Imagine the Raps Played in the West

Out of the 28 Games the Toronto Raptors have played against Western conference this season they have won 7. Bringing this record to 7-21...in the east our record is 16-26. Both very and I mean VERY underachieving records. When looking at who the Raps beat in the east it was:

Golden State

LA Clippers (Twice)

Houston (without McGrady)

Memphis

San Antonio

Sacramento

Lets just forget about the Spurs win, that could possibly be the best win of the year for the Raptors in the ACC.

We had the Clippers number this year but their record is also 18 - 54, and once we beat them without Baron Davis in the line-up which basically leaves them with Chris Kaman who actually believed he had ADD for years before they realised he didn't. (even started his own foundation)

We beat Houston when Trace didn't have it, a decent win and the boys really played Yao good.

Memphis and Sacramento are the scraps of the league with a combined record of 32-108...and we split the games with them

If the raps were in the west, instead of our 26 wins this season we would have 16 wins right now and sit right at the bottom with Memphis and the Kings...HOW EMBARASSING

Time to break these guys up **Bosh** let him deal with his child problems elsewear!

And lets thank god that the Raps are in the east and everyonce in awhile when we play to our potential we can win enough to be ahead of the Arenas-less Wizards.

GO RAPS GO

I Killed YOU!

On March 14th, Donte Stallworth a Wide Reciever for the Cleveland Browns hit a man with his car and ended up killing him. He was reportedly trying to beat a red light and came around a parked car, then struck the man before the intersection. This would seem like an offense that would warrant charges being filed or some sort of discipline being taken immediately. But no charges have been filed, and Stallworth is apparently cooperating with authorities. Stallworth was reportedly speeding, going 10mph faster than the speed limit, and flashed his lights before he hit the man to warn him he was coming. Is this supposed to get Stallworth off the hook. Like what is Stallworths defense here? "Well i flashed my lights right before i ran him over going 85kmh, he knew i was coming for him". If Stallworth had enough time to flash his lights, meaning he clearly saw the guy, couldnt he have stopped...or even swirved, i mean it was like 7am, and since there were no witnesses, im guessing the roads were pretty dam empty. Stallworth has had a blood sample taken to look for drugs or alcohol, and as of yet there is no official result but someone close to the investigation has apparently said Stallworth was drunk. Apparently authorities are awaiting word of the blood test before filing charges. Is this really necessary, he was speeding and killed a guy, sounds like enough for me. Dont wait for blood test results, just charge him now, and if he was under the influence, slap a few more charges on him. If this turns out to be one of those cases where he gets off because hes an athlete, i'll be pissed. I mean if you or i hit a guy and killed him, drunk or not, im pretty sure we'd be in big time shit. I bet Stallworth doesnt even go to jail for this. Now in his defense, the guy wasnt crossing at the desginated crosswalk, but i mean, if Stallworth is watching the road and paying attention, its pretty obvious when a human being is in front of you. Yes i suppose the other man is somewhat at fault, but just because he flashed his lights and the guy was 15 feet from the crosswalk, doesnt mean Stallworth should get away with this. Aren't you taught to approach intersections cautiously and look both ways anyway? The fact that he is grieving over this and is sorry for the dudes family is irrelevant, i mean, how is he supposed to act, happy and joyful? of course not and if he did, then he has bigger problems i would think. Anyways, im sure you know how i feel about this by now. Stallworth needs to go to jail,and be treated like any other human being, not some star athlete. Regardless of drugs or alcohol, he killed someone, accident or not, the guy is dead, and not coming back. So Mr. Stallworth, go to prison, share a cell with a half of the Cincinati Bengals, say hi to Mike Vick as he walks past you heading towards soon to be freedom, keep a bed warm for Pacman Jones, and just be patient, no doubt some of your NFL buddies will be joining you on DUI or assault charges in the very near future. While you wait, you can talk pigskin with OJ. God, it just never ends in the National Felon League *cough* excuse me, National Football league.

"TICKETS FOR BOOZE".. sounds good to me!

The Phoenix Coyotes most recent attempt to save a struggling franchise consisted of a marketing campaign that sported the slogan "TICKETS FOR BOOZE".  In conjunction with Smirnoff Vodka, the promotion stated that if you were to buy a 1.75l bottle from any local retailer, you would get a free game ticket for the April 7th matchup against the St. Louis Blues.

