2012 - Page 42 of 114 - Last Word On Sports

What We Learned In College in Week 1

Posted on September 2, 2012November 5, 2021 by Lindsay Higgins

We all remember the first week of a new semester in college- here’s the syllabus, this is my attendance policy, this is when the exams are, these are the books you need. Not a whole lot of learning actually happened. The first week of college football was only slightly more enlightening, since a lot of the games yesterday were complete dogs (84-0 Oklahoma State over Savannah State? Really?). Here’s what we were able to take away from the handful of decent matchups:

1. It took South Carolina a good chunk of the first quarter to get going, but luckily for them, RB Marcus Lattimore is back. He fumbled on his first carry since knee surgery last season, but made up for it by scoring both of the Gamecocks’ TDs in a 17-14 win. However, scraping out a three-point victory over Vanderbilt has to be somewhat worrisome to coach Steve Spurrier, especially since…

2. It may have been premature to write off Tennessee with regards to the SEC East race. I still don’t like their chances of winning the division over both South Carolina and Georgia, but they looked much better than I expected in beating a North Carolina State team that was on some preseason Top 25 lists. Definitely a team to keep an eye on.

3. UCLA’s kicking game has some major issues. THREE missed extra points against Rice?

4. Penn State has some things to straighten out on special teams also. Senior LB Gerald Hodges was returning punts for the Nittany Lions yesterday, despite not having done so since high school. Understandably, his performance was less than impressive, including a muffed punt recovered by Ohio.

5. LSU sophomore WR Odell Beckham had a 70-yard punt return for a TD, and S Eric Reid had an interception. It was North Texas and it’s early, but I don’t think anyone missed the Honey Badger all that much last night.

6. We’ll learn something about Michigan later on, after they’ve played a defense that’s not Alabama’s. No one would look good against that D. Imagine if they had more than four starters return from last year? The depth Nick Saban manages to stockpile is just ridiculous.

7. Welcome to I-A football, UMass. The alma mater of Victor Cruz suffered a 37-0 beatdown by their neighbors to the south.

8. Minnesota needed 3 OTs to beat UNLV. The more things change…

9. Speaking of the Big 10, Northwestern-Syracuse was a thriller. Interesting that late in the fourth quarter, coach Pat Fitzgerald had #2 quarterback Trevor Siemian taking snaps instead of Kane Colter. The TV commentators confirmed that it was a coach’s decision and Colter was not injured.

10. I doubt I’ll mention DIII football in this column very often, but major props to Eureka (Ill.) QB Sam Durley, who set an NCAA record for passing yards in a game with 736 passing yards (34 of 52, 5 TDs). His Red Devils won 62-55.

And there you have your notes from a busy week one in college football. See you next week – same time, same channel.

The Yin and Yang of NFL Players Turned Analysts

Posted on September 2, 2012 by Michael Kovacs, ADMIN

They say balance is the key to life. Too much of a good thing is somehow bad, though I’m not sure I agree with that. Gimme a good steak with caramelized onions over and over and over, and there won’t be any moaning and groaning from me. When we consider the NFL, the gameday programming has become so essential that there are quite literally thousands of conversations going on at any one time regarding which analysts are good, and which ones, well, suck.

I noticed something common to all television networks that include gameday programming – they seem to hire either really good, or really crappy analysts. There is no middle ground. We either have to endure the whiny, awkward and irrelevant voice of Analyst A, or the well-spoken and intelligent bravado of Analyst B. It would seem that networks would want more of B and less of A, but I suppose they are the professionals, while I merely write about it. The world has a funny way of balancing it out, and who are we to fight it?

Getting back to “balance”, I believe we can satisfy the new agers out there (What? Why would I want to do that?) by taking one of the most essential aspects of the cosmic force (I’m trying to speak their lingo, for whatever reason), that is ‘yin and yang’, good and bad, and apply that theory in discussing NFL analysts. Let’s take it one step further and specifically consider former players who have felt it necessary to go on television with next to no experience in front of camera, or in some cases reading aloud, and horrible voices, and attempt to apply this yin/yang theory of mine.

Yin – Chris Collinsworth

Yang – Jerry Rice

Chris Collinsworth is clearly one of the best NFL analysts on television. Many people are not crazy about his voice, which I concede can sound like a tin fork scratching a porcelain dinner plate, but for me his analysis is really clear and well delivered. As a former player (albeit from a much different era) he uses his inside knowledge of the game in an effective, non-egomaniacal way – he has no hidden agenda that I can see (compare that to Tedy Bruschi…more on him in time). Certainly he has had time to hone his craft, and as such I enjoy his commentary more each year. But for every diamond there is an unpolished boulder.

It’s hard to say anything bad about the greatest receiver to ever don cleats, especially because I actually like Jerry Rice as a person (not having met him). However, ESPN must have just been after Jerry’s name to add to their roster, because they certainly could not have heard him in trial runs and thought he would actually sound good in front of millions. In all fairness, he hasn’t had much time to develop his craft, and even the great Jerry Rice took years to become the player we now regard as the best ever. Who knows, maybe one day he’ll be a “yin” in my list? For now, he needs Collinsworth to make the world right.

Yin – Troy Aikman

Yang – Tedy Bruschi

As a player I hated Troy Aikman. Not because he stopped my Bills in the Superbowl, twice, but because… nah, it’s because he stopped the Bills in the Superbowl, TWICE!!! Aikman was always seen as that All-American guy – top quarterback in college (UCLA), drafted #1 overall, played for “America’s Team” for 12 years, Probowls, Superbowls… you get the idea. The transition to television was obvious – he has the look, the credentials, analyzes the game very well, and is well-spoken. Before you hate on Aikman, consider he has Joe Buck to work with and cut the guy some slack! How can we possibly find someone to balance him out? Look no further…

I’m not sure which part of Tedy Bruschi as an analyst I dislike more, his continual bias towards the Patriots, or his cynicism. Is it just me or is Tedy always mad about something? I am completely on board with an analyst who wants to tell it how it is, but I think Bruschi goes out of his way to go over the top. I have quite literally heard him discuss SpyGate (by the way, why does everything need a “gate” at the end?) on at least five occasions. We get that you are unhappy about the situation, but what happened, happened (and it happened years ago), and the Patriots are the only ones to blame. It just seems like he always has an agenda, usually something negative, and ESPN is his platform. And then there is Bruschi’s ineffective delivery, which should be the most important component of being on television in the first place.

