It was an interesting scene in Toronto tonight as I arrived to the Air Canada Centre just an hour after news broke of the big trade between the Los Angeles Lakers and Memphis Grizzlies.  Over the last couple seasons we have waited to see if the Lake-show could pull the trigger on a deal - or if they had the players to deal for an impact player.

With Kwame Brown's contract about to expire and Memphis's intent to rebuild it made sense to make a deal.  Memphis grabs a young kid, a relatively young guy in Brown and 2 draft picks that need lots of prayer to become impactful.  This allows the Grizz to start over amd they will have some cash to show for it.

The Lakers grab a guy who can make an immediate impact.  This move allows them some breathing room as Andrew Bynum recovers from injury, and it gives them a blanket if Bynum does not return to form.  If he does return to form it allows Lamar Odom to slide to the small forward position while Pau plays the 4.  And, it gives them a deeper bench when Luke Walton slides beside some of the other contributors like Ronny Turiaf and Jordan Farmar.

This is a win-win for both teams without a doubt.  The need to crash the boards is imperative in the West and Los Angeles has more weapons than they know what to do with.  I should know; I watched a depleted Laker team roll over the Toronto Raptors.  Kobe Bryant was on tonight and unlike last night he got some help offensively.  Tonight's game proved that Toronto may be able to score but can't hold it together defensively on a consistent basis.  But with L.A. playing their 2nd game in as many nights they should have been stronger out of the gate.  Lakers got momentum and never looked back.

Last point on the Lakers: Prior to this deal I was still not on-board with putting them into the serious contender category despite their strong record.  Now, my view has changed.  They are absolutely a team that should be a factor in April.  This is a team built to go past round 1.  If they don't there is a problem.  They now have a great starting 5 (with Bynum back) and the forward position was a bigger need than point guard.  Derek Fisher can run the show because he won't try to do too much.  He knows the offense, he knows his limitations, he can still hit shots and knows how to play in big games.  Specifically speaking, Paul Gasol is a better acquisition than Jason Kidd.

Other stuff....

- I just realized Fox used the "Pau-er" line.  I'm pissed.

- After his 13.5 million is up in 2008, Johan Santana will pull in 137.5 million over 6 years.  That is phenomenal.  Hope the kid can hit.

All seriousness, the guy is one of the best pitchers in baseball and barring any setback or injury he should contend for a Cy Young.  Being able to avoid a big bopping DH and getting the opportunity to face pitchers with 1 or 2 out and runners on base will pay off for Johan.  It is a different ballgame with different scenarios when you play in the National League in comparison to the American League.

As for the contract itself, a lot of bad pitchers get paid a ton, so this is not a surprise and not out of this world in comparison to the #3 pitchers who make 8 figures per year.

- When Bill Belichick says his team is "ready to roll", I tend to believe him.  Some may feel the New York Giants can beat New England and they may be right, but I don't see it.  Yes, they played the Pats tight IN New York IN the cold IN front of their hometown.  In Arizona it will be warm and it is a neutral site.  The way I see it, the conditions favour the New England passing attack.  Passes that went through the hands of receivers will be easier to catch, and nobody is as accurate or precise as Tom Brady - even if he is disrupted in the pocket.

The real question should be if Eli Manning can continue his excellent play.  In my mind, he's grown as a player over the last month or so.  And he should be proud of the way he has battled throughout the playoffs.  He has beaten two teams he wasn't suppose to beat, outplay both quarterbacks and has defied expectations, which brings me to this...

- Tiki Barber is trying to protect himself now that his former team has made it to the Super Bowl the year after he reitres.  Tiki came with baggage and now that the baggage is gone the team can re-focus.  He had his quarrels with Eli Manning, Tom Coughlin and Michael Strahan.  This isn't a coincidence.  Somewhere down the line we have to look and say that maybe New York really IS better off without him.  I think they are.

- Who are we kidding when Pat Riley says Shaquille O'Neal should be in the All-Star game?  Should Magic be playing as well?

- Again, I realize nobody really cares about hockey but I will say it again: Alexander Ovechkin is THE best hockey player on the planet.  He is one of the very few players who has to single-handedly carry his team to victories.  I wonder how long he can keep this up.  Eventually he will need a stud playing alongside him.

