Today the St. Louis Cardinals announced the release of Scott Spiezio after being charged in a six-count complaint involving drunken driving and assault in a car crash this past December.
When asked about the move, Cardinals manager Tony Larussa said "it’s a consistent message about what the team represents.”
Something with that picture doesn't seem right.
Maybe it's because LaRussa had his own DUI arrest last March and pled guilty in November.
If this is a constant message about what the team represents, LaRussa would be out of a job right now. It is the ultimate definition of hypocracy for LaRussa to say that the Cardinals organization takes a stand against DUI when LaRussa got no punishment whatsoever from the club.
LaRussa called his own DUI an "embarrassment," and apologized to "anyone who is close to me, members of the Cardinals organization, our fans."
I think it's embarrassing for LaRussa to come out and say what he said and owes Scott Spiezio an apology for his comments.
There's an old saying that says that people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. I think it's about time someone gave Mr. LaRussa some stones.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Monday, February 18, 2008
K-Mart's NHL Top 5 Bottom 5
Top Five, Bottom Five
Well due to the fact that I had several exams last week I didn't write a top five, bottom five column. So this weeks will cover teams' records over the period February 4th to February 17th.
Top Five (Weekly record in parentheses)
1. Dallas Stars (6-1-0)- As Detroit has cooled, the Stars have gotten red hot. They've won six of their past seven to close within ten points of Detroit for the conference lead. All of their wins have come against division or conference foes which bodes well for the playoffs.
2. Anaheim Ducks (6-1-0)- The Ducks were floundering two weeks ago, but have since turned it around, losing only once since February 2nd and that was to Dallas on the 15th. Of their six wins, three of them came against division or conference opponents.
3. Chicago Blackhawks (4-1-1)- The Blackhawks were floundering a couple of weeks ago but their recent play has given them an outside shot at making the playoffs.
4. Tampa Bay Lightning (4-1-1)- The Lightning likely aren't making the playoffs this year, but they still have a slim chance of winning the division. They have recently posted wins against playoff bound teams such as Nashville, Montreal and Philadelphia, but they have dropped both games to division opponents, something they cannot do if they want to keep their playoff hopes alive.
5. Nashville Predators (4-2-2)- The Predators have posted points in eight of their last ten games and have gained some ground on Detroit, however they still remain 18 points out of first in the division, but they have a solid shot at the fourth seed in the playoffs.
Bottom Five
5. Colorado Avalanche (2-3-0)- The Avalanche posted consecutive wins against San Jose and Vancouver, but since then have dropped three straight in regulation to Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver leaving them on the outside of the playoff picture.
4. Phoenix Coyotes (2-3-1)- The Coyotes salvaged a lost week with wins against Dallas and Los Angeles, but before they they lost four in a row, something they can't afford if they want to make a late push for the playoffs. As it stands, they are two points out of the final spot in the west.
3. Columbus Blue Jackets (2-2-3)- The Blue Jackets were close to having a great week, but their inability to win overtime games has doomed them. The playoffs are looking less and less likely after what started off as a promising season.
2.Detroit Redwings (1-5-1)- The Redwings pulled out an overtime victory against Minnesota on the 5th, but since then they have lost six straight, five of them in regulation. Luckily for the Redwings, their lead on the rest of the pack in the Western Conference was so great that they still have a ten point lead on Dallas and an 18 point lead in their division. However, the Redwings cannot afford to keep playing like this for the rest of the season.
1. Philadelphia Flyers (1-7-0)- The week started off well for the Flyers when they beat Atlanta 3-2 on the 5th. That gave them 65 points and they were only three behind conference leading Ottawa. Since then, the Flyers have lost seven straight games in regulation, including four one-goal losses. Three of the seven losses have come against division opponents and they have dropped from first to fourth in the division and are holding a one-point lead over Boston and Buffalo for their playoff spot. If the Flyers don't turn it around quickly they could miss the playoffs for a second straight year.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Shaquille O'Neal Traded to Phoenix
Let me just say that for the Phoenix Suns this is the stupidest trade in the history of professional basketball. This makes no sense for them whatsoever. They trade a 20 and 10 guy in Marion away for a guy who can't even get on the court? Not to mention that the Suns run an up-tempo offense. Shaq has never, EVER been up-tempo. I give it about two and a half quarters before Shaq's just standing on the defensive end as the Suns play 5-on-4 basketball. This whole fiasco reeks of the Suns panicking from the Pau Gasol to Los Angeles deal . I really can't gauge what's stupider, Golden State signing Chris Webber and naming a starter (as Al Harrington dies of shock) or this trade. Two real slow big men who have no offensive game (and in Webber's case...no game) and are injury prone. The NBA: Where Geezers Happen.