Yin – Kurt Warner

Yang – Torry Holt

Kurt Warner has taken a beating in the news over the past few months from fans and players alike for his stance on concussions. The former league MVP basically said he was very concerned about his sons playing football because of possible concussions – apparently Amani Toomer and Merril Hoge took exception. I like Warner for what he says. I don’t have to agree with everything he says just to be a fan of his. Actually, I don’t believe what anyone says without questioning their logic for myself and determining its legitimacy independently, and very often I choose to disagree. Warner provides great analysis, especially (obviously) on the offensive side of the ball. He’s a “no thrills” kinda guy – just speaks it as it is.

Torry Holt was well-known for being an excellent route-runner. He was crisp, exact, and had good hands. He certainly didn’t fumble the ball like he fumbles with his words. There are some players who should really have considered their limitations before agreeing to go on network television each week and speak to millions of NFL fans, many of whom are extremely knowledgeable and will easily spot a fake. Torry Holt is one of them. While he obviously knows football, that doesn’t mean he is able to teach it. I eat a hell of a lot of food. I’ve only been eating it all my life. But the Food Network isn’t going to hire me to take over for Bobby Flay anytime soon. Just because you know something, doesn’t mean you can successfully banter about it. Many have taken shots at Torry, some of which is unfair and just plain ‘mean’, but I have nothing to say about him as a person. I just question what narcotics the network exec was taking who thought he would be at all good.

Yin – Trent Dilfer

Yang – Deion Sanders

Trent Dilfer is one of those guys who has unique opinions, offers well thought out and intelligent insight into the game, and offers excellent analysis – the exact recipe for a good analyst. He uses what he learned through his years as a pivot in the NFL effectively during broadcasts, which is more than I can say for others who made the “yang” part of my list. He is unafraid to say the unpopular opinion, but when he does he has a logical explanation. For instance, in his list of the top 10 QB’s of all-time, he left off Marino. Dan Marino. His reasoning; “To be considered amongst the best you have to have a ring”. What many former players turned analysts have that Dilfer does not, is an ego that barely fits through the door. Dilfer isn’t like that. I just appreciate what he brings to the table, and the ego he doesn’t bring (often…he’s still a former athlete). Less effective players turned analysts simply regurgitate past experiences as if they are offering us something new – not Dilfer.

I have respect for “Neon” Deion Sanders beyond football and as an analyst. Learning about what he does for disadvantaged high schools in Florida is extremely commendable, but for the purpose of this Yin/Yang, I have to separate that from my feelings for him as an analyst. Deion, much like the way he approached football, adds a lot of hype and energy to my game day experience. He is interesting and funny, and I can appreciate that there are fewer defensive players turned analysts (most other analysts are former offensive players). But for me, I just am not a fan of his delivery. He speaks in circles, and perhaps most damning is how he changes his opinion like he presumably changes his underwear. He can say something one week and reverse his opinion down the road (ie. his interview with Peyton soon after he criticized him – how his tune changed!).

Yin – Ron “Jaws” Jaworski

Yang – Skip Bayless

Ron Jaworski, or “Jaws”, is easily one of the best football analysts on television, and unfortunately isn’t on MNF this season. Jaws is widely known as a film room guru, always brushing up on his x’s and o’s. He is extremely knowledgeable, clear and concise, and makes sense – something that not all analysts make, unfortunately.

I get that Skip Bayless is an op-ed guy whose job it is to spark discussion, and oftentimes controversy, but does anyone really listen to what he says with any degree of legitimacy? He knows football I suppose, but I just can’t listen to him without cringing. While not an “analyst” in the more traditional sense, he still offers his opinions, most of which I just don’t agree with, and don’t enjoy hearing. I question whether he actually believes the stuff that comes out of his own mouth.

Look, we can have 30 guys in a room all choosing the best and worst of former players turned analysts and be left with 30 different combinations. It is highly unlikely you completely agree with my list because after all, it’s my list, and what I get from game day is different from what you get. In no way is this an attempt at some “definitive” list. Rather, I really believe that there are as many poor analysts on television as there are good ones. Perhaps those new-agers are onto something – life really is about balance, and apparently that also applies to NFL analysts.

Feel free to give your “Yin and Yang” list, or simply leave your favourite and least favourite list in the comment section below.

Follow me on Twitter – @APintOfNFL

NFC East Preview: Who to Trust and Who Not to Trust

Posted on September 1, 2012November 5, 2021 by Ben Kerr

Every year the NFC East is so race is so close that making a call on the division winner before the season starts doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. This season could be the closest race yet because Washington looks like they are finally ready to join the party with their new quarterback. The reality is all four teams can take the division this year and the ultimate division winner will come down to a few bounces, injuries, luck and head-to-head play. Because we can’t predict most of those things we have to rely on what we do know. When we examine each team closely we can pick out who we trust and who we don’t trust and this should lead us to our division winner.

Don’t Trust – Michael Vick – Vick has won 10 games only once in his entire playing career. He had managed this even though he has only played one season where he had a sub .500 win-loss record. It is the fact that he consistently gets hurt that has kept him from achieving 10 wins, and realistically that is the number of victories it takes to make the playoffs. Vick has already had trouble avoiding injuries this preseason. Andy Reid has refused to change his offense to a more balanced approach going on 10 years now, so don’t expect a shift in strategy even if Vick needs protection and Reid’s best player is a running back. Don’t overlook the fact that Vick was a turnover machine last year either. It could very well be that his rejuvenated 2010 season was somewhat of a fluke, if that is the case then the Eagles don’t stand a chance.

Don’t Trust – Jason Garrett – You could argue that Dallas had the best team in the division last year. Their failure to make the postseason came down only to a few late game melt downs, including one against the Giants in December. Then when the Cowboys needed a win to make it to the playoffs, it was the Giants who again defeated them. It looked as if the Cowboys barely bothered to show up. I don’t necessarily blame Garrett for these failures, it’s more of a ‘Cowboys thing’. Blowing games you have led all the way into the 4^th quarter and turning certain victories into losses has become the Cowboy way as of late. They are like the San Diego of the NFC; all the talent in the world but it never comes together into a complete team.

Trust – Jason Pierre-Paul – 4.5 Sacks in his rookie season, 16.5 Sacks last season, 28.5 sacks this season. Well, maybe not, but the pattern says otherwise. But the guy is scary good; he is 23, and he is only in his 3^rd year. If he continues to get better I don’t know what teams are going to do – extra insurance, perhaps?

