I cannot believe I am defending Kim Kardashian, particularly when it comes to a "tweet", but here it goes. After all, Kim is famous for having a big ass and a sex tape (thanks Joel McHale). I don't remember the last time we had a breast feeding argument, so it's about time.
She is facing a large amount of public scrutiny for posting a message on Twitter criticizing a woman for breast feeding without a coverup and then changing her baby's diaper on the restaurant table.
The story reminded me of a segment on "What Would You Do?" that aired a month or two ago.
The segment set up a biased scenario since the cafe manager had a very loud and immature response ("eww! put your hooters away!") I disagree that this form of indecent exposure should be permitted in the name of women's rights and "nature". I understand that a woman has to feed her child regularly and often with little notice. I am certainly not proposing that women should have to hide in a bathroom for breast feeding. (I do, however, feel that changing its diapers should absolutely be done in a restroom since it is very unsanitary and unpleasant to other diners.) There is no reason women can't use a coverup to create some semblance of privacy. It is not harmful to the baby and you can still maneuver them to make sure everything is going correctly.
So, to answer the news segment's, title - I would never directly complain directly to a woman who is breastfeeding, but it would make me uncomfortable and I would probably find a way to move to another part of the store.
If you want to read a ton of opposing opinions, visit this article.
Most of the arguments in favor of public feeding entail include "it's healthy and natural... if you don't want to see it, don't look... they need to eat..."
Well, since we should be so tolerant... regular ejaculation can be helpful for men in preventing testicular cancer. So next time I am in the mall, maybe I should whip it out in the name of keeping myself healthy and if people don't want to see it, they should look away.
***The above comments don't make me sexist because Stacey agrees - except for the part about me masturbating in the mall***
Monday, June 21, 2010
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Championship Run Begins Now
It's over! Yay! I had a ton of thoughts going through my mind during the Izzo press conference, so here's a few:
-Good job, Kev - you're right again.
-Glad to hear that what ultimately made him decide to stay is the players, because that is the main difference between the NBA and the NCAA and they will keep him here for years to come. Great to see the players supporting him so much and hugging him -there doesn't appear to be any tension and I think it's because, as he said, if they were offered a first round contract with that much guaranteed money, would they have returned? No.
-Can't ignore the absence of Chris Allen. Yes, I know Mike, he lives in Georgia. That reinforces the rumors that have been propogated by Roe's dad. I would be extremely disappointed if he left.
-One question that I don't feel was answered enough - if LeBron was there, would he have left? It seemed like the lack of a guarantee that LeBron would return is the real reason why he's still here.
-What an exchange between Izzo and Lynn Henning! I think Simon, Hollis, and Izzo took a few too many jabs at "the media" - they are going to get some push back eventually. However, after rereading the "It's Too Late for Tom Izzo to Return to MSU" article, I think Henning made some unfair criticisms. Is Izzo really obligated to give a daily briefing if he hasn't made up his mind yet? No. Had the situation grown "embarrasing"? No. He also speculated unfairly as to why Izzo would want to leave - that he is growing tired of recruiting. But if Izzo doesn't like this level of media scrutiny, why in the hell would he consider coaching in the NBA? If the past week of reports from the Cleveland Plain Dealer prove anything, it's that he would be given a very short wick before their writers explode.
-Ok, we have to start thinking of Fantasy Football team names. A few quick ideas:
H To The...
MSU Coach 4 Life
Tom's Team
2011 NCAA Champs
6/12 = F4
...and so Mike can keep some of his namesake: CummingBack
-Unfortunately, I sense that the clock is ticking on Izzo's tenure and this past week moved the hour hand one step closer to midnight. I think he will step down in as little as 3 years, but very likely within the next 5 - especially if he wins another championship.
-Did anyone know his contract guarantees that he is paid an extra 5 years after he retires from MSU as a consultant? If we're talking about money, how can you give that up?
-Good job, Kev - you're right again.
-Glad to hear that what ultimately made him decide to stay is the players, because that is the main difference between the NBA and the NCAA and they will keep him here for years to come. Great to see the players supporting him so much and hugging him -there doesn't appear to be any tension and I think it's because, as he said, if they were offered a first round contract with that much guaranteed money, would they have returned? No.
-Can't ignore the absence of Chris Allen. Yes, I know Mike, he lives in Georgia. That reinforces the rumors that have been propogated by Roe's dad. I would be extremely disappointed if he left.
-One question that I don't feel was answered enough - if LeBron was there, would he have left? It seemed like the lack of a guarantee that LeBron would return is the real reason why he's still here.
-What an exchange between Izzo and Lynn Henning! I think Simon, Hollis, and Izzo took a few too many jabs at "the media" - they are going to get some push back eventually. However, after rereading the "It's Too Late for Tom Izzo to Return to MSU" article, I think Henning made some unfair criticisms. Is Izzo really obligated to give a daily briefing if he hasn't made up his mind yet? No. Had the situation grown "embarrasing"? No. He also speculated unfairly as to why Izzo would want to leave - that he is growing tired of recruiting. But if Izzo doesn't like this level of media scrutiny, why in the hell would he consider coaching in the NBA? If the past week of reports from the Cleveland Plain Dealer prove anything, it's that he would be given a very short wick before their writers explode.
-Ok, we have to start thinking of Fantasy Football team names. A few quick ideas:
H To The...
MSU Coach 4 Life
Tom's Team
2011 NCAA Champs
6/12 = F4
...and so Mike can keep some of his namesake: CummingBack
-Unfortunately, I sense that the clock is ticking on Izzo's tenure and this past week moved the hour hand one step closer to midnight. I think he will step down in as little as 3 years, but very likely within the next 5 - especially if he wins another championship.
-Did anyone know his contract guarantees that he is paid an extra 5 years after he retires from MSU as a consultant? If we're talking about money, how can you give that up?
Monday, June 14, 2010
Friday, June 11, 2010
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Sports Armageddon
Look at the date of my previous post and our comments - can you believe that was THREE days ago?! Every morning this week, I literally wake up and immediately turn the TV to Mike and Mike to see what the latest news on the Izzo situation is. I have watched far too much ESPNNews waiting to see "Breaking News..." scroll across the bottom. While the end of an era for Michigan State appears imminent, I feel like the sports world as a whole in the past month has completely blown up. I think there will eventually be a book written or a movie produced about this month in the sports world. Consider my power rankings of the most surprising, significant moments of the past month (or so) in sports.
1. Three perfect games are thrown in a period of a month. There had, of course, only been 18 previous perfect games in MLB history. Between 1922-1956 there were none.
2. The Big 10 had been hinting at expansion for a few months, which they said would be a long, thought out process. In a matter of days, an ultimatum laid out by the Big 12 has forced immediate defections. By next week, the Big 12 as we know it could be gone.
