The Washington Capitals will be missing one of their star players tomorrow night as Alex Ovechkin will take the night off. Much like a presidential candidate in recent news, he will be visiting an ailing grandparent, his grandfather in Russia. There is no set return date, but the Caps will not have to play again until Saturday in Buffalo.
Thoughts go out to Ovechkin and his family.
The past three weeks have been anything but pretty for the Redskins. The results have brought more questions than answers regarding three consecutive performances where the team has played down to the level of competition. The Redskins defeated the Lions 25-17 in another close game heading into the 4th quarter.
The Redskins dominated the Lions in offensive production and time of possesion but sqaundered opportunities and turnovers contributed to the close score. The team has struggled in the red zone. Too often the team has settled for field goal attemps or turned the ball over.
There is a simple key to the game today. Just score. Three weeks ago, the Redskins looked like the NFC Elite. That Giants opening game loss...just first game jitters for the team and their rookie head coach. Then came St. Louis and Cleveland. While only losing on a last minute field goal to the Rams, and still winning over the hapless Browns, there is a question out there whether the Redskins are one of the best. Now comes Detroit.
The Lions are worse than both the renewed Rams and the Browns. Playing in Detroit shouldn't be a problem. What Washington needs to do is score early and often. Let's not let Suisham dictate scoring attempts. Campbell should finally have an outbreak game and throw a few touchdowns. The receiving corp should be beating this defense. Most of all, Portis should continue his high yardage ways. I think even Rock Cartwright or Alexander might make it in the end zone.
On defense, the lack of Springs and potentially Taylor shouldn't prevent much of a problem. With Kitna on IR and Roy Williams joining his name-sake in Dallas, there seems to be no threat from the Lion offense. I see many three and outs in their future.
The Redskins should easily win today. A win is a win, but a narrow margin of victory leaves questions of whether the team can advance to and through the playoffs. You can follow my commentary of the game on Twitter.
Pardon the Interruption, but I'm Big Money Tony. This show has to be one of best in sports, if not all talk/news. Airing at 5:30 ET on ESPN every weekday, it may not be a ratings hog, but it has a raging fan base. It celebrated it's 7 year anniversary yesterday. I still remember a few years ago while watching March Madness at the Sports Freak's place, during the break of games, we turned on PTI. He and others there couldn't stand it because the "Z" team as TSF referred to them, of Michael Smith and Jay Marriotti were in substituting as hosts. I said its not a problem, I'll watch when I get home. They looked at me like I was nuts. But I think thats how many PTI fans are.
Thursday's episode shows why Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon are more than just talking heads. In the regular segment "Role Play", which has been on for years, they brought more than the normal levity. Opening the segment, Mr. Tony asked Wilbon what his word was. Wilbon replied "Butterscotch. That's my safe word". It was really funny after the couple of happy hour drinks I had last night.
Earlier in the same episode, they had Hines Ward in the "Five Good Minutes" interview section. When asked about the "bounty" on him, Ward just held up a sign. "Guys, this is the NFL policy on bounties. If the camera can zoom in..." Even the players love the show.
Congrats to the PTI staff on their anniversary. It's on at a terrible time, but if you have a DVR, it is a must record daily.
Where was "the greatest clutch hitter of all time" when the Red Sox needed him the most this year? David Ortiz hit a paltry .186 and had an OPS of .676 this post-season. In 2002 Ortiz hit .276 with zero home runs and an OPS of .655 in the post-season. In 2003 Ortiz hit .191 with an OPS of .645 in the post-season. How are any of those numbers "clutch?"
The Redskins pounded the Browns with a steady dose of Portis as he accumulated his highest single game total this season 175 yards rushing. With teams clamping down on Moss, it's become increasingly difficult to find the open receiver during the game. The Skins offense has proven that it can dominate and wear down defenses but has left the play action and more of the intermediate/deep pass routes at home.
After Randel-El, there doesn't appear to be any type of threat in the passing game from the third receiver. Opposing teams have adapted to the Redskins passing game and have taken notice of Moss and Randel-El forcing the Skins to find another threat. The inability to attack the secondary enough to create more of a cushion on the scoreboard has already helped cost the Skins one victory.