Time to unwind.  And get ready for the Super Bowl.  I hope to witness history this Sunday.  It will be nice to explain how I got to watch a Football team go undefeated in one season.  Doesn't come around often folks.

Break out the hometown flag as this writer is playing the role of homer. 

It couldn't be further from the truth as the Toronto Raptors shocked the Boston Celtics Wednesday night in Beantown.  The game-winning basket was scored by the man who began the year as the second-fiddle to starting point guard T.J. Ford, who suffered a career-threatening injury when he was accidentally hit in the head by Al Hortford that triggered a neck/spinal cord injury that has plagued his young career.

What Calderon has done in place of Ford has not only been remarkable, it comes to no surprise to this writer who has watched a young man with a lot of talent find himself and his abilities to be a very effective point guard in the NBA.  In fact so effective that he should be going to the NBA All-Star game this year.

My gut feeling is he won't.

Heading into the game against Boston, Calderon was scoring just under 12 per game and roughly 8.5 assists per game to go with a shooting percentage of over 50%, free throw percentage over 91% and a 3-point shot at 42% - a significant increase from last season.  Let's also remember that his assist-to-turnover ratio is over 5.5 to 1 - best in the NBA.

But you must remember that he was the backup at the beginning of the season which will naturally keep his averages low for an All-Star calibre player.  That said, Calderon has averaged 14 per game, 9.5 assists per game, 50% shooting with over 96% at the free throw line and a 41% 3-point shot over the last month.  His assist-to-turnover ratio?  It dropped to 4.7 to 1 - still incredible.  It's also incredible to watch a guy adjust to the significant increase in playing time and having to be the man in crunch time which he has done gracefully.

Despite having a much better year than Jason Kidd, Kidd will represent the East at the point guard position.  That comes to no surprise as Calderon was not on the ballot and even if he was the All-Star selection process is a popularity vote and the best player does not always get voted in.  The next spot (or two) will be filled by Chauncey Billups who is having another solid season.  If a 3rd point guard is selected it gets tricky; Joe Johnson could be asked to slide to the point guard position if he is picked to go (as could Dwyane Wade), and the other true point guard candidate that could take that last spot is Mo Williams of Milwaukee, who's having a very good year in his own right.  Jamaal Tinsley would have gotten consideration before the new year but he has begun to fade.  Honourable mention to another guy who is having a solid year is Andre Miller.  However, I don't know if he would be producing like this with a team that was going somewhere.

If there were no ballots and they stuck the vote in my hands, Billups and Calderon would be the two point guards going out of the East.  Then again, I'd probably ask to move one of the stud guards from the West into the East.  I want to run down the loaded guns they have: Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Baron Davis, Tony Parker, Jason Terry and Steve Nash.  Not too shabby.  Nash, Paul and Williams would be my first 3 picks out of the bunch.

Perhaps the late opportunity to start and the lack of publicity for Jose Calderon will be the reason he sits at home during this year's All-Star festivities.  Make no mistake about this young man because he has come a long way since his rookie year with the Toronto Raptors.  If his improvement in his game continues he will be an All-Star next year - unless we witness an incredible comeback from T.J. Ford that would spark discussion as one of the best feel-good comeback stories of 2008.

 

A terrible tragedy in sports.  Another athlete losing his life prematurely.  It always sits bad with sports fans when you hear about someone as young as Sean Taylor being killed in his own home.

That said, how does this kid not have a full-proof alarm system to keep murderers out of his crib?  This should be a warning shot for all athletes who don't have a proper security system in their home.  Totally irresponsible.  Taylor has an infant he must protect.  It is hard to protect his kid when he is now being fitted for a box. 

Other stuff....

- Tonight's game between the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys is nice and everything but if you expect me to be as pumped for this game as the New England v. Indy game you are sorely mistaken.  Green Bay and Dallas are a notch below them - when all teams are healthy.  Obviously Indy looks sluggish without Marvin Harrison and Dwight Freeney. 

The only thing I will be looking for this game is a touchdown from a Green Bay running back.  I want to see if Brett Favre is actually happy for the guy or if he just walks off the field without emotion like he has for quite a while.  Yet if he tosses a touchdown he is jumping all over the place like a little kid.  Is he happy his team scored points or is he just happy that he got to throw the ball?  Evidentally it has to be the latter.  Makes me feel like the over-the-top tribute video last Thanksgiving should have been done for guys who are better team players. 

