Hey guys! The Autistic Sports Nerd here and the match-up for the Stanley Cup Finals has been determined. Let's get right into it.
NHL
The first sweep in this year's NHL Playoffs took place and ironically it's a number one seed getting swept in a Conference Championship round. That's right, the San Jose Sharks got swept by the Blackhawks and as a result, the Blackhawks are now in the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 1992. Hopefully third time is the charm for Marion Hossa. He lost in 2008 with the Penguins against the Red Wings. In 2009 he lost with the Red Wings against the Penguins. Man, that's bad luck. Hopefully he has better luck with the Blackhawks.
In the East, the clock strikes midnight for the Montreal Canadiens. They could not overcome a 3-1 deficit in the series like they did in the first two rounds and as a result, they lost to the #7 Seed Philadelphia Flyers in five games.
It's now the Blackhawks and the Flyers in the Stanley Cup Finals. The Flyers are a surprising and well-balanced team and the Blackhawks are young, fast, and exciting to watch. The Flyers have the experience, especially with Chris Pronger who won the cup in 2007 with the Anaheim Ducks. Never the less, I will pick the Blackhawks to win the Cup in seven hard fought games.
NBA
The Lakers have a 2-1 lead in the series against the Suns in the Western Conference Finals. Steve Nash suffered a broken nose in Game Three's win but he will still be able to play in Game four.
The Magic, who were embarrassed in Game three on the road, won in the first overtime of the 2010 NBA Playoffs in Game Four to avoid elimination. I hope the Magic somehow rally and beat the Celtics. After Game three, I was amazed to hear all of the ESPNEWS anchors (I'm not talking about the analysts, I mean ANCHORS) making fun of the Magic and declaring the series over.
I had a vibe for Doc Rivers and the Celtic players that they felt the series was already over during their press conferences.
Imagine if the Celtics blow a 3-0 series advantage like the Bruins did? It would be a huge nightmare for the City of Boston.
MLB
The Mets take two out of three from the Yankees in the first round of the Subway Series in 2010 at Citi Field. The Mets starting pitching dominated and the Yankees' bats didn't come to life in the final two games until the later innings when it was too late.
The National League in general finished over .500 over the American League in the first weekend of inter-league play. The Question is, will they FINALLY win the All Star Game this year? Their last All-Star Game Victory took place in 1996 in Philadelphia.
Another Question, should Inter-league stay? It's not going anywhere anytime soon but it still causes huge debates.
In my opinion, inter-league should stay because it creates new rivalries, and attendance has been up since inter-league was introduced in 1997. However, it is unfair that AMerican League pitchers who most haven't had an at bat since High School, be forced to hit in National League Ballparks. I'm not saying get rid of National League rules since it's more natural to have a pitcher hit than it os to have a Designated Hitter. Maybe the AMerican League should get rid of the DH spot and have their pitchers hit in all 162 games of the season.
When Inter-league games are played in National League Cities, the American League teams are at a huge disadvantage with the current Status Quo because at least the National League pitchers are used to hitting because they have done it all year. Plus the National League managers are better at developing strategy for these kinds of situations in the late innings over the American League Managers.
A change in the Status Quo could help increase the attendance in American League Ballparks because the fans will see something different since they would see their favorite pitchers getting up to bat. It will decrease hit batters because the pitcher would have to get up to bat and worry about getting hit if he plunks a star player from the other team. It will also prevent injuries if the pitcher bats more. See Chen Ming Wang on Father's day of 2008 in Houston who got injured running around the bases because he wasn't used to batting. His career went downhill after suffering that injury.
Those are the reason why the American League should adopt the National League rules.
NFL and Autism Awareness
Last year, retired NFL players had a golf tournament to benefit the Autism SPeaks Foundation. The Late Steve McNair came up with the idea. The cousin of the Late McNair is a doctor who does research on Autism.
This past April, celebrities and athletes signed memorabilia to donate for sale with all money made going to the Autism Speaks Foundation. One of those athletes......Brett Favre!!
