David Ortiz out for All-Star Game

Red Sox slugger David Ortiz will be at the All-Star Game in New York this July, but he will not be playing due to his injured left wrist. “I’m going to go to the All-Star game. Show respect for the fans,” said Ortiz. “I’m not going to be able to play.” Ortiz was supposed to call his shot at the Home Run Derby this year, but obviously won't be doing so. The funny thing is that NYY's Hideki Matsui is also injured and may be in need of surgery. He is 2nd in voting for Designated Hitter, but if he can't make it either, the DH position may be anyone's game.

Doc's Take On Key Players Going Into NHL Free Agency

With so many names available I take a look at key players that will become unrestricted free agents by the time the clock strikes midnight tonight.

A huge name everyone has in mind is Pittsburgh Penguins F Marian Hossa. The star 29-year old did not have one his best career year scoring 29 goals and 37 assists in 72 games split with the Penguins and Thrashers, but was a huge part to the Penguins playoff run with 12 goals and 14 assists in 20 playoff games. Hossa is very well capable of being a first line winger and knows how to put the puck in the net. It is most likely Hossa will land with the Montreal Canadiens, Boston Bruins or New Jersey Devils, but do not count out the Washington Capitals who do have interest or even a return to Pittsburgh.

Another big name out on the market is Toronto Maple Leafs F Mats Sundin. The 37-year old recorded 32 goals and 46 assists in 74 games and was one of the shining lights of a gloomy Maple Leaf squad. Sundin is a great veteran centreman who can still get it done and provide leadership to a team. The teams most likely to buy for his services are the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens and the New York Rangers. Sundin though has not made up his mind yet on whether or not he will play next season which is still a huge factor.

Another scoring forward going to free agency is Jaromir Jagr. Jagr is coming off his worst year of his career scoring 71 points but is still a scoring threat on the ice. Jagr though has made it clear that he will either play for the New York Rangers next season, or accept the offer from Russia so other teams may be out of luck for his services.

In terms of pests and tough guys there are two enticing names in the market. These would be New York Rangers F Sean Avery and Pittsburgh Penguins F Georges Laraque. Both of these guys are able to mix things up on your 3rd or 4th line and can be an impact on the game if necessary. Avery played 58 games this year scoring 33 points while Laraque had 13 points in 71 games. Teams should take Avery if they want a more offensive and younger enforcer at age 28 but teams will surely want the veteran leadership and huge presence of Laraque on the team as well.

Other notable forwards: Joe Sakic, Peter Forsberg, Teemu Selanne, Brian Rolston, Kristian Huseilius, Markus Naslund, Pavol Demitra, Martin Straka, Darcy Tucker, Todd Bertuzzi

On to defence. The top coveted defenceman this year no doubt is San Jose Sharks D Brian Campbell. In his season split between the Buffalo Sabres and San Jose Sharks he scored 8 goals and 54 assists in 83 games. He would also add 1 goal and 6 assists in the Sharks playoff run also. Campbell is definitely a top pairing defencemen that can move the puck and make plays and can be your QB on the powerplay. Campbell is most likely to head back East with the Ottawa Senators and Chicago Blackhawks being listed as suitors.

Another free agent defenceman is Ottawa Senators D Wade Redden. The 31-year old played 80 games last season recording 6 goals and 32 assists. With the Senators trying to create cap room for Campbell, Redden is very likely out the door. Redden is a very good stay at home defenceman that does have the ability to move the puck as well. Teams interested in his services are the Edmonton Oilers, San Jose Sharks and the Boston Bruins.

After these two defenceman are gone it is possible teams will try to make a pitch for Tampa Bay Lightning D Dan Boyle who is being shopped around or to give an offer sheet to Washington Capitals restricted free agent D Mike Green. Green is considered a great young offensive defenceman that can move the puck while Boyle can contribute offensively too while providing leadership to a team.

Other notable defencemen: Brooks Orpik, Brad Stuart, Mark Streit, Michal Rosival, Ron Hainsey

Last position is goaltending. My opinion would be not to use this year's free agent period to get a number 1 goalie but there are many solid back-up, veteran goaltenders.

If a team wants a number 1 goalie though, look no farther than Cristobal Huet. The 32-year old split time between the Montreal Canadiens and Washington Capitals last season having a record of 32-14-6 with a 2.32 GAA and a .920 save%. Huet was also a huge part in helping the Capitals capture the Southeast division on the last day of the season. Huet has proven to be a number 1 starting goalie and can keep your team in the game. One question is his nerves though as he has only been through 2 playoff series before and has looked shaky in both series. Do not let this bother a team to make him their starter though. The Los Angeles Kings, Tampa Bay Lightning and the Washington Capitals have been noted to want his services.

Other notable goalies: Jose Theodore, Ty Conklin, Curtis Joseph, Ray Emery

With many names available, this year is granted to be another free agent frenzy.

Breaking News: Arenas to Receive Huge Offer

Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas will be offered at 6 year deal worth up to $100 Million. Stay tuned for more as it comes in.

Live Scores on Sports Sector!

Sports Sector has taken a GIANT step today, as we now have added LIVE SCORING to the site. This means, you can check the score of your favorite team's game at anytime! Although there aren't many sports on there now, this will increase as the other sports' seasons begin. Thanks to Dave for the information about the scoring.

Also, don't forget to sign up for the chat, it will be easier for identification come time for the first ever "Sports Sector Live!" show coming up this week.

Tampa Not Done Yet; Acquire Rights To Rolston

Just hours after signing F Ryan Malone and F Gary Roberts which Tampa received in a trade with Pittsburgh, they have gone dealing again, this time acquiring potential unrestricted free agent F Brian Rolston in exchange for a draft pick in either 2009 or 2010 depending if Rolston signs with the team or not.

"As we said earlier this week and we are trying to prove after making our deal with Pittsburgh, we will work feverishly to improve the Lightning team for the 2008-09 season," said new owners Oren Koules and Len Barrie about the overhaul they have done with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Rolston, 35, was born in Flint, Michigan and is going into his 13th NHL campaign next year after having stints with the New Jersey Devils, Colorado Avalanche, Boston Bruins and Minnesota Wild.

