Jester of Death

The teams I am rooting for this season:

Jimmy Johnson (apparently was sent to the back for some illegal car changes)

Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman's Car (who was also sent to the back, even though they qualified 43rd )

Jeff Gordon (who is the Row 1 Outside starter)

and Carl Edwards (Gotta love the backflip)

So a poor showing for my teams this year

Okay, so I've been watching Curling since opening day...

HOW COULD THEY HAVE HIDDEN THIS FROM ME!!!

It is eerily addicting, and now I am an aspiring skip.

Although the US Women are last in the standings, Cassie Johnson and the rest of the "CurlGurls" are #1 in my heart. I love the loud foreign screaming noises, I don't know what they mean...

I make sure I wake up early to get a good dose of Curling, then get me some Hockey, then the primetime wrap-up of the skiing events, my favorite non-hockey/curling Olympic event.

Okay, so I've played this three times, and won the million twice.

Had the rest of my family play, two of the three won the million.

Either we really know how to pick the right case, or the game is fixed to make it seem like winning a million dollars is easy...

Women's Hockey: Canada kills Italy 16-0.

The D-Backs recently signed "journeyman" Eric Byrnes from Baltimore/Oakland/Colorado.

PHOENIX -- For outfielder Eric Byrnes, signing with the Diamondbacks allows him to play in a city in which he owns a home.

But that wasn't the main thing that prompted the free agent to agree to a one-year, $2.25 million deal with the Diamondbacks on Friday.

"More than anything coming into this season I just needed to find the best situation for me as far as playing baseball is concerned," he said. "That's what ultimately was the deciding factor more than money, more than location, more than anything else."

The best situation in Byrnes' mind is getting a chance to play center field on an everyday basis and that's the opportunity the Diamondbacks offered him. With highly-touted center field prospect Chris Young expected to start the year in Triple-A, Arizona was looking for a veteran that could handle the chores until the youngster was ready.

Enter Byrnes, a 29-year-old who plays the game with an all-out style that made him a fan favorite in Oakland when he played for the A's from 2003 until getting dealt to the Rockies and then the Orioles last year.

"It's a position that I've always thought was my best position," Byrnes said of center.

He was the A's main center fielder in 2003 when he hit .263, but after Oakland picked up Mark Kotsay to play the position, he played moved around a bit, but had his best year at the plate compiling a .283 batting average to go with 39 doubles, 20 homers and 73 RBIs.

"I think he's a player that can impact the game defensively and with the bat in his hand," said D-Backs general manager Josh Byrnes, who has no relation to his newest acquisition.

Center field at Chase Field is not an easy place to play. The big gaps as well as overhangs just to left and right of dead center make it more challenging.

"I've never even been there," Eric Byrnes said. "I just know there's a lot of room out there. [but] the way I look at things though the more room the better. I think I'm at my best when I'm running after balls and letting my speed make up for a wrong step that I might make now and then."

Byrnes is the second high-energy, high-enthusiasm player the Diamondbacks have acquired recently, with second baseman Orlando Hudson coming over from the Blue Jays in a trade earlier in the week.

The pair will help bring some life to a team that was criticized for not showing enough fire last season.

"These guys are probably two of the most unique guys in that their energy is visible," Josh Byrnes said of the pair.

Aside from filling a hole in center, Eric Byrnes, a right-handed hitter, also helps balance a lineup that is dominated by left-handed hitters.

The move seemingly caps Josh Byrnes' offseason makeover of the offense. Catcher Johnny Estrada, Hudson and Byrnes are newcomers, while Craig Counsell moves from second to short, Chad Tracy from first base/right field to third, which opens up a spot for youngster Conor Jackson at first.

On the pitching side of things, the D-Backs traded last year's Opening Day starter, Javier Vazquez, and let their No. 4 starter from a year ago, Shawn Estes, leave. In their place are Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez and Miguel Batista, who both came over in trades.

The only obvious hole now is a left-handed specialist in the bullpen.

