THE WATERCOOLER

QUESTION: Keith Tkachuk has been a hot topic in St. Louis lately as Blues fans wonder whether or not the 36-year-old forward will be dealt away at the trade deadline. Tkachuk’s career numbers consist of 500-plus goals, 500-plus assists and 1,000-plus points in 1,113 NHL games. My question is this: Do those numbers make Tkachuk a sure-fire Hall of Famer when he retires?

JEREMY RUTHERFORD
There have been 39 players in the history of the NHL to score 500 goals and net 500 assists, including Keith Tkachuk. Twenty-two of those are already in the Hall of Fame and 13 more aren’t eligible yet but have a great shot. That’s 35 of 39, with Dino Ciccarelli, Dave Andreychuk, Pat Verbeek and Pierre Turgeon the exceptions. Tkachuk’s lack of playoff success will hurt his resume, but in my opinion, he’s a HOF. He dominated at his position for more than a decade.

JEFF GORDON
I believe he is still on the bubble, despite the gaudy career stat totals. When he hit the 500-goal mark, he reached 40th on the all-time list. Not bad, but that doesn’t make him a lock. He doesn’t have the championship team thing going for him. Bernie Federko and Dale Hawerchuk overcame that, but it is difficult. There are a LOT of long-running scorers in the game today, guys like Joe Sakic, Mike Modano, Mark Recchi, Brendan Shanahan, Teemu Selanne, Jeremy Roenick, Sergei Fedorov. Will there be room for everybody some day? That is tough to say. My advice: Accept a deal to a contender and then go win a Stanley Cup.

DAN O’NEILL
Difficult question. Most of those who scored 500-or-more goals or had 1,000-or-more points are in the Hall of Fame, or will be in the Hall of Fame. But it is not a slam dunk. Dino Ciccarelli had 608 goals and is not in. Dave Taylor had well over 1,000 points and is not in. Is Mark Recchi HOF material?

Tkachuk was the top power forward in the league during the mid-1990s and scored 50-or-more goals twice. He currently ranks 34th all time in goals scored, tied with Dale Hawerchuk, who is in the HOF, and “Walt” has 1,019 points. At the same time, he has not been on a Stanley Cup winner. That fact, along with a fitness-related suspension some years back, taint his numbers for some. But if he plays another season or two, he could be in the 550-goal neighborhood and among the NHL’s top 20-something in the category.

Given he hasn’t been in trouble for exposing himself — like Ciccarelli — he would have to get strong consideration — and I would vote “yes.”

If nothing else, he is definitely in my Winnipeg Jets Hall of Fame, right alongside Scott Campbell.

TOM TIMMERMANN
My first impulse is to say, sure, Keith Tkachuk is a sure-fire Hall of Famer. I’ve never been one for thresholds, or that passing certain numbers makes you an automatic, because times change, and 500 goals or assists doesn’t punch your ticket. I was looking at the NHL’s all-time points leaders — where Tkachuk was 74th at the start of the season. And ahead of him are guys who had more goals or more assists who aren’t in the Hall. Bernie Nicholls, for instance, or Dave Taylor. Dino Ciccarelli had 608 goals and 592 assists and he’s not in the Hall, though he did enough off the ice to make voters reluctant to vote him in.

Ultimately, Tkachuk gets bonus points for being the first American to lead the NHL in scoring and he’s one of the few players to have 50 goals and 200 penalty minutes in a season. He’s a pain to deal with in front of the goal. His points per game, .933 at the start of the season, is pretty good, especially considering some of the dead puck eras he played in. I don’t think he’ll go in on his first try, though a lot depends on who else is on the ballot and if the Hall has a backlog of players. But I fully expect he’ll get in eventually.

KEVIN WHEELER (Host of “Sports Open Line” on KMOX)
Unquestionably yes. Walt is in the top 35 on the all-time goals list, ahead of Hall of Fame snipers like Gilbert Perreault, Jean Beliveau, Joe Mullen and Glenn Anderson. He’s is in the top 70 all-time in points, ahead of greats like Pat LaFontaine, Maurice Richard and Bobby Orr. Tkachuk also is just on the outside looking in on the top 100 in assists.

