"The nature of poker is for bad play to sometimes be rewarded and good play sometimes be punished. It's what keeps the fish coming back for more and ultimately pads my bankroll."
-Eric "Rizen" Lynch
Monday, August 13, 2007
Thursday, June 14, 2007
NHL Awards Prediction
I hate work!!!! As a result of work, I have to turn down an offer to attend the 2007 NHL Awards Ceremony held at the Elgin Theatre on June 14th.
Onwards with the prediction.
Hart Memorial Trophy - Team MVP
Sidney Crosby - Winner
Martin Brodeur
Roberto Luongo
Sid the kid came back from his rookie season to put up even better numbers to lead his team to the playoffs. Even better is that he did it as a 19 year-old.
Vezina Trophy - Best Goalkeeper
Martin Brodeur
Miikka Kiprusoff
Henrik Lundqvist
Roberto Luongo - Winner
Pretty disgusting that Brodeur will be shut out with awards in a season where he put up career best (and league record) in wins, and led the NHL in shutouts. But Luongo turned the Canucks around single-handedly, and I believe the sports-writers who voted on this award will probably give the award to Luongo based on the fact that Canucks would not have the record they have without Luongo.
Calder Memorial Trophy - Best Rookie
Evgeni Malkin - Winner
Jordan Staal
Paul Stastny
Nothing again Stastny, but like Crosby, just bad timing. Malkin lived up to the pre-season hype much like Crosby did just a year ago. Malkin is pretty much the run-away winner for this award. Jordan Staal was simply amazing doing what he did as a 18 year-old this season, but he is a distant third IMO.
James Norris Memorial Trophy - Best Defenceman
Nicklas Lidstrom - Winner
Scott Niedermayer
Chris Pronger
Probably the hardest award to pick a winner for this year. Nick Lidstrom was simply amazing in leading the Wings to win their division the year after Yzerman and Shanahan left the team. It just seems like every year the same 3-4 players are nominated for this award. With the voting taking place before the playoffs, I think its down to Pronger and Lidstrom. Pronger and Lidstrom had similar stats, but Pronger played 10 or so less games. I am going to lean towards Lidstrom, simply because he inherited the C from Yzerman, and carried it to a division champion. Pronger is going to be a very close second, but the overall voting will be VERY close between all 3 finalists.
Jack Adams Trophy - Best Coach
Lindy Ruff
Michel Therrien - Winner
Alain Vigneault
Like the Vezina, the coach with the best stats will not win this award. Lindy Ruff won this award last year simply because no one expected the Sabres to achieve the level that they did. And this year, Michel Therrien will win the award simply because Pittsburgh over-achieved, or performed beyond expectation. While Therrien will win the trophy, Ruff will be a runner-up despite leading the Sabres to a President Cup winning year.
Lester B. Pearson - Best player as voted by players
Sidney Crosby - Winner
Vincent Lecavalier
Roberto Luongo
Hard to go against Crosby for everything he did this year, both personal stats and team wise. But for some reason I have this gut feeling that it might go to Lacavalier or Luongo.
Onwards with the prediction.
Hart Memorial Trophy - Team MVP
Sidney Crosby - Winner
Martin Brodeur
Roberto Luongo
Sid the kid came back from his rookie season to put up even better numbers to lead his team to the playoffs. Even better is that he did it as a 19 year-old.
Vezina Trophy - Best Goalkeeper
Martin Brodeur
Miikka Kiprusoff
Henrik Lundqvist
Roberto Luongo - Winner
Pretty disgusting that Brodeur will be shut out with awards in a season where he put up career best (and league record) in wins, and led the NHL in shutouts. But Luongo turned the Canucks around single-handedly, and I believe the sports-writers who voted on this award will probably give the award to Luongo based on the fact that Canucks would not have the record they have without Luongo.
