Olympic Hockey - What We Learned

We learned - or were reminded of - a lot about hockey during these 2014 Winter Olympics.
Here's the top 10 (no specific order) prominent things these winter games showed us: 

1.  Canada is still, and will be for the foreseeable future, the world power in hockey.
For all the blabbing I have to put up with from all the snobby Canadian fans about how superior Canadian hockey is to US hockey, I must say, at least they back it up. 

2.  Finland was the real best team in the tournament

Finland was the only team who actually came close to taking down Canada in the preliminary and I stick by my prediction that had they met again the Fins would have come out on top.  Every game they played was by the book and was extremely close.  A couple bounces go their way the it's Teemu Selanne getting the gold placed around his neck, not Sidney Crosby. 

3.  Teemu Selanne still has plenty left in the tank

The Finnish Flash has been benched more times this season then he ever has in his career.  After these Olympics, I'm pretty sure Coach Boudreau of the Anaheim Ducks will reconsider that.  Also, how lucky are we that we still get to see this guy play?  What a great player.  

4.  Olli Maatta is the real deal

Wow.  Is there anything this kid can't do?

5.  Dan Blysma - STILL - can't adapt on the fly

Stop me if you've heard this before.  A Dan Blysma coached team wins every game that does not matter (i.e. the regular season) then falters the as soon as the real games begin (i.e. the playoffs).  Hmm, seems familiar.  I don't completely blame him for the last two games - but his stubbornness when it came to not changing lines was something that seriously hurt the US squad in their final two contests.    

6. Defense wins championships

The three strongest teams on the back end won medals.  No coincidence there. 

7.  Russia's head coach was an idiot 

Zinetula Bilyaletdinov is somehow avoiding blame for the epic fail that was the Russian hockey team in this tournament.  Let me just say - if you employ a 4-1 scheme on the ice, with the kind of talent has offensively, you deserve to lose.  Also, he had no idea how to use the star power that was given him in Malkin and Ovie. 

8.  Carey Price is still overrated

The most overrated player in hockey got even more overrated because of his performance in these Olympics.  Carey, if you're not posting a shut out every single game with the kind of defense you had in front of you then there is something wrong.  I look forward to seeing you blow it in the playoffs again this year.  

9.  This will be the NHL's last year in the Olympics

Whatever chance the NHL had of competing the next winter games, a smorgasbord of injuries to NHL players put the final nail in that coffin.

10.  Olympic Hockey is amazing

Say what you will about the NHL taking time out of its season to participate in the games, but the kind of hockey we were treated to over the past two weeks was second to none.  It didn't matter what team you were rooting for, if any at all; this was just fantastic hockey.  

Olympic Hockey - Semi Final Round

Taking a quick look down the match-ups, here's how, in this writers opinion, it's going to go down in the semi final round and beyond.

Qualification Round

#8. Slovenia vs. #9. Austria
Somehow, Slovenia managed to not only be competitive but also actually win a game.  That in itself is a surprise.  Despite Slovenia's strong play up till this point - Austria takes this with another great offensive performance from Michael Grabner who's excellent speed is showing to be a real asset for the Austrians on the big ice surface.
Winner: Austria

#7. Czech Republic vs. #10. Slovakia 
The battle of what used to be Czechoslovakia will go to the........Czech Republic.  Despite having a decent team on paper, the Slovakians have decided not to show up in this tournament.  They've looked terrible in every game they've played and I don't see that changing now.  Czech Republic wins it in a relatively low scoring - and very high hitting - affair.  Slovakians fail to show up - again.
Winner: Czech Republic

#6. Switzerland vs. #11. Latvia
As I predicted in my first Olympic article, the Swiss are the real deal.  Despite not having a lot of offensive, they have the best defense up till this point and Jonas Hiller is playing out of his mind.  His play, and the play of the Swiss defense, continues here in this game and the Swiss take this one from a Latvian team with very little offensive talent. Hiller sensational once again.
Winner: Switzerland

#5. Russia vs. #12. Norway
Plainly put, Russia just isn't that deep a team.  Yes, their first two lines of forwards are great but after that things just fall off - especially on the back end.  Despite that they are able to take down a Norway team, who has played surprisingly solid hockey up till this point, in a low scoring affair. Varlamov with the start in goal - solid once again.
Russia: Russia

