Coming Tomorrow on The Rivalry!
* * Alex Ovechkin's return is imminent, and what better way to do it than against the Rangers! (See: Kovalchuk; Atlanta; 11/12/09)
* * Bryan thinks the Islanders might be "for real" this year. His prediction is 85 points, putting them exactly where I predicted in September: 10th place.
* * Matt Moulson is to 2009 fantasy hockey as Steve Slaton was to 2008 fantasy football: Best Waiver Wire Pickup of the Year.
* * Chris Drury and Brandon Dubinsky still not playing for the Rangers. Don't worry, even if they were, they wouldn't score.
* * Wade Redden returns to glory on the power play. (Webster's Dictionary defines glory as: "non-scoring, non-shooting, can't keep the puck in the zone, overpaid, and got Tom Renney fired." Weird.)
* * John Tortorella says Redden is "playing decent." Glen Sather agrees. Sather then states that "All decent players should received $6.5M for 6 years."
* * Blair Betts makes $600,000. Does more than Drury. Sather preemptively refuses to offer him a deal next year, saying "I will make mistakes, but I will never admit them." (See: Betts; Moore; Drury; Redden; Rozsival; Orr; Brashear)
* * The guy behind me at the Ranger games is constantly a dick to everyone. Will he yell at the large people I sold my tickets for tomorrow's game to? Will he live to tell about it? Why does he put a belt around his sweatpants and still think he's a tough guy?
Stay Tuned!
Two friends. Two bitter enemies. Two obsessed fans. One Rivalry.
Showing posts with label nfl. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nfl. Show all posts
Monday, November 16, 2009
Sunday, September 21, 2008
There's Only One... October!
...and thank God for that.
October is approaching, which means a number of things. Most notably, October brings about the baseball post-season, though one can't help but wonder how much publicity it'll get without the precious Yankees. We also get basketball training camps, which will surely get more airtime than the start of the NHL season. We'll also have football, both pro and college, in full swing, and for those soccer fans among us, the MLS playoffs, World Cup qualifying, and a critical portion of the European schedule.
Of course, we all know the real signifcance of October. Finally, it's hockey time. So, as you bide your time until hockey begins, watch the other sports and notice the things that make our game different.
As you watch the baseball regular season wind down, watch the elaborate celebrations that ensue after a team clinches a Wild Card or a Division Series win. Watch managers play certain players solely so that they can hit certain statistical milestones. Watch managers bench certain players solely so that they won't set dubious records such as most strikeouts in a season. Watch entire post-season schedules be turned upside down - and games end well after midnight - just so Fox can show its most ratings-friendly game in prime time.
As you watch the NFL with a group of fans who only care about the games for their impact on their fantasy teams, watch coaches punt from the 40 yard line because they don't want the media to criticize their playcalling. Watch defenders celebrate after the most routine of tackles and watch receivers celebrate before even reaching the end zone. Watch the two teams gather at midfield, shake hands, and chat and laugh like old college buddies, even though one of the teams just lost a huge game.
As you watch college football, watch top-ranked teams beat creampuff after creampuff, being tested only a handful of times per year. Watch the administrators continually refuse a playoff system because there's too much money in the meaningless bowl games that advertisers ogle over each year. Watch amateur athletes risk their physical well-being for an association that doesn't pay these players a dime, yet allows coaches to walk out on multi-million dollar contracts anytime a better offer comes along.
And then there's hockey.
In hockey, there's no niceties between opposing players. Each game is a war. And the only acceptable time to celebrate is after an overtime win or a Stanley Cup victory. Hockey fans gag at the thought of a team having a champagne celebration after a first-round series win. And yet, this is what baseball values - a made-for-TV event so that local Fox affiliates have something to show after the national TV broadcast is done. Baseball isn't alone, though; just about every sport out there is mostly concerned with television and advertising. And maybe it's only because nobody watches hockey, but hockey is all about the game. Always has been, always will be. So while the big names dominate the sports world over the coming month, realize that while hockey isn't the most popular sport, it's the most pure out there. We are all lucky to have it in our lives.
One last thing: After the media is done fellating itself over Yankee Stadium, they're finally going to tear that dump down. I can't wait to be the first to piss on the ashes. The Mets aren't much better, though; between the time they close up Shea Stadium and demolish it, they're going to sell every last thing in that stadium to the highest bidder. If that doesn't accurately describe the state of baseball, I don't know what does. Could you imagine the Islanders selling Coliseum seats or sheets of plexiglass? The thought makes me nauseous
October is approaching, which means a number of things. Most notably, October brings about the baseball post-season, though one can't help but wonder how much publicity it'll get without the precious Yankees. We also get basketball training camps, which will surely get more airtime than the start of the NHL season. We'll also have football, both pro and college, in full swing, and for those soccer fans among us, the MLS playoffs, World Cup qualifying, and a critical portion of the European schedule.
