Elite Sports Blog

Is the Andrew Wiggins Hype Real? Is he the Canadian LeBron James?

TMAC — Wed, 15 May 2013 19:00:18 +0000

A lot of attention has been around Andrew Wiggins for a few years now and many have compared him to the next coming of LeBron James. The hype seems a bit ridiculous to some, especially when you think basketball in Canada. The reality is we are now seeing the results of having an NBA franchise in Toronto on the Collegiate level. Last March Madness we had more Canadians then ever before in the tournament. In 2011 Brampton native Tristan Thompson went # 4 overall to the Cleveland Cavaliers as the highest drafted Canadian Basketball player… Until Andrew Wiggins that is!

Atleast that is what most people are speculating. He is already anticipated to be selected #1 overall in the 2014 draft. I would love to see the Toronto Raptors do whatever they need to do to acquire this young talent. The benefit Andrew Wiggins would have to Basketball in Canada would be comparable to LeBrons impact on Cleveland.

I want you to watch both of these videos and tell me that LeBron James looks more explosive then Andrew Wiggins… I personally believe Andrew Wiggins looks more explosive then LeBron in high school and spending a year at Kansas may very well help Andrew Wiggins develop to an elite player as quick, if not quicker then LeBron James.

ANDREW WIGGINS – High School

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLsK-ZoL9sY

LeBron James High School

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IwQHUih1u8

Hyun-Jin Ryu of the LA Dodgers Plays Catch with Kid in Stands

TMAC — Wed, 15 May 2013 17:14:18 +0000

This is an awesome video and an experience this young child will never forget. After seeing a video last week of Matt Kemp being a complete stud by giving away his hat, jersey and shoes to a kid after a game, we have a video of Hyun-Jin Ryu playing catch with a little boy in the stands.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qZNXRYAY-Y

Here’s the Matt Kemp video if you never saw it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8B6pEBYP9s

Girlfriends Taking Over The Masters… Paulina Gretzky, Caroline Wozniacki & Lindsay Vonn!

TMAC — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 19:22:50 +0000

The Masters always brings out the BIGGEST names. It’s the biggest event in golf and one of the most prestige events in sports. One of four Major Tournaments, the biggest golfers show up and try and bring their “A” game. This year it seems the competition has increased off the golf course. Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson’s girlfriends are stealing the spotlight and for good reason.

Here’s some photo’s from this weeks action!

PAULINA GRETZKY & DUSTIN JOHNSON

LINDSAY VONN

Caroline Wozniacki

Doug Anderson wins the College Slam Dunk Contest (VIDEO)

TMAC — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 16:15:08 +0000

Here’s a look at Detroit’s Doug Anderson as he puts on a show during the College Slam Dunk competition en route to a runaway win. Anderson has some impressive hops and some explosive slam dunks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehBVyXwwMN0

Bubba Watson “Hovercraft Golf Cart”

TMAC — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 14:53:32 +0000

This is one of the most incredible ideas ever… Or maybe a bit unpractical. I can only imagine the accidents from drunk guys zipping around in a hovercraft across the golf course. Bubba Watson shows us his hover craft golf cart.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5u_2bGPdUY

Toronto Blue Jays Balloon Deflating?

TMAC — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 17:12:57 +0000

Being a Toronto sports fan is one of the most up and down roller coaster rides that just never ends. It seems like when the city gets a small glimmer of hope the balloon soon deflates. The Toronto Raptors made a trade for Rudy Gay and expectations were heavily put on making the playoffs. Right now the Toronto Raptors are officially eliminated from the post season. The Toronto Maple Leafs didn’t make much of a splash on trade deadline and fans have the same expectations after failing to make the playoffs since 03/04. The Toronto Maple Leafs MUST make the playoffs if they’re going to shake the pessimism surrounding the Make-Me-Laughs.

