Seen Here: Leafs fans’ hope moment before he collapses and understands that there is no hope. Ever.

I awoke in a strange and unexplainable place. Let’s explain it. It was dark and dreary, it smelt like ego and vomit with a hint of diarrhoea. Needless to say, I was in Sean Avery’s bedroom… naked. I got up and pulled on the first thing I could find. Then, touching my skin, I realized it felt funky, and looked much along the lines of Rod Brind’Amour’s face.

Deep behind the skin of this Sloth from the Goonies look-alike is a real face. No, I swear!

I wandered out of the room, slowly creeping my way down the hall, noticing oddly hot pink carpets that ran the length of the floor and up the walls on opposite ends of the house. I also noticed a newspaper on the wall that read “Rangers Win Cup”, and is dated May 16 of 2018.

“May of 2018?” I said to myself. “That doesn’t make any sense!” But by this point, how could any of what I was seeing make sense. I’m somehow in Sean Avery’s house, the carpet is pink and it forms a racing stripe through the house, and I just realized I’m wearing a diaper with a Budweiser logo on it.

“Oh my Gretzky!” I said out loud, because in my hockey world, Wayne Gretzky is God. “I somehow woke up in the future… AND I DID IT WITHOUT A DELORIAN! EAT THAT MICHAEL J. FOX!”

Someone heard me. Curses to my loud obnoxiousness… and the diaper rash I can feel coming on. I tried to hide in the nearest closet, but two hookers were already in there. This is Sean Avery’s house after all, I should have expected this.

I aim for the door, which is oddly shaped like an upside down bucket and it finally makes me clue into the whole pink carpet stripe thing. “It’s a dick! A huge dick, the size of a house!”

“Fitting, isn’t it,” came the voice behind me. I know who it is, so I yell “douchebag” to see if it makes him run off, but a voice from outside yells “hey!” back to me. It sounds like Matt Cooke.

I turn around to stand face to face with Sean Avery. He approaches me and says, “I’d like for you to meet my bestest friend in the world.” He points to the living room and there, sitting even more naked than I am right now, is a cross-legged Pierre McGuire.

“The horror!” I whisper in that Marlon Brando voice I’ve perfected over years and years of way too much time on my hands.

The next thing I know, I’m sitting on the couch between the two of them, and Pierre is sitting just a little too close.

“I’m naked,” he whispers to me.

“I can see that, no matter how hard I try, I can definitely see that,” I reply to him, swallowing back my own vomit.

“Talk about the ultimate monster!” He then stands up and starts shaking his hips.

“OH MY GOD, THE MONSTER IS DANCING! KILL ME! SOMEONE KILL ME!”

He puts on a robe and says “what? That’s how we put on robes now!”

“Now?” I yell back at him. “Oh, right.” I had forgotten about the whole 2018 thing. “So, 8 years from now, err 2010, everyone is naked?”

They look at each other, then back at me and say awkwardly and simultaneously, “also fart burgers.” I am confused. I change the subject.

“So, what’s hockey like now?”

“Oh, you’re going to love this!” Sean Avery stands up and inserts a dvd.

“Oh come on, everyone’s naked but you still have dvds?! Where the hell are the holographic televisions?!”

“Dude,” says McGuire. “It’s 2018, get your head out of your ass.”

The lowest of the low I have ever been. Pierre McGuire burned me and has effectively eaten my soul.

The screen turns on automatically, I am amazed. “Wow, it turns on by itself? So cool!”

“The remotes in my hand, retard,” Sean Avery looks at me, disgusted by my appreciation for technology. He is still a douchebag in my mind.

I sit back and try to stop saying things as two of the biggest dinks in the history of the planet have put me in my place on more than one occasion.

A hockey game comes on the screen. It’s the final minutes of the third period of a Stanley Cup game. The ice surface is yellow, the blue lines and red lines are all green, and the crease expands the width of the goal line. It, for some reason, is still blue.

“Why is the ice surface yellow?” I ask.

“Alex Semin kept pissing all over the place, so we just made it the same color so you never notice the stains,” said McGuire, like he’s told this a hundred times before. Somehow it doesn’t sound crazy to them as it does to me.

“Is Gary Bettman still the Commissioner?”

“Who?” replies Avery.

“That short annoying pheasant looking guy,” McGuire says to him.

“Oh, yeah, no. After he failed on the European expansion he was gunning for Mexico teams, but was beaten and held captive by Mexican terrorists because they thought he was Canadian. A bit ironic considering how much he hates Canada.”

“Is he alright?” I asked, and for the first time I actually felt bad for Bettman.

“No one really knows, we figured if we found him he’d ruin the league with another dumb rule so we just left him there.”

“Yup,” added McGuire.

“I see.” Note to self: never EVER go to Mexico! I try to write this down somewhere but I only have my diaper.

The game continues, and it’s getting down to the final minute of the game. The Rangers are playing the San Antonio Vikings.

“Who the hell are the Vikings?”

“They are one of the best teams in the ANHL right now,” says McGuire.

“Wait, what? What’s the ANHL?”

“Oh, we changed the name of the league. It’s now the American National Hockey League. There’s only three Canadian teams left.”

“Only three? Which ones?”

“The Montreal Canadians and Toronto Maple Leafs, of course, and the Kitchener Ball-Silly Bangers.”

“Oh, Jim Balsillie finally got a team?”

“Nope,” replied Sean Avery. “We’re you the dumb kid that ate the paste growing up?”

“Dammit.” Fuck this place, I hate 2018. Unless…. Wait…

“Have the Leafs won the cup?!”

“No. They went to game seven in the Stanley Cup Finals against the Florida Panthers. In overtime, Brett Hull’s son kicked the puck in the net and they counted the goal because fuck the Leafs.”

“I hate my life.” I am angered by everything. The naked-ness, the pee rinks, the dick doors… ok, the Budweiser diapers are awesome, but everything else can eat shit!

