There's just an incredible amount of variety when it comes to sports television and we all have our favorites.
It occurs to me that I still love baseball.
I know this is hockey central but I can't take my eyes and mind away from the diamond.
You can take the sport out of the city and sadly I guess out of just about everyone else in my hometown, but not me.
I'm a classic channel changer and I move around a lot but I still seem to focus in on baseball and especially with the baseball package on the internet where I have a choice of every game.
When I noticed Mark Buehrlie of the White Sox and Felix Hernandez of Seattle were working on no hitters, my attention was easily diverted away from the NHL playoffs.
Same with Cole Hamels outing last weekend not to mention the latest ARod exploits.
The NBA also holds my interest.
I can't look away from a golf major.
The NFL would easily win in a battle for my TV heart.
I know that almost everyone has forgiven the NHL for the lost year and while my love of hockey has been rekindeled with the "new" NHL, hockey still sits in my back seat.
This job has helped bring me back to the game.
Let's face it, how are you going to talk about something for four hours if you don't know what you're talking about.
In watching any sport I'm always looking for a memory.
Something special.
A moment in time.
Nothing of that sort for me so far in this year's NHL playoffs, nor was there last year.
The lack of upsets in the first round this year at least points to a possibility.
Good thing I have two eyes.
Friday, April 27, 2007
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
How Come The Habs Aren't On TV Tonight ?
I looked all over the dial and couldn't find the Habs playoff game anywhere
found a whole lot of baseball though.
For the record
I picked Ottawa to win the Cup before the season started
so I guess I'll stick with that.
As far as baseball is concerned
here's why you'll be laughing at me come October:
found a whole lot of baseball though.
For the record
I picked Ottawa to win the Cup before the season started
so I guess I'll stick with that.
As far as baseball is concerned
here's why you'll be laughing at me come October:
NATIONAL LEAGUE
NL EAST - New York Mets
Hitting is too good and they've got money to fill in the rotation if El Duque’s too old and/or Mike Pelfrey & Joe Maine are too young or ineffective
NL CENTRAL-Milwaukee Brewers
They finished at the bottom of the league
in hitting,fielding and pitching last year
They will win sooner or later with all that talent
NL WEST-Los Angeles Dodgers
Addition of Jason Schmidt & healthy Randy Wolf
young players all over the place and still coming
however several old guys need to stay healthy
solid rotation and bullpen
NL WILD CARD- Atlanta Braves
The return to form of Tim Hudson is a key
Bullpen most improved in the League
Young hitters keep getting better
Andruw Jones a big season in walk year
NL NOTES
Phillies bullpen will do in a pretty good team
Nationals will be baseball’s worst
Cardinals will fall a long way from championship
Rockies & D’backs coming on.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
AL EAST - Boston Red Sox
Best rotation in the league
Enough hitting to get by
No worries with Papelbon closing once more
AL CENTRAL-Cleveland Indians
MVP candidates in Travis Hafner & Grady Sizemore
Emerging stars in Josh Barfield & Andy Marte
Good young starters - Veteran bullpen
AL WEST- L.A. Angels of Anaheim
They’ve got VLAD
Top end starters especially if Bartolo Colon returns strong
Up and coming hitters in Kotchman & Kendrick
Smart manager in Mike Scioscia
AL WILD CARD - New York Yankees
This team will score plenty
excellent bullpen
Got to believe they’ll paper over starting rotation
if they can somehow find the money
AL NOTES
Don’t discount Twins, Blue Jays, White Sox
and especially Oakland, always more than it seems
Monday, March 26, 2007
When the Going Gets Tough...
It's been a fine run for the Habs as they try to put a terrible period behind them.
Coming all the way from a top seed to battle for a playoff spot is not the way you want your season to go after believing there are bigger and better things out there for you.
They certainly have to be feeling better about themselves and that's half the battle.
The easy part is over however.
I know the experts will tell you that every game is tough when you head down the stretch.
Teams that have nothing to lose can be just as tough with no pressure on them,
but let's face facts:
Would you rather play Boston twice and then the Caps,
or...a 3 game run against the Rangers, Senators and Sabres.
