NHL - Because of the various cutoffs that allows for the Friday publications of my weekly editors, I regret not giving you the whole picture or the time to give you a counseling session on why anyone who cheers for either Philly or Boston has spent time behind bars. Any expert in criminal justice will explain a psychological link to a bunch of goons suggests a person has suffered a miserable childhood of varying degrees of misery.
Jeff Carter is too good of a player to really rake over the coals, kind of a Cam Neely type - who I hate with equal aplomb. His antics in the Flyers' romping round one win over Buffalo ended up in the hands of the guy who I told you would win a game or two all by himself. Miller actually got scorched in the final loss and was vocal about the Broad Street Bullies. I happen to agree with him and have a little secret. Dan Carcillo is the missing link in the Darwin equation.
I recall writing Emery might cost the Ducks a chance to move on. Nashville needs every excuse they can get to stay out of the honkytonks that captured my heart when I was there.
Luongo did everything I said he would, he stunk until the bitter end, and then the Canucks finally beat back their biggest demon in the Chicago Blackhawks. The Sedin twins might as well have been conjoined because they went nowhere together and without the Kesler line they would have been in trouble.
San Jose moves on, but their run should end when they square off against the Wings. Milan Lucic had a fine offensive year - for a serial killer. His disappearance on the score sheet was hardly newsworthy after a filthy hit on the Habs' Spacek. This abomination was shown the door for his efforts and someday will get what's coming to him, just not likely from the tiny Smurfs in Montreal. He's easy to hate. Even though I just finished a 675-page book that explores the evolution of empathy, read it yourself The Empathic Civilization, all I feel for Lucic is sympathy, which is much different. Once you run over him with your Accord you immediately have sympathy that you only dragged him for three blocks instead of 60 kms and sympathy for your front bumper.
NBA - Again, kind of trapped between series in a few cases. Of course we all knew the Knicks would fold against Boston no matter how many celebrities are in the bleachers, even Spike Lee can't help you win unless the little squirt learns to shoot long range jumpers.
Orlando and Atlanta are in a dogfight, but Howard should eventually wear them down and the Magic will live to see another series.
Derek Rose propels Chicago and when they finally match up against the Celtics, shut off your favourite sitcoms and watch the world's finest athletes go at it for seven games.
Kobe is hurt but I still look for the Lakers to prevail over New Orleans. Why is that just because Katrina destroyed the city everyone suddenly has a soft spot for anything from that state? Only Brandon Bass has any roots in Louisiana.
It seems that San Antonio spent every ounce of energy in the regular season and their aging stars are on the ropes. Don't count Tim Duncan out yet, but it looks grim.
Durant and the Thunder made some noise but he can't win it by himself.
MLB - Some of the naysayers were likely giggling in their Depends when both the Red Sox and Rays came out of the gate like Grandpa taking tango lessons. My Yanks have cooled off a bit and the Jays are right where I said they'd be. Stuck inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues again. They want to be big-time competition on the AL East, but even though Adam Lind is hitting southpaws and playing an adequate first base, they find new ways to lose. As soon as they get some pitching re-enforcements, Aaron Hill gets hurt again.
NFL - Somehow the luster of the college draft has lost its prime time value now that the league's labour lockout of the greedy players suggests the entire upcoming season is in as much jeopardy as another Brett Favre comeback.
Two years ago the average NFL salary was well over $1.2 million. Poor buggers - how do they manage?
The only shame of the entire scenario is that there won't be 600 NFL stars lining up to play for your favourite CFL teams. I'm sure their exorbitant union dues and subsequent slush fund will keep them in hand guns and drugs.
WHL - Watching the Saskatoon Blades choke on their own ego is as pleasant as every fiery crash that nearly kills Lewis Hamilton.
Where does such hatred come from you ask?
It comes from the souls of my feet and runs to the bald spot on my head.
Have a nice week. If you notice Lucic in the obituaries I already have an alibi - I was taking tango lessons.
