The Atlanta Thrashers have signed unrestricted free agent goaltender Chris Mason to a multi-year contract. The deal follows the recent acquisition of Chicago Blackhawks forward Dustin Byfuglien but is the first UFA signing for new General Manager Rick Dudley. 

The move solidifies a position the team needed to enhance since former first-round pick Kari Lehtonen had been moved at the trade deadline last season.

Dudley released a statement to the media regarding the Mason pick-up. “Chris has proven himself as an elite-level goaltender and we have the utmost confidence in his capabilities. We are pleased to add him to our organization are excited to follow his lead into the playoffs.”

Mason, 34, posted a 30-22-8 record with two shutouts, a 2.53 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage in 61 games with the St. Louis Blues last season, while ranking 13th in the league in wins and goals-against average. The 6-0, 200-pound goaltender earned five-straight victories from Feb. 9 to March 4, posting one shutout, a 1.74 goals-against average and a .949 save percentage during that stretch.

The Red Deer, Alberta, native has appeared in 253 career NHL games with Nashville and St. Louis, earning a 115-86-27 record with 20 shutouts, a 2.54 goals-against average and a .914 save percentage.

Mason has posted a 1-8 record with a 2.93 goals-against average and a .907 save percentage in nine career Stanley Cup Playoff games. He has also represented Canada at the World Championships in 2009 and 2010.

Mason played in 146 career American Hockey Leagues from 1997 to 2004, registering a 56-58-20 record with three shutouts, a 2.79 goals-against average anda .914 save percentage with the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks, Milwaukee Admirals andSan Antonio Rampage. He earned a 52-47-19 record with eight shutouts, a 2.68 goals-against average anda .910 save percentage in 124 career games withMilwaukee of the now-defunct IHL from 1998 to 2001. Mason appeared in 20 games with Valerengen IF Oslo in Norway during the 2004-05 season.

Prior to his professional career, Mason appeared in 158 Western Hockey League games with Victoria and Prince George from 1993 to 1997, posting a 44-95-6 record with four shutouts, a 4.34 goals-against average and a .900 save percentage.

Mason was originally selected by the New Jersey Devils in the fifth round, 122nd overall, of the 1995 NHL Entry Draft.

Copyright ©2010 Sports Climax, LLC

Boesch vs. Hanson (Photo: Cindy Ferda / SC)

The 2^nd place Detroit Tigers appear to be built for the present and future as their rookie tandem of Brennan Boesch and Austin Jackson continue to tear up the bases like in yesterday’s 10-4 win against the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field.

Most expected the Tigers (40-34) to depend on sluggers Miguel Cabrera (.332, 20HR, 64 RBI), Magglio Ordonez (.319, 10HR, 49RBI) and newly-acquired Johnny Damon to carry the load this season but Boesch and Jackson have contributed an enormous amount at the plate.

During yesterday’s 17-hit attack on starter Tommy Hanson and the Braves pitching staff, Boesch and Jackson’s combined stats included 5 hits, including a two-run, 400-ft. dinger by Boesch, 5 RBI and 4 runs.

After yesterday’s performance in Atlanta, Boesch improved his season’s average to a team-leading .338 while Jackson’s leaped to .307.

Both hitters have enough at bats to qualify for the AL Rookie-of-the-Year voting and are getting their share of attention regarding the award. The tandem sits well above the rookie pack in the American League at No. 1 and No. 2 in batting average with the nearest trailer Tampa Rays Reid Brignac batting .272.

Jackson came to Detroit as the main acquisition in the unpopular trade with the bitter rival New York Yankees that sent fan-favorite Curtis Granderson off to the Big Apple.

If Jackson stays on this kind of pace, it won’t take long for Tigers fans to “forgive” Tigers’ GM Dave Dombrowski for making the move.

BTW, here’s another stat for all the Dombrowski haters. While Jackson continues to tear it up for Motown’s Tigers, Granderson is hitting a career-low .237 in New York.

