May 31st, 2012
Even though the New Jersey Devils sat higher in the standings during regular season, there was no question going into last night’s game that the Los Angeles Kings were the highly favored team. Keeping the dream alive for Kings’ fans, and continuing their undefeated road streak, the Kings won 2-1 against the Devils in overtime.
It wasn’t easy for them, though. Even after Colin Fraser’s first goal for the Kings, L.A. still looked they were struggling to keep up with the pace of the New Jersey Devils. Still, it took the Devils over twenty minutes to answer with a goal of their own and tie the game 1-1 late in the second period. From there, it was purely a battle to the finish and the feeling hung heavily in the air that the next goal would be for the win.
Making the most of a great breakaway, it was Anze Kopitar that emerged as the hero for the Kings when he swiftly put the puck past Brodeur 8:13 into overtime. It may just be the first game, but as Kings’ center Jarrett Stoll said after the game, “It’s just a big win. A big win in Game 1, and we focus now on Game 2 and try to win Game 2. That’s it.”
Stoll was also referring to the current record the Kings are holding for the most wins on the road during the Finals. Already being the first team to make it to the Finals undefeated on the road, they are now looking to tie the record for the most wins on the road in the post-season. Stoll also said, “It doesn’t matter if it’s two in a row or 40 in a row on the road, the numbers don’t really matter right now. It’s whether or not we find a way to win.”
If they find that way to win in Saturday’s NHL Game 2, they’ll be up 2-0 in the series taking it back home to L.A. There they could sweep, and win the Cup at home for their fan. But it’s a long series; and based on last night’s game, anyone’s guess.
May 29th, 2012
What is happening with the New York Mets as of late? The Mets actually had a great season to start with. However, as of May 29, 2012, we are witnessing a downward slope when it comes to the Mets’ performance. They are next to last place in the Majors in terms of home runs. They are about 25th in the entire MLB. They are just barely surviving, and yet they are at a crucial time in the season.
We are just about to enter the summer season and this is when teams are attempting to qualify for contending status. One of the problems we have been noticing is that manager Terry Collins has been over-using reliever Manny Acosta who has an ERA of 11.86. Most recently, Manny actually gave up three runs in one third of an inning. While the team does still have quality pitchers in Tim Brydak and Bobby Parnell, it’s still not enough to ensure Playoffs caliber work.
Another factor against the Mets: much of their team is still suffering from injuries, which explains why many media outlets are stating they have “bullpen problems.” Well, the bullpen players are really going to have to shape up if they have any hope this season. Besides bad plays by Manny and Parnell in their game against Philadelphia, they also showed poor performances by Jonathon Niese and David Wright.
Terry Collins came to the defense of phenom player David Wright, stating that it “Just goes to show David Wright is human and that he can get into a funk like anyone else.” The big question is, was this game just a fluke–an off night of a few regulars, or was it indicative of a team-wide slump that’s going to last for a while?
A win from the team would certainly be a moment in history. The last time they claimed the World Series was in 1986, and before that, in 1969. Only as recently as 2006 have they come close to glory, earning an east division title in 2006. What do you think? Are the Mets going to sit this season out or are they recovering slowly but surely?
May 27th, 2012
Everyone was thinking the same thing as soon as Lesnar showed his creepy little head on WWE TV. How long is the temperamental star going to last this time? Well, as of the end of May 2012, it appears as if Lesnar and the WWE have parted ways. While Lesnar did take on John Cena and give WWE fans a great match, (he actually put Cena in the hospital) after the Extreme Rules Pay-Per-View event, on the following Monday Night RAW show, Lesnar was again booted out of the WWE.
Chief Operating Officer Triple H confronted Lesnar over his “contract demands” and said he would not authorize any of them. Lesnar responded professionally…and attacked Triple H, putting him in a Kimura lock and breaking his arm. (Well…it was sort of professional, at least for a WWE personality!) Triple H of course is far from a fan favorite, so it’s very possible Lesnar is being pushed as a “face” this time around.
