I heard the news today that NFL Europa would be ceasing operations after 17 years of existence. Considered the NFL's "minor league" or "developmental league", NFL Europa has become a place where players looking for a chance to improve themselves and maybe show scouts something that may catch their eye. Take this year for example. I actually knew who Casey Bramlet was before the World Bowl a couple of days ago. However, for those who didn't, and still may not, he is the quarterback of the Hamburg Sea Devils, and a member of the Washington Redskins. He was also the World Bowl MVP this year, with 347 passing yards. He showed everyone something out there, and in the next few years, he could possibly receive more attention. I guess only time will tell.
What interests me is "now what"? What will the NFL do for development now?
Mark Cuban's "league"may be a viable option for the NFL. The league would not be in competition with the NFL, but rather a partner. Because honestly, why bother trying to compete with the NFL? It's a lost cause.
The other possibility could just be another developmental league, this time in the United States, but free of Mark Cuban. I have a solid suggestion for how to organize said league of course.
1. Eight teams, just like NFL Europa, except each division owns one team. Example- the AFC East would collectively hold the rights to a franchise to develop all of their players together. This could enhance the rivalries within the divisions, as well as add more interest to the developmental league for the fans.
2. Center the locations of the new eight franchises in the vicinity of the NFL teams, to create a more regional flavor.
3. Market the development league teams alongside the NFL teams.
Just to make a case here, I'll pick eight citites to put NFL teams in, also listing which division they would be attached to.
AFC EAST- Louisville
AFC NORTH- Des Moines
AFC SOUTH- Norfolk
AFC WEST- Los Angeles
NFC EAST- Long Island
NFC NORTH- Salt Lake City
NFC SOUTH- Oklahoma City
NFC WEST- Portland
So that's just my take on what the NFL should do. I guess we'll see how it plays out, but this seems like a solution that will work in the long term.
Interesting week in baseball. Following being no-hit by Justin Verlander last week, the Brewers go on a complete tear. Interleague play is still about as one-sided as a pickup game between me and Tim Duncan, in ANY sport. My Mets have resurrected my sanity with a respectable 4-2 week, including the semi-impressive sweep of Oakland. Sunday almost saw ANOTHER no-hitter, this time in Toronto. For a rare feat, we are seeing quite a few players almost go the distance on no-hitters this season, with two actually doing it. I guess that's why it's so rare though. So very few actually complete that game with no hits, even if they take one into the 8th or 9th. In the Fanatic Power Poll, the positions have changed slightly. Boston, who was barely trailing the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim last week, takes over the top spot due to strength of schedule. Sorry, that's just the college sports enthusiast showing itself a little early.
Also included under the poll is my updated All-Star picks. Enjoy.
The "Fanatic" Power Poll (records as of 6/24)
1. Boston Red Sox (48-26, LW 2)
2. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (49-27, LW 1)
3. Detroit Tigers (45-29, LW 5)
4. Milwaukee Brewers (43-32, LW 9)
5. Arizona Diamondbacks (44-32, LW 6)
6. Cleveland Indians (43-31, LW 4)
7. New York Mets (41-32, LW 10)
8. San Diego Padres (42-32, LW 3)
9. Los Angeles Dodgers (42-33, LW 7)
10. Minnesota Twins (38-35, LW 15)
11. Seattle Mariners (39-33, LW 16)
12. Oakland Athletics (39.35, LW 8)
13. Colorado Rockies (38-37, LW 12)
14. Philadelphia Phillies (39-36, LW 13)
15. Toronto Blue Jays (37-37, LW 17)
16. New York Yankees (36-37, LW 11)
17. Chicago Cubs (35-39, LW 20)
18. Atlanta Braves (38-38, LW 14)
19. Florida Marlins (36-40, LW 18)
20. Tampa Bay Devil Rays (33-40, LW 19)
21. St. Louis Cardinals (33-39, LW 21)
22. San Francisco Giants (32-42, LW 26)
23. Houston Astros (32-43, LW 23)
24. Washington Nationals (32-43, LW 22)
25. Texas Rangers (30-45, LW 30)
26. Kansas City Royals (30-46, LW 25)
27. Baltimore Orioles (32-43, LW 29)
28. Pittsburgh Pirates (31-44, LW 24)
29. Cincinnati Reds (29-47, LW 27)
30. Chicago White Sox (29-42, LW 28)
ALL-STAR PICKS
AL-C-Posada (NYY), 1B-Morneau (MIN), 2B-Polanco (DET), 3B-Rodriguez (NYY), SS-Jeter (NYY), OF-Ordonez (DET), OF- Guerrero (LAA), OF-Hunter (MIN)
NL-C-Martin (LAD), 1B-Fielder (MIL), 2B-Utley (PHI), 3B-Cabrera (FLA), SS-Reyes (NYM), OF-Holliday (COL), OF-Griffey (CIN), OF-Lee (HOU)
LEADING VOTE-GETTER, BOTH LEAGUES:ALEX RODRIGUEZ, NYY
As I stated in my post yesterday, the All-Star picks and Power Poll will become a weekly staple of the "Fanatic" blog. Following this week, the picks and poll (yes, I know I promised that I woud think of something better than "Power Poll", but well, I didn't, so sorry) will be posted on Mondays in the same post.
