I have been really busy lately thus I have forgotten to post a depth chart for the Blue Jackets. With the addition of Mike York to the roster, it appears that the team is now set with their roster for the season. So here is what we are looking at:
1) Rick Nash, R.J. Umberger, Kristian Huselius
2) Fredrik Modin, Derick Brassard, Raffi Torres
3) Jason Chimera, Michael Peca, Jakub Voracek
4) Mike York, Manny Malhotra, Jared Boll
Backups: Jiri Novotny, Andrew Murray
Defense:
1) Jan Hejda, Mike Commodore
2) Rusty Klesla, Fedor Tyutin
3) Christian Backman, O.K. Tollefsen
Backups: Kris Russell, Marc Mehot, Clay Wilson
Goalie:
Pascal Leclaire
Remember that Kris Russell was on the second defensive pairing last season. The defense of this team is much more deep. Just thought I would put this up for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy!
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Baseball playoff races heating up; do fans care?
With the exception of the AL West's spot, seven of the eight MLB playoff spots are still up for the taking. Teams that most sports writers like yours truly thought had no business being in playoff races are still hanging in there. Point to the obvious. Yeah, the two biggest surprises comes from Florida.
It appears the Yankees are no longer the top dog in Tampa. And the Marlins with their Minor League-Like-Payroll has stayed in contention into the dog days of summer. I wrote a blog several months ago on the Marlins saying it was hard for me not to root against them. I still feel that way, even though I will say that the fact their management did not at least go out and get one top tier player before the trade deadline was a bit troubling. Who needs Xavier Nady more, the Yankees or Marlins?
I am always interested in how fans react to contenders. Despite the Marlins being in the the NL East race all season, still remains by far the lowest draw in the Majors. Their last home game was on Wednesday and they failed to draw 15,000. You almost wonder if they make the playoffs, if they can fill up their own stadium.
The Rays on the other hand are seeing a turnaround in attendance. After having a series earlier in the season where they failed to draw 10,000, the fans are coming in. A recent weekend series against Detroit drew over 90,000 fans. Not great for a contender but solid.
The White Sox is another case of not having strong attendance. Horrible teams such as San Diego and San Fransisco are out drawing Chicago.
But this is something I feel certain of: A team which has not been to the World Series since the strike will participate this season in the Fall Classic. Could it be the Rays? Could it be the Marlins? The Phils are playing well. Maybe the Brew Crew? The Dodgers are hanging tough. Despite the White Sox getting Junior, the Twins still have a solid roster. This could be a great finish, and only time will tell if fans in these lesser markets will embrace their surprise runs.
It appears the Yankees are no longer the top dog in Tampa. And the Marlins with their Minor League-Like-Payroll has stayed in contention into the dog days of summer. I wrote a blog several months ago on the Marlins saying it was hard for me not to root against them. I still feel that way, even though I will say that the fact their management did not at least go out and get one top tier player before the trade deadline was a bit troubling. Who needs Xavier Nady more, the Yankees or Marlins?
I am always interested in how fans react to contenders. Despite the Marlins being in the the NL East race all season, still remains by far the lowest draw in the Majors. Their last home game was on Wednesday and they failed to draw 15,000. You almost wonder if they make the playoffs, if they can fill up their own stadium.
The Rays on the other hand are seeing a turnaround in attendance. After having a series earlier in the season where they failed to draw 10,000, the fans are coming in. A recent weekend series against Detroit drew over 90,000 fans. Not great for a contender but solid.
The White Sox is another case of not having strong attendance. Horrible teams such as San Diego and San Fransisco are out drawing Chicago.
But this is something I feel certain of: A team which has not been to the World Series since the strike will participate this season in the Fall Classic. Could it be the Rays? Could it be the Marlins? The Phils are playing well. Maybe the Brew Crew? The Dodgers are hanging tough. Despite the White Sox getting Junior, the Twins still have a solid roster. This could be a great finish, and only time will tell if fans in these lesser markets will embrace their surprise runs.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Maple vs Ash
Last week, I took an enlightening trip to the Louisville Slugger bat factory in Louisville, KY before the Triple-A All Star Game. Both the trip to the bat factory and game were enjoyable and an unique experience. But this trip comes at a time when a huge controversy is brewing over the safety and usage of maple baseball bats. The controversy surrounded much of the talk during the 30 minute tour.
Ash has been the standard for bats for over a century, but in the last decade the use of maple bats have become greater. Much of this was because of Barry Bonds converting to maple and knocking 73 home runs over the fence of Pac Bell Park (now called AT&T Park) and other National League venues in the 2001 season. Players recognized the advantage of maple bats.
The advantage comes with the barrel speed one receives with maple from more torque. Because of a thinner handle, the barrel will stay behind the handle. When the hitter's bat reaches the ball, the rest of the barrel catches up and thus creates more speed (thus more power) at the point of contact.
In recent years however, maple bats are now seen as more dangerous than ash. Maple does not break as often as ash, however when they do break, they tend to shatter. An ash bat will simply crack when it breaks. A good example of this came at a Columbus Clippers game on Wednesday evening when third baseman Yurendell de Caster swung at a pitch and his bat split into two without making contact on the pitch.
A broken barrel of a bat is moving just as fast as a line drive ball, but that part of the bat is much larger than a baseball. This has proven dangerous already for players, umpires, and fans. An umpire received a concussion when he was beemed with a shattered maple bat.
Major League Baseball has a dilemma on their hands. Do they accept the risk that these bats pose or lose the extra power that these bats provide. That is a tough call for a league hungry for more power.
Ash has been the standard for bats for over a century, but in the last decade the use of maple bats have become greater. Much of this was because of Barry Bonds converting to maple and knocking 73 home runs over the fence of Pac Bell Park (now called AT&T Park) and other National League venues in the 2001 season. Players recognized the advantage of maple bats.
The advantage comes with the barrel speed one receives with maple from more torque. Because of a thinner handle, the barrel will stay behind the handle. When the hitter's bat reaches the ball, the rest of the barrel catches up and thus creates more speed (thus more power) at the point of contact.
In recent years however, maple bats are now seen as more dangerous than ash. Maple does not break as often as ash, however when they do break, they tend to shatter. An ash bat will simply crack when it breaks. A good example of this came at a Columbus Clippers game on Wednesday evening when third baseman Yurendell de Caster swung at a pitch and his bat split into two without making contact on the pitch.
A broken barrel of a bat is moving just as fast as a line drive ball, but that part of the bat is much larger than a baseball. This has proven dangerous already for players, umpires, and fans. An umpire received a concussion when he was beemed with a shattered maple bat.
Major League Baseball has a dilemma on their hands. Do they accept the risk that these bats pose or lose the extra power that these bats provide. That is a tough call for a league hungry for more power.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Who wants Sabthia?
So there is no secret that the Indians are wanting to part ways with their franchise pitcher C.C. Sabathia. This was confirmed in a press release by Cleveland Indians General Manager Mark Shapiro.
But how much can the Indians get out of the 27 year-old and who might be interested. Obviously teams that did not expect to be in the situation they're in now (i.e. the Tampa Bay Rays. Most teams have about 75 games left in their season. If Sabathia was to be traded today, and if he started every fifth game, that would mean he would play in no more than 15 games. Don't forget that Sabathia is a free agent after the season is over.
So let's say that your General Manager of, oh, let's say the Tampa Bay Rays (Andrew Friedman), what would you give up to have someone play in 15 games for your team? Tampa Bay has lots of good, young assets in the higher minors. Maybe 25 year-old pitcher Jeff Niemann who is doing well in triple-A Durham. But is Shapiro willing to accept a AAA pitcher for a big league one? Cleveland is going to need a lot more help than that. And the Indians don't just want draft picks.
Now in the midst of an eight game losing streak, the team should look at making wholesale changes. It would be unthinkable to trade Cliff Lee or Grady Sizemore, but depth is something this team does not have? And has anyone seen Buffalo's team lately? No one is waiting in the wings there. Aaron Laffey and Jeremy Sowers were two of their last remaining high level prospects, and now that they're in Cleveland, that is it. They are going to have to wait sometime to develop from within. Jordan Brown is the closest thing to a prospect in Buffalo. But hasn't been considered much of one simply because Ryan Garko was supposed to be the first baseman of the future.
The point is A) Don't expect much for Sabathia by himself. B) If you are really wanting to give Cleveland a chance in the 2009 season, you are going to need more than what Sabathia can give you in the trade market.
But how much can the Indians get out of the 27 year-old and who might be interested. Obviously teams that did not expect to be in the situation they're in now (i.e. the Tampa Bay Rays. Most teams have about 75 games left in their season. If Sabathia was to be traded today, and if he started every fifth game, that would mean he would play in no more than 15 games. Don't forget that Sabathia is a free agent after the season is over.
So let's say that your General Manager of, oh, let's say the Tampa Bay Rays (Andrew Friedman), what would you give up to have someone play in 15 games for your team? Tampa Bay has lots of good, young assets in the higher minors. Maybe 25 year-old pitcher Jeff Niemann who is doing well in triple-A Durham. But is Shapiro willing to accept a AAA pitcher for a big league one? Cleveland is going to need a lot more help than that. And the Indians don't just want draft picks.
Now in the midst of an eight game losing streak, the team should look at making wholesale changes. It would be unthinkable to trade Cliff Lee or Grady Sizemore, but depth is something this team does not have? And has anyone seen Buffalo's team lately? No one is waiting in the wings there. Aaron Laffey and Jeremy Sowers were two of their last remaining high level prospects, and now that they're in Cleveland, that is it. They are going to have to wait sometime to develop from within. Jordan Brown is the closest thing to a prospect in Buffalo. But hasn't been considered much of one simply because Ryan Garko was supposed to be the first baseman of the future.
The point is A) Don't expect much for Sabathia by himself. B) If you are really wanting to give Cleveland a chance in the 2009 season, you are going to need more than what Sabathia can give you in the trade market.
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Wow! It has been a while
I know it has been a while since I have been on to update you on what is going on. I have been enjoying summertime and everything that goes with it. Now that the Arena Football season is over, the only thing on my sports mind will be baseball. But just because the NHL is still months away from starting training camp, and the Arena Football season is over does not mean there isn't things to talk about with those.
As has been reported on all the local outlets, the Blue Jackets are in the process of revamping their lineup for the fall. General Manager Scott Howson never got the first-line center he was searching for. What he did get was some quality forwards and defensemen to boost this perennial losing team. Most will look at the list of names and scratch their heads on who these are. But what what you have to look at is they got players who are close to peaking or are at the top of their careers and a number of these players could have a breakout season.
R.J. Umberger, 26, is likely to have a breakout season. Critics say Umberger is not top center quality. I disagree. He knows Columbus very well playing at Ohio State a few years ago. That showed in the playoffs when he scored 15 points in 17 games. Umberger also showed signs of improvement after scoring 28 points in the 2006-07 season, he scored 50 points in the 2007-08 year. And playing with one of the league's premier wingers in Rick Nash will only boost those numbers. Umberger already comes in with much better numbers than center Michael Peca who scored just 34 times last season.
Kristian Huselius is also another huge scoring acquisition. He is a left winger who I expect will be converted to right wing so he can play with Nash. Believe it or not, Huselius has scored as much the last couple seasons than Nash. Huselius scored 66 times last season compared to 69 for Nash. The season before, Huselius scored 77 times compared to 57 for Nash.
Raffi Torres rounds out the new forwards. He is coming of an injury shortened season where he only played 32 games but is likely to score 30-40 times in a season. Only being 27, he is not likely to slow down anytime soon.
“Torres is an experienced NHL player who combines a physical presence with the ability to score goals,” Howson said. “He will also bring to our club the experience of someone who has played deep into the playoffs as he was a significant contributor to Oilers’ run to the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals.”
What about the forwards? Jan Hejda and Rostislav Klesla will still be key members of the blue line, however there is for the first time in team history depth back there. Mike Commodore, Fedor Tyutin, and Christian Backman all provide something different. The only thing that they have in common is they are between 25-29, and yet again the team didn't rely on getting veterans on their last limb to supply their team with talent. Commodore and Hejda would make an excellent stay at home and shutdown-their-offense pairing. Backman and Tyutin were added because they can quickly move the puck. Don't forget Kris Russell and O.K. Tollefsen.
“All strong teams are built from the backend out and we feel like we made significant strides in that area," Howson said.
So the team has upgraded at every spot, however the Central will be an even more tough division to play in. Chicago could contend this season with all their youth. Detroit is reloading, and doing a good job of it with grabbing Marian Hossa.
I also wanted to touch really quickly on the Destroyers. Doug Kay was recently dismissed as their head coach. Not a surprise after a disappointing 3-13 season following a trip to the Arena Bowl. But one thing that will be missed about Kay is his passion for what Arena Football is about; that is the fans.
After the Destroyers were blown out by the Georgia Force on June 7, many of the players did not want to come out of the locker room for the post game autograph session. Derek Lee sat in his locker with no clothes on and a towel over his head. Kay found out that many members of the team were not on the field. He ran into the locker room and told his players that they had to get out on the field. Within a second, Lee was all of a sudden not in his locker. I still have no idea how (or even if) he got dressed.
I am sure Kay saw the writing on the wall during the final home game on June 14 when the Destroyers lost a tough game to Grand Rapids. That was the infamous Justin Zwick game. After a week of the Destroyers' P.R. types building up Zwick's debut, he came in the second quarter to throw for a 47 yard touchdown. That was all she wrote. Kay put Nagy back into the game only to lose with the offense on the field at the end of the game down by three. Kay obviously always stood behind Nagy, however when asked about Zwick's play, he wanted to give credit to the offensive coordinator.
As has been reported on all the local outlets, the Blue Jackets are in the process of revamping their lineup for the fall. General Manager Scott Howson never got the first-line center he was searching for. What he did get was some quality forwards and defensemen to boost this perennial losing team. Most will look at the list of names and scratch their heads on who these are. But what what you have to look at is they got players who are close to peaking or are at the top of their careers and a number of these players could have a breakout season.
R.J. Umberger, 26, is likely to have a breakout season. Critics say Umberger is not top center quality. I disagree. He knows Columbus very well playing at Ohio State a few years ago. That showed in the playoffs when he scored 15 points in 17 games. Umberger also showed signs of improvement after scoring 28 points in the 2006-07 season, he scored 50 points in the 2007-08 year. And playing with one of the league's premier wingers in Rick Nash will only boost those numbers. Umberger already comes in with much better numbers than center Michael Peca who scored just 34 times last season.
Kristian Huselius is also another huge scoring acquisition. He is a left winger who I expect will be converted to right wing so he can play with Nash. Believe it or not, Huselius has scored as much the last couple seasons than Nash. Huselius scored 66 times last season compared to 69 for Nash. The season before, Huselius scored 77 times compared to 57 for Nash.
Raffi Torres rounds out the new forwards. He is coming of an injury shortened season where he only played 32 games but is likely to score 30-40 times in a season. Only being 27, he is not likely to slow down anytime soon.
“Torres is an experienced NHL player who combines a physical presence with the ability to score goals,” Howson said. “He will also bring to our club the experience of someone who has played deep into the playoffs as he was a significant contributor to Oilers’ run to the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals.”
What about the forwards? Jan Hejda and Rostislav Klesla will still be key members of the blue line, however there is for the first time in team history depth back there. Mike Commodore, Fedor Tyutin, and Christian Backman all provide something different. The only thing that they have in common is they are between 25-29, and yet again the team didn't rely on getting veterans on their last limb to supply their team with talent. Commodore and Hejda would make an excellent stay at home and shutdown-their-offense pairing. Backman and Tyutin were added because they can quickly move the puck. Don't forget Kris Russell and O.K. Tollefsen.
“All strong teams are built from the backend out and we feel like we made significant strides in that area," Howson said.
So the team has upgraded at every spot, however the Central will be an even more tough division to play in. Chicago could contend this season with all their youth. Detroit is reloading, and doing a good job of it with grabbing Marian Hossa.
I also wanted to touch really quickly on the Destroyers. Doug Kay was recently dismissed as their head coach. Not a surprise after a disappointing 3-13 season following a trip to the Arena Bowl. But one thing that will be missed about Kay is his passion for what Arena Football is about; that is the fans.
After the Destroyers were blown out by the Georgia Force on June 7, many of the players did not want to come out of the locker room for the post game autograph session. Derek Lee sat in his locker with no clothes on and a towel over his head. Kay found out that many members of the team were not on the field. He ran into the locker room and told his players that they had to get out on the field. Within a second, Lee was all of a sudden not in his locker. I still have no idea how (or even if) he got dressed.
I am sure Kay saw the writing on the wall during the final home game on June 14 when the Destroyers lost a tough game to Grand Rapids. That was the infamous Justin Zwick game. After a week of the Destroyers' P.R. types building up Zwick's debut, he came in the second quarter to throw for a 47 yard touchdown. That was all she wrote. Kay put Nagy back into the game only to lose with the offense on the field at the end of the game down by three. Kay obviously always stood behind Nagy, however when asked about Zwick's play, he wanted to give credit to the offensive coordinator.
Monday, June 16, 2008
Tiger putts way into Monday
Watching the world's greatest golfer going against someone who is a "neverbeen," it was a sign of the greatness of golf. Sure, there are a lot of Tiger haters out there. But did anyone see the reaction of the crowd when Tiger sunk a 15 foot birdie on 18 in Sunday's U.S. Open to force an 18 hole playoff against Rocco Mediate. They went crazy of course.
