Hit and Run: I Was There Edition

I moved and changed jobs almost simultaneously this spring. As a result, I’m off the academic schedule for the first time in over a decade and it’s throwing off my whole concept of summer. So Tuesday night I went to check on the Cardinals score and discovered, to my dismay, that they had just finished one of the two games they are playing in NYC that I could actually attend.  Luckily, they were playing the Mets, which isn’t exactly a tough ticket to get at the last minute these days. So Wednesday night, my boyfriend and I headed out to Citifield, where around the actual game action, my blog post wrote itself.

First off — paper all star ballots!  Nostalgia!  Also, once we had established that I somehow didn’t have a writing implement in my purse, we discovered that the plug end of a pair of headphones is actually the perfect tool for punching the holes out of the ballot.

The hardest part about filling these out was trying to remember who was on the disabled list, particularly in the AL. (That’s not a Yankees joke — entirely.)  Then we put them in the ballot box to be buried under everyone’s 35-per-person internet ballots. I’m still looking forward to the All-Star Game if only because I was out of town when it was at old Yankee the last time, and since both the marathon and Fleet Week were canceled this past year, we’ve been lacking in the crowds-of-people-in-uniforms-descending-on-the-city-to-be-ogled department.

Just before the 7th inning stretch, this happened.  The crowd seemed primarily delighted, with an undercurrent of bemusement.  I certainly think Kidd can handle the in-game/practice side of coaching, but I’m a little unsure how the front office/roster building side is going to go, especially with a front office that can be …mercurial.

The scoreboard proved a great source of entertainment throughout the game.  The consensus in our section was that Matt Holliday has the saddest media photo ever.

My boyfriend’s comment: “That’s totally an ‘I’m going to go 0-4 and we’ll lose by 5,’ face.”  So perhaps he’s not sad, he’s just psychic.

Also appearing on the CitiField board, periodic Stanley Cup Final updates!  I didn’t get a picture, but the updates piqued my interest enough that even though the 2 hour and 40 minute game time got us home well before 11, we then stayed up past 1 watching the 6th longest Stanley Cup game in history.

Happy Friday! Anyone else going to a game this weekend?

Hump Day Hottie: 2013 NHL Playoffs

Steckel wants to know who you got in the Stanley Cup Playoffs?

It’s that time of year…finally! We weren’t sure if we would even have the NHL Playoffs this year, but here we are. While other sites try to compile their own lists of the hotties of the NHL, we know our hockey here, so you can trust us.

As an added bonus, we’re even providing a preview of sorts for those who have checked out on the NHL so far. So strap on your skates and don’t ice the puck…

Cosmo Thinks They Know NHL Hotties…AGAIN

Hey Cosmo, Over here! Did you forget about me and my Minnesota Wild teammates?

Dearest Cosmo:

STOP NOW. JUST STOP. First of all, we started these hot guys in sports lists way before you did. Also, we’re actual female sports fans, so we, you know, watch games, monitor players and, for the most part, know who to watch for in a game.

I’m not saying that this new list of “NHL Playoff Hotties” is completely bogus, but you clearly don’t know what you’re doing. Granted, you did manage to include some obvious hotties, i.e. Henrik Lundqvist and Kris Letang, who you somehow forgot to include in your original list that we also called you out on.

Sports and Media Pop Quiz!

OK, lovely readers.  I, an American resident with broadband internet but no cable television, was following four major sporting events last night.  Which one of the following was I NOT able to follow through live internet streaming?

A. 

St. Louis Cardinals versus Houston Astros: In which the Cards got a much needed win, despite 3 errors, thanks to a brilliant fielding play by Daniel Descalso.

It’s been such a long time…

(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Enjoy, Bruins fans. You deserve this.

Ladies… Stanley Cup Liveblog!

Game 7 is on! The Cup’s here, Games Mistress and Lady Bee are here, all that’s left is for you to join us by clicking here.

Impending Liveblog Alert!

The calm before the storm.

Given how much we love hockey around these parts, we had to do something special for Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals. So join us back here Wednesday night, for our Stanley Cup liveblog — reader comments are not only allowed, but encouraged!

Hit and Run: Things Which Are Ridiculous

 I wanted to watch Game 4 of the Stanley Cup last night, but couldn’t, because it was on Versus, which I don’t have. (NBC opted for Celebrity Minute To Win It, with Steve-O and some other guy from Jackass. If that’s a bigger ratings draw than the Stanley Cup, the NHL still has a lot of work to do.)

I believe I have made my displeasure about playoff games being on cable channels known before, but I still find it ridiculous.  So since I’m battling some serious writer’s block, here are other things which I am finding ridiculous today.

Hump Day Hotties: Chicago Blackhawks

Nice footwear, fellas.

In honor of the Stanley Cup Finals taking place right now, it’s time we feature some hotties to watch.  Since I couldn’t bring myself to even go on the Flyers website, I’m bringing you some hotties from the Hawks!

So take a trip with me after the jump to see some hot boys from Chi-Town.

Congratulations Blackhawks!

The Chicago Blackhawks swept the San Jose Sharks and are the first team to get a berth in the Stanley Cup Finals.

Lucky for us, the Blackhawks aren’t so difficult on the eyes. Everyone wins when the Blackhawks win!

Follow the jump for all the hockey hotties.

I heart Joe Pavelski

Heading into today’s action, San Jose Sharks’ Joe Pavelski was leading the Stanley Cup playoffs in points and goals scored.  He’s also from a town just outside Steven’s Point, WI called Plover whose population is just about 10,000.

And he was a member of the University of Wisconsin 2006 National Championship team.

While everyone knows Dany Heatley, Brian Rafalski and Chris Chelios – the most famous Badger alums, Pavelski is by far the most successful of the newest wave of UW players in the NHL. While Brian Elliott is working his way up, and Adam Burish is certainly famous in Chicago, Pavelski has quietly become the leader at San Jose. All this from a kid who probably wasn’t one of the first five or ten names someone could list off that 2006 roster.

In last night’s game, Pavelski scored two goals and had an assist and was 13-3 in the faceoff circle.

In the first series of the playoffs, Pavelski kept San Jose’s hopes alive by scoring the goal that forced overtime in the series clincher, as well as the OT game winner.

In scoring twice last night, Pavelski notched his third straight multi-goal game, a feat that hasn’t happened since Mario Lemieux did it in 1992.

Follow the jump for more on Pavs, Badger hockey and college players in the NHL

Here Comes Round Two! (Sadly, Ovie-Free)

A couple of weeks ago, Raven and I delivered to you our first round NHL Playoff predictions. For the most part we were correct, but I can’t help but feel a little guilty about my Cup winner prediction. Did I jinx Ovi and the Caps?

Sadness. (Photo: Getty Images)

Maybe? Habs fans were screaming in the streets of Montreal Wednesday night like they were headed to the Final. Is it a good time to tell them that they’re facing the Pens in the next round?

I checked in with Raven Thursday morning, and all things considered she seems to be OK (and fortunately she didn’t have car trouble on the way home Wednesday, although if she had, Mr. Laich could have been of assistance). Her colour of mourning is red and she wishes to be consoled in the arms of one Ryan Kesler. (BTW, Ryan, if you’re not too busy, can you see me when you get a moment? I hit my elbow on the towel rack this morning and could use a hug.)

At any rate, here’s how we see the second round of the NHL playoffs playing out.

Your 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs Preview

So Lady Bee and I have decided to do the preview for the 2010 playoffs.  Since we’re the hockey fiends, we figured we’d do a fun roundtable discussion of predictions and hotties.

Follow us after the jump for some knowledge and eye candy!