|
Looks like Jack Johnson the #3 pick in the 2005 NHL draft will leave University of Michigan and play for the Los Angeles Kings this week.
DENVER, March 25 – Michigan star defenseman Jack Johnson is negotiating a contract with the Los Angeles Kings today, ending speculation of whether the sophomore would forgo his two remaining years of eligibility.
Johnson confirmed his departure in an exclusive interview with The Michigan Daily this afternoon.
“I thought I was ready for a new challenge,” Johnson said. “With all my close friends, the seniors, gone now and everything, I thought it was time for me to pretty much go for a new challenge.”
Following Michigan’s 8-5 loss to North Dakota Saturday night in the NCAA West Regional semifinals in Denver, the team flew back to Ann Arbor, but Johnson and his family stayed behind. Johnson’s agent, Pat Brisson, and the Kings’ general manager, Dean Lombardi, worked out the details of the contract.
“I’ll be flying from Denver to Los Angeles,” Johnson said. “Everything’s done except for they’re negotiating bonuses.”
Johnson said he will be in the Kings’ lineup Tuesday night when they play on the road against the San Jose Sharks.
The Kings aquired the rights to Johnson just before the start of the season from Carolina, in a trade that saw the Kings send forward Eric Belanger and defenseman Tim Gleason to Carolina for Jack Johnson and defenseman Oleg Tverdovsky. The Kings took advantage of Carolina who was desperate for an NHL defenseman and in need of a willing partner to take on Tverdovsky’s contract. While the move hurt the Kings in the short term, this news makes the pain go away.
The player nicknamed El Nino acted like one yesterday.
DORAL – Sergio Garcia confirmed his unusual hole-in-one at the 13th hole Saturday at the CA Championship at Doral.
Unhappy with his bogey there, he retrieved his ball and then spit into the cup.
NBC reported that viewers called to complain.
Garcia didn’t deny it.
“I did, I’m not going to say no,” Garcia told NBC. “It went down in the middle. It wasn’t going to affect anybody else.
“I just missed the putt and wasn’t very happy.”
*****
Geoff Ogilvy played in the twosome behind Garcia but wasn’t aware the cup had been lubricated.
“I didn’t lick my fingers anyway after I played that hole,” Ogilvy said. “And I wash my hands before I eat.”
Ogilvy didn’t like the idea another player had spit into the cup.
“It’s probably not the right way to play,” Ogilvy said.
Garcia’s behavior is inexcusable. He should be fined at the very least. Then the PGA Tour and USGA did nothing when Tiger Woods intentionally defaced a green at the 2005 US Open. I expect the same in Garcia’s case.
Four hours television coverage of a non-major championship is overkill. Tiger is winning by four with three holes to go.
 |
| Sunday, March 25, 2007 |
The Dallas Cowboys have signed former Seattle Seahawk safety Ken Hamlin to a one year deal.
The Cowboys signed unrestricted free agent Ken Hamlin to a one-year deal worth $2.5 million on Friday, hoping he solves their problems at free safety. Hamlin, 26, comes to Dallas after spending four seasons in Seattle, where he started 52 of 54 regular-season games for the Seahawks.
He’s able to be the quarterback of the defense,” coach Wade Phillips said at a Friday news conference from Valley Ranch. “That’s what he’s shown he could do throughout his career, and he’s just getting started. He can help put everybody in the right place.”
Hamlin, who played at Arkansas and was raised in Memphis, is a strong hitter with good coverage skills. Patrick Watkins and Keith Davis, the two starters in 2006, were inconsistent in pass coverage. Both are expected to remain on the roster.
Hamlin is expected to take the pressure off Pro Bowl strong safety Roy Williams, who struggled in pass coverage last season. Williams will play near the line of scrimmage where he can cover tight ends, make hard hits across the middle and play the run. Last season, the Cowboys’ 3-4 defensive scheme didn’t allow for a lot of blitzes, especially from the safety position. But in Phillips’ version of the 3-4, Williams can blitz more with Hamlin playing center field. “We had some strength at the position overall,” Phillips said. “This [gets] us as strong as you want it right now. We looked at the future, and we’re looking to him for the future.”
