After two short weeks, the Olympic Games in Vancouver are wrapping up, finishing on Sunday night. It’s been an entertaining two weeks, with a bunch of highs, lows, and me watching a lot less than I thought I would, outside of hockey and a bit of curling. But, somehow, I’ve enjoyed the games thoroughly.
Do you ever get a feeling of panic that the Olympics are almost over, and that life will never be the same afterwards? I get this sense of dread about midway through the Games, and as a Chosen Person, I get the same feeling about halfway through Hanukkah. I get the feeling that the loss of this mildly pleasant event will ruin my life entirely. I start to freak out that there are only X amount of days left, and after that it will be all over and I’ll be miserable. I’m forced to convince myself that life won’t be all that bad after the Olympics are over. “It’s okay, Jeremy! The Rangers will be back after the Olympics. So will The Office and 30 Rock! Hang in there, buddy!” Maybe it’s just me. Actually, it’s almost definitely just me. But I’m okay with that.
Some of the events that have captured the games have been the rise of the US men’s hockey team, the rejuvenation of Bode Miller, the courage of Lindsey Vonn and the all around dominance of Shaun White. Two weeks ago, I wrote a column coutlining a fantasy league that could be used for the Olympics. Let’s revisit the athletes that I thought would do well, and see how they actually did.
(People with a * next to their name indicates that they still have at least one more event to compete in, with a chance for fantasy points.)
1. Ole Einar Bjørndalen, Norway, Biathlon*: Silver medal- 3 points
A big 0 for 1 for Rothschild! The guy who I thought would have the most points in this year’s Olympics only put up one silver medal, with only the relay to go. A very underwhelming start for Bønd, James Bønd.
2.Gregor Schlierenzauer, Austria, Ski Jumping: Two Bronze Medals, One Gold Medal (7 points)
A bit better here. He had a solid showing, finally reaching gold in his last event. Not bad at all, and redeeming the calamity that was Bjørndalen.
3.Shani Davis, USA, Speed Skating: One Gold, One Silver (16 Points)
Not a bad showing by any stretch, but a bit disappointing, given the expectations. He didn’t do better than Schlierenzauer in the medals, really, yet he doubled him in points. I might have overvalued American medals when making up my system, although I do like the aspect of rooting for the home team.
4. Wang Meng, China, Speed Skating*: 2 Golds, One Disqualification (15 Points)
Our first DQ points! Awesome! She has a strong chance at another gold, which would result in a great games, despite the slow start. She’s earned this high ranking, especially with the DQ.
5. Apolo Ohno, USA, Speed Skating*: One Silver, One Bronze (8 Points)
He still has two events left, which would make for an impressive performance if he can medal in those. He won one of the luckiest silver medals of all time in the 1500m race, when two of the Korean skaters fell and knocked each other out in the final turn of the race, giving Ohno the silver. That was a crazy event to watch live. It really looked like dominoes getting knocked over, and seeing where the pieces would fall. It was almost like a Three Stooges routine, with the two of them falling into a wall together and then looking at each other. It just missed a Looney Tunes-esque soundtrack. Maybe a big gong effect when they crashed? Or a vocally downward siren? Something like that.
6.Magdalena Neuner, Germany, Biathlon: 2 Golds, 1 Silver (13 Points)
That’s how we roll, Mags! That’s what I’m talking about! My favorite girl of the Olympics delivered in a big way. By the way, after I put out my column and made a joke about her last name being a sexual innuendo, I realized that it was likely to be pronounced ‘NOYner’ and not ‘NOOner’, since that’s how the German EU is usually pronounced. My German Diction coaches from back in school wouldn’t be proud.
7. Sven Kramer, Netherlands, Speed Skating*: One Gold, One disqualification (10 Points)
He’s had an up and down Olympics, obviously. Not good for Sven the Man. He looks a lot like Sidney Crosby, which may be where his Sven the Man nickname comes from, off of Sid the Kid. Either way, it’s rather amazing. Maybe he was DQ’d for diving, in honor of his doppelganger.
8 and 9. US and Canada Women’s Hockey: US: 12 Points, Canada: 10 Points
Canada got the victory in the least surprising gold medal game matchup in Olympic history. To be honest, I really enjoyed the parts of the game that I watched. I expected women’s hockey to be a slowed down, less intense, less skilled, bastardized version of the men’s game, but it really wasn’t. Besides less hitting and less hard slap shots, the game’s flow was fast and the players had skill. Color me impressed. That being said, allow me some quick thoughts on the men’s hockey tournament that reaches the homestretch this weekend:
It seems like we’re on a collision course for a USA-Canada gold medal game on Sunday afternoon. The US has to get through Finland first, but Finland hasn’t looked overly impressive. They were dominated by Sweden during round robin play, and squeaked out a victory versus the Czech Republic. They play a sound, gritty checking game, but have limited offensive options. They actually remind me a bit of the Rangers. Is anyone really afraid of Teemu Selanne at this point, despite the goodwill that he has gained? Miikka Kiprusoff is a good goalie, but the USA should prevail. Canada seems to have righted their ship, after pulling Martin “Canadian Kryptonite” Brodeur from the starting lineup. And, in a shocking development, they’ve done better since! No way! Who woulda thunk that having a better starting goalie in the lineup would make a team better? They’ll face Slovakia, who admirably defeated Sweden in the quarterfinals, to my surprise. I thought that Sweden was among the best teams I had seen, and their demise was a shock. It will be a good matchup, but I think that Canada’s talent will prevail, leading to the apocalyptic war of USA-Canada on Sunday. If the USA loses, people will be momentarily disappointed in the states. If Canada loses…it will be a catastrophe. I can’t imagine what the reaction would be to losing to the US twice in a row. I sure know it would be great for me, though. Seeing that arrogant jerk Don Cherry’s face after such an event would be almost as great as seeing Chico Resch’s face the next time that Brodeur craps the bed and throws his teammates under the bus. I wonder what would happen if Brodeur literally crapped his own bed. Would he blame his wife? Would he blame the dog or cat? Would he say, ‘I had a good night’s sleep, had some quality dreams, and I’m happy with my performance. But the others made some mistakes and in the end the bed had to pay”?
