A newspaper poll prior to the 2010 World Cup asked readers what they thought of the 2010 World Cup. The most common answer was "It's soccer. Nobody cares."
Let's be blunt: In a country often known for its dominance in sports, performing well in soccer has always been, well, quite challenging to say the least. You can hardly blame us. After all, Americans love to use their hands, something that has helped us produce fine goalkeepers, but also hurt the skill level of the 10 other players on the field.
For a country in which the world's biggest sport is an afterthought, entering the Round of 16 is quite an accomplishment.
Before you moan and complain about their heartbreaking loss to Ghana, remember the Slovenia match. The U.S. were playing in a huge match. They controlled their own destiny. Win, and they move on; lose or tie, and they would be eliminated.
For what seemed an eternity, the two teams were deadlocked at 0-0. Neither could triumph over the other, which worked to Slovenia's benefit. As the clock ticked, American hopes faded.
Then came the 91st minute. The U.S. rushed to the Slovenian goal. A shot was registered, then turned aside by the goalie. A rebound was produced, and who was there? Who else but U.S. star Landon Donovan, exceptional because of the fact that he is, beyond doubt, the closest thing this country has ever had to a soccer superstar. Donovan kicked. The ball sailed into the net. The star was immediately mobbed by teammates.
Now how's that for an ending?
Those who look back at the 2010 World Cup will remember it as the Cup in which Landon Donovan finally demonstrated some leadership in the clutch. His thrilling goal sent the U.S. to the next round, and forever preserved a place for him in history.
Sure the U.S. was immediately taken down by Ghana, but the fact remains that they did well, especially for being one of the few countries in the world that practically ignores the game.
In the spirit of our indifference towards soccer I'm going to wrap up this article now. Great job, my fellow Americans. And don't worry, we still have hundreds of other sports in which we can crush the competition.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Strasburg leaves us speechless
The NBA Finals were on last night, but who cares? Most of America was focused on a much more challenging and much less image-dominated sport, which last night showed why it has been called, for so many years, America's pastime.
The game has been hurting lately. The NFL's continual rise to success has shunned most other sports, and thanks to ESPN's overdose of NBA coverage, baseball's now having a hard time holding out as America's second biggest sport. A discovery that over 100 of the games players, including some of its best, were juiced up on steroids doesn't help either.
So how does the MLB respond to this? In the same way that the NHL responded to the lockout: by the emergence of a young superstar who plays for the nation's capital. In the NHL, that man is Alex Ovechkin, a 2-time MVP who plays for the Washington Capitals.
In the MLB, they've been hoping that that man will be Stephen Strasburg, a pitcher out of San Diego State who last night was called up to make his Major League debut as a Washington National.
To say that Strasburg shined is, well, the understatement of the century. The young star was phenomenal. Seven innings, four hits, two earned runs, no walks, and, oh yeah, fourteen strikeouts.
Fourteen.
How crazy is that? Actually, it shouldn't be that surprising. After dominating the minor leagues after dominating college after dominating the Olympics, I guess it's only natural that the guy would dominate the major leagues. Curt Schilling said that Strasburg could be the best pitcher on baseball on the day he arrives. I'm not sure that you can say that he was last night, but he sure was right up there.
What more is there to say? The performance speaks for itself, and leaves us speechless.
The game has been hurting lately. The NFL's continual rise to success has shunned most other sports, and thanks to ESPN's overdose of NBA coverage, baseball's now having a hard time holding out as America's second biggest sport. A discovery that over 100 of the games players, including some of its best, were juiced up on steroids doesn't help either.
So how does the MLB respond to this? In the same way that the NHL responded to the lockout: by the emergence of a young superstar who plays for the nation's capital. In the NHL, that man is Alex Ovechkin, a 2-time MVP who plays for the Washington Capitals.
In the MLB, they've been hoping that that man will be Stephen Strasburg, a pitcher out of San Diego State who last night was called up to make his Major League debut as a Washington National.
To say that Strasburg shined is, well, the understatement of the century. The young star was phenomenal. Seven innings, four hits, two earned runs, no walks, and, oh yeah, fourteen strikeouts.
Fourteen.
How crazy is that? Actually, it shouldn't be that surprising. After dominating the minor leagues after dominating college after dominating the Olympics, I guess it's only natural that the guy would dominate the major leagues. Curt Schilling said that Strasburg could be the best pitcher on baseball on the day he arrives. I'm not sure that you can say that he was last night, but he sure was right up there.
