Filed under: Bruins, NHL General, NHL Draft

Hi, My Name is … appears weekly on NHL FanHouse. We will spotlight future NHL prospects currently making a name for themselves in college hockey. Where applicable, the players’ draft rights will be listed. Check back each Tuesday at 8AM ET. Hit me up in the comments section if you have a nomination.

When you’re a first-round pick, expectations become high automatically. It doesn’t matter if you’re playing major junior, college hockey, or if you’re in the minors. You need to produce, and preferably now.

That hasn’t quite worked out for Joe Colborne (NHL rights: Boston). A first-round pick of the Bruins this past summer, Colborne began his college career at the University of Denver with ridiculous expectations. The Pioneers have seen plenty of young forwards make a name for themselves at the school lately. Guys like Rhett Rakhshani (N.Y. Islanders), Tyler Ruegsegger (Toronto), and Tyler Bozak (undrafted) have found success at DU and are still playing there. Coach George Gwozdecky has also tutored current pros such as Paul Stastny (Colorado Avalanche) and Brock Trotter (Montreal system), among many others.

The reality is that Denver produces offensive talent. Colborne was expected to be the next great Pioneer forward from Day One of his DU career. Probably an unfair expectation, and it put a lot of pressure on the 18-year-old.

While the statistics suggest a struggle through his first nine collegiate games, watching him play twice over the weekend left me with a slightly different impression.

Hi, My Name Is … Joe Colborne originally appeared on Fanhouse NHL Blog on Tue, 11 Nov 2008 08:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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Filed under: Raiders, Redskins, NFL Fans

Every year it seems, usually around this time, the name Jeff George gets brought up from some member of the media, usually Jason Whitlock. It’s probably because, roughly, 70% (a number I just made up, but it sounds right) of the quarterbacks in the NFL are terrible, and teams are resorting to guys like Andrew Walter, Shaun Hill, and handing the keys to the car over to a guy that’s been with the team for three days, simply because they don’t want the previous year’s second-round pick to embarrass himself by actually playing.

Anyway, there’s an interesting nugget from Peter King in his Monday Morning Quarterback column today, where he talks about how George, confused by his lack of employment, still thinks he can play in the National Football League.

“I find it hard to believe there isn’t a place in the game for me. My arm feels like I’m 25,” he said. “I’m not asking to be a starter, I just want a spot on a team. I still hold out hope I can play in this league. I’m working out three or four days a week, staying ready. Some people might laugh about it. I’ve been hearing the excuse, ‘You’re too old,’ but I look at guys now playing near 40, and if you can throw it like I can throw it … Why wouldn’t you take a look at me?”

Jeff George Still Thinks He Can Add Something to Some Lucky NFL Team originally appeared on Fanhouse NFL Blog on Mon, 10 Nov 2008 16:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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Filed under: Cowboys, Redskins, NFC East, NFL Injuries

The NFL’s second-leading rusher and MVP candidate Clinton Portis may miss the Redskins game with the Cowboys on Sunday night. Portis is nursing a knee sprain that he suffered at the end of the first quarter of last Monday’s game with the Steelers.

“He’s questionable,” Jim Zorn said. “I’d say there’s a 50-50 chance. I’m hoping that he’ll be even better than that. Another day of rest, and then we’ll see how he comes in on Wednesday. … We’ve got to get the pain out of the knee and see how he progresses along.”

That would be a devestating loss for Washington. The Redskins are already missing Portis’ backup, Ladell Betts. That could mean Shaun Alexander … who was signed less than a month ago … could get the start in his first Redskins-Cowboys rivalry.

There is a ‘50-50 Chance’ Clinton Portis Misses Redskins-Cowboys Showdown originally appeared on Fanhouse NFL Blog on Tue, 11 Nov 2008 01:25:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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Source: sports.yahoo.com | Licence: Creative Commons

Filed under: Giants, NL West

Footprints in the Snow is FanHouse’s look at the paths to be forged by MLB teams this winter as they look ahead to 2009.

The Giants were not a disappointment in 2008 as far as I’m concerned, because they only lost 90 games and did not finish in last place. Going into the season, in looking at the rosters, Giants fans had to expect 100 losses and a definite last place finish. Moving forward, there is hope for a quick franchise turnaround.

Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Jonathan Sanchez, and even the injury-prone Noah Lowry have the makings of a quality young starting rotation. They could be above average with offensive support and an improved defense. Bengie Molina and Aaron Rowand can be helpful players on a good team, but they cannot be the centerpieces of the offense, as they were this past season. Randy Winn and Fred Lewis are viable starters for ‘09, but they need to be slotted at the end of the batting order.

