Caps Need DC Traffic in Game 7

Shortly after getting "Halaked" in Montreal the Capitals players and head coach praised the Canadians goalie and their own effort.  Many said it was their best game of the series, but sometimes in hockey the goalie is the great equalizer.  Not sure if anyone said Halak was "standing on his head", but they should have because he was that good.  I feel like I have seen this series every year as a Capitals fan.  Caps run into hot goalie and lose despite outshooting opponent. I promised myself I would not talk about "Ghosts of Playoffs Past" because most these players were not born or in another country.  Also, let me first admit for those of you that don't know.  I am not to be confused with the great Don Cherry, Barry Melrose, or hell even Peter Puck (remember that cool cartoon?) when it comes to breaking down hockey.  However, I do know when to shut up and listen to those that do like Melrose and Alan May on Caps Post Game Live with Smokin' Al Koken. 

So here's what the experts had to say, first yes they credited the goaltending (I mean the dude had 53 saves), and secondly they said the Capitals just did not get enough traffic in front of the Montreal netminder. (I mean how ironic a team from DC not knowing about traffic!) Melrose (great mullet) pointed out only one guy is not enough and May also added they needed to shot at the blocker side of the goalie.  Hopefully Bruce Boudreau (the Penguin) will see this after watching the film too.  I like Boudreau although lately he seems A LOT uptight and I understand why because IF the Caps choke this series away he might get fired OR perhaps GM George McPhee might get fired for failing to find a true blue line defenseman or dominate netminder for this roster OR maybe both get the gate.  Someone will likely pay the price. 

You can not win The Presidents Trophy and get iced in the first round after a 3-1 series lead with the two time reigning MVP on your team.  Boudreau has never coached in a playoff series that has not gone 7 games.  Is that all his fault?  OF course not however, changing the guy in front of the room is always the easiest and usually most effective move in hockey.  I do worry that his team is feeling the pressure and griping their sticks too hard because of the tone he is setting in the locker room. This will also be an indictment on The Great 8 if the Caps go down to Montreal.  First the disappointing run in the Olympics with Team Russia and then losing in Round 1 to an 8 seed.  In order to make this Magic/Bird comparison between Crosby and Ovechkin, eventually Ovie has to win more than just individual awards.  The safe bet still is Ovechkin will come out guns blazing on Wednesday night and the Caps will dominate the Canadians much like the Penguins did to them just a year ago in round 2 after they forced a Game 7.  If they don't we will be talking about getting "Halaked" all off season.

NFL Draft: Clausen Spends Night with Erin Andrews

Many people feel sorry for Jimmy Clausen because the Notre Dame QB, who has been called the most pro ready fell out of the first round Thursday night. I for one do not. Did you notice who was spending her time at his house? ESPN/Dancing with the Stars Erin Andrews! I bet Clausen told his agent to discourage teams from selecting him. The longer the process the longer he can hang out with Andrews. It was nice to see her on TV without seeing her feeling up that dance partner of hers. I mean enough already!

Did I mention I NEVER WATCH the show, but my DVR flips over for the final 5 minutes because I tape "Lost", which now sucks. Anyway, I was happy to see that pain in the ass Kate Gosselin get kicked off the show. Is her 15 minutes up yet? Also, I thought she was this great mother, where are the kids with the deadbeat dad? Enough with these losers already! I never watched "Kate Plus 8" either, but I know about thes show because you can't get away from it or any of these other "reality" shows. All the morning news shows recap them, radio shows too, and the internet. What would people do if they didn't have these lame shows to talk about? Politics?  What would I blog about?
How about the NFL draft?

A brief thought on the Redskins....SCAREY! They picked a need position and did not do anything stupid like trade away draft picks for losers.  Has anyone seen Dan Snyder? Did Mike Shanahan lock him in a closet? Also, was it may imagination or did Jon "Chucky" Gruden like everyone’s picks?  I mean what a suck up or maybe just keeping his options open in case he wants back in the coaching mix.  Anyone else think Tom Jackson was drunk? He said #13 is in the division with the Houston Texans when referring to the Indianapolis Colts. I believe Peyton Manning wears #18 still. I also gave NFL Network a try for a while; however Mike Mayock talks about guy’s measurements like he should be on the LOGO Network. "He is a 6-6 and 285 lbs, and has long arms, soft hands, soft eyes, pouty lips, and likes long walks on the beach..." Someone find Chris Hanson and set up sting operation.