I throw myself at the television, smashing my head into the knobs, because there are freakin’ knobs again?! What the…

And that’s the last thing I remember. I wake up in my bowl of popcorn and the television is still playing old-time hockey. I look around the room for pink carpets – nothing. I feel my head, I am fine.

“It was just a dream!”

I stand up to walk to the bathroom, and I am wearing a diaper. I stare down at it.

“Good, everything is back to normal.”

Gone are seasoned veterans Sergei Gonchar, Bill Guerin, Ruslan Fedotenko, Mark Eaton and Jay McKee, along with 2010 trade deadline acquisitions Alexei Ponikarovsky and Jordan Leopold. Rather than focusing on offence and/or attempting to conclude the never-ending dance of finding a bona fide star winger to play with Sidney Crosby, General Manager Ray Shero instead chose to retool the Pens’ blueline (which he was quoted as saying was his ultimate goal for this summer). With the salary cap room made available by the aforementioned departures, Shero was able to go out and ink two of the most sought-after 2010 UFA rearguards in Paul Martin (4 years, $20M) and Zbynek Michalek (5 years, $20M) to long-term contracts. The additions of Martin and Michalek should more than offset the defenders lost to free agency, and along with rugged stalwart Brooks Orpik and young studs Kris Letang and Alex Goligoski, they leave the Penguins with a very solid crop of pointmen on the back end heading into 2010-11, with the 6^thspot and potential openings as spares up for grabs at training camp. Names being mentioned as possibilities to make the jump to the Pens’ roster include Ben Lovejoy, Andrew Hutchinson and Steve Wagner from AHL affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, along with 2009 1^stround draft choice Simon Despres from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

Shero’s only addition to the Penguins’ high-flying offence was grinder Arron Asham, who was signed fresh off a season with the rival Philadelphia Flyers where he helped lead the “Broad Street Bullies” all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals, contributing brash tenacity with occasional offensive spurts along the way. Asham signed a one-year, $700,000 contract with the Penguins, and noted that he turned down more money from other clubs, the decisive factor in his decision of where to play being the opportunity for a championship with Pittsburgh that had eluded him during his time with the Flyers. He is expected to maintain a bottom-six offensive role with occasional duty on the penalty kill.

There was no tinkering done to the Penguins’ sturdy goaltending tandem, as backup Brent Johnson signed a two-year contract extension. With Marc-Andre Fleury appearing to run out of gas late in the Montreal series in 2010, there is a decent chance Johnson will see more playing time in 2010-11 than in previous seasons. This has become an all-too-familiar refrain throughout the NHL and one which, with the particularly horrifying scheduling of a Winter Olympic year, saw fans in Vancouver, New York, Buffalo and Boston also wondering if their star goaltenders were just too tired to be the “difference makers” they needed to be down the stretch and into the playoffs.  With the proven, experienced Johnson backing up Fleury, Penguins bench boss Dan Bylsma should have little hesitation in resting his ace when needed throughout the season.

Heading into training camp, the biggest question has to be the Penguins’ offensive core. Depending on the status of Jordan Staal’s foot injury (sustained from a collision with P.K. Subban during the playoff matchup with the Habs), Evgeni Malkin appears destined to start the season as either the second line centre or, if Staal is able to suit up, as Crosby’s right winger. Chris Kunitz is expected to join them on the left side of the top unit, with Matt Cooke and Pascal Dupuis taking the wings on Staal’s line. As for the rest of the offence, anything can happen depending on training camp’s proceedings. Thanks to an embarrassment of riches in the team’s developmental system, American world junior standout Eric Tangradi (acquired with Kunitz from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for Ryan Whitney at the 2009 trade deadline), Chris Conner, Mark Letestu, Brett Sterling, Dustin Jeffrey, Nick Johnson and Ryan Craig are all vying for NHL jobs in 2010-11, all of whom having at least a brief NHL stint under their belts. With depth forwards Tyler Kennedy, Mike Rupp, Craig Adams, enforcer Eric Godard and ’09 playoff hero Maxime Talbot all under one-way contracts, there are 2-3 roster spots ripe for the picking for the cluster of players on the bubble. Tangradi showed some flashes of brilliance with Sidney Crosby during training camp a year ago, and if that chemistry still remains, it isn’t out of the question that the young rookie will be enjoying a first line or top-six role in his first NHL campaign.

When the puck drops on the 2010-11 season in Pittsburgh, the abundance of fresh faces won’t be the only new thing for fans to get energized about. Under construction since 2007, the CONSOL Energy Center (aptly nicknamed “The House That Mario Built”), will serve as the team’s new home digs. The state-of-the-art arena opened with a Paul McCartney concert earlier this summer and is located directly across the street from the Mellon Arena, the only home the Penguins ever knew from their inception in 1967 through to 2010. In addition, the Penguins will host one half of the NHL’s  expanding annual outdoor festivities when, on January 1^st, 2011, they’ll welcome Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals to Heinz Field, home of the National Football League’s Pittsburgh Steelers, for the 2011 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic.

When all is said and done, there is nothing the Penguins organization would like to achieve more than a fourth Stanley Cup title during their first season in their brand-new building. This revamped roster led by the usual suspects of Crosby, Malkin and Fleury definitely has championship potential, but only time will tell if that potential will be met. 

Our first letter today comes from a douchebag. He writes, “dear BJ, if you can’t tell from the sound of my writing, it’s Lee Stempniak again. I got a contract with the Phoenix Coyotes, so there! Stick that in your pope and smoke him! I’ll be making like $1.9M per season, so take that! I hope your show gets burned down by the flaming farts of Sean Avery! Eat that sucka! HAHA!”

Lee Stempniak, you should be congratulated on your new contract. I am happy that at least one NHL team has bought into the equal opportunity option for their players. With every goal you score, you will overcome the difficulties presented before you and become an icon across North America. Your courage and strength to conquer your disability is recognized by the entire hockey community and for that, I congratulate you on your success!

