Breathe in, Breathe out

I'm largely at peace with the world. Which is nice. It's never particularly easy for a Boston sports fan to be completely happy on all fronts. I mean, come on, there's just so much unnerving stuff going on at any one time for anyone to be completely at peace. But I think I'm in a pretty good place at this point. I just try to breathe in, breathe out, think about Clay Buchholz instead of Marc Savard, and let some of Boston's most storied franchises keep me happy.

The first ingredient in happiness these days is to forget about the debacle of the decade for the Bruins a few weeks ago. I know everyone knows what happened, but the Bruins blew a 3-0 lead against the Philadelphia Flyers in the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Once that happened, I couldn't wait to get the taste out of my mouth by any means necessary. Unfortunately, the fact that the Flyers are still playing in the Stanley Cup finals (that could have been you, B's!!) and that they pulled even at two games a piece last night is disturbing. The way that the Bruins went down and the fact that they could have played the eight seeded Montreal Canadiens for a shot at the Stanley Cup playoffs makes the Bruins collapse all the worse.

But, like I said, I've found peace, and I'll tell you why. This Flyers team has won me over. While most teams could have pulled off the seven game series against the Canadiens, it takes real grit to skate with an offensive minded Chicago Blackhawks team in the Stanley Cup finals. This is no fluke. The Flyers elevated their game for the playoffs and have displayed an offense that any Bruins fan would slobber over. Michael Leighton has shown poise and determination in the backup goalie position and Peter Laviolette has prepared his guys very, very well.

But what happened to the Broad Street Bullies, these-guys-play-dirty mentality? Well, in my humble opinion, that sort of gameplay has not been the Flyer's strong point this Stanley Cup Finals series. Instead of Daniel Carcillo and Scott Hartnell doing horrid acting jobs and feigning finger biting (maneuvers that made me cringe when they played the Bruins) the team has relied on the pure goal-scoring skills of Danny Briere, Claude Giroux, and Mike Richards. That combined with their maintenance of a sportsmanlike physical edge has transformed them into a team that one can support in good conscience (not that Philly fans have good consciences anyway). Little joke there- I'm sure some fans have a Jiminy Cricket on their shoulder, but there is something to be said for a team that yells 'taze him, taze him!' when a guy runs on the field at a Phillie's baseball game.

So, I'm sort of at peace with the hockey world. I give the Flyers all the credit in the world for their run, and I am very happy with the series they are putting on in the Stanley Cup Finals. Peter Laviolette is a respectable coach with heart and talent as well, giving the team an added dimension.

I am not going to say that I am, or ever will be, at peace with the Bruins' blown lead in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. The fact that the Flyers are doing so well helps and hurts the matter, for obvious reasons. The B's got beat by a team that isn't a fluke, but could have gone far if they had held on for one more game. It is crystal clear that the majority of the blame for the Bruins' collapse belongs on the Bruins' shoulders. I'm not going to go into the lay-down-and-die-when-we're-up mentality that did the Bruins in this postseason (see my previous articles). All I can say is that the combination of factors in the rest of the NHL postseason and the success of other Boston sports teams in the wake of the Bruins' tragedy have left me calmer than I was before. Which is a good thing. The Bruins will be a better team next year. If they can shift their mentality, they can really make some stuff happen. I am content to wait until then.

Before I get too mushy on Philly (maybe I'm too late), I'd like to point out that I am rooting for the Blackhawks to win the Stanley Cup. Nothing personal, Flyers. of the Eastern Conference teams in the playoffs, you were one of the few I wouldn't have minded to make it all the way (over the Washington Capitals, the Canadiens, and the Pittsburgh Penguins? of course!). However, they way the Flyers beat the Bruins, albeit the Bruins' fault, leaves me with no choice but to root against them. It's great that they've revealed themselves to be a talented team that can still win while playing fair, but I'm taking Chicago.

