The Last Team Standing Gets to Hold a Giant, Silver Cereal Bowl! I'm Sold!

Stanley Cup Final: Chicago Blackhawks vs. Philadelphia Flyers

We hockey fans have been blessed with fantastic Stanley Cup Final matchups over the past few seasons, dating back to the post-lockout classic between Carolina and Edmonton. Well, the generosity of the hockey gods continues as they have seen fit to provide us another. Detroit and Pittsburgh decided against the Stanley Cup rubber match to make way for another awesome matchup between two hockey-crazy markets. A normal preview wouldn’t do this series justice, so we are gonna dig deep here. I’m talking hand down my pants on a hot July day-scratching deep. Don’t act like you don’t know. Without further ado: The Stanley Cup Final, 2010.

Center vs. Center, Captain vs.Captain
You’d be hard pressed to find two better centers than Mike Richards and Jonathan Toews in the National Hockey League. The Olympic teammates are inspirational leaders that do their talking on the ice and set an example for their teammates with every shift. Take into account that these men both wear the honored “C” on their sweater (yup, I said sweater) while barely being old enough to drink and it makes their accomplishments, leadership, ability and pure will all the more astonishing. As it stands right now, these two will be lining up against each other the majority of the series. Strength vs. strength. Top line vs. top line. Not to mention these are the two strongest Conn Smyth candidates for both teams heading into the series. This is an epic matchup. These two are so serious and hell-bent on winning, I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw a Vinny Lecavalier-Jarome Iginla flashback this series. One could only hope. Their intensity is palpable.


The Bluelines
We are going to see two fantastic defenses in this series. Human eraser Chris Pronger and his partner Kimmo Timonen have been as instrumental in the defensive lockdown taking place in Philly as goalies Brian Boucher and Michael Leighton. Pronger plays as nasty as anyone in the history of the league and skating into his slot and around his crease is the ultimate test of a player. He will literally murder you. He is that tough, that intimidating and that effective. Shame on everyone who considered him done at the Olympics (yeah I know I was one of them). He and Timonen keep everything to the outside so secondary scoring chances are few and far between. And Pronger has absolutely brought it on offense as well. He is as much of a Conn Smyth candidate at this point as the two captains. He goes to Edmonton, they reach the finals. He goes to Anaheim, they win The Cup. Now he’s in Philly and they reach the finals in the most improbable of playoff runs. Winner much? Yeah, nuff said.

On the Chicago side is the tandem of Duncan Keith and Brett Seabrook. Quite simply, there isn’t a better defensive pair out there right now. They are the equivalent of the two bitchy, snobby, usually fat chicks that protect the hot friend at the bar from being hit on by you and your skeevy friends. You can’t penetrate that wall. And Keith has the offense to go with it. He is a whiz. He’s like the one that insults your shoes while simultaneously suggesting that you are too fat to date her, let alone her friend. Ok, getting off-topic here. Keith is an incredibly effective defensive player, and the entire Chicago power-play and breakout runs through the magic on his stick blade. He got his teeth knocked out in the deciding game of the West Finals and came back a few minutes later to set up the go ahead goal. Yeah, so there’s that. Seabrook has some offensive chops too, but he is the straight man who can shut you down and shred you in the corners while Keith goes off gallivanting and using his offensive creativity to light up the opposing goaltender. To put it in layman’s terms, He’s the Murtagh to Keith’s Riggs.

The Unstoppable Force vs. The Immovable Object
Yeah I understand that every media outlet in North America is using that headline, but you know what? It’s 100% true. In the West Finals, Dustin Byfuglien parked his 6’5, 267 lb frame in front of San Jose’s Evgeni Nabokov and that was it. Nobody had the size or ability to move him. He scored at will. Over and over and over again. Three game-winners. After every goal he had a shit-eating grin on his face because he KNEW they couldn’t stop him. You almost felt bad for the Sharks because it really wasn’t fair. This guy is a defensive lineman who plays exceptional ice hockey. He was so distracting in front of that net that Jonathan Toews and the electric Patrick Kane (who is quietly having a sensational post season in his own right) were free to roam the offensive zone and create offense that Byfuglien usually converted into goals. Well, Dustin, you had no trouble parking yourself in front of the Sharks’ net like you were on a recliner watching a Cubs game, but we have a troubling wake-up call for you. Yup, you guessed it: Chris Pronger. The two nastiest players in the series are going to match up and determine who owns that five feet patch of ice in front of the Flyer net. The battle is going to be intense, nasty, and dirty and there is a high probability of blood and/or physical injury happening right off the bat. And Pronger is the dirtiest marquee player of this generation so we have that to look forward to!

The Breakdown
The goaltending is even with two neophytes (Michael Leighton, Phi and Antti Niemi, Chi) between the pipes. The special teams are even with Chicago owning the superior PP and the Flyers owning the stronger PK. The coaching is even. The defense is even. Where the separation occurs is in the forwards. The Flyers have two fantastic lines with serviceable third and fourth lines made up of grinders and checkers who get the job done. On the flip side, Chicago has three amazing lines who score and play the two-way game and a fourth line that is more reminiscent of a third line. This is where the speed and skill of the Blackhawks is going to wear the Flyers down. They just keep skating, keep forechecking, keep creating. It doesn’t stop. I am not sure the Flyers can combat this for an entire series. And this is with the understanding that Marian Hossa isn’t doing a Goddamn thing offensively. God forbid he wakes up and chips in some offense this series if you’re a Flyer fan.