What more is there to say? The performance speaks for itself, and leaves us speechless.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Hey commish, where's YOUR class?
Armando Gallaraga knew that the runner was out.
He knew that that was the 27th out of his perfect game.
Jim Joyce paused for a moment, then gave the safe signal. Fans cried out in fury. Everyone was stunned. Gallaraga's face bore a look of shock for about a second. What happened next was unthinkable.
He didn't swear. He didn't shout. He didn't make a gesture to the ump. He didn't say a word. Instead, Gallaraga did the one thing that we would not expect any professional athlete in the world to do if placed in his frustrating situation.
He smiled.
After the game, when we can assume, almost beyond doubt, that replays had been viewed again and again, Gallaraga was interviewed. This was his chance. He had the opportunity to create even more of a stir than the one already created by criticizing Joyce's call. He didn't. Instead, Gallaraga defended the umpire, stating that "Nobody's perfect" and making a point of the apology that Joyce issued to him. Gallaraga was not angry. He showed up to the interview looking calm, cool, even happy.
Happy?! After losing a perfect game? What's wrong with this guy? He is a professional athlete playing in the United States. Smiling and forgiving isn't how it's done here. When you lose your tennis match, you beat your racket and make a death threat to the line judge. When your goal gets waved off, you give the official a mouthful. If someone takes a cheap shot at you, you fight back and then use your postgame interview as a chance to bash them.
In a sports world where temper-tantrums thrive, Gallaraga handled his situation very well.
Jim Joyce showed class as well. After viewing the replays, Joyce issued a tearful apology in which he admitted that he blew the call and stated, "I just cost that kid a perfect game."
After Gallaraga and Joyce did their part, a third man had the opportunity to show some class, and, while he was at it, some brains and some guts.
But he didn't.
Bud Selig, commissioner of Major League Baseball, had the power to review and, if he decided to, overturn the call. For a while it looked like he might. But after a few hours of hype, all hope vanished when Selig stated that the call would stand, despite the fact that Joyce himself admitted it was wrong. Selig did say that the league would think about adding instant replay for more than just home runs.
For years, professional football has far outshined other sports in both ticket sales and TV ratings. Part of that has to do with the fact that people enjoy the fast-moving game. Part of it has to do with the once-a-week, 16-game schedule. But the guy in charge also has an impact.
Roger Goodell differs greatly from Selig. Goodell is not afraid to make a move. That's what makes him a great commissioner. Selig, on the other hand, seems to be too afraid and timid to take action in any situation. When complaints surfaced about the unfairness of the overtime system, Goodell changed it almost immediately. If only the same could be said about Selig and instant replay. Rather than submit to the millions of cries for it, Selig has attempted to use the same strategy he used to deal with steroid issues: Ignore it.
Sure, we finally did get somewhere now, but only as the result of a ridiculous incident that cost a pitcher a perfect game. And remember, nowhere in his statement did Selig state that they would expand replay. If Goodell were in charge, chances are that he would've already expanded the system to prevent this kind of thing from happening. But he's not.
Instead, baseball is stuck with a commissioner every bit as clueless as the NHL's Gary Bettman. Selig's argument for not allowing replay for more than just home runs is weak. His argument for not giving Gallaraga the perfect game is weaker. In doing so, the only people Selig satisfies are the handful of diehards who believe that one should not "alter the course of history".
Of course, there's the people who say "Well, what about all the other games?" But if that's the kind of logic we should use, then I guess that's cool. While we're at it, let's ban the use of helmets in professional hockey. I mean they're great for preventing injuries and all, but what about all those players who never got to wear them?
For a brief moment, there was hope that the MLB commissioner would follow Joyce and Gallaraga's leads. Then it vanished.
Curse you, Mr. Selig.
He knew that that was the 27th out of his perfect game.
Jim Joyce paused for a moment, then gave the safe signal. Fans cried out in fury. Everyone was stunned. Gallaraga's face bore a look of shock for about a second. What happened next was unthinkable.
He didn't swear. He didn't shout. He didn't make a gesture to the ump. He didn't say a word. Instead, Gallaraga did the one thing that we would not expect any professional athlete in the world to do if placed in his frustrating situation.
He smiled.
After the game, when we can assume, almost beyond doubt, that replays had been viewed again and again, Gallaraga was interviewed. This was his chance. He had the opportunity to create even more of a stir than the one already created by criticizing Joyce's call. He didn't. Instead, Gallaraga defended the umpire, stating that "Nobody's perfect" and making a point of the apology that Joyce issued to him. Gallaraga was not angry. He showed up to the interview looking calm, cool, even happy.