The biggest Toronto balloon to deflate is the Toronto Blue Jays and the “World Series” expectations after a series of trades and signings made the team relevant again. Two games into the regular season all the optimism and hope has gone out the window, water cooler talk has simmered and t-shirt sales are down. How different the reaction of Toronto Sports fans and Bandwagon hoppers alike, should the Blue Jays managed to have pulled out a win during the home opener on Tuesday. Clearly the expectations are high and the quick reaction of fans is a little bit ridiculous. With 160 games left, dropping 2 games at the start of the season is the smallest of things to worry about.

I don’t know if you blame the bandwagon fans in the city or the teams and players. I mean for years the city has been deprived of a real championship team and expectations have consistently been filled with feelings of disappointment. It’s a shame that the average or not so average sports fan will immediately lose faith in their team and commitment two games into the season. If you want a championship team, you need to have championship fans. It was embarrassing to see so many empty seats at last nights game. I just can’t help but think if the Blue Jays won the first game, tickets would have been sold out in game #2. Hopefully the Toronto Blue Jays can win tonight before John Farrell’s Boston Red Sox come to town Friday evening.

If the building isn’t packed Friday, Saturday and Sunday… The fans of Toronto should be ashamed. It’s very unlikely that the Jays would ever leave Toronto, but I know the fans of the Montreal Expo’s would tell you to support your team. Win or lose these guys are playing hard and need time to build chemistry and get comfortable. Relax and give these guys some slack, but don’t be so quick to throw them under the bus two games in.

Leafs Forcing Themselves to be Taken Seriously

Rick Emrith — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 13:42:00 +0000

When the 2013 season began for the Toronto Maple Leafs it marked the first time Nazem Kadri had finally made the team out of camp. Heading into the summer many Leafs fans were quick to call Kadri a bust, a few months later he is the major reason Toronto has a 99% chance of making the post season for the first time since 2004.

The culture change in the dressing room is evident and the pack mentality of everyone sticking together has made for some of the most entertaining hockey in Toronto in years. Toronto leads the NHL in fights per game and have transformed themselves into one of the toughest clubs in the league in such a short time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Te_yMsz-iy8

Nazem Kadri has gone from potential star to potential bust to a bona fide NHL star with 39 points in 36 games. Leading the way, he has found with Joffrey Lupul who has rebounded from his arm injury to light up the NHL and help the Leafs to a 6^th spot in the East 7 points up on the final playoff spot.

James Reimer was coming off a horrible second season in the NHL after battling a concussion and returning shaky the rest of the way as the Leafs fell out of a playoff spot last season. This season he has looked like a much more confident player and has gone 13-4-4 with a save percentage of .920 and a GAA of 2.52

While it looks like the Toronto Maple Leafs will be in talks to acquire longtime Calgary Flames netminder Mikka Kiprusoff, Reimer has looked solid all season and has proven he deserves a shot at starting the playoffs, after all he is the one who backstopped them this far.

The change is visible to all those that follow the Toronto Maple Leafs and Nazem Kadri recently discussed the changes with Don Cherry on Hockey Night in Canada, after scoring a hat trick in a 4-0 beating of the Ottawa Senators.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtBMTj1wQ6Y

The Toronto Maple Leafs headed into this season without many expectations, and have been forcing themselves to be taken seriously in the NHL since the puck dropped back in January. On the verge of their first playoff appearance since 2004 the City of Toronto has reignited its passion for the Maple Leafs that hasn’t been seen in years. It appears the City of Toronto is coming down with playoff fever.

Nazem Kadri has gone from potential star to potential bust to a bona fide NHL star. Leading the way, he has found with Joffrey Lupul who has rebounded from his arm injury to light up the NHL and help the Leafs to a 6^th spot in the East 7 points up on the final playoff spot.

James Reimer was coming off a horrible second season in the NHL after battling a concussion returned and was shaky the rest of the way as the Leafs fell out of a playoff spot. This season he has looked like a much more confident player and has gone 13-4-4 with a save percentage of .920 and a GAA of 2.52

The Toronto Maple Leafs headed into this season without many expectations, and have been forcing themselves to be taken seriously in the NHL since the puck dropped back in January. On the verge of their first playoff appearance since 2004 the City of Toronto has reignited in its passion and fallen in love with the 2013 Maple Leafs, and it’s a story that’s not even close to ending.

