Sports by Schmucks Podcast - Episode 23 (April 28)

New podcast with Brett and Sean recorded yesterday about Donald Sterling, the NBA playoffs and games to look forward to in the upcoming NFL season.

Hanging up the fantasy cleats

In his final column in the Sept. 12 edition of the Regional Optimist, former sports reporter Sean Macey wrote about the roller coaster of emotions that comes with being the general manager of a fantasy football team.

After finishing a season with three football teams, two basketball teams and three hockey teams, it’s time to hang up the fantasy cleats, sneakers and skates.

This is my official retirement from fantasy sports.

I’ve been playing fantasy sports since I was in middle school, but took a break through most of high school. When I got to university in 2002, the itch needed to be scratched again as I found more people interested in pouring over statistics and debating who was going to be a better sixth defenceman in a 12-team league.

Over my career in fantasy sports, I’ve had my share of success. I’m not leaving this world because of bad seasons, but because something that has become a joke in my family.

We call it “The Brett Jinx.”

No matter the season or the sport, something will go wrong with players on my team. I know everyone has injuries on their teams, but my results have been eerie.

I caught on to the phenomenon in the summer of 2003. Prior to those seasons, anything negative to happen to a player I drafted was chalked up to the regular injuries or down years of production.

Enter Michael Vick. In 2002, Vick threw for 2,936 yards, added another 777 yards on the ground and led the Atlanta Falcons to a 27-7 upset of the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field in the playoffs. 2003 was supposed to be the season where Vick took another step towards being one of the best and most exciting quarterbacks in the league.

So, I did what any reasonable fantasy general manager would do – I picked him first overall. A week after our draft, Vick fractured his right fibula in the Falcons’ second pre-season game. He played in the final five regular season games for Atlanta that season, but my fantasy season had already been decided.

Vick really had no chance. He also had to fight the Madden cover jinx, which has claimed NFL players’ seasons since the game started putting them on the front of the box.

The most recent example came from this year’s NHL season. It wasn’t even my choice to do it to the player in question. When you are involved in multiple leagues, you’re bound to miss a draft.

The victim in this case was New York Islanders captain John Tavares, who was on pace for a career year. Prior to the heading to Sochi for the Olympics, Tavares had 24 goals and 42 assists in 59 games this season. He was put on my team via an auto-draft.

Then, during the Olympics tournament, Tavares took a hit from a Latvian skater and tore his MCL and meniscus. He was lost to the Islanders for the rest of the year.

As for players I drafted, Nashville goaltender Pekka Rinne needed hip surgery in the middle of the season, followed by a lengthy absence due to a post-op infection. Also in net, Jimmy Howard missed stretches of the season due to injuries to his knee and hip during the season. Both were key pieces that forced me to find goaltending help elsewhere.

There have been other layers to my jinx that fall outside of the realm of fantasy sports. Purchasing or receiving jerseys with players on them usually preceded a trade the following season. Names like former Blue Jays second baseman Aaron Hill, former Leafs defenceman Luke Schenn, who after his rookie season I thought might have been in line for the captaincy at some point, and former Buffalo Bills wide receiver Lee Evans come to mind.

Other theories for my fantasy sports failures include loyalty. I’m too reluctant to drop or trade a player I drafted at the beginning of the season. I mean, I picked them for a reason, right? They’re sure to turn around their season eventually. They never do.

But, like many players who have fantasy sports issues, it comes down to injuries. It’s become a habit for my parents to ask whom I drafted in the season to start to prepare for injuries to top players in the current season. My dad told me to stay away from any Toronto Maple Leafs this season, especially the goaltenders. And yes, I’ve had James Reimer and Jonathan Bernier at points during the season.

With the airing of my grievances, it is time to step away from the fantasy spotlight. Like any great athlete, I’ll probably have multiple comeback attempts that fail like Michael Jordan with the Washington Wizards.

One final message to professional athletes everywhere, you’re welcome. There’s one less jinx for you to worry about.

This column was originally published in the April 22 of the Battlefords News-Optimist. It was also posted to newsoptimist.ca.

NHL 14 Be a GM - Dallas Stars (Episode 7)

The Dallas Stars Be a GM is back with the first half of the off-season. How will the Stars draft? Who will they re-sign?

Sports by Schmucks Podcast - Episode 22 (April 18)

Brett, Sean & Kieran talk Champions League and the NHL/NBA playoffs

Future is bright for PGA Tour

There are usually a couple of clear signs spring is here. One, and usually the final piece to come into place, is The Masters.