Happy?! After losing a perfect game? What's wrong with this guy? He is a professional athlete playing in the United States. Smiling and forgiving isn't how it's done here. When you lose your tennis match, you beat your racket and make a death threat to the line judge. When your goal gets waved off, you give the official a mouthful. If someone takes a cheap shot at you, you fight back and then use your postgame interview as a chance to bash them.
In a sports world where temper-tantrums thrive, Gallaraga handled his situation very well.
Jim Joyce showed class as well. After viewing the replays, Joyce issued a tearful apology in which he admitted that he blew the call and stated, "I just cost that kid a perfect game."
After Gallaraga and Joyce did their part, a third man had the opportunity to show some class, and, while he was at it, some brains and some guts.
But he didn't.
Bud Selig, commissioner of Major League Baseball, had the power to review and, if he decided to, overturn the call. For a while it looked like he might. But after a few hours of hype, all hope vanished when Selig stated that the call would stand, despite the fact that Joyce himself admitted it was wrong. Selig did say that the league would think about adding instant replay for more than just home runs.
For years, professional football has far outshined other sports in both ticket sales and TV ratings. Part of that has to do with the fact that people enjoy the fast-moving game. Part of it has to do with the once-a-week, 16-game schedule. But the guy in charge also has an impact.
Roger Goodell differs greatly from Selig. Goodell is not afraid to make a move. That's what makes him a great commissioner. Selig, on the other hand, seems to be too afraid and timid to take action in any situation. When complaints surfaced about the unfairness of the overtime system, Goodell changed it almost immediately. If only the same could be said about Selig and instant replay. Rather than submit to the millions of cries for it, Selig has attempted to use the same strategy he used to deal with steroid issues: Ignore it.
Sure, we finally did get somewhere now, but only as the result of a ridiculous incident that cost a pitcher a perfect game. And remember, nowhere in his statement did Selig state that they would expand replay. If Goodell were in charge, chances are that he would've already expanded the system to prevent this kind of thing from happening. But he's not.
Instead, baseball is stuck with a commissioner every bit as clueless as the NHL's Gary Bettman. Selig's argument for not allowing replay for more than just home runs is weak. His argument for not giving Gallaraga the perfect game is weaker. In doing so, the only people Selig satisfies are the handful of diehards who believe that one should not "alter the course of history".
Of course, there's the people who say "Well, what about all the other games?" But if that's the kind of logic we should use, then I guess that's cool. While we're at it, let's ban the use of helmets in professional hockey. I mean they're great for preventing injuries and all, but what about all those players who never got to wear them?
For a brief moment, there was hope that the MLB commissioner would follow Joyce and Gallaraga's leads. Then it vanished.
Curse you, Mr. Selig.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Evolution
It is the year 2160. A group of tourists are visiting the Museum of Sports History. A tour guide leads them to an exhibit labeled, "NHL Referee: early 21st century".
GUIDE: And here we have a former NHL official. As labeled, we are fairly sure that he refereed sometime in the early 21st century, around the time which critics now describe as "The end of fair play". This was right before the NHL decided to officially revolutionize the referee's job, beginning to make it the way that it is today. Any questions?
TOURIST: How did the position work before the NHL changed it?
GUIDE: As many of you probably already know, there used to be a time when everything was not predetermined. Back then, teams relied on things such as coaching, management, momentum, and luck. Everything was totally unpredictable.
TOURIST: Sounds chaotic. Why did they let it happen that way?
GUIDE: Back then a lot of people held different beliefs than they do today. Most fans felt that the NHL and its officials should get out of the way and let the players and coaches battle it out. Their idea was that if the games were not interfered with, the best team would win. That's why, if any of you have watched old film from those days, you will often hear fans booing referees' calls. Announcers often used to protest by saying things such as "Let the boys play."
TOURIST: When and how did they finally decide to change things?
GUIDE: Well, historical evidence gives us reason to believe that the officials began rigging games in secret a little while before the NHL decided to officially change their job description. Then came 2010, which many describe as "The beginning of the end". A look at a Western Conference Semifinal game between the Detroit Red Wings and the San Jose Sharks, which is now one of the most famous of all time, provides almost indisputable evidence. Though neither the NHL nor the officials ever confessed to it, we can be almost certain that the refs were under direct orders from Mr. Gary Bettman, the commissioner at that time, to make sure the Red Wings were quickly eliminated. They did a good job, too.
