Bombers will have to go on without Hunt

The numbers of CFL players heading to the NFL are down from last offseason (eight thus far, by Ian Busby's count), but the quality of players leaving is certainly notable. The league had already lost its top receiver last year in Andy Fantuz and one of its most exciting young players in Emmanuel Arceneaux, as well as lesser-known but promising players like Andrew Hawkins and Mark Restelli. Friday, the reigning CFL sack leader officially decided to join the exodus, with the Philadelphia Eagles announcing they had signed Winnipeg defensive end Phillip Hunt (pictured above bringing down Saskatchewan's Darian Durant Sept. 12) to a three-year deal.

From one standpoint, it's not particularly surprising that Hunt is off to the NFL. He clearly has the talent to shine on the big stage if given the opportunity; he finished the year with 16 sacks, four ahead of his nearest competitor, and was consistently the most dangerous pass-rushing threat in the league. I pegged him as one of the CFL's top five players back in September, and my opinion of him's only risen since then. There was obviously a fair bit of NFL interest in Hunt as well, as he worked out for the Vikings as well as New England, Houston, Cleveland and Philadelphia.

The surprising element, though, is that Hunt seemed to be one of the potential NFL transfers most concerned about the possibility of an NFL lockout. The news on the labour front has been particularly bad lately, with the NFL and NFLPA walking away from talks this week, and CFL players who sign with an NFL team can't come back north of the 49th parallel if there is a lockout.

Those lockout fears probably contributed to the smaller numbers of CFL players heading to the NFL; some, like Chad Owens and S.J. Green, definitely attracted their share of interest from south of the border, but elected to stay in Canada. It's possible that Hunt was able to get a substantial enough signing bonus that the potentially impending lockout doesn't worry him as much as it once did. In any case, something clearly changed his mind from earlier this year, and I doubt it was any perceived uptick in the labour situation.

Here's what Hunt had to say about the move to Ed Tait of the Winnipeg Free Press:

"I just signed today... just about 10 minutes ago. It was a great experience," said Hunt when reached by The Free Press Friday afternoon. "Now I look forward to playing in the NFL. This is something I've thought about my whole life. I've always had dreams and aspirations to play in the NFL and it's finally come true.

"The CFL was a great platform for me to showcase my skills. That league produces a lot of great athletes and I was fortunate to be one of them. I appreciate the opportunity the Bombers gave me and the opportunity that's in front of me right now with the Eagles. I'm just so excited."

It is a terrific opportunity for Hunt, and CFL fans shouldn't begrudge him for taking it. It's quite possible he could follow in Cameron Wake's footsteps and become the next CFL star to shine on the NFL stage, and if he does, that will help increase both the profile of the CFL in general and the Blue Bombers in particular. He could also be a key addition for the Eagles; they're planning to use him as a pass-rushing defensive end in their 4-3 scheme, and that's something that definitely fits his talents.

At the same time, though, Hunt's departure will likely hurt Winnipeg this coming year. The 4-14 Bombers weren't as bad as their record made them look, but Hunt was one of their critical pieces. Without him, their pass rush will likely be a lot less formidable, and that could pose more problems for a defence that frequently struggled in coverage. We'll see what their plan is to replace him, but 16-sack production isn't particularly easy to find. Hunt's departure could pave the way for other players to step up, but he leaves big shoes to fill.

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Don't worry, South Africa, FIFA now has $1.2 billion in reserves

While South Africa struggles to find uses for all those dazzling new World Cup 2010 stadiums it can't afford the upkeep on, at least the country won't have to worry about its friends at FIFA suffering through similar financial concerns. Or any financial concerns at all. Because Sepp Blatter and his boys have $1.2 BILLION locked away at the "non-profit" governing organization just for giggles. 

From the AP:

FIFA President Sepp Blatter says it has reserves of $1.2 billion thanks to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Blatter tells African football leaders that the financial results were better than the 2006 World Cup hosted by Germany. [...]

FIFA began the World Cup year with reserves of $1.06 billion.

FIFA said that money could sustain it for 18 months if a World Cup was canceled.

Blatter opened the Confederation of African Football assembly saying the continent should be proud of organizing the World Cup which helped Africa find more pride and confidence.

So, good job, Africa! All your investment and hard work really paid off...for FIFA.

I like how Sepp tries to justify that massive FIFA reserve fund by saying that it could sustain it for 18 months if a World Cup was canceled -- which wouldn't even happen in the midst of a Biblical apocalypse. So what will FIFA really use that obscene stockpile of cash for? Well, let's just say the Seppbot 4000 and his soul-sucking intake hole will be ready to serve as FIFA president for millenniums to come. 

Photo: Reuters

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2011 MLB Spring Training: San Francisco Giants Score 6 in 7th To Top Milwaukee

The San Francisco Giants beat the Milwaukee Brewers 10-9 in a Spring Training exhibition game today.

Through six innings, the score stood 5-4, with Milwaukee leading. In the seventh, however, the Giants scored six times to take a 10-5 lead. The Brewers would make a push with four runs over the last two innings, but still came up short.

For a rundown of the scoring plays from the sixth-inning outburst, continue reading at The Blog that Barry Built.

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Luxemburgo says Ronaldo wore diapers during Copa America '99

It's only been a short time since Ronaldo retired, so most people are taking this time to remember his many joyous and masterful performances on the pitch. But former Brazil and Real Madrid manager Vanderlei Luxemburgo would like to tell everyone about the time Ronaldo was embarrassed about having to play while wearing adult diapers instead.

Luxemburgo remembers back to 1999 when he coached Brazil to their sixth of eight Copa America titles and Ronaldo had to play through the regrettable side effects of a laxative diet. From the New York Daily News:

“Ronaldo was already overweight, and we explored every possible way of making him drop some pounds,” Luxemburgo said, according to AS of Spain.

“The [team] doctor gave him medicine, Xenical, which was effective, but it also accelerated his bowel movements. So, in order to avoid any “incidents,” the player had to wear diapers, which embarrassed him.”

Even embarrassment and diapers couldn't stop Ronaldo from leading La Selecao to its then-sixth Copa America title with five goals - giving him Golden Boot honors alongside fellow Brazilian Rivaldo.

Ronaldo could have just left the diapers and let loose on the pitch like Gary Lineker admitted to doing in the 1990 World Cup. Still, it's slightly harder to make fun of a guy for wearing them when he not only helped win the tournament, but also scored five goals along the way. Slightly. 

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Andrade's 2011 goals: Big wins and shutting up the critics

After his appearance in the 2008 Olympics, Demetrius Andrade was on top of everyone's prospect list. Two years later, he's unbeaten, but he's fighting to change his perception in 2011.

He came out out of the gates professionally with a 6-0 record in 2009, then came a rocky 2010. He won all of his fights, but that wasn't good enough for some. Teddy Atlas led the charge during an ESPN telecast of Andrade's win over Geoffrey Spruiell. He ripped the fighter and his handlers for moving the 22-year-old too slowly. From Thomas Gerbasi of Boxing Scene:

"It's human nature. Everyone thinks they're experts. Everybody thinks they know, and when people in the media say something, some people believe them," [Andrade's promoter Artie] Pellulo said. "But at the end of the day, they're not in the gym every day with the kid. You have to see how things play out, and everybody has a different way of advancing. You've got to go with the flow for what's best for each guy."

