Lakers vs Blackhawks Tale of The Tape

With the World Cup going on and the US Open finishing up today, let's take a brief look at the end of the NBA & NHL Playoffs by comparing the two champions - the Los Angeles Lakers and the Chicago Blackhawks, and see how they stack up with each other to see who is the supreme summer champ. Both teams had great seasons, but which one is the best of the best? Let's find out in the tale of the tape!

City

Lakers - Los Angeles

Blackhawks - Chicago

Edge: Blackhawks, hey, I'm a midwestern guy

Jersey

Lakers -

Blackhawks -

Edge: Blackhawks, hockey sweaters are just better

Mascot

Lakers - Umm... Jack Nicholson?

Blackhawks - Tommy Hawk

Edge: Blackhawks, Tommy Hawk is much less cartoonish

Last Previous Title

Lakers - 2009

Blackhawks - 1961

Edge: Lakers, they won 10 titles in between 1961 and 2009!

Iconic Player

Lakers - Magic Johnson

Blackhawks - Bobby Hull

Edge: Blackhawks, based solely on The Magic Show

Leader/MVP

Lakers - Kobe Bryant

Blackhawks - Jonathan Toews

Edge: Lakers, even though Kobe went 6-24 in Game 7 and Toews has the muttonchop edge

Unlikely Hero

Lakers - Ron Artest

Blackhawks - Dustin Byfuglein

Edge: Lakers, both made huge shots/goals throughout the playoffs, but Artest gets the edge for the most memorable postgame interview in recent memory...

Coach

Lakers - Phil Jackson

Blackhawks - Joel Quenneville

Edge: Lakers, although Quenneville has aged better

Defining Moment

Lakers - Ron Artest Clinching 3 in Game 7

Blackhawks - Patrick Kane OT Goal in Game 6

Edge: Blackhawks, on the most awkward title winning moment ever

Fans

Lakers - Jack & Hollywood

Blackhawks - Bill Murray & ... Jim Belushi?

Edge: Lakers, but at least the Chicago crowd doesn't need a billion dollar escrow account for botched plastic surgeries

Song

Lakers - I Love LA

Blackhawks - Chelsea Dagger

Edge: Blackhawks, da da da da da da da da da da da da da

Dynastybility

Lakers - 2 in a row, 3 straight Finals appearances

Blackhawks - 1 in a row, best young roster in NHL

Edge: Lakers, especially once LeBron James signs with them for the veteran minimum

Trophy

Lakers - Larry O'Brien Trophy

Blackhawks - Stanley Cup

Edge: Blackhawks, I bet you didn't even know the Finals trophy had a name!

In the words of the great Nick Bakay, when you break things down scientifically, the advantage goes to... the Blackhawks with a 7-6 victory in this best of 13 championship showdown. We'll be back tomorrow morning with our continuing World Cup thoughts, bye for now!

Flyers vs Blackhawks Game 6 Preview

Tonight, the Stanley Cup Playoffs may come to an end with the Blackhawks having a 3-2 series lead heading into Game 6 in Philadelphia. So, can the Blackhawks do it and win their first title since 1961? Or, will the Flyers force a deciding Game 7 back in Chitown? Let's look at some of the key factors in Game 6...

*Homeice Advantage

-They Flyers are an impressive 10-1 at the Wachovia Center in Philly. The Broad Street Bullies have pushed around the opposition at home, and in Games 3 and 4 their offense carried the day with 9 total goals. It's ironic that in a Stanley Cup Playoffs that had seen the road team actually win a majority of games heading into the final that now we have seen the home team win each of the first 5 games of the Stanley Cup Finals! The Hawks though are 2 for 2 in clinching games on the road this postseason and still have a 7-3 road record this postseason. The Blackhawks forced Game 3 into OT, and I would expect another close game tonight.

*Who's Between The Pipes?

-Michael Leighton, the Flyers young standout goalie, was pulled for the second time in the series after giving up 3 first period goals in Game 5. Brian Boucher came in and also gave up 3 goals before an empty netter gave Chicago their lucky 7. So, Flyers nation (if such a thing exists) has to wonder who is going to be between the pipes for the do or die Game 6? All signs point to Leighton getting the nod, but his save percentage is down from 95% against Montreal to 86.7% in the Finals. He's also giving up goals in bunches and gave up 3 each in Games 3 and 4 in Philly. It seems like the Hawks might have figured out Leighton, and if he allows 3 more goals in the first period tonight, there won't be another second chance.

*Star Watch

-Chris Pronger has become the lightning rod of the Stanley Cup Finals. First, Pronger had this ridiculous child-like habit of stealing the game pucks from Chicago wins. Now, the Chicago Tribune has made things personal with this picture (I guess, I assume hockey players don't like being shown in skirts). On the ice, it seemed like Chicago finally neutralized him effectively in Game 5 by switching up a couple lines and having Dustin Byfuglein be physical with him. Splitting up Byfuglein from Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews and shuffling the Chicago lines worked perfectly - Big Buff had 2 goals and Kane showed up with a goal and an assist. The Blackhawks have such good depth that splitting up Buff, Kane, and Toews means that the Flyers can match Pronger up with only one of them and each line remains effective. If Chicago spreads the wealth on their lines again and gets contributions from each of them, then the Cup can be claimed.

*Intangibles

-The momentum heading into this Game 6 is firmly with the Blackhawks. But, it's not like the Flyers are incapable of climbing out of a hole - see the 3-0 3-0 comeback against Boston. But, the Blackhawks offense is much more capable than the Bruins, and it's hard to see either Flyers goalie turn it on at this point. I would expect to see Chicago continue their Game 5 strategy of splitting the top line and upping the tempo against the Flyers with wave after wave of attack. As long as Antti Niemi can play somewhere near his best, I see the Blackhawks lifting the Cup tonight. I'm just sad we won't get to hear this...

PICK: Hawks 5 Flyers 3

7 Things We Missed On Memorial Day Weekend

With everything going on over the Memorial Day Weekend, it's a great time for our semi-regular feature and take a look at the 7 biggest sports stories from the weekend!

1) Niemi Says No!

-The Chicago Blackhawks are off to a 2-0 series lead over the Flyers after a thrilling 6-5 win in Game 1 and a tense 2-1 victory in Game 2. In Game 1, it was the Hawks offense led by players like Bolland, Brouwer, and Versteeg and not Kane and Toews. The depth of the 'Hawks stood out in Game 1 as they were able to outscore Philly. Then, in Game 2, it was Antti Niemi's turn to step up with several huge saves in the 3rd period to hold on to a 2-1 win. Both games took different complexions and Chicago fans have to be juiced that they were able to beat the Flyers in both an up-tempo game and a physical slugfest... and now they go on the road where they've won 7 straight games!

But, the best news for the NHL is TV ratings going up, even after last year's Stanley Cup Finals between Pittsburgh and Detroit. This news comes on the heels of record ratings for the first two rounds on Versus of all places. While the numbers won't threaten the other major sports, it is encouraging for the sport that there continues to be an increase in ratings... now if we can only bring back the glow puck! Here's Game 2...