Just to add a brief note about the last week in baseball, my Mets are starting to scare me a little. The team has won 3 of their last 15 games, and has played miserably overall, save the 3-0 gem in the first game against the Yankees on Friday. The scari-ER part of the whole thing- they're still in first place. I'd like to thank the Braves, Marlins, Phillies, and Nationals for that. We couldn't have done it without you. That being said, the Number 1 team this week is the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Congratulations.
The "Fanatic" Power Poll (records as of 6/18)
1. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (44-26, 6-4 L10)
2. Boston Red Sox (44-24, 7-3)
3. San Diego Padres (40-28, 5-5)
4. Cleveland Indians (40-28, 4-6)
5. Detroit Tigers (39-29, 6-4)
6. Arizona Diamondbacks (40-30, 4-6)
7. Los Angeles Dodgers (39-30, 5-5)
8. Oakland Athletics (37-31, 6-4)
9. Milwaukee Brewers (38-31, 5-5)
10. New York Mets (37-30, 2-8)
11. New York Yankees (35-32, 9-1)
12. Colorado Rockies (35-34, 7-3)
13. Philadelphia Phillies (36-33, 6-4)
14. Atlanta Braves (37-33, 4-6)
15. Minnesota Twins (34-33, 6-4)
16. Seattle Mariners (35-31, 5-5)
17. Toronto Blue Jays (33-35, 5-5)
18. Florida Marlins (33-37, 4-6)
19. Tampa Bay Devil Rays (30-37, 5-5)
20. Chicago Cubs (31-37, 5-5)
21. St. Louis Cardinals (30-36, 4-6)
22. Washington Nationals (30-39, 6-4)
23. Houston Astros (30-39, 6-4)
24. Pittsburgh Pirates (30-39, 5-5)
25. Kansas City Royals (28-42, 6-4)
26. San Francisco Giants (30-38, 3-7)
27. Cincinnati Reds (27-43, 5-5)
28. Chicago White Sox (28-37, 2-8)
29. Baltimore Orioles (29-40, 2-8)
30. Texas Rangers (26-43, 5-5)
I love baseball season. It's almost as good as football season and the college basketball season. I say almost, because I only start to get enthralled in the baseball season around 2 months in, while I am fixed on football and college basketball from beginning to end.
With this blog still in its virtual infancy, I've decided to start up a couple of traditions that I hope will become long-standing. We'll start with this weekly update of my picks for the All-Star Game. Tomorrow will begin my weekly "Power Poll", for lack of a better name right now. I'm sure I'll figure out something a little less "used", shall I say by the time I post it up.
So, without further delay, my picks for the 2007 MLB All-Star Game. All stats prior to the games played on June 17th.