Last year, Rolston played 81 games with the Wild tallying 34 goals and 28 assists.

Inbee Park is Youngest Ever to Win U.S. Women's Open

When Inbee Park was 9 years old, she watched on the television Se Ri Pak become the first South Korean and the youngest winner of the U.S. Women's Open. Two days later she had grasped a golf club for the first time. Well, on Sunday, Park wrapped her hands around the biggest trophy in women's golf, capturing the U.S. Women's Open at Interlachen with nearly-flawless golf over the final 10 holes as everyone else melted away. Two weeks shy of her 20th birthday, Park replaced Pak as the youngest Women's Open champion. She pulled away with crucial putts on three straight holes -- two birdies and one par -- early on the back nine and added a final birdie for a 2-under 71 and a four-shot victory over Helen Alfredsson. Park was the only player in the final nine groups to break par. She finished at 9-under 283 and earned $585,000. What a great early birthday present!

Phelps Breaks His Own Record

Michael Phelps started his second attempt to break Mark Spitz's Olympic record with another epic swim. Phelps set a world record in his first event of the U.S. Olympic swimming trials, touching just ahead of Ryan Lochte to win the 400-meter individual medley in 4 minutes, 5.25 seconds Sunday night. Phelps beat his own mark of 4:06.22, set at last year's world championships in Australia when he turned in one of the greatest performances in swimming history with seven gold medals. After saying he had no fear of Phelps, Lochte proved it by also going under the previous record. But his time of 4:06.08 was only good enough for second with Phelps in the next lane over.
"That was probably one of the most painful races of my life," the winner said. "Everything was left in the pool. I definitely would not have been able to do it without Lochte beside me. He's a great friend and a great competitor. I love racing him."

A Note From the Administrator

I can't thank all of you enough for all the support you have brought to this website. We have been receiving excellent feedback from all over the internet, and this is perfect for all of us here at Sports Sector. I even was able to call into WFAN, the biggest sports radio station in NY, and state my views and informed people about a major rumor I had been hearing and brought it into discussion. I have a BIG SURPRISE REPORT ready for tommorow, as I took a little trip today to a certain ballpark and had a grand old time. Stay tuned, and thanks again for making Sports Sector a huge success!

Kurt Busch Wins Rain-Shortened NSCS Race at Loudon

With only eight races to go until the Chase for the Sprint Cup begins, Kurt Busch in his #2 Miller Lite Dodge car wins a rain-shortened Lenox Industrial Tools 301 at Loudon, New Hampshire.

After the race, Kurt Busch said, "We weren't the fastest car, and we didn't deserve to win, but the record book will show that we won the Lenox 301." There was a chance he might have run out of fuel had the race gone the full 301 laps, but mother nature allowed the race to stop after 284 laps, giving Busch his first win of this season and his 18th career win.

As of right now, Kurt's younger brother Kyle Busch leads all drivers in the Sprint Cup Series standings, leading by 64 points over Jeff Burton. Sitting 480 points behind Kyle Busch in 12th place is Jeff Burton's teammate Kevin Harvick, who gained a position to get back in contention for the Chase.

Flyers sign Eminger and re-sign Carter

The Philadelphia Flyers have signed center Jeff Carter to a 3-year $15 million contract. In addition to the 23-year old from London, Ontario, Canada, the Flyers have signed defenseman Steve Eminger to a one-year contract. The 24-year old from Woodbridge, Ontario, Canada was originally drafted by the Washington Capitals in the 2002 NHL draft. After spending six years with the NHL's Washington Capitals, OHL's Kitchener Rangers, and the AHL's Portland Pirates, Eminger will now be wearing a Flyers jersey for at least the next NHL season.

Last year, Jeff Carter scored 24 goals and 29 assists in the regular season as well as 6 goals and 5 assists in the playoffs to boot. Steve Eminger only played twenty regular season games for the Capitals last year, getting only two assists out of it, but he did, however, score a goal against the Flyers in the playoffs. According to Flyers General Manager Paul Holmgren, “Steve is a young two-way defenseman that will fit in nicely with our group.”

Steve Eminger, as well as a third round pick in the 2008 NHL Draft, were traded to the Capitals for a first round pick (the Capitals chose John Carlson with that first round pick).

Report: Malone, Roberts Agree On Deals With Lightning

Reports indicate that F Ryan Malone, who was acquired by the Tampa Bay Lightning from the Pittsburgh Penguins, has agreed on principle to a 7-year contract worth $31.5 million on average $4.5 million per season. Last season Malone played 77 games with 27 goals and 24 assists. Malone was also a critical part to the Penguins Stanley Cup Final run with 6 goals and 10 assists in 20 games. With the signing of Malone, Tampa would give Pittsburgh its 3rd-round pick of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.

Reports indicate veteran F Gary Roberts who was also traded with Malone to Tampa, has agreed to a deal with the Lightning. It is a 1 year deal worth $2 million. Last year, Roberts played 38 games scoring 3 goals and 12 assists. Roberts also added 2 goals and 2 assists in 11 games of Pittsburgh's playoff run. With this signing, Tampa would have to give Pittsburgh their 4th-round pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.

With Malone and Roberts officially going away from the Penguins, could Marian Hossa be the next one to say goodbye to the Stanley Cup finalists? Georges Laraque is also a free agent teams could be looking at him too if they see the need for a tough guy.

Spain wins 1-0 To Capture European Championship

With a chip over the legs of German goalkeeper, Jens Lehmann, Fernando Torres secured a 1-0 victory for Spain over Germany. This is Spain's 2nd European Championship and 1st since 1964.


