Pittsburgh’s Perfect Ten

The Pittsburgh Penguins have won six in a row, eight of the last nine and when five-for-five in their most recent road trip yielding them ten points out of a possible ten. Since hiring Bylsma, Pittsburgh is 8-1-1 with an increase in the level of scoring, a rise in offensive zone pressure and spectacular goaltending from Marc-Andre Fleury. Not only did the road trip go very well for the Penguins but in those five games, four of the teams are either in a playoff spot or are tied in points with a team who is. The addition of Chris Kunitz has been priceless thus far as he has netted three goals in four games and five points overall. Kunitz gives them a presence in front of the net they missed dearly with the loss of Ryan Malone. Along with Kunitz was the acquisition of Billy Guerin who has provided invaluable experience and a right-handed forward for a power play that has improved with every game since the return of Sergei Gonchar. Pittsburgh’s power play scoring has not exactly been stellar, but the amount of opportunities they are creating is more than they have in months. The amount of movement for those with and without the puck has increased which is a substantial change from recent months and will only lead to more scoring which is key to the Penguin’s continued success.

As great as the last ten games have gone for Pittsburgh they have needed to use every point gained to reach a playoff position. Right now they stand in eighth with 76 points tied with Florida and New York ahead of them and are only one point behind fifth place Montreal. However, Carolina and Buffalo are breathing down their necks and even a minor slip up can spoil this ten game party. Thus far the trades have been great, the coaching move is paying dividends and Fleury has elevated his game. Unfortunately for Pittsburgh they cannot celebrate their recent success too much because they almost have to go 8-1-1 in their NEXT ten in order to ensure themselves a playoff spot. The Penguins have certainly proven that this new look team can make a lot of noise in the NHL’s second season; but for now… they just have to get there.

Therrien/Renney Out, Bylsma/Tortorella In. But Will it Matter?

There was only one game Monday night but that didn’t mean the NHL would be lacking in drama after an action packed weekend both on and off the ice.

On the coaching end Pittsburgh’s new head man Dan Bylsma picked up his first two victories as an NHL coach in two 5-4 victories over Montreal and Philadelphia respectively. The Penguins lost to Washington on Sunday but five points out of a possible eight in Bylsma’s first four games is a good start for the new headcoach who is hoping to guide the Penguins back into a playoff spot after a disappointing start to the new year for Pittsburgh.

Staying in the Atlantic Division takes us to New York where the Rangers fired Tom Renney this weekend only to name John Tortorella as his replacement on Monday. Many close to the team believe Tortorella can provide a spark for the Rangers they could not seem to get from Renney. Tortorella has a history of calling out players publically which may inject the Rangers with just the right amount of energy to help save this sinking ship by not only keeping it afloat but guiding them to the playoffs. There is no denying that Renney is a great coach who will ultimately get another job and most likely be successful in that new position. However, Tortorella sweetens the pot by adding his Stanley Cup ring and that demands the utmost respect; something Renney simply couldn’t add to the mix.

In the future there will undoubtedly be many coaching changes across the sports landscape—especially in the NHL. In reality, mid-year coaching changes tend to do very little to change the course of a team especially when they are made toward the end of a season. The players normally don’t change—save for a few here and there—while a season is ongoing and so the chances of a different outcome no matter the coach is slim to none. And this year will probably be no different as both the Penguins and Rangers will probably continue on the paths they were on before coaching changes were made because personnel remains basically the same. If there’s one thing the sports world can learn from the Pittsburgh Steelers is that consistency in coaching and upper management yields sustained, long-term success.

Minor Moves leads to Big Moral in the Big Apple

As a New York resident and long time anti-Knick basketball person, I must admit today I am proud to say that the Knicks aren’t that bad anymore.  I know… some of you guys are thinking this guy is crazy!! Well maybe just a little, but the Knicks are looking to be moving up from doormat to a middle-of-the-road team now.  Sure it’s not a huge turnaround but progress is made in baby steps. 

In exchange for Malik Rose (1.7 ppg/1.7 rpg/over 8.9 min) and cash consideration, the Knicks boosted thier front court by adding a solid rebounding and low post defender in Chris Wilcox.  By no means is he a superstar, he is infact the opposite, he is just a role player.  But he is a solid role player and he plays hard and he is athletic which fits in perfectly into Mike D’Antoni’s system.  With Wilcox in the picture they can now remove Jeffries from his duties at center and pull him off the bench or utilize him as a perimeter defender (which is why he was brought to NY in the first place). 

