Instant Replay

Instant Replay is Alive!

2011-03-24T10:42:00.000-07:00

We've got a few emails recently asking where we've been. Well, Instant Replay is now being housed on the Chatham-Kent Sports Network. Founded by Instant Replay author Ian Kennedy, the Chatham-Kent Sports Network, or CKSN for short, looks to offer sports news, scores, and of course opinions on sports in Chatham-Kent, as well as professional, college, and international sports.

Check it out. If you want to read the latest column by Ian Kennedy, just click here: Instant Replay Sports by Ian Kennedy.

Thanks and don't worry, we'll keep posting here from time to time as well.

Missing Instant Replay?

2010-12-11T18:43:00.000-08:00

If you're missing Instant Replay, make sure you check out my weekly sports column at the Chatham-Kent Daily Post. www.ckdp.ca

Cheers and Happy Holidays.

Ole Espana - My World Cup experience in Spain

2010-07-14T13:13:00.001-07:00

I have never liked soccer. Not one bit. Too many dives and players splashing around on the ground like a fish out of water.
My recent trip to Spain however, during the World Cup, has changed my perspective on the "World's most popular sport." I don't know what it was exactly, I'd like to guess in fact that it wasn't the actual sport of soccer that won me over.

Rather, it was the people. Celebrating in the streets of Madrid after a quarterfinal victory over Paraguay, and then on the beach of Malaga after Spain beat Germany in the semifinals, I fell in love with soccer. Not for the skill of the players, which became more apparent with every game I watched, and definitely not for the yellow and red cards, for which, I still say the majority of fouls are faked, but for the people.

For the impact of the game on the people, and now, the impact of the game on me. If you'd like to read about my entire trip and World Cup experience, check out my sports column for the Chatham-Kent Daily Post: Ole Espana - My World Cup Experience

The agony of defeat, NHL style

2010-05-09T07:55:00.000-07:00

It's always a tough day. That is, the day after your favourite team is eliminated from the playoffs. For me, that day is today. Last night, my Detroit Red Wings met their demise against the San Jose Sharks.

It was a long season for the Wings, one in which no one expected them to succeed, at least until after the Olympic break. Now it's a summer of building and one filled with uncertainty. Especially with the potential retirement of Niclas Lidstrom. Even if the future Hall of Famer doesn't retire, this playoff season made it all too clear that he has lost a step.

So what is next? Well for me, I'll still be watching hockey, but with a little less vigor. And just like those NHL players, it's time for a little golf. Plus, the Wings can rid themselves of the traditional playoff beards.

I am cautiously optimistic about the Red Wings' future. They don't seem to have a hidden Datsyuk or Zetterberg on the horizon (with the possible exception of Tomas Tartar. But who knows, they wouldn't be hidden if we saw it coming.

In net, I think Jimmy Howard did a fine job and that he is capable of carrying the team again next season. I would like to see a young back up come in and replace Osgood. With multiple Stanley Cup rings in his cupboard, it's time for Ozzy to gracefully bow out.

For those of you who question why Detroit is still "Hockeytown," well, try four Stanley Cups since 1997 and the longest active playoff streak in professional sports. Sure, the Red Wings will go through struggles in the coming years, just as the city of Detroit has done, but everytime an octopus hits the ice, it will definitely bring chills to the spines of thousands of fans, including mine.

Let the games begin.

Our wedding invitation to Steve Yzerman

2010-05-06T17:13:00.001-07:00

This letter is a little late as you can find it already posted on the CIK Marketing Blog and Chatham-Kent Daily Post, but I thought I would give it a whirl here too. What's cooler, is that within hours of this article surfacing, Steve Yzerman's people actually contacted my fiancee about her wedding invite to Stevie Y:

Dear Mr. Yzerman,

I know you’re a very busy man. In the past year you’ve been involved with the Canadian men’s Olympic hockey team, you’ve been spotted scouting at various Ontario Hockey League playoff games, and right now, your Detroit Red Wings are battling it out against the San Jose Sharks in Stanley Cup playoff action. But with that being said, I really need a minute or two of your time. I’m writing this letter because I need your help.

You see Mr. Yzerman, I’m engaged to be married on June the 26th, and I have a sinking suspicion that my soon-to-be husband loves you more than he will ever love me. And I don’t mean in a creepy way; his love for you is pure and genuine. I guess I really can’t blame him; he’s followed your career since he was a young boy and knows more about you than you probably know about yourself. You’ve been the most important figure in his life for more than a quarter century, and that is why I would like to invite you and your family to join us on June 26th as a guest of honour at our wedding.

Now, I know you probably get a lot of these sorts of invitations from so-called “die-hard” fans, but believe me; no one loves the Red Wings and Stevie Y quite like my fiancée. Ian knows everything about your career, from your birth city in B.C. and your days as a Peterborough Pete, right up to your final minute of play as a Red Wing. He knows every goal and every assist. He knows that you scored your milestone 500th goal on Patrick Roy and the Colorado Avalanche on January 17th, 1996, and that you played a record 23 seasons with the Red Wings. He’s seen you play dozens of times at the Joe, and I’d hazard to say he’s never missed a single game on television. Heck, he proposed to me on the 19th of October, (and no, the date wasn’t just a coincidence). He’s walked in Stanley Cup parades and cried after playoff loses. I couldn’t tell you how many times I’ve been forced to watched that overtime goal from 1996, when you beat Jon Casey with a slap shot from the blue line to win the Western Semifinals in double O.T. of game seven. And while he still loves the Red Wings more than anyone ever should, it’s just not quite the same as when you were wearing the “C”.