In a surprise, Michael Ballack played in the game today despite an injured calf muscle while on the Spanish side, leading goal scorer David Villa sat out due to an injured hamstring. The first 15 minutes saw Germany taking control of the match but Spain would steal that momentum for the rest of the half especially in the 33rd minute when Spanish striker Fernando Torres received a pass from Xavi Hernandez, powered past German defender Phillip Lahm, and chipped it over a sliding Jens Lehmann. The 2nd half would see no scoring but numerous chances for both sides with the momentum shifting every 5 minutes.

There were four yellow cards given out by the referee. German midfielder Michael Ballack and Spanish goalkeeper Iker Casillas would receive yellow cards in the 43rd minute, Spanish striker Fernando Torres in the 74th minute and German striker Kevin Kuranyi in the 78th minute.

After time and time again of Spain underachieving in elimination play, they finally prevail as they capture the European Championship.




Doc's Man of the Match: For man of the match I choose no other than Spanish striker, Fernando Torres. He was flying everywhere around the field and was constantly a huge threat, offensively. Torres would also provide the golden goal to propel Spain to victory and the European Championship. Fernando Torres is your Doc's Man of the Match

Dodgers Win Without a Hit

Jered Weaver pitched a gem last night, allowing no hits against the Dodgers in 6 innings before being removed for a pinch hitter. After he was removed, Jose Arredondo came in to pitch 2 hitless innings in the seventh and the eighth. The Angels did not pitch in the ninth inning because the Dodgers were winning going into the bottom of the ninth, WITHOUT A HIT.

Jered Weaver's only real blemish was an unearned run in the fifth inning. The Angels did not score any runs last night, allowing them to lose 1-0 in a game in which the opposition did not get a hit. It is not considered a no hitter, because the game only lasted 8 innings. Could something like this happen in any sport besides baseball?

Report: EURO Planning To Expand Number Of Qualifiers

UEFA is deeply considering expanding the number of teams that can qualify for the European Championships. Reports indicate that the number of qualifying countries would expand from 16 teams to 24 teams. This would allow teams that barely missed the cut this time such as England, Ireland, Scotland, Denmark and Serbia for examples, to be able to participate in the tournament. Final meetings on whether the expansion should take place will happen in September, but it is most likely to be approved.


Note: When expansion takes place, it will be at the 2016 EURO, not the 2012 EURO.

Underdogs Prevail in Arena Football League Playoffs

Seems like home-field advantage doesn't seem like much of an advantage when it comes to Arena Football League games.

In a National Conference wild-card playoff game between the 3-seeded Dallas Desperados and the 6-seeded New York Dragons, QB Aaron Garcia completed 28 of 39 passes for 330 yards, including 9 touchdown passes, to lift his 8-8 Dragons past the 12-4 Desperados 77 to 63. QB Clint Dolezel had an equally impressive performance completing 35 of 47 passes for 325 yards.

In an American Conference wild-card playoff game between the 4-seeded Utah Blaze and the 5-seeded Colorado Crush, QB John Dutton, after falling behind 14-0 in the first quarter, leads his team on a comeback trail to sneak by the Blaze 49 to 44. Dutton completed 30 of 47 passes for 268 yards while Blaze QB Joe Germaine went 17-for-27 for only 158 yards.

The Wild Card games end on Monday when the (4) Cleveland Gladiators take on the (5) Orlando Predators in the National Conference at 7 PM EST, and the (6) Grand Rapids Rampage play against the (3) Arizona Rattlers at 9:30 PM EST.

The (6) New York Dragons will play the (1) Philadelphia Soul next Saturday at 7 PM EST while the winner of the Gladiators/Predators game will play the (2) Georgia Force the following Monday at 8 PM EST.

NBA Rumor: Vince Carter to the Cavs?

There is a huge report coming out of New Jersey that the Nets are ready to send SG Vince Carter off to Cleveland in deal that would bring Wally Szerzbiak to the Nets. This would be a continuation of the Nets rebuilding process, which is in fact in preparation for them to bring Carter's would be teammate to Brooklyn: LeBron James. Though nothing is for certain, it would surprise me if the deal went through.

MLB Trade Deadline Rumor: Fuentes Will Most Likely Go

Colorado Rockies P Brian Fuentes is most likely to be on the move, and the Denver Post is reporting it could be to a contender. Teams looking for his services include the Boston Red Sox, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Yankees, New York Mets, and Oakland Athletics. It is likely the trade will require a B-Prospect as well as major league talent. Stay tuned, and check out www.sportsfullcircle.com for similar stories involving sports.

Tampa Bay Looking to Add More Bolts to their Team

More good news for the Tampa Bay Lightning as they have acquired rights to Gary Roberts and Ryan Malone of the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for a conditional draft pick in 2009. Both were key players in Pittsburgh's run to the Stanley Cup Finals.

The 27-year old Malone has played a total of 97 games this past NHL season: 77 from the regular season, and 20 from the playoffs. Malone scored 27 goals and 24 assists in the regular season to go along with his 6 goals and 10 assists in the playoffs.

The 42-year old Roberts scored 3 goals and 12 assists in 38 regular season games with the Penguins. He also had 2 goals and 2 assists in 11 playoff games to boot.

Doc's Take On The EURO Cup Final

Well the time is finally here, the EURO Cup Final. This match-up involves Germany and Spain, which really is no surprise. Both teams were favourites to win the tournament and here they are standing here today. Spain will be going for their 2nd EURO Championship while Germany will be going for its 4th. With less than 24hrs until kick-off, I take a look at both teams.

Germany came out of the group stage being 2nd place in Group B behind surprising group winner, Croatia. With a record of 2-1-0, Germany played the Portuguese squad showing the exact same record. Many people thought this match would have been a semifinal game and not a quarterfinal. Despite efforts from the Portuguese squad to tie the game late, the Germans would hold on to win the game 3-2 in regulation and move on to the semis. Germany would play Turkey in the semifinal, which just came off a huge penalty shootout win against Croatia. The Turkish would make it interesting dominating the German squad most of the game, but a goal by Philip Lahm in the 90th minute propelled Germany to a 3-2 win and a berth in the finals.

