Remember this thing, this thing called hockey....
I am The Rabbi, video editor of On The Sportslines. Today, even as my beloved New York Rangers have been eliminated, we take a look at the 2010 NHL playoffs. Why should you, as a local New Yorker, give a shit? Well, there are many reasons! I've always found that the most exciting and entertaining playoffs for me, was the one where I didn't really care who would raise Lord Stanley's Chalice in June. Now won't you join me, for a quick idiot's guide to Round 1?
The match up You Should Care About In NY:
Cheating here, but of course it's Flyers-Devils. 5 out of 6 times the Flyers beat the Devils this season, 3 of them since Ilya Kovalchuk made his grand debut with Jersey. The Devils are notoriously known for either a really deep run in the playoffs, or falling flat on their face right from the start. The goalie matchup may seem lopsided with veteran Martin Brodeur facing off against journeyman (to say the least) Brian Boucher. Throw that out the window though cause Brodeur has not been an amazing goalie last few years in the playoffs. However, this is the right match up for the Devils cause of how inconsistent the Flyers were late. Devils in 6.
A Little Bit of Pressure? Um, yeah!:
Sharks V. Avs. Imagine if the Yankees hadn't won a first round playoff series in 5 seasons....wait, I'll switch that up...imagine if with the talent of the Sharks, you didn't make the Western Conference Semifinals since the lockout...OK, that's better. The Sharks, after their #1 FLOP last year in 6 games versus the Ducks face a game Avalanche squad. However, these are not the Avs of old. They're young, they haven't been in this position of old, and almost fell out of the playoff picture completely winning only 3 of their last 13. Sharks won't face the real pressure until the conference semis. Sharks in 5.
I don't know about you, but these are the teams I love to hate.
Pens V. Senators. What do I hate about the Pens? Sidney Crosby! He of course had the winning goal against the United States in the 2010 Gold Medal olympic game. He had 51 goals, which believe it or not is a career high for him. He also covered, a lot, this year, for Stanley Cup Final 2009 MVP Yvgeni Malkin, who missed 16 games and only had 73 points. Crosby's first playoff series victory was against these Ottawa Senators, who have either been really good (21-2-2 when leading after one) or really bad (4-20-2 when trailing after one). My guess is the Pens have the firepower here to overcome the shorthanded Sens, who will be without defenseman Flip Kluba, and (remember him Ranger fans?) forward Alexei Kovalev. I hate the Senators inconsistency. Pens take this decisively I think. Penguins in 5.
Miracle On Ice, Part 2?
Coyotes V. Red Wings. They are america's sweethearts, a team that was almost on the brink of moving before the NHL took control before the season. A team who lost their hall of fame ownership partner, Wayne Gretzky, who thought he was leaving a sinking ship. However, the sinking happened to Gretzky's credibility (hall of fame players cannot be owners!). Phoenix was a hundred + point team, in contention in the final weeks for the NHL's best record, was in great shape for a long playoff run...until the saw who they drew in Round 1. The Red Wings, 16-3-2 since the Olympic break (best in the league), only let up 4 power play goals since the break, (best in the league), and look like world beaters. Despite the fact the Coyotes have home ice advantage, they are surely underdogs to the reigning Western Conference Champs in this series. I have a feeling though, the NHL playoffs are weird, and this would be a weird result, so I'll deliver it for you....Coyotes in 7.
The Rest!
Capitals V. Canadians Unless Jaroslav Halak stands on his head here, I don't see the Canadians taking down the team with the most goals in the NHL. In fact, I sense a sweep coming here cause Montreal faulters quickly. Caps in 4.
Bruins V. Sabres Ryan Miller is America's Sweetheart goalie after his Olympic run, but I feel like the gamble that they made for that 2 seed will cause residual effect, and if the Bruins take 1 of the first 2, I think they don't lose at home. Bruins in 6.
Blackhawks V. Predators Just to let you know, my Stanley Cup final prediction before even a game goes down is Blackhawks and Capitals. Just wanted to let you know. Hawks in 5.
Canucks V. Kings Phoenix, Boston, Chicago, LA, and Denver are going to have a lot of fun this postseason with playoff teams in the NBA and NHL. Somewhere the Dolan's are crying. I see the Kings first postseason experience in 8 years being a good one. And they win a Game 7 on the road. Kings in 7.
There's your first round predictions. Saturday (or Sunday), I'll do the NBA. Make fun of my predictions if I'm way off.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Monday, April 12, 2010
Occasionally The Good Guys Do Win. Occasionaly.
Hello, I am The Rabbi, Video Editor of On The Sportslines.
At about 7 pm and 11 pm on Sunday, there were two cases of sports that made me think about that saying, "nice guys finish last". One case confirmed that saying and one totally contradicted it to a T.