Pellulo thinks a fight in Las Vegas is best. Andrade (11-0) will meet Alberto Herrera (7-1-1) Friday night at the Cox Pavilion on ESPN2 (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT).

Atlas' rant got some other media members to jump on Andrade and then fans piled on. Andrade takes it all in stride.

"In the past two years, I'm 11-0 with 8 knockouts, so I can't complain," he said. "Eventually I'm gonna fight the top guys when it's time for it. [...] A lot of people expect for me to just jump out the water and fight guys like Sergio Martinez and Paul Williams. Come on guys, let's be real. It's one step at a time and sometimes patience is the key to success and you've got to wait your turn. [...] I'm only 22, and I want a long career in this. I'll be ready when the time comes." 

Andrade was more than ready to turn the page from 2010 to 2011. He also dealt numerous fight cancellations and changes, and he had his second daughter in August. Pellulo has planned a busy year for Andrade. He expects his next fight to come in late February and then another in April.  

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Lockout fears may affect NFL/CFL decision for Hunt, others

Mark Masters has an interesting piece in today's National Post about how the NFL's labour uncertainty may affect some of the CFL players looking to head south. Normally, leaving for the NFL would be a pretty easy choice thanks to the increased money involved, but there's a good chance there might not even be an NFL season next year thanks to the expiry of the league's collective bargaining agreement and the apparently limited progress that's been made so far.

If CFL players sign with NFL teams and then get locked out by NFL owners, it seems probable they couldn't return up north next year; the CFL would likely pick up some NFL free agents, but probably wouldn't risk angering the bigger league by signing guys under current contracts; even if CFL teams tried that, many NFL players probably wouldn't go for it thanks to uncertainty about when exactly a lockout would end. That could see guys like star Winnipeg defensive end Phillip Hunt (pictured above chasing down Calgary quarterback Henry Burris) caught between the two leagues, and as Masters writes, that's forcing them to weigh the chances of a bigger potential payday in the NFL against the guaranteed job provided in the CFL:

"You have to keep in mind that the CFL is a league that is not going through labour trouble or threats of a lockout, so you keep that in your back pocket," Winnipeg Blue Bombers defensive lineman Phillip Hunt said. "The NFL is usually a great option, but you need to do what is right for your family."

It's remarkable that players like Hunt are even considering perhaps staying up north, as the lure of the NFL's usually pretty strong. The NFL's minimum salary for active roster players is $285,000, which is up there with the top-paying CFL contracts and probably better than any non-quarterback makes. Most players make more than the minimum. Even players on a NFL practice squad make at least $88,400 if they're there for a full year, which is certainly comparable to or better than most non-quarterback CFL salaries.

Most CFL players haven't done all that well in the NFL, but the success some players like Cameron Wake and Stefan Logan have found will motivate many to keep trying in hopes of a big payday. Even if they don't do all that well, they're not really taking a hit in the pocketbook thanks to the NFL's high practice roster and active roster minimum saliers. That's just the financial side; for Americans like Hunt, there's also the lure of playing in their own country, close to friends and family and on one of the world's biggest stages. As he explains, though, he's got more on his mind than just where he'd ideally like to play:

"The NFL has been my ultimate goal my whole life," Hunt said. "As a kid growing up, I idolized the Dallas Cowboys and it has been a lifelong dream for me to play in the NFL, but I have realized throughout my career that you can't let dreams take over reality. ... You can't put your family on hold for the NFL. You can't put your family on the backburner. There needs to be guaranteed money."

Timing may also have an impact. Labour talks are still a long way from getting anywhere, and they're not expected to really heat up until at least March. One of the major indicators of if there's likely to be a 2011 NFL season may come around the draft at the end of April, as rookie salaries are a hotly-debated point of negotiations. Unfortunately for players like Hunt, Chad Owens and Andy Fantuz who are all in their CFL option years, their window to sign an NFL deal expires in February. It doesn't seem likely that there will be substantial progress on CBA talks by then, so they may have to guess and hope on whether to head south or not.

There is one crucial issue that may be resolved before February, though, and it could serve as a litmus test as to whether CFL players should consider heading south or not. This Tuesday, a special master began reviewing one of the NFLPA's critical complaints filed last June, which argues that NFL owners took less money in television contracts in exchange for having the money guaranteed. Essentially, TV networks still have to pay the NFL $4.5 billion next year even if no games are played. That's a fair chunk of change for the teams, and they wouldn't have to dole it out to players, stadium staff, contractors and the rest, so some teams might even make more money from a lockout than a season.

The union is arguing that thanks to TV revenue being shared with the players, the league has an obligation to seek maximum value rather than guaranteed money in television deals. If they win the case, the money could be put into escrow until a new CBA is reached (so it wouldn't provide a financial cushion for the owners) or even partially awarded to the players. Either outcome would dramatically increase the owners' incentive to reach a deal rather than have a lockout, but if the special master rules in favour of the league, the owners will have a substantial financial advantage heading into a work stoppage. The case hasn't been decided yet, but its outcome could provide direction for the CFL players trying to figure out which way to go. They'll be hoping it gets resolved before their February deadline.

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Video: Agassi, Graf and Michelle Obama in tennis PSA

Andre Agassi and Stefanie Graf teamed up with Michelle Obama to film a collaborative public service announcement between the first lady's "Let's Move" campaign and the USTA.

As far as PSAs go, this is an entertaining one, particularly the facial expression delivered by the first lady when she's shushed by the little girl. Although, one can't help but think those two children would be getting more exercise if Agassi wasn't there to retrieve their balls.

The spot debuts Monday night during Agassi's charity match against Pete Sampras and will air through the U.S. Open series this summer. 

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2011 NFL Mock Draft: The New York Giants Look for Akeem Ayers at 19th Pick

The Giants Need To Put More Pressure on Opposing QBs, Take Ayers

The Giants have two needs they could address in the first round, an offensive lineman or an outside linebacker.

With Nate Solder and Tyron Smith off the board, the Giants will move in and take Akeem Ayers. Ayers is an extremely talented linebacker who can be moved around if the Giants need him to. Ayers is a playmaker and will fit right in to the New York mentality.

Ayers is a physical player who loves hitting people. He also has good pass rushing skills and will be great addition to the Giants.

The Giants are one of the teams I think may either trade up to get a player like Nate Solder, or trade down because there are a ton of good pass rushers and linebackers in this draft.