Paul Heyman appeared on May 7th, stating that he was serving as Lesnar’s legal counsel. He then made the official announcement that Brock was quitting the WWE. That’s the last we’ve heard…but few in the wrestling world actually believe this is a “real” development. In fact, Lesnar is still considered a WWE talent and is signed for some 30 more appearances over 2012.
Nevertheless, everyone is playing up the angle. Brock even showed up at the UFC 146 event, where he scowled it up just enough to get reporters talking. It appears as if the WWE and UFC have a friendly working relationship where the both work together to get buzz going for both of their products. Why, just a few years ago, The Undertaker appeared at a UFC event just to stare down Lesnar and get the world whispering.
The truth of the matter is that the WWE “wrote” Lesnar out of story lines to explain his part time schedule. (Like The Rock and other big name stars, Lesnar only shows up for “big” events) However, you can be at least 90% sure that Lesnar is coming back in a big way, most likely to take on Triple H at Summerslam in August.
May 17th, 2012
Brett Lawrie’s outburst on umpire Bill Miller during Tuesday night’s baseball game leaves a lot of people questioning the relationship between umpires and players in Major League Baseball.
At the end of a close game, Lawrie was at the plate when Fernando Rodney threw a ball that was in fact, a ball — quite obviously to everyone else, except Miller, who called it a strike. That was unbeknownst to Lawrie though, who tossed his bat and started jogging towards first base. A little embarrassed, Miller called a now-confused, and probably a bit angry, Lawrie back to the plate. Rodney threw another ball, and Miller called another strike. But there would be no casual jaunt to first this time for Lawrie. Being the emotional player that he is, he threw his helmet down on the ground, enraged at the last two calls. Unfortunately, the helmet took a weird bounce and ended up hitting Miller. The game continued on and at the end of it all, Lawrie was given a four-game suspension, a suspension that he’s now appealing.
The incident has some questioning the relationship between umpires and players, and wondering what can be to ease tensions between the two. Some even think that the two sides just need to sit down for a good heart-to-heart. But really, is that the answer?
If the many years of sport-playing history have taught us anything, probably not. No, the two groups don’t need to learn about each other’s families or even discuss their seasons. The fact is, nothing at all needs to be done. This was an ugly incident, yes. But the umpires have their union to protect them, and the players have theirs — just like in all other major sports. If there really is an issue, it will be solved between the two.
But there’s likely not going to be a need for such a call to action. There will always be incidents between umps and players, and refs and players. Is it a sign that the league, or the sport, is crumbling? Just the opposite, in fact. These rare occurrences, whether between umps and players, or players of opposing teams, are just one more reason why we love to watch the game.
May 11th, 2012
Going into the NBA playoffs, the Miami Heat were heavily favored to win their series against the New York Knicks, who barely made the playoffs as it was and would not be brining Linsanity with them. And while it still may not be a surprise that Miami took it over the Knicks last night in a 106-94 victory, the Heat know that “it’ll only get tougher from here,” as said by Heat coach Erik Spoelstra.
The Heat brought everything they had to their home court last night and The Big Three showed up in a big way. Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade both put up 19 points while LeBron James scored 29 points of his own, along with getting eight rebounds and seven assists. On Sunday they’ll host Indiana as the Eastern conference semifinals begin.
Eyes weren’t on the Heat at all times though. During the third quarter Carmelo Anthony made a huge shot with the spinning flair that brought the game closer, at 81 — 67, but still in favor of the Heat. “They’re a tough defensive team,” Carmelo said after the game. “They stick to what their schemes are.”
Inarguably the Heat are happy that they’re moving onto the second round, but the celebration will be short-lived. “We will savor this win tonight,” said LeBron James. “And then we get to work tomorrow and get ready for Indiana.”
Going by stats and favorites, there’s no doubt that they will be.
May 1st, 2012
The WWE offered plenty of intense competition all night for Extreme Rules, including the likes of CM Punk vs. Jericho and Sheamus vs. Daniel Bryan. However, the match everyone was talking about was John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar. Lesnar just recently returned to the company and has been itching to make a name for himself against the top “face” in the company.