Oh, and he’s been more than just an offensive player. Tkachuk is closing in on ranking in the top 40 all-time in penalty minutes and has done a nice job defensively in recent years as well.

But wait, there’s more. He’s the only American born player to lead the league in scoring (1996-97 with 52 goals), he’s a 5-time All-Star, 4-time Olympian and he won a gold medal in the World Cup of Hockey (1996).

Case closed.

ANDY STRICKLAND (Hockeybuzz.com, Team 1380)
The question asks if Keith Tkachuk is a “sure” Hall of Famer. The answer is no, he’s not considered a lock. With that being said, he will eventually find his way in. Recently I asked several prominent people who cover the NHL (99% were Canadian) to anonymously give me their opinion on whether or not Tkachuk is a Hall of Famer. The majority responded by saying no. Look, if Dino Cicceralli isn’t in the Hall with a resume that includes 600-plus goals and 1,200 points, then I don’t quite understand the criteria.

Tkachuk has had an outstanding playing career, and let’s not forget this is the Hockey Hall of Fame not the NHL Hall of Fame. In my opinion his credentials will eventually be considered HOF worthy. A four-time Olympian, he became the first U.S.-born player to lead the NHL in goals and he’s one of only a small handful of NHL players to ever tally 50 goals and record 200 penalty minutes in the same season. There was a time during his days in Phoenix when he was considered the most intimidating power forward in the game. When people criticize Tkachuk they bring up his lack of post-season success. He had never won a playoff round before being traded to the Blues. The bottom line here is that Tkachuk will go down as one of the greatest American-born players to ever play. He’s a major part of an American core that includes Chris Chelios, Brian Leetch, Mike Modano, and Brett Hull. The only difference here is all those guys have won Stanley Cups. The fact Tkachuk is American will actually work in his favor as the HOF could use more American representation.

The stats don’t lie: He’s a five-time all star, a two-time 50 goal scorer, over 500 career goals and assiits, and was a Captain for parts of eight seasons. I should point out that 500 goals is not considered an automatic the way 500 home runs are in MLB (before the steroid era.) Tkachuk may not go in the HOF his first year of eligibility, but as some point I believe he’ll get the call.

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MIDDAY NEWS AND THOUGHTS

HE’S BOSTON’S PROBLEM NOW: Surprise, surprise. Boston fans are starting to show their impatience with outfielder J.D. Drew. Why would that be? It’s a rhetorical question, because any St. Louis baseball fan knows the answer to that. It’s because of Drew’s constant injuries and the perceived lack of passion with which he plays the game. How many times did Drew draw the wrath of Cardinal fans for the same reasons? But hold on a minute, says Boston Globe columnist Dan Shaughnessy, if you ever met J.D. Drew you would like him.

Is this the bulldog, East coast media we hear so much about for being so tough and hardened? If you met Drew you’d like him? Really, that’s it? I’m betting fans in Boston would like Drew much more if he could ever just get 600 at-bats in a season … just like the fans in St. Louis would have appreciated him more for the same reason.

Nice guy. Sheesh.

ELWAY AND THE RIGHT WAY: Two Super Bowl rings and countless records in the NFL history books define former-Bronco QB John Elway to many folks. But if you want to know what makes a player a real hero, you’ve got to read this Rick Reilly column on ESPN.com. I always admired Elway as a player, now I admire him even more.

SOMETHING TO PONDER

ASYLUM MEMBERS, TAKE A BOW: I’m not really sure how this can be, but … looking ahead to the Blues game vs. Dallas Thursday, I was wondering what Dallas fans might be saying about the Blues. After all, the Blues trail the 7th-place Stars by just 5 points in the standings. So I go to the Stars fan talk forum at the Dallas Morning News and I see that the last posting on the Stars forum was from Monday, Sept. 22 — and that posting is about an upcoming dodgeball game in the area. Are you kidding me? If you don’t believe me, hit the Dallas Morning News link I’ve provided above. With that kind of support, how do they keep a hockey team in that Cowboy town?

