Gotta Love Micheal Ray Richardson... Another Nutty For The Ages...

((HT: Newsok.com/Aber))

He's never minced words on any topic... and he's always tried to get back to the show any way possible as a coach, but this may hold him back a while...

MRR was coaching a team called the Lawton-Fort Sill Cavalry in something called the "Premier Basketball League."

Here's what happened at the end of game three of the PBL championship series...
Business picks up with Micheal Ray at the 1:30 mark... and the 2:45 mark...
((HT: Lawton Constitution))


Richardson was upset at the whistles in the series and the inequity in free throws.

From Aber's article:

In the final game, Rochester had 43 free-throw chances to the Cavs' 14, including an 18-1 edge after halftime.

In the series, Rochester had 132 free-throw tries to Lawton-Fort Sill's 47. In the semifinals, Rochester had 299 free-throw shots to Quebec's 128.

“The owner of the league owns the franchise in Rochester. It's a joke,” Richardson said, also saying the referees were from Rochester.

Lawton and two other Canadian franchises withdrew from the league, and the Cavalry even went back out onto the floor of the arena to their fans, and declared themselves league champions.

The majority owner of the Rochester franchise also just happens to be league founder and chairman of the board...

What's the phrase about the duck...???

Tampa Bay Lightning Fire Some People....

It appears the Rick Tocchet coaching era in Tampa has come to an end. As has Brian Lawton's run as the General Manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning.

New owner Jeff Vinik has apparently decided to clean house after the Lightning finished their 2009-10 season 34-36-12 and again, out of the playoffs.

More from FoxSports Florida RIGHT HERE

Vinik felt the need to sort of apologize to the Fan Base, check out his letter RIGHT HERE

Vinik is probably not wrong here. Despite having the NHL's top goal scorer in 20-year old Steven Stamkos, All-Stars Vincent LeCavalier and Martin St.Louis, the Lightning really haven't done much of anything since their Stanley Cup run of 2004. It probably hasn't helped that ownership has changed hands 3 times over that period of time either.

Here's Vinik addressing the housecleaning, thanks to our friends at WTVT in Tampa
Chip Carter was called in early, the HQ is fairly sure...
((HT: MyFoxTampa))


Check out video of better times in Tampa.
Thanks You Tube/ABC/NHL

The Skinny On Vinny... On The Move...?

Depends on who you talk to...

It could be that Tampa Bay Lightning captain Vinny Lecavalier could be on his way to Edmonton for a truckload of stuff... just when everyone thought he was on his way to Montreal to put them over the top in the centennial season.

But, if you read Bruce Garrioch's column in the Toronto Sun, the front office for the Bolts is in full spin-and-denial stage.

GM Brian Lawton sayeth quote:

"It's just a pipe dream that people think we're going to trade him."

Not if you have problems making ends meet with your current economic policies...

The idea was for Lecavalier to go north on Monday for three players, two prospects, two Number One draft picks, and a third-rounder.

Rogers Sportsnet's Louis Jean is tracking as well. According to Jean, the Oil have made a strong play for Lecavalier, but the Lightning won't do anything unless they alert the captain as to their intentions of a trade- and to whom. They apparently haven't had those kinds of talks.

The numbers ((according to nhlnumbers.com))

Tampa Bay is at just over US$51-million with about US$5-and-a-half million left in space.

Lecavalier is signed to a monstrous US$85-million extension through, what seems, the year 2250. It's only for the next ten years on paper...

Edmonton is at US$54.5-million and has, about US$2.2-million left to play with.

This would, probably, mean that Dwayne Roloson is done after this season at US$3-million, and the goaltending with be Dany Sabourin and Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers.

Gilbert Brule and Robbie Schremp may be on the table as cheap, young talent.

Erik Cole, as a UFA after this season, may be a sign-and-trade at US$4-million-ish...

Dustin Penner as the, currently, highest-paid Oiler at US$4.25 through 2011-2012 is in play.

Shawn Horcoff as the ((after this season)) soon-to-be highest-paid Oiler ((4 years US$26-million starting next season)) is in play.

Lubomir Vishnovsky, defensively, with his long-term deal at 4-years left at $21-million may be in play.

Our ear is on the Transactions train tracks...

Keep you posted...