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Last Word On Sports

Sports News Since 2011. Honestly.

Last Word On Sports Logo

Sports. Honestly. Since 2011

Month: May 2012

Malcolm Glazer, Owner of the Buccaneers and Manchester United, Dead?

Posted on by Jack Stone

It would appear that Twitter and social media hoaxers are at it again, starting a fake rumor about the death of a celebrity. Internet reports and social media have been circulating this morning with a claim that Malcolm Glazer, owner of Manchester United and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, has died due to a massive stroke. Manchester United have denied the reports and claim that Mr. Glazer is alive and well.

Glazer was born on May 25, 1928 in Rochester, New York.  The 83 year-old has a net worth of $2.7 Billion.  Glazer is extremely unpopular in Manchester, and has been since he bought out the English shareholders for the Premier League team between 2003-2005.  Since then, ticket prices have increased over 42%.  Due to all this, Glazer is thought of as a businessman first, and sportsman second, and was accused of not spending enough money on the team.  At Old Trafford you still hear many chants of hatred and banners posted in disgust in Malcolm Glazer.

This is certainly not the first time that wide spread rumors of a celebrity death have fooled many on twitter, and it certainly won’t be the last.

…and that is the Last Word.

NHL Draft Prospect Profile #48: Patrick Sieloff

Posted on by Ben Kerr

Drafted 42nd overall by the Calgary Flames.

Patrick Sieloff is yet another American defenceman in this year’s draft class.  The native of Ann Arbor, Michigan was able to stay close to home for his junior hockey as a member of the United States National Team Development Program. Sieloff played big minutes for a team that also featured Jacob Trouba, and Brady Skjei.  He was a member of the United States’ gold medal winning squad at the 2012 IIHF Under 18 World Hockey Championships.  Sieloff will be moving on to play hockey in the NCAA next year, where he has committed to play for the Redhawks of Miami University.

Defense
Born May 15 1994 — Ann Arbor, MI
Height 6.00 — Weight 173 — Shoots Left

2010-11 U.S. National Development Team USHL 36 1 3 4 66
2011-12 U.S. National Development Team USHL 24 0 2 2 55

Sieloff might be the best bodychecker in this draft, especially in open ice.  He may not be the biggest player on the ice, but he is an extremely physically punishing player and he just loves going for the big hit.  Opposition forwards definitely have to be careful not to cut down Sieloff’s side of the ice with their heads down, because he will punish them.

Sieloff is a very good skater.  He has solid speed both forwards and backwords, good edgework and agility, and is strong on his skates.  Sieloffs pivots are quick and crisp.  Sieloff has a great first step and quick acceleration, and this helps him absolutely explode into hits when he gets the opportunity.

Sieloff has decent defensive instincts, and battles hard on the boards and keeps the front of his net clear.  He is a willing shot blocker, and understands how to cut down passing and shooting lanes.  He is a solid stay at home type defenceman and is an important defenseman for the US squad being used for big minutes in matchup situations and to kill penalties.

There isn’t much offensive potential in Sieloff.  He can make a decent first pass in the defensive zone, but he isn’t someone who is adept at handling the puck.  He is a pure stay at home defenceman, and in the games we’ve seen him, he hasn’t been known to join the rush at all.  His point shot is decent, it has good velocity and he keeps it low and accurate, but thats really the only good aspect of his game offensively.  Sieloff’s future is as a purely defensive defenceman.

Sieloff may never put up points at the NHL level, but that doesn’t mean he won’t be a valuable player.  His physically punishing, defensive shutdown game is something that is always valued by NHL teams, especially come playoff time.  Sieloff has the potential to become a defenseman similar to Anton Volchenkov of the New Jersey Devils.

… and thats the Last Word.

NFLPA files suit against the NFL for Collusion

Posted on by Ben Kerr

The NFLPA has filed a petition to reopen the Final Consent of 1993 “Reggie White Collusion Suit”.  The NFLPA is alledging that the NFL has violated that agreement and court order and that league owners have colluded to keep down player salaries.

