Stormin Norman Rumack

Packers at Falcons: Flip a coin for this game because it’s likely to come down to something like a lucky bounce. Atlanta has won 4 in a row, and perhaps it’s something about the “Keystone State”, as both Falcons losses have come against the Pennsylvania based teams.  The Eagles defeated Atlanta 31-17 on October 17, and the Steelers outlasted them 15-9 in overtime on the first Sunday of the season. Atlanta is strong statistically, ranking 7th in rushing yards, 12th in passing yards, 6th in opponents rushing yards, however they are 24th in opponents passing yards. That was illustrated in the Falcons game with Baltimore, where the Ravens were able to drive on Atlanta late in the game and go in front by 21-20 on a Flacco touchdown  pass to Todd Heap,with only 1:05 left on the clock, and only a late counterstrike by Matt Ryan to reliable Roddy White for 6 point with a 2 point conversion with 20 seconds remaining, won the game for the Falcons, by a score of 26-21. The Packers have had severe injury problems, so their...

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Patriots at Lions: With New England having impressed with recent wins over Pittsburgh and Indianapolis, this game is obviously theirs to lose. It’s easy to draw that conclusion with the Pats having won 7 of their previous 8 games. The only recent loss for the Brady bunch, was to Cleveland on November 7, when they got smoked 34-14. Give the Browns credit, but it’s got more to do with New England not being up for the game, than improvement in Cleveland. The Patriots defense is better than a year ago, but still needs to be better, especially against the pass, where they rank 31st in opponents passing yards. New England is 17th in opponents rushing yards. The Patriots have beaten the best the NFL has to offer, including Baltimore, and San Diego, to go along with their recent impressive victories. The Lions have lost 3 in a row. They are 26th in stopping the run. It’s not hard to figure out what Belichick’s strategy will be against them. BenJarvus Green-Ellis should be getting a lot of touches. The Lions are 6th in ...

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I was absolutely thrilled to learn that Texas Rangers slugger Josh Hamilton had been selected as the Most Valuable Player in the American League. His comeback from drug and alcohol addiction, is one of the most amazing and inspiring that I had ever come across.

Two years ago, I had the opportunity to interview him, while I was hosting evening shows for the Fan 590 in Toronto. The native of Raleigh, North Carolina,was so candid with me about the depth of his addictive behaviour, that I was stunned that he could not only comeback and have a normal life, but that he could return to become a super-star in Major League Baseball.

How open was Hamilton with me about his struggles with his demons ? It didn’t seem that many details were left out. When I asked him what was the absolute rock bottom of his addiction, he certainly painted a scary picture. The former Tampa Bay (Devil) Rays top pick in the 1999 amateur draft, said he found himself lying on the side of a road by himself, not really knowing how...

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Those of us on the outside of professional sports, like the media and the fans,  love to contemplate and fantasize about the glamour and the glory, that we might be enveloped in, had any of us been good enough to become professional athletes. Like any high end endeavour, there are sacrifices that must be made in order to be at,and stay at the level of proficiency required to compete with, and against the very best in a country and the world, to survive the usually short lived stay of the professional, in any particular sport.

It was with that in mind, that I read with great fascination, the quotes from England and Chelsea centre back John Terry, pertaining to his injury problems this season, and an on-going dilemma with a nerve problem in his right leg. Beyond that, the Blues captain also addressed the more general concern,but a greater problem for many athletes,as to what toll the injuries and treatments might have on one’s lifestyle, after the sports career has ended.

He expressed how he feels...

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When the end came for Pat Burns on Friday, it was a tragic one for him, and everyone who knew him. Of all the terrible options he could select when he was stricken with cancer for the third time, around December of 2008, not going through treatment initially, was what he wanted, after having gone through cancer therapy for both the colon, and the liver as well. This time, it was lung cancer.

I was in Tampa Bay when I was told by Pat Burns of his condition.  It was on my annual winter vacation, and I scheduled most of my break time and destinations around sporting events, while working as a talk show host for the Fan 590 radio in Toronto. I chose to do so, in order to  have stories, interviews and inside information, to present to the listeners.  On this particular occasion, I was sitting in the media room of the St.Pete Times Forum, in Tampa, attending a Lightning game with my friend Jim Devellano, Red Wings Executive Vice-President,  who scouts the Tampa Bay games for Detroit, while spending the winter...