While the Habs have been picking up 8 points against non playoff teams
here's what the other playoff hopefuls have accomplished:
The two teams directly in front of the Habs
The Rangers and Hurricanes are a combined 8-0.
Add the Islanders and Leafs including Toronto's big blown lead at Buffalo
and those 4 are a combined 12-2-3.
Not a lot of wasted points as you see.
The 4 game win streak hasn't vaulted the Canadiens into a playoff spot, it has helped them hang around.
The tough sledding starts NOW.
By the way,
If a silly point wasn't handed out for a LOSS in OT or shootout
Here's what the East standings would look like as of Monday morning:
6 TB 82
7 Rangers 78
8 Habs 78
9 Carolina 76
10 Islanders 72
11 Leafs 72
Coming all the way from a top seed to battle for a playoff spot is not the way you want your season to go after believing there are bigger and better things out there for you.
They certainly have to be feeling better about themselves and that's half the battle.
The easy part is over however.
I know the experts will tell you that every game is tough when you head down the stretch.
Teams that have nothing to lose can be just as tough with no pressure on them,
but let's face facts:
Would you rather play Boston twice and then the Caps,
or...a 3 game run against the Rangers, Senators and Sabres.
While the Habs have been picking up 8 points against non playoff teams
here's what the other playoff hopefuls have accomplished:
The two teams directly in front of the Habs
The Rangers and Hurricanes are a combined 8-0.
Add the Islanders and Leafs including Toronto's big blown lead at Buffalo
and those 4 are a combined 12-2-3.
Not a lot of wasted points as you see.
The 4 game win streak hasn't vaulted the Canadiens into a playoff spot, it has helped them hang around.
The tough sledding starts NOW.
By the way,
If a silly point wasn't handed out for a LOSS in OT or shootout
Here's what the East standings would look like as of Monday morning:
6 TB 82
7 Rangers 78
8 Habs 78
9 Carolina 76
10 Islanders 72
11 Leafs 72
Thursday, March 1, 2007
Looking in my Cristobal
Well Hab fans, what you've got is what you've got.
No plastic surgeon is coming in to perk up those drooping goal scorers.
There's no goalie-lift for the sagging situation left behind by M. Huet's hamstring.
No botox injection for their season long five on five ineptness.
Before the season started,
I thought this was a team that would squeeze into the playoffs.
I didn't like the wasted dollars (Almost $4 million) placed in the hands of the tendered Mike Ribiero and David Aebischer.
I hoped youngsters Chris Higgins, Mike Komisarek, Alex Perezhogin & Thomas Plekanec would continue with their improvement, not to mention the wild card up front in Latendresse.
Count me among those who did not predict that Sergei Samsonov would be almost a total bust.
I Thought Cristobal would help drag them through to the post season.
Goaltending, Goaltending, Goaltending.
As the Habs battle for extra time this season,
can you honestly say they are better than:
Pittsburgh or Atlanta ?
The goaltending of Rick Dipietro after the addition of Ryan Smyth makes The Islanders better.
That leaves Carolina, The Leafs and maybe the Rangers.
I can's say the Habs are better than any of those...or worse for that matter.
Buckle up !
It's going to be a bumpy ride.
Expect more wins like the one at Nashville and more duds like the one at MSG.
When you rely on special teams and goaltending that's what happens.
And when you don't have your goaltender......
No plastic surgeon is coming in to perk up those drooping goal scorers.
There's no goalie-lift for the sagging situation left behind by M. Huet's hamstring.
No botox injection for their season long five on five ineptness.
Before the season started,
I thought this was a team that would squeeze into the playoffs.
I didn't like the wasted dollars (Almost $4 million) placed in the hands of the tendered Mike Ribiero and David Aebischer.
I hoped youngsters Chris Higgins, Mike Komisarek, Alex Perezhogin & Thomas Plekanec would continue with their improvement, not to mention the wild card up front in Latendresse.
Count me among those who did not predict that Sergei Samsonov would be almost a total bust.
I Thought Cristobal would help drag them through to the post season.
Goaltending, Goaltending, Goaltending.
As the Habs battle for extra time this season,
can you honestly say they are better than:
Pittsburgh or Atlanta ?
