Pretty long blog today

Let's start off with something that I have seen a lot of times since the World Series but is always a good laugh;
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Red Sox Conversion Form
NEW YORK YANKEES TO BOSTON RED SOX CONVERSION FORM

Thank you for your interest in becoming a member of the Boston Red Sox Fan Club. Due to an unprecedented volume of requests, we are currently processing only fan conversion registrations for New York Yankee fans. Conversion requests from other teams will be accepted once all Yankee requests are processed. We expect this to take a number of weeks based on the current backlog of requests. Please take a few moments to fill out the conversion form below to help us get to know you better and prescribe any required counseling to recover from your previous fan experience.

Name: _______________________________

Address:______________________________

Who's Your Daddy: ____________________

1. Please select your favorite recent Yankee new player acquisition:

[ ] "Flush" Gordon

[ ] "A-Bomb" Rodriquez

[ ] "Grand Slam" Vasquez

[ ] Kevin "Charlie" Brown



2. Which of the following would you most like to see as the most played YES Network film clip in 2005:

[ ] Rivera's blown save in Game 4

[ ] The Red Sox championship celebration on the pitcher's mound in Yankee stadium

[ ] Rivera's blown save in Game 5

[ ] The Red Sox spraying celebratory champagne on their fans in Yankee Monument Park

[ ] Vasquez's grand slam home run pitch to Johnny Damon in Game 7

[ ] The Red Sox celebrating in their Yankee Stadium locker room

[ ] Vaquez's second home run pitch to Johnny Damon in Game 7

[ ] David Ortiz being awarded the MVP trophy at Yankee Stadium

[ ] Mark Bellhorn's winning home run in Game 6

[ ] A-Rod crying in the Yankees dugout after game 7



3. Please indicate the last book you read:

[ ] How to lose the ALCS in four easy lessons

[ ] The Suicide Hotline - It's not just for Cubs' fans anymore

[ ] The Heimlich Maneuver -- What to do when choking



4. Which recent Yankees personnel move did you enjoy most:

[ ] Seeing future Hall-of-Famer Roger Clemens in an Astros uniform

[ ] Seeing David Wells in a Padres uniform

[ ] Seeing Tino Martinez in a Devil Rays uniform

[ ] Seeing Alphonso Soriano in a Rangers uniform

[ ] Seeing Manny Ramirez remain in a Red Sox uniform



5. Which following designation best describes Derek Jeter's effort in the ALCS:

[ ] Captain October

[ ] Captain Underpants

[ ] Captain & Tenille



6. Math: The Red Sox and the Yankees played 26 times in 2004. How many more games did the Red Sox win than the Yankees? (hint: the number is the same as the number in a four game sweep)



7. Please choose your favorite movie:

[ ] Anger Management

[ ] Hunt for Red October

[ ] Damned Yankees

[ ] Still We Believe



8. Finish this sentence: "Alex Rodriguez is

a. overrated

b. overpaid

c. overdue

d. over-inflated

e. over



9. Please select your favorite recent Yankee moment:

[ ] Bucky Dent throwing out the first pitch with more velocity than Kevin Brown

[ ] A-Rod mimicking every Jeter antic in the Yankees' dugout

[ ] The Yankees wearing themselves out by scoring 19 runs when it didn't really matter

[ ] Rivera failing to prevent unkempt hooligans from eating the Yankees' lunch



10. Math: How many times have the Yankees won the World Series in the last four years? (hint: less than one)



11. Please select the most vociferous Yankee fan:

[ ] Former NYC Mayor Rudi Giuliani

[ ] Present NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg

[ ] Tim McCarver (Fox announcer)



12. Are you ready to admit that:

a. Ted Williams was better than Joe DiMaggio? [ ] Yes [ ] No

b. Carl Yastzremski was a better than Mickey Mantle? [ ] Yes [ ] No

c. Carlton Fisk was better than Thurman Munson? [ ] Yes [ ] No

d. Manny Ramirez is faster than Bernie Williams? [ ] Yes [ ] No

d. Reggie Jackson was a better outfielder that Hideki Matsui? [ ] Yes [ ] No

e. Gary Sheffield's statistics are entirely attributable to steroid abuse? [ ] Yes [ ] No

f. No self-respecting parasite would invade Jason Giambi? [] Yes [ ] No.

g. The Yankees were unable to win the ALCS because ex-Red Sox manager Don Zimmer wasn't sitting next to Joe Torre making all the decisions? [] Yes [ ] No

h. The remainder of this century will be not be any better for the Yankees? [ ] Yes [ ] No