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STAT OF THE DAY

18 — Most “major” tournaments won by a professional golfer — Jack Nicklaus. In honor of Tiger Wood’s return to the PGA Tour today, we look at the list of those golfers holding the most victories in the majors events (Masters, U.S. Open, British Open, PGA championship.) Players must have won at least five such events to qualify for this list.

Jack Nicklaus — 18
Tiger Woods — 14
Walter Hagen — 11
Ben Hogan — 9
Gary Player — 9
Tom Watson — 8
Bobby Jones — 7
Arnold Palmer — 7
Gene Sarazen — 7
Sam Snead — 7
Harry Vardon — 7
Nick Faldo — 6
Lee Trevino — 6
Seve Ballesteros — 5
James Braid — 5
Byron Nelson — 5
J.H. Taylor — 5
Peter Thomson — 5

THE WATERCOOLER

QUESTION: Starting pitcher Chris Carpenter so far has had no setbacks in camp. However, given his injury history, what would realistically constitute a successful season for Carpenter in 2009?

JOE STRAUSS
The Cardinals’ lack of depth does not allow for grading on a curve. (Mortensen and Todd are projected as major league relievers; Walters and Ottavino are projected for the rotation but not ready, despite the buzz created by some hyperventilating early reports; Boggs is behind due to shoulder stiffness that followed him into camp. The club does not promote Brad Thompson as an alternative.) Anything less than 28 starts by Carpenter represents a serious complication to the season.

BERNIE MIKLASZ
I’d say about 25 starts. If the Cardinals have to take a conservative approach and back him off a couple of times this season, they can live with that. He’ll make a positive impact. Am I confident that Carpenter will hold up? Not really. His injury history is troubling and he isn’t getting any younger.

DERRICK GOOLD
Nothing short of 25 starts. Anything less could leave the Cardinals exposed. Anything more than 30 starts from a healthy and vintage Carpenter and the Cardinals have to be considered contenders. The current roster isn’t braced for an on-again, off-again Carpenter.

BRYAN BURWELL
The most realistic expectation for Chris Carpenter is to play a full season injury-free. If he makes all his starts, that means he will be the old Chris Carpenter and that makes him a successful 15-plus victory starter. I just want to see him stay healthy and make all his starts, it’s as simple as that.

JEFF GORDON
If Chris Carpenter can win 15 games and still be reasonably strong in October, Cards fans should throw a party. He is coming back from serious injuries. He is trying to rebuild his stamina. His body is pretty fresh after a year of relative inactivity, but he also is working to regain his long-haul endurance. Even if his arm and shoulder remain injury-free, Carpenter can expect to hit a couple of walls this season while trying to pitch every fifth day. He must manage his body very carefully.

RICK HUMMEL
Thirty starts. If he gets that many, which many would presume a longshot, the wins will take care of themselves. Say 15.

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MIDDAY NEWS AND THOUGHTS

SPLITSVILLE IN INDY? Football can be a cold and cruel game. Players sacrifice their bodies to compete year after year, yet there is very little security other than signing bonuses and yearly salaries. Long-term contracts in the NFL? Meaningless. A player can be cut tomorrow (or today) and that six-year deal he signed three years ago is worth nothing more than what his agent was able to secure in “guaranteed” money — usually just a fraction of the overall deal.

Courtesy of the Indianapolis Star, we hear today of a future Hall of Famer who likely is coming to an untimely end with the only franchise he’s ever known. Unless Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay can convince Marvin Harrision in a sitdown today to restructure his contract, it looks like the Peyton Manning-to-Harrison connection will be lost forever. Even though he’ll be 37 in August, it’s got to be hard on Harrison’s pride. Here’s a guy who is an eight-time Pro Bowler who ranks second in NFL history with 1,102 receptions, fourth with 14,580 receiving yards and fifth with 128 receiving touchdowns.

Unfortunately, Harrison is coming off his two least-productive seasons … age may be catching up with him. It’s just tough to watch one of the game’s best be put out to pasture (or just be sent away to another team.) But it’s nothing new to St. Louisans after watching Isaac Bruce get unceremoniously released last year, only to resurface in San Francisco. And it looks now like Torry Holt could be next.

