Hey all, again I apologize for the long stretch between posts, but life happened again, and things got really chaotic.  Hopefully the lull of the holidays will help settle things down and give me more time to devote to this wonderful website!  I will certainly be more present than the last few months, although I will hold off on giving timeframes in between posts for now until I sort some personal stuff out.  Anyway, what a year it has been, huh?  Lots to talk about, but only four points in which to do it, so without further ado, here we go!!!

1. Concussions:  This is something I have lived through many times, and while I don’t necessarily take the issue lightly, I think too much is being made of it at the professional sports level.  I don’t personally believe there is an epidemic of concussions happening, I just believe we’ve gotten more rigourous at detecting them.  We’ve essentially lowered the bar for what constitutes a concussion, versus what would have been called “getting your bell rung” only a decade ago.  The names of concussed players in the NHL right now reads almost like the solid foundation of an All-Star team, with Sidney Crosby, Chris Pronger, Marc Staal, Marc Savard, Joni Pitkanen, Jeff Skinner, Milan Michalek, Claude Giroux, Zbynek Michalek, Kris Letang, Andy McDonald on top of many second-tier players…  In the NFL, Detroit’s Jahvid Best is out with a concussion, as is Indy’s Kerry Collins, as was the Giants’ Mario Manningham, and many others.  Is it really a problem, or just a risk associated with playing a physical game?  In my opinion, it is the latter.  You get paid millions of dollars to play a game, but the game comes with some risks.  One of them is getting your brains scrambled, and the key is knowing when to quit!  I know I’m in the minority on this one, but I maintain that the only real difference between now and former generations is our ability to detect and diagnose concussions.  I can’t imagine there would have been fewer head injuries at a time when nobody wore helmets, including NHL goalies.  It doesn’t matter that players have gotten bigger and faster, as concussions are the result of a violent collision between brain and skull.  Changing the scale doesn’t really affect anything, unless we’re talking a realistic difference of about 200lbs per player.  The bigger you are, the tougher you tend to be, so size gain counter-acts on both ends.  Again, just my (non-professional) medical opinion.
2. No more perfection:  I am very disappointed after this weekend’s NFL games turned out to kill two perfection streaks.  Green Bay lost to Kansas City and looked extremely pedestrian in doing so; while Indianapolis took advantage of the Tennessee Titans and thus snapped their 0-fer streak for the season.  Does nobody have any pride to play for anymore?  What the hell happened?  I knew the Packers would eventually try to roll in their second team, but I assumed they’d do so only after having a comfortable lead in games as they will inevitably be top-seed in the playoffs (or at least that’s what I thought).  With the San Francisco 49ers sitting on a 10-3 record, which is something that could change tonight against the Steelers, and the New Orleans Saints already at 11-3, the Pack is catchable.  It would take a meltdown of epic proportion for Green Bay to lose both its remaining games, but it isn’t inconceivable, especially if they continue to rely strictly on offence to win games.  I know they are the darling pick to with the Lombardi Trophy again this year, but I see some major flaws…
3. Turning to soccer for a moment:  Whenever a major international tournament has its group drawings, one can expect a “group of death”.  Usually, my Czechs end up with Netherlands and Germany, or some other ridiculously over-matching countries.  This time, we drew into the easy group, but if not for luck, we could have ended up in what might be the worst “GoD” ever!!!  I can’t recall ever seeing a more potent group than that of Euro 2012′s Group B, which consists of Portugal, Netherlands, Germany and Denmark.  Clearly Denmark is the minnow in the pool of sharks here, but I actually have watched many Danish games over the past few years, and they aren’t necessarily out of their league, especially if things go as I expect.  My thoughts, to elaborate on what I just said, are that the powerhouse teams in that grouping will ultimately cancel each other out, while tiring each other out, leaving the door open for Denmark, who will certainly be overlooked by many.  If the Danes can manage one upset victory, and draw at least one match, they may squeak into the knockout stage.  But, don’t be a fool and bet money on it!
4. 2012 Year Of The Tiger?:  Well, folks, it happened.  Tiger won an event in his final USA appearance of 2011.  Sure, it’s his own event, on a course that he’s very familiar with, but many are speculating that his work with Sean Foley is finally paying off in spades, and that he’ll be back atop the golf world next season.  To me, this is media sensationalism, and nothing more than an industry self-generating fan interest.  Does Tiger get golf more in to the minds of the general public?  YES.  Does he help bring money to the table for the PGA Tour?  YES.  Will he be dominant in 2012?  I don’t personally think so.  The gap has been closed, and Tiger’s absence from the major stage has a lot to do with it, and I believe that this is actually a best-case scenario for the game.  Tiger will still get the bulk of media attention, simply because he is such a polarizing figure in the game, but in reality, it is time for youth to shine.  Rory McIlroy is one of my picks to win it all next year, and one can’t overlook Luke Donald (current world number 1).  But there are plenty of players who showed their merit last year who should also receive consideration.  Dustin Johnson, Bubba Watson, Ryo Ishikawa, Keegan Bradley, Matt Kuchar, Hunter Mahan and many others have risen above Tiger in the world standings, and most importantly, have gained some recognition on the Tour in the absence of Eldrick.  Let’s hope they can keep this going, as it would be a testament to Tiger that he has indeed had success in elevating the play of those he competes against, even if only by necessity!