10. Andrea Henkel, Germany, Biathlon: One Bronze (1 point)
Our second major bust of the fantasy league. She is 32, though, which is a full ten years older than her fellow teammate and competitor Neuner. So it can’t be totally unexpected. I probably shouldn’t have put her this high on my list. As Chris “Mad Dog” Russo would say, “ThatsabadjobbyyouthereJeremy!!”
11. Canada Women’s Curling*: TBD
Things look good for Canada’s curling team so far, and we’ll see soon how they perform in the finals on Saturday. I wanted to bring to light one thing about curling, thanks to my friend Steve: Why isn’t curling a coed sport in the Olympics? For what reason would men be better than women in this event? It’s not the type of thing that takes particular strength. It just takes strategy and cunning, something that women are easily as good at as men. Plus, in Steve’s words, “Women are naturally predisposed to sweeping, among the key elements of being a good curler. Why wouldn’t they be better than the men?” Well said, Steve. I like it. This is unfair segregation. Curling should be mixed.
12. Jason Lamy Chappuis, France, Nordic Combined: One Gold Medal (5 Points)
LAMY CHAPPUIS! LAMY CHAPPUIS!!!! I just love yelling his name for no apparent reason. He has a gold medal, in an exciting event that I actually watched, for once. He seemed like a nice enough guy, and didn’t do any of the heinous and villainous things that I thought he’d bring to the Olympics. After the first day, when he won gold, he had a bit of a disappointing Olympics. Kind of a bummer. But that’s okay, because…LAMY CHAPPUIS! LAMY CHAPPUIS!!
13. Justyna Kowalczyk, Poland, Cross Country Skiing: One Silver, One Bronze (4 points)
A fairly decent showing for Kowalczyk. These events are all so close in the end that the difference between gold and being out of the medal count is amazingly miniscule. It’s a bit of a shame that someone like Kowalczyk can come so close to a huge fantasy outing, and instead ends up being somewhat of a disappointment. Because the medals don’t matter, obviously. The only thing that matters is making me happy by doing well in my imaginary fantasy league, of course.
14. Zhou Yang, China, Speed Skating*: 2 Golds (10 Points)
She’s had a nice Olympics so far, and has another event left. Amazingly, she’s only 18 years old. A Chinese athlete who is barely of age and dominating events? Who’s ever heard of that? When have we ever had a controversy like that?
15. Simon Ammann, Switzerland, Ski Jumping: Two Golds (10 Points)
2 for 2, with 2 golds! Impressive! He seems like a really nice guy, after crashing and burning in Torino. He won both events in Salt Lake City, and reverted back to form in these games. I like this guy, despite his startling resemblance to Harry Potter. Yuck.
16. Lindsey Vonn, USA, Alpine Skiing*: One Gold, One Bronze, Two DQs (22 Points)
She’s been one of the biggest stars of the Olympics, and with an event to go is one of the fantasy leaders. Plus, she is really, really beautiful. I could see her becoming a big celebrity in the USA within the next few years, because she really does have the looks to turn heads. I like her. The only way that she can become a bigger star is if she gets divorced from her coach. Now THAT would be a career move.
17. Domenik Landertinger, Austria, Biathlon: Nothing (0 points)
YIKES! Well, this is uncomfortable. So, uh…Dom (I’m gonna call you Dom), what are you doing for the next 4 years? Sounds good. Well, uh, I’ve got to get going. See you soon…maybe.
18. Lukáš Bauer, Czech Republic, Cross Country Skiing*: 2 Bronzes (2 Points)
It’s not like he had a terrible Olympics, but two bronze medals for a non-American hardly is a worthwhile fantasy performance.
19. Shaun White, USA, Snowboarding: One Gold (10 Points)
Easily the most dominant athlete at his sport of the entire games. He’s pretty amazing, even though snowboarding isn’t really my thing. Everyone that knows anything about snowboarding says that this guy is on another level than anyone in the history of the event, so I’ve got to give him credit, even though I can’t comment much further.
20. Bode Miller, USA, Alpine Skiing*: One Gold, One Silver, One Bronze, One Disqualification (23 Points)
Unbelievable! He has the most points in the entire games, with one event to go on Saturday! This is a truly astounding development. My last pick in my column dominates, and has the most points of any of my selections. I’m amazed. His points may end up being even higher after his event on Saturday. I’m in shock.
Top Scorers: Miller (23), Vonn (22), Davis (16), Meng (15), Neuner (15)
So, the first year of Fantasy Olympics had some good results and some busts. The USA members carried more weight in their scoring than I thought they would, and that is largely due to how well team USA has done in these games as a whole. At least for me, having this imaginary fantasy contest has let me understand the athletes and their events better, and has given me a rooting interest where there often is none. To be able to have somebody to root for is always a plus, and for that alone, I’m glad to have created the Fantasy Olympics. I hope to make new ones in the upcoming years. But, as the Olympics close, I remind myself that the NHL season is entering its stretch run, MLB spring training is kicking into gear, and March Madness is only a few weeks away. As we depart the Winter Games, instead of being sad that these events are over, we can finally look towards reaping the benefits of sports in the spring.
