2021 NFL Season Preview

The time has arrived. The National Football League is set to kick off the 102 season in the history of the league. All 32 teams start the season with the same clean slate, all trying to end up at SoFi Stadium on February 13th, playing for the game's ultimate prize. A few major changes have been made to the league this year, the biggest one being adding an extra week to the regular season. Everyone keeps the bye and will now play a seventeen game regular season.

Lot of faces have changed places since the end of last season. We start with the coaches as Atlanta (Arthur Smith), Detroit (Dan Campbell), Houston (David Culley), Jacksonville (Urban Meyer), LA Chargers (Brandon Staley), NY Jets (Robert Saleh), and Philadelphia (Nick Sirianni) all have new head coaches.

We also have players switching places as well. Matthew Stafford and Jared Geoff were traded for each other. Carson Wentz got traded to the Colts, Sam Darnold to Carolina, Teddy Bridgewater to Tennessee, Julio Jones to Atlanta have all been via the trade market. Andy Dalton (Chicago), Ryan Fitzpatrick (Washington), Mitchell Trubisky (Buffalo), Tevin Coleman (Jets), Wayne Gallman (San Francisco), Mark Ingram Jr. (Houston), Phillip Lindsay (Houston), Sammy Watkins (Baltimore), Nelson Agholor (New England), Corey Davis (Jets), Will Fuller (Miami), A. J. Green (Arizona), and Kenny Golladay (Giants), are just a few of the big names that have changed teams this offseason

So here we go. Here's how we see the NFL season going down for 2021!

NFC West:
1. Los Angeles Rams: 12-5*
2. Seattle Seahwaks: 12-5 (WC)*
3. San Francisco 49ers: 11-6 (WC)*
4. Arizona Cardinals: 6-11

A second place finish in the West last year for the Rams will now be flipped on its head to a first place title win, thanks to having all the weapons back from last year and adding a solid starting QB in Matthew Stafford. No promise how long Stafford will be able to be THE guy in Los Angeles, but he gives the Rams the presence under center they really need. The Seahawks are going to be without KJ Wright for the first time, since he signed on with a new team, so it changes the dynamics of the Seahawks defense, But with Russell Wilson still under center, Seattle should still be a bigtime threat. What's going to get the 49ers back into the fold is health. Jimmy Garoppolo, Raheem Mostert, George Kittle, Deebo Samuel, Nick Bosa and Jaquiski Tartt are all back and healthy and that's going to make a big difference. Still be tough to compete with Seattle and LA but the healthy guys back will be a big improvement for the Niners. As for the Cardinals, it going to be an interesting season in the desert. They added JJ Watt and AJ Green, but how well is Kyler Murray going to progress? With the wheels falling off for the Cards at the end of last year, tihey hoping to not have it repeat the same again this year.

NFC South:
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 12-5*
2. New Orleans Saints: 9-8
3. Carolina Panthers: 8-9
4. Atlanta Falcons: 5-14

Very different look to the South this year. The top is going to remain the same as the Buccaneers are going to be really hard to play against again this season. The champs brought back almost the entire roster from last season, which was a high powered offense and one of the best defensive units in the entire league. Don't be surprised if the Bucs have another deep playoff run in them again this year. The dropoff here comes behind the champs. The Saints are going to try to win the division again for the fifth year in a row, but its going to be a tough task without having Drew Brees under center. Having Jameis Winston take over is a bit of a roll of the dice, but there still enough weapons here, New Orleans can still finish with an above .500 record. New QB under center for the Panthers could lead to a higher standard. Sam Darnold now gets a fresh start in a new city, gets reunited with an old friend in Robbie Anderson, and gets a healthy Christian McCaffery to hand the ball off to. Panthers may miss the playoffs, but it will be a big improvement from last year. Big question in my mind is what does Matt Ryan have left in the tank for the Falcons? Sure he has a new weapon to work with in Kyle Pitts at tight end and he still has Calvin Ridley to throw to as well. Other then that, there leaves a lot to be desired in Atlanta.

