The Beginning of a Man-Crush?

It's not Marian Hossa, it isn't Mathieu Garon, Steve Sullivan, or Ty Conklin. It's John Madden.

John Madden will be the best free agent addition in the Central Division.

Madden is the center that Chicago needed at the trade deadline last season. Instead, they got Sammy Pahlsson. He won a faceoff there, scored a goal here, but Pahlsson is not the same caliber a player as Madden.

He brings a wealth of talent and experience to Chicago.

“His tenacious work ethic is what made him so good at stopping the opposition's best forwards on a given night for years,” John Fischer, manager of the New Jersey Devils blog In Lou We Trust said in an e-mail.

Madden is one season removed from earning a career high in points, when in 2008 he tallied 20 goals and 23 assists. In 2001 he was awarded the Frank J. Selke trophy, an honor he has been nominated for on four occasions. To top it off, he has won two Stanley Cups.

Clearly Madden will have a positive impact on the ice, but more importantly at this point in his career, are the intangibles he brings to one of the youngest locker rooms in the NHL.

“He was a leader in New Jersey's locker room, if I recall correctly, and his wealth of experience playing on a dominant New Jersey Devils team for this past decade, should be a big benefit for the young and relatively inexperienced Blackhawks,” Fischer said.

There are a couple issues though, but they shouldn’t matter much when you consider the situation Madden is entering into with Chicago.

At 36-years old, Madden is not going to be the same player he was while hoisting the Cup in ’00 or ’03 and he followed his career year in ’08 with a slow start and disappointing 23 points last season.

“According to Behind the Nets numbers, the goals against/60 min. and the shots against/60 min. did rise when Madden stepped on the ice in even strength situations which isn't so good,” Fischer said.

“And, along with the rest of the team, he wasn't nearly as effective on penalty killing as one would like.”

Despite a disappointing season and a dip in production on the penalty kill, when asked about his speed, Fischer explained “He's not as quick as he once was, but he's far from slow. I think he still has something in the proverbial tank.”

So he’s still got some quickness. And as for his less than stellar ’08 campaign, I don’t think it’s anything to be worried about. Madden is joining a perfect, talent-latent situation in Chicago where he’ll be responsible for less of a load than he was in New Jersey.

Presumably, he’ll be on the third line with Andrew Ladd and Dustin Byfuglien. That could change once training camp rolls around and Coach Q sees something else that works. It’s not like Chicago is lacking in the “talented forward” department.

He won’t have to deal with same pressure as Hossa to put the puck in the net, so he can just go out there and play. His resume alone should garnish instant respect when he joins the locker room, and although it isn’t exactly measurable, his presence on the Blackhawks could solidify them as a legitimate contender for the Stanley Cup.

“He's the typical player who doesn't do much on the score sheet, but fans fall in love with how he works on the ice and eventually understand that his benefit is in stopping the opposition.”

Interview with Marv Cook

Below are exerpts from an interview I conducted with Marv Cook. The interview begins with Cook discussing his introduction to football, with input from his high school football coach Tom Nosbish.

From there, Cook and former teammate Chuck Hartlieb talk about his time at Iowa; from "four long months on the scout team" during his redshirt freshman year to an All-American his senior year.


1985

Six games and six wins into the 1985 season came a moment still able to generate chills. The night of October 19 saw top-ranked Iowa playing host to second-ranked Michigan, with both teams undefeated. The game had the ingredients of an all-time classic, and that’s exactly what was produced.

After a game described by Cook as “back and fourth, back and fourth,” Iowa kicker Rob Houghtlin made a 12-yard field goal as time expired to give Iowa the dramatic 12-10 victory.

“That was the beginning, to me, of many, many great, exciting football games.”

In 1985 Iowa earned a 7-1-0 conference record, a Big Ten championship and an invitation to the Rose Bowl; where they ultimately lost to UCLA, giving Iowa an overall record of 10-2-0.

“To me, that’s why I went to Iowa. To win Big Ten championships, to play for championships, and to be able to do that my redshirt and freshman year was a great thrill.”



1986

Cook used the experience from the Rose Bowl the year prior to help prepare him for the Holiday Bowl.

“That’s the thing the Rose Bowl teaches you. When you have your three hours of football, you have to make it a great three hours. You can’t be thinking about Disney World or all that other stuff. You’ve got to be thinking about football.”

“There’s just so much great stuff to do. Tijuana, the zoo, we even visited an aircraft carrier; but you’ve still got to focus for a football game.”

With 47 seconds left in a shootout of a game, San Diego State’s kicker knocked in a 21-yard field goal to put the Aztecs up 38-36. It seemed as though another fantastic Iowa season would end in disappointment.

But Iowa’s Kevin Harmon set a Holiday Bowl record on the ensuing kickoff, returning it to the San Diego State 37 yard line. As the television broadcaster put it, “There couldn’t have been a bigger play at a bigger time for Iowa.”

After a two yard run up the gut, an incomplete pass intended for Cook, and another short run, Iowa sent on the field goal unit.

Kicker Rob Houghtlin was 0-2 on the night, but he was no stranger to last second field goals where victory hangs in the balance.

Time expired as Houghtlin made the 41-yard field goal, giving Iowa the 39-38 Holiday Bowl victory.

“My vivid memories of that game was that it was just a great game, I had a touchdown, which was fun for me, and just the experience of being in San Diego.”




1987

Cook had now solidified himself as a premier player in college football and his role on the team had become more defined.

“I was getting more and more involved in the offense,” Cook said. “I was starting to get more of a game-plan role, where they wanted to get the ball to me in certain ways.”

“Through the course of the season I started to step up in some pretty big games and have some impact on those. It sort of all led up to the Ohio State game.”

4th and 23. 16 seconds left in the game. Iowa’s ball on the 29-yard line and the Hawkeyes trail 27-22.

“We called a timeout and I went to the sidelines to collect my thoughts,” Hartlieb said. “And I knew coach Fry would ask for my input.

“I was thinking, ‘I want to rely on someone I trust more than anyone else.’ I wanted to get Marv involved, so I suggested a play that would give Marv the chance to get the ball downfield.”