February 26, 2010 · Filed under Uncategorized
4 Comments
So the NFL combine is only days away but chances are, unless you’re a draft enthusiast, that you only know a few big name players taking part. Don’t worry. This article is going to detail the players you should be watching at each position. Let’s start with the offense.
Quarterbacks
The Top Guns:
Sam Bradford, Oklahoma- Some people think that Bradford would have been the number 1 draft choice in 2009 instead of Stafford had he entered the draft last year. This year, his talent is still apparent, yet it might be his health that prevents Bradford from being 2010’s top choice. The most important part of the combine for Bradford wont be on the field. Team doctors will get a chance to perform exams on him and if its determined that his injured shoulder is a cause for concern then it becomes very possible Bradford won’t even be selected in the top 10. (Bradford won’t be participating in on-field drills)
Jimmy Clausen, Notre Dame- Clausen and Bradford are most likely the only QB’s who will be drafted in the first round this year. Clausen is coming off a fantastic junior year where he completed 68% of his passes for 3,722 yards, 28 TDs and only 4 interceptions. Clausen has the arm and the size (About 6′3, 220) to be an NFL quarterback. He’s also been praised for his toughness, playing through injury and his clutch play. Does he have the maturity, confidence and intelligence to lead an NFL team? That’s what teams are going to try to figure out. (Clausen won’t be participating in on-field drills)
The Question Marks:
Colt McCoy, Texas- There is no question that Colt McCoy was a great college Quarterback. Through his four years as a starter at Texas he averaged 28 touchdown passes a season and had a career completion percentage of 70.3%. Colt is also a great athlete and has the ability to scramble and gain yards on the ground. So what’s the problem? Well, Colt played in the infamous spread offense while at Texas. The spread offense utilizes a lot of short, quick passes which is the reason for Colt’s high completion percentage. The question is does Colt have the arm strength to play in the NFL or is he strictly a system QB who can only thrive in the spread offense? Depending on what some teams may think, Colt could be drafted anywhere from the late first round to the third round.
Tim Tebow, Florida- It’s hard to believe that possibly the best quarterback in the history of college football may not even be a quarterback in the NFL. Tim Tebow has a list of exceptional qualities – strong, athletic, competitive, tough, determined, great leader and even good arm strength. Unfortunately for Tebow, its that long release, poor footwork and minimal experience in a pro-style offense that raises some serious questions for his future as an NFL QB. However, with his athleticism and competitive fire it’s not hard to imagine Tebow having success at another position in the NFL. He is big enough to play other positions as he weighed in at 6′3, 236 at the Senior Bowl. It’ll be interesting to see how fast Tebow runs his 40 yard dash. If he can manage to run it in 4.7 seconds or less then the suggestions that Tebow become an H-back may grow a little louder. (Note: Tebow won’t throw at the combine. Apparently, he has refined his mechanics and will be showing them off at his pro-day in Florida. Stay tuned.)
The Sleeper:
Dan LeFevour, Central Michigan- LeFevour had a great Senior Bowl game as he threw for 97 yards and a TD while adding a rushing TD as well. He really caught my eye with two perfectly thrown deep balls to WR Mardy Gilyard. With good size (6′3, 230), a strong arm, and great athleticism (rushed for 1,122 yards and 19 TD’s his sophomore season) LeFevour is certainly an interesting prospect. However, like McCoy, LeFevour played in a spread offense, spending most of his time in the shotgun. Some may also be concerned about the level of his competition as he played in the MAC conference. However, as his four-time selection to the Academic All-MAC team would suggest, LeFevour is a smart guy but will need time on the bench of an NFL team to develop and grow.
Running Backs
The Next Chris Johnsons?:
C.J. Spiller, Clemson- By most accounts, Spiller is the best running back entering the draft this year. At 5′11, 195, Spiller is very comparable in size and build to Chris Johnson. Two years ago Chris Johnson awed everyone at the combine by running the 40 yard dash in 4.24 seconds. While no one expects Spiller to run that fast, running the 40 in under 4.40 seconds should solidify his expectation of being the first running back selected in 2010. Spiller is also a talented kick returner and reciever. With a good showing at the combine he should be a top 15 pick.
Jahvid Best, California- Personally, my favorite running back in this class, Best, like Johnson, boasts game breaking speed as he should run the 40 in the 4.3 second range. A capable kick returner and reciever, Best is a nightmare in the open field due to his quickness and agility. He’s not going to run through a lot of tackles but with his speed and instant acceleration he was able to pull off a couple of Barry Sanders-like runs in college. Injuries and durability are a concern for Best and it’ll be interesting to see if he really measures in at the 5′10, 195 most web sites list him at.
The Big Guys:
Ryan Mathews, Fresno State- At 5′11, 220, Mathews is the ideal size for an NFL running back. Mathews also shows good explosion for his size and is expected to run the 40 yard dash in the high 4.4’s to low 4.5’s. He averaged 6.6 yards rushing his junior year en route to 1,808 yards rushing and 19 rushing TD’s. He may need some work on pass blocking and receiving, as he only has 19 career receptions, but could still be drafted in the late first round.
Jonathan Dwyer, Georgia Tech- Dwyer is an interesting prospect. He measures in at 6′0, 235, and has good straight-line speed drawing comparisons to Michael Turner. Unlike Best, Dwyer won’t make a lot of people miss with agility and quick cutting ability but he does a great job at breaking tackles and gets great leg drive due to his powerful lower body. His work ethic has been questioned and the fact that he showed up to offseason workouts 15 pounds overweight may indicate weight problems in the future.