You have to remember that in this field is the world's best. Phil Mickelson wasn't up for the challenge, neither was Ernie Els, Adam Scott or Vijay Singh. But a player with nothing to lose against Woods may actually be the best way of taming this beast. It doesn't hurt that Tiger is walking around on one knee.
Sport historians will look back on this U.S. Open as one of the greatest ever. Win or lose, Tiger's performance will be another notch on his greatness. To win the U.S. Open, a golfer has to be at the top of their game. We all know this is not the best Tiger Woods performance, or even close to it. This was a decent Tiger Woods effort. But as we all know when Tiger smells blood, he hunts you down. Just lucky for Mediate that the Tiger is a step slow.
You have to remember that in this field is the world's best. Phil Mickelson wasn't up for the challenge, neither was Ernie Els, Adam Scott or Vijay Singh. But a player with nothing to lose against Woods may actually be the best way of taming this beast. It doesn't hurt that Tiger is walking around on one knee.
Sport historians will look back on this U.S. Open as one of the greatest ever. Win or lose, Tiger's performance will be another notch on his greatness. To win the U.S. Open, a golfer has to be at the top of their game. We all know this is not the best Tiger Woods performance, or even close to it. This was a decent Tiger Woods effort. But as we all know when Tiger smells blood, he hunts you down. Just lucky for Mediate that the Tiger is a step slow.
Monday, June 9, 2008
Destroyers cannot stop the Force; Zwick to play
Nearly 11 months ago, the Columbus Destroyers were in the midst of a surprise run to the Arena Bowl when they needed a big win at Georgia against the Force. The Destroyers won that game 66-56 in Phillips Arena in the National Conference Championship.
Georgia got payback in a big way Saturday in Nationwide Arena and handed Columbus one of itsmost embarrassing losses in franchise history as the Force defeated the Destroyers 63-34. The loss sends Columbus to a 3-11 record as Georgia is now 9-5. This was the largest margin of defeat for the team since April, 2005.
The first possession of the second quarter ended in a turnover-on-downs for Columbus. This allowed the Force to go up by two touchdowns on the ensuing drive. At the end of the second quarter, with Columbus needing a touchdown, the Destroyers were looking to perform a trick play at fourth and one at the 11 yard line. A reverse handoff pass that the Destroyers’ Calvin Russell attempted was intercepted.
“This is an example of going away from basic football and taking a chance on a situation that backfired,” Destroyers head coach Doug Kay said.
Every Georgia drive either ended a half or with a touchdown. Columbus had three turnovers in the second half.
“Just had too many mistakes and can’t make this many mistakes to win,” Destroyers wide receiver Calvin Russell said.
The Destroyers added for Bowling Green Falcon Josh Harris to their roster. Harris was a standout quarterback in college, but Kay said that Harris is being used more for his special teams and athletic ability.
This Saturday will be notable due to former Ohio State quarterback Justin Zwick will get his first professional playing time against Grand Rapids Saturday at 7 p.m. in Nationwide Arena. Zwick has not had significant playing time in a football game since the 2005 Ohio State season opener against Miami.
Destroyers quarterback Matt Nagy has played well this season throwing for 65 touchdowns and only being picked off seven times. With the Destroyers in the midst of a dismal season, Kay decided to give Zwick a look.
Georgia got payback in a big way Saturday in Nationwide Arena and handed Columbus one of itsmost embarrassing losses in franchise history as the Force defeated the Destroyers 63-34. The loss sends Columbus to a 3-11 record as Georgia is now 9-5. This was the largest margin of defeat for the team since April, 2005.
The first possession of the second quarter ended in a turnover-on-downs for Columbus. This allowed the Force to go up by two touchdowns on the ensuing drive. At the end of the second quarter, with Columbus needing a touchdown, the Destroyers were looking to perform a trick play at fourth and one at the 11 yard line. A reverse handoff pass that the Destroyers’ Calvin Russell attempted was intercepted.
“This is an example of going away from basic football and taking a chance on a situation that backfired,” Destroyers head coach Doug Kay said.
Every Georgia drive either ended a half or with a touchdown. Columbus had three turnovers in the second half.
“Just had too many mistakes and can’t make this many mistakes to win,” Destroyers wide receiver Calvin Russell said.
The Destroyers added for Bowling Green Falcon Josh Harris to their roster. Harris was a standout quarterback in college, but Kay said that Harris is being used more for his special teams and athletic ability.
This Saturday will be notable due to former Ohio State quarterback Justin Zwick will get his first professional playing time against Grand Rapids Saturday at 7 p.m. in Nationwide Arena. Zwick has not had significant playing time in a football game since the 2005 Ohio State season opener against Miami.
Destroyers quarterback Matt Nagy has played well this season throwing for 65 touchdowns and only being picked off seven times. With the Destroyers in the midst of a dismal season, Kay decided to give Zwick a look.
NBA Finals
So the NBA got what they wanted, they get to resurrect what once was the greatest rivalry in sports. Celtics/Lakers, wow can it get any better than this? One little problem; this is a different world.
For old time basketball fans, they now realize that the NBA is now a game dominated by speed and finesse rather than grit and agility in the 80s. How often do you see Kobe Bryant post up in the lane? You really wonder how guys like Larry Bird or Magic Johnson would do in today's NBA.
For the yonger fans, they simply do not remember or appreciate the rivalry that the Celtics and Lakers once had. But that all fans are appreciative of is that the two best teams in the league made it the finals. The two most storied franchises have regained prominence. And who knows, maybe this is the third installment of a long term battle between these two teams. Or if the Celtics go on to sweep the Lakers, that might put all rivalry talks aside. Only time will tell.
For old time basketball fans, they now realize that the NBA is now a game dominated by speed and finesse rather than grit and agility in the 80s. How often do you see Kobe Bryant post up in the lane? You really wonder how guys like Larry Bird or Magic Johnson would do in today's NBA.
For the yonger fans, they simply do not remember or appreciate the rivalry that the Celtics and Lakers once had. But that all fans are appreciative of is that the two best teams in the league made it the finals. The two most storied franchises have regained prominence. And who knows, maybe this is the third installment of a long term battle between these two teams. Or if the Celtics go on to sweep the Lakers, that might put all rivalry talks aside. Only time will tell.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Cavs lived up to billing
So no one in their right mind can blame Lebron James for the Cavs loss to the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. As a matter of fact, he is the reason they got as far as they got. It just goes to show that basketball is beyond one player.
OK, so yeah it helps to have a talented player, but the Cavs realized that when you have a superstar player, if you can shut him down, you have to depend on the other four guys on the court. The entire series, the Cavs had trouble establishing an outside presence. That even hurt more later in the series when Charles Gibson was injured.
You simply just have to hand it to Boston. When you have three future hall-of-famers in Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, and Paul Pierce, you know you have a stacked lineup. My expectation is fans of old time basketball will get their wish and see a Los Angeles/Boston final. It is something the league is craving.
OK, so yeah it helps to have a talented player, but the Cavs realized that when you have a superstar player, if you can shut him down, you have to depend on the other four guys on the court. The entire series, the Cavs had trouble establishing an outside presence. That even hurt more later in the series when Charles Gibson was injured.
You simply just have to hand it to Boston. When you have three future hall-of-famers in Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, and Paul Pierce, you know you have a stacked lineup. My expectation is fans of old time basketball will get their wish and see a Los Angeles/Boston final. It is something the league is craving.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Poor kicking lead to destroyers loss
In football, not many notice the play of kickers when they make their extra points and short field goals, but those things can easily be taken for granted in Arena Football.
On Saturday evening, the Columbus Destroyers put forth one of their best efforts of the season, but still fell short 48-45 to the Dallas Desperados in front of 14,310 in Nationwide Arena. The loss sends Columbus to the basement of the National Conference with a 2-7 record. Dallas is tied with Philadelphia atop the standings with an 8-1 record.
Columbus got much of the help it needed from both the offense and the defense. Matt Nagy threw for four touchdowns, and called his own number on two quarterback draws in the second quarter. Columbus also benefited from two interceptions in the second quarter, one by Tremaine Neal and the other by Nate Coggins. Columbus had a 33-20 halftime lead.
Columbus tried to hold onto the lead through the second half. Dallas had its first defensive stop when Destroyers kicker Mark Lewis missed a 47-yard field goal to start the fourth quarter. The missed field goal happened after Lewis had already missed three extra point attempts. Dallas came back to take their first -- second half lead when Desperados quarterback Clint Dolezel found receiver Marcus Nash to give Dallas the 41-39 advantage. Columbus was stopped offensively once again when Nagy had back-to-back incomplete passes on third and fourth downs to receiver Derek Lee. The Destroyers defense stepped up when Dolezel muffed the football and the loose ball was recovered by Columbus defensive lineman Prenti Purnell.
Columbus would regain the lead with just under a minute in the game when Harold Wells bullied his way into the end zone for Columbus’ third rushing touchdown of the game. A failed two point conversion gave Columbus the 45-41 lead.
“In that type of ballgame, it is all about clock management,” Nagy said. “There are not too many people out there who saw Dallas let us score that touchdown. This game is about having the last possession in a game and the coaches were playing head games with each other to see who was going to have the ball last.”
Dallas quickly fired back when Will Pettis received a nine yard pass from Dolezel to give Dallas a 48-45 lead with 15 seconds left. Columbus would go from their own one yard line all the way to the Dallas 10 in just 11 seconds, but Mark Lewis missed his second field goal of the game as time expired. His 25 yard attempt would have sent the game to overtime, but instead sent his team to their third consecutive loss.
“I am not pleased with some of the things he is doing, Mark Lewis is a better kicker than he kicked tonight,” Columbus head coach Doug Kay said. “But he just needs to be as consistent as we want all the other players to be.”
Kay had said after Columbus’ previous game on April 21 that the team needed to show more heart in their play. That didn’t appear to be an issue with Kay after Saturday’s game.
“They played with heart and played with energy… the thing they have to realize is that they have seven more football games and none against a better football team than the one they played tonight.”
“I was happy with our heart, that is the biggest thing,” Nagy said. “I think some of the games this year I don’t know how much heart was in it but I think tonight we showed heart.”
One bright spot was Columbus; ironman Peter Lazare-Saunders getting his first career touchdown in the second quarter. It was also his first start of the season.
“It felt pretty good, but I would rather get it with a win,” Lazare-Saunders said. “I always had that (touchdown celebration) dance lined up for that day.”
Columbus spends the next two weeks on the road with a game at Kansas City and then one against Philadelphia before returning home May 24 to play New York.
On Saturday evening, the Columbus Destroyers put forth one of their best efforts of the season, but still fell short 48-45 to the Dallas Desperados in front of 14,310 in Nationwide Arena. The loss sends Columbus to the basement of the National Conference with a 2-7 record. Dallas is tied with Philadelphia atop the standings with an 8-1 record.
Columbus got much of the help it needed from both the offense and the defense. Matt Nagy threw for four touchdowns, and called his own number on two quarterback draws in the second quarter. Columbus also benefited from two interceptions in the second quarter, one by Tremaine Neal and the other by Nate Coggins. Columbus had a 33-20 halftime lead.
Columbus tried to hold onto the lead through the second half. Dallas had its first defensive stop when Destroyers kicker Mark Lewis missed a 47-yard field goal to start the fourth quarter. The missed field goal happened after Lewis had already missed three extra point attempts. Dallas came back to take their first -- second half lead when Desperados quarterback Clint Dolezel found receiver Marcus Nash to give Dallas the 41-39 advantage. Columbus was stopped offensively once again when Nagy had back-to-back incomplete passes on third and fourth downs to receiver Derek Lee. The Destroyers defense stepped up when Dolezel muffed the football and the loose ball was recovered by Columbus defensive lineman Prenti Purnell.
Columbus would regain the lead with just under a minute in the game when Harold Wells bullied his way into the end zone for Columbus’ third rushing touchdown of the game. A failed two point conversion gave Columbus the 45-41 lead.
“In that type of ballgame, it is all about clock management,” Nagy said. “There are not too many people out there who saw Dallas let us score that touchdown. This game is about having the last possession in a game and the coaches were playing head games with each other to see who was going to have the ball last.”
Dallas quickly fired back when Will Pettis received a nine yard pass from Dolezel to give Dallas a 48-45 lead with 15 seconds left. Columbus would go from their own one yard line all the way to the Dallas 10 in just 11 seconds, but Mark Lewis missed his second field goal of the game as time expired. His 25 yard attempt would have sent the game to overtime, but instead sent his team to their third consecutive loss.
“I am not pleased with some of the things he is doing, Mark Lewis is a better kicker than he kicked tonight,” Columbus head coach Doug Kay said. “But he just needs to be as consistent as we want all the other players to be.”
Kay had said after Columbus’ previous game on April 21 that the team needed to show more heart in their play. That didn’t appear to be an issue with Kay after Saturday’s game.
“They played with heart and played with energy… the thing they have to realize is that they have seven more football games and none against a better football team than the one they played tonight.”
“I was happy with our heart, that is the biggest thing,” Nagy said. “I think some of the games this year I don’t know how much heart was in it but I think tonight we showed heart.”
One bright spot was Columbus; ironman Peter Lazare-Saunders getting his first career touchdown in the second quarter. It was also his first start of the season.
“It felt pretty good, but I would rather get it with a win,” Lazare-Saunders said. “I always had that (touchdown celebration) dance lined up for that day.”
Columbus spends the next two weeks on the road with a game at Kansas City and then one against Philadelphia before returning home May 24 to play New York.
CSCC Sports
Former Cougars move on without a Columbus State uniform
It has been nearly one year since the last time Columbus State has fielded a team in baseball, softball, and track. Athletes were stunned with the decision by college administrators. Their future playing for a team at Columbus State ruined.
For the baseball program, what was just several years ago considered one of the top non-scholarship teams in the country – gone, for good. No more swinging for the fences at Columbus State’s former baseball home of McCoy Park. It is the same for the women’s softball team. The track team had to hang up their running shoes at the same time.
In the summer of 2007, the college announced that it eliminating five varsity sports, however bumped two of those sports from division three to division two allowing them to offer scholarships to volleyball and golf team members.
Still however the decision the college made still stings to former members of these teams.
Andy Karpowicz was a member of the 2007 squad and is now playing at Northern Kentucky. Karpowicz was a first team all conference recipient last year, and went to high school at Bishop Ready.
“Baseball was the only reason I really choose to go to CSCC, well that and the Fire Science and EMS program. I really hope they bring back the program, because when they ended it the program was fastly moving up to what it used to be,” he said.
Karpowicz added that even though last year’s roster only had 12 members, the team had up to 35 members ready to join this year’s squad; a squad which does not exist.
Fellow first teamer and Columbus State Cougar Jared Cagnon are now playing for the Clark State Eagles in the OCCAC. He said he would have returned this season to participate with the team. However, Cagnon is more satisfied with playing baseball in Springfield.
“To be honest I prefer the coaching staff this year,” Cagnon said. “The coaches care about winning and the work ethic is much better. The coaches last year did absolutely nothing for us when we had asked them to help us find another place to play.”
Chelsey Boyd was a member of Columbus State’s softball squad. She was not upset with her coaching staff after the news was announced about the team. The primary reason she was given was the cost of team expenditures.
“Once I found out at the end of last season that softball was being removed as an athletic option, I immediately started looking for something to satisfy my drive,” Boyd said. “I found The Columbus Comets, a women's football team, and have stuck with it ever since.”
Columbus State’s golf team is still surviving at their new level. The team has had a tough go of things finishing last in a tournament at Lorain Community College, and in fourth at the tournament at Lakeland. The Cougar golf team is currently fourth out of five teams in the OCCAC with a tournament to play at Cincinnati State, followed by regional tournaments.
It has been nearly one year since the last time Columbus State has fielded a team in baseball, softball, and track. Athletes were stunned with the decision by college administrators. Their future playing for a team at Columbus State ruined.
For the baseball program, what was just several years ago considered one of the top non-scholarship teams in the country – gone, for good. No more swinging for the fences at Columbus State’s former baseball home of McCoy Park. It is the same for the women’s softball team. The track team had to hang up their running shoes at the same time.
In the summer of 2007, the college announced that it eliminating five varsity sports, however bumped two of those sports from division three to division two allowing them to offer scholarships to volleyball and golf team members.
Still however the decision the college made still stings to former members of these teams.
Andy Karpowicz was a member of the 2007 squad and is now playing at Northern Kentucky. Karpowicz was a first team all conference recipient last year, and went to high school at Bishop Ready.
“Baseball was the only reason I really choose to go to CSCC, well that and the Fire Science and EMS program. I really hope they bring back the program, because when they ended it the program was fastly moving up to what it used to be,” he said.
Karpowicz added that even though last year’s roster only had 12 members, the team had up to 35 members ready to join this year’s squad; a squad which does not exist.
Fellow first teamer and Columbus State Cougar Jared Cagnon are now playing for the Clark State Eagles in the OCCAC. He said he would have returned this season to participate with the team. However, Cagnon is more satisfied with playing baseball in Springfield.
“To be honest I prefer the coaching staff this year,” Cagnon said. “The coaches care about winning and the work ethic is much better. The coaches last year did absolutely nothing for us when we had asked them to help us find another place to play.”