1. Carolina Panthers: Cam Newton	17. New England Patriots: Adrian Clayborn
2. Denver Broncos: Da'Quan Bowers	18. San Diego Chargers: Tyron Smith
3. Buffalo Bills: Nick Fairley	19. New York Giants: Akeem Ayers
4. Cincinnati Bengals: A.J. Green	20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Aldon Smith
5. Arizona Cardinals: Robert Quinn	21. Kansas City Chiefs: Justin Houston
6. Cleveland Browns: Von Miller	22. Indianapolis Colts: Anthony Castonzo
7. San Francisco 49ers: Patrick Peterson	23. Philadelphia Eagles: Derek Sherrod
8. Tennessee Titans: Blaine Gabbert	24. New Orleans Saints: Corey Liuget
9. Dallas Cowboys: Prince Amukamara	25. Seattle Seahawks: DeMarcus Love
10. Washington Redskins: Marcell Dareus	26. Baltimore Ravens: Jonathan Baldwin
11. Houston Texans: Cameron Jordan	27. Atlanta Falcons: Aaron Williams
12. Minnesota Vikings: J.J. Watt	28. New England Patriots: Torrey Smith
13. Detroit Lions: Nate Solder	29. Chicago Bears: Gabe Carimi
14. St. Louis Rams: Julio Jones	30. New York Jets: Phil Taylor
15. Miami Dolphins: Mark Ingram	31. Pittsburgh Steelers: Mike Pouncey
16. Jacksonville Jaguars: Ryan Kerrigan	32. Green Bay Packers: Cameron Heyward

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For a deeper look at the draft, check out our Complete Three-Round Draft.

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Lakers Defense Holds Off Thunder

Filed under: Lakers, Thunder

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Pau Gasol had 18 points and 11 rebounds, Kobe Bryant scored 17 points and the Los Angeles Lakers extended their cushion over Oklahoma City in the Western Conference standings by beating the Thunder 90-87 on Sunday.

Andrew Bynum added 16 points and 10 rebounds, but the Lakers weren't able to simply overpower a Thunder team that added Kendrick Perkins for interior toughness but won't get him in the lineup for a couple weeks.Lamar Odom missed a pair of free throws with 10.9 seconds left to leave the door open for Oklahoma City, but Kevin Durant and James Harden each missed 3-pointers from the top of the key in the closing moments.

Russell Westbrook led Oklahoma City with 22 points and Durant scored 21. The Thunder were held to a season-low 31 second-half points in suffering their first three-game losing streak of the season.

 

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UFC 127 Aftermath: BJ Penn Hides His Face After 3rd Round Beating from Jon Fitch

Wearing sunglasses to conceal a black eye is a time-honored tradition.

In everyday life, people who get a black eye conceal it with sunglasses to hide the evidence of having been in a fight.

But in everyday life, the circumstances resulting in a black eye are often embarrassing, tragic, or shame-worthy.

So why do professional fighters do it?

Boxers have done it for years.

Tito Ortiz is relatively famous for it.

After losses to Georges St. Pierre, Frank Edgar and Jon Fitch, BJ Penn has felt the need to don a nice, thick-rimmed set of shady black glasses.

I scoured the Internet searching for legitimate medical reasons as to fighters might wear sunglasses at night and it turns out that Corey Hart's explanation is as good as any.

Which leads back to the only real answer there ever was: fighters don't want people to see their black eyes. It's all about pride.

In that way, I find the whole thing a little bit amusing.

If a fighter is wearing sunglasses, we already know that the black eye is there without having to see it.

Wearing sunglasses doesn't conceal black eyes, but merely draws attention to them.

Of course, I guess black eyes are ugly.

Maybe fighters just want to spare us the pain of having to see the physical damage, so that we can go on with our lives thinking that the physical consequences of fighting end once the fight is done.

After all, it would be a bit nuts for a fighter to just walk into the press conference, with a bloody and battered face, as if to say, "Yeah, I got my butt kicked tonight, but I'm still here."

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The importance of Brent Johnson

The B.C. Lions announced today that defensive end Brent Johnson (pictured above sacking Hamilton quarterback Kevin Glenn in the 2009 East semi-final) has agreed to an extension that will take him through the 2012 season. This isn't a move to avoid free agency this year, as Johnson wasn't listed as a potential free agent, so his existing contract must have run through 2011. It is a good move by the team, though, and it's one that illustrates a couple of interesting things about the CFL.

First, the move to keep Johnson (who unjustly isn't even the most famous athlete with that name) demonstrates the importance of experience and longevity in the CFL, which I've written about before. Johnson, born in December, is currently 34 and will be turning 36 shortly after this contract runs out. South of the border, his age likely would be viewed as a sure sign that he's on the downslope of his career, and it probably would keep teams from offering him an extension until they had to. In the CFL, though, age has its benefits; last season, players over 30 were close to the top of every major statistics category, and 43 per cent of the divisional all-stars were over 30.

In my mind, that contrast is partly thanks to a somewhat less physically punishing game that allows many older CFL players to stay healthier than their NFL counterparts, but it's perhaps even more due to the time it can take to figure out the intricacies of the Canadian game. Many of the young guys coming into the league may have more raw athletic talent than the veterans, but they haven't necessarily figured out how a bigger field and 12-man squads dramatically alter the game. The older guys have seen it all before, and those who aren't as quick often have a good idea where the ball's going. Football's as much an intellectual game as it is a physical one, and experience can be a huge asset in a game that's drastically different from the one many of the league's players have grown up with.

What's even more notable about Johnson, though, is the impact he made on the thinking of the league's personnel men. As I've written before, many people on the personnel side of the game have tended to think in pretty limited terms about the value of Canadian players, seeing the Canadian talent pool as extremely top-heavy and yet still restricted to only a few positions where they wouldn't hurt you too much. Johnson is one of a growing group of talented Canadian players who have done much to dispel both of those myths.

On the top-heavy front, it's worth noting that Johnson was drafted in the third round by B.C. in 2000, 20th overall. That's a heck of a pick in retrospect, considering that few of the players above him had notable CFL careers (Adriano Belli, Tim Bakker, Shawn Gallant and George Hudson being the primary exceptions). The success of Johnson and other players chosen late shows there is plenty of Canadian talent out there, and that's one of the main reasons teams are taking the draft more seriously these days.

Johnson's impact on the positional front is even more notable, though. As mentioned above, for a long time the dominant strain of thought was that you find acceptable Canadian players to satisfy the ratio requirements, but then bring in American stars to fill the glamour positions and make the big plays. That kind of thinking still exists in several areas, particularly with the lack of consideration still given to Canadian quarterbacks, but even that may change eventually. The play of Johnson and other trailblazers like Dave Sapunjis helped to prove that Canadians could do much more than just fill spots on a roster, though.

Johnson has twice led the CFL in sacks, recording 17 in 2005 and 16 in 2006. He won the CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player award the latter year, which is an incredible honour for a Canadian player; going back through the records, it appears Johnson was the first Canadian-born player to claim the award since Eskimos' defensive tackle Dave "Dr. Death" Fennell did so in 1978. It looks like Johnson's also only the fourth Canadian-born player to ever win the award; the others are Fennell, Jim Corrigall and Bill "The Undertaker" Baker (as an aside, the CFL really should bring back some of the great old-school nicknames). Johnson also picked up the league's Most Outstanding Canadian Award in 2005 and 2006. He's a five-time divisional all-star and a three-time league all-star, and he played a key role in mentoring fellow defensive linemen who became stars, like Cam Wake and Ricky Foley.