NFC North
1. Green Bay Packers 13-4*
2. Chicago Bears: 8-9
3. Minnesota Vikings: 8-9
4. Detroit Lions: 4-13

We can argue this till we are blue in the face, but facts are, this North division is still the Packers division And this is going to be done with an angry Aaron Rogers, who's got something he wants to prove to Packers management. Also, the Pack have one of the most dynamic offenses in the game today, making it even harder for them to beat. The rest of the division is tough to pick. The Bears have the defense that can keep them around .500 this year, as it has the talent to be a top ten defense. Questions remain in Chicago on the other side of the ball. Nick Foles will be starting under center and how healthy and effective is he going to be? Receivers could be good but otherwise, meh. Same thing can kind of be said for the Vikings as well. Still have a massive threat in Dalvin Cook running the ball, but Kirk Cousins still has to really prove he was worth that contract and then some. The Vikings are good but not quite where they need to be to get over the hump. Then you have the Lions, who are going to be in the basement this year. Stafford gone and in comes Jared Geoff, trying to get himself back on the right track. Even so, he's got no real weapons to work with. Gonna be a long year in the Motor City.

NFC East
1. Washington Football Team: 10-7*
2. Dallas Cowboys: 9-8 (WC)*
3. New York Giants: 8-9
4/ Philadelphia Eagles: 6-11

This division was a tough one to try and figure out between the top three teams. What sticks out about Washington was, and is, a dark horse in this division. Ryan Fitzpatrick is taking over under center in DC and could still have a little more magic left in those legs and that arm of his. They may not have the flashiest team in this division, but Washington has a balanced team and could do it again this year. Next best team to challenge them this year are the Cowboys, who if healthy could disrupt a lot of people plans. The boys get the services back of Dak this year. Zek looking to have a bounce back year and when they have Lamb and Cooper in the receiving game, the Boys could be good. Just depends on the defense. IF all stays the course, it will be enough to help the Boys make the playoffs. Another big test is going to come from the Giants, who have some of the same questions. Big Blue could be good on the defensive side of the football, its just the offense has some things to look at. Daniel Jones is going into his 3rd year, now with a healthy Sequan Barkley in the back field and Kenny Golliday joining a pretty good receiving core. New York is just hoping it can mesh well. Then there's the Eagles, who could be in for a long season. Jalen Hurts now gets fully control in Philly and he's got a new weapon to work with in DeVonta Smith. But outside of him and Zach Ertz, the pass catching game doesn't look too good, neither does the run game. Gonna be a long year in the city of brotherly love.

AFC West:
1. Kansas City Chiefs: 13-4*
2. Los Angeles Chargers: 10-7 (WC)*
3. Denver Broncos: 9-8
4. Las Vegas Raiders: 6-11

The Chiefs are the defending champions of the AFC West, and they'll be back on top of the mountain again this year. The core group of the AFC Champions is still here in tact, with Patrick Mahomes, Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce leading the offensive charge. Darius Harris leads the defensive unit which is still as solid as it was a year ago, so don't be surprised if KC has another deep run in them. This is a Chargers team that's coming off an under .500 season a year ago, but will be able to build off that. Justin Herbert has some weapons to be able to work with. New Head Coach Brandon Staley can give Herbert what he needs to not only be good, but take his game to the next level. This team is taking steps in the right direction. In a battle for the lower half of the division, the Broncos are the one team that can finish right or around .500. Teddy Bridgewater takes over under center and has Melvin Gordon and Jerry Jrudy to work with, so that's something to go off of. And having Von Miller leading the defense could keep them in a few games. They seem like they could be a possible hit and miss team. Then there's the Raiders, bringing up the rear, re loading their team with talent. Carr and Mariotta are going to be figuring out who's under center this year. They have weapons with Drake in the backfield and Ruggs catching passes but it doesn't leave much hope. Vegas defense leaves something to be desired.