The Coyotes are well on their way to missing the post season for a sixth consecutive season, and have been hit hard by the recent economic changes. After already receiving support from the National Hockey League and the City of Glendale, AZ to try and keep this franchise a float, this was just one more attempt that failed miserably after the NHL stepped in and shut the operation down.

All the pieces seemed to be in place for this organization to be successful. Wayne Gretzky behind the bench, a brand new, top notch facility, a team stacked full of young talent with the likes of Kyle Turris, Mikkel Boedker, Martin Hanzal, Keith Yandle, Peter Mueller and a few seasoned vets in Shane Doan, Steven Reinprecht and Ed Jovanovski.  But after a good start to the season the club has cooled off remarkably and once again found themselves in position for a lottery pick.

 

Hey, if that's what it's going to take save this franchise, then why not? Who wouldn't want to play in front of a packed house of drunk and rowdy fans? I would have to think that would be a great atmosphere to play in. After all, Commissioner Bettman is all for trying to make things work in the cities in which teams are already located, and has stated time and time again that he isn't a fan of relocation. But then again there has to be some sort of standard set when you just have to call it quits and count your losses. I for one am still waiting for the Commissioner to realize that this is just not a hockey market and that relocation would be the best bet here. This piss poor attempt even falls much lower than the Florida Panthers attempt to boost attendance by offering a free game ticket to anyone in the State of Florida who had a driver's license.

All I have to say it's probably a good thing Rick Tocchet is out of town or this could have been a real disaster.

The Florida Marlins - A Model of (In)Consistency?

In the history of Major League Baseball, the New York Yankees are considered the model franchise of the league. The Bronx Bombers have won the World Series 26 times out of 107 seasons, giving them a 24.3% overall winning percentage for winning titles. But who's second? The St. Louis Cardinals have the second most titles with 10, but have been around since 1892.

It's the Florida Marlins, who have won two titles in their 15 years of existence, giving them a World Series winning percentage of 13.3%. Does anybody really care about the Marlins? Their attendance is consistenly amongst the league's lowest. But they have provided their fans with a title every 7 or 8 years, and as a Toronto Maple Leaf fan, I would take that in a second.

However, they have only been to they playoffs twice, winning both times. In the National Hockey League, last year's Champions, the Detroit Red Wings, added superstar sniper Marian Hossa to the lineup. Florida takes a different approach to winning championships...they rebuild.


Let's look at their 1997 championship winning lineup:

C Charles Johnson
1B Jeff Conine
2B Luis Castillo
SS Edgar Renteria
3B Bobby Bonilla
LF Moises Alou
CF Devon White
RF Gary Sheffield
SP Kevin Brown
SP Alex Fernandez
SP Al Leiter
SP Livan Hernandez
SP Tony Saunders
RP Felix Heredia
RP Antonio Alfonseca

After winning a title, the Florida Marlins decided to trade several of the key pieces for younger (and most importantly, cheaper replacements)

• Jeff Conine was traded to the Kansas City Royals for P Blaine Mull.
• Moises Alou was traded to the Houston Astros for a package involving Mark Johnson
• Veteran starter Al Leiter was moved to the NY Mets in a package involving SP A.J. Burnett
• Gary Sheffield, Bobby Bonilla and Charles Johnson were moved to the LA Dodgers for C Mike Piazza
• Piazza was dealt a week later to the Mets for OF Preston Wilson and P Ed Yarnall
• RP Felix Heredia was traded to the Chicago Cubs for Todd Noel
• World Series hero Edgar Renteria was moved to the St. Louis Cardinals for pitchers Braden Looper and Armando Almanza
• Kevin Brown was traded to the San Diego Padres in a package involving 1B Derrek Lee

So without even hanging their championship banner on Opening day in 1998, 8 key players had been removed from the roster. The face of the franchise was completely different. The MLB's finest from a year before finished the 1998 season with a 54-108 record, being rewarded with the 2nd overall pick: P Josh Beckett.

During the 1998 offseason, the Marlins stole 3B Mike Lowell from the Yankees for previously mentioned throw-ins Noel, Johnson and Yarnall.

The 1999 season saw the Marlins finish with a 64-98 record, which was bad (or good) enough to land them the first overall pick, who was 1B Adrian Gonzalez. The dismantling continued when the Marlins traded the NLCS and WS MVP Livan Hernandez to the San Francisco Giants for pitchers Jason Grilli and Nate Bump.