Perhaps Johnson's most impressive accomplishment is his consistency. He's never missed a CFL game, pushing his streak to 168 consecutive contests last year. That's incredible at a physically taxing position like defensive end, where many players are frequently injured. He's also B.C.'s career sack leader with 83 (impressive, considering that they've had the likes of James "Quick" Parker). Moreover, he's proven to be excellent at defending both the run and the pass, and he can still play; last season, he recorded seven sacks, 29 defensive tackles, three forced fumbles, two pass knockdowns and one tackle for a loss en route to earning a divisional all-star nod. If Johnson can keep turning in those kinds of performances, he'll be a valuable player for years to come and will continue proving the doubters wrong.

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When fighting your teammate over who takes a free kick goes wrong

In a Turkish Super Lig match against Sivasspor on Friday, Eskisehirspor's Pele (not that Pele) and Sezer Ozturk both really wanted to take the injury-time free kick. With the match even at 1-1, this was the moment for one man to step up and be a hero for his club in front of the home fans. This was the moment for one man to put his fortitude on display and prove his supremacy. And both players wanted to be that man. So much so that they fought over the ball like greedy kids in a schoolyard.

Pele ended up winning out and after looking to the bench for some backup that wasn't there, Ozturk relented and took his position away from the ball. "All right, tough guy. You want it that bad? Let's see you screw this up so I can rip on you mercilessly until the club finally sells you to a third-division side for a bag of oranges," Ozturk probably thought. He would have the last laugh. They'll never let anyone but him take a free kick again. They'll see.

And then, with a little help from the bottom corner of the near post, Pele curved in a beauty of a free kick. Goal. 2-1 Eskisehirspor. Game over. Pele threw down his shirt and slapped his chest as if to say, "Yeah. Now what, son?"

Meanwhile, Ozturk walked up the pitch, blowing his nose in his shirt and trying not to stare at his celebrating teammates. "Whatever," he thought. "Whatever."

Video via @ChrisToy

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Andrei Arshavin conducts greatest Q&A ever, part XV

It is time to weep the tears of unfathomable joy and confusion, my friends! The angels have answered our pleas and bestowed upon us yet another glorious installment of Andrei/ey Arshavin's ongoing Q&A experiment with the wacky readers of his official website. In the many months since we last plunged into the depths of the weird and accidentally brilliant last November, there has been despair and nervous questioning as to whether this ahead of its time series would continue. Well it is. So lets all take an aspirin and get back in it. 

2. From Vladislav23
Andrey, when are you going to have another masterpiece of a goal? I want to make a stake on a goal.
P.S. They are all your masterpieces =)
AA: Hopefully, in February.

Well, by Vladislav23's standards, Andrei was certainly right. He even knew the exact day, hour, and even minute it would happen, but he felt like typing a =) instead of all that.

3. From Trellis
Hi Andrey, I'm a Chinese woman. I have many questions, because many people
love you in China. :) What do you think about Wenger? I think that he’s
beautiful, what do you think? Good luck!
AA: He's a good coach, and his beauty shall be evaluated by the ladies, not by the
players.

As sad as it is to learn that the Arsenal players don't sit around evaluating Wenger's physical beauty, that doesn't mean that anyone reading this can't pass judgment. So, have at it...

7. From Baklazan
Hi, Andrey. In the 2008 Zenit came to play against Luch in Vladivostok, (the weather
back then was terrible). Well, when the bus carrying the team approached the
stadium, it paused for several seconds. At this point, I was lucky to
be near it. I saw you, Advokaat, Radimov and Gubochan. I
waved at you and you looked back at me and then away, Gubochan was laughing wildly.
Remember me?
AA: No, I do not recall you.

Come on, Baklazan. Do you seriously expect the world-famous Andrei Arshavin to remember someone he glanced at through a bus window three years ago? For real? Unless you were pointing a gun at him or publicly masturbating and breathing fire, that just wasn't ever going to happen.

8. From 2018RUSSIAN
Hello, Andrey! I have a question for you: what will a ball look like at the WC 2018?
AA: It will be round. That’s for sure. There is nothing more I can say.:))

If you really are a Russian from the year 2018, 2018RUSSIAN, you should know that already. But don't be so sure the ball will be round, Andrei. Vladimir Putin is strongly considering making them rectangular bricks that he will judo chop in the stadiums in place of actual football matches.

11. From Gegegegemon
Andrey. I think you're perfectly able to manage Russian football as the president of the Russian Football Union. How do you like this prospect?
AA: I think it's still too soon to talk about it right now.

Yes. It's too soon to talk about right now, but it is most definitely a vital step in his plans for world domination. Women who like to drive, play football and wear clothing not designed by Andrei Arshavin should be afraid.

12. From 65367547
Hello, Andrey. I have already tried to ask you a question on your site, maybe it wasn’t a very important or serious one, but still I received no reply.
Attempt number 2:) It has long been evident, but only recently people have started to talk that it’s time for Akinfeev to move to the top championships. Someone sees him in Manchester, the others madly want to see him in Arsenal (I’m no exception), someone just wants Igor to leave for any European top club. It’s evident that Igor has already surpassed the level of Russian football. I want to see him with Arsenal with all my heart. But unfortunately, this is not going to happen. Arsene Wenger in the pre-match interview against Fulham made it clear that he is not going to enter the transfer market. Now the question: In those days, when there was an actual problem of getting a goalkeeper in Arsenal (just a few months ago) were there any talks about Igor in Arsenal? Did Wenger consider his candidacy? After all, Igor like no other meets the “policy of young players” that Wenger sticks to. Igor is quite young. He needs progress. There will be no progress in Russia. . . Maybe you can give Wenger a hint regarding Igor? :) I want him to make one more step up in his career so that he could start playing at a new level. In Russia there is no prospect for him - this is obvious. He is the best in Russia. But he needs to go to the top European club. I will appreciate it very much, if you reply,just a couple of thoughts on the above written. Good luck in the match against Fulham. The game is going to be great today. I'm sure. I hope my question won’t be left unanswered.
AA: I have not heard that Arsenal would like to purchase Igor. Nobody has discussed this with me, that’s for certain.

First of all, congratulations on asking the most freakishly long question in the history of this series, 65367547. Secondly, way to be subtle with your opening. And thirdly, I couldn't bring myself to read all of that blabber. If only someone would follow this up with, short, succinct and far more relevant query...

14. From Sirotenko
Andrey, how are you doing in Arsenal?
AA: Fine.

Boom. How are you? Fine. That's how you keep things rolling.

17. From ALEKSEITYULIN
Andrey! I am 11 years old. I'm your fan. I want to open my own club. Give advice what will be useful for my business.
AA: And who is your Daddy?:)

"And who is your Daddy?:)" is actually how Andrei responds to everything Cesc Fabregas says to him. 

