(AP Photo/Matt York)

Sometimes, ya gotta win ugly. Today was one of those times, as Randy Johnson did not have his good stuff. For the second day in a row the Arizona starter did not bring his A or even his B game. But unlike yesterday, the Snakes were able to slither back with an all-team offense highlighted by the 2-run pinch-hit homer by Micah Owings to tie the game at 7, followed by a double by Chris Young and a single by Eric Byrnes that broke an 0-11 streak and brought home Young for what turned out to be an 8-7 victory in the rubber match of a three-game series with the Houston Astros.

The right-handed Owings hit the first pitch he saw from reliever Dave Borkowski over the right-field fence. Yeah, opposite field. He’s now on the board with 2 RBI, after having given his brother pitchers a head start. Bob Melvin says that Owings is being worked into batting practice groups. Houston manager Cecil Cooper was very unhappy about his reliever not being able to get a pitcher out, but Micah isn’t a typical pitcher.

Conor Jackson also homered, a solo shot in the 3rd. He now has 25 RBIs. Other runs were driven in by Orlando Hudson, Justin Upton, Jeff Salazar and Chris Young. Salazar’s RBI came in the form of a pinch-hit double in the 4th, when the D’Backs were rallying and Melvin had to pull Johnson even though he had just thrown 2 scoreless innings.

Miguel Montero went 3-4 with a run scored.

Brandon Medders got the win. Chad Qualls and Tony Pena got holds and Brandon Lyon got the save but it was nerve wracking. He gave up a hit and a walk while facing the tough part of the Houston lineup. Kaz Matsui singled and eventually stole second, and Lance Berkman walked, but Lyon got the difficult to strike-out Miguel Tejada to K, and Carlos Lee to fly out. Lyon actually has been doing very well of late, after the rough early times. Still, I was nervous, probably because a blown save would mean a blown True Elation game for Eric Byrnes.

Byrnesie still is not himself. He played the first game of the series and was run ragged trying to steal with Hudson fouling off the pitches. Melvin made him sit out the middle game until the very end when he struck out as a pinch-hitter to end the game. He then went 0-3 before he got the game winning hit, but then grounded out his last time up. He will tell you that the leg problem is not affecting his hitting, but it is. Mark Grace showed close ups of the way Byrnesie was standing at the plate and explained how important to how the hitter can drive the ball.

Byrnesie’s general body language was not good, and I could see by the look on his face that he was frustrated. It’s a difficult time. I still think Byrnesie and thus the team would benefit from him just going on the 15-day DL. Gracie thinks it would help and he knows a thing or two about hitting. I wish sometimes that Bob Melvin would order him onto the DL, but when he comes through like he did today, with a two-out single for the winning RBI, it’s hard to think that way. A manager has to think of the game ahead of him. And Byrnesie will point to an AB like his fourth today and say “See, I can still contribute.” And he did today for sure.

Now comes May, typically Byrnesie’s best month. Let’s hope that is a harbinger of good things to come.

ByrnesBlogger1

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(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Sometimes you learn something good in adversity. Edgar Gonzalez did not have his stuff yesterday. He lasted only 2.2 innings, giving up 6 earned runs on 8 hits. But the guy who came in to get the last out of the second was a revelation. Max Scherzer, Arizona’s first pick in the 2006 draft, then faced and retired 12 more batters with electric stuff. Thirteen up and thirteen down. Diamondbacks are not triskaidecaphobes! (People who fear the number 13).

Geoff Blum of the Astros later said he was glad Scherzer didn’t start the game. That will be the Phillies problem as Bob Melvin has announced that Scherzer will start on Monday. Of course, we have to see how Max shakes out in the longer run. He’s a guy with whip-like arm speed and a blazing fastball. As long as he’s on, opposing hitters ought to be in trouble, at least his first time around the league. But like many a young fireballer before him, Scherzer has to make the transition from thrower to pitcher.

I am old school enough to wonder about these guys who get up to the bigs in a huge hurry, especially if they are pitchers. And especially in Scherzer’s case. He took 11 months to sign after the draft and pitched in an independent league to stay in shape. But once in the minors, he was advanced rapidly, as it is Diamondbacks’ policy to keep prospects challenged. We saw the same with Justin Upton; as soon as he proved he could hit in A ball, he was moved to AA. When injuries struck the big club, he was called up, at age 19, had a great October, and although you still see where he’s green in places, there’s no looking back.

