Alex Rios, We Hardly Knew Ye (or Did We Know You Too Much?)

by Geoff Zochodne… We are here to mourn the waiver claiming of Alexis Israel Rios as he passes on into the Great Unknown (also known as Chicago).

You played right field for the Toronto Blue Jays and though you may have accosted one or two fans more than necessary on the street, we will miss you.

Alex, your contract may have been bloated, your play inconsistent, and you may have been responsible for a record number of Blue Jays fans’ divorces, but you will never be forgotten.

I remember the 2007 Home Run Derby in San Francisco. You sprang up from the depths of anonymity and peppered Bay Area fans with a hail of home runs. We applauded your ascension into Superstardom and chortled with glee that you were ours.

When you stopped hitting home runs with regularity, you started stealing bases and it was good. You became a lead -off hitter that shouldn’t have been, but succeeded in spite of yourself.

Oh Alex, where did we go wrong?

You took the baseball equivalent of a mulligan this season and earned the exasperation of the Greater Toronto Area. But Alex, you were always the One. The One who had the forbidden talent.

Even when Roy Halladay was shopped and Vernon Wells turned into a pariah, we always hoped you would emerge our hero. But it was not to be.

It was supposed to be a marriage that was always chocolate and flowers. Then you started forgetting to call.

Alex, we could have worked it out. We could have gone to counseling, but instead you left dinner forever on the stove.

Our collective pot roast now lays uneaten and embittered with the glaze of chagrin between Alex Rios and his once loyal Toronto fan base.

Hopefully you will find what you are looking for in the southside of Chicago, the land of Polish sausage, Barack Obama, and bad, bad, Leroy Brown.

Chances are you will succeed in the stadium they call the Cell. Your limitless talent is now imprisoned in the other friendly confines, a stadium where a home run is as common as bratwurst.

Maybe Alex, you will reach the Promised Land they call the playoffs. I always wanted that for you.

That the Blue Jays could not provide what these plainest of Sox can is something that will always haunt my dreams.

Though J.P. Ricciardi refuses to call it a salary dump, let’s call it what it is. No sane team would claim Vernon Wells and his affront to the Collective Bargaining Agreement, and Roy Halladay will be a Jay until his arm falls off or when the calendar strikes 2010.

Alex Rios became Toronto’s Joan of Arc. He burst onto the scene like the hotshot French Femme-eral and won us many victories over the rest of baseball.

But when there were no more wars to fight, you turned to us and now we have forsaken you. You had to be sacrificed so that our team would be free from poverty. Instead of being burned at the stake you were put on waivers and claimed.

It is a bittersweet compromise.

If Alex Rios realizes his talent in Chicago, Blue Jays fans will sigh and go back to watching a team stuck in a rut.

Ours is a team that didn’t receive a bag of balls for Rios and will leave us yearning for the Rios of 2007. The one that made baseball take notice of the lanky right fielder from north of the border.

In Rios’ stead we will look to Travis Snider and our dreams of winning with him. Alex will become a footnote to a season that will hopefully be a footnote to a championship some day.

This is a salary dump that cannot remove the twinge of guilt I feel. No dumping of anything can ever remove Rios from my mind, unless it is a dump truck of stones to my cranium.

Oh, what could have been.

In the name of Cito Gaston, Joe Carter, and the holy spirit of 1992-93.

Amen.

PART II (Also known as Evil Geoff)

Do you remember that at one point Rios was rumored to be traded for Tim Lincecum?

YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! WE’RE FREEEEEEEEEE! FREEEEEEEEEEE! HE’S GOOOOONNNNEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!

Ahem.

Let’s get this season over with.

Will the Toronto Maple Leafs Finally Make the NHL Playoffs?

by Mark Gregory… Most editorials I’ve read lately suggest the Toronto Maple Leafs have marginally improved, but are a long shot to make the playoffs.

Yes it has been a long time since the Leafs made the postseason, but the light shining off Lords Stanley’s cup might finally be in sight. The 2009 version of the Leafs certainly has a different look this year. Burke, first, added Bozak and Hanson from the college ranks. Then he unloaded Kubina and his cannon accounting for 14 goals and -15, for essentially Garnet Exelby and Wayne Primeau. Add tough guy Colton Orr and a couple of free agent defensemen, Mike Komisarek and Francois Beauchemin, and one might ask the legitimate question of whether the Leafs are building for the pre-lockout NHL or to take on the 1970’s Bruins and Flyers teams.

