New York, NY – Junnie-wah (Yup, I made up my own nickname) has been called off the bench to pinch hit and I got one thing on my mind, playoffs. Dust off the Jim Mora Classic. No I don’t live in a fantasy world where I think stepping in to write makes me Kirk Gibson off the bench. However, I am going to hit this one out the park. I am talking about the NHL and NBA Playoffs. In particular, the scheduling of the NBA versus the NHL.
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Before I get to that though, did anyone go check on Cheesy Bruin last night, I wasn’t sure his heart could make it through that comeback against the Maple Leafs in Game 7. Only Boston fans can somehow make their team a plucky comeback story, forgetting they were up 3-1 and should have ended the series last week. Also as a Rangers fan, it will be great to see NY, hump Boston in hockey so soon after doing the same to the Celtics!!
Anyway, I am surprisingly happy with the NHL schedule because these teams are playing every other day or at most with a 2 day rest period. Pains me to say it but NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman is not pure evil (just plain old evil) and is giving the fans what they want games on TV, regardless of schedule clash! We all know that hockey is one of the toughest sports in the world and its players are rarely pansies so they can handle that schedule. Basketball considers contact a foul and so toughing it out is not their forte! Need I remind you, the face of the NBA, Lebron James, left a Finals game due to cramps!!!
Let’s for instance take a look at the New York Knicks schedule. They played on last Sunday then Tuesday then Saturday!?! WHAT IN THE SAM HILL IS THAT!?! The next game should be Thursday!! But no, these delicate flowers need all those extra days. Plus after playing on Saturday they are off til Tuesday!! They are not traveling, they just need the rest. How quaint!! The NBA wants to package the product and show it on particular days and all that nonsense like. Business model they say, so frog the fans. It just makes wonder why we do we bother as fans.
While we are at it can we make sure the Finals are shown at a decent hour. None of this 8:30-9:00 tip-off. I am an adult so the late tip-off means that I have to be up for work with less sleep, not everyone works banker’s hours!! Not only that but won’t someone think of the children!?! No seriously that is very late for a tip-off and denies the kids the chances to see their idols play!! I know this is the era of tivo so, so I guess they can watch in the morning when they get back from school but my point still stands!!
Sort your self out NBA! You will never catch football with this nonsense. The NHL will be passed over by the MLS in due time but the NHL is a quality product, better than the NBA, it is only in-fighting that brought it down. NBA Commissioner Dave Stern thinks he knows it all but he doesn’t. TV viewers want to see games from their teams not wait 4 days and suffer through other teams they don’t care about playing, least I don’t and I know I am not alone. Time to sharpen my pitchfork!!
That is it for now, feel free to comment below. If you want to read more of my ramblings you can find them on Rugbywrapup.com look for and “Like” our Facebook Rugby Wrap Up Page and follow us on Twitter @RugbyWrapUp and @JunoirBlaber, , respectively. And until the next time… stay low and keep pumping those legs.
