Fixing the NHL

Wow, apparently people from Quebec City actually know how to write in English. Can't say the same about American Tea Partiers...

In 1995, the Quebec Nordiques moved from Quebec to the larger market of Denver and became the Colorado Avalanche. A year later, the Winnipeg Jets left the cold winters of Canada and headed south for the warmer (and apparenty more "lucrative") environment of Phoenix, Arizona. A year after that, the Hartford Whalers fled Connecticut and moved to Raleigh, North Carolina. The NHL's experiment of delving into the American South, often at the expense of more traditional hockey markets in Canada, has produced two more teams: the Nashville Predators and the Atlanta Thrashers.

The year is now 2011. Unsurprisingly, this experiment has been an appalling failure. When it comes to attendance figures, it's worth noting that the overwhelming majority of teams on the bottom are teams based in the American South: Phoenix (#29/30), Atlanta (#27/30), Dallas (#23/30), Miami, Nashville, Carolina (#22-20 respectively).

Whoever thought that introducing a traditionally cold weather (and technically foreign to many here in the 'States) sport into Southern markets is obviously one of the most braindead individuals living. It makes as much sense as trying to push nascar into Poland, or making an NFL team in Kenya. It seems especially stupid now that one of the teams, the Phoenix Coyotes, are not only probably going to fold, but that they are going to move back into the original city that they moved from back in 1996.

It was brazenly idiotic to move into Phoenix and Atlanta, both of which are atrocious sports cities. I'll never forget seeing a SEA of cubs' fans invading Atlanta when the Cubs played the Braves in the 2003 playoffs. It was the playoffs' for goodness sake and people in Atlanta couldn't even get excited for that. And in Phoenix, with the Coyotes on the verge of getting swept, apparently there was a significant number of Red Wings' fans in the crowd. A crowd might I add that was obnoxiously sparse during the season. And Atlanta, they can't even support a baseball team that made 13-15 postseasons in a row. How do you expect their crowds for a mediocre hockey team to look like?

I rest my case...

This "Southern experiment" has clearly been a dreadful failure. The NHL needs to finally man up and cut its losses. First in Phoenix, then Atlanta, and possibly other teams as well (Nashville, Miami, Tampa Bay, Carolina). Then they need to resurrect the NHL teams that will undoubtedly receive the fan support that all pro teams deserve. The Winnipeg Jets and the Quebec Nordiques are two that need to make a return. The return of the Nordiques in particular would bring back the exciting and ferocious rivalry inside Quebec between the Nordiques and the Montreal Canadiens.

A few months ago, 1100 fans of the Quebec Nordiques packed a bus and headed to Long Island, New York, where they invaded the game between the New York Islanders and the Atlanta Thrashers. I don't think there's anything else that needs to be said.



Bring hockey back to Canada, where it belongs. Move the Coyotes back to Winnipeg and bring the Thrashers to Quebec. At least this way, more than ten people will actually give a damn...

Cheers,
DC

My 2011 NBA Playoff Predictions

Hey everybody.

In light of my rather "short-sighted" NHL predictions, I'm going to have to redeem myself by making some NBA playoff predictions. Btw, I'm afraid a lot of people here are not going to like my Eastern Conference pick. Myself, I had to take fifty showers because I felt so unclean making this pick. May the NBA lords have mercy on my soul...

EASTERN CONFERENCE

1 BULLS vs. 8 Indiana Pacers
Prediction: BULLS in 5
Why: Bulls have depth and a stingy defense. Pacers have great blue-collar talent and Danny Granger, but it won't be enough

2 Miami Heat vs. 7 Philadelphia 76ers
Prediction: Heat in 5
Why: Philly plays great team basketball, the kind that would make John Wooden proud. Unfortunately, today's NBA is a much different monster than the NCAA of John Wooden's day. You need star power and the Sixers don't have that. Miami, unfortunately for all of us non-Heat fans, have 2.5 stars

3 Boston Celtics vs. 6 New York Knicks
Prediction: Celtics in 6
Why: The New York Knicks led by that delusional moron "I'm too good to coach defense" Mike D'Antoni are a DISGRACE TO THE NBA. That being said, they will push the aging Celtics to the limit. Fortunately, the Celtics will prove how important defense and depth still are by beating the Knicks. For once, I might root for KG

