2012 - Page 60 of 114 - Last Word On Sports

Potential NHL Offer Sheet Targets?

Posted on July 22, 2012November 5, 2021 by Ben Kerr

With news this week that the Philadelphia Flyers made a 14 year, $110 million offer sheet to Shea Weber, is it possible that the offer sheet may be a weapon that will be used by NHL GMs again?

Earlier this week I looked at the history of the NHL offer sheet. If we learn from history, we see that there are really two categories of players who become offer sheet targets. There are the legitimate superstars such as Joe Sakic, Sergei Fedorov, Scott Stevens and now Shea Weber. Weber is the only player available who fit into this criteria, so I doubt we see another offer sheet at this level.

However what we have also seen in the past are offer sheets for young, up and coming players. The type of player who has started to establish himself in the NHL, and has the potential to be a superstar, but doesn’t have a long enough track record to reach that level yet. In the past the offer sheets made to Dustin Penner, Ryan Kesler, and David Backes would fit in this category. These are the players that we look at as offer sheet risks today.

PK Subban, Defence, Montreal Canadiens
2011-12 Stats: 81 GP, 7 G, 29 A, 36 Pts, +9

PK showed the ability to be a number 1 defenceman last season. He played nearly 25 minutes per game, and was used in all situations by the Canadiens. Subban matched up against top lines, played on the PK, and on the PP. His offensive game might not have reached the levels that were expected after his rookie year, but 36 points is still an excellent total for a young defenceman, and PK has room to improve in this area. His defensive game has grown by leaps and bounds as he is a legitimate shut down defender and only turned 23 after the season was over. Playing so many minutes and being used as a matchup defenceman, Subban still finished +9 on a 28th place club. It really seems as if the sky is the limit for PK. The main thing he will need to work on going forward is reducing the number of penalties he takes.

I do think the offer sheet threat here is low. PK is Montreal’s only unsigned RFA, and the Habs have $6.3 million in Cap Space today. They are also one of the biggest revenue generating clubs in the NHL, and as such cash flow is not an issue. For these reasons I think its unlikely that Subban receives an offer.

Evander Kane, Winnipeg Jets, Left Wing
2011-12 Stats: 74 GP, 30 G, 27 A, 57 Pts,

Kane is just 20 years old, and has improved every year in the NHL. He really broke through this past season putting up 30 goals. He is a budding power forward and a key part of the future of the Jets. Kane has everything teams are looking for in a young winger, he is the total package. The former 4th overall pick has size, great skating, toughness, hockey sense, and an excellent shot and release. Evander Kane was also a key member of Canada’s top line at the World Championships, showing that he is capable of playing at a high level both with and against other elite players.

The Jets have over $19 million in cap space, and while they are in the NHL smallest arena, they do have the NHL’s 3rd highest average ticket price. They also have a good local TV deal, and a number of other quality revenue streams, helping the team remain in the middle of the pack in terms of revenue generation. They also have one of the richest owners in the NHL. As such I think the chances of an offer sheet are also low in this case, as the Jets have the financial ability to resist.

Jakub Voracek, Philadelphia Flyers, Right Wing
2011-12 Stats: 78 GP, 18 G, 31 A, 49 PTS

Voracek was a major piece coming back to Philadelphia Flyers in last summer’s trade where Jeff Carter was sent to Columbus. Voracek is developping into a legitimate top 6 winger and scored 49 points this past season. The young Czech is a creative offensive player who is equally adept at sniping goals with his hard crisp shot, or making plays with his excellent vision and passing ability. At just 22 years old, Voracek has plenty of room to continue to improve and could become the top line winger that was envisioned when he was drafted.

There is legitimate risk here, especially if the Flyers offer for Weber goes through. The Flyers are clearly a high revenue team and will have the revenue to be able to afford to match. However the Weber offer puts them extremely close to the cap. With Pronger on LTIR they do get some relief, and probably would still match, but the question lingers. There is also a history of retaliatory offer sheets, and so perhaps we should look at Nashville here. While Voracek is probably the biggest target on this list due to circumstances, that doesn’t make the risk that high, as I would still say it is more likely he doesn’t receive an offer than he does.