Chelsey Boyd was a member of Columbus State’s softball squad. She was not upset with her coaching staff after the news was announced about the team. The primary reason she was given was the cost of team expenditures.
“Once I found out at the end of last season that softball was being removed as an athletic option, I immediately started looking for something to satisfy my drive,” Boyd said. “I found The Columbus Comets, a women's football team, and have stuck with it ever since.”
Columbus State’s golf team is still surviving at their new level. The team has had a tough go of things finishing last in a tournament at Lorain Community College, and in fourth at the tournament at Lakeland. The Cougar golf team is currently fourth out of five teams in the OCCAC with a tournament to play at Cincinnati State, followed by regional tournaments.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Taking the trek
Tomorrow after I perform my working duty at the museum, I will hop in the VW and an expedition to Cleveland for my first ever NBA game. And what a good one it should be. It is the Cleveland Cavs and the Washington Wizards with Cleveland up 3-1 in a first to four series.
The nice thing for me is that not only will we get a chance to see the Cavs clinch a berth to the next round, but now all of a sudden, it is possible that the Cavs can go even further. The Atlanta Hawks has shown that Boston is beatable. Did anyone see the fourth quarter of last night's game in Atlanta? Boston was one punch away from delivering the knockout blow to the Hawks. Now instead of the series going back to Boston with a 3-1 Celtics lead, they go back to the Northeast tied at two and Atlanta feeling some confidence.
But more importantly for the Cavs, that swagger that the Celtics appeared to have from October all the way to last week is dying. I know you have to take it one series at a time, but Cleveland now has three opportunities to knock Washington out. If Atlanta knocks the Celtics out of the playoffs, it could go down as one of the largest upset in NBA postseason history.
The nice thing for me is that not only will we get a chance to see the Cavs clinch a berth to the next round, but now all of a sudden, it is possible that the Cavs can go even further. The Atlanta Hawks has shown that Boston is beatable. Did anyone see the fourth quarter of last night's game in Atlanta? Boston was one punch away from delivering the knockout blow to the Hawks. Now instead of the series going back to Boston with a 3-1 Celtics lead, they go back to the Northeast tied at two and Atlanta feeling some confidence.
But more importantly for the Cavs, that swagger that the Celtics appeared to have from October all the way to last week is dying. I know you have to take it one series at a time, but Cleveland now has three opportunities to knock Washington out. If Atlanta knocks the Celtics out of the playoffs, it could go down as one of the largest upset in NBA postseason history.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
A busy day
There is so much on this sports fan's mind today. The main one for us here in the C.O. has to be the death of Columbus Blue Jacket owner John H. McConnell. The news is not shocking as the 84-year-old founder of Worthington Industries had a prolonged battle with liver cancer, but his prescence is surely going to be missed.
No one has done more for the economy or pro sports for Columbus than McConnell. When Columbus needed someone or something to step up to the plate to write a check to the NHL to cover the expansion fee, McConnell was there. And has been there since, often in his luxury box at Nationwide Arena as the Papal of the team. His wave and reception is much like the Pope, and he may very well be the only person to be shown on the video screen of Nationwide Arena so many times to never get booed.
The fans realize HE is the reason why the National Hockey League has a home in Columbus. HE is the reason why we have such a vibrant area of downtown. HE is the reason why this city has made it to the next level in pro sports. And that does not cover his accomplishments before turning 74.
John McConnell loved this city, and this city returned that love. Now his son John P. McConnell will now bankroll the team. One can only hope because of the sagging attendance with the team, that his son will live his dad's dream to fruition. To bring championship hockey to the city of Columbus. There will certainly be pressure on the son to sell the team, or move it. However his dad was certainly not in it for the money. McConnell never made anything of this team, but he wanted to make sure this city could enjoy the NHL.
Lets just hope Mr. Mac will be able to find a good seat from up above, and be able to wave down on us from time to time.
Now onto the business of sports today. Wow! Was that a dramatic NFL Draft today? Who would have thought that Jake Long would have been selected first? Hmm... everyone's hand went up. So I guess I could be wrong on that.
Why is there such glitz and glamour for something that is something along the lines of being prestaged? Several days ago, Miami pretty much signed their first round draft pick to a contract. This is why there has been so much talk about having a rookie salary cap. Part of why the NFL has a draft is to give teams a chance to bring in talent, not have to hook someone in with money. Not in today's NFL. Now the dollar sign is as important to teams looking for players as combine results.
Nothing against Jake Long. I would accept $57.5 million to play 80 football games. Yes my friend, that breaks down to be about $700,000 per game for someone to protect a quarterback. That is one expensive bodyguard for whoever emerges as the starting quarterback on the beach.
Just let these guys play their first year NFL. It almost makes me sick that they give these guys more money than what they know to do with. I am not insisting they won't do the right the things with it, but these guys need to realize that the careers of pro football players are short and the fact that they're getting paid big money right out of the starting gates is not helping young men. It is all about playing a game. That is it.
No one has done more for the economy or pro sports for Columbus than McConnell. When Columbus needed someone or something to step up to the plate to write a check to the NHL to cover the expansion fee, McConnell was there. And has been there since, often in his luxury box at Nationwide Arena as the Papal of the team. His wave and reception is much like the Pope, and he may very well be the only person to be shown on the video screen of Nationwide Arena so many times to never get booed.
The fans realize HE is the reason why the National Hockey League has a home in Columbus. HE is the reason why we have such a vibrant area of downtown. HE is the reason why this city has made it to the next level in pro sports. And that does not cover his accomplishments before turning 74.
John McConnell loved this city, and this city returned that love. Now his son John P. McConnell will now bankroll the team. One can only hope because of the sagging attendance with the team, that his son will live his dad's dream to fruition. To bring championship hockey to the city of Columbus. There will certainly be pressure on the son to sell the team, or move it. However his dad was certainly not in it for the money. McConnell never made anything of this team, but he wanted to make sure this city could enjoy the NHL.
Lets just hope Mr. Mac will be able to find a good seat from up above, and be able to wave down on us from time to time.
Now onto the business of sports today. Wow! Was that a dramatic NFL Draft today? Who would have thought that Jake Long would have been selected first? Hmm... everyone's hand went up. So I guess I could be wrong on that.
Why is there such glitz and glamour for something that is something along the lines of being prestaged? Several days ago, Miami pretty much signed their first round draft pick to a contract. This is why there has been so much talk about having a rookie salary cap. Part of why the NFL has a draft is to give teams a chance to bring in talent, not have to hook someone in with money. Not in today's NFL. Now the dollar sign is as important to teams looking for players as combine results.
Nothing against Jake Long. I would accept $57.5 million to play 80 football games. Yes my friend, that breaks down to be about $700,000 per game for someone to protect a quarterback. That is one expensive bodyguard for whoever emerges as the starting quarterback on the beach.
Just let these guys play their first year NFL. It almost makes me sick that they give these guys more money than what they know to do with. I am not insisting they won't do the right the things with it, but these guys need to realize that the careers of pro football players are short and the fact that they're getting paid big money right out of the starting gates is not helping young men. It is all about playing a game. That is it.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Don't get excited Cavs fans
As I am roaming campus of Columbus State this morning sporting my number 23 Cavs jersey, there is one thing I am reminded of, though this team is looking good against the Wiz, look at which team is on the horizon.
I really want to see King James and the boys make it back to the finals again, but the additions of Wally Szczerbiak, Ben Wallace, Delonte West, and Joe Smith has not improved this team to the point where they are title contenders unlike most what those PR types in Cleveland want you to think. Look at it this way, the Cavs aquired the players in a multi-team trade dealing Larry Hughes and Drew Gooden elsewhere in late Februray. Since the quartet made their debut, the Cavs are 14-13, before that they were 31-24.
Do not get me wrong, these were good acquisitions, and these players aren't playing up to expectations. Szczerbiak who was averaging double-digits is now only scoring eight per game. Same with Smith. This is still LeBron's team. Look at Monday's big win for the Cavs, James led the team in scoring, rebounding, assists, steals, and blocks yet only had one turnover.
Washington is good, but are the names of Caron Butler, Antwan Jameson or Antonio Daniels going to do as much for you as Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, or Ray Allen? The Celtics could possibly be the most dominating team in the East since the days of Jordan. I don't have to tell you much about that team. Can the King drag his followers into the fight against the Celtics like he did against Detroit in the Conference Finals last year, or is one man not enough to lead a team like the Cavs showed in the NBA Finals against the Spurs. The Celtics are surely the team to the beat from the East. For the Cavs to defeat the almighty Celtics, some of the players are going to have to get off the pews and join the King on his court.
I really want to see King James and the boys make it back to the finals again, but the additions of Wally Szczerbiak, Ben Wallace, Delonte West, and Joe Smith has not improved this team to the point where they are title contenders unlike most what those PR types in Cleveland want you to think. Look at it this way, the Cavs aquired the players in a multi-team trade dealing Larry Hughes and Drew Gooden elsewhere in late Februray. Since the quartet made their debut, the Cavs are 14-13, before that they were 31-24.
Do not get me wrong, these were good acquisitions, and these players aren't playing up to expectations. Szczerbiak who was averaging double-digits is now only scoring eight per game. Same with Smith. This is still LeBron's team. Look at Monday's big win for the Cavs, James led the team in scoring, rebounding, assists, steals, and blocks yet only had one turnover.
Washington is good, but are the names of Caron Butler, Antwan Jameson or Antonio Daniels going to do as much for you as Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, or Ray Allen? The Celtics could possibly be the most dominating team in the East since the days of Jordan. I don't have to tell you much about that team. Can the King drag his followers into the fight against the Celtics like he did against Detroit in the Conference Finals last year, or is one man not enough to lead a team like the Cavs showed in the NBA Finals against the Spurs. The Celtics are surely the team to the beat from the East. For the Cavs to defeat the almighty Celtics, some of the players are going to have to get off the pews and join the King on his court.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Jackets fans rooting for the Wings.. Again?
We all know Jackets and Wings do not mix to well. However what I have found is more of an envy towards Detroit, and not a true hatred. However I get the feeling that the Columbus fateful really despise them Predators. I am sure if we were to tie up all Blue Jackets fans and make them cheer for a team in the previous Wings/Preds series, it would have been the Wings.
But now that hatred becomes a bit more personal with this upcoming series for the Wings. It is now time for the Red Wings to take on the Colorado Avs... Led by defenseman Adam ****ing Foote. You remember him? The guy who gave up on the Blue Jackets in the first month of the season, when they were among conference contenders. Yeah, that guy.
So tell me Blue Jackets fans? What reason do you have to truly root against Detroit? They maybe the New York Yankees of hockey, but is it personal with them?
As a hockey fan, this is one of the greatest rivalries in hockey. Remember a few years back some of the barnburners Colorado had with Detroit? The 2002 Western Conference Finals were quite a battle between the two teams. St. Patrick versus the Dominator. Detroit went on to win the seven game battle and the Stanley Cup Finals.
So Jackets fans, sit their and boo at everyone, but enjoy that what you are seeing is hockey at its best.
But now that hatred becomes a bit more personal with this upcoming series for the Wings. It is now time for the Red Wings to take on the Colorado Avs... Led by defenseman Adam ****ing Foote. You remember him? The guy who gave up on the Blue Jackets in the first month of the season, when they were among conference contenders. Yeah, that guy.
So tell me Blue Jackets fans? What reason do you have to truly root against Detroit? They maybe the New York Yankees of hockey, but is it personal with them?
As a hockey fan, this is one of the greatest rivalries in hockey. Remember a few years back some of the barnburners Colorado had with Detroit? The 2002 Western Conference Finals were quite a battle between the two teams. St. Patrick versus the Dominator. Detroit went on to win the seven game battle and the Stanley Cup Finals.
So Jackets fans, sit their and boo at everyone, but enjoy that what you are seeing is hockey at its best.
Destroyers halfway there, livin' on a prayer after loss to Soul
The Columbus Destroyers desperately needing a win heading into the second half of the Arena Football League season is now in serious jeopardy of not repeating last year's surprise playoff run with a loss at home to the Philadelphia Soul for ESPN2's Monday Night Football.
The Destroyers are now 2-6 on the season where Philadelphia remains undefeated. The Soul is owned by rock singer Jon Bon Jovi. The final was 76-55. Columbus went into the game with the third worse scoring defense, and that weakness showed.
“We didn't stop them, didn't slow them down at all. Do we need to work on defense? Certainly,” Destroyers head coach Doug Kay said.
The game got off to a very fast start for the Destroyers. After taking the opening kickoff to their own eight yard line, the first play from scrimmage was a 42 yard strike from quarterback Matt Nagy to receiver Calvin Russell to give the Destroyers the game's first score at 7-0. The Soul responded almost exactly the same way when Philadelphia quarterback Tony Graziani found receiver Larry Brackins for a 40 yard reception.
Nagy's next play was a 45 yard pass to Derek Lee to give Columbus a 14-7 lead with 11:54 remaining in the opening quarter. After the Soul tied the game with another Brackins reception, Nagy hooked up with newly acquired receiver C.J. Johnson for 45 yards with eight minutes left in the first. In the first seven minutes of the game, Nagy already racked up 132 yards of passing in just three plays. The Soul controlled from here on end.
“You are not going to drop back 11 times and throw 11 touchdowns,” Kay said about Nagy. “Somewhere along the lines, you got to get sober again, but I thought he did a good job.”
Graziani found tight end Phil Bogle to end the first quarter's scoring at 21 all. Philadelphia took their first lead when from former Columbus De Sales High School and Otterbein College quarterback Matt D'Orazio found Chris Jackson for a 12 yard pass to give the Soul their first lead at 28-21.
Columbus would tie the game at 28 with 8:49 in the second with a Harold Wells run, and then re-tie the game at 35 with another Nagy to Johnson pass with one minute left in the first half.
But Philadelphia had a fourth down conversion at the first hall buzzer when D'Orazio found Jackson to put the Soul up for good when they had a 42-35 lead.
D'Orazio took a two touchdown lead to start the third and Columbus' next possession was picked off by Philadelphia linebacker Rod Davis. Columbus would not get any closer than 21 points in the fourth quarter.
“We didn't play together as a team tonight,” Nagy said. “We had some stops on offense that we gave up and they were scoring so just a bad night.”
The Destroyers are now 2-6 on the season where Philadelphia remains undefeated. The Soul is owned by rock singer Jon Bon Jovi. The final was 76-55. Columbus went into the game with the third worse scoring defense, and that weakness showed.
“We didn't stop them, didn't slow them down at all. Do we need to work on defense? Certainly,” Destroyers head coach Doug Kay said.
The game got off to a very fast start for the Destroyers. After taking the opening kickoff to their own eight yard line, the first play from scrimmage was a 42 yard strike from quarterback Matt Nagy to receiver Calvin Russell to give the Destroyers the game's first score at 7-0. The Soul responded almost exactly the same way when Philadelphia quarterback Tony Graziani found receiver Larry Brackins for a 40 yard reception.
Nagy's next play was a 45 yard pass to Derek Lee to give Columbus a 14-7 lead with 11:54 remaining in the opening quarter. After the Soul tied the game with another Brackins reception, Nagy hooked up with newly acquired receiver C.J. Johnson for 45 yards with eight minutes left in the first. In the first seven minutes of the game, Nagy already racked up 132 yards of passing in just three plays. The Soul controlled from here on end.
“You are not going to drop back 11 times and throw 11 touchdowns,” Kay said about Nagy. “Somewhere along the lines, you got to get sober again, but I thought he did a good job.”
Graziani found tight end Phil Bogle to end the first quarter's scoring at 21 all. Philadelphia took their first lead when from former Columbus De Sales High School and Otterbein College quarterback Matt D'Orazio found Chris Jackson for a 12 yard pass to give the Soul their first lead at 28-21.
Columbus would tie the game at 28 with 8:49 in the second with a Harold Wells run, and then re-tie the game at 35 with another Nagy to Johnson pass with one minute left in the first half.
But Philadelphia had a fourth down conversion at the first hall buzzer when D'Orazio found Jackson to put the Soul up for good when they had a 42-35 lead.
D'Orazio took a two touchdown lead to start the third and Columbus' next possession was picked off by Philadelphia linebacker Rod Davis. Columbus would not get any closer than 21 points in the fourth quarter.
“We didn't play together as a team tonight,” Nagy said. “We had some stops on offense that we gave up and they were scoring so just a bad night.”
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Buckeyes Athletic Department has some explaining to do
Four records -- that was what the Ohio State Athletic Department was hoping to set over the weekend, they ended up getting nada over the Scarlet and Grey Day Weekend.
They had to figure the prospects of a major flop was going to happen by Friday evening when only 3,000 people showed up to watch the Ohio State Baseball team lose to Purdue. They were hoping to set a stadium record of over 5,300. So what was the problem? Telling people you're going to set a record isn't enough to get people there? They forgot to give people a reason to show up. Previous large crowds showed up because the game provided significance. Don't get me wrong, Friday's game was a pivotal Big Ten match, however it was not even close in that respect to a season ending series against Minnesota or NCAA Super Regionals.
Less than 24 hours afterwards, the lacrosse team was hoping to take advantage of the football team to set a national lacrosse attendance record, but they only got about 1/2 of the crowd needed by the time the official total was taken at halftime. Reality says that is not a complete flop. You have now introduced thousands of people to a sport that lacks the notoriety of football and other sports.
