The Voice of the Florida Panthers Entertains

Randy Moller, the radio voice of the Florida Panthers hockey team might make the most random pop culture references ever after the Panthers score a goal.

The Dan Le Batard Show (which shares a station with Moller) produced a 3 minute segment of some of Moller's best calls synched with the movies/ shows he is referencing. Take a look, it will crack you up.

Dodgers Getting The Most Out of The Starters

The L.A. Dodgers are 9-3 (5-0 at home) and in the midst of a 7 game winning streak. Granted their offense has found a nice rhythm with the O-Dog, Kemp, Ethier and others getting their bat going...and as of yesterday, the long ball finally came for Manny. But the most significant piece for the Blue Crew so far this year has been their starting pitching which was questioned alot during the Spring.

During this current 7 game winning streak here is a look at what the starting pitcher has done:

11-2 win over Arizona: Eric Stults- 5 1/3 innings, 4 hits, 1 ER and 5 strikeouts

3-1 win over Arizona: Randy Wolf- 7 innings, 2 hits, 1 ER and 5 strikeouts

11-1 win over San Fran: Chad Billingsley- 7 innings, 5 hits, 1 ER and 11 strikeouts

5-4 win over San Fran: Clayton Kershaw- 7 innings, 1 hit, 1 ER and 13 strikeouts

7-2 win over San Fran: Eric Stults- 5 innings, 5 hits, 2 ER and 2 strikeouts

4-3 win over Colorado: Randy Wolf- 6 innings, 4 hits, 3 ER and 9 strikeouts

9-5 win over Colorado: Chad Billingsley- 6 innings, 4 hits, 3 ER and 6 strikeouts

So in 7 games, every Dodger starter has gone at least 5 innings with no starter giving up more than 3 runs. This is huge because it allows Los Angeles to keep their bullpen sharp and fresh and also means that the offense never has to dig themselves out of too big of a hole. I think it is unlikley that the Dodger starters can keep this up for the entire season, but only 12 games into the season, we have already caught a glimpse of the potential that L.A. has on the mound.

Champions League Quarters Produce 2 Brillant Goals

If you didn't tune in to ESPN 2 last Tuesday and Weds. at 11:30 a.m., you missed the Champions League Quarterfinals which also means you probably didn't see 2 of the best goals the game will produce this season.

The first was on Tuesday in Chelsea's match against Liverpool. This game was an instant classic and ended in a 4-4 draw meaning Chelsea advanced thanks to their 2-1 win at Anfield a fortnight ago. In the 57th minute, Chelsea was awarded a free kick about 15 yards outside the penalty box. With all the stars lined up over the ball (Ballack, Lampard, etc.) it was the Brazilian Alex that decided to take a rip and his free kick goal would make Beckham blush.

Then on Weds, Manchester United visited FC Porto (where no English team had ever won) and pulled out a 1-Nil victory thanks to an amazing rocket off the foot of the reigning Fifa World Player of the Year, Cristiano Ronaldo. He took his shot over 39 yards out and somehow managed to tuck it in the back of the net. A phenomenal blast from one of the games best.

Alex- Chelsea



Cristiano Ronaldo- Manchester United

Kubel On A Tear

In case you aren't keeping up on your Twins baseball so far this season, you have missed two back-to-back phenomenal games from the Minnesota DH, Jason Kubel.

The Twins are hosting the LAA Angels (last game is today at 11:00 a.m.)and in the first 2 games of this series, Kubel has exploded. In Game One he hit for the cycle, including a Grand Slam BLAST in the 8th inning. The twins held on to win and Kubel went 4 for 5 with 5 RBI's and completed the 3rd cycle already this season (O. Hudson and I. Kinsler). Game Two of the Twins-Angels series was last night and Kubel continued his torrid pace. He again went 4 for 5 with 2 RBI's including a double that broke a 2-2 tie in the 5th inning. We will have to see today if Kubel can keep this blistering pace going against the Halos.

Federer Breaks Down After Coming Up Short Again

Rafael Nadal took out Roger Federer in the Australian Open Final to capture his 6th Major and first victory down under. But afterward, it was the man from Switzerland who stole the show with his display of raw emotion in front of the crowd at Rod Laver Arena.


Here is the video:

Super Superbowl

If you watched the first 3 quarters of the XLIII, who could have guessed that the Superbowl between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona Cardinals would go down as one of the best games in recent memory. For 3 quarters, it appeared that the game was nothing more than an average football game with a high powered offense that never got going, a stifling defense that was so-so and some calls by the officials that had many wondering if Goodell had paid the zebras to ensure a Steel-town victory.

But just when everyone seemed to be emptying the ice from the cooler and put the lids on the bean dip, Larry Fitzgerald decided to show up and suddenly the Cardinals starting sensing that they still had a chance to win the Big One. After a phenomenal defensive stop and safety from Arizona, Fitzgerald showed once again why he is the best wide receiver in the NFL (did anyone else find it odd that Larry Fitzgerald Sr. didn't set work aside and attend the game as a father, not a journalist?).

But when Fitz crossed the goal line, hopefully you did start jumping up and down like I did, because with a drive that will go down as one of the best ever, Big Ben and the Steelers put together a 2 minute, 78 yard drive capped off my a miraculous catch by Santonio Holmes to send Pittsburgh into a frenzy.

In the end, after the last pieces of confetti have been blown away and empty beer cups cleaned up, its pretty amazing that a Superbowl that seemed so bland and lifeless will suddenly be added to the reel that includes the greatest games ever played.

OOO, by the way, there was an amazing Australian Open Final early this morning between Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, but who really cares about that.

Lakers Still Green With Envy

20 games into the season so much of the talk has been about the L.A. Lakers and how the return of a healthy Andrew Bynum now makes them a very likely NBA Champion. But over the past week, the Lakers have looked like a team of youth that isn't quite sure how to take care of over matched opponents and close games out in the 4th quarter.

Meanwhile, there is a team in Bean Town (the reigning World Champions mind you) that as just notched their 13th straight win and as quietly as you can is off to a 21-2 start (Lakers are 18-3). I realize the Lakers have unbelievable depth. They are sitting a former starter in Luke Walton and have demoted a perennial starter in Lamar Odom to the 2nd unit. But nevertheless, the ugly head that is inexperience seems to be peeking out from behind the curtain and we are only a month into the season. If Los Angeles can't put away a Kings team which had lost 8 straight or a last place Pacers squad, how are they going to win a long series against a Western powerhouse and then put away a veteran Celtics team (barring an amazing run from King James and the Cavs)?

This isn't to say that you should write off the Lakers chances of making it back to the NBA finals...in fact, I still think they are the favorite out of the West. But changes need to take place and a lot of that burden falls on Kobe Bryant to step up and take some of the pressure off his young role players. In L.A.'s 3 losses, the teams they fell to have a combined 24-39 record. That is really bad!!! Compare that to the Celtics who have 2 losses to teams with a combined 22-21 record and the Cavilers who are 19-3 with their 3 losses coming to teams whose records are 44-17.

Clearly, Los Angeles isn't getting the job done when they should be. It is way too early to write off the Lakers, but it is safe to say that L.A. won't be threatening the 72-10 mark that just 2 weeks ago was thought to be in their grasp. Get ready for Dec. 25th, because that will be a huge test and we will get to see if the Lakers can past a team that clearly is still the elusive rabbit.