Mea Culpa...What a game...

It seems like just a few minutes ago I was writing about how psyched I was for the Canada-Switzerland game! Man was I on the mark! Ok, well I really blew this one and I would be remiss if I didn't call myself out. Although I still feel strongly on the less-than-stellar scheduling in the opening round of Olympic hockey, tonight's game was truly a treat for everyone who loves world-class play.

This was a wonderful game highlighted by excellent flow, speed and creativity. Scoring chances galore on both sides and some truly heroic goaltending by Swiss/Anaheim Ducks goaltender Jonas Hiller. Easily the best contest in the games thus far, I wouldn't be surprised if this game was the highlight of the whole damn tournament. My favorite aspect of this game was both squads really going for it in overtime. Too many times in the NHL, the five minute overtime period is tentative and safe with many teams (especially ones with great goalies) willing to take their chances in the shootout. In this game, and Olympic hockey in general, you see less and less of that. Canada turned it on in OT and generated some wonderful chances. The Swiss were bending, but they didn't break. Hiller was a rock.

Obviously the shootout favored Canada, but Jonas Hiller made some beauty stops and matched Martin Brodeur save for save as the shootout went to a second round. In round two, Canada Head Coach Mike Babcock chose to use Sidney Crosby (who led-off round one) a second time and the world's greatest player didn't miss twice. He promptly rifled a laser over Hiller's blocker to give the Canadians the 1-0 advantage. The outcome was all but decided at that point and Brodeur made it official with the game ending save. What a game. Tremendous. Canada squeaked by a hungry opponent. They will have to be much better against a surging United States team on Sunday night.

Head-scratching scheduling turning flagship event into "Blowlympic" hockey

So far the preliminary round of Olympic hockey has gone on without many surprises. The pretenders are getting waxed while the three superpowers (Canada, Russia, Sweden) and the four contenders (Finland, United States, Czech Republic, Slovakia) are doing their part. I’ll tell you who isn’t doing their part, however. It’s whoever is in charge of scheduling these games (I’m looking at you TSN, RDS and everyone else responsible). Seriously, why should the United States play all of their games at the incredibly convenient time of 3PM on weekdays, and the Russians and Czechs play nightly at midnight just to accommodate the Canadians’ desire to showcase their all-galaxy team?

Most of the first-round match ups for Canada are going to play out like a fight between a dove and a fighter jet, so why stuff them into prime time? Once the second round begins, I totally understand putting Canada in the top spot because all of the games will be must-see’s. But being force-fed an awful game that is as predictable as Ronnie and Sammi Sweetheart’s relationship trajectory is just plain stupid. Tonight we have to wait until midnight to watch a tasty contest between the Russians and Slovaks in a must win situation for Slovakia. This game should be fast and furious and everything that we expect from Olympic hockey. Unfortunately everyone but college kids, the jobless and the dredges of modern society are going to miss this one because it starts when people should be sleeping on a weeknight. Instead, during prime time, we get to watch what’s going to amount to a Mayan sacrifice on ice as the Canadians, presumably, annihilate the Swiss while the game becomes boring and unwatchable by the end of the first period.

I know about nationalistic pride and showcasing the host country, but for the sake of competition and the sake of the crown-jewel of the Winter Games, get some common sense. True hockey enthusiasts, even Canadians, would argue that the Russia-Slovakia match up should be the showcase game tonight. And don’t even get me started on the Empire State Building sized monkey wrench the women's hockey schedule is throwing in the gears of the men’s TV sked. Not knocking women's hockey at all, just some of these game times, locations and choices are as ridiculous as Devil fans throwing hats on the ice for Ilya Kovalchuk’s one goal performance last week.

Image Courtesy: Bruce Bennett, Getty Images

I had a (musical) dream...

...and that dream combined the musical talents of my favorite DJ (Z-Trip), my favorite current rapper (Slug - Atmosphere/Felt), and my favorite rock act from a few years back (Jack White). Fast forward to reality and that dream has come true on the remix of the Dead Weather's "Treat Me Like Your Mother."

Dead Weather? Jack's side project "supergroup" when he isn't doing his thing w/sister Meg. I'm not sure how the whole thing came together but it's almost as if someone picked my brain and said, "hey, what would you want to hear if you could throw some random musicians together for a track." For me, it's the musical version of the Food Network's "Chopped" and I'm the only judge that needs to be pleased, not those obnoxious judges that make the show virtually unwatchable. But I digress, I am amped for the single though I must admit it's not Slug's best rap effort - it still outshines some of the lackluster verses on Felt 3.

Is it true that nobody cares?

Over the course of the last few weekends, viewers (both in person and on television) have been treated with the NFL's Pro Bowl and NBA All-Star Game respectively. What we as sports fans are constantly being told is that these types of games have lost their luster and nobody really cares about them anymore. But is that true? Or is it that the mainstream sports media doesn't quite care and they want us to follow suit?

This year, the NFL decided to move the Pro Bowl to the weekend before the Super Bowl, making valuable use of that extra non-football weekend prior to the big game. The result? The most viewers ever, on TV, for the event. Hmmm, sounds like someone cares. Further, when the announcement was made, there were detractors that were up in arms regarding "what will happen to players that are on the Pro Bowl team that made the Super Bowl and cannot play?!?!?" Naturally, my cynical response is, "nobody cares." But people cared and it sparked the debate.

Last night, the NBA made a brilliant move and brought their showcase game to Dallas. David Stern, marketing wiz one-upped himself last night but having the game be played at the new Cowboys Stadium in front of 108,000+ fans. Sure there's no defense but that's typical Western Conference hoops nowadays. But w/108k in attendance, can you really say that nobody cares? Let's not forget the viewers at home. If only the half-time "entertainment" lived up to the excitement that the game (and the whole weekend minus the HORSE competition), provided.

I find there are two types of fans that will enjoy the "All-Star" game of any sport with no pre-conditions: the die hard fans and the younger fans. For the die-hards, you're watching to see the best of the best and you just want more of the game you love. For younger fans, it brings you closer to the best players in the sport and showcases all of them in one place. No defense? No problem. Haven't we been force-fed that it's not defense that sells, it's offense? If that's the selling point, look at the ridiculous scores of these "defense-less" games...