Buckeyes Hoopsters Have Long History of “Almost”

BY: CHUCK HILSTON

The day is April 3^rd, 2007. It doesn’t appear tobe all that different from any typical day. In fact, for the area, about tenminutes to the north of downtown Columbus, along the banks of the OlentangyRiver, it seems quite nice. There is no precipitation, and the temperatureisn’t obnoxiously hot, just a perfect spring day on which a college student canwear shorts and flip flops, and play some Ultimate Frisbee. However, somethingabout this day just doesn’t feel right to the untrained eye. People seem tohave somewhat of a depressed look about them considering these circumstances.

Whatthis person might not know however, is that last night, a majority of them hadbeen very hyped up. Their Buckeyes, after several early round scares, hadmanaged to make it all the way to the National Championship game behind theinside dominance of Greg Oden, the crafty offense of Mike Conley, and theelectric shooting of Ron Lewis. In most years, this probably would’ve meant acelebration, as they probably would’ve won it all. However, they ended up runninginto an unstoppable Florida Gatorsteam which had an incredible shooting night and which had rubbed salt in thewounds of their foe which had suffered having been run off the field in thefootball title game several months earlier. Still though, Buckeye fansshould’ve been incredibly proud of what had transpired, as making the titlegame is a tremendous accomplishment. However, for many this ended up being toomuch to handle.

Tounderstand this, you first have to understand their basketball history. OhioState has undoubtedly been one of the top ten teams in college basketball athaving a consistently winning product on the field, reaching 11 Final Fours.However, when push came to shove, they just haven’t been able to seal the deal.Back to back championship game losses to in state rival Cincinnati seemed toset the tone for the rest of the next half century. It seems to always be atheme of so close, yet so far away. Standouts including Clark Kellogg, JimJackson, Michael Redd, Scoonie Penn, the aforementioned ’07team and even this current group with Buford, Sullinger and Craft have haddreams of cutting down the nets, yet, it just hasn’t happened.

Thisgroup, while they have achieved much throughout this year is setting the bar atchampionship-or-bust. However, it would be completely unfair to be disappointedif they fall short. They have already blown up any expectations a majority ofpeople had for them before the tourney. However, unfortunately, many will stilllook at this season as a disappointment should they not be able to first beat Kansas, then beat a Kentucky team that is the best collegebasketball has seen in several years. As a former Ohio Resident and lifetimefan, I for one, am definitely happy with all this team has accomplished regardlessof what happens in the next two games. However, it sure would be nice to winone and cut down the nets, and party, just like Jerry Lucas, JohnHavlicek and Bob Knight did in 1960.

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Not Another Love Song

Why Kevin Love isn’t a serious MVP candidate – as authored by one of his biggest fans.

@BreakTheHuddle

Lately there have been questions, polite suggestions, and even a few bold assertions that Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Love belongs in the MVP discussion. Sports Illustrated’s Zach Lowe was so impressed with Kevin Love’s weekend (51 points at Oklahoma City on Friday night followed by a 30 point, 21 rebound performance during Sunday’s matinee) that he asked (via Twitter) the following question: “Why is Kevin Durant a better MVP candidate than Kevin Love?”

Zach Lowe is one of the best NBA writers out there, and even he seems to at least be intrigued by Love’s MVP prospects. Such speculation leaves most fans in Minnesota (and other NBA fans around the country) wondering – can Kevin Love could really win the NBA Most Valuable Player trophy this season? I’d like to take a second of your time to answer this question as succinctly as I can:

No.

Allow me to explain myself.

The mental exercise all serious sports fans and pundits go through every awards season about “What the MVP really means”, or arguments about whether the award is for “the best player, or the player most valuable to his team” is one that never seems to get settled. “Value” can mean different things to different people, depending on who you think ought to win the trophy. If by “value”, you mean, “the player whose subtraction would spell the most doom for his team”, Love is probably a good candidate. If by “value” you mean, “the best player in the NBA”, Love isn’t your guy.

