Now whether you’re an avid hockey fan or just someone who watches a game every now and then, you still have to appreciate the fact that with all the great battles that have gone on in this year’s playoff, this game 7 is going to be an epic finally to one great series. Who’s going to win? That we can’t be sure. Story-lines have been set however, so that both teams deserve it.

Firstly you have the classic battle of experience versus youth.

Proven winners in Nik Lidstrom, Chris Osgood, Brian Rafalski, Kris Draper, Tomas Holmstrom and many others. Most of the core players on the Detroit Red Wings roster have been playing for the team since they were drafted or at least since their early years in the NHL. You just cant force chemistry, but this team has had it from the start and has only continued growing together into what is now considered the powerhouse team or the “class” of the league. Few are contenders, even fewer are winners, and the Red Wings are winners.

Then we have a bold young team in the Pittsburgh Penguins. Crosby and Malkin are possibly the best 2 players in the league and they are playing on the same team! Not a lot of teams can hold down that 1-2 punch, let alone the rest of a very solid roster. Many young faces here will only get better, imagine what Tyler Kennedy, Maxime Talbot, Chris Kunitz and co. can do now… Then imagine them in 5 years time… I can just see the cup rings pop into the picture, can you? That is of course, if Pittsburgh can afford it and if they choose to keep that lineup together. Then the Penguins went and added a few veterans to the team in Miroslav Satan and Bill Guerin. To me this squad is more complete and well rounded. Their defense is also becoming solid with Mr. Gonchar doing the offense and Mr. Scuderi and Mr. Gill helping a streaking Marc-André Fleury hold down the fort.
This team went to the cup finals last year and lost to… the Detroit Red Wings. Which brings me to my next point…

Redemption

Although it’s been quietly laid down as this series has gone on, you know the Penguins are looking for payback. What happened last year only adds to their fire and passion as youngsters, but now, that finals defeat of the past may be just the thing to help them beat Detroit this time around… Experience! Only 1 year has past since that immense heartbreak that I’m sure a player like Crosby remembers, for a while it seemed all the media wanted to do is show a picture of him sulking after losing the series. Now the odds have evened up it seems and the Penguins have gotten this series to 7. Can redemption be enough to push the Penguins to break through and win the Stanley Cup? We can only wonder until 8 p.m. Eastern time tonight.

If you look at how the games have gone down so far, consistency will tell you Detroit takes the series because so far every game has been won at home, but can there be another factor that would make Detroit just that much better than the Pens? Just another reason to win, another great storyline… Marian Hossa. Yes, I said it, I think Marian Hossa could decide this series.

Why would I say that about this player… well. Firstly he was part of that Pittsburgh team that lost the final… to the Red Wings of course. Hossa was already basically rented out to win a cup, playing only 12 regular season games with the Pens before the playoffs. I’m guessing some veteran player must have told him “If you get a chance to win a cup, win it, because you never know how long it can be before you get back there, deep in the playoffs”. In any case, after the season was done Hossa was headed to a winner, in Detroit. A good choice, mind you nothing is a sure bet in the NHL, just ask Jim Ballsilie. And now the very talented Marian Hossa is playing against his old team in a cup final. We know Hossa’s talented, but like most talented players they can at some point, or consistently, lack heart. I’m afraid this playoff, 7.5 million dollar-a-year-worth Marian Hossa is falling a little shy of expectations. He has been neither a game breaker, neither a great defensive presence, neither a great role player, he has just played, skated around, passed the puck a bit, and let his talent carry him. I will say that if Hossa turns it on in game 7 a goal and an assist will win it for Detroit. If Hossa, a man who should have so much to prove to the Pens, and who really really wants a cup (or money), fails to register a point, the Pens will take it in 7. And if that happens, I believe that the Red Wings are still a dynasty, the Pens are still a young team, Crosby stops whining…ok maybe not (just kidding), and we will have proof (along with Mats Sundin’s situation) that you cannot buy a team, and that heart will win the Stanley Cup after all, and in that case, everybody wins.

Photo: Hossa

According to “Le Journal de Montreal” there is a rumor that forward Alexei Kovalev may become the new leader of the Montreal Canadiens. We all know that Montreal is an incredibly fierce hockey market and that the media drops a word in on just about any and every subject that could possibly revolve around the team, so it’s no surprise this rumor got some attention. It is, however, just a rumor for now. But for the sake of argument I think it’s worth looking at what could hapen if this hypothetical situation were to turn out to be a reality, what positive or negative aspects could this bring to the Habs and is Alex Kovalev worthy of the big “C”?

