The 10 most notable sluggish starts for good players – Puck Daddy – NHL
13 Nov
24
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It's early. Very early. Players that look like the weight of the world has crushed their spirits seven games into a season can end up leading their teams in points by the end of it. But scanning the stat sheets in the NHL, there are a few notable names that are off to sluggish starts. Some are expected -- Jonathan Cheechoo(notes) (0-2-2 in seven games) struggling is as much as harbinger of autumn as pumpkin pie and postseason baseball -- but others are a bit unexpected. Here are 10 notable position players off to inauspicious starts this season.LW David Booth(notes), Florida ...
Reebok remembers the Whale: New Hartford jerseys hit market – Puck Daddy – NHL
13 Nov
25
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In 1997, the Hartford Whalers relocated to become the Carolina Hurricanes. Since then, the Whale have gained a blissful nostalgia -- from die-hard fans attempting to resurrect the franchise to hockey gear-heads who collect and trade the distinctly colored Whalers fashions.While T-shirts and other branded merchandise have been readily available from Shop NHL and Mitchell & Ness, Whalers jerseys were only found on auction sites like eBay and typically secondhand. Unlike other defunct franchises like the Quebec Nordiques and the Winnipeg Jets, the NHL's swag partners didn't produce Hartford Whalers sweaters. Strike up the Brass Bonanza, because that's about to ...
Monday's Three Stars: Setoguchi keys Sharks rout at MSG – Puck Daddy – NHL
13 Nov
31
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No. 1 star: Devin Setoguchi(notes), San Jose SharksHuge 7-3 road win for the Sharks (video), and Setoguchi put it away against the New York Rangers in the second period with a pair of goals: A hard-working power-play tally near Stephen Valiquette's(notes) crease and a sniper shot on a Patrick Marleau(notes) feed for his seventh of the season. Setoguchi later assisted on Marleau's seventh for a three-point night. San Jose snaps the Rangers' seven-game winning streak. No. 2 star: Justin Williams(notes), Los Angeles KingsRyan Smyth(notes) led the Kings with three assists, but it was Williams who gave Los Angeles the lead ...
Puck Previews: Kings send Frolov message with healthy scratch – Puck Daddy – NHL
13 Nov
25
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Here are your Puck Previews: Spotlighting the key games in NHL action, news and views as well as general frivolity. Make sure to stop back here for the nightly Three Stars when the games are finished. Preview: Los Angeles Kings at Dallas Stars, 8:30 p.m. The big news here is the benching of Alexander Frolov(notes), who is a healthy scratch tonight after Coach Terry Murray said he's been unhappy with the Russian's play "for several games." Said Dean Lombardi to Rich Hammond of Kings Insider: "He's either going to get on board or we'll go in another direction with him." ...
Thursday Night Spotlight: What happened to Chicago's defense? – Shutdown Corner – NFL
13 Nov
1
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Through most of this decade, and certainly in their Super Bowl season in 2006, the Chicago Bears were defined by what's always defined the franchise -- defenses as tough as a dollar steak, and as ornery as Mike Ditka without a cigar. From 2004 through 2008, Chicago's defense never ranked lower than ninth in Football Outsiders' Defensive DVOA statistic, first overall in 2005, and first in Pass Defense DVOA in 2005 and 2006. As the team ran through a series of regrettable quarterback decisions, it was the defense and special teams that kept the team together. Not any more. Da ...
School suspends eighth-grader over his Bengals-themed haircut – Shutdown Corner – NFL
13 Nov
1
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The Cincinnati Bengals, as they've so rarely been in the team's history, are very good right now. Naturally, this has people in Ohio excited.One eighth-grade lad named Dustin Reader was so excited, in fact, that the got his hair cut to resemble a Cincinnati Bengals helmet. And why not? That's the kind of thing that seems like a good idea when you're an eighth-grader or Ron Artest. As you can see, he's got the helmet stripes shaved in there, and the Bengals "B" logo carved into the back of his head. It's everything you could ever want from a Bengals ...
Chad Ochocinco sheds light on little-known NFL rule – Shutdown Corner – NFL
13 Nov
0
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It's laminated and everything, so it must be official.That comes from Ocho himself, the irrepressible scamp that he is, on his Twitter account. In other Ocho news, he's also rambling about how he wants to fight UFC superstar Anderson Silva for charity. Let's hope that fight doesn't come together before the weekend, because it would be really nice if Chad could still walk on Sunday for the game against the Steelers. ...
Report: The Who will rock Super Bowl XLIV – Shutdown Corner – NFL
13 Nov
0
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SI.com's Hot Clicks breaks the news this morning that The Who will be performing during halftime of Super Bowl XLIV. There was some earlier talk of Bon Jovi playing the gig, but I guess that didn't work out.Opinions will vary, as they always do. Optimistically, I do believe that The Who has some songs that will make for a fun halftime show -- "Baba O'Riley", "Won't Get Fooled Again", "Who Are You", and "The Seeker", to throw out a few. I'm also assured by Jamie Mottram, who's seen them perform live recently, that The Who can "still bring it."Myself, I've ...
On the Corner, podcast #31: Breesus and his Saints – Shutdown Corner – NFL
13 Nov
2
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This week's guest is Saints expert, Fanhouse.com blogger and all-around affable gentleman, Tom Mantzouranis. As that might imply, it's a Saints-heavy edition of the podcast, as we talk about what's causing them to fall behind in games, Reggie Bush's role (or lack thereof), whether or not 16-0 is possible or even preferable and how the Saints stack up next to the Vikings and Colts.Also, this episode's Abusive E-mail of the Week, from a fellow named Jeremy Larson, goes way, way, way too far. The Picks Segment is kind of fun, too, as I get to review last week's 5-0 against-the-spread ...
Jared Allen: The Mullet Lifestyle demands extra mayonnaise – Shutdown Corner – NFL
13 Nov
2
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I will probably never be a president of the Jared Allen(notes) fan club, but this is awesome, and our be-mulleted readers deserve to see it."If someone asks if you want extra mayonnaise, you have to say 'yes'. 'Cause that's part of it." I think that makes more sense than anything I've ever heard. From now on, I'm keeping a pair of scissors on me at all times, and if I ever heard a man with a mullet turn down extra mayonnaise, I'm cutting the neck blanket right off him. He doesn't deserve it. And if he doesn't like it, he ...