2) Mr. Ashley Judd Wins The Indy 500

-Dario Franchitti won his 2nd Indy 500 on Sunday, using fuel mileage and a little luck with a last lap caution to emerge victorious on Sunday. Franchitti had the best car the entire race and was a very deserved winner. However, the race wasn't exactly a classic with few meaningful lead changes. Perhaps the most memorable moment came when Mike Conway had this terrifying crash on the final lap and suffered just leg and back injuries.

3) Kurt Busch Sweeps Charlotte

-The Coca-Cola 600 provided the traditional Memorial Day Sunday nightcap and it was Kurt Busch with his 2nd straight win at Charlotte after winning the All-Star Race last week. Busch sits 6th in the standings and looks on his way to making the chase. In looking at where we stand in NASCAR at the first of June, Kevin Harvick has a surprising lead at the top of the standings. Jimmie Johnson hasn't quite shown the consistent dominance as in years past, but is tied for the series lead with 3 wins. NASCAR desperately needs a competitive season and a new champion to help gain back some fans bored with the Johnson Era.

4) US On The Way To SA

-The US Soccer team won their sendoff game against Turkey 2-1 as they hit the road to South Africa. Bob Bradley played many more starters than against the Czechs, but it was a couple bench guys that shined the most - Jose Torres and Robbie Findley. Many questioned Findley's inclusion, but he helped set up the first goal and Torres played inspired two way soccer in the center of midfield during the second half. It was interesting to see the different combos that Bradley used up front - Altidore/Dempsey -> Altidore/Findley -> Dempsey/Findley. It looks like Bradley might go the Altidore/Dempsey route and use Findley's speed as a sub if needed. Nevertheless, there are still many options for the coach, and it looks like there are spots open as the US plays Australia Saturday in their last WC warmup.

5) England Names WC Squad

-Today, Fabio Capello named his squad for the World Cup. The surprise is the exclusion of winger wunderkind Theo Walcott. Thankfully, the US won't have to worry about seeing this in Rustenburg...

Walcott would have given the US a ton of trouble on the wings with their speed, but Aaron Lennon from Tottenham appears to have beat him out. Expect Steven Gerrard to be pushed wide left while Frank Lampard occupies the middle of midfield with either a fit Gareth Barry or perhaps Michael Carrick/Ledley King. The other worry for England is the 2nd striker spot where Capello picked Peter Crouch, Emile Heskey, and Jermaine Defoe beside Wayne Rooney. It is a dilemma for England, much like the US - do they change their style of play and place Rooney by himself with support from Gerrard/Lampard or pair him with Crouch or Heskey? So many questions surround this game and the subplots are so intriguing that I can't wait for June 12!

6) Just What The Doctor Ordered

-Roy Halladay continues to prove that he is the best pitcher of the Steroid Era. He became only the 5th Cy Young winner to throw a perfect game Saturday in Florida. It's amazing to think that Halladay has been around for 12 years now, getting his first win in 1998. The funny thing about Halladay is that his career numbers don't blow you away - 155 wins and a 3.37 ERA with only 2 20 win seasons. But, unlike others with injury issues (Santana) or ethical issues (Clemens), Halladay has been there through it all with the same consistency. Maybe now that he has a perfect game, and is pitching in a big American market, he'll get the credit he deserves.

7) The Grammatica Files

-Kendry Morales-Grammatica thought that with everything in the sports world going on this Memorial Day Weekend, that the best way to get his name in the papers was to go out and break a leg... literally. Morales becomes the first man in baseball history to injure himself while jumping on home plate while celebrating a walk-off home run! Congratulations Kendry! Of course it's a fluke thing and just plain bad luck... but you have to wonder if his own team will have him beaned when he gets back from the DL for breaking an "unwritten rule of baseball."

D'Oh!

Stanley Cup Finals Preview

Here we are, the Stanley Cup Finals are upon us with two of the most recognizable franchises in the NHL, the Blackhawks and Flyers. Can Chicago break one of the longest championship droughts in sports? Can the Flyers ring in a new era of the Broad Street Bullies? No matter who wins, the NHL will be the big winner if another classic series follows up last year's Stanley Cup Finals. Find out who has the edge in every matchup, here at RSS!

Blackhawks Offense vs. Flyers Defense

-While the young guns like Kane, Toews, Sharp have been consistently good throughout the playoffs, the real emerging star for the 'Hawks has been Dustin Byfuglein. After going scoreless in the 1st Round against Nashville, Big Buff has lit the world on fire scoring 8 goals, many of them game-winners.

Side Note: At the Blackhawks/Blue Jackets game we attended earlier this year, both Y1 and my lovely fiancee had to ask me who this Bye-foog-lin guy was.

Matching up with Big Buff will likely be all-world Flyers D Chris Pronger; their battles in front of the net will certainly be influential in this series. The rest of the Flyers defense is not exactly deep and the Blackhawks top 3 lines are all very dangerous in attack. If the Hawks can fight through the physicality the Flyers will try to enforce and raise the tempo, especially crossing through the neutral zone (I know, it almost sounds like real hockey analysis?!) they can control the series. Edge-Blackhawks

Flyers Offense vs. Blackhawks Defense

-Since their dramatic comeback against the Bruins, the Flyers have shown just as much depth offensively as the Blackhawks. Danny Briere, Claude Giroux, Simon Gagne, and captain Mike Richards all have at least 6 goals in the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Blackhawks have perhaps the best defensive pairing in the NHL in Brent Seabrook and Norris Trophy finalist (and now hero to all dentists) Duncan Keith. But, the Blackhawks defense doesn't stop there. Niklas Hjalmarsson has been fantastic throughout the playoffs, as well as forwards Dave Bolland and Marian Hossa, who shut down Joe Thornton in the Sharks series. While the Flyers have some weapons, it seems the Blackhawks have the capability to match them. Edge-Push

Goaltending

-If you had asked even the most hardcore NHL expert, they'd had thought you were crazy if you'd told them the goalies in the Stanley Cup Finals would be Antti Niemi and Michael Leighton. But, both have answered the call to carry their teams into the final round. As a rookie, Niemi was given the nod from the beginning of the playoffs and, after a shaky start, has really found his groove (1.67 GAA against San Jose). Meanwhile Leighton was forced into action after an injury to starter Brian Boucher against the Bruins. He certainly rose to the occasion with a 6-1 record in the playoffs, including 3 shutouts against Montreal. The key will be how both of these young goalies respond to the first bit of adversity. Based on Niemi facing much tougher offenses on his team's trip to the finals, he gets the slight edge. Edge-Blackhawks

Playoff Beards

-One of the great traditions that makes the Stanley Cup Playoffs so unique...the playoff beard! As a bearded man myself, I recognize the power full facial hair provides. The young Hawks were always going to struggle in this department...I'm not sure some players are even old enough to own razors. And, based on the "beard" grown by Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews...Chicago might be in trouble.