4 Orlando Magic vs. 5 Atlanta Hawks
Prediction: Magic in 4
Why: The Hawks have played desultory basketball all year. Lots of talent but no team chemistry at all. The Magic, even though they are depleted, still have Dwight Howard and will stomp them. Don't be deceived by the fact that the Hawks won 3 of 4 against them during the season

1 BULLS vs. 4 Magic
Prediction: Bulls in 7
Why: This is going to be a tough series. The Bulls will need to rely on their ridiculous depth to stop the Magic. They shouldn't even waste time trying to stop Howard bc they won't. However, if they shut down Orlando's perimeter players, this series is over. Deng will need to shine in this series bc Jameer Nelson has played good defense on D-Rose

2 Heat vs. 3 Celtics
Prediction: Heat in 6
Why: LeBron and Wade are going to have that killer instinct for this series. Celtics are only getting older. Miami's lack of depth might hurt them but looking at both team's recent play, they look like they're ready to take it to the next level. The Celtics on the other hand, they are bleeding and other teams are seeing this

1 BULLS vs. 2 Heat
Prediction... ... it pains me to say this but... Heat in 6
Why: The star power of Miami is too much for the Bulls. The Bulls have been a great story. D-Rose is as humble as he is talented. Luol Deng has been an unheralded hero. The bench has been so fun to watch. That being said, all of the Bulls' three wins against Miami were decided by a total of 8 points. In the playoffs, Miami's star power will turn the tide...much to the dismay of pretty much everyone who is not a Heat fan

WESTERN CONFERENCE

1 San Antonio Spurs vs 8 Memphis Grizzlies
Prediction: Spurs in 6
Why: Ginobili's absence in the playoffs will really hurt San Antonio. But, the Spurs are still talented without him. Popovich is a great coach and the Spurs have plenty of playoff experience. The Grizzlies remind me a lot of the Thunder last season and they could make a serious run. Zach Randolph is the most underrated player in the NBA and he will need to be a star down the stretch for the Grizzlies to make some noise

2 Los Angeles Lakers vs. 7 New Orleans Hornets
Prediction: Lakers in 4
Why: The Hornets were a great team and then they lost David West and haven't looked the same. The Lakers have limped into the playoffs that's for sure but they are still the defending champs and have a superstar and a coach who both know what it takes to take the title. New Orleans is not the Thunder of last year. Lakers are going to sweep

3 Dallas Mavericks vs. 6 Portland Trail Blazers
Prediction: Blazers in 7
Why: I really like Dirk Nowitzki and I think the Mavericks always fly under the radar. That being said, this Portland team is scary. Andre Miller is a great point guard. LaMarcus Aldridge has played some ridiculous ball and would have won Most IMproved Player if Kevin Love didn't channel the spirit of Moses Malone. Since adding Gerald Wallace, this team has been on another level. Plus, Nate Macmillan is a better coach than Rick Carlisle.

4 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. 5 Denver Nuggets
Prediction: Thunder in 7
Why: This is going to be a great series. The Nuggets have been amazing since Melo left. In fact, they look much better. Kevin Durant is a total stud and so is Russell Westbrook. George Karl is an experienced playoff coach however who will know how to get the best out of his players, players like Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari, Nene, etc. However, these playoffs will be the coming of Kevin Durant and Westbrook.

1 Spurs vs. 4 Thunder
Prediction: Thunder in 6
Why: The Thunder are a fast, exciting young team. The Spurs have the experience and the toughness. It's going to be baptism by fire for Durant, Westbrook. Still, I think the combination of Kendrick Perkins and Serge Ibaka can shut down Duncan. The key will be Ginobili. If he plays out of his mind, the Spurs can grind it out. Still, I think it's a changing of the guard out west

2 Lakers vs. 6 Blazers
Prediction: Lakers in 7
Why: The Blazers are a great team, but the Lakers are going to kick it into a higher level. Gasol and Aldridge will be a critical match up for this series. I'm not sure if Portland has anyone that can contain Kobe however, which will be problematic for the Blazers

2 Lakers vs. 4 Thunder
Prediction: Lakers in 7
Why: A rematch of last year's exciting first round series, the Thunder are once again going to push the Lakers to the brink. Still, I think Kobe's desire and all-around ability will tip the scales once again in Kobe's favor. Gasol is going to have a much tougher time being matched up against a significantly improved Ibaka and now Perkins.

