Allow me as a hockey fan to express frustration at the extensive over-analysis of every single marginal hit in the NHL. Those of us who follow the hockey media on Twitter are aware that almost every night the commentary is dominated by debating which hits deserve a suspension. I'm not even opposed to suspensions for dangerous or reckless hits, I'm annoyed at how much each hit is being analyzed on the air. Many of us hockey fans want to know who is playing well, who looks out of shape, who is healthy, and other hockey news about the actual games beyond disciplinary measures. Please Bob MacKenzie, help me win my hockey pool, because right now all I'm getting from you are dissections of incidents that I'm not interested in.
Player safety is important and I am not trying to diminish the well being of players in any way, except to point out that it has reached a point where it has consumed the media.
A blog focusing mostly on fantasy hockey, player contracts, and NHL betting. My site has moved to Substack (click here to subscribe for free). I'll continue posting some stuff here, just to keep my old Slatekeeper site alive. This site was founded back in November 2010.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Detroit Lions 2012 Super Bowl Champions?
Perhaps I am just a long suffering Detroit Lions fan who has never seen his team start a season 3-0, but I am ready to declare that this team is a legitimate Super Bowl contender. They belong in the conversation. It is not a joke. This is the real thing. They have one of the scariest defensive players in a generation with Ndamukong Suh, and the Stafford-Megatron combination is unstoppable. Believe it. Throw in a running back with one of the coolest names ever (Jahvid Best), and book your ticket to the 2012 Super Bowl. Three wins to start the season, the ghosts of Matt Millen nearly purged, and this is the season to be excited.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Ashton Kutcher Brutal On Two And A Half Men
I was curious to see Ashton Kutcher replace Charlie Sheen on 2.5 Men so I tuned in tonight for the season premier. It was awful, and most importantly, Ashton was awful. He was not funny. He did not make me laugh once. By comparison the Charlie Sheen Roast on Comedy Central was hilarious, at least if you cut out the parts with Mike Tyson. Iron Mike talked way too much, and only about 5% of what he said was entertaining (which sadly was more than could be said about Ashton's debut). I'll probably watch a few more episodes of the new 2.5 Men just because there are so many terrible shows on television right now, and also I'm curious to watch this train wreck.
If you think about it, what has Kutcher ever done other than Kelso that could be deemed entertaining? He's sucked in every movie he's been in. Did you see the lifeguard movie with Costner? Ash has a scene where he tells a painful story and starts to cry, in one of the worst acting performances you'll ever see. He can do Kelso, but that's about the extent of his dramatic range. Go out on the street and randomly ask people to name one movie featuring Ashton Kutcher, and I'll bet you the most common response is Dude Where's My Car. That's nothing to brag about...
His greatest claim to fame is nailing Demi Moore.
If you think about it, what has Kutcher ever done other than Kelso that could be deemed entertaining? He's sucked in every movie he's been in. Did you see the lifeguard movie with Costner? Ash has a scene where he tells a painful story and starts to cry, in one of the worst acting performances you'll ever see. He can do Kelso, but that's about the extent of his dramatic range. Go out on the street and randomly ask people to name one movie featuring Ashton Kutcher, and I'll bet you the most common response is Dude Where's My Car. That's nothing to brag about...
His greatest claim to fame is nailing Demi Moore.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
LA Kings Screwing Up Doughty Negotiations
While you can't blame the LA Kings for trying to keep their payroll under the salary cap, their public refusal to pay Drew Doughty a penny more than Anze Kopitar is both ridiculous and stupid. Do a poll of NHL GMs and ask which player they would rather have, Doughty or Kopitar, and at least 95% of them will say Doughty guaranteed. He is far more valuable than Kopitar, who at $6.8M per season is arguably over-paid. Yes, Doughty slipped from 59 PTS in 2010 to 40 PTS last season and he has yet to lead his team to the 2nd round of the playoffs; but this kid has an elite skill set and a very bright future. He was the best defenseman on Team Canada's gold medal squad in Vancouver on the highest stage against the world's best competition. Also, which side disclosed the "not a penny more than Kopitar" sticking point? I don't see how making it personal benefits team chemistry.
