By Norman Rumack on
3/30/2010 1:28 AM
Very quietly, one of the best comeback stories in the National hockey League has been that of the Detroit Red Wings. I remember attending an early season game in Buffalo in which Detroit were the visitors. The Red Wings executives at that early stage of the season were doubting that their team would be able to make the playoffs, when considering injuries to important players on their roster, and adding in their off season defections of talented players. As things stand on March 30th, it’s looking like the NHL’s most recent dynasty, will continue the leagues longest running streak of consecutive playoff appearances at 19. This is truly amazing, when you closely consider the defections and injuries over this past year.
Lost to Detroit in the off season because of salary cap considerations, were Marian Hossa, a 40 goal scorer,Jiri Hudler, 23 goals, and Michael Samuelsson,a 19 goal producer. Injuries this season cost the Wings the services of Johan Franzen who has 15 points in just 20 games played...
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By jpeisich on
3/29/2010 8:45 AM
Yoshi Tatsu won a 26 man Battle Royal with everyone on the roster not on the show.Participants: Chris Masters,Zack Ryder Funaki,Vance Archer,Mike Knox, Carlito, VladimirKozlov,William Regal,Luke Gallows,Cryme Tyme,Fit Finlay, Hornswoggle, Mark Henry, Goldust,Santino Marella, Primo, Jimmy Wang Yang, Hart Dynasty, Slam Master J, Great Khali, CaylenCroft, Trent Barrett and Tyler Reks.Everyone gang up to throw out Great Khali.Tatsu knock Ryder out to win.Winner:TatsuFormer American Idol winner Fantasia sang"America the Beautiful.The retractable room stadium at University Of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, AZ was open.The Miz & Big Show VS R-Truth & John Morrison for the Unified Tag Team Championships:Kicks off WrestleMainaXXVI (26) 3 and half min match, with Show punching John Morrisonfor the win.Winner: Still Unified Tag Team Championships Miz & Big ShowTriple Threat Match:Randy Orton VS Ted DiBiase VS Cody RhodesDiBiase & Rhodes worked together on Randy for the first bit of the match. Then they foughtagainst each other.Randy...
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By Norman Rumack on
3/29/2010 1:11 AM
Once a year, I look forward to visiting with Carmelo Anthony, when the Denver Nuggets make their annual trip to Toronto. I know him well enough to say “hello “ and “How are you?”, “How’s your family?”, and of course I had to add in “Did you watch the (Syracuse) game last night?” Of course, I was referring to the NCAA tournament game, in which the Orange were eliminated by the Butler Bulldogs, during a sweet sixteen game on Thursday evening.
The abbreviated form of his given name, is a perfect description of his personality. He is very low key, and has the same demeanor as he did when he was playing college basketball at Syracuse. I first met the Nuggets star in December of 2002, at a time when he was just starting to make a name for himself as a freshman, in what what would turn out to be the first national championship title for Jim Boeheim’s Orange, in April of 2003. Anthony expressed himself the exact same way then, very polite and of few words, as he does now. He has evolved into an NBA superstar,...
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By jpeisich on
3/29/2010 12:35 AM
Yoshi Tatsu won the Battle Royal with everyone on the roster not on the show. Participants: Chris Masters,Zack Ryder Funaki,Vance Archer,Mike Knox, Carlito, Vladimir Kozlov,William Regal,Luke Gallows,Cryme Tyme,Fit Finlay, Hornswoggle, Mark Henry, Goldust, Santino Marella, Primo, Jimmy Wang Yang, Hart Dynasty, Slam Master J, Great Khali, Caylen Croft, Trent Barrett and Tyler Reks.Everyone gang up to throw out Great Khali.Tatsu knock Ryder out to win. Winner:TatsuFormer American Idol winner Fantasia sang"America the Beautiful.The retractable room stadium at University Of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, AZ was open. The Miz & Big Show VS R-Truth & John Morrison for the Unified Tag Team Championships:Kicks off WrestleMainaXXVI (26) 3 and half min match, with Show punching John Morrison for the win.Winner: Still Unified Tag Team Championships Miz & Big ShowTriple Threat Match:Randy Orton VS Ted DiBiase VS Cody RhodesDiBiase & Rhodes worked together on Randy for the first bit of the match. Then they fought against each...
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By jpeisich on
3/28/2010 2:38 PM
Late Sunday Afternoon WrestleMainaXXVI (26) Notes last update before the show:WrestleManiaXXVI (26) comes to you from University Of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, AZ home of the NFL's Arizona Cardinals.It is a retractable room stadium.I have been told that the roof will be Open for WrestleMaina. So here is the weather report:I t will be sunny and warm today.High of 80 degrees about 27C and 70 degrees 21C by the time WrestleMaina 26 concludes .Former American Idol winner Fantasia will be singing "America the Beautiful" to kick off WrestleManiaXXVI (26). A ton of celebrities will be at WrestleMaina including new WWE Hall of famer Bob Uecker,movie star Micheal Clarke Duncan,Several Baseball Players since spring training is also being held in AZ.I hear a lot Cubs players will be there. Expect to see a better Bret VS Vince match that what a lot people think.Bret is in awesome ring shape from what i hear.We just may see glimpses of the old Bret tonight. Wrestlers that are not part of the pay per view (PPV) have been told...
