From the bottom of my heart and with every last fiber of my being, I want to give a truly heartfelt "thank you" to the US Women's Soccer Team.
This incredible group of women saved me from the doldrums that are the dog days of sports from the end of the Stanley Cup Finals to the beginning of NFL training camps and college football practices. Their journey, although it didn't have the desired ending, was absolutely riveting from start to finish. The drive, determination, backstory, and sheer beauty (athletically & aesthetically) of this team endeared them immediately to me and millions of patriotic Americans. So let's take a look back at their WWC rollercoaster.
The US Women are ranked number one in the world and have long been the powerhouse nation in the women's soccer universe. With that in mind, many may be quick to forget that the US was the last team to qualify for the Women's World Cup. They needed a stoppage time goal from Alex Morgan to defeat Italy in the second leg of their qualifier just to get in. Imagine if the Miami Heat and their "Big Three" needed to win on the last day of the regular season just to qualify for the playoffs. That's what the US road to the Women's World Cup was like. They lost games they probably shouldn't have and didn't come into the tournament on the best note.
The ladies got a decent draw for group play and would be able to avoid back-to-back champions Germany until the finals. They started with a young North Korean side and struggled to a 2-0 win on the strength of second-half goals from Lauren Cheney and Rachel Buehler. They then looked much more like the US Women's Team we're used to seeing, posting a 3-0 win over Colombia. Everything seemed to be in order as a win over Sweden would ensure that the Americans would win their group and take on Australia in the quarterfinals rather than Brazil. However, the wheels came off the bus as the Swedes thoroughly outplayed the Americans and took a 2-1 victory and the group play title. It was the first time the US had lost a WWC game in group play. Not only were they stuck with this stigma but they also had to play Brazil in the quarterfinals.
And that's when the stage was set for the US Women to take the nation by storm.
The US was up against it. In a game full of controversial calls the crowd was firmly entrenched on the US side. The fans were booing the great Marta for flopping and constantly appealing to the referees. Erica then went down with an injury, ate up nearly five minutes, got taken off on a stretcher, and then miraculously recovered and ran back into the pitch for Brazil. It was an absolutely awful display that got carded and eventually rewarded the never-say-die Americans with three additional minutes of stoppage time. And then it happened...a perfect cross by Megan Rapinoe was headed in the incomparable Abby Wambach in the 122nd minute to tie the game at two. The call by ESPN's Ian Darke was unforgettable: "Do you believe this? Abby Wambach has saved the USA's life in this World Cup!"
Hope Solo would then come through with the big save in the penalty kick shootout and the US successfully converted all five of their attempts to win 5-3 on penalty kicks, exactly 12 years to the day that the 1999 squad won the Women's World Cup on penalty kicks. And just like that the nation was hooked. The goal even won the ESPY for Best Play.
The US then outlasted France in the semifinals, 3-1, picking up second-half goals from Wambach and Morgan just three minutes apart.
The storylines for the final against Japan were moving on all fronts. The US was trying to forge its own identity and get out of the shadow of that 1999 team. Japan was trying to give its still-recovering nation something to truly grab onto and smile about as a point of national pride. Sadly, the US gave up both 1-0 and 2-1 leads before bowing 3-1 on penalty kicks. The final was an incredible see-saw battle in which neither team seemed to budge. A scoreless first half moved into the second before Morgan converted a long ball from Rapinoe to take a 1-0 lead in the 69th minute. Defensive miscues coughed up the lead but Wambach struck again in the 104th minute to reclaim the lead. But Japanese captain Homare Sawa scored in the 118th minute to force penalty kicks. Hope Solo was able to come up with a big save but the first three American attempts all failed, sealing their fate.
Despite the runner-up finish, there is something incredibly captivating about this team. They constantly had their backs against the wall from qualifying and all the way through the tournament. But they perserved and nearly grabbed the Cup. Their brand of soccer is fast, physcial, athletic, and truly stunning. For Garden Staters like me, there was a distinctly Jersey feel to this team as five members hail from the Garden State. And it just seemed like every major player had a great backstory. Goalkeeper Hope Solo was just ten months removed from career-threatening shoulder surgery. Many soccer observers also vividly recalled her tirade after the 2007 World Cup loss to Brazil in which she was benched. Defender (and captain) Christie Rampone was the only player left from that historic 1999 squad but she didn't play in that epic final. At age 36 and with over 200 caps this was probably her last World Cup. Abby Wambach was recovering from nagging leg injuries and trying to ensure that her reputation as an elite goal-scorer was not tarnished. Midfielder Heather O'Reilly was out to prove that her reputation as one of the fastest players in the women's game was well-earned. And Alex Morgan was out to show that just because she was the youngest player on the squad (age 22) didn't mean that she wasn't a valuable piece of the puzzle.
When it was all said and done we ended up falling in love with each and every one of these women. Wambach proved that she is still one of the most dangerous goal-scorers in the world, ending the tournament with 13 career World Cup goals and the title of highest-scoring American in WWC history and second-highest goal-scorer in all of WWC history. Her can-do attitude, outgoing and quotable personality, and incredible ability made her the perfect face for this club. She was humble in victory and gracious in defeat. Her on-pitch interviews after all of the knockout stage games were heartfelt and insightful. Hope Solo continued to establish herself as the best goalie in the women's game today. Her brutally honest tweets and interviews along with her on-field fire and ridiculously-good looks make her the favorite of many a red-blooded American male. And Alex Morgan became the breakout star of the WWC. The 22-year-old continued her timely goal scoring as the US supersub. She was easily the fastest player on the pitch and her left-footed lasers should be lighting up soccer nets for years to come. The California native also happens to be one of the most beautiful women I have ever had the privilege of laying eyes on. She plays her pro ball for the Western New York Flash of the WPS and I'm sure the Flash picked up a whole host of fans after the WWC.
So once again, a huge "thank you" to the US Women's Soccer Team. You saved me from the dog days of summer sports. You gave me (and the entire nation) a truly-compelling story and an incredible team to get behind. You and your brand of soccer are beautiful. Thank you! Oh, and Alex Morgan, phenomenal...on all fronts!
