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NFL Columns
November 7
Oakland Tribune
columnist Cam Inman
"
THE NEW YORK Yankees bought their 27th World Series title this week. Bought? That's how their haters phrase it (plus a few expletives). And that's how some NFL team could be judged in 2010, or, actually, at Super Bowl XLV in February 2011. The NFL is on a collision course to abolish its salary cap. Unless a new labor deal is hatched by March, teams will be allowed to spend as much as they like - or as little, in the possible case of lower-revenue teams such as our Bay Area clubs. We'll pause here while you gag on visions of Jerry Jones buying a Lombardi trophy for his Dallas Cowboys and displaying it in their $1.2 billion new stadium (see: Yankees comparison, although the Washington ..."
November 7
Washington Times
columnist Thorn Loverro
"
The spotlight shone on Sugar Ray Leonard as he stood in the ring in the Hilton Washington ballroom Thursday night for the 20th edition of the Fight Night charity event. With Michael Buffer doing the introduction, Leonard turned and waved to a crowd of rich and powerful men. Not wanting the moment to end, they stood and gave the local boxing icon a lengthy ovation. It was 1987 again, and all was right with the world. Ray Leonard was beating Marvin Hagler in his storied comeback fight, and the Washington Redskins were on their way to another Super Bowl championship. Leonard's presence reminded everyone of how good it was to be a D.C. sports fan in those days. As those fans at Fight Night ..."
November 7
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
columnist D. Orlando Ledbetter
"
After the last three quarterbacks have thrown for 300 or more yards against the Falcons, the pass defense ranking has dropped dramatically. The Falcons give 256.4 yards passing per game, which is last in the National Football Conference and 31st overall in the league. Jay Culter passed for 300 yards against the Falcons. Tony Romo hit them up for 311 yards. On MNF, Drew Brees passed for 308 yards. The Redskins are passing for 202.6 yards per game, which is 20th in the league. Their yards are so low because Jason Campbell won't throw the ball down field. Some folks are starting to call him "Check Down Charlie" because he checks it down so much and too quickly. "Jason (Campbell) has ..."
November 7
Washington Times
columnist Thom Loverro
"
The spotlight shone on Sugar Ray Leonard as he stood in the ring in the Hilton Washington ballroom Thursday night for the 20th edition of the Fight Night charity event. With Michael Buffer doing the introduction, Leonard turned and waved to a crowd of rich and powerful men. Not wanting the moment to end, they stood and gave the local boxing icon a lengthy ovation. It was 1987 again, and all was right with the world. Ray Leonard was beating Marvin Hagler in his storied comeback fight, and the Washington Redskins were on their way to another Super Bowl championship. Leonard's presence reminded everyone of how good it was to be a D.C. sports fan in those days. As those fans at Fight Night ..."
NBA Columns
November 7
New York Post
columnist George Willis
"
To have to watch a Knicks game on the same day as the Yankees held a parade to celebrate their 27th World Series championship is a lot like being fed stale pizza after everyone else enjoyed steak. At least Knicks fans had the chance to dream a little bit last night. LeBron James was in the building, and though reality suggests the odds are against him wearing a Knicks uniform next year, that thin ray of hope was enough to pump some energy in the fabled building. A packed house, plenty of celebrities and even a few past and present Yankees were on hand for the nationally televised game between the Cavaliers and the Knicks. It almost felt like old times. Too bad all the commotion was about ..."
November 7
Camden Courier-Post
columnist Martin Frank
"
That's the first question that came to mind when Elton Brand, whom the Sixers signed to a 5-year, $80 million contract in the summer of 2008, sat out the final 17:23 of the Sixers' 97-94 win over the New Jersey Nets on Friday. Brand finished with 8 points and 5 rebounds, with all the points coming in the 1st quarter. He played just 1:48 in the 2nd quarter. When asked why Brand didn't play at all in the 4th quarter (the Nets were without 5 players, including 3 starters) even though the Sixers were trailing by 8 points after Bobby Simmons started the quarter with a 3-pointer, Sixers coach Eddie Jordan responded: "I'm looking to find out the group that's going to get it done. Guys who are ..."
November 6
New York Post
columnist George Willis
"
If the Knicks are smart, they'll sneak LeBron James out of his hotel room today and make sure he has a front-row seat for all the pinstriped festivities along the Canyon of Heroes. James is a Yankees fan, so it shouldn't take much arm-twisting to get him there, even if he did say last night he's not planning to attend. The Knicks should make it happen, somehow, some way, so that King James can see how New York honors its kings. Call it good timing; call it a coincidence; call it a marketing opportunity. On the same day the Yankees will be celebrated for their 27th World Series championship, LeBron is in town as the Cavs play the Knicks tonight in his only Garden visit of the season. No ..."
November 6
The Deseret News
columnist Brad Rock
"
There. Feel better? Now, could everyone please settle down and watch the final 77 games? Just when it appeared the Jazz (and their fans) had developed lasting psychological issues (paranoia, anxiety depression), they dispatched San Antonio, 113-99, on Thursday night at EnergySolutions Arena. If the rest of the season goes anything like the first five games, it's going to be one loopy ride. The real indicator, though, will be when the Jazz finally beat the Spurs in San Antonio — something they haven't done since 1999. Still, Thursday's win looked a lot more like the team that always makes the playoffs and less like a team coming unglued. The Jazz played their third opponent from Texas in a ..."
