And just like that, hockey season ends with a thud.
Heika on the trend of the last 3 years …
It's easy to get a reputation in sports.
When you're the Buffalo Bills or Minnesota Vikings or Chicago Cubs, you can't win the big one.
When you're the Indianapolis Colts, you can't even get to the big one.
Put this edition of the Stars in the latter category.
The Stars from 2003 to now – the Stars led by general manager Doug Armstrong, coach Dave Tippett and goalie Marty Turco – have greatly underachieved. The numbers are stifling.
•8-14 overall in the playoffs
•1-6 in playoff overtime.
•4-7 at home in the playoffs, including 0-3 in this series.
When asked about the word, "underachieve," winger Brenden Morrow said: "I think that's a good word to use."
And now, We await the hammer of Tom Hicks …
Owner Tom Hicks planned to meet with general manager Doug Armstrong Tuesday or Wednesday.
"I think you need to let a day or two go by so that you can look at things a little more realistically," Hicks said. "You want to stay calm."
When asked if he anticipated any major changes in the organization, he replied: "We have a chain of command, and the only question for me is: Do I have confidence in Doug Armstrong? And the answer is I absolutely do. He is not the reason we lost this series."
Armstrong declined to speculate on what he would recommend.
Everything may be on the table.
"I think anything done today would be too rushed," Armstrong said. "We'll evaluate the season in its entirety."
What they'll review will be puzzling.
Tippett has the best regular-season record among active NHL coaches but has lost his last three playoff series.
"Ultimately, you're judged by the playoffs," Tippett said. "We didn't get the job done."
Memphis remembers the Blazers of ’03 ….
Dallas has never swept a team, 4-0. Not even when the Mavs led the Portland Trail Blazers, 3-0, in the first round of the 2003 playoffs did they make it a short series.
Stoudamire's Trail Blazers won Games 4, 5 and 6. The Mavs needed to win Game 7 at home to advance.
"It's probably so far-fetched that these guys don't believe it," Stoudamire said of coming back from a three-game deficit to tie the series. "But I'll bet you Dallas remembers. I'll bet you Dirk (Nowitzki) remembers. I'll bet you (Mavs coach) Avery Johnson remembers, and he's probably telling them about it.
"It was probably the strangest series ever in basketball. We got beat good for three games. Then, the next thing you know, we beat their (butts) for three games. I remember it like it was yesterday. Going into Game 7, everybody was saying Portland is the favorite. How can they lose?"
Griz forward Pau Gasol delivered a sheepish grin when asked about his thoughts about Stoudamire's pep talk.
"It means that it's possible," Gasol said. "It means we have a chance until we lose again. We've been trying to take it one game at a time all series long. We've got to fight like we did in Game 3."
Stoudamire's point exactly.
The Grizzlies' 0-11 postseason record, and coach Mike Fratello's 12 losses in the past 13 postseason games he's coached don't matter.
Kobe is the Man …Not that you have never heard that from me before or anything…
Various Draft Grades for the Cowboys:
Rick Gosselin ….
Dallas: The Cowboys addressed all their needs: size in the front defensive seven, a tight end, safety, kick returner plus depth on the offensive line. The player who could have the quickest impact is Green, the kick returner. C
Don Pierson – Chicago Tribune ….
Coach Bill Parcells coached Carpenter's father, Rob, a running back with the New York Giants. Bobby fits into the 3-4 scheme because he can play inside or outside. Fasano makes up for the loss of second tight end Dan Campbell, although the Cowboys already added Ryan Hannam from Seattle behind starter and excellent receiver Jason Witten. All will help open things up for Terrell Owens. Hatcher is another big line addition to the 3-4.
Grade: B
Kiper at ESPN …
Dallas Cowboys: GRADE: B-
They drafted a very versatile and talented OLB in Bobby Carpenter. Anthony Fasano is a good tight end, but the Cowboys already have Jason Witten, and more importantly, they didn't get the free safety and offensive line help I thought they needed. Skyler Green brings speed to the return game, and I do like getting DT Montavious Stanley in the sixth round.
And then there is This post from The Ranch Message Board by the very knowledgeable “TwoDeep3”…
The 2002 Draft Grades - Why Grading Is Bogus
Roy Williams
Andre Gurode
Antonio Bryant
Derek Ross
Jamar martin
Ralph Hunter
Tyson Walter
Deveren Johnson
Bob Slowikowski
Do you recall the draft grades by the press and fans here after this monumental draft?
A- was the press' opinion of this draft. We were a winner in many periodicals.
The fans here, being less homeristic gave this draft an A+.
So, three years later we have Roy Williams and Andre Gurode.
Is this still an A?
This is why I no longer participate in any draft grading in the gloaming after the draft.
We don't know.
The press doesn't know.
And the team doesn't know.
Until they strap it up and have three years to prove their worth.
Well done….
Over There ….
Check out this rant from a p1 on CoCo Cordero …
Helpwinthisbet.com …
Fun with midgets …
This fall: Full games to be replayed on the NFL Network …
Didn't get to the Rangers or Spurs today, but I have to get to Home Depot and maybe Bed Bath and Beyond....
If Vince Young is an All-Pro in the next 5 years, can we make Ron Jaworski put a gun in his mouth? In fact, can we do that anyway? I'd suggest doing it to Merril Hoge, but I don't think a bullet in the head would affect him at all.
ReplyDeleteBob, it's just the Mexicans that are taking the day off, not honkeys married to mexicans!!!
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I'm surprised you didn't blog more on the Stars, but I'm sure we'll here about it today on the air...right? That was a pitiful series and I can't believe the lack of effort I saw out there...pitiful.
Draft....snzzzzzz, but it was more interesting than the network feed ya'll play on some weekends.
