I am a little red after sitting under the Moosomin sun watching my daughter's softball team stumble and bumble their way through three losses at a tournament. It would have been nice had the team gotten a break here or there from the guys in blue, and it would have been nice if they knew how to field a bunt properly as it left this blogger a little frustrated, but I digress.
It was a busy Saturday and of course front and center was Game 1 of the Stanley Cup final. You know I think there are many hockey fans out there who could start rattling off the roster of the Detroit Red Wings, but I don't think there are many who knew who the h-e double hockeysticks Justin Abdelkader was going into the opener. I certainly didn't know who he was, but it was Abdelkader who helped Detroit get the 3-1 win as he scored the 3rd goal. Its his first career playoff goal and while its not an overtime winner or anything, his name now goes down on that long list of players who have scored in the Stanley Cup final---something we all dreamed of doing as kids.
Marc-Andre Fleury had a couple of bad bounces that resulted in goals, but at this time of year every play is magnified and the bottom line was Chris Osgood made the stops and Fleury didn't. That is why I think Detroit gets the cup again. We will see what Game 2 brings tonight.
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A shocker in Moose Jaw. The Warriors decided to give GM Chad Lang the pink slip. Lang became GM of the team in 2004 season after joining the organization the year before. In that time, the Warriors had some ups and downs, but the biggest up was getting to the WHL final before losing to Vancouver in four straight. This is what Darin Chow told Matt Gourlie of the Moose Jaw Times-Herald
“Essentially the board has decided that it wants to go in a different direction,” said Warriors president/governor Darin Chow. “We’ve decided that the organization would benefit by having an individual dedicated as director of hockey operations and an individual who is a dedicated director of business operations as opposed to trying to expect one person to try to do all things. “Like any organization sometimes change is good. It’s an opportunity sometimes to go in a different direction.”
One has to think it won't take Chad long to find another WHL job. Maybe he re-surfaces in Regina as he has had a good relationship with Brent Parker. Word around the campfire is former Kelowna bench boss Jeff Truitt will be Lang's replacement with an official announcement coming very soon.
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The NBA final is set and its not the dream matchup the association wanted. Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers will not play Lebron James and his Cleveland Cavaliers. Opposing the Lakers will be the Orlando Magic led by Dwight Howard. The Magic completing a 5 game upset of Cleveland with a 103-90 win. The finals will begin Thursday night in Los Angeles. Did I mention that both the NBA final and the Stanley Cup final will go head to head twice. Why would the NBA do this???? Are they being that ignorant thinking the NHL is not a competitor to them?? Are they that smug!!! Its something that has to the NHL's little gnome--aka Gary Bettman--frowning. Then again, Game 1 of the Cup finals went up against the Orlando-Cleveland game last night. I wonder what Joe American Sports Fan had on his TV. Seriously, two leagues having their championship series being played on the same night...STOOOOOO-PIDDDDDDD!!!!!
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The Western Major Baseball League season is underway. This isn't the majors folks, but its the best we are going to see in Saskatchewan so go out and enjoy it. With teams in Regina, Saskatoon, Moose Jaw, Yorkton, Swift Current and Weyburn, it gets some good exposure so go check it out if you get a chance. The Red Sox open up their season this afternoon against Saskatoon at Currie Field. There is nothing like sitting on the ballpark on a nice summer afternoon or evening eating some seeds and drinking some suds. You'll find me there a few times this year.....in fact, I may be there later today.
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2 comments:
This is in response to your poll question. Hockey season should be over and yesterday is a prime example as to why that should be. You have to be a hardcore hockey fan to want to watch last night's game. It was 30 degrees in Regina yesterday. It wasn't a day to think about hockey. It was a day to get out on the golf course, spend the day in the park, watch some ball, do some yardwork, fire up the bbq. You get my drift. Yes it did storm here just after the game started but I can't see how anyone with the exception of a Penguins or Red Wings fan could be excited. The same goes for today. The only thing that could be worse would be for NBC to have convinced the NHL to have an afternoon game.
This is why I've answered the season has to be over by the long weekend in May. If I have to sit down to watch a potential cup-clinching game on the Saturday of the long weekend, I will do so knowing I have many, many more nice weekends ahead of me.
Dave
The gong show continues in the Jaw. What rationale would they have for getting rid of Chad??
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