Sergei Bobrovsky: The Future in Philadelphia’s Net

Sergei Bobrovsky. While you may not know the name now, I promise that you will by the end of this article and will remember it for a long time. He is supposed to be the next great goaltender of the Philadelphia Flyers. Bobrovsky is hoping to fly in lineage with the likes of Bernie Parent, Pelle Lindbergh and Ron Hextall.

The Flyers may not have to wonder who their goalie is for much longer with “Bob” sweeping through town. The “Bob” Phenomenon will take the city of Philadelphia by storm very soon, providing them with a top-flight goaltender for the first time in a long time.

The young Russian prospect, with the right guidance, will be a star in this league for many years. Under the tutelage of Flyers’ Goalie Coach Jeff Reese, among others, Bobrovsky will flourish. Reese has already done wonders in rejuvenating Michael Leighton which paid off last season.

Bobrovsky presents a different type of net minder than the ordinary ones that Flyer fans have been graced with. The mediocrity of guys like Robert Esche, Sean Burke, and countless others, was solid enough, but ultimately could never deliver a Stanley Cup. Leighton nearly did it, but he too proves to be nothing more than an ordinary goalie who rode a hot-streak. That being said, Leighton is a good goalie at best, nothing more, nothing less. Bobrovsky though, at least right now, appears to be the long-term answer for Philadelphia in net. This is something new to Philadelphia as they have not established a goalie in such a way in quite some time.

The KHL was a good preparatory program for the young Russian as it has been for many others who have catapulted to the NHL. There’s a certain launching pad that the KHL represents to its players that comes with much promise; the promise of one day playing in the NHL. Though, in Bobrovsky’s case, his story is even more impressive when considering that the KHL is a league that puts out more scorers than anything else.

Now with Michael Leighton out for at least a month, Bobrovsky just might make the opening night roster backing up veteran Brian Boucher. Bobrovsky or Swede Johan Backlund should get the duty of back-up goalie. Either way though, don’t expect Bobrovsky to take a backseat for much longer as he will be the starter one day very soon.

Bobrovsky provides a great sense of poise even at the keen age of 22 and will only continue to grow. While there is a ton of room for improvement, most of the mechanics seem to be solid and just his natural goaltending instincts are there already. He will be a gem for the Flyers and credit GM Paul Holmgren with a sensational find out of Russia.

It’s no wonder the Flyers spent no off-season money on starting goaltending. Bobrovsky has shown them that much already in a short period of time. He will most likely take the reins after Leighton’s contract is up, or who knows, maybe even sooner?

UFC 119 Predictions

Melvin Guillard vs. Jeremy Stephens - Both men enter this battle with something to prove despite each posting back-to-back victories. They're hoping to escape their spots in 155-purgatory and finally get some recognition.

Guillard has been a forgotten talent at lightweight for the past few years and now the veteran is looking to reignite his career. His judo takedowns and striking are among the best in the division and he’s a high motor fighter to boot.

Stephens is a very well-rounded young talent who is looking to make his mark at 155. If this fight stays standing and slugging, instant advantage to the heavy-hitting Stephens.

Neither man has ever been knocked out before, but this should be a slugfest with one man eventually hitting the canvas hard.

The Pick: Stephens by TKO in Rd. 2

Matt Serra vs. Chris Lytle - This rematch from TUF 4 will be contested under much different circumstances this time around. Back in 2006, a Welterweight Title shot was on the line, now these two veterans will try to re-capture their glory in a rematch. In their first bout, Serra’s split decision victory led him to the biggest upset in UFC history. Serra defeated Georges St. Pierre shortly thereafter to become the UFC Welterweight champion.

Serra comes in looking the best he’s looked since his triumph over GSP. The stakes are lower now though and at 36, another title shot appears to be out of Serra’s reach. Expect some rust from Serra as well who has not fought in nearly eight months.

Lytle has much to prove here. His sudden resurrection at 170 comes as no surprise since he is one of the sport’s most exciting competitors. Lytle now looks to prove his three-fight winning streak is no fluke and take out Serra.

