AOL Sports Desk Blog

10:36:37 AM EST

The NHL held its annual All-Star Game this past week in Dallas, and judging by the miniscule television ratings, not too many people noticed.

Only 474,000 households tuned in to the telecast on Versus, which meant the NHL's mid-season showcase event was outdrawn by an Andy Griffith rerun on TV Land.

Yes, that's right, according to USA Today's Michael Hiestand, Opie Taylor outdrew Alexander Ovechkin by 85 percent in the ratings during Wednesday's telecast.

Of course, the NHL has done its best to disappear from public consciousness since the lockout last season, going to the barely-noticed Outdoor Life Network, which elected to enter the witness protection program this past fall when it changed its name to Versus. And of course, while the league signed a two-year, $130 million deal from the network to show most of its showcase events (while allowing NBC to show others without any money whatsoever), it has effectively has dropped itself off the radar.

How anonymous is Versus? After the 0.7 national rating was announced, the network issued a press release saying it had joined the Top 15 of U.S. cable networks with the telecast. Honestly, if you're bragging you're in the top 15 of anything, it's probably not going too well, as it's tough for most people to name 10 cable networks, let alone 15.

And, for those fans hoping to see the NHL on a network you've heard of anytime soon, you're out of luck. Multichannel News is reporting Versus will be extending its deal to carry the NHL for the next four seasons, paying the league another $72.5 million for the 2007-08 campaign, or about $152 per household that watched the All-Star Game. All this despite a 0.2 rating for regular-season games that can't easily found on cable systems that aren't owned by Versus' corporate parent, Comcast.

In its missteps over the last decade since Sports Illustrated declared "Why the NHL's Hot and the NBA's Not," the league effectively decided to take the extra money to take a lack of publicity and see its brightest stars overshadowed by reruns a 1960s sitcom.

But hey, at least the sitcom takes place in the state the Stanley Cup resides, right?

Written by deskblog Permalink | Blog about this entry |  Add to del.icio.us |  digg this This entry has 9 comments: Show Recent | Add your own

4:44:16 PM EST
The Mets have their eye on a No. 1 starter, but might not be willing to write a blank check.

Written by deskblog Permalink | Blog about this entry |  Add to del.icio.us |  digg this This entry has 6 comments: Show Recent | Add your own

5:35:09 PM EDT

Cory Lidle's plane crashed into a Manhattan condominium on Wednesday.

While we get updates for our site on the tragedy, we'll gather links to stories we find elsewhere and compile them here for you.

New York Times: Breaking coverage

NY Daily News: Breaking Coverage

Deadspin: Breaking Coverage

ESPN: Pedro Gomez, and others reflect

SI Flashback: Thurman Munson's death

FOXSports.com: Ken Rosenthal gives perspective

Written by deskblog Permalink | Blog about this entry |  Add to del.icio.us |  digg this This entry has 6 comments: Show Recent | Add your own

10:17:24 PM EDT

Texas got jealous of an opponents' big scoreboard last season and just had to go and get something even bigger. (Makes sense, that's why I upgraded my TV)

This puppy is 55 heet high and 134 feet wide and ranks as the largest high definition video device in the world.

The players have already started talking about playing a little Madden 2007 on it, which brings up the possibility of playing with video players biggger than the real thing.

There's an even bigger one in China already in the works. Good thing Texas doesn't play China or this thing might become obsolete.

Written by deskblog Permalink | Blog about this entry |  Add to del.icio.us |  digg this This entry has 8 comments: Show Recent | Add your own

6:40:30 PM EDT

The woman wearing the full-length Iverson jersey might not be in the stands in Philly as much in the near future.

Ann Iverson, mother of Allen, now has her very own hoops team to attend to. And given that it's an ABA franchise, don't expect her son to be suiting up anytime soon.

Personally, I think it's great. Maybe McNabb's mom can buy into the Arena League.