I've always been partial to Chicago teams. Since Tedy Bruschi retired from the NFL, the Chicago Bears' Brian Urlacher has been in the running for my favorite NFL players. Stories of refrigerator Perry and 'da Bears' peaked my interest. I fell in love with the Cubs and their 100+ year drought for a world series championship. The Bulls and Michael Jordan have always been a respectable franchise, changing the game for the better, and the Blackhawks, an original six team with a drought similar to the Bruins' just deserves to be supported. Players like Dustin Byfuglien are hard workers that demand respect. Patrick Kane is a home grown star that can stick handle with the best of them. Chicago is also just a beautiful city. After Boston, if there was another city that I would live in, it would absolutely be Chicago. I am rooting for the Blackhawks all the way, and the fact that this series has just become a best of three has left me at peace with the hockey world.


On the basketball side of things, you might wonder just why I am so peaceable when the Celtics blew game one against the dreaded Lakers in game one of the NBA Finals. I'll give you the quick version, since it will sound awfully familiar. Reason number one, the Celtics are a veteran team that has made bouncing back their strong point all season long. If the Celtics get swept by the Lakers, losing each game the way they lost the first, I will be very, very surprised. They will turn it on. Glen Davis, Nate Robinson, and Tony Allen will have their big games off the bench that were lacking in game one. Paul Pierce will be able to shut down Ron Artest. Kevin Garnett will be able to shut down Kobe Bryant. Maybe it will be on and off. This Laker team is good. But, it will happen.

Reason two, the Lakers are a team this year. Two years ago, the Lakers were the antichrist of NBA basketball. They did what Kobe wanted and lost because of it (thank goodness). This year, Kobe may not be too happy about it, but he is sharing the spotlight. Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom deserve plenty of credit for what the Lakers have done to this point. When they play as a team, the Lakers' brand of basketball is much more respectable.

Now, I'm not saying that the Lakers are little miss goody two shoes, here. Don't forget that their star player is a rapist, that Laker fans love their pink hats more than their basic basketball knowledge (just ask one of them what a rebound is. I dare ya) (This article says it all:

http://articles.latimes.com/2010/may/22/sports/la-sp-plaschke-20100523

Yup, come playoff time, all Lakers fans care about is who is going to be on kiss cam during the big games. Back to the team, though, don't forget Sasha Vujacic's disgusting and immature resistance to the color green two years ago (I'd love to shove it in his face again). Basically, there is still a lot to hate about the Lakers this year, which makes this series so great, as any Lakers/Celtics series should be. Tonight, keep an eye on the big three. I expect breakout games from the three of them, and it will start with the freeing up of Rajon Rondo, the assist master. Ultimately, I have a hard time picking either team in this series, but the fact that Boston has performed so well when they have promised to perform well makes me give them the edge. I'll take Boston for banner eighteen in seven games.

There will be more intense articles about the Red Sox in the near future (when the Celtics are done), but rest assured, I am at peace with them as well. Clay Buchholz has hit his stride, and will be awarded the Cy Young award at the end of this season. Once John Lackey picks up his game, the Red Sox will be in good shape to do what they set out to do this season. After all, an 11-0 win against any team is enough to satisfy most baseball fans for at least one night.

Finally, after their second consecutive season with an America East championship and an NCAA win, this time against UMass Amherst, the premier program in the northeast, the Boston University softball team ended their season with a loss to Long Island University 5-4 last week. This team was something to be appreciated. Coming off of a season where they lost much of their talent, they rallied behind superb pitching and a deadly lineup of hitters. April Setterlund was recently named to the first team All-American, becoming the first BU softball player to achieve such honors. The results of the season were fitting for the excellent effort that the team put forth. An article on Setterlund and her accomplishment can be found here.

http://www.dailyfreepress.com/sports/setterlund-earns-all-america-first-team-honors-1.2272457

Needless to say, I am very much at peace with the success of the team, one that I followed this whole spring semester. And, of course, on the whole (haha), Boston is looking all right. I'll save my panicking for another day, because today, or at least until tip off tomorrow night, I am at peace.