Bleacher Report - Articles by Jerrit Dusome

The Three Reasons Why I Love the Leafs This Year

Jerrit Dusome — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 13:42:44 -0400

Last night started my coverage of the 2009/2010 NHL season. Why last night, you ask, when the preseason has already been going on for a few days? Well the answer to that is easy. Last Night was the first Leafs broadcast I was able to watch, seeing as I don’t get TSN2, which was the only broadcaster for Wednesday night’s game against the Bruins (Leafs TV, WTF?).

Anyway, before I start to ramble…

Tonight’s game was really enjoyable to watch if you are Leafs fan. If you are a Flyers fan, not so much. With a final score of 4-0 in favor of the Buds, it proved to be the kind of game that gives all of Leafs Nation hope for the upcoming season. Now I know it is a little early to start planning the Cup parade, so let me assure you I won’t start doing that yet. But it doesn’t mean I can’t get excited about the Leafs.

There three specific reasons why I am so excited for this upcoming season, with all reasons being demonstrated quite clearly in this game.

Reason #1: Truculence

Yes, Brian Burke’s awesome word to describe how many cans of whupass he wants the Leafs to open up this year. The Leafs showed they have indeed gotten much tougher over the summer, both by acquiring new talent and through training and conditioning.

Firstly, I love having Mike Komisarek on the defense. He had a few nice hits last night and he can really clear the front of the net. Hopefully he remains healthy all year and brings the pain. Second, there were several fights, including one involving Luke Schenn and two involving Ben Ondrus. This is what I like to see, and I am sure Burkey feels the same.

The Leafs look like a team others will fear. And third, the Leafs were taking hits and getting right back into it, not causing shit, just taking it. Mikael Grabovski is a prime example. He took several big hits that would have ended his night last year, but not this year.

Overall, the Leafs' toughness is going to make them difficult to play against this upcoming season.

Reason #2: The Young Guns

There is a lot of young talent that has potential to make the team this year, which is going to make Ron Wilson’s job very difficult in the coming week, seeing as he only has one or two spots to hand out to four or five talented young skaters.

Tauted college forwards Tyler Bozak and Christian Hanson signed at the end of last season and are both looking good. Bozak seems to stand out to me a little more than Hanson, showing more maturity with how he plays, and he seems to be much stronger on the puck, despite his lack of size. However, Hanson is still making a strong case for himself by scoring last night against the Flyers. Throw Victor Stalberg in the mix as well, and it is going to be a tight race to make this team for these young forwards.

Nazem Kadri had his first goal as a Maple Leaf last night (despite it still being preseason). He is showing he can play at this level, with excellent hands, fantastic speed and natural goal scoring ability. Saying this, I don’t know if he has what it takes to make the big club in his first year. But that’s what I said about Luke Schenn last year, and I had to eat my words.

Reason#3: Goaltending

I should also mention that Joey McDonald and James Reimer split the goaltending duties against the Flyers, each playing 30 minutes. They shared a shutout and both played quite well, with McDonald in particular looking very comfortable in the net, making 10 saves. If Toskala and Gustavsson aren’t careful, McDonald could challenge for that No. 2 spot if he continues this caliber of play.

Overall, it was a good showing for the Leafs. I was quite happy with how they played and I am sure the Leafs' brass feels the same way. It will be interesting to see if they can keep up this play in the coming week to finish off the preseason.

Leafs next game: Tonight @ Pittsburgh Penguins 7:30pm on Leafs TV.

2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Round Two Predictions

Jerrit Dusome — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 21:47:18 -0400

Well, round one is in the books, and lets just say that I did pretty decent when it came to my first round selections. Sadly, I didn't get 100 percent of picks right, but hey, I'm not perfect.

In Round One, my record was quite respectable. Going 5-3, I think I did a pretty damn good job. Ok, well maybe I didn't do that good, but I did way better than Maggie the Monkey on TSN, so that's one positive.

Anyway, lets get to my predictions for Round Two of the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Western Conference

No. 2 Detroit Red Wings vs. No. 8 Anaheim Ducks

The Ducks are coming off a huge upset of the President's Trophy winning San Jose Sharks, and they are going to carry that momentum into this series against the Wings. However, the Wings are the kind of team that can put a stop to any team's momentum, especially when their goaltending is in top form, which it is. For Anaheim to win this series, they are going to need to get to Chris Osgood early, but it won't be easy. Expect a long series.

Prediction: Red Wings in seven.

No. 3 Vancouver Canucks vs. No. 4 Chicago Blackhawks

Well, I enjoyed seeing the Canucks in their last series, and I think that trend is going to continue. Chicago may have a young talented team, and a goaltender who is among the best, but Vancouver has a very tough defense core, and Chicago doesn't have the strength to contend. Plus, they have Luongo. That's the series right there.

Prediction: Canucks in six.

Eastern Conference

No. 1 Boston Bruins vs. No. 6 Carolina Hurricanes

For me, this series is going to be a matter of rest. The Bruins just came off a four game sweep of the Montreal Canadiens, where they were not really tested at all. On the other side, the Canes just finished their sevem game series with the Devils, and I think they are banged up and tired. Coupled with the pure skill that the Bruins have, and the brilliant goaltending of Tim Thomas, Carolina won't be able to contend.

Prediction: Bruins in six.

No. 2 Washington Capitals vs. No. 4 Pittsburgh Penguins

This is going to be an amazing series. There are so many purely talented players in this series that it is going to be hard to know who to watch out for. The Sidney Crosby vs. Alex Ovechkin story line has me very intrigued to say the least. I think this series might come down to goaltending, where Pittsburgh may have the edge, at least on paper. But if Washington and their goaltender Varlamov can shut down that high powered Penguin offense, the series will be theirs.

