UB Football preview

by AP/UBFan

"Rome wasn't built in a day"

Little money, the gimmicky pre-game and half-time shows, poor attendance, little or no media coverage, multiple uniform changes, and twelve wins in eight years sums up the University at Buffalo Bulls football program thus far.

Last year, UB won two games and could have easily won a third; that's coaching! The overtime thriller loss to Bowling Green was a heartbreaking loss. Turner Gill has done a helluva job as the Head Coach. This year won't be much easier schedule wise with teams from power conferences such as Penn St, Rutgers, Baylor, and Syracuse still present for a quick cash grab. Apparently, according to the college football history book I was browsing through at Borders (the title of the book escapes me) and Rutgers is the Bulls' biggest rival. Someone might want to let Rutgers know that. Arguably the two best players on offense are Gill's recruits - Starks and Roosevelt from the Western New York region respectively.

We're talking about UB football the program that hasn't won more than three games in a season since making the move to D-I but could do it this season. UB needs to win at least four games to keep the program going in the right direction. The three games I believe the Bulls should win are 9/8 at Temple, 10/27 home vs. Akron, and last game of the season at Kent State.

Furthermore UB has the most returning starters on both offense and defense in Division 1. Whether that is actually a good thing or not is still to be determined but things are looking somewhat sunnier on the Amherst campus. Note, the Bulls opened camp Friday.

Another reason to hate ESPN, UB is ranked dead last!

Aug. 30 at Rutgers
Sept. 8 at Temple
Sept. 15 at Penn State
Sept. 22 Baylor
Sept. 29 at Ball State
Oct. 6 Ohio
Oct. 13 Toledo
Oct. 20 at Syracuse
Oct. 27 Akron
Nov. 3 at Miami (OH)
Nov. 17 Bowling Green
Nov. 24 at Kent State

a look back at the 1999 NHL Draft

by AP

The NHL draft is a decent event, it's better than MLB draft but doesn't compare to NFL or even the NBA draft because of the lack of the instant impact player. I love the NHL draft and seeing players I have played against (ie Kaleta) realize their dream, witnissing the betterment of the teams and the excitement that occurs in each draft. Here's a look at 1999 NHL Entry Draft who was selected in the first round and in hindsight, who should've gone based on how their pro careers turned out (forgetting about proper coaching and other circumstances.)

If each team could draft knowing what we all know now and not taking future drafts into account, this is how the first round should've gone. There were 28 picks in the first round of the 1999 draft. In parentheses is the round the player was actually taken.

How bad was the '99 draft? Patrik Stefan was first overall, a career 3rd liner, was taken first overall. Four first round picks never made it to the show and thirteen players played less than hundred games in the NHL during their careers. Vancouver, NY Rangers and NY Islanders all had multiple picks in the first round, Rangers flunked the first round exam, Islanders got a C+, and Vancouver aced the first round exam with an A. The Islanders had four first round picks and this is why Mike Milbury is the worst gm in history of sports (Millen being a close 2^nd along with Isiah)If all four of these first round picks would have paid off, we would be talking about another Islander dynasty not a 15 year contract to a decent goalie.

1. Atlanta - Patrik Stefan (Ryan Miller, 5th)
Atlanta had no choice, the Sedin twins demanded playing together and not being split up (that can't be healthy) so I don't think this pick was horrible but he is considered a bust. Somehow the scouts thought Ryan Miller was a 5th rounder and now he is one of the top young goalies in the NHL.

2. & 3. Vancouver - Sedin Twins (perfect pick)
Vancouver traded up to select the twins, it has worked out well for them ever since.

4. NY Rangers - Pavel Brendl (Tim Connolly, 1st)
Pavel Brendl had the tools of a franchise player but had the makings of a bust instead.

5. NY Islanders - Tim Connolly (Niclas Havelid, 3rd)
Since Connolly was off the board, Havelid makes for a safe pick.

6. Nashville - Brian Finley (Martin Havlat, 1st)
Finley was the best goalie prospect in this draft, no question, but what do scouts know?

7. Washington - Kris Beech (Henrik Zetterberg, 7th)
Why the Red Wings have been so good for so long is they find players like Zetterberg in the 7th round.