Will le petite Habs skate circles around the bruising new Leafs and win games on the power play?

Comparing the Leafs and Habs teams of a year ago is quite the role reversal. I predict it won’t be Van Ryn whose face breaks the glass this year! Look closely at what Burke has assembled at the Leaf blue line: He has established a great mix of strength and toughness on each side of the defensive pairings with the likes of Francois Beauchemin, Komisarek, Luke Schenn, Garnet Exelby, Finger, Kaberle, Van Ryn, and Ian White. Expect these defensemen to move the puck out and shoot from the point.

What happened to the Toronto goaltending last year?

Anyone who saw the Leafs play last year knows that many games could have been won with even average goaltending, and the playoffs would have been achieved with the Leafs winning their share of the shoot-outs.

It made so much sense when it was revealed that Toskala was playing injured. After season-ending surgery it is not that hard to imagine that he could regain his form of 2007-2008. Could Toronto finally hit the jackpot with Jonas Gustavsson, after the debacle that ended the promise of the Justin Pogge and Tuukka Rask era and turned into the Raycroft and “Cujo” Steven King horror show between the pipes. Add a side note about Clemmenson being run out of town because he won a playoff series with the Marlies, and yes Leaf fans the percentages are with us. Jonas Gustavsson looks like the real deal and will have every opportunity to succeed with a strong defence and Francois Allaire to tutor his ascension to become Leafs No.1 goalie.

Up front Lee Stempniak, hopefully, is settled in Toronto and finally ready to put up the numbers expected of him when we acquired him, and that goes double for Jason Blake. Would it be a miracle if Blake scored 40 goals this year? Well he has done it before and, given the promising season he had last year, maybe he is due. Mitchell was used and depended on, and often looked like one of the better Leafs last year, but he quietly accumulated a team worst -16. Realistically, for a rookie it was definitely trial by fire  and a year of experience and strengthening is bound to make his game stronger this time around. This same point must be made for Luke Schenn as well. I believe a year of conditioning and experience will show why Burke went after this pick.

Back on topic, this will be the year of Ponikarovsky, who was the team’s plus-minus leader last year at +6, and Grabovski, and I don’t think at the end of this season anyone will be able to say the Leafs don’t have any firstst-line players.

After first being acquired, Grabovski had flashes of genius, yet the length of the NHL schedule and opponents being able to target the few Leafs stand-outs slowed him down significantly in the second half of the season. Kulemin looked good on the shootout a few times,  but still hasn’t lived up to the promise and ice time he has been given to this point. Stajan had a career year last year and seems to get better every year, though many don’t seem to appreciate his effort in Leaf-land.

The Leafs can count on secondary scoring from Hagman and the cast of young players: Tlusty, Stalberg, Bozak, Hanson, and new addition Wallin, who really will have every opportunity to succeed. If you add Primeau, Orr, and Mayers as a promising fourth line to mix things up and to change the momentum of games, the Leafs have the proper ingredients for Ron Wilson to mold into a cohesive winning unit.

With the exuberance of youth and the Leafs tough defensive core, Leaf Nation will be on an emotional high all season; the result of extraordinary effort, big punishing hits, tight checking, and last year’s 10th best scoring unit. The Leafs have all the ingredients of a winning team if they can stay out of the penalty box and win 50 percent of their shoot-outs.

No Heatleys, Kovalevs, Andropovs, or Zherdevs need apply. Ian White is the epitome of Burke’s blue-collar bunch.

In the memorable words of Gene Hackman in The Replacements: He’s got miles and miles of heart.

It’s a long season and there are always lots of surprises, but once in the playoffs this is a team that will be hard to beat at tight-checking, playoff hockey. The Leafs are due…and will make lots of noise this year, year two of the re-build. No question.

2010 NHL Contracts That Make Me Sick To My Pants!

by Mark “The Hard Hitter” Ritter…

Recently, I was looking over the 2010 NHL player salaries. Needless to say there were plenty of contracts that stood out as being bad. I decided not to attach a ranking to these contracts, it only causes unnecessary debate as to why you picked No.5 over No.7, which is annoying, right?