Until next time,

Na Zdravi, a Veselé Vánoce!  (Cheers, and Merry Christmas!)

DR

I am no professional gambler, nor am I professing to be a handicapping expert.  But, I do WIN money on football betting each and every season.  The aim of this column is to provide the reader with reasonable value on bets that are out there on the NFL landscape.  It is especially tricky early in the season, especially one that comes on the heels of a lockout, where teams have not yet hit full stride.  Anyway, let’s hope someone out there wins some ca$h as a result of my picks.

For my readers in Ontario, I’ll put forth some value picks on Pro-Line…  This is my “PICK 6″ combination for those who like money-multipliers…

Houston by 4 over New Orleans – 3.00

Miami by 4 over Cleveland – 2.40

San Francisco by 4 over Cincinnati – 2.50

New York Jets by 4 over Oakland – 1.80

Atlanta by 4 over Tampa Bay – 1.90

Green Bay by 4 over Chicago – 1.80

A bet of $2 will pay out $221.60

Well, that’s it for this week, but remember folks, these are just guesses.  Certainly not guaranteeing any winnings, and I would urge everyone to KNOW THEIR LIMITS!  Gamble responsibly, and try to enjoy the games!  By the way, if you win, you owe me a beer!

Until next week,

Na Zdravi!

DR

Well folks, I am back after a chaotic summer that saw me all over the map doing random crap.  Anyway, 4 Play is back, and we’ll be giving you some food for thought every week on four distinct topics of interest around the world of sports.  Today, we have some good items for discussion, and hopefully you make your voices heard in the comments section!

• NHL:  This Monday, the NHL exhibition season started.  I’m as big a hockey fan as anyone else here, but quite frankly, I find there is little to learn from watching pre-season games in almost any sport.  Sure, you get to check out some prospects, and you get to learn about new coaches, but overall, the games are dull and meaningless.  If anything, you see some pointless injuries that could adversely affect teams once real games start.  But, it is hockey, and like any hockey fan, ANY game makes me start to salivate and ponder the season ahead of us.  So, rather than talk about the actual games, I’d rather start my hockey addicted writing by suggesting some players and teams who will move up or down vis-a-vis last year.
• The obvious:
• Sidney Crosby:  Last season he got two concussions in the span of 4 days, and never returned after that.  He did resume skating at certain points, but was advised to shut it down by various concussion experts.  Crosby was on pace for a career season, and held the scoring race lead well after his injuries, but ultimately, his health is more important than any individual award he could win.  While there is no definitive time-table for his return, he is back on the ice, participating in non-contact drills.  I expect him back within one month of the opening puck-drop, and I expect him to be a fairly high-end contributor on the scoresheet.  I wouldn’t bank my first overall pool pick on him, but I think he’ll be just fine.
• Alex Ovechkin:  So there was a video of him looking kinda pudgy, big deal.  He is still the most electrifying player in the game today, and I think he’ll be even better than last year.  In fact, I’m penning him in as my pick for the Art Ross Trophy right now.  OV is much-maligned at times, which seems ridiculous to me.  Sure, he plays on the edge, and occasionally makes a questionable hit, but let’s face it:  The dude has magic in his game.
• Rising Stock:
• Brad Richards – Richards was signed by the Rangers to be the setup man for Marian Gaborik.  Considering his point totals on a talent-poor Dallas team, I expect big things from Richards.  Nothing short of 90 points will impress me!
• Jaromir Jagr – Jagr came back from Russia to sign with the Flyers.  This move was met with much criticism from Pittsburgh fans, but really, I understand the decision.  Jagr was booed out of the Steel City in his last go-round with them, and I honestly believe he fits in better on a Philly team that is loaded with offensive potential.  Get used to hearing “Giroux feeds Jagr for a tap-in”..
• Matt Duchesne – Colorado isn’t really in the mix as far as contenders go, but I love this kid.  He’s the complete package in terms of what you’d want in a young forward.  I estimate that he’ll turn even more heads this year than last, and be in the 90-100 point range.  Take him high up in your pools!!
• On the decline:
• Chris Pronger – Injuries and age have caught up with him, leaving him with nothing more than cheap hits as a saving grace.  I suppose his large body make him a good candidate to block a lot of shots, but I see him as more of a liability to a fast Philly team than an asset.  It’s time to hang ‘em up Chris!
• Daniel Alfredsson – The longest-serving Sen is getting too much gray in his hair.  He has lost that spark that made him such a great offensive player, and I don’t see his game evolving into a style where he can be effective as a third-liner.  Sorry Alfie, time has passed you by, and now you have to go…
• Ryan Smyth – Yes, I realize this will be unpopular, but “Captain Canada” is no longer able to be the clutch contributor he once was in Oil Country.  I admire his loyalty to his favourite team, but really believe at this point his only real contribution to the youthfully-stocked Oilers will be off the ice.  Still valuable, but he won’t be putting up more than 50 points.
• Team on the rise:  I honestly believe the New York Rangers will be in the top-4 in the East come April next year.  I know, it’s kind of a homer pick, but the reality is that the maturation of some young players, coupled with the addition of Brad Richards to centre the top line is enough to make them a bona fide contender.  If Henrik Lundqvist stays healthy all season, this team has the chance to go deep.  Ryan Callahan is a great choice for captain, and I believe he’ll lead this team out of the annual fight for 8th place.
• Team on the decline:  Don’t hate me because I’m beautiful Canuck fans, but I don’t see the Cup finalists making it anywhere close this year.  Roberto Luongo still seems to have that albatross hung around his neck, and like in the epic poem “Rime of the Ancient Mariner”, there is a curse that comes with the dead bird.  I believe they’ll make the playoffs, of course, but we’re looking at an early exist barring some serious luck (shedding the hex).  Decent team, but overall, I’m not sold on them as much as most people.  I think last year was an anomale more than the product of good team building.  Sometimes, formulaic construction works, sometimes it doesn’t.  It won’t work this year, as the Sedins will have less offensive success in my opinion.  We’ll talk again after the first playoff round!

