Hockey - The Forgotten Sport

Ever since the NHL lockout that resulted in the canalization of the 2004-2005 season, hockey has seemed to be forgotten and the NHL has been lost amongst the thousands of TV channels available today.  NHL games are typically broadcasted on Versus., a network most people have never heard of. And if they have, they probably can't tell you which channel it is found on.  Besides a few minor highlights of the top teams, the NHL rarely makes SportsCenter.  Before the lockout, ESPN had a nightly show dedicated to hockey, NHL Tonight.  They would also televise games on a weekly basis.

Now the powerhouse network cannot be bothered to spend more than a couple minutes a night on the great sport of hockey, but they will spend hours talking about whether or not there is going to be a NFL season.  How about giving some love to a sport that is playing its games, and commend its players for yet another competitive season?  With the NHL Playoffs starting, here's 4 reasons why you should watch the NHL again...

1.  It's the fastest game on the planet.  Players can reach speeds of greater than 20 MPH while out on the ice.  This creates a tempo not found in any other sport.  And with lightning quick speeds, comes devastating collisions.  There is nothing like the sound of a defensemen slamming a forwards body into the boards, causing him to spill onto the ice.  Or an open ice hit that nearly takes a guy out of his skates, hits that would make Ray Lewis proud.

2.  Fighting is allowed!  And even some what encouraged.  Typically the refs will let guys duke it out until their bodies hit the ice.  Since they are on ice skates, that usually doesn't take long.  Win or lose, both guys will be going to the penalty box for 5 minutes.  Sports are obviously highly competitive and emotions run high. With fighting, hockey players are able to unleash some aggression and/or frustration.  After, they get to cool down for a bit, before eventually returning to action.  Let's be honest, who doesn't love a good fight?

3.  So what if you can't pronounce any of their names.  Some people have the belief that hockey isn't as popular as it once was because of the lack of star power and the fact that their names are just too hard to say and learn.  Sure, Anze Kopitar, Valtteri Filppula, and Teemu Selanne might be a little tough to say, and even tougher to spell, but all these guys will be in the playoffs fighting for their respective teams.  Plus, just because you can't pronounce a guys name, doesn't mean you can't respect his skills out on the pond.

4. Anything can happen!  In hockey, the separation between the top teams and the bottom teams isn't as dramatic as you'd find in other sports.  And in the playoffs, that notion is highlighted.  In the NBA it is almost impossible to see an 8 seed defeat a 1 seed in a playoffs series. (The Nuggets beat the Sonics in 1994 and the Knicks beat the Heat in 1999.  Both were 5 games series vs the 7 game format you find in the NHL and in modern day NBA.)  In the NHL playoffs, an 8 seed has beaten a 1 seed in each of the past two years and 9 times since the NHL expanded to an 8 team format.  In the 2011 NHL playoffs, a lot of experts are picking the New York Rangers to upset the Washington Capitals in round one.  The Capitals were also upset as a 1 seed in last years playoffs by the Montreal Canadiens.

These are just a small sample of the countless reasons to watch the NHL.  Over the next two months the NHL's top 16 teams will be competing for the honor of having their names etched on to the Stanley Cup and the right to be called a Champion.  Tune into a game or two and I bet you'll fall back in love with hockey, just as I have.

Waiting on the King to Return

      Golf, the ultimate mental game.  Someone once said that golf is 30% mental, 60% physical, and 10% luck.  Any golfer will tell you that the mental part plays a way bigger part than 30%.  Tiger Woods is the prime example of the great amount the mind plays in golf.  Woods is undoubtedly the greatest golfer of all-time.  He has made shots no other man could come close to duplicating.  He has destroyed his competitors for years and has been renowned as the best in the sport ever since eradicating the field at the Masters in 1997. 
      Things have been very different since Tiger's return to golf, following a brief hiatus after the well publicized sex-scandal that came about in November of 2009.  Tiger wasn't the same competitor last season.  For the first time in his career, he failed to win a single golf tournament and has since dropped to the number 3 ranked golfer in the world.  What happened to the future hall of famer?  Did his skill and determination simply vanish?  Not exactly.  Tiger had numerous stressors consuming him and the scrutiny of the public eye was upon him in a way he had never known.  These stressors were effecting his focus and he simply wasn't in the game mentally.  In a sport such as golf that demands high levels of mental strength, even the world's number one golfer couldn't offset the cognitive strain that was damaging his game.  The golf course was no escape and he couldn't hide from his impending divorce or the circus that had become his life.
      The 2011 golf season is just underway and Tiger Woods made his debut at the Farmers Insurance Open, played at a familiar venue, Torrey Pines.  If you look at the scorecard it didn't appear to be a successful weekend.  Tiger finished tied for 44th and 15 strokes behind the event's winner, Bubba Watson.  What wasn't shown on the scorecard was the massive gallery that stalked Woods on Sunday. Even when he is not in contention, Tiger is still the most important golfer on the course.  Fans want to see Tiger Woods and they want to see him succeed.  Another variable you can't measure from a scorecard is emotion and Tiger's emotion is back!  You can see the fuel beginning to burn in his eyes.  Something that was missing last year.  Slamming his clubs, cussing, yelling "TIGER!" is apart of his game.  A part that made him genuine.  Last week we saw some club slamming and a little yelling.  These are steps in the right direction.  Tiger is not back yet, he is the first to admit that, but he is rejuvenated and determined. With most of his troubles seemingly in his rear view mirror, winning is just around "Amen's Corner" for the greatest golfer to ever step up to a tee box.  In 2011 the "King of Golf" returns.