I know you’re schedule is probably pretty booked in the upcoming months, but not to worry – Ian made sure the wedding date didn’t conflict with the NHL playoff schedule. (I’d have been walking down the aisle by myself had the ceremony taken place on the same day as a Stanley Cup Final game). He’s also gone ahead and re-arranged the head table seating plan so you’ll have a prominent spot… in my chair. There would have been a Stanley Cup wedding cake too, but I had to draw the line somewhere. All of the arrangements have been made; all we need now is to hear back from you. You can reply by email to stevieyweddinginvite@gmail.com.

So Stevie (can I call you Stevie?), what do you say? Nothing would make my fiancée happier than to have you as an honoured guest at our upcoming wedding. It would truly make the wedding the most memorable day of his life. Just be forewarned – I come from a family of die hard Maple Leafs fans, so expect to hear plenty of crazy talk about playoff hopes for next year.

Best of luck to you and the boys in game four tonight… you can rest assured that Ian and I will be watching.

Sincerely,

Chantielle MacFarlane

Should your sports team be using social media?

2010-04-29T09:15:00.000-07:00

We've all seen the horror stories of pro athletes misusing Twitter and Facebook. I've seen my fair share of NHL friends posting pictures on Facebook they wouldn't want to be public. I've seen NFL and NBA players bashing teammates or referees.

Beyond the negatives however, social media and networking has a world of benefits for professional and amateur sports teams. From promoting athletes, marketing your team to fans, and connecting with parents, players, and media, social networks such as YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and even blogging can benefit your team.

I recently wrote a guest blog for a Chatham-Kent Marketing company, CIK Marketing, on this topic. Check it out, let me know what you think, and if you need help utilizing social media for your team, feel free to contact me or the good people at CIK Marketing: Should sports teams use social media?

The plague of Toronto sports

2010-04-17T05:43:00.000-07:00

If you're a Canadian sports fan, or just a sports fan in general, you've likely seen a trend over the last few years. It has to do with professional sports teams from Toronto.

How are fans still putting up with the mis-management, frequent collapse, exodus of top players, and losing seasons? There is something to be said as a fan for dedication to your team, but there is a point where the fans move from dedicated to dumb. Just take a look at the six Toronto teams:

+ Toronto Raptors have never won an NBA championshop, haven't made the playoffs in two years, and haven't won a playoff series in the last decade.
+ Toronto Maple Leafs haven't won an NHL championship since 1967 and haven't made the playoffs since 2003-2004.
+ Toronto Blue Jays have not made the playoffs since they won the World Series title in 1993.
+ Toronto Rock lacrosse team have failed to make the playoffs the last two season and haven't won a series since they were league champions in 2005.
+ Toronto FC has yet to qualify for the playoffs since entering the MLS in 2007.
+ Toronto Argonauts, this may sound like a broken record, but no playoff appearances in the last two seasons.

The losing history of Toronto sports teams in the last two seasons is incredible. Due to this lack of success, top professional free agents have avoided Toronto like the plague. The ultimate goal for most professional athletes is to win a championship, and if recent history serves, that is not an option in Toronto.

If it were only one team struggling, the source would be easy to trace, but the widespread failure of Toronto teams is incredible. Why are they losing, collectively? I would tend to blame poor management.

The Leafs selling off draft picks for overrated players, the Raptors inability to keep star players happy or to surround them with legitimate support, and I won't even begin with the Blue Jays.

Kudos to the dedicated fans, even if you are disillusioned. With six professional teams in the city of Toronto, you would have to predict one will make the playoffs in the next year...or two. Maybe.

Five people the NHL could do without

2010-04-09T17:50:00.000-07:00

As the end of the NHL season arrives, hockey analysts are examining the future for non-playoff teams and making picks for the Stanley Cup playoffs. With the end of the season upon us however, I'm thinking of something else. I'm thinking about 5 people the NHL could do without. In no particular order, here they are:

1. Chris Chelios: The fact that Chelios made it back to the NHL at age 48 is less of a testiment to his ability, than it is to the sad state of the Atlanta Thrashers blueline. Chelios has no business playing in the National Hockey League let alone the American League. If you had the opportunity to watch any Thrashers game that featured Chelios, you'd know that he caused more damage, and directly caused more goals against, than he did good for the team.

2. Pierre McGuire: For the love of all that is good in the world, Pierre McGuire needs to go. Listening to his moronic analysis (if you can even call it analysis) of plays makes me want to throw myself out a window. Seriously, look at the Facebook groups, read about the drinking games, search his name on Twitter; Pierre McGuire is undoubtedly the most hated and least respected announcer in the history of hockey.