The action was extreme, all right, as Cena was bloodied up within the first minute of the contest. Lesnar also gave the people exactly what they wanted to see–he used a variety of MMA-style moves, all of the tactics he learned during his UFC stint. Lesnar actually dominated most of the match, and had Cena reeling. However, the momentum changed after Cena used a chain, as well as one of his finishing moves on the steel steps. Cena eventually won the match, which was a bit of redemption for Cena, who just jobbed to The Rock at the company’s WrestleMania event.
While some fans were surprised, or even irate, (Cena has been the company’s most loved and yet despised “face” star ever since the days of Hulk Hogan) this was most likely the first of many battles to come. Those who were expecting a monstrous win for Lesnar over Cena were obviously not seeing the bigger picture. Lesnar needs to climb the ladder, and re-learn the WWE’s style–which although physical, is not as dangerous as a typical UFC competition.
The most interesting tidbit to come out of Extreme Rules was the fact that Cena was legitimately injured in his left arm by Lesnar. This was no accident, as it was clear that Lesnar was going after Cena’s arm using a Kimura Lock throughout the bout–and that was in addition to the elbow Cena took, which split his head open. The end of the bout certainly favored Lesnar, who walked away unscathed.
What’s in the future for Cena and Lesnar? A rematch? Or was this contest a one of a kind match? After all, rumor has it Bobby Lashley may be returning to the WWE as well. The year 2012 will be remembered as the return of the WWE Titans!
April 19th, 2012
That’s what most of the media is saying, anyway; and yes, the 2012 Stanley Cup playoffs have already seen their fair share of hard hits, concussions, and at one point, even a stretcher that carried Marian Hossa off the ice — and we’re not yet even out of Round One. But, are this year’s playoffs really any rougher or tougher than they have been in the years past?
Not if you take into account years past. Don Cherry, the face of hockey and who many consider to be the final word, doesn’t think so. “It’s been going on forever. This stuff has been going on in the playoffs for a long time.” And he might not be wrong. When you consider the famous Scott Stevens hit on Eric Lindros in 2000 that left Lindros with a concussion; and then the other hit that Stevens’ is famous for when he ran into Paul Kariya justu three years later in 2003, which also gave Kariya a severe concussion. And who can forget the famous illegal hit and elbow Doug Gilmour took from Marty McSorley, or the countless other fights, scraps, and bad hits that have been dealt throughout the course of the Stanley Cup playoffs? There are definitely too many count, and Cherry’s view may be the right one.
But while the playoffs may not be all that tougher than years past, one also can’t deny that they seem much tougher — and for this, there could be several reasons. All the strict rule changes have definitely played a part, with the NHL turning a very serious eye to any unauthorized hits and any kind of fighting at all. As hits to the head are taken much more seriously, more players are given more penalties, and more players are taken to the changing room for treatment — something that never would have happened twenty years ago when concussions weren’t really considered all that serious. We know better now, and the NHL is disciplining harsher now. And the very sight of all those players headed towards the penalty box may just put it into our minds that the 2012 playoffs are much more violent than in years past.
Not everyone in the NHL is taking every head shot or fight all that seriously though, and that’s many of the refs that are on the ice during game time. Refs have been judged much harsher from fans, players, and coaches this year for their lack of calls and oblivious eye to some pretty obvious illegal behavior. As fewer calls are made on the ice, players begin to think that they can start to get away with it. That, if for no other reason, would be the sole reason why these playoffs are tougher than any others.
Because guys will always shove their weight around while fighting for a Cup, but there should always be someone there to keep them in line at the same time. And that’s the sole thing that’s been missing from the playoffs this year.
April 13th, 2012
It was widely unknown how audiences would respond to the new Broadway show Magic/Bird that opened on Wednesday at The Longacre Theatre and it’s still safe to say that it’s unknown how audiences will respond. According to the mixed reviews the show has received, it all depends on what you’re looking for, and what you’re hoping to get out of the show.
If you really just want to see the story of legends Magic Johnson and Larry Bird play out on stage, you’re in luck. The performance is full of actual clips of the two playing each other, and outlines how they started as rivals who always needed to be better and faster than the others; and shows how they transformed into very, very good friends. This moment is most poignant both at the beginning, as we see Magic tell Larry over the phone that he’s been diagnosed with HIV, up until the very end when the two embrace after going through so much together.