As I looked outside my window this weekend to see flurries and on the weather reports to see minus temperatures, the picturesque weather in Augusta, Ga. transported me to a place of warmth and excitement.

However, this year's tournament spoke to me for a different reason.

After watching The Masters, the PGA has to be excited for the future of their tour.

Despite Tiger Woods not being in the field and the ratings being down from last year's tournament, the PGA Tour has a number of young players ready to step into the spotlight. The Masters featured 24 rookies at Augusta, 18 of whom were professionals.

Jordan Spieth with Bubba Watson during the final round of The Masters (Photo from golfdigest.com)

Jordan Spieth, a 20-year-old from Dallas, Texas playing for a green jacket for the first time, finished tied for second at 5 under par. In the final round, Spieth at one point held a two-stroke lead on eventual champion Bubba Watson. The rookie had two straight bogeys on No. 8 and 9, which derailed his chance to become the youngest winner of the coveted green jacket. As Watson birdied those two holes, Spieth went from two up to two down heading into the back nine.

But the tournament worked as a showcase for Spieth, who after his finish at Augusta is ninth in the World Golf Rankings. Spieth has one win under his belt from 2013's John Deere Classic at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Ill., downing Dustin Johnson and Canadian David Hearn in a five-hole playoff. His second place finish at The Masters was already the fifth of his career.

Spieth is the most recent young player to take the PGA by storm. Also in the top five of this year's tournament was 25-year-old Rickie Fowler from Anaheim, Calif. It was the highest finish at Augusta for the highly-touted Fowler. With one PGA Tour win at the 2012 Wells Fargo Championship at the Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, N.C., Fowler has yet to break through in one of the four majors. He also tied for fifth at The Open in 2011.

This has all been said without mentioning former golden boy Rory McIlroy. He got the attention of the golf world in 2011 with a 56-hole lead at The Masters before crumbling in the final round to finish tied for 15th. McIlroy responded with a dominating performance at the 2011 U.S. Open, winning his first major by eight strokes. He also won the 2012 PGA Championship by eight strokes.

While he has struggled recently, McIlroy put up his highest finish at Augusta last weekend. After a poor second round, he shot a 1-under 71 and 3-under 69 in the third and fourth round respectively to finish in a tie for eighth at even par.

Weyburn, Saskatchewan's Graham DeLaet was one of the 18 players to make his debut at The Masters. Following a tough opening round, DeLaet responded with an even par 72. However, he still missed the cut by finishing the tournament 8 over par.

“Still the best week of my life,” tweeted DeLaet after missing the cut Friday afternoon.

The 32-year-old DeLaet is ranked 30th in the World Golf Rankings and has 12 top-10 finishes in the last two years. The majority of press given to DeLaet was based on his knowledge of his back injury similar to Woods'.

But with young, talented, future stars scattered throughout the field and a strong Canadian golfer in the mix, why were the ratings down?

The easy answer is to point to the absence of Woods, who is the most popular player on tour. Other than a major star in contention, and with all due respect Watson is not at that level yet, what really was lacking from the final round was the drama that is usually synonymous with a Sunday at Augusta.

In last year's tournament, on a rainy Sunday evening, eventual champion Adam Scott was locked in a thrilling final round and playoff battle with Angel Cabrera.

Once Spieth bogeyed those two holes in the middle of his final round, the drama was sucked out of this year's tournament. Watson was essentially completing a nine-hole victory lap en route to his second green jacket.

With Woods being out until at least after the U.S. Open, it is time for the PGA Tour to showcase it's young talent.

After what we saw at The Masters, the talent is clearly there.

This article was originally posted on newsoptimist.ca.

Chris Lejambe's 2014 Stanley Cup Playoff Predictions

Here we are once again in the month of April and it means only one thing: it’s time for the 2014 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. It also means that it’s time to tell the world who I think will make it through the first round.

Eastern Conference

Boston Bruins vs. Detroit Red Wings

To me this will be the series to watch in the first round, and whomever wins this series will be the team to beat in the East going forward. Boston is definitely the bigger team in this matchup, so the key for them is to be very physical right from the opening faceoff. Detroit has a lot of young players to complement the veterans on the team and if they can score early. They can put Boston on their heels and throw off their game. Detroit won the season series against the Bruins and that is saying something against the President’s Trophy winner. This will be a hard-fought series and there will not be any easy victories. I predict a seven-game series with Detroit winning 4-3.

Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Columbus Blue Jackets

Based on regular season games this season between these two teams, it’s fair to say that Pittsburgh is the better team (5-0 in the season series). The Penguins have one of the best players in the world on their team and Columbus is going to have the unenviable task of restricting Sidney Crosby’s movements on the ice.  To me this comes down to goaltending and could very well be the Sergei Bobrovsky show (if Columbus stands a chance against Pittsburgh then it will have to be). I think Columbus has the better goaltender, but not enough in front of him to get Columbus more than one win. I expect close games, but Pittsburgh has a more talented roster and that will be the difference in the series and spell the end to the Blue Jackets. Pittsburgh wins the series 4-1.

Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Montreal Canadiens

This series features the only Canadian team to make the playoffs this year, and sadly (for the country) I don’t think they will get past the Lightning. The Lightning won the season series and although they were close games, I think Tampa has the better team. Montreal has the better goaltender in Carey Price, but he can’t score for the team and the Lightning have more firepower. If Tampa gets an early lead, I’m not sure Montreal has enough scoring power to keep up. Tampa Bay wins the series 4-2.

New York Rangers vs. Philadelphia Flyers

Both of these teams have pretty awesome crowds, and in all four meetings between these two teams this season, the home team won the game. This series comes down to who plays better on the road. Both teams have solid goaltenders behind them and both teams are capable of scoring. Some of the veteran players on the Rangers haven’t been near as productive this season as expected and they are going to have to step up in order to secure the Rangers a series win. I think the Flyers are ready to go now and that will give them a slight advantage. In a seven game series, that could make the difference. Philadelphia wins the series 4-3.

Western Conference

Anaheim Ducks vs. Dallas Stars

The Ducks are the top of the Western Conference and basically dominated the league in the first half of the season with a record of 36-8-5 at one point. Yes, they did slow down after that, but they looked back to usual form by the end of the season. Dallas has a better goaltender in Kari Lehtonen and that should get Dallas a couple wins in the series, but overall I feel the Ducks are the better team and their record during the season is proof of that. Anaheim wins the series 4-2.

Colorado Avalanche vs. Minnesota Wild

This is another series that comes down to goaltending. Colorado has a battle tested Semyon Varlamov and Minnesota has Ilya Bryzgalov, who went 7-0-3 in the last 11 games for the Wild. He’s a big reason they made the post season. I think Varlamov is the better and more reliable of the two and, combined with the young talent and ability to score for Colorado, I think the Wild won’t have enough to win the series. Colorado wins the series 4-2.

San Jose vs. Los Angeles Sharks

This will be another nail-biting series that will be low-scoring and filled with tension. I don’t envy die-hard fans of either of these teams, who will need nerves of steel while watching their teams. During the season, home ice played a big role in determining the winner and I see no reason why this series will be any different. I think the difference in this series will be Jonathan Quick and the overall health of the Kings. Add to that the fact the Sharks always seem to underperform in the post-season regardless of how good they look during the season and I think the Kings will emerge victorious. Los Angeles wins the series 4-3.

Chicago Blackhawks vs. St. Louis Blues

The defending Champions start their playoff run against the Blues and these teams currently look like polar opposites. Chicago has a much healthier team and many players from last year’s Cup winning team have returned this year. St. Louis on the other hand, picked a terrible time of the year for a six-game losing streak and has several injured players on the roster that may not be healthy enough to make the team for the playoffs or to make a difference for their team. St. Louis has the opportunity here to step up and play like they did earlier in the season, but if they can’t do that, then it will be a quick exit for them. Chicago wins the series 4-1.

Future Round Picks

East

Detroit defeats Tampa Bay

Pittsburgh defeats Philadelphia

Detroit defeats Pittsburgh.

West

Chicago defeats Colorado

Anaheim defeats Los Angeles

Chicago defeats Anaheim

Cup Final

Detroit defeats Chicago

Sports by Schmucks Podcast - Episode 21 (April 15)

On the 21st edition of the Sports by Schmucks podcast, the guys talk about The Masters and what's next for the Maple Leafs.

NHL 14 Be a GM - Dallas Stars (Episode 6)

Final episode of the 2013-14 season in this Dallas Stars Be a GM. What happens before the off-season?

Sports by Schmucks Podcast - Episode 20 (April 9)

Brett and Sean battle colds to talk about the NBA and NHL playoffs. They also add some early overreactions to MLB's season. Also, some high fives and face palms to close the show.

NHL 14 Be a GM - Dallas Stars (Episode 5)

Episode 5 of the Dallas Stars Be a GM mode taking the team to the Trade Deadline.

Sports By Schmucks Podcast - Episode 19 (WrestleMania XXX Preview)

Brett, Sean and special guest Tyler talk about WrestleMania XXX. Take a listen to see what they think will go down on the grandaddy of 'em all.