After a difficult winter semester, after all of the papers, final exams, and oral presentations, the average student often finds themselves waiting with sweaty palms for their final grades before the summer can begin. In the sporting world, fans can relate. Now into the thick of the baseball season, with the smell of Italian sausage and the sound of ticket scalpers in the air, it is that time again for Boston sports fans to receive their report card. This year, B's will be hard to come by, but C's may be just enough to get by.
There is nothing like a perfectly cheesy metaphor that falls into sports writer's lap. I apologize for the report card analogy, but the fact that the Boston Celtics and the Boston Bruins can be abbreviated as common report card grades is just too good to pass up. And it's true. This season, Boston fans that have been starving for some B's are going to have to settle for C's instead. Beggars can't be choosers.
After the Bruins passed up a route to the Stanley Cup Finals that was served on a silver platter, it became clear which of Boston's winter teams has the right attitude in the playoffs. The Celtics' three game lead against the Orlando Magic in the Eastern Conference Finals is a testament to hard work, sticktoitiveness, confidence and determination, qualities that the Bruins lacked. Both of the teams' runs into the playoffs were unexpected to most. Few expected a Bruins team that underachieved all year and carried only 91 points into the post season to go far, nor did they have much hope for a Celtic team that went 27-24 in the 2010 regular season. Both teams stumbled down the stretch, and both kicked off the dust in April.
It's a good quality to have, to be able to flick the switch and perform in the playoffs. If that is how a team expects to act however, it had better be prepared to keep it up for the long haul. If that team can't bring home the hardware at the end of the season, their late performances will have been for naught. Take the Bruins. I'll be the first to admit that I fell for the team that the Bruins put on the ice against the Buffalo Sabres and the Philadelphia Flyers in the first one and a half rounds of the playoffs. Maybe it's because I want a Stanley Cup for Boston that badly, and maybe it's because they were up 3-0 in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, but I was wrong about the Bruins. When a team shows, time and again, that they have a poor work ethic and attitude in times of success and failure, they cannot be trusted to have changed that attitude until they have done so for a full season.
I don't blame Boston fans for hoping that that attitude had changed during the 121 point 2008-2009 season, or the remarkable first nine games of the 2010 playoffs. They want it that badly in Boston, but the record simply shows that the Bruins will find a way to break our hearts (funny how that used to be the Red Sox' catch phrase).
The Celtics, on the other hand, should not have been doubted. Fans gave the team less of a shot than the Bruins, and look what happened: The team with the history of winning, experience, determination, and drive is still alive and kicking. A team of veterans like Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen needs to be given the benefit of the doubt when they stumble down the home stretch of the regular season with the intent to rest for more important games. Like I said, I don't generally buy such a strategy, but the Celtics had a much more valid reason for it than the Bruins.
Now, having defeated one man teams in the Miami Heat and the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Celtics are on their way to proving why basketball is Boston's failsafe right now. The NBA is a turnoff for some sports fans. Teams that are dominated by one player and games whose outcomes are so violently affected by referees and foul calls have put a bad taste in their mouths. Two years ago, the Celtics' run to the promised land was truly magical. It stunned the naysayers, revealed the futility in one-man-teams, and allowed the NBA to embrace the policy of 'Ubuntu,' or team chemistry. After last year's return to the doldrums with Kobe Bryant's run to the top, the NBA returned to it's ugly form. Things have been testier. Pink hat fans have been more pronounced, Nike commercials and highlight reel dunks have seemed more important than team chemistry, and sandpaper-dry stories like Lebron James and Kobe Bryant have stolen the spotlight. Celtics coach Doc Rivers, the guardian of ubuntu, has been noticeably tired this year, talking about retirement, as have the big three. The four of them were the afterthought, the old guys, the dead in the water team.
And just when we needed them to, the C's came to the rescue. And here's how: ubuntu regained its meaning. After two seasons without standout bench men James Posey and P.J. Brown, the Celtics team grew one dimensional, nearly as bad as the Cavs and the Lakers. From game to game, fans hoped to steal a victory on a good performance from one of the big three. The bench did not contribute like the 2007-2008 Celtic bench did. And then, at the start of the playoffs, they exploded. Enter stage right Rajon Rondo, with an in-your-face triple double in Cleveland in the Eastern Conference Semifinals to slam the door in their face, enter stage left Glen Davis and Tony Allen, complete with excellent defense, even stronger passing, and just excellent chemistry, and, believe it or not, enter center stage, Rasheed Wallace, with the experience and the grit that the Celtics have needed to close out games. All of a sudden, the big three are surrounded by a team. And they have looked great.
What is so great about a well-rounded team? Two things are easy to pin down: unpredictability and team chemistry. Example: at the end of a game, it is anybody's guess what kind of play the Celtics will draw up to get the buzzerbeating basket. Maybe they will try an allyoop from KG to Tony Allen, or a back-them-down post shot from Paul Pierce, or a kick-it-out three from Sugar Ray or Sheed. The possibilities are endless. Against the Lakers or the Cavs, all any team needs to worry about is one player. No player, no matter how talented, can carry a team all the way. Multiple dimensions are essential. Example: It may not be everybody's favorite example around here, but the championship teams that Kobe Bryant has been a part of have won, not because of Kobe himself, but because of the players around him. Kobe has always needed teammates to perform as well as him to succeed. He needed Shaquille O'Neil at first, and he needs Pau Gasol now. In between those years, the Lakers have underperformed because of their lack of team chemistry.
This year, the Celtics may not have a superstar who can stand toe to toe with Kobe Bryant (maybe Rondo). As individuals, they are just past their prime. But nothing can stop a group as experienced and willing as the Celtics except themselves. It would require an attitude of supremacy, like that of the Bruins, in the face of success, to lead to a failure on the part of the Celtics. This team has earned the benefit of the doubt. Up two games heading home on Saturday night, the Celtics embarrassed the Magic 94-71 to take a 3-0 series lead. This one will not be squandered.
A recent locker-room interview with Kevin Garnett revealed this team’s thick skin and team work. Asked about what the Celtics would do with multiple days off between games two and three of the conference finals, Garnett responded by describing how the team watches film of other teams together, talking about a strategy and, “shooting the crap,” before actually practising. If that isn’t telling, I don’t know what is. Maybe I’m wrong, but you don’t just ‘shoot the crap’ with a group of people with whom you play professional basketball unless that group is pretty tight knit. Maybe all ‘shooting the crap’ denotes is water-cooler conversation that any working person can have with another, but the way KG described the locker room, it sounds an awful lot like these Celtic players are a real team that cares about winning and not pure personal gain. The discord that seemed to be taking hold as the regular season wound down was merely an illusion caused by media that needed an answer for the Celtics’ under-performance. In reality, people were panicking and giving up on an old team while they were building their chemistry and strategy for when it would really count. None of those things can be said about the Cavaliers or the Lakers. That’s for sure.