Don’t Trust – Juan Castillo – The Eagles defense, which was loaded up with talent prior to last season, completely underperformed for most of 2011 and were a big reason Philly was unable to make the playoffs. The popular scapegoat was defensive co-ordinator Juan Castillo, who had previously held the title of offensive line coach and had no experience coaching defense at the NFL level. When the season ended it was only a matter of time until Castillo got the axe. But something funny happened. Andy Reid stood by his coach and he will return this season. The move is curious to say the least. Are we to expect that now with a season under his belt Castillo has a firm grasp of all the defensive concepts Philly will need to employ to slow down their opponents? There are co-ordinators in the league like Dick Lebeau who have been doing their thing for decades, while Philly has a guy who has failed miserably for one year, yet they’ve decided to stick by him. This reminds me…

Don’t Trust – Andy Reid – The master of the botched 2-minute situation is spreading his questionable decision-making to all areas of the organization now. Castillo returns and no one can tell how that will play out. Micheal Vick is the only viable option at QB with no decent replacement on the team (yes, Nick Foles has looked good in preseason, but does anyone really believe he can match up against Dallas or the Giants when the games count?). Only the fact that Philly wisely chooses to invest high draft picks in both of their lines consistently has kept this team strong. But Reid is still the guy that manages to gag away atleast one game a year. Philly is a popular pick this season because you can point to several individual stars they have, but I don’t think they are talented enough to give away a game or even two and still take down the division.

(With Eagles Owner Jeffery Laurie’s recent comments that Reid has to perform this season or else does that mean you could say Reid is in the 2 minute drill of his career? This might not end well.)

Don’t Trust – Demarco Murray – I trust his skills. I don’t trust his body. He was not a top pick in the draft because of injuries in college. He was only able to play a handful of NFL games before suffering a season ending injury. I have to see him play one full season first because I can trust him. The Cowboys desperately need that season from him, too. Felix Jones is barely a back-up at this point, he still has his speed but unless the blocking is great Jones might as well be 2011 Marion Barber. The Cowboys with a deadly running back like Murray are nearly impossible to defend. It could be fun, and I hope he makes it, but I just can’t trust that he can.

Trust – LeSean McCoy – No explanation needed. Outside of the quarterbacks McCoy could be the best player in the division. Now he just needs to convince Andy Reid to give him the ball more often – I don’t like his chances.

Don’t Trust – Washington Safeties – Tanard Jackson is now suspended for the season. That leaves Brandon Meriweather and Madieu Williams as the likely starting pair. They have name value but that is about it. Both players will be playing for their third team in three seasons and really that says it all. These players built a reputation early in their careers but that is the only thing they have going for them now. They are replacement level players that will be a poor system fit in Washington where their blitzing scheme is taxing on the safety position.

Don’t Trust – Rob Ryan – The Ryan brother with the inferior name and the far inferior resume. Here is the places his defenses have finished in terms of yards allowed in eight seasons as a coordinator: 30, 25, 18, 26, 24, 21, 13, 16. If this guy’s name wasn’t Ryan, but something more generic like Juan Castillo, do you really think he would still have such a high-profile job? Rhetorical. Don’t answer that.

Trust – Giants Wide Receivers – There always seems to be some sort of injury scare surrounding Hakeem Nicks but he always manages to play. In three seasons has never missed more than three games – not perfect, but what he does when he is in the lineup makes up for the lost time. Opposite Nicks is the Giants new sensation, Victor Cruz. Cruz was downright dominant last season and I don’t think there is any doubt he will be able to keep it up. Cruz was given the ultimate respect in the Super Bowl when Patriots coach Bill Belichick game planned to take the ball out of Cruz’s hands – because he is just that good. These two players, aged 24 and 25, playing with Manning will make the Giants one of the hardest offenses to face in the league.

Don’t Trust – Dallas Secondary – I know all about the additions. Additions don’t equal improvements though, and you can ask the Eagles about that. After Nnamdi Asomugha’s massive failure last season shouldn’t teams be more cautious when signing cornerbacks out of the QB depleted AFC West? Dallas doesn’t think so, and they grabbed the #2 cornerback on a bad team for big money (Brandon Carr – KC). Then they teamed him with a high draft pick who has had trouble getting on the field (Morris Claiborne). This is supposed to be an upgrade? It’s a good thing they have Rob Ryan coaching the defense or this could turn into a disaster.

Don’t Trust – Nnamdi Asomugha – Everyone is giving him a free pass just because the Eagles used him in a way other than his preferred coverage? So that was totally it? He didn’t slip at all at age 30? The difference wasn’t because he was now facing Eli Manning and Tony Romo instead of Matt Cassel and Kyle Orton? Asomugha dominated for many years in Oakland but part of his dominance was getting opposing quarterbacks to throw away from him creating the perception that he was shutting down top wideouts. Certainly in some respects he was. It’s not that I don’t think he’s good, because he is, I just think he’s a big overrated as a result of where he played. During his time there the Oakland pass defense was comically bad, couldn’t it have been just as likely that teams ignored throwing at Nnamdi because he was the one good player on an otherwise terrible secondary that could be picked apart with ease by any good offense? I always like Nnamdi in Oakland but I am not willing to give him a free pass just because he had to play a little zone coverage last year. I have no idea what to expect from him this season, but I know that he has to prove it on the field before he gets my trust back. (He is also 31 going on this 10^th season. What if he is just a good player, not a great player like we thought, and he experiences the regular post 30 declines that greatly erode the skills of all but the best?)

Don’t Trust – Austin’s Hamstrings – Hamstring injuries tend to linger. Anyone who has had one knows. You think it’s all better and then in an instant you are right back where you started. Miles Austin dealt with hamstring injuries all of last season and it limited his playing time and effectiveness. He hasn’t been able to get better this year and has been held out of recent practices and games. Very unfortunate for Austin, but don’t be surprised if his hamstring injuries linger all season.

Trust – Eagles Defensive Ends – Trent Cole and Jason Babin are true playmakers, and even as the defense fell apart around them, last season these players continued to produce, leading the Eagles to a share of the league lead in sack with 50. If the Eagles can get more consistency from Vick and the offense and give the defense early leads to play with than these players have what it takes to secure that lead and send the Eagles to the post season.

Don’t Trust – Ahmad Bradshaw – Bradshaw is a player with lingering injuries that has seen his effectiveness decline every season of his career culminating with a 3.9 yards per carry average last season. He is no longer the player he used to be and is a big injury risk.

Trust – David Wilson – Players taken in the first round are not drafted to sit on the bench. Wilson is an explosive player who has shown the ability to run between the tackles in the preseason. He will eat into Bradshaw’s carries and there is no reason he cannot assume the starting job full-time. Wilson’s all-pro level speed give the Giants another dynamic option to their offense and force a “pick your poison” situation between their deadly wideouts or their talented rookie running back.

