Best Move of the Stanley Cup Finals So Far

This just makes me smile.

I Finally Found a Reason to Watch Hockey!

As a Chicagoan, it has been my duty to root for the Blackhawks through this great playoff run of theirs, but I gotta admit, hockey still just isn't my game.

It ranks comfortably behind basketball, football, baseball, and soccer on my list of personal favorites. Dodgeball would leapfrog it as well, if there were a professional dodgeball league, but then I wouldn't be stuck doing this for a living now, would I?

Anyway, thanks to the thorough douchiness of Chris Pronger (man, that's an easy guy to dislike! See his "bush league" puck stealing for exhibits A and B.), I started exploring the wonderful world of hockey fights today. My last experience with hockey fights was probably in NHL '95 for the Nintendo 64, where it involved a health bar and wannabe Street Fighter action. Good times.

Allow me to direct you, via the mysterious rabbit hole of YouTube, to one of my new favorite sites:

www.hockeyfights.com

It's pretty much exactly what it sounds like. Only more so. There's a page specific to every team and every player, and even a 'top 25 fights of 2009-2010' section.

Blackhawks Fights

This one is probably the best, starring Adam Burish and Derek Dorsett (it rated a 6.8):



And, what's that you say? You'd like to see Flyers captain Mike Richards get his a** handed to him? Okay!



It's not that I love violence, but hockey is the only sport I can think of where the game happily transforms from one thing (hockey) to quite another (amateur boxing/flailing) and nobody minds. Can you imagine this happening in football? Somebody would die within a week! They sure as hell wouldn't be putting up a Tale of the Tape as the helmets dropped.

So yeah, go Hawks. And if somebody decides to take on Pronger, I wish them the best. Paging Dustin Byfuglien...

EDIT: Deadspin is on it. Ohhhh yes.

Weekday Watch: Olympic Hockey Quarterfianls

Today is the Quarterfinals round for Olympic Hockey and there are tons of great games all over the place. (All Times Eastern)


USA vs Switzerland (3 PM)

The United States already beat the Swiss 3-1, but Swiss goalie Jonas Hiller has been play better since them. The USA should win, but shouldn't take the Swiss too lightly

Who I want to win: USA
Who I think will win: USA


Canada vs Russia (7:30 PM)

A lot of people predicted this would be the Gold Medal game and feel that these teams are still the best two this year. I think this will be the match of the tournament. The NHL's two biggest young stars are going at it (Sid the Kid and Alexander the Great). If you enjoyed USA vs Canada, please turn this game on, you'll love it. SI's Mike Farber does a great job breaking the game down more in depth here.

Who I want to win: Tough choice, but Canada
Who I think will win: Canada

Czech Republic v Finland (10 PM)

Each of these teams finished in second place in thier respective groupings. Each have a handful of NHL players. Both teams have played in Gold Medal games before (Czech '98, Finland '06). Each team has the potential to get back there.

Who I want to win: Czech Republic
Who I think will win: Finland

Sweden vs Slovakia (Midnight)

Two Blackhawks will be playing for Slovakia which is a team many had a possible suprise team in the tournamnet. Sweden has been playing well and not lost yet, so it will be a tough chore for Hossa and his friends.

Who I want to win: Slovakia
Who I think will win: Sweden

Enjoy some hockey today, and turn on Russia vs Canada, trust me you'll love it.

One intresting statistic I found on si.com to close.

10.6 -- Canadian viewers, in millions, that watched the U.S.-Canada game Sunday on CTV, the most-watched sports program in Canadian history, according to CTV. The previous record of 10.3 million viewers watched Canada beat the U.S. in the gold medal game at Salt Lake.

Weekend Watch

Weekend Watch

No wagers this week, Apparently there is something called baseball going on, I don’t plan on watching any of it until the playoffs start. On to the WATCH!