The Bruins are lucky in this way. They are getting off a lot better than they could be because of the Celtics’ success. If the Celtics had missed the post season this year, Boston would still be stuck in the mud of the Bruins’ stinker of an eastern conference semifinal. While you still hear passing remarks about the monumental collapse, they are coming in a far smaller quantity than they could be. If the Celtics can finish what they have started, C’s will look awfully good on that report card, and people will relax all the more about the B’s… until next season of course.
If there is one thing we have learned over the years in Boston, however, it is to never claim something that isn’t rightfully won until it has been won. I have not written off the Magic or either of the teams that could play the Celtics in the NBA Finals at all. The C’s will have to battle and scrap for every game until they can hoist banner number 18. The good news is simply that, like the Bruins, the Celtics have their fate in their hands. If they do not win, it will be because of a mistake on their end of the court. Keep up their recent play, and the C’s are looking at a mighty fine end to their season.
…
Very quickly now: the Red Sox are going to get a lot of coverage once the C’s are done with their run, but they do deserve a quick blurb. Here’s my take: We should have foreseen what we are getting now in the preseason. Unlike past years and other teams we have seen, the 2010 Red Sox are built on individual players, and they have suffered because of it. Newcomers Marco Scutaro, Mike Cameron, and John Lackey have not clicked into the team like Trot Nixon, Kevin Millar, and Orlando Cabrera used to. This preseason was completely quiet. That’s not indicative of a strong team, but rather a group of individuals too focused on themselves to acknowledge the team as a whole. Maybe that’s a little harsh for the situation, and I’m not trying to say that I expected such a patchwork team to fit together right away, but clubhouse drama from individual players has dominated the beginning of the season, and the Red Sox’ record has suffered. Dustin Pedroia’s ‘laser show’ quote in defense of David Ortiz was a huge step in the right direction. Pedroia single handedly took the reigns of the team and jerked them tight, putting himself on the line for a teammate. Without the Kevin Millars and the Bill Muellers of the baseball world with the Red Sox anymore, the team will need to redevelop some of that team chemistry that championship teams have enjoyed. It may be happening as we speak. Red Sox pitching may still be inconsistent, but the resurgence of Ortiz at the plate and the rallying of the team around Daisuke Matsuzaka’s near no-hitter against the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday are good signs that the team is coming together. They are in a difficult position, facing Philly and the Tampa Bay Rays in back to back series, but strong team-wide performances now may translate into a salvaged season later. Failure to build that team will have the Sox playing catch-up all year long.
Also, the Boston University softball team scored a 10-4 elimination game win against Northeast rival UMass Amherst. The Terriers’ spunk has carried them through bouts of injuries and has solidified a team with many new players. They have come a long way from a slow start to their season, building one of the top offenses in the country and winning the America East Championship for the second year in a row. After losing the Arizona State, BU faced UMass in a do or die game in the NCAA regional tournament. After losing twice to the Minutewomen in the regular season, the Terriers sent Freshman pitcher Whitney Tuthill to the mound against Terrorizer Sara Plourde. Plourde shut down the Terriers and most of the country all year, but this time, she only lasted one inning, allowing four runs and taking the team’s final loss of the season. What a story for a team whose head coach has never beaten the Minutewomen and their excellent program since taking over. Shawn Rychcik has built a strong team and has rallied them to strong performances. After taking out UMass when it mattered most, there is no telling what the Terriers might do next.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Friday, May 14, 2010
Big and Bad Aren't Back
My ears are still ringing. I don't know when they'll stop. It hurts. It bites deep, that's for sure. You know you are in Boston when your team can squander a three goal lead to blow what was already a mediocre and disappointing season into smithereens. They had this thing. They had this thing a while ago, but you want to talk about a microcosm of a collapse? You want to talk about a game that occurred in the most painful possible way? Haha, we got one last night, Bruins fans.
The Bruins dropped a game 7 do-or-die game to the Philadelphia Flyers in the eastern conference semifinals last night, 4-3, becoming only for fourth team in professional sports history to blow a 3-0 series lead by losing four straight. The ending was fitting for a franchise surrounded by late season slumps and heartbreak. The problem is that the game forced Bruins fans through the entire emotional roller coaster that was the 2009-2010 season all in over again in 60 minutes of hockey. You think that watching a team overperform when they are under pressure just to let off of the gas when things get easier over the course of two seasons is tough? Try watching that happen in one single game that decides whether that team will continue their season or not. This one stung. If there is one thing I've learned, if there's one thing I will take from this experience, it is to never sit back and relax when it comes to this town and it's sports. It is amazing how many people were focused purely on the Pittsburgh Penguins and Montreal Canadiens series just a week ago. Bruins fans were focused on who they were going to play next, and not on the crucial fourth win that was required to face that opponent. Who are we to pick and choose. Who are we to play the hockey Gods when they have smote us throughout our entire existence. We are but lowly Bruins fans, and we have now suffered the consequences.
The Bruins are members of an elite team of only four squads. Their accomplishment? They've all blown a 3-0 best of seven series lead. There was no way the Bruins would ruin a three goal lead deep into the third period last night, right? This was their chance to fight through adversity. But they found a way to blow it, just like they always do. They were strong in every aspect of the game through the first period, when the pressure was the greatest. Their offense was getting quality scoring chances on a playoff-rookie goalie, their defense was keeping the puck away from the net, their physical players were controlling the game, and their power-play brought tears of joy to my eyes. They were the team that beat the Buffalo Sabres and the best goalie in the world in six games. They were the team that dominated the 2008-2009 regular season, they were the team that could suck the life out of their opponents inch by inch, shot by shot, check by check. Then the clock struck midnight...
And they turned into a pumpkin. The Bruins laid down when they hit three goals. They sat their little fannies down with the lead and hoped to coast through forty more minutes of the most important hockey game of the season, and just like always, their strategy didn't work. The B's 14 shots in the first dwindled to six in the second, and five in the third. The game plan that was oh-so-effective in the first was tossed out the window as the B's did what they do best, hope for the best. They could have maintained their physicality. They could have made backup goalie Michael Leighton choke on a flurry of shots. But instead they left it up to fate, and fate bit them where it hurts the most.
