It looks like I will be covering the Mahoning Valley Scrappers this season.  I am excited for this opportunity and cant wait to cover the Cleveland Indians-affiliated group in Niles.  Remember, there have been some pretty solid guys who played for the Scrappers.  How about CC Sabathia, Ryan Church, and Victor Martinez, for starters.  I am encouraging everyone in the area to get to a Scrappers game this year to see the couple of guys who will be big-league stars someday.  I am also covering the Thunder and will opt to go to their game tonight instead of the Scrappers opener.  They only have a couple of games left and have been good to me.  The beauty of covering both is that the Scrappers play so many more games, so I will make my share after this hectic week.

That being said, here are some other great stories from around the blogosphere:

• SBC Blogging has the story of some trash talking between Mike Golic and Ocho Cinco on Twitter which results in Golic saying he wants to fight Chad Johnson.
• Yanks Go Yard gives a testemonial on Sammy Sosa and whether or not we should even care about steroids.
• Zoner Sports found an interesting picture of a kid wearing a Sammy Sosa jersey with some alterations.  Check it out.
• Major League Jerk composed a steroid opinion poll, which I voted in and my results are in his article.  Pretty interesting answers to read here.
• Josh Q. Public takes a look at the reason Colorado has caught fire – Jim Tracy, he also assesses the performance of Joe Morgan with the Red Sox.
• Gunaxin has compiled an interesting list on the Top Ten athletes with illegitimate kids.
• Fansided analyzes the rebuilding process in sports.  The Pirates should check this out as they have been rebuilding for 17 years.
• Detroit4lyfe looks at Dontrelle Willis as a head case.  Willis has just been put on the DL for anxiety disorder.
• NESW Sports posted a music video which pays tribute to all Pittsburgh sports teams called Pittsburgh Sports Teams Rock.
• Style Points submitted an article of a school teacher diving in to save Tom Brady when he kayak spilled.
• Bootlegger Sports reports that Jose Canseco has filed a class action lawsuit against MLB and the players association.
• Lake Show Life found Lamar Odom giving his fellow Lakers a customized bottle of Crown Royal XR as a gift for winning the NBA Championship.
• PSAMP found Max Talbot writing about how it feels to win the Stanley Cup on his blog.
• Steady Burn compiled a list of stories from fellow bloggers about what their earliest memories are in relation to sports.
• PacMan Jonesin’ posts that the UFL ran a suprise draft.
• Sports Rubbish has video of Kobe Bryant appearing on The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien.

Stallone, Hogan, and McMahon.  These three guys were the culture of the eighties.  Rocky movies were flying, Hogan was revolutionizing sports entertainment, and McMahon was and still is a genius.  Here are todays top stories:

• Detroit4lyfe blogs about being in Pittsburgh when the Pens won the cup, and having to attend games where the Pirates beat the Tigers.
• Style Points analyzes the achievements of Phil Jackson and notes that Michael Jackson could have coached Jordan, Shaq, and Kobe to those championships.
• Josh Q. Public takes a look at the Mets great closer, K-Rod.
• Major League Jerk talks about Met losses, and how they really get their moneys worth when they lose.
• No Guts No Glory has video of a fan at the Penguins parade throwing a football an amazing distance through a window.  Dave Wannstedt, sign him to play at Pitt.
• Bootlegger Sports updates the Donte Stallworth DUI plea bargain and what it does to his career.
• My Sports Rumors talks about the possibility of the often-injured Tracy McGrady becoming a Knick.
• The Fifth Corner discusses players pulling themselves out of the NBA Draft using the ACC as an example where 6 players remain in the draft, but 4 have changed their minds.
• Sharapova’s Thigh breaks down a team (Angels) and analyzes their payroll, biggest earners, and worst acquisitions. Very good reading.

When you blog, you meet some good people along the way.  The guys over at Detroit4lyfe and I try to work together by linking to each others stories in hopes of getting an increase in traffic.  Before the cup finals, we started jawing about our hockey teams and ended up betting.  Fortunately, I was lucky enough to come out on the right end of the deal.  Being good sports, Detroit4lyfe stuck to the bet and wrote an article about the Stanley Cup Champions, the Pittsburgh Penguins.  Here is the article:

Before the Red Wings series started with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Paneech came to me seeking a friendly wager regarding the outcome of the Stanley Cup Finals.  After an extensive negotiation process that lasted about 10 seconds, we finally agreed that the loser of the series would have to write a post for the other’s blog explaining why the other’s team won and was deserving of Lord Stanley’s Mug.  Welp, the Red Wings lost so here is me holding up my end of the bargain.