AFC South:
1. Tennessee Titans: 10-7*
2. Indianapolis Colts: 9-8
3. Jacksonville Jaguars: 5-12
4. Houston Texans: 2-15

Big changes were made for the Titans, a team that's already got high hopes for this season. Ryan Tannehill has plenty of weapons to work with on offense. Derek Henry is back as one of the best running backs in the league and Julio Jones was added as another major threat in the passing game. The defense in the music city isn't exactly elite, but they are very good never the less and will keep things going quite well for the Titans. The Colts are coming off the playoff appearance last season, and are now looking to Carson Wentz to help build off what they saw last season. For the pass game to do anything, they have to rely on Mo Alie Cox and when he healthy TY Hilton. If healthy, they should be able to complement the run game of Nyheim Hines and Marlon Mack. Defense looks like it could hang around a bit and keep the team in a few games, but not much to write home about. Then there's the Jaguars, who are looking to the future with Trevor Lawrence now under center. Carlos Hyde and Marvin Jones are going to be the primary weapons for Lawrence to work with. There's no doubt that the Jacksonville defense can keep them in a lot of games, the question is can the offense match suit? Finally the Texans, who look to move on to life without JJ Watt in the lineup on defense. Meaning there's a huge hole in that front seven to be filled in over in Houston. The defense could be a problem for the Texans, which might not be able to say the same about the offense which totally retooled. Tyrod Taylor is starting the year under center with Watson hurt. He got two new running backs and a couple new deep threats to work with. But there's no promises and it could be a long season in Houston.

AFC North:
1. Cleveland Browns: 12-5*
2. Baltimore Ravens: 11-6 (WC)*
3. Pittsburgh Steelers: 10-7 (WC)*
4. Cincinnati Bengals: 6-11

Pending a massive fall off, the Browns should be the team to take this division this year. This defense, lead by Myles Garrett, is poised to be a top ten, even a top five, defense again this season. On the offensive side of the ball, Baker Mayfield has weapons a plenty. His got Beckham and Laundry as his top targets to throw to, and with Chubb running the ball behind him, its going to be a good year in Cleveland. As for the Ravens, this is going to be a return to force in Baltimore. Lamar Jackson has good targets to throw to in Watkins and Andrews, while Gus Edwards will be running the ball. It all depends on the play of Jackson, who's looking to bounce back to his MVP form. This defense could be good in Baltimore, scary good. This could be a return to a winning season for the Steelers this year. Rothlesberger has four rookies to work with this year, his 19th year in the NFL. New running back in Najee Harris gives s a ground game to balance with Ju Ju. Chase and Ray Ray catching passes. The defense can still be good and with Mike Tomlin running the ship, you know that Pittsburgh is going to be in the fight. As for bringing up the rear of the division is the Bengals, who are still working on building themselves up in the right direction. Joe Burrow's back and healthy but he's lost weapons on his side of the ball. He got Boyd to throw to still but no Green. Mixon is back in the backfield which is good, but that's about it. This defense has taken a step backwards and this is going to be a long season in Cincy.

AFC East:
1. Buffalo Bills: 12-5*
2. Miami Dolphins: 10-7
3. New England Patriots 9-8
4. New York Jets: 5-12

This one is easy to pick, it's the Bills division, the rest are just living in it. Buffalo added to its defense by bringing in Greg Rousseau and Carlos Basham, which is going to make a good defense even better. Josh Allen has plenty of targets in Diggs and Beasley back in the fold, and now he has Matt Braida in the backfield with Singletery. Buffalo is going to be very tough to beat again this season and will be right in the thick of things as one of the best teams in the entire conference. Behind them we see a change as the Dolphins will finally take a step to the next level. Tua Time is in full effect in Miami, and even with Will Fuller and Allen Hurns out at the start of the year, they will be back and will jump right into the mix with a decent offense. Miami's defense will surprise a few people and make some noise. At least enough to be able to get them to ten wins on the year. The biggest drop off is going to be the Patriots, who are still getting used to life without Brady. Cam newton was a total bust and isn't on the team anymore, so now the starting job falls on Mac Jones. Jones is getting a revamped offense to now work with. Nelson Agulor is going to be the primary pass catcher, and with him, James White and Hunter Henry, they will make a little noise. The Patriots will be able to put up some fight but its going to be tough this year. Closing out this division is going to be the Jets, who if the stars align MIGHT be able to be a close to .500 team this season. Zach Wilson takes over at QB and the rookie has Keenan Cole, Tevin Coleman and Corey Davis to go along with Crowder and Mims. The defense has Shaq Lawson and a returning CJ Mosely so they might surprise you. But for new head coach Robert Salah it's going to be a rough introduction to the new market.