“There was sense of urgency but not a sense of panic. I remember looking around the huddle and the intensity of the setting and the noise,” Cook said. “Everybody has to lean in and listen for the play call, and he’s (Hartlieb) yelling and it’s so intensely loud.”

“The focus.” He places emphasis on the ‘f’, as if a quick shot of adrenaline just went through him as he retells the story, the pace quickening. “And looking around at the different faces and realizing; we’ve got to find a way to make this happen, we worked too hard not to finish this thing off.”




For the full version of this story, email me at sean-patchett@uiowa.edu or
SMPatchett@aol.com.

photo from www.hawkeyesmic.com.

Hawkeyes podcast

Talking about the podcasts in class today reminded me of a post I meant to do a long time ago. Here it is, HawkeyesMic.

www.hawkeyesmic.com

check it out, download a podcast or two and give them a listen.

The next great rivarly in sports

(AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

How do you know when you’re witnessing history? Easy, pay attention.

Ladies and gentlemen, introduce yourself to the next great rivalry in sports: Crosby vs. Ovechkin.

What we have here with Crosby-Ovechkin is the opportunity to witness the evolution of a rivalry that is already drawing comparisons to Magic-Bird.

Sydney Crosby (21-years old, Canadian, Pittsburgh Penguins)-he is the youngest player in NHL history to record 100 and 200 career points. During the 2006-2007 NHL season he became the youngest person to ever win a scoring title in a major pro-team sport. In addition to winning the scoring title (the Art Ross Trophy) that season he was also named League MVP (the Hart Trophy).

On May 31, 2007 he was named captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins, becoming the youngest captain in NHL history. In 2007 he became the youngest player ever elected an NHL All-Star game starter.

Alex Ovechkin (23-years old, Russian, Washington Capitals)- Over the course of the 2007-2008 NHL season Ovechkin won the Hart Trophy, the Art Ross Trophy, and the Maurice Richard Trophy. So in one season, Ovechkin was named league MVP, scored the most goals, and tallied the most points (65 goals, 47 assists). He set a single season record for goals scored by a left wing and his 65 goals were the most in a season since Mario Lemieux in 1995-96 (only 10 players in hockey history have scored more).

Ovechkin has also earned First Team honors in each of his first three full NHL seasons, which hasn’t happened since Detroit Red Wings goaltender Terry Sawchuk did so from 1950-51 through 1952-53.

Clearly, their resumes scream epic head-to-head matchups.

Naysayers might argue that nobody cares about hockey, or that since an American isn’t involved, Americans won’t care. Don’t let them persuade you from missing something great.

Obviously people are catching on, “according to NBC Sports spokesman Brian Walker, NBC's telecast of Pittsburgh/Washington's Game 1 Eastern Conference Semi-final drew a 1.4/4 overnight rating on NBC. These numbers are up 40% from last year's comparable telecast (a 1.0/4 for Game 2 of Colorado/Detroit).”

Throw in the fact that this season’s Winter Classic, an outdoor hockey game between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Detroit Red Wings which took place at Wrigley Field on New Years Day, drew the best viewer ratings for a nationally-televised hockey game in 10 years, and it’s clear that hockey’s popularity is on the rise.

This rivalry has the added bonus of coming naturally as well, stemming from the Canada vs. Russia hockey rivalry and the storied Penguins-Capitals rivalry, riddled with bitter or glorious playoff memories, depending on what sweater you wear.

Not only have Crosby and Ovechkin exchanged verbal and physical blows but what happened last night was one of those epic head-to-head matchups I mentioned earlier, and just the sort of ingredient every great rivalry needs.

In Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semi-finals, Crosby and Ovechkin both netted hat tricks in a 4-3 Capitals victory. Yes, you read that right, both of them. It was Crosby’s first post-season hat trick and Ovechkin’s first career hat trick.

This spring, make sure to pay attention to the blossoming of Crosby vs. Ovechkin.

Hawks-Cunucks. Nasty, gritty, and beautiful.

What happened the last time the Blackhawks and the Canucks met each other on the ice?



That's what happened.

This series has the potential to go down as an all-time classic. And if Chicago can pull off the upset (and yes, it will be an upset if they win), it may be looked back on as this year's defining seedling of a dynasty.

Check out Scott Burnside's preview over at ESPN.

It's a series that will feature explosive offenses and shut-down defenses, physical play, two of the best goalies in the NHL in Roberto Luongo and Nikoli Khabibulin, and a trip to the Western Conference Finals as the prize.

A seven game series is not out of the question, and overtime heroics could very easily make an appearance.

It's the kind of stuff that makes playoff hockey, playoff hockey.

Free preview of my final project.

Because I believe my final project is that cool, here is a free preview.

For those who were not in my workshop group, my final project is an interview with Marv Cook. The majority of the project is a POV from Cook, and his development from a redshirt freshman to Iowa's all-time tight end.

Below is an exerpt from the written component (the interview with Marv Cook) followed by the YouTube video of what he is discussing. Pretty cool stuff. Enjoy.

“Through the course of the season I started to step up in some pretty big games and have some impact on those. It sort of all lead up to the Ohio State game.”

4th and 23. 16 seconds left in the game. Iowa’s ball on the 29-yard line and the Hawkeyes trail 22-27.

“There was a sense of urgency but not a sense of panic. I remember looking around the huddle and the intensity of the setting and the noise,” Cook said. “Everybody has to lean in and listen for the play call, and he’s (Hartlieb) yelling and it’s so intensely loud.”

“The focus.” He places emphasis on the ‘f’ as if a quick shot of adrenaline just went through him as he retells the story, the pace quickening.

“And looking around at the different faces and realizing we’ve got to find a way to make this happen, we worked too hard not to finish this thing off.”

Second round bound!

The first round of the playoffs are over. The second round is about to begin.

After two different, nail-biting game sevens concluded tonight, with the Capitals beating New York and Carolina scoring two goals in final 1:22 to finish off New Jersey, the second round matchups have been finalized.

In the West, the second seed Detroit Red Wings will take on the surprising eight seed Anaheim Ducks. The Ducks just beat out the top seeded, President's Trophy winning San Jose Sharks. The third seeded Vancouver Canucks play host to the four seed Chicago Blackhawks.

