2012 - Page 78 of 114 - Last Word On Sports

Hendrick Motorsports: A NASCAR Dynasty

Posted on June 5, 2012 by Chris Bruce

Hendrick Motorsports is at it again, claiming each of the last three points races. Jimmie Johnson started the streak with a historic win at Darlington. This win was number 200 all time for Hendrick Motorsports and really accentuates the longevity of their legacy. But Hendrick wasn’t done there, racking up more wins. Jimmie Johnson would also win the non-points series race at the All Star Race in Charlotte. Kasey Kahne would follow that up by taking the checkered flag for his first win with Hendrick at the Coca Cola 600, and Jimmie Johnson would go on to dominate the Monster Mile at Dover for his 57th career win. Its been quite the month or so for Hendrick Motorsports.

There is certainly little need for debate amongst NASCAR fans about who the greatest driver of all time is, that would be the one, the only, Richard “The King” Petty with his records of 200 wins, seven Championships, 27 wins in one season and most starts from the pole in a career with 127 – eat your heart out Ryan Newman. But this article is not about who the greatest driver is, it is about the greatest team in NASCAR, Hendrick Motorsports.

Many of the biggest names and best drivers have driven for the Hendrick team over the years. The roster of current and former Hendrick drivers is a virtual “who’s who” of NASCAR history over the last 28 years:

Ricky Rudd, Terry Labonte, Kyle Busch, Mark Martin, and now Kasey Kahne, who have piloted the #5 car to a total of 33 wins.

During the late 1980’s the #17 car that now belongs to Roush Fenway, was a Hendrick Chevrolet. During his four-year stay Darrell Waltrip AKA DW took the #17 Tide car to victory lane nine times including his biggest win, the 1989 Daytona 500.

During his run with Hendricks, Jeff Gordon has made the #24 Hendrick Chevrolet famous, and has won almost all the major races including the Daytona 500, Brickyard 400 at Indy, Coca Cola 600, Talladega, on his way to capturing 85 wins and 4 Championships.

The larger than life personality Tim “Hollywood” Richmond took the Folgers #25 to victory lane 9 times in 37 races in 1986 and 1987, “Hollywood” unfortunately passed away in August of 1989.

In 2008 the #25 became the #88 and welcomed the sport’s most famous son, Dale Earnhardt Jr. to the team. Since joining Hendrick; Junior has finished 12th, 26th, 21st and 7th in the points series with one win in the 88.

And that brings us to arguably Hendrick’s best driver, Jimmie Johnson who has 5 championships and 57 wins in the #48 Hendrick Chevrolet. In addition to that, his accomplishments include winning the Daytona 500 and Coca Cola 600, all while winning at least one race per year in each of the last 11 seasons.

Every sport has had its dynasties – MLB had Derek Jeter and the New York Yankees in the late 1990s, the NHL had Gretzky’s Oilers, the Trottier’s Islanders, and the Montreal Canadiens, the NBA has had the Lakers and the Celtics, along with Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls, the NFL has Tom Brady and the Patriots, and Joe Montana and the 49ers. While NASCAR has always had its stars – the individual drivers who dominated the game, like Cale Yarborough, Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt Sr in the black #3. However, never before has a team dominated the sport the way Hendrick Motorsports has. This team is carrying a legacy, a dynasty, that continues to go out and win week-after-week, season-after-season, and bring home the records and titles that Hendrick Motorsports has.

With 202 wins, 13 owner’s championships, and 10 driver’s championships since Rick Hendrick started All-Star Racing in 1984 (re-named Hendrick Motorsports in 1985), and absolute domination since their first title in 1995, Hendrick just keeps rising to the top. With the team again coming into form and looking to make a real challenge for the 2012 Championship, I think its obvious that NASCAR’s dynasty is here to stay and continue frustrating other teams and drivers that are lucky enough to finish second for years to come.

Feel free to leave your comments below.

..and that is the Last Word.