It’s hard for me to be unbiased when discussing Love – I believe he’s been nothing short of a revelation this season. He lost weight, improved his outside shooting and still rebounds at a high rate. Without the presence of Kevin Love, it’s fair to wonder if Ricky Rubio would’ve even come to play in the U.S. at all. Since he did, and since we got a glimpse of the future before Rubio was injured, there is reason for Minnesota basketball fans reason to have some hope. Without Love, the Timberwolves would be jockeying for position in the Draft Lottery with Charlotte, Washington and New Orleans. But that doesn’t make him the MVP.

Statistics aren’t the issue either  - Love is averaging 26.0 points, 13.8 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game, all while shooting 45.5% from the field, 81% from the free throw line and 37.8% from beyond the arc. He’s 4^th in scoring and 2^nd in rebounding. The only players listed at Power Forward or Center in the NBA shooting better from deep are Matt Bonner (Spurs role-player) and Ryan Anderson (Magic three point specialist). Love is fifth in the NBA in Player Efficiency Rating (a complicated, QB Rating-esque stat) behind James, Wade, Durant and Chris Paul. Statistically, he’s done everything an MVP caliber player is asked to do, except for one thing…

…Winning enough games. When it comes to winning the MVP award, the pattern is clear – the player who had the best season on one of the best teams wins. The past ten MVP award winners all played for teams with winning percentages above .658; as of Monday, Love’s Timberwolves are three games under .500 (24-27). Maybe the NBA ought to change the name of the award from Most Valuable Player to Most Outstanding Player to curtail all the ambiguity. But in terms of “value”, the NBA seems to place a high emphasis on regular season victories over any stories of “improvement” or “importance to a franchise”. 

After all, this is the league that gave its 1961-62 MVP not to the man who averaged a triple double (Oscar Robertson), nor to the man who averaged 50 points and 25 rebounds (Wilt Chamberlain), but to Bill Russell. Not even a transcendent statistical season will earn you a Most Valuable Player award – and while Love’s season has been special, it’s nowhere near transcendent.

The rationale displayed in the 1962 vote is as old as the game itself - even if it hasn’t always been expressly stated. Basketball is about wins and losses, not individual numbers. Basketball is the sport in which one dominant player can carry a team to many more victories than he ought to. Points, rebounds, and assists are nice counting stats, but aren’t iron-clad indicators of the best players. In this sense, the MVP vote is very subjective – numbers can get you in the neighborhood of the MVP, but can’t get you in the house.

With the rapid improvements Love has made to his game, plus the addition of Ricky Rubio (who will hopefully return at 100%) to the Timberwolves, the time is coming for Kevin Love. He has a respected coach (Rick Adelman), an emerging front court partner (Nikola Pekovic), some talented role players (Luke Ridnour, Martell Webster and Derrick Williams) and a General Manager (David Kahn) who appears to have figured out what he’s doing. Kevin Love’s stock is trending upward – he’s gone from a doughy, undersized big man to a dynamic offensive and rebounding force in just four seasons. He’s 23 years old.

Will he be the NBA MVP this year? No.

Will he win an NBA MVP at some point in the future? Let me answer this as succinctly as I can.

Yes.

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BreakTheHuddle is a weekly contributor to The Daily Shootout. Check him out at www.breakthehuddle.wordpress.com and follow him on Twitter @BreakTheHuddle.

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Jared Sullinger’s Selflessness, Drive Keys Buckeye Run

BY: CHUCK HILSTON

There are many adjectives which could be used to describe Jared Sullinger.  Obviously you can look right away at his intangibles on the court.  He’s able to use his bulk around the hoop to get close range shots and draw fouls.  At times he is also able to play the outside game and hit mid-range jumpers and threes.  Such a combination can cause nightmares for any coach in America.  However, I think that the best and most important quality which he possesses is the ability to think about the team before his own stats.

As shocking as it may be for many casual fans to learn, Sullinger has taken his fair share of criticism this year.  Never mind the fact that he was a first team All-American again, I believe it’s simply our human nature to criticize those who achieve success.  Many in the national media and even some in Buckeye Nation wondered why Sullinger seemingly didn’t have quite as dominating a season in comparison to the previous year.  Some even speculated that his draft stock would fall or he just wasn’t trying hard enough.  The fact that Sullinger was playing center this year after playing power forward the previous season, even though he’s better suited as the former, mostly went ignored.  However, the criticism didn’t exactly hinder him during the tournament.  “I appreciated everyone that doubted us,” Sullinger said after the win (against Syracuse).  “I want to thank you all because, through the adversity, we constantly pushed through that. I mean, we came from nothing, according to you all, to something.”