Quarterfinal Round 

#1. Sweden vs. #9. Austria
Austria puts up a strong fight but can't get enough pucks behind Swedish goalie Henrik Lundqvist, who has been the backbone of the #1 seeded Swedish squad.
Winner: Sweden

#2. United States vs. #7. Czech Republic 
Czech Republic goes quietly into the night as they can't match the intensity from a team who that has proved they are the best team in this tournament.  Quick gets the start in net.
Winner: United States

#3. Canada vs. #6. Switzerland 
Here's your upset folks.  The Swiss continue their strong defensive play and take down a Canadian team who has been out of sync all tournament.  Jonas Hiller - that is all.
Winner: Switzerland

#4. Finland vs. #5 Russian
I believe Finland is the second best team in this tournament and I have since it began.  On the backs of goaltender Tukka Rask and rookie phenom Olli Maatta - they are able to shut down the Russian's top two lines and the Russians, who once again have no depth beyond that, fall apart.
Winner: Finland

Finals Round

#1. Sweden vs. #2. United States 
Despite carrying a #1 seed - it's clear after this game who is really the best team in these games.  The U.S. break through a beat up Swedish team and finally solve The King who is chased from the net at some point during the game.  Total team effort from the U.S. - as it has been the case all tournament long.
Winner: United States

#6. Switzerland vs. #4. Finland
A 1-0 win, either way.  It will depend on who's goaltender can stand on his head the longest.  I'm sticking with my gut though and going with the Fins who have impressed me since the start of the games.
Winner: Finland

Bronze Medal Game

#1. Sweden vs. #6. Switzerland
Lundqvist bounces back from being chased in the U.S. game and puts up another great game.  Swiss squad can't match the offensive of the Swedish squad - but they put up another great effort and they leave the games clearly with more hope for their program than they began with.  Man, do the Anaheim Ducks have a great goaltender in Jonas Hiller - not enough people talk about him.
Winner: Sweden

Gold Medal Game

#2. United States vs. #4. Finland
My original pick for the gold medal game comes to fruition and it's a great one.  The Fins and U.S. battle neck and neck - both boasting complete team efforts.  The game goes into O.T. - where the United State's deeper offensive shows up and takes down the Fins after a defensive slug fest.  Both Tukka Rask and Jonathan Quick post up fantastic, awe inspiring games.
Winner: United States
MVP: T.J. Oshie 

Playing the Fool for the MLB

In very Jaromir Jagr like fashion, former Pittsburgh Pirates RHP A.J. Burnett is gone.

It shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone.  It certainly wasn't to me.  Even when A.J.publicly stated after last season that he either be back pitching for the Pirates, or retire, I knew he was going to leave.  So did you.  Whether you want to admit it or not, you knew A.J. wasn't coming back.  You knew he was going to take a huge paycheck someplace else that could pay him - because that's what baseball players do.  It sucks but it's the reality of being fans of a small market team.  It's one we've all come to terms with.

But we continually fool ourselves.  We tell ourselves that things will change - or have changed.  That maybe a player like A.J. would mean what he said and take a discount to come pitch for a team and city he fell in love with because, hey, money isn't everything.  That maybe, just maybe, a big name free agent would want to come to Pittsburgh because it's such a great place to be a professional athlete - a great place to be a professional baseball player (for proof of this see: any of the Pirates post season games).

These are fantasies folks.  They will never happen, at least, not in this MLB.  Money will always triumph over loyalty - meaning that teams like the Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals, etc. will always triumph over small market teams. Because they have the money.  A.J. Burnett was no different than any other big name free agent.  When the money comes calling - the player always answers.

 The Pirates will never land a big name free agent.  Ever.

So why even follow this team?  Why fool yourself into thinking that a player like A.J. would come back here?  Why keep playing the fool?  Well, it's simple really.

When you're a fan of a small market team, being a fool is part of the territory.  If it wasn't, then what would be the point of being a fan.  It's not that we don't know that these players are in no way in hell going to sign with us - and by us I mean any small market team.  We're not stupid.  We know they're not coming.  We know they're going to take the money 10/10 times.  But we tell ourselves that they might anyway.  Because we need to.  Because if we didn't then it wouldn't be worth being a fan of these small teams.  Because it's hope that drives us to keep rooting for these terrible teams. It's hope that keep fans of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Minnesota Twins, Miami Marlins, etc - rooting for their teams.   It's hope that drives us to keep following them year after year of loosing seasons.  Year after year of watching big market teams pilfer our players.  Year after year of the same 6 teams in playoffs.  See, we need to fool ourselves - in order to make watching these teams meaningful.  We need some silver lining - that one day, maybe, things will be different.