[...]
Hamlin’s signing also gives the Cowboys some flexibility with their first-round pick in the next month’s draft. With the No. 22 pick overall, the Cowboys can now take the best player available.
Hamlin is a great pickup for the ‘Boys, especially at the price. The main concern is that he’s “another Roy Williams,” meaning a powerful hitter who doesn’t excel at pass coverage. Still, at what amounts to a bargain basement price in today’s NFL, another dominant player is a luxury.
As to the draft, it’s sure shaping up for the team to take a wide receiver in the first round. That and cornerback are supposed to be where the value is this year and the team can’t justify paying first round money to another corner. On the other hand, while they’re very deep at wide receiver, their two starters, Terrell Owens and Terry Glenn, are over 30.
Todd Archer notes that the team hasn’t taken a wideout in the first round since Alvin Harper way back in 1991. Indeed, they haven’t taken an offensive player since 1997. It’s probably time to change both trends, unless a can’t miss player falls to them at #22.
This news comes the day after Houston traded for Atlanta backup QB Matt Schaub.
HOUSTON – The Houston Texans waived quarterback David Carr, the first draft pick in franchise history five years ago, and running back Domanick Williams.
The Texans never have had a winning record, and Carr often was the scapegoat. He completed 60 percent of his passes, but also threw 65 interceptions and was sacked 249 times in five seasons.
Houston hoped Carr would flourish under new coach Gary Kubiak last season, but the Texans went 6-10.
Williams, formerly Domanick Davis, is Houston’s career rushing leader with 3,195 yards. He spent all of last season on injured reserve with a knee injury.
Also Friday, the Texans re-signed former Heisman Trophy winner Ron Dayne, who joined the Texans just before last season and blossomed late in the year, rushing for 429 yards and five touchdowns in December.
The Texans released Carr a day after signing Matt Schaub and saying he would be their starting quarterback. General manager Rick Smith said Thursday the team was trying to trade Carr, who had two years left on a contract that was to pay him $11.5 million for those seasons.
I think Carr still has some potential. The Texans have been a terrible franchise and that can drag down good players. Vinny Testaverde did well after getting away from Tampa Bay, on the other hand Joey Harrington disappointed in Miami after doing the same for Detroit.
Plus is Schaub really that good? His stats don’t tell us much.
Miami may be interested in Carr, except for his contract. Has that changed now that the QB has been released? The Dolphins are also supposedly interested in Kansas City’s Trent Green. I don’t know, but if I had a choice I’d sign Carr.
Culpepper will supposedly be ready for next season. Then we heard that about 2006 too. Also Sports Illustrated is reporting the Raiders are interested in Culpepper. Something about getting him without any compensation. Sounds like someone is smoking grass to me.
All of this is guesswork. The grass always looks greener…when its on the other side of the street.
A look back at the week that was for the Kansas City Royals.
Notable Stats
Record: 9-12
Spring training records have little to no correlation for the regular season, but it’s worth noting that the Royals current pace would give them a 69-93 record over 162 games.
OPS:
Butler 1.288 (37 Plate Appearances)
Gload 1.257 (40 PA)
LaRue 1.233 (26 PA)
Billy Butler has been hitting in the last half of most games this spring, which means that production has come against mostly minor-league competition. Still, the boy can hit.
Ross Gload has been getting starts and looks like a lock to keep Justin Huber from getting out of Omaha this year, while Jason LaRue appears to have found his stroke this spring. John Buck is not far behind, but LaRue has proven he can hit in the big leages… Johnny Boy? Not so much.
ERA:
Dotel 0.00 (6 Innings Pitched)
Soria 2.57 (14 IP)
Grienke 3.86 (14 IP)
Assuming he doesn’t wet his pants when a game that means something is on the line, it looks like the Royals may have found a bullpen solution with Dotel.