3. The biggest free agency period ever in any sport, one that has been anticipated for years, is on the horizon in the NBA. The top free agents are rumored to be meeting together to discuss a mutually beneficial plan.
4. The World Cup is here! I don't have any kind of exciting follow up, but it's rare and everyone else in the world is crazy about it!
5. Stephen Strasburg debuts to wild anticipation and throws 14ks - the second most ever in a major league debut.
6. USC, one of the biggest football programs of the last decade, is punished for violations. They may still have to forfeit the BCS Championship and the Heisman committee may decide to rescind Reggie Bush's Heisman. (Side note: How peculiar does Pete Carroll's timing look now?? He leaves USC during the investigation and a few months later the program is punished? And he says he wasn't knowledgeable about the violations?)
7. Weeks after saying that he wouldn't want to go to the NBA until he wins a second NCAA Championship, Tom Izzo is on the verge of ending his 27 year career at MSU and accepting the Cleveland Cavaliers' head coaching job... and who knows if LeBron will be returning.
8. Hockey is growing even stronger - Chicago wins their first championship in 41 years.
9. The biggest rivalry in the NBA continues with the Celtics and Lakers facing off in a rematch of the 2008 Finals.
10. College basketball icon John Wooden passes away.
1. Three perfect games are thrown in a period of a month. There had, of course, only been 18 previous perfect games in MLB history. Between 1922-1956 there were none.
2. The Big 10 had been hinting at expansion for a few months, which they said would be a long, thought out process. In a matter of days, an ultimatum laid out by the Big 12 has forced immediate defections. By next week, the Big 12 as we know it could be gone.
3. The biggest free agency period ever in any sport, one that has been anticipated for years, is on the horizon in the NBA. The top free agents are rumored to be meeting together to discuss a mutually beneficial plan.
4. The World Cup is here! I don't have any kind of exciting follow up, but it's rare and everyone else in the world is crazy about it!
5. Stephen Strasburg debuts to wild anticipation and throws 14ks - the second most ever in a major league debut.
6. USC, one of the biggest football programs of the last decade, is punished for violations. They may still have to forfeit the BCS Championship and the Heisman committee may decide to rescind Reggie Bush's Heisman. (Side note: How peculiar does Pete Carroll's timing look now?? He leaves USC during the investigation and a few months later the program is punished? And he says he wasn't knowledgeable about the violations?)
7. Weeks after saying that he wouldn't want to go to the NBA until he wins a second NCAA Championship, Tom Izzo is on the verge of ending his 27 year career at MSU and accepting the Cleveland Cavaliers' head coaching job... and who knows if LeBron will be returning.
8. Hockey is growing even stronger - Chicago wins their first championship in 41 years.
9. The biggest rivalry in the NBA continues with the Celtics and Lakers facing off in a rematch of the 2008 Finals.
10. College basketball icon John Wooden passes away.
Monday, June 07, 2010
Worried Again
Report: Cavaliers make offer to Michigan State coach Tom Izzo
I know that this happens all of the time, but this one makes me worried. Cavs owner, Dan Gilbert, graduated from MSU. Another article I read said that he is taking over the Cavs' front office moves and that is the reason why their GM, Danny Ferry, left the team. They said that "Gilbert, a staunch Michigan State man, is determined to hire away Tom Izzo. Unless [LeBron] James tells him he wants John Calipari, and then they’ll hire John Calipari." What I don't understand is how they think that hiring Izzo helps their chances of getting LeBron to stay. If there was any chance in the world that he went to college, he said he would go to Ohio State. OSU has even developed a "LeBron James inspired OSU jersey".
This raises an interesting question - if you're Gilbert and you own an NBA team, does your love and passion for all things MSU and Tom Izzo make you want to have him as your coach? Or do you not want to mess up your "other team", particularly before they have one of the best shots at winning the national championship in the country?
I know that this happens all of the time, but this one makes me worried. Cavs owner, Dan Gilbert, graduated from MSU. Another article I read said that he is taking over the Cavs' front office moves and that is the reason why their GM, Danny Ferry, left the team. They said that "Gilbert, a staunch Michigan State man, is determined to hire away Tom Izzo. Unless [LeBron] James tells him he wants John Calipari, and then they’ll hire John Calipari." What I don't understand is how they think that hiring Izzo helps their chances of getting LeBron to stay. If there was any chance in the world that he went to college, he said he would go to Ohio State. OSU has even developed a "LeBron James inspired OSU jersey".
This raises an interesting question - if you're Gilbert and you own an NBA team, does your love and passion for all things MSU and Tom Izzo make you want to have him as your coach? Or do you not want to mess up your "other team", particularly before they have one of the best shots at winning the national championship in the country?
Tuesday, June 01, 2010
You Can't Do That on Television
I am definitely a TV junkie. I tried to cut down on the number of tv shows I regularly watched this year, but I think I just shifted the shows I watch. No more "Biggest Loser" or "24", but I picked up "Community" and "Flash Forward". Summer television is always a wasteland of shows that weren't good enough to air during the winter months, though. I am always surprised to learn some of the shows that they air over the summer. To exemplify this, I have designed a quiz - I have 8 descriptions for television shows. One of these shows is a fake - it's not airing this summer. Your job is to come up with the name for the show based on these descriptions and to spot the fake. Bonus point if you can prove that you have watched any of these shows before. The answers are posted in the comments.
#1
Charlotte Payne is looking for love and has rejected multiple marriage proposals -- but she has yet to meet Mr. Right. When she joins a popular online dating site, she gets a little help from her dating counselor, Andrew, who requires her to take a 100-question compatibility test. The questions aren't easy for Charlotte to answer, and each one requires her to recount a poignant and humorous time in her life. The test becomes a journey of self-discovery for Charlotte who begins to realize what she truly wants in a relationship.
#2
Seven strangers must come together to solve the puzzle of their lives. All of them have been taken from their everyday lives and have arrived in a deserted town with no recollection of how they got there. While being held hostage, the strangers are constantly watched by omnipresent "security" cameras with no idea who or what is behind them. Every attempt to leave is thwarted by unforeseen circumstances, which seem to derive from mysterious forces. At every turn, these strangers-turned-comrades are threatened physically, psychologically and emotionally. Their chance at survival is to rely on each other. But who can they trust in this vulnerable state - either behind those cameras or amongst themselves? Their decisions will have moral and ethical consequences, as alliances are forged and relationships brokered.
#3
Somewhere between the demands of her career, her ex's wedding and her kids' busy schedules, Dana James is noticing her tight-knit family starting to unravel. An unexpected offer to purchase her family's mountain property sets up a weekend road trip, which she hopes will bring her family back together. But when they arrive, they quickly learn that the mountain is much more than it seems. An ancient secret and a treacherous quest will test the family like never before. It's an edge-of-the seat thriller that reminds us that when times are tough, families don't run away from problems - they run back to each other.
