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WWE Superstars
April 17th, 2009
I can't believe it is Friday already! My vacation is over. The one good thing is that I only have to work 35 more days until the summer vacation and I can't wait for it this year. 2 months to rest and relax? Sign me up right f'n now!
So, I was very productive this week. I started a new series of reviews based on wwe.com's Legacy Online subscription and I have reviewed all the Hall of Fame matches that are currently listed up there. There will be more to come in the next week or so and that collection of matches will be posted sometime after that. Legacy also started with WWE Superstars and so that first review was finished last night and is posted in the wrestling section of my website, with the direct link being here. I hope to be able to review a bunch of things from Legacy when time permits.
Speaking of reviews, I should be finishing up Slumdog Millionaire by this weekend, though who knows when it will be posted, I have so many other reviews to post (17 to be exact) before I get there and since the Summer Season is coming up and that's when I am most productive, I may have to post some double reviews in the next few weeks. Another one of my weekly reviews is TPL which was delayed last week due to me enjoying my time off. That delayed one is almost finished (just three comics left to write about) and it should be posted later on tonight or early tomorrow morning. This week's edition is right on schedule, so don't worry about a series of delays like the ones that started this year.
Finally, I am happy the New York Rangers pulled off the Game 1 win. I am still pessimistic about their chances since they never scored a lot this year. I am confident that the Rangers outclass the Caps in goaltending and that may be the only way to eke out the series victory. Even if the Caps do win this round, they won't get past the second as the goaltending will be just too strong (probably going up against Brodeur and the Devils) and while scoring gets you far, it is goaltending that wins Stanley Cups.
Pipes and Bats
April 19th, 2009
I mentioned the other day how I would start double dipping with the DVD Reviews since I have so many done that haven't been posted yet. I like to keep a couple available in case a week goes by where I am not able to finish a review but even with these two posted I have 10 more waiting in the wings and this is usually my most productive time of the year in terms of DVD reviews getting done. Anyway, today sees the debut of WWE: Born to Controversy - The Roddy Piper Story and the much anticipated Batman: The Dark Knight. I was waiting for the Batman DVD since I saw the movie and the Piper DVD was one I picked up on the cheap from Ebay.
In other news, my vacation is officially over today, which sucks. I have only 35 more days of actual work before the summer break so the countdown is definitely on. The baseball season has started and I am apathetic as usual, especially since the Rangers are still in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. I cannot believe that they won 2 on the road in Washington. It wasn't the scoring (only 5 goals in 2 games) but the play of Lundqvist. I mentioned in my preview that the only hope the Rangers have is if Hank can steal the series, and right now he's halfway to doing that.
Rangers are DONE
April 26th, 2009
I usually start these off with the DVD reviews but I have to mention the New York Rangers. I predicted they'd be out in 5 games a few weeks ago and I told myself I wouldn't be upset when they were eliminated but here I am, a little pissed off anyway. They lost Game 6 today, 5-3, and lost Game 5 the other night 4-0. Honestly, this is the way it should have been all series. Lundqvist kept the Rangers in the series far longer than they had any right to be. The Ranger were up 3-1 and were poised to upset the Caps but now they head to Washington and Game 7 and with Washington having all the momentum. The Caps look hungrier and the talent of Ovechkin and Green are just too good for the Rangers. Throw in a hot goalie and it's not really suprising the Rangers couldn't keep this up. They barely won the games they did. It really reminds me of the Pittsburgh/Yankees 1960 World Series, where the Yankees completely outclassed the Pirates in the three games they won, but lost by one in the four they lost. The Rangers three wins were all eked out only by the play of Lundqvist while they were completely outclassed the other three games. Oh well, I knew they wouldn't go far, but I would've much rather them lost in 5 than toying with me by going up 3-1.
Anyways, I have two DVD reviews to unleash upon all of you this week. Both of these reviews were finished in late December while I was on the Christmas break and that's always a productive time for myself. First up is the greatest rock band of all time, The Who, and their classic 1977 concert at Kilburn appropriately called, Who: Live at Kilburn. Four days later I finished the History of the WWE Intercontinental Title DVD. It was three discs of nothing but IC title matches. So there you have it, another two DVD's posted on the website, with only 15 left to post. Wow, I didn't know it was that high. See you next week for another two reviews, and I hope to have my TV shows up and posted by Thursday. I have two weeks of Heroes, American Dad and Family Guy to post!
