I'm with Ovie

Sunday when the Capitals played the Penguins, Alex Ovechkin  landed a hard hit on Zbynek Michalek. The league though it was a dirty hit and gave Ovie a three game suspension, way to much for two reasons: 1. Michalek didn't get hurt and 2. he saw the hit coming and ducked. One game makes total sense but three, its not needed. Yes, it was a hard hit but it's part of what makes hockey so great. As you would think, Ovie wasn't very happy with the call. He was set to go to the NHL All-Star game but has now taken himself off the roster, saying, "I'm suspended." That move has made most everyone in the reporting world blow up saying he's acting childish and needs to grow-up. WHAT?! I think it's a very grown up decision to make; if you have been suspended then you shouldn't play, be that with your team or at the All-Star game. It would be nice to see Ovie at the All-Star game but I still think it was the right decision. If it turns the reporting world against him then fine. But there's bound to be a few people (like me) who still have an idea about staying true to your morals. Ovie could grow-up in some ways but not in handling suspensions.

Ovie isn't the only hockey player making the news. Bruins goalie Tim Thomas didn't go with the team when they went to the White House to celebrate winning the Stanley Cup. Another decision that I agree with. If Thomas doesn't think that he can behave or respect where his is, then he shouldn't go. Just another player standing up for what he believes in.

Don't Worry

Some of you might be thinking that I fell of the face of the earth but I didn't so there's no need to worry about me. You may need to worry if you're a Capitals fan. They seem to be stuck on a roller costar with great wins and than dropping to low losses. I got to go to one of their games last week when they played the New York Islanders and unfortunately it didn't turn out how I would have liked. The Islanders got out in front and stayed there, they dominated the Caps all through the game. At one point the Caps began to look like they were hurting themselves drawing penalties that they should have now better than to do. Final Score: 3-0 Islanders. In the very next game (the first of a three game road trip) the Caps won over the Canadians by the same score they lost by to the Islanders. Two days later they lost again 3-0 to Carolina while on their road trip. By now you must be wondering if this could get anymore pain full... it can. Yesterday the Capitals played the loathsome Penguins. That game was an example of how this January has gone for them. The Pens and Caps went into overtime and yup you guessed it the Caps lost. To you it could get worst. As I write this the Caps sit in 8th in the East but that could change by tomorrow morning.

Everyone reading this needs to understand that I am a diehard Patriots fan. When I found out thatt my Pats where going to the Superbowl again my first though was I want a rematch. You have to remember the 2008 Superbowl when the Pats and Giants played. That Pats would have had a prefect season if the Giants hadn't won at the end of the game. Why I want a rematch for to reasons. 1. I want revenge and 2. I want the Pats to show once and for all that they are on a different level than the Giants. Than again I'm bias.

Wild Card Games Turn Wild

I really didn't want to write this blog but I must since I am a Steelers fan. Well, as most of you know the Steelers lost to the Denver Broncos, 29-23. It was an agonizing game to watch. The Steelers scored first with two field goals but Denver came back and by halftime were up 20-6. The old reliable Steelers fought back to take the lead but only managed to tie the game, 23-23 late in the fourth quarter. Into overtime we go. I really hate play-off games that go into overtime but when they include one of my teams then it's torture. The torture didn't last long. The Broncos won the coin toss and on the first play the game was over. In two plays, Tebow and the rest of the Broncos pulled out a miracle, getting a touchdown pass to finish off the Steelers. Final Score: 29-23. There's always next year. I have a soft spot for the Broncos, but I do want the Patriots win on Saturday.

The Saints are moving on as well. They played Saturday (I still think football on Saturday is weird) against the Detroit Lions and won. But unlike some would have thought, it wasn't a one-sided game. The Saints did win 45-28.

Hockey can be a very lopsided sport, for example the Bruins game on Thursday. Let me start with the final score: 9-0 Bruins. Yes, you read that right, for a Bruins fan like me it's a great score. But if you see it from the point of view of a Flames fan than it's not such a good game. In fact it's a really bad game. Seven different people scored on the Flames goalie. You just have to feel bad for him.

The NHL realignment has been postponed because the players union didn't agree with how it was going to be set-up.

Let the Postseason Begin!

Sunday's games were the last of the NFL regular season. Unfortunately, the Skins didn't end it on a good foot, losing 34-10 to the Eagles. They did play well if you consider that they were playing without a tight-end (Chris Cooley's been on injured reserve and Fred Davis was suspended for the rest of the season for using recreational drugs); Roy Helu was recovering from a injury and I'm most likely forgetting a lot of other injured players but back to the game. The point of me telling you about all that was my attempted at covering the fact that the Skins lost badly....34-10 to a team and a QB I loath whole heartedly. The win wouldn't have matter all that much except for bragging rights. There was no feasible way that they were going to make it into the playoffs, even if Grossman didn't throw 3 interceptions per game (that's an estimate, it's probably more). One bright spot for them was the D-fence. Yes, they did allow the Eagles to score 34 points but they did look good.

The Steelers had a late start in their game with the Browns but managed to win. I was beat after staying up on New Year's and was in bed while the game was going on. Big Ben did start the game and helped them win 13-9. They are in the playoffs, I don't think it would be the same if they weren't in it... just a thought.

The Pats won over the Bills and now have a nice bye week to rest and plan how they're going to crush their opponents. To their game, this was one of those games that made me glad that I wasn't watching it (I happen to know more about this game than the Steelers because I was watching the Skins game and they kept cutting in to show highlights of the Pats game). The Bills jumped out to an early lead with 21 unanswered points in the first and most of the second quarters. But to all those who doubt the comeback power of the Pats, well you may be thinking, "there's little chance that they can come back from that," well you would be wrong. They did come back with 49 points. Now it was the Bills turn to be stunned. Final Score: 49-21 Patriots.

By the way, the Jets are out of the playoffs.

To Hockey, the Capitals won again! Mike Green was back in the line-up for the first time in 20 games. Things are looking up for the Capitals.

Holiday sports in Fastforward

Seeing as how my holiday week was crazy I'll cover Christmas Eve's football games and the two Capital's games.

The Skins lost to the Vikings 33-26. The Steelers won over the Rams 27-0. Last but not least, the Patriots won 24-27 over the Dolphins.

On to hockey. The Capitals have a winning streak that includes a win away from the Verizon Center (finally). Right now the Caps are sitting in 9th in the East; they need to be in at least 8th to make it into the playoffs. So it's a good thing that they have a few more weeks to move up the list. Ovie, Semin, and Backstrom are warming up at just the right time.

I did warn you that this was going to be a fast blog. I'll have a post up about today's games later.