I'll start with a nice guy actually finishing first. This past weekend's "Tradition Unlike Any Other", The Masters, for all 4 rounds featured the seemingly ying and yang of golf professionalism near the top of the leaderboard.
The yang, the contrary to the norm, is Tiger Woods. He finished at -11, which in 4 out of the past 6 Masters, would have been good to finish on top of the leaderboard, but thankfully this year, only got the man a tie for 4th place. I know Tiger got cheers from Augusta, Georgia seemingly all the way up the Eastern seabaord to Augusta, Maine, but please can we realize what Tiger Woods really is to the game of golf? No, not a serial philanaderer that made his way to the pinnacle of the sport, but someone who at the age of 34 still doesn't get it. To his credit, Tiger was nicer to reporters and acknowledged the fans reaction on the course most of the week, but the weekend is where Tiger was in his own rare form. When a man puts himself in the Michael Jordan-esque stratsphere of "either I finish first or I fail completely", he puts himself in position for the minor outbursts he had like on Saturday off the tee at the Front 9 or Sunday where he was saracstically mocking himself or just reacting badly to even a shot that hit the fairway. The incidents that came to light in November put Tiger in an even more awkward position than he has been in before. Tiger is someone who is still isolated from the fans in his own little world and ultimately shows a demeanor that is not appropo for the golf world. I'm glad he's around though, cause he does give the golf world a major significance of attention.
Which leads us to Phil Mickelson, the true Ying of golf. For a man who 6 years ago, was considered still as choke artist extraoridnare when it comes to the major, Lefty owns 3 green jackets, just one less than a certain Tiger Woods. No matter how many bad shots Phil hit yesterday, he was calm and got out of every single one. I don't know if the events of the last 5 months changed a lot, but Tiger was reckless and played vintage Phil Mickelson golf most of the day and Phil played vintage Tiger golf. Not most of us average men would get out of the tree at 13 let alone hit the ball to within 5 FEET OF THE CUP. Phil's amazing, and considering the journey he's been on in dealing with his wife's breast cancer since it was diagnosed about 11 months ago, the fact that Phil played the best golf of his 15+ year career yesterday was wonderful to see. Who didn't enjoy the hug Phil gave to Amy after Phil secured his 4th Major Title? I'm glad people like Tiger give golf a spotlight, cause it allows nice guys like Phil Mickelson to shine through.
Then there's the "nice guys finish last" addage ringing true, ladies and gentlemen, your 2010 New York Jets! They would otherwise be known as the team with so many character and legal issues, they might as well film the newest version of The Longest Yard. Yes, they got one of the true "nice guys" of the league in Ladanian Tomlinson. Please note, this "nice guy", when he was ruled out to play in his San Diego Charger's biggest game, the 2007 AFc Championship against the New England Patriots, Tomlinson moped on the sideline. Instead of watching the game, LT stayed on an exercise bike, helmet on. Team player my ass. This is why LT wanted to join the Jets with a chance he could start then a for- certain back up role with Minnesota.
Then there's free agent pickup Antonio Cromartie, supposedly there to provide a true compliment to fellow quiet man (yeah right) Darelle Revis. He's talked that his accomplishments would be Pro Bowl worthy at the start of the 08 and 09 seasons....and finished both seasons with a total, total of 5 seasons. However, the soon to be 26 year old "gentleman" has more than just on the field problems (and, surprise! he's been accused of dogging it too). Cromartie has father 7 children, with 6 woman, in 5 states. The Jets "rewarded" Cromartie with a half a million dollars to help "clear up" these "issues". Stand up act by a stand up organization.
Then this morning is the Jets acquisition of Steelers super bowl hero Santonio Holmes. The Steelers, who were even considering releasing the man who made the game winning TD in the final minute of Super Bowl 43 (perhaps thinking he was down the same path of the man who caught the game winning TD of Super Bowl 42, former Steeler Plaxico Burress), due to not wanting to deal with the headache anymore. The Jets heard wind of this on Saturday, started negotations on Sunday, and made the deal Monday. Holmes will start the season with a 4 game suspension due to the leagues substence abuse policy, and will possibily have to take responsibility for throwing a piece of glass at a nightclub, but for the Jets this is no tremendously big deal. The Jets have a ton of character issues now on this 2010 team. With the bight lights of New York, what could possibly go wrong!
However, it's not the results that I'm worried about for the 2010 New York Jets, it's the ignorance of demeanor. Truly proof that in sports, when you want to possibly win a championship, the Jets have installed in the age old motto, "nice guys finish last".
Hello, I am The Rabbi, Video Editor of On The Sportslines.
