I think I may have just broken a personal record for the longest post title in Mid-Atlantic Bias history. For those of you unaware (and really, if you come here for breaking sports news, you’re probably missing out on a lot) the Miami Dolphins have decided to start the NFL Draft 5 days early by signing Michigan Offensive Lineman Jake Long, thus cementing his status as the first offensive lineman taken first overall since the St. Louis Rams drafted another Big Ten Tackle, Orlando Pace, first overall in 1997. Time will obviously tell whether Jake Long will have the success of Orlando Pace or the failure of Aaron Gibson, however, the Dolphins did the right thing here and didn’t try to make a sexy splash by taking a quarterback (Matt Ryan) or the hot flavor of the moment (Vernon Gholston). I’m interested in seeing where they’ll head with the first pick in the second round. My guess would be that they would stay on the offensive side of the ball, perhaps at receiver, or maybe even at QB.
So, if you’re a loyal reader, you know that I was away for the last 3 days of Mid-Atlantic Bias (because, again, the Weekend Edition went the way of Old Yeller). I apologize for not being as frequent in my posts, though those of you who know why I was gone, probably understand. To make up for my absence, I didn’t want to leave you with a brief 600 word post today. So, to make this as epic as possible, I am going to write about all four major sports today at some sort of length.
NHL:
I don’t know why it happens this way. But it happens every year. Every year I find myself ignoring the NHL’s regular season, acting as though it was Preseason NFL football. And then, the moment the playoff start, I become Don Cherry (look him up, kids). So, every day of the postseason, I have found myself watching at least one game. At this point, I have seen every team play, and I stick to last week’s assertion that the Penguins an Stars are the two best teams in hockey right now. But that’s not why I’m writing about the NHL today.
No, I am writing to talk about Game 6. The game’s overall result becomes seemingly diluted after last night’s breakdown. But, I for one, will always remember watching this game, and will classify it as not just one of the greatest hockey games I have ever seen, but one of the most memorable sporting events of 2008; better than the Super Bowl, better than the Memphis/Tennessee game or the Memphis/Kansas game, etc. To the readers of this blog who were at the game, I will forever be somewhat jealous of you for being part of the crowd that very well may have revived hockey in Boston.
Perhaps it was the way the Bruins won on Saturday that did them in, ultimately, last night in Montreal. Every time you though that the Canadiens had the game, the Bruins would score. You could tell that they wanted the game more. That was no more apparent than on the play where Marco Sturm blazed down the left wing, past both Canadiens defenders, and led Phil Kessel perfectly to Carey Price’s left to give the Bruins a 4-3 lead.
Of course, 11 seconds later, Christopher Higgins of the Canadiens scored an easy goal before the PA Announcer was done yelling “Woo!” And at that point, the Bruins could have easily said, “Look, we weren’t really supposed to be here. Everyone (including myself) had us pegged to go down in a sweep. We hadn’t beaten Montreal in a game since the Garfield administration. Now here we are in Game 6 and when we have the win, they take it away quicker than our announcer can call the previous goal.” But the Bruins didn’t lie down. Instead, Marco Sturm scored with about 2 minutes left in the game and the B’s held on for the most memorable hockey win in Boston since Ray Bourque left town.
My hope, of course, is that the bandwagon jumpers (myself included) stay on the bandwagon next year and conversely, that the Bruins management does not do as the Bruins management has been known to do and fudge things up. The Bruins made it this far having lost their best offensive player in the first week of the season to a head and neck injury. With him back next season, joining the emerging Phil Kessel, the future face of this team, Milan Lucic, and the already established Marc Savard and Marco Sturm the Bruins offensive problems should be gone. I just hope that the aura and feeling that Game 6 brought to the Garden won’t be gone as well.
NFL:
ESPN.com recently released the 50 biggest draft busts of all time, which I read, and hated, because of the insane omissions found (or not found) on the list. So, with that in mind, here are my rankings of the previous 15 first overall picks in the Draft (Jake Long not included) based on the success they’ve had and the potential they still possess.
15. Ki-Jana Carter (Cincinnati Bengals)
-When you tear your ACL on your third carry in your NFL career, you’re destined to be the worst overall top pick in any block of time.
14. Tim Couch (Cleveland Browns)
-Keep in mind that when a player has a section on their Wikipedia page called, “Attempted Comebacks” and “Drug Allegations” they probably weren’t a great first pick either. The most telling Tim Couch situation was when he hurt his neck in a game and the crowd cheered when he was taken off on a stretcher. His home crowd.
13. David Carr (Houston Texans)
-Just couldn’t learn how to not get sacked.
12. Courtney Brown (Cleveland Browns)
-He did nothing in Cleveland. He didn’t do very much more in Denver. That’s two Penn State players and two Cleveland Browns picks among four. Clearly, their doing something right.
11. Dan Wilkinson (Cincinnati Bengals)
-When your nickname is “Big Daddy” because you’re a fat cow that can’t move quickly, you’re not going to impress many people as a pro. He is at least a serviceable backup now.
10. Alex Smith (San Francisco 49ers)
-Thus proving my theory that white, system quarterbacks don’t work in the NFL.
0. Michael Vick (Atlanta Falcons)
-It really says a lot about David Carr, Tim Couch, and Alex Smith that they are ranked below the quarterback who is currently playing football for a Kansas Federal Penitentiary because he ran a dogfighting ring and killed dogs.
