Oh, how the mighty have fallen, and it seems to be ACCEPTABLE! In what has to be the worst town for mediocrity and losing, it boggles my mind with how many people are content with Tony Romo as the quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys (in my header, it says "hockey or what-not," here's the what-not...with a hockey twist). Let me preface by saying I am NOT a Tony Romo hater. He seems like a very nice guy. I'm glad he's happy with life and has a wife and hopefully a very healthy baby on the way. My critique of the Cowboys field general has nothing to do with the guy personally. I look solely at the numbers and, ultimately, the results.
One. That's the number of playoff wins the Dallas Cowboys have in the last twelve and a half years. That one came against an Eagles team that had just been complete decimated the week before by the Cowboys...in Arlington. If I had to stay in a city that I just got killed in the week prior, listen to the local talk shows and read the local papers to play a playoff game in the same place the following week, I'd be pretty deflated myself. I stated in a previous post that I remember a time when you could maybe watch one or two Cowboy games a season here in the DFW area because the other games were blacked-out, which is a league imposed restriction on the televising of a team's games because of their inability to sell out the stadium. The team in the mid-80's were HORRIBLE! My grandfather had season tickets since their inception, and there were times he'd ask if I wanted to go to the game and I declined. Then, came the 90's. Super Bowls were being shipped to Valley Ranch in November. I remember when the Jimmy Johnson-coached team made the playoffs in 1990, just a year removed from going 1-15. Everyone in the area was ecstatic! The team was going back to the "glory days." Then, the Detroit Lions decided to knock us back down a few rungs and reminded Dallas that they weren't there just yet.
Since the last Super Bowl, the Cowboys are 122-118. They've made the playoffs seven times and have two wins, both wild card victories...as divisional champions. FOUR games over .500 and a 28.6% win percentage in the playoffs. Now, the bulk of those disappointments do not rest on Tony Romo's shoulder pads. He was a third stringer for nearly half of that time. However, when people make the argument that he's a "top ten" quarterback, I start to have an issue with that. When was it acceptable to be top 10 in this area? Why not top five? How about strive to be the best? Ok, that last statement was unfair. I don't know his work ethic. But, much can be said (and has) about his demeanor on the sideline when things are not going as well as one would hope; with his hat on backwards and smiling and comments like, "If losing a play off game is the worst thing to happen to me..." Again, what he says is VERY CORRECT. But, I don't want to hear that. What if the Joint Chairman were to come on the news and say, "Well, if losing 1000 troops is the worst that happens..." NO! We shouldn't lose a SINGLE solider. Will it happen in a war? Sure. Doesn't mean we should be complacent with the notion. Yes, I realize I took that to a whole different level, but my point being, complacency is acceptable with the Cowboys, and it never should be.
Here's some interesting figures I came across. When Romo attempts more than 31 passes, his rating is at it's lowest when compared to pass attempts: 73.3%. That goes to say, the more Romo is looked upon to put the team on his shoulders and throw for victories, he buckles. A very interesting stat: his passer rating is at it's highest when in the red zone. That's because he's not thrown an interception when deep in opponent's territory. However, his completion percentage is at it's lowest point at 54.5%, compared to over 64% every where else on the field. In the last two minutes of each half, his 92% passer rating is the worst when compared to the halves as a whole. This is evident in the Cowboys THREE blown leads of 12 or more points compared to just two in the first 50 years of the team's existence. The biggest issue I have with Romo is supported by the following figures. I often take a stance that Romo is not a leader; he has no killer instinct. Here's the numbers to support that: When behind in a game, Romo's passer rating is 102.7%, and explodes to 124.2% when trailing by 9-16 points. But, when the Cowboys are winning, Tony's rating is 99.3%, and drops to the lowest point of 91.6% when ahead by 9-16 points. And, of course there's that one playoff win.