Favre, you are a great man! Forget all the horrible things I said about you.
Constantly all over ESPN?
That's the media's fault, not yours.
Changing your mind back and forth about retirement?
Hey, we all can't make up our minds about certain things.
Ran up the Score in that playoff game against the Cowboys?
Hey, I strongly dislike the Cowboys, so it was a good thing!
Whenever I see Brett Favre on my television in the future, I will look on and say, "that man donated to the Autism Speaks Foundation!"
I'm the Autistic Sports Nerd, have a good day guys!!
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Monday, May 17, 2010
*The One Year Anniversary Special*
Hey guys! The Autistic Sports Nerd here. May 18th 2009 at 1:18 a.m, I posted my first ever blog post. This is the one year anniversary of my blog.
Future Ex-Girlfriend: Autistic Sports Nerd, when is our anniversary? What was the date we became a couple?
Autistic Sports Nerd: Ummm.....February 30th?
Future Ex-Girlfriend: Wrong!
Autistic Sports Nerd: Eh, I tried.
Let's get right into it!
NHL
The city of Boston got a taste of its own medicine. The Red Sox may have been able to come back from a three games to nothing deficit over the Yankees in the 2004 American League Championship Series but the City of Boston has suffered the same fate.
The Boston Bruins were up three games to nothing over the Philadelphia Flyers in this year's Eastern Conference Semi-Finals. They lost four straight to Philly and are eliminated. This is actually worse than the Yankees' collapse because the Yankees had such a bad pitching staff that year, so bad they used a "well out of his prime"-Kevin Brown as their Game 7 starter.
With their pitching and Boston's monster lineup that year, it was more of a miracle that the Yankees were up three games to nothing in the first place as opposed to losing four straight games.
The Boston Bruins on the other hand, were a great defensive team with great goal-tending. At least the Yankees were blown out in Game 7. The Bruins were actually up 3-0 in Game 7 alone. They surrendered four unanswered goals to the Flyers and lost four three. Game 7's story sums up the story of the series so well with the Flyers coming back from a 3-0 deficit in both the series and in Game 7 vs. the Bruins.
Bruins, you were the Number One Seed last year and lost in the Conference Semi-Finals. This year you blew a three games to nothing lead in the Conference Semi-Finals. Man, it's tough to be a Bruins' fan now.
The Islanders, Maple Leafs, Flyers, and the Red Sox are the only four franchises in the history of professional sports to come back from a three games to nothing lead in a best of seven series to WIN the series. Three out of four of those teams are NHL teams. Man, the NHL Playoffs are unpredictable.
Speaking of teams choking, hello Pittsburgh Penguins. Up three games to one over Montreal, and you blew it. Wait a minute, Montreal was also down three games to one over Washington and they came back to win that series as well. The Canadiens are definitely for real.
In the Eastern Conference Finals, it's the #8 Seed vs. the #7 Seed. I have said it a million times and this will be the million and first time, the NHL playoffs are unpredictable. All sixteen teams that make it have a chance!! It's impossible to predict!
In the West, the top two seeds are going at it in the Conference Finals with the Blackhawks taking on the Sharks. The Sharks dethrone the Dynastic Red Wings in five games.
I predict the Blackhawks will take on Canadiens in the Stanley Cup Finals. A Canadian team has not won the Stanley Cup since the Montreal Canadiens did it themselves in 1993 over the Kings with the Kings' great silver logo and black and silver jerseys that I wish they still wore today...okay I'll stop right there. I hope the Canadiens win the Stanley Cup and bring Lord's Stanley back to the great Hockey Country of Canada.
Future Ex-Girlfriend: Autistic Sports Nerd, I am breaking up with you.
Autistic Sports Nerd: Will we get back together again?
Ex-Girlfriend: Yes...
Autistic Sports Nerd: When?
Ex-Girlfriend: November 31st.
