As always, you’re left to fend for yourselves on the weekend. I hope this helps dealing with the Monday blues…the implementation of three-day weekends is a definite must.
MONDAY
7:00 PM – A busy weekend leads to a relaxed night on the NHL front as only one game is going on. This should be a nice pre-cursor for Swedish Centre Peter Forsberg, as he eyes six potential suitors as a new destination looms imminent come the trade deadline. Detroit was one of the supposed teams on the All-Stars’ list of exclusively Western Conference cities he would veto his no-trade clause to join, and with six other countrymen already dawning the Red and White, everyone in Motown is dreaming of reigniting the Peter Forsberg who was such a menace for the Wings while a member of the Colorado Avalanche.
When analyzing Forsberg’s move to Detroit, it makes total sense if you look at it from all angles.
Detroit is in need of a veteran centre to add some grit, leadership and goal scoring ability to their top lines. The transition phase will be seemingly non-existent as he will be joining players he has grown up playing with internationally. Coming to a team who is already situated at the top of the standings, Forsberg will be able to rest any nagging injuries he may still be fighting and prepare himself for the gruelling playoff stretch. Once back in the line-up, the Wings will not have to place total reliance on the center’s shoulders and may ask him to play more of a complimentary role, surrounding him with the young stars currently leading the way in Detroit. In return, Detroit has enough young talent to offer Philly and if it's draft picks that they are seeking, the Wings will use their scouting diligence and expertise in the latter rounds to make up for not having early round selections.My white Forsberg jersey is already pre-ordered in anticipation of the Dog-F*%#ers first trip to Hockeytown. This reminds me of the good 'ol days.
In the new-NHL, blockbuster deals at the trade deadline are few and far between; the salary cap and levelled off playing field make teams much more hesitant to give up on the current season as the playoffs are always within sight. Thankfully the Flyers have been terrible and out of contention since the second week of the season. Now all we need is some added muscle and a deep playoff run seems inevitable…Mr. Georges Laraques anyone…
7:00 PM – The NBA offers a few games on Monday with Detroit hosting the LA Clippers in the nights marquee match-up. With CWebb showing exactly why the Pistons were wise in picking up the aging star for the second half, his passing ability has created a more fluid, steadily moving offense where slashing to the basket is rewarded. The question on the other side of the ball is whether or not the Clips will start playing up to their potential and regain the form that brought them from under the woodwork last season and near the top of the Western Conference.
8:00 PM – Prison Break is back on for another week of twists and turns. We left with the fleeing convicts (Sara’s now deeply rooted in their joint escape…er…pursuit of the truth) and defacto-exFBI agent, Kellerman, jumping from the train supposedly headed for the President. Kellerman is on a vendetta now that he has been played for a fool again by Agent Kim and I’m eager to see how he shows his appreciation for all the fun Kim has put him through over the past few weeks. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was with an iron crowbar or 9mm to the side of the head. Michael et al are once again going to be at the mercy of their followers and I’d think that jumping out of a train in the middle of the plains might not be the best for a camouflaged escape, but we know better, this is a network sitcom and Michael has read the scripts of those who are in desperate chase, so he should be able to work a little magic again...the show actually returns next week, Feb.19th. My bad...but to my credit, I didn't think I had to look that one up to make sure it was on. Lesson learned.
9:00 PM – Oklahoma St (17) @ Texas (25) – The Kevin Durant watch continues. I need some feedback! If you’re the team with the top pick in the upcoming draft do you:
A) Choose Durant for his insane all-around ability and freakishly unmatchable size
B) Take the next great centre in the NBA in man-child Greg Oden
C) Start throwing as much money/fame/celebrity/endorsements/girls/ANYTHING at these guys to get them to go pro and not stay in college for another year?
TUESDAY
7:30 PM – The boys from Long Island make a trip into Toronto to take on the Leafs and match-up two of the hotter teams in the Eastern Conference. It is a little odd to be mentioning the Leafs and Isles as two of the hotter teams in the East, but over the last 10 games the Leafs have tallied 15 pts, while the Isles have put up 14 pts themselves to enable both clubs to hold onto their fading and weak playoff hopes. The next few weeks will show us where the Leafs brass is directing the franchise. As the trade deadline approaches, John Ferguson’s phone will be off the hook as real playoff contenders call and inquire about Mats Sundin and Darcy Tucker. I’ve shown the more pity and offered honest analysts towards the Buds than ever before this season, but if a deal doesn’t happen sending the aforementioned out of town before February is over, I will quickly revert back to my cynical commentary surrounding Ontario’s storied franchise because they will once again prove to not truly care about legitimately building a Stanley Cup contender and rewarding their desperately naïve fan base.
8:00 PM – Dallas heads to Milwaukee to take on the Bucks. I wonder how Dirk Digler is going to respond to the remarks made by D-Wade late last week. Wade was quoted and seemed a little out of character, refreshingly so mind you, about Nowitzki’s play near the end of games saying:
“you're remembered for what you did at the end. . . . I think that's the reason -- Dirk says they gave us the championship last year, but he's the reason they lost the championship, because he wasn't the leader that he's supposed to be in the closing moments. That's because of great defense by us, but also he wasn't assertive enough as a leader's supposed to be.''I think it’s safe to say that the message was passed along to Dirk and the Mavs, although it’s tough to argue with the big German as the Mavs have only lost twice since Dec.13th and will be welcoming the Heat next week Thursday in what will be a classic match-up of putting your money where your mouth is….to be continued…
8:30 PM – The Raps head to Chicago and look to take down another team the experts had marked for supremacy in the East. They’ll look to end this affair as early as possible and make sure everyone is at the top of their game as Carter and the Nets head in to Toronto on Wednesday. It’s an event every time Carter comes back to town for what always seems to be a more meaningful game now that VC is the son who emancipated himself from the city of Toronto. Oh how we loathe thee.
