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By Jack Vallon… Nothing makes me shudder more than poor sportsmanship, especially when it’s being displayed in the last noble game left in professional sports-ice hockey.
Whether it’s Sean Avery and his childlike antics, Tomas Holmstrom and his deliberate elbow to a seriously wounded James Wisniewski in Game four of the Western Conference semis, or Alex Ovechkin’s knee on knee hits and catalogue of flamboyantly over the top displays; it all makes me ill.
Whenever I watch today’s NHL I always find myself asking; What in hockey god’s name is going on? and, is this what’s become of sportsmanship?
Just think back a few years to when men like Steve Yzerman, and Joe Sakic took the ice.
Did they ever comport themselves even remotely similar to today’s players? Did they dance around like prima-donnas when reaching personal milestones? Did they ramble on ad nauseum about their abilities before even winning their first cup? Did they play dress up and play up to the camera at the All Star game?
Recall Scott Stevens. Although there are a great deal of you who thought the hall of famer was a dirty player, ask yourself if he ever gloated after knocking anyone unconscious?
He single-handedly took players out who threatened his teams success, yet he went about his business with the professionalism of a KGB assassin. He was never arrogant despite capturing three cups in nine years.
Guys like Dave Andreychuk, Doug Gilmour, Steve Thomas; lesser known players in comparison shared a respect for themselves, their fellow competitors and more importantly the game.
Now imagine how Ovechkin would comport himself if he ever landed a clean hit, knocking a player unconscious; one where a shoulder, not a knee is utilized as the weapon. I’m guessing he’d dance about the ice in a similar fashion to a school girl who’d just sold her first bag of girl scout cookies. Maybe warm his hands over the body of his incapacitated opponent.
And then there’s Sidney Crosby.
While I love the effort and would welcome the fella on my team, any day of the week, he needs to learn thing or two about sportsmanship. He whines, dives, plays dead and hams it up to the media anytime he sees an opportunity to influence the refs.
Then there’s “Geno” Malkin. Has the guy even heard of passing? Maybe he’s just forgotten how to make them, since the semis commenced.
His display in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Semis was inspiring to say the least, but playing up to mom and dad, by taking it on oneself to single-handedly win a contest was extremely selfish and quite the risky endeavour.
Then there’s the Holmstrom elbow on an injured Wisniewski. Callously elbowing a guy bent over and coughing up blood, then blatantly denying it was intentional is as ‘gutless’ as the victim referred to it as.
But none of these guys have anything on Sean Avery, or as he’s referred to in my household, Calvin Klein on skates. His constant game playing, headshots as well as wanton abuse and disrespect of NHL goalies is shocking to say the least.
His rag doll display against David Clarkson of the Devil’s was one of the most embarrassing I’ve ever witnessed. Ask yourself if the diminutive P.J. Stock would have ragdolled like that.
Yet Avery is a star; and the NBC game of the week poster boy. Avery’s done nothing on a professional level yet still he’s one of the most recognizable faces and names in the league. And this is by design; his own and that of the leagues.
No one gives a hoot about Ilya Kovalchuk or Zach Parise, guys that exhibit many of the qualities of their predecessors, yet we’re bombarded with feature after feature on Avery and his interest in women’s handbags. I even felt I needed to mention Avery’s name in my title just to get a few readers.
This is not what we expected from yesteryears players, or the players typical of the pre-Gary Bettman NHL (coming up pre-Bettman). With the exception of a few of today’s stars, the poster boys of the 2009 NHL are a far cry from the guys I grew up playing with, and the men I grew up watching.
Even the league’s goons and hoodlums have seemingly lost respect for themselves, their opponents and the game.
But then again maybe I’m just being nostalgic. It’s possible that I’m ignoring the fact that players from my day were just as pathetic. Gretzky cried with the best of them, Lindros hid behind his mum and dad’s skirt, Theo Fleury danced round like a girl scout and Messier; well, he was a girl scout.
note: Although Joe Sakic has not yet formally retired he’s still from the last generation of players.