When Josh Byrnes went to the Winter Meetings in Dallas earlier this month, some were wondering if he was ever going to make a deal.

Now, after a month in which he's basically remade his team, the question is when is he going to stop?

"I don't think much is going to happen in the next few days," Josh Byrnes said. "I really don't anticipate any large changes to our roster from here on out. But you never know."

Steve Gilbert is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- For 21 years, Doug Flutie's career has been defined by one play. Now the "Hail Flutie" has its historic bookend.

The 43-year-old Patriots backup converted the NFL's first successful drop kick since 1941, making an extra point in the fourth quarter of the Miami Dolphins' mostly meaningless 28-26 victory Sunday over New England.

"I think Doug deserves it," said usually dour Patriots coach Bill Belichick, who broke into a wide smile when his sprightly quarterback split the uprights off one bounce. "He is a guy that adds a lot to this game of football, has added a lot through his great career -- running, passing and now kicking.

"He's got a skill and we got a chance to let him use it, and I am happy for him. First time since '41," said Belichick, a football historian who last month brought out a leather helmet in his media session. "It might be 60 years again, too."

According to the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Web site, the league's last drop kick for points was on Dec. 21, 1941 -- two weeks after the bombing of Pearl Harbor -- when Ray "Scooter" McLean converted for the Chicago Bears to beat the New York Giants 37-9 in the NFL championship game.

"Flutie might have been there the last time it happened," placekicker Adam Vinatieri joked.

The ball was more round until 1934, making the bounce more predictable. And the rules were changed to require the kicker to be behind the line of scrimmage, relegating the drop kick to a riskier version of a place kick or extra point.

The dropkick remains in the NFL's official rule book, even though it hadn't been successfully converted in decades. Rule 3, Section 8 defines the drop kick as "a kick by a kicker who drops the ball and kicks it as, or immediately after, it touches the ground."

According to the Hall of Fame's site, ex-Bears quarterback Jim McMahon begged his coach for a chance to attempt a dropkick in a game. But his coach, Mike Ditka, denied the request.

But when ESPN broadcaster Chris Berman mentioned to Belichick that he'd seen Flutie drop kick, the coach called his quarterback into his office and asked if he could do it.

"I said, 'I could do it,' " Flutie said. "'There's no real application for it, but I could do it.' "

A native of nearby Natick, Flutie won the Heisman Trophy at Boston College after connecting with Gerard Phelan on a 48-yard touchdown pass to beat Miami as time expired. That is his signature play -- and one of the most memorable in college football history.

With the Patriots already happy with their playoff seeding, Tom Brady sat out most of the game so Matt Cassel, who's usually No. 3 behind Flutie, could get some snaps. He hit Tim Dwight for a 9-yard touchdown with 6:10 left, and Flutie came onto the field with the kicking unit.

"It sort of screwed me up," said Dolphins coach Nick Saban, who needed a timeout to get things straight. "I couldn't figure out what was going on. They had a quarterback in, four tight ends and a receiver and there was no kicker."

Flutie took his position for a regular shotgun snap, then retreated to the 12 yard-line to await the ball; he caught the ball, dropped it to the grass and kicked it off the short hop straight through the uprights. After getting a hug on the field by his teammates, Flutie ran off to embrace Belichick.

Even Saban appreciated the moment.

"I was kind of pleased to know that somebody can still drop kick," Saban said. "Man, when I was a kid we all practiced that. Thought it was a lost art.

"But," he added, "you know Flutie showed his age on that one."

The 1984 Heisman winner went into the USFL and the NFL, but only achieved stardom in the Canadian Football League, where he was a three-time Grey Cup champion and six-time Most Outstanding Player. He returned to the NFL in 1998 and played three years with Buffalo and four with San Diego before returning to New England for a second stint with the Patriots.

He hasn't said he will retire, but the impression that this is his final season was reinforced by Belichick's postgame valedictory.

"It's possible, but I'm not going to rule anything out," Flutie said. "But if that ends up being my last play, it wouldn't be bad."

