Folks, forget panic, it’s time for reality, the good ship maple leaf is all but sunk this year. The hole is too deep. This team has to find somethig else to play for as the playoffs are nothing more than a pipe dream. Brady pointed out on Twitter tonight that if the lose to the flame tomorrow night in regulation they have 11pts in 18GP. They will need 84 pts of a possible 128 to get to 95pts. .656 hky. Talk about longshot.

The biggest question I have is how long does the architect sit by and watch the underperformers. This has to be killing Brian Burke..

Oh well tomorrows another night.

TSM

Forget Deion Sanders. A current player has taken over the title of “Primetime”. Unfortunately for this player, it’s for all the wrong reasons.

Jay Cutler has played in three primetime games so far for the Chicago Bears, and each start has been forgettable for the man who was supposed to be Chicago’s football saviour.  It all began in Week One, when the Bears faced off against NFC North rival Green Bay at Lambeau Field. Cutler, in his Chicago debut, tossed four interceptions to a new-look Packers defence, and the Bears fell 21-15.  Skip ahead to Week Six, and Cutler was at it again, this time tossing two picks at the Georgia Dome as the Bears fell 21-14 to the Atlanta Falcons. And then there was last night. On the NFL’s first Thursday-nighter of the year, Cutler throws five interceptions, and the Bears can’t even muster a touchdown in a 10-6 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.

If you ask anyone watching those games, the Bears were the better team on the field. Not to say they were perfect, but Chicago could and should have come away with those wins. In those three games, Cutler has thrown three touchdowns and 11 interceptions. That ratio won’t even cut it in Cleveland. In Chicago’s non-primetime games, Cutler has 11 TD’s and six interceptions – three of which came trying to play catch-up against the Bengals in Week Seven.

In a discussion last night with some friends, I was asked if I’d rather have Kyle Orton at the helm, or Jay Cutler. It took me less than a second to answer: Cutler. The difference is simple. Jay Cutler can win you games, and he can lose you games (see Exhibit C – Week Ten vs. the 49ers). Kyle Orton can play games. He doesn’t win a game on his own, he doesn’t lose one for you – he just plays.

Any fan of the Chicago Bears has every right to be livid after watching last night’s game. Cutler tried to force the ball into too many dicey areas, and he was burned (picked off by a nose tackle? You’ve got to be kidding me). But before they go calling for General Manager Jerry Angelo’s head for making the move to get Cutler, consider watching the Denver Broncos passing attack. If Kyle Orton throws a ball over 20 yards, I’ll be amazed.

Chicago still has two more primetime games to go – next week versus Philadelphia Sunday night, and Week 16 versus Minnesota for the Monday nighter. For his sake, I hope Jay Cutler is able to handle himself a little better and cut down on the INT’s. If not, we may be looking at the NFL record holder for most interceptions in a season.

TWO POINT CONVERSION

- I don’t care if you hate both teams with a passion – watch the Bengals at Steelers Sunday afternoon. It will be the tough AFC North matchup the Ravens were supposed to give the Bengals last week

- ESPN’s John Clayton took a real chance when he predicted his Super Bowl match up earlier this week: New Orleans vs. Indianapolis. Wow, thanks for that John. Anyone can take the two undefeated teams and schedule them for the big game. Me? Right now I like the Steelers to play the Vikings

On Fan 590 Tonight-

- open phones with McCown from 4:05 to 4:40
- Grapeline with Don Cherry & Brian Williams at 4:45
- co-host from 5:00 to 7:00 is Stephen Brunt
5:20 Mark Cohon, CFL Comish
5:40 Jack Armstrong
6:05 Rob Becker,Legal analyst
6:30-7:00 Andre Agassi IN STUDIO

On 640 with Brady and Watters:

4:30 – Happy Capitalism with Lou Schizas

4:40 – Hamilton Tiger-Cats Owner Bob Young

5:30 – Happy Capitalism with Lou Schizas

5:30 – NFL Prognosticator Bob “The Bear” Cowan

5:40 – Leafs Head Coach Ron Wilson

6:10 – Inside the NHL with Darren Dreger & Scott Morrison

6:40 – Rinkside with AM 640 Leafs Reporter Jonas Siegel

forgiveness

Hey all, I am back in Toronto and happy to report that I am back in the saddle so to be speak. I apologize for not getting a post up yesterday as I was in the air and then passed out due to the time change. Lot’s going on and I have lot of opinions. I am really intrigued to see how Toskala does tonight, if for example he lays and egg, how do they keep throwing him out there? On the Jays, I find the news that AA is hiring lots of scouts terrific. I do however get the feeling that they have to trade Halladay in order to move on. Keeping Cito around as manager in mind is waiving the white flag on yet another season. I am prepared to live with that provided there is evidence of a plan and execution on it as well.