Until that day though, I'm going to keep playing the fool.
I'm going to keep hoping.
Because, at the end of the day - as a Pirates fan, it's all I have.

Being a Pitt Fan is Soul Crushing

4.4 Seconds left.
Up by one.
The other team all the way down at the other end of the court.

This game is in the bag....right?

Not if you're Pitt.  

As I sit here, pondering why I continuously think that things will get better for Pitt fans, I find myself no longer being able to come up with any logical answers.  As I watched Coach Dixon call a time out - for no other reason other then to postpone his team's inevitable demise - I thought to myself, "They're going to lose.  I don't know how you can lose being up with 4.4 seconds left, but I just know it."
And sure enough - Pitt came through for me again. 

I've stopped being surprised when things happen like this.  Pitt has a tendency to kick my heart in the ass the way no other team I follow can.  Only Pitt could lose like this.  

Listen fellow Pitt fans - I'm not saying I'm going to stop rooting for Pitt.  I'm going to be a Pitt fan till the day I die.  It's in my blood.  But maybe we should stop thinking that we're ever going to be really good at this "winning" thing.  There's some invisible hump that Pitt - whether it be basketball or football - can not and will never get over.  That's not me being pessimistic, that's me coming to terms with almost 8 years of heartbreak. 

8 years of seeing Pitt blow every big game.  

8 years of seeing Pitt highly ranked at the beginning of a season only to finish in the second round of the NCAA tournament  - or losing to some scrub team again in the BBVA Compass Bowl. 

8 years of seeing Coach Jamie Dixon fail to hold onto a lead at the end of a must win game.  

8. Years. 

8 long, hard, heartbreaking years.  

Pitt fans, I'm done expecting things out of these teams - both football and ESPECIALLY basketball. 

It's time we realize that this curse - this curse of mediocrity - is not going away any time soon and in order to save ourselves countless hours of future heartbreak, we need to lower or expectations and come to terms with that reality.

The reality, Pitt fans, is that being a Pitt fan is soul crushing.
And I for one am done having mine crushed every single year.     

2014 Olympic Preview

Oh, Olympic hockey.  There's no better time to be a hockey fan.  As this is probably the last time we will see NHLers on the Olympic stage, I recommend everyone enjoy every last second of Olympic hockey - despite most of the games starting well before any of us get up.
Here's a quick run down of how, in this writers opinion, it will shape up this winter in Sochi.

Preliminary Round: 

Czech Republic vs. Sweden
Czech Republic's aging roster can't keep up with Sweden's excellent mix of youth and experience.  Lundqvist shines in first game of the tournament.
Winner: Sweden

Latvia vs. Switzerland
Battle of two of the tournament's worst teams.  Even battle is won solely on the pads of Anaheim Duck's goaltender Jonas Hiller.
Winner: Switzerland

Finland vs. Austria 
Fins start the games by shutting out an Austrian team with a serious lack of offensive depth.  Tukka Rask with the shutout.
Winner: Finland

Russia vs. Slovenia
Russia dominates a Slovenia team that has no business being in the these games - with the exception of Anze Kopitar.  Semyon Varlamov gets the nod for the Russians and is just ok in his first game - a bit concerning considering Slovenia's lack of offensive power.
Winner: Russia

Slovakia vs. United States
A tough, experienced Slovekia squad puts up a great fight but can't keep up a youthful United State's roster.  Both Jaroslav Halak and Ryan Miller put up great games.
Winner: Unites States

Canada vs. Norway 
Norway puts up a surprisingly strong fight considering their lack of big game experience but can't defeat a Canadian team with just too much firepower.  Cary Price gets start but struggles heavily in Canada's first game.
Winner: Canada

Czech Republic vs. Latvia
The experience of the Czech's shows up where it didn't in their first game as they trump a weak Latvian squad.  Ondrej Pavelec struggles for a second straight game.
Winner: Czech Republic

Sweden vs. Switzerland
Great goaltending duel between Hiller and Lundqvist but the depth of the Swedish roster for a Switzerland squad that is seriously lacking in skill is too much for them to handle.
Winner: Sweden

Canada vs. Austria
Austrian duo of Grabner and Vanek shine but the rest of the Austrian roster can't keep up with the Canadian squad.  Price bounces back with a solid game.
Winner: Canada