A few other tidbits:
1. "Jersey's Team" finally hired a head coach, ending over three months of speculation. GM Lou Lamoriello pulled a rabbit out of his hat and hired former Florida Panthers head coach Pete DeBoer to be the 21st head coach in franchise history. DeBoer compiled a 103-107-36 record with no postseason appearances in his three seasons on South Beach but those numbers are a bit deceiving. In his first season, Florida had 93 points (2nd-highest total in franchise history) but missed the playoffs on a tiebreaker with Montreal. The Panthers fell off a bit in the next two seasons as they were simply undermanned. DeBoer did well with what he had and hopefully that first NHL experience will serve him well in Newark. David Clarkson and Travis Zajac have both played for DeBoer and were highly-supportive. Let's hope the big guns (Kovalchuk, Parise, Brodeur) feel the same way. Let's also hope that this is the end of the coaching carousel in Jersey. I actually like the hire. He had tremendous success in juniors, winning the Memorial Cup in 2003 and the OHL Championship in 2008 while coaching Kitchener. He also has the NHL head-coaching experience, a tremendous plus when working with a team like the Devils.
2. The WWE may have had its best stretch of writing over the last few months since it went TV-PG back in late 2007/early 2008. The CM Punk/John Cena angle was enthralling from start to finish. Punk cut some of the best promos the industry has heard in quite some time. He shot from the hip and the support he received in his hometown of Chicago at the Money in the Bank pay-per-view was absolutely incredible. Punk says he's the best in the world at what he does and at the present moment I would have to agree. Punk's contract has officially expired and he has taken the WWE Championship with him. He executed a similar angle (complete with angry tweets and all) in ROH and ended up coming back for a few months and defending the belt. There have been no indications of his return coming anytime soon so we can only hope for the best. I'm still not a John Cena fan but you have to give him some credit here. He's a tremendously hard worker and the epitome of a company guy. He hung with Punk every step of the way and performed well at MITB.
3. Speaking of the WWE, the next big twist arrived on RAW when Triple H (my all-time favorite wrestler) returned and relieved his father-in-law Vince McMahon of his duties as Chairman of the WWE. This puts "The Game" in charge of the company. It's been a long time since the WWE has left me with no idea of where they will go next and I'm greatly looking forward to seeing where this angle goes. Of course the big plus here is the return of Trips!!!
Until next time.
- Meech
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Down Time..... - 6/30/11
The NHL and NBA Playoffs have officially been history for a few weeks now. Beantown is still all smiles after their B's brought home their first Stanley Cup since 1972. The entire basketball population outside of Miami is still reveling in Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks defeating the mighty Heat for the NBA Title. Vancouver and Miami are still feeling the aftershocks. The NHL Hot Stove season officially begins on July 1st. However, many prime UFAs have already either re-signed with their current teams or had their rights traded away. Plus, the NHL is notorious for having a flurry of activity on the 1st and then having its Hot Stove season fade away.
Now, while I'm very excited for the NHL Hot Stove season, I still feel a large sporting void at the moment. There are some interesting developments on the MLB landscape. The Mets are scoring runs at a franchise-record rate and are two games above .500. The Pirates are still relevant as we head towards the All-Star Break. Cliff Lee had a June to remember (5-0, 0.21 ERA). Jim Leyland went on an unbelievable tirade. The Dodgers are an absolute embarrassment. But these things just aren't holding the interest of many (myself included) right now. The NBA had an abysmal draft and is now charging full-speed ahead towards a lockout. The NHL will have its free-agent flurry and then take a breather until September. The NFL is still in full lockout mode (over 100 days now) although there have been several secret negotiations recently.
So what to do with all this down time? Here are a few ideas.
Idea #1: Watch the FIFA Women's World Cup.
The US Women's Team is looking to add a third title to its resume (and a third star to its jersey) but is considered the underdog as two-time defending champion (and host country) Germany is widely considered the favorite. Brazil, with superstar Marta, is also among the favorites as the South Americans seek their first World Cup on the women's side. The US started the festivities with a solid 2-0 victory over North Korea, the same squad against which they opened the 2007 World Cup. The US women play an aggressive, athletic brand of soccer that is fun to watch. Also, there are some very good-looking ladies patrolling the pitch out there. Hope Solo, Alex Morgan, and Lauren Cheney immediately come to mind. Big props to Jersey Girls Heather O'Reilly and Carli Lloyd. Extremely talented, widely respected, and quite gorgeous.
Idea #2: Watch what's left of Wimbledon.
Roger Federer may be history and Maria Sharapova may be the one name left on the women's side but it's still Wimbledon. The fortnight at the All-England Club is still the seminal event in tennis. It is also one of the few places in sport that is still pure and not running rampant with corporate signage.
Idea #3: Watch the British Open.
Tiger Woods may still be on the shelf with an injury but the rise of Rory McIlroy and his emphatic US Open triumph has officially kicked off a new era in the PGA. Golfers seem genuinely happy for his success and at just 22 years of age, McIlroy is poised for a good, long run atop the game of golf.
Idea #4: Catch a minor league baseball game.
Whether you go watch an affiliate or an independent club, the cheap ticket price and fan-friendly atmosphere is sure to brighten even the dimmest of spirits.
Idea #5: Count the hours and pray.
Now, I will probably do all of the aforementioned ideas but this one is the idea I will be pressing the most. Count the hours until fall practices begin and the college football season gets closer to its majestic kickoff. Then, while thoroughly enjoying all that college football has to offer, pray that Roger Goodell and DeMaurice Smith can come to an agreement and allow the NFL to resume its normal business practices.
Some other quick notes:
1. The highlight of the NBA Draft was without a doubt the ridiculous makeout session put on by Jan Vesely and his hot girlfriend. After being picked sixth by the Washington Wizards, the Czech forward got up to walk to the podium and was pulled back in for some face-sucking time by his girl. You really can't fault either one of them. They both just became millionaires. And hey, if I had a girl that hot, I would take advantage of every opportunity I had to makeout with her.
2. Congrats to the South Carolina Gamecocks on repeating as College World Series champions. The championship series was a good old-fashioned SEC tilt between SC and Florida. Very entertaining baseball on all fronts. The new TD Ameritrade Park looked great and changed the dynamic of the CWS...for the forseeable future.