The NFLPA is alledging the league established a “Secret 123 million dollar salary cap” in 2010, a year that was supposed to be an “uncapped year” under the old CBA.

Apparently 4 teams, the Cowboys, Redskins, Saints, and Raiders spent above the secret cap.  The NFL has tried to punish the Cowboys and Redskins with reductions to their current cap space for their actions in the “uncapped” year.  As a result of that attempt, the players association feels that they have evidence to persue this collusion claim now due to these actions.

The suit is alleging Billions in damages and it’s quite easy to see how this will quickly add up with 30 teams and potentially 10s and even hundreds of millions in salary lost.

Its way too early to judge how this is all going to play out, but the NFL may need more lawyers if the numbers of lawsuits against them keeps growing.  We had last week’s Vilma Suit, as well as the various Class-Action “concussion” suits that have been filed around the country.

Stay tuned and we’ll bring you more as we learn more.

… and thats the Last Word.

An Ode to NASCAR – Why We Love Racing

Posted on by Chris Bruce

When people learn that I am a NASCAR fan the same question always comes up… “How can you like that? It’s not even a real sport!”

They may even be right, NASCAR certainly isn’t a “traditional sport”, but before addressing the “Sport or Not” question, let me paint you a picture to help you understand what brings us motorheads to love racing so much.

It’s another beautiful Sunday afternoon, and you’re sitting in the grandstands with 100,000 or so of your new best friends. Beers are being passed around, and then those magical words come across the PA; “Gentlemen, start your engines.”  Suddenly, all your senses are called upon; your ears are perked, the hair on your arms is raised and chills run down your spine. Those 43 bright and colourful cars come rolling off pit-lane following the flashing lights of the pace car as they assume their positions on the warm-up lap.

As you look across the crowd, you notice the masses donning brightly coloured red headphones, listening in on the conversations between their favorite driver and their crew chiefs. As the same 43 cars come past your seat for a second time, you’re standing with everyone else, cheering and screaming.  But as those cars come racing past you at 190 mph you can’t hear the guy two seats away from you.

Sports are generally safe.  Most are played with a nice flow and cadence, with an occasional bump between players.  Others, say mixed martial arts, football and hockey, where physicality is an important part of the game, are even safe for the most part.  Yes, injuries happen, even some serious ones, but 99% of the time (give or take) everyone gets back up and keeps playing. Not so much in the world of NASCAR.  A bump or a hard hit at 190 mph heading into a turn can much more serious, though it’s not the norm per se.  Less serious impacts usually end with a driver’s day being over, followed by a trip to the infield medical center.  Most of the time, due to safety advancements and precautions, it’s just a lost day at the track, with no money made, and a drop in the points series, which could result in a lost shot at the championship down the road (pun intended).

Earlier today I drove to work, perhaps behind you, driving at 60 mph with a car length and a half between us.  Seems like not a lot of room, right?  You imagined me that close and likely felt I was somewhat reckless, right?

On Sunday, Jimmie Johnson and Tony Stewart drove down the front stretch at 190 mph with 3 inches of space between them heading into Turn Three with Kyle Busch 6 inches on the outside trying to pass. See where I’m going with this?  Down the straight away they were still at it, this time bumping fenders, bumpers and quarters, trying to take that lead. Suddenly, Casey Mears cut a tire and hit the wall bringing out the caution flag. The radios were a-buzz between drivers and crew chiefs, and one could hear 21-year old Trevor Bayne telling his crew chief, Donnie Wingo, that the Ford is tight.  At the same time, 53-year old Mark Martin was telling his crew chief, Rodney Childers, that his Toyota was loose.

The pack of cars came down pit lane with the crews itching to jump across the wall, change four tires, fill the car with fuel, make the needed suspension adjustments, clean the grill for better airflow and clear the windshield.  Oh, and that was expected to take all of 13 seconds.  A one-second delay and one could expect to move back about 10 spots in the re-start order.

