Hi everyone. Sorry I've been gone. A change in job assignments, a move from one home to another and life in general have prevented me from keeping the blog updated. Here's hoping that scenario won't happen again for a long time! With that said, here's what's been happening since I've been away.
************************************************
The New Orleans Saints are Super Bowl champs, after beating the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV 31-17 on February 7th. Read all about it right here:
http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2010020700/2009/POST22/saints@colts/recap#recap-channels:cat-post-recap-full-story
************************************************
Since our last update, the Lightning have gone 6-6-0 and are now 11th in the Eastern Conference, but only 5 points behind Boston for the 8th and final playoff spot. The two brightest spots have been the play of Steven Stamkos(The guy who Barry Melrose said wasn't ready for the NHL at the start of his 16 game stint as Lightning coach at the beginning of last season). Stamkos now has 41 goals and is on pace to finish the season with 51. The other and perhaps brightest spot, is the sale of the team from the fueding Oren Koules and Len Barrie, to Boston hedge fund manager Jeff Vinik. You can read all about that here: http://www.tampabay.com/sports/hockey/lightning/new-tampa-bay-lightning-owner-jeff-vinik-plans-to-restore-the-communitys/1077637
The team made just one move before the trade deadline, picking up Teddy Purcell from the Kings for Jeff Halpern. Purcell may not be well known, but first impressions have been really good ones. He appears to have nudged Vinny Lecavalier out of his funk, and also scored himself on a penalty shot in the Lightning's recent win over Atlanta.
Tampa Bay plays 3 in 4 nights this weekend. They are at Toronto on Thursday and Washington on Saturday, with both games starting at 7:00pm EST. On Sunday, the Lightning host Pittsburgh, beginning at 5:00pm EDT. You can hear the games on 620AM WDAE and see them on Sun Sports.
************************************************
The Saskatchewan Roughriders have been quite busy during the CFL offseason, with several roster moves, plus the push for a new stadium in Regina. You can get the latest news at http://www.saskriders.com/ and http://www.rodpedersen.com/.
************************************************
I am still madly in love with my family. Kim, the most beautiful woman in the world(!!!!) and our son Jimmy, the cutest baby since his mommy(!!!!), are both doing great. Mommy gets to enjoy staying home with da Jim-Jim while she looks for a new job. And Jimmy is now 21 months old. His vocabulary continues to grow at a steady pace, he's now 3 feet tall and 28 pounds and has also made his first steps into the exciting world of potty training.
Our four-legged boys, Smoke and Snoopy, are seen here resting from another busy play day. Boy, oh boy, are they ever fun puppies!
************************************************
The USHL regular season is rounding the turn and heading for home. Green Bay leads the East by 14 points over Cedar Rapids, 17 over defending Clark Cup champion Indiana, who is 8 points ahead of Waterloo. Chicago, Team USA and Yopungstown are on the outside looking in at the moment. In the West, Omaha leads Fargo by 4 points and Sioux Falls by 9. Tri-City holds fourth, 9 points ahead of Sioux City. Des Moines and Lincoln trail far behind.
Two new teams join the USHL next season. Besides the already announced return of the Dubuque Fighting Saints, it was also recently announced that Josh Mervis is reviving the dormant franchise rights he owns, and placing that team in Muskegon, Michigan. The team will take the moniker of the current minor pro team, the Lumberjacks, which will end it's 50 year run in the pros at the end of this season.
************************************************
A really cool thing happened at work recently. I got into talking sports with a guy headed to Calgary named Jason Parker, who was a part of Canada's silver medal winning team in the speed skating team pursuit (or long t5rack) competition. While he didn't skate the finals, he did medal, and he was not only gracious enough to show me his silver medal, but to let me hold it as well. Wow, that was really neat!!!!
Speaking of olympics, the 2010 winter games recently wrapped up in Vancouver, B.C. In perhaps the most hyped event, Canda beat the U.S. in overtime, to win the men's hockey gold medal. The game was the highest rated hockey game in U.S. television history, and the most watched event of any kind in Canadian television history. Impressive.
************************************************
BTW: Rob StHelen rocks!!!!
************************************************
Spring training 2010 is underway in both Florida and Arizona. The Tampa Bay Rays, picked to finish anywhere between first and third in the A.L. East in 2010, lost their first spring game, but have won their last six. They might be for real after all. My favorite team, the San Francisco Giants, are also 6-1. What's the odds on a Rays-Giants World Series this year? Or perhaps the Giants-Mariners? I'd be quite satisfied with either.
************************************************
Well, that's it for now. Thanks for reading, see you soon!
No comments:
Post a Comment