It is too early to tell if it will be that way with Scherzer, but he is going to get the chance. And if the Diamondbacks keep hitting as they have this April, he will have the run support to make a go of it.

So while no loss is good, it helps to get some good news out of one.

ByrnesBlogger1

Don’t forget: Send your Eric Byrnes story to byrnesblogger1[at]azsportshub.com for a chance to win the 2001 World Series Collectors’ Edition DVD Set.

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The News: Arizona Diamondback’s manager Bob Melvin announced Wednesday that rookie RHP Max Scherzer will start his first Major League game Monday against the Phillies. Scherzer will replace Edgar Gonzalez who gave up 6 runs in 2 + innings of work Tuesday evening.

Scherzer, the D-Backs number 1 pick in 2006, threw 4 1/3 innings of perfect ball with 7 strikeouts in relief of Gonzalez.

Our Take: Grab your popcorn and get ready for a show Monday night at the old airplane hanger ballpark. Mad Max (no this name has nothing to do with his two different color eyes) seems to be everything that was advertised. His lightning fast fastball, toping out at 98 mph and danced around like a two year old needing to pee. He continued to rack up strike outs like he did in the minors . He made the Astros look silly by retiring all 13 batters he faced and throwing only 47 pitches, 35 of which were for strikes.

The only disappointment? He didn’t get a hit. Maybe he and Micah Owings can hit the batting cages together. It’s nice to see the Dbacks have yet another young gun, this time on the mound.

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Football:

Mike Jones, an '09 first round pick? His catches definitely need to increase, and with the now traditional weak Arizona State offensive line, Jones may not have the time he needs to finish his routes and get open consistently. I would not be surprised if he were a first day pick, though. Both FanNation and ESPN's Todd McShay have Georgia's Matt Stafford and Knowshon Moreno at the top of their '09 draft boards. Our defensive ends have been known to disappear when we're playing top quarterbacks (I'm talking to you Vasquez and Davis, making JD Booty and Colt McCoy look like first rounders), so Stafford has every reason to be optimistic about having a big day against us.

Did he pull a fast one? Rudy Burgess originally told the Jags he would go play for them. Suck on that Dirk.

Baseball:

ASU is projected by ESPN to be the #2 seed going into the 64 team tournament. Also, Pat Murphy can officially buy a second home in Omaha with the NCAA reaching a deal to keep the tournament there until 2030. Kiel Roling was rewarded for his 10 RBI week with the Pac-10 Player of the Week Award. Ike Davis and Brett Wallace have also received the honor this season. For all you need to know about this weekend's series against UCLA, CSTV has you covered. And if you haven't noticed yet, I changed the tool bar on the right side to include stats for every Sun Devil currently in the pros. Joe Persichina was recently elevated to AA Birmingham.

Basketball:

They're already talking about James Harden being an All-American next season. Too bad it looks like Harden will already be preparing for the NBA Draft by the time the brand new Weatherup Center is completed in May of 2009.

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Sure Mike D’Antoni may be out as Suns head coach but is it going to be enough from keeping the Suns championship hopes from setting? The vote from us is no.

When you look at the Suns and possible moves during the off season they are very limited. The following contracts are on the book for 2008-2009:

• O’Neal $20,000,000
• Stoudemire $15,070,500
• Nash $12,250,000
• Diaw $9,000,000
• Barbosa $6,100,000
• Bell $5,000,000
• Hill $1,976,400 (Player Option)
• Tucker $1,001,880
• Strawberry $711,517 (Team Option)

That is over $71 Million in contracts possibly on the books for next year. That means barring a trade it will be more of the same for the Suns. The best hope for Suns fans is that Steve Kerr finds a taker for Barbosa that can net them a few young talented players (Ben Gordon and Tyrus Thomas anyone), draft well (meaning not selling a pick for $3million) with the Atlanta pick and playing their bench (This obviously means finding a new coach, possibly Jeff Van Gundy).