Autistic Sports Nerd: Cool!
NBA
The Cavs were eliminated by the Celtics in six. I predicted Boston would win that series. What does ESPN do? No, they don't talk about the Celtics, they talk about LeBron James. They don't talk about the Cavs franchise, they just talk about LeBron.
Since ESPN and the media seesm to think that LeBron James' future location is more import than the Conference Finals,I will talk about LeBron James.
Will LeBron James go to the Bulls? I don't thinks so, LeBron doesn't want to be in Michael Jordan's shadow, why do you think he's changing his number for next year?
Will LeBron James go to the Knicks? Even if he doesn't and the Knicks sign another top free-agent, they won't be a Championship team. It takes team chemistry and a great balance to win the Championship. That's what the Spurs, Pistons, and Celtics had during their Championship years within the past decade. LeBron will get the Knicks to the Second Round of the Playoffs but not a Championship. But then again, with the Knicks play in recent years, a second round elimination actually sounds like fun.
But never-the-less, I don't think the Knicks will get them. I do think the Knicks will be able to get a couple of good to great players because they have the most free cap space in the NBA. Hopefully they resign David Lee. Knicks, it has been way too long. Let's start turning it around this year.
Will LeBron go to the Nets? PLEASE NO! I wouldn't stand it if LeBron went to the "other" Tri-State area team.
Will LeBron go to the Oklahoma City Thunder? If I was LeBron, I would. Sure, Oklahoma City is not a Major Market and the very casual NBA fan probably has never heard of the franchise. (They used to be the Seattle SuperSonics) They are a great up and coming team that gave the Lakers a run for their money in the first round. They have great young talent and LeBron's addition to the team will put them over the top and make them a Championship Contender. Imagine a team like the Oklahoma City Thunder playing on ESPN all the time and getting the most coverage and publicity out of any NBA team?
I predict though that LeBron will try to defy all the speculation and predictions and that he will resign with the Cavs.
Moving on to the Conference Championship Games, I predict the Lakers will beat the Suns in Six. I am rooting for the magic to win the NBA Championship since Patrick Ewing is their Assistant Coach and he would get his first ring. Plus, they used an female child with Autism singing the National Anthem as their good luck charm in the playoffs last year. Also, they wear blue. Never the less, I pick the Celtics in six because they are a great defensive team. I hope I'm wrong.
Before the season began, I had the Lakers playing the Celtics in the NBA Finals this year. Stay tuned...
Hey, November 31st is going to be a great day. Not only will I get back together with my ex-girlfriend, Brett Favre say that he plans to retire for good on November 31st. Yay!!
MLB
Holy thrilling ugly games Batman!! The Yankees had a 5-0 lead over the Red Sox after an inning. The Red Sox came all the way back and took a 9-7 lead heading into the bottom of the 9th. With Gardner on third and one out, Alexander "The Clutch" Rodriguez hits a two run home run to tie the game. Francisco Cervelli (Whose becoming one of my favorite Yankees because of his passion and enthusiasm behind the plate as well as his clutch hitting) got plunked. Marcus Thames on his second tour with the Yankees, hits a game winning two run home run. Both bombs were given up by Jonathan Papelbon.
Huge bounce-back win for the Yankees after that gut-wrenching loss to the Minnesota Twins the afternoon before. It's another May 17th thrilling victory for the Yankees. As I mentioned in my very first blog post one year ago today, David Wells pitched his perfect game against the Twins on May 17th, 1998. Jason Giambi hit the game winning Grand-Slam in the pouring rain as the Yankees beat the Twins in 14 innings on May 17th, 2002. Johnny Damon hits a walk off home run against the Minnesota Twins on May 17th, 2009. Man, the Twins were lucky their series at Yankee Stadium ended on May 16th this year and didn't have to play them on the 17th.
Now, A-Rod and Marcus Thames pair of homers against Pabelbon and the Red Sox on May 17th, 2010. May 17th has been a great day in recent Yankee history.