13. Please indicate your favorite moments in Yankee history: (Check all that apply):

[ ] Alex Rodriguez is traded to the Yankees

[ ] Don Mattingly never wins a World Series

[ ] The Yankees let Clemens get away

[ ] The Yankees pay millions to send Contreras to Chicago

[ ] The Yankees let Petitte get away

[ ] Giambi's steroid use causes a brain tumor

[ ] The Yankees let Wells get away

[ ] Mickey Mantle drinks himself to death

[ ] Billy Martin drinks himself to death

[ ] The New York Press hounds Roger Maris into psychosis

[ ] Babe Ruth drinks himself to death



14. Have you experienced any of the following after the embarrassing four game collapse? (Check all that apply)

[ ] Headache

[ ] Uncontrolled Anger

[ ] Heartache

[ ] Holes punched in doors or walls

[ ] Nausea

[ ] Smashed TV screens

[ ] Depression

[ ] Avoided Red Sox fans for days or weeks



Once you have completed this form, please forward it to Fenway Park. Then burn all your remaining Yankee clothing, memorabilia, and associated reminders. After reviewing your request, the Red Sox Fan Club will contact you with notification of acceptance or rejection.

I hereby acknowledge that the real curse is being a Yankee Fan.

I hereby renounce the New York Yankees for all eternity on this the ______ day of ________________, 200__

____________________________________ (Signed)

(Office Use Only)

[ ] Approved

[ ] Declined

______________________________

John Henry
***
Random News and Notes
By John Chagaris, College AP
February 26, 2005

Duke v. St. John's
Hamden, CT (New York, NY)
Column will be up later today
***
How about some of everybody's favorite, Chags and Zags;
***
Zags to George Steinbrenner.
Now this isn't the first time that I have placed the Zag tag on Steinbrenner but this time it is for a good reason. According to the Associated Press, Steinbrenner is pissed off at Jason Giambi's agent because Arn Tellem told Jason not to say anything.

"The court told Jason that he could say anything he wanted to," Steinbrenner said Saturday. "The court gave him permission. And Arn Tellem says no, he doesn't. He doesn't say anything."

"I just don't like the guy," Steinbrenner added, regarding Tellem.

Now this has to be one of the dumbest things that Steinbrenner has ever said, ofcourse Jason Giambi was not going to say anything because the Yankees have been looking for a while for something to use against him to get out of the contract and if he would have said something his contract would have been voided.
***
Chags to ESPN.com's Jayson Stark for picking the Red Sox to have the best lineup in the American League.

"Stunningly, they had a lot easier time beating the Yankees in this poll than they did in the ALCS. Of the 14 men who voted on the AL lineups, 13 picked the Red Sox as the best of the best. Hey, why not? They're already the fifth team in history to score at least 949 runs two years in a row. So just ahead are the 1930-31-32 Yankees and 1936-37-38-39 Yankees -- the only teams to do that at least three seasons in a row. And these Red Sox actually ought to be better offensively. They've added Edgar Renteria, who has averaged 40 doubles, 24 steals and 85 RBI a year over the last three seasons. So now every regular in this lineup has had at least a .370 on-base percentage in one, or both, of the last two seasons. Which is downright ridiculous," Jayson Said.
***
And Chags to ESPN.com's Jayson Stark because he also picked my national league team to have the best lineup in the National League.

"This team could win this award every year, couldn't it? In this millennium, the Cardinals lead the non-Coorsian portion of the NL in runs, hits, extra-base hits, batting average and on-base percentage. They've scored five-plus runs a game in six of the last seven seasons -- and averaged 4.9 a game the year they missed (2002). There were even arguments made last year that Larry Walker, Albert Pujols, Scott Rolen and Jim Edmonds comprise the best middle of any order in the last half-century. We don't know about that. But the big news is that they're now minus Edgar Renteria and a leadoff man who hit .307 last year (Tony Womack). So it should tell you something that in this poll, they barely edged Florida -- a team they outscored by 137 runs last year," Jayson said about the Cardinals.
***
Zags to Nomar Garciaparra for turning down a World Series Championship Ring. As he said to fans at HoHoKam Park in Mesa Arizona, "I don't want it. They can keep it." He was also reported by a cubs fan, "You guys [Boston Fans] were so right about Nomar being a jerk. I guess he's Mr. Cub now, especially with Mia throwing out the first pitch at a Cubs game and getting a donation for her charity foundation from the Cubs foundation. Good riddance...an ungrateful bastard."
***
Zags to Bob Ryan of the Boston Globe. For his thoughts on the Celtics trade.
"I have spent all season defending Danny Ainge to the many naysayers who have questioned his thought process. I guess they think the Celtics should be winning 50 games, or something. I thought it was pretty obvious: Ainge was delivering on a campaign promise to remake the plodding, bombs-away Celtics he inherited into a dynamic, uptempo team. He had come up with a sensational draft in Al Jefferson, Tony Allen, and Delonte West. Kendrick Perkins was beginning to look like a keeper. We could now see the value of a healthy Raef LaFrentz. The Gary Payton thing was actually working out," Ryan said. "There have been two problems, both involving veterans. After receiving the big money, Mark Blount has been about 60 percent of the Mark Blount of a year ago. And then there was the resident star, who has played much of the season in a pout and who simply has not been willing to give his full support to the new way of doing things.

