Well, that was UGLY

Emily, Mark, and I just got back from the hockey game.  Boy was it ugly, it seemed as if the Jackets thought that they were wearing white tonight (they were wearing blue) because they were passing to the BlackHawks all night.  Losing 5-2, the Jackets looked, well, ugly.  It was a sellout but if they play many more games like that, it will be a loooong season with PLENTY of good seats available.  We got tickets through the Tim Horton promotion, a $25 seat AND timbits, free coffee, a free travel mug, a CBJ hat, and $10 in free food.  I was more excited about getting the travel mug than I was over the game.  Such is the life of a BlueJacket fan

It's Opening Night

There is a buzz amongst Mark and Emily as at this moment they are getting ready.  Tonight is Opening Night, the home opener for the Blue Jackets.  We have $30 tickets through a promotion with Tim Horton's.  For the $30 we get a ticket, a $10 voucher for food, a box of timbits (they now have Tim Horton's stands at Nationwide, it is about time), and a Blue Jacket hat.  A $30 value, and they have this promotion every Friday home game.  I am hoping for an entertaining time and a CBJ victory (after all, I did just receive a phone call to call play by play for Lancaster-Pick North football tonight, I had to turn it down).  There will be excitement tonight in the Arena District, and so let's get it started:

LET'S GO JACKETS!

At least one team in Columbus is playing for a championship

And that team is.... the Columbus Crew.  Playing tomorrow night in Seattle against the Sounders, if the Crew wins they will be champions of the U S Open Cup.  But it will be difficult, it may come down to penalty kicks.  I think Seattle wins, but I hope I am wrong.  Go Crew!

NHL Predictions

I have been listening to the so called experts predict what they think will happen in the 2010-2011 NHL season.  In listening I have found a common theme, if a team finished in the top eight last season, they will then be slotted to finish in the top eight for the next season.  Through all of these predictions, the beloved Blue Jackets are predicted NOT to make the playoffs.  Well, anyone can pick the teams that finished in the money last year to do it again this year.  For the record, I think that the CBJ will be in the playoffs this year, because Mason will return to form (and goaltending is like pitching in baseball, in that it is a major part of the game) and Filatov will prove to be the real deal this year.  The wild card for me is Derrick Brassard.  If Brassard can return to form of two years ago, this team will be a major surprise.  If Filatov doesn't come through, then this team will contend for a playoff position, if Mason falls flat on his face, then the experts predictions will come through and the CBJ will struggle to finish the season at .500.

Only in Cleveland

The Tribe's 2010 season is now officially over.  On this first day of the offseason, the Indians announced six promotions in their front office.  Some, such as Mark Shapiro becoming the president of the organization, have been previously announced.  Others were announced today.  My question is, where else does this happen?  Perhaps in the government, but where else would mediocrity be rewarded.  The team finished in fourth place in 2009 and 2010 and the front office types get promoted and a raise?  Only in Cleveland. Oh, the pain of being an Indians fan.

Do they have a plan?

After watching the Wahoos all season, I have one question.  Do they have a plan, a blueprint in place to contend soon?  In the Hart era, there was talk of a blueprint that the organization would follow.  Is there one for this group?  I wonder, because when I hear that Jayson Nix is headed to winter ball to improve his play at third, surely they jest!  The man plays like he has a gold glove at third, meaning that ground balls bounce off of his glove for errors all of the time.  Why not give Chisenal or Goeddert a chance next year and try to catch lightening in a bottle?  Or how about signing a free agent?  Anyone but Nix.  That being said, I still love the Tribe

Tournament Basketball

One of my pet peeves is the officiating we see during tournament time. Whether it is hockey during the Stanley Cup, the NBA playoffs, or March Madness, it is madening to me to see how the officiating changes during a tournament.

I was watching a high school girls tournament basketball game this week and the change in the way the game is officated was obvious. Fouls which were called during the 20 game regular season were ignored, bumping and physical play were more prevalent, and the players were allowed to "play".

It is understood that this type of officiating takes place at all levels. Referees don't want to "take the game out of the hands of the players", and so, referees will be hestitant to call a foul, thinking that they don't want to be accused of deciding an outcome of a contest or changing a game.

Let's say, for the sake of arguement, that this is true. Let the players play, don't call as many fouls, swallow the whistle, so that the players decide the outcome in the tournament. Then what are we to make of the other 20 games the players have played in the regular season? Are not these games important, escpecially when it comes to deciding league championships and determining seeding in the tournament? Shouldn't the same standards apply in officiating then as now? Why not let the players play during the regular season? Don't take the game of their hands and allow them to decide the outcome in the regular season as well as the tournament?

You see, there is the rub. Officiating plays a part in EVERY GAME. It always has and always will. So why not call the game in the same way in the regular season AND in the tournament? The game is the same, the rules are the same, the players are USED to playing a certain way and for the game to be called a certain way during the regular season. Shouldn't they expect the same for the tournament? I maintain that IT IS UNFAIR FOR THE PLAYERS to have games officiated differently.

My proposal? Be consistant. Call the game the same way both in the regular season AND during the tournament. It is the same game, same rules, shouldn't they be applied equally? Isn't that what is expected of an official?

Just be consistant. The refs have a difficult job as it is, why not allow them to call the game the same way throughout the regular season and post season? In the end, that would be best for the officials, coaches, fans, and most of all, the players.