But come on... A regular season game against Denver is no match for an NCAA Final Four game, which was what the record Ohio State was hoping to beat.
Percentages say the football team came closest to achieving their record by drawing 76,000 for the scrimmage. The goal was to get to 93,000. Ohio State could have had the record with the help of some better weather as well as maybe an appearance from a certain quarterback from Pennsylvania.
The Scarlet and Grey embarrassment ended today when only 535 showed up for a softball doubleheader against Penn State. But with all the press the team got last year, no surprise that they could not top that attendance record.
It actually appeared Ohio State fans spited the record attempts. Neither the softball or softball team had their biggest crowds of the weekend on the day they were supposed to set stadium records. The softball team had a crowd of 661 for Friday evening's game against Michigan, and the baseball team had 3,225 show up for a doubleheader against Purdue. Both are respectable crowds. This might just prove that some records are not meant to be broken (at least without rhyme or reason).
They had to figure the prospects of a major flop was going to happen by Friday evening when only 3,000 people showed up to watch the Ohio State Baseball team lose to Purdue. They were hoping to set a stadium record of over 5,300. So what was the problem? Telling people you're going to set a record isn't enough to get people there? They forgot to give people a reason to show up. Previous large crowds showed up because the game provided significance. Don't get me wrong, Friday's game was a pivotal Big Ten match, however it was not even close in that respect to a season ending series against Minnesota or NCAA Super Regionals.
Less than 24 hours afterwards, the lacrosse team was hoping to take advantage of the football team to set a national lacrosse attendance record, but they only got about 1/2 of the crowd needed by the time the official total was taken at halftime. Reality says that is not a complete flop. You have now introduced thousands of people to a sport that lacks the notoriety of football and other sports.
But come on... A regular season game against Denver is no match for an NCAA Final Four game, which was what the record Ohio State was hoping to beat.
Percentages say the football team came closest to achieving their record by drawing 76,000 for the scrimmage. The goal was to get to 93,000. Ohio State could have had the record with the help of some better weather as well as maybe an appearance from a certain quarterback from Pennsylvania.
The Scarlet and Grey embarrassment ended today when only 535 showed up for a softball doubleheader against Penn State. But with all the press the team got last year, no surprise that they could not top that attendance record.
It actually appeared Ohio State fans spited the record attempts. Neither the softball or softball team had their biggest crowds of the weekend on the day they were supposed to set stadium records. The softball team had a crowd of 661 for Friday evening's game against Michigan, and the baseball team had 3,225 show up for a doubleheader against Purdue. Both are respectable crowds. This might just prove that some records are not meant to be broken (at least without rhyme or reason).
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Blue Jackets Season Wrapup
Blue Jackets season ends with question marks
Last Sunday, the Columbus Blue Jackets season in disappointment with a 4-1 loss to the St. Louis Blues at home.
The start of the season was not all that bad for Columbus. The Blue Jackets got off to an 8-3-3 start powered by five Pascal Leclaire shutouts. Columbus maintained a good record for much of the season thanks in large part to Leclaire’s play. The team went into the All-Star Game tied for eighth in the conference.
The Blue Jackets came out of the All-Star Game break cold only winning one of nine games in a stretch following the break. That essentially knocked the team out of playoff contention, and that was confirmed by management by them trading away star veterans Adam Foote and Sergei Fedorov. The Foote deal did notch an extra first round draft pick in June’s NHL Draft from the Colorado Avalanche.
“We didn’t make the playoffs, that says it all,” Columbus forward Michael Peca said on the past season.
“We wanted a better season even though people didn’t expect us to do what we did,” forward captain Rick Nash said.
Forwards David Vyborny and Peca, and defensemen Jan Hejda, Ron Hainsey, and Dick Tarnstrom are all unrestricted free-agents and could sign with anyone after the Stanley Cup Finals.
Vyborny: In the two previous seasons, Vyborny was a 60 point scorer, however this season that production was cut by more than half. Vyborny is simply not performing, and it appears the last remaining original Blue Jacket is leaving Columbus.
Peca: The veteran center provided the closest thing the Blue Jackets saw in the way of ‘secondary scoring’. Nash and Nikolai Zherdev both scored in the 60s, the next highest was Peca with 34 points. Also this team is lacking at center even with Peca. And with not a strong free agent market at center, Peca should be able to get what he wants from Columbus.
“I would like to be part of (next year’s team), I would like to be a piece of that” Peca said.
Hainsey: Considering he was fourth on the team with scoring while playing defense, which by itself may be enough for Hainsey to get a nice offer from Columbus. Hainsey will certainly demand much more than his 2007-08 salary of $900,000.
Hejda: Hejda was unquestionably the best defenseman of the year following the departure of Foote. His +20 was the best in team history. The stay-at-home defenseman should expect a salary much higher than his current $1 million salary.
Hejda was asked if he would give Columbus the “hometown team discount” and he responded: “My agent told me you can’t say that.” Hejda did say he hopes to work out a deal with the team and return next season.
Tarnstrom: Fans have been crying for a puck-moving defenseman for years and they got one. Tarnstrom is in the prime of his career and it is hard to expect he would accept an offer anything much lower than his current $2 million salary. It is also hard seeing the Blue Jackets offering that much to Tarnstrom, so expect Tarnstrom to not sign with Columbus.
Also the team is going to have to make tough decisions on young defensemen Aaron Rome and Clay Wilson, both of which are restricted free-agents giving the team a bit more leeway. Both players provided a lot of energy near the end of the season when the team was faced with injuries and dying playoff hopes. Players like Rome and Wilson could factor into next year’s season, especially if head coach Ken Hitchcock decides his veterans are not up to par going into training camp in the fall.
“Other than two or three players… I told the players this too that ‘you might have a contract and you might be a member of the organization but you don’t have a spot,’” Hitchcock said. “We have entered a new phase and the phase is win now.”
Another big question mark is ‘who can Columbus sign from other clubs in the off season’? Star NHL players Marian Hossa, Peter Forsburg, Wade Redden, Markus Naslund, along with Foote and Fedorov are the leading unrestricted free agents. Will these players actually want to come to Columbus to play for the Blue Jackets? Columbus may be able to land some of these big free agents; however the team will likely be more dependent on non-elite free agents.
“We are not going to bring a player for growth here. The player is going to help us win or he is going to be somewhere else,” Hitchcock said. “You build a team not based on the player’s potential but is he helping you win hockey games.”
Last Sunday, the Columbus Blue Jackets season in disappointment with a 4-1 loss to the St. Louis Blues at home.
The start of the season was not all that bad for Columbus. The Blue Jackets got off to an 8-3-3 start powered by five Pascal Leclaire shutouts. Columbus maintained a good record for much of the season thanks in large part to Leclaire’s play. The team went into the All-Star Game tied for eighth in the conference.
The Blue Jackets came out of the All-Star Game break cold only winning one of nine games in a stretch following the break. That essentially knocked the team out of playoff contention, and that was confirmed by management by them trading away star veterans Adam Foote and Sergei Fedorov. The Foote deal did notch an extra first round draft pick in June’s NHL Draft from the Colorado Avalanche.
“We didn’t make the playoffs, that says it all,” Columbus forward Michael Peca said on the past season.
“We wanted a better season even though people didn’t expect us to do what we did,” forward captain Rick Nash said.
Forwards David Vyborny and Peca, and defensemen Jan Hejda, Ron Hainsey, and Dick Tarnstrom are all unrestricted free-agents and could sign with anyone after the Stanley Cup Finals.
Vyborny: In the two previous seasons, Vyborny was a 60 point scorer, however this season that production was cut by more than half. Vyborny is simply not performing, and it appears the last remaining original Blue Jacket is leaving Columbus.
Peca: The veteran center provided the closest thing the Blue Jackets saw in the way of ‘secondary scoring’. Nash and Nikolai Zherdev both scored in the 60s, the next highest was Peca with 34 points. Also this team is lacking at center even with Peca. And with not a strong free agent market at center, Peca should be able to get what he wants from Columbus.
“I would like to be part of (next year’s team), I would like to be a piece of that” Peca said.
Hainsey: Considering he was fourth on the team with scoring while playing defense, which by itself may be enough for Hainsey to get a nice offer from Columbus. Hainsey will certainly demand much more than his 2007-08 salary of $900,000.
Hejda: Hejda was unquestionably the best defenseman of the year following the departure of Foote. His +20 was the best in team history. The stay-at-home defenseman should expect a salary much higher than his current $1 million salary.
Hejda was asked if he would give Columbus the “hometown team discount” and he responded: “My agent told me you can’t say that.” Hejda did say he hopes to work out a deal with the team and return next season.
Tarnstrom: Fans have been crying for a puck-moving defenseman for years and they got one. Tarnstrom is in the prime of his career and it is hard to expect he would accept an offer anything much lower than his current $2 million salary. It is also hard seeing the Blue Jackets offering that much to Tarnstrom, so expect Tarnstrom to not sign with Columbus.
Also the team is going to have to make tough decisions on young defensemen Aaron Rome and Clay Wilson, both of which are restricted free-agents giving the team a bit more leeway. Both players provided a lot of energy near the end of the season when the team was faced with injuries and dying playoff hopes. Players like Rome and Wilson could factor into next year’s season, especially if head coach Ken Hitchcock decides his veterans are not up to par going into training camp in the fall.
“Other than two or three players… I told the players this too that ‘you might have a contract and you might be a member of the organization but you don’t have a spot,’” Hitchcock said. “We have entered a new phase and the phase is win now.”
Another big question mark is ‘who can Columbus sign from other clubs in the off season’? Star NHL players Marian Hossa, Peter Forsburg, Wade Redden, Markus Naslund, along with Foote and Fedorov are the leading unrestricted free agents. Will these players actually want to come to Columbus to play for the Blue Jackets? Columbus may be able to land some of these big free agents; however the team will likely be more dependent on non-elite free agents.
“We are not going to bring a player for growth here. The player is going to help us win or he is going to be somewhere else,” Hitchcock said. “You build a team not based on the player’s potential but is he helping you win hockey games.”
First place Marlins? How long will that last?
The Florida Marlins are leading the NL East with a payroll less than Alex Rodriguez. Through the first two weeks, Hanley Rodriquez is turning into a top tier infielder. OK so I know the NL east is not near as strong as the west or central divisions but who would have though the Marlins would ever be above .500 this season?
Here is the question, with a team led by a 24-year-old shortshop, is there finally reason to be excited about the Marlins? With the team building a new stadium which may actually be comfortable to sit in thanks to the retractable roof, maybe fans will take a new interest in the team. Obviously it will take alot for management to win over the fans of South Florida after what happened to the team following their World Series wins.
Another question could pop up here too: What if the Marlins are still contenders at the All-Star Game break? Will they go out and get a top tier player to help them win a world series. This team could win the NL east. That isn't saying much, but could they go up against the Brewers, Padres, Dodgers, and Rockies in the playoffs?
I find myself rooting for this team this year after all of what has been said about the team. The years the Marlins won the World Series, they had high priced talent. Think back to 2003. Dontrelle Willis, Juan Pierre, and Miguel Cabrerra. In 1997, Bobby Bonilla and Livan Hernandez. I could think of those team's top talent without even looking it up. Could you say that about say the 2002 World Series champs with the Angels? All I remember from that series was Dusty Baker's son interfering the play at home plate (as a member of the Giants Dugout Babysitting Service) and that stupid rally monkey. So show off Marlins, overachieve. Show the Theo Epstein's and George Steinbrenner's of the world that money doesn't buy championships.
A recap of the Blue Jacket's season can be found later on.
Here is the question, with a team led by a 24-year-old shortshop, is there finally reason to be excited about the Marlins? With the team building a new stadium which may actually be comfortable to sit in thanks to the retractable roof, maybe fans will take a new interest in the team. Obviously it will take alot for management to win over the fans of South Florida after what happened to the team following their World Series wins.
Another question could pop up here too: What if the Marlins are still contenders at the All-Star Game break? Will they go out and get a top tier player to help them win a world series. This team could win the NL east. That isn't saying much, but could they go up against the Brewers, Padres, Dodgers, and Rockies in the playoffs?
I find myself rooting for this team this year after all of what has been said about the team. The years the Marlins won the World Series, they had high priced talent. Think back to 2003. Dontrelle Willis, Juan Pierre, and Miguel Cabrerra. In 1997, Bobby Bonilla and Livan Hernandez. I could think of those team's top talent without even looking it up. Could you say that about say the 2002 World Series champs with the Angels? All I remember from that series was Dusty Baker's son interfering the play at home plate (as a member of the Giants Dugout Babysitting Service) and that stupid rally monkey. So show off Marlins, overachieve. Show the Theo Epstein's and George Steinbrenner's of the world that money doesn't buy championships.
A recap of the Blue Jacket's season can be found later on.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Cougar News Sports: April 9, 2008
Here you have it! This week's recap on Blue Jackets and Destroyers. I will have a full-season recap up sometime next week.
History made in Jackets’ loss to Blues
Sunday marked the end of the NHL season as the Columbus Blue Jackets lost to St. Louis 4-1 in front of 17,739 at Nationwide Arena. The loss followed a 3-0 loss Saturday in St. Louis.
Some will remember that Columbus’ game against St. Louis on Sunday was a part of a five game losing streak to end the season. More will remember what happened when the game was all but over. With the score 3-1 and Columbus goalie Fredrik Norrena pulled for an extra attacker, St. Louis forward Keith Tkachuk scored his 500th career goal to clinch St.Louis’ season ending victory. Tkachuk is the 41st player in NHL history to score 500 goals.
“I never thought I would be able to play this long,” the 36-yeard-old forward said. “My teammates coming (off the bench) meant the world to me. And to get the win makes it even more special.”
“That was exciting watching that puck go down the ice into the net,” Blues head coach Andy Murray said. “500 goals is something special.”
But for the Blue Jackets, what would have been special would have been still playing today. Columbus missed the cut for the playoffs by 11 points. In the 31 games following the All-Star Game, Columbus only recorded nine wins. Winning at home for the season finale would have been a huge boost going into next season.
“(Since the) All-Star break, we put some of our –by far- best efforts,” Blue Jackets head coach Ken Hitchcock said. “I know a dozen games, like the one tonight, where it is pretty hard to fault the players. We made mistakes, they end up in the net, and we don’t make the other team for all the turnovers we created.”
Columbus started the game well. They got the game’s first eight shots and even got the game’s first goal when Michael Peca scored on a well placed Rick Nash pass on a five-on-three power play just minutes into the game. But St. Louis held control the rest of the way.
St. Louis got a goal by David Backes in the first period to tie the game. Brad Boyes scored an even strength goal that was assisted by Tkachuk in the second. David Perron made it a 3-1 lead midway through the third setting up Tkachuk’s goal later in the third. Columbus did however outshoot St. Louis in all three periods, and finished with a 36-19 shot advantage.
“We couldn’t finish, we outplayed them, we got more shots, but it is just kind of the story; we couldn’t score the big goals when we needed it,” Nash said.
Columbus ended the season with 80 points at 34-36-12. A full season recap and a look at next season can be found in next week’s edition.
Storm are swept away by Destroyers
Nearly a year ago, the Columbus Destroyers started their improbable run to the Arena Bowl by defeating the Tampa Bay Storm by a single point thanks to a missed extra point late in that game. In Saturday’s rematch, one play was just as important.
Columbus went on to win Saturday’s game 51-49 in front of 14,256 in Nationwide Arena. This was the first win at home for the team this season.
Going into Tampa Bay’s drive that started with six minutes left in the game and Columbus up 37-35, each team only had one drive that did not end in a touchdown. For Columbus, it came at the start of the third quarter when kicker Mark Lewis nailed a short field goal. Seth Marler’s 22 yard field goal attempt for Tampa Bay was wide left to end the first half. With the missed field goal, Tampa Bay was unable to break the 21-21 tie.
“Anytime you get a turnover like that, now the ball is in our court, we need to make sure we execute and we take care of the ball like we did,” Columbus quarterback Matt Nagy said on his team’s defensive stop in the second quarter.
“That is Arena Football, that is the way it should be,” Columbus head coach Doug Kay said about the scoring. “That is the way we need to play the game to compete and (Tampa) is a good football team.”
Storm quarterback Brett Deitz had a first and goal from the six and was looking to pass, but his attempt was tipped in the end zone by Nate Coggins and intercepted by Tremaine O’Neal with 1:56 left. Columbus would capitalize off the huge interception 1:11 later when Nagy found receiver Calvin Russell for a 33 yard pass to give Columbus a 44-35 lead after Lewis’ extra point attempt was good.
“I was just trying to assist the D.B’s on that play,” O’Neal said on his play. “We were trying to get hands on their receivers all day. Nate Coggins made a great defensive play on them, breaking the ball up, getting it up in the air, and giving me a chance to get underneath it.”
Nagy was in tune with his game throughout the game. He was 22-32 passing with 223 yards and six touchdowns. Four of which were to receiver Derek Lee. Lee now has 16 touchdowns on the season.
“We wanted to started the game fast this week, we started off sluggish, and just wanted to bring home these great fans a win,” Lee said.