John Carlson, Washington Capitals, Defence
2011-12 Stats: 82 games, 9 G, 23 A, 32 Pts

Carlson is another young player at just 22 years old. He is a smooth skating defenceman who scored the tournament winning overtime goal at the 2010 World Junior Championships. Carlson has nearly three years of NHL experience and has really progressed at both ends of the ice. He is becoming an elite puck moving defenceman, with his skating and crisp passing skills. Carlson also has a hard, accurate shot, and this led to him scoring 9 goals this past season. He is another young player with untapped potential, and high end ability.

Calson is a player the Capitals must keep, and as such it will be difficult to pry him away via an offer sheet. With Dennis Wideman in Calgary the Capitals will be looking at Carlson as a key piece of their powerplay next season. They have all their major RFAs signed and over $10 million in cap space. The Capitals have generated a lot of revenue since becoming a marquee NHL team with the drafting of Alex Ovechkin, and normally spend at close to the cap limit. As such I think the risk is relatively low here.

Jamie Benn, Dallas Stars, Centre/Wing
2011-12 Stats: 71 GP, 26G, 37A, 63 Pts

Benn has been steadily improving since being a 5th round draft pick in the 2007 NHL Draft. He went from 41 points as a rookie, being used mainly as a winger, to 56 points in 2010-11 while starting a transitition to the centre position, to 63 points last year as a full-time centre. Benn has an elite offensive skillset including a snipers shot, good speed, and size. He also is a hard working player who is solid in the defensive zone as well. Benn is quickly becoming an excellent 1st line centre, and the type of player who is covetted by nearly every NHL team as such a player is becoming a very rare commodity in the NHL.

The Stars have a new owner who has pledged to spend money on the team. The acquisitions of Jaromir Jagr, Ray Whitney, and Derek Roy have certainly boosted the offence, while adding to the team’s payroll. The team also still has over $15,000,o00 in cap space as they were adding to a very bare bones roster after cutting salary over the last several seasons. This plus Benn’s importance to the Stars, makes prying him out of Dallas a very difficult proposition and lessens the chance of an NHL offer sheet.

Edit: one I missed, and should be added is Michael Del Zotto of the New York Rangers.

Michael Del Zotto, Defence, New York Rangers
2011-12 Stats: 77 GP, 10 G, 31 A, 41 Pts, +20

Del Zotto came into the NHL in 2009-10 at a very young age due to his unique offensive skill set. His great skating and puck moving ability meant that the Rangers were willing to keep the young blueliner on the team, despite some early struggles in his own zone. He makes a great first pass, and is excellent in transition. He is also a skilled Power Play Quarterback, whose hard, accurate shot led to him scoring 10 goals last season. Del Zotto’s issue was always his defensive game, however after a stint in the AHL in 2010-11, he is much improved in this aspect of his game. Del Zotto did yeoman’s work this season, playing huge minutes when Marc Staal started the season on injured reserve suffering from a concussion.

The Rangers are one of the richest clubs in the NHL. Finding the finances to match any deal would not be a problem, and with 15 million in cap space available, the chances of a team being able to pry Del Zotto loose with an offer sheet are extremely slim.

I do believe that the Shea Weber situation is a unique case. We had a legit NHL superstar, a Norris Trophy nominee as one of the best defencemen in the NHL. He’s also playing for one of the smaller market teams in the league, and the Flyers, through their set up in the offer itself are clearly trying to take advantage of Nashville’s limited revenue streams at this point in time. I don’t see any other players in a similar situation, with that level of elite talent. Nor do I see any teams who have the cash flow issues that the Predators do, and a quality RFA on the market. For that reason, I doubt we’ll see these guys get an offer sheet. But I wouldn’t have bet on one being used in the first place, so anything is possible.

Feel Free to leave your comments below and follow me on twitter @lastwordBKerr.

NFL Fantasy Profile #3: LeSean McCoy

Posted on July 21, 2012November 5, 2021 by Anto Dowsett

After Arian Foster and Ray Rice went 1 – 2 in our NFL Fantasy Draft 2012, our next most valuable player is running back, LeSean McCoy, of the Philadelphia Eagles.