Spain came out of the group stage 1st place in Group D with a record of 3-0-0. They played Italy who surprisingly stole the 2nd spot in Group C and Spain outplayed Italy for the entire game. The game would need a penalty shootout to decide the outcome with Spain prevailing 4-2 on penalties. Spain then went up against Russia, the only team in Group D that might have caused Spain some trouble. There was no trouble for the Spaniards though as they cruised to victory with a score of 3-0 and put themselves into the finals as well.

Spain come into the final with leading scorer David Villa but Villa is considered doubtful for the final with an injured hamstring. This does not give Germany an easier job though as team captain Michael Ballack is also doubtful for the game with an injured calf muscle. These players were crucial for their teams in the tournament and will be missed by their teammates.

Spain comes in as the stronger team defensively, allowing only 3 goals, but their competition was arguably not as hard as what the Germans faced. Spain and Germany come into the final leading the tournament in goals with 11 and 10 goals respectively so both teams do not have trouble finding the net.

The goalie position for both teams is really strong as well. Jens Lehmann will get the start for Germany while Iker Casillas will be the starting goalie for Spain. I would give the advantage here to Casillas because he has less goals allowed and has a stronger defence in front of him than Lehmann does.

With the absence of striker David Villa from the Spanish line-up, I believe Germany is the stronger team offensively. Even without Ballack, Germany will still get the edge for having their leading scorer, Lukas Podolski, in the line-up while having Bastian Schweinsteiger and Philip Lahm coming up huge in the last week. Just because I said the Spanish are weaker offensively without Villa, they still have threats from Fernando Torres and David Silva.

This game is going to be really close and will be an exciting game to watch. Will the Spaniards be able to take the title "underacheivers" off their backs after time and time again choking in the elimination round in the past few tournaments? Will the Germans be able to penetrate a tough Spanish defence and if they do, get it past keeper Iker Casillas?

In the end, I believe Spain will come out of this one with the victory but do not expect it to come easy. A penalty shootout is a huge possibility.

Jagr To Play In Russia?

First they tried for Evgeni Malkin, but now the Russian Super League is trying to lure New York Rangers superstar, Jaromir Jagr, to play in Omsk of the Russian Super League. Jagr would receive a 3-year deal receiving $35 million which is way more than he could make in the NHL. Jagr's agent Pat Brisson assures that Jagr rather would look for a opportunity in the NHL first, most notably a return to the New York Rangers.

Jagr is going into free agency after his worst statistical year of his career only scoring 25 goals and collecting 71 points.

Jagr has played a total of 16 seasons in the NHL playing with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Washington Capitals and the New York Rangers. He has 646 goals and 953 assists in his career giving him 1599 career points. Jagr has also won 2 Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 91' and 92'.

CFL Week 1: Calvillo's Army Strikes Gold in Ti-Cats Nation

While his former team would like to forget about what happened on June 26, 2008, Anthony Calvillo will remember that day for a long time to come. On this day, the Montreal Alouettes defeated the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 33 to 10 in a game that featured Alouettes QB Calvillo passing Danny McManus for second on the list of all-time leading passers in CFL history, behind, of course, Damon Allen.

The 35-year-old from Los Angeles, California threw for 293 yards, including two touchdowns, both to Kerry Watkins.

In other games, the Calgary Stampeders defeated the British Columbia Lions 28 to 18 behind 274 yards worth of receptions from Stamps QB Henry Burris. The Toronto Argonauts survived a 321-yard passing performance by Blue Bombers QB Kevin Glenn as they defeated Winnipeg 23 to 16 in a rematch of last year's Eastern Division final.

The Edmonton Eskimos play the Saskatchewan Roughriders today at 7:30 PM EST.

Flames Lock Up Key Players

Yesterday, the Calgary Flames had re-signed 4 of their potential unrestricted free agents. The club re-signed forwards Daymond Langkow, Craig Conroy, Eric Nystrom and goalie Curtis McElhinney. All of the financial terms for these deals are still undisclosed.

"Conroy and Langkow are two of our top centremen who are strong role models for our team both on and off the ice, especially with more young wingers in our line-up next season, their experience and leadership will be important. We are happy to be able to make it work by fitting them into our salary structure," said Flames GM Darryl Sutter regarding the signings of Langkow and Conroy.

Conroy will be entering his 13th season in the NHL, his 6th with the Flames. He collected 34 points in 79 games last season with 12 goals and 22 assists.

Langkow had a very productive year last year having 30 goals and 35 assists giving him 65 points in 80 games, his 2nd highest scoring total in his career.

Nystrom returns for his 2nd season with the Flames after getting 3 goals and 7 assists in 44 games last year.

McElhinney played 5 games for the Flames last season registering a 2.00 GAA and a .902 save%. With McElhinney appearing to be the Flames choice to back up G Miika Kiprusoff next season, this spells the end of G Curtis Joseph's time in Calgary.

Gii's Take on The Tampa Bay Rays

Ah, Tampa...need I say more?

2007

A manager takes a peek at his schedule and saw @ Tampa; its safe to say that he was more at ease, since playing the Devil Rays was almost considered an automatic win. Are these assumptions fair? Consider the fact that their home has been primarily in the cellar in the American League East for a good part of their existence (with the notable exception of 2004, in which they made a significant leap to fourth place).

Last year, they ended up with a record of 66-96, gaining the title as the armpit of baseball. Their bullpen was abysmall, many times blemishing the quality starts of their many capable starters. So even if James Shields put up a 2BB, 7K, 6IP effort, there was still the bullpen to be trusted with a 5-3 lead and knowing that the outs werent automatic. Or even remotely good.

Yup, the AL East was spoiled; feasting on the Rays.

2008

After winning a franchise high 18 games in Spring Training, the Rays came strutting into the regular season, their successful Spring Training a good start to what has been truly a great season thus far. With a new look, a higher payroll [$43 million] and a new mentality, they have become a force to be reckoned with. A pesky, fiesty team to be reckoned with.