• PGA Tour:  The FedEx Cup final is underway, and we’re all thankful Tiger Woods can’t be part of it!  Well, at least I am!  It has been a great playoff, with an unlikely points-leader heading into the final:  Webb Simpson!  There is more than just the Cup at stake, as the winner takes home a $10-million payoff, which is astonishing.  I have watched all of the preceding events leading up to the Tour Championship at East Lake, and have been mesmerized by the action.  So many players have risen to the task, and the result is some of the best golf I’ve ever seen.  Right now, I’m going to assume Simpson hangs on to the lead, but there are others in the mix and it’s likely the most gripping tournament of the year.  30 players, only one champ!

• NFL:  Anyone else thinking that the lockout has really hurt the quality of football we’re watching?  Sure, Tom Brady is a good QB, but 517 yards in the first game?  Considering the losing team’s QB put up over 400 yards, I’d say that game was a sandlot kind of affair, and not a “great performance on both sides”.  I’ve seen so many stupid penalties, so many ill-timed tackle attempts, and a ridiculous amount of early timeouts.  It’s just not feeling right.  Maybe this week will be the one where we return to the quality we’re used to.  Also, what the hell was the league thinking with the new kickoff spot at the 35-yard line?  Runbacks are some of the most exciting plays in football, and they’ve pretty much taken that away from the fans.  Yes, there have been a few exceptions, but the reality is that I’ve seen more touchbacks through two weeks of NFL play than I saw all of last season.  Player health and safety are obviously concerns of mine, but I haven’t really ever seen anything horrific on a kickoff return in the past, so why the change?

• Soccer:  I am a Chelsea fan.  I love my team.  I hate when they lose, or make bad decisions.  I was actually very excited when I heard we had paid a record 75-million pounds as a transfer fee for Fernando Torres.  Now, I kind of think we’d have been better off getting Raffi Torres.  Surely by now, even the NHL Torres would have more than a pair of goals in the Premiership, right?  And, with Nicolas Anelka and Didier Drogba on the team, there is really no need for Chelsea to extend the Torres experiment.  Why am I so bitter?  Well, if you missed the game last week, against table-topping Manchester United, Torres had a chance to pull his side within a goal with 6:30 or so to play.  He maneuvered his way into the penalty area, undressed the goalkeeper, and proceeded to do this.  I’m fairly sure my 9-year old twin girls would have made that a goal, and perhaps could have shifted the game into a different gear.  Losing 3 points is bad enough, but losing them to Man U is a spirit-killer!  Plant Torres firmly on the bench and make sure he never sees the pitch again!

Anyway, hope you enjoyed this little rant, and I’ll be back next week with more!

Until then,

Na Zdravi!

DR

Well, it’s official!  The Rangers have avoided arbitration with cornerstone forward Brandon Dubinsky.  Four years, $16.8 million seemed to work for both sides as the hearing was approaching on Thursday.  This bodes well for the Rangers, who have now successfully re-signed 3 of 4 RFA players who filed for arbitration.  The only one left is potential captain, Ryan Callahan, who is scheduled to go up before the arbitrator on July 28th.  The previous filers for salary evaluation were Brian Boyle and Mike Sauer, who both came to terms with the club earlier in the offseason.

Callahan is likely going to make about the same amount as Doobie, which could put the Rags in a precarious cap position, but with the youth movement afoot, it shouldn’t hamper the team’s efforts this season.  My belief is that Cally will settle out of court, and we’ll have our core intact entering the upcoming season.  The only question remaining is what will happen to Wojtek Wolski, who many believe should be bought out.  I am not of this opinion, as I believe there is too much potential upside in the young winger to give up on him so early into his Broadway stint.  Size, speed, and a heckuva shot make him a project worth continuing with.  He will benefit greatly from a full training camp with the Rangers, and will face less pressure now that the Blueshirts have Brad Richards on board to bolster the first line offensive attack.

The main considerations now are cap-related.  There will need to be some money dropped for the Rangers to give themselves some space in case of injuries, and while divesting themselves of Chris Drury via buyout, they still need to trim some fat.

I am very happy with letting Bryan McCabe go, as he was completely useless once acquired from the Florida Panthers last year.  I am perfectly content with Wade Redden rotting in the minors.  But, we do have a logjam of prospects who could vie for a spot on the team out of camp, and keeping them buried in either the AHL or juniors, or college could potentially sour them on their future with the Rangers.

I’d like to see Sean Avery gone, as Brandon Prust fills his role with more upside.  Avery didn’t play his usual reckless style last year, and one has to wonder if he and Tortorella can co-exist on the same team.  He wasn’t hitting, wasn’t causing headaches for the opposition with his candid comments.  He simply became a non-factor, and that’s not why the team brought him back from Dallas.