Calder Memorial Trophy - Best Rookie
Evgeni Malkin - Winner
Jordan Staal
Paul Stastny
Nothing again Stastny, but like Crosby, just bad timing. Malkin lived up to the pre-season hype much like Crosby did just a year ago. Malkin is pretty much the run-away winner for this award. Jordan Staal was simply amazing doing what he did as a 18 year-old this season, but he is a distant third IMO.
James Norris Memorial Trophy - Best Defenceman
Nicklas Lidstrom - Winner
Scott Niedermayer
Chris Pronger
Probably the hardest award to pick a winner for this year. Nick Lidstrom was simply amazing in leading the Wings to win their division the year after Yzerman and Shanahan left the team. It just seems like every year the same 3-4 players are nominated for this award. With the voting taking place before the playoffs, I think its down to Pronger and Lidstrom. Pronger and Lidstrom had similar stats, but Pronger played 10 or so less games. I am going to lean towards Lidstrom, simply because he inherited the C from Yzerman, and carried it to a division champion. Pronger is going to be a very close second, but the overall voting will be VERY close between all 3 finalists.
Jack Adams Trophy - Best Coach
Lindy Ruff
Michel Therrien - Winner
Alain Vigneault
Like the Vezina, the coach with the best stats will not win this award. Lindy Ruff won this award last year simply because no one expected the Sabres to achieve the level that they did. And this year, Michel Therrien will win the award simply because Pittsburgh over-achieved, or performed beyond expectation. While Therrien will win the trophy, Ruff will be a runner-up despite leading the Sabres to a President Cup winning year.
Lester B. Pearson - Best player as voted by players
Sidney Crosby - Winner
Vincent Lecavalier
Roberto Luongo
Hard to go against Crosby for everything he did this year, both personal stats and team wise. But for some reason I have this gut feeling that it might go to Lacavalier or Luongo.
Thursday, June 07, 2007
NBA Finals Prediction
Spurs in 5. Another playoff MVP for Duncan. Lebron carries his team but falls short.
Friday, May 25, 2007
NBA Conference Finals, Stanley Cup Finals + Random Rants
Ok, so I'm behind...oh wellz.
Here it goes: Did not expect Ottawa to beat Buffalo, let alone in 5 games. Also did not foresee Gary Bettman putting in 6 off-days between the end of the conference finals and the Stanley Cup finals. Way to let all the excitement from the past series slowly dies. If this was like a Toronto/Calgary, or some sort of bigger matchup, then sure, you can make the argument of letting the excitement build. But its Anaheim for crying out loud! I love their team, but the interest there is no where close to what it would be had it been Calgary, or even Detroit. Be that as it may, prediction.
Anaheim 4 - 3 Ottawa
Both teams have been playing well throughout the playoffs, but Ottawa definitely have been more dominant. You can even argue that Anaheim got lucky to make it this far. I STILL don't think Ray Emery is the real deal, and I think the top 3 defencemen for Anaheim will shutdown the big 3 offencesive threat for Ottawa, with the secondary scorers being the difference in the series. I would say Anaheim in 6, but I think Ottawa has played so well that they will make this an interesting series.
NBA Conference Finals:
I know I'm behind, with Detroit already winning 2-0 in the series, but like I have stated in the past, Detroit is head and shoulders above every other team in the East. Especially a team like the Cavs, where the team's success really depends on one player. To a certain degree, I thought the Nets would put up a better fight against the Cavs, and definitely thought they would be able to contain Lebron, maybe not to a degree which they shut down Bosh, but definitely make him less of an impact in the series.
I have no clue how Detroit let Chicago almost made a series out of that series. Felt like they just let their foot off the pedal and it almost went the distance. I don't see the same mistake from the very experienced Detroit ball-club. Taking Detroit in 5.
The suspensions in the Spurs/Suns series totally became the vocal point of a series that could've been better than any potential NBA Finals. And then you get David Stern sticking his nose in and disrupting the series. With that said, Spurs in 6. No team have been able to find an answer for Tim Duncan so far this playoff, and I don't see any of the Utah defenders being able to either. Utah will win a couple of games by simply out-scoring the Spurs, but experience and excellent coaching will lead the Spurs to the finals.