Canadians To Watch During MARCH MADNESS

TMAC — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 16:53:33 +0000

It seems that a lot of Canadians aren’t aware of what March Madness is, which is a shame… I remember being 13 years old and being in Myrtle Beach in March when a gentleman asked me if I would be watching March Madness. I was a victim of Canadian culture and oblivious to the NCAA and College sports, specifically basketball. At the time the Toronto Raptors were a new franchise and I was very much into the game of basketball. However with the lack of technology (Internet and Satellite TV) at my disposal I had no clue what March Madness was all about.

During my trip I became fascinated with the “MADNESS” and learned very quickly in the first day on how the tournament was easily worthy of the term Madness. I immediately fell in love and basketball has been a big part of my life ever since. At the time I would be surprised if there was more then 3-5 Canadian basketball players playing NCAA Division 1 basketball. Going into 2013 the NCAA March Madness tournament will feature 20+ Canadian Basketball players and some of them like Kelly Olynyk have a bright future ahead of them as one of the best basketball players in the U.S. leading his Gonzaga Bulldogs to the No. 1 ranking in the nation.

Kelly Olynyk – Kamloops, BC – Gonzaga

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RYfHUkEmG0

Anthony Bennett – Brampton, ON – UNLV

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEfevuMV_Dk

Sim Bhullar – Toronto, ON – New Mexico State

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myBjA-sPAJ8

Kevin Pangos – Holland Landing, ON – Gonzaga

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5pCbosfv4A

Here’s a quick video highlighting some of the Canadians to look out for in this years tournament. Many talented players will get their chance to showcase themselves on a National stage and hopefully get drafted into the NBA.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X45idXmdrGY

Countdown to UFC 158: St-Pierre vs Diaz

TMAC — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 16:41:36 +0000

If you missed it last night here is the countdown to UFC 158: St-Pierre vs Diaz. This should be an amazing weekend in Montreal as Georges St. Pierre looks to put a beating on Nick Diaz for disrespecting him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGJuzTAgyzk

New Culture Surrounding the 2013 Maple Leafs

Rick Emrith — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 15:48:06 +0000

The Toronto Maple Leafs ended their previous season on a horrible note, after looking destined for the playoffs from the start of the season in October until early February when they collapsed. Former GM Brian Burke famously likened their fate to an “18 wheeler going off a cliff” the mood in Toronto was sour to say the least. The Maple Leafs season ended to a chorus of cheers… for the Blue Jays as fans were becoming more and more vocal with their displeasure in the all too familiar spring with no playoff hockey. This season everything seems to have changed and there looks to be a new culture surrounding the 2013 Maple Leafs

Brian Burke lost his job but besides that it was mostly the same team returning for the 2013 season. So what has changed the Leafs so drastically? Coach Randy Carlyle can take a lot of the credit getting the team to buy into a tight defensive system and standing up for one another and get production from their top 3 lines consistently.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tasI_1AMCPs

This is the same team toughness concept Carlyle rode all the way to the 2007 Stanley Cup but of course he had a roster stacked with NHL stars such as Selanne, Pronger, Niedermayer, Getzlaf and Perry. What makes the Leafs success in the first half of this season so great is the fact that he has gotten every player buying into his concept and the results are obvious.

After the Boston Bruins proved team toughness and a strong 4 line team can carry you to the cup, most Northeast division rivals had stocked up on toughness this season, Buffalo added John Scott and Steve Ott while Montreal added Brandon Prust and the Leafs called Colton Orr back up and picked up Frazer McLaren on waivers and promoted Mark Fraser.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXYjGtdUbeQ

Toronto has redefined themselves as a team that gets even production through their top 3 lines and will definitely not back down from a fight. In fact the Toronto Maple Leafs lead the NHL in fights, much like the 2007 Anaheim Ducks did.

While the results of this season remains to be seen, it is obvious this is a new era in Maple Leafs hockey.