Overall it is a sad thing to watch this Suns team go from NBA championship contenders to off season fodder so fast. In reality Nash’s Suns will probably go the way of Webber’s Kings and Mark Price’s Cavs as teams who got all dressed up but never made it to the party.

Hey at least the D-backs are good and young.

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(AP Photo/Eric Gay) Once again a season that began with great expectations ended with an early playoffs exit. For the third time in the last four years the San Antonio Spurs eliminated your Phoenix Suns from the NBA post season.

This time it was 4-1 as the Spurs beat the Suns 92-87 in San Antonio to advance to the second round.

Tony Parker scored a game-high 31 points and Tim Duncan added 29 points and 17 rebounds, including 8 on offense, to lead the Spurs.

The Suns had the game within reach after leading 72-69 entering the fourth quarter. The game was later tied at 85 with under two minutes left but the Suns failed to perform down the stretch turning the ball over three times in the closing seconds and missing shot after shot.

Steve Nash, I am afraid, had one of the worst game of his playoffs career scoring 11 points on 4-of-16 from the field and tuning the ball over 5 times while having only 3 assists.

Boris Diaw had another very good game leading the Suns with 22 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists. This time Boris’ near triple-double was not enough.

Stoudemire (15 points and 11 rebounds) and Shaq (13 and 9) couldn’t limit Duncan nor provide consistent inside offense.

82 regular season games, 55 wins, 5 playoffs games, 1 lonely win, another Spurs victory.

Most people in Arizona don’t know who Gary Lineker is but it came to my mind each time I watch the Suns lose to the Spurs. Gary, one of the greatest soccer player in British history, sick of his England national team losing to Germany once said: “Football (soccer) is a simple game; 22 men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the Germans always win“. Well Mr. Lineker, basketball is the same: in the end the guys in black and white always find a way to win.

There will be time in the next few weeks to discuss what the loss will mean to the Suns. There will be talk about the Shaq (failed) experiment, the need for a new coach, trade rumors and everything else.

We’ll do just that, beginning tommorow since today is simply a day of sorrow because the season is over, my fellow Suns fans.

Yours truly, Steve Fan

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The Suns yet again found a way to lose tonight to the hated Spurs. After playing a rough and tumble, intense 40 or so minutes, the Suns allowed the turnover/stupidity bug to rear it's ugly head and take a bite out of their collective asses.

Missing a whopping 17 free throws won't win a team any playoff games and neither will three consecutive turnovers with under three minutes to go.

All this rumbling about Coach D being without a job is at least for tonight, nonsense. Tonight's game was lost on the court, not the sidelines.

When your starting center can't make a free throw or even a layup to save his life and your two-time MVP point guard isn't able to throw the ball in the ocean or keep it in his hands, it has nothing to do with the coach.

This one is not on Coach D.

It's on Steve Nash and Shaquille O'Neal.

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(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
In a new deal for AZSH, we have teamed up with BrightSideoftheSun.com and KTAR.com to bring you live blogs of each and every Suns game (too bad this could be the last).

You can participate here or on BSOTS. Either way, enjoy the game and go Suns!

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You'll have to forgive me, I listened to some talk radio this morning. It was not my intention, I was choosing some music for my listening pleasure on the way to work when I heard Steve Kerr's familiar voice on KTAR 620 discussing the Suns and their showing in the playoffs thus far.

As the subject matter switched to Coach D'Antoni's future I couldn't help but listen intently.

When asked about this report in today's New York Post and if he had a message for Donnie Walsh and the Knicks, Kerr did anything but jump to D'Antoni's defense. Instead, he made it clear that what was important was the "task at hand," the playoff series with the Spurs.

Everything else, players, coaches, philosophy would be evaluated at the end of the season during exit meetings.

This wasn't exactly a ringing endorsement for D'Antoni's future.

Now, Kerr did say that D'Antoni was under contract for the next two years and that he and D'Antoni had discussed the hot seat they were under but again, he made it clear evaluations would be made at the end of the year.

I got the feeling in listening to Kerr that D'Antoni was on a short leash and that if the defensive intensity wasn't there again tonight, there would be hell to pay.

