Mammoth Blog

On this Date in 1963, Vivian Malone and James Hood successfully enrolled at the University of Alabama following Gov. George Wallace's famous "stand in the schoolhouse door." In 2001 Timothy McVeigh, the 1995 Oklahoma City bomber, was executed.

Little Big Town's career has had more stops and starts than a bus ride uptown.

Since forming in 1998, they've had multiple label changes and loads of personal drama, and yet the original lineup -- Philip Sweet, Kimberly Schlapman, Jimi Westbrook and Karen Fairchild -- remains intact.

With a new label, a new CD in the works and a high-profile performance at this week's CMA Music Festival, Sweet says the band feels more stable than it has in awhile.

"It's a good time for us because we have a fresh perspective," he said recently. "Now we feel like we've got it all lined up a little better and have a really strong outlet to get our music out there."

The trek hasn't been easy.

Little Big Town broke through as a quartet with four lead singers, tight harmonies and a '70s pop/rock sensibility that smacked of groups like Fleetwood Mac and the Eagles.

They signed briefly to Mercury Nashville, then to Sony's Monument Records and then to the independent Equity Music Group where they finally hit big with their 2005 album "The Road to Here," which included the hits "Boondocks" and "Bring It On Home."

But Equity fell on hard times (the label folded last year) as the band was releasing their follow up CD, "A Place to Land," late in 2007.

Capitol Nashville picked them up and rereleased the album in 2008, but by then they'd lost momentum and the disc didn't catch on.

"We were really proud of the music we had made and felt we had evolved," Sweet said. "I think the circumstances around that album were really inhibitors and the reason a lot of fans didn't know it came out or didn't see it. I feel like we never really tapped into the fans who bought 'The Road to Here.'"

Apart from professional problems, the band has also gone through its share of life-changing moments personally over the years. Schlapman's first husband, Steve Roads (also the band's lawyer), died of a heart attack in 2005. Westbrook and Fairchild married each other in 2006. Both Schlapman and Sweet had children in 2007.

Still, Little Big Town forged on, touring with Keith Urban, Alan Jackson and Sugarland; performing with John Mellencamp on the road and on his ubiquitous truck commercial theme, "This is Our Country;" and launching their first headlining tour.

"I think all those pressures both internally and externally that have been put upon them makes it remarkable that the four of them are still together," remarked Lon Helton, editor and publisher of the industry trade publication "Country Aircheck."

On the contrary, Sweet says, the adversity made them closer.

"We're not a fly-by-night thing, something that was just put together," he said. "We're a family. We love what we do, and we want to keep doing it for a long time."

This month, the band is nominated for two Country Music Television awards for a collaborative video with Sugarland and Jake Owen, "Life in a Northern Town." They're also working on a new album expected out in 2010 on Capitol.

Most of all, they seem grounded again.

"I think they've landed in a good place, and it's just a question of cranking out the music," said David Scarlett, senior editor of Country Weekly magazine. source>>>

Imagine camping outdoors for four straight days amidst 90-degree temperatures with 80,000 other music fans.

Then imagine the dust those 160,000 feet kick up crisscrossing a 700-acre farm beneath the sweltering Tennessee sun.

It might not sound ideal, especially when combined with limited showering facilities, mud-generating thunderstorms and grungy portable toilets, but thousands of people from across the country willingly subject themselves to those conditions each year.

They do it for Bonnaroo, a world-renowned music festival in southern Tennessee that has become a cultural touchstone and mecca for music fans.

Tens of thousands flock each June to Bonnaroo to catch some of the top names in music. The names span nearly every corner of the music universe, from rock acts to hip-hop, electronica, New Orleans funk, bluegrass and indie rock.

This year's lineup includes the legendary Bruce Springsteen, in addition to jam-band pioneers Phish. It also features hip-hop royalty in the form of Beastie Boys and Public Enemy, country superstar Merle Haggard and modern-rock trendsetters Elvis Costello and David Byrne. There's even room for up-and-coming buzz acts, including MGMT, Animal Collective, Grizzly Bear and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, to play on the same bill as soul superstar Al Green and the always-popular Snoop Dogg.

That musical diversity, mixed with the promise of discovering a new act for the first time, makes Bonnaroo a hit with people from all walks of life. It's not uncommon to see a nearly-broke college student from New Hampshire and paycheck-to-paycheck waitress from West Virginia camped side-by-side with a lawyer from Ohio and Web editor from Manhattan.