The untimely death of Derek Boogaard (RIP) opens a spot for a fighter, and perhaps that could be Dylan McIlrath, who the Rangers oddly picked in the first round of the 2010 entry draft (10th overall – yeesh!).  But, those are questions that will have to remain unanswered until camp opens up.

Other than these key elements, the Rangers look poised to be a good team this season, and while I would definitely not lay any serious cash on them winning the Cup this year, they are definitely on the right track, and could stun some of the more conventionally picked contenders.

Until next time,

Na Zdravi,

DR

I’m sorry it’s been a while since my last post, but with kids out of school, a real estate search, and intermittent power outages, time has been scarce!  Anyway, this is today’s issue of 4 Play, which coincides with my 9th anniversary of marriage to my lovely wife Naomi.  Love ya babe!

1. NHL:  The offseason duldrums have officially set in, with all of the major UFA players signed up, and the best RFA (Steven Stamkos) being retained by his team.  So, hockey fans, what do we do now?  Well, let’s start speculating!  Will there be any trades of significance made over the remainder of the summer?  Will there be any major surprises next season in the overall standings?  Who has improved the most, and who got worse?  Will Winnipeg lend legitimacy to the ex-Thrashers?  Who will win the scoring trophies in 2011-12?  Are there any players you think will break out to have big seasons?  My answers to some of those questions are as follow:  There will be some trading.  Washington is poised to be cap-strapped, and I envision them making a deal to divest themselves of some salary.  The acquisition of Tomas Vokoun makes them less reliant on pure offence, so someone like Alex Semin could be on the block for the right return (which I suspect would be a first-round pick plus a prospect at the minimum).  That’s about all I can see on the trade front where major players are involved.  — That leads me to question 2, in which I would say the Caps are the most improved, as they addressed their most fundamental weakness:  goaltending.  Philly also improved with the addition of Jaromir Jagr (a stunning signing in my opinion), but they had to shed away Mike Richards and Jeff Carter to add Ilya Bryzgalov to address their Achillies’ heel as well.  They’ll be a force in the Eastern Conference this season.  — Who got worse?  Well, that’s a tough call at the moment, as there was a lot of movement early in the offseason.  I’d pin it between Dallas (lost Brad Richards) and Avangard Omsk (lost Jagr to Philly).  — Will Winnipeg embrace the Thrashers?  Absolutely!  This franchise is on the ups, and they certainly proved it by selling out their season ticket quota in 17 minutes!!!  I will be watching them every chance I get, and believe that there is a strong core there to make this team a legitimate threat to contend for the Cup within 5 years.  — As far as scoring champs go, I’d put my money on Steve Stamkos or Rick Nash for goals this upcoming season.  Nash finally has a setup man in Jeff Carter, and I like the potential I see on that team with that combination.  Carter is more of a scorer, but I think the combination of he and Nash gives the Jackets a double threat that matches up well with any team in the league.  Add to that the acquisition of James Wisniewski, and you have a “wish and a player”!  — Finally, in terms of a breakout season, I expect Nikita Filatov to have a big year in Ottawa.  With Jason Spezza feeding him the puck, I believe he could be every bit as good as his projections suggested prior to being drafted 6th overall by Columbus.
2. PGA Tour:  Watching Darren Clarke win the Open Championship at Royal St. Georges was a treat.  He’s the European equivalent to John Daly (without the life meltdowns), and a real lunchpail type of guy.  He was steady throughout the tournament, and provided some hilarious sound-bytes.  His statement of “with the permission of the R&A, I’d love to fill the Claret Jug with some of that black Irish stuff (Guinness beer)” was a testament to his down-to-Earth personality.  I’m a converted fan for sure!  The question arose between my wife and I whether it would be appropriate for him to thank his former wife who died of breast cancer 5 years ago, considering that he is now engaged to another woman (former Ms. North Ireland).  My wife argued that it may depend on how long he was married to his ex-wife, while I suggested that it’s not the same as thanking someone you got divorced from.  Well, Darren never mentioned her by name, but there was a tear-jerking moment as he said that there was someone up above who he had to credit for supporting his career.  Absolute class.  Speaking of class, the tournament organizers were very classy in holding a moment of applause (not silence) for the departed Seve Ballesteros, who passed away this year from brain tumors.  Applause all around on a well run tourney!
3. Womens’ Sports:  Many people were shocked when Japan defeated the United States at the Women’s World Cup of Soccer.  I didn’t watch the game, but from what I understand, the USA totally dominated the game, and gave up two 1-goal leads over the course of it.  But, when I looked at the stats, USA outshot Japan by a wide margin, but of 17 shots, only 2 were on target.  Seems kinda ridiculous to me!  But, let’s face it, it is women’s soccer, and the whole sport is only in the developing stages.  This is nothing like watching the men play.  In fact, it’s worse than watching highschool boys play.  From the little bits I watched on television, it amounts to 20 women running around aimlessly chasing a soccer ball.  It’s nearly as bad as watching women’s hockey, which I maintain should not be in the Olympics until there are more than 2 teams competing for gold.  I’m not dissing womens’ sports, I’m just saying that they need time to get to a level where it is actually fun to watch.  As it stands now, I can watch my 8-year old twins run around chasing a ball and it is almost as much fun!  One thing I’ll give the ladies credit for where soccer is concerned, is that there is far less diving and faking of injury.  Good to see they are at least coming into the sports world with some class!  Quite frankly, the only sport where I find it enjoyable to watch women (not for looks alone) is golf.  While they can’t possibly compete with the elite men of the world, they are very good at it, and I actually tune in for some LPGA events.  Keep it up ladies!  You’ll get there some day!
4. Charles Barkley vs. Joe Sakic:  At the recent celebrity tourney at Lake Tahoe, Joe Sakic made a hole-in-one to win a million dollars (half of which goes to charity).  Clearly, athletes are able to transfer their skills to sports which aren’t necessarily their primary sport.  Sakic was stunned, as he didn’t expect to ever make an ace, but he’s a strong guy with good balance and hand-eye coordination.  On the other side, Charles Barkley, who underwent massive golf-surgery at the hands of swing coach Hank Haney (look up the Haney Project), and still can’t swing like a normal person.  His form reminds me of someone having a seizure mid-way through their downswing, and while I can’t profess to have a pretty golf swing, I’ll take mine over his any day if it’s purely for cosmetics.  One thing that is stunning is that Barkley can still hit the ball a very long way.  The problem is that nobody is looking at the ball flight, but rather everyone is looking at how stupid he looks while making his shot.  I implore the reader to check this out:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s50K65PNeBU . If that doesn’t make you laugh, you simply lack a sense of humour!  If you didn’t catch Sakic’s ace, here it is:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17-ZSLlnAZQ