It's a shame it happened this way. The Bruins showed this post season that they have the ability to play with intensity, but they also proved that their effort only appears in rough situations. We need to prove that we can play well in the 2008-2009 season? Fine. We need to play well against the Carolina Hurricanes? Meh, we're the number one seed- save your energy. We need to beat the Washington Capitals to get into the playoffs in 2010? Fine. We need to take out the best goalie in the world to advance in the playoffs? Fine. We need to beat the lackluster and injured Flyers to keep it going? Ahh, it'll take care if itself... Oh, it's game seven and we need a win to put them away? Fine. Oh, it's the second period and we're cruising with a 3-1 lead? We can afford to take a little breather. Oh, its the third period and they came back to tie the game three three? Fi- whoops, too late, we blew it.
When will they learn?
Walking down the stairs at the garden last night, I felt a range of emotions. Anger was one of them. Anger at a team that couldn't capitalize on their strongest first period of the season. Anger at a team that couldn't capitalize on their strongest first three games of a series in this postseason. I also felt tired. Tired of the heartbreak. Tired of the lackadaisical play, tired of the mentality of a team that hasn't won the big one in thirty eight years. The Bruins aren't getting out of what they've gotten themselves into either. After the Celtics won it all in 2008, the spotlight has been on the Big Bad Bruins to contribute to a revived sports town. It hasn't happened. Now, with two of their biggest rivals on to the Eastern Conference Finals, the spotlight shines even brighter on their debacles.
The 2009-2010 season was dominated by an Bruins attitude that would make any sports fan cringe. The team dominated the spotlight in situations where they were given no chance to win, and they came crashing down in places where they ought to have succeeded. It is relatively clear that underestimation has led to the Bruins' demise these past few seasons. Last year, they had the best record in the eastern conference. They were golden favorites to end the bad luck streak, and then they failed to perform against an underrated Carolina Hurricanes team. This year, they failed to finish off Buffalo in game 5 of their series, and were subject to one of the greatest collapses in sports history in their series loss the the Flyers. Leaving the garden tonight, Bruins fans' tempers smoldered all the more because of how they were sent home. After being handed a gift of a game seven with home ice advantage, the Bruins cruised to a 3-0 lead before allowing a weak goal before the end of the first period. They allowed two more goals in the second period without any offensive strikes whatsoever. They followed that with a third period in which they fought, but were too late to regain their form. The Flyers took advantage when they could, on a late power play, and ended the Bruins' season right then and there. Sound familiar?
Game seven was a microcosm of the entire series. Play well for three games and then lose focus of the finish line and get caught up looking forward in the next game. Focusing on Montreal lead to two victories for Philly. By the time Boston realized that they still needed a fourth victory to advance, the Flyers had run the series to a game seven. In it, the Flyers took advantage of the Bruins in the way that they took advantage of them all series, by weathering the storm and taking advantage of when the B's were sleeping on the ice.
The theme for the 2009-2010 Boston Bruins was Big and Bad are Back. They are not. That much is crystal clear. Big and Bad wouldn't have allowed a soft goal at the end of a dominant first period. Big and Bad wouldn't have sat back to the tune of six shots on goal in a crucial second period. Big and Bad wouldn't have stopped checking after going up 3-0 in the first. Big and Bad would have kept the pressure up. Big and Bad would not have left they Flyers for dead, they would have pummeled their dead body first. Instead. The Bruins let up. They sat back, and they got shut down. Big and Bad aren't back, and until they are, history will repeat itself, time after heartbreaking time.
Who gets the blame for preventing Big and Bad from returning? They all do. From big Z, who's 'nervousness' was hardly captain-like, to Claude Julian, whose doesn't look capable of raising his voice, to the individual players, the vast majority of whom saw their performance drop dramatically with the outset of the 2009 season.
I've had a lot of practice walking down the Garden steps from the balcony after a brutal loss. I've become pretty good at it. I can point out the dents I've made in the metal ceiling of the staircase or places I've stood at the moments of defeat. At the end of a season, the pain and the heartbreak are at the forefront of any fan's emotions. But, in Boston, when your team is as heartbreaking as only Boston teams can be, there is also a hint of excitement. Not excitement at the prospect of an injured Flyers team as the only hope against the dreaded Montreal Canadiens in the conference finals, but excitement at the prospect of a fresh start. Maybe it comes with the fact that I bleed black and gold. Maybe it comes with the dirty, dirty water. Maybe it comes with the fact that Boston is the greatest sports town in the world. Either way, there will never be a dull season in Boston sports history, and I am ready for the Bruins to enter the fray again next year, when everyone starts at 0, and when everyone has the same shot at the big prize. It sounds ridiculous, but I love following the Bruins, from their mistakes, to their successes, to their ground-breaking acheivements, and to their heartbreaking blowups. Big and Bad aren't back, but maybe they will be come October, and Boston will be ready for it.
The Bruins dropped a game 7 do-or-die game to the Philadelphia Flyers in the eastern conference semifinals last night, 4-3, becoming only for fourth team in professional sports history to blow a 3-0 series lead by losing four straight. The ending was fitting for a franchise surrounded by late season slumps and heartbreak. The problem is that the game forced Bruins fans through the entire emotional roller coaster that was the 2009-2010 season all in over again in 60 minutes of hockey. You think that watching a team overperform when they are under pressure just to let off of the gas when things get easier over the course of two seasons is tough? Try watching that happen in one single game that decides whether that team will continue their season or not. This one stung. If there is one thing I've learned, if there's one thing I will take from this experience, it is to never sit back and relax when it comes to this town and it's sports. It is amazing how many people were focused purely on the Pittsburgh Penguins and Montreal Canadiens series just a week ago. Bruins fans were focused on who they were going to play next, and not on the crucial fourth win that was required to face that opponent. Who are we to pick and choose. Who are we to play the hockey Gods when they have smote us throughout our entire existence. We are but lowly Bruins fans, and we have now suffered the consequences.
The Bruins are members of an elite team of only four squads. Their accomplishment? They've all blown a 3-0 best of seven series lead. There was no way the Bruins would ruin a three goal lead deep into the third period last night, right? This was their chance to fight through adversity. But they found a way to blow it, just like they always do. They were strong in every aspect of the game through the first period, when the pressure was the greatest. Their offense was getting quality scoring chances on a playoff-rookie goalie, their defense was keeping the puck away from the net, their physical players were controlling the game, and their power-play brought tears of joy to my eyes. They were the team that beat the Buffalo Sabres and the best goalie in the world in six games. They were the team that dominated the 2008-2009 regular season, they were the team that could suck the life out of their opponents inch by inch, shot by shot, check by check. Then the clock struck midnight...