3. Still in shock over all the wheeling and dealing done by the Philadelphia Flyers this offseason. Jeff Carter and Mike Richards out the door. Ilya Bryzgalov brought in with a 9-year deal to solve their goaltending woes. Rampant rumors that they will send an offer sheet to Tampa Bay scorer Steven Stamkos. Considering this team won the Atlantic Division this past season and went to the Stanley Cup Finals the year before, you really have to wonder what the locker room chemistry was like. You don't just trade away your captain on a whim. Columbus (to get Carter) and Los Angeles (to get Richards) both gave up a lot but you have to say it's a win for both of those clubs. Columbus needed to make a move to show their fan base they're serious about winning as they've only made one postseason appearance in franchise history. Los Angeles got the center they so desperately craved for the last several seasons. Admittedly, I enjoy LA and if I had to pick a Western Conference team to root for, they would be it. So I'm pumped to see Richards head to LA and even more excited that it weakens the Flyers. I hate Philly! Let's go Devils!
4. Beyond excited that hockey is back in Winnipeg and that True North Sports and Entertainment got it right in naming the team the Jets. There will be many whiteouts to be certain at the MTS Centre this season.
5. As free agency begins, Zach Parise, Andy Greene, & Johan Hedberg are still unsigned and Jersey's Team is still sorely in need of a veteran, puck-moving defenceman. Here's hoping the UFA period is kind to my Devils and that first-round draft pick Adam Larsson delivers.
Until next time.
- Meech
Now, while I'm very excited for the NHL Hot Stove season, I still feel a large sporting void at the moment. There are some interesting developments on the MLB landscape. The Mets are scoring runs at a franchise-record rate and are two games above .500. The Pirates are still relevant as we head towards the All-Star Break. Cliff Lee had a June to remember (5-0, 0.21 ERA). Jim Leyland went on an unbelievable tirade. The Dodgers are an absolute embarrassment. But these things just aren't holding the interest of many (myself included) right now. The NBA had an abysmal draft and is now charging full-speed ahead towards a lockout. The NHL will have its free-agent flurry and then take a breather until September. The NFL is still in full lockout mode (over 100 days now) although there have been several secret negotiations recently.
So what to do with all this down time? Here are a few ideas.
Idea #1: Watch the FIFA Women's World Cup.
The US Women's Team is looking to add a third title to its resume (and a third star to its jersey) but is considered the underdog as two-time defending champion (and host country) Germany is widely considered the favorite. Brazil, with superstar Marta, is also among the favorites as the South Americans seek their first World Cup on the women's side. The US started the festivities with a solid 2-0 victory over North Korea, the same squad against which they opened the 2007 World Cup. The US women play an aggressive, athletic brand of soccer that is fun to watch. Also, there are some very good-looking ladies patrolling the pitch out there. Hope Solo, Alex Morgan, and Lauren Cheney immediately come to mind. Big props to Jersey Girls Heather O'Reilly and Carli Lloyd. Extremely talented, widely respected, and quite gorgeous.
Idea #2: Watch what's left of Wimbledon.
Roger Federer may be history and Maria Sharapova may be the one name left on the women's side but it's still Wimbledon. The fortnight at the All-England Club is still the seminal event in tennis. It is also one of the few places in sport that is still pure and not running rampant with corporate signage.
Idea #3: Watch the British Open.
Tiger Woods may still be on the shelf with an injury but the rise of Rory McIlroy and his emphatic US Open triumph has officially kicked off a new era in the PGA. Golfers seem genuinely happy for his success and at just 22 years of age, McIlroy is poised for a good, long run atop the game of golf.
Idea #4: Catch a minor league baseball game.
Whether you go watch an affiliate or an independent club, the cheap ticket price and fan-friendly atmosphere is sure to brighten even the dimmest of spirits.
Idea #5: Count the hours and pray.
Now, I will probably do all of the aforementioned ideas but this one is the idea I will be pressing the most. Count the hours until fall practices begin and the college football season gets closer to its majestic kickoff. Then, while thoroughly enjoying all that college football has to offer, pray that Roger Goodell and DeMaurice Smith can come to an agreement and allow the NFL to resume its normal business practices.
Some other quick notes:
1. The highlight of the NBA Draft was without a doubt the ridiculous makeout session put on by Jan Vesely and his hot girlfriend. After being picked sixth by the Washington Wizards, the Czech forward got up to walk to the podium and was pulled back in for some face-sucking time by his girl. You really can't fault either one of them. They both just became millionaires. And hey, if I had a girl that hot, I would take advantage of every opportunity I had to makeout with her.
2. Congrats to the South Carolina Gamecocks on repeating as College World Series champions. The championship series was a good old-fashioned SEC tilt between SC and Florida. Very entertaining baseball on all fronts. The new TD Ameritrade Park looked great and changed the dynamic of the CWS...for the forseeable future.
3. Still in shock over all the wheeling and dealing done by the Philadelphia Flyers this offseason. Jeff Carter and Mike Richards out the door. Ilya Bryzgalov brought in with a 9-year deal to solve their goaltending woes. Rampant rumors that they will send an offer sheet to Tampa Bay scorer Steven Stamkos. Considering this team won the Atlantic Division this past season and went to the Stanley Cup Finals the year before, you really have to wonder what the locker room chemistry was like. You don't just trade away your captain on a whim. Columbus (to get Carter) and Los Angeles (to get Richards) both gave up a lot but you have to say it's a win for both of those clubs. Columbus needed to make a move to show their fan base they're serious about winning as they've only made one postseason appearance in franchise history. Los Angeles got the center they so desperately craved for the last several seasons. Admittedly, I enjoy LA and if I had to pick a Western Conference team to root for, they would be it. So I'm pumped to see Richards head to LA and even more excited that it weakens the Flyers. I hate Philly! Let's go Devils!
4. Beyond excited that hockey is back in Winnipeg and that True North Sports and Entertainment got it right in naming the team the Jets. There will be many whiteouts to be certain at the MTS Centre this season.
5. As free agency begins, Zach Parise, Andy Greene, & Johan Hedberg are still unsigned and Jersey's Team is still sorely in need of a veteran, puck-moving defenceman. Here's hoping the UFA period is kind to my Devils and that first-round draft pick Adam Larsson delivers.
Until next time.
