THE SPORTS DIVA MAGAZINE

Dayton Adds To The Brawl Business

2008-07-24T23:51:16-04:00

The Dayton Daily News is reporting that the Dayton Dragons were involved in a "brawl" Thursday evening with the Peoria Chiefs. The Dragons are a Class A minor league affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds.

It all started when players were being hit by pitches.

"Trouble may have started in the top of the first when Dayton pitcher Kyle Lotzkar hit the second batter, Nate Samson.....Dayton shortstop Zack Cozart had to leave the game after being hit in the head with a pitch and Peoria second baseman Gian Guzman went out with a broken left leg." (DDN)

Then more hit by pitches happened, sliding too hard happened, and then managers getting into it happened. All hell broke lose after that.

"Castillo then threw a pitch close to Brandon Menchaca's head, prompting Dayton manager Donnie Scott to leave the third base coaching box and complain to home plate umpire Tyler Wilson. That prompted interim Peoria manager Carmelo Martinez to join the conversation, which quickly became heated, and when Martinez pushed Scott, the benches emptied." (DDN)

15 players and both managers ended up getting ejected. The July air (this week at least) must bring the brawl out in everyone. The issue at Columbus Crew Stadium, the issue in the WNBA game at the Palace of Auburn Hills and now this. Or maybe something weird is going on in the area.

Two brawls in Ohio and one in Michigan? In one week? And none involving Buckeye/Wolverine madness? Please...Explanations need be made here.

TSD College Football Preview Begins August 4th

2008-07-23T20:46:01-04:00

The College football madness for TSD Magazine officially begins August 4th. We will be previewing an Ohio team per day in Division 1-A (FBS, whatever). We will also preview important matchups.

And of course NFL previews for the Bengals and Browns are coming as well. Football season is coming!

Diva's Guide To Sports: How To Root For A Team Who's QB Hates On Your Favorite Team

2008-07-21T21:59:42-04:00

It's been slow times for DGTS. A plan was in place to bring it back in full force come football season but this need not be looked over.

Now we've all heard what happened. I read it Sunday on Eleven Warriors (love those guys) and they heard it from Dotting The "I". Hurt. Angry. Sad. Mad. WTF?. Felt all of those. Never thought Carson Palmer would make me feel that way. It wasn't so much what he said but the way he said it.

My first instinct was to swear to blog. To blog out my feelings. Was all ready to have an angry post towards Palmer. Show him my Blair Waldorf side (yes I watch it and love it). All was ready to explode. Then I stopped myself. I had to think this through. He is the QB and future of the Cincinnati Bengals. The team I have had a love/hate relationship with for a long time and didn't plan on giving up on it. I tried to rationalize:

"Maybe I can root for the Bengals and not him."

"Maybe he can get sacked every play."

"Maybe he'll get outplayed by the backup."

On and on and on. Then I figured none of that seemed plausible. How can I root for the Bengals and not him? He is the QB. How can I root for the Bengals and hope for him to get sacked every play? Not good for the Bengals. Outplayed by the backup? Who is that exactly? That wasn't going to work.

Then I started to even think about hanging up my stripes. But how? This would upset my dad. And the time I've invested in this team would have been wasted. Would I find my old Jets jersey and scream. J-E-T-S? To much to think about. Had to sleep on it.

I have to be honest. I woke up this morning and forgot all about it. That is until I got to work and The Dave and Jimmy Show on WNCI decided to remind me and play it 2 or 3 times. And it all came back to me. Then I heard it was on ESPN and Jim Rome. It was everywhere. Blogs were linking to each other and the comments were hilarious. Some fans decided to hang up their stripes. Some fans decided that Palmer should be run out of town. Some fans decided that Cincinnati wasn't apart of Ohio anyway so who cares. Not apart of Ohio? From the area and my Ohio State pride is unmistakable.

Then it hit me. Carson Palmer has started something that I've dreaded for a long time. The Cleveland Buckeye fans thinking they are greater. Not sure which is worse. What he said or giving Browns fans more leverage?

So how do you root for a team who's QB hates on your favorite team? You just do. You realize that athletes can be idiots. You realize that not all athletes love your favorite team like you do and just might feel the opposite. You realize that this off-season is just to long and it is making everyone go mad. You realize that the only other option in state in pro football is the Cleveland Browns (no offense). Because hopefully your favorite team will make his words seem like the stupidest things to come out of his mouth and enjoy the football on the TV screen in front of you.

