Osgood blanks Blue Jackets

Wings defeat Columbus 4-0.

It seems that Chris Osgood has finally put that rough start behind him. The Red Wings's starting goalie was solid yet again on Sunday night, shutting out the Columbus Blue Jackets for a 4-0 victory.

On Saturday Osgood made several nice saves to hold the St. Louis Blues to just two goals, when they could have easily had five.

Perhaps it is finally safe to say that the Red Wings have found a solution to their goaltending probelem.

But the bigger problem actually lies in defense. The Detriot D have looked particularly sloppy this year. One might say that Osgood's early struggles had a lot to do with that.

But forget that.

The fact of the matter is that Osgood looks less like the struggling goalie he was in the first half and more like the solid netminder that led the Wings to a Stanley Cup in '08. We need Ozzie's success to continue. If he plays well, Osgood is a much safer bet than backup Ty Conklin.

There is no gurantee that this will last, but you still have to admit that Osgood has looked excellent since returning from his 10 day rest.

It's pointless for me to re-explain why I have faith in this man, as I have done several times already (read my earlier articles), so I'll leave it at this:

OZ-ZIE OZ-ZIE!!! OZ-ZIE OZ-ZIE!!! OZ-ZIE OZ-ZIE!!!!!!

Good work Chris.

Go Ahead, Take Stafford

But if you do, please don't throw him into the fire

I'm not here to settle the debate as to who the Lions should take first overall. The argument exists for both Matthew Stafford and offensive lineman Jason Smith, as well as for linebacker Aaron Curry.
I'd say it runs about even. Heading into the draft, the clear-cut pick seemed to be lineman Andre Smith. But then Smith kept falling and falling.

Stafford carries the highest risk, but also the highest potential. He could be a nice fit with receiver Calvin Johnson. He has been compared to Jay Cutler, whom the Lions recently tried to trade for. So, if the Lions feel that he is the right choice, then fine. Go ahead and take him. Just promise me one thing:

Please, PLEASE, don't turn him into the next Joey Harrington. Don't make him be the starter in his rookie season. Let him sit behind Daunte Culpepper for a while.

Most quarterbacks don't start to devolop until year two. Starting in the rookie year is very, very difficult. One can argue by dropping the names Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco, but Ryan isn't the rule, he is the exception. As is Flacco.

The way the Lions threw Joey into the fire ruined his career. It also is a symbol of Matt Millen football, and the Lions need to make it clear that, whatever they are doing, they're done playing Matt Millen football.

If the Lions let Stafford rest, he could turn out to be an excellent quarterback, maybe even the next Bobby Layne.

Stafford went to the same high school as Layne, and is entering the draft 51 years after the former Lions great supposedly said that the Lions wouldn't win for 50 years. The Lions can end this curse with him.

But they have to do it the right way.

Believe

Albert Pujols is well aware that his doubters are high in numbers. Today it is rare, particularly in baseball, for us to see a good performance and not immediately be suspicious.
Past experiences have increased our skepticism. From McGwire and Sosa, to Barry Bonds, to Roger Clemens, our former heroes have let us down. And now, to cap it all, the supposed protector of the Clean Age has been added to the list of wrongdoers.
Pujols wants everyone to know that he is not like the others. Not by a longshot.
Even if most of them don't believe him.
"Let's say I retire 15 years from now," he said, "They're going to say, 'Well he probably did it back then. He just didn't get caught.' I know that's what they're going to say. And you know what, man? It is sad, but at the same time, it doesn't matter. I know who I am. I don't care."
Sports fans need a hero. Our favorite Olympian was revealed to have smoked marijuana. Baseball's top hitter admitted to using perfomance enhancers. Tom Brady, football's hero, has not done any wrong, but has been easily forgotten due to his knee injury.
"We're in this era where we people want to judge other people. And that's so sad," Pujols says. He is right on the money: what he said was completely true.
Pujols continues: "But it's like I always say, 'Come and test me. Come and do whatever you want.' Because you know what? There is something more important to me- my relationship with Jesus Christ and caring about others. More than this baseball. This baseball is nothing to me."
He knows that, for some people, these words will have a reverse effect: the more he denies, the less people believe.
And, as Pujols would say, "That's so sad."
Today we have a hard time believing. Forget the Steriod Era. This is the Skeptical Era. For one reason or another, we just can't completely put trust in our atheletes.
Last year Albert Pujols won the Roberto Clemente award, which is directed mainly towards one's actions off the field. Despite winning two MVPs, Pujols says that the Clemente award is the most special award he has ever received.
Doesn't that tell you a lot about his priorities?
Pujols's crown as baseball's best consistent hitter comes with a curse: People will always be doubting you. And no matter what he says, no matter how much he reaches out for others, those people will always be there. He knows that he can't make them go away.
Every time something new pops up about steriods and baseball, it weakens the trust we put in these atheletes. And every time a player starts to dominate the sport, we ask ourseleves: Can he really hit that many homers without cheating? Can he really be that good without performance enhancers?
We may never know if Pujols was clean or not. Proof of his innocence or guilt may never come up. Take from that what you will, but personally, I've chosen to believe in him.
Isn't that a lot more enjoyable than thinking of steriods every time he hits a home run?

