The Nyjer Morgan Experience



Nyjer Morgan has taken Major League Baseball and the city of Milwaukee by storm this year. He has run away with the 2011 Brian Wilson Craziest Man in Baseball Award. His ability on the field is one thing, but what is going on inside his head is like entering a whole new world.

Morgan came up in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ farm system. Making his debut in 2007, his energy instantly brought new life to the team. The 2009 season was when Morgan really began to make his mark as many avid baseball fans may remember. The Pirates decided to trade the speedy Morgan to the Washington Nationals mid-way through the 2009 season. Morgan went on to steal 42 bases that year. During his brief tenure with the Nationals, Morgan’s contributions may have been highlighted more by an incident where he charged the mound than by his play on the field. The biggest move of Morgan’s career was when he was traded from the Nationals to the Milwaukee Brewers before the 2011 season. He has made his presence felt ever since.

If you had to describe Nyjer Morgan’s play on the field this season, you probably would have called it solid. If you had to describe Nyjer Morgan as a person this season, then one word definitely will not be enough. Morgan is a man with not one, but two explosive personalities, if you count his alter ego Tony Plush of course. Morgan’s post-game interviews have become so unpredictable and so wild that you almost root for him to be the player of the game just so you get to hear what’s on his mind. Whether he is talking about keeping it “real professional” or “tickling the ball into the outfield” or self-proclaiming himself Tony Plush or talking about his “plushdamentals” or running post-game interviews of Prince Fielder for the local TV station or dropping the f-bomb as a TBS reporter attempts to get an interview, you have to admit that the man adds great entertainment value. I mean, come on, we are talking about a man who had a walk-off double this year, and was confused when his team was rushing toward him because he thought it was the eighth inning. If that isn’t living in your own world, then I don’t know what is.

Nyjer Morgan has brought new life to the Milwaukee Brewers and has also brought media attention that the Brewers have never gotten from simply playing baseball. Recently Morgan has brought the “bear claws” to the Brewers. Basically after a big play, everybody on the team does bear claws (pictured above). Sound stupid to you? Well it shouldn’t because the Texas Rangers rode a similar campaign to the World Series last year. Whether you love Nyjer Morgan or hate Nyjer Morgan, he brings swagger to a team and teams ride swagger deep into the playoffs. Don’t believe me? The San Francisco Giants rode the Brian Wilson swagger train to a ring last year. The teams that you would expect to be in the World Series don’t have silly celebrations and they don’t have a single player with enough swagger to encapsulate an entire city. Name me a player on the Boston Red Sox or the New York Yankees or the Philadelphia Phillies that can do that. You can’t because there aren’t any. There is no coincidence that Nyjer Morgan and the Brewers are in the National League Championship Series and I wouldn’t be surprised if they rode him to the World Series. AHHHHHHH!

Agree or disagree? Leave a comment.

Written by Kevin Rossi

TV Ratings- Phils Push It To New Level

A very interesting piece from SportsBusiness Daily regarding this season's MLB TV ratings. Do the Phils have the push and the staying power to start their own regional network?

Read it here.

WATCH: NCAA Athletes and Money

Take a few minutes to watch parts 1 and 2 and feel free to let us know how you feel about the issue.

l'equip petit

Try not to smile. I dare you.

l'equip petit from el cangrejo on Vimeo.

Follow the Dragons on Social Media

As social media networks have become more integral within the professional sports "arena', the Drexel Athletics office has taken notice. Here's a press release regarding Drexel's newly launched campaign. A couple notes- I've already downloaded the iPhone app and it is simple and very useful. Also, "The Dragons Den" should turn out to be an awesome blog and hopefully there is some sort of partnership there in the future.

PHILADELPHIA - Drexel fans will be able to follow their favorite teams in a variety of new ways during the 2011-12 season as the Dragons have recently launched pages on multiple social media networks. In addition, the official Drexel University Athletics iPhone and Droid applications are now available, allowing fans to stay connected to the Dragons on the go. Drexel is also unveiling a new blog, the Dragons Den, which will offer fans an inside look into the world of Drexel athletics.

Fans can follow Drexel on Facebook at Drexel Dragons Athletics, and at each team's individual Facebook page. For a link to all the teams' pages, visit this page.

Drexel Athletics will continue to have a presence on Youtube on the department's official YouTube Channel, which will now feature expanded postgame video interviews as well as behind-the-scenes clips from life with the Dragons.

Fans can also follow the Dragons on their newly-launched Twitter account, @DrexelDragons.

The athletics department will premiere a blog on DrexelDragons.com this fall. The blog, entitled The Dragons Den, will feature expanded coverage of all 18 varsity teams, as well as a regular round-up of external coverage of the Dragons.

The iPhone and Droid applications will allow you to read and share the latest headlines from all sports from your mobile phones. Rosters and schedules are available and selected home games feature live streaming video as well. Live stats will also be accessible for home contests on the web and on hand-held devices. You can also purchase all the latest merchandise and tickets via these apps. On any phone, Dragons fans can receive the latest scores sent directly to their device via text messaging alerts at the conclusion of each contest by signing up here. Standard text messaging rates apply.

