Browsing all articles from September, 2011
Sep
9
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Episode 54 – Football Season Is Here!

Author Bryan Patton    Category Podcast Episode     Tags , , , ,

Mark, Matt, and Jake join Bryan to recap the Redskins preseason. The guys also make their Week 1 Season picks.

Topics:

Redskins Preseason

Grossman vs Beck

The Final 53

NFL Week 1 Picks

Maryland Terps Uniforms

Sep
1
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Washington Sportsjam MMA Pound-for-Pound Rankings: August 2011 Edition

Author Mark Kalriess    Category Articles, MMA     Tags , , , , , , , , , , ,

With no title-holders knocked off this month the top of the rankings remain the same.  Alistair Overeem leaves the “In Consideration” rankings after being dropped from Strikeforce and vacating his title. “Dangerous” Dan Henderson replaces him on the list. Henderson has on a tear since moving up to Light Heavyweight in Strikeforce.

1. Anderson Silva (UFC Middleweight Champion, Record 29-4)
In the Yushin Okami fight Silva avenged his most recent loss and extended his title-defense streak to an astounding nine times. He beat one of his most qualified challengers yet both mentally and physically. His in-ring mind-games showed how he can force an opponent into his gameplan. Unfortunately,  it also showed why he is losing fans despite his massive talent. Love him or hate him, he’s the most dominant fighter in the world right now.
Next Fight – TBA

2. Georges St-Pierre (UFC Welterweight Champion, Record 22-2)
GSP was not able to dominate Jake Shields they way he dominated his six previous challengers. However he once again held off a red-hot challenger by not playing into their game and exploiting their weaknesses. It may not have been exciting but it was the smart move. He still looks unbeatable in the Welterweight division.
Next Fight – vs.  Nick Diaz @ UFC 137 10/29/11

3. Jon Jones (UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, Record 13-1)
Jones has looked unstoppable since he joined the UFC but many thought he would look more human once he fought the elite fighters. Turns out he doesn’t. He made just as quick work of former champ Shogun Hua as he did every other fighter he’s faced. While he still has to prove he can defend the title, he’s on a hot-streak right now and looks unbeatable.
Next Fight – vs. Quinton “Rampage” Jackson @UFC 135  9/24/11

4. Cain Velasquez (UFC Heavyweight Champion, Record 9-0)
After the reigns of the hulking Shane Carwin and Brock Lesnar, Velaszquez proved that winning in the UFC required more than strength, power, and wrestling top-control. When Velasquez defeated Lesnar he proved that he was better all-around fighter than Brock and that he could contest with anyone in any aspect of a fight. There are a few UFC Heavyweights in his same class, but he’ll be a hard guy to take a belt from.
Next Fight – vs. Junior Dos Santos @UFC 139 11/19/11

5. Jose Aldo (UFC Featherweight Champion, Record 19-1)
Aldo may have gutted out a win against his most game challenger yet, but he did not look like his usual self in his first UFC title defense. His ground game and cardio were terrible, especially in a the final round where he allowed the challenger Mark Hominick to stay in top-position for the final few minutes. Hominick ground-and-pounded away while Aldo just laid there. He wasn’t his usual exciting self in the standup either, relying on more technical striking. He may have mashed up Hominick’s face and won his first UFC title defense, but he didn’t look anything like the dominant WEC champion he once was.
Next Fight – vs. Kenny Florian @UFC 136 10/8/11

Other fighters in consideration: Dominick Cruz,Frankie Edgar,Dan Henderson,Hector Lombard, Gilbert Melendez

Sep
1
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George McPhee Owns the NHL: Washington Capitals 2011 Offseason

Author Bryan Patton    Category Articles, Capitals, Hockey     Tags , , , , , , , , , , , ,

George McPhee has sent a message to the NHL and to Caps fans – the time to win is now.

It’s been an exciting offseason for the Capitals. After another playoff disappointment, a lot of fans were looking for the team to make major changes. Most were hoping the changes would start with head coach Bruce Boudreau. I was not of those fans. I’m glad to see coach Boudreau get another year. But I also know this is his last shot to take this team deep into the playoffs.

General Manager George McPhee went out this offseason and used free agency to help get Boudreau and the Caps get over the hump. McPhee’s nickname is the Undertaker but after this offseason should it be changed it to Yoda? The guy pulled off the biggest Jedi mind trick in history.

It was pretty obvious that goalie Semyon Varlamov was not going to be re-signing with the Capitals. His agent was making it clear that Varly would rather play in the KHL then backup Michael Neuvirth. So McPhee got on the phone and somehow convinced the Colorado Avalanche to give the Capitals a first and second round draft pick in 2012. If the Avalanche fail to make the playoffs that first pick has potential to be a lottery pick. The Caps received these picks for an unproven goalie that hasn’t played a full season in his short, injury-riddled career. As details of the trade made their way around the hockey community, Twitter exploded with comments on how McPhee had hoodwinked the Avalanche into a terrible trade.

The beauty about the Varlamov trade is that it took away the market for Tomas Vokoun. Vokoun to the Capitals had been rumored for nearly two years and when he finally became a free agent, the Capitals were there to sign him. Trading Varly to the Avalanche eliminated all other teams in need of a goaltender. The Capitals were then able to sign Vokoun to a meager one year deal worth only 1.5 millions dollars. Vokoun is an obvious and instant upgrade at goalie and gives the Capitals one of a top five NHL goaltenders.

The additions of defenseman Roman Hamrlik and right winger Troy Brouwer bring Stanley Cup experience to the team. But the Capitals didn’t need to completely overhaul their line-up. They’re still the winningest team in the regular season over the last 3 years. They resigned center Brooks Laich to a six year deal. The offensive core of winger Alex Ovechkin, center Nicklas Backstrom, and Laich will be around for a while. Consistency is key if you want to be a cup contender for years to come. The team also signed former captain center Jeff Halpern to a one year deal. Long time Caps fans loved that signing but nearly as much as the team bringing back former goalie Olaf Kolzig as an associate goalie coach.

This offseason the Caps kept their core roster intact while adding Stanley Cup experienced players and upgrading the goalie position. George McPhee improved what was already one of the best teams in the NHL. Will it translate into a Stanley Cup Championship? I hope so.

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