COACH DUFFY'S NY RANGERS 21-22 SEASON EXIT INTERVIEW

My Rangers Exit Interview (By Coach Duffy)

Drury: “How did you think the Season went?”

Coach “I mean how can I complain. You guys recaptured the spirit of old Rangers teams. You had the entire Ranger nation believing. For a team hopeful to make a playoffs to an ECF trip!”

D “Elephant in the room, how did you feel about the Kakko benching?”

C “Where do I start. Well I guess for one, the kids line was the best 5 vs 5 line you guys had in thatseries. They were forechecking machines. Not 100% sure sitting him was the route I would’ve taken.

I know Gallant loved Strome and I don’t blame you, but you could tell he wasn’t 100%. And in a game where you are facing elimination, if a guy is anything less the 100 I don’t think they should’ve played!”

D “ Do you bring Kakko back?”

S “Hell ya I bring him back. And I keep the kids line together as much as I can during the regular season as I can. I know Laffy will eventually rise to top 6. But for now keep them together.”

D “We limited cap space, what do we do with our current UFA / RFA?”

C “Well let me mention this again… You keep Kakko. After that, I think Copp at a bargain is a good move.Sorry Strome time to move on. I like Motte, a 4th line grinder can be valuable as the season goes. Other than possibly Rooney on the same sort of deal as Motte, I cant see keeping anyone else.”

D “Whats your ideal scenario this offseason?”

C “That’s a great question. Lets start with putting the C on Kreider. Enough of this A by committee garbage. The kid cares, he has been through it and loves this team. He might not put up a hat trick in anelimination game. But bet your ass he’ll finish checks and do the dirty work for someone else to get there.

After that I’d call up Johnny Gaudreau and I’d ask him what it will take to get him in a Ranger Sweater. His ability to put points up will help Zeb during slumps or when teams are cheating to his side of the ice. Realistically that wont happen but LET ME DREAM!”

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Lastly, I just wanted to shout out the fellas. My voice is a little horsed from a weekend tournament, but credit to these Guys. Ken and Josh (Pad) week after week put out consistent and great content.

Let me tell you what makes them great at what they do. They don’t have insider info, they don’t have sources, (minus the press credentials they’ve earned). They are just 2 genuine guys who have a passion for sports and entertainment And they just put it out there! So happy anniversary fellas! Have a great show and I’ll see you all soon!

Ht me up on Twitter and let’s talk more spots! Thanks for reading!

Heave HO’ (Game 1 Recap TB vs. NYR)

Heave HO’

Game 1 Recap TBvsNYR

If you all cant tell I have fully reinvested in this Rangers team. So I am going to recap the game, key moments and some stuff I see throughout this series. 

• Game stick to Filip Chytil. 

• The Kids line should be called the Teen line cause we are watching them mature before our very eyes. You can just tell they have fresh legs in comparison to these veterans even with Tampa Bay having 9 days rest.

• Only thing to worry about is the Rangers might have poked the bear. We’ll have to see how game 2 shakes out to know this for sure. But you cant beat down the 2x Stanley Cup champs the way the Rangers did and not think TB will come back for vengeance

• At some point TB is going to have to stop leaking that forward trying to get a breakaway. I know that’s there game and how they play. Problem is the Rangers defenders are good on staying home and the forwards are forechecking to hard to not have that guy hang around the zone to help.

• How F’in good is Igor though.. I am good lord.

• On the flip side of that, Vasilevskiy did not look like the same player. I’d say legitimately 4 of the 6 were savable shots. Those 4 were easily shots you’d see in practice. 

Betting notes: (Be responsible)

• This game absolutely threw me for a loop. I was on the under the entire way. When all of sudden the Rangers went on that second period flurry. As of today its still O/U 5.5. I have a hard time seeing these goalies consistently let in 6 goals between the two teams. 

• Chytil is on an absolute HEATER. Lines aren’t out today, but if he is still + to score might as well  take the odds. 

  Hit me up on Twitter at @CoachDuffy11 and lets talk some Rangers Hockey!

WHY NOT US? #NOQUITINNY

Why Not Us?

That’s the question us (Ranger) fans have been asking and I am here to tell you, it’s a fair question to ask. 

As we prepare for tonights game 1 Vs the 2x defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning, and 4 years and 4 months removed from the “Letter.”

There is something about this team. No its not the same as teams in years past, there isn’t a room commanding single voice leader, there isn’t charismatic goaltender. Instead this team is lead by a group of voices who any day, any game is the leader and steps into that role, and the goal  tender while quite and reserved, lets his save % do most of his talking. 

That’s what makes this team fun. While there are ruminants of past Ranger teams. This team has its own identity. That’s the best part of this team. 

They showed in the Penguin series, “you need us to score goals?” No problem we will go out there and hang 5 on your goalie. 

They showed during the Hurricane series, “You need us to play defense, and get physical?” No problem they went out there and won those games by grinding out finishes. Oh and not to mention once the physicality got to be to much, the Canes looked defeated by the time game 6 was done. 

I am looking at this series and I see two great goal tenders. Strong offenses and teams capable to shut down defensively. 

But with that RANGERS IN 7!!

Hit me up on Twitter at @CoachDuffy11 and lets talk some Rangers Hockey!

COACH DUFFY'S nfl draft 2.0 picks!

Welcome back to Coach’s Mock Draft 2.0! Lot of moving and shaking in my board so let's see where players are gonna land! here we go!

SWERVE

1. Jacksonville Jaguars – Travon Walker / Edge / Georgia – Well Vegas is usually right for a reason. In typical Jags fashion, instead of taking a franchise tackle they opt for a developmental project. (1.0 Evan Neal)

2. Detroit Lions – Aidan Hutchinson / Edge/ Michigan – K.I.S.S – KEEP IT SIMPLE STUPID (1.0 Aidan Hutchinson) 

3. Houston Texans – Mark Willis / QB/ Liberty – Sticking to my guns. New regime always means a change in QB. 

4. New York Jets – Sauce Gardner / Cb / Cincy – I had the jets taking him at 10. But with how things are playing it, doesn’t look like he will get that far. (1.0 Thibodeaux)

5. New York Giants- Evan Neal / T / Alabama – (1.0 Charles Cross) Things get real here with this pick. To me the Giants hold the power of the draft with this pick. Now that top talent are dropping down the board. A team might take this to try and get one of those original top 5 picks. I think the Giants stick here and take Neal to help revamp that O-line they’ve been desperately attempting to do.

6. Carolina Panthers – Ikem Ekwonu / T/ Nc State – I staying with Ekwonu here. You could pencil Cross in here. But I think Ekwonu’s ability to potential move inside give the Panthers options.

7. New York Giants – *TRADE ALERT* Still think the Saints take this spot. Willis is off the board they traded to get multiple first picks in this draft for a reason. But now with the players dropping I think the Giants get both the First. There is too much top 5 talent falling for the Giants just take 16 and 2nd and 3rd day picks to move back. Saints – Kenny Pickett / QB / Pitt

8. Atlanta Falcons – Drake London / WR / USC – Ya, I’m still good with this

9. Seattle Seahawks – Matt Carroll / QB / Ole Miss – Same

10. New York Jets –  Kayvon Thibodeaux / Edge / Oregon – if the Giants don’t stay at 7, I Cant see any team above the Jets taking him. (1.0 Sauce Gardner) 

11. Washington Commanders – Derek Stingley / CB/ LSU – Im not sure what to do with Stingley. When I started this redo I had him going 2. Now I have him dropping to 11. WHAT AM I DOING!!