Out East, the now top team in the playoffs, the Boston Bruins, will take on the Carolina Hurricanes. The second seed Capitals, fresh off a series comeback against the Rangers, reignite their rivalry with the four seed Pittsburgh Penguins.

Stay tuned for playoff previews and predictions, as while as some other interesting notes.

Overused headline puns

It doesn't matter how many games the Blackhawks have played, and it doesn't matter if they won or lost; depending on the team, the headline is almost always the same.

And I'm sick of it. Who allows this? Seriously.

Here are some right off the top of my head, in no particular order.

1.Calgary: "Hawks douse the Flames." Or "Hawks burned by Calgary."

2.St. Louis: "Hawks have St. Louis singing the Blues." Or "Hawks singing the Blues."

3.New Jersey: "Hawks bedevil New Jersey." Or "New Jersey bedevils Chicago."

Game 5 is starting in a few minutes and I need to get going. But as I was watching the pregame, sure enough, the key for the Blackhawks was, "They need to douse the Flames' defense." Wow, clever.

(sidenote: How in the hell do you "douse," a defense? Play better offensively? Score more goals? Someone enlighten me.)

I'm sure there are more that I just can't think of right now. Against Nashville (the Predators), it's usually something about one of the teams being "prey." Against Detroit, you'll usually see a pun about wheels or wings, or taking flight, or sometimes both.

What are some other overused sports puns?

What we know after a week of the NHL playoffs

The playoffs have been underway for eight days. What can we take away from this past week?

From the West...

-The Vancouver Canucks finished their sweep of the St. Louis Blues Tuesday night, giving the Vancouver franchise it's first postseason sweep in playoff history. Vancouver dominated a physical series and goaltender Roberto Luongo was solid in net with a 1.25 GAA over four games, including a shutout in game two. Vancouver has yet to cool down from when they started heating up in early February, and this opening round sweep has them primed for a deep run. Watch out for Vancouver.

-The Sharks have continued their playoff-choking ways. I have no explanation for why this is. They earned the President's Trophy this year as the top scoring team in the NHL, but then the playoffs start and the output from their top players begins to dip. The Ducks are up 2-1 in the series, including two wins in San Jose. Woe are the Sharks.

-Are the seeds of a rivalry being sewn in the Chicago-Calgary series? The series is tied at 2-2, the games have been exciting, physical, and the team that has scored first has yet to win that game. As Barry Melrose put it, "This is the meanest, nastiest, diritiest, rottenest series." Check out this 80's-esk finish to game two.

-Detroit is still Detroit in the playoffs, and if they win tonight, they'll complete their sweep of Columbus. Booooring. But...remember all that talk about Detroit's goalie question-marks? Well, Chris Osgood is the top netminder in the playoffs right now with a 0.67 GAA and a .974 SV% (granted, they're playing Columbus, but still an interesting note).

From the East...

-Boston surprised nobody and easily dispatched of Montreal in four games, and with the Rangers up 3-1 in their series against Washington, it looks like Boston is primed for a Cup run (if New York wins their seires, Boston's road to the Eastern Conference Finals would be paved with victories over the eight and seven seeds...).

-Speaking of the Rangers, they surprised a lot of people by shutting down Alexander Ovechkin and the rest of the Washington Capitals. They lead the series 3-1 and are showing no signs of slowing down. And Washington, in the midst of a goalie crisis at the worst possible time, and Ovechkin unable to score, look like a dissapointing two seed. Too bad.

-Penguins are up 3-1 in their seires over Phili, and tonight they look to close it out. Marc-Andre

Fleury looks amazing in net for Pittsburgh and Evgeni Malkin has been one of the top offensive performers in the playoffs. Pittsburgh moves on to the semifinals tonight.

-New Jersey and Carolina are neck and neck, with the seires tied at 2-2. This is all you need to know about this series. Exciting, a lot of goals; this back-and-fourth series has had it all.

And what else have we learned after a week of the NHL playoffs? We learned that I can sort of grow a beard (I don't know if it constitutes as a beard; but whatever. I've been called a "scurv," on a couple of occasions, but I could detect a hint of jealousy in their voices).

Playoffs/beard update 4/18

The playoffs started Wednesday night, and I've already laughed, cried, gasped, cheered, jeered, jumped, clapped, shouted, stomped, and celebrated an incredibly exciting overtime Blackhawks win. God I love playoff hockey.

For those not in the know, the Blackhawks fought their way to a victory (that personally, I don't think they deserved) in game one of their series against the Calgary Flames.

They came from behind to tie the game twice, and Martin Havlat scored the game winner 12 seconds into overtime (the third fastest goal in overtime in Stanley Cup playoff history).


As for the playoff beard, things are looking good so far. I shaved the morning of the Blackhawks game (Thursday). Look at that shading, it's marvelous.










Here is a close-up, HD shot. The stubble alone should send enough good vibes to the United Center so that the Hawks can win game two in regulation and it won't have to go into overtime.

Speaking of game two, I read an interesting article on http://www.nhl.com/. Did you know that 70 percent of teams that win game two in a Stanley Cup playoff series end up winning the series?

So while the Hawks OT win was exciting and a great way to welcome playoff hockey back to Chicago, a win tonight is even more important.

Sean P's first playoff beard. How exciting!

The last time the Blackhawks made the playoffs, I was a fresh-faced 15 year old. I couldn't grow a beard then, but it's a different story now.

For those who don't know, playoff beards are serious business in the hockey world (they even have their own Wikipedia page; woulda' thunk it?)

So now, at 22 years of age, and with the Blackhawks back in the hunt for Lord Stanley's Cup, I have decided to try and grow my first playoff beard.

Check back periodically, as I will give updates on the opening round series between the Blackhawks and the Flames, and how my beard is coming along. I'll post pictures as well.

NHL playoffs: First round predictions

Finally, the greatest time of the sports year is upon us. The first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs will get underway tonight as the Philadelphia Flyers take on the Pittsburgh Penguins. Game two will showcase the St. Louis Blues against the Vancouver Canucks.

Here are my first round predictions.

