If you have not watched the news lately, then be prepared for what I am about to tell you: the NFL WILL be in Los Angeles in five years or less.
This has been a movement which has been brewing since the last NFL team left L.A. Every NFL team to play in L.A. has left because of poor stadium conditions and a fan base which wasn't the most loyal.
Now, three teams are trying to relocate to L.A. because guess what: They don't have the stadium needs they desire. So with these three teams set up to become the next big ticket in L.A., I've decided to break down how they might fare if they actually pull off the move.
First, St. Louis.
The Rams have the best history of any of the three teams. They've won a SuperBowl since leaving and have lost in another. They have players who retired in their stadium, and they pioneered touchdown dances. Over the years, their stadium has fallen into mild disrepair and no longer resembles the indoor behemoths that are found in Dallas, and Phoenix.
Since their last superbowl loss, the Rams have struggled each year. They've garnerned first round draft picks and multiple losing seasons. Fan attendance has been in decline, and the entire franchise is only a mirror of it's late 90's heydays.
I move certainly won't fix the problems the Rams have, but it will give them a fresh start.
San Diego.
Of the three teams, San Diego is the only team that has not been in L.A. before. In fact, San Diego has the best stadium situation of all 3 teams. Why the Chargers would want to relocate North doesn't make much sense. I do not consider San Diego to be doing anything more than bluffing their tax payers into giving them a new stadium.
The Chargers have a prime location with beautiful ocean view that is easily the most affordable among all of these teams.
Oakland.
Oakland is the team that NEEDS to move. The Oakland Coliseum is the worst stadium in the NFL and has been flooded with sewage several times. The Raiders are the only team sharing their field with a baseball team.
Unfortunately for the Raiders, they have the least amount of money. Oakland won't support a new stadium, and the Raiders won't have the money to move. This is why the Charger/Raiders deal makes the most sense. I believe Oakland would eventually lose the battle in L.A. as the Chargers are a much more popular team.
Finally what this means for Los Angeles:
L.A. doesn't want a football team. They have shown this time and time again, yet because of the population the NFL doesn't want to miss out on a big marketing chance.
San Diego is the most popular team to be in the moving discussion. Unfortunately, they probably won't be moving. As of right now, the Rams have the money and the resources to move the quickest. They also require the fewest concessions to get a team into the area.
I don't think this is a move that will result in a team moving out in a couple of years. However this is a move that will require revenue sharing to keep the team afloat the first couple of years.
L.A. isn't a great football market, but they are about to be treated like one.
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
Monday, February 23, 2015
College Hockey: Power Edition
We are about 2 weeks away from the end of regular season college hockey. 2 weeks! That means that at this moment, a good portion of the races in college hockey are in the final stretches with only a few positions really up for grabs.
I normally like to cover every single conference during this edition, but this year I'll briefly touch a couple of conferences and then highlight the NCHC.
First, the Big 10.
I'm very disappointed with the B1G this season. It's probably more to do with Wisconsin than anything, but the traditional teams in this conference will only be Minnesota and Michigan. In all likelihood, WI will ride the dark horse position all the way to a loss at the B1G tourney. Their season will be over, and so might their head coach.
I expect Minnesota and Michigan to be the only teams remaining at the NCAA selection show. Penn State looks good every now and then, but only two will come from the B1G, and I don't think this year will be an upset.
Hockey East has finally settle down. After three years of fielding 4 teams, they will likely sink to 2 or 3 teams this season. BC, BU, and Providence are the 3 right now. Of those, I think BU is tied directly to the success of Jack Eichel. I think BC is a little better prepared, and Providence doesn't possess the same elite level talent it had a year ago.
Hockey East could still be an upset in the tourney, but barring that I don't think we'll see more than 3 teams in post season play.
The WCHA has finally come on strong. Nothing like the old days, but they are surely better than last season. My guess is that Bowling Green drops out with Minnesota State and Michigan Tech the representatives. I don't know how to gauge Michigan Tech. In the past, they have always had trouble against top talent. I don't know if this is due to a relatively weak WCHA, or they are that good.
My pick: WCHA fields 2.
The ECAC has finally come down to earth. Quinnipiac is as strong as they were 2 years ago during their frozen four run. Out side of the bobcats, no one will be representing this conference.
Finally: The NCHC
This has been the year the NCHC has been talking about since it's formation. They talked about power hockey, and that's what this season has been. So many people wrote Miami off after last season, but they came back strong to beat expectations.
First, top tier team: North Dakota. They have played a strong field and have done really well this season. Taking on some of the best talent in college hockey, the no named (formerly Sioux) team has found itself nearing an NCHC regular title. They play well in all situations, but can be shaky when teams present fairly good power plays.
