This is time of year when everything seems to be happening all at once, so here is a column geared toward the insanity.

Both hoops seasons are underway, and subplots abound.
When Toronto's rookie forward Charlie Villanueva posted big numbers (26 points, 12 rebounds) on November 13, I didn't hesitate to add him to my fantasy NBA roster. After all, the former UConn standout had followed his being drafted seventh by posting a terrific preseason. This prompted columnist Bill Simmons to believe that Villanueva took offense to speculation that he was chosen too high, causing him to improve his work ethic upon entering professional basketball. The 21-year-old rewarded my faith by posting nearly the same statistics in his next game. While the Raptors lost to the 76ers, Villanueva scored 27 and added 13 boards, 8 of them on the offensive end. I was especially intrigued to see such production knowing that Chad Ford had just speculated that Andrew Bogut could win the Rookie of the Year with a consistent 10 and 10.

In an indirect way, this reminded me of Leon Powe, the talented power forward who is beginning his second season with Cal hoops. I still remember the hype surrounding the 2001 ABCD Underclassmen All-Star Game when Powe's Western squad faced off against an Eastern team featuring Villanueva, who attended high school in New Jersey. Despite missing all of the 2004-05 season due to knee surgery, Powe has been featured in several articles, including one on CBS Sportsline calling him the finest at his position in the NCAA. I was an eyewitness for his freshman campaign, during which he battled injuries to average 9.5 rebounds (which led the conference) and 15.1 points. Unfortunately, the key to the team's success has once again been sidelined at least temporarily and has not played in the team's first three regular season games.

Outside of the Bears, I'm not an enormous fan of the college game. Still, it was impressive to see some of the early tournaments, including a game in Hawaii that featured Michigan State and Gonzaga. That one lasted until the third overtime, when State's Goran Suton missed a layup cutting to the hoop, opening the door for the red-hot Derek Raivio to hit two free throws for the victorious Gonzaga. Few were happier about the game in general than me, who owns a fantasy college team despite a relative lack of information on the nation's players. In any case, the high number of tournament games and flukes like the length of this contest led my Hardwood Heroes to set the league record for fantasy points scored in a week. Three of my seven starters took part in this November 22 matchup, and here were their numbers:

Adam Morrison, Gonzaga: 52 minutes, 14-28 FG, 11-12 FT, 2 OREB 7, TREB, 4 AST
Maurice Ager, Michigan St.: 39 minutes, 13-27 FG, 3-3 FT, 1 OREB, 2 TREB, 3 AST
Paul Davis, Michigan St.: 53 minutes, 7-12 FG, 12-12 FT, 5 OREB, 13 TREB, 2 AST

The hot stove has a special place in the hearts of sports fans, and not just because cold weather is on its way.
It speaks to the interest level of fans everywhere to hear Jayson Stark remark about the number of questions he received in an ESPN chat session. As he put it, "I can't believe the volume today, in the second week of November." Stark knows as well as anyone that this really is when things can get interesting, particularly for teams whose seasons hinge on whether a key move is made between now and Spring Training. The free agent crop may not be particularly impressive, but sometimes moves that look minor at first blush turn out to be momentous to a team that addresses a significant need. This is not to mention the intrigue involved in selecting new managers and GMs: the revelation that Theo Epstein would like to return to Boston but is not being considered at present has a certain soap-opera quality to it.

Meanwhile, Peter Gammons is undoubtedly correct that the current Boston "GM-by-committee" has been active in light of the recent acquisitions of potential ace Josh Beckett, 3B Mike Lowell, and surprising throw-in Guillermo Mota, a relatively young hard-throwing reliever from Florida for four prospects including Hanley Ramirez. The reported five years and $47 million granted to new Blue Jays closer B.J. Ryan is clear confirmation that Toronto has indeed promised to expand its payroll. Aaron Rowand's departure for Philadelphia in exchange for Jim Thome being sent to the White Sox seems to work for both clubs, as the Phillies were desperate to deal Thome's salary and clear the way for the impressive young Ryan Howard. Of course, this means that the Phils must either move Rowand to a corner outfield position or, more likely install him in center. An above .300 hitter this year and one of Philadelphia's platoon players at CF, Jason Michaels, is expected to depart via free agency.

