Category Archives: Analysis

UFC Has a New Opponent – Affliction Entertainment

Title: UFC Has a New Opponent – Affliction Entertainment
Date: June 20, 2008
Original Source: The On Deck Circle
Synopsis: At one point in time it seemed as if Affliction Entertainment could pose a threat to the UFC’s stranglehold on the MMA marketplace. It didn’t turn out that way, of course, but this was my reaction when the news broke about Affliction’s partnership with Adrenaline MMA and Donald Trump.
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Gibbons Fired, Cito Gaston Returns

Title: Gibbons Fired, Cito Gaston Returns
Date:June 20, 2008
Original Source: The On Deck Circle
Synopsis: Finally, John Gibbons was fired by the Toronto Blue Jays. Cito Gaston was named the new manager, and the writing was on the wall for GM J.P. Ricciardi.
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Do the Jays Pitchers Stand a Chance at the Plate?

Title: Do the Jays Pitchers Stand a Chance at the Plate?
Date: June 17, 2008
Original Source: The On Deck Circle
Synopsis: With Interleague play about to begin, I took a look at the Blue Jays’ pitching staff to see if there was anyone who had a prayer of surviving when it was their turn at the dish.
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Calling Out Kobe Bryant

Title: Calling Out Kobe Bryant
Date: June 17, 2008
Original Source: Hoops Addict
Synopsis: This was a Hoops Addict article, set up like so: On T.I.’s 2007 album T.I. vs. T.I.P., T.I.’s two alter egos wage war for control of the rapper and the spotlight. Much the same is currently going on with Kobe Bryant, as Kobe Bryant Team Player and Kobe Bryant Black Mamba fight for the spotlight.
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Mythbusters – The Blue Jays and the NL

Title: Mythbusters – The Blue Jays and the NL
Date: June 13, 2008
Original Source: The On Deck Circle
Synopsis: It’s a long-held belief that the Blue Jays would do well in the National League. With Interleague play approaching, I tackled that myth to see if the Jays really would fare better on the Senior Circuit.
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The Biggest of the Big Three

Title: The Biggest of the Big Three
Date: June 12, 2008
Original Source: Hoops Addict
Synopsis: This Hoops Addict article took a look at the Boston Celtics’ current playoff run, highlighting Paul Pierce as the X-Factor and de facto Franchise Player despite the Big Three-style roster construction.
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A Look at the NFL Running Back Market

Title:A Look at the NFL Running Back Market
Date: June 11, 2008
Original Source: The On Deck Circle
Synopsis: Sometimes article titles are obscure and bury the lede. This is not one of those times. This article took  a look at the NFL’s running back market and the teams with that particular hole to fill.
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Raptors GM for a Day

Title: Raptors GM for a Day
Date: June 5, 2008
Original Source: The On Deck Circle
Synopsis: Before Raptors Republic, my buddy Sam used to run Raptors Talk, and he held a blogger symposium called “GM for a Day” in the summer of 2008. Playing along, I outlined my offseason plan as if I were Bryan Colangelo, although I could never pull off salmon-colored shirts the way he does.

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Gary Roberts Wednesday – Reed Johnson

Title: Gary Roberts Wednesday – Reed Johnson
Date: May 28, 2008
Original Source: The On Deck Circle
Synopsis: ODC writer Stu had a weekly feature spotlighting an under-appreciated player, and when he couldn’t turn one in for this week, I made a mockery of it by doing a fake-GRW about Reed Johnson. It’s a tongue-in-cheek feature highlighting how some “old school” baseball mentalities can really overrate a specific class of player, in this case, Johnson.
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Jays 9-Game Road Trip an Important One

Title: Jays 9-Game Road Trip an Important One
Date: May 27, 2008
Original Source: The On Deck Circle
Synopsis: The Jays were embarking on a big 9-game road trip coming off of a 10-3 stretch, making it a real measuring stick trip for the team. How would it shake down?
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