Those visitors dance beside one another in impossibly large fields and bond over the music and sometimes-challenging conditions.

Later, after they have returned to their homes, apartments, condos and college dorms, they no doubt will nod and smile whenever they read or hear about Bonnaroo 2009 or pass someone on the street with a Bonnaroo 2009 T-shirt.

That is why I am going to my fourth straight Bonnaroo this week -- to soak in all the sights and sounds -- and I will share my experiences via a photo gallery, to be posted here Sunday. source>>>

Some people might be surprised by today's announcement that Auto-Tune autocrat T-Pain will be part of the CMT Music Awards next Tuesday. Not me. "Why exactly would the CMT Awards organizers feel that a veritable who's who of country stars like Taylor Swift, Keith Urban, Martina McBride, Toby Keith, and Brad Paisley was missing...T-Pain?", you ask. Well, I'm not even sure that the CMT powers-that-be had a choice in the matter. Ever since reading about how T-Pain waltzed onstage uninvited during Jay-Z's live debut of "D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)" last weekend, I'm assuming that's just how that guy rolls. Hey, just because T-Pain shows up at a totally incongruous event doesn't mean anyone asked him to be there!

Okay, just kidding. T-Pain is a very fun musician, and I am sure that his unique joie de vivre will make this broadcast that much more enjoyable to watch. He certainly makes more sense than fellow presenters like Bill O'Reilly and Luke Wilson, who aren't even singers. And maybe this explains why Taylor Swift tweeted on Monday about being in the studio with T-Pain? (Or maybe not.) Anyway, what do you think? Does T-Pain's involvement make you more or less interested in tuning in for the CMT Music Awards? source>>>

THE Life 'Frica festival at the Warehouse picked momentum Saturday with Elemotho's brilliant and inspiring performance that saw him churn out 12 songs in a two-hour gig.

Big Ben opened the weekend's shows on Friday while Afrodisiac's Sunday performance was hit hard by light attendance.
Elemotho's music can best be described as the music of the future making waves today.
His music is a fusion of almost every African beat: Jabu Kanyile (South Africa); Oliver Mtukudzi (Zimbabwe); Salif Keita (Senegal); Eric Wainaina (Kenya); Koffi Olomide (DRC) and Fela Anikulapo Kuti (Nigeria).
This does not in any way make Elemotho who performed at the Warehouse Saturday last week as part of the Life 'Frica programme a copycat, but one who fits snugly into the pan-Africanist jacket.
His music is mature, long lasting and can appeal to any one any where any time because of its hybridity and themes.
The fact that he is most probably one of the very few young Namibian musicians who has had the opportunity of playing to an international audience makes Elemotho see the world differently. He has performed in Hanover, Germany; Platform Concert in Elverum, Norway; Norwegian National Day, Harmar, Norway; Awesome Africa Music in SA; Café Concerto, Vienna; at several venues in Spain including Tarifa, Sevilla, Jaen, Andujar, Valencia and Madrid; and Zanzibar.
Later this month, Elemotho will play in Uganda and then in Swaziland next month.
His Warehouse performance was like a warm-up for the forthcoming African tours. Clad in his trade mark white attire and barefooted, Elemotho performed 12 songs whose themes cut across what is happening or has happened on the African continent.
The racially mixed audience responded warmly to Elemotho's beat and they erupted as the music warmed its way into their systems.
His song popularly known as Ganja from Okahandja had the whole house onto its feet and singing along.
If anything, Elemotho's performances and music show that languages come from a common base and when sung well, people understand the message.
He is probably one of the very few musicians who can sing and dance while playing their guitars.
Big Ben played before an almost all-black audience on the previous day.
The former broadcaster is a great musician but one who cannot dance. Dressed in leather jacket and with a scurf hanging down his neck, Big Ben mounted the stage much to the delight of most female fans.
Afrodisiac plays jazz which is music of the soul but despite its warmth and relaxing effect, very few people understand it. Jazz is known to be the cradle of most music genres but for some unknown reasons, it has remained stuck in the minds of sentimentalists while failing to appeal to a larger audience.
It was most probably for this reason that Afrodisiac performed before a handful people Sunday.
The Life 'Frica festival which is being sponsored by the Namibian Breweries Limited through its Tafel Lager brand rolled off with Tate Buti's performance two weeks ago with four more artists - Latitudz, Ras Levi, !Oubasen and Tequila - taking up to the stage from yesterday through to Saturday. source>>>

Dierks Bentley kept it cool, signing autographs in the air-conditioned comfort of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum's gift shop, and Rodney Atkins and other country artists cruised around downtown Nashville during events leading up to the official opening of the 2009 CMA Music Festival.

