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Pro Sports Wrap - Sports Personality of the Day:Tony Romo

1. Pujols injury update

Albert Pujols will be out for about six weeks with a fractured left wrist in a season filled with ups and downs for Puj. He sustained this injury after colliding with Wilson Betemit of the Royals in a baseball play gone wrong. The Cards have had to deal with many injuries this season to their stars. Matt Holliday has missed time, David Freese is still out, and Adam Wainwright has missed the entire season.

"You can't replace a player of his magnitude," general manager John Mozeliak said. "It just seems like we've had to deal with one injury after another.


"We still have to find ways to win games, and that's what we'll do."

The Cardinals have found ways to win games thanks to some amazing play by Lance Berkman. I don't see him cooling off. He's hitting line drives, and his BABIP is right where it should be. Detractors will point to a high HR/FB%, but that number is in line with his career numbers. Berkman is healthy, and he's mashing.

2. All Boston does is win, win, win no matter what

I feel bad for the Padres, because they stood no chance. The Red Sox scored ten runs in the seventh inning and won the game 14-6 behind Adrian Gonzalez. The interesting thing is that Orlando Hudson was the only player to hit a homer in this game. He went 3 for 5 with two runs and three RBIs. Chase Headley went 4 for 5 with a double and two runs (he scored on Hudson's dinger).

The Red Sox scored on a double play, twice on an HBP, and twice again on a walk. Evan Scribner gave up four earned runs without getting an out, and Ernesto Frieri gave up four earned runs without even giving up a hit. He walked two and was responsible for the two batters hit by pitches. Adrian Gonzalez went 3 for 5 with a double, two runs, and three steaks.


3. Lidstrom will return

This is great news for hockey fans in general, and it's the best news ever for Red Wings fans. Fellow defenseman Brian Rafalski surprised everyone by retiring when all eyes were on Lidstrom. Much to the relief of GM Ken Holland, Lidstrom will play another season in the NHL. He still hasn't lost it, and he is my pick for the Norris Trophy.A testament to his sportsmanship and leadership, Lidstrom is also a finalist for the Lady Byng Trophy and Mark Messier Leadership Award.

4. Tim Hudson

That's all I need as a header for this one, because it was all about Hud in the Braves' 2-0 victory over the Jays. His Game Score of 85 was backed by a remarkable performance through eight innings. Hudson gave up just two hits and a walk while striking out eight. He broke the 1,600 mark in this game. The amazing Craig Kimbrel got his 20th save of the year by striking out the side.

Ricky Romero had a strong outing, but that was overshadowed by the greatness of Hudson. The veteran starter his his second career homer in the seventh inning with two outs. It was a two-run shot to left that was 401 feet out, and it generated the only runs scored in the game. It's safe to say that Hudson didn't have a bad game.

5. Is Jimmer a bust?

Jimmer was great in college, but I don't see him panning out in the NBA. He's a great shooter, he works hard, he's a leader, and he knows how to win games. But there have been tons of guys with those qualities who have busted out. Why? They're not good enough. Jimmer isn't a true point guard because he is only an average passer and he stinks on D. I see him being a below average player in the NBA whose real value is as a scorer off the bench. I love the kid, but I just don't see him as a guy who deserves to be a lottery pick. He should go in the late teens because of his college production.
Albert Pujols
Can the Cards get a break?
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2010 PSW Norris Trophy

April 23rd 2011 13:32
There were many defensemen that had great seasons this year, and it is extremely difficult for me to pick just one of them. Keith Yandle, Lubomir Visnovsky, Zdeno Chara, Nicklas Lidstrom, Kris Letang, Dustin Byfuglien, Shea Weber, and Christian Ehrhoff were outstanding in the 2010-2011 NHL season. My pick will be given to the guy that was a great defender and a great points-scorer as well.

Detroit Red Wings Nicklas Lidstrom

Nicklas Lidstrom is one of the best players of All-Time, and he has still been incredible as he has gotten older. We all know him for his leadership and stingy defense, and the captain has won the Norris Trophy six times in his career. The 40 year old defenseman recently was named one of the nominees for the Lady Byng trophy, and this is a testament to Lidstrom's sportsmanship. Loui Eriksson and Marty St. Louis are also in the running for the award that Lidstrom has been nominated for six times in his career.

There will be a street 30 miles from Detroit named in Lidstrom's honor. He was second behind Visnovsky in points scored for defensemen with 62. However, Lidstrom was the better player in defense; obviously the main duty for a defenseman. Lidstrom showed his workhose mentality and importance to his team by playing in all 82 games. It's yet another reason why he is a leader for the Wings.

Nicklas Lidstrom is one of the best players in the league on the power play. He is one of the main reasons as to why the Red Wings are tied with the Lightning for the team with the fourth best power play percentage in the league. His efficient offense, great passing, superb special teams ability, smart defense, and key leadership make him my Norris Trophy winner of this year by the slightest edge over Lubomir Visnovsky.
Nicklas Lidstrom
2010 PSW Norris Trophy Winner
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2010 PSW NBA and NHL All-Stars

April 21st 2011 15:17
I have assembled both of my All-Star teams for the NHL and NBA with both league's regular seasons having ended. There are three All-Star teams (or lines for hockey) and there is a goalie for each NHL line. This has nothing to do with team value, but rather how well the player played overall.