By Stoker MacIntosh… Undefeated IBF Light Heavyweight Champion Chad Dawson and his challenger, former world champion Antonio “Magic Man” Tarver, will square off tonight in Las Vegas in their “enforced clause” rematch.
I’m still befuddled regarding HBO’s decision to air it; however, far be it from me to question the powers that be, and, as a fan, I’m certainly glad they are.
Without a doubt, the reasoning may have a lot to do with statements made regarding Dawson’s rise to stardom and subsequent remarks made by a fighter who—as a rule—doesn’t usually make such complimentary comments.
Yes, if we are willing to believe welterweight sensation Pretty Boy Floyd Mayweather Jr.—who claims that Dawson is the true No. 1 pound for pound boxer in the world—then it will certainly be a treat to tune in and witness tonight’s performance.
In my opinion however, we are more likely to see another lopsided domination of Tarver by a younger and much hungrier Dawson; such as was the case in the original meeting between the two.
One thing is for certain: Dawson has the thrilling style to potentially be one of boxing’s top new pay per view fighters.
At 6′3″ tall and 175 pounds, the 26-year-old is a rock-solid light heavyweight who carries knock-out power in each hand.
The 40-year-old Tarver is also a long, lanky fighter at 6′2″ and possesses some KO power of his own, as revealed in his unorthodox southpaw style, which in the past, has baffled some of his toughest foes.
Roy Jones Jr. knows this better than anyone; Tarver knocked him out cold in the second round of their 2004 rematch.
In fact, Tarver has been called the master of the rematch, winning his rematch bouts with Eric Harding, Roy Jones Jr, and tough as nails journeyman Glen Johnson.
However, it’s an extremely tough sell to get me to believe that history will repeat itself this time around.
Now at age 40, it’s safe to say that Tarver’s “glory days” are behind him; a loss tonight against Dawson would plant him squarely in that empty spot on the rankings reserved for gatekeepers and those fighters on the verge of total obscurity.
Dawson, with this win, will no doubt join the ranks of the other powerful young guns who are steadily building powerful reputations among Boxing’s elite.
The name Dawson most certainly will soon be spoken in the same breath as, Paul Williams, Andre Berto, and Juan Manuel Lopez.The best rematches are usually born from some sort of compelling controversy, similar to Tarver’s—dominating but losing—effort in his first fight against Roy Jones Jr.
Tarver wasted no time in exercising his right to this rematch—as stated in a contract clause provided to him last year after his first loss to Dawson.
So, like it or not, these two combatants will face each other for the second time tonight in Las Vegas, for the IBF light-heavyweight championship of the world.
So let’s watch, as perhaps Mayweather is right, and Dawson’s successful career is truly about to unfold.
In any case, here’s to his future, and here’s to hoping that he won’t be faced with anymore meaningless rematches in in the years to come.
“Try not to become a man of success but rather to become a man of value.”
—Albert Einstein, US (German-born) physicist (1879-1955)
By Long John Silver… The plethora of tennis talent and interest has culminated in Serbia, hosting it’s first clay court tournament in Belgrade this week.
Also widely known is the fact that the tournament is partially owned by the Djokovic family. Credit where it is absolutely due, the De-Joker family is very much responsible for the realization of this very event.
They took over a bankrupt Dutch event previously, and have made this possible.
Undoubtedly a historical moment for Serbian sports, but the complexities run a little deeper than that…
It is an ATP event that is co-owned by one of it’s important participants.
That’s the slippery slope.
Is there a conflict of interest?
Can and will the organizers be absolutely impartial to every other player and scheduling, when clearly they need Nole to have a deep run in the championships?
If for nothing other than enhanced public interest, they need Nole to win.
The Australian open kept it’s roof open on one of it’s warmest days (for some weird reason) when Hewitt played a physically suspect Gonzo in R-1 2009.
The rules stated they should have closed it…Get my drift?
I am not a conspiracy theorist, but these are very valid questions. It is indeed strange that someone who co-owns the tournament actually plays in it.
Maybe the younger Djokovic brothers get wild cards for a long time to come, mysteriously for the Belgrade event?
Or is there a thing called absolute impartiality in the world?