Half-Back
Born July 12, 1988 – Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Height 5.11 – Weight 208

Previous Three Years		Rushing						Receiving
Season	Team	GP	Att	Yds	Avg	Yds/G	TD	Rec	Yds	Avg	TD
2009	PHI	16	155	637	4.1	39.8	4	40	308	7.7	0
2010	PHI	15	207	1,080	5.2	72	7	78	592	7.6	2
2011	PHI	15	273	1,309	4.8	87.3	17	47	315	6.6	3
	Total	46	635	3,026	4.8	66.4	28	165	1,215	7.3	5

McCoy was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles with the 53^rd overall pick of the 2009 NFL Draft. He later signed a four-year contract with the team on June 29, 2009. McCoy got his start early once Eagles’ deactivated starter Brian Westbrook due to an ankle injury before their game against the Kansas City Chiefs on September 27^th, 2009. He scored his first touchdown on a five-yard rush during the first quarter of that game. He officially got four starts during his first year and finished with 945 total yards and four touchdowns.

On March 18, 2010, McCoy changed his number to 25 from 29 to match the number he wore when he played at the University of Pittsburgh. He also became the starting running back that year once the team released previous starting running back Brian Westbrook. Fast forward to a few months ago, May 17^th 2012 to be exact, it was announced that McCoy signed a five-year extension with the Eagles. The contract is worth $45 million with $20.765 million guaranteed.

For many reasons, a top pick in fantasy should be used on LeSean McCoy. For starters, basing your choice on last year’s results, LeSean had a “breakout” season by finishing with career highs in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns. A reason for this could be the fact that LeSean was on the field for 81.1 percent of Eagles’ plays from scrimmage, which is well ahead of second-place Ray Rice. One can only assume that he will continue playing well this year also. Rumours coming out of Philadelphia report that the Eagles have come up with some new looks for LeSean to be split out wide, almost as a flanker-type player. This type of play will take advantage of McCoy`s improved receiving skills, and further supports the fact that Philadelphia will do whatever it takes to get the ball in the hands of their dynamic running back.

Additionally, there are many more reasons why LeSean would be great at #3. One reason is his excellent record of health; the last time LeSean had any kind of serious injury was when he broke his ankle at the end of his high school career – knock on wood. Further, as it can be seen in the table, year-by-year, McCoy’s rushing numbers have steadily improved since he entered the league. Lesean’s pass-catching ability make him a dual-threat, and allows him to be a three-down back, just like Arian Foster and Ray Rice.

If LeSean remains healthy as he has in the past, he could post rushing numbers in the 1,250-1,350 yard area. Meanwhile, I see him catching about 45-55 balls for about 350-450 receiving yards. Keep in mind that LeSean is the team’s goal-line back, so he has the potential for about 14-16 total touchdowns. If McCoy can post these stats, he will surely be a great pick third overall in fantasy.

… and that is the last word.

Canada Surprises with World U-19 Football Championship

Posted on July 21, 2012November 5, 2021 by Matthew Bin

Despite the deeply-rooted place of the CFL in the Canadian psyche, Canadians are known around the world–and often think of themselves–as a hockey country. Soccer is for kids, and the gridiron is for Americans, the prevailing wisdom seems to go.

So it was a real underdog situation when the Canadian team suited up for the gold medal game against the top-seeded USA team at this month’s IFAF U-19 World Championship in Austin, Texas. The tournament shows off the best high school aged football players from eight countries around the world.

Both Canada and the USA had met in the gold medal game in the previous edition of the tournament, back in 2009. That final had gone the other way, by a lopsided score of 43-0.

This year seemed like it would end no differently. The USA team had yet to trail by a single point in the tournament, and although Canada had a perfect record as well (beating Sweden 43-0 and Japan 33-24), the Americans were clearly favoured.
Canada opened the scoring with a 21-yard field goal near the end of the first quarter, set up by an interception on the 40-yard line by defensive back Kevin McGee–the first turnover ever conceded by the USA in tournament play. A few minutes later, the Canadians extended the score when Alexandre Huard returned a punt 59 yards to make the score 10-0 in favour of the Canadians.

However, Huard’s fumble on the next USA punt gave the Americans the ball in Canadian territory, and their quarterback Brayden Scott made the most of it, capping off a 35-yard drive with a 5-yard touchdown pass to DeMarcus Ayers, and leaving the score at 10-7 at the half.

Running back Mercer Timmis remembers the positive vibe in the Canadian locker room at halftime. “We were up 10-7 and we knew that we could beat this team,” Timmis recalls. “We just had to correct mistakes we made in the first half, and make some adjustments.”