NHL

Line One

G Carey Price
D Lubomir Visnovsky
D Nicklad Lidstrom
W Daniel Sedin
W Corey Perry
C Henrik Sedin

Line Two

G Tim Thomas
D Zdeno Chara
D Keith Yandle
W Martin St. Louis
W Jarome Iginla
C Steve Stamkos

Line Three

G Pekka Rinne
D Dustin Byfuglien
D Christian Ehrhoff
W Alex Ovechkin
W Claude Giroux
C Ryan Kesler

NBA

Team One

PG Chris Paul
SG Dwayne Wade
SF LeBron James
PF Kevin Love
C Dwight Howard

Team Two

PG Derrick Rose
SG Kobe Bryant
SF Kevin Durant
PF Dirk Nowitzki
C Tim Duncan

Team Three

PG Russell Westbrook
SG Manu Ginobili
SF Carmelo Anthony
PF Pau Gasol
C Andrew Bynum
Kobe Bryant
Still A Beast
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2010 NHL Playoffs Round One

April 12th 2011 11:55
Eastern Conference

1 Capitals vs. 8 Rangers

The Rangers are a really inconsistent team, and their top player- Ryan Callahan- is out. That doesn't mix well against a Capitals team that is *gulp* better than they were last year. They are now much better defensively than they were, and Mike Green's return will signify even bigger and better things to come for Washington's defense. Prediction: Capitals in 4. MVP: Mike Knuble.

2 Flyers vs. 7 Sabres

The Sabres have surged lately to get to the playoffs, and they will meet a tough match against the Flyers. The Flyers have been off defensively of late, but it is very difficult to stop Jeff Carter and Danny Briere. Kimmo Timonen will hassle Vanek and Stafford en route to a close playoff series victory for the talented Flyers. Prediction: Flyers in 6. MVP: Claude Giroux.

3 Boston Bruins and 6 Montreal Canadiens

Wow. What a draw! The tensions are still boiling after the Chara hit, but the Canadiens don't have the talent to back it up. Carey Price and Tim Thomas will make up a battle between two Vezina finalists, but the Canadiens lack the star power that Boston has. It will be a great series that is filled with emotion, but the Canadiens just don't have the offense. Scott Gomez has not stepped up at all, and rookie P.K. Subban will not be able to win it all by himself. Prediction: Bruins in 6. MVP: Tim Thomas.

4 Penguins and 5 Lightning

Dan Bylsma has to be the greatest coach in hockey. He has led his Pens without two of the best players in the leauge and has turned them into one of the best defensive units. They are also great at penalty killing. They will meet a really good Tampa team that features Steve Stamkos and Martin St. Louis. Heck, Lecavalier and Gagne are great players too. This is going to be a must-see series, and I think the Pens win it because of their defense. The Lightning just don't have the defense, but this serious can go either way. As a Pens fan, I hope my prediction is right. Prediction: Pens in 7. MVP: James Neal.

Western Conference

1 Canucks and 8 Blackhawks

Nobody should be fooled by this eighth seed. The Hawks won it all last year, and they are still a formidable foe. This is a battle of two heavyweights; the best teams of the past two years. I think the Sedin brothers prove the difference in what will be a series everyone will be talking about. Prediction: Canucks in 7. MVP: Daniel Sedin.

2 Sharks and 7 Kings

This is yet another great matchup in what should be one of the best NHL Playoffs in years. The Sharks are always unfairly called "chokers", and I think they come up with a statement here. LA is a really good team with Jonathan Quick, Drew Doughty, and Dustin Penner among others. However, Joe Pavelski is the most clutch player in hockey, and I think he goes crazy in the postseason. Prediction: Sharks in 6. MVP: Joe Pavelski.

3 Red Wings and 6 Coyotes

Detroit is always up there every year, but I want to talk a little bit about Phoenix. They have done a great job of focusing and playing great hockey even in the midst of the whole Goldwater circus and the future state of their franchise. They are going to give this juggernaut all they have, but the Wings' playoff experience will just push them by in the final game of the series. Prediction: Red Wings in 7. MVP: Nicklas Lidstrom.

4 Ducks and 5 Predators

The Ducks have been incredible down the stretch, and that's thanks to former Stanley Cup MVP Ryan Getzlaf and especially Hart candidate and top goal scorer Corey Perry. Lubomir Visnovsky has been excellent, and Ray Emery has been a heartwarming surprise. Vezina candidate Jonas Hiller went down with an injury, and former Senators' star keeper Emery was put in the starting spot. He has been great after being deemed washed-up due to many injuries. The Predators are a solid team, but these Ducks are loaded. Prediction: Ducks in 5. MVP: Lubomir Visnovsky.
Claude Giroux
Ready for the Sabres
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3/2011 Defenseman Rankings

March 2nd 2011 16:17
It is time to rank the best defensemen in hockey. To my hockey readers, I hope this list isn't too terrible as I am just starting to get into hockey. My hockey knowledge is pretty low, but I will try my best to put together a decent looking list.

1. Nicklas Lidstrom


[ Click here to read more ]
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