Our second letter comes from an old friend who I was sure was a ferret. He writes, “dear BJ, Bettman here, first time writer long-time reader. We have a situation right now, and my friend who helped with me with some crazy paperwork a few years ago seems to be taking advantage of a loop-hole I think he may have created on purpose. Should I let him go ahead with this new contract, or should I call him out on it? What if I say no and he doesn’t invite me to this year’s Christmas part? I don’t know what to do, please help me!”

Alright Bettman, thanks for writing. Maybe you should just take some time to yourself and after you sort out your own thoughts, get together with the rest of your cast and figure out a solution. If the team and the player want to be together that badly, maybe you can propose a deal to them that would be acceptable and have it done with. It’s easy creating problems by saying no, it’s difficult and better for you to take the necessary time to evaluate it and try to come to an acceptable conclusion as a collective. I suggest extending the deadline until you sort that out for yourself. Christmas parties come and go, but friends last a life-time.

Our third letter comes from an Arizona prison. It reads, “dearest Blow Jay, I iz drunk as shit. Jail beckons for my life for around two fort-nights. I call to say I think you is sexy as Cher. Please write me in prison and include naughty pictures. Love you!”

Yeah... I don’t think so Khabby.

Commercial Guy runs in. “I just wanted to say that I am aroused by that letter! Catch the kiss I blow to you Khabby!”

Get out of here!

Our last letter today is from one Carey Price. He writes “dear BJ, things are getting tough. People won’t give me what I want. I keep bending and bending for them, and there’s only so far I can go without breaking. What should I do?”

Carey, stick to your guns. Eventually things will work out, and if you have been as flexible as you suggest then they will come around to meet you half way. It’s only fair, and besides, if they decide not to, just go on strike like I did with The Checking Line. Eventually they had to pay me my Three Musketeers per week. My fault is that I wasn’t specific enough. I literally wanted three musketeers in my office, and instead I get a chocolate bar every day. Oh well, to each his own!

Day 1 – Dear diary, I have arrived in New Jersey. While the city itself is a tad busier than Atlanta, I still feel like I am at home. My new condo fits me well, and the couple across the street enjoy making the sex with the curtains open. I can’t help but stare at the silky skin glistening in the moonlight. That guy must work his glutes daily. I’m such a little devil for looking. Oh no, his wife sees me. I must move now.

Day 8 – Dear diary, I scored some good points against the Maple Leafs and my agent found me a new condo. I look out my window and see city, but no more people across the street. That is a shame. I am invited to a slumber party on Saturday at Zach Parise’s house. If it’s anything like it was in Atlanta, everyone will have fun until Dany Heatley drives home.

Day 22 – Dear diary, I just got an e-mail from Don Waddell. I guess he’s still upset with me for wanting to leave. I thought I was very clear when he offered me a 10-year deal and I said “no thank you, I want to play for an NHL team.” He told me he lied about all the times he said I looked gorgeous and that I am not as pretty as I think I am. He’s obviously delusional because I am definitely a sexy piece of ass. Those pictures I took of myself in a skimpy devil suit will never be sent to him now. His loss.

Day 72 – Dear diary, I know I have not wrote you in a while, but today Ilya is sad =( tear drops I cannot draw and that makes me even more sad. I was never good in art class, but that’s not why I write you today. The Devils are kicked out of playoffs. Two times I go to playoffs and two times my team is out in first round. I scored six points in five games, but fans not happy. I don’t know what I’m going to do. I like my condo, but with no happy fans and no sex across street, I am not happy with New Jersey. What should I do?! Are you there?! Can you read this?! Answer me!!!!! Cry face!

Day 125 – Dear diary, I stopped writing you because you ignored me when I was sad. But I have something I need to tell you. Don Waddell is still angry. He got players from Stanley Cup winning team and is making fun of me for having no contract. He says “I have Dustin Buff, uh, Biff, uh, Bif Naked, or Fugly, Big Fugly Inn keeper, whatever his name is, you sucksorz! 3a7 @$$ K0v@1$uCk! 1337z0rz!” I do not speak code! What does this say?!

Day 132 – Dear diary, I am now a free agent. All I hear all day is ringing and agent keeps asking me “will you take this?” I do not want short-term, I hate Waddell, I need very big contract to get back at him for his secret code that has kept me awake at night. What the hell is a sucksorz?! Waddell e-mailed me today a video on youtube that said “Kovalchuk’s most awesome goals”, but some guy starting singing to me! The words are stuck in my head! “NEVER GUNNA GIVE YOU UP!” GAHHHH!

Day 135 – The Los Angeles Kings called me and said they like me, and want to schedule a meeting with me. My phone scares me and someone keeps sending me letters that have more numbers and letters in them. This one says U 1$ Da F@i1! I am so alone!

Day 139 – I had my meeting with the Los Angeles Kings at my condo. They don’t seem to like me anymore. I have built a man-fort in the corner of my living room and pushed my fridge beside it so I never have to leave. Technology scares me, and the only two things I can trust are you and my pencil, and my pencil just broke! I need to bite off parts of the wood to continue writing, brb!

Okay I am back. I used the bite stuff to create a small fire for my pet mouse, his name is Brian Gionta. He eats peanut butter, so we share. The Kings people left my place because they did not like it when I asked Gionta if the deal looked good. I told them I wanted him in my trade clause and they walked out.

Day 142 – Dear diary, Gionta is gone and I’m starting to wonder if he ever existed. I haven’t shaved in weeks and I think there’s something in my beard that’s tickling me. Oh wait! Maybe that’s Gionta!

Day 142 and a half – Dear diary, it was Gionta in my beard, but because I have no food left in my fridge, I had to eat him. I am so sad again, tearie face, but I ate him with peanut butter so he doesn’t get lonely in my stomach.

