Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Sticking My Neck Out

I have a pain in my neck that would seem to require some serious medicine. But this will not stop me from watching every playoff game. No recording allowed in the Lounge.

A cold one in my right hand, maybe a six-pack fastened to the left side of my neck, and I am ready for the daily battles.

A few observations, as I contemplate how my life might be better without my neck.

-- I don't mind parity in sports, considering that in today's NHL, there are any number of good teams competing for the Cup. Outside of Montreal, I don't hear anyone saying "I wish the Canadiens would win 15 Cups over the next 18 seasons." The beauty of the game today is that you must get it right each year just to compete for the Cup. The regular season is like a semester of class sessions. But it's what you do on the final exams that really matter. Vancouver was great in class participation, but not so stellar once the blue books were passed out.

Stop whining about No. 1 seeds being knocked out by lower seeds. The teams are closer than you think. And if you look closely at how the teams fared against each other, you will notice that some good teams were not so good against those deemed to be inferior.

-- The Chicago Blackhawks have been living on reputation now for two seasons. Shaky goaltending, forwards with occasional grit, top defensemen not playing up to expectations. Kudos to them for winning the Cup in 2010. Now update the calendar and get over yourselves.

-- The Canucks-Kings series had an amazing pace to it. And the Rangers-Senators series moves like my neck, hardly at all and painful to watch.

-- Joe Micheletti is a terrible color man, and consider yourself fortunate if you do not have to listen to him work on a hockey broadcast. Unfortunately for those living in New York, you get him on MSG for the playoffs rather than anybody from the NBC family of broadcasters. He was a homer with the Islanders and he has only enhanced that reputation on Rangers games.

-- Daryl Reaugh needs to be on national games rather than limited to Dallas Stars broadcasts. Informative and not afraid to criticize the home team or a call that benefits the home team. What a concept.

-- Announcers that say "head on a swivel" only annoy me now that my range of motion is stuck at zero.

-- I love calling my dad and telling him why hockey is better than baseball. It's like goading him into a penalty. It works every time.

-- Speaking of baseball, that Yankees-Red Sox game last Saturday took forever. I would check on its status during each of the hockey games that were played in the time those two teams were on the field, stealing signs, exchanging glances, covering their mouths with gloves, not covering their mouths when they spit, etc. There is plenty of excitement when those two teams decide to spend 8 hours on the diamond.

-- It is probably time to rethink the concept of finishing your check. The concept has been stretched to cover any number of offenses and intentions. Most of these instances of finishing one's check fall under the concept of interference in the modern game. Three strides away is not finishing your check.

-- That Newark vs. Suburban Fort Lauderdale match-up is just not getting the job done. I've been lost in Newark, and I had to get lost to find Sunrise, Fla. Just from a traveler's perspective, I'll take Sunrise over Newark.

-- From a hockey perspective, the Devils need a makeover regardless of whether they get past the Panthers. The team would best be served with an influx of talent, a younger goaltender and a move away from Newark.

-- Petunia Puck launched herself at me when I moved the popcorn bowl away from her during the Rangers-Senators game last night. The dog's status on the couch for tonight's Panthers-Devils game is under review.

-- Speaking of review, the officials for the Rangers-Senators game were terrible. How does Chris Neil continue to get away with so much nonsense. You have to be proactive in stripes. After all, Neil's been at it for so long, like this hit on Chris Drury 2007.



That hit led to this, which maybe was the last time Ray Emery looked so good.



We'll see you in the Lounge for hockey tonight.

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