Pittsburgh Penguins veteran back-up goalie Brent Johnson was less than 20 seconds away from his second shutout of the season but he opted for registering a knockdown in a goalie fight instead.

As the game against the New York Islanders was winding down with a 3-0 score Penguins pest Matt Cooke, who is known for instigating, took a run toward Islanders goalie Rick DiPietro.

Cooke, who last season got knocked out cold in one punch by Thrashers Evander Kane (VIDEO HERE), was surrounded by a group of New York players and a scruff broke out in the corner.

As the players were exchanging pleasantries against the boards, Johnson dropped his gear and sprinted at DiPietro, squaring off and throwing a solid left that dropped the opposing goalie.

By the way, that was Johnson’s first goalie fight of his career and it came at the expense of earning a shutout since he was booted out of the game.

Here’s the one-punch fight here.

Used with permission of the author.

Jay Donetelli is a Tampa-based freelance sportswriter and contributor to Sports Climax. With an opinion sharper than an Ovechkin skate blade with the sting of an Ali jab, Donetelli has a loyal cult of readers who have found a way to love him.

Copyright ©2011 Sports Climax, LLC

The Tampa Bay Rays showcased the newest additions to their roster today. Former Boston Red Sox teammates Manny Ramirez and Johnny Damon will be donning Rays jerseys this season and the pair seems ready for the new challenge.

Damon who lives about an hour away from Tropicana Field told MLB.com, “This is home for me. This is my dream team. My family and friends are always out there supporting me. I’ll see much more of them. I really love this opportunity to come back home and hopefully help this team win a championship.”

Both veterans agreed to sign just a one-year deal that will only obligate them to Tampa Bay for the 2011 season. Damon is said to be making $5.25 million with a $750,000 attendance bonus thrown in and Manny is set to make $2 million.

The opportunity for Damon and his wife Michelle to be close to home in Orlando seemed to play a huge part in the team working out a deal with the outfielder. Damon played for the Detroit Tigers last season and batted .271 with eight homeruns, 51 RBIs and 81 runs scored in 145 games. The outfielder is known for his hustle and has two World Series rings on his resume; one with the 2004 Red Sox and the other while playing with the New York Yankees in 2009.

The other part of the tandem, Ramirez averaged .311 last season with the Dodgers and hit eight homeruns and added 40 RBIs in 66 games then was dumped off to the White Sox late in the season. With Chicago, Manny hit .261 with one dinger and two RBIs in 24 games. Ramirez is expected to be used as the designated hitter for Tampa.

Damon and Ramirez were teammates in Boston from 2002-05.

Used with permission of the author.

Jay Donetelli is a Tampa-based freelance sportswriter and contributor to Sports Climax. With an opinion sharper than an Ovechkin skate blade with the sting of an Ali jab, Donetelli has a loyal cult of readers who have found a way to love him.

Copyright ©2011 Sports Climax, LLC

While several NFL players were taking in the sunny weather in Hawaii during the Pro Bowl weekend, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco was doing the opposite. . . plunging into frigid cold water in the 15^th Annual Polar Bear Plunge.

Flacco has become a regular at the event that is held at Sandy Point State Park to raise money for the Special Olympics in Maryland.

Joining the NFL star to jump into the 32 degree Chesapeake Bay water were several other badasses dressed in a variety of clothing from wetsuits to bikinis and swim shorts. . . have you ever seen that Seinfeld episode about “shrinkage”?

The event is said to have raised well over $1 million.

Other notable names in attendance who joined Flacco were MTV Jersey Shore guy Pauly D and Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley.

BTW, by the time the Pro Bowl was done putting people to sleep with its lopsided first half and meaningless feel, Flacco may have chosen the better place to be; raising money for a great cause.

NFL:   “The Pro Bowl was so bad I ____________”

Used with permission of the author.

Jay Donetelli is a Tampa-based freelance sportswriter and contributor to Sports Climax. With an opinion sharper than an Ovechkin skate blade with the sting of an Ali jab, Donetelli has a loyal cult of readers who have found a way to love him.

