Posts Tagged ‘NHL’

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still on hiatus…sorta


2010
10.10

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The two biggest projects I had are both over now.  However, I’ve got some cleanup to do with other projects (at work, with MadLUG, with the Music Manumit Podcast, etc), so Sportazine is still on hiatus as far as the blog goes.

I do have an article on Manchester United in the works and I’d love to get something out shortly into the NHL and NBA seasons.  I’d also like to weigh in on the Liverpool situation, though that one is probably time-sensitive and I wouldn’t expect anything until after Christmas.

Lastly, I’m quite pleased with the start of St. Pauli‘s season and Malmö FF closing in on the Allsvenskan title!

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Wine, Women and Playoffs


2010
04.19

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Not too much on the wine actually unless you’re talking about emulation. And really, ESPN3 works in Linux now, so who needs an emulator?

Women…yeah, I gotz them.  It’s a good problem to have.

…and Playoffs.  Upsets galore cooking up in the NHL.  Good fights being put up by the Bulls and the Bobcats.  ManU is back in the title race after a big win in the derby and a Chelsea collapse.  There’s too much going on to spend time writing an article.  When the playoffs go from 16 teams to 8 teams in the NBA and NHL, I’ll have more time, but I’m taking this week off.

Oh, and did I mention I’m moving…

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EPL, FA Cup, etc wind down. MLB, MLS, etc get started. The Circle of Life.


2010
04.11

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Just quickly, NCAA Frozen Four final was yesterday.  The hometown Badgers got annihilated by Boston College.

Also, what was the deal with the ESPN spring football coverage?  Are you really hurting that much for content.  Here’s an idea, PUT THE MADRID BARCELONA GAME ON! It’s not a matter of rights, because ESPN had English coverage of the game on ESPN3.  BTW, I can’t tell you how happy I am that ESPN3 (old ESPN360) now works in Linux!

EPL

It’s hard to imagine anyone but Chelsea winning the EPL.  The one thing that gives me hope is the two tough away games versus the one tough away for ManU.  However, if Chelsea gets a draw and ManU wins out, Chelsea could still win on goal differential…which they are winning by four at the moment.  Based on how ManU has been playing, I just don’t see it happening.  I am pleased with the signing of the Mexican striker though.

FA Cup

It’s also pretty hard to see anyone but Chelsea winning the FA Cup, thought Portsmouth doesn’t really want to quit, it seems, despite certain relegation and a likely summer sell-off.  And by likely, I mean, as likely as the sun rising in the east tomorrow.

La Liga and Champions League

With the victory over Real Madrid, I can’t imagine anyone but Barcelona winning the La Liga or Champions League.  Go Barca and Big Z!

Playoffs

The Carolina Hurricanes and many other NHL franchises are having their seasons come to a close within the next few days.  Fliers made it today, so roommate is happy.  I don’t care too much.  I’ll just cheer for the ‘local’ Blackhawks or whoever comes out of the east, accept perhaps not Crosbyburg.  I used to kinda like Crosby, but he’s become the hockey version of Laettner post-Olympics.  NBA Playoffs are also coming up.  Bucks and Bobcats are in, so plenty of basketball to watch.  It’s hard to imagine Bama or UK getting an automatic bid, but UNC seems likely…and UNC will get an at-large barring a collapse.  However, conference playoffs don’t start until late May, so I’m really jumping the gun on that.  If you’re not aware, UW-Madison does not have a baseball team.

MLB

Way too early to say anything about the MLB.  I’m hopeful for the Reds and less so for the Brewers though they have nearly identical records.  I hope the Reds only go for the for pushing off free agency and not for the Super 2 clause with Aroldis Chapman.  For a small-market team like the Reds, an extra year could be a big bonus before the Red Sox or Yankees come swooping in.  At least they brought Leake into the rotation, because, it’s never a good thing to be looking up to the Pirates.  For Chapman, keeping him in the minors for a while makes sense to me.  Chapman is learning English and I doubt there are any countries in the western hemisphere less like the US than Cuba.  Venezuela still trades with the US and has oil revenue coming in.  I’d be interested to hear if someone thinks I’m off-base with the Cuba comment.

MLS

Much, like MLB, we aren’t far into the season. However, 3 of 30 is a bit further along than 6 of 162…and baseball has a longer playoff.  Much looms over the 3-0 Galaxy though.  Buddle is playing well, but what will happen if Donovan goes to the EPL like he should?  What happens when/if Beckham comes back?  How will Beckham play without a world class partner, such as the one he has in Donovan?  The MLS is always topsy-turvy with their ridiculous salary cap, but with a few big names heading to the World Cup, will teams lose steam?  Will the big names be tired?  Will a World Cup run inspire confidence?  It’s impossible to tell.  The one thing that’s obvious is that a World Cup injury, even a short one, to a name such as Donovan, could be the difference in the playoffs or not or a championship or not.