Let’s take a look at what I feel are some of the worst NHL contracts of 2010.

Chris Drury (C)—New York Rangers—$8,050,000

Eight million? For this guy? Are you serious? Ever since Drury signed a huge contract with the Rangers he has come up short of expectations.

Clearly, given the fact that Drury is yet to surpass 60 points as a member of the Rangers, Rangers general manager Glen Sather pooped the bed when he signed this guy.

Drury’s $8 million+ salary makes him the 6th highest paid player in the NHL for 2010. Ouch!

Scott Gomez (C)—Montreal Canadiens—$8,000,000

Gomez was also signed by rangers GM Glen Sather. Thought to be a good fit for Jaromir Jagr to play with, the chemistry never found itself and now Jagr is playing with the KHL.

Gomez found a new home this summer with the Montreal Canadiens, so he is no longer Sathers problem. Still, with just 32 goals in the past two seasons he is well overpaid.

Wade Redden (D)—New York Rangers—$8,000,000

Laughable! That is the word most associated with Wade Redden’s salary. Is it any wonder that New York Rangers general manager Glen Sather approved this contract as well?

Redden, who had three goals and 26 points and was a plus/minus -5 as a member of the Rangers in 2008-09, struggled to find his game last season and, coming in as the NHL’s 11th highest paid player, is well overpaid.

Daniel Briere—Philadelphia Flyers—$8,000,000

Briere had an injury riddled 2008-09 season. He played just 29 games, netting 25 points, which is good on the surface, but hardly what the Flyers were expecting from their highest paid player.

Briere will be hard pressed to get back to the level of play he exuded as a member of the Buffalo Sabres in 2006-07 where he scored a career high 95 points. More likely, Briere will score in the 70-80 point range, which, at $8 Million a year, is no bargain.

Of Note- Briere is a plus/minus -23 player in two seasons with the Flyers. Ouch!

Daniel Afredsson (W)—Ottawa Senators—$7,000,000,000

Alfredsson has had some great years with the Ottawa Senators and while many will point to his contract as being a reward for his past efforts, it’s still a bad contract.

Alfredsson’s 24 goals and 74 points were his lowest total since 2001-02 when he scored 71 points as a member of the Senators. Clearly, Alfredsson is a diminishing asset and he should not be making this kind of money.

Kimmo Timonen—(D) Philadelphia Flyers—$7,000,000

With 43 points, Timonen ranked 22nd in the NHL in 2008-09 amongst defensemen. Is that enough to pay him $7 million a season?

No Sir, I think not. Timonen is no pant load, but he’s not worth $7 Million. Clearly, at this price, the Flyers expect more out of Timonen.

Lubomir Visnovsky (D)—Edmonton Oilers—$7,000,000

Are 8 goals, 23 assists, 31 points and 30 PIM’s really worth $7 Million? Well, the Edmonton Oilers will Pay Visnovsky that in 2009-10, which is way out of line.

Visnovsky, while talented, is not worth more than Sergei Gonchar, Dan Boyle or Dion Phaneuf, but he will be paid like it. That contract needs to be burned!

Shawn Horcoff (C)—Edmonton Oilers—$7,000,000

Simply put, Shawn Horcoff is not worth Rick Nash-type money!

Horcoff, who posted 17 goals and 36 assists last season with the Oilers, has never scored more than 22 goals in any of his 8 NHL seasons, a feat he achieved in 2005-06 as a member of the Oilers.

Yet another example of a really bad contract. I wouldn’t use this contract in my rabbit cage!

Ryan Smyth (W)—Los Angeles Kings—$6,500,000

Smyth brings a ton of intangibles to the ice, still, at $6.5 Million, you gotta think he is overpaid. Smyth registered 59 points last season as a member of the Colorado Avalanche, the most he had scored since he registered 66 points as a member of the 2005-06 Edmonton Oilers.

For $200,000 more you could have Detroit Red Wings forward Pavol Datsyuk on your team. Who would you rather have?

Paul Kariya (W)—St. Louis Blues—$6,000,000

Injury prone and a diminishing asset, Kariya, while talented when he is healthy, is a very risky contract. Kariya scored two goals and had 15 points in just 11 regular season games with the Blues last season, which is a good point per game average.