Coming into June, the newly reformed Tampa Bay RAYS [notice they removed the Devil part], are 48-31, just half a game back from the first place Red Sox. They became the first team in the Modern Era [since 1900] to be in first place through the quarter mark of the season [Memorial Day] when they were in last place the previous year. They have more than five walk off wins already. They swept the Sox at home. They have one of the best records at home. That is what you call a rebound year.

Their defense and bullpen which was one of the worst last year is now among the best.

The Tampa Bay Rays were a surprise this year, bringing a newfound determination to win and the confidence and mentality that they lacked before. The AL East became a new monster and the Rays aren't the easy win they once were.

They might be here to stay.

Sports Sector Forms Partnership With Sports Full Circle

I am proud to announce that Sports Sector has begun a Internet-Based Partnership with http://www.sportsfullcircle.com/. Sportsfullcircle, aka SFC, has very similar reports to this, and should be an interesting read for all sports fans. I will also be writing for them on the side, but don't worry, this comes first. Make sure to check both sites every day for extensive updates on all your sports!

Light's Take on the Pitch Count

Now in days, there is too much emphisis placed on the pitch count. Managers act as if something magical happens once a pitcher reaches 100 pitches and all of a sudden he should be pulled from the game at the first chance, even if he has a shut out going. In my opinion, a pitcher should be in the game until he surrenders a few back to back hits or a few back to back walks. Theres no need to baby pitchers (like how the Yankees babied Joba ever since he came up). They're professionals and don't need to be babyed by a pitch count. If a pitcher is still throwing strikes and throwing the ball good, why would you replace him (espically in the AL, when the pitcher doesn't even bat), and i've seen pitchers who were doing great, get replaced, it happens all the time. If the pitch count got taken out of the game, teams would get a lot more productivity out of thier starters because they would be throwing complete games more often, which, in turn, gives the bullpen rest.

MLB to Hold Hall of Fame Parade During All-Star Weekend

In celebration of the last year of Yankee Stadium, Major League Baseball has decided to hold a parade of Hall of Famers on 6th Ave. in NYC during All-Star Weekends. The current plan is to have every living and available hall of famer to march through 6th Ave. in New York City, on what will most likely be Tuesday, July 15 (the day of the game). If you live in the area, I highly suggest you don't miss this.

2008 NHL Entry Draft: Good news for Tampa Bay

The 46th NHL Entry Draft was held on June 20-21, 2008 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. This marks the second time in only four years that the city of Ottawa has hosted an NHL entry draft: the last time they hosted it was in 2005 during the NHL lockout. Instead of using Corel Centre (present-day Scotiabank Place), the draft was held in Ottawa's Westin Hotel.

The Tampa Bay Lightning had won the draft lottery and, with their first overall pick, selected Steven Stamkos from the OHL's Sarnia Sting.

The Scarborough, Ontario native has scored 100 goals and 97 assists for a total of 197 points in just two seasons with the OHL's Sting, making him the projected #1 pick for this year's draft.

Other notable picks from the NHL draft include: Drew Doughty to the Kings, Zach Bogosian to the Thrashers, Luke Schenn to the Maple Leafs, Nikita Filatov to the Blue Jackets, Mikkel Boedeker to the Coyotes, and Cody Hodgson to the Canucks.

On top of drafting Steven Stamkos, the Lightning and Vincent Lecavalier agreed to a 9-year $77 million contract on June 25, which would make the French Canadian the third richest player in the NHL behind Sidney Crosby and, of course, Alexander Ovechkin.

How to Chat at Sports Sector!

There is a chat feature at the bottom of the page, as mentioned before. It is possible to chat as a guest, but it is RECOMMENDED you create a Geesee account, which is free and takes 1 min. to do. You can do it by clicking "sign up" when the chat opens. Enjoy the partially advanced Sports Sector, and more changes are on the way!

Breaking News: Hideki Matsui to the DL

The Yankees have suffered another harsh blow, as they have been forced to place OF/DH Hideki Matsui on the DL. Matsui was set to take David Ortiz's place in the All-Star game if Ortiz was unable to play, but this will obviously not occur. Matsui has been suffering from knee pains of late, possibly due to an injury sustained two years ago.

Enjoy the New Chat!

I have added a section for everyone to chat! It is at the bottom of the page, and you can chat at anytime as a guest, or you can create a username for Geese, which is free. Enjoy! Every week, I hope to have an organized chat about sports, so stay tuned!

Delgado's Monster Game

In Game 1 of a day-night doubleheader against the New York Yankees, Carlos Delgado has gone 3-5 with 2 Home Runs and 9 RBI's. This included a Grand Slam and 3-Run Homer. He had 10 RBI's in the month of June prior to Game 1. The Mets routed the Yankees 15-6. Don't forget this is only the first game, which took place at Yankee Stadium. The second game will be at Shea.

A Thanks from Jon

All news aside, I want to thank all of you who have been following this blog, as it truly means alot to me. I as well as my co-contributors are more than happy to bring you the sports and news here, and there are big plans in the future for this site. I can't fill you in on that at this moment, but if all goes well, and we continue to get more support, you may see a big overhaul going on soon. Remember to vote on the polls, comment on the articles, and just enjoy Sports Sector, your 24 hour source for everything sports :D

The Winners of the 2008 NBA Draft

Well, the 2008 NBA Draft was one that went did not go without controversy, as a record amount (12) of freshman were taken in this draft. Alongside that, we saw an unbelievable amount of trades, some not even involving people drafted. When it's all said and done however, some teams win by having the draft of their lives. The following is a list of those teams who I feel had a successful draft day (in no particular order):

Winners:

1. Chicago Bulls-Hey, these guys got the first overall pick, and selected a guy who is sure not to disappoint. He will be sure to work with the high-status of basketball, and is sure to bring the Bulls into a much potent spot in the Eastern Conference.

2. Miami Heat- The Heat selected after the Bulls, and they did not miss out. After selecting F Michael Beasley and acquiring Mario Chalmers, the Heat take a lineup that includes Dwayne Wade, Mario Chalmers, Michael Beasley, Shawn Marion, amongst others. Look for them to be a force in the Eastern Conference.