X-Factor

-There are so many weird X-factors in this series it almost boggles the mind! The Flyers do the impossible and come back from 3-0 down in the Conference Semis against the Bruins. The Blackhawks haven't won a Stanley Cup since 1961, but have won 7 straight road games! But, above them all is the curse of Marian Hossa. Hossa is the 1st player to reach 3 straight Stanley Cup with 3 different teams...of course, the only bad part is that he lost in his two previous appearances. That's definitely a bad sign for the Blackhawks and their fans. Edge-Flyers

The Pick

-So, with all of this in mind...who's the pick? While the Flyers have had a great run, it has to end here. They're a #7 seed for a reason, and the Blackhawks clearly represent the most talented team Philly will have faced in the playoffs. The Blackhawks will be able to pressure Michael Leighton unlike Boston or Montreal while relying on their composed defense and the hot hand of Antti Niemi. Look for Niemi to say NO! enough for the 'Hawks to close out the Flyers on the road in Game 6. Pick-Blackhawks in 6

NBA & NHL Playoff Pulse - Beginning The Conference Finals

As the Conference Finals begin in the NBA and NHL, the attention turns away from LeBron James and to the actual action on the court and the ice... at least we hope for a little while. With each series in the Conference Finals underway, it's time to check the Playoff Pulse!

1) Biggest Winner - Philadelphia Flyers

-The Flyers have emerged as the big winners thus far in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Coming back from 3-0 down against the Bruins to force Game 7, and then coming back from 3-0 down in Game 7 to win the series is something never seen before. Now, they have homeice advantage in the East Finals as a 7 seed and chased Jaroslav Halak in Game 1 winning 6-0. While many point to the Chicago/San Jose winner as the clear favorite, or Montreal as the team of destiny, don't discount the Flyers as perhaps both. Their run has been one of the most under-the-radar surprise playoff performances in recent memory. They will have to be weary that the Canadiens lost Game 1 against Pittsburgh and won in 7 games... but at this point, what can stop the Broad Street Bullies?

2) Biggest Loser - Dwight Howard

-Dwight Howard thinks he's one of the star players in the NBA. Dwight Howard thinks he's Superman. He's the reigning back to back defensive player of the year. But, in Game 1 he was exposed as a one trick offensive pony, who blocks shots and rebounds. Against the C's, he looked like an athletic version of Dikembe Mutombo and not the next Shaq. Howard had 13 and 12, but 7 TOs and shot only 3-10 from the field after going 27-32 against the Hawks. After several years in the league, he still has no low post game and strong defenders that can push him out from underneath the basket greatly limits his offense. Howard must step up his game tonight to find the magic again.

3) Best Performance - Antti Niemi

-Yes, Kobe had 40 points last night... but Niemi made 44 saves on Sunday against the Sharks (tied for the most in the last 13 years by a CHI goalie)! Down 1-0, he made several saves that kept Chicago in the game and allowed them to take a 2-1 lead into the final minutes. Niemi then fought off several shots in the last 2 minutes withstanding a 6 on 4 advantage from San Jose. Niemi was the major question mark for the Hawks coming into the playoffs, but has grown in stature and confidence throughout the playoffs. If Niemi plays this well, the Hawks could be playing for the Cup very soon.

4) Best Game - Game 1: Blackhawks 2 Sharks 1

-While the Magic's comeback was exciting, you never really felt like it would come off. The Suns/Lakers was high scoring but not close, and the Flyers blew out the Habs. So, the Hawks/Sharks Game 1 duel wins our honors for best game. It was tight and hard-fought and saw Chicago fight off a furious finish to claim homeice advantage.

5) Biggest Surprise - The Celts Keep Rolling

-It's amazing that this team was left dead in the water coming into the playoffs. Many folks said this team was finished, the Heat would beat them, and the Big 3 Ubuntu Era was over. Now? They are suddenly favorites to go back to the NBA Finals after dispatching LeBron and taking Game 1 in Orlando. The key to the C's resurgence has been the emergence of Rajon Rondo as the team's best player and a healthy Kevin Garnett. Suddenly this team has the chemistry, shotmaking, and defense of the '08 title crew. Is a Lakers rematch in the near future?

6) Biggest Question - Do The Suns Have A Chance?

-All throughout last night, I wanted to talk myself into thinking that Phoenix has a chance to upset the Lakers. With Steve Nash still at an All-NBA level, JR shooting lights out, and role players that the Suns have not had before... it makes you want to think that this is their year to reach the Finals. Then, they go out and allow 128 pts and 58% shooting to the Lakers in Game 1. I still hold out hope that the Suns have a chance, but after watching them get run off the floor last night, it is a faint glimmer at best. The Suns need Amare Stoudemire to step up and find some way to slow down the Laker attack, and quickly.

7) Game 2 Picks

NHL

Chicago @ San Jose

-The Blackhawks are now an incredible 6-1 on the road in these Stanley Cup Playoffs. With Antti Niemi hot, it seems like the Hawks have all the momentum in their favor. While talented, the Sharks have never had that closing ability. In a must-win game for San Jose, it's easy to picture them coming out tight and afraid to make a mistake. Also take into account the 5-0 edge SJ had in power plays evening out tonight, and Chicago might take a 2-0 lead back home.

PICKS: Y1/Y2: Blackhawks

Montreal @ Philadelphia

-The thing with Montreal is that they have an incredibly short memory. We've seen them bounce back in these Stanley Cup Playoffs time and time again. Game 2 is by no means a must-win for the Habs with the way they have played late in their previous 2 series... but, things are going so well for the Flyers that it is tough to pick against them. Y2 goes with the Canadiens to bounce back, but I see Philly flying.

PICKS: Y1: Flyers Y2: Canadiens

NBA

Boston @ Orlando

-The Celtics took Game 1 in Orlando and now they're playing with house money in Game 2. The Magic may not have what it takes to win this series, but they will win Game 2 whether it's due to a relaxation from Boston, resurgence from Dwight Howard, or a little help from the officials and the home crowd to take the series back to Boston 1-1. The Magic will continue their strong finish Sunday in Game 2, but Boston should still win the series.

PICKS: Y1/Y2: Magic

Phoenix @ LA Lakers

-The Lakers have had the best home advantage of any team in the playoffs thus far. They're unbeaten and have hardly even been challenged at Staples. With LBJ out of the spotlight, Kobe has all of the attention on himself to prove to the world that he's the league's best. The Suns' best chance to steal a game was last night... and it's unlikely that they find a defense to stop LA before tomorrow night.

PICKS: Y1/Y2: Lakers

NBA & NHL Playoff Pulse - Winding Down Round 2

As Round 2 comes to a close, there are some teams that have gone out with a whimper (see picture), some teams that exorcised demons in advancing, and some teams that are locked in classic duels to get one step closer to raising the trophy at the end of the season. Let's check the Playoff Pulse as we inch towards the Conference Finals.

1) Biggest Winner - Montreal Canadiens

-The Habs have emerged as the model for all #8 seeds to live by. They got in on the last weekend of the season, and entered the playoffs with the least number of points of any team. Most NHL observers, and us Johnny come lately Stanley Cup fans, figured the team with the most points, Washington, would sweep them. Or, when the series stood at 3-1, we thought the Caps would win in 5 games. Or 6. Surely they wouldn't lose Game 7 at home would they? Oh, they did. Well, Sidney Crosby and the Pens would surely end their Cinderella run.