Also…
The Flyers are still playing with house money. As I explained in the Montreal series, how can you beat a team that stared death right in the face? Making the playoffs on the final day of the season in a shootout AND coming back from an 0-3 hole in a span of one month? Yeah, I would be walking like I had an 11-inch wang too if I broke through those obstacles.

For Chicago, this team simply does not lose on the road. The Flyers’ best chance to take this series is to beat Chicago at home where they have been nothing super spectacular. If the Hawks continue their road dominance, this series ends in Philly in game six. Although, when you think about it, it would be hilarious if Marian Hossa lost three straight Stanley Cup Finals. Nobody would touch him with a ten-foot pole (a.k.a. Zdeno Chara’s hockey stick). Talk about curses…


The Prediction
This one is incredibly tough to call because of how good both of these teams are and how locked-in they both seem at the moment. But if I have to pick, I have to go with the team with the most speed that absolutely owns the road. They seemed like a team on a mission from day one of the regular season and they are four wins away from eliminating the longest Stanley Cup drought in the league. The Flyers had a good run and will be back next year, but the Chicago Blackhawks are bringing home Lord Stanley for the first time since 1961. The transformation of this franchise is complete. Chicago Blackhawks in six.


Image Courtesy of The Hockey News Online

The Clock Strikes 00:00:00 on Jack Bauer and 24

I feel as if part of me is being canceled, not just a television show. After nine years, and eight seasons, my favorite show has come to an end. Millions of Lost fans felt this last night and now I am feeling to today. After countless acts of heroism/justifiable barbarism from Jack Bauer, a staggering series bodycount, the surprising deaths (and rebirths) of friends and enemies alike and more double-crosses, enemy moles and political intrigue than you can shake a SIG Sauer 9mm at, the clock finally struck midnight on everyone’s favorite network espionage thriller, 24 last night.

While there have been peaks and valleys for the show as a whole, this final season itself deserves an A-. After a decent beginning, a glacial-slow middle portion and an absolute rollercoaster of a third act, the season provided fans with drama that hasn’t been present since the series’ apex run from seasons three through five. The finale, however, is tougher to judge. As far as season finales go, this was a solid yet unspectacular ending. As far as series finales go? I, personally, can’t help but feel a little disappointed.

24 was in the unenviable position of having the hammer drop on the series midway through the final season. While the producers accurately predicted the series’ demise during the break between seasons seven and eight, the official word wasn’t handed down until the entire eighth season was completely fleshed out and the majority of it filmed. Any deviations in plot or attempts at a more appropriate series ending at that point would have resulted in a disjointed narrative and forced resolutions reminiscent of the universally-panned season six. So while the producers were correct in staying the course, the end result felt more like the end of a season as opposed to the final time we will ever see Jack Bauer (on television at least).

This isn’t more evident than in the major plotlines from the season’s final arc. Considering that the fallout of the Hassan murder-conspiracy would have likely been revisited next season, we are left hanging in the respect that there won’t be any real impact of the actions of President Taylor, President Suvarov and President Logan. We won’t see how Dana’s betrayal and the utter destruction of Cole’s personal life during season eight will affect him as a person or agent in the future. Unfortunately, these plotlines are far too convoluted to be included in a two hour feature film so we are probably left to wonder ourselves.

That, in a nutshell, is where the Lost finale succeeded and the 24 finale sort of fizzled out. ABC would have locked Lost up for the next five seasons, but the producers and creators had a plan for the show from the beginning with a definite beginning, middle and end. Everything was leading up to the finale and that was that. 24 is a different animal entirely. While key characters and plotlines carry over from season to season, the majority of Jack Bauer’s adventures are confined to one particular day and encapsulated within unlike a show such as Lost. It’s hard enough to write a fitting finality piece for a show like that as it is. It’s nearly impossible to do so when the end isn’t announced until it’s, basically, too late to change anything with that season’s story.

All in all, though, it’s been a good run and you can’t argue with a fantastic final season, regardless of how the ending makes us feel considering the circumstances. Considering that the producers were in limbo and Jack is (thankfully, hopefully) destined for a new frontier on the silver screen, we can forgive the soft landing of an ending and look forward to brighter (and more violent) days ahead. Not every show is lucky enough or popular enough to make the transition from televisions to multiplexes. We are all in for a treat when the series makes its way to the big screen and an “R” rating. One thing is indisputable, however, and it comes from the lips of a friend of mine. Sorry to all the Lost fanatics: Jack Bauer doesn’t send people to purgatory. He sends them straight to hell. No truer words have ever been said. Farewell, for now Jack.

