Manti Te'o

Hey All,

Now I've been putting off writing about this for a long time now, and that's all this hype about Manti Te'o. His combine wasn't the best for all the LB that were on hand, but it wasn't the worst. He ran a 4.82 40 yard dash, which is real slow for LB now a days.

To say that Manti Te'os draft stock is plummeting is ridiculous. The kid can ball, and if I'm a coach that is all I care about. Look at the tape. Does he really look like a 4.8 40 guy? The answer to that question is no. The kid has football speed, good play recognition, and has the ability to blow up plays in the back field.

Let us all not forget that Te'o finished second in the hisman running, and now because he may or may not have made up a fake girlfriend, he's no longer a first round pick. Now I'm not saying that he is the first overall pick, but to say that he will fall to the second round because of his "off the field issues" and his 40 time blows my mind.

The only other thing I'm going to say on this topic is this; look at the tape on Te'o to see what he can do on the field. He had 212 solo tackles, 225 assisted tackles, that's 437 tackles, 35 for loss and 8 sacks. That's just his ability to blow up plays. Taking it to the pass defense he averaged 8 interceptions in his four year tender at Notre Dame. Looking at those stats, I dare you to tell me he's a second round pick.

Until next time,
You keep doing what you do, and I'll keep you up to date with everything sports

Pens v Panthers

Hey All,

The Pittsburgh Penguins were in action against the Florida Panthers tonight in Florida. The Pens are 8-2 on the road, and have scored first in the last 5 road games. Pittsburgh has some unfinished business against the Panthers, because the Panthers are the reason that Geno is out with a concussion.

This game would be physical from the drop of the puck, more so from the Pens. Pittsburgh was wanting to come out and hit, seeing what the Panthers did to their star when in Pittsburgh. The first period was played at a very fast passé, with both teams flying around attacking the puck. However, the Panthers were able to get on the board first, breaking that 5 road games with scoring the first goal for the Pens. The goal came on the power-play on Tyler Kenndy for roughing. Now I have a problem with this call because neither player knew it was an icing call, and kept the play going. Pittsburgh was just unable to clear the puck from their zone.

That's not to say that the Pens didn't have any chances to score, because they were able to mustard up 8 scoring chances. Now there is one problem that I have right now with the way the Pens have played without Malkin. They just aren't taking any shots. They are getting too cute, trying to pass the puck around, and wait for the "perfect" shot. They need to star throwing pucks at this goaltender, because he gives up a lot of rebounds.

The Pens were able score within the first min of the second period, but would be give up 2 quick penalties and have to kill a 5 on 3. They were able to kill the one penalty, but were not able to kill both, giving up yet another power-play goal. Then there was a scrum in front of goaltender of Thomas Vokoun. This would give the Pens a power-play of their own to try and tie the game back up. They weren't able to do so, as Florida was able to kill the penalty. Shortly after that the Penguins would go a man down yet again, and give up yet another power-play goal, only to go a man down and give up 4 total power-play goals in the first two periods.

That would do it for goaltender Thomas Vokoun, and the flower would get into the net for the rest of the game. Pittsburgh would come up with another goal in the second period at the 10 min mar, from Dustin Jeffreys, after a monster hit from Derrick Engaland, which would give the Pens new life in this game. They would however, have to try and kill another penalty. They would do just that, and would come back and get another goal off of a turn over. Paul Martin would take a rocket shot and beat Theodore top shelf and off the cross bar. The sore would be 4-3 in favor of the Panthers with just under 5 mins to go in the second period. Pittsburgh would get yet another power-play chance to tie this game up, and Sydney Crosby would capitalize on that and tie the game at 4 goals a piece.

This had to be the craziest second period I've ever seen. There were so many power-plays, so many goals, and so much intensity from both teams. Now a lot of times there's not 7 goals scored in an entire game, and there were 7 total goals scored in the second period alone.

This game had everything that hockey fans know and love. The Pens lost this game 6-4, but they have nothing to hang their heads about. They played a good game, they were very physical, and showed drive to coming back after being down 4-1. One major thing that the Pens do need to work on is taking less penalties. They played a man down 7 times in this game, and 4 of the 6 goals came when the Pens were down a man or two.

My take from this game is that the Pens played a sloppy first period, should have taken less penalties, could have taken a lot more shots, and last but not least they need Malkin back. Malkin adds a certain spark to the Pens offense, and they just seem to play with a different type of intensity. The Pens need to change the way they play without Geno, until they can get him back on the ice.

