Its the last Sunday of the football season and that means someone tonight will be hoisting the Lombardi trophy and another guy will be saying he's heading to Disney! Of course since its the Giants I'm even more excited than usual. From the game to the commercials to the halftime act, there's something for everyone. Of course Madonna singing some horrible new song this year will be highly debated since she has a collection of hits she could tap into, but I can always use this time to go to the bathroom since when else are you expected to go?
While reading articles this past week leading up to the showdown, I started to think about superstitions. Every sport and athlete has their own quirks about this stuff but do fans also have some superstitions? I possibly might fall into that category. I have a really cool Giants shirt that my step-dad had made for me but I wore it one fateful Sunday and guess who lost? That's right. The Giants lost and where has that shirt been on Sundays since then? The drawer. A bit superstitious? Maybe. But how can I wear it when they are on such a hot streak that has lead them back to a rematch of 4 years ago? I have my Manning jersey that I have been faithfully rocking since the t-shirt loss incident and will continue to do so today. Maybe next week I can safely wear that made for me t-shirt again when the champion will have been determined and my choice of clothing can no longer affect who will win. Nuts I know, but if I as a life-long Giants fan can have a thought like this, imagine what the athletes think and go through.
As we all know Sidney Crosby comes from Planet Crosby with his mile long list of superstitions that were featured in 24/7 but they left out the fact that he refuses to talk to him mom before a game. Mom is bad luck for him since he's been injured every time he's had a pregame chat with her. Yikesss
Here's some other famous guys with some of their quirkiness, er superstitions.
-Michael Jordan always wore his UNC baby blue Tar Heel shorts under his Bulls shorts.
-Caron Butler who played for the Wizards had a few strange ones. He would chug half a 2 liter of Mountain Dew before the game and the rest at halftime. He also liked to chew on straws, but they had to be McDonald's straws. Dollar store straws be damned!
-NFLer John Henderson would have the assistant trainer slap him on the face before games. That's one way to get pumped up I suppose.
-Former Yankee closer John Wetteland used the same hat season after season after season...I'm doubting it was allowed to be washed either. Gross
-Wade Boggs is another one with a list a mile long, but how about this; pre-game meal of chicken, exactly 150 ground balls and he could only enter the batting cage at 5:17 and then started wind sprints at exactly 7:17.
-Tiger Woods in a red shirt for the final rounds, as an ode to his alma mater Standford.
-NBA player Mike Bibby in college would sleep in his game day shorts the night before a game. When he made the NBA he started to bite his nails during the game until someone gave him fingernail clippers. Now when he hits the bench he is handed his clippers to work on his nail. WOW. Would he like some polish with that?
...and of course hockey players are the worst of the bunch.....
-Goalie Patrick Roy refused to step on the red or blue lines on ice and talked to the goal posts like they were friends.
-Another goalie (they are simply just nuts) Pelle Lindbergh, would only drink a Swedish beverage called Pripps in between periods but it had to be served just right: 2 ice cubes and it must be delivered by the trainer. He also made the team keep resewing his favorite t-shirt that he wore under his uniform when it got holes in it instead of getting a new one.
-Current Czar of discipline Brendan Shanahan should enjoy today's halftime show, since he used to rock out to Madonna before games.
-The Senators have a team superstition in hotels. They stay in the same hotel in each city and if they begin to lose to the home team too much, they switch hotels.
-Danny Briere rewards his sticks. He has 3 with him and if he has a good game, he gives that stick the night off.
-Joe Nieuwendyk eats 2 pieces of toast before games and they can only have peanut butter on them
Suddenly my t-shirt issues don't seem so crazy. But to keep myself sane, I'll wear my number 10 jersey. You don't mess with success do you?
Showing posts with label Giants. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Giants. Show all posts
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Monday, August 15, 2011
Roundup.....
First off, I demand to know where summer has gone. The sun has been hiding for 5 days now and it's been rainy and miserable. Uncalled for since it's still August. Even in PA, summer usually still exists in August. Of course this fall-like weather just ushers in those feelings of football and hockey creeping back into our everyday lives. Now the question is how many days left till the first puck is dropped and I'm so glad you asked. Please click on this handy dandy link to find out. Seriously someone must be losing his or her mind waiting for the season, but this is pure genius. Love it.