Next: Middle tier teams:
1. Miami: Just because Miami isn't #1 this season, doesn't mean they won't be the last one standing. Like UND, they have the talent to take Boston. Their defense is strong and their offense is steady. They don't have the extra stride in their game that UND does, but they will still show strongly in the NCAA tourney.
2. Denver: I don't really know where to put Denver. They are the kind of team that is on one night, and off the next. With no net minder standing out over this entire season, it's up to the defense to maintain. The Pioneers play well against all teams, but are not in a position to claim of the last spots in the NCHC playoffs. I expect the Pioneers to make the tourney, unfortunately their goaltending situation will need to stead in the next 4 games. This is something that has not happened all season long.
3. Nebraska-Omaha: I like UNO. I like their presence in net, and their team in front of it. They play hard and skate really well. I would say that UNO is a lower mid tier team and can skate hard enough to compete with teams like Miami. They have the push to take down the best, but when the chips are all on the line I don't expect UNO to be able to stay consistent.
4. Minnesota-Duluth: UMD is a team on the brink of being low tier. They have just enough power in their skates to manage decent plays, but lack the overall vision to go end to end. They remind me quite a bit of the 2013-14 Wisconsin team. Power in certain area's but real weaknesses that will likely contribute to their demise.
Lower tier:
1. SCSU: It was only 2 years ago that SCSU was in the frozen four. They've fallen a long way since then. This is probably just a simple attrition problem, but not one likely to be fixed. They have big play ability, but have shadowed this all season long.
2. Western Michigan: Here is a team riding the rocks. Last year they were a team ready to beat down any opponent. This year they have lost their way. I don't think they are too far off from returning to the glory days of 5 years ago, but they have some rebuilding to do. Their season will likely end on Miami's campus.
3. Colorado College: The bottom of the list. The cellar dweller, that is CC. Not every team fires their coach and leaves behind a massive wave of good talent and recruits (DU). CC is rebuilding for a reason. It will likely take 2 more years for Coach Haviland to have his own system all to himself. He's got some of the best goaltending in the NCHC at his disposal, and that's one of the best things to have. CC looks very lost this season. I think this is mostly a clash of the old system with the new. Either way, CC won't give UND much trouble to end the season.
My final picks:
If it were to end today:
Frozen four: North Dakota vs. Quinnipiac and BU vs. Miami
I don't see the Big 10 making a big play this year. I think it's the year of the NCHC. My pick: UND win's it all.
I normally like to cover every single conference during this edition, but this year I'll briefly touch a couple of conferences and then highlight the NCHC.
First, the Big 10.
I'm very disappointed with the B1G this season. It's probably more to do with Wisconsin than anything, but the traditional teams in this conference will only be Minnesota and Michigan. In all likelihood, WI will ride the dark horse position all the way to a loss at the B1G tourney. Their season will be over, and so might their head coach.
I expect Minnesota and Michigan to be the only teams remaining at the NCAA selection show. Penn State looks good every now and then, but only two will come from the B1G, and I don't think this year will be an upset.
Hockey East has finally settle down. After three years of fielding 4 teams, they will likely sink to 2 or 3 teams this season. BC, BU, and Providence are the 3 right now. Of those, I think BU is tied directly to the success of Jack Eichel. I think BC is a little better prepared, and Providence doesn't possess the same elite level talent it had a year ago.
Hockey East could still be an upset in the tourney, but barring that I don't think we'll see more than 3 teams in post season play.
The WCHA has finally come on strong. Nothing like the old days, but they are surely better than last season. My guess is that Bowling Green drops out with Minnesota State and Michigan Tech the representatives. I don't know how to gauge Michigan Tech. In the past, they have always had trouble against top talent. I don't know if this is due to a relatively weak WCHA, or they are that good.
My pick: WCHA fields 2.
The ECAC has finally come down to earth. Quinnipiac is as strong as they were 2 years ago during their frozen four run. Out side of the bobcats, no one will be representing this conference.
Finally: The NCHC
This has been the year the NCHC has been talking about since it's formation. They talked about power hockey, and that's what this season has been. So many people wrote Miami off after last season, but they came back strong to beat expectations.
First, top tier team: North Dakota. They have played a strong field and have done really well this season. Taking on some of the best talent in college hockey, the no named (formerly Sioux) team has found itself nearing an NCHC regular title. They play well in all situations, but can be shaky when teams present fairly good power plays.
