tonytalkssports My Take on Sports, particularly the Yankees, Maple Leafs and Browns

Tuesday’s Thoughts

While wondering how often Punxsutawney Phil is right in predicting the weather, here is what's on my mind this morning:

* The Toronto Maple Leafs continued their losing ways on home ice dropping a 4-1 decision to the Carolina Hurricanes last night. The power play was once again dismal going 0-4. The Leafs have only scored twice in their last 26 power play chances. Coach Randy Carlyle really needs to shake things up by maybe giving the Nazem Kadri-Matt Frattin-Leo Komorov line power play minutes. I also think that John-Michael Liles should be paired with Dion Phaneuf on the first power play unit.

* It might also be a good idea to shake up the team's first 2 lines. What about having Mikhail Grabovski center a line with Phil Kessel and JVR? That would leave Tyler Bozak to center Nikolai Kulemin and Clarke MacArthur.

* The Leafs really miss Carl Gunnarsson and Jake Gardiner. Was not impressed with Korbinian Holzer last night. He looked very tentative. Leafs should leave Mike Komisarek in the lineup and may want to consider pairing Mark Fraser with John-Michael Liles.

* I have never been a Joe Flacco fan but I have to give him credit for a remarkable playoff run that was capped off with being the MVP of the Super Bowl. Going through the playoffs without throwing an interception is an accomplishment that is rarely met.

* Jim Harbaugh is really getting to be annoying. His sideline histrionics are a bore and his claim that the refs stole the game from his team is more befitting of a Pop Warner coach. Maybe it's time to worry about your porous defensive secondary as opposed to the referees.

* So glad that the Ray Lewis Idolization Show has come to an end. Lewis hardly distinguished himself in the big game as he could not keep up with Niners tight end Vernon Davis. For my money, the Raven defender who deserves star honors for his play in the Super Bowl was Ed Reed.

* Kudos to Boomer Esiason for not backing down to CBS co-host and resident loud mouth Shannon Sharpe. Sharpe interviewed his good friend Ray Lewis and did ask Lewis about the double homicide 13 years ago. Lewis gave his usual answer, invoking God and blaming the authorities for not getting answers for the families. Esiason flat out said that Lewis was involved with a double murder and didn't give answers that the public was looking for. Way to go, Boomer.

* Let me go on record as saying I will not watch whatever network hires Ray Lewis for its pre or post game shows.

* Many were raving about the Beyonce half-time show. Quite frankly I thought I was at a strip club.

* Kudos to New York Knicks All-Star Center Tyson Chandler for his third straight game with 20 rebounds which ties a franchise record with none other than Willis Reed. Chandler could break the record Wednesday when the Knicks take on the Washington Wizards.

* The Knicks are on a roll having just completed a 5-0 homestand. Full marks have to go to Knicks Head Coach Mike Woodson. He has really taken hold of this team by making everyone accountable for their play, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. This is rare in the ego-driven NBA.

* I've never been a big Tim Tebow fan but the New York Jets have ruined this kid's career. How can a quarterback go from leading his team to the playoffs, including a victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on wild card weekend, to now having to wonder if he will play in the NFL again. Here's hoping the kid can get a chance to re-establish himself in the NFL.

* The NY Daily News is reporting today that ARod is believing that there is a conspiracy involving the Yankees and Major League Baseball to bring him down and end his career. Of course, this is coming from the public relations firm and lawyers that ARod has assembled to defend himself from the recent allegations reported in a weekly Miami newspaper. It's becoming more and more painful for this guy to continue to be a Yankee.

* Last night I saw the Yankeeography on Whitey Ford and in it Ford says how he was honored to have the opportunity to wear the Pinstripes and understood the pride and tradition of the uniform. I wonder if the same can be said about ARod.

* I can't think of hockey fans that are more smug than Buffalo Sabre fans. There is the belief by many of them that their team is so much better than they are playing. Really??? Does the team have a true number one center?? What about the defense corp?? The fact is that the Sabres will be one of the teams that will be hovering between 8th and 13th place.

* Listened to WGR550 afternoon Gasbags, Mike Schopp and the Bulldog yesterday. The big question was whether they believed that Sabre owner Terry Pegula is actually evaluating Lindy Ruff's performance as head coach in lieu of the team's recent troubles. At one point, Schopp said that he feels that this team has good players and that they should be playing better. Really???

* As far as Pegula goes, he made a huge mistake by extending Darcy Reiger. As long as Reiger is GM, I find it hard to believe that Lindy Ruff would be fired. While I think Ruff is a good coach, the time has come for a change. If Pegula says its all about winning the Stanley Cup, then look at Ruff's record: 0-15.

* How well are Pegula's big free agent signings playing?? Ville Leino may be out for the season and Christian Erhoff is hardly worth what he's getting paid. While the GR Gasbags love to get on Goalie Ryan Miller, I hardly hear them talk about the lack of performance from the pair of free agent signings that had Sabre fans all a flutter in the summer of 2011.

* So much for the Sabres added grit leading to winning results.

* By the way, has anyone seem John Scott??