The Richmond, Va. based team will be called the Warriors. If she called them the Momma's Boys, I'd be an instant fan. Heck, I'd even make the drive over to watch them play in person.

You got any thoughts on the team or promotions she should run? Leave 'em in the comments section below.

Written by deskblog Permalink | Blog about this entry |  Add to del.icio.us |  digg this This entry has 19 comments: Show Recent | Add your own

11:35:35 PM EDT

Another season of NFL Sundays is upon us and that means we have to figure out a way to wrap up the big stories from the weekend. Which brings us to The Blitz, coming out every Sunday night. Also, make your suggestions right here.

Let us know what you think, and more importantly, what's missing. Be gentle folks, it's a work in progress. Leave your comments below and we'll see what we can do.

Written by deskblog Permalink | Blog about this entry |  Add to del.icio.us |  digg this This entry has 0 comments: Add your own

10:08:37 PM EDT

Last week we asked you to submit predictions for the upcoming season.

Here are the best of the bunch:

phillyeagls1 says: Your predictions are cool, kind of sarcastic, but here's some of my predictions for the 2006 football season and the next season.
-Larry Johnson will break two records in one season. The single season rushing record and the single season TD record.
-When everybody thinks that the Madden cover jinx is broken, coverboy Shaun Alexander will suffer a concussion in week 14, causing him to miss the rest of the 06 season.
-In Reggie Bush's first game in the Superdome, he and Michael Vick will go into a jukefest resulting in Reggie running for 158 yards and 78 yards recieving and 3 total touchdowns.
-Against the Philadelphia Eagles in week 15, Terrell Owens will crack three ribs after running a slant and getting planted by Brian Dawkins.
-Superbowl prediction Panthers, 27 Steelers, 23. 2006 Offensive Rookie of the Year DeAngelo Williams will rush for 136 yards and a td and will be named the MVP.
2007 predictions
-Larry Johnson will be the Madden coverboy and will break the jinx.
-Four players will suffer career ending injuries in 07. And the players are: Willis McGahee, Rueben Droughns, Mushin Muhammad, and Michael Clayton. Hence, Maurice Stovall will step into his own and catch 84 receptions for 1153 yards and 14 td's.
-Superbowl 42. Eagles 28, Chiefs 24. Reggie Brown will catch a 58 yard slant and take it to the house. He will have 9 receptions for 164 yards and 2 tds as he will be named MVP of this Superbowl.

todnlaurie says: Laugh now, remember it later:
2006 will be the year that Billy (WHO?) Volek comes into his own as a legitimate starter, creating a 2007 Young/ Volek QB controversy like San Diego had to deal with- ahem- deal away this past offseason. The offseason moves The Titans made plant them firmly in the category of last year's Cardinals (Top 10 in offense AND defense, can't win enough games).
2006 will be the year Atlanta finally gets tired of the endless "learning curve" of Michael Vick and comes to realize what a few of us have known all along: Vick was a great college quarterback. So were AndreWare and Ryan Leaf. Get a real QB and use Vick where he can be more effective- if his body can take it.
2006 will be the year the Dolphins finally throw the Patriots off the AFC East throne. The Dolphins' window of opportunty is closing on the fingers of Jason Taylor and Zack Thomas. The Patriots will be riddled by injuries on the offensive side of the ball this year, and with the exodus of key receivers, even Tom Brady won't be able to pull them out of this one. Rookie Chad Jackson will be the (very) bright spot there. Neither team will make a splash in the playoffs, however. The Dolphins haven't had a legitimate Home- run receiver since Marino was QB, and they seem determined to never get one.
Steven Jackson will have a phenomenal year in St. Louis. He should rush for 1,00 yards in 4 games against the Cardinals and 49ers.  
2006 will be the year T.O. finally gets what he wants- his own Super Bowl. It will be played at halftime of the REAL Super Bowl, against himself. It will be a tie, beacuse he could NEVER blame himself for a loss. A minor side note that day will be the Panthers squeaking by the Bengals, 24- 21.
 