Other random thoughts:
Is it just me, or does anyone else think Bud Selig is...for a lack of a better word...a moron? He sets up a commission to investigate into the whole steriod issue without success, and suddenly Jason Giambi steps-up and admits to taking "stuff". Bud Selig, could've easily put his foot down, and applaud Giambi for "being-a-man" and admitting what he did, and then turn around and offer anyone and everyone who is willing to come clean to the commission a pardon. One, the commission will actually have something and someone to work with, and two, Bud Selig could potentially be THE guy to clean up baseball from performance enhancing drugs.
But no, Bud Selig wanted to sit back and react based on how the public reacts. He wanted to make sure his decision and statement follows the way the public feel. He takes his time, saying he will have a meeting with Giambi, and nothing more. All that does, and will do, is simply to assure those who have taken "stuff", to not come clean, in order to avoid a meeting with the boss which could potentially lead to another issue. So what happens is that the commission, will simply sit on their butts while they could've easily had more people testify then they can handle, simply based on Bud Selig's stupidity.
With Barry Bonds getting closer and closer to the record, I could careless whether or not he beats Hank Aaron's record or not. Now Bud Selig has another brain-fart moment, and decide to state publicly that he will not be in attendance for if/when Bonds break the record. Now I will admit that I have not been a Bonds fan, and probably will never be, but being the commissioner of a league where one of the most prestigious record is being broken, it simply does not make sense for you to have excuses and not attend. It doesn't matter whether or not his personal opinion of Bonds is regarding the usage of performance enhancing drugs. The fact of the matter is, one of the players, probably one of the best in the history of the league, is about to break one of the most prestigious record in your league. You (and many other people) believe he might be breaking the record "with help", but you have yet to prove that Bonds is guilty, and you should be there, like you would if Albert Pujols breaks Bonds' single season home-run record. Until you are able to prove that Bonds used performance enhancing drugs to break the record, the event should be treated with the respect it deserves.
Ok...now that these issues are off my chest...a couple more
-Man Utd. in HK in August will a full team...=(
-And I need a vacation...
ttow! (yes, its back!)
Here it goes: Did not expect Ottawa to beat Buffalo, let alone in 5 games. Also did not foresee Gary Bettman putting in 6 off-days between the end of the conference finals and the Stanley Cup finals. Way to let all the excitement from the past series slowly dies. If this was like a Toronto/Calgary, or some sort of bigger matchup, then sure, you can make the argument of letting the excitement build. But its Anaheim for crying out loud! I love their team, but the interest there is no where close to what it would be had it been Calgary, or even Detroit. Be that as it may, prediction.
Anaheim 4 - 3 Ottawa
Both teams have been playing well throughout the playoffs, but Ottawa definitely have been more dominant. You can even argue that Anaheim got lucky to make it this far. I STILL don't think Ray Emery is the real deal, and I think the top 3 defencemen for Anaheim will shutdown the big 3 offencesive threat for Ottawa, with the secondary scorers being the difference in the series. I would say Anaheim in 6, but I think Ottawa has played so well that they will make this an interesting series.
NBA Conference Finals:
I know I'm behind, with Detroit already winning 2-0 in the series, but like I have stated in the past, Detroit is head and shoulders above every other team in the East. Especially a team like the Cavs, where the team's success really depends on one player. To a certain degree, I thought the Nets would put up a better fight against the Cavs, and definitely thought they would be able to contain Lebron, maybe not to a degree which they shut down Bosh, but definitely make him less of an impact in the series.
I have no clue how Detroit let Chicago almost made a series out of that series. Felt like they just let their foot off the pedal and it almost went the distance. I don't see the same mistake from the very experienced Detroit ball-club. Taking Detroit in 5.