3. Brian Burke: Now I know this will never happen, not with all the brain washed idiots in Toronto that actually think the Phil Kessel trade was a smart idea. Tyler Seguin or Taylor Hall, a 2nd round pick, and another 1st round pick for Kessel? Ridiculous. And how about that "Monster" Jonas Gusttavsson? Monster is right. Gustavsson finished 36th out of 44 goalies in both Save Percentage and Goals Against Average. In the most talked about hockey city on the planet, Burke is the most overrated GM on the planet.

4. Gary Bettman: If you've ever read my blog, you should have seen this one coming. I firmly believe Bettman has done more damage to the National Hockey League over the last decade than anyone. Bettman's crowning jewel of the last year has been the Phoenix Coyotes. Until Bettman can figure out that protecting his image is less important than protecting the players and teams of the NHL, this league will struggle. It's time for Bettman's dictatorship to end and for a breath of fresh air to rejuvenate the NHL.

5. Matt Cooke: It was the year of the head shot, and no one has dominated the press for dirty hits over the past few seasons more than Matt Cooke. Is he a decent hockey player? Definitely. Could the NHL do without him? Definitely. Big, open ice hits, even one's involving the head, are a key component of the NHL. Blindside hits or knee on knee hits aren't, and these dangerous plays are a specialty of Cooke.

I know my list is a little lopsided and I know none of them will likely be leaving the NHL anytime soon, but these are five men the NHL could do without.

The best time of year in sports

2010-04-01T10:29:00.000-07:00

In case you haven't noticed, the weather is getting warmer, the birds are starting to chirp, and this is the greatest time of year for sports.

Why? Let's start with the NHL and NBA playoffs. Teams are jockying for position, the first round is soon to begin and every game is important (unless you play for the Edmonton Oilers or the New Jersey Nets).

Not only that, but opening day of Major League Baseball is here. For Toronto Blue Jays fans, that means one legitimate month of playoff hopes remaining.

Not enough? How about the Final Four in NCAA basketball and the Frozen Four in NCAA hockey.

Sitll not enough. How about the Masters in PGA golf. I'm not going to mention the slime ball golfer everyone has been talking about. The Masters would and will be great (perhaps better) without him.

This spree of outstanding sports action comes at just the right time. Most people are still feeling a slight Olympic hangover, and this exciting time of the year is just the thing to revitalize sports fans. So get your seat ready, put on your favorite jersey, and let the games begin.

Does the best team win the NCAA tournament?

2010-03-27T19:29:00.000-07:00

As a sports fan, you have to love upsets. This year's edition of the NCAA tournament has offered more upsets than our brackets can handle. But these upsets have got me thinking, does the best team really win the NCAA tournament?

Entering the tourny, Kentucky, Syracuse, Duke, and Kansas were regional number 1 seeds. Kentucky got beat by West Virginia in the Elite 8, Syracuse was ousted by Butler in the Sweet 16, and Kansas lost to Northern Iowa in the round of 32.

Does this sound like a tournament where the best team wins? Not necessarily, but some top teams are still surviving. West Virgina won the Big East title, Duke is still alive, and Butler looks like a legitimate contender.

How does this happen? Well, it is a single loss elimination tournament, the games are short, injuries can happen, fouls can happen, and upsets are inevitable.

Part of the confusion however, comes from the inability to accurately rank teams prior to the tournament. West Virgina won the Big East tournament, not Syracuse, yet Syracuse still entered the tournament with the number 1 seed while West Virginia was pegged as a number 2 seed.

As well, it is truly difficult to calculate who actually plays a more difficult schedule. Overall record has a large impact on rankings, but strength of schedule is also weighed in. Mistakes are bound to happen.

Will the best team in NCAA basketball win the NCAA tournament? Probably not, but that does not diminish how outstanding this tournament has been. Cinderella stories have been popping up from every corner of the country and top teams have been slayed by tiny schools from unknown conferences.

For the record, my official pick to win the tournament has been and remains the West Virginia Mountaineers, but I won't be surprised if they don't pull it off.

Will the best team win the NCAA tournament? Likely not. Has the best team already been eliminated? Probably. Will the most deserving team win? Definitely.

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The time is right to move the Phoenix Coyotes

2010-03-22T13:14:00.000-07:00

After years and years of turmoil in sunny Phoenix, it seems like the chips are finally falling into place to move the Phoenix Coyotes back to Winnipeg.

Yes, I've looked at the standings and I'm well aware that the Phoenix Coyotes are near the top of the Western Conference. That is why this is the perfect time to move them. Before, the NHL could blame poor performance on the ice, for poor performance in the stands. That is not the case now.

Now, a perspective city, Winnipeg to be exact, would not be getting a terrible hockey team, they would actually be getting a winning club.

One thing that needs to be said is, this shows 100% that Gary Bettman was out to beat down Jim Balsille for personal reasons alone. Or at the very least, a mix of personal hate and a little protection for the Toronto Maple Leafs' pockets.

Giving a club back to Winnipeg can't be detrimental to the NHL. For one, a new owner (possibly Canadian billionaire David Thomson) would have to pay a hefty relocation fee. That's free money for the rest of the NHL. Second, even if Winnipeg didn't sell out every game, they would undoubtedly house more paying fans per game than Phoenix.