Until next time,
You keep doing what you do, and I'll keep you up to date with everything sports.

The Great American Race

Hey All,

NASCAR is back and better than ever, and today was the biggest race of the NASCAR season the Daytona 500, and boy was it a race for the ages. This race had one of the biggest followings I've ever seen, all because of the history that was made before the race even started.

The 500 made history while in qualifying. Danica Patrick was the first women to ever win the pole in a Sprint Cup race. She ran the fastest lap around the track at 196.46 mph, and unheard of speed in today's restricter plate racing.

That's not the only reason this race had so much hype, the Nationwide race the night before helped out a little. There was the biggest wreck I've ever seen in racing on the final lap coming into the tri-oval. A grand total of 13 cars were involved in the wreck, and one left the track surface, and if it wasn't for the catch fence, would have landed 30 rows into the grand stands. All the driver were okay, but there was a total of 28 fans that were injured from debris flying into the stands. Everyone who had to be taken to the hospital would be ok and everyone was in stable condition this morning.

Let's get to today race. It was exciting from the drop of the green flag, though all the drivers were being a bit more careful because of the events in the Nationwide series. Danica didn't last long out front as she was quickly shuffled to the middle of the pack. Jimmy Johnson on the other hand got out and lead a few laps before giving it up to teammate Jeff Gordon. The race picked up 33 laps into it, there was a wreck taking out 5 cars. One of witch was the driver who, in my opinion, had the car to beat in Tony Stewart.

There were many more wrecks in this race, but that wasn't the most exciting part of the race. Once again, like in Nationwide race, it would come down to a green, white, checkered for the race win. Matt Kenseth who lead the most laps, as did teammate Kyle Bush, went out with engine issues. Danica Patrick was in the lead coming to the green, white, checkered, but that would be short lived. Danica would get rushed by Johnson and most of the field, she would finish 8th.

Johnson would get a run to take the lead, but would have the rest of the field coming for him, including hat of teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr would be bushed from 13th all the way p into the second position by Mark Martin, and I think had a chance to take the lead and the win. From what I saw, Jr and Martin had a run on Johnson, and could have taken the race from him. It looked like Jr eased up and gave Johnson his second Daytona 500 victory.

After the carnage in the Nationwide Series, this race had good action, tight racing, a few wrecks, and was just good old fashion racing for the lead in the end. This race is one of the reasons I love NASCAR. It's nothing but throttle, high speeds, and bumper to bumper racing. Thankfully there was no wrecks as bad as there was in the Nationwide Series, and that everyone involved in that wreck (fans in all) were okay. This may change the sport a little bit with safety of the fans at the track, but there's one thing that can't be taken away for this sport, and that's the excitement of racing at close to 200 mph. I'm glad that NASCAR is back from their short offseason, and can't wait to see what happens this season with the new Gen 6 cars.

Until next time,
You keep doing what you do, and I'll keep you up to date with everything sports

Blackhawks Set A Record

Hey All,

Last night the Chicago Blackhawks set an NHL record for points in consecutive games. They were able to do something that only 4 other teams were able to accomplish. The only difference with the Blackhawks record is no team has been able to do this at the start of a season.

Chicago has been one of those teams, in my eyes, that just couldn't figure it out. This season on the other hand, they have been on fire since the season got underway. This is the Blackhawks 17th straight game with scoring a point in each of those 17 games. They achieved this record by defeating the San Jose Sharks 2-1 in a barn burner.

The only other teams to accomplish a feat like this are: 20 games by Detroit in 05-06 season and San Jose in 07-08 with 18 games, other 18 game point streak by Tampa Bay in 03-04 and 17 games by Vancouver in 2010-2011.

You can now add the Chicago Blackhawks to that list of very good teams. All these teams went deep into the playoffs, and most won lord Stanley's Cup. I can't wait to see how long the Blackhawks keep this points streak going.

Until next time,
You keep doing what you do and I'll keep you up to date with everything sports

Red Sox Spring Training

Hey All,

Today, down in the spring training camps for the Red Sox, there was a familiar face on the field. Former catch, and caption Jason Varitek was back in Red Sox red and blue helping out the catchers.

Varitek is in a new role since retiring in 2011 and taking 2012 off to be with his family. He is now in an assistant role with the Red Sox, and will be helping build a new foundation with the club.

