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Last Word On Sports

Sports News Since 2011. Honestly.

Last Word On Sports Logo

Sports. Honestly. Since 2011

Month: March 2012

NHL Draft 2012: The Year of the Injury

Posted on by Ben Kerr

Just one year ago, NHL GMs and Scouts were salivating at the thought of the 2012 draft class.  It was originally thought to be one of the deepest in years and star talent (especially defencemen) were thought to be available well into the 20s on draft boards.

All that has now changed, and the draft is now being proclaimed as having high-end talent, but lacking in-depth and quality past the middle of the first round.

So what happened?  Why have scouts soured on this draft class?  In a word, injuries.

While we don’t have the stats to back this up, this has been the most injured draft class in modern history.  The number of long-term injuries faced by the 17 and 18 year olds who will be eligible to be drafted in late June in Pittsburgh is astonishing.  This has resulted in scouts getting less viewings of the players they would consider recommending and a lot of question marks come draft day.

How bad has it been?

Consensus number 1 pick Nail Yakupov recently suffered a concussion following a big (and dirty) hit by Owen Sound’s Mike Halmo.  The hit earned Halmo a 10 game suspension, but its put Yakupov’s participation in the first round of the OHL playoffs in doubt.  This comes following Yakupov’s lower body injury at the World Junior Championships that had him miss January games for Sarnia, and the CHL Top Prospects Game.  He also missed games in November and December with a back injury.

Year long number 2 rated prospect Mikhail Grigorenko badly sprained his ankle at the World Juniors and missed several weeks of QMJHL play.  He has also had his game, and high-end talent level openly questioned by scouts since returning from this injury.  Even though it should be obvious to observers that the kid is playing at less than 100%.  He left a recent game with an injured shoulder.

Alex Galchenyuk, the American born Centre, expected to challenge those two for the top spots was injured and lost almost the entire season when he had an ACL/MCL tear in his knee in preseason.  He returned to action last week, but played only limited minutes over 4 periods before suffering an arm injury and missing the final game of the regular season.  While he is expected to play in the playoffs, questions remain as to how far his draft stock has fallen by only playing 2 regular season games.

Ryan Murray long considered a top D in the draft, suffered a bad high ankle sprain and missed several weeks leading up to the World Junior Championships.

Morgan Rielly another top D, and a likely top 10 pick pre-injury, tore his ACL and his season ended in November.

Update: Rielly returned for the WHL Conference Finals.

Other top Prospects like Martin Frk (concussion), Slater Koekkoek (shoulder surgery), Jake McCabe (severed tendon in finger),  Tanner Pearson (ankle – out for playoffs),  Derrick Pouliot (Broken arm), Olli Maatta (concussion), Zemgus Girgensons (hip and jaw), Griffin Reinhart (knee), Colton Sissons (concussion), Tom Wilson (MCL and broken Knuckle), Codi Ceci, Malcolm Subban (ankle), Daniil Zharkov (broken collarbone), Jarrod Maidens (severe concussion), Charles Hudon, Dillon Fournier (Shoulder) , Radek Faksa (concussion), Brady Skjei, Matia Marcantuoni, Damon Severson (wrist), and Michael Matheson have all also missed long stretches and important games due to injuries this season.

Meanwhile Nick Ebert and Andreas Athanasiou have lost some luster with poor years.

It really has been an unbelievable run of bad luck for the 2012 draft class, and quality scouting will be of even bigger importance this year with so few chances to see many of the top prospects in action.

For now lets hope that the CHL playoffs, the USHL playoffs, the NCAA Frozen Four, and the World U-18 don’t claim even more draft class casualties between now and June 22, 2012 in Pittsburgh.

Stay tuned because we plan to bring you some in-depth profiles of some top prospects as we get closer to the draft.

But for now…. that is the last word.

The State of the MLS in Canada

Posted on by Jack Stone

Several months ago I added a v-log about my thoughts concerning the state of soccer, “footy”, in Canada.  I was a little pessimistic to say the least, perhaps because the season had ended and my beloved TFC failed to make the playoffs – again – and are headed down that path in 2012. For whatever reason, I was in a much more optimistic mood yesterday for a few reasons.