Players Being Kicked Out of OTA's

Posted on June 5, 2012November 5, 2021 by Anto Dowsett

The NFL season is looming and players are starting to meet with team officials and staff, and together they are preparing for the upcoming season. This will be the first official full NFL season under the new CBA. Coaches and teams are just getting used to some of the new rules that the NFL and NFLPA collectively came up with to better suit the needs for both the players and coaches. Multiple issues have been met and discussed and have been fixed with this new CBA and both sides seem positive with the outcome that has come about. They have signed the deal for the next ten years, therefore, we will not have to worry about last off-season’s debacle for the next decade.

Would you not find it odd if, back when you were in school, your teacher came up to you and told you to stop studying? And he felt your studying was so problematic that you had to leave because you had been studying for too long? This is just what happened at Carolina’s OTA’s last week. Ron Rivera, the Panthers’ coach, did something that he probably never even thought of in his coaching lifetime – he had to kick players out of the team’s facility due to the fact that they were studying for too long.

According to the new collective bargaining agreement, players in the NFL are only allowed to be “studying” their respective playbooks and schemes for a six-hour limit per day. Thus, at 1:30, Ron had this to say; “I went downstairs and said, ‘Okay, everybody who’s been here since 7, you’ve got to go. So those guys got up and left.”

The Panthers are currently in Phase Three of their organized team activities. This is when teams are allowed to hold 10 non-mandatory practices over three weeks. Players only wear helmets for these practices, and they must not go over two hours. According to the CBA, “Players are allowed to be at their team’s facility for six hours, plus a half-hour for lunch and showers.”

This newly mandated CBA is meant to help give players more time to recuperate. The days when players would go through “two-a-days” are no more. The players now have more time to themselves, and the conditions in which they practice have been said to be safer for their health. At least that’s the theory.

So next time you feel like you have too much work on your hands and that you are overdoing it, just take a break, because it could potentially be better for you in the end. Just tell your boss, “The NFL does it”!

…and that is the last word.

@LastWordAnto

Feel free to leave comments below.

Euro 2012 Group C: The Last Two World Cup Champions Must Pass the Test

Posted on June 5, 2012November 5, 2021 by Frank Giuliano

Group C – Spain, Italy battle it out with Croatia and Republic of Ireland

This group may well be considered the second ‘Group of Death’ as Croatia and Ireland will certainly not be pushovers.

Defending European champions, Spain, are among the top three favourites in this tournament seeing that they easily qualified with two games remaining. Coach Vincente Del Bosque has a very well-balanced team at his disposal and it is difficult to pinpoint the weakness, if any, of his squad especially when talented players such as David Silva, Andres Iniesta, Iker Casillas, Xabi Alonso, Gerard Pique, Cesc Fabregas, and Xavi Hernandes are in the squad. However, two main injuries may hinder the Spaniards’ chances as prolific striker David Villa and captain Carles Puyol will sit out Euro 2012, which could have a grave impact on their scoring and defending capabilities.

That said, other players will need to step up to take over the reins and Spain absolutely has adequate solutions. David Villa’s injury hands Fernando Torres another chance to shine. But, which Torres will show up? Will it be the Torres of the first half of the season or the one from the second half of the season? He will definitely take this opportunity to prove that he is capable of being the Spanish hitman.

Another concern Spain fans need to consider is the team’s hunger. The Spaniards have won the last two international tournaments with pretty much the same team. Are they satisfied or will they fight for honour and respect to show the world that the desire to win still exists? Spain will take on Italy in the first game on June 10 at 12:00pm ET. Nothing other than top-spot is expected for Del Bosque’s men.