#4
Can a family of small-time criminals go legit? This is the story of the Wests, who are forced to change their lifestyle after the man of the house gets sent to the big house. Crime is their business. Cheryl, loving mother and devoted wife, will do everything she can to keep her family together and on the straight and narrow.
#5
Five gorgeous females and five hot men will live together while they compete (they think) to become the "Face of Vegas." Unbeknownst to them, they'll be deliberately challenged by moral situations to see if they really are kind, generous and compassionate and have what it takes to be truly beautiful inside and out. The attractive contestants assume they're being judged solely on their physical attributes when, in fact, the episodes will showcase two sides of each person, one that displays outer beauty as well as one that exhibits inner beauty. One person will be eliminated each week based on their behavior and how well they ranked in each challenge. At the end, the person who has successfully demonstrated both inner and outer beauty will win $100,000 and will be featured in People magazine.
#6
Todd Donovan works for Mid America Novelties, which sells products like whoopee cushions, foam fingers, and wallets made of bacon. This is the stuff upon which the American way of life is built, but try explaining that to someone who lives on the other side of the world. Todd must do exactly that when he's sent to run the company's call center in India. Todd's culture shock leads to hilarious situations with his new employees
#7
This new action comedy explores what happens when an old-school cop and a modern-day detective expose the big picture of small crime. Dan Stark is a washed-up detective who spends most of his time drunk or re-hashing his glory days. A stranger to modern police work, Dan has the reputation as being a bit of a wild card. Dan's new partner, Jack Bailey, is an ambitious, by-the-book detective, but is sometimes a bit too snarky for his own good. He has a dead-end position in the department and is stuck solving annoying petty theft cases that nobody else wants. Worse, he's been given the thankless task of babysitting Dan, the drunk pariah who can never keep partners for long.
#8
This family comedy is about three brothers who hire a charming, wayward schemer to stand in as their father when their real one goes to prison. What begins as a simple business relationship evolves into a family like no other. The three brothers find their dad-for-hire, Ron Snuffkin, working at the local sporting goods store. Ron, a lovable slacker who can't catch a break, is forced to draw from an array of skills and dig into a vast bag of tricks as he steps into the role of patriarch to the boys of the Gunderson family.
#1
Charlotte Payne is looking for love and has rejected multiple marriage proposals -- but she has yet to meet Mr. Right. When she joins a popular online dating site, she gets a little help from her dating counselor, Andrew, who requires her to take a 100-question compatibility test. The questions aren't easy for Charlotte to answer, and each one requires her to recount a poignant and humorous time in her life. The test becomes a journey of self-discovery for Charlotte who begins to realize what she truly wants in a relationship.
#2
Seven strangers must come together to solve the puzzle of their lives. All of them have been taken from their everyday lives and have arrived in a deserted town with no recollection of how they got there. While being held hostage, the strangers are constantly watched by omnipresent "security" cameras with no idea who or what is behind them. Every attempt to leave is thwarted by unforeseen circumstances, which seem to derive from mysterious forces. At every turn, these strangers-turned-comrades are threatened physically, psychologically and emotionally. Their chance at survival is to rely on each other. But who can they trust in this vulnerable state - either behind those cameras or amongst themselves? Their decisions will have moral and ethical consequences, as alliances are forged and relationships brokered.
#3
Somewhere between the demands of her career, her ex's wedding and her kids' busy schedules, Dana James is noticing her tight-knit family starting to unravel. An unexpected offer to purchase her family's mountain property sets up a weekend road trip, which she hopes will bring her family back together. But when they arrive, they quickly learn that the mountain is much more than it seems. An ancient secret and a treacherous quest will test the family like never before. It's an edge-of-the seat thriller that reminds us that when times are tough, families don't run away from problems - they run back to each other.
#4
Can a family of small-time criminals go legit? This is the story of the Wests, who are forced to change their lifestyle after the man of the house gets sent to the big house. Crime is their business. Cheryl, loving mother and devoted wife, will do everything she can to keep her family together and on the straight and narrow.
#5
Five gorgeous females and five hot men will live together while they compete (they think) to become the "Face of Vegas." Unbeknownst to them, they'll be deliberately challenged by moral situations to see if they really are kind, generous and compassionate and have what it takes to be truly beautiful inside and out. The attractive contestants assume they're being judged solely on their physical attributes when, in fact, the episodes will showcase two sides of each person, one that displays outer beauty as well as one that exhibits inner beauty. One person will be eliminated each week based on their behavior and how well they ranked in each challenge. At the end, the person who has successfully demonstrated both inner and outer beauty will win $100,000 and will be featured in People magazine.
#6
Todd Donovan works for Mid America Novelties, which sells products like whoopee cushions, foam fingers, and wallets made of bacon. This is the stuff upon which the American way of life is built, but try explaining that to someone who lives on the other side of the world. Todd must do exactly that when he's sent to run the company's call center in India. Todd's culture shock leads to hilarious situations with his new employees
#7
This new action comedy explores what happens when an old-school cop and a modern-day detective expose the big picture of small crime. Dan Stark is a washed-up detective who spends most of his time drunk or re-hashing his glory days. A stranger to modern police work, Dan has the reputation as being a bit of a wild card. Dan's new partner, Jack Bailey, is an ambitious, by-the-book detective, but is sometimes a bit too snarky for his own good. He has a dead-end position in the department and is stuck solving annoying petty theft cases that nobody else wants. Worse, he's been given the thankless task of babysitting Dan, the drunk pariah who can never keep partners for long.
#8
This family comedy is about three brothers who hire a charming, wayward schemer to stand in as their father when their real one goes to prison. What begins as a simple business relationship evolves into a family like no other. The three brothers find their dad-for-hire, Ron Snuffkin, working at the local sporting goods store. Ron, a lovable slacker who can't catch a break, is forced to draw from an array of skills and dig into a vast bag of tricks as he steps into the role of patriarch to the boys of the Gunderson family.
Sports Update
The Arizona Diamondbacks acquired Dontrelle Willis from the Detroit Tigers today. In return, Detroit retains the rights to pay Dontrelle Willis the rest of his contract and receives a reminder that they got Miguel Cabrera for taking Willis off the Marlins' hands.
Friday, May 28, 2010
***BREAKING NEWS: LeBron Leaving for Florida***
Today's dose of unintentional comedy:
LeBron Leaving for Florida - Columbus Dispatch dispatch.com
LeBron Leaving for Florida - Columbus Dispatch dispatch.com
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Fads I Just Don't Get
I feel very old when I consider what's hot today in teenage pop culture. I just don't get it. As you can see by my list, I think our "youth culture" (another phrase that makes me look old) is very feminine-driven. When did teenage boys become pansies?? So here's my power rankings for things that I don't get (a.k.a. why I'm old).
1. Twilight - is it almost over??
2. Everything else "vampire inspired"
3. Two high school boy fashion trends - the long hair in your face and tight pants - when did looking like a girl become cool?