imust  says: The lack of a quarterback with a real arm and the ability to make unpaniced pass read decisions finally catches up to the Cafrolina Panthers.  They won't have enough offense to score more than 20 points a game.  This lack of offense will keep their excellent defense on the field close to 40 minutes a game.  Seattle showed that without a passing game, Carolina can be kept at bay and probably will not even make the playoffs.  Look for Atlanta and Tampa to exploit this to the nth degree.
Indianapolis will not notice the loss of E. James.  While he accoounted for a 1000 yards per season, his backups prioved ver capable when he was on IR.  Colts will go deep into the playoffs but fall short of the Super Bowl.  
St Louis ...great cheerleaders...no defense.  Will be under .500.  Arizona will be better than expected and be above .500.  Possible wildcard team.  NFC championship winner will come from the Eastern division.  But it won't be Philly.  Joe Gibbs will make the most of his talent and thedivision will be decided on how well Wash, NY, and Dallas  do against each other.  Hate to say it, but big D will be in the Super Bowl ...again.  Losing to..............wait for the rest first.
New Englands run in the AFC East comes to an end as the fish look good enouogh on paper to take the division(Miami wins the Division).  But not good enough to go deep in the playoffs.  Can Phillip Rivers take SD to a title game?  Nope but they can win a div title.  So who goes to the super bowl from the AFC?  Well, it sure ain't KC.  You guys at AOL been listening to classical music or what?  Baltimore with a real QB,  now that is a dangerous combination.  Steelers were an abberation last year, fail to make playoffs this year.  Ravens find ways to win and I see them in the Super Bowl over Dallas.  OK wags, have at it.

dan97lhs says:

2006 Season:
AFC:
East Champion: Patriots
North Champion: Steelers
South Champion: Colts
West Champion: Broncos
Wild Card Teams: Dolphins, Bengals

NFC:
East Champion: Redskins
North Champion: Bears
South Champion: Panthers
West Champion: Seahawks
Wild Cards: Cowboys, Bucs

AFC Championship: Broncos over Colts
NFC Championship: Redskins over Panthers

Super Bowl XLI: Redskins 27, Broncos 17
MVP: Clinton Portis

Written by deskblog Permalink | Blog about this entry |  Add to del.icio.us |  digg this This entry has 2 comments: Show Recent | Add your own

9:59:24 PM EDT

There is a lot of stuff out there to comment on today:

- Reggie Bush denies he's dating this woman. He must not be, because I couldn't let myself lie about that.

- Maurice Clarett gets caught with four loaded guns and wearing a bulletproof vest. The owner of his new team - The Hitmen - says he's heard of much worse.

- Terrell Owens finally did some good things in Cowboys practice, but the Big Tuna says he didn't see a thing.

- USA Today's John Saraceno isn't buying what Floyd Landis is selling.

- A Redskins rookie misses practice. Then the team finds Kili Lefotu unconcious in his room. He's in the hopsital doing better now, but it's still freaky.

- A former NBA All-Star gets charged with sexual assault of an 8-year-old girl. Some days, this job can leave you jaded.

Written by deskblog Permalink | Blog about this entry |  Add to del.icio.us |  digg this This entry has 0 comments: Add your own

6:51:00 PM EDT

With the Hall of Fame game kicking off tonight, it's time to start working on the ass groove in the couch, determining just how many cheezy poofs you can fit in your mouth and bidding adieu to your toes until springtime.  And it's time to talk football.  Which is to say, it's time for you to do our jobs. We want to know your predictions for the season. Just give us the basics; Who's going to surprise, who's going to disappoint, who's going to get arrested in the fluffiest fur jacket? Give us your Super Bowl picks, your breakout players and your projected records..  

And just to prove that no job is done at AOL Sports without the requisite half an ass, here's our projections for the '06 season. 