After missing the playoffs for three straight seasons following their championship in 1997, the Marlins signed non-drafted free agent pitcher Denny Bautista and their 1997 catcher Charles Johnson.

2001 saw the Marlins miss the playoffs again, and with the fans starting to lose interest in the franchise and their losing ways, the Marlins made a big splash in the 2002 offseason.

• RP Antonio Alfonseca was traded to the Cubs in a package for SP Dontrelle Willis
• Veteran OF Cliff Floyd was shipped to the Montreal Expos in a package where the Marlins received SP Carl Pavano
• Charles Johnson was moved yet again, along with Wilson to the Colorado Rockies for Mike Hampton and OF Juan Pierre
• In a move similiar to the Piazza deal, Hampton was then dealt to the Atlanta Braves two days later for P Tim Spooneybarger.
• Quality depth outfielder Todd Hollandsworth was added via free agency, and the Marlins suprised everyone by inking all-star catcher Ivan Rodriguez to a one-year deal.

Six years being removed from winning a championship, the Marlins were finally competitive again. Eyeing the first playoff birth since 1997, the Marlins acquired RP Ugeth Urbina from the Texas Rangers for former first overall pick Adrian Gonzalez.

Remember Jeff Conine? The first player to be sent afar after helping the team win it's first ever World Series? He was re-aquired prior to the playoffs for Denny Bautista, who, if you have still followed this situation, was a non-drafted free agent signing.

The 2003 season ended with the Marlins taking their second ever wildcard birth. A magical run saw them defeat the Yankees in the World Series, with Josh Beckett (the prize for finising second last a year after winning) winning WS MVP honours. The 2003 championship team did not boast one single player on its roster that had been with them team the entire time from 1998-2003:

C Ivan Rodriguez
1B Derrek Lee
2B Luis Castillo
SS Alex Gonzalez
3B Mike Lowell
LF Miguel Cabrera/Todd Hollandsworth
CF Juan Pierre
RF Juan Encarnacion
UT Jeff Conine
SP Josh Beckett
SP Dontrelle Willis
SP Carl Pavano
SP Brad Penny
SP Mark Redman
CL Braden Looper
RP Ugeth Urbina
RP Tim Spooneybarger
RP Armando Almanza

Again, the Marlins have not had a sniff of postseason action since this title. The Marlins have lost several of these players to free agency, and continued their tradition of dealing away key pieces of championship teams for young, cheap, bright prospects:

• Dontrelle Willis and Miguel Cabrera were traded to the Detroit Tigers for OF Cameron Maybin and SP Andrew Miller
• Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell were traded to the Boston Red Sox for SS Hanley Ramirez and P Anibal Sanchez
• Juan Pierre was traded to the Cubs for P Ricky Nolasco

Did the Marlins ever really lose a trade? Sure they suffered years after their titles, but were able to reclaim their glory within 6 years.

Last season, the Marlins were 7.5 games back of the champion Philadelphia Phillies. It will now be six season since the Marlins last tasted the playoffs, and a pennant. Nolasco is projected to be a top starter for the Marlins, with Miller and Sanchez expected to round out the rotation. Maybin is expected to hit lead off. Ramirez is considered a possible future MVP, and is one of the premier shortstops in the league.

The Marlins have a new stadium on the way, along with yet another hot, young crop of ball players. It might not be (but still could be) their year to win it all this season, just don't be surprised if it is sometime real soon.

Tuukka Rask may win the Lady Byng

Goal or No Goal.

0 for 2.

Rask still seems to over react just a bit.

LIVE BLOG NCAA MARCH MADNESS!!

Will be updating this post throughout the day, feel free to leave comments or emails and we will get back to yeah!

2:10 - Well I woke up an hour late, currently LSU up two, Texas A&M killing BYU, and Memphis is down one! The 1-3-1 defense that CSU Northridge is applying against Memphis is really screwing their offense up. 9-26 from the 3 point line from Memphis?? I still think they will hold on, but would that ever blow up some brackets, i had Memphis in the Elite eight losing to UConn.

2:23 - Calm down people,Memphis is up 10 now with a minute left, Butler is sinking some 3's to make it interesting, but fuck them. With the first three games closing out, makes your first three winners LSU, Memphis, and Texas A&M. Oh and that also makes me 3-0. What else is new.