Italy had a record qualification only conceding two goals and finished undefeated, which was expected considering their humiliating exit suffered in World Cup 2010. Four years back, the Italians were eliminated at the hands of Spain in the quarterfinals in a game which ended in a 0-0 draw and needed PKs to decide the fixture. What do we expect from the Italians in Euro 2012? Well, Italy certainly does not lack talent with players such as Andrea Pirlo, Antonio Cassano, Mario Balotelli, Sebastian Giovinco, Giorgio Chiellni, and of course the world’s best ‘keeper, Gianluigi Buffon. Head coach Cesare Prandelli has completely revamped the squad keeping only two players from Marcello Lippi’s disappointing WC 2010 team. With the new betting and match-fixing scandal brewing in the midst, the Italians will not be short of any motivation to bring back credibility to their nation. Although the Azzurri claimed the 2006 World Cup in Germany, the Italians will definitely be hungry for success and demonstrate eagerness to prove that they deserve to be considered one of the favourites. Do not let the 3-0 defeat to Russia fool you as the Azzurri are known for underperforming in friendlies. Look for Italy to finish second in this group and may very well surprise Spain in the opening game.

Croatia have been unsung heroes for a long time. A lot of people do not realize that the Croatians have a decent team and can compete with the bigger countries. For example, are you aware that Croatia has never been defeated by Italy? As an Italian fan, I sincerely hope this streak ends at Euro 2012. Croatia will depend on playmaker Luca Modric and striker Mario Mandzukic who led Wolfsburg in scoring this season. Let’s not forget about Eduardo da Silva and Ivan Perisic. However, it has been recently reported that Croatia was dealt a major blow to their frontline as Ivica Olic is out of the tournament with a thigh injury. This will hurt the Croatians deeply, but beware as the men known for their red and white checkered shirts will fight tooth and nail until the bitter end.

Republic of Ireland is coached by ex-Azzurri tactician Giovanni Trapattoni who also coached Juventus, Fiorentina, Milan, and Inter in his career as a club coach. Ireland had a good qualification finishing second only two points behind Russia and needed to win in the playoff round to qualify. Trapattoni’s tactics depend primarily on defence and counter-attacking at the opportune moment. If the Irish are aiming to get out of this group and get far in the Euro, they will need to stick to this game plan. The middle of the park seems to be the Achilles tendon of this squad and this will most likely cause problems for the Irish as Spain, Italy and Croatia have bolstered their midfields with very talented players and it is in the area of the field where the battles need to be won. It is very difficult to know what to expect from the Irish except for the fact that they will not be pushovers and they will aim to give their opponents a very good run for their money. This group is as wide open as Group B – the so-called ‘group of death’. Tough call on this one.

My predictions:

1) Spain

2) Italy

3) Croatia

4) Republic of Ireland

*I believe that Croatia and Ireland will challenge Italy for second, which will most likely be a very tight race.

…and that is the Last Word.

Feel free to leave your predictions in the comments below.

Michel Therrien named coach of the Habs

Posted on June 5, 2012November 5, 2021 by Ben Kerr

The Montreal Canadiens have named Michel Therrien as their new head coach, and have called a 2:30 pm press conference to introduce him to the media.

New General Manager Marc Bergevin has been heavily involved in the coaching search for weeks and he has his man, in Therrien.

Therrien, a Montreal Native, is currently an analyst for french language sports station RDS. He was the coach of the Canadiens from 2000-01 to 2002-03. He was also the coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins from 2005-06 until midway through the 2008-09 season. He took the Penguins to the 2008 Stanley Cup Final where they lost to the Red Wings.

Therrien replaces interim coach Randy Cunneyworth, and hopes to turn around a team that finished 15th in the East and 28th in the NHL in 2011-12.

Therrien has coached 499 Games in the NHL. His record with the Penguins was 135-105-32. His record with the Canadiens was 77 wins 77 losses and 36 ties.

Therrien has a long history of QMJHL and AHL coaching experience as well, winning the Memorial Cup with Granby in 1996.

Therrien’s most famous moment as a coach was this 2006 Press Conference in Pittsburgh.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agL3NHgb8Rk

…. and thats the Last Word.