12. Minnesota Vikings – Kyle Hamilton / S / Notre Dame – Most mock drafts have him going no later then here. I cant see him falling futher

13. Houston Texans – Charles Cross / T / Miss St (1.0 Chris Olave) Had the Texans going WR here. Cross cant fall this far. Tackles don’t fall this far… 

14. Baltimore Ravens – Jermaine Johnson / Edge / Florida St (1.0 Travon Walker) I can see the giants making a push to get to 12 or 13 knowing the Ravens are going for a pass rusher.

15. Philadelphia Eagles – Garrett Wilson / WR/ Ohio State – Crisp Route running paired with Smith burst of speed. 

16. New Orleans Saints - *Traded to the Giants * Trent Mcduffie / CB / Washington - With most premier edge rushers off the board Giants turn to the Secondary  (1.0 Jermaine Johnson)

17. LA Chargers – Trevor Penning / OT/ Northern Iowa – Locked in here

18. Philadelphia Eagles – Kaiir Elam / CB / Florida – The Eagles give Slay a running mate on the outside to help its Secondary (1.0 Trent Mcduffie). 

19. New Orleans Saints – *Traded to the Giants* Zion Johnson / G / Boston College – I am actually staying here with this. The Giants tried to put some band aids on the O-line this offseason. But Johnson and Neal are steps towards the Future

20. Pittsburgh Steelers – Kyler Gordon / CB / Washington (1.0 Kaiir Elam) – I think the Steelers ride the year with Trubisky. They can use some help in the Secondary.

21. New England Patriots – Chris Olave / WR / Ohio State – Are the Pats going to be putting up 30 points a game? (1.0 Kyler Gordon)

22. Green Bay Packers – Quary Walker / LB / Georgia – 3 things in life are guaranteed death, taxes, and the Packers not drafting help for Aaron Rodgers

23. Arizona Cardinals - Johan Dotson / WR / Penn State – Christian Kirks inconsistent play got him paid in Jacksonville. Cards take a step to replace him

24. Dallas Cowboys – Trevor Penning (1.0 Tyler Smith) / OT / Nothern Iowa – the once strength has now turned into a liability

25. Buffalo Bills –  Devin Lloyd (1.0 Kyler Gordon) / LB / Utah – Speedy and Athletic LB. Seems like a great fit going against a team in an AFC championship game that is very fast

26. Tennessee Titans – Jameson Williams / WR/ Alabama – Julio Jones experiment didn’t work. Robert Woods is coming off an ACL injury. Reinsurance to make sure Browns not double teamed all season

27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Jordan Davis / DT / Georgia – I know a lot of people have Davis going higher. But I just don’t believe QBs will slip that far. Look at Christian Ponders draft class. Tampa Bay gets a steal cause of that.

28. Green Bay Packers – George Karlaftis (1.0 Christian Watson) / Edge / Purdue – DEATH TAXES AND NOT HELPING AARON RODGERS

29. Kansas City Chiefs – Kenyon Green / G / Texas A&M – at this point its value. Chiefs improved on the o-line last year. But depth and value are important in those interior OL positions. 

30. Kansas City Chiefs – Lewis Cine / S / Georgia – Player loss is a player gained. Honey Badger is no longer lurking in the backfield. Cine doesn’t fill the shoes, but he helps. 

31. Cincinnati Bengals – Trey McBride / TE / Colorado State – A young QB can only gain by having a reliable TE. Bengals get their man.

32. Detriot Lions –Treylon Burks (1.0 Sam Howell) / WR / Arkansas – Had the lions going Qb and didn’t love it. With how things are shaking out on 2.0. They get another WR to help Goff in a make or break year. 

COACH DUFFY'S NFL DRAFT 2022 1ST ROUND PICKS

What’s going on ODPH Society! It’s your coach, the panel’s coach, THE COACH, Coach Duffy talking some NFL Draft predictions! This is a very weird year to pick how things go but I have my locks for the first round ready! I am only taking one crack at this and feel like it will be almost 10% accurate

Coach Duffy’s Mock Draft 1.0

1. Jacksonville Jaguars – Evan Neal / T / Alabama – Vegas has Travon Walker as the odds-on favorite for number 1. But I think keeping Lawrence upright should be the top priority

2. Detroit Lions – Aidan Hutchinson / Edge / Michigan – Detroit has a lot of needs. Edge rushing isn’t a top priority but given the draft position value here is the most important thing. 

3. Houston Texans – Mark Willis / QB/ Liberty – This is where the QB waterfall starts. Davis Mills is not a QB1 of the future. And Willis’s athleticism fits right into what Watson provided and the Texans missed last year.

4. New York Jets – Kayvon Thibodeaux / Edge / Oregon – If Thibodeaux falls this far you must jump on a talent like this. And with the Jets needing help off the edge this fills a need

5. New York Giants- Charles Cross / T / Miss State – From what I’ve read the Giants love Cross. They feel he is a day one starter. However, and this is big however, the Giants want to get more draft capital and with one qb off the board, the Giants could look to move this pick and get a serious hull back. I like the Saints to make a play here to try and get in front of another QB desperate team

6. Carolina Panthers – Ikem Ekwonu / T/ Nc State – Panthers could throw this draft into absolute chaos by selected a QB here. But Darnold didn’t play terrible, and they know they need help along the o-line

7. New York Giants – *TRADE ALERT* Saints jump into this spot and select Kenny Picket QB Pitt. I had Kyle Hamilton in this slot. And Id love him to the Giants but getting 16 + either a 3rd or possibly a 1st next year is to much to say no too. 

8. Atlanta Falcons – Drake London / WR / USC – QB is needed, I think they ride it out with Marriotta for the year and after this offseason the need for a #1 WR is greater

9. Seattle Seahawks – Matt Carroll / QB / Ole Miss – Carroll is like Russ Wilson. A Gutsy performer who leaves it on the field every time he plays. Will fit right into what Seattle did (maybe minus the cannon Wilson had)

10. New York Jets – Sauce Gardner / Cb / Cincy – There are plenty of WR on the board. However, shut down island corners are rare. 

11. Washington Commanders – Derek Stingley / CB/ LSU – Back-to-back corners off the board. 

12. Minnesota Vikings – Kyle Hamilton / S / Notre Dame – A generational Talent can’t fall this much further. You can slot him in just about any Secondary Position on the field.

13. Houston Texans – Chris Olave / WR / Ohio State – You have your QB 1. Now he has his running mate

14. Baltimore Ravens – Travon Walker / Edge / Georgia – Ravens desperately need to reestablish the defensive identity they once had. It starts with the pass rush.