 He is no stranger to being unselfish though.  Being the youngest of three kids in any household can lead to lots of time and attention sharing.  However, if this happens to be a household with three standout basketball players, attention sharing goes to a whole new level.  His two older brothers, Julian and J.J., played college ball at Kent State and Ohio State respectively.  The fact that they are older made it more difficult, since they never took it easy on him during pickup games of one-on-one.  Probably a big reason that he has such a multifaceted game is that he learned very early in life that he could not overpower everyone.

This is part of what has made him such an unselfish player for the Buckeyes.  He is always willing to pass to someone else for what usually is a better shot, as he is typically being knocked around/double teamed in the post.  It has Ohio State sitting at 31-7 in the Final Four, something that a month ago seemed almost impossible, even to some members of Buckeye Nation.

               

An old expression goes, you have to value the name on the front of your jersey more than the name on the back, and Sullinger exemplifies that perfectly.  This is partly because of the fact that he truly LOVES Ohio State.  His father, Satch, who coached at nearby Northland High School where his son attended, retired from there at the end of last season and he attends almost every game.  Jared has watched too many Buckeye games to count while growing up, and he is truly as passionate about them as anyone.  Whether his presence inside will actually lead to a National Championship or whether he decides to turn pro this year remains to be seen.  One thing is certain though, Buckeye fans truly appreciate what he has done for the past two years, and while he may never be a superstar in the NBA, he will always be something perhaps more unique: a team player.

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A Few Good Men: Miami Hurricane Edition

BY: DAN HAUSER

The University of Miami football program has been one of the best and most successful programs in the nation over the past 3 decades. Ever since Howard Schnellenberger came in and kept the local Miami kids “home” to play for the home town team the success on the field has been like that of the Notre Dame’s, Michigan’s, and Penn State’s. Since 1980 the Hurricanes have won 9 conference championships, 5 national championships, 15 bowl victories, and 2 Heisman trophy winners. Also in that period of time the Hurricanes had an NCAA record 58 game home winning streak and sent a player to the NFL an NCAA record 14 consecutive years in the first round alone. Pull up any given NFL roster and it will be loaded with former All-American ‘Canes.

So with all the success that this program has had in the past 30 years, why are they now resorting to this?

These posters have been plastered all over the school’s gyms and wellness centers. The same school that produced All-Americans like Michael Irvin, Bernie Blades, Andre Johnson, Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, and Willis McGahee, just to name a few, are now calling for anyone at the school that is at least six foot one and two hundred and thirty pounds to come and try out for an offensive line position. The once honored and storied “U” found on the side of the helmets can now be yours simply by meeting those height and weight requirements and not because you have earned the right to wear it. Can you imagine if a sign like this would have been put up in the late 80’s and early 90’s? Well actually it never would have happened because of the talent pool being brought in. But if it had guys like Bernie Blades would have lit these “scrubs” up just for putting on the helmet and pads and trying to play for “The U”. Oh how the mighty have fallen.

Now let me get off my high horse for a minute. I know that all programs accept walk on’s. Walk on’s have always been apart of the college game. However, a program like this should not need to resort to something like this. Now if this were say FAU or even our neighbors down the street at FIU then maybe it wouldn’t be so bad. But this is The U! This is a program that for decades have known they are better than you and will remind you of it for sixty minutes as they are shoving your faces into the ground and flaunting it all the way. This is “Swagger U” not some start up D-1 team who is trying to get a program started an on the map. They are already on the map.

As a Hurricanes fan I am hoping that the gentleman that they are looking for are for the practice squad or that they pan out to be great football players that can help the program out. It just doesn’t seem like something that The University of Miami should have to resort to doing. For the time being though all we as ‘Canes fans can do is wait and see.