TOURIST: That was part of the Red Wing Conspiracy, right?
GUIDE: You know your history. In 2008, the NHL was frustrated and furious to watch their "promo boy" (a common nickname critics of the referee evolution used for Sidney Crosby) be defeated by a European-dominated team that somehow made its way into the playoffs just about every year. They thought a lowered salary cap could end the reign by limiting the talent that they could acquire. When that didn't work, they sought help from the men in stripes.
TOURIST: Sorry if this is a little off-topic, but what's a salary cap?
GUIDE: Salary caps, as I mentioned earlier, were the NHL's way of limiting the talent that each team could acquire. Back then, players went to different teams asking for money. The general managers, or GMs as they were often called, were in charge of figuring out contracts and trying to get the best players available. Often the highest bidder got the player. The cap limited each team's spending money. The NHL hoped that that would prevent teams like the Red Wings from stocking up, but it didn't work. Today, of course, the players and teams no longer have to worry about such nonsense, as the NHL now assigns each player to a certain team based on what they feel would create the best balance. They also pick their payroll for them. In doing so they have also eliminated the need for agents and general managers, which means more money can be spent on the players and stadiums.
TOURIST: Going back to Sidney Crosby, how did he manage to get around back when the NHL wasn't there to give him the tools to be the greatest player in the world?
GUIDE: To be honest, most would agree that he struggled. Russian superstar Alexander Ovechkin often challenged the notion that there were none greater than Crosby, not only by consistently outscoring him, but also by adopting a completely different, and much more reckless style. He laid punishing hits on those who dared touch the puck. He even did that to Crosby. This set of actions ultimately led to the NHL's decision to ban Ovechkin for life in 2012. Though many were glad to see the back of him, the move also outraged many. The NHL, of course, used their favorite way of dealing with things at the time, which is today described as the "Policy of Ignorance". Instead of worrying about the Ovechkin outrage, they concentrated on Crosby. Just a few years later, the commissioner passed the Crosby Protection Plan, the first ever plan that called for officials to begin favoring certain players. That was truly the beginning of the referee evolution. And look how far we've gotten! How the games work out is now determined by the NHL and its refs. Thus we can assure for the most entertaining games possible!
TOURIST: I suppose we have them to thank. By the way, if fans and experts from the early 21st century were here to see this, what would they say?
GUIDE: Well, believe it or not, there would probably be plenty of critics who would strongly object to this. The NHL's decision to begin controlling outcomes angered many people. The Red Wings decided to drop out of the league in 2015, after player assignment began. Between the Red Wing Conspiracy and Oveckin's ban, chaos erupted. For a while it looked the NHL might close its doors and never reopen, but enough fans who hated the Red Wings and Ovechkin remained, and the league was able to build off of Crosby hype and rebuild itself. Still, there are plenty of fans who would say that they miss the "Fair Play Era" and wish the NHL would allow the players to "determine the games themselves".
Any more questions? .....No? OK let's move on then. Coming up next we will see an MLB player, BEFORE steroid use was made legal.
GUIDE: And here we have a former NHL official. As labeled, we are fairly sure that he refereed sometime in the early 21st century, around the time which critics now describe as "The end of fair play". This was right before the NHL decided to officially revolutionize the referee's job, beginning to make it the way that it is today. Any questions?
TOURIST: How did the position work before the NHL changed it?
GUIDE: As many of you probably already know, there used to be a time when everything was not predetermined. Back then, teams relied on things such as coaching, management, momentum, and luck. Everything was totally unpredictable.
TOURIST: Sounds chaotic. Why did they let it happen that way?
GUIDE: Back then a lot of people held different beliefs than they do today. Most fans felt that the NHL and its officials should get out of the way and let the players and coaches battle it out. Their idea was that if the games were not interfered with, the best team would win. That's why, if any of you have watched old film from those days, you will often hear fans booing referees' calls. Announcers often used to protest by saying things such as "Let the boys play."
TOURIST: When and how did they finally decide to change things?
GUIDE: Well, historical evidence gives us reason to believe that the officials began rigging games in secret a little while before the NHL decided to officially change their job description. Then came 2010, which many describe as "The beginning of the end". A look at a Western Conference Semifinal game between the Detroit Red Wings and the San Jose Sharks, which is now one of the most famous of all time, provides almost indisputable evidence. Though neither the NHL nor the officials ever confessed to it, we can be almost certain that the refs were under direct orders from Mr. Gary Bettman, the commissioner at that time, to make sure the Red Wings were quickly eliminated. They did a good job, too.