"Is the team talented? Yes. Is the team mentally fragile? Yes. Is the team maddeningly inconsistent? Yes. But is the team essentially lovable and rootable? Oh, yes, absolutely.

"So into this you bring Antoine Walker? I don't get it.

"With this move, Antoine becomes a trivia item. Baseball buffs know that a catcher named Harry Chiti was once traded for a player to be named later. When the season was over, guess who the player to be named later was? Harry Chiti. Well, Antoine now falls into an auxiliary category. Not even a year and a half ago, Antoine Walker was the central figure in a trade with the Dallas Mavericks. Now he's boomeranged his way back to Boston. What gives?

"If you recall, Ainge had a lot to say when he traded Antoine. The primary issue was supposed to be money. Antoine was looking for a maximum contract and the new director of basketball operations didn't think he was worth it. But it didn't end there. Ainge had made it clear when he was still broadcasting games for a living that he had no use for Antoine's basic game."

Well I have to guess that the Celtics beating the Jazz last night isn't enough for Big Bob. Sure Utah is 17-37, but they also have to play Seattle, San Antonio, and Dallas countless times. But putting that fact aside, who led the Celtics in Points, Blocks, and rebounds? Well that would be Walker with 24 points, 1 block, and 10 rebounds. How I see it, if this trade for Walker never happened then the Celtics would have lost to a pathetic 18-36 team instead of beating a 17-37 team.
***
Chags to Danny Ainge because of the trade. This is something that I have never said in my life because I have questioned every move that Danny made but I am starting to think that Theo might have given Danny some classes in how to trade within the last few weeks. We give up nothing to get Walker back. Wait Chag, we gave up Gary Payton, didn't we?

Well not really because the Hawks do not want Payton and he will be released and the Celtics will pick him right back up.
***
I don't know if this gets a Chag or Zag because of this whole dispute over naming rights over the Fleet Center for one day. If the FleetCenter president Richard Krezwick is stupid enough to go out there and allow somebody to buy the naming rights for one day then they should be stuck with what the winner picked. And that winner picked the Derek Jeter Center. First I have no idea why he picked that, well that is a lie, he picked that since he's a Yankee Fan and he wanted revenge on his former Harvard classmates who were Red Sox Fans. If you have some money you can buy the naming rights for one day, Click here for this auctionAnd you can click here for the chance to bid. But the day that Kerry Konrad won was for March 1 and after checking the Fleet Center Calendar I noticed that no event is even going on there and the only people who will even be at the Fleet Center that day will be the fans taking the train. Why doesn't somebody just pay a lot of money and rename the Fleet Center what it should be called, the Boston Garden.
***
Zags to the people in charge at TempleWhat John Chaney did was not that horrible. Coaches send out enforcers all the time, how often do you watch a hockey game and you hear about enforcers on the ice. It happens in Baseball when somebody is hit on your team then somebody on your team will hit a member of that team. In basketball if somebody does something wrong then the coach can put an enforcer out there. Do I agree with what he did, no but I respect it. I cannot believe that he was suspended for three games over this, this was not that big of a deal. And this is not new as John Calipari said, ""I'm kind of disgusted with Temple. How they would deal with him at this stage - he's been this way for 30 years. He hasn't changed. He's the same guy he was 10 years ago, 15 years ago. Why all of a sudden are you taking a stance? Because he's losing? If you want him to retire, ask him to retire." would somebody please explain this suspension to me?
***
This is an easy ZAG, Zags to Pirates CEO Kevin McClatchy. how does this person praise the NHL owners for having the lockout standing firm. Last I checked it was because of the owners that this season did not happen, and if you have not read my column on the NHL scroll down this page and take a look at it. Kevin McClatchy went on to say that he would love baseball to go through a lockout if an agreement could not be made and that MLB owners and NHL owners need to stick to their guns.
"I pay attention to the NHL. I watch it with a lot of interest," he said. "We know now, obviously, there's not going to be a season. What's going to come out of it is the big question. The market has just gone crazy." McClatchy also sits on Major League Baseball's Executive Committee and hopes to have an impact in reversing that trend during the next labor negotiations. "The game has to be fixed. I spoke up about that and said some things about my fellow owners that did get a lot of attention. I stand by everything I said. We've got to get this thing under control. I guarantee you, we are going to fight very, very hard to get the system changed." The thing is how is this system in need of a change, oh that's right how have the Pirates do this year, oh fifth in the Central, 32.5 games behind the Cardinals, How about 2003, oh fourth in the central, 13 games behind the Cubs. 2002, well how about fourth place, 24.5 games behind the Cardinals. 2001, how does last place in the National League, not to mention tied for the worst record in baseball and 31 games behind the Astros. How about 2000, well worst record in the National League and 23.5 games behind Chicago. Anybody seeing a trend here? 1999, well they wre third in teh Central but 18.5 games back. 1998 maybe, well worst record in the Central and 33 games behind Houston. Well 1997 was the last time they were close to winning the Central when they finished second, 5 games behind the Astros but their record was a pathetic 79-83. And back in 1996 well you guess it, last in the Central, 15 games behind the Cardinals. When was the last time the Pirates won the Central? Well never. Since the Central divisions were formed in 1994 the Pirates have never won the Central or even made the playoffs. Last time they made the playoffs was back in 1992 when they lost to the Atlanta Braves 4 games to nothing. Yes the same Braves who then lost to Toronto 4 games to two. But Pittsburgh has not been in the World series since they won it in 1979 against Baltimore 4 games to 3. So my question is how can Pittsburgh complain about the way MLB is run when their problem is spending money to get players, or atleast keeping the ones they have?
***
Well 3131 words later and this Blog is done, the Duke Column will be up later tonight and this will be updated. Leave some,
~Chag

