Friday's Three Stars: Bert nets pair; Canes retire Brind'Amour's 17

No. 1 Star: Todd Bertuzzi(notes), Detroit Red Wings

Three minutes after Stephen Weiss(notes) brought the Florida Panthers back from a 3-1 deficit in the third period, Bertuzzi took the lead back for Detroit en route to a 4-3 win. It was the third time in four games that Bertuzzi finished with two goals. Joey MacDonald(notes) made 29 saves and Pavel Datsyuk(notes) scored his ninth goal in 14 games.

No. 2 Star: Kyle Brodziak(notes), Minnesota Wild

After scoring just twice in their previous two games, the Wild broke out with a five-goal night during a 5-1 win over the Anaheim Ducks. Brodziak led the way with a goal and two assists, while Niklas Backstrom(notes) stopped 29 shots for his third win in four starts. 

No. 3 Star: Ty Conklin(notes), St. Louis Blues

Filling in while Jaroslav Halak(notes) heals on the IR, Conklin notched his 16th career shutout with a 25-save performance during a 3-0 win over the Buffalo Sabres. T.J. Oshie(notes) and and David Backes(notes) scored in the second period as the Blues won just hours after their captain Eric Brewer(notes) was dealt to Tampa Bay.

Honorable mention: Corey Perry(notes) extended his point streak to seven games with his 30th goal of the year ... Brad Marchand(notes) scored his 17th and 18th goals of the season and Tuukka Rask(notes) made 32 stops as the Boston Bruins won 4-2 over the Ottawa Senators. Making his Bruins debut, Tomas Kaberle(notes) finished a minus-1 with 19:34 of ice time ... All the New Jersey Devils needed was one goal and 16 saves from Johan Hedberg(notes) to shutout the New York Rangers 1-0 for their sixth straight victory. New Jersey is now 8-0-1 in their past nine games. The lone tally came from the red-hot Ilya Kovalchuk(notes), who scored in his fourth straight game to extend his point streak to nine games:

On the night they raised Rod Brind'Amour's(notes) No. 17 to the rafters at RBC Center, Erik Cole(notes) provided some late dramatics as the Carolina Hurricanes slipped past the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2. Cole's winner with 3:03 left in the game came just a little over two minutes after Braydon Coburn(notes) had tied things at two. A pre-game ceremony honored Brind'Amour, with both teams wearing jerseys with his name and number on them during warmups:

Steve Mason's(notes) 37 saves and Columbus' success on the power play (2-for-4) buoyed them past the Chicago Blackhawks 4-3 to improve to 6-1-1 in their last eight games. Matt Calvert(notes) recorded two points and opened the scoring with this pretty individual effort:

Did you know? Detroit is now 22-0-2 when leading after two periods. (AP)

Dishonorable mention: The Ducks saw their six-game road winning streak come to an end ... The Rangers saw their own four-game road win streak end as well ... Ryan Miller(notes) lost his third straight start.

Related: Rod Brind'Amour, Brad Marchand, Steve Mason, Niklas Backstrom, David Backes, T.J. Oshie, Tuukka Rask, Jaroslav Halak, Kyle Brodziak, Corey Perry, Joey MacDonald, Braydon Coburn, Stephen Weiss, Ilya Kovalchuk, Ty Conklin, Pavel Datsyuk, Johan Hedberg, Ryan Miller, Erik Cole, Eric Brewer, Tomas Kaberle, Todd Bertuzzi, Anaheim Ducks, Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, Carolina Hurricanes, Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, Florida Panthers, Minnesota Wild, New Jersey Devils, New York Rangers, Ottawa Senators, Philadelphia Flyers, St. Louis Blues, 3 Stars, Puck Videos

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Content Marketing Optimization Session with Lee Odden – PubCon 2010

If content can be searched, it can be optimized.

What are your customers’ content preferences? How do they discover? Consume? Share? Create a profile of your audience(s).

Use tools to create personas of data

Demographic info from Quantcast, CompeteKeyword info from SEMRush, GoogleEngagement info from PostRankSocial network info from Flowtown, Rapleaf

Create an editorial spreadsheet to plan all content that includes:

TopicKeywordsMedia TypePlaces Repost/Repurpose Content (Newsletter, Slideshare)Places to Promote (Facebook, Twitter, etc)

The SEO Content Cycle

Create & promote optimized contentContent is noticed, shared, & visibility growsExposure attracts more subscribers, fans, friends, linksIncrease links and exposure grows search & referral trafficTraffic & community provides data that you can research, develop to further grow social networks for content & SEO

Repurposing Content Example

Upload video to YouTubeEmbed in a blog post with show notesPost screen shots from video to FlickrUpload images and text as a story in a PowerPoint or PDF, upload to .docstoc, Scribd, etc.

Takeaways

Develop & optimize content with customers personas in mindThink like a publisher and create an editorial planDevelop channels of distribution & social linksLeverage both web & social media analytics

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Justin Timberlake Learned To Sing From Michael Jackson

Justin Timberlake is hardly recognizable in his latest role. He provides the voice of Boo Boo in the live-action Yogi Bear, so you don’t see his face an it doesn’t even sound like him. It turned out Timberlake is quite a mimic, as he revealed the skills that taught him how to sing in the first place.

“Funny enough, I learned how to sing when I was a kid imitating singers on the radio,” Timberlake said. “Al Green, Michael Jackson and Don Henley, those a few names I can remember off the top of my head.”

Animated bears were an afterthought that came with Timberlake’s hidden talent. “I’m an only child and I was obviously really bored. I would entertain my parents by imitating Scooby-Doo and Boo Boo. I would just imitate all the cartoon voices. So you know that about me now.”

Timberlake hopes a new generation of kids will watch Yogi Bear and learn from it the same way he absorbed his cartoons. For him, it was another live-action/animation blend that blew his mind.

“There’s a great way to reach young minds and right now it’s with 3D big movies. I just got to screen the movie last night and it made me feel the same way that I felt when I first watched Who Framed Roger Rabbit? which I think is a classic A+ awesome movie. To be able to use that as well to school young minds on how money’s not the most important thing in the world, and we need trees to breathe [is important].”

Yogi Bear is now playing.