If the Red Wings signed Doughty to an $8M per season offer sheet, I would be ecstatic. Players of his skill level, size, and poise are very rare indeed.
If the Red Wings signed Doughty to an $8M per season offer sheet, I would be ecstatic. Players of his skill level, size, and poise are very rare indeed.
Monday, September 12, 2011
Steve Nash Snubs Canada
Canadian sports fans enjoy taking pride in the accomplishments of NBA star Steve Nash, who is arguably the best basketball player this country has ever produced. Meanwhile, Nash snubbed Team Canada for the Olympic qualifiers and the team failed to qualify for the 2012 Olympics in London. Had Nash played, the odds of the team winning a spot on the highest world stage would have been dramatically higher, and frankly I am disappointed. You don't see that kind of patriotic apathy from hockey players who take great pride in wearing the Canada jersey. I don't really care if Nash has a disagreement with how the team has been managed because that has nothing to do with Canadian basketball fans who just want to watch the team compete at the highest level. Steve Nash let down Canadian sports fans. You would never see that kind of selfishness from a hockey player. Not even Eric Lindros ever turned down an opportunity to play with the Olympic team.
I have lost respect for Steve Nash. He spent more time this summer hanging out with Justin Beiber than he did representing Canada, when we needed him the most.
I have lost respect for Steve Nash. He spent more time this summer hanging out with Justin Beiber than he did representing Canada, when we needed him the most.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
2011 Fantasy Football Rankings For 16 Team Leagues
Here are some advanced fantasy football rankings, modified for a 16 team league. Generally in a really deep league you are going to run out of running backs in a hurry, so oftentimes the best route is to wait on a QB unless you want Marshawn Lynch or Tim Hightower as your #1 RB. What you can get out of Mark Sanchez at pick 120 is greater than what you'll get from Thomas Jones in that same range. In one league I've got Cutler and Kolb, and in the other Flacco and Sanchez; where my RB tandems are McCoy/Moreno and Charles/Blount. Warning that the rankings below were last updated Sept 3rd before my last draft. Any news from the last week has not been accounted for (except I drew a line through Peyton Manning). Also after the Thursday game, I might Aaron Rodgers up to the 7th spot. The list does not include kickers or defenses. Sorry, I don't do defense....
1 | . | Adrian Peterson | Min | RB |
2 | . | Ray Rice | Bal | RB |
3 | . | Chris Johnson | Ten | RB |
4 | . | Arian Foster | Hou | RB |
5 | . | Jamaal Charles | KC | RB |
6 | . | LeSean McCoy | Phi | RB |
7 | . | Rashard Mendenhall | Pit | RB |
8 | . | Roddy White | Atl | WR |
9 | . | Andre Johnson | Hou | WR |
10 | . | Aaron Rodgers | GB | QB |
11 | . | Michael Vick | Phi | QB |
12 | . | Calvin Johnson | Det | WR |
13 | . | Michael Turner | Atl | RB |