It just shouldn’t happen with these guys who have been the faces of their franchise. Jerry Rice should have never suited up for anyone but the Niners. Bruce the same with the Rams and Harrison the same with the Colts. It’s just a shame the players and teams can’t come up with a way to make it end in a classy way. Even with a salary cap, it seems to me reasonable folks could look at it reasonably and weigh a player’s and a franchise’s legacies against the almighty dollar and come up with something in the middle. But that’s probably just naive on my part, unfortunately.

HE’S BACK: The golfing world is getting giddy over Tiger Woods return to play tomorrow in the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship. One ESPN report this morning estimates more than 100 media members were up early this morning to watch the world’s No. 1 golfer launch his first tee shot in his first practice round. And that doesn’t even take into account the number of spectators that began tracking Tiger from the first hole. Pretty amazing.

Woods, who has been out of action since he defeated Rocco Mediate in a playoff at last June’s U.S. Open — while playing on a knee with torn ligaments — reportedly missed only one fairway on the front nine. This weekend will prove to be just the latest in Tiger’s coronation march to becoming known as the greatest golfer to ever play the game. Stay tuned.

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STAT OF THE DAY

52 years, 11 days — The age of the oldest NHL player in history. His name? Gordie Howe. Incredibly, Howe played all 80 games of the 1979-80 schedule for the NHL’s Hartford Whalers at the age of 51, turning 52 just before the season’s end and then skating in three playoff matches. Howe’s career spanned 32 pro seasons and 2,421 NHL and WHA games. (Source: “Hockey’s Top 100: The Game’s Greatest Records”)

THE WATERCOOLER

QUESTION: Missouri wide receiver Jeremy Maclin reportedly is moving quickly up many draft boards. Maclin plans to run this weekend at the NFL Combine. He’ll likely work out before scouts at a pro day at Mizzou. Given his rising stock, where do you see Maclin being selected in the NFL draft?

JIM THOMAS
Maclin is widely considered the second-best wide receiver in the draft behind Michael Crabtree of Texas Tech. It now looks like he will be taken in the top 10. There’s no substitute for speed. Al Davis has believed this for decades. That’s why Maclin will go to Oakland with the No. 7 overall pick. Just throw deep, baby.

BILL COATS
Maclin is a two-headed monster: an accomplished wide receiver as well as a dangerous return man. The Rams could use both, but probably will use the No. 2 overall pick to address more pressing needs. So, my guess is that the Raiders, who also need a wideout and a returner, grab Maclin with the seventh pick in the first round.

KATHLEEN NELSON
The Jets could use a QB and a fast receiver. QBs like Mark Sanchez and Matt Stafford should be long gone by the time the Jets pick. That leaves Maclin to the Jets at No. 17.

STU DURANDO
The consensus seems to be Oakland at No. 7 and that makes sense considering the Raiders’ lack of receivers. Now, if they can move up to get Michael Crabtree or if Crabtree miraculously falls that far, Maclin will drop, maybe to the Jets at No. 17. And because I cover Illinois football, I’ll add that cornerback Vontae Davis is also a projected first-rounder and could climb as high as Green Bay at No. 9.

TOM TIMMERMANN
Maclin is not going to be taken ahead of Michael Crabtree. And the teams that are willing to take receivers in the first round is limited. Still, there are the Oakland Raiders sitting there with the No. 7 pick, and the Raiders love to take guys who can go deep. Of course, who knows what the Raiders will do? So look for him there. If not, he may drop a bit.

JEFF GORDON
With Michael Crabtree losing stock value, Maclin could easily become a Top Ten pick in this draft. The Packers need help at receiver and Pro Football Talk’s mock draft has North Carolina receiver Hakeem Nicks going to Green Bay at No. 9. That seems like a reach, based on earlier assessments of Nicks. Maclin has to be a better pick there, right? Right?

KEVIN WHEELER (Host of “Sports Open Line” on KMOX)
How about the No. 7 pick to the Oakland Raiders? Al Davis loves game breakers, loves the deep ball, and needs someone who can bring that element to his team in ’09. The top two receivers on the Raiders’ depth chart right now, according to their own Web site, are Javon Walker (15 catches for 196 yards in ’08) and Ronald Curry (19 catches and 189 yards in ’08).