Dallas Braden of the Oakland Athletics, the same pitcher who argued at A-Rod for crossing on the pitcher's mound, pitched a perfect game on Mother's Day against the Rays. Good for him. Afterwards, his grandmother told A-Rod through the media to "stick it." Man, your grandson just pitched a perfect game. Are you seriously thinking about A-Rod at that point? Just enjoy the moment.
Braden's mother did pass away when he was younger. He was raised by his grandmother. Congratulations Braden on your achievement.
Wrestling
Bret Hart won the United States Championship over the Miz in Toronto, Canada which is his home country. It was great to see Bret Hart make Peace with the WWE after he was "screwed" over twelve years ago in Montreal. For Non-wrestling fans, google "Montreal-screw job" for more information.
Since Brett can barely move and can't really work a match, I expect Brett Hart to forfeit the title.
Over in TNA, Sting is feuding with Hulk Hogan. I remember their feud back when WCW was still around. The buildup was so well executed that my brother and I BEGGED our parents to order the "Starrcade" pay-per-view back in December of 1997 just to see their match. We begged and we begged and then they finally ordered it for us. It was the first wrestling pay-per-view I have ever seen. They were old back then. Now, over twelve years later, they are feuding again.....and they are even older....yeah, here's to current Nostalgia!!
UC Hockey Dominates Intramurals
The UC Hockey team won the Whiffleball Championship.
The Fupa Troopas (Sophomore Hockey Class)defeated the Swamp Donkeys (Senior Hockey Class) to win the Indoor Soccer Championship. It's the third year in a row in which a UC Hockey Team has won the Indoor Soccer Championship and the second year in a row in which two Hockey Teams faced each other in the Finals.
The Hockey Players also won the Beach Volleyball Tournament in the Fall of 2008 plus they were just one point away form our Volleyball for Disabilities Tournament. They are legit when it comes to Intramural Sports at Utica College.
Don't worry guys, when Hockey Season begins in October, they won't be able to play intramurals. It'll be safe for Team Autism and other Intramural teams to compete, haha.
I want to thank my Uncle Mikey for taking me Quad-Riding. I rode on the back of his quad at Timber-View Lodge just 50 minutes away from campus. It was a lot of fun and a great experience.
Guys, it's been a great year. Thank you guys so much for reading.
I'm the Autistic Sports Nerd, Happy Anniversary guys!!
Future Ex-Girlfriend: Autistic Sports Nerd, when is our anniversary? What was the date we became a couple?
Autistic Sports Nerd: Ummm.....February 30th?
Future Ex-Girlfriend: Wrong!
Autistic Sports Nerd: Eh, I tried.
Let's get right into it!
NHL
The city of Boston got a taste of its own medicine. The Red Sox may have been able to come back from a three games to nothing deficit over the Yankees in the 2004 American League Championship Series but the City of Boston has suffered the same fate.
The Boston Bruins were up three games to nothing over the Philadelphia Flyers in this year's Eastern Conference Semi-Finals. They lost four straight to Philly and are eliminated. This is actually worse than the Yankees' collapse because the Yankees had such a bad pitching staff that year, so bad they used a "well out of his prime"-Kevin Brown as their Game 7 starter.
With their pitching and Boston's monster lineup that year, it was more of a miracle that the Yankees were up three games to nothing in the first place as opposed to losing four straight games.
The Boston Bruins on the other hand, were a great defensive team with great goal-tending. At least the Yankees were blown out in Game 7. The Bruins were actually up 3-0 in Game 7 alone. They surrendered four unanswered goals to the Flyers and lost four three. Game 7's story sums up the story of the series so well with the Flyers coming back from a 3-0 deficit in both the series and in Game 7 vs. the Bruins.
Bruins, you were the Number One Seed last year and lost in the Conference Semi-Finals. This year you blew a three games to nothing lead in the Conference Semi-Finals. Man, it's tough to be a Bruins' fan now.