From a financial standpoint the Knicks lost about $900,000 in cap space since Rose had a larger contract than Wilcox.  However, Rose was clearly not being used by the Knicks and because the bottom half of the Eastern Conference race for the 8th spot is so tight the addition of Wilcox can help them make that late season push.

The move for Larry Hughes is a lot like a bittersweet moment.  The Knicks needed to fill the void at the two guard since the departure of Jamal Crawford, but essentially they got back a similar player in return.  Over his career Hughes has average 31 mpg and shoots 41%.  Although Knicks fans can rejoice because Jerome James has finally left the building, but I’m not so sure it was good move.  Wilson Chandler is having a coming out party this year and to insert Hughes into the lineup over Chandler would hinder his development and possible New York’s longterm plans.  The only way they could utilize Hughes properly is to plug him into the three spot and have him start over Q. Rich who is shooting an abismal 38.5% this year over 28.7 mpg.  The only other plus I see to this is that Larry Hughes was regarded as a top notch perimeter defender and steals leader back when he was in Washington.  However, that was almost 3 years ago and Hughes is clearly slowing down in that department, but yet still relatively effective.

Financially this trade has no real rammifications unless if Jerome James decides to retire in advance, in which it would seem that Chicago has gotten the best of New York once again in these swaps that we constantly have with one another. 

Yet in spite of all my negativity I will say this.  Donnie Walsh has made his plan very clear.  Let D’Antoni pick the supplies he wants to make dinner with, and he’ll go out and get them.  The addition of these two players has added greater athleticism and extended the depth of the bench.  The greatest benefit is that it does not hurt them in the run for 2010 and has created greater excitement for NY basketball fans, in hopes that the Knicks can make the playoffs this year.  The only real question is: why bother making the playoffs when your going to end up playing the Celtics or the Cavs in the first round?

Bradyless Patriots lose to Jets

Well it seems that Brett Favre will achieve the goals that the organization has set for him and that is to take the team to the Playoffs.  The Jets jumped on the Pats early in the game though the Pats were able to come back, it wasn’t enough.   You can’t help to think that if Brady was playing they would have won that game.   However he is not and will not. The Pats with this loss, have solidified themselves at second place in the AFC East.  Why?  Because of the two teams, the Pats have to play tougher teams, and the Jets look really good, while the Pats are getting by on coaching alone.   Look for the Jets to win the Division and the Pats to struggle to grab a birth in the playoffs.

Mike D’Antoni Infuses New Life into the New York Knicks

In the Knicks’ four victories they have averaged 110.5 points per game, and all have been quite convincing. Those kinds of numbers seem to be a direct reflection of a Mike D’Antoni coached team. Everyone who watches basketball knows what kinds of numbers the Suns put up when D’Antoni was in Phoenix.

Many people may have criticized D’Antoni and his decision to have starting point guard Stephon Marbury sit out. However, the players seem to be finding their roles under the steady direction of a more true point guard, if not nearly as talented, in Chris Duhon.

Hopefully for the Knicks, they can continue to build of this success.

Redskins Acquire Bro Bowl Cornerback DeAngelo Hall

The Washington Redskins agreed to a one year deal worth just over $800,000 with cornerback DeAngelo Hall on Friday November 7^th, who had just been waived by the Oakland Raiders. It didn’t take too long for the Pro Bowler to find himself a new home. Although there has been a consensus that Hall has been underachieving this past half-season in Oakland, and the previous year in Atlanta, when looked at closely, it is easy to see why Hall can be a good fit for the Redskins.

First of all, Washington has been suffering from injuries in the secondary, and namely at cornerback; starter Shawn Springs, nickel back Fred Smoot, and backup Leigh Torrence. And although none of the three has been injured for extended periods of time, they have all been injured frequently and sporadically enough that the Redskins could not pass up this opportunity.

Aside from the injury bug in Washington, there is also the stable of wide receivers the Redskins have to face twice each year within their division. The New York Giants sport big game and big height, six foot five inch, Plaxico Burress. We all know about Dallas and Terrell Owens, but now with the pickup of big game, and six foot three, Roy Williams, the necessity for a player of Hall’s talents is ever more of the essence. Finally, the Eagles have a budding star in rookie DeSean Jackson, whose 34 receptions for 525 yards have him on pace to reach 1,050 total, and a quarterback in Donovan McNabb who has shown a propensity to do more with less over his career.