The Penguins had to go into damage control somewhere between last night and this afternoon thank to a tweet from Josh Rimer of NHL Radio on XM. Rimer tweeted "Hearing from 3 sources now that Sidney Crosby won't b ready 2 start season. I hope it's not true because the NHL needs its best players!" Of course this set the free world into a frantic frenzy that Crosby was dying again. Seriously people, he most likely suffered 2 concussions in a 5 day period and the symptoms from the first at the Winter Classic never came to a head till the second one really rattled him. Yes, it was scary and still is, especially since he's only 24 and has been out this long, but the Penguins have set the new standard for how a concussion should be dealt with if you ask me.
SuperShero held a media scrum this afternoon to defend against Rimer's tweet. He said the same stuff anyone with half a brain already had figured out. Crosby has been practicing, he's been ramping up his workouts and it's when he tries to be superman that he begins to have issues. Well Shero didn't say that exactly but based off what people have said about his off-season workouts over the years, they aren't for the faint of heart and we all already now what is acceptable for the average hockey player is probably an F in the Crosby school of grading. I have faith he will be okay in the end.
Shero of course pointed out the obvious once again since some people in the world don't quite get it yet. "....That’s the thing for me and for the organization is the bigger picture with Sidney Crosby making sure that he is 100 percent cleared and ready to play when he does come back. He’s not going to be pushed to come back to practice or play. I want to make sure a year from now, three years from now, five years from now that he’s still the best player in the league and take the appropriate steps and back him, and go from there." Couldn't have said it better.
Another gem from this media scrum was when someone asked if he thought it would be better for Crosby to be in Pitt and not in Nova Scoita. "No, I don't think so. I think he’s a creature of habit and this is what he does in the summertime." Understatement of the year that Mr. Crosby is a creature of habit. This is the guy who walks around the arena to avoid the visiting locker room door and has to have a PB&J like a 5 year old before every game, just to name a few of the quirks he exposed us to on 24/7. I'm sure him being in Pitt for the off-season would be similar to a lost puppy dog.
One positive piece of news out of the Crosby world was he celebrated his 24th birthday last week. Yes, 24. He's already won everything in hockey so I guess he'll be looking for duplicates and triplicates now. A cup ring for each finger? No clue, but this is why he won't be rushed back. He's a whopping 24. The real question is when do people stop referring to him as Sid the Kid? I'm thinking 25 might be the cutoff but what do I really know.
Moving away from Crosby and onto the Great One's son. Trevor Gretzky has signed with the Chicago Cubs and will be playing in their farm system for the time being. Probably the smartest thing Trevor ever did was pick up a baseball bat. It's one thing to follow your father into a sport. It's another when he's considered the Greatest one to play the game. He's much better off making and breaking records in a sport where he won't be compared to or put down by critics if he doesn't match his father's records. Wayne was a generational talent and by not having his son follow him into the NHL I think will let Trevor truly be a great baseball player in his own right.
Captain oh Captain....
Many teams wait till training camp to announce new Captains and Assistant captains and many let it be a team vote/decision which really justifies the title of Captain to me. Of course many Captains are obvious choices so here are 3 teams with some easy decisions that should have little drama surrounding them.
The Flyers have apparently been Chris Pronger's team but the wrong guy was wearing the C. Since shipping Mike Richards to the Blue Jackets, the C is Pronger's for the taking. Unless the equipment guy sews the C on 68 by mistake, this a shoo-in.
Another no brainer is the Rangers putting a C on Ryan Cahallan's chest. Since he got a 3 year deal done to avoid arbitration, I don't see why there would be any issue. I also would put money on the home grown talent of Marc Staal and the $60 million dollar man that is Brad Richards to be wearing the A's this season.
Parise wearing the C for the Devils should be a no brainer. Since he only has a one year deal, I wouldn't be shocked for the Devils to go with 3 A's this season or a rotating C (which to me is the most ridiculous thing to ever happen in the world of Captaincy). I vote for 3 A's and if they get a long-term deal done with him then give him the C he has earned. No point in making him a Captain if he could leave after a season.
NFL Corner
The NFL pre-season officially began this past weekend!! Woohoo. About time. I think the most interesting thing I've learned is that even the most die-hard of Eagle fans are scared of their "Dream Team" busting up at some point. I kind of love it. Especially since they acquired Steve Smith of the NY Giants with his surgically repaired knee, now it seems the Eagles have backtracked a little bit on how ready he really is. Didn't the Giants say this all along?