Wrong Market To Make Stupid Comments

Professional athletes are great athletes. If they weren't they wouldn't be professionals/ They are getting paid a lot of money to play a kids game. Being a pro athlete means that you have the spotlight and a lot of eyes on you. Even more so in a market like New York. And for Mets middle infielders Francisco Lindor and Javy Baez, they found out the hard way what that can mean.

The two Mets stars, along with Kevin Pillar had started making the thumbs down gesture during a game against the Nationals on Sunday. The reason they were doing that was, according to them “are going to get booed when we have success."

Basically what they were saying was, they were making that gesture in response to the fans who had been booing them during the rough stretch they had just come off of. The two players were unhappy with the treatment from the fans and that was their way of responding to it.

Baez made a statement in regards to the incident: “I didn’t mean to offend anybody, this is something I’ve done in the past against other teams. I did it in LA to the dugout. I might have said something wrong that I was booing the fans, I really meant like ‘boo me now,’ and not to the fans, to the dugout.”

Lindor added to that, by saying: “It was to the dugout, thumbs down for me means the adversity that we’ve gone through, the negative things, we overcome it, so we did it. We went over it. However, It was wrong and I apologize to whoever I offended. It was not my intent to offend people, we can't go against the fans. I’ve never done it in my career. We play for the fans.”

From the fans point of view, I get where they coming from with this, but this should have been said right away. Not a couple of days after the fact. I understand the way they feel and that they want to play to win. Sometimes you really need to avoid putting your foot in your mouths. If you had said that right from the get go, then the backlash from fans wouldn't have been anywhere near as bad. Just a better thought out response is all.

It's tough to try and make it in any sports town, but in New York its even worse. The fans in NY are SO passionate about there teams, and when the teams aren't doing well, the fans have no problem letting you know about it. We just want our clubs to be a success. If its not winning a title, at least give us something competitive to watch and give us hope for. What these two guys did was stick their foots in their mouths at the wrong time. And given how much money Lindor is making on his deal, and how little he has been producing compared to his bank account, I don't blame us Mets fans for reacting the way we did.

All I'm suggesting is that a better choice of words for the explanation would have smoothed things over a little.

NBA Schedule Released

Its that time of year once again. The National Basketball Association has announced the release of the schedule for the 2021-22 NBA season.

We have some big matchups this season around the league. Trae Young and Luka Doncic square off on October 19th. November 19th we will see the top two picks from this years draft square off as Cade Cunningham and Detroit travel to Houston to take on Jalen Green. Christmas Day is highlighted by Hawks taking on the Knicks while the Nets go to LA to take on the Lakers.

With all that, here's the full schedule for the local teams.