Question is, can Kariya ever play an 82 game schedule again? The jury is hung on this one, but I think Kariya will play in pain for the rest of his career and that’s never a good thing.

Roman Hamrlik (D)—Montreal Canadiens—$5,500,000

Hamrlik makes the same money that Sergei Gonchar and Sheldon Souray will make this season, which one would you want on your team? Clearly, it’s not Hamrlik.

Hamrlik is steady, but he sure as heck is not worth $5.5 Million a season. Man, Les Canadiens have some bad contracts to deal with this season, don’t they?

Rick Dipietro (G)—New York Islanders—$4,500,000

Ok, if this wasn’t the dumbest contract in NHL history I don’t know what is? For those of you who don’t remember, on September 12, 2006, DiPietro signed a 15-year, $67.5 million contract with the Islanders, the longest contract in NHL history. The Islanders thought it was a slick way of combating the NHL’s salary cap, that is until DiPietro stated having hip problems…

Dipietro played a grand total of five games last season, winning just once. DiPietro looks to be snake-bitten when it comes to injuries, particularly his hip problems, which have been well documented. Some experts have even speculated that his playing days may very well be over. This is the guy you give a 15 year contract to? Nice work Mr. Snow! Then again, can we expect anything different from a team like the New York Islanders?

Honourable Mentions:

Dany Heatley (F)—Ottawa Senators (For now)—$8 Million
Brad Richards (F)—Dallas Stars—$7.8 Million
Brian Campbell (D)—Chicago Blackhawks—$7.14 Million

The Art and Success of the Short Jab in MMA

by Nick Colon… Anderson Silva and Brian Bowles are very different fighters. Yet their wins at UFC 101 and WEC 42, respectively, are very similar.

How so is this possible?

The technique becoming more popular in MMA, and so powerful, is known simply as the short jab.

The punch that both Silva and Bowles used to knockout their tough opponents was an accurate jab that, when placed correctly, can render the opposition defenseless.

Silva is a master of this punch, using it multiple times alone in his fight with Griffin and dropping him once before the official onslaught began.

Bowles, on the other hand (no pun intended), used the punch as defense against a rushing, wild Miguel Angel Torres.

Both punches seemed very effective, especially when used against fighters like Torres and Griffin who both threw very erratic, inaccurate jabs and crosses.

It appears no matter what weight class you fight at, the punch is both a good defensive and offensive move.

An important aspect to remember is the accuracy of the punch. Fans might notice that Silva’s punch landed directly on the temple region of Griffin, dropping him very quickly and ending the fight instantly.

Bowles’ punch at least appeared to land in the same region, possibly a little lower on the cheek area.

Regardless of the exact area of the punch’s completion, both punches finished their respective fights and gave one man a bright future and the other a feeling of restoration to his legacy.

Just imagine how good Bruce Lee must have been with his one-inch punch.

Oski Wee Wee Oski Wah Wah: Ti-Cats Two Games Above .500

by Brandon Marsdin… Well, aside from the rain, I have to say that it was worth seeing it live and the cheap seats are the best, especially when it’s raining.

I’ll give you 4 reasons why: In front there is a little concrete track and then the endzone and the cheerleaders spend a lot of time standing right in front of you on that track,shaking those sexy bodies while cheering and the tight costumes add to that sexyness.

But, to top all that they are getting wet in white, tight costumes because they are standing in the rain. That should count as four reasons alone. But, to add to that you always have the roudiest fans in the cheap section (the rockin out, die hard guys and the guy totally wasted just yelling at the players to catch the ball and stuff, and telling the cheerleaders to wiggle something.

I forget the other two. But, you have to go to at least one live game a year. There is nothing like it. Alright, now to the game recap.

The Ti-cats faced a tough team to beat and one that had the same record as them and the best record in the west in the Edmonton Eskimos. Now, you really question QB Quinton Porter in the first half as he makes frequent mistakes.

Infact, it is almost as if he has to warm up and get a feel for the game because he really shows his stuff in the second half and he was a factor in Hamilton’s come from behind win.

Yes, it’s true the Ti-cats came from behind 14-21 to beat the Eskimos scoring two unanswered TD for a final score of Edmonton 21-Hamilton 28. One winning run off of a pick off by Hamilton.