Bobcat Blitz Preview for this week February 25th

1) Randy Moss has reportedly been traded to the Raiders, guys did the Raiders make the right choice for going after moss and giving up a 7th overall pick?

2) The NBA is talking about a minimum age of 20 to join the NBA, guys how would this effect not only the NBA but college basketball?

3) Drew Bledsoe now has officially signed with the Dallas Cowboys, guys was this the right “First move” for this offseason for the Cowboys?

4) Earlier this week Shaq went down in a game against the Bulls with a knee injury. Guys how will an extended injury effect the Heat?







1) Lavernues Coles is screaming in Washington and is demanding his release because he thinks the Redskins were pathetic with a 6-10 record and he does not like Joe Gibb’s offense. Guys where will Lavernues be when the season starts next season?

2) The Boston Celtics made a trade with the Atlanta Hawks sending Gary Payton south and sending Walker north. Guys

3) Chris Webber is headed to Philadelphia due to a trade that sent him to the 76ers as part of a six player deal. Guys how will the 76ers finish in the East?

4) As of taping the Kansas City Jay Hawks have lost three straight, guys how will this decline affect the rest of their season including playoffs?




1) Ray Allen wants out of Seattle and Michael Redd wants out of Milwaukee, guys who would you rather have?
2) Guys which team in the NBA is the strongest?
3) Guys which team is going to win the ACC Championship in men’s basketball?
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Check back tomorrow for a full column which will talk about Nomar not getting a championship ring.

Blitz Preview, Triple Play preview

And here is your weekly Bobcat Blitz Preview;





1) And the News is this, as expected for some time now the National Hockey League has canceled their entire season, Commissioner Gary Bettman came on Mike and Mike on ESPNRadio this past Thursday and said that they couldn’t make a deal while the players wouldn’t make a deal. Guys who is to blaime?

2) Earlier this week Trot Nixon and Alex Rodriguez had an exchange of words. Guys when it comes up to put up or shut up, which team will have a better season, The Red Sox or the Yankees?

3) Mike Greenwell 1988 MVP? Well for most baseball fans this does not sound right because Jose Canseco won the award, but Mike has come out and said “I do have a problem with losing the MVP to an admitted steroids user. Guys should admitted steroid users have their awards stripped?

4) During this whole steroid scandal some key names have been named such as Roger Clemens and Gary Sheffield, guys do you believe or not that either of these guys used steroids?



1) As of taping, Tiger Woods has a chance to regain the #1 ranking, guys do you believe or not that Tiger will finish this season as the #1 golfer?