19. From Veronika1
Andrey, what can you say about FC Tom?
AA: Siberians.

Yes, Andrei. FC Tom is a Siberian club. Well done. 

23. From ALEKSEITYULIN
Andrey, my friend and I want to open a football club, we are 12 years old. Do you think we’ve got a good plan and we are going to succeed? Only I want you to tell me the truth, I won’t get offended if you say no.
AA: Who are your daddies, guys? :)

OK now you're just starting to sound creepy, Andrei. Meanwhile, how did you age a full year from question 17 to question 23, ALEKSEITYULIN? Something doesn't feel right here. Can someone please switch gears and make some improbably requests?

24. From miksere
Hi Andrey, you play in a great manner and score very beautiful goals. Please win the Champions League and score 5 goals in the next game. I'm rooting for you and I wish you all the best!
AA: Yes, we definitely needed the fifth goal like air in the recent match.

Hi Andrey, please cure cancer and teach everyone on the planet a universal language that will bring about world peace. I'm rooting for you and I wish you all the best!

25. From dima09
Hi Andrey, tell me if it’s difficult for you to communicate with the other players in English. And I have one more question: who is your best friend in Arsenal and in the Russian national team.
AA: It used to be hard, but now I have no problem communicating with the guys,
coaches, masseurs and the other staff members of the club or any other
English speakers.

Hmm Andrei completely ignored the best friends question. Perhaps repeatedly asking people who their daddies are followed by an emoticon doesn't help one make friends within a team setting.

26. From misha5220
I recently went by trolleybus (in Nalchik), and saw Kolinko (Spartak Nalchik’s goalie)! And what about you, do you ever take London buses or trolleybuses or whatever they have there.
AA: Yes, I took a ride on the bus and went by metro with the kids, haven’t seen Kolinko.

Hahahaha!

27. From Ainruik
Hello! Aren’t you afraid that your children can forget their native Russian language in England?
AA: No. We are talking in our native language at home. Therefore, it is impossible.

Impossible!

28. From Sinshine
Hi Andrey. Congratulations on the victory and a scored goal! I’d like to know whether you’re communicating with Roman Pavlyuchenko now?
AA: No, I'm reading your question now, Roma can wait :)

Once again, Andrei proves that he's too smart for your trick questions. But not too smart to use emoticons. :)

31. From Ivan1319
Andre, you are going to return to Zenith?
AA: Andre-Andre.

His name is Andrei or Andrey. Not Andre. And it's Zenit, not Zenith. Otherwise, every one of the eight words in your question are correct, Ivan1319. 

34. From Alenas
Andrey, please give me a cell number of Victor Fayzulin. I like him very much. Please!
AA: I don’t have his number. And even if I had, I wouldn’t give it!

Screw you, Alenas!

42. From Vika23100
Hi Andrey, My name is Vika, I’m 17 and I’m a football player ... I'm your fan ... I adore you so much, you're the best player ... please tell me, when I go out on the pitch, I get confused a bit, tell me how to get rid of this feeling? Thanks
AA: By quitting going out on the pitch.

It's that simple. Just abandon your dreams of being a footballer and don't bother overcoming this feeling. That's what your hero is telling you to do, Vika23100. You're welcome.

45. From Fifka777
Do you have a favorite book?
AA: At the present moment, no.

Right now, Andrei thinks all books are awful. Check back tomorrow, though. He might have a favorite then. 

46. From Fifka777
Belgium ....
What is the reason of the defeat?
AA: There are a lot of them.

What an excellent follow-up question, Fifka777. You might not be satisfied by Andrei's answer, but just be thankful he didn't ask who your daddy is. 

49. From Moonray
I’ve lost a very dear person... It is so hard ... How can I overcome it? Natalia, Ashgabat. Thank you.
AA: If you’ve lost this person for good, it’s sad. Because this is for always.

I'm very sorry for your loss, Natalia, but...why are you asking an exceptionally kooky footballer for advice on how to overcome something like this? And Andrey, I don't think she means she lost this person for a few days while they spend a weekend at the Sandals Resort in Jamaica. But yes, it is sad because this is for always. 

50. From Baziiii
Andrey, I’ve read somewhere that your style of playing (among all present footballers) is the most similar to the style of Maradona. What do you think about this opinion?
AA: I find it hard to assess because I didn’t see how Diego was playing.

You might be surprised to hear that Andrei has never seen Maradona play, but keep in mind that this is a man who doesn't even have a favorite book at the moment, so...yeah.

51. From Prostoya
Just wanted to tell you, Andrey that you're so cool.
Oh, and people love you not only for your great football skills! It’s even an absolute pleasure to watch the way you shake your head after the strike, that didn’t send the ball directly into the net. Play as long as possible! And live happily! I wish health and well being to you and your family.
AA: It’s time to stop making those head movements :)

:)

Photos: Getty Images

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Jody Gerut Leaves Mariners Camp, Baseball, Citing Loss of Passion

Filed under: Mariners, Spring Training

PEORIA, Ariz. -- Outfielder Jody Gerut, who came up with the Indians in 2003 and played with five different Major League teams, retired in the camp of a sixth Sunday.

Gerut, who was given a 50-50 chance to make the opening day roster of the Seattle Mariners at age 33, said that his energy to play the game as well as he could was gone.

"I can no longer in good conscience play the game in a manner that reflects the positive example for the younger generation of baseball players,'' Gerut said. "Physically, I'm fine. But mentally my reasons for wanting to be in uniform have become so thing and narrow that I refuse to disrespect the game that has provided so generously for my family by playing it in a halfhearted way.''

 

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Khan outlasts Maidana in Fight of the Year candidate

Entering a 140-pound showdown in Las Vegas, Amir Khan was on the verge of super-stardom, but he needed to exorcise his one demon - a first round knockout he suffered back in 2008. The Brit did much to quiet the critics by showing a granite chin and guts galore. He took the best shots from Marcos Maidana, the nastiest power puncher in the junior welterweight division, and landed plenty of his own.

It was far from easy, but Khan edged Maidana via unanimous decision, 114-111, 114-111 and 113-112 to retain his WBA 140-pound strap and answer a lot of questions about his ability to take a punch.

It's tough to find a fight this year that can match the power punching output that came from sides in this one.

"What a great fight it was, man," Khan said, before heading for a CAT scan. "I'm sure HBO are happy. I'm sure Sky are happy. This is boxing, and you have to fight the best. You can't take any shortcuts. Most people said to me, 'You've got no chin'. Well I've proved them wrong."

Khan was in control for much of the fight, but was always on the edge of eating that one big Maidana bomb. Towards the end of the fight, he did and it almost lost him the fight.

Khan (24-1, 17 KOs) tried to make it a short night. He floored Maidana with 29 seconds left in the first round, with a pair of vicious body shots. Maidana was in such pain on the ground, it prompted HBO announcer Jim Lampley, to say "he's not getting up" before recanting the statement.

Maidana (29-2, 27 KOs) fought hard and stalked Khan, but was outclassed badly over seven of the next eight rounds. Khan was comfortably in the lead and then the fight changed in the tenth.