KHL vs Blue Jackets

2008-07-20T10:50:52-04:00

By: Bethany

Bethany's Hockey Rants

Okay, so maybe that is a stretch, but, I am already sick of these guys, as you probably can already tell. Now, they are starting to send me press releases, which I don’t really understand. I’m not really too concerned, but here is what they sent me when it came down that the IIHF was suspending all the players, including Filatov:

KHL is in Disagreement with the Proposal to Suspend Players Signed Contracts

Today the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) suggested conducting an investigation regarding six players: Alexander Radulov, Nikita Filatov, Tomas Mojzis, Jason Krog, Fedor Fedorov and Victor Tikhonov. Until this investigation has come to its final conclusion and the IIHF has rendered its decisions, all the concerned players will be suspended from international transfers and competitions.

Regarding this statement KHL clarifies its position:
We accept the idea of an investigation but specify that it should be conducted within the framework of the relevant legislation of Russia, USA and Canada, as well as in accordance with the labor law regulations of the KHL and the NHL.

However, the KHL cannot accept the proposal to suspend player’s signed contracts.
“We do not accept the idea of suspending the contracts because this has not been agreed on by KHL and NHL. The mentioned players should not be made ‘scapegoats’ due to the fact that the Memorandum of Agreement has not been signed between the KHL and the NHL. In the absence of a signed Memorandum of Agreement between the KHL and the NHL, it is important to remember that the player is under contract with the individual clubs and the KHL can only enforce any such agreements with the NHL, once the Memorandum has been signed by all parties,” said KHL President Alexander Medvedev.

KHL management calls on NHL to sign the Memorandum of agreement and to put it into force from July, 10 2008, which will legally prevent similar cases between the NHL and the KHL in the future.

Anyway, the Dispatch was granted an interview with the KHL President, Alexander Medvedev. It is a must read, but my favorite part of the interview is when Medvedev is asked if Filatov’s family had been threatened. Here is Medvedev’s answer:

A: Good God! I have a nagging suspicion you read a lot of James Bond stuff in your spare time! This is not the case or the reality of the KHL.

It cracked me up, I think it was funny. Anyway, I’m pretty sure Filatov is worth the fight.

So I'm Not The Only Person In Columbus Who Thinks TITLETOWN Is A Waste Of Time

2008-07-19T00:10:44-04:00

So The Money Shot is saying that for ESPN's TITLETOWN only over 200 people showed up to show why Columbus should be considered TITLETOWN. Compare that to the over 6,000 people that showed up for Valdosta, GA.. That can prove one of two things. Either high school football is more deserving than the Buckeyes for TITLETOWN or TITLETOWN is up there with last year's Who's Now as a big waste of time. You pick.

Spend Your Evening With Jim Tressel

2008-07-16T12:53:24-04:00

Yesterday, Jim Tressel was on our TV screen while being a guest on ESPN's First Take. Today, if you are in the Columbus, Ohio area, you can catch him in person around town today at a couple locations (Kroger on Chambers Rd from 11 to 1pm and the Columbus North Lifeway Christian Store from 3 to 5 pm) or you can wait to catch him tonight from 7 to 9 pm at Barnes and Noble, The Ohio State University Bookstore in the South Campus Gateway.

And what may you ask is all the shenanigans with Jim Tressel about? Why his new book of course! The Winners Manual. It focuses on the coaches "Big Ten" fundamentals of success.

Do we even have to ask if this book will be included into the TSD Book Club? Add it to the list now. Enjoy your day with Tressel. Happy Reading!

Reds 6 Games Out of Wild Card Spot

2008-07-13T15:39:09-04:00

The Cincinnati Reds at this moment are 46-49 on the season. They are 11.5 games out of 1st place in the NL Central but are just 6 games out of the NL Wild Card. And it doesn't seem that big of a number either. Only 6 games. If the Reds get on a roll after the All-Star Break then things could surely change for them.

Now let's take a look at the teams in front of them vying for that position:

St. Louis Cardinals 52-43
Milwaukee Brewers 51-43
Florida Marlins 50-44
New York Mets 50-44

The top two teams are in the Reds division and are fighting with the Cubs for the top spot. The other two teams are behind the Phillies, just barely, and Atlanta is just 6 games behind them. After thinking about it more, those 6 games may be bigger than they seem.

Now the first thing the Reds need to do is get above .500. Easier said than done right? But you can't get where you need to be, unless you're in the NL West, under .500. They are up against the Brewers today and hoping to get the sweep. After the All-Star break they have home series against the NY Mets, the San Diego Padres, and the Colorado Rockies. The Mets are the only team out of this group they will be facing with a record above .500. But they are also in the Reds way of the Wild Card spot. Getting wins against them will help.

So how about getting over .500 Redlegs. After that, we can discuss what else you need to do to get that Wild Card spot.

Huge week for the Columbus Blue Jackets!!