And they turned into a pumpkin. The Bruins laid down when they hit three goals. They sat their little fannies down with the lead and hoped to coast through forty more minutes of the most important hockey game of the season, and just like always, their strategy didn't work. The B's 14 shots in the first dwindled to six in the second, and five in the third. The game plan that was oh-so-effective in the first was tossed out the window as the B's did what they do best, hope for the best. They could have maintained their physicality. They could have made backup goalie Michael Leighton choke on a flurry of shots. But instead they left it up to fate, and fate bit them where it hurts the most.
It's a shame it happened this way. The Bruins showed this post season that they have the ability to play with intensity, but they also proved that their effort only appears in rough situations. We need to prove that we can play well in the 2008-2009 season? Fine. We need to play well against the Carolina Hurricanes? Meh, we're the number one seed- save your energy. We need to beat the Washington Capitals to get into the playoffs in 2010? Fine. We need to take out the best goalie in the world to advance in the playoffs? Fine. We need to beat the lackluster and injured Flyers to keep it going? Ahh, it'll take care if itself... Oh, it's game seven and we need a win to put them away? Fine. Oh, it's the second period and we're cruising with a 3-1 lead? We can afford to take a little breather. Oh, its the third period and they came back to tie the game three three? Fi- whoops, too late, we blew it.
When will they learn?
Walking down the stairs at the garden last night, I felt a range of emotions. Anger was one of them. Anger at a team that couldn't capitalize on their strongest first period of the season. Anger at a team that couldn't capitalize on their strongest first three games of a series in this postseason. I also felt tired. Tired of the heartbreak. Tired of the lackadaisical play, tired of the mentality of a team that hasn't won the big one in thirty eight years. The Bruins aren't getting out of what they've gotten themselves into either. After the Celtics won it all in 2008, the spotlight has been on the Big Bad Bruins to contribute to a revived sports town. It hasn't happened. Now, with two of their biggest rivals on to the Eastern Conference Finals, the spotlight shines even brighter on their debacles.
The 2009-2010 season was dominated by an Bruins attitude that would make any sports fan cringe. The team dominated the spotlight in situations where they were given no chance to win, and they came crashing down in places where they ought to have succeeded. It is relatively clear that underestimation has led to the Bruins' demise these past few seasons. Last year, they had the best record in the eastern conference. They were golden favorites to end the bad luck streak, and then they failed to perform against an underrated Carolina Hurricanes team. This year, they failed to finish off Buffalo in game 5 of their series, and were subject to one of the greatest collapses in sports history in their series loss the the Flyers. Leaving the garden tonight, Bruins fans' tempers smoldered all the more because of how they were sent home. After being handed a gift of a game seven with home ice advantage, the Bruins cruised to a 3-0 lead before allowing a weak goal before the end of the first period. They allowed two more goals in the second period without any offensive strikes whatsoever. They followed that with a third period in which they fought, but were too late to regain their form. The Flyers took advantage when they could, on a late power play, and ended the Bruins' season right then and there. Sound familiar?
Game seven was a microcosm of the entire series. Play well for three games and then lose focus of the finish line and get caught up looking forward in the next game. Focusing on Montreal lead to two victories for Philly. By the time Boston realized that they still needed a fourth victory to advance, the Flyers had run the series to a game seven. In it, the Flyers took advantage of the Bruins in the way that they took advantage of them all series, by weathering the storm and taking advantage of when the B's were sleeping on the ice.
The theme for the 2009-2010 Boston Bruins was Big and Bad are Back. They are not. That much is crystal clear. Big and Bad wouldn't have allowed a soft goal at the end of a dominant first period. Big and Bad wouldn't have sat back to the tune of six shots on goal in a crucial second period. Big and Bad wouldn't have stopped checking after going up 3-0 in the first. Big and Bad would have kept the pressure up. Big and Bad would not have left they Flyers for dead, they would have pummeled their dead body first. Instead. The Bruins let up. They sat back, and they got shut down. Big and Bad aren't back, and until they are, history will repeat itself, time after heartbreaking time.
Who gets the blame for preventing Big and Bad from returning? They all do. From big Z, who's 'nervousness' was hardly captain-like, to Claude Julian, whose doesn't look capable of raising his voice, to the individual players, the vast majority of whom saw their performance drop dramatically with the outset of the 2009 season.
I've had a lot of practice walking down the Garden steps from the balcony after a brutal loss. I've become pretty good at it. I can point out the dents I've made in the metal ceiling of the staircase or places I've stood at the moments of defeat. At the end of a season, the pain and the heartbreak are at the forefront of any fan's emotions. But, in Boston, when your team is as heartbreaking as only Boston teams can be, there is also a hint of excitement. Not excitement at the prospect of an injured Flyers team as the only hope against the dreaded Montreal Canadiens in the conference finals, but excitement at the prospect of a fresh start. Maybe it comes with the fact that I bleed black and gold. Maybe it comes with the dirty, dirty water. Maybe it comes with the fact that Boston is the greatest sports town in the world. Either way, there will never be a dull season in Boston sports history, and I am ready for the Bruins to enter the fray again next year, when everyone starts at 0, and when everyone has the same shot at the big prize. It sounds ridiculous, but I love following the Bruins, from their mistakes, to their successes, to their ground-breaking acheivements, and to their heartbreaking blowups. Big and Bad aren't back, but maybe they will be come October, and Boston will be ready for it.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Ionic
Boston is panicking. After the Bruins dropped a game five at home 4-0 to the Philadelphia Flyers, they should be. The B's were bad. They were 2009-2010 regular season bad, they were 2009 Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Carolina Hurricanes bad. They played like the Bruins that every Boston fan grew to love to hate over the course of the regular season this year, just consistently frustrating. It seems that whenever the Bruins have an advantage working for them, they drop the ball. Heading into this season, they were a favorite to enter the playoffs with a head of steam and with a vengeance. Instead, the Bruins struggled the whole way, getting booed for lack of consistency and effort. Just a few weeks ago, the Bruins entered a playoffs in which nobody saw them succeeding. It always seems like the Bruins flourish in these situations: where there is nothing to lose, and they can't get much further from the bottom.
And so then began the run that single-handedly got me through my Spring semester finals, the Boston watermain break, and about a month of beard-growing. The Bruins looked sharp against the Sabres and the Flyers for about a series and a half. More recently, they've lost the magic touch. Their first overtime loss of the postseason came in a game that would have clinched a sweep and about a week of extra rest heading into the Eastern Conference finals. Instead, their defense fell asleep on the ice. And they didn't wake up for game 5. For the first time this postseason, the Garden was as quiet and disappointed as it was throughout the regular season. As fans trudged down the garden steps on their way to Causeway Street after the shellacking, they had a lot to think about, so did I.
