We all know the beginning of Cougar Football Season is THE most wonderful time of the year. Coming in a fairly close second are the weeks and months in which we are currently in the midst. The NFL Draft is playing itself out as I write this, baseball is starting to kick itself into high gear and the NBA and NHL playoffs are both in full swing. Throw in the Kentucky Derby right around the corner, the PGA tour and NASCAR (if you’re into that sort of thing) and this is a great time to be a sports fan. Since things are relatively quite on the Cougar front, I hope you’ll indulge me as I venture out into the sporting landscape this week. If you’d like to see more discussion on a particular sport or none at all, please feel free to share your thoughts in the comments. In the meantime, let’s talk sports.
I’m starting with some NHL talk since the Stanley Cup Playoffs are quite simply the best tournament in the world. Whether it’s the excitement of sudden death overtime or just the passion that hockey players bring, there is nothing in my opinion like an NHL playoff game. With one round in the books, this years playoffs have lived up to their reputation. As a Bellingham resident, I could feel the sigh of relief from Vancouver when the Canucks pulled out game 7 against the defending champion Blackhawks. For those curious, the collective exhale smelled like poutine fries and Moulson. That series was one of four in the first round that went 7 games. That’s right, half of the series in the opening round went 7 games. Two of those game 7’s were decide in overtime.
Mercifully, my rooting interest was able to take care of business quickly in the first round. After much consternation about whether or not the Washington Capitals’ new system would help them advance further in the playoffs, they took care of business in 5 games against the Rangers. This was good news on a couple fronts. One, they won and didn’t go 7 for the first time in 4 series. Two, I get to keep growing my hideous “playoff beard” and further antagonize those around me. I might have the worst facial hair on the planet. Should the Caps, by some miracle, make it to the Finals, I’m going to be really testing the limits of just how grotesque a patchy beard could look. I’m excited. If you aren’t a hockey fan, wait for a game 7 this round and watch. If you don’t like it, well then I just don’t get you.
NBA Playoffs
Say what you will about the current trend in the NBA of stars joining forces on the same team, but it’s hard to argue that it adds to the excitement of the playoffs. The best example is the looming Heat-Celtics series. Big Three against Big Three (or Big Two and Chris Bosh if that’s your preference). I don’t typically get overly excited about an NBA series before it’s even started, but Heat-Celtics is an exception. I like the Celtics to pull it out, but honestly think anything could happen in that series. On top of that, it’s not the only series that’s got me pumped. With the exception of Bulls-Hawks, every series has something to offer. Somehow over the years in the Nowitzki and Kobe eras, the Lakers and Mavs have never met up in a series. I think both of these teams are reaching the end of their runs built around the two superstars so it could be the end of an era for one team.
I’ve got to be careful here, but I’m really looking forward to the fourth conference semifinal. I don’t want to draw the ire of LucasCoug here, but let’s say that hypothetically, an NBA team moved from once city to another. Then, hypothetically of course, that team built around a young nucleus of super athletic, super talented players including the best scorer in the league. Now let’s say that team hypothetically added a battle-tested hard-nosed big man that makes them a title contender. Further, let’s say that hypothetically, this team advanced to the second round to play another team of young upstarts that just became the second 8 seed in history to beat a 1 seed (a metaphorical changing of the guard in its own right). If all this were to happen, I’d be pretty jacked up about what that series could offer. You know, hypothetically. Also, Clay Bennett sucks!
Major League Baseball
Break up the Mariners! Don’t look now, folks, but the Mariners have ripped off four straight wins! Maybe this team is more than Hernandez-Pineda and pray for rain. OK maybe not, but still. It’s nice to see a streak go in the right direction. Even if things dip back to misery again, there will never be a better time to get great seats at Safeco so assuming summer ever comes, who is up for WSU Football Blog day at the ballpark? I just made this up, but seriously, sounds good doesn’t it?
The NFL Draft
How does everyone feel about the Seahawks draft? For me, it elicited a “yaaaaaaawn”, but sometimes those can be the best drafts. Drafting offensive linemen may not be glamorous, but it sure can be effective. As for me, I couldn’t be happier with how my Bengals have done. To pick up AJ Green and Andy Dalton in the first two rounds to presumably replace Chad Ochocinco and that sellout Carson Palmer has to be considered a success. There’s the added bonus that Andy Dalton can put some black tiger stripes into his already red hair and become instantly my favorite player. How about you, Coug fans? Who were your winners and losers? That is, aside from Chris Berman and anyone who had to listen to him. Everyone in that category qualifies as a loser.
I’m also a huge soccer fan and there is plenty going on between MLS, the English Premier League and the Champions League. I also readily acknowledge that there may not be a ton of people out there clamoring to hear about them so I’ll hold off for now. The bottom line is there may not be a ton to talk about when it comes to Cougar athletics until August and I’m open to anything. Tell me what you’d like to talk about, readers and I’ll happily oblige. Chime in with comments or click on my name on the left and shoot me an email. Whether it’s the Cougs or other sports, I want you to enjoy what you read in this space and welcome your feedback! Until next time….
Go Cougs.
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