Could you imagine a crazier day of the regular season at the Garden?
I recently returned from a holiday week in Washington, DC. As we prepared to board the plane headed back home, I checked my phone and glumly informed my family that the disappointing Knicks were on their way to a 3-9 record since they trailed by 15 at the half. To my credit, I later used the ESPNews channel on JetBlue and determined that the Knicks had pulled within 6 in the third. Eventually, I watched the game highlights, which included New York taking a lead of nine in the final quarter as Channing Frye headed toward his first career double-double before the visiting 76ers sent the game to overtime. In the final moments of extra time, Allen Iverson tied the game with a three-point shot before New York’s Stephon Marbury zipped a pass to rookie guard Nate Robinson, who sent the crowd home with a game-winning trey of his own as time expired.

The New York Rangers have been running ads lately that admonish fans to show up and witness young players like Jed Ortmeyer and goaltender Henrik Lundqvist “before they become household names.” The Capitals and Rangers were scheduled to play on this night, but not until 5 PM local time since the ice surface had to be prepared after the NBA game had finished. The scoring opened when Jason Ward stole the puck from Bryan Muir and slid the puck past Olaf Kolzig to tally the Rangers’ first of the year when down a man. Ortmeyer followed early in the second frame by tipping in a puck brought to the net on a quick move by Dominic Moore. New York had been outshot to this point but sported a two-goal lead that soon vanished on tallies by Chris Clark and Brian Willsie. After Kolzig and Lundqvist stood tall in the third period and overtime, it was time for a shootout, a frequent occurrence for both teams in recent weeks. Andrew Cassels got Washington on the board in the second round, but Michael Nylander answered for the home team. Willsie beat Lundqvist in the third round of sudden death, but Ville Nieminen kept the Rangers in the game by converting his opportunity. When the next goal arrived in the thirteenth overall round, off the stick of Muir, it looked like New York’s night was over. But just like the best baseball games, the team was able to respond when Jason Strudwick gave the team new life once more on a goal Kolzig later said he regretted most of all. The NHL’s longest shootout ever finished when Marek Malik, a defenseman and the 30th man so far, lined up in the face-off circle. Malik, who did not possess a goal all season and later said he felt he had nothing to lose, put the puck through his own legs when nearing the net to score top shelf.

sports

Every year, some teams perform better than expected while others simply dominate.

Here are my top three candidates in each category for the NHL’s first month, prefaced by a quote from ESPN The Magazine’s preview issue.

Surprises:

#3 Minnesota
ESPN Preview: The Wild have “several promising youngsters in the system”
The reality: While the magazine picked the Wild to place fourth in their division, it also noted that they had a reasonable chance to make the postseason. Manny Fernandez and Dwayne Roloson are likely the finest goaltending tandem in the league, and the club’s defense is also among the best in hockey.

#2 Carolina
ESPN Preview: Offensive acquisitions mean “at least some cause for optimism.”
The reality: Center Rod Brind’Amour is having a nice run and the ‘Canes have a staggering ten wins in just thirteen contests. It remains to be seen whether Carolina can challenge for the division title down the road, but Eric Staal will lead the way if his 26 points and 8 plus/minus are any indication.

#1 NY Rangers
ESPN Preview: “Sadly, (depth at goaltender) may be the most competitive thing about this team.”
The reality: A radio interview with a Rangers beat writer said it all: the youth movement has finally made this team relevant to begin the year. Of course, with inexperience comes patches of inconsistency; the power play has also trailed off in recent weeks. Practices are intense but focused, and the Czech presence on the team may have helped Jaromir Jagr become the powerhouse of old. Goalie Henrik Lundqvist has been spectacular in his rookie campaign, and C Martin Straka never stops collecting assists. The biggest problem so far for New York: allowing two-man advantages.

Consolation prizes: Los Angeles, Montreal, Edmonton

Predictable Top Dogs:

#3 Vancouver
ESPN Preview: Naslund, Morrison, and Bertuzzi “form the top line in hockey.”
The reality: As one of ESPN’s fantasy correspondents put it, “If you had an opportunity to pick Naslund, Morrison, or Bertuzzi, and passed, it will be a long season for you.” Bertuzzi has cooled off considerably, but defenseman Sami Salo has joined Ed Jovanovski in providing offensive help for the club. In goal, Dan Cloutier has split time down the middle with young Alexander Auld, but Auld is looking like the number one. Despite their 22 points, the Canucks have only six more goals then they’ve allowed, partly due to killing just 80% of penalties.