For me it goes back to before this series even started.  The Penguins just swept the Carolina Hurricanes and the Red Wings were trying to take care of a feisty and youthful Chicago Blackhawks.  I had no doubt in my mind it would be the Red Wings representing the Western Conference in this year’s Finals, but I was hoping it would not be the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Eastern Conference.  As everyone knows, the Red Wings took care of the Penguins in the 2008 Stanley Cup Finals.  In my opinion, I see no benefit of having a Finals rematch for the winning team as bad things always seem to happen for them.   Sure, winning two Stanley Cups in a row against the same team is great for egos and bragging rights, but that could be construed as just being greedy… and mean.  In the end, yes, it’s still a Stanley Cup and, no matter who you play, winning it is unbelievably great; I just think the bad things that can come from a rematch outweigh the positive.

That’s especially the case with the circumstances that surrounded this rematch.  The Penguins were a younger bunch with two of the game’s brightest stars looking to avenge last year’s defeat against a franchise that has been winning Stanley Cups in the past 15 years like it’s easy.  If that weren’t enough motivation for Pittsburgh, one of their best players signed with the Red Wings during the past off-season because he thought it would provide him with the best chance to win a Stanley Cup.  Certainly the move can come off as a slap in the face to Pittsburgh, who traded for him mid-season of 2008 to help them win a Stanley Cup and once that didn’t happen, offered him a long term contract to help the Pens return to the Finals and redeem themselves for years to come.  Hind sight is 20/20, so after seeing the Penguins win this year, which I’m sure felt sweet for people bitter about Hossa unselfishly passing up on much more money to sign for one-year with the historically better Detroit Red Wings, it was still the right move at the time.  Detroit has won 4 Stanley Cups in the last 12 years and had the talent to easily repeat this year, especially with the addition of Hossa.  I don’t think there’s any denying that the Red Wings were the favorites to repeat all season long.  Hossa wanted the best chance to win a Stanley Cup and I think Detroit probably had the best odds coming in to the season and throughout it.  I think Hossa made the right move and I still believe that, even after Lidstrom’s last second chance to tie Game 7 pounded off of Penguins goaltender, Marc-Andre Fleury’s chest and assured Pittsburgh the 2009 Stanley Cup.  I digress.  Pittsburgh’s motivation to get back at Detroit for beating them last year and the opportunity to tell Hossa to shove it for turning down their offer was far more motivating and advantageous to them in the rematch than Detroit winning another Stanley Cup against the same team.  I think that’s the type of thing that can swing a series before it even starts. 

Pre-series concerns aside, it wound up being one hell of a Stanley Cup Finals.  When Detroit jumped out to a 2-0 series lead, it looked all but certain that Detroit would repeat and send Pittsburgh into mourning for the second season in a row.  However, behind Mario Lemieux’s calming speeches and the gritty determination of a now experienced Stanley Cup Finals group, the Penguins showed no quit.  After the Pens won both games three and four on their home ice, it was a new series and the Red Wings were on their heels for the first time of the playoffs. 

Game 5 was all Detroit back at the Joe, but not for a minute did Penguins fans or their team believe this series was over.  I certainly didn’t think so, especially since it scared me that everyone, and even their mothers who moved to Egypt to get away from hockey, believed the Red Wings would win this series after the 5-0 Game 5 humping.  In Game 6, Pittsburgh, once again, bounced back to defend their home ice in what was probably the greatest game of the series.  They eked out a 2-1 victory behind solid goaltending from Fleury who shook off being embarrassingly chased from Game 5.

That took us to Game 7, the rarest and greatest games a Championship series could ask for.  Anything can happen in Game 7s to alter the outcome; a simple bounce, bad call, or anything for that matter, can happen in one team’s favor and finish the other team’s long season of hard work with the snap of your fingers.  In this Game 7, the first Finals Game 7 for the Red Wings since 1955, Pittsburgh dominated for the first 30+ minutes and took advantage of a couple Red Wings’ defensive mistakes to put the puck to the back of the net.  The Red Wings responded finally with their patented lengthy ambushes late in the 3rd, however it was just not enough as Fleury resembled the complete opposite of his Game 5 self.  With six seconds remaining, Fleury was able to stave off one last Red Wings attack and what looked like a tying goal off the stick of Nicklas Lidstrom to secure the Penguins the 2009 Stanley Cup.

Ironically, I was in Pittsburgh for Game 7–a trip I planned months ago for the Tigers interleague series with the Pirates. As the game clock struck zeros, I had to watch 15-20 Penguins fans jump up and down together in a small apartment complex while I sat behind the couch in my Wings hat and classic Yzerman jersey with a blank stare directed toward the HD television set where the entire Penguins players celebrated on the Joe Louis Arena Ice.  One Penguins fan ran up to his room and brought down a tin foil Stanley Cup and began passing it around for his yellow and black dressed friends to kiss and raise as high as the ceiling would allow them to. 