15. Philadelphia Eagles – Garrett Wilson / WR/ Ohio State – Crisp Route running paired with Smith burst of speed. 

16. New Orleans Saints - *Traded to the Giants * Giants select Jermaine Johnson / Edge / Florida State. Giant’s fans have been complaining for years at how inept the pass rush has been. This is a start to turn that round

17. LA Chargers – Trevor Penning / OT/ Northern Iowa – Chargers have weapons now its time to give those weapons time to get open

18. Philadelphia Eagles – Trent Mcduffie / CB / Washington – Eagles look to solidify the skill position with first a Wr now selecting a CB. 

19. New Orleans Saints – Zion Johnson / G / Boston College – Saints have established a Qb now its time to protect the investment

20. Pittsburgh Steelers – Kaiir Elam / CB / Florida – I think the Steelers ride the year with Trubisky. They can use some help in the Secondary.

21. New England Patriots – Kyler Gordon / CB / Washington – When you lose one of the premier talents in the secondary better believe you need to fill those shoes.

22. Green Bay Packers – Quary Walker / LB / Georgia – 3 things in life are guaranteed death, taxes, and the Packers not drafting help for Aaron Rodgers

23. Arizona Cardinals - Johan Dotson / WR / Penn State – Christian Kirks inconsistent play got him paid in Jacksonville. Cards take a step to replace him

24. Dallas Cowboys – Tyler Smith / OT / Tulsa – the once strength has now turned into a liability

25. Buffalo Bills – Kyler Gordon / CB / Washington – The chiefs may have gotten rid of Hill. But now the bills have to see him twice a year.

26. Tennessee Titans – Treylon Burks / WR/ Arkansas – Julio Jones experiment didn’t work. Robert Woods is coming off an ACL injury. Reinsurance to make sure Browns not double teamed all season

27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Jordan Davis / DT / Georgia – I know a lot of people have Davis going higher. But I just don’t believe QBs will slip that far. Look at Christian Ponders draft class. Tampa Bay gets a steal cause of that.

28. Green Bay Packers – Christian Watson / WR / North Dakota State – I know what I said earlier but Rodgers gets a big Wideout he has been wanting

29. Kansas City Chiefs – Kenyon Green / G / Texas A&M – at this point its value. Chiefs improved on the o-line last year. But depth and value are important in those interior OL positions. 

30. Kansas City Chiefs – Lewis Cine / S / Georgia – Player loss is a player gained. Honey Badger is no longer lurking in the backfield. Cine doesn’t fill the shoes, but he helps. 

31. Cincinnati Bengals – Trey McBride / TE / Colorado State – A young QB can only gain by having a reliable TE. Bengals get their man.

32. Detriot Lions – Sam Howell / QB / UNC – I don’t love this and think the lions can move this pick. Howell feels like a day 2 QB. And I think Goff still has some promise. But the Lions get a QB competition going into camp. 

    For more NFL Draft talk, hit me up on Twitter. How’s your team looking this year for the draft?

    Thanks for reading and listening to the ODPH Podcast

ODPH Podcast Episode 451.A - Moon Knight debuts, Boba Fett Flashbacks & more!

Welcome to an all new edition of the ODPH podcast better known as the Ocho Duro Parlay Hour! For this episode…..well, unfortunately due to quarantine, the panel can’t record the episode. The good thing is my symptoms are extremely mild & we should be back on track next week. However for this week, I’m gonna blog it up since there’s a lot to go over.. As always, after the blog, hit me up on Twitter to continue the conversation & always remember to use the hashtag #ODPHpod.

MOON KNIGHT TRAILER *** SPOILER TALK ***

Marvel Studios finally dropped the long awaited Moon Knight trailer on the MCU faithful Monday night. The saga of Marc Spector (played by Oscar Issac) has been one of the most highly anticipated shows in recent memory. In case you’re not familiar with Moon Knight, he is an avatar for Khonshu, the Egyptian Moon God & also has dissociative identity disorder. How this character would translate to the more family friendly Disney Plus streaming service is a big question fans had. Well, we got our first glimpse & possible answers to those questions.

The trailer is setting up that Issac’s character is having sleep issues which unfold into bigger issues. He’s referred to as “Steven”, a knod to an alias known as Stephan Grant early on. From there, viewers see him running away from what we can assume to be Khonshu in an elevator to now seeing him in a museum with Egyptian artifacts. From here, “Steven” finds a cell phone & someone is overjoyed to find “Marc”, to which he has no recollection. From there, we see Ethan Hawke playing what appears to be a cult-like leader, foreshadowing what’s to come in the show. There are many rumors flying around about who he is playing, so I’ll leave that for another time. The trailer closes with more flashback sequences to closing with Issac in full Moon Knight costume, after beating someone very violently.

Overall reaction: The trailer was a good introduction for new fans of the character. It gave enough visuals to be excited about the show. The costume looked great too. Longtime readers might not be sold on this yet. Moon Knight has a very passionate fanbase & anything less than perfect isn’t gonna fly. One big thing that kept throwing me off was Issac had a weird accent when speaking. Hawke’s character was a bit confusing but this trailer didn’t give away too much in reference. For the next phase of MCU Disney Plus shows, this one will have a pretty high bar to hit. We’ll find out if it does on March 30th.

BOOK OF BOBA FETT EPISODE 4 *** SPOILER TALK ***

This week’s episode really had some great moments with Temuera Morrison’s Boba Fett & Ming-Na Wen’s Fennec Shand in showing why they’re so committed in working together. The episode is basically a flashback to Boba trying to reclaim his ship, Slave 1. He saves Shand’s life from being wounded in the Mandalorian series. Shand’s way of returning the favor is helping Fett get the ship back. There was definitely a Hawkeye/Black Widow vibe to this seqeunce. After escaping with the ship, Fett and Shand avenge the people who saved Fett by taking out the gang that killed them in a previous episode. However, in a confusing scene to me, they go back to the Sarlacc Pit & try finding Boba’s armor inside the creature. Since he escaped the creature way back when with armor on, why would he think it’s back inside it?

This sequence felt more like filler to me. The pair escape after their oversized ship gets caught in the trenches of the creature. The episode now fast forwards to present time. Boba is now making moves for an eventual war with the Pyke Syndicate for control of Jabba The Hut’s turf. Fett recruits a big ally in Krrsantan to help him, while the other crime bosses are told: if you’re not with me, stay out of this.

Overall, it was a good episode but not really sure why we needed that much time spent back at the Sarlacc Pit. Showcasing the bond between Shand & Fett made this episode. Viewers can fully get why she remains as loyal as she does. With 2 episodes left, hopefully the flashback are done and we all get the big throwdown we’re expecting from this show. Book Of Boba Fett airs on Disney Plus (new eps. Wednesdays).