4. Justin Bieber - is he part of the reason for #3? How is he collaborating with Ludacris and Sean Kingston?? Does this not take away every bit of their street cred?
5. Glee - I enjoy some acapella now and then and I love hearing NPH sing, but come on
6. Twitter - again, nobody cares about your mundane everyday life
7. Teenage Mom shows - I thought that teenagers who got knocked up were outcasts. Is this because of Juno or because of Sarah Palin's daughter?
8. Dancing with the Stars - It's ballroom dancing!! There's nothing cool about ballroom dancing!!
1. Twilight - is it almost over??
2. Everything else "vampire inspired"
3. Two high school boy fashion trends - the long hair in your face and tight pants - when did looking like a girl become cool?
4. Justin Bieber - is he part of the reason for #3? How is he collaborating with Ludacris and Sean Kingston?? Does this not take away every bit of their street cred?
5. Glee - I enjoy some acapella now and then and I love hearing NPH sing, but come on
6. Twitter - again, nobody cares about your mundane everyday life
7. Teenage Mom shows - I thought that teenagers who got knocked up were outcasts. Is this because of Juno or because of Sarah Palin's daughter?
8. Dancing with the Stars - It's ballroom dancing!! There's nothing cool about ballroom dancing!!
Monday, May 24, 2010
Changes
As Stacey can attest, I don't deal with change that well. In the past six months, my office has had 5 new hires and added 3 new positions. Our office dynamic has swung so much I think I'm sea sick. I have been having to take more of a leadership position to keep things together and I'm glad I can step back now.
In regards to change I have implemented myself, I am very happy with how well painting our basement has turned out. It definitely wasn't a selling feature of the house. It is 1/3 finished, 1/3 laundry room, 1/3 crawl space. The part that is finished is modestly sized - big enough to hang out in but not enough to supplant our "family room". It has wood paneling, which gives me a "parents baseroom" vibe, even though my parents never had wood paneling. We decided to paint it an off-white color. The y-chromosome in me says it's white, but apparently it is off-white enough to appease Stacey. It brightened up the room nicely and makes the basement look a little larger than before. With the temperatures jumping past 80 recently, I could see myself spending more time down there to save a little on our energy bill. I think I want to take it one step further and add track lighting to really brighten it up. Now I need to study up on electrical maintenance.
In regards to change I have implemented myself, I am very happy with how well painting our basement has turned out. It definitely wasn't a selling feature of the house. It is 1/3 finished, 1/3 laundry room, 1/3 crawl space. The part that is finished is modestly sized - big enough to hang out in but not enough to supplant our "family room". It has wood paneling, which gives me a "parents baseroom" vibe, even though my parents never had wood paneling. We decided to paint it an off-white color. The y-chromosome in me says it's white, but apparently it is off-white enough to appease Stacey. It brightened up the room nicely and makes the basement look a little larger than before. With the temperatures jumping past 80 recently, I could see myself spending more time down there to save a little on our energy bill. I think I want to take it one step further and add track lighting to really brighten it up. Now I need to study up on electrical maintenance.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Lost
I know neither of you watch Lost, but I am very excited for the end. How could you not be intrigued by this?? (It's not an actual promo, but was created by some fan with a lot of time on their hands).
Friday, May 07, 2010
King of the City
Chris Broussard's article on LeBron's recent MVP acceptance ceremony highlights what makes him different than a lot of other superstars (i.e., Kobe). Many people have looked for deeper meaning in his words about Akron; some say they indicate he's staying while others believe it was a farewell acknowledgement. I am not taking this either way, but I do appreciate LeBron for his attitude.
Since he gained nation-wide attention as a high school junior/senior, LeBron has been doing all the right things. He has been saying the right things, surrounding himself with the right people, and demonstrating the right balance of maturity and personality. I am not saying LeBron is a "good person". In a "post Tiger/Letterman/Roethlisberger/etc" world, nobody is willing to make strong value judgements about someone's character. But I do think he is fairly selfless, genuinely interested in his teams' success rather than his own (because he knows making his team better will lead to his own success), and is appreciative of his roots and the people who helped him get where he is. I think he appears to have better character and is a better teammate than Michael, the person who he is compared to most.
I am in the small minority of people who believe he will be returning to Cleveland. I don't think it will have anything to do with winning or losing a championship this year. I believe, through this event and many of his other actions, that he has a deep connection to Northeast Ohio. He is going to get a max contract no matter where he goes. I don't see him benefitting any more from a "marketing standpoint" by being in LA or NYC. I think he actually appreciates not having to deal with as much paparazzi in Cleveland. And, while having a good support group of teammates is necessary, I don't think he would be tempted by the opportunity of an "All Star Lineup".
I remember when he completely took over the 4th quarter series-clinching game against us in the playoffs a few years ago. He took his game to another level and everyone outside of Michigan was in awe of his performance. Now that the Pistons are in the crapper, I can appreciate LeBron a little more. I am by no means jumping on the Cavs bandwagon, but he is enjoyable to watch. I appreciate him thanking his hometown fans and acknowledging his teammates while winning an individual award.
Since he gained nation-wide attention as a high school junior/senior, LeBron has been doing all the right things. He has been saying the right things, surrounding himself with the right people, and demonstrating the right balance of maturity and personality. I am not saying LeBron is a "good person". In a "post Tiger/Letterman/Roethlisberger/etc" world, nobody is willing to make strong value judgements about someone's character. But I do think he is fairly selfless, genuinely interested in his teams' success rather than his own (because he knows making his team better will lead to his own success), and is appreciative of his roots and the people who helped him get where he is. I think he appears to have better character and is a better teammate than Michael, the person who he is compared to most.
I am in the small minority of people who believe he will be returning to Cleveland. I don't think it will have anything to do with winning or losing a championship this year. I believe, through this event and many of his other actions, that he has a deep connection to Northeast Ohio. He is going to get a max contract no matter where he goes. I don't see him benefitting any more from a "marketing standpoint" by being in LA or NYC. I think he actually appreciates not having to deal with as much paparazzi in Cleveland. And, while having a good support group of teammates is necessary, I don't think he would be tempted by the opportunity of an "All Star Lineup".
I remember when he completely took over the 4th quarter series-clinching game against us in the playoffs a few years ago. He took his game to another level and everyone outside of Michigan was in awe of his performance. Now that the Pistons are in the crapper, I can appreciate LeBron a little more. I am by no means jumping on the Cavs bandwagon, but he is enjoyable to watch. I appreciate him thanking his hometown fans and acknowledging his teammates while winning an individual award.
Monday, May 03, 2010
Guess They Are Doing Something Right
NEW YORK -- U.S. viewership of the NHL playoffs increased 24 percent from 2009, the league's highest average first-round audience in 10 years.