In fact, Winnipeg would only have to fill the 15,000 MTS Centre to 75% capacity to show an increase in attendance. Phoenix is sitting dead last in NHL attendance averaging just over 11,000 fans per game.

The time is right for this move to happen. The people in Winnipeg want their team back, the people in Phoenix obviously don't care, the Coyotes on ice package is the best it's been in years, and a building, and ownership are in place (although the NHL would likely request a renovation to increase seating capacity to 17,000).

The Hockey News recently reported that if the Phoenix Coyotes can't find suitable ownership, and/or reach a new deal with the City of Glendale, that a deal is in place in principle with David Thomson to purchase the Coyotes and move them to Winnipeg.

If the Coyotes do in fact move back to Canada, it would be great news for Quebec City, who is looking to build a new arena and lure an NHL team back. Other cities in the running for a relocated team include Kansas City and Seattle, but they likely won't be in the market for the Coyotes.

The chips are in place for this to happen. Here's hoping by the time we drop the puck next season, the Winnipeg Jets will have made their return to the NHL.

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Basking in our disconnected social power

2010-03-18T18:04:00.000-07:00

After reading the recent hate spread across the web about NHL player Matt Cooke, it caused me to take a step back while looking at social media.

People, we'll loosely call "fans" seem to use sites such as Twitter and Facebook as a form of catharsis, and places to spread hate. I thought these sites were designed to be social?

Instead, people forget that what they write is being read by hundreds, thousands, even millions of people. On my evening Twitter visit, I came across several Matt Cooke related posts while his name was trending.

After concussing Marc Savard of the Boston Bruins with a dirty hit, Cooke and the Pittsburgh Penguins faced the Bruins only a week later. Cooke was forced to fight in the game, but fans wanted it to go a step further and voiced their ideas.

These posts said things like, "I want to see Matt Cooke get paralyzed by the end of the night," and "Matt Cooke can suck it, I hope that felt nice fa&&ot," and "F#$@ U Matt Cooke." I've used symbols to attempt to clean up the comments.

Even more of you are calling Cooke "gutless." You know who is gutless? Anyone making that comment, sitting behind their computer screen, making idle threats to impress their Twitter followers. Guess what? It's not impressing anyone. And if you did end up facing Matt Cooke in a fight, I'd bet my last dollar that he would beat the tar out of you...cleanly.

Here's a thought people, of the three quotes I showed, I checked out the peoples profiles, all of these individuals used a real name and location, and if you followed the links that they posted, it gave even more personal information.

Why would people connect themselves to such ridiculous, hateful, and inappropriate comments? Don't get me wrong, I'm no saint, and I've seen and heard it all. You're reading an article from someone who played 7 years of Junior hockey in Canada with and against several current NHLers.

Get over yourselves people. Respectfully give your opinions, blog about it, comment on a story, and then get over it. All of this Matt Cooke hate mail, and the Matt Cooke death threats, and racial, or sexist comments, it just makes you look like an idiot.

Cooke will wake up tomorrow in a comfortable hotel room, he'll have a big breakfast, read the paper, go for a morning skate, and play again. He'll go home happy because he's doing what he loves and he makes more money doing it than most of us will see in a lifetime.

Nothing we as fans, or as virtual bullies on Facebook or Twitter will ever change the way Cooke plays and our messages will never reach anyone that can change the NHL. All they do is make you look silly and put your future in jeopardy.

In all likelihood, no one important will ever read your Twitter posts or blog. The day they do, it will be a potential boss explaining to you that you are not a fitting candidate because your social actions they read on Twitter, do not represent the ideals of their business.

Feel free to Follow Instant Replay on Twitter, or don't. Just know one thing, you won't read me wishing terrible things on any athlete.

Obama's bracket is boring

2010-03-17T11:27:00.000-07:00

I've looked at the President's bracket, and I have to say...booorrring. It does seem like several teams have fairly straight forward routes to the Sweet 16 and Elite 8 this year, but come on people, the President needs to be a risk taker...at least when constructing an NCAA bracket.

As a re-cap, Obama has Kansas, Kentucky, West Virginia, Georgetown, Kansas State, Syracuse, Duke, and Villanova in the Elite 8. That group includes each and every 1 seed, and every 2 seed, with the exception of Ohio State which President Obama has getting "upset" by Georgetown.

If the tight conference championships were any indication, I think we can expect a little more Madness this March.

One team that has been getting a lot of press, and I happen to agree with, is Wisconsin. As a 4 seed, Wisconsin would not be a monumental longshot, but other than number 5 Temple, they have a relatively straight route and I think they'll upset someone in this tournament.

I do however, agree with President Obama that Georgetown is a threat. They have been playing great lately and could go even farther than Obama predicted.

One team I really like to make the Final Four and potentially squeak into the big dance, is West Virginia. West Virginia won the Big East title over Georgetown and seem to be carrying momentum. The Big East is a tough conference to win, especially this year with number 1 Syracuse and number 2 Villanova playing like contenders.

As for President Obama's NCAA tournament winner Kansas, he might be right there. I'm going to go with either West Virginia or Duke. Either way you look at it, March Madness is here and it's going to be an amazing ride. Still Mr. Obama, make it exciting for us. We're tired of the economy and health care, this was your chance to show some personality. Instead, you played it safe.