Don’t Trust – Jim Haslett – I really like the Washington defense. In fact I like it so much that it almost led me to pick the Redskins to take down the division last season. Overall, Haslett seems like a fine co-ordinator. There is just one thing he does that really gets to me. In crucial situations he has a strong tendency to send the house at the quarterback. To me the strategy makes little sense. It may work against poor teams, but when facing the best of the best they are prepared for this situation (especially when you defense is putting it on tape week after week) and you end up getting burned. Picture Greg Williams consistently big-blitzing Alex Smith in last year’s Saints-49’ers playoff contest. The coach probably feels the move is bold with a high upside, but in reality it is just reckless.

Trust – Tony Romo – I know this must be shocking, in the midst of a massive list of players and coaches I don’t trust, some of which are people that are very successful, I put Tony Romo in the circle of trust. This doesn’t mean I don’t think that Romo shouldn’t share the blame for all the Cowboys clutch failures over the years. What it does mean is that I recognize that Romo is the best player on the Cowboys and that without him they would never be in these crucial situations to begin with. This fact often gets overlooked when everyone is bashing on Romo, but he is extremely talented and I think the Cowboys would be lost without him. Through all the dysfunction over the last several years the Cowboys have always remained competitive, and it is because of Romo.

Don’t Trust – Robert Griffin III – It’s not so much that I don’t trust him, it’s that I can’t trust him. None of us can. Not yet, anyways. He is a rookie playing in a division against Jason Pierre-Paul, Demarcus Ware and the aforementioned Eagles’ sack machine. I fully expect Griffin to perform like a 2^nd overall pick and should have many flashes of brilliance. But it is difficult for me to imagine Griffin keeping it together for all 16 games and besting all the defenses in this division. Do we know if this guy can take the punishment yet? If Vick isn’t built to take the punishment in the NFL how can we be so sure this guy is? Just too many question marks on this guy considering he hasn’t been tested, and given the division he is in, he will be tested early, and very, very often.

Trust – Tom Coughlin – It is tough to argue with results. The Giants play a tough brand of football and they don’t make it easy on anyone. Coughlin has remained dedicated to a balanced offense even as the Giants dominant run game has disappeared. This dedication has helped the Giants is the post season though where Coughlin has led his team to two title runs. After the Giants last Super Bowl his team appeared to fully realize their talent and enjoyed their best regular season yet, why can’t it happen again?

This turned out to be a giant list of people I don’t trust, and Giants I do. I swear I didn’t intend it to be that way. I guess in the end what I am trying to say though is that the Giants should be given the benefit of the doubt heading into 2012. They have the most important player in the division, a coach who proves himself year after year, a duo of unstoppable receivers, and Jason Pierre-Paul who is ready to unleash himself on the rest of the division in his 3^rd NFL season. It is every other team’s job to catch up to the Giants. Washington took a step in the right direction with selecting a quarterback, but they were the team with the furthest to go to catch the Giants. The rest of the division seemed to stand pat and hope that things would turn out different this year, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the same issue’s from last season show up all over again.

I like the Giants to take down the NFC East.

Bonus: Don’t Trust – Trent Edwards – Hey, can you believe that Captain Checkdown is on the Eagles? Hopefully he doesn’t make the 53 man roster, that would be a bad sign.

Top Shelf Prospects: Washington Capitals

Posted on August 31, 2012November 5, 2021 by Ben Kerr

Welcome to today’s edition of “Top Shelf Prospects” – a team-by-team look at the top prospects in the NHL. As I continue my alphabetical journey, I bring you a look at the Washington Capitals.

As always you can find a complete listing of my previous articles here. Since we had an extensive NHL Draft preview, I will not be reviewing the players who were drafted in the 2012 draft, as there have been no games since then, and my reports on them will not have changed. What I will be doing is linking you to those articles, as well as taking a look at prospects that were acquired before this year’s draft; their progress, and their chances of making the 2012-13 roster of the NHL team in question. I will also bring you one sleeper pick – a player who was either drafted in the 4th-round or later, or was an undrafted free agent signing who I pick as my darkhorse to make the NHL. For those wondering, the cut-off for what is or isn’t a prospect is typically about 45-50 NHL games played or being 25 years old. These are not static rules though, as I may make some exceptions depending on the circumstances.

Rulings
Dmitry Orlov (60 NHL Games) is graduated
Braden Holtby (21 Regular Season games, 14 Playoff Games) is still included amongst prospects.

2012 Draft Prospects Reviewed
Filip Forsberg, Tom Wilson

Top Prospect, Evgeny Kuznetsov, Centre
Born May 19 1992 — Chelyabinsk, RUS
Height 6.03 — Weight 187 — Shoots Left
Selected by the Washington Capitals in round 1, #26 overall at the 2010 NHL Entry Draft

Kuznetsov is an absolute stud prospect. At the World Junior Championships, his 13 points in 7 games led the tournament in scoring, and his hat-trick against Team Canada in the semi final helped propel Russia to the Gold Medal game. It would be the second straight Gold Medal game for Kuznetsov who was also on the 2011 World Junior Champions. Kuznetsov also scored 41 points in 49 Games in the KHL last year, good enough for 14th in KHL scoring. His 19 goals had him in a tie for 18th place among KHL players. He led Traktor Chelyabinsk in scoring, and helped them to finish the regular season at first overall in the league. In the playoffs, he scored 7 goals and 9 points in 12 games, but it was not enough as Traktor Chelyabinsk fell in the conference final. He’d go on to play in the IIHF Men’s World Championship and win a Gold Medal with Team Russia, scoring 6 points in 10 games.

Kuznetsov has all the talent in the world. At 6’3, he has the ideal size that teams crave down the middle in the modern NHL. He could stand to bulk up a little, but there will be time for that. He’s an outstanding skater, with great top end speed, excellent acceleration and changes of pace, super edgework and agility, and is strong and balanced on his skates. Combine that skating ability with his silky smooth hands, wide variety of creative moves, a fearlessness to try anything, and the ability to do all this with the puck while skating at top speed, and you have a player who is an absolute nightmare to defend off the rush. Add a lethal wrist shot and release, and its almost not fair to defenders and goalies alike. If there is one area that Kuznetsov has to work on though, it is his playmaking. He has great passing skills and can make crisp hard passes through the tiniest of openings when he wants to; however setting up teammates is something he just doesn’t do often enough. He’s already a sniper, if he could add playmaker to his game as well, he could be a legit NHL superstar.

Kuznetsov’s defensive game is a bit of a work in progress. He understands defensive zone hockey and positioning and attempts to keep his man to the outside when defending down low on the cycle, but he needs more strength to make it happen consistently. He is willing to engage in battles for pucks on the boards, but again, just needs more physical strength to do so effectively. Kuznetsov has good instincts and anticipation which helps him to cause turnovers and transition from defence to forward.

