Thursday, April 30, 2009

NBA IN NEW YORK CITY

This is the NBA store on Fifth Avenue in New York City. I don't have any photos of a NBA game because I have never been to a professional basketball game, I could only post these photos for the NBA playoffs. We went to the Superbowl, the World Series and the Stanley Cup games but never even went to a regular NBA game. I almost went to a New York Knicks v. Orlando Magic game, but did not. I will share the story of what happened in future post at an appropriate time :)

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

NHL PLAYOFFS - SWEET 16

I have gotten the Playoffs Fever way before April 15th. I was so ready for the long excruciating, yet thrilling of seeing teams being eliminated or swept in each Round. It was the best time of the year when hockey fanatics like me really live the hockey life.

As most of the Teams have asked me not to show my support because I was known around NHL rinks that I would "jinx" any teams if I was to cheer for them. So here is what happened in Round 1 and my thoughts, disappointments and of course, celebration as my beloved Red Wings moved on to Round 2.

Western Conference -

Wings swept Blue Jackets - no surprise there.

Canucks swept St. Louis Blues - I felt bad for the Blues but more for the City as we really need the economic boost if the Team at least make it to another Round. I am happy that the Canucks advanced to Round 2. Canucks is not one of the Original Six but it is a Canadian Team.

Blackhawks eliminated Calgary Flames in 6 games - I cheered for the Flames because I wanted Canadian Teams in the Playoffs.

Ducks swept Sharks - no lost love there, I did not care for either Teams. Besides I knew the Sharks gotten the curse of the President's Trophy for being the best team in the league. This is not the first time the Best Team got swept or eliminated from the First Round.

Eastern Conference -
Boston Bruins swept Montreal Canadiens - I was heart-broken because if I had to choose between two Original Six teams, I would choose Canadiens to advance in the Playoffs. Also because Montreal is Canadian Team.

Penguins eliminated Flyers in 6 games - it was an exciting series with the Flyers came back strong but was not enough to win. Of course, I cheered for the Penguins because of Dan Bylsma, even though Martin Biron has much pretty eyes compared to Fleury :)

Game 7 - Carolina Hurricanes eliminated Devils in a out-of-this-world - the last 80 seconds in the 3rd period of game 7 - how much more nail-biting, on-the-edge-of-your-seat would a hockey fanatic like me could ask for? I felt sorry for Martin Brodeur, must be hard for him to think about this game for many years to come.
I was disappointed because I was looking forward to the Devils meeting the Rangers in Round 2. Besides, Carolina is Barney Fife and Gomer Pyle country, not playoffs hockey!

Rangers v. Capitals - this is my give-me-a-box of Kleenex series. How could the Rangers allow a two game lead, then won the 3rd game and could not finish up the Caps. I was so sick after watching the Rangers falling apart in the 3rd period that I went to bed, crying with a thick towel to soak up all my tears!

Well, that is a long and grueling, painful life a hockey fan has to live until June when only one team will raise the Stanley Cup in celebration of being a Champion. And then there are 8!

Monday, April 27, 2009

WINGS SWEPT BLUE JACKETS

My beloved Red Wings swept the Columbus Blue Jackets in 4 games. It was a great series even though Game 3 and 4 were not shown on Versus or any of the channels in St. Louis. The reason could be because the St. Louis Blues team did not want to show how much better the Red Wings are since the Blues were swept by the Canucks. Thanks to Johan Franzen "the Mule" with his power play goal with 46.6 seconds left in the 3rd period in game 4, the Red Wings completed the Series in style. It was good to have a few days off but I hope the guys will be ready for the next Round. And then there are 8!

Saturday, April 25, 2009

MONTREAL CANADIENS

I was heart-broken when the Montreal Canadiens was eliminated in the First Round, being swept in 4 games by the Boston Bruins. It was an exciting Series between two Original Six Teams. I cheered for the Canadiens because rightfully the Stanley Cup playoffs should include Canadian Teams. I also feel bad because the elimination was the worst being that in 2009 the Canadiens celebrated their Centennial Season in the NHL. To be swept in the first round is painful but for Montreal fans and for Canadians, watching your team being eliminated would have to be the worst sinking feelings. I take comfort that at least the Calgary Flames are still in the running.
Here are best wishes to the Montreal Canadiens for next season. Bottom photo of Robert Lang #20 is just for old time shake as I remember when Lang was with the Detroit Red Wings. These photos were taken when the Canadiens visited the Blues on Sunday, November 16, 2008.

