Stanley Cup: game one recap

By Scott Antoszewski

I remember thinking as I watched the Olympic hockey tournament back in February, “This is great hockey, I hope the NHL can live up to this level of hockey when it starts again.” Honestly, the last couple months of the season were entertaining, but not nearly as entertaining as the Olympic tournament… until Friday night.

Game One between the Flyers and the Blackhawks was the most entertaining game of the season in my opinion. The NHL needs more games like that to draw in new fans. The game was high paced, end to end, and full of excitement, especially offensive excitement, which is exactly what the league wants. The skill players got to show their stuff, we got to see Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, and Patrick Sharp lighting up both of the Flyers goaltenders. The Flyers responded with Daniel Briere, Simon Gagne and even Aaron Asham putting pucks past a rookie goalie, but came up just one goal short.

The old Chicago Stadium was nicknamed ‘The Madhouse on Madison’ and I noticed they put a sign up facing of the upper deck that read exactly that. The environment in that building was amazing, and I can only imagine how loud it must have been. The hockey fan in me was dying to be there, even though the ‘Hawks aren’t my team. The ‘Hawks sent almost 22,000 fans home happy. Personally, I can’t wait to see if game two is more of the same.

"Geargate" resolved

By Scott Antoszewski

It only took two days after hockey Canada and Reebok posted a $10,000 reward for Sidney Crosby’s missing glove and stick to be “found”. The official release stated that the equipment was misplaced, one glove was supposedly in Patrice Bergeron’s bag and they weren’t saying where the stick ended up. It just seems fishy to me. I don’t think we will ever know if the “no questions asked” reward was paid.

I did learn that a fan in the front row had one of Crosby’s gloves, as it flew over the glass during the celebration. The fan returned the glove shortly after the game. Look for that gear in the Hockey Hall of Fame in the near future.

"Geargate"

By Scott Antoszewski

I know, I probably could have come up with a better headline, but as Americans we need a good “gate” controversy every now and then.

Sidney Crosby’s stick and one of his gloves from the gold medal game in Vancouver have been missing for almost a week and a half. Hockey Canada and Reebok want the stick and glove back badly enough to post a $10,000 reward for their return and a no questions asked policy.

I found myself wondering… would that be enough money for me to return them if I had them? I dabble in the sports memorabilia market enough to know that anything that has Crosby’s name on it has value. Add to that the fact that it is game used memorabilia and the value increases dramatically. The issue I have with taking the glove and stick from the gold medal game is how you prove to a perspective buyer that this is authentic?

Companies like Steiner Sports and Upper Deck take extensive measures to make sure that the items they sell as “game used” or “authentic” really are. Does someone really think that a collector will part with thousands of dollars for what someone might claim to be the “gold medal game used glove and stick” by Sidney Crosby without proof?

My answer to the question I posed earlier is yes (see paragraph two sentence one). I would turn in the equipment, take the $10,000 and run like hell. I would feel obligated to spend at least part of the money on something autographed by Alex Ovechkin. The Caps fan in me would feel some kind of justice had been done there.

Final Olympic Medal Count

Canada's goal, as the home town team, was to walk away with 40 medals...at least 10 gold. Well, the the U.S.A. was the closest to the 40, but Canada smashed the gold medal mark with 14 of them.

This Week's Down and Dirty

By Dan Rodgers

This is going to be a new once a week segment that will involve anyone in any "sport" that is performing extremely well or horribly. You might recognize it from the segment I had during the NFL season.

Week 1:

The Down

Gilbert Arenas (WAS) - N/A

Arenas' gun show has put him out of commission recently so even though it has nothing to do with the past week, he stupidity will live on for the entire season. He needs to leave a few things: 1) He was a highly touted ball player and kids looked up to him 2) He is always in the spot light and needs to control himself 3) He should know better than to do something like that thinking he won't get caught or is above the law. Moron...

The Dirty

Jarome Iginla (CAN) - 5 Goals 2 Assists

Iginla had a monster first game of the Olympics and didn't cool off there. He had the game winning assist in the gold medal game against the U.S. He had a sensational tournament and played well in every game. He easily gets my vote this week and congrats to Canada for winning the gold...unfortunately...good shot Crosby...

On a side note: The U.S. did not "win" the silver medal, they lost the gold and were given the silver as a consolation. That is just clarification for people saying earlier today that we won the silver...

Rodgers That

Golden Match-Up

By Abe

Tension is thick as we head into the gold medal game, Canada vs. USA. This should be a very good game with both teams being lead by strong goalie play, Ryan Miller for USA and Roberto Luongo for Canada. In their previous match up USA took the victory 5-3, the loss cost Canada's goalie his starting job. Even though Marty Brodeur is considered by many to be one of, if not the best goalie of all time,Luongo is a very capable goalie. Not to mention he has won both starts since taking over. This time it is winner take all, and with both teams having strong goalies and powerful offenses, this will be one to watch.

Will Canada be able to take the gold in both men's and women's hockey or will we be able to avenge the women's loss?

My Prediction: USA 4 Canada 2

2010 Olympic Medal Count

By Dan Rodgers

Hey everyone, this is an Olympic special just to give you a medal count update. There is about a week left and the U.S. currently holds a commanding six medal lead over Germany.

1. U.S.A. 24
   
2. Germany 18
   
3. Norway 12
4. Canada 9
   
5. Korea 9

There will be a final report once the games are over and we will show the final medal count.

Rodgers That

What makes an athlete?

By Dan Rodgers

NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson was named the 2009 AP Male Athlete of the Year.

Johnson received 42 votes. Tennis star Roger Federer came in second place with 30 votes and Olympic sprinter Usain Bolt came in third with 29. They were the only three to receive double digit votes.

The biggest problem I have with this is that race car driving is A) not a sport and B) you don't have to be athletic or an athlete to compete in NASCAR. Take Tony Stewart for example, this guy is a fat slob and is a beast race car driver. Now, you might look at David Ortiz and say he is not an athlete. I agree, but at least he has to have hand-eye cordination and such and not just turn left all day long. Besides, he would never win the award. At least R-Fed is an athlete. Usain Bolt is a monster but sprinting isn't anything special.

Tiger Woods, Kobe Bryant and Albert Pujols tied for fourth with nine votes each.

So this was just me venting a little bit because I have a problem with the race car driver winning an award dealing with being an ATHLETE.

Rodgers That