They get better competition, higher stakes, more to talk about, more meaningful games, taunting goes up a level in the case of a rival being relegated, new rivalries are formed, (Gary, Indiana finally gets a shot at Chicago), and places like Fargo and Chico don’t have to travel for hundreds of miles just to see top-level baseball in person.Between the new organization of Major League Baseball and the UEFA-style tournament, baseball will reclaim its dominance here in America, and perhaps challenge soccer, rugby, cricket, and field hockey to become one of the most popular sports in the world. It will make the average game in the highest league that much better, and since it is only the best teams playing with only four playoff spots for 20 clubs, teams couldn’t take a series off.The major benefactors are the fans. It will probably take years for Independent teams to really make a splash against clubs that have luxuries like a farm system and boatloads of cash, but those things do not guarantee success. If nothing else, this will keep teams like Florida from phoning it in, and teams like Minnesota, who have one of the richest owners, if not the richest owner in baseball, to start using his money to keep the team competitive and relevant.It will cause Baseball Tonight to turn itself into a four hour morning show, giving guys like me something to watch other than “Today” or “Good Morning America”, or the same repeated “SportsCenter” over and over. Dallas as a team is better, but in a one-on-one game Calgary is better.
This team fits very well together and the good age blend will keep me afraid for years to come. Richards, Morrow, and Modano are names you should already be know to be afraid of so it seems pointless telling you again. Detroit- Afraid. Some players on this team are ancient, but there are only a few important oldies unlike Anaheimand Atlanta. As long as Zetterberg and Datsyuk are young, or at least playing that way, this team should be feared. Oddly enough I think this is the team on the downfall in the Central Division but not entirely by their doing so we will see how scary they are in a few years. Edmonton- Not Afraid That does not mean they are not a good team. In about two years Edmonton will be where Buffalois now and then we can talk. Right now I just feel they are too young and are lacking one really big superstar and some defense.
Cogliano, Hemsky, and Gagner are this team’s present and future and should be handled with caution. Florida- Not Afraid This team perplexes me They seem to be rowing in circles just outside the playoffs. They have good players and good age balance and I think if they have someone jam it into a higher gear they can be up in the fear category I also have no idea if they love Olli Jokinen or hate him. I am afraid of him, Nathan Horton, and Jay Bouwmeester and you should be too. Los Angeles- Not Afraid This is another team I want to be afraid of. I think there are just too many different clashing player types. In a couple years there will be fear with Jonathan Bernier getting into the league, Lubomir Visnovsky being completely underrated, and Frolov and Kopitar continuing to grow into a good top tandem. Minnesota- Afraid. A play-making, defensively solid team with an underrated superstar and a great youth presence makes the Wild intimidating.
They have a lot of good players rather than two or three superstars with no support and get contributions from every line. This team has the least wrong with it in the Western Conference (maybe with the exception of Colorado) and just needs a little tweaking until I see them making the Cup finals Marian Gaborik should rival the Boogieman in fear.. Cristiano Ronaldo?s mum, Dolores Aveiro, has long admitted she would one day like to see her son playing for Real Madrid.Earlier this year, she claimed she would only be happy once he signed a deal with the Spanish giants. ?They are my favourite team, the best in the world,? she said.