A Ricky Ray bomb was intercepted by Markeith Knowlton at his teams own 21-yard line, he ran with the ball to the Edmonton 43-yard line, then was tackled. Hamilton set up at the Edmonton 43-yard line and Porter passed it to an open Deandra Cobb who went on a 40-yard run.

Which was initially ruled a TD. But, after a challenge it was deemed his knee was down at the one-yard line which to me made no sense to how it wasn’t a TD because as far as I know, the ball hit the ground in the end zone and it always counts where the ball lands unless you are going out of bounds.

Hmm?… anyways, it didn’t really matter because it ate more time away from the minute that was left in the game and QB Quinton Porter would rush the one-yard to give the Ti-cats the winning TD.

The Ti-Cats were trailing most of the game and really the only things they had going for them in the first half were Arland Bruce and Chris Davis seeming like the only ones who caught the ball and Porter could decently throw to.

I’m not sure if those were the guys who scored the TD in the half. But, they were getting all the first downs and yards. Then, Porter I guess finished warming up. None the less, It put’s the Ti-cats two games above .500 and a 4-2 record since at least four years.

Next Sunday the Ti-Cats head to Saskatchewan to face the 3-3 Roughriders which should be a good game. I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re continued solid play led them to the win. But, only time will tell if they can continue to “mesh” well.

They’re next home game is the always exciting Labour Day Classic against the Argos that I will be attending. There is always Argos fans that ride down the 403 and come to Ivor Wynne. If you are attending live like me, Consider this a warning that fights and/or brawls will ensue. Should be fun!

Chris Bosh: The Effects of His Possible Extinction

by Scott Hastie… Think back to when you were young, and it was Christmas morning. There’s a big box with your name on it, and you’re really excited. It could be that Nintendo 64 you were asking for! But it also could be an Easy Bake Oven, which is the opposite of anything you’ve ever asked for.

Now, the upcoming 2009-2010 season for the Toronto Raptors is the big box, and the Nintendo 64 is the second round of the playoffs.

The Easy Bake Oven is a dismal season, and Chris Bosh not signing with the Toronto Raptors.

As odd as that comparison may sound, it makes sense and all of it is a possibility.

Chris Bosh wants to be on a championship-caliber team. He’s been vocal about it. But say the Raptors fall short this season, do not meet Bosh’s expectations, and he bolts.

What are the effects on the Toronto Raptors?

I’ve divided them into four main categories: Fan-base, Offense, Defense, Locker Room.

Fan-base

If you see a person wearing a Toronto Raptors jersey, it will most likely be No. 4. Chris Bosh is the face of this franchise. If he leaves, will the fans? Who will take his spot?

Can Bargnani step up and become a franchise player, or will Hedo Turkoglu be portrayed as T.O.’s main man?

Bargnani is growing, and is in line for his breakout year, but it could also be hard for him with all the pressure.

Hedo Turkoglu will be in decline as he ages, and putting the franchise on his shoulders is only going to disappoint and hurt the fan-base even more.

Offense

Chris Bosh is the offensive leader of this team and has been since Vince Carter left. Subtract a 20 point per game player and replace him with Reggie Evans, and you aren’t going to win many games.

To continue to succeed, the Raptors need the offensive force Bosh brings to the table night in and night out. As other players around the franchise grow, you still need a strong reliable player who will deliver. Subtract Bosh from the offense in Toronto, and you’re are left with very little.

Chris Bosh has little post-game, but he makes due and can still score. Hedo Turkoglu is very much a spot-up shooter, and so is Bargnani. Jose Calderon is a small weapon on offense as well. Relying on jump shooters doesn’t win championships.

Defense

Chris Bosh is not a huge defensive presence, and never has been. He’s mediocre, but also has to deal with Calderon’s lack of defense, which causes Bosh to look bad and pick up fouls.

Losing Bosh wouldn’t be earth-shattering to the already sad defense the Raptors “play,” but he has an ability to handle the best and control them. He is usually given the task of defending the best big man on the opposing team and does a respectable job.

Handing Bargnani the reigns on defense would be risky, as he could either step up or be the weak point of the defense. That being said, the game is shifting away from big men to being the main scorer, so the threat isn’t as big as it used to be.