On the other hand, for Miami, this is a GREAT deal. Not only do they get rid of Shaq's deal (2 years, 40 million), they have a ton of salary coming off of the books in Jason Williams, Ricky Davis and Alonzo Mourning, with Marion likely to opt out, opening up almost 55 million dollars in cap space for Miami. Oh, and due to the fact Miami is a joke of a team, they'll end up with at least a top three draft pick. Miami can re-tool real fast and build around Dwyane Wade.
Monday, February 4, 2008
K-Mart's NHL Top 5, Bottom 5
Top Five, Bottom Five
1. New York Rangers (3-1)- The Rangers started off the week in last place in the Atlantic, but following a loss to Carolina on Tuesday, they reeled off three straight wins to put themselves back in the thick of things in their division. The fact that two of the wins were against division rivals Philadelphia and New Jersey helped them be the top team of the week.
2. Detroit Redwings (3-0)- The Redwings are winning at an amazing pace this year. Their three wins this week has them sitting pretty atop the Central with a 40-10-4 record. They have an amazing 25 point lead in the division over Nashville and it is just a matter of weeks before the Wings wrap up another division title.
3. Dallas Stars (3-0)-The Stars won all three games this week and finished two points ahead of San Jose for the division lead.
4. Atlanta Thrashers (3-0)- The Thrashers showed that they don't need Ilya Kovalchuk to win games as they managed to win all three games, despite losing him during the game against Pittsburgh last weekend. Their three wins also moved them into a tie for first in the Southeast division.
5. Philadelphia Flyers (2-1)- It would be out of character for me to leave the Flyers off the list this week. The Flyers only went 2-1, but they gained ground on every team in the Atlantic division except the N.Y. Rangers and they have at least a game in hand on every team in the league except Buffalo and St. Louis. They are in prime position to win the division after their horrible year last year. There are also strong rumors that Peter Forsberg will return to the Flyers soon.
Bottom Five:
5. New Jersey Devils (1-2)- The Devils saved a lost week with a victory against Los Angeles on Saturday, but they lost both games they had against division foes. In the league's best division, every point is important, and the Devils came out flat in both games. They dropped from a tie for first, to third place in the division, but have a chance to redeem themselves against Pittsburgh tonight.
4. Anaheim Ducks (0-3)- The Ducks managed just one goal this week in three games and haven't scored in 150 minutes and 20 seconds. They suffered back to back shutouts to St. Louis and Philadelphia despite the fact that Teemu Selanne has returned to the ice, giving the Ducks essentially the same roster they had last year when they won the Stanley Cup.
3. Vancouver Canucks (0-3)- The Canucks managed to go winless this past week, despite playing two games against two of the worst teams in the league. They lost all three games by a score of 4-3 and the loss to Florida was in a shootout so they managed to salvage one point out of the week. Despite their futility, the Canucks are only five points out of first place in the Northwest division .
2. Toronto Maple Leafs (1-2)- In the midst of yet another disappointing week, the Leafs also lost impact center Nik Antropov for three games because he threw his stick at a referee in frustration. I would be frustrated too, after all, it was his penalty that gave Carolina an overtime power play goal.
1. New York Islanders (0-3)- An 0-3 week after the All Star break dropped the Islanders 9 points behind division leading Philadelphia and has them on the outside looking in for the playoff race which is good enough to give them the nod for worst team of the week. They've also played more games than every team but the N.Y. Rangers in the Atlantic division. They can't have too many more weeks like this if they want to return to the playoffs again this year.
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