Day 150 – The Devils came over today and asked me if I still want to play hockey. I told them I did. They asked me for how long, and I told them for 370 Ilykov moons. They stared at me for a few minutes until they finally said “ok” and handed me a contract. I signed it and gave Waddell a little message.

Day 151 – The NHL says my contract isn’t good. They said “this isn’t compliant within the CBA”, and I said “you’re not compliant with the CBA!” And he said “what?” and I said “WHAT?!” Then there was a long pause and I said “you called the wrong number bitch!” Then I hung up. I sure showed him!

Day 171 – The obituaries guy told us my contract is not good and said it doesn’t count. I don’t understand what is going on. I wish Brian Gionta was here right now to tell me what I should do. Maybe I will go back to Russia and find a new Brian Gionta that I can pet and kiss and be with. I miss Brian Gionta. I miss how he would lick me before we went to sleep in my man-fort. Ilya is sad again.

Day 199 – I have a new contract with the Devils, hopefully this time it goes through. Ilya is happy! Also, I learned how to read and write Leet today, and now I know what Waddell wrote to me. Here is my new contract.

  The 2010 National Hockey League Entry draft will argubaly be regarded as one of the best in NHL history. Good news if you are a Florida Panthers fan, because with three solid first round picks the Panthers for the first time in a long while seem to be taking great strides in a positive direction.

But, the question is, "How much can a team which finished 14th overall in the Eastern Conference and 28th over all in the NHL improve?"

Ask any Panthers fan and they will tell you that there is a bigger chance that the team will take a step back because they traded away arguably the face of the franchise for the past decade in Nathan Horton. Also, with losing forward Gregory Campbell, and their top blueliner Keith Ballard, how is it possible this team could possibly improve. Is it possible? Or, is this a write off year, for just rebuilding?

Well, to answer the question, the Panthers will surely improve, but to an extent unknown. Due to great contract signings by the rest the team, we have not lost any key players to Free Agency this off-season. We have both our goaltenders returning, 9 returning forwards, and but only 3 defencemen returning from last year, due to only having 6 defenders last season, and we ended up trading away Keith Ballard. So, if the Panthers want to win, defense will be our key issue.

We look at this years draft selections by the Panthers. With the third overall pick we selected the best defencemen in the draft by picking Erik Gudbranson. A smart move by Panthers GM Dale Talon, as this off-season getting a strong defender to patch up the enormous gap left by Jay Bouwmeester created in our lineup when he left last year was the main issue.

Gudbranson is big defender standing at 6 ft. 3, and weighing in at 201 lbs. He has played the last two seasons in the OHL playing with the Kingston Frontenacs where in 104 games he has added 5 goals and 40 assists in 104 games. He misses 27 games last season due to mononucleosis. He is known for his smart game play, and his bone crushing hits. At the end of the season he was awarded the Bobby Smith Trophy. An award that is named to the OHL Scholastic Player of the Year.

With the 19th overall pick Tallon selected Nick Bjugstad. Nick stands at 6 ft 5 and weighs 190 lbs. Nick will provide the power up front for the Panthers. He is a good young centerman who is willing to work, and very loyal.

Finally, with our 25th pick overall Tallon picked Left Winger Quinton Howden. Quinton is 6 ft. 3, 183 lbs. He has played in 127 WHL games for the Moose Jaw Warriors, where he has recorded 41 goals, and 95 points. He was selected first overall by the Warriors back in 2006.

We also have to consider the great additions that Dale Tallon has brought to Florida this off-season. Up front he has added Steve Bernier from the Keith Ballard trade. Bernier, a former first round pick in 2003 by the San Jose Sharks added 11 goals and 11 assists in 59 games playing on the Right wing for the Vancouver Canucks. We also acquired winger Mark Cullen from the Chicago Blackhawks AHL minor team Rockford IceHogs. Cullen added 21 goals and 53 points in 62 games last season for the IceHogs. Our biggest addition up front has come in Christopher Higgins. Higgins is known for his great stint with the Montreal Canadiens from 2005-2009 where he played in 280 games scoring 82 goals and adding 67 assists. He spent last season between the New York Rangers and the Calgary Flames where he took a step back. But, the Panthers hope the new outlook will be the kick in the butt Higgings needs. Also, the addition of Marty Reasoner will provide some leadership for the young Panther team. Last season, Reasoner had 4 goals and 13 assists in 80 games with the Atlanta Thrashers.

On defense the Panthers added Nathan Paetsch. Paetsch is a smart blueline player. Known for his stint with the Buffalo Sabres. His best season, was in 2006 where he added 2 goals and 22 helpers from the blueline in 63 games with the Sabres. Also, on defense the Panthers have added Dennis Wideman. The 27-year old Kitchener, Ontario native has spend the last 4 seasons with the Boston Bruins. Last season he played in 76 games, where he scored 6 goals and added 24 assists.

Clearly, this Panthers team will play with a lot more depth that last years team despite the loss of Horton, Campbell and Ballard. When asked about this years team GM Dale Tallon said, "We have more depth, we have more positional players than we've had before bases on what happened in this off season, so we'll have a little more competition for jobs and that's how you get success.

The Panthers are also relying on Stephen Weiss to come back with another great season. Last year he had a career-high 28 goals last season. Also expected to preform well is young phenom Micheal Frolik, who scored 21 goals last season for the Panthers in a breakout season. But, the biggest player the Panthers are relying on is forward David Booth. Booth had his own breakout season in 2008-09. He was suppose to play a major role last season with the Panthers, but a very dirty hit by Philadelphia Flyers Mike Richards resulted in Booth having to recover from a concussion. He was suppose to miss the rest of the season, but trained extremely hard and was back before the Olympic break. He managed to record 8 goals and 8 assists in 28 games.

As for goaltending they are all set with Tomas Vokoun and Scott Clemmensen returning. Vokoun took a step back last season going 23-28-11, but kept a very respectable .925 sv% in 63 games. Clemmensen went 9-8-2 with a .912 sv% in 23 games.

