Sports Can Be Beautiful

Ah sports. Like any other form of entertainment, it can be beautiful, and beautifully frustrating at the same time. Sports is a great thing and, again like any other form of entertainment, can bring out a wide range of emotions. From anger and sadness to beautiful and happy and everything else in between.

Sports has a unique ability to bring families together. We've seen it happen where parents and their kids can bond over the game in ways that other forms of entertainment can't or don't. It really helps bridge some gaps in families in a unique way that almost goes beyond description. It can help bring out a level of self confidence in a person that was hidden for a long time. Same thing with a skill that a person never even knew they had because of sports. Whether it be a team sport or an individual effort, it can bring out the very best in a person.

Sure, to the other side of the coin, there are and is the downside of the game. It can bring out the worst in human emotion as well. Mostly wee see it in fans for yelling at players or officials and doing stupid things. But the one thing I'd like anybody reading this to take away from this little snippet here, is that it's just a game and its not life or death. It should never be taken too seriously.

One of the great things about sports, aside from playing it of course, is what the point of this rant here is. It's about the power the game to be able to really connect people on a different level. From personal experience, sports has helped me make connections with people I never would have had otherwise. Its helped me make friends that started out as casual, but turned into almost family. That's how close I've gotten with some people over the years, and it all started with a connection over sports. Sports, and in the case of the game of hockey, has not only helped me generation some of my most cherished friendships, it has also helped me in love as well. It was through the game of hockey that I found my girl.

See sports can help unlock things at a different level and it can do so in new and exciting ways. The games can help leave memories that will forever be etched in our minds and our souls. That's a big part of what makes it so beautiful.

NFL Honors

Its that time of year when the National Football League honors the best of the best from the regular season. Its the showcase of the best players in the game from the 2022 regular season. Before we dive into that we got a couple of other things to hand out first.

Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2023:
-Ronde Barber
-Don Coryell
-Chuck Howley
-Joe Klecko
-Darrelle Revis
-Ken Riley
-Joe Thomas
-Zach Thomas
-DeMarcus Ware

Now to get down to business, here's the award winners for the 2022 NFL season.

Coach of The Year: Brian Daboll, New York Giants

Comeback Player of The Year: Geno Smith, Quarterback Seattle Seahawks

Defensive Rookie of The Year: Sauce Gardner, Cornerback New York Jets

Offensive Rookie Of The Year: Garrett Wilson, Wide Receiver New York Jets

Defensive Player of The Year: Nick Bosa Defensive End San Francisco 49ers

Offensive Player of The Year: Justin Jefferson, Wide Receiver Minnesota Vikings

MVP: Patrick Mahomes, Quarterback Kansas City Chiefs

Super Bowl 57 Preview

The Time has arrived. We are down to the final two teams left standing. The Vince Lombardi Trophy is on the line as the Eagles and Chiefs square off for the games ultimate prize. So lets not waste any more time and lets get into it. Here's the things we look at for tomorrow's big game.

Kansas City got here after going 14-3 during the regular season, winning the AFC West and earning the AFC's top seed. They beat the Jaguars in the divisional round and then knocked off the Bengals in the AFC title game. Meanwhile the Eagles got here  by also going 14-3, winning the NFC East and earning the NFC's top seed. They then downed  the Giants in the divisional round and the 49ers in the NFC title game, and in dominating fashion.

Its a battle of the league's best offense in Kansas City going against the leagues top defense in Philadelphia. Not only that,  but the Eagles have the best rushing attack in the entire NFL this season, which seems to have become a lost artform in today's NFL. Don't get us wrong, the Eagles have a solid passing attack, but its their running game that's going to carry them on the offensive side of the football. What makes this interesting is how well Jalen Hurts could handle this stage, as he's new to playing in the big game. But he's proven this year that he can handle pressure situations. Besides the run game, the defense for the Eagles has been best in the league this season. And as we've seen in the past in the big game, the top defense in the league will get the win almost every time.

But they are going up against the best offense in the NFL this year. Kansas City has not only the top overall offense in the NFL but the best passing attack in the league as well. They also have the 9th best rushing attack in the league as well during the regular season. So its a pretty given fact that the Chiefs have a potent attack. What has me a little worried here is if the KC defense can hang and contain what the Eagles can do in their running game. KC is no slouch on defense, but they aren't as potent as what Philly can do.

We've seen this act before in the big game, where its the battle of the league4's top offense going against the league's top defense. The defense has won every time before. Mahomes is special, like really special and has the ability to be able to create magic. This year I'm not sure how much magic Mahomes is going to have to overcome the Eagles run game.

Pick: Eagles 34, Chiefs 27

Bo Does Long Island

Islanders fans have been calling for upper management to make a move and land a high scoring winger. they finally got their answer. New York sent Anthony Beauvillier, Aatu Raty and a conditional draft pick to the Vancouver Canucks for Bo Horvat. New York gets a top flight scorer, adding Horvat's 31 goals and 23 assists to their lineup.

Its worth noting that this is the 2nd time the Canucks have traded their captain to the Islanders, doing so with Trevor Linden in 1998.

So what does this mean for both teams?

