The Sequel

The gold medal hockey game produced a couple of rare instances. Special games do that.

Rare are the moments in a college dorm when everyone is rooting for the same team. When the exuberant cheers, the frustrated groans are in unison.

Sometimes there’s a majority, a large group of one team's fans. But there’s always someone on the other side, even if it’s just the neutral fan playing the role of antagonist.

But today, everyone (besides the kid I saw at the library with a Canada jersey on) wanted the same result. The Yankees and Red Sox, Steelers and Browns, Cavs and Celtics fans formed an almost unanimous alliance.

We were all in this one together.

Rare are the moments in sport when we are left speechless at a contest’s result. When the game ends and there are no words. You just sit and stare. Watch the moment unfold. Appreciate what you just saw.

Rare are the moments when you don’t want a game to end, even if you have a rooting interest. When the action is so spellbinding that you want to milk it to its fullest potential. Like when Syracuse played UConn for six overtimes but you couldn’t help but want seven or eight.

USA vs. Canada had all of these rarities wrapped up in one. And it had the extreme meaning, the star power, rematch and national pride factors all at play. Not to mention the game between the North American hockey foes being played in Canada.

The first contest a week ago was a classic. If it were the movie business, it would have been a surefire best picture candidate. Usually the sequel has a hard time living up to its predecessor. This one won the Oscar.

It had all the pre-release hype. And it lived up to it; the U.S. comeback from 2-0 down, Parise’s desperation score, then the home country winning gold on a sudden death goal. It had the enigmatic figures. Ryan Miller, the empathetic loser. Sidney Crosby, the hero.

And isn’t it fitting that the Games begin with Canadian hockey legend Wayne Gretzky lighting the torch and end with a passing of the torch, Crosby securing the gold for his country.

Seven minutes, 40 seconds into overtime, Canada Place exploded. My dorm was silenced. It was a collective silence.

That’s what this game was about; the unanimity in the good and bad. The collective screams and shouts of U-S-A after Parise’s goal. That moment of dejection after Crosby’s winner. The deflated feeling you can’t seem to shake. Today we had those feelings in common. It was a rare occurrence in a game not to forget.

T-Free's Three To Win The Rivalry

What do John Wall and Tommy Freeman have in common?

Both have made game-winning shots against Miami.

Again tonight, Ohio was left with one possession to win the game. The Bobcats have had their flubs and triumphs in those moments this season.

Kenny Hayes makes a heck of a layup and only seven seconds remain. Cooper’s coming up the court. No timeout called, no timeout…oh gosh!

Freeman, off the pick from KVK. Get free, put it up.

It’s up. Collective gasp.

It’s good.

.6 left. It might as well have been a buzzer beater. O-Zone going nuts. Convo at a fever pitch. It wasn’t just a promotion; it really was Green Fever in that place.

A hopeless desperation heave by Miami, then game over. Ohio 70, Miami 68. A sea of green rushing onto the Convo court. Absolute insanity.

It was the rivalry game that ended in epic fashion. You couldn’t ask for more in college basketball. It’s not Duke/UNC but it sure felt like something close to it for this mid-major. Pulling the archrival’s heart out and stepping on it with one shooting stroke.

It wasn’t just a game winning shot. It was the junior Freeman finally getting the chance and making the most of it.

It was a blow to Miami’s first round bye chances.

It was one shot that may have just changed Ohio’s season. That could turn this ship around. Now, the Bobcats are 6-8 in conference with a chance at a first round home game. Now, the final two games mean a whole lot.

And this moment may have been the catalyst, the momentum that propels the Bobcats forward. We’ll see soon enough.

But right now, there’s no denying the greatness of Freeman’s moment. That’s what it was; a moment…and it came in the rivalry game.

Just like at Kentucky, the game once again got away from Miami coach Charlie Coles. This time, it wasn’t a stud freshman in the Bluegrass State. It was the scrappy sharp shooter from Muncie. Now, Tommy Freeman’s name will live in lore in the history of the Battle of the Bricks.

U.S. vs. Canada Olympic Hockey

There was something special about this game.

It wasn’t for a gold medal. It wasn’t for a bronze medal. It wasn’t even a final round game. It was just a preliminary round game.

But it wasn’t just a preliminary game. A quarterfinal bye was on the line. The big game feel was there.

It was one of those games that got people watching: the diehards, the casual hockey fans and those who best know ‘icing’ as a sugary sweet cake frosting.

The game had an excitement about it from the first minute with Brian Rafaski’s goal. And it continued to crescendo throughout the game. The diehards were watching from the beginning but the people who don’t watch too much hockey were even drawn in, like my grandma, who couldn’t stop watching.

This game had a little bit of everything, something for everyone…

Doc Emrick making it impossible to study with his excited play-by-play. Just as I would look down and start to write a notecard, I’d hear Doc scream “CENTEEEER BY CROSBY” or “OHHH, WIIDE.”

