2 year old Eclipse nominees posted by Jan Hoadley

Some nice 2007 foals hit the track as two year olds in 2009 and among the best are those nominated for Eclipse awards in the 2 year old division.

The top nominations for colts are Lookin at Lucky, Noble’s Promise and Vale of York while the top fillies nominated are Blind Luck, Hot Dixie Chick and She Be Wild.

Lookin’ at Lucky brings some strong credentials to the table and is among the early hard looks for the Kentucky Derby. A son of Smart Strike out of the Belong To Me mare Private Feeling, he has the classic connections of Mike Pegram (owner) and Bob Baffert (trainer) along with breeding that can get the job done. He went into the Breeder’s Cup Juvenile undefeated with two G1 wins and a G2 win following his maiden win. He ran second in the Juvenile to Vale of York but bounced back with another G1 win in the CashCall futurity at a mile and 1/16 and has earned serious consideration for the award based on performance.

Godolphin Racing’s Vale Of York has little to shrug at. The son of Invincible Spirit out of Red Vale by Halling did win the Juvenile. That wasn’t all he’d done, winning twice before then in stakes class in addition to a second in a G1, 3rd in G2 and 5th in G3 races.

Noble’s Promise was second his first out then broke his maiden in his second race. He put together three wins including a G1 before his third place run in the Breeders Cup Juvenile and second to Lookin’ at Lucky in the CashCall Futurity. The Cuvee son is out of the Clever Trick daughter The Devil’s Trick.

Strike Three? posted by Goon Squad

Yes, I'm an Ovie fan.
He's fun to watch when he is on top of his game.

His show-boat style and wild goal celebrations are entertaining to me.
He may not be the games classiest player, but he does demand our attention, and usually gets it. Good or bad.

However, I am not a fan of dirty, cheap hits, or this double standard that the NHL denies exists.

It's alive and well and we all know it.

This is the second time in a week that Ovie has been in hot water for questionable hits, and I think this time it's karma coming back to get him.

Carolina defenseman Tim Gleason was nailed in a knee on knee hit last night that knocked the Russian star out of the game.

After being scraped up off of the ice, Ovie was was given a 5 minute major and a game misconduct.
Again.
Gleason was fortunate enough to skate away relatively unharmed.



Considering how Ovechkin was helped off the ice, kicking him out of the game was a moot point.
The punishment wasn’t going to affect him anyway because he wasn’t coming back to play anyhow.
But was that too much for a play that is questionable? Was it not enough for a guy that has started to pile up the questionable hits? Should reputation figure into the decision-making process?

Colin Campbell is going to have his hands full in deciding what, if anything, will be done to punish Ovie for this one.

Big Daddy’s Unforgettable Halloween: posted by Les Leonard

     Big Daddy's spectacular Halloween weekend could not have ended any better than with a Darren Sharper pick to clinch the victory against the hated Dirty Birds on Monday night. Don’ t you feel sorry for people around the country living in cultureless gated communities whose neighbors are from anywhere USA, half of which will move within a year chasing a more lucrative job to fulfill the false illusion of sprawling malls, 401(k)s, mortgages, car payments, and college funds which define success in today’ s misguided America? In this edition on the Section 645 Saints Beat, Big Daddy thanks the Kingpin, reports from Section 645, recaps Monday night, covers the Voodoo Music Experience, plus gives a special Halloween report from Frenchmen St., and releases his World famous Pregame Information.

     If you missed the First Annual Big Daddy Tailgate BBQ prior to that Monday Night Party in Superdome, don’ t feel bad, but Wow! You missed a serious throw down. Big Daddy wishes to thank Ben, Steve, and Tamme for making the Kingpin feel like such a special place. When you combine that feeling the Kingpin exudes with grilling skills of Eric Labouchere and Nat Carrier (the master chefs of Martinique Bistro), the chemical reaction produces the best tailgating venue the Crescent City can offer. Loading up on an all-meat diet prior to football fuels those customary outbursts required by Big Daddy's Section 645 standards, teaching opponents that the Superdome has become the NFL's toughest place for visiting teams.

