Going into their game 7 matchup with my Washington Capitals against the Tampa Bay Lightning for the right to play for the Stanley Cup, it was already in my top five sporting events in my sports fandom. It already ranks up with the Washington football franchise title run in ’83 (see Riggo run) and the Bullets fever title run in 1978. I still remember the crowd chant of “…EEEEEEEEE…” for Hall of Famer Elvin Hayes and his turn around jump shot and the outlet passes of fellow HOF Wes Unseld.

The reason this game was such a big deal is the hope that it would end a 20 (!) year drought of not getting to the big dance. Back in 1998, the Caps played in the MCI Center, the first year of it’s existence. Even with that, we were not the hockey town that we are trying to be now. It was not a surprise that we were swept by the then powerhouse Detroit Red Wings.

But to paraphrase, as the song goes (for most of you, you will probably have to Google it) baby look at us now. In looking at the game last night, they showed a scene in which our home arena (now called Capital One) was packed with Caps fans wearing our red jerseys, better known to us as “rockin the red”. You going to hearing that a lot in the next few days.

The funny thing is, the game was played in Tampa.

After the game, the fans spilled out onto the streets. And I’m sorry, we did act like we had not been here before. Because we hadn’t. And this was just for winning the Eastern Conference championship. I mean, everybody, of all color and creeds are excited like the Pointer Sisters. And we all like it.

As for the game, it seemed like a formality. It’s rare that I get it right about my analysis for victory. Simply put, I had just three words: Ovi, Holtsby. Leadership. Ovi set the tone by scoring game’s first goal from his office and Holtsby stopped 29 shots en route to his second consecutive shutout.

I admit, I would be lying to you if I said it would be alright if we didn’t win the Cup. That the season was great enough as it is. So I won’t. In my best Chef Curry impersonation…Let’s Goooooooo!!

-BreezyG

These are my post season awards:
MVP: Harden
DPOY: Gobert
ROY: Simmons
IMPROVED: Oladipo
COACH: Brett Brown
ALL NBA 1ST: Harden, Lillard, LeBron, Davis, Embiid
ALL NBA 2ND: Westbrook, Oladipo, Greek Freak, Durant, Jokic
ALL NBA 3RD: Derozen, Curry, Aldridge, Butler, K.A.T
ALL Rookie Team: Simmons, Mitchell, Tatum, Kuzma, Markkane

– Eric Cottman

Hey guys I have been gone for the Fall and Winter, but i’m back again and ready for the Spring. I have been watching you guys on your other show 32 Kings Road and I really like that show too. Omar is great on both shows, he’s always giving his insight’s and feedback. I think this show is great too, but I can’t wait until the Spring when you guys do the other show as well. I like that show because it’s more versatile and covers more sports. It’s real cool how you guys are starting to take off and gain popularity. You deserve it, you have a had a great show the whole time and I think it’s finally getting noticed. I always knew you guys were gonna be popular. I’m gonna start coaching soon and I want to write all about it to you guys.
See you soon.

– Paul

Kevin Lee @motownphenom getting ready for his interim Lightweight title shot at UFC 216 prefight workouts
#ufc216 #ufc #vegas

Ray Borg @tazmexufc stopping to sign autographs for fans before his biggest fight of his life this weekend. #ufc #ufc216 #vegas

 

 

Demetrius Johnson @mightymouse125 prepares to set the record for most title defenses in UFC history this weekend

#ufc #ufc216 #vegas #goat #poundforpound

 

“1,2,3 win” Tony “El Cucuy” Ferguson @tonyfergusonxt breaks his prefight workout with his team before UFC 216 #ufc216 #ufc #vegas

 

Photos by Eric Cottman

http://instagram.com/enter_the_36th_chamber

My NFL Colts season predictions

A lot of my Colts fam will not like this and will probably completely disagree and it’s ok every one is entitled to there own opinion but based on the team AS A WHOLE this is how I see our season going and as the season progresses all Colts fans will see!

Week one vs Rams: LOSS
Week two vs Cardinals: LOSS
Week three vs Browns: WIN
Week four vs Seahawks: Blowout LOSS
Week five vs 49ers: WIN
Week six vs Titans: LOSS
Week seven vs Jaguars: LOSS
Week eight vs Bengals: LOSS
Week nine vs Texans: LOSS
Week ten vs Steelers: blowout LOSS
Week eleven vs Titans: LOSS
Week twelve vs Jaguars: WIN
Week thirteen vs Bills: WIN
Week fourteen vs Broncos: LOSS
Week fifteen vs Ravens: LOSS
Week sixteen vs Texans: LOSS

COLTS RECORD 4-12 last place in our division

AFC SOUTH WINNERS: TITANS

again I know I’ll get ridiculed or this but it’s just time to face the music Colts fans, THIS TEAM HAS TO REBUILD AND IT STARTS WITH THE OFFENSIVE LINE AND DEFENSE..We have got to get this line and defense together people WERE NOT A GOOD FOOTBALL WITH OR WITHOUT ANDREW LUCK. You simply can’t rely on one guy to bail you out THAT SHIT DOESN’T WORK

WE HAVE A BAD DEFENSE ( still one of the worst I’ve seen AS A WHOLE)

A BAD OFFENSIVE LINE

A BAD BACK QB

AND OUR SPECIAL TEAMS IS NOT REALLY THAT GOOD!