Stars all over the ice, especially on the home country’s squad. Crosby, Heatley, Pronger, Iginla, Nash, Getzlaf, Brodeur.

The performance of goalie Ryan Miller. His 42 saves were thrilling to watch. The final five minutes were nerve-wracking to watch, as the U.S. could not clear the puck and Miller stood on his head. And how about Miller’s incredibly cool mask?

Then, there was the capper. When Canada pulled Marty Brodeur, you couldn't help but think we were in for a finish like the Game 7 of the '09 Stanley Cup Final, when Marc Andre Fleury had to hold Detroit down 'til the very final second. But then Brad Kessler found a way to get it into the empty net. Game.

The home crowd. A sea of red filling the stands, Canadian flags all around, and the U.S. defeating not only the men on the ice but the crowd's collective spirit, as the final score stood, U.S. 5, Canada 3.

The U.S. team has plenty of games left to play if it hopes to be atop the medal stand, if it hopes to have gold around its necks.

Tonight’s game wasn’t the one that decided the gold. But it was an Olympic classic. No matter what happens from here on out, it’s one we’ll be talking about tomorrow and at the end of the Games and when Socchi rolls around in four years. It’s why we watch the Olympics.

Tiger will be forgiven

Tiger wore a black jacket and a look of remorse. It was much different than the green jacket and smile we’re used to seeing on him.

Today, Woods made his much anticipated return to the public sphere. He was refreshingly frank. He was critical of himself using adjectives such as entitled, wrong and foolish.

He has made mistakes and tarred an image that was squeaky clean. But there is always damage control. The windex is in the cabinet and Tiger is set to try to wipe off the debris he has left on his image.

It will take time. But his statement today was a good first step.

Tiger did not pull any punches, expressing sorrow for what he did to his friends, family and fans.

Tiger asked us to “find room in your heart to one day believe in me again.”

We live in a forgiving society. Remember the allegations against Kobe Bryant years ago? Yes, he lost endorsements. His image was tarnished. But now in 2010 we are once again focused on his on court exploits. The allegations of rape will remain in his biography but it is not what we will remember Bryant for. It will not define him.

I have a feeling the same will hold true for Woods. His indiscretion is something that he will live with forever. But he will overcome it and public sentiment toward Woods will improve. Because our society loves to give a second chance to someone who is sorry and willing to make a change.

Today, Woods showed he is indeed sorry and deserving of a second chance. He let his guard down and opened himself up to us.

Soon enough we will see him out on the links again, chasing Jack Nicklaus’ major record. Woods is not only one of the greatest athletes in golf but in all of sports. And I have a feeling he will end up being defined not for this sex scandal but how he acts now in its aftermath.

He’s off to a good start. I’m not even a big golf fan but I think I’ll take up Tiger’s offer: I have room in my heart and today Tiger gave me every reason to believe in him. He just doesn’t look right in that black jacket; I hope we see Tiger with his life back together and in his signature color, green, not too far down the line.

Olympic Highlights, Night 3

The Olympics give us heartwarming, thrilling, and sometimes unintentionally funny moments. A couple of those funny ones from tonight's coverage:

- German pairs skater Aliona Savchenko came to the ice and I did a double take: was this Lady Gaga in Vancouver? Scott Hamilton said it best pre-performance when he called the duo "theatrical." I'm really, really hoping for 'Poker Face' as the musical selection for the long program.

- In between skaters, we heard 'Party in the USA' play over the speakers in the arena. The speakers in Vancouver in Canada....identity crisis? Or is Miley Cyrus' music just that catchy?

More Olympic thoughts surely to come...

A Super Bowl Smile

When Drew Brees took a knee and Super Bowl XLIV was put to rest, I found myself with a smile across my face. I was genuinely happy for the Saints. This was a new feeling following the NFL’s final game.

The past bunch of Super Bowls have featured some classics and some clunkers but a lot of games that left me feeling cold afterward. The NFL is certainly not the free-for-all spending spree of disproportionate levels that MLB is, however, a clear pattern of haves and have-nots is evident. Look at the past Super Bowl winners:

Super Bowl XLIII- Steelers
XLII- Giants
XLI- Colts
XL- Steelers
XXXIX- Patriots
XXXVIII- Patriots

Sure, some new teams have gotten there but the last new kid to actually win the Big Game was Tampa Bay in Super Bowl XXXVII…and that team wasn’t all too captivating. I mean Dexter Jackson was MVP of the game.

The haves have ruled the roost year after year through my teen years. The Steelers have won so many that seeing them win another didn’t do anything for me. As much as I did not want the Patriots to win Super Bowl XLII, seeing the Giants pull the upset did not leave a warm feeling in my tummy. The Colts beat the Bears and Peyton Manning got his first Super Bowl but the Colts were anything but a real underdog story. And seeing Belichick, Brady and the Patriots win any game, let alone the Big Game, makes me unhappy.