Prediction: Capitals in seven.

Well there you have it. Let's hope I can improve my record and continue to be better than Maggie the Monkey. Take that James Duthie.

2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Round One Predictions

Jerrit Dusome — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 18:48:59 -0400

Well, it’s playoff time again, so I suppose I will be growing the beard out again. Yes indeed, this is one of my favorite times of year, even though my beloved Toronto Maple Leafs have finished their season already, finishing out of the playoffs for the 4th consecutive year. Oh well, it could be worse. At least the Leafs are taking the steps to be better next year.

But I am not writing this article to talk about the Leafs, this is a playoff article, and I will purely talk about those teams involved. To start, my pick to win the cup this year will be the Detroit Red Wings. They are just too good, they will not be stopped this post-season, much in the same way as last year.

Saying that, I do not want the Wings to repeat as Stanley Cup Champs, I would like to see the Calgary Flames or the Anaheim Ducks win it all this year, however I don’t think the Ducks are getting out of the first round, so LETS GO FLAMES.

Anyway, lets get to the predictions shall we?

Western Conference

#1 San Jose Sharks vs. #8 Anaheim Ducks

Any other year, this would be one series that I would really be looking forward, but seeing as the San Jose Sharks were absolutely amazing this year, I don’t really see the Ducks having much of a chance in this series, therefore making it hockey that won’t necessarily be fun to watch. However, stranger things have happened, and if J.S. Giguere really heats things up, the Ducks could give the Sharks a run for their money.

Prediction: Sharks in 6

#2 Detroit Red Wings vs. #7 Columbus Blue Jackets

This is one series where I have seen certain people predicting an upset. Let me just say, you people are WRONG. Detroit is going to win this series, but Columbus will put up a bit of a fight. Steve Mason is an incredible goalie, but it won’t be enough to carry them past the power house Red Wings. The Blue Jackets will manage to steal a couple of games due to goaltending, but like I just said, it won’t be enough.

Prediction: Red Wings in 6

#3 Vancouver Canucks vs. #6 St. Louis Blues

As a good old Canadian boy, I am obviously going to take the Vancouver Canucks to win this series, however it is not because I am a Canadian that I am going to do so. Vancouver is the superior team in this series, and I think they are going to walk all over the St. Louis Blues. While the Blues do have a lot of young talent, I don’ they have what it takes to make a dent in Robert Luongo and the Canucks.

Prediction: Canucks in 5

#4 Chicago Blackhawks vs. #5 Calgary Flames

I haven’t had any upsets thus far in my predictions, so let this be my first. This is going to be one of the best series of the first round of the playoffs. Both of these teams have stellar goaltending, as well as great talent, both offensively and defensively. Some people have said lately that Miikka Kiprusoff is tired, and therefore will be outplayed by is counterpart at the other end of the rink, but I think that is ridiculous. Kiprusoff will have another great playoff year, and will help his team get the wins they need.

Prediction: Flames in 7

Well that’s the Western Conference, so now lets get to the East and see what’s going on.

Eastern Conference

#1 Boston Bruins vs. #8 Montreal Canadiens

I hate the Montreal Canadiens. I mean, I REALLY hate them. That’s why it makes me so happy to say that they are going to lose this series. Tim Thomas, in my opinion, is the best goaltender in the Eastern Conference going into the playoffs. Carey Price, on the other hand, has been nothing but inconsistent all season, and that trend will continue into round 1. While the Canadiens may pull off a victory in this series, in the long run, the Bruins will prevail.

Prediction: Bruins in 5

#2 Washington Capitals vs. #7 New York Rangers

Some people have stated that goaltending is going to be the deciding factor when it comes to this series, however I think that this statement is wrong. Yes, the New York Rangers have the superior goalie in Henrik Lundqvist, and yes, Jose Theodore is not as consistent as the Capitals would like, but this series is going to be about the weapons that Washington has. The Caps have Alexander Ovechkin, likely going to win the Hart Trophy again this year, 56 goals during the regular season. He is going to be the difference maker. Now add Mike green into this 30+ goals during the regular season, and a strong defensive force. The Rangers have no players who had 30 goals this season. Its just a matter of math. The Capitals win quite easily.

Prediction: Capitals in 6

#3 New Jersey Devils vs. #6 Carolina Hurricanes

This series is another one that has potential to be a great series. The New Jersey Devils are just an all around great team, and they are facing the Hurricanes, who have been one of the hottest in the league over the last couple months. Both goaltenders have been playing great, and I do believe that it will be a strong defensive battle. Expect to see a long series. It is going to be close, but I think the Devils will narrowly escape the Hurricanes.

Prediction: Devils in 7

#4 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. #5 Philadelphia Flyers

I bet that the Philadelphia Flyers are regretting where they ended up at the end of the regular season. The Pittsburgh Penguins are coming off a very hot end to the regular season, and with the team that they have, especially on offense, the Flyers must be a little nervous at the moment. With the likes of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Jordan Staal up front, Sergei Gonchar and Hal Gill at the back end, and Marc-Andre Fleury in net, the Penguins are strong all around, and the Flyers won’t be able to persevere in the long run.

Prediction: Penguins in 6

Well there you have it. My Predictions for the upcoming 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs. You may not agree, but that's alright, because you’ll be wrong.

Just Kidding. My Predictions are no better than anyone else’s.