NHL Draft Prospect Profile #58: Anton Slepyshev

Posted on June 5, 2012March 20, 2017 by Ben Kerr

Anton Slepyshev has fallen in our rankings due to the ever present KHL factor. The first overall pick in the 2011 KHL Draft, Slepshyev has been a member of KHL squad Mettalurg Novokuznetsk all season long. With no transfer agreement in place and the money that a player like Slepshyev can earn in the KHL, we see fewer and fewer Russians drafted. It is certainly a risk, and it often takes teams being patient for a few years before these guys come to North America as we’ve seen with Evgeni Kuznetsov choosing to stay in the KHL this year, it can sometimes be years before a KHL prospect will come to the NHL. However with the talent that is available the risks are still worth it, as many eventually do come over such as recent Blues’ signee Vladimir Tarasenko, and Montreal’s Alexei Emelin who joined the team last season. Slepyshev was a member of Russia’s 2011 entry into the IIHF Under 18 World Championships, and was the captain of this year’s squad. This international play was where we were able to get our looks at him.

Left Wing
Born May 13, 1994– Penza, Russia
Height 6.02 — Weight 185 — Shoots Right

Slepyshev is already a very good skater, and with a bit of refined technique could become a great one. Slepyshev has very good top end speed, and quick acceleration despite a stride that is a little bit too short and choppy. A small bit of work would change Slepyshev from a very good skater to a great one. He already possesses the balance, agility and strength on his skates that is necessary to compete at the next level.

Slepyshev is a talented offensive player. He loves to shoot and has a very good array of shots. His wrist shot and snap shot both are hard, accurate, and feature a quick release. Slepyshev has very good hands, and is able to dangle around defencemen. He’s not afraid to drive the net and generated chances in close with his quick hands. He is a hard worker engaging in and winning numerous puck battles along the boards, and is willing to take abuse in front of the net. Slepyshev could however use some work on his playmaking.

Slepyshev is well developped defensively. He has effective positioning and uses his stick to cut down on passing lanes. He pressures the puck carrier well, and was an important part of Russia’s Penalty Kill Unit at the Under 18s. His impressive work along the boards, and high compete level seem to help him in this aspect of the game.

Based on recent draft results, and how the KHL fear has effected those playing in the KHL in the draft, we’ve downgraded Slepyshev quite a few ranks. If he were playing in the CHL, like fellow Russians Nail Yakupov and Mikhail Grigorenko, we think he would be a late first round pick. However the fear that he will stay in the KHL for a few more seasons is real, and causes him to slip in our rankings. We’d compare Slepyshev’s maximum potential to become a player similar to Radim Vrbata of the Phoenix Coyotes.

As always feel free to leave your comments below, and you can follow me on twitter @LastWordBKerr

… and thats the Last Word.

Parity: Why it is every Sportsfan's Dream

Posted on June 4, 2012November 5, 2021 by Ben Kerr

*EDITOR’S NOTE* This article is the third, in a three part series. Our first article, “Death of Dominance and the Rise of Parity in Professional Sports” was published Saturday. In that article, we compared the seeding of championship winners from the 1980′s with those over the past 10 years. In our Second Article, “Why Dynasties are Important in Sports” Michael Kovacs argued that a return to the era of the Dynasty would be good for sports fans. This is Ben Kerr’s response to Michael Kovacs. Before reading this, I highly recommend you read the first two articles so you are familiar with the basic schools of thought, which will be discussed herein.

By now we’ve seen that parity has arrived to some degree in the four major North American professional Sports. My colleague and friend Mike Kovacs, has argued that parity creates champions who are quickly forgotten, but that dynasties last forever. I’m going to refute that point.

At the end of the day we watch sports to be entertained. And parity provides just that, entertainment. Entertainment is about drama, entertainment is about not knowing what will happen next, it is about being surprised at the outcome, and being lifted out of your seat by the magnitude of the moment. What good is it to watch the 1980s Oilers knowing that they would beat a team by 6 or 7 goals, and that no one could stop them? Knowing that a Championship was all but assured.