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Foe By Nature: Kentucky vs Louisville

By Julia Chongarlides 

The NCAA Tournament is coming to a close, well not yet, but most of the hype is over, right? Nope! Definitely not since the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville are playing each other in the final four. The two campuses are 75 miles apart from each other. I feel bad for those who live in the middle. They have to pick a side, between good and evil. But, which team is good and which team is evil? Or are there even a good and an evil? Maybe, it’s the decision of what color you like better, red or blue? Ok, ok…maybe, or probably, the color has nothing to do with what team you cheer for.

This rivalry has caused siblings to fist fight, grandparents to dislike their kin, and grown men sobbing like 3-month year old babies. Although the Wildcats (107-47) have a better record in the Tournament, this doesn’t mean the Cardinals (60-39) can’t burst into the “ship”. Both teams are tied at two games apiece in Tournament meetings. This game, which is the highest tournament meeting since 1984, will break the tie and pick a winner forever. Ha-ha. No, not forever, but until the next potential reunion. 

Rick Pitino, Louisville’s current head coach, coached the University of Kentucky to three Final Four appearances and won the NCAA Championship in 1996 before taking the head-coaching job at the University of Louisville in 2001. Now we have a reason why the rivalry is so intense in Kentucky. It’s all Rick Pitino’s fault!

Police in Louisville and Lexington have announced plans to close off streets and make their presence known around each campus. Which is definitely a good idea in my book. But this, this just seems ludicrous; certain bars are only allowing Cardinals entrance to prevent fighting. Is this rivalry as serious as Red Sox/ Yankees games? I think so. Yesterday, at a Kentucky dialysis center, one patient swung at another during an argument over the UK/ UofL rivalry. A dialysis center! During treatment! This game is definitely going to make a ruckus in Kentucky on Saturday.

The Wildcats are entering Saturday’s game with a 36-2 record on the season while Louisville is 30-9. New Orleans is going to have a show! Tune in Saturday at 6:00pm EST. 


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Kentucky’s dominance changing the one and done mentality?

BY: LAMONT BROADUS

If you want to debate, talk about whether you think the NBA should change its one and done rule. College players have the option to spend one year in college and after that year they may elect to enter the NBA draft early. From a negative perspective fans hate the rule. They feel it sucks the excitement out of the sport. It also puts a huge amount of pressure on the coaches and schools, trying to recruit new students year after year and installing a good basketball system with so many new faces. On the latter side fans argue that it’s the player’s choice, if they have the opportunity take it. Injuries could happen, and people want to make money fast. 

The coach that is dominating the competition with this rule is surprisingly not in favor of it, “There are some opinions that will never change, and I’m not trying to change them,” Calipari said. “It’s not my rule. But the only thing I can do is recruit the best players, the best students who go to class.”

Dick Vitale was quoted by USA Today saying, “Wow, it hurts to admit that a game I love, college basketball, has been really hurt big time with players leaving early. Let's face it: The real beneficiary of the one-and-done rule is the NBA. Hey, baby, you don't have to go to Harvard to figure that out!”
 

Kentucky is on the way to dominating this year’s NCAA tournament outscoring their opponents by 17 points per game. Lead by freshman phenom Anthony Davis averaging 14 points and 10 rebounds a game he is a force in the middle. The stars don’t stop there with Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, a tremendous wing player averaging 11 points 7 rebounds and 2 assists. Kentucky is built from the outside to the inside, both players mentioned before are projected to be top 5 lottery picks.  Mike and Mike stated that they haven’t seen a more dominant performance in the tournament. Most people couldn’t believe that this kind of performance was possible with the one and done rule. Well it has… but the question is will this trend ever stop? Players like Austin Rivers would disagree, already having declared for the draft. Players like Jared Sullinger however want a national championship and actually believes in the college life. Will he return? Who else is leaving for the green pastures of the NBA? Only time will tell.