Why I Love Alex Ovechkin's Goal Celebrations

Jerrit Dusome — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 14:49:01 -0400

With Alexander Ovechkin and his Washington Capitals in Toronto to face-off against the Leafs tonight at the ACC, one might think that this may heat up the feud that is ongoing between the Russian superstar and Hockey Night in Canada's Don Cherry.

Ovechkin, having recently scored his 50th goal of the season, has been taking some heat over his celebration for said goal, where he put his stick on the ice, and made hand motions over top indicating that his stick was 'too hot' to pick up.

This event only added to a discussion that has been ongoing over the past month between Cherry and Ron MacLean on Coach's Corner.

For Cherry, he believes that goal celebrations should not be as exuberant as those performed by Ovechkin after most of goals.

Whether it be jumping into the glass at top speed, or flying across the ice on one skate with your arms flailing behind him, Ovechkin has made a name for himself with these type of antics. However, Cherry feels that these type of celebrations do not belong in hockey at all.

In fact, Cherry believes that these celebrations show that Alex the Great does not respect the other team, his own teammates, or the game of hockey itself. Ovechkin has been quick to dismiss Cherry and his claims.

"Everybody right now doesn't like my celebration when I score a goal and jump to the glass or do something like that. But I only do something now. It's just my thing. I was just happy that I scored 50 goals."

As for the issue of respect, Ovechkin doesn't feel as though he is doing anything wrong, and that he is just having fun out there.

"I respect everybody. I don't want to show bad things. I show my thing. It was not disrespect."

I think that this whole series of events has been completely blown out of proportion. Alex Ovechkin brings passion to the game of hockey, passion that I think has been lost by many players in this new NHL.

Should we really be condemning a man because he loves to play the game? Of course not. Ovechkin jumps to the glass after a goal because he is genuinely thrilled that he just scored a goal. He doesn't do it out of disrespect. I mean look at his face after a goal, the young man couldn't be happier.

Alex Ovechkin loves the game of hockey, and he loves the NHL. For me, it makes me smile every time I see one of his celebrations, and hockey in general needs more characters like Alexander the Great.

In a lot of markets throughout the U.S. teams are struggling to fill arenas. Washington was one of those markets before Ovechkin arrived. Now they have a lot more fans in the seats each night.

It's because they love watching a young man play his heart out for the game he loves, and he has fun doing it.

Their should be more Ovechkin-like goal celebrations throughout the league, it would make hockey much more fun to watch for those that normally wouldn't.

I know when I watch the Capitals take on the Leafs tonight, even though I will be cheering for the Boys in Blue, if Ovechkin scores a goal, I'll be clapping when he jumps into the glass to celebrate.

Guy Carbonneau Fired from Montreal Canadiens, Bob Gainey To Coach for Now

Jerrit Dusome — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 17:06:33 -0400

It has been reported by TSN.ca that Montreal Canadiens head coach Guy Carbonneau has been fired by the organization.

Not many details are known at this time, but it is believed that General Manager Bob Gainey will take over on an interim basis, most likely remaining in the position for the remainder of the season.

The Canadiens have struggled this season, being in a position where they could possibly miss the playoffs. However, the club remains in fifth place in the Eastern Conference, which makes this firing somewhat of a surprise, unless it is due to circumstances outside of general hockey operations.

For more details on this developing story, visit TSN.ca.

Mats Sundin's Return to Toronto: Why He Deserved the Standing Ovation

Jerrit Dusome — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 21:25:01 -0500

Even though Mats Sundin no longer wears the white and blue, it doesn't mean that he doesn't hold a special place in the hearts of the many legions of Leafs fans throughout the province of Ontario.

This point was best shown during the first period of Saturday's game between the Vancouver Canucks and Toronto Maple Leafs, when MLSE played a video on the Jumbo-tron honoring their former captain in front of a capacity crowd.

Many were curious as to what kind of reaction Sundin would receive from the Leafs faithful on Saturday, but that question was quickly answered, when during the video tribute, he was a given a standing ovation lasting roughly three minutes.

It was clear that not everyone shared those same sentiments, but I was among those cheering and clapping on my feet, even though I was watching the game from my living room.

I have continued to cheer for Sundin during his tenure with Vancouver. Indeed, I wish I was able to watch their games more, as I have become an instant fan of the Canucks when the Leafs are not playing on a particular night.

Even though some may argue that the circumstances behind Sundin leaving Toronto have hurt the Leafs in the long run, I tend to disagree.

With Mats being asked to waive his no-trade clause last spring, many felt that a trade involving the superstar would bring in some much-needed young talent, as well as a few draft picks. However, this was not to be, as Sundin refused to leave the city he had played in for the past 13 years.

And he deserved the right to do that, in my mind. Even though at the time it did make me somewhat angry at what I viewed was a selfish move on his behalf, looking back, it was his choice to make, and he made the right decision. Sundin ended his time in Toronto on his own terms, and I am glad that he did.

As for the standing ovation that he received Saturday night, those that argue that he betrayed the Leafs in refusing a trade will also argue that he didn't deserve to be honored as such. To put it flat out, these people are wrong.

Sundin served 13 years with the Leafs, being captain for his final 10 seasons. In the Toronto organization he holds most of the records, leading the franchise in such career categories as goals and points.

Notwithstanding his offensive contribution to the franchise, he also was one of the most beloved captains in team history. There are those that believe he was not a leader, and merely held the captaincy because of his skill. But he was a good captain, just ask any of the men that he played with while in Toronto.

Lets just face it, Sundin is one of the all time greatest Leafs, especially in terms of this generation of fans. Sundin will always have a place in the hearts of Maple Leaf fans (mine included), and I look forward to a few years down the road when the No. 13 is raised to its rightful place in the rafters of the Air Canada Centre.