Was there anything Dramatic or entertaining about watching the 1998 Yankees sweep the hapless Padres in the World Series? Or how about watching the Cowboys paste the Bills in SuperBowl XXVII or watching the 49ers romp over the Broncos in SuperBowl XXIV. Thats not entertainment, thats a sham. When you know the winner with 95% certainty before the game is even played, or with 100% certainty by half-time, whats the point?

Moments and Memories

Now think about what we’ve seen in recent years. Think about how exciting the 2011 MLB Playoffs were, called by many as the “Best Playoffs Ever.” Think about the last day of the regular season, the Cardinals chasing down the Braves, and the Rays chasing down the Red Sox. Think about the first round of those playoffs with epic 5 game series across both leagues, and two of the games’ best Roy Halladay and Chris Carpenter going head to head in the do or die game 5 of the NLDS. Think about the World Series, and the drama that unfolded. The late inning rallies, Albert Pujols’ three home run game, Tony LaRussa’s broken bullpen phone, and the INCREDIBLE feats of David Freese and Lance Berkman in Game 6, a game that will go down in History as one of the best of all time.

Think about our recent SuperBowls. David Tyree with a jaw dropping impossible grab to help the Giants knock off the undefeated Patriots in one of the biggest upsets in SuperBowl history. Santonio Holmes with a toe tapping last second touchdown to give the Steelers the win over the Arizona Cardinals in Superbowl XLIII. Drew Brees leading the New Orleans Saints, one of the traditionally sad-sack franchises of the NFL, to a SuperBowl XLIV victory in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. The amazing catch of Mario Manningham to again help the Giants to a last second SuperBowl XLVI victory after they needed a win on the last day of the regular season just to make the playoffs. The last second goal line stop to preserve the Ravens win over the 49ers.

And it goes on to hockey. Patrick Kane’s 2010 Stanley Cup winning goal in Overtime. Sidney Crosby’s golden goal in Vancouver. Two Overtime games to start this year’s Stanley Cup Final. Game 7 OT winners in the playoffs like Adam Henrique’s for the Devils, and Joel Ward for the Capitals. Marc Andre Fleury diving across the crease to take away a sure goal from Nicklas Lidstrom in the final seconds of game 7 of the 2009 Stanley Cup Final. The Philadelphia Flyers coming back from 3-0 down in the series, and 3-0 down in game 7 to eliminate the Bruins in 2010.

This is what Parity brings the sports fan. These moments are only possible if the game is close to begin with. The opportunity for someone to step up to the plate (so to speak) and be the hero is only possible when the game is on the line in the late moments. Sometimes it allows a hero to cement his reputation, like Crosby did, with a clutch play at a key time. Sometimes it allows an emerging young star to break out, ala David Freese. Sometimes it comes from the most unexpected of sources like David Tyree. But not knowing who it will be and then watching it play out in front of our eyes, thats what makes sports exciting. The unpredictable events, and dynasties become predictable.

Mike has argued that one off champions are forgettable, and dynasties are forever. I disagree. Will anyone ever forget Tyree’s catch? Will anyone ever forget that Epic Game 6 in St. Louis? Will anyone ever forget Sidney Crosby’s Golden Goal? Even moments from the 70s, 80s and 90s that were not part of a dynasty are remembered forever. Bobby Orr flying through the air in 1970. Mark Messier’s game 6 guarantee, and Stephane Matteau’s game 7 goal to beat Jersey in the 1994 Eastern Conference Final, John Elway’s drive to beat the Cleveland Browns, Joe Namath’s SuperBowl III Guarantee, Kirk Gibson’s homerun off Dennis Eckersley in game 1 of the 1988 World Series. Joe Carter’s World Series winning home run. These moments are etched in our minds and it didn’t take a dynasty to do it. What it took was the drama of a close game in the final minutes, and a hero stepping up and winning that game.

Thats what parity provides the sports fan. Close games, uncertain outcomes, and to steal TSN’s original catchphrase “real life, real drama, real TV.”