The debate about who God's favorite team can now end. It is the Denver Broncos...well at least that is where his son will be playing. Tim Tebow did make it in the first round and if you missed the interview with Jeremy "I'm not as good as dad" Schaap, here is the highlights....Tim will work hard and do whatever you ask. He only said that a MILLION times. Tebow is a super person and even circumcised the baby at his viewing party, but please 3 picks for him? Is Josh McDaniels a complete idiot? Trading away a Pro Bowl QB and WR in less than two years and now giving up three picks for a guy who just learned to throw the football in the past 2-3 months?! I mean sure the Broncos are a Character team now, but I thought it was about winning football not running the local Girl Scouts troop. Well if nothing else as Thom Brennaman surely said somewhere last night, "the people of Denver and Broncos fans will all be better off just from just drafting Tim Tebow." AMEN

Class-Less Canadians: Get Ready For Golf

I can only imagine how much it must suck to not have an NHL franchise win a title in YOUR Country's sport since 1993 (Montreal).  I mean franchises like Dallas, Tampa, Anaheim, and Carolina have won titles since. Just imagine if the NBA's title winners were always the Toronto Raptors or another team from a foreign country like the LA Clippers or is that another planet?  (By the way did you know James Naismith the inventor of Basketball is actually Canadian? We steal everything and make it ours, ask the Indians. Give me your tired, your poor, and talented Canadians) Sure the majority of the players on these NHL's franchise's are still Canadians, but surely they like the United States better now.  Just like all the good CFL guys are from the United States (i.e. Doug Flutie).

So I guess it is not shocking that the Great fans of the Montreal Canadians booed and chanted during our nations national anthem before last night's Game 3 against the Washington Capitals. Did I mention the Caps drilled them 5-1.  They even chanted OVIE Sucks late in the game!  I mean that is the biggest joke in Canada since Keanu Reeves. For the record I like Canadians.  We even have some friends from Canada.  They are easy going and know how to have a good time, but when it comes to hockey they get pretty damn serious North of the border.  I think they are still doing a victory lap over the Gold Medal Game from this years Olympics. 

So I will not hold last night's classless display in Montreal against them. It probably was the all the French Canadians.  No need to worry about these angry fans because this series will soon be in the Capitals rear view mirror. Golf courses all around Montreal will be picking up some serious business in the next week.  I am concerned about how they might freak out if we nail this national healthcare thing.  I mean are they going to be jealous about that too?  Is it just going to be another thing the "Big Old Bad" United States stole and ruined?  You know like Pamela Anderson. God forbid we became enemies with Canada.  That would be the end of Molson, Labatts, Moosehead, Crown Royal, Bryan Adams, and Bob and Doug McKenzie in this country.  We promise not to steal anything else and by all means keep curling to yourself and Minnesota.

Big Ben About To Be Violated

A few seasons ago the NFL Players Union stupidly decided to give up their rights to due process for some reason and now Roger Goodell is more powerful than most dictators when it comes to handing out punishment.  I know most fans think this is great, but for someone that actually was once in a union I think it is complete BS.  At the very least players should have gotten a little something back from the league, like the ability to play football without their shirts tucked in or maybe the throat slash gesture could become legal again. 

Anyway, the NFL commissioner Roger Goodell appearing on the Dan Patrick Show Monday said Ben Roethlisberger has violated the NFL's personal conduct policy.  What does that mean?  It is now Big Ben's turn to get touched where he doesn't want too.  His wallet most likely thanks to what should be at the very least a multiple game suspension.  http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5113322  The Commish also told former Big Show member Patrick, "The issue here is respect to a pattern of behavior."  For a refresher course pattern of behavior suspensions under Goodell's watch have gone to Adam "Pacman" Jones for a full season although he never was found guilty in a court of law for doing things like "making it rain" at strip clubs or having bouncers at strip clubs shot.  So Goodell can do whatever he wants to Big Ben much like Big Ben allegedly does to really drunk college girls. 

Goodell has a reputation of a no nonsense guy, but dealing with Big Ben will not be easy b/c he is a QB and a damn good one too.  You don't want to go soft on your "stars" however; if you go too hard on him then you send a message that you think the guy is a serial rapist (which he may be).  Do not overlook the racial aspect of this situation because certainly the players will not.  This will be Goodell's first big suspension of a white player and remember many thought he went soft on the Patriots for "spygate."  All of these factors make Goodell's decision extremely delicate.  Then after the smoke clears the ball is in the Steelers court. How do you weigh the off field successes against the off-field embarrassment?  That will be the toughest call of them all. 