Columbus travels to New York to face the Dragons on Sunday and then returning home for an ESPN Monday Night Football game against the Philadelphia Soul. Columbus is 2-4 on the season.
History made in Jackets’ loss to Blues
Sunday marked the end of the NHL season as the Columbus Blue Jackets lost to St. Louis 4-1 in front of 17,739 at Nationwide Arena. The loss followed a 3-0 loss Saturday in St. Louis.
Some will remember that Columbus’ game against St. Louis on Sunday was a part of a five game losing streak to end the season. More will remember what happened when the game was all but over. With the score 3-1 and Columbus goalie Fredrik Norrena pulled for an extra attacker, St. Louis forward Keith Tkachuk scored his 500th career goal to clinch St.Louis’ season ending victory. Tkachuk is the 41st player in NHL history to score 500 goals.
“I never thought I would be able to play this long,” the 36-yeard-old forward said. “My teammates coming (off the bench) meant the world to me. And to get the win makes it even more special.”
“That was exciting watching that puck go down the ice into the net,” Blues head coach Andy Murray said. “500 goals is something special.”
But for the Blue Jackets, what would have been special would have been still playing today. Columbus missed the cut for the playoffs by 11 points. In the 31 games following the All-Star Game, Columbus only recorded nine wins. Winning at home for the season finale would have been a huge boost going into next season.
“(Since the) All-Star break, we put some of our –by far- best efforts,” Blue Jackets head coach Ken Hitchcock said. “I know a dozen games, like the one tonight, where it is pretty hard to fault the players. We made mistakes, they end up in the net, and we don’t make the other team for all the turnovers we created.”
Columbus started the game well. They got the game’s first eight shots and even got the game’s first goal when Michael Peca scored on a well placed Rick Nash pass on a five-on-three power play just minutes into the game. But St. Louis held control the rest of the way.
St. Louis got a goal by David Backes in the first period to tie the game. Brad Boyes scored an even strength goal that was assisted by Tkachuk in the second. David Perron made it a 3-1 lead midway through the third setting up Tkachuk’s goal later in the third. Columbus did however outshoot St. Louis in all three periods, and finished with a 36-19 shot advantage.
“We couldn’t finish, we outplayed them, we got more shots, but it is just kind of the story; we couldn’t score the big goals when we needed it,” Nash said.
Columbus ended the season with 80 points at 34-36-12. A full season recap and a look at next season can be found in next week’s edition.
Storm are swept away by Destroyers
Nearly a year ago, the Columbus Destroyers started their improbable run to the Arena Bowl by defeating the Tampa Bay Storm by a single point thanks to a missed extra point late in that game. In Saturday’s rematch, one play was just as important.
Columbus went on to win Saturday’s game 51-49 in front of 14,256 in Nationwide Arena. This was the first win at home for the team this season.
Going into Tampa Bay’s drive that started with six minutes left in the game and Columbus up 37-35, each team only had one drive that did not end in a touchdown. For Columbus, it came at the start of the third quarter when kicker Mark Lewis nailed a short field goal. Seth Marler’s 22 yard field goal attempt for Tampa Bay was wide left to end the first half. With the missed field goal, Tampa Bay was unable to break the 21-21 tie.
“Anytime you get a turnover like that, now the ball is in our court, we need to make sure we execute and we take care of the ball like we did,” Columbus quarterback Matt Nagy said on his team’s defensive stop in the second quarter.
“That is Arena Football, that is the way it should be,” Columbus head coach Doug Kay said about the scoring. “That is the way we need to play the game to compete and (Tampa) is a good football team.”
Storm quarterback Brett Deitz had a first and goal from the six and was looking to pass, but his attempt was tipped in the end zone by Nate Coggins and intercepted by Tremaine O’Neal with 1:56 left. Columbus would capitalize off the huge interception 1:11 later when Nagy found receiver Calvin Russell for a 33 yard pass to give Columbus a 44-35 lead after Lewis’ extra point attempt was good.
“I was just trying to assist the D.B’s on that play,” O’Neal said on his play. “We were trying to get hands on their receivers all day. Nate Coggins made a great defensive play on them, breaking the ball up, getting it up in the air, and giving me a chance to get underneath it.”
Nagy was in tune with his game throughout the game. He was 22-32 passing with 223 yards and six touchdowns. Four of which were to receiver Derek Lee. Lee now has 16 touchdowns on the season.
“We wanted to started the game fast this week, we started off sluggish, and just wanted to bring home these great fans a win,” Lee said.
Columbus travels to New York to face the Dragons on Sunday and then returning home for an ESPN Monday Night Football game against the Philadelphia Soul. Columbus is 2-4 on the season.
Sunday, April 6, 2008
If this rumor is true..
So rumor (claimed by a current season ticket holder and several ushers at Cooper Stadium) is that the cost for season tickets at the new Columbus Clippers ballpark Huntington Field will have a 47% increase from $425 to $625. The weird thing is I have not heard any outrage, especially considering that the county commissioners promised to keep prices constant at least for the first few seasons at Huntington Park. Last time I checked, $625 is not the same as $425 even with a slumping economy and high oil prices.
They claimed that ticket prices will be kept at or below prices of their rivals in the Western Division which all have newer ballparks, also a flat out lie. Season tickets for the newest ballpark in the West, Fifth Third Field is $540-$576 to see the 'World Famous' Toledo Mudhens. Louisville's ballpark is $438 to have a seat on or near the field. Even Indianapolis which charges high prices on tickets and parking, a person can have a season ticket for $525 a year.
As you can see, $425 is not that bad of a deal, but it is ridiculous to expect people to dispose of their income in this economy. If these rumors are true, the commissioners and management could really cost this city a chance to enjoy AAA baseball at its best. What these people have to remember that for many, it is not wear the game is played, it is what is played. It is nice to be in a comfortable place, but for $200 less, I would rather have a nice seat overlooking the evergreens at Cooper Stadium, rather than pay more to see an empty arena and near empty warehouse.
They claimed that ticket prices will be kept at or below prices of their rivals in the Western Division which all have newer ballparks, also a flat out lie. Season tickets for the newest ballpark in the West, Fifth Third Field is $540-$576 to see the 'World Famous' Toledo Mudhens. Louisville's ballpark is $438 to have a seat on or near the field. Even Indianapolis which charges high prices on tickets and parking, a person can have a season ticket for $525 a year.
As you can see, $425 is not that bad of a deal, but it is ridiculous to expect people to dispose of their income in this economy. If these rumors are true, the commissioners and management could really cost this city a chance to enjoy AAA baseball at its best. What these people have to remember that for many, it is not wear the game is played, it is what is played. It is nice to be in a comfortable place, but for $200 less, I would rather have a nice seat overlooking the evergreens at Cooper Stadium, rather than pay more to see an empty arena and near empty warehouse.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Cougar News Sports - Apr. 2
Sorry for being a day late but here is the Cougar News sports section!
Predators shut Jackets out of the playoffs
Even though the Columbus Blue Jackets have been having a tough time establishing a winning streak since the NHL All-Star Game, there has been hope by the team to climb back into the playoff picture. Those hopes were squashed last week by a pair of shutout losses to Nashville. The Jackets also had a shutout win last week at home to Chicago and lost in a shootout in Chicago.
Columbus went to Nashville knowing they would have to nearly win out to have a chance at the playoffs. What they got in return was not only a loss, but some bruises to boot. In the loss at Nashville Tuesday, Predator Jordin Tootoo got in a pair of fights, one with Jason Chimera and Jan Hejda. This bad blood carried on into the rematch Friday night.
Just three minutes into the game, enforcers Jared Boll and Tootoo fought and Boll scored the takedown of the Predator.
“I just knew it was on me,” Boll said. “I knew that both of our first shifts would probably be against each other so I just wanted to get it done early”
But it is the score that counts. Nashville’s first goal Friday night came off a shot that took a couple of hops and skips and eventually went through Jackets goaltender Fredrik Norrena. The goal was credited to Jan Hlavac with 15 minutes left in the second. Nashville scored one more just a minute later on a hard slap shot by Radek Bonk. That was all the scoring Nashville needed. Columbus responded with 43 shots, but Preds goaltender Dan Ellis made all 43 saves for Nashville.
“They had 43 shots but they weren’t as many hard quality chances,” Nashville head coach Barry Trotz said. “It wasn’t a hard 43 shots, but they had some c
“We can’t get down,” Blue Jackets captain Rick Nash said. We are at home, we have our fans behind us, I thought we got back on track, we just couldn’t finish.”
Through Sunday’s action, Nashville would be the last team in the playoffs with 87 points with Vancouver and Edmonton being just one point back. Columbus is now officially mathematically eliminated from the playoffs.
Columbus would likely still be in a playoff race if they could find a way of winning against Nashville. The Blue Jackets were 1-6-1 this season with their only win coming in a shootout in January. If Columbus went 3-3 against Nashville this year, they would only be three points away from grabbing that last playoff spot.
“I think there is a reason (for the dismal record against Nashville),” Columbus head coach Ken Hitchcock said. “I think if you look back on it, we are not able to finish against that team and there is a reason for that. We just don’t win enough one on ones against that team.”
For Hitchcock, this is the 10th full NHL season for him, and he has made the playoffs in nine of those years. Not playing deep into April is unfamiliar for Hitchcock, winner of a 1999 Stanley Cup. Hitchcock said he is going to miss not having the opportunity to play in this year’s playoffs.
“The reality hits you when you supposed to be preparing for the playoffs and I am going to have to deal with it,” Hitchcock said. “I haven’t dealt with it before, I enjoy the pressure, I love the pressure that goes with it, I really look forward to it, but it is not going to be this year.”
Columbus will finish the season this week with matches at Detroit and a home and home with St. Louis.
Safety costs Destroyers
Even in the high flying Arena Football League, many games can come down to a single play. That has been evident lately for the Columbus Destroyers. In their first home game of the season on March 15, they lost a game on a late game fumble against the Cleveland Gladiators. Saturday, they lost 47-44 to Orlando due to two points the offense of the Destroyers gave Orlando in front of an announced crowd of over 13,000.
With Orlando up 14-10 early in the second quarter, Orlando Predator Jason Hall sacked Destroyers quarterback Matt Nagy at the Columbus one yard line. On the next play, Orlando’s Rob Schroder once again sacked Nagy for a safety that put Orlando up 16-10. Orlando would also capitalize on getting the ball back and Predator quarter back Shane Stafford had two quick passes from their own 10 yard line all the way to the Columbus one yard line. After nearly pulling off a defensive fourth down stop, Columbus was called for an illegal defense which allowed Orlando to get a first down. Predator Marlon Moye-Moore scored from one yard out to give Orlando the 23-10 lead.
“That is the harshest (play)because you not only give up the two, you also get the chance to get seven more (points) so that is a nine point swing,” Destroyers head coach Doug Kay said. “If you add the nine to the seven you could have scored, big time swing.”
Columbus crawled back with a Nagy touchdown pass to Derek Lee to make it a seven point game late in the first half. Orlando played the clock management game to milk the clock to the final few seconds inside the Columbus five yard line. On the last play of the half, Stafford’s pass was deflected by Columbus defensive back Nate Coggins and intercepted by Rober’ Freeman. Columbus was happy to only be down seven at halftime.
“That was a huge play, we couldn’t let them score that one going into halftime, just lucky Rober’ made the interception,” Coggins said.
Columbus came back in the second half with another defensive stop. With Orlando 14 yards away from the end zone on fourth down, Stafford tried to force a pass to Ron Johnson into coverage, but Coggins was there once again to break up the pass. Nagy would connect with Lee on the next drive for a 33 yard pass to tie the game at 23. The teams would alternate three touchdowns on each drive the rest of the way.
After Columbus’ Harold Wells scored to tie the game at 44 with 3:03 left, Orlando would play clock management again to end the second half. This time they were playing for a field goal. Orlando got the clock all the way down to two seconds before calling a timeout. This set up a 31 yard field goal try for John Vaughn. Vaughn was 2-5 on attempts, but this one sailed above the uprights and Orlando walked out of Nationwide Arena with the 47-44 win.
“We got off to a slow start and was unable to make the last stop of the game,” Coggins said.
This is the second straight week for Columbus the game came down to a last second field goal. Last week it was Columbus’ Mark Lewis nailing one from 35 yards to win the game against the Utah Blaze 52-49.
“Now we know how Utah feels,” Nagy said. “We were sitting right there helpless, they decided to do what we did last week and trust your kicker.”
Columbus is now 1-4 on the season and winless at home. Next for the Destroyers is on Saturday when they play Tampa Bay at 7 p.m. in Nationwide Arena.
Cougar title bid falls just short in Finals
Two months ago, the Columbus State men’s basketball team sat near the bottom of the OCCAC standings with a 3-6 record in conference action and was suffering with a close loss after close loss. Have things changed since then.
In that time, the team went on a 13 game winning streak, defeated third ranked Cincinnati State in front of a large crowd and Ohio State’s Thad Matta, later find out Cincinnati State along with Owens Community College were using illegible players and were banned from postseason competition, and that is just the finish of the regular season.
The weekend of March 8-9 was supposed to be when the team would play in the NJCAA District Seven Tournament, but a large snowstorm postponed the tournament two days and Columbus State would have to wait in their Cleveland hotel until March 10 to defeat Clark State. The Cougars would then defeat Sinclair in the title game to earn a trip to the NJCAA National Championship, the first time ever for the team.
“(The blizzard) helped us, it gave us more time to prepare for Sinclair,” Columbus State head coach Patrick Carlisle said. “It helped us just fine. The kids had a lot of fun being around each other and they felt good… It was great team building.”
“During the blizzard in Cleveland during the regionals, our focus was maintained by the hunger of competition,” Columbus State guard Raylon Almon said. “We wanted to play so bad that we were determined to win.”
Columbus State would get one week to prepare for a very tough road to the National Championship game. Their first challenge was against Erie Community College who was ranked fifth in the country on March 19. It remained a back and forth battle for the entire 40 minutes, but Columbus State was able to seal the game in the final few seconds as Brandon Bland hit two free throws to give Columbus State a 66-64 lead. Columbus State’s Cyrus Smith got a steal when Erie tried to take one last shot and Columbus State advanced with a 67-64 lead. Bland finished with a team high 16 points.
The next evening, they defeated Prince George’s Community College. Prince George’s defeated Cecil College who is the number one team in the nation to earn a spot in the NJCAA Championships. Columbus State won the game 78-69.
In the NJCAA semifinal round, Columbus State had to play the host of the tournament, Danville Community College in front of several thousand local fans. Danville had a 27-16 lead at one point in the first half. The halftime score was 35-30 with Danville leading. Columbus State battled hard in the second half. The Cougars would hang tough until the midpoint of the second half when they went on a huge run to take a 65-52 lead with three minutes left. Danville made it interesting late. Danville got within four, but Columbus State hung on for the 77-69 win.
“A miserable environment to play in, a fabulous won to win in which makes it that much sweeter,” Carlisle said on the game. “In a national tournament game, you hold another team scoreless for ten minutes -- in their gym. When you think about it like that is truly amazing.”
In the championship game, Columbus State faced off against the defending NJCAA Champion Mott Bears. Columbus State would once again have to overcome a large first half deficit. After being down by 12, Columbus State fought back and tied the game right before halftime at 33 however Mott’s Jacquez Williams hit a three pointer to give Mott the halftime lead at 36-33. Columbus State’s dream season came to a close as Mott finished strong and won 83-73 to repeat as National Champions.
“(Mott) had good chemistry and everybody played their roles really well,” Almon said. “They have been there before, and knew what it took to get another championship.”
“(Mott is) the icon of the level,” Carlisle said. “I told our coaches the day we got this job ‘we’ll know when we’re there if we can beat Mott.’ We didn’t beat them but we know we’re there. They’re good.”
After Owens and Cincinnati State had their records vacated, Columbus State finished the season 10-4 in OCCAC action and 29-7 overall. Quite an impressive feat considering the team’s play going into the final month of the regular season.
Carlisle said he give s his players credit for seeing their potential after a rough start. Britt along with Greg Rice and Mariano Bowles were named to the NJCAA National Tournament All-Tournament team. Britt was also named the tournament MVP for the NJCAA District Seven Tournament, and Carlisle was named Coach of the District.
Predators shut Jackets out of the playoffs
Even though the Columbus Blue Jackets have been having a tough time establishing a winning streak since the NHL All-Star Game, there has been hope by the team to climb back into the playoff picture. Those hopes were squashed last week by a pair of shutout losses to Nashville. The Jackets also had a shutout win last week at home to Chicago and lost in a shootout in Chicago.
Columbus went to Nashville knowing they would have to nearly win out to have a chance at the playoffs. What they got in return was not only a loss, but some bruises to boot. In the loss at Nashville Tuesday, Predator Jordin Tootoo got in a pair of fights, one with Jason Chimera and Jan Hejda. This bad blood carried on into the rematch Friday night.
Just three minutes into the game, enforcers Jared Boll and Tootoo fought and Boll scored the takedown of the Predator.
“I just knew it was on me,” Boll said. “I knew that both of our first shifts would probably be against each other so I just wanted to get it done early”
But it is the score that counts. Nashville’s first goal Friday night came off a shot that took a couple of hops and skips and eventually went through Jackets goaltender Fredrik Norrena. The goal was credited to Jan Hlavac with 15 minutes left in the second. Nashville scored one more just a minute later on a hard slap shot by Radek Bonk. That was all the scoring Nashville needed. Columbus responded with 43 shots, but Preds goaltender Dan Ellis made all 43 saves for Nashville.