Next: Middle tier teams:
1. Miami: Just because Miami isn't #1 this season, doesn't mean they won't be the last one standing. Like UND, they have the talent to take Boston. Their defense is strong and their offense is steady. They don't have the extra stride in their game that UND does, but they will still show strongly in the NCAA tourney.
2. Denver: I don't really know where to put Denver. They are the kind of team that is on one night, and off the next. With no net minder standing out over this entire season, it's up to the defense to maintain. The Pioneers play well against all teams, but are not in a position to claim of the last spots in the NCHC playoffs. I expect the Pioneers to make the tourney, unfortunately their goaltending situation will need to stead in the next 4 games. This is something that has not happened all season long.
3. Nebraska-Omaha: I like UNO. I like their presence in net, and their team in front of it. They play hard and skate really well. I would say that UNO is a lower mid tier team and can skate hard enough to compete with teams like Miami. They have the push to take down the best, but when the chips are all on the line I don't expect UNO to be able to stay consistent.
4. Minnesota-Duluth: UMD is a team on the brink of being low tier. They have just enough power in their skates to manage decent plays, but lack the overall vision to go end to end. They remind me quite a bit of the 2013-14 Wisconsin team. Power in certain area's but real weaknesses that will likely contribute to their demise.
Lower tier:
1. SCSU: It was only 2 years ago that SCSU was in the frozen four. They've fallen a long way since then. This is probably just a simple attrition problem, but not one likely to be fixed. They have big play ability, but have shadowed this all season long.
2. Western Michigan: Here is a team riding the rocks. Last year they were a team ready to beat down any opponent. This year they have lost their way. I don't think they are too far off from returning to the glory days of 5 years ago, but they have some rebuilding to do. Their season will likely end on Miami's campus.
3. Colorado College: The bottom of the list. The cellar dweller, that is CC. Not every team fires their coach and leaves behind a massive wave of good talent and recruits (DU). CC is rebuilding for a reason. It will likely take 2 more years for Coach Haviland to have his own system all to himself. He's got some of the best goaltending in the NCHC at his disposal, and that's one of the best things to have. CC looks very lost this season. I think this is mostly a clash of the old system with the new. Either way, CC won't give UND much trouble to end the season.
My final picks:
If it were to end today:
Frozen four: North Dakota vs. Quinnipiac and BU vs. Miami
I don't see the Big 10 making a big play this year. I think it's the year of the NCHC. My pick: UND win's it all.
Monday, February 16, 2015
Colorado Avalanche Season in Review
Sure, the season isn't over for the Av's. Sure they are not at the top. Sure they are also in the bottom of the standings needing every win just to be looking at post season glory.
I'm an Av's fan. I've been one every since they moved to Denver. I remember the glory days of Roy beating the living shit out of Osgood. I remember watching the "Mission 16W" speech given by Joe Sakic. I'll also never forget the day that Sakic became the only captain of an NHL team not to raise the Stanley Cup first, offering it to Ray Bourque instead.
I remember my first ever game in the Pepsi Center. I remember seeing the Pepsi Center for the first time.
I also remember game 1 of the 2014 NHL playoffs featuring the Avs vs the Wild. I remember the win, and how loud the place was. It was so loud that I heard ringing for 2 days after. Probably the best environment I've ever been in. I also remember being one of the last fans kicked out of the Pepsi Center after the horrific game 7 collapse. I remember Wild fans jumping in joy and dancing in the concourse. It sucked.
I read every review on what the Avs need to do in the off season to make the team better. Almost every one of them had Stastny going away for a big name free agent on D. Little did the writers or myself realize how much Stastny meant to the organization. He was the rock on any line he played on. He was the link between a goal scorer and the puck.
But the bitter realization for Paul didn't come until after opening day. By then most Avalanche fans realized that the organization had balked in the free agency period by not signing a D man to secure the 1st line with Erik Johnson. We've paid over and over for that mistake, and just about everyone saw it coming. The only thing that has stopped the Avalanche from entering full meltdown mode is the combination of Varlamov and Pickard.
The power play has been horrific. I've lost track of the amount of games where the Avs allowed over 40 shots in a game. It's also been a horrific year for scoring. This team is near last coming off a season where Roy won coach of the year, and Varly was in line for the Vezina while MacKinnon took home rookie of the year honors.
There won't be many NHL award trophies for the Avs to collect this year, and if they keep playing like this, they won't have the opportunity to play for the best trophy of them all: the stanley cup.
Here is what I think the Avalanche need to do:
1. Trade Ryan O'reilly. He has made it clear that he doesn't want to be here. He won't sign for less than 6 million a year and we really cannot afford that price. He could be part of a great talk for a defensemen.
