on a high note, unless something radical happens…so, as a truly talented youngster, Burke should trade him now along with Kulemin. There’s been nothing wrong with their play this year but I’d just be curious what they might fetch and get the deal done, in addition to some Marlies.
If the Maple Leafs had an NHL calibre goalie the team would be in the playoffs this year. It’s uncanny how many opposing teams can tie the Maple Leafs in the dying moments of a game. Some might argue the team’s defense was letting the goalies down on a talent-starved team, but it’s not true. Any shot, at any time, can end up in the Leafs net with Toskala or Cujo between the pipes.
The Maple Leafs with Wilson at the helm but without bonafide all-stars, like Pittsburgh, are winning on any given night. But take out a few Euros and bring up a few players like Kris Newbury and Ben Ondrus, and trade Toskala for any decent goalie. Well, with the injuries to Mitchell and Hagman, the choices are few and far between.
It seems management enjoys and is stocking the new winning team with Americans… like Tim Stapleton, augmenting the power duo of Blake and Stemniak. Trade ‘em all, I say. I’m ready. But the more the team gels, and continues to win, albeit in an unnecessary overtime or in—aghast—a shootout, I’m wondering if Burke is contemplating status quo. He says teams trading at the deadline make costly mistakes. Whew, now we know he won’t make any mistakes.
Ottawa is coming to town. I relish the though of swiping one or two Senators in exchange for Kaberle, for example, in fact fresh after the game and after Kaberle has returned from his injury.
The one thing going for the Leafs is they are playing under the cap, and substantially, which would truly be attractive when augmenting the pitch along with endorsement fees for a superstar player.
by Jack Porter… 
Just three days away from the NHL’s trade deadline, questions of who’s going where are being asked across Toronto. One question that’s not being asked however is, who will fill up the Maple Leaf’s roster for the remainder of the season.
Today I’m going to be the first to put this question out there. So for the sake of argument let’s assume that all the players speculated to be traded are in fact gone. Goodbye Kaberle, Kubina, Antropov, Blake, Ponikarovsky, Moore, Stralman, Finger, Stajan, White and Toskala.
With these subtractions the lines look bleak for Toronto and the only players that should bring back a roster player are Kaberle and Antropov so I’ll go with the most rumored deals for these players to fit new players into the Toronto roster.
The rumored Kaberle deal shakes down like this:
Kaberle
To The Flyers For:
Joffery Lupul (the roster player)
James Van Riemsdyk
1st Round Pick
The rumored Antropov deal:
Antropov
To the Penguins* For:
Alex Goligoski
1st round pick
* This trade may be out of the picture because of the recent Ryan Whitney trade but it is still a possibility.
Forwards
Hagman ——- Lupul
Kulemin Grabovski Stempniak
——- Devereux ——-
May Mitchell Mayers
Defense
Schenn Goligoski
Van Ryn Sifers
Frogren ——-
Goaltenders
——-
Joseph
The lines are bare for the Leafs with three openings at forward, one at defense and one at the goaltending position. Right away let’s get rid of the easy one, Pogge joins Cujo as co-starters for the Buds
Goaltenders
Pogge
Joseph
At defense there was a lot of depth but with Kronwall being pick up off waivers by the Capitals early this season and White, Stralman and Finger traded there is a gapping hole where young defenseman used to be. The Marlies have two defenseman the Leafs could call upon in Phil Oreskovic or Richard Petiot. Petiot has 14 points for the baby buds while Oreskovic is an impressive plus 18. Both men stand 6′3 in height, but the advantage will go to the defensively sound Oreskovic. The Leafs defense post deadline should look something like this.