None of this is really breaking news but it was interesting hearing it from the horse's mouth for the first time. For D'Antoni to continue coaching the Suns, it sure as heck seems he'll need to make a philosophical change and actually put some time in coaching defense. Step one is tonight.

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LB Ali HighsmithThe NFL draft is over, but the Arizona Cardinals keep making calls to pick up the left overs. I shouldn’t call some of these guys left overs because a few of them are pretty good. I don’t think these players will be the only undrafted rookie free agents picked up by Arizona, but for the time being here’s the list.

Keilen Dykes is a DT from West Virginia University. Dykes was first team all Big-Easy in 2006 and in 2007. His production went down a little bit in 2007 but that’s because he was being double teamed. I’m surprised he wasn’t picked up by someone. This could be a nice back up especially since Gabe Watson is out with an injury. At his Pro Day, Dykes ran a 5.08 40 and did 33 bench reps. Keilen is 6′5″ 300 lbs. Nice pick up.

Bryan Robinson from Division III Wesley College was another pick up. Robinson is a Division III all American Defensive Tackle. Bryan is the Atlantic Central Football Conference’s all-time leader with 47 sacks and 92.5 tackles for loss. It looks like he could be another solid depth guy.

Offensive guard out of the University of Hawaii, Hercules Satele, who bench pressed 225 pounds 40 times at last month’s Pro Day, has also reached a deal with the Arizona Cardinals. This guys a monster, I’m excited to see what Russ Grimm can make out of him.

It looks like LSU linebacker Ali Highsmith was picked up by Arizona today. Highsmith was early on considered a first day draft pick. But after a slow 40 time at the combine, Ali’s draft stock dramatically dropped. I’m still very surprised Highsmith didn’t get drafted. I thought he’d go in the mid rounds especially after he redeemed himself by running a 4.7 at his Pro Day. Ali is a little small for an NFL linebacker (6-0, 230) so that didn’t help but he still was a First-Team All-American! He was a stud in college and produced in big games so you know he can play football. This could be a real steal to get him undrafted.

Penn State QB Anthony Morelli was another pick up by the Cardinals. I guess all I can say about this pick up is sure, why not? You never know who could be the next Kurt Warner right? Maybe they saw some encouraging things and maybe this could be a new back up.

I really like this pick up. Arizona signed massive 6-8 305 lbs OT, Thaddeus Colemen from Mississippi Valley State. Here’s a video of Colemen. Thaddeus is very raw having no position coach in college. Russ Grimm is probably salivating over this guy. With a little practice we could see Colemen be a starting OT.

Some other signing I just received word about are

OG Carlton Medder, Florida

FB Dionte Johnson, Ohio State

S Dennis Keyes, UCLA

CB Marcus Brown, VMI

All of these guys have great potential. Three of them are guys from big schools that have produced in their careers. Marcus Brown from what I hear had I great career at VMI. These all seem like very solid pick ups.  If I hear of anyone else, I’ll add them to the list.

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(Photo by Al Tielemans/SI) To be eligable to win this great prize, you must comment on the original post over at Down the Left Field Line: Life, Baseball & Eric Byrnes

Many knowledgeable baseball people, including Eric Byrnes, consider the 2001 World Series one of the best, if not THE best World Series ever. Seven games between the storied New York Yankees, winners of the previous three World Series, and 26 championships overall, versus the upstart Arizona Diamondbacks, in existence for only four years and playing in their first World Series. And Game 7 was an epic pitchers’ duel that went down to the wire.

On April 29th, A&E Home Video (aetv.com) and MLB Productions make a DVD set of this series available. Buy it. Unless you win the one I have available as a giveaway on this blog. Details about that further down.

The DVD player I have attached to my TV is not working for some reason. So I was pleased to find that the DVDs will play on a PC with DVD playing software. I’m running Windows XP Home Edition and NTI DVD software on a 2 GB system with 512 MB Ram of which only 448 MB is working properly; but the DVD’s ran perfectly despite the RAM problem. The mouse substitutes for TV remote control and is much easier to use.

