The #1 pick in the NHL draft in 2008, Tampa Bay’s Steve Stamkos has a much more important place in the world; I recently picked him up for my fantasy hockey team where he’s been playing like gangbusters. Case in point, this super sweet goal he scored last night. It’s contributions like this that keep me not just in first place, but absolutely CRUSHING the “competition.”

Not content with Journey’s  Steve Perry providing music for the Dodgers, Rush drummer Neil Peart has been hired by TSN to record a new version of the Hockey Theme for their NHL broadcasts.

The press release, which calls Peart “the world’s most accomplished and most-respected drummer/percussionist,” says that in addition to gathering together various other musicians and engineers to make his “vision” come true, Peart has also designed a special NHL-themed drum kit to record his version on.

The Canadian-born rocker said that, “having started out as a Canadian kid who skated on his ankles, and never made a hockey team, it is particularly sweet to be invited to be a part of this national institution – if not on skates, then on drums, performing Canada’s ’second national anthem.’ At last I’ve made the Big Leagues!”

Adding to the schmaltz is TSN’s vice-president for production Mark Milliere who said: “To have a music legend and a member of Canada’s rock royalty like Neil Peart record his version of The Hockey Theme speaks volumes about the song’s place in psyche of hockey fans across the country and around the world. It is an honour to have Neil put his rock spin on this iconic tune and we’re extremely excited to add his interpretation to our NHL ON TSN broadcasts.”

[NewsWire]

Anaheim (Mighty) Duck Scott Niedermeyer generously skated over to the fans and gave away his stick the other night, tossing it over the boards. Showing true fellowship for their fellow man, it led to a fight between two Ducks fans jousting one another for the memento. Now you can enjoy making fun of these people from your computer!

Perry Fewell, the interim Buffalo Bills head coach shows his team the 10 commandments he has received from high above.

1. I am the Head Coach
2. Thou Shall have no other coach but I; because no one else would ever want this miserable job. You shall not worship any former Pro Bowlers (Terrell Owens) whose production is now miserable
3. You shall not take the Bills name in vain, in fact, it’s better to not even mention us
4. Keep Sundays as our Sabbath and use them as a day of rest, it won’t make a difference on the field anyways
5. Honor our owner Ralph Wilson, he signs the checks
6. You shall not murder, except the memories of Bills fans who remember the days when we were good
7. You shall not seek out other teams for a trade or free agency, you must remain mired in mediocrity
8. You shall not make any adjustments to your opponent, stick with what has gotten us this far
9. You shall not give specious quotes to the media, abandon all hope
10. You shall not covet to be on a better team, if you deserved to be there, you would be, you’re on the Bills for a reason.

It took 23 years before the first NFL team went undefeated; the nascent and unwatched UFL has had their first undefeated team in year one as SOMEHOW the Florida Tuskers managed to stay focused with all the thousands of reporters following the team. The Tuskers enter the playoffs 6-0 after two successful onside kicks to win 34-27 over the California Redwoods.

Anytime a team with Brooks Bollinger at QB and Jim Haslett as the head coach is facing you, you just KNOW you’re in trouble. If I were the rest of the UFL I’d just give up now, you just can’t beat that kind of talent.

[NBC]

They take cricket very seriously in Pakistan and the members of the Pakistan Cricket Board are very unhappy with Shoaib Akhtar, once one of the top players in the country. In recent months Akhtar had become rather rotund, so much so that he opted for liposuction as a means of getting back into slimmer, faster shape.

The cosmetic surgery will keep him sidelined for 5 months though, meaning he’ll miss a number of very important matches for the Pakistani team. The Board are especially pissed because Akhtar never consulted or even told them he was getting the surgery which they say will help his physical appearance but, according to Dr. Waqar Ahmed of the Pakistan Sports Board, “has nothing to do with the fitness of a player.”

”Mostly it is done for improving the figure and other cosmetic reasons whereas the shedding of weight of more than 12 kilograms might help him only when he will improve his muscle strength and stamina. ’Considering his age, I don’t think he will be able to show any kind of improvement as compared to his last previous performance.”

Earlier this year another health story about Akhtar made the rounds when he threatened to sue the national board after they released that he was unable to play in the World Cup because he had an STD. ”The medical board has reported that Akhtar was suffering from genital viral warts,” the PCB statement at the time read.

Thanks guys!

[Stuff.co.nz]

While I think we can all agree that having Oasis’ Wonderwall playing is not ideal, this clip of a guy throwing a Frisbee off a mountain is pretty awesome. That thing goes FAR! How pissed are you though if you shank that toss? You gotta bring a couple backup ‘bees just in case right?

The Lingerie Football League’s Miami Caliente are HOT, second in their division with a 2-1 record they are fresh off an absolute spanking of the New York Majesty 49-7. Talk about domination!

[UPI]

In the waning seconds of the first half in Wednesday’s Celtics/Warriors game Kevin Garnett grabbed a rebound and, after a nifty spin move, launched up a 75-footer. The ball was definitely still in his hands when time expired and the refs rightly waved off the basket, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t totally cool. Because it was. Watch.

On Wednesday the French national soccer team squared off against the Irish squad in a final World Cup qualifier, at the end of the game the French had taken a highly controversial victory. It all stems from French star striker Thierry Henry’s two accidental hand-balls which enabled him to corral the ball (despite also being offsides) and pass it to William Gallas who scored the winning goal for the French side.

The refs made no calls to disallow the goal despite Henri’s admission that he did touch the ball. “I will be honest, it was a handball,” Henry said,  But I’m not the ref. I played it. The ref allowed it.”

The victory meant the French would be going to the World Cup in South Africa, and the Irish would be staying home. Obviously the Irish are LIVID and are asking FIFA, soccer’s international ruling body to allow the match to be replayed. FIFA’s initial response is not to replay the game. If FIFA allows the game to stand, Henry’s handball may live in soccer infamy, much like Diego Maradon’s famous “Hand of God” handball that beat the English in the 1986 World Cup.

Soccer season baby!

[Sky]

Toronto Maple Leaf winger Colton Orr loves to fight, when he’s on the ice you can guarantee someone is going to get hit, and if any of his teammates needs a hand, Orr is ever-ready to throw off his gloves and mix it up. This season he already has 7 fights notched on his belt and has 59 penalty minutes, 4th in the NHL. Here he is taking on and taking out the Senators’ Matt Carkner during Monday’s action.

If you play Fantasy Hockey and need some penalty minutes, Orr is one you definitely want to pick up. That is one mal-hombre.

[Hockey Fights]

With his 5th championship wrapped up, Derek Jeter jetted off to St. Barts for a deserved vacation; while he should have traveled alone, he opted instead to bring his girlfriend, Minka Kelly with him as well. Doesn’t he know that she is supposed to be with me and not him?

The two haven’t been seen too much by the other guests but one enterprising photographer managed some shots of the two in the water. Ever the gossip-mongers the NY Post insists that the two are “coyly telling pals to be prepared for a wedding soon,” something they have touted with every single Jeter relationship. Besides, we all know that she would NEVER settle for him when there are sports bloggers available.

[NY Post]