A Look At the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2009-10 Season

Jerrit Dusome — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 18:14:14 -0500

It's obvious that in Toronto, it is only a matter of time before the 'rebuilding' process gets underway. Brian Burke was brought in to make changes and its only a matter of time before he finally starts to make them. Whether it is on at the Trade Deadline, on Draft day, or on beginning on July 1st, the changes will come and they will drastic, one way or another.

Now as for what changes will be made, I have my opinions on who will be on the Leafs next season, and for some, they will call be a fool (or something worse) and say that I am just dreaming.

But that's OK with me, because when it comes to the Leafs, dreams are the only things that get me through the day.

So to begin with, I will list off some of the trades that I believe will happen between now and opening day of next season.

First off, Alexei Ponikarovsky and Nik Antropov will both be gone before October 2009, and I don't think this will come as a huge surprise to anyone, given that they are two of the only players on the team that much in the way of trade value.

As for what the Leafs will get in return, I would say it most likely be draft picks, but who really knows what Mr. Burke will be able to pull for these two players. The only thing that I am somewhat sure about, is that they will be gone.

Tomas Kaberle and Pavel Kubina will also be gone come the beginning of next year, and I would have to think that these players will be gone by either the Trade Deadline, or the NHL Entry Draft.

Both players have now stated that they will be willing to waive their No-Trade clauses, so its pretty easy to see that its only a matter of time before Burke ships them out. Hopefully the Leafs can pull some prospects and draft picks for these veteran defencemen.

Mikhail Grabovsky started the season strong, but has pretty much trailed off as of late. But because he is still so young, he will still have somewhat significant trade value come the Trade Deadline

With this being the final year of Grabovsky's contract, Mr. Burke might look to make a deal and bring in someone who can make more of a consistent impact on the team.

Jason Blake's time with the Leafs is nearly over. He will not survive in the Blue and White past the end of this season. And although his production has been better as of late, the Leafs need to get rid of this ageing winger.

For the reasons behind this, check out of article on the three reasons why the Leafs need to trade Blake. It can be found at here.

Now as for new players as a result free agent signings, I personally hope to see a few big name guys come into the mix, and here are a few of the men I think will consider Toronto during the off-season.

Jay Bouwmeester is the young talented defenceman that the Leafs need right now. Nothing against Luke Schenn, but he still too young to be leading the decence core of the richest franchise in the NHL.

Bouwmeester is still young, and his talent on the ice makes him an ideal veteran player to lead the Leafs next year. He will sign with the Leafs this off-season if he is not traded out of Florida at the Trade Deadline.

Rick Nash is the all star forward that Toronto has been craving for quite some time now. His situation is similar to that of Bouwmeester's, in that he is in his second to final year of his contract, and most likely wants out of Columbus.

This young man wants to win. And although the Leafs are not winners yet, they are working in the right direction. Nash will join the Leafs at the Trade Deadline.

As for any permanent call-ups from the Marlies for next season, the only significant move will be bringing up Justin Pogge to back up Vesa Toskala on a full time basis. Curtis Joseph will retire at the end of this season, so making Pogge the number two guy only makes sense.

While I do feel that there is a chance Toskala may get moved at some point if the right offer comes along, Pogge will be the number two goalie for the Leafs next year.

Well there you have it. I have made my predictions for next year, and while I know there will be many people who disagree with this article, it is merely my opinion, so I guess I am allowed to be wrong. If anything, this is merely a wish list for the roster I would like to see next year.

Jason Blake: Three Reasons the Leafs Should Trade Him

Jerrit Dusome — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 17:16:23 -0500

With Brian Burke now officially the general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, many people are beginning to wonder when the so-called "rebuilding" process will begin.

With no moves being made yet and the trade deadline quickly approaching, the big question is who will stay and who will go. In my opinion, there is one person on the team that is almost certainly on his way out of Toronto: Jason Blake.

I personally have nothing against Blake. I like his style of play and I like the skill that he brings to the Leafs, especially as of late as his play has been spectacular.

However, on this Leafs team he has no place on the roster. Here are the three reasons why Jason Blake should be traded this year.

Age

Toronto is looking to build a team around a strong base of young players, such as Luke Schenn. At 35, it is easy to see that Blake does not fit in with where this team is moving.

The Leafs should look to trade him and pick some draft picks, prospects, or even one decent young player, because, in the long run, it will benefit the team much more than Blake ever could in the present.

Money

Blake is in the second year of a five-year, $20 million contract, and it is easy to see that this cap space could be better spent on three or four young players.

Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment has always been worried about money when it comes to its hockey team, and even though Burke has complete autonomy, there will be a push from the front office for Burke to save some money where the source is available.

Jason Blake is arguably that source.

Production

Blake has been nothing if not inconsistent during his tenure with the Buds. After scoring 40 goals in his final season with the NY Islanders, Blake managed merely 15 in his first season with the Leafs.

Due to the fact that Blake was signed to give offense to a team that was lacking in that department, a 15-goal season is just not acceptable. Granted, Blake was struggling with his recent cancer diagnosis, but he still managed to play all 82 games, and for a player of Blake's supposed caliber, 15 goals just won't cut it.

On the flip side, Blake's production of late has been quite excellent. Through 49 games thus far this season, Blake already has 19 goals and 40 points.

He has been the Leafs' best player through the last 10 to 15 games, which one could argue is giving him a much better trade value than this time last year. This should be reason enough for Mr. Burke to pull the trigger and make a deal before it might be too late.

