In case you were away from the wide world of sports this weekend, Lucas Glover won the 2009 U.S. Open at Bethpage Black. And he was dry all of Monday! I don't think I've ever seen so much rain or seen greens that were as badly damaged as the ones at Bethpage Black. I'm shocked the ball rolled as true as it did becuase when the tv guys zoomed in, they were rolling and bumping all over the place!
Who did I end up rooting for? Well Adam Scott did well! I was excited to see that! I didn't hear about any blowup holes so that can go in the win column. I was really rooting for David Duval though. I've always been a fan. I called him Popeye when I was younger because I always though his forearms were as big as Popeyes! He's definitly aged over the past 10 years, but golf can do that to you! Getting married and having kids helps as well! I was excited to see him up on the leaderboard and performing to the level he is capable of! He's worked so hard to get back there!
I totally got goosebumps yesterday when Phil eagled to become a coleader! Then he bogeyed 2 of the last 4 holes. I would say typical Phil, but I didn't see him play any of the holes so I really can't judge how he played! I hope the next few weeks go well for him and his family!
Here's a video of a few PGA players showing off their New York Accents!!
Hockey News: Inductees to the Hall of Fame will be announced this week. Top of the list would be my all time favorite player EVER--my Captian, Steve Yzerman!! ::cheers::cheers::
As far as the NHL Awards go, I was totally bored throughout the broadcast. I laughed the most when AO, Geno, and Datsyuk were somehow involved with the festivities. I had tears in my eyes as I watch Vladdy and Igor presenting an award. It was truly nice of the NHL to include them!
I miss hockey!
Now it's time for football season or at least getting ready for football season! I'm trying to figure out what kind of a team Michigan is going to have this fall. I'm also hoping for an Eastern victory when they play at Michigan! I'm sure it will be demoralizing for U-M, but it would do more good for the EMU program who now has Michigan's former Defensive Coordinator as their coach! Remember Ron English? From what I've heard through some former players, he's already turned the defense around! They are faster and stronger! Watch out U-M! They've kicked us around for years...it's time for us to give them the boot! At least once!!
I bleed maize and blue. How is it possible that I am speaking like this? I guess my University got to me a little more than I ever thought it would have! Boy if Coach could see me now! She hated that I was a Michigan fan and playing golf at a different school! Last year I rooted for EMU when they played Michigan! I got booed by the people who have sat around me for the past 24 years of my life! Actually, that's a lie. My Dad has had the tickets for 30 years and none of the origanal ticket holders that surround us are the same! We're the only ones left!
Plans for this week: play golf and go to Karen's wedding! The Cubs are in town playing the Tigers! They never play one another so maybe I'll take in an inning on tv...yeah, right! Me watch baseball? Are you kidding? I probably will though, only becuase it's a monumental occasion!
A video for the day: Max Talbot with a baby.....what??? It's not his, but it's cute to see his interactions wtih the baby!! :)
Even Sid says in the video, "This is gonna be on facebook!" Well Sid, I never saw this on facebook, but I did see on my blogspot because here it is! lovelovelove!
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Thursday, June 18, 2009
The U.S. Open
Hockey is over. Football will be starting here in a few weeks or so...but right now I'm all about the golf! Finally, a sport I can talk about where I have true experience! The U.S. Open started this morning at Bethpage Black in New York. They are currently under a rain delay. I feel a bit bad for them considering it's the rain we had been getting for the past few days--showers aren't much fun when you're playing in a major! There's already enough other mental and physical challenges of a major...being wet and frustrated doesn't make it any easier. It just seperates the men from the boys and the guys who get it done on the course this week will be rewarded with lots of cash, a place in history, and even one of them will be called a U.S. Open Champion.
So, who are my picks?
This is a really good question. I'll be honest. I haven't paid that much attention to golf since the Masters in April. This is highly unusual, but my favorite golfers haven't been playing that much or playing so poorly that they haven't been making the cut. Adam Scott...are you listening? I know you're going through a swing change (I loved your swing before!) and you've got your hand in 10 or 15 pots outside of golf (which is good and bad at the same time), but this is the time of your life to make an impact on the game. What happened? Do we need a fun round of golf with you, me, and Clunesy? You name the time and place and I will be there! But Chris better be there too because he's freaking awesome! So needless to say, I do not have Adam on my list of picks for this week. He's been struggling with keeping the ball in the fairway. Add on the fact that he's got to play U.S. Open rough that is soaking wet from all the rain and I can only see disaster. Sorry, Adam. I love you, but I'm honest! Maybe take Chris back out on tour with you!! Or maybe you're doing all of this, and I just don't know about it! Just don't forget how much you love the game! It will turn around soon...it has to!! You've that "it" thing they talk about!!
Yes, that does say "To Melissa, Best Wishes, Adam Scott!"
Here's me and Clunesy watching Adam practice.
Who is on my radar for this week: Geoff Ogilvy, Jim Furyk, Henrik Stenson, Tiger (duh!), and not Phil Mickelson. I know New York loves him and he always seems to play well there, but I'm just not feeling it this weekend. He says he's hitting the ball well, but if you don't shoot well, it doesn't much matter how great you're hitting the ball! At the end of the day it doesn't matter how you get the ball in the hole, it only matters if you take the least amount of strokes to get it there! I think winning would be great for him and his family in their time of great need. My prayers are with him, Amy, and his family. But I'm still not feeling a victory come Sunday. Sorry, Phil.
Ogilvy won the match play tournament earlier in the year. He's a great ball striker, but he's kind of disappeared since the win. I feel like he's ready for a breakout. Jim just always seems to be in the game somewhere. He may not win, but he'll be a top 10 finisher. Stenson, he's European. He can play in this weather and not be bothered. I also think he has one of the best games in the game today! Tiger is Tiger. You never count him out.
With the way the course is set up and the weather playing a part, this tournament as my coworker describes it is really a "crap shoot". It's anyone's game. Watching Tiger hit the splash shots he did this morning leads me to believe that it is impossible to hit the ball with any sort of accuracy. There's no spin on the ball to control it. These guys are going to be lucky just to get the ball on the green and have it stay there! Good luck to them!
It's times like this when I don't miss playing golf in the pouring rain because we have a 3 hour practice, or 9 am practices in January when we're outside hitting golf balls into snowbanks, or playing tournaments when it's snowing!! It's so much more fun just to play when you want to and not be forced to play in nasty conditions! But I'll tell you what, those were some of the best days and years of my life! I wouldn't have done it any differently except to have played golf more for myself instead of trying to prove to my coach I could do it.
So, who are my picks?
This is a really good question. I'll be honest. I haven't paid that much attention to golf since the Masters in April. This is highly unusual, but my favorite golfers haven't been playing that much or playing so poorly that they haven't been making the cut. Adam Scott...are you listening? I know you're going through a swing change (I loved your swing before!) and you've got your hand in 10 or 15 pots outside of golf (which is good and bad at the same time), but this is the time of your life to make an impact on the game. What happened? Do we need a fun round of golf with you, me, and Clunesy? You name the time and place and I will be there! But Chris better be there too because he's freaking awesome! So needless to say, I do not have Adam on my list of picks for this week. He's been struggling with keeping the ball in the fairway. Add on the fact that he's got to play U.S. Open rough that is soaking wet from all the rain and I can only see disaster. Sorry, Adam. I love you, but I'm honest! Maybe take Chris back out on tour with you!! Or maybe you're doing all of this, and I just don't know about it! Just don't forget how much you love the game! It will turn around soon...it has to!! You've that "it" thing they talk about!!