3. New Jersey Nets-The third Eastern Conference team in a row. The Nets began the day by trading away star F Richard Jefferson to the Bucks in return for Yi Jianlian and Bobby Simmons. Although Jefferson is widely considered one of the best fowards in the league, it cuts 10 million dollars from the Nets cap, and enables them to make a move for LeBron James in 2010. The Nets also added highly-touted C Brook Lopez out of Stanford, F Ryan Anderson, and getting a steal at number 40 in Chris Douglas-Roberts. This leaves the Nets with a potential starting lineup of Devin Harris, Vince Carter, Ryan Anderson, Nenad Kristic, and Brook Lopez.

4.Milwaukee Bucks-After acquiring Richard Jefferson from the Nets for virtually no one, the Bucks only helped their clause by selecting F Joe Alexander out of West Virginia. Although going into draft day the Bucks looked weak, they leave with a starting lineup of Michael Redd, Mo Williams, Richard Jefferson, Charlie Villanueva, and Andrew Bogut.

5. Minnesota Timberwolves-Late after the draft, the Timberwolves acquired F Kevin Love, F Mike Miller, F Brian Cardinal, and C/F Jason Collins from the Grizzlies in return for G O.J. Mayo, G Marko Jaric, G Greg Buckner, and F Antoine Walker. Although many people don't expect Love to be an immediate All-Star like potentially Mayo, his aggressiveness will assist the ailing T'Wolves. Alongside that, Mike Miller is one of the most pure shooters in the league, and is sure to help their shot percentage from the field. Collins never developed into the Center the New Jersey Nets had hoped for, but he can still provide the boards needed to control a game. Although Mayo can go on to help the Grizzlies, this trade best helps the T'Wolves for the time being. C Nikola Pekovic should also bring a post prescence to Minnesota.

Notables:

1. Memphis Grizzlies-Although you lose Kevin Love and Mike Miller, you gain the man who is possibly most NBA ready in O.J. Mayo. You also acquire a man who was supposed to be a top 10 pick in Darrell Arthur. While the big trade may not assist them immediately, it should lead to some playoff appearances in the future for the Grizzlies.

2 Indiana Pacers-The Pacers traded F Jermaine O'Neal and F Nathan Jawai to Toronto for G T.J. Ford, C Rasho Nesterovic, and the rights to C Roy Hibbert. Hibbert led Georgetown into the NCAA tournament multiple times during his collegiate career. In a trade with Portland, they acquired G Jarret Jack and the rights to G Brandon Rusch. The Pacers look great going into the season now with a restacked backcourt. They may need a little help in the post, but look to be a contender now.

3.Portland Trailblazers-Although the Trailblazers only picked one legit player in the draft in G Jerryd Bayless, they made spectacular trades, picking up future picks in drafts, as well as giving the fans of Portland more hope. They have C Greg Oden making is debut this season, alongside top players Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge. It should be a good season out in Portland.

Stay tuned for the losers of the draft later on in the day.

NBA Draft Picks 6-10

6. New York Knicks-F Danilo Gallinari
7. Los Angeles Clippers- G Eric Gordon
8. Milwaukee Bucks- F Joe Alexander
9. Charlotte Bobcats- G D.J. Augustin
10. New Jersey Nets- C Brook Lopez

NBA Top 5 Draft Picks

1. Chicago Bulls-G Derrick Rose
2. Miami Heat- F Michael Beasley
3. Minnesota Timberwolves- G O.J. Mayo
4. Seattle Supersonics-G Russell Westbrook
5. Memphis Grizzlies-F Kevin Love

Breaking News: Nets to Trade Richard Jefferson to Bucks for Yi Jianlian and Bobby Simmons

The Nets and Bucks have agreed on a trade to send SF Richard Jefferson to the Bucks for PF/C Yi Jianlian and SF Bobby Simmons. Jefferson led the Nets in PPG, and Nets management is a big fan of Yi Jianlian. The move will save the Nets $10 Million, but has upset many fans in the market. Jefferson will likely give new coach Scott Skiles a new weapon, mainly to match aside Michael Redd, Mo Williams, Adrew Bogut, and Charlie Villanueva.

Michael Beasley Likely to Go Second Overall to the Heat

The Miami Heat have decided within the organization that Michael Beasley is their man, and will select him 2nd Overall in tonights NBA Draft. However, things could change, as they held a private workout with O.J. Mayo. This is not likely however, as many project Beasley to be the big man Miami needs. The Heat have been trying to trade the number 2 pick since Shawn Marion decided not to opt out of his contract, but they were unsuccessful. Make sure not to miss a thing today, as we should be providing up-to-the-minute draft coverage tonight.

Jon's Take on Steroids in Professional Sports

"Good evening ladies and gentlemen. Last night on 'Monday Night RAW', the WWE presented a special tribute show, recognizing the career of Chris Benoit. However, now some 26 hours later, the facts of this horrific tragedy are now apparent. Therefore, other than my comments, there will be no mention of Mr. Benoit's name tonight. On the contrary, tonight's show will be dedicated to everyone who has been affected by this terrible incident. This evening marks the first step of the healing process. Tonight, the WWE performers will do what they do better than anyone else in the world: entertain you."-Vince McMahon

A year ago tommorow, these were the words of WWE Chairman Vince McMahon. WWE "Superstar" Chris Benoit was found dead in his home alongside his wife Nancy and his 7 year old son Daniel the night before. On June 25, 2007, the day of the occurance, WWE cancelled its planned 3 hour edition of its signature show "Monday Night RAW" in order to observe the tragedy. Once they learned that Chris Benoit was the murderer of his fellow family members, the company officially released that statement. With no suicide note left however, what could have been Benoit's motive to commit such a horrific crime?

Immediately, questions of "'Roid Rage" were brought up. For those who don't know what "'Roid Rage" is, it is a case of overuse of steroids, in which the body becomes hard to control. Usually, violent rages result. However, WWE refused this claim as a possibile motive. Their problem, they had no proof. This brought upon much arguement, and the company would go on to have 11 performers be suspended in the last year due to substance abuse.