2) Guys your Quinnipiac Baseball team have several of its top players returning including Bryan Sabatella, Brien Magee, Ari Kafka and Pat Egan, guys where will the Bobcats finish in the NEC this season?

3) Guys earlier this week the Buffalo Bills released veteran quarterback Drew Bledsoe, guys which team needs him the most?

4) Guys will Bret Farve return to the NFL Next season?






1) Who has been the biggest surprise this season in the NBA?

2) As of taping the Daytona 500 has yet to happen but as of viewing it will have aired, but nether the less guess which driver will win the chase for the Nextel cup this year?
3) With Spring training on the horizon we figured we’d pose this question, guys which team had the best offseason?

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Triple PLAY PREVIEW;

MAKE SURE IF YOU ARE FREE TO CALL (203) 281-0011 BETWEEN 9-11 AM EVERY FRIDAY TO SPEAK ON TRIPLE PLAY.

Items we will be talking about are; where will Bledsoe show up. We attempt to talk Nascar, hopefully someone out there will call in!!!!!And we will talk about the state of the NHL and how The Great one and Super Mario are trying to save the league. All that and more tomorrow, (Friday) on Triple Play, Ninjas call in tomorrow between 9-11.

~Chag

NHL, the time is now

By John Chagaris, College AP
February 15, 2005

Hamden, CT (Boston, Ma) – Congratulations, Hockey is back at the Fleet Center in Boston, Mass. If for a second you thought I was talking about the Bruins then you are dead wrong. Last night at the Fleet Center the Northeastern Huskies took on the Boston University Terriers in a classic overtime game. Huskies v. Terriers, and no for those people that are convinced that the Westminster Dog Show is actually a sporting event this was not the same event. The Terriers lived up to the hype playing in the BU Invite, as it is affectionately called in Boston, to knock off the Huskies. This game was one that should never have gone into overtime and if it was not for Jared Mudryk’s goal with a few minutes left in regulation. Then in true Boston fashion a Bourque scored the game winning goal, no not Ray Borque, Chris Bourque.

"He's done that so many times in this building and the (Boston) Garden, and I don't think I can compare," Chris Bourque said of his father. "It's just really cool to see his jersey in the rafters and to score the overtime winner."

NHL Lockout
Now onto the subject which everybody wants to discuss and it is the fate of the No Hope League, also known as the National Hockey League. Already falling from the ranks of the “Big Four”, hockey continues to lose fans each day, which is one of the reasons the Players Union has accepted a salary cap. Great this lockout is over right? Well not exactly, the salary cap is still twelve million dollars too high according to the owners.

``It is indeed unfortunate that with the major steps taken by both sides we were unable to build enough momentum to reach an agreement,'' players' association senior director Ted Saskin said.

Unfortunate is an understatement. We are talking about twelve million dollars, less than what Alex Rodriguez makes in a season ($22 million). According to USA Today last season twenty-seven MLB players made more than twelve million. Dodger’s pitcher Darren Dreifort ($12,400,000.00), Diamondback pitcher Randy Johnson ($16,000,000.00), Braves pitcher Mike Hampton ($14,625,000.00), Red Sox pitcher Pedro Martinez ($17,500,000.00), Yankee Pitcher Kevin Brown ($15,714,286.00), Yankee Pitcher Mike Mussina ($16,000,000.00), Cardinals’ Matt Morris ($12,500,000), Rangers’ pitcher Chan Ho Park ($14,000,000.00), Mets’ catcher Mike Piazza ($16,071,429.00), Astros’ first baseman Jeff Bagwell ($16,000,000.00), Dodgers first baseman Shawn Green ($16,666,667.00), Mets first baseman Mo Vaughn ($17,166,667.00), Phillies first baseman Jim Thome ($12,166,667.00), Yankee first baseman Jason Giambi (12,428,571.00), Blue Jays first baseman Carlos Delgado ($19,700,000.00), Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter ($18,600,000.00), Cardinals outfielder Larry Walker ($12,666,667.00), Astros outfielder Richard Hidalgo ($12,500,000.00), Braves outfielder Andruw Jones ($12,500,000.00), Braves outfielder Chipper Jones ($15,333,333.00), Red Sox outfielder and World Series MVP Manny Ramirez ($22,500,000.00), Cubs outfielder Sammy Sosa ($16,000,000.00), Reds outfielder Ken Griffey Junior ($12,500,000.00), Yankees outfielder Gary Sheffield ($13,000,000.00), Yankees outfielder Bernie Williams ($12,357,143.00), Giants’ outfielder Barry Bonds ($18,000,000.00). Yes that was a very long list but we are only talking twelve million to save a season and a dying league.