Red Hot Stars In December (Photos) Ellen DeGeneres Donates 1 Million Meals To Shelter Pets

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Video: Blake Griffin brings the laffs

In a few short months, Blake Griffin(notes) has become the hottest thing going in NBA circles by virtue of his rim-rattling dunks. His presence brings an electricity to arenas around the league, and he's made the Clippers relevant for the first time in years.

However, Griffin has a low profile off the court. Needing a dose of personality for his public image, Griffin partnered with MySpace Comedy for a series of interviews that bring you the man behind the dunks.

These are parody interviews, but they very clearly bring across what Griffin's like away from basketball. He's humble, friendly, and blessed with a pretty darn impressive sense of comedic timing. He's obviously patterned his style after Will Ferrell, but no one ever said influence is the same as stealing someone's style.

Check out the clip above and view the rest of the videos at MySpace. Social networking is the wave of the future!

Related: Blake Griffin, Video

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'Paranormal Activity 2' Arrives On DVD & Blu-ray February 8, 2011

The sequel to the low-budget blockbuster "Paranormal Activity" takes place a few months before the events of the first film.

Katie (Katie Featherston), the much put-upon leading lady in the original, has a sister living in an upscale Los Angeles suburb named Kristi (Sprague Grayden). Kristi has a new baby son, Hunter; a likable lug of a husband named Daniel (Brian Boland), who owns several fast-food joints; a teenage stepdaughter from her hubby's first marriage, Ali (Molly Ephraim); and a large, friendly dog.

As the family gets used to the new arrival, strange noises are heard late at night and when they come home from an outing, they discover the house has been trashed, even though none of their valuables have been stolen. Daniel responds by installing a security system and a network of surveillance cameras, though that doesn't stop the noises or the Latino housekeeper's insistence that spirits lurk in the home.

When Katie and her boyfriend, Micah (Micah Sloat), stop by for a visit, they discuss the strange goings-on with Kristi; the women of the house believe supernatural forces are at work, while the men find that notion ridiculous. That doesn't last long, as the spirits get noisier and angrier, especially when Ali begins doing some research on the subject, and before long the safety of the household is being threatened on several fronts, possibly due to some dirty dealings in the family's distant past.

Watch "Paranormal Activity 2 Preview"Celebrity Birthdays - December 24, 2010 Sinead O'Connor Demands Answers Over Pope's Pedophilia Comments

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Ex-UNC star Rashad McCants reinvents himself as an actor

LostLettermen.com, the college sports online magazine and former player database, regularly contributes to The Dagger. Here's a look at the current whereabouts of former North Carolina star Rashad McCants. 

People have come to expect the unpredictable and outrageous from Rashad McCants.

This is the former college basketball star who once said being at North Carolina was like being in jail, who tattooed "Born To Be Hated" on one arm and "Dying To Be Loved" on the other, and who compared people understanding him to reading the Bible.

But even McCants' erratic past didn't prepare fans for the latest twist in his tumultuous career. Having washed out of the NBA as a result of concerns about his attitude and his ability to coexist with teammates, the 26-year-old former first-round draft pick is dabbling in acting and his first foray into the thespian arts is a doozy.

The above clip is from the pilot to a TV series called "The Booster Club," produced by McCants and starring him and former adult-film actress Traci Lords. Billed as a comedy series about a ring of professional booster thieves, the show is now being shopped around Hollywood in hopes of finding a network interested in airing it.

Whereas athletes-turned-actors like Rick Fox or Ray Allen have played variations of themselves, McCants raised some eyebrows shooting for something a bit more complex in his first role.

The blogosphere buzzed last month that McCants was playing a bi-sexual, cross-dressing leader of a shoplifting ring, but he insists that isn't exactly accurate. McCants said his character isn't bi-sexual or a cross-dresser, just a villain that's always doing the unexpected.

Although NBA coaches and executives quickly grew tired of his prickly demeanor, it's worked to his advantage in acting because people in Hollywood tell him he's intimidating.

"They like that about me, that I can play boss roles and gangster roles," McCants said.

McCants first began taking acting classes a couple years ago when he moved to Los Angeles to rehab an injury. He currently spends his time in Southern California training for basketball, auditioning for acting roles, and running his own production company, record label and management company.

If McCants' chances of becoming an entertainment mogul seem far-fetched, he's got at least one believer in Hollywood in Percy Miller, better known as rapper "Master P." McCants says Miller has represented him since last summer.

"This is as deep of a brotherhood as it gets when it comes to P and me and everything that we're doing," McCants said. "He actually helped me revamp my whole thinking of life and how to approach these situations when dealing with being excluded from everything. He's really helped me in that aspect."

It would have been difficult to imagine that McCants would already be out of basketball when he led North Carolina to a championship in 2005, but some of his attitude issues first cropped up in Chapel Hill.

There, McCants was labeled a pariah for butting heads with former coach Matt Doherty, for making the aforementioned jail comment and for the perception that he pouted and was aloof. A newspaper columnist even called him "borderline psychotic" in a radio interview.

Related: Blake Griffin's Top 10 college dunks 

One problem McCants never had there? Scoring. He led the Tar Heels in points per game his first two seasons and as a junior in 2005, McCants shot nearly 49 percent from the field and was the second-leading scorer on the team that defeated Illinois in the national title game.

Drafted 14th by the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2005, McCants didn't have a chance to make an immediate impact because he underwent microfracture surgery on his right knee. He bounced back in his third year, leading the team in scoring at almost 15 points per game.

Questions about McCants' me-first attitude cropped up again the following year when his shooting percentage plummeted and he was criticized for being a ball hog. He also made headlines on New Year's Eve 2009, when he flew to Las Vegas on an off day to visit then-girlfriend Khloe Kardashian, returning the following day in time for a noon practice.

By February, he was shipped to Sacramento. And when the Kings selected fellow shooting guard Tyreke Evans that summer in the 2009 NBA draft, McCants became an afterthought.

The last time McCants played professional basketball was last December when he had a three-game stint in the NBDL. Even though that ended abruptly when McCants thought he had a shot at playing in the NBA again, McCants has no plans to return to the D-League.

"I'm not a D-League player," McCants said. "D-League is for developmental. There is nothing I need to develop in the NBA."

If his time in college felt like jail, this must feel like exile as even teams in desperate need of a scorer (i.e. the Cleveland Cavaliers) still keep their distance.

