The Ned Braden of the 2011 NHL...

Most if not all of you know who Ned Braden is. He was the star player in the greatest sports movie ever made, Slapshot. Ned had a small problem. He was an outstanding skill player on a team of goons. And he refused to play the goon game. Despite being their best player, coach Reggie Dunlap benched him until he played a 'team game'.

 May I introduce you to Mr Tyler Seguin. The modern day Ned Braden. The #2 pick behind Taylor Hall has been a healthy scratch more often that not. Including every playoff game except the last two. Coach Julien says he "has not learned the Boston style of play" and... " he will not play the Bruin way." What he means is that Tyler....

 will not play like this. Dr Hook Tim McCracken.

 His hand forced by injuries, Julien hasa let Seguin play despite his lack of goonery... and Tyler has responded by scoring 3 goals and 3 assists in 2 games. By far Boston's most talented player, Tyler electrified the home crowd during a 4 point second period tonight on route to a 6-5 win over Tampa Bay.

Coach Julien has said with Patrice Bergeron returning for game 3, it's no guarantee that the inexperienced youngster will play.
He better.
If Boston wants to beat the more talented Lightning, they had better play Seguin, and they had better ride him the whole way.

Because if Tyler gets tired of the zoo.... it can only lead to this....

and I'm just not ready for that.

Game on! Predictions, anyone?

First up this weekend we have the Game of the Weekend. I'm hoping whomever wins this one, goes on and takes the whole shebang.

Green Bay vs Chicago. A battle of the NFC North.

 vs

 Aaron Rodgers against Jay Cutler. Two young QB's coming into their own. Should be a great one.

In the evening we have the AFC Championship. Jets at Pittsburgh.

 vs

 on paper this should be a no brainer. The Jets shouldn't even be there. But they are. That's why they play the games people.

The Great Carnac says The Pack in a close one, and Pittsburgh running away.

What say you???

Conference Championships...

Jets @ Indianapolis 1:00 MST

Vikings @ Saints 4:40 MST

Should be a great day of football. How are you doing in the contest?

CBS Football coverage

I just got through the 3 hour CBS "Lovefest with Ray Lewis and Ray Rice" debacle. I think the announcers either had just came from, or were about to go to a huge sweaty manpile in the Ravens locker room.
Nothing like hearing how much in love they are with two men. An overrated linebacker resting on his reputation of five years ago, and a young back that they spent the entire evening comparing to Emmitt Smith.
Really? One of the greatest backs to play pro football? Isn't it a wee early for that?


Anyways, some quick hits on today's action...

New Orleans looked good. Good coaching got them ready to play after a month off...
The Arizona defence looked horrible. Again. Fix it.
I hope Kurt Warner comes back again next season... too good to hang it up now.

It's a good thing they were playing Baltimore, 'cause the Colts were not sharp. They better get it going for next week or they're done.

Can't wait for tomorrow's games.....

Everyone gather around...

It's playoff football time! Arizona at New Orleans, Baltimore at Indianapolis.

Boo yeah!

My wife already has the facepaint on....

Contest Time!

EDIT: CONTEST CLOSED - Thanks for entering.


It's the playoffs baby! And that means a Waxaholic Contest!
The rules are simple. I make them up, and they're liable to change at any time.

All you have to do is pick the winners of the NFL playoffs up to and including the Super Bowl. Or be the closest to the actual results, judged unilaterally by me. No whining. There's no whining in football. I'm looking at you Tom Brady.
Also, pick the total points score in the Big Game. Just in case I make up some tie breaking rule later on.

The matchups are (like you don't already know)

NFC

#3 Dallas Cowboys
#6 Philadelphia Eagles

#4 Arizona Cardinals
#5 Green Bay Packers

The highest seeded winning team will then go to #2 Minnesota Vikings
The lowest seeded winning team will then go to #1 New Orleans Saints

The winners of those two games will then play each other for the right to go to the Super Bowl.
Are you following me camera guy?

AFC

#3 New England Patriots
#6 Baltimore Ravens

#4 Cincinnati Bengals
#5 New York Jets

The highest seeded winning team will go to play #2 San Diego Chargers
The lowest seeded winning team will go to play #1 Indianapolis Colts

The winners of those two games will then play each other for the right to lose to Dallas in the Super Bowl, I mean, go against the NFC champion in the Super Bowl.

So for an example of an answer.... reader Vince could say

Dallas over Philly
Arizona over Green Bay
Dallas over Minnesota
Arizona over New Orleans
Dallas over Arizona

Baltimore over New England
Jets over Cincy
Jets over San Diego
Indy over Baltimore
Indy over Jets

Dallas over Indy
Total Points 41

easy? right?

Get to it, guesses are due in by Friday, January 8, 2010 at 9:00pm MST

And if you're not following this blog already, what are you waiting for? You're gonna love my nuts.

PRIZES:

I'll make a list of them at a later date. They're gonna be spectacularly awesome. Winner gets a prize, a random entry will get a prize, and I'll maybe even give out a booby prize for the entrant who least knows whatthe hell they are doing. ('Scratcher and Troll are front runners for that one already)
Where else can you get a contest like this? They're gonna charge you a dollar for this at the ice cream store.

Good luck!