Yes, that does say "To Melissa, Best Wishes, Adam Scott!"
Here's me and Clunesy watching Adam practice.
Who is on my radar for this week: Geoff Ogilvy, Jim Furyk, Henrik Stenson, Tiger (duh!), and not Phil Mickelson. I know New York loves him and he always seems to play well there, but I'm just not feeling it this weekend. He says he's hitting the ball well, but if you don't shoot well, it doesn't much matter how great you're hitting the ball! At the end of the day it doesn't matter how you get the ball in the hole, it only matters if you take the least amount of strokes to get it there! I think winning would be great for him and his family in their time of great need. My prayers are with him, Amy, and his family. But I'm still not feeling a victory come Sunday. Sorry, Phil.
Ogilvy won the match play tournament earlier in the year. He's a great ball striker, but he's kind of disappeared since the win. I feel like he's ready for a breakout. Jim just always seems to be in the game somewhere. He may not win, but he'll be a top 10 finisher. Stenson, he's European. He can play in this weather and not be bothered. I also think he has one of the best games in the game today! Tiger is Tiger. You never count him out.
With the way the course is set up and the weather playing a part, this tournament as my coworker describes it is really a "crap shoot". It's anyone's game. Watching Tiger hit the splash shots he did this morning leads me to believe that it is impossible to hit the ball with any sort of accuracy. There's no spin on the ball to control it. These guys are going to be lucky just to get the ball on the green and have it stay there! Good luck to them!
It's times like this when I don't miss playing golf in the pouring rain because we have a 3 hour practice, or 9 am practices in January when we're outside hitting golf balls into snowbanks, or playing tournaments when it's snowing!! It's so much more fun just to play when you want to and not be forced to play in nasty conditions! But I'll tell you what, those were some of the best days and years of my life! I wouldn't have done it any differently except to have played golf more for myself instead of trying to prove to my coach I could do it.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Hockey Season is Over
So, my loyal readers (haha), hockey season is now officially over. What am I to do? It took me about 5 seconds to realize that if hockey is over, my evenings are free, which means that I can play a whole lot more golf than I was playing because I was watching hockey instead!
So Friday before the game, Ashley and I went and played a quick 9 holes. I shot 39...it was a so so round. Could have easily been a 37, but I have to go and make things difficult!
These photos are from the 4th hole. Ashley and I both birdied it. It's a long par 5 over water. Ashley was on in 2--big hitter, Ashley (hahaha, Caddyshack!)--and I was 5 ft after 3 shots! That's how we roll...!
So what else do I have planned this summer? Well, come Wednesday, I will be done with graduate school for the summer! I'm very excited about that. I have another wedding to attend next week. I'll be going up north a few times and I have my family reunion to go to.
As far as sports go, I should probably take in a Tigers game even though I'm not much of a baseball fan. I'm starting to get excited for the college football season! The U.S. Open is next week so that should be fun to watch. And my friend Scott is coming into town this weekend and we're having a golf match...winner take all! I think we're having a golf cart race too! We'll see! I'm excited to see him!
Besides that and the occasional dinner with friends, my life has really come to a standstill. That's highly depressing. I do love summer in Michigan though. I love living on a golf course! Good luck to my future husband, you've got a lot of work ahead of you hunny!! xoxo
So Friday before the game, Ashley and I went and played a quick 9 holes. I shot 39...it was a so so round. Could have easily been a 37, but I have to go and make things difficult!
These photos are from the 4th hole. Ashley and I both birdied it. It's a long par 5 over water. Ashley was on in 2--big hitter, Ashley (hahaha, Caddyshack!)--and I was 5 ft after 3 shots! That's how we roll...!
So what else do I have planned this summer? Well, come Wednesday, I will be done with graduate school for the summer! I'm very excited about that. I have another wedding to attend next week. I'll be going up north a few times and I have my family reunion to go to.
As far as sports go, I should probably take in a Tigers game even though I'm not much of a baseball fan. I'm starting to get excited for the college football season! The U.S. Open is next week so that should be fun to watch. And my friend Scott is coming into town this weekend and we're having a golf match...winner take all! I think we're having a golf cart race too! We'll see! I'm excited to see him!
Besides that and the occasional dinner with friends, my life has really come to a standstill. That's highly depressing. I do love summer in Michigan though. I love living on a golf course! Good luck to my future husband, you've got a lot of work ahead of you hunny!! xoxo
Friday, June 12, 2009
Congrats Penguins
I have said it before and I'll say it again, I am not a biased sports nut! I was rooting for the red wings tonight. I wanted to see the pens win a cup, but not tonight. In the next 5 years though. They played an excellent game tonight. MAF was absolutely phenomenal in goal. Major props to him! No clue how he stopped most of those pucks!
I have no freaking clue who those guys in red were tonight. I haven't seen them since the wings lost 6 straight or something. They were chasing pucks and had no idea what puck posession means. They need a lesson from Gordon Bombay or something because trapping a puck (if that's what it's called in hockey because I've never played before) is like trapping an egg! The wings couldn't do that tonight. The puck was jumping over sticks and flying in funny directions and Boom...they got outplayed!
Everyone was wondering why I was so worried all day--THIS IS WHY I WAS WORRIED!!! Was I the only wings fan who knew how good the penguins are?? Dude...people need to seriously start listening to me. This could be the 3 miller lites talking, but just because I'm a chick and a short chick at that doesn't mean I don't know anything about sports!
I am a firm believer that the pens would NOT have gotten this far this year without making the move to promote Dan Bylsma as coach. I don't think Theirren had the right strategy with these players. I also think that Ray Shero did well when he picked up Kunitz and Guerin. Sidney needed another guy to lean on and gain experience with and Billy was that guy!
If people are going to go on and on about Hossa I'm seriously going to be more upset than I am right now. THE TEAM HOSSA LEFT LAST YEAR IS NOT THE TEAM THAT WON TONIGHT!! SO GET OVER THAT ARGUEMENT! THEY WERE BETTER OFF WITHOUT HIM ANYWAY!
I need to go to bed though. Big day tomorrow. And I need to sleep off this drink intake. One beer and I'm tipsy. Two beers and I'm buzzed...but 3 beers means trouble! That's what you get for being a 24 year old lightweight...at 5'2'' and 110 lbs! I got nothing to keep the beer in check!
Again congrats to the penguins! They deserved it! Detroit didn't even bother to show up!
I have no freaking clue who those guys in red were tonight. I haven't seen them since the wings lost 6 straight or something. They were chasing pucks and had no idea what puck posession means. They need a lesson from Gordon Bombay or something because trapping a puck (if that's what it's called in hockey because I've never played before) is like trapping an egg! The wings couldn't do that tonight. The puck was jumping over sticks and flying in funny directions and Boom...they got outplayed!
Everyone was wondering why I was so worried all day--THIS IS WHY I WAS WORRIED!!! Was I the only wings fan who knew how good the penguins are?? Dude...people need to seriously start listening to me. This could be the 3 miller lites talking, but just because I'm a chick and a short chick at that doesn't mean I don't know anything about sports!