More later.

TSM

College of Sports Media Game of the Night:

From 1981 to 1993 the Toronto Maple Leafs and Chicago Blackhawks were in the Norris Division and one-time bitter rivals. Tonight in the Windy City the Leafs and ‘Hawks renew the rivalry. Toronto is coming off a tough home loss to the Minnesota Wild. Before that the Leafs had collected points in seven straight including a Saturday night win over the Detroit Red Wings. Much can be attributed to the play of first-time Leafs Phil Kessel and Jonas Gustavsson. Although Kessel was shut out in his first game, he’s scored two goals and added two assists over the last three games. Over nines games, Gustavsson has a 2.77 GAA and a .912 save percentage. More importantly he’s earned the confidence of the players in front of him, making many of the tough stops. Chicago’s won two straight at home and looks to make it three tonight. The Blackhawks have benefited from the return of their captain Jonathan Toews. Toews missed two weeks with a concussion and since his return he’s registered points in both games. Chicago is sitting a top the Central Division in the West. They’re one point ahead of the Red Wings.

College of Sports Media Game of the Night:

The last time Chicago played San Francisco the Bears jumped out to a 41-0 halftime lead and coasted to a 41-10 landslide victory at Soldier Field. That was back in 2006. Tonight the two teams meet in San Fran as the NFL kicks off its weekly Thursday night games. The 49ers (3-5) come into this one losers of their last four and are tied for second in the NFC West, two games back of the division leading Arizona Cardinals (5-3). Week one starter Shaun Hill has been replaced by former number one draft pick Alex Smith. Since signing rookie receiver hold-out Michael Crabtree the team has gone on its losing streak, although the wide out has played well. In four games Crabtree has caught 14 balls and is averaging 11.9 yards per reception. Chicago is in a similar situation. The Bears (4-4) are tied for second in their division, while the Minnesota Vikings sit atop at 7-1. Last week the Bears were romped 41-21 by the Cardinals. Chicago’s defence was horrible. The team gave up touchdowns on each of Arizona’s first four possessions. On a positive note tight end Greg Olsen had a break out game. He had five catches for 71 yards and three touchdowns.

If hockey is you thing, its a battle for supremacy in the Atlantic Division, as the Pittsburgh Penguins host the New Jersey Devils. The Devils are on fire. They’ve won six straight and are a perfect 8-0 on the road. The same can’t be said for Pittsburgh. They started off hot, but since losing Evgeni Malkin to injury the team has struggled and have lost their last three (the last two have been back-to-back shut outs).

For all you hoop heads, the two top teams in the West go at it tonight, as the Phoenix Suns (8-1) are in LA to take on the defending champ Lakers (6-1). Guard Steve Nash has already had two 20 assists games this season and last night the Suns hit 13 treys, becoming the first team in NBA history to hit 100 threes in fewer then 10 games. By the way, Phoenix torched the New Orleans Hornets 124-104.

On Fan 590 Tonight-

- open phones with McCown from 4:05 to 4:40
- Grapeline with Don Cherry & Brian Williams at 4:45
- co-host from 5:00 to 7:00 is Stephen Brunt
TBD

On 640 with Brady and Watters thanks to Mike S.:
- Rob Higgins, fantasy hockey expert

- Leafs prospect Dale Mitchell

- hockey insider Scott Morrison at 6:10

cascade helmet

word is that the Marlies are going to try it.