WEST

#1 San Jose Sharks vs. #8 Anaheim Ducks: Sharks in six games

#2 Detroit Red Wings vs. # 7 Columbus Blue Jackets: Red Wings in five games

#3 Vancouver Canucks vs. # 6 St. Louis Blues: Vancouver in five games

#4 Chicago Blackhawks vs. #5 Calgary Flames: Chicago in six games

EAST

#1 Boston Bruins vs. #8 Montreal Canadiens: Boston in five games

#2 Washington Capitals vs. #7 New York Rangers: Washington in six games

#3 New Jersey Devils vs. #6 Carolina Hurricanes: Carolina in six games

#4 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. #5 Philadelphia Flyers: Pittsburgh in seven games

Yay!

If uniform-coolness decided the Stanley Cup champion...

The title of the post says it all. Using only the teams in the playoffs and the actual matchups, here is who I think would win the best trophy in sports if it was decided entirely on their uniforms.

Click on the links to see the jersey (in action no less!) and toss in your two cents as to who's uni is the coolest. The home teams will be in their home threads, while the away teams will be wearing the traveling uniforms.

WESTERN CONFERENCE QUARTER FINALS
#1 San Jose Sharks vs. #8 Anaheim Ducks
Teel, black, and gold trim easily take care of Anaheim's fashion fopaux.

#2 Detroit Red Wings vs. #7 Columbus Blue Jackets
The flying-wheel logo and royal red intimidate the patriot-themed uni of Columbus.

#3 Vancouver Canucks vs. #6 St. Louis Blues
In a battle of ugly uniforms, St. Louis comes out on top, thanks in large part to the iconic logo.

#4 Chicago Blackhawks vs. #5 Calgary Flames
A flaming "C" is no match for the home jersey's of the Chicago Blackhawks, and the indian-head logo march on into semifinals.

WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS
#1 San Jose Sharks vs. #4 Chicago Blackhawks
The away-jersey of the Blackhawks doesn't pack the same 'umph' as the home-reds. Plus, the Sharks can break out this ominous all-black alternate if they so please, giving them an edge and shot at the Western Conference title.

#2 Detroit Red Wings vs. # 6 St. Louis Blues
St. Louis barely squeaked by in the first round. They are no match Detroit, and the winged wheel cruises into the finals.

WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS
#1 San Jose Sharks vs. Detroit Red Wings
I don't why, but I like the Shark's jerseys. The teel with black and gold trim, the all black, and even this one . Thanks to their number one seed, the Sharks have home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs, giving them more oppurtunities to bust out one of three neato home jerseys. The Sharks advance over the ho-hum whites of the Detroit Red Wings. Not even Detroit's throwbacks could have saved their playoff hopes.



EASTERN CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS
#1 Boston Bruins vs. #8 Montreal Canadiens
Original Six rivals, two classic logos, this matchup has it all. But the black and gold of Boston elimates the roughe, blanc, and bleu of the Monteal Canadiens.

#2 Washington Capitals vs. #7 New York Rangers
An ugly jersey from the District cannot hold it's own against a classic Rangers uni. Rangers move on.

#3 New Jersey Devils vs. #6Carolina Hurricanes
Who does a better job of implementing red, black, and white? New Jersey. Plus, the logo is way cooler.

#4 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. #5 Philadelphia Flyers
When the Penguins can sport this throwback at home games, how can they lose? Even against the Flying "P" of Philadelphia, Pittsburgh gets the nod. And the Flyers jersey looks like Halloween anyway.

EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS
#1 Boston Bruins vs. #4 Pittsburgh Penguins
In a battle of my favorite uniform colors, Boston comes the winner. Even if Boston decided to wear their alternate, they still win. Sorry Pittsburgh, you would have won had you worn the 1991 away unis.

#3 New Jersey Devils vs. #7 New York Rangers
A tough choice, but New York pulls out yet another upset. New Jersey should be happy about making it this far though, they would have been knocked out in the first had they worn these Christmas-themed monstrosities.

EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS
#1 Boston Bruins vs. #7 New York Rangers
Ahh yes, yet another installment of the New York-Boston rivalry. Once again, home-ice plays a large part in deciding the victor, and the black and gold, block letter "B" means curtains for New York's surprising run to the conference finals.

STANLEY CUP FINALS
#1 San Jose Sharks vs. #1 Boston Bruins
The Original Six-ness of the Bruins jersey, along with the totally rad color scheme, help them win their first Stanley Cup since 1972.

Why? Why not? NHL playoff teams (Eastern Conference)

EASTERN CONFERENCE

WHY: Boston has been solid all season, is second in the league with 112 points, and have already clinched the Eastern conference title. Like the Sharks, it's hard to figure out why you'd want to play them. After consistent play the entire season, they did show they were human after going through a tough stretch of losses a little while back. That's about it for weaknesses.

WHY NOT: Tim Thomas. Boston's goalie has been on top of his game all year, leading the league in goals against average (2.07) and save percentage (.933). On a team lacking a super-duper star, but that can still score, this level of goaltending is just what the doctor ordered for a Stanley Cup run.

WHY: Devensively, this is the worst Eastern conference team in the playoffs (tied with Pittsburgh) allowing an average of 2.89 goals per game. Goalie Jose Theodore is towards the bottom of the pack in save percentage (9.01) and goals against average (2.82). Sure they can score, but in the playoffs everybody can score. If you can't keep the puck out of your own net, you're not moving on.

WHY NOT: Alex Ovechkin is arguably the most exciting player in the NHL today. He easily leads the league in goals with with 55 (the next closest is Jeff Carter from PHI. with 45) and is second in the overall points standing with 108. Ovechkin can single handedly turn a game around. Throw in defensemen Mike Green, who earlier in the season became only the eighth defensemen to score 30+ goals in a season, and a potent offense that averages 3.25 goals per game; they could be tough to beat.

WHY: Two weeks ago, New Jersey was the "trendy pick," for Cup champions. But since Brodeur set the all-time wins by a goalie record on Tuesday, March 17 the Devils have gone 3-9-1. The goaltending has slumped and their defense leaves much to be desired. They haven't been past the second round since 2003 and their playoff record hasn't been pretty, including losing in 5 games with home-ice advantage in the first round last year. Can they pick up some confidence boosting wins before April 14?