``We probably could've gotten this thing done in the summertime,'' Chicago forward Matthew Barnaby said. ``Am I mad, no? I want to get back to work. But at the same time, I'm just a little disappointed that it went this far to play poker and to have someone call your bluff.''

Well I must say that I am happy that Matthew Barnaby is not upset, but what about all fifty-hockey fans across the country. What about the young fans in Pittsburgh who want to see Super Mario just one more time, what about Lord Stanley’s Cup?

``If that's where we were going, I wonder why now,'' said Buffalo Sabres player representative Jay McKee.

Well Jay I do not know if this is new information to you but you are playing in a dying league, and without this salary cap it is dead, and the players are smart enough to realize this.

``There is no question the system has to change,'' said New Jersey Devils president Lou Lamoriello, who took part in earlier negotiating sessions. ``We just have to keep working to find a solution. It's unfortunate we have to come this.
``If the season does end, we can't stop. We have to continue working at this and get it rectified as soon as we possibly can.''
Well Lou, you are correct, we are in day 153 of the NHL lockout and the ball is finally in the owners’ court, not it is time to score the winner to capture the championship.

But who is to blame?
Well this has turned into huge mess and a huge knot that Survivor contestants would not even attempt in an immunity challenge. According to a sports column written by Los Angeles Times columnist Bill Plaschke (http://www.latimes.com/sports/columnists/la-sp-plaschke30jan30,1,237184.column?coll=la-headlines-sports-columnists) the lock out can only be blamed on one group, the players.
“And where do hockey players feel it? Ignoring the nutty passion of a niche sport because they want to make more money than the average guy playing in the Super Bowl?

The NHL players — tap your head twice — have nothing up there.

Their season has been lost, and it's their fault. Their sport has been crushed, and it's their footprints.”
Bill might be onto something here if the players union did not accept a salary cap, I have always and will always back the players because they are lowest paid athletes in the big four, and twelve million is not a lot of money to these owners, hockey players average $1.8 million dollars a season.
“Completely misjudging the market, hockey players gave America the chance to learn to live without them,” Bill wrote.
But Bill, the problem is that these players are going to make money anyway by going to Europe and playing in those leagues, by playing in the AHL, the players do not need the owners, the owners need the players.
“The players are demanding Fortune 500 salaries when, in fact, they work in a boutique.

The hottest thing on ice has become the Arena Football League on ice.

When the NHL finally does come back to work, the damage wrought will reduce its place on the American sports landscape to somewhere alongside the WNBA,” Bill added.
And Fortune 500 salaries these men should make when they put their bodies on the line for their owners and fans. Never knowing if your skate is going to get caught in the ice and hyper extending your knee, never knowing if you will get injured in a fight. And how the arena football league can be compared to the NHL is laughable because the arena football league runs up the scoreboard each and every night.

In conclusion I would first like to thank Bill Plaschke for allowing me to use his column, secondly to the NHL owners; since I am one of the fifty NHL fans across the country I am begging you to bring back the NHL and here are a few rule changes I would like to see happen. Rule A, bigger nets. Rule B, smaller goalie pads. Rule C, the red line needs to be eliminated. Rule D, get rid of icing. Rule E, keep the goalie in front of the red line. Rule F, if the game goes into overtime start it with 4 on 4, if it is still tied after 5 minutes make it 3 on 3, and then after 5 more minutes make it a shootout. A part of one of my favorite movies is the Mighty Ducks when they have a shootout to win the championship. These ideas would improve scoring, would make the games more fun to watch, and would draw the fans back. NHL Owners, the ball or should I say puck is on your side of the ice.


Material from the Associated Press, and Bill Plaschke were used in this report.

Duke v. Maryland

By John Chagaris, College AP
February 13, 2005

Hamden, CT (College Park, Md) – After twenty minutes the Blue Devils were down by five, after forty minutes the game was tied at 88, due to the clutch shooting down the stretch. But sending the game into overtime was as close as Coach K’s Blue Devils would get this night, as Maryland becomes the first team to sweep Duke in a season series since the 90’s, and this is the first time that Duke has lost three straight times to Maryland since 1982.