Bentley's autograph session and the annual kick-off parade were just two of the activities taking place Wednesday (June 10) as Nashville once again strives to live up to its reputation as Music City. Later on Wednesday, a celebrity softball game will take place at Greer Stadium, and Alan Jackson will be making a rare club appearance at Cadillac Ranch, a nightspot on Lower Broadway.

The festival, which runs Thursday-Sunday (June 11-14), features daytime concerts at Riverfront Park and other locations, additional performances during daily block parties in front of the Sommet Center and nightly concerts at LP Field. Additionally, the festival also brings a wide array of other activities, including fan club parties throughout town and autograph sessions at the Nashville Convention Center.

Atkins served as grand marshal of Wednesday's parade which also featured the Oak Ridge Boys, Bo Bice, Steve Holy, Bomshel, Kate & Kacey, Caitlin & Will, the Carter Twins, Ty Herndon, Jypsi, Halfway to Hazard, Colt Ford, Brad Cotter, Lonestar, Sammy Kershaw and others.

Bentley was a veteran of the CMA Music Festival even before he signed a record deal. Actually, his earliest experiences were when the event was still called Fan Fair -- before the festival moved downtown from the Tennessee State Fairgrounds.

"I had a chance to work there when it was at the fairgrounds," Bentley told CMT.com earlier this week. "I was working for the CMA at the time, as an intern, so I worked there for about two or three years, driving golf carts. I remember driving around Jo Dee Messina in a golf cart and driving around Sammy Kershaw in a golf cart. I was just trying to figure out how to make it all work [in the music business], and I figured a good way to get an inside look at the operating manual was to work at the CMA."

This year, Bentley is hosting a private party for his fan club members and will be performing Thursday at LP Field, but he made time to schedule a public autograph session at the Hall of Fame.

"There are a couple of things that came along that I couldn't say no to," he said. "The Country Music Hall of Fame asked me to sign. I love the Hall of Fame. It's really important to know the history of country music. The music is changing so rapidly, and it's so important, maybe now more than ever, to be aware of the guys that started this thing. I was happy to come sign for them and bring some fans there."

Regarding his fan club party, Bentley said, "It always ends up taking about six or seven hours to meet everyone and do it properly and not rush anybody. I don't want anybody to feel rushed when they do a meet-and-greet with me. I want them to enjoy their experience. ... I just want it to be an overall part of the good experience that they have here at the CMA Music Festival."

Bentley contends that the CMA Music Festival is unlike any other event.

"If you like music, and you enjoy the outdoor concert experience, and if you like to see a lot of acts in country music, it's a really cool thing," he said. "A couple of years back, they moved it from the old fairgrounds to try to give it a modern remake, and they've done a great job. ... You're going to come out of this weekend with some friends you didn't know before -- in different states -- and keep up with them throughout the year and meet up with them again next year. It's the ultimate country music event, for sure." source>>>

Miranda Lambert has set a Sept. 29 release date for her new album, Revolution, which will feature her latest single, "Dead Flowers." Lambert co-wrote some of the new songs with Blake Shelton, Ashley Monroe and Allen Shamblin. In addition, Lady Antebellum's Dave Haywood and Charles Kelley sing harmony on "Love Song," a track co-written with Lambert. Songwriters John Prine and Julie Miller also have songs on the album. Lambert is currently touring with Kenny Chesney and will perform Sunday (June 14) at the CMA Music Festival in Nashville. source>>>

Gary Allan welcomed several hundred members of his fan club party to Rocketown, a club in downtown Nashville, on Tuesday afternoon (June 9), and fielded questions in between his songs. For those of you who weren't there, here's the scoop:

When will his new album be released? In the fall. Right now, he's only completed four songs, he said. He also played his new single, "Today," a ballad about one guy's really bad day -- which is actually an awesome day for his ex.