- Meech
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Venting - 5/1/11
Hard to believe that it's May 1st already. Nevertheless, here we are. The Stanley Cup Playoffs are knee-deep in the second round and the NBA Playoffs are getting set to begin their second round. As we hit these checkpoints, I am finally prepared to engage in my end-of-season venting exercise. It usually takes me about a month to let go of the end of the Devils' season and the final portion of the grieving process is always a long diatribe outlining my frustration followed by an image from the last game of the season.
I will get to that momentarily, but first a few quick notes on some other topics.
1. I am beyond thrilled that coach Barry Trotz and his Nashville Predators finally made it out of the first round of the playoffs. Trotz & GM David Poile have shown tremendous patience with the Preds and it has finally paid off. It's always nice to see organizations that do business the right way get rewarded. The Preds worked long and hard and learned from their crucial Game 5 loss in Chicago last year. Nashville had the lead late in the third period only to cough it up and eventually fall in overtime. They encountered the same situation in the first round this year in Anaheim but held on. The Preds then held serve at home in Game 6 to take the series. Mike Fisher has been a tremendous addition to the club, totaling six points (three goals, three assists) in the first round series against the Ducks. Hopefully the Preds can hang with the top-seeded Vancouver Canucks in the second round.
2. The Boston Celtics swept the New York Knicks right out of the NBA Playoffs in the Knicks' first postseason appearance since 2004. It was the Celtics' first postseason sweep since 1992. It was incredible to see how quickly the energy and the buzz around Madison Square Garden deflated as the Knicks (after coughing up the first two games in Boston) just couldn't muster enough offense or stop Rajon Rondo. It's great for the Knicks (and the NBA) that they are back in the playoffs but one thing is now abundantly clear. For all the points Carmelo Anthony can pour into the basket, it's Amar'e Stoudemire who is the engine that makes the Knicks go. He chose to go to New York this summer, grew up, put the team on his back, and willed them into the playoffs. They need a healthy Stoudemire next year if they are to have any hope of building on this year's postseason appearance.
3. The Mets put together a nice little winning streak against their fellow National League bottom-feeders last week. Then, they go to Philadelphia and everything returns to form. Mike Pelfrey implodes in the fifth inning Friday and Roy Halladay shuts the door on Saturday. Sadly, I believe the Mets' nightmare is just beginning. The figure outlining their monetary debt grows larger every day and I think it's fair to now wonder which franchise is encountering the uglier mess, the Mets or the now-MLB-owned Dodgers.
4. Four quarterbacks went in the first round of this year's NFL Draft. The Carolina Panthers took Auburn QB Cam Newton with the first overall pick. What does that pick say about Carolina taking Jimmy Clausen in the second round last year? Perhaps they don't believe he is the long-term solution at the helm. Washington QB Jake Locker shocked many by going eighth to Tennessee. Jacksonville then traded up to number ten to get Missouri QB Blaine Gabbert. The Minnesota Vikings finished it off by taking Florida State QB Christian Ponder with the twelfth pick. Ponder was the first Florida State QB ever to go in the first round of the draft. I was shocked that TCU QB Andy Dalton didn't go in Round 1 but he was snatched up quickly by Cincinnati early in Round 2. The fall of Arkansas QB Ryan Mallett wasn't as shocking. Many teams felt there were off-field issues and in the uncertain times of the lockout it appears as though teams were not willing to take the risk. The lockout had a severe effect on this year's draft. Without free agent signings and the like, many teams made value picks as opposed to addressing needs. Once the league year actually starts (hopefully soon) it should be interesting to see what happens with some of these draft picks.
And now onto the main event:
Despite the second half surge that made the season quite interesting, it's still extremely hard to swallow (even a month later) that the Devils didn't go to the postseason, absent from the greatest postseason in sports for the first time since the 1995-96 season. It was quite a ride in the second half but you always knew that the Devils weren't going to recover from that horrendous 10-29-2 start.
I think some struggles were to be expected. The team had a rookie head coach in John MacLean, several new defencemen (Henrik Tallinder, Anton Volchenkov, and a host of youngsters that would occupy the sixth defenceman spot at various points throughout the year), Martin Brodeur heading into the twilight of his career, an unhappy captain in Jamie Langenbrunner, and a smattering of players who had no clue how to play with new star Ilya Kovalchuk. Some struggles would naturally occur but no one could've seen 10-29-2coming.
Personally, I was not a fan of the MacLean hiring (Admittedly, I wanted Ken Hitchcock). I have tremendous respect for Johnnie Mac but I just don't think he was the right fit for the veteran team that GM Lou Lamoriello had assembled. Jacques Lemaire comes back (again) and rights the ship. He even shows that he can get his players to play some offense while still being defensively responsible. Brodeur goes down and backup Johan Hedberg gets red-hot while he fills in. I give Lamoriello credit for making a difficult decision in trading captain Langenbrunner, realizing that he and Lemaire would never get along. I also give him props for turning Jason Arnott into David Steckel and a draft pick. Steckel is a prototypical Devils' player and should be a great asset next season. Ilya Kovalchuk rose to the occasion, playing great two-way hockey, taking the club on his back and smacking home many game-winning goals. Some of the youngsters (Tedenby, Josefson, Palmieri) came along well and showed some great promise for next season as well.
Some big questions loom for next season. Can Martin Brodeur produce at 39 years old or will his workload have to be limited to 55-60 games? Is Andy Greene coming back? Is Zach Parise coming back? Can the club continue to adapt and build around Kovalchuk, who like or not is the face of Jersey's Team for the forseeable future? I have this weird feeling that Parise isn't coming back but I'll save that for another time.
I was absolutely lost when April 11th rolled around and the reality sank in that there would be no more hockey for the Devils this season. I had no clue what to do without any playoff games to go to at "The Rock." I refused to believe the season was over after defeating Boston on the last day of the regular season. I am still in a state of disbelief. It's almost like part of my life was missing this spring. I thoroughly enjoyed watching the various spring games (Alabama, Arkansas, Notre Dame, Florida State) that were televised this year but they don't replace playoff hockey in the Garden State.