Even if they sign a big name free agent, Maclin still makes sense as a game changer who can stretch the field and also make the Raiders return game more dynamic. JaMarcus Russell needs receivers and Maclin will be the best on the board after the Seahawks take Michael Crabtree with the 4th pick. Maclin’s speed and explosiveness just scream, “Draft me, Mr. Davis!”

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MIDDAY NEWS AND THOUGHTS

I AM TIGER WOODS: “I’m now ready to play again.” And with those six words from Tiger Woods, golf tournament organizers and their sponsors began cheering from the mountaintops. Woods made the announcement yesterday that he will play in next week’s WGC-Accenture Match Play. The return of Woods will get the cash flowing at tournaments and for television advertising … geez, I’m thinking this one man might just save the whole economy from pending doom. Perhaps the late-Earl Woods was right when he predicted his son would do more than change golf, but that he would change the world.

Bill Dwyre of the Los Angeles Times apparently seems to agree. The headline on his column today reads, “Tiger Woods’ comeback is bigger than the game.”

IT’S NOT OVER YET: It looks like the Alex Rodriguez steroids saga is not over, and it may just be beginning. According to a report in today’s New York Daily News, A-Rod has had a longstanding relationship with a steroid-linked trainer. The Daily News says that Angel Presinal was banned from private areas of every MLB ballpark after an October 2001 incident involving an unmarked gym bag full of steroids, but that he has been close to A-Rod dating back to his time with the Rangers. A-Rod has said he only used from 2001-03, but a source tells the Daily News that “Presinal accompanied A-Rod for the entire 2007 season, staying in the same hotel as the A.L. MVP, but in a separate room with the “cousin” Rodriguez pegged three days ago as his steroid source from 2001-03.”

So do you believe A-Rod when he says he only used steroids from 2001-03? Stay tuned. It ain’t over ’til it’s over.

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THINGS TO PONDER

THE WALTZ OF WALT: I was glad to see Keith Tkachuk get the game-winner in overtime last night. And he did it in his traditional style … planted in front of the net. “Big Walt” just doesn’t seem to get the respect he deserves in this town. It seems so many folks mention him first when discussing the trade deadline. Tkachuk has 18 goals and 17 assists this season for a total of 35 points. That’s good enough for a three-way tie as the team’s second-leader scorer (Patrik Berglund and David Perron also have 35 points), with only Brad Boyes’ 50 points coming in higher.

I’m not sure why fans in St. Louis wouldn’t want Tkachuk to stick around for another season or two — his veteran presence in the locker room has to help all the Baby Blues. And it’s not like he’s not putting up any numbers. Unless they can get a first-round pick for Tkachuk — which I don’t think the Blues can right now — I hope to see him back on the ice for the club next season.

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ON THIS DATE

FEB 20, 1953 — Anheuser-Busch buys all but seven shares of St. Louis Cardinals stock from recently imprisoned owner Fred Saigh and installs August A. Busch Jr. as club president. (Source: “This Day in Baseball”)

THE WATERCOOLER

QUESTION: Now that the Arizona Cardinals have made the Super Bowl, we see anything is possible. St. Louis Blues owner Dave Checketts proclaimed a couple years back that he would bring the Stanley Cup to St. Louis. How long do you think it will be before this team is not only playoff-bound, but strong enough to make some noise when they get there?

JEREMY RUTHERFORD
The Blues are at least three years away from competing for a Stanley Cup. Now that they’ve got the young talent in house, they need time for it to develop and gain experience. When Erik Johnson, Patrik Berglund, T.J. Oshie and David Perron are ready, then the team can make a move for a top-flight player or two to complement them. The Blues can play with the top clubs in the league now, as theY showed Monday in Boston, but in a seven-game series it would be another story. That day, however, appears to be getting closer.

JEFF GORDON
Given all their injury setbacks, the Blues are at least two years away from making playoff noise. The team must find a cornerstone goaltender; that may or may not be Ben Bishop. We’ll see. The defense ought to be outstanding next season and beyond, but the team will still need to develop more scoring to help Berglund, Perron, Backes and Oshie. Lars Eller may be two years away and Phil McRae could be three years away. Meanwhile, the Blues won’t have the resources to buy a whole lot of help.