Copyright ©2011 Sports Climax, LLC

Ironically, our Bitch Slap of the Week goes out a New York Jets player who recently was interested in smashing in someone’s face. The recipient is trash-talking, baby making Antonio Cromartie.

Over his tenure in San Diego, Cromartie was a controversy magnet and since arriving in New York, he has taken that reputation with him tenfold.

Like it wasn’t enough for him to introduce his brash style of jawing to the AFC East with barks of “Tom Brady is an asshole” he continued his tirades into the offseason with banter not even a mother could love.

Speaking of mothers, Cromartie is said to have made eight different women into one of those with alleged irresponsibility in regards to financial supporting some of those nine children resurfacing from time to time.

If the NFLPA wants a few spokespeople out there making comments to the media, we’re pretty sure you would not be one of their choices.

Making vague profanity laced comments like, “You got our head union rep acting like an asshole. They got their guys acting like a-holes. So they just need to get their shit together and just get it done” cannot be considered helpful in any stretch of the imagination.

Just because you’re playing on a team in the NFL that has a recent history that includes a player get popped for driving double the legal limit, a coach accused of showcasing his wife’s feet on the Internet, an ex-quarterback accused of sexually harassing team massage therapists and another coach who made the decision to trip a player in the middle of a play, doesn’t mean you have to go that route.

Hopefully one day you will learn that addressing the media doesn’t mean using it as a personal platform to embarrass yourself and your organization, they’ve embarrassed themselves enough.

Used with permission of the author.

Jay Donetelli is a Tampa-based freelance sportswriter and contributor to Sports Climax. With an opinion sharper than an Ovechkin skate blade with the sting of an Ali jab, Donetelli has a loyal cult of readers who have found a way to love him.

Copyright ©2011 Sports Climax, LLC

The NHL All Star Game has a new format and last night the league completed their first ever draft to determine teams. The complete results of the draft are below and what makes this draft so unique is the fact players from the East and West Conferences were combined meaning players will be playing against each other.

Seems like a smart move for a league that sits well below the NFL, NBA and MLB in ratings every year. Fans should get a kick out of seeing teammates actually skating against each other in the game.

The puck is scheduled to drop on Sunday January at 4PM.

BTW, for guiding their teams to the Stanley Cup Finals last season, Chicago Blackhawks Joel Quenneville will have the head coach responsibilities for Team Staal and Philadelphia’s Peter Laviolette will coach Team Lidstrom.

Here are the draft results with links to the NHL.com bio of each player.

Team Lidstrom was drafted by captain Nicklas Lidstrom and assistant captains Martin St. Louis and Patrick Kane while Team Staal was drafted by captain Eric Staal and assistants Mike Green and Ryan Kesler.

