We're down to the final four teams in the NHL playoffs but who will be the final four teams. If my crystal ball is accurate, although I will reluctantly acknowledge that it's been known to get a little murky in there at times, it will be New York playing Washington and Anaheim battling Nashville in the semi finals. And if I really squint my eyes and look deeper inside it I can just make out, however faintly, the Capitals and the Predators playing shinny on a frozen pond for Lord Stanley's prestigious mug after they get by the Rangers and Oilers, respectively. Isn't clairvoyance a wonderful gift.
The IIHF (International Ice Hockey Federation) World Championships are underway in Paris, France and as usual, Canada has gotten off to a great start (3-0) even though we haven't played any powerhouses yet. The Canucks have a huge target on their backs as we are the 2 time defending champions playing in the weaker group in the 16 team, 2 division affair. Upset of the tournament so far has to be host France beating Finland 5-1, that's gotta hurt in Helsinki, doesn't it? Coming in 2nd place has to be Germany squeaking by the Stars and Stripes but both nations will rebound and make the playoff round as the top 4 teams from each group make it.
Canada's Eugenie Bouchard had never defeated Russia's Maria Sharapova in 4 previous matches on the WTA (World Tennis Association) Tour but she had extra motivation this time around and she made the most of it by beating her in 3 sets. Genie, never one to shy away from controversial topics or issues, was outspoken when Sharapova, who was once her idol, was suspended for 2 years for doping infractions and then allowed to return to the tour with full status. She felt that the punishment for such a serious offence (steroid use) should be a lifetime ban, and it should be, but then again tennis and other major sports don't have the guts or brains to implement such a policy. At least Genie had the intestinal fortitude to make her views public as opposed to so many other athletes who are afraid of the consequences if they speak.
Baseball in Manitoba took a direct hit last week when it was unexpectedly announced, completely out of the clear blue sky, that the provinces only university baseball program at the U of W was cancelled, immediately, due to cost cutting measures. For the past 6 years the program has allowed young student athletes a chance to play at a much higher level of ball without leaving their home province. The program charges each of the 24 players $3500, so the program is pretty much self-sufficient, plus the elite coaching is done by volunteers, headed baseball guru Morgan de Pena, head of Baseball Manitoba.
Sad news out of the Big Smoke has the Raptors starting point guard, Kyle Lowry, opting out of his contract come July and becoming an UFA (unrestricted free agent) which pretty well means "Sayonara", see you later Toronto. I mean really, you can't blame the guy, can you? He's only making $12 million, less than half of what his buddy DeMar DeRozan takes home, but fear not Raptor fans, it's probably only a diversionary negotiation tactic to squeeze a little more " blood" out of the (MLG) stone.
Lowry is allowed to do this because of his contract but also because his Raptors were eliminated in 4 straight games by Lebron and his boys from Cleveland. NBA officials are not happy campers these days due to the fact that attendance and overall interest in the playoffs is suffering because the overall consensus is that it's boring and everyone already knows who's going to be in the finals, again. So skip the preliminaries, do not pass go, do not collect $200 and let's go straight to the finals where we will see the Golden State Warriors erasing last year's debacle and continue on with their winning ways.
Until next time....