McCants' agent told him NBA general managers want him to "show humility" before he'll get another opportunity, yet he hasn't exactly adhered to that request. After initially saying he was better than 70 percent of the players in the NBA, McCants upped the ante after being informed his agent thought the percentage was even higher.

"I was being modest saying 70 percent," McCants said. "My honest opinion is 95 percent. I don't even think there are top-tier All-Stars who are better than me, and they know who they are."

Related: Isaiah Mustafa: From Arizona State WR to Old Spice Guy 

McCants' agent, E. Lindsey Maxwell, points out that playing in the D-League also comes with the risk of injury. And in fairness, it's not McCants' game that NBA general managers are questioning. But how will they react now that McCants has spit out the humble pie they tried to feed him?

The other strategy Maxwell and McCants had was meeting with as many front office executives and coaches as possible before the season to dispel the player's bad reputation.

Said Maxwell: "Rashad is a very nice guy, he's a very warm guy. He's a competitive person and once you get to know him, you know he's a great guy to be around."

While fans might scoff at that comment, there is certainly another side to McCants that many people don't see. He has his own charity foundation for at-risk youth called "Generation 1 Foundation" and started the "Shoot For the Cure Foundation" to fight breast cancer, which his mother was diagnosed with during his last year in Chapel Hill. When he started in the NBDL, McCants also said he was going to donate his salary to charity.

If McCants goes unsigned for the rest of this season, Maxwell says the two are prepared to do the "same song and dance" next offseason.

"I have no doubt that Rashad will be back in the NBA," Maxwell said. "There's no doubt about it. He is the best player right now who is not on a roster."

If McCants can't chase his basketball dreams for now, he's content to pursue his acting goals. When asked for his favorite actor, McCants answers "Denzel Washington" without hesitation.

"He's the best," McCants said. "I don't want to follow anybody but the best. Whether that was Michael Jordan, that was Denzel Washington, that was Tupac Shakur. These are the guys I grew up wanting to be just like."

McCants' chances of returning to the NBA dwindle with each passing month, yet he certainly isn't going to grovel before NBA general managers to get back to where he thinks he belongs.

And if his basketball career is indeed over, it also doesn't appear McCants will lose any sleep over it.

"I can't stress over it anymore," McCants said. "I'm not the kind of guy that basketball's my only hope in life. I'm not that kind of human being. I'm not that kind of person to limit myself. So one door closes, another one opens."

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Christina Hendricks Eyeing 'Wonder Woman' Role

Mad Men star Christina Hendricks is appealing to TV bosses to cast her in a small screen revamp of Wonder Woman because she has always wanted to play the sexy superhero.

Lynda Carter starred in The New Adventures of Wonder Woman, adapted from the classic DC Comic series, which aired from 1975 to 1979.

A 1990s remake was scrapped due to casting concerns over Carter's successor but Ally McBeal creator David E. Kelley has signed a deal with Warner Bros. and DC Entertainment bosses to write and produce a revamped version.

Casting details have yet to be announced but busty beauty Hendricks has already been linked to the lead - and the actress admits she'd love the speculation to come true.

She says, "I heard that rumor too - I don't know where it got started but I love it! I've been wanting to wear that outfit my whole life! I'd love to (do it). That would be such fun! Let's put it out there!"

Watch "Christina Hendricks dare to bare dress!!"

Click Here For More Wonder Woman Pictures

Photo Credits: PR Photos , Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc Master Class: Celebrating 'Burn Notice' & 'Nikita' In 2010 Celebrity Birthdays - December 24, 2010

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Trucks start the wrecking early at Daytona Speedway

If you're the type who tunes into NASCAR races to see the wrecks, you got your money's worth Friday night at the truck race, with not just one, but two! Two! TWO Big Ones! Let's go to the videotape, first with Travis Kvapil setting off a 15-car debacle:

Then, with only a few laps remaining in the race, the gang was running three wide when ...

By the end of the race, only a half-dozen hadn't sustained damage, and two of those belonged to Elliott Sadler and eventual winner Michael Waltrip. If this holds up, expect to see some serious carnage come Sunday afternoon.

Related: Michael Waltrip, Elliott Sadler

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Is anybody really buying John Cook's 'vintage' Tiger talk?

John Cook happens to be one of Tiger Woods' closest friends. So when he showed up on Thursday at a Champions Tour event and proclaimed Woods had finally figured out his new golf swing, people started to take notice.

"As of Monday, it clicked," Cook said, "it finally clicked to him on what exactly, where the face of the club needs to be at certain points, which really sounded to me like kind of old school Butch."

The last time things "clicked" for Woods was back in May 1999, when he called then-swing coach Butch Harmon from the Byron Nelson Classic and said, "I got it."

He went on to win eight of his next 12 tournaments, setting himself up for a 2000 season that many consider to be one of the greatest in golf history. After the way Woods owned Harmon's swing, it'd be easy to believe Cook's comments and wait with bated breath for a Woods resurgence at his next tournament.

But I'm not sure it's that easy this time around. Even if Woods has figured out Sean Foley's swing, he still has to deal with a far greater issue, and that's regaining his confidence.

For Woods, refining his new swing was always going to be the easy part; his success with Haney and Harmon proved he had the talent to figure things out. The biggest difference between this time around and pre-Hydrant-gate is that Woods is in the midst of the worst victory drought of his career.

He failed to close out the Target World Challenge with a four-shot lead, and struggled in the few times he's been near the top of the leaderboard on the weekend. 

His confidence is shot, and that's ultimately the biggest reason he's looked so normal of late. When he was winning at a record clip, he always seemed to be in the zone. Recently, he's looked like a guy grasping for a light-switch in the dark. He knows he's close, but he can't seem to find a way to turn the switch back on.

He'll find that switch when he regains some of the confidence that made him the most feared golfer on the planet.

There's no doubt in my mind Woods will find his game again; he's too good of a golfer not to win a handful of majors before the end of his career. But let's be clear: his current struggles won't be fixed with a grooved swing.

If Tiger really wants to get back to where he used to be, he needs to dig deep and find some confidence, not just in his swing, but in himself.