The Skins face another challenge similar to last week's opponent. The Browns come into town with Anderson and the offense feeling more confident. They also bring a record that doesn't reflect the team playing the Skins this week. It's a less talented offense than the Rams, but the results could be just as devastating at the end of the day on the scoreboard if the Browns are able to exploit the lack of pass rush and injured secondary.
The offense must control the clock and limit turnovers to help out their defense. The Browns don't posses as big a threat in the running game as Stephen Jackson and the Rams, but turning Cleveland into a one dimensional offense and getting pressure on Anderson will be critical.
London's calling and the plays he calls and leadership he provides has the defense containing opposing offenses. Through the first six games of the season the front four has failed to provide any consistent pass rush. As a result, more pressure is placed on the linebackers and secondary.
London's veteran leadership and intensity has established the linebacker group as the core of the defense. Most teams are fortunate to have one player that can play all three positions at linebacker. The Redskins have two players - Khary Campbell and H.B. Blades. The constant has been Fletcher stuffing big runs and mentoring the younger players.
It's just around the corner, or rather it started last night. NCAA Hoops is back. The Maryland Terrapins Men's and Women's teams kicked off their seasons last night with the annual Maryland Madness. Thanks to members of the Spirit Squad who stopped to let The Sports Freak take this picture outside Comcast Center after the festivities.
It's always a treat to watch this event. As alumni of the University of Maryland at College Park, both the Sports Freak and I attended the event. The events are the same every year, but after going 4 or 5 straight Madnesses, and the couple I attended during my 4 1/2 years there, it's always entertaining. The night starts off with the Gary Williams Look-A-Like Concest. Next was the Alumni game. Former Terps in attendance included Tony Massenburg, Johnny Rhodes, Byron Mouton and current Terps staff members Chuck Drissell and Keith Booth.
Home remedies have been around for ages, but apparently Dr. Iron Fist Vitali Klitschko revealed to the boxing community his own remedy for taking down the swelling after he defeated Samuel Peter by TKO and reclaimed the WBC Belt. His remedy is using his young son's diapers and urine around his hands Now we've heard everything.
The Cowboys made a move to ensure their playoff hopes aren't washed away due to injuries in a year where most had already crowned them NFC Champions on paper to start the season. With Romo out possibly four weeks due to a broken pinkie finger, Pac Man Jones four game suspension, and with Newman and Felix Jones also being out four weeks Jerry Jones gave up a 1st, 3rd, and 6th Round Pick for Roy Williams and the Lions 7th Round Pick.
The move came at a very high price for a receiver that never seemed to live up to the number one receiver slot in Detroit. Calvin Johnson made this an easier move for the Lions, but will they know how to use the picks? The move should help Brad Johnson do what he does best in Dallas - manage the game. In three receivers like TO, Williams, and Clayton the vertical game when Romo returns should be very explosive. Can they continue to win until Romo comes back is the question. Just as the Skins were tested with two tough division games on the road, Dallas will face their first obstacle to the playoffs.
The tight NFC East and the resurgent Carolina Panthers mean a tight race for the playoffs could be in store if some losses in the schedule due to injury occur. It's quite possible that what was perceived to be a possibility of three teams making the playoffs from the NFC East could be in jeopardy should a team falter due to injury.
In a flurry of activity in the NFC East, the Washington Redskins made three moves in an attempt to bolster depth and improve special teams. After struggling through much of the regular season Brooks, who unseated the incumbent Frost, as punter was cut. His accolades in college (Ray Guy award recipient - the highest honor for a punter) didn't immediately translate into success at the professional level. Punts in critical times were shanked or booted as a line drive and for every good punt there were some poor punts creating an erratic kicking game and huge returns by the opposition.