Friday

10:30 AM 2016 Olympic Selection Show

Is this as exciting as CBS’ March Madness selection Sunday? I’d say it close, but after the first round Chicago was done. I’m not going to lie, I never never saw that one coming. Congrats to Rio and South America. (Quick side note, I heard they are already 17 Billion in the hole, anybody else hear this, I’m not being bitter or negative, but I just hope USA does not have to save Rio like it did Athens)

11:00 AM Panthers vs Blackhawks from Finland

Blackhawks opening up overseas is really cool, sadly the Hawks lost in a shootout, but at elast we get 1 point. The Toews jersey didn’t help, oh well we got them again tomorrow.

Pitt at Louisville 7 PM ESPN

I wish this game would have been played a few years ago. Wanny has had his ups and downs with Pitt, but they are right in the middle of the Big East again. Louisville hasn’t been the same since Petrino left.


Who I want to win: Louisville

Who I think will win: Pitt


Saturday

9 AM ESPN College GameDay



They are at Boston College this week to help in their celebration of a player with cancer. I understand the importance of this, and I know that Cal and Miami lost last week, but I’m still surprised they aren’t at Berkley for Cal Southern Cal, or Miami for THE U vs Oklahoma.


11 AM Blackhawks vs Panthers from Finland

The Hawks scored first, and the Panthers answered. The Hawks scored again, and the Panthers answered. One more time the Hawks scored again, and the Panthers answered. The Hawks need to get the lead and maintain the lead. They shouldn’t have lost on Friday and hopefully they will learn from their mistakes.

Who I want to win: Blackhawks

Who I think will win: Blackhawks


11 AM Michigan at Michigan State Big Ten Network

It’s a rivalry game, MSU needs this win to get there season back on track, Michigan needs to keep winning to reclaim some national respect after last season

Who I want to win: Go Blue!

Who I think will win: Go Blue!


7 PM Oklahoma at Miami & Southern Cal at California

These games make me wish IU would not be playing a night so I could watch them. These game are huge for each team and there season aspirations. All 4 still have an outside shot at the national title, a loss this week would effectively ruin that for them. Miami could start off 3-1 in one of the toughest schedules in the country would be impressive. Just as impressive would be if Oklahoma goes 3-1 without their Heisman winning QB. Cal and Southern Cal have not only national championship thoughts, but they Pac-10 championship. Each already has a loss in the Pac-10 and getting the second one could end the hopes for either.

Who I want to win: The U!

Who I think will win: Oklahoma

Who I want to win: Cal

Who I think will win: Southern Cal


7 PM THE Ohio State University vs Indiana

IU is coming off a tough road loss to face the reigning Big Ten champs in a night game in Bloomington. I wish I was down there for the game cause I bet it’s going to be a fun atmosphere all day. Even with Ohio State’s captain DE being suspended, I don’t know how well IU can hang with them. I hope they do, but OSU just has better players. The good new is, the stadium will be very red so get your camera’s ready.

Who I want to win: IU

Who I think will win: The Ohio State University




Sunday


Lions @ Bears 12:00

This is the Bears last home game for awhile. The Lions are finally over the hump with a win. I am very happy that this since as a Bears fan. I think the Bears should take care of business this weekend and won’t need two missed field goals to do it.

Who I want to win: Bears

Who I think will win: Bears


Jets vs New Orleans 3:15

I think this is the best game on Sunday. The Blitz York Jets vs TD Orleans Saints. Rex Ryan’s D vs Sean Payton’s O (both with Chicago ties). I personally don’t think the J-E-T-S are for real, I think their D is good, but the O hasn’t faced anybody yet, lucky for them the Saints D isn’t anybody special. This game will come down to how well Brees can read the Blitz and reacts to them. The blitz’s confused Brady and his O-line, how will New Orleans react.

Who I want to win: Saints

Who I think will win: Saints


Baltimore @ New England

I think this will show that Baltimore is the team to beat in the AFC. There defense is still solid and the offense is becoming a force. You can’t count New England out, but they are banged up (Welker, Mayo, Thomas, Brady (yes he’s healthy but he’s still not looking right)) with Lord Bill on the sideline, but this could give either team better direction.

Who I want to win: Ravens

Who I think will win: Ravens