Back out behind the pace car, and awaiting the green, drivers and crew chiefs had fingers crossed that all the adjustments worked.  If not a driver can expect to plummet away from the leaders in a hurry. With the re-start they were at back at it again. With 43 cars racing, bumping and passing at upwards of 190+ mph for 500 miles you can imagine that things can go bad in an instant, and oftentimes does.  If all goes right, on the other hand, then the driver might just crack the top ten.  With a little luck, well, a lot of luck, and some great driving, that top 10 could turn a driver into one of the lucky ones that gets a NASCAR win.  It’s not easy, but damn, how exhilarating it must be.

So the next time someone tells you NASCAR isn’t a sport, tell them, “You’re damn right it’s not a sport – it’s racing.”  NASCAR needs no definition, and does not need to fit into some mould.  Just go watch a race.  Hear the sounds, see the cars, and experience race day for yourself.

… and that is the Last Word.

The Bills in Toronto – Securing a future for the team in Buffalo?

Posted on by Michael Kovacs, ADMIN

The Bills announced an extension of the “Bills in Toronto” series.  This extension will see the series continue an additional 5 years.  The Buffalo Bills need Southern Ontario.  Not only for the 15-20,000 fans that buy up tickets to the Ralph each Sunday, and not for the increase of sales at local Wal-marts and Target markets, but for the television revenue and exposure that comes from being associated with a big market.  Bigger market = bigger money, obviously.

The GTA is amongst the top five markets in North America, dwarfing most other NFL markets save for NY, LA, Chicago and Philadelphia – http://canadatvmedia.com/canadian-television/statistics.html – So don’t think this is about the extra gate revenue.  It is also the 51st largest urban market in the world.  Compare to Buffalo, which is the 51st largest in North America and doesn’t even figure into world rankings.  Nothing of what I’m arguing is groundbreaking, rather I am merely trying to put into perspective the difference in size and wealth difference between the two cities.

When gauging the success or failure of the current five-year pact between the Bills and Rogers consider that the Bills just announced that they have sold out the first two home games. For a team that has done very little in the way of success on the field, that’s not bad. Can we say it’s a direct result of the Bills in Toronto series? No, not necessarily.  I don’t have the information to say that with any degree of certainty.  What is for certain is that more Southern Ontarians are making the trip to Orchard Park, and are doing it with increasing regularity.

The Buffalo Bills belong to Buffalo and WNY, and I really don’t think many outside that area are seriously thinking the Bills will move to Toronto – not now, anyway.  I think the attitude of many, but not all, is increasing frustration at the realization that losing the team to another market is a possibility.  When one considers all I have said about the size and money that are connected to T.O., I can see how Bills fans (including myself) could be worried about the NFL, Bills ownership and Rogers Communications setting in motion the relocation of the franchise Northwest, about an hour down the QEW.

What I am hoping that Western New Yorkers understand is that the Bills giving up one home game to play in Toronto is the ideal situation given the circumstances.  The league, obviously, wants two things in this situation – to cash-in on Toronto, a relatively un-tapped market, and not to severe ties to the large and supportive fanbase in Western New York.

Toronto is not a “Bills-Town”…yet.  It doesn’t have any one team that it supports en masse, but, like the city itself, is very diverse, and affords its inhabitants the right to support whichever team they like.  For the Bills, this is music to their ears because they have the opportunity to devour the lion’s share of fans.  By far, Buffalo is the closest team to Toronto, with Detroit a distant second.  Continuing the relationship will slowly convert new fans to join Bills Nation.  New generations of Southern Ontarians will grow up surrounded with the Blue and Red (and perhaps the double-blue of the CFL’s Argonauts).

The other big factor at play here is that by putting a game a year in Toronto, Buffalo is laying claim to Toronto as part of its territory.  Toronto has been talking about NFL expansion as far back as the 1970s.  Territorial rights fees are huge today, but a team in Toronto would be outside the zone of territorial rights fees that the Bills could request if they were a “Buffalo-based” team.  By playing one game a year in Toronto, the Bills can say that Toronto is part of their territory and request a territorial rights fee, should the city get a future expansion franchise, or another NFL team try to re-locate to the city.  And, “if” the team is forced to move, I would think Western New Yorkers would prefer them to move to Toronto as opposed to any other city in North America.  I am not saying this will happen, just a “what if” scenario.

