Things Change

Last night I did something that I haven't done in a very long time, I watched an NHL game from start to finish. My favorite team has always been the Toronto Maple Leafs and they were in Denver last night to face the Avalance for the first time since January, 2006.

Before the infamous lockout, a huge part of my life focused on these two teams. I was the loner, the Leaf fan while all my college friends rooted hard for the Avs because they were the local team. In the late 90's and early 2000's the Leafs and Avs flirted with meeting in the Stanley Cup Finals on several occasions, but they ended up never hooking up. Twice both teams made the Conference Finals but never got together to play for it all.

They were two very good hockey teams before the lockout. It was great when the times were like that. I never missed an NHL Playoff Game on ESPN and me and my college buddies would play hockey video games, setting up 7 game series between the Leafs and Avs. (Drew, I still Own You). There were great players on both sides. Sundin, Roberts, Cu-Jo, Belfour, Kaberle, Gillmoure, Clark, Domi, Tucker and McCabe for the Leafs. The Avs were loaded with a healthy Peter Forseberg, Joe Sakic, Rob Blake, Patrick Roy, Adam Foote, Chris Drury, Milan Hejduk and many others.

Fast Forward to 2009. The Leafs came to my hometown for the first time in 3 years, I was offered two great tickets and me and Drew turned them down. Granted, the game was exciting as the Leafs beat the Avs 7-4, but it just wasn't the same, in fact one of the most popular Leafs ever in Darcy Tucker was playing for Colorado. What we have now is just two bad hockey teams that have struggled to find their way every since the lockout. Colorado is currently 13th in the West, 4 points behind the #8 playoff seed while the Leafs are 11th in the East, 10 points behind the 8th and final playoff seed.

In college, the NHL and the Leafs and Avs were a huge part of me and my friends lives and now, quite frankely it is just another game. What did the the NHL and these two particular teams do to themselves? Any way, congrats Toronto with last night's win you are now only 5 games under .500.

Other Stuff

In an earlier post this week I took a cheap shot at the Austrailian Open, however last night there was a mens semifinal for the ages. It was the longest match in Austrailian Open history lasting 5 hours and 14 minutes. Rafael Nadal held off longshot Fernando Verdasco in 5 sets (6-7, 6-4, 7-6, 6-7, 6-4). This was an outstanding match as each competitor gave it his all. It was the first time I'd ever watched an entire tennis match and I was impressed. Next up Nadal/Federer for the first time ever on the hard surface in a major, should be interesting.

Why are NFL Players taking shots at their former Head Coaches? Former Buc, Simeon Rice going off on recently fired Jon Gruden, saying he was a cold blooded liar and had no respect for injured players because he released them. The guy just got fired, why do you have to go after him in the media like that? If you have a problem with the guy, tell him face to face. Also, former Broncos Quarterback Jake Plummer took a shot at the recently fired Mike Shanahan. Plummer said his firing was past due and Shanahan had his glory and his coaching style no longer motivated players.

Well Jake, I'm sure you didn't have a problem with him when he led you to the 2005 AFC Championship Game, a place you only saw that one time in your career. I'm not going to defend Shanahan because the Broncos did make the right move, however Plummer was out of line. Shanahan did a great "fill in the pieces job" in his last season as Broncos Head Coach. The defense was awful and for most of the time hurt, plus the team had to use 7 running backs and still managed to finish 8-8 when the team should have been 4-12. With that said I think Shanahan lost his mind and his cool about him. Shanahan made some of the worst decisions I've seen an NFL Head Coach make in his final season with the Broncos and ultimately that is why he lost his job.

If everything that has come out in the last 72 hours about Barry Bonds is true, dude is going to prison. Positive urine samples of steroid use and a former teammate willing to testify against him. Bye-bye Hall of Fame and hello Bubba.

The Picks........3/4 winners last night. I'm 18-12 ATS since starting this blog and have hit 9 of my last 12

Super Bowl 43

Pittsburgh -7 Arizona-Once again, Steelers 37, Cardinals 20.

NBA-A big schedule tonight, but I only would play two games.

Lakers -6 @ Minnesota
Bobcats/Nuggets OVER 193

Have a good Super Bowl weekend, I will talk to you on Monday.