If on the other hand, you’re looking for a great theatrical performance, you might wish that you had opted for a different show. Kevin Daniels does a great job portraying Magic Johnson in all his charisma and charm; while Tug Coker does an equally impressive job showing Larry Bird as a regular Midwestern guy that really just wants to play basketball, lights and cameras aside. Dierdre O’Connell, Peter Scolari, Francois Battiste, and Robert Manning all make up a great supportive cast as well, but the fact that they’re playing 20 characters shows through at moments, with no real depth shown in any one character.
What also lacked depth were the issues of racism and athlete exploitation that were brought to the forefront of the issues at the time, yet were barely touched on during the performance. And the basketball footage? While interesting and good to see, the overall effect is really just one of sitting in a theater watching basketball footage.
Considering that sports is a very difficult thing to bring to Broadway, director Thomas Kail and playwright Eric Simonson do have a lot to take pride in. They revisited one of the most memorable times in the NBA, and portrayed it in a way that is true to life and if nothing else, heartwarming to see.
April 9th, 2012
It is less than a week away until the 2012 Stanley Cup NHL Playoffs officially begin, and already strategy has become a huge part of play. As some teams are still trying to unhinge each other to clinch their own playoff berth, those already in have their own tactics for making sure that they’re in top form entering Round One. The strategy: keep your best players out and make sure they’re rested for the playoffs. That’s certainly what both the Ottawa Senators and the Boston Bruins seem to be thinking as they face off against each other tonight at Scotiabank Place.
It’s going to be an exact replica of what fans can most likely to expect in the first round; the same teams, the same fans — but not necessarily the same players. Tonight, the Senators will rest Craig Andreson in favor of starting backup Ben Bishop; and the Bruins will also rest their goalie, Tim Thomas, along with stars Zdeno Chara and Patrice Bergeron. The fact that the Bruins are sitting many of their best though, has many pointing towards a theory that they want to ensure they face Ottawa in the first round by giving up two points.
It’s unlikely, though. In order for Ottawa to face the New York Rangers instead of the Bruins, they’d need to lose all of their remaining games. Not to mention the fact that the Bruins are the defending Stanley Cup champions, and the fact that they’re that scared of any team to set up such measures and actually lose a game, is even more doubtful.
Most likely, both of these teams know that they will be facing each other in just a week’s time. They know that now is the time to rest their star players, and let those who don’t get much chance to play time to shine for a little while. Either way, with so many theories running wild already, this is going to be the series to watch in the first round!
April 6th, 2012
It’s day two of the Masters today and if you’ve never seen the biggest names in golf sweat, now is the time.
Tiger Woods had a lot of confidence and fan enthusiasm going for him after winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational just two weeks ago. The pressure mounting after that win, and the whispers that this could be Tiger’s big comeback may have been too much pressure though, as Tiger played what could be called one of his worst Masters rounds yet. The fact that Woods was thrown a few miracles along the way on the course is the only reason why he ended the day at even par. No doubt Woods knows that he’s going to need a spectacular day today if he has a hope of winning; and he’ll just need to at least have a good one if he wants to move onto the weekend rounds.
Rory McIlroy came into the game yesterday trying to shake the ghosts of Masters past. It doesn’t seem like that long ago to anybody when he was well ahead going into the final round last year, only to see his lead evaporate in what will be known as one of the biggest chokes Augusta has ever seen. Unfortunately, this year’s not looking that different. McIlroy had a day much like Woods, starting off very shakily with a double-bogey six. Much like last year, McIlroy took it in stride and to show that patience generally pays off. He was able to do that after back-to-back birdie putts at least brought him back into the game despite continuing trouble with water on the 13th green and missing birdies and pars on the back nine.
The fact that neither star came and blew everyone else out of the water could make this one of the Masters’ most exciting year in a long time. Will it be the year for Tiger’s comeback? Will Rory McIlroy lay those ghosts to rest once and for all? Or will a dark horse emerge, and become the new Masters champion?
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