Thursday, June 13, 2013

I Hate Hockey!

OK, not really. The nail-biting overtimes, fake goals, announcers that won't shut up about the U.S. Open starting today, while I'm dying watching chance after chance for a  game winning goal being batted away by Crawford, a two minute power-play with no change, those are the things I hate about hockey. The amazing saves, even if the other goalie makes them, stunning shots on goal, impressive hits, the fans reactions to a call, the fights that rarely happen anymore (at least when I watch), are some of the things I love about hockey.
Game 1 of the Stanly Cup Finals was last night and I watched about 15 minutes before having to turn off the TV, I was about ready to curl up in the fetal position on the floor. How these guys can play while I'm yelling at the TV, the announcers, and just about anyone who will listen, they're playing away and letting it go to a second overtime, and third overtime. WHY?! Maybe I just shouldn't watch sports. Nope, I couldn't do that, I might die from lack of sports. A large dose of chill-pills is desperately needed.

The game lasted over 112 minutes, the 5th longest in the NHL history for playoff games.  It was going to come down which goalie slipped up first. Both Tuukka Rask and Corey Crawford were good last night. The other guys were good as well just not as good. The winning goal  was scored halfway into the third overtime when it bounced off Andrew Shaw's leg. At that point I'm sure most of those guys just wanted to sleep, it was past midnight by the time the game ended. Somehow the Bruins blew a 3-1 lead; really? You would have won if you hadn't let that slip away. Final score 4-3, Chicago.

In other sports news, Tim Tebow signed with the New England Patriots. A quick back story on Tebow if you haven't heard: He was drafted in the first round to the Denver Broncos in the 2010 draft. He played for them two seasons, helping the team to win the wild card game against Pittsburgh, before losing to the Patriots in the divisional game. The Broncos traded Tebow to the New York Jets, who after one season and 8 snaps, released Tebow. It looked like his career in the NFL was over before it had really had a chance to start. Enter the N.E. Patriots. They signed Tebow reportedly to a two year deal with no guaranteed pay. He reported to their mini-camp Tuesday (it runs through today) and spoke briefly with the press.

My thoughts on Tebow being picked up by the Pats - they just made a very smart move. Tebow may not be the best QB in the world and is certainly not Brady but he is good. If they decide to use him as tight end, as some people are speculating, that could work, he's certainly big enough to play there. Just being there at Foxborough and training under Brady will do a lot to improve and strengthen his play. A bonus of the Jets letting him go, we get to use it against them. There seems to be some mixed reaction to the fact that Tebow is now in a Pats jersey, but hey if the coaching staff decides to use him, we just might get a repeat of last season's Thanksgiving game. Just a thought.

Monday, June 10, 2013

Wait til next year... at least in D.C.

The Brooklyn Dodgers slogan in the 1920s and 30s, "Wait til next year!" has now moved to a different city and different sport. The slogan is now best suited towards the Washington Capitals. They've reached the post season every year for the past 6 seasons. So why can't we win a Stanly Cup?!?! The team is good, the players are good, the goalies are good, it doesn't add up. It's like the team has a phobia of winning in the post season. They won the first two games against the New York Rangers before falling apart. They managed to hang on until game 7 at the Verizon Center but lost; horribly, I mean, it was a humiliating. 5-0, on home ice.. IN GAME 7. Come on, that shouldn't happen in the post season (unless it's to a team like *cough the penguins cough*). If you made it into the playoffs you should be able to keep from being swept like that. Myself, along with all the other Caps fans, will just have to wait til next year.

Unless they happen to be a Bruins fan, then they don't have to wait just yet. In beating the Pittsburgh Penguins in game 4, 1-0,  they put Sid the Kid and the rest of the "impressive" Penguins away for the season. The Boston Bruins are moving on to the Stanly Cup Finals. The Chicago Blackhawks are the last team standing between them and hoisting the Cup once again. It would be nice to have a 7th Championship to add to the list. It would look good next to the awesome win in game 7 against the Vancouver Canucks two years ago. First they need to play and play well. No silly giveaways or pointless penalties. The Chicago-Boston series starts June 12 at 8pm. Chicago advanced after beating the L.A. Kings, last year's champions.





 Here's a bracket of the NHL Playoffs:
                  Eastern Conference
Washington Capitals vs. New York Rangers --
                                                                    -- Boston Bruins vs. New York Rangers --
Boston Bruins vs. Toronto Maple Leafs --
                                                                                                   --Boston Bruins vs. Pittsburgh Penguins --
Ottawa Senators vs. Montréal Canadiens --
                                                                   -- Ottawa Senators vs. Pittsburgh Penguins --
New York Islanders vs. Pittsburgh Penguins --

                                                                      Stanly Cup Final
                                                           Boston Bruins vs. Chicago Blackhawks

                 Western Conference
L.A. Kings vs. St. Louis Blues --
                                                        -- L.A. Kings vs. San Jose Sharks --
San Jose Sharks vs. Vancouver Canucks --
                                                                                                    -- L.A. Kings vs. Chicago Blackhawks --
Detroit Redwings vs. Anaheim Ducks --
                                                       -- Detroit Redwings vs. Chicago Blackhawks --
Minnesota Wild vs. Chicago Blackhawks --



D.C. just isn't the place to have a winning team. The Nationals have struggled to keep from adding up the
losses; now with a even win/loss record of 31 each. How the team that had a stellar season last year is now blundering through this one is beyond me. Yes, they don't have some of their key players like Bryce Harper; but they should be able to play a good game still. They seem to have lost the power to play like they want it. Really, how hard is it to at least look like you want it. Last night they swept the Chicago Twins in a double header, 7-0 and 5-4 respectively. They play the Colorado Rockies June 11 at 8:40pm.