Copyright ©2010 Sports Climax, LLC

Just days after pulling off a major trade with the Chicago Blackhawks that landed Minnesota native Dustin Byfuglien along with Ben Eager and Brent Sopel, new Atlanta Thrashers GM Rick Dudley went right back to work on day two of the 2010 NHL Draft.

The Thrashers selected a total of eight players on day two, making a total of nine selections in all over the two-day draft, including the first-round, eighth-overall choice used they used on center Alex Burmistrov.

In addition to Burmistrov, the Thrashers’ selections included defenseman Julian Melchiori (third round, 87th overall), left wing Ivan Telegin (fourth round, 101st overall), goaltender Fredrik Pettersson-Wentzel (fifth round, 128th overall), right wing Yassin Cisse (fifth round, 150th overall), defenseman Kendall McFaull (sixth round, 155th overall), center Tanner Lane (sixth round, 160th overall), defenseman Sebastian Owuya (sixth round, 169th overall) and defenseman Peter Stoykewych (seventh round, 199th overall).

Melchiori, 18, appeared in 39 games for the Newmarket Hurricanes of the Central Canadian Hockey League last season, recording 23 points (seven goals, 16 assists). The 6-3, 190-pound defenseman received the B.J. Munro Memorial Award given to the OHA’s top prospect at the end of the season. The Richmond Hill, Ontario, native has committed to attend the University of Massachusetts-Lowell next season.

Telegin, 18, tallied 44 points (26 goals, 18 assists) in 51 games for the Saginaw Spirit of the Ontario Hockey League. He also recorded two points (one goal, one assist) in six playoff games. The 6-2, 195-pound left wing tied for second on the team in goals and finished as the runner-up for the OHL’s Rookie of the Year Award. A native of Novokyzneck, Russia, Telegin also represented Russia at the 2010 World Junior Championships.

Petterson-Wentzel, 18, appeared in 37 games with Almtuna in the Swedish junior league posting a 1.85 goals-against average and six shutouts. The 6-1, 170-pound goaltender was ranked second among European goaltenders by the Central Scouting Services. The Uppsala, Finland, native finished the season with a .924 save percentage.

Cisse, 18, tallied 19 points (13 goals, six assists) in 31 games with the Des Moines Buccaneers of the United States Hockey League. Over two seasons, 6-3, 208-pound right wing has registered 27 points (15 goals, 12 assists) in 49 games for Des Moines and was the only forward for the Buccaneers that finished with a plus-rating at plus-3. A native of Westmount, Quebec, Cisse will attend Boston University next season.

McFaull, 18, played in 62 games for the Moose Jaw Warriors of the Western Hockey League posting 10 points (four goals, six assists). The 6-2, 190-pound defenseman also posted an assist in seven post-season contests this season for the Warriors. Prior to joining Moose Jaw, the Rosetown, Saskatchewan, native appeared in 60 games during the 2008-09 season with the Saskatoon Contacts of the Saskatoon Minor Hockey League recording 30 points (seven goals, 23 assists).

Lane, 17, appeared in 26 games last year with Detroit Lakes High School in his native Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. The 6-2, 180-pound center registered 90 points (49 goals, 41 assists) for Detroit Lakes with 64 PIMs.

Owuya, 17, appeared in 60 games last season for Timra Junior U-20 of the Swedish Junior League and tallied 16 points (three goals, 13 assists). The 6-3, 200-pound defenseman also appeared in six games for the Swedish U-19 team and tallied one assist. The Stockholm, Sweden native appeared in 11 games with Timra of the Swedish Elitserien League and was held scoreless.

Stoykewych, 17, appeared in 56 games for Winnipeg South of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League posting 31 points (five goals, 26 assists). Overall, the 6-2, 190-pound defender has recorded 47 points (10 goals, 37 assists) in 109 games over two seasons with Winnipeg South. The Winnipeg, Manitoba, native will attend Colorado College.