As long as DeAngelo Hall can resume the level play during his Pro Bowl garnering seasons, then the Redskins will have made a good choice. If not, they don’t lose much as they only signed him for the remainder of this season.

Mike Nolan gets the Boot

Mike Nolan Canned

Another coach gets the boot this week and this time it was Mike Nolan of the San Francisco 49ers. This is not a firing that I would call long over due, in this case it just seems like the time was right for firing. After Nolan has put together a very talented defense that has failed to deliver and a struggling office which for all intensive purposes has some real talent as well, he gets canned. I was watching the 49ers Giants game with fellow Sportsorider Mark M and mentioned half way through the 2^nd quarter that I would fire Mike Nolan if I was the owner (I guess he heard me, sorry Mike). Now don’t get me wrong Mike Nolan is a good coach but it was clear that there was no discipline or direction to this 49ers team. Simply put it was time for a change, the 49ers are one of the greatest franchises in NFL history and they are looking to return to form. Things went down hill for Nolan the minute he had to pick Alex Smith #1 in the draft. Mike Nolan’s hopes were pinned on a mediocre college quarter back and like most people thought Alex Smith failed to deliver. Nolan will land on his feet else were but for now it is fair well to a good coach who just couldn’t put the team together.

Marbury Does What He must, BIG DEAL!

I am sick and tired of hearing about how steph has changed. Last year he walked out on the New York Knicks right before a road series match up. Seriously, the guy is crazy. I hope everyone realizes that since the knicks did not trade or release Starbury from his contract, he must play nice or else he will risk his future NBA career, due to the fact this is the final year of his contract. Marbury is without a doubt the most

talented guard on the New York Knicks. I mean seriously, who else is there. Jamal Crawford? AKA Captain Clutch AKA 34 % from the Field. Nope, who else? I’ve been hearing a lot of hype on 37 year old Allan Houston. I am sure he won’t make any difference on the court for the New York Knicks considering he is trying to comeback at the age of 37, on two micro-fracture surgery repaired knees. I am sorry but the odds of him being effective are just not that high. Either way he does help this team. He may help fix the losing attitude they have had in the locker room over the past couple of years. He also becomes a much needed veteran leader. I do like them signing Houston but I do not think he will be a impact on the floor this year.

I confess I am a loyal Knicks fan, but honestly what is up with them signing all the backups on the Chicago Bulls? I mean seriously the Knicks are starting to look like the Bulls B side team or something. They need to shop around a little bit more when before just making moves for back up players and seriously mugged by the bulls in trades.

I love my Knicks but this season they really need to show me something…

Identity fraud ala New York Jets

Identity fraud

by The Boinger

What is the identity of the New York Jets? Answer: They have no identity. Not Joe Namath, not the sack exchange and not Fireman Ed. Not even the great Brett Favre is not going to fix nor change that. The Tuna couldn’t fix it and even Belichick saw the writing on the wall and bolted for New England. There is no long succession of great QB’s. There is no history of a strong run/pass oriented offensive/defensive juggernaut. It is just not there. The sack exchange? They have long since been forgotten. No one has stepped up to carry on that tradition. The front office has had one bad draft after another and continues to try pull the wool over the fans eyes with big NO NAME head coaches. They even tried to fool everyone into thinking that they were serious about moving back to NY. Them sharing a stadium with the Giants further entrenches them as the “second team” in this city. When Donald Trump has lunch with Bill Gates do they share a salad? NO! So why should the Jets be sharing a stadium with the Giants that is no where close to their fan base?

It gets harder and harder to even want to root for them anymore. If you are lucky enough to get tickets you still have to drive out to that hole in the swamp they call home. They need a major change. New ownership would be great. A new home IN NEW YORK would be even better. Perhaps they could find some empty space in the Bronx?

Down goes Brady, Down goes Frazier!