Locker Room

In my opinion, Chris Bosh is not a leader. He doesn’t hurt the chemistry of a team, but he isn’t doesn’t play a major role like a Kevin Garnett, LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, or Kobe Bryant by any standard.

Bosh is a positive influence to his teammates, but the Raptors will survive without him. Rarely has Bosh fired up the troops and helped Toronto churn out a comeback. Bosh loves the game, but bringing energy is not something he does very often.

Whether Chris Bosh re-signs with the Raptors or not, it has been a great run. Many fans are looking forward to next season, and Bosh seems to be excited, too.

This is just my opinion on the effects of the Raptors. Comments and criticism are welcome, but no personal attacks—I cannot stand it, and in the words of Jack Armstrong, “Get that Garbage outta here!”

Thanks for the read, and please share your opinions too!

Scott’s Bio

A huge basketball fan at the age of 16, I’m all about the Toronto Raptors. I enjoy discussing the sport and do my best to remain open to others opinions. If you have an idea for a Raptors article, just leave me a message and I’ll do my best.

Wladimir Klitschko Vs Fast Eddie Chambers Rumored For December 12/09

by Stoker MacIntosh… No, that guy in the photo isn’t Mike Tyson.

Sadly, it isn’t picture of a prime Evander Holyfield, or Lennox Lewis either; but as of right now—with the heavyweight division being what it is—this kid is a legitimate American heavyweight-reasonable-facsimile of the aforementioned trio.

The rugged young heavyweight fighter’s name is Fast Eddie Chambers and he has some enormous shoes to fill, let me tell you.

The big boys of late 80s and early 90s were the absolute cream of the crop, and they kept the fields mowed in a time when the sport was producing a bountiful harvest of young heavyweights.

Elite athletes, such as Holyfield, a former Gold Medal winning Olympian who—after already earning himself a cruiser-weight championship—was at last ready to scale the mountain and enter the land of giants.

In the summer of 88, The Real Deal made his heavyweight debut, when he fought James Quick Tillis in July of that year.

Others, such as Lennox Lewis—who was also an Olympic Gold Medal winner and a decorated amateur was only beginning to make his way into the professional ranks

Lewis made his pro debut in June of 89 against a unknown fighter named Al Malcolm.

Those were the golden years, the glory days, and no boxer was more or less glorious than an infamous young rags to riches heavyweight named Iron Mike.

Tyson, on a cool day in Nov of 86, pushed aside the previous record of 21 years of age set by Floyd Patterson, and became the youngest heavyweight champion ever.

After that day, young Tyson’s life would never be the same. Events unfolded in the coming years like a roller coaster ride, which is best described as nothing short of a great American tragedy.

During that historic period the previous trio of great American heavyweight boxers ruled the heavyweight division with an Iron Fist, and a big Steel Hammer.

Today, the heavyweight division is still ruled by a Steel Hammer and an Iron Fist, it’s the nicknames of the two Klitschko’s brothers Vitali, and Wladimir, who currently have won, and hold, all umpteen alphabet championship tiles between them, including The Ring Magazine belt.

And if the latest rumor has any validity at all, Dr steel-hammer Klitschko will next face our American heavyweight hopefull…Fast Eddie Chambers.

According to BoxingScene.com, sources indicate December 12 will be the scheduled date in which the united states will finally get a shot at the true linear heavyweight championship of the world..

Although this isn’t an enormous revelation, but for what its worth, Chambers is the best American heavyweight we have at the moment.

Many experts, myself included, feel he should have gotten the nod in the fight against Alexander Povetkin, which was Chambers only defeat as a pro.

Chambers (35-1, 18 KO) won his distinction as the alphabet mandatory challenger for Dr steel-hammer’s crown, by beating the previously-undefeated Dimitrenko in July.

Klitschko’s other mandatory challenger was Povetkin (17-0, 12 KO), who won a four-man mini-tournament in late 2007/early 2008.

Povetkin first beat Chris Byrd, and then defeated Chambers in the final eliminator bout.

So maybe big Wlad feels he is taking the high road by selecting the fighter who he should have the easiest time defeating; from what I’ve seen of chambers so far, sadly he may be right.

“Success is a journey, not a destination.” — Ben Sweetland

Rios Heading to Chicago