Except, here we stand at another Game 7, with the Canadiens staring down the defending champs and the biggest star in hockey. It seems impossible, except this team has already done the impossible. The only precedent for what the Canadiens are doing came in 2006 when the 8th seeded Edmonton Oilers made it all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals before losing in 7 games to Carolina. Montreal's similar run has been led by a blueprint that all underdogs should follow - timely scoring, outworking opponents, and being firmly convinced that destiny is on your side. It could take them past Pittsburgh and well beyond.

2) Biggest Loser - Basketball Fans

-Basketball fans just suffered through a Conference Semifinal round with 3 sweeps. I wouldn't even call the Orlando/Atlanta thing a "series", it was more like a 4 game beatdown (more on that in a sec). The Lakers were never challenged against the Jazz like they were against Oklahoma City. After the high of the Thunder/Lakers duel, the Utah series was a total letdown. The third sweep, Phoenix over San Antonio, was at least a tad compelling. We had the side attraction of Los Suns, interesting games, and an underdog finally conquering one team's voodoo spell over them. But, that's 3 sweeps out of 4! Now, we're stuck without basketball for most of the next week... the West Finals don't start until next Monday. That's more than a week off for both teams! Well, at least there is hockey!

3) Best Performance - Rajon Rondo Game 3

-Bill Simmons has another interesting article in which he legitimately compares Rondo's Game 3 performance, and his numbers throughout this year's playoffs to Bird, Magic, Oscar, Wilt, and Jordan. Wow. That's basically the Mount Olympus of basketball players. Even when Mike Breen said we were watching one of the great Celtic playoff performances in history (Rondo's 29/18/13), it was hard to believe until you see the numbers that no other Celtic had ever had a game like that! Only Oscar and Wilt have had games as prodigious as Rondo. Regardless of who wins the Boston/Cleveland series, one thing is sure, the Rondo Era has begun in Boston.

4) Best Game - Game 6: Canadiens 4 Penguins 3

-One fair criticism of this year's playoffs is the lack of unbelievable games. The best game from the past few days has been the Canadiens surviving Game 6 and forcing a Game 7. The Montreal home crowd lifted the home team in an exciting, competitive game, and they were able to hold on at the end. Let's hope Game 7 provides just a little more drama.

5) Biggest Surprise - Not Closing The Deal

-Throughout these playoffs, the NHL version has been the antithesis of its NBA counterpart. Earlier in the playoffs we discussed the lack of home advantage in the NHL vs the NBA... now, NHL teams cannot close the deal in this round while NBA teams get the brooms out. 3 NHL teams (Chicago, Boston, Pittsburgh) have had opportunities to close out series and none have taken the chance. The Hawks and Bruins even blew chances in their own arenas to move on to the Conference Finals. Yes, Philly and Vancouver played well to extend their series, but one has to think its only a matter of time before they bow out. It should surprise nobody if Chicago and Boston bounce back to close the deal on the road... or even if Montreal can beat Pittsburgh and shock the world again.

6) Biggest Playoff Beatdown - Atlanta Hawks

-This has to rank among the all-time great playoff beatdowns, meltdowns, or whatever synonym you can think of to describe a team quitting on its coach, franchise, and each other. Good God. Could Atlanta at least have made one game competitive? At least finished within double digits one time? Would that be so hard to ask? Anybody who thought this was the next young team to take shape and become a legit contender should pack their bags and move to the Chicago or OKC bandwagon. This was such a bad beatdown that I didn't consider watching a second of any game because it was obvious after Game 1 that Atlanta was ready to go fishing. They set a record by losing a 4 game series by 25 points a game! I think that the 3 of us could grab the Van Gundys and the 5 of us could be more competitive than that. At least Stan could probably push Dwight Howard out from the basket a little bit.

**By the way... the Hawks' embarrassment was so profound that it got us thinking about the worst playoff beatdowns of all-time. Stay tuned...**

7) Tuesday/Wednesday Picks

-We'll wrap up the Playoff Pulse by picking the decisive games coming up as we finish the Conference Semifinals...

NHL

Game 6 - Chicago @ Vancouver @ Chicago - Series 3-2 'Hawks (Tuesday)

-Really, but Vancouver hasn't looked close to winning a game at home this series. Chicago has more mental toughness, and will make up for their own lapse of intensity in Game 5. The Hawks go on to face the Sharks.

PICKS: Y1/Y2: Blackhawks

Game 7 - Montreal @ Pittsburgh - Series 3-3 (Wednesday)

-Yes, Halak has done it before, but Sidney Crosby is not Alex Ovechkin. Crosby has won a Stanley Cup and scored the game-winning goal in the Gold Medal Game of the Olympics. Also, don't discount Pittsburgh's victory on the road in Game 7 last year in Detroit to lift the Cup. They know what it takes to win these sort of games, and they know what Montreal will throw at them. The Pens will be ready... I think...

PICKS: Y1/Y2: Penguins

Game 6 - Boston @ Philadelphia - Series 3-2 Bruins (Wednesday)

-There might be nothing more difficult than picking an individual NHL playoff game. I think I've said that before. This series is a perfect example. Just when you think the Bruins are on their way, the Flyers make you think that a 3-0 comeback is possible. So, logic would dictate going against that and picking Boston. That's really the best I can do people!

PICKS: Y1: Bruins Y2: Flyers

NBA

Game 5 - Boston @ Cleveland - Series 2-2 (Tuesday)

-The defining player of this series has shifted from LeBron James to Rajon Rondo. Rondo has been the one putting up sick numbers and taking games over by himself. How will LBJ respond? My take is that he will man up (as the reports indicate) and try to stop Rondo himself while putting up his own ridiculous numbers on offense. This is the most important game of the playoffs so far in either sport, something tells me the King is ready.

PICKS: Y1/Y2: Cavs

NBA & NHL Playoff Pulse 2nd Round Weekend Deluxe

Last night's playoff action was a pivotal evening with one team staving off elimination, one team on the brink, one team getting back home court, and one team taking its second straight game on the road... and Goran Dragic! Today, the Playoff Pulse hits the NBA and NHL Playoffs to tell you what you need to know from last night's action and looks ahead to the pivotal weekend showdowns.

1) Biggest Winner - LeBron James

-For 3 days we've heard nothing but doom and gloom surrounding LeBron James, his elbow, and the Cavaliers. They lost homecourt, their star was injured, and the LeBron Era would go out with a whimper in Cleveland while Cavs fans watch him leave today for New York, New York. Whispers are even going around that LeBron might not even be good enough to ever win a title. Ok... maybe that was a little premature. For 3 days, LeBron had to sit and listen to this and wait for his chance for redemption. The Cavs needed to win Game 3 and they did... and then some. LBJ outscored the C's 21-17 in the 1st Quarter and led the Cavs to inflict the worst home playoff defeat in Boston. James ended with 38/8/7 and reclaimed homecourt, but more importantly he got his mojo back.