Toby Gerhart, Stanford- Gerhart rushed for 1,871 yards and 28 touchdowns this past season as he was named one of the finalists for the Heisman Trophy Award. At 6′1 235, Gerhart possess exceptional power for a running back. He won’t run away from many NFL defenders (he is estimated to run the 40 in 4.6 seconds) but he will run over a fair share. His lack of elite speed and his reconstructed ACL in his left knee will be major concerns for NFL teams. However, his power running and pass blocking abilities will give Gerhart a place in the NFL.
The Little Guy:
Dexter McCluster, Ole Miss- At around 5’9 165, McCluster is nowhere near the prototypical size for an NFL Running Back. Despite his size however, McCluster has shown that he’s a playmaker. It only took him 181 carries to gain 1,169 yards rushing (a 6.5 yards per carry average) while also hauling in 44 catches for 520 yards. If McCluster can show off his speed, hands and versatility at the Combine he could find himself being selected somewhere in the second round.
Wide Recievers
The Go-To Guys:
Dez Bryant, Oklahoma- Bryant appears to be the consensus Number 1 receiver available in the 2010 draft and with good reason. Bryant has good size at 6’2 215 and great hands. Bryant isn’t afraid to get physical with opposing DB’s and can be tough to bring down in the open field. Bryant also does a great job of attacking the ball in the air and shows good concentration when going up for the jump ball. One thing Bryant doesn’t have however, is game-breaking speed. He should perform exceptionally well in pass-catching drills at the combine but it remains to be seen how fast he will run his 40. If he can clock in at 4.50 seconds or less we could see Bryant go in the top 10 picks.
Arrelious Benn, Illinois- Another big, physical receiver, Benn, who weighs in at 6’2 220, draws comparisons to Anquan Boldin, except he’s faster and more athletic. Unfortunately, Benn wasn’t able to fully showcase his talents in college because of the lack of talent at the QB position. In Benn’s best year he only recorded 67 receptions and 3 TD’s, but his physical ability is undeniable. Benn doesn’t have the hands or the ability to win jump balls like Dez Bryant but he should still end up being a first round pick.
Golden Tate, Notre Dame- Smaller than the two guys atop the 2010 wide receiver Draft Class, the 5’11, 195 pound Tate boasts great athleticism and good speed. He had a fantastic junior year tallying 93 receptions for 1,496 yards and 15 touchdowns. However, Tate must improve his route running to have a successful career in the NFL. Without elite size or speed, it’s imperative that he runs crisp, clean routes in order to get separation. With his intelligence, instincts and athleticism, Tate should be a solid number 2 receiver in the NFL.
Brandon LaFell, L.S.U.- Another big receiver standing 6’3 and weighing 205 pounds, LaFell is very physical and athletic. Like Bryant, LaFell does a great job of attacking the ball at its highest point and winning jump balls. He’s a great blocker and also does a good job fighting off the jam from opposing corners. He only had 57 receptions his senior year, but 11 of them went for touchdowns. If LaFell measures up to his listed height and weight and turns in a good 40 time, he could sneak into the first round.
Damian Williams, U.S.C.- Not nearly as physical as the bigger receivers in this class, the 6’1, 190 pound Williams makes up for it with his soft hands and great route-running ability. Williams isn’t a game-breaking receiver that opposing defensive coordinators have to change game plans in order to contain, but he could fit very nicely with a team looking for a quick, dependable number 2 option.
Tight Ends
The “Rocked Up” Receivers:
Jermaine Gresham, Oklahoma- Since I was a little late in getting this article out, Jermaine Gresham has already officially weighed in at the combine. He measured in at 6’5 ¼ and 261 pounds with 35 ¾ inch arms. His arms are actually longer than the vast majority of NFL starting left tackles, which gives him an advantage not only in receiving but also blocking as well. Although Gresham isn’t expected to record an elite time in the 40 yard dash (most likely around 4.70), he is a huge threat as a receiver. Tremendously athletic and versatile, Gresham will create mismatches for most linebackers. Although he needs to work on his blocking, Gresham could be a first round pick this April.
Rob Gronkowski, Arizona- Officially weighed in at 6’6 ¼ and 264 pounds with 34 ¼ inch arms, Gronkowski is another TE with great size and long arms. He played in 10 games his sophomore year (he missed his junior year due to injury) but caught 10 touchdowns that season. Gronkowski is a tremendous athlete at the tight end position but his lack of experience and the fact that he hasn’t been on the field in over a year may scare some teams away from drafting him early. He needs to prove at the combine that he still possesses his athleticism and that he is healthy.
Aaron Hernandez, Florida- Hernandez measured in at 6’2 3/8 and 245 pounds with 32 ¼ inch arms. Significantly smaller than the previous two tight ends, Hernandez probably does not offer much potential as a blocker. He showed his ability as a pass catcher his junior year as he caught 68 passes for 850 yards and 5 TD’s. Most likely his best fit in the NFL would be as an H-Back.
Offensive Linemen
The Bodyguards:
Russell Okung, LT, Oklahoma State- Officially weighed in at the combine at 6’5 ¼ and 307 pounds. In addition to his great size he also has impressively long arms (36 inches), which would put him right among the top of the NFL along starting left tackles. The most impressive things about Okung are his feet and athleticism. He moves more like an athletic tight end rather than an lineman. I was shocked at how smoothly and quickly he moved when pulling to block on run plays. Okung not only reaches the second level, but also dominates and finishes. A great pass blocker, Okung would be the perfect candidate to protect Matt Stafford’s blind side (sorry, I just had to throw that in there).