In comparison, let's look at last year's Dallas Stars team. Brad Richards finished 10th in points and 11th in assists. Brenden Morrow finished 13th in goals scored. Kari Lehtonen was 12th in wins. The team finished with 95 points, 14th in power play percentage and 15th in goals allowed. Why do I bring these figures up? How did the Stars do last year? The previous three years? What does their mediocrity get them? 7000...8000...10,000 per game. The Cowboys continue to sell out the Death Star. Oh well. For what it's worth, at least I get to watch the Cowboys mediocrity on television each week. Thank you for lowering your standards, Dallas/Ft. Worth.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Monday, December 12, 2011
The Thin Line Between "Tradition" and "We Don't Know Any Better"
It was mentioned today that Penguin's forward and captain, Sidney Crosby will be out indefinitely with concussion-like symptoms. Crosby first suffered a concussion last year during the annual Winter Classic against the Washington Capitals. Approximately three days later, he played against the Tampa Bay Lightning and that would be the last time we would see Sidney Crosby skate until just a couple of weeks ago. Of course, he picked up right where he left off: 2 goals and 2 assists. Now, after a "lingering headache" since facing Boston last week and taking an elbow in that game, Crosby approached the Pens and mentioned that he just didn't feel right and needed to sit out. First, chalk that up that not only is he the league's best player, he's one of their smartest. Second, credit to the Penguins for not questioning or applying any undo pressure to Crosby to "give it a go."
I'm a traditionalist. When it comes to sports, I don't like change. Evolution, I can accept. Equipment gets better. Conditioning and strength training is better. I even consider the rule "changes" to avoid dangerous head shots is an evolution. But the debate of fighting is starting to pick up speed, especially with the recent deaths of NHL (@NHL) enforcers Derek Boogaard, Wade Belak and Rick Rypien. Of course, the big question is does fighting still have a "place in today's game," or is the safety of the players at too great of a risk to allow it to continue? Well, let's take a look at both sides. I think it's easier to start with the "remove fighting" side first. There's obvious data that points to the serious ramifications taking blows to the head repeatedly has on the human brain. The Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy, Boston University has stated the amount of damage found when dissecting part of Boogaard's brain was staggering, considering his young age. It was noted in the incredible piece by John Branch from the New York Times, that the level of damage was for certain to cause dementia, however, not in the later years of Derek's life, but in his mid-life...sometime in the 30's. Can you even fathom living out a majority of your life with no recollection of your life's accomplishments, friends and most of all, family? The great Brent Severyn (@brentseveryn) provided insight into the life of an enforcer for SI, and what really stuck with me is how physically ill it made him knowing he was going to have to fight. But like he and Boogaard stated, they weren't the fastest...they didn't handle the puck the best, so in order for them to crack into the NHL, they had to crack someone who had made it. Although the only death to be directly attributed to drugs was that of Boogaard's, the depression that was suffered by Rypien and Belak were most likely being treated medically, and once you introduce a substance with an unknown amount/level of brain damage, then there's no way anyone can know what the end result can be.
On the other side of the argument with fighting in hockey is that it is still needed for several reasons. One is the tradition. Brandon Worley (@brandonworley) made a great point on Defending Big D (@defendingbigd) today when he pointed out that fighting is not highly looked upon during the playoffs or Olympic play. Are you to tell me that because of tradition, fighting should be allowed to continue? But it's very evident that these guys can "flip the switch" when the playoffs roll around or every four years when the Olympics come along. Now, the first school of thought would be that the enforcers don't get picked for the Olympic teams and they're generally scratches come playoff time. Well, as mentioned above, there are those who aren't as prolific with speed or scoring so they learn to fight. I can't skate seven feet without falling on my butt. I know my future with the NHL is limited to writing about it (in some fashion). If players aren't good enough to do the skillful things required of hockey players, then perhaps there's no room for them in the game? Then there's the "entertainment value." Fighting is exciting! It draws the crowd and gets them pumped up. You know what else brings the people in droves and gets the excited about a team? Winning. Scoring goals. Clean, well timed hits.
I was first attracted to this sport when I saw someones face sliced open by a skate. Later in that game, there was a fight...and the refs just STOOD THERE! I was in love instantly. Then, I learned the rules and the strategy and the history. I observed these 240 pound, 6-foot plus men chasing a 3-inch piece of vulcanized frozen rubber...on ice skates...while trying to put the piece of rubber in a 6-foot by 4-foot opening, where someone who's made to look 6'10", 380 pounds stands in front of the goal. There was this skill that I've never seen in any sport. Here I am almost 25 years later worried that the sport's best player may never lace up the skates again. There was no fight that put him in that position. No matter what your fighting "stance" happens to be, make no doubt about it: if the league loses Crosby for an extended period of time...again, we all lose.