American League
C- Jorge Posada, NYY (.347 BA/8 HR/41 RBI)
1B- Justin Morneau, MIN (.275 BA/19 HR/51 RBI)
2B- B.J. Upton, TB (.320 BA/9 HR/.545 SLG)
3B- Alex Rodriguez, NYY (.309 BA/26 HR/70 RBI)
SS- Derek Jeter, NYY (.343 BA/49 R/.421 OBP)
OF- Magglio Ordonez, DET (.367 BA/61 RBI/.653 SLG)
OF- Vladmir Guerrero, LAA (.329 BA/61 RBI/.565 SLG)
OF- Torii Hunter, MIN (.307 BA/54 RBI/.560 SLG)
National League
C-Russell Martin, LAD (.288 BA/7 HR/41 RBI)
1B- Prince Fielder, MIL (.291 BA/24 HR/53 RBI)
2B-Chase Utley, PHI (.314 BA/12 HR/54 RBI)
3B- Miguel Cabrera, FLA (.337 BA/16 HR/51 RBI)
SS- Jose Reyes, NYM (.319 BA/48 R/37 SB)
OF-Matt Holliday, COL (.360 BA/52 RBI/.601 SLG)
OF- Carlos Lee, HOU (..305 BA/55 RBI/.514 SLG)
OF- Ken Griffey Jr., CIN (.288 BA/18 HR/.575 SLG)
LEADING VOTE GETTER, BOTH LEAGUES: Alex Rodriguez, NYY
Well, those are my picks as of right now. Yes, I know, my National League is a joke. And I also know that I picked 3 Yankees for the A.L. squad, despite the fact that I despise the team. Let the debates begin.
Well, we've finally reached the formerly highly entertaining event that is known as the NBA Finals. I'd have to say I'm a little disappointed, but hey, you can't win'em all- or any, in the case of me with the NBA. Even with my disappointment in the worst playoffs I've ever witness (or failed to by the second round, when I stopped watching), I will say that it is has given birth to a new point in NBA, maybe even sports history. You all recall "one of the greatest playoff performances ever" last week, when LeBron James lit up the Pistons and single-handedly carried the Cavaliers on his back. Well, that could finally be the passing of the guard we were looking for since Michael Jordan retired the second time.
Think of everyone that has been dubbed the "Next MJ" since His Airness retired following his sixth title, a monumental victory against the Utah Jazz in six games with Jordan himself putting the exclamation on the sixth game, series, and at that time, his career. After that, many wondered who the "Next MJ" would be. They thought it was Vince Carter, but though he's self-absorbed enough to be like Jordan, he lacks the raw skill and intensity to be considered anywhere close to Jordan in the history of the Association. Some thought Allen Iverson, but he just wasn't the game-changing force that Jordan was. People grabbed onto Kobe Bryant as well, but he's not really liked by anyone at this point, so I think we can all just count that one out. Other names have been tossed about as well, but then a couple years ago, we saw real hope. LeBron James, donning Jordan's #23 entered the league, for the downtrodden Cleveland Cavaliers. We all thought this could've been it. An 18 year old was going to save the NBA, bridge the gap between MJ and the travesty we have watched since his second retirement. Four years later, King James has assumed his throne.
LeBron James, though heralded, is NOT the next Jordan, because that person does not and will not exist. However, he WILL make his name remembered and his story told by those of us who witnessed it, to our children and grandchildren. LeBron is not as good of a defender as Jordan, and he may be slightly behind in the intensity department, but for all the criticisms we all laid upon him, especially after the first two games of the Eastern Finals, I will say this: LeBron is the scariest player I have ever seen.
LeBron's physical presence is that of a linebacker, on the basketball court. He can be a pounding brute under the hoop or a finesse shooter. He can carry a team on his back like not even MJ could. The man can play ball. And he may have just saved the National Basketball Association with his performance last week.
After all of this LeBron hype, I so badly want to pick the Cavaliers to win the NBA Finals, especially since they are facing the San Antonio Spurs, who you should know that I despise by now. However, after plodding through the crowd of cameras surrounding The King, I can see that it just isn't meant to be.. this year. Remember, the guy is only 22. The fact that he single-handedly beat the best Eastern Conference team of the past 5 seasons already proves to me that even if he can't pull it off this year, he'll be back and better than ever next season. He's got that drive now, and it's what will carry him into the record books and our memories.
After all of that, my Finals prediction: San Antonio 4- Cleveland 3.