Here's a few things on my mind at this point, ranging from general team questions, to more pointed worries:
Is this team for real?
Maybe. We really don't know yet. This is the first point in the post season when the Bruins have felt real adversity, as game 5 was their first definitive loss. They will need to rebound hard if they want to get their fans and the city back on their side. It amazes me just how positive Bruins fans were just five days ago when they were talking about making a run to the finals where anything can happen. Fans are much more solemn today, talking about the possibility of having to face another second round game seven where, once again, anything can happen (see 2009 Hurricanes). I will make my judgment based on the Bruins' performance in Philadelphia tomorrow night. If they can shut down the Flyers like their did in their first game in Philly this postseason, then they will have proven their ability to rebound against what is sure to be a loud crowd, a physical team, and doubting Bostonians. Even if the Bruins lose in Philadelphia and wind up winning at home in a game seven, I will be far less impressed. This team knows that they are on the cusp of some much needed rest and that they cannot tempt fate with a game seven (see 2009 Carolina Hurricanes). With Flyer goaltender Brian Boucher out with a knee injury, they will have the even simpler job of working against backup Leighton, who hasn't started a game since March. If the Bruins continue to procrastinate, they may make it by the Flyers by an inch, but they will have proven their immaturity. They will not go far in following rounds. Instead, the Bruins need to fight like they want it every game. They need to put the Flyers away while they still have control of the series and their fans.
Can the Flyers pull off the upset?
I don't know, but it sure does seem a lot more believable now than it did two games ago, now doesn't it? I would not be surprised to see Philadelphia moving on to the Conference Finals round. They have an incredible amount of momentum right now, and they can ride it as far as they see fit. The question is whether they will receive more resistance from the Bruins than they saw in game 5, which is really the hardest question to answer. It is hard to tell if the Bruins will rebound from a tough loss like they did all regular season, with more losses, or if they will be able to return to form in the face of adversity. It is really the Bruins move at this point, and the Flyers have everything to gain from the wrong one.
What does Mayor Thomas Menino think about this?
Well, he probably thought, like everyone else, that Jason Varitek's field goal attempts were pretty pitiful and that Doug Flutie really ought to try out another hail mary pass. The Bruins will need another ionic win if they are going to advance any further. Yeah, something like that.
What happened to the O?
What a drop off. The Bruins offense that has been so much more productive this postseason than the regular season has lost their spark, at least for one game. The fact that they got blanked is brutal for a team that needs to carry offensive momentum, but the fact is that the Bruins offense has the chance to rebound. This was one of their first offensive let downs of the post season, so they deserve the chance to respond, just like the rest of the team, but, like I said, we have seen this team's offense get stuck in a rut many times this season. Don't be surprised if, for at least one game, the Bruins need to grit it out on a 1-0 or 2-1 victory. Then again, don't be surprised if they wake up and light up the scoreboard either.
What can we expect in game 5?
I don't know. As I've been suggesting, the Flyers and Bruins have thrown this series into a state of flux that no one will be able to figure out until the next game is played. Each team has the ability to maintain control going into Philadelphia, with the Flyers having the obvious advantage. Don't be surprised, however, if the Bruins pull the wool over our eyes again and pick it up right when Boston is ready to throw in the towel. Hey, it's not the prettiest way to get it done, but I'll take it.
Guys to look for in game 5 as game changers?
For Boston, keep an eye on Tuukka Rask, who must be burning after being burned so much yesterday. He will either be on top of his game or rattled- my guess is on top of his game. Also watch out for Milan Lucic, who has been on a tear as of late. If he and the Bruins can upgrade their physical play, maybe they can prove that they are not going to lay down. On offense, Recchi and Satan cannot carry the entire load since Krejci's injury. The Bruins will need Blake Wheeler to continue to step up along with Marc Savard.
For Philly, watch Leighton, as a fair portion of the Flyers' comeback will rest on his shoulders. Can he repeat his heroics of game 4? Time will tell. Also, Gagne has been on fire since returning from injury. The Bruins will need to figure out a way to quiet him down if they plan on going anywhere.
Prediction?
I was way off last night, calling that the Bruins would wake up for game 5, but I am going to go with my gut and give them the benefit of the doubt heading into game 6. I bet the Bruins pull out a 3-2 victory.
And so then began the run that single-handedly got me through my Spring semester finals, the Boston watermain break, and about a month of beard-growing. The Bruins looked sharp against the Sabres and the Flyers for about a series and a half. More recently, they've lost the magic touch. Their first overtime loss of the postseason came in a game that would have clinched a sweep and about a week of extra rest heading into the Eastern Conference finals. Instead, their defense fell asleep on the ice. And they didn't wake up for game 5. For the first time this postseason, the Garden was as quiet and disappointed as it was throughout the regular season. As fans trudged down the garden steps on their way to Causeway Street after the shellacking, they had a lot to think about, so did I.
Here's a few things on my mind at this point, ranging from general team questions, to more pointed worries:
Is this team for real?
Maybe. We really don't know yet. This is the first point in the post season when the Bruins have felt real adversity, as game 5 was their first definitive loss. They will need to rebound hard if they want to get their fans and the city back on their side. It amazes me just how positive Bruins fans were just five days ago when they were talking about making a run to the finals where anything can happen. Fans are much more solemn today, talking about the possibility of having to face another second round game seven where, once again, anything can happen (see 2009 Hurricanes). I will make my judgment based on the Bruins' performance in Philadelphia tomorrow night. If they can shut down the Flyers like their did in their first game in Philly this postseason, then they will have proven their ability to rebound against what is sure to be a loud crowd, a physical team, and doubting Bostonians. Even if the Bruins lose in Philadelphia and wind up winning at home in a game seven, I will be far less impressed. This team knows that they are on the cusp of some much needed rest and that they cannot tempt fate with a game seven (see 2009 Carolina Hurricanes). With Flyer goaltender Brian Boucher out with a knee injury, they will have the even simpler job of working against backup Leighton, who hasn't started a game since March. If the Bruins continue to procrastinate, they may make it by the Flyers by an inch, but they will have proven their immaturity. They will not go far in following rounds. Instead, the Bruins need to fight like they want it every game. They need to put the Flyers away while they still have control of the series and their fans.
Can the Flyers pull off the upset?
I don't know, but it sure does seem a lot more believable now than it did two games ago, now doesn't it? I would not be surprised to see Philadelphia moving on to the Conference Finals round. They have an incredible amount of momentum right now, and they can ride it as far as they see fit. The question is whether they will receive more resistance from the Bruins than they saw in game 5, which is really the hardest question to answer. It is hard to tell if the Bruins will rebound from a tough loss like they did all regular season, with more losses, or if they will be able to return to form in the face of adversity. It is really the Bruins move at this point, and the Flyers have everything to gain from the wrong one.
