Professional Tailgating: Flyers vs. Islanders

As part of my birthday gift my wife sent me to the Flyers Islanders game on Thursday night and here are some of the sites and sounds from the game.

The old Spectrum is no more, so sad

The flyers hat trick wall

This seat could be yours for next season

Former United States World Junior Championship hero Al Montoya in goal in goal for the Islanders. Montoya was named top goalie during the 2004 event.

Fomrer Shore Conference hockey player JVR interviewed between the second and third periods

Wow UEFA got this right

For years the Round of 16 of the Champions League had been played over two days and it was hard to get the chance to see all of the action, but this year that has change. This year the eight match ups were played over four days allowing for time for hardcore fans to see all of the match ups.

In the past it would be hard for everyone to see the games and now we are able to see them and enjoy them, its easier to watch two games a day then having to watch four games a day.

While UEFA might screw up most thing, at least for the Round of 16 of the Champions League UEFA has done something that is fan friendly.

Baseball season is almost here

Every year around this time, pitchers and catchers report for spring training and OTWT gets their hands on the Baseball American Prospect Handbook, the bible of player development and that later happened today. For the last decade, the book has been a great source of information for OTWT. Anytime there is a deal made, everyone calls to see the prospects that are given up.

South Carolina's State Holiday

Yesterday was a big day in South Carolina as Jadevon Clowney, the number one high school football player in the country announced that he was going to be a Gamecock. The story was such a big deal that it was shown all over and it played a huge part in the front pages of three major state newspapers. Wow who ever said recruiting was not a big deal has never been to the south, its a season in its self.

A true great: Ronaldo

Over the last couple of years people have talked about the joke Ronaldo has become, but lets not forget the greatness of the player he was before injuries took their toll. Simply Amazing.

Finally the '94 Expos are crowned champions

As an Expos fan, the 1994 team holds a special place in my heart. They were the best team in baseball when the strike hit, ending my dreams of seeing Youppi's gang crowned World Series Champions. But now Baseball America Columnist Jim Callis has made that dream come true, i know it happened in sometime of internet game but its still a title. During the course of the last week, Callis has been tweeting about this historic win:

• My 1994 Expos swept the 1931 A's in the World Series of Seamheads.com S-O-M celebration. Too bad they didn't get chance to win in real life
• My 1994 Expos have advanced to the World Series in the S-O-M celebration run by seamheads.com. Not the biggest sports result tonight, I know
• Mike Lansing with the game-winning single in the bottom of ninth of Game Four at Olympic Stadium. Go crazy, Montreal! You too,

As the tweets came rolling in I could not think but get emotional, the thought of Mike Lansing, Wetland, Pedro, Larry Walker, Sean Berry running around The Big O with the trophy is an amazing. So thanks you Jim Callis, somewhere Youppi is smiling after hearing the news.

FIFA only talks about the key soccer issues

While questions still linger with FIFA about the awarding of the future World Cups to Russia and Qatar, FIFA's executive board is set to discuss the future of snoods in soccer, yes they are going to talk fashion. During the course of the cold winter in the Premier League many stars have taken to wearing Snoods to keep them warm during games. Many of the Manchester City Millionaires crew have been sporting the neck wear.

The term Snoods applies to a tubular neck protector or warmer, often worn by skiers or motorcyclists. The garment may be worn either pulled down around the neck like a scarf, or pulled up over the hair and lower face, like a hood.

Fifa said they are going to look at the idea of banning the neck wear because of safety reasons. A FIFA spokesman told the Daily Mail : 'We want a debate over the snood and whether it could be dangerous. There may be a safety issue - if for example a player was running through on goal and an opponent grabbed his snood, that could pose a potential danger to his neck.'

I'm all for people trying to stay warm while playing gloves, Under Armour that is fine, but come on these thing look terrible and makes me question their fashion. So come on tough it out, and leave the snoods for your night life.

While I'm against players wearing them, I don't understand why FIFA is looking into the matter, don't they have enough issues to worry about like fixed World Cup bids and goal line technology. This would be like the United States Government talking about fixing the BCS and not worrying about what is going on in the Middle East. Its not worth the time spent debating it, FIFA should be focusing on more important issues rather then stupid stuff like banning snoods.