 - Terrell Owens will say at least one unpleasant thing about erstwhile Chunky Soup pitchman Donovan McNabb, making the Philadelphia quarterback angrier than a carrot in a spoonful of potatoes.  T.O., meanwhile, has an MVP quality season.

- Drew Rosenhaus still gives young spelling bee hopefuls everywhere a chance to use the words "smarmy" and "unctuous" in the same sentence.

- Someone from the Cincinnati Bengals will be arrested by the time you finish reading this sentence.

- At least one Pro Bowler from last season will miss a significant entire 2006 season after suffering an injury in the preseason, possibly after being attacked by aforementioned Bengal.

- Indianapolis Colts center Jeff Saturday will continue to live life beneath the sword of Damocles that is Peyton Manning's enormous tottering head, before Manning suddenly announces a retirement to pursue his life long dream of being a Pep Boy.

- Unimaginative sportswriters across the country will use the phrase "Wheels come off the Cadillac" when Carnell Williams gets injuried after his third-straight 30-plus carry game in Week 6. (Note to self: Remember "Wheels come off the Cadillac")

- Reggie Bush gets injured sometime in the first eight weeks of the season, turning into the biggest disappointment since Barbra Streisand's poetically soulful yet threateningly banal last album.  We like Babs, dammit (edit: our night editor likes Babs. The rest of us? We're dudes.)

- Despite their offseason moves, the Washington Redskins will return to the days of the Fortune .500 teams.  Cost a fortune, finishes .500.  Taking a page out of President Skroob's playbook, Dan Snyder continues plans to find some way to charge fans for air consumed at FedEx Field.

- Super Bowl results? We got your Super Bowl results: Panthers 27, Chiefs 10.  Keyshawn Johnson gets the damn ball twice for scores. Michael Irvin wags his, uh, "friend's" drug pipe angrily.

- Twinkies continue disappearing at an alarming rate in the general vicinity of what John Madden now dubs the Hall of Fame hole. Blood for Cream!

So whaddya got? Line up your lead pipe locks for us and we'll print the best. 

Written by deskblog Permalink | Blog about this entry |  Add to del.icio.us |  digg this This entry has 27 comments: Show Recent | Add your own

6:10:11 PM EDT

Mark McGwire refused to talk about the past when he testified before congress last year.

Now he's refusing completely to talk to George Mitchell (NY Daily News), leader of MLB's internal steroid investigation.

You know, McGwire comes off possibly worse than anyone in this whole thing. At least Barry Bonds gets indignant once in a while. Heck, he's downright sympathetic once in a while as the government tries to find a way to nail him for something.

But Big Mac just hides, rarely making any appearances at games or events, refusing to take a job with the Cardinals staff, ignoring his promise to speak out to kids about the dangers of using non-prescribed drugs. Heck, even when he said that he couldn't say the word steroids - he had to phrase it like it's a matter of kids abusing everyday prescriptions. 

For the record, he did make a donation to the charity set up in the name of a kid who committed suicide after uusing steroids. He wanted his donation kept quiet, supposedly to avoid any publicity for his good deed. Surely it's not to hide the fact that he gave  a whopping $15,000. Way to go big spender.

Floyd Landis is not too far off, issuing excuses through his flacks but staying out of the public eye.

Edit: Forgot to mention Sports Bloggers Live asked Reds legend Johnny Bench about McGwire the other day and his stance was basically "he's never failed a test and he belongs in the Hall of Fame."

User comment: As for his donation to the foundation, the amount and the fact he did it without blaring it out shows his class.  You are out of line by objecting to the amount, since he also supports many other charitable causes.
-- Comment from ralphallen7

Response: Still think the amount was skimpy and it was just to appease the guy whose testimony affected him so much during the hearings. But you are definitely right on about his other charitable stuff, his foundation gives plenty to very worthy causes.

Written by deskblog Permalink | Blog about this entry |  Add to del.icio.us |  digg this This entry has 16 comments: Show Recent | Add your own