Superman And Lois “The Ties that Bind” *** SPOILER TALK ***

Season 2 of the CW’s best show has returned on a very strong note. Clark Kent aka Superman (played by Tyler Hoechlin) is dealing the arguement of “Truth, Justice & the American Way” vs. “Truth, Justice & a Better Tomorrow”. Smallville has Smallville drama & the rest of the Kents have their own problems going on. What drove this episode is Supes is having mental attacks that appear to be tying into earthquakes happening. having been defeated by a metahuman & being bailed out by the US Government “Super Squad”, Superman has to get to the bottom of this mystery. In a desperate move to solve them, he enlisted the help of his half-brother Tal-Rho (played by Adam Rayner). Rho lies about being powerless but is talked down from continuing his plans by a hologram of his mother. Rho returns to his cell & Superman has a new problem on his hands. Meanwhile, the cause of the quakes makes another big move and Superman fans…get ready……that reveal is coming sooner than later!

Overall, another solid episode. The Smallville drama stories are just getting started but how they are going to go big picture is anyone’s guess at this stage. Superman struggling to handle his psionic attacks is the big takeaway from here. To work with Tal-Rho speaks volumes of how much help he needs. The resolution seemed quick but I think we’ll see Rho pop up more when the big bad of this season makes his full on-screen debut. The producers have done a great job concealing a lot right now, but it’s very clear who is coming and Superman is not ready for him just yet.

One Shots:

New Batman movie is slated around 3 hrs - No issues here. The movie feels like an epic already

Peacemaker ep. 1-3 (NON Spoiler) HBO MAX - John Cena & co. are crafting a way more complex story than anyone thought when they announced this series. Peacemaker has never been made to feel relevant let alone sympathetic. It works. Freddie Stroma as Vigilante has been a surprise hit as well. James Gunn’s fingerprints are all over this and fans of The Suicide Squad will be very happy.

Naomi (CW Network) continues to impress with episode 2. Things are picking up quick.

New at the comic shop: Shadowman #5 by Valiant & Power Rangers #15 by Boom Studios

That’s all for this week. Fingers crossed we’re back in studio next week. Thanks for reading!

Coach Duffy's NY GIANTS NFL Draft recap

Hey ODPH Society! Our very own Coach Duffy sent in his draft grade for the New York Giants! Send him any feedback to @CoachDuffy11 on Twitter!

The Coach’s Draft Recap

New York Giants: Overall 72/100

Round 1, pick 4: Andrew Thomas, OL, Georgia (8/10)

The Giants had Andrew Thomas rated as the highest graded tackle in the draft. With no one willing to take any trade offers. The giants hand was forced. Thomas has the ability to start at either side depending on what they do with Solder.

Round 2, pick 36: Xavier McKinney, S, Alabama (10/10)

McKinney gives every Giant fan the exact same production they wanted had the Giants drafted Simmons. McKinney played OLB, Safety, and took snaps covering the slot. It might not have been celebrated as Simmons. But for a 2nd rd pick with a day 1 grade fans cant complain

Round 3, pick 99: Matt Peart, OT, Connecticut (5/10- I hold the right to re-grade after redshirt year)

However that trade for Leonard Williams came and bit them in the ass, as we watched edge rushers fly off the board. A 3rd pick should and could be a starter. However Peart will be a “redshirt” this year and will take over either tackle spot depending on Thomas.

Round 4, pick 110: Darnay Holmes, CB, UCLA (5/10)

Giants have now selected 4 corners in 2 years. Outside of Julian Love who played a little in the slot and safety haven’t been great. Not to mention the 5’9 height doesn’t help when you have in your division 2 WR over 6’1. 

Round 5, pick 150: Shane Lemieux, G, Oregon (8/10 if he can move to center 10/10)

With guard being position of strength this was an interesting pick. Some have said he may project into a center. That would be a help as the Giants haven’t had strong center play in years.

Round 6, pick 183: Cameron Brown, LB, Penn State (7/10)

Giants needed edge/OLB help in this draft. Finally addressed in the 6th round. Brown is a raw talent with a ton of upside.

Round 7, pick 218: Carter Coughlin, LB, Minnesota (8/10)

This was a value pick. With 4 picks in the 4th round the Giants went for best player on the board. And with a great combine Coughlin fit that.

Round 7, pick 238: T.J. Brunson, ILB, South Carolina (7/10)

Brunson was the leading tackler for the Gamecocks last season. With Connelly coming back from an ACL tear depth at the ILB spot was much needed.

Round 7, pick 247: Chris Williamson, CB, Minnesota (5/10)

See Darnay Holmes. Some of these CBs are going to get cut. With 7 on the roster right now no way they all make opening day.

Round 7, pick 255: Tae Crowder, LB, Georgia (9/10)

Converted from RB to LB was a finalist for the Butkus award. Again Giants taking value even at the last pick of the draft.

For more NFL draft recap, keep an ear out for the ODPH podcast w/e May 2nd!

Is there a BMF belt?

Hey everyone. There was SO MUCH MMA news to discuss that we needed to post a blog for it! The only thing now is: Can everyone stay healthy? we, as MMA fans, have 2 great fights coming up & Let’s discuss them, shall we? Join in the convo on the #ODPH soical media accounts & always use the #ODPH!

*UFC: It has been confirmed, that after his impressive victory over Anthony “Showtime” pettis, Nate Diaz is wasting no time returning to the octogon. Diaz will be headlining UFC 244 on November 2nd. Diaz will be fighting one of the hottest names in MMA right now: Jorge “Gamebred” Masvidal!

Parlay Point: MSG, ARE YOU READY?! In the post Pettis speech, Diaz called out Masvidal out of sheer respect. The fight has grwon in hype, largely due to Diaz’s comments saying it’s for “the Baddest MF’er” belt. Classic Diaz. As for ‘Gamebred”, this is all a win-win. After the career changing knockout of Ben askren, Masvidal has become one of the UFC’s biggest stars. While he and the rest of the 170lb’er wait for Usman and Covington to work out a contract, this fight fills a huge void. if he wins, Masvidal becomes the clear cut #1 contender. If he loses, he headlining one of the biggest fights of the year & his stock won’t be hurt long-term.

As for Diaz….a win continues to allow him to call his shot for another big name. Maybe the triology fight with Conor McGregor comes back around? Maybe a title fight should he want it? A loss won’t affect him long term. The only question will become: what happens next? The easy answer is: as long as he’s still moving the needle, Diaz will continue to forge his own way, no matter what the start sheet says.

*UFC - Giving a good run for the BMF title is a fight happening this Saturday, september 14th! Vancouver is the host for UFC Fight Night which features Donald “Cowboy” cerrone (36-12, 1 NC) vs. Justin Gaethje (20-2).

Parlay point: This one will be a striker’s delight! Cerrone is mr. ‘anytime, anywhere, anytime”. Since returning to the 155lb division, Cerrone has been mostly dominant except for a stoppage from Tony Furgeson. Gaethje has been on a tear since being stopped by Dustin Poirier. Both men are known to scrap. This one is highly unlikely to end in any other way than a strike stoppage. That being said, I’m taking Cerrone in this one. UFC is on ESPN this Saturday starting at 8pm EST.

*Bellator - Ryan Bader & Check Congo was a No Contest due to being stopped by an accidental eye poke in the 1st. Nothing really to speak on here.

*NFL - The Jets are in rough shape heading into week 2. Sam Darnold is out vs. Cleveland due to Mono. Le’veon Bell is slightly banged up but no major damage to his shoulder as well. It could be a long MNF game for them.