Rodgers now has his belt

So Aaron Rodgers now has his championship belt. Rodgers and the Packers beat the Steelers last night in a really good football game. Here is how newspapers in Green Bay and Pittsburgh covered the game.

OTWT Super Bowl Pick

Everyone is doing it, so why not us. Here is my Super Bowl pick for later today: Green Bay 28, Pittsburgh 31 on a last second field. If I'm wrong who the hell cares.

Recruits in Review

So National Signing Day has come and gone and for once their is no reason to complain about Rutgers 24 member class. Here are a couple of thoughts from the OTWT Scouting Department

• With both Shuler and Johnson in the fold, the Scarlet Knights now have two players that have been crowned the fast high schooler in New Jersey.
• With all of the talk of the Knights getting fellow four stars Huggins, Shuler, and Wright, four star defensive end Djwany Mera is not getting the love that he deserved. Because he went to prep school for a year Mera might be able to step in and play on the DL right away.
• With Tom Savage walking away from the program, it was critical that the program got a qb and they did in Bosco's Gary Nova.
• Since Clark Harris left the program the positions of TE has been an issue for the knights for a while, with DC Jefferson playing the position now, there is a need for depth and the Knights got it in Pennsylvania based TE Tyler Koft. Many experts see him as the sleeper of the class.

A blast from the past

It's a blast from the past, the 2002 Philadelphia Eagles NFC East Championship plate. The one thing that strikes you when you look at the plate are the players on that team. From Brian Mitchell to James Thrash to Bobby Taylor to Corey Simon to Donovan McNabb to David Ackers. Its like a blast from the past. I wonder how this team won anything. Shows how good a coach Big Red really is.

The Biggest of Fishes

During his tenure at Rutgers, Greg Schiano has done a lot of great things including turning the Scarlet Knights into a bowl team every year. But with the success their has been some disappointment one of the most glaring was that he failed to get the top kids in the state of New Jersey to stay at home. But on Friday that all changed when St. Peters Prep running back Savon Huggins committed to be part of Schiano's program.

This is the first time that Schiano or any other Rutgers coach has gotten the top ranked player in the state, the closet anyone has gotten was when Anthony Davis committed to the Knights. This year Schiano has managed to get with Huggins and recieved Miles Shuler two of the top three players in the state. Which is no small feet. That number might increase to three of the top four if DL Marquise Wright picks the Knights on National Signing Day.

Huggins feels that he is going to have an impact right away: “Marcus Lattimore (of South Carolina) did it. Reggie Bush did it at USC. If you stay home and bring the program to different heights, it will be better than if you do it out of state. Yes, it would be nice (out of state). But if you do it in your own state, it has a lot more meaning, ” Huggins told NJ.com

Last year the Knights running game was almost useless but with Huggins on board that could all change. Take a look at what Marcus Lattimore did at South Carolina. Lattimore was a must get for Steve Spurrier, alot of people thought that his job depended on it. Just like Huggins was for Schiano. During his first season at USC, Lattimore, you could make the argument that he was most important running in SEC, lead the Cocks to the SEC Title game.

While I'm not saying that he is going to have the same impact as Lattimore, Huggins is going to make a huge impact both on the field and off the field. Huggins committing to the Knights shows that you can be the top player in the state and stay home. Maybe Huggins commitment will be felt for a long time as more and more top players choose the Knights.

We have been on the Jimmer Train since last season

Today everyone is talking about Jimmer Fredette and his performance against San Diego State last night. It sounds like everyone has just heard of how fun to watch guard out of BYU is, everyone but OTWT. OTWT was riding the Jimmer train last year and here is the proof.  So this is an I told you type of post, So I told ya so.

Everyone hates CBS College Sports

Last night was CBS College Sports time to shine with them showing BYU and San Diego State in the game of the year in the Mountain West Conference, but instead of shining the network laid a huge egg. All over twitter last night college basketball fans were throwing a fit about the telecast.