Bad Role Models Everywhere

I was listening to Round 3 of The Masters on the Radio in DC this weekend when some analyst got overly excited about Tiger Woods cursing himself out on the golf course. Woods said something to the effect "Tiger You Suck", something I am sure Elin has said to him many times since Thanksgiving. Anyway, the Analyst then went on a rant about kids watching and how he's a role model, blah, blah, blah. I understand that some expect so much more from the Varsity Letterman (Breakfast Club Reference). Why? Just because someone is good at their craft does not make them perfect. Now to be fair most of the criticism is Tiger's fault because he foolishly pledged he would be better behaved on the golf course. Call me old fashioned, but I think first he should master not sleeping with the local waitresses at Perkins, then move onto the on course cursing issue. I mean it’s like asking a smoker to quit smoking and drinking at the same time. Not happening!

The other amusing thing about The Masters was all the applause Tiger received. Those were not impressionable kids cheering it was their parents. So if you are among the group of parents that wants every athlete to be a role model, then stop cheering for the assholes. I also am pretty sure that was not a kids camp giving Mark McGwire the standing ovation in St. Louis at the Cardinals home opener. No again, probably parents and it will probably be parents cheering for Big Ben this year in Pittsburgh. I'm not here to defend athletes because they certainly should be held to a high standard, but they screw up like the rest of us. It doesn't mean kids should stop watching or caring about sports, but a little parental guidance goes along way.

I grew up in a time where some of my biggest Sports Idols ended up screwing up royally. One even died of a cocaine overdose (Len Bias RIP), but I never touched cocaine or even thought about it. Dexter Manley was one of my favorite Redskin's and he was a major drug addict. I loved Riggo too and still do, but he had his off the field issues. Sugar Ray Leonard was my favorite boxer, he was involved in drugs and accused of domestic abuse. Even my favorite musician Eddie Van Helen had his off stage issues (alcohol, drugs, bimbos). Somehow I have not needed to be sent to Trembling Hills yet. Why? I guess because my parents never bullshited me into thinking athletes, musicians, or politicians were better than the rest of us regular folks. I try to do the same with my kids and it works pretty well. I have them convinced the Dallas Cowboys are part of a terrorist organization.

I mean are athletes are no more important to our culture than teachers, clergy, politicians, and police. All the other industries mentioned have their share of scandals too (and their role models). I mean daily you can find a story about some sicko teacher touching kids or Priest for that matter. Also, Police using their badge for things like sex, illegal payments, drugs, or old fashioned brutality. Politicians well...where to start?  How about wide stance Larry Craig or John Edwards, the Southern Gentleman cheating on his dying wife and has a love child and now sex tape! I should also mention the Tea Party they embarrass this country daily! Then there is Hollywood the folks that actually make as much or more than most athletes and most of them act like jackasses all the time. There are bad people in every profession and salary scale, but there is also a group worthy of being called role models. The kids will learn that whether Tiger curses or says "gosh darn" in front of the microphones. They just need their parents to explain it to them instead of cheering for these idiots.

Abstinence=Great Golf

Remember in "Rocky" when Mickey (Burgess Meredith) told Rocky to stay away from Adrian while training because sex weakens the legs? Well Tiger Woods is the latest example that abstinence equals peak performance in athletics (even though golfers are not really athletes). I could also throw Tim Tebow out there too as further proof, but apparently "saying no" does not make you throw the football like a man. Anyway, back to the World's Greatest Golfer, can we all agree he probably has not had sex since Thanksgiving? I think it is safe to assume Tiger is no longer allowed on Elin's "course" since the incident assuming he is even allowed in the house at this point (If Tiger wins the Masters Nike should market "blue golf balls").

Honestly, I have no idea if there is any relationship left between the two and neither does anyone else (outside of them and their lawyers) for that matter and that brings me to my big point here. None of us really knows anything about Tiger or his wife, which makes them no different than celebrity couples like Branjolina OR Sandra Bullock and Jesse James. We only get snippets of what they want to show us. So sorry, I'm not slurping up the new and improved Tiger bullshit that is being spread by the golf media at Augusta National.

On Thursday, golf analysts broke down his body language, his smile, interactions with the other golfers, and yes a little club tossing on the back 9. I'm not saying a Tiger can't change his stripes, but let's just give it some frickin' time please. Not that I care, but Tiger also was back to his short self with the golf media after the round of 68 and then of course there is the "Tacky" Nike Commercial with Earl speaking from the dead albeit out of context and the revelation that he slept with his 21 year old neighbor (is there any woman outside of Minnie Mouse he didn't sleep with in Orlando?). Everything outside of the club tossing, snippy stuff with the media, and latest mistress in the Tiger Slam was been planned by his agent and the rest of Team Tiger.