8. NY Islanders - Taylor Pyatt (Frantisek Kaberle, 3rd)
Pyatt is justfiable but Kaberle is a solid defensmen.

9. NY Rangers - Jamie Lundmark (Dave Tanabe, 1st)
Lundmark is basically waiver wire player and never met the high expectations of the blue shirts. Tanabe is another solid defensmen.

10. NY Islanders - Branislav Mezei (Patrik Stefan, 1st)
Mezei at least made it and played over a 100 games, Stefan played four times that many.

11. Calgary - Oleg Saprykin (Taylor Pyatt, 1st)

12. Florida - Denis Shvidki (Mike Comrie, 3rd)

13. Edmonton - Jani Rita (Nick Boynton, 1st)

14. San Jose - Jeff Jillson (Niklas Hagman, 3rd)

15. Phoenix - Scott Kelman (Jordan Leopold, 2nd)

16. Carolina - Dave Tanabe (Chris Kelly, 3rd)

17. St. Louis - Barret Jackman (Ryan Malone, 5th)

18. Pittsburgh - Konstantin Koltsov (Martin Erat, 7th)

19. Phoenix - Kirill Safronov (Radim Vrbata, 7th)

20. Buffalo - Barrett Heisten (Adam Hall, 2nd)

21. Boston - Nick Boynton (Branko Radivojevic, 3rd)

22. Philadelphia - Maxime Ouellet (Alexander Khavanov, 8th)

23. Chicago - Steve McCarthy (perfect pick)

24. Toronto - Luca Cereda (Mikko Eloranta, 9th)

25. Colorado - Mikhail Kuleshov (Barrett Jackman, 1st)

26. Ottawa - Martin Havlat (Garnet Exelby, 7th)

27. New Jersey - Ari Ahonen (Alex Auld, 2nd)

28. NY Islanders - Kristian Kudroc (Mike Commodore, 2nd)

Best Draft - Pittsburgh

Worst Draft - Toronto, NY Rangers, Philadelphia, Phoenix (to be honest, a lot of teams)

Biggest Bust - Pavel Brendl and Brian Finley tied

Steal of the Draft - Buffalo Sabres taking Ryan Miller 5th Round

The Buffalo Sabres are goin down

by AP

New York Rangers will beat the Buffalo Sabres in 6 games. No, I did not forget that the Sabres were the best team in the regular season and remain the most offensively balanced team left in the playoffs. Congratulations to the Sabres for winning the President's Trophy and finishing the season with more 30 goal scorers that anyone. It's an incredible accomplishment. Now, none of that matters and virtually meaningless. Last time, I checked the Stanley Cup wasn't won in the regular season. All sixteen teams entering the playoffs had the same record 0-0. The remaining eight teams have four wins. The Rangers just swept Atlanta. Atlanta generated a mere six goals, including just one from the team’s three-highest-scoring forwards in the regular season. And yes fans, Atlanta is a much better club than the Islanders are or were.

I want to start off and say to all those idiots that still think "Carolina beat Rochester Americans". No, last time I checked, it was Hurricanes over the Sabres. The same could be said for Sabres over Bridgeport Sound Tigers in Game 1. Why? "The Islanders recalled Wade Dubielewicz from Bridgeport of the AHL on March 27." Yes, it is a stupid comment so is the comment of Hurricanes over Americans. Get over it Sabre Fan, that was last year.

The Sabres will be very surprised at the transformation the Rangers have made since they last met in December. They call him Avery and he will stir the pot.

Reason #1 - Hank is better than Ryan. Hot goaltending wins it in the playoffs and who is hotter than Hank right now? No one. Hank had a better season last year and better season this year statistically. Hank let in 160 goals in 70 games while Miller let in 168 in 63 games. Did I forget Henry had 37 wins to Miller's 40? or .917 SV% and 5 shutouts to Ryan's .911 SV% and a lousy 2 shutouts. Henry played in one game versus the Sabres this season. Who was actually apart of the Olympic team for their country and who won a Gold Medal? – Lundquist not Miller.

Reason #2 - Sean Avery. Avery will put the focus on him and get the Sabres off their game. Avery is going to hurt someone, why? He said so already. "I’ve just secretly been making up things in my head about guys on their team that they’ve done to me so I can identify with them when were going in a corner." "I'm going to hurt them, I'm going to hit them, and I’m going to be in their face as much as I can.” Avery is going to be the Domi-Claude Lemieux-Neil all rolled into one. Since trading for Avery, the Rangers are 21-6-6. Avery will run someone and don't think for a minute Drury isn't on top of the list. Someone's going to get hurt. Who’s going to stop Avery? Peters? I don't think so he will see the whole ice from the press box.