First, let’s just establish that MLS cannot, and will never, compete with the BPL, Serie A, La Liga, and likely will not rival Le Ligue and Bundesliga either.  It just won’t happen. Europe is too much of a draw.  We all have egos, and footballers even moreso.  Can we fault them for wanting to play in Europe? Can we fault them for wanting a shot at the prestigious Champions League?  No.  Okay, that’s out-of-the-way – MOVE ON.

A couple of months ago, TFC hosted the LA Galaxy (for which I already wrote an article) to a crowd of close to 50,000 strong at Rogers Centre in Toronto.  The CONCACAF Champions League match-up didn’t disappoint. The game was fantastic, featured some of the league’s top players (Donovan, Keane, Beckham, Frings, Koevermans), and most importantly the fans were into it from the opening whistle. The atmosphere was reportedly electric.  Clearly this is not the same atmosphere as, say, a decade ago in the MLS.

With the success of TFC, and last year’s newcomers Vancouver Whitecaps, footy in Canada seems to be growing.  So much so that MLS had the Montreal Impact play their inaugural match yesterday vs. Chicago Fire.  In a great match up that ended in a draw, there were 60,000 in attendance.  The fans were great, the “Ole’s” were loud, and the team responded.

So why is football able to work in Canada despite a relatively diminutive population (just 1/10 the size of the US)?  Simple.  Despite what other cities might claim, The three largest cities in Canada (Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal) are the most diverse in the world according to most international bodies, including the United Nations.  Rather than being a melting pot, I think the country celebrates an ethnic mosaic.  Therefore, when people migrate to Canada they bring with them their culture and are allowed to express it freely here.  For that reason, soccer thrives in communities across Canada.

Interestingly, soccer is the largest summer sport for youths, far surpassing baseball, for instance.  Before MLS there were little options, professionally, for aspiring soccer players in North America.  Now the clime is much different.  Not only are there three MLS teams in Canada and 16 in the United States, but some of those now have academies to develop their second teams.  In addition to MLS, there is a second tier league called the North American Soccer League, which has eight clubs.  With the MLS growing in popularity, the NASL will reap the benefits.

Finally, with so many sports specific channels, soccer is on the television much more often.  Whether it is MLS or one of the European leagues, people have access to the beautiful game much more frequently.  Add to that the advent of the tablet and smart phone, which has literally put soccer in palm of people’s hands.

So, as I watch my three-year old son dribbling the soccer ball in the backyard, I know that he has prospects if he had that aspiration.  Canada and the United States is no longer soccer limbo.  They are putting themselves on the map, and it is just a matter of time.

How’s that for optimism.

…and that is the last word.

Serie A Recap Week 27, Preview Week 28

Posted on by Frank Giuliano

 Serie A Recap of Week 27

Before beginning this week’s review, I would like to wish the Rossoneri good luck in the Champions League quarterfinals as, on Friday, the Milanisti learned that Barcelona FC will be their adversary. Buona fortuna Milan!

In the last match day of the Italian League, leaders AC Milan continued to exert their dominance over the smaller clubs outscoring a decimated Lecce side 2-0 at the San Siro. Antonio Nocerino bagged the winner 7 minutes into the match, while Zlatan Ibrahimovic put Milan 2-0 up adding to his plethora of goals. Ibra continues to lead the Serie A with 19 goals.

Second place Juventus FC took on Genoa at the Marassi Stadium, a game which ended in a goalless draw. The Bianconeri have now tied 4 consecutive games giving the Old Lady 13 wins and 14 draws. Juve’s attack looks short of answers up-front as they find it difficult to break down teams who play with 11 men behind the ball. Statistically speaking, Genoa have the worst defence in the Serie A and Juve still did not score! Will Juve boss, Antonio Conte, find the answers in week 28?