2) Biggest Loser - San Antonio Spurs

-It's been a roller coaster year for San Antonio. Before the season started, we imagined them challenging the Lakers with their astute addition of Richard Jefferson. Then, an injury filled, subpar regular season had them 7th and an afterthought in the postseason. THEN, they beat the Mavs again and looked to be back on track with the emergence of George Hill and DeJuan Blair to help out the Spurs core. In the 2nd round, they faced a team they've bullied the entire decade - the Phoenix Suns. Shockingly, the Spurs have been in all of the games against Phoenix, but have seemed to run out of gas at the end and are on the brink of getting swept. The Suns' energy and improved bench play might finally be enough to see them conquer the Alamo.

3) Best Performance - Jonathan Toews

-Yes, there were flashier performances and probably more memorable ones... but, Jonathan Toews gets our nod for leading the Blackhawks to their second straight win in Vancouver with a hat trick in Chicago's 7-4 win. Toews scored all 3 of his points on the power play and also added 2 assists to take over the scoring lead in the NHL Playoffs. Toews, 22, gets lost in the shuffle of Crosby and Ovechkin, but his leadership from the front has brought the Blackhawks from despair to an appearance in the Conference Finals.

4) Best Game - Game 4: Flyers 5 Bruins 4 F/OT

-With the other 3 games being blowouts, this is an easy choice with the Flyers surviving against the Bruins and getting their first win in the series. Simon Gagne made his first appearance in the series and scored in OT to give the Flyers the win. It's a nice story and a good day for Philly fans... but expect it to be their only joy in this series. The Bruins will win Game 5 and set up a possible grudge match in the Conference Finals with the Pens (remember Matt Cooke knocking out Marc Savard) provided they get by Montreal.

5) Biggest Surprise - Goran Dragic?? Really??

-One of the most underrated cool things about the playoffs is when a guy comes from out of nowhere to put on the performance of a lifetime. That happened last night in Game 3 in San Antonio where little known Goran Dragic scored 23 of his 26 points in the 4th Quarter to pass and put away the Spurs. The 2nd year player from Yugoslavia had what Grant Hill called the best 4th quarter playoff performance he'd ever seen. Considering that the Spurs are 4 for 4 against the Suns in the playoffs since 2003... Dragic's heroics in putting Phoenix up 3-0 was a big deal. The Suns have always lacked that player that could lift the team behind Steve Nash - problem solved.

6) Highlight Play - LeBron's Alley Oop Lay In

-While not a posterization or a chasedown block, this play shows LeBron's sick athletic ability as he's able to take a short lob pass and flip it up and in...

7) Weekend Picks

-We'll wrap up the Playoff Pulse by picking all of the weekend games in the NHL and NBA Playoffs and Y2 joins me for our Weekend Preview...

NHL

Game 5 - Montreal @ Pittsburgh - Series 2-2 - Saturday 7PM

-There might be nothing more difficult than picking an individual NHL playoff game. We established a couple days ago that homeice teams are actually below .500 this year. The most important game of the playoffs for the defending champs is tonight in Game 5 against the Cinderella Canadiens. It's time for the Pens' stars to step up and win a game in the 3rd period. Tonight is the night for Crosby and Malkin to shine.

PICKS: Y1/Y2: Pens

Game 5 - Detroit @ San Jose - Series 3-1 Sharks - Saturday 10PM

-Thanks to the 4 goal effort of Detroit's Mule, Johan Franzen, the Red Wings are still alive against the West's best team. San Jose has a history of shaky playoff play, but they've been able to ride the hot hand of Joe Pavelski to a 3-1 lead. Still, the Red Wings are the defending conference champs, and that series-clinching victory is always the hardest. So, even on the road, I'll favor the veteran Wings to extend the series.

PICKS: Y1: Sharks Y2: Red Wings

Game 5 - Vancouver @ Chicago - Series 3-1 'Hawks - Sunday 8PM

-The Canucks have looked for revenge against the Blackhawks in the playoffs since their defeat to Chicago in this round last year. But, too much sloppy play has led to penalties, which has led to the Blackhawks cashing in on the power play, including 4 in Game 4. Both of us agree that the Canucks look a defeated team, and if the 'Hawks can keep up the pressure on Roberto Luongo, Chicago should close out the Canucks in five.

PICKS: Y1/Y2: Blackhawks

NBA

Game 3 - Orlando @ Atlanta - Series 2-0 Magic - Saturday 5PM

-Ugh. Will anyone watch this game? Orlando swept Charlotte, and they'll continue their run through the southeast by sweeping Atlanta, who has absolutely no answer for Superman. Normally you would expect a team in Atlanta's spot to bounceback... but the Hawks don't seem to have that type of attitude, and this is a terrible matchup for them. I would be shocked if the Hawks win a game in this series... I wonder if we'll hear anyone talk about the Magic going fo fo fo to get to the Finals?

PICKS: Y1/Y2: Magic

Game 3 - LA Lakers @ Utah - Series 2-0 Lakers - Saturday 8PM

-This series has looked remarkably similar to the Lakers' first round series against the Thunder. They were tested at home, but not challenged or threatened greatly in holding serve. They'll face another great home crowd in Utah. The Jazz have a better chance of winning Game 3 than Game 4, so they get one tonight, but it doesn't seem like they have enough firepower to get through the Lakers.

PICKS: Y1/Y2: Jazz

Game 4 - Cleveland @ Boston - Series 2-1 Cavs - Sunday 3:30PM

-The series nearest to my hear, the Celtics got embarrassed on their home court by a Cavs team who finally looked the part of a champion in these playoffs. It seems Game 4 comes down to two factors. First, if LeBron comes out with the same aggressive mentality from the beginning of the game in Game 4 that he did in Game 3, the Celtics have no chance. Balky elbow or not, James is unstoppable when he decides to be. But, the Celtics defense can also play a part by showing up. Second, the Celtics need consistent contributions from all of their top 4 players, most of all Finals MVP Paul Pierce, who aside from a 32 point outburst in Game 3 versus the Heat, is only averaging around 15 PPG in the playoffs. Y1 thinks the former champs will bounce back, while I believe King James is ready to begin his coronation as the ruler of the playoffs.

PICKS: Y1: Celtics Y2: Cavs

Game 4 - Phoenix @ San Antonio - Series 3-0 Suns - Sunday 8PM

-Nobody, not even the diehard Suns fans (if there are such people) saw this one coming. Regardless of what you think about Los Suns, perhaps that has unified and rallied this team together. In fairness though, they have looked like they have had great chemistry all year long with a starting unit and bench that need each other. For the Suns, it's been guys like Jared Dudley and Goran Dragic that look like getting Phoenix back to the Conference Finals. Tough to see Tim Duncan getting swept, but it either happens in Game 4 or 5, so why not just get it over with now, right?