I am a firm believer that the pens would NOT have gotten this far this year without making the move to promote Dan Bylsma as coach. I don't think Theirren had the right strategy with these players. I also think that Ray Shero did well when he picked up Kunitz and Guerin. Sidney needed another guy to lean on and gain experience with and Billy was that guy!
If people are going to go on and on about Hossa I'm seriously going to be more upset than I am right now. THE TEAM HOSSA LEFT LAST YEAR IS NOT THE TEAM THAT WON TONIGHT!! SO GET OVER THAT ARGUEMENT! THEY WERE BETTER OFF WITHOUT HIM ANYWAY!
I need to go to bed though. Big day tomorrow. And I need to sleep off this drink intake. One beer and I'm tipsy. Two beers and I'm buzzed...but 3 beers means trouble! That's what you get for being a 24 year old lightweight...at 5'2'' and 110 lbs! I got nothing to keep the beer in check!
Again congrats to the penguins! They deserved it! Detroit didn't even bother to show up!
The Big Day Is Finally Here!
Today is the day! Game 7: Detroit Red Wings host the Pittsburgh Penguins. Winner Takes All. Leave everything out on the ice! You've waited your entire life for this moment! This is what you've been working for your entire life! Every hard practice you went through! Every hit you took and gave! Every goal you scored! Every pentaly you took! Every kid you beat out to make it on this team! You've earned the right to be here. Don't screw it up! ...--you know all those famous last minute sports sayings that you hear in the movies!
It all comes down to tonight! The past years work is on showcase tonight, folks! And I'm freaking out! So what do I do when I freak out?? Ashley called and said let's go play golf--so I'm gonna go play a few holes after work and then probably go to downtown Ann Arbor with my coworker Jennifer! Should be a good time, but I won't stay for the entire game. I don't want to scare anyone since I'll be yelling and screaming at the television tonight and continuing to freak out...this can't be normal! What am I going to do without hockey?? Probably play more golf! Ohh and football is right around the corner. But tonight is all about hockey...tomorrow I can start thinking about football! And miss hockey!
LET'S GO RED WINGS!! Keep Stanley in Hockeytown!!
It all comes down to tonight! The past years work is on showcase tonight, folks! And I'm freaking out! So what do I do when I freak out?? Ashley called and said let's go play golf--so I'm gonna go play a few holes after work and then probably go to downtown Ann Arbor with my coworker Jennifer! Should be a good time, but I won't stay for the entire game. I don't want to scare anyone since I'll be yelling and screaming at the television tonight and continuing to freak out...this can't be normal! What am I going to do without hockey?? Probably play more golf! Ohh and football is right around the corner. But tonight is all about hockey...tomorrow I can start thinking about football! And miss hockey!
LET'S GO RED WINGS!! Keep Stanley in Hockeytown!!
Thursday, June 11, 2009
QUOTE OF THE DAY...
Jen (my coworker) has invited me to go to the bar tomorrow night to watch the game! I have informed her that I will not be a fun person to be around tomorrow night because I am so intense when it comes to games like this. She says there will be guys there...no wait...she just stopped to say "hot guys". I have told her that there won't be hockey guys there. (Not that I am looking for a hockey guy or want to date a hockey guy, but I need to be surrounded by hockey guys right now to talk to...the rest of the population just doesn't understand the playoffs!!)
She's telling me I need to lower my standards! And now we're laughing! Great way to end the work day!
On a side note...I'm off to go see THE HANGOVER!!! Sooo excited!!! :)
UPDATE:I saw The Hangover! GREAT MOVIE! If you have not seen it yet, you need to check it out! It had my Mom and I in tears we were laughing so hard!
I would just like to point out, that there is a stunning resemblence between Bradley Cooper with the way he wears his hair and his beard and Adam Burish...has anyone else picked up on this?
She's telling me I need to lower my standards! And now we're laughing! Great way to end the work day!
On a side note...I'm off to go see THE HANGOVER!!! Sooo excited!!! :)
UPDATE:I saw The Hangover! GREAT MOVIE! If you have not seen it yet, you need to check it out! It had my Mom and I in tears we were laughing so hard!
I would just like to point out, that there is a stunning resemblence between Bradley Cooper with the way he wears his hair and his beard and Adam Burish...has anyone else picked up on this?
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Game 6 Recap
There are several things to discuss today!
1) I shot 38 last night. 8 pars and 1 double bogey. I wasn’t happy about the double because I just played the hole like crap, but the other 8 holes were great! I really like my new clubs.
2) I was told last night by a few people sitting at my table in the 19th hole at the club that I need to become a sports broadcaster. This is not the first time I’ve heard this. This is, however, the first time I have heard it from a former NFL player! Maybe I should quit the teaching gig and head off into the sunset with my first love of sports…naw! I love teaching far too much! And sometimes you just need a break from sports all together—how can you take one if it’s your job? When I played college golf, the summer season after my senior year I think I played golf 30 times the entire summer! I used to play golf practically every day! I needed a break. I think that’s the same way with a job! Too much of a good thing…is usually a good thing, but sometimes not! Let’s stick with teaching!
3) The game last night. The Penguins won 2-1. I think that they were the better team last night. They played all out, desperate hockey for the entire game. The Red Wings only showed up for the final 28 minutes of the game. It was almost as if they weren’t even at Mellon until the third period. I don’t know if they got lost or were sleeping or what, but they looked like crap. I was very disappointed. I think Marc-Andre Fleury made some INCREDIBLE saves! He was outstanding! For a guy who has been a bit shaky this playoff season as well as the regular season, he looked every bit an all-star goalie last night! In addition, I have to grant the same praise to Chis Osgood! He kept the Red Wings in the game far longer than they deserved to be! Ozzie—you’re the man once again!
I loved seeing Jonathan Ericsson take some shots last night and loved it even more when Draper got the rebound and put in an amazing goal! I love seeing Drapes on the score sheet! And as much as it pains me to start oogling over players on my serious sports blog, Jonathan Ericsson is seriously hot! Sigh…I feel a bit better! Got a few butterflies in the tummy, but all is well! I hope he’s on the roster at the beginning of the year come October!
Here’s a cabbie treat for you featuring Jonathan Ericsson! He’s one sweet Sweede!
By the way, I’m sick and tired of the media saying that the wings lost this game on purpose so they could win it at home. Anyone who believes that is a COMPLETE IDIOT!! There is no way the wings would throw a game that has this much importance. If anything Gary Bettman has done a wonderful job of making sure there are 7 games in this series! If you’re going to say the Wings threw the game, I’m going to say Bettman fixed the playoffs to have the Penguins in the finals and have it go 7 games! Yeah, that’s how stupid this argument is, although it wouldn’t really surprise me if Bettman really did do this because the Penguins are his baby!
4) I have a good friend who has 4 tickets in the 6th row behind the opposing player’s penalty box. I have asked for a couple tickets to the next game when the Wings play the Blackhawks. He has agreed to give me the tickets!! I am super excited about this! I can’t wait for the schedule to come out to see when I get to go to the game!