Big Daddy Screams For Defense posted by Les Leonard

     Sunday’s rain showers didn’t slow down Black ’n’ Gold tailgaters readying themselves for battle. Entering the Superdome, Big Daddy encountered Jets fans displaying their typically rude, loud-mouthed New York attitudes, demonstrating why many despise New Yorkers. Cocky Jets fans’ relentless attempts to diminish Who Dat intensity were less effective than the Army Corps’ levees. After the Saints forced Jets fans to “eat it!” all day, those Yankees had nothing to say. In this week’s edition of Saints Beat, Big Daddy denounces Mayor C. Ray Nagin, reports from Section 645, recaps the New York Jets game, laughs at the NFL’s new policy, covers the 15th annual Gretna Heritage Festival, and release his World Famous Pregame Information.

     Since 2002, Mayor Nagin’s divisive, irresponsible behavior has embarrassed New Orleans so many times. In 2008 the City Council ordered an inspector general investigation into how the Nagin administration formulates financial forecasts. The IG’s 57-page report ended years of speculation concerning Nagin’s incompetence. Findings uncovered City Charter violations and state law breaches throughout the Chocolate City’s current budget. The study found numerous deficiencies in the city’s multi-million dollar information technology systems. The report says that its impossible to determine the purpose of 16 out of the 30 chief administrative office programs; the agencies don’t even divulge the number of people they employ. Yet the Big Easy pays more for basic services and contributes less to parks and recreation than other comparably sized municipalities. Don’t you love it? “Other operating” expenses comprise $678 million, doled out in city contracts without providing proper explanation, not to mention $309 million in Long Term Community Recovery dollars which has no outlined plans for its uses. The Mayor’s highly touted modern approach named “budgeting for outcomes” designed to estimate city spending outlooks is a complete shame. Any other politician would have been impeached a long time ago. In our darkest hour we needed a hero, instead we got a bigoted charlatan who lives in Dallas. Awesome!

Dallas Game posted by Henri "theactor" Ramsey

I was not happy at all about the first half. We had NO PASS RUSH and our offense just couldn't get it going. 

There were a few really useless plays called and I know it's just pre season but, if we are going to run a "wildcat" formation...we should at LEAST get something out of it. I'm realy glad that we held them to ONLY 10 points in the first half. Then only gave up another 3 for the rest of the game. Our defense has been suspect to big plays and that needs to be addressed.

The second half was MUCH more to my liking. Davis has won my vote for #2 QB...maybe #1 if he had a little more experience. This kid is GOOD! I just have to say that. I had not really looked too closely at Davis until yesterday. The kid is GOOD!

He moved the team down the field like a seasoned vet and I know that when he get's his shot to shine, we'll need sun glasses because he's going to shine brightly!

Even though it's only a pre season game, it was a chance for us see how well we can play against a good team. Romo has ALLLL DAY to throw the ball...not good. If we continue to give QB's that much time...we'll find ourselves fighting up hill battles all season long.

I hope that coach Singletary will find the missing piece. Our chances look good to mae the playoffs...we just need to get clicking on ALL cylinders.

I was just happy that we beat the Cowbums. I was hoping for more points but, a win is a win!

Let's just skip the last pre season game and start our run for the money! 

Wild sign Martin Havlat to 6-Year, $30 Million Contract posted by Jeff Ponder

Martin Havlat saw the writing on the wall in Chicago when they signed winger Marian Hossa to a 12-year contract earlier in the day.  The Wild jumped on the chance at grabbing the free-agent winger.

''We are excited to add the speed and scoring of Martin Havlat to our lineup,'' Wild GM Chuck Fletcher said late Wednesday night. ''He is a terrific two-way player.''

Havlat had some serious injury problems in his 3-season tenure with the Blackhawks, but managed to stay healthy throughout all of 2008-09.  He tallied 29 goals and 48 assists with the Blackhawks in 81 regular season games, and added 15 points in 16 games in the playoffs.  Havlat adds even more speed to a very quick Minnesota lineup.

The Wild lost star Marian Gaborik to the New York Rangers in free-agency earlier on Wednesday.  Gaborik played in just 17 games last season for his club, due to a nagging hip injury.  The team rallied around the loss of their dynamic player though, finishing ninth and just being two points out of a playoff berth.  With the addition of Havlat, this team is one to be reckoned with.  Stud center Mikko Koivu scored 67 points to lead the team, and crafty winger Andrew Brunette added 50 points.  Placing Havlat on a power-play line with these two strong players could improve the Wild's chances of earning a playoff spot.

