Ice girls

At first, I thought the ice girls were a good idea. Hot chicks and sports. Nothing wrong with that right?
Well not only are TDS ice girls not very attractive, they also appear quite conceited and stupid as well.

But the really dumb thing about them, is this incessant cleaning of the crease ice. I have no love for opposing goal tenders. None at all. But holy crap, just leave them alone stupid girl. The girl pictured above on Wednesday night would skate up to this poor bloke, and then linger and wait for him to move. So then he tries to avoid her glance, and eventually awkwardly skates to the corner.

He's a professional athlete, you stupid little girl. Leave him alone. Those creases managed to make it about 100 years of NHL play without "Ice girls" to take care of them. Something tells me that it's going to be ok.

Quick hits

• -Yankees...suck it. Go Cleveland
• How about some drama in these baseball playoff games? I'll watch playoff baseball, but when I turn the game on and it's 9-3...I'm not that interested.
  
• -Thanks for Marty Reasoner for taking a stupid penalty last night so that the Sharks could points out of a game they shouldn't have. Brilliant. Moron.
  
• -Diamondbacks = good? Do I care that much? Not really, but I'm still from Phoenix and I reserve the right to root for them if they get further...
• -Why do people complain about the NHL teams wearing white on the road? Most NFL teams wear their whites on the road (Broncos, Steelers, Colts come to mind). The NHL does it so that the teams can wear their 3rd jerseys (which are always darker) at home. It's marketing. It's not hard to understand.

And what are the Mavericks going to do withour Damp to start the season? Did Diop learn how to not get 2 first quarter fouls over the summer? I think that's going to be really bad. Eddie Jones and Trenton Hassell aren't going to help not give up gobs of points in the paint.

Avs 4, Stars 3 (0-1)

Here are some stats from game 1:

• 34 shots on goal
• 2 power play goals scored
• 3 goals total
  
• Only 2 penalties taken

In my estimation when any combination of 2 or more of those things happen on the same night, you should win your game. You should win it easily. When all 4 of those things happen, and you don't win, you can pretty easily point the finger in the right direction.

Apparently all you have to do to score on Marty this year, is just back Zubov in and use him as a screen.

What is wrong with Zubov?

He was a -4. He was on the ice for EVERY Avs goal, and on none of the 3 Stars goals. He had similar numbers in the pre-season. His buddy Daley was -3. Think that pairing is going to work out? Sure it's just one game, but I've been saying all along that Zubov should be with Norstrum. Tipp doesn't want to put all of his good defensive eggs in one basket, but guess what?....Zubie might not be a good one anymore.

It Starts today. Game 1.

The Hockey season returns today, with basketball season close in tow.

And so the blog starts again as well.

Enjoy, all 4 of you, my thoughts.

Official Stars Prediction:

• The Ducks will be good, but not as good as last year. Not in the regular season anyways.
• The Sharks will be better. A lot better. I think they will win the division.
• The Kings will be improved, and annoying, but not deadly.
• The Coyotes will be the Coyotes.
• And the Stars....3rd in the division. 98 points, and a 7th or 8th seed playoff birth.

So there it is in writing. I predict the Stars will suck, but not bad enough to not get the chance to lose to Detroit or San Jose in the first round. And then it's out with Doug Armstrong, and out with Dave Tippet, and rebuilding while watching Mo and Zubie waste away. That's cheerful.

Cheeky, but genius

And just when I didn't think I could hate Jim Lites any more than I do, he goes and changes my mind completely. This is pretty gutsy. I don't think a lot of owners would try something like this in Hockey.

This might actually drive people away from hockey! But according to Lites, the web site has experienced an increase in traffic since the billboards went up. He neglected to say whether it was related to ticket sales or hate email.

Either way, I applaud you Dallas Stars. I love the NBA as much as anyone, but they need to learn how to take a joke. I'm sure Emperor Stern isn't very happy about it though.

A new season, a new look blog

I re-designed the blog. It was rather plain before, and since I have no substance to fall back on, style will have to do.

But the thorn in every bloggers side, is the name. What to call it? Do you go with a rhyme? Aliteration? A bad pun? Or INSERT NAME HERE: _______ 's BLOG? Maybe an offensive joke? A nice play on words?

Do I use my real first name, Brad? or my online alias, Flaco?

