Bleacher Report - Articles by Ryan

Scott Gomez to the Montreal Canadiens

Ryan — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:26:25 -0400

Everyone in the hockey world is aware of this by now, but Rangers GM Glen Sather may have pulled off the fleece of the year.

Not only did he get someone to take Scott Gomez and his $7.5 million cap hit, but he actually got something in return.

Gomez, along with Tom Pyatt and Mike Busto, went to Montreal in exchange for Christopher Higgins, Ryan McDonagh and Pavel Valentenko.

For the Rangers, this is a huge score. Dumping Gomez and his deal would have been a coup, but picking up a promising prospect (McDonagh) in addition to a solid, younger forward in Higgins is a flat-out steal.

This move also frees the Rangers up to take a run at Ottawa forward Dany Heatley who has been looking to flee the Senators for some time. It is rumored either Higgins or McDonagh could be apart of a package going to Ottawa.

From Montreal's standpoint, this is flat puzzling. Giving up Higgins isn't the big deal; the guy topped out at 29 goals and is a second-liner at best. But absorbing Gomez's huge deal without giving him a pure goal scorer to pass to is just ridiculous.

That money could have been used towards the boatload of restricted/unrestricted free agents the Habs have (Alexei Kovalev and Mike Komisarek headline the list). Not only that, but it doesn't address a need. The Habs, like half the hockey world, needed a big, tough pivot. Not the diminutive, underachieving Gomez.

Adding McDonagh, considered by some to be a top prospect in the Canadiens system, isn't a huge deal at the moment. The Habs may have given up on him, which is fine, but the fact that they took on a huge deal and had to give up a prospect is unbelievable.

If Sather can spin this into Dany Heatley, he's a front-runner for Executive if of the Year for 2009/10. If he can get rid of Wade Redden and his awful deal, he's the clearcut winner.

Through all of this, it's clear things are troubling in Montreal. Guy Carbonneau was canned last season and if terrible deals like this become common place, Gainey may find himself submitting his resume in the near future.

Good luck to you Habs fans. If this is any indication, it's going to be a rough ride.

Inside Look: 2009 Buffalo Sabres Draft Class

Ryan — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 10:55:16 -0400

The 2009 NHL Entry Draft has come and gone, leaving many to analyze the aftermath.

I'm going give you a recap of what the Buffalo Sabres did with their selections, and what it could mean for the future of the club.

Heading into the draft, there were a few issues that needed addressing: firstly, the team lacked a puck-moving defenseman and had since the departure of Brian Campbell. Finding one in the middle of the first round wasn't likely heading into the weekend, however.

Secondly, the team was painfully undersized. Finding a top-six forward with size and toughness would be a huge priority.

The third issue, secondary scoring, could even be addressed in one pick.

So, with their first selection, No. 13 overall, the Sabres selected right winger Zack Kassian from the Peterborough Petes of the Ontario Hockey League. Kassian fits the size quota well, coming in at the 6'2" 215 lb range.

He improved tremendously from 2007-08 to last season, jumping from nine goals to 24, while improving his point total from 21 to 63.

Ideally, he will create plays for his smaller linemates by using his size in the corners and along the boards. He has the ability to be a smasher with some hands, and could top out as a second-liner (should he develop properly).

With their third-round selection, they added even more size with defenseman Brayden McNabb from Kootenay of the Western Hockey League.

McNabb is a monster, tipping the scales at 6'4" 200lbs. He says that he patterns himself after Robyn Regehr for his steady, stay-at-home style of play. Frankly, if the kid can turn out to be anything like Regehr, that's a huge plus for the Sabres.

In the fourth round, Buffalo drew from within the Sabre family, so to speak, by selecting former Sabre Mike Foligno's son, Marcus. Another big kid, measuring in at 6'2" 200 lbs., Foligno has the skills to be a power forward, but he's a project, to say the least.

He'll need to work on his hands, but he likes driving to the net and, frankly, guys like Dave Andreychuk (no disrespect) made a career out of that.

Rounding out the draft are defenseman Mark Adams (6'1" 187), goaltender Connor Knapp (6'5" 215), and winger Maxime Legault (6'2" 195).

Overall, it's a solid class if the Sabres' top two picks turn out well. Selecting a guy like Kassian was a big need, and he has a lot of potential to be an impact player. The Sabres added a ton of size here, of which they desperately needed.

A solid weekend's work for the front office. Let's just hope these kids pan out.

Michigan Football's 2009 Summer: Chasing the Boredom Away

Ryan — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 13:45:35 -0400

The dog days of summer.

As a sports fan, it's the worst time of the year. Unless of course, you like baseball, but not even hardcore baseball fans can sit through a whole game.

Hockey is over, hoops have finished up, and it's been months since the last football game.

There are things for the sports fan to follow during the summer, especially if you're into the collegiate football scene.

For me, the days of summer involve following the camp and recruiting battles for my favorite college program—the Michigan Wolverines.

Anyone with a T.V., radio, newspaper, Internet connection, or ears knows that things didn't go well for Michigan last year.

Struggles were expected, but not like that. Don't worry, things improved as the year went along, and they can only stand to get better this year.

As far as this summer goes, the most interesting thing, as usual, is the recruiting.

The class so far isn't quite up to Michigan standards, but a 3-9 season should be accompanied with an expected dip in recruiting.

The main complaint is that it seems that Rich Rodriguez is still recruiting the three-star sorts he did at West Virginia. Which, I guess would be fine if this was, you know, West Virigina.

Still, you can look at his first class and a half with Michigan and see a parade of four-star recruits, so the guy knows he has a better choice of talent.

Quarterback was, obviously, a sizable need entering the summer. Steven Threet, last year's oft-injured quarterback and producer of so many "just keep the damn ball!" moments, has transferred out.

Left over are two true freshmen; one with loads of potential, but some serious mechanical issues (Denard Robinson) and one who is polished, accurate, and mobile. Though Tate Forcier is somewhat scrawny.

After them, there is the "quarterback who should never, ever see the field ever, even if the rest of the quarterbacks transfer, are abducted, or die" (Nick Sheridan).

As far as who will enter the fall as starter, this should be the easiest one to answer. Tate Forcier will be that guy. I'm confident enough to say that, unless he is crippled, maimed or decides, "Screw you guys, I'm going home."

I would risk my limbs on the thought that he will start.

The goal for recruiting surrounding the 2010 class was to get one real-deal QB and another who essentially is a project that needs work.

Call it mission accomplished, provided no one backs out.

Michigan recruit QB Devin Gardner fills the quota of "big-time quarterback". He's big, mobile, and apparently has a strong arm.

Like all running quarterbacks, he has some mechanical issues. With Forcier in front of him, this is manageable.

The second quarterback in the class is quarterback Cornelius Jones from S.C. Jones is a project in every sense of the word. Being recruited as an athlete, this is his first major offer.

Thankfully, with Gardner and Forcier ahead of him, there is time to work with him.

That's probably it for this class, though I'd love to see La. quarterback Muncie Legaux brought on board because, I mean, have you seen that name?

He could be a one-star with lesser skills than me.

I don't care, he wins.

Running back looked like standard procedure heading into this summer, thanks to the departure of Sam McGuffie, the probable dismissal of Kevin Grady, and the potential testing issues with Fitzgerald Toussaint and Jeremy Gallon.

Michigan has already picked up a pair of commits at the position; one a tiny, rocket-propelled Texas running back named Tony Drake, and the other commitment from the very Brandon Minor-like running back Stephen Hopkins, also from Texas.

Not a ton is really available on either, so that's pretty much all I've got on them.

Look for another addition to the class, probably running back Austin White, from Michigan. He's a high four-star back with two brothers at MSU, so that's something to keep an eye on. It's a definite plus if he can be added to the class.

Flip-flopper extraordinaire, Calif. running back Brennan Clay, is also still on the radar.

He went from a Michigan lean to Oklahoma commit in a matter of no time, but still lists Michigan among his schools of interest. So, there's that.

Wide receiver seems to be locked up, but you really can't tell, as RichRod seems to like these electron-sized slot receivers, so we have either seen the last or there will be 14 more.

Leading the way as Michigan's first commit of 2010 was universal four-star Florida wide receiver Ricardo Miller. He's a stud and at the absolute bottom of the list of potential de-commits, having moved to Michigan to play his senior year there.

Joining him are Mich. wide receiver Jeremy Jackson (son of RB coach Fred Jackson), Ohio wide receiver Jerald Robinson, and Ohio wide receiver DJ Williamson. Speed is the theme here. Lots and lots of speed. Universal mid-high three stars all around. Quota filled on this one.

The offensive line isn't quite the need it has been in the past few years, even with the departure of heralded recruit Dan O'Neill. Ohio offensive lineman Christian Pace is a nice start; big, lanky frame with room to add bulk, and good footwork.

On the board are two very important names: Minn. offensive lineman Seantrel Henderson, the universal No. 1 overall prospect in the nation, and four-star Fla. offensive lineman Torrian Wilson. Michigan apparently leads for Wilson, which is awesome.

Though linemen are hard to predict, you can't have enough of the highly rated kind.