The NHL said Friday that NBC and Versus combined to average 742,000 viewers per telecast. That's the most since ABC/ESPN/ESPN2 had 750,000 in 2000.
Versus averaged 595,000 viewers, a 35 percent increase from 2009 and the league's best showing on cable since ESPN/ESPN2 in 2001 (608,000). Versus averaged a .7 rating, up 75 percent from 2009.
NBC averaged 430,000 viewers for its four broadcasts, an 18 percent increase over 2009. Its 1.1 average rating was the best since 2006 and up 10 percent from last year.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/playoffs/2010/news/story?id=5152366
The NHL said Friday that NBC and Versus combined to average 742,000 viewers per telecast. That's the most since ABC/ESPN/ESPN2 had 750,000 in 2000.
Versus averaged 595,000 viewers, a 35 percent increase from 2009 and the league's best showing on cable since ESPN/ESPN2 in 2001 (608,000). Versus averaged a .7 rating, up 75 percent from 2009.
NBC averaged 430,000 viewers for its four broadcasts, an 18 percent increase over 2009. Its 1.1 average rating was the best since 2006 and up 10 percent from last year.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/playoffs/2010/news/story?id=5152366
Sunday, May 02, 2010
Food Coma
For the first time in almost a month, I have a non-sports related post. I have been on an unhealthy kick lately. If someone can be a "health nut", what would an unhealth person be? A "health Milk Dud?" I'm not depressed or anything, but I definitely think I treat food as something that is comforting. I attach positive feelings towards food, which I know is bad. I think a lot of people wrestle with the same thing and that is why some people overeat or eat the wrong things. I am by no means in serious trouble at this point and I could only stand to lose 5-10 pounds. I think my main problem with health right now stems more from inactivity than from food. I am hopeful once we get our kayaks and spend more time doing yard work, I will be exercising more often (than never). So here's the items that have been giving me trouble lately - my "power rankings of junk food".
1. Doughnuts - my all-time favorite food and favorite vice. Power rankings of doughnut places - Honey Dip, Buckeye Donuts (I'm sorry guys, they're good so it's worth it), Tim Horton's TimBits (not their actual doughnuts though)
2. Taco Bell - my fourth-meal consists of the cheesy gordita crunch, steak quesadilla, fiesta potatoes, or the steak chalupa supreme
3. Cheetos - I find it humorous that on the back of the bag is a photo of corn. Is that because they want you to think that Cheetos are a natural food and aren't completely chemically produced? Because I'm fine either way - they're really good
4. City Barbeque beef brisket sandwich and mac & cheese
5. Burger King A-1 Steakhouse XT - A mix of steak sauce, fried onion strings, and beef that tastes great and leaves a bomb in my stomach to detonate 30 mins later
6. Sushi-KO rolls - doesn't necessarily sound like junk food, but the ones I like most are fried
7. Doritos - were recently bumped down the list by Cheetos - I'm a regular nacho cheese loyalist. Has anyone tried the cheeseburger ones? It tastes exactly like the different layers of a cheeseburger, but will make you vomit
8. Kid's cereal - Fruit Loops, Golden Grahams, Cinnamon Toast Crunch - I don't usually eat breakfast, but I've recently been eating cereal before I go to bed on nights where I'm still hungry
9. Potato salad
10. Smore Pop Tarts (yeah, you heard me Mike)
1. Doughnuts - my all-time favorite food and favorite vice. Power rankings of doughnut places - Honey Dip, Buckeye Donuts (I'm sorry guys, they're good so it's worth it), Tim Horton's TimBits (not their actual doughnuts though)
2. Taco Bell - my fourth-meal consists of the cheesy gordita crunch, steak quesadilla, fiesta potatoes, or the steak chalupa supreme
3. Cheetos - I find it humorous that on the back of the bag is a photo of corn. Is that because they want you to think that Cheetos are a natural food and aren't completely chemically produced? Because I'm fine either way - they're really good
4. City Barbeque beef brisket sandwich and mac & cheese
5. Burger King A-1 Steakhouse XT - A mix of steak sauce, fried onion strings, and beef that tastes great and leaves a bomb in my stomach to detonate 30 mins later
6. Sushi-KO rolls - doesn't necessarily sound like junk food, but the ones I like most are fried
7. Doritos - were recently bumped down the list by Cheetos - I'm a regular nacho cheese loyalist. Has anyone tried the cheeseburger ones? It tastes exactly like the different layers of a cheeseburger, but will make you vomit
8. Kid's cereal - Fruit Loops, Golden Grahams, Cinnamon Toast Crunch - I don't usually eat breakfast, but I've recently been eating cereal before I go to bed on nights where I'm still hungry
9. Potato salad
10. Smore Pop Tarts (yeah, you heard me Mike)
Thursday, April 29, 2010
A Quiz and A Poll
Rank these teams in order of how important a championship run would be to you:
MSU Hockey
MSU Basketball
MSU Football
Detroit Lions
Detroit Redwings
Detroit Tigers
Detroit Pistons
The lack of the football championships in our lifetimes probably make them more meaningful. Here's my list:
1. MSU Football - College Football is my favorite sport and I am convinced this is the only one I will not see in my lifetime. Yes, that means I think the Lions are closer to winning the Super Bowl than the Spartans are to that ugly crystal football. I think college football lacks parity and offers a distinct advantage to about 15 prestigious programs. We are in that group of the other 100.
2. Detroit Lions - Again, this is artificially inflated because we're so far from it. I do believe that the roster moves in the past few years are leading us in the right direction. Then again, I remember how excited I was for "Harrington to Rogers" to light up our offense that I made it my fantasy team name one year.
3. Michigan State Basketball - I am excited for this one because I think it can, and probably should, happen next year. Yes, I am "one of those" people that are putting high expectations on them. We are returning 3 core people who have been in the Final Four the past two years, so I think it is fair to say they should win it.
4. Detroit Red Wings - Even though this is the most successful team of the group, winning the Stanley Cup doesn't ever get old to me. I have watched the entirety of almost every game (except for the one that wasn't on TV outside Detroit). I love hockey and we should win it every year.
5. Detroit Tigers - I will always contend that the baseball season is too long, but I can always get up for the Fall Classic. The lack of playoff teams in baseball makes winning the Division or Wild Card even more special. Unless you are the 90s Braves.
6. Michigan State Hockey - Hockey is my second favorite sport, but the NCAA hockey playoffs lack excitement. It doesn't get a lot of publicity, so I don't know much about the teams outside the CCHA. I was really excited when we won the championship, but it lacks the "remember when" factor in hindsight. For example, I can recall the Game 7 the Wings played against the Avs when they destroyed them (like 7-1) and Roy let in an "own goal" when he tried holding a gloved puck up high in the air. I remember the crazy goal that McCarty had while falling down against the Flyers in 97. I can't tell you who MSU played that year except for BC in the finals.