As a huge Bills fan myself, I really love to see the partnership between the two cities.  Not because I want the team to move to Toronto, because I don’t. Rather, I believe the deal is imperative to the future of the Bills in Buffalo.

…and that is the Last Word.

 

Luck vs. Griffin: Who will have the better career?

Posted on by Anto Dowsett

April 26th 2012 has come and gone, yet that specific date could potentially be a day to remember for two NFL teams. On this date, two teams may have drafted quarterbacks that could join the ranks of the all-time greats.  Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III were highly touted, obviously, but there will always be the side-by-side comparison considering where they went in the 2012 draft.   What we need to consider, despite neither having taken a professional snap in a meaningful game, which quarterback will have the better career? Which will do better for their respective team?

Luck and Griffin are completely different quarterbacks; Luck is steady and constant.  Basically, you know what to expect.  Meanwhile Griffin is spectacular and breathtaking and routinely makes “WOW” plays seem impossible. Estimating how these players will do throughout their careers with any degree of accuracy is difficult, but one can make an educated guess on how either player will perform will their teams, and if success is in their cards.

First, we’ll begin with the Stanford quarterback, and the son of former NFL quarterback Oliver Luck. In college, Andrew broke multiple school and Pac-12 records for winning percentage and career completion percentage. Unfortunately, he was only a runner-up for the Heisman for two years straight. This ill-fated circumstance should not, at all, take away from the career that Luck had at Stanford because he was a fantastic quarterback to say the least. Calm in the pocket, smart, excellent at distributing the ball at opportune times and accurate… really accurate.  But, so too is Griffin.

Griffin, on the other hand, played his college football for the Baylor Bears and was a sensational talent while playing there. Nicknamed “RG3”, Robert was not recognized by the media until this year and his stats speak for themselves. Only two yards away from 4,000 yards passing, while posting 45 total touchdowns, RG3 is most definitely a dual-threat. By possessing great arm strength as well as being a capable runner, he will definitely be a force to be reckoned with in the NFL.  RG3 has also already one-upped Luck once, winning the 2011 Heisman trophy.

If you were to place the two under a microscope, you could see that Griffin completed four percent more passes from the pocket than Luck. Furthermore, Luck threw 28 touchdown passes from the pocket but Griffin completed three more. Interestingly, Griffin only had three interceptions from the pocket and Luck had a total of eight. And finally, on passes thrown for more than 15 yards, Luck completed 47.5% of them but Griffin completed an outstanding 59.7%.

By focusing on stats alone, you would assume that RG3 is the better quarterback. But football is more than just a single player game; it’s all about the team.  And football is certainly not all about stats because so much is dependent on one’s teammates.  Therefore, we have to think – who’s the better leader? Who makes their team better? Who will be there when the game is on the line, and their team needs them to convert? This is what we don’t know, but I’m sure starting this September, and for every NFL season after, the media will be all over which quarterback will have more value. But until then, as fans, we can just sit back, relax, and watch the players play.

The short answer to the original question is – “who cares”.

…and that is the last word.

NHL Draft Prospect Profile #47: Scott Kosmachuk

Posted on by Ben Kerr

Drafted 70th Overall by the Winnipeg Jets.

With decent size, a non-stop motor, and the ability to play the game on edge, Scott Kosmachuk is an intriguing prospect for this June’s NHL Entry Draft.  The Right Wing with the Guelph Storm took huge steps forward this year, showing an offensive side to his game that was missing in his rookie year.   He greatly increased his production from just 6 goals one year ago, to 30 this past season.  Kosmachuk was rewarded for his work with the opportunity to play for Team Canada at this spring’s IIHF Under 18 World Hockey Championships, where he won a bronze.  Kosmachuk joins teammate Matt Finn as the 2nd member of the Guelph Storm that we have profiled to date.