Henderson seems to like Michigan and will plan an official visit, but doesn't plan on deciding anytime soon so keep hope limited. A massive coup if he can be corralled.

Expect Wilson to commit, and possibly one other if not Henderson.

Defensive tackle is going to be a huge area of need because of standard attrition. Offers are out to high four-star Pa. defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd, but PSU appears to be the early leader.

Texas defensive tackle Ricky Heimuli and Jay Guy also lurk, but Texas is the team to beat. After that, it's basically adding and removing guys, then praying.

I would like to see the team pick up another pure defensive lineman, as the two commits on board (Pa. recruits Ken Wilkins and Jordan Paskorz) are more fitted for this new "Spinner" LB/DE hybrid role in Greg Robinson's defense.

Michigan DE/LB Will Gholston (cousin of NYJ LB Vernon Gholston) would be great, but he is an MSU lean.

Antonio Kinard is the lone linebacker to commit, and he seems to be of the middling three-star sort. Florida. LBs Christian Jones and Jeff Luc have offers, but appear to be long shots at this point.

Texas linebacker Holmes Onwukaife tried to commit but was told, "Hey man, come back if all the guys we want go elsewhere." He would significantly up the "awesome name quota."

Corner is a pressing need.

Three-star Ohio cornerback Courney Avery is on board, but he isn't exactly instilling confidence in the position so far. Highly rated Pa. cornerbacks Cullen Christian and Brandon Ifill are on the board. Michigan is leading for Christian but trailing on Ifill.

Michigan also leads four-star Mich. cornerback Dior Mathis.

I expect two of the three to commit, which would lock down the position and leave Michigan in a very good position.

Safety, eh...wow. Short on depth and those remain are frightening to even think about (Stevie Brown, please, PLEASE tackle someone).

Florida safety Marvin Robinson, a high four star across the board, is a great start.

After that, the only true safety on the board is LaTwan Anderson of Ohio.

Solid prospect, but he is transferring to Glenville, aka Ohio State Jr.

So, this is not looking great. Still, until he officially drops Michigan, he's there.

Overall, Michigan should push the scholarship ceiling and hopefully fill out the remainder of the class with more highly-regarded sorts.

I trust Rodriguez because of his track record, but the rest of the fan base isn't necessarily so understanding.

Sit tight, Michigan fans. I'll have more pieces over the course of the summer, including a full-out season preview and predictions.

This Isn't the Comeback I Thought it Would Be

Ryan — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 11:08:17 -0400

When I first decided to jump back into this writing bit, I couldn't help but think of Eminem's "Without Me".

Guess who's back? Back again. Shady's back; tell a friend.

Only, as soon as I thought about it, I realized I would no longer be doing wrestling. I can't because it wouldn't be fair to myself or anyone who reads what I write to churn out articles about something I didn't care for anymore.

I'm still a wrestling fan at heart and I don't think I could ever not be a wrestling fan, but I can't invest myself in it anymore.

Not when there is only one major player who can put out whatever it wants at a half-assed click because they're they only game in town. Not when the only potential competition can't figure out how to stop trying to be like "big brother" and try to be itself.

I still enjoy Ring of Honor, but realistically, who on this site watches it? What's left to be said about ROH that anyone would want to read about? Everyone who knows it gets that it's a great indy federation that meets a lot of quotas. Those who don't know it won't because they can only accept a brand because of it's production values and star power.

With that being said, I feel I at least owe an explanation. How did it get to this? Why am I basically out of following something I've followed for nearly 20 years?

Vince McMahon is partially to blame.

No, this isn't going to turn into a WWE bash-fest. Vince is a smart man and is doing what he feels he needs to in order to make money. He's a businessman; I'd expect no less of him.

It's just how things go in the wrestling world. Randy Orton, CM Punk and Chris Jericho are about the only appealing stars out there now, to me at least, but the gimmicks and feuds have been hashed and re-hashed so many times, I can't keep count.

How many times do I need to see the same feud before I just say "ok, maybe I need to step away"?

The WWE, though they are trying, isn't able to churn out stars quite the way they were able to during the attitude era and the product is suffering. There isn't that factor or face who can draw everyone to them.

The in-ring work has declined as well. I'm a wrestling fan; I like to see good wrestling matches. They just don't happen anymore. From both a pure skill and entertainment aspect, they just don't perform the same.

Everything is so scripted in terms of the matches, that you can tell when, after a botch happens, the wheels fall off as guys try to remember the following lines of the script. It's unappealing and uninteresting.

Unfortunately, as I've gotten older, I learned a bit about the behind-the-scenes aspect and it probably has ruined a bit of it for me. I hate knowing that Triple H can politic anytime he wants a title reign and probably get one. I hate knowing that certain feuds or angles can't happen because a certain guy will nix it and so on.

TNA has also done it's fair share of souring wrestling for me. I had high hopes for them a few years back when it looked like they might finally rise up as true competition for the WWE juggernaut.

Slowly, but surely, they started following the "WCW: 1999-2001 Guide for Terrible Booking" and frustration couldn't accurately describe my emotions.

They had a product that was DIFFERENT from the WWE, with great young stars and athletes. So instead of pushing these guys like they should, they sign aging stars and WWE cast-offs and push them instead.

I loved Mick Foley, Kurt Angle and Sting ten years ago. I do not want to see them battle for the TNA Title now. I want to see them do what true superstars do: make future Legends.

Terry Funk is a Legend just as much for making his opponents look good as he is for being one of the craziest, hardcore sons-a-bitches to even lace 'em up. Ric Flair may be a 16-time World Champion, but he's also helped make guys like Bret Hart and Sting.

There are too many selfish personalities in the wrestling business right now. Far fewer guys care about the business as a whole and more about going into business for themselves and it hurts the product.

It's all too frustrating and slightly depressing for me to invest in anymore. These companies want my business but insult me with their effort and products? No thanks.

I hope some day that big star comes along and hooks me in like the Ultimate Warriors, Outsiders and Stone Cold Steve Austins of the wrestling world did a long time ago.

I hope some day I can find myself invested in it again, but the older I get, the less and less I care.

I hope that stops because I'd like to care about wrestling again.

Why the Sports Media Is Retarded

Ryan — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 19:03:31 -0400

First off, this isn't my comeback or a permanent return: this is just to address something that has been bothering me.

As anyone who has read my work knows, I am a Michigan football fan. Times have been rough of late, but things look bright.

Lately, though, things have been brutal as far as being a Michigan fan goes. The sports media is to thank for this.

Apparently, former Duke basketball player Greg Paulus has the opportunity to "compete" for the starting quarterback job. It's fun when we play with words.

Paulus won't be getting a scholarship. He'll be walking on and "competing" for this job. By that definition, I could "compete" for the starting job if I wanted because I certainly could walk on and state my intentions to do so. It still doesn't make it a remotely realistic possibility.

Anyone who's taken five seconds to research Michigan's quarterback situation KNOWS that freshman Tate Forcier will start and probably play the whole season unless he is broken in half.

Even after him, it'll be between Denard Robinson and Nick "Suicidal Kitten" Sheridan. There literally is no chance of Paulus seeing any starting time, let alone meaningful snaps. Well, I stand corrected. If all three scholarship QB's are killed AND dismembered, he has a shot. Because even a lifeless Forcier is better than Paulus.

So please: enough of this talk of Paulus. The guy isn't getting a scholarship. He has NO chance to start and Michigan has nothing to lose from letting a QB with potential walk on and take a stab at it.

And now I will return to my hiatus, probably angry with the next stupid thing that comes out about Michigan.

Scott Steiner: The Greatest Performer Ever

Ryan — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 21:19:47 -0500

Getting a rare night off from school and the girlfriend being at work, I had a chance to sit down and watch TNA wrestling for the first time in quite a long time.

As usual, I was disappointed.

I absolutely hate ODB, can't stand how blatant a rip-off the Main Event Mafia is of the nWo (right down to a take-over on this most recent episode) and can't help but laugh at that abomination known as Suicide.

The one thing I enjoyed? The greatest to ever speak on the microphone. The genetic freak, Big Poppa Pump Scott Steiner.

At first, this article was going to be a joke. Scott's wrestling abilities have declined with each anabolic steroid injection. He isn't the same performer he was during the end of WCW, let alone when he and brother Rick were ruling the tag team wrestling world.

He's turned into a botching machine. He can't go one match without seriously jeopardizing his opponent's health.

His mic skills? They're terrible even with subtitles. He stumbles through his rants, mispronouncing words left and right. Though, I have to say, he's arguably the most unintentionally funny wrestler ever.

His work in WCW was epic. From his infamous shoot on Ric Flair where he calls the Nature Boy a "butt-sucker" to his comments about sleeping with an opponent's wife or girlfriend, Scott was hilarious.

Hell, tonight, he served as the ring announcer and introduced the opening match between Awesome Kong's team and ODB as "four bitches on one." Let's face it: the guy is the only good thing going in TNA right now.

No matter how many more months we have to sit through a meaningless Sting title reign, another boring promo from Booker T, or another terrible performance by Jeremy Borash, Scotty Steiner is there to save the day.

He'll be there with his freaks, his peaks, and his epic linguistic skills. And frankly? I can't wait for his next promo.