Why isn't he playing at the nightly concerts at LP Field this year? Nobody asked him, he said. Plus, this is the first summer he's taken off (partly due to the recession, he admitted), and he's just trying to lay low by the pool.

Why doesn't he win awards? "So much of that goes back to politics," he said, "and I'm not into politics." He went on to say that awards are all about trading votes and echoed a fan's comment that it's all bulls--- anyway.

Is he going to make a live album? Yes, even if he has to pay for it himself. He would also like to make a live DVD because he considers his current band the best he's ever had, but it's up to his record label to release a DVD with all of his music videos. And he hasn't even been to the label's office in about four years, he said.

Why was he wearing a bandage around his wrist? He had a few drinks late one night, slammed his hand against a table, bent it backwards and pulled back all the tendons, he said. When he went to grab a coffee mug the next morning, he couldn't even hold it up. He noted that he'd had an MRI Tuesday morning, but it seemed to be strong enough to play some guitar.

Why wasn't "Like It's a Bad Thing" released as a single? There were plans to use it in a Chevy Camaro ad with Dale Earnhardt Jr., but the car company pulled the ad when the recession hit.

Is he playing the East Coast soon? Yes. His manager said that he'll play about 100 shows between July and December, coast to coast. Some will be with Jack Ingram, but most will be at festivals, where he'll be playing full sets.

Is he going to make a Christmas album? It's up to the label, although he has already recorded about six Christmas songs over the years, he said.

Is he going to record a duet? Yes, you can expect a cover of Buddy Miller and Julie Miller's "Gasoline and Matches" with LeAnn Rimes. "I think when somebody wants to dirty up their image a little bit, they come to us," he said.

How does it make him feel to see his most dedicated fans all in one place? "I hope none of you come over and trash my car," he joked, apparently alluding to his recent court case involving a stalker.

Why did he take "Smoke Rings in the Dark" out of his concert set list? "You can't play 'em all," he said.

Allan also raffled off several of his stage shirts, including the one he wore in the "Songs About Rain" video. Later, he auctioned the shirt he wore in the "Her Man" video for $525 -- a relative steal compared to the $5,000 bid for a pair of his well-worn jeans. All funds will go to the Vanderbilt Medical Center in memory of his late father.

His manager also indicated that plans are in the works to host another fan club party in Las Vegas in advance of his New Year's Eve show at the House of Blues. When the audience was asked if they'd be willing to come for that, they roared their approval. source>>>

Nathan Barr has scored horror films like "Hostel" and the HBO vampire series "True Blood," but what really keeps the composer up at night is fear he will not get paid for music distributed online.

"'True Blood' is my first big show for TV and it's definitely going to see a lot of play on the Internet. It's a big issue for me," Barr, 36, told Reuters in an interview. "I don't understand why composers don't get paid if someone downloads it."

The issue is the latest digital copyright debate pitting creators in the entertainment industry on one side and studios, broadcasters, cable operators and technology companies on the other. Barr underscores how a growing number of artists -- writers, actors and, yes, composers -- feel they are not fairly compensated for content distributed on the Internet.

Actors and writers have aired their grievances and demanded Hollywood studios pay up. Now, composers, along with publishers, are urging Congress to change copyright law so that when music airs in an audio-visual download, it is considered a public performance that earns them royalties.

The stakes are high: Industry experts believe composers could potentially earn nearly $100 million in additional royalty payments annually as Internet viewing grows -- if the law was changed to deem downloads of music in audio-visual works as public performances.

"We see audio visual as a vigorous growth area for composers, whether it's on Hulu, Netflix or iTunes, and a big issue is clarifying public performance rights as they apply to digital downloads," said Richard Conlon of Broadcast Music Inc (BMI), a performing rights group that collects royalties on behalf of artists.

The copyright issue, apart from being proposed legislation, is also expected to be the subject of a House Judiciary committee hearing in July, industry experts say.

At the center of the debate is a federal court ruling in April 2007, considered a victory for companies like AOL, RealNetworks and Yahoo! Inc YHOO.O> that found that downloading a music file was not considered a "performance."

AU REVOIR

Composers are arguably one of most overlooked among the so-called frontline entertainers behind a movie or TV series.