October:
Oct 20 vs Boston 7:30 PM
Oct 22 @ Orlando 7:00 PM
Oct 24 vs Orlando 7:00 PM
Oct 26 vs Philadelphia 7:30 PM
Oct 28 @ Chicago 8:00 PM
Oct 30 @ New Orleans 7:00 PM

November:
Nov 1 vs Toronto 7:30 PM
Nov 3 @ Indiana 7:00 PM
Nov 5 @ Milwaukee 7:30 PM
Nov 7 vs Cleveland 6:00 PM
Nov 8 @ Philadelphia 7:00 PM
Nov 10 vs Milwaukee 7:30 PM
Nov 12 @ Charlotte 7:00 PM
Nov 15 vs Indiana 7:30 PM
Nov 17 vs Orlando 7:30 PM
Nov 20 vs Houston 5:00 PM
Nov 21 @ Chicago 8:00 PM
Nov 23 vs Los Angeles Lakers 7:30 PM
Nov 26 vs Phoenix 7:00 PM
Nov 27 @ Atlanta 7:30 PM
Nov 30 @ Brooklyn 7:30 PM

December:
Dec 2 vs Chicago 7:30 PM
Dec 4 vs Denver 1:00 PM
Dec 7 @ San Antonio 8:30 PM
Dec 8 @ Indiana 7:00 PM 
Dec 10 @ Toronto 7:30 PM
Dec 12 vs Milwaukee 12:00 PM
Dec 14 vs Golden State 7:30 PM
Dec 16 @ Houston 8:00 PM 
Dec 18 @ Boston 8:30 PM
Dec 21 vs Detroit 7:30 PM
Dec 23 vs Washington 7:30 PM
Dec 25 vs Atlanta 12:00 PM
Dec 28 @ Minnesota 8:00 PM
Dec 29 @ Detroit 7:00 PM
Dec 31 @ Oklahoma City 8:00 PM

January:
Jan 2 @ Toronto 3:30 PM
Jan 4 vs Indiana 7:30 PM
Jan 6 vs Boston 7:30 PM
Jan 8 @ Boston 7:30 PM
Jan 10 vs San Antonio 7:30 PM
Jan 12 vs Dallas 7:30 PM
Jan 15 @ Atlanta 7:30 PM
Jan 17 vs Charlotte 1:00 PM
Jan 18 vs Minnesota 7:30 PM
Jan 20 vs New Orleans 7:30 PM
Jan 23 vs LA Clippers 1:00 PM 
Jan 24 @ Cleveland 7:00 PM
Jan 26 @ Miami 7:30 PM
Jan 28 @ Milwaukee 10:00 PM
Jan 31 vs Sacramento 7:30 PM

February:
Feb 2 vs Memphis 7:30 PM
Feb 5 @ Los Angeles Lakers 8:30 PM
Feb 7 @ Utah 9:00 PM
Feb 8 @ Denver 9:00 PM
Feb 10 @ Golden State 10:00 PM
Feb 12 @ Portland 5:00 PM
Feb 14 vs Oklahoma City 7:30 PM
Feb 16 vs Brooklyn 7:30 PM
Feb 25 vs Miami 7:30 PM
Feb 27 vs Philadelphia 1:00 PM

March:
Mar 2 @ Philadelphia 7:30 PM
Mar 4 @ Phoenix 10:00 PM
Mar 6 @ LA Clippers 7:30 PM
Mar 7 @ Sacramento 10:00 PM
Mar 9 @ Dallas 8:30 PM
Mar 11 @ Memphis 8:00 PM
Mar 13 @ Brooklyn 1:00 PM
Mar 16 vs Portland 7:30 PM
Mar 18 vs Washington 7:30 PM
Mar 20 vs Utah 7:30 PM
Mar 22 vs Atlanta 7:30 PM
Mar 23 @ Charlotte 7:00 PM
Mar 25 @ Miami 8:00 PM
Mar 27 @ Detroit 3:30 PM
Mar 28 vs Chicago 7:30 PM
Mar 30 vs Charlotte 7:30 PM

April:
Apr 2 vs Cleveland 1:00 PM
Apr 3 @ Orlando 6:00 PM
Apr 6 vs Brooklyn 7:30 PM 
Apr 8 @ Washington 70 PM
Apr 10 vs Toronto TBD

October:
Oct 19 @ Milwaukee 7:30 PM
Oct 22 @ Philadelphia 7:30 M
Oct 24 vs Charlotte 4:00 PM
Oct 25 vs Washington 7:30 PM
Oct 27 vs Miami 7:30 PM
Oct 29 vs Indiana 7:30 PM
Oct 31 vs Detroit 7:30 PM