8. JaMarcus Russell (Oakland Raiders)
-The jury is still out. Though not impressed so far.
7. Keyshawn Johnson (New York Jets)
-His biggest contribution to the game of football was a book about how he wanted the damn ball.
6. Carson Palmer (Cincinnati Bengals)
-A great quarterback, but he has never won a big game, in the pros or college. All the skill, none of the success.
5. Drew Bledsoe (New England Patriots)
-See “Carson Palmer.”
4. Mario Williams (Houston Texans)
-It’s still early, but he has all the potential to become a dominant edge rusher in his career. Speed and power. He’s got it all for a D-Lineman. I would have taken D’Brickashaw Fergueson with this pick in 2006. Now, I would take Williams.
3. Eli Manning (New York Giants)
-He’s won a Super Bowl. Simple as that.
2. Orlando Pace (St. Louis Rams)
-(second reference in today’s blog to him…strange). You can’t measure the value of an O-Lineman, but consider the offensive success the Rams had with Kurt Warner and Marc Bulger than imagine them doing that without Pace.
1. Peyton Manning (Indianapolis Colts)
-This isn’t a shock to anyone. At least I hope not.
MLB:
MLB Power Rankings (Installment Number 1 of the 2008 Season. Based on current success and future potential. Hence the Yankees being ahead of the Marlins)
30. San Francisco Giants
29. Washington Nationals
28. Texas Rangers
27. Pittsburgh Pirates
26. Kansas City Royals
25. Tampa Bay Rays
24. Cincinnati Reds
23. Houston Astros
22. Los Angeles Dodgers
21. Minnesota Twins
20. Baltimore Orioles
19. Colorado Rockies
18. Detroit Tigers
17. Cleveland Indians
16. San Diego Padres
15. Seattle Mariners
14. Florida Marlins
13. Toronto Blue Jays
12. Philadelphia Phillies
11. New York Yankees
10. Oakland Athletics
9. New York Mets
8. Atlanta Braves
7. Milwaukee Brewers
6. Chicago White Sox
5. St. Louis Cardinals
4. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim of Los Angeles
3. Chicago Cubs
2. Arizona Diamondbacks
1. Boston Red Sox
NBA:
So, yes the playoff have started already. However, here were my picks, including my upset special which now makes me look like I’m riding a team’s success to make myself look good. Nonetheless, take these picks to the bank. What you do with them while at the bank is ultimately up to you.
Eastern Conference:
Boston over Atlanta in 4
Philadelphia over Detroit in 6
Cleveland over Washington in 6
Orlando over Toronto in 5
Western Conference:
Los Angeles over Denver in 4
New Orleans over Dallas in 6
San Antonio over Phoenix in 5
Utah over Houston in 5
Game O’ The Day: Philadelphia @ Washington (Game 7). It’s a game 7 in sports. Just watch it.
Mid-Atlantic Bias 
I also jumped on the Bruins bandwagon and dont want to jump off. Lucic is a God. I enjoyed watching him quite a bit these playoffs. I find it quite stupid when there is a fight in hockey because one team hit a “good” player on the other team. Now I have argued with many people about fighting in hockey and I have slowly accepted it is part of the game. However back to my point, as I said I hate it when a good player gets hit and goes to his bench so that an enforcer can go on and fight. If said good player was hit in such a way that the hitter deserves to get their ass kicked, than said good player should throw down. Of course if said good player can no longer fight due to other issues than send an enforcer, but if not said good player needs to grow some nuts. Now to wrap up this ramble. Lucic is both good and has nuts. He is more than willing to throw down and knows what to do with the puck. More players should follow Lucic lead.Also Drew Bledsoe is a small god.Also I will stay a loyal reader even if Mid-Atlantic Bias needs to take a short hiatus, much like a certain band that I listen to on occasion by the name of phish. So sir, feel free to take some time off without worrying about the loss of true fans.
The Bruins proved a lot of people wrong. Sadly, Glen Murray is done and needs to be bought out, and they need to bring in a sniper (Marian Hossa, anyone?). Also, the Bruins need to upgrade from Aaron Ward to a puck moving defenseman like JM Liles. They’re very strong up the middle, however, with Krejci, Bergeron, Savard, Sobotka and Nokelainen, and they have other solid complementary players, like Sturm, Kobasew, Axellson, Schaeffer and Thornton. Kessel and Lucic have enormous potential, also, though I don’t think Lucic will ever be 25-30 goal scorer.I’m concerned about the Red Sox pitching, but they are the least flawed teamin the AL.No surprise, the Celtics are very good.
First off: I hope everything is ok with you.Second: I can’t believe no one else mentioned him, but Thomas was looking very very good in goal for the Bruins. Maybe it’s my goalie bias (I’ll admit that I do have one, and my allegiances always rest with the defensive portion of a team), but I think that his superb playing was another reason the Bruins managed to get so far in the series. I, too, hope that the Bruins don’t mess it all up for next season, because with them, the Caps, and the Pens all having resurgences, it should make for some very interesting hockey.Third: you were wrong in thinking that I would stop reading once the Rangers downed the Devils (such a sad game, it really was). If anything, I’m just now rooting for the Pens instead.Fourth: I’ll call it now: Penguins and Sharks for the Cup. We’ll see how it goes.