The Wild are known for their defensive play behind recently-retired head coach Jacques Lemaire, but that style may change with the new man guiding the rickshaw, Todd Richards.  If he can addContinue reading "Wild sign Martin Havlat to 6-Year, ..."

Goaltender Options for the Flyers - Part 3 posted by Kevin Christmann

Part 3 of my “Goaltender Options for the Flyers” series will include a couple of “international” goaltenders, and additionally, I will give you my final opinion on what I’d like the Flyers to do.

Part 1 of the series covered Unrestricted Free Agent Options. Part 2 covered Restricted Free Agent Options as well as trade possibilities.

Before I begin, I’d just like to make an update to one of my previous entries. I read a rumor today from Eklund (love him or hate him…I personally hate him) that I thought I’d just throw out there. It said that Giguere is apparently Holmgren’s Plan A this offseason. Although Giguere has his no trade clause and was in the Anaheim area for his son’s eye condition, he doesn’t really want to be a backup goalie, and if the Ducks plan to stick with Hiller he may consider moving. If true, it is certainly interesting news. The Flyers would definitely need to shed some salary in order to get him. To me that means Briere, Lupul, Carle, Jones or maybe Gagne.

Ray Emery

It pains me to even make this entry, but I told a friend I would, and I’d also like to shed a bit of light on him. He has been playing in Russia this past season after nobody in the NHL wanted him (or at least wouldn’t pay him what he wanted). Recently, there was word that the Flyers had contacted his agent. I guess it’s good that the Flyers are considering every option, they should be; but Ray Emery is not a very good goaltender. Ray Emery had one decent season, the only one in which he was the full-time starter. In 2006-2007 he posted a 2.47 GAA and a save percentage of .918; both of which are pretty good numbers. However, I see no reason to believe that wasn’t a complete fluke. He was on a GREAT Ottawa Senators team; a team that had 105 points that season. For comparison, the Flyers had 99 pts this past season, and Biron’s numbers were arguably better (the SV% was, the GAA wasn’t).  In my opinion, Emery rode that awesome Senators team to the Stanley Cup Final, where they were promptly run over by Anaheim.  Somehow, Emery managed to convince people he was a good starting goalie. He managed to get himself a nice contract ($3.167 million cap hit), and was bought out shortly thereafter by the Senators when he showed his true colors. Those true colors being a GAA of 3.13 and a SV% of .890. Oh yea, did I mention that as part of being bought out, you then have to clear waivers? That means every single team in the league passed on him. But I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt and say that no team wanted him at a hit of 3.167 million. However, that doesn’t then explain why nobody wanted him as a free agent, when they could sign him for whatever price they see fit. The explanation is one of two things. Either literally nobody wanted him, or he thinks way too highly of himself, and wouldn’t sign the contracts being offered to him. Both of those don’t speak well for Mr. Emery. Oh yea, I haven’t even gotten into the fact that he’s apparently a coke head (with former teammate Brian McGratton), was perpetually late for practice, and beat up his trainer.

Goaltender Options for the Flyers - Part 2 posted by Kevin Christmann

Part 2 of this series will include Restricted Free Agent options as well as possible acquisitions via trade.

In Part 1 of this series I covered some of the more realistic Unrestricted Free Agent options for the Flyers in their quest to acquire a starting goaltender. In addition to the Unrestricted Free Agent options, there are several viable Restricted Free Agent options. The benefit of restricted free agents is that they are all young…that is, after all, why they are restricted free agents. They are often times coming off their entry level contracts, and just haven’t played enough seasons to be eligible for unrestricted free agency. The bad part about restricted free agency is that, depending on how much the player is signed for, the team is required to pay some sort of draft pick compensation.

The compensation thresholds are dependent upon the salary cap ceiling for that respective season. Since we don’t know what the salary cap will be set at for next season, the compensation thresholds have not been set either.