WHY NOT: The New Jersey Devils are a playoff machine. They have been in the playoffs the past 15 seasons, including a Cup win in 2003. They Devils are, and always have been, a defensive minded hockey team. For the most part, they have the ability to shut down all kinds of offensive schemes. And who wants to shoot a puck at a goal with Martin Brodeur inbetween the pipes?

WHY: An experienced yet weak defensive squad (2.84 GAA) coupled with an unproven goaltender could mean a short playoff life for the Flyers. They're not very deep either, with only their top line able of producing consistently.

WHY NOT: As a friend put it, "That top line is gooooood." The Flyers have a 3.20 GFA that includes center Jeff Carter, who is second in the NHL in goals, tallying 45 thus far. And if they can pull out victories in their upcoming games with the Rangers, they'll have home ice advantage.

WHY: Carolina is another one of those teams to be avoided in the first round this year. I can't really think of why to play them. They're just a solid hockey team, they're not amazing but they won't go down easy.

WHY NOT: Goalie Cam Ward has been spectacular this year, as he was in 2006, when was named the MVP of the playoffs as his team won the Stanley Cup. As for right now, this team is 9-1-0 in their last 10, including nine straight wins. They score, they play tight defense, and they don't commit penalties. This team could even be a dark horse to make it deep into the playoffs. Keep an eye on Carolina.

WHY: Earlier this season, the Penguins were on the verge of not even making the playoffs. After firing the head coach, things turned around. So they're playing with confidence now, but the players are the same as they were at the beginning of the year.

WHY NOT: They made it to the Cup finals last year, and they've been playing great hockey for the second half of the season. They're lead by two of the league's top scorers, Evgeni Malkin (112) in first, and Sydney Crosby (103) in third.

MLB strike of 1994

After baseball finished it's transformation from a game into a business, it died.

Over a century in the making, the strike of 1994 was unavoidable.

From an "owners vs. players," point of view, much of baseball's history had been an uneven struggle with the owners coming out on top.

In the early 1900's when baseball "boomed," onto the American scene, team owners establshed their control over players. Players had made several attempts to organize, but these attempts always failed. The MLBPA wasn't even formed until 1953.

From that point on, there had been constant, drawn out battles between player representitives and owners, regarding issues like the collective barganing agreement (finalized in 1968) and eliminating the reserve clause in 1975, opening the door to free agencey.

As each year went by and the owners lost their grip on power over the players, the harder they tried to squeeze. As players gained more independence, more money left the pockets of the owners. The players became wealthier and there was no way they would allow any revisions to lose the ground they had gained.

With each arrbitration case, with each free agent signing more expensive than the last, and player salaires exponentially increasing, the burner had been lit and it was only a matter of time before the water began boiling over.

In my opinion, the strike of 94 became a runaway train in 1985 after the owners were found guilty of collusion. Any resemblence of trust between the owners and the MLBPA was gone after that. It was already an established belief for the players that owners would do anything to pay as little as possible, and collusion cemented this belief.

There was also the issue of owners bickering amongst themselves. Big-market vs. small-market teams and the issue of revenue sharing was something that bitterly divided owners. Even when middle-market teams held a secret meeting and produced a plan that might have been able to appeal to both ends of the spectrum, this was shot down.

Throw in the nuggets that players still wouldn't not agree to a salary cap and at the time baseball had no commissioner; how could there not have been a strike?

One might say, "Why wouldn't the players agree to a salary cap? Every other major professinal sport has one."

Baseball players had been paying attention to the salary caps of other leagues, and did not like what they saw. In 1990, the NBA players union had been negotiating a new contract and were trying to eliminate their cap. 10 years in existence, "players found little market for their services," due to payroll limits. The NFL had implemented a salary cap that year for the first time, which resulted in many veterans taking pay cuts or being cut altogether.

Another arguement may be, "Why couldn't the players wait until after the season to strike?"

The players wanted to strike during the season for two reasons. First, it would "hurt the pocketbooks," of the owners, and more importantly because "federal labor law allowed employers to declare a bargaining impasse, after a decent interval for negotiations, and impose employment terms." They had to strike, and August 11 was the date.

Both sides of the issue, players and owners, so deeply rooted in their beliefs and distrustful of the other, could not reach an agreement and the strike of 1994 was the result.

"The players, rich beyond their wildest dreams, were nonetheless determined not to countenance "givebacks." The owners, pride wounded worse than pocketbooks, were fixated on seizing back control after twenty years."

-source Lords of the Realm by John Helyar

Why? Why not? NHL playoff teams (Western Confernce)

It's April 8th. The season ends on Easter Sunday, and the playoff picture still isn't entirely clear. Ahhh yes, hockey.

But for the teams that are in the playoffs, here is a list of reasons why you'd want to play them in the first round, and why you wouldn't.

WESTERN CONFERENCE


WHY: It's hard to find a reason why anybody would want to play the Sharks in the first round of the playoffs. But historically, the Sharks are the definition of choke artists in the playoffs. With a team this talented, the pressure to perform and get past the second round has only increased from seasons past.

WHY NOT: Why avoid the Sharks? Easy. They're the front-runner for the President's Trophy (given to the team with the most points at the end of the season) with 117 as of now, which means home-ice throughout their entire playoff lives. They're 34-2-2 at home and arguably the most overall talented team in hockey. Scary stuff for the 8th seed.



WHY: Goaltending is absolutely critical to any run at Lord Stanley's Cup. And goaltending just so happens to be a weak spot for Detroit, a team with very little of those. Chris Osgood will get the nod to start come playoff time. He won the Cup last year as Detroit's starter, but has been abysmal this season. He is 26-8-7 thus far with a 3.10 GAA and a .887 SV%. He even took time off earlier in season to overcome a "Cup hangover." It doesn't really seem like he's over it yet.

WHY NOT: Because they're Detroit. They're the defending Stanley Cup champions and they've won four of the past 11 Stanely Cups... so experience isn't an issue. As for this season, it's all about their power-play. The importance of special teams is intensified tenfold in the playoffs, and the Wings have the number one power-play in the NHL. This is a team nobody wants to play, regardless of what round it is.



