What exactly are the Mavericks doing?

Listen, Dallas Mavericks -

You should be ashamed of yourselves.

Don't mean any disrespect to Golden State, they've played some excellent basketball. And they've done exactly what an upset team has got to do; steal one on the road and then win your home games.

They are 75% of the way there.

Dallas lost 15 games this year. 15. Of 82.

They started the season off cold and dropped their first 4 games. They also lost 4 of their 10 games in April, seeing as they were already in cruise control, having the West locked up. They were using their key players sparingly in these games.

In the stretch after their opening 4 losses (which can be attributed to a slow start) and before the month of April (which can be attributed to resting players), Dallas lost only 7 games... out of
68.

61 wins. 7 losses.

During that span, they had streaks of 12 wins, 13 wins, and 17 wins. Yes. Separate streaks.

There is a word for a team like the Dallas Mavericks. DOMINANT.

Mark Cuban has done an excellent job putting together the best team in the league. The fans have done an excellent job supporting it. They blew it last year in the playoffs and have waited all year for the chance to redeem themselves.

And this is how they show it.

I know that I gave Golden State no respect. Of course, I don't know basketball, so that wasn't that big of a deal. But it isn't like I was alone. Find me people that with a serious expression on their face picked this to go past 6 games.

What's pathetic, though, is that whether or not the general public respected the Warriors or not, you KNEW the Mavericks would. After all, any team that beats you all 3 times they play you, and is responsible for a whopping 20% of your total losses on the season, is going to get your best effort.

So, I'm to understand that the best team in the NBA's best effort is THIS. I've actually watched large chunks of this series, and I'll be damned if this is the best team in the NBA. This team has been flat out pathetic on defense. I can't believe this team dominated during the regular season. Any team capable of playing this poorly on the grandest stage of all should not have been the clear best in the NBA.

Is Dallas going to lose this series? All comes down to game 6. I can't see them losing game 5 (well, I certainly CAN, but I mean honestly, they'd BETTER not for the sake of everyone's sanity). Game 7 in Dallas is another game they simply don't drop.

Game 6 in Golden State? Can't say a Warriors victory would even make me raise an eyebrow.

Congratulations, Golden State. I want to reiterate that I mean them no disrespect. Even if they drop the next 3 games in the series, just what they have done already is more than enough to respect and build on over the next few years.

Shame on you, Dallas. If this is how you thank your fans for all of their support, and this is how you show them that you won't disappoint them again this season, then I'd consider them some of the unluckiest fans in America.

This coming from an Oakland Raiders and Los Angeles Kings fan.

With the first overall pick in the 2007 draft, the Oakland Raiders select; Calvin Johnson, Georgia Tech.

In my dreams.

I have no beef with Jamarcus Russell. In fact, I like the idea of having a guy as big and strong as he is at QB. I like the idea of having a guy that can throw 80+ yards.

I like the idea of having a franchise quarterback.

I'm just not sure he is it.

Kyle Boller could throw the ball a mile. So can Mike Vick.

What you can't teach a player is awareness, great decision making, patience in the pocket, and leadership. Russell may or may not have or develop these talents. He may or may not
be a star in the league someday.

Make no mistake about it; there are no ifs, ands, or buts about Calvin Johnson. Johnson is the most talented player in the draft; he is built like a house, and has incredible speed. He also has that magnetic field effect that if you throw the ball in his general direction, it will be caught, no doubt about it. This guy will be a star in the league for years to come, and will make a serious impact on whatever team he joins THIS year.

Randy Moss hates Oakland; whether he isn't trying or is traded, he is no longer much more than an ultra-recognizable name to this team. Jerry Porter is the real deal, but he can't be the only guy. Ronald Curry is a perfect 3rd WR.

Dominic Rhodes, LaMont Jordan, and Justin Fargas make up an unspectacular but solid backfield.

The O-line leaves much to be desired, but there is still time for at least one or two of these guys to develop into something. 3 more O-linemen get drafted in this draft. You can only hope someone pans out.

Quarterback? Walters was not given a fair chance last year. No offensive line, no running game to take pressure off the passing game, no time to throw and no weapons to throw to (Moss was either not trying or being double covered at all times). QB of the future, highly unlikely; but the guys got potential.

Defense is excellent, and young. It will continue to improve and impress, especially when the offense actually lets it stay off the field for more than 3 downs every once in a while.

So the Raiders over the next few years need to address 4 positions; QB, RB, OT, and WR.

OT - Joe Thomas; absolute sure thing, house, impenetrable. So was Robert Gallery. Just like the Lions can't draft a WR high again, the Raiders can't draft an O-lineman high again after that bust.

RB - Adrian Peterson; love him, but not a 1st overall pick. Would love to trade down to get him, but Jordan/Rhodes isn't all that bad, plus Peterson just might be injury prone and somewhat of a risk.

QB - Quinn or Russell? I concur with the overall consensus that Jamarcus is the pick; he's got the size and strength over Quinn. And forget the Sugar Bowl; Quinn is flat out overrated. I think both of these guys are very high risk. This coming from the guy who said Tom Brady was a one-hit-wonder, and that Vick and Harrington would both make great pro QBs... maybe I should just leave QB ranking alone.

WR - Calvin Johnson. Best player in the draft. Flat out amazing.

Seems simple enough to me. Best argument I've heard against drafting Calvin Johnson? "Who is going to throw to him?" That is short term thinking. This season, yes, it just might be frustrating to be a Raider fan again. But next year's draft will be chock full of QBs, plus free agency; look at how the Saints went out and signed Drew Brees.

The right pick is Calvin Johnson.

Jamarcus Russell isn't the "wrong" pick, and I hope more than anyone that he comes into the league and excels for the Raiders.

...because Johnson WILL be excelling wherever he ends up.

My Mock Top 5

1. Oakland Raiders - Jamarcus Russell
2. Detroit Lions - Joe Thomas
3. Cleveland Browns - Brady Quinn
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Calvin Johnson
5. Arizona Cardinals - Adrian Peterson

Jake Peavy led the pack on Wednesday... can Phil Hughes do it today?

Plenty of pitchers were really good Wednesday. John Lackey, Tim Hudson, Joe Blanton, Curt Schilling, Brandon Webb.

Two of them were great.

Jarrod Washburn allowed only 5 base runners, giving up 3 hits and 2 walks over 9 shutout innings to trump Joe Blanton's impressive game, leading the Seattle Mariners to a 2 - 0 victory.

Jake Peavy also allowed only 5 base runners; 2 hits, 3 walks. Except, he did it in 7 innings, and threw 117 pitches while it took Washburn only 104 to complete his game. So what is the big deal?

Well, Washburn struck out 2 batters.

Peavy struck out 16.