ROUND 1

1. Cam Ward, G, Team Staal

2. Steven Stamkos, C, Team Lidstrom

ROUND 2

3. Alexander Ovechkin, RW, Team Staal

4. Duncan Keith, D, Team Lidstrom

ROUND 3

5. Daniel Sedin, W, Team Staal

6. Henrik Sedin, C, Team Lidstrom

ROUND 4

7. Zdeno Chara, D, Team Staal

8. Shea Weber, D, Team Lidstrom

ROUND 5

9. Rick Nash, W, Team Staal

10. Tim Thomas, G, Team Lidstrom

ROUND 6

11. Henrik Lundqvist, G, Team Staal

12. Daniel Briere, C/W, Team Lidstrom

ROUND 7

13. Marc Staal, D, Team Staal

14. Dustin Byfuglien, D, Team Lidstrom

ROUND 8

15. Patrick Sharp, LW, Team Staal

16. Jonathan Toews, C, Team Lidstrom

ROUND 9

17. Dan Boyle, D, Team Staal

18. Marc-Andre Fleury, G, Team Lidstrom

ROUND 10

19. Carey Price, G, Team Staal

20. Jonas Hiller, G, Team Lidstrom

ROUND 11

21. Jeff Skinner, C, Team Staal

22. Brad Richards, C, Team Lidstrom

ROUND 12

23. Kris Letang, D, Team Staal

24. Keith Yandle, D, Team Lidstrom

ROUND 13

25. Claude Giroux, RW, Team Staal

26. Brent Burns, D, Team Lidstrom

ROUND 14

27. Erik Karlsson, D, Team Staal

28. Martin Havlat, RW, Team Lidstrom

ROUND 15

29. Corey Perry, RW, Team Staal

30. Anze Kopitar, C, Team Lidstrom

ROUND 16

31. Patrik Elias, LW, Team Staal

32. Matt Duchene, C, Team Lidstrom

ROUND 17

33. David Backes, RW, Team Staal

34. Loui Eriksson, LW, Team Lidstrom

ROUND 18

35. Paul Stastny, C, Team Staal

36. Phil Kessel, RW. Team Lidstrom

ROOKIE ROUND

Team Staal: Logan Cuture, C; Tyler Ennis, LW; Michael Grabner, RW; Jamie McBain, D; Tyler Seguin, C; P.K. Subban, D.

Team Lidstrom: Evgeny Dadonov, RW; Oliver Ekman-Larsson, D; Cam Fowler, D; Taylor Hall, LW; Kevin Shattenkirk, D; Derek Stepan, C.

Used with permission of the author.

Jay Donetelli is a Tampa-based freelance sportswriter and contributor to Sports Climax. With an opinion sharper than an Ovechkin skate blade with the sting of an Ali jab, Donetelli has a loyal cult of readers who have found a way to love him.

Copyright ©2011 Sports Climax, LLC

Tracy Morgan, comedian and actor from 30 Rock stopped by to visit Charles Barkley and company during a recent NBA halftime show on TNT.

Cutting it up on the court, Morgan was asked by one of the analysts who is better looking his co-star Tina Fey or Sarah Palin.

While Morgan let the question fester for a few seconds, Charles Barkley asked, “Sarah Palin’s good looking, isn’t she?”

Definitely not known for being shy, Morgan said:

“Let me tell you something about Sarah Palin—she’s good masturbation material.”

Here’s the video:

The show’s lead man felt real awkward during the exchange while the others laughed it up. The host knew they were gonna get an earful from the network about the interview.

Sarah Palin Photoshop pictures have been circulating around the internet over the past several years-like the political satire one pictured here from WhiteRabbitCult.com.

We have to assume the nature of the more heavy R-rated versions found on the internet may have been created for the under the belt activities that Morgan was referring to in his comments.

Used with permission of the author.

Jay Donetelli is a Tampa-based freelance sportswriter and contributor to Sports Climax. 

Copyright ©2011 Sports Climax, LLC

Just as some of us are finally realizing how to spell “Ochocinco” without Googling it, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson is changing his name back to Chad Johnson.

Ochocinco, the man formally known as Chad Johnson then later “Robin” revealed his plans to change his name back to Chad Johnson . . . you following that?

While participating in an interview with Trey Wingo on the ESPN show “NFL Live” on Tuesday, Ocho. . . I mean Johnson, said the Ochocinco name had been “fun” but wanted to let fans know he was making the move.

The star receiver first changed his legal surname from Johnson to Ochocinco during the offseason prior to the 2008 NFL season. And for those who never lived in Miami, “Ocho” means “8” and “Cinco” means “5” creating 85, Johnson’s jersey number on the Bengals.

“I don’t have a choice right now,” the player told Wingo.

Johnson knows how to stay in the spotlight on and off the field. Whether it’s getting fined 25K for Tweeting during a game or creating NFL’s cheesy version of Batman & Robin.

BTW, this name change actually comes later than some fans expected.

In a game against the New York Jets last season, Johnson said he would change his name back to Johnson if the Jets All-Pro cornerback Darelle Revis were able to shut him down. Johnson ended up with 0 yards receiving on 0 catches that game then a week later in the playoffs was held to two catches for 28 yards.

If that isn’t getting shut down, we don’t know what is.

NFL: Steelers Terrible Towels are “Made in Wisconsin”

NHL: Jewish NHL player suing Ducks for Jew Bashing

Used with permission of the author.

Jay Donetelli is a Tampa-based freelance sportswriter and contributor to Sports Climax. With an opinion sharper than an Ovechkin skate blade with the sting of an Ali jab, Donetelli has a loyal cult of readers who have found a way to love him.