*MLB - The New York Yankees have some injures to worry about heading into the end of the season. C Gary Sanchez appears to have re-injured his groin, while DH Edwin Encarnacion strained an oblique. No time-table on how severe the injuries are but can the Yanks hang on to the post-season with a healthy roster? Wait & see.

That’s all we have for now. remember to check out the latest podcasts & thanks for the support!

Stockton is Back!

Welcome back to the Parlay Points Blog for w/e August 24th. On the podcast, it was all about the NFL but we can’t miss a chance to talk about some of the other big sports stories going on. Let’s start:

*UFC - UFC 241 was this past weekend, and did it ever deliver on some great fights! Paolo Costa won via decision over Yoel Romero. Nate Diaz returned after 3 years away from the UFC to defeat Anthony “Showtime” pettis via decision and in the main event: Stipe Miocic KO’s Daniel Cormier in the 4th to win back the UFC Heavyweight title.

Parlay Points: 1. Costa and Romero put on a Fight of The Year candidate. Very close fight (which i had Romero winning) but Costa gets a huge win on the way to a title shot. I wouldn’t be shocked if they had an immediate rematch with how this fight went.

2. War Stockton. Diaz looked great in his return. Pettis just couldn’t connect on enough key shots to hang with the volume of Diaz’s attack. The pro-Diaz crowd (which the card was based in Anahiem, CA) ate up the return of one of the most polarizing figures in MMA. Diaz wasted no time in post fight to call out…..Jorge Masvidal. If Diaz is committed on returning, this is a HUGE money fight for all parties involved. For a company lacking in huge star power, the UFC has to embrace Nate (and hopefully Nick’s) & his demands to really move the needle.

3. Miocic weathered the storm and landed a big shot when he needed to. Cormier was winning this fight, albiet he didn’t have the usual demeanor he brings to his fights. It’s almost as if he knew he was checking out after this one. Now the question becomes: where do both fighters go from here?

For Miocic, it has to be a rematch with Francis Ngannou. Miocic put on a wrestling clinic in their first encounter but Ngannou has grown from that fight (Throw out the Derrick Lewis disaster). If not him, then who else. No real marquee names at the top of the HW class right now . Jon Jones isn’t moving up. The only other option is a trilogy fight with Cormier

For DC: It has to be the trilogy fight with Miocic. Jones is NOT moving up classes and there’s no way DC is cutting down to fight Jones at 205 for a third time. If the Miocic fight isn’t appealing, then I fully expect to see hang he octogon gloves up for other interests. Maybe WWE? Maybe more UFC commentary? Maybe stepping away to focus on coaching? The options are unless post-fighting.

*UFC - Conor McGregor is back in the news for the wrong reasons….again. A video of him punching an elderly man in a bar has surfaced. The incident apparently happened in April of 2019. McGregor has publicly apologized for the incident during an ESPN interview with Ariel Helwani.

Parlay point - The fact I have to type “again” when it refers to Conor and legal issues speaks volumes. Arguably the biggest name in the UFC is screwing up his own brand by being careless in his own hype. Someone, wheter it’s the UFC or those closest in his camp, REALLY need to pull him aside and have a talk with him. McGregor is lucky he walked away as he did (imo) from the incidents with Khabib, and yet again, he’s throwing it away because he thinks he’s bigger than he is. It’s one ting o say it in an interview, it’s another to do the actions. Let’s see how this unfolds.

That’s all for the blog this week. Make sure to check out the latest #ODPH podcast episodes where the panel breaks down the NFL season & how each team is going to finish! Thanks for reading!

500 Strikes & running......

Hey everyone. welcome back to another edition of ODPH extra, the complementary blog to the ODPH sports podcast. This week was a really quiet on for sports, so we’re covering pro-wrestling on the show. Fear not though, there were some sports stories happening that deserve some coverage & recap. Let’s jump right in.

UFC: UFC Newark was this past weekend with a good night of fights on ESPN. Jim Miller continued his latest run with a 1st round submission of Clay Guida. In the main event, Colby Covington dominated Robbie Lawler for a UD, locking in a title shot against Kamaru Usman.

Parlay Point: Total domination. Covington threw 500+ strikes in this fight along with 10 takedowns. Lawler didn’t have any answer for Covington’s pace. Every time Lawler started putting something together, Covington took him to the ground with somewhat ease. Lawler hasn’t looked the same since the knockout loss against Tyron Woodley. Where he goes from here is anyone’s guess but personally, I’d like to see him fight Mike Perry.

As for Covington….antics aside, he is a real threat to anyone in the 170lb division. The pace he puts on opponents is one that no one has been able to figure out how to stop yet. Can Usman do it? Good question. For him to retain, Usman has to land shots early and often without worrying about a takedown. Easier said than done.

Since we’re talking about speaking, the “character” Covington is portraying is really rubbing people the wrong way imo. Colby’s “act” has been one of controvesary in many fans’ eyes (not addressing the politcal side of it here. Not needed and frankly don’t care). His post fight comments about Matt Hughes walked a very thin line of being acceptable. After that, the trash talk ramped up vs. Usman on the ESPN post show. It’s going to only get worse from here. One thing that people need to remember though: Until someone shuts him up, Colby will back his talk up, no matter how much of an act it’s being claimed to be. Usman and Covington are rumored to be fighting Nov. 2nd at MSG.

UFC: After her win at UFC 240, Dana White announced that the UFC is not re-signing Cris “Cyborg” Justino (21-2).

Parlay Point: Very surprising move from the UFC. The bad blood between Dana and Cyborg apparently couldn’t be worked thru. The UFC takes a big hit to their Women’s Featherweight division & Cyborg becomes a highly sought after free agent.

No bigger fight was on the table than Cyborg-Nunes 2. That rematch would have been HUGE for all parties involved. Now, who’s next for Nunes? At this moment, some could say Shevchenko stepping back up to 135 but imo, no sense to have round 3 between them. After that, Nunes has taken out every name thrown at her. Nunes might have the challenge Jon Jones has currently: good fighters to fight, but no marquee name to draw a huge buzz for a headline.

As for Cyborg, She might be the one who won overall. Ever since signing with the UFC, she held her ground about not dropping to 135 and fighting Rhonda Rousey. Rousey wouldn’t move up for 145 and never was there a mention of a catchweight at 140. With no mega fight there, Cyborg (more or less) forced a 145 women’s division where she reigned until Nunes took her out. With only 1 loss in the UFC, she brings her brand to a new promotion where she will be featured in the same way as Rousey was and Nunes currently is.

No more Dana White “bullying” as she worded it. No more stalling on a marquee fight (still not sure about the whole “wouldn’t rematch Nunes” talk). No more drama, just fighting. Cyborg got her fresh start, now anything after this is her legacy to carve.

NFL: Training Camps are in full swing and no short of (somewhat) headlines. LA Chargers RB Melvin Gordon and Dallas Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliot are holding out for new contracts respectively.

Parlay point: Nothing really shocking here. Players often do this in the early stages of camp. However, with the Le’veon Bell drama from last year, teams are paying more attention to these times. At this stage, there will be a lot of back and forth, but my feeling is both will be suited up for Week 1 respectively.

