Who are these WInnipeg Jets?

Hockey fans who know the history of the sport know that the NHL team the Winnipeg Jets moved to Phoenix, Arizona to become the Phoenix Coyotes. Over the past few years the Coyotes have had attendance, ownership and stadium problems. The Coyotes want a new barn and there have been many rumors about what will happen to the franchise. The ad above was run in the Winnipeg Free Press. It seems a little arrogant that the Coyotes will move back to Winnipeg. The main rumor is that the Coyotes will return to Winnipeg. The company did say that "we will welcome you back" as in if they come back, they'll be happy. It still seems a bit like counting your chickens before they hatch. Relocation is never fun and is always sad when a team packs up and leaves. The league grants cities teams, not necessarily owners. As always it's about the dollar at the end of the day. If they can go somewhere else and make more, they will. I remember when there was talk about the Pittsburgh Penguins moving elsewhere because they couldn't get a new arena. Luckily in March 2007, owner Mario Lemieux announced that they had a new arena deal. The Coyotes were 29th in the league in attendance, averaging 12,208 fans a game. Even though not everyone in the city of Phoenix will be heartbroken, the die-hard fans will be. It is like getting your heart ripped out from you. It would be kind of ironic for the Coyotes to return to Winnipeg. Now for the fans in Phoenix, if they move, to see NHL hockey live, the closest place to travel would probably be to Anaheim to see the Ducks. Or it could be in LA to see the Kings. I hope for the die-hard Coyotes fans sake that they don't move. Especially after they got swept out of the first round by the Detroit Red Wings. The Coyotes have been playing good hockey the last couple years, it would be sad if they move. Though the rumors make it seem as if it's inevitable. But the key word is rumor. It is all speculation at this point. None of it is true at this point. The media just wants to say they were the first to announce it.

Stay strong Coyotes fans. If they do move, odds are the NHL will put another team there because they like visiting warm weather sites.

Rays return to .500, the legend of Sam Fuld

The 4-1 win over the Chicago White Sox last night improved the Tampa Bay Ray's record to 9-9, good enough for second place in the American League East. Being .500 is a major improvement compared to the 1-8 start the Rays had. The biggest difference has been their improved hitting and the legend of Sam Fuld began. 

Sam Fuld makes a catch

Fuld was acquired in a deal that sent the Ray's ace Matt Garza to the Chicago Cubs. Fuld has been great for the Rays. His average is .344 and have been stellar in left field. Fuld has been so good that he is making Rays fans forget about their former all-star left fielder Carl Crawford. Crawford left the Rays to go for a better payday with division rivals the Boston Red Sox. Crawford has not been an all-star with the Sox. He has a .149 average which is not the value the Red Sox expected for seven years, $142 million. The Sam Fuld legacy began April 9th against the White Sox. Fuld made an amazing catch to rob Juan Pierre of an extra base hit. Fuld then had an amazing performance against the Red Sox. Fuld went 5 for 10 in the series. In mid-April Fuld became a starter in left field. St. Petersburg Times writer Marc Topkin has compiled a list of Fuld jokes, from Twitter, ala Chuck Norris style. Here are a few of the best:
USF is changing it's name to Univ. of Sam Fuld.
He gets Chick-Fil-A on Sundays.
They will rename the movie to Fuld of Dreams.
Some other funny ones were:
Sam Fuld was once intentionally walked while in the on deck circle.
The Red Sox check under their bed for Sam Fuld.
Fuld was also asked once by reporters why he couldn't stop the rain.
"It's just me washing my planet," he joked.
With Manny Ramirez retiring and the Rays already planned a Ramirez bobblehead give away, the Rays needed to find something else to give to their loyal fans. What better than a Super Sam cape to all kids 14 and under on May 29th.
The legend of Sam Fuld will continue to grow as long as he keeps playing relatively well. If he does then that should mean success for the Rays and more Fuld "facts" to the list.

Astros fan doesn't feel very appreciated

Most people when they go to an event such as fan appreciation day, do not win anything. Astros fan Bob Choate was lucky enough to win 315 coupons for coffee and a donut at Shipley Do-Nuts. He later on received a 1099 form from the IRS saying that he owed $237 for the donuts. It is because the donuts and coffee were valued at $927.61 which is over the $600 limit. Choate appealed to the Astros and donut company. Lawrence Shipley, the owner, agreed to cover the taxes for Choate. Choate then decided to donate $237 to any charity Shipley wanted him to. Choate only used eight of the coupons for the coffee and donuts.

That was very nice of Shipley to cover the tax for the donuts. He didn't have to but did anyways. It was also great that Choate donated the money that would have gone for the taxes to a charity. Who knew that 315 coupons for donuts and coffee would be worth that much. It would have been especially bad for Choate because he only used eight of them. I kind of agree with Choate on this. He didn't know going into it that he would have to pay tax on the donuts. It's different if you go on a game show such as Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy or Let's Make a Deal. There you expect to pay taxes on whatever you win. It also is depressing that if you win an amazing prize, like a car, that you have to pay tax on it. Some people if they won a car couldn't afford it and would have to sell it. That why for game shows, cash is king. You just get less money and don't have to worry about selling something. I'm glad that they came to an agreement.
   

Game one: Penguins 3, Lightning 0

The Consol Energy Center's first playoff game was a good one for Penguins fans. If game one is how the rest of the series will be then the Tampa Bay Lightning are going to make an early postseason exit. The Pittsburgh Penguins basically just physically manhandled the Lightning. It wasn't until the third period the first goal was scored by Alexei Kovalev. Aaron Asham scored 18 seconds later after Lightning goalie Dwayne Roloson got out of position. Chris Kunitz added an empty net goal to make it 3-0 Pens.

Penguins Alexei Kovalev (Right) and teammates
James Neal (Left) and Mark Letestu (Center)
celebrate Kovalev's goal.  

The story of the game was how well Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury played. Anytime there is a shutout one can assume the goalie played well. However, Fleury has been playing the same as he has since about November, insanely good. He, along with their upgraded defense, is the reason the Penguins were able to pile up 106 points in the regular season and earn the fourth seed in the east. If the Penguins were going to do well it almost had to be because of him. The Pens have missed their captain, Sidney Crosby, since early January and all-star center Evgeni Malkin since early February. The Lightning's best opportunity was probably when Fleury stopped Brett Clark's initial shot and Dominic Moore's rebound attempt. It was so good that Moore thought that the puck had gone in. The Bolts Vincent Lecavalier had a golden opportunity early in the second period but Fleury stopped him then also. The Penguins set a physical tone. It was first seen when Brooks Orpik crushed the Lightning's Steven Stamkos into the boards early in the first period. The Lightning's Martin St. Louis got an accidental stick to the mouth from the Pens' Zbynek Michalek as St. Louis was falling. St. Louis was outraged because he felt there should of been a penalty. Afterwards St. Louis would have to get a double root canal after the game to fix his teeth. Dwayne Roloson played pretty good for the Lightning in net, except for the Asham mishap. The Lightning are going to have to play better in game two if they want to advance to the next round. Game two is tonight in Pittsburgh at seven.  

Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury makes a save on
the Lightning's Vincent Lecavalier.