In conclusion, it is easy to see that the Leafs need to move Blake. The team needs to start looking toward the future, and although he might be good for the present, in the long run, the Leafs need youth.

At his age, Jason Blake is merely part of the past.

Brian Burke: A Savior for the Toronto Maple Leafs?

Jerrit Dusome — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 17:28:14 -0500

Well, it finally seems like all this waiting is over. Brian Burke has been named the 13th General Manager in Toronto Maple Leafs history. Don't forget, he also gets the title of President; that's not too shabby if you ask me.

The deal that Burke reasoned from Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment is reportedly worth approximately $18 million for the term of 6 years (the rest of this season, and then five more).

But, the big topic as of late is whether or not Burke has the capabilities to live up to all the hype that has accompanied him on his journey from Anaheim to Toronto. In my opinion, yes indeed he does. Burke is the man to get the job done in Toronto, and that job needs to be started immediately.

Now in the title of my article, I used the word savior. Yes, I know this might seem like a bit of a stretch, but right now, when it comes to the Leafs, I am willing to take Burke as my Lord and personal savior. Let's face it, the Buds need all the help they can get right now.

Burke has a track record of signing the big name players and making the blockbuster deals, two skills which the past Leafs' GMs tended to lack.

For example, with the Anaheim Ducks, he was able to bring in such talent as Teemu Selanne, Scott Neidermeyer, and Chris Pronger to name a few. It was these players that paved the way to the Ducks' Stanley Cup win in 2007. It is pretty easy to see that Burke has the ability to make the deals, and make a difference.

In my personal opinion, it won't take him very long to do just that. Indeed, by the end of the season it will be very different Maple Leafs roster.

Some might point out that the current Leafs roster is very different than last season, and those same people might ask "how can he make any more changes?" But the answer to that question is pretty simple: Brian Burke does not care about fan popularity.

This means that fan favorites such as Tomas Kaberle, Pavel Kubina, Nik Antropov, and Alex Ponikarovsky will be moved if the right circumstances arise.

Also, don't think that No. 1 goalie Vesa Toskala is safe either, especially because he has been terrible as of late. The only player on the team that should consider himself safe is Luke Schenn.

Much of this may seem drastic, but that is exactly what Burke has been brought into to do: make changes. It won't take long for these changes to take effect. So, brace yourselves Leaf Nation, you may be in for a bumpy ride.

Lets just hope its all worth it in the long run, because 42 years is a hell of a long time, and I am getting tired of waiting.

Sport on Film: The Top 10 Sports Movies of All Time

Jerrit Dusome — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 08:50:07 -0500

The other day I was watching a television show called "How I Met Your Mother." It is a very funny show with every episode tending to be very entertaining.

However, it wasn't the humor that caught me in this one particular episode, it was a discussion about the film "Field of Dreams" where the lead male characters broke into tears just discussing some of the emotional scenes.

The women however did not understand, as they felt the movie to be completely boring and stupid, with one even admitting to having never finished it, as she fell asleep half way through.

This particular scene got me to thinking about the movie in question as well, and this branched off into a discussion with some of my friends about the greatest sports movies of all time.

We didn't completely agree with each other, but that is part of the wonder of the genre, there are so many sports films to choose from, everyone can have their own list of favorites. I decided to share my Top 10 Sports Movies of all time with the Bleacher Report readers today.

10. The Sandlot (1993)

The Sandlot is one of those movies that a child cannot afford to miss out on. Although one might argue that the film has more to do with childhood during the 1960s, it is easy to see that baseball is the central idea from which this theme is explored from.

The film is the story of a group of kids playing baseball on an empty neighborhood lot, and the misadventures they get into as a result. This has remained one of my favorite movies, and I still continue to watch it often, and enjoy it just as much now as I did when I was young.

9. Remember the Titans (2000)

The first time I saw this movie, I knew right away that it would go down as one of the greatest sports movies in history. This film captures the events surrounding a newly racially integrated football team, and the struggles they encounter as a result of this.

The most lasting memory I will have of this film will be Denzel Washington's portrayal of Coach Herman Boone, which was nothing short of magnificent. This movie truly deserve to hold a spot of on this list, as it uses sports to tackle a much larger issue, racial equality.

8. Bull Durham (1988)

This movie is continually viewed by many publications, including Sports Illustrated as the greatest sports movie of all time, however for me personally, this is not the case. Saying this, the movie is still fantastic and certainly belongs in my Top 10 Sports Movies of all Time.

This film is the story of the minor league baseball team, the Durham Bulls. The movie features Kevin Costner as veteran pitcher "Crash" Davis, Tim Robbins as rookie pitcher "Nuke" LaLoosh, and Susan Sarandon as baseball groupie Annie Savoy.

The movie is a hilarious comedy, as well as an all around great sports movie, and with the wonderful cast, it is easy to see why it made this list.

7. The Bad News Bears (1976)

The Bad News Bears is a classic film, similar to the Sandlot as in its a baseball movie with children being the featured characters, however this movie is much more hilarious than The Sandlot could ever be.

Starring Walter Matthau as alcoholic coach Morris Buttermaker, an ex-pro baseball player, the film is extremely vulgar, and has almost a black-comedy feel to it.

Truly, this film is an excellent representation of a rags-to-riches story, following the increased success of the Bears baseball team.

6. Major League (1989)

Major League, in my opinion, is probably the funniest movie on this list. The film chronicles the Cleveland Indians and their attempt to make the playoffs, regardless of the fact that their owner has traded off all of their top talent, and she is hell-bent on ruining the team so she can relocate the franchise to Florida.