The goaltending of Rick Dipietro after the addition of Ryan Smyth makes The Islanders better.
That leaves Carolina, The Leafs and maybe the Rangers.
I can's say the Habs are better than any of those...or worse for that matter.
Buckle up !
It's going to be a bumpy ride.
Expect more wins like the one at Nashville and more duds like the one at MSG.
When you rely on special teams and goaltending that's what happens.
And when you don't have your goaltender......
Thursday, February 22, 2007
That Old Black Magic, or is it Red, White & Blue
This NHL trading deadline thing is like waiting for Godot.
Tick tick, let's go already !
Give me some damn names !
This is Montreal after all, so we all know Bob Gainey is not likely
to be able to do his job without our input.
And we all know what he would do with our input once received.
That would certainly be an uncomfortable spot to accept our info !
But, what the hell...
Here goes.
If I were a Habs fan....
Trade them all !
Every last free agent to be.
Sheldon Souray...Gone !
Craig Rivet...Gone !
Markov, Aebischer, Bonk.
Gone, gone, gone !
This curse on the Habs is my fault.
Tortured by them and their Cups every damn year !
I hated them.
Let their fans find out how the other half lives I wished !
Enough is enough.
I've ended up torturing MYSELF.
Forced to watch this mediocrity season after season.
Someone much smarter than I might have described this,
hoping for the last playoff spot year after year
as having your feet firmly planted in the air.
Mr. Gainey,
Please.
Do what you have to do.
I've seen all I care to of the second and third line players this organization has rolled out for the better part of a decade.
This NHL is built on cheap labour.
Get the inexpensive ones that deliver and you can afford the expensive ones that bring riches.
If the hurt of missing the playoffs in the present means battling for a cup in the future.
Hab fans will thank you then.
YOUR problem of course is that general managers that miss playoffs at the Bell Center
don't get to do that twice !
MY Problem is, I'm getting old,
and can't remember how to remove this curse.
I guess it's up to you !
Tick tick, let's go already !
Give me some damn names !
This is Montreal after all, so we all know Bob Gainey is not likely
to be able to do his job without our input.
And we all know what he would do with our input once received.
That would certainly be an uncomfortable spot to accept our info !
But, what the hell...
Here goes.
If I were a Habs fan....
Trade them all !
Every last free agent to be.
Sheldon Souray...Gone !
Craig Rivet...Gone !
Markov, Aebischer, Bonk.
Gone, gone, gone !
This curse on the Habs is my fault.
Tortured by them and their Cups every damn year !
I hated them.
Let their fans find out how the other half lives I wished !
Enough is enough.
I've ended up torturing MYSELF.
Forced to watch this mediocrity season after season.
Someone much smarter than I might have described this,
hoping for the last playoff spot year after year
as having your feet firmly planted in the air.
Mr. Gainey,
Please.
Do what you have to do.
I've seen all I care to of the second and third line players this organization has rolled out for the better part of a decade.
This NHL is built on cheap labour.
Get the inexpensive ones that deliver and you can afford the expensive ones that bring riches.
If the hurt of missing the playoffs in the present means battling for a cup in the future.
Hab fans will thank you then.
YOUR problem of course is that general managers that miss playoffs at the Bell Center
don't get to do that twice !
MY Problem is, I'm getting old,
and can't remember how to remove this curse.
I guess it's up to you !
Thursday, February 15, 2007
The Unforgetable Fire
Perhaps you haven't noticed all the attention that's returning to the
late great basketball life of Pete Maravich thanks to what's being described as a sensational new book "Pistol" by Mark Kriegel.
As turning 50 back in January reminds me,
I've got a lot more behind me than in front, though you never know when the fountain of youth will be uncovered.
It gives one pause however to having lived through a very different time when it came to viewing our sports heroes.
There was no nightly highlite show, let alone entire networks dedicated to the best of our time.
If you were lucky, your hero was on the "Game of the week".
If not, you waited and you read.
Today's highlites of the past simply don't do justice to the greats of my youth.
There is no doubt that today's athletes are bigger, stronger and faster than those of yesteryear.
For every Bobby Hull that could fire a slapshot through a brick wall,
every team has 20 of them now.
