ekansekans's blog: "df"

NBA Draft on Thursday night; cant wait! Hope springs eternal for all those teams that need to turn the corner and succeed.  Here are a few quick thoughts. FIVE QUICK NBA THOUGHTS:   1. TORONTO RAPTORS: The Draft is the beginning of what should be a busy and fascinating off-season. The team has multiple needs, as well as a lack of a deep talent pool. Bottom line, the eighth overall pick will be in play if there is a dance partner to do a deal with. I fully expect the Raps to try to make a run at free agents on the market with their cap space. Theyll also look to be active in the trade market and use the amnesty exemption as well. So many moving pieces in play where one move will have significant ripple effects on the dynamics of other possible transactions. Bottom line, they need to figure out the long- and mid-term plan at point guard, acquire a starting small forward, and upgrade the athleticism and skill level at all the perimeter spots.  Four years without a Playoff game with new owners in place soon; time to start showing significant progress. 2.  DANNY FERRY (Hawks): Hired as the GM with a six-year deal. Coach Larry Drew will get a chance based upon his contract extension to see things through a bit, but with a new boss and a team thats good but not great, the Hawks have big decisions to make on how long they stick with their core group after being eliminated in the first round of the Playoffs. You have enough success, you draft lower each year, have to pay big money to your core guys (example: Joe Johnson) and your available cap space diminishes. You have to make the right moves on the complimentary players with limited money. Ferry did a good job in Cleveland even though he came up short with LeBron. Hes a good basketball man who will be bold when need be. Good is the Enemy of Great -  no better example than this franchise. 3. JARED SULLINGER (Ohio State): Not invited to the Draft due to not being projected in the Top 15. I feel bad for him. If he came out last year, he would have easily been a Top 5 pick - now hes fighting for mere respect as his stock plummets due alleged back issues and not being a workout wonder. Hes an effective post player, and in the right system, with the proper coach who understands big men play, hell be a good pro. Needless to say, hell have a huge chip on his shoulder. Prove it. Hes a guy I wouldnt count out. 4. DION WAITERS (Syracuse): This guy intrigues me. Hes a combo guard who is more of a scoring minded 2-guard. I think he can be a very good third guard for a long time in the league. Hes got good creativity and scoring ability. Love his quicks and burst. Might be a better pro than he was in college. If he gets with a team that pushes it a bit, and gets a chance to play decent rookie minutes, he can be one of the really good players in this class. 5. UNC BIGS (JOHN HENSON & TYLER ZELLER): These guys will go in the top 12 and in my opinion, and the teams that get them will be very pleased. Henson has a long ways to go as an offensive player, and needs to get stronger, but he can block shots and rebound and runs exceptionally well for a big man. His game is a bit awkward yet he produces and keeps getting better. Zeller is a wonderfully gifted post player who has good hands, terrific skills, good footwork and excellent feel for his role. He has to improve his stamina and toughness, but hell be a good player in the NBA for a long time. He has the motor and desire to succeed and is very coachable. Lots of good big men in this draft, these two have big-game experience and solid polish/understanding of what it means to play really hard and with purpose in the trenches.  Wholesale Jerseys China .S. Anti-Doping Agency said Thursday night it will strip Lance Armstrong of his unprecedented seven Tour de France titles after he dropped his fight against drug charges that threatened his legacy as one of the greatest cyclists of all time. Wholesale NFL Jerseys . "I want to apologize to my family, the Seattle Seahawks, the NFL and the 12th Man for the negative attention resulting from my recent actions," Lynch said in a statement released by the team. "This is not the type of community leader I have been over the last two years or the one Im striving to become. http://elevatedcolor.com/hot.html . O.J. Mayo had 12 points as the revamped Mavericks pulled off a stunner in their opener, comfortably beating the star-studded Lakers without any help from injured Dirk Nowitzki. Kobe Bryant scored 22 points while playing on an injured right foot, but the Lakers opened a season of enormous expectations with a major dud of a performance.Talent parity among National Lacrosse League teams is so pronounced that there has not been a repeat champion since 2003. However, the Rochester Knighthawks could buck the trend in 2013. Rochester grabbed a lot of attention after winning the Champions Cup last spring by adding former league MVP forwards Dan Dawson, acquired in a huge December trade, and Casey Powell, who is making a comeback after a year off. The only team among the nine with a new head coach is the one that had the best regular-season record last year. The Calgary Roughnecks dumped Dave Pym and gave assistant Curt Malawsky the top job after being upset in the West semis. Heres a glance at the teams in the order in which they finished the last regular