Saturday, April 17, 2004
Why Aren't You Watching?
I still can't believe you still aren't watching the NHL playoffs! There is nothing better this time of year. If you are a fan of the NBA, it's only because you don't know any better. And they really had some barnburners there today, didn't they? The only close game was only close because it sucked. Both the Lakers and Rockets blew chunks.
The Flyers beat up the Devils... there's something wrong with Brodeur... he wasn't himself this series... thankfully.
The Canucks and Flames just finished after entering their third overtime! The game rocked.
Thing that sets hockey apart from basketball, if nothing else, is playoff overtime. In basketball it's just another five minutes added onto the game with plenty of timeouts and TV commercials. Nothing really matters until you get down to the last minute, and even then that last minute could last another 25 as teams exchange fouls and timeouts.
In hockey, it's sudden death. The 20 minute periods continue and there are no time outs and no commercials. Unlike in basketball, there can be no letting up because if you do... you lose. There's no slowing it down because you're tired (which frankly seems like most NBA games these days... Dallas and Sacramento aside) and one mistake could mean the end of your season. Every player, when the game is done, has given everything they had and you can see it on each and every one of their faces.
Of course, the best thing about hockey, unlike in basketball (and every other sport for that matter), when the playoff series end both teams line up at center ice and shake hands. Doesn't matter how ugly the series has been, how hard fought or devastating the loss, there's no room for prima donnas, just mutual respect and a handshake. The NHL rocks. Now go watch it dammit!
The Flyers beat up the Devils... there's something wrong with Brodeur... he wasn't himself this series... thankfully.
The Canucks and Flames just finished after entering their third overtime! The game rocked.
Thing that sets hockey apart from basketball, if nothing else, is playoff overtime. In basketball it's just another five minutes added onto the game with plenty of timeouts and TV commercials. Nothing really matters until you get down to the last minute, and even then that last minute could last another 25 as teams exchange fouls and timeouts.
In hockey, it's sudden death. The 20 minute periods continue and there are no time outs and no commercials. Unlike in basketball, there can be no letting up because if you do... you lose. There's no slowing it down because you're tired (which frankly seems like most NBA games these days... Dallas and Sacramento aside) and one mistake could mean the end of your season. Every player, when the game is done, has given everything they had and you can see it on each and every one of their faces.
Of course, the best thing about hockey, unlike in basketball (and every other sport for that matter), when the playoff series end both teams line up at center ice and shake hands. Doesn't matter how ugly the series has been, how hard fought or devastating the loss, there's no room for prima donnas, just mutual respect and a handshake. The NHL rocks. Now go watch it dammit!