Vincent Lecavalier Won't Be Traded—Enough of the Rumors

Ryan — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 19:26:09 -0500

I must admit—the rumor game can be sort of fun at times. Which star will go to which contender? What star will stay on his team to simply walk the next year?

This season, the rumor mill is as busy as ever. One name seems to be coming up a lot as of late—Tampa Bay Lightning captain Vincent Lecavalier.

With the Bolts struggling despite some heavy offseason spending, the rumors have been flying that Tampa is looking to trade their franchise player. This isn't going to happen, and I have a few reasons why.

The most obvious reason? His salary. His 11-year, $85 million deal kicks in next year. Of his rumored suitors, no one is prepared to take that kind of salary cap hit without some heavy shedding. Is a team really going to give up players, prospects, and picks to clear additional cap space? Highly unlikely.

Tampa Bay would be stupid to trade him, unless they were rebuilding. They definitely don't seem to be rebuilding, based on the way they spent this summer. Granted, everyone knew that overpaying on free agents was stupid, but they want to win now. Trading their franchise isn't the way to get there.

If the Bolts were looking to clear cap space to rebuild, why on earth would you trade Lecavalier and not Martin St. Louis? St. Louis is older, smaller, less skilled, and on the decline. Lecavalier is entering his prime. So who makes more sense? Trading St. Louis for young pieces would be the most beneficial and smartest thing to do.

It seems that fans of the Montreal Canadiens think that Vinny will be wearing the bleu, blanc, et rouge before the end of the season. I won't even get into it, but they aren't exactly oozing cap space. They have less than $1 million of space under the current ceiling.

Cap woes aside, who would the Habs have available to give up for Vinny? He certainly would command a premium package considering he's a hometown boy. Lecavalier is under 30 and a star player. Chris Higgins and Max Pacioretty would almost certainly be involved, but after that, who is there? Halak? They just don't have enough assets in place to swing a deal.

Just because he's from Il Bizarre, QC does not mean he will be playing there.

So in all honesty, I'd really like these rumors to stop. Logic says he's not going anywhere unless Tampa wants to give him away to a team that has the cap space, or they will settle for a less than stellar group of prospects.

The rumor mill will continue to churn, but I hope this particular rumor comes to rest.

Christian Cage Expected To Be Backstage at WWE Raw Tonight! (Humor)

Ryan — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 12:52:53 -0500

You guys will never believe this.

Rumors have been going around that Christian Cage was backstage at every WWE Raw and Smackdown taping for the last two months.

Cage was supposed to debut at last December's Armageddon pay-per-view. It was apparently pushed back. He was also slated to be the man to screw over Jeff Hardy at last night's Royal Rumble. However, it did not come to fruition.

Well, guess what—I'm here to tell you that he'll be debuting tonight. Not only that, but he will reveal that he was the one who kicked Vince McMahon in the head (something about black magic and making it look like Randy Orton) last week and that he will be the one main eventing Wrestlemania XXV.

It may seem ludicrous that someone who just came back to the company would be main eventing the biggest show in the history of the company. However, we're talking about Christian Cage here.

Oh, but get this one too—Edge will lose the strap, Christian will grow his hair out and wear see-through mesh shirts, and the two will battle the Hardyz in TLC matches for the rest of eternity! Because that's what we all want to see! I can't stop using exclamation marks!!!(!)

Just so you know, this is legit. I'm best friends with Jay and can confirm this 100 million percent. I know Cage's real name, so how could I be lying?

Oh, I don't know if you heard, but Christian will be bringing Kurt Angle with him, except plans call for Kurt to come back and then abruptly quit to start a career in mixed martial arts.

However, those are just the tentative plans for right now. I should also mention that I know Kurt too. We're all tight. And no, I'm not Rhino. (TEAM RECK!)

But seriously folks, can we just stop these types of articles about Christian Cage? Can anyone show me anything but a rumor site that confirms he's even signed with the WWE?

Until someone can and until he actually debuts, it's all speculation and it makes these "insiders" look like jackasses. All this hype reminds me of the Chris Jericho return all over again.

Enough already.

NHL All-Star Suspensions

Ryan — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 12:08:12 -0500

This past weekend, the NHL held it's annual All-Star festivities in Montreal, who is celebrating their centennial.

After a few notable names—such as Nicklas Lidstrom and Pavel Datsyuk of the Detroit Red Wings—opted out of the events all together, the mandate came down from the NHL offices that anyone skipping the event would be suspended for either the game before or the game after the All-Star weekend.

I, for one, applaud the move.

The uproar, it seems, is that both were injured and are being "unfairly" punished. That's all fine and well if the NHL demanded they play, but that's not the case. The NHL simply wants them to show up, sign some autographs, shake some hands, and just interact with fans. What is so stressful about that?

Not to mention the fact that, if these players were hurt so badly, they probably would have missed a game or two around this point anyway.

It is the duty of the players selected to not only represent their teams, but the league as well. How does it make the NHL and the Red Wings look that Datsyuk and Lidstrom decided the All-Star events weren't important enough to go? How will the sponsors feel when stars fail to show?

The only complaint that I find realistic is the suddenness of the move. It came out of left field and quite swiftly. A warning, starting suspensions next year, would have been more fitting, but the message got across.

It's all very simple: as players, you are paid to represent yourself, your team, and the league. If they can't find the effort and attitude to even attend the events to interact with the fans and give the sponsors the star power they crave, then perhaps these players aren't the All-Stars we make them out to be.

For once, I applaud the NHL brass. It's a rare move in the right direction.

WWE Royal Rumble After-Thoughts

Ryan — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 11:53:40 -0500

Last night, the WWE held its annual Royal Rumble event. Anyone reading this article probably knows the idea behind it, so I'll save the explanation.

I have to say that, overall, the card was very lack luster and predictable.

The night was outlined by expected successful title defenses by Jack Swagger and John Cena, the very not-shocking Matt Hardy turn and subsequent Jeff Hardy title loss, and last but not least, the Rumble winner himself, Randy Orton.

Let's face it—the WWE pretty much set itself up for a predictable night. Swagger had just won his ECW title, so there was no way he would lose it this quick. Ditto for Cena. As for Hardy, all these "accidents" were obviously a set up for something bigger (so much for Christian, hmm?).

The WWE also hurt itself in terms of storyline and development of certain individuals.

Having Melina win the women's title was a mistake. Build her up through a series of cheap, unfair losses at the hands of the Glamazon and let her take the title at Wrestlemania. It would be an old and tried way of doing this, sure, but usually a moneymaker.

The current JBL/HBK storyline would be a perfect vehicle for a last HBK title run. JBL should have won the title last night, spent the next few weeks berating and humiliating HBK only to have Shawn rebel and stand up for himself, setting them up for an epic title match at WrestleMania. If this is still in the plans, it's certainly going to be rushed now.

Then we have Victor Kozlov. He started out like gangbusters, only to have a short run in the Rumble. What's the point of having him single-handedly eliminate Khali if he's going to be gone moments later?

The WWE only scored big on two things.

One of which was the one-night-only return of Mr.Monday Night, Mr.PPV, the Whole F'n Show himself—Rob Van Dam. The WWE has gotten rather good at these one off appearances and super surprises in the Rumble. Kudos to the WWE as they kept this under wraps for so long.

The other is two-fold. One is taking the belt of Jeff Hardy. The guy isn't championship caliber and obviously worried the WWE enough to take the strap off of him after such a short time.

The second part is turning Matt Hardy heel after a less-than inspiring run with the ECW title. Not only that, but it takes Matt out of the bush leagues and gives him a chance to shine on the main event level. It's been long overdue.

As far as Randy Orton winning the Rumble, I had it down to him and Triple H—because, let's face it—if Triple H is in the Rumble, you always have to consider him a strong shot because of his backstage pull.

Randy was the logical choice and will most likely go on to lose to Super Cena at WrestleMania 25. I hope that they decide to put the strap back on Randy and give him a very long run as champ, establishing him as a legend in the making and THE premier heel in the WWE.

Overall, the Royal Rumble was a very lack-luster show and a lot of questions to be answered. Let's hope the WWE can fill in the holes.

Wrestling: When Will We Move On From The Past?

Ryan — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 10:23:04 -0500

The past can be a wonderful thing.

We reminisce about it, over-hype it and make it out to be far greater than it actually was because that's the way we remember it.

Ever since I got back into wrestling in 2004, one common theme has remained from most other wrestling fans that I've had a chance to talk to: we miss the Attitude Era. I can't lie; I miss it from time to time as well. But why do we long for the old days?

Is it because of the Stone Cold Steve Austin's, The Rock's, the DX's? Or is it because today's product is stagnant and unoriginal, leaving us craving the glory days? A little of both seems to be the answer, but the real question I have is this:

Why, instead of demanding characters and storylines from the Attitude Era, don't we as fans demand new and original storylines, characters and angles instead of being fed the same old garbage?

I, for one, don't want anymore of it. Stop bringing back aged stars. Stop with the same angles and characters. Stop with the cameo appearances from Legends past. Stop talking about getting one more match out of Stone Cold. He's old and beat up. Would you really want him to come back for a last match that would probably be terrible from bell to bell?