Anthony Davis, LT, Rutgers- Officially measuring in at 6’5 and 323 pounds, Davis also boasts impressively long 34-inch arms. A fantastic run blocker, Davis can also hold his own in pass protection. Some feel that Anthony Davis is the best tackle in this draft and could even be a top 5 pick. Not as athletic as Okung, Davis would be a great fit for a run-first team.
Bryan Bulaga, LT, Iowa- Bulaga measured in at 6’5 3/8 and 314 pounds at the combine. While that’s great size for a left tackle, scouts were mostly concerned about his arm length. Bulaga’s arms ended up measuring in at 33 ¼ inches, which is not considered elite but will be ‘good enough’. (Scouts and coaches hate to see tackles with arm length less than 33 inches). Bulaga is a physical blocker with great technique. There are questions as to how good of a left tackle Bulaga will be in the NFL and whether he has already reached his peak, meaning he won’t get much better than he already is.
Mike Iupati, OG, Idaho- Iupati weighed in at 6’5 1/8 and 331 pounds with a solid 34 ¾ inch arm length. Quite the physical specimen, Iupati is certainly an intimidating presence in the interior of the offensive line. Iupati has fantastic strength and is a great, fluid athlete for a man his size. Iupati is still learning technique and footwork and as Mike Mayock of NFL Network pointed out he has a habit of ‘grabbing’ at defensive lineman, leaving him susceptible to holding calls. Still, don’t be surprised if some team falls in love with his physical ability and drafts him in the top 20 picks, a rare occurrence for a guard.
Bruce Campbell, LT, Maryland- Another physical specimen, Campbell weighed in at 6’6 3/8 and 314 pounds with an incredible 36 ¼ inch arm length. Campbell is a great athlete whose upside is through the roof. He only started 17 career games in college but his rare combination of size and speed may get him drafted in the first half of the first round. It’ll be very interesting to see how many reps he puts up on the bench press and how fast he runs his 40. Only then, will we truly get an idea of how much an ‘athletic freak’ this guy really is.
Coming Monday: Part 2: Players to Watch on Defense
February 26, 2010 · Filed under NCAA, NFL
1 Comment
Have you ever mulled over the names professional sports teams have been given? Have you ever significantly thought about the actual meanings of such names? Have you pondered and come to realize how original some team owners are and how unoriginal are others? (I’m postulating that the owners make these decisions over lobster and ancient wine with the rest of their upper management—name picking being a highly aristocratic notion). A great deal of these high nobles certainly jump the gun with this agenda evidently, worrying about other, more important objectives, like keeping the butter sauce from falling onto their Dockers. They initiate the conversation and too readily terminate it, proclaiming, “Yes! That shall be the one! The Nets! The ‘N’ from ‘New’ contrasts the ‘N’ from ‘Nets’ exquisitely. More vino, anyone?” Any name created for a basketball team composed of baskets, nets, or balls cannot possibly have exceeded more than five minutes in conversation, if that. I also believe, for the most part, that animals are a cop out , e.g. Bobcats, Tigers, Grizzlies, Raptors, etc. For some reason the birds seem to work well though, I think, at least in the MLB with the Blue Jays, Orioles, and Cardinals. But the only way to guarantee a name upholding critical acclaim and infinite success is when making it historically significant. This is always a shoo-in. They are the names you might not understand at all, but know that the name is somewhat significant to that certain city’s history in some way; those are the names that resonate. Which brings me to the team I’m throwing into the spotlight: the 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers. Their name derives from the myriad of trolley cars the denizens of Brooklyn had to dodge in the streets in the late 1800’s. They were originally named the Brooklyn Trolley Dodgers. I’m going to guess that people weren’t actually dodging trolleys and a subsequent swift death, but either way—that is a name, my friend. And 1955 is the highlighted year for two reasons: one because it was Brooklyn’s only World Series win, and two because today Brooklyn Brewery distributes a wonderfully crafted pale ale titled “Pennant Ale ‘55” as a tribute to the ’55 Dodgers.
I believe that life is worth living and being thankful for merely for the fact that we can drink beer and watch baseball simultaneously. It’s a beautiful thing. And now that Spring Training is on the prowl I am obligated to bring to your attention a beer that is entirely perfect for having during a luminous, sunny day game. This Pennant Ale glistens with the sun, pouring a light reddish-brown with an unsubstantial off-white head. Like all pale ale style brews the hoppiness is evident, but unobtrusive, unlike the India Pale Ale style, which takes hoppiness and bitterness to the highest level. The taste here goes further than the Cascade and Willamette hops Brooklyn uses, as you’ll find a citrus and sweet component to it; it goes down smooth and easy, finishing with a gentle zest, pulling at your hand kindly asking you to go ahead and pick up another one out of the cooler. With the crack of the bat, the pop of ball on glove leather, and the chatter of tobacco filled mouths of grown men, this beer complements the sounds of baseball all too well. Unlike a lot of the beers I find myself indulging in, this beer is more light than dark, it is not a robust, powerful, wine-like sipper, but, to put it simply, is just a good ole American brew. Now, don’t get me wrong, it will drown any Bud, Miller, or Coors light, but it is truly smooth, genuinely and painstakingly created, and a perfect complement to a ball game.
I get antsy this time of year, yearning for the first pitch in April, the day my life realigns itself. But until then I will seemingly look over my 5th grade MLB folder of all the team names and logos, and continue to be impressed and unimpressed with different upper management team’s decision making. I have to hand it to some team owners who first took the time to eat their lobster, finish their wine, and remove their bibs before assiduously coming up with a significant team name, giving the objective the time it deserves. The Trolley Dodgers—a thought provoking, smooth sounding, historical name. Certainly one of my favorites. But you probably already know what my favorite team name is. It’s obvious. The Brewers, of course.