The Islanders, Maple Leafs, Flyers, and the Red Sox are the only four franchises in the history of professional sports to come back from a three games to nothing lead in a best of seven series to WIN the series. Three out of four of those teams are NHL teams. Man, the NHL Playoffs are unpredictable.
Speaking of teams choking, hello Pittsburgh Penguins. Up three games to one over Montreal, and you blew it. Wait a minute, Montreal was also down three games to one over Washington and they came back to win that series as well. The Canadiens are definitely for real.
In the Eastern Conference Finals, it's the #8 Seed vs. the #7 Seed. I have said it a million times and this will be the million and first time, the NHL playoffs are unpredictable. All sixteen teams that make it have a chance!! It's impossible to predict!
In the West, the top two seeds are going at it in the Conference Finals with the Blackhawks taking on the Sharks. The Sharks dethrone the Dynastic Red Wings in five games.
I predict the Blackhawks will take on Canadiens in the Stanley Cup Finals. A Canadian team has not won the Stanley Cup since the Montreal Canadiens did it themselves in 1993 over the Kings with the Kings' great silver logo and black and silver jerseys that I wish they still wore today...okay I'll stop right there. I hope the Canadiens win the Stanley Cup and bring Lord's Stanley back to the great Hockey Country of Canada.
Future Ex-Girlfriend: Autistic Sports Nerd, I am breaking up with you.
Autistic Sports Nerd: Will we get back together again?
Ex-Girlfriend: Yes...
Autistic Sports Nerd: When?
Ex-Girlfriend: November 31st.
Autistic Sports Nerd: Cool!
NBA
The Cavs were eliminated by the Celtics in six. I predicted Boston would win that series. What does ESPN do? No, they don't talk about the Celtics, they talk about LeBron James. They don't talk about the Cavs franchise, they just talk about LeBron.
Since ESPN and the media seesm to think that LeBron James' future location is more import than the Conference Finals,I will talk about LeBron James.
Will LeBron James go to the Bulls? I don't thinks so, LeBron doesn't want to be in Michael Jordan's shadow, why do you think he's changing his number for next year?
Will LeBron James go to the Knicks? Even if he doesn't and the Knicks sign another top free-agent, they won't be a Championship team. It takes team chemistry and a great balance to win the Championship. That's what the Spurs, Pistons, and Celtics had during their Championship years within the past decade. LeBron will get the Knicks to the Second Round of the Playoffs but not a Championship. But then again, with the Knicks play in recent years, a second round elimination actually sounds like fun.
But never-the-less, I don't think the Knicks will get them. I do think the Knicks will be able to get a couple of good to great players because they have the most free cap space in the NBA. Hopefully they resign David Lee. Knicks, it has been way too long. Let's start turning it around this year.
Will LeBron go to the Nets? PLEASE NO! I wouldn't stand it if LeBron went to the "other" Tri-State area team.
Will LeBron go to the Oklahoma City Thunder? If I was LeBron, I would. Sure, Oklahoma City is not a Major Market and the very casual NBA fan probably has never heard of the franchise. (They used to be the Seattle SuperSonics) They are a great up and coming team that gave the Lakers a run for their money in the first round. They have great young talent and LeBron's addition to the team will put them over the top and make them a Championship Contender. Imagine a team like the Oklahoma City Thunder playing on ESPN all the time and getting the most coverage and publicity out of any NBA team?
I predict though that LeBron will try to defy all the speculation and predictions and that he will resign with the Cavs.
Moving on to the Conference Championship Games, I predict the Lakers will beat the Suns in Six. I am rooting for the magic to win the NBA Championship since Patrick Ewing is their Assistant Coach and he would get his first ring. Plus, they used an female child with Autism singing the National Anthem as their good luck charm in the playoffs last year. Also, they wear blue. Never the less, I pick the Celtics in six because they are a great defensive team. I hope I'm wrong.
Before the season began, I had the Lakers playing the Celtics in the NBA Finals this year. Stay tuned...