TOURIST: That was part of the Red Wing Conspiracy, right?
GUIDE: You know your history. In 2008, the NHL was frustrated and furious to watch their "promo boy" (a common nickname critics of the referee evolution used for Sidney Crosby) be defeated by a European-dominated team that somehow made its way into the playoffs just about every year. They thought a lowered salary cap could end the reign by limiting the talent that they could acquire. When that didn't work, they sought help from the men in stripes.
TOURIST: Sorry if this is a little off-topic, but what's a salary cap?
GUIDE: Salary caps, as I mentioned earlier, were the NHL's way of limiting the talent that each team could acquire. Back then, players went to different teams asking for money. The general managers, or GMs as they were often called, were in charge of figuring out contracts and trying to get the best players available. Often the highest bidder got the player. The cap limited each team's spending money. The NHL hoped that that would prevent teams like the Red Wings from stocking up, but it didn't work. Today, of course, the players and teams no longer have to worry about such nonsense, as the NHL now assigns each player to a certain team based on what they feel would create the best balance. They also pick their payroll for them. In doing so they have also eliminated the need for agents and general managers, which means more money can be spent on the players and stadiums.
TOURIST: Going back to Sidney Crosby, how did he manage to get around back when the NHL wasn't there to give him the tools to be the greatest player in the world?
GUIDE: To be honest, most would agree that he struggled. Russian superstar Alexander Ovechkin often challenged the notion that there were none greater than Crosby, not only by consistently outscoring him, but also by adopting a completely different, and much more reckless style. He laid punishing hits on those who dared touch the puck. He even did that to Crosby. This set of actions ultimately led to the NHL's decision to ban Ovechkin for life in 2012. Though many were glad to see the back of him, the move also outraged many. The NHL, of course, used their favorite way of dealing with things at the time, which is today described as the "Policy of Ignorance". Instead of worrying about the Ovechkin outrage, they concentrated on Crosby. Just a few years later, the commissioner passed the Crosby Protection Plan, the first ever plan that called for officials to begin favoring certain players. That was truly the beginning of the referee evolution. And look how far we've gotten! How the games work out is now determined by the NHL and its refs. Thus we can assure for the most entertaining games possible!
TOURIST: I suppose we have them to thank. By the way, if fans and experts from the early 21st century were here to see this, what would they say?
GUIDE: Well, believe it or not, there would probably be plenty of critics who would strongly object to this. The NHL's decision to begin controlling outcomes angered many people. The Red Wings decided to drop out of the league in 2015, after player assignment began. Between the Red Wing Conspiracy and Oveckin's ban, chaos erupted. For a while it looked the NHL might close its doors and never reopen, but enough fans who hated the Red Wings and Ovechkin remained, and the league was able to build off of Crosby hype and rebuild itself. Still, there are plenty of fans who would say that they miss the "Fair Play Era" and wish the NHL would allow the players to "determine the games themselves".
Any more questions? .....No? OK let's move on then. Coming up next we will see an MLB player, BEFORE steroid use was made legal.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Nothing to lose
3-0.
Is it really happening? Can it really be happening?
3-0.
It seems like a strange dream. A nightmare, to be exact.
3-0
Fans can't believe it. What in the name of Gary Bettman happened?
3-0. That's the status of the Detroit Red Wings's series against the San Jose Sharks. The Sharks have won all three games, each by a score of 4-3. Strange, huh? Not only is it weird to be defeated by the same score three times in a row, but it's even stranger to see the Red Wings, the winningest NHL team of the 21st century, down 3-0 in a series.
It's time. The Red Wings started in a deep hole, and they keep getting handed shovels. Some are from the men in stripes. Some are from the Sharks. The rest are from themselves. If things don't change soon, we'll find ourselves waiting till next season for the Wings to return to the Cup. Momentum must shift.
Now, before I go any further, let me tell you something: I love Jimmy Howard. He is one of the best goalies that Detroit has ever had. He is a Calder Trophy nominee, and, in my opinion, the best of the three. He has played phenomenally all year.
Now, with that said, I believe that it is time to pull the rookie out and go with experience. It's time for Chris Osgood to step out of the mentor role and back between the pipes. I'm not blaming the losses on Howard. He played decent in Game 1 and pretty good in Game 2. He wasn't all that bad in Game 3 either.