PICKS: Y1: Suns Y2: Spurs

NHL Playoff Pulse - Round 2 Picks

No, your eyes aren't deceiving you, we are going to talk some NHL on Randall Simon's Sausages. Now that we've hit Round 2, it's time for us to focus in on the NHL and NBA Playoffs. We'll have a regular feature called our Playoff Pulse, which will keep you updated with the best performances, biggest chokes, and most interesting observations on the ice and hardwood. It's the perfect place for fans to come who love playoff action! So, with that, let's preview the Conference Semis in the NHL!

Eastern Conference

(4) Pittsburgh vs. (8) Washington

-The lone Top 4 seed to advance out of the 1st round of the East just happens to be the defending Stanley Cup Champs, the Pittsburgh Penguins. But, instead of the dream matchup with Ovechkin's Capitals, it's Jaroslav Halak and the Montreal Canadiens. The Canadiens were able to pull the upset based on large part to Halak standing on his head, timely and tough defense, and a lack of heart from the Caps. Unfortunately for those north of the border, the Pens don't suffer from such a problem. Add to that Malkin and Crosby playing as well as they have all year, and this one should be over soon. Pick: Pens in 5

(6) Boston vs. (7) Philadelphia

-A running theme in these playoffs has been rookie goalies rising to the occasion, one of which is Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask. Rask is stepping in for Tim Thomas and has proved cool under pressure, even outdueling Olympic hero Ryan Miller in Round 1. Meanwhile, the Flyers dominated the 2nd seeded Devils in Round 1 and are being led from the front by their two best players, Chris Pronger and Mike Richards. However, the difference in the series will be the return of Bruins C Marc Savard from a concussion, one of the most underrated players in the league. Pick: Bruins in 7

Western Conference

(1) San Jose vs. (5) Detroit

-Sure, San Jose got past their 1st round bugaboo, but their reward is facing the defending Western Conference champion Red Wings. The Wings reminded me a lot of the Spurs this season, coasting just enough to get in, and then raising their game in the postseason to down a game Coyotes team on the road in Game 7. The emerging star for the Sharks is Joe Pavelski, who is tied for the playoff lead with 7 goals and has surpassed Olympic teammates Heatley, Marleau, and Thornton. Add to that the Wings are starting another rookie goalie in Jimmy Howard, and this looks like a golden opportunity for the Sharks...but, then again, these are the Red Wings. And, as the series gets longer, their veterans will be enough to pull them through with another Game 7 win on the road. Pick: Wings in 7

(2) Chicago vs. (3) Vancouver

-This is the series with the most anticipation because, frankly, these two teams don't like each other. The Blackhawks dumped Vancouver out of the playoffs last year thanks to a Patrick Kane hat-trick, and there have been several incidents between the teams throughout the regular season. Both teams have dynamic offenses with Vancouver led by Ryan Kesler and the Sedin twins while the Blackhawks have their young guns of Kane, Toews, and their new acquisition Marian Hossa. The goaltending matchup is also surprisingly even with the much heralded Roberto Luongo battling Hawks rookie Antti Niemi, both of whom can range from superb to subpar. However, the difference will be in the special teams, where the Blackhawks have dominated so far in the playoffs on the power play and penalty kill. Pick: Hawks in 7

There's our attempt at covering the NHL, and we're all still in one piece, right? Join us throughout for our regular recaps and look aheads in both the NHL and NBA. We'll be back to reset heading into Round 2 of the NBA playoffs soon as well. Until then, it's bye for now!

7 Things We Missed This Weekend

Wow. That was quite the weekend of sports action. With the NBA and NHL Playoffs underway, the MLB season in full gear, and the EPL race coming down to the wire - there is a lot of stuff going on! Oh, and the NFL Draft begins this Thursday! Our Mock Draft will be coming later this week, but first let's recap what went on in the world of sports with 7 Things We Missed This Weekend.

1) NBA Playoffs

-The NBA Playoffs aren't known for their upsets, and that was true for each of the series openers this weekend. In 8 series, only 1 road team, Portland, won Game 1. Oklahoma City had a good chance to win in LA, but Kevin Durant and the Thunder shot poorly. The Cavs were in cruise control against the Bulls and the Mavs won a hard fought game against the Spurs. Perhaps the highlight of the opening weekend though was this fracas in Boston's win over Miami which leaves Kevin Garnett suspended for Game 2. At least this time Paul Pierce didn't need a wheelchair...

2) Stanley Cup Playoffs

-The biggest stories thus far from the early stages of R1 in the Stanley Cup Playoffs are the amount of road wins that we've seen. 10 of 19 games have been won by road teams thus far. Each series is either tied at 1 or stands at 2-1. Under most pressure are the top seeds in each conference - Washington, New Jersey, San Jose, and Chicago are all currently without homeice advantage. We'll take a more in-depth look at the Stanley Cup Playoffs later this week, but for now check out this goal that won't be showing up on Dan Boyle's personal highlight reel to leave the Sharks down 2-1...

3) Ubaldo No No

-It's always cool when somebody throws a no-hitter, and Ubaldo Jimenez threw the first in the long, prestigious history of the Colorado Rockies Saturday night in Atlanta. Jimenez had 6 walks and 7 strikeouts in the game, and was helped by a diving catch in the outfield by Dexter Fowler. Here's the highlights...

4) 20 Inning Game

-On the same night no less, the Mets beat the Cardinals 2-1 in 20 innings! It was scoreless for the first 18! So much for that Steroid Era. Jose Reyes' sac fly in the 20th ended up winning the game for the Mets, who are in the NL East cellar at 4-8. Don't put too much into the MLB Standings before June though, or at least while the Pirates are above .500. Oh, and the highlights? Well, it was scoreless for 18 innings and the game winning run was scored on a sac fly - I think I'd rather watch... darts! With Phil Taylor and James Wade tying 7-7 in the Premier League on Thursday, how about we relive this unreal leg of darts from 2008!

5) Manchester Derby

-In the EPL, Manchester United got back into the title race with a last minute 1-0 win at their city rivals Manchester City. Paul Scholes scored in the last minute of stoppage time to get the win. Later in the day, Tiger Woods' biggest fan John Terry got the boot as Chelsea lost to Tottenham. Those results leave Chelsea 1 pt ahead of United at the top and Tottenham 2 pts ahead of Man City for the last Champions League qualifying place. If Chelsea win at Liverpool on May 2nd they'll likely sweep their last 3 and win the title. Meanwhile, 4th spot will come down to the last game of the season - Tottenham @ Man City. Great stuff to end the season, here's Scholes' winner...

6) Champions League Semis

-The cloud of volcanic ash and grounded flights in the UK has put Fulham and Liverpool's Europa League semis in doubt, but on the continent the Champions League semis appear to be ready to go. Lyon plays at Bayern Munich and Barcelona plays at Inter Milan this week. In their respective leagues, Barca is 1 pt ahead of Real Madrid after winning at the Bernebeau last week, Inter trails Roma by 1 pt in Italy (having won 4 straight Serie A titles), Bayern lead in Germany by 2 pts after winning at Schalke recently, and Lyon is surprisingly 3rd in Ligue 1 trailing Marseille by 9 pts. While English clubs have dominated the CL in the past couple years - this year is a treat because the 4 sides left are the 4 preeminent clubs in the best continental leagues. My picks are Barca and Bayern. I know you're asking for footage of the giant ash cloud instead of more highlights!