The only plus is that is the first time in recent memory that a season hasn't ended with me in tears in the arena or punching seatbacks in the arena or at home. The irony is that this really isn't much of a plus. I still remember being dragged out of the Meadowlands after being eliminated in the 2007 Eastern Conference Semifinals by Ottawa like it was yesterday. Or smashing the TV remote against the wall after losing to Ottawa in '98. Or punching my seat at "The Rock" to the point where my knuckles were busted up after falling to Philadelphia in 2010. Or sitting in a complete state of shock, unable to utter a single word after blowing it against Carolina in 2009. Or cursing out Ray Bourque and the Colorado Avalanche after losing Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals in 2001. Or throwing more expletives and crying buckets after the debacle of 1994. There is nothing more devastating to watch than the end-of-series handshake that puts the finishing touches on a postseason series in the NHL. Or at least that's what I thought...until this season ended on a regular-season Sunday with the Devils raising their sticks to the crowd and thanking the fans.
Until next season. And as per usual, the picture says it all.
-Meech
I will get to that momentarily, but first a few quick notes on some other topics.
1. I am beyond thrilled that coach Barry Trotz and his Nashville Predators finally made it out of the first round of the playoffs. Trotz & GM David Poile have shown tremendous patience with the Preds and it has finally paid off. It's always nice to see organizations that do business the right way get rewarded. The Preds worked long and hard and learned from their crucial Game 5 loss in Chicago last year. Nashville had the lead late in the third period only to cough it up and eventually fall in overtime. They encountered the same situation in the first round this year in Anaheim but held on. The Preds then held serve at home in Game 6 to take the series. Mike Fisher has been a tremendous addition to the club, totaling six points (three goals, three assists) in the first round series against the Ducks. Hopefully the Preds can hang with the top-seeded Vancouver Canucks in the second round.
2. The Boston Celtics swept the New York Knicks right out of the NBA Playoffs in the Knicks' first postseason appearance since 2004. It was the Celtics' first postseason sweep since 1992. It was incredible to see how quickly the energy and the buzz around Madison Square Garden deflated as the Knicks (after coughing up the first two games in Boston) just couldn't muster enough offense or stop Rajon Rondo. It's great for the Knicks (and the NBA) that they are back in the playoffs but one thing is now abundantly clear. For all the points Carmelo Anthony can pour into the basket, it's Amar'e Stoudemire who is the engine that makes the Knicks go. He chose to go to New York this summer, grew up, put the team on his back, and willed them into the playoffs. They need a healthy Stoudemire next year if they are to have any hope of building on this year's postseason appearance.
3. The Mets put together a nice little winning streak against their fellow National League bottom-feeders last week. Then, they go to Philadelphia and everything returns to form. Mike Pelfrey implodes in the fifth inning Friday and Roy Halladay shuts the door on Saturday. Sadly, I believe the Mets' nightmare is just beginning. The figure outlining their monetary debt grows larger every day and I think it's fair to now wonder which franchise is encountering the uglier mess, the Mets or the now-MLB-owned Dodgers.
4. Four quarterbacks went in the first round of this year's NFL Draft. The Carolina Panthers took Auburn QB Cam Newton with the first overall pick. What does that pick say about Carolina taking Jimmy Clausen in the second round last year? Perhaps they don't believe he is the long-term solution at the helm. Washington QB Jake Locker shocked many by going eighth to Tennessee. Jacksonville then traded up to number ten to get Missouri QB Blaine Gabbert. The Minnesota Vikings finished it off by taking Florida State QB Christian Ponder with the twelfth pick. Ponder was the first Florida State QB ever to go in the first round of the draft. I was shocked that TCU QB Andy Dalton didn't go in Round 1 but he was snatched up quickly by Cincinnati early in Round 2. The fall of Arkansas QB Ryan Mallett wasn't as shocking. Many teams felt there were off-field issues and in the uncertain times of the lockout it appears as though teams were not willing to take the risk. The lockout had a severe effect on this year's draft. Without free agent signings and the like, many teams made value picks as opposed to addressing needs. Once the league year actually starts (hopefully soon) it should be interesting to see what happens with some of these draft picks.
And now onto the main event:
Despite the second half surge that made the season quite interesting, it's still extremely hard to swallow (even a month later) that the Devils didn't go to the postseason, absent from the greatest postseason in sports for the first time since the 1995-96 season. It was quite a ride in the second half but you always knew that the Devils weren't going to recover from that horrendous 10-29-2 start.
I think some struggles were to be expected. The team had a rookie head coach in John MacLean, several new defencemen (Henrik Tallinder, Anton Volchenkov, and a host of youngsters that would occupy the sixth defenceman spot at various points throughout the year), Martin Brodeur heading into the twilight of his career, an unhappy captain in Jamie Langenbrunner, and a smattering of players who had no clue how to play with new star Ilya Kovalchuk. Some struggles would naturally occur but no one could've seen 10-29-2coming.
Personally, I was not a fan of the MacLean hiring (Admittedly, I wanted Ken Hitchcock). I have tremendous respect for Johnnie Mac but I just don't think he was the right fit for the veteran team that GM Lou Lamoriello had assembled. Jacques Lemaire comes back (again) and rights the ship. He even shows that he can get his players to play some offense while still being defensively responsible. Brodeur goes down and backup Johan Hedberg gets red-hot while he fills in. I give Lamoriello credit for making a difficult decision in trading captain Langenbrunner, realizing that he and Lemaire would never get along. I also give him props for turning Jason Arnott into David Steckel and a draft pick. Steckel is a prototypical Devils' player and should be a great asset next season. Ilya Kovalchuk rose to the occasion, playing great two-way hockey, taking the club on his back and smacking home many game-winning goals. Some of the youngsters (Tedenby, Josefson, Palmieri) came along well and showed some great promise for next season as well.
Some big questions loom for next season. Can Martin Brodeur produce at 39 years old or will his workload have to be limited to 55-60 games? Is Andy Greene coming back? Is Zach Parise coming back? Can the club continue to adapt and build around Kovalchuk, who like or not is the face of Jersey's Team for the forseeable future? I have this weird feeling that Parise isn't coming back but I'll save that for another time.
I was absolutely lost when April 11th rolled around and the reality sank in that there would be no more hockey for the Devils this season. I had no clue what to do without any playoff games to go to at "The Rock." I refused to believe the season was over after defeating Boston on the last day of the regular season. I am still in a state of disbelief. It's almost like part of my life was missing this spring. I thoroughly enjoyed watching the various spring games (Alabama, Arkansas, Notre Dame, Florida State) that were televised this year but they don't replace playoff hockey in the Garden State.