I bring this up because speculation has it that Christian Cage will be returning to the WWE to either feud with Jeff Hardy or be involved with Edge. Many people seem to either forget or not care that the Christian/Edge angles have been played out.

The two feuded in 2001/02 when it became apparent that the WWE thought more of Edge and began pushing him as a singles star. Obviously, they teamed together quite successfully both as faces and, to much more fame, as heels.

So what would be the point of re-hashing those angles? The short, nostalgic pop? Then what?

I would much rather see wrestling evolve. New characters, new storylines, change up the way matches are run. No more re-hashes. I understand it's impossible to not run over the same storyline or angle, but there is no need to use the same characters in the same situation they were in nearly a decade ago.

But the WWE can't be faulted in this. It's the fans who are to blame. We crave this. We ask for it. We don't demand the best out of Vince and his brand because, frankly, they're the only game in town.

These reasons, among others, are why I've been silent in the past few months and why I've basically fallen out of wrestling again. There's little about it that is unpredictable or entertaining. Apparently, the ratings in the last year or so tend to agree with me.

Until we as fans demand more, nothing will change. As fans, we are the only ones who can change things for the better.

So will you reminisce or will you demand something fresh?

This fan has already made his choice.

Buffalo Sabres Profile: Patrick Kaleta

Ryan — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 12:03:45 -0500

Getting back into the swing of things here at the Bleacher Report, I figured that I was long over-due for a hockey article.

Having watched my Buffalo Sabres, one of the streakiest teams in the league, battle all year long, I've had a few thoughts and figured I'd get them down onto paper, so to speak.

Today, I'll be covering a guy who I've come to appreciate and like; a heart and soul player whose impact can't be quantified by the box score or highlights on SportsCenter.

In my humble opinion, Patrick Kaleta has been an important sparkplug for the Sabres. He's an energetic kid who finishes all of his checks, provides a good forecheck and chips in a bit of offense now and again.

His most endearing trait (if he's on your team) is that he gets under the skin of opponents without having to resort to dirty play or under-handed tactics. He simply bounces around the ice, throws hit after hit and usually irritates someone bad enough to get them to drop the gloves.

He can affect a game with this "skill," enough so that he's been consistently good at drawing penalties and bringing the opponent's focus onto him rather than the game at hand.

Injuries have limited him of late, but I, for one, can't wait to see Kaleta back in the lineup. As long as he keeps up what got him here, there should be a spot in the Sabres line-up for him for many years.

Christian Cage & His Potential Return To The WWE

Ryan — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 17:59:01 -0500

I've been out of the loop as far as all things wrestling go, but I must admit I was somewhat mystified when I heard that Christian Cage may or may not be parting ways with TNA to go back to the WWE.

My first thoughts on this were something along the lines of "great, now he can go back to the WWE and be underrated again" and "super, another Edge & Christian angle".

Honestly, if he is headed back to the WWE, the LAST thing I want to see is him involved with Edge. E&C was great in the Attitude era, but that's just the thing: we've seen it. Same goes for an Edge vs. Christian rivalry (2001).

Cage is a main-event caliber performer and needs to be utilized as such. If he truly is the reason for all these incidents with Jeff Hardy, as has been rumored, then I am all for it. Christian as a heel is one of the things that made me really love wrestling. The guy has personality and is a very solid worker, something that I can't say about Jeff Hardy.

But I can't help think that he'll suffer the same fate Chris Jericho did when he initially returned: huge buzz, a strong push and then right back into the mid-card. It would be a waste of time for Cage and a waste of his talents. Didn't he leave the WWE because he was under appreciated?

I really hope that Vince and the rest of the creative team can get this right and utilize Cage the way he should be. Otherwise, this is just another useless trip down Memory Lane and a waste of a tremendous performer.

Ryan Vs. Joe: Who From Developmental Has the Brighter Future?

Ryan — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 17:35:00 -0500

Well, let me begin things by making it official: I'm back. To those of you who have left notes on my profile inquiring about where I've been, I thank you. Life takes over at times and things have been busy but I hope to be back and contributing on at least a semi-regular basis.

On to the matter at hand.

Joe Burgett, the wrestling section's No. 1 writer, left me a note and offered up a challenge: Pick a wrestler in the WWE's developmental territory that has the brightest future, write about it and let the community decide.

My pick? One half of the Stampede Bulldogs and the son of Davey Smith--"The Canadian Bulldog" Harry Smith.

Just 23 years old, Smith is a chip off the old block: 6'6" 251 pounds of pure Canadian power. Wrestling a few dark matches for the WWF/E before officially signing on, Harry and the rest of the younger Hart clan (T.J. Wilson, Teddy Annis (Hart) and Nattie Neidhart) eventually joined the ranks and were shipped to developmental.

Harry has had a few stints on the main roster and has yet to be called back up since being issued strike number one for violating the Wellness policy.

So why is Harry Smith my pick? Where do I begin?

He's the prototype frame for Vince McMahon's product. A mountain of a man, he has a power game that Vince craves in his performers, just like his father before him. Being able to work with the biggest of performers gives him an edge over just about anyone on the roster.

He has the lineage, obviously. Being the son of the British Bulldog was enough, but being a member of the famous Hart family puts him to a new level. There has been talk for years that Smith would be apart of some sort of "New" Hart Foundation with Wilson & Neidhart, with Teddy Hart out of the picture for various reasons.

This came to fruition in FCW in the past year, but the group consists of just himself and TJ Wilson as Teddy is gone from the company and Nattie is on Smackdown.

The one issue, as with many young performers today, seems to be his mic work. He's a bit bland at the moment, but that can be worked on. Coaching from some of the better guys (Triple H, HBK, Orton, Dusty) could do wonders for him both in terms of his body of work and for his confidence.

As long as he stays off the suspended list, Harry should make his impact felt. And from that point, WWE stars will have to beware of this dog.

Ryan Miller: Welcome to The Elite

Ryan — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 04:35:53 -0500

The potential was always there. Big things were always on the horizon and it was always thought that special things would happen.

Even when he was a fifth round draft pick (138th overall) in 1999, Ryan Miller was still pegged as a potential starter and perhaps more. The Sabres obviously saw that the dominating Michigan State goaltender had "it". And they couldn't have been more right.

Taking over the reigns full-time in 2005/06, Miller has more than earned his keep. Since that year, he has posted 106 wins, a 2.65 Goals Against Average and .902 save percentage, leading the Sabres to back-to-back Eastern Conference Finals appearances in 2005/06 and 2006/07.

Through all that, though, Miller was considered just outside the elite goaltending group consisting of Martin Brodeur, Evgeni Nabokov, Mikka Kiprusoff, etc. This, even as the Sabres handed him a five year, $31.25 million extension this past summer.

Miller has responded well. Leading the suprising Sabres (8-3-3), Miller has posted a 7-2 record with a pair of shutouts. He is in the top five in the league in save percentage and goals-against as well.

Watching Miller, you can really see a difference in his game. He is confident and cool. He handles deflections better than most goaltenders in the league, becoming a master and putting himself in position to make every stop; whether he sees it or not.

Most importantly, the one thing Miller was lacking was a strong enough presence to steal a few games. He has done that a few times this season already and I wouldn't be surprised to see him do it several more times.

If he keeps up at the pace he and the Sabres are going, don't be surprised to see Miller's name on the list of Vezina Trophy finalists.

Buffalo fans are glad to see that "Miller Time" has finally arrived in full force.

Martin Brodeur's Injury: We Should Have Seen It Coming

Ryan — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 07:35:51 -0500

Martin Brodeur, the future Hall-of-Fame goaltender for the New Jersey Devils, recently went down with an injury that will put him out of action for up to four months.

Marty has been durable for the duration of his career, so this comes as a surprise for most. With him approaching the career record for wins, held currently by Quebec legend Patrick Roy, his injury should come as no surprise.

The hockey community here at B/R has come into possession of a letter sent to Brodeur from Roy earlier this season that may take the surprise out of Brodeur's injury:

Dear Marty,

Patty Roy here. I know that you are coming up to my records. I can't have this. Do you know of my legendary status here in Quebec? Do you know what this means to me? You are compromising all of this.

Normally, when someone challenge me, I just make a funny comment and they go away—just ask Jeremy Roenick. You think he still hear my comment about having my Stanley Cup rings in my ear?

But I can't say these thing to you, Marty. You have three Stanley Cup rings. You are a great goalie. If I put a Cup ring in my ear, you can do the same, so then it is not funny. So what is a man to do?

Thankfully, I have my son Jonathan to do my dirty work. He is not like 'is fadder. Jonathan, he don't stop the puck so good, so he fight. He fight when other team goalie is not looking. Then he give the finger to the crowd. He make his fadder very proud.

So I warn you Marty: stop winning. Or Jonathan will pay a visit. And you will feel the wrath of..

St. Patrick

John Cena's Return: How It Should Be Done

Ryan — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 07:04:25 -0500

I haven't been writing lately and to those who actually care when I do, I apologize.

Following the Cyber Sunday pay-per-view, I was extremely disappointed that the WWE had, expectantly, put the World Heavyweight Title back around the waist of the boring and lumbering Batista.