November:
Nov 3 vs Atlanta 7:30 PM
Nov 5 @ Detroit 7:00 PM
Nov 7 @ Toronto 3:30 PM
Nov 8 @ Chicago 8:00 PM
Nov 10 @ Orlando 7:00 PM
Nov 12 @ New Orleans 8:00 PM
Nov 14 @ Oklahoma City 7:00 PM
Nov 16 vs Golden State 7:30 PM
Nov 17 vs Cleveland 7:30 PM
Nov 19 vs Orlando 7:30 PM
Nov 22 @ Cleveland 7:00 PM
Nov 24 @ Boston 7:30 PM
Nov 27 vs Phoenix 7:30 PM
Nov 30 vs New York 7:30 PM

December:
Dec 3 vs Minnesota 7:30 PM
Dec 4 vs Chicago 7:30 PM
Dec 7 @ Dallas 7:30 PM
Dec 8 @ Houston 8:00 PM
Dec 10 @ Atlanta 7:30 PM
Dec 12 @ Detroit 6:00 PM
Dec 14 vs Toronto 7:30 PM
Dec 16 vs Philadelphia 7:30 PM
Dec 18 vs Orlando 7:30 PM
Dec 19 vs Denver 7:30 PM
Dec 21 vs Washington 7:30 PM
Dec 23 @ Portland 10:00 PM
Dec 25 @ Los Angeles Lakers 8:00 PM
Dec 27 @ LA Clippers 10:30 PM
Dec 30 vs Philadelphia 7:00 PM

January:
Jan 1 vs LA Clippers 7:30 PM
Jan 3 vs Memphis 7:30 PM
Jan 5 @ Indiana 7:30 PM
Jan 7 vs Milwaukee 7:30 PM
Jan 9 vs San Antonio 7:30 PM
Jan 12 @ Chicago 10:00 PM
Jan 13 vs Oklahoma City 8:30 PM
Jan 15 vs New Orleans 7:30 PM
Jan 17 @ Cleveland 3:00 PM
Jan 19 @ Washington 7:00 PM
Jan 21 @ San Antonio 8:30 PM
Jan 23 @ Minnesota 8:00 PM
Jan 25 vs Los Angeles Lakers 7:30 PM
Jan 26 vs Toronto 7:30 PM
Jan 29 @ Golden State 8:30 PM

February:
Feb 1 @ Phoenix 10:00 PM
Feb 2 @ Sacramento 10:00 PM
Feb 4 @ Utah 9:00 PM
Feb 6 @ Denver 3:30 PM
Feb 8 vs Boston 7:30 PM
Feb 10 @ Washington 7:00 PM
Feb 12 @ Miami 8:00 PM
Feb 14 vs Sacramento 7:30 PM
Feb 16 @ New York 7:30 PM
Feb 24 vs Boston 7:30 PM
Feb 26 @ Milwaukee 8:30 PM

March:
Mar 1 @ Toronto 7:30 PM
Mar 3 vs Miami 7:30 PM
Mar 6 @ Boston 1:00 PM
Mar 8 @ Charlotte 7:00 PM
Mar 10 @ Philadelphia 7:30 PM
Mar 13 vs New York 1:00 PM
Mar 15 @ Orlando 7:00 PM
Mar 16 vs Dallas 7:30 PM
Mar 18 vs Portland 7:30 PM
Mar 21 vs Utah 7:30 PM
Mar 23 @ Memphis 7:30 PM
Mar 26 @ Miami 8:00 PM
Mar 27 vs Charlotte 7:30 PM
Mar 29 vs Detroit 7:30 PM
Mar 31 vs Milwaukee 7:30 PM

April:
Apr 2 @ Atlanta 7:30 PM
Apr 5 vs Houston 7:30 PM
Apr 6 @ New York 7:30 PM
Apr 8 vs Cleveland 7:30 PM
Apr 10 vs Indiana TBD

Hail King Henrik

He has been the face of the New York Rangers since he joined the team in 2006. He played for no other hockey club since entering the league. Now the best goalie to come out of Europe over the last twenty years is calling it a career. Henrik Lundqvist has decide to hang up the pads and call it a career. He missed last season due to a heart issue and has announced earlier today that he was done playing the game of hockey.