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Follow Lamont Broadus (TheSportologist) on Twitter @TheSportologist or you can contact him TheSportologist@gmail.com

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Panthers Stumbling Towards Playoffs

BY: JEFF LINGARD

In my first post here I wondered how the Florida Panthers were the 3rd seed in the East when they are average to mediocre across the statistical board. The Panthers answered with a 5 game winning streak punctuated by a win in Philadelphia where they had lost 5-0 a couple of weeks before. At that point it looked like the Panthers were a lock to not only make the playoffs but win the division by a healthy margin. Three straight losses to Carolina, the Islanders and Edmonton coupled with Buffalo starting a five game winning streak and the Capitals playing better has put their spot in doubt. Luckily, Scott Clemmensen played an excellent game and was stellar in the shootout in Montreal on Tuesday night and the Sabres beat the Capitals so the Panthers maintain their 5 point lead on the Capitals for the Southeast Division lead and likely the division’s only playoff spot. 

My darkest fears are that the Panthers might be similar to the seasons that the Atlanta Thrashers and the Columbus Blue Jackets have made the playoffs. Those teams were swept in the first round and were also rans the next season. Atlanta couldn’t recover and are now in Winnipeg. There are two reasons why I don’t think the Panthers will turn into the next If Atlanta/Columbus situation:

1. The Panthers did not make a significant move at the deadline that mortgaged the future like Atlanta did with the trades for Keith Tkachuk and Alexi Zhitnik.

2. The Panthers have arguably the best group of prospects in the league that will add impact players over the next 2 to 3 years.

The schedule does help the Panthers over their final 6 games as Detroit is the only playoff team remaining. If the Panthers can beat Minnesota and Columbus back to back this week it should solidify their playoff spot. Kevin Dineen needs to push some buttons to bring some urgency back into their game as the Panthers needed their goaltending to steal two points from the 14th team in the East on Tuesday night. If the Panthers play in the playoffs like they have the last 4 games then New Jersey will sweep them in the first round just like in 2000.

If the Panthers are going to make the playoffs, every player needs to be productive. There have been too many players, especially forwards, who do not give a consistent effort or production to justify their spot in the lineup. The Panthers need secondary scoring because New Jersey’s strategy will be to shut down the Weiss line and Campbell/Garrison and make the other nine forwards score.

Thanks for reading. Make sure you continue to follow our coverage on the Florida Panthers and other NHL news here at the Daily Shootout.

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Will Magic Johnson End the Dodger Blues?

BY: MICHAEL COLLINS
If you and your pals have a few billion dollars sitting around, and you need an investment for a tax write off, why not go and buy yourself a major league baseball team?  That's what Magic Johnson and some of his buddies did, and the Los Angeles Dodger faithful are signing his praises...for now.  Even Dodgers star Matt Kemp showed his enthusiasm when he tweeted: "Good day 4 the @dodgers! The great @magicjohnson is the new owner!! Let's start a dynasty baby!!''

MVP Runner-up Matt Kemp is fired up about a new owner

Johnson - along with MLB/NBA executive Stan Kasten, entertainment mogul Peter Guber and the financing help of Mark Walter, CEO of Guggenheim Partners - agreed to purchase the Dodgers from beleaguered owner Frank McCourt for the record price of $2.15 billion, a price which includes the Chavez Ravine parking lots.  The Dodger franchise, which has been suffering under the ownership of McCourt and his personal life battles, has been limping along from year to year while the Dodgers were in bankruptcy. 

So for all practical purposes, it would appear that the Dodgers have begun their healing process, and can get back to the business of playing and winning baseball games.  Or...have they?  When you consider that Mark Cuban (who I consider to be an extremely smart and savvy businessman) stated point blank that he wouldn't even consider paying over $1 billion, and only if that included 100% of the parking revenue, the $2.15 billion price tag with only a portion of the parking revenue (Frank McCourt will still retain revenue on non-game days) may end up being a huge overestimation of the franchises value.

The major hurdles facing this new ownership group are many and not easily overcome.  Dodger Stadium is an antique, and not a pretty one.  It needs major renovations or possibly to just needs to be replaced altogether.  You are looking at potentially $250-300 million in that undertaking alone.  Then there's the question of who is going to broadcast games locally, with the Angels sneaking in and getting a TV deal from Fox Sports worth $3 billion over 20 years.  Time-Warner and Fox TV have both been mentioned as possibilities, and either of them could potentially throw in an investment stake in exchange for broadcast rights.