Canada blazed out of the halftime break with a 5-play, 81-yard drive to make the score 16-7; unfortunately, a bad snap on the conversion left them with only 6 points for their efforts. The United States answered in kind with its own 78-yard touchdown drive of their own, leaving the score at 16-14.

But McGee took the wind out of the American sails with his second pick of the game, and Canada rumbled down to the American end a few plays later to extend their lead to 23-14. American kicker Cameron van Winkle drilled a 43-yard field goal to bright the USA within 6, but with only 1:47 left on the clock, Canada managed to snuff out the onside kick and run out the clock.

“We all motivated each other because the USA didn’t see us as a threat,” adds Timmis. “Coach Thorpe made sure that we let them know that we weren’t just going to roll over. They weren’t happy at all, we beat them in their own sport. They were just shocked.”

Sure, there is little more than bragging rights at stake in this junior football tournament. But a Canada-USA matchup is always of interest, especially north of the border. Canada’s players and coaches were clearly the equal of the Americans; taking the gold medal shows that football is still alive and well up in Canada.

Persie Watch – Where will he land?

Posted on July 21, 2012November 5, 2021 by Michael Kovacs, ADMIN

I feel weird joining the van Persie circus at this point. I know everyone and his grandmum has already written about it so much you want to smack your head against the wall repeatedly. Alas, how does one avoid the fiasco completely? Well, he doesn’t. I did write a little while ago now, only minutes after his letter was published on his own website. Unfortunately, not much has happened since…

So, what is it that we actually know? With so much fluff out there on the topic, do we know anything for certain?

We know that van Persie:

is one of the top strikers in the world
is in the prime of his career (debatable – 29 is the new 33)
has one year left on his contract at Arsenal
has had injury problems in the past
has said in an open letter that he will not re-sign at Arsenal

Hardly anything “new”.

It is completely unsurprising that some of football’s giant clubs have come knocking on Arsene Wenger’s front step, including Manchester City (surprise, surprise!), Juventus, and most recently, Manchester United and AC Milan. Sir Al has verified United’s bid. Apparently, RvP had softened his stance on a demand for a move from the Emirates, leading many (mostly optimistic Gooners) to believe him re-signing again at Arsenal is a real possibility. So with several high-caliber options, everyone wants to know where he will end up.

Anyone who claims to know the answer is just feeding you rubbish. With several options, everyone seems to have an opinion on where they think he’ll end up. For me, I am quite confident that he will stay in the Premier League for several reasons, most important of which is that his family is very firmly established in London. His kids are in school in London, and keeping that status quo would seem the ideal scenario for him. Assuming he and I think alike in that respect, there are only a couple of clubs that can possibly afford the hefty transfer fee.

Speaking of transfer fees, do we really know what Arsenal are demanding? Careful though; what they are demanding and what they would be willing to accept are two very different animals – we saw that last year with Cesc and Nasri. From what I hear, the most reputable estimates are in the neighbourhood of 25-30 million, which seems about right, but shows how times have changed with the devaluation of many economies. To deviate just a wee bit, Porto is rumoured to be asking for around 70 million – I’ll have what they’re having if they think they will get even close to that. Anyway, back to “Mr. Greyhair” (apologies, he has left a very bitter taste in my mouth, which I finally cleared after 12 months of Cesc-less football). If Arsenal are indeed asking around 30million, I expect them willing to accept between 24-26 million. Seems low, but that is the market for a 29-year old in the final year of his contract. Sucks to be Arsenal, I know.

If we can rule out Juventus and AC Milan for a minute based on my “family” theory (yet, they are pushing hard from what I hear) that leaves the two Manchester squads as the most likely stops for Robin. First, they can afford it, but also, they are both playing Champions League football, and both will be considered frontrunners for the Premier League crown.

The pockets in City are deep to say the least, and adding van Persie to their superstar roster would be quite the trophy. Hey, if I had 10 zeroes in my bank account I would buy a van Persie myself and get him to shoot balls at Piers Morgan all day long… I like the simple things in life. Manchester City already have a great team, and I wonder if adding another striker makes the most sense. How would van Persie do with other strikers like Mario Balotelli on the roster, for whom he would have to compete with for playing time…or so I anticipate.