Not the greatest

For Wii gamers, sports games are disappointing

Prior to the making of Madden '09 Nintendo Wii agreed to a deal with all-play. The new Wii game was titled Madden '09 All-Play and the cover featured a picture of Brett Favre pointing and laughing.

I wasn't fooled.

The game was an awful disappointment. It lacked the Madden IQ feature that Madden '09 had promised. Several other features were missing as well.

The worst part may have been that the game was not nearly realistic enough. I'm sorry, but in real life I don't think any player can run 20 yards in 1 second. I'd had enough. I played Madden '07 instead.

You are not enabled to create players in this game either, which means so much for the idea of bringing Brett Favre back.

How could Nintendo stoop so low? It seems that, for one reason or another, the Wii has suddenly decided to change sports games so they are much different (and less satisfactory) than the original.

Madden wasn't the end of it. Instead of following the Xbox 360's standards and choosing the highly realistic NHL 09, it chose NHL 2K9. In graphics, the game was basically a remake of NHL 06.

Rip-off.

Nintendo needs to change directions immediately. Fans are not happy. You think they will let the Wii get away with this? Ask any fan what they think of the new games and I gurantee they will not be happy about it.

So, please Nintendo, follow the crowd and stick with the brand name games. It's in the best interests of your fans.

Wings hammer Blues

Osgood's solid play strengthens the Wings' faith

Chris Osgood did something he'd yet to do this year: shut a team out. The Wings' goalie looked solid, blanking the Blues in a 5-0 victory.

So now we examine the goalie game. First thing spectators need to know: the game officially reset itself after Osgood's 10 day rest. The Red Wings gave him that rest in hopes that he would turn around.

Thus far, the project has succeeded. In Osgood's first start since returning, he slammed the Los Angeles Kings, who need not be underrated. Though they may look bad on paper, they are one of the hottest teams in the NHL. Proof came from the 31 shots they took on Osgood. The only goal was allowed on a power play.

The Nashville Nightmare doesn't count. Firstly, that was Conklin's start. Second, Osgood allowed as many goals as Conklin, despite playing longer. Third, that games woes ought to be blamed on the poor defense.

Then, of course, came Tuesday's shutout. So, in Project Restore Chris Osgood, Ozzie holds a 0.50 goals-against-average, and has played solidly. If Osgood can continue, he will definitely get the nod when to start when playoffs come around.

And that's the best-case scenario for the Red Wings.

Cherry lashes out

Comments against Ovechkin are purely ridiculous

It doesn't take an expert to tell you that Don Cherry isn't your average joe. Nor does it take one to tell you that Alex Ovechkin is a big-time star in the NHL. This is just common, normal, everyday knowledge.

One may find it strange, however, that recently, the costume-wearing Canadian broadcaster took the liberty of blasting the Capitals' star player.

For those of you who haven't seen the video, it goes something like this: Clips are shown of soccer celebrations, followed by Alex Ovechkin goal celebrations. Cherry's basic analysis is that Ovechkin is doing wrong by following in the soccer players' footsteps.

This is pure nonsense.

First of all, Cherry shouldn't be blasting the game of soccer without reason. You can bet that soccer fans aren't pleased at hearing this.

Secondly, it's idiotic to single out Ovechkin. Take note that Canadian Sidney Crosby isn't exactly well behaved. A regular whiner, the Pittsburgh Penguin has never been what one would define as a model player.

But Cherry doesn't dare attack his fellow Canadian, who gets the free pass.

But the biggest reason Cherry is being unreasonable is that Ovechkin is doing no harm to the game.

You think fans groan when the see him jump against the glass? Of course not, they enjoy it. What Cherry needs to realize is that Ovechkin is just having some fun. There is nothing wrong with having charisma and pleasing fans.

Ovechkin is a bit cocky a times, but he is by no means arrogant. Ovechkin's celebrations are his way of saying that he loves the game. He is doing nothing but simply enjoying himself.

Cherry is lashing out only because of jealousy. He's angry that Crosby no longer holds the crown for the NHL's top player. One can argue against that, but keep in mind that Ovechkin's been celebrating this way for years, but hasn't started dominating the game until recently.

Cherry (and Crosby for that matter) ought to keep his mouth shut and accept that Russians are now dominating the game.

The video only gets worse. Cherry follows up saying that he thinks (or, I as see it, hopes) that one day a defenseman will demolish OV.

Basically he is saying that Ovechkin shouldn't be celebrating since there are plenty of defensemen capable of cleaning his clock.

And that's where the irony kicks in.

If Sidney Crosby gets checked, he'll often lie flat on the ice for a period of time. He is by no means a tough player.

Ovechkin, on the other hand, often simply bounces up when hit. He has a reputation for being one of the NHL's toughest players.

But enough about toughness. The point is simple: No one should be complaining about Ovechkin's goal celebrations.

Is Ovechkin harming the game? Heck no. In fact his actions are energizing fans and bringing the fun back into the NHL. His celebrations make people happy. It's been a while since fans have enjoyed the game of hockey this much.

Why is that a bad thing?

I said it before and I'll say it again: There's nothing wrong with having fun.

And that's all Ovechkin is trying to do.