Vancouver got quite a haul. Raty is a top prospect, who could blossom into a big star in the right place. Which from the point of view of a lot of Isles fans does sting. Beauvillier has the same thing, as he scored one of the biggest goals in team history. He scored the overtime winner in the final game playoff game played at Nassau Coliseum against the Lightning. Beau, too, has so much talent to become a bigtime player in this game and could really shine in Vancouver. There's so much more to it than this from the point of view to the guys going out west, this is just beginning to scratch the surface.

Now then, what does this mean for Bo coming to Long Island?

Simple answer is adding a top scorer to the Islanders top line. It's something they've been looking for, for quite some time now. So its a huge move there. It showing that the Islanders can pull a trigger on a big move and bring in something that might be missing from this team.

Now there is one thing that does lead me to worry just a little bit. Horvat is going to be a free agent at the end of the season. yes, this trade was great, and from what I've read so far, Horvat is saying the right things and showing excitement for being on this team. Now can the Islanders keep him past this season? Only time will tell.

For now, take Bo for what we got!

Baseball Hall Makes Call

Being a Hall of Famer at something means you are better than anybody at what you did. The Baseball Writers have added a new member to the great hall in Cooperstown. Former 3rd Baseman Scott Rolen got the call that he's getting inducted this summer.

During his 17 years in the Bigs, Rolen played for four teams. He started in 1996 with the Phillies, playing there till 2002 where he was traded to the Cardinals. he stayed in St Louis till 2008. Signed with Toronto where he played till a 2009 trade to the Reds, where he finished his career in 2012.

Rolen's career spanned 2,0398 games in 17 years, hitting .281 lifetime, with 316 home runs, 1,287 RBI's, 1,211 runs scored and 2,077 career hits. Rolen picked up some solid hardware during his career, winning rookie of the year in 1997, a 2006 World Series title, a 2002 silver slugger, eight career gold gloves and was a seven time All Star. The numbers are solid, very solid. A solid career and one that should be honored as such.

Now here's where the debate kicks in. Todd Helton just missed out and he's a better hitter than Rolen. Jeff Kent was that best hitting second baseman ever, he's still not in. Bonds, Clemens and Rose all stained the game, A-Rod too, and they aren't and probably never will get into the Hall.

This is nothing against Scott Rolen as a ballplayer or a person, he had a fine career. But Hall of Fame worthy? I'm not totally sure.

The people who vote for the Hall, as viewed by some, are acting as the moral compass for the Hall, keeping guys associated with Steroids out, even with David Ortiz getting in, which is another debate in among itself. Anybody who was involved with roids, or in the case of Jeff Kent, had poor numbers on defense and a crappy attitude towards the media.

That's why I think Rolen was inducted. he was a good player and stayed out of trouble.

Congratulations to Scott Rolen on his hall of fame induction.

Divisional Round Preview

Divisional Weekend in the NFL has arrived. Eight teams are left standing, looking to get one step closer to football's ultimate prize.

Normally we'd do much more of a full preview but due to time constraints this will be short and sweet.

Here's this weekends picks for the divisional round

January 21st

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Kansas City Chiefs 4:35PM

Look Jacksonville got it together in the 2nd half last week against the Chargers, they won't get that lucky against the AFC top seed.

Pick: Chiefs 35, Jaguars 21

New York Giants @ Philadelphia Eagles 8:30PM

NFC East division battle with a trip to the title game on the line. The Giants have been good all year and surprised a lot of people, I think they got one more in them. Not really sure how much I trust Hurts coming off injury, at least not on paper.

Pick: Giants 32, Eagles 17

January 22nd

Cincinnati Bengals @ Buffalo Bills 3:05PM

Rematch of the Monday night game week seventeen. Buffalo been on a roll as of late, but got a scare put into them by Miami. Cincy takes advantage of that and moves on.

Pick: Bengals 27, Bills 24

Dallas Cowboys @ San Francisco 49ers 6:40PM

Dallas got a little lucky last week in that Tampa underperformed. Won't get that lucky against a solid 49ers team. And Brock Purdy is going to have himself a day

Pick: 49ers 30, Cowboys 14

Stamkos Hits Rare Air

Steven Stamkos. Hands down of the top offensive players not only in the game today, but all time. His recorded over 500 assists and 1,000 points. But 500 goals has eluded him for a while now. He's been sitting on 499 for quite some time now. Until last night. During the Lightning win in Vancouver over the Canucks, Stamkos joined the 500 goal club. He ended the 5-2 win over the Canucks with a hat trick to give him 502 and counting.

He becomes the 47th member of the 500 goal club in NHL history and the 3rd active player to join said club, along with Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin.

There's no doubt in anybody mind he the best offensive player to ever put on a Tampa Bay Lightning sweater. Sure, Martin St Louis and Vincent Lecavalier were great players in Lightning uniforms. But Stammer has topped both of them. He's been the face of this franchise since he put on the sweater. Nobody has played the game better than Stammer in the teams history. he's their home grown guy who's done it all for the franchise.

He hit double digits in goals every year but one (he scored 9 on just 17 games in 2017) and the only season he's failed to hit the twenty goal mark was 2021 when he scored just 17 goals due to injury. He's hit the 50 goal mark twice, including a 60 goal season in 2012. Four more times in his outstanding career he's passed the 40 goal mark.

Injuries have cost him dearly during his career, which many including myself believe, cut short his chances of hitting this mark at an earlier point in his career. All of that said and taken into account its  been a hell of a ride for the Bolts captain and face of the franchise.

Congratulations again to Steven Stamkos on joining the 500 goal club.