Well, Claudio Ranieri finally did it! The Tinkerman was able to find a way to break Inter’s winless streak defeating Chievo Verona 2-0 in the final stages of this match. Walter Samuel and Diego Milito scored the goals. The Nerazzurri currently sit in 7th place.

Napoli welcomed Cagliari to the San Paolo in a very exciting fixture ending in a 6-3 scoreline! Other noteworthy results, Bologna defeated Lazio 3-1, Udinese lost 1-0 to lowly Novara, and Palermo lost 2 in a row at home now against Roma, 1-0.

Preview of Week 28 Serie A

The first match-up will take place in Parma as the Gialloblù welcome the league leaders AC Milan to the Stadio Tardini. Parma boss, Roberto Donadoni, is a former Rossonero, but will need to beat the scudetto-favourites to assure his team of safety from relegation. The Diavoli will aim to win this encounter to stay atop of the Serie A, currently 4 points ahead of second place, Juventus. In my opinion, the Rossoneri will be too eager to give up a chance to possibly extend their lead considering the Bianconeri tie, yet again!

Speaking of the still undefeated Old Lady of Italian Football, Juventus will travel to Florence to take on ACF Fiorentina at the Stadio Artemio Franchi. This fixture has always been a heated battle ever since the Viola sold Roberto Baggio to the Bianconeri back in 1990. This week, Antonio Conte learned that Mauro Bergonzi will be the official for this match-up which sparked controversy as Bergonzi was the 4th official when the Old Lady took on Bologna and, thus was the person responsible for Conte’s 1-game suspension. This will be a very exciting game indeed. Fiorentina has not beaten Juventus since Argentine legend Gabriel Batistuta was on the roster and Antonio Conte was commanding the Bianconeri midfield as a player.

On Sunday afternoon, Udinese Calcio will welcome Walter Mazzarri’s Napoli to the Stadio Friuli. Both teams were eliminated from European competition in midweek and will now be able to focus solely on the Italian Championship. The bianconeri and the Partenopei are aiming for a top 3 finish which is a very tight race indeed. Lazio currently sit in third place with 48 points, Napoli and Udinese are tied for fourth place with 46 points. Antonio Di Natale will take on his hometown club and will want to add more goals to his tally as he is in second, 1 goal behind Ibrahimovic in the Serie A Caponniere standings with 18 goals. What a match up this will be as both clubs possess players of high calibre, speed, and power. In my opinion, I would love to see Walter Mazzarri’s men back in the Champions League for the 2012-2013 season.

The rest of Week 28’s fixtures…

Bologna v Chievo Verona

 

Cagliari v Cesena

 

Catania v Lazio

 

Internazionale v Atalanta

 

Lecce v Palermo

 

Roma v Genoa

 

Siena v Novara

 

That’s the last word…..

Hockey – Florida Style!

Posted on by Carl Mostacci

My wife and I recently took our March Break vacation in Florida. While there, we made the 3.5 hour drive from Orlando to Sunrise to see our Leafs lose 5-2 to the Florida Panthers. Hockey is looked at differently down in the Southern US, as we all know. In fact, it hardly isn’t looked at.

The Panthers have an excellent team that is competing for first place in the NHL’s South East division. In fact, they will make the playoffs for the first time since 1998, leaving my Toronto Maple Leafs with the current active longest playoff drought, that stretches back before the 2004-2005 lockout. Veteran goaltender Jose Theodore guards the cage and is complimented by scorers like Sean Bergenheim, Jason Garrison and Stephen Weiss. The defence is anchored by blueliners Ed Jovanovski and Bryan Campbell. The Panthers could quietly and surprisingly make some noise in the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs. We’ll see if that happens.

Back to our trip. So the Panthers have a decent team. But when we arrived at the Bank Atlantic Center one hour before opening face off, we were able to score game tickets for $40 total. Yes, each ticket was $20! I’ve paid more to see the Hamilton Bulldogs play and see my Hamilton Tiger Cats to play the Argos in Toronto.