2008-07-12T19:06:56-04:00

By: Bethany

Bethany's Hockey Rants

This week was HUGE for the Columbus Blue Jackets, we had Development Camp, we gave Hitch an extension, and we made some key signings. As I said Development Camp was this week, and the big names that were participating were of course, Jakub Voracek, Stefan Legein, Maxim Mayorov, and Cody Goloubef. I was unable to attend Development Camp, but from what I heard Voracek was amazing, at least according to Aaron Portzline who had this to say:

-- Voracek is having a very good camp, too. On Day 1, his passing really stood out. On Tuesday, for whatever reason, he was more of a shooter than a passer. One thing I've noticed: Voracek hits the net with his shot. Most Blue Jackets practices are very loud because the players can't hit the net and end up drilling the glass behind the net. (A cynic would call them Shots On Glass). Not Voracek. He was drawing net from all angles.

It has been said that Jake is pretty much a shoe in to make the squad come training camp, so it doesn't really surprise me that he had such a great Development Camp. Also, Jake is in Columbus working on his training, getting bigger, and stronger day by day.

Stefan Legein, since the day he was drafted has been a favorite player of mine. In the very few times I have been able to watch him play you get an idea of what his personality is, he really shows it off on the ice. He reminds me a lot of Jared Boll. The Blue Jackets website had a great piece written on both Jakub and Stefan and showing their different personalities. Also, they have a great interview with Stefan.

Maxim Mayorov had an extremely impressive Development Camp. Mayorov gave his notice to his Russian team and will be able to negotiate a contract with the Blue Jackets on August 1. Mayorov is determined to play in North America this coming season whether that is Juniors, or for Syracuse. My guess is he makes Syracuse. Here is what Scott Howson had to say about Maxim:

"It's been really good for us to have him in this setting, to see how he plays against and interacts with players his own age," general manager Scott Howson said. "I saw him play in Russia last year, but the competition was not very good."

"What we're seeing here this week is a player with really good hands and a really strong skater. It's been really good."

Nobody really had a lot to say about Cody Goloubef's camp, they seemed to be more impressed with Teddy Ruth or Baby Ruth, as I call him. Ruth was acquired at the trade deadline for Sergei Fedorov and is going to school at Notre Dame.

In the world of signings, we have finally officially signed center Michael Peca to a one-year deal. This was a big signing for us, not because of the scoring he does, but because of the leadership he brings. We have an extremely young Captain, in Rick Nash, and Michael Peca brings leadership and experience every single time he steps onto the ice. We have also signed center RJ Umberger a RFA that we acquired from the Philadelphia Flyers at the draft. We signed RJ to a four-year $15 million deal. The Blue Jackets also signed first round draft pick, Nikita Filatov to an entry level deal. Filatov has the potential to make the Blue Jackets out of training camp, which is extremly exciting for us...at least for me, because, I have heard him compared to Ovechkin and Crosby...that couldn't be a bad thing right?

The biggest signing of all was of course the signing of my favorite member of the Blue Jackets organization, Ken Hitchcock. He agreed to a contract extension, and will lead the Blue Jackets until the end of the 2011-2012 season (or longer). Hitchcock has given the Blue Jackets something they had never had until he came along...an identity. We are just now seeing what this new identity entails, but I am looking forward to the following season where we will grow as a team on and off the ice.

Odell Thurman In Trouble Again

2008-07-12T17:33:22-04:00

You think you're safe to read things regarding the Cincinnati Bengals and then things like this happens:

"The Erie County Sheriff's office has issued a felonious assault warrant for former Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Odell Thurman in connection with an incident that allegedly occurred May 27 at Kalahari Waterpark Resort, according to the Sandusky Register. The newspaper said Thurman was indicted by an Erie County Grand Jury, and authorities are looking for him." (Dayton Daily News)

Well then. The former Georgia Bulldog is being accused of punching a man in the face. That seems to be happening a lot lately. Thurman was reinstated to the NFL and back on the Bengals for a short time before getting cut by them back in May. And then in June he he had failed another drug test. It may be safe to say that his NFL playing time just might be over.

The Other Ohio Arena Football Team

2008-07-08T22:57:33-04:00

Last year around this time, TSD showcased the Columbus Destroyers and their quest for the Arena Bowl Championship. They lost in the championship game and ended this season at 3-13. But we won't dwell on that right now.

The other arena football team in Ohio is the Cleveland Gladiators. They moved to Cleveland from Las Vegas and before that New Jersey. And in their first year in Cleveland, they defeated the Orlando Predators on the road 73-70 to go on to the conference championship. If they win that game, they will go on to play in Arena Bowl XXII. Win that and you give the city of Cleveland its FIRST sports title since 1964. That's only 44 years ago.

Yes it is AFL. Some love it, some forget that it's going on. But if the Gladiators make it and win the Arena Bowl Championship, what's up Cleveland? Will you exhale....just a little bit at least?