Copyright ©2011 Sports Climax, LLC

Green Bay Packers fans better be sitting down before they read the first part of this story.

You know those custom-made AFC Championship terrible towels that are going to be waved by Steelers fans at the Super Bowl game in Dallas Stadium and sports bars across the country?

Well. . . they are made and supplied by a company in Wisconsin that lists their physical and shipping address as McArthur Towel & Sports, 700 Moore Street, Baraboo, WI 53913.

In fact the company is so proud of their Pittsburgh Steelers terrible towels, it is one of the products they pitch and boast about on their “About Page” saying:

“The high profile Gatorade Bench Towel and the Pittsburgh Steelers Terrible Towel are examples of the many promotional programs McArthur has created”

How about those silly-ass foam Cheeseheads all you Pack fans don for your home games, guess where those are made.

You can stand up now; that creation originated on your home turf by a company called “Foamation”. The company explains on their website that “Riding high from their only Super Bowl victory, fans of Chicago sports began ridiculing citizens of the Dairy State by calling them “Cheeseheads”. So this company responded by creating the original Cheeseheads.

Want a Cheesehead? You can get one delivered to your home from here.

Used with permission of the author.

Jay Donetelli is a Tampa-based freelance sportswriter and contributor to Sports Climax. With an opinion sharper than an Ovechkin skate blade with the sting of an Ali jab, Donetelli has a loyal cult of readers who have found a way to love him.

Copyright ©2011 Sports Climax, LLC

Here are some facts about professional hockey player Jason Bailey.

He was selected in the 2005 NHL Draft in the 3rd round (63rd overall).

He is Jewish.

He is suing the Anaheim Ducks organization for an undisclosed wheelbarrow full of cash for what his legal people are said to have referred to as multiple “verbal anti-Semitic attacks.”

The details surrounding this suit are still leaking out but o far it appears that 23-year-old Bailey claims that after the Ducks assigned him to play for their ECHL affiliate team, the Bakersfield Condors, the coaches there “attacked” him with a “barrage of anti-Semitic, offensive and degrading verbal attacks.”

The suit was filed in Orange County Superior Court and is said to include language that accuses the head coach of the Condors telling him:

“[Jews] only care about money and who’s who.”

And that he.:

“. . .never wanted his son to be raised Jewish or to wear a Yarmulke.”

Bailey, an Ottawa, Ontario native,  says in addition to the Jew-bashing antics by the team, he was also forced him to travel separate from the team. Now that one will be interesting to see because unless a guy is not on the roster, there should be no reason for a player to be asked to find his own way to a rink.

Bailey appeared in 35 games with Bakersfield in the ECHL in his first professional season in 2008-09 and scored four goals and six assists for 10 points with 44 penalty minutes. He was later traded off to the Ottawa Senators in 2009 and our research could not find that he has scored a single point on NHL ice. Doesn’t mean he won’t be scoring huge on this lawsuit.

Used with permission of the author.

Jay Donetelli is a Tampa-based freelance sportswriter and contributor to Sports Climax. With an opinion sharper than an Ovechkin skate blade with the sting of an Ali jab, Donetelli has a loyal cult of readers who have found a way to love him.

Copyright ©2011 Sports Climax, LLC

The New York Jets may not need any additional negative press but when their QB Mark Sanchez is caught on video picking his nose and wiping it on back-up QB Mark Brunell, well; that’s exactly what they’re going to get.

In a season that included coach Rex Ryan and his foot fetish videos, Braylon Edwards blowing a .16 while driving in Manhattan, defensive back Antonio Cromartie calling Tom Brady an asshole and an assistant coach tripping an opposing player during a kickoff, why not cap it off with a nose pick followed by a wipe on a national television.

C’mon kid, we know you’re from Southern Cal and that you live in the Big Apple where anything goes but. . . respect your elders! Least you could have wiped it on a rookie.

Used with permission of the author.

Jay Donetelli is a Tampa-based freelance sportswriter and contributor to Sports Climax. With an opinion sharper than an Ovechkin skate blade with the sting of an Ali jab, Donetelli has a loyal cult of readers who have found a way to love him.

Copyright ©2011 Sports Climax, LLC