I'm a traditionalist. When it comes to sports, I don't like change. Evolution, I can accept. Equipment gets better. Conditioning and strength training is better. I even consider the rule "changes" to avoid dangerous head shots is an evolution. But the debate of fighting is starting to pick up speed, especially with the recent deaths of NHL (@NHL) enforcers Derek Boogaard, Wade Belak and Rick Rypien. Of course, the big question is does fighting still have a "place in today's game," or is the safety of the players at too great of a risk to allow it to continue? Well, let's take a look at both sides. I think it's easier to start with the "remove fighting" side first. There's obvious data that points to the serious ramifications taking blows to the head repeatedly has on the human brain. The Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy, Boston University has stated the amount of damage found when dissecting part of Boogaard's brain was staggering, considering his young age. It was noted in the incredible piece by John Branch from the New York Times, that the level of damage was for certain to cause dementia, however, not in the later years of Derek's life, but in his mid-life...sometime in the 30's. Can you even fathom living out a majority of your life with no recollection of your life's accomplishments, friends and most of all, family? The great Brent Severyn (@brentseveryn) provided insight into the life of an enforcer for SI, and what really stuck with me is how physically ill it made him knowing he was going to have to fight. But like he and Boogaard stated, they weren't the fastest...they didn't handle the puck the best, so in order for them to crack into the NHL, they had to crack someone who had made it. Although the only death to be directly attributed to drugs was that of Boogaard's, the depression that was suffered by Rypien and Belak were most likely being treated medically, and once you introduce a substance with an unknown amount/level of brain damage, then there's no way anyone can know what the end result can be.
On the other side of the argument with fighting in hockey is that it is still needed for several reasons. One is the tradition. Brandon Worley (@brandonworley) made a great point on Defending Big D (@defendingbigd) today when he pointed out that fighting is not highly looked upon during the playoffs or Olympic play. Are you to tell me that because of tradition, fighting should be allowed to continue? But it's very evident that these guys can "flip the switch" when the playoffs roll around or every four years when the Olympics come along. Now, the first school of thought would be that the enforcers don't get picked for the Olympic teams and they're generally scratches come playoff time. Well, as mentioned above, there are those who aren't as prolific with speed or scoring so they learn to fight. I can't skate seven feet without falling on my butt. I know my future with the NHL is limited to writing about it (in some fashion). If players aren't good enough to do the skillful things required of hockey players, then perhaps there's no room for them in the game? Then there's the "entertainment value." Fighting is exciting! It draws the crowd and gets them pumped up. You know what else brings the people in droves and gets the excited about a team? Winning. Scoring goals. Clean, well timed hits.
I was first attracted to this sport when I saw someones face sliced open by a skate. Later in that game, there was a fight...and the refs just STOOD THERE! I was in love instantly. Then, I learned the rules and the strategy and the history. I observed these 240 pound, 6-foot plus men chasing a 3-inch piece of vulcanized frozen rubber...on ice skates...while trying to put the piece of rubber in a 6-foot by 4-foot opening, where someone who's made to look 6'10", 380 pounds stands in front of the goal. There was this skill that I've never seen in any sport. Here I am almost 25 years later worried that the sport's best player may never lace up the skates again. There was no fight that put him in that position. No matter what your fighting "stance" happens to be, make no doubt about it: if the league loses Crosby for an extended period of time...again, we all lose.
Friday, December 9, 2011
Heads...no, tails...no, wait...
We've got ourselves a goalie controversy a-brewin'. Ok...maybe not a full-fledged controversy, but definitely a conversation piece. I know my twitter feed (@TonyJar34) was pretty active last night, especially after the score became 5-2 in favor of the San Jose Sharks, with the call for Richard Bachman to be put in goal for the Dallas Stars (@dallasstars). When the team took the ice for the final twenty, the young Bachman, who hails from Salt Lake City, UT, donning his 31 jersey had gotten the call.
I cautioned anyone who would listen to not be so quick to banish Andrew Raycroft to the bench, but I realized that with the score so lopsided and Raycroft obviously off his game, receiving little to no help from the defense in front of him, it was time to give Bachs a look. Bear in mind, this was not his first NHL (@NHL) action. He played approximately six minutes against the Coyotes last year, stopping all four shots he faced. Last night, his shut out streak continued, stoning all eleven shots the Sharks fired at him, including a very pretty pad save as he patiently came out of the crease to challenge the shooter and just as it appeared Bachs was frozen, he stuck out his left pad and the puck shot innocently away into the corner.
