Finally, hockey has come to the blog

This entry is solely to piss Vince off. Vince hates hockey. I love hockey. Deal with it.

So the Red Wings have taken a 2-0 lead on the Penguins in the Stanley Cup Finals for the 2nd straight year. As a Penguins fan, it sucks. Now as a hockey fan, this has been a great series so far. Even though the Red Wings have outscored Pittsburgh 6-2, there has been some extremely competative hockey. The final scores of 3-1 a piece don't reflect the passion, intensity, and drive that has defined this series.

Even though I obviously have a bias, the Penguins have simply had some bad bounces during this series. In game 1 Marc Andre Fleury scored two of three goals for the Wings, even though the Penguins outshot and outchanced the Red Wings, but could not put a puck in the net. Game 2, same story. Fleury didn't score any goals, but he gave up a soft goal in the 3rd period to Justin Abdelkader, who had a one-on-three in the Penguin defensive zone. During the game the Pens hit so many posts the bars hurt.

This isn't to take away from what the Red Wings have done. Detroit has been the same team they were last year, experienced, calm, skilled, and just all around great in every aspect of the game. More than that, everyone talked before the series about the old guys for Detriot. But this team has been drive by young guys like Darren Helm, Justin Abdelkader, and Jonathan Ericcson (who had his appendix removed only a few days ago, talk about tough).

So now we move to game 3, back to Pittsburgh. Last year, game 3 gave Pittsburgh a little bit of life, a very little bit. A 3-2 victory brought the series closer at 2-1, but with such a young team, the series was already over at that point. This year it is a little different. The Penguins have shown they can come back from a 2-0 deficit, just ask Alexander Ovechkin when you see him on the golf course next week. But without question, the Pens face an uphill battle while coming home.

Pittsburgh faces a must win in game 3 against the Wings. At times they have played well enough to win. The key will be to get the puck in the net. Period. After game 1, it was the power play, and faceoffs. In game 2 the Pens won more faceoffs with the help of a dominant Sidney Crosby in the dot, and Pittsburgh went one-for-one on the powerplay. Now after game 2, the thought process is simply put the puck in the net.

Personally, I think the Pens are doing a lot of good. They're getting pucks deep, controlling in the offensive zone (not as much as they should, but it's still Detroit), and getting plenty of chances to score. The only thing I would suggest is for Pittsburgh to use their defensemen more. With a goalie like Chris Osgood, it's been shown you cannot beat him on the first shot. You beat Chris Osgood on the second and third shots. Detroit drops all five down in the zone against the three Pittsburgh forwards.

My suggestion, use the defensemen to get the puck to the net. When Detroit drops, it turns into a three-on-five. But if the puck goes out to the D, it's a 2-0 with the D having plenty of time. You have to use your defense as goal scorers, especially a guy like Sergei Gonchar. Once the puck goes up top, forwards...CRASH THE NET. If Osgood can't control the rebound, get a stick on it and put it toward the net again. If nothing else, it's something Osgood has to worry about, and the more stress you can put on him, the better.

The Pens still definitely have a chance in this series, a much better chance than last year at this time. But beating Detriot four times in the next four or five games is no easy task.

I'll be back Tuesday night after game 3 for more analysis. And more to annoy Vince. Until then keep your head up because out on the ice, it's hit or be hit.

The NBA: Where Artificial Sound is louder than the fans.

Watching the Game 1 of the Cleveland/Orlando series, two things struck me, LeBron James is unstoppable, and NBA crowds are a joke. It's sad when the loudest noise you can hear watching on TV is the artificial noise that is pumped into the arena. If you're not going to have real fans that make noise, why not just save them the trouble of showing up? I don't just blame Cleveland fans, it's clearly all NBA fans. It seems like the most important thing for most fans isn't the game, but getting on the Jumbotron in any way possible. It's not like I go to a ton of NBA playoff games, but that probably has something to do with my team not getting out of the 1st round. I've been to one Sixers playoff game in each of the past 2 seasons so I am sort of familiar with the live atmosphere, and it's horrible. During the latter part of game four of the Sixers/Magic series after Hedo Turkalou hit which ended up being the game winner, what do you see but two girls with a beer in their hands dancing on the Jumbotron. These are the kinds of fans we have sitting in the two front rows. Orlando fans have gotten some attention so far this year for using what looks like a plastic plate with clappers attached to it to attempt to distract opponents. Ask Andre Iguodala how that worked out. Now what happens in the EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS? Cleveland fans sitting in their seats waiving a white towel and not making any noise. I guess the shirt is right Cleveland fans; you are witnesses and not fans. Fans don't sit there and wave a towel, they stand up and do whatever possible to cheer the Cavs on. Someone please prove me wrong. I hope that in Denver on Saturday night there are more blonde blow-up dolls than there are witnesses. If there is anything that's actually distracted Kobe in his career, it was a blonde in Colorado. I can only hope that Nuggets fans realize this, or you might as well you waive a towel and dance for the camera, just like everyone else.

