I have decided to create a separate blog to chronicle my adventures researching and writing a book about hockey in California.
Please visit: icingonthepond.wordpress.com to view that.
This blog will continue to house my NFL and music posts.
Chris
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Candid Camera and other hockey notes
It shouldn't come as any surprise to anyone who knows Captials owner Ted Leonsis that Washington was out front with another innovation this week - Ovech-Cam.
The dual screen approach on this past Wednesday's telecast featured half the screen focused entirely on superstar Alexander Ovechkin, while the other half showed the regular game feed. Following Ovechkin on the ice was entertaining and educational. Watching him regularly inspecting his sticks on the bench was about as riveting as that part of Ovech-Cam got.
One suggestion for improving this: when Ovechkin or Sidney Crosby or whoever else is featured heads to the bench, shrink that window to one-quarter of the screen. Resume the 50-50 split when the featured player returns to the ice.
The even split all game was too much of a good thing at times. ...
Will the San Jose Sharks lose again in the regular season? Their winning streak is at 11, and the acquisition of defenseman Brian Campbell at the trade deadline has a fair amount to do with it. At least as important, however, has been the re-emergence of captain Patrick Marleau's scoring touch and the return to health of forward Jonathan Chechoo.
Marleau has caught fire since being paired with sharp-shooting second-year man Joe Pavelski and speedy rookie Devin Setoguchi. Chechoo, who was healing from a variety of injuries during the first half of the season, is again clicking with center Joe Thornton. Thornton, by the way, barely gets a mention for MVP, but after watching numerous Sharks games in person this season, it's tough for me to believe there are many more valuable players to their team.
The dual screen approach on this past Wednesday's telecast featured half the screen focused entirely on superstar Alexander Ovechkin, while the other half showed the regular game feed. Following Ovechkin on the ice was entertaining and educational. Watching him regularly inspecting his sticks on the bench was about as riveting as that part of Ovech-Cam got.
One suggestion for improving this: when Ovechkin or Sidney Crosby or whoever else is featured heads to the bench, shrink that window to one-quarter of the screen. Resume the 50-50 split when the featured player returns to the ice.
The even split all game was too much of a good thing at times. ...
Will the San Jose Sharks lose again in the regular season? Their winning streak is at 11, and the acquisition of defenseman Brian Campbell at the trade deadline has a fair amount to do with it. At least as important, however, has been the re-emergence of captain Patrick Marleau's scoring touch and the return to health of forward Jonathan Chechoo.
Marleau has caught fire since being paired with sharp-shooting second-year man Joe Pavelski and speedy rookie Devin Setoguchi. Chechoo, who was healing from a variety of injuries during the first half of the season, is again clicking with center Joe Thornton. Thornton, by the way, barely gets a mention for MVP, but after watching numerous Sharks games in person this season, it's tough for me to believe there are many more valuable players to their team.
Monday, March 03, 2008
NFL Insanity
Anyone else noticed the size of contracts being thrown at free agents during the first few days of the NFL's annual free agency period? Yes, the salary cap has continued to grow, and many teams are flush with cash to spend, but ...
Some signings, such as the Philadelphia Eagles' signing of cornerback Asante Samuel, make plenty of sense given his history of Pro Bowl selections and his age (27).
Others, such as the Oakland Raiders' $50 million-plus contract for defensive lineman Tommy Kelly, who finished the season injured and probably isn't even the best player on his team at his position, make little sense.
A few other observations:
Players must fit systems. How else can one explain the Jets' trade of linebacker Jonathan Vilma to the New Orleans Saints for a middle-round pick. Vilma wasn't a fit in New York's scheme, but he's an incredible talent and a huge upgrade for the Saints, who have been actively shoring up their defense.
The Cleveland Browns are going for broke. Already without their first-round draft choice in April (it was part of the deal to move up in the 2007 draft to select QB Brady Quinn), they dealt their second-round pick to Green Bay for DT Corey Williams and their third-round choice to Detroit along with CB Leigh Bodden for DT Shaun Rodgers. No question that the Browns have upgraded one of their main weaknesses, but conventional wisdom is that you build through the draft, and the Browns have essentially thrown up the white flag on this year's amateur shopping spree.
Another team spending as if there is no tomorrow is the Jets, who have written contracts topping $137 million which include $67 million in guaranteed money. Their focus has been the offensive line, where they've added Pro Bowl guard Alan Faneca and tackle Damien Woody.
More on the Browns. Giving Donte' Stallworth a deal averaging $7 million per year could have dire implications for the Browns. He's a terrific receiver, but he's not nearly as good as new teammates Braylon Edwards or Kellen Winslow. Put another way, if Stallworth is worth $7 million per season, how much are Edwards or Winslow worth to Cleveland when their rookie deals expire.
Some signings, such as the Philadelphia Eagles' signing of cornerback Asante Samuel, make plenty of sense given his history of Pro Bowl selections and his age (27).
Others, such as the Oakland Raiders' $50 million-plus contract for defensive lineman Tommy Kelly, who finished the season injured and probably isn't even the best player on his team at his position, make little sense.
A few other observations:
Players must fit systems. How else can one explain the Jets' trade of linebacker Jonathan Vilma to the New Orleans Saints for a middle-round pick. Vilma wasn't a fit in New York's scheme, but he's an incredible talent and a huge upgrade for the Saints, who have been actively shoring up their defense.
The Cleveland Browns are going for broke. Already without their first-round draft choice in April (it was part of the deal to move up in the 2007 draft to select QB Brady Quinn), they dealt their second-round pick to Green Bay for DT Corey Williams and their third-round choice to Detroit along with CB Leigh Bodden for DT Shaun Rodgers. No question that the Browns have upgraded one of their main weaknesses, but conventional wisdom is that you build through the draft, and the Browns have essentially thrown up the white flag on this year's amateur shopping spree.
Another team spending as if there is no tomorrow is the Jets, who have written contracts topping $137 million which include $67 million in guaranteed money. Their focus has been the offensive line, where they've added Pro Bowl guard Alan Faneca and tackle Damien Woody.
More on the Browns. Giving Donte' Stallworth a deal averaging $7 million per year could have dire implications for the Browns. He's a terrific receiver, but he's not nearly as good as new teammates Braylon Edwards or Kellen Winslow. Put another way, if Stallworth is worth $7 million per season, how much are Edwards or Winslow worth to Cleveland when their rookie deals expire.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)