Also, he was offered $1,500 a ticket for Game 5. He sold them. For game 7, he was offered $5,000 a ticket! So a grand total of $20,000 for giving up his tickets to game 7. He didn’t really want the wings to win last night, and I understand completely, however, I would love Stanley to be covered in champagne and hanging around Detroit all day today rather than being packed away for another trip to Hockeytown where there is a possibility that the Wings may not be celebrating! Yeah, I went there! If they don’t get their heads in the game, Sidney Crosby will be skating around the ice with tears in his eyes and the cup over his head! It’s an image I do want to see—ONE DAY—but not on Friday night!
5) I’m looking at deadspin this morning and trying to catch up on all that I have missed the past few weeks. Turns out the Jonas Brothers were on Sportscenter to present the top 10 plays. That’s right…I wrote the Jonas Brothers! How they have anything to do with sports, I haven’t a clue! Reminds me of a mouthpiecesports.com video where Sarah Spain is asking the Blackhawks to say the first word that comes to their mind when they are shown a picture. Adam Burish is shown a picture of the Jonas Brothers and his response is something along the lines of not being able to comment because it wouldn’t be PG enough! Here’s the video for your enjoyment. Glad to hear they are playing golf though!
6) I saw this on SI.com’s Extra Mustard today. Apparently someone has hacked Tony Romo’s facebook account. I laughed so hard I nearly cried. Then I saw it again, and I laughed again! Enjoy!
Pacman shot him 914 times with an ak-47? Nick Lachey is telling him not to call him anymore because he doesn't know how to handle Jess! Jess' Dad is telling Tony he got US Weekly to pay $4.5 million for the wedding pictures! He's only going to give Tony $3 million though...how is that fair??
1) I shot 38 last night. 8 pars and 1 double bogey. I wasn’t happy about the double because I just played the hole like crap, but the other 8 holes were great! I really like my new clubs.
2) I was told last night by a few people sitting at my table in the 19th hole at the club that I need to become a sports broadcaster. This is not the first time I’ve heard this. This is, however, the first time I have heard it from a former NFL player! Maybe I should quit the teaching gig and head off into the sunset with my first love of sports…naw! I love teaching far too much! And sometimes you just need a break from sports all together—how can you take one if it’s your job? When I played college golf, the summer season after my senior year I think I played golf 30 times the entire summer! I used to play golf practically every day! I needed a break. I think that’s the same way with a job! Too much of a good thing…is usually a good thing, but sometimes not! Let’s stick with teaching!
3) The game last night. The Penguins won 2-1. I think that they were the better team last night. They played all out, desperate hockey for the entire game. The Red Wings only showed up for the final 28 minutes of the game. It was almost as if they weren’t even at Mellon until the third period. I don’t know if they got lost or were sleeping or what, but they looked like crap. I was very disappointed. I think Marc-Andre Fleury made some INCREDIBLE saves! He was outstanding! For a guy who has been a bit shaky this playoff season as well as the regular season, he looked every bit an all-star goalie last night! In addition, I have to grant the same praise to Chis Osgood! He kept the Red Wings in the game far longer than they deserved to be! Ozzie—you’re the man once again!
I loved seeing Jonathan Ericsson take some shots last night and loved it even more when Draper got the rebound and put in an amazing goal! I love seeing Drapes on the score sheet! And as much as it pains me to start oogling over players on my serious sports blog, Jonathan Ericsson is seriously hot! Sigh…I feel a bit better! Got a few butterflies in the tummy, but all is well! I hope he’s on the roster at the beginning of the year come October!
Here’s a cabbie treat for you featuring Jonathan Ericsson! He’s one sweet Sweede!
By the way, I’m sick and tired of the media saying that the wings lost this game on purpose so they could win it at home. Anyone who believes that is a COMPLETE IDIOT!! There is no way the wings would throw a game that has this much importance. If anything Gary Bettman has done a wonderful job of making sure there are 7 games in this series! If you’re going to say the Wings threw the game, I’m going to say Bettman fixed the playoffs to have the Penguins in the finals and have it go 7 games! Yeah, that’s how stupid this argument is, although it wouldn’t really surprise me if Bettman really did do this because the Penguins are his baby!
4) I have a good friend who has 4 tickets in the 6th row behind the opposing player’s penalty box. I have asked for a couple tickets to the next game when the Wings play the Blackhawks. He has agreed to give me the tickets!! I am super excited about this! I can’t wait for the schedule to come out to see when I get to go to the game!
Also, he was offered $1,500 a ticket for Game 5. He sold them. For game 7, he was offered $5,000 a ticket! So a grand total of $20,000 for giving up his tickets to game 7. He didn’t really want the wings to win last night, and I understand completely, however, I would love Stanley to be covered in champagne and hanging around Detroit all day today rather than being packed away for another trip to Hockeytown where there is a possibility that the Wings may not be celebrating! Yeah, I went there! If they don’t get their heads in the game, Sidney Crosby will be skating around the ice with tears in his eyes and the cup over his head! It’s an image I do want to see—ONE DAY—but not on Friday night!
5) I’m looking at deadspin this morning and trying to catch up on all that I have missed the past few weeks. Turns out the Jonas Brothers were on Sportscenter to present the top 10 plays. That’s right…I wrote the Jonas Brothers! How they have anything to do with sports, I haven’t a clue! Reminds me of a mouthpiecesports.com video where Sarah Spain is asking the Blackhawks to say the first word that comes to their mind when they are shown a picture. Adam Burish is shown a picture of the Jonas Brothers and his response is something along the lines of not being able to comment because it wouldn’t be PG enough! Here’s the video for your enjoyment. Glad to hear they are playing golf though!
6) I saw this on SI.com’s Extra Mustard today. Apparently someone has hacked Tony Romo’s facebook account. I laughed so hard I nearly cried. Then I saw it again, and I laughed again! Enjoy!
Pacman shot him 914 times with an ak-47? Nick Lachey is telling him not to call him anymore because he doesn't know how to handle Jess! Jess' Dad is telling Tony he got US Weekly to pay $4.5 million for the wedding pictures! He's only going to give Tony $3 million though...how is that fair??
Monday, June 8, 2009
Post Time!! :)
Great news...I’m up and about!! After spending the afternoon in bed since I went home from work early, I am now feeling much more like myself! So much so, that I’m back on the computer!
So this weekend was amazing! I made my first trip to Canada since I was 11 and went to Toronto on the class trip—we watched red wing playoff games on that trip too! They didn’t win the cup though that year. I went my old teammates wedding. If there’s one thing about playing a college sport or any sport in general, your teammates really do become family. When I received the invitation for Lindsay’s wedding, I had to accept! The wedding was beautiful! Mark is a great guy, and the two of them make a great couple! I have never been witness to sooooo many golf and hockey puns in my entire life—needless to say I felt right at home!
I met a few guys who were not convinced I knew anything about hockey. Honestly, that kind of pissed me off. They were kinda creepy though. I ended up going back and forth between the bar and the reception with the fiancé of one of my other teammates! My Mom was also texting me score updates throughout the reception—thanks Mom!!
I really didn’t see that much of the game! What I did see was rather enjoyable, let’s be honest! The wings looked like the wings. I didn’t see any break down in their play. They played smart and fast hockey. They didn’t look tired or old like so much of the media was portraying them to be. Things I did notice from watching the highlights on Canadian sportscenter:Pittsburgh fell apart. They reminded me so much of the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 4 it was depressing. They took stupid penalties over and over again. Geno looked like a fool on skates instead of his MVP self. Sid whacking Zetterburg really wasn’t necessary. Neither was Talbot whacking on Pavel Datsyuk in his first game back!