NBA FINALS

Miami Heat vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Prediction: Lakers in 6
Why: Miami's star power will meet its kryptonite against the Lakers. Even though Miami will pull of a big win against the Bulls, I still don't think they have what it takes mentally to get past the two-time defending champs. They are especially going to have a rough time against Gasol as they have no interior defense whatsoever. Look for Lamar Odom to step up as well, especially if LeBron and Wade are going to throw everything they can at shutting down #24

Cheers,
DC

My 2011 Stanley Cup Playoff Predictions

Last year, the Chicago Blackhawks ended 39 years of agony and finally brought back Lord Frederick Arthur Stanley's Cup to the West Side of Chicago. When I close my eyes, I can still see Patrick Kane slotting the puck barely passed the overachieving Michael Leighton, and then Kane bouncing up and down like a maniac, all dignity forgotten as the Hawks finished their season ahead of the other 29 times in the league. All those miserable memories of garbage teams and garbage players like Zhamnov, Doug Gilmour, and Alexander Karpovtsev (excuse me while I throw up).

This year, my Hawks BARELY made the playoffs. But as anyone who has watched enough NHL playoffs knows, once you're in, you have a great chance to go on a ridiculous run. Look at what Halak and the Habs did last year.

Are the Blackhawks going to go on a Cinderella run and defend their title? Is Alexander the Great going to cement his legacy with his first Stanley Cup win? Are the Vancouver Canucks ready to finally move past years of underachievement? Here are my answers to those questions

EASTERN CONFERENCE

1 Washington def. 8 New York Rangers
2 Philadelphia def. 7 Buffalo
3 Boston def. 6 Montreal (This one is going to be intense. The passionate and vicious fanbases of both teams will be the x-factor)
5 Tampa Bay def. 4 Pittsburgh

1 Washington def. 5 Tampa Bay
3 Boston def. 2 Philadelphia (I would like to see Philly beat the Bruins, but they have absolutely no momentum going into the playoffs. They might even lose to Buffalo)

1 Washington def. 3 Boston (This is going to be a SWEEP. It's not even going to be close)

WESTERN CONFERENCE

8 BLACKHAWKS def. 1 Vancouver (okay, i know i'm a ridiculously biased Hawks' fan. I've been watching them since '95 gimme a break. In all honesty, Vancouver is probably going to steamroll the Hawks but I can't bet against them)
7 Los Angeles def. 2 San Jose
3 Detroit def. 6 Phoenix (I still can't believe there is a F**KING hockey team in Phoenix. Such a disgrace)
4 Anaheim def. 5 Nashville (Nashville is OBSCENELY OVERRATED. I hope they go down in flames this year)

8 BLACKHAWKS def. 3 Detroit (I would rather get kicked in the nuts and be forced to kiss Rosie O'Donnell than ever EVER pick those evil motherf**kers in Joe Louis Arena over my beloved Hawks)
4 Anaheim def. 7 Los Angeles (AGH I HATE THE DUCKS, but there's no chance in hell the Kings get past them)

8 BLACKHAWKS def. 4 Anaheim (I really can't bring myself to picking the goddamn Ducks, a team named after a cracked Disney movie starring Charlie Sheen's brother, over my Hawks, despite the fact that Anaheim has Corey Perry on their team. Again, my pride and loyalty has gotten in the way of my hockey brain)

STANLEY CUP

BLACKHAWKS def. Washington

Yes you heard it here first, BLACKHAWKS are going to repeat as Stanley Cup champions. Jonathan Toews, Patrick Sharp, and Marian Hossa are going to kick it into a higher gear. Guys like Bolland, Brouwer, Kopecky, Bickell and Dowell are going to need to grab their hard hats and their lunch pails and play the same rugged blue collar hockey that carried the Hawks to the title last year.

Okay in all seriousness, there's a better chance of Matt Damon acquiring superpowers and suddenly becoming my fairy godmother than the Hawks repeating. All i'm saying is that Hawks' fans need to remember what MOntreal did last year. If Crawford plays at Halak/Niemi levels, this team could cause some upsets.

Now if you'll excuse me, I've got to go look for my brain and my sanity.

Cheers,
DC