"Most composers don't get pensions like other people ... and we're now realizing we're not covered for much of the way entertainment is viewed online," Barr protested.

Performing rights group American Society of Composers Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) is appealing the 2007 ruling.

And ASCAP, BMI, and various other publishing and songwriting groups sent a letter in March 2009 to Congress urging a change in the U.S. Copyright Law.

"It's important these markets get locked down as composers really rely on public performance royalties," Conlon said.

Meanwhile, the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), a trade group for Hollywood studios such as General Electric Co's Universal Pictures, Viacom Inc's Paramount and Walt Disney Co, strongly opposes these efforts, arguing that a download is not a performance.

"The MPAA is opposed to amending the copyright law to require a double payment for music in movies and TV shows downloaded from the Internet," Angela Martinez, a spokeswoman for the MPAA said. "We do not need to amend the Copyright Act to compensate these composers twice for the same activity."

Veteran entertainment lawyer Jay Cooper said composers collect performance royalties when their music airs on cable, TV, radio and is streamed over the Web.

"But if a film along with the music in it is incorporated in a DVD, the typical contract between a composer and studio does not grant the composer a royalty or payment for sales of the DVD or for any downloads of the DVD," Cooper said.

"Composers believe the performance right of a download is not a contractual right but a legal right to which there is great opposition," he said.

Martinez and others like Jonathan Potter, executive director of the Digital Media Association, which represents online services like Apple Inc iTunes and Yahoo, believe composers are being disingenuous.

"This legislative request is the latest effort by these groups to blur the lines between making a copy and making a public performance in order to get royalties where none are obligated or should be obligated," said Potter. source>>>

How much is too much?

That is the question Jim Balsillie has yet to answer.

That is the question the National Hockey League must wrestle with should it be asked by bankruptcy court Judge Redfield T. Baum to arrive at a price -- and fast -- for the relocation of the Phoenix Coyotes in Hamilton.

Balsillie, the BlackBerry billionaire, has bid $212.5 million U.S. for the Chapter 11 declared Coyotes, but after Baum stated in court that anyone moving an NHL franchise to Hamilton must pay the league for the right to do so, the price needs to be determined. And when Baum made that declaration, he changed much of the expected parameters surrounding the case and stunned the NHL in the process.

When this case began, the NHL wanted to argue Coyotes owner Jerry Moyes didn't have the right to take this team to bankruptcy. The judge would have none of that.

The NHL also pushed hard to argue that Balsillie does not have the right to put in an offer for a bankrupt franchise and attach a condition on his purchase -- the move to Hamilton. But it was clear in court Tuesday that Baum is open to the franchise being moved, making certain that all parties, including the Toronto Maple Leafs, are appropriately compensated.

The NHL went so far as to work with its fellows from other pro sports. The NFL, NBA and Major League Baseball, splitting the cost on one lawyer, argued that allowing a franchise to move unilaterally would "wreak havoc" on professional sports. That seemed like a logical argument, but Baum shot that down completely.

When the lawyer attempted to argue the NFL had been damaged by the move of the Baltimore Colts to Indianapolis, and subsequent moves that weren't approved by the league, the judge basically laughed in the face of professional sport.

Which brings us back to the relocation fee and all that surrounds it.

Judge Baum indicated he didn't need to be an expert to determine that an NHL franchise in Hamilton was worth more than in Glendale, Ariz. But he also made it clear that the league must be compensated for franchise movement. This is where Balsillie and his campaign to have seven hockey teams in Canada comes in to play.

Would he pay $25 million, the number the Los Angeles Kings were compensated when the Anaheim Ducks came into the NHL?

Would he pay the complex amount that NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said the New Jersey Devils paid when infringing upon the territory of the New York Rangers, Islanders and Philadelphia Flyers. Daly wouldn't put a figure on that, but said it was double the price of the franchise at that time. In fairness, the Colorado Rockies, before moving to New Jersey, were worth next to nothing.

Or is the number the $100 million that's been kicking around?

Balsilie's sidekick Richard Rodier, indicated after court Tuesday that Balsillie has the option of walking away from the deal should a transfer fee be beyond what he considers reasonable. But Balsillie, on his own website yesterday, indicated that he's "one step closer" to bringing the Coyotes to Hamilton.