The Bank Atlantic Center is beautiful. Located in Sunrise, Florida, next to the Turnpike, it is about a 40 minute drive from downtown Miami. This maybe one of the reasons the Panthers struggle to draw fans because they are too far from South Beach and Miami’s entertainment scene. But the arena is beautifully decorated both inside and out. Strategically placed palm trees and landscaping and wide concourses that are well lit are present at this facility. Free onsite parking makes the event already more affordable than it already is.  Walking into the game wearing my t-shirt, shorts and sandals while it was 25C and sunny outside  was very different.

Prior to the game, the organist played Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville. He must have known I was attending. The game also featured ice girls. I guess this idea was taken from football to try and sell hockey to people in Florida. A pair of tickets were also given away to the Panthers next home game. This would never be done in Toronto.

This is the third time I have watched the Leafs play in Sunrise, and they have lost all three games. They didn’t play well and didn’t deserve to win.  Out of the three I have watched here, this game had the largest amount of fans (17,475, but it didn’t look like it) and the biggest group of Leaf supporters who, like myself, went home disappointed.

After the game, the Panther winning highlights were barely featured on the local sports cast at the hotel.  They were featured behind the NBA Battle of Florida dual between the Orlando Magic and Miami Heat, the Dwight Howard Saga, March Madness, Dolphin news, Marlins Spring Training and high school hoops.  The big sports stories people were discussing involved basketball and the Dolphins attempt to sign quarterback Peyton Manning.  At the local Appleby’s, the Miami Dolphins wall shrine was huge compared to the small Florida Panthers display.

At the end of the day, it comes down to the dead horse we’ve all been beating up here.  The Southern U.S doesn’t support hockey. Both Florida teams are barely supported.  Phoenix is still a mess.  Atlanta blew both chances to have a team and how long the Hurricanes will last in Carolina long-term is up in the air.  I’m all for trying new things – you don’t know unless you do so.  The NHL tried expanding into the Southern U.S and it has not been successful.

What do you think?

…and that is the last word.

 

The Bitter Side of Sports

Posted on by Dwayne Edwards

The sports industry is not immune to the poor economy throughout North America, as you shall see, but has the government gone too far?  Do they really understand how their decisions impact more than just athletes?

The Slots at Fort Erie, Ontario, employ over 200 people who are immediately affected by the government’s decision to close its doors as of April 30th.  The workers built their homes and families in the community, and were dependant upon the countless hours of hard work and dedication they put in for the OLG (Ontario Lottery and Gaming) over the years for their livelihood.

The announced closure of the slots has caused unbelievable unrest in the city.  Some people are still left reeling, anxiously trying to find a place to live and some, any, source of income.  I need not point out that some of these families have young children.  It seems like the government is playing with people’s lives, showing little compassion for the ripple effect this will cause the race tracks, the towns in the surrounding area, and the unemployment rate.

With the closing of the slots at Fort Erie, the race track is going to be hit hard. The money the track was entitled to, and then depended upon, is no longer there. Opening its doors in 1897, yes, 115 years ago, Fort Erie Race Track, also known as the Border Oval, has been the home to hundreds of thousands of trackers (people who work at the track), who have dedicated their lives to the sport. Currently about 2000 people are directly connected to racing in Fort Erie and if the track is unable to survive, the lives of 1000’s of people will change instantly. Some will move on to another city if they are fortunate enough to find a new job, but it is particularly difficult given the fact they come from a very specific industry like racing.

The uncertainty the people of Fort Erie are feeling is even harder to swallow when you  consider the program has done nothing but make money for the government since the original arrangement. The Race Track and Slots program began in 1998 and was an instant success.  The program saved race tracks all over Ontario, and especially at my home turf, Fort Erie Race Track. The fear has set in that without the money that the race track receives from the slots revenue as part of a long going arrangement with OLG, these race tracks may not be able to survive. Yes, there will be racing this year at the Border Oval, but the immediate impact on the small town of Fort Erie is substantial.