A Visit From the Coach

This week's "Baseball Notes" from the Coach over at CaptainandCoach.blogspot.com (used with permission)

a.Thursday's SunTrust Business Fan special made for a wild afternoon at The Ted. In the Braves history they have played 19,935 games dating back to 1876 and according to the Elias Sports Bureau Thursday afternoon marked just the second time they have won a game which they have trailed by six or more runs in the ninth inning or later.
b. Conrad became the first rookie to hit a walk off grand slam since Cleveland's Ron Lolich on April 22, 1973. Conrad also became the seventh different Brave to hit a game-winner in eight final at-bat victories this season.

c. On Saturday, the Mets scored more runs (5) against the Yankees than they had scored in the previous 5 Subway Series games combined (4).
d. There were a couple crazy plays at Nationals Ballpark this week. For one on Wednesday night when the Mets were in town the team from Flushing had both an inside the park home run and turned a triple play. Then on Saturday Adam Jones hit another inside the park home run. Thus, the Nationals are the first team to allow 2 inside-the-park HRs in the same week since the Rays on 8/1/2003 & 8/3/2003.
e. The inside the park home run for Angel Pagan was the 26th inside the park Home Run in Mets' history. Pagan has the last two (also 8/23/09 vs. Phi). Adam Jones hit the first inside-the-park HR by an Orioles player since David Newhan on 7/21/2004.
f. There was an ugly situation this week in Florida after Hanley Ramirez dogged a play in the outfield he was pulled by manager Freddi Gonzalez. Which in return Ramirez ripped the manager and his other 24 teammates.
During Ramirez’s rant, he said he didn’t respect Gonzalez because Gonzalez never played in the major leagues. Ramirez might like to know there have been 117 managers in the big leagues, including Gonzalez, who never played in the big leagues. The list not only includes current managers Jim Leyland of Detroit, Jim Riggleman of Washington and Joe Maddon of Tampa Bay, but also Hall of Famers Joe McCarthy, Earl Weaver and Frank Selee.g. Am I the only surprised that the list of managers who did not play in the big leagues is that large?
h. Coming into Sunday's action both Derek Jeter and Dustin Pedroia were both hitting .267.
i. I knew Andre Ethier was leading the NL in batting average, home runs and RBI's but I had no idea he was hitting .392. Ethier who is currently on the DL with a broken pinkie hopefully returns soon to make a run at .400 and the triple crown.
j. Interesting note: Yankees pitcher Phil Hughes allowed 41 foul balls against the Mets Saturday -- the most in almost five years(Jon Garland vs. Twins,'05, 42). When did they start keeping track of this stat?
k. The next time I complain about the Braves hitting into double plays remind me that the Orioles have hit into 50 double plays while their opponents have only hit into 28 dp's.
l. This weekend marked the 14th (really 14 years already) year of Interleague play. An idea I absolutely love as seeing new teams at Turner Field is always fun. However, interleague play can create some schedule oddities that are pretty interesting.
m. The Orioles play 12 games against the NL East (Nationals, Mets, Marlins), while the Blue Jays play only three against the East (Phillies). The Braves play just three games against the AL East (Rays), while the Phillies play 12.
n. How about the Dodgers interleague schedule? The Dodgers play 12 of their 15 interleague games against teams that made the playoffs last year (Yankees, Red Sox, Angels) -- and the other three games against a team (the Tigers) that didn't get knocked out until the 163rd game. It has to be noted that the Padres play no teams that were in the playoffs last season.
o. On the other end of the spectrum; The Reds dodge the entire 2009 playoff field, and their five interleague series are against teams (Cleveland, Kansas City, Seattle, Oakland) that are a combined 30 games under .500.
p. I really like this stat: The Phillies play 12 games against last year's playoff teams, 15 games against teams that currently have a winning record and nine games against the Red Sox (six) and Yankees (three), while three of the other four teams in their division play no games against those two teams.
q.The Yankees were the last team to win a one-run game this season when they beat the Mets Friday night, 2-1. They are now 1-4 in one-run games this season after going 22-16 in one-runners last year.
r. Last season for the Nationals only John Lannon (9-13) won more than five games. This season, reliever Tyler Clippard is 7-1 with a 1.80 ERA pitching for the Nationals in part because he’s allowed 12 of 23 inherited runners to score (55%).
s. We received sad news Sunday morning when news broke that former Astro Jose Lima died of a massive heart attack. It is hard to believe Jose Lima was only the only Dodger pitcher with a playoff win from 1989-2007.
t. I remember a trip to Turner Field that Ben, Brice, Les and myself took in high school when we were able to get box seats. Ben went down to the Astros dugout and got a picture taken with Lima and Lima also signed a towel for Mr. Ross. Good times.
u. Monday marks this 75th anniversary of MLB's first night game.
w. Trevor Hoffman has now appeared in 1,000 career games. Not bad for a former SS who couldn't hit in A-ball and tried pitching out of desperation.
x. Sunday in Philly Tim Wakefield pitched eight shutout innings while picking up his first victory since July 8, 2009. He was an all-star last season right?
y. Joe Posnanski gives us a great look at Jose Lima and Lima Time. What a great personality.