Weekly Sports Blogger Debate
Enjoy our Weekly Blogger Debate to 5 top sports questions this week! What are your answers to these questions? Join the debate below!!
1. Will the Caps firing of Bruce Boudreau send a message to the team? Will it get them over the hump this year in the playoffs?
I’m with the Capitals almost every single day since I cover them and I don’t have a clue as to how they’ll respond. Hunter was a warrior as a player, but the Caps just don’t seem to have much fire for anything these days. What I do know is if a player isn’t playing hard, he won’t be playing for Hunter for very long.
If Bruce Boudreau’s firing doesn’t send a message to the Caps, then there’s something wrong with the players. I think George McPhee (and Dale Hunter) will make some player moves to help fortify the crew that will adhere to his system. Many people (including me) will call for Alex Semin to be traded as he’s a poster child from the old ways under Gabby. We’ll see if that’s going to happen, but I imagine there are more things on the horizon, maybe even this month (McPhee has made a November or December trade the last two years).
I believe firing Boudreau was a major mistake and I will be surprised if they they make the play-offs. I think all the problems are in the front office, this has been a problem for years.
The message depends on the actual reasons for the firing. There are some reports that Boudreau was clashing with Ovie and that is why he was fired, if there is any truth to that, it sends the wrong message to the team. Now if the message is accountability and we will fire anyone, even the coach who just got 200 wins, then I think it can be positive. The Caps should be able to rebound and go to the playoffs, but they should be underdogs (who knows maybe that is what they need). If they don’t get tougher though and find some more defensemen it could be a quick series.
2. Will either the Chicago Bears or Houston Texans ”survive” their QB injuries and have playoff success?
Not a chance. I really liked Houston at the beginning of the year, but they just signed a guy that’s been retired for two years to back up a rookie.
If it’s going to be one of them, it’ll be Da Bears because of Da Defense. That being said, both have huge hurdles to overcome to win in the playoffs as their competition is stiff. So, although they might squeeze into the postseason (I’d be shocked if the Texans don’t win a very weak division), they probably won’t win a playoff game.
I think Chicago has a chance but I think Houston has a hard road ahead to make it, If Houston does make it it will say a lot about their coaching.
I actually think both teams will end up making the playoffs but will have first round exits. The Bears and the Texans both have strong defenses and good running games (the Texans is at the elite level since they also have an offensive line), and that should carry them throughout these next few weeks. It’s unfortunate though because both teams could have gone pretty far with a good QB at the helm.
3. With Baseball’s Winter Meetings around the corner, what team will make the biggest splash?
Good question. The power free agents this year are hitters (Pujols, Reyes, Rollins). Obviously only a limited number of teams have the resources to go after Pujols. I could see Texas, who was so close last year, trying to acquire that last peice to push them over the top and if that piece is Pujols, he could age gracefully at DH after a couple years. Don’t discount Mike Rizzo and the Nats, though. He shocked the meetings last year with Jayson Werth’s seven-year, $126 million deal, and the Lerner family are the richest owners in baseball.
That’s a loaded question. The usual suspects (Yankees, Red Sox, Phillies) will flash the cash, but there will be other teams that’ll be in the mix. The St. Louis Cardinals will try to keep Albert Pujols, and the same goes for Prince Fielder and the Milwaukee Brewers. The Nats and Orioles probably won’t go over after any huge names (at least with a realistic chance), but they both need upgrading, so they’ll sign some folks.
Of course the Yankee’s will make headlines but I think Boston will surprise everyone.
Well the Marlins already inked Heath Bell so they could be the favorites, but I’ll be a homer and say the Nationals make a big splash. I could see them inking a big pitcher here and possible walk away with either Prince Fielder or a centerfielder to boot.
4. The new Jaguars owner promised to keep the team in Jacksonville. Do you believe his promise or do you think the team will be LA bound?
Los Angeles Jaguars has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it? Jacksonville isn’t half-filling its stadium and they already have one-third of it tarped off. They are blacked out from TV every week. That’s terrible.
The current owner claims the new owner wants to keep the team in town, so I’d say no. That being said, anything is possible. But I can’t imagine Al Davis’ heirs (or whoever is going to own the Raiders moving forward) would be too happy with a team coming to L.A.
They will be in Jacksonville until they have a new stadium in L.A. Then it’s Bye bye Jacksonville HELLO L.A.
This is tough, there is nothing written on paper and the NFL desperately wants to get a team to LA. I could see a move happening by as early as the 2013 season and I think the Jags have to be the prime target. They don’t have a long historical tie to the area and can never get enough fans there.
5. With NBA free agency coming up, what big signings or trades do you predict will happen?
My guess is the Nets will be the biggest movers. Sounds like they are in on Dwight Howard, and they’d love to pair a dominant big man with guard Deron Williams, maybe even greasing the skids to get Williams signed long-term. They’ll get a real bump moving into a new building in Brooklyn in 2012, and if they can get Howard on board people will have to take them seriously.
NBA is too hard to predict except for one thing — it’ll be hectic as most leagues tend to be right after a lockout/strike ends.
I think the Wizards will trade the team for some Italian franchise. With a new G.M thrown in. Who cares, com’on March MADNESS!! (sorry)..
I think both Chris Paul and Dwight Howard will be dealt, the question now remains where. I know Paul wants to go to the Knicks but I don’t see how they have the pieces to swing such a deal, and I’d be surprised if LA call ply Howard away from the Magic with using Andrew Bynum as the primary trade chip. It will be interested to see who else gets involved, but i see both mega-stars changing addresses.
Related Articles
