Stanley Cup
For the first time in their franchise history (44 years), the Washington Capitals are Stanley Cup champions beating out the sports Cinderella story/team of the year, the Vegas Golden Knights. After 13 frustrating seasons, "Ovi" (captain Alexander Ovechkin) finally gets to slurp champagne from hockey's Holy Grail (Lord Stanley's Cup) and the future Hall of Fame sniper couldn't be happier or more excited.
In my opinion the refereeing in the playoffs this season, without a doubt, hit an all time low and the powers that be in the NHL should be ashamed of themselves for allowing it to happen. The inconsistency and non-calling of obvious penalties was at an all time high which made it both pathetic and dangerous and must have been so frustrating for players and coaches alike. How the best league in the world could allow their game to degenerate to such a barbaric level is beyond me. So sad to see.
New NHL Franchise
You have to feel a little sorry for the Seattle franchise coming into the NHL, probably in 2020, because you know dam well that they won't get the same sweet deal that their Vegas "cousins" received last year. You would think for their $650 million franchise fee (which is $150 million more than what Vegas paid) they would receive the same deal, and they should, but we'll wait and see. When Washington entered the league, NHL teams were allowed to protect 15 skaters as opposed to last year when teams were only allowed to protect 10 players. With the unprecedented success of the Golden Knights, the owners may think twice about offering the new kid on the block so many good pieces of "meat", not wanting to get burned (embarrassed) again.
NFL
The United States' Pinocchio President (Donald J. Trump) decided to use one of his old but trusted tricks when he "uninvited" the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles to visit "his" White House, a tradition started many decades ago. Many Eagle players made it known that they were not going to attend due to his vocal negative disapproval of some NFL players taking a knee during the playing of their national anthem, in protest of how Black Americans were being targeted and treated by police. The funny part is, not one member of the Philly team took a knee last season. As far as uninviting teams, it's becoming a common theme isn't it?
FIFA (Soccer)
The Pinocchio President is also being heavily criticized for his heavy handed role in backing the American bid to host the 2026 FIFA World Championships, currently being played in his adopted homeland, Russia. He has repeatedly informed poor, less industrialized countries of the world that if they didn't back (vote for) the USA bid, he will reduce or curtail American investment into their countries, a classless and mean spirited form of "gamesmanship", something that you would expect from this boorish bully.
CFL
In a real gutsy move, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers will start the season (last night in Eskimo country) with a raw rookie QB (Chris Streveler) who is right out of college, something that hasn't happened in the CFL in 28 years. With #1 pivot Matt Nichols out for 4-6 weeks with a knee injury, coach Mike O'Shea is certainly rolling the dice and taking a big gamble on this 23-year-old gunslinger from South Dakota. Talk about putting your job on the line with an unknown, unproven young man. Trivia time, who was that QB and what team did he play for?
Golf
If you want to watch the very best golfers in the world at a major, the 118th U.S. Open is currently underway at Shinnecock Hills (Southampton, New York). The record $12 million purse (with $2.2 million going to the winner, up $400,000 from last year) will definitely draw the best duffers from around the world. An interesting side note is that Canadian amateur, and NHL referee, Garrett Rank, has qualified to participate after shooting two under par in a sectional qualifier in Georgia.
Trivia answer, none other than Anthony Calvillo (Utah State) for the Las Vegas Posse. Until next time....