Friday, April 24, 2009

BROKEN DREAM

I was about to delete the above blurry photo but I thought it would go well with the other photos, especially the bottom photo on the jumbotron, "Beat Vancouver" when the Blues trying to get the fans pump up at Game 3 on Sunday, April 19th. How ironic that the Blues got eliminated and swept in the first round after such strong come back to make it into the playoffs. I wonder what those Blues fans who tried to torment me after the April 2nd game when the Red Wings loss badly to the Blues, how do they feel right now? These people already predicted that the Blues would meet and eliminated the Wings in Round 1 of the playoffs! Guess what, last night on Columbus home ice, my beloved Red Wings won Game 4 and swept the Blue Jackets with a goal from Franzen "the Mule" at 48.9 seconds left in the game.
I wanted so bad to send out a message, "Tickets for the Blues game on Sunday, April 26th, anyone interested?" to those who hated my Red Wings for a reason, "because the Wings always win", get over it losers! But just for this time, I will be a nice guy and let the Blues and their fans mourn in peace!

Thursday, April 23, 2009

VANCOUVER CANUCKS SWEPT ST. LOUIS BLUES


Congratulations to the Vancouver Canucks for a great series against the St. Louis Blues. I was actually cheering for the Blues to come back and win Game 4 because I did not want the Blues to be humiliated on home ice being swept in the First Round by the Canucks. These photos were taken when we went to Game 3 on Sunday, April 19th. I was looking forward to seeing Mats Sundin - #13 - (former captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs) but he was not in the line up, must not feeling too good with the black eye from the hit in Game 1.

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

PRETTIEST EYES AWARD - MARTIN BIRON

I know it is silly to mention about Martin Biron #43 - Lac St. Charles, Quebec - the goalie of the Philadelphia Flyers as the player/goalie with the prettiest eyes in the NHL. I thought this post might cheer the Flyers a little considering they are already down 3 games in the Series against the Pittsburgh Penguins. My husband asked how I could tell how beautiful Biron's eyes are with the mask on. I told him just like men attend football games to watch cheerleaders shaking their bodies, I go to hockey games to see "goalies' eyes" :)



Thursday, April 16, 2009

Monday, April 13, 2009

FREE BEER WHEN BLUES IN THE PLAYOFFS

Originally I was supposed to post these two photos and this one line "Just kidding - maybe next season, the free beer that is - haa haa" just to get back at those Blues fans who have been "poking" at me since April 2nd when the Blues beat the Red Wings 4-3 at the Joe.
Well, I must admit that I am glad that the Blues are in the playoffs as it would be good for the City of St. Louis, hopefully will give a much-needed boost to the local economy. So for once, my color will not be blue (St. Louis Blues) or red (Detroit Red Wings), it will be GREEN (the color of money)!

Friday, April 10, 2009

ST. LOUIS BLUES FANS APPRECIATION

April 10th is St. Louis Blues Fans Appreciation night as the team played their last home game of regular season. The Blues won 3-1 over Columbus Blue Jackets, secured a playoffs spot, thanks in part to Minnesota Wild for defeating Nashville Predators. I donated my tickets to the Ronald McDanold House as I did not want to miss Good Friday services. I hope whoever attended the game won a nice attendance prize. Congratulations to the St. Louis Blues for their efforts the last few weeks getting into the playoffs.


Wednesday, April 8, 2009

JUST KIDDING !

This is the favorite part of going to the hockey games when during intermissions the kids played a friendly 5-minute game. I specially like to watch kids that are really little (the Mites 8 years and under). Some of them already showed talents with their skating, passing the puck and making fancy moves when trying to score. We laughed when they fell down but knowing that I could not possibly stand up, let alone skate around the rink like these kids. One time we all cheered for a player who scored two goals and kept saying, "He was good", until the end when the player took off the helmet, it was a girl :)
There are five divisions in the youth leagues - Mites 8 years and under; Squirts for 9-10 years old kids; Pee Wee 11-12 years old; Bantam for 13-14; and Midgets for 15, 16 & 17 years old.

Monday, April 6, 2009

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS HOME OPENING DAY

Monday, April 6th is St. Louis Cardinals Home Opening game v. Pittsburgh Pirates - Wishing everyone a fun, enjoyable and safe summer.


Peanuts, get your peanuts here - April 6th St. Louis Cardinals Home Opening Day. Let's go to the ballgame. Let's welcome the Boys of Summer.