What does Mayor Thomas Menino think about this?
Well, he probably thought, like everyone else, that Jason Varitek's field goal attempts were pretty pitiful and that Doug Flutie really ought to try out another hail mary pass. The Bruins will need another ionic win if they are going to advance any further. Yeah, something like that.
What happened to the O?
What a drop off. The Bruins offense that has been so much more productive this postseason than the regular season has lost their spark, at least for one game. The fact that they got blanked is brutal for a team that needs to carry offensive momentum, but the fact is that the Bruins offense has the chance to rebound. This was one of their first offensive let downs of the post season, so they deserve the chance to respond, just like the rest of the team, but, like I said, we have seen this team's offense get stuck in a rut many times this season. Don't be surprised if, for at least one game, the Bruins need to grit it out on a 1-0 or 2-1 victory. Then again, don't be surprised if they wake up and light up the scoreboard either.
What can we expect in game 5?
I don't know. As I've been suggesting, the Flyers and Bruins have thrown this series into a state of flux that no one will be able to figure out until the next game is played. Each team has the ability to maintain control going into Philadelphia, with the Flyers having the obvious advantage. Don't be surprised, however, if the Bruins pull the wool over our eyes again and pick it up right when Boston is ready to throw in the towel. Hey, it's not the prettiest way to get it done, but I'll take it.
Guys to look for in game 5 as game changers?
For Boston, keep an eye on Tuukka Rask, who must be burning after being burned so much yesterday. He will either be on top of his game or rattled- my guess is on top of his game. Also watch out for Milan Lucic, who has been on a tear as of late. If he and the Bruins can upgrade their physical play, maybe they can prove that they are not going to lay down. On offense, Recchi and Satan cannot carry the entire load since Krejci's injury. The Bruins will need Blake Wheeler to continue to step up along with Marc Savard.
For Philly, watch Leighton, as a fair portion of the Flyers' comeback will rest on his shoulders. Can he repeat his heroics of game 4? Time will tell. Also, Gagne has been on fire since returning from injury. The Bruins will need to figure out a way to quiet him down if they plan on going anywhere.
Prediction?
I was way off last night, calling that the Bruins would wake up for game 5, but I am going to go with my gut and give them the benefit of the doubt heading into game 6. I bet the Bruins pull out a 3-2 victory.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Just Checking In
A couple of quick points before I forget. I'll do a more complete update on the positions of Boston sports teams later this week:
1. Red Sox up and down at best- Barring an explosive choke-job, the Red Sox are going to be able to salvage a game against the Yankees tonight after losing 5 of their first 6 match-ups. While a win will quiet the Boston faithful a little, the Sox' Major league sellout record may be in jeopardy this week as interest continues to dwindle, pink hat fans are brought back down to Earth about this team, and the Bruins and Celtics continue to demand the spotlight. I wouldn't be surprised if an afternoon game on Wednesday saw the end of the streak. To pick this team up, the pitching needs to get better. It really is as simple as that. The offense has exceeded their expectations exponentially, hitting the 2nd most home runs in the league and driving in more than enough run support for these pitchers most games. David Ortiz's struggles may draw attention to the offense, but it is the defense that needs some work. Flip-of-the-coin players like Daisuke Matsuzaka, Clay Bucholz, Scott Shoenweis, Ramon Ramirez, and dare I say it, Josh Beckett and Jonathan Papelbon, are coming up tails when the Red Sox call heads every night. Those guys need to get consistent, and quick. Otherwise, there will be a lot of nights like last night, when the Sox have a 3-2 lead early that gets blown out of the water.
2. The Bruins will win tomorrow against the Flyers, 4-1. After getting handed their first OT lost of the postseason. The B's know that they need to get back to their defense and shut down the Flyers tomorrow night. If they let the Flyers penetrate the zone like they did on Friday, they will be in big trouble. I don't think they let that happen. If they take a game off again and wind up losing a second straight, their fans will start to lose their cool, and maybe they will too. A failure to put away the Flyers tomorrow night would put the Bruins in a situation much like last season, against a team that they could clearly beat, but too high on recent success. They would find themselves back in Philly for a game six, and a loss would put them in a game seven situation that turned out horribly last season. I like the B's as underdogs (see the first round against Buffalo), and there is no reason to think that they will let being better than the Flyers ruin the series, but it has happened to teams of the past. Keep your feet under you and your head clear, Bruins, and you will be one your way to a very winnable Eastern Conference Finals (more on that in the next post).
3. The Celtics have been great. Lebron James is a premadonna. Bruised elbow my ass. Grow a pair and learn to take a loss, Lebron. As it is, no one can lay a finger on you without getting called for a foul, so you are riding the most unfair advantage a-la-Kobe that there is. You got beat because the Celtics played so well. Rajon Rondo is going to be huge, and Glen Davis and Tony Allen were excellent as well. Their creativity on offense and defense made the game exciting and refreshing in an era of awful one man teams. Keep it up C's.
4. Dallas Braden threw a perfect game against the Rays today. Ridiculous, maybe more upcoming about him and perfect games in general.
Enjoy tomorrow, sports fans. We get to see how the B's respond to their first loss in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, how Red Sox nation responds to a salvaged game against New York, and which injury Lebron James is going to say ruined his game earlier today.
1. Red Sox up and down at best- Barring an explosive choke-job, the Red Sox are going to be able to salvage a game against the Yankees tonight after losing 5 of their first 6 match-ups. While a win will quiet the Boston faithful a little, the Sox' Major league sellout record may be in jeopardy this week as interest continues to dwindle, pink hat fans are brought back down to Earth about this team, and the Bruins and Celtics continue to demand the spotlight. I wouldn't be surprised if an afternoon game on Wednesday saw the end of the streak. To pick this team up, the pitching needs to get better. It really is as simple as that. The offense has exceeded their expectations exponentially, hitting the 2nd most home runs in the league and driving in more than enough run support for these pitchers most games. David Ortiz's struggles may draw attention to the offense, but it is the defense that needs some work. Flip-of-the-coin players like Daisuke Matsuzaka, Clay Bucholz, Scott Shoenweis, Ramon Ramirez, and dare I say it, Josh Beckett and Jonathan Papelbon, are coming up tails when the Red Sox call heads every night. Those guys need to get consistent, and quick. Otherwise, there will be a lot of nights like last night, when the Sox have a 3-2 lead early that gets blown out of the water.