14 | . | Greg Jennings | GB | WR |
15 | . | Maurice Jones-Drew | Jac | RB |
16 | . | Frank Gore | SF | RB |
17 | . | Larry Fitzgerald | Ari | WR |
18 | . | Darren McFadden | Oak | RB |
19 | . | Matt Forte | Chi | RB |
20 | . | Steven Jackson | StL | RB |
21 | . | Peyton Hillis | Cle | RB |
22 | . | Drew Brees | NO | QB |
23 | . | Vincent Jackson | SD | WR |
24 | . | Philip Rivers | SD | QB |
25 | . | LeGarrette Blount | TB | RB |
26 | . | Mike Wallace | Pit | WR |
27 | . | Hakeem Nicks | NYG | WR |
28 | . | DeSean Jackson | Phi | WR |
29 | . | Tom Brady | NE | QB |
30 | . | Knowshon Moreno | Den | RB |
31 | . | Ahmad Bradshaw | NYG | RB |
32 | . | Miles Austin | Dal | WR |
33 | . | Reggie Wayne | Ind | WR |
34 | . | Tony Romo | Dal | QB |
35 | . | Felix Jones | Dal | RB |
36 | . | Dwayne Bowe | KC | WR |
37 | . | Dez Bryant | Dal | WR |
38 | . | Shonn Greene | NYJ | RB |
39 | . | Mike Williams | TB | WR |
40 | . | DeAngelo Williams | Car | RB |
41 | . | Brandon Lloyd | Den | WR |
42 | . | Santonio Holmes | NYJ | WR |
43 | . | Ind | QB | |
44 | . | BenJarvus Green-Ellis | NE | RB |
45 | . | Antonio Gates | SD | TE |
46 | . | Jeremy Maclin | Phi | WR |
47 | . | Ben Roethlisberger | Pit | QB |
48 | . | Jahvid Best | Det | RB |
49 | . | Jermichael Finley | GB | TE |
50 | . | Jason Witten | Dal | TE |
51 | . | Ryan Mathews | SD | RB |
52 | . | Mark Ingram | NO | RB |
53 | . | Cedric Benson | Cin | RB |
54 | . | Stevie Johnson | Buf | WR |
55 | . | Brandon Marshall | Mia | WR |
56 | . | Percy Harvin | Min | WR |
57 | . | Matt Schaub | Hou | QB |
58 | . | Matt Ryan | Atl | QB |
59 | . | Josh Freeman | TB | QB |
60 | . | Mike Tolbert | SD | RB |
61 | . | Marques Colston | NO | WR |
62 | . | Dallas Clark | Ind | TE |
63 | . | Vernon Davis | SF | TE |
64 | . | Beanie Wells | Ari | RB |
65 | . | Jonathan Stewart | Car | RB |
66 | . | Daniel Thomas | Mia | RB |
67 | . | Ryan Grant | GB | RB |
68 | . | Wes Welker | NE | WR |
69 | . | Anquan Boldin | Bal | WR |
70 | . | Mario Manningham | NYG | WR |
71 | . | Chad Ochocinco | NE | WR |
72 | . | Fred Jackson | Buf | RB |
73 | . | Marshawn Lynch | Sea | RB |
74 | . | Joseph Addai | Ind | RB |
75 | . | Reggie Bush | Mia | RB |
76 | . | Kenny Britt | Ten | WR |
77 | . | Julio Jones WR | Atl | WR |
78 | . | Malcom Floyd | SD | WR |
79 | . | Santana Moss | Was | WR |
80 | . | Plaxico Burress | NYJ | WR |
81 | . | Pierre Garcon | Ind | WR |
82 | . | Eli Manning | NYG | QB |
83 | . | Joe Flacco | Bal | QB |
84 | . | Matthew Stafford | Det | QB |
85 | . | Sam Bradford | StL | QB |
86 | . | Owen Daniels | Hou | TE |
87 | . | Marcedes Lewis | Jac | TE |
88 | . | Pierre Thomas | NO | RB |
89 | . | James Starks | GB | RB |
90 | . | Brandon Jacobs | NYG | RB |
91 | . | C.J. Spiller | Buf | RB |
92 | . | Lance Moore | NO | WR |
93 | . | Mike Thomas | Jac | WR |
94 | . | A.J. Green | Cin | WR |
95 | . | Steve Smith | Car | WR |
96 | . | Johnny Knox | Chi | WR |
97 | . | Jordy Nelson | GB | WR |
98 | . | Braylon Edwards | SF | WR |
99 | . | Sidney Rice | Sea | WR |