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By jpeisich on
3/27/2010 10:49 PM
Nate Diaz vs. Rory Markham:Nate Diaz just terrorized Rory.Ref stopped at 2:47 of first round (TKO)Winner: Nate Diaz First Round TKOFabricio Comoes vs. Kurt PellgrinoKurt Pellgrino was the best i seen him in the octagon by making Fabricio Comoes Tap in the 2ndWinner: Kurt Pellgrino via tapJon Fitch vs. Ben Saunders:Jon Fitch came out to no reaction from the crowd.Jon Fitch just hammered Saunders for almost the entire fight.Saunders i believe had a cut over his right eyeJon Fitch by decision as predicted All three Judges had it 30-27 for Jon Fitch.Winner: Jon Fitch by decisionFrank Mir vs. Shane Carwin for the Interim heavyweight titleBrock Lesnar was sitting now next to Dana White. Frank Mir got an awesome ovation. Brock was booed heavily when they showed him.Carwin just let Mir have it with at least six or seven uppercuts and Mir went down and he just finished him with punches on the ground. Carwin was amazingCarwin won at 3:48 of the first round by TKOBrock Lesnar walked into the cage shook Carwin hand and...
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By jpeisich on
3/27/2010 2:09 PM
WWE has officially added the following 10-Diva tag match to Sunday's WrestleManiaXXVi 26 event.Beth Phoenix, Mickie James, Gail Kim, Eve Torres, and Kelly Kelly vs. Michelle McCool, Layla, Maryse, Alicia Fox, and Vickie Guerrero.Also expect a few surprises as mention before.I do not want to spoil it for all of you.The whole Hart Family is in Phoenix.Look for the Anvil and the Hart Dynasty to get involved in the Bret/Vince match.Also look for the wrestlers that are not currently on the card to get involved on behalf of Vince. Rumors are floating around that Dusty Rhodes,Cowboy Bob Orton and Ted Dibiase maybe in on the Randy/Cody/Ted match.If that Happens look for a Father son 6 Man tag at the PPV April 25 (Extreme Rules)HHH may lose and that may lead him to cost HBK his match because HBK "has been selfish forgetting about DX"Leading to a future match between HBK And HHH (Wrestling Retirements WWE has not yet decided the order of the matches HBK/Taker may go on last or it maybe Cena VS BatistaTonight the Hall Of...
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By Norman Rumack on
3/27/2010 12:05 AM
Quite often, sports fans, friends and others who know me as an alumnus of Syracuse University, will ask me what I thought of a particular game or player pertaining to the Orange. After a tough loss, especially one that concludes a season,I get asked to comment quite often on either the game, or particular players on the team. In heading down to the Air Canada Centre for Fridays game with the Nuggets and Raptors, I knew that I would likely get asked multiple times over by media colleagues, about the Syracuse Orange loss to the Butler Bulldogs in the sweet sixteen game, by a 63-59 score Thursday night at the Energy Solutions Arena in Salt Lake City.
It’s definitely disappointing, in light of Syracuse being a number one seed in the West region,as well as the Orange tripping themselves up by committing 18 turnovers, which was the most decisive factor in the outcome of the game. The Orange seemed to have greasy fingers at times, with the frequency in which they were giving up the possession to the Bulldogs....
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By jpeisich on
3/26/2010 12:45 PM
This is WrestleMania 26 weekend but,It is a huge weekend for the UFC.As the Ultimate Fighting Championship presents UFC 111 from Newark, NJ the Prudential CentrerOn Saturday March 27th on PPV (Pay Per View)Here is a look at the three top matches on the Card... Jon Fitch vs. Ben SaundersBen Saunders (8-1-2) will be stepping in for Thiago Alves against Jon Fitch (21-3, 1 NC) in a fight that hopefully will find a future welterweight contender. Fitch was victorious in his most recent bout in December at UFC 107 defeating Mike Pierce via unanimous decision. Saunders upset Marcus Davis at UFC 106 in November with a 1st round KO.Fitch, who is 32, is a wrestler with serveral years of professional fighting experience. He had eight wins in a row to start his UFC career. He lost an August 2008 UFC 87 title fight against GSP, but has since won his last three fights.Fitch has gone to decisions in his last six fights.Saunders, 26, Has a few losses under his belt since UF6.Saunders rebounded at UFC 106 with an impressive KO...
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By jpeisich on
3/26/2010 11:09 AM
Money in the Bank Ladder Match:Winner gets a title Shot anytime for the Next YearFirst time with 10 Participants involved: MVP, Christian, Evan Bourne, Kane, Dolph Ziggler, Shelton Benjamin, Jack Swagger, Matt Hardy, Drew McIntyre and Kofi Kingston.To me i believe it will come down to either Kofi Kingston or Canadian Christian.They have the most to gain from winning Money In The Bank. There has been some talk of having Christian win and Edge winning the tittle later in the night and having the former partners square off i like to see that happen. Kofi has been punished a lot recently and he could end up winning Money In The Bank too.My Pick: ChristianTriple Threat Match:Randy Orton vs. Ted DiBiase vs. Cody Rhodes: Legacy Explodes: We basically saw this match a few weeks ago on Raw.The build for this match has just been terrible.The right thing to do in this match is that either Cody or Ted go over so they can become big stars,However that will not happen.My Pick: Randy Orton wins with the RKOR-Truth and John...
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