The Quest For Lord Stanley

The post season has started for the NHL meaning every team from here on in has a chance. Teams like Detroit, Buffalo, and Ottawa have been seen as favorites but this year the race is going to be as close as ever. I picked San Jose to beat Buffalo in the final, they have a good mix of young talent, speed, and toughness. Led by stars including Thorton, Marleau, Cheechoo, Guerin, and Hannan the Sharks have as good of chance as anyone with there stellar netminder Evgini Nabokov. The round of 16 series include (WEST:Red Wings vs. Flames, Predators vs. Sharks, Stars vs. Canucks, Ducks vs. Wild, EAST: Senators vs. Penguins, Sabres vs. Islanders, Thrashers vs. Rangers, and Lightning vs. Devils) Who did you pick to bring the Cup home?

Janis Lyn Joplin

Janis Lyn Joplin was an Americasn Blues-influenced rock singer and occasional songwriter with a distinctive voice. Joplin recorded four albums between 1966 and 1970, two as the lead singer of San Francisco's Big Brother and The Holding Company, and two released as a solo artist. Joplin was inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995, and received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005. She was ranked 41 out of 100 and 3rd highest ranking for women in rock and rolls 100 greatest artestsin 1998. In the year 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked Joplin number 46 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.

Fighting in the NHL?

Many would argue that the NHL should ban fighting however, I'm the opposite and like the fact that teams have enfrecers to stick up for the young and talented players. Wayne Gretzky always had a big guy to protect him, and now the critics and NHL officials are trying to get rid of enforcers and fighting in general. The big fuss is over the young stars like Crosby, Ovechkin, Malkin, and the Staal brothers to name a couple. Its is true that NHL players are getting bigger and stronger. There are less fights and less people getting hurt from fighting, and hockey has grown into more of a speed and skill game. Todays hockey is like no other, the NHL teams have evened out and the playoffs should be a thrill to watch.

Top Of The Table

The outstanding play of the 'new' Toronto Raptors has earned them a spot in the playoffs for the first time in 6 years. Holding a 6.5 game lead on the New Jersey Nets, the Raps look in good shape playing well without 2 starters in the lineup. When Jorge Garbajosa went down with a broken leg off a rebound attemp, the Raptors new they wee in tough and had to play a much better style of basketball to keep there playoff hopes in tact. The raps were hit with another hue blow when there first pick overall (Andri Barngani) went out with a springed ankle. Garbajosa's return at this point is a no go, and Barngani is hoping to be back for the playoffs. The next step for the Raptors is clinching there division and home court advantage. There next game is Friday against the Philidelphia 76er's, which will be a hard fought divisioal match-up.

are professional athletes being paid to much?

Some would argue that being paid 250,000,000 for a five year contract is too much money for someone to be paid to play soccer. David Beckham the English soccer star recently signed a 5 year contract with the LA Galaxy, worth a quarter of a billion dollars, meaning Beck's would make close to one million per week. This deal wouldn't make sense to most people as Beck's has already passed the prime of his career and has had numerous injurys in the last couple years. It is clear that Beckham was brought to the Galaxy for marketing purposes and not for his skill. As rated by FOX the top 10 over-paid pro athletes include (Peyton Manning-14.17million/year, Micheal Schumacher-80million/year, Alex Rodriguez-25.7million/year, Barry Bonds-22million/year, Derek Jeter 19.6million/year, Terrel Owens 8.3million/year, Tiger Woods-80.3million/year, Shaq 20million/year, Stephon Marbury 14.6million/year, Andre Agassi 28.2million/year). Athletes including these ones are being overpaid, there is no reason to be paid 80 million a year to drive a racecar or hit a golf ball. I think athletes are selfish, they are bein paid these large amounts of money when they already get everything for free.

Lady Volunteers

Rutgers 46-59 Tennessee

The Tennessee Lady Volunteers captured the National Championship for women's NCAA basketball. Tennessee led by legendary coach Pat Summitt beat fourth seed Rutgers in the final. For Summitt this is her 12th trip to the National Championships, more than any other coach in NCAA basketball history. This years most outstanding player award winner Candice Parker led the Lady Vols to victory with 17 points.

Shooter

I went and saw the movie Shooter last week, an interesting movie staring Mark Wahlbourn. The movie has alot of action scenes and was intense. Wahlbourn in the movie is a former US Army Sniper who is brought back from hiding to plan a asassination of the US president. I'm not going to give any of the movie away because it is a great movie, so go watch it.

How Bout Them Blue Jays

The Toronto Blue Jays sitting in one of the most difficult of divions in the majors have started there season in hopes of making the playoffs. With the Yankees, Bo Sox, Orioles Devil Rays rounding out Toronto's division they are in tough for yet another hard fought season. The Jays won there season opener yesterday against the Tigers with 'Doc Halladay" on the mound. The Blue Jays who have missed the postseason the last couple years are looking to there starting pitching led by Roy Halladay and A.J. Brunette. With the depth of this Jays team they have as good of a chance as the Yankees and Red Sox.

Ohio what?

Florida 84-75 Ohio State
We can now say that the university of Ohio State is a far second from the almost unbeatble Florida Gators. With there second national championship in back to back years the gators took the game running away from the start. Greg Oden played by far the best game of his young career however a tandom of 2 (oden, conely jr.) were no match for the expierience and depth of the gators. I have to laugh at the people who actually picked Ohio State to win after they had lready been upset by the gators in the national championships for football.

will the Leafs make the playoffs?

If the NHL playoffs were to begin today the Toronto Maple Leafs would not make the playoffs. With only three games remaining in thier season the Leafs are only one point behind Montreal in the race for the eighth and final playoff spot in the eastern confrence. With six teams that have not clinched a playoff spot and seperated by only 7 points, gives the leafs who are on a tear of late a chance at the post-season. It would be a major accomplishment for the Leafs to even make the playoffs due to their season full of conflict and injury. If Toronto were to run the table and win there last three games they will have to hope that Montreal loses one of there remaining 3 games.

FLORIDA OR OHIO STATE?

My prediction: Florida 72-60 Ohio State
The question is who has the upper hand? Number one seed and defending National Champions Florida? Or the youthful tandom of Greg Oden and Mike Conely jr.? Florida led by Joakim Noah are playing as the defending champions after all five starting juniors made the decsion to stay back and go for another National Championship. Florida was rated number 1 in the counrty at the begining of the tounament with a (34-4) record and have shown there depth as they have knocked off quality teams (Jackson State,Purdue,Butler, Oregon, UCLA-my team). Ohio State has earned there own respect as they had the best overall record in the counrty going 53-3 and were named the south devision's number 1 seed. They have had little trouble so far this tournament and if Oden stays healthy and out of foul trouble they have as good of chance as Florida. Before there recent defeat of Georgetown, Ohio State had to get passed (Xavier, Tennessee, Memphis, Georgetown). I have to say Florida has the upper hand with last years expierience and the overall depth of there team. The game is at 9:21 tonight and with 2 number one seeds playing in the final of the National Championship, were in for a beauty.