There will be such a drastic change coming to the town of Fort Erie, as people will begin leaving by the busload to relocate in search of new jobs. The local restaurants will take a hit, houses will be going up for sale (chances are at a discounted price), small lawn and gardening services won’t have the abundance of customers and even the local department stores will see a decline in sales. Fort Erie and the people of this town, this small town of families and friends, where friends are family, need the Slots and Race Track.

I say, stand up with the people of this town, and other affected small towns around North America, that are being dismantled by governments trying to save their own hides.  They must be made aware of how serious the reprecussions will be.

In its 115th year of racing at the beautiful Fort Erie Race track, I encourage you and yours to go for a live day of racing. Enjoy the picturesque infield, the kid friendly environment, and most of all the thunder from the hooves of the thoroughbreds coming down to the wire!
…and that is the last word.

UFC: A TUF New Format

Posted on by Mark Modeski

What defines a sport? Some would argue that fighting is what defines hockey. There are those who might say slow and boring defines baseball. When it comes to MMA the answer isn’t so simple as to say “violence”; MMA and its place in the world today are defined by a moment in time when Stephan Bonnar and Forrest Griffin stepped into the ring of the finale of the first Ultimate Fighter season finale and showed us with unbridled violence and will what this sport is really all about. That was back in 2005. Which brings us to where we are now, the fifteenth season of TUF, seven years later. With a new network and a new format, does the show still have the steam drive the UFC machine like it did in the past?

This season, instead of maintaining the standard “Big Brother” format that has been characteristic of every season past (I apologize for the analogy), the producers at FX decided that a live format might help to freshen up the series and breathe into it new life. After the first litmus test, the results were not encouraging. The premiere episode drew 1.5 million viewers, which may not be that bad for a show on a specialty network in general terms – however, this is a show that was generating higher average numbers on a channel with less penetration (re: Spike).

I personally don’t feel as though The Ultimate Fighter has run its course, but when a show has been through fifteen seasons expecting to kick it to a whole new level is a very lofty ambition – often promised, rarely achieved.  At a certain point people’s preconceived notions of a show become crystallized and difficult to fracture no matter how much innovate. I believe that this is the cycle that TUF has found itself in.

Does this mean that the UFC and FOX should call it quits on TUF? Not by a mile. The show, as it is, must go on. They maintain a loyal fan base with the show, which accounts for consistent viewership numbers, and it’s a great breeding ground for the new crop of fighters coming into the UFC. I’ll continue to watch with interest, but will I expect my neighbour who thinks UFC stands “Ultimate Food Cook-off” to tune under the guise of a new format? Not so much.

… and that is the last word.

Does Williams Make the Bills D-Line the League's Best?

Posted on by Michael Kovacs, ADMIN

In a bold move, the Buffalo Bills have unveiled their most impressive free agent acquisition in, well, ever. At six years and $100million ($50million of which is guaranteed), the Bills have their man.

All-pro defensive end Mario Williams was arguably the Big Fish in the offseason, with the exception of that Peyton guy. Houston’s former first overall pick in the 06 class is a legitimate rusher, which is important in the pass-happy AFC East, particularly if the aforementioned Peyton guy signs in Miami or New York (Jets are pretty much out of the running, I know).

The Bills have always had a tough job of attracting FA’s, forcing them to overpay. Are they overpaying for Mario? Of course. BUT does it instantly make their 4-3 (or 3-4 when they go that way) defense into one of the league’s best? Potentially, yes!

Williams will line up beside bluechip Marcel Dareus and Kyle Williams. The three will pose a menancing “3” in the Bills 3-4 scheme, when they go with 3-man front.

..and that is the last word.

Sid to Play in NYC Tonight: What to Expect When You're Expecting

Posted on by Michael Kovacs, ADMIN

“Get your popcorn ready.”

~Terrell Owens

After a 40-game layoff, Sid the Kid glides back on the ice tonight at Madison Square Garden.  But what can, or rather should, we expect from Crosby?  Well, it depends.  Stay with me.