LeBron makes this series an interesting one and the Cavs miraculously force a Game 7, only to lose to Tim Duncan, who I hate. Let's just hope that I'm not as accurate with this prediction as I was with my Stanley Cup one.
Now I'm going to make this short, because I don't feel like I have THAT much to say here. However, you never know, I may surprise myself. This post though (whatever the length) is for one purpose. To remind all/any readers out there that I PREDICTED THAT THE ANAHEIM DUCKS WOULD WIN THE STANLEY CUP IN 5 GAMES!
That's right. For anyone with short-term memory loss, I had predicted a Ducks victory in 5 games at the start of the Stanley Cup Finals. Now I know it may have been more impressive if I had done so before the entire playoffs, but well, you can't be right ALL THE TIME.
The thing that gets me charged up though is not only the fact that I correctly predicted the outcome of the Finals in the accurate amount of games, but I also did it in spite of the fact that many "experts" (::AHEM:: ESPN, I'm talking to many of your hockey reporters) picking the Senators in about 6 games. Sadly, I missed the boat on Scott Niedermyer winning the Conn Smythe, only because I didn't think that Chris Pronger would a) get suspended again or b) said suspension would inspire another gritty victory for the Ducks reminiscent of the Detroit series. So, my bad on that one. But still..
I PREDICTED THAT THE DUCKS WOULD BEAT THE OTTAWA SENATORS 4-1.
And that's all that matters. Thanks for your time.
Sooooooo, the Anaheim Ducks are in the Cup. I know, many of you are probably not enthused (funny how I'm talking like anyone actually reads this). I will, however, point out that I PREDICTED that the Ducks would be there. Yes, I know, the Ducks were the odds-on favorite to make the Stanley Cup Finals from the Western Conference, but still, I did predict it, as well as the team they would defeat in the Western Finals.
As for the Eastern Conference- my bad. I totally missed the mark on the Ottawa Senators due to the fact that they have choked every year since I can remember, so i figured "what makes this year any different?" And as far as the Buffalo Sabres are concerned, well, my condolences to anyone in the city of Buffalo who lost a family member to suicide or something like it the night of Game 5. I honestly thought they had it in them to win the Cup this year until I saw the way played against my New York Rangers in the Eastern Semifinals. Now, the Rangers were not a highly-regarded team going into the playoffs. Many even downplayed their sweep of Atlanta in the first round, and virtually wrote them off against the Sabres. The Rangers ended up playing a very good series though, winning two games, coupled with the fact that Buffalo got some extremely lucky breaks, and the last four games were all decided by just one goal. New York could have easily won that series, and it just would've sent the citizens of Buffalo spiraling into depression about 10-12 days earlier.
Now, what have we learned from the Stanley Cup Playoffs thus far?
1. I didn't do half bad picking the outcome of these playoffs at their onset. When posting my original predictions in April, I ended up picking the results of 10 of the 14 series correctly. Not bad, if I do say so myself.
2. You still can't trust the Sabres. (See above)
3. The Ducks are one of the best franchises in the NHL over the last five years, as odd as that may sound. Keep in mind, this team has made the Western Conference Finals for the past two seasons and three of the past four seasons (five years, as we are obviously eliminating the strike year), and the Cup in now two of the past four seasons. They have a bright future, with solid talent and a lack of a goofy logo and nickname (the Ducks winning the Cup is nowhere near as devestating as the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, hockey traditionalists!).
4. The Detroit Red Wings continue to disappoint, as a regular season power only, similar to the Philadelphia Flyers and Toronto Maple Leafs of old, save the three titles since 1997, but not even a berth in the Cup since 2003.
5. The San Jose Sharks are still an enormous disappointment year in and year out, so they own the title of "Biggest Western Conference Choke Artists", but who now owns the title in the East, since the Senators now have a Stanley Cup berth under their belts? The Flyers cannot take that honor since they are in rebuilding mode. The Sabres have only recently returned to prominence, so they don't have consistent years of futility to back this title up. For lack of a better choice, the honor now goes to the New Jersey Devils. Yes, they are a team who has won a Cup in the past five seasons, but remember, that was a seven game contest against the, then-Mighty, Ducks, and the MVP was awarded to J.S. Guigere that year. The Devils have since shown futitly rivaling the Red Wings, even with the best goaltender in the league. They may lose Scott Gomez and Brian Raflaski this offseason though, which could end their current string of regular season success.