The pictures, basically the Fox broadcast of each game, are crisp and clear. The games are edited to bring you the best shots…and no commercial breaks! You just go from one inning to the next and through the pitching changes with all baseball. The only non-baseball information was in the form of the graphics that were part of the game broadcast that day. For example, Game 7 updated the viewers on the Emmy Awards that were presented that night. That’s a nice historical touch.

Bonus features include highlights of the NLDS and NLCS, trophy presentations, and several on-field post-Game 7 interviews with the winners. Each of the seven games comes on its own DVD, in its own jewel case with a liner that provides the box score, an inning-by-inning summary and tidbits that will satisfy any trivia buff. The set comes in a box that easy to store; It’s 18 hours and 49 minutes of material for only $69. Even though the set emphasizes the Arizona Diamondbacks, it’s a great addition to the libraries of Yankees fans and anyone else who enjoys great baseball.

For those of you who are interested in the one I’m giving away, the way to get it is to send me an Eric Byrnes story from anywhere starting with his college days to the present. Keep it family-friendly as I want to post the entries here. What was it like to meet Byrnesie? Did you go to school with him, see him as a minor leaguer, banter with him in the stands in the majors, or meet him in the supermarket? Did he visit your school, hospital or Little League?

My stats reports say that a lot of people visit, but only a few people who know me from the days this blog was on MLB.com ever comment. My usual commentators, the guys who run the AZSportshub website, members of Byrnesie family and current social circle, professional journalists who have interviewed Byrnes, and anyone who has ever been featured on The Eric Byrnes Show are not eligible to win the DVD set but are welcome to contribute a story to enrich the visiting experience for my readers.

I’m looking for Byrnes fans who have never commented here before. I’m hoping a chance at this wonderful DVD set will entice some of you into joining the discussions. Don’t be shy. You don’t have to be a literary genius to enter, but the winner will be the story I find most interesting, so don’t just say you were there when Byrnesie did thus-and-such.

Send your stories to byrnesblogger1 [at] azsportshub.com by May 15th. The decision of the judge (me) is final.

Byrnesblogger1

To be eligable to win this great prize, you must comment on the original post over at Down the Left Field Line: Life, Baseball & Eric Byrnes

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(1 votes, avg: 5 out of 5)

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It’s that time of year again. The picks have all been made, Chris Berman has been put back in mothballs until the home run derby in July, Mel Kiper is huddled up in the fetal position lamenting that it’s time to pack up his “big board” (until next week when ESPN looks to fill time with their Sportscenter Special: Preparing For The 2009 NFL Draft) and everyone and their mother is issuing grades on how NFL teams did in their drafts.

But instead of looking at every site we thought we’d give you the Arizona Cardinals 2008 Overall Draft Grade. We have scoured the internet (for all of 15 minutes) to provide you with grades from every site and will take those plus our own grade and give you the aggregate grade for your Arizona Cardinals:

NFL.com:Impressive (No grade but we equate that to a A): Loved the picks of, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, the value pick of Calais Campbell, Early Doucet and Tim Hightower.

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SI.com: No grade but Peter King listed them on the “5 teams he liked” so that has to be worth at least an A- right?

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Voiceofthecardinals.com: B+, Filled needs at CB, DE, OL, RB and WR over two days, what more could you ask for?

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USAtoday.com: B+, Did everything they could to help themselves.

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Yahoo.com: B, Major knock: Ducet not a speedster, no impact running back (PS Yahoo, the Cards changed their logo two years ago)

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ESPN.com: B-, Major knock: no immediate impact running back drafted

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Our Take: C+, The Cards neglected to find Edgerine James’ replacement in the first three rounds when runningback talent was still available. While Hightower has the chance to be an impact player down the road he in all likelihood will not provide much impact this season. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie was a great pick in the first round as he was rated by many as the best CB in the draft. value Calais Campbell in the second round was based purely on potential and not on what he showed last season. Early Doucet is a big posession reciever, ala Anquan Boldin, but he lacks the breakout speed that the Cardinals have looked for out of their 3rd WR spot. Overall it was a good draft but lacked the WOW factor that was needed after a quiet offseason thus far.

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Sportingnews.com: (they’re still around?) C-, waited too long to draft running back should have used the first round pick to do so.