EVERYTHING for Sid is now a mind-game.  The mental part is the only one that matters right now, as we already know he has the ability to light up the league right out of the gates, as he did during his last comeback earlier this season.  If he so chooses, Sid, Malk, Fleury et al can go on a tear to end the season, catching New York for the top seed in the division, but it’s not so simple.

Before his return some four months ago, I wrote about how Sidney needs to change his game.  His bread and butter is his gritty, feisty play in front of the net, in corners and in other players’ faces.  That’s him.  He’s not shy, he doesn’t coast, and he doesn’t take a backseat, though whether he SHOULD is open to debate.

There are two choices Sidney needs to choose from before stepping on the ice tonight:

A. Return to his old aggressive style

B. Alter his game for the sake of longevity

The Pittsburgh Penguins have told Sid that his concussion-like symptoms were not attributed to a concussion, but can anyone be sure if the club is actually acting selflessly?  Doctors first said he did have a concussion, so how can they do an about-face two years after the initial injury?  Fishy. If Crosby truly believes his injury was not caused by a concussion, then it will dictate the manner in which he returns. Long live the King, I say.

The fear, obviously, is that he re-injures whatever injury he experienced, thereby knocking him out of hockey forever.  I truly believe he is one similar injury away from retirement.  Of course all players are susceptible to injury no matter their style of play, but obviously a more aggressive style begets a much higher chance of injury, it’s just logical.  The question is whether or not Sidney, being the competitive guy he is, can slow his game down a bit.  Most of you will agree that he can’t, and won’t.

What are you expecting tonight?  Are you expecting the Sid of old, or a tamed version of his former self?  As I said at the outset it’s all in his head.  Where is his mind at?  Does he trust the medical advice wholeheartedly?  How much influence does his family have (who publicly stated they hoped he would have walked away from the game)?  Is he able to play a more cautious game?  All of these and more will be answered after the first 20 minutes in tonight’s tilt with the Rangers.

Post your comments below, and be sure to cast your vote in our poll.

…and that is the last word

 

 

Does Marshall Make Way for Manning?

Posted on by Ben Kerr

The Miami Dolphins traded star wide receiver Brandon Marshall to the Bears for two 3rd round picks on Tuesday.  The move comes just one day after new head coach Joe Philbin met with Peyton Manning to reportedly discuss offensive scheme and philosophy.  Are the two moves related?  Maybe they are.  This is pure speculation, the best kind of speculation, but maybe Miami got word that Manning would not be interested in signing with a team that was so offensively dependant on a player like Marshall, who may be viewed by many as undependable.

Marshall has already had one franchise give up on him.  He was traded by the Denver Broncos after three straight 100 catch seasons because of misbehaviour and clashes with then head coach Josh McDaniels.  If the Dolphins received word that Manning would not be interested in playing for a team with a prominent player such as Marshall it would not shock me if Stephen Ross pulled the strings to get him out-of-town post-haste.

We all know that the Dolphins owner is the one calling the shots in Miami, and it has been widely reported that he is desperate to make Peyton Manning a Dolphin for this upcoming season. I would not put it past him to move quickly to make a move like this even if he is fully aware that this might not even net him the player he covets.  This could be the reason Marshall was moved only one day after the Peyton Manning visit, and it could be the reason the Dolphins received so little in return.

Marshall is a player who was worth two 2nd round picks to the Dolphins only two seasons ago.  In his time with Miami he has been a productive receiver, producing 1,000 yards in each season with the Dolphins, even while he never found an established quarterback to play with.  He might not have matched the heights he achieved while in Denver but I don’t think anyone in the league would argue that Marshall is anything but a dominant #1 receiver.

The timing of this move is curious and so is the return.  You don’t give up blue chip players for unknown mid-round picks.  There is more to this story, and hopefully it comes out soon.  One also has to wonder if San Fran’s acquisition of Randy Moss, who suffered an agonizing 2010 season before a brief retirement, has also taken the 49ers out of the Manning sweepstakes for similar reasons.

…and that is the last word.