Those who say it was all Turco's fault don't have an intelligent opinion on the matter. Yeah, he gave up some bad goals, but there are five other guys on the ice with him for a reason. There's enough blame to go around for this colossal emergency brake. I'm sure someone's head will roll for it, and it's most likely going to be Tippett.
ReplyDeleteAfter the Stars gutless performances this playoffs, I say blow it up! Start with Tippit and work your way down from there. How can you feel good about going into the playoffs next year with Turco in net?
ReplyDeleteHate to see the Stars lose but glad we don't have to talk hockey anymore. It is all on the Mavericks now to carry us to training camp.
ReplyDeleteWell Theodore and Turco were doing the failed smile and handshake post game the NBC Analyst said something along the lines of: "Both these goalies played very well in the series and should been blamed." I dont know about everone else but Turco dissapointed me. I wish someone at ESPN hand made a bet with Melrose about his Stars prediction. Maybe we wouldnt be blindid by his shiny ass hair.
ReplyDeleteDone with hockey. Time for the MAVS to prove something. With the Spurs and Kings notted up, and having to go at least 6 games, I hope the Mavs take advantage tonight and sweep and get some rest for round 2.
Go Mavs. Hang Kiper.
I need to proof read...
ReplyDeleteWhile Theodore and Turco were doing the failed smile and handshake post game the NBC Analyst said something along the lines of: "Both these goalies played very well in the series and shouldnt be blamed."
Am I the only one rooting for a Staples Center series in the 2nd Round of the West?
ReplyDeletePlus San Antonio looked TERRRRRR-UH-BULL at Arco this weekend. They better get their respective acts together or the Mavs will be able to COAST into the Finals...
I was completely impressed with Kobe..up until that completely over-the-top post game celebration. Dear lord, someone tell the man its the first round.
ReplyDeleteMaybe if Dirk would've beat his chest like a gorilla on crack, his "big shot" would've had a better chance of making the Top 10 on Sportscenter...or perhaps a mention in Bob's blog.
Slowly I'm starting to understand the Spurs fan that bemoans the underappreciation of Tim Duncan - I really am.
I'm actually rooting for the Lakers to take the series, but Kobe and his drama queen antics can suck it.
Is it some sort of crime to use more than one sentence in a paragraph?
ReplyDeleteWell?
Is it?
I'm shocked that, given Turco's performance after getting his contract, Hicks is willing to say he's totally happy with Army's performance. Signing him right away when there was no real pressure to do so was a terrible decision. Even if you come out of this latest playoff meltdown thinking that Turco is your goalie of the future, you'd still have been able to give him a contract this summer, but he'd have been able to demand significantly less money. I think that deal was a mess.
ReplyDeleteSecond, I really thought Turco looked bad, and not just while letting in shots (some of which, as was pointed out, nobody could have gotten, i.e. the one off Mitchell's skate). He flopped around on the ice like a speared fish and has, all season long, taken twice as long to get back up off the ice and into position as he ought to. I watched the Nashville/San Jose game last night and was impressed with how sharp the goalies look, neither of which have half the talent that Marty has. But both of them a)stay on their feet when there's an easy save to make (makes it a little easier to move side to side, eh?), and b)get up a hell of a lot quicker. I wonder whether Turco has been told how naturally talented he is for so long that he now thinks he doesn't have to work as hard or be as alert as other goalies.
As has been said, we're married to him, and we'll probably lose Hedberg, which sucks a lot.
Randy...
It is always sad seeing someone slip in sports...
ReplyDeleteOur boy Guerin, in his last game as a Star played like a guy who didn't want the club to give him the boot after the season comes to an end. He played well during this ridiculously short series, but I don't think that will be enough to be around next year.
The BAD Radio curse hits 4 (that's creepy in its own right)
NExt, The Lakers will eliminate Pheonix in Rnd 1. unreal. They are playing, for the first time in years, as a team and Phil is finally cementing his legacy as a great coach.
Next, the Mavs are hardcore right now. That three by Dirk to send the game into OT the other day was the shot of the postseason so far. Get them done, and let's see ARtest extend that bad boy to seven and wear out SAN ANtonio before we see them.
Finally, I'm ready for football.
Go Mavs.
Trade Turco.
Who cares about the baseball team in Arlington.
Count me in on the group rooting for the Lakers. I dislike that team more than any other besides SA, but it is fun to watch Kobe show his MVPness over Nash.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of Nash he was on Times top 100 influential people. How? Because in the words of Barkley (thats right Chuck wrote the piece) he shares the ball and isnt me first. That is enough make him top 100 most influential people in the world?
Answer this, why does K-Mart and Kobe think it's ok to show their breast after something good happens?
Phoenix got screwed. Nash either called a TO or he got fouled. And Kobe is still a prick.
ReplyDeleteAnd count me among the people that want to see Turco shipped out. No, he wasn't to blame for the Stars' losing this series. The fact that the Stars are grit-deficient is to blame. That being said, the playoffs are when your goalie should be winning you some games on his own that you otherwise have no excuse winning.
Marty Turco wasn't the reason why the Stars were losing playoff games, but he also won't ever be a reason why the Stars are winning playoff games.
Pasquarelli wrote this ..."But the most interesting tailback name that came up in trade speculation was Dallas starter Julius Jones, rumored at one point on Saturday to be headed to the New York Jets"...
ReplyDeleteWhole article: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/draft06/columns/story?columnist=pasquarelli_len&id=2428160
Was anyone else aware of this?
and the hockey fans unite!! where are all of yall during the rest of the season while everyone's kicking bob in the balls for talking too much hockey?
ReplyDeleteYESSS!!! Red Wings down and out
ReplyDeleteThe saying is, "Strap it on."
ReplyDelete