Keep in mind. This Panthers club is no where near a finished product. Dale Tallon is award of this, but he knows that they are off to a good start. Don't forget, Tallon did say this Panthers team is much better than the Blackhawks squad he acquired a few years ago, that he quickly turned into a Stanley Cup Champion team.

Either way, rebuilding, or not. The one thing that is clear, is that this Panthers team is headed in the right direction. Trying to eliminate this decade long playoff-drought. They will be a very exciting team to watch, and it is guarantee, in the very near futur, this will be a very successful team to beat.

Adam Reid

adam_mapleleafs@hotmail.com 

MacArthur was awarded a $2.4M dollar contract from an arbitrator earlier this month; a contract the Atlanta Thrashers balked at and walked away from, thus allowing MacArthur to test the free agent market.

In 208 NHL games, he has posted 44 goals and 44 assists, and will provide more scoring depth for the Leafs second and third line. MacArthur also won a Gold Medal with the 2005 World Juniors Canadian team.

I don't expect the Leafs to be done tinkering with the roster after this signing.

Micheal A. Aldred

James Toney (No MMA Record)  vs. Randy Couture (18-10-0)

The James Toney/Randy Couture fight is a rare opportunity to matchup MMA vs. Boxing. Of course, the fight will be held in the octagon, but it challenges the theory of MMA incorporating more tactical measures of combat sport rather than boxing's strategic striking game.

While the talk up to the fight has been fun, it's time for this to settle the score, and I believe we all know how this will conclude. “Whatever Randy tries to do, it ain’t going to be enough,” said Toney. Really Toney? Really? Because I believe in boxing, your opponent must stand back when you are rocked while a ref counts to ten. In MMA, when you get rocked and fall down, the ref tends to count in his head... while you continue to take a beating.

Here's my prediction for this fight. Toney will hop around looking for the haymaker, and we all know he hits like a bus. Meanwhile, Randy will hold back, understanding Toney's punching power, then go for a jab, push him to the cage, followed by take-down, ground and pound, and likely a submission. Fight over. Thanks for coming.

Prediction: Couture, Round 1, Submission

Frankie Edgar (12-1-0) vs. BJ Penn (15-6-1)

A rematch for the lightweight championship, Frankie Edgar proved to be faster than BJ Penn at UFC 112, and was elusive enough to avoid Penn's takedown abilities. If Penn does not step it up from his last fight, this should be another five round decision going to Edgar. Still, the speculation around this fight is Edgar in a loss while Penn regains his title glory with dominating power. I just don't see that happening and can't understand why so many people have considered Edgar as a rental to the belt.

BJ Penn has claimed he will be the best fighter the sport has seen, but he tends to lack the force necessary in the octagon to prove his dominance in the division. Edgar hardly cuts to get into the fight and ultimately has the better cardio to last the duration fight at full speed. If Penn doesn't come in swinging for the fences immediately, consider this to be a masterful tactics fight in which Edgar's technique and patience will earn him the victory, and earn Penn complaints.

Prediction: Edgar, Decision

Kenny Florian (14-4-0) vs. Gray Maynard (9-0-0)

This is perhaps the most interesting fight on the card. Kenny Florian has an opportunity to secure a victory and earn another shot at the lightweight title, but Gray's take down advantage and strength in the cage could prove costly in this matchup for Florian.

Expect Kenny to be throwing around a ton of leg kicks to prevent Maynard from shooting in for the takedown. With a height and reach advantage, Floridan could certainly keep the pace of this fight under his control, but should the gap be closed, Maynard could easily sway bout in his direction.

Prediction: Florian, Submission, Round 3

Nate Diaz (12-5-0) vs. Marcus Davis (17-6-0)

Marcus Davis is a former professional boxer. Marcus Davis has two losses in his last three fights. Marcus Davis is about to die in the octagon. Nate Diaz is not only bigger, but he has a better reach, better striking, better octagon control and excellent ground work. Unless Marcus can find a way to tag Diaz and finish the fight early, expect this to be the Nate Diaz show.

Prediction: Diaz, TKO, Round 1

Demian Maia (12-2-0) vs. Mario Miranda (12-1-0)

Maia is a fighter who prefers to stand back, picks his spots and work the ground game. Miranda is a fighter who, to put it nicely, recently annihilated David Loisau. With similar records, these two share very little in terms of fighting styles. Maia will be looking for a takedown and hope for a submission, but Miranda will stand in front of him and look to pick him apart with bombs.

Prediction: Miranda, TKO, Round 1

   The hype which revamped the Washington Nationals' fans into once again believing they could be a contending team for the first time since they moved from Montreal was all but ended Thursday, as their young phenom pitcher Stephen Strasburg sat through hours of an emotional rollercoaster ride, which quickly ended with three short words.

Tommy John Surgery.

With this news, the Washington National rookie is done for the season, and there also being a good chance he will be gone for next season too, meaning he will probably not get another chance to pitch for the Nationals', until 2012. The 22-year old right-hander has accepted the fact he will actually need the ligament replaced. An operation that requires 12-to-18 months or rehabilitation.

"It's a new challenge," Strasburg said. "I want to be the best at everything, and right now I want to be the best at rehabbing and getting back out here."

The world of Washington Nationals' baseball sat quiet Wednesday, thinking about how they have spent all summer glowing in delight with his 100 m.p.h. fastball, bending curves and wicked batter-freezing change-ups. The worst part is, the Nationals were depending on Strasburg to really help the team crawl out of the MLB basement, even going as far as calling him the centerpiece in their plans.

Manager Jim Riggleman said, "There's no words that I can put in place here that would indicate we could possibly replace Stephen. But, we have to do it a different way, different names, different staff members who will go out there and fulfill the rotation until Stephen comes back."