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Lance Mackey is the king of the Iditarod

2010-03-16T16:08:00.000-07:00

Just as Lance Armstrong's name is attached to Tour de France domination, Lance Mackey is becoming synonymous with winning the Iditarod Sled Dog Race.

For many, completing the Iditarod is an amazing accomplishment, because numerous competitors are forced to drop out each year, but for Lance Mackey, anything less than victory is a dissapointment.

Mackey is considered one of the best musher's in the business. Crossing the finish line in Nome, Mackey has solidified his place in Iditarod history, capturing a record setting, 4th straight Iditarod championship.

More than just dominating their sport and sharing their given name, Mackey holds more in common with Lance Armstrong than many know. In 2001, Mackey beat throat cancer.

Although Mackey will never reach the rockstar status that Lance Armstrong carries across the globe, his accomplishments are no less impressive.

Congratulations to Lance Mackey and his team of sled dogs on winning The Last Great Race on Earth for the 4th straight year.

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After Olympic shun, McKeever wins gold

2010-03-16T06:41:00.000-07:00

Winning a gold medal in the Paralympics 20-km cross country event must be a bitter sweet moment for Brian McKeever. As a visually impaired athlete, McKeever was only hours away from skiing for his country in the Olympic Games, when he was told by his coach he would not be competing.

Less than a month later, McKeever stands atop the world at the Paralympics after winning Canada's first ever Paralympic gold medal on home soil.

It isn't all smiles and congratulations for McKeever, he still has a foul taste in his mouth from the Vancouver Winter Olympics and a goal in his mind for the 2014 Sochi Olympics.

What is sad about this, is the media coverage surrounding McKeever is not for his amazing accomplishment in the Paralympics, it is because he was shunned at the Olympic Games.

McKeever is the kind of athlete children should be looking up to. He aspires to be the best, and in fact, is the best in his sport. Brian McKeever's gold medal at the 2010 Paralympics shouldn't be thought of as second rate; his first Paralympic gold on home soil is every bit as important as the Olympic Gold won by Alexandre Bilodeau.

I wouldn't count McKeever out just yet. If you know anything about the Paralympics, you'll understand that overcoming odds is just a part of the business. For McKeever, despite his visual impairment, the 2014 Olympic Games are still very much in sight.

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Alex Ovechkin threw a CLEAN hit

2010-03-15T18:21:00.000-07:00

It seems like people want to find something wrong with the NHL these days. It's almost like hockey became too popular during the Olympic Games to be healthy. Now all anyone can talk about is dirty hits.

Here's a news flash people, the Alexandre Ovechkin hit on Brian Campbell was clean. At worst, it was wreckless, not malicious. Just as his hit in the Olympic Games that concussed Jaromir Jagr was clean. That hit was highlighted across the world as a positive.

The difference between what Ovechkin did and the hit by Matt Cooke on Boston Bruins Marc Savard is huge. Ovechkin throws hits to the body. Yes, they might injure the opposing player's head, as was the case with Jagr, but the hit is to the body.

Watching Matt Cooke's brutal hit over and over this week, he hit only Savard's head. Not only that, but he extended his arm to assure he made contact with Savard.

The NHL GMs have been doggedly working on a new rule to curb hits to the head over the last week. I think what needs to be done is obvious. If a player is injured from a hit that connects to the body AND head, it is clean. If the player mainly makes contact with the head without making significant connection to the body, then it is a suspendable hit.

Think about it, if you make significant contact with your "targets" body, it likely will not be a blindside hit. It is easy however, to reach out, or blindside an opponent and only make contact with the head. Yes, that would put Cooke in this category, along with the Mike Richards hit on David Booth earlier this season, but it would save hard, agressive plays like Alex Ovechkins.

Taking the edge out of hockey would be catastrophic, but allowing blatent hits to the head to continue would also have damaging affects on the game of hockey.

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David Beckham out of the World Cup

2010-03-15T06:04:00.000-07:00

It will be the first time in years that England won't be able to call on David Beckham for international play. Here's the real question, does it really matter?

With a nation filled with young soccer stars, Beckham seems like a sentimental favourite, not an actual asset. Yes, I understand he's still one of the best in the world at free kicks and crosses, but we're missing the point here.

Not only is Beckham far past his prime, he wasn't even guaranteed to make the English roster. Beckham, who was on loan from the Los Angeles Galaxy, was only playing for AC Milan in order to improve his chances of making the English national team.

So why are so many soccer fans worried about this injury? Honestly? I have no idea. To me this seems like the perfect opportunity to replace Beckham without debate or hard feelings, and to welcome in another young, talented player.

Sports fans are sentimental and experience is always a benefit, but at some point, sentiment and experience need to be outweighed by other factors.

For the soccer fans worried across the world of the impact David Beckham's absence will have on Team England, if anything, you should be worried if you're cheering for a nation other than England. England just got younger and stronger.

David Beckham would have been a reserve at best for England's national team. So is this the worst thing that could happen? No. Who knows, it might even be the best thing that could happen to England.

It's time soccer fans say goodbye to the David Beckham era and look for a new star at this year's World Cup of Soccer.

