MVN: Most Valuable Network

Pujols Finally Meets Hooks

By athooks | November 22, 2008

One of the cool (for me at least) new features of Cards Diaspora is the ability to embed audio or 'podcasts'. I created one to explain this pic, but didn't have enough time to dick around with the code to make it happen this week. But look for that in future posts... Yes. That's athooks with the NL MVP last week, Albert Pujols. He happened to be at an event I was at (or vice versa) and the lady on my left had no idea who he was until I told her it was Albert Pujols. She's about 8 glasses of wine in and I'm right behind her with the Maker's and water. I plead with her not to go over and interrupt AP paying for some auction item he'd won, but to no avail. She shoved Pujols' wife right out of the way and handed her camera to...

2 Comments  |  Tags: albert pujols, friday, links, tampons

Albert Pujols joins MLS expansion effort for St. Louis

By Ric | November 21, 2008

Joining a growing list of superstar non-soccer athletes who are investing in the hot commodity called Major League Soccer is this week's entry, Albert Pujols...  Oscar de la Hoya already owns a twenty-five percent share of the 2006 and 2007 MLS Cup Champions, the Houston Dynamo, and Steve Nash is an investor in the group seeking a Vancouver, BC franchise in MLS for 2011 (besides that, he also is an owner in the Women's Professional Soccer league which debuts next spring in the USA)... Similar to Nash's involvement in the strong investment group for Vancouver is the new National League MVP's desire to assist in boosting the chances for the same in St. Louis... from MLSNet, Having Pujols involved in the St. Louis bid will draw parallels to the involvement of Phoenix Suns point guard Steve Nash with the Vancouver expansion group bid. "I am very proud and excited to...

Discuss  |  Tags: soccer

Video --- "Road to MLS Cup / Sleepover" by Volkswagen

By Ric | November 21, 2008

VIDEO - posted by Volkswagen @ YouTube, EPISODE FIVE (w/DC UNITED's Louis Crayton and Ben Olsen, and REVOLUTION's Steve Ralston) "Here's to beige food !" It's mom vs. Soccer mom as Deb and the players spend the night at the home of some accommodating fans. Prepare for a heaping helping of matriarchal rivalry...and beef stroganoff. With Revs' Steve Ralston, DC's Louis Crayton and Ben Olsen, and 'Cup Handler'... WATCH HERE...

Discuss  |  Tags: Soccer

MLS Western Conference Champions --- RBNY ! [UPDATED]

By Ric | November 21, 2008

Before Sunday's big MLS Cup Final, let's take a look back at the Eastern and Western Conference Chanpionships with MLS website articles, match reports, and the great official video highlights from ESPN and FOX... This MLS Cup Final will feature two teams who have never been there before ! --- RBNY @ RSL - Western Conference Championship At Rio Tinto Stadium, Dave van den Bergh scored in the 28th minute and New York never looked back, topping RSL, 1-0, and reaching their 1st-ever MLS Cup Final. RBNY will meet Columbus Crew for the title next Sunday at the Home Depot Center... Match Report Also, "Posts, missed opportunities haunt RSL..." "Cepero, defense carry New York to Cup Final..." "Red Bulls on cinema-worthy run" VIDEOS - Dave van den Burgh's game-winning goal Javier Morales' Quick Kicks 'One Touch' highlights Juan Pablo Angel's Quick Kicks 'One Touch' highlights Official highlights from Fox Soccer...

Discuss  |  Tags: soccer

MLS Eastern Conference Champions --- Columbus Crew ! [UPDATED]

By Ric | November 21, 2008

Before Sunday's big MLS Cup Final, let's take a look back at the Eastern and Western Conference Chanpionships with MLS website articles, match reports, and the great official video highlights from ESPN and FOX... This MLS Cup Final will feature two teams who have never been there before ! --- FIRE @ CREW - Eastern Conference Championship At Crew Stadium, Brian McBride scored for Chicago in the first half, but Columbus could not be contained. They stormed back with 2 second half goals and won, 2-1. Crew advance to their first MLS Cup Final in franchise history... Match Report  More, "Cardiac Crew strike again..." Photo Gallery (match action, Crew celebrations) VIDEOS - Guillermo Barros Schelotto's Quick Kicks 'One Touch' highlights Cuauhtémoc Blanco's Quick Kicks 'One Touch' highlights  Official highlights from ESPN, (5:23 min.) Championship Trophy Presentation by MLS Commissioner Don Garber "Extra Time" interview with Frankie Hejduk L.A. arrival interviews with Sigi...

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Introducing...