Peavy got 21 outs, and over 75% of them were via strikeout.

At one point in the game, Peavy struck out 9 straight batters, one away from Tom Seaver's record of 10 straight. The 10th batter he faced, Eric Byrnes, check swung on a 2 - 2 pitch; and barely kept his bat from going around. On the 3 - 2 pitch, Byrnes watched a pitch cross the plate right around his knees, but just slightly too low. That is how close Jake Peavy was to tying the record for most consecutive strikeouts.

Too bad it was all for naught, as Stephen Drew's walk off HR capped off a victory for the D-backs, spoiling Peavy's special night.

Thursday, I'll be watching 3 pitchers very closely.

Cole Hamels - I love this kid so much. He is so damn talented. Fresh off his 15 K shutout, he faces a weak Nationals lineup this time around. Gee, I wonder if this will be in my picks of the day?

Phil Hughes - Making his much anticipated debut, Hughes will have the tough task of facing a pretty formidable lineup in the Blue Jays, as well as a solid starting pitcher in AJ Burnett. Still, the potential Jered Weaver of this year has one thing that 29 other ball clubs don't; the best offense in baseball to back him up. If Hughes can pitch 5 innings of 3 or 4 run baseball, he'll get wins more often then not.

And lastly...

Russ Ortiz - What?? Why? Well, with Zito / Cain / Morris / Lowry all locked into roster spots, it is this guy right here that is keeping wonder-prospect Tim Lincecum from getting his shot in the bigs. I just hope the Dodgers crush the ball against Ortiz, and force SF to stop delaying the inevitable and give this kid his shot already!

May the best team win (yes, it may)

Everyone loves an underdogs. They are more fun to root for than the star teams. And, as has been said plenty of times before; every dog has his day.

Well, April 25th, 2007 was not that day.

The #1 seeded Dallas Mavericks, who fed into the upset hype with a loss in game 1 of their series against the Golden State Warriors, left little doubt as to who was the superior team Wednesday, taking care of business in a 112 - 99 victory.

In hockey, Detroit may have ended the season with the #1 seed, but you'd be hard pressed to find someone willing to argue that the Ducks weren't the best team in the West this year; and tonight they certainly played like it, lighting the lamp on Roberto Luongo 5 times en route to a 5 - 1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks.

As for the best in the East? The Buffalo Sabres, who sometimes looked a bit lethargic against the Islanders in the series that opened the playoffs, were anything but tonight, cruising to a 5 - 2 victory over the Rangers, who were riding the momentum of a sweep against the Atlanta Thrashers.

Do I love an underdog as much as anyone? Sure. But in a world of nonsense and drama, sometimes it is refreshing to just see the best be the best.

Isn't it?

Hockey: Playoff Preview Round 2

And then there were 8. The field has been cut in half, and the Flames, Wild, Stars, Predators, Islanders, Lightning, Thrashers, and Penguins join the 14 teams that didn't make the playoffs out on the golf courses and into the "wait 'til next year" club.

But there is still a lot of hockey left to be played on the quest for Lord Stanley's Cup, and I'll see what I can do about keeping up my .750 winning percentage on series predictions (6 - 2 round one). 3 of the teams I bet at the beginning of the season to win it all are still alive (Buffalo, Ottawa, and San Jose), and none are facing each other. Yet.

THE WEST

#1 Detroit Red Wings VS. #5 San Jose Sharks

This one should definitely be a hard fought, gritty series. Both of these teams play tough hockey; and even though both of them have plenty of offensive fire power, they both win games by stymieing opposing offenses with strong defensive play. You've gotta like San Jose in this series; they beat a fast, strong young team in Nashville in only 5 games, while it took Detroit 6 to knock off a not-as-strong Calgary team. The Wings will be no pushover, however, especially if they can find a way to translate their home-ice dominance into some solid road play. Still, in a series where goals might be hard to come by, I'll take my chances on Joe Thornton to make some plays.

SAN JOSE IN 6.

#2 Anaheim Ducks VS. #3 Vancouver Canucks

Exactly the series as a Ducks-hater I didn't want to see. The match up is perfect for the Ducks; they are the superior team offensively and defensively. Vancouver only has the better goaltender; but Giguere (and Bryzgalov when necessary) is perfectly capable of handling the load, especially come playoff time. I've said it once and I'll say it again; I hope I'm underrating the Canucks, because I know I'm not overrating the Ducks; they are pretty damn good.

ANAHEIM IN 5.

THE EAST

#1 Buffalo Sabres VS. #6 New York Rangers

This could definitely shape up to be an excellent series. Both of these teams have scoring depth, roll four lines, and have good young goaltenders. After as dominant as the Rangers were in the Thrashers' series, they are becoming a popular pick to be "that team" this year. I don't think so. The Sabres opened the season with a 10 - 0 start; and never looked back, overcoming all injuries and obstacles along the way. This team is the real deal; they are headed to the finals, and whether the Rangers make a series of it or not, they aren't taking four games from this team.

BUFFALO IN 6.

#2 New Jersey Devils VS. #4 Ottawa Senators

On talent alone, I've got the Senators. But every year, the Senators get knocked off in the playoffs because they don't have "it". And I'm still not sure that they do. The Devils, on the other hand, epitomize "it". They are the playoff team of playoff teams. Not to mention, the goaltender match-up; Ray Emery VS. Marty Brodeur; is a no contest in Brodeur's favor, even if Emery has played well this season. I expect the Senators to win a few games, and wouldn't be shocked if they took the series; but I can't pick them against the Devs.

NEW JERSEY IN 7.

A-Rod... are you kidding me?

I predicted before the season began (too bad I didn't have a blog then) that A-Rod was going to have a monster year this year. Last season... a "bad year" of 113 runs, 35 HRs, 121 RBIs, 15 SBs, and a .290 batting average. It was his lowest home run total since 1997, and despite the fact that he was ranked among the best bats at 3rd base (and at any position in the league really, for that matter), A-Rod still somehow managed to disappoint everyone. I figured he'd bounce back with a great year this year.

But wow.

Let's play a fun game called "on pace". It is very easy. First, you take how many games a player has played, then figure out what his numbers are on pace to do if he repeats his current stats consistently over a full season.

Example: Dan Uggla, Florida Marlins

19 games played, 15 runs, 4 HRs, 15 RBIs.

162 divided by 19 = 8.53. Multiplying each stat by 8.53 will give us what he is on pace to do this season;

128 runs, 34 HRs, 128 RBIs.

For my fantasy team's sake, I certainly hope so. Let's try another.

Albert Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals

18 games played, 11 runs, 5 HRs, 12 RBIs

18 goes into 162 an even 9 times; Albert has played exactly 1/9 of his season. and if he plays the other 8/9's exactly the same, he'll have...