Right Wing
Born Jan 24 1994 — Toronto, ONT
Height 6.00 — Weight 185 — Shoots Right

2010-11 Guelph Storm OHL 68 6 15 21 25 5 6 1 0 1 5
2011-12 Guelph Storm OHL 67 30 29 59 110 -10 6 2 3 5 12

The best way to describe Scott Kosmachuk in the offensive zone, is to say he is an absolute buzz saw at that junior level.  Kosmachuk has a non-stop motor and is constantly forechecking, winning board battles, and getting himself in the middle of the action in high traffic areas.  Kosmachuk is especially effective at controlling the puck down low and creates a lot of offence through an excellent cycle game and then taking the puck to scoring areas.  Kosmachuk has a decent shot and release, and he is not afraid to shoot from anywhere. His playmaking skills, and vision are merely average, and Kosmachuk is far more of a goal scorer than playmaker.

Kosmachuk is an agitator who plays the game on edge.  He’ll hit anything that moves in the offensive zone, and is often involved in scrums after the whistle.  He plays the game right on the edge and he can sometimes take undisciplined penalty by taking too much of a run at an opposing player.

An absolute speedster, Kosmachuk has excellent skating skills.  He’s got good first step quickness and acceleration.  Kosmachuk uses his edges well, giving him good agility and balance.  His high end skating is seen in the offensive zone where he can be all over the ice at times.

Kosmachuk is a work in progress defensively.  He needs a lot of work on his positioning and his play in his own end of the ice.  He also has a tendency to float or puck watch at times, and we’d like to see him give the same effort in his own end of the ice that he gives in the offensive end.

Kosmachuk has the skill to succeed at the next level.  We see him as a potential 2nd/3rd line forward and agitator going forward.  We’d compare Kosmachuk’s style and potential to be a player similar to Steve Downie of the Colorado Avalanche.

… and thats the Last Word.

I'll Have Another – Your Next Triple Crown Champion?

Posted on by Dwayne Edwards

There has not been an American Triple Crown winner for 33 years, and now, more than ever, the sport badly needs that to happen at Belmont.

“I’ll Have Another” will be the first Triple Crown winner in 34 years; that is if he can win The Belmont Stakes on Saturday, June 9. The three-year-old is trained by Doug O’Neil, ridden by Canada’s Hastings Racecourse Jockey, Mario Gutierrez, and is owned by Reddam Racing LLC (Paul Reddam) who was born in Windsor, Ontario.  It is easy to find many Canadian connections to this horse.

Affirmed.  Seattle Slew.  Secretariat.  Three of horse racing’s most distinguished triple crown winners since Citation achieved that in 1948. I’ll Have Another is set to do the same, joining the true greats in the sport.  The feat was last realized by Affirmed in 1978, just a year removed from  Seattle Slew, who did the same a year before.   Secretariat, horse racing’s Wayne Gretzky, Michael Jordan, Joe Montana and Babe Ruth rolled into one, famously completed the Kentucky Derby-Preakness-Belmont triple in 1973.

There have been a few horses that have come close, mind you, winning the first two legs, but failing at the difficult third race, the 1 ½ miles at Belmont Park.  Belmont is the heart-breaker.  Eleven horse since 1978 have won the first two legs:

Spectacular Bid in 1979

Pleasant Colony in 1981

Alydar foal Alysheba in 1987

Sunday Silence in 1989

Silver Charm in 1997

Real Quiet in 1998

Charismatic in 1999

War Emblem in 2002

Funny Cide in 2003

Smarty Jones in 2004

Big Brown in 2008

These horse are champions, outstanding race horses, alas none could pull off that last victory. Every one of these horses went-off as favorite in the Belmont, a heavy favorite in fact, which allowed for a great pay-off at the windows. When I am watching the race, I know my heart  will beat out of my chest as I cheer for I’ll Have Another to win.   This does not mean I will bet him. In fact I will likely bet against him because history is against him.

Three races in 35 days for an elite thoroughbred is not the norm.  Most champion horses of this caliber rarely race twice in 35 days. Every race takes so much out of a horse; they have to exert so much they become very tried the following days. It takes a special animal to recover quickly enough to overcome the grueling task of winning all three races of the Triple Crown.  In fact, the grueling schedule has already claimed a victim – Bodemeister.  I’ll Have Another’s biggest rival will not be running the Belmont, giving an added opportunity for the triple.