By Brian Lestz | November 21, 2008

Introducing....Hopefully at some point in the near future, the imaginary drum roll I hear in my head can conclude with "The Newest Member of the Yankees, C.C. Sabathia".  For now, however, you guys will just have to settle for me.  My name is Brian Lestz, and I'm the newest writer here at the Bronx Block.  Those of you who frequently comment on this blog or Pending Pinstripes might know me better as BoatMyster.  Now I know what you're all thinking - 'But Brian, how can we ever take you seriously now that you've shed the luster and mystique that was BoatMyster?'  This is an excellent question, thanks for asking.I'm currently almost about to be a semi-senior at St. John's University.  I'm a Yankees and Knicks die-hard.  I never used to follow football much, but now I have a girlfriend who says that the Super Bowl is more important than my...

Discuss  |  Tags: Bowlers, CC Sabathia, Mike Mussina, New York Yankees

Bruins Look to Erase Recent Memories Against Florida

By DJ Abisalih | November 21, 2008

Regardless of how the standings read, some teams around the National Hockey League just tend to enjoy visiting certain venues for whatever reason. Since the lockout in 2004-05, one team with success in Boston has been the Florida Panthers. Florida has picked up two points in each of their last five visits to the TD Banknorth Garden, posting a 5-1 record on Causeway Street since the lockout. Success has been few and far between for the Panthers over the past decade or so. Florida has missed out on postseason play for seven straight seasons, and hasn't had the start they were looking for in 2008-09. At 7-10-1, the Panthers currently have the least amount of points in the Eastern Conference. Florida's defense has been okay in the early going, but their offense is a cause for concern, with only 42 goals in their first 18 tilts. Because of their offensive...

Discuss  |  Tags: Boston Bruins, Bruins, Florida Panthers, NHL, Panthers

Winter League Results - 11.20.08

By Joe Aiello | November 21, 2008

Discuss  |  Tags: Cubs, MLB

Can Cleveland Fans Stop Shooting Themselves In The Foot?

By Amar Panchmatia | November 21, 2008

It's tougher now than ever before to be a fan of professional sports in Cleveland, Ohio.Why? Well, at least Clevelanders, whose teams haven't won a major world championship of any sort since 1964 when Jim Brown was running between the tackles for the Browns, used to have Philadelphia to share the misery. After the Phillies' World Series run last month, the City of Brotherly Love can once again call itself a world champion for the first time since 1983.LeBron James is, by far, the best thing to happen to Cleveland in a long, long time - possibly ever. But Clevelanders can't escape rampant rumors about him leaving (even though he's a free agent two years from now) every time they turn on the TV, browse the internet, or pick up a magazine. Sometimes you wonder if all this gets to Cleveland fans. This week's incident involving an email exchange between...

Discuss  |  Tags: Baltimore Ravens, Brady Quinn, Braylon Edwards, Cleveland Browns, Derek Anderson, Joe Thomas, Kellen Winslow, Ozzie Newsome, Phil Savage, Romeo Crennel

Boom, Outta Here (Episode 2): KG's flop garners suspension; Obama hates on BCS; Lions excited about losing

By Staff Report | November 20, 2008

MVN's first original sports talk television show "Boom, Outta Here" unleashes its second episode with criticism of the NBA's discipline for Kevin Garnett after an errant slap to Andrew Bogut's face. Discussion moves to President-elect Barack Obama's campaign for a college football playoff system and an important question: Is it more likely the Detroit Lions go winless or the Tennessee Titans run the table? Hosts Pat McSweeney and Brandon Rosage also give props to American League MVP Dustin Pedroia and lobby for his Red Sox to offer a deal before his head blows up, and finish with pessimism about Mark Cuban's future as a sports owner....

Discuss  |  Tags: Boston Celtics, Boston Red Sox, Detroit Lions, Kevin Garnett, Mark Cuban, MLB, NBA, NFL, Tennessee Titans, video

Which current NFL players will be in the Hall of Fame?

By Andrew Strickert | November 20, 2008

I'll be fortunate to tell my grandchildren one day that I saw most of the future Hall of Famers listed below. Not on TV, but in person, watching them in games with my binoculars focused on them and observing their actions. Whenever any of them are playing in the NFL stadium closest to you, I hope you'll take advantage of the opportunity to go see them.   The primary criteria I used in selecting these players is not how their stats compare to others already in the Hall, but how they compare to their contemporaries. The players who were the best in their era are the most deserving to be inducted one day. This is measured best, in my opinion, by the number of Pro Bowl appearances and first-team All-Pro honors garnered. Please also note that I am measuring these players by their entire body of work. If a player's career ends today, would he be...

2 Comments  |  Tags: Arizona Cardinals, Baltimore Ravens, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots, New York Jets, NFL, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Diego Chargers, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, St. Louis Rams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Great Debates: Who's your pick in the AFC East?