Related: Tiger Woods, John Cook

Follow Yahoo! Sports' Devil Ball Golf on Facebook, and follow Jonathan Wall on Twitter at @jonathanrwall.

Related: John Cook, Tiger Woods

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Few Brave SEOs Conquered ‘Movember’

To the chagrin of the rest of the office (and to their respective wives) seven of SEO.com’s best talent kept their upper lips away from the bite of a razor blade through Movember November — except for Christian. He’s the guy on the right with the weak-sauce ‘stache that he had to shave last week for some family photo. Seriously, priorities …

Anyway, the bold and brave souls called on their mustaches to power them for four weeks, and even made it through Thanksgiving without losing a turkey leg inside their grisly, nasty facial hair.

Nathan Blair (second photo down) won the Movember contest with his oily black handle bars. Cheers to you Nathan Blair, mustaches around the world are proud.

Tags: Movember

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Jack Wilshere too scared to ask for Messi's shirt, sends Cesc to do it

Though Jack Wilshere performance in Arsenal's 2-1 first leg win over Barcelona on Wednesday has journalists pleasuring themselves to the thought of him, the 19-year-old Man of the Match apparently got cold feet when it came to the post-match shirt exchange. Cesc Fabregas called him out on Twitter for being too afraid to ask Lionel Messi for his shirt, to which Jack replied [sic'd]:

you are the skipper mate you should look after your players ;) Thanks though and next time in going after your mate iniesta!

I like to think he's not talking about shirts there and instead proclaiming his intention to severely injure Andres Iniesta with a savage tackle at the Camp Nou.

Anyway, Wilshere not only got Messi's shirt after the match, but another goodie, as well. And he posted a picture of his treasures on Twitter! Of course.

That's Jack and his father holding up Messi and Xavi's shirts. Not a bad haul. 

One day, when the public turns on Wilshere after he's caught cheating on his future wife with Wayne Bridge's future ex, we'll look back on this moment of adorable child-like embarrassment fondly.

Related: Europe

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Scribbled Michael Jackson Note Sells At Auction

A note purportedly handwritten by the late Michael Jackson has sold at auction for more than $3,000.
The memo, scrawled down on his dermatologist Dr. Arnold Klein's personal stationary, was allegedly found by staff at Jackson's Holmby Hills, California mansion days after the singer's June 2009 passing.
The scribbled message references the King of Pop's doomed This Is It concert extravaganza in London and states, "One year in London 3? International # 1 2 3 4 5 albums and single."
It goes on to detail a list of things to do: "Talk to digital people, Universal, Warner... make huge $."
The piece of paper was sold on eBay.com and bidding closed at $3,075 on Thursday morning.

Photo Credits: Kevin Mazur-AEG-Getty Images Hot Legs: 'Pretty Little Liars' Star Ashley Benson At Her 21st Birthday Review: 'Biutiful' 'Two Jews On Film' Prove In This Case...Beauty Is In The Eye Of The Beholder (Video)

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After Cancellation Notice, Offshore SEO Company Threatens Negative Reputation Management Campaign

A company received a smear campaign threat from its outsourced SEO firm because the firm knows Google’s algorithm improperly ranks negative results, which Google claims helps to show an impartial view of the Web.

Reference this e-mail and tell me if you’d rather hire offshore to save a few dollars or go with a reputable SEO company that can provide you with skilled SEO link builders and an on-going professional relationship.

This is in response to a request to cancel services for a month-to-month service offering:

Click to Enlarge

The legal nature of these tactics is questionable in the United States, but hiring an offshore firm doesn’t provide you the same protection from a “Negative Reputation Campaign.”

It’s unbelievable that an SEO company would put its own reputation on the line with such an e-mail because a client has decided to go with another SEO firm. I’ve seen these tactics for more than a decade in both Web design/development and SEO, and its extremely unfortunate.

A couple weeks ago, Google tweaked their algorithm to penalize DecorMyEyes.com after the NY Times published an article discussing their alleged fraudulent business practices that resulted in supposed increased Google rankings.

Bottom line: Google took action! They need to continue that effort with sites like RipOffReport.com, ComplaintsBoard.com, Scam.com and other sites that obtain very high positions in the Google Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs) and seem to be favored by Google’s algorithm.

When searching for brand names, you often see negative complaints published on these URLs at the top of the SERPs. I would understand seeing these URLs with negative information showing up in the SERPs for searches like:

Brand name scamBrand name sucksBrand name complaintsBrand name problemsAnd other keyword combinations based around negative terms

But when a brand name is the sole keyword and a complaint site URL is showing up #2, there is most likely an imbalance of credibility with Google’s algorithm that gives the complaint site the advantage.

Keep in mind the backlink portfolio to the URLs listed do not warrant a #2 ranking, nor does Google agree that a similarly credible website should rank for every brand in the world with little more than a brand name displayed in a page title, header tag and content body. At least Google’s love affair with Wikipedia can be argued that Wikipedia’s deep pages obtain thousands of links individually and therefore deserve a top ranking.

What did I miss in this post and plea to Google to do the right thing? Please comment and share.

Tags: Offshore SEO Company, Online reputation, orm, Outsourced SEO, Reputation Management

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The Shutdown 40: #19 - Torrey Smith, WR, Maryland

 

With the 2010 NFL season in the books, it's time to turn our eyes to the NFL draft, and the pre-draft evaluation process. Before the 2011 scouting combine begins on Feb. 24, we'll be taking a closer look at the 40 draft-eligible players who may be the biggest difference-makers when all is said and done.

We continue our series with Maryland wide receiver Torrey Smith. In three years and 37 games on the field with the Terrapins, Smith caught 150 passes for 2,205 yards and 19 touchdowns. He also returned 120 kickoffs for 2,939 yards and three touchdowns. Smith set the ACC career record for kick return yardage (2,983), and the single-season mark for receiving touchdowns at Maryland with 12. He also put up more total yards (5,183) than anyone in school history.

Pros: Runs as fast in a straight line as anyone in this draft class -- difficult for all but the quickest cornerbacks to trail on deep sideline routes. Smith has tremendous quickness to get past defenders and upfield when crossing and looking for openings on slants; it's tough for anyone to keep up with him in space. He's more susceptible to man coverage because he's not a developed route-runner, but he just blows through zones and becomes a real problem for teams looking to have their linebackers and backs move to and sit in areas.