With 1:50 left in the round, the Argentinian bomber cracked Khan with an overhand right that stopped the Brit in his tracks. He was on wobbly legs and Maidana poured it on.

It looked like there was no way Khan could survive, but he did. He took some hellacious shots, 23 in all and they all seemed like power shots.

"He was strong. I hit him with some big shots. And there were times in the fight when I got caught, but took it," Khan said. "I made a few mistakes that I won't make again. Sometimes I fight with my heart too much. But I'm young. I'm still learning."

Khan stayed clear of Maidana down the stretch and may have lost both rounds, but it was just enough to get by with the close decision.

It was a rough fight throughout. Referee Joe Cortez had trouble managing the fight. As Cortez stepped in to separate the fighters, Maidana often hit on the break.

He even had to take a point away in the fourth round when Maidana threw a back elbow as the fighters were being separated. The elbow hit a target, but not Khan. It actually caught Cortez in the shoulder.

Maidana showed off an amazing chin. Through six rounds, he was outlanded 161-60. Khan made good on 48 percent of his punches to that point. That included 135 to Maidana's head. Rounds seven and eight weren't much better.

Maidana looked tired in the ninth and appeared to go down. Cortes ruled it a slip. The replay showed the combination of Maidana falling forward along with getting nailed by a right uppercut and a left to the body, made for a real knockdown. Khan wasn't given credit.

Maidana's body language was terrible at the end of the round. He stood in place, looking dazed from exhaustion and actually took a few steps towards Khan's corner.

He looked even worse coming out for tenth, which is why the barrage he unleashed on Khan was such a shocker.

There should definitely be a rematch in future. Golden Boy has big plans for Khan, so don't count on Maidana on getting a second chance anytime soon.

Jaime King Lokelani McMichael Freida Pinto Eva Longoria Susan Ward

Who's scarier? Peter Crouch vs. Rino Gattuso

When Rino Gattuso wasn't attacking Spurs assistant Joe Jordan, he was battling with Peter Crouch during Milan's 1-0 loss to Spurs on Tuesday. While Crouch prevailed by scoring the match's only goal, the question remains: Which player is the more intimidating presence?

As preparation for the second leg -- which will be even more dangerous since Gattuso picked up another yellow card and won't be constrained by having to play a football match -- we put the two head to head to find out which is scarier.

Rino Gattuso, the floor is yours...

A short, hairy, half-naked pit bull of a man attacking old people and anyone else who gets in his way like a feral animal foaming at the mouth? That's the stuff of nightmares. This is going to be hard to beat. 

Peter Crouch, your move... 

That's, uh, that's an admirable effort, Peter. But when you're that lanky, clenching your boney fist attached to your dangly string bean arm and baring your teeth isn't going to scare an 11-year-old playing with a Ouija board in the dark at a slumber party. Surely you can do better than that.

We'll let you give it one more try, Pete. But really let loose this time. Summon the beast from the depths of your soul. Pump some Ronnie James Dio and unleash the demon. Get freaky. Do it! Now! Go!

Holy lord. OK. You win, Peter. Just please stop. 

Photos: Getty Images 

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Kevin Johnson, Maloofs Lacking Communication Over Kings Relocation

Filed under: Kings

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - With so many signs continuing to point toward a Kings exodus to Anaheim, Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson on Thursday admonished the owners of his city's only professional sports team for the way in which they've handled the ongoing process.

Johnson, the former NBA player who is so uniquely positioned in this attempt to retain the Capital City's basketball team, was reacting to an announcement from the NBA that Kings owners Joe and Gavin Maloof had requested an extension on the March 1 deadline to file for relocation. Johnson, who said he learned of the news through a Google alert in his e-mail account, wasted no time in responding.

"Today's news is very disappointing in my opinion for the city of Sacramento," Johnson said early in his news conference that lasted nearly 20 minutes and much of which can be seen here. "As you know, the Kings have asked the NBA for an extension of March 1 in terms of relocation, that deadline. I don't think you can mince words. It means one thing: they're looking for a deal elsewhere, and they're going to take the next few weeks or so to see if they can pull off something in another city, and I just think, in my opinion, Sacramento deserves better than this."

 

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Kelly Hu

Random musings of footballers before they fall asleep...

Theo Walcott

Why do I always have to get hurt? ... Maybe I should go play in Spain or something. ... At least Cesc and Robin hang out with me in the physio's room. They're nice. ... I wish Arsene would just agree to let me replace my body with a stainless steel exoskeleton, complete with assault rifles, a stereo that plays the Karate Kid soundtrack on a loop and a Stoke defense system. That would be awesome. ... Oh well, just means more time to write my children's books. I'm coming for you, J.K. Rowling. Watch out for my stretcher...

Christian Gimenez

I've seen enough Jean Claude Van Damme films to realize that this will not end well for me. ... Monaco Forever was the best...

Pato

The shirt -- the shirt is attacking me! ... This is awful! ... Why is van Bommel cheering it on?! ... God, that guy is a turd! ... This shirt is an intelligent adversary. It has successfully disabled both my head and my hands. ... Why is van Bommel telling the shirt to kick me in the groin?! ... If I wasn't about to lose consciousness right now, I would hire Gattuso to headbutt his dad...

Didier Drogba

Time for the disgraces. ... First, Anelka got to start against Copenhagen and scored two goals after missing another important penalty kick. That's an insulting f***ing disgrace. ... Then, our match against Birmingham on Saturday got postponed because they are in the Carling Cup final. That's a disappointing f***ing disgrace. ... Then Kalou invited me to his place to watch and said that if I come I have to bring 30 McNuggets for him and his friends. That's a rude f***ing disgrace. ... Then he also said Kitier Katba can't come unless I promise he won't try to eat Katou's tail. That's an impossible f***ing disgrace. ... Then, there were those times those two bald referees who probably prank call orphans cheated us out of the Champions League. That...that was a... 

Photos: Getty Images

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CIS: Windsor's post-Morencie rebuild should focus on recruiting

After years of poor performances, the University of Windsor apparently has finally decided to move on without head football coach Mike Morencie. The path it took to get to this point was a long and circuitous one, involving everything from potential contract grievances to rumours that Morencie had received an extension. Even Morencie's son Matt got in on the action, grabbing a reporter's notebook and ripping several pages out; the Tiger-Cats traded him to Winnipeg shortly thereafter.

In the end, though, it seems likely the decision to move on without Morencie (pictured above addressing the team at a 2006 practice) was probably driven as much by the Lancers' on-field struggles as it was by the off-field zaniness. Windsor went 34-68-1 in Morencie's 13-year tenure with a single playoff win. They had one winning season in that time, a 6-2 campaign in 2006 where they lost to Western in the first round of the playoffs. That performance, on the back of Hec Creighton winner Daryl Stephenson (currently a Winnipeg Blue Bomber, potentially a free agent in 2011), was good enough to earn Morencie a four-year contract extension. Things soon went downhill, though, and the team was 9-23 over the last four years, including 2-6 seasons in 2007, 2009 and 2010.