As Jon Wertheim puts it, IMG owns a tournament and they manage many players. They play some form of a role in giving wild cards for the players representing their brand in the tournaments they manage.
Mary Jo Fernandez is married to IMG representative Tony Godsick, and yet she time and time again interviews IMG representatives, Federer and Davenport.
Will she ask the real and tough questions that a journalist should?
P-Mac comments time and time again for Roddick’s and Blake’s matches, and he is their Davis cup captain—will he or has he been fair and objective when commenting?
Same goes with Darren Cahill and F-VED.
Tough questions…tough questions…
Is all this different from Nole actually playing and owning the Belgrade event?
The line calls and schedules will only be scrutinized (probably even more) in the event, especially when Nole is on court. It is in his best interest to keep a low profile.
Srdjan Djokovic (Nole’s father) has never been the most likable bloke going around; there is nothing wrong with it, but it helps to have someone at the top of the event management whom people warm up to.
Undoubtedly a significant moment in the history of Serbia as far as sports is concerned.
But still something that makes the tennis aficionados around the world a touch uncomfortable.
It’s a slippery slope, no?
Please do let me know if am overreacting.
How would you feel if Roddick co-owned the U.S Open or Hewitt the Australian Open?
Good luck absolutely to the Serbian open…but with some reservations.
By English Paul…
If you want proof of how far Toronto FC has come this season, look no further than today’s game against D.C. United. It’s week eight of the regular season and the Reds will be involved in their third consecutive MLS match, in which the winners will top the Eastern Standings.
This fixture will provide another test to Toronto’s progression, as they have lost on each occasion they’ve previously played at RFK Stadium. Overall, in the six all-time meetings, Canada’s team has only one win in stark contrast to five defeats.
There’s no doubting that this is the strongest squad Toronto has had in their short history. But after having a relatively clean bill of health of late, the ever-present O’Brian White has some company on this week’s injury report.
Defender Adrian Serioux is questionable with a back injury and is joined by first year player Sam Cronin, also listed as questionable with hamstring trouble. Both players have been instrumental in Toronto’s recent three game unbeaten run in the MLS.
Including Wednesday’s 1-0 victory over Vancouver in the Nutrilite Canadian Championship, Chris Cummins is on a three match unbeaten streak himself, since taking over from the departed John Carver. As such, do not expect the interim coach to deviate too much from the 4-3-3 formation that has been employed recently with considerable success, dating back to Carver’s last match in charge against Chivas USA.
Dwayne De Rosario’s appearance on the bench at home to the Kansas City Wizards, despite being listed as questionable, once again showed that it’s almost impossible to know what to conclude when looking at the weekly injury reports’.
However, assuming that one or both of Serioux and Cronin misses the game against D.C. United, Kevin Harmse should remain in the line-up, either at centre-back or in midfield. It will be interesting to see who is the odd man out in the three-man attack. One solution could be to play Danny Dichio, Chad Barrett and Pablo Vitti up front, with De Rosario dropping back into midfield.
Turning to D.C. United, the injury situation is a lot clearer, with only one player doubtful. Unfortunately for the four-time MLS champions, it’s at an important position as the team’s fiery midfield leader, Ben Olsen, is struggling with a hamstring strain.
Having the luxury to rest two former MLS MVPs’, midfielder Christian Gomez and top goal-scorer Luciano Emilo, for the 1-1 draw against the Wizards, tells you everything you need to know about the strength in depth of this squad. Expect both players to return to the starting line-up against Toronto.
I can only see one outcome in this game and I’m afraid it’s a home win for the team currently riding high on a four match unbeaten run. However, I’ve been known to be wrong once or twice in the past. We can only hope that this is again the case come 9.30 tonight.
Paul Taylor can be contacted at: [email protected]
By Dorothy Willis… Parents hate weekend get aways with the children and the frequent whining, “are we there yet?” Nothing can shorten a fuse more quickly than continuing to ask the question.
Apparently Dana White, one of the “parents” of the UFC, is completely worn thin by one question.
A resounding “NO!” is his answer to the question of Anderson Silva fighting Roy Jones Junior, even if the fight occurs inside a cage in a UFC event: the answer is still No!