But this isn't about good or bad, or even about blame. It's about turning around a team that is trailing 3-0 in a series. That type of comeback is exceptionally tough. How do you pull it off? There's only one way: change dramatically. Switching goalies ought to do the trick. Pulling Howard for Osgood would be a game-changer. Even if Osgood does not play as well as Howard, the simple act of change could shift the momentum right back in Detroit's favor.
It might work out; it might blow up in Mike Babcock's face. If it works out, the Wings will be headed back on their way to the Conference Finals, and, hopefully, the Stanley Cup. If it blows up in Babcock's face, who cares? The Wings would likely have been on their way to failure soon anyway.
Putting in Osgood would be far from waving the white flag of surrender. Let's not forget experience. Ozzie won four Stanley Cups with the Red Wings. He put on a performance that likely would have earned him a Conn Smythe Trophy had the Red Wings not fallen to Pittsburgh in the Final. He has shown, time and time again, that he knows how to play when he needs to.
Ozzie may not be the better of the two goalies, but that doesn't matter right now. What matters is the momentum. Right now it's certainly not on Detroit's side. They're tired. They're frustrated. They're losing hope.
3-0.
How do you get a team that feels that way back on track? Coach Mike Babcock needs to put in Osgood not because he's necessarily the better goalie, but because it is his only chance of getting his team to play the way that they need to.
Hopefully I'll turn on Thursday's game and hear a familiar old chant.
OZ-ZIE! OZ-ZIE! OZ-ZIE! OZ-ZIE!
Is it really happening? Can it really be happening?
3-0.
It seems like a strange dream. A nightmare, to be exact.
3-0
Fans can't believe it. What in the name of Gary Bettman happened?
3-0. That's the status of the Detroit Red Wings's series against the San Jose Sharks. The Sharks have won all three games, each by a score of 4-3. Strange, huh? Not only is it weird to be defeated by the same score three times in a row, but it's even stranger to see the Red Wings, the winningest NHL team of the 21st century, down 3-0 in a series.
It's time. The Red Wings started in a deep hole, and they keep getting handed shovels. Some are from the men in stripes. Some are from the Sharks. The rest are from themselves. If things don't change soon, we'll find ourselves waiting till next season for the Wings to return to the Cup. Momentum must shift.
Now, before I go any further, let me tell you something: I love Jimmy Howard. He is one of the best goalies that Detroit has ever had. He is a Calder Trophy nominee, and, in my opinion, the best of the three. He has played phenomenally all year.
Now, with that said, I believe that it is time to pull the rookie out and go with experience. It's time for Chris Osgood to step out of the mentor role and back between the pipes. I'm not blaming the losses on Howard. He played decent in Game 1 and pretty good in Game 2. He wasn't all that bad in Game 3 either.
But this isn't about good or bad, or even about blame. It's about turning around a team that is trailing 3-0 in a series. That type of comeback is exceptionally tough. How do you pull it off? There's only one way: change dramatically. Switching goalies ought to do the trick. Pulling Howard for Osgood would be a game-changer. Even if Osgood does not play as well as Howard, the simple act of change could shift the momentum right back in Detroit's favor.
It might work out; it might blow up in Mike Babcock's face. If it works out, the Wings will be headed back on their way to the Conference Finals, and, hopefully, the Stanley Cup. If it blows up in Babcock's face, who cares? The Wings would likely have been on their way to failure soon anyway.
Putting in Osgood would be far from waving the white flag of surrender. Let's not forget experience. Ozzie won four Stanley Cups with the Red Wings. He put on a performance that likely would have earned him a Conn Smythe Trophy had the Red Wings not fallen to Pittsburgh in the Final. He has shown, time and time again, that he knows how to play when he needs to.
Ozzie may not be the better of the two goalies, but that doesn't matter right now. What matters is the momentum. Right now it's certainly not on Detroit's side. They're tired. They're frustrated. They're losing hope.
3-0.
How do you get a team that feels that way back on track? Coach Mike Babcock needs to put in Osgood not because he's necessarily the better goalie, but because it is his only chance of getting his team to play the way that they need to.
Hopefully I'll turn on Thursday's game and hear a familiar old chant.
OZ-ZIE! OZ-ZIE! OZ-ZIE! OZ-ZIE!
Monday, April 19, 2010
Now, soon, or never
After winning game 2 on the road to even the series, most teams would hope to turn around and take game 3 at home as well.