6. The Anaheim Ducks WILL WIN THE STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS. They showed a lot of heart and grit against the Red Wings, especially in Game 4 without Chris Pronger. Ottawa just isn't ready to handle a superior team like the Ducks who have played consistently well all season, and have played the tougher competition of the Western Conference all season as well. Expect a good series, but not necessarily a long one. The MVP will probably go to either Jean-Sebastian Guigere or Pronger.
STANLEY CUP FINALS: Anaheim Ducks over Ottawa Senators (4-1)
San Antonio Spurs, congratulations. You pulled me out of hibernation and forced me to comment on the NBA Playoffs, when I it is near the bottom of my priority list. Or at least it was, until Game 4 of the Suns-Spurs series.
Now I have always hated the San Antonio Spurs. Maybe it's because they are my Dallas Mavericks rivals. But even in the 90s, when I was still a Knicks fan, I hated them. It was probably how they refused to conform to the NBA image as a flashy league that played little defense. It could've been the fact that Tim Duncan was the quietest superstar on earth. It could've been their dominance over the Knicks (who were my team at the time) in the Finals in the lockout season. Regardless though, I felt that there was a reason to hate them. I felt they were arrogant, I just had nothing to back it up. Now I do.
During Game 4 against the Suns, the Spurs did a very un-Spurs-like thing- they collapsed with a lead in the fourth quarter. It is rarely seen in today's NBA, similar to the Chicago Bulls of old, and the Lakers teams of the early part of this century. Once you're down, that's pretty much it. But the Spurs did collapse on this particular night. The Phoenix Suns, on the back of Steve Nash, the real MVP of this season, charged at the Spurs head-on, gained the advantage, and were just waiting for the last 18 seconds to tick off of the game clock. That's when the series changed. When the Spurs gained the upper hand. When they were virtually crowned NBA Champs for the 4th time in the past 8 years. It made me sick.
Robert Horry, to quote every other column on this subject "hockey checked" Nash into the scorers table, basically knocking him underneath it. The game was already out of reach for the Spurs, so it was completely unnecessary. But Horry still did it, because as a member of the Spurs, he thought he could get away with it. Or did he?
The Spurs were having trouble containing both Nash and the Suns other NBA First-Teamer, Amare Stoudemire. Horry was scoring a little more than four points per game, and was not a pivotal player in this series, outside of one instance of last second heroics. With the way the Spurs have been playing this series (see Bruce Bowen going unpenalized for his actions against various Suns in the previous games), I wouldn't put it past the snide Gregg Popovich, and his team, to have planned this. Proof? It won't hold much weight in the eyes of many fans but look closely at the replay of the events after Horry's hard foul. The Spurs stayed put. Nobody moved off of that bench. There was little facial expression. The Spurs players did not look concerned about the brawl that was about to occur on the court. Why? Because they knew it was going to happen. The San Antonio Spurs, formerly the quietest, dirtiest team in basketball finally showed the world their true colors that night. They are cheaters. They knew the reaction they would receive from Suns players. They knew that Stoudemire, among others would rise to Steve Nash's aid. They knew Horry would get suspended. But they also knew that his actions would potentially draw other suspensions. They might have even hoped that Nash was injured on the cheap shot, but he's too much of a warrior for that. Still, in the end, the Spurs cheated. They cheated the fans, the Suns, and their league. The league did not have to let them get away with it, but they did, because they are the Spurs.
David Stern should be ashamed of himself for falling into the Spurs trap. Two players were suspended for being good teammates. Two players- Boris Diaw and Amare Stoudemire- were suspended for a critical Game 5 in a series that may very well decide who wins the NBA Finals two rounds from now. I know that there are rules, but this one was unncessary to begin with, and even more unnecessary to enforce in this situation. The NBA has messed up. If the Spurs do go on to win this series, and the NBA Finals with their play, they may lose a fan, in me. Is that what they want? To lose fans because they let cheaters win? I doubt it.