The key to the approach for 2009 is to try and compete without foregoing the future. The rotation, closer Brian Wilson, and potential stars like Madison Bumgarner, Conor Gillespie, and Buster Posey are too valuable to deal in a trade just to land one player.

Footprints in the Snow: San Francisco Giants originally appeared on Fanhouse MLB Blog on Mon, 10 Nov 2008 14:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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Filed under: Golden Boy Promotions

Manny Pacquiao is widely regarded as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, but he’s an underdog in his December 6 fight against Oscar De La Hoya because De La Hoya is bigger than Pacquiao.

But Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach, told me today that he thinks the size difference between the fighters has been overblown, and that speed will win this fight.

“He’s handling the bigger sparring partners well,” Roach said. “When I saw how he handled the bigger sparring partners, I was very pleased.”

Roach said Pacquiao weighs 151 pounds right now, he’ll easily make the 147-pound limit for the fight, and he’ll walk into the ring at about 150 pounds.

Freddie Roach: Manny Pacquiao’s Fight With Oscar De La Hoya Will Be Decided by Speed originally appeared on Fanhouse Boxing Blog on Mon, 10 Nov 2008 15:08:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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Source: sports.yahoo.com | Licence: Creative Commons

Filed under: 49ers, AZ Cardinals, NFC West, NFL Fans

It’s the most exciting Monday Night Football game of the season — the 2-6 49ers travel to Arizona to square off against the division leading 5-3 Cardi– Nope, there’s absolutely no way to make this game sound interesting.

But because we’re professionals here at FanHouse, and more importantly, because there’s a slim chance Mike Singletary drops trou in the middle of the field to send a clear message to Vernon Davis that NOBODY IS BIGGER THAN THE TEAM (well, except pantsless coaches), we’ll be here to document the atrocities as they unfold in real time.

Plus, if the Cards get up by 50, there’s a small chance we’ll see Matt Leinart. So there’s that.

Either way, we’ll be here and YOU’RE INVITED! Fun starts at 8:15-ish.

MNF Live Chat: 49ers vs. Cardinals originally appeared on Fanhouse NFL Blog on Mon, 10 Nov 2008 20:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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Filed under: Raiders, NFL Injuries

Oakland Raiders running back Darren McFadden hasn’t played in three weeks, and the teams offense is struggling on an epic level. They haven’t scored a touchdown since October 26 against Baltimore, and have found first downs hard to come by.

McFadden has been bothered by turf toe on both feet for much of the season, injuries that may or may not have been caused by shoes that don’t quite fit. Just don’t expect the No. 4 overall pick to take another painkilling shot to get on the field. From Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee:

He didn’t try to play yesterday and missed his third straight game. And he won’t try to use medicine to get on the field. “Nah, I ain’t taking no shot,” McFadden said. “The last time I took a shot (Buffalo), it made it worse on me, so that’s something I’m not gonna do again.”

The Raiders have been held to just 16 points and 247 yards rushing in the previous three games without McFadden.

Darren McFadden, Injured, Refuses to Take Another Painkilling Shot to Get on the Field originally appeared on Fanhouse NFL Blog on Mon, 10 Nov 2008 19:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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Filed under: Hawks, Lakers, Wizards, D-League

NBA Essentials ranks our six favorite stories of the day.

1. Basketball-Reference. What do the season-opening streaks by L.A., Atlanta and Washington mean? Less than you’d think.

2. Wages of Wins. Signing the song of Shareef Abdur-Rahim. Also, a reminder that Antoine Walker made three All-Star Games. (Shareef? One.)

3. Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Not only is Atlanta surprising at 5-0, but they seem completely different from the Hawks of last year.

4. Basketball Prospectus. A tremendous analysis of the Lakers defense, which reminds Kevin Pelton of George Karl’s SOS Pressure defense from mid-90s Seattle.

5. Ridiculous Upside. If you want in depth D-League draft analysis … you are in need of therapy. Also, you belong to Ridiculous Upside.

6. Mr. Irrelevant. JaVale McGee is looooooooong.

And on a non-NBA note, FanHouse alum Howie The Hype Guy has a new comedy project you should definitely check out.

NBA Essentials: We’re Goin’ Streaking originally appeared on Fanhouse NBA Blog on Mon, 10 Nov 2008 12:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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