Kuznetsov recently signed a two year deal with Traktor Chelyabinsk in the KHL, and as such it will be at least a couple years before he comes to North America. He’s NHL ready now, and would be a Calder Trophy candidate should he be joining the Caps roster. Kuznetsov has all the talent to be a superstar centre, and might be the best non-NHL player in the world right now. The problem is getting him out of the KHL and to North America. If the Caps can do that in two years, (and Kuznetsov will only be 22 when his KHL contract expires), they’ll have a great young player ready to step right into the NHL, and ready to help lead the offence going forward.

Top Prospect #2 Braden Holtby, Goaltender
Born Sep 16 1989 — Lloydminster, SASK
Height 6.01 — Weight 202 — Shoots R
Selected by the Washington Capitals in round 4, #93 overall at the 2008 NHL Entry Draft

With fellow young goaltenders like Semyon Varlamov (now with Colorado of course), and Michael Neuvirth previously ahead of him on the depth chart Braden Holtby has been developed slowly by the Capitals. The young goaltender has spent most of the last 3 seasons backstopping the Capitals AHL affiliate, the Hershey Bears. Over the last two years, he’s seen some NHL playing time in the regular season, but has mostly been the guy transitioning from Hershey to Washington and back when a fellow goalie gets hurt. In fact Holtby was in Hershey late in the regular season when opportunity knocked. When the Caps saw injuries hit both members of their goalie platoon, Neuvirth and of course Tomas Vokoun, they called on Holtby to finish the regular season and to backstop the club at the start of the playoffs. Holtby was quite simply phenomenal in the playoffs, and helped the Caps upset the then defending Champion Bruins in 7 games. He continue his superb play into the second round of the playoffs, where he would bar the door on the first place Rangers for most of the second round before suffering his own 7th game defeat.

Holtby plays the classic butterfly style. He has quick legs and great lateral movement which helps him to take away the bottom of the net. His glove hand is razor sharp and takes away the top portion of the net. He has excellent puck-tracking ability and does a great job of staying square to the shooter. He plays an aggressive game, getting well out in his crease, cutting down angles and allowing his big frame to take away as much of the net as possible. Holtby is also excellent in his puckhandling ability, and is not afraid to leave his crease often acting like a third defenceman. He shows a cool and calm demeanor inspiring confidence in teammates and not allowing himself to be rattled by goals against or traffic in front of the net. Rebound control is good for a young goalie when he stays in his technique. A highly athletic goalie, Holtby can at times abandon his technique and rely on pure athleticism. While he will make some great looking saves by doing this, it also gets him in to trouble with rebounds and getting out of position. If he can fix that flaw, and reduce instances of that, he has the potential to be a top tier NHL Starter.

Holtby will battle Michael Neuvirth for the starting job with the Capitals this season. In fact, given his playoff performance Holtby may have the edge in this battle going into camp. Unfortunately for Holtby, due to the fact he played 7 games in 2010-11 and 14 games in 2011-12, he will not be eligible for the NHL’s Calder Trophy.

Top Prospect #3, Stanislav Galiev, Left Wing/Right Wing
Born Jan 17 1992 — Moscow, Russia
Height 6.01 — Weight 188 — Shoots Right
Selected by the Washington Capitals in round 3 #86 overall at the 2010 NHL Entry Draft

As this past season began, Stanislav Galiev was one of many returning Saint John Sea Dogs looking to defend their 2011 Memorial Cup Champion crown. Unfortunately Galiev was hurt in training camp (broken wrist) and he only played 20 games for the club. However fully healthy in the playoffs, Galiev went on an absolute tear. In 17 games, he scored 16 goals and 34 points, and was the leading goal scorer and point getter in the QMJHL playoffs as the Sea Dogs won another league title. Unfortunately the club was unable to defend the crown at the Memorial Cup, losing in the semi-final to the host and eventual Champs, the Shawinigan Cataractes.

Galiev has shown high level offensive skills in the last two years. His stickhandling and puck protection are extremely good. He also has a strong lower body and is well balanced on his skates. This makes it difficult to knock Galiev off the puck. He plays a great cycle game and works the puck down low buying time for teammates to get open. A talented playmaker, Galiev has the ability to pounce quickly when opportunities present themselves, and makes crisp tape to tape passes to teammates. He always had a hard and accurate shot, but Galiev has worked to greatly improve his release over the last couple years. His improved release fools goalies and has led to an increase in his goal scoring production.

Galiev’s defensive game was a huge question mark when he was drafted, but has improved a lot over the last two years. He has good anticipation and causes turnovers in the defensive zone. Galiev is a willing backchecker now, who has solid positional skills and the willingness to get involved in physical battles along the boards. He still has the bad habit of gambling a little and looking for the turnover and transition game a little bit too much. However, while it remains unlikely that Galiev will ever be a contender for the Selke trophy, he has developed his defensive game to the point that he can be trusted late in a tight hockey game. His biggest flaw is a correctable one, as it comes from his lack of bulk and physical strength in his upper body. Adding some muscle to his frame would help Galiev in all aspects of the game.

It is widely expected that Galiev will begin his pro career in the AHL this season, playing for the Capitals AHL affiliate, the Hershey Bears.

Sleeper Prospect: Patrick Wey, Defence
Born Mar 21 1991 — Pittsburgh, PA
Height 6.02 — Weight 200 — Shoots Right
Selected by the Washington Capitals in round 4, #115 overall at the 2009 NHL Entry Draft

After being drafted out of the USHL as a member of the Waterloo Blackhawks, Wey choose to pursue his education in the NCAA, playing for the Boston College Eagles. At BC, Wey has been a big part of a successful program, winning the Frozen Four as a freshman, and playing big minutes as a junior on a second Final Four Championship club.

Wey was originally projected as an offensive defenceman coming from the USHL. However that offence just hasn’t translated at BC. He has just 20 total points over 3 seasons with the Eagles. Wey however still shows that he is an elusive skater with decent quickness, acceleration and top end speed. In his own end of the ice he is able to skate the puck out of danger. He also makes a good first pass and gets the transition game going. However Wey has not really shown a willingness to join the rush, instead preferring to play a more stay at home role.

Wey is a good defensive defender who is extremely strong positionally. His good agility and strong backwards skating make him hard to beat off the rush. He has a quick stick and causes turnovers and transition through his defensive play. While Wey is not overly physical and will not wow anyone with a big hit, he does battle hard along the boards and has shown the willingness to do the dirty work in front of the net. He does need to get stronger before reaching the NHL, however.