I think Ozzie played outstanding once again! He had a shutout, big deal! I’m more excited with the stops he made! He looked poised and in control while in net which you need to be in order to win a cup! Congrats to him and the team for helping him out!
Pavel Datsyuk…oh how I have missed you! I really didn’t realize how much because I was enjoying the play of our younger players! I know you’re not old by any means, 30 is the new 20 afterall, but you presence changed the game for the better!
Niklas Kronwall, not only can you skate, beat guys up with your massive hits, but you can skate with the puck and score! Your goal, the third of the game, was an absolute beauty! Congrats! So Game 6 is tomorrow night in Pittsburgh. I will be playing golf and then watching the game. Hopefully I’ll be done well before the 8pm start, but I doubt it. I can’t figure out why I agreed to sub in league…
I WANT STANLEY!! LET’S GO WINGS!!
On a side note...Dad has written on my facebook photo album that he thinks I look so good in the mercedes that he's thinking about getting me one!! Hot Diggity Dog! :) New golf clubs, new mercedes, I live on a golf course in Michigan and in Florida...I am one spoiled sports nut! Now I know it will not happen...Dad wouldn't even buy himself a mercedes let alone me, but it's the thought that counts, right? I love you Dad!!
Just for laughts...here's Denver playing with the penguin!! heheSo this weekend was amazing! I made my first trip to Canada since I was 11 and went to Toronto on the class trip—we watched red wing playoff games on that trip too! They didn’t win the cup though that year. I went my old teammates wedding. If there’s one thing about playing a college sport or any sport in general, your teammates really do become family. When I received the invitation for Lindsay’s wedding, I had to accept! The wedding was beautiful! Mark is a great guy, and the two of them make a great couple! I have never been witness to sooooo many golf and hockey puns in my entire life—needless to say I felt right at home!
I met a few guys who were not convinced I knew anything about hockey. Honestly, that kind of pissed me off. They were kinda creepy though. I ended up going back and forth between the bar and the reception with the fiancé of one of my other teammates! My Mom was also texting me score updates throughout the reception—thanks Mom!!
I really didn’t see that much of the game! What I did see was rather enjoyable, let’s be honest! The wings looked like the wings. I didn’t see any break down in their play. They played smart and fast hockey. They didn’t look tired or old like so much of the media was portraying them to be. Things I did notice from watching the highlights on Canadian sportscenter:Pittsburgh fell apart. They reminded me so much of the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 4 it was depressing. They took stupid penalties over and over again. Geno looked like a fool on skates instead of his MVP self. Sid whacking Zetterburg really wasn’t necessary. Neither was Talbot whacking on Pavel Datsyuk in his first game back!
I think Ozzie played outstanding once again! He had a shutout, big deal! I’m more excited with the stops he made! He looked poised and in control while in net which you need to be in order to win a cup! Congrats to him and the team for helping him out!
Pavel Datsyuk…oh how I have missed you! I really didn’t realize how much because I was enjoying the play of our younger players! I know you’re not old by any means, 30 is the new 20 afterall, but you presence changed the game for the better!
Niklas Kronwall, not only can you skate, beat guys up with your massive hits, but you can skate with the puck and score! Your goal, the third of the game, was an absolute beauty! Congrats! So Game 6 is tomorrow night in Pittsburgh. I will be playing golf and then watching the game. Hopefully I’ll be done well before the 8pm start, but I doubt it. I can’t figure out why I agreed to sub in league…
I WANT STANLEY!! LET’S GO WINGS!!
On a side note...Dad has written on my facebook photo album that he thinks I look so good in the mercedes that he's thinking about getting me one!! Hot Diggity Dog! :) New golf clubs, new mercedes, I live on a golf course in Michigan and in Florida...I am one spoiled sports nut! Now I know it will not happen...Dad wouldn't even buy himself a mercedes let alone me, but it's the thought that counts, right? I love you Dad!!
Sorry...
I am winning the race to be the worst blogger on the planet...I'm at work right now, and I totally want to recap you on the weekend and the game, but I feel like absolute crap right now!
I got home last night and went to bed for 2 hours then was up for 2 hours before going back to bed for the night. Right now I have a massive headache. I have no idea why...just a constant pounding behind my forehead! I don't know how much longer I am going to last here at work, but I promise I will do my best to get a post up before tomorrow nights game!
Hugs,
Melissa
I got home last night and went to bed for 2 hours then was up for 2 hours before going back to bed for the night. Right now I have a massive headache. I have no idea why...just a constant pounding behind my forehead! I don't know how much longer I am going to last here at work, but I promise I will do my best to get a post up before tomorrow nights game!
Hugs,
Melissa
Friday, June 5, 2009
game 4 recap
So I only watched the first two periods and then went to bed--I've got a wedding to go to in Canada this weekend so my health was a bit more important than the game ::sigh:: and Mom kept telling me to go to sleep! It was probably a good idea becuase I slept really well last night and actually feel a bit more like myself this morning!
What I noticed of the game was that Pittsburgh looked like the better team. They were playing tight hockey and making good passes. Detroit was making sloppy passes and falling down for some odd reason whenever they went to chase a puck! It was kinda humorous if it had been any other game! They looked tired and slow. That happens. We can sit here and make excuses about it, but I still think they should have gone another game with the Blackhawks to take the extra rest!
I called out Sid for being and idiot to Maltby...now I'm calling out Maltby for being an idiot to Sid! Yes, I do my best not to be biased!
Kirk,
What the heck are you thinking? You're the older guy so you need to teach the younger guy a lesson? There's no reason to wack Sid while he's on the bench! You're better than that, Kirk! You are there to harass him, but on the ice! You just make yourself look like an idiot! It was uncalled for! Do better for me and show everyone that you're the good guy you've always been!
Hugs,
Melissa
Okay, back to work now. It's been crazy so far, and I need to get back into the grind. Feels good to take 5 mins to talk about sports though!
I will be in London, Ontario this weekend for my old teammates wedding! Love you, Lindsay! Pictures to come!! :)
Oh and hopefully watching game 5 with a Boston Bruin!! He hates Sid...so this could be entertaining!
What I noticed of the game was that Pittsburgh looked like the better team. They were playing tight hockey and making good passes. Detroit was making sloppy passes and falling down for some odd reason whenever they went to chase a puck! It was kinda humorous if it had been any other game! They looked tired and slow. That happens. We can sit here and make excuses about it, but I still think they should have gone another game with the Blackhawks to take the extra rest!
I called out Sid for being and idiot to Maltby...now I'm calling out Maltby for being an idiot to Sid! Yes, I do my best not to be biased!
Kirk,
What the heck are you thinking? You're the older guy so you need to teach the younger guy a lesson? There's no reason to wack Sid while he's on the bench! You're better than that, Kirk! You are there to harass him, but on the ice! You just make yourself look like an idiot! It was uncalled for! Do better for me and show everyone that you're the good guy you've always been!
Hugs,
Melissa
Okay, back to work now. It's been crazy so far, and I need to get back into the grind. Feels good to take 5 mins to talk about sports though!
