Thoughts On The Olympic Hockey Tournament

When the Men’s US Olympic Hockey team was announced following the Winter Classic on New Year’s Day, I have to admit, I wasn’t too impressed. I would have liked to see a little more veteran presence – it’s a very young squad with little Olympic experience, but I should have known better than to doubt Team USA GM Brian Burke. Going a perfect 3-0 in their qualification games, this group of kids has shown beyond a shadow of a doubt that they deserve to be counted. In one of the most highly anticipated games in Canadian hockey history, the USA vs. Canada game last Sunday further solidified this team’s chances at medal hopes while delivering a crushing blow to the Canadians who laugh at the idea of American hockey.

American goalie Ryan Miller (Buffalo Sabres) was spectacular in the game, making 42 saves, while his counterpart, Martin Brodeur (New Jersey Devils) stopped only 19 shots. I’m questioning Canada coach Mike Babcock’s decision to keep Brodeur in net considering he was mediocre at best when Canada required four rounds of a shootout to defeat Switzerland in their second game of qualification play. Brodeur may be the NHL’s all-time leader in regular-season wins, but backup goalie Roberto Luongo is not exactly, well…a backup goalie. I imagine there has to be some pressure on Babcock to get Luongo some play considering Canada didn’t exactly roll over any of their opponents, not to mention Luongo is the hometown hero, playing for the Vancouver Canucks during the regular season.

The women’s hockey tournament has been a little odd – I know that typically high scoring games are exciting to watch, but is scoring 18 goals in a game really necessary? Where’s the mercy rule? I can’t really get too excited about these games where it becomes obvious after the first five minutes who’s going to win. I watched the first two periods of the Canada vs. Sweden game last week and it wasn’t exciting at all…13-1? Really?

I’m going to venture a couple of predictions here…I’m going to call Russia vs. USA for the men’s gold medal match and I’m going to say the Canadian women will repeat. Just sayin…

Curling Kicks Ass!

The Winter Olympics are in full swing, and so far it looks like Team USA is running away with the Medal Count. Despite the amazing feats by Apollo Ohno, Bodie Miller and the US Mens Hockey Team, I find myself captivated, by of all things Curling.

Im so into it that I dont want the Olympics to end. If DirecTV had a Curling Package, lets say it was called Extra Ends, I would so be a subscriber. But sadly, after the 27th, Ill likely have to wait another four years to get my fix.

Tiger Woods… Still A Douchebag!

For the first time in months, Tiger Woods stepped in front of a camera and addressed the nation. But sadly, his performance left much to be desired. Sure, he apologized and admitted he had more work to do in repairing his marriage. But very little of what he said came across as sincere and genuine.

Many praised him for what he did Charlie Rymer of the Golf Channel even choked up afterward on the air. Some said he looked robotic, but to me, he just looked like a guy who could barely read.

Most of all, though, his unwillingness to take even one question at any point speaks volumes about the delusional world in which he still lives. He doesnt owe anyone anything but at the same time, his unwillingness to truly open up just adds fuel to the tabloids which are stalking him and his family.

The Winter Olympics Bring Out The “Bitch” In All Of Us!

The Winter Olympics started this weekend and women all over the world lost their shit. In what can only be described as a mix of a Taylor Swift concert with a Twilight premier combined with Brad Pitt sensibilities, Couples Figure Skaters engaged in the short program this weekend.

Husbands, boyfriends, and overzealous single men will be forced to “pay attention to how graceful that is” for the next fortnight. Known to some as the World Cup for Vaginas, Figure Skating is rocking the foundation of what is normal in everyday society.

Many men find they may feel like complete idiots for the next week or so. With no idea of how figure skaters are scored, men are relegated to such phrases as:

“Wow.”

“They really stuck that landing.”

“I can see that guy’s package.”

“Isn’t’ Project Runway on?”

Meanwhile, women will relay that that “Zayak Rule” disallows skaters from repeating the same triple or quadruple jump continuously in their free skating program.