season: EAST 1. TORONTO, 9-7; lost division final at home 17-13 to Rochester. Last title: 2011 Season opener: Jan. 12 at Calgary GM: Terry Sanderson Head coach: Troy Cordingley Returning players: G Nick Rose, D Sandy Chapman, D Patrick Merrill, D Cam Woods, D Damon Edwards, D Jesse Gamble, D Bill Greer, D Mike Hobbins, D Stephen Hoar, D Rob Marshall, F Kasey Beirnes, F Garrett Billings, F Colin Doyle, F Rob Hellyer, F Stephan Leblanc, F Blaine Manning, F Josh Sanderson. In: G Zack Boychuk, D Chris White, T Kyle Belton, F Scott Evans, F Brandon Ivey, F Scott Johnston. Out: G Pat Campbell, D Bruce Codd, D Glen Bryan, F Jamie Rooney, F Dan Carey. Quote: "The way we exited from the playoffs last year, I cant see how any of the veterans cant come in with a little chip on their shoulder and be hungry." -- Cordingley Notes: Veteran D Phil Sanderson, who missed the last portion of the 2012 season and the playoffs due to a concussion, is on injured reserve. ... F Brenden Thenhaus, D Brad Kri and G Tyler Glebe are on the practice roster. ... Johnston wont be available for the Jan. 12 season opener in Calgary as hell be serving a one-game suspension for an illegal cross-check during a Dec. 8 Edmonton-Toronto scrimmage. ... Hellyer appeared in only one game last year before concussion symptoms wiped out his season. Hes back, and looking good on the attack. ... D Mike Lum-Walker, a second-round 2012 draft pick, is on the injured reserve list and is to undergo knee surgery this month. 2. ROCHESTER, 7-9, won Champions Cup with 9-6 home win over Edmonton. Last title: 2012 Season opener: Jan. 5 at Washington GM: Curt Styres Head coach: Mike Hasen Returning players: G Matt Vinc, G Jake Henhawk, D Sid Smith, D Mike Kirk, D Rory Glaves, D Scott Campbell, D Dylan Evans, D Jamie Batson, D Tyler Burton, T Brad Self, T Alex Kedoh Hill, F Mike Accursi, F Craig Point, F Stephen Keogh, F Cody Jamieson, F Joe Walters, F Cory Vitarelli, F Johnny Powless. In: D Paul Dawson, T Joel McCready, T Matt Hummel, F Dan Dawson, F Casey Powell. Out: D Pat McCready, T Jarrett Davis, T Jordan Hall, T Joel White. Quote: "We want to go out there and show teams that we were for real last year," says Vinc. "We will work hard every shift and are looking to defend our title. That all starts Game 1." Notes: It has been 3 1/2 years since Styres bought the `Hawks for $5,575,000, the highest price paid for a team in league history, and his work since has been nothing short of brilliant. ... Joel McCready returns after a year off learning to be a firefighter. His uncle Pat decided hed had enough of the travel and bruises. ... D Ian Llord, D Cody McLeod and T Tom Montour are on the practice roster . . . D Ryan Cousins is listed as physically unable to perform. ... Veteran D Kyle Laverty has yet to come to a contract agreement so is classified as a non-roster holdout. 3. BUFFALO, 7-9, lost division semi 7-6 in Toronto. Last title: 2008 Season opener: Jan. 11 at Philadelphia GM: Steve Dietrich Head coach: Darris Kilgour Returning players: G Anthony Cosmo, D Billy Dee Smith, D Scott Self, D Steve Priolo, T Jon Harasym, T Mark Steenhuis, T Jay Thorimbert, F John Tavares, F Tracey Kelusky, F Chad Culp, F Luke Wiles. In: G Kurtis Wager, D Derek Suddons, D Glen Bryan, D Michael McNamara, T David Brock, F Shawn Williams, T Hayden Smith, F Mike Hominuck, F Dhane Smith, F Aaron Wilson, F Nick Cottter, F Carter Bender. Out: G Mike Thompson, D Chris White, D Ian Llord, D Darryl Gibson, D Brandon Francis, T Tom Montour, T Jeremy Thompson, F Kevin Buchanan, F Roger Vyse. Quote: "Im looking forward to playing with all these new young players and seeing if we can get back to being a championship-calibre team like we had in the past." -- Tavares Notes: Its a complete Bandits makeover with a new GM, a multitude of lineup changes and new throwback uniforms. ... One thing remains the same: Tavares is at the heart of the offence. At age 44, the Mississauga high school math teacher begins his 22nd pro indoor season. ... F Derek Hopcroft, T Kevin Brownell and T Craig England are on the practice squad. ... F Mat Giles, F Jamie Rooney and T Jordan Critch are on injured reserve. ... D Jimmy Purves is physically unable to perform. 4. PHILADELPHIA, 7-9, lost division semi 14-13 in Rochester. Last title: 2001 Season opener: Jan. 11 at home vs. Buffalo GM-coach: Johnny Mouradian Returning players: G Brandon Miller, D Brett Manney, D Jeff Reynolds, D Pat Heim, D Steve Holmes, T Brodie Merrill, T Max Seibald, F Kevin Crowley, F Ned Crotty, F Drew Westervelt, F Brendan Mundorf. In: G Kevin Croswell, G Jake Lazore, D CJ Costabile, D Brian Teuber, D Chad Wiedmaier, D Michael Manley, T Kyle Hartzell, T Paul Rabil, T Jordan Hall, T Joel White, F Kevin Ross, F Kevin Buchanan, F Ethan Farrell, F Will Harrington. Out: G Kurtis Wagar, D Paul Dawson, D Tom Hajek, D Chris Schiller, D Taylor Wray, T David Brock, T Jordan Sealock, T Matt Danowski, F Dan Dawson, F Mike Hominuck. Quote: "We gave up Dan Dawson but we needed Paul Rabil in this league and were really excited to have him." -- Mouradian Notes: Mundorf, a 28-goal scorer last season, and D John McFadyen are classified as physically unable to perform so are not yet on the active roster. ... Easing the pain is the addition of Ross, who was a 28-goal man with Minnesota last season. ... D Dan Hardy and D Matt Alrich are on in