Keeping the Fans’ Interest

Parity allows the sports fan to keep interest in his team, even when things are not going so well. The phrase “there is always next year” is more true today than ever before. At the start of the season any team can win. It just takes one draft pick or prospect who comes into his own, one shrewd trade or free agent signing by the GM, or one injury to an opponent’s best player, or one new coach with a fresh outlook and new ideas and suddenly the landscape of the league changes dramatically. Doors that appeared closed, are opened. Also-rans become contenders, contenders become Champions, and history is made.

Look no further than the LA Kings and New Jersey Devils playing in the Stanley Cup Finals. In January 2011, the Devils had just fired their coach, John MacLean, and replaced him with Jacques Lemaire. They were in last place in the entire NHL. This season with Pete DeBoer behind the bench, Zach Parise healthy and scoring goals, and a couple of key additions like rookie Adam Henrique, and trade deadline additions Marek Zidlicky and Alexei Ponikarovsky, the Devils find themselves in the Stanley Cup Finals.

The LA Kings struggled for much of the year. Despite an MVP caliber season from Jonathan Quick, the Kings just weren’t scoring enough goals, and were in danger of missing the playoffs. Enter a trade deadline move with Columbus for Jeff Carter, and the late season callups of Jordan Nolan, and Dwight King. Terry Murray was fired and Darryl Sutter hired as coach. Suddenly the team was energized. Whereas previously they couldn’t score enough goals, they now had two dynamic scoring lines. The bottom 6 even started chipping in goals, and the next thing you know it, the 8th Seed in the Western Conference is 14-2 in the playoffs and just 2 wins away from the Stanley Cup.

We see this in other sports as well. The previously mentioned Saints were an NFL bottom feeder for years until they signed Drew Brees. Last year the Broncos were struggling out of the gate and looking like they were on their way to a high pick in the NFL draft, suddenly Tim Tebow came into their season and they made the playoffs, and Tim Tebow is a quarterback who many analysts believe isn’t even that good, but he was a spark the team needed. The Giants Superbowl would never have happened without the revelation that was Victor Cruz. The Cardinals were helped in large part by a late season trade with the Blue Jays and the bullpen arms it provided, helping them all the way to a World Series Championship. These moves and the results they bring, bring hope to fans everywhere. Fans can believe that their team is never truly out of it, until they are mathematically eliminated from playoff contention.

Mike has argued that the regular season doesn’t mean as much in the age of parity. I again disagree, the regular season means so much more now to so many more fans than it ever did before. We have approximately half the teams making the playoffs in the NBA, and NHL, about a quarter in the NFL and a third in Baseball. More teams in the hunt for a playoff spot late in the season gives fans something to be excited about. Knowing that if their team can just make the playoffs, anything can happen adds intrigue. Regular season games become more and more important as you can make or miss the playoffs based on a couple of wins or less.

For these reasons, I salute the age of parity. I welcome the unforgettable moments it provides, and I hope for more tightly contested games, and last minute heroics to come, because its the drama that entertains me as a fan. Its the thrill of seeing victory snatched from the jaws of defeat, from expecting the unexpected, that leaves me coming back for more.

As always, your comments are welcome below, and you can follow me on twitter @LastWordBKerr

Thanks for reading our 3 part series… and thats the Last Word, until Mike and I raise a pint in a bar somewhere and rehash this argument again.

NHL Draft Prospect Profile #57: Adam Pelech

Posted on June 4, 2012November 5, 2021 by Ben Kerr

Drafted 65th Overall by the New York Islanders.

Adam Pelech opened the year on a high note. The defenceman played for Team Canada at the 2011 Ivan Hlinka tournament. Originally starting the tournament as a depth defenceman, Pelech would finish the tournament on Canada’s shutdown pairing and would return home with a gold medal around his neck. However once he returned to playing hockey for his OHL club, the Erie Otters, it was clear that the winning would not continue. Erie was a rebuilding club this season, and really had a tough year, winning just 10 games on the season. However Pelech performed admirably for the club, and proved to be one of the bright spots in a long Otters season. In fact the Otters were at there worst when Pelech was on the shelf with a wrist injury. He would finish the season again playing for Team Canada, this time at the 2012 IIHF Under 18 World Championship where he would win a bronze medal. Pelech joins teammate Dane Fox as Otters ranked in the second round. Adam Pelech’s brother Matt was a 1st round draft pick of the Calgary Flames in 2005.