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Why you should be excited for the Paralympics

2010-03-12T08:55:00.000-08:00

For some people, the Paralympics might seem like a lesser version of the Olympic Games. Not so at all. The Paralympics are as fine of an example of elite sports as you'll ever see. There are many reasons to be excited for the Paralympic Games in Vancouver. If anything, these two events are a part of each other. The Olympic Games and Paralympic Games are one amazing, unifying, sporting event.

Get excited Canada (and the rest of the world). Round one was amazing, it left us with dozens of tear inducing stories, and round two is about to start. Here are 5 reasons to get excited for the Paralympic Games:

1. The Olympics were an amazing warm up: We experienced emotions related to sport over the 17 days of the Olympic Games that haven't been seen by our planet in decades. The Olympics were amazing from the opening ceremonies, to the slightly corny, yet still entertaining closing ceremony. And everything in between, well, the athletics were absolutely mind blowing.

2. Canada vs. USA Part 3: So far, the season series between Canada and the USA in Olympic Hockey is 2-0 Canada. Does that mean the Canadian Sledge Hockey team is guaranteed gold? No way. This will be another epic battle between dominant forces. Led by Canadian flag bearer and captain Jean Labonte, Canada will be desperate to win another gold on home soil. Especially if they face off against Team USA.

3. Brian McKeever will finally get to perform: After making the Canadian Olympic team and preparing for the Olympic Games, Brian McKeever was told the night before his cross country race that he would not be competing. Once hoping to become the only athlete ever to compete in both the Olympic Games and Paralympics, the legally blind cross country skier now must focus on winning gold in only the Paralympics after having his Olympic dream crushed.

4. The athletes are an inspiration: You can't watch the Paralympics without feeling at least a little inspired. These athletes don't see what they've been given as a "disibility." What they show is their amazing athletic ability. And personally, it makes me often feel like a whiner, or like I should be doing more with what I have. There is nothing about the Paralympics that is low calibre. Top athletes, using every ounce of their ability to compete.

5. There is a unique quality to Paralympic sports: The Paralympics offer several unique variations to regular sports that are both amazing and entertaining. Sledge hockey, wheelchair curling, and watching downhill skiers fly down the hill on modified skis. There is no other time of year, when these variations of sport are highlighted on such a national and international scale.

Personally, I think the Paralympics are going to be every bit as special as the Olmypic Games were. Follow Instant Replay on Twitter for Paralympics updates.

Let the games begin.

Who's to blame for the Phoenix Coyotes?

2010-03-10T06:49:00.000-08:00

It's a simple question really, unfortunately, it's a question that most hockey fans don't know the answer to. Who is really to blame for the Phoenix Coyotes financial fiasco?

Yes, the team is doing much better on the ice, but that has nothing to do with the rest of the issue. When former Coyotes owner Jerry Moyes put the team into banckruptcy and attempted to sell to Canadian businessman Jim Balsille, the entire world seemed to implode on the Phoenix Coyotes organization.

Here in no particular order (well actually in a particular order), are your three suspects. Who is really to blame for ruining the Phoenix Coyotes? Let's look at the evidence against our three suspects, Jim Balsille, Jerry Moyes, and Gary Bettman:

1. Jim Balsille: The owner and CEO of Blackberry, Jim Balsille has made it no secret that he badly wants an NHL franchise that he can operate in Canada. Sure, Balsille should have waited in line like everybody else, but his bid was extremely attractive. He has money, he has business sense, and he had a market that desperately wanted NHL hockey. Whether he moved the team to Hamilton, Kitchener-Waterloo, or Winnepeg, Balsille knew the NHL market would succeed. Evidence against: Balsille tried to use money to buy his way through the process. Did it hurt the Phoenix Coyotes? Yes, but only because he didn't successfully buy the team. Verdict: Not Guilty.

2. Jerry Moyes: The former owner of the Phoenix Coyotes obviously couldn't hack it. Can you blame the man though? His team was seeing less than 10,000 fans in the seats on a nighly basis, half of those being free tickets, and he was losing money faster than he could write checks. Evidence against: The NHL is claiming Jerry Moyes violated several league agreements by putting the team into bankruptcy. The NHL is sueing and seeking money for their lawyers, $20 million for the money they expect to lose from running the team this year. and $8 million the for the money the team owes to Wayne Gretzky. Verdict: Moyes should be ordered to pay the $8 million to Gretzky. On the rest of the claims...Not Guilty. If the NHL didn't want to lose $20 million, they should have sold the team to Balsille.

3. Gary Bettman: It's a known fact Bettman doesn't like Jim Balsille. Bettman was also to blame for both NHL lockouts. He was also the brain behind the NHL's expansion to the South. Team's including Florida, Tampa Bay, Nashville, and Atlanta have all been flops in the financial and fan department. Jerry Moyes and Jim Balsille are businessmen. How can you blame businessmen for trying to run a business, and make (or at least not lose) money. Bettman has stopped any possible relocation to Canada even after giving NHL clubs back to American markets that previously failed. The next time Gary Bettman and the NHL point fingers for the Phoenix Coyotes mess, they had best be looking in a mirror. Evidence Against: Gary Bettman's actions since 1993. Verdict: Guilty. Bettman is to blame. The NHL would be better off with a new commissioner. Someone who understands hockey, someone who cares about the real fans of the game, someone who doesn't allow emotion into business transactions, and someone who won't put their own agenda before the best interest of the league.