What Baum is basically doing is forcing the NHL and Balsillie to try and work out a compromise so he won't have to make the ultimate ruling. Should the NHL come up with a number and Balsillie is willing to pay it, the court would almost certainly rule in favour of the sale and the move to Hamilton. Should Balsillie walk away, that basically eliminates the process. And all the while Baum is protective of Balsillie's bid on behalf of the creditors because as he has said over and over in this case, it's the only bid.

He isn't buying any of these phantom bids the NHL is talking about. He calls them hearsay. The irony in all this is the NHL may end up operating the Coyotes in Phoenix for another season and then end up selling the franchise for a low price and getting relocation fees from either Hamilton buyers or Kansas City movers.

We may, in fact, be closer to a seventh NHL team in Canada. That's Balsillie's pledge. It just may not involve him in the end.

It depends on how much he's willing to pay. Balsillie's bid runs out in 19 days. The judge doubts there will be a better offer come an auction in September. Everyone needs to act quickly. source>>>

Quebec's Molson family has made a bid for the National Hockey League's Montreal Canadiens, seeking to regain control of the 24-time Stanley Cup champions.

Geoff Molson, a 38-year-old director of the Canadiens and Molson Coors Brewing Co., is leading the investor group, which also includes brothers Andrew and Justin.

The family said in a statement that they made an offer today to Canadiens owner George Gillett for the team, the Gillett Entertainment Group and the Bell Centre in Montreal.

"We have assembled a very solid and credible group of investors and financial institutions as part of our offer," Geoff Molson said in the statement. "We think our offer has all the ingredients to be well received by the potential seller and the National Hockey League."

Molson said he looks forward to meeting with Gillett, though he declined to comment further on the offer, citing a confidentiality agreement.

Quebecor Media Inc. also filed a separate bid today to buy the Canadiens and their properties. Terms weren't disclosed by Quebecor in a statement.

"The Montreal Canadiens hockey team is unquestionably one of the most prestigious and iconic sports franchises in the world," Quebecor President and Chief Executive Pierre Karl said in the statement. "The team has been part and parcel of our history for a hundred years. We therefore regard this as a golden opportunity for a Quebec group to return this grand institution to local ownership."

Gillett bought the Canadiens from brewer Molson Inc. in 2001. Molson Coors currently owns about 20 percent of the Canadiens, who had a 41-30-11 record this season and were swept by the Boston Bruins in the first round of the playoffs. source>>>

Among the memories that Penguins head coach Dan Bylsma has tucked away from his playing days in Anaheim is the anguish of losing a Game 7. It was six years ago -- on June 9, 2003 -- that he picked up a copy of USA Today only to see his likeness splashed on the front page of the sports section. He had become the illustrative example of the Ducks being denied by New Jersey Devils goalie Martin Brodeur.

Though the newspaper clipping about the Ducks' 3-0 loss is saved somewhere, Bylsma says, "I don't look at it, I don't pick it up. It's not something that I like to think about. It's pretty much emblazoned in my memory."

It's an experience the 38-year-old coach probably never imagined he'd be able to replace, until now. With his Penguins forcing a seventh game Tuesday night, Bylsma finally has a chance to taste the sweetest victory, having already consumed most bitter defeat. "I don't want that experience again," he said. "I had it in '03. I know these guys had it last year. I don't think they want to gain that experience again."

Bylsma's road back to this point started on February 15, when he became the unlikely replacement for Michel Therrien, the coach who had led the Penguins to the Cup final last year but whose style began to wear in the dressing room. With Pittsburgh falling out of the playoff picture and fading fast, the unknown coach of the Penguins' AHL affiliate stepped in and opened things up for the young team.

"Dan brings a lot of energy every day," center Jordan Staal said. "Sometimes, you don't even think he sleeps at night . . . It's always nice to come to the rink and have him jumping around and excited to go out and play some hockey. He's always fun to be around, and he's fun to play for."

The change in philosophy jump-started a remarkable comeback, from tenth to fourth place in the Eastern Conference in a matter of eight weeks. Starting with a five-game road trip, the team was reminded just how good it can be. "We won the first three, and then we made a couple of trades, picked up Billy [Guerin] and [Craig] Adams,"said defenseman Rob Scuderi. "I thought after that, once you saw the team play, we had a realistic chance of really turning this around. For me, that was a turning point in the season."