NHL 2009 Playoff Preview - Second Round
April 30th, 2009
Well, the Rangers are done and of course they have to go out the worst way possible, with them gaining a 3-1 games lead and then getting pounded the next two games and losing a great game 7. I have to hand it to Washington, they definitely deserved it. I just love Ovechkin and the way he plays. The pain I felt as a Ranger was completely forgotten about 30 minutes later when the Devils lost a heartbreaker to the Canes. That must’ve been tough for Devils fans. At least it wasn’t a wraparound that Brodeur gave up this time!
So the second round starts tonight and I have to say, there looks to be some amazing match-ups here. I am stoked as a hockey fan to watch these 4 playoff matches.
Western Conference
(2) Detroit vs. (8) Anaheim
I’m kind of pissed that Anaheim knocked off my #1 pick for the Finals but they played like champs and the Sharks are once again playoff duds. I’d have to check, but is this the first time a President’s Trophy winner went out in the first round? It doesn’t get any easier for Anaheim, as the futility of the Sharks is the polar opposite to the professionalism of the Wings and their playoff experience. The Ducks will play well, and I think Hiller will do a great job for the Ducks. The Wings are the Wings and I don’t see a reason for the Wings to falter right now. You can’t compete with the Wings this time of year and with the Sharks gone, they have a clear path to the Finals.
Prediction: Detroit in Five
(3) Vancouver vs. (4) Chicago
I think this will be the second best match-up of the second round. I can’t wait to see Khabibulin vs. Luongo, Sundin vs. Toews, The Sedins vs. Sharp and Kane. This is going to feature two young teams who really never made a wave in the playoffs in decades actually fighting for a spot in the Conference Finals. Much like the Chicago/Calgary series, this will be a battle of two teams that won’t lose at home. Look for this to go all the way to game 7 with Vancouver taking it at home.
Prediction: Vancouver in Seven
Western Conference
(1) Boston vs. (6) Carolina
Out of all the four second round match-ups, this one bores me the most, to be honest. I just don’t see Carolina as a threat to the big bad, Bruins. Sure the Canes got by the Devils thanks to the strong play of Cam Ward, but I don’t see them taking out the likes of Zdeno Chara, Tim Thomas and their great scoring lines. The Bruins will undoubtedly have rust in their game and I expect them to drop a game, but Carolina won’t put up much of a fight.
Prediction: Boston in Five
(2) Washington vs. (4) Pittsburgh
C’mon, this match-up is MONEY. Ovechkin vs. Crosby? You couldn’t ask for a better match-up from the NHL. Clearly the two premiere players in the NHL facing off in the most intense situation. I love Ovechkin’s game and he just brings an intensity and passion for the game that is sorely lacking amongst everyone else. More importantly, he is a guy who is not afraid to rough things up. Crosby, on the other hand, is much more of a prima-donna, crying at every turn. Maybe it’s just I see a lot more of Crosby as a Ranger fan and although he is a talent and a great player, I just don’t like the way he plays the game and acts in the game. These two teams are very evenly matched. I’ll tell you this, if Varlamov plays like he did against the Rangers, the Caps are in good shape. The Caps will shoot the lights out of the Pens and I don’t think Fleury is as good a goalie as Lundqvist was to steal games if the Pens can’t score, though that’s not been a problem for them. I can also see Varlamov getting exposed by the Pen’s offense. He played very well against the Rangers, though they are a team that just can’t score. This will be an awesome match that will go all the way, with the Caps winning to head to the conference finals.
Prediction: Washington in Seven
Looking Ahead
If this goes to plan, we’ll have Washington/Boston and Detroit/Vancouver for the Conference Finals. I am really hoping for a Detroit/Boston final, as two Original Six teams haven’t competed for the Stanley Cup since before I was born when the Rangers fell to the Canadiens in the 1979 series. I don’t think it could get any better than that Original Six finals. Heck, Chicago/Boston would be just sweet, as neither team has won a title in over three decades, Chicago last winning in 1961 and Boston last winning 11 years after that.
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