``I think it's great. You realize the games were close, so you don't gloat,'' Maryland coach Gary Williams said. ``You just feel good because you beat a great program and a great coach.''
Well great coaching yes and a great program on most nights but Maryland had the upper hand in this contest as they were able to do what most teams could not do this season and that is finding an answer for JJ Redick. As he scored a quiet 23 points, while shooting a very cold 5-19 from field goal range and an even more pathetic 3-10 from three point range. Just how powerful was the Maryland offense, well Reddick didn’t get his first basket until eight minutes had passed in the first half

``It was frustrating. We were definitely at a disadvantage missing five of our main players,'' Duke guard J.J. Redick said. ``They just had more overall athleticism than we did in overtime because they still had their main guys.''

And that advantage started to shift towards Maryland shortly after Ewing was hit with a technical early in the second half. Duke still held an 86-82 advantage with 1:34 left to go in the second half when a switch was flipped by Ekene Ibekwe and John Gilchrist to make the score 88-86. With 34 seconds left DeMarcus Nelson tied the game and due to a missed show by Gilchrist and Nik Caner-Medley forced the game to go into overtime where the game was all Maryland.

Duke went ice cold in overtime only scoring four points which all came from the line (Duke went 0-9 from the field during overtime).

``Good teams play well against each other,'' Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said. ``That's why we play well against them. They're a very good basketball team; they played with high energy and a sense of purpose.''

A sense of purpose is an understatement as Duke did not play like the number seven team in the county as the team fell apart as five Blue Devils fouled out late in the second half and overtime.

Duke will try to rebound as they travel to Virginia Tech on Thursday, tip off is at 9 pm.

Material from the Associated Press was used in this report.

Blitz Preview, Triple Play preview

Here is your exclusive look at this weeks Bobcat blitz, this is before I even mail out the questions to this weeks contestants;

1)And the News is this, the Patriots won their third super bowl in the last four years, guys are the Patriots a dynasty?

2) Steroids are once again in the news but this time it is Jose Canseco who has recently written a book about steroids. Guys do you believe Canseco’s claims written in his book about players like McGwire, and Pudge Rodriguez using steroids?

3) Guys after losing his offensive coordinator, Norm Chow, will Matt Leinart file for the NFL draft?

4) Guys at the start of the NFL season which team will Randy Moss be on?



1) Guys out of the top three teams in the NBA East are the Heat, Pistons and Cavaliers, guys who is the biggest contender and the biggest pretender here?

2) Guys out of the top three teams in the West; the Supersonics, Suns, and Spurs, guys who is the biggest contender and the biggest pretender?

3) Guys a few bubble teams are the Boston Celtics, the Washington Wizards and the Orlando Magic, guys who is the biggest contender?

4) In the west the bubble teams are the Timberwolves, the Lakers and the Rockets, guys who is the biggest contender?




1) Guys do you think that John Smoltz will be more effective as a starter or a closer?

2) Guys who was the best NBA off season pickup?

3) Guys the 49ers are on the clock, who do you think they will pick in the NFL draft?
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Triple PLAY PREVIEW;

MAKE SURE IF YOU ARE FREE TO CALL (203) 281-0011 BETWEEN 9-11 AM EVERY FRIDAY TO SPEAK ON TRIPLE PLAY.

Items we will be talking about are; where will Randy Moss be playing, will Freddie Mitchell please SHUT THE HELL UP, And what's up with the deal that Nomar Garciaparra was named in Jose Canseco's book, and who does the final out of the World Series ball belong too? All that and more tomorrow, (Friday) on Triple Play, Ninjas call in tomorrow between 9-11.

~Chaggy

Duke v. UNC

By John Chagaris, College AP
February 10, 2005


Hamden, CT (Durham, NC) --Even through Rashad McCants went to the hoop and cut the lead to one, North Carolina was not able to take the lead and the game. The huge key to Duke's success was that his team only had 15 turn overs.

``We were fortunate that we were able to get back and not commit too many turnovers where they had runs,'' Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said. ``We committed turnovers, but they didn't have runs where they had the numerical advantage.''

Fortunate would be an understatement, how could North Carolina with some serous time left on the clock not get off a shot? This has to be the exact same question that is being asked about Super Bowl Sunday when fans were wondering why the Eagles during the final two minutes refused to go into a no huddle offense.

``It seemed like a long time, and I was just hoping that that clock went down before they got a shot off,'' Nelson said. ``We played some great defense, and we made them try to do something that they weren't ready for.''

But a great shooting team can nine times out of ten get a shot off with in 18 seconds. Another huge key to success for the Blue Devils was their excellent free throw shooting while they only missed one out of twenty-two. The reason that the Tar Heels did not win was they were only 17-23 from the line. Duke went 10-25 from three point range while the Tar Heels went 3-14 from the same line. UNC had 8 more turnovers, 8 more rebounds, 12 more rebounds, 2 less assists, but another key fact was 13 less steals.