The only plus is that is the first time in recent memory that a season hasn't ended with me in tears in the arena or punching seatbacks in the arena or at home. The irony is that this really isn't much of a plus. I still remember being dragged out of the Meadowlands after being eliminated in the 2007 Eastern Conference Semifinals by Ottawa like it was yesterday. Or smashing the TV remote against the wall after losing to Ottawa in '98. Or punching my seat at "The Rock" to the point where my knuckles were busted up after falling to Philadelphia in 2010. Or sitting in a complete state of shock, unable to utter a single word after blowing it against Carolina in 2009. Or cursing out Ray Bourque and the Colorado Avalanche after losing Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals in 2001. Or throwing more expletives and crying buckets after the debacle of 1994. There is nothing more devastating to watch than the end-of-series handshake that puts the finishing touches on a postseason series in the NHL. Or at least that's what I thought...until this season ended on a regular-season Sunday with the Devils raising their sticks to the crowd and thanking the fans.
Until next season. And as per usual, the picture says it all.
-Meech
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Taking It All In..... - 3/30/11
So, I think my head is still spinning about the Final Four. I have had a few days to digest it all but it's just not sinking in. My bracket (along with most of America's) has been ravaged beyond recognition. I lost my Orangemen before the Tournament's second weekend. I lost Duke (For as much as I hate the Blue Devils, I still had them going to the Final Four.) and Wisconsin in the Sweet 16. I lost Kansas (my national champion pick) in the Elite 8. Naturally, none of these losses sting more than the ugly 'Cuse loss to Marquette but the rest of my bracket still pains me nonethless.
Let's take a look at some of the numbers. This is the first time in NCAA Tournament history that there will not be a #1 or #2 seed in th efinal Four. Kentucky is a 4. UConn is a 3. Butler is an 8. VCU is an 11. The matchup between Butler and VCU is the highest combined seeding matchup in Final Four history. VCU is the first #11 since George Mason (2006) to reach the Final Four. There are tons of other numbers but the one stat that I am still stuck on is this one:
The 13-year span from Kentucky's last Final Four appearance (1998) to this year is the longest Final Four drought in UK hoops history. 13 years. That's it. How many schools would kill for a history like that? Oh, and the Wildcats took home the national title in '98.
Some other thoughts:
1. Recently, I was having a debate with a handful of people about what motivates a team. What gets players fired up to play? What gives players that extra push when they need it most? How do coaches tap into the internal psyche of their players and gain that competitive edge? A key moment that kept coming up was the Harvard/Princeton basketball game from a few weeks back. Harvard defeated their fellow Ivy Leaguers, forcing a one-game playoff for the League title and its automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament (The Ivy doesn't play a conference tournament and doesn't participate in the 1-AA football playoffs either. As the Crimson players celebrated and their fans stormed the court, Princeton head coach Sydney Johnson made his players stay on the floor and watch the celebration unfold. One week later, the Tigers took down Harvard in an exciting finish, 63-62, on a neutral court at Yale. Princeton would eventually bow to Kentucky in their first round (I know it's technically a second round game now but I refust to acknowledge those First Four games as an actual first round. They are still play-in games.) NCAA Tourney game, 59-57, but the strategy worked. The Princeton players used the Harvard celebration as motivation to stick it to them in the one-game playoff and they did just that...or so it sould seem. There are so many similar anecdotes and I'm sure psychologists and scientists everywhere would be willing to weigh in on this idea as somewhat of a hoax. However, anyone who has ever played and/or coached a sport knows that these little mind games are actually quite important. And the word "important," in this case, is a tremendous understatement.
2. It's hard to look at the Ohio State football program the same way. Since Jim Tressel came on board the Buckeyeshave been the class of the Big Ten, routinely taking home conference championships and making BCS appearances. With their recent domincance, many quickly forget how John Cooper's Buckeyes were regularly "put out to pasture" by Michigan. There were many who were excited to see Ohio State finallly beat an SEC team, outlasting Arkansas, 31-26, in the Sugar Bowl. There was a cloud over that game, of course, with Terrelle Pryor and company having their suspensions put on hold until the start of next season.
And now, there's Jim Tressel. I'm not a big Ohio State fan but I have long been a fan of Tressel. Maybe it's just the sweater vest that throws you off the scent but he always came across as one of the good guys on the sidelines. Tressel was the toast of the town in 2002 when he took the Buckeyes to the Fiesta Bowl and defeated the defending-champion Miami Hurricanes to capture the BCS National Championship. Fast forward eight seasons, Tressel plays five "ineligible" players in the Sugar Bowl, barely holds on for the win, knows about their transgressions, covers them up, backtracks in interviews, and has generally become a public relations nightmare. Ohio State may be okay with the 5-game suspension for both Tressel and the players but don't think for one second that the NCAA is done investigating the issue. Don't be surprised if THE Ohio State University ends up canning THE head coach before all of this is said and done.
3. Tennessee moved quickly. Just a few days before its NCAA Tournament opener against Michigan, Vols athletic director Mike Hamilton went on the air and didn't exactly give basketball coach Bruce Pearl a vote of confidence. The Vols then went out and laid an absolute clunker against the Wolverines. Days later, Tennessee fires Pearl and hires 39-year-old Cuonzo Martin, the head coach at Missouri State for the last three seasons. Martin was 61-41 at Missouri State, highlighted by this season's 26-9 finish in which he earned the school's first regular-season Missouri Valley Conference title. Martin was also an assistant at Purdue for eight seasons under both Gene Keady and Matt Painter (who is rumored to be a candidate for the Missouri job.).
Martin brings great energy and a powerful personal story (He is a cancer survivor.) to Knoxville. Hopefully he will be able to remove some of the stain that has engulfed the Vols' program. Despite the poor record of compliance, Pearl did accomplish some things in his six seasons at Tennessee: 145-61 record, the school's first-ever #1 ranking, the school's first SEC regular-season title in over forty years, and the school's first Elite Eight appearance.