#2 Ottawa
ESPN Preview: Dany Heatley is “one of the most feared offensive players in the NHL.”
The reality: Perhaps the most exciting team in hockey right now, the Senators wowed the league by scoring 10 and 8 goals in consecutive matches. Hasek has returned to exceed all expectations in net, and he hasn’t had to be so excellent on most nights. Winger Daniel Alfredsson never lost his all-star talent, while Heatley and phenom Jason Spezza are right on his heels. The team also boasts six players with a plus minus in double figures. Better yet, Ottawa is in prime position to retain defensemen Zdeno Chara and Wade Redden at year’s end.

#1 Detroit
ESPN Preview: “This year, Wings fans, used to greatness, will just have to settle for good.”
The reality: So far, the octopus-throwing faithful haven't needed to deal with being merely above-average. With a goal differential of positive 30, almost everything is clicking with both the newcomers and renowned veterans. Jason Williams already has met his career high in points thanks to 14 helpers, and fellow centerman Pavol Datsyuk is showing the same form that netted him 30 goals in 2003-04. As predicted, Nicklas Lidstrom is a workhorse on defense, logging 27 minutes a game. The best bonus for the team from Michigan: Manny Legace’s 1.77 goals-against average in a dozen games.

Consolation prizes: Nashville, Philadelphia, Dallas

hockey

If anyone knows an effective way to deal with the highs and lows of following athletics, I'd like to hear it.

This is a column that might not have been written. At least not today.

After a full morning of campaign activities, I was pleased to return to my car in time to hear the Rangers' tying goal against the Devils in the third period. After winning on Thursday at Continental Airlines Arena, New York had returned home to Madison Square Garden for another matchup with New Jersey, and Blair Betts' equalizer gave them a realistic prospect of winning once more. As the remaining time in the third period bled off the clock and Devils goaltender Scott Clemmensen kept his team in the game, overtime was upon the fierce rivals. Despite the 4-on-4 format of extra time, this accomplished nothing further in settling the game at hand. The subsequent shootout was a nail-biter in which the resurgent Ranger netminder Kevin Weekes allowed just one goal to Brian Gionta, scorer of the Devils' two tallies in regulation. Michael Nylander scored for the home team before the sudden death stage commenced when Jaromir Jagr rang one off the post. After the Devils could not score in their half, callup Petr Prucha demonstrated why he should stay by delivering the game-winner for the Blueshirts, which came in addition to his score in the second.

After the Rangers' inability to seize two in a season from New Jersey for years, taking in a pair of wins during a three-day span against the Devils was to breathe rarified air. I only hoped that Cal football could rally from a slight 10-7 deficit against Oregon to make the second half worth watching by the time I got home. The Bears ended up fulfilling this hope with Marshaun Lynch’s 52 yard touchdown in the third quarter to cap a ten point comeback. With a minute plus on the clock and Cal nearing the Oregon 30, it looked as if points were imminent. However, the team went backward on consecutive plays. This forced Tom Schneider to attempt his third field goal after converting from 21 and 45 yards, but he hooked the 53-yarder that would have won the contest as time expired in the fourth quarter. This set up an overtime dominated by the Ducks, who scored on a short pass from Brady Leaf to James Finley and allowed the visitors just two yards on four plays. As Cal's ensuing drive resulted in a turnover on downs, I dejectedly shut off the television...and it was time to write.

I’ll be the first to tell you that I follow professional teams more intently, so the Ranger victory should have outweighed the heartbreak of nearly defeating the thirteenth-ranked Ducks. Somehow, though, I felt as if I were back where I began when the day started.

Losses are inevitable, but I never get used to them. The Knicks began their season with an overtime loss in Boston, and even a spirited comeback did not suffice to defeat Washington in their first game at home. There may be opportunities down the road, but it can be difficult to ignore the wasted ones from the past. You get the feeling, watching a team like this, that they need to convert the chances they do have as often as possible.