``They slowed us down when they got the job done on offense,'' North Carolina coach Roy Williams said. ``I mean, they spread the floor and controlled the tempo that way. And in their pressure defense, there's no question that bothered us, too.''

How can your leading scorer (Sean May) score 5 more than DUke's leadings scorer (J.J. Redick) and have their leading rebounder (Sean May) had twice the amount than Duke's (Shelden Williams).

``They're good, they're solid,'' May said. ``They don't run many traps or scrambles, they're just solid man-to-man pressure. They play better D at home just because of the fans the atmosphere they bring. They're almost as solid as you can get.''

Duke next plays Maryland on Saturday night at Maryland, tip off is at 9 pm.


~Chaggy

Super Bowl Preview, Blitz Preview, Triple Play preview

Well let me start with my Super Bowl Preview, the spread as of 7 and I'm going to not take that since I think that the Patriots will win by a Field Goal and the Over/Under is now up to 48 and I am going to say over.
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And here is your Bobcat Blitz preview for ths episode which will air on Monday, but taped on Saturday;



1)And the News is this, The Los Angeles Lakers are without a head coach. Just the other day former head coach Rudy Tomjanovich resigned as head coach of the Lakers citing health reasons as the reason. Guys how will the rest of the season go for the Lakers?

Follow up; Rumors are flying that Phil Jackson might make a return, will that be a good move for the Lakers.

Follow up; is that a good move for Jackson.

2) Earlier this week George Steinbrenner met with A-Rod and told him that he needed to be a leader. Guys do you think that he needs to be a leader?

3) Yogi Berra is suing TBS because of their Sex in the City ad campaign in which people were asked to define yoga and the choices were; “A type of yo-yo trick. B. Sex with Yogi Berra or C. What Samantha has with a guy from yoga class. Do you agree that this will make people look down on Yogi?

4) Our sources at Benmaller.com have informed us that Gary Payton continues to demand a trade to a Western Conference team even through the Celtics are in a playoff race. How will this effect the Celtics down the stretch?

Follow up; Should Gary be traded and to whom?



1) Can you see anything higher than a sweet sixteen finish for the Boston College Eagles?

2) How many home runs will Sammy Sosa hit this season?

3) Do the Colts need to keep Edgerrin James?

4) Larry Brown has stated that coaching the Detroit Pistons will be his last coaching job? Can you see Brown coaching another team in the future?





1) Guys who will win the NBA West?

2) Who or which team was the biggest surprise this year in the National Football League?

3) Guys, two football players who are rumored to announce their retirement are Bret Farve and Emmitt Smith, guys for the game who had a better career?

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Starting next week we will have a Triple Play Preview and a Triple Play recap, for those who aren't at QU, Triple Play is my Radio show on WQAQ 98.1 am from 9-11 am every Friday. Catch the Rock Jock, Chaggy, and Scrappy as we talk about sports.
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If you have time today please read Bill Plaschke's latest column; http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-plaschke3feb03,1,5088784.column?coll=la-headlines-sports
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I have two showdown submissions for wp.com, but I still need some more.
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And for a certain reader who lives right near St. Louis, MO give me a call, it's about the Cardinals game on June 8th.
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We are now selling copies of Bobcat blitz via Bobcatblitz@q30.org each DVD costs $5 which will help cover shipping, unless you ask very nicely and I can see what I can do to get it to you for free.
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How about that Duke game last night, damn Wake Forest
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Guys tonight at 9 pm, EST make sure that you watch ESPN2 as Beloit faces Grinnell. Grinnell is a fast pased team who lives by the three. How many points do they score you ask, well let us put it this way, they once lost a game when they scored 149 points.
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That's the blog for today, leave some love,
~Chaggy

A Pissed off Bobcat in Hamden, CT

Some how do I say Asshole things that it would be cool to spam not only my blog and tag board but to attack Anna's. AS of right now my tag board is GONE. It is a damn shame that something great like a tag board could be spammed like that and it really pisses me off, and for those who know me know that I have a very cool head unless somebody pisses me off and this has really put me over the edge. If I know you and you're doing this, which I'm guessing I must due to some of the comments made and how else would you know what my old screenname was. Just pathetic guys and I would not have noticed it if it wasn't for a friend down in D.C. who called me when I was in class and told me what was going on. Pathetic, I think that is the only way to say it. This pisses me off more than when SS picks a homer pick, or during mine and Anna's online feud last year, this is piss poor pathetic and I am not fucking happy at all.

~Chag