To begin we’ll take a little trip down short-term-memory lane and look at what might have been… Vincent Lecavalier. This drew much attention during the all-star break, so much attention that in the eyes of some sports fans, this was the time when the ship that is the Montreal Canadiens sailed south, down into the standings, losing their last 5 regular season games and making the playoffs by default (Panthers loss), only to be swept in the first round and completely outclassed by the Boston Bruins. Montreal had good reasons to get Lecavalier, one of the main ones being that they could possibly get a star french Canadian that could represent the team on and off the ice as well as be the eventual successor to Saku Koivu. Sure Montreal put up some good hockey players to get him, but it would at least have made an interesting trade. The media of course, got so interested in this that they forgot that the team on the ice was starting to fall apart and before they knew it the habs were on the brink of missing the playoffs. It seems as though the Montreal media, the same people who hyped this “centenaire” all year saying that it was THE year for the habs to hoist their 25th cup, should also be credited with the team’s downfall. There is also a coach firing, and a few players that may have been a little steamed at the team that wanted to trade them away for a star player, but with their play, something was bound to give sooner or later… So as we were saying, Montreal was willing to give up so much just for a single french Canadian, and all of the sudden they chose another European to wear the “C”? Why the sudden change of heart?

Could it be because the defending Stanley cup champions, the Detroit Red Wings, have a European born captain? Perhaps… then again maybe not.

So what would push Montreal to make a move like this? I believe there are a few reasons :

1. Saku Koivu has been a great player and a heroic battler over the years, even overcoming such odds as beating cancer. He’s worked hard to be great on the ice and is never resting off the ice, always taking time for all kinds of charities and events, a true gentleman, class all the way. Unfortunately Koivu’s downfall may be that he has never successfully led his team through playoff rounds. Montreal has had some success, but come spring their efforts have always seemed to come up short, even when they were outright favorites. The Habs may be wanting to change that, the league is young and fast and Koivu is no spring chicken, neither is Kovalev, but as we saw with Carboneau’s firing, Montreal seems ready to change, and sometimes a change is needed to move to another level. Montreal might think that a few inner team changes such as this might wake them up enough for a solid season.

2. Why not put your leading scorer? Kovalev is arguably the most offensively skilled player on the Habs squad, and Vancouver already has the “goalie as a captain” thing going so Carey Price is out of the picture. Alex has also been Montreal’s best scorer the last few seasons. Jaromir Jagr was given the “C” in New York, it could work for the Canadiens… right?

3. Although Kovalev is always an offensive threat, he is not what you’d call a team player. He isn’t reliable defensively, he shows no effort in back checking, he coasts most of he time, even while on offense, he even goes as far as faking injury or giving up on plays. This is his biggest flaw, heart. So much talent is wasted every game HE choses not to play. You can be inconsistent but he is more than just inconsistent, he just doesn’t always want to play. Shockingly, this may be a good reason to promote him to captain! Think about it : what would put enough pressure on a player to have to care whether his team wins or loses, who has to support the team and his teammates even when the chips are down, it would have to be Alex Kovalev’s responsibility to play, hard, and win. This could bring effort and passion from a player badly in need of a morale boost.

Here’s an example of Kovalev’s negative impact on the Habs, causing a loss to the Bruins in the playoffs…

As I mentioned above, Kovalev’s bid flaw is in his character, and that’s something you cant buy, and it isn’t something you can work on in practice, and it isn’t something you can work on in the gym. It is either in you, or brought out of you. If this rumor is at all true, lets hope the media in Montreal can put a positive spin on it, and who knows, maybe the Habs century season (2009) truly isn’t over yet. Remember, 2009 is the 100 year mark, next season starts promptly in October, 2009.

Photo : 1, 2

If you’re an MMA fan or even if you just stumbled upon a female MMA match up I’m sure it wasn’t all beauty. But if you know about a match up featuring Gina Carano you better be sitting down before you watch. I guaranty you will be amazed to see how beautiful this girl really is. And ma she can fight!!

• Nickname: Conviction
• Age: 27
• Location: UNITED STATES
• City: Las Vegas
• Hometown: Las Vegas, NV

Story via proelite.com:
Gina Carano is a Muay Thai specialist who got her start fighting out of the famed Master Toddy Gym in Las Vegas, NV which led to a role in the reality series “Fight Girls”. Under Master Toddy, Gina competed multiple times internationally, garnishing a 12-1-1 professional Muay Thai record. Carano’s striking skills have so far surpassed every MMA fighter she has faced and is now training under Randy Couture at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas where she’s growing increasingly adept in the submission/ground game with improving her takedown defense.

Gina can currently be seen on NBC’s American Gladiators as “Crush.” Her dominance as an EliteXC women’s MMA cage fighter is seen every time one of the American Gladiator challengers takes her on. If you think Gina Carano is great on American Gladiators, you should see her when she enters the EliteXC cage.

