Gimmick Infringement?

For the last two years Irish boardcaster Setanta has been making the world laugh with the puppet series Special1 TV. The series includes puppets that depict The Special One, Wayne Rooney, and Sven. The series is classic and has drawn critical acclaim. Now they have company in the puppet sports world.

Now Nike is getting into the puppet business with the Kobe and LeBron commercials during the NBA Finals. Nike will have to show me that they are on the same level as Special1 TV. I really don't think that they will ever be up to that level. It's weird that Nike would go in this direction, maybe they saw the success of Special1 TV and wanted to get in on the sports puppet world.

Welcome to the Club: Bryce Harper

Few athletes appear on the cover of America's premier sports magazine, Sports Illustrated. Only two athletes have appeared on the cover, while still being high school students: LeBron James and this week Bryce Harper.

According to scouts, Harper is baseball's new "Chosen One." Major League Baseball teams will have to wait to get their hands on the uber prospects, Harper is not eligible for the draft until 2010.

Bryce Harper: June 8, 2010

LeBron James: Feb. 18, 2002

Staying on Top

Windsor Spitfire fans thought things could not get any better after they won the Memorial Cup last month, but the Memorial Cup could just be the start of it. With the glow of the Memorial Cup still in the air Windsor management decided to do what any good group would do: strike fast.

The staff talked defenseman Cam Fowler(right) out of his commitment to Notre Dame and persuaded him to join the defending Memorial Cup champions. Hey anyone who turns down Notre Dame in any sport is a hero of mine.

"In signing Cam, we feel that this marks one of the most significant moves that our hockey club has made since the inception of our ownership," commented Windsor Spitfires Vice-President and General Manager Warren Rychel to Our Sports Central." Cam will have an instant impact on our team when he joins us next season."

Fowler joins Taylor Hall giving the Spitfires two of the top five ranked prospects in the 2010 NHL Draft.

If all goes as plan, Fowler and Hall could join Brampton's 2000 draft class Rostilav Kleska, Columbus, and Raffi Torres, Islanders, as the only team mates to be drafted in the top five in the last decade.

In addition to have two of the best 2010 draft prospects, the Spitfires also will be returning one of the best teams with defensive point man Ryan Ellis leading the charge. So for a team that had never won a Memorial Cup before this year, the next one might be a little easier.

Proof Joey Harrington was once good

When you have a great season in college football the following year, you get the honor of gracing EA Sports NCAA Football. During the 2002 season there was no greater player in college football then Oregon QB Joey Harrington. So after he graduated he was on the cover of the NCAA Football.

A couple of days ago I was walking through GameStop and saw a used copy NCAA Football 2003, for less then a dollar, with a player that I did not remember. After a while it hit me, it was Joey Harrington.

So what if Harrington was a disaster in Detriot. At least we can all remember at one point he was good.

Best of Special1 TV

The gang wraps up the season with a best of episode, classic bits.

OTWT Non-Top Four All EPL Team

All of the trophies have been given out, the season has officially come to an end, so now its time to name the Only Time Will Tell Non-Top Four All EPL Team. It would have been easy to select an all EPL team that included the top four sides, but this was a little more fun.

So here goes:

Goalie: Tim Howard, Everton
Defense: Brede Hangeland, Fulham (pictured right)
Defense: Phil Jagielka, Everton
Defense: Lucas Neill, West Ham
Defense: Glen Johnson, Portsmouth
Midfielder: Ashley Young, Aston Villa
Midfielder: Stephen Ireland, Manchester City
Midfielder: Tim Cahill, Everton
Midfielder: Antonio Valencia, Wigan
Forward: Robinho, Manchester City
Forward: Luka Modric, Spurs

If you have any issues with this team post your comments below. I can not wait for the start of the 09-10 season. Its only approximately 10 weeks away.

All Hail the Champions: Barcelona

If United would have won I would have done the same thing, so in the interest of fairness here is how some of the daily papers in Spain and England covered the Champions League Final:

The Guardian (England)

LaVanguardia (Spain)
Avuli

Pure Class

It has been a couple of hours since Barca lifted the Champions League Trophy and as a United fan, all I can say is "Pure Class." Sure it hurts to see your team beaten on the biggest stage but when they are beaten by a five star performance, you have to tip your hat to the other team.

After starting the game slowly, the Barca midfield showed why they are the best in world. Their runs were great, their passing was five star. It was a performance for the ages by the red and blue and the trophy is well deserved.

For a United fan the last two years have been amazing. The trophy haul includes: two Community Shield, two Premier League Titles, a Carling Cup, Champions League and a Fifa World Club Cup. Seven trophies in 24 makes the pain go away a little quicker.

My United scarf is sitting on the couch knowing the season is over and ready to be put in the closet for summer. In August the scarf will again come out of the closet for the Community Shield and today in Rome will be a thing of the past.

Its almost game time

The Champions League Final will kick off in less then 20 hours and for one I can not wait for the battle in Rome between United and Barca.

Here is the line up I see Sir Alex going with:
Goal: Van der Sar
Defense: Evra
Defense: Rio
Defense: Vidic
Defense: O'Shea
Central Midfield: Giggs
Central Midfield: Carrick
Central Midfield: Anderson
Wings: Rooney
Wings: Park
Forward: Ronaldo

This is similar to the lineup that Sir Alex used against Arsenal in the semifinals. Rooney and Park will track back enough to limit the wing play of Messi and Barcelona and if things go crazy Carlos and the Berba are ready to be called on.