I also would love to know what Kevin Boss was smoking when he signed a contract to play for Al Davis. Forget the fact that it's the Raiders, the man agreed to play for one of the craziest owner in all of sports. I understand few players will stay for less money but I'd stay for less if it meant I'd never have to decipher the cryptic sayings of my owner. Good luck because I seriously think you might need it.
I've become something of a twitter head this summer. I write something sporadically but the best part of twitter is stalking people. Especially famous people and athletes. I've been following some semi-boring, semi-interesting and highly amusing athletes this summer and will share with you tomorrow my thoughts on social media and it's place in sports. Plus my take on who has the most fun and uses it best. Hint: BizNasty takes the cake.
The Penguins had to go into damage control somewhere between last night and this afternoon thank to a tweet from Josh Rimer of NHL Radio on XM. Rimer tweeted "Hearing from 3 sources now that Sidney Crosby won't b ready 2 start season. I hope it's not true because the NHL needs its best players!" Of course this set the free world into a frantic frenzy that Crosby was dying again. Seriously people, he most likely suffered 2 concussions in a 5 day period and the symptoms from the first at the Winter Classic never came to a head till the second one really rattled him. Yes, it was scary and still is, especially since he's only 24 and has been out this long, but the Penguins have set the new standard for how a concussion should be dealt with if you ask me.
SuperShero held a media scrum this afternoon to defend against Rimer's tweet. He said the same stuff anyone with half a brain already had figured out. Crosby has been practicing, he's been ramping up his workouts and it's when he tries to be superman that he begins to have issues. Well Shero didn't say that exactly but based off what people have said about his off-season workouts over the years, they aren't for the faint of heart and we all already now what is acceptable for the average hockey player is probably an F in the Crosby school of grading. I have faith he will be okay in the end.
Shero of course pointed out the obvious once again since some people in the world don't quite get it yet. "....That’s the thing for me and for the organization is the bigger picture with Sidney Crosby making sure that he is 100 percent cleared and ready to play when he does come back. He’s not going to be pushed to come back to practice or play. I want to make sure a year from now, three years from now, five years from now that he’s still the best player in the league and take the appropriate steps and back him, and go from there." Couldn't have said it better.
Another gem from this media scrum was when someone asked if he thought it would be better for Crosby to be in Pitt and not in Nova Scoita. "No, I don't think so. I think he’s a creature of habit and this is what he does in the summertime." Understatement of the year that Mr. Crosby is a creature of habit. This is the guy who walks around the arena to avoid the visiting locker room door and has to have a PB&J like a 5 year old before every game, just to name a few of the quirks he exposed us to on 24/7. I'm sure him being in Pitt for the off-season would be similar to a lost puppy dog.
One positive piece of news out of the Crosby world was he celebrated his 24th birthday last week. Yes, 24. He's already won everything in hockey so I guess he'll be looking for duplicates and triplicates now. A cup ring for each finger? No clue, but this is why he won't be rushed back. He's a whopping 24. The real question is when do people stop referring to him as Sid the Kid? I'm thinking 25 might be the cutoff but what do I really know.
Moving away from Crosby and onto the Great One's son. Trevor Gretzky has signed with the Chicago Cubs and will be playing in their farm system for the time being. Probably the smartest thing Trevor ever did was pick up a baseball bat. It's one thing to follow your father into a sport. It's another when he's considered the Greatest one to play the game. He's much better off making and breaking records in a sport where he won't be compared to or put down by critics if he doesn't match his father's records. Wayne was a generational talent and by not having his son follow him into the NHL I think will let Trevor truly be a great baseball player in his own right.
Captain oh Captain....
Many teams wait till training camp to announce new Captains and Assistant captains and many let it be a team vote/decision which really justifies the title of Captain to me. Of course many Captains are obvious choices so here are 3 teams with some easy decisions that should have little drama surrounding them.
The Flyers have apparently been Chris Pronger's team but the wrong guy was wearing the C. Since shipping Mike Richards to the Blue Jackets, the C is Pronger's for the taking. Unless the equipment guy sews the C on 68 by mistake, this a shoo-in.