I will be in London, Ontario this weekend for my old teammates wedding! Love you, Lindsay! Pictures to come!! :)
Oh and hopefully watching game 5 with a Boston Bruin!! He hates Sid...so this could be entertaining!
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Game 4 pregame
Sorry for my lack of posting. I have been fighting a headache since Monday so I haven't wanted to focus on anything! Work has been difficult enough!
I didn't really see much of game 3. I was at the club and we were watching the CBC broadcast which was difficult to see due to the way the sun was setting and the colors cbc uses. Versus is easier to watch because it is a clearer picture. I also got caught up talking football with a former NFL player...my love of football is getting ready to make a comeback now that hockey is almost over! That's bittersweet.
From what I did see of the game before I nearly fell asleep on the couch during the third period due to my headache...yay, I know!...I thought Pittsburgh played a much better game. They dominated the parts that I saw, but their were a few wings possessions where MAF came up huge. Had he not, it would have been a different story.
Drapes is in tonight for Abdelkader (I'll miss you Justin but I love Drapes!) Datsyuk took morning skate and a warm up skate but is not in the lineup. I'm still thinking that something is broken in his foot or at the very least fractured!
Hope you enjoy the hockey game tonight! Right now the headache is in my upper neck area so I'm hoping it will go away soon!!
Let's Go WINGS!!
I didn't really see much of game 3. I was at the club and we were watching the CBC broadcast which was difficult to see due to the way the sun was setting and the colors cbc uses. Versus is easier to watch because it is a clearer picture. I also got caught up talking football with a former NFL player...my love of football is getting ready to make a comeback now that hockey is almost over! That's bittersweet.
From what I did see of the game before I nearly fell asleep on the couch during the third period due to my headache...yay, I know!...I thought Pittsburgh played a much better game. They dominated the parts that I saw, but their were a few wings possessions where MAF came up huge. Had he not, it would have been a different story.
Drapes is in tonight for Abdelkader (I'll miss you Justin but I love Drapes!) Datsyuk took morning skate and a warm up skate but is not in the lineup. I'm still thinking that something is broken in his foot or at the very least fractured!
Hope you enjoy the hockey game tonight! Right now the headache is in my upper neck area so I'm hoping it will go away soon!!
Let's Go WINGS!!
Monday, June 1, 2009
Game 2: Detroit 3--Pittsburgh 1
Same score as Game 1—completely different game though. Unlike the disastrous first game, there were moments during game 2 where both teams looked like the teams they were touted as being. Those moments, however brief they were, give me hope that we have a series on our hands where good, quality hockey will be played.
There is only one team that has ever come back from being down 2-0 in the Stanley Cup Finals. Considering the fact that the Penguins were able to come back against the Capitals, I’m not counting them out. I still think they are incredibly talented and well coached. They just haven’t been “on”. My concern for them is how they have been unable to capitalize on opportunities such as breakaways and the injuries that have been plaguing the wings as well as the wings age! The wings are NOT the oldest team in the NHL. They are the second oldest. The New Jersey Devils hold the top spot for the oldest team on ice! The wings just have the oldest player in Chris Chelios!
Again in this game I think the refs didn’t do such a hot job. There were blundered calls throughout the game for both teams. I do think they made the right call when Zetterburg was in the net, however! I saw the puck, with my own eyes, underneath Z’s right elbow which was OUSIDE THE GOAL and in the blue crease! That means that it did not cross the line, therefore, no goal!
Then there was the fight at the end of the game! Do I want to see Geno suspended for that little melee? The wings fan in me says he should be sitting on Tuesday night. Bylsma even said after the game that the rules were pretty clear. The hockey fan in me says let them play! I actually like the fact that Geno is such a physical player. I think he’s a linebacker on ice skates. I don’t like that he intentionally goes after guys though. I do like how he throws his weight around. Do I think it was necessary for him to go after Zetterburg? NO! Do I think Ozzie needed to fall when Talbot speered him, no, but I do think he was off balance! The league has rescinded the instigator penalty they originally gave Geno. What’s the point of having the penalty in the rules if you don’t give it out? It was only given out once this playoff season to Milan Lucic of the Boston Bruins during the first round. I think Malkin was frustrated and wanted to vent with Zetterberg as the guy he wanted to vent against! He picked Zetterberg out of the crowd. Now why would he do that? Could it be that Z has been one of the main reasons why he and Crosby have been unable to contribute a lot offensively? Maybe! But in the end, no one got hurt, we were all entertained and it leaves us with something to think about before game 3. I also want to beat the Pens when they are at their best, not without the leading scorer of the league during the regular season and playoff season. Then people really will be crying foul and we’ll hear about how the wings have the league officials wrapped around their finger, blah blah blah! I honestly never knew the red wings were considered the Yankees of the NHL! When I hear this I laugh, because it’s not true in the least bit!
I do think the NHL as well as all athletic leagues need to be consistent with calls and rules within their game. I think the NHL is having issues with this durng the playoff season. The NBA always has an issue with this and last year the NFL had some pretty crazy calls! Consistency is key here! Don't make a rule if you're not going to enforce it! It almost seems like the NHL is at the point where they are just going to let the Wings and Penguins play. They are trying very hard not to impact the outcome of the final. But at the same time, by not following the rules, they are either helping or hurting the teams. It's a total catch 22.
Read this article by Jeff Passan--http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news;_ylt=AjsVIzB1TudB_iQPAdr4c9J7vLYF?slug=jp-malkin053109&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
DETROIT – The National Hockey League rule book spells out 87 rules and hundreds of sub-rules that govern its game. There is an 88th rule that goes unwritten: The league’s braintrust can invalidate any of the others, so long as it behooves their short-sighted and selfish interests.
No group of management has so mangled its sport as the NHL, and its never-ending quest for redemption and relevance turned laughable again Sunday night following Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals at Joe Louis Arena. The league overturned an automatic one-game suspension handed down to Pittsburgh star Evgeni Malkin(notes), whose post-whistle elbow and subsequent fight with Detroit’s Henrik Zetterberg(notes) earned him an instigator penalty.
Because Malkin’s antics came with 19 seconds remaining in the Penguins’ 3-1 loss that left them facing a 2-0 series deficit, it triggered Rule 47.22, which hands down the one-game ban to players who instigate a fight in the game’s final five minutes. It is a rule to prevent the kind of thuggery and frustration spilling that Malkin displayed. The punishment fits.
Except in the NHL, which includes out clauses with its rules. This suspension can be reviewed by Colin Campbell, the NHL’s executive vice president and director of hockey operations, who certainly doesn’t have anything riding on Malkin, the potential MVP, no, sir, and wouldn’t at all let his decision be compromised by the quality of the player involved, no way, no how, because he is a fair and impartial jury of one, yes, indeed.
There is only one team that has ever come back from being down 2-0 in the Stanley Cup Finals. Considering the fact that the Penguins were able to come back against the Capitals, I’m not counting them out. I still think they are incredibly talented and well coached. They just haven’t been “on”. My concern for them is how they have been unable to capitalize on opportunities such as breakaways and the injuries that have been plaguing the wings as well as the wings age! The wings are NOT the oldest team in the NHL. They are the second oldest. The New Jersey Devils hold the top spot for the oldest team on ice! The wings just have the oldest player in Chris Chelios!