Looking back at my post from yesterday, I forgot to mention the fact that I also participate in the most-pointless of all "big days" in sports. My list of the "big days" would include the Super Bowl, NCAA Men's Basketball Final, BCS National Championship Game, Selection Sunday, Game 7 of the Stanley Cup or NBA Playoffs, World Cup Soccer Finals (only every four years, sadly), opening ceremonies at the Olympic Games, and actually somewhere in the middle of those already named, the NFL Draft.
Yes, the NFL Draft. I've watched it since I was seven years old. For some reason the sight of college players holding up a jersey of their respective new team with the number one on it has seemed like an excuse to do nothing on one Saturday every April for the past 12 years. I know, and yes, I agree, it would explain quite a bit.
The 2007 draft was no different than years past, as I sat in my room, and watched for hours on end as the "drama" unfolded. I feel like my team, the New York Giants, had an okay draft. Many experts are handing us grades of "C" on our "draft report cards". I'd say C+, but of course, I'm kind of biased. Still, it wasn't that story that had me talking to anyone who would listen that day. It was the same thing everyone else was chatting it up about, the fact that Brady Quinn dropped as far as he did. Now, I'm not a Brady Quinn fan. I HATE Notre Dame in general, to be completely honest. Not so much their basketball team, which earned some angst this past year because of what they did to my Syracuse Orange, but the football team. Those gold helmets just tick me off everytime I see them. Still, on this day, I felt sorry for him. My Dad and I both felt sorry for him, and my Dad and I were two of his biggest critics for the past four years. To be honest, I still don't think he was as good as advertised. I think he has a great personality, but I just think he, and his football program, are overrated, as evidenced by their collective performances in big games. To close on the Quinn matter, I think he'll be a good quarterback in this league because of the fact that he's playing for his hometown team. Put him in the space between the legacies of Steve McNair and Donovan McNabb when it's all said and done. Not that I can give you an estimate of where that is exactly, but yeah, that sounds like a good place.
As for the rest of the draft, teams seemed to address their needs, and teams without needs (Philadelphia, in particular) drafted in an area where they really DIDN'T need (a team with QBs McNabb, A,J. Feely, and Kelly Holcomb, who have all started in the NFL, draft Kevin Kolb from Houston, a "product of the system" school if I've ever seen one). Even with teams meeting needs, the collective need of making the NFC better was NOT met. To be honest, I can't even name four teams from the conference that could CONTEND for a Super Bowl title, nevermind win one. That being said, my annual (I always do this, but this is the first time it has been in blog form) Post-NFL Draft predictions are as follows:
American Football Conference
East
1. New England Patriots
2. New York Jets
3. Miami Dolphins
4. Buffalo Bills
North
1. Baltimore Ravens
2. Cincinnati Bengals
3. Pittsburgh Steelers
4. Cleveland Browns
South
1. Indianapolis Colts
2. Tennessee Titans
3. Jacksonville Jaguars
4. Houston Texans
West
1. San Diego Chargers
2. Denver Broncos
3. Kansas City Chiefs
4. Oakland Raiders
National Football Conference
East
1. Philadelphia Ealges
2. Dallas Cowboys
3. New York Giants
4. Washington Redskins
North
1. Chicago Bears
2. Green Bay Packers
3. Minnesota Vikings
4. Detroit Lions
South
1. New Orleans Saints
2. Atlanta Falcons
3. Carolina Panthers
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
West
1. Seattle Seahawks
2. San Francisco 49ers
3. St. Louis Rams
4. Arizona Cardinals
AFC Seeds: New England, San Diego, Baltimore, Indianapolis, Tennessee, Jacksonville
NFC Seeds: Philadelphia, Chicago, Seattle, New Orleans, Dallas, Atlanta
AFC Championship: New England over San Diego
NFC Championship: New Orleans over Philadelphia
SUPER BOWL XLII: New England Patriots over New Orleans Saints
I wish I didn't have to write that, but well, after the offseason the Pats have had, I really can't find any argument as to why they won't win their fourth title in seven years. I can't believe I just said that. I hate the New England Patriots.
