- 12:01 PM
- 12/30/24
http://s86.photobucket.com/albums/k92/gdvbranz/Sequence.jpg
posted by gdvbranz at 04:30 PM on January 17, 2009
Sorry folks - the link to the still images isn't working!
posted by gdvbranz at 02:44 PM on January 17, 2009
Rumor has is that Geideman is now working on a new set for Upper Deck NASCAR, including cards of Kurt & Kyle Busch, Jimmie Johnson, and a tribute card for Dick Trickle.
posted by gdvbranz at 08:21 PM on June 03, 2008
Hey BoKnows...thanks for posting the other Nash goal. I posted that here the day after it happened and was getting dissed by everyone because they think Nash is a nobody. I'm a Columbus fan, live in Columbus, and think Nash is very underrated. Yes, he needs to step up his game a bit compared to previous seasons, but he's doing it this year. Hitchcock has been the best thing for this team since Johnny Mac decided to get the franchise in the first place! Nash stepped onto the national scene in last year's All Star game, though he got screwed out of the MVP honors. You read it here first...Nash will be thie year's MVP. He's the real deal and about to prove it once and for all.
posted by gdvbranz at 06:17 PM on January 18, 2008
Hey Grum...Toews' goal is incredible for what it is...a great display of stick handling and maneuvering a defense. Nash's goal is amazing for what it is...a great display of quick hands and immediate reaction to the situation. Both are up there as top goals, for sure. Thanks for sharing!
posted by gdvbranz at 09:21 AM on October 28, 2007
As a man of European descent, I've always been offended by the New England Patriots logo(s) and team name. Remember their old helmet design, with the revolutionary war soldier about to snap the football between his legs? The stereotypical square jaw, tricorn hat and perfectly pressed uniform? I mean, c'mon already...enough it enough! None of the documentaries I've watched on the History Channel ever indicated that Revolutionay War soldiers had access to footballs, and even if they did, they probably would have cut them up to make shoes out of them. Sure, the Patriots tried to modernize the logo, but it's just not good enough for me. The jaw is still square...pobably even moreso than the one on the old helmet...and that damn stereotypical headwear is still present. I just don't get it. I have a modest proposal of my own. The New England Patriots should give the team a name that celebrates something for which the region is known. I propose the New Englad Clam Chowders, and the logo could be a littleneck clam. That way you keep both factions happy: those who prefer New England-style clam chowder, and those who prefer Boston-style clam chowder. I'll also entertain other ideas and logos that celebrate New England, so please feel free to post them here!
posted by gdvbranz at 07:53 AM on October 20, 2007
Am I the only one who started thinking 'Was it over when the Germans attacked Pearl Harbor?' about half-way through SFValley_Dude's last comment? Great reference, tieguy. I wonder how many readers will get it and how many will think you're just really bad at history. Perhaps instead of firing Torre, Steinbrenner could just put him on double-secret probation?
posted by gdvbranz at 06:22 PM on October 09, 2007
How do you think Michelle Wie feels about this?
posted by gdvbranz at 08:41 PM on January 13, 2007
Congratulations Florida, and yes, this is coming from an Ohio State fan (and graduate). I really wish OSU had shown up last night to give you the challenge you deserved, but if the shoe were on the other foot today, I'd probably be as happy as you are. OSU's offensive line stunk up the joint last night, Troy Smith underestimated the speed of Florida's defense, and our speedster injured his ankle while celebrating his opening kick return for a TD. Three strikes, we're out. (Not to mention that I think the coaches accidently grabbed John Cooper's old play book before leaving Columbus). But, I can take heart in one thing. At least I wasn't one of the many OSU fans who paid a few thousand dollars to fly to Arizona, scalp a ticket and come to wish I'd put the money into a flat-panel, 42" HD television instead. If I had dropped that kind of coin to watch that fiasco, I really be ticked off today. I'd offer one of you Gator fans the DVD I recorded the game on last night, but somehow it became damaged...very, very damaged. Go Bucks!