It was about this time the thoughts of "Bachman vs. Jonathan Quick (@jonathanquick32)" began to float around as it began to look as if Richard was putting the thought of he belonged into the mind of his former-now-current head coach, Glen Gulutzan, as the two were together in Las Vegas in the ECHL. In his postgame words with the press, Gully mentioned that the starter would be decided today after practice. So, there you have it. Oh, and let me just stop you there; even if Bachs takes over the number two spot, the crease still belongs to Kari. He just lets us be in his world.
Several other pieces of info that have come down since I last rambled on here: Realignment was voted on by the Board of Governors at their meeting in California earlier this week, and it passed, so these late night starts that we've grown acustom to since 1998 will be reduced to a handful starting next year, when we will no longer be in the same "division/conference" with the Left Coast teams. I can't begin to tell you the excitement this brings, especially when it comes time for my boys to start watching the games. Speaking of seeing the games, it also got significantly cheaper to attend the greatest game on earth! New owner, Tom Gaglardi's, first item of business that he mentioned when he was introduced as the new owner was to give Stars President, Jim Lites, the freedom to do what was necessary to get bodies into the AAC to cheer on the team. Yesterday, it was announced that tickets were dropping down to as little as $9! Yes, you're reading that correctly...NINE dollars. Try to go see "The Muppets" for $9 and get back to me. Seventy percent of the lower bowl is now only $70. Of course, practice at the Stars Centers are still free. I would encourage anyone who has the ability to go. Much more "intimate" to see the team VERY up close and VERY...sweaty.
I cautioned anyone who would listen to not be so quick to banish Andrew Raycroft to the bench, but I realized that with the score so lopsided and Raycroft obviously off his game, receiving little to no help from the defense in front of him, it was time to give Bachs a look. Bear in mind, this was not his first NHL (@NHL) action. He played approximately six minutes against the Coyotes last year, stopping all four shots he faced. Last night, his shut out streak continued, stoning all eleven shots the Sharks fired at him, including a very pretty pad save as he patiently came out of the crease to challenge the shooter and just as it appeared Bachs was frozen, he stuck out his left pad and the puck shot innocently away into the corner.
It was about this time the thoughts of "Bachman vs. Jonathan Quick (@jonathanquick32)" began to float around as it began to look as if Richard was putting the thought of he belonged into the mind of his former-now-current head coach, Glen Gulutzan, as the two were together in Las Vegas in the ECHL. In his postgame words with the press, Gully mentioned that the starter would be decided today after practice. So, there you have it. Oh, and let me just stop you there; even if Bachs takes over the number two spot, the crease still belongs to Kari. He just lets us be in his world.
Several other pieces of info that have come down since I last rambled on here: Realignment was voted on by the Board of Governors at their meeting in California earlier this week, and it passed, so these late night starts that we've grown acustom to since 1998 will be reduced to a handful starting next year, when we will no longer be in the same "division/conference" with the Left Coast teams. I can't begin to tell you the excitement this brings, especially when it comes time for my boys to start watching the games. Speaking of seeing the games, it also got significantly cheaper to attend the greatest game on earth! New owner, Tom Gaglardi's, first item of business that he mentioned when he was introduced as the new owner was to give Stars President, Jim Lites, the freedom to do what was necessary to get bodies into the AAC to cheer on the team. Yesterday, it was announced that tickets were dropping down to as little as $9! Yes, you're reading that correctly...NINE dollars. Try to go see "The Muppets" for $9 and get back to me. Seventy percent of the lower bowl is now only $70. Of course, practice at the Stars Centers are still free. I would encourage anyone who has the ability to go. Much more "intimate" to see the team VERY up close and VERY...sweaty.
Monday, December 5, 2011
Realignment in the Stars (See What I Did There)
Today, the NHL (@NHL) is holding it's Board of Governors meeting in NoCal (conveniently located near Pebble Beach) this afternoon, set to start at approximately 5:00-5:30 PM, CST. The biggest point to be discussed is the need for realignment with the subtraction of the Atlanta franchise and moving them to Winnipeg, who current resides in Atlanta's old southeast divisional spot. Care to know how that effects the Jets, who have to play divisional rival (no love lost between these two juggernauts) Florida Panthers six times? That's 2263 miles. Care to take a road trip to see the newest team taken on the 1996 Stanley Cup Finalists? Load up the car and the kids...you'll be driving for over 35 hours!