Overall I think Wey’s upside is limited to being a potential #6 or #7 defenceman at the NHL level. He’s not my ideal pick for a sleeper, but he’s the best there is in the Washington organization that fits the criteria. (Note: Holtby also fits the criteria, but I don’t think he’s a sleeper anymore).

In the Capitals we see a team with absolutely elite top end talent. In Kuznetsov and 2012 Draftee Filip Forsberg, they have absolute studs at forward. In Braden Holtby we see a goalie with number 1 potential. Meanhile in Galiev they Caps have an intriguing player who has all the talent but needs to bulk up, and they just drafted his polar opposite in Tom Wilson, who has all the bulk, grit, and strong two way play you would want in a junior player but whose overall skill level is questioned. In those five players the Capitals have top end talents and one through five, the Capitals group stacks up with any in the NHL. However, the Capitals lack depth behind those prospects. Overall we see a very good system and one that is a contender to be in the top 10 groups in the NHL, but can’t quite challenge for the absolute top spot (full 30 team rankings coming next week).

Feel free to leave your comments below and to follow me on Twitter @LastWordBKerr

Beat the College Odds: Week One

Posted on August 31, 2012 by AaronWrotkowski

Welcome back to “Beat the College Odds”, where I will be giving out a handful of quick plays for the College Football Season every week, starting….. NOW!

Stanford -24 over San Jose St

Everyone will look at Stanford and considering they lost Andrew Luck, will assume a huge. Not so fast, that shouldn’t happen here. The O-line and D-line should dominate for Stanford, opening up big holes for the run game and giving their new QB tons of time to throw the ball. San Jose St will have their moments, but they are a little too undersized to give Stanford any trouble here.

Western Michigan +10 over Illinois

I don’t like Illinois being 10 point favs over too many teams in football. Their offense is going to have problems scoring all year. Western Michigan had a dynamite offense last year and return QB Carder, but lose All-American WR White. Western Michigan does return 4 starters on the O-line and should give Carder time in the game to put up some points. Can Illinois put up enough points to cover 10? I’m not so sure.

Colorado -6.5 over Colorado St

Rivalry game here and these ones are usually played closely. I like the direction that Coach Embree has Colorado going. They should win the battle of the lines here and I like for them to beat Colorado St.

NC State +3 over Tennessee

The Wolfpack are coming into the season a little under the radar. They return a very good defense lead by All-American CB Amerson and this is probably the best offense NC State has returned in a while. The problem is finding a RB. NC State has lacked a good RB the past 2 years and if they get a run game, they could be dangerous. Tennessee is also an up and coming team as well, but with WR Rogers being booted off the team, it leaves a hole to fill for the Vols early. Their pass game was going to be big but now with CB Amerson allowed to focus on WR Hunter, who is coming back from injury, The Vols may have trouble moving the ball here.

Upset Special SMU over Baylor

Baylor had been a bottom feeder until RGIII showed up and even then, they had to fight and scrap their way to respectability. SMU has a big time offense led by RB Line and WR Johnson. They added five-star transfer from Texas, Garrett Gilbert, to run the offense. SMU looks like a live dog here paying +300.

Best of luck, everyone. See you next week…

Legal Stuff: These picks are for entertainment purposes only. No picks are guaranteed. Don’t bet more than you can afford to lose. Only bet with reputable sports books or on Proline. We take no responsibility for the success of the picks – it’s gambling after all.

LWS Fantasy Football: Players You Can Afford to Wait on

Posted on August 31, 2012November 5, 2021 by Bobby Scott

By Derek Brown and Bobby Amarelo

Every year it is important to consider each individual position before heading into your draft. Last season I wrote about Tight End’s prior to the season and advocated staying away from the top guys, instead focusing on the bargains that could be had in the later rounds. I never envisioned the massive breakout season. The point was that there was value in waiting to take value tight ends in later rounds and use up early rounds at other positions – and it paid off!

This season the tight end position is top-heavy and there is obvious value in drafting one of the top three guys, but expect to pay a steep price. If you miss on one of these players I advocate for again waiting until near the end of the draft to grab a player. Targeting Vernon Davis or Jermicheal Finley will yield you a solid player, but it will also burn a valuable mid-round pick when you could be adding running back depth. Instead, sit out until near the end and grab a high upside player like Jacob Tamme (playing with Manning), Greg Olsen (playing without Shockey, splitting touches), or Martellus Bennett (playing in the Giants offense that features the TE). These players will give solid production and more importantly give just as much chance for a breakout season as any of the mid-round tight ends do.

This season your strategy should focus on the incredible depth at wide receiver. The pool of elite players legitimately goes XX players deep. This means that very valuable receivers are being passed up until the middle-late rounds, guys who look primed to produce enough to be weekly starters. It would not be a bad strategy this year to avoid receiver all together in the first 3-4 rounds and instead build with a QB and RB and possibly one of the top TE options. You will miss out on Julio Jones and Victor Cruz but very valuable receivers will still be available. If you have the choice of drafting an RB2 or a very enticing receiver like Wes Welker in round three you may be better off going with the unspectacular running back. The choice does not seem exciting, but your team will likely benefit in the long run.

Here is a list of players that are falling much too far in fantasy draft’s. Pay attention to these players and allow them to alter your draft strategy early knowing you will have the chance to draft them late:

Pierre Garcon – After signing a big offseason contract he is primed to be the #1 receiver in Washington. He has already developed some chemistry and there is no one on the Redskins roster who appears capable of challenging his position. Currently being drafted in the late 6 early 7^th round in many drafts.

Torrey Smith – Smith is this year’s big breakout candidate. He has been a monster in the preseason because he has become more than just a vertical threat, and has shown good hands on his intermediate routes. I question how much Baltimore really will open up the offense, but regardless Smith is now the clear #1 target and should crack 1,000 yards for the first time in his career. Current ADP is the 6^th round

Steve Smith – Steve Smith is here because of value – currently he isn’t even being drafted in many drafts. The receiver situation is St. Louis is murky at best, but the reason for that is because there is a severe lack of talent. Smith, when healthy, is easily the best wide-out the Rams have on their squad. He has shown he is back in playing shape this offseason and I expect his talent to win out and for Smith to emerge as the #1 target in St. Louis.

DeAngelo Williams RB (CAR) – Very crowed backfield in Carolina with the addition on of fullback, Mike Tolbert, but no worries. Jonathan Stewart just signed a big contract and injured his ankle in preseason so if history repeats itself Stewart will most likely get hurt again in the regular season, DeAngelo has a chance to show that he can be the every-down back. Look for Carolina to use Tolbert as a more conventional full back lead blocking and opening up holes for their running backs. Williams will be a nice stash for bye weeks, and if Stewart goes down he’ll be upgraded to RB1 status. Williams ADP is falling to the 10^th round and even later in some drafts, scope him while you can.