Manchester United on the other hand, have to spend in my opinion. Perhaps they don’t need a van Persie, but they need to spend nonetheless. My biggest hesitation with an RvP to MUFC is what I feel would not be a good tandem in Persie-Rooney. Or would it be Rooney-Persie? See where I’m going with that? Rooney can play with anyone I believe, despite his image as “edgy”, but Robin? RvP certainly was Arsenal’s undisputed leader, best player and captain following the Fabregas departure. I wonder how he would do with players on-par with him?

It’s not like the two Italian giants are not possible destinations, however; they are just not as likely in my opinion. Juventus makes sense because they are now back on the world stage with winning Serie A. Adding a player of RvP’s status might makes sense from their perspective. AC Milan on the other hand, are spiraling out of control with the loss of Silva and Ibrahimovic to PSG. They NEED a big name player, or it could be a long, frustrating season for ACM fans.

In the end, I really have no idea where he will end up, but neither does anyone else…Persie included. Will he re-sign in North London, or is the grass that much greener elsewhere? Are the Podolski and Giroud signings seen by van Persie as a sign from Arsenal that they are ready to compete WITH him for the Premier League crown, or will he see them as players brought in to replace him? Is the big money from City enough to force Wenger’s hand? Does Wenger have the gonads to tell them to “stick it”?

Who knows? Not me.

…until tomorrow, lads.

Jays Acquire Three Pitchers from Astros in Happ-less Attempt to Save Season

Posted on July 20, 2012November 5, 2021 by Max Warner

In what can only be called the most underwhelming trade of the baseball season, the Toronto Blue Jays today acquired the services of three pitchers from the Houston Astros in exchange for two major league position players and four minor league players. Heading to Toronto are J.A. Happ, former Blue Jay Brandon Lyon, and David Carpenter. Houston gets backup outfielder Ben Francisco, bullpen gas can Francisco Cordero, and minor league hurlers Joe Musgrove, Asher Wojciechowski, David Rollins and catcher Carlos Perez. The verdict is still out as to which team gets to claim spring training superiority after this trade.

This deal really boils down to Happ and the prospects acquired from Toronto. The rest of the players are basically roster filler. Happ was once a very highly touted pitcher with the Phillies who was rumoured to be part of the package initially offered to Toronto in exchange for Roy Halladay back in 2009. In 2009, Happ posted a 2.93 ERA and 12 wins for the Phillies, but he was ultimately traded to the Astros in 2010, and has struggled ever since. In the past two seasons, Happ has posted the following collective stats: a win-loss record of 13-24, a 1.50 WHIP, and a 5.15 ERA. And that was in the National League, where there is an automatic out (the pitcher) in the nine spot in nearly every batting order! Can you imagine how Happ is going to fare pitching in the A.L. East?

Happ’s one redeeming quality is his ability to strike out batters, as he has averaged better than 7 K’s per nine innings in his career. Call me crazy, but this guy’s stats look like Brett Cecil’s with a few more K’s. The huge amount of hits Happ surrenders will be his undoing; a starting pitcher simply cannot be effective in the Majors when he allows more than a hit per inning, as Happ has done since 2011. Ask Brett Cecil how that approach is working out in the American League.

The fact that Happ was just now acquired for little more than major league spare parts and low minor league prospects indicates just how far his stock has fallen in the past two years. Let’s face it, Happ will continue to find employment for the next couple of seasons simply based on that 2009 season with Philadelphia. Major League general managers have a peculiar habit of focusing on a player’s sole good season, many years removed. For those of us who were forced to take first year statistics in university, the term “outlier” comes to mind.

I have never been a fan of trades where a team acquires a player who provides a tolerable, quick fix to an immediate need on the major league roster in exchange for a decent prospect. In 2000, the Jays sent then minor leaguer Michael Young to the Texas Rangers in exchange for starting pitcher Esteban Loaiza, in an effort to bolster their starting rotation for the stretch run. Loaiza was decent for the Jays in 2000, despite winning only five games, but his 2001 and 2002 season were absolute disasters as he posted ERAs over 5.00 and a WHIP in excess of 1.40 in both years. Loaiza left Toronto after 2002 and last pitched in the Show in 2008. Michael Young didn’t do much with Texas, aside from winning a batting title, a gold glove, an All-Star Game MVP award, seven All-Star selections, and posting a lifetime .302 average and .794 OPS in over 1700 career games. Young is still playing in the Majors, and is a vital part of another playoff bound Rangers squad.

