Thursday in my Google Reader

I use Google Reader for almost all of my web reading. I highly recommend it as a big time saver. Lots of good stuff in there today......

-Today is the day for the local news' much hyped Ben Roethlisberger sit down interviews. And I know when I want the tough questions asked, I bring Bob Pompeani or Sally Wiggin in. These interviews are definitely a good start for Ben in his public image rehab quest though as really nothing can go wrong.

-Did Pete Rose cork his bat at the end of his career? Deadspin has a very detailed story explaining that he may very well have. Just another example of the long held thinking in baseball that if "you aren't cheating, you aren't playing"....And yes, Pete Rose should be in the Hall of Fame.

-The Big 10/Pac 10 power struggle officially starts. Nebraska is going to the Big 10 and Colorado to the Pac 10 as of tomorrow. Can't say I would have predicted a Big 12 collapse before a Big East collapse. And all this restructuring has to be leading to a playoff, right?

-Should MLB have a separate draft of international talent? Fangraphs thinks so. I am all for it as well. Currently, any players outside of the US or Puerto Rico are subject to international free agency at the age of 16. This leads to bidding wars and identity issues that don't happen with the regular draft. Its just one big free for all.

-Speaking of the Draft, here are short profiles (a sentence or two with stats where available) on all 50 Pirate selections. Hint, there are a lot of pitchers. Especially right handed ones out of high school.

-A quick update on a couple former Buccos....Ian Snell is close to at least losing his starting job (for the second time this year) after giving up 8 runs in 1 and 2/3 last night, if not being released altogether. Nate McLouth left the game for Atlanta last night after a nasty collision in the outfield. And he continues to chug along with a .176 average. Dejan can't be happy.

-On the eve of the World Cup, Deadspin (via The Spoiler) has the 11 dirtiest players in the tournament.

-The Big Lead posted their 5 greatest moments in Saved by the Bell history yesterday. Amazingly, I had just referenced the #1 moment on their list in a comment to Anthony here. Great stuff, even though this wouldn't be my top 5. How about something from the Rod Belding episode (2 Beldings in one Building, one of who is balding...)? Or the Friends Forever one? Or anything involving Zack calling timeout and freezing time? What a great and ridiculous show. I could, and probably will at some point, do a whole post on the show...

-And Finally, Marian Hossa gets his Stanley Cup. Good for him. Jeremy Roenick was apparently so happy he started crying on air. Hilarious.

The Journey of Marian Hossa

Its been a strange and wild ride for Marian Hossa the last couple of years. Winning has followed him. To a point at least....

Early 2008: Marian Hossa is on a going nowhere Atlanta Thrashers team and viewed as a bit of a career underachiever based on his skill level. He is a hot commodity at the NHL trading deadline because some think he has just never been in the right situation and is the perfect "rent a player" for a team wanting to make a run at the Stanley Cup. The Penguins come out of seemingly nowhere to trade for him in the last seconds of the trading deadline. He plays great for the Penguins once healthy, shedding his playoff choker label by finishing 3rd in playoff scoring, and is a big factor as to why the Pens get to within two games of the Stanley Cup....

Summer 2008: Hossa spurns the Penguins' more lucrative multi-year offer for a one year contract with the Detroit Red Wings because he views them as a better bet to win the Stanley Cup.....

June 2009: Hossa prediction turns out to be wrong as his Red Wings lose to the Penguins in the Stanley Cup finals. He is for the most part a non-factor in the series. Pittsburghers mock him endlessly....Hossa says he does not regret his decision...

Summer 2009: A free agent once again, Hossa takes the big money, long term deal he passed on previously by signing a frontloaded, 12 year 62.8 million deal with the Chicago Blackhawks. The Blackhawks are viewed as a team "on the cusp" but not necessarily a Cup contender. Most think Hossa just took the most money he could get after his close calls the previous two years.....

May 2010: The Blackhawks complete a four game sweep of the #1 seeded San Jose Sharks and advance to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 1992. They haven't won a Cup since 1961.  Hossa becomes the first player to play in 3 straight Cup finals for 3 different teams. The question remains if he will become the first guy to lose in the Cup finals 3 years in a row for 3 different teams....


I know he is still hated in Pittsburgh, but I hold no ill will towards Hossa. He came in 2008 and did his job very well. He was a rent-a-player to win in the playoffs. Ray Shero made the trade to try to win the Cup in 2008, not prepare for the long term.

Hossa didn't owe anything to the Penguins or the fans beyond that season. The outrage over him leaving is just insane. In fact if you take a step back, his not signing here was a blessing. There is a pretty good chance guys like Jordan Staal, Kris Letang, Max Talbot, Marc Andre Fleury and even Evgeni Malkin would not have been able to be resigned under the salary cap if Hossa signed a big multi year contract with the Pens. And who would you rather have for the next 5 years or so....Jordan Staal and Malkin and Letang and etc.. or Hossa? I think that is a no-brainer.

After the craziness he has gone through the last three years, I know I will be rooting for Hossa and the Blackhawks in the Cup finals....Anyone else?