8:27- Well the blog updates didn't go as planned today, and this weekend we at MMB will be in Chicago mucking it up. Two Blackhawks games against Edmonton and the Kings, and we may throw in a little KOBE action against the Bulls. On a nice side note, I am currently 7-1 in my bracket with the only blemish being Washington beating Mississippi St. Villanova is losing right now, but I expect them to bounce back. Louisville to win over Duke, if you were wondering who to bet on for the finals.

Playoffs

Its getting pretty close to crunch time here for a lot of NHL squads. If the Playoffs started together heres how things would look:

EAST

Boston Bruins vs Carolina Hurricans

New Jersey vs Montrel Canadians

Washington Capitals vs New York Rangers

Philidelphia Flyers vs Pittsburg Penguins

ok, so the east isn't leaving out many teams that normally make it into the playoffs.

Florida has lost the last four and seems so be going back to them usual selves..how convienent that they kept Bouwmeester at the trade dealine.

I believe that we will see a nice battle between Philly and Pitts, and with the way that Montreal has been playing lately (even under gainey) we may see the old Bruins and Canadiens rivalry back in full force.

Maybe the best series of all The Rangers..whoever they play, a pretty hot team right now who seems to do better with Avery in that line-up, good energy if Ovechkin and the boys went against them.

WEST

Detroit Red Wings vs Nashville Predators

San Jose Sharks vs Edmonton Oilers

Calgary Flames vs Columbus Blue Jackets

Chicago Blackhawks vs Vancouver Canucks

Where are the Dallas Stars? One point behind Nashville and Edmonton, i believe they will be making it in pushing one of them out. Nashville can't put a mark on that Detroit squad if they make it in, but Dallas has the talent (with Morrow back) to challenge them. The same goes for the slumping sharks, if Dallas makes it up to 7 spot, those sharks seem to have the collars so tight that once again they will under-achieve.

Its starting to get exciting and points are all so close with all of this shootout bullshit..but thats for another day.

Marty Brodeur the all-time wins leader*

Congratulations goes out to Martin Brodeur who goes for win 551 tonight to pass Patrick Roy's record, well kind of. Now first off, I'd like to admit that this was Bob McCown's idea but it got me to thinking. Brodeur tied the record in Montreal of all places but the fact remains, his record is flawed. Brodeur got to this milestone in 43 less games then Roy. This seems impressive, minus the fact of the shootout. There is no such thing as a tie anymore. Those games are now wins or losses.
Q: How can you compare something that isn't the same?
A: You can't.

27 wins from the shootout for Marty. 0 from Roy.

So there you are.

Phil Mickelson beats the pack (Tiger) to win World Golf Championship

With all of the hype around Tiger Woods coming back to the tour, hopefully Phil’s weekend doesn’t get over-looked. He was quoted saying he did not eat for three days, and was checked into the hospital for dehydration. Last time I checked dehydration symptoms include fatigue, weakness, chills and head rushes. The game of golf can be looked at as more of a mental challenge than a physical, so although he wasn’t limping onto the tee-blocks like Tiger did at the US open (can I say embellished, reminding me of that die-hard street hockey guy who is only limping right after he scores), Phil battled being very sick, a sickness that most people wouldn’t get out of bed for let alone go finish off the field.
I love Tiger..who doesn’t lets just say the way Mr. Mickelson needs to stay on the course as much as possible, he has to be the favourite to win the masters which is coming up in a month…just in time to get all of us Canadians ready to TEE it up.

Gripper and Ripper everyone.

LET THE MADNESS BEGIN!!!!

The Boys of MUCK MY BLOG are proud to present... 

"1ST ANNUAL MUCK MY BLOG MARCH MADNESS INVITATIONAL"

This is an open invitation to all MUCK MY BLOG followers for your chance to take on your friends, family and all the brethren at MMB and talk a little trash while your at it. The only thing on the line here though is braggin' rights! So invite your friends, show a little school pride and get your picks in soon and start throwing out your dirtiest chirps! Lets try and make this thing as big as possible and try and increase our following!

tournament.fantasysports.yahoo.com

Group ID: 133723

Thanks, 

MMB

*Picks must be in by tipoff of Game 1 on Thursday March 19, 2009.