The Nationals' nation held their break as Strasburg grimaced, grabbed and shot his wrist after throwing a 1-1 change-up to Domonic Brown in Philadelphia on Saturday. This pitch would end up being the last one that Stephen would take for the year. The Nationals first called the injury a strained flexor tendon in the forearm, but after an MRI was taken Sunday questions were raised, resulting in the Nationals to order a more extensive MRI in which dye was injected into the prized right arm.

The exam was taken on Thursday and Strasburg was informed of the diagnosis later that night, but the Nationals chose not to announce the news because it would have upstaged the introductory news conference for 2010 No. 1 draft pick Bryce Harper.

As far as trying to figure out why this has happened to him, its a question which he is simply done with asking.

"If I keep looking for an explanation, its just going to eat at me, and I've got to let it go. I've just got to move on, and that's what I'm doing. Everything happens for a reason, and this is obviously going to be a test for me," said Strasburg.

He is the former No.1 overall pick in the 2009 draft. He signed a record US $15.1 million contract a year ago. In what was a spectacular major league debut, Strasburg struck out 14 batters back in June. He instantly started to draw huge crowds everywhere around the league. He went 5-3 with a 2.91 ERA and 92 strikeouts in 68 innings with the Nationals, who kept him on strict pitch counts and had planned to shut him down once he reached around 105 innings.

Doctors believe that the Strasburg tore the ligament on a particular pitch, perhaps the change-up to Brown rather than the injury being a gradual deterioration over a long period of time.

This injury was the last thing the lowly Nationals needed as the franchise, despite efforts from Strasburg, is set to finish last-place for the fifth time in six years since relocating from Montreal. Attendance at National Park has been very disappointing since it opened in 2008, but Strasburg has managed to draw some rare sellouts in his few starts.

Coincidentally, Thursday's game was the return of the other Nationals' phenom pitcher Jordan Zimmermann, who had Tommy John surgery a year ago. The two pitchers were suppose to create the Strasburg-Zimmerman tandem, which was suppose to form two-fifths of a rotation that will lead the team to respectability.

"It's still going to happen," Riggleman said of the Strasburg-Zimmerman combo. "It's just going to be another year before it happens."

Strasburg has already begun to receive advice on recovery. He can draw inspiration from Zimmerman, and can also get it from the dozens of major leaguers who have successfully returned from the surgery that was first performed by Dr. Frank Jobe on Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tommy John in 1974.

Adam Reid

adam_mapleleafs@hotmail.com

Referenced from TSN Article: By the Associated Press 

Seen Here: Kyle Wellwood naked.

Adam: I’m not really sold on this idea. I mean, sure he had his own television show, but I don't see how this guy would be cut out for the job. If in power, our league would be in tip top shape because he doesn't like many people, but he might be a little over zealous on his antics. Anyone he doesn't like or who would be out of line, or GM's who try and pull a fast one like a 17 year contract and WHAMMO. Two words, bitches, his favourite two little words, "YOU'RE FIRED."

Micheal: That’s Donald Trump! Are you guys kidding me?!

Prax: I guess you could say he's pretty in touch with the players. He was a great for the Washington Capitals last year, but I always thought of him as a career 3rd line winger. Executive Director is a huge step up for this 25 year old and you gotta wonder if he can deliver.  

Micheal: DAMNIT! That's Eric Fehr! I can't work with this!  

Micheal then proceeded to rip off his microphone and leave the studio, but after a few minutes of calming down he returned for the next question.  

Next up, because anything related to the Leafs is major news, Brian Burke acquired defenceman Matt Lashoff from the Tampa Bay Lightning for two minor league players. How will this affect the Leafs moving forward?

Prax: Wow, Yzerman acquired someone that never had anything to do with the Montreal Canadiens? That's a first.

Adam: Terrible trade for the leafs. They gave away the only two players we had that were any good. Our season was depending on these guys! 2010-2011 season, RIP.

Micheal: I believe the Leafs did a 2 for 1 trade to free up the extra contract space for either a signing or a potential trade. They also got the better player out of the deal, so Burkie wins this one, hands down.

CG: You know what they say. The best offence is a good defence, and if that fails, just go with icing.

Phil: This can all be explained with Brian Burke’s typo-filled version of the NHL rulebook which incorrectly states teams need to dress 21 D-men on their roster every year.

Lastly, Kovalchuk’s agent, Yuri Nikolaev, set a 48 hour deadline (Saturday night) for the league to resolve his contract or the Russian sniper would likely pursue a contract with the KHL. Today, the Devils submitted another contract to the NHL. What say you, panel?

CG: I say 48 hours of watching deadline is a horrible idea. Whoever came up with the concept of it is also a person who should live out the rest of their days in a dark lit corner or as a mole person in New York. Brittany Murphy also sucked in it. Total bore-fest. Boo Deadline!

Phil: I think it’s safe to say that Kovalchuk will play hockey next year. My sources tell me Ilya will sign in Russia or in North America, although Europe isn’t out of the question and just recently made a HUGE push. Expect a decision in the next 48 days (e4).

Prax: I don't know about that Phil, don't count Asia out just yet. Antarctica is also willing to fork over the money, but Commissioner Penguin is reportedly uncertain of whether he would accept the term of this contract.

Micheal: I hope this deal gets done with. I’m tired of hearing about Kovalchuk this summer.  

CG: Yeah, they should get that old guy who used to be the executive director of the MLBPA to help them out.

Micheal: That’s Donald Fehr! Damnit CG!

Adam: I really like the signing if it does come true. It’s just I hope Kovalchuk can keep a level head, and keep his focus while playing with the Devils. Not many people know the truth, because no one cares about the Thrashers. But, Kovalchuk is not a reliable player. He is often on Hiatus. As this video shows, he is always up to no good. Challenging other teams captains, leaving the rink, running through kitchens, driving unsafe through Atlanta streets without his seatbelt on. Desperately trying to get entertainment and the spotlight on him. Like the song says, you just can't keep Kovalchuk in, even for one game, so who knows what would happen after signing a 17 year contract.

Micheal: In conclusion, Dan Cloutier sucks.