4. MLB Opening Day is tomorrow. The Yankees host the Detroit Tigers at 1pm to kick off the MLB season on ESPN (The Mets open up in Florida on Friday.). There are plenty of storylines to pay attention to but here are a select few: Will Chase Utley or Johan Santana make significant contributions to their respective teams before the All-Star Break? Can the young rotation of the Oakland Athletics surprise the AL West? Is Don Mattingly the answer as manager of the Dodgers? Will the Brewers all-in (trading for Shaun Marcum & Zach Greinke) approach pay off? how will the Braves fare in their first season in two decades without the venerable Bobby Cox managing from the dugout?
Speaking of managers, keep an eye on Buck Showalter and his Baltimore Orioles. No one (me included) is saying they're going to jump into the thick of the AL East race. But after playing near-.600 ball aftger his hiring last season, the O's should be an interesting, scrappy, efficient bunch to watch.
5. The NFL lockout continues. People everywhere moan and groan. I do love the NFL but thank goodness I am a far bigger college football fan. The lockout has pushed spring football to the forefront. Colleges are getting coverage like never before. I cannot wait until ESPN gives us a full slate of spring games in April and early May.
6. The joyride that has been the second half of the New Jersey Devils' season has almost officially come to an end. Though "Jersey's Team" hasn't officially been eliminated, they are 12 points out of the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with just seven games (one in hand on the 8th-place Buffalo Sabres) left to play. Two points by the Sabres at any point over their next six games will officially eliminate the Devils from the playoff race. The "One Game At a Time" approach brought great success and many of us are hoping that head coach Jacques Lemaire decides to come back for one more season. Lemaire has looked reinvigorated since returning to the Devils' bench in December. Perhaps he will stay for one more season and ride off into the sunset with goaltender Martin Brodeur, who is entering the final year of his contract next season. This will be the first spring since the 1995-96 season that there will be no playoff hockey in Jersey. There are no words to describe all of the anger and frustration I feel about this. However, to look back and think that this team was 10-29-2 at one point and that we would even entertain the notion of sneaking into the playoffs is crazy. Since hitting rock bottom before the New Year, the Devils have gone 24-7-3. Unbelievable.
7. WrestleMania XXVII is just four days away. Still can't believe that The Miz is the reigning WWE Champion and will get to main event WrestleMania. But I give him a lot of credit. It's clear that he has taken his role quite seriously and has put in the requisite work to succeed. He is the top heel on the RAW roster right now. And Triple H is back!!!!! Can you tell how excited I am? As much as I respect The Undertaker and his undefeated streak, here's hoping that the "Cerebral Assassin" ends 'Taker's streakand hangs that first loss on him.
Some WrestleMania predictions (or hopes): Edge retains the World Heavyweight Championship over Alberto Del Rio with some help from Christian; John Cena becomes the new WWE Champion by beating The Miz and then gets hits with a Rock Bottom courtesy of guest host The Rock; Triple H defeats The Undertaker and ends "The Streak"; CM Punk defeats Randy Orton; Jerry Lawler beats Michael Cole then guest referee Stone Cold Steve Austin hits all parties involved with the Stone Cold Stunner. Rey Mysterio defeats Cody Rhodes; John Morrison, Trish Stratus, & Snooki defeat Dolph Ziggler & Lay-Cool; Daniel Bryan regains the United States Title by beating Sheamus; The Corre defeats the Big Show and company in an 8-man tag match.
Random Moment: April 6, 1992
Over 50,000 fans pack the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota, for the National Championship Game as the defending-champion Duke Blue Devils took on the freshmen "Fab Five" and the Michigan Wolverines. The Wolverines held a 31-30 halftime lead but the Blue Devils turned up the defensive pressure in the second half, limiting Michigan to just 29 percent shooting. Grant Hill had a double-double (18 points, 10 rebounds) and Duke defeated Michigan, 71-51, to repeat as National Champions. The "Fab Five" of Chris Webber, Jalen Rose, Juwan Howard, Ray Jackson, and Jimmy King would return to the National Title game in 1993, falling to North Carolina, 77-71, after Chris Webber's ill-fated "timeout" technical foul.
Until next time.
-Meech
Let's take a look at some of the numbers. This is the first time in NCAA Tournament history that there will not be a #1 or #2 seed in th efinal Four. Kentucky is a 4. UConn is a 3. Butler is an 8. VCU is an 11. The matchup between Butler and VCU is the highest combined seeding matchup in Final Four history. VCU is the first #11 since George Mason (2006) to reach the Final Four. There are tons of other numbers but the one stat that I am still stuck on is this one:
The 13-year span from Kentucky's last Final Four appearance (1998) to this year is the longest Final Four drought in UK hoops history. 13 years. That's it. How many schools would kill for a history like that? Oh, and the Wildcats took home the national title in '98.
Some other thoughts:
1. Recently, I was having a debate with a handful of people about what motivates a team. What gets players fired up to play? What gives players that extra push when they need it most? How do coaches tap into the internal psyche of their players and gain that competitive edge? A key moment that kept coming up was the Harvard/Princeton basketball game from a few weeks back. Harvard defeated their fellow Ivy Leaguers, forcing a one-game playoff for the League title and its automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament (The Ivy doesn't play a conference tournament and doesn't participate in the 1-AA football playoffs either. As the Crimson players celebrated and their fans stormed the court, Princeton head coach Sydney Johnson made his players stay on the floor and watch the celebration unfold. One week later, the Tigers took down Harvard in an exciting finish, 63-62, on a neutral court at Yale. Princeton would eventually bow to Kentucky in their first round (I know it's technically a second round game now but I refust to acknowledge those First Four games as an actual first round. They are still play-in games.) NCAA Tourney game, 59-57, but the strategy worked. The Princeton players used the Harvard celebration as motivation to stick it to them in the one-game playoff and they did just that...or so it sould seem. There are so many similar anecdotes and I'm sure psychologists and scientists everywhere would be willing to weigh in on this idea as somewhat of a hoax. However, anyone who has ever played and/or coached a sport knows that these little mind games are actually quite important. And the word "important," in this case, is a tremendous understatement.
2. It's hard to look at the Ohio State football program the same way. Since Jim Tressel came on board the Buckeyeshave been the class of the Big Ten, routinely taking home conference championships and making BCS appearances. With their recent domincance, many quickly forget how John Cooper's Buckeyes were regularly "put out to pasture" by Michigan. There were many who were excited to see Ohio State finallly beat an SEC team, outlasting Arkansas, 31-26, in the Sugar Bowl. There was a cloud over that game, of course, with Terrelle Pryor and company having their suspensions put on hold until the start of next season.