Most reporters are use to seeing Varitek with ice bags on just about every part of his body, but today was a different story. He was in a white polo with multiple color strips, gray pants and gray Nike's. Not his usual look, but all in all probably a better look for a seasoned vet. He spent 13 minutes and 43 seconds with the media today, and I think the old timer found a new favorite word. He use the word "learning" about a dozen times in that 13 minute interview.

"I'm learning a lot of different areas, different avenues," said Varitek "Just learning. I'm going to be involved in a lot of different areas, and have been since September. Part of building that foundation, you learn what the coaches are doing, what baseball ops are doing, what the minor-league coordinators are doing. In my position, it's a lot of learning and understanding what everybody's doing."

Varitek will be helping out with the minor-league and scouting for the up and coming draft in June. Also, which the Red Sox organization like the most, he will be helping out the catchers. He's already on the field now with the catchers showing them his tricks of the trade.

Now I say the man is more then qualified to do this: with three All-Star Game appearances, a Gold Glove, a Silver Slugger award, and not to mention 2 World Series rings on his finger, I'd say he's more than qualified for that job. To go along with that, the man was just a tough player, and
left everything out on the field. That's why, when he was a player, in his post-game interviews he had ice bags on every part of his body; shoulder, knees, back, neck, hamstrings, and that's just what we could see.

I can't wait to see what he will do for the organization, since he's done so much on the field, I can't wait to see what happens with him off the field. Clearly it can't do anything but improve what the Red Sox were last season, and a playoff birth would be a good goal to shot for this year.

First Lady

Hey All,

Coming up this Sunday is the Great American Race in the Daytona 500, and history is already been made before the drop of the green flag. Danica Patrick has won the pole, and is the first women to ever win the pole in a Sprint Cup Race.

Danica ran the fastest lap around the track with a max speed of 196 mph, and held off 32 other drivers who had to qualify after she ran her lap. This was a big accomplishment for her, and the sport itself.

Now I'm a huge NASCAR fan, and follow the sport the best that I can, but I feel that the sport was dying. No one was really paying attention to it, and getting a little tired of the sport. It was said on yahoo sports radio last night, Monday Feb 18, that they are starting to confuse the sport with cycling, and formula 1 racing, and this was coming from a sports radio host. Danica winning the pole was huge for the sport of racing. She's sparked interest back into the sport, and people who never watched a race in their lives, are probably going to watch this coming Sunday.

I really want to see how she acts when the green flag drops, and there are 42 other drivers on the track racing for one thing, a win at Daytona. Danica may be the fastest person on the track when she's by herself, but no driver who's won the pole has won the race since 2001. This is not good odds for Danica.

The one problem I see with her in this race, and no it's not that she's a women, but its she's going to need someone to work with in this race. You just simply cannot win at Daytona without someone pushing you around the track. Now there's an obvious driver in Tony Stewart, who is her teammate and car owner. Other person would be boyfriend Ricky Stenhouse Jr., but he is going to have to work his way from 19th to the front, to get with Danica to push her around the track.

I can't wait till Sunday too see the Great American Race, and how it plays out. I want to see if any of the other drivers who want to test Danica early to shack her up and get her off her game. This race is already making history, and will make more once the green flag drops.

Pens Battle For Road Win

Hey All,

This afternoon there was a battle in Buffalo, as the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Buffalo Sabers took to the ice. Both teams looking for a bug win, especially the Pens. The Penguins could take the lead in the east, over the New Jersey Devils, with a win over Buffalo.

These two teams were looking to take advantage of the shortened season with a big time win, and the Pens did just that. The Pens were able to score within the first 90 seconds of the game, putting the momentum on their side. Quickly after that the Sabers would commit a costly penalty, and give the Penguins a man advantage. Crosby took full advantage of the power play scoring on a bad bounce off the back boards. This gave the Pens a quick 2-0 lead within the first two minutes of the game.

The Sabers would answer back though, getting a goal of their own late in the first after the Penguins committed their own penalty. This would be your score at the end of the first, 2-1 in favor of the Penguins.

Buffalo would come out with all the momentum on their side, and the Penguins would come out flat, as they have in the second period this season. Buffalo would get a quick goal in the second, just as the Pens did in the first. This would tie up the game, and keep the momentum on the side of the Sabers, but that would be it for the scoring for both teams. The score would be 2-2 at the end of the second period.