posted by gdvbranz at 04:27 PM on January 09, 2007
If you go to a Blue Jackets game, you can tell who the fans are amd who's there entertaining clients because their company bought season tickets. There's a few of us (I used to go to the Cleveland Crusaders and Cleveland Barons games as a little kid) who've followed the sport all our lives, and a few of us who are thrilled to have a team in the state. I happen to live in Columbus, so I make it to a few games. It's enjoyable getting to watch guys like Federov and Foote, as well as up-and-comers like Nash and a couple of others.
posted by gdvbranz at 05:27 PM on January 02, 2007
Psycho -- I agree that the Jackets getting called for 11 penalties was excessive. If you read the post-game comments by head coach Ken Hitchcock, that was his assessment of the situation. He didn't focus on the controversial overtime goal -- he was more critical about the team finding its way into the penalty box so many times, stating that they shouldn't have been in such a situation to begin with. MrFrisby, great analogy. I've also seen that happen with a goalie's glove crossing the goal line with the puck in it and the goal being counted. Maybe teams should become more adept at shooting the puck into each other's equipment and then sliding over the goal line!? (kidding, of course).
posted by gdvbranz at 05:42 PM on December 31, 2006
You're right, Apoch -- even if they had waived off the goal, there was no guarantee the Jackets would have won. In fact, there was a penalty on the play regardless of the goal call, which means the Wild would have been skating 4 on 3. With that much open ice, it wasn't looking good for the Jackets anyway. Still a disappointing way to lose -- If we were going to lose, I'd rather see a shot ripped from the point that clearly hits the back of the net.
posted by gdvbranz at 10:29 AM on December 30, 2006
Just now getting back to the post -- been busy! Clevelander32 wrote, "To say Ginn is the only one who would go anywhere is the dumbest thing I ever heard." Re-read the post -- I didn't say he's the only one who would go anywhere, I said that he would probably get drafted a little higher than the other guys. I think this because he's a talented, multidimensional player (receiving/kick & punt returns) who has been in the spotlight longer than Gonzales, though there's no doubt that Gonzales is a hell of a player and invaluable to the Bucks. Honestly, I like Gonzales better than Ginn as well. Gonzales is a "go to" guy with great hands, and he's actually supposed to be slightly faster than Ginn. Whenever they enter the draft, it will be interesting to see who goes where and how high they're picked. All of them will play in the NFL, but I stand by my statement that Ginn would probably go higher than the others if they left early, only because of the attention he's received and because an NFL team could experiment with him in several other positions due to the potential he brings to the table. I don't think we've seen the best of Ginn -- just flashes of it. Stats don't lie, though -- here's the season review: CUMULATIVE STATS OSU While this is just for last season, I went back to past seasons as well -- Ginn has outperformed Gonzales each season in each category.
posted by gdvbranz at 10:20 AM on December 30, 2006
Tressel's a smart guy -- if you read the entire article, toward the end Gonzales says that Tressel suggested that he file the paperwork to be evaluated. To me, that means Tressel's not worried about what this all means. Think about it, though. That paperwork's going to come back showing most of those guys as a third or fourth round pick at best (except maybe for Ginn). Now Tressel can tell them, "Well, come back, stay healthy and have a solid senior year with me -- you're in a high profile program, everyone's watching us -- and you can easily move up to a first or second round pick in the next draft with a solid performance next season." The kids know what that means -- mo money, mo money, mo money! They won't care WHO they play for in the NFL, it's just that they've made it that matters to them.
posted by gdvbranz at 08:00 AM on December 16, 2006
R.I.P. Bo. As a lifelong Buckeyes fan, I've enjoyed watching the OSU/UofM rivalry (except maybe for the John Cooper era) and came to respect Bo as a coach. Any fan of college football, regardless of what your allegiance is, should be saddened by this loss of one of the great ones. Godzilla82 said it best -- Bo & Woody now have the best seats in the house, but might I add that Woody was probably the first one to greet him at the pearly gates.