WHY: On Tuesday night, Calgary had a chance to clinch the division and secure home-ice in the first two rounds of the playoffs. On the road in Vancouver, it was arguably the biggest game of their season and they lost; getting pounded 4-1. The loss meant Vancouver moved into a tie for first in the division. Talk about not showing up. If Vancouver overtakes Calgary for first in the Northwest division, they'll open the playoffs as the fifth seed in the West, on the road. They're 19-19-2 away from Calgary, and they'll be playing Chicago (who swept them during the regular season).

WHY NOT: Calgary is known for their physical style in the playoffs. They pushed the eventual champion Red Wings to six games in the first round last year. Even if they lose the series, the physical punishment during the opening round could be costly for their opponents. If they hang on and win the Northwest division though, they'll get home ice advantage and Calgary is a frightening place for visitors. Lastly, Miikka Kiprusoff is a solid, playoff-tested goaltender who leads the league in wins with 45.

WHY: They're young. They're the youngest team in the NHL. They still have several players with playoff experience and Stanley Cup rings on their fingers, but an abundance youth can hurt more than help in the playoffs. Their physical play has picked up over the past two months, but they still lack a serious physical presence. The powerplay has also been awful as of late, going 0-22 in the last five games.


WHY NOT: At this moment, the Blackhawks are 7-2-1 in their last 10 games amd one of the hottest teams in the Western Conference. Netminder Nikolai Khabibulin, "The Bulin-Wall," is having a career year and has recently been called by hockey pundits a "money goalie," in the playoffs. The Blackhawks are deep and consistent, with the second best offense (3.16 goals per game avg.) and the third best defense (2.58 goals against avg.) in the West.


WHY: Just a week ago, Vancouver looked like the scariest team to play in the first round...now, not so much. They picked up a big win against Calgary on Tuesday with the division title on the line, but are 5-4-1 in their last 10 and have a tough time winning on the road.

WHY NOT: There is no doubt about it, this is a dangerous team that could definitely make a deep run in the playoffs. The Sedin twins are a handful for any defense and seem to score every time they touch the ice. But the main reason nobody wants to see Vancouver is team captain and goaltender Roberto Luongo. With the division title on the line Tuesday night, Luongo made 46 saves and gave up only one goal against the Flames. One of the top goalies in the playoffs, Luongo has the ability to put this team on his back and take them to the promised land.

Check back tomorrow for a breakdown of Eastern Conference playoff-bound teams.

83 years in three minutes

The history of the Chicago Blackhawks. This video is played prior to all home games.

What's hot? What's not? NHL logos.

WORST

Really Buffalo? You go from this to this, to a yellow arch with a blue streak in the middle? You need to look at this close-up just to see that it's supposed to a buffalo. And that red eye isn't intimidating anyone; it just makes me think that whoever designed this was high. And to think, you would've been in the running for "best" logos if you stayed with the original one. Tisk tisk.

This looks like the result of a meeting where the agenda was, "How can we make our logo worse?" This is worlds better than the current logo. And when did making logos 3-d become an acceptable idea?

I don't care that the Ducks won the Stanley Cup the season they switched to this "logo." This isn't a logo, it's an italicised font. A "D" that is apparently moving fast and a pointy "K" do not win you any style points in my book. Bad logos have plauged this franchise from the start. This logo may have been used in some cinematic works of genius, but it still isn't that cool. Good luck on the next one.

BEST

Of course this logo kicks off the "best of" group. It just might be the most recognizeable logo in all of sports. The detail, colors, and history behind the indian head make it the standard of NHL logos. I know what you're thinking, "homerism." Nope, not here. My ability to be objective and fair is probably unmatched.

Another classic logo. You can't go wrong with any of the Original Six logos really. It's hard not to think of Stanley Cups when looking at the wheel with a red wing.

I had a hard time figuring out which remaining logo would make my top three. I'm pretty sure the colors have something to do with it; I love black and gold. It's unique, it's a block-B with some spokes, and I like it. And according to The Hockey News, "the most imitaded logo in all of hockey."

*honorable mentions to the logos of the Flyers, Blues, Penguins, and the Devils.

What logos are your favorites? Which ones need some work? Take a look.

Blackhawks clinch!

After seven playoff-less years, the Blackhawks are back. After beating Nashville 3-1 on Friday, the Blackhawks clinched a spot in the playoffs and moved back into fourth in the West.

Red Wings helping the Blackhawks?

If the Blackhawks' most historic rival, the Detroit Red Wings, defeat the St.Louis Blues tonight, the Blackhawks clinch a playoff spot.

I never thought I would say this...but Go Wings!

Red Wings helping the Blackhawks?

Sean P's runnig thoughts during a Blackhawks-Blues game

For some background to tonight's game, which is looming rather large, check out the post below.

What we have here is my thought process duirng a Blackhawks game. It's longer than most posts, so if you have a few extra minutes, check it out.


FIRST PERIOD
7:38 p.m., the puck has dropped and the game is under way. I think the red home uni's are the best. They're easily my favorite of the three Blackhawks uni's. They're probably the best in the NHL.

15:37 mark in the first period. Hawks look good offensively, already some good shots. Somebody please put the puck in the net.

12:00 minutes left in the first period. The Blackhawks are on the powerplay. They've sucked on the PP for a couple games now. What gives?

9:10 mark. Hawks just missed a goal, and there was a gathering at the front of the net. The "extracurriclar activites" in front of the net are another reason I love hockey so much. What a mindset, "Nobody gets near the goalie!" Funny stuff.

8:15 mark. YEAH BAYBEE! WHAT A GOAL BY TOEWS! I'll come back later and post a video. Hawks up 1-0. Sweet.

7:04 mark. Kane picked up an assist on the Towes goal. Kane suffered a high ankel sprain on Jan. 1 and has not been the same player since. Granted he's only 20 and in the second year of his NHL career, but what if he never plays at the same, pre-injury level again? That's probably a dumb thought...but what if?

5:42 mark. Commerical break. I like this one.



5:26 mark. Dan Hinote of the Blues has a wicked mustasche. It looks exactly like this.