2. The Bruins will win tomorrow against the Flyers, 4-1. After getting handed their first OT lost of the postseason. The B's know that they need to get back to their defense and shut down the Flyers tomorrow night. If they let the Flyers penetrate the zone like they did on Friday, they will be in big trouble. I don't think they let that happen. If they take a game off again and wind up losing a second straight, their fans will start to lose their cool, and maybe they will too. A failure to put away the Flyers tomorrow night would put the Bruins in a situation much like last season, against a team that they could clearly beat, but too high on recent success. They would find themselves back in Philly for a game six, and a loss would put them in a game seven situation that turned out horribly last season. I like the B's as underdogs (see the first round against Buffalo), and there is no reason to think that they will let being better than the Flyers ruin the series, but it has happened to teams of the past. Keep your feet under you and your head clear, Bruins, and you will be one your way to a very winnable Eastern Conference Finals (more on that in the next post).
3. The Celtics have been great. Lebron James is a premadonna. Bruised elbow my ass. Grow a pair and learn to take a loss, Lebron. As it is, no one can lay a finger on you without getting called for a foul, so you are riding the most unfair advantage a-la-Kobe that there is. You got beat because the Celtics played so well. Rajon Rondo is going to be huge, and Glen Davis and Tony Allen were excellent as well. Their creativity on offense and defense made the game exciting and refreshing in an era of awful one man teams. Keep it up C's.
4. Dallas Braden threw a perfect game against the Rays today. Ridiculous, maybe more upcoming about him and perfect games in general.
Enjoy tomorrow, sports fans. We get to see how the B's respond to their first loss in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, how Red Sox nation responds to a salvaged game against New York, and which injury Lebron James is going to say ruined his game earlier today.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Dirty, Dirty Water
Boston's water is dirtier than ever. My mother has reminded me of that fact over the course of various phone conversations between yesterday's emergency declaration and today. Yup, in a city where we blare the fact that we "love that dirty water" after most professional sports wins, someone finally listened and gave us what we love. For those of you who have been asleep or simply not effected by the emergency, a major main water break occurred yesterday in Weston that has forced people in several cities, including Boston, to sip bottled or boiled water instead of water straight from the tap. Whoop de doo, right? Well, it's actually kind of funny just how crazy communities are going over this situation.
You can't get bottled water that costs less than liquid gold anywhere, and a casual stroll down the sidewalk on a gorgeous Sunday is sure to yield multiple encounters with college students whose lives have been greatly inconvenienced by what has happened. (Grow a pair, guys). I personally have been holed up in my apartment all day getting started on a brutal 20-page paper due on Wednesday for a literature class. I won't pretend like I haven't felt the repercussions of the emergency, though.
A lack of clean tap water haschanged my normal daily routine. It was actually kind of fun to pull out the biggest pot I own, fill it with tap water, and let it boil until I was satisfied that I had fried any killer organism that may have been floating in it. Of course, dead parasites taste a lot better than live parasites, so I was in for a treat. Now I've got a pot of dead parasites sitting on my stove. Every time I'm thirsty I need to fill up a cup, stick it in the fridge, and wait until its cold enough for my sensitive palate. Brushing my teeth and taking a shower with pursed lips and closed eyes were adventures, too.
But enough of my whining. I'm honestly not too bothered by what has happened, and half of that 20-pager saved and completed is evidence for that fact. In the meantime, while I trudge into the second half of it, I can get my giggles by seeing how everyone in the facebook world is struggling (grow a pair, guys) and wondering how this shenanigan might effect the world of sports. Check it out:
Boston is home to many professional sports teams, and I'm sure that if anyone in that community is effected by the aquapocalypse, we'll know about it. For now, some hypothetical situations. The Red Sox missed the beginning of the crisis, as they were being hosted by the Baltimore Orioles when the news broke. Three losses to the abysmal team, however, may have fans wishing the Red Sox had more excuses to perform the way they did. The Red Sox look bad. When they return home tomorrow night to begin a set with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, maybe they'll consider biological warfare to get a one up on their opponent. They'll need it.
The Celtics were also out of town at the outset of the emergency, enjoying a pummeling at the hands of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round of the Eastern Conference Semifinals in Cleveland. Again, when they get to return home on Friday, maybe they'll use Boston's dirty, dirty water to their advantage.
It's not very interesting to think about teams that have been out of Boston during the initial scare. They will know about the occurrence upon their return. Visiting teams will know as well, and no one is bound to be affected. Professional sports should have no problem getting bottled water for their players' water bottles, and if a player decides to suck from the tap, that's their problem, and they deserve what's coming to them.
The Bruins and the Flyers are a little more interesting, however. The teams were engaged in the first match of their eastern conference semifinal series right around the time of the break, and they may have had a greater chance of accidentally ingesting tap water before knowing about the dangers of it. Such an occurrence could be devastating to one or both teams down the stretch of these playoffs. Then again, because we haven't heard anything yet, I'm led to believe that the series will continue with it's thrills unaffected by the crisis.
Still, I can imagine a hockey fight during tomorrow's game two in which the loser has to lick the ice surface, virtually guaranteeing sickness down the road. It will be funny to see such an important game played right on top of killer parasites and Boston's frozen, dirty, dirty water.
In all likelihood, Boston's water crisis will not change anything in the professional sporting world, but it certainly could. All it would take is a lapse of memory by Flyers goalie Brian Boucher or a yawn in the shower by Bruins winger Mark Recchi to change things rather quickly. I won't hold my breath. Keep on loving that dirty water, Boston.
In other sporting news, the Canadiens shut down the Penguins en route to a 3-1 win to knot the series at one game a piece earlier today. While I can't stand either team, I am enjoying that both are displaying the fact that they can be beaten thus far. Hopefully theirs will be a long series that tires the victor, leaving them vulnerable in the Eastern Conference finals.
Speaking of the Eastern Conference finals, the Bruins inched one game closer to the series with a 5-4 overtime win against the Flyers yesterday afternoon. In a fairytale ending, Marc Savard, returning from seven weeks on the DL after a cheap shot from the Penguins' Matt Cooke, scored the OT winner late in the first OT period. His reaction and the fans' reactions sent chills down my spine, as this Bruins team's postseason has been filled with momentum and positive energy. While Marco Sturm's loss will not help in the long run (torn ACL and MCL), the B's are in a good place.
Unfortunately, reports have been made of empty seats in the TD Garden for the game. For the sake of a team that has given their all this post season, I hope that Bruins fans wake up and start supporting their team like I know they can. Boston has a great opportunity to finish the Eastern Conference Semifinals strong, head into the Finals versus a team against whom they have so many reasons to play well against, and move onto the League championship series where anything can happen. They will need fan support behind them. I am sure that Boston will pick up their team and carry them as far as they can.
