I don't see my brothers as often as I used to, but when we all end up in the same room, as we did yesterday for Christmas, great debates ensue.  Yesterday, my brother Ryan declared confidently that if Gretzky were playing in today's NHL, Crosby would be the better player.

I hear they've got a lot of snow in Minnesota.  It's raining here, but Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa are getting buried. They had to postpone the Giants-Vikings game because the Metrodome roof collapsed under the weight of all that snow.  Check it out.

The Lebron James Rise ad for Nike opens itself up nicely to retorts and mash-ups.  We recently enjoyed Cleveland's response, and now there's Michael Jordan's response. Now that's a mash-up that rings true. Lebron James is no MJ.

Driscoll Middle School in Corpus Christi, Texas ran this trick play during their championship game against Wynn Seale on Saturday. They're calling this a really slow quarterback sneak. I don't care if it's legal, it's unsportsmanlike.  I'd have refused to participate.

Nike has released a new ad featuring Lebron James.  It seems like most of Nike's big ads these days are designed to rehabilitate the image of one of their athletes.  I'm thinking about that Tiger Woods ad with the voice of his father... This one is called Rise and here's

Liverpool FC is owned by Americans Tom Hicks and George Gillett.  Liverpool FC fans are not happy with their leadership. Filmmaker Mike Jefferies produced a little video entitled "Dear Mr Hicks" that features disgruntled Liverpool fans.  Here's that video: It's enough to make you wish we Leafs fans had a

Tampa Bay Lightening draftee Vasiliy Koshechkin, whose name is similar to the Russian word for kitten, has decided his goalie mask doesn't need to be intimidating. Vasiliy Koshechkin's perfectly comfortable wearing a nauseatingly cute goalie mask. [via Deadspin]

It's hard to believe it's been six years since the Expos played in Montreal.  Annakin Slayd put together a nice little tribute he calls "Remember (A Tribute to the Montreal Expos)". I like the use of the TWIB theme. [via @downgoesbrown]

Hiroshima Toyo Carp outfielder Masato Akamatsu made an awesome catch the other night. Is that the greatest catch ever?

TSN is airing the exceptional ESPN 30 FOR 30 film project.  If the idea of some of Hollywood's finest filmmakers creating documentaries centered on the last 30 years in sports sounds interesting to you, you'd absolutely love this series.  I PVR the series and steal a documentary viewing every chance

I've changed my mind.  Despite what I wrote earlier in the week, Germany will not win the 2010 World Cup. I blame Paul the psychic octopus. [via reddit]

Every four years, I miraculously transform into a soccer aficionado.  I'm actually surprised they're still going through with the semi-final matches this week.  I mean, why bother?  Germany can't lose this World Cup. Why am I so certain Germany will win the 2010 World Cup?  A pattern has emerged... [via

Unless I'm sitting at BMO Field, I couldn't care less about soccer, unless it's World Cup soccer.  Every four years these games suddenly become scheduled viewing for me.  I was pumped tuning into England vs. Germany this morning, and couldn't believe how exciting a match it was. With England down

I was just reading about the year 1883 in baseball.  My 19 run inning forced me back in time, and I enjoyed reading about a baseball season exactly 100 years before I started checking the boxscores and standings on a daily basis. Here are the final standings from 1883.  The

I'm okay with the vuvuzelas.  I find they give this World Cup a signature sound and create a sense of anticipation.  Everybody wants them muted, but I don't mind them one bit. They also inspired this hilarious animated gif.

Bob McCown from The FAN 590 started a web site called Fadoo.ca.  I used to subscribe to the RSS feed, but unsubscribed because it wasn't being updated very often and the content quality noticeably dropped. I got an email from Bill the other day about Fadoo.ca. Mike, just

Once again, I'm without a rooting interest in this World Cup.  I faced the same dilemma four years ago. At that time, with neither my #1 Canada nor my #2 Ireland represented, I decided to go three deep and root for the Netherlands.  By June 15, 2006, I had changed

Every year I make sure I'm watching when the Stanley Cup is clinched and the cup is awarded.  There's no better spectacle in all of sports.  I love watching each player hoist Lord Stanley's mug, it's the toughest trophy to win, after all. I thought I might miss that magic

I was listening to Tom Cheek and Jerry Howarth call the Jays game on CJCL 1430 the afternoon Pete Rose set the all-time career hits record.  I remember a recorded piece by Sparky Anderson came on to set the scene and tell us all history had been made.  Pete Rose

Baseball is different than hockey.  In hockey, certain draft picks are projected as can't-miss elite superstars before they're even drafted.  After Wayne there was Mario and Eric and Sidney.  We were anticipating excellence before their professional debuts.  In baseball, it's a much longer road to the big leagues, and so

Roy Halladay pitched a perfect game for the Philadelphia Phillies yesterday in their 1-0 win over the Florida Marlins. It's no surprise.  Roy Halladay is the the best starter in baseball, the greatest Blue Jays starter of all-time and I once sat in the stands at SkyDome while he no-hit