“They had 43 shots but they weren’t as many hard quality chances,” Nashville head coach Barry Trotz said. “It wasn’t a hard 43 shots, but they had some c
“We can’t get down,” Blue Jackets captain Rick Nash said. We are at home, we have our fans behind us, I thought we got back on track, we just couldn’t finish.”
Through Sunday’s action, Nashville would be the last team in the playoffs with 87 points with Vancouver and Edmonton being just one point back. Columbus is now officially mathematically eliminated from the playoffs.
Columbus would likely still be in a playoff race if they could find a way of winning against Nashville. The Blue Jackets were 1-6-1 this season with their only win coming in a shootout in January. If Columbus went 3-3 against Nashville this year, they would only be three points away from grabbing that last playoff spot.
“I think there is a reason (for the dismal record against Nashville),” Columbus head coach Ken Hitchcock said. “I think if you look back on it, we are not able to finish against that team and there is a reason for that. We just don’t win enough one on ones against that team.”
For Hitchcock, this is the 10th full NHL season for him, and he has made the playoffs in nine of those years. Not playing deep into April is unfamiliar for Hitchcock, winner of a 1999 Stanley Cup. Hitchcock said he is going to miss not having the opportunity to play in this year’s playoffs.
“The reality hits you when you supposed to be preparing for the playoffs and I am going to have to deal with it,” Hitchcock said. “I haven’t dealt with it before, I enjoy the pressure, I love the pressure that goes with it, I really look forward to it, but it is not going to be this year.”
Columbus will finish the season this week with matches at Detroit and a home and home with St. Louis.
Safety costs Destroyers
Even in the high flying Arena Football League, many games can come down to a single play. That has been evident lately for the Columbus Destroyers. In their first home game of the season on March 15, they lost a game on a late game fumble against the Cleveland Gladiators. Saturday, they lost 47-44 to Orlando due to two points the offense of the Destroyers gave Orlando in front of an announced crowd of over 13,000.
With Orlando up 14-10 early in the second quarter, Orlando Predator Jason Hall sacked Destroyers quarterback Matt Nagy at the Columbus one yard line. On the next play, Orlando’s Rob Schroder once again sacked Nagy for a safety that put Orlando up 16-10. Orlando would also capitalize on getting the ball back and Predator quarter back Shane Stafford had two quick passes from their own 10 yard line all the way to the Columbus one yard line. After nearly pulling off a defensive fourth down stop, Columbus was called for an illegal defense which allowed Orlando to get a first down. Predator Marlon Moye-Moore scored from one yard out to give Orlando the 23-10 lead.
“That is the harshest (play)because you not only give up the two, you also get the chance to get seven more (points) so that is a nine point swing,” Destroyers head coach Doug Kay said. “If you add the nine to the seven you could have scored, big time swing.”
Columbus crawled back with a Nagy touchdown pass to Derek Lee to make it a seven point game late in the first half. Orlando played the clock management game to milk the clock to the final few seconds inside the Columbus five yard line. On the last play of the half, Stafford’s pass was deflected by Columbus defensive back Nate Coggins and intercepted by Rober’ Freeman. Columbus was happy to only be down seven at halftime.
“That was a huge play, we couldn’t let them score that one going into halftime, just lucky Rober’ made the interception,” Coggins said.
Columbus came back in the second half with another defensive stop. With Orlando 14 yards away from the end zone on fourth down, Stafford tried to force a pass to Ron Johnson into coverage, but Coggins was there once again to break up the pass. Nagy would connect with Lee on the next drive for a 33 yard pass to tie the game at 23. The teams would alternate three touchdowns on each drive the rest of the way.
After Columbus’ Harold Wells scored to tie the game at 44 with 3:03 left, Orlando would play clock management again to end the second half. This time they were playing for a field goal. Orlando got the clock all the way down to two seconds before calling a timeout. This set up a 31 yard field goal try for John Vaughn. Vaughn was 2-5 on attempts, but this one sailed above the uprights and Orlando walked out of Nationwide Arena with the 47-44 win.
“We got off to a slow start and was unable to make the last stop of the game,” Coggins said.
This is the second straight week for Columbus the game came down to a last second field goal. Last week it was Columbus’ Mark Lewis nailing one from 35 yards to win the game against the Utah Blaze 52-49.
“Now we know how Utah feels,” Nagy said. “We were sitting right there helpless, they decided to do what we did last week and trust your kicker.”
Columbus is now 1-4 on the season and winless at home. Next for the Destroyers is on Saturday when they play Tampa Bay at 7 p.m. in Nationwide Arena.
Cougar title bid falls just short in Finals
Two months ago, the Columbus State men’s basketball team sat near the bottom of the OCCAC standings with a 3-6 record in conference action and was suffering with a close loss after close loss. Have things changed since then.
In that time, the team went on a 13 game winning streak, defeated third ranked Cincinnati State in front of a large crowd and Ohio State’s Thad Matta, later find out Cincinnati State along with Owens Community College were using illegible players and were banned from postseason competition, and that is just the finish of the regular season.
The weekend of March 8-9 was supposed to be when the team would play in the NJCAA District Seven Tournament, but a large snowstorm postponed the tournament two days and Columbus State would have to wait in their Cleveland hotel until March 10 to defeat Clark State. The Cougars would then defeat Sinclair in the title game to earn a trip to the NJCAA National Championship, the first time ever for the team.
“(The blizzard) helped us, it gave us more time to prepare for Sinclair,” Columbus State head coach Patrick Carlisle said. “It helped us just fine. The kids had a lot of fun being around each other and they felt good… It was great team building.”
“During the blizzard in Cleveland during the regionals, our focus was maintained by the hunger of competition,” Columbus State guard Raylon Almon said. “We wanted to play so bad that we were determined to win.”
Columbus State would get one week to prepare for a very tough road to the National Championship game. Their first challenge was against Erie Community College who was ranked fifth in the country on March 19. It remained a back and forth battle for the entire 40 minutes, but Columbus State was able to seal the game in the final few seconds as Brandon Bland hit two free throws to give Columbus State a 66-64 lead. Columbus State’s Cyrus Smith got a steal when Erie tried to take one last shot and Columbus State advanced with a 67-64 lead. Bland finished with a team high 16 points.
The next evening, they defeated Prince George’s Community College. Prince George’s defeated Cecil College who is the number one team in the nation to earn a spot in the NJCAA Championships. Columbus State won the game 78-69.
In the NJCAA semifinal round, Columbus State had to play the host of the tournament, Danville Community College in front of several thousand local fans. Danville had a 27-16 lead at one point in the first half. The halftime score was 35-30 with Danville leading. Columbus State battled hard in the second half. The Cougars would hang tough until the midpoint of the second half when they went on a huge run to take a 65-52 lead with three minutes left. Danville made it interesting late. Danville got within four, but Columbus State hung on for the 77-69 win.
“A miserable environment to play in, a fabulous won to win in which makes it that much sweeter,” Carlisle said on the game. “In a national tournament game, you hold another team scoreless for ten minutes -- in their gym. When you think about it like that is truly amazing.”
In the championship game, Columbus State faced off against the defending NJCAA Champion Mott Bears. Columbus State would once again have to overcome a large first half deficit. After being down by 12, Columbus State fought back and tied the game right before halftime at 33 however Mott’s Jacquez Williams hit a three pointer to give Mott the halftime lead at 36-33. Columbus State’s dream season came to a close as Mott finished strong and won 83-73 to repeat as National Champions.
“(Mott) had good chemistry and everybody played their roles really well,” Almon said. “They have been there before, and knew what it took to get another championship.”
“(Mott is) the icon of the level,” Carlisle said. “I told our coaches the day we got this job ‘we’ll know when we’re there if we can beat Mott.’ We didn’t beat them but we know we’re there. They’re good.”
After Owens and Cincinnati State had their records vacated, Columbus State finished the season 10-4 in OCCAC action and 29-7 overall. Quite an impressive feat considering the team’s play going into the final month of the regular season.
Carlisle said he give s his players credit for seeing their potential after a rough start. Britt along with Greg Rice and Mariano Bowles were named to the NJCAA National Tournament All-Tournament team. Britt was also named the tournament MVP for the NJCAA District Seven Tournament, and Carlisle was named Coach of the District.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Tournaments on the mind
The NCAA selection committee got it right for the first time ever -- they got the four top seeds into the final four. And only one of them really had all that tough of a challenge in their actual regional final.
When the brackets came out a couple weeks ago, I really never got a good read on all these teams. Turns out that what I thought was going to be the toughest year to predict the winners was actually the best. If you would have taken straight top seeds, you would likely be near the top of your bracket. How often can you say that? But what is the fun of stealing the NCAA's selection committee's pick.
But to be truthful, this could honestly go down as one of the most boring NCAA Tournament in history. If it were not for Davidson's run, this was a very predictable tournament. I know we had some 13 seeds win and all that, but that happens every year. Sometimes you can see these upsets coming (we all knew Villanova is up there). But there is still time for drama. What if the title game goes to double-overtime, oh yeah, this is all of a sudden a great, exciting tournament.
Now let us talk about a tournament I have all of a sudden embraced. It is the NIT. Ohio State vs Cal followed by Dayton sounds more like a good round of 32 matchup in the NCAA. But the one thing you get from the NIT's you never get from the NCAA is a true basketball atmosphere in real college arenas. For instance, did anyone watch the Cal game on ESPN last week? Did you have a tough time hearing play by play man John Saunders? It was truly that loud in St. John Arena. You get real basketball fans close to the court and look what happens. I think the handful of fathers who brought their sons as a $40 history lesson got what they paid for: An old style basketball game in front of a large rocking crowd with the blaring of Hang On Sloopy coming from the bleachers.
But when I never thought it was possible to get the Schott that loud, it was just as loud two nights later. What would have had it even louder had Dayton not bought up a section in the lowers. But still, the vast majority was wearing scarlet and grey and once again, when you don't have millionaires sitting close to the action, you notice there is a crowd. But of course that isn't likely to change anytime soon. But what a nice way to send out the seniors.
I will have Destroyers and Jackets updates later tonight/tomorrow.
When the brackets came out a couple weeks ago, I really never got a good read on all these teams. Turns out that what I thought was going to be the toughest year to predict the winners was actually the best. If you would have taken straight top seeds, you would likely be near the top of your bracket. How often can you say that? But what is the fun of stealing the NCAA's selection committee's pick.
But to be truthful, this could honestly go down as one of the most boring NCAA Tournament in history. If it were not for Davidson's run, this was a very predictable tournament. I know we had some 13 seeds win and all that, but that happens every year. Sometimes you can see these upsets coming (we all knew Villanova is up there). But there is still time for drama. What if the title game goes to double-overtime, oh yeah, this is all of a sudden a great, exciting tournament.
Now let us talk about a tournament I have all of a sudden embraced. It is the NIT. Ohio State vs Cal followed by Dayton sounds more like a good round of 32 matchup in the NCAA. But the one thing you get from the NIT's you never get from the NCAA is a true basketball atmosphere in real college arenas. For instance, did anyone watch the Cal game on ESPN last week? Did you have a tough time hearing play by play man John Saunders? It was truly that loud in St. John Arena. You get real basketball fans close to the court and look what happens. I think the handful of fathers who brought their sons as a $40 history lesson got what they paid for: An old style basketball game in front of a large rocking crowd with the blaring of Hang On Sloopy coming from the bleachers.
But when I never thought it was possible to get the Schott that loud, it was just as loud two nights later. What would have had it even louder had Dayton not bought up a section in the lowers. But still, the vast majority was wearing scarlet and grey and once again, when you don't have millionaires sitting close to the action, you notice there is a crowd. But of course that isn't likely to change anytime soon. But what a nice way to send out the seniors.
I will have Destroyers and Jackets updates later tonight/tomorrow.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Nash's play not enough in Jackets loss
It takes more than one player to win a game. The Columbus Blue Jackets found this out the hard way in a 4-1 loss against the Detroit Red Wings at home Saturday night. The loss was their second in a row to Detroit.
The lone Blue Jackets mark on the scoreboard came just one minute into the period when forward captain Rick Nash skated without offensive help into the Detroit zone and fired on past Detroit goalkeeper Dominik Hasek. The goal at the time cut the Detroit lead in half and gave Columbus a real shot at winning.
But shots were a problem in this game for Columbus. The team only registered 12 shots on goal. Detroit had a 2-0 lead from a 5-3 power play goal by Nikolas Lidstrom and a power play goal from Henrik Zetterberg before Columbus could even register their first shot of the game. That came from Blue Jacket forward Jiri Novotny.
Columbus played hard for most of the third period, but when Johan Franzen gave Detroit a 3-1 lead with seven minutes left, that seemed to take what little energy Columbus had away. This was exemplified when Detroit’s Pavel Datsyuk scored on a shorthanded breakaway just a few minutes later.
“Their special teams are better than ours, they got a couple power play goals and a shorthanded goal and we were the other way,” Nash said. “Be got to get that power play clicking to win games. I don’t think we’re getting it set up, we are not hungry enough at the other end retrieving pucks, and when we don’t retrieve pucks and get set up it is tough to score.”
But one bright spot for Columbus was Nash’s play. He had 1/3 of his team’s shot count with four, as well as leading the team in checks at five. Hitchcock was quick to point to Nash’s play in the game.
“Our captain tried to carry us on his back and we just didn’t have enough people going with him,” Hitchcock said. “He tried to win the game by himself and tried to drag as many people into the fight as he could. We didn’t have enough people dragged in.”
To beat Detroit, your defense has to be on top of its game. Datsyuk is fourth and Zetterberg is seventh in the league points. Datsyuk added to his total with two assists and a goal along with Zetterberg’s goal.
“If we keep those guys off the (score) sheet, we really have a good chance of winning the game,” Blue Jacket defenseman Rostislav Klesla said. “They’re just one of the best in the league. They great skilled, good speed, they read off each other… they play really well together and find each other well on the ice.”
With just seven games left in the season, Columbus is seven points behind Colorado for the final playoff spot in the west. Hitchcock said that for the team to have a chance at getting in, they have to finish the season undefeated. Next challenge is a road game against Nashville Tuesday followed by a home game Wednesday against Chicago.
The lone Blue Jackets mark on the scoreboard came just one minute into the period when forward captain Rick Nash skated without offensive help into the Detroit zone and fired on past Detroit goalkeeper Dominik Hasek. The goal at the time cut the Detroit lead in half and gave Columbus a real shot at winning.
But shots were a problem in this game for Columbus. The team only registered 12 shots on goal. Detroit had a 2-0 lead from a 5-3 power play goal by Nikolas Lidstrom and a power play goal from Henrik Zetterberg before Columbus could even register their first shot of the game. That came from Blue Jacket forward Jiri Novotny.
Columbus played hard for most of the third period, but when Johan Franzen gave Detroit a 3-1 lead with seven minutes left, that seemed to take what little energy Columbus had away. This was exemplified when Detroit’s Pavel Datsyuk scored on a shorthanded breakaway just a few minutes later.
“Their special teams are better than ours, they got a couple power play goals and a shorthanded goal and we were the other way,” Nash said. “Be got to get that power play clicking to win games. I don’t think we’re getting it set up, we are not hungry enough at the other end retrieving pucks, and when we don’t retrieve pucks and get set up it is tough to score.”
But one bright spot for Columbus was Nash’s play. He had 1/3 of his team’s shot count with four, as well as leading the team in checks at five. Hitchcock was quick to point to Nash’s play in the game.
“Our captain tried to carry us on his back and we just didn’t have enough people going with him,” Hitchcock said. “He tried to win the game by himself and tried to drag as many people into the fight as he could. We didn’t have enough people dragged in.”
To beat Detroit, your defense has to be on top of its game. Datsyuk is fourth and Zetterberg is seventh in the league points. Datsyuk added to his total with two assists and a goal along with Zetterberg’s goal.
“If we keep those guys off the (score) sheet, we really have a good chance of winning the game,” Blue Jacket defenseman Rostislav Klesla said. “They’re just one of the best in the league. They great skilled, good speed, they read off each other… they play really well together and find each other well on the ice.”
With just seven games left in the season, Columbus is seven points behind Colorado for the final playoff spot in the west. Hitchcock said that for the team to have a chance at getting in, they have to finish the season undefeated. Next challenge is a road game against Nashville Tuesday followed by a home game Wednesday against Chicago.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Norrena outlasts Hasek; Detroit
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Fredrik Norrena said he found out seven and a half minutes before Sunday’s match with the Detroit Red Wings that he was getting the nod due to an injury sustained by Pascal Leclaire during pregame skate. Coincidentally that is about how much time it took for Columbus to knockout Detroit.
Maybe Columbus head coach Ken Hitchcock should start letting his goaltenders know when they’re starting on short notice after Norrena stopped 43 of Detroit’s 46 shots on goal. Norrena still however would like a bit more notice than the one he received Sunday.
“I would prefer to know the day before, but those are the things you have to get used to if you're a backup goalie,” Norrena said. “I did my preparation like a normal game day so that helped me a little bit. But of course, most of all, the guys in front of me helped out tonight."