99 runs, 45 HRs, 108 RBIs.

Bit of an off year, but not too bad. As you can see, projections and "on pace" have to be taken with a grain of salt, because a season is so long, it has its ups and downs, hot streaks and slumps, so on and so forth.

But I think you know who I'm doing next.

Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees

18 games, 26 runs, 14 HRs, 34 RBIs.

Already beats a few player's full season projections. But hell, lets assume the next 8/9's are as good as this one;

234 runs, 126 HRs, 306 RBIs.

I'm going to type that one more time.

234 runs, 126 HRs, 306 RBIs.

If that doesn't put into perspective how impressive this guy has been for you, nothing will. Halving that projection; 117/63/153; gives you a scarily realistic look at what this season might have in store.

Luongo outduels Turco; Canucks take game 7

Series Result: Vancouver Canucks over Dallas Stars in 7
My Prediction: Dallas Stars over Vancouver Canucks in 6

Well, the title of the article in the newspaper will read something like that. In reality? Both of these goalies were absolutely outstanding, and if either of them had an offense that could put a puck in the net; or perhaps, a less epic performance from the goalie on the other side of the ice; they would have won the series in 4 or 5 games. Unfortunately for Turco, there had to be a loser, and while Turco certainly did is part, the Stars just weren't able to muster up anything on offense tonight other than a single goal.

So now the stage is officially set. Vancouver will face Anaheim, San Jose will face Detroit, Buffalo will face New York, and Ottawa will face New Jersey.

I'll break down each of those series tomorrow. For now? I need to go weep, because I really wanted to see the Ducks play the Sharks, not the Canucks.

The Devils do it in 60 minutes and the Wings do it in 84; both are moving on

Series Result: New Jersey Devils over Tampa Bay Lightning in 6
My Prediction: New Jersey Devils over Tampa Bay Lightning in 6

And so the East has been decided, and I've got to tell you; the New Jersey Devils are the perfect playoff hockey team. Think Tom Brady and the Patriots; Marty Brodeur and the Devils are their hockey equivalent.

Are they as dominant? Not necessarily. But both teams have one trait in common that almost always leads to playoff success; they hardly ever make mistakes, and they always make their opponents pay for theirs.

Both teams have in one man; Brady and Brodeur respectively; a guy that can single handedly steal a game on any given night. They also have a core of guys that just compliment each other so well that they look like a team or a unit rather then a bunch of individuals wearing the same jerseys.

But enough of that analogy, the point is simply that the Devils are bred for playoff hockey. They've got the goalie, they've got the defense, and they've got the pesky role players that can shut you down; and chip in goals as well. They've also got a few very talented players on offense, including Patrick Elias, Scott Gomez, and Zach Parise.

Their series against the Senators should make for some great hockey.

Series Result: Detroit Red Wings over Calgary Flames in 6
My Prediction: Detroit Red Wings over Calgary Flames in 7

I'm surprised that the Flames were able to win games 3 and 4 after the way they were completely crushed in games 1 and 2; but alas, they did all they could to make a series of it before falling. The Red Wings are a team to be reckoned with, but their next opponent; either the Stars or the Sharks; isn't going to make life very easy for them. That being said, the tough life will be mutual.

I was disappointed with the Flames lack of... well, flame, throughout this series, especially on the road. I'm not sure whether it was the Red Wings that got them off their game, or whether they just couldn't find it, but it was an extremely disappointing showing, and another early exit that will not be easy for these players to swallow.

Now all we can do is watch and wait, as the Stars / Canucks Game 7 will fill out the rest of the playoff picture for you; and let me get those winning predictions to you as fast as I can.

NBA Playoffs... The Wrap-Up

Here's what I'm NOT going to do; read a bunch of "expert" series picks, and then reword their predictions as if they were my own, when I really have no idea about the strengths and weaknesses of each team.

Plenty of fools already do that for you. I pity the fools. That's right, Mr. T. You have a problem with that?

Here is what I can tell you from my limited basketball knowledge (and this isn't going to be all that shocking or original, either...); The Mavericks and the Suns are really, really good.

And the Spurs and Pistons aren't half bad either. Especially when the playoffs roll around.

In the end, it will be one of those 4 teams. There really isn't any magic in the NBA, because the best teams are simply tiers above the rest. You don't get wild card teams going all the way like in baseball or football, and you don't get 8-seeds going to the finals like you do in hockey.

The Rockets have no chance. If they beat the Jazz, they face off against the Mavericks next. Then, miraculously, they win that series, they face off against the Suns. 2 miracles later, you play the best of the East, which despite the fact that its a joke of a conference as far as depth is concerned, its got a few decent teams in it that could conceivably beat whatever beat-up team comes out of the West.

It'll be the Pistons out of the East. If anyone beats them, it'll be the Cavs or the Bulls. But I don't think that is going to happen.

It'll be the Mavs out of the West. Anyone picking Golden State in this series is a bigger joke then I was for picking the Wild over the Ducks. Seriously, get over it Golden State fans. You are going to lose this series in 5 games maximum.

My radio show co-host Brandon Marcus said to me "I hope the Mavericks lose that series so I can give you heat for it". I'd like ALL of you to give me heat for it. Go ahead. If the series goes to SIX, make my life a living hell.

All that said, if anyone will actually beat the Mavericks, it'll be the Suns. When these two teams face off, it'll be a playoff basketball series I'll actually watch; and that is saying something. I don't think the Spurs have what it takes to keep up with either of these teams this year; but time will tell.

So, Mavs/Suns over Pistons in the finals. Shocking. Don't think anyone has ever made this prediction, have they? I feel so original.

For the record, I bet the Phoenix Suns 1 Unit to win 6 Units at the beginning of the year. Now they are bet 1 to win 2. Go Suns!

Turco and Hamels dominate the day; and a note on Kings Hockey

Good goaltending and good pitching. Man, it just doesn't get better.

Wonder-kid Cole Hamels, now the undisputed ace of the Phillies pitching staff with Brett Myers' demotion (which is still dumbfounding to me), put up a pretty decent line today;

9 innings pitched, 5 hits, 2 walks, 1 earned run, and the win.

Oh, and FIFTEEN strikeouts.

That lowers his season ERA to 2.57 and catapults him into the league lead in strike outs.

This kid is the real deal. I've been a huge fan since his debut last year, and think he will be a premier pitcher in the league for years to come; as long as he can avoid the shoulder issues that plagued him when he was younger.

Now, on to Marty Turco.

The same Marty Turco that has been single handedly blamed for every playoff series the Stars have been in since he has been their starter. And rightfully so. The guy was always a brick wall during the regular season, but he was very human between the pipes in the playoffs. If he didn't show something this year, he was on his way out in Dallas.

And he's shown something alright.