Well, I have to go now. My petite female counterpart just polished off the last chicken wing and went into the bathroom with the Sunday paper. I’m off to do the dishes now. She doesn’t appreciate what I do around here anymore.

I can’t wait for baseball season.

Clint Dempsey’s Injury Not As Bad As First Feared

The US National Team’s World Cup prospects suffered another major setback with the knee injury suffered by Clint Dempsey over the weekend. The full extent of the damage won’t be known until the results from an MRI come back, but preliminary signs don’t look good.

Is Tiger Too Tainted Even For Nike?

First Tiger Woods decided he would take an indefinate leave from the PGA Tour…
The next day, Gillette put his ad campaign on hold…
And the day after that, Accenture dropped him all together.
Is the sky falling for Tiger Woods?
Can Nike really stand by his side as he sticks his head in the sand?

Serena & Company Acting Like BOOBS!

It started last Friday night when, at the induction ceremony for the Basketball Hall of Fame, Michael Jordan was taking pot shots at his former boss. It carried over into the weekend when Serena Williams let lose a tirade of threats and four letter words after being called on a foot fault. And it culminated Sunday night at the MTV Video Music Awards when, like the douche bag he is, Kanye West stole the microphone from Taylor Swift and pronounced to the entire world that Beyonce’s video deserved to win.

So what ever happened to civility? These aren’t isolated incidents in the worlds of Sports and Entertainment. Just look what happened to President Obama last week. In your wildest dreams, could you ever have imagined a U.S. Representative heckling the President during a joint session of Congress?

It’s like half the people out there have forgotten how to be polite, gracious and respectful! Are we such a backwards society now that those traits are viewed as signs of weakness? I understand that the “We” generation became the “Me” generation, but sadly it seems like the “Me” generation is now the “Fuck You!” generation.

I hope I’m wrong… but sadly, I don’t think I am.

Jiminy Cricket!

Professional Cricket is coming to the US, and I for one couldn’t be happier.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not a cricket fan. Not by a long shot. It’s not that I hate it. Heck, how can I hate something I don’t even understand. But here’s the thing… if I don’t understand it, I gaurantee the vast majority of sports fans in this country don’t understand it either. No, I’m happy we’ll be getting Pro Cricket in this country because Lord knows Professional Jai Alai needs to be taken down a peg or two.

In all seriousness, though, why would anyone think cricket could be successful in the US when a truly global sport like soccer is still struggling? Who knows, maybe the powers that be will actually lure the best of the best from around the world to play in the US… but I doubt it. And if it’s one thing Americans can appreciate, it’s excellence. Which is a big reason why professioanl soccer in this country hasn’t taken off. Because the best of the best are playing in the European Leagues, and we kinow it. That’s why international soccer gets good ratings, but the MLS does not.

But hey, if the US Cricket Association thinks a Premiere League will be a winner in this country, then what the hell, bring it on. After all, the other thing we Americans love is an underdog, right? Just ask Women’s Soccer, the USFL and the LPGA.

One Hell Of A French Kiss!

French tennis pro Richard Gasquet has been cleared to resume his career by the International Tennis Federation’s tribunal after they ruled he inadvertantly injested cocaine by… wait for it… kissing a woman in a Miami nightclub.

The 32nd ranked Gasquet tested positive for the drug in March when he pulled out of the Sony Ericsson Open in Key Biscayne, FL from a shoulder injury. The ITF was seeking a two year ban, but were convinced of Gasquet’s ignorance innocence and opted instead for a retroactive two and half month ban.

The panel found the player to be “…a person who is shy and reserved, honest and truthful and a man of integrity and good character. He is neither a cheat nor a user of drugs for recreational purposes.” But apparently his shyness wasn’t enough to keep him from kissing a perfect stranger in a nightclub… a persson who was identified simply as “Pamela.”

Hmmmm. I wonder who that could be?