Defense
Schenn Goligoski
Van Ryn Sifers
Frogren Oreskovic
Up front is where the most open spots lie, with three open spots the Leafs should get a really good look at some of the talent playing for their AHL affiliate. Some might think an obvious call up is Jeremy Williams, but there is a very good reason why he won’t be called up. Williams will have to go through re-entry waivers to join the Leafs and GM Brian Burke won’t take that gamble with one of the club’s best young players. Its likely shoot-out hero Tim Stapleton will remain with Toronto and Jiri Tlusty will likely be recalled. The final spot will likely be fought over between Alex Foster, Ryan Hamilton and Bates Battaglia. With Burke wanting to see what the future holds for the Leafs Battaglia will likely be the first name to hit the cutting room floor. After that the choice between Foster and Hamilton comes. Foster is having a great year with the Marlies scoring 28 points while Hamilton has a decent 19 points. Although Foster does have more points I think the spot will go to Hamilton, Burke traded away a good young player in Robbie Earl for Hamilton and he’ll want to see if it was a smart decision. With those call ups the forward lines should look like this.
Forwards
Hagman Stapleton Lupul
Kulemin Grabovski Stempniak
Tlusty Devereux Hamilton
May Mitchell Mayers
So with D-Day looming, I hope you’ve got some insight now into what the Leafs will look like after the hectic day of trading.
by Michael Seff…
It almost might work out in what looked like the worst of circumstances for the resident cheaters of the NFL. Sacrificing one year of making the playoffs may let them earn some depth and security for years to come. Why? Because their so-called “system”, the one whose legitimacy has still yet to be verified, allowed a mediocre quarterback to look like an elite one. Matt Cassel is just that, mediocre. But he will be making the most money in a one-year tender for a franchise player in league history next year, because the Patriots used their franchise tag on him. That means that if some team is foolish enough to try and snag him, they will owe the Patriots two first-round draft picks. Meanwhile, it’s not like the Patriots won’t be in good hands at quarterback without him.
So if a team like, say, the Minnesota Vikings finally wakes up and realizes Tarvaris Jackson can’t cut it at this level and decides to sell out for Cassel, they will be handing the Patriots two first-round draft picks for a player who shouldn’t even command one seventh-rounder. It will also save the Patriots plenty of salary cap money, rather than keep them financially constrained. The money freed up by Cassel’s possible departure could allow them to land a malcontent like Julius Peppers and turn him into the second coming of Corey Dillon.
So to those other 31 teams, even those with dicey quarterback situations, please, please don’t fork over more than $14 million for the product of a strong offensive system whose receivers push off and whose line cut-blocks as if it was going out of style. Save the money and the draft picks and keep Cassel where he belongs, on the New England bench chewing up valuable cap space.
More from Mike: Pitching Ideas
by Melissa Hashemian… 
If there’s one thing I learned in life it’s that things are always better after the battle, so keep fighting and don’t look back. It may sound like a cliche line, but it seemed to really help me during some of the rough moments in my life.
I just hope rookie netminder Justin Pogge got the memo from someone as well.
Pogge has had quite the rollercoaster ride with the Toronto Maple Leafs since being acquired in 2004 NHL Entry Draft. He’s unfortunately experienced the type of rollercoaster that has undergone many mechanical issues however.
After receiving gold with the Canadian Juniors in ‘05-’06, Justin Pogge was deemed as the Leafs’ hopeful star of the future and turned pro in ‘06-’07 with the Toronto Maple Leafs’ American Hockey League affiliate the Toronto Marlies. He spent the following two seasons with the Marlies posting impressive stats, yet still did not gain any respectable starts with the Maple Leafs.
He registered 19 wins and a 3.03 GAA in his rookie season with the frandchise and followed that up with 26 wins and an impressive .908 Saving Percentage the next year.
Many argued that the 6′3″ goaltender needed to play games for the Leafs in order to successfully build the confidence and skills required to do well in the NHL.
Although it would have helped immensely, Pogge was still negated any opportunity to play and continued to protect the two posts in the minors.
Yes, the Leafs’ staff should have given him a few starts during those two years, and yes they should have allowed him to display his talent. After all that’s the reason why he was drafted in the first place wasn’t it?
Did the organization really think putting Pogge in a few games was really going to jeopardize their chances of making the playoffs?