Anyway, that’s all I have for today, but I’ll be back and storming next Monday with more 4 play for y’all.

Until then,

Na Zdravi!

DR

This is a new column I have been developing, and will feature 4 items for discussion each and every Monday (or possibly Tuesday, depends on my schedule at work)…  Anyway, feel free to comment away on it, and give me your rebuttals to some of the things I will discuss.  So, without further ado, here we go!

1. The NHL free agency period is well under way, and many an odd move has been made.  Brad Richards to the NY Rangers was something heavily speculated on, and in fact came to fruition.  While I understand that the Rangers needed a top-line center to play with Marian Gaborik, I find the deal somewhat confusing.  9 years, $60M…  Well, Richards is a point-per-game player, and when healthy, is one of the better setup men in the league, but I fail to understand the 9 year commitment.  This is Glen Sather over-committing to a player much in the same way as he did with Scotty Gomez and Chris Drury.  How long until the relationship sours and Richards is asked to waive any movement clause he may have received?  We’ll have to wait and see, but I think this deal could have been negotiated at 6 years maximum, if not less. —  The best move of free agency thus far looks to be the bargain signing of Tomas Vokoun by the Washington Capitals.  At $1.5M for one season, the Caps appear to be giving him a prolonged tryout, and will likely use the opportunity to put some heat on incumbent starter, Michal Neuvirth.  Both goalies are Czech, and thus this could prove to be a mutually beneficial situation.  Vokoun can’t be expected to play over 55 games per season anymore, and Neuvirth hasn’t established the credibility required to be a full-time number one.  Love this move, and think the Capitals will be a much better team this year and through the playoffs with the insurance policy that is Tomas Vokoun. — Jaromir Jagr in Philly?  Really?  Though much of the discussion leading up to July 1st was about #68 returning to Pittsburgh, it was also rumoured that many clubs were interested in his services.  He had a great showing at the World Championships, and solid numbers in his 3 KHL seasons, so it comes as no shock that teams would be at least tire-kicking.  However, to go to Philly?  I’m sure nobody saw that coming.  But, the Flyers did shock the hockey world by divesting themselves of “cornerstone pieces” Mike Richards and Jeff Carter.  With improved goaltending, many would pin them as a top contender for the Cup, but they did lose an awful lot of offence in trying to make room for Ilya Bryzgalov.  Jagr somewhat offsets this, but they’ll really be looking to young guys like Claude Giroux and James VanRiemsdyk to pick up a lot of the slack.  It’ll be an interesting season in Philly for sure!
2. Does Tiger Woods ever plan on playing professional golf again?  Sure, he claims he has a pair of injuries, but even when healthy, he seemed to have lost that edge that made him the most feared golfer on tour.  I understand that his personal life took a detour (off a cliff), and that he may need some time to fully re-focus on his career, but hearing him talk in interviews gives me the impression that he really doesn’t miss the game all that much.  Hell, his caddy (Steve Williams) was even caddying for Adam Scott in the US Open, which makes me think there is more to the story than a simple injury story.  While we can only speculate as to whether or not Tiger will ever grace the PGA Tour with his presence again, we can certainly say that he has fallen from grace in a major way.  I don’t think he’ll ever win another major, especially with guys like Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson starting to develop their own mystique.  I do imagine he’ll at least win his own event at least once more, but then again, it only stands to reason that he’d have home-course advantage…  Anyway, Tiger, stop the nonsense and either give full disclosure or step away from the microphone!
3. With the NFL and NBA apparently unable to resolve their labour issues in a reasonable way, I guess the lockout is the best tool for owners to make a point.  However, I fail to see what the players are actually hung up on.  Distribution of profits?  Hardly see how this is an issue when they make more money than any regular person could hope to make in 10 years, and they make it in one season!!!  Hell, the owners are the ones who lay out the capital it takes to give these prima donnas their jobs in the first place, and in my opinion, I believe that entitles the OWNERS to make as much profit as they can!  Players are a commodity.  If a franchise can sell that commodity, the franchise makes a profit.  Sure, the players play an integral role in the NFL’s success, but they don’t invest their money into teams, so they should be happy with what they’re making (which will be ZERO if they don’t resolve this before the first kickoff is scheduled for 2011).  I’m sick and tired of these labour issues in professional sports.  I remember the movie “The Replacements”, and wonder if the NFL would ever consider such a drastic move to make a point.  There’s plenty of players out there who can’t get professional contracts, or at least they can’t get them outside the CFL, and I’m sure the viewing enjoyment wouldn’t be much worse than the current product we fans are offered each Sunday.  Get over yourselves players, and let the owners make their just due profits!!!
4. Finally, I’ll end with Wimbledon.  I hate watching tennis on television, although I love playing it.  What I don’t understand is the noises they make when hitting a ball.  It’s especially bad on the women’s side.  I had the misfortune of watching a match between Serena Williams and whoever knocked her out of the tourney, and I will tell you, it was the most annoying display of athleticism I’ve ever witnessed.  Since I was somewhat hungover, I closed my eyes from time to time, while my wife watched the match unfold.  At one point, I was basically half asleep, and I could have sworn someone was watching some girl-on-girl porn at a slower speed.  All the grunting and moaning and screeching made me wonder what the hell my wife was watching, so I awoke, just to take a peek (who knows, right?), and the damn tennis was on.  I quickly asked her to mute it, and instead put on something that doesn’t quite make the eardrums bleed so much:  a YouTube video of someone scratching their nails on a blackboard!  My god, I don’t know how people can watch this sport…