Anyway, in this "give it to me 5 seconds ago" world we live in, we want to know NOW. I get that, but something’s we can't make snap judgments on right away and this is one of them. It will take time for us to find out if Tiger is truly a new man or just trying to protect his sponsors and fan base. Does that make his accomplishments on the course any less impressive? Hell no if anything more impressive with all the stuff going on his personal life. Golf is clearly the only love in Tiger's life he has never cheated on.  Can he save his marriage and his family?  That is something won't be televised no matter how many shots TMZ gets of Elin without her wedding ring and the kids.  Those things will be worked out by the two of them away from the cameras OR by their lawyers. 

I find it amusing the same golf writers who were floored by the revelations of Tiger's infidelity now want to prop up Jack Nicklaus for NEVER straying from his family. Are we sure? Do we evidence he did? No on both accounts, so why even bring it up? Remember Charles Kuralt the highly respected CBS newsman that was always On The Road looking for great stories? Well it turns out one of the great stories on the road was a mistress he had, who ended in a messy courtroom battle with his family after his death. Not to mention recently with the Southern Gentlemen John Edwards, I mean really wake up America.  How many more "role models" are going to burn us until we learn to stick to the facts? Great golfer...end of story…because truthfully you never know the entire story.

Thanks Again Eagles!

Ok, I hate to say I told you so..But here it goes. BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR! http://scottjackson-jacksonsports.blogspot.com/2010/03/be-careful-what-you-wish-for.html Eagle’s fans you asked for it now you got it. Oh and you will see him TWICE a year. Donovan McNabb is gone, but he's just down I-95 with the Redskins (up until yesterday I did not believe it). I knew he and Andy Reid had a good relationship, but trading within division is CRAZY!  I thought you learned your lesson from the Sonny Jurgenson-Norm Snead deal! Sure I know the Philly spin, Eagles always get rid of guys a year early. That has been true for the most part. However, remember Brian Dawkins? He was REALLY good in Denver last season. He was also a locker room leader, which McNabb was too.

Now not all Redskins fans are sold like I am on this move. I have heard plenty of talk about this move being same old same old. Keep in mind though, this guy is still very productive, he was not a free agent looking to rob a bank, and Dan Snyder did not make this decision over a candle lit dinner with Vinny and a bank robber free agent. Adults are now running the show, Bruce Allen and Mike Shanahan or probably more like Shanahan and Allen. I'm sure the late HOF George Allen has to be smiling that his son was part of this move. He loved the Over The Hill Gang. Did I mention the price was VERY reasonable for McNabb?! A second this year and either 3rd or 4th next year. There is also the position he plays, it is kind of important, QUARTERBACK!!!! You know the turn style position in DC for the last decade. Even if McNabb only had 3 good years left that is more than anyone else has given since Mark Rypien.

I am the most skeptical so and so on the face of the earth 99% of the time, but I truly think the Redskins hit a homerun with this deal (more than the Nat's already). Again the numbers and winning percentage speak for themselves with McNabb. Sure the Skins need to rebuild the O-Line more and now they can address that instead of a QB in the first round. Plus they might get some extra picks from a Campbell deal. The WR's (outside of Moss) are still green, but that is exactly what McNabb dealt with in Philly over the years. The running game will be better here just because they will commit to it, which Andy Reid never did. The other sign that should reassure Skins fans is they are shopping Fat Albert Haynesworth already. It is Mike Shanahan's show. Ask Clinton Portis he should remember, you workout with your teammates or get out. I doubt they will be able to get his fat ass and his contract out of town, but I like the effort.

Finally, I feel bad for Jason Campbell.....BUT...This is pro football and if they had drafted an unproven and dumped him that would be one thing. Instead they added arguably a Top 5 QB or at worst a Top 10 QB. It is a Quarterbacks league with the way the rules are set up and the teams that have the best usually perform the best. Campbell never got a real far shot in DC, but his thin skin to the criticism that goes with being a QB did not help him either. Plus it is interesting to hear Campbell's teammates say they feel for him and then in the next breath say McNabb brings leadership which we so desperately need. Maybe in the right situation Campbell will become that guy.

Unfortunately the days of bringing QB's along slowly is gone. Quarterbacks like every other position need to put up or shut up faster than ever before. As long as we are passing out blame let's not forget Campbell was Joe Gibbs guy and costly too (a 3rd in '05, 1st and 4th '06). Ok, I have not been struck by lighting yet so I will continue. Most of the free agents that were shown the door this off-season b/c of production issues and high contracts were under Gibbs watch too. Saint Joe had the hammer but never used it. He could have told the owner to shut up and let the adults do the work, but he was too busy spending like a drunken sailor on over priced veterans. Maybe he did not notice that the team was not getting much production from their picks or free agents b/c he too busy lining up sponsorships for his NASCAR team. Now Mike Shanahan and Bruce Allen are cleaning up the mess he, Vinny, and Danny made.  There is still lots of work left to do, but at least they have someone good under center.