Hey, November 31st is going to be a great day. Not only will I get back together with my ex-girlfriend, Brett Favre say that he plans to retire for good on November 31st. Yay!!
MLB
Holy thrilling ugly games Batman!! The Yankees had a 5-0 lead over the Red Sox after an inning. The Red Sox came all the way back and took a 9-7 lead heading into the bottom of the 9th. With Gardner on third and one out, Alexander "The Clutch" Rodriguez hits a two run home run to tie the game. Francisco Cervelli (Whose becoming one of my favorite Yankees because of his passion and enthusiasm behind the plate as well as his clutch hitting) got plunked. Marcus Thames on his second tour with the Yankees, hits a game winning two run home run. Both bombs were given up by Jonathan Papelbon.
Huge bounce-back win for the Yankees after that gut-wrenching loss to the Minnesota Twins the afternoon before. It's another May 17th thrilling victory for the Yankees. As I mentioned in my very first blog post one year ago today, David Wells pitched his perfect game against the Twins on May 17th, 1998. Jason Giambi hit the game winning Grand-Slam in the pouring rain as the Yankees beat the Twins in 14 innings on May 17th, 2002. Johnny Damon hits a walk off home run against the Minnesota Twins on May 17th, 2009. Man, the Twins were lucky their series at Yankee Stadium ended on May 16th this year and didn't have to play them on the 17th.
Now, A-Rod and Marcus Thames pair of homers against Pabelbon and the Red Sox on May 17th, 2010. May 17th has been a great day in recent Yankee history.
Dallas Braden of the Oakland Athletics, the same pitcher who argued at A-Rod for crossing on the pitcher's mound, pitched a perfect game on Mother's Day against the Rays. Good for him. Afterwards, his grandmother told A-Rod through the media to "stick it." Man, your grandson just pitched a perfect game. Are you seriously thinking about A-Rod at that point? Just enjoy the moment.
Braden's mother did pass away when he was younger. He was raised by his grandmother. Congratulations Braden on your achievement.
Wrestling
Bret Hart won the United States Championship over the Miz in Toronto, Canada which is his home country. It was great to see Bret Hart make Peace with the WWE after he was "screwed" over twelve years ago in Montreal. For Non-wrestling fans, google "Montreal-screw job" for more information.
Since Brett can barely move and can't really work a match, I expect Brett Hart to forfeit the title.
Over in TNA, Sting is feuding with Hulk Hogan. I remember their feud back when WCW was still around. The buildup was so well executed that my brother and I BEGGED our parents to order the "Starrcade" pay-per-view back in December of 1997 just to see their match. We begged and we begged and then they finally ordered it for us. It was the first wrestling pay-per-view I have ever seen. They were old back then. Now, over twelve years later, they are feuding again.....and they are even older....yeah, here's to current Nostalgia!!
UC Hockey Dominates Intramurals
The UC Hockey team won the Whiffleball Championship.
The Fupa Troopas (Sophomore Hockey Class)defeated the Swamp Donkeys (Senior Hockey Class) to win the Indoor Soccer Championship. It's the third year in a row in which a UC Hockey Team has won the Indoor Soccer Championship and the second year in a row in which two Hockey Teams faced each other in the Finals.
The Hockey Players also won the Beach Volleyball Tournament in the Fall of 2008 plus they were just one point away form our Volleyball for Disabilities Tournament. They are legit when it comes to Intramural Sports at Utica College.
Don't worry guys, when Hockey Season begins in October, they won't be able to play intramurals. It'll be safe for Team Autism and other Intramural teams to compete, haha.
I want to thank my Uncle Mikey for taking me Quad-Riding. I rode on the back of his quad at Timber-View Lodge just 50 minutes away from campus. It was a lot of fun and a great experience.
Guys, it's been a great year. Thank you guys so much for reading.
I'm the Autistic Sports Nerd, Happy Anniversary guys!!
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