- I don't know what's worse: finding out Joe Kennedy dies at the age of 28 or that the Toronto Blue Jays are still trying to sign him. 

- Sticking with Toronto, people have been peeing themselves while asking how the Raptors aren't doing better this season.  I can tell you why: East teams are healthier than they were last year.  Boston and Milwaukee were decimated with injuries last season and fell off the map.  Toronto capitalized.  Well, those 2 teams beat them - along with a up-and-coming Orlando Magic team that improved with the acquisition of Rashard Lewis.  3 games Toronto would have won last year and that would put their record at 11-4 rather than 8-7.  Hell, taking 2 of the 3 would give them a 10-5 record which is still impressive.  But until a team begins to lose their top players one by one Toronto will be in a dogfight all season long.

- I am guessing the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim will be playing with 4 outfielders and no shortstop this year.  That said, was Jon Garland worth giving up Orlando Cabrera?  I know he is in his final year of his contract but unless you get Tejada or move Chone Figgins to short (which isn't ideal), what are you going to do?

- Dear Tampa Bay: You got an arm that could break out for you, but giving up Delmon Young could prove costly.  The guy you need to get rid of is Elijah Dukes.  If you traded him for Milton Bradley you'd be upgrading in the citizen department.  But I will say this about Dukes: He nearly took out an entire level at The Rogers Center last year with a bomb that left in a hurry.  The man has game but is he worth the trouble if he's leaving the training facility to photoshop a gun for text messaging women?

- Let's talk hockey...or not

- Neil Rackers: good kicker, bad in the clutch.  This is not the first time he's missed a kick to help win a game for the Cardinals.  Hitting a cameraman was not cool either.  Just shows that he's not composed under pressure - something you need out of your kicker when crunch time calls for you to deliver.

Speaking of delivering, lunch has been delivered and I must hit that up.  Enjoy your day.

Never let a Bengal out of it's cage - words to live by.

- Odell Thurman is the latest Con-cinnati Bengal to have yet another reported incident, this time punching and kicking two men.  Obviously this locker room has gone beyond ridiculous.  How do you stop it?  Don't you think Cincy has excercised all of their options to keep their players out of trouble?  Well, everything except cut loose the cancers of the team.  Easier said than done as they have made investments in these guys who nobody else wants.  But if they have not tried this trick yet, they should do so immediately:

Have at each player's locker a copy of Sports Illustrated article of Carson Palmer's underwater rehab.  Then place a picture on the door of Palmer's knee injury from the 2005 playoffs so that every player that walks into the room is forced to see it.  As you enter there are pictures of his grueling rehabilitation and his road back to the NFL.  If that cannot inspire players in that locker room to change themselves or put the team first then they have to leave now.  What Carson Palmer did to get back to being Carson Palmer in that short time frame was remarkable and inspirational, and sadly it has not rubbed off on the rest of the team.

- I thought I saw Eric Mangini on The Sopranos Sunday night.  Guess I was not halllucinating.

- Gary Sheffield believes there are less black players in the major leagues for reasons I am confused over.  He did say that there are players not in the majors who can do it better than guys who are currently major leaguers right now.  Question Gary: Who are you talking about?  Name one black player who is not in the majors who can be an impact player?  The answer is none.  Your buddy Derek Bell is not the right answer.

He said that latin players are easier to control than black players.  Really?  There haven't been hot head latin players that have never been deemed 'uncoachable?'.  That's bullcrap.  He needs to just focus on hitting the baseball until October comes around so he can perform his annual playoff chokejob.  His BALCO statements tell more truth than that garbage.

- He may have been Orlando's second choice, but Stan Van Gundy is their best choice.  They can pay him a little less money to do a better job.  Why?  First because Billy Donovan's head wasn't right...Second because Donovan is a college coach trying to coach in a man's league and last Van Gundy had a very good run with Miami.  He pushed that team to the playoffs in Dwyane Wade's first season, then missed the NBA Finals in 2005 due to injuries to Wade and Shaq, then was replaced the following season which he had a good record.  Nobody is ever sure o####reat college coach, but they have a guy who has proved he's worthy of a coaching job in this league.