Anyway, that’s the first edition of 4 play.  Hope you enjoyed it, and feel free to comment, or visit me on Twitter.  We’ll do this again really soon!

Until then,

Na Zdravi!

DR

The Rangers avoided the worst possible scenario by winning their last game of the season and having Carolina help them out by losing theirs.  So, they’re back in the playoffs after a one year hiatus, and will face the Eastern Conference leading Washington Capitals.  Seems like a foregone conclusion as to who will win this series, right?  I don’t think so…

Breaking down this matchup is very difficult, as the two teams are completely different in their construction.  We’ll take it on point-by-point.

Offence:  A year ago, Washington would have been a gimmie pick here, as they were simply an offensive juggernaut.  With Alex Ovechkin, Alex Semin, Nicklas Backstrom and a supporting cast that includes the likes of Mike Knuble, Brooks Laich, Eric Fehr and other potentially prolific scorers up front would make anyone cringe if they were told they had to play goal against the Caps.  However, this year’s edition of the Caps focused more on defensive play, meaning that their offensive totals faded somewhat.  In fact, the Rangers finished with more goals scored over the 82-game qualification process we call the “regular season”.  I still think they have an explosive offence, and the addition of Jason Arnott will help them both on the powerplay and at full strength.  I personally believe losing Tomas Fleischmann was a bad idea, but considering he is lost for the season due to a prolonged ailment, it should be irrelevant.

The Rangers’ offence isn’t quite as star-studded.  With the highest point-totaller being Brandon Dubinsky (54), it seems almost like a pop-gun offence.  But in some cases, scoring by committee can actually help a team.  Sure, the Rags need Marian Gaborik to get in gear after a mediocre regular season, but they need others to step up as well.  In my opinion, Wojtek Wolski, Dubi, Brian Boyle, Artem Anisimov, Brandon Prust and pretty much everyone down the line need to up their games to give the offensive cushion the Rangers will need.  There simply isn’t any way to objectively compare these two forward corps and come out with anything but an advantage for Washington.

Advantage:  Capitals

Defence:  Last year, the Capitals found out the hard way that defence is their weak area.  This year, they focused on it more and managed to become a fairly sound two-way team.  While Mike Green has missed the last 20 games of the regular season, he is expected to play in game one of the series, and should provide a nice boost.  Deadline acquisition Dennis Wideman, however, is out indefinitely after sustaining a hematoma.  Green’s return, coupled with Wideman’s absence, means that breakout rookie Jon Carlson will be leaned on heavily, and the youngster should have no trouble keeping pace with the playoff furor.  He emerged as a very solid two-way player, and will contribute at both ends of the rink.  Guys like John Erskine and Karl Alzner will provide an anchor at the back end as well.  Overall, this is an improved defensive team, largely due to coach Boudreau’s shift in priorities.

For the Rangers, the youth will likely show a bit, but in the bigger picture, that could also mean enthusiasm.  Marc Staal is by far the best rearguard for the Blueshirts, and he’ll be a pivotal factor.  I venture to say he may be the best overall defenceman in the series.  Youngsters like Ryan McDonagh will have to learn as they go along, and they’ll be tasked with repelling one of the most formidable offensive units in the game.  While I don’t think the learning aspect will provide a huge challenge, I believe it may be learning by making mistakes.  At least they don’t have the R&R twins anymore to make absolutely sure of turnovers…  Dan Girardi has shown himself as being a really viable shut-down guy, and he’ll likely line up against the Great 8 for most of the series.  It’s a tall order, but considering the Rangers outscored the Caps by a 15-1 margin over the last 3 games between them, something seems to be working.  Finally, Bryan McCabe has to show up and provide a veteran presence.  I can’t overstate how ridiculously disappointed I was in his performance after the trade from Florida.  He was utterly useless.  Technically, he was supposed to boost the point position on the powerplay, but with only 2 goals and 4 assists through 19 games with New York, I think I could probably do better!  He needs to wake himself up and start producing!!!