By Madison Mad’Nuff

Down Goes Frazier:

Down Goes Frazier! Down goes Frazier!! Tom Brady went down in week 1 with a torn ACL and now it seems the MVP is out for the season. I don’t expect any miracles but with the Patriots you never know. So as all of New England sheds a tear, and the rest of the free world throws a party and no one is partying harder than Miami, Buffalo, and New York fans. Not because a great athlete got hurt. Nope not at all. No one wants anybody to get hurt, but no nobody wants to see Tom Brady play against their teams either. I will admit that I to cracked I rejoiceful smile when I found out, (Come on you did too, admit it) . “What does this mean?” you ask. It means no Super Bowl repeats for the Pats. Wait but it’s week 1 you say. Let’s be honest with Tom Brady out the Pats are going to struggle all year.

Mark’s NFL PICKS OF THE WEEK

1. Sunday, Sept. 7 Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens 1 p.m

MY PICK: Ravens

2. Sunday, Sept. 7 New York Jets at Miami Dolphins 1 p.m.

MY PICK: Jets

3. Sunday, Sept. 7 Kansas City Chiefs at New England Patriots 1 p.m.

MY PICK: Pats

4. Sunday, Sept. 7 Houston Texans at Pittsburgh Steelers 1 p.m.

MY PICK: Pittsburgh

5. Sunday, Sept. 7 Jacksonville Jaguars at Tennessee Titans 1 p.m.

MY PICK: Jacksonville

6. Sunday, Sept. 7 Detroit Lions at Atlanta Falcons 1 p.m.

MY PICK: Falcons

7. Sunday, Sept. 7 Seattle Seahawks at Buffalo Bills 1 p.m.

MY PICK: Bills

8. Sunday, Sept. 7 Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New Orleans Saints

MY PICK: Saints

9. Sunday, Sept. 7 St. Louis Rams at Philadelphia Eagles 1 p.m.

MY PICK: Eagles

10. Sunday, Sept. 7 Dallas Cowboys at Cleveland Browns 4:15 p.m.

MY PICK: Dallas

11. Sunday, Sept. 7 Carolina Panthers at San Diego Chargers 4:15 p.m

MY PICK: Chargers

12. Sunday, Sept. 7 Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers 4:15 p.m.

MY PICK: 49ers

13. Sunday, Sept. 7 Chicago Bears at Indianapolis Colts 8:15 p.m.

MY PICK: Colts

14 Monday, Sept. 8 Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers 7 p.m.

MY PICK: Green Bay Packers

15 Monday, Sept. 8 Denver Broncos at Oakland Raiders 10:15 p.m.

MY PICK: Denver Broncos

-Mark M

Mark’s NFL PICKS OF THE WEEK

1. Sunday, Sept. 7 Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens 1 p.m

MY PICK: Ravens

2. Sunday, Sept. 7 New York Jets at Miami Dolphins 1 p.m.

MY PICK: Jets

3. Sunday, Sept. 7 Kansas City Chiefs at New England Patriots 1 p.m.

MY PICK: Pats

4. Sunday, Sept. 7 Houston Texans at Pittsburgh Steelers 1 p.m.

MY PICK: Pittsburgh

5. Sunday, Sept. 7 Jacksonville Jaguars at Tennessee Titans 1 p.m.

MY PICK: Jacksonville

6. Sunday, Sept. 7 Detroit Lions at Atlanta Falcons 1 p.m.

MY PICK: Falcons

7. Sunday, Sept. 7 Seattle Seahawks at Buffalo Bills 1 p.m.

MY PICK: Bills

8. Sunday, Sept. 7 Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New Orleans Saints

MY PICK: Saints

9. Sunday, Sept. 7 St. Louis Rams at Philadelphia Eagles 1 p.m.

MY PICK: Eagles

10. Sunday, Sept. 7 Dallas Cowboys at Cleveland Browns 4:15 p.m.

MY PICK: Dallas

11. Sunday, Sept. 7 Carolina Panthers at San Diego Chargers 4:15 p.m

MY PICK: Chargers

12. Sunday, Sept. 7 Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers 4:15 p.m.

MY PICK: 49ers

13. Sunday, Sept. 7 Chicago Bears at Indianapolis Colts 8:15 p.m.

MY PICK: Colts

14 Monday, Sept. 8 Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers 7 p.m.

MY PICK: Green Bay Packers

15 Monday, Sept. 8 Denver Broncos at Oakland Raiders 10:15 p.m.

MY PICK: Denver Broncos

-Mark M