MLB Columns
November 7
New York Post
columnist Mike Vaccaro
"
These are the best days of all, and only partly because they happen in the immediate afterglow of triumph, a championship in the bank and satisfaction sating every ounce of your sporting soul. That part of a parade day is nice, sure. But this is the better part: For the couple of hours that it takes the floats and the flatbeds and the bands to march from Battery Place to City Hall, for that piece of morning and chunk of afternoon when the players and the politicos mingle and chatter and exchange pleasantries and keys to the city, the most famous and most expensive baseball team in the world becomes a public trust, a penny stock. The Yankees belong to the people then, and the people belong ..."
November 7
New York Post
columnist Joel Sherman
"
The Yankees regained what matters most to their organization when they won their 27th title. And just to show their single-mindedness to that cause, manager Joe Girardi already had decided to switch from No. 27 to 28 for 2010, symbolically revealing the next quest before a single flatbed had navigated up the Canyon of Heroes. But the Yankees got something else vital back this year that is harder to explain. It can be called mystique and aura, or mojo, or chemistry. Difficult to define, it was easy to see this year, especially because of its absence in recent years. Now those who believe in cold, hard numbers will pooh-pooh such elements, and simply point to the overwhelming talent ..."
November 7
New York Post
columnist Kevin Kernan
"
One parade is not nearly enough. There should be a parade next year and the year after that, too. A Yankees victory parade should become as common as the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, with the talent they have and their ability to outspend the competition. Money doesn't guarantee success (look at the Mets), but it sure beats the alternative. To the Yankees' credit they now all understand what it takes to be a champion. They know it takes playing as a team to win and they know what the Summer Game is all about in October and November. The home clubhouse at Yankee Stadium was a pretty quiet place yesterday. The only sign of the World Series celebration that came after their Game 6 triumph ..."
November 7
New York Daily News
columnist Filip Bondy
"
There's this one big problem about winning a championship: It means the Bleacher Creatures have to wake up early to get to the parade. The morning is always a bad time for Creatures. And by morning, I mean any time before 3 p.m. Think of us as vampires, and you wouldn't be far off. This is why the baseball playoff schedule is perfectly fine for the denizens of Section 203. Heck, Bud Selig could start the games three hours later, for all we care. Alarm clocks remind us of the Boston Red Sox. There is, however, an alternative to waking up early - staying up all night. Mike Donahue long ago figured out he only needs to kill a couple of hours after last-call at 4 a.m. before heading downtown. ..."
NHL Columns
November 7
Denver Post
columnist Dave Krieger
"
What if they put on a hockey game and nobody came? No, it's not that bad yet. And yes, the people who remember Rockie hockey could tell you what happens when it gets that bad. But still, the Avalanche is facing what seems like a contradictory confluence of events. After finishing last season as the worst team in the NHL's Western Conference, the Avs surprised most everyone in the hockey world by sprinting to the top of the standings this season. Yet their attendance has continued the downward trajectory of the past three seasons, slipping below 15,000 fans a game through their first six home games. The obvious explanation is the economy, but the Nuggets' attendance is holding steady. In ..."
November 7
Buffalo News
columnist Jerry Sullivan
"
Lindy Ruff didn't bother addressing his team after this one. The Sabres were outplayed, outworked and outclassed in Friday night's 5-2 loss to the Flyers. Ruff let them talk it out among themselves. Evidently, Mike Grier did most of the talking. "It's a little disappointing," Grier said. "Good thing we have a game [tonight] to bounce back. I told the guys we've got a good record and everyone knows it. The league is going to watch how we do in these games. Teams are going to try to push us out of games. We've got to show we won't back down." Translation: When you're on top, expect to get teams' best shot. If you're going to pose as a legitimate Stanley Cup contender, you ought to act like ..."
November 7
Detroit Free Press
columnist Michael Rosenberg
"
The Red Wings have been great for so long that when they stumble, it's like the king is fidgeting in his throne. Is he OK? Did he wince? What next? This has inspired panic at the most ridiculous times, from the strangest places, but this week it reached a new level. Longtime team executive Jim Devellano told Larry Lage of the Associated Press that "we're going to have to fight just to make the playoffs and it's going to be a grind ... to get home-ice advantage would be a miracle." This begs the question: miracle? In hockey, "miracle" means a bunch of American kids beating Russian superstars in Lake Placid. If the Wings actually do pull off the "miracle" and get home-ice advantage, will ..."
November 6
St. Paul Pioneer Press
columnist Tom Powers
"
The problem right now is that the Wild aren't sure who or what they are. They know what they used to be. We all know that. They used to be a hard-working, airtight defensive hockey club. Ask anybody around the league, and that's what he will tell you: "Oh, man, the Wild don't give you much." That was then. Now, the Wild are stuck in the fifth dimension. They aren't anything. In between coaches and systems, they have yet to establish an identity. There is no collective personality. And it shows. Their 5-2 loss to the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday night dropped them to 5-10. "Yes, I would say we're still looking for an identity," coach Todd Richards said. "I have a good idea what that ..."