The eight minutes Columbus needed to knockout Detroit was in the second period. Columbus went into the second with a 1-0 lead thanks to a Manny Malhotra goal just three minutes into the game. The goal came on a cross crease pass from Jackets forward Rick Nash with Fredrik Modin screening the Red Wings goaltender Dominik Hasek. The Jackets went on to outscore Detroit 3-1 in the middle of the second.
Columbus took a 2-0 lead with 16 minutes left in the second when forward Jason Chimera’s shot took a long rebound of Hasek to defenseman Ole-Kristian Tollefsen whose shot beat Hasek. Malhotra scored his second of the match just three minutes later when Nash dug out the puck from the midwall and found Malhotra in the high slot. Malhotra’s first attempt was blocked by Wings defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom, but that shot hopped right back to Malhotra who batted in the puck from stomach high.
“Tennis background,” Malhotra said. “The whole play started with Rick (Nash) making a great play, he sprung me on a half-breakaway and then I was pretty pissed when my shot got deflected and then I saw it in the air, there was a gaping net so I wanted to get something on it.”
Detroit got on the board when Tollefsen and Malhotra ran into each other causing both to hit the ice while Detroit’s Tomas Kopecky beat Norrena. Columbus got their game winning goal with eight minutes left in the second when Malhotra fed forward Nikolai Zherdev at point blank range. The goal chased Hasek from the game and Chris Osgood finished as Detroit’s goaltender.
Detroit rallied when Johan Franzen notched a goal late in the second, followed by a power play goal with two minutes remaining in the game. Columbus had to weather a flurry of scoring opportunities late in the third. Norrena made 19 saves out of 20 shots in the third to hang onto the victory. Malhotra had a chance for a hat trick late when Nash skated on his left and found Malhotra when Lidstrom deflected the puck into the glove of Osgood.
“Rick made a great pass and Osgood made a terrific save,” Malhotra said. It was one of those bang-bang plays and it would have been nice to get that goal and put a seal on the game, but he made a great save.”
But no question that Detroit had the most amount of chances throughout the game. Hitchcock said Norrena’s performance was good, but Detroit’s assault was to be expected as they lead the Western Conference in scoring.
“That is Detroit’s forecheck, their forecheck is shots on goal,” Hitchcock said. “They put the puck on the net all the time, that is their strategy. They do a great job with it that is how they play so you know as a goaltender; you’re going to see a lot of rubber.”
As Detroit has reached the 100 point plateau and has their 17th consecutive playoff berth on the way, Columbus reached their franchise record with 75 points Sunday. The team is still seven points from Vancouver for the final spot out of the west. When Hitchcock was asked about his thoughts on the team reaching an all-time high in points in a season, he replied: “Oh really? Whoopee.”
Maybe Columbus head coach Ken Hitchcock should start letting his goaltenders know when they’re starting on short notice after Norrena stopped 43 of Detroit’s 46 shots on goal. Norrena still however would like a bit more notice than the one he received Sunday.
“I would prefer to know the day before, but those are the things you have to get used to if you're a backup goalie,” Norrena said. “I did my preparation like a normal game day so that helped me a little bit. But of course, most of all, the guys in front of me helped out tonight."
The eight minutes Columbus needed to knockout Detroit was in the second period. Columbus went into the second with a 1-0 lead thanks to a Manny Malhotra goal just three minutes into the game. The goal came on a cross crease pass from Jackets forward Rick Nash with Fredrik Modin screening the Red Wings goaltender Dominik Hasek. The Jackets went on to outscore Detroit 3-1 in the middle of the second.
Columbus took a 2-0 lead with 16 minutes left in the second when forward Jason Chimera’s shot took a long rebound of Hasek to defenseman Ole-Kristian Tollefsen whose shot beat Hasek. Malhotra scored his second of the match just three minutes later when Nash dug out the puck from the midwall and found Malhotra in the high slot. Malhotra’s first attempt was blocked by Wings defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom, but that shot hopped right back to Malhotra who batted in the puck from stomach high.
“Tennis background,” Malhotra said. “The whole play started with Rick (Nash) making a great play, he sprung me on a half-breakaway and then I was pretty pissed when my shot got deflected and then I saw it in the air, there was a gaping net so I wanted to get something on it.”
Detroit got on the board when Tollefsen and Malhotra ran into each other causing both to hit the ice while Detroit’s Tomas Kopecky beat Norrena. Columbus got their game winning goal with eight minutes left in the second when Malhotra fed forward Nikolai Zherdev at point blank range. The goal chased Hasek from the game and Chris Osgood finished as Detroit’s goaltender.
Detroit rallied when Johan Franzen notched a goal late in the second, followed by a power play goal with two minutes remaining in the game. Columbus had to weather a flurry of scoring opportunities late in the third. Norrena made 19 saves out of 20 shots in the third to hang onto the victory. Malhotra had a chance for a hat trick late when Nash skated on his left and found Malhotra when Lidstrom deflected the puck into the glove of Osgood.
“Rick made a great pass and Osgood made a terrific save,” Malhotra said. It was one of those bang-bang plays and it would have been nice to get that goal and put a seal on the game, but he made a great save.”
But no question that Detroit had the most amount of chances throughout the game. Hitchcock said Norrena’s performance was good, but Detroit’s assault was to be expected as they lead the Western Conference in scoring.
“That is Detroit’s forecheck, their forecheck is shots on goal,” Hitchcock said. “They put the puck on the net all the time, that is their strategy. They do a great job with it that is how they play so you know as a goaltender; you’re going to see a lot of rubber.”
As Detroit has reached the 100 point plateau and has their 17th consecutive playoff berth on the way, Columbus reached their franchise record with 75 points Sunday. The team is still seven points from Vancouver for the final spot out of the west. When Hitchcock was asked about his thoughts on the team reaching an all-time high in points in a season, he replied: “Oh really? Whoopee.”
My Bracket
So I only spent several hours last night and this morning doing research, but I have come up with a list of teams for each seed. I did this looking at schedules, RPI's, Power Rankings, and I gave weight to teams that finished well and did not look to compare to other experts' guesses.
One Seeds:
Memphis, UCLA, UNC, Tennessee
Two Seeds:
Duke, Texas, Kansas, Wisconsin
Three Seeds:
Stanford, Xavier, Arkansas, Pittsburgh
Four Seeds:
Drake, Louisville, Washington State, Georgetown
Five Seeds:
Vandy, UCONN, Clemson, Texas A&M
Six Seeds:
Butler, UNLV, Marquette, MSU
Seven Seeds:
Notre Dame, WVU, Gonzaga, USC
Eight Seeds:
Kent State, Purdue, Indiana, BYU
Nine Seeds:
Miami, St. Mary’s, Oklahoma, South Alabama
Ten Seeds:
Davidson, Kansas State, Illinois State, Miss St
Eleven Seeds:
Dayton, Western Kentucky, Oregon, Arizona
Twelve Seeds:
Kentucky, Baylor, Ohio State, Temple
Thirteen Seeds:
George Mason, Oral Roberts, Boise State, Siena
Fourteen Seeds:
MDBC, Cornell, Belmont , San Diego
Fifteen Seeds:
Austin Peay, Cal State Fullerton, Winthrop, Portland State
Sixteen Seeds (5):
Coppin State, Miss Valley State, (Southland Champ), Mt. St. Marys, American
So first off I do have Ohio State in the dance. The late season wins really helped I think, but they're the last team in by my count, and if Illinois or Georgia wins today, they're toast. Also down there for the final spots, I gave heavy consideration to St Joes. But I already had three other Atlantic 10 teams in, and I do not feel this conference a four bid conference. There are good teams in the conference, but also some very bad teams.
I looked up Joe Lunardi's bracket and turns out we agree on a lot. We have only one at-large disagreement. He has Dayton being the seventh team out of the tournament and I have them in (he has St. Joe's instead). I like Dayton simply because they defeated St. Joe's just two weeks ago. I don't think the 9-9 conference record should be held against them because they played a very in the non-conference schedule and won four of their last five. Wins against Pitt and Louisville also help the cause for them.
Also I was surprised how high Lunardi had Indiana. He has them listed as a five seed. They're good, however they have seemed to fallen apart since Sampsongate. They barely got past Northwestern who are simple awful, came a shot away from losing to OSU at home, and have since lost to Penn State and Minnesota. We shall see how close I am tonight.
If you're wondering what my first teams not in are, it is Villanova, St. Joe's, and UAB. I gave UAB a strong amount of consideration considering their record and them coming from an underrated conference with only one team in the field.
One Seeds:
Memphis, UCLA, UNC, Tennessee
Two Seeds:
Duke, Texas, Kansas, Wisconsin
Three Seeds:
Stanford, Xavier, Arkansas, Pittsburgh
Four Seeds:
Drake, Louisville, Washington State, Georgetown
Five Seeds:
Vandy, UCONN, Clemson, Texas A&M
Six Seeds:
Butler, UNLV, Marquette, MSU
Seven Seeds:
Notre Dame, WVU, Gonzaga, USC
Eight Seeds:
Kent State, Purdue, Indiana, BYU
Nine Seeds:
Miami, St. Mary’s, Oklahoma, South Alabama
Ten Seeds:
Davidson, Kansas State, Illinois State, Miss St
Eleven Seeds:
Dayton, Western Kentucky, Oregon, Arizona
Twelve Seeds:
Kentucky, Baylor, Ohio State, Temple
Thirteen Seeds:
George Mason, Oral Roberts, Boise State, Siena
Fourteen Seeds:
MDBC, Cornell, Belmont , San Diego
Fifteen Seeds:
Austin Peay, Cal State Fullerton, Winthrop, Portland State
Sixteen Seeds (5):
Coppin State, Miss Valley State, (Southland Champ), Mt. St. Marys, American
So first off I do have Ohio State in the dance. The late season wins really helped I think, but they're the last team in by my count, and if Illinois or Georgia wins today, they're toast. Also down there for the final spots, I gave heavy consideration to St Joes. But I already had three other Atlantic 10 teams in, and I do not feel this conference a four bid conference. There are good teams in the conference, but also some very bad teams.
I looked up Joe Lunardi's bracket and turns out we agree on a lot. We have only one at-large disagreement. He has Dayton being the seventh team out of the tournament and I have them in (he has St. Joe's instead). I like Dayton simply because they defeated St. Joe's just two weeks ago. I don't think the 9-9 conference record should be held against them because they played a very in the non-conference schedule and won four of their last five. Wins against Pitt and Louisville also help the cause for them.
Also I was surprised how high Lunardi had Indiana. He has them listed as a five seed. They're good, however they have seemed to fallen apart since Sampsongate. They barely got past Northwestern who are simple awful, came a shot away from losing to OSU at home, and have since lost to Penn State and Minnesota. We shall see how close I am tonight.
If you're wondering what my first teams not in are, it is Villanova, St. Joe's, and UAB. I gave UAB a strong amount of consideration considering their record and them coming from an underrated conference with only one team in the field.
Destroyers bested against Gladiators
The Columbus Destroyers of the Arena Football League lost a showdown with the Cleveland Gladiators Saturday night 59-57 in front of 15,964 inside Nationwide Arena.
The match featured a tight contest throughout the entire game. Neither team could manage to take more than an eight point lead in the game. As with many arena league games, lots of touchdowns and offense took place in this first ever ‘Battle of the Buckeye State’.
With two points being the difference, many tiny plays could have made the difference.
First one coming just five minutes into the game when quarterback Matt Nagy appeared to connect to Columbus wide reciever Derek Lee for an eight yard touchdown pass, however that touchdown was voided on an offensive pass interference and Columbus had to settle for a field goal.
Columbus would briefly lose the lead when Cleveland’s Marlion Jackson scored on a 10 yard run midway through the first. The Destroyers would come back on offense with a 43 yard strike by Nagy to reciver Calvin Russell to put the team within the six yard line. Lee would avenge his called back touchdown with a reception from six yards out to take the lead in the final minutes of the first. Columbus would hold the lead until the third quarter before the teams would trade blows. Columbus held a 31-23 halftime lead.
In the mean time, Columbus was struggling with field position as Cleveland outgained Columbus on kick returns 229-103. The turning point came in the third quarter with Columbus up 31-29, Cleveland stuffed Columbus on four consecutive plays and the Destroyers had a turnover-on-downs. Cleveland would add a touchdown to take their first second half lead.
“(Cleveland’s) special teams kept setting them up with good field position,” Destroyers defensive lineman Michael Landry said. “It obviously put the defense’s back against the wall and we had to make the plays just didn’t get it.”
Reciever Rasheed Marshall had a reception to give Columbus the lead once again. Cleveland answered with a touchdown of their own to take a 42-38 lead right before the end of the third. Columbus regained the lead early in the fourth when Nagy connected with runningback Harold Wells for his third touchdown of the game. However Destroyers kicker Mark Lewis missed his point after attempt to make the game 44-42 in favor of Columbus.
The two teams would trade touchdowns midway through the fourth to make the game 51-49. Cleveland added a field goal with 6:54 left in the game to give them the one point lead. Columbus would try to rally with a drive down the field. Nagy from the Cleveland 14 yard line passed to reciever Matt Thomas for a reception but he fumbled the ball inside of the 10 and was recovered by Cleveland’s Brando Hefflin.
Cleveland responded with a three minute touchdown drive. As many Columbus fans were giving up on the game and heading towards the parking lots, Nagy tried to rally his offense one last time. His 33 yard touchdown pass to Lee got the score within two with 22 seconds left.
Lee’s third touchdown of the game led to a dramatic two point conversion attempt which would send the game to overtime. After each team called a timeout, Columbus broke the huddle and attempted to confuse Cleveland by changing their formation. Nagy passed to his right but overthrew receivers Lee and Marshall as the ball landed in the front rows of the arena.
“We were actually going to try to hit a shovel pass, but our wing guy got caught up with the defensive end,” Nagy said. “It looked like it was a bunch of nothing but we had a decent play set up but they just played good defense.”
Even though Columbus was only a play or two from changing the result of Saturday’s game, Destroyers head coach Doug Kay said he felt his team did not deserve to win.
“I have never sat in the locker room after a loss and felt I deserved to win,” Kay said. “If we lost, there is a reason we lost.”
Columbus has now fallen 0-3 whereas Cleveland is undefeated at 0-3. Certainly a bad start for the defending National Conference champions.
“We have to play with more energy, we have to play more aggressively – I am talking mentally aggressively too so we can go out on the field and make plays,” Kay. “Right now, I don’t see enough excitement in our eyes that says ‘I am going to go out and make a play.’"
The match featured a tight contest throughout the entire game. Neither team could manage to take more than an eight point lead in the game. As with many arena league games, lots of touchdowns and offense took place in this first ever ‘Battle of the Buckeye State’.
With two points being the difference, many tiny plays could have made the difference.
First one coming just five minutes into the game when quarterback Matt Nagy appeared to connect to Columbus wide reciever Derek Lee for an eight yard touchdown pass, however that touchdown was voided on an offensive pass interference and Columbus had to settle for a field goal.
Columbus would briefly lose the lead when Cleveland’s Marlion Jackson scored on a 10 yard run midway through the first. The Destroyers would come back on offense with a 43 yard strike by Nagy to reciver Calvin Russell to put the team within the six yard line. Lee would avenge his called back touchdown with a reception from six yards out to take the lead in the final minutes of the first. Columbus would hold the lead until the third quarter before the teams would trade blows. Columbus held a 31-23 halftime lead.
In the mean time, Columbus was struggling with field position as Cleveland outgained Columbus on kick returns 229-103. The turning point came in the third quarter with Columbus up 31-29, Cleveland stuffed Columbus on four consecutive plays and the Destroyers had a turnover-on-downs. Cleveland would add a touchdown to take their first second half lead.
“(Cleveland’s) special teams kept setting them up with good field position,” Destroyers defensive lineman Michael Landry said. “It obviously put the defense’s back against the wall and we had to make the plays just didn’t get it.”
Reciever Rasheed Marshall had a reception to give Columbus the lead once again. Cleveland answered with a touchdown of their own to take a 42-38 lead right before the end of the third. Columbus regained the lead early in the fourth when Nagy connected with runningback Harold Wells for his third touchdown of the game. However Destroyers kicker Mark Lewis missed his point after attempt to make the game 44-42 in favor of Columbus.
The two teams would trade touchdowns midway through the fourth to make the game 51-49. Cleveland added a field goal with 6:54 left in the game to give them the one point lead. Columbus would try to rally with a drive down the field. Nagy from the Cleveland 14 yard line passed to reciever Matt Thomas for a reception but he fumbled the ball inside of the 10 and was recovered by Cleveland’s Brando Hefflin.
Cleveland responded with a three minute touchdown drive. As many Columbus fans were giving up on the game and heading towards the parking lots, Nagy tried to rally his offense one last time. His 33 yard touchdown pass to Lee got the score within two with 22 seconds left.
Lee’s third touchdown of the game led to a dramatic two point conversion attempt which would send the game to overtime. After each team called a timeout, Columbus broke the huddle and attempted to confuse Cleveland by changing their formation. Nagy passed to his right but overthrew receivers Lee and Marshall as the ball landed in the front rows of the arena.
“We were actually going to try to hit a shovel pass, but our wing guy got caught up with the defensive end,” Nagy said. “It looked like it was a bunch of nothing but we had a decent play set up but they just played good defense.”