His shutout tonight marks his 3rd of the series. Yes, 3rd. Of the series. 3 shutouts in a single post season is impressive enough.

Turco has officially shut up his critics with this line: 1.20 Goal Against Average and a .955 Save Percentage. He's stopping an average of more than 19 of every 20 shots he faces.

And remember, he gave up 4 goals in the first 3 periods of this series. Since then?

0.77 GAA, .972 SV%

Dallas is going to head into Vancouver and win this series, as I predicted they would in the first place. And they are going to do it because of; not in spite of; Marty Turco.

Lastly, I read a pretty solid article on the Kings and the rebuild they are going through right now tonight. As I often try to explain to people, the Kings are heading in the right direction. The article isn't perfect, but its a pretty good sum up of what the Kings are doing right as well as what they still need to do to become a playoff team. Check it out.

Sabres and Sharks take care of business

Series Result: Buffalo Sabres over New York Islanders in 5
My Prediction: Buffalo Sabres over New York Islanders in 4

No surprises at all here. The only concern from the Sabres' point of view was the lack of complete dominance in the series; games were a lot closer than they should have been when you consider how much better of a team Buffalo is. But that is being extremely nit-picky; this is playoff hockey. You can expect to be playing opponents at their best, and all that really matters when it is all said and done is who is leading when the last buzzer sounds.

Now, the Sabres just need to watch and wait to see how the Tampa Bay / New Jersey series pans out. A New Jersey win lands them a bid against the Rangers. A Tampa Bay upset will result in a series against Buffalo. Either way, you have to consider the Sabres the favorite, but both of these teams - especially the Rangers - don't look to be going down easy to anyone this year.

Series Result: San Jose Sharks over Nashville Predators in 5
My Prediction: San Jose Sharks over Nashville Predators in 7

I'm glad to see the Sharks win this series for multiple reasons. First of all, I've got money on them to win the Stanley Cup. Second of all, I think they are the team with the best chance to beat the Ducks in the West. And, lastly, with the way that the Predators were cheap-shotting this series, it would have been a shame to see the Sharks fall that way.

This Sharks team was my early favorite out of the West, and they played like it in this series, overcoming a vastly talented team in Nashville; and doing it in only 5 games, too. While I've conceded that the Ducks are the team to beat in the West, I still do like the Sharks' chances to do damage. With the Flames and Stars still hanging on for dear life, the West is still full of question marks; but one thing is for sure, I'll be taking the Sharks over WHOEVER they play in the 2nd round (unless its the Ducks... I'll save that can of worms until its in front of me, thank you).

Huge disappointment for Nashville, who looked like a championship-calibur team all season long. Going out and getting Forsberg at the expense of some young talent was supposed to translate into playoff success; not just a single playoff win. But with goaltenders Tomas Vokoun and Chris Mason both locked up through next year, the Predators have the most important position in hockey nice and sound; and even have a bit of room to maneuver if they decided to deal Mason. They'll likely be back in the thick of things next year; but with Kariya and Forsberg both unrestricted free agents, this would have been a nice year for them to get hot.

Picks of the Day

Total: 204.36 Units

San Jose Sharks over Nashville Predators MONEYLINE
Bet 1 Unit to win 1.10 Units

Simply a bargain bet. Nashville should take this game at home, but SJ has been the better team in this series, and there is no reason not to take them with no spread at these odds.

Vancouver Canucks over Dallas Stars MONEYLINE
Bet 1 Unit to win 1.30 Units
(Game played on Saturday)

Same as above, if someone said "Lets flip a coin, if you win I'll give you $13, if I win you give me $10", wouldn't you take it? Every game in this series has been a coin flip, so I'll take Luongo at better-than-even odds.

Good luck!

RESULTS: 1.10 Units Won (205.46 Units)

Senators and Ducks join Rangers at the winner's table

Series Result: Ottawa Senators over Pittsburgh Penguins in 5
My Prediction: Ottawa Senators over Pittsburgh Penguins in 6

Make no mistake about it; this Penguin's team has got the talent. And what is really scary is that the talent; led by Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Jordan Staal; all kids younger than me. And my birthday is January 11th, 1986. Scary.

As I assumed would happen, Ottawa's experience just carried them in this series. That, and the fact that they've got themselves a damn good hockey team too. I put $15 on both them and the Sabres at the beginning of the season as teams to go all the way to the cup. And I still stand by those bets, as they are the two best teams in the East. Not to say that the Rangers/Lightning/Devils all don't have a legitimate shot against them... should be some great playoff hockey

Series Result: Anaheim Ducks over Minnesota Wild in 5
My Prediction: Minnesota Wild over Anaheim Ducks in 6

I knew it was a far fetched pick to begin with, but I was expecting a lot more of what I saw in game 4 of this series than in the other 4 games. But, alas, the Ducks were just the flat out better team. And now, I'm at a crossroad; do I analyze this team as the fan that I am, or the journalist I am trying to be? Well, lets do both.

Journalist:

As I discussed here, the Ducks really are the best team in the West. Furthermore, I love their chances to make it all the way to the finals again this year; and heres why. If Vancouver locks up their series against the Stars, and the Red Wings regain their composure and beat Calgary, I think the Ducks have a very favorable match-up against Vancouver. They've got more scoring depth (scored 36 more goals during the regular season), they've got the better defense, and while neither Giguere nor Bryzgalov can match up to Roberto Luongo (who, other than Brodeur and Kiprusoff, can?), the drop off isn't significant to the point where it will be a turning point in the series. Meanwhile, the Sharks/Predators winner (likely the Sharks) would face the Red Wings in what would promise to be both an emotional and physical battle to the finish. Either team isn't as fresh as the Ducks when they face off in the conference finals, who beat the Canucks in a much less heated 5 or 6 game series. I may be underrating the Canucks, and the Red Wings/Flames series isn't over yet... but things may very well be panning out perfectly for the Ducks this post season.

Fan:

Ducks fans do not deserve a team this good. Some Duck fans actually live in Anaheim and, when the franchise was born there, picked it up as their new home team. Fine. Others were fans of the Ducks movies and got into hockey that way, and watched the team when it formed. Okay, very lame, but fine.

The bulk of Ducks fans? Traitor Kings fans and people that just started to like them after their 2003 cup run; bandwagon fans. They hardly ever sell out. 90% of Ducks fans just disgust me. Meanwhile, King's fans who have stuck loyally by their team, some for as many as 40 years, are just now appearing to be heading in the right direction; while the Ducks are already there. And they've got such a strong young core that they aren't going anywhere, either. It is a near-perfectly run organization, and its fans are a bunch of bandwagoners and traitors. Where is the justice?

