It's Just a Game

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, I have been told, is one of the most beautiful cities in North America. It has a thriving economy. It is one of the most livable cities in the world according to business publications such as The Economist. And it was home to 100 arrests and 150 injuries* in the wake of riots following the Vancouver Canucks’ 3-0 loss to the Boston Bruins in Game 7 of the National Hockey League’s Stanley Cup Finals.


Call me crazy, but I don’t think of rioting as an indicator of livability. I don’t think of property damage as an indicator of livability. I don’t think of looting as an indicator of livability. I certainly do not think of random assaults with injuries as an indicator of livability.

This is "livable"? 1


OUR SPORTS CULTURE

In North America, we love our sports. Billions upon billions of dollars of revenue are generated annually by the attendance, purchase of concessions and services, purchase of memorabilia, corporate sponsorships, and television advertising revenue connected to major league professional sports. I have no specific source, but I am willing to bet that those billions are just a small piece of the pie compared to revenues generated from the same sources in addition to equipment purchases and administration expenditures in college, high school, and recreational sports. Sports are interwoven into our culture.

Needless to say, I thoroughly enjoy sports, both as a recreational participant and a spectator. I certainly do not produce this blog to pay for rent. A fun night at the bar once per month...but not the rent. Sports are my favorite recreational activity and therefore an important part of the enjoyment of my life.

I say all of that to say the following: IT’S JUST A GAME!!!

What a bunch of stupid assholes.... 2

Hellooooo! You PLAY to WIN the GAME!

Ultimately the goal of any team sport is to win the game. The main reason we follow, watch, and attend the sporting events of our favorite teams is because we want to watch them win and be entertained in the process. When we have a rooting interest in a team, be it a home team, a favorite franchise, or a team with one of our favorite players, and our teams lose, we are, naturally, disappointed. When a team we connect with, such as our home team, is eliminated from the playoffs, it can feel somewhat personal. Civic pride is one of the many enjoyments that sports offer us. When our team is eliminated in a championship round, the loss can be somewhat painful, as we have to wait another year to have an opportunity to see our team become champions.

You play to win the games. So I would never fault any fan for feeling disappointment when their team loses. Casual sports fans or non sports fans may not experience similar feelings, but should at least understand enough about sports culture to “get it”. However, after the buzzer sounds, the last out is called, or the final gun is fired, the game is over and, win or lose, we all need to transition back to the rest of our lives. We may celebrate in victory or wallow in defeat for several hours, possibly several days. Being a New Orleans native and a lifelong Saints fan, I am not convinced that the city has completely stopped celebrating the Saints’ victory in Super Bowl XLIV: the season before last. All of these feelings and emotions are normal. They make sports engaging. They make life fun.

Herm Edwards: "Helloooooo! You PLAY to WIN the GAME!" 3

MODERATION vs MANIA

The rioting in Vancouver is an example of the bad things that can happen as a result of overemphasis of the importance of sports. It is what happens when a few inebriated knuckleheads take a negative result for the home team in a major sporting event out of the arena and transfer it into negativity on the streets. If Vancouver is one of the most livable cities in the world and masses of its residents are capable of embarrassing the city and inflicting damage on its fellow townspeople…if Vancouver is among the best this continent has to offer and this happens, what does that say for our culture and society?

Wednesday night’s madness is only the latest example. It has almost become a once or twice per year occurrence to see riots result immediately following a major team championship sporting event. I understand fully that the perpetrators of the riots make up a tiny percentage of the residents of the greater Vancouver area. Still, I think that the miscreants on the fringe compel us to view our priorities in the mainstream. I think that, far too often, whether intended or not, society sends out a message, through media and other means, that sports are as large or larger than life. As personal, and dramatic, and unscripted as sports can be, it is still just a means of recreation and entertainment, at the end of the day.

As heavily criticized as NBA star LeBron James was for remarks he made after his Miami Heat were eliminated from the NBA Finals (remarks in which he said the people rooting against him would have to eventually go back to their lives), as insensitive as those remarks may have come across, I thought they were entirely true and were a reflection, and perhaps an indictment, of our priorities in life and our culture of obsession with celebrities.