The NHL and Phoenix Coyotes need someone completely unlike Gary Bettman.

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NASCAR probation for Edwards is ridiculous

2010-03-10T05:54:00.000-08:00

I'm sorry, but NASCAR just went from being a fringe sport on my radar, to a complete and utter joke.

After Carl Edwards intentionally crashed Brad Keselowski in Atlanta, NASCAR came down with a "punishment" of a three-race probation.

What does that mean? It means Edwards can still race, and all he has to do is not play dirty in any of those races. Who cares? Not Edwards. He'll still make his money, still profit from merchandise sales, and he'll still feel like he did the right thing by "policing" the race himself.

The last time I saw an intentional attack on someone was Todd Bertuzzi in the NHL. Bertuzzi sucker punched Steve Moore from behind fracturing vertebrae in Moore's neck. What happened? Bertuzzi was given an indefinate suspension, which ended up costing him $500,000 in salary, the team was fined $250,000, Bertuzzi was sued, and he missed the remainder of the season and playoffs.

This is the same type of situation people. Carl Edwards meant to attack Keselowski. He might not have meant to hurt him, but face it, Bertuzzi didn't enter his incident planning to break Moore's neck, he wanted to send a message. The same thing Edwards intended to do.

NASCAR has proved again with this ridiculous ruling and the dangerous standard it has set, that it does not belong in the rhealm of major sports. NASCAR belongs in a class with the WWE, a spectacle, not a sport.

Carl Edwards deserved to be suspended for his actions. He should not be racing. He should be losing money, not making it. Instead, it is a glorified publicity stunt for all involved. NASCAR gets more promotion, Edwards gets more promotion, and everyone goes home happy.

When NASCAR promised to allow drivers to police themselves and settle scores on the track to energize their "sport," all they did was sign the death warrant for a driver to be named later, whether it be in two weeks, two months, or two years.

Wake up NASCAR, your "ruling" on Carl Edwards was a joke and your entire organization is a joke. Probation? You might as well give Carl Edwards a pat on the back and tell him he did a great job "policing" your sport. Something the brains at NASCAR obviously have no idea how to do.

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NASCAR needs to better police drivers

2010-03-09T14:03:00.000-08:00

We've seen it all before. A player throws a cheap shot on the ice, which is followed by the team enforcer fighting the guilty party. In baseball, it's the brush back pitch. Hot and high inside will teach you a lesson.

Often, players and athletes are able to police themselves. And then it goes too far.

Recently at a NASCAR race in Atlanta, Carl Edwards intentionally wrecked Brad Keselowski in response to previous nudges and bumps. Is this taking it too far? Edwards was closer to killing Keselowski then to teaching him a lesson.

For all of the heat the NHL takes for fighting, the league also has one of the best systems in place to deal with severe situations. NASCAR has no such policy and has promoted drivers policing each other on the track. In a sport where one mistake could take a life, NASCARs "policing" policy is a little ridiculous.

What about Major League Baseball? Well the brush back pitch and over dramatic bench clearing dust ups are all fine and dandy, but when it comes time for a suspension, even the MLB falls short. Players can challenge a ruling and be back in the line up the next night. If you're a pitcher, you might not even miss a start. Something doesn't seem right there.

The NHL has an interesting mix of self policing and league monitoring. In my opinion, it works. Sure you'll always have goons who go too far, but that is the case in any sport. There will always be dirty hits like Matt Cooke's headshot on Marc Savard regardless of the penalty attached to the action.

Look at Carl Edwards, he intentionally took a life in his own hands and luckily everyone walked away. He could have killed Keselowski and he could have killed fans in the stands. If NASCAR had dealt with Keselowski's antics earlier, this outrageous incident would never have happened.

League's like the NHL and the NBA have been properly dealing with player behaviour for years. It's time other sports including the MLB and NASCAR follow suit. If they don't, the results will damage their leagues, damage their image, and hurt or kill thier athletes.

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Iditarod is the most extreme sporting event on earth

2010-03-08T13:52:00.000-08:00

Frigid cold weather, 1,770-kilometre's (approx. 1100 miles), and two weeks of continuous physical exertion.

For those of you that have never heard of the Iditarod, it is simply the world's most extreme sporting event. Currently taking place in Alaska, the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race runs from Willow Lake (80km from Anchorage) to Nome, Alaska and takes anywhere from 8 to 15 days to complete.

This grueling race covers frozen lakes, tundra, trails, forests, mountains, rivers, and other trecherous stretches of terrain. Don't underestimate the endurance and physical ability this race requires. Yes, the dogs may be doing the majority of the running, but one lapse in navigation, concentration, or guidance, and the Iditarod Trail Dog Sled Race can turn deadly.

The past four years, Alaska native Lance Mackey has won the Iditarod, and is again in the field this year. And don't assume this is a race for men alone. Every year, women endure this incredible race including four time winner Susan Butcher and the first woman ever to win the race Libby Riddles.

