Happy New Year !!!

Happy New Year everyone!!!

Big buzz around town all day was the highly anticipated matchup between Canada and USA at the World Juniors and it didn't disappoint. What was disappointing was the Canucks game vs Minnesota, chalk up another L for the LOSERS.

Canada advances to Semis

In the biggest game so far in their young lives, Team Canada bested the favorites Team USA 3-2 tonight at the Old Coliseum in front of 16,000+ jacked up Canadian fans. The player of the game was Team Canada Goalie Justin Pogge who came up with some big saves late in the game to keep the score 2-2. Team USA Goalie Cory Schneider (and Vancouver draft pick from 2004) was almost as good. Overall the game was very entertaining to watch, Canada outworked the Americans in the corners and on the dump ins and of course Pogge was stellar in net. The officials did a better job, especially in the 3rd where they just let the kids play. The game ended on an ugly note right after Canada's Kyle Chipchura scored on the empty net. Team USA Defenseman Jack Johnson used an elbow to take out Canada Forward Steve Downie who was down on the ice for several minutes after the cheapshot. Johnson was given a game misconduct. The IIHF has chosen not to suspend Johnson any further games. That is complete horses**t, the guy clearly went for a TKO and Downie is lucky to be OK. All I know is that Johnson is gonna pay for that cheapshot, what goes around comes around.

Canucks lose in Minny

Almost simultaneously as the Canadian Junior game, the Canucks were playing divisional foe Minnesota in Minneapolis losing 4-3. Maxime Ouellet started his second game for the Canucks making 33 saves. In what has been a major problem lately, the Canucks got behind 3-1 midway in the 2nd, this time not able to comeback. Maxime Ouellet was actually pretty solid, kept the Canucks in the game, but the penalties would eventually sink them. I'm absolutely convinced that Dave Nonis has to make a move here to shake up the team. It's become abundantly clear that the players have gotten complacent and the sense of urgency is not there. The apathy in their play especially evident in the early portions of games is a disturbing trend which seems like a disease spreading throughout the whole team. The Canucks look to solve the puzzle next in St. Louis on Monday, a loss to the lowly Blues should set off all kinds of alarm bells if they haven't already gone off.

NFL Coaches Play Musical Chairs

It's that time of year where many of the non-playoff teams in the NFL begin house cleaning chores and the first order of business is to figure out the Coaching situations.

KC Chiefs - Breaking news out of KC tonight as it has been reported that Dick Vermeil will be retiring again after Sundays game. The Chiefs still have a very slim outside shot at the playoffs. No doubt we will have to sit and watch another one of Vermeil's tear-jerking press conference on ESPN, can't wait.

Minnesota Vikings - Mike Tice will find out Monday whether he will still have a job. Tice will be pointed to as the fall-guy for the infamous Boat debacle, fair or unfair, that's the way it usually works. The irony is that had the Vikings won last weekend to keep their playoff hopes alive, Tice could've miraculously saved his job. Football is a game of inches.

Houstan Texans - Don Capers is almost certainly fired after tomorrow, and the replacements are lining up to interview for the job as the Texans are widely expected to lose tomorrow and win the Reggie Bush sweepstakes. The equivalent of winning the 649 jackpot lottery in NFL terms. Dan Reeves has been mentioned for both GM and Coach, as has Wade Phillips for Coach.

Detroit Lions - Mooch was turfed midway through the season. A search for a permanent replacement for the popular Steve Marriuci might very well start with a search for a new GM first as embattled Matt Millen is on razor thin ice, especially after the highly public "Fire Millen" rally.

St. Louis Rams - Mike Martz is almost a lock to NOT come back to coach the Rams in 2006. Martz has had strained relations for quite some time in St. Louis and although he enjoyed succesful campaigns in St. Louis, there have been some bonehead decisions made along the way that have many Rams fans shaking their head. No rumors of replacements yet.

What's on TV
NFL, Seattle vs Green Bay, 10:00am PST on FOX
NFL, Houston vs San Francisco, 1:00pm PST on CBS

Picks of the Day
SF 49ers PK over Houston Texans
Washington Capitals +130 over Atlanta Thrashers
Record YTD (2-8, -728)