posted by gdvbranz at 05:21 PM on November 17, 2006
At least McLean hasn't put himself behind the bench again like he did a few seasons ago. After the Chicago fiasco (eight power plays and zero tallies!?) I told my wife that Gallant would be gone by Thanksgiving if they didn't win a few more games in the next couple of weeks, and that was unlikely given the three games coming up against Nashville. I wasn't surprised that they let him go. Gallant has made a few bonehead errors these last couple of games and I think that's what got him canned. Against Edmonton, he failed to put another guy on the ice after a 5-minut major expired, keeping the Jackets shorthanded longer than necessary and allowing the Oilers to score. Also, regarding Chicago, he had a chance with 1:45 left to pull the goalie and didn't. The next opportunity happened with about :30, and you can't do a heck of a lot with that much time left, let alone calling your timeout with three seconds to go. John Tortorella in Tampa Bay seems to be getting a little frustrated with how folks are responding to him, so after four years he might be ripe for a change in scenery. Although Florida to Columbus? Usually it's Ohioans wanting to go to Florida!
posted by gdvbranz at 05:24 PM on November 14, 2006
The writing was on the wall about Zherdev three weekends ago. I went to a sidewalk clearance sale for the Blueline shops here in Columbus, which are the official team stores for the Blue Jackets. There was a box of clearance t-shirts, all of them of Zherdev, being sold for $3 each. There must have been 50-60 shirts in the box. I knew right then they likely weren't too close with negotiations. I like the deal. I know that one season does not a player make, but last year Zherdev was a -13 and Carter was only a -1. Zherdev had 54 points, Carter 55. What we don't know is how Zherdev was in the locker room, how he fit into the overall chemistry of the team off the ice. He could hardly communicate with his teammates and wasn't putting forth the effort to learn English (according to reports). So, we'll see. When the season ends next year, it will be interesting to see who comes back, Zherdev or Carter, because Carter's contract was for only one year.
posted by gdvbranz at 04:42 PM on September 15, 2006
No wonder ticket prices keep going up -- it's not to pay for the contracts of the guys still playing (okay, in part it is), but to pay for the guys who got the sweetheart deals and are no longer there! This clearly shows the chances that teams are willing to take and the prices they're willing to pay to try to win a championship. Wait -- win a championship and then they'd have to pay performance bonuses, too!
posted by gdvbranz at 08:50 AM on August 28, 2006
Obviously it helps to have an NHL franchise in town. I live in Columbus, Ohio. The growth of hockey's popularity and the number of kids playing in this town have skyrocketed since getting the Blue Jackets (even though they haven't made the playoffs yet). Skating lesson classes are filled, bunches of kids are taking hockey lessons and new skating rinks have opened around town. I just dropped a couple hundred bucks on equipment for my son because he's made it through skating lessons and is ready to put on the gear and learn stick/puck handling in the youth lessons sponsored by the Blue Jackets. High schools that had hockey as a club sport (e.g., not financially supported by their respective boards of education) are now being funded by their school districts. It only makes sense...as the sport and support for it grow, and the number of kids playing increases, you also grow the pool of talent from which one or two kids just might have what it takes to make it to the NHL.
posted by gdvbranz at 08:52 PM on June 24, 2006
Congrats Hurricanes fans...that was one helluva series. You couldn't ask for anything more coming off a strike year -- seven games for the cup, a rookie goalie who's the third-youngest to hoist the trophy, some vets carrying the cup for the first time ever in 15-20 years, etc. It doesn't matter if you're an Edmonton fan (which I am) or a 'Canes fan -- this was good for hockey. As for Ray Whitney's F-bomb, I think he learned that in Columbus (Hopefully the Jackets will make the playoffs next year, but I'm not crazy enough to be rooting for the cup yet).
posted by gdvbranz at 08:24 PM on June 20, 2006
Righty on, Grum@work. Beckett has a logical explanation as to why they went to press proclaiming the Hurricanes as champs, but they win either way. Back in the late 1980's and early 1990's, when sports card collecting picked up in popularity again, the big thing was "error cards." Remember Fleer's Billy Ripkin card with about three or four variations because of what was written on the knob of the bat? Prices for error cards shot up into the hundreds of dollars in come cases and everyone was searching for them, until it was discovered that some companies were making error cards intentionally. That killed the market. Beckett knows what it's doing, and you can't tell me that the execs didn't have the discussion at the meeting table about "what if we're wrong?" Somewhere along the line, they realized it's a win-win situation and it's unlikely their credibility in the industry will suffer. If the Oilers win, they'll publish a "correct" version and folks who purchased the 'Canes on the cover will scramble to get the issue with the Oilers on the cover. Collectors are happy because they have something "unique" and the folks at Beckett look like geniouses regardless.