2. Jettison Duchene. I've committed a sin! I know! If this happens I'll have two former Avs jerseys. I love Duchene in an Avalanche jersey, but he doesn't match the gritty front man that we've gotten from Landeskog and MacKinnon. Even though MacKinnon is smaller than Landy, he will still fight. Duchene almost seems like Crosby, without the blazing skill.
3. Pick up a long term D man. I think this can be accomplished by doing 1 of the first 2. We need a stable name. Honestly I don't think the Avs have the time to develop another D man. Siemens has been a disaster, and we've only become recently fortunate by having another goalie in the wings should this long term project go into the contract of another goalie.
4. Take more risk in the draft. Duchene and Siemens were both taken in the first round of the same draft. Duchene was sure to be a success, and Siemens was thought to be a 2 year project before coming to the NHL. Not the case.
If the Avs make the playoffs this year, I'll be very happy. If they don't, I hope they address some of these issues this off season rather than watching O'Reilly walk next year. I also think of Duchene as the Patrick Kane of our team. Great skill, but not a leader.
I'm an Av's fan. I've been one every since they moved to Denver. I remember the glory days of Roy beating the living shit out of Osgood. I remember watching the "Mission 16W" speech given by Joe Sakic. I'll also never forget the day that Sakic became the only captain of an NHL team not to raise the Stanley Cup first, offering it to Ray Bourque instead.
I remember my first ever game in the Pepsi Center. I remember seeing the Pepsi Center for the first time.
I also remember game 1 of the 2014 NHL playoffs featuring the Avs vs the Wild. I remember the win, and how loud the place was. It was so loud that I heard ringing for 2 days after. Probably the best environment I've ever been in. I also remember being one of the last fans kicked out of the Pepsi Center after the horrific game 7 collapse. I remember Wild fans jumping in joy and dancing in the concourse. It sucked.
I read every review on what the Avs need to do in the off season to make the team better. Almost every one of them had Stastny going away for a big name free agent on D. Little did the writers or myself realize how much Stastny meant to the organization. He was the rock on any line he played on. He was the link between a goal scorer and the puck.
But the bitter realization for Paul didn't come until after opening day. By then most Avalanche fans realized that the organization had balked in the free agency period by not signing a D man to secure the 1st line with Erik Johnson. We've paid over and over for that mistake, and just about everyone saw it coming. The only thing that has stopped the Avalanche from entering full meltdown mode is the combination of Varlamov and Pickard.
The power play has been horrific. I've lost track of the amount of games where the Avs allowed over 40 shots in a game. It's also been a horrific year for scoring. This team is near last coming off a season where Roy won coach of the year, and Varly was in line for the Vezina while MacKinnon took home rookie of the year honors.
There won't be many NHL award trophies for the Avs to collect this year, and if they keep playing like this, they won't have the opportunity to play for the best trophy of them all: the stanley cup.
Here is what I think the Avalanche need to do:
1. Trade Ryan O'reilly. He has made it clear that he doesn't want to be here. He won't sign for less than 6 million a year and we really cannot afford that price. He could be part of a great talk for a defensemen.
2. Jettison Duchene. I've committed a sin! I know! If this happens I'll have two former Avs jerseys. I love Duchene in an Avalanche jersey, but he doesn't match the gritty front man that we've gotten from Landeskog and MacKinnon. Even though MacKinnon is smaller than Landy, he will still fight. Duchene almost seems like Crosby, without the blazing skill.
3. Pick up a long term D man. I think this can be accomplished by doing 1 of the first 2. We need a stable name. Honestly I don't think the Avs have the time to develop another D man. Siemens has been a disaster, and we've only become recently fortunate by having another goalie in the wings should this long term project go into the contract of another goalie.
4. Take more risk in the draft. Duchene and Siemens were both taken in the first round of the same draft. Duchene was sure to be a success, and Siemens was thought to be a 2 year project before coming to the NHL. Not the case.
If the Avs make the playoffs this year, I'll be very happy. If they don't, I hope they address some of these issues this off season rather than watching O'Reilly walk next year. I also think of Duchene as the Patrick Kane of our team. Great skill, but not a leader.
Sting VS. Triple H WWE Fastlane
I've covered WWE/F for quite a while now. I've watch the fake "wrestling" through it's greatest days, and it's weakest moments.
These days, WWE is nothing more than a show which is not producing. I will relinquish the time as the authority out of power as one of the worst times in recent memory. It was horrible, nothing worse than the random match generator that hosted the show for a night.
Now it's WWE Fastlane. I will be the first to tell you I won't be paying/watching for the show unless Monday Night Raw is cancelled due to inclement weather.