But watch when the season starts rollin you all will see how bad we are. This is one of the WORST Colts teams I’ve ever seen BY FAR. That first unit is BAD FOLKS and no one can stay healthy either!

Prepare for a high draft pick this year and be prepared to watch Tom Brady win another Super Bowl

– Jason TIms
Colts Die Hard Fan
Los Angeles, CA

Undefeated Ryan Martin stopping to sign autographs for fans before his big fight on the Canelo vs GGG undercard.

– Eric Cottman

http://instagram.com/enter_the_36th_chamber

Hey guys, I’m back. It’s been awhile I guess huh? Fall is coming soon as the Summer ends, I remember back in the Spring i wrote you guys how I was looking forward to the Summer, well I am a man of many likes and preferences and as much as I love the Summer, I also love the Fall. We have football starting, then the leaves will start to change as the air cools down, college football is starting as well and I’d like to know who you guys like this year in the NCAA. The NFL should be very exciting, and we also have the Fall Classic, which is the World Series coming up as Baseball starts it’s Playoffs, I know Diplomat Blackmon knows alot about what’s going on there. I like the new show, I also like Omar’s new song, he’s a regular entrepreneur. I look forward to watching the shows and keeping up writing you guys. Well, I’ll check back after Baseball. Until next time guys.

~Paul

This time of year I think of one of my favorite Billie Holiday songs titled “In my Solitude”.

It usually starts with the end of NBA Finals. I take a complete break (almost) from sports. While I have kept my eye on my Nationals, everything else sports related (fantasy or otherwise) I’ve just had a “meh” attitude it. Kyrie. Meh. Summer NBA basketball. Meh. All the major sport drafts…well you get the ideal. I haven’t even clicked to the NFL network this summer. This is the time where I put down the remote and slowly back away.

If I could, I would go to some far off piece of land where I couldn’t be contacted and just get a little peace and quiet. A monastery where I could chant every day would be ideal. But I’m afraid that I may like it a little too much.

But as one of my favorite Law & Order detectives said, “…lets not get carried away.”

I’ve replaced chanting with mock drafts. Replaced solitude and peace with draft parties, football parties and wait for it, more parties. I’ve started my fantasy football research and gearing up for the Nationals playoff run. In other words I’m ready. Ready to defend my football title in one league, manage my own league (which is entering it’s 22nd year of existence) in another and get back into the overall general madness that is sports.

Like I always say, it’s a hobby.
– BreezyG

It’s been a little while, but I’m back to say hi & write some more to you guys.
As an aspiring coach I would love to see how the coaches analyze & view their talent. How they decide what motivates what player and how to get through to certain players. How to coach kids as well and not hurt their feelings. As a kid I always had good coaches and felt supported. I think it is very important to support but also criticize as well. Don’t be mean or hurt these kids feelings but be nice also teaching them how to play well other kids. How do you find the fine line in-between tough and too tough. I want to be a players coach. I have experience in numerous sports so I am well rounded or I consider myself to be. I like football and soccer but I really think I want to coach baseball. How would I respond to coaching girls or women’s sports as well? I like to watch coaches at different levels and see those coaches styles and how they manage it. I just thought I would write to you guys and drop some thoughts down. I bet Omar would be a great coach. He seems to know alot. When I get a coaching job I will tell all about it.

– Paul

The NBA is not the only major sport organization that will begin it’s championship finals this week. The National Hockey League also starts it’s finals. One of the major participants is defenseman Pernell-Karl Sylvester Subban, better know as “P.K.”. The two-time all star keeps the tradition going of black players in the finals that probably started with Hall-of-Fame goalie Grant Fuhr who won the Cup in 1983.

For me, when I see stuff like this, I always think…Who was first?

For that answer, we go back to January 18th, 1958. Willie O’Ree was a left winger who came up from the Quebec Aces to replace a injured player for the Boston Bruins in a game against the Montreal Canadians. He became well, you know. While he only played two games that season, he returned in the 1960-1961 season to play 43 more games for his career. He also became the first black player to score a NHL goal, lighting the lamp on New Year’s Day 1961 against Montreal.

What’s more amazing is how he played when he was in the league. During the 1955-56 season in the Ontario league, he was struck in the eye by a puck. Eight weeks later, he lost 95% of the vision in his left eye. Somehow he was able to keep it hidden. “Alf (head coach) may have been informed about my eye but we didn’t discuss it in great detail,” O’Ree said. “He asked if I ever tried right wing. He moved me over there and I didn’t have trouble seeing the puck. If I had moved over to right wing when I was with the Bruins, I might have scored more goals and been more of an asset.”

If you listen to O’Ree, he sounds like any other Canadian kid with dreams of playing pro hockey: “Every chance I had, I was on the ice,” O’Ree recalled. “I even skated to school. My dad squirted the garden hose on the back yard and we had an instant rink. I loved the feel of the wind rushing by as I flew along the ice. I loved the sound of spraying ice chips when I hit the brakes and spun around to charge back the other way. I loved having the puck on my stick and learning how to stickhandle. The speed that I could reach on my skates when I was stickhandling with the puck was like defying gravity.”

Dreams can be so inspirational.

Fast forward to 2016. Winger Joel Ward (who used to play with the Capitals) said that he was inspired by O’Ree to play hockey and his number 22 should be retired like baseball’s Jackie Robinson.

Why not?

It’s here that I give my annual tribute to the Americans who do their best to keep our shores safe. This year, I’ll keep it simple….Thank you for your service.