DAN O’NEILL
The Blues have a corps of good young players, and more on the way. They have been playing considerably better hockey in the past two weeks. If they could get one of their goaltender’s hot, get a couple of players healthy, I do not think it is beyond the realm of possibility that they could make the playoffs this season, but it’s a long shot. I think with the addition of a couple more pieces, they are more likely to make the playoffs next year. As for “making noise,” you never know once you get in. But it seems like they are at least two years away from a Stanley Cup run.

TOM TIMMERMANN
The Blues probably won’t make the playoffs this year, and they may get in next year, but won’t go far. So we’re looking at the 2010-11 season before the Blues have a chance to make some noise. By that point, some of the team’s players who are kids today will have become experienced players and a good many of the players who are here today will be gone. But I’m not sure if even then this team will be a Stanley Cup team. They’re going to have to pick up a big-time goal-scorer along the way somewhere.

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MIDDAY NEWS AND THOUGHTS

INTRODUCING YOUR 2009 CUBS: As Cardinal Nation flocked to the Winter Warmup this past weekend, Chicagoans were doing the same at the Cubs Convention. Chicago Tribune writer Steve Rosenbloom took the opportunity to take manager Lou Piniella to task for batting Alfonso Soriano in the leadoff spot, and offered up his own lineup for the ’09 club. He’s got former Cardinal Aaron Miles in the No. 2 hole and has this to say about it: “(He) batted .358 in the two-spot last season; that was in front of Albert Pujols, but .358 is .358, pal.”

Check out the rest of his lineup card. Amusing … but scary.

REALIZING THE DREAM: Sports and politics don’t mix, right? Wrong, if you’re ESPN. They’ve put together a really nice package at ESPN.com recognizing the historic nature of the day with Barack Obama taking his oath of office. They’ve got some well-thought out stories, vignettes from a number of athletes on what the day means to them and a story about how even Tiger Woods (normally not political at all) got into the mix. Plus, the network has a full lineup of programs today ranging from a Jack Johnson documentary to a piece on black quarterbacks in the NFL. You can read all about it and get a full listing of the programs at their Web site.

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SOMETHING TO PONDER

WOW … JUST WOW: What an afternoon in Boston yesterday for the Blues. That had to be one of the most amazing final five minutes of a game I’ve ever seen. Oh wait, I didn’t actually see it since it wasn’t televised. I was watching via the CBS live scoreboard. I headed out the door to grab some lunch with five minutes remaining and the Blues leading 2-1. By the time I got into my car and flipped on KMOX to pick up the game, the Blues were trailing 4-2. What??? Then I heard the announcers’ calls on the Perron and Backes goals (do you know how excruciating it was not to be able to see the replays of Backes’ game-tying goal and just having to trust the announcers that the goal was good while it was being reviewed?) Listened to OT while going through a drive-through. Back in the office just in time to see Oshie and Boyes shootout goals … again via CBS scoreboard.

I can’t believe how exciting it was without even being able to witness it. Perhaps I should just drop my Direct TV and do it the old-fashioned way from now on.

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STAT OF THE DAY

7 – Number of points by which Pittsburgh is favored over Arizona in Super Bowl XLIII.

THE WATERCOOLER

Question: With two weeks remaining in the regular season, who are your NFC and AFC picks for the Super Bowl?

JIM THOMAS
NFC: Carolina — If the Panthers win Sunday’s showdown with the New York Giants and earn home-field advantage in the playoffs, they will be tough to beat.
AFC: Indianapolis — The Colts will have to do it as a wild-card, but they keep quietly winning games and gaining momentum.

BILL COATS
NFC: Carolina — The Giants are fading in the NFC and the Panthers seem to be hitting their stride at just the right time.
AFC: Indianapolis — The Titans could be in big trouble in the AFC if DT Albert Haynesworth’s knee injury is serious. And the Colts, like the Panthers, are just hitting their stride.