100 | . | Derrick Mason | NYJ | WR |
101 | . | Matt Cassel | KC | QB |
102 | . | Jay Cutler | Chi | QB |
103 | . | Kevin Kolb | Ari | QB |
104 | . | Mark Sanchez | NYJ | QB |
105 | . | Jimmy Graham | NO | TE |
106 | . | Kellen Winslow | TB | TE |
107 | . | Michael Bush | Oak | RB |
108 | . | LaDainian Tomlinson | NYJ | RB |
109 | . | Tim Hightower | Was | RB |
110 | . | Roy Helu RB | Was | RB |
111 | . | Lee Evans | Bal | WR |
112 | . | Emmanuel Sanders | Pit | WR |
113 | . | Jacoby Jones | Hou | WR |
114 | . | Michael Crabtree | SF | WR |
115 | . | Austin Collie | Ind | WR |
116 | . | Kyle Orton | Den | QB |
117 | . | Colt McCoy | Cle | QB |
118 | . | David Garrard | Jac | QB |
119 | . | Tony Gonzalez | Atl | TE |
120 | . | Dustin Keller | NYJ | TE |
121 | . | Aaron Hernandez | NE | TE |
122 | . | Greg Olsen | Car | TE |
123 | . | Zach Miller | Sea | TE |
124 | . | Roy Williams | Chi | WR |
125 | . | Jacoby Ford | Oak | WR |
126 | Antonio Brown | Pit | WR | |
127 | . | Davone Bess | Mia | WR |
128 | . | Jerome Simpson | Cin | WR |
129 | . | Mike Williams | Sea | WR |
130 | . | Robert Meachem | NO | WR |
131 | . | Thomas Jones | KC | RB |
132 | . | Ryan Torain | Was | RB |
133 | . | Montario Hardesty | Cle | RB |
134 | . | Danny Woodhead | NE | RB |
135 | . | Willis McGahee | Den | RB |
136 | . | Anthony Armstrong | Was | WR |
137 | . | Deion Branch | NE | WR |
138 | . | Mike Sims-Walker | StL | WR |
139 | . | Steve Breaston | KC | WR |
140 | . | Danny Amendola | StL | WR |
141 | . | Nate Burleson | Det | WR |
142 | . | Ryan Fitzpatrick | Buf | QB |
143 | . | Donovan McNabb | Min | QB |
144 | . | Matt Hasselbeck | Ten | QB |
145 | . | Jason Campbell | Oak | QB |
146 | . | Chris Cooley | Was | TE |
147 | . | Rob Gronkowski | NE | TE |
148 | . | Brandon Pettigrew | Det | TE |
149 | . | Brent Celek | Phi | TE |
150 | . | Tony Moeaki | KC | TE |
151 | . | Ronnie Brown | Phi | RB |
152 | . | Christopher Ivory | NO | RB |
153 | . | Tashard Choice | Dal | RB |
154 | . | Kendall Hunter RB | SF | RB |
155 | . | Darren Sproles | NO | RB |
156 | . | Hines Ward | Pit | WR |
157 | . | Jordan Shipley | Cin | WR |
158 | . | Roscoe Parrish | Buf | WR |
159 | . | Louis Murphy | Oak | WR |
160 | . | Jason Avant | Phi | WR |
161 | . | Eddie Royal | Den | WR |
162 | . | Devin Hester | Chi | WR |
163 | . | Jermaine Gresham | Cin | TE |
164 | . | Todd Heap | Ari | TE |
165 | . | Jared Cook | Ten | TE |
166 | . | Anthony Fasano | Mia | TE |
167 | Heath Miller | Pit | TE | |
168 | . | Alex Smith | SF | QB |
169 | . | Vince Young | Phi | QB |
170 | . | Mike Goodson | Car | RB |
171 | Jimmy Clausen | Car | QB | |
172 | . | Ben Tate RB | Hou | RB |
173 | . | DeMarco Murray RB | Dal | RB |
174 | . | Ricky Williams | Bal | RB |
175 | . | Donald Brown | Ind | RB |
176 | . | Justin Forsett | Sea | RB |
177 | Derrick Ward | Hou | RB | |
178 | . | Shane Vereen RB | NE | RB |
179 | Marion Barber | Chi | RB | |
180 | LaRod Stephens-Howling | Ari | RB |
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