4:24 mark. BIG HIT! Nothing beats the sound of a Blues player being sandwiched into the boards.

4:08 mark. BLACKHAWK GOOOOOAAAALLLLL! Samuel Pahlsson, acquired March 4th from the Anaheim Ducks, scores his first goal as a Blackhawk. Good times.

3:18 mark. One of the Blues players lost his stick. I wonder what it's like to be stickless and stuck on the ice.

3:01 mark. Players gather, and crazy-man Adam Burrish is at the middle of everything. Down 2-0 so soon and already on the recieving end of some bone-rattling hits, will the Blues resort to fighting to try and get the team motivated? We'll see.

2:23 mark. Crombeen from St.Louis just tried to start a fight, and Ben Eager from Chicago did not oblige. Powerplay time. Good choice. Mature adults use words, not fists, and that's just the kind of character guy that'll help lead a young team to the Stanley Cup Finals...

14.7 second mark. Hawks will be killing a 3:00 minute penalty to open up the second period, due to a high stick which drew blood from a Blues player. It was Hinote to be specific. I didn't know people with mustacshes like his could even bleed. Wow, you learn something new every day.

END OF FIRST PERIOD: An exciting period. I'm glad the Hawks are up 2-0, it's been awhile since they were able to play with a subtantial lead. Time for some NHL 09 while I wait for the second period to start.

SECOND PERIOD

20:00 mark. Puck just dropped. While the Blackhawks came back on the ice, you could hear the goal horn blaring. I've decided that a "goal horn" is one of my favorite sound in sports, tied with "In Heaven There is No Beer" following a Hawkeye victory. Esepcially in person, when the Hawks score and the horn goes off, and you can feel it in your chest...it's hard to beat.

17:00 mark. Hawks just killed off the remaining three minutes of the 4 minute penalty they commited late in the first period. Mark this, as the Blues inability to convert could be huge later in the game.

15:07 mark. Some guy on the Blues has a last name of, "Winchester." Which makes me think, why do people name their kids after a gun? I don't know how often it happens, but I'm looking at you Colt McCoy. I think Uzi Patchett has a nice ring to it. That signautre would probably look cool too, except I've forgotten how to write a cursive "Z."

12:52 mark. Tickets for all rounds of the Stanley Cup playoffs are on sale, including the Cup finals. What?

11:21 mark. Hawks on the powerplay...lets put another one in the net. Oh my, a four minute penalty. I had a coach who once said, "A 2-0 lead is the hardest lead to hold in sports." I'm not really sure why that is, or if it's even true, but I'm all for a scoreboard reading, "Blackhawks:3 Blues:0."

9:56 mark. I just grabbed a Coke Zero, because it was the only soda here, and you know, I don't think it tastes that much like actual Coke. More like flat Coke.

7:21 mark. Hawks fail to convert on a four minute powerplay. Mark this. A potentially huge momentum boost for the Blues. And again, the Hawks PP woes continue. Something like this cannot happen in the playoffs.

5:52 mark. CLINK! Hawks shoot but hit the post. Ahhh yes, the fickle mistress that is the goal post. Sometimes your best friend, other times your worst enemy.

3:58 mark. HUUUGE save by the Bulin-Wall, and just after a big save on the other end! I love it when goaltenders answer each other. The physical play is picking up as well and the crowd is booming. I'm getting goosebumps. I heart hockey.

3:46 mark. Too much rough stuff from St.Louis and yet another chance for the Hawk powerplay. DO SOMETHING!

END OF SECOND PERIOD: Great stuff Hawks! They outnumber the Blues in shots 21-7 and still lead 2-0 after a very exciting period. Thanks to that Coke Zero, it's time for a bathroom break. After that, as is customary at Blackhawks game, the second intermission entertainment is a "Shoot the Puck" contest. Three people take turns shooting the puck at the goal, which is blocked off except for one small opening. The shooters are always two men and one attractive, clevegefull (is that word?) woman. The dudes always get booed, and the chicks always get a standing O.

Tonight's male shooter is a mixed martial arts fighter who looks like he suffers from a severe case of SMS (small-man syndrome). Will he start a pull a Ron Artest and punch a fan when he hears all the boos?

He didn't.

THIRD PERIOD

20:00 mark. Puck drop. Twenty minutes to hold off the Blues and pick up a crucial two points in the standings.

18:15 mark. Blues try to instigate another fight and the Blackhakws "show great restraint," according to Eddie O, the Chicago color-guy. Another Chicago powerplay. Maybe we'll get a goal this time? By the way, the Hawk PP is 0-5 tonight. And as I finish that sentence...CLINK! Damn post.

16:15 mark. Another blown PP. 0-6. wtf?

11:03 mark. Eddie O. breaking down a mistake by Patrick Kane. I'd really like to see the Blackhawks make a deep run in the playoffs, but every game they seem to make "young team" mistakes. That stuff is going to kill us come crunch time.

8:52 mark. During a close-up of the Blues goalie, I noticed a puck mark on his jersey. A big, black smear. I was in Chicago over spring break and I stopped by the Blackhawks Store. They sell game-worn jerseys there, with puck marks all over them, for $1500.00.

4:31 mark. SHORTHANDED GOOOOAAAALLL by Chicago! 3-0 with a few minutes left, this game is pretty much in the bag. Now all that's left is for the Bulin-Wall to get his shutout.

END OF THE THIRD PERIOD

Blackhawks win! Blackhawk goalie Khabibulin was two seconds away from picking up the 40th shutout of his career, but gave up a goal after a bogus penalty call. Still, a huge win. The Blackhawks move back into fourth in the Western Conference and end a two-game losing streak. Good things.

Tune in tonight.

The Blackhawks take on the St.Louis Blues at the UC tonight, with hopes of ending a two game losing streak and an ugly scoring drought.

In the past two losses, to Vancouver and Montreal, Chicago has been outscored 8-1. They have dropped to 5th in the Western Conference, and sixth place Columbus is only two points back.

Things could get rough, as this rivalry extends back many a year. This year has been no different, with plenty of physical play and more than the occasional fight.

How much do these teams dislike each other? This video should help you understand.