Watching monday's Raw telecast, I figured that the main event—Batista defending his title against the former champion Chris Jericho in a steel cage match—was going to end in a predictable manner with Batista retaining.

I fell asleep at the beginning of the match, sure that I already knew the outcome. I found out how wrong I was the next day, happy that a great all-around performer like Jericho had been given the title back.

Then I remembered: John Cena, making his return at Survivor Series, has the next title shot.

Surely, the belt had been taken off of Batista to save him for a Batista/Cena Wrestlemania title match. Jericho is probably the transitional champion here and we're more than likely going to see Cena get the belt back later this month.

However, here is where the WWE could switch gears. This could be the perfect opportunity to start Cena's long overdue heel turn.

Imagine it: Cena, returning after neck surgery, loses a heartbreaker to Jericho at the Survivor Series. Frustrated, he begins to show heel tendencies in the following weeks, losing matches and showing his disdain for General Manager Mike Adamle as well as the top faces on Raw.

Now, we all know Jericho won't be champion come Wrestlemania and the WWE seems to be geared towards a Batista/Cena main event. So build Cena's frustration. Have him lose a triple threat match at the Royal Rumble against Jericho and Batista, putting the belt on the Animal.

Have Cena completely snap and demolish the newly crowned champion, explaining his actions the following night and setting up the mega-main-event for the biggest show of the year.

Honestly, I'm not fond of either guy, but even this would get my attention.

Then again, we're more than likely to have Jericho lose the title at Survivor Series, forcing us to endure Super-Cena for at least five more months.

Let's just hope that Vince wakes up and takes a chance that could give the WWE the shake-up it drastically needs.

Derek Roy: The NHL's Most Underrated Player

Ryan — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 08:54:07 -0400

When the topic of "underrated" players comes up, usually the same few names are mentioned. But if these players are recognized as being underrated, are they really underrated?

So as a loyal Sabres fan, my favorite current player is the epitome of underrated. No one talks about him or thinks to mention him as a force in the league; a young, two-way player with star potential.

Thomas Vanek may be the highest-paid player on the team, but Derek Roy could be the star soon.

Roy, at a diminutive 5'9", has flown under the radar for all of his NHL career (a whopping three seasons so far).

Starring for the Kitchener Rangers of the OHL, Roy was the 32nd overall pick in the 2001 Draft for the Sabres. He would quietly develop his game with Buffalo's AHL affiliate in Rochester.

Making the big club in 2005-06, Roy has gotten better with each passing season, quietly turning in a very good 80 point campaign in 2007-08 following the departure of centers Chris Drury and Daniel Briere.

This season, Roy centers the top line with Vanek and Drew Stafford (or Maxim Afinogenov) and has made his impact felt with a goal and four assists through the team's first seven games.

As I stated, Roy brings an excellent two-way game to the table. He is very smart in his own end of the rink, but his offensive talents could be what make him recognizable.

He has tremendous speed and skating, getting the puck moving quickly. He's a very good passer, making one of the nicer saucer passes that I've seen in the league. I'd like him to shoot more as I think he's capable of expanding upon his career-high 32 goals from last season.

Roy does have his flaws, however, just like any other player. Some say he's weak on his skates. I say he suffers from Sidney Crosby Syndrome aka diving. He thinks that he can draw penalties by taking the occasional self-induced spill. It's a bit tiresome at times.

Also, this season especially, he seems to be making more bone-headed plays when he's pressured. Nothing costly, but when the team is setting up shop in the offensive zone, he can be rushed into making a bad pass. He needs to shore up this part of his game if he's to thrive offensively.

So to those looking for the next upper-echelon scorer, look no further than Buffalo. After all, I'm sure $50 million-dollar-man Thomas Vanek is happy to be flanking this mighty might.

BR Challenge: The Future For TNA

Ryan — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 06:11:27 -0400

Of all the topics to choose from in this little competition between myself and Joe Burgett, one stuck out for me. "What does the crystal ball hold for the future of TNA?"

Well, unfortunately, there is no solid answer. There are a lot of "ifs" and "maybes," but I'm going to give my best prediction possible.

The direction in TNA, and I use that term loosely, at the moment isn't a set one. It seems the direction is one way today, another tomorrow and so on. Jeff Jarrett, the man in charge, seems to flip flop between pushing his young stars and putting over the aging veterans whom he feels will get him ratings.

The current fans of TNA tune in, or tuned for those Jeff has lost with some porous booking, to see an alternative to the WWE. They turn in to see a step away from the over-the-top gimmicks and poor televised matches.

For the last few years, TNA has suffered from the same setbacks WCW did. They are bringing in high-priced, aging talent in hopes of drawing viewers. Now, I'd like to go on record stating that this isn't a terrible idea. Guys like Kurt Angle, Booker T, Christian Cage, Rhino and Team 3D could be valuable commodities in not only drawing based on their names, but making legit stars out of the younger generation.

It's when these men are elevated to the top spots in the company that we have issues. Angle and Sting should not have had a title run to date, yet Sting is on his third and Angle already had a pair. These guys should be building main-event feuds with guys like Samoa Joe, AJ Styles (who appears to be in line for another run with the title), etc.

Another thing TNA has borrowed from WCW is the dusty finish. Too many run-ins, too much interference and not nearly enough definitive finishes to the matches. Sometimes, it makes sense and is needed, but at the rate TNA does this, it hearkens back to the days when every nWo match ended with some interference.

Ridiculous gimmick matches are also a huge issue. They are fine if they are used sparingly or as a send-off for a big feud, but when there are pay-per-views with nothing but gimmick matches, it gets a bit old.

And lastly, the biggest issue TNA has at this point in time is the reason WCW squandered it's success and ran itself into the ground: they care too much about what the WWE is doing and not enough about what is going on in their own company.

Stop challenging the WWE, stop taking shots at them, and stop worrying about their ratings. Build your fan base. Build up new stars. Sell some PPV's. Get some people to actually show up to your live events. Then worry about the WWE.

The future won't be promising if TNA continues on this path. They are living up to their nickname of "WWE-lite" and it's not one they should wish to have. If things don't change, don't be surprised to see the only competition in town fall off the face of the earth.

Here's hoping that TNA re-evaluates itself and sets things straight before "Crossing the Line."

Dear Sabres Management..

Ryan — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 07:22:02 -0400

This is my official plea to the Buffalo Sabres front office--this team is too promising to not do anything about Maxim Afinogenov and Tim Connolly.

What am I talking about, you say? Get rid of them both. Like now.

Max has the same routine every game. Flash his wheels, fire poor shots, and make dumb passes that disrupt the flow either on the power play or while in the offensive zone.

Trade him for something--anything--and call up Michael Ryan or another deserving youngster.

I've watched Max for the past seven or eight seasons and it's always the same thing. If his hands could catch up to his feet, he'd be an extremely valuable commodity. I'm still waiting for that day to happen.

So before Max sinks his value even further, deal him to a team who buys that he could be potentially explosive. Get a young player or a mid-round pick for him and be done. He's no longer worth the headache and, hell, maybe he can end up in a system where he can really break loose.

As for Connolly, trading him isn't an option anymore. He was an under-performing player oozing with skill but he's been incredibly injury-prone the last few years, currently residing on the injured list as of today.

Before he headed that direction, he was busy sinking the power play. Which doesn't make sense because with his passing skills, he should be the ideal power play quarterback.

But his decision-making leaves so very much to be desired. Your average power play with Connolly manning the point goes something like this: the Sabres set up shop in the offensive zone, Connolly tries to get cute and makes a terrible pass, resulting in the puck being cleared. He then heads back to retrieve the puck, burning down ice and dancing through four guys before firing off a weak shot and watching the puck again get cleared.

He's so much more disappointing than anyone else because he has the talent to be an elite player in the NHL. But combined with his poor decision-making, he's so weak on his skates it's a wonder he doesn't just randomly fall down.

So cut him, trade him for next to nothing. Do something. He's taking up a roster spot and killing our power play.

Hopefully, it will be the wake up call they both need because lord knows they don't hear it in Buffalo.

Thomas Vanek: Silencing The Doubters

Ryan — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 05:09:02 -0400

I'm not one to toot my own horn or say "I told you so," but I did tell you so.

At the end of last season, when the Sabres narrowly missed out on the playoffs after making back-to-back runs to the Conference Finals, I noticed something and I'm sure I wasn't the only one.

All year long, Thomas Vanek had been called "overrated" and a waste of the $10 million salary he was receiving. Now, don't get me wrong. No player is worth $10 million a year, but Vanek was expected the world. It's not his fault he got the deal he did. GM Darcy Regier was cornered into keeping Vanek after Chris Drury and Daniel Briere walked out the door via free agency.

Vanek was supposed to be the leader, the star of the team last season and take the Sabres on his back. But one has to remember that he was just 23 when last year began. That's an awful lot to ask and Vanek struggled.

When he started his surge in February, some doubted it. I, however, was convinced. Vanek was back and he was going to carry the Sabres in 2008-09.

And he hasn't disappointed.

Through the first five games, in which Buffalo is 4-0-1, Vanek has a league-high seven goals and is second in points with nine. He makes plays even when they don't show up on the scoreboard.

