Many sports just seem to fade into the background over the years. A handful of these sports once drew huge crowds and had some of the most passionate and dedicated fans. For those raised in the Northeast one such sport is arguably the most electrifying and exhilarating game today.
Hockey, the forgotten sport, a game that no longer draws the fan base it once maintained. Many of you are not from the Northeast and were never raised in a hockey town where the sport still reigns. Therefore, you’ve probably never toughed the cold, whether outdoors or in an old fashion hockey rink, or had the chance to fully appreciate this game. If you had the opportunity to watch Wayne Grezsky and or Mario Lemioux, hockey was only a showcase to show their talent. Their grace, smoothness, and class on and off the ice are second to none, have helped transform hockey and can compare to any pro athlete.
Why am I telling you this now? Well for one simple reason, when you non-college football fans are flicking through the channels trying to find something other than the parade on New Years Day, maybe consider tuning into the NHL Winter Classic. The Winter Classic will be shown at 1pm ET on New Years day when the Buffalo Sabers face-off against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Buffalo culminating in the first ever NHL regulation game played outdoors in the United States.
Many critics believe this game is a pointless occurrence and will never attract new fans to the hockey world. They couldn’t be more wrong, with Boston having lost their last five straight games Buffalo has jumped to the third place spot in the Northeast Division. While Ottawa has more than likely locked their number one spot with 25 wins, the Buffalo Sabers and Montreal Canadiens stand tied with 19 wins each. Furthermore, with a series of losses Boston still has 18 wins under their belt, and they’ve never been a team to take for granted. Exciting enough for you, well it gets better!
The Pittsburgh Penguins are currently ranked number two in the Atlantic Division with 20 wins, they are second only to New Jersey who has 21 wins. The rest of the Atlantic Division the Rangers and the Islanders have 19 wins this season, and Philadelphia is right behind them with 18. No team can afford a loss in this division without risking someone stealing their playoff hopes.
Let’s be honest Buffalo is not exactly known for its beautiful weather in January, however a few players are no strangers to the outdoor game and they know just how tough and exciting it can be. Penguins Forward Adam Hall and Sabers Goalie Ryan Miller both played in 2001 in the “Cold War” game outdoors for Michigan St. Vs rival Michigan. If you have never skated against the wind, it feels a lot like getting sucked into quicksand, you can fight your hardest but you may not get anywhere, while your opponents skating in the opposite direction may just glide right down the ice.
In a time of ups and downs for hockey, this game is a fantastic chance for rookie hockey fans to become hooked. If you miss your shot this time there’s still plenty of hockey to be played this season, buy some cheap tickets and check out a game! Flick between the channels during the Football and prepare for something new; I promise, you will not be let down!
jana
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Thursday, December 27, 2007
IS IT SUNDAY YET???
In a year of watching football and screaming at your TV "WHAT THE HELL JUST HAPPENED" an awful lot of people out there seem to think they have it all figured out. May I remind you a lot of you out there had college football at some point this year all figured out....and look how that turned out. All we hear is Pats this, and Cowboys and Packers that. Well here is perhaps what we should all be looking out for....
The wondrous AFC, The Pats are making their point loud and clear! We are not cheaters and we deserve our titles and plan on taking this one as a force to be reckoned with (Just because all teams do it, does not make it right boys). Well lets recon with this, yes Eli Manning is overrated and the giants are not nearly as good of a team as the Pats, but if they show up to play will they win? Lesser teams have pulled it off, just ask AJ Feely and most of the Miami Dolphins. Plus the Giants have something to prove they want people to believe they deserve that NFC wild card spot! Lastly I am not sure why it has taken everyone in the national football league this long to figure out that if you take away the pats passing game and put pressure on Brady they do not perform as well. Now even Pats fans have to agree your strong point is not your running game!!
Humm something else to think on...somehow the Colts, I may need to remind everyone they did actually win the Super Bowl last year, are having one hell of year considering at points this year half their starters have been out injured. Now if Peyton and Tony D are the men I believe them to be they just won't lie down quietly. I think the colts have been saving up those injured players and getting them the rest they need to play in the playoffs. The Colts who are locked into the playoffs are facing Tennessee this weekend who wants in badly. I cannot see them taking any risks when the colts know who lies ahead. Tennessee may just be able to snatch that spot they want so bad, depending on Cleveland's performance.
As much as I hate to say it, I don't think Pittsburgh and San Diego have what it takes. I do think that between a solid running game and if their defense shows up to play the Jags could be a surprise front runner. However like the rest of the world I'm pretty sure it will come down to yet again the Pats and Colts!!!
As for the other division that most people seem to forget, I think the NFC could get interesting this year. I am excited to see what will happen if TO does or does not make it back. Will Mr. Romo make it either way, TO did point the finger at Jessica because of their loss. So much for their team unity, although yes he did say sorry, I believe TO has had to say those words a few times along the way. I am not positive Dallas has what it takes, If pressure is applied to their offensive line and a team can take away some of Romo's time in the pocket, I'm pretty sure even Bret Farve can finally have a win in Dallas.