7) One Last Thing

-As always, our last thing covers something a little weird or miscellaneous. First, check out this video of Brian Davis costing himself a playoff win at Hilton Head by calling a penalty on himself. Yes, golf is a gentlemen's game. Jim Furyk ended up with the win. Second, I don't know who any of these guys are, but watch as the typical boxing/wrestling scene plays out... 1) Guy interviewed after winning fight 2) 2nd guy jumps into ring wanting a fight 3) The brawl is on - it's a standard formula. I was waiting for Vince McMahon to enter the ring or Rock Newman directing traffic with his giant cell phone. But, as Gus Johnson points out, having this happen on network TV doesn't put MMA into a good light and makes it seem rather cartoonish. Oh well, at least it's fun to watch!

7 Things We Missed This Weekend

Due to our extended absence covering the NCAC Swimming Championships in Canton, OH, there is a lot in the sports world that we need to get caught up on RSS nation! I will say that we had a better than expected time at the swim meets, and I discovered that swimming may be the toughest sport to do play by play for! Luckily we survived, and it actually was quite fun. While Snowmageddon 2010 continues in central Ohio, here's 7 Things We Missed This Extended Weekend!

1. NBA All-Star Game

-The largest crowd ever to watch a hoops game showed up at Jerry Jones palace for the 2010 All-Star Game. The NBA's version of the ASG is by far the best and most entertaining in all of sports and Sunday night's game showed why. The spectacle was one of the cooler sights that I've seen, and it takes away from David Stern's news that the league will lose 400 million dollars this year! (BTW, don't be surprised if we hear about both NBA and NFL labor trouble soon). The game was its usual barrage of highlights until late fouls made it a free throw shooting contest. Dwyane Wade won MVP and the East won 141-139, roll the highlights!

2. Slam Dunk Contest

-While the ASG is better than ever, the slam dunk contest is coming off perhaps the worst competition in the history of the event. When your star for the evening is Nate Robinson, you know there are issues. In looking at the lack of star power in the field, you knew it would take something awesome to make this a memorable slam dunk. In the end, it underwhelmed completely as Lil' Nate took his 3rd title. The dunk contest doesn't need fixed, just like the HR derby or any other skills contest. The actual nuts and bolts are still as good of an idea as ever. What it does need are the stars of the game to step up and save it before it fades away into oblivion. The dunk contest won't be able to survive the Nate Robinsons and Shannon Browns of the world too much longer. Wait a sec, wasn't this guy supposed to be in it?

3. Daytona 500

-A pothole?? At Daytona?? Seriously?? NASCAR is coming into a make or break year as far as its popularity on the national stage and 2 hours of delays during your Super Bowl of racing is not the best way to start the year. Could you imagine last week if Peyton Manning and Drew Brees had to sit in the locker room for an extra 2 hours (let alone wheeling The Who on and off stage) because of a hole in the turf? Jamie McMurray was able to hold off Little E in an exciting end, but two more problems arose for NASCAR. Another year without a big name winner, and more calamity and the end of the green/white/checkered finish. NASCAR has always been ahead of the curve (get it?) as far as rules and standards go, and they'll need to revisit plenty in the coming weeks.

4. College BBall Comings & Goings

-Coming: KU and UK - 1/2 in the polls and still with only 1 loss. They both beat Top 15 teams this week in Texas and Tennessee respectively.

Going: Texas - 5 losses out of 8 to drop them from #1 to #17 in the polls.

Coming: Ohio State - blowout win on the road at Illinois. With POY candidate Evan Turner healthy, the Bucks are a legit darkhorse

Going: West Virginia - two losses to ranked Big East teams, while tough games, this team may not be a true title contender

Coming: Big XII - Texas A&M and Baylor make the Top 25 this week while they also have strong teams like Missouri and Oklahoma, they may be the deepest conference in the country.

Going: Cornell - sorry Nard dog, the Big Red's stay in the Top 25 lasted about as long as your engagement to Angela. Maybe this video will make Cornell fans feel better...

5. NHL = No Hockey League... For 2 Weeks At Least

-Is the Olympic break a good or bad thing for the NHL? Being a casual hockey fan who checks out the occasional game and tunes in for the Stanley Cup playoffs, it's a good thing. I'll watch a lot more hockey at the Olympics than I would during the regular season. I'll get to know players that I would not care about seeing during the regular season. The Winter Olympics gives hockey a much needed attraction and attention that a normal regular season schedule would not bring. It would be foolish for the NHL to abandon the Winter Olympics because the NHL gets more focus when they aren't playing this time of year. On another note, we were at this sweet game in the 5th row yesterday between the Blackhawks and Blue Jackets. The NHL actually does put on a good show at times!

6. Epic Oprah Fail

-What could possibly put a damper on the Saints winning the Super Bowl? How 'bout Oprah trying to wipe Drew Brees' birthmark off his face...

7. Epic Torch Fail

-What could be even more awkward than #6? How 'bout an epic fail with hundreds of millions of eyes watching, and Canada's greatest athlete looking like he's going to set a stadium on fire with the Olympic flame, check out the hilarious link and Gretzky's reaction about a minute in.

Quick Hits: 5 Random NHL Observations

We just got back from Nationwide Arena where the Blue Jackets fell in a shootout to the Phoenix Coyotes 2-1. This was our first NHL game in a couple years, and since we don't talk too much hockey here at RSS let's do a quick hit with 5 observations from the game and where the league is at from a big picture perspective.

1) The on-ice product is good. There is very little clutching and grabbing, and the game is fast-moving and goes up and down the ice quickly. The rule emphases that the NHL has administered work well to lead to an entertaining game. There were only 2 scores, but there were plenty of chances throughout the game. If only the NHL could get some exposure, people would see good games.

2) That being said... the talent level isn't where it should be. There were plenty of mistakes, missed passes, and turnovers. Granted, the Blue Jackets have now lost 13 of 15, but besides a couple standout guys like Rick Nash, the overall talent is subpar. Is this a product of the NHL expanding way too much too fast earlier in the decade? Hmmm...

3) There are voices that want to take fighting and thuggery out of the game. The only time in the first 2 and 1/2 periods when fans got out of their seats was during... a fight! Enforcers are an important part of the NHL. While it is correct to say that there needs to be strict enforcement on dirty play, fighting is a part of the game that fans get juiced about. For better or for worse, it's not going anywhere.

4) One of the best ideas to come to American sports is the NHL shootout. It's incredibly exciting to witness in person, and gives teams a chance for an extra point. While it is ridiculous to look at overtime losses in the points column, it is a fair and exciting system that is good for the fans.