FACEBOOK
Drexel Dragons Athletics
A complete list of Dragons team pages

YOUTUBE
Drexel Dragons Official YouTube Channel

TWITTER
@DrexelDragons

BLOG
The Dragons Den

iPHONE APP
Click here

DROID APP
Click here

TEXT ALERTS
Sign up here

Diehard NHL Fan Hits Free Agency

On today of all days, I come to a crossroads. Enough years of abuse (which is pretty much what it comes down to at this point) have taken a toll. So, as a (hopefully humorous) coping mechanism, I’ve put myself up for free agency. I’ll listen to the offers from prospective teams who want my services as a die hard, intelligent hockey fan.

A little background: After moving to Pittsburgh, I started my hockey days as a fan of the Penguins in 2001, towards the end of the Lemieux era. When we moved to Columbus, I sort of followed the Pens and Blue Jackets for a few years, but it wasn't until the lockout in 2004 that I really became a true hockey fan. In the 05-06 season I jumped onto the hometown Columbus Blue Jackets train, taking in everything I could. In the five seasons since then, I've been as devoted and intelligent a fan as you're likely to find. I stuck with this team through the muck thus far (and trust me, there was a lot. Thanks Doug MacLean!) The menagerie of questionable draft choices, signings, trades, personnel moves, and empty promises over the years culminated with the trade of my favorite athlete in any sport last week. I'm not ruling out a return to the Jackets. The look to "free agency" is to give me an opportunity to test the market. I love hockey and want to a fanbase that's passionate and a franchise that I can put my faith in.

That's where you, the readers, come in. What I need from you is submissions! Please send an email to rmpratt827@gmail.com explaining why I should join your (or another) team’s fanbase. I’ll put together a blog post after a week or so going through the teams I get offers from. Take it seriously, humorously (Desperately, blindly-homer Toronto fan? Please apply. I need something to laugh at), or anything in between. Make it good! Write it as yourself if you like, or a player, coach, front office person, anything! I want creativity! Every team I get is one fewer I have to do.

So please, email me your submissions ASAP! I’ll probably post one of the conferences this upcoming week, and the other the week after (most likely East than West). 

-Ryan Pratt

NOTE: This is a joke. I will not be selecting a new NHL team based on your submissions, but it is an amusing blog post idea, ain't it?

2011 NHL Draft Notes: From Minnesota With Love.

As I was watching the 2011 NHL Entry Draft Friday night, recently without a home team to cheer for (Jake was the last straw in a long, masochistic relationship with that team), I thought, “hey, I like John Buccigross and Bill Simmons. They do those ‘watch a game/event and give my thoughts as it goes along’ pieces, why can’t I?” So I did. As it went along, I wrote down my thoughts during the first round of the draft, for your reading pleasure!

7:03pm – Mention #1 of the trade. Grr. This isn’t starting well.

7:08pm – No Doug MacLean sightings. This is good.

7:25pm - Sharp, sharp jersey for the Oilers. I’m liking the darker blue and orange. Congrats, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins!

7:27pm – Tambellini denies Ryan Smyth back to Edmonton minutes after Dreger reports it… hmm? (Edit: As of 10:50am on Saturday, nothing’s official either. Odd.)

7:32pm – I hope more Euros follow Landeskog’s lead and play major-junior Canadian hockey in their draft year.

7:34pm – Loving this “Go Jets, Go!” chant on the feed. Great to see them back!

7:40pm – Larsson drops to the Devils? Lucky ducks, that’s exactly the player they need…if they take him. Huberdeau #3. Florida keeps getting great talent. Dale Tallon is a hell of a builder.

7:48pm – Great pick, Jersey! They needed a top offensive defenseman, and Larsson can be just that.

7:54pm – Is Garth Snow channeling Barry Melrose? #mullets

7:56pm – Strome will be unbelievable with Tavares… nice pick! Too bad their owner is a little out there. And they still are paying Rick DiPietro.

7:59pm – Mika Zibanejad: a fantastic name and one of the hottest-rising prospects in this draft. Ottawa’s gotta be happy with that addition.

8:04pm – Winnipeg’s on the clock. I love everything about this. Go Jets Go!

8:09pm – Seeing Claude Noel still fills me with rage. That’s not going to change.

8:11pm – First pick of the new Jets era: Mark Scheifele? Congrats, kid. You’re now Trivial Pursuit-fodder. I have a feeling you’re going to be another late bloomer ala Ryan Johansen last year.

8:13pm – All this Sean Couturier dropping is reminding me of Angelo Esposito in 2007.

8:15pm – Please don’t mention the trade.

8:17pm – Of course they mentioned it. Mention count: 2.

8:18pm – Mention #4…and they take Couturier.

8:22pm – Mention #5… Comparisons to Jordan Staal? Um, okay.

8:24pm – Seven mentions, and Holmgren is saying nothing but BS right now. That’s your GM, Philadelphia.

8:26pm – The rich get richer with Dougie Hamilton. “Thanks for the Cup, Toronto.” –Peter Chiarelli   Still think Kessel was worth it, Burkie? Hamilton, Jared Knight, and Tyler Seguin…dang!