Advantage:  Even

Goaltending:  Washington comes into the series with a 3-headed monster, but can you win with that?  Between tonight’s starter, Michal Neuvirth, a recently recovered Semyon Varlamov and newly discovered gem Brayden Holtby, the Caps have some decisions to make.  They seem inclined to run with Varly and Neuvirth, and to be honest, that’s a little bit of a surprise.  Of the three, Holtby impressed me most this season, and adds the puck-handling and passing element to the position that I believe really helps a transition game.  I wouldn’t be surprised if we see two or more starters as the series progresses.

The Rangers have no questions (or options) in goal.  It’s going to be “King” Henrik Lundqvist, who led all NHL goalies with 11 shutouts this year.  Hank is a reliable element in the Rangers’ gameplan, and provided he isn’t unprotected against net-crashing, could make the difference in the series.  I would go as far as to say he could be the most influential player in this series.  Washington gets frustrated easily when the puck isn’t going in, and Hank is the man who could precipitate such frustration just by being himself.  Injury is a real concern, as Chad Johnson isn’t the kind of backup you want to be playing in the post-season.

Advantage:  Rangers

Overall, I think this will be a much closer series than most people are predicting.  I think the Caps’ lack of a proven goalie will again haunt them, while Hank’s stability could be a series-changer.  I hesitate to be overly confident, but as a Rangers’ fan, I will pick them to win the series in 7 games.  It won’t be as high scoring as people think…

Until next time,

Na Zdravi,

DR

After a most engaging game against the Philadelphia Flyers, the Rangers are still in the right spot to extend their season.  It didn’t help much that the Carolina Hurricanes earned a point in their loss to Buffalo later in the day, but such is life!  The Rangers now host the Boston Bruins, which promises to be a goaltending duel no matter how you slice it.  Tim Thomas may or may not get the nod for the B’s, but Tuuka Rask is no slouch either.  The difference is that Rask has dropped two decisions to the Rags this season, while Thomas provided the Beantown faithful with the team’s only win against the Blueshirts this season.  We’ll see how the coach leans for Boston, as they are guaranteed to be at worst, the third seed in the East.

As for the Rangers, who come off a passionately played game yesterday that showed the vigor we have seen for much of the season, I would say this is another must-win game.  It’s likely that the Rags finish in 8th place in the Conference, but there is room to move upwards, and possibly avoid having a violent series against Philly in the first round.  Buffalo is one point ahead, and Montreal has a deuce against New York…

Keys to the game:

• It worked yesterday, so keep it going!  One element that was very present yesterday in Philly was a willingness to block shots.  This must continue throughout the rest of the season or else all is very likely lost.  Hank is a great goalie, but saving him the hassle of actually making saves is likely the best thing the team can do.  Lundqvist is likely to start every game down the stretch, and keeping his workload to a minimum is a good way to ensure he’ll be at peak form once the playoffs start.  Of course, that’s made with the assumption that the Rangers make it into the “big show”.

• Two men in front of the net.  On the powerplay last afternoon, one of the big things that allowed Bryan McCabe to score was that there was a load of traffic in front of Sergei Bobrovski.  The Rangers need to establish a big-body presence in front of whoever fills the crease for Boston tonight.  Brian Boyle seems a likely candidate to create a screen, although having Ryan Callahan or Brandon Dubinsky near the crease for rebounds also seems wise.  Tough to say what we’ll see, but this is a key factor against a strong goaltender.

• Never make assumptions.  Just because the Bruins have sealed up a playoff ticket, the Rangers can’t assume they’ll be resting or playing to avoid injuries.  Boston is a proud franchise, and will play every bit as hard as the Rangers, so making sure there is no letdown from yesterday’s emotionally charged game is extremely important.  Let’s face it, the Rangers are already playing their playoff starting games now, and need to be alert and sharp.  Anything less will be considered a failure.  This means jumping out of the gates with all guns blazing.  Early intensity can control how Boston plays.  Hit hard, hit often, and never lay off the gas pedal!

• Match the physicality.  Boston has come under fire in recent months for the recklessness (as perceived by some) of a few players.  Brad Marchand, Zdeno Chara and the always to be feared Milan Lucic are a few names that are synonymous with “pain” around the league.  Not to mention Shawn Thornton.  Anyway, the Rangers can’t let these players dictate the violent side of the game.  They must be the antagonists, not reactionary.  Brandon Prust, Ryan Callahan, Dan Girardi, Brandon Dubinsky, Sean Avery and anyone else with a pulse must step up to the plate and play with an edge, forcing Boston to adapt, not the other way around.

In a game where two points can mean millions of dollars won and lost, this is the time of year that should have fans the most excited.  While I love the playoffs, I have said many times that I prefer the two weeks leading up to the postseason.  It is a time where teams are playing their most desperate hockey.  It is a time where nearly every game has some significance.  It is HOCKEY TIME!

Until next time,

Na Zdravi!