The Blues are one of the hottest teams in hockey right now, and have been for the entire second half of the season. A win tonight puts them in the top eight of the Western Conference, which means playoffs.

As an extra bonus, I'll be doing a live-feed of "Sean P's thoughts during a Blackhawks-Blues game," for a post.

Seriously?

A quick read about a hockey fan who is a little too passionate.

Expert analysis on Blackhawks playoff chances

Some interesting videos from ESPN's hockey experts regarding the young Chicago Blackhawks and their chances of playoff success.

Because in this class, I think we all like sportz.

Enjoy.

Blackhawks look razor 'Sharp' in Sunday matinee

Could it be the beginning of a run? Are the Blackhawks heating up down the home stretch prior to the playoffs? It's wishful thinking, but I'll take any positives these days.

At the United Center Sunday afternoon, Chicago ended a five game winless drought by dispatching the Los Angeles Kings 4-1.

The best news? The return of forward Patrick Sharp. In his first game since going down with a knee injury on Feb. 14, Sharp scored twice and tallied an assist.When Sharp was injured, he was the leading the team in points. In the 16 games he was away, the Blackhawks went 8-7-1.

Obviously, his return should be a huge boost for a team that has stumbled for much of the second half of the season. In the second half of the season alone, the Blackhawks are 15-12-3. In 31 games, they have accumulated 32 points out of a possible 62.

Not the most reassuring stats as the playoffs near. But as was stated earlier, the 4-1 drubbing of the Kings was just what this team needed, and the return of Patrick Sharp will be great for the offense.

The win against the Kings happened at just the right time, as the next four games could be a buzz-saw for Chicago. With consecutive games against the San Jose Sharks, New Jersey Devils, Vancouver Canucks, and Montreal Canadians, there will be no time for an "off night."

Stay tuned.

Blackhawks help make history

The Blackhawks fell to the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday night by a score of 3-1.

In the process, New Jersey goalie Martin Brodeur set a new all-time NHL record with 552 wins.

Along with helping the opposing goalie set an NHL record, the Blackhawks third straight loss has dropped them into a tie with the Vancouver Canucks for fourth in the Western Conference.

The Blackhawks are 3-6-1 in their last 10 games. Vancouver is 7-2-1 in their last 10, and if things continue the way they are, Chicago can say goodbye to home-ice advantage in the playoffs.

Blog Challenge: Sports Video Games

I have loved video games since I was a little kid. To be specific, sports video games. The seed was planted with NFL Football 94 Starring Joe Montana.


It was the first of many sports video games I spent countless hours playing.

My favorites inlcude...


Ken Griffey Presents Major League Baseball not only holds its own against pretty much every baseball game ever made, it might just do the same against any sports game. Creative player names, awesome music, players blowing bubbles with their gum while at the plate; what's not to like?

Insert any NHL video game here. Hockey games are a blast; always have been, always will be. My favorite though? NHL 2005. I played it non-stop.


I never played much Fight Night until I paid attention to boxing. But after only a few rounds of this game, it was hard to put the controller down. Especially against a buddy, this game gets intense.


The original NFL Blitz, the shortlived MVP Baseball series, NCAA Football, this list could go on for a long time. The point is, sports video games have always been a part of my life and are a lot of fun.


What I want to know is what is your all-time favorite sports game? Any console, any sport, any and every game. Which one, in your eyes, tops them all? Be sure to defend your answer. I want to know what makes it the best.

And since it's time for March Madness, I figured I would share this. An interesting bracket-style tournament that tried to determine the best sports game of all-time.

Doesn't smell like team spirit...

Much like the season, asking folks around Iowa City their thoughts on the men's Iowa-Michigan Big Ten Tournament game was like pulling teeth.

The almost unanimous response was, "I didn't know there was a game today."

And when informed that there was indeed a game today, optimism was not all that apparent.

"I think we'll lose," Jessica Zuerner said. "One of my friends is a team manager and he's not optimistic. He doesn't like to talk about it."

A 15-16 season of inconsistent basketball isn't the only thing keeping people from watching the game. On this Thursday before spring break, midterms are in full-swing.

Jimmy Hummel, hidden in a dark corner of the Main Library, said he likes basketball but doesn't care about the game. "I have four midterms today."

The sentiment on Iowa basketball and the current apathy of today's game seems to reflect the mindset of fans all season long.

But all hope is not lost.

Pat Quinn, a junior at the University of Iowa, feels Iowa has a chance.

"Iowa has a lot to prove and they have a lot of momentum coming from that Penn State win."

"They have a shot. It's a big game," Quinn said. "It's going to be close."

Last year, as an eight seed, Iowa fell to ninth seeded Michigan in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament, 55-47.

Tip-off is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. today as Iowa will once again open tournament play against the Michigan Wolverines. Iowa went 1-1 against Michigan this year, including a 70-60 OT win at home less than a month ago.

The 10th seeded Hawkeyes are 5-13 in Big Ten play, with a 15-16 overall record. Michigan holds a 9-9 Big Ten record and is 19-12 overall.

Hey! Look at what's happening in the East.

The West isn't the only conference that has an air-tight playoff race.

Three teams (Florida Panthers, New York Rangers, and the Pittsburgh Penguins) are tied at 76 points in the East for playoff seeds six through eight. The Montreal Canadians are sitting in the fifth spot with 77 points while the Carolina Hurricanes lurk in ninth (one spot away from postseason play) with 75 points.

The Pittsburgh Penguins and the New York Rangers were both involved in what they considered "must-win" situations today, with playoff hopes on the line. Both teams played very tough opponents and after excruciatingly exciting hockey games, both teams emerged victorious.

Pittsburgh defeated the Washington Capitals 4-3 after a shootout, keeping their own playoff hopes alive and stopping Washington from overtaking the New Jersey Devils for second place in the Eastern Conference.

In what could conceiveably be a first round matchup in the playoffs, the New York Rangers held on to beat the Boston Bruins, who currently reside atop of the Eastern Conference, 4-3.

Puck heads can't ask for anything more. A month of hockey where for eight or so teams, every win is absolutely critical, and a single loss could mean expulsion from the top eight of their conference.

Stap in, and enjoy the ride.