But the Red Wings were unsuccessful in doing so. Now, I may get my fair share of cries and screams for saying this, but the Red Wings lost because of two things: officiating and goaltending. By officiating, I am referring to the fact that the Wings were cheated out of a goal yet again because some official decided to lose sight of the puck.
But forget the officiating for now. There is nothing that can be done about that. Goaltending, on the other hand, can be fixed. Mike Babcock basically has three options: 1. He can pull Jimmy Howard for Chris Osgood right away. 2. He can let Howard start game 4 and make a decision based on his performance. Or 3. He can decide that Howard is sticking in net, regardless of game 4 performance, and probably leave him in for the remainder of the playoffs.
The last option is not recommended. For Babcock to do so would not only make himself look like a stubborn mule, but would also neglect the playoff experience of backup Chris Osgood. Not to mention the mental damage it could inflict upon Howard.
So that leaves us with options 1 and 2. Option 2 may appear to be the way to go, but maybe not. Coach Bruce Boudreau of the Washington Capitals wasted no time at all. After a quick 2 goals in game 2, Theodore was riding the pine in favor of Varlamov. And it worked.
The argument for Howard is that, for the most part, the goals were the fault of lousy defensive plays. That argument would prove effective in the regular season, there is no doubt about that. But this isn't the regular season. It's the playoffs. The playoffs is when you expect your goalie to step up, at least from time to time. Howard failed to do so on Sunday afternoon.
And it's not as if benching Howard would be the equivalent of waving the white flag of surrender. Chris Osgood has shown, time and time again, that the playoffs are his time to shine. He could prove to be more than effective in goal.
But then again, maybe Babcock does need to give Howard one more chance. He was playing fairly well before game 3, after all. Perhaps he can recover. It's definitely not out of the question. Pulling him out right away may not be the answer.
The arguments on both sides are legit. Overall, I would lean toward option 1 if it were my team. But it's not. It's a decision that Mike Babcock will have to make, and it's a reason that I'm glad that I am not Mike Babcock. Whatever decision he makes, he will be the target of criticism, you can be sure of that. Yank Howard now and he'll be accused of jumping the gun. Let him start on Tuesday and they'll question whether he is being too easy on the rookie.
Whatever the decision, Babcock better be right.
After all, the Detroit Red Wings season will probably depend on it.
But the Red Wings were unsuccessful in doing so. Now, I may get my fair share of cries and screams for saying this, but the Red Wings lost because of two things: officiating and goaltending. By officiating, I am referring to the fact that the Wings were cheated out of a goal yet again because some official decided to lose sight of the puck.
But forget the officiating for now. There is nothing that can be done about that. Goaltending, on the other hand, can be fixed. Mike Babcock basically has three options: 1. He can pull Jimmy Howard for Chris Osgood right away. 2. He can let Howard start game 4 and make a decision based on his performance. Or 3. He can decide that Howard is sticking in net, regardless of game 4 performance, and probably leave him in for the remainder of the playoffs.
The last option is not recommended. For Babcock to do so would not only make himself look like a stubborn mule, but would also neglect the playoff experience of backup Chris Osgood. Not to mention the mental damage it could inflict upon Howard.
So that leaves us with options 1 and 2. Option 2 may appear to be the way to go, but maybe not. Coach Bruce Boudreau of the Washington Capitals wasted no time at all. After a quick 2 goals in game 2, Theodore was riding the pine in favor of Varlamov. And it worked.
The argument for Howard is that, for the most part, the goals were the fault of lousy defensive plays. That argument would prove effective in the regular season, there is no doubt about that. But this isn't the regular season. It's the playoffs. The playoffs is when you expect your goalie to step up, at least from time to time. Howard failed to do so on Sunday afternoon.
And it's not as if benching Howard would be the equivalent of waving the white flag of surrender. Chris Osgood has shown, time and time again, that the playoffs are his time to shine. He could prove to be more than effective in goal.
But then again, maybe Babcock does need to give Howard one more chance. He was playing fairly well before game 3, after all. Perhaps he can recover. It's definitely not out of the question. Pulling him out right away may not be the answer.
The arguments on both sides are legit. Overall, I would lean toward option 1 if it were my team. But it's not. It's a decision that Mike Babcock will have to make, and it's a reason that I'm glad that I am not Mike Babcock. Whatever decision he makes, he will be the target of criticism, you can be sure of that. Yank Howard now and he'll be accused of jumping the gun. Let him start on Tuesday and they'll question whether he is being too easy on the rookie.