Again in this game I think the refs didn’t do such a hot job. There were blundered calls throughout the game for both teams. I do think they made the right call when Zetterburg was in the net, however! I saw the puck, with my own eyes, underneath Z’s right elbow which was OUSIDE THE GOAL and in the blue crease! That means that it did not cross the line, therefore, no goal!
Then there was the fight at the end of the game! Do I want to see Geno suspended for that little melee? The wings fan in me says he should be sitting on Tuesday night. Bylsma even said after the game that the rules were pretty clear. The hockey fan in me says let them play! I actually like the fact that Geno is such a physical player. I think he’s a linebacker on ice skates. I don’t like that he intentionally goes after guys though. I do like how he throws his weight around. Do I think it was necessary for him to go after Zetterburg? NO! Do I think Ozzie needed to fall when Talbot speered him, no, but I do think he was off balance! The league has rescinded the instigator penalty they originally gave Geno. What’s the point of having the penalty in the rules if you don’t give it out? It was only given out once this playoff season to Milan Lucic of the Boston Bruins during the first round. I think Malkin was frustrated and wanted to vent with Zetterberg as the guy he wanted to vent against! He picked Zetterberg out of the crowd. Now why would he do that? Could it be that Z has been one of the main reasons why he and Crosby have been unable to contribute a lot offensively? Maybe! But in the end, no one got hurt, we were all entertained and it leaves us with something to think about before game 3. I also want to beat the Pens when they are at their best, not without the leading scorer of the league during the regular season and playoff season. Then people really will be crying foul and we’ll hear about how the wings have the league officials wrapped around their finger, blah blah blah! I honestly never knew the red wings were considered the Yankees of the NHL! When I hear this I laugh, because it’s not true in the least bit!
I do think the NHL as well as all athletic leagues need to be consistent with calls and rules within their game. I think the NHL is having issues with this durng the playoff season. The NBA always has an issue with this and last year the NFL had some pretty crazy calls! Consistency is key here! Don't make a rule if you're not going to enforce it! It almost seems like the NHL is at the point where they are just going to let the Wings and Penguins play. They are trying very hard not to impact the outcome of the final. But at the same time, by not following the rules, they are either helping or hurting the teams. It's a total catch 22.
Read this article by Jeff Passan--http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news;_ylt=AjsVIzB1TudB_iQPAdr4c9J7vLYF?slug=jp-malkin053109&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
DETROIT – The National Hockey League rule book spells out 87 rules and hundreds of sub-rules that govern its game. There is an 88th rule that goes unwritten: The league’s braintrust can invalidate any of the others, so long as it behooves their short-sighted and selfish interests.
No group of management has so mangled its sport as the NHL, and its never-ending quest for redemption and relevance turned laughable again Sunday night following Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals at Joe Louis Arena. The league overturned an automatic one-game suspension handed down to Pittsburgh star Evgeni Malkin(notes), whose post-whistle elbow and subsequent fight with Detroit’s Henrik Zetterberg(notes) earned him an instigator penalty.
Because Malkin’s antics came with 19 seconds remaining in the Penguins’ 3-1 loss that left them facing a 2-0 series deficit, it triggered Rule 47.22, which hands down the one-game ban to players who instigate a fight in the game’s final five minutes. It is a rule to prevent the kind of thuggery and frustration spilling that Malkin displayed. The punishment fits.
Except in the NHL, which includes out clauses with its rules. This suspension can be reviewed by Colin Campbell, the NHL’s executive vice president and director of hockey operations, who certainly doesn’t have anything riding on Malkin, the potential MVP, no, sir, and wouldn’t at all let his decision be compromised by the quality of the player involved, no way, no how, because he is a fair and impartial jury of one, yes, indeed.
And Campbell did review the incident. With the precision of an electron microscope, assuredly. The rule allows him to rescind the suspension based on “the score, previous incidents, etc.” Campbell determined that “none of the criteria in this rule applied to this situation,” and he went on to explain how.
“Suspensions,” Campbell began in his prepared release, “are applied under this rule when a team attempts to send a message in the last five minutes by having a player instigate a fight.” And that, Campbell said, was not the case Sunday.
Oh, what delicious wording. The Penguins may not have wanted to send a message to the Red Wings, who manhandled them with two season-long minor leaguers and a third-line center tallying their goals. Malkin did. His frustration boiled. The entire point of the fight was to send a message – that the Penguins were still around, and that they still had some fight in them, and that he was going to show it by beefing with a guy 4 inches shorter.
In his first three years, Malkin has not once gotten a five-minute penalty for fighting. This was Zetterberg’s first fight in his six NHL seasons. These are two of the best players in the league, and even if it wasn’t a sucker punch like Scott Walker’s(notes) fist introducing itself to Aaron Ward’s(notes) face in the Carolina-Boston series – which, by the way, was overturned by Chief Justice Campbell, ever wise he – the rule is in plain language.
Now, certainly the rule itself is questionable. That’s not the point. The worst kinds of rules aren’t the ones that make little sense. They are the ones levied willy-nilly, or even worse, enforced with favoritism.
The NHL believes it cannot afford to lose Malkin, even for a game. Pittsburgh staying competitive is good for the league, which wants a long series and surely wouldn’t mind watching Sidney Crosby(notes) skate around the ice with the Cup hoisted above his head. Those versed in NHL justice consider this such a non-issue that they simply scoff at it, so familiar are they with those in charge of the league treating their own bylaws like some burden.
It’s not cynicism if it’s true. Thirty minutes before Campbell’s ruling, Detroit coach Mike Babcock was asked about the potential of Malkin missing Game 3, and he said: “I don’t think anything will happen.”
So that is how it works in the NHL.
Face a penalty.
Get bailed out.
Everyone goes on with their merry day.
The players know the rule because of its severity, and still, Malkin had no problem instigating. The scrum started around Detroit’s net after Pittsburgh center Max Talbot(notes) poked goalie Chris Osgood(notes), who had made a save. The Red Wings did not take kindly to it and surrounded Talbot. Malkin swerved behind the goal, laid into Zetterberg with a left elbow and kept goading him until the gloves came off and punches went in both directions.
And he did this knowing that the league would never, ever suspend him. Players realize the NHL is weak in mind and spirit. It could, ironically, learn something about toughness from them. So they’re going to continue to flout the rule until Campbell or commissioner Gary Bettman or someone else steps in and abolishes it or enforces it.
The league must make up its mind. If it agrees with the principle of the rule, live with its consequences. Otherwise, get rid of it and mete out punishment in its usual manner: devoid of logic and consistency.
Next thing you know, the players will look at the book and wonder what other rules they can break. In fact, that happened Sunday. At the end of Campbell’s statement, the NHL made sure to include this chestnut:
“NHL Hockey Operations also determined that Malkin should have been assessed a game misconduct for not having his jersey tied down.”
Well, that’s grand. An unnecessary elbow. A few good punches. And the NHL is worried about Evgeni Malkin’s clothing.
Like you’d expect anything different.
“Suspensions,” Campbell began in his prepared release, “are applied under this rule when a team attempts to send a message in the last five minutes by having a player instigate a fight.” And that, Campbell said, was not the case Sunday.