And just as a parent might tell their child that something is not good for them, Dana is claiming the reason for the answer is that a Roy Jones Jr. vs Anderson Silva match up “would not be good for the sport of MMA.”
How ironic!
Just weeks ago Dana White was bemoaning the fact that the Anderson Silva vs Thales Leites match ?was not exciting enough and let all the fans down.”
Anderson has wanted only one particular fight for over a year now and that fight is with Roy Jones Jr his boxing hero. He has wanted it so badly that he only agreed to fight one more year in the UFC just to be able to have a chance at Jones before Jones retires.
That is desperation, which is something never seen in MW champion A. Silva before.
Now White wanted an exciting, crowd attracting Silva fight that would sell PPV’s and put butts in seats: shouldn’t he be jumping up and down in glee?
How is this bad for the UFC?
Wasn’t it Dana White who braved the criticism of thousands of MMA fans by bringing former WWE champion Brock Lesnar into the UFC as a money making investment?
It certainly was the work of Dana White in propelling Lesnar to a champion without having to climb up the obligatory ladder that other UFC contenders are forced to climb.
Isn’t it Dana White who wants to increase the popularity of MMA in foreign nations all over the world? This fight would attract world interest.
How is this particular fight “bad” for MMA and the UFC in particular?
Some suggest that making this fight a reality would anger fans that White has not yet been able to secure Fedor Emilianenko to fight a HW UFC champion to end the question of Fedor’s status as best P4P fighter of all time.
White apparently only welcomes fights that result from his imagination and are not claimed as someone else’s brainchild. Only his willingness to be innovative counts, not the ideas of his own fighters or the public.
Well, how “White” of him. Dana is one of a kind; I personally thank God for that, as more than one Dana White would be insufferable.
Still, I am left with the question of “why not?”
If Anderson gets this one fight that he wants more than anything else, his whole outlook on resigning from the UFC could be changed.
Seeing a motivated, happy Anderson Silva would be a dream come true for millions of fans, so I am still asking…
Dana, “Are we there yet?”
By Martin Avery… The NHL has been evolving the way Commissioner Gary Bettman wants, but sometimes evolution is unpredictable. You know what Mark Twain said about evolution: “While the rest of the species is descended from apes, redheads are descended from cats.”
Canada’s BlackBerry billionaire Jim Balsillie is trying to buy the Phoenix Coyotes and make them Canada’s seventh NHL franchise. Russian natural gas billionaire Alexander Medvedev recently stated his desire to buy an American NHL team and move it to Quebec City. Another group is trying to get a second NHL team for Toronto.
Kansas City is rumored to be talking to Charles Wang about moving the New York Islanders. Winnipeg still wants the Jets to return.
Writer Tom DeMatteo recently predicted this realignment for the NHL:
Northeast Division: Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Hamilton, Buffalo
Atlantic Division: Boston, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, New Jersey, Philadelphia
Southeast Division: No changes.
Central Division: Detroit, Chicago, St. Louis, Columbus, Pittsburgh
Pacific Division: Vancouver, Colorado, San Jose, Los Angeles, Anaheim
The “I’m not sure what to call it” Division: Nashville, Dallas, Minnesota, Calgary, Edmonton
With two teams in Toronto, one in Quebec, and one in Winnipeg, plus the Islanders in Kansas City, I see it this way:
Great Lakes Division: Toronto, Toronto, Hamilton, Buffalo, Detroit
Northeast Division: Montreal, Quebec, Ottawa, Boston, New York, New Jersey
Prairie Division: Edmonton, Winnipeg, Minnesota, Chicago, Colorado
Western Division: Vancouver, Calgary, San Jose, Anaheim, L.A.
Central Division: Kansas City, Nashville, Columbus, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Carolina
Southern Division: Washington, Atlanta, Tampa Bay, Dallas, St. Louis
That’s the way I can see it in the near future. But in the not-too-distant future, I see it this way:
Canadian Division: Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg, Hamilton, Toronto, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec
American Division: Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Detroit, Chicago, Columbus, Minnesota, L.A., Anaheim
Russian Division: Moscow, Moscow, Moscow, Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Omsk, Checkhov, Minsk, Latvia, Belarus
European Division: Prague, Stockholm, Berlin, Cologne, Salzburg, Helsinki, Tappara, Turku, Tampere, Gothenburg
By that time, the National Hockey League will have evolved into the International Hockey League or the Global Hockey League.