With Luke Hudson heading to the DL and Brian Bannister sucking in his last two starts, both Zach Grienke and Joakim Soria may begin the season in the starting rotation. Grienke is still giving up the long ball on occasion, but both of the young pitchers are striking out a batter an inning, which is a welcome sight.
Position Battles
Angel Berroa may have finally worn out his welcome with the big club. He has put up a 263/300/342 line this spring, mirroring his career stats, which are terrible.
BREAKING NEWS:The Royals just picked up Toney Pena Jr. from the Atlanta Braves.
Pena is a good fielding shortstop who doesn’t get on base much and doesn’t hit for any power. His best OPS in the minors was 671. Basically, the Royals have just replaced Angel Berroa with Angel Berroa.
At catcher, both John Buck and Jason LaRue have made good cases for themselves at the plate. I wouldn’t be surprised to see LaRue get the opening day nod over Buck due to his experience, but my guess is they will split time evenly this season.
In other shocking news, Alex Gordon was named the starter at third base, beating out the ghost of George Brett and Phil Hiatt’s flash in the pan.
2007 Predictions
Nearly everybody is predicting the Royals to finish dead last in the American League central with between 92 and 97 losses.
The Hardball Times puts them at 67-95, one game back of Tampa Bay for the worst record in the league.
Arm Chair GM has them at 70-92.
Replacement Level Yankees ran four projection systems through the Diamond Mind simulator to get these results.
CHONE: 64-98
Diamond Mind: 65-97
PECOTA: 66-96
ZIPS: 65-97
This comment puts it bluntly: “[In 4000 simulations, the] Royals are the only team who failed to make the postseason at least once.â€
BoDog.com puts the team at 85/1 odds to win the world series.
Place your bets now.
Their playoff run looks to have run out of steam.
Undoubtedly weary making his franchise-record 25th consecutive start, the 41-year-old netminder allowed goals on the first three shots he faced in the second period before being pulled as the Panthers dropped a 4-2 decision to Ottawa Thursday night at the BankAtlantic Center.
The loss, only Florida’s third in regulation on home ice since Christmas, dropped the Panthers to 31-30-13 and was likely the final blow to their dwindling playoff hopes as they fell seven points behind eighth-place Carolina, a 4-3 winner over Washington.
Ottawa’s four goals against Belfour came on just nine shots.
*****
Belfour had given up five goals in back-to-back games last week, but rebounded to stop 24-of-25 shots in Tuesday’s 4-1 win at Philadelphia.
Florida outshot Ottawa 37-19 and, by the Panther coaching staff’s count, had twice as many chances.
Craig Anderson, who stopped all 10 shots he faced in his first extended work as a Panther, said the opportunities the Senators’ sharpshooters got were just too good.
I expressed concern about Belfour last Sunday. You can only ride a 41-year-old goalie so far. The Panthers have played well for the last 2-3 months. 2006-07 won’t see them make the playoffs but next year is looking hopeful.
This has to be one of the most bizzare recruiting stories I have heard lately. Just a few choice quotes below:
Mayo was first mentioned in Sports Illustrated when he was in the seventh grade. He was considered a future lottery pick by the time he entered high school. He once talked trash to Michael Jordan during a pickup game at Jordan’s camp.
…
“Let me call him,†Floyd said.
The man shook his head again. “O. J. doesn’t give out his cell,†he said. “He’ll call you.â€
…
Before Floyd hung up, he asked one more time for Mayo’s cellphone number. “No,†Mayo said. “I’ll call you.â€
Its going to be an interesting one and done eyar for OJ and USC.
In an attempt to put its best nose forward, London will spend 2,000,000,000 Pounds to upgrade its sewer system.
A new £2bn “super sewer” intended to stop the 2012 London Olympics site from being swamped by untreated sewage was today given the go-ahead by the government. The 18-mile tunnel – the construction of which will add £37 a year to water bills in the capital – will help stop untreated sewage from pouring into the Thames during heavy rainfall. It will also prevent sewage from backing up the Lee and Bow Back rivers, which run through the east London Olympic site.