His strength lies in his size and ability to disrupt. He's been superb around the net, hammering in rebounds and charging to the net whenever there is a shot on goal. This is what he's being paid to do.

Though he may cool off in the future, I don't expect long slumps out of Vanek. He's finally woken up, shed the burden from his shoulders, and started to score goals the best way he knows how. He can be truly scary once Derek Roy and Ales Kotalik/Drew Stafford (the cycling linemates) pick their games up.

And the fans in Buffalo couldn't be happier.

Give the Rich Rodriguez Era Time to Take Shape

Ryan — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 04:25:48 -0400

After reading an article by one of the more prestigious writers in the college football section, I felt compelled to write this.

People seem to be misinformed or just ignorant about what's going on with the program. People are proclaiming this to be the end of Michigan as a powerhouse, that things will never be better, and that Rich Rodriguez is getting his just desserts.

You all are way off base.

While there's no denying the terrible 2-4 start and the probability that this team will end up 2-10, missing its first bowl game in 33 years, things aren't that bad. I know, it sounds insane, but just read what I have to say before I get the nasty comments.

First of all, you people need to stop harping about the fallout with West Virginia. It's simple what went down, but everyone buys into the "Rich Rodriguez is an evil snake oil salesman" garbage. While negotiating to come to Michigan, Rodriguez had a clause added stating that Michigan would pay $2.5 million of the $4 million buyout.

Now, why would a guy who already has most of the bill paid for try to fight his old school, dragging his new school's name in the mud? He didn't. It's painfully obvious what the case was here.

Earlier in 2007, Michigan had hired West Virginia's basketball coach, John Beilein. Beilein had a $2.5 million buyout clause in his contract. But after reaching a settlement, Michigan managed to knock $1 million off that.

So with Rodriguez, Michigan tried to do the same thing. When it realized that the buyout was $4 million and not budging, they dropped the case and paid the $2.5 million. It's really that simple.

Another thing that seems to be brought up a lot is the system Rodriguez runs. It's obvious the spread, or this incarnation, isn't working. The common question is, "Why not run a more pro-style offense?"

Why on earth would you hire a guy who knows a great deal about one offense and then ask him to run another he knows little to nothing about? Rodriguez has even stated this. Instead of forcing an offense he doesn't know, why not install his offense, deal with the growing pains, and have a young group who knows the offense next year?

A key example here is the situation at Auburn. They hired spread guru Tony Franklin to come in and run their offense. What they did wrong was allowing him to only partially install it and kept their pro-style sets "just in case," which wasn't exactly Franklin's forte. The results have been miserable, and Franklin is without a job.

Where's the upside to this again?

The failing offense has of course been a major factor in the 2-4 start so far. But what's not talked about is the fact that Michigan's fumblitis isn't something Rodriguez can handle.

A majority of them have either been muffed kick returns, Threet fumbling for no apparent reason, or Threet throwing eight feet behind running backs on screens. There is only so much you can do.

Along with the 2-4 start have come questions about whether Rodriguez should already be on the hot seat.

Let me answer that one: NO.

The guy has six games under his belt with an offensive line that couldn't handle any offense, let alone a brand new one. He's got a quarterback who isn't very mobile and can't hit the broad side of a barn if you asked him to, along with a backup who is mobile, but whose every pass longer than 10 yards is a terrible, horrible nightmare. Not to mention injuries have been gutting the team since the start.

He could finish 2-10 and retain my confidence—and he should have the confidence of every Michigan fan for several reasons. His track record is a good starter. He built a mediocre program into a national power with mostly three-star or less recruits. At Michigan, he doesn't have to settle for seventh or eighth choices.

His recruiting is another reason. Michigan has had a rough year, yet he still has 18 commits and one of the top 10 classes to date. He's filling in the pieces he needs to run his team, and he's recruiting from places Lloyd didn't dare to.

In short, he's getting the guys he needs, so that snake oil must be good. Or the wizard hat is powerful. Whichever.

The most important thing, as witnessed in the offseason, is he only wants guys who are going to play their asses off. Which is where Justin Boren comes in.

All of what I'm about to say is about as strong as Boren's claim that family values were diminishing at Michigan.

Boren made those claims, bad-mouthing the program on his way out the door. However, the real reason for his departure is that Rodriguez came in and basically said everyone, including guys slated to start, would have to earn their place on the team. This didn't sit well with Boren, so he walked.

Funny—when standout defensive tackle Terrance Taylor was given this choice, he got in the best shape of his life and has been a force.

Besides, shouldn't it say more when 99 players stayed rather than just the one who left?

I understand that you are all not fans of Michigan or Rodriguez, but the unfounded bashing is to a ridiculous point.

He's done what he can with round pegs and square blocks. He's set himself up well for the future and has shown a willingness to make adjustments and move away from something that isn't working.

Continuing to bash him for the WVU situation is a joke as well. Think a bit before proclaiming him to be a greedy, evil coach who left for greener pastures. There's more to everything than meets the eye.

For now, as a Michigan fan, I'm just trying to endure this hellacious season, because I know the future is promising and things will be better.

Necro Butcher: Indy Feature No. 1

Ryan — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 02:42:07 -0400

The man known as "the Necro Butcher" has had quite an interesting run on the independent scene. That name is one of the hardest of hardcore, a barefoot maniac willing to hit you with anything—and more than prepared to get hit back.

Necro made his name in the King of the Death match tournaments in IWA: Mid-South, wrestling amidst broken light tubes, barbed wire, chairs, and tacks. He would win the tournament in 2002, making himself recognizable throughout the Indy ranks.

While in IWA, he had memorable matches without the hardcore atmosphere. Necro uses what is referred to as "Strong Style"—meaning the punches, slaps, and kicks he delivers are very much real and very brutal.

One of his most famous Strong Style matches was with ROH Legend Samoa Joe. The two had a physical brutal match, high-lighted by Joe hitting Necro with an exploder suplex off the apron to the concrete floor.

This was made even more brutal by the fact that Necro didn't get full rotation, slamming his forehead into the floor and busting him open the hard way. CM Punk, who was doing commentary at the time, yelled, "How do you get suplexed on your head?!"

Necro would continue to have Stong Style matches with more traditional wrestlers like Homicide, Roderick Strong, Super Dragon, and Low-Ki. He would more than hold his own and developed a reputation for having strong wrestling skills to go along with his insane hardcore tendencies.

After blossoming into a star in the hardcore Combat Zone Wrestling, Necro made his impact felt on Ring of Honor during the CZW/ROH feud in 2006. The highlight of his time there was a no-ropes, barbed wire match at "War of the Wire II" against B.J. Whitmer. Though he lost the match, Necro left his mark and would eventually earn a full-time spot with ROH.

After taking some time away, he would return with Tyler Black and Jimmy Jacobs to form the Age of the Fall, brutalizing whoever the group sought out. Currently, he's in an angle where he is being pulled between the Age of the Fall and Austin Aries, who are feuding with one another.

In Chikara and other promotions outside of ROH, he has started to develop an anti-hardcore gimmick where he refuses to do anything brutal and restricts himself to basic wrestling, much the same way that Mick Foley did back in his ECW days in 1995.

Overall, the Necro Butcher may be the craziest man on the Indy scene and is certainly one of the most entertaining. Whether he's throwing chairs or fists, his matches are always compelling and almost always brutal.

I just wish he'd put some shoes on.

TNA Will Never Get It

Ryan — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 05:21:18 -0400

This isn't going to be another long-winded rant about Sting winning the TNA title. I'll get to it in this article, but I'll be short and to the point.

My main reason for writing this article is to formally announce that I have given up on TNA. I may watch it if I happen to be around but I won't go out of my way to watch this show again. Not with the way things are being run.

I used to believe that TNA was the future of wrestling. If this is what the future for wrestling is, then I don't know how much longer I'll be a fan. The company set out to be an alternative to the WWE and initially was that with it's innovative X-Division. Up until recently, they had the better wrestlers and the better matches.

So why would I be this discouraged with TNA? Because they are falling into what WCW did during it's decline. Contracts to aging veterans whose time has passed. Failing to elevate younger stars. Outlandish storylines and matches that hope to grab the quick view.

And most importantly—they care more about what WWE is doing and trying to stay step-for-step with them as opposed to worrying about what they're doing.

Samoa Joe's TNA Title loss to Sting was the cherry on top. Sting is barely around anymore; a pampered vet who shows up basically when he pleases and gets his demands met.

Any wrestling fan knows that Sting should have put Joe over at Bound For Glory. Instead, for the third straight year at the event, he won the World Title. And hopefully, for the third year running, he'll drop it quickly.

TNA needs to step back and realize that they aren't going to be a viable competitor to the WWE anytime soon. They need to mold Joe, AJ Styles, Christopher Daniels, LAX, Motor City Machine Guns, Petey Williams, et all into the key figures they SHOULD be and get those veterans (Booker T, Christian Cage, Rhino, Sting, Angle, Jarrett) on board with putting over those who need the push.

Stop with the stupid gimmick matches and only bring them out for a special occasion or a send off to a feud. And stop with the Dusty finishes. For God's sake, let someone go over clean!