That was one of the BEST swings I have ever seen from a major league ball player.

I was sitting there saying, just throw the heat to him, and his first curveball ended up scuffing up the wall above the Crawford Boxes in left field.

Now the Astros need to pull one more out of their hat in the now retired Busch Stadium.

It is on again at 12:30am CST time, so for all yall's with Tivo, you can check it out

Arizona Diamondbacks

Royce Clayton, SS

Jose Cruz Jr, OF

Matt Herges, RHP

Shawn Estes, LHP

Kerry Ligtenberg, RHP

Tim Worrell, RHP

Honestly, the only one I would want to see back is Royce Clayton, but strictly as a backup.

And how old is this list, Jose Cruz Jr. has been off the D-Backs roster for nearly 3 months.

Yeah, I have one

Not like anyone cares, but this is my first post in a whole month due to that damn hurricane Rita.

Janelle wins Round Two in what seemed to be a Question/Answer Round.

Friday's Show will feature Live, IVETTE vs. JANELLE for the FINAL HOH and GUARANTEED $50,000 dollars, and a shot at $500,000 dollars.

I picked James from the start and now he is in perfect position to win.

Once Kaysar's group is ultimately dead, which is looking good although I don't want it to happen.

In the end it will either be a friendship member along with James or a Kaysar along with James, the group in the jury won't want the other to win, meaning James will be the champion...

VIDEO OF THE EVENTS!!!

http://www.robnoxious.net/Howie-rant-on-April.avi

Seriously, watch that and tell me you'll get to see all of that on Tuesday's show. Uncensored and uncut.

April

Jennifer

Rachel

Janelle

Kaysar

Beau

Ivette

Maggie

James

Kaysar and Jennifer are all that remains at 6:25 BBT as a wake up.

From what I've collected: Beau wins the Martini Bari

Janelle won the Plasma Screen

April won $3,000 cash

James quit minutes after Ivette for no reason

and Rachel was the 3rd place winner, so she is locked in the box until the game is over.

I think the order went:

Beau

Janelle

April

Ivette

James

Maggie

Rachel

1:36 EST

10:36 BBT

April

Jennifer

Rachel

Janelle

Kaysar

Beau

Ivette

Maggie

James

All the Houseguests are still holding the buttons. There is a no-handswitch restriction as well as no sitting or kneeling. So far the Flies are the only open box.

Howie is being Howie by being sexual and just plain rude.

I should be getting my copy by the end of the week like usual, but unfortunatly I don't own NCAA or NFL Street 2 so I am just going to end up as a late-rounder in Superstar Mode.

The EB Games at the mall is releasing the game at 12:01 tommorrow, meaning in about 2 hours. I won't travel all the way to the mall for it but I still think this is going to be a solid game.

And BTW, Precision Passing > Superstar Mode

NFC East

1. Eagles

2. Cowboys

3. Redskins

4. Giants

NFC North

1. Vikings

2. Lions

3. Packers

4. Bears

NFC South

1. Falcons

2. Panthers

3. Saints

4. Buccaneers

NFC West

1. Seahawks

2. Cardinals

3. Rams

4. 49ers

AFC East

1. Patriots

2. Jets

3. Dolphins

4. Bills

AFC North

1. Steelers

2. Ravens

3. Browns

4. Bengals

AFC South

1. Colts

2. Jaguars

3. Texans

4. Titans

AFC West

1. Chargers

2. Broncos

3. Raiders

4. Chiefs

Super Bowl

Eagles d. Chargers

Buyout period ends tommorow.

I'm just waiting to see which cable channel is going to pick up the NHL.

Looks like USA an SpikeTV are front runners right now.

Jennifer has apparently factioned herself away from April and "Cappy's" group. A long conversation with Kaysar seems to have swayed her over to the "Jedi Council"-Howie

Red Wings to shed veteran trio

Associated Press

DETROIT -- The Detroit Red Wings placed defenseman Derian Hatcher and forwards Darren McCarty and Ray Whitney on waivers Monday, effectively cutting ties with the three high-profile veterans.