Copyright © 2010 Sports Climax, LLC

ATLANTA, GA. – Rick Dudley used to skate alongside Craig Ramsey years ago when they laced their skates up in the same locker room for Cincinnati in the AHL and the Buffalo Sabres in the NHL. Today the Atlanta Thrashers new GM named Ramsay the fifth head coach in Thrashers’ history.

Ramsay, 59, comes to Atlanta with nearly 40 years of NHL experience as a player, coach and talent evaluator for six different NHL teams including the Buffalo Sabres, Florida Panthers, Ottawa Senators, Philadelphia Flyers, Tampa Bay Lightning and Boston Bruins.

Ramsay has been behind the Boston Bruins bench as an assistant coach from 2007 to 2010. While in Boston, Ramsay helped the Bruins reach the post-season each year, while capturing the Eastern Conference’s best record during the 2008-09 season.

The Bruins advanced to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in both 2009 and 2010, this year blowing a 3-game lead to the Philadelphia Flyers who went on to the Stanley Cup Finals before bowing to Dustin Byfuglien and the Chicago Blackhawks. Byfuglien just joined the Thrashers after being obtained by Dudley in a 9-player deal with the Blackhawks yesterday.

Prior to joining the Bruins, Ramsay served as an associate coach for the Tampa Bay Lightning from 2001 to 2007, earning a Southeast Division title and the Stanley Cup during the 2003-04 campaign.

Ramsay also served as an assistant coach with the Philadelphia Flyers from 1998 to 2000. He was named interim head coach in February 2000, guiding the team to a 16-8-1-0 mark while claiming the Atlantic Division title with 105 points. Ramsay led the Flyers to the Eastern Conference Finals where they lost to the eventual Stanley Cup Champion New Jersey Devils in seven games. He remained behind the bench to begin the 2000-01 season before being replaced after 28 games with a 12-12-4-0 record.

Before joining Philadelphia, Ramsay worked as an assistant coach for the Ottawa Senators (1996 to 1998) and the Florida Panthers (1993 to 1995). He began his coaching career with the Buffalo Sabres organization where he served as an assistant coach during the 1986-87 season and took over as interim head coach late in the year, posting a 25-37-6-0 record. Prior to leaving the Sabres in 1993, Ramsay also served as the team’s director of player personnel and assistant general manager.

Ramsay’s NHL playing career spanned 14 seasons with the Buffalo Sabres from 1971 to 1985, earning 672 points (252 goals, 420 assists) in 1,070 career games. The Weston, Ontario, native twice reached a career high with 71 points and tallied eight straight 20-goal seasons for the Sabres from 1973 to 1981. He also appeared in 89 Stanley Cup Playoff games with the Sabres, posting 48 points (17 goals, 31 assists) in those contests.

Ramsay, who was selected by Buffalo in the second round (19th overall) of the 1971 NHL Entry Draft, appeared in 776 consecutive games with the Sabres from 1973 to 1983, which ranks as the fourth longest consecutive games streak in NHL history. He was also named the recipient of the Frank J. Selke Trophy in 1985, given annually to the forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game.

Ramsay began his professional career with the Cincinnati Swords of the American Hockey League during the 1971-72 season where he tallied 12 points (five goals, seven assists) in 19 games. During his career, Ramsay played alongside Thrashers General Manager Rick Dudley for a total of seven seasons with Cincinnati (1971-72) and Buffalo (1972-73 to 1974-95 and 1978-79 to 1980-81).

Prior to his professional career, Ramsay played four junior seasons for the Peterborough Petes of the Ontario Hockey Association from 1967 to 1971, tallying 232 points (84 goals, 158 assists) in 206 games. Ramsay’s best junior season came in 1970-71, when he earned 106 points (30 goals, 76 assists) in 58 games with Peterborough.

Copyright © 2010 Sports Climax, LLC

After winning the Stanley Cup after a 49-year drought, the Chicago Blackhawks are cleaning house and as expected are dumping some overhead to free up cap space. An announcement came yesterday that confirmed the winner of the Dustin Byfuglien sweepstakes are the Atlanta Thrashers.