Hank took to Twitter earlier today to put in his own words, the best way to say goodbye to the game. "For the last 30 years, I have devoted my life to the game of hockey and now it's time to walk away from the game I love and begin a new chapter. The future excites me. I've met so many amazing people over the years that will help to guide and inspire me in my new journey." He concluded his message saying thank you to the NHL, New York City, the Rangers and, of course, the fans!

The Rangers have already announced that they will retire Hank's #30 at some point during this 2021-22 season

There has no better goalie of this generation than Hank. He started his career in 2006 on Broadway and, with the exception of the last two season in the NHL, has won 24 or more games every full season he has played in. With the Rangers, Lundqvist was a five-time All-Star and won the Vezina Trophy as the league's top goalie in 2011-12. After his run with the Rangers, Lundqvist signed a one-year deal with the Washington Capitals for 2020-21 but never played for the team after undergoing open-heart surgery in January.

Hank finished his career with a record of 459-310-96 in 887 career NHL games. he ends with a save percentage of .918, a 2.43 goals-against average and 64 shutouts. He is the Rangers' franchise leader in all those categories. The wins are 6th most, while he ranks 17th in shutouts, 13th in save percentage.

There is no doubt in the minds of any hockey fan who has had the pleasure of watching him play over the last 15 years that Hank will go down as one of the greatest to ever strap on a pair of goalie pads and step between the pipes. Once the waiting period is up, there's no doubt he will be taking his rightful place in Toronto at the Hockey Hall of Fame.

I'll be the first to admit this, even though he killed the Islanders over the years, as a hockey fan I really enjoyed watching this guy play. It really was a joy and to be honest, he deserved a slightly better fate in one regards. He never got a chance to lift hockey's holy grail, the Stanley Cup, over his head. He's accomplished all there is to in this great game for a goalie, except win the big one. Closest he came was the 2014 finals run before losing to the Kings in the last round.

So hats off to a hell of a career for one of the greatest to ever play this great game. Thanks for everything Hank!

If You Build It, They Will Come

It has been built, and they will come! Dyersville, Iowa is the cite. Any baseball fan who's ever seen the movie knows that town. its where the field of dreams was built for the 1989 film of the same name. Tomorrow night, they will come. The New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox to be exact. It will be held in front of 8,00 spectators, the number of seats that have been built for the game. It's the kickstart of a three game series between the teams with the final two games being held in Chicago on Saturday and Sunday.

This is more than just a game. Lets look at the setting of the contest. The game takes place on the site of the 1989 film. The movie is based off a book entitled Shoeless Joe, which was based around the 1918 Black Sox Scandal. The actual site has said to have hade more than 65,000 visitors over the years, as fans have come by to see and be on the field, more than 30 years after its 1989 release.

What sticks out with a lot of fans of the film is its historical connections to the past and the greats of the game. It also goes deeper then that. It shows the love that fans have for the game and the connection between family and the a growing bond between family members and the game of baseball. This is a huge moment in not only baseball history but the history of American pop culture as well.

As for the game itself, its a battle of two teams fighting for playoff lives. Chicago is going to be looking to pad to their big lead in the AL Central. They've been average at best over the last little while, going 13-11 in the last 24 games, as of this writing. But still, with a 10.5 game lead over the 2nd place Cleveland Indians, Chicago has plenty of room to breath. This will help kickstart the stretch run for the White Sox and hopefully will lead them to their first AL Central title since 2008.

