Professional athletes are often accused of having too many or too nice of cars.  However, amid all that chrome, there is a car that is perfect for every person out there, a car that has the same traits and personality as you.....

Alexander Ovechkin   -    Dodge Nitro

New kids on the block, re-energized once proud organizations that have faltered in recent years.

Alex Rodriguez    -   Maybach 57s

Massively powerful, luxury items, but does anyone really need them?

Jerry Sloan   -   Toyota Corolla

Always there, always productive, largely ignored.

Brian Urlacher   -   Toyota Tundra

Rock solid beasts, belonging to rising organizations.

Devin Hester   -   Bugatti Veyron

Lightning-fast, barely street legal.

Ron Artest  -   Ford Freestar

Useless assets that just don't fit anywhere.

Peyton Manning   -   Kia Automotive

It's their time.

This session of the Ultimate Canadian Blogging Experience is ending...................now.

Well not that Rick DiPietro is literally a child (he's older than me), but the over-used metaphor does happen to work in this situation.

The story goes like this: On Tuesday the New York Islanders signed goaltender Rick DiPietro to a 15 year contract, worth a reported 67.5 million dollars.  The deal is the second-longest in the history of North American professional sports, with only Magic Johnson's 25 yr/$25 M contract with the LA Lakers being longer.

There have been other long contracts that have not fit into the same category.  Wayne Gretzky signed a 21 year human interests deal with the Edmonton Oilers in the early 80s, but the one that trumps them all, Steve Young's 43-year contract with a team in the now defunct USFL, which was terminated once the league folded.

The strange thing about the DiPietro contract is that the 24 year old has never really shown the talent  that was hyped when he was drafted as an 18 year old.  Now, five seasons into his career, he has not really done anything that would warrant a struggling franchise locking him up for 15 years.  The signing was so strange that it brought speculation that owner Charles Wang has a soft spot for the goalie.   Even if DiPietro is forced to retire because of an injury, he will still be shown the money. 

While this deal may not have the notoriety of Alex Rodriguez's 10 yr/$255 M contract signed with the Texas Rangers, it is far stranger.  I will not be suprised if DiPietro is gone before the 15 years are up, just as A-Rod bolted for the New York Yankees at the first sign of struggle in Texas.

This session of the Ultimate Canadian Blogging Experience is ending..........now.

In the wake of one of my posts in which I commented on how much Red Sox DH David Ortiz resembled rapper 50 Cent, I decided to expose their likeness with a side by side photo post, as well as throw in a few other athlete/celebrity twins.  Hopefully they'll shock and inspire you.

First off, the one I was talking about before, Red Sox DH David Ortiz (left) and rap icon Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson (right).

Second, former Stars D-Man Philippe Boucher (is he still in the NHL?)(left) and actor Charlie Sheen (right).

Thirdly, Miami Heat guard Dwayne Wade (left) and fellow athlete, Peter Worrell (right).  Ok maybe a bit of a stretch.

Fourth,  Terrell Owens' agent Drew Rosenhaus (left) and Mission Impossible actor Tom Cruise (right).  Their other connection is that dealing with T.O. is  Mission Impossible.

Finally, NY Knicks GM Isiah Thomas (left) and singer Marilyn Manson (right).  They may not look alike but they're both completely insane and butcher things (whether it be lineups or people, that is up to you to figure out).

Hope you enjoyed this....it actually took me quite a while.

This session of the Ultimate Canadian Blogging Experience is ending......now.

A short post, just to let everyone know that Russian superstar Evgeni Malkin has been found.  He arrived in Los Angeles earlier today, with his agents and escorts.  He is apparently seeking counsel as to how to join the Pittsburgh Penguins in the best manner.

This short session of the Ultimate Canadian Blogging Experience is ending.....now.

On TSN Insider this morning, Darren Dreger reported that Evgeni Malkin, Russian phenom and top pick of the 2004 draft, had still not been seen or heard from.   The coach of his Russian league team told of how Malkin gave the team the slip in a Helsinki, Finland airport.  "One minute he was there, the next he wasn't", said King.

Dreger also reported that Malkin is expected to turn up on this side of the Atlantic, with his escort, within the next few hours, where his whereabouts of the past few days, as well as his reasons for escaping, will be revealed to the public.

Technically, by Russian standards, Malkin is not out of line in this little debacle.  According to a Russian labour law, employees are allowed to leave their position, regarless of whether a contract is in place, so long as they give their employer two weeks notice.  It is unclear yet whether Malkin supplied this to his Russian club.  However the team maintains that they will take the Pittsburgh Penguins and possibly the NHL to court for the "theft" of their top players, with one high-ranking official comparing the scenario to "sports terrorism."

That is all the information available at the moment.  Another post may follow when I know more.

This session of the Ultimate Canadian Blogging Experience is ending.......now.

Just to vent whatever comes to mind in the world of sports:

-Is it even possible for the Jays to reach the postseason?  With the Yankees, Red Sox, Twins and White Sox ahead of them, the task seems almost impossible.  Even now, the team is relying mostly on Roy Halladay, who became the major's first 15-game winner by beating Tampa on Tues night.

-It's really anybody's guess as to what TD celebration kings like T.O. and Chad Johnson will do with the new restricting rules.  Will we see any suspensions if the rules are violated to badly?

-Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Geoff Ogilvy, off the tee tomorrow, 9:30 am, should be a great PGA Championship.

-Barry Bonds continues to struggle, his average still below .250.  One has to wonder whether any teams will even go after his services in the offseason.  The 43-year old has knee and hip problems and his defense is declining with age, as is his hitting.

-When Todd Bertuzzi plays the Canucks again for the first time, will he break Markus Naslund's neck?

-I'm betting on T.O. to flounder in his return to Philadelphia.  Owens will maybe be released by midseason, depending on how his relationship evolves with Bill Parcells.

-Roger Federer just won the Rogers Cup in my native country of Canada.  I believe the Swiss-man deserves consideration for the best player of all time.  He may not have 2 single season grand slams like Rod Laver, but if he continues to dominate the sport the way that he has been, perhaps he'll take a run at Pete Sampras' career mark of 17 majors.

-Reed Johnson's average has dropped for unbelieveable to awesome, however he should still be MVP (see avatar).

-Is it just me or does David Ortiz look exactly like 50 Cent?