By Jack Porter… Leafs GM Brian Burke has said he wants Tavares, but this isn’t the best choice.
Instead, the Leafs need to pick up two first round draft choices and develop an offensive one-two punch.
Some could argue that the Leafs could pick Tavares and get another forward in next year’s draft, but the problem is next year’s draft isn’t nearly as deep and the Leafs may not have that great of a pick in the 2010 draft.
So why do the Leafs need two forwards?
A good team needs a one two punch. Pittsburgh has Crosby and Malkin and the Capitals have Ovechkin and Semin.
The Leafs will need to trade away Thomas Kaberle to get the pick and will probably need to part with their 2010 first round pick to obtain another top ten pick, but it will be worth it.
There are many different combinations but some of the better ones are:
Zack Kassian and Jordan Schroeder
Zack is a bruising skilled forward who could open space for speedster Schroeder. With just the right amount of skill and heart these two could contrast each other perfectly.
Scott Glennie and Brayden Schenn
This pair has already been getting attention as linemates for Brandon of the WHL, hopefully they can transfer the chemistry to the NHL game. Brayden (the younger brother of current Leaf Luke Schenn) is the half of the pair that does the digging, but Glennie is the scorer of the two. The Leafs could also put any of their up and coming centers (Mikhail Stefanovich, Tyler Bozak, or Chris Didomenico) between these two and they’d have a great line for the future.
Nazem Kadri and Evander Kane
Kadri could be the dish man for Kane for years. Kadri’s came is being a playmaker while Kane’s is the sniper’s style. With Grabovksi or Kulemin on with these guys the Leafs could have a powerful first line with the depth still to have a great second line.
Matt Duchene and Magnus Paajarvi - Svensson
This maybe a far fetched partnership, as both of these players are projected to go high, but the pairing would be explosive. Both of these guys are not only snipers, but playmakers too. With these two on the ice together the opposing team would not know which to cover as both can pass and score at an elite level.
Brian Burke needs to use this draft as a building block for a working team not just a superstar on a roster of average players.
By Andrew McNair… What has Darren Fletcher ever done to deserve such an injustice?
The Manchester United midfielder has been playing superbly for his club all season and Tuesday tonight was no different. The hard working Scot played his part in one of the great United European performances.
Sadly, Fletcher has made the mistake of being too committed and will pay possibly the ultimate sacrifice.
Only a World Cup Final is a bigger game for a European player and we all know there is little chance of the United midfielder missing out on one of those.
But he will miss the UEFA Champions League Final after wearing his heart on his sleeve.
With Manchester United up 3-0 Darren Fletcher tracked his man into the United box and even though he knew the danger, he refused to let Arsenal score and made an amazing tackle, which the referee has deemed a foul by the last man.
The red card was swift but totally unjustified as replay’s show he clearly won the ball. The tackle was superb, the commitment was 110% but the dream is over.
This injustice will be doubled as there are no appeals.
Darren Fletcher will yet again sit out of a Champions League final after watching on as a substitute as Man United lifted the trophy last season.
Told in the summer he had to improve if he wanted more game time, the Scot has had a terrific season starting on a regular basis and has proved to everyone he does deserve to wear the red and white of United.
Those performances led him to tonight where he started in United’s biggest game of the season as a trusted and loyal servant.
Where is the appeals process?
How can the footballing world standby and let such a travesty take place. As football fans, we all dream of playing on such occasions and in all honesty there should be a way for such a terrific mistake to be overturned.
The footballing Gods have a lot to answer for as they have punished a man, who is not only honest but probably one of the hardest working professionals in the world game.
He is not world class, he is not a match winner but he is an example to millions of young boys that with plenty of heart and determination, you can make every dream come true.
Well nearly every dream, sorry Darren, we as fans, salute you.
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