- Sticking with coaches, who would take on any Oakland coach who's powerless position has been well-documented in "Moneyball".  If the coach does very little, how can you consider an assistant to be worthy of a managerial job?  There is a guy I continue to mention who has won 2 World Series championships, 4 division titles in 5 years and was the first black manager to ever win a world series...

Cito Gaston.

He was almost hired by his former player, Ken Williams, who passed him over for Ozzie Guillen.  Had Cito won the 2005 World Series we'd be talking about a Hall of Fame manager right now, and pointing at every team excluding Toronto asking why they did not have him higher on their managerial hiring list.  Pass over a champion for a never-will-be, go right ahead.  As Guillen is melting down, which was inevitable, they could have had a steady manager who knows how to handle veterans as he did that for several years in Toronto.  I was not high on Gaston back in the day, but in today's era he would flourish as a manager.  I have never understood how managers become retreads when they have done nothing to deserve another shot.  Cito has a much more impressive resume who deserved better than simply being a hitting coach for Toronto under Jim Fregosi.

- The NHL series could be coming to a close very soon and a lot of people have debated over several things.  First, Daniel Alfredsson's shot off of Scott Niedermayer.  I don't think it was intentional because that could have come back to hurt his team.  Skaters going up ice and the puck changes direction the opposite way - not good if you are the guy who shot the puck.  So I say it was not intentional.  If it was intentional it get's shot higher.

As for the "diving", there is one simple explanation for you: What team doesn't dive?  Every team does it, it's how you choose to see the game for yourself.  So that complaint holds no weight.  Basically, Ottawa is down 3-1 to a team that has been better than them through 4 games, enough said.

- The Detroit Pistons should be regretting the Darko draft pick today.  With 4 of their 5 starters and their best bench player getting up there in age they have no young nucleaus that can lead them back to contention anytime soon.  Had they drafted Chris Bosh, and not Darko or even Carmelo Anthony, they would have a new franchise player to go along with Tayshaun Prince and whomever they were to bring in to surround them over the next few years.  Sure they would have passed on obtaining Rasheed Wallace back in the day but they would have done something else instead and they would be fit to be a playoff-bound team once the older guys leave the palace.

BIZZARO DEELEY-O? - Will be posted up tomorrow during the day so check it out right here.  Thursday all show we'll be answering your responses so check in tomorrow on my new post and we'll DO THIS!  I have a few ideas already so I can't wait for that.  Cheers.

This week is my fault for only having one participant enter the whole thing.  I did not write my customary post as I was on a baseball field both Tuesday and Wednesday night.  Nonetheless, this segment has been going on for months now so I say to the bloggers who have claimed they want in on this and still haven't...BACK UP YOUR STATEMENTS!!!  It's like a wide receiver claiming they are the best in the league when they can't catch 100 balls, score 10 TD's, breakaway from defenders or block on running plays.  Show me you want in.  This guy has:

ShooterB


1)  TRADE ALERT:  OK, trade offer right off the bat.  I think I found the key.  America offers rising star hottie pole vaulter, Allison Stokke for Natasha Henstridge.  Think about it, Allison is young...athletic...and handles a large pole for a living.  Tell me you wouldn't want to own this:
 


- Done deal.  Canada needs any athlete they can get, plus I am in love with the idea of going younger.  Call me Billy Beane but I love playing "Moneygirls"
 
2)  Recently, my girlfriend was on a business trip to Canada.  Upon her return, she informed me that some sports radio show host claiming to be a star shortstop gave her a "Toronto Tuna Tickler".  Anything you want to confess, Dan?

- It could have been me Shooter, what did she look like?
 
3)  What is the most unbelievable part of the above scenario about my girlfriend?
 
- ShooterB actually has a girlfriend
- An American would have a reason to conduct business with a hoser
- That my girlfriend would be allowed across the border with 10 cases of Twinkies in her trunk
- That The Dan could stop vomiting long enough to satisfy this enormous beast

...Then it probably was me Shooter.  Had a bad case of "Coyote Arm" I suppose.  Coyote Arm is when you pick up a girl somewhere while you are drunk and then you find out the next morning that she was far from the hot piece you thought you got the night before.  Hence the Coyote on the arm. 

4)  Thanks to Miracle's blog, I found out that Chewbacca pitched a game against the Toronto Blue Jays.