Sports make for fantastic recreation, entertainment, water cooler discussions, and talk radio. I love sports. Chances are, if you are reading this sports blog, that you enjoy sports, too. However, I think we all have a responsibility, through our words, actions, and attitudes, to, implicitly or explicitly, send a message to those around us, especially those we can influence (such as young people), that there is a line when sports absolutely stops, life continues, and our behaviors should be within the appropriate boundaries.

This is the only time sports should spill out into the street. 4

Don’t forget to vote in the fan polls!


To advertise with The Daily Hat Trick, or to submit a guest column, please contact the author at eric@thedailyhattrick.info.


*Source: ESPN
1) Image from espn.com
2) Image from nationalpost.com
3) Image from sportressofblogitude.com
4) Image from star-telegram.com

Must See Sports – Second Weekend of June 2011

Thursday, June 9

NBA Finals – Game 5
Miami Heat at Dallas Mavericks

Tonight is the pivotal Game 5. The winner will have two chances to win one more game and be NBA Champions. The loser will have its back against the wall in Game 6. While either team will claim a significant strategic advantage with a win, this game, tonight, is more critical to Dallas than Miami.

Should the Mavericks lose, they would face the daunting task of having to win back-to-back games in Miami, including a Game 7. Seventh games are rarely won on the road. The last time it happened in the NBA Finals was 1978, when the Washington Bullets beat the Seattle Supersonics in Seattle.

Miami has outplayed Dallas for the majority of all of the games in this series, but has inexplicably taken its foot off the gas pedal late in games. The problem for the Mavericks is that Miami has more talented players and if the Heat are focused for all 48 minutes, they are extremely difficult to beat. I think LeBron James will play with a sense of urgency tonight and I don't think the Mavericks can stop The King in that mode.

Advantages - Game: Heat Series: Heat  

The King hasn't quite gone this far, but he and the Heat only have themselves to blame for not yet planning the victory parade. 1

Friday, June 10

NHL

Stanley Cup Finals – Game 5
Boston Bruins at Vancouver Canucks

I have absolutely no read on this series. The home team has won every game. Vancouver has slipped by Boston on its home ice while the Bruins have obliterated the Canucks in Boston. Vancouver had the best regular season record in the NHL, with 117 points. Yet the Canucks have never really solved the Bruins in any of the first four games. No game is played in a vacuum, but if a couple of unlucky bounces were removed from the equations of games 1 and 2, the Bruins could have swept this series and hoisted the Stanley Cup for the first time since 1972.

Home ice has dictated this series thus far. Vancouver is the better team on paper. The absence of injured Bruins forward Nathan Horton, who was lost for the series after a blindside hit from Aaron Rome (suspended for the series) of the Canucks will not help the Bruins cause. I think the Canucks regain control of the series on Friday.

Advantages - Game: Canucks, Series: Canucks

Michael Ryder of the Bruins chipped in one of several goals in Game 4. 2

Saturday, June 11

MLB
Cincinnati Reds at San Francisco Giants
Mike Leake (5-2, 4.63 ERA) – Reds vs Tim Lincecum (5-4, 2.85 ERA)

The defending World Series champion (and first place in the NL West) Giants host the defending NL Central champion Cincinnati Reds, who have cooled down considerably after a hot start to the season. Tim Lincecum will get the ball for the Giants. He has kept on rolling this season, with 93 strikeouts so far and reaching his 1000th career strikeout in his last start. Lincecum will match wits with Mike Leake of the Reads. Leake is riding a string of three straight quality starts.

The Reds have suffered from porous pitching, in spite of getting a solid number of innings from starting pitchers. Their monster bats have kept them in the hunt. Joey Votto (.335, 8 HR, 38 RBI), last year's National League MVP and Jay Bruce (.299, 17 HR, 47 RBI) continue to anchor a strong lineup. However, in baseball, particularly the National League, strong pitching usually trumps strong pitching. The Giants will need a strong performance from Lincecum, though, as their bats continue to be anemic.