This is where the game would get more physical for both teams. At the start of the third both teams were amped up and ready to play. After a fight broke out both teams pick up the intensity and started hitting. Buffalo would get a goal mid way through the third period, and it looked as if it was going to be it for the Pens. They were able to tie the game back up at 3-3 and things were looking like this game was going to overtime.

Defenseman Paul Martin scored with 2:04 left to go in the game, to lift the Penguins to a 4-3 victory over the Buffalo Sabers. The score from Martin was just his second of the season. His only other goal came On opening day.

A few notes about this game: the Penguins elected to go with 6-foot-4 inch, 215 pound defenseman Robert Bortuzzo to add some size to his roster. He replaced D Simon Despres, and Bortuzzo would be playing in his eight game of the season, after sitting two.

For the Sabres, rookie C Mikhail Grigorenko was a healthy scratch for just the second time this season, and the second time in 4 games. Not to sure why they made the decision to scratch Grigorenko, but they made the decision and he sat.

This game was physical from the drop of the puck, and the fans got a good show. This was a big time win for the Pittsburgh Penguins, who take the lead of the division in the Eastern Conference over the New Jersey Devils.

Battle In Philly

Hey All,

Today things just got a little more interesting in Philly. Dennis Dixon has been signed to the Eagles, and there will be a real battle for the starting QB position.

Dennis Dixon has agreed to a two year deal with the Eagles, which is one more then counter part Vick. Everyone is saying the Dixon won't make it as a starter in the NFL, but I think they are all wrong.

Dixon is very comfortable running the offense that Chip Kelly runs, because he's ran it before and knows it, whereas Vick doesn't. I think that Dixon won't be named the starter off the bat, but after the preseason, he will be named the starter. Vick is too injury prone, and I think he has lost a step since he's played last.

Vick may have the numbers, but Dixon has the knowledge of Chip Kelly and his offense. The two go back until his college days and it won't be long until Dixon is taking point in Philly.

Vick Is Still An Eagle

Hey All,

The Eagles head coach, Chip Kelly, has agreed to a one year deal with QB Michael Vick worth $10 million. Now this is a little but of a pay cut from the $15 million he would have gotten in 2013, but seeing how Vick didn't produce last year, I don't see any problem with this deal.

Vick can be a 1000 yard rusher under Kelly's offense, but he will need to stay healthy, which is a problem for running QB's. To make matters worse, Kelly has told Vick that he's not even guaranteed to be the starter. He's going to have to win the position from backup Nick Folks, who came in late last season to replace the injured Vick, and won the starting job under Andy Reid.

I personally don't think that the Eagles should have kept Vick to run Kelly's offense, but that's just me. I think the Eagles should have cut Vick and pursued other options like Dennis Dixon. Dixon has played for and ran Chip Kelly's offense at Oregon. I don't see the problem with signing him to the team instead of Vick. Dixon is taller, already knows the offense, and in my opinion has a better arm than Vick.

I liked Dixon when he was backing up Ben Roethlisberger in Pittsburgh, and know he is more than capable to be a starting quarterback in the NFL. You get him with the right coach, like Kelly, and he can be a very dangerous QB.

I am not saying that Vick is a bad QB, I'm just saying he's not right for Chip Kelly's offense. Vick is a good football player, he's just not the guy who should be taking the rains for Chip Kelly. Dennis Dixon on the other hand, is very comparable to Michael Vick, but better.

Vick is a 56.3% passer, averaging 7.02 yards, with 123 touchdowns and 82 interceptions, and has 20,274 over his career. Running on the other hand, Vick averages 7 yards per carry, pretty good, but he's ran the ball 791 times, and as a quarterback your body can't take that kind of beating.

Dixon, although he hasn't started but 4 games, is a 59.3% passer, averages 6.81 yards, has 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions, and has 402 yards over his career. When Dixon is on the run he averages 5.6 yards per carry, that's not bad for a QB.

Vick has played in 121 games, and I'm not sure how much longer his body will hold up. I'm interested to see how this "one year try out" goes for Vick. I don't think he will last long in the high power, high flying, high speed offense of Chip Kelly. He's too injury prone and I don't think he will be the starter long.

Until next time,
You keep doing what you do, and I'll keep you yo to date with everything sports.

Pens V. Devils

Hey All,

It was the second meeting n two days for the Pens and Devils, and this game was vintage Penguins Devils. Both teams came out and were ready to play a physical game.

The Pens were playing with a little bit of a chip on their shoulders after a big loss to the Devils in the previous meeting, and it showed early in the game.