• MMA Record: 6-0

Here’s what happens when Improv Everywhere decide to help a cause or just do a good deed… they go ALL OUT! I bet we’ve all wished this would have happened to us, or better yet get to feel how it would be like to play in the big leagues of any sport you played.

I’ve seen a few dudes with crazy beat box skills but never before have I heard of a girl who does this. You got to admit that she’s cute too. I think she should be named The Ultimate Beat Box Chick. Check out the video!

Tiger is normally a preserved guy, he won’t let you know how he feels much on the golf course and is always sporting his blank, determined look. But in interviews Tiger can be asked some pretty interesting questions, some that may even get a reaction out of him. I think Tiger actually reacts quite well to this, but man, is it ever funny to see him come out of his normal composure with a few awkward questions.

The video quality isn’t 100% but if you listen closely you should at least get the gist of it.

Photo : Google 1

Every once in a while teams will have switch hitters, and they are very valuable players. They can face any pitcher with ease because they can always bat on the side where they have the advantage. Imagine, though, if the pitcher could also switch sides to face every batter? Well in a few years we could see just that.

Pat Venditte, a 23 year old minor leaguer is playing as a left handed and right handed pitcher for the single A Yankees minor team. He is one heck of a closer for the Staten Island Yankees with 23 saves last year and an ERA under 1. Think of it this way, not only do you have to beat the righty, with a 90+ MPH fastball, nice curve and change-up, but you then could face the lefty who throws sidearm, and has a crazy slider and change-up. And really when he switches it splits the number of pitches thrown with either arm in half, so he could be able to play many more games, he’ll never be tired!

The only potential problem with all this, are the rules. When he meets a switch hitter, what happens then? They can’t just switch sides every pitch? Can they? Well here’s what happens in this exact situation…

Here’s a short bio of him from CBS…

I don’t know about you guys, but depending on where you are playing, the time of day, and the season, birds will always seem to want to taunt you. They seem to peep just as you’re going to hit the ball (something close to resembling the wind on a gusty day). I personally have thought of replacing a 3 iron that i cant even hit with a BB gun. Therefore I could take matters into my own hands… “evil laugh”. Well here’s a different way of dealing with birds on the golf course, ah such a beautiful sport…

  It looks like all the action in the hockey world isn’t limited to the N.H.L. playoffs or the I.I.H.F. world hockey championships as today the Pheonix Coyotes hockey club filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy which would usually mean a restructuring at the head office level and the moving of key personnel.

  But hold on  a second!

  Billionaire Jim Balsillie (BlackBerry Smart Phone) has made an offer on the troubled franchise for a reported 212.5 million dollars (USD). That’s estimated to be nearly double the next highest offer. Now here’s where things get complicated. The deal has a conditional clause that would see the team relocate to a ‘unserved market in Southern Ontario’ with all signs pointing to Hamilton (a city which Balsillie has already twice attempted to relocate N.H.L. teams to).

And things just keep getting better…

  N.H.L. commissioner Gary Bettman was in Pheonix today, supposedly meeting with Chicago White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf over the terms of a deal to purchase the Coyotes and keep them in Pheonix. So you can imagine his reaction when he got word of the deal being hatched between Jim Balsillie and Coyotes owner Jerry Moyes. The N.H.L’s top brass was quick to relieve Moyes of his duties and state their position that Balsillie has no rights to the Coyotes franchise and their location. Balsillie responded by opening his new website makeitseven.ca and inviting all Canadians to sign up and help bring a seventh franchise to the Great White North.

  It’s not often that the off ice business of the league gets more attention then the (still ongoing) playoffs, but this will likely be the huge hockey story of the summer so stay tuned to 360blog.org as we will definitely be keeping an eye or two on this one.

  Now we’re all huge hockey fans here at 360blog.org and would love nothing more to see a seventh team come to Canada, so if you’re like us and like your hockey Canadian then sign up at Balsillie’s website and make your voice heard.

  Agree with Balsillie’s tactics to bring a seventh team to Canada? Think the Coyotes should stay where they are? Angry Jets fan who still wants them to move back to Winnipeg? Tell us what you think in the comments section below.

All I want to say on this is that I have the most respect for Kyle Maynard. Going into the ring while being an amputee is something way out of the ordinary. Even though it’s very brave to do this, I think it’s a bit stupid to let someone with a significant disadvantage fight against a trained MMA fighter. I don’t know about the guy fighting Kyle Maynard but I would definitely not be proud of beating up an amputee.

On the other hand, if that’s what Kyle wants then nobody should stop him from doing it.