Anyways, the need to realign is there. No longer is it just a bunch of us Stars fans all bitter cause we have to watch 1/3 of our games start at 9:30 PM. There's a possibility would can come down today/tonight as to the future of the divisions/conferences. Stay tuned for details, as we wait to see if the Stars will return to the Central division, or if the league will do absolutely nothing.
Anyways, the need to realign is there. No longer is it just a bunch of us Stars fans all bitter cause we have to watch 1/3 of our games start at 9:30 PM. There's a possibility would can come down today/tonight as to the future of the divisions/conferences. Stay tuned for details, as we wait to see if the Stars will return to the Central division, or if the league will do absolutely nothing.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Well, ducking duck, Anaheim!
There are those who take three days to fill out unemployment paperwork. Then you have Bruce Boudreau who never had a chance to receive unemployment paperwork to fill out. Just three days after being shown the door in the nation's capital, the "colorful" Boudreau was shown the door, presumably forced out by their star forward, Alex Ovechkin (@Ovi8). The Dallas Stars' (@dallasstars) pacific division rival Anaheim Mighty Ducks of LA (whatever they're called this year), who find themselves unable to stay afloat (see what I did there) decided that having a Stanley Cup winning, Jack Adams awarded Randy Carlyle was no longer acceptable, considering their abysmal 7-13-4 start, which puts them last in the competitive Pacific.
Boudreau brings his own Jack Adams (Coach of the Year) to the west coast after starting the season 12-9-1, which was good for 2nd in the southeast division of the eastern conference. But, reports of unrest among the team's star players, most notably Ovechkin, coupled with four years of missing the conference finals with one the most potent offensive teams in the league was his undoing in DC. Speaking as a fan of a team that consistently won division titles, then hasn't made the playoffs in three years, it's unfortunate that some teams look at a head coach that has won four division titles in a row and a President's Trophy (most points in regular season...hey, I remember those, too) as being the problem. I know the cliche of "you can't fire the team." I agree with the cliche. But, let's take a moment to consider the possibility that Ovi's ego was the reason for Boudreau's departure. At what point do these egotistical players, that really haven't accomplished anything in the grand scheme of things (scoring titles mean nothing if your team doesn't win anything) begin to look in the mirror? I played sports for many years. Granted, no where near the level of these guys, but every practice and every game, there was always a small competition with myself to improve. Run just a little bit faster. Lift a little more weight. Hit a little harder.
With the increase of former players taking leadership roles in front offices across sports in general, have we seen the end of player accountability?
Oh, and I'm going to officially set the over/under on Boudreau F-bombs in the tightly contested, very physical pacific division at 27.5 per game. Takers? Anyone?
Boudreau brings his own Jack Adams (Coach of the Year) to the west coast after starting the season 12-9-1, which was good for 2nd in the southeast division of the eastern conference. But, reports of unrest among the team's star players, most notably Ovechkin, coupled with four years of missing the conference finals with one the most potent offensive teams in the league was his undoing in DC. Speaking as a fan of a team that consistently won division titles, then hasn't made the playoffs in three years, it's unfortunate that some teams look at a head coach that has won four division titles in a row and a President's Trophy (most points in regular season...hey, I remember those, too) as being the problem. I know the cliche of "you can't fire the team." I agree with the cliche. But, let's take a moment to consider the possibility that Ovi's ego was the reason for Boudreau's departure. At what point do these egotistical players, that really haven't accomplished anything in the grand scheme of things (scoring titles mean nothing if your team doesn't win anything) begin to look in the mirror? I played sports for many years. Granted, no where near the level of these guys, but every practice and every game, there was always a small competition with myself to improve. Run just a little bit faster. Lift a little more weight. Hit a little harder.
With the increase of former players taking leadership roles in front offices across sports in general, have we seen the end of player accountability?
Oh, and I'm going to officially set the over/under on Boudreau F-bombs in the tightly contested, very physical pacific division at 27.5 per game. Takers? Anyone?
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