It is not just professional wrestling however that has undergone a brush with drugs. In 2003, Major League Baseball held a random drug test for all players, and 7.6% of 750 players tested positive for steroids. The number has since gone down, but has shown the dangers brought upon by the pressure to succeed and do well. The MLB now has a more strict policy now, especially after the unbelievable findings of the 2007 Mitchell Report. The NFL has an automatic 4-Game Suspension for first time offenders, while the NHL and NBA have mildly strict punishments as well. The PGA will begin testing for steroids this Summer, and Horse Racing is taking a more strict stand. Cycling has taken a stance as well, planning to test all participants in the Tour De France at least twice prior to the race.

It is not a matter however of what only goes on professionally, as more and more high school/collegiate students are found dead each year from steroids themselves or 'Roid Rages. It is important for all to realize that steroids do not improve performance, but cripples it if anything. If anyone knows someone who is taking steroids or similar drugs, it is important to make it known as soon as possible.

Breaking News: Pacers Will Trade Jermaine O'Neal to Raptors

After many seasons of complaint and underproduction, the Indiana Pacers have finally agreed to trade Jermaine O'Neal and cash to the Toronto Raptors for T.J. Ford, Rasho Nesterovic, and the 17th Overall Pick in Thursday's NBA Draft. More to come later.

Jim Plummer Passes Away At Age 56

Long time employee with the New York Mets, Jim Plummer, has passed away at age 56. Plummer recently had a liver and kidney transplant, but died of a heat attack at New York Medical Center.

Plummer was with the Mets organization since 1965, in which he was a minor-league bat boy. In 1976 he moved up to the major league team, and was most recently the director of corporate sales.

He leaves behind a wife (Tee) and a son (Jonathan) and will be missed by them and everyone in the Mets organization.

Rest In Peace Jim Plummer

C.C.'s take on Coach K

There is something that some men experiece in their lifetime. This is a time when you start to lose your common sense and make decisions that a fool would agree with. It is called a mid-life crisis, usually something old men such as Mike Krzyzewski encounter and it is probable that Krzyzewski is going through his mid life crisis now. Mike Krzyzewski, also known as Coach K, or more recently, the biggest idiot in the history of the world. What the hell was he thinking, taking Carlos Boozer over Kevin Garnett? I guess he was Boozing it up himself when he made the decision. Does he not know that KG just had a phenomenal championship clinching Game 6? Does he not know that the Big Ticket just had a great season proving he was still a great player, earning his 15th All Star Game as well as the Defensive Player of the Year? Does he not know that Kevin Garnett is not only a much better, more complete player than a man who has a term for beer in his last name, but is also one of the most recognizable players in basketball, while everyone and their mother would have no idea who Carlos Boozer even is if they were asked if they knew who he was? This was one of the stupidest mistakes ever made by anyone, ever. THIS is why Team USA is going to continue to get beaten up in the Olympics. Its not that they aren't the best basketball country, its that complete idiots have to screw things up by not choosing the best players. Have fun losing in the Olympics, Coach K.

Don Imus Makes Racial Comment Against Adam Jones

Less than a year after returning to the air-waves, Don Imus has yet again found a way to stir up more controversy. This time, when talking about Dallas Cowboys CB Adam Jones, Imus asked, "What color is he?" After being told he was African-American, Imus replied, "Now we know." This is not the first time Imus has made racist remarks against African Americans, as he was involved in the Rutgers "Nappy Headed Ho" scandal more than a year ago. His penalty is unknown at this point, if there will be any.

Breaking News: Curt Schilling's Career May Not Be Over

Well, as I was typing the USA roster up, I received some major breaking news. Appearantly, Curt Schilling underwent his shoulder surgery today, and the doctors have cleared him to throw off a mound by January. This would mean his career could continue. It is unknown however if Schilling would like to resume his career. Even if he chose too, he would be a free agent and not many teams would trust a 40+ year old pitcher coming off shoulder surgery. Time will tell.

Team USA Basketball Roster Complete

The following is the Team USA Roster which will be headed under Duke Coach Mike Krzyzewski:

SF-Carmelo Anthony

PG-Jason Kidd
PF-Carlos Boozer
PG-Chris Paul
PF-Chris Bosh
PF-Tayshaun Prince
SG-Kobe Bryant
SG-Michael Redd
C-Dwight Howard
SG-Dwyane Wade
SF-LeBron James
PG-Deron Williams

You may notice 3 PG's which has baffled many critics. Alongside that, there is only 1 true center in Dwight Howard, with the rest being fowards. It is likely that the starting roster will be as followed:

PG-Jason Kidd

SG-Kobe Bryant

SF-LeBron James

PF-Carmelo Anthony

C-Dwight Howard

This is of course subject to change.

Jon's Take on the Latest Poll

I am very excited with this poll, as I see it has sparked a lot of controversy. Now as I mentioned, Derek Jeter was recently voted the most overrated player in baseball by the players. However, many people have decided to argue this, so I felt maybe I should give a little bit more information about the candidates:

Derek Jeter-For many years now, Jeter has been criticized as having more play than game. The man has 2,434 hits (as of 6/22), meaning within 3-4 years he should reach 3,000. He has been the Yankees captain since 2003, and has won 4 World Series Titles while appearing in 6 overall. He has 3 Gold Gloves under his belt, however had not won one until 2004. While he does maintain solid fielding numbers, he has been known to make wreckless errors at times when it is not appreciated at all. Though the 8-Time All-Star has been known for being clutch, he has also come up with big strikeouts in crucial moments.
Barry Zito-When the San Francisco Giants signed Barry Zito, it appeared they made a move that would change baseball history. For years Zito had been the most dominating South-Paw in the majors, never missing a start between 2002 and 2006. He had 3 All-Star Games under his belt, as well as the 2002 Cy Young Award. Then came the words that Giants fans regret to hear: 7 years/$126 Million. Since joining the Giants, Zito has been demoted to the bullpen and brought back up twice in 2008, as well as posting a 13-24 record in that time.