Another no brainer is the Rangers putting a C on Ryan Cahallan's chest. Since he got a 3 year deal done to avoid arbitration, I don't see why there would be any issue. I also would put money on the home grown talent of Marc Staal and the $60 million dollar man that is Brad Richards to be wearing the A's this season.
Parise wearing the C for the Devils should be a no brainer. Since he only has a one year deal, I wouldn't be shocked for the Devils to go with 3 A's this season or a rotating C (which to me is the most ridiculous thing to ever happen in the world of Captaincy). I vote for 3 A's and if they get a long-term deal done with him then give him the C he has earned. No point in making him a Captain if he could leave after a season.
NFL Corner
The NFL pre-season officially began this past weekend!! Woohoo. About time. I think the most interesting thing I've learned is that even the most die-hard of Eagle fans are scared of their "Dream Team" busting up at some point. I kind of love it. Especially since they acquired Steve Smith of the NY Giants with his surgically repaired knee, now it seems the Eagles have backtracked a little bit on how ready he really is. Didn't the Giants say this all along?
I also would love to know what Kevin Boss was smoking when he signed a contract to play for Al Davis. Forget the fact that it's the Raiders, the man agreed to play for one of the craziest owner in all of sports. I understand few players will stay for less money but I'd stay for less if it meant I'd never have to decipher the cryptic sayings of my owner. Good luck because I seriously think you might need it.
I've become something of a twitter head this summer. I write something sporadically but the best part of twitter is stalking people. Especially famous people and athletes. I've been following some semi-boring, semi-interesting and highly amusing athletes this summer and will share with you tomorrow my thoughts on social media and it's place in sports. Plus my take on who has the most fun and uses it best. Hint: BizNasty takes the cake.
Friday, August 5, 2011
Where has the Time Gone?
It's already August 5th which is just insane to me. Been a busy last week or so for me, but not so busy in the hockey world. Teams seem to have settled with rosters (till training camp opens next month) and the major players have been signed. Seriously when the best headlines you can find are about Sean Avery and Patrick Kane being very Sean and Patrick like, you know the times are slow.
Avery was arrested last night at his LA house for shoving a cop that dared to appear at his house when his party got a bit to loud for his neighbors on a Thursday night. Obviously the Sean Avery calendar doesn't understand the meaning of work on a Friday morning. He posted bail and is free to make more loud noises till his trial next month. Interestingly enough Avery is a poster boy for causing problems but the extent of his issues have never come to law enforcement. Just enforcing his opinions (right or wrong) on the ice and at fellow players. Of course this happened to a guy currently in the 2nd biggest TV market in the country that happens to play for a team located in the biggest. Therefore this story is going to take some wild twists and turns. Oy vey.
Patrick Kane showed up on a some blog drunk at a Belmar bar (Jersey Shore). Most shocking part of this- we haven't had evidence of him hitting up a shore bar before. Least shocking- he hit up a Jersey Shore bar. The boy seems to show up everywhere but a game drunk, so this is really just a natural progression. Yeah buddy!! (Jersey Shore reference, moving on)
In real hockey news (yup, believe it or not something actually happened that has impact), Shea Weber was awarded the biggest one-year deal in arbitration history setting a new bench mark for lesser players to dream of attaining. While Weber dreams of ways to spend his $3million plus raise ($7.5 million for this season which makes him a top 10 paid player this season), the Predators are probably having nightmares about what to do next summer when he is once again a RFA and will need yet another contract. GM David Polie will need to do some serious number crunching as Pekka Rinne and Ryan Suter are due new contracts next summer. If they can't make Weber happy, will Rinne and Suter stay on? If they elect to leave, will Weber follow suit and bring his services to another team. One thing is clear- the Predators made the playoffs this year and have that bittersweet taste of what a trip to the Cup could be like and they want more. But if you aren't going to pay them, then the better players will almost always follow the trail of hundred dollar bills for a year-in and year-out playoff contender. Wonder which way Polie will go?
In other news....
NFL is back in the swing of things. Camps are open, criminals have contracts for more money than I will ever make and Favre still can't figure out what to do. Basically they are back to their old tricks.