That’s all for this week. Stay tuned for the latest ODPH podcasts. Thanks for reading!

Saturday Night is alright for a Fight!

Welcome to this week’s #ODPH sports……podcast? Well, due to some schedule issues, the panel took the week off from a show and contributed via blog for this week. You know the deal: join in the conversation on our social media accounts using the hashtag #ODPH because we have a lot to discuss!

*UFC: Loads to discuss here. Announced future fights since last ODPH podcast: Donald Cerrone -Justin Gaethje signed for Sept. 14th, Chris Weidman moving up to LHW vs. Undefeated Dominic Reyes scheduled on October 18th, and Israel Adesanya & Robert Whittaker will finally meet in Austrailia on Oct. 5th

Parlay Point: Cerrone-Gaethje? TAKE MY MONEY NOW! Absolutely LOVE that match up. Two of the best strikers to step in the cage will fight…and I mean FIGHT…in what should be a highlight reel montage when its all said & done Weidman moving up makes sense at this stage & provides a great challenge to reyes, whos asking for a shot at Jon Jones. Is this the fight to put him over? Not sure. IMO, he’s still one more away EVEN if he wins this one. And as for Adesanya vs. Whittaker…..expect Whittaker to slow down the hype train or become another ko in the “stylebender’s” long list of fights.

UFC: Leon edwards defeated RDA by decision this past weekend. Very surprised at this outcome but Edwards just outclassed him. Next up *could be* Gamebred but who knows. We also have a big fight card this weekend for the UFC. Here’s a quick preview of UFC 240:

Geoff Neal vs. Nico Price

Should be a fun fight. I do like Price for the win (& not because he follows the #ODPH on Twitter). If he presses the pace & uses his grappling, he should get the W here.

CYBORG vs. Felica Spencer

Spencer is a former Invicta Champion and brings an undefeated streak against the legend in Women’s MMA…CYBORG. This is Cyborg’s last contracted fight with the UFC and 1st fight back since losing to Amanda Nunes. Fully expecting Cyborg to come out with a stoppage win in the 2nd to (possibly) close out her UFC chapter.

Max Holloway (C) vs. Frankie Edgar

This should be a fun fight. Maxi Baby returns to the land of the featherweights after stepping up to 155 for a fight with Dustin Poirier. After losing the decision, he now faces future HOF’er and former lightweight champ Frankie Edgar. I’m a HUGE Frankie fan, but this is Max’s time & his striking is very on point as a 145er. Frankie will scrap, no question there, but I see Max getting the decision via split at the end.

*NFL: Training Camps have opened for many teams this week & we are officially under 50 days to the start of the season. Le the early predictions begin!

Parlay point: Nothing too eventful here other than Jacksonville’s Jalen Ramsey showing up to camp in an armored truck. Remember last season when Ramsey made a statement before camp? This went over with less fan fare & more “here we go again…..” Preseason doesn’t factor too much unless it’s Madden ratings and Fantasy Football picks, but overall, it’s getting everyone ready (& hopefully staying healthy) before the season kicks off in September.

LOCAL MINUTE: the Binghamton Bulldogs released their 2019-2020 schedule over the weekend. For all game information: https://www.binghamtonbulldogs.com/2019-20-schedule

The Bingahmotn Rumble Ponies closed out their post all-star break road trip going 9-6. They return home for a 4 game series with Bowie followed by a 3 game set with Erie. more info: https://www.milb.com/binghamton

That’s all we’ve got for now. Thanks for reading and listening to the #ODPH podcast. See ya next time.

NHL DRAFT/UFC/BIG3 - ODPH EXTRA

It’s been a while since we’ve had an ODPH EXTRA blog but there’s finally some stoiries to talk about in-between shows! Let’s waste no more time, shall we?

*NHL: The 2019 NHL draft kicked off Friday night. C Jack Hughes went #1 to the New Jersey Devils, RW Kaapa Kakko went #2 to the New York Rangers. Other notable picks were: D Moritz Seider going #6 to the Detroit Red Wings, Buffalo taking C Dylan Cozens & D Ryan Johnson along with Philly trading down to select D Cam York.

Parlay Point: The NHL draft never lets down for some storylines. The big Hughes or Kakko debate was settled for now. Just wait until they suit up for their teams. Nothing better than sparking some competition into the Rangers and Devils rivalry. After those picks, the draft was more low-key but Detroit raised some eyebrows by taking Seider at 6.Nothing against Seider, but In some eyes, it felt like a reach at that pick. Buffalo added some needed pieces & Philly made one of the few trades which led to York. Day 2 has a lot of depth so teams can really add to their rosters with the right moves. Side note: LETS GO RANGERS! #KAKKOTIME

*UFC: The UFC has a big fight night Saturday, June 22nd with Featherweights Renato Moicano (13-2-1) and “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung (14-5) in the main event. Card starts at 7pm EST on ESPN+.

Parlay Point: Expecting the main event to put on a show. Moicano is coming off a bad TKO loss to Jose Aldo while TKZ is returning being on the receiving end of the wildest KO in UFC history. Yair Rodrigeuz threw a Hail Mary elbow that caught Jung with under 10sec. left in a 5 round battle. Both guys need a win to stay in title shot talk. I’m expecting the Zombie to really put some pressure on Miocano & have him winning via decision.

*NBA: With the finals in the books, The Big 3 returns this weekend! The league of retired (BUT they can still ball) NBA players kicks their season off Saturday with games being televised on CBS & the CBS sports network.

Parlay Point: Ice Cube’s concept league is back, and the Big 3 is fun to watch. Gilbert Arenas, Jermaine O’Neil, A’mare Stoudemire & Baron Davis are some of the notable names in the league. It’s a good product to watch to get your basketball fix in until the fall. More info: Big3.com

That’s all for now. Keep checking out the latest Podcast episodes & thanks for reading!

Coach Duffy’s NBA Finals Preview

Regular season series overview Raptors VS Warriors

Regular season matchup-  2 games played. Raptors 2 Warriors 0

Finals Preview: The Lineups

Warriors starting 5: Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Andre Iguodala, Draymond Green, Andrew Bogut

Raptors Starting 5: Kyle Lowry, Danny Green, Kawhi Leonard, Pascal Siakam, Marc Gasol

As of writing this preview a timetable for both Kevin Durant and Demarcus Cousins hasn’t been given. Durant is listed as out for game 1 and Cousins as questionable. I am going to base my prediction as best as I can with those players set to return.

I should start off by saying I think the Warriors are still a very good team without Kevin Durant and are very capable to win this series without him. With saying that however for this series and this series in particular they will need him to return. The Blazers during that WCF just didn’t have any gas left in the tank to give the Warriors a run even without KD in the lineup. Now my reason for why they need him to return is different then what most will say. They need him to return so they can add depth back to the bench! Having to start Iguodala shortens an already short group off the bench for this Warrior team. And with any foul trouble to the big 3 forces Steve Kerr to have to turn to reserves like Cook, Bell, and Looney who have been used sparingly during this playoff run. At one point during the WCF with Curry and Green in early foul trouble, Kerr had to put a lineup out of Cook, Thompson, Iguodala, Bell, and Looney. While that lineup is capable to keep a lead against the Blazers. The Raptors would feast (what a pun!) on that 5. Insert KD into that lineup and it looks a little more like Cook, Thompson, Iguodala, Durant, and Looney. That’s a much better group on the floor and would still be able to give the Raptors a solid run on the floor.