Advantages - Game: Giants, Series: Giants

I KNEW it! Hey! Two Cy Youngs? 1000 career strikeouts at age 26? Don't criticize! Leagalize!

Sunday, June 12

NBA Finals – Game 6
Dallas Mavericks at Miami Heat

Someone could hoist the Larry O'Brien trophy on Sunday night. I expect that to be Heat. I think Dallas has used all nine of their lives in the playoffs.

Advantages - Game: Heat, Series: Heat




Monday, June 13

NHL

Stanley Cup Finals – Game 6
Vancouver Canucks at Boston Bruins

The NHL playoffs have had a lot of close games and seventh games during this post season. This series appears to be indicative of that pattern. Vancouver has yet to dominate the Bruins in any game in this series and has had no answer for them in Boston. I think this series goes 7 games.

Advantages - Game: Bruins, Series: Canucks

Not really ebony & ivory, but cute. 3

MLB

Cleveland Indians at New York Yankees
Carlos Carrasco (5-3, 4.52 ERA) – Indians vs A.J. Burnett (6-4, 4.37 ERA) – Yankees

The Cleveland Indians, in first place in the AL Central, have come down to Earth, a little. The Indians had the best record in the American League for most of the season, but were recently passed by the Boston Red Sox. The New York Yankees are only a game behind the Red Sox and trail the Tribe by only a half game in the American League. The Detroit Tigers are only a game and a half back of Cleveland in the American League Central. That makes this series both compelling and critical to standing in the league.

Carlos Carrasco has won four of his last five starts for the Indians, but has been prone to occasionally giving up runs in bunches. He will continue to need the support of red hot Astrubal Cabrera (.302, 12 HR, 42 RBI) and the Cleveland lineup. In contrast, A.J. Burnett of the Yankees was rocked in his last start yesterday, giving up seven earned runs in less than 6 innings of work in a loss to the Red Sox. In addition, it has been difficult to predict how many innings the Yankees can expect to get from Burnett. Sometimes he can last into the late innings, sometimes he barely lasts past the 5th inning. The Yankees will need to rely on their power hitting in this game. Mark Teixeira (.258, 18 HR, 43 RBI) has continued to offer support to a gradually resurgent Yankees lineup, but has been feast or famine in the month of June, thus far.

Consistency is key. Neither team offers it, lately. I'll defer to home field advantage in this series matchup.


Advantages - Game: Indians, Series: Yankees

C.C. has had a lot of fat jokes made at his expense, but I'd rather be "Captain Cheeseburger" or "Charleston Chew" than be lampooned like his teammate, Joba Chamberlain. 4

Tuesday, June 14

NBA Finals – Game 7 (if necessary)
Dallas Mavericks at Miami Heat

Miami has lost once at home in this postseason, to Dallas. No team has won a Game 7 of the NBA Finals on the road in over 30 years. I do not expect lightning to strike twice if a Game 7 is necessary.

Advantages - Game: Heat, Series: Heat


MLB

Texas Rangers at New York Yankees
Alexi Ogando (7-0, 2.10 ERA) – Rangers vs C.C. Sabathia (7-3, 2.80 ERA) –Yankees


Though not technically a rookie because of the number of innings pitched in relief last season, Alexi Ogondo is off to a fantastic start to his career as a starter in the Major Leagues. He is undefeated in all of his starts for the Rangers, in first place in the AL West, and continues to be hot on the mound, only giving up two earned runs in his last 15-2/3 innings pitched. His unbeaten string will face a challenge from C.C. Sabathia of the Yankees. The big guy has won his last four consecutive starts and pitched 8 or more innings in those starts.

Rangers right fielder Nelson Cruz (.237, 14 HR, 33 RBI) has been on a tear of late, hitting four homeruns in the past week. In concert with the consistent Michael Young (.310, 3 HR, 37 RBI) and Adrian Beltre (.257, 12 HR, 45 RBI), Sabathia will face a tough challenge of his own. Whether or not Ogando gets a decision, I do not think he gets a win in Yankee Stadium, opposing a red hot former two time Cy Young winner in Sabathia.