Reason #3 - #Jagr and Shanahan. Yes, Jagr will torch the Sabres this series. Against the Thrashers, Jaromir Jagr and Brendan Shanahan showed just how dominant and dangerous they can be in the postseason. The two combined for 10 points off five goals and five assists, with Jagr posting seven points off two goals and five assists and Shanahan netting goals in three consecutive games, including the game-tying goal in the series clincher.

Reason #4 - Special Teams. Where has the power play been for the Sabres? I thought little Timmy would solve the power play woes, too bad he is spending all his time closing down bars on Chippawa. Rangers have better special teams than the Sabres. Rangers pp ranked 8th, Sabres 17th. Ranger’s pk, 12th, Sabres, 20th. Jagr will have at least four power play points in this series.

Reason #5 - Solid Supporting Cast. Drury is the only one with a ring. Rangers have Jaromir Jagr (2), Brendan Shanahan (3), Matt Cullen, Sandis Ozolinsh with cups. Did I forget to mention Cullen beat the Sabres last year? I guess I just did. Cullen knows how to beat the Sabres. The team has seasoned pros like Michael Nylander, Martin Straka and Matt Cullen, who all know how to score. The Rangers also have little known Marcel Hossa, Petr Prucha, and Ryan Callahan, who provide the team with offense as well. The no-name defense shut down Kovalchuk, Hossa, and Kozlov. Sure, the Rangers don't have "Soupy" but they do have Malik, Mara, Fedor Tyutin, Michal Rozsival, Tommy Pock, and Danny Girardi.

Let’s look at the match ups

Lundquist vs. Miller = Advantage Rangers

Straka-Avery-Shanahan vs. Drury-Zubrus-Kotalik = Advantage Rangers
Jagr-Nylander-Hossa vs. Briere-Pomminville-Hecht = Advantage Rangers
Cullen-Callahan-Prucha vs. Roy-Vanek-Afinogenov = Advantage Sabres

Defense vs. Defense = Advantage Sabres

Hollweg-Betts-Ortmeyer vs. Mair-Connolly-Stafford = Advantage Sabres

How to fix the NHL

by AP

The lockout is behind us and ratings are still down. What are the problems and how can the NHL and hockey in general fix them? Lots of suggestions but very few genuine answers or solutions have ever been proposed. Here’s a pitch for how to save the NHL.

Let’s start with problem number one; Gary Bettman, he has outlived his usefulness. The NHL needs to replace Gary with a hockey guy not a David Stern sidekick. They need a hockey guy, someone that knows the fans ie Brian Burke.

Second problem – How how about taking a cue from the NFL. Have the NHL explain what they are doing when reviewing calls and or what they are looking for. This is quick and simple

3^rd problem – No American Super Star, the most marketable players are Crosby, Ovechkin, and Jagr but the problem is they are all foreigners. American kids need players they can look up too and want to be like; it’s hard for someone from Alabama or Texas to root for someone from Moscow or Moose Jaw. The solution is coming in the form of Pat Kane. He is an America kid from all-American blue collar town of Buffalo, NY. Pat is projected to be the first pick in this year’s draft and has an opportunity to make a bad teams’ roster in ’07. The NHL needs to market Pat Kane – because they need Kane to succeed.

4^th problem – The availability of the NHL on TV or the lack of availability. If it wasn’t for MSG, I would end up watching maybe two games a week while I’ll be able to watch several poker tournaments and NBA games weekly. The solutions come in the form of ESPN. ESPN is the pinnacle of sports television. Without Sportscenter most Americans wouldn’t know what is going on in the world err sports world. The 1 minute total of NHL coverage doesn’t cut it. The NHL needs to workout a deal similar to their deal with NBC. Versus had a lot of potent ional with their willingness to bid on MLB but the network ranks up there with PAX. Now, I don’t know too many people that go over to their buddies’ house and say “turn on the TV, what’s on PAX?” The NHL has their own network but what makes people think they will pay to see NHL Network when only 1.1 million viewers turn in weekly to watch the NHL on NBC for FREE. NHL needs to cut a deal with all the major cable providers and give them a cheap deal to have their network plugged in a sports package with Versus, MSG, and ESPN. Once this is accomplished, the number of games in one week will triple.