Oh, and by the way; I know its been said a million times, but Brian Hayward is the worst sack of **** color commentator in sports. Rex Hudler sucks; Angels fans as well as opponents will tell you that much. But Rex is fair; he loves his Angels (too much), but he doesn't bad mouth opposing teams, and gives credit where it is due. No exaggeration, Hayward will call a goal by an opposing team a lucky break if it is thrown on net and deflects in, and in the same exact breath talk about what a great heads up play it was by (insert Duck here) to throw the puck on net into traffic if it were a Ducks' goal. It is repulsive, it is terrible to hear as a sports fan as well as an aspiring journalist.

That last part about Hayward... goes in both the fan AND journalist category. I really do hate the way the guy calls games. Sue me.

Rangers cruise to the only sweep of the first round

Series Result: New York Rangers over Atlanta Thrashers in 4
My Prediction: New York Rangers over Atlanta Thrashers in 6

The end result of the series didn't surprise me at all. What did surprise me, however, was the Rangers' flat out dominance throughout the entire series. After 240 minutes of hockey were in the books, the final score read Rangers: 17, Thrashers: 6.

Thrashers: 6. The same Thrashers that already had Marian Hossa and Ilya Kovalchuk BEFORE adding Keith Tkachuk at the trade deadline. 6 goals was all they could muster in the series, a total trumped by the Rangers in game 3 alone when they won on home ice 7 - 0.

Credit Henrik Lundqvist for his excellent play in goal, but also credit the entire Rangers team for not only keeping pressure on in the offensive zone (averaging 35.75 shots per game), but for keeping pressure off of Lundqvist as well (averaging only 24 shots per game).

Now all the Rangers can do is watch and wait. If Tampa Bay can pull off the upset over New Jersey, the Rangers will play the winner of the Ottawa/Penguins series... which will likely be Ottawa. If Brodeur can power the Devils through that series, the Rangers will face off against the powerhouse of the east; the Buffalo Sabres (yes, I'm writing off the Islanders). Either way, it should make for an explosive series.

As for the Thrashers? Well, they traded away a lot of their farm system for this playoff run, so not winning a single game certainly isn't what they had in mind. All they can do is hope that this playoff experience was valuable, and they can build on it next year... and maybe add a key free agent or two.

A No-No and a baker's dozen round up a fine day of pitching.

Dan Haren pitched 7 innings of shutout baseball, gave up 4 hits and striking out 3.

John Maine also pitched 7 innings, gave up 2 runs, giving up only two hits while striking out 7.

Neither of those games was bad.

What was downright silly? Well, for starters, Brandon Webb allowed only one earned run in eight innings. Not too surprising. The kicker? 13 strikeouts. That made him the strikeout leader of the league in this young season.

But the real surprise came from a guy who was on my fantasy league's waiver wire; was being the key word, because anyone who tosses a game like he did is worthy of a pick up in my book; Mark Buehrle.

Only one walk away from a perfect game, Buehrle picked off the only runner to reach base. 27 batters up, 27 batters down. Eight of them via strikeout. 0 Hits.

Will this be the start of his return to his ace-like form from a few years back, or is it just a fluke game? Either way, his name has officially been etched into the history books.

Probably the funniest thing I've read in a while, in the 5th inning, Buehrle's teammates were giving him space and not talking to him, as is customary when your pitcher is in the middle of a no-hitter. Buehrle, though, walked up to multiple teammates and said "you know I got a no-hitter going."

Yes. They knew.

Nothing in baseball other than a perfect game is more impressive than a no-hitter. Congratulations Mark.

Tim Duncan; If you don't like it, you can giiittttt out!

Well, that's what Joey Crawford said anyway.

For those of you that haven't seen it, check it out here.

I can see both sides of this argument pretty clearly. Yes, Tim Duncan was laughing at the referee's call - disrespectful - and I believe Crawford when he says that he warned Duncan he would be T'd up again if he made any remarks/gestures from the bench. I can also sympathize with Duncan; getting thrown out of a game for laughing is awfully extreme. And why is it that Horry, who is seen laughing out loud while Duncan is being thrown out, isn't also given a technical? Isn't that just as disrespectful, if not more so?

David Stern claims that he had talked to Crawford before about that rule specifically, and when it was and was not appropriate to make a technical foul call. This was why the punishment; being suspended through the NBA playoffs; was deemed appropriate.

The main thing I take from all this really isn't whether or not the call in the game was fair, nor whether or not the suspension was fair. Those can both be argued. What I respect is that David Stern really is - no pun intended - STERN. Actions speak much louder than words, and time and time again, Stern comes down hard with suspensions and fines. What you and I think is irrelevant; Stern felt that the call was unfair and that Crawford was compromising the fairness of the game, and he took the action he deemed appropriate. Kudos to him.

I wish Bud Selig had Stern's toughness. Maybe then something might actually get done, and baseball would be cleaned up a little bit.

Baseball Prospect Lookout: A name you should start looking out for.

The Team: San Francisco Giants

The Kid: Tim Lincecum

In 2006, Lincecum pitched in a few different places. Most notably was his college, Washington.

He started 17 games for the Huskies and pitched 125 and a third innings, ending the season with a 12 - 4 record. He also had a microscopic ERA of 1.94. He also had a nation-best and Pac-10 record 199 strikeouts.

Oh, and I almost forgot! He won the Golden Spikes Award, which honors the best amateur baseball player in the country.

On April 18th, Lincecum faced off against the UCLA Bruins, and won the game 5 - 0.

He struck out 18 batters that night.

Later in 2006, Lincecum joined the Single-A Salem Keizer Volcanoes. He only pitched in 2 games for them, and he only pitched 4 innings. He allowed only 1 hit, and didn't walk anyone. 10 of his 12 outs were strikeouts.

He was soon promoted to the Single-A-Advanced San Jose Giants. He started 6 games for them, and pitched 27 and two thirds innings.

ERA: 1.95
WHIP: (Walks and Hits per Innings Pitched): 0.90
Strike Outs: 48

Now it's 2007, and he's pitching in Triple A Fresno. In 2 games, he is 2 - 0 with a 0.00 ERA, and he has struck out 17 in his 12 innings pitched.

Have I mentioned yet that he has a filthy array of pitches, including a curveball to compliment his high 90's (and sometimes low 100's) fastball?

As soon as San Francisco suffers an injury to their pitching staff, or as soon as one of their starters falters a little too much, Lincecum will find his spot in the bigs, and be this year's Liriano/Verlander/Weaver.

Tick tock, tick tock. The wait is killing me.

Jackie Robinson Day: PPD

I'm not going to blog on how great Jackie Robinson was, and about what a pioneer of the game he was, and how he changed the face of professional sports forever.

The reason for that is, plenty of established writers have done that for you today. Go to http://www.mlb.com, http://cbs.sportsline.com, http://www.espn.com, or pretty much any major sports site, and you can read pages upon pages about this guy, including interviews from former teammates, people who were there during the time, etc. I can't hold a candle to that.

