Bound for Cooperstown, Part 2
Part One of this series was easy—picking the five recently-retired players who will waltz into the Baseball Hall of Fame once they are eligible, probably during their first year of eligibility. Part Two is not going to be as easy: Yes, these players would, during any other time, be on the express train to Cooperstown. But the Hall of Fame ballot for the next several years is going to be overstuffed with worthy candidates; there are already several qualified candidates waiting for their call to lasting baseball greatness. Will we see surefire Hall of Famers overlooked and even discarded?
How Much Is the All-Star Game Worth
Every major sport has them: All-star games: An exhibition game comprising the sport's biggest stars that is essentially a wet dream for fans—the chance to see the best players in the game playing against each other. All the talented eggs in one shiny basket, as it were. But does being chosen as an all-star equate to lasting glory? In other words, how much weight should be given to being chosen as an all-star in determining whether a player is worthy of the Hall of Fame?
Desert Island Discs
Ah! With summer here, thoughts naturally turn to . . . being stranded on a desert island. That might not be such a bad situation if you're marooned with Penelope Cruz (as in the latest Pirates of the Caribbean installment), but for our purposes it heralds that deathless chestnut beloved of writers short on time or ideas: If you were stuck on a desert island, what [music, books, films, etc.] would you want with you?
BOUND FOR COOPERSTOWN, PT. 1: THE NO-BRAINERS
The first in a two-part series profiling future candidates for the Baseball Hall of Fame, this article outlines five players who I think are going to waltz into Cooperstown in upcoming years—more than likely in their first year of eligibility.
Why Isn't Randy Newman in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Already?
Readers of this site know, or will come to know, that it lists 500 musical acts not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Buried among them is Randy Newman, who should not be listed anywhere among the 500—because Newman should be in the Hall of Fame already.
However, Newman is listed here—at Number 158. Behind Joy Division. Behind the Sonics. Behind Journey. Behind My Bloody Valentine. Behind Chuck Willis. Behind Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers. Behind Poison. Behind Blue Cheer. Behind Siouxsie and the Banshees.
I don't mean to make the case for Newman by comparing him to anyone, which is good for all of those listed above because they wouldn't measure up to Newman. Blue Cheer? Joy Division? My Bloody Valentine? Siouxsie and the Banshees? Their careers were too short, too marginal. Jonathan Richman? The Sonics? They might have a bit more legacy—Joan Jett covered "Roadrunner" (on the other hand, what hasn't Jett covered?) and the Cramps covered "Strychnine," respectively—but again we're talking about the margins. Journey? Poison? Commercially successful but musically derivative, fast-food rock that's disposable and forgettable. That leaves Chuck Willis, who popularized a 1950s dance craze, the Stroll, and recorded a number of pioneering songs before dying young. Hall of Famers the Band ("I Don't Want to Hang up My Rock 'n' Roll Shoes") and Eric Clapton ("It's Too Late," albeit as Derek and the Dominos) were hip to Willis, but while one could make a game case for Willis, a much stronger case can be—and should be—made for Newman.
The NHL versus NBC
Without trying to steal any thunder from my fellow blogger the Princess of Puck, I do have something to say about the Stanley Cup Finals—and it's not complimentary.
Remembering Gil Scott-Heron
Last Saturday, May 28, came the announcement that musician Gil Scott-Heron had died at age 62. As of this writing, the cause of death is not known, although Scott-Heron disclosed in 2008 that he had been HIV-positive for some time. In addition, he struggled with drug addiction, which netted him prison time in recent years.
Leading Off
Welcome to DDT's Pop Flies! First, my heartfelt thank you goes to Not in Hall of Fame for offering this space to me. Now, what can you expect?
2013 Stanley Cup Playoff First Round
2013 Stanley Cup Playoff First Round
April 30, 2013
Happy playoffs everyone! To think just a few months ago we were trying to decipher what Hockey Related Revenue was, and now here we are wondering who may raise Lord Stanley’s cup. There are some very happy fan bases looking forward to the playoffs for the first time in a while, and others trying to remember what it’s like to not be watching post-season hockey. The first round has some interesting matchups and here are my thoughts on each series.
Swedish Mafia Takes a Hit
Karlsson’s injury occurred at the end of the second period, oddly, against Crosby’s Pittsburgh Penguins. On a seemingly meaningless forecheck, a Penguin sloppily lost his footing, and then came down with all of his weight on the back heel of Karlsson. Who was this Penguin? He’s no stranger to controversial plays ending player’s seasons or even careers. The culprit was one the leagues most hated pests, Matt Cooke. The next morning Karlsson underwent successful surgery to repair a 70% cut of his Achilles tendon. Below is a video of the injury.