Ideas:

-"Flaco's Sports Flatulence" (hmmm not bad)
-"Hairy Flaco and the Goblet of Vodka" (not enough sports)
-"Flaming Flac0" (gay humor = funny?)

Alas, I think I'll just stick to Blogcasting Brad. I thought that I made that word up, until I read otherwise. Apparently I was about 5 years too late.

Damn you, Wikipedia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blogcasting

Previously....on my blog

I was gearing up for the playoffs.

Yay! Playoffs.

Every year I get suckered in to thinking it's the most wonderful time of the year. It's awesome. And even though my beloved Stars never seem to take the journey I wish they would any more, at least the Mavericks were poised for an awesome run, right????

Wrong!!!!

That's what's funny about sports. 5 months later I can't wait to do it all again. I'm a shmuck. A huge shmuck. Oh well.

Either way, after not blogging any of the Stars/Mavs collapse, I thought about closing the blog forever. What purpose does it serve? Does anyone but me and 2 of my friends care? Not really. Well it's fun most of the time. And I'm going to try to stay more humorous and keep my ranting to myself.

That should last until about October 5th or 6th when the Stars play their first back to back. Or mid September when the new uniforms are unveiled. I can feel that big vein in my forehead holding its own training camp in there....

What's a Canuck anyway?

Seems pretty much a sure thing now. Stars @ Vancouver to open the 1st round.

Chances?
So-so, Who really knows?

Here's what we do know. In the playoffs, goaltending carried you places.

Luongo > Turco

If you're down 0-2....Smitty time?

It might be.

Sports things I hate....

Come on, everyone has a list. Here's mine. Well at least some of it....

Nascar

UFC - If you can call that a sport

Womens College Basketball - At least they mostly keep to themselves

Coverage of the NHL - Brad how could you!! I'm talking about the exclusively negative coverage when someone gets hurt or a large brawl breaks out.

The NCAA Tournament - Hey who met in the title game? A couple of #1 seeds? Who cares...

Over excited College football fans - Yeah we got it, you miss college, you wish YOU were Vince Young, you hate your life, etc, etc...'gig em? Wtf does that mean? Go watch a pro game.

Nascar

ESPNs analysis of baseball - The standings and seedings of baseball, have been discussed more in the first 3 days of the season already, than the NBA and NHL COMBINED the ENTIRE SEASON.

Anyone who changes jersey numbers in the middle of their career just because they feel like it

The Dallas Cowboys, The Detroit Red Wings, Steve Nash, The San Antonio Spurs, Milan Hejduk, Eric Lindros, Michel Irvin, The Colorado Avalanche, the Ducks and the Sharks, Kobe Bryant, "Race Weekends," Nascar highlights, Keith Olbermanns inability to talk about anything but Baseball and bashing the presidents, ESPNs basketball presentation, Bruce Bowen, the New York Yankees, Humble Billy, and did I mention Nascar?

I really hate Nascar

Mavs tuning up

So the Mavs went skinny dipping in Sacto without their Dirks on. Despite the balls flying everywhere (what? there were a lot of turnovers), they managed to get out of there with the W and their dignity.

Buck and DG looked more like themselves, and the Centers came to play. But still, every time Damp or Diop put the ball on the floor they give me cancer.

But I was thinking, what does Dirk Nowitzki do at a hotel room during the game by himself?

Does he even watch the game?

Does he have to listen to the Kings TV guys? I hear they were giving him lots of love.

Was he sleeping? or puking?

Did a trainer stay with him?

Personally I prefer to think that he was studying the game inch by little inch, ready to give his young coach some advice afterwards

;)

NBA/NHL Playoffs looming large

The blog is coming back at you with HSO's as we get ready for the happiest time of any year. The concurrent NHL and NBA playoffs; particularly that happy crazy time when the Stars and Mavs are BOTH still in it.

One of those teams will invariably let you down early. The other one may or may not let you down later on. You know the one I mean.

Therefore... a question:

With 15 games left in the NBA season, is it ridiculous to say that the #1 through #5 seeds in the West are set, and therefore let's start talking about round 2?