At about 7 pm and 11 pm on Sunday, there were two cases of sports that made me think about that saying, "nice guys finish last". One case confirmed that saying and one totally contradicted it to a T.
I'll start with a nice guy actually finishing first. This past weekend's "Tradition Unlike Any Other", The Masters, for all 4 rounds featured the seemingly ying and yang of golf professionalism near the top of the leaderboard.
The yang, the contrary to the norm, is Tiger Woods. He finished at -11, which in 4 out of the past 6 Masters, would have been good to finish on top of the leaderboard, but thankfully this year, only got the man a tie for 4th place. I know Tiger got cheers from Augusta, Georgia seemingly all the way up the Eastern seabaord to Augusta, Maine, but please can we realize what Tiger Woods really is to the game of golf? No, not a serial philanaderer that made his way to the pinnacle of the sport, but someone who at the age of 34 still doesn't get it. To his credit, Tiger was nicer to reporters and acknowledged the fans reaction on the course most of the week, but the weekend is where Tiger was in his own rare form. When a man puts himself in the Michael Jordan-esque stratsphere of "either I finish first or I fail completely", he puts himself in position for the minor outbursts he had like on Saturday off the tee at the Front 9 or Sunday where he was saracstically mocking himself or just reacting badly to even a shot that hit the fairway. The incidents that came to light in November put Tiger in an even more awkward position than he has been in before. Tiger is someone who is still isolated from the fans in his own little world and ultimately shows a demeanor that is not appropo for the golf world. I'm glad he's around though, cause he does give the golf world a major significance of attention.
Which leads us to Phil Mickelson, the true Ying of golf. For a man who 6 years ago, was considered still as choke artist extraoridnare when it comes to the major, Lefty owns 3 green jackets, just one less than a certain Tiger Woods. No matter how many bad shots Phil hit yesterday, he was calm and got out of every single one. I don't know if the events of the last 5 months changed a lot, but Tiger was reckless and played vintage Phil Mickelson golf most of the day and Phil played vintage Tiger golf. Not most of us average men would get out of the tree at 13 let alone hit the ball to within 5 FEET OF THE CUP. Phil's amazing, and considering the journey he's been on in dealing with his wife's breast cancer since it was diagnosed about 11 months ago, the fact that Phil played the best golf of his 15+ year career yesterday was wonderful to see. Who didn't enjoy the hug Phil gave to Amy after Phil secured his 4th Major Title? I'm glad people like Tiger give golf a spotlight, cause it allows nice guys like Phil Mickelson to shine through.
Then there's the "nice guys finish last" addage ringing true, ladies and gentlemen, your 2010 New York Jets! They would otherwise be known as the team with so many character and legal issues, they might as well film the newest version of The Longest Yard. Yes, they got one of the true "nice guys" of the league in Ladanian Tomlinson. Please note, this "nice guy", when he was ruled out to play in his San Diego Charger's biggest game, the 2007 AFc Championship against the New England Patriots, Tomlinson moped on the sideline. Instead of watching the game, LT stayed on an exercise bike, helmet on. Team player my ass. This is why LT wanted to join the Jets with a chance he could start then a for- certain back up role with Minnesota.
Then there's free agent pickup Antonio Cromartie, supposedly there to provide a true compliment to fellow quiet man (yeah right) Darelle Revis. He's talked that his accomplishments would be Pro Bowl worthy at the start of the 08 and 09 seasons....and finished both seasons with a total, total of 5 seasons. However, the soon to be 26 year old "gentleman" has more than just on the field problems (and, surprise! he's been accused of dogging it too). Cromartie has father 7 children, with 6 woman, in 5 states. The Jets "rewarded" Cromartie with a half a million dollars to help "clear up" these "issues". Stand up act by a stand up organization.
Then this morning is the Jets acquisition of Steelers super bowl hero Santonio Holmes. The Steelers, who were even considering releasing the man who made the game winning TD in the final minute of Super Bowl 43 (perhaps thinking he was down the same path of the man who caught the game winning TD of Super Bowl 42, former Steeler Plaxico Burress), due to not wanting to deal with the headache anymore. The Jets heard wind of this on Saturday, started negotations on Sunday, and made the deal Monday. Holmes will start the season with a 4 game suspension due to the leagues substence abuse policy, and will possibily have to take responsibility for throwing a piece of glass at a nightclub, but for the Jets this is no tremendously big deal. The Jets have a ton of character issues now on this 2010 team. With the bight lights of New York, what could possibly go wrong!
However, it's not the results that I'm worried about for the 2010 New York Jets, it's the ignorance of demeanor. Truly proof that in sports, when you want to possibly win a championship, the Jets have installed in the age old motto, "nice guys finish last".
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