By Anthony Hall | November 20, 2008

Every week in MVN Outsider's Great Debate, we take a look at different sides of an ongoing debate in the NFL. MVN Outsider writers will offer key points to support either side of the issue, and we'll also ask a group of football bloggers to chime in with their thoughts on the matter. This week's Great Debate is: Who's your pick to win the AFC East?Greg Trippiedi offers up three non-Favrearian reasons why the Jets are in charge in the AFC East:Kris Jenkins = defensive MVP...The acquisition of Favre aside, it's clear that the New York Jets have won the off-season.  No move has been bigger than the acquisition of a dominating 3-4 NT.  Widely regarded as the most important defensive position in that defense, and one that a majority of 3-4 teams have failed to fill, much like the Jets in 2006 through 2007.  All of a sudden now,...

Discuss  |  Tags: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, New York Jets, NFL

MVN Live announces NBA Live '09 contest winner!

By Sam Panayotovich | November 20, 2008

Thanks to the folks at Gillette and EA Sports, the guys gave away a free copy of NBA Live '09 for the XBOX 360 on yesterday's Wednesday Night Tip-Off Show. The question posed to our listeners was, "Instead of a buying a brand new Hummer H2, what would you have done with the $80,000 that LeBron James' mother received when he was a senior at St. Vincent-St. Mary?" The best and most colorful response came by way of Jon from The City of Brotherly Love: -- 80K the Bron Bron Way "With $80,000, LeBron's moms was definitely trying to buy her baby a phat ride. No knocking that. So, your boy needs a car. He's also 6'8" and 240 pounds, so no Fiats. Your manchild needs room. So, here's what I suggest: Forget the Hummer. Get him a vintage 1957 DeSoto Adventurer! A car Snoop Dogg would be proud...

1 Comment  |  Tags: Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, EA Sports, Gillette, MVN Live, NBA, NBA Live

A best-of-one first-round playoff?

By Daniel Rathman | November 20, 2008

Division Series (newyork808/Flickr.com)

It's hardly a secret these days that among the things on Commissioner Bud Selig's to-do list is finding a way to shorten the MLB postseason.  This is a salient concern heading into the 2009 season -- set to open on the night of Sunday, April 5th -- because under the current schedule, next year's World Series would likely drag into early-November.   Unfortunately, none of the proposals brought forth thus far are both attractive and feasible.  But could the team that brought us Moneyball now change October baseball?If Oakland Athletics owner Lew Wolff has his way, the solution to the playoffs dragging into late October -- and perhaps even November -- will be replacing the four League Division Series with a quartet of one-game showdowns.  Since 1995, the opening round of the playoffs has employed a best-of-five format, thus paring the field of eight down to four.  But by chopping...

Discuss  |  Tags: Lew Wolff; Playoffs; MLB; Bud Selig

NBA Stock Market: Mavericks getting back on track

By Joe Boikess | November 20, 2008

var iamInit = function() {try{initIamServingHandler(234,183,276630,"http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/Resources/Css/css2.css")}catch(ex){}}()Last night was a busy one in the NBA, with two-thirds of the league in uniform and on the court.  A number of intriguing matchups took place, including the Cavaliers at Pistons, Mavericks at Rockets, and Bulls at Trail Blazers. Which teams came out on top, and who has been playing well of late?  Keep reading to find out who's been looking good, and who might be needing another pep talk from Lou Holtz.Rising:Dallas Mavericks - One of the more intriguing story lines throughout the early part of the season has involved the three Texas teams. Both the Spurs and Mavericks have been struggling, while the Rockets have been trying to figure out how to best integrate Ron Artest into their gameplan. On Wednesday night, the Mavericks got their second chance to show the world that they are still a force to be reckoned with, as...

Discuss  |  Tags: Atlanta Hawks, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Dallas Mavericks, Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Miami Heat, NBA, NBA Outsider

Where could Mark Teixeira land?

By Evan | November 20, 2008

ccho

As Thanksgiving approaches with the winter meetings not too far behind, Mark Teixeira is getting closer and closer to figuring out what ballpark he will call home next year.There has not been a ton of chatter surrounding Teixeira, but everyone knows the two big players for 'Tex' are the Los Angeles Angels and New York Yankees. There are, however, a couple other teams in the mix. Here's a ranking of who is most likely to get Teixeira...1. New York YankeesThe New York Yankees are going all out this winter, economy be damned. With the Yankees set to move into a new stadium that will send their revenue through the roof, they will continue to lead the field for a very, very long time in dollars spent.The acquisition of Nick Swisher seems to have tempered most people's expectations that the Yankees will chase Tex, but I don't believe it for a...

2 Comments  |  Tags: Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Angels, MLB, New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays, Washington Nationals