February 24, 2010 · Filed under The Brewmaster's Corner
3 Comments
This is part 2 of my NHL at the Olympic Break column. For part 1, about my favorite team, the New York Rangers, click here.
As the Olympics reach their climax, we’re reaching the stretch run of the NHL season. As it stands, there looks to be four major contenders for the Stanley Cup, one team that could reach that level, and a few others that aren’t ready to reach the finals but could be spoilers. Let’s start with the Eastern Conference, where 2 teams look to be on a collision course to face each other in the conference finals, with a third that has a real chance to crash the party if their spare pieces can click. I’ll run down the teams, in the order that I think they’ll finish in the conference.
1. Washington Capitals They’re looking like a total juggernaut. Alex Ovechkin right now is playing at a higher level than anyone I can ever remember watching. He’s a dynamo. I’m terrified of the next 15 years of the Ovechkin Era.
2. Pittsburgh Penguins Too much talent to have any real dry spells. I expect them to keep playing strongly, and be a top contender, especially with Sergei Gonchar back to commandeer the power play.
3. Buffalo Sabres They have more games to play than Ottawa, have slightly more depth and have the frontrunner to win the Vezina Trophy in Ryan Miller. I think they get the 3.
4. New Jersey Devils The enigma of the entire NHL. Will Ilya Kovalchuk blend with the rest of this team and provide the consistent offense that they sorely lack? When you look at this team on paper, they should be a top contender, with Kovalchuk, Zach Parise, some other skilled offensive players and the douchey great Martin Brodeur leading the way. But they’ve faded in the last month, and a fairly soft defense for a contender and some chemistry issues pose a problem. If they put it together, they could be the team that spoils Gary Bettman’s wet dream of a Washington/Pittsburgh conference final. But without an improvement on defense, it seems like a tall order.
A suggestion: How about Sheldon Souray as a rental player? The Devils have already pushed their chips to the middle of the table and gone all in with the Kovalchuk move, so why not double down with Souray? He’s not a long term solution, and his capT hit isn’t pretty, but he would help their anemic power play tremendously, would provide consistent offense for their defense (which is last in the league in points), and add a veteran presence for the playoffs. If he can prove that he is healthy, what’s the downside? I doubt Edmonton would require a ton from them in a trade. This could really help.
5. Ottawa Senators They’ve had a nice bounce-back year after a rough end of the 2008 season and a 2009 season where injury and discontent sidetracked them. They still have a lot of talent, and when healthy are very dangerous. Their goaltending situation (no pun intended, sorry The Situation) isn’t great, but there is certainly potential.
6. Philadelphia Flyers After a very difficult start to the season that cost John Stevens his job, Peter Laviolette has brought them back to the top of the playoff bubble that goes from the 6th seed all the way down to the 13th. I see no reason they wouldn’t continue to play good hockey and separate themselves from the pack. They’re a major playoff spoiler.
7. Boston Bruins This is the pick that I’m least confident about. They’ve been amazingly inconsistent this year, and if they take a turn for the worse they won’t make it. But there’s enough talent there that they should be in it, although I don’t think they’ll go very far.
8. New York Rangers For reasons I mentioned in Friday’s column. Henrik Lundqvist and Marian Gaborik are good enough to get them into the playoffs, albeit not much further.
Missing out: Tampa, Montreal, Atlanta, Florida, New York Islanders, Carolina, Toronto If I had to pick one of these teams to make the playoffs, it would be Tampa, if they can get solid goaltending and win the majority of their games left against Atlanta and Florida. I’ve never bought into Montreal, since they have no intimidating talent and are shaky in net. I don’t buy it. Plus, I really don’t like them. But that doesn’t play into this. I just don’t see it. I predicted a year ago that the Islanders would make the playoffs this year, but it looks like there just isn’t room for them. But they’re a rising team, and they’ll be there soon.
To be fair, I haven’t paid a whole lot of attention to the Western Conference. It’s just too much to follow both conferences in great detail. I thought about boring you with my outsider opinion of who would win the West in great length, but I figured that you, my reader, are smarter than that. Quickly, I like the Red Wings and Ducks to sneak into the playoffs, and for Nashville and Calgary to be pushed out. The Sharks and Blackhawks are clearly the top two teams, and they’ll face each other this year. With that said, let’s go to the promised land of the NHL Playoffs, the greatest two months in sports.
1. Washington vs. 8. New York Rangers
Lundqvist can steal a game or two, but the better team will prevail. Washington in 6.
2. Pittsburgh vs. 7. Boston
Pitt will romp here. So much more talent. Pittsburgh in 4.
3. Buffalo vs. 6. Philadelphia
I think Philly has a great chance at an upset here. They match up nicely with how Buffalo plays, and their hard-hitting presence will wear the Sabres down after a long series. Philadelphia in 6.
4. New Jersey vs. 5. Ottawa
The Devils have always matched up well against the Senators, and they are a better team this year in all aspects. New Jersey in 5.
Second Round
1. Washington vs. 6. Philadelphia
Philly beat the Capitals 2 years ago, but Alex Ovechkin has grown into a player unlike anything I’ve ever seen, and his supporting cast with Alex Semin, Mike Green and some others is much improved. I can’t imagine they lose here; they look to be on a mission. Capitals in 5.
2. Pittsburgh vs. 4. New Jersey
This is the marquee matchup of these imaginary playoffs thus far. Can the power of the top two lines of the Devils, featuring Zach Parise and Kovalchuk, overpower Crosby and Malkin? It’s not out of the question, but in the words of Ric Flair, “To be the man, you’ve got to beat the man! Wooooooo!” The woo was totally unnecessary. But I’m keeping it. Because, why not? It’s Ric Freakin’ Flair! Anyway, with that aside, the Penguins are the champs, they haven’t gotten any worse, and I can’t pick against them versus a team that hasn’t proven that they can take down a potential dynasty. A Devil win wouldn’t totally shock me, but Pittsburgh should prevail. Penguins in 7.