There is that chance that I’ll Have Another will hurdle through the ranks of many past champion horses. If he wins it could quite possibly be the only Triple Crown winner of my lifetime. This dream could come true. One race to win over the hearts of millions, to be placed in a category of very few, and to go down in history. This Canadian connection (Gutierrez and Reddam) that Doug O’Neil has formed along with the superb thoroughbred I’ll Have Another have a chance to put their names in history.
Belmont Park, Saturday June 9th, good luck I’ll Have Another, it’s your chance to solidify your place in the hearts of all racing fans across the world.

…and that is the last word.

Adam Lind's Career at a Crossroad

Posted on by Max Warner

The only thing that was surprising about Adam Lind’s demotion to Triple-A on May 17, 2012 by the Blue Jays was that it took Toronto until May 17 to demote him.  To say that Lind’s career is at a crossroad is a huge understatement.  Lind has posted a .186 batting average with just three home runs in 34 games in 2012, continuing where he left off in the second half of 2011, and he is now 3 years removed from his breakout 2009 season.

When Lind smashed 35 home runs and posted a .305 batting average in 2009, the Blue Jays thought that their first baseman of the future had finally arrived, and promptly signed Lind to a 4 year, $17.4 million contract.  Lind’s contract also includes three more option years at $7 million, $7.5 million and $8 million dollars, with team buyouts totaling $3.5 million.  At the time, the deal looked like a smart, economical way to control  a promising young player at a very reasonable price.  It was the kind of long-term gamble that teams like the Blue Jays need to take in order to compete in the big-spending world of Major League Baseball, particularly in the AL East.

Unfortunately for the Jays, Adam Lind offers no value outside of his ability to hit.  He is a defensive liability, and has not shown much skill with the glove in either the outfield or at first base.  When Edwin Encarnacion, Lind’s replacement at first base, made two diving catches into the stands during the recent interleague series against the Mets, many Jays fans noted that these were plays that Lind never would have made.  Lind also has lead feet, which means he has no range in the field and clogs up the base paths, that is when he is actually able to reach base.  Lind’s on-base percentages in the three seasons since 2009 have been .287, .295, and .273.  Although his walk totals were up this year, Lind simply does not reach base enough for a starting first baseman.

The other problem with Lind is that, aside from his 2009 campaign, his hitting ability is basically restricted to hitting for power, and even so he supplies power numbers that are just adequate for a first baseman.  He has hit 23 and 26 home runs in his last two seasons, and he has struck out over 100 times in each of his full seasons in the majors.  The reality is that the Blue Jays would probably be able to tolerate repeats of Lind’s 2011 production, including a .734 OPS until the end of his contract in 2013, but they won’t be likely to exercise their team options if that is what he delivers.  The Jays need to get star-level production at several positions in order to even consider a run at a playoff spot, and Lind hasn’t delivered that since 2009.

With Edwin Encarnacion’s ability to hold the fort at first base and his strong hitting in 2012, the Jays have plenty of options ahead of Lind to fill the designated hitter spot on their roster.  Travis D’Arnaud and Travis Snider have both been ripping it up at hitter-friendly Triple-A Las Vegas, and either could provide production at or above Lind’s 2010-2012 levels.  Both are also significantly younger and cheaper than Lind.  The Blue Jays also recently signed Vladimir Guerrero to a low cost, incentive-laden deal, if he performs well at the minor league level he could earn a shot with the team.

Adam Lind is 28 years old, and at a time when he should be enjoying the prime years of his career, he is instead trying to rediscover himself in Triple-A.  Lind needs a monster session at Triple-A, both in terms of stats and perceived performance, to play his way back into the Blue Jays’ plans, either short or long-term.  Failing that, he is in danger of becoming another disappointing chapter in the post-Carlos Delgado era of Blue Jays’ first basemen.

…and that’s the Last Word.