Well tonight, the underdog won; the underdog team, underdog city. A lot of times the media needlessly overhypes teams or stories. But the significance of Hurricane Katrina and the role of this Saints team in New Orleans is one that I think deserves the attention. Just five years ago, New Orleans was decimated. The Saints’ home for football, the Superdome, was a shelter, the pictures from which were hard to watch. The city is still not altogether.

But this Saints team and that city have an indelible connection unlike many others I have seen in sports. The Saints are New Orleans. It doesn’t have baseball or hockey. It just recently got basketball back. Football has been the only mainstay sport in the city.

And while I was watching the trophy presentation, I realized why I had that big smile on my face and some goosebumps on my arms. I was getting a taste of the closest thing I had ever felt to a Jets’ Super Bowl win in my lifetime. The Saints are most certainly not my team. I have no real connection to them. But I could feel the joy of seeing a 40+ year Super Bowl drought ending. In seeing the Saints defy that streak that the Jets still continue, I got a small taste of what a Jets Super Bowl win might feel like…and it was great.

Tonight, the natural order of progression was altered. The haves did not win. The new kid, the underdog prevailed. It wasn’t my team but when I flicked off CBS tonight I wasn’t annoyed, frustrated or just appreciative of a good game; I actually finished an NFL season with a genuine smile on my face.

Pre-Super Bowl Thoughts

Super Bowl Sunday is finally here! I would much rather be seeing the Jets here today but it's a whole lot less stressful without them there. Here's my breakdown of each unit matchup before the game begins...

Colts Offense vs. Saints Defense

Peyton Manning leads the #2 pass offense in the league into Miami. He had a huge day in the AFC Championship game against the league's #1 defense. The Saints have the #26 pass defense and are #25 in overall defense. Last week, the Vikings gained 475 yards on this Saints D.

However, the Saints forced five turnovers. That is what they will have to do today to have a real chance. The problem is, Peyton Manning rarely makes mistakes. There was a lot of talk this week about Gregg Williams and the defense getting after Manning. The Jets D got to him a couple times last week but then he adjusted. I don't see the Saints reinventing the wheel to throw off Manning for an entire game. The Colts have so many weapons that Manning can avoid Jamie Sharper and go to Garcon or Collie or Clark. This offense is just very difficult to stop.

EDGE: Colts

Saints Offense vs. Colts Defense


Once again, offense should reign supreme here. The Saints have the league's best offense and the Colts defense, while better than the Saints, is still middle-of-the-pack. Whether or not Dwight Freeney plays has been the big storyline all week for the Colts D. But even if he does, I'm not sure he'll be at full strength. Either way, I think Raheem Brock is a suitable fill-in. The Colts pass defense is 14th in the league and will have to work to shut down the Saints WR corps.

I think Brees and the passing will be the main key but don't forget about the run game. The Saints average 131 yards per game on the ground, 6th best in the regular season. Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush can play a big part in this game if they establish the run threat and open up Brees for big shots down the field.

EDGE: Saints

Special Teams

In Super Bowl XLI, Devin Hester returned the opening kickoff for a TD against the Colts. Again, the Colts will have to beware strong special teams on the opposing side. The Saints' Courtney Roby returned a kick 61 yards and Pierre Thomas 40 yards in OT against Minnesota. On punts, Reggie Bush is a dangerous weapon.

The Colts don't have the homerun threat for returns. But they do have a very dependable kicker in the grizzled veteran Matt Stover. He's 5-5 on playoff field goals. Garrett Hartley made the kick that sent the Saints to this game and has been reliable most of the time. However, two short missed kicks in clutch situations in the regular season, against Washington and Tampa Bay, make you worry.

EDGE: Saints

Coaching

It's the first time leading a squad to the Super Bowl for each head coach. Jim Caldwell is a rookie but he was there for Super Bowl XLI and groomed by Tony Dungy to do make this very trip. Sean Payton is an offensive mastermind but defensive coordinator Gregg Williams will have to create and be ready to adjust the gameplan of his life to win this game.

EDGE: Push

Overall

These two offenses are both extremely talented with great playmakers. However, throughout the season, this Saints defense has shown a propensity for giving up a lot of points. I'm not sure that getting in a shootout with Peyton Manning is the best course for them. I think this game will take a while to find its footing, and similar to Super Bowl XXXVIII between the Patriots and Panthers, will see a couple of quarters with a lot of big plays. I expect New Orleans to come out with a ton of energy and slow Manning down at first. It will be relatively close at the half but Manning will adjust in the second half and pull away with a lead the Saints cannot overcome.

Prediction: Colts 38, Saints 28

Are groundhogs athletes?

Take a look at this proposition on ESPN's Streak for the Cash for the morning.



Interesting. When I first saw this prop, I initially just saw Phil, and thought it was about golfer Phil Mickelson. Not quite right. But Punxsutawney Phil and that excellent 'Hog' logo make it irresistible to pick (although I would much prefer the early spring to my selection).