Erik Karlsson Injury
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This blow will hurt the NHL as Karlsson has been emerging not only as one of the leagues greatest talents, but also one of its greatest personalities. He has been a great advocate for the NHL as the league forges forward in this latest “post lockout era”. As for the Ottawa Senators, their playoff hopes are essentially over. Already dealing with the loss of their leading scorer Jason Spezza and young shutdown defenceman Jared Cowan, not to mention Milan Michalek’s constant injuries. They are essentially missing their top line.
Although in all of this, there could be a silver lining for the future of the league. Unfortunately sometimes it takes a significant injury to a star player in order to raise awareness about player safety. Concussions have been a problem for years in professional sports. Within the NHL, even the career ending concussions of once dominant star Eric Lindros weren’t enough to bring the issue to the forefront. But when Sidney Crosby, the face of the NHL, went down with a concussion and missed a significant amount of time, enough was enough. Rules, equipment, and protocols for diagnosing injuries have all changed. This wasn’t the first time an injury brought to light the need for a change in equipment or rules. Bryan Berard, first round pick, 1997 rookie of the year, and freshman All-Star took an unintentional high stick to his right eye from Marian Hossa. This changed the way many players and leagues thought about wearing visors or even full cages, as well as penalties for unintentional high sticks.
Richard Zednik of the Florida Panthers caught a stray skate from a teammate to the neck causing serious injury and almost cost him his life. Shortly after the injury, the Ontario Hockey League (major junior) made neck guards mandatory. Finally, Kevin Bieksa of the Vancouver Canucks has had is calf cut twice by skates, which led to him and some other players to wear Kevlar protective socks. He had a small chuckle when he showed up to practice the day after the Karlsson incident to find a pair of the socks were in every player’s stall. Perhaps after the NHL reviews this incident, they will make these socks mandatory for player’s safety. Although many players don’t like the Kevlar due to lack of comfort, and some players have been going barefoot in their skates since childhood, this small change could save them from a career ending injury.
Bauer Kevlar Socks
The cut Erik Karlsson received will keep him sidelined for up to 4 months plus physiotherapy. He in fact may never be the same. He may lose his speed and agility that sets him above other defencemen, or he could have a full recovery. Many analysts around the league have had mixed thoughts about the incident. Some saying it was just a terrible accident, and others saying Matt Cooke did it intentionally and shouldn’t be allowed to play in the league. After all, he has had some major suspensions in the past. Check to the head of Artem Anisimov, check to the head of Scott Walker, check from behind on Fedor Tyutin, elbow to the head of Ryan McDonough, not to mention he personally ended the career of Bruins forward Marc Savard. Some will argue Cooke didn’t “end” Savard’s career because of Savard’s attempted comeback; however, Savard was never the same as a player and more concussions came with ease after the dirty blind shot to the head he received at the hands of Cooke. Cooke eventually was given an ultimatum by the league to change his game or he was going to be kicked out of it - and for 2 years he has been without incident.
Matt Cooke hit on Marc Savard
My thoughts on the incident are this: Yes, it looks like it could have been an accident. An extremely sloppy forecheck, Cooke’s skate came up suspiciously high and “accidently” came down on Karlsson’s ankle with his full weight. But he didn’t try very hard to make sure he didn’t cut him. In fact, Cooke put his full weight on Karlsson’s heal. A player kicking another player in the NHL will result in a match penalty and is an automatic date with Brendan Shanahan of the NHL Player Safety Committee. Should this not be considered a kick even if it was unintentional? Compare this incident to unintentional high sticks. You can get 4 minute double minor if a high stick is draws blood. Even goalie interference penalties are given to a player if a team’s own defenceman pushes someone into the crease and he doesn’t “make a big enough effort to get out of the way”. So by this logic should a known offender like Cooke not be held accountable for ending the season of the leagues best defenceman and possibly best player? Many would argue that Matt Cooke is a changed man. He has openly said he feels horrible for Erik and the Senators organization. Although, he said the same thing about Marc Savard. The bottom line is, I don’t think it’s a coincidence that Matt Cooke was the player involved. And what do I think about Matt Cooke’s incredible turn around the last 2 years? How he has changed his game, and hasn’t terribly injured someone in a long time? I say only one thing.
“The devils greatest trick was convincing the world that he didn’t exist” - Charles Baudelaire
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