Meanwhile, the Bronx Bombers are looking to dig themselves out of a hole, by their standards. They sit at 62-51 as of writing, which is pretty good. But not by Yankees standards it isn't. They sit third in the AL East, two games back of Boston and seven games back of Tampa Bay. So this could be the start of a huge swing run for the Yankees to either gain ground or fall farther back.

Either way it's going to be a fun baseball game to watch. It has been built and we've come to watch!

Thank You Mike Lange

IT'S A HOCKEY NIGHT IN PITTSBURGH!

Those words have opened Pittsburgh Penguins broadcasts for the better part of the last 46 years. Whether it's on TV or the Radio, that's how a Penguins game would get going. it came from the vocal cords of Mike Lange, who's been calling Penguins games since his first broadcast with the team in 1976. Many of the memorable moments in Penguins history have been called by Mike and after 46 years, Mike decided it was time to hang it up.

Mike put out a statement earlier today, which reads as follows.

"There are so many people to thank along the way. From the terrific personnel at the arena all these years, ownership including the smaller investors who took a chance on this franchise, players who make it all possible and the management and all the staff members who are so memorable to me. I am very grateful for the chance to meet and work with you over the years. And to the fans: what a trip we had together. So many contributing to the broadcasts and listening night after night. Always made me 'Smile Like a Butcher's Dog.' God Bless."

Mike had been taking more and more games off the last couple of seasons before finally deciding to retire. After all this time and all the games that Mike has called, he's left fans with many memorable one liners. He's been called he king of the catch phrase and for good reason. Scratch my back with a hacksaw, He beat him like a rented mule, Buy Sam a drink and get his dog one, too, He smoked him like a bad cigar, and, of course, And ladies and gentlemen, Elvis has just left the building!

I myself became a fan of his because of an old VHS tape my parents had bought for me when i was little. It was called Super Dooper Hockey Bloopers. One of the segments on the tape was showing off some of Mike's best liners. Because of that I became a fan of his, and as I got older and knew what I wanted to do with my career, I admired him more and more for his craft and what he did. Whenever the Islanders would play the Penguins I'd be watching the game on TV and streaming the Penguins radio call online to hear Mike call the game. he had a tremendous impact on me as a fan and aspiring broadcaster.

Been a hell of a ride and thanks for everything Mike!

Ovechkin Eyes Great One

Goal scoring. The most essential part of the offensive aspect of the game of hockey! Tow of the greatest to ever do it are Alexander Ovechkin and Wayne Gretzky! Wayne has the most in league history with 894, while Alex sits 6th (at the time of this writing) with 730. A difference of one hundred and sixty five, for Ovechkin to be able to pass the record. Can he do it? Odds may be in his favor.

Ovechkin entered the NHL in 2005. In every season has has had more than 20 goals, his lowest total coming last year with just 24 goals in the short season. In fact, last year not included, Ovie has scored 30 goals or more in every single season. He's had seven seasons of fifty or more goals, one of those years being a sixty goal. The numbers almost speak for themselves with Ovechkin for his career. Throw into the equation the insane number of shot totals Ovechkin has every year, and its really mind numbing. After sixteen years and almost twelve hundred games, some wondered what was next for the Great Eight.

The fact that Alex just signed a new five year deal worth $47.5 million. That means a lot for Ovie. He's got his cup ring, which he won in 2019 with the Caps. He wants another title, that's pretty much a given. I think the bigger, or a bigger, reason for signing the new contract was for a shot at one of hockey's most hallowed records. Only two players in NHL annals have scored more than 800 career goals, Gretzky and Gordie Howe. At the pace Ovechkin is on, when he's healthy, he should be able to pass that 800 goal mark within three years.

Even if Ovechkin can't catch and pass Gretzky for the most goals in the history of the game, at least in regular season play, that's never going to take away from anything that the Great Eight has done over the course of his distinguished career. He's a lock to head to the Hockey Hall of Fame when all is said and done. He will also go down in the history books as the greatest Russian goal scorer of all time