It's a rematch from last year's Stanley Cup Finals when the Detroit Red Wings defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games...the Red Wings are once again favored in the series...if you believe Detroit is going to win the series, you would have to put down $15.50 to win $10.00...if the Penguins are your choice, you can lay down $10.00 to win $12.50...my money is going on the Penguins...
It all starts Saturday night on NBC...so let's get it on...
John Buccigross of ESPN.com goes over 10 factors that will determine this year's winner... "The Penguins' confidence is probably sky-high because they are young and appear to be the healthier team. And the Stanley Cup schedule favors youth and health. Games 1 and 2 are on back-to-back days to appease an American television network that doesn't pay a rights fee." ... John BuccigrossMichael Farber of SI.com writes about the strange schedule for the first two games of the Stanley Cup Finals... "The year is 1955. Canadiens fans riot outside the Forum when NHL President Clarence Campbell suspends Maurice Richard. Rosa Parks is arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a bus to a white person. The Mickey Mouse Club premiers on ABC-TV. The NHL holds back-to-back games during the Detroit-Montreal Stanley Cup Final." ... Michael FarberMitch Albom of the Detroit Free Press writes how the Red Wings need to thank Darren Helm... "The puck just there? Inches from the goal? An open net? All Darren Helm had to do was swing?" ... Mitch AlbomDrew Sharp of the Detroit Free Press writes how Detroit won without the Capital C... "They didn’t have their C, were running out of A’s and sustained an even further depleted D when Jonathan Ericsson underwent an emergency appendectomy Wednesday after suffering abdominal pains following the Wings’ morning skate." ... Drew Sharp
John Branch of The New York Times wrote an interesting article about the Zamboni - the ice resurfacing machine that is seen at ice rinks...the Zamboni is family owned and is located just outside of Los Angeles... "And, in this day, it may be comforting to know that Frank J. Zamboni & Company, still family owned and operated, is not asking for a government bailout." ... John Branch
With the Memorial Day weekend over, here are a few thoughts that I had while off from work for a few days:
- Don't count the Cavs out against Orlando...a win tonight in Game 4 evens the series at 2 and gives the Cavs home court advantage once again...
- Even if the Cavs lose and find themselves on the short-end of a 3-1 series mark, I still believe they are capable of winning the series...whenever a team has a player the caliber of LeBron James, there is always a chance to win...
- Game 3 was over-officiated...whenever I see Joey Crawford officiating a game, I know there will be a lot of ticky tack fouls called...
- The Cavalier fans should not complain about fouls...quite often LeBron gets the benefit of the doubt when the whistle blows...that just shows that LeBron is one of the elite players in the game...all the great ones, from Bird to Magic to Michael, got this edge from the officials...
- LeBron's winning shot in Game 2 was reminiscent of something Larry Bird would do...
- The first college football preview books are on the newsstand...Athlon released its conference preview books late last week...
- If you are a fan of Michigan, Ohio State, Texas, Alabama, and other big time powers, check out Maple Street Press and their preview books that are dedicated specifically for each team...each book contains quality writing and a plethora of stories...here is the link Maple Street Press
- It's hard to believe David Ortiz has only 1 homerun through Memorial Day...Big Papi hasn't just taken a dive, he has fallen completely off the table and cannot get up...
- What about the Indians last night...down 10-0, the Tribe pulled a LeBron and scored 7 runs in the bottom of the ninth and won 11-10...
- Did you Pepsi is bringing back, for a limited time, Pepsi-Cola that is made with natural sugar...I thought all that sugar was bad for you???...