George: Agreed.

Adam: Absolutely.

CG: Just as much as Deadline.

Phil: At least he doesn’t pretend like he’s a great goalie all year only to choke in the playoffs like another Canucks goaltender we won’t name. Cloutier is honest and has the decency to suck the whole time.

Seen Here: Dan Cloutier’s one and only save, and in the end it meant nothing.

Follow Me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Hockeybum_Corey

Corey

Prax: Ooh, that’s nasty!

Lastly, a discussion arose urging the NHL to allow/make all their eligible players participate in the World Junior Hockey Championships. Are you in favor of this request?

Adam: I agree with this request. I believe that the World Junior Hockey Championships are about the best of the best junior players, they should all be made to play since they are of age, but, it should be mandatory for all rookies even the NHL players to play. This shouldn’t be an option, it should be a privilege to represent their country.

Prax: I agree with Adam. On top of all the reasons he mentioned, the World Junior Championship is a tremendous experience for the players who participate. Just look at all the Canadian players who have benefited from participating. As a Habs fan, I saw Guillaume Latendresse miss an opportunity to play for Team Canada because he was rushed to the NHL, and his play suffered because of it. Meanwhile, PK Subban got to go and look where he's headed!

CG: Didn't Carey Price play at the World Juniors as well?

Prax: Shut up.

Micheal: Again, relating to the Olympics, it’s difficult to suggest all players, even those who cracked their respected NHL rosters, should be forced to partake in this tournament as it runs during the regular season for both the NHL and the CHL. It causes their teams on both levels to lose revenue from ticket sales (more notable in the CHL). Also, should an injury occur, that player and their team would take the biggest hit following the tournament.

CG: Well, I have been pondering. We cannot force anyone to do as we please, in this case participating in the WJHC. Consider what the force truly brings. Consider the Star Wars, in which the force is a binding, metaphysical and ubiquitous power, and if in the wrong hands, we could be turning what should be the light side into an evil mental strength that could cause these players to fall into the shadowy pits of hell from the product of midichlorians. I hope you all understand exactly how difficult it would be to handle such a force.

Adam: I see. Nevermind then.

Micheal: I have no idea what a midichlorian is but it scares me.

The remainder of this discussion was not documented due to a broom handle being used as a light sabre by the hands of CG. It’s believed no one survived.

When I was approached to conduct an interview with Michael McKinley about his 2006 book, Hockey: A People’s History, I was excited for the opportunity, but slightly hesitant about reading the book. Most of us, as hockey fans, think we know anything and everything there is to know about the sport we like to call our own here in Canada, and I, of course, was no different. But the truth is that there is much we don’t know about how hockey became a national sport, our pride and a staple in our lives in under a century and a half, and astonishing feat.

The first question I asked Mr. McKinley was maybe an obvious one. What would inspire a native Canadian to put together such a detailed and thorough history of our sport together? It read as follows:

GP: I know that the CBC approached you to work on Hockey: A People's History after you wrote Putting a Roof on Winter earlier in the decade, but what inspired you in putting together such an epic telling of the 135 or so years of hockey in this country?

The answer is probably the most resounding reason that everyone reading this should go and pick up a copy of this book today, if they haven’t done so already:

There really isn’t any better way to put it. Hockey has come to be a major part of almost every Canadian’s life. Whether it’s someone whose family has resided in Canada since long before the sport’s creation, or even someone who is just arriving to the country, they’re likely to have at least watched one hockey game in their lives. When there is a game on, it’s on every screen at every sports bar, in many homes across the country, and in many Canadians’ minds, even long after the final buzzer. Americans have football, basketball and baseball. Europeans have soccer. But no sport resonates more with a single country’s population and history than hockey does in Canada.

Despite this clear connection with most, if not all of us, not many people really think of how this sport came to be such a major part of our daily lives. When The Checking Line opens its doors nearly a year ago, we added the following tagline at the top of the page, mostly in jest:

We didn’t really give it much thought, but that’s really how long hockey has been part of our history. Through world wars, cold wars, revolutions, riots, economic highs and economic lows, controversies and moments of glory, hockey has somehow found a way to leave a mark on Canada. 

Hockey: A People’s History shares with us many of these stories, many of these moments in our history, and manages to teach even the most informed hockey fans many interesting and astounding facts about both our sport and our history over the last 135 years.

Luckily for us, Mr. McKinley was kind enough to answer a few questions in regards to his book and the process of writing it, to the current state of hockey and the NHL, and to his upcoming projects as an author.

GP: How did writing Hockey: A People’s History differ from writing Putting a Roof on Winter?

GP: I read that while writing Hockey: A People’s History, you had the help of staff that worked on the TV version of your novel in your research. Was there any period or event in the book that you found especially difficult in researching, or uncovering? 

GP: Is there any fact or story that really stood out in your research and surprised you? 

GP: Who was your favorite character (or characters) to write about in the book? 

GP: In the book you obviously talk about a lot of the builders of our sport, both on and off the ice, many of whom have their own trophies named after them for either their accomplishments or their association to the trophy before it was given to hockey. If you could choose one other historical figure of the sport and name a trophy after them, who would it be, and what would the trophy be given for? 

GP: In hockey's 135 plus year history in Canada, many historical events, from wars, to economic booms and depressions, have left a profound mark and effect on the sport. Is there any particular historical occurrence that you could say had the biggest effect on the sport, over all the rest? 

GP: I think that if you asked most hockey fans which trade shocked them the most in their years as hockey fans, it would probably be the Wayne Gretzky trade from the Oilers to the Kings in 1988. In your research, is there any other trade that you think left as profound a mark on the sport and the country in the sport's history? 