Can turn the edge on the sideline and get vertical as quickly as you'd like. Impressive ability to time his jumps to catch the ball even when he's running full speed. Incendiary kick returner who set an ACC return-yardage record in 2008 and broke it in 2009. More physical than you might think given his size (6-foot-1, 205 pounds) and speed; he doesn't develop alligator arms in traffic and he can give a good stiffarm to get separation after the catch. Overcame a difficult childhood to gain his degree, and his coaches can't say enough good things about him.

Cons: Needs a lot of work on his routes -- especially those routes, like comebacks and digs, requiring tight and immediate cuts. Tends to round off his cuts and make those routes far less defined. Doesn't consistently turn quickly upfield after facing the quarterback on quick passes and can get poleaxed by oncoming defenders as a result.

Conclusion: As with most pure burner receivers, Smith got by with speed at the NCAA level, and he'll be asked to do more against better and more complex coverages in the NFL. But his straight-line speed isn't his only characteristic -- he's a somewhat physical player for his size and seems to have the physical talent to develop into a more polished route-runner -- some of his rudimentary skills in this area are simply because he could blast past people before. Smith is expected to run under 4.4 in the 40-yard dash, and if he matches his speed with a plus performance in all receiver drills, his spot as the third-most coveted receiver in this draft class behind A.J. Green and Julio Jones could be secured.

NFL Comparison: Jeremy Maclin(notes), Philadelphia Eagles

More Shutdown 40
#40 -- Rodney Hudson, OG, Florida State | #39 - Luke Stocker, TE, Tennessee
 | #38 - Phil Taylor, DT, Baylor | #37 - Ryan Mallett, QB, Arkansas | #36 -- Leonard Hankerson, WR, Miami | #35 -- Danny Watkins, OL, Baylor | #34 - Stephen Paea, DT, Oregon State | #33 -- Christian Ponder, QB, Florida State | #32 - Mike Pouncey, OL, Florida | #31 - Nate Solder, OT, Colorado | #30 - Kyle Rudolph, TE, Notre Dame | #29 - Mikel Leshoure, RB, Illinois | #28 - Cameron Heyward, DE, Ohio State | #27 - Akeem Ayers, OLB, UCLA | #26 - Brandon Harris, CB, Miami | #25 - Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin | #24 -- Jake Locker, QB, Washington| #23 -- Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado| #22 - J.J. Watt, DE, Wisconsin | #21 - Corey Liuget, DT, Illinois| #20 - Derek Sherrod, OT, Mississippi State

Related: Philadelphia Eagles

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The Shutdown 40: #18 - Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue

 

With the 2010 NFL season in the books, it's time to turn our eyes to the NFL draft, and the pre-draft evaluation process. Before the 2011 scouting combine begins on February 24, we'll be taking a closer look at the 40 draft-eligible players who may be the biggest difference-makers when all is said and done.

We continue our series with Purdue defensive end Ryan Kerrigan. In four seasons, Kerrigan totaled 210 tackles (134 solo), 32 solo sacks, and 50 solo tackles for loss. And he put up a freakish season in 2010 - 70 tackles (50 solo), 26 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks, five forced fumbles, and a pass defensed. Kerrigan won the Big Ten Defensive Player and Defensive Lineman of the Year awards (both voted on by the coaches), and is highly regarded as a team leader with an impressive work ethic.

In the 2011 Senior Bowl, after losing 10 pounds to show off his potential as a pure pass-rusher, he logged a sack and made Arkansas tackle DeMarcus Love look like an eighth-grader. Clearly, this is a guy looking to finish off any questions about his NFL potential, and from what I've seen, I think he'll wow a lot of people in the scouting combine's specific drills.

Pros: Strikes with great quickness off the snap, even out of a three- or four-point stance - Kerrigan gets up and starts moving forward in a big hurry. Uses his low stance as leverage to explode up and forward. Can "dip-and-rip" very well; he gets low around the edge and uses his hands to separate from tackles as he's turning to establish a pass rush arc, and closes in with a fast re-direct. Fast in doing so to the degree that tackles who don't have a quick kick-step are going to be in big trouble against him. Changes offensive gameplans in that a blocking back is often required to take him out as he gets around the tackle.

Not a great splitter of double-teams, but can ride more than one player outside against the run. As fast as he plays, Kerrigan has a very good eye for misdirection - doesn't get fooled a lot on traps and counters. Blasts off the blocker well when crashing in at an angle. Really good leverage concept for his height (6-foot-4, 255 pounds); he'll get under pads easily and win some strength battles.

Cons: As quick as he is, I wonder if Kerrigan's pass-rush style will work right away in the NFL, especially as a lower weight. He has a decent bull-rush and impressive upper-body strength, but his game is built very much on edge speed, and a lot of tackles at the NFL level will be able to work that out. With a new transition to edge rusher/linebacker obviously in the cards (the weight loss sort of gives it away), he'll need to learn a lot about coverage unless his new defensive coordinator just wants him moving forward all the time. Loses his footing on stunts and loops at times because he's going at Tasmanian Devil speed.

Conclusion: In the right system - either paired with an elite defensive tackle who can split the blocking load or as a pure "endbacker" in a five-man or hybrid front - Kerrigan has the potential to dominate. He's proven that he has the determination to succeed, and he could confirm what people saw on tape and at the Senior Bowl with a strong combine performance. I expect him to excel there; he should tear up the drills with his pure speed, first-step burst, and ability to turn the corner.