5) In the big picture for the NHL, the league has to continue to make strides in publicity (like the very successful Winter Classic). But, they could also use some American stars to spotlight alongside the brilliance of Crosby, Ovechkin, and Nash. There were a combined 5 American players on the Coyotes and Blue Jackets tonight. The international flavor is comparable to the English Premier League in soccer. But, unlike the EPL, the American sports fan has trouble getting attached to foreign stars because we're just not used to it. Unless you're a diehard follower of these teams, the average sports fans won't know 75% of players because of a lack of visibility and familiarity. The NHL has to work hard in these areas to get people to notice and care about an entertaining product.

What do you think about the NHL? Do you care at all? Is it moving in the right direction? Let us know by leaving a comment and check back tomorrow for our RSS Bowl Pick Em! Bye for now...

7 Things We Missed This Weekend

Time for our Monday look back at the wide world of sports. In case you missed it, the world's most famous athlete was involved in a minor accident. If you consider rumors of a golf-club wielding wife and a rumored affair for the world's most famous athlete minor. We'll also hit the NBA and the NHL, one of the best rivalry games in the world, Bud Selig, and another champion being crowned. Just watch out for those fire hydrants, they jump out at you...

1. Tiger

-Wow, this is not how we are used to seeing Tiger Woods in the headlines. By now you probably know everything that happened and all the rumors. Out of all the takes out there on the web, this article inside Tiger's issues from Gary Van Sickle is the best. You know all of the questions: where was he going at that time of night? How do you hit a fire hydrant & a tree out of your own driveway? Why smash a golf club through the back window of an SUV after a minor accident? And so on and so forth...

But, let's take a different angle. How has Woods handled this whole HydrantGate? (I'll take better suggestions) Frankly, Tiger has done about as well after this mess than he did on the Back 9 at the 2009 PGA. This is the first time his perfect off-course image has come under any scrutiny. Look at Tiger's statement: he says he's a human being and he's not perfect. Umm.. ok? Isn't that ultra defensive and a little condescending; you hit a tree, it's not like committing adultery or anything, whoops.... He talks about the irresponsible, false rumors and hammers home his need for privacy time and time again like we're all taking pictures during his backswing.

Again, the whole statement is so defensive and standoffish that one has to wonder what is really going on here. Why release such a dramatic statement to the public and then refuse to talk to the police? Why wait 2 days to release a statement that could have come yesterday afternoon? Tiger has definitely flubbed a chip shot here. Now the police want a warrant to check for probable cause of a crime being committed. There's certainly more to follow.

(By the way, Tiger's Top 4 Google Searches: mistress, accident update, girlfriend, and... fart.)

2. Bud

-Maybe Bud Selig himself hasn't heard the news, but, he is stepping down after the 2012 season. The reasoning? That's when the Mayan Apocalypse is going to come of course. You wouldn't think MLB could exist without Uncle Bud did you?? Evidently Bud wants to pursue other interests besides being the most knuckleheaded commissioner in sports while he still can. Oh, by the way, he'll be 78! It's not good for Bud that the two defining images from his time in office is the '94 Strike and the All-Star Game tie. Oh, and that whole steroids thing. The obituary on the Bud Selig Era can be written if and when he does step aside. And if we survive Bud Selig stepping down as a sign of the apocalypse.

3. El Clasico

-The big news from the world of soccer comes from La Liga in Spain where Barcelona beat eternal rival Real Madrid in El Clasico 1-0 on a 56th minute goal from Swedish star Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Barca had to hold on for the last half hour after Sergio Busquets was sent off after a second yellow. For all of the hundreds of millions that Real Madrid spent on Ronaldo, Kaka, Alonso, and Benzema, they couldn't get a single goal when it counted most. That's pathetic. Although, we should give the credit to Barca's heroic defense. Valdes in goal, along with the backline of Abidal, Pique, Puyol, and Alves were heroic all match long with dramatic saves and blocks all over the place. It was one of the best defensive efforts in all of my years watching soccer (3, I think) and moved Barcelona to the top of La Liga. You have to wonder if the new Galacticos will be able to bring Real the glory their paychecks demand. Here's the highlights...

4. Loose Nets

-Last night the Nets tied a legendary record by losing their 17th straight game to start the '09-'10 NBA season at the Lakers (highlights below). At least they gave Lawrence Frank 16 games to turn it around! Seriously though, we knew the Nets would be bad, but historically bad? It's a surprise. Thank goodness both of us picked the Under on 28.5 wins in our season preview! The reason the Nets are so bad? They are last in the Triple Crown of offensive stats (PPG, FG%, 3PT FG%). They're actually a decent defensive team (9th in PPA) which makes their 0-17 start so stunning. The thing that's killing this team is any veteran leadership. Half of their top scorers are in their 1st-3rd year in the league and Rafer Alston isn't exactly the guy I want captaining a sinking ship. CDR, Brook Lopez, and T-Will might all turn out to be great players some day, some day.

5. Random NBA Thoughts

-The teams most thankful for NJ's start? 3-14 New York and 2-15 Minnesota, yipes... so much for the East being much deeper, 6 teams have a winning record, ick... Boston is already 6 games up in the division with 7-11 Toronto in 2nd place... Phoenix and Dallas just might stick around at the top of the West, while the Hornets are digging a big hole... Carmelo Anthony - MVP? (highlights of his fitty vs the Knicks below)... if AI signed with Philly it would be the perfect way to end his career, this Stephen A. Smith retirement is no way for a Hall of Famer to go out.

6. What The Heck, Let's Talk Some NHL!

-I think this is the first time in my lifetime I've seen Detroit out of the West Top 8... me thinks the NHL is rooting for a Caps/Pens, Ovie/Sid Eastern Conference Final matchup... Joe Thornton might be the most underrated player in hockey, and sports... the Coyotes look to be better off without the Great One behind the bench... how about Pens v Flames for an insanely early Finals pick... I understand wanting to bring back fans with a lot of goals, but it might be bordering on too much, these are the scores of Saturday's 13 games: 6-1, 4-3, 5-1, 4-3, 1-0, 4-3, 4-3, 8-3, 4-1, 4-3, 7-3, 3-1, 2-1... that's a 5.5 average if you take away the extra 6 shootout finals, not quite the days of the Left Wing Lock. Speaking of goals, let's check out Sidney Crosby's Saturday Hat Trick vs the Rangers...

7. Another "Champion" Is Crowned

-You know we always like to end with a comedy bit, and what better to fill those shoes this week than the championship of the UFL!! It went by so quick, I can't believe I'm watching the NFL and college football instead of this! I kid, I kid. Here's the highlights of the Las Vegas Locos' upset of the undefeated Florida Tuskers in the 2009 UFL Championship Game (I'm getting goosebumps just typing this...). By the way, this has an astonishing 279 views on Youtube, which makes it 139,235 views behind a video of paint drying as of press time, I'm not making that up. Anyways, about those highlights? Eh, who cares, here's the video of the game and of paint drying, you decide which one you would rather watch...

Check back later tonight as Mr Yoder II takes you through the world of College Football with the YCS Standings and the Heisman Watch, who will be #1 out of McCoy, Gerhart, Ingram, and Tebow? And check back tomorrow for our Protecting the Shield NFL recap and continuation of our Top 10 Games of the Decade countdown!