The Thrashers acquired Byfuglien, Ben Eager and Akim Aliu, along with defenseman Brent Sopel from the Chicago Blackhawks for forwards Marty Reasoner, Joey Crabb and Jeremy Morin, as well as a first-round choice (24^th overall) and a second-round choice (54^th overall) in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, according to General Manager Rick Dudley.

“This deal immediately improves our hockey club and adds valuable size, speed and Stanley Cup experience to our roster,” said Dudley. “Dustin Byfuglien is a prototypical power forward and another young, rising star we are adding to our roster. With Brent Sopel and Ben Eager we also get a defensive-minded defenseman who is one of the better penalty killers in the league, and a tough, checking line forward who is an outstanding forchecker. Akim Aliu joins our stable of talented prospects.”

Byfuglien, 25, recorded 16 points (11 goals, five assists) in 22 post-season games while helping lead the Blackhawks to the 2010 Stanley Cup Championship.  The 6-4, 255-pound left wing led the NHL in post-season game-winning tallies (five), tied for the league lead in power-play goals (five), and was tied for third in the league and shared the team lead in overall goals.  Byfuglien posted 34 points (17 goals, 17 assists) while appearing in all 82 regular-season games with Chicago.

The Minneapolis, Minn., native has earned 109 points (55 goals, 54 assists) in 260 career NHL games with the Blackhawks  and has added 25 points (14 goals, 11 assists) in 39 Stanley Cup Playoff games.  Byfuglien, who was selected by the Blackhawks in the eighth round (245^th overall) of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, also posted 74 points (26 goals, 48 assists) in 124 career American Hockey League games with Norfolk and Rockford.

Prior to his professional career, Byfuglien played four seasons of junior hockey from 2001 to 2005 with Brandon and Prince George of the Western Hockey League, tallying 142 points (48 goals, 94 assists) in 189 games.

Eager, 26, appeared in 60 games with Chicago last season, earning 16 points (seven goals, nine assists) and a team-leading 120 penalty minutes.  He added three points (one goal, two assists) in 18 post-season contests.

The Ottawa, Ontario, native has earned 52 points (27 goals, 25 assists) and 621 penalty minutes in 255 career NHL games with Chicago and Philadelphia.  Eager has also posted five points (two goals, three assists) in 37 Stanley Cup Playoff games with the Blackhawks and Flyers.  The 6-2, 230-pound left wing tallied 35 points (13 goals, 22 assists) and 509 penalty minutes in 123 career AHL games with the Philadelphia Phantoms.  He collected three points (one goal, two assists) in 19 AHL playoff games and helped the Phantoms capture the 2004-05 Calder Cup Championship.

Eager, who was originally selected by the Phoenix Coyotes in the first round (23^rd overall) of the 2002 NHL Entry Draft, recorded 139 points (59 goals, 80 assists) in 243 career Ontario Hockey League games with the Oshawa Generals from 2000 to 2004.  He also tallied four points (one goal, three assists) for Team Canada at the 2002 Under-18 World Junior Championship.

Sopel, 33, appeared in 73 regular-season games for the Blackhawks last season, posting eight points (one goal, seven assists).  The 6-1, 200-pound defenseman added six points (one goal, five assists) in 22 Stanley Cup Playoff games.  His plus-seven rating in the playoffs tied for fifth on the Blackhawks and 11^th in the NHL.

The Calgary, Alberta, native has earned 211 points (42 goals, 169 assists) in 588 career NHL games with Vancouver, the NY Islanders, Los Angeles and Chicago.  He also posted 105 points (26 goals, 79 assists) in 182 games with the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch and tallied one assist in four games with Kansas City of the now-defunct International Hockey League.

Prior to his professional career, Sopel collected 155 points (35 goals, 120 assists) in 207 games with Saskatoon and Swift Current of Western Hockey League from 1993 to 1997.  He was originally selected by Vancouver in the sixth round, 144^th overall, of the 1995 NHL Entry Draft.