The key question now is where Windsor goes from here. Continuous losing is far worse in the college game than it is in the professional ranks, as there's no draft-pick advantage; there's also no salary cap or free agency to theoretically balance out teams. We still see struggles to turn bad franchises around in the CFL and NFL, but they're magnified far more in college. It also hurts in CIS where the overall exposure is so limited. The good teams win, get the lion's share of the limited publicity and national attention out there, and tend to pick up the best recruiting prospects as a result, paving the way for future success. The bad teams lose games, then see their players transfer and new local prospects go elsewhere, making it even more difficult for them to win down the road.

We don't have quantitative data on this effect in Canada, but we do in the NCAA. Yahoo!'s Matt Hinton has been running a great look at the benefits of recruiting well this past week over at Dr. Saturday, using Rivals' recruiting rankings to look at such elements as individual success, team success in the final polls and team success on a game-by-game basis (or how teams tend do against teams that outrecruit them). He's found that sure, there are overacheiving and underacheiving teams, but even in a year where several notable recruiting powers stumbled, recruiting rankings still predicted the winner of a game over 66 per cent of the time.

At first glance, those results would seem likely to hold up in CIS, too; we don't have quantitative data on how "well" teams recruit, but it's notable that the four conference champions in 2010 (Laval, Western, Calgary and Saint Mary's) are all schools with significant national profiles, regular television exposure and past track records of success. Their 2010 rosters linked above show that they also all recruit well outside their immediate geographic area; Laval pulls in players from all across Quebec and a few from outside, Western has athletes from all over Ontario and a few from Western Canada, and Calgary and Saint Mary's both draw players from all over the country. A recruit isn't necessarily "better" just because he's from farther away, but recruiting on a national scale has been cited as a key component of success in all CIS sports before, and it does suggest that schools have more players to pick and choose from.

Bringing this back to Windsor and Morencie, I'd argue the school's key focus in choosing a replacement should be on finding someone who can recruit well. They have one tremendous advantage over many other CIS schools in that they're located in one of the country's biggest football hotbeds, but as I wrote last year, many Windsor-area players are heading to the NCAA these days. The ones who decide to stay north of the border usually aren't suiting up for the Lancers, either, but instead opting to head to more successful CIS schools.

There are some interesting candidates who might be able to turn that around, including former Guelph head coach and current Blue Bombers special teams coach Kyle Walters, who's been linked to the job before. He's renowned for his recruiting prowess and knowledge of CIS, and his CFL experience certainly wouldn't hurt either, but he does seem to be playing a larger role in Winnipeg these days on the scouting front, so he might not want to jump back to the CIS ranks. There are also rumours that Windsor might go with a local high-school coach, which would be an unusual move but one that might well pay off in such a recruiting hotbed. The usual suspects among hotly-sought OUA assistants, including Queen's Pat Tracey and Western's Mickey Donovan, also might be worth considering. Whichever way the Lancers go, if they wish to reintroduce "the scoreboard as evaluator", they'll have to start with someone who can turn in a solid recruiting effort if they want to have any hopes of rebuilding their program.

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Zlatan might've carried Gattuso and Bassong like kicking children

In the wake of Rino Gattuso's Scottish conversations with Joe Jordan on Tuesday, it has been revealed that the mayhem continued in the tunnel after the 1-0 Spurs win that apparently happened to be taking place that same day. This time, one man would step up to bring an end to the madness, literally taking matters into his own hands and demonstrating his natural superiority. A man with mastery of the martial arts and the ego required to treat his peers like little kids throwing a temper tantrum. Who is that man? Why, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, of course. 

From the Independent: 

The milan captain Gennaro Gattuso had to be restrained in the tunnel on Tuesday night after trying to attack Tottenham's Sébastien Bassong following their 1-0 win in San Siro, and it now looks certain that Gattuso will face further Uefa sanctions.

It is understood that the Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic intervened between Gattuso and Bassong in the tunnel, picking up one player under each arm to separate them. For all the bad feeling between the two sides, Ibrahimovic's actions calmed the situation and his directness – not to mention his strength – were the source of some amusement among the players.

Gattuso has been charged with "gross unsporting conduct" -- a lesser charge than assault -- by UEFA, but who cares about that? We need video of Ibra carrying footballers under his arms like a farmer taking his prized pigs to market.

We've known that Zlatan has no problem getting physical with his teammates -- fighting with Gooch during training and kicking Robinho and Rodney Stasser just for the hell of it -- but this kind of tunnel marshalling is a step towards maturity for him. When Marco Materazzi and Mario Balotelli fought in the tunnel after a Champions League match last season, he just watched it happen and told the press about it. Now, Zlatan is using his powers for good.

Photo: Getty Images

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Donaire puts big fight at risk by fighting Sidorenko

Someone must've slipped something in Nonito Donaire's Thanksgiving dinner. He's doing the unheard of this Saturday.

With an HBO superfight against Fernando Montiel on the horizon, "The Filipino Flash" is moving up a weight class to take on a former champion this Saturday in Anaheim.

Donaire (24-1, 16 KOs) is already regarded by some as a Top 10 pound-for-pound fighter, but he has yet to get the premium exposure he might deserve. HBO is fired up for the February Donaire-Montiel fight at 118. Donaire, who has surprising power winning six of his last seven by KO or TKO, is prepping for his jump by facing Ukranian bruiser Wladimir Sidorenko (22-2, 7 KOs).

Since a huge win over Vic Darchinyan back in 2007, Nonaire said his recent opponents down at 115, like Hernan Marquez, Manuel Vargas and Rafael Concepcion, were too easy.

"There was a lack of motivation for those fights," Donaire admits. "There was a 'just another day at the office' kind of feeling. That's one of the motivations for the training camp because I'm fighting somebody good, an elite fighter. It does help a lot to be in there with somebody who is going to be really tough."

Donaire will try to become the first opponent to finish Sidorenko.

"We're in there against a tough guy and we have to come up with a good game plan. But Nonito's style and his footwork are perfect for either outboxing this guy and looking great against him, or even trying to go for a knockout if possible," Donaire's assistant trainer Roberto Garcia said. "I know that he's never been down or out, but Nonito has very good power so he can be the first to knock him out."

Donaire isn't worried about focus. He know he's got to get by Sidorenko if he wants that shot on HBO.

"I've never been really motivated like this before. I've never been in as tremendous shape as I am now. I'm in the best shape of my life,' Donaire said. "I want to see where that takes me. I think that being in the best shape gets me to see my real potential in boxing and my ability." 

Donaire-Sidorenko is now the main event of this weekend's "In Harm's Way" PPV. Julio Cesar Chavez had to bail from his fight because of the flu. The card also features Humberto Soto against Urbano Antillon.

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Video analysis: Iole's dream boxing matches could make for a great 2011

Don't let the lack of a Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather showdown sour your view on boxing in 2010. After a slow summer, the sport closed the year with a bang.