Frost wasn't the answer in the kicking game either as he was ultimately cut in the pre-season in favor of Brooks for a better hang time. As told by watching a Packers game and hearing the announcer describe the play with another line drive punt by Frost. In the end the potential in Brooks was great, but not realized in his professional debut where kickers and punters come and go. The Skins hope that Ryan Plackemeier can adequately fill the void. Fans shouldn't expect this to be the last move at the position as a parade of kickers could be brought in throughout the season if he falters too.
On the Monday October 13, 2008 edition of Pardon The Interruption (PTI), host Tony Kornheiser wore a University of Pennsylvania baseball cap during the entire show. Kornheiser's son, Michael, is a student at Penn and competes on the school's golf team.
John Madden, the long time analyst for virtually every network that has ever broadcast NFL games will take a one week break. Dick Ebersol notes that Cris Collinsworth will move from "Football Night in America" to the booth for next weeks Seattle Seahawks at Tampa Bay Buccaneers game.
Madden is not taking time off for any serious issue or contract dispute. He and Ebersol have discussed this as a way just to take a break. As most everyone knows, Madden is afraid of flying and travels mostly in the Madden Bus from game to game. For the 3 week period starting a week ago, the games would have been in Jacksonville, San Diego, and back to Tampa Bay, resulting in a grueling cross-country and back schedule. The break is to allow Madden to rest and see his grandkids.
I don't know, 20 weeks in a bus going from city to city. Oh, I guess that would be tough, no matter how much I'd enjoy it the first few weeks.
Update: Pictures are finally up. The Redskins fall to the St. Louis Rams 19-17 in a poorly played game. Q and I were on hand to watch the crumbling occur. Pictures will be up by Tuesday morning here. As the Sports Freak noted in the pre-game posting, we thought the key to the game was to maintain the status quo. So much for that. Not noted in our postings was that we all felt that the Redskins could lose in one of three games against the Rams, Browns, and Lions.
The key to the game was not held up. Campbell was pressured, but appeared to be holding steady and calm. Later in the game, it appeared that was part of the problem. With the pressure, the Redskins did not fight back, thinking that the game was still in reach, which it was, and that the tactics used in the wins over Dallas and Philly would work.
Redskins fans rejoice. Tony Romo has a broken finger and will be out for about 4 weeks. This poses an interesting scenario for the Redskins-Dallas showdown, to occur at the game Romo is set to return. Both teams will be coming off the bye week, but without game play for a month, will Romo be ready.
To the opinion of this fan, if Romo is truly a great quarterback, it shouldn't matter. But he has only proven to be a good, better than average player worthy as a starter, but maybe not one of the greats. We'll see in a month.
The Redskins face a greater challenge at 1 PM today from the St. Louis Rams then their record (0-4) indicates. With new head coach Haslett looking to throw new wrinkles on offense and low expectations overall, make the Rams a tough team with renewed spirits and a high level of intensity.
Q believes Jason Campbell and the offense need to continue their string of zero turnovers and not provide the Rams offense any additional opportunities to get jump started.
As long as the Redskins can keep the level of consistency and composure they've show over the past four weeks, Big Money Tony thinks the Skins should be 5-1 after today.
Apparently Cubans don't like Cuba either. At least not in the current state it's in. Reports are that 2 Cubans are missing from their hotel in Arlington and presumed defecting to the US. The Cuban National Team in in town to play the US National Team in a World Cup qualifying match. This seems to happen everytime a Cuban sports team touches American soil. It would seem that the Castro regime would not allow their team to travel to the US for any sporting events.
The current slate of missing players, while not confirmed as defections, reminds us of baseball players like Livan and Orlando Hernandez with their defections. Even Fidel Castro was a great baseball prospect who let his political aspirations get in the way of a Major League career.
Last Friday evening, the Verizon Center was brimming with higher expectations than in seasons past as they faced Philadelphia. The area appeared packed like never before for a pre-season game. It was apparent that the Caps have plenty to look forward to this season. The Caps won the game and showcased some of the young talent of the future with a big tough center in Beagle and a steady top blue line defenseman in Alzner.