If the trio go unclaimed, the Red Wings have the option of buying out their contracts and making them unrestricted free agents.

Hatcher's contract calls for a salary of $4.94 million this season, Whitney is due $2.66 million and McCarty $1.71 million.

"They've been a big, big part of our franchise," Red Wings assistant general manager Jim Nill said. "This is just a part of doing business right now with the new CBA."

The NHL's new collective bargaining agreement features a $39 million salary cap, and teams were granted a six-day window on Saturday to shed cumbersome contracts.

The 33-year-old Hatcher, a former Dallas Stars captain, signed with Detroit as a free agent before the 2003-04 season. Considered at the time to be one of the best all-around defensemen in the league, the big, bruising Hatcher had little impact with his hometown team, tearing a knee ligament in the third game and missing the majority of that season.

Whitney, 33, also signed as a free agent with the Wings during 2003. He had 24 goals and 52 assists the season before with Columbus, and the Red Wings hoped he could fill the void created when Sergei Fedorov signed with Anaheim. With Detroit in 2003-04, Whitney managed 14 goals and 29 assists.

McCarty, who has spent his entire 11-year career with Detroit, is a fan favorite whose style of play embodies the blue-collar spirit of the city. The 33-year-old McCarty won three Stanley Cups with the Wings and scored the series-winning goal against Philadelphia in 1997.

"He's a hardworking, roll-up-your-sleeves kind of guy," Nill said. "He's really what the city's all about. He came every night to play hard. He was a big part of our success."

James decides to use the Power of Veto and removes himself from nomination. Kaysar nominates Eric alongside of Maggie.

Maggie and Eric are a team.

James Wins POV. Pairs are then exposed and Ivette is having a breakdown.

April is still denying but the rest of the houseguests are having fun with the revelations

I hate Ivette and Maggie... oh and Eric. The gay guy is fine but he is partners with Ivette so I hate him too. Oh and I also hate that blonde haired girl that brought up the whole sexual harrassment thing and she vaguely reminds me of some actress but not sure who.

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I'm loving the season this year, but no one else in America likes this show because they are to enthralled with The Surreal Life and Nanny 911???

I guess this is the rundown for the impending lottery...

TSN to broadcast draft lottery in Canada

Associated Press

TORONTO -- U.S. hockey fans will have to rely on regional cable outlets for full, live coverage Friday of the NHL draft lottery.

The event will determine the entire 30-team draft order as well as which club has won the right to draft 17-year-old Canadian juniors phenom Sidney Crosby.

While people up north can turn to TSN -- Canada's version of ESPN -- to see NHL commissioner Gary Bettman open the envelopes, American viewers will have to live in the right areas of the nation or settle for bits and pieces of news.

The cable outlets that will show TSN's telecast in their viewing areas are Altitude in Denver; Comcast Sports Net in Chicago, the Mid-Atlantic area and Philadelphia; and New York's MSG Network.

ESPN, which earlier this year decided not to pick up a $60 million option to broadcast hockey games next season, also passed on the chance to show the lottery in full.

"We have ongoing conversations with the NHL on a number of different topics," ESPN spokesman Josh Krulewitz said. "It was expressed from our end that this was not something we were interested in televising.

"It never went any further than that," he said.

ESPN News, an all-sports news channel of the network, will feature some live cut-ins of TSN's telecast -- probably when the winners of the top two picks are revealed.

It will be on a news basis as opposed to scheduled programming.

The network hasn't ruled out televising NHL games next season but wants to do it on a more cost-effective basis. The damage from the lockout that wiped out all of last season is not yet known.

"Our goal is to have something more reflective of the value," Krulewitz said.

ESPN has begun exploring alternative programming possibilities should it not televise hockey games.

The NHL will soon begin its two-year profit-sharing arrangement with NBC. That was originally supposed to begin with the canceled 2004-05 season.

Projections have NHL revenues falling somewhere between $1.7 billion and $1.8 billion -- down from $2.1 billion before the lockout.