JEFF GORDON
NFC: Carolina — I would have gone with the New York Football Giants, but the Plaxico Incident apparently derailed that bid to repeat. They looked bad Sunday night. So I’ll go with Carolina, trusting that a strong ground game and a solid “D” still counts for something.
AFC: Pittsburgh — The Steelers have won five in a row despite taking some injury hits in the ground game. Ben Roethlisberger keeps finding ways — although Sunday’s game-winning “touchdown pass” looked pretty bogus on the replays. Haunting Kerry Collins flashbacks prevent me from remembering the Titans when picking favorites this year.

KATHLEEN NELSON
NFC: N.Y. Giants — Despite a two-game losing streak, the Giants should beat Carolina on Sunday. The Panthers (3-3) aren’t the greatest road team. As long as they don’t face the Cowboys in the playoffs, the Giants should have an easier path to the Super Bowl than their AFC counterpart.
AFC: Pittsburgh — The Steelers have the momentum. Tennessee will have its hands full with the Steelers on Sunday. Indy’s on a roll, too, and could cause problems for playoff opponents.

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MIDDAY NEWS AND THOUGHTS

BERGLUND THE BEST OF ROOKIES: At least that’s what Scott Cullen of TSN believes. Cullen ranks the top 50 rookies in the league and has the Blues’ Patrik Berglund as No. 1. Here’s what Cullen has to say about Berglund, who has nine goals, 10 assists and is plus-10 in 23 games played: “Skilled Swede has the size and skill to be a prototypical No.1 centre. (Centre, by the way, is Canadian for center.) There are four Blues players on the list. The next might surprise you, as B.J. Crombeen comes in at No. 19. Cullen says the Stars must be kicking themselves for letting Crombeen go on waivers. Check out the entire list. (And let me know what you think about No. 50 on that list.)

CADDIE SMACK: Tiger Wood’s caddie Steve Williams appears to not only be carrying the bag, but carrying a grudge, too, against the world’s third-ranked golfer Phil Mickelson. According to the Guardian newspaper of Britain, during an event over the weekend in New Zealand, Williams said, “I wouldn’t call Mickelson a great player, ‘cause I hate the [expletive].” In another paper the next day, Williams said, “I don’t particularly like (Mickelson). He pays me no respect at all and hence I don’t pay him any respect. It’s no secret we don’t get along either.”

Mickelson didn’t take the bait and said simply that he’s glad to have a “class act” like Jim MacKay on his bag. As for Tiger, he was at home rehabbing and enjoying life. It’s good to be Tiger.

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THINGS TO PONDER

AFL SHUTS IT DOWN IN 2009: The Arena Football League is expected to officially announce today that the league is shutting down for the 2009 season but hopes to return in 2010 with a new business model. According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, the 16-team league voted to shut down because too many big-name owners or teams in big cities say they would not return. The big-names include NFL owners include Jerry Jones (owner of the Dallas Cowboys) and Arthur Blank (Atlanta Falcons.)

First, I didn’t realize the AFL was still in existence. Second, I was shocked to learn that the AFL has been around for 22 years. Third, I wonder if the Rams would give any thought to joining that league if it reopens in 2010.

DOPEY QUOTE OF THE DAY: According to the Associated Press, shortstop Adam Everett and the Detroit Tigers finalized a one-year contract today worth about $1 million. “We’ve talked about improving our defense, and we think Adam obviously does that,” Tigers president Dave Dombrowski told the A.P. Alright, I have no problem with that. Everett’s always been known to have a solid glove. But check out the rest of Dombrowski’s statement … “He also can help us offensively — he can get the big hit.”

It’s here where I must point out that Everett batted just .213 with two home runs and 20 RBIs in 48 games for the Minnesota Twins last season. And Everett, who will be 32 in February, has a recent three-year average of just .233 at the plate, with 31 RBIs and 3 homers. Exactly how is it that Everett is going to help the Tigers offensively? Sometimes I think baseball front office types just think that fans are stupid. You can check out Everett’s career stats for yourself and tell me if you think I’m wrong.

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STAT OF THE DAY

762 — Career home runs hit by 44-year-old Barry Bonds, who told the L.A. media this weekend, “I’m not retiring. I’m not retiring.” Perhaps league owners have already made that decision for Bonds, since no one came calling for his services this past season. Now if he could only produce the kind of offense of someone like, say, Adam Everett, perhaps he could find a place in the game.