It was at that point I exited the room and took my frustration out on a dry wall in the other room (which I will wind up paying for).  With knuckles as red as the sleeves of my jersey, but the pain in my heart much worse than my battered hands, I came to the realization that the Wings put up a valiant effort and lost to a worthy opponent.  I decided to return to the living room, where Pens fans were still rejoicing, to congratulate all my buddy’s friends on their team winning the Cup.

I’m as big of a Detroit fan as there is and despite the frustration and depression that came with this loss, a true sports fan must swallow their pent up emotions and pride, put all the mid-series trash talking aside, and admit defeat.  This series was a lot of fun to watch, write about, and even exchange some friendly smack talk.  In the end, the team most deserving of hoisting the Cup did and that’s that.  End of story.  Congratulations to the Pittsburgh Penguins, the 2009 NHL Stanley Cup Champions.

Ah… victory.  Congratulations Pittsburgh Penguins!  What a great show of heart in the decisive game 7.  Here are some stories from other great sites.

• Total Pro Sports has video of Sidney Crosby hoisting the Stanley Cup out of the sunroof of the bus while still in Detroit.
• Bootlegger Sports brings footage of Ray Mercer vs Tim Sylvia in a boxing match with MMA surroundings.  See what happens when you piss an old man off…
• Sharapova’s Thigh takes an in-depth look at what is wrong with Johan Santana after the worst outting of his career.
• On the other end of the pitching spectrum, Mighty Matt Cain is having a great year and putting up solid numbers as told by Josh Q. Public.
• Fanhouse has a disturbing video of LA Lakers fans rioting after the championship was decided last night.
• NESW Sports provides an EA Sports video of Tiger Woods clowing around with Scott Van Pelt.
• No Guts, No Glory thinks the Cavs would be making a huge mistake if they obtained Shaquille O’Neal.
• PacMan Jonesin’ found Shaq sending tweets of congrats to Kobe and calling Stan Van Gundy a panicker.
• Sports Rubbish has an entertaining story of an umpire who ejected the entire crowd at a high school game recently.

If my leg was going in that direction you can bet your nachos I would have dropped that ball.  Lots of good stories from other sites today!

• In Game Now provides a video of Alex Rios blasting the constructive criticim he doesn’t need in a foul-mouthed tirade.
• Steady Burn shows an Australian rugby team quarantined for swine flu potential.
• Detroit4Lyfe brings out the etiquette book for a ball game, pointing out that the “F” bomb shouldn’t be used.
• The UNC gurus on The Fifth Corner looks at Tyler Hansbrough, his blogging, and his experience as a Tar Heel.
• Yanks Go Yard says New York can’t always rely on free agents and needs to have a solid draft to restock the cupboard.
• Gunaxin takes a look at the 2009 MLB Draft with an extensive preview.
• Rip City Project throws up their mock NBA draft preview.
• Josh Q. Public takes a look at Steven Strasburg and the Washington Nationals contract and potential.
• Creation Rex is not a bandwagon Penguins fan declares PSAMP.
• Major League Jerk poses an interesting question.  What hat should Randy Johnson wear when he is inducted in the MLB Hall of Fame?
• NESW Sports dives into technology and brings us a Chris Bosh Bobblehead and iphone app video.
• Sharapova’s Thigh takes a look around the bigs and tell us why the Braves are boosting their chances in the NL East.
• Total Pro Sports finds George Foreman III starting his career as a pro boxer with a devastating win.
• The World of Isaac has the video footage of a fan attacking Roger Federer.

With the 2008-09 Pittsburgh Penguins battling the Detroit Red Wings for the Stanley Cup, I decided to compare this years team to the 1991-92 Penguins team that won back-to-back Stanley Cup championships.  The only common link between the two teams is Mario Lemieux.  Player then, owner now.

The 1991-92 Pens finished third in their conferences regular season and struggled to get by Washington in the first round, winning 4-3.  They then got by the powerhouse Rangers 4-2.  The semis were a cake walk as the Pens swept Boston, and won the championship by sweeping Chicago.

Mario Lemieux led the 91-92 Pens en route to winning the Art Ross & Conn Smythe trophies.  Super Mario had 44 goals and 87 assists, good for 131 points.  The next big dog on that particular team was Kevin Stevens.  Stevens was second behind Lemieux in scoring for the league that year.  Stevens had 54 goals and 69 assists for 123 points. 