Defense
Born Aug 16 1994 — Toronto, ONT
Height 6.03 — Weight 210 — Shoots Left

2010-11	Erie Otters	OHL	65	1	12	13	27	14	7	0	2	2	2
2011-12	Erie Otters	OHL	44	2	18	20	52	-20	—	—	—	—	—

Pelech is primarily a defensive defenceman. He plays a ton of minutes for the Otters, and is primarily used against the other teams top line. One shouldn’t get too caught up in Pelech’s ugly -20 stat line, he’s a good defender, but spent the season playing for a very, very poor team. Pelech has ideal NHL size as he is already 6’3″ 210 lbs. He is a big, strong defenceman, who overpowers players along the boards and infront of his own net. Pelech plays the game rough, and truculent as he loves to battle with opposing forwards. He also has good defensive hockey IQ, and smart positioning, which allow him to defend against passes, and to effectively block shots.

Pelech’s offensive game is limited. He makes a good first pass out of his own zone, but isn’t one to join the rush very often. He has a decent point shot, but lacks the ability to “walk the line” and find openings to get it on net consistently. He is a decent passer, but his puck handling skills are limited.

Pelech has a very awkward skating style that limits his first step quickness and agility. He can be beaten wide off the rush as a result of this. However his top end speed is decent, and his balance and strength on his skates is very good. He will however need a little work on that quickness and agility before he’s ready for the next level.

We believe Pelech has the potential to be a top 4 defenceman in the NHL, primarily in a shutdown type of role. We would compare his maximum potential to be a player similar to Matt Greene of the Los Angeles Kings.

As always, you can leave your comments below or follow me on twitter @LastWordBKerr

… and thats the Last Word.

Alex Del Piero to Montreal?

Posted on June 3, 2012November 5, 2021 by Luciano Giuliano

Pinturicchio, as the Italians have nicknamed him, has been an idol for Juventus fans over the past 19 years and leads all of the club’s goal-scoring records. This includes all-time leading scorer in all competitions with 289 goals, 208 of which have occurred in the Italian championships (Serie A and B). As was noted back in October 2011, Juve president Andrea Agnelli announced that it would be ADP’s last season in a Bianconeri jersey. He leaves the club in style having brought the Scudetto to the Old Lady’s trophy cabinet for the 28^th time. Now at the age of 37 and nearing the end of his career, Alex feels however that he still has a lot to give to calcio and desires to continue his legacy at another club in another league and has currently received an offer from the Montreal Impact.

It may be a perfect fit for the ex-Juve talisman as the Impact already have two former Italian internationals in the line-up namely defender Matteo Ferrari and attacker Bernardo Corradi, in addition to newly signed ex-Bologna striker Marco Di Vaio. So he would certainly have some compatriots within the squad to help him get accustomed to his potentially new home. Alex would be a great signing for Montreal seeing that it could help in the increase of ticket sales, attendance and in retail since the city boasts a large Italian population and the fans are extremely faithful to their squads. More importantly, he could be used as a role model guiding and leading the team along in its growth both on and off the pitch. However, it has been recently claimed that the Padova-native rejected the Impact’s offer and is considering a possible switch to New York or even Los Angeles. But it would be difficult to find room to shine at these clubs seeing that they already field European talents such as Thierry Henry and David Beckham respectively.

There have also been some hints dropped that Argentina club River Plate, where ex-Juve teammate David Trezeguet is currently plying his trade, is interested in adding Del Piero to their roster and this would certainly be an intriguing adventure in a South American league. More recently, reports on Sunday suggest that Alex is seriously considering a move to Spanish side Malaga as he has been offered a contract there. The decision to join the Spaniards would still allow Del Piero to stay close to Italy and play in the Champions League since Malaga have qualified for the CL preliminary round. Alex will be mauling it over for quite some time in the near future since there are many options to consider. As a Juventus supporter, it would be great to see ‘Il gran capitan’ extending his legacy as a player and then possibly as part of a technical staff member in Canada at a club like the Montreal Impact or maybe even Toronto FC. It would certainly attract not only Juventus fans, but many Italians to attend more games.