#1: Mavs. 0 Games back

They'd have to lose 5 of 15, plus Phoenix would have to be absolutely perfect, and then there would be a tie breaker situation of some sort. Tied 2-2 with season series. The Mavs win the conference record tie breaker... You get the point

#2: Nash...or Suns. Whatever - 5 games back

They'd have to lose 4 or 5 games to slip to #3, and even then, SA would have to perfect along the way. This is unlikely.

#3: Spurs - 9 games back

WIth only a 3 game cushion b/w them and Utah, this is very possible. But again unlikely. Look at Utahs schedule... mavs, suns, spurs, nuggets, clippers, and rockets twice! That's not pleasant.

#4: Jazz - 12 games back

#5: Rockets - 13.5 games back

The Rockets and Jazz will (in my opinion) likely switch spots (5th place can have home court if they have a better record, even though the division winner must technically be called the 4 seed right?). It doesn't matter though. The next nearest team in the 6th spot is 8 games back with 15 to go.
The Rockets and Jazz may as well make hotel reservations because that thing is going down.

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This is all common sense right? Yeah yeah I know. But the point is, that you can basically paint the 2nd round picture and it's MARCH 22nd!

So the question for the Mavericks fans is, Houston or Jazz?

Personally I don't think it matter much what they think or I think, The Rockets will take that series in 5 or 6. If Utah manages to hold on to home court though, it could go 7.

Utah can't defend Yao though....

Interesting stuff.

Meanwhile, maybe the Suns and Spurs could go 7 games...or maybe the Suns team bus could crash into the Spurs team bus. But I would never say anything like that ;)

Deservedly so

Don't know who all might still be reading, but blogging is hard to come by these days between moving and getting married and going out of town this weekend and work being crazy crazy.

Peyton and Dungy got it done. I was starting to get worried for them. Starting to think they would never get it done. (Not unlike the Mavericks). But true greatness rears it's not-so-ugly head sooner or later, and they did it the right way. I am really really happy for them.

In the rain.

Against a "tough" team.

No one can call them a soft dome team ever again. Not until September anyway. We'll see if they re-sign Freeney.

The best part is Edgerin James. You having fun Edge? I hoe you're laying on a fat pile of cash in Phoenix thinking about how much better the money is than the beautiful ring that Manning and Co. will be sporting. Have fun with that offensive line that's a joke, and the defense that loves to play so much it won't let you guys back on to the field.

How did the exact same defensive scheme, with the same defensive players, turn from the worst run defense of all time, to Super Bowl Champs? How did it happen? We want to heap praise on Manning and Dungy, and they deserve it....but the defense got them there after a real bad second half of the season.

I think the Cowboys removing the "undefeated" title from the Colts in week 10, was the best thing that happened to them this season. Thanks 'Boys!

What a waste

Mike Modano has maybe 2 years left.

maybe.

And this is the waste of a season the Dallas Stars organization put together. A passionless, small, untalented team, with no finishers and no goal scorers.

What a waste.

After tonights loss and Thursdays impending loss, the Stars will be in 9th place, and on the outside looking in.

They have zero chance from the 7 or 8 spot.

This season is a waste. They can't play on the road.

They're 25th in goal scoring.

What a waste.

a waste of my time.

Sorry Mike.

Rare Optimism

I't is conceivable...that is to say, "it is within the realm of possibility," "it could might possibly happen," "it is not too rash to say..."

(you get the point)

That by the time the Stars play their first game after the All-Star game, they could have Bouche, Halpern, Zubov, Barnaby, Smith, and Ott back. (kind of iffy on Ott)

And now apparently the injuries are even coming from the minors, as Junior Lessard (their best offensive prospect) can't come up and play because of a nagging ankle problem or something.

How unlucky is this team?

and Modano? who knows. This is where the optimism-express gets de-railed. I'm not counting on it until Valentines day. If all the girls come out to the Red Wings game on Valentines day and Mike's not there, well....they'll be sad. That's the kind of logic you can apply to his injury, since no one knows exactly what the hell is going on with that.

Please lord get this stupid All-Star game shtick over with bc I'm tired of hearing about it

Hot Sports Opinions..... (100th Blog)

I was musing today at lunch about the upcoming Patriots and Colts game. Will Peyton finally be able to overcome his arch-rival New England and make it to the big show? If he got there would he be able to beat the Saints anyway? Do the Bears have a chance?