Here is why:
About every 4 weeks (1 month) a new WWE Pay-Per-View is loaded. We get 3 weeks of build up followed by a Raw which features the marquee match ups previewing what we will miss if we don't purchase. A good portion of the time, the lead up to the PPV isn't very good. We see one stable, Rusev, dominating the field but never contending for anything big. Then we get a bunch of B.S matches, and if the Diva's are not going for another title match that is just a show about good looking women.
The problem with fast lane, is that the matches have been promoted for well over a month now. At raw in Denver (I missed and I live here, shame) Stephanie pretty much said that the results of the royal rumble don't matter and Roman Reigns will face Daniel Bryan for the number 1 contender. Here's my problem with this: Daniel Bryan deserves a title defense. He along with Randy Orton never got their shot at redemption. It's only fitting that the Authority kicks Reigns' off the match up to give Bryan his second shot. Really, Roman's chances of being the next big thing fell last year when he had that hernia surgery the night before summer slam. So it's only natural to give the shot to Bryan.
This despite that due to the surgery, Reigns has not faced Rollins or Dean Ambroze to fully cook the Shield.
So you can pretty much expect Bryan to be head lining wwe fastlane, and wrestlemania. I think that will be a garbage match anyways because it's the last major PPV before Seth Rollins has to cash in his briefcase. So this sets up one of two situations: Bryan vs Lesnar with the winner facing Seth Rollins. Or one of the next 3 remaining PPV shows after for Rollins to cash in creating a moment that so many missed. I honestly think the lead up to Wrestlemania will have Rollins pissed at someone leaving no doubt that he cashes in.
Back to Fastlane. Normally in the Raw before a PPV, we get to see the two opponents near each other creating the need to purchase the PPV. Lesnar and the Undertaker before Wrestlemania, Cena and Lesnar before summer slam and the Night of Champions when Cena met face to face and actually brawled on Raw. Then the authority vs team Cena on the Raw before Survivor Series.
Now, we should have had sting vs triple H. Instead we get Triple H vs his mentor, Ric Flair. Raw is about selling the PPV and the lead up to it. This was a horrific gaff that certainly will be felt in the amount WWE doesn't get this weekend.
These days, WWE is nothing more than a show which is not producing. I will relinquish the time as the authority out of power as one of the worst times in recent memory. It was horrible, nothing worse than the random match generator that hosted the show for a night.
Now it's WWE Fastlane. I will be the first to tell you I won't be paying/watching for the show unless Monday Night Raw is cancelled due to inclement weather.
Here is why:
About every 4 weeks (1 month) a new WWE Pay-Per-View is loaded. We get 3 weeks of build up followed by a Raw which features the marquee match ups previewing what we will miss if we don't purchase. A good portion of the time, the lead up to the PPV isn't very good. We see one stable, Rusev, dominating the field but never contending for anything big. Then we get a bunch of B.S matches, and if the Diva's are not going for another title match that is just a show about good looking women.
The problem with fast lane, is that the matches have been promoted for well over a month now. At raw in Denver (I missed and I live here, shame) Stephanie pretty much said that the results of the royal rumble don't matter and Roman Reigns will face Daniel Bryan for the number 1 contender. Here's my problem with this: Daniel Bryan deserves a title defense. He along with Randy Orton never got their shot at redemption. It's only fitting that the Authority kicks Reigns' off the match up to give Bryan his second shot. Really, Roman's chances of being the next big thing fell last year when he had that hernia surgery the night before summer slam. So it's only natural to give the shot to Bryan.
This despite that due to the surgery, Reigns has not faced Rollins or Dean Ambroze to fully cook the Shield.
So you can pretty much expect Bryan to be head lining wwe fastlane, and wrestlemania. I think that will be a garbage match anyways because it's the last major PPV before Seth Rollins has to cash in his briefcase. So this sets up one of two situations: Bryan vs Lesnar with the winner facing Seth Rollins. Or one of the next 3 remaining PPV shows after for Rollins to cash in creating a moment that so many missed. I honestly think the lead up to Wrestlemania will have Rollins pissed at someone leaving no doubt that he cashes in.
Back to Fastlane. Normally in the Raw before a PPV, we get to see the two opponents near each other creating the need to purchase the PPV. Lesnar and the Undertaker before Wrestlemania, Cena and Lesnar before summer slam and the Night of Champions when Cena met face to face and actually brawled on Raw. Then the authority vs team Cena on the Raw before Survivor Series.
Now, we should have had sting vs triple H. Instead we get Triple H vs his mentor, Ric Flair. Raw is about selling the PPV and the lead up to it. This was a horrific gaff that certainly will be felt in the amount WWE doesn't get this weekend.
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