I’m not saying that the Happ trade is Loaiza-Young version 2.0, but as a Jays fan, I’m not very excited about this trade at all. Happ is not going to provide much more than acceptable, back-of-the-rotation pitching for the Blue Jays. He is 29, and his physical peak and his best seasons are likely behind him. Brandon Lyon is a middling reliever with a career 4.17 ERA who can eat some innings for the overworked Jays’ bullpen, but again, he delivers nothing more than adequate pitching. Carpenter could prove to be an effective relief pitcher if he can get his career 1.71 WHIP under control, but he is far from a sure thing. All of the minor leaguers traded by Toronto play below the AA level, and none have posted particularly great numbers in their careers to date. But if even one of the prospects acquired by Houston develops into a star major league player, and Happ doesn’t turn in a solid performance for the Jays for a couple of years, this trade will be a loss for Toronto. Jays fans should, however, rest assured that none of the four prospects look like they are going make the major leagues any time soon.

You can classify this trade as a gamble, a wash, or a steal for either of the teams involved, however, as a Blue Jays fan, I am going to call this trade as I see it: too little, too late to save the 2012 season.

…and that’s the Last Word.

Feel free to leave comments below.

NHL Teams avoid arbitration with Young Stars

Posted on July 20, 2012November 5, 2021 by Ben Kerr

NHL Arbitration Hearing, three words that players, GMs, Agents and owners all fear, or at least it seems that way. Since the Arbitration process started in the 1995 NHL CBA we have been seeing fewer and fewer RFAs actually make it to the hearing stage. This year’s hearings are scheduled were scheduled to take place between July 20th and August 3rd.

In total there were 19 arbitration filings this year, 16 filed by players, 2 normal arbitrations filed by teams (Nikolai Kulemin and Carey Price), and 1 cut down arbitration filed by the Vancouver Canucks on Mason Raymond.

However the number of cases actually making it to the arbitration process is growing smaller and smaller. Teams and players are both better off to come to an settlement prior to the hearing than to go through the process and put things in the hands of an arbitrator.

In the last twenty four hours, as the eve of their hearings approached we have seen T. J. Oshie sign a 5 year deal with the Blues, Nikolai Kulemin sign a 2 year deal with the Maple Leafs, and Sam Gagner ink a 1 year deal with the Oilers. In fact of the 19 scheduled cases 12 have already settled, with more last minute deals expected in the remaining 7 hearings. Some are even speculating that we may not see a single case actually reach an arbitrator this year.

The reasons are simple, it is always better to be able to craft your own agreement, to work together and find common ground, than to put things in the hands of a neutral third party. Going through with a hearing is an adversarial process, one where the GM of the team in question criticizes and cuts down his own player to the arbitrator in an attempt to reduce the arbitration award. It can often create resentment between the player and the GM and franchise and lead to more difficult negotiations down the road. Some might say that the issues which led to Shea Weber signing an offer sheet with the Flyers yesterday. As you may know, Weber was taken to arbitration by the Predators last season, and won his hearing as he was awarded a 1 year, $7.5 million contract.

Actually going through with the arbitration is also a huge risk. On the players side, the arbitrator may award you a contract far lower than what your team is offering and you have no choice but to play for that deal. On the owner’s side an arbitrator may awarad a contract far higher than what the player was willing to settle for. This could lead to the decision if you should pay the player or “walk-away” from the award leading to your player being a free agent. Famous walk-aways include the Blackhawks and Antti Niemi in 2010, the Sabres and J.P. Dumont in 2006, the Rangers and Nikolai Zherdev in 2009, and Tampa Bay and Cory Stillman in 2004. These walk aways led to the team losing an asset while getting nothing in return.

In arbitration you also have the arbitrator awarding 1 year deals, which means the parties are often in the exact same position next year. Whereas in the case of Kulemin and Oshie, the settlements being for multiple years help teams to plan for the future and lock players up for future UFA years as well.