8:30pm – The hometown crowd is going… Wild! Sorry, bad pun.

8:38pm – AGH ADAM FOOTE. I’d say he’s a classy player and person... but I don’t enjoy lying.

8:40pm – Duncan Siemens … Grant Clitsome … what’s next?

8:47pm – I don’t care if he plays D; Ryan Murphy’s a monster in the offensive zone. I could watch his highlights all day.

8:48pm – Paul Coffey loves Ryan Murphy? Go figure, a one-dimensional offensive player loves another one.

8:52pm – SVEN! Quick guy out of Switzerland off to Calgary! Portland has a power program right now. Three Top-15 picks in the last two drafts.

8:57pm – Sven Baertshi second Euro to play in CHL and be a first round draft pick this year. Keep up the trend!

9:01pm – Oleksiak is HUGE. 6’7" defender. First NCAA guy drafted this year. Seeing him beside Bettman makes my night. Tiny little troll-man.

9:03pm – So which cheap grunt of a player will be drafted by New York this time?

9:11pm – NYR just have awful luck. First Cherepanov, then the Boogeyman. Sad, tragic stuff.

9:15pm – Is it just me, or does Terry Pegula act like he’s 94?

9:16pm – Wow, the NA-only trend for the Sabres is over!

9:24pm – And another French Canadian goes to Montreal. Good dman, good fit.

9:28pm – Nevermind. Beaulieu's not French Canadian.

9:33pm – Dang. Brent Burns to San Jose. I like that pickup.

9:36pm – Mark McNeil to Chicago. Compared to… Manny Malhotra? Whaaaa?

9:40pm – Bettman is a troll. A tiny troll of a man.

9:41pm – Oscar Klefbom is such a boom or bust prospect. I’m scared for his future. Could be huge… or burn out fast.

9:48pm – And now for the last first round pick in Phoenix Coyotes history?

9:50pm – It’s a crying shame to see Russia’s fall from glory. Sign the dang transfer agreement already. Quit being a pain.

9:51pm – YEAH CONNOR MURPHY! Former CBJ assistant coach Gord Murphy’s son. But will he be the last Phoenix first rounder ever? I’d think so.

9:56pm – Stefan Noesen: a true Texan in the NHL? Cool. Don’t like Corey Perry-comparisons, but eh.

10:01pm – Disaronno commercial #6 on the night… Product placement much?

10:05pm – Toronto trades up for … Tyler Biggs! Another mean, nasty American kid for Burke.

10:06pm – I like the Ohio connection. Biggs from Cincinnati, going to Miami (OH), just like Brian Burke’s late son, Brandon.

10:10pm – Go figure. Detroit trades out of the 1^st round… again. Gets two second round picks. Who wants to bet they go off the board for some obscure Euro, who’ll be a superstar?

10:15pm – Joe Morrow of the Portland Winterhawks taken by the Pittsburgh Penguins. ANOTHER Winterhawk in the first round. #dynasty

10:19pm – Sens picking for third time at #24—Matt Puempel out of Peterborough. Another scoring monster to the anemic Sens.

10:24pm – These Dominos commercials with the kids is getting on my nerves. Whiney kids. Blech.

10:36pm – Brian Campbell waived NTC to Florida Panthers? Well then. I’d heard a different rumor on Campbell today.

10:39pm – Stan Bowman is a busy man. Could they have cap flexibility? That’s a marked difference from last summer. Should be interesting come July 1^st.

10:42pm – Steve Yzerman and Guy Boucher. Classy, classy men.

10:43pm – And there goes our first Russian. Vladislav Namestnikov from the London Knights. Grew up in Michigan, knows English. Not your typical homelander. Could be a very good pick for the Lightning.

10:49pm – Stan Bowman doing work. When will Campbell be moved?

10:52pm – Great start to the draft for the host city, Minnesota. Lots of talent coming in.

10:56pm – No love lost between Minnesota and Vancouver. No wonder Mike Gillis didn’t announce the pick. #underlingsdoingdirtywork

10:58pm – Nicklas Jensen to the Nucks at #29. Strikes me as a very Vancouver player. Maybe because of Jannick Hansen haha. Another Dane in the CHL… I’m liking this.

11:00pm – Still no Campbell trade. Cool to see it unfold before our eyes, though.

11:02pm – Y’know, I’d give almost anything to be a fly on the wall for an NHL draft room ala Gare Joyce in 06 and 07. Or just work the draft. Either would make me happy.  Where's next year's draft again?

11:05pm: Another Swede playing in the CHL goes to Anaheim at #30. I like this trend a lot, gets Euros acclimated to the North American game. Is that obvious yet?

11:06pm: Hot Swedish mom and bug-eyed bow-tied brother alert. Oh, the NHL Draft.

11:07pm: Semi-official: Brian Campbell to Florida for Rusty Olesz. Interesting!

11:08pm: Day 2 tomorrow: can’t wait to see my team draft! But wait… I don’t have one. :/ Awkward.

-Ryan Pratt