 
I heard that he pitched a two-hit shutout against those hosers.  How was Chewbacca so effective?  Was he that intimidating on the mound, or was his wookie-gyro ball really that nasty?

- Jays don't hit lefties very well...or righties.  But Chewy is taller than Big Unit and had incredible downward movement on his fastball.
 
5)  The Toronto Raptors don't have a top lottery pick, but still hope to improve their team in the upcoming NBA draft.  How do you think they will approach the draft to get better?
 
- Add a playmaking guard that knows how to step inside the 3-point line
- Draft an top-notch chef that knows how to cook international meals for the 7 players on the roster that come from overseas
- Trade all their draft picks for a bunch of donuts and some Molson

...Draft the playmaker, call for a chef.  You may not be able to find some dude off the streets that can hit a 3-pointer but you can find one that can make a mean stir-fry.

http://chevpodcasts.blogspot.com/ - That will be the place the podcast will end up eventually.  I would venture that happening for Friday at the latest.  I will keep working on that but when it comes to technology I can, at times, be a technical lesbian.  That is a phrase that was dropped on me back in college and it has stuck with me.  So if that was offensive I will apologize up-front. 

For the next time you want to contribute, and you can contribute anything at anytime, contact me at: chevradionoise@gmail.com.

For the next person who wants to trade for Christina Ricci I have a little advice for you: SHE HAS BEEN TRADED! It was weeks ago. Regardless, I thank Miracle's intense efforts to secure her back on American soil but you don't need to give me 3 American States for her. She's your sex-kitten now. By the way, Miracle was 4 DAYS EARLY! Massive commitment.

Here is the link to our Podcast so you can check it out live: http://chevpodcasts.blogspot.com/

If it isn't up just yet, give it some time. Here is an alternative place you can check: http://odeo.com/audio/12630253/view.

- Here are the participants:

Miracle

Off the bat this week I have to offer another attempt
to trade for Christina Ricci.
This is from an msnbc article:

“Christina Ricci is comfortable being naked”

We’ll give you Alaska, Hawaii, and Ohio. That’s one
hell of a deal, Alaska has….well…enough about Alaska
how aboouuuutt Hawaii? Hula girls, volcanoes, high
taxes, malaria…ok forget those last two. To be
complete honest we’d like to get rid of Ohio anyway.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18537951<
/a>

 

- We cannot trade what we don't have anymore. But Hawaii does sound like a good idea.

Last week I was trying to book a flight to Las Vegas
and one of the hits in my search was a Canadian Air
flight. From an experience I had on that airline 10
years ago I started referring to them as “Canadian
Scare” Do Canadians have a similar name for that
group of underachieving Hosers in the sky, or do you
just get totally wasted on Molson before flying?

- Air Canada is sloppy, so that means we go above Molson and hit hard liquor if we are forced to ride A.C.

Can you tell me if the following Canadian laws apply
to the town of Markham:
1. Businesses must provide rails for tying up horses.
2. It's illegal to climb trees.
3. Citizens may not publicly remove bandages.
4. The city is classified as a no-pee zone.

- I don't climb trees but I pee beside one sometimes without any horses watching while I am taking off my bandage.

I am passing around a sign up sheet for all of those
that are interested. It’s a “Request for Congenial
Visits with Paris Hilton” form.
All you need to do is fill in your name, email, shoe
size, and preference of
A. "Front Door”
B. “Back Door”
C. “Other”
D. “All the above”

- Hopefully she'll show some life during this visit.

ShooterB

1) The Toronto Raptors seemed eager to get home after losing in the first round of the playoffs. What is the biggest reason they didn't beat New Jersey to advance? - "Coach of the Year" Sam Mitchell just isn't a very good coach - The Raptors were afraid Jason Kidd would beat them like a woman if they challenged him - Canada's "Hoserfest" Beer Festival was scheduled at the same time of the second round, and the Raptors didn't want to miss it - The Raptors shoot with the accuracy of a post-sex urination

- The Raptors found out that Molson & jelly donuts aren't good halftime snacks

*I would have to say post-sex urination, both in accuracy and in lack of smoothness.