Advantages: Game – Yankees, Series: Yankees

 
Wednesday, June 15

NHL

Stanley Cup Finals – Game 7 (if necessary)
Boston Bruins at Vancouver Canucks

I think this game will be necessary and the rule of thumb in seventh games is that, absent some other momentum shifting change, such as an injury, the home team has a tremendous advantage. The Pittsburgh Penguins won Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals at Detroit in 2009. The last time a team won Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals on the road was 1971, when the Montreal Canadiens beat the Chicago Blackhawks on their own ice.

Advantages - Game: Canucks, Series: Canucks

If a seventh game is necessary, it will all be on the line. 5

MLB

Florida Marlins at Philadelphia Phillies
Anibal Sanchez (5-1, 2.97 ERA) - Marlins vs Kyle Kendrick (3-4, 3.78 ERA) - Phillies 

Anibal Sanchez has continued to be on a roll, with 79 strikeouts on the season and having won five consecutive decisions. Sanchez was touched up in his last start, against Milwaukee (5 ER in 5 IP), but had a string of five straight quality starts, including a complete game shutout, prior to that. Kyle Kendrick is making his fifth start of the season for the Phillies.


The Marlins are in the midst of a vicious slump, having lost nine of their last ten games and falling into third place, behind both the Phillies and Atlanta Braves, five games back of the NL East leading Phillies. In addition, Marlins first baseman Gaby Sanchez (.310, 10 HR, 38 RBI), who is having a breakout year, so far, has cooled off in the month of June, hitting only .231 with 1 HR and 3 RBIs during the month.

The Phillies have also cooled somewhat, having lost five of their last eight games. Their bats have simply not gotten the job done, hitting only .214 with 1 homerun as a team in the month of June. Still, the Phillies have the clear advantage over almost every other team in the National League, except for possibly the Braves and Giants. They are at home and the Marlins are struggling to find themselves right now.

Advantages - Game: Phillies, Series: Phillies

If you wanna win, put Billy in! 6

Don't forget to vote in the fan polls!
 
To advertise with The Daily Hat Trick, or to submit a guest column, please contact the editor at eric@thedailyhattrick.info.
 
1) Image from dallasobserver.com
2) Image from usatoday.com
3) Image froom boston.com
4) Image from thebestdamnsportssiteever.com
5) Image from legendsofhockey.net
6) Image from blogs.trb.com

Must See Sports – First Weekend of June 2011

Thursday, June 2

2011 NBA Finals – Game 2
Dallas Mavericks at Miami Heat

Game 2 is always a high pressure game for any team in any playoff series. Someone could fall behind 0-2, making the chances of winning 4 of the next 5 games for the trailing team slim. Someone could either lose home court advantage or risk dropping their first two games at home, almost always too large of a hole to crawl out of. The series could be tied. Game 2 is always critical.

The Miami Heat earned a solid victory at home in Game 1 on Tuesday. In that game, Dirk Nowitzki of the Mavericks suffered a finger injury on his non-shooting hand. Nowitzki likes to go left, however, so this injury is likely to have some degree of influence on how he plays. The question of how much influence remains.

LeBron James and Dwayne Wade both played the role of “closer by committee” with a run of fourth quarter scores. The defense of the Heat was enough to contain Nowitzki and the Mavericks, although he was not stopped, having scored 27 points. While Nowitzki got his points, other players were held in check, for the most part.

For Dallas to win tonight, they will need to reduce the already low number of mistakes made in Game 1. Nowitzki absolutely must get some help on the perimeter. Mavericks reserve players JJ Berea, Brendan Haywood, and Peja Stojakovic have to combine for more than 5 points. Finally, the Mavericks need to force the Heat into making some mistakes, as they will not shut down all of Miami’s “big three” of LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh.