Third Round
1. Washington vs. 2. Pittsburgh
Gary Bettman’s wet dream finally comes true. Dupuis! Poti! It’s the NHL on NBC! What, no? The Ovechkin/Crosby rivalry would come to a head here, and I really don’t know who would win. These teams are so evenly matched in many different ways. If you put a gun to my head, I’d take the Penguins, but it’s really a coin flip for me. It’d be great hockey. That much I know.
For the West, I like San Jose to make it to the finals, going through Anaheim, Los Angeles and Chicago on their way. They’ve choked in years past, but after awhile, doesn’t true talent prevail? We’ve seen it happen with the Red Wings, and we’ll see it again here. There’s just too many great players there for them to throw away their season year after year. I think this is the year that it turns around.
Stanley Cup Finals
I’m not going to make a prediction here, because I just don’t know how the teams would match up. How would Ovechkin potentially counter a line like the one with Thornton and Marleau? What about Crosby? I don’t know enough about it right now to make a call, but it sure would be entertaining.
The NHL looks to have a lot going for itself in the upcoming months. These playoffs will lead to tons of passion and drama, and if these hockey games during the Olympics tell us anything, it’s that there’s a lot of potential for greatness with the talent that the league has assembled. Finally, the NHL has enough teams based around young, dynamic players to create exciting rivalries that can carry the league through the decade to come. As a hockey fan, that’s all I can ask for, especially when my team doesn’t look like it has enough to be a part of one of them.
February 23, 2010 · Filed under NHL
1 Comment
We are now a little more than halfway into the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and there have been plenty of early headlines to discuss. The Olympics always bring about a sense of national pride in addition to bringing the entire globe together for a thrilling two plus weeks. It’s also always fun to learn about and embrace new sports and athletes only to likely forget how they work until four years later when you’re reminded of their existence. I never thought that I could watch, and actually become invested in, curling day in and day out for two weeks straight but that is what the Olympics have done to me. The best part of the Olympics, however, are the unique stories and journeys that accompany all of the athletes, whether they are threats to win a gold medal or are just happy to be there. These games have certainly had their share of inspirational moments and thrilling finishes and I’m sure there will be much more excitement to come in the final week.
Early American favorites included snowboarder Shaun White, speed skater Shani Davis, and alpine skier Lindsey Vonn. White, the defending gold medalist from the Torino games, seemed to be a class above the competition as he was hitting huge air and didn’t even need his second run to repeat as Olympic champion. On his “victory lap,” White brought out his new trick which he had been practicing in private called the double McTwist 1260 which dazzled the crowd and put the icing on the cake for his second consecutive gold medal. Also repeating as Olympic gold medalist was Shani Davis, who became the first man to win the 1000 meter speed skating gold in consecutive Olympics. Davis also added a silver medal in the 1500 meter race for an exact repeat of his Torino performance where he also captured a gold and silver medal.
The greatest amount of success thus far for the Americans in these winter games have come in alpine skiing. With 18 medals given out so far in alpine skiing events for both the men and women, the Americans have captured 8 medals, including 2 gold. One of the American stars coming into these games was Lindsey Vonn, but when she suffered a painful shin injury weeks before the start of the competition, she was unsure she would even be able to participate. She got help when the weather delayed the start of her Olympics and gave her crucial extra time to heal. When her first event finally came around she would earn gold and become the first American female to take home the gold in the downhill. She would also later add a bronze medal and her teammate Julia Mancuso also took home two medals.
On the men’s side, Bode Miller’s laid back attitude has earned him some criticism in the past. Coming off a disappointing 2006 Olympics, where he was expected to do so much and failed to win a medal, Miller took some time off and even became a father. Going back to Torino, he had said that he didn’t like being the “poster boy” of success and expectation for the Americans. He said that becoming a father made him take another look at his life. He decided to rededicate his time and focus to the 2010 games where many critics were overlooking him as a medal threat. Perhaps the difference this time is that Miller was truly excited to be at the Olympics and to prove himself once again. With two events left, Miller already has 3 medals, including his first Olympic gold in the Super Combined event, giving him 5 medals overall which makes him the most decorated American skier of all time.
Speaking of decorated American athletes, with 2 more medals, short-track speed skater Apolo Ohno passed Bonnie Blair as the most successful American Winter Olympian ever with 7 overall medals. Ohno still has two competitions remaining to try and improve that mark. His record tying medal, however, came with a bit of controversy. As the rival South Korean skaters were sitting in the first three positions when the last two ended up taking out one another giving Ohno the silver and fellow American J.R. Celski the bronze. The race also consisted of plenty of bumping and shoving throughout and some South Korean media outlets had claimed Ohno didn’t deserve his medal. Ohno is still mulling over whether he will participate in the 2014 games in Russia, but whatever his decision, he has cemented his place in American Olympic history.
Other early Olympic headlines include American Seth Wescott who repeated as a gold medalist in snowboarder cross, which is a crazy and exciting event which has been called NASCAR on ice. The man who took home the first gold medal in these games was Swiss Ski Jumper Simon Ammann, who after winning 2 gold medals in Salt Lake City, was shutout in Torino. Ammann later added another gold giving him 4 total gold medals which is the most for any ski jumper in Olympic history. Another historic moment came when figure skater Evan Lysacek took home the gold medal, becoming the first American to do so since Scott Hamilton in 1984. He beat out Russian and defending gold medalist Evgeni Plushenko by a slim margin. Plushenko later said that he thought he deserved the gold but this is nothing compared to some of the past judging controversies that have taken place in the Olympics in recent years.