The Pick: Lytle by Submission in Rd. 3

Evan Dunham vs. Sean Sherk - Evan “3D” Dunham remains undefeated in the UFC through his first 11 fights. Dunham, a rare specimen at lightweight looks to embark on a journey that will lead him to the top of the division. The submission specialist Dunham has the edge over the aging Sherk, whose career went to spoils when he was accused of steroid usage in 2007. Sherk never recovered from that ruling and has gone 1-2 since.

Dunham, a newly anointed BJJ Black Belt will attempt to take Sherk to the ground early and often. This task will be easy to plan, but difficult to execute as Sherk is one of the best all-around wrestlers in the sport. Dunham’s difference is his tall frame for a 155-pounder and the fact that he has a clear advantage over Sherk on his feet. Though if this thing gets to the ground, it could be anyone’s fight. Sean Sherk is next to impossible to submit, but Dunham just has too many ways that he can craft to win this bout.

The Pick - Dunham by Unanimous Decision

Ryan Bader vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira - Ryan “Darth” Bader is the fastest rising contender in the UFC. This TUF 8 winner is still undefeated at 11-0 and is on the brink of becoming a serious threat at 205. Bader’s opponent Antonio Rogerio Nogueira will have his eyes set on continuing his torrid pace in the octagon. Nogueira now stands at 2-0 in the UFC with his most recent win coming controversially over Jason Brilz. The winner of this bout will be catapulted into the mainstream and will face Jon “Bones” Jones sometime soon.

Ryan Bader is one of the very best wrestlers in the UFC and can take any 205-pounder down in an instant. This two-time Division I athlete from Arizona St. University is now focused on becoming one of the youngest champions in UFC history.

Antonio Rogerio Nogueira is always a well-prepared competitor. This man holds Black Belts in both Judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and will not be afraid to use them to combat Bader’s great wrestling.

The Pick - Bader by decision.

Frank Mir vs. Mirko Cro Cop - This should be a very interesting fight that many have wanted to see for quite some time but never expected to. This is a bout that pits two of the most talented heavyweights of all-time. The big, submission specialist Mir and the fleet-footed Cro Cop in the same octagon staring each other down.

Frank Mir’s career is caught between a rock and a hard place as of right now. He’s currently not considered “elite” yet is still too good to be lower on a card. Mir knows that this fight with Cro Cop could re-ignite another journey to the top. The well-rounded Mir from Las Vegas will be ready to bring it this Saturday night as he has the most to prove of anyone on the card.

Mirko Cro Cop’s career as a UFC fighter appeared to be over prior to his last fight. Cro Cop silenced the critics and probably saved his job with a gutsy performance against Pat Barry. He now reverts back to his position in main-event competition and looks to do some more damage there. For Cro Cop, “Mr. Right Kick Hospital, Left Kick Cemetery,” the stage is set to show UFC President Dana White that he can still be a major player at heavyweight.

The Pick - Mir by Submission in Rd. 2

The Kolb-Vick-Reid Triangle

Five-and-a-half months of preparation for what? That must be what’s running through the 26-year-old mind of Kevin Kolb. When the Eagles traded longtime star Donovan McNabb to Washington on Easter Sunday, the keys to the complex West Coast Offense were given to Kolb. Many believed 2010 to be a transition year and would settle for a pedestrian season with Kolb having much to learn Yet now, two weeks into the season, there is a mega controversy at QB in Philadelphia. Philadelphia? Controversy?! Nothing new.

Michael Vick now takes the reins and will be under scrutiny for his every wrongdoing in The City of Brotherly Love. Vick 2.0 comes with a two-dimensional pedigree that will help evolve the Eagles’ offense. He may be at his very best right now and looks to have matured a lot since his tenure in Atlanta. Vick will typically be the best athlete on the field at all times and is a major game-changer. He has the ability, through his skills, to make a defense’s entire game-plan change in an instant.