Even though Columbus was only a play or two from changing the result of Saturday’s game, Destroyers head coach Doug Kay said he felt his team did not deserve to win.
“I have never sat in the locker room after a loss and felt I deserved to win,” Kay said. “If we lost, there is a reason we lost.”
Columbus has now fallen 0-3 whereas Cleveland is undefeated at 0-3. Certainly a bad start for the defending National Conference champions.
“We have to play with more energy, we have to play more aggressively – I am talking mentally aggressively too so we can go out on the field and make plays,” Kay. “Right now, I don’t see enough excitement in our eyes that says ‘I am going to go out and make a play.’"
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Nationwide Arena rocking on a non-hockey night
I am in the press box of Natoinwide Arena about to watch tonight's Columbus Destroyers game. What a cool atmosphere! One thing that was interesting was that the back-up Quarterback just got a much louder obvation than the starter (who the heck is Matt Nagy?). Remember that guy who backed up Troy Smith -- Justin Zwick? Yeah! He is with this team.
Anyway thought you might wanna know where I am tonight and what you can expect to read about later tonight (or in the morning).
Anyway thought you might wanna know where I am tonight and what you can expect to read about later tonight (or in the morning).
Friday, March 14, 2008
Loss to MSU could be a positive
The Buckeyes lost this afternoon in Indianapolis 67-60 to the Michigan State Spartans. A win would have likely propelled the Buckeyes to an NCAA Tournament bid on Sunday. Now they're sitting perfectly on the bubble and if they do make it in, it will likely be as a 12 seed.
As a 12 seed, they would play some really good top 20 talent in the first round, and do the same throughout the rest of the tournament. We all know the Buckeyes' struggle against top 20 teams. So a trip to the NCAA Tournament this year will be very likely to not be a repeat of last year's run to the NCAA Championship Game.
So why play in something you have no chance of winning or getting far in? Well if the NIT didn't exist, of course there would be plenty of reasons. However the NIT offers many things the NCAAs don't in the Buckeyes' case.
1) Chance to play good, major conference programs at home with a young team. This team is just starting to gel. Obviously some parts of this team will be subtracted with Othello Hunter and Jamar Butler leaving. But for guys like Kosta Koufos and Jon Diebler, a chance to play good talent on your own court is a chance to become a better player without the pressures that come with playing in the Big Dance.
2) The chance to go deep. If you look at how the Buckeyes have played against competition ranked in the RPI's 50-100, it is very good. They're 4-0 against the likes of Syracuse and Florida. The same type of teams they could face in the NIT (even though both teams are also sitting on the bubble too). A young team could benefit from playing in a tournament three or four games deep rather than losing in the first round.
3) Winning it! So there is no glamour in winning the NIT. Some might say you're just competing for the 66th best team in the country. But this would be the first National Championship for the Buckeyes since 1986 and only their second ever. Go figure.
So when the Buckeyes get "overlooked" Sunday evening, do not fret -- the NIT's provide positive results the NCAAs can't... and you can go see you're Ohio State Buckeyes play on their home court more than likely.
As a 12 seed, they would play some really good top 20 talent in the first round, and do the same throughout the rest of the tournament. We all know the Buckeyes' struggle against top 20 teams. So a trip to the NCAA Tournament this year will be very likely to not be a repeat of last year's run to the NCAA Championship Game.
So why play in something you have no chance of winning or getting far in? Well if the NIT didn't exist, of course there would be plenty of reasons. However the NIT offers many things the NCAAs don't in the Buckeyes' case.
1) Chance to play good, major conference programs at home with a young team. This team is just starting to gel. Obviously some parts of this team will be subtracted with Othello Hunter and Jamar Butler leaving. But for guys like Kosta Koufos and Jon Diebler, a chance to play good talent on your own court is a chance to become a better player without the pressures that come with playing in the Big Dance.
2) The chance to go deep. If you look at how the Buckeyes have played against competition ranked in the RPI's 50-100, it is very good. They're 4-0 against the likes of Syracuse and Florida. The same type of teams they could face in the NIT (even though both teams are also sitting on the bubble too). A young team could benefit from playing in a tournament three or four games deep rather than losing in the first round.
3) Winning it! So there is no glamour in winning the NIT. Some might say you're just competing for the 66th best team in the country. But this would be the first National Championship for the Buckeyes since 1986 and only their second ever. Go figure.
So when the Buckeyes get "overlooked" Sunday evening, do not fret -- the NIT's provide positive results the NCAAs can't... and you can go see you're Ohio State Buckeyes play on their home court more than likely.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Cougar News Sports... 3-12-2008
Jackets playoff hopes on life support
The NHL is now in their final month of the regular season, and it shapes to be an exciting final month of the season for many teams fighting for position. The big question in Central Ohio how much of a fight does the Columbus Blue Jackets have.
The Blue Jackets returned home last Friday night after playing eight of nine games on the road. The team went 4-4-1 in that stretch, and found themselves in the same spot as when they left Detroit nearly four weeks ago; they’re a few wins away from that last spot. But they are starting to run out of time.
Friday night, Columbus faced off with Edmonton. Columbus went 59 minutes and 59 seconds without scoring a goal. With goaltender Pascal Leclaire pulled for an extra attacker, the Blue Jackets collapsed the net and was able to score a goal with less than one second left on the clock. The goal was credited to Dan Fritsche. But just a few minutes later, Edmonton’s Andrew Cogliano scored the game winner in sudden death to send the Blue Jackets onto their seventh straight home loss.
Two days later, Columbus played a game against Tampa Bay who has the second-worst record the NHL. The Jackets got the answer they were looking for. First of all, they got on the board early. 11:29 into the first, Columbus drew first blood as Rich Nash found David Vyborny at the near right point as he beat Lightning goalie Mike Smith. Tampa would tie the game later on in the first.
Columbus got the next two goals thanks to Fritsche challenging Smith who mishandled the puck behind his own net. Fritsche tried to dunk it into the empty net but he and fellow Columbus forward Gilbert Brule whiffed, but Derek Mackenzie was right behind to dunk it in.
“That was a big opportunity, between the three of us; me Dan (Fritsche) and Bru (Brule)
have been working really good on the forecheck and they did a great job tonight getting in and causing a turnover and I was sort of the recipient of a gift-wrapped little goal in the crease,” Mackenzie said.
Michael Peca would give the Jackets a two goal lead when Nikolai Zherdev skating down the right side of the ice found Peca in the high slot who clanged one past Smith’s high glove side. Tampa Bay answered back with a goal by Martin St. Louis. 1:02 later on a Columbus line change, Tampa Bay’s Vincent Lecavalier got on a breakaway and was tripped from behind by a Jackets defender. That prompted the refs to call a penalty shot. Lecavalier finished the job as he scored past Leclaire to tie the game.
In the third, the game became tighter, being played more in the neutral zone with either team not taking many shots. Zherdev gave the Jackets the game winning goal on the power-play when he scored from the left wing with Peca and Jason Chimera screening Smith. Jiri Novotny added in with a goal late to give the Jackets a 5-3 victory.
“When we score three or more goals, with our goaltending our record has been pretty incredible,” Peca said. “We are a team to score at times, but hopefully tonight is a turn in another direction.”
“It was like three different hockey games out there,” Columbus head coach Ken Hitchcock said. “First period, they were over us pretty good, then we got that second goal, played great in the second period. Then all of a sudden, two minute span, bang bang, tied up. Then track meet on in the third.”
After the win, the team finished the week tied for 10th place at 31-28-11 and five points behind eighth place Vancouver with 12 to play. Colorado is next in at seventh place with 80 points. 92 points appears right now to be the magic number to reach the playoffs in the Western Conference. For Columbus to do reach 92 points, they would finish the season no worse than 9-2-1 or 10-2.
“Teams are going up the ladder, and teams are going down the ladder,” Hitchcock said.
Mott ends Cougars’ season
The season came to a close Thursday afternoon for the Columbus State Cougars women’s basketball team as they lost to the Mott Bears in the quarterfinals of the District H NJCAA Tournament 73-60 in Oakland, MI.
Though the Cougars came into the game as the higher seed, they were missing OCCAC First Team point guard Nyesha Watson. Watson was unable to make the trip. She averages 17 points a game and also led the OCCAC in steals and assists.
Kassie Glispie and Tiffany Powell led the Cougars’ backcourt however their shooting was limited to 3-26 combined from the field. Columbus State’s front court kept the team in the game. Center Kerri Imwalle and forward Brenda Carter scored in double-digits and Imwalle also added in with 11 rebounds.
Columbus State got off to a rough start down 17-4 less than seven minutes into the game. The Cougars came back with a 7-0 run and would make it a one point game at halftime.
The Cougars got a lead early in second half when Molly Dinneen scored on a lay-up with
19:07 to play. The Cougars lost the lead but with 14:40 left, Carter blocked a Bears’ shot attempt and made a three pointer of her own to tie the game at 38. 30 seconds later, Carter assisted Imwalle on a layup to give the Cougars a 40-38 lead. This was the last time Columbus State held a lead this season. Over the course of 3:35, Mott went on a 15-0 run to provide the knockout of the Cougars. Columbus State never cut the Bears’ lead below nine.
“My kids played really hard, I was really proud of them,” Columbus State head coach Randy Crites said. “We just ran out of gas and shorthanded.”
Watson has provided a spark for this team all year. She finished second in OCCAC Player of the Year voting. In her most recent game, she scored 30 in an 89-81 victory against Cincinnati Sate who is ranked in the top 20. Crites said the team couldn’t adjust to not having their point guard on the court.
“I think it took us a while to adjust to the fact she wasn’t there because we leaned on her for everything and I think it took the other kids a while to adjust to that – and they did… We were making adjustments we just were shorthanded and couldn’t get things done,” Crites said.
Along with Watson making the conference’s first team, Imwalle was on the conference’s second team and Carter had an honorable mention. Crites felt Watson was a bit more deserving of the Player of the Year award which was handed to Ashley Huddleston of Cincinnati State.
Glispie did not want to comment afterwards on the game; however she was happy with the season.
“We had a great season, and we all had a lot of fun,” she said. I think Ny (Watson) and Kerri (Imwalle) both deserved the selections in the conference! I will miss the girls, and coaches.”
Mott went on to defeat highly ranked Schoolcraft in the semifinals and then followed with a win against the Owens Express in the tile game. The trio of wins gives Mott their second consecutive District title.
“Mott is a pretty deceptive ballclub, they can do a lot of different things,” Crites said. “They had a girl (Mott forward Suzie Jerisk) with 17 at halftime; we didn’t even know who she was. We knew those guards on the outside could shoot.”
Cougars snowed out in Cleveland
Columbus State men's basketball team was scheduled to begin their post-season in the NJCAA District 7 Tournament Saturday, however that was pushed back to Monday. Columbus State won their opening match against six seeded Clark State Monday. They now wait to face the winner of the Sinclair/Cuyahoga game. The winner of the championship game will advance to the NJCAA National Tournament in Davnille, IL.
The NHL is now in their final month of the regular season, and it shapes to be an exciting final month of the season for many teams fighting for position. The big question in Central Ohio how much of a fight does the Columbus Blue Jackets have.
The Blue Jackets returned home last Friday night after playing eight of nine games on the road. The team went 4-4-1 in that stretch, and found themselves in the same spot as when they left Detroit nearly four weeks ago; they’re a few wins away from that last spot. But they are starting to run out of time.
Friday night, Columbus faced off with Edmonton. Columbus went 59 minutes and 59 seconds without scoring a goal. With goaltender Pascal Leclaire pulled for an extra attacker, the Blue Jackets collapsed the net and was able to score a goal with less than one second left on the clock. The goal was credited to Dan Fritsche. But just a few minutes later, Edmonton’s Andrew Cogliano scored the game winner in sudden death to send the Blue Jackets onto their seventh straight home loss.
Two days later, Columbus played a game against Tampa Bay who has the second-worst record the NHL. The Jackets got the answer they were looking for. First of all, they got on the board early. 11:29 into the first, Columbus drew first blood as Rich Nash found David Vyborny at the near right point as he beat Lightning goalie Mike Smith. Tampa would tie the game later on in the first.
Columbus got the next two goals thanks to Fritsche challenging Smith who mishandled the puck behind his own net. Fritsche tried to dunk it into the empty net but he and fellow Columbus forward Gilbert Brule whiffed, but Derek Mackenzie was right behind to dunk it in.
“That was a big opportunity, between the three of us; me Dan (Fritsche) and Bru (Brule)
have been working really good on the forecheck and they did a great job tonight getting in and causing a turnover and I was sort of the recipient of a gift-wrapped little goal in the crease,” Mackenzie said.
Michael Peca would give the Jackets a two goal lead when Nikolai Zherdev skating down the right side of the ice found Peca in the high slot who clanged one past Smith’s high glove side. Tampa Bay answered back with a goal by Martin St. Louis. 1:02 later on a Columbus line change, Tampa Bay’s Vincent Lecavalier got on a breakaway and was tripped from behind by a Jackets defender. That prompted the refs to call a penalty shot. Lecavalier finished the job as he scored past Leclaire to tie the game.
In the third, the game became tighter, being played more in the neutral zone with either team not taking many shots. Zherdev gave the Jackets the game winning goal on the power-play when he scored from the left wing with Peca and Jason Chimera screening Smith. Jiri Novotny added in with a goal late to give the Jackets a 5-3 victory.
“When we score three or more goals, with our goaltending our record has been pretty incredible,” Peca said. “We are a team to score at times, but hopefully tonight is a turn in another direction.”
“It was like three different hockey games out there,” Columbus head coach Ken Hitchcock said. “First period, they were over us pretty good, then we got that second goal, played great in the second period. Then all of a sudden, two minute span, bang bang, tied up. Then track meet on in the third.”
After the win, the team finished the week tied for 10th place at 31-28-11 and five points behind eighth place Vancouver with 12 to play. Colorado is next in at seventh place with 80 points. 92 points appears right now to be the magic number to reach the playoffs in the Western Conference. For Columbus to do reach 92 points, they would finish the season no worse than 9-2-1 or 10-2.
“Teams are going up the ladder, and teams are going down the ladder,” Hitchcock said.
Mott ends Cougars’ season
The season came to a close Thursday afternoon for the Columbus State Cougars women’s basketball team as they lost to the Mott Bears in the quarterfinals of the District H NJCAA Tournament 73-60 in Oakland, MI.
Though the Cougars came into the game as the higher seed, they were missing OCCAC First Team point guard Nyesha Watson. Watson was unable to make the trip. She averages 17 points a game and also led the OCCAC in steals and assists.
Kassie Glispie and Tiffany Powell led the Cougars’ backcourt however their shooting was limited to 3-26 combined from the field. Columbus State’s front court kept the team in the game. Center Kerri Imwalle and forward Brenda Carter scored in double-digits and Imwalle also added in with 11 rebounds.
Columbus State got off to a rough start down 17-4 less than seven minutes into the game. The Cougars came back with a 7-0 run and would make it a one point game at halftime.
The Cougars got a lead early in second half when Molly Dinneen scored on a lay-up with
19:07 to play. The Cougars lost the lead but with 14:40 left, Carter blocked a Bears’ shot attempt and made a three pointer of her own to tie the game at 38. 30 seconds later, Carter assisted Imwalle on a layup to give the Cougars a 40-38 lead. This was the last time Columbus State held a lead this season. Over the course of 3:35, Mott went on a 15-0 run to provide the knockout of the Cougars. Columbus State never cut the Bears’ lead below nine.
“My kids played really hard, I was really proud of them,” Columbus State head coach Randy Crites said. “We just ran out of gas and shorthanded.”
Watson has provided a spark for this team all year. She finished second in OCCAC Player of the Year voting. In her most recent game, she scored 30 in an 89-81 victory against Cincinnati Sate who is ranked in the top 20. Crites said the team couldn’t adjust to not having their point guard on the court.
“I think it took us a while to adjust to the fact she wasn’t there because we leaned on her for everything and I think it took the other kids a while to adjust to that – and they did… We were making adjustments we just were shorthanded and couldn’t get things done,” Crites said.
Along with Watson making the conference’s first team, Imwalle was on the conference’s second team and Carter had an honorable mention. Crites felt Watson was a bit more deserving of the Player of the Year award which was handed to Ashley Huddleston of Cincinnati State.
Glispie did not want to comment afterwards on the game; however she was happy with the season.
“We had a great season, and we all had a lot of fun,” she said. I think Ny (Watson) and Kerri (Imwalle) both deserved the selections in the conference! I will miss the girls, and coaches.”
Mott went on to defeat highly ranked Schoolcraft in the semifinals and then followed with a win against the Owens Express in the tile game. The trio of wins gives Mott their second consecutive District title.
“Mott is a pretty deceptive ballclub, they can do a lot of different things,” Crites said. “They had a girl (Mott forward Suzie Jerisk) with 17 at halftime; we didn’t even know who she was. We knew those guards on the outside could shoot.”
Cougars snowed out in Cleveland
Columbus State men's basketball team was scheduled to begin their post-season in the NJCAA District 7 Tournament Saturday, however that was pushed back to Monday. Columbus State won their opening match against six seeded Clark State Monday. They now wait to face the winner of the Sinclair/Cuyahoga game. The winner of the championship game will advance to the NJCAA National Tournament in Davnille, IL.
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