7. Detroit Pistons - I can remember sitting together leaned in close to the TV for every game when we were good. We yelled at every foul or missed free throw and celebrated every basket. I think LeBron killed my NBA spirit in 2007 with his ridiculous 4th quarter performance in the final game of the Eastern Conference Finals.
My fairweathered interest in the Pistons sparked an idea to create a quiz to see how much you really know about the team anymore. The questions are things I think you should know about "your team". My guesses and answers are in the comments. I fully anticipate that I will fail.
1. Who is the current coach of the Pistons?
2. Who lead the team in scoring?
3. Who lead the team in rebounding?
4. Where did they finish in the Division?
5. What draft pick do they have coming up in the NBA draft?
6. What is their starting 5?
7. Name the last player that they traded for.
MSU Hockey
MSU Basketball
MSU Football
Detroit Lions
Detroit Redwings
Detroit Tigers
Detroit Pistons
The lack of the football championships in our lifetimes probably make them more meaningful. Here's my list:
1. MSU Football - College Football is my favorite sport and I am convinced this is the only one I will not see in my lifetime. Yes, that means I think the Lions are closer to winning the Super Bowl than the Spartans are to that ugly crystal football. I think college football lacks parity and offers a distinct advantage to about 15 prestigious programs. We are in that group of the other 100.
2. Detroit Lions - Again, this is artificially inflated because we're so far from it. I do believe that the roster moves in the past few years are leading us in the right direction. Then again, I remember how excited I was for "Harrington to Rogers" to light up our offense that I made it my fantasy team name one year.
3. Michigan State Basketball - I am excited for this one because I think it can, and probably should, happen next year. Yes, I am "one of those" people that are putting high expectations on them. We are returning 3 core people who have been in the Final Four the past two years, so I think it is fair to say they should win it.
4. Detroit Red Wings - Even though this is the most successful team of the group, winning the Stanley Cup doesn't ever get old to me. I have watched the entirety of almost every game (except for the one that wasn't on TV outside Detroit). I love hockey and we should win it every year.
5. Detroit Tigers - I will always contend that the baseball season is too long, but I can always get up for the Fall Classic. The lack of playoff teams in baseball makes winning the Division or Wild Card even more special. Unless you are the 90s Braves.
6. Michigan State Hockey - Hockey is my second favorite sport, but the NCAA hockey playoffs lack excitement. It doesn't get a lot of publicity, so I don't know much about the teams outside the CCHA. I was really excited when we won the championship, but it lacks the "remember when" factor in hindsight. For example, I can recall the Game 7 the Wings played against the Avs when they destroyed them (like 7-1) and Roy let in an "own goal" when he tried holding a gloved puck up high in the air. I remember the crazy goal that McCarty had while falling down against the Flyers in 97. I can't tell you who MSU played that year except for BC in the finals.
7. Detroit Pistons - I can remember sitting together leaned in close to the TV for every game when we were good. We yelled at every foul or missed free throw and celebrated every basket. I think LeBron killed my NBA spirit in 2007 with his ridiculous 4th quarter performance in the final game of the Eastern Conference Finals.
My fairweathered interest in the Pistons sparked an idea to create a quiz to see how much you really know about the team anymore. The questions are things I think you should know about "your team". My guesses and answers are in the comments. I fully anticipate that I will fail.
1. Who is the current coach of the Pistons?
2. Who lead the team in scoring?
3. Who lead the team in rebounding?
4. Where did they finish in the Division?
5. What draft pick do they have coming up in the NBA draft?
6. What is their starting 5?
7. Name the last player that they traded for.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Scars & Stitches
I've decided every post should be named after a Guster song. I had Keep it Together a few posts ago and now I'm making it a permanent trend. I have really enjoyed the Red Wings series against Phoenix, particularly the 2nd period of game 7 and the craziness of game 2.
Who's my Red Wing? Justin Abdelkader. The guy won State a National Championship and now he provides them with a great spark in our lesser lines. It was a great idea for Babcock to insert him into the lineup after game 1 to provide us with some checking and toughness. Whenever I see that number 8 come off the bench I get excited. The only think I don't like to see is the number of penalties. I didn't realize this until looking at the box scores, but he has 23 penalty minutes this series?! That's a whole game's worth of action and he didn't even play game 1!
Who's not my Red Wing? Todd Bertuzzi. He's got 4 assists, but there is just something I don't like about him. He seems to blow a lot of chances by whiffing on his shot or putting it wide of the net. (And of course 2 minutes after I typed that he scored on a rebound to make it 5-1 in game 7.)
What is going well
Scoring from Zetterberg and Datsyuk. Penalty killing in every game except 1 and 6. Crisp passing and getting the puck far up the ice in 3 passes. Jimmy Howard when the pressure isn't on him and he isn't forced to win the game for us. Scoring in the 2nd and 3rd periods. Datsyuk playing good defense and stealing pucks away. Poke checking.
What is not going well
Getting shots from in front of the net. Draw a triangle from the faceoff circles to the net - we're not seeing a lot of action in that zone. Holmstrom needs to do a better job of getting in front of the net and we need to corral rebounds better as a team. Faceoffs. Producing goals when the pucks aren't bouncing our way. Dan Cleary - he has been invisible. He's playing 15 minutes per game, has 9 shots, and 0 points. Lapses in energy to start some of the games.
Series-Altering Event Shane Doan's injury in Game 3. He had a goal and an assist in the action that he saw. Phoenix is a team with limited talent and losing their captain was a crushing blow.
How badly can it hurt you to not convert on a 5-on-3? Very early in game 6, Detroit had a powerplay, followed by a 5-3, followed by another powerplay, during which Phoenix scored a shorthanded goal. The momentum swing was very apparent. We were all over them in the beginning in what looked like a carryover from game 5. After the SHG, Phoenix was in control. Towards the end of the second period in game 7, Phoenix had a 5-on-3 for a minute followed by a powerplay. After we killed off both, Stuart came rushing out of the box, found the puck at center ice on a breakaway and scored to give us a comfortable 4-1 lead.
Looking Ahead
I predicted before the playoffs began that we would lose in the second round and I stand by that more than ever knowing that San Jose awaits. Their series was close in the beginning with Colorado taking game 1 and games 2-4 going into overtime. The Sharks found their stride and won games 5 & 6 handily. They have the advantage of rest and from traveling. This is where being in the Western Conference puts Detroit at a disadvantage. San Jose had to travel 1300 miles to Denver while Detroit's commute to Phoenix was 2000 miles. Keep in mind they played game 5 until 12:30am Saturday in Phoenix, game 6 at 2pm on Sunday in Detroit, and game 7 on Tuesday. That's traveling 4000 miles in 4 days. What did the Sharks have to do during that timeframe? Fly home to San Jose after finishing off Colorado Saturday night. I think that their defense and Nabokov's experience will be too much to handle. Outside of a wild game 2, San Jose held Colorado to 2 or less goals in every game. We allowed Phoenix to score 3 or more in 4 of the 7 games. Although we were 3-0-1 against San Jose during the regular season. Still, I predict Sharks win in 6.