NFL Comparison: Kyle Vanden Bosch(notes), Detroit Lions

More Shutdown 40
#40 -- Rodney Hudson, OG, Florida State | #39 - Luke Stocker, TE, Tennessee
 | #38 - Phil Taylor, DT, Baylor | #37 - Ryan Mallett, QB, Arkansas | #36 -- Leonard Hankerson, WR, Miami | #35 -- Danny Watkins, OL, Baylor | #34 - Stephen Paea, DT, Oregon State | #33 -- Christian Ponder, QB, Florida State | #32 - Mike Pouncey, OL, Florida | #31 - Nate Solder, OT, Colorado | #30 - Kyle Rudolph, TE, Notre Dame | #29 - Mikel Leshoure, RB, Illinois | #28 - Cameron Heyward, DE, Ohio State | #27 - Akeem Ayers, OLB, UCLA | #26 - Brandon Harris, CB, Miami | #25 - Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin | #24 -- Jake Locker, QB, Washington| #23 -- Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado| #22 - J.J. Watt, DE, Wisconsin | #21 - Corey Liuget, DT, Illinois| #20 - Derek Sherrod, OT, Mississippi State | #19 - Torrey Smith, WR, Maryland

Related: Kyle Vanden Bosch, Detroit Lions

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Days of NBA Lives: Wherein Reggie Miller plays nice

 

At this point, seemingly half the NBA is on Twitter. It's a wild world of training updates, questions as to which movies they should go see, and explanations of their Call of Duty prowess. Every so often, though, you also get a picture into the more interesting aspects of NBA life. This feature is your window into that world.

Reggie Miller: Although I'm disappointed not to be included on this year's HOF ballot, I sincerely wish the best of luck to this year's Class of Finalists, all of whom I admire and respect greatly.

Nick Collison: Someone is "making it rain". I won't hesitate to grab a 20 dollar bill and pocket it. #recession #lockout.

LeBron James: Wish I had a chance to meet Michael Jackson before he passed! Amazing at what he did! #globalicon

Amir Johnson: You think Roscoe's gone run out of chicken and waffle batter this weekend??? #OnlyinLA

J.R. Smith: In the airport an this dude asked me am I traveling!

You can also follow Eric Freeman on Twitter at @freemaneric.

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Derrick Williams' game-saving block preserves Arizona victory

In a game in which the Pac-10's two highest scoring teams combined for 173 points and numerous electrifying highlights, of course it was a defensive play that turned out to be the difference.

Trailing first-place Arizona by a point with 2.2 seconds remaining, Washington's Darnell Gant caught an inbound pass in the paint and appeared to be in position to score the game-winning basket. Instead Derrick Williams came from off the ball and made an emphatic game-saving block, preserving an 87-86 Arizona victory and strengthening his case for first-team All-American honors.

Williams finished with 26 points and 11 rebounds, but it was the sophomore forward's blocked shot that will resonate. The only question was whether Gant's shot was on its way down before the Arizona sophomore swatted it away.

Said Gant: "I thought it was goaltending."

Said Williams: "I believe if we were at Washington, they might have called that. Good thing we were at home."

As a result of that play, the Pac-10 title chase is down to two teams and neither of them are preseason favorite Washington. Arizona (23-4, 12-2) leads UCLA (19-7, 10-3) by a game in the loss column with their second of two meetings just seven days away in Los Angeles.

For Washington (18-8, 10-5), the loss was its fourth loss in its past five road games, but this one was far more encouraging than the previous three. The Huskies rallied from a 12-point second-half deficit to briefly take a 72-68 lead thanks to unselfish passing, energetic defense and relentless offensive rebounding.

Isaiah Thomas had 12 points and 9 assists and Matthew Bryan-Amaning had 18 of his 24 points in the second half, sparking the second-half comeback. The Huskies also forced 18 Arizona turnovers, taking advantage of sloppy ball handling from Williams and Arizona point guard MoMo Jones.

Falling one point short on the road leaves the Huskies in a slightly precarious position entering the final two weeks of Pac-10 play.

They look like a team capable of winning the Pac-10 tournament or making an NCAA tournament run, but their resume is mostly bereft of quality wins. Aside from a home win over Arizona and a road win at UCLA, the Huskies don't have another victory over an RPI top 80 team, though they've played lost to Kentucky, Texas A&M and Arizona by a combined seven points.

What's promising for Washington is its final three Pac-10 games of the season are in Seattle, where the Huskies have been basically unbeatable this season.

If the Huskies can beat Washington State, USC and UCLA and then make a good showing in the Pac-10 tournament, there's still an opportunity for them to play their way into a favorable NCAA tournament seed. 

Related: Arizona Wildcats

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The Shutdown 40: #16 - Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa

 

With the 2010 NFL season in the books, it's time to turn our eyes to the NFL draft, and the pre-draft evaluation process. Before the 2011 scouting combine begins on February 24, we'll be taking a closer look at the 40 draft-eligible players who may be the biggest difference-makers when all is said and done.

We continue our series with Iowa defensive end Adrian Clayborn. 2009 was the Hawkeye's best season to date, as he put up 70 tackles (36 solo), 20 tackles for loss (17 solo), 11.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, and nine quarterback hurries. 2010 wasn't a dominant sequel (52 tackles/19 solo/seven tackles for loss/3.5 sacks/one forced fumble/six quarterback hurries). In his Iowa career, Clayborn logged 191 tackles (72 solo), 37.5 tackles for loss (30 solo), 19 sacks (17 solo), seven forced fumbles, and 19 quarterback hurries.

Pros: Clayborn shoots off the snap in a big hurry and takes a clean angle to the quarterback - he has impressive burst and acceleration for his size (6-foot-3, 286 pounds). Relentless in the backfield; he'll double back even after he's blocked out of a play and manage to blow the play up at times. Can sift through trash at the line to get free, and he's got the upper-body strength to split through blocks and take running backs down inside even when he doesn't have optimal positioning.

Moves off potential second-level blocks very well - can either climb the ladder to extend the play to the sideline and use his quickness to keep up. Too quick and strong to be kept out of a play with anything but a straight on-block - be jumps over cut-blocks and just blows past quick chips. Exhibits a violent hand-punch at the line and gets inside or outside the blocker quickly.

Cons: Focuses so intently on the tackle that he can be susceptible to running back jukes and misdirection, missing tackles and throwing himself out of plays. Needs to take better and more consistent angles to the ball in short areas. Clayborn can be ridden out of pass rushes surprisingly easy against stronger tackles, and if you get under his pads, you can move him where you want. Disruptive effectiveness is based far more on speed than strength. Doesn't get low when going around the edge on pass rushes; he gets frantic with his feet at times and this is a source of his lack of power against better blockers.

Conclusion: Had he followed his amazing junior campaign with an equivalent senior season, Clayborn would have few questions to answer in preparation for the scouting combine. But as it stands, he'll need a great performance in Indianapolis, especially in the pass rush drills and anything involving his ability to make quick and correct decisions as a tackler. Clayborn has the potential to be an elite run-stopping five-tech tackle in either a 4-3 or 3-4 defense (he's one of several possible first-round five-techs in this draft class), but the pass rush may take some time and technique work against better tackles. If he puts it all together, Clayborn could be an amazing player and a real disruptor in any situation.