The 91-92 Penguins were blessed with offensive talent.  Larry Murphy may have been the best at keeping the puck in the zone during a powerplay.  Jaromir Jagr and Mark Recchi scored frequently.  Ron Francis was nearing the twilight of his career, but was a great second-line center.  Tom Barrasso was in net for the two championships.  The Penguins defense gave up too many points during the regular season in 91-92.  In fact, they gave up more points than everybody in the league besides the Quebec Nordiques and the expansion San Jose Sharks.

The 2008-09 version of the Pittsburgh Penguins has a similar top two on offense.  Evgeni Malkin had 35 goals and 78 assists for 113 points.  Sidney Crosby had 33 goals and 70 assists for 103 points.  This is where the similarities stop on offense in this comparison.  The next highest scorer on the team was Jordan Staal with 49 points.  Sergei Gonchar and Bill Guerin were nice additions and had they played full seasons, I am still not sure this team would even be close to the 91-92 team in overall firepower.

What the 08-09 team does have that the 91-92 team did not get much of is defense.  Brooks Orpik is a bad man.  If this years Penguins had the 91-92 defense, they would be out already.  To hold a powerful Detroit Red Wings team to four third period shots says alot about a defense.

Marc Andre-Fleury is better than Tom Barrasso by leaps and bounds.  Fleury showed in game four he is the real deal at clutch time.

Overall, I have to say the 08-09 team isn’t quite the special bunch that the 91-92 team was.  If they win the cup, then they overachieved with what they had.  Coach Blysma has really been an asset coming in after the All-Star break and really turning things around.  Scotty Bowman is a legend in hockey and had many toys to play with.

Edge: 1991-92 Pittsburgh Penguins

Pretty amazing that the jockey didn’t get killed.  Cavs can’t seem to stop the barrage of threes from Orlando and are in deep trouble.  Indians are starting to show signs of life after that huge comeback and the Yankees still stink.  Check out these great stories:

What 5 Players Could Outeat Charles Barkley ~ NESW Sports
Tim Lincecum Is Back ~ Josh Q. Public
Two-Year Old Pool Hustler (Video) ~ Steady Burn
The Most Horrific Soccer Injury: Leg Breaks In Half ~ Total Pro Sports
Steelers Rubik’s Cubes Rule ~ PSAMP
Soccer Player Moons Fans During Game ~ Sports Rubbish
Breakdown Of Future Pros: Tyler Hansbrough ~ the 5th Corner
Zack Greinke Hurts His ERA By Allowing A Run ~ Detroit4lyfe
Anquan Boldin Fires Agent Drew Rosenhaus ~ FOX Sports
WR Matt Jones Is Looking For A New NFL Home ~ My Sports Rumors
Paaaaaavanooo!!! ~ Tribe Daily
Cavs vs Magic Game 4 Recap ~ Talk Hoops
Five Coaches Most Likely To Be Sprewell’d ~ Zoner Sports
Penguins vs Hurricanes Highlights ~ The Program

The Pittsburgh Penguins are making things better for me considering that The Cavs gave Game 1 to Orlando.  Geno Malkin’s hat trick proves both he and Sidney Crosby are big game players.  A bit of Youngstown nostalgia in the above picture.  Harry Arroyo was briefly in the national spotlight as a boxing champion.  Arroyo still lives is Youngstown.  Here are some great stories to check out!

Top Internet Era Drunken Moments At The Indy 500 * Busted Coverage
Drew Barrymore Was Loaded At The Lakers-Nuggets Game * Steady Burn
Is Anderson Silva The Best Athlete Alive? * Fansided
What Were These Celebrities Really Thinking At The Lakers Game? * The World Of Isaac
Random Retro Baseball Player: Mark Gubicza * Sharapova’s Thigh
Steelers Visit White House, Give Hands-On Help To Troops * PSAMP
The Top-10 Movies About Baseball * In Game Now
Giants Lineman David Diehl Makes Comedy Debut, Makes Fun Of Brett Favre * Sports Rubbish
9 Classic Floyd Mayweather Moments * Hail Mary Jane
Yet Another New Kobe And Lebron Nike Commercial * Docksquad Sports
Jake Peavy Uses No-Trade Clause, Refuses White Sox Deal * FOX Sports
Dunks That Have Caused Some Damage * A Stern Warning
Akron Aeros Jeanmar Gomez Throws Perfect Game * Tribe Daily
Interleague Play Q & A * Baseball Reflections
Lakers vs Nuggets Game 2 Recap * Talk Hoops
Brian Kenny vs Floyd Mayweather Spunky Interviews * Zoner Sports
Penguins vs Hurricanes Game 2 Highlights * The Program