Last year’s compensation was as follows:

-at or below $863,812 = no compensation

-$863,813 to $1,307,812 = One 3rd round pick

-$1,307,813 to $2,615,625 = One 2nd round pick

-$2,615,626 to $3,923,437 = One 1st round pick, one 3rd round pick

-$3,923,438 to $5,231,249 = One 1st round pick, one 2nd round pick, one 3rd round pick

-$5,231,250 to $6,539,062 = Two 1st round picks, one 2nd round pick, one 3rd round pick

-$6,539,063 or above = Four 1st round picks

When the Minnesota Wild Become Full Strength posted by Steven Kawecki

I’m not talking about the Wild’s penalty kill (which is the best in the NHL) but more of when this line up becomes 100% healthy. Chemistry is something that wild head coach Jaques Lemaire has preached and strived for in his 8 years as coach.  By changing goaltenders in the middle of playoff series to different lines to keep teams on their toes.  The team lately, I will openly admit, has had its struggles. Marian Gaborik for what seems like his 6th consecuitve season, has found himself on injured reserve and is fighthing to get back on the bench. He had is hip surgery, which last I heard went successfully and he is now back on the practice squad getting conditioned for his return. What does this mean for Minnesota?

As of yesterday the Minnesota Wild were one point behind on the eighth spot in the run for the playoffs.  Last year, they won the Northwest Division. I don't think we can for a second single handidly blame Gaborik for it, there are plenty of other players on the Wild that cover his end of the bargain. Mikko Koivu has 17 goals and 43 assists, healthy. Pierre-Marc Bouchard has 16 goals and 27 assists, healthy. Andrew Brunette has 15 goals 21 assists, healthy. These top 3 players for the wild have played more than 60 games this year. Gaborik has played in 6. He is supposed to return to action soon along with Kurtis Foster who has been out with a broken leg since last year. These two are play makers, and when put out on the ice, in fact, make things happen. I think it might just be in the nick of time. The Minnesota Wild have always been a darkhorse, meaning you never see them on ESPN, if they pronounce their names right it's a miracle. When they are 100% which I suspect they are going to be real soon. Expect these guys to be right up there at the end. 100% is one thing, but if they continue to have the chemistry, there is not one team in the NHL that will stand in their way.

Big Ten Picture Just Got Cloudier posted by Bryan Rose

What a difference a night can make. Going into last evening the Big Ten looked like it was pretty much a lock in terms of who was going to the dance and who was out and who was riding the bubble.

Then last night happened and now everything is turned on its head. Northwestern goes into West Lafayette and knocks off the Boilermakers in stunning fashion and suddenly the Wildcats are, take a breath, polishing up their NCAA tournament resume.

It is hard to believe this once doormat of the Midwest, who was off the radar much of the season could now be crawling its way on to the bubble but they certainly deserve to be in the discussion. With wins over top conference teams like Purdue and Michigan State along with an out of conference victory against Florida State, Northwestern can certainly make the case.

The Wildcats not only have those wins but have knocked off fellow Big Ten bubble teams Wisconsin, Ohio State and Minnesota.

But don’t be surprised by the Wildcats improbable run this season, Bill Carmody is too good of a coach with too good of a system not to find success. This year, the talent has finally caught up with the program and Northwestern is reaping the benefits.

Another team that may have played itself into the NCAA tournament is Minnesota. The Gophers came into last night losing 5 of its last 8 games and faced fellow bubble team Wisconsin.

In a low scoring game, Minnesota appeared to blow a double digit lead late in the game but rallied to score the last 10 points to earn a much needed four-point win.

The loss severely cripples Wisconsin but many experts think a win this weekend over Indiana will lock up the Badgers bid to the big dance.

Wild home win streak over Oilers now 12 (AP)

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Stars' home win streak over Wild now 12 (AP)

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Marleau scores 2, Sharks defeat Wild 5-2 (AP)

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Avalanche activate D Foote (AP)

The Colorado Avalanche have activated defenseman Adam Foote, their captain who missed seven games with a sprained ankle, and he'll be available for the team's game Friday night at Dallas. Foote was injured Jan. 8 at Carolina. The Avalanche went 6-1 in Foote's absence, their only loss in that stretch a 1-0 heartbreaker to the Minnesota Wild on Thursday night. [read full article]

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Havlat sends Wild to 1-0 win over Avs (AP)

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