On the flipside the Raptors are playing some of the best basketball they’ve played all season. Coming off that highly contested 7 game series vs the 76ers. A lot of people thought that maybe they just didn’t have anything left to give the NBA’s best overall record Milwaukee Bucks a run. On the contrary the Raptors lead by Leonard were able to get a six game series win  to close things out. Leonard played out of his freaking mind in this series. Having to not only be the primary scorer for the Raptors but often matching up against Giannis. Which I thought the Raptors would avoid as to not overload Leonard during the series. His matchup in this series will be a little easier given he will probably (at least for game 1) start on Iguodala. I am sure you will also see him matchup with Thompson and possibly even Curry during moments of the game. The raptors would be smart to try and attack Curry on the defensive end (I know some real insight here!) and cause him to get into foul trouble. Not only for the sake of getting him out of the game but for the reasons mentioned above. The Warriors just don’t have the same depth that the Raptors do. And should try to exploit that during the course of this series.

X Factors

Warriors: When Do Kevin Durant and Demarcus Cousins return? And if they don’t who steps up in their places

Steph Curry needs to continue to play a high clip

Raptors: Leonard’s dominance needs to continue on both ends

Taking advantage of the Warriors lack of depth

Prediction:

Warriors in 7

BELLATOR WON SATURDAY NIGHT!

As we discussed on the podcast (links available on the ODPH front page), Bellator 221 had a really stacked card Saturday night (Live on DAZN). There was a lot of hype (and rightfully so) for UFC 237, but at the end of the night, Bellator had made the bigger wins out of the 2 MMA promotions.

Take nothing away from UFC 237. They had a great main event with "Bate Estaca" Jessica Andrade defeating "Thug" Rose Namajunas in dramatic fashion for the women’s straw-weight title. They had big names on the card with Anderson Silva & Jose Aldo along with a nostalgic match between BJ Penn & Clay Guida. They had a great night, but Bellator had a better one.

Let’s break it down, shall we. Say what you will, but whenever an athlete crosses over to MMA, there’s a lot of questions. we’ve seen it with Brock Lesnar. We’ve seen it with CM Punk. We now see it with Jake Hager FKA Jack Swagger/Jake Strong from the pro wrestling world. Hager won his Bellator debut in decisive fashion a few months back & won with a 1st rd submission over TJ Jones Saturday. In the post cage conference, Hager cut into a vocal Illionis crowd, taunting them like a true heel pro wrestler.

Parlay point: Not really shocked here. This is a day and age where if you can talk, you can make a quick name & get some big fights. Bellator could use a huge star in the making & it could be Hager. Hager’s looked great in his 1st 2 fights, but the true test is going to be when he gets into the cage against more elite competition. All the promos in the world won’t matter then, his skill set will.

Next big fight on 221 was Douglas Lima vs Michael “Venom’ Page (MVP). Both fighters are entered into Bellator’s Welterweight (170lbs) Grand Prix tourney. MVP has been one of Bellator’s biggest names for his flashy striking & highlight reel fights (Google Cyborg-MVP) entering Saturday with a 14-0 record. Lima is no slouch by any means as a former welterweight champion. Lima knocked out Page in the 2nd rd to advance in the tourney. Lima now waits for the Rory MacDonald-Nieman Gracie winner on June 14th

Parlay Point: HOLY EFFF! LIMA KILLED HIM! MVP bought into his own hype and got humbled imo. Coming into the cage, MVP was loose & dancing. With a record of 14-0, he can’t be faulted for being confident, but anytime you see a fighter acting THAT loose walking in, it usually spells trouble. Last time I witnessed a fighter do the same thing was Allister Overeem vs Bigfoot Silva & looked what happened there. Lima waited & weathered a big barrage then TOOK MVP OUT with a devastating hook. Now the question is how/when does MVP recover to get back on track & can Lima carry this momentum further?

The main event had Lightweight champion Michael Chandler facing off against Featherweight champ Patricio “Pitbull” Freire for the 155 title. There has been history between Chandler & the Freire brothers (Chandler defeated Patricky Freire in 2011 & it’s built from there). Freire won via ref stoppage (strikes) in the 1st rd. Freire is now currently the 145 & 155lbs champion of Bellator.

Parlay Point: Definitely did NOT see this fight going that way. Say what you will, but the ref made the call to stop. Chandler might have been awake but wasn’t defending the 3 strikes thrown on the ground. Freire is running with the win, and who can blame him. At worst case scenario, when these two meet again….wait for the fireworks to happen! Not sure of immediate plans now for Freire. Maybe AJ McKee (who won over Pat Curran & is undefeated at 145lbs)? Maybe immediate rematch with Chandler? I heard talk he wants to box with Canelo Alverez….Out of those options, do the immediate rematch with Chandler imo. You want legacy? You want a big fight? it’s right there. Fighting with Alverez will be Conor-Mayweather 2.0. McKee is a maybe but for the promotion and storyline, it’s Chandler without question.

Bellator 221 has a great card & deserves some praise for the action. Hit me up on Twitter @ODParlayHour & let me know your thoughts on the card and was it better than UFC 237. Thanks for reading!

To Lesnar or NOT to Lesnar.....

Welcome back to the newly revamped version of Parlay Points, the blog section of the ODPH podcast. We’ve cleaned up navigation for you, the reader, so it will b easier foryou to find content you’re looking for. There’s also new columns set up for “NostraDAWGmous’ Eddie & a renewed focus on one of our most asked about topics: The ODPH Wrestling recap! Sit back, enjoy & Thank you for supporting the ODPH!

Now, let’s get right into things, shall we?

*UFC: ESPN’s Brett Okamoto reported that Brock Lesnar has given notice to the UFC that he has retired & will NOT be facing Daniel Cormier in a superfight later this year. Cormier will now be facing former Heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic on August 17th.

Parlay Point: Well, the drama is over in some degree and restarted in another. Lesnar’s return to the UFC has been much talked about ever since he showed up for the first Cormier-Miocic fight in July 2018 & was involved in a post fight incident with Cormier. Since this moment, it was heavily rumored that Lesnar would eventually fight Cormier in one of the most hyped up fights in recent memory. Now*, this is not happening.

I say this with an asterisk because until we get to August, anything is possible. Take a look at how many times Conor McGregor has “retired” only to come back & be thrown right into a high profile fight. I can fully see this being the case with Lesnar, but I hope that doesn’t happen. I’ve long said Miocic & his championship defense record has more than deserved an immediate rematch with Cormier & he now finally has it. This fight SHOULD have happened sooner but when one of the biggest pay-per-view draws wants to fight, the business aspect takes over followed by a long waiting game.

With this hurdle now out of the way, we, the fans, get the fight that makes the most sense. Let’s just hope there isn’t a tag out that the ref doesn’t see & we have to start this saga all over again. The belt needs to be defended and this is the fight it should happen in.