The movie features Tom Berenger as veteran catcher Jake Taylor; and Charlie Sheen as rookie pitcher Rick "Wild Thing" Vaughn, among others.

The film truly is hilarious, with Bob Uecker, playing the broadcaster Harry Doyle, delivering many one-liners that stick with you long after the film is over. Indeed, this movie belongs on this list, as well as many others.

5. Pride of the Yankees (1942)

Pride of the Yankees is a biographical film directed by Sam Wood about the New York Yankees first baseman Lou Gehrig, who had his career cut short at 36 years of age when he was stricken with the fatal disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, more commonly known as "Lou Gehrig's Disease").

The movie was released the year after Gehrig's death. It starred Gary Cooper as Lou Gehrig. Yankee teammates Babe Ruth, Bob Muesel, Mark Koenig and Bill Dickey played themselves, as did sportscaster Bill Stern.

This movie truly is excellent, and certainly is one of many movies that must be seen during your life at some point.

4. Miracle (2004)

The 1980 Miracle on Ice truly was one of the best moments in the history of sport as a whole, and the 2004 movie representation lives up to the reputation of its namesake, as it truly is an amazing movie.

With Kurt Russell starring as Head Coach Herb Brooks, the film is great, even if you're not a hockey fan, or even a sports fan. Adding to the legend of the movie, Herb Brooks passed away before the movie's completion, and it is dedicated in his honor, as he was one of the greatest hockey coaches to have ever lived. This one is certainly a must-see.

3. Rocky (1976)

This movie is a favorite of a lot of people, and among sports fans it is a legend. Sylvester Stalone's film about a boxer from Philadelphia won the Oscar in 1976 for Best Picture, and it was truly deserving of such an honor.

Indeed, the movie would go on to spawn 5 sequels, with all of them being at least somewhat successful. Stallone was magical as Rocky Balboa, and with Carl Weathers as Apollo Creed, how can you go wrong with this flick?

2. Slap Shot (1977)

In my opinion, this is the greatest hockey movie ever made, and to be a hockey player and not have seen this movie is a travesty. With it being just as funny as any movie on this list, as well as having lots of great hits and fights, this movie belongs in its spot near the top of this list.

Paul Newman stars as Reggie Dunlop, the player/coach of the fictitious Charlestown Chiefs. The film also features the Hanson Brothers, who became instant celebrities in the hockey world after this film. As a hockey player myself, this is truly one of my favorite movies of all time, not just a favorite sport movie.

1. Field of Dreams (1989)

There are going to be many people that argue with me over my picking Field of Dreams as the greatest sports movie of all time, and that's fine, that's what the discussion page is for. But since this my list, I will obviously put my favorite sports movie in the No. 1 position, and as you can see, that honor goes to Field of Dreams.

This movie is my favorite movie of all time, and it rightfully deserves that spot. While being a sports movie, it also is so much more, being a tear-jerking story about a father and a son.

Kevin Costner portrays Ray Kinsella, a man who hears voices telling him to build a baseball field out in his corn crop so his favorite baseball player, Shoeless Joe Jackson (Ray Liotta), can come back and play baseball again from beyond the grave.

Featuring other actors such as Amy Madigan and James Earl Jones, this movie is a must see for everyone. And I mean EVERYONE.

So there you have it. The Top 10 Sports Movies of all time. Like I said above, there are going to be those who disagree with me, that is expected of course.

So instead of posting negative comments about my list, why don't you post your own Top 10 lists in the comment's sections, that way the list can grow to more than just my own article. As well, for another list of top Sports films, check out www.moviefone.com and their Best Sports Movies of All Time.

Matt Cassel: A Quick Fix for the New England Patriots and Nothing More

Jerrit Dusome — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 07:52:13 -0500

The question has be raised in the past few days as to what Matt Cassel truly represents in the New England Patriots' organization. To some, apparently Matt Cassel represents the future of the Patriots franchise.

With Tom Brady being 32 years of age, some see Cassel as the successor to the Patriots offense, while others even feel that he should retain the starter position, even after Brady's return to the lineup next season.

However, this might be a bit of a stretch when one considers all things.

Looking at Cassel, specifically through his last couple of games, it is easy to see that he has played quite well. He has thrown for over 400 yards in each of the past two games, with the first game being their loss to Brett Favre and the New York Jets, and the second being against the Miami Dolphins, who had embarrassed the Patriots back in Week Three.

These two performances were very impressive, but let's not get ready to put all our hopes into Cassel and forget about Brady just yet.

Cassel does have many assets that may seem valuable at the moment, such as obvious throwing capabilities (hence the 400+ yards) as well as his ability to run with the football (something Tom Brady tends to lack).

However, these skills are not something that can be entirely attributed to Matt Cassel. He has a lot of help when it comes to his playing performances.

What you have to remember is that Cassel is playing for the New England Patriots. The same Patriots that went 16-0 during the regular season of last year. To accomplish such a feat, it is a pretty safe bet to say that they are a pretty good team.

Therefore, it is pretty easy to see that Cassel is merely a product of an amazing coaching staff, and an even better team, and not the new Tom Brady as some have speculated.

With Cassel's contract running out at the end of this season, it is clear that he will test the free-agent market, as there will not be a place on the Patriots next season, unless he wants to stay in his No. 2 position. Cassel will sign with another team, and then it will become clear that it was the Patriots that were successful during '08/'09 season, and not the quarterback that was at the helm.

He was merely along for the ride.

Bryan McCabe: Can He Still Be Useful to The Toronto Maple Leafs?

