Hockey Update

Our team is three quarters of the way through the season now and we're 6-2-1.  That's good enough for a tie for 2nd place, although the team we're tied with has played one less game than us.  Most of the games have been very close.  Five of the nine games have been one goal games (we're 3-2 in those) including one OT loss and tonight's shootout win.

I tallied my 2nd assist on the season, but I am still looking for that elusive first goal.  I've learned a lot about positioning, getting to the front of the net, and defending my man.  I had an opening in front of the net, but when it came my way, I barely got a stick on it because the defender knocked me over (checking is NOT legal in our league).  One of my teammates was able to put it in during the scrum, so I think the point was a gimmie.  I feel like I have played good games, for the most part, but the opportunities haven't bounced my way.  Regardless, I love the feeling of hanging out after the games we win and celebrating.  The feeling of being a member of a sports team is unlike I have ever felt.  Playing tennis didn't really compare because it is more of an individual sport (and because I really sucked). 

Next week we play the notoriously "chippy" team in the league.  They're also the team that we're tied with for 2nd place and have given up 9 fewer goals than us.  If we win, we will likely have wrapped up a playoff spot (8 of the 13 make the playoffs).

Save Some Time - Put Them All On Probation

We all know that college football is quickly spiraling out of control with violations.  It is the new "baseball steroid scandal," but it's curious as to WHY so many schools have been penalized in the past couple of years.  Is the NCAA becoming stricter?  Is it becoming better at investigating problems?  Has the "arms race" to recruit prospect intensified to the point where more schools are crossing the line?  It is probably a combination of the three.  It seems like there are so many more publicly dirty programs right now (it's shades of gray - they're all trying to get away with what they can) because we're learning of the sins of the past (2004 USC) and of more recent violators (OH!).

After hearing about TWO college football programs being put on probation today (WVU and OSU), I was curious - who ISN'T on probation next year?!  From my research, I was able to come up with the following list of football programs who are on the naughty list for 2011.
Alabama - buying textbooks for friends scandal
Ohio State - lied about violations
West Virginia - failure to monitor - offseason coaching
Texas Tech - too many text messages
Arkansas St - using 31 ineligible student athletes (over 6 sports including football)
Central Florida - impermissible phone calls and text messages
Florida International - ineligible players, general lack of institutional control
Florida State - academic fraud
Michigan - exceeding coach limitations, offseason workouts
USC - Reggie Bush
Eastern Washington - too many coaches, ineligible players

That is JUST for 2011!  Many of these programs' probations cover several sports.  Congrats goes to Penn State and BYU - the only two programs to have won a national championship and are probation-free.