NFL Comparison: Shaun Ellis(notes), New York Jets

More Shutdown 40
#40 -- Rodney Hudson, OG, Florida State | #39 - Luke Stocker, TE, Tennessee
 | #38 - Phil Taylor, DT, Baylor | #37 - Ryan Mallett, QB, Arkansas | #36 -- Leonard Hankerson, WR, Miami | #35 -- Danny Watkins, OL, Baylor | #34 - Stephen Paea, DT, Oregon State | #33 -- Christian Ponder, QB, Florida State | #32 - Mike Pouncey, OL, Florida | #31 - Nate Solder, OT, Colorado | #30 - Kyle Rudolph, TE, Notre Dame | #29 - Mikel Leshoure, RB, Illinois | #28 - Cameron Heyward, DE, Ohio State | #27 - Akeem Ayers, OLB, UCLA | #26 - Brandon Harris, CB, Miami | #25 - Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin | #24 -- Jake Locker, QB, Washington| #23 -- Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado| #22 - J.J. Watt, DE, Wisconsin | #21 - Corey Liuget, DT, Illinois| #20 - Derek Sherrod, OT, Mississippi State | #19 - Torrey Smith, WR, Maryland | #18 - Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue | #17 - Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama

Related: New York Jets

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Six bubble winners and losers from a busy Saturday slate

The bubble picture remains murky three weeks before Selection Sunday. Here's a look at five teams who helped themselves and five teams who hurt themselves during a busy day of games on Saturday:

BUBBLE WINNERS

1. Utah State (Won 75-65 at Saint Mary's)

Comment: Even with a sparkling 24-3 record entering this game, Utah State needed to beat Saint Mary's to feel confident about its at-large chances. The only other top 100 RPI teams on the Aggies' schedule were road games at BYU and Georgetown, both of whom defeated Utah State.

2. UNLV (Won 68-61 at Colorado State)

Had the Rebels lost at Colorado State, they would have been a combined 0-6 against San Diego State, BYU and the Rams. Instead UNLV moved to within a half game of third place in the Mountain West and can all but lock up an NCAA tournament berth if it dispatch New Mexico, Wyoming and Utah in its final three games. 

3. Georgia (Won 69-63 at Tennessee)

Comment: The Bulldogs (18-8, 7-5) haven't lost to anyone outside the RPI top 40, but this victory provided a much-needed quality win. It eased some of the sting from squandering a lead against Vanderbilt earlier in the week and marked the Bulldogs' first victory over a likely NCAA tournament team since a win over Kentucky to start SEC play more than a month ago.

4. Michigan State (Won 61-57 vs. Illinois)

Comment: For all the Spartans' struggles the past month, their schedule strength and the mediocrity of the middle of the league leaves them in remarkably good position to sneak back into the NCAA tournament. Now tied for fourth place in the Big Ten at 7-7, Michigan State likely needs three wins in its final four regular season games to feel confident about its position entering the conference tournament.

5. Nebraska (Won 70-67 vs. Texas)

Comment: If it seems over-the-top to suggest this upset catapults the Huskers (18-8, 6-6) onto the fringes of the bubble picture, consider their profile for a moment. Yes, they accomplished nothing of note in non-league play, but they boast wins over Texas and Texas A&M with opportunities to defeat Kansas State and Missouri at home in the next two weeks.

6. Alabama (Won 69-56 vs. Arkansas)

Comment: Believe it or not, the Tide (18-8, 10-2) wrapped up the SEC West title with this win, though that means little to their NCAA tournament hopes. Alabama must keep winning to atone for a dismal non-conference season that includes no good wins and several bad losses, meaning that the final two regular season games against Georgia and Florida look particularly important.   

BUBBLE LOSERS

1. Virginia Tech (Lost 61-54 at Virginia)

Comment: If the Hokies fall a victory or two shy of an NCAA tournament berth again this March, they can point to their inability to defeat their woeful in-state rivals. A season sweep at the hands of Virginia drops Virginia Tech to 17-8 overall and 7-5 in conference play, a precarious spot for a team that still has Duke, Clemson and Boston College remaining on its schedule.

2. Washington State (Lost 71-69 at Arizona State)

Comment: All the good work Washington State did in beating Baylor and Gonzaga in non-league play will apparently go for naught as a result of a flurry of lackluster losses in Pac-10 play. The Cougars fell to 7-8 in the Pac-10 with the loss to the last-place Sun Devils, an especially inexcusable result considering Arizona State was without Ty Abbott and Rihards Kuksiks. (Washington State's Faisal Aden also was sidelined with a knee injury).

3. Colorado State (Lost 68-61 to UNLV)

Comment: While a 68-61 home loss doesn't eliminate the Rams from NCAA tourney contention, it does make their path to an at-large bid much tougher. Colorado State (18-8, 8-4) probably needs a win at BYU on Wednesday or at San Diego State in the regular season finale to complement victories over UNLV, Southern Miss and Ole Miss earlier this season.  

4. Duquesne (Lost 64-63 at Dayton)

Comment: For Duquesne to go from nice story to legit NCAA tournament contender, the Dukes couldn't afford to lose to teams behind them in the Atlantic 10 standings. Saturday's one-point loss dims Duquesne's already slim hopes of an at-large berth and leaves Richmond as the only team with a realistic chance to join Xavier and Temple in the NCAA tournament.

5. Illinois (Lost 61-57 at Michigan State)

Comment: The Illini have lost 7 of 11 in conference play, a disastrous stretch for a team that began the season with Big Ten title aspirations. With games at Ohio State and Purdue still remaining on the schedule, Illinois (17-10, 7-7) will need an upset to finish above .500 in the conference. 

6. Memphis (Lost 67-52 at Rice)

Comment: So many of the Tigers' victories came by a point or two in the final minute that they were probably overdue for a clunker like this. Nonetheless, this knocks Memphis out of first place, torpedoes its RPI and increases the pressure to win four straight to end the regular season to bolster the Tigers' hopes of earning an at-large.