What a dumb post?  I hate to even link to it to point out how uninformative it is.  Wikipedia is much more informative about the changes.  I’d like to see it higher.  Maybe five designated players?  I understand the rule, but it’s keeping the MLS from being a viable alternative to getting up at 6:30am to watch EPL games.  The rise of cable sports has kept the NBA and NHL off the major networks, but it would be nice to see the MLS get on the basic cable rotation more than once a week.  Of course, the question is, what would ESPN or VS drop to make more room for the MLS?  I’d certainly be fine with ESPN Deportes becoming part of basic cable, but there’s not going to be any push for something like that until the MLS is really worth watching for the casual soccer fan.  Right now, it makes more sense to pick a club in Spain and/or England and follow them, at least in Central and Eastern times.  I’m not sure I’d be willing to get up at 5:30 or 4:30 in the other two time zones.  The growth of US soccer and the MLS specifically is another post though.  Right now, I’m just happy there are games again and I’m excited about the Bobcats maybe making a run.  It’s pretty sad that the Bobcats are the highlight of my sports life, but maybe if they make a run this year Jordan will splash some cash and I’ll no longer feel that way.  They are going to need to drop the orange before I’m buying a jersey though.

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supernatural disasters, natural disasters and the Bobcats and Bucks that love them


2010
04.03

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With title races and playoffs coming up, I thought I’d simply check in with some of my favorite teams and wax philosophically about their chances of bringing home silverware.  Also, you’re getting this a few hours early.  I mean, why not?

First off, a disaster of cosmic proportions – a supernatural disaster if you will.  I’m talking about the Red Devils falling at Old Trafford.  It’s likely this game should have ended in a 2-2 draw, or even a 3-2 United win.  ManU had two penalties not called and Gary Neville’s shoulder barge also should have been a penalty.  Let’s say they make all of them (not unlikely).  That’s 3-2.  Ok, ManU’s goal may have been a hand ball.  I think it hit his chest, but I’m not exactly neutral.  However, DROGBA WAS CLEARLY AND ABSOLUTELY OFFSIDES. WTF!!!!!!!! It wasn’t even close.  A full body, plus a hair.  So, that makes it 2-2.  Even with no penalties, it would have been 1-1.  It’s clear that Rooney getting injured is bad news for Champions League and EPL.  The Red Devils are safely in Champions League competition next year, so there’s not a lot of difference in two and three, but if Chelsea slips, you definitely want to overtake them.  Unless Chelsea has an injury, I don’t see anyone catching them.  Arsenal and ManU still have Champions League to deal with.  Now, I think Arsenal are pretty much done.  Two away goals is a huge mountain to climb.  However, Fulham overcame a 3-1 defeat in the Europa Cup against giants Juventus, so it could happen. Remember that Any Given Sunday piece? I just want to note that I am cheering hard for Fulham and American midfielder Clint Dempsey to win it.  I’m halfheartedly cheering for Liverpool too, but I really want Fulham to take home the silverware.

ManU may also be done in Champions League, but coming back from 2-1 at home is certainly doable.  Defense and have Nani or Berbatov poke one in.  It’s certainly possible, despite Berbatov looking like trash today…seriously, I did not get up at 6:45am to watch that kind of performance.  If you lose and Cech plays out of his mind, fine.  To lose by simply miss chances and not put it on frame…seriously?

Well, if you don’t believe in the supernatural, there are always natural disasters…the Carolina Hurricanes.  Now, I was going to write about how the Hurricanes have an outside chance at making the playoffs, but that has pretty much evaporated as at the time of this writing, there is 2:32 left in the 3rd period of the game against New Jersey…and they are losing 4-0.  I’m not even going to say anything else about it.

Just want to throw this in here since I’m talking about my teams that at some point I’ll probably look at the Bama 2010 football season based on recruits as well as the UK 2010 season based on recruits and departures.  Should be interesting to see if any of the big three leave UK.  I think they could all benefit from another year. I think draft stock went down as the season progressed…mostly because they were sharing minutes with each other.

Additionally, I have done a terrible job following college baseball this year.  At some point I’ll check in and give an overview of how seasons are going for GWU, UK, Bama and UNC.

Now on to the NBA…I live in Madison, so I keep an eye on the Bucks, but they traded my boy Jodie Meeks, so I’m not real happy with them.  The Bucks are putting the hurt on Phoenix right now…24 points at halftime…ouch.  The Bobcats are really my team though.  The   The Bobcats are also currently losing, but only by 9 points in the 3rd, so that’s not too bad.  Playing better in the 2nd half so far.  If the playoffs ended right now they would have the 7th spot and even if they go on to lose this game, they will still be in the 7th spot by a game.  Chicago is in the 9th spot though, so this is not a good game to lose.  They’ll play one more time before the end of the season, so in football parlance, these are 6-pointers (and that’s not a touchdown, but rather the 3 points per game that soccer uses).  Bobcats were up, but now down by 5 again very late in the 4th. Not really to call it just yet though.  The only team with a better record than the Bobcats that they play in the remaining games is the Hawks, so it’s looking pretty good for them to be in, but at New Orleans and at Houston will definitely be tough.  Chicago, on the other hand, has to play Boston, Cleveland and the Bucks…those are all home games though.  Last game of the season is Bulls in what is -more-or-less my hometown of Charlotte.  It could be for all the marbles…well, a playoff spot.

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