Referred to as the "Last Great Race on Earth," the Iditarod Trai Sled Dog Race is extraordinary. For the average sports fan this event might seem a little out to left field, then again, nothing about the Iditarod is average. Not the athletes, not the feat of finishing, not the conditions, and certainly not winning the Iditarod.

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Expanding the NCAA Tourny is a bad idea

2010-03-07T13:24:00.000-08:00

I'm all for bringing great sporting events to a larger market, but expanding the NCAA basketball tournament from 64 teams to 96 isn't March Madness, it's March Insanity.

If this were for the sake of welcoming 32 extra teams with legitimate chances to advance to the final four, it would be a-ok with me, but it's not. This is about putting money in the pockets of the NCAA and its member leagues.

There is no way, let me repeat that, NO WAY, that the 65th ranked team, 80th ranked team, or the 96th ranked team will EVER win the NCAA tournament. When it truly comes down to it, the best teams are in contention every single year, and the rest are left in the dust.

This year, just as in any other year, it will likely be one of the top 10 teams entering the tournament that walks away with a National Championship. Even more likely, it will be one of the top four teams, Syracuse, Kentucky, Kansas, or Duke that wins.

If there were an ounce of logic behind expanding the tournament for competitive or even developmental reasons, I would be on board with this, but there isn't. The NIT tournament has been created for teams that aren't able to crack the top 64, and that is where these teams belong.

Expanding the NCAA tournament to 96 teams would be ridiculous. It would dilute the pool, add additional length to an already substantial tournament, would make the regular season almost meaningless, and create games that the average fan would be less than interested in watching. I don't want to see a blowout in the NCAA tournament, I want to see Cinderella teams with a legitimate chance to win a game.

That is what makes it March Madness. The NCAA should learn not to mess with a good thing. The NCAA tournament is popular for a reason and needs to be left just the way it is. What would we even call it? Sweet 16, Final Four, Numbing 96?

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Is Ben Roethlisberger guilty?

2010-03-06T06:38:00.000-08:00

After it recently broke that Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback has been accused of sexual assualts, stories started popping up all across the internet.

Pictures of Big Ben Roethlisberger with numerous women and accounts of drunken debauchery from the night were soon to follow. Now, police are investigating, and Ben Roethlisberger is in a precarious situation.

Unfortunately for Roethlisberger, this is not the first time he has been accused of sexual assault. In 2009, Roethlisberger was accused of sexually assaulting a woman at a celebrity golf tournament in Lake Tahoe.

The current situation, which happened at a bar near Georgia College and Georgia State University, is unrelated, but still potentially devastating for Ben Roethlisberger. In the account, Roethlisberger allegedly assaulted a 20-year-old woman in the washroom of the Capital City nightclub.

I would love to say this is just another crazy fan trying to make some money, and I would like to defend Roethlisberger, but whether he is innocent or guilty, he definitely is putting himself in potentially dangerous situations. Two sexual assault accusations in less than a year?

Based on the accounts on TMZ.com, I would tend to assume he's not guilty, but as a professional athlete, Ben Roethlisberger needs to be aware that his actions, even those he thinks are private, are available to the world at any moment. Just ask Tiger Woods.

Is he guilty? I guess we'll have to let the courts decide, if the case even gets that far. One thing is for sure, the former Super Bowl Champion needs to re-evaluate his social life. Ben Roethlisberger is one mistake away from being dragged through the media and tarnishing his spectacular NFL career.

Was Brittney Griner's punishment too soft?

2010-03-05T14:30:00.000-08:00

I'm sure you've all seen the replay by now. If not, feel free to exit to You Tube and then come back to weigh in on this situation. Brittney Griner made headlines across the nation recently after punching Texas Tech's Jordan Barncastle in the head.

This was no little push or shove, this was an all out haymaker. What punishment did Brittney Griner, a 6'8" freshman basketball player for Baylor, receive? A two-game suspension

Seems fair to me.

Media across North America are up in arms right now about this situation. Just as we saw with the backlash following the on ice celebration of Team Canada's gold medal winning womens hockey team, there seem to be a double standard at play here.

If this were to occur in the NBA or Mens NCAA, it would make a few highlight shows, SportsCenter would put it in their plays of the day category, and we would move on. The fact that a woman got so angry she felt the need to punch another human being seems to be the fact most are struggling with.

Griner apologized publicly to fans, media, her teammates, and coaches saying, "I let my emotions get the best of me and I am deeply sorry for my actions. I am committed to doing a better job of maintaining my composure in the future."

Sounds fair to me. Let's remember something people, Brittney Griner is a freshman. She is only 19 years old and playing a dominant role in a pressure packed league. Not only this, but Griner is consistently targeted by opposing teams and frequently has to deal with overly physical play from opposing defenders.

Why is she picked on? It's simple, Griner has become an extremely high profile player for her ability to dunk and her amazing athleticism.

Get over it people. She made a mistake, she's apologized, she has been punished, and now, we all need to let Brittney Griner get back to school and basketball without ridiculous criticism. Sports are physical, yes, even womens sports, and Brittney Griner is a strong and competitive athlete.

When men do this, we celebrate their antics. So either we need to start celebrating Brittney Griner for her punch, or we need to drop it and move on. You decide.

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