Osi Umenyiora is being typical Osi. Every team has to have their problem child and he is theirs. The Giants are done with wanting to trade him but they also don't want to pay him anymore. Baby Soapbox: Seriously dude, you are due to make like $7million this season to play football. Games are once a week, for 16 weeks if you don't make the playoffs. Since your always injured you will most like roll in your millions on the IR at some point so please, just find your cleats and zip your mouth.
While the headache of Osi rolls onward, Kevin Boss will be moving upward. Wait, I meant onward. To the Raiders. So basically Eli can throw the ball anywhere he pleases and no one can say he made a bad pass since there's no one to target right? Awesome, so when does hockey start again?
In baseball, while Jeter still reigns as the King of all things Yankee and NY, A-Rod has been rehabbing his knee after surgery in sunny Tampa. I guess he wanted to make sure no one missed him or forgot about him so enter the story of poker-gate 2011. The story is so twisted and crazy, if you didn't tell me it involved A-Rod, I'd believe you made the whole thing up as a plot for a movie. If I had his money, I'd have bought private island and would never been seen unless they need me at the game. Of course it's A-Rod so maybe he would lose the island in an illegal poker game. Ahhhh it never ends with him...
Avery was arrested last night at his LA house for shoving a cop that dared to appear at his house when his party got a bit to loud for his neighbors on a Thursday night. Obviously the Sean Avery calendar doesn't understand the meaning of work on a Friday morning. He posted bail and is free to make more loud noises till his trial next month. Interestingly enough Avery is a poster boy for causing problems but the extent of his issues have never come to law enforcement. Just enforcing his opinions (right or wrong) on the ice and at fellow players. Of course this happened to a guy currently in the 2nd biggest TV market in the country that happens to play for a team located in the biggest. Therefore this story is going to take some wild twists and turns. Oy vey.
Patrick Kane showed up on a some blog drunk at a Belmar bar (Jersey Shore). Most shocking part of this- we haven't had evidence of him hitting up a shore bar before. Least shocking- he hit up a Jersey Shore bar. The boy seems to show up everywhere but a game drunk, so this is really just a natural progression. Yeah buddy!! (Jersey Shore reference, moving on)
In real hockey news (yup, believe it or not something actually happened that has impact), Shea Weber was awarded the biggest one-year deal in arbitration history setting a new bench mark for lesser players to dream of attaining. While Weber dreams of ways to spend his $3million plus raise ($7.5 million for this season which makes him a top 10 paid player this season), the Predators are probably having nightmares about what to do next summer when he is once again a RFA and will need yet another contract. GM David Polie will need to do some serious number crunching as Pekka Rinne and Ryan Suter are due new contracts next summer. If they can't make Weber happy, will Rinne and Suter stay on? If they elect to leave, will Weber follow suit and bring his services to another team. One thing is clear- the Predators made the playoffs this year and have that bittersweet taste of what a trip to the Cup could be like and they want more. But if you aren't going to pay them, then the better players will almost always follow the trail of hundred dollar bills for a year-in and year-out playoff contender. Wonder which way Polie will go?
In other news....
NFL is back in the swing of things. Camps are open, criminals have contracts for more money than I will ever make and Favre still can't figure out what to do. Basically they are back to their old tricks.
Osi Umenyiora is being typical Osi. Every team has to have their problem child and he is theirs. The Giants are done with wanting to trade him but they also don't want to pay him anymore. Baby Soapbox: Seriously dude, you are due to make like $7million this season to play football. Games are once a week, for 16 weeks if you don't make the playoffs. Since your always injured you will most like roll in your millions on the IR at some point so please, just find your cleats and zip your mouth.
While the headache of Osi rolls onward, Kevin Boss will be moving upward. Wait, I meant onward. To the Raiders. So basically Eli can throw the ball anywhere he pleases and no one can say he made a bad pass since there's no one to target right? Awesome, so when does hockey start again?
In baseball, while Jeter still reigns as the King of all things Yankee and NY, A-Rod has been rehabbing his knee after surgery in sunny Tampa. I guess he wanted to make sure no one missed him or forgot about him so enter the story of poker-gate 2011. The story is so twisted and crazy, if you didn't tell me it involved A-Rod, I'd believe you made the whole thing up as a plot for a movie. If I had his money, I'd have bought private island and would never been seen unless they need me at the game. Of course it's A-Rod so maybe he would lose the island in an illegal poker game. Ahhhh it never ends with him...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)