Whew! That was quite a week in sports we just had. Congratulations are in order for the Duke Blue Devils for winning the NCAA National Championship. Coach K is one of the best coaches to ever be involved at any level of basketball and he and his kids deserved this. But they were completely overshadowed by Tiger Woods and his return to golf. While he didn’t win The Masters, he did show everyone that he still is one of, if not the, best golfers in the world. He may have a little rust but give it some time and he will be back to completely dominating. This Masters tournament belonged to Phil Mickelson though. He played brilliantly throughout the whole tournament and after everything he and his wife have been though, it was nice to see the good guy come out on top. Congrats to you Phil.
This week brings about the final week of the NBA regular season. By this time all the playoff seeds have been filled and the last 3 days of the season will be meaningless. Most stars will sit out and get some early rest before the playoffs begin. The NBA playoffs are like a whole other season because it is so long, so sit down and buckle up because anything can happen in the playoffs when the winners go on and the losers go home until next year.
Not to be out done, the NHL will begin their postseason this week. Now I’m not a big follower of hockey but playoffs are a whole different game. Players skate for their “lives” on their quest for the Stanley Cup. They will hit harder and play with more intensity than they have all season. So get ready because the ice will be on fire as teams try to out do each other to be the best.
Top 3
1. NHL - Detroit Red Wings at Phoenix Coyotes – Game 1 – April 14 @ 10 pm
At the beginning of the season, anyone who said the Coyotes would be anything more than a last place team were laughed at. But no one is laughing now as the Coyotes have played their hearts out and earned a good place in the playoffs. Now we will see what they are really made of when they go up against a veteran team like the Red Wings. Detroit has been a powerhouse in the hockey world for years while the Coyotes have been a laughing stock. Their troubles before the year began almost spelled certain doom for this team. This will be a classic underdog match and something worth watching because if the Coyotes hang around they will show your kids why you never give up even when everyone says you can’t do something. Determination will win out this series.
2. NBA – Boston Celtics at Chicago Bulls – April 13 @ 8 pm
While the Celtics have cemented their place in the playoffs, the Bulls are still fighting with the Toronto Raptors to get the last place in the Eastern Conference playoffs. Every game matters with the Raptors only one game behind (as of April 11) and the Bulls will play with everything they have because they have everything to lose. In a rematch of a classic post season series from last year, the Celtics and Bulls will give it their all because pride is on the line. But everything really depends on the Celtics and whether or not they play their big three of Ray Allen, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett. If those three play it will be a good game, if they don’t, the Bulls should have an easy time getting a much needed victory. Let’s hope that the big guys play and make it worth seeing.
3. MLB – San Francisco Giants at Los Angeles Dodgers – April 16-19
This is considered the biggest and most hated baseball rivalry, even more than the Yankees/Red Sox. These two teams have been fighting each other for decades. One-upping each other at the most opportune times to smash the hopes of the other team. While the season is still just beginning, the Giants have gotten off to a fast start and are at the top of the National League West Division while the Dodgers are near the bottom. Will the Dodgers be able to reclaim their top spot in the NL West or will this be the year of the Giants? Only the long season will tell us but that will mean nothing to these two teams when they meet and fight it out. You never know what can happen. Pay special attention to the April 17 game, the reigning Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum will be pitching and with the rivalry brewing underneath, you never know what he is capable of. Greatness for sure.
Quick Picks
- For a complete schedule of the NHL Playoffs, click here.
- To see how the NBA Playoffs are shaping up and where your team stands, click here.
- The baseball season has just begun but that doesn’t mean the standings don’t mean anything. Check them out here.