DR

I’ll have to keep this short as I am on my way to mom’s birthday brunch shortly, and with a 12:30pm start, it doesn’t leave much time to write this game up.  One thing I can say for sure is that the Rangers absolutely need to win this game, as the Carolina Hurricanes drew to within a single point of the Rangers for the final Eastern playoff berth.  Both teams have 4 contests remaining, so each one is a must-win situation.

The last time the Rags faced off against the Philadelphia Flyers was a one-sided affair that saw New York win by a decisive 7-0 margin.  But don’t be fooled, that only serves as motivation for Philly to put their game faces on.  Despite being in a bit of a slump (4-3-3 in their past 10), Philly is a deep offensive team that will challenge the Rangers’ defence this afternoon.  Again, much will rely on Henrik Lundqvist, and his ability to make big saves on the likes of Jeff Carter, Mike Richards, Claude Giroux and company.  It really isn’t anything new.

The Rangers will have to show more intensity than in the last game where they looked absolutely unengaged.  But, there is a balance.  They can’t afford to get caught up in the antics of guys like Dan Carcillo and Scott Hartnell.  I’m not sure if Sean Avery is a good idea in this particular matchup, to be honest.

Anyway, the Rangers desperately need two points out of this contest.  It promises to be a fiery game, as these two teams hate each other.  We’ll wait and see who comes out on top, but I suspect we’ll see a better effort from the Blueshirts.  Otherwise, there may be a space for rent among playoff-bound teams…

Until next time,

Na Zdravi!

DR

Last night was a revelation of sorts for the New York Rangers and their fans…  It boils down to what I’ve been saying all season long – this is not a Cup contending team.  Sorry, I hate to beat a dead horse, but it’s true!  They didn’t play up to par last night against Buffalo, and will be hard-pressed to play up to their ability tonight against the lowly Isles.

I don’t know if the pressure is simply getting to the Rangers, or if some key players are playing injured, but whatever it is, I have little faith in anyone but Henrik Lundqvist right about now.  And that was almost stripped away last night when he temporarily left the game after an awkward save.  Fortunately, the King came back to start the third period.

Coming off of a tough loss last night, the Rangers need to be careful not to take the Islanders lightly.  Sure, they seem like easy prey, but they have the 4th best record in the East since the trade deadline, and can’t be taken for granted.  Two points is absolutely the only acceptable result, and the Blueshirts will have to work to earn them.  Another loss could bring with it a loss of morale, and cost the Rags a spot in the playoffs, as Carolina won last night to creep within 3 points of New York.

Keys to the game:

• Not to rehash yesterday’s post, coming out strong and keeping the pressure on will be of paramount importance.  This is a rivalry, despite the difference in the standings, and emotions will run higher than in most games.  The Islanders are quite capable of giving their “big brothers” a run for their money, and it’s imperative that the Rangers set the tone for the game.

• Goaltending will be key.  While I am uncertain how Henrik Lundqvist feels after his minor injury last night, I suspect he’ll be the starter yet again tonight.  He needs to be sharp, especially against Grabner and Tavares.  Sure, the Isles are hardly an offensive juggernaut, but when you consider the Blues scored 10 last night, one can safely say that anything can happen when you’re not paying attention to detail.  Ask the Red Wings!  Hank will need to be focused and get some help from the bodies in front of him.

• “You can’t win with a zero”!  If the Rangers can’t find some scoring, they may as well pack it up now, and save themselves the embarassment of falling out of a playoff position in the final 5 games of the season.  The worst spot to finish is 9th place, as it indicates you were close to being good enough, and won’t have a chance to get to the next level via the draft.  Someone has to step up and take charge of the offence, and if it isn’t the most likely of choices (Gaborik), it has to be someone with heart and tenacity (Callahan or Dubinsky).  Someone simply has to take the bull by the horns and make a statement.

• Don’t worry about hurting the Islanders’ feelings.  This game, should it start out in favor of the Rangers, should be considered as a proving ground.  It doesn’t matter if the Rags have a 7-0 lead heading into the third; they still need to go for the jugular.  In other words – don’t worry about running up the score!

• Get Avery back on the bus!  Sean Avery is most effective when he’s running his mouth and causing trouble.  He’s a relatively clean player, but he can get under the opposition’s skin better than anyone in the game.  At least, that’s what I remember from the last time I saw him play.  He’s simply of no use to the team when he’s in the press-box, and I believe he is the kind of firebrand the team needs to charge up for any perceived playoff run.  Get him into the mix now, and take your chances with the odd “Avery induced penalty”.  This guy gets more calls against him for no reason than any other player in the league!

• Special teams need to be special.  I personally believe that the team is just a step away from having a great powerplay.  They need the catalyst to come from the point, whether it be McCabe, Wolski or whoever.  It just has to figure itself out, and I have a feeling this could be the perfect opportunity to try new things.  The penalty kill has been (for the most part) pretty solid.  I’d like to see them continue their high-pressure PK strategy, but perhaps not be so concerned with turning things up ice.  I realize that sounds a bit contradictory when I say they need more offence, but I believe at this stage it is wiser to play to your strengths.

At any rate, this promises to be an engaging game.  I don’t see anything happening on the scale of the NYI/PIT fiasco of a few weeks ago, but I do see it being a spirited affair.  The Isles are already out of the playoffs mathematically, and will be looking to play spoilers, but the Rangers are still in the thick of things and will hopefully fight to the last man.  Hope you enjoy the game, and hope the Rangers win!

Until next time,

Na Zdravi!

DR