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Overall: B

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BRINK OF ELIMINATION - If you were told that Amare had 7 points, 9 rebounds to go with Nash’s 15 points and 4 assists you would say A) the stats referred to a 115-99 Suns loss or B) a 105-86 Suns victory? You and most logical people would have chosen A and said the numbers came from the box score of Friday’s 115-99 loss and you and others would have been wrong.

Sunday’s 105 to 86 win for the Suns not only proved that they can indeed hold onto a lead and beat the Spurs but that Amare and Nash don’t have to carry the load. Phoenix was led by Boris Diaw’s 20 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists and Raja Bells impressive 27 points on 8 of 11 shooting with 5 three pointers. These unusual suspects not only were on fire on the offensive side of the hardwood but provided the defensive intensity that the Suns had lacked in the first three losses.

While Amare didn’t put up major numbers he look solid on defense and had 3 of the 9 blocked shots for the Suns. Even the “unknown soldiers” DJ Strawberry, Sean Marks and Eric Piatkowski saw the court for a combined 8 minutes and 44 seconds of playing time (Which in Coach D bench years equates to an entire season (10 games for every minute played)).
The question is “Who are the real Suns?”

The answer lies some where between the 115-99 loss and the 105-86 victory. It lies somewhere between the non exhistant, nameless French man and the dominating Boris Diaw seen Sunday. It lies somewhere between a timid Amare and three quarters of Amare Stoudemire highlight dunks. It lies somewhere between Friday’s completely apathetic crowd and the energy seen on Sunday at the US Airways Center. Most of all it lies somewhere between the ears of every player on the Suns team.

It is now mental. Can the Suns keep the edge they showed on Sunday. Can Boris Diaw remember he is an amazing athlete and a key component to the Suns success? Can Coach D actually continue to make the appropriate adjustments? Can Amare remember he can be a monster on defense? Or do the Suns settle and find comfort in the fact that they won big against the Spurs and showed everyone that even if they lose game 5 that they were the better team?

As a Suns fan you want to believe right now, heck we all do, but seeing is believing. If they can come out tomorrow with the same fire and passion as Sunday than maybe just maybe it’s time to start to think about saying “The NBA Playoffs Where 3-0 to 4-3 happens” .

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It is simply amazing. Both the Arizona Sundogs AND the San Antonio Rampage are cookin on all cylinders. Both have done well in the postseasn.

The Dogs are vying for the President’s Cup in the finals! After gettin the stuffing whomped out of them in game 6 (2 - 9) the pups came back for a 6 - 1 decisive win to advance. SWEET! All of the games up until the 6th were close. Both teams showed moxie and heart, battling each other to a standstill. Game 6 was the turning point at which the young Sundogs hitched up their socks after the embarrassment and blasted the Laredo Bucks with everything they had in game 7. This team has gumption to spare.

Led in points by Alex Leavitt and Cory Urquhart (both with 22 point) this young team has all the makings of a winner. We don’t get much news on the Sundogs but after this season’s performance maybe that will change. Hopefully edgy goalie Robert Mcvicar can keep up his winning ways and the boys can snag a nice piece of hardware to present to the loyal faithful out in Prescott Valley.

GO SUNDOGS!

http://www.arizonasundogs.com/

San Antonio Rampage is making some noise of it’s own down in the heart of Texas and around the AHL.

(more…)

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photo courtesy of azcardinals.comAlright, after all the mock drafts and all the speculation, the 2008 NFL Draft is finally over. Now it’s time to analyze what the Cardinals did…

Arizona Cardinal Draft Grade: B+

Let me explain why I give the Cardinals this grade. Arizona needed to fill needs at cornerback, defensive end, offensive line, running back, and wide receiver. They filled all those needs during the two days of the draft, so that’s one plus right there. But not only did Arizona fill their needs, they did it while taking the best player on the board with each pick. I’m a guy who loves when teams take the best player available, so that made me excited to see them not drafting just for need. I know some of you including myself may wonder a little bit about some of the decisions made, but I actually trust the Cardinals with most of these picks.

It was a very tough decision when it came down to Rashard Mendenhall and Dominique Rodgers-