The Yankees Weekend that Was

For Yankees fans, the last 8 years have been torturous time. Watching the Red Sox win 2 World Series as they stood by the wayside was an unexplainable feeling. Throughout this time, Yankees players have been notorious for having no stomach, and not being able to hit or pitch when they needed to. That being said, this weekend's series against the Twins gave Yanks fans a glimmer of hope.
After getting back to a .500 record (17-17) by taking a series from Toronto, who has the American League's best record, The Yankees took three straight games by walk-off hit from the Twins at the new stadium.
The best of the weekend came Saturday, a game that I attended, when Alex Rodriguez blasted an 11th inning home run. For Yankee fans, who have witnessed Rodriguez's well documented and frequent batting from the fetal position, this was an event that was about as exciting as the last time they won the world series in 2000. For a team that has been only scrutinized since that championship, this weekend helped to salvage some of the last 8 years of failure for the die hard Yankee fan.

Welcome to the Big East, Greg Paulus

After a few weeks without an over-rated media-whore quarterback, New York found a new man to hold that title. You all may know Greg Paulus from his days of non-contact flopping, floor pounding and whining as the point guard of Duke's Basketball team. After about 5 years off from the game, Paulus returns to football with his hometown Syracuse Orange. Paulus was a pretty good QB but hasn't played since High School. Many "experts" have suggested that his 6' 180 pound frame won't be able to take the Big East pounding he's about to receive. It also doesn't help Paulus that he's not very fast or athletic--a distinct quality of Duke Basketball. As a basketball player Paulus went 7-5 vs. the Big East. Sadly of those seven wins, four came against perrenial laughing stock St. John's, while two came against Georgetown and one vs. Seton Hall. Unfortunately for Paulus, none of those schools play Big East football. Of the losses, two were NCAA eliminations at the hands of underdogs Villanova and WVU. On November 7th when Greg Paulus suits up for the Orange, it won't be the first time he's encountered Pitt. On December 20th, 2007 Paulus and his Duke Blue Devils blew a 15 point lead at Madison Square Garden to Big East powerhouse Pitt. As usual, Duke got all the calls, including several on freshman sensation DeJuan Blair. So when Paulus is running for his life, gets leveled, then 10 seconds later you see flag, don't be surprised, it won't be the first or the last time it happens. I hope in the next few months Paulus finds a way to apply his flopping skills to a football field, because that's the only chance he has. Good luck Greg, you'll need it.

A letter to Brett Favre...

Dear Brett,

Please don't come back and put NFL fans through another mediocre season where we get hear about your every move. You have Super bowl titles, MVP's, and almost every conceivable passing record. Give it up. Find a hobby. Go fishing, play some golf, do the appearance thing so then your fans get to see you but everyone else doesn't have to put up with the media circus. If you still love the game coach high school football. It's not worth another year of taking a beating to play 2 games against the packers to try and prove they were wrong. They had to move on. When you draft a quarterback and pay them like they're going to be a starter at some point, it's wise to actually play them and get a return on that investment. At your age you're an average quarterback. The Minnesota Vikings are an average team that happens to be in a bad division. Average teams and average quarterback don't win super bowls anymore. Jerry Rice jumped from team to team at the end of his career, where did that get him? You can bet when Tom Brady and Peyton Manning can't play anymore they'll know it and get out while they still can. You should do the same. Enjoy retirement, get out because you can, not because you have to. Please Brett don't put us through this again and give ESPN what they want. Stay retired Brett, please for everyone's sake.

April Baseball Awards

NL

MVP-Albert Pujols (10 homers, 30 RBI, .337)

I really don't see any other choices. He is just killing the ball and for a team some people think are surprising people. He really doesn't have anything behind of in front of him yet he continues to abuse NL pitching.

Cy Young-Dan Haren (3-3, 1.47 ERA, 0.74 Whip, 47 k)

His record isn't necessarily great, but that has a lot to do with the offense he is great with. From what i've seen he been the most efficient pitcher in the league. Four of his six starts he's gone 7 or more innings giving up 2 or less runs with 9 or more k's. He hasn't given up more than 6 hits or 2 runs in any start this season. He ranks 1st in innings and whip and 2nd in ERA.

Best Rookie-Jordan Zimmerman (2-1 4.24 ERA, 1.24 Whip)

Since we are a month in an none of the position players have done anything whatsoever, i'm picking Zimmermann. There's a good possibility if Frank Wren ever gets smart enough to bring Tommy Hanson up, this award has his name on it, until then it's a toss up.

Comeback Player-Orlando Hudson (.336, 3 homers, 15 rbis 4 SB)

Since this award is based on an entire season and Hudson wasn't that great last year yet has been important as anyone for the Dodgers, i'm going with him until proven otherwise.