Whatever the decision, Babcock better be right.
After all, the Detroit Red Wings season will probably depend on it.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Red Wings show signs of resurgence
It wasn't the fact that they picked up 3 points.
It was how they picked up the 3 points. On Friday and Saturday, the finally healthy Red Wings picked up a win and an overtime loss by doing something they've been doing ever since they became a powerful empire: Executing the Impossible.
Tie the game with 0.2 seconds left? That's Red Wings hockey. Come from behind 2-0 two nights in a row? That's Red Wings hockey. Score twice in 5 seconds? That's Red Wings hockey. Win the game with less than a second left in overtime? That's- well, you get the idea.
Up until after the Olympic Break, the Red Wings were nursing injuries and having trouble putting the puck in the net. Now Johan Franzen, Niklas Kronwall, Valteri Flippula, Tomas Holmstrom, Jonathan Ericsson, and even Andreas Lilja have all returned, and so has the Red Wings' biggest weapon of all- the Impossible.
The trip out to Western Canada was perhaps the best example, but it wasn't the only one. Score 4 goals in 6 minutes to beat the Chicago Blackhawks, and people are gonna start to notice. The Red Wings are finally starting to calm down their fans- a little.
But there is no reason to feel overly comfortable. The Red Wings are currently 8th in a league that allows eight teams to make the playoffs, and the way 9th place Calgary is playing, the Wings will have to continue their hot streak.
And there are still many things in need of improvement. The Red Wings must begin playing hard for the whole game, or at least most of it. Lines 1 (Datsyuk, Franzen, and Holmstrom) and 3 (Helm, Draper, and Eaves) are playing great, and the fourth line is doing all right for, well, a fourth line. But Henrik Zetterberg, as well as linemates Valteri Flippula and Dan Cleary, needs to start scoring.
The defense is starting to get involved in scoring again, but they are not all the way there yet. Rafalski and Lidstrom are getting the job done, but it's about time that Stuart, Kronwall, Ericsson, and the others starting generating some more offense like they are capable of doing.
The Red Wings are nearly there, and maybe they are getting even closer. In addition to Zetterberg, Valteri Flippula finally found the net yesterday. Happy Birthday, my favorite Finnish player. There is your gift.
Now it's time for you and the other slackers to start giving to us.
It was how they picked up the 3 points. On Friday and Saturday, the finally healthy Red Wings picked up a win and an overtime loss by doing something they've been doing ever since they became a powerful empire: Executing the Impossible.
Tie the game with 0.2 seconds left? That's Red Wings hockey. Come from behind 2-0 two nights in a row? That's Red Wings hockey. Score twice in 5 seconds? That's Red Wings hockey. Win the game with less than a second left in overtime? That's- well, you get the idea.
Up until after the Olympic Break, the Red Wings were nursing injuries and having trouble putting the puck in the net. Now Johan Franzen, Niklas Kronwall, Valteri Flippula, Tomas Holmstrom, Jonathan Ericsson, and even Andreas Lilja have all returned, and so has the Red Wings' biggest weapon of all- the Impossible.
The trip out to Western Canada was perhaps the best example, but it wasn't the only one. Score 4 goals in 6 minutes to beat the Chicago Blackhawks, and people are gonna start to notice. The Red Wings are finally starting to calm down their fans- a little.
But there is no reason to feel overly comfortable. The Red Wings are currently 8th in a league that allows eight teams to make the playoffs, and the way 9th place Calgary is playing, the Wings will have to continue their hot streak.
And there are still many things in need of improvement. The Red Wings must begin playing hard for the whole game, or at least most of it. Lines 1 (Datsyuk, Franzen, and Holmstrom) and 3 (Helm, Draper, and Eaves) are playing great, and the fourth line is doing all right for, well, a fourth line. But Henrik Zetterberg, as well as linemates Valteri Flippula and Dan Cleary, needs to start scoring.
The defense is starting to get involved in scoring again, but they are not all the way there yet. Rafalski and Lidstrom are getting the job done, but it's about time that Stuart, Kronwall, Ericsson, and the others starting generating some more offense like they are capable of doing.
The Red Wings are nearly there, and maybe they are getting even closer. In addition to Zetterberg, Valteri Flippula finally found the net yesterday. Happy Birthday, my favorite Finnish player. There is your gift.
Now it's time for you and the other slackers to start giving to us.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)