The games will be staged close to the 19th century Abbey Mills pumping station – known as the “cathedral of sewage” – which deals with the biggest overflow of sewage in the capital. Approval of the new scheme comes after warnings that the games could be ruined by the sight and smell of overflowing sewage from the city’s outdated drainage system.
In 2005, the Thames Tideway Group, a government advisory committee, warned that there was a “100% chance” of sewage overflows at the site during the summer months.
One would have to agree that odor of raw sewage would ruin one’s Olympic experience. Of course this kind of work needs to be done anyways to prevent the associated pollution with sewage spills. While a great idea at the time, combined sewer-storm drain systems are a major source of problems in many cities when it comes to meeting environmental regulations. Good thing I live in LA where we kept our sewer and storm systems separate.
This isn’t so much about “all out” busts but more about players that may be getting drafted too high and too early. Again, when you see the name Joe Mauer, don’t freak out. I’m not saying I wouldn’t draft him, I’m just saying that he is going too early and that way too many people are overrating him. Here is a list of some of the “overvalued” players in fantasy right now along with some that you should just stay away from. Again, this is not a list of people I wouldn’t draft, I actually own a couple in some leagues, this is a list of people that I wouldn’t reach too early for.
Catcher – Joe Mauer, Jorge Posada: You heard a little about why I believe Mauer is overrated above. Sure the guy won a batting title, but 12 other catchers hit 16 or more homers to Mauer’s 13. Four other catchers had more RBI, and 2 others had more stolen bases. This is not to say that he won’t top his power numbers from last year, I just believe he is beong overvalued and that I wouldn’t take him any earlier than the mid-late 3rd round. Jorge Posada is kinda in the same boat. He gets drafted for three reason: his homers, the fact he plays for the Yankees, and his lineup protection. Not bad reasons. But he gets drafted before guys like Ramon Hernandez, Mike Piazza, and Russ Martin. Posada is turning 36 this year and his career .270 AVG is probably in decline and is gonna be a killer and walks don’t help in most fantasy leagues. He’s good but I have him ranked around 8-12 for catchers.
First Base – Sean Casey: I love Casey. Nice guy, everybody on his team and the opposing team, loves him. But on fantasy teams… Yes he has topped .300 5 times in his career and hit 20 or more homers 3 times. But those days seem long gone. He should never be drafted above guys like Overbay, Conor Jackson, or even Ty Wigginton. Stay away from him at all costs.
Second Base – Rickie Weeks, Ray Durham: I’m not gonna mention Dan Uggla here. He is actually being avoided by everyone and he seems to be getting drafted in a perfect spot. But Weeks is an intiguing player. He has 20-30 potential every year. But he seems to get injured every year. He currently is fighting wrist problem, and his wrists are what generate his bat speed, and he could kill your team AVG (he is a career .257 hitter). You can look like a genius if you get him and he performs, but I wouldn’t draft him any sooner than the 10th round. And if anyone thinks Durham is going to repeat his numbers, let’s please make a bet!
Shortstop – Carlos Guillen: Guillen is a guy I could be dead wrong about. He has .300-20-90-20-100 potential but I’ve seen him go in round 3 before. He isn’t getting younger and he is also getting slower (both at SS and in actual speed). I would love to have him on my team but I wouldn’t take his 2006 stats to the bank. I would rest on .300-15-80-10-90.
Third Base – Joe Crede: Two sets of two words for you: Back Problems, and Josh Fields. Crede continues to have back problems and the young Josh Fields is waiting to snag the 3B job. The White Sox need to trade Crede while his value is at it’s highest. If traded, his stats should diminish because he’s most likely headed to a ballpark that is not Chicago’s.
Outfield – Willy Taveras, Dave Roberts, Moises Alou, Gary Matthews Jr.: I’ll start with the speedsters. Taveras is not going to hit for power because he’s in Colorado. He is going to put up numbers around the same as last year’s. Don’t draft him expecting Coors Field to magically bring him power, it didn’t do it for Juan Pierre. Roberts is on a team with aging vets and he himself fits perfectly on that platform. He could easily swipe 40 bags but that’s all you should draft him for. I hear from people that Alou is going to perform miracles because he’s in the Mets lineup. Don’t buy it. He hits lefties like no one else but he probably won’t see more than 400 at-bats. Draft him as your 4th or 5th OF, not one of your starting 3. Lastly we come to Matthews Jr. Do I have to explain here? I’ll keep it simple: No Way he duplicates last year’s stats which were overrated in themselves!