Aliu, 21, tallied 17 points (11 goals, six assists) in 48 AHL games last season with the Rockford IceHogs.  He also earned 14 points (five goals, nine assists) in 13 ECHL games with the Toledo Walleye.

The 6-3, 225-pound center has posted 19 points (13 goals, six assists) in 55 career AHL games with Rockford.  Prior to his professional career the Okene, Nigeria, native played four seasons of junior hockey from 2005 to 2009 with Sudbury and London of the Ontario Hockey League, recording 167 points (76 goals, 91 assists) in 205 games.

Aliu was selected by Chicago in the second round, 56^th overall, of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.

Reasoner, 33, appeared in 80 games for the Thrashers last season, tallying 17 points (four goals, 13 assists).  The 6-1, 205-pound center tallied 47 points (18 goals, 29 assists) in 159 games after signing with the Thrashers as a free agent prior to the 2008-09 season.

The Honeoye Falls, N.Y., native has earned 223 points (82 goals, 141 assists) in 624 career NHL games with  St. Louis, Edmonton, Boston and Atlanta.  He also posted eight points (two goals, six assists) in 23 career Stanley Cup Playoff games with St. Louis and Edmonton.

Reasoner, who was selected by St. Louis in the first round (14^th overall) of the 1996 NHL Entry Draft, appeared in 124 AHL games with the Worcester IceCats and Hamilton Bulldogs, tallying 127 points (57 goals, 70 assists). In addition, Reasoner has represented the United States five times in International Competition, including the IIHF World Championships (2002, 2003, 2006) and the IIHF World Junior Championship (1996 and 1997).

Prior to his professional career, Reasoner played three years for Boston College, collecting 162 points (69 goals, 93 assists) in 111 games.

Crabb, 27, recorded 53 points (24 goals, 29 assists) in 79 games last season with the Chicago Wolves of the AHL.  He ranked third on the team in goals and was tied for fourth in points.  The 6-1, 190-pound right wing added 11 points (six goals, five assists) in 14 Calder Cup Playoff games.

The Anchorage, Alaska, native has posted nine points (four goals, five assists) in 20 career NHL games with the Thrashers and has 139 points (55 goals, 84 assists) in 256 career AHL games with Chicago.

Crabb was originally selected by the NY Rangers in the seventh round, 226^th overall, of the 2002 NHL Entry Draft.

Morin, 19, registered 83 points (47 goals, 36 assists) in 58 games with the Kitchener Rangers last season, his first in the OHL.  The 6-1, 190-pound left wing ranked fourth in the OHL and second on the team in goals, and was third on his team in points.  He added 21 points (12 goals, nine assists) in 20 OHL post-season games.  The Auburn, N.Y., native also represented the United States at the 2010 IIHF World Junior Championship, recording seven points (two goals, five assists) in seven games while helping his team to the Gold Medal.

Morin was selected by the Thrashers in the second round, 45^th overall, of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.

Additionally, the Thrashers will send two choices in the 2010 Entry Draft to the Blackhawks, including a first-round choice (24^th overall) and a second-round selection (54^th overall).

MORE NHL: After 49-year drought, Blackhawks win Stanley Cup

Copyright ©2010 Sports Climax, LLC

Below is the press release from the NHL announcing their 2009-10 NHL All-Rookie Team.

LAS VEGAS – The National Hockey League today announced the 2009-10 NHL All-Rookie Team, including four players who began the season as teenagers entering their first professional season: 19-year-old defenseman Michael Del Zotto of the New York Rangers, 19-year-old center Matt Duchene of the Colorado Avalanche, 20-year-old defenseman Tyler Myers of the Buffalo Sabres and 19-year-old center John Tavares of the New York Islanders.

Also named to the All-Rookie Team are Atlanta Thrashers right wing Niclas Bergfors, 23, and Detroit Red Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard, 26. Voting was conducted by the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association at the end of the regular season.