2) TRADE ALERT: OK, since you are unwilling to trade Natasha Henstridge...here's another deal. B-movie actress Shannon Tweed for Steve Nash. You can argue that Nash already belongs to Canada, but since the Phoenix Suns technically own him...he rightfully belongs to us. Think about it, Toronto badly needs an experienced ball-handler like Nash. And Shannon Tweed is the exactly the kind of professional ball-handler I'm looking for, too. Nash likes to hit 3's...and Shannon doesn't mind getting hit by groups of 3. And just for a little icing on the cake, the next time you're in the States...I'll buy you a coupon for one free lap-dance at The Husky Beaver, where you will enjoy your choice of the finest women New Mexico has to offer. Do we have a Deeley-O?

*Trade is complete

3) I just realized that I tried to trade for a 50-year old porn star. Is there any possibility of adding a "menopause clause" to the contract?

*Yes and we'll even add a box of Trojans to sweeten the pot.

4) If you could be one of these Hollywood sissies from a sports movie for one day, just to get some prime-time tail...which would you choose? - Jonathan Moxon from Varsity Blues: He got an offer for dessert in the form of a whip cream bikini. - Crash Davis in Bull Durham: He got to bump uglies with praying mantis woman Susan Sarandon - Jake Taylor in Major League: Got to round the bases with former hottie Rene Russo, who now looks like something from the wax museum - Keanu Reeves in The Replacements: Scored with a very under-rated babe, Brooke Langton

*Brooke Langton is totally underrated as I loved her in Melrose Place. She was also in Friday Night Lights, the TV version, ####ing a high school senior. That guy hit the top 3 hotties on the show and could have gotten the coaches daughter if he wanted to complete the Grand Slam. Nonetheless, my order is this:

1) Moxon for Ali Larter with the dessert package

2) Keanu getting the cheerleader

3) Jake Taylor taking a then-hot Rene Russo

4) Crash taking a very overrated and overused Susan Sarandon

Again, make sure you click on the above links to hear the segment in it's full version. To e-mail me, send to: chevradionoise@gmail.com.

In Toronto, you have the Toronto Maple Leafs and then the next team.  The next team could be anybody: Blue Jays, Raptors, Argonauts, Rock (Lacrosse - Yes, Lacrosse).  But the number one team in the city of Toronto is the Maple Leafs and that is just the way it is.  That does not reflect too well on our city's intelligence but that's a whole-new debate.  The organization and the fans that support their bullcrap is not something to be proud of.  However, the Raptors this season has given us reason to be proud of sports in the city, and Sam Mitchell's coach of the year award is the icing on the cake.

- Here's the thing about the award choice: Every league and every award (most of the time) will have more than one worthy candidate to win that particular award.  This year is no exception when it comes to the MVP or coach of the year in basketball.  Mitchell has great reasons why he deserved the award.

Let's remember, he had 4 returning players from last season (not including Pape Sow, who usually sported a nice suit to each game - he would make 5).  Mitchell also received players from Europe, who not only had to adjust to the NBA but adjust to the lifestyle as well, mainly the language barrier.  Bryan Colangelo deserves a ton of credit for bringing in Rasho Nesterovic to be the natural center and to tutor Uros Slokar, as well as Jorge Garbajosa to compliment Jose Calderon.  The cultural differences would prove to pay off for Andrea Bargnani, an Italian who was a true rookie.  Put all those guys together and you have yourself a tough task of keeping the team together and getting along, as well as the added pressure for Mitchell as a lame-duck coach.  They not only made the playoffs, they won the division, albeit a very soft division.  But here is my problem: Wouldn't this award for Mitchell downgrade the job done by Bryan Colangelo?  I mean, how can you give executive of the year to the GM who's coach won the COY award yet their team may not reach the second round of the playoffs?  

I think Mitchell was a worthy-candidate and a great choice.  He wasn't my first choice.  Mine goes to the coach who's team had to fight 2 other 50+ teams in his division and a playoff worthy team in New Orleans, an 0-4 start to the season,  the ghosts of the 2006 NBA finals and constant work on the defensive end of the floor for a team that has been known in recent years as an offensive powerhouse.  That award should have went to Avery Johnson.  Dallas wins 20 more games than Toronto in a much tougher division AND with the added pressures of repeating as West Conference champions.  I congratulate Mitchell's win, nonetheless.

