Prediction: They will beat Ghana in blowout fashion (2-1) and tie Portugal in a thrilling 0-0 match.
- jmatchett383

Do you hate basketball or soccer more?

Why are all of those people wearing linear sunglasses?
- jmatchett383

#Fashion

I know. This argument seems ridiculous because no two players are ever identical with one being bigger than the other.

One person values size more than another person. Thats true of all GMs and scouts. Neither person is wrong. They just disagree.
- PhillySportsGuy

Well, just think about it: If you take Eric Lindros and put him in a 5'10 180 lb frame, he's still good, but he never would have been elite.

Do you hate basketball or soccer more?
- PhillySportsGuy

I don't hate basketball, just the NBA.

Soccer, on the other hand...

So back to hockey. Any ideas where Downie might end up? Can you think of teams who might need/want him?

Well, just think about it: If you take Eric Lindros and put him in a 5'10 180 lb frame, he's still good, but he never would have been elite.
- jmatchett383

Nobody's saying size isn't an advantage... what we're saying is that having a bias toward size when evaluating teenagers can get you into to trouble. You don't want to get caught taking Jessimen or Bernier over Parise.

Well, just think about it: If you take Eric Lindros and put him in a 5'10 180 lb frame, he's still good, but he never would have been elite.
- jmatchett383

I was mulling using this example but you beat me to it.

I guess maybe it comes down to quantifying "talent". I agree if a big guy and a small guy have the same numbers in junior, the small guy is more "talented" by doing it in spite of the size. But the original premise was that "talent" was equal. How that's measured depends on the people measuring it

I think he has to be to some degree. Downie was a source of frustration to his coaches here before the trade to Tampa. It was hockey-related frustration. Even so, his ability to pay attention and demonstrate learning was still part of the question marks that dogged him before he turned pro.
- bmeltzer

Remember the developmental psych program they had Umberger do to great effect? I had asked Homer if they considered having them work with other Flyers and he said it was a moot point because they'd gone out of business. But someone with attention issues (which Umby had) could benefit from the kind of patterning work they did.

So back to hockey. Any ideas where Downie might end up? Can you think of teams who might need/want him?
- FlyersGrace

I think he'd need to display a full recovery before any team would sing him. I think he can bad had for very little. 1 year $1-1.5M

So back to hockey. Any ideas where Downie might end up? Can you think of teams who might need/want him?
- FlyersGrace

Can't really see any team having a need for him, especially since he's kind of banged up now. Could see him following the path of the Forgotten Gagne.

Sorry, it was an 8-year-old.

After Sunday's overtime thriller, Laperriere took some playful jabs at Mike Richards, whose digging in front of the net helped set up Dan Carcillo's winning goal.

"He's got the worst body on the team, but he puts it in front of anything," Laperriere said. "He might not be flashy like
- tangent_man[Sidney] Crosby on the other side of the state, but he's as effective or even more."

"Worst body"?

"He's built like my 8-year-old son," Laperriere replied, drawing laughs.

Richards took it in stride after Monday's practice.

"Like I told [Laperriere] last night, when I was 16 years old, I was told I would never [have to] bench-press a puck into the net," Richards said with a smile. "So I don't need to worry about that too much during the year."

http://articles.philly.co...-van-riemsdyk-simon-gagne

It is interesting that winning the cup, for Carter, moved him to really work hard on his conditioning. After a taste, he wanted it even more the second time. He's not bulky, but he's very strong (by all accounts) and I wonder if that is why he's still got some juice at the end of this long season. Because he made that commitment. (Of course, not being expected to block shots and break his feet is an improvement in style.)

Can't really see any team having a need for him, especially since he's kind of banged up now. Could see him following the path of the Forgotten Gagne.
- Streit2ThePoint

I could see a team like Florida signing him on the cheap and him playing well with some of the talented guys they have there. If he stays healthy of course

I that's something that needs looking into, a pr coach would do wonders for this team in dealing with the jack@$$es that cover the team.
- twotoekenn

both Richards and Carter are much better interviews now. But that may also be partly just maturity and experience. Yes, the LA media is not as crazy--they save that for the nonsports entertainers and Kobe--but as champions they got plenty of Canadian craycray thrown their way both for the Kings and the national team will they won't they business.

both Richards and Carter are much better interviews now. But that may also be partly just maturity and experience. Yes, the LA media is not as crazy--they save that for the nonsports entertainers and Kobe--but as champions they got plenty of Canadian craycray thrown their way both for the Kings and the national team will they won't they business.
- bodiva88

I think they were prepared to be treated fairly. No one warned them they wouldn't be.

Becoming stronger/more fit never hurt an athlete. On the other hand, not working out could, and likely will, impact the quality of a career after 30.

I'm still baffled by the kid at this year's combine who couldn't do 1 pull up. That's pretty sad.

But as you said, it's hard to criticize Richards, and if the Kings wrap up another cup this year, he's got absolutely nothing left to prove, and the competitive fire is likely going to dim a bit.

Hoping for a Rangers win tonight.
- wolfhounds

So you're saying once you've had an orgasm, you just say, that was great. But now, been there done that. I'm done with sex?

By all accounts those who've won a cup end up even more fired up to do it again. Which is why so often teams look for veteran leadership with cup pedigrees.

So you're saying once you've had an orgasm, you just say, that was great. But now, been there done that. I'm done with sex?

By all accounts those who've won a cup end up even more fired up to do it again. Which is why so often teams look for veteran leadership with cup pedigrees.
- bodiva88

oh my

So back to hockey. Any ideas where Downie might end up? Can you think of teams who might need/want him?
- FlyersGrace

Think he's left out there late into the summer and somebody ends up with a great value buy on him. Don't think it will be w/ us, though.

So back to hockey. Any ideas where Downie might end up? Can you think of teams who might need/want him?
- FlyersGrace

The Wheeling Nailers?

So you're saying once you've had an orgasm, you just say, that was great. But now, been there done that. I'm done with sex?

By all accounts those who've won a cup end up even more fired up to do it again. Which is why so often teams look for veteran leadership with cup pedigrees.
- bodiva88

Did Nutter hack your account?

The Wheeling Nailers?
- jmatchett383

That's where Richie, SOB, Upshall, Lupul and Carts will eventually end up.

(best name ever for a hockey team, btw)

So you're saying once you've had an orgasm, you just say, that was great. But now, been there done that. I'm done with sex?

By all accounts those who've won a cup end up even more fired up to do it again. Which is why so often teams look for veteran leadership with cup pedigrees.
- bodiva88

Only if it's the best orgasm ever.

Nobody's saying size isn't an advantage... what we're saying is that having a bias toward size when evaluating teenagers can get you into to trouble. You don't want to get caught taking Jessimen or Bernier over Parise.
- Tomahawk

Size is not different then any other attribute a player might have. Teams pick one player over another for a variety of reasons. Couldn't they all be called biases? And there hasn't been a valid argument made against the premise I offered.

Pedobear? Really? We're going with this?

Young flyer fans beware. You may be spooked or molested by various flyer bears
- Just5

Some one remind me of the guy's real name? And yeah, that's not exactly a family friendly nickname.

Some one remind me of the guy's real name? And yeah, that's not exactly a family friendly nickname.
- bodiva88

Pierre Eduard Bellemare. (Spelling not verified)

Size is not different then any other attribute a player might have. Teams pick one player over another for a variety of reasons. Couldn't they all be called biases? And there hasn't been a valid argument made against the premise I offered.
- MJL

When you said, "equal", are you talking equal in statistics, or equal in every other aspect of their game (shot, speed balance, etc.)?