And you SHOULD go read those pages and pages. The man is a legend and a hero. His ability to keep a level head through all the seething hate he had to face... the word "admirable" doesn't come close. He was a damn fine ball player and a damn fine human being, too. If you don't know his story... do yourself a favor and go read it.

What I'm going to blog about is how upset I am with all these rain delays. In a day and age where high-tech luxurious domes are the norm, I can't figure out how this year seems to have a disproportional amount of games postponed due to rain, snow, and "cold".

I've been mad about this for the last two weeks, but today it really infuriated me; and not just because it screwed over my fantasy team.

Every park was going to commemorate Jackie Robinson today. Today was supposed to be the day that we payed homage to him in 15 of the league's ballparks. Unfortunately, 33.33% of those ballparks couldn't join in, because the rain was coming down a little too hard in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Pittsburgh.

Is it anyone's fault that mother nature decided to throw a temper tantrum today? Some might blame the scheduling committee for putting games in rainy cities. Al Gore might blame global warming.

I'm not blaming anyone... but it still irritates the life out of me.

NBA Western Playoff Race

I won't blog about basketball very often, because the honest truth is that it isn't my strong point. It is not a favorite sport of mine, and I'm not extremely knowledgeable about it. I hope to improve in that regard; get to know the players and the teams better over the next few years - but for now, blogging on something I know very little about just isn't good for anyone. It'll make me look like a buffoon (like I need help), and it will give you lackluster reading material. As such, I'll only blog about basketball when it is actually (in my opinion at least) somewhat interesting information that I have some legitimate input on.

Because as I was checking baseball and hockey scores, I accidentally skimmed through the NBA scores; and saw that the Lakers had lost to the Suns (not surprising), the Clippers had beaten the Trailblazers (not surprising), and the Warriors had beaten the Kings (not surprising).

What was a little surprising, though, was that all three went the way they should have. Because even if the Lakers had an 80% chance of losing and the Clippers and Warriors had an 80% chance of winning (I'm just making these numbers up here to make a point), the odds of all three happening would be .80 X .80 X .80; .512, about a coin flip.

SO, heads is interesting playoff race, tails is uninteresting playoff race. Flip. Heads.

It is a VERY real possibility that these teams end in a 3 way tie for the 7th, 8th, and 9th spots in the west. Unlikely, sure, but not out of the question.

The 40 - 40 Lakers face Seattle at home, then head to Sacramento to close out their regular season. The Lakers couldn't lose to Seattle if they tried. As for Sacramento, the Lakers absolutely should win that game too. But it is a division rival on a division rival's home court, and as Kansas City Chief's Herm Edwards coined and my brother loves to repeat, "You don't play just to play." Sacramento will be playing their hardest, and upsetting the ice-cold Lakers would not be one of the craziest things in sports history.

The 39 - 40 Warriors have games left at home against Minnesota and Dallas, and on the road against Portland. Yes, Warriors fans, I've heard a million times that you "match up well against Dallas. Your still going to lose that game. Minnesota and Portland are winnable games though, and would put the Warriors to 41 - 41.

The 39 - 40 Clippers have Sacramento, @Phoenix, and the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets to end their season. Much like the Warriors, they should lose their game to the superior opponent and beat the two inferior opponents. Guess what record that leaves them with?

Or, perhaps the Mavs and Suns rest starters, seeing as they don't need these games and are already focusing on the playoffs, and the Warriors, Clippers, and Lakers all win out the season; and all end up 42 - 40.

Either way, a 3 way tie is not too far fetched.

So who would make it in? Drum roll, please!

Lakers VS. Warriors: LAKERS get the tiebreaker, as they won the season series between the two teams 4 - 0 (think the Warriors want a few of those games back?)

Lakers VS. Clippers: LAKERS get the tiebreaker, season series tied at 2 - 2 , so it comes down to conference record, which the Lakers have better.

Warriors VS. Clippers: WARRIORS get the tiebreaker, season series tied at 2 - 2, and the Warriors have fared better in-conference.

So a 3 way tie would send the Clippers home golfing.

Where, of course, the Lakers and Warriors would join them in a few weeks when they get crushed by Dallas and Phoenix in the postseason.

Oh no... the Ducks are really good... among other reflections.

We'll start with hockey. (Shocking, I know)

I'm not saying that this series against the Wild is over and done with; the Wild are an excellent home team and still have time to make a series out of it. But lets be serious... the Ducks really are the best of the West. They've got the defense. They've got the offense. And scarier, they've got the defense that can contribute offensively and the offense that can contribute defensively. I've said it plenty of times before and I'll say it again, the West is so tough that you can't take any team in it lightly. But with the Sharks losing Cheechoo, I've officially switched gears into believing that the Ducks are, as so many pre-season experts predicted, the team to beat in the West (have I mentioned that yet?). I just hope for the sake of Kings fans everywhere that one of the teams in the West can put a hot streak together and keep this team out of the finals... but I'm not too sure I'll be holding my breath.

Shout outs in the NHL:

Ilya Bryzgalov - Came into the season as half of a goaltending tandem with no decided #1, he took the backseat as Giguere took the #1 position at the beginning of the year and held on to it strongly. Now, with Giguere out for personal reasons, Bryzalov has filled in masterfully, giving the Ducks a clear cut advantage through the first two games of this series.

JP Dumont - As disgusted as I am with the Predators and their dirty hits in the last two games, 4 goals is 4 goals. Dumont has brought his A-game in these young playoffs, and has 4 goals in 2 games to show for it.

Marty Turco - Dallas's whipping boy and "playoff choke artist" outshone Roberto Luongo en route to a 35 save shutout Friday night, perhaps taking the next step towards shushing his critics.

Shout outs in the MLB:

Roy "The Doc" Halladay - Plenty of pitchers can go an outing only giving up 6 hits. But how about going 10 innings with only 107 pitches and 1 earned run while you are at it? Scary to think that he probably would have pitched the 11th if one had been necessary, too.

Scott Kazmir - Out dueled the best pitcher in baseball; Johan Santana. 8 IP, 6 hits, 2 runs, and 6 Ks got the job done in this impressive upset performance.

Eric Gagne - His return to the bigs featured a fastball at around 94 - 95 miles per hour, a K, and a save. Hate to see him in anything but a Dodger uniform, but all the same, would love to see him defy the odds and stay healthy.

Carlos Lee - Multiple times every season, Roy Oswalt pitches brilliantly, only to get no run support and the loss. In an ultra-rare turn of events, the exact opposite happened; Oswalt had a bad outing, but got a ton of run support and the victory. The main reason? Carlos Lee, who hit two solo shots and one grand slam. That's a pretty good day.