Jonathan Dwyer – Talent always wins out. Jonathan Dwyer is a talent with unique abilities. Issac Redman is a dependable veteran with plodding speed and average talent. Expect Dwyer to get the bulk of the carriers for the Steelers. Currently going undrafted in most leagues pick him up while you can…but you can wait a bit.

Shonne Greene RB (NYJ)– A lot of writers in fantasy-land are putting Greene down for his lack of burst and his poor production. Since he’s been in the NFL he’s always been running in a committee backfield with the likes of Thomas Jones and LaDainian Tomlinson. This year he is the lead back and with the Jet’s running “Ground and Pound” look for him to get the ball early and often. Currently his ADP is in the 6^th round. At this point in your draft this is great value. Don’t ignore Willis McGahee’s stats from last year either. If Tebow takes over at quarterback Greene could become a top 10 fantasy back because it is much easier to find running lanes playing with a running QB.

David Wilson – First rounders don’t get drafted to sit on the bench. Wilson has always had all the speed in the world, but what he has shown this particular off-season is that he has the ability to run between the tackles. Starter Ahmad Bradshaw has had too many injuries in the last few years that have eroded his ability. Wilson is already the better back and the only thing that can hold him back is the Giant’s coaching staff. Current ADP is the 9^th round, this is great value especially in dynasty leagues.

Martellus Bennett – Eli Manning loves to throw to his tight ends. Martellus Bennett is the undisputed #1 option in New York this year, and considering how successful the QB-TE relationship is in NYG camp, consider Bennett’s potential. Currently Bennett is not even getting drafted in most leagues.

Reggie Wayne – New year, new Quarterback, and new Offensive Coordinator might be some of the reasons why his ADP has fallen, but look for another 1,000-plus year from Wayne. Last year he had over 900 yards with Curtis Painter throwing to him so the addition of rookie Quarterback Andrew Luck is a huge plus. Over the preseason they’ve connected on 9 passes for 115 yards – not mind-blowing numbers, but it shows that they’re starting to build rapport amongst themselves. Currently being draft in the 6^th and is another great example of how you can draft a reliable receiver option who has a strong chance for 1,000 yards in the middle rounds of the draft.

There you have it – a look at players you should definitely consider, but can afford to wait on.

Feel free to post comments below, as well as players you feel can afford to wait until late in drafts. If you any questions, feel free to email us – [email protected]

Serie A: Three BIG Matches This Week

Posted on August 31, 2012November 5, 2021 by Frank Giuliano

In week 2 of the Italian League, three main match-ups are on the trot. SSC Napoli will host ACF Fiorentina at the Stadio San Paolo in Naples. Both teams are coming off impressive victories in week 1 where the Azzurri annihilated US Città di Palermo at the Renzo Barbera stadium in Sicily, 3-0, while the Viola completed a 2-1 come-from-behind win against Udinese in Florence with a brace from Stevan Jovetic. This encounter should be an exciting fixture as both teams have improved their line-ups considerably. Napoli has the upper hand in the offence with the almighty Edison Cavani continuing to prove that he is a legitimate centre forward. I believe Cavani and Hamsik will cause havoc for the Fiorentina defence. That said, I also have to point out that Napoli has several key injuries, especially in midfield. The Viola have beefed up the midfield with the acquisition of Alberto Aquilani who was a second half substitute last week. Stevan Jovetic will most certainly be the go-to man in the midfield. Prediction: Seeing that it is the Azzurri’s home opener, it is difficult to visualize Napoli losing this game.

The second very important fixture will be Lazio taking on Palermo at the Stadio Olimpico of Rome. Lazio has had a very negative preseason losing pretty much all of their summer warm-ups. They were able to turn it around last weekend and won the one that counted the most against Atalanta Calcio. The Biancocelesti will be trying to win their fan support back with a strong performance, and with the likes of Miroslav Klose, Stefano Mauri, and ‘the prophet’ Hernanes it might just happen. The Sicilians were absolutely disgusting in week 1 as they received a pounding at home against Napoli. This will most likely be a long season for the Rosanero faithful. Palermo will go as far as Fabrizio Miccoli can carry them. I choose Lazio for the easy win at home.

Finally, probably the most intriguing match to watch will see Internazionale FC do battle with AS Roma at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza in Milan. Inter looked incredible in week one winning an easy game against newly-promoted Pescara Calcio, thrashing the Abbruzzese club 3-0. Roma tied in week one but if old coach Luiz Enrique was still at the helm, they probably would have lost. The Nerazzurri might be too strong for the Giallorossi to handle even though the Romans have made some key buys this year namely centre forward Mattia Destro, Brazilian Marquinho, Greek talent Tachtsidis, and left back Federico Balzaretti who had a superb EURO 2012 tournament. However, centre midfielder Michael Bradley is unavailable due to injury. The Roma defence will have trouble stopping the likes of Antonio Cassano, Wesley Sneijder, and Diego Milito, and there will even more problems if Rodrigo Palacio is back from injury. I do not see many teams stopping Inter’s attack this year in the Serie A. With the return of Zdenek Zeman as head coach, AS Roma will not sit back and defend. The bohemian tactician, as he is called in Italy, is attack-minded and will command his troops to pour forward to attack Inter which may leave Roma’s defence vulnerable to counterattacks. Osvaldo, De Rossi and Totti will lead the frontline with Erik Lamela fighting for the balls in the middle of the park. This game is expected to be wide open. My pick is Inter seeing that they are too strong for the Giallorossi. If the game is played in an open style, I expect to see many goals.

Other week 2 fixtures: Bologna v AC Milan
Cagliari-Atalanta
Catania-Genoa
Parma v Chievo Verona
Sampdoria v Siena
Torino v Pescara
Udinese v Juventus

Serie A Standings

2012-13		Overall						Home					Away
	Pts	P	W	D	L	F	A	W	D	L	F	A	W	D	L	F	A
Inter	3	1	1	0	0	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	3	0
Napoli	3	1	1	0	0	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	3	0
Chievo	3	1	1	0	0	2	0	1	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0
Genoa	3	1	1	0	0	2	0	1	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0
Juventus	3	1	1	0	0	2	0	1	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0
Fiorentina	3	1	1	0	0	2	1	1	0	0	2	1	0	0	0	0	0
Lazio	3	1	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	0
Sampdoria (-1)	2	1	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	0
Catania	1	1	0	1	0	2	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	2	2
Roma	1	1	0	1	0	2	2	0	1	0	2	2	0	0	0	0	0
Torino (-1)	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0
Udinese	0	1	0	0	1	1	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	2
Milan	0	1	0	0	1	0	1	0	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0
Bologna	0	1	0	0	1	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	2
Cagliari	0	1	0	0	1	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	2
Parma	0	1	0	0	1	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	2
Palermo	0	1	0	0	1	0	3	0	0	1	0	3	0	0	0	0	0
Pescara	0	1	0	0	1	0	3	0	0	1	0	3	0	0	0	0	0
Atalanta (-2)	-2	1	0	0	1	0	1	0	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0
Siena (-6)	-5	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Paying Tribute to Kim Clijsters

Posted on August 31, 2012November 5, 2021 by Greg Persson

On Tuesday, the second round of the US Open was contested on the women’s side. Normally a second round match doesn’t tend to generate a great deal of interest, however this battle was different. 18 year old Brit Laura Robson, up a set and at 6-6 was prepared to serve with a match point. She boomed a strong serve at her opponent that was returned long and Robson advanced to the third round. What made this point so important was that it was the final point in the career of Robson’s adversary, the great Kim Clijsters.