Following is a summary of each NHL All-Rookie Team member’s outstanding season:

GOALTENDER

Jimmy Howard, Detroit Red Wings

Howard seized the Detroit starting job in 2009-10 following a four-year apprenticeship at AHL Grand Rapids. The Syracuse, N.Y., native started 25 consecutive games from Jan. 29 to Apr. 4, the longest streak by a Red Wings goaltender since Tim Cheveldae (29) in 1991-92 and tops by a Detroit rookie since Connie Dion (26) in 1943-44. He posted a 37-15-10 record, 2.26 goals-against average and .924 save percentage, including a 15-0-2 run during his final 17 starts that clinched the Red Wings a playoff berth for the 19th consecutive season.

DEFENSEMEN (in alphabetical order)

Michael Del Zotto, New York Rangers

Del Zotto became the youngest defenseman to suit up for the Rangers since 18-year-old Dave Maloney in December, 1974, and immediately gave the club an additional scoring threat on the blueline, capturing NHL Rookie of the Month honors for October with 12 points (four goals, eight assists) in 14 games. He finished the season as the scoring leader among Rangers defensemen with 37 points (nine goals, 28 assists), led all rookies in power-play assists (18) and ranked second in power-play points (22).

Tyler Myers, Buffalo Sabres

Myers not only won an NHL roster spot as a 19-year-old, he posted statistics befitting an established veteran. The 6’8″, 222-lb. defenseman led the Sabres in ice time per game (23:44), three minutes more than blueline partner Henrik Tallinder who ranked second. He shared second place on the club in plus-minus (+13) and was fifth in scoring (11-37–48). Myers ranked at or near the top in several rookie categories, including average ice time (first), shorthanded time (first, 3:04), assists (first), blocked shots (first, 137), plus-minus (T-second) and points (third). He also was one of four rookies to play all 82 games.

FORWARDS (in alphabetical order)

Niclas Bergfors, Atlanta Thrashers

Bergfors began 2009-10 as one of the New Jersey Devils’ top prospects; the 23-year-old Sodertalje, Sweden native was the club’s first-round pick (23rd overall) in the 2005 Entry Draft and had spent four years with the Devils’ AHL affiliate. He began his first full NHL season with 27 points (13 goals, 14 assists) in 54 games before moving to Atlanta in a trade that sent Thrashers captain Ilya Kovalchuk to New Jersey. Bergfors continued to produce for his new club, tallying 17 points (eight goals, nine assists) in 27 games down the stretch. He finished fourth among all rookies in goals and points with 21-23–44 in 81 games.

Matt Duchene, Colorado Avalanche

Selected third overall in the 2009 Entry Draft, Duchene earned a place on the Avalanche roster out of training camp as an 18-year-old. He went on to lead all NHL rookies in scoring with 55 points (24 goals, 31 assists) in 81 games, shared the rookie goal-scoring lead with the New York Islanders’ John Tavares and ranked second among rookies in assists. The Haliburton, Ontario, native placed second on the Avalanche in goals and led the club in power-play goals (10) and multi-goal games (six). Duchene’s 55 points were the second-highest total by a rookie in Avalanche history behind Paul Stastny’s 78 in 2006-07.

John Tavares, New York Islanders

Tavares, selected first overall in the 2009 Entry Draft, was one of just three Islanders to play in all 82 games and led his club in scoring with 54 points (24 goals, 30 assists). The Mississauga, Ontario, native led all NHL rookies in power-play goals (11) and power-play points (25), tied Colorado center Matt Duchene for the rookie goals lead, ranked second among first-year players in points and was third in assists. His five-point effort (two goals, three assists) in a 5-2 win at Vancouver on March 16 tied a franchise rookie record and was the highest single-game total by a rookie this season.

Copyright ©2010 Sports Climax, LLC

SOUTH AFRICA – The prime things France has to swank about is the Eiffel Tower, a 1998 FIFA World Cup and Napoleon and one of those was a 5-foot midget with a tiny penis complex.

In this year’s FIFA competition, France’s team has shown a personality many outsiders believe runs parallel their country’s.