Miami has not lost at home in the 2011 playoffs. While I expect Dallas to be competitive and to push back at the Heat, I do not expect the end result to be any different for the Mavericks. While I think Miami will win, I also think, with the series returning to Dallas for three games, that this series is far from over and that the NBA champion will be crowned in South Beach in a Game 6 or Game 7.

Advantages – Game: Heat, Series: Heat

The King is in hot pursuit of more jewels. 1

Friday, June 3

MLB
Texas Rangers at Cleveland Indians
Alexi Ogando (5-0, 2.33 ERA) – Rangers vs Justin Masterson (5-3, 3.07 ERA) – Indians

The resurgent Cleveland Indians, with the best record in the Majors host the first place, defending American League champion Texas Rangers. Alexi Ogando will continue what has been an extremely impressive first full season as a starter in Major League Baseball. He is still undefeated this year, in spite of a rough outing (no decision) in his last start against the Kansas City Royals, following a complete game shutout against the Chicago White Sox on May 23.

Ogando is going to provide a challenge to the Indians, especially if Rangers DH Michael Young (.335, 3 HR, 36 RBI) and 3B Adrian Beltre (.252, 11 HR, 43 RBI) continue to swing their bats as well as they have this year. If Josh Hamilton (.291, 1 HR, 13 RBI) can return to form, after recently coming back from his leg injury, the top of the Rangers’ order can be an extremely difficult out to get.

The Indians will start Justin Masterson. The 26 year old got off to an extremely hot start to the 2011 season, but has cooled off since. Masterson has lost his last three straight decisions and did not record a win in the month of May. He was rocked on Sunday as the Indians lost, 7-0, to the Tampa Bay Rays. Masterson must reverse the recent trend if he expects to earn a victory tomorrow night.

Indians shortstop Astrubal Cabrera (.306, 10 HR, 39 RBI) has been a one man wrecking crew for the Tribe. He has been the team’s best hitter this year. From the shortstop position, that contribution is invaluable and is a major factor in the Indians early season dominance of the American League.

Right now the Rangers are hot. The Indians are not really hot (5-7 in their last 12 games). Ogando has yet to hit any big speed bumps while Masterson is digging out of a funk. In spite of being on the road, the Rangers have the edge in the second game of this four game series.

Advantages – Game: Rangers, Series: Rangers

Indians shortstop Astrubal Cabrera's name is on my short list for American League MVP candidates. 2

Saturday, June 4

NHL

Stanley Cup Finals – Game 2
Boston Bruins at Vancouver Canucks

Vancouver won Game 1 in dramatic fashion, with Raffi Torres scoring the game’s only goal in the final 20 seconds of the game. Game 1 was hard fought, physical, and intense, including a Mike Tyson-esque biting incident during a fight. Hockey fans can only hope that Game 2 offers similar excitement. Vancouver was the best team in the regular season and, after surviving a near historic choke against the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round, Vancouver has been the best team in the playoffs. While the Bruins have overcome a number of challenges to reach the finals, I think the better team wins this game, in Vancouver, and this series.

Advantages – Game: Canucks, Series: Canucks

Alex Burrows of the Canucks (right) gave a different meaning to "jaw-dropping action" while reinforcing the "keep your hands to yourself" principle to Patrice Bergeron of the Bruins. 3

Sunday, June 5

2011 NBA Finals – Game 3
Miami Heat at Dallas Mavericks

Tonight’s Game 2 will be able to more accurately calibrate expectations for the series as it returns to Dallas for games 3, 4, and 5 (if necessary). Still, I expect the Mavericks to elevate their game back at home and I do not expect Dallas to fall into a 3-0 hole (which could happen if the Mavs drop Game 2, which I expect).

Advantages – Game: Mavericks, Series: Heat


Monday, June 6

MLB

Los Angeles Dodgers at Philadelphia Phillies
Ted Lilly (4-4, 4.22 ERA) – Dodgers vs Cliff Lee (4-5, 3.94 ERA)

The Dodgers, in spite of a host of off-the-field issues, are not hopelessly behind in the NL West, trailing the streaking Arizona Diamondbacks by 6 games. Its on the field issues, like having a bottom of the batting order that completely bottoms out, are giving Dodgers fans little cause for optimism, though.