SPECIAL EDITION: INTERVIEW WITH BINGHAMTON BULLDOGS PRESIDENT JIM EVANS

Welcome to a special edition of the #ODPH podcast blog, “Parlay Points”. As you’ve heard mentioned on the podcast, the Binghamton Bulldogs are making another deep run in the ABA Basketball Playoffs.

The Bulldogs welcome the Worcester 78’s to “the Dawg Pound” for their last home game of the season this Saturday night:

March 23rd - 7:05pm - Davis College - 400 Riverside Dr, Johnson City, NY 13790. Ticket info: binghamtonbulldogs.com/tickets

with the winner advancing to face the Syracuse Stallions in the ABA East regional finals.

Jim Evans, the Binghamton Bulldogs president was gracious to grant us some time to have an interview with us before the big game

ODPH: The first year with the Bulldogs was a huge success. The 2017-2018 season brought a 20-win season with a deep run in the ABA Playoffs. Going into the 2nd season, what were some of the early expectations you had for the team?

JIM EVANS: After forming the roster we anticipated another terrific season. Getting leaders like CC and Ralph Bucci back, adding a player like Joel Patch from the start of the season and opening up the middle for Derek was a key focus for our roster as we tried to become a true 4 out/1 in team. 

ODPH: From a business standpoint, what were the biggest challenges/differences from last season to now?

EVANS: From a business standpoint - The venue change to Davis has been great - but tricky - and offers some parking challenges that it took some customers awhile to get used to. We also booked too many Sunday games, our turnout is much better on Friday nights and Saturday nights....But in the end our fan-base has adjusted and showed up nonetheless and has been tremendous. The fans love our players. 

ODPH: That being said, with those differences, how would you describe the 2018-19 season?

EVANS: Its been a dream come true. The team is playing at a very high level at playoff time and we are right where we want to be. 

ODPH: One notable story from this season has been the emergence of Chris Cartwright. Describe what he represents to the team & organization?

EVANS: Chris is our leader and has really turned into the face of our organization. He is a tremendous human being, he interacts with fans. On the court he is tough, hard-nosed and gritty - exactly what I want the Bulldogs to represent. 

ODPH: During the course of the season, there have been some changes to the roster. No bigger moves have impacted more than the additions of Jonny Marsh, Brandon Alexander & Caron Hill. Since their arrival to the Bulldogs, they’ve added a new energy to the team. No bigger game this showed than defeating Syracuse for the 1st time. How would you describe their impact on the team?

EVANS: Huge. Jonny and Brandon have been huge impacts scoring the basketball on our second unit and Caron has provided some more tough inside presence to go along with Mike Mccoy in our second group. That 2nd unit has dominated other 2nd units all season.  

ODPH: Is it official to say Syracuse is the Bulldogs’ true rival in the ABA? 

EVANS: Going into the season I would Scranton, but with Syracuse's success this year I feel safe saying yes they have morphed into our rival. 

ODPH: When we spoke last year, you said your favorite memory was defeating Jersey in the regional championship. Can we say this season (thus far) it was defeating Syracuse or is there another favorite moment of this year’s season?

EVANS: TBA on this answer - I have a strong feeling my favorite 2019 moment is yet to come. 

ODPH: This Saturday, The Worcester 78’s come into town. It’s the first time playing them in team history. Obviously, no game strategies will be given out here so describe what the crowd atmosphere and team’s mindset will be going into that game.

EVANS: We are expecting a sellout crowd. Worcester is a great team who plays the same way we do. They play 4-out/1-in. Very guard heavy with a couple strong inside post presences. that rotate in and out for each other. It should be a tremendous game. 

ODPH: Any Final thoughts/plugs/shout-outs to close out?

EVANS: Thanks to our fans who have been amazing all season in supporting our team....to our players for laying it all on the line every week....and to our media like the OPDH who does such a great job covering us! 

We can’t thank Jim Evans enough for the time to speak with the ODPH this week & wish the Bulldogs the best of luck for the rest of the ABA Playoffs. Thanks for reading!

For all things Binghamton Bulldogs (Like & Follow):

Webpage: BinghamtonBulldogs.com

Facebook: facebook.com/BinghamtonBulldogs

Instagram: instagram.com/binghamtonbulldogs

3.28.19.....Keep On Dancin'

Welcome back to another edition of Par;ay Points”, the ODPH podcast’s complimentary blog. Since brand new episodes dropped Tuesday and Wednesday this week, we waited for the latest blog…until now:

*MLB: It’s Opening Day for the 2019 season! The long road to October begins with some minor storylines (Machado & Harper hitless in their debuts after the long free agency drama, DeGrom duels with Scherzer after signing his extension with the Mets, Dodgers set a record for HR’s on opening day & more)!

Parlay Points: “NostraDAWGmous” Eddie is due for a season preview blog over the weekend. It’s always an exciting time when Baseball comes back around.

*NFL: The Philadelphia Eagles traded for Chicago Bears RB Jordan Howard. The Bears received a 2020 NFL Draft pick in the move.

Parlay Point: Philly addressed a huge need for their offense. Their running game was sorely lacking in the 2019 seasons, mostly due to injured players. As for the Bears, losing Howard can be perceived as a shocking move. He has always produced since entering the lead. The Bears must have felt they needed a change in their ground game & The Eagles look to benefit HUGE from this move.

*MMA: UFC 239 had it’s main events announced. Light Heavyweight kingpin Jon Jones is scheduled to fight Thiago Santos & “Champ Champ” Amanda Nunes defends her Bantaweight (135lb) belt against former champ Holly Holm. UFC 239 is set for Las Vegas during International Fight week

Parlay Point: Jones defending the 205 belt is the right move for him at this time. The heavyweight picture is a bit blurry so making the jump up wouldn’t be in his favor right now IMO. As for Nunes-Holm, absolutely LOVE this fight. Arguably the 2 best strikers in Womens’ MMA are gonna put on one heck of a fight. Don’t Blink

LOCAL MINUTE:

*AHL HOCKEY: The Streak is OVER! The Binghamton Devils finally scored a win (1st in 11 games). They defeated Laval 5-1 on Wednesday night. John Ramage had 2 goals for the Devils in the much needed win. The B-Devs are bck in town Friday vs. Springfield. For more info.: BinghamtonDevils.com

**MOVIES: Various reports have tagged Angelina Jolie having discussions about possibly joining “Marvel’s The Eternals” movie project.

Parlay Point: IMO, Jolie would be a great addition to the cast, & safest bet is she would be playing Sersi. The Eternals will be a big movie that could really benefit from Jolie’s star power. The characters are an interesting choice for a movie, but then again, so were the Guardians of the Galaxy too

That’s alll for now, but we at the ODPH want to give a shout out to Xcite Wresting, who have a HUGE pro-wrestling show this Friday night. If you’re a fan of AEW, ROH, Impact wrestling & more indy feds, then this show is for you. More Info: Xcitewrestling.com

That’s all for now. Check out the latest Podcast episodes (& our new distributors: Acast & TuneIn)!

Thanks for reading!