While it may be true that more and more teams are foregoing arbitration the fact that it exists is still a huge tool in helping to get a lot of these deals done. The deadline aspect of the arbitration date is a big thing, as we see more and more last minute settlements. Last year, in the ultimate 11th hour deal, we saw the Rangers and Brandon Dubinsky come to an agreement in the hallway outside the arbitrators office, just minutes before the hearing would begin. Our three latest settlements were done in this way, on the eve of the hearing. The risk that these hearings present for both sides seem to help foster a sense of urgency in the negotiations.

The NHL has asked for the removal of the arbitration process in their first CBA offer. I don’t think this would be beneficial to the league. I think it will lead to more contract disputes and more hold outs, which would not be good for the product on the ice or the fans watching. The system we have is working and should be continued. Sure there may be room for tweeks and improvements, but overall, lets not kill a good thing.

Feel free to leave your comments below and follow me on twitter @lastwordBKerr.

Let's Get Dirty, NASCAR!

Posted on July 20, 2012November 5, 2021 by Chris Bruce

Currently NASCAR runs on many track lenghts; 1/2 mile, 3/4 mile, 1 mile, 1 1/2 mile, 2 mile, 2 1/2 mile oval & 2.66 mile tri oval, 2.5 mile road course and 4 mile road course, with a few track that are in-between those mile markers. As you can imagine the playing field is very different each week, but for me, something is missing.

Now, for those too young or for those who don’t recall, once upon a time NASCAR ran mostly on dirt tracks. Daytona was originally run on the beach and down the main drag in-town before the Super Speedway was built. The last time that our good ole’ boys ran dirt in a points event was September of 1970 at North Carolina Fairgrounds, in Raleigh, NC with Richard Petty taking the checkered flag and James Hylton coming in 4th. Yes, the same James Hylton that attempted to qualify at the young age of 74 for the 2009 Daytona 500.

I’m not sure how many share my thoughts, but I’ve been saying to myself “Heck, it would be something to watch these guys run a dirt track in a points race”. I’m willing to bet my house that the drivers would love to run a dirt points event, as most of these guys started on dirt. During my annual trips to Watkins Glen I’ve gone down to the local dirt track, BlackRock, and watched a few of these NASCAR drivers run the sprints for fun. Look no further than the invite list of guys that run on Tony Stewart’s half mile dirt track, Eldora. The last three years of Eldora’s annual charity race has been won by Kyle Busch, Clint Bowyer and Jimmie Johnson – pretty elite company, wouldn’t you say? So what’s the hold up?

The word handed down from NASCAR is that it’s too expensive and the teams would need to construct an entirely new car to run these races – by the way, don’t you have to do that already for the twists and turns of both Watkins Glen and Sonoma? I think the real problem at hand is finding a venue that will hold the masses. Just like all pro sports, NASCAR needs a place to hold a dirt track race that will make sense – and by sense I really mean “cents”, and a lot of them. It’s very unlikely that they can have a race with 10,000 fans and still make good coin. With all the tracks that have been built in the last decade I think that it’s high time that someone finally pony-up the pennies and build a dirt track to rival a track like Martinsville or Bristol. I, for one, know that if a dirt track is built and a race is run, I will be there for the first event and I’m sure many of you would be, too. To borrow from A Field of Dreams – “If you build it, they will come”.

…and that is the last word.

Feel free to comment below.

NFL Fantasy Profile #2: Ray Rice

Posted on July 20, 2012November 5, 2021 by Anto Dowsett

After starting yesterday with Arian Foster, we will move on to today’s subject, the starting running back for the Baltimore Ravens, Ray Rice.

Half-Back
Born January 22, 1987 – New Rochelle, New York
Height 5.8 – Weight 212

Previous Three Years		Rushing						Receiving
Season	Team	GP	Att	Yds	Avg	Yds/G	TD	Rec	Yds	Avg	TD
2009	BAL	16	254	1,339	5.3	83.7	7	78	702	9.0	1
2010	BAL	16	307	1,220	4.0	76.3	5	63	556	8.8	1
2011	BAL	16	291	1,364	4.7	85.3	12	76	704	9.3	3
	Total	48	852	3,923	4.67	81.8	24	217	1,962	9.0	5

Rice came into the league as the 55^th overall draft pick in the 2008 NFL Draft. The Baltimore Ravens used their second round pick on him and signed him to a four-year deal worth $2.805 million plus a $1.1 million signing bonus. He didn’t originally get the number he wanted, 27, but eventually switched to it during the 2008 preseason once the Ravens cut cornerback Ronnie Prude. He made his first NFL start in Week 1 against the Bengals and received a team-high 22 carries which only amounted to 64 yards. He also fumbled once.