After tying vast underdog Uruguay then getting their asses handed to them by Mexico 2-0 in their second game, team star, Nicolas Anelka, threw a temper-tantrum and was said to have given his coach, Raymond Domenech, a severe vulgar tongue lashing.

The coach’s response was sending Anelka back home to France to sulk in his tears after the player refused to apologize and smooth things over but the French team’s Cirque Du Soleil act didn’t end there.

The following day when the team’s bus arrived to practice for their final game in this round, the players had a get-together and refused to take the field and train leaving the team in so much turmoil, their team director resigned to get as far away from the fiasco as possible.

The French a ‘bunch of quitters’ . . . sounds familiar doesn’t it? Where’s that 5-foot tyrant with the penis complex when they need him.

Back to the French FIFA fiasco, after the incidents, the coach ripped his players:

“I tried to convince them that what they were doing was an aberration, an imbecility, a stupidity without name.”

Without a name! We have plenty of names for that here in America and one is called being a bunch of pussies. And if the word ‘pussies’ offends you then insert ‘Quitters’, ‘cry-babies’ or ‘Dickheads’.

The Frenchies did return to work out on Monday prepping for their match against South Africa on Tuesday in their Group A match. The leapers need a win to hold on to any mathematical chance of moving on to the next round.

Oh BTW, France’s captain, Patrice Evra, may be stripped of his role as captain, a position he has held for just five games for initiating the mutiny against his coach.

“I haven’t picked the team yet, we will see tomorrow.” Domenech said. “It’s sad.”

For some yes it is, but for others it’s happiness and justice. There’s a reason NHL top draft picks like Eric Lindros refused to go play in French-speaking Quebec for the Quebec Nordiques team when he was coming into the league. NHL players were treated like scum and basically ignored in the Nordiques’ locker room and around the town since they were English-speaking people. The French have long ago earned their reputation for reeking arrogance, blow your vuvuzela to that!

I have travelled several countries in Europe including Italy, Greece, Croatia, England and yes France; the ONLY country I have ever been to where I was treated with total disrespect from the time I stepped onto their soil.

Back to the FIFA thing because it’s getting even worse, when Coach Domenech was asked if some players had told him they do not want to play the game, he stumbled around the question.

“It is a possibility that we will finalize [the roster] tonight with the staff to see what team we put in place.”

Well whatever team the French put out on the field, expect some sort of boilover from their embarrassing Circus act, and if you are like a lot of people, you will enjoy every minute of it. Bring on the Freedom Fries!

MORE FIFA World Cup:

It’s time for America to embrace FIFA horns – Sports Climax

My World Cup is Half Empty – Schuepp’s Scoop

Copyright ©2010 Sports Climax, LLC

Manute Bol, the 7-ft, 7-inch shot-blocking giant who played 624 games for four different NBA teams died today from complications of a rare skin disease. He contacted the illness during his time spent in his native country of Sudan Africa where Bol’s passion was helping his fellow natives in the war-torn country.

The 47-year-old Bol died at the University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville from internal bleeding and other complications from the disease known as Stevens-Johnson Syndrome.

Bol’s journey to the NBA started in southern Sudan where a basketball coach noticed him herding cattle with the Dinka tribe. Shortly after, Bol entered the U.S. not knowing a word of English and played for Bridgeport college before going on to become a crowd-pleaser in the NBA.

Whether on home court or on the road, crowds erupted when the Bol, one of the tallest players in NBA history, took the court, watching the player battle stouter competition like Shaq and Gheorghe Muresan.

Besides being known for his freakish, skeletal-like physique, Bol is known for his passion to help save his country and got involved in publicity stunts like Celebrity Boxing where he fought Refrigerator Perry, playing in an IHL hockey game and riding as a horse jockey in another event.

Though criticized by some, Bol did all of this for his country and was constantly trying to raise awareness and money for Sudan’s cause.

Copyright ©2010 Sports Climax, LLC

LOS ANGELES, Calif. – A night of shooting 6-of-24, just 25 percent from the floor, many times spells disaster for Kobe Bryant and the L.A. Lakers but not in last night’s NBA Finals Game 7 against their hated rival Boston Celtics.