The suspensions in the Spurs/Suns series totally became the vocal point of a series that could've been better than any potential NBA Finals. And then you get David Stern sticking his nose in and disrupting the series. With that said, Spurs in 6. No team have been able to find an answer for Tim Duncan so far this playoff, and I don't see any of the Utah defenders being able to either. Utah will win a couple of games by simply out-scoring the Spurs, but experience and excellent coaching will lead the Spurs to the finals.
Other random thoughts:
Is it just me, or does anyone else think Bud Selig is...for a lack of a better word...a moron? He sets up a commission to investigate into the whole steriod issue without success, and suddenly Jason Giambi steps-up and admits to taking "stuff". Bud Selig, could've easily put his foot down, and applaud Giambi for "being-a-man" and admitting what he did, and then turn around and offer anyone and everyone who is willing to come clean to the commission a pardon. One, the commission will actually have something and someone to work with, and two, Bud Selig could potentially be THE guy to clean up baseball from performance enhancing drugs.
But no, Bud Selig wanted to sit back and react based on how the public reacts. He wanted to make sure his decision and statement follows the way the public feel. He takes his time, saying he will have a meeting with Giambi, and nothing more. All that does, and will do, is simply to assure those who have taken "stuff", to not come clean, in order to avoid a meeting with the boss which could potentially lead to another issue. So what happens is that the commission, will simply sit on their butts while they could've easily had more people testify then they can handle, simply based on Bud Selig's stupidity.
With Barry Bonds getting closer and closer to the record, I could careless whether or not he beats Hank Aaron's record or not. Now Bud Selig has another brain-fart moment, and decide to state publicly that he will not be in attendance for if/when Bonds break the record. Now I will admit that I have not been a Bonds fan, and probably will never be, but being the commissioner of a league where one of the most prestigious record is being broken, it simply does not make sense for you to have excuses and not attend. It doesn't matter whether or not his personal opinion of Bonds is regarding the usage of performance enhancing drugs. The fact of the matter is, one of the players, probably one of the best in the history of the league, is about to break one of the most prestigious record in your league. You (and many other people) believe he might be breaking the record "with help", but you have yet to prove that Bonds is guilty, and you should be there, like you would if Albert Pujols breaks Bonds' single season home-run record. Until you are able to prove that Bonds used performance enhancing drugs to break the record, the event should be treated with the respect it deserves.
Ok...now that these issues are off my chest...a couple more
-Man Utd. in HK in August will a full team...=(
-And I need a vacation...
ttow! (yes, its back!)
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
NHL Playoff Round 3
Round 2 Predictions (results)
Sabres 4 - 2 Rangers (4 - 2)
Devils 4 - 3 Senators (1 - 4)
Red Wings 3 - 4 Sharks (4 - 2)
Ducks 4 - 2 Canucks (4 - 1)
Certainly didn't think Senators could finish off the Devils in 5. Alfredsson has done his share this year to downplay his performance in previous playoffs. I still don't think Ray Emery is the real deal, and Buffalo is certainly the best in the East IMO.
As far as the West, Canucks, like predicted, did not generate enough offence to push them beyond the first round. I did not expect the Sharks to melt down the way they did after game 3. I think Detroit's age will catch up to them in this series.
Sabres 4 - 2 Senators
Ducks 4 - 2 Red Wings
Sabres 4 - 2 Rangers (4 - 2)
Devils 4 - 3 Senators (1 - 4)
Red Wings 3 - 4 Sharks (4 - 2)
Ducks 4 - 2 Canucks (4 - 1)
Certainly didn't think Senators could finish off the Devils in 5. Alfredsson has done his share this year to downplay his performance in previous playoffs. I still don't think Ray Emery is the real deal, and Buffalo is certainly the best in the East IMO.
As far as the West, Canucks, like predicted, did not generate enough offence to push them beyond the first round. I did not expect the Sharks to melt down the way they did after game 3. I think Detroit's age will catch up to them in this series.
Sabres 4 - 2 Senators
Ducks 4 - 2 Red Wings
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