At the start of the 2011 season, the Ravens signed ex-Texan Full-Back, Vonta Leach. The same Full-Back who opened up holes for Arian Foster during his breakout season two years ago. Due to this addition, the Ravens received an upgrade in their running game since Leach is known as one of the best blocking Full-Backs in the NFL. Ray Rice is already a phenomenal running back, and now with a full offseason under his belt, Vonta Leach is sure to open up tons of holes for Ray Rice to run through. Additionally, Rice is a three-down back and receives plenty of catches out of the backfield. This gives him extra opportunities to score more points for fantasy, and in turn increases his fantasy value.

Recently, Rice and Ravens reached an agreement on a new five-year contract worth $40 million with $25 million guaranteed. Pros and cons come from this agreement. The pro is ultimately the fact that Rice will now get in camp on-time, allowing him to remain focussed on football and stay productive. A con would definitely be the fact that if Rice did not holdout, he would have been playing on a contract year. In other words, with it being the last year of his rookie contract, Rice could have had a career year, playing his heart out to receive the most money possible in a new deal. At the end of the day, it was probably best that he had a new contract “signed and delivered” before the season started allowing him to simply focus on football throughout the season.

Rice, with no other competition at running back, will definitely receive many touches per game. I can see him running for about 1,350-1,450 yards, while picking up about 60-70 receptions and 550-650 yards over the air. Add these stats with about 12-15 total touchdowns and you have yourself a wonderful second overall pick come draft day.

…and that is the last word.

Hints that Silvio Berlusconi might be selling AC Milan

Posted on July 19, 2012November 5, 2021 by Luciano Giuliano

At the end of the 2011-2012 Serie A season, many thought that it was time for AC Milan patron, Silvio Berlusconi, to sell the club seeing that the books were in the red by €67.3 million which the ex-Italian Prime Minister covered with his own bank account. With the intention of returning to politics, this may be the best decision for Rossoneri fans, although it must be said that Berlusconi is responsible for creating such a highly competitive side that has shone on all fronts namely Serie A and Champions League.

There are a few hints indicating that a possible sale of the Milanese club is imminent. First, in order to attract big spenders, one of the main factors to look for is that the club is debt- and deficit-free. As mentioned above, Berlusconi has already assured this would not be an issue for any potential buyer.

Next, the club needs to have appeal and AC Milan certainly does not lack anything in this regard. Having won the most championships worldwide, the Diavoli are a prestigious club worthy of respect and honour. Most recently, Forbes Magazine has drawn up a list of the 50 most valuable sports teams in the world in all domains and has Milan ranked 27^th behind other soccer clubs such as Manchester United (first), Real Madrid (second), Barcelona (8^th), Arsenal (10^th), and Bayern Munich (11^th). The Rossoneri are ranked the highest among Italian clubs seeing that it is the only one on the list!

Thirdly, many of the highest earning players last year have been dismissed such as Clarence Seedorf, Alessandro Nesta, Gennaro Gattuso, Mark van Bommel, and most notably Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva. Robinho is also said to be on the chopping block if need be. As a result, the average age of the squad has decreased and the players remaining have salaries that are more manageable than the ones listed above. This, however, may have a negative impact on buying appeal since there are no big named stars. But this is a problem all over Italy, not just in Milan.

There is no doubt that Serie A is on the downfall and the economic issues in Italy certainly are not helping Italian football to stay alive which, together with the points stated above, renders this a time worthwhile to sell. All the pieces are in place or are at least slowly falling into place for an eventual sale. Problem is, Italians are keen on holding onto what they own and keep it Italian, although AS Roma is now owned by Italian-American, Thomas DiBenedetto. Foreign investment is what the Serie A needs at the moment to bring it up to par with other leagues.

Is it worthwhile for a filthy rich Arab or Russian to invest in Italy for a world renowned club valued at $989 million?

What are your thoughts?

… and that’s the last word.

Sports. Honestly. Since 2011

Year: 2012