The roster is another issue at hand.  With ownership changing hands at this late date, Kasten (who will presumably be named president of the club) will not be able to make many changes to this years roster.  Most of the free agent moves have been made, and the contracts are already in place for the current team.  So the Dodgers of this year...well...pretty much the same Dodgers from last year when you look up and down the lineup. 

The Johnson-Kasten group now has until April 30 to close the deal, and make sure there are no deal-killers buried in the contracts.  Until then, the other owners in the league are holding their collective breath.  If and when this deal is finalized, the value of every team in the league is going to go up significantly, and with that, every executive in the league will begin acting accordingly (ie; price increases, calls to stock brokers, etc, etc)

But with a record deal like this, I only see one way that the Johnson-Kasten group can recoup their huge outlay of cash...you guessed it...raise those beer, food, parking and ticket prices.  So once again, the fans will probably have to suffer because of the emotional bidding of some multimillionaires.  The culture of baseball is changing, and it seems to be gearing itself towards the rich and privileged.  If you look around a major league ballpark these days, you don't see the kids and families that once littered the stands on a regular basis.  Deals like this one are causing teams to price themselves completely out of the family market, and - particularly for baseball - that's not good for the game.

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Stamkos' scoring touch back with a vengeance

BY: LAUREN BURG


After being held four, yes FOUR, games without a point the Tampa Bay Lightning's Steven Stamkos is back on the score sheet and making up for lost time!

Stamkos, since last Thursday night against the Edmonton Oilers, has averaged two goals in a win over the New York Islanders and, most recently, a loss that was closer than the score indicated against the Boston Bruins last night. Put it this way: He was robbed of a hat trick, and the go-ahead score, by Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas just before the puck crossed the line. He also scored once, on the power play with six-tenths of a second remaining in the first period, of a 4-2 win in Philadelphia against the Flyers Monday night.

He (Stamkos) has also matched his career high (51 goals), tied Vincent Lecavalier's franchise record (52 goals) and, in Monday night's win over the Flyers, his 53rd goal BROKE Lecavalier's franchise record set back in 2006-07. His 50th goal, March 13th against the Bruins in Tampa, also made him just the seventh player, second current player, in NHL history to record two 50+ goal seasons before the age of 23.

However, Stamkos doesn't just score goals this season. He's also racking up the points. Entering play March 28th he had 90 points, only nine behind Malkin but also only four ahead of Philadelphia's Claude Giroux, for the Art Ross Trophy given to the league's leading point producer. Another thing Stamkos has shown he has is leadership and that was put on display in Monday night's win over the Flyers when, just before the Lightning's late first period power play began, Stamkos went over to Lightning head coach Guy Boucher and told him (Boucher) that a lefty (left-handed shooter) was needed on the ice. Boucher obliged, sending out left-wing Martin St. Louis, and Stammer quickly scored to give the Lightning a 2-0 lead heading into the first intermission.

With six games remaining in the regular season, and Stamkos scoring at the rate he's been the past three games, it's very possible that he'll reach the coveted 60 goal plateau. He also has a nine goal lead on Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin for the Rocket Richard Trophy, awarded annually to the league's leading goal scorer and is making quite the case for why, despite not playing for a playoff-bound team, he should be awarded the Hart (league MVP) trophy. Whether he gets the Hart or not remains unknown but, with Stamkos leading the way, Lightning management, coaches and fans alike should feel confident about the future of this team. 

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Has Sidney Crosby Lost A Step?

BY: DANA HAMMOND

Sidney Crosby has been back on the ice for 7 games since his return from injury and the speculation about how his absence effected his play is still running wild.  Crosby was sidelined after suffering from concussion like symptoms that then turned out to be a soft tissue injury in his neck. 

At least once a day since his return I hear someone say he has lost a step, or isn’t playing with as much heart, or even that he is playing timid.  I have even heard some public sports personalities make statements about how his career might be over.  I am forced to question the sanity of every single one of these people! Now let me explain why.