Finally, I can't watch the Lakers play anymore. After today's win over the Utah Jazz, I am sickened to the point where I am wondering if I did accidentally drink from the tap. Kobe Bryant is the recipient of so many ridiculous calls from referees that it is disgusting. Instead of being called for an obvious offensive foul late in the fourth quarter and with the Lakers trailing by 2, Bryant knocked a defender flat on his ass, dribbled around him and made an easy jumper for an and 1. A minute later, the best of the worst when it comes to the Lakers, Derek Fisher, was called for an offensive foul that was less obvious than Bryant's. I can't stand the Lakers and the fact that officials are paid to give Bryant game winning shots at every turn. Opposing players are afraid to defend Bryant because of the referees backing him up, and because of it, he has risen to a stardom he never deserved. Someone needs to fill his water bottle with Boston tap water and give him a taste of his own medicine, but for now, we need to pray that the Jazz can dig deep and put Bryant and Co. out of their misery.
You can't get bottled water that costs less than liquid gold anywhere, and a casual stroll down the sidewalk on a gorgeous Sunday is sure to yield multiple encounters with college students whose lives have been greatly inconvenienced by what has happened. (Grow a pair, guys). I personally have been holed up in my apartment all day getting started on a brutal 20-page paper due on Wednesday for a literature class. I won't pretend like I haven't felt the repercussions of the emergency, though.
A lack of clean tap water haschanged my normal daily routine. It was actually kind of fun to pull out the biggest pot I own, fill it with tap water, and let it boil until I was satisfied that I had fried any killer organism that may have been floating in it. Of course, dead parasites taste a lot better than live parasites, so I was in for a treat. Now I've got a pot of dead parasites sitting on my stove. Every time I'm thirsty I need to fill up a cup, stick it in the fridge, and wait until its cold enough for my sensitive palate. Brushing my teeth and taking a shower with pursed lips and closed eyes were adventures, too.
But enough of my whining. I'm honestly not too bothered by what has happened, and half of that 20-pager saved and completed is evidence for that fact. In the meantime, while I trudge into the second half of it, I can get my giggles by seeing how everyone in the facebook world is struggling (grow a pair, guys) and wondering how this shenanigan might effect the world of sports. Check it out:
Boston is home to many professional sports teams, and I'm sure that if anyone in that community is effected by the aquapocalypse, we'll know about it. For now, some hypothetical situations. The Red Sox missed the beginning of the crisis, as they were being hosted by the Baltimore Orioles when the news broke. Three losses to the abysmal team, however, may have fans wishing the Red Sox had more excuses to perform the way they did. The Red Sox look bad. When they return home tomorrow night to begin a set with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, maybe they'll consider biological warfare to get a one up on their opponent. They'll need it.
The Celtics were also out of town at the outset of the emergency, enjoying a pummeling at the hands of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round of the Eastern Conference Semifinals in Cleveland. Again, when they get to return home on Friday, maybe they'll use Boston's dirty, dirty water to their advantage.
It's not very interesting to think about teams that have been out of Boston during the initial scare. They will know about the occurrence upon their return. Visiting teams will know as well, and no one is bound to be affected. Professional sports should have no problem getting bottled water for their players' water bottles, and if a player decides to suck from the tap, that's their problem, and they deserve what's coming to them.
The Bruins and the Flyers are a little more interesting, however. The teams were engaged in the first match of their eastern conference semifinal series right around the time of the break, and they may have had a greater chance of accidentally ingesting tap water before knowing about the dangers of it. Such an occurrence could be devastating to one or both teams down the stretch of these playoffs. Then again, because we haven't heard anything yet, I'm led to believe that the series will continue with it's thrills unaffected by the crisis.
Still, I can imagine a hockey fight during tomorrow's game two in which the loser has to lick the ice surface, virtually guaranteeing sickness down the road. It will be funny to see such an important game played right on top of killer parasites and Boston's frozen, dirty, dirty water.
In all likelihood, Boston's water crisis will not change anything in the professional sporting world, but it certainly could. All it would take is a lapse of memory by Flyers goalie Brian Boucher or a yawn in the shower by Bruins winger Mark Recchi to change things rather quickly. I won't hold my breath. Keep on loving that dirty water, Boston.
In other sporting news, the Canadiens shut down the Penguins en route to a 3-1 win to knot the series at one game a piece earlier today. While I can't stand either team, I am enjoying that both are displaying the fact that they can be beaten thus far. Hopefully theirs will be a long series that tires the victor, leaving them vulnerable in the Eastern Conference finals.
Speaking of the Eastern Conference finals, the Bruins inched one game closer to the series with a 5-4 overtime win against the Flyers yesterday afternoon. In a fairytale ending, Marc Savard, returning from seven weeks on the DL after a cheap shot from the Penguins' Matt Cooke, scored the OT winner late in the first OT period. His reaction and the fans' reactions sent chills down my spine, as this Bruins team's postseason has been filled with momentum and positive energy. While Marco Sturm's loss will not help in the long run (torn ACL and MCL), the B's are in a good place.
Unfortunately, reports have been made of empty seats in the TD Garden for the game. For the sake of a team that has given their all this post season, I hope that Bruins fans wake up and start supporting their team like I know they can. Boston has a great opportunity to finish the Eastern Conference Semifinals strong, head into the Finals versus a team against whom they have so many reasons to play well against, and move onto the League championship series where anything can happen. They will need fan support behind them. I am sure that Boston will pick up their team and carry them as far as they can.
Finally, I can't watch the Lakers play anymore. After today's win over the Utah Jazz, I am sickened to the point where I am wondering if I did accidentally drink from the tap. Kobe Bryant is the recipient of so many ridiculous calls from referees that it is disgusting. Instead of being called for an obvious offensive foul late in the fourth quarter and with the Lakers trailing by 2, Bryant knocked a defender flat on his ass, dribbled around him and made an easy jumper for an and 1. A minute later, the best of the worst when it comes to the Lakers, Derek Fisher, was called for an offensive foul that was less obvious than Bryant's. I can't stand the Lakers and the fact that officials are paid to give Bryant game winning shots at every turn. Opposing players are afraid to defend Bryant because of the referees backing him up, and because of it, he has risen to a stardom he never deserved. Someone needs to fill his water bottle with Boston tap water and give him a taste of his own medicine, but for now, we need to pray that the Jazz can dig deep and put Bryant and Co. out of their misery.
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