Who's my Red Wing? Justin Abdelkader. The guy won State a National Championship and now he provides them with a great spark in our lesser lines. It was a great idea for Babcock to insert him into the lineup after game 1 to provide us with some checking and toughness. Whenever I see that number 8 come off the bench I get excited. The only think I don't like to see is the number of penalties. I didn't realize this until looking at the box scores, but he has 23 penalty minutes this series?! That's a whole game's worth of action and he didn't even play game 1!
Who's not my Red Wing? Todd Bertuzzi. He's got 4 assists, but there is just something I don't like about him. He seems to blow a lot of chances by whiffing on his shot or putting it wide of the net. (And of course 2 minutes after I typed that he scored on a rebound to make it 5-1 in game 7.)
What is going well
Scoring from Zetterberg and Datsyuk. Penalty killing in every game except 1 and 6. Crisp passing and getting the puck far up the ice in 3 passes. Jimmy Howard when the pressure isn't on him and he isn't forced to win the game for us. Scoring in the 2nd and 3rd periods. Datsyuk playing good defense and stealing pucks away. Poke checking.
What is not going well
Getting shots from in front of the net. Draw a triangle from the faceoff circles to the net - we're not seeing a lot of action in that zone. Holmstrom needs to do a better job of getting in front of the net and we need to corral rebounds better as a team. Faceoffs. Producing goals when the pucks aren't bouncing our way. Dan Cleary - he has been invisible. He's playing 15 minutes per game, has 9 shots, and 0 points. Lapses in energy to start some of the games.
Series-Altering Event Shane Doan's injury in Game 3. He had a goal and an assist in the action that he saw. Phoenix is a team with limited talent and losing their captain was a crushing blow.
How badly can it hurt you to not convert on a 5-on-3? Very early in game 6, Detroit had a powerplay, followed by a 5-3, followed by another powerplay, during which Phoenix scored a shorthanded goal. The momentum swing was very apparent. We were all over them in the beginning in what looked like a carryover from game 5. After the SHG, Phoenix was in control. Towards the end of the second period in game 7, Phoenix had a 5-on-3 for a minute followed by a powerplay. After we killed off both, Stuart came rushing out of the box, found the puck at center ice on a breakaway and scored to give us a comfortable 4-1 lead.
Looking Ahead
I predicted before the playoffs began that we would lose in the second round and I stand by that more than ever knowing that San Jose awaits. Their series was close in the beginning with Colorado taking game 1 and games 2-4 going into overtime. The Sharks found their stride and won games 5 & 6 handily. They have the advantage of rest and from traveling. This is where being in the Western Conference puts Detroit at a disadvantage. San Jose had to travel 1300 miles to Denver while Detroit's commute to Phoenix was 2000 miles. Keep in mind they played game 5 until 12:30am Saturday in Phoenix, game 6 at 2pm on Sunday in Detroit, and game 7 on Tuesday. That's traveling 4000 miles in 4 days. What did the Sharks have to do during that timeframe? Fly home to San Jose after finishing off Colorado Saturday night. I think that their defense and Nabokov's experience will be too much to handle. Outside of a wild game 2, San Jose held Colorado to 2 or less goals in every game. We allowed Phoenix to score 3 or more in 4 of the 7 games. Although we were 3-0-1 against San Jose during the regular season. Still, I predict Sharks win in 6.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
WWJD - Who Would Jesus Draft?
http://jay-mariotti.fanhouse.com/2010/04/20/antidote-to-nfl-crime-tebow-in-first-round/?synd=fanhouse
Tim Tebow has certainly been a divisive personality. Many people praise his righteousness and purity and consider him a shining example of what a sports role model should look like. Others despise his evangelical ways and would like to see nothing more than Tebow to fail or to slip up and get into trouble. For Mariotti to call him "the perfect anti-toxin for what ails the NFL" is ridiculous. I know Mariotti and his "Around the Horn" cohorts are prone to exaggeration to sell themselves, but I completely disagree.
I am pretty indifferent on Tebow - he seems like a genuine, nice guy and I don't want him to fail, but I think he needs to cool it with the evangelizing. I didn't like seeing a new bible verse on his eye black every week and I think he will probably rub his a lot of his new teammates the wrong way. I also think that Roethlisberger probably got off lucky from a legal standpoint. I think a 4-6 game suspension was appropriate given that he was never charged with a crime. It was an important stance for the league because it proved they are willing to be tough with a high profile player. As one analyst said, "it's easy to suspend a Cincinnati Bengal, but what do you do with a 2 time Super Bowl winning Quarterback?"
I don't see a high draft spot for Tim Tebow erasing the Ben Roethlisberger situation from a PR standpoint for the NFL, however. Many teams have reasonable questions about Tebow, who threw from the shotgun formation, relied heavily on scrambling, was surrounded by tremendous blocking and receiving, and has recently adjusted his throwing motion. As a general manager, I wouldn't give him the benefit of the doubt on these issues just because of his character. The NFL dealt with the Roethlisberger situation appropriately for the amount of information we know. Should anything more be revealed, they should and would take more action.
Tim Tebow has certainly been a divisive personality. Many people praise his righteousness and purity and consider him a shining example of what a sports role model should look like. Others despise his evangelical ways and would like to see nothing more than Tebow to fail or to slip up and get into trouble. For Mariotti to call him "the perfect anti-toxin for what ails the NFL" is ridiculous. I know Mariotti and his "Around the Horn" cohorts are prone to exaggeration to sell themselves, but I completely disagree.
I am pretty indifferent on Tebow - he seems like a genuine, nice guy and I don't want him to fail, but I think he needs to cool it with the evangelizing. I didn't like seeing a new bible verse on his eye black every week and I think he will probably rub his a lot of his new teammates the wrong way. I also think that Roethlisberger probably got off lucky from a legal standpoint. I think a 4-6 game suspension was appropriate given that he was never charged with a crime. It was an important stance for the league because it proved they are willing to be tough with a high profile player. As one analyst said, "it's easy to suspend a Cincinnati Bengal, but what do you do with a 2 time Super Bowl winning Quarterback?"
I don't see a high draft spot for Tim Tebow erasing the Ben Roethlisberger situation from a PR standpoint for the NFL, however. Many teams have reasonable questions about Tebow, who threw from the shotgun formation, relied heavily on scrambling, was surrounded by tremendous blocking and receiving, and has recently adjusted his throwing motion. As a general manager, I wouldn't give him the benefit of the doubt on these issues just because of his character. The NFL dealt with the Roethlisberger situation appropriately for the amount of information we know. Should anything more be revealed, they should and would take more action.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Why the NHL is the Best and Worst League
First of all, let me say fuck you to the NHL for being the worst run league in professional sports.