And now, there's Jim Tressel. I'm not a big Ohio State fan but I have long been a fan of Tressel. Maybe it's just the sweater vest that throws you off the scent but he always came across as one of the good guys on the sidelines. Tressel was the toast of the town in 2002 when he took the Buckeyes to the Fiesta Bowl and defeated the defending-champion Miami Hurricanes to capture the BCS National Championship. Fast forward eight seasons, Tressel plays five "ineligible" players in the Sugar Bowl, barely holds on for the win, knows about their transgressions, covers them up, backtracks in interviews, and has generally become a public relations nightmare. Ohio State may be okay with the 5-game suspension for both Tressel and the players but don't think for one second that the NCAA is done investigating the issue. Don't be surprised if THE Ohio State University ends up canning THE head coach before all of this is said and done.
3. Tennessee moved quickly. Just a few days before its NCAA Tournament opener against Michigan, Vols athletic director Mike Hamilton went on the air and didn't exactly give basketball coach Bruce Pearl a vote of confidence. The Vols then went out and laid an absolute clunker against the Wolverines. Days later, Tennessee fires Pearl and hires 39-year-old Cuonzo Martin, the head coach at Missouri State for the last three seasons. Martin was 61-41 at Missouri State, highlighted by this season's 26-9 finish in which he earned the school's first regular-season Missouri Valley Conference title. Martin was also an assistant at Purdue for eight seasons under both Gene Keady and Matt Painter (who is rumored to be a candidate for the Missouri job.).
Martin brings great energy and a powerful personal story (He is a cancer survivor.) to Knoxville. Hopefully he will be able to remove some of the stain that has engulfed the Vols' program. Despite the poor record of compliance, Pearl did accomplish some things in his six seasons at Tennessee: 145-61 record, the school's first-ever #1 ranking, the school's first SEC regular-season title in over forty years, and the school's first Elite Eight appearance.
4. MLB Opening Day is tomorrow. The Yankees host the Detroit Tigers at 1pm to kick off the MLB season on ESPN (The Mets open up in Florida on Friday.). There are plenty of storylines to pay attention to but here are a select few: Will Chase Utley or Johan Santana make significant contributions to their respective teams before the All-Star Break? Can the young rotation of the Oakland Athletics surprise the AL West? Is Don Mattingly the answer as manager of the Dodgers? Will the Brewers all-in (trading for Shaun Marcum & Zach Greinke) approach pay off? how will the Braves fare in their first season in two decades without the venerable Bobby Cox managing from the dugout?
Speaking of managers, keep an eye on Buck Showalter and his Baltimore Orioles. No one (me included) is saying they're going to jump into the thick of the AL East race. But after playing near-.600 ball aftger his hiring last season, the O's should be an interesting, scrappy, efficient bunch to watch.
5. The NFL lockout continues. People everywhere moan and groan. I do love the NFL but thank goodness I am a far bigger college football fan. The lockout has pushed spring football to the forefront. Colleges are getting coverage like never before. I cannot wait until ESPN gives us a full slate of spring games in April and early May.
6. The joyride that has been the second half of the New Jersey Devils' season has almost officially come to an end. Though "Jersey's Team" hasn't officially been eliminated, they are 12 points out of the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with just seven games (one in hand on the 8th-place Buffalo Sabres) left to play. Two points by the Sabres at any point over their next six games will officially eliminate the Devils from the playoff race. The "One Game At a Time" approach brought great success and many of us are hoping that head coach Jacques Lemaire decides to come back for one more season. Lemaire has looked reinvigorated since returning to the Devils' bench in December. Perhaps he will stay for one more season and ride off into the sunset with goaltender Martin Brodeur, who is entering the final year of his contract next season. This will be the first spring since the 1995-96 season that there will be no playoff hockey in Jersey. There are no words to describe all of the anger and frustration I feel about this. However, to look back and think that this team was 10-29-2 at one point and that we would even entertain the notion of sneaking into the playoffs is crazy. Since hitting rock bottom before the New Year, the Devils have gone 24-7-3. Unbelievable.
7. WrestleMania XXVII is just four days away. Still can't believe that The Miz is the reigning WWE Champion and will get to main event WrestleMania. But I give him a lot of credit. It's clear that he has taken his role quite seriously and has put in the requisite work to succeed. He is the top heel on the RAW roster right now. And Triple H is back!!!!! Can you tell how excited I am? As much as I respect The Undertaker and his undefeated streak, here's hoping that the "Cerebral Assassin" ends 'Taker's streakand hangs that first loss on him.
Some WrestleMania predictions (or hopes): Edge retains the World Heavyweight Championship over Alberto Del Rio with some help from Christian; John Cena becomes the new WWE Champion by beating The Miz and then gets hits with a Rock Bottom courtesy of guest host The Rock; Triple H defeats The Undertaker and ends "The Streak"; CM Punk defeats Randy Orton; Jerry Lawler beats Michael Cole then guest referee Stone Cold Steve Austin hits all parties involved with the Stone Cold Stunner. Rey Mysterio defeats Cody Rhodes; John Morrison, Trish Stratus, & Snooki defeat Dolph Ziggler & Lay-Cool; Daniel Bryan regains the United States Title by beating Sheamus; The Corre defeats the Big Show and company in an 8-man tag match.
Random Moment: April 6, 1992
Over 50,000 fans pack the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota, for the National Championship Game as the defending-champion Duke Blue Devils took on the freshmen "Fab Five" and the Michigan Wolverines. The Wolverines held a 31-30 halftime lead but the Blue Devils turned up the defensive pressure in the second half, limiting Michigan to just 29 percent shooting. Grant Hill had a double-double (18 points, 10 rebounds) and Duke defeated Michigan, 71-51, to repeat as National Champions. The "Fab Five" of Chris Webber, Jalen Rose, Juwan Howard, Ray Jackson, and Jimmy King would return to the National Title game in 1993, falling to North Carolina, 77-71, after Chris Webber's ill-fated "timeout" technical foul.
Until next time.
-Meech
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