Somehow, the company hit a home run with the Knockouts division but somehow falls flat on it's face with everything else. It boggles the mind and makes me wonder if they will ever get it right.

So for now, TNA, this is it for you and I. Try looking into the history of WCW before making anymore moves.

Crosby Vs. Ovechkin: Who Is the Best?

Ryan — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 04:19:15 -0400

I know, I know. This subject has been beaten to death.

Who is better: Sid the Kid or Alexander the GR8?

Everyone and their mother has touched base on this subject, but it usually only boils down to one or two points.

Today, I'm going to break this down in a tale-of-the-tape fashion with each player's strengths, weaknesses, and intangibles. What that means in comparison to each other and in the big scope of things.

And who, in my opinion only, is the better of the two—both now and in the future.

Alexander Ovechkin

Strengths: Lightning quick on his skates, he can get from zero to 60 as quick as anyone. He starts and stops on a dime, changing directions quickly and without wasted motion.

His hands may be unmatched. He can bury it from anywhere on the ice with a precision slap shot and the best wrist shot in the game. His one-timer may also be the best in the league at this point, releasing it from anywhere.

His frame also allows him to throw his weight around and he can become a physical force when he so desires. He's not afraid to mix it up at any given time and can dominate a game without it being noticed on the score sheet.

Intangibles: He's as passionate as anyone in the league, celebrating every goal like it may very well be his last. He also possesses a hunger to score unlike anyone else in the league. You can bet that 65 goals were nowhere near enough to satisfy him.

Despite the obvious language barrier, he's very charismatic and out-going. If he were Canadian, there is no doubt he would be the face of the game. He's still one of the pillars of the league, so he's not far off.

Weakness: He can be taken off of his game when he's physically challenged and disrupted. He can be coaxed into a shoving match and may take a few careless penalties.

Another thing to consider in the long run is his physical style. Now, the two are very different players, but the best comparison I can make is to Peter Forsberg. Forsberg was one of the premier players in the world for nearly a decade, but his physical style took a toll on his body and his career is now in it's twilight at age 35. Just something to consider with Ovechkin.

Sidney Crosby

Strengths: Crosby's vision is unmatched. He sees the play develop two steps ahead of everyone else and has an uncanny knack to find the seams that don't appear to be there.

He is arguably the most fundamentally sound player in the game, doing every little thing precisely the way it should, from his passing to dropping to a knee to take a one-timer on the short side.

His passing is rivaled by few in the game. Joe Thornton and Pavel Datsyuk are the only players in the league who can make a comparable pass. He may not put as many goals on the board as Ovechkin, but he'll no doubt have many more assists and make his presence felt, whether he gets on the score sheet or not.

Skating is an underrated part of his game. He's deceptively fast and very strong on his skates. He may not beat Ovechkin in a foot race, but he's no slouch.

While he may not score like Ovechkin, he possesses an underrated shot and will be a consistent 35-40-goal player in the league. One could argue that Ovechkin gets as many goals as he does not only from his shot, but the fact that he's consistently near the top of the shots chart.

Intangibles: Crosby has a maturity about him that is rare. He's been dealing with stardom since his youth days and more than knows how to handle himself. He's the poster-boy for the new NHL and is a kid with a pronounceable name and young face that can pull in the casual fan.

He's also a natural leader, taking the team on his shoulders at such a young age and making it his own.

Weaknesses: His frame is on the small side, so he will need a bit of luck to stay healthy. His smarts and quickness can only take him so far.

He may also be developing a mentality of expecting to draw a penalty whenever he pleases. He's garnered a reputation as a diver in his short time in the league—something that doesn't exactly endear him to the die-hards.

Sid has also gotten a bit cheap when things get chippy. He's sweared and slashed on occasion—something he needs to keep in check, especially in big moments.

So, who is the best and why?

The long and short of it is this: as a player, it's almost impossible to say one is better because they play different styles.

Ovechkin plays at 100mph, firing shots from anywhere and everywhere. Crosby is the more cerebral of the two, setting up shop and making plays when there are none available.

For my money, I'd take Crosby because he makes plays out of nothing and, when he's not scoring goals, he sets them up routinely. His vision is enough to put him ahead of Ovechkin.

Being a natural born leader only makes him look that much better.

From an overall standpoint, Crosby gets the edge because of his marketability. He is the face of the NHL, for better or worse. Ovechkin is someone that can be marketed, and very well at that, but he can't compare to the soft-spoken, friendly Canadian boy who is available to anyone and everyone.

In the long run, you have to ask yourself: "Who has the better career when it's all said and done?"

All factors considered, the answer to that question is Crosby.

NHL: 10 Sure-Fire Predictions or Your Money Back!

Ryan — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 07:34:55 -0400

I've been rather dormant lately in the NHL section, what with all the season previews flying up left and right. So instead of going that route, I'm going to give you ten sure-fire, can't-miss-or-your-money back predictions for this season.

(Note: If I'm wrong, send me your information and I'll be sure to mail you a check for $0.00 right away.)

Without further ado:

10.)Zdeno Chara, in an attempt to make himself a household name, like Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin, stars in "Czech This: My Giant 2" opposite Chevy Chase. The movie is a smash success, but after an on-set romance with Elisha Cuthbert, Chara is mowed down by Dion Phaneuf on the street, his career in serious jeopardy.

9.)"Sean Avery" becomes the answer to the question "Want to hear the most annoying sound in the world?" as posed by Llyod in "Dumb and Dumber."

8.) Gary Bettman, in an effort to get the attention of the "Urban" demographic, mandates a new dress code featuring baggy pants, shirts reaching to the knees, and Jordans. This rule is later retracted after the Staal brothers are arrested at a strip club for drunken, disorderly conduct and "making it rain" on the dancers. What, exactly, was rained upon the dancers is unknown.

7.) After the Toronto Maple Leafs win the Stanley Cup in June, photos surface of the Devil sporting a Mats Sundin jersey. His response? "It is getting a bit chilly down here."

6.) Carey Price, Montreal's sophomore sensation of a goaltender, gives up eight goals in a game against Detroit before being pulled. He vows to never play for the franchise again and is traded away for practically nothing, winning two Stanley Cups with his new club. This would be an exciting precedent, right?

5.)Jim Balsillie, angry over being denied the right to purchase an NHL team, invades the owners meetings Rambo-Style. He is injured crashing through the windows, however, and can't go through with his plan to wipe out everyone and reign supreme.

4.) Mats Sundin will begin thinking about where he might want to play in February, but will become distracted when asked what he would like for breakfast by his wife, extending the wait another six months.

3.) Futile franchises Florida and Columbus combine to form the NHL's least-watched Stanley Cup Finals. The final attendance figures for the compelling six-game series? 18.

2.) To gain the sport more exposure and attention, the league will start breeding super players. That being said, next year's scoring champion will be Alexney Crosbechkin.

1.) Gary Bettman and David Stern will cut into every television feed in North America, proclaiming their master plan to ruin the NHL complete! At this point, Stern will stop laughing and off Bettman execution style, citing no further need of him.

Michigan Snags First Commit for 2010 Class: Florida WR Ricardo Miller

Ryan — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 08:35:22 -0400

After picking up its 19th commit in the 2009 recruiting class (ATH Thomas Gordon from Michigan's Cass Tech), the Wolverines picked up their first commit for the 2010 class in FL WR Ricardo Miller.

Not much is available on Miller as he's only a junior, but the early buzz is definitely positive. Insiders have him as one of the top players in Florida and a top 100 lock.

With Miller on board, this gives Michigan three straight classes with a star receiver in the mix—Daryl Stonum in '08, Bryce McNeal for '09, and Miller.

Florida Football Magazine ranks him as the No. 2 player in Florida's 2010 class—no small accomplishment.

A big coup for the Wolverines and a promising start to the 2010 recruiting class.

Off Topic: Is the Bleacher Report Community on their Collective Period?

Ryan — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 06:04:52 -0400

This article will more than likely get pulled but I don't care.

I'm at the point where this place isn't fun anymore. And why?

Because of nasty, stupid douchebags like the one pictured above (that douchebag is Mark Torosian. Apparently, wearing a shirt with the word "jagerbombs", spiking your hair and holding your open cell phone makes you look cool).

Many articles seem to draw nothing but snappy, nasty, biased remarks. What is the point of this? Why bother signing up for BR just to blast someone?

So many people think they are above everyone else here, commenting with an aura of arrogance that is simply unmatched. They spout off BS line after BS line about how they're right and you're wrong; about how you're such an idiot for even typing the article out.

Take my college football predicitions. I gave a reasonable explanation for how I felt and what happens? I get nasty remark after nasty remark. Remind me why that's neccessary.

This douchebaggery is everywhere. In the NFL, NHL, MLB, College Football and wrestling sections. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if it's everywhere, but those are the articles I frequently write.

A little bit of a note for all of you, snarky douches: You're a sad, pathetic, ignorant person and some day, your bitter and unhappy existence will come to an end.

Enjoy life being a douchebag and stop polluting my articles with your worthless remarks.