College of Sports Media Game of the Night:

Last Friday the Toronto Raptors (3-4) played their first of three on the road as they battled the Hornets in New Orleans. The Raptors pulled out a 107-90 win and things looked promising for the rest of the trip. On Saturday Toronto was in Dallas and they got blown out by the Mavericks 129-101. On Monday the Raps were still in the Lone Star state, this time taking on the injury depleted San Antonio Spurs. No Tim Duncan, no Tony Parker…no problem. Raptors lost that one too 131-124. Where was the defence? Tonight the Dinos are at home as they welcome the Chicago Bulls (4-3). The good news is that the Bulls are coming off a 90-89 lose last night to the Denver Nuggets. The bad news – the Bulls have won three of their last four games. There is more good news for the Raptors. Last season they owned the Bulls, beating them three out of four times. Chris Bosh is also having an enormous year. Bosh is fifth in the NBA in scoring (29 points ppg) and tied for fourth in rebounding (11.6). Is he getting better every year or is Bosh prepping for free-agency 2010? More questions surrounding Toronto have to do with defence. Coming into the season, before and after every game it’s the one thing that’s always talked about. Toronto is allowing 111.4 points per game. Only Memphis and Golden State are allowing more. On the flip-side the Raptors are third in the league in offence (109.4 ppg). So the recipe is simple: (make more stops) + (keep scoring points) = more wins. I love this game.

Here in London England, the holiday spirit is alive and well. The streets are filled with lights and the store fronts each more imaginative than the next. It is quite remarkable to see and I have to admit I am a bit jealous that Toronto does not carry the same spirit. This year, with a new animation movie hitting the market for the holidays, Jim Carrey in A Christmas Carol, the streets here are full of sponsored decorations. Marketing in the year 2009, everything is for sale.

So with that in mind I reflect on the possibility of our Toronto Maple Leafs applying to host an outdoor game. I have to admit, and I fully realize that I may be alone in this thought, but I really couldn’t careless. The reality is, despite the fact that Toronto is a Maple Leaf town, and I love to go to as many games as I possible can and watch every minute of those I am not able to attend, I have no desire to go to an outdoor game, here, there or anywhere. I would have liked to attend the first one. For me, everyone after doesn’t compare, it’s no longer new, cool nor hip. It’s gotten to be quite passe.

The idea of watching the Leafs play outside vs. the Habs, or any other original six team does absolutely nothing for me. Personally, I would rather see them put ice make in Maple Leaf Gardens for a night. Now that would be cool. If we could go back to the old rat infested Gardens for one night…That I would pay for. That would be a new, fresh, exciting event. It also couldn’t be replicated in many markets as the old barns simply don’t exist anymore. Put the Leafs and Habs in their old uniforms, let the pension plan folks sit in the old bunker, Jimmy Holmstrom on the organ, the horribly ugly old usher uniforms for one night…that would an honour to our tradition.

With respect to an outdoor game in Toronto I say Bah Humbug- pass. I am already bored with the idea, it’s no longer innovate, I personally wouldn’t go if the tickets were free.

On another note, I see the Leafs want to host another all star game and a draft. I was at the last all star game, it was fun. Given the recent play of our team, it was the first time there was a real buzz in this town over hockey for a long time. Hell, more people would care about the all star weekend then will the Pan Yawn Games. As for the draft, if memory serves me correctly, wasn’t the last draft hosted in Toronto a total bust? I seem to recall less than stellar turnout with no one giving a rats ass about it being in town.

Yes, all three things are about the almighty buck to MLSE. They each represent additional gate revenues. The game of areana success is all about filling yours more nights than others. So if they can squeeze more asses through the turnstiles 1, 2 or 3 more days a year it means more beer, hot dogs, sushi and popcorn etc. I would assume that the message would be more about building or rebuilding the hockey fan base in Toronto. The usual suspects in the MSM would call the spade a spade and cry that is about nothing more than money. The typical out of town media would complain about Toronto getting more attention then needed etc.

If we get the draft or the all star game, cool. If we don’t – oh well. Personally, I would much rather have meaningful games later in the year and playoff home dates (yes, plural) than have these events.

Didn’t see any of the game last night, it sounds like there was a coaching issue again last night. While Wilson can’t play the game, if a team comes out flat or unprepared, that to me is a coaching issue. The coach was unable to get his guys up for and prepared for the task at hand. It also further establishes the lack of leadership on the team. The Maple Leafs don’t have the guy to grab the team by the proverbial neck and get them going.

TSM

@yyzsportsmedia