Speaking of Green Bay, with Mr Farve and Mr Grant turning out to be such a hot pair I don't see this pair being easily stopped (it helps that Farve is a Magician). The way Brett has been playing in the cold, I feel he doesn't want home field, he would rather be away then caught in a storm. If this team makes it to Super Bowl I feel they will put up one hell of a fight. Yes they are young but they have a few strategically placed veterans including Farve as their team leaders. This team know what the greatest gift they can give to them is!
Someone who has pretty much been overlooked this year is Tampa Bay. I know a lot of people think they have no chance, but I beg to differ. This is their only chance and they know it. Watch that defense!! And yes they just lost to the 49ers, but they did bench most of their starters! Next Season the Bucs have no lucky draws on their schedule, they are facing the Vikings, San Diego, Dallas, Green Bay and so on. So this is it, I say it's this year or start rebuilding. I believe they may have some tricks up their sleeves.
As for the Seahawks we have seen them in this position when they were a lot better of a team then they are now! I guess all that is left taking into account that NY Giants are in, is watching Washington and Minnesota fight on this weekend. Considering Washington faces Dallas and Minnesota is facing Denver, you never know it still could be interesting. However I am not convinced this is they year for these teams, maybe in another year or two!
But hey why listen to anything I say, part of the fun of this game is being to scream at your TV on a Sunday afternoon!!
The wondrous AFC, The Pats are making their point loud and clear! We are not cheaters and we deserve our titles and plan on taking this one as a force to be reckoned with (Just because all teams do it, does not make it right boys). Well lets recon with this, yes Eli Manning is overrated and the giants are not nearly as good of a team as the Pats, but if they show up to play will they win? Lesser teams have pulled it off, just ask AJ Feely and most of the Miami Dolphins. Plus the Giants have something to prove they want people to believe they deserve that NFC wild card spot! Lastly I am not sure why it has taken everyone in the national football league this long to figure out that if you take away the pats passing game and put pressure on Brady they do not perform as well. Now even Pats fans have to agree your strong point is not your running game!!
Humm something else to think on...somehow the Colts, I may need to remind everyone they did actually win the Super Bowl last year, are having one hell of year considering at points this year half their starters have been out injured. Now if Peyton and Tony D are the men I believe them to be they just won't lie down quietly. I think the colts have been saving up those injured players and getting them the rest they need to play in the playoffs. The Colts who are locked into the playoffs are facing Tennessee this weekend who wants in badly. I cannot see them taking any risks when the colts know who lies ahead. Tennessee may just be able to snatch that spot they want so bad, depending on Cleveland's performance.
As much as I hate to say it, I don't think Pittsburgh and San Diego have what it takes. I do think that between a solid running game and if their defense shows up to play the Jags could be a surprise front runner. However like the rest of the world I'm pretty sure it will come down to yet again the Pats and Colts!!!
As for the other division that most people seem to forget, I think the NFC could get interesting this year. I am excited to see what will happen if TO does or does not make it back. Will Mr. Romo make it either way, TO did point the finger at Jessica because of their loss. So much for their team unity, although yes he did say sorry, I believe TO has had to say those words a few times along the way. I am not positive Dallas has what it takes, If pressure is applied to their offensive line and a team can take away some of Romo's time in the pocket, I'm pretty sure even Bret Farve can finally have a win in Dallas.
Speaking of Green Bay, with Mr Farve and Mr Grant turning out to be such a hot pair I don't see this pair being easily stopped (it helps that Farve is a Magician). The way Brett has been playing in the cold, I feel he doesn't want home field, he would rather be away then caught in a storm. If this team makes it to Super Bowl I feel they will put up one hell of a fight. Yes they are young but they have a few strategically placed veterans including Farve as their team leaders. This team know what the greatest gift they can give to them is!
Someone who has pretty much been overlooked this year is Tampa Bay. I know a lot of people think they have no chance, but I beg to differ. This is their only chance and they know it. Watch that defense!! And yes they just lost to the 49ers, but they did bench most of their starters! Next Season the Bucs have no lucky draws on their schedule, they are facing the Vikings, San Diego, Dallas, Green Bay and so on. So this is it, I say it's this year or start rebuilding. I believe they may have some tricks up their sleeves.
As for the Seahawks we have seen them in this position when they were a lot better of a team then they are now! I guess all that is left taking into account that NY Giants are in, is watching Washington and Minnesota fight on this weekend. Considering Washington faces Dallas and Minnesota is facing Denver, you never know it still could be interesting. However I am not convinced this is they year for these teams, maybe in another year or two!
But hey why listen to anything I say, part of the fun of this game is being to scream at your TV on a Sunday afternoon!!
jana
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