Sports Stadiums: The Aura is Dying

Ryan — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 04:39:27 -0400

There are many things in sports that reach into a person and give them uncontrolable goosebumps. A play, an action, a stadium. These days, the latter is becoming fewer and farther between.

What has happened to these sports monuments, these pieces of history? Why are they all being replaced by these run-of-the-mill super-stadiums that would rather attract the fan who leaves in the middle of the third quarter than the one who would stay until the end even in a blowout?

The obvious answer is money. Comfort and player amenities are another big thing. Those old creakers just weren't built for people today. And that's a fair point. But replacing these landmarks?

Yankee Stadium is the latest in a long line of historic stadiums to be ushered out. But why replace? Why not renovate, keeping the aura of the stadium while upgrading for the posh fans?

Take Michigan Stadium, Soldier Field, and Fenway Park. All are historic, famous stadiums that have received heavy face-lifts in the past. It gets the upgrade it needs but still maintains its presence.

Visiting these places is a must for fans, but if they are all replaced with these carbon-copy, generic super-stadiums, what's the point? Can't you see Houston's stadium in Indianapolis, and so on?

We need to preserve these monuments. They're sports history. And history is an essential part of the sports world.

Michigan Wolverines Football: Breaking Down the 2009 Class

Ryan — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 09:00:38 -0400

With the commitment of DE Anthony Lalota, the pending commitment of DE Craig Roh, all the junk with DT Will Campbell and the Kevin Newsome drama, Michigan's 2009 recruiting class has changed it's look a bit. I'm going to break down the current crop of commits, what impact they may have as Wolverines and what lies ahead for the rest of recruiting.

Quarterbacks

CA Tate Forcier & TX Shavodrick Beaver. Note: Beaver may or may not have gained an extra star for having the best name in the class. I'll have to look into this.

So, ok, first thing's first. Kevin Newsome is gone. Big deal? Maybe. He's got a ton of talent and could potentially be Donovan McNabb. Then again, he has to work on his mechanics and accuracy so he could end up being Tavares Jackson. He left because Rich Rod's style of offense isn't an NFL machine. Torches and pitch-forks and all that.

So where does his departure leave Michigan? Well, thankfully, Tate Forcier was still hot and heavy on M while Newsome was still in house. Not longer after big Kev's departure, Tate signed on. We lost a potential super-duper star, but we gained a very mobile, extremely accurate quarterback who is not much of a step down. That worked fine.

Beaver, meanwhile, is Newsome lite. Smaller than Newsome, the Beav is still quick as hell and has tons of potential. Hopefully, coaching will do him wonders.

M is still recruiting four-star FL Eugene Smith, apparently. I don't see M landing him with two QB's in tow, but stranger things have happened. Would rather see them land an OL or a high-quality DB or LB, but it wouldn't be terrible.

So what does this mean in terms of on-field stuff? Well, with the somewhat emergence of Steven Threet as a legitimate collegiate quarterback, Force can presumably come in next year, redshirt and learn the offense before hopefully starting in 2010 with the Beav improving and keeping Force and Threet on their toes.

Running back/Slot

FL Jeremy Gallon, FL Vincent Smith, OH Fitzgerald Toussant, MI Teric Jones

So, apparently, Rich Rod loves these little dreaded, electron-sized guys who can disappear at the snap of your fingers. See: Odoms, Martavious; Shaw, Michael. Gallon & Smith are your standard "three-stars because I could squish them with my shoe" guys. Not much is known about Teric other than his name is awesome and that he and Beav should be close pals.

Then there's Toussant. Originally thought of as a throw-in of sorts with Liberty OH teammate Isaiah Bell (more on him later), Toussant has been showing signs of making a huge climb up the rankings ladder. Signs like 843 yards rushing in four games. Oh, and touchdowns. Like, a lot of them. If he maintains this pace, he should be a high four-star, potentially a five. So, that's pretty good, right?

Michigan is always looking at tiny, electron sized dreadheads, so you never know who could be next. I would hope that this is it and the attention goes elsewhere.

All could be contributors either in the slot or in a back-by-committee role, with "Slayer of Worlds" Fitzgerald Toussant as a potential star. Depth isn't an issue here with these guys being added to McGuffie, Shaw, etc. Feeling good here.

Wide Receiver

MN Bryce McNeal & TX DeWayne Peace. Not an area of urgent need and I suspect this will be it for wide receivers not named Shaquille Evans.

Peace is your standard three-star recruit, decent size and speed, could see another position or be a permanent special teamer. Very meh about this one, but there are bound to be a few of those in most classes.

McNeal, on the other hand, is a four-star top 250 player for Scout and a top 100 for Rivals. Good size (6'2") and wheels, he appears to be in the Mario Manningham mold. Hopefully, he left out the "drop everything over the middle" and "admit to smoking pot" parts out. One of the only true outside receivers on the roster, he should be a star at M.

Peace won't have much of an impact but McNeal could be a breakout star by his Sophomore season. I expect him to either see limited, but tantalizing, action his freshman year before busting out the following fall. Very excited about McNeal.

Offensive Line

IL Michael Schofield & NJ Anthony Lalota. Lalota will be in both offensive line and defensive line sections as he's one on Scout and one on Rivals.

Schofield is a big, mobile guy and exactly what Rich Rod likes in his offensive lline. Obviously needs to add size, but once he's been Barwis-ized, he could be beastly.

I doubt Lalota sees the offensive line unless he shows that he is secretly Jake Long back on campus and incognito. He's raw but incredibly talented. Again, expect to see him on the d-line.

One real commit (Schofield) is a bit troubling, but M graduates no one from the line next year and will have several from 2008 (Dan O'Neill, Ricky Barnum and so on). Would like to see Rich Rod add at least one more, though again, it's not incredibly dire.

M is still hard after Brennan Williams, though he seems like a long shot. Expect, if any, a relatively unknonw three-star to fill out the ranks.

Defensive Line

MI William Campbell, LA Dequinta Jones, NJ Anthony Lalota, AZ Craig Roh. Yes, I know Campbell has technically de-committed. He's still with M, trust me on this. Roh is an assumption. Hopefully, I'm not kicking myself later tonight.

Campbell is like..woah. A potentially dominant tackle and a guy who could see a good amount of time next year. Definitely a tremendous pick-up for the line assuming he doesn't tank and become Gabe Watson.

Jones is a relative unknown and, though listed as an end, projects to tackle with his frame. Solid things, when said, have come out about him and his offer sheet (TCU, Bama, Arkansas) is decent. Hopefully, a bit more soon.

Lalota is nice pickup. A nice, shiny four-star with tons of talent and fills a huge need. Ditto for Roh.

This could potentially be your front four in two-three years. All will no doubt be broken down and built back up by Barwis. Once successfully Barwis-ized, this could be a dominant unit. I think I just peed a little.

Once (assuming again) Roh commits, this should be it. A great haul overall, filling needs and bringing in quality talent.

Linebacker

FL Brandin Hawthorne & IN Jordan Barnes. Rod, or whoever does the defensive recruiting, seems to like these smaller, quick linebackers.

Hawthorne has received rave reviews for his intensity, hustle and speed. Obvious issues of him being englufed are a problem, but those will be addressed in due time I'm sure. Ditto for Barnes.

I'd like to see one more added here, but we could potentially have four linebacker types in the class, depending what happens with safeties Mike Jones and Isaiah Bell. Not terrible, considering Obi Ezeh and just about everyone else is back next year.

This is probably it, though I wouldn't be surprised to see another addition here. Hawthorne is the potential impact player of the group, though redshirts are imminent.

Edit: Michigan is said to be a favorite for 5-star MD LB Jelani Jenkins. He has a visit planned and hopefully, once on campus, Rich Rod will sell him hard on snake oil, over-powering Jelani's mind with his wizard hat.

Defensive Back

OH JT Turner, OH Isaiah Bell & FL Mike Jones. Commence with lame references to famous rappers.

Turner is a potential standout corner and appears to be the only "sure thing" of the group. Universal four-star and top 100 player on the rankings sites. Expect spot duty next year before seizing a starting spot in 2010.

Bell and Jones are both LB/S hybrids and could end up in either spot. I expect at least one to be bulked up and moved to linebacker. Hopefully Bell will make noise like his Liberty teammate, Fitzgerald Touissant, has already this year.

Probably set for the '09 class, but one more solid addition will no doubt be welcomed. Unless it's a four or five-star, I expect this to be closed off.

Special Teams

TX K Anthony Fera. He keek ball far.

One of the few kickers to get a third star from the services, he earned an offer the hard way. Expect him to take over by 2010 and keek teh ball far.

Obviously, no way in hell does another K/P/Long Snapper/Water Boy get offered here, rendering this one closed.

So what does this mean overall? Lots of quick little buggers, for one. Two, end has been shored up and the defensive line can potentially have continued dominance through 2012 if the cards fall correctly.

Linebacker is something I'd like to see addressed with a bit more than small guys who run fast. Offensive line is a pretty big concern still, though no one we bring in is going to make the kind of impact that will affect the current line.

Michigan only has a few more scholarships to go around. Hopefully, Evans (mentioned above) is one of those who commits late and we can add an offensive lineman or two. Overall, tremendous class with lots of talent. Once Barwis works his magic, we could see great results.