And we're back...

One year ago I was writing about the Detroit Red Wings and the Pittsburgh Penguins playing for the Stanley Cup...not much has changed. Well, Marian Hossa and Ty Conklin have traded their Black for Red and Miro Satan is back in the finals after a 10 year drought (ouch). However, new year and same story, this time I will be surprised if the Pens can take 2 away from the Wings. Sit back and watch as the Detroit dynasty continues to come to fruition. Detroit in 5.

The NBA finals bring about a much more intriguing match up. Hell, let's be honest. The NBA playoffs have far outmatched those of the NHL and although David Stern did not get the dream match up he hoped for, Superman and the Snipers v. Kobe and the Jekyll/Hyde Lakers is far more exciting then watching the same two teams from a year ago playing in the finals. Big key in this series is if Jameer Nelson is able to return, and return in pre-injury form. If he is cleared to play it will be interesting to see how he is utilized. Rafer Alston hasn't exactly brought down the house since taking over at the point, yet his consistent play and clutch 3-point shooting has built a backbone for the team. He also has more experience than Nelson, but if Jameer is able to play look for the duo of Nelson and Howard to take over the game plan while Hedo and Rashard stand waiting on the wings. Turkaglo and Lewis have played beautifully in the playoffs and Stan Van Gundy should continue to ride their momentum.

All that being said. Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum just need to look like they want to try to defend Dwight Howard and the Lakers will win in 6.

With 8 men remaining I am picking Andy Murray over Roger Federer to win the French Open.

Barring anymore injuries, I hope to see Alvin Bowen (2nd year from Iowa State) starting at Weak Side Linebacker for the Buffalo Bills over Keith Ellison. Ellison is too small and lacks the intensity needed while Bowen has something to prove.

great to be back.

peace.

how bout those Bills? (notice neither the word Toronto nor Buffalo appears before the word Bills). at the moment they are still the Buffalo Bills, but when their first "home" win comes in the confines of the Rogers CentRE who knows what to call them? but since those are matters far out of my reach there is no need to bring them up. what i can discuss however is the vast improvement the offense has made under Turk Shonert (horribly misspelled) compared to Steve Fairchild. when Fairchild left to become the head coach at Colorado State i was one of the many who were pleased to see him go.  we no longer have to sit there and endure the most predictable football the world has seen since the U.S. failed to get out of the group stages in the 04 World Cup (we all saw that coming). so here's to the revamped offense with the hope of averaging over 30 PPG!

if you haven't been watching the olympics please walk/drive to the nearest Burger King of McDonalds and eat yourself silly until you get a stroke (ie Peter Griffin). even the members of Anti-Flag can't help but sit in front of a tv and cheer their country on. especially one man named michael phelps. a man who has been the headline just as much as brett favre, but phelps has actually made a difference in the world. brett favre has just changed what color green he wears while we watched years and years of unbelievable training lead to wearing 8 gold medals. congratulations michael phelps on a truly remarkable accomplishment. 

if you ask me, track and field is not nearly as exciting as swimming and gymnastics. i believe the last few days of the olympics are not going to be as exciting as the previous. that is of course unless Usain Bolt decides to enter himself in every track competition left. i believe he could do it. 

in two weeks i depart for Rutgers University. expect my next post to be my reactions to the Sept 1st game at home against #25 Fresno State!

peace.

so Germany falls 1 goal short of achieving European glory. i think it is safe to say as a fan of Germany and as an Arsenal fan that it is time for Jens Lehman to part ways as a starting keeper. i think next season he will join a team only to be a back up and has a lot to offer as a mentor. however his lack of acceleration and vulnerability to letting in the "soft" goal are signs that his starting days are behind him. congratulations to Spain and i was glad to hear that only one fan lost his life during the riots.

in other news, sources say Jason Smith is on his way to becoming a Buffalo Sabres. Slap a C on his chest for now his third straight team. the man has all the experience that we are looking for in a D man. he doesn't have to be our best blue-liner. i look for him and Spacek to be a solid line and Tallinder and Lydman to have rebound seasons. sorry Paetsch, but i think Weber and Sekera showed great promise and i would love to see those two work and grow together during the season. 

peace.

yeah i have been pretty busy so i haven't updated in a while:

first thing: hats off to the Red Wings. they play with class and the day Buffalo plays a Defense-orientated system will be a great day for Sabre fans indeed. defense wins championships. 

i almost forgot how glorious tennis is to watch. thank god the French Open at Roland Garros is on. i love sports that people think is easy until they try it. everyone should try tennis so then they can appreciate how unbelievable these athletes are. individual sports require a mental aspect that just isn't touched in team sports. the ability to not get down on yourself and trust yourself to pull through, it is not something you can pick up easily. 

i was going to post about the relation between gas prices and NASCAR. but i think i will save it for a paper at school. then i will be able to do the needed research to make my point justifiable. 

bounce back Kobe!

peace.

P.S. Euro 2008 starts tomorrow. let's go Germany!

Predictions:

The Red Wings ability to play a fast or slow-paced game overwhelms the Penguins. Lindstrom and Rafalski shut down the Crosby, Dupuis, and Hossa Line. Osgood is the feel-good story of the year. too much going right for the Red Wings. Detroit in 5.

The Lakers rare mix of youth and experience overpower the aging Spurs. Phil Jackson is still an underrated coach and out-smarts Greg Popavich into the NBA Finals. Lakers in 6.

The Celtics problems on the road has to stop if they wish to beat the Pistons. If Chauncey Billups is healthy for Game 1 then look for Detroit to take this game in Boston since the Celtics will be fatigued from their latest 7-game series. Detroit in 6.

Lee Evans has been offered a new contract. i can't wait to see how he fits with James Hardy. as long as our O-Line stays healthy this may finally be the year the Bills are a threat in both the run and the pass. 

peace.

as the Olympics draw near in the Summer of '08 we will all miss the inclusion of Great Britain. but England has something else on their minds this summer. on May 21st, for the first time in Champions League history, the Final will take place between two English sides. on the pitch in Moscow, Russia will be the talent-filled Chelsea Blues against the fundamentally-sound Manchester United Red Devils.

for Chelsea the key will be what side of their striker, Didier Drogba will they get. at times he seems to be almost invisible. unhappy with the management, it has been noted that this will be Drogba's last campaign in the Blue, and his play sometime shows it. or they will get the Drogba that was full of life in the semifinal 2nd leg against Liverpool. i believe we will see the latter, i mean if a player doesn't play his heart out in the Final then what the hell is he doing out on the field? look for Nicolas Anelka to sub in early if Drogba goes into his lazy stupor. 

the key for Man U is going to be the play of their impressive mid-field. without a doubt Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the best improvising players with the ball at his feet in the world. look for his free flowing play to expose holes in the Chelsea Defense for Tevez and Rooney to expose. also watch Canadian-born Owen Hargreaves on set-pieces that are within striking range.

oh and by the way i'm talking about football (soccer) if you didn't catch on to that.

peace.

so last night i was invited to a formal dance so i was unable to watch any sports. i missed the Jazz pull it together and win Game 3 against the Lakers. i also missed Malkin fire the puck past Biron to propel the 'Guins to a 4-2 victory.

However, what i did see was Richie Sexson (ex-Bison) charge the mound. the 6'8 Mariner was unhappy with a little chin music and decided to act. then he threw his helmet at the maybe 6'2 pitcher....his helmet! just run over and punch him in the face! well...he did that after, but there was no need to throw the helmet first. after the game "Big Sexy" himself said that throwing the helmet "was a chicken-shit move". i would have hoped he learned better brawl etiquette. 

peace.