But this was supposed to be Kevin Kolb’s team now and in the future. Well, suddenly plans have changed and Coach Andy Reid went with the hot hand in Vick. This is unfair to Kolb though. While Reid cannot necessarily worry about sensitivity in this issue, he must do what is best for his football team first and foremost. Or as Reid himself would put it, “put the guys in position to make plays.”

Michael Vick may be the answer now, Kevin Kolb is a much better option in the future for the Eagles. A future that actually may not include Vick, Kolb or Reid much longer. The Eagles spent Wednesday afternoon fielding calls from various teams about Kolb. Vick may not want to stick around past this year if it entails being a backup since he’s clearly proved that he can still start at this level. And Reid’s clock may be ticking as well with fans growing impatient of Reid’s antics and indecisiveness. This may be Reid’s last shot to prove to the Eagle brass that he’s their best option.

Ultimately, what this comes down to is a selfish coach trying to feed his own ego. An ego that he gained through Donovan McNabb’s tenure and has since maintained in this new era of Eagles football. Kevin Kolb was robbed of the opportunity to play starting Quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles not long after he was given the privilege. Plain and simple. Though the fan base would have had to suffer while Kolb experienced a learning curve, the right move is to go back to Kolb. The problem boils down to a coach who does not have the guts to pull the trigger, or maybe he already did.

Stage is Set: Phillies Look to “CHOP” Atlanta

“The Tomahawk Chop” has become a trademark of The Atlanta Braves’ crowd in Georgia. It’s their war chant, their main source of power. Usually when this notion is referenced at Turner Field, it means the Braves are taking advantage of the home crowd. This has been a common occurrence this season with Atlanta’s league-best 52-23 home record. Now, their archrival Philadelphia Phillies are looking to do just that to the Braves over the next three days, which could eliminate them from NL East Title contention altogether.

The tide has shifted drastically over the past few weeks with the Phillies now holding a three game lead over the Braves. The Braves took over the lead on May 30th in the midst of a three-game sweep of the Phils and held it up until September 12th. Their lead was growing by the day in the middle of the season and looked to be insurmountable with little hope for a Phillie comeback this time around.

But, the Phillies were able to persevere and remain in striking distance of the Braves. Near the trade deadline they were able to acquire another ace in Roy Oswalt. In mixing Oswalt with aces Cole Hamels and Roy Halladay, the Phillies were left with a Trio of Aces and a wonky offense. Wonky though, would soon become wonderful again and hence this is where The NL East Race stands on September 20th, 2010. The Phillies have a three-game lead and will send “The BIG Three” to the hill in consecutive days at home against Atlanta, with hopes of taking their toughest NL Title to date.

This season has been anything but easy for the Phillies, with an erratic offense and injuries among other things. The offense lost sync somewhere in late May and never regained their swagger until just a few weeks ago. Sandwiched in the middle of this all were injuries to former NL MVPs Ryan Howard and Jimmy Rollins as well as All-Stars Chase Utley, Placido Polanco and Shane Victorino. The Phillies have now won 19 of their last 23 games albeit taking a lead in the NL East Race.

Now, with the offense ready to explode and the pitching match-ups precisely in place, the Phillies look to “chop” Bobby Cox and the Braves for the last time. Hopefully they will be able to make the season finale at Turner Field irrelevant in the process. The next three days will present the season’s biggest test for the Phillies and Braves alike, two teams that have been battle-tested all season long. I believe that whichever way this series swings will play a large role in determining the representative of the National League in The World Series.

The Phillies have faced adversity all season and somehow have the best record in the NL (nearly MLB) to show for. Adversity has been as much a part of the Phillies as their red pinstripes this season as they’ve grown as a team because of their turmoil. Charlie Manuel has stuck with his guns all season long and now it appears to be finally paying off. In many ways this has been Manuel’s greatest challenge as a manager and now he and his team are better prepared for October.

September’s “King of Swing” Ryan Howard has swatted his team back to NL supremacy. Over the last three Septembers (’07-’09) Howard has 28 HR’s with 85 RBI and a .298 batting average. With another huge September in progress, Howard is looking to ignite the Phillies into October play with great momentum in hand.