Norway vs. Finland
Fins win again in another impressive fashion.  Rask follows up his great first game with another stellar performance.
Winner: Finland

Slovakia vs. Slovenia
A surprisingly close game but the Slovakes come away with the victory in the end.  Hossa brothers shine in win.
Winer: Slovakia

United States vs. Russia
The best of the preliminary games is exactly what was advertised.  An offensive explosion from both teams leave them questioning their goaltending choices...but it is Russia who comes away with the victory in the end.  Both teams pull and switch goaltenders at some point in the game.
Winner: Russia

Switzerland vs. Czech Republic
Hiller's magic finally runs out and the Czech's cruise to an easy victory.
Winner: Czech Republic

Sweden vs. Latvia
Sweden continues their domination of the worst pool in the tournament.  The King is looking like the early favorite for the tournament MVP.
Winner: Sweden

Austria vs. Norway
A relatively unknown Norway team takes down the Austrians in the closest fought battle of the games up to this point.  Vanek and Grabner no where to be seen.
Winner: Norway

Russia vs. Slovakia
Russia continues their strong offensive performance up to this point with another strong effort.  The switch to Sergei Bobrovsky after the US game proves to be the smart move as he shines against a pretty strong strong offensive Slovakian team.
Winner: Russia

Slovenia vs. United States
Unites States bounces back from the loss against the Russian team to crush the worst team in the tournament.  US sticks with Ryan Miller and it proves to be the right choice as he posts a shut out.
Winner: United States

Finland vs. Canada
The Fins pull the quintessential upset of the tournament and take down the Canadians in a close battle.  Tukka Rask steals the win as Carey Price falters.
Winner: Finland

Playoff Round One:

Slovakia vs. Switzerland
Jonas Hiller single handily knocks the Slovakes out of the games posting the performance tournament up till this point.
Winner: Switzerland

United States vs. Slovenia
The U.S. get an easy draw for the first playoff round and move swiftly by the worst team in the games.  Ryan Miller sensational again after being pulled during the Russian game.
Winner: United States

Czech Republic vs. Latvia
Czech's crush the Latvian squad and move into the next round on sheer offensive talent.
Winner: Czech Republic

Norway vs. Austria
The Austrians......lose again to the Norway team who have no business going into the second round.  After his performance in the games no one is going to want to pick up Vanek at the trade deadline. Grabner still a huge defensive liability.
Winner: Norway

Playoff Round Two: 

Russia vs. Switzerland
Switzerland's surprising victory against the Slovakians does not translate over to their game against the Russians.  Bobrovsky great again.
Winner: Russia

Canada vs. United States
Oh. Oh my.  The rematch of the 2010 Gold Medal game.......ends up very similarly to the previous game, except this time the US comes out on top in a low scoring, defensive slug fest.   The rematch between Miller vs. Luongo, who replaces Price after a lack luster preliminary round, is the highlight of the tournament.
Winner: United States

Sweden vs. Czech Republic
The Czechs who under performed up till this point finally show up with a full team effort against the Swedes.  Lundqvist finally falters a bit at the worst possible time and his team who stood on his shoulders the whole tournament can't pick up the slack.
Winner: Czech Republic

Finland vs. Norway
Norway can't even begin to solve the strongest defensive team in the games.  Finland cruses to victory behind Rask.
Winner: Finland

Playoff Round Three: 

Russia vs. United States
Following up their strong defensive play against the Canadian team - the US squad is able to shut down the Russian offense; exposing that, once again, they were only a one denominational team.  Bobrovsky very strong despite loss. Miller sensational once again.
Winner: United States

Czech Republic vs. Finland
A great match up on paper turns out to be a blowout.  The Fins shut down the Czechs offensively and an aging core of Czech forwards can't match Finland's mix of youth and experience.  Tukka Rask  looking like the clear choice for MVP.
Winner: Finland

Bronze Medal Game:

Russia vs. Czech Republic
The Russian's won't go home without a medal.  They crush the Czech's by sheer force of will.  The Czech's play well but they can't stop the Russian's high octane offensive.
Winner: Russia

Gold Medal Game:
United States vs. Finland 
The gold medal game is a defensive struggle.  The top two defensive teams meet as well as the top two goalies.  In the end it's United States offensive depth that pushes them slightly over edge as well as pushing them into the record books as the winners of the gold medal in the 2014 Sochi Olympics.
Winner: United States
MVP: Tukka Rask