Despite sloppy play and the hideous night of shooting from the floor, when the final second ticked off the clock, Kobe and the Lakers celebrated an 83-79 win under a purple and gold confetti shower and hoisted their back-to-back NBA Championship trophy.

The win earned the Lakers their 16th NBA title overall and is Coach Phil Jackson and Kobe’s fifth with the team. Jackson has another 6-pack of rings from his days with Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls.

The Celtics battled hard on the Staples Center floor, running up a 13-point lead in the second half and clinging onto a 3-point lead late in the final quarter, but the Lakers battled back in an exciting final few minutes and squeaked out the win on their home court.

This 16th NBA title for the Lakers moves them to within one of Boston’s NBA record 17 and Bryant didn’t pull any punches commenting on the rivalry:

“This one is by far the sweetest, because it’s them.”

Bryant, who was off his game and attempted several off balance ill-advised shots throughout the night, got much needed support and a chunk of it came from Pau Gasol who chipped in 19 points, including 9 in the final quarter, and 18 boards. Ron Artest, who earned his first ring, netted 20 points including a clutch 3-pointer late in the game.

Overall the Lakers shot about as bad as a team can shoot, nailing just 21 from the floor over the first three quarters while looking like they had attended a Ben Wallace free-throw clinic, barely hitting over 50 percent at the line.

Stats from the losing bench included Paul Pierce (18 points, 10 rebounds), Kevin Garnett (17 points) and Rasheed Wallace (11 point).

‘Sheed, the NBA’s guru of technical fouls, fouled out late in the game and attempted to get into the official’s locker room after the game but was not allowed access by arena security.

Copyright ©2010 Sports Climax, LLC

With a recession lingering throughout our country and some families struggling to survive a month at a time, Washington Redskins Albert Haynesworth thinks it’s okay to bank a $21 million work paycheck then not go to work simply because he doesn’t approve of his new boss Mike Shanahan’s defensive game plan.

SLAP! Can you say Bitch-Slap-of-the-Week™.

The ‘Skins have had enough of this player and asked Haynesworth to return the $21 million check and go his own way but of course ‘Fat’ Albert has refused to do that. He believes it is okay to take $32 million of his $100 million contract for the one year he played limited amounts of minutes and produced just four sacks.

Haynesworth is a man of questionable character and the Redskins knew that when they signed him.

Prior to inking the $100 million deal, his resume on and off the field included cheapshot assaults on opposing players, like stomping on and spiking a defenseless Cowboys lineman in the face (YouTube vid here) then later getting indicted for reckless driving when he seriously injured another driver.

Showing less than a spec of class with this recent move, Haynesworth has a half of a thimble of football knowledge compared to the warehouse full of comprehension Shanahan has about football although ‘Fat’ Albert could tell his coach in detail what the procedure is for getting booked and charged with a crime or what the procedure is for getting suspended by the league for intentionally trying to severely injure a player’s face.

Bottom line the guy has been given more breaks than he deserves by the NFL and is considered a loser by many and now is being referred to as “selfish” by his players. In hindsight you have to wonder if the league wishes they would have given him a lifetime ban for the face-stomping incident years ago.

The Redskins have had enough and are expected to go through legal channels to try to get their $21 million back and this should be a great lesson to owners out there. When a player like Haynesworth has shown his true colors and lack of respect for the game and opposing players in such a blatant way, stay clear and don’t take any chance on him, let alone the $100million gamble Owner Dan Snyder took, because you may lose.

‘Fat’ Albert, you get our Bitch-Slap-of-the-Week™ for your selfish greed, lack of class and disruptive behavior that you continue to show towards the NFL, your teammates and fans who pay your over-inflated salary.

It’s time to put an end to this loser’s career that has been blemished with classless acts and egocentric motives. No NFL team will be hard-up enough to sign him after this latest move so hopefully, for the fans, players and NFL’s sake, we have all seen the last of ‘Fat’ Albert.

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