Promoters finally got back to their matchmaking roots. It should set a good example for 2011.

Yahoo! Sports' lead boxing writer Kevin Iole gave us the big fights, some already booked, that he'd like to see next year. 

Yuriorkis Gamboa vs. Juan Manuel Lopez
Amir Khan vs. Andre Berto
Miguel Cotto vs. Sergio martinez
Nonito Donaire vs. Fernando Montiel
Andre Ward vs. Lucian Bute
Tim Bradley vs. Devon Alexander

Megan Fox Michelle Malkin Charlies Angels Rose Byrne Willa Ford

Hawkins, Restelli lead list of surprising NFL departures

The annual exodus of CFL talent to the brighter lights of the NFL has begun, albeit with some unexpected names. Instead of sack specialist Philip Hunt, outstanding kick returner Chad Owens or star receivers Andy Fantuz, S.J. Green and Emmanuel Arceneaux, all of whom have been previously linked to NFL interest, the first CFL players to officially be heading south appear to be Montreal slotback/kick returner Andrew Hawkins (who signed a deal with the St. Louis Rams last week) and Edmonton linebacker Mark Restelli (who apparently came to terms with the Miami Dolphins today). They're names many casual CFL fans might not recognize, but now they have an opportunity to showcase their skills on an even bigger stage.

Despite being only 24, Hawkins (pictured above attempting to evade a tackle from Edmonton's Weldon Brown in a Sept. 9 game) has had an interesting career so far. He played on offence, defence and special teams in college for the Mid-American Conference's Toledo Rockets, becoming their first two-way player in 48 years. Despite his football bloodlines (Hawkins is the younger brother of Artrell Hawkins, who was an NFL defensive back from 1998 to 2007, and the cousin of both former NFL offensive lineman Carleton Haselrig and current CFL star wideout Geroy Simon), he was passed over in the 2008 NFL draft and didn't catch on as a free agent. He eventually signed with the Montreal Alouettes in December of 2008.

Even from there, things didn't get particularly easy for Hawkins. He battled injuries and the Alouettes' incredible receiving depth early on, and only recorded 131 receiving yards on 13 catches in the entire 2009 season. He did showcase a nose for the end zone, though, turning three of those catches into touchdowns. He also proved he's quite adept at finding the spotlight, appearing on famed former Dallas Cowboys' receiver Michael Irwin's 4th And Long football reality show and surviving until the final episode.

This past season, Hawkins took on a slightly larger role in the Alouettes' offence, but he still had difficulty consistently cracking a lineup that included receiving stars like Green, Jamel Richardson and all-time CFL reception leader Ben Cahoon (who may be set to retire). He did record 326 yards on 28 catches, with a reasonably impressive average of 11.6 yards per reception and two touchdowns. However, he didn't crack the stat sheet in either their East Final victory or their Grey Cup win, so it's not like he was a crucial part of their roster. However, Alouettes' general manager Jim Popp still had kind words about Hawkins for his hometown paper, the Johnstown (PA) Tribune-Democrat:

"I'm very happy for Andrew," said Popp, the son of Cambria County Hall of Famer Joe Popp. "It's been a long recovery from his (leg) injury from a year ago. It sounds like things have continued to get better for him and he's been able to work out well for teams.

"He made it very clear to us that this is what he wanted to do. He was close (to making a NFL roster) before he came to Montreal. He was in camp with the Browns and it didn't work out. Before his injury he was doing well. He was able to work his way back onto the field and give us production and help us win a Grey Cup. He's worked his tail off."

Restelli's career is a similar story, with plenty of potential but few tangible CFL stats to back it up. He played at the Division I-Football Championship Subdivision (the old Division I-AA, below the top teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision) level in college with the Cal Poly Mustangs and was passed over in the 2009 NFL draft. He wound up camp attending an Eskimos' free-agent camp in California after that NFL draft, and signed with them in April 2009. He delivered a decent performance for them that season, recording 58 tackles, but didn't particularly stand out.

Restelli (pictured at right touching down Calgary's Derek Watson in a June preseason game) got off to a better start in 2010, recording two tackles and a sack in the Eskimos' first game against B.C.. Things soon went downhill for him, though, as he suffered a knee injury in the second game against Montreal and was put on the nine-game injured list. After returning to the lineup, though; Restelli showed what he's capable of; he picked up 17 more tackles and three more sacks down the stretch for the Eskimos and was a key part of the defence that was crucial to their drive for the playoffs, which came up just short. Still, his performance was apparently enough that the Minnesota Vikings, New York Jets and Miami Dolphins were all interested in him. Restelli wound up choosing Miami, and that move might make sense for both sides, considering the success the Dolphins' last CFL-trained linebacker found this year.

There's always a substantial migration of CFL players to the NFL in the offseason, but there are a couple of factors that suggest this year could see significant departures despite the labour sword of Damocles hanging over the four-down league. Most CFL players have always been interested in the bigger spotlight and payday available down south, but the aforementioned success of Cameron Wake has perhaps increased the amount of interest the NFL has in looking north for new talent. There's also a substantial chance the NFL will be expanding its schedule to 18 regular-season games next year, which likely means increased injuries and expanded rosters; that might be encouraging some teams to take a hard look at players they might not otherwise seriously consider.

For Restelli and other defensive players, Wake's played a crucial role in paving the way for their consideration by the NFL. For offensive players like Hawkins, though, the story's a bit different, and it largely comes down to American teams starting to effectively utilize players who traditionally would have been deemed too short for the NFL. Guys like Danny Woodhead and Darren Sproles have made critical impacts for their squads over the last few years, and other teams are definitely taking notice. The CFL's traditionally found a lot of success with some of those players, including Hawkins (5'7'', 175) and current Detroit Lion/ex-B.C. Lion Stefan Logan (5'6'', 180).

One final factor that probably improved Restelli and Hawkins' chances of landing NFL contracts? Their ages. Both players are 24, and that keeps them right in with many of the players just coming out of college. They've got both college and professional experience, which likely gives them an edge. It's also to NFL teams' benefit to sign promising players from the CFL earlier in their career rather than waiting for them to become three-down superstars; this way, they not only have more time to perhaps develop the player, but they also don't have to offer as impressive of a contract. That trend on its own probably isn't good for the CFL, as it's tough to develop talent when your young guys keep getting poached, but it's not all negative either; most of the players who head to the NFL don't catch on and eventually wind up coming back to Canada, and many of them spread positive word of the CFL experience to teammates and coaches while down there, increasing the league's profile in critical areas.

We undoubtedly haven't seen the last of this year's CFL-to-NFL moves, and many of the bigger names are likely still to come. There's been enough NFL buzz around the likes of Arceneaux, Fantuz and Owens that all seem likely to at least get a contract offer, and there are undoubtedly many more players out there who will draw some southern interest. However, defections aren't really a crisis for the CFL. In many ways, they're more of an opportunity; the players who don't make it tend to come back, and the players who do increase the Canadian game's profile among NFL players, coaches, executives and fans. We'll see which category Hawkins and Restelli fit into.

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