Here are sampling of some of the hate that was being thrown around CBS College Sports and color guy Steve Lappas last night on Twitter:

• sportsguy33, Bill Simmons: "Szezcerbiak! Abdelnaby! It's the Not Quite March Madness Halftime show on Not Quite CBS!"
• mz734, Andrew: "RT @sharapovasthigh: RT @sportspickle: CBS College Sports is trending. The Internet has reached the peak of its potential."
• TheCoolSub,Jonathan Gold: "This is just marvelous. RT @doctorgc: Steve Lappas increasingly sounds like Lorraine Bracco in Goodfellas #SteveLappas"
• EdwardFLewis, Edward Lewis: "OK we're midway through the first half and the only thing Ive learned is CBS College Sports' color commentator is awful. 15-15 tie in Provo."
• AubreyBloom247, Aubrey Bloom: "If Gus Johnson were doing this game the "rise and fire" count would be at about 20 already. Also, terrible job mic'ing up the crowd CBS.''

So in there moment to show the country that they are a legit college sports station, CBS College Sports dropped the ball and ended up being a laughing stock.

You know you have been to alot of events

You know you have been to too many sporting events when your dashboard is covered with parking stubs from different sporting events that you have been to. This is the dashboard of my car and there are a number of parking stubs from the different events I have been to over the last 6 months, just imagine if  I have had this car longer.

Professional Tailgating: Minor League Hockey

Never been to a minor league hockey game, went on Friday night and boy was it bad. The OTWT Tailgating Crew took in the Phantoms (on their return to Philly) take on the Penguins. Was not the greatest show.

Both teams take the ice

 Ice Girls maybe one of the more entertaining aspects of the game

 The weird camera man that sat infront of us

These guys were the best skating guys of the night

Giving Everything a Try

In college you are supposed to give everything a try and Oklahoma State QB Brandon Weeden is sure trying that. After being a standout on the grid iron this year, Weeden is trying something else. The Oklahoma St. quarterback is walking on to golf team, yes that would be the national ranked Cowboy's golf team. After announcing that hey was returning to QB the cowboys next season Weeden tweeted the following:

“I forgot to mention I'm also the newest member of the OSU golf team!!!! Proud to be part of something special! Football and Golf!!!!”, according to a fox sports story

Weeden is no stranger to trying different things, baseball was his first love. Weeden was drafted in the second round of the baseball draft in 2002 by the Yankees as their first selection in the draft. After the 2003 season, he was traded to the Dodgers as part of the Kevin Brown deal he was selected in the Rule 5 draft following the 2005 season by the Royals His baseball career ended due to an arm injury and then he turned to football.

In high school, Weeden led Edmond Santa Fe High School to an appearance in the state semifinals in the school's first-ever playoff appearance, where he was eventually named team MVP and offensive player of the year. He finished second in Oklahoma in passing yards with 2,863. He also contributed 29 touchdowns. After leaving baseball, enrolled at OSU to baseball.

At this rate, Weeden will be trying out as a point guard for the Cowboys basketball team in the next couple of weeks.

Crazy Enough to Work

With the NFL possibly going to an 18 game schedule, could the idea of rotating quarterbacks every other game work for the Eagles, PTI host Mike Wilbon thinks so.


During his show today Wilbon said that the Eagles would be the perfect team to try it out with Kevin Kolb and Mike Vick. Wilbon compared the rotating of qbs game by game to a pitching staffs in baseball, sounds like it could work. Could you imagine Big Red not announcing his starting qb till friday and making teams prepare for both of them. It could just work right.

Professional Tailgating: One and Done Again

For the second year in a row, the Eagles made the playoffs and went out as quickly as they came in. Here are some of the sights from around the Linc yesterday.

This guy is a big Vick fan, I wonder what he thought of Vick's final pass of the game

This years theme Heart 

 Hats are nice way to celebrate a division title, but nothing beats an ice sculpture

 Balloon Eagle that got in my way all night

 You know its a big game, when there is a flag like this on the field

I hope Vick acts like a Super Hero tomorrow

I saw this on the net and could not help but post it. Mike Vick needs to be a video game hero tomorrow in their playoff game against the Green Bay Packers