Jerrit Dusome — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 16:37:46 -0400

For the last little while, when I have been reading newspapers such as the Toronto Star, sports columnists who have been giving their predictions about the Leafs' roster for next season tend to leave out Bryan McCabe, placing him on the 'reserve' list.

Personally, I feel that this is entirely unwarranted.

McCabe has consistently been an offensive force during his time with the Leafs, regardless of what anybody has to say on the situation.

Since his acquirement by the Leafs in October 2000, McCabe has had 3 seasons with over 50 points, and has had 4 seasons with at least 15 goals. And anybody can agree that for a defenceman, these are more than respectable numbers.

Indeed, the 2007-2008 NHL season was a struggle for McCabe, both offensively and defensively, but when one considers the play of the team overall, it is easy to see that this lack of production is not necessarily his fault.

With a team playing barely .500 hockey, it is nearly impossible to perform up to your true potential.

Just look at Jason Blake for example, Blake is an excellent offensive talent. However with a team that cannot produce offensively, it is hard to for an individual player to be successful.

Saying this, I do not agree with the contract that McCabe was given in 2006. I believe that a 5-year contract worth approximately $29 million is too much money for a player such as McCabe, regardless of what kind of season he had just come off of.

As good of a defenceman as McCabe is, he is no Chris Pronger or Nick Lidstrom. Furthermore, the fact that he was given a no-movement clause in his contract is absolutely ridiculous. I am not a fan of the the no-trade clause, and a no-movement clause makes even less sense.

Even though his contract is what I would consider to be an overpayment, the Leafs are left with only 3 options when it comes to Bryan McCabe. The first option, is to buy out his contract. However with such a large contract to begin with, it will still hurt the Leafs' cap space to a significant degree.

The second option is to find a suitable trade for the D-man. However with his no-movement clause, would McCabe ever choose to leave Toronto at all?

The third option, and the one I believe to be the most suitable for the situation, is to let McCabe play, and see if he can improve upon the lackluster season he had last year.

Regardless of the fact that last year was a bad year for him, McCabe is a good defenceman that can be a useful member of the Leafs next season. I firmly believe that given the opportunity, McCabe will return to the kind of defenceman he has been in years past.

Curtis Joseph: The Perfect Fit For the Toronto Maple Leafs

Jerrit Dusome — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 09:06:17 -0400

As a diehard Maple Leaf fan, there haven't been many moments in the past few years that have made me very happy when it comes to my team.

However, this offseason is shaping up to be different, with many signings that appear to have potential in the long term development of the Leafs’ roster. However, one signing was made for the purpose of short term success.

With the signing of Curtis Joseph to a one year/$700,000 deal, the Leafs have found the perfect goaltender to replace the failure that was Andrew Raycroft, and it is easy to see that Cujo is ready for his second tenure with the Boys in Blue.

Curtis Joseph first signed with Leafs after the 1997/1998 season. It is with Toronto that Joseph gained league wide notoriety as a premier goaltender.

With Toronto, Joseph attained three 30+ win seasons and was runner up to for the Vezina Trophy in two out of those three seasons. As well, he played a key role in Toronto's run to Eastern Conference Finals in 1999 and then again in 2002.

Joseph left the Leafs after the 2001/2002 season to sign with the Detroit Red Wings.

Rumors of a difficult relationship with Pat Quinn, as well as wanting to play for a Cup contender, seem to be the primary theories as to why Joseph decided not to resign with the Buds.

After his departure from Toronto, Cujo played for the Wings, the Phoenix Coyotes, as well as the Calgary Flames.

With Vesa Toskala being an excellent goaltender to fill the role of the No. 1 goalie in Toronto, and with Andrew Raycroft being bought out by MLSE, the time for Joseph's return to Toronto is perfect.

With the team in desperate need of a consistent back-up goalie, Joseph is the man to fill the role. Furthermore, he is capable of providing a much needed leadership boost to the roster, being a veteran player, as well as a former Leaf.

Because of this, it is easy to see that Cujo will fit in perfectly with Toronto in the 2008/2009 NHL season. And because I am a Cujo fan, it will be nice to see him back in a Leaf uniform.

Cliff Fletcher and Ron Wilson: A Recipe for Success in Toronto?

Jerrit Dusome — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 11:00:34 -0400

When it comes to the Toronto Maple Leafs, because of the intense media market that it is, GMs and head coaches are always under so much scrutiny; however, the tandem of Cliff Fletcher and Ron Wilson that is now in place under MLSE may finally have what it takes to build a winning team.

To start with, I am going to discuss former General Manager John Ferguson Jr. Now I may not be the perfect person to write about Ferguson, as I have never been a fan of the General Manager.

After Pat Quinn left the position of general manager to concentrate on the head coaching job, myself always being a fan of Quinn would obviously not have liked whoever was hired to replace him. Unfortunately for Ferguson, he was hired as Quinn's replacement. I will say that Ferguson has made several moves that I have been happy with, most specifically signing Jason Blake, whom I am a big fan of, even though he struggled last season.

However, while I may have been happy with some of his moves, I do not believe they were significant enough to warrant him remaining in his position much longer. I very much agreed with his firing and I do believe that Cliff Fletcher is a much more capable replacement. In my opinion, regardless of how the Leafs had done last season, it was only a matter of time before he was replaced, especially since MLSE looked for an advisor for Ferguson throughout the summer, approaching such legends as Scotty Bowman and John Muckler. It was clear at this point that Ferguson was no longer their man.