Beagle's size bodes well for the future. His style of play would create the perfect contrast to Backstrom. Federov doesn't have many years left and Beagle could fill a role not seen in a Caps uniform since Dale Hunter, but first he'll need to hone his face off and passing skills. If he could become a 15 goal and 50-65 assist center a season and play the PK, it would be create even more match up problems for teams in the future. Rebound goals would come as long as Beagle plays near the net.
The Caps boast the most depth and talent they've had in a very long time. A lot of young talent and prospects have landed in the Southeast Division making it a very competitive division. The Caps should be poised to capture the division title once again this year.
The Redskins passed another major test into establishing themselves as a playoff contender as they dumped the Eagles on the road 23-17. Although Moss didn't catch a ball this afternoon, he forced the Eagles defense to change their game plan and allowed Cooley and Randel-El to roam free on the underneath routes.
The Skins fell behind early and didn't buckle despite what looked to be a game changing 68 yard punt return for a touchdown by DeSean Jackson to put Philly up 14-0. To the Redskins credit they didn't panic and maintained the game plan with a steady dose of the running game. It appears that Jansen's overall presence at tackle has helped. His name has bareley been mentioned at all which should solidify his role back as the starter when Heyer returns from his shoulder injury.
The Nationals broke into the new Nationals Park with a story book ending game winning home run from Zimmerman. Although no one thought the Nationals would contend for a playoff berth this year, the hope was to follow up on a previous season without as many injuries and questions about pitching. As the season progressed, starters were barely able to make it into the seventh inning let alone log a complete game with any consistency. The starting pitchers and Acta created a tired bullpen staff.
With the team in need of a top pitcher and a cleanup hitter to protect Zimmerman, Guzman, and Dukes, how will the Nationals be able to sign what is hopefully Stephen Strasburg when the Nats couldn't even sign this year's top pick? To make matters more interesting, Scott Boras appears to be advising Strasburg Nats Possible Pick. This offseason will tell the future of how the current ownership runs the team.
After 4 weeks of football the AFC East looks nothing like I predicted. It's impossible to replace the offensive production and leadership of a player like Tom Brady, and the Patriots look like a very average team without him. Backup Matt Cassel is playing alright, but it's obvious that they've simplified the playbook and don't fully trust him to run the offense. And who could blame them? Although he's in his 4th year, the fact remains that he's barely played in the regular season. The Pats are relying on screens and short passes to move the ball, and the vertical passing attack that was so deadly last season is pretty much gone. Maybe they will open it up more as the season goes on and allow Cassel to get more comfortable with the deep passing game. If not for the fact that they have a relatively easy schedule I'd say the Pats are no longer a seious playoff contender. They may still make it, but they are defiinitely underdogs to win this division now. Just a few short weeks ago that notion would have been unthinkable.
As for the rest of the division, the Bills are clearly playing the best football. The defense and special teams have played superbly and QB Trent Edwards is not making many mistakes. They are the team to beat now. The Jets could definitely make a run, but they need to play more consistently--they look great one week and semi-crummy the next. The Dolphins simply destroyed the Pats 2 weeks ago, and they hung tough against the Jets, so they will factor into the race as well.
Can anyone bring a smile to your face and such laughter from an article or radio show? Big Money Tony gave me a lift home from work last week. As we were talking Bill Simmons podcast from last Thursday was playing in the background. My keen sense and "Heroes" like ability to hear something funny within my surrounding area sounded off.
Bill Simmons was talking with a friend and discussing an interview that occurred in baseball with two Dodger's players. One of the players was Manny translating for the player being interviewed. After the player spoke in two languages off and on, the two Dodgers laughed and ran off. Simmon's commented how funny it is that the interviewer was fooled by two of the dumber players in baseball. How often do you do you hear a comment like that?
By this time Big Money Tony and I were solely focused on Simmons. He had since switched to another topic and with the debates quickly approaching a more timely political focus portion of the show.
No matter how many little two second “snippets” of banter between the hosts that they add during commercials of Pardon The Interruption (PTI), I am still going to skip over the commercials (and the snippets) when I watch the show on my DVR.