- While I'm still on the topic of Toronto, they need to sweep New York over the next two games for two seperate reasons...1) They need to do this for themselves and their confidence and 2) To seperate themselves from New York who should eventually snap out of this.  They are the Yankees, they always do, right?  Despite Alex Rodriguez's hot start, the team cannot win because their suspect and ####ed up pitching has faltered.  Joe Torre was looking for extra arms in the bullpen but forgot to ask for quality from The Boss.  New York's Jason Giambi has been text messaging Roger Clemens to come back and pitch for them.  They do need Clemens right now, even if Clemens is not the same as he was with Houston.  But if Toronto beats them twice and the Yanks fall to 8-13, Clemens should respond to Giambi like this: Go #### URself.  That's how people text message, right?

- Staying in T.O., hockey fans are absolutely jealous at Buffalo and insensed with Ottawa.  If Ottawa were to shock everyone and blow away each team en route to a Stanley Cup win, there will be a lot of blue and white jerseys standing on tall buildings with slit wrists.  They hate Ottawa, and Ottawa probably doesn't care for Toronto either.  All I know is if you are in Toronto during the Stanley Cup final with Ottawa about to win Lord Stanley, look above you to make sure leaves with humans wearing them aren't plunging down on you.  You think I'm joking?  Leaf fans want anyone but Ottawa to win the cup.

- Watching a bit of the New York Mets v. Colorado Rockies game today was rather akward.  First because Colorado was actually hitting outside of their own home ballpark, but also for the advertisement behind the backstop.  There was a no-smoking ad which featured a guy holding the space on his throat where he breathes.  This was more disturbing than watching softcore porn actors trying to act.  All I know is if that doesn't get the attention of youths today to never start smoking, I don't know what will.  For that entire half-inning Tom Seaver was saying something but I was so fixated on that ad that I can't remember what he was talking about.  Something regarding Jerry Koosmen and him helping eachother.  Hopefully it was to tell eachother not to end up like that dude on the advertisement.

- Mock draft, mock draft, mock draft....there have been tons of scenarios and I have no idea what to make of it.  Talent v. need is a big issue.  Oakland needs a quarterback, but can they survive with a rookie for another year as Randy Moss gets a year older?  Will Detroit trade their pick or even take another receiver?  Who's taking Adrian Peterson? 

There are two teams that may not address their needs in the draft unless they trade up: Minnesota at QB and Buffalo at RB.  Now the Vikings may be content with who they have and they might be correct.  But Buffalo needs Peterson badly.  But I don't think they want to draft that high because I doubt they will want to spend the kind of money a #3 or #4 draft pick will command in the market.  But this is one intriguing draft in a sense that we have no clue from the very beginning.

- Annika Sorenstam wants to be ready for the next major championship as she's fighting injury.  This is important because Sorenstam has epitomized dominance in her sport.  We tend to bypass the LPGA tour which is sad, but we cannot bypass the legacy of Sorenstam.  She is still a top-flight golfer and can still break all the LPGA records for wins and majors by the time she is ready to retire from competitive golf.  Coming back early from injury and contending, much less win, will be another notch in her storied career.  As a male who golfs from time to time, I find it more useful to watch the female golfers because they will have similar strategies to me.  Why?  Because we probably hit the ball the same in terms of distances.  They will be much more accurate and simply more talented, but taking a cue from their game is much better for my game than it is watching the men who will out-distance and out-perform my buddies and I.  Keep that in mind if you need tips, and I bet you do.

"WHAT'S THE DEELEY-O?" is back on tomorrow at 11:05AM EST.  Send your Canadian-based questions to chevradionoise@gmail.com.  If you cannot catch the show at that time, it will be replayed from 5-8PM, which means the segment will run sometime between 7-7:15 PM tomorrow night.  We plan to podcast this one as our podcasting program is back working again.  Check me out at www.chevradioam.com if you have the time or if you are working at a cubicle and need some entertainment.  I am great to listen to during the work day.  I will carry you from 9AM to lunch with relative ease.  Sports is on, time to watch.  Cheers.

 

The Dan has been ON THE MONEY so far with the NHL predictions. Now, the amount of games has not been totally accurate but as it stands now my record is a perfect 6-0 with Detroit potentially making it 7-0 tonight. For those that live in Canada, not even a so-called hockey "expert" or a rally #### has measured up to the round 1 performance I am having so far (They will know what I mean). Dallas can make me a perfect 8-0 and with their surge in this series they have a very good chance at making me a total hockey stud. Even if I go 7-1 I'll be pretty proud.