Of course, we all know the real signifcance of October. Finally, it's hockey time. So, as you bide your time until hockey begins, watch the other sports and notice the things that make our game different.
As you watch the baseball regular season wind down, watch the elaborate celebrations that ensue after a team clinches a Wild Card or a Division Series win. Watch managers play certain players solely so that they can hit certain statistical milestones. Watch managers bench certain players solely so that they won't set dubious records such as most strikeouts in a season. Watch entire post-season schedules be turned upside down - and games end well after midnight - just so Fox can show its most ratings-friendly game in prime time.
As you watch the NFL with a group of fans who only care about the games for their impact on their fantasy teams, watch coaches punt from the 40 yard line because they don't want the media to criticize their playcalling. Watch defenders celebrate after the most routine of tackles and watch receivers celebrate before even reaching the end zone. Watch the two teams gather at midfield, shake hands, and chat and laugh like old college buddies, even though one of the teams just lost a huge game.
As you watch college football, watch top-ranked teams beat creampuff after creampuff, being tested only a handful of times per year. Watch the administrators continually refuse a playoff system because there's too much money in the meaningless bowl games that advertisers ogle over each year. Watch amateur athletes risk their physical well-being for an association that doesn't pay these players a dime, yet allows coaches to walk out on multi-million dollar contracts anytime a better offer comes along.
And then there's hockey.
In hockey, there's no niceties between opposing players. Each game is a war. And the only acceptable time to celebrate is after an overtime win or a Stanley Cup victory. Hockey fans gag at the thought of a team having a champagne celebration after a first-round series win. And yet, this is what baseball values - a made-for-TV event so that local Fox affiliates have something to show after the national TV broadcast is done. Baseball isn't alone, though; just about every sport out there is mostly concerned with television and advertising. And maybe it's only because nobody watches hockey, but hockey is all about the game. Always has been, always will be. So while the big names dominate the sports world over the coming month, realize that while hockey isn't the most popular sport, it's the most pure out there. We are all lucky to have it in our lives.
One last thing: After the media is done fellating itself over Yankee Stadium, they're finally going to tear that dump down. I can't wait to be the first to piss on the ashes. The Mets aren't much better, though; between the time they close up Shea Stadium and demolish it, they're going to sell every last thing in that stadium to the highest bidder. If that doesn't accurately describe the state of baseball, I don't know what does. Could you imagine the Islanders selling Coliseum seats or sheets of plexiglass? The thought makes me nauseous
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Fantasy Hockey
Today's a football day, no question. With the first game of the season tonight, everyone's abuzz about football. Especially in New York, as the Giants prepare to raise their Super Bowl banner in just six hours. In preparation for this, everybody's taking the time to make sure everything is in order - that they have plans for tonight's game, that their fantasy lineups are set, that their survival pool picks are in, so on and so forth. If you hate football, it's not a very pleasant day.
However, here's something to brighten your day. Those of us who don't feel like it's really hockey season unless they have a fantasy hockey team to follow are in luck. Yahoo has, at long last, unveiled this year's game. Details are a bit iffy at the moment (read: fantasy sites are blocked at my job), but it should be the same greatness as we're accustomed to. It's funny how everyone defaults to Yahoo for fantasy sports, even though there are better sites out there.
Anyway, if you want to start working on your pre-season scouting for sleepers, busts, and clever team names, you are now able to do so. We'll probably have some kind of fantasy thing before the season begins, and it'll almost certainly include Zach talking about the importance of faceoffs. For now, though, take the Giants and the points tonight, the Eagles in your survival pool, and enjoy this night of football with the knowledge that hockey is just four weeks away.
P.S. I bet Madden mentions Brett Favre before they even sing the National Anthem.
However, here's something to brighten your day. Those of us who don't feel like it's really hockey season unless they have a fantasy hockey team to follow are in luck. Yahoo has, at long last, unveiled this year's game. Details are a bit iffy at the moment (read: fantasy sites are blocked at my job), but it should be the same greatness as we're accustomed to. It's funny how everyone defaults to Yahoo for fantasy sports, even though there are better sites out there.
Anyway, if you want to start working on your pre-season scouting for sleepers, busts, and clever team names, you are now able to do so. We'll probably have some kind of fantasy thing before the season begins, and it'll almost certainly include Zach talking about the importance of faceoffs. For now, though, take the Giants and the points tonight, the Eagles in your survival pool, and enjoy this night of football with the knowledge that hockey is just four weeks away.
P.S. I bet Madden mentions Brett Favre before they even sing the National Anthem.
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