Let's go United.

Save Carlos

A new signing for the show. The worlds most famous Hammers fan joins the crew for next season.

The Premier League will look a little different next season

I started watching the Premier League in the mid-90 and there have been a couple of things that have stayed the same during that time. The Champions League representative almost always come from the Big Four, Liverpool will not win the title, and Newcastle United will pack St. James for any game. But next year that will not happen as the Toon were relegated yesterday afternoon after falling to Aston Villa 1-0.

While not a big fan of the Toon, the black and white shirt meant something, but now because of bad management and spine less players Newcastle will have to fight to rejoin the Premier League. But next season the Toon Army can enjoy their trips to Sheffield and Forest.

Did you ever think that Burnley would be in the Premier League and Newcastle would not.

OTWT: Preseason College Football Top Five

All of the spring games are over, the draft has been completed so that can mean only one thing let's look ahead to next years college football season.
1. Florida: So last years champions returns Jesus, Tebow; and most of a super defense. Wow this does not set up for a repeat.
2. Oklahoma: All of there key offensive players decided to take another run at the title after being beaten by the Gators in the BCS Title game in Miami.
3.Texas: Left out of the party last year, the Horns have all of the pieces that are need to be playing in the final game of the season.
4. USC: Sure they have to replace most of their defense but they just keep recruiting high school All Americans, so it should not be that big a deal.
5. Penn State: Sure they lost all of their receivers but with a week non-conference schedule it should be easy for the Nittany Lions to still be playing in January.

The great wordsmith of the SPL

He might be in the hot seat at Hearts in Scotland by Csaba Laszio has quickly developed a reputation as one of the quotable managers anywhere in the world. Here are some samples of his great use of the English language, well Scottish that is:

• "I am not stupid. The fans hear Csaba Laszlo. They think 'Who? Ah yes, he kicked the Hearts record goalscorer'. Ugh...Uganda?! Where is Uganda?! Some people, if you ask about Kampala, he think 'this is a nice food!' but yeah, it's true I am not stupid."
• "If you see that your team plays this s**t like we did in the first half, you can just run out of the stadium and say 'it's Mothers' Day tomorrow' and forget about the football. But we are guys, we are at Ibrox and we are still in the first half. I wanted to kill some of the people in my dressing room at half time, but then I have to go to jail and we don't get a point! But the second half was sexy." - Csaba 21/3/2009
• "Always on the television is Rangers, Celtic, Celtic, Rangers, Rangers, Celtic and other teams only get on the television one or two times, but only if they play against the Celtic."
• "We didn't get any red cards, we didn't get any yellow cards and we didn't get any punishment from the referee for arresting the time. The referee never had the possibility to tell my players to go quicker. We used only the rules that football gives us.''

United in White

So the big ears cup final is almost here and United will be wearing white the for final, a little surprised by this. Its a nice look and they will be wearing white shorts too. Photo is from manunited.com.

Show some class Rafa

Tradition has it that the second place manager in the EPL pens a letter of congratulation to the championship winning manager. Sir Alex had to send it to Wenger and Jose.

Wenger had to send it to Sir Alex. It just part of the deal.

But now based on his war of words with Sir Alex, Rafa Benitez has all but refused to send the ceremonial letter to Sir Alex. He said he does not agree with what the ole Scot has had to say during the season.

I know some people at Liverpool don't even like Rafa but this has gone far enough. I know Rafa will go on and on about how his side had the best record against the other top side. But the fact is that the Spanish manager did not get job done and now has to do what is right and write a letter to Sir Alex. So its time for Rafa to grow up and show some respect.

Abs by Ronnie

The puppet Ronnie teaches you how to get ready for the summer.

A picture is worth a 1,000 words

It only took a point and that is exactly what United did this morning, got a point against Arsenal and got their trophy. After being challenged by Liverpool, the Red Devils showed their class and took home another Premier League title. Now United and Liverpool are tied with 18 English First Division champions. Next years race should be epic.

The Steal of the 2008 NHL Draft

During the 2008 NHL Draft, Kelowna Rockets defenseman Tyler Myers had to wait till the 12th picks for his name to be called, but during the last years he might be developing into the steal of the draft for the Buffalo Sabres.

The six foot six inches defenseman is a tower of strength in his own end, but what surprises you is that he skates so well for a big man. During the World Junior Championships this year, we was a tower of strength on Canada's drive for their five straight title in the end. Then after he returned to the Rockets he was one of the driving force behind them making to the 2009 MasterCard Memorial Cup.

Myers showed his true class for the Rockets during their opening game 4-1 win over host Rimouski in the Memorial Cup last night. He scored a fantastic goal, and was a tower of power in the Rockets back line.

Every time a defense man stands that tall the comparisons to Chris Pronger start rolling in, but this might not be that far from the truth. Traditionally a man that stands that tall does not move this well, but that is one of Myers best skills.

Before the Memorial Cup started he signed the Sabres and come next year he might be showing people that he might be the best player to come out of last years draft class.

Its been a long week

Things have been nuts at the OTWT home office, a busy week at work and an issue with the offices computers have caused havoc with our posting schedule.

We hope to be back and rolling next week. In case your need you your OTWT fix you can follow us on twitter at www.twitter.com/JWVerticalJump
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Special One TV: Wormholes

Wenger has lost his mind and thinks that hey might be in the Champions League Final despite being knocked out by Manchester United.