Starting Pitchers – Jered Weaver, Chien Ming-Wang, Orlando Hernandez: Weaver is having some problems with nagging injuries and his season last year was a season in which hitters never saw him before and he took advantage of it. Hitters are wise and they will catch on. Weaver should still have a good year but he’s going earlier than Kazmir, Hamels, and Cain and I think that’s ridiculous. Wang will give you 15+ wins, no doubt. But can he win 19 again? I wouldn’t bet on it. 76 strikeouts in 218 innings is not a sign for good things to happen. Some of those balls in play will drop for hits this year and his ERA won’t be duplicated from last year. Wang, in my opinion, is a one-dimensional fantasy starter. He’s a good #3, maybe #2, but don’t make him your #1. And Orlando Hernandez is just not going to have a stikeout per inning again. His ERA will kill you and you will regret taking him ahead of young guys like Garza, Sowers, and even James Shields of the Rays.
Relief Pitchers – Bob Wickman, Takashi Saito, Armando Benitez: All three of these guys are on this list because they all have a history of injuries. They all also have people behind them (Wickman has Mike Gonzalez and Rafael Soriano, Saito has Jonathan Broxton, and Benitez has Brian Wilson) that will step in and may not give the job back if given the opportunity. Don’t be scared to take Wickman though, but monitor the other two closely. Closers are one-dimensional players (saves) and saves can be had in the waiver wire every year (2006: Putz, Saito, Francisco Cordero anyone?!)
Only in Palm Beach County would this rate as front page sports news.
WELLINGTON — No player in the history of polo has won more U.S. Opens than Memo Gracida.
And while this year’s Open was supposed to be a final hurrah for the 50-year-old Hall of Famer, the International Polo Club Palm Beach made a bold statement on Thursday, banning Gracida and two of his teammates from La Herradura from playing at the club for the rest of the year after the team threw Wednesday’s match against Lechuza Caracas.
The club is hosting the U.S. Open, meaning Gracida can’t participate in polo’s most prestigious event.
La Herradura lost to Lechuza Caracas 18-7 in the USPA Piaget Gold Cup semifinals, the sport’s second largest tournament behind the Open.
Jimmy Newman, the director of polo operations, said it was clear that La Herradura was purposely giving up goals.
By losing Wednesday’s match by at least 10 goals, La Herradura would have been placed in a bracket that it considered more favorable for the U.S. Open.
“They were positioning themselves in the next tournament,” Newman said.
The Polo Club banned Gracida, his son, Julio, 19, and Kris Kampsen, 26, Newman said. The team’s fourth player, Fred Mannix Jr., left the field less than a minute into the match, deciding he didn’t want to be part of it. The team replaced Mannix with J.J. Celis. Mannix will not be penalized by the Polo Club.
“It was pretty obvious that one team was not trying to win,” Newman said. “The club is making a statement that we’re just not going to have it.”
Newman said that La Herradura did not break any official rule, but the club still felt action was necessary.
“Those two teams were pretty evenly matched,” Newman said. “If they both played hard, it would have been hard to pick a winner. It certainly was not a 10-goal spread.”
*****
After Crab Orchard defeated Bend About 14-5 Wednesday, La Herradura had to lose by 10 or more goals to enter the U.S. Open as the fourth-place team. Bend About and La Herradura were going to finish as the third and fourth teams heading into the Open, and whichever team lost by more goals in the Gold Cup would be the Open’s fourth-place team.
“We weren’t going to tolerate something like this,” Newman said.
If players or a team have an incentive to lose, they’re going to do just that. These players’ actions were wrong, but the Club shouldn’t be surprised by their happenning.
|
|