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Previewing the slam-dunk contest

The dunk contest is still the crown jewel of All-Star Saturday. It can be a terrible, bloated mess, made worse by cackling announcers yelling at us about how the slam-dunk Contest is "back" (year after year), but it can also legitimately be the most fun you'll have in front of a TV until the playoffs start.

And, on basic cable in the middle of February on a Saturday night? Who's getting harmed by this fun? Or folly?

So don't mind, when they tell you the contest is dead. It's been pretty terrible at times for years. It's also been quite the show, I'd venture to say, twice as much for just as long. It's hit and miss. And, again, on a Saturday night in February. No static at all.

If you've never heard of Zander Hollander, well, there's no shame in that. For decades, Hollander produced a yearly NBA almanac that dove into the details behind every player in ellipses format. And in a tribute to his dry stylings, we humbly submit the participants in the 2011 NBA dunk contest:

DeMar DeRozan(notes), Toronto Raptors

A disappointment in 2010, betraying his hops and wits. ...Trying to get it right this time. ...Able to go off of either foot, with the ability to either pull a near 360, or some impressive Terence Stansbury action. ...In a contest full of bigs, will try to bring it home for all the wings.

Blake Griffin(notes), Los Angeles Clippers

Power with either hand. ...The ability to jump off of two legs, with the quickness of a one-leg bounder. ...Hands, hops and the height to make it all look otherworldly. ...The reason many of you are tuning in. ...The one to beat. ...More importantly? The reason to hope.

Serge Ibaka(notes), Oklahoma City Thunder

Can jump, but will have props. ...No props from us.

He has one day to reconsider.

JaVale McGee(notes), Washington Wizards

Certified dingbat, guaranteed reason to watch the train roll by. .. Length and jumping ability to drool over, with the ability to either pull off a dunk we've never seen before, or a goofball Chris Andersen(notes)-styled meltdown that could set the Internet on fire. ...Or, he could just miss a bunch of dunks.

Whatta you reckon?

Related: DeMar DeRozan, Blake Griffin, Serge Ibaka, JaVale McGee, Chris Andersen, Los Angeles Clippers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Toronto Raptors, Washington Wizards

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Video: Blake Griffin jumps a car to take the Dunk Contest

Los Angeles Clippers rookie forward Blake Griffin(notes) has overshadowed all others on the highlight reels of this NBA season with his powerful dunks and general dominance of opponents at the rim. When he was announced as a participant in this year's Sprite Slam Dunk Contest, he became the instant favorite.

Not surprisingly, Griffin came away victorious on Saturday night, defeating Wizards' center JaVale McGee(notes) in the finals by way of an online vote from the fans. Above, watch the dunk that clinched it, a flying slam over the hood of a Kia Optima with a pass from teammate Baron Davis(notes) through the sunroof.

Truth be told, this wasn't even the best dunk of the finals by Griffin, let alone the best of the night overall. But when "coach" Kenny Smith brought out the Crenshaw Select Choir to sing R. Kelly's "I Believe I Can Fly," it became a memorable moment, one that will be tied to Griffin for the rest of his career. Griffin appears to be on his way to a great deal of his accolades in his career -- including this season's Rookie of the Year trophy -- and this dunk contest will always be remembered as the first.

Related: Blake Griffin, JaVale McGee, Baron Davis, Los Angeles Clippers

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Puck Daddy Photo Expedition: NHL Heritage Classic, Day 1

CALGARY, The Surface of Pluto -- It's rather chilly on the eve of the NHL Heritage Classic.

Not brutally; there's no driving wind around McMahon Stadium, no precipitation stinging the face. But it's a multilayer, keep the coffee steaming kind of cold ... the type that necessitates a seat cushion for the metal bleachers, out of concern for massive ass freezeage.

(That the freezing of a large amount of asses ... not, like, the freezing of one massive ass. For clarification's sake.)

Coming up, a tour on the field and around the stadium, and some images of the Montreal Canadiens and Calgary Flames leaving their team bus for their Saturday alumni game. We have a Jim Peplinski sighting!

And here ... we ... go.

A view of the rink and the stadium from the upper deck, including...

This giant, hanging thing over the ice that's filled with speakers, looks really cool but, alas, doesn't really serve a purpose other than window dressing. The NHL told us it won't be used as part of the sound system.

Before the alumni game, fans and family took the ice for a skate-around inside the stadium. Here, a young player falls to the ice untouched, as his father screams, "Anytime you want to stay on your skates, Alexandre Despatie, we're ready."

Here's where the various rights holders will call the action during the Heritage Classic. Sadly, no Mike Milbury here in Calgary to walk between the VS and CBC booths arbitrarily yelling at people.

The rumors are true: Loser tomorrow moves to Hamilton.

They have some mighty powerful heaters for the benches. One of the ice crew guys told me the benches are so warm, you can't sit on them for long. Obviously, a new way for coaches to light a fire under their players. 

Outside the stadium, there are strict rules against bringing booze into the building ...

... because it would seriously cut into their beer sales just steps away from that sign above.

As I was walking to the media entrance, the alumni bus pulled up. This is Jamie Macoun bellowing "OLD TIME HOCKEY! EDDIE SHORE!" as he steps off the chariot. There's a chance you may hear this 'Slap Shot' reference, oh, roughly 17,000 times before the end of the weekend.

This is the great Jim Peplinski, inexplicably doing his Brando.

Finally, Gary Roberts(notes) doesn't carry his bag. His bag follows Gary Roberts.  

Related: Gary Roberts, Calgary Flames, Montreal Canadiens

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Who Had The Best Album Of 2010?

Kanye West's "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" has topped another important end-of-year albums poll after landing the honor from Spin magazine's editors.
The acclaimed album was named the best of 2010 ahead of Deerhunter's "Halcyon Digest" and "The Suburbs" by Arcade Fire.
LCD Soundsystem's "This is Happening" and Jamey Johnson's "The Guitar Song" round out the Spin top five, while albums from M.I.A., Kid Cudi, Janelle Monae, Grinderman and Robyn make the top 10.

Photo Credits: Windish Agency; PR Photos Interview: A Moment With 'Casino Jack's' Barry Pepper And Jon Lovitz The Worst Celebrity Makeovers Of 2010

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