A few random thoughts while watching Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals shred the Bruins for a first period hat trick in a 5-0 game (so far).
You just never know in sports. The Bruins have been playing some of the best hockey in the NHL for most of the last month, with goaltender Tim Thomas standing on his head, stopping practically everything coming his way. Not tonight, though, as Thomas gave up four goals in less than nine minutes and was replaced by Alex Auld halfway through the first period, when it was already 4-0.
Thomas didn't get much help from his defense, though, as the Bruins looked like they forgot their skates at the team hotel. Wow, 6-0 now, still first period. Apparently the Bruins have been busy celebrating Randy Moss re-signing with the Patriots for three more years.
Lou Piniella isn't wasting any time getting into midseason form. After Jason Marquis told reporters he would rather go elsewhere if he wasn't part of the Chicago Cubs starting rotation, Piniella angrily replied Chicago should just "let him go" if that was the case.
No surprise there. Lou Piniella has always been strung a little tighter than even most other baseball managers, not a group usually known for their laid-back ways. What is surprising though, is that one day later, Piniella apologized for his remarks and Marquis did not retract any of his.
There is definitely more to come on this story. It may take until July or August, but you will hear more from these two guys.
It didn't take long to get here. Just days after Astros owner Drayton McLane raved about how much Roger Clemens means to the Houston franchise and how Roger would be welcomed in the Astros camp with open arms, the Houston Chronicle is reporting McLane gathered the Astros top brass together to reach some sort of decision on how to handle Clemens if he decides to return to camp.
The Rocket had pitched batting practice to the club's minor league players for two days last week, but the resulting crush of media attention had turned into what club officials felt was a distraction. Suddenly McLane's arms aren't open quite so wide.
Spare a thought for Bobby Murcer. According to Associated Press Baseball Writer Mike Fitzpatrick, the 61 year old Murcer, a Yankee broadcaster for the last 23 seasons and former All-Star outfielder, is recovering from a brain biopsy performed Monday in Houston.
Murcer, who underwent surgery in December, 2006 for a malignant brain tumor, was forced to undergo the most recent operation after an MRI revealed "an area of concern, which could be scar tissue or another tumor." The popular broadcaster recovered from his 2006 surgery in time to work Yankee games last year; let's hope he will be back on the air this season as well.
Sydney Crosby needs a cool nickname. The Pittsburgh Penguins captain, still only twenty years old, may be out for a few more weeks with a high ankle sprain, but perhaps the time could be used to come up with a fitting moniker for him. "Syd the Kid?" Come on. By the age of twenty, Wayne Gretzky was already being referred to as "The Great One," so it only seems fitting that Crosby get something better than "Syd the Kid."
Considering how many honors Crosby has already won in just his first two years in the NHL - The Hart Trophy as NHL MVP, the Art Ross Trophy as the NHL's leading scorer, and the Lester B. Pearson Trophy as the league's Most Outstanding Player as voted by the Player's Association, all in 2007 - maybe he could be known as "Bling" Crosby. After all, barring a serious, career-threatening injury, Crosby should be racking up the hardware for most of the next two decades.
Hey everyone, I know it must seem like I've dropped off the face of the earth, but it's nothing like that.
I've been busy writing - two full-length novels so far, plus over a dozen short stories - and working hard to try to get an agent. If you are curious and have a few minutes, check out my website, www.allanleve rone.com.
If you're a literary agent or if you know one, by all means contact me! In the meantime, I'll be here when I can - love this forum - and as always, thank you for checking out my blog, especially considering how many great ones you could be reading instead....