What are your thoughts?

And thats the Last Word.

Euro 2012 Group B: Who Will Escape the Group of Death?

Posted on June 3, 2012November 5, 2021 by Frank Giuliano

Group B – Will Holland, Portugal or Germany survive the ‘group of the death’?

Dubbed the ‘Group of Death’, the current powerhouses of football will do battle – Portugal, Germany, Holland, and Denmark.

Having never won an international competition during their golden age with high profile players such as Luis Figo and Rui Costa, Portugal will now turn to star Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani to finally lead this nation to glory. They will most certainly rely on CR7 in this tournament with the hope that his goal scoring streak is not over. This season with club team Real Madrid, Ronaldo remarkably popped in 60 goals in all competitions. Portugal has some rising young talent worth mentioning such as Raul Meireles of Chelsea, sought-after defender by the world’s best club teams Fabio Coentrao, as well as Miguel Veloso who plays his club football in Italy.

The Portuguese do not lack experience especially in defence with the likes of Pepe and Bruno Alves commanding the lines with veteran ‘keeper Eduardo between the sticks. The men in red and green struggled to finish second in their qualifying group as the Portuguese relied on goal differential to achieve that position, and needed to defeat a tough Bosnia team in the playoff round to make it through. Four years back, Portugal looked very promising indeed and became one of the main favourites to claim victory at Euro 2008 winning their group with confidence and ease. They then ran into the German wall, and it was ‘asta la vista’ Portugal. However this time around, I’m sure Portugal will give a much more difficult time to their opponents. Look for the Portuguese to be the dark horse team of the tournament.

Germany is certainly the favourite to triumph in this year’s tourney. In international tournaments, the Germans have always been a tough team to play against due to their tenacity and well-disciplined style. They seem to have a strong mentality to win in addition to the skilled players in the roster with stars like playmaker Mesut Ozil, Sami Khedira, Bastian Schweinsteiger, and star striker Mario Gomez. The young and talented Thomas Muller led Germany in goals with five during the qualification round. The Germans will boast a solid defence with players of high calibre such as Jerome Boateng, Mats Hummels, Per Mertesacker, and Phillip Lahm. It will be a very tough round but look for Germany to surpass their obstacles.

The team to beat in this ‘group of death’ is the Netherlands. The Dutch are the 2010 World Cup runners up and one of the favourites of the tourney. On paper, Holland has a favourable start to this tournament as the Dutch will take on, arguably the easiest of all four teams, Denmark. The Orange men will depend on their strength in midfield with players such as Mark Van Bommel, Rafael Vander Vaart, and Wesley Sneijder. Sneijder had a horrible season with Inter Milan, but is eager to have a strong tourney and prove that he is still one of the best in the world. The Oranje will most likely have no problems bagging goals this tournament with Arjen Robben, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Dirk Kuyt, and the most wanted man at the moment, Arsenal striker Robin Van Persie, who scored 37 goals with Arsenal this year. That said, in almost any other group the Dutch would qualify comfortably. In the group of death, it may come down to tiebreakers.

All the bookies are counting Denmark out after the first round. With a group like this, they may very well be right. The Danes qualified for the semis since they won the tournament back in 1992. They are by far the weakest team in the group and I believe they will need a miracle to challenge the others for the top two spots. They will definitely depend on striker Nicolas Bendtner for leadership as well as Christian Poulsen in the midfield. Most likely outcome, three and out!

My predictions for Group B:

1) Germany

2) Portugal

3) Holland

4) Denmark

However, I do believe Portugal can upset in this group.

Sports. Honestly. Since 2011

Year: 2012