It’s safe to say that real basketball has left me disappointed initially, especially when considering the colossal amount of money New York has again thrown at new acquisitions. I suppose I’ll have to content myself with two lines I received after I completed an NBA fantasy draft and put the finishing touches on a club I named "Win Jerome James’ $":

CrunchTime: u have a good team
Digga: damn Jerome james, I love your team

sports

Now I know why I made this a multi-sport journal in the first place.

I caught my first live Mighty Ducks game of the regular year on Tuesday when they squared off against Nashville; particularly for hometown fans, it was undeniably loaded with entertainment value. The matchup also demonstrated that I tend to immerse myself in more than one pastime at once. When I expressed shock after seeing the Kings and Hornets score from the NBA's opening night on the arena ticker, my companion admonished me to “stick to one sport at a time.” This was welcome advice, because both hockey clubs began the game with the high shot totals that have become a fixture in 2005-06.

Anaheim made the first period relatively exciting for the home crowd with several power play opportunities, featuring an early stuff attempt by Teemu Selanne, who was denied by Tomas Vokoun. Nevertheless, the Ducks failed to convert, even when they had close to a minute with the two-man advantage. Jean-Sebastien Giguere was beaten by Yanic Perrault in the early going, but Steve Sullivan could not score on a breakaway shortly thereafter that would have made it a two-goal game. It had looked as if the home team had scored about seven minutes in, but the tally was disallowed as Jonathan Hedstrom was whistled for goalie interference. Suddenly, the injuries to C Sergei Fedorov and D Sandis Ozolinsh seemed to hurt more than they had during the Ducks' excellent run at home to begin the season.

Watching from home, I had seen the Rangers have the same problems with the man advantage the day before. For some reason, it was hard to envision the Ducks plagued with similar futility for the entirety of the game. As if receiving my thoughts over the Mighty 1090's radio frequency, Anaheim's streaking center Andy McDonald wasted little time from the opening faceoff, skating in and sliding the puck past Vokoun to tie the game. Hockey players must truly love pain if their idea of a celebration is similar to that of McDonald, who leapt into the glass after scoring. Five minutes later, Hedstrom redeemed himself as he deflected McDonald’s wrister off the goaltender and in. Sullivan and teammate Scott Hartnell both took unsportsmanlike conduct penalties in the frame, which allowed Anaheim to control play considerably. Rob Niedermayer capitalized on the momentum with a power play goal off a one-timer a minute before period’s end that managed to sneak over Vokoun’s arm.

This was Paul Kariya's return to Anaheim in a Predators jersey, and fans were more negative than ambivalent toward the left wing who once played for the Orange County franchise for nine years. Much like his team, Kariya found the puck near the net often, but had difficulty turning possession into legitimate threats against the defense. This futility may have irked LW Jeremy Stevenson enough to use force by the third period, as he dropped the gloves against a willing Kip Brennan in what has become somewhat unusual in the reborn league: a fight. Much to the delight of the fans, Brennan ended up wrestling Stevenson to the ice. Chris Kunitz took advantage of a giveaway on one of the rare scoring chances for the team in this final twenty minutes. Finding his name unfamiliar, I surmised it was his first NHL tally, which turned out to be correct. Despite keeping the puck in the offensive zone and a desperate six-on-four with the net empty, the Predators were held to just the single goal.

I should be the last person in the world offended by East Coast bias.
I root primarily for the Jets, but from a regional and rotisserie perspective, I enjoyed watching the Giants' Tiki Barber have such a fine performance on Sunday. Barber started the game hot and finished with 211 all-purpose yards as well as a late touchdown. At the same time, however, it seems as if the media are as infatuated as ever with the Big Apple sports scene. For instance, my opponent in fantasy football played the Rams' Steven Jackson, who rushed for 179 yards, albeit without a touchdown, and he got little exposure by comparison. Jacksonville's Fred Taylor had a monster contest as well, going off for 165 yards with a score. Perhaps Barber's publicity stems from the fact that it was part of a 38-0 divisional thrashing by New York against Washington. Their offensive line may be in bad shape, but Patrick Ramsey should really get another shot at the quarterback position after Brunell's difficulties. I may have also neglected to consider the importance of the game being played following the death of beloved owner Wellington Mara, to whom the team paid tribute prior to the contest.

sports