5^th problem – Marketing. For some reason the NHL only runs hockey commercials and ads during their own games when no one is watching? The NHL needs to start advertising during the Super Bowl, American Idol, etc. Let the world know, the NHL is out there! Having Crosby mentioned in the same breath as Lebron, A-rod, and Brady should be their number one priority.

6^th problem – Officials. Call the rule book, plain and simple. Hockey is about skating; faster players should flourish and let them flourish by calling the rule book. Other solutions – Have the referee explain calls just like the NFL. Explain why they are reviewing the call, just don’t leave it to fans to guess and wonder why a legit goal is being reviewed. When reviewing the call, have a television in the score keepers box so he can see if the goal is a goal. A time limit being put on that wouldn’t hurt either.

7^th problem – Mike Everyone and NHL Films. Ok, well not everyone but the two officials not the linesman. Mike the coaches, stars, and backup goalies perhaps with a 5 sec delay. Take us where the XFL went, everywhere. I want to hear teammates yelling at each other and I want to hear trash talking. Put cameras on referees’ helmets, fans will get a chance to see what they see. What is great about the NFL is NFL Films. The ‘year in review’ with miked players, coaches, and officials are spectacular. Background stories on the players and coaches, it’s all great and hardcore fans will eat that up.

8^th problem – Abolish the instigator rule and protect the Stars. The league wants to control the level of violence in the game, but its concerns about public perception are having an adverse affect. The rule, which gives a player a minor penalty for starting a fight then suspends him for each subsequent instigator penalty, is too hard on players who play the role of enforcer. As a result, skilled players are continually clutched, grabbed and hacked at partly because officials can't catch every offense and partly because the offenders don't fear physical retribution from opponents. The year before the instigator rule was introduced; there were 6.96 goals and 1.75 fighting majors per game according to hockeydb.com. Removing the Instigator rule could see the NHL return to its roots of bench clearing brawls and line brawls. Fighting sells, much like sex; UFC is gaining popularity by the day for a reason. We want to see the unofficial “Gretzky Rule” – protect our superstars much like the NFL with its QB’s. All head shots should result in heavy fines and suspensions. No need to give a player a concussion and jeopardize his hockey career ala Eric Lindros. Who knows what could have happened to Lindros’ career if he didn’t take so many shots to his head because he had his head down. (Why he had his head down in the first place is another debate, I blame his PeeWee coach)

9^th problem – Schedule. It blows! The solution – play everyone in your conference four times, your division additional two more times, and 10 teams in other conference twice for a total of 84 games. Yes, additional two more regular season games.

10^th problem – Eliminate the limit on curves on sticks. Back in the late 60’s the NHL went from 1 1/2 inches to 1 inch to the current 1/2 inch. The reduction was set in place to control the unpredictable and dangerous shots. Things have changed, high glass, safety nets, and goalies are all wearing masks. Let the players have banana curves; it may or may not give a player an extra goal.

11^th problem – The system. No true minor league system exist, NCAA Division 1 has only 59 teams, and hockey rinks are few and far to come by in Texas, Alabama, and Wyoming, etc. AHL “AAA” has 29 teams, the NHL has 30 teams, and few teams have AA teams. Anyone see the problem? The NHL needs to mimic Major League Baseball with their system. Every team should have AAA, AA, and A team. It would be great to see players playing in Jamestown, Batavia and other rural areas to finally work their way up to NHL through the system. Do you know how many Yankee hats I see in Tampa or how many Indian hats I see in Buffalo almost as many Yankee and Red Sox hats. Fans will follow their hometown team; follow those players, and their parent club once those players graduate. NCAA has 59 teams in Division 1 hockey with teams in mostly the North with an Alabama-Huntsville thrown in. It wasn’t too long ago when Northern Arizona and US International (San Diego) had D1 teams but travel cost among other things killed the program. The NHL needs to have colleges such as USC, Penn St, Tennessee, UCLA, Missouri, Texas, Oklahoma, heck all of the Big 12, SEC, and PAC 10 add serious D1 hockey. Kids will follow their schools’ athletic teams and eventual follow where their fellow classmates end up in the Pros. How does the NHL expect kids to become hockey fans when their parents never played or watched the sport? NHL teams need to visit schools, YMCA’s, and offer free learn to skate programs to create new fans.