Other than Andre Ethier (.325, 5 HR, 26 RBI) and Matt Kemp (.306, 13 HR, 40 RBI, broke up with Rihanna) there is very little pop in the Dodgers’ bats. There are far too many players in the Dodgers’ lineup hitting below .250 to give the Dodgers’ pitching the support it needs to win consistently. Dodgers starting pitchers, generally, have given a solid number of innings, but have been otherwise average. Lilly fits the team profile.

The Phillies just keep on rolling, with the best record in the National League. Lee was rocked in his last start against the Washington Nationals yesterday, giving up 6 earned runs in a 10-2 loss. While he has not been as dominant in 2011 as he has been in the past, he has otherwise been consistent, giving the Phillies enough innings of work and keeping the opponents’ score low enough for the Phillies to be able to win. He has also mowed down enough batters, already at 90 strikeouts, to escape any jam he gets into.

Advantages – Game: Phillies, Series: Phillies

I wonder what is worse for Matt Kemp: toiling with monster numbers to no avail for the struggling Dodgers this year or knowing that he won't be able to put his hands all over Rihanna anymore. Actually, if I am on the Dodgers' payroll, I am probably more concerned about my paycheck bouncing than anything else. 4

Tuesday, June 7

2011 NBA Finals – Game 4
Miami Heat at Dallas Mavericks

Without the aid of a crystal ball, this game is hard to call. Realistically, I expect the Heat to take one of the three games in Dallas. Absent any other information, it is difficult to project where that victory will come. I think that Miami will win the series and Game 5 (if necessary) is often the most pivotal in any best of seven series, regardless of the location or participants. My best guess is that Game 5 will offer the Heat its best opportunity for a road win en route to a series victory. If only I had that crystal ball….

Advantages – Game: Mavericks, Series: Heat


Wednesday, June 8

MLB

Boston Red Sox at New York Yankees
Clay Buchholz (4-3, 3.41) – Red Sox vs A.J. Burnett (6-3, 3.86) – Yankees

The fiercest rivalry in baseball is set for another series. Yankees, Red Sox, and Rays continue their threesome of musical chairs with first place in the American League East, with 2½ games separating the (for) now first place Yankees from the third place Rays. A series winner could yield a new division leader.

The Yankees were swept in 3 games during their last series meeting with the Red Sox. Since then, the Yankees have let their bats do the talking. Alex Rodriguez (.292, 9 HR, 31 RBI) has since been on a tear, reaching base in the last 15 consecutive games and Curtis Granderson (.278, 17 HR, 41 RBI) continues to prime the Yankees powerful offensive pump. They should supply ample run support for Burnett, who will be making his first start against the Red Sox this year.

Buchholz has a string of four consecutive quality starts, but with only one decision, a win, in those starts. Perhaps he has just been a victim of bad timing as the Red Sox have swung their bats well for most of the season. Red Sox first baseman Adrian Gonzalez (.329, 10 HR, 46 RBI) continues to be as good as advertised and designated hitter David “Big Papi” Ortiz (.313, 13 HR, 38 RBI) is off to one of his better starts to a season, batting .342 in the month of May and only 23 strikeouts on the season, putting him on pace for less than half of his strikeout total from last season.

The Yankees are riding a modest hot streak and are back home. I think they are due to repay the favor of the Red Sox sweep of them from the last series.

Advatages – Game: Yankees, Series: push

A-Rod is another example of how talent, performance, and success can help a person overcome anything, even THIS! 5

Don’t forget to vote in the fan polls!


To advertise with The Daily Hat Trick, or to submit a guest column, please contact the editor at eric@thedailyhattrick.info.

1) Image from tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com
2) Image from zimbio.com
3) Image from vancouversun.com
4) image from okmagazine.com
5) Image from bumpshack.com