AL

MVP-Miguel Cabrera (.406, 7 homers, 22 Rbi)

Since you don't really see MVP's on 4th place teams, i'm going with Cabrera who's team is slightly better than Longoria's. Miguel seems to have slimmed down a little and has improved his defense to go along with his lethal bat.

Cy Young-Zach Grienke (6-0, 0.40 ERA, 0.84 Whip, 54 k's)

I don't even need to explain this, the numbers do that.

Best Rookie-Scott Richmond (4-0, 2.67, 1.22 Whip, 26 k's)

I still think Elvis Andrus wins this in the long run but Richmond has looked great for the 1st place Blue Jays. Since his 1st start which was somewhat shaky, he's been rock solid, so for now it's Richmond.

Comeback Player of the Year-Andruw Jones (.341, 3 homers, 8 Rbi 1 Sb)

Andruw's back and he'll benefit more and more from the ballpark he plays in. He's also in a very good line-up. I fully expect him to win this going away.

Thoughts on the previous week

Being from Jersey, I found it completely disconcerting to watch the Carolina Hurricanes come back from a goal deficit with 80 seconds left in the game and win the deciding game of the 7 game NHL playoff series in regulation. This was actually only the second game of the series that Carolina won in regulation.

I think this fact must raise the question of whether Devils Goaltender Martin Brodeur has lost that special clutch ability that has made him famous over the last 15 years of his career. Brodeur was awful when he needed to be great in the series, giving up 2 overtime winners as well as the aforementioned game 7 debacle.

Despite the fact that this could likely be a complete overreaction, if it really is the end to the great times of such a spectacular career, let me be the first to bid him a proper adieu. Brodeur has a career GAA of 2.21, save pct of .914, once scored an empty-net goal, has over 100 shutouts (a record), and most importantly has won 3 championships ('95, '00, '03.) He is arguably the best goaltender of all time, a hockey legend, and a sports hero and his achievements will be reveled in sports history.

Mock-ing the draft

Everyone does mock drafts, Mel Kiper does about 100. I'm going to mock the actual draft. As much as I usually get on the Eagles for blowing the draft every year, this season is different. You may actually want to document this, because this most likely will be the best thing i ever say about the eagles. They had a great draft. Lesean McCoy will prove to be the best running back in this draft. Bennie Wells is a sissy, Knowshon Moreno gets all the attention for his hurdling skills, and Donald Brown is simply not explosive. Some members of the 4 letter network compare Shady to Reggie Bush. That is the ultimate insult. Has anyone seen Shady dance in the backfield or dart out of bonds at the first sight of a defender? Has anyone seen Shady attempt a backwards lateral in the biggest game of his career? All those answers are no. I compare Shady to DeAngelo Williams. I see a back that can run up the middle when he needs, catch some passes, or even line up in the wildcat. When it comes to their other picks, I love Ingram as a solid pass catching tight end in the Alge Crumpler mold. Jeremy Macklin is where they missed. Macklin is almost a carbon copy of Desean Jackson except slightly taller, which is a positive because now McNabb will struggle a little more to overthrow him. I like the Giants getting Hakim Nicks, the Ravens with Micheal Oher, and the Pats for taking the best North Carolina WR Brandon Tate. Aside from the Eagles, the next best draft goes to the Miami Dolphins. Drafting Pat White is going to make the wildcat bite even harder. Bill Parcells wanted a guy who can throw out of the wildcat, why not make it the fastest qb in the draft. I see plenty of new crazy things to come from the Dolphins offense in '09. In terms of the worst draft, is there any question? It's the Oakland Raiders and the Dallas Cowboys. Al Davis like to take the fastest guy. So would you always take the tallest kid in a basketball game or the smartest kid in a do or die poker match? In my opinion this was the 3rd best wr in the ACC and a guy that didn't show all that much in a relatively weak conference. Michael Mitchell wasn't on that many draft boards and wasn't invited to the combine. For the Raiders this guy was a 2nd round pick. I guess that's what makes them so bad. The Dallas Cowboys simply didn't address any needs. They loose a pretty good WR (on the field) and didn't draft any significant talent at that position. They also drafted a kicker in the 5th round.

Some notes on how the draft has evovled:

Abilene Christian had 2 players drafted, the University of Miami (Florida) had 1.
Penn State, known for it's linebackers had 0 linebackers taken, USC had all of theirs gone before round 3.
Pitt had 2 running backs taken, the entire Pac-10 had o.
The University of Cincinnati had 3 CB's taken, the entire ACC had 3.
2005 Utah BCS game winning Qb Alex Smith went #1 overall, 2009 (undefeated) Utah BCS winning Qb Brian Johnson went undrafted

and last but not least, West Texas A&M QB Keith Null was drafted in the 6th round. Former Heisman finalists Chase Daniel and Graham Harrell went undrafted.