Cross Country Skiing has also had some dramatic finishes in both the men’s and women’s competitions. Johnny Spillane became the first American to win a medal in the Nordic Combined event when he took home the silver while two other Americans finished in the top 6. Perhaps one of the most remarkable performances came in Cross-Country Skiing during the Women’s Individual Sprint Classic, and it came from the winner of the bronze medal. Slovenian Petra Majdic took a terrible fall into a ditch on the side of the course in a qualifying run but was allowed to resume competing. She made it to the final and came on strong down the stretch and collapsed on the ground after finishing in third. She lay there for several minutes until she was later carried off to the hospital. Later it would be discovered that she finished the race with four broken ribs and a collapsed lung in perhaps the most grueling sport in the Olympics when it comes to endurance and conditioning. That performance perfectly represents the spirit of these games and shows how far desire and determination can take you.
Coming into the games, the event I always look forward to the most is the Hockey competition, as I’m sure many others do. The best players from all over the world come together and play at an unbelievable speed and skill level that aren’t seen on a consistent basis in the NHL. Yesterday was the perfect example of this and was probably one of the best days of hockey I can remember in a long time. Not only was the USA playing Canada, but wrapped around that was the Czech Republic against Russia and Scandinavian rivals Sweden and Finland matching up in the night game. It certainly had to be the most talent in a single arena on a given day in the history of hockey. Although it was only a preliminary game, the USA v. Canada match up was as intense as a Stanley Cup Final playoff game. If this game didn’t make you a fan of hockey, or at least put you on the edge of your seat, then there is something wrong with you. The game did turn out to be rather important in terms of seeding for the playoff rounds. The Americans would end up winning the game after Ryan Kesler, who happens to play for the Vancouver Canucks, added probably the best empty net goal of all time (I know it sounds crazy to say an empty net goal was great but if you didn’t see this goal it was really incredible). It was the first time the US defeated Canada in the Olympics since 1960 and the win fittingly came on the eve of the 30th anniversary of the miracle on ice. The US also happened to be wearing the same jerseys worn by the 1960 team which went on to win gold. Buffalo Sabres goalie Ryan Miller played remarkable and finished with 42 saves while Red Wings defenseman Brian Rafalski added two goals against his former teammate and Canadian goalie Martin Brodeur. The win doesn’t knock Canada out of the competition and they are probably still one of the favorites to win gold, but it certainly puts doubt into the minds of the players and fans. Combining the win with Sweden’s 3-0 win over Finland in the night game, the US earned the top seed going into the playoff round which is a huge advantage. They will now avoid playing one of the top 7 teams in the quarterfinals and won’t match up against Canada or Russia until a potential gold medal match. For Canada, they certainly have made the road much more difficult for themselves. Not only do they have to play an extra game to reach the quarterfinals, but once they get there they would have to face Russia, who many people had as their gold medal match opponents coming into the tournament. Many of the elite players have been saying that playing for their country and winning a gold medal would be more of an honor than winning the Stanley Cup so with the knockout stages starting on Tuesday, hockey will definitely be in the spotlight in the final week of the Olympics and is something I am certainly looking forward to.
Aside from the immense amount of pressure on Canada’s hockey team, the majority of the early headlines in the home nation’s media revolved around the fact that Canada has yet to win a gold medal at home with this being their third Olympics held on their home turf. The home fans thought they wouldn’t have to wait long when Canadian Jennifer Heil was favored to win Ladies’ Moguls on the first night following the opening ceremonies. Unfortunately for the hometown fans, the Americans had other ideas and ended up finishing with the gold and bronze while Heil took home the Silver. Winning the gold was Hannah Kearney, who recovered from a disappointing outing in the Torino Olympic Games. Kearney came into the 2006 games as the favorite, only to not advance past the qualification stage. Her 2010 performance not only kept the home fans waiting on their first gold medal, but also came with a feeling of redemption for Kearney.
The Canadians would not have to wait too much longer for their crowning moment which came the following night. Ironically, it was men’s moguls skier Alexandre Bilodeau who brought home the gold medal over favored 2006 Olympic Gold Medalist and Vancouver native Dale Begg-Smith, who won the silver. American Bryan Wilson would end up winning the Bronze. When he was 16, Begg-Smith moved from his native Canada to Australia, who he was now competing for. It was Canada’s first gold medal on home soil after two previous efforts in Calgary and the Summer Games in Montreal held in 1976. This victory struck a particular chord with me after I discovered the story behind this new Canadian hero. Bilodeau’s older brother Frederic suffers from cerebral palsy and much of Alexandre’s inspiration comes from his brother. At a young age, Frederic was told that he wouldn’t walk again. Perhaps the most remarkable moment that night was that Frederic was standing and cheering the entire time his brother was skiing. The brothers then embraced after a victory which brought tears and so much joy to a family and an entire nation. Bilodeau went on to say “My brother is still walking and still skiing. He’s pushing the limits every time. Even though his abilities are getting lower, he’s trying to improve every time.” Using that inspiration and knowing he could conquer any obstacle, Bilodeau brought home gold to his brother and his nation. These are the kinds of stories which make the Olympics so great and that bring fans around the globe together to cheer collectively for a great story. Through the first part of the Olympics, moments like this have resonated in the hearts of fans and will stay with them forever. Moving forward, more thrilling and memorable events are likely to come in the final week of the 2010 Vancouver games.
February 22, 2010 · Filed under NHL
No Comments
Podcast Home
Podcast Directory