I'll weigh in on the NBA playoff race tomorrow, but for now, it is time to sleep.

No more multiple overtimes in the playoffs? You can't be serious?

I was reading on www.letsgokings.com, the awesome Los Angeles Kings message board that I frequent, that someone was arguing that the NHL playoff overtime system should be modified somehow, because it effects the entire series, and it is too mentally and physically draining on the players. I wasn't going to comment, because I figured this guy must be one in a million.

Then tonight, during my sports show Platforum, one of the guests on the show used his final word - a segment dedicated to voicing your opinion on something important to you in the world of sports - to make the same point that I'd read earlier this morning. Something needs to be done to change this playoff system.

If two people feel this way, it probably isn't a freak thing; there are actually people that feel this way! And this needs to be addressed!

The mental and physical fatigue effects both teams equally, because they both play the same long drawn out game! It is the team that can persevere - that can find the energy and adrenaline from their personal deepest depths - that come out on top when its all said and done. Giving your all when you've got nothing left to give is the stuff that champions are made of!

Look at how un-fulfilling the end of the World Cup was between France and Italy. It came down to penalty kicks. PENALTY KICKS to decide who is the best team in the world! Bartez, who is a small goalie and is terrible in the PK, didn't stand a chance; and the World Cup was decided.

Am I advocating non-stop sudden death in soccer? Probably not, simply because the nature of the game is so much more low scoring. But maybe giving both teams breaks - such as the period system in hockey - might keep the teams fresh enough to decide a winner. But that is a whole different sport and argument for a different day.

The point is this; nothing in the world of sports comes CLOSE to the intensity of NHL playoff overtime. Even considering making a change - to 4 on 4, or to a shootout, or any other silly option that anyone could come up with; would be absurd.

While we're at it, lets cut extra innings in baseball and decide a winner by a home run contest instead. And instead of overtime in basketball, lets switch to a slam dunk contest.

As for sudden death in pro football? That actually does need some work.

Bow to the King

Daisuke who?

Three words for you. King. Felix. Hernandez.

You won't believe this, but I'm not making this stat line up. Through 2 games;

17 IP, 4 hits, 4 walks, 0 runs, 18 strikeouts.

Matsuzaka VS. Ichiro in a battle of Japanese superstars, huh? Sorry, MLB.com, but you missed the headline on that one by a mile. I knew it would be a pitcher's duel... but damn.

While we are giving credit to great young arms, nice outing by Justin Verlander today as well, pitching 7 innings of shutout ball and allowing just 3 hits and 3 walks while striking out 5. Unfortunately for him, the super-cold Tiger's bats (led by my fantasy team's early season duds of Magglio Ordonez (.233) and Gary Sheffield (.103)) couldn't muster up any offense until the 12th inning, long after Verlander had left the game, giving him the undeserved no decision.

And hey, Vegas Dave may be extremely partial to young pitching, but props to Greg Maddux too! It only took the 40 year old who has been pitching in the big leagues since I was born 75 pitches to get through 6 innings of shutout ball, whiffing 6 in the process. Forgotten behind the live young arms of Peavy and Young, this old man may still have a few wins in him yet.

Hockey: Playoff Preview Part 2

Playoff hockey certainly didn’t take long to impress, did it? One game featured an excellent defensive battle between the Wild and the Ducks in which the Ducks prevailed. The other 3 games each had 9 goals scored; but with a unique twist on each one. Ottawa handled the Penguins 6 – 3 and looked very good in doing so. Meanwhile, the game that I thought would take the crown as the game of the night for sure, San Jose and Nashville took a 4 – 4 tie into double overtime, where the Sharks finally got the tally to take game one. Not to be outdone, though, Vancouver and Dallas also took a 4 – 4 tie into OT… except they took FOUR periods to decide theirs when Vancouver netted the game winner and sent the home fans home happy. You don’t have a pulse if you don’t love this stuff.

The main notes I have from today’s action regard Jonathan Cheechoo and Marty Turco. To Cheechoo, I hope the injury he sustained in the knee-to-knee cheap shot isn’t serious; I’m not a Sharks fan by any stretch of the imagination, but you hate to see a series potentially decided by an injury. Look back to last year’s finals when Dwayne Roloson got injured for Edmonton. Losing a key player and than losing a series always leaves the question “what if…?” and I’m hoping that isn’t the case in this series.

Let’s also give credit where it is due; Marty Turco did a hell of a job keeping his team in the game for over 3 shutout periods of hockey. Does this cure his playoff woes? Not necessarily. But guys notorious for being choke-artists in the post season usually don’t make 33 straight saves in overtime. That being said, one of the only things more impressive than 51 saves over 6 and change periods of hockey is 72 saves over that span of time. Wow. You’re the man Roberto… but this doesn’t come as a surprise to anyone.

Lastly, before I get into the rest of my playoff preview, hats off to Comcast for web casting some of the games for free. I brought my laptop to class and was able to watch the third period and both overtimes of the San Jose / Nashville game, and I loved every minute of it. Check that out here: http://www.comcast.net/sports/nhl/hockeylive/

And now; the last 4 series of the 1^st round.

THE EAST

#1 Buffalo Sabres VS. #8 New York Islanders

The Islanders added Ryan Smyth at the trade deadline, which gave them that extra little push they needed to beat the pack for the final playoff spot in the east. The real reason for the Islanders success, though, won’t even be a factor in this series; and that is Rick DiPietro. Playing like a guy worthy of a 15-year contract, DiPietro’s 2.58 GAA and .919 SV% don’t even tell the full story of how many games this guy kept them in. With DiPietro out with a head injury, goaltending duties will be left to Wade Dubielewicz, who has filled in admirably down the stretch. Still, despite the fact that the Islanders certainly have some players that can beat you, Buffalo is just too deep and too talented for this Islanders team. I think with a different first round match-up and with a healthy DiPietro between the pipes, this could have been a decent sleeper pick of a team; but not this year. Buffalo outclasses the competition and cruises into the next round.

BUFFALO IN 4.

#2. New Jersey Devils VS. #7 Tampa Bay Lightning

The 100 point 1 – 2 punch of Lecavlier and St. Louis will strike fear into anyone – even the goaltender that broke Bernie Parent’s record for most wins in a season this year. Arguably (and I’m one of those arguing in favor) the greatest goaltender of all time, Martin Brodeur will look to the lead the Devils on yet another run to the cup. And he’ll definitely get by this round. Not to take anything away from the Lightning, who certainly have a solid team, but goaltending wins championships. The Holmqvist (2.85 GAA, .893 SV%) / Denis (3.19, .883) connection just doesn’t hold a candle to Brodeur, and neither one of them has playoff experience. This Lightning team might make it interesting, but I anticipate the Devils taking care of business.