Lets start with the most obvious reason, he’s only played 7 games, he’s still in “beginning of the season” shape.  Just to illustrate my point a little more let me give you a few facts.  Through the first 7 games of the season teammate Evgeni Malkin had 4 goals and 6 assists for a total of 10 points.  Let me point out that Malkin is currently the points leader in the NHL with 97.  Now, let me give you Crosby’s first 7 games stats, 11 assists and 2 goals for 13 total points.  It’s 2 less goals than Malkin had but look at how Crosby is making those around him better, he is setting his teammates up for goals like crazy! He has accumulated 5 more assists and 2 more points over his first 7 games back (this time) than Geno did to start his season.

Stats don’t lie folks, but incase you don’t believe those then catch the highlight real from the Penguins March 17th win over the New Jersey Devils.  Crosby set up Malkin with a fantastic pass across the ice from his knees, yes you read that right, from his knees. 

Crosby hasn’t lost a step, what’s happening is Crosby has just started his season when everyone else is at the height of their game.  This is a great sign for Penguins fans, just as the Pens are about to start a run at the cup they are getting a fresh and healthy Sidney Crosby on the ice.  It almost makes me feel bad for the rest of the NHL…… I said almost. Here’s to Crosby helping the Pens run right through the playoffs and bring Lord Stanley’s Cup back to Pittsburgh.

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Meet Jason Garrison "The Bomber"

BY: Dale Leavitt 

Jason Garrison was born Jason John Maxwell Garrison November 13, 1984 in White Rock, British Columbia. Jason was undrafted playing collegiate hockey at the University of Minnesota Duluth. On April 2, 2008 he signed an entry level contract with the Florida Panthers. In the 2008-09 season Jason made his NHL debut against the St Louis Blues and that would be his only NHL game on the year. Jason scored his first NHL goal against the Philadelphia Flyers on March 3, 2010.

Garrison now 27 ironically did not play his first year of junior hockey until he was 18.

Here is a look at his stats leading up to this year

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2003–04	Nanaimo Clippers	BCHL		52	7	20	27	31		24	3	10	13	12
2004–05	Nanaimo Clippers	BCHL		57	22	40	62	42		—	—	—	—	—
2005–06	U. of Minnesota Duluth	WCHA		40	3	9	12	26		—	—	—	—	—
2006–07	U. of Minnesota Duluth	WCHA		21	1	2	3	16		—	—	—	—	—
2007–08	U. of Minnesota Duluth	WCHA		26	5	9	14	26		—	—	—	—	—
2008–09	Rochester Americans	AHL		75	8	27	35	68		—	—	—	—	—
2008–09	Florida Panthers	NHL		1	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
2009–10	Rochester Americans	AHL		38	3	16	19	33		7	2	7	9	0
2009–10	Florida Panthers	NHL		39	2	6	8	23		—	—	—	—	—
2010–11	Florida Panthers	NHL		73	5	13	18	26		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				113	7	19	26	49		—	—	—	—	—

As you can see Jason has only 1 season with solid offensive numbers, in his first year as a pro 2008-09. On March 23, 2012 Jason set a Florida Panthers franchise record with goals by a defenseman scoring 16 times, he currently has 16 goals with 14 assists and with 7 more games left in the season he hopes to raise that record. Unfortunately for the Panthers Jason's contract will be ending this year and he will become a unrestricted free agent, I expect the Florida Panthers to resign him, just for MUCH MORE. 

I am not really sure when the Panthers realized they had such a defenseman with a rocket of a slapshot but this year that shot has found its way into the net 13 times, 9 of those were on a power play, he has been dubbed with the nickname The Bomber, stemming from his number 52. Although Jason does not tweet that much you can find him on twitter under the handle @JasonGarrison52 or hashtag #TheBomber.

Back before the trade deadline this tweet was posted

Darren Dreger tweets: Fla has many teams chasing J. Garrison…decent offers on the table,but Tallon won’t trade him for less than a quality top 6 F. #tradecentre

If I was to put a number on what Jason would be resigned for, the Panthers would like to get him for about 4 years, at about 3 to 4 mil a year, that is compared to the measily $700,000 he made this year. 

Congrats Jason on the best year of your career and thank you from a fan that looks for whenever you are on the ice in the offensive zone, hoping that you will get the chance to put a shot on goal.

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