It was common knowledge that Clijsters would retire after the 2012 US Open given that she had struggled with injuries throughout 2011. Though she is recognized as one of the strongest players on the WTA, Clijsters’ body was telling her something. The health issues, along with the commitments to her family, made the decision to walk away from the sport a smart one for Kim and a sad one for all of her fans. She has, however, left behind a spectacular career.

Clijsters turned professional in 1997 at the age of 14, and showed flashes of brilliance for the next 4 years until her first Grand Slam final in 2001 at the French Open. It was here that the powerful young Belgian displayed her stamina and conditioning, playing a two and a half hour match with the phenom Jennifer Capriati losing 12-10 in the third set. Clijsters would spend the next couple of years playing and defeating the strongest players on the women’s tour including countrywoman Justine Henin, both Serena and Venus Williams, and the intimidating Lindsay Davenport.

Despite her impressive victories against a who’s who of the WTA elite, Clijsters couldn’t seem to get that elusive first Grand Slam title. She made five consecutive major semi-finals in 2003 and 2004 including three finals appearances. She also achieved the number 1 overall ranking in 2003. In 2004, Clijsters injured her ankle and wrist early in the year, but fought through her injuries to reach the Australian Open final. Unfortunately a cyst spoiled the remainder of her season and Kim would have to wait another year to go back to the top. At the 2005 US Open, Clijsters would finally achieve what all professional tennis players crave – a Grand Slam title. Clijsters dominated Mary Pierce in straight sets to capture her first US Open crown. Clijsters decided to retire in 2007 citing injuries. These injuries were no doubt the result of her playing style, utilizing the baseline, movement and powerful ground strokes as opposed to earning easy points with a strong serve. At 24, Kim was through.

In 2008, Clijsters and her husband, professional basketball player Bryan Lynch, welcomed their daughter Jada to the world. With Lynch planning his retirement as well the two seemed to warm to the idea of becoming full-time parents and leaving professional sports behind. Kim, however, was not ready to put the racquet away for good just yet. While preparing for an exhibition, Clijsters announced she would return to the tour in 2009. With Bryan by her side and Jada in toe, Clijsters returned to Flushing Meadows for the first time since her 2005 victory.

As a wild card, she would likely have to go through both Williams sisters to reach the final and very few people were giving her a chance, but as the tournament rolled on, it seemed that it was her destiny to reclaim US Open glory. Kim got through both Venus and Serena Williams and defeated hot, young Danish prospect Caroline Wozniacki to take her second US Open title. This title meant a lot to Kim as it proved that she was indeed still capable of reaching the top of the women’s game. She also became the first mother in nearly 30 years to win a major (since Evonne Goolagong Cawley in 1980). Kim would go on to win another US Open in 2010 and an Australian Open in 2011 with her family by her side the whole way. She would also return to the number 1 overall ranking making her the first mother ever to claim the spot. She was also named the 16^th most influential person and most influential athlete of 2011 by Time magazine, solidifying her place in the tennis elite.

Though this year was not the ideal swan song for Clijsters, she was able to finally play for Belgium at the Olympics which she was not able to do in 2004 and 2008. She has left an inspiring legacy behind and is a shining example of a truly classy athlete. Her powerful strokes, wide infectious smile and playful post match interviews will always have a place in the hearts of tennis fans everywhere.

We will miss you, Kim.

Beat the College Odds: Michigan State -6.5 over Boise State

Posted on August 31, 2012 by

What an exciting time, as College Football is underway! A weekend where we have over 50 games to find a couple of winners and some value can be a daunting task. The first week is always tough because everything you can rely on is on paper and there isn’t game film of this year’s teams in meaningful action just yet. A lot of analysis is done by reading, when it should as much be based on watching. I like to trust my own feeling I get from watching film more than just reading. Nonetheless, I think I may have found some value for you…

The one thing I do know from last year is that Michigan St has a serious defense and they return almost all their defense from last year and should be one of the best units in the country. This isn’t good news for a Boise St team that has to replace most of their All-American Offense and especially have to replace their record-breaking QB in Kellen Moore, who is now with the Detroit Lions. I acknowledge Boise St has become a household name under Coach Chris Petersen, who is one of the best in the college game, and they have done really, really well in their season openers against big schools. They have beaten the likes of Oregon, Virginia Tech and Georgia to open the past several seasons, all nationally ranked teams. However they did this all with their amazing offense and defense for the past 4 years. This will change this year as Coach Petersen has to reload his squad and it will take some time for his team to gel right away.

Defenses are usually ahead of the offense to start the season and I think Boise St is going to find it really hard to move the football on the road against a top defense.

On the other side of the ball, Michigan St. has lost a lot. They lost their star QB in Kirk Cousins, who is now impressing with the Washington Redskins. They have also lost their top four WR from last year, so the passing game will undoubtedly suffer. The one thing Michigan St has going for them is the run game. They have the most experienced O-line returning in the Big Ten and have a stud RB behind them in Le’Veon Bell.

Boise St is also reloading on defense as well, which should help Michigan St. establish the run and setup some play action for new QB Andrew Maxwell.

I like Michigan St to get an easier than expected win here. Defense rules early on and Michigan St. will prove that. I can see Boise St. having trouble moving the ball and Michigan St. using its O-line, as well as Bell, to move the chains and allow Maxwell to use play-action and hit some easy passes. It is hard to pick against Coach Petersen, but Boise St. just has to replace too much and it will take time for this team to gel, giving us opportunity early on to go against them. Later in the season it may be a different story, who knows, but as of now, take Michigan State.

Stay tuned for my top picks for Saturday in “Beat the College Odds”.

Sports. Honestly. Since 2011

Year: 2012