In my opinion, Cliff Fletcher is a much more capable GM than Ferguson could have ever been. During his first tenure with the Leafs, he proved that he wasn't scared to make the trades and do the deals that, while controversial, still managed to improve the team in the long run.

Even in the short time since his appointment as Interim GM, it is clear that he wants to make the Leafs legitimate contenders in the years to come. With the drafting of D Luke Schenn, as well as through the signing of such players as D Jeff Finger, LW Niklas Hagman, G Curtis Joseph, and C Mikhail Grabovski, it is easy to see that Fletcher is the man to get the job done. The job in question is building a better and younger Maple Leaf team.

Now in terms of the head coach, I believe that the Leafs made a good decision in hiring Paul Maurice as Pat Quinn's replacement a few years back. He was a good coach, he had a lot of experience (having been to the Stanley Cup final with Carolina), and most importantly to me, he was sure to give the young players their opportunity to shine. However, regardless of whether or not I liked Maurice, I do believe that he deserved the same fate as Ferguson Jr. The Leafs finished poorly overall, leaving MLSE and Fletcher no choice but to fire him.

As for his replacement, I believe the Leafs hired the best possible candidate in Ron Wilson. He was proven over and over again that he is a high caliber NHL head coach, and I do believe he will be able to effectively alter the skill of this new, younger Leafs' roster.

Ultimately, I do believe that the Leafs have made the necessary steps to start their rebuilding process. A team all starts with its management and its coaching and with the hiring of Wilson, along with Fletcher at the helm, it is easy to see that the Leafs are beginning to make the changes that are necessary to end their 41 year Stanley Cup drought.

Toronto, Vancouver or Montreal: the Future for Mats Sundin

Jerrit Dusome — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 08:39:20 -0400

When it comes to the Toronto Maple Leafs, the sheer amount of ups and downs associated with the team is enough to make any fan of the game extremely frustrated. Whether its searching for consistent goaltending, or merely trying to find that allusive scoring touch, the Leafs always seem to have their problems regardless of the situation.

However, since his trade to the Leafs in the early 90's, Mats Sundin has remained the only shining light in the world of darkness that is the Maple Leafs. And now, it finally seems as though his time with the Buds may finally have come to an end.

Since his trade from the Quebec Nordiques in 1994, Sundin has been the cornerstone of the Leafs offence. With Toronto, Sundin has scored at least 70 points in every season since 1995/1996, and has led the team in scoring every year with exception of the 2002/2003 season where Alexander Mogilny bested him by seven points. Even though his offensive production has been very significant in each and every season he has played for the Blue and White, it is his leadership qualities that are most important in terms of his time in Toronto. Sundin is the longest serving European captain in NHL history, which demonstrates the kind of player Mats truly is. However, as integral as Sundin is to the Leafs, as stated above, his time with the team may finally be over.

With the coming of the 2008 Trade Deadline, it looked as though it was only a matter of time before Sundin was on his way out of Toronto. However that time never came, as Sundin refused to waive his No-Trade Clause, forcing Cliff Fletcher to give up his search for a possible deal.

And now, during an off-season where the Leafs are coming off yet another failure of a season, Fletcher has been busy signing such players as D Jeff Finger, LW Niklas Hagman, and C Ryan Hollweg, as well as a trade to acquire C Mikhail Grabovski, in addition to the drafting of Luke Schenn with their 5th overall pick in this years draft. The Leafs finally seem to be shifting their organization into a rebuilding phase. The big question lately has been whether or not Sundin has a place on this new Leafs squad.

As of July 23rd, Sundin has still not decided whether or not he wants to play in the upcoming NHL season. As a 37 year old veteran forward, it is clear that Sundin is close to retirement. However, Mats could potentially be a very valuable player to many teams, coming off one of his best offensive season of the last few years. And with offers on the table from 3 significant teams, Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver, it is easy to see that Sundin still has a place in the NHL.

The Vancouver Canucks have placed the most significant deal on the table in a bid for Sundin, offering $20 million over 2 years, with $10 million coming in salary, and a further $10 million coming in bonuses. For a 37 year old player, an offer worth $20 million has to hold some weight in any decision being made. It is clear that Sundin is contemplating this offer very highly, because honestly, who wouldn't?

The Leafs have made a decent offer to re-acquire Sundin during this off-season. Although many people feel as though it is time for Sundin to move on, and that there is no place on the Leafs for Sundin anymore with their new rebuilding motives, GM Cliff Fletcher has made Sundin the offer of about $7 million per season, over two seasons. Even though this is not as attractive as the offer made by the Canucks, Sundin will have to consider the fact that Toronto has been his home for the last 14 years, and that his face base his massive in the GTA. And come on, does $14 million really seem like all that bad of deal?

As for the Canadiens, the offer that they have made to Sundin is quite similar to that of the Leafs. Sundin has always said that if there was a team that he could play for other than the Leafs, it would be the Habs, and with Montreal now being a legitimate Stanley Cup contender, Sundin will have to think hard about betraying the Leaf Nation, and joining forces with the enemy.

In all honesty, it is clear that Sundin has one hell of a decision ahead of him. He has three very good offers on the table, and it is easy to see that he is not ready to rule out any one of them. According to Sundin, he is still not even sure if he wants to play in 2008/2009 NHL season, however I believe he will, as there are many teams that have use for his services.

As for what team he will play for, I think Mats will ultimately follow his allegiance to Toronto, and you will see Sundin wearing a Leaf uniform with the C on his chest next year. Even though Vancouver has made an offer worth a very large amount of money, Mats Sundin is already a very wealthy man, and in the long run, he will play in the town that has made him famous, Toronto.