NEW JERSEY IN 6.

#3 Atlanta Thrashers VS. #6 New York Rangers

I like this Thrashers team a lot, but their special teams makes them a very risky pick. Despite the fact that they’ve got plenty of goal scorers and playmakers on this team, I just can’t ignore the fact that they are 23^rd on the power play and 26^th in penalty killing, compared to the Rangers, who are 8^th on the power play and 12^th on the penalty kill. Those numbers speak for themselves, especially in the playoffs, where special teams become even more pivotal. It wont surprise me at all to see Lehtonen get hot and the Thrashers to win this series; but I’ve got to take the popular upset pick and go with the well-balanced Rangers in this one.

NEW YORK IN 6

THE WEST

#1 Detroit Red Wings VS. #8 Calgary Flames

This game epitomizes just how tough the West is. The Calgary Flames have one of the top 5 goalies in the league in Miikka Kiprusoff, a deceptively solid offense, and one of my favorite defensive corps in the league, including the likes of Dion Phaneuf, Roman Hamrlik, Brad Stuart, and Robin Regehr. And yet, this team is an 8^th seed, and a decided underdog. And rightfully so – the once offensively insane Red Wings (think Yzerman, Shanahan, Federov) can still put pucks in the net; but all of a sudden they play an excellent defensive game, too. And last year’s weakness between the pipes has been taken care of, as the ageless legend that is Dominick Hasek now leads the way. I do like the Red Wings to win this series and end their recent post-season woes; but I think it takes them the maximum amount of games to do it.

DETROIT IN 7

Hockey: Playoff Preview Part 1

With the NHL playoffs starting tomorrow, what better place to start than right here? Playoff hockey, even when no one but hockey fans are watching, is in my opinion the best that sports gets. All of the intensity, passion, and grace of the sport increases tenfold in the playoffs, and a hundredfold come the Stanley Cup Finals.

I'm getting goosebumps just thinking about sudden death overtime in the playoffs, where games are extended by periods, where a single goal swings a series. Words just don't do justice. At least, I can't. Should... have brought... a poet...

I’ll make this playoff preview a two-parter. Tonight I’ll break down the 4 series getting underway on Wednesday, and tomorrow night I’ll break down the 4 series getting underway Thursday.

THE WEST

#2 Anaheim Ducks VS. #7 Minnesota Wild

It is hard to say that I’m not biased here. As a diehard Kings fan, I hate the Ducks. Furthermore, at the beginning of the season, I put $5 on the Wild to win the cup when they were going off at 50 to 1, which would result in a $250 payday. It is hard to pick against a team like the Ducks – they are the total package. Their offense is strong, and their defense features two of the best players in the game. But I’ve got a gut feeling – and if you were to argue that it isn’t a gut feeling and it is probably just wishful thinking, I’d agree with you – that the Wild are going to win this series. The Wild have such a strong defensive mindset, they don’t take penalties (something the Ducks do), and they simply aren’t going to let the Ducks get into their comfortable brand of fast break hockey. The Wild also have a better offense then they get credit for. Call me crazy, but I’m taking the Wild in a big upset.

MINNESOTA IN 6.

#3 Vancouver Canucks VS. #6 Dallas Stars

Plenty of series come down to goaltending, but this one takes the cake. All eyes are on Marty Turco; the man who has become well known for being one of the league’s best all season long, only to choke come playoff time. The fact of the matter is this; Dallas is a better team than Vancouver. They are. The Canucks are where they are all thanks to Roberto Luongo. Don’t want to take anything away from the rest of the team, but this guy has been an absolute powerhouse. I have no doubt that he will continue to do so in these playoffs. But in a 7 game series, the better team wins more often than not. And if Turco can just exorcise his demons – or Tippet can go with Smith if Turco reverts to old struggles – I think the Stars will put last year’s disappointing postseason behind them and take this series. Can Turco pull it off?

DALLAS IN 6.

#4 Nashville Predators VS. #5 San Jose Sharks

Rarely do you get a match-up featuring for #1 goaltenders, but you’ve got it here, as both of these teams have two goalies that would be starters on most teams in the league. Both teams don’t get any weaker when you leave the crease, both boasting impressive defensive corps and powerhouse offenses. It really should be an excellent series to watch. The question really comes down to what reigns supreme; speed (Nashville) or toughness (San Jose)? Not saying that Nashville doesn’t have toughness or San Jose doesn’t have speed, but these two teams each have their forte. New NHL be damned, come playoffs, I’ll take grit over finesse every time.

SAN JOSE IN 7.

THE EAST

#4 Ottawa Senators VS. #5 Pittsburgh Penguins

The Pens are the team that everyone is pulling for this year – and why not? They are chock full of young talent from the top of the roster to the bottom, with young ultra-superstar Sidney Crosby leading the way. I like this team as much as anyone, and would be less then surprised to see them make a splash in these playoffs. But the fact of the matter is, Ottawa has been to the playoffs consistently for the last few years, and have plenty of players on their roster that have playoff experience. Lack of experience; especially for young Marc-Andre Fleury, will lead to the Pens losing this series. Next year? Well, next year will just be scary.

OTTAWA IN 6.

In a non-playoff note, congrats to the Blackhawks on winning the lottery and stealing the #1 pick, as well as bouncing the Kings back to the 4th overall pick instead of the third. No, it isn't bad enough that the year the Kings go into full rebuild is the year of one of the NHL's weakest draft classes in a while. No... they had to go get screwed by the lottery, too. Being a bitter fan may not be professional, but neither is lying. And I'm a bitter fan.

The Beginning

Honestly, I am quite reluctant to start this blog, because I know I will put a great deal of time and effort into it, and there is a solid chance that no one will read it. Some will say they read it when they really don't. Others will glance, skim, etc. And that's understandable.

But then I realize; I've just got too much to say about the world of sports NOT to have a blog on it. Whether you read every night, once a week, once a month, or stop reading after this sentence, I'll still have so much to say. And if it falls on deaf ears, so be it. I hope to entertain. I hope to educate. I hope that you leave here with something that you didn't have when you came on.

My goal? I want to be one of those sites that you check every time you go online. You know the ones. For me, it is my email, facebook.com, fantasysports.yahoo.com, cbssportsline.com, and letsgokings.com. Every single time I sign online, I check these sites. I want to be on your list. Not EVERY time, since I'll only be updating on nights, but in my dream world, you'll really want to keep coming back for more.

Noteworthy happenings of the day, thoughts in general, sports bets for the upcoming day, playoff previews... whatever is worth commenting on, I'll comment on. I hope you will make this an interactive experience and speak up when you agree or disagree - after all, without argument, what fun is sports?

So, here goes nothing. Let's have some fun.