posted by gdvbranz at 05:47 AM on June 18, 2006
Wingnut -- How did you know the guy in front of you was Polish? Oh, wait -- I think I misunderstood. Seriously, though, I haven't been to Tiger's Stadium, but can relate to sitting behind the poles at the old Cleveland Municipal Stadium. Gotta say, though, that Jacob's Field is a much nicer venue to take in a game -- once you're in a nice, new, shiny ballpark, the feelings of nostalgia fade quickly!
posted by gdvbranz at 06:46 PM on June 16, 2006
Let's look at other professional sports. Golf has two separate leagues -- one for men and one for women -- but women are being given the opportunity to try to qualify for men's tournaments (and have done so). Tennis has men playing men and women playing women in the same tournaments, but I don't believe there are tournaments for men against women (insert Martina Narvratilova quips here). Hockey? Men's and women's teams -- that's how it's done in the Olympics. Same with soccer, basketball, etc. However, consider that there are some high school wrestling teams with girls wrestling boys. The face of sports is changing and Petty is coming from a pre-Title IX mentality. Regardless, the guy has a right to his opinion, no matter what you think of it. I've never been in a race going 200 miles per hour, so maybe he knows something that I don't know about what it takes. Does a women have what it takes to compete in a predominantly male sport? If she does, more power to her -- drop the starting flag and let's see what happens!
posted by gdvbranz at 01:53 PM on May 26, 2006
Great picture...I didn't know Peter Griffin from "Family Guy" was a Brown's fan! Glad the Brown's have Romeo at the helm -- I think he'll get 'em to the playoffs and maybe the big dance. They seem to be getting the necessary talent, but it'll be Romeo's job to get them to play nice together. Next season will tell!
posted by gdvbranz at 06:46 AM on May 13, 2006
Rumor has it the Windy City Thunderbolts are trying to create a jelly-filled sesame seed bun and market it as Baseball's Best Doughnut. Why in the hell would you want a doughnut to even touch ground beef on purpose?
posted by gdvbranz at 10:30 AM on March 12, 2006
I liked watching Borg play. However, the guy retired in the early 1980s at the age of 26. How much financial security can you gain after 11 years in a sport that's not televised weekly and is typically played in fairly small venues with limited ticket sales? Heck, even the PGA has found a way to maintain a presence on TV 12 months of the year. It's sad he has to sell off his memories, but not surprising.
posted by gdvbranz at 06:14 AM on March 04, 2006
I had my doubts about Shapiro as a GM, but I like what he's been doing with the team. I'm not worried about the Coco Crisp deal -- the Tribe has plenty of young talent that can play in the outfield and do some damage at the plate. I think they have a legitimate shot at the playoffs in '06 -- they built a lot of condifence in '05 with that stretch run they made.
posted by gdvbranz at 05:53 PM on January 22, 2006
Sounds to me like MLB needs to join the fantasy game and offer something better than the existing fantasy sites, both in terms of information and winnings. It's sort of like a couple of years ago when musicians were complaining about file sharing killing the music industry, but now look at how many are peddling their songs through iTunes and the like. They stopped complaining, looked for a competitive advantage and found a way to benefit from the situation. I'm not a big fantasy participant -- I play in a family fantasy football league for bragging rights -- but the diehards out there might be willing to pony up some bucks for better information and a chance to win something the others can't (or haven't) offered. If you were a serious fantasy baseball player, wouldn't you drop $50 for a season of stats/services and a chance to win a couple of season tickets for your favorite team next season? Get creative, MLB and call off the attack dogs!
posted by gdvbranz at 08:44 AM on January 16, 2006
TV Station Runs Into Lenny Dykstra Pawning World Series Rings
Is it just me, or does Dykstra look extremely uneasy in this footage? I don't know if it's because the camera was there, because he realizes how desperate his situation is, or a combination of both. I feel bad for the guy, but he created this situation and now has to deal with it. What a shame.