With their new additions helping out, and the return of defenseman Sergei Gonchar from shoulder surgery, the Penguins began to play like a championship team for their first-time coach. Bylsma, who has often said that he's not the type of person to deny or ignore the thoughts that run through his mind, still can't believe it sometimes. "I do think about [the journey to this point] pretty much daily," he said. "Where we've come since last year at this time, since the start of the season, since February 15, wherever you want to pick up the story line, it's an amazing thing to have accomplished and earned."

But they really can't relish anything yet. What the Penguins achieved this season will only be sour consolation if they don't find a way to win in Joe Louis Arena on Friday night. Pittsburgh has scored just twice in three games in Detroit while the Red Wings put 11 past Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury. "We have to be better in Detroit around their goalie," Bylsma said. "We have to get more pucks there, and we have to win those battles."

The loose pucks, the one-on-one struggles, the face-offs, the shots and the goals, they won't ever mean more than they will on Friday. It's the moment they wait for, dream of, fantasize about all their lives. "We played a hundred and something games this season, and it comes down to one game. How special is that?" Penguins forward Max Talbot said after Game 6. "Every time you play street hockey, what game do you play? You play Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final."

It's an opportunity of a lifetime, and the biggest challenge these Penguins have ever faced. And while getting their best from their support players, as they did in Game 6, is great, what they will need is the best game from their stars. Evgeni Malkin, who had been superb all postseason, hasn't registered a point in two games. Sidney Crosby has come up empty in Detroit despite a boatload of chances. When the big moments arrive, it's always about how the great ones respond.

Crosby, too, has his own picture imperfect moment. In an NHL promo that asked, "Is this the year?" the Penguins captain pops out of an iconic image of defeat from last year's Cup final. He stares into the camera and says, "I never want to be in this photograph again."

Well, Sid, here's your chance. Your coach surely understands how you feel. source>>>

Seahawks coach Jim Mora says Michael Vick deserves to be reinstated to the NFL, though it seems unlikely he'll get that second chance in Seattle.

Mora, who coached Vick when he was the Atlanta Falcons' quarterback, says has paid his debt to society. When asked if he'd welcome Vick to the Seahawks, the coach said Seattle is not adding any more quarterbacks.

Speaking Wednesday during Seattle's mandatory minicamp, Mora says Vick has paid his debt to society.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has not committed to reinstating Vick after he completes his 23-month sentence on July 20 for running a dogfighting ring. source>>>

Mark Sanchez signed a five-year contract with the New York Jets, who took the former University of Southern California quarterback with the fifth pick in this year's National Football League draft.

The Jets didn't disclose financial terms. The contract includes a guaranteed $28 million, ESPN said, citing an unidentified person. Agent David Dunn said the deal was worth "around the $50 million mark," ESPN reported. NFL Network said that makes it the largest contract in franchise history.

"There's nothing to worry about now except football," Sanchez said yesterday. "That's what I'm all about. That's what this contract let's me do when you sign this early."

Sanchez, 22, was the first quarterback taken by the Jets with a top-five pick since Joe Namath in 1965. He's competing with Kellen Clemens for the starting job after the release of Brett Favre, who said he was retiring from the NFL.

The contract signing was one of the earliest for the Jets' first-round draft picks. The regular season starts in September.

"We were trying to create a sense of urgency, even though it is early June," General Manager Mike Tannenbaum said. "There was no need to wait if both sides could take that sense of urgency and come up with a deal that was good for both."

Sanchez spent about an hour last night signing each page of the six copies of his 47-page contract, Tannenbaum said. "I think it will probably be worth it for him," he said.

Sanchez started one full season at USC, passing for 3,207 yards and 34 touchdowns as a junior as he led the Trojans to a 12-1 record and a Rose Bowl victory.

The Jets finished last season 9-7 for third place in the American Football Conference East behind the Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots. source>>>

Minnesota Vikings coach Brad Childress (below) told radio station KFAN on Wednesday that he hadn't given Brett Favre a deadline of this week to decide whether he's going to play in 2009.

Childress also said: "My opinion is that (Favre) was a great player. He obviously had a setback last year. ... If in fact he's had that surgery, I'm anxious to see just exactly what he's got left in that cannon, because had a pretty good arm as we know."

ESPN has reported that Favre underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right arm to repair a partially torn biceps tendon. source>>>