- I find it funny that goaltender Jamie McClennan has a 5-game suspension yet Jarome Iginla gets nothing for intentionally trying to hurt Mathieu Schneider. Perhaps the NHL felt that they could not take the backlash from Calgary fans if they were to deservingly suspend the Flames captain. What Iginla did was bullcrap and for him to get nothing, not even a fine, says a lot about the character of the NHL head offices who don't want to come down hard on a superstar. And no wonder less people take this game seriously.

- Sitting here attempting to make arguments for the Toronto Raptors getting screwed in game 1 would be a waste of time because they simply played terrible. Both teams had ticky-tack foul calls and obvious fouls not called. Toronto did not deserve to win Game 1 and Toronto fans need to realize that.

- Sticking with Toronto, the Blue Jays took a #### down their pants this weekend against Baltimore. We've been waiting for the Orioles to breakout and have a big season and this may be the year (keyword: "may"). You look at their hitting and you say to yourself, "This guy can hit...and that guy can hit...and this guy...". This team can mash, and now their pitching is beginning to come around. The next few weeks are key for Toronto because if they begin to really collapse in the standings there will need to be a house cleaning starting with upper management. If you look at their roster as we speak they only have one prospect and that is Adam Lind. They have a fairly old AAA team with one pitcher projected to have a bright future (Dustin McGowan). Basically, they are stuck and if they rebuild they will be building forever and that could spell big problems for the franchise. This season is crucial and they must win now. (The AA team is pretty old too)

- Let's set up the scenario for you: You are a stud basketball player with incredible talent. Critics call you the most talented player in the game. Your team is in the playoffs this season against a rival team who you had by the stones and could not finish. You are up in this game heading into the 4th quarter. You and your team squander the lead and lose game 1.

One question: Is this a clutch player? Reason being no basketball player alive who possesses clutchness would even allow his team to blow leads constantly. This particular team has blown a ton of games in the 4th quarter this year. This team is the Los Angeles Lakers and this player is Kobe Bryant. Without even seeing the name you thought this could have been some player like a Tracy McGrady or even Lebron James. But I nailed every single part of Bryant correct: Incredible talent, stud baller, overblown clutchness. Thanks for playing my game folks.

- Rumblings of Bud Selig not being present for Barry Bonds breaking the homerun record would be hypocritical. He was one of the cheerleaders for Mark McGwire's chase for the record, so why not be there for when Bonds breaks Hank Aaron's? Look, we know about BALCO and we know what Bonds has shoved into his body, knowingly or unknowingly. However, this was all done under the nose and watch of Selig. Regardless of what he thinks about Bonds or how it would look if he were to embrace Bonds upon breaking the record, it would be even worse if he weren't present for the record-breaker. All Selig can do is ensure that ballplayers are now playing on the level and even now we have no idea if that is the case. But if he knows better he would show up to 756 because two wrongs don't make a right. It would show that he doesn't believe in the record and if the commissioner doesn't believe in the legitimacy of the record than how can the fans?

- Want to end this post by going into the blogger vault for a second. I rarely ever discuss other bloggers much because we can do that in the comments section. However, I want to point out the fact that several prominent bloggers, namely Lisa4USC, went completely out of their way to help another well-known blogger, SouthernCindi, fulfill some of her dreams. That kind of selflessness speaks volumes and should be recognized. There have been people coming in and out of this blog nation who have gone out of their way to bash, abuse or manipulate others which has made Foxblog a bad name at times. But there are a ton of bloggers here that have made it good and this story I am talking about is something Foxsports can be proud of. Those bloggers who have been around a long time can appreciate it because we have seen a lot of things come and go.

For those who don't know what I am talking about I won't go into detail, just click on the name "Straight Talk from the left coast" and you will understand. Cheers to Lisa, Cindi and the rest of blog nation that is what's good about blogging on Fox Sports.

 

Dan will be back on live tomorrow from 9AM-Noon EST and replayed 5-8PM EST, pending there is no power outage due to overuse of energy in the building he works in. Tune in at www.chevradioam.com.