Oh, what delicious wording. The Penguins may not have wanted to send a message to the Red Wings, who manhandled them with two season-long minor leaguers and a third-line center tallying their goals. Malkin did. His frustration boiled. The entire point of the fight was to send a message – that the Penguins were still around, and that they still had some fight in them, and that he was going to show it by beefing with a guy 4 inches shorter.
In his first three years, Malkin has not once gotten a five-minute penalty for fighting. This was Zetterberg’s first fight in his six NHL seasons. These are two of the best players in the league, and even if it wasn’t a sucker punch like Scott Walker’s(notes) fist introducing itself to Aaron Ward’s(notes) face in the Carolina-Boston series – which, by the way, was overturned by Chief Justice Campbell, ever wise he – the rule is in plain language.
Now, certainly the rule itself is questionable. That’s not the point. The worst kinds of rules aren’t the ones that make little sense. They are the ones levied willy-nilly, or even worse, enforced with favoritism.
The NHL believes it cannot afford to lose Malkin, even for a game. Pittsburgh staying competitive is good for the league, which wants a long series and surely wouldn’t mind watching Sidney Crosby(notes) skate around the ice with the Cup hoisted above his head. Those versed in NHL justice consider this such a non-issue that they simply scoff at it, so familiar are they with those in charge of the league treating their own bylaws like some burden.
It’s not cynicism if it’s true. Thirty minutes before Campbell’s ruling, Detroit coach Mike Babcock was asked about the potential of Malkin missing Game 3, and he said: “I don’t think anything will happen.”
So that is how it works in the NHL.
Face a penalty.
Get bailed out.
Everyone goes on with their merry day.
The players know the rule because of its severity, and still, Malkin had no problem instigating. The scrum started around Detroit’s net after Pittsburgh center Max Talbot(notes) poked goalie Chris Osgood(notes), who had made a save. The Red Wings did not take kindly to it and surrounded Talbot. Malkin swerved behind the goal, laid into Zetterberg with a left elbow and kept goading him until the gloves came off and punches went in both directions.
And he did this knowing that the league would never, ever suspend him. Players realize the NHL is weak in mind and spirit. It could, ironically, learn something about toughness from them. So they’re going to continue to flout the rule until Campbell or commissioner Gary Bettman or someone else steps in and abolishes it or enforces it.
The league must make up its mind. If it agrees with the principle of the rule, live with its consequences. Otherwise, get rid of it and mete out punishment in its usual manner: devoid of logic and consistency.
Next thing you know, the players will look at the book and wonder what other rules they can break. In fact, that happened Sunday. At the end of Campbell’s statement, the NHL made sure to include this chestnut:
“NHL Hockey Operations also determined that Malkin should have been assessed a game misconduct for not having his jersey tied down.”
Well, that’s grand. An unnecessary elbow. A few good punches. And the NHL is worried about Evgeni Malkin’s clothing.
Like you’d expect anything different.
hmmmm...makes you think doesn't it?? :)
I have to give props to Justin Abdelkader and Jonathan Ericsson for once again coming up big for the Wings. Justin now has two goals in back to back games. He literally skated around two Pittsburgh defenders, neither of which seemed too worried about him because they didn’t bother to try and take the puck away from him! He skates to the middle and boom, let’s one rip and MAF doesn’t stop. (Celebrate good times, come on!)
Ericsson scored a goal last night as well. It was a beauty off a faceoff that was the result of an icing call on a very tired group of Penguins on the ice. I read they were out there for 1:43! That’s far too long for them to be on the ice in this high fast paced game! Unlike in Game 1 where a similar scenario took place, Bylsma did not call a time out, but they found the same result—a Detroit goal!
Ozzie did a tremendous job in net once again. If he keeps this up, he has my vote for the Conn Smythe trophy! Guerin and Crosby did hit the posts in the game, and there were some great attempts by members of the Penguins, but Ozzie stood tall and shut them down!
Funny moment of the night: Chris Kunitz sliding or “riding” the Red Wings bench after a hit. It looked like a skateboarding or rollerblading move when you ride the edge of a ramp. Very, very cool!
I will admit that I did not expect the wings to be up 2-0 going into game 3. I am a die hard wings fan, and I honestly did not think they had it in them. I truly believed I underestimated their will, as well as their depth. Vallteri Filppula has played great for us this year and he scored last night. He would be a first liner on almost any other team in the league! I love that we’re getting contributions from all 4 lines. Kenny Holland (wings GM) has built this team around the mantra that having 4 lines will make you a dominant team. We have had significant contributions from all four lines! I also didn’t believe that we would be able to continually stop the two headed monster that is Crosby and Malkin. So far the team (I say team, not defense, because they are all playing defense when these guys are on the ice) have been able to shut them down or at least limit their offense power! That is not easily done. The Pens also have a large number of other offensive guys that they have had to limit as well. The wings have done an outstanding job completing this task.
Now comes Game 3 after a day off/travel day. Do the Pens have what it takes to get back in it? YES! They are so incredibly talented! Don’t think for a minute that anyone on the Red Wings roster (coaches or players) is already planning on how to spend their time with the cup. They know this series is not over!
I have to give props to Justin Abdelkader and Jonathan Ericsson for once again coming up big for the Wings. Justin now has two goals in back to back games. He literally skated around two Pittsburgh defenders, neither of which seemed too worried about him because they didn’t bother to try and take the puck away from him! He skates to the middle and boom, let’s one rip and MAF doesn’t stop. (Celebrate good times, come on!)
Ericsson scored a goal last night as well. It was a beauty off a faceoff that was the result of an icing call on a very tired group of Penguins on the ice. I read they were out there for 1:43! That’s far too long for them to be on the ice in this high fast paced game! Unlike in Game 1 where a similar scenario took place, Bylsma did not call a time out, but they found the same result—a Detroit goal!
Ozzie did a tremendous job in net once again. If he keeps this up, he has my vote for the Conn Smythe trophy! Guerin and Crosby did hit the posts in the game, and there were some great attempts by members of the Penguins, but Ozzie stood tall and shut them down!
Funny moment of the night: Chris Kunitz sliding or “riding” the Red Wings bench after a hit. It looked like a skateboarding or rollerblading move when you ride the edge of a ramp. Very, very cool!
I will admit that I did not expect the wings to be up 2-0 going into game 3. I am a die hard wings fan, and I honestly did not think they had it in them. I truly believed I underestimated their will, as well as their depth. Vallteri Filppula has played great for us this year and he scored last night. He would be a first liner on almost any other team in the league! I love that we’re getting contributions from all 4 lines. Kenny Holland (wings GM) has built this team around the mantra that having 4 lines will make you a dominant team. We have had significant contributions from all four lines! I also didn’t believe that we would be able to continually stop the two headed monster that is Crosby and Malkin. So far the team (I say team, not defense, because they are all playing defense when these guys are on the ice) have been able to shut them down or at least limit their offense power! That is not easily done. The Pens also have a large number of other offensive guys that they have had to limit as well. The wings have done an outstanding job completing this task.
Now comes Game 3 after a day off/travel day. Do the Pens have what it takes to get back in it? YES! They are so incredibly talented! Don’t think for a minute that anyone on the Red Wings roster (coaches or players) is already planning on how to spend their time with the cup. They know this series is not over!
Interesting news piece by Scott Burnside and Pierre LeBrun of ESPN:
This was on espn.com page 2 today:
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