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I’m not a fan of Manchester United, but like almost anyone who follows soccer anywhere in the world, I have a solid respect for the 24 years of managing and 35 trophies, that Sir Alex Ferguson has accumulated over his incredible tenure with the club. I have even more respect for his outspoken candor on basic issues and simple values, that apply to all areas of life, not just soccer or professional sports in general.

As reported by ESPNsoccernet, Ferguson didn’t pull any punches when addressing the changes he has observed in the attitudes and over-all demeanor of the professional athletes of this generation, including his own star player, Wayne Rooney. It was most refreshing to read his no nonsense evaluation of what he has observed. Almost anyone, and certainly professional sports would benefit, if some athletes and their agents were attentive to what he has said.

Speaking at the inaugural “Aspire 4Sport” conference in Qatar, Ferguson stated: “ The world has changed and so have players’ attitudes....

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Bears at Dolphins: Miami’s home record of 1-3 is more than a little scary. Conversely, the Bears are 3-1 on the road. According to ESPN.com, the Dolphins third string starting quarterback, Tyler Thigpen, is expected to be playing on Thursday night. He did play well on Sunday,  after Chad Pennington went down after two plays with a shoulder injury, and Chad Henne left in third quarter with a left knee injury. The Dolphins were 29-17 winners over the Titans. Thigpen went 4 for 6 for 64 yards, including a 9 yard touchdown pass to Anthony Fasano on an 85 yard drive. Chicago has won their two November games and are tied for the  division lead with Green Bay. The Bears are second in scoring defense at 16.2 points, fourth in total defense at 311.6 yards, and first in turnover with 24.They are also second in rush defense at 82.3 yards.

Bears 27 Dolphins 20

 

Bills at Bengals: Buffalo has been playing competitive football over the last month, and were finally rewarded with their win over Detroit last...

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Judging by the kinds of conversations that are taking place, and what’s being written and talked about by fans of the Toronto Maple Leafs, and the media that cover them, you might get the sense that there is some quick fix solution to the team’s problems, and that the primary way to correct their shortcomings, might be the dismissal of one or both of coach Ron Wilson and general manager Brian Burke. Here’s an update folks. Neither one will be fired this season,and it’s not likely next season either. Maple Leaf Sports And Entertainment is not going to absorb the extensive costs that would be involved in paying off the lucrative contracts that both possess. Burke, as detailed by Wikipedia, is reported to be earning above $3 million annually, on a five year deal. As reported by CBCSports.ca, sports, Ron Wilson is believed to be on a  4 year deal for $5.6 million dollars. Secondly, who exactly is it that M.L.S. And E., are going to find, that can turn around a team, that is weak at centre, average on defense, and...

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It was with great sadness on Saturday night, that I read about the tragic death of Luke Richardson’s 14 year-old daughter, Daron.  According to the Associated Press story, a statement was released by the Ottawa Senators, the team that Richardson was an assistant coach with: “ There was an accident at their home (Friday) and Daron tried to take her life by hanging….. Her mother found her in the basement and Daron was rushed to the hospital by ambulance where she remained in critical condition in ICU until she succumbed to her injuries.”

I can’t imagine anything more horrific for any family.

Luke was a 21 year veteran of the National Hockey League, and played with Toronto, Edmonton, Philadelphia,Columbus, Tampa Bay, and Ottawa. He completed his career with 35 goals, 166 assists in 1,417 games.

I always appreciated that Luke was a gentleman, who always found the time to stop and say ‘ Hi,how are you ?’, and participate in a conversation. It didn’t really matter what team he was with, or how...

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Ravens at Falcons: You can throw out all your statistics for this game. I don’t think they’ll amount to a hill of beans, once the game begins, but they’re still useful for getting a perspective on the possibilities. I like the Falcons, but I like the Ravens just a little more. This might be the Super Bowl preview, or it could turn out to be better than the Super Bowl, except for the half-time show of course. Atlanta are winners of their last 13 home games when starting Matt Ryan, who is 17-1 all-time at the Georgia Dome. Roddy White has been seen with an electronic stimulator on his knee, after getting it banged up last week, and playing with a brace on it during the second half of the game. There is one statistic that is worth being aware of for both teams. The Ravens have held opponents to 17 points or less, in six of their eight games. The Falcons have only had one game where they were kept under 16 points,as detailed at ESPN.com

Ravens 24 Falcons 22

 

Lions at Bills:  Buffalo has been...

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