College Hoops – It’s now just under a month until Selection Sunday, the precursor for the NCAA Tournament. In order to stay on top of the hot teams entering March, start your watch now and get an advantage on the office poolies. Games to keep a lookout for include: Texas Tech (UR) @ Texas A&M (7) – A&M is a dangerous team to keep your eye on. Virginia Tech (UR) @ N.Carolina (5) – NC is looking for redemption after falling to VT 94-88 a month ago.
WEDNESDAY
7:00 PM – The start of a busy day in the NBA has the Nets and JKidd visiting Toronto. I think I might head down to the ACC, boo until I fall over from lack of oxygen and then head home to keep up with a busy schedule of games on Wednesday. Carter, you will never be forgotten to us, we will always hate you.
7:30 PM – Montreal will be looking to start playing more inspired hockey as they head to the Meadowlands and play the Devils. The Habs have only one win over their last six contests and that one win came in overtime. They’re barely hanging on to a playoff spot and are going to need to start to prove their legitimacy sometime soon.
7:30 PM – San Antonio makes a trip into Detroit and if you’re one of those people who proclaims the NBA would be more exciting and better served if it was played under a college scheme, then watch the Pistons and Spurs. They play fundamentally sound, team basketball and at the highest level.
8:30 PM – The Sharks and Preds face off in a battle of two of the top teams in the NHL and the Gaylord Centre (insert joke here) will be host a fast paced, highly skilled affair. The Wings and Stars also play and Marty Turco will look to rid himself of his kryptonite; since the 01/02 season Turco is 1-8-5 against the Wings with his only win coming in overtime.
THURSDAY
7:00 PM – A fairly busy night in the NHL with seven games on tap. One you may want to keep an eye on, as implications loom for both the East and the West, is between Edmonton and Buffalo. The Oilers are fading as they do so often around this time of the year, and to be honest, another last ditch effort to make the playoffs will annoy me. Teams who are used to sneaking into seventh or eighth spot on a yearly basis (Edmonton anyone…) will need to prove their worth earlier this season as there is a log jam in both conferences.
8:00 PM – A resurgent T-Mac has supposedly put to rest anything that was holding him back earlier in the season, and is rounding in to the MVP-caliber player so many know he’s capable of. The Rockets welcome the Mavs in a test to see who has bragging rights in Texas.
10:30 PM – A match-up of two of the best players in the L comes head to head when the Lakers and Cavs meet in Lala Land. Hopefully LeBron packed his note pad because the young phenom needs to start studying what Mr. Bryant has been teaching all year, how to bring a team full of mediocrity to the top of the standings. (I know the Cavs are near the top of the East, but c’mon, let’s be serious…it’s the East).
FRIDAY
MLB!!! Yep, it’s that time of the year again. The time when I pray a buddy might call me with an extra plane ticket to Florida and somewhere to stay so we can watch our boys of summer
prep for another year and bid adieu to the winter that was. Pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report on Friday with Spring Training games to start March 1st.To all my friends: I’ve tentatively booked the entire month of March off, I’m a great wingman and always remember my wallet, I promise you will not be disappointed...
7:30 PM – The Pens head to New Jersey to take on the Devils. With all the controversy surrounding the Penguins and whether or not they need to surround Sid the Kid with some knuckles in order to protect their most coveted asset, I think it’s in our best interest to look at the following: Anaheim and Nashville lead the league with 54 and 34 fighting majors respectively. They sit 2nd and T-4th overall in the NHL respectively. I think we see a small correlation here – the way the game is played today, with increased emphasis on speed and skill, you need to offset all the finesse players with a few guys who will make the other team think twice about taking a run at one of your top guys. This isn’t rocket science gentlemen.
Bonus Weekend Coverage…
The NBA Kicks off their All-Star weekend – yes, it’s on the weekend, I’m not sure what league would think it was a good idea to run their most publicized, fan-oriented event in the middle of the week – with the Rookie/Sophomore challenge. Heading the two squads will be 1st overall pick Andrea Bargnani, Brandon Roy and Randy Foye for the Rookie Team and Andrew Bogut along with the dazzling PG duo of Chris Paul and Deron Williams. With many picking the sophs to route, let’s cheer on the underdog Rooks and two Raptors (Bargnani & J. Garbajosa) in the process.
As for the weekend, make sure you don’t miss possibly the last Slam Dunk contest on Saturday, let’s hope they’ve tweaked the rules so we don’t find ourselves yawning through fifteen dunk attempts by lil’ 50 Cent Nate Robinson again. Then Sunday you’ll be treated to the most lackadaisical pick-up game involving the highly skilled stars of the NBA as the All-Star game comes at us for the first time from Las Vegas. How David Stern was convinced to bring all the NBA’s elite to Sin City is beyond me.
- JW
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