Do you smell that? Are your eyes watering? Is it hard to breathe? Many would suggest I'm referring to Spring, and the allergies that usually come with it, but no. I'm referring to Playoff Season.
What is Playoff Season? For those who don't know: the day the Stanley Cup Playoffs begin. That feeling that there are only 16 teams out there that can win the championship. You would think that hockey would be enough, but no, the NBA also joins the party to make for what is almost always an enjoyable month and a half to two months for me. It also comes at an opportune time for me as well. I am an avid college basketball fan, being a student at Syracuse University. Okay, so maybe avid is putting it lightly. Rabid may be a better description of my allegiance to the Syracuse Orange men's basketball team- But back to business. Following the NCAA Tournament (the greatest playoff in sports, by the way), any real sports fan needs to find an immediate outlet for their passion and energy. For some, they simply shift gears to baseball. I can do this for a few days, but why focus on a bunch of April games that aren't that important in the big scheme of 162 games? That's why I turn to Playoff Season.
Just for some background information on my sports allegiances when it comes to the NBA and NHL before we continue, so I don't have to continually explain anything later:
As far as the NBA goes, I am a Dallas Mavericks fan. I've been one since 1999. I used to be a Knicks fan. Some may consider me a traitor for leaving my team just like that, but I digress. I still want the Knicks to be successful, I just want the Mavericks to be MORE successful. Some other noteworthy facts about me: I absolutely HATE the Rockets, Timberwolves, Lakers, Pacers, and Spurs. Don't ask me why, because honestly, they all have their own stories, none of which would probably matter to those reading this.
The NHL is a little less-complicated. I'm a New York Rangers fan since I was born, and though I don't remember the 1994 Championship, I still take pride in it. If the Rangers aren't around in the playoffs, I will support the Nashville Predators or Colorado Avalance, just because I need a team to at least follow so I can keep myself involved in the playoffs. NBA teams I hate include the Hurricanes (for leaving Hartford), Coyotes (for leaving Winnipeg), the Flyers (for being the Flyers), and Devils (because what real Rangers fan couldn't?).
If you've gotten to this point in the article, you're probably asking the point of all this. The answer: last night. Last night, my Mavericks played in game 5 of a series against the Warriors that they should have won already, but instead were down 3 games to 1 going into it. My Rangers were also in action, taking the ice against the Buffalo Sabres. I also had a public relations paper to do. Playoff Season puts that paper aside.
After the Rangers won in thrilling fashion last night, knotting their series up at 2 games apiece, it was up to my Mavs to save their season, and preserve my sanity for the night. Now I know it was a little late, but before game 3 of the Rangers series, I began to grow a playoff beard. I'm incredibly superstitious about sports, ask any of my friends about the "Kerry Collins jersey", "Sox hat". or the now-infamous "Rally Monkey", and they'll be able to tell you what events I "claim" to be associated with them. But so far, the playoff beard worked quite well for my Rangers, as they have won 2 straight games since I began to grow it out, so it's staying for the remainder of their playoff lives. But back to the Mavs.
After a masterful first portion of the second quarter, the wheels began to fall off. We were up by 21 points, and the lead had hit single digits. I didn't think it could get any worse. Oh, but it did. With a little less than two minutes left, I saw the Mavericks losing to the Golden State Warriors, 112-103. I couldn't believe my eyes. What happened? That's when Dirk Nowitzki finally stopped whining and realized he should start playing like an MVP. That's when they baffled myself and everyone else watching with a 15-0 to close out the game. It was amazing, it was astounding, and it was probably one of the best playoff games I've seen in awhile. For some reason, several of the Blazers-Lakers games from the Western Conference finals a bunch of years back stick out with the distinction "great". I'm sure there were some in between then and now, but for some reason, I can't think of any. It wasn't just the fact that the Mavericks made an amazing comeback, it was the fact that they saved their season, and maybe Dirk saved his MVP trophy. Stephen Jackson getting thrown out? Baron Davis fouling out? Just added to the drama of the situation.
It's games like that that justify me staying awake until nearly 1 o'clock. It's games like that that cause me to go into near-fits every couple of seconds. It's games like that that leave me writing a paper until 4 o'clock that same morning. It's all worth it though. All for playoff season.