The Stanley Cup Playoffs are the best of any of the four major sports. They allow enough teams into the playoffs for it to matter to a wide variety of its fan base (unlike football and baseball) without watering down the talent level (like the NBA). For example, the first two NHL teams in each conference that missed the playoffs this year had records of 38-33-11 and 40-32-10. In my opinion, OT losses in hockey aren't the same as regular losses because of the shootout. Having player vs. goalie is a scenario that doesn't demonstrate who was the better team that night. It benefits teams that have a goalie that can exceed against better shooters or teams that have a number of better shooters/stick handlers. Some examples of the shootout records for teams this year including their spot in the overall standings:
1. Washington Capitals 5-6
2. San Jose Sharks 7-6
5. Vancouver Canucks 4-4
26. NY Islanders 8-6
29. Toronto Maple Leafs 4-4
30. Edmonton Oilers 8-6
I think I have made my point that OTL should be considered differently than regulation losses, but I don't want to get off track. If you still don't agree, I'll concede that the Montreal Canadiens technically had a losing record of 39-43 when combining losses and OT losses, but they were the only .500 or lower team.
The NBA, on the other hand, waters down the first few rounds with poor teams. This year's playoffs were a rarity because only one team (the Chicago Bulls) had a non-winning record. However, every other season since 2005 has included 3 playoff teams that ended the regular season .500 or worse (every one of which was in the Eastern Conference).
The NHL playoffs are also different in the sense that a hot goalie can propel a team deep into the bracket. Lesser teams are also more likely to pull off upsets by working harder than their opponents. In the NBA, an all-star player can disguise a lack of team effort for at least the first round or two.
Many sports writers and analysts, even those that aren't hockey fans, agree that the Stanley Cup playoffs are some of the most exciting games in sports. This year has already offered a number of close games, surprises from unexpected teams, and exciting action. The Coyotes and Wings scoring 5 goals in 5 minutes in game 2? Ridiculous. So why in the hell is the league still begging NBC (the worst run network on TV today) and Versus to play its games?
I was disappointed, but not extremely surprised, to find tonight's game 4 was not on TV here. I checked the NHL website to see if I could watch the game from my new laptop. After all, CBS is willing to stream every March Madness game online for free even though they did not make money on this year's tournament. What I found is that I can watch each of tonight's four games... for $19.95. That's not a "playoff pass" - that's just for 4 games.
The NHL has tried to regain the tremendous amount of respect, money, and fanbase that it lost with the boring "trap era" games (thanks New Jersey Devils!) and the lockout. They have instituted a number of great changes, including the rule changes to increase scoring and the Winter Classic. However they will not be able to grow any more unless they put their product out there for people to watch. ESPN will show almost anything and has made a huge push to buy the rights to more sporting events (MNF, early Masters coverage, bidding for the NCAA tournament) so why wouldn't they be willing to show the NHL playoffs. This would fill a significant void they have in a time of the year without college football or basketball. As I type, they are currently showing a movie about fantasy baseball, SportsCenter, and an NFL Draft Preview. Hockey may be a niche sport, but I can't believe their ratings wouldn't improve if they were airing the Stanley Cup playoffs right now instead.
The Stanley Cup Playoffs are the best of any of the four major sports. They allow enough teams into the playoffs for it to matter to a wide variety of its fan base (unlike football and baseball) without watering down the talent level (like the NBA). For example, the first two NHL teams in each conference that missed the playoffs this year had records of 38-33-11 and 40-32-10. In my opinion, OT losses in hockey aren't the same as regular losses because of the shootout. Having player vs. goalie is a scenario that doesn't demonstrate who was the better team that night. It benefits teams that have a goalie that can exceed against better shooters or teams that have a number of better shooters/stick handlers. Some examples of the shootout records for teams this year including their spot in the overall standings:
1. Washington Capitals 5-6
2. San Jose Sharks 7-6
5. Vancouver Canucks 4-4
26. NY Islanders 8-6
29. Toronto Maple Leafs 4-4
30. Edmonton Oilers 8-6
I think I have made my point that OTL should be considered differently than regulation losses, but I don't want to get off track. If you still don't agree, I'll concede that the Montreal Canadiens technically had a losing record of 39-43 when combining losses and OT losses, but they were the only .500 or lower team.
The NBA, on the other hand, waters down the first few rounds with poor teams. This year's playoffs were a rarity because only one team (the Chicago Bulls) had a non-winning record. However, every other season since 2005 has included 3 playoff teams that ended the regular season .500 or worse (every one of which was in the Eastern Conference).
The NHL playoffs are also different in the sense that a hot goalie can propel a team deep into the bracket. Lesser teams are also more likely to pull off upsets by working harder than their opponents. In the NBA, an all-star player can disguise a lack of team effort for at least the first round or two.
Many sports writers and analysts, even those that aren't hockey fans, agree that the Stanley Cup playoffs are some of the most exciting games in sports. This year has already offered a number of close games, surprises from unexpected teams, and exciting action. The Coyotes and Wings scoring 5 goals in 5 minutes in game 2? Ridiculous. So why in the hell is the league still begging NBC (the worst run network on TV today) and Versus to play its games?
I was disappointed, but not extremely surprised, to find tonight's game 4 was not on TV here. I checked the NHL website to see if I could watch the game from my new laptop. After all, CBS is willing to stream every March Madness game online for free even though they did not make money on this year's tournament. What I found is that I can watch each of tonight's four games... for $19.95. That's not a "playoff pass" - that's just for 4 games.
The NHL has tried to regain the tremendous amount of respect, money, and fanbase that it lost with the boring "trap era" games (thanks New Jersey Devils!) and the lockout. They have instituted a number of great changes, including the rule changes to increase scoring and the Winter Classic. However they will not be able to grow any more unless they put their product out there for people to watch. ESPN will show almost anything and has made a huge push to buy the rights to more sporting events (MNF, early Masters coverage, bidding for the NCAA tournament) so why wouldn't they be willing to show the NHL playoffs. This would fill a significant void they have in a time of the year without college football or basketball. As I type, they are currently showing a movie about fantasy baseball, SportsCenter, and an NFL Draft Preview. Hockey may be a niche sport, but I can't believe their ratings wouldn't improve if they were airing the Stanley Cup playoffs right now instead.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Keep It Together
Is anyone else nervously checking the various sporting websites daily to see if Durrell Summers is going pro? I think we are going to be crazy good next year, but I think his tournament performance is going to play a big part in that.
When I saw the list of Kentucky players jumping early, I had the biggest smile on my face. I hate Calipari and this is what they deserve.
When I saw the list of Kentucky players jumping early, I had the biggest smile on my face. I hate Calipari and this is what they deserve.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)