Stronger perhaps but more electrifying ?
I think not.
I didn't see the Rocket but I was told of a fire unmatched.
Before Gretzky & Sidney.
Before Magic, Bird and Michael.
Before Tyson.
Before Bonds.
Before Brady & Manning.
There was Pistol Pete, Bobby Orr, Joe Namath & O.J.
Willie Mays.
Muhammid Ali.
You didn't see them every day but their glow of flash worked wonders on imagination and will last MY lifetime.
Sorry if you missed them.
late great basketball life of Pete Maravich thanks to what's being described as a sensational new book "Pistol" by Mark Kriegel.
As turning 50 back in January reminds me,
I've got a lot more behind me than in front, though you never know when the fountain of youth will be uncovered.
It gives one pause however to having lived through a very different time when it came to viewing our sports heroes.
There was no nightly highlite show, let alone entire networks dedicated to the best of our time.
If you were lucky, your hero was on the "Game of the week".
If not, you waited and you read.
Today's highlites of the past simply don't do justice to the greats of my youth.
There is no doubt that today's athletes are bigger, stronger and faster than those of yesteryear.
For every Bobby Hull that could fire a slapshot through a brick wall,
every team has 20 of them now.
Stronger perhaps but more electrifying ?
I think not.
I didn't see the Rocket but I was told of a fire unmatched.
Before Gretzky & Sidney.
Before Magic, Bird and Michael.
Before Tyson.
Before Bonds.
Before Brady & Manning.
There was Pistol Pete, Bobby Orr, Joe Namath & O.J.
Willie Mays.
Muhammid Ali.
You didn't see them every day but their glow of flash worked wonders on imagination and will last MY lifetime.
Sorry if you missed them.
Sunday, February 11, 2007
The King is Dead
The great Eddie Fiegner passed away friday.
Most of you never heard of him, the ones who saw him will never forget.
The famed softball pitcher who needed just a catcher but employed 2 other fielders
to form the 'King and his court'.
He threw 104 mph, pitched blindfolded and could throw strikes from second base if he wanted to. There were 930 no-hitters and 10,000 games.
There was his legendary spring training feat in 1967, where he struck out Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Brooks Robinson, Maury Wills, Harmon Killebrew, Roberto Clemente and Pete Rose in succession.
Clemente on a between-the-legs pitch and he got Killebrew with one behind his back.
So famous was he that he pitched for presidents (Kennedy) and other kings (Elvis).
Once on Johnny Carson's tonight show,
he knocked a cigarette right out of the host's mouth with a softball.
There was a story several years back in sports illustrated about a ficticious pitcher with an otherwordly fastball by the name of Sid Finch.
Notice the date of George Plimpton's release (April 1st)
http://www.strongmemories.com/toppage8.htm
But this king was no made up character
and today he is gone.
Thanks to John Canzano for the memories...Go and learn:
http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/oregonian/john_canzano/index.ssf?/base/sports/1171167946308780.xml&coll=7
Most of you never heard of him, the ones who saw him will never forget.
The famed softball pitcher who needed just a catcher but employed 2 other fielders
to form the 'King and his court'.
He threw 104 mph, pitched blindfolded and could throw strikes from second base if he wanted to. There were 930 no-hitters and 10,000 games.
There was his legendary spring training feat in 1967, where he struck out Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Brooks Robinson, Maury Wills, Harmon Killebrew, Roberto Clemente and Pete Rose in succession.
Clemente on a between-the-legs pitch and he got Killebrew with one behind his back.
So famous was he that he pitched for presidents (Kennedy) and other kings (Elvis).
Once on Johnny Carson's tonight show,
he knocked a cigarette right out of the host's mouth with a softball.
There was a story several years back in sports illustrated about a ficticious pitcher with an otherwordly fastball by the name of Sid Finch.
Notice the date of George Plimpton's release (April 1st)
http://www.strongmemories.com/toppage8.htm
But this king was no made up character
and today he is gone.
Thanks to John Canzano for the memories...Go and learn:
http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/oregonian/john_canzano/index.ssf?/base/sports/1171167946308780.xml&coll=7
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