GP: As a Habs fan and writer, much of the criticism I hear about the Canadiens is that the reason they won so many Stanley Cups is because of the "cultural Clause" that allowed them to pick francophone players ahead of anyone else in the amateur drafts of the 60s. In the book you state that the Canadiens only used this clause twice. Still, with easy access to Francophone players even before the amateur draft was put into place in 1963, what effect do you think the Francophone "flavor" had on the Canadiens and their winning ways over the last 100 years? Moreover, do you think the recent decline of Francophone talent entering the NHL had had a negative impact on the Canadiens? 

From here, we went on to ask Mr. McKinley a few question in regards to the current state of hockey and the NHL, from the Winter Olympics, to the expansion of the sport and the salary cap, among other topics:

GP: Winning the gold medal in hockey at these past Olympics in Vancouver was an important and prideful moment for most, if not all Canadians. How do you think Sidney Crosby and co's victory at the 2010 Olympics over the Americans stacks up to the 1972 summit series, a very important part of Canada's history and, of course, your book? 

GP: In the book, there is a fair amount of talk of amateur status, and the players that were sent, or were allowed to be sent to world championships and the Olympics over the years. With Canada winning the gold medal at these year's games, and, of course, the USA finishing in 2nd place, do you think the NHL will allow NHLers to return to the Olympics in Sochi in 2014? 

GP: One of the facts in your book that astounded me the most was the fact that for many years, the NHL and other hockey leagues in the country had a salary cap, like the one teams have to deal with today. What are your thoughts on the NHL's current salary cap, compared to the one that teams lived with for years, decades even, in the 20th century? 

GP: A few weeks ago, the NHL rejected a 17-year contract between the New Jersey Devils and Ilya Kovalchuk. Subsequently, it was revealed that the NHL was also looking into some "front-loaded" contracts that were already approved by the NHL. Based on what you researched and uncovered for Hockey: A People’s History, do you see any precedent for the NHL to reject such contracts? 

GP: One fear that is creeping up on many hockey fans in this country is that of another lockout next season, when the current Collective Bargaining Agreement expired in 2011. What effect do you think another lockout would on the NHL and the sport in general, so soon after the last one? 

GP: Where do you see the sport and the NHL in 10 or 20 years? 

(Interestingly enough, this interview was conducted only a few days prior to yesterday’s news that IIHF President Réné Fasel was against the NHL expanding to Europe)


GP: The Montreal Canadiens are currently on a near 20-year Stanley Cup drought. The Toronto Maple Leafs are nearing 45 years without a cup. Which team do you think will break the drought first? Will one of these teams be the first to bring the cup back to Canada, or will it be one of the other four Canadian teams? 

GP: Finally, a tough question that may get you into trouble with some of our readers. After over 75 years of debate, which is "Canada's team": The Montreal Canadiens, or the Toronto Maple Leafs? Is there room in the hearts of Canadians for both to hold that title? 

We also asked Mr. McKinley a few questions about what he would like to do in the future, and some of his upcoming projects:


GP: If you could write one more chapter to Hockey: A People's History, on any topic or occurrence that has happened since the last addition to the book, what would it be? 

GP: I know you've written a book about Mario Lemieux, but if you could choose any character from Hockey: A People's History who you could write another book about, who would it be? 

GP: You recently forayed into the world of novel writing with The Penalty Killing. How did that experience differ from writing books such as Hockey: A People's History, or your work as a journalist? 

GP: What's next for Michael McKinley? 

Finally, we asked Mr. McKinley if he had a message to anyone who may be considering picking up a copy of the book:


GP: Like many Canadians, I always kind of thought of myself as somewhat of an "expert" on the sport of hockey. After reading Hockey: A People's History, I was humbled to find out how much I didn't know about the sport, and very glad that I had an opportunity to read it and further my knowledge about hockey. Is there anything you might like to say to Canadians who may feel the same way, who may be hesitant in picking up a copy of the book? 

Reading Hockey: A People’s History was truly an eye-opening experience for me. There is truly a great amount of stories on Canada’s 135 year relationship with the sport of hockey that really don’t get enough attention. Michael McKinley sheds light on many of these stories of hockey’s builders, movers and shakers over the last century and a half, and puts a nice twist on how these stories are told. Once you pick up this book and begin reading of the first of the sport’s origins, of the first outdoor game staged by James Creighton in Montreal in 1875, you will not be able to put it down. Not until finding out how this continuing 135 year saga plays out to our present day.

------------------
Michael McKinley, a native of Vancouver, British Columbia, is an author of several hockey books, a novelist, journalist, documentary filmmaker, screenwriter, and Oxford professor. Hockey: A People’s History, which was written to accompany a CBC special of the same name, can be found here, on Amazon. His recent foray into the world of novel writing, entitled The Penalty Killing: A Martin Carter Mystery can be found at this link. If you are a hockey fan and, more importantly, a Canadian, both are titles that should be in your book collection.

My thanks to Mr. McKinley and Stephen Crane of CraneCreek Communications for the opportunity and interview.



Prax
TheCheckingLine.com
Twitter.com/GeorgePrax

"Well, Toney has gotten in the best shape he's ever been in in about I don't know how many years. He's taken this a lot more seriously than he has his boxing career. One of the things with these boxers they have been doing it since they were little kids and how much can they learn? They start to get bored or lazy or whatever you wanna call it. So they don't train as hard. Toney has taken this serious. He's gotten in the best shape he's been in in years and this is going to be a very interesting fight. Anything can happen when two good guys go in there and start throwing punches, scrapping, and fighting. Anything can happen, but James Toney has knockout power in both hands, he's been one of the best and he's fought the best forever. Randy Couture has great wrestling and if you break down stats, James Toney doesn't have as many tools as Randy Couture has so Couture should win the fight. James Toney has talked so much smack I want to see him get smashed in this fight."

It's obvious Dana White would like his sports' original fighter (Randy Couture) to prevail in the bout, but is it a smart decision on behalf of the UFC President to take a stance against one of his newest fighters? And how do you think the bout will go down? Will MMA come out on top with Randy Couture securing the victory, or will James Toney's knockout power prove boxing's strength in the fight community?

Micheal A. Aldred