When the Mavs lost to the Suns in the playoffs two years ago, I told Cheryl that Dirk Nowitzki is the Peyton Manning on the NBA. Regular season domination, and then disappears in the playoffs. Thank God, Dirk proved us all wrong last year, and he broke through.

Will you do the same Peyton?

Then I got to thinking about how it's a shame the Pats and Colts are in the same Conference; not unlike the Spurs and Mavs. It starts to paint painfully obvious lines across sports....

NBA: Spurs/Mavs
NFL: Colts/Patriots
MLB: Red Socks/ Yankees

NHL: Ummmmmm....

This is one of the many things lacking in the NHL, and part of what made it great when I was falling in love with it 10 years ago. Red Wings/Avalanche was the obvious answer. What is there now?

Not much. The swings of the NHL are making that a thing of the past for the time being. Adjusting to a changing salary cap and the new style of play the league is trying to impress upon everyone will take some time before a new set of elite teams is ready to take on this role. Obviously the Ducks and Sabres will be a part of this, but the two do not even play eachother this year.

Anyway....

We'll all be rooting for you Peyton. You're 30 years old now. Better make the most of it.

Romo? "He's a dropper".....

Chandler once tried to claim he was no "dropper" on "Friends". But they didn't let him play with that ball anymore did they?

Romo dropped that ball. He did.

Let's try to find a job for Romo where dropping things is a good thing.....


Stripper? - Drop your pants!

Taco Bell Chihuahua? - Drop the Chalupa!!

Para-trooper? - Drop from the sky

Pimp? - "Drop some knowledge on yo ass"

Radio producer? - "Drop" artist

Terrell Owens? - Dropping lots of passes seems to be working out ok for him...


Don't worry Tony. We'll find you something....

Enough Said....

lol

that's all I have to say about that.

Look who was at the game last night....

But I knew all along. I was sitting right next to him. Yep. Me and my buddy Brenden Morrow, just watching a basketball game together.....

When it's good....it's really good

And when it's bad, the world is coming to the end and you're falling down the standings.... The Stars season seems to sit upon the edge of that knife every single night. How long before the constant adversity and falling behind tears this team apart?

I was watching the Mavs at the AAC and I was not watching the Star fall behind 4-1 to the Oilers. When I finally checked the score for the first time, it was 4-4, and I figured "hey must be a good game." Little did I know they were making a huge comeback, only to blow it on the most bizarre 10 seconds of hockey you will ever see.

Then they get it to the shootout and Marty takes care of the rest. Jussi combined his two favorite moves for a third one that was just ridiculous. You have to see these high-lights. www.dallasstars.com

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Meanwhile, in downtown Dallas the Mavericks were finding themselves lacking a little motivation perhaps? They got badly out-rebounded in the first half, and only managed to close the margine a little bit in winning.

The final score says they won by 9, but it felt like they won by a point. Close game. Jason Terry gets 1 point?

An entire game worth of minutes from Diop, Dampier, and Mbenga gets them 0 points and 9 rebounds. Wow. Good thing we don't have to go to San Antonio and play the Spurs the very next night. Oh wait we do....

Either way, it was a good win for the Mavs. It's good for them to have to come from behind. The crowd there continues to impress me. Educated as always, and everyone cheered for Marquis Daniels and Darryl Armstrong. Very classy.

Playoff Predictions

Is it finally his year? Well....no but here's the way I see it shaking out.

Indi beats KC. New England beats the New York Football Jets. This leaves (if I did my playoff seeding math right) Indianapolis @ Ravens. This is an interesting matchup. The Ravens are known for their D, but this year they can also score. One sided game, Ravens own them. Meanwhile, the Chargers show everyone who's boss.

Chargers over Ravens, Chargers in the Super Bowl.

NFC? Who cares? I think the Cowboys can beat Seattle in Seattle. Past that, whoever plays they Bears has no idea what they're going to get. I expect Phili to beat the Giants. This would leave Cowboys @ Bears, and Eagles @ New Orleans. Which would be a real shame, as the Saints and Eagles are the two best teams in the NFC right now in my estimation. If Seattle wins and plays the Saints, and Eagles play Bears, expect a good NFC championship game.

The bottom line is, if the Cowboys or Patriots make it to the Super Bowl I'm going to throw up bc I hate them so bloody much.

Go Saints? or Eagles?

Doesn't matter, the AFC is going to own anyways.