Stephon Marbury-When Marbury was traded to the Knicks from the Suns, it appeared he would be the savior for an ailing club. The ailing then became deathly ill. The Knicks have not made the playoffs since 2004. "Starbury" has put out shoes worth $15, an attempt at desperate money, as well as undergoing injuries and refusing to participate in team workouts.

Adam Jones-The man formerly known as Pacman, has now decided to be called Adam "Clearly Not Pacman" Jones. Just kidding, but he might as well, as his ego has overtaken his status. In two seasons with the Titans, Jones looked flawless, scoring 4 TD's on defense and Special Teams. He was then suspended for the 2007 season on numerous charges of assault and other issues with the law. Jones was traded to the Cowboys this offseason, signed to a pleasant 4 year deal, and is awaiting full reinstatement from the league. He also enjoyed a brief stint with TNA Professional Wrestling, only problem was he never actually wrestled.

Sean Avery-There is not much to be said about Sean Avery. The man is a born-to-play hockey man, and is considered one of the toughest guys in sports. However, many lost respect for him during the Sean Avery Rule controversy, when he faced Devils G Martin Brodeur, thus distracting him from the play. Avery would later suffer a lacerated spleen, ending his season. However, he was seen by many as the savior of the Rangers Season, a revival of hard hitting spirit.

As there are more, these are the few that have been getting the most attention. Let us know what you think. Comment and vote here on the blog, and let your opinion be known!

Marian Hossa to Test Free Agency

Penguins RW Marian Hossa, who is widely coveted by many teams in the league, has rejected a one year deal from Pittsburgh. With Hossa selecting free agency over the Eastern Conference Champions, it appears the New York Rangers and Boston Bruins appear to be front runners, with the New Jersey Devils and Washington Capitals in on him as well. Free Agency does not begin until July 1st however, and anything can happen in between.

Jevon Kearse Arrested

Titans DE Jevon Kearse has been arrested and charged on DUI. More later.

More on the NHRA Driver Crash

As A. Silverman already posted NHRA driver Scott Kalitta was killed in a race on Saturday at Raceway Park in Englishtown, NJ. Englishtown is actually just miles away from where I write from today. Appearantly, Kalitta just lost control of the car, and it instantly burst into flames. Funny Cars travel at unbelievable speeds, and is considered one of the most dangerous sports out in existance. Kalitta was 46 years old.

Breaking News: Scott Kalitta Dies in Funny Car Crash

Scott Kalitta died yesterday, when his Funny Car burst into flames during qualifying for the Supernationals. Scott was 46, and had already retired twice. He loved racing however, and was back to race yet again. He was a two-time Top Fuel champion and had 18 career wins. Another sad loss for the NHRA community.

C.C.'s take on Curt Schilling

There are rumors that Curt Schilling may be done with not only the season, but his career. I would expect this anyway as next year he will be 42 and would most likely retire. If this is the end for Curt, one thing is for sure, it was a great career. The 6-time All Star and 3-time World Champion had over 200 career Wins and over 3,000 career Strikeouts, one of only 4 pitchers to reach 3000 K's before reaching 1000 Walks. His final game would be in Game 2 of the 07 World Series in Boston, a game where he recieved the Win as well as a standing ovation upon leaving in what may be the last time he would ever enter the Red Sox dugout from the mound. He also will have both started and finished his career in Boston (before making his debut with the O's, he was in the Red Sox farm system and was traded to Baltimore from there). Like his legendary bloody sock from 2004, he will surely be a Hall of Famer, one of the best to ever play the game of baseball.

Breaking News: Curt Schilling's Career Could Be Over

Sox P Curt Schilling has announced he will have surgery on his ailing shoulder, which will end his season. Schilling also added his career may be over because of it. More on this later.

Yankees Sweep Padres

Who would have thought that the Yankees, once more than 3 games under .500, could be one of MLB's hottest teams. The New York Yankees won their seventh straight game behind, by far, Joba Chamberlain's best start of the season. He went 5 2/3 strong innings, striking out a career high 9 batters. Alex Rodriguez also couldn't be streaking at a better time. A-rod has had a RBI in the past 6 straight games, and has at least one RBI in 8 of the last 10 games. He also has 5 HRs in the past ten games, and an AVG of .432. Now our pitching might not be great, but the hitting is absolutely getting better. The Yankees try and go for 8 straight in the next series against the Reds. Tomorrow's probable pitchers are Mike Mussina for the Yankees and Edinson Volquez for the Reds. Tune in to Channel 9 for the game at 7:05.

New Yankee Stadium to Include First Ever Stadium-Hard Rock Cafe

Well the papers have been signed, and it appears that the New York Yankees have signed on a deal with Hard Rock to build a Hard Rock Café in the right field section of the New Yankee Stadium. The facility will be 7,000 sq. ft., including a pinstriped signed guitar by A-Rod. It will be adjecent to NYY Steak in center field, near the new Great Hall. Alongside that, it will be open year-round, making it the first Hard Rock Facility built in a ballpark. Just something I thought would be interesting to know.

Mariners Fire McLaren, Bedard Could Be on the Move

No surprise here so I won't spend much time on the topic, but the Seattle Mariners have fired their manager John McLaren after being the worst team in the majors for almost a month. McLaren filled in last year after manager Mike Hargrove unexpectedly retired. However, the big news that comes out of this involves one of their highly touted players, Erik Bedard. Bedard was traded to the Mariners during the offseason, but has fell well short of expectations. There are many rumors going around stating that Erik could end up in the Bronx as early as next week, although it wouldn't sound likely. The Yankees do appear to be the frontrunner however to obtain Bedard, it just is seen to be what the Mariners asking price will be. Amongst other clubs interested are the Texas Rangers, Atlanta Braves, Florida Marlins, and St. Louis Cardinals. More to come later.