Author: Rich Sports Talk

Down But Not Out

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Despite the 2-0 deficit, the Rangers are still in this series

Despite the 2-0 deficit, the Rangers are still in this series

After two heartbreaking overtime losses to open the Stanley Cup Final the New York Rangers find themselves in desperation mode. True, they have been able to come back in the playoffs before, but with two more games looming in Los Angeles, if the Rangers want a legitimate chance to hoist the Cup this year they need to win at Madison Square Garden. Despite the losses, the Rangers have outplayed the Kings in the first two games. With a few unfortunate bounces and two clutch game winning goals, one could argue that the Rangers have been the better and more consistent team in the first two games. This would be a different situation if the Rangers lost in regulation by multiple goals or looked outmatched. The one concerning aspect that the Rangers must take from the previous game was their inability to hold the lead. Not once, not twice, but three times in game two did the blue shirts squander a two goal lead. Lundqvist and the penalty killing unit are playing well, but the Rangers need to improve on two things above all else. First, their power play has been atrocious and the team seems to play better at full strength. Second, stop passing the damn puck too much! I swear the Rangers get too pass happy instead of trying to take open shots or drive to the net. When the Rangers have attacked the net directly in this series is when they’ve had the most success. Ever game in the Stanley Cup Final is crucial, but if the Rangers want to beat the Kings and get back track they must win tonight.

From Maddening to Madden

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From Cover Corner to Coverman

From Cover Corner to Coverman

It’s official Richard Sherman will grace the cover of Madden 15. After weeks of fan voting, Sherman beat out Cam Newton to win the prestigious honor of Madden cover player. Madden curse? If anything Sherman would dismiss this and probably go in a rant about how the a sorry curse couldn’t beat him. After proving he was the best cover corner in the NFL and winning a Super Bowl Ring, this is just the cherry on top of an amazing year for the Seattle cornerback. Can Sherman beat the curse? Will he back this up too? How dominant will he be when I try to throw a go route against my buddy on Xbox One? We will have to wait till later this year to find out.

Girl Power: College Football’s First Female DB

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Shelby Osborne will look to be a trendsetter as the first female defensive back in college football

Shelby Osborne will look to be a trendsetter as the first female defensive back in college football

Football. The macho sport in America. When we hear the word football muttered most of us conjure images of large behemoths of men slamming into each other like battering rams. Men with battle scars, weather-beaten faces, and who have a nasty demeanor. Many believe Michael Sam will be a trendsetter in football in 2014 for being the first openly gay player in the NFL. However, he won’t be the only one changing the perception of football in 2014.

We’ve all been on the playground before. A group of boys standing around about to play a game when a female classmate comes up and wants to join. Almost out of instinct the boys will say girls don’t play (insert sport here). However, this might not be the case for long. Women have been defying masculine stereotypes and have become great athletes in their own right in sports across the board. One sport that women have yet to conquer was football, until now.

Shelby signs here letter of intent

Shelby signs here letter of intent

Meet Shelby Osborne, college football’s first defensive back to be recruited. Shelby has agreed to play for the NAIA Campbellsville University in 2014. While most of her friends maybe cheerleaders on the sidelines, Osborne decided to strap on a helmet and play. This all started when Shelby, frustrated by Jeffersonville High’s football team, yelled during a game “Come on I can play better than that”! This thought out of frustration turned into a roster spot and now into a chance to play in college. Osborne plans on studying to be a physical therapist in order to be around sports, why she adamantly says is here biggest passion. That way she can be around the sport she loves the most, football.

Shelby Osborne is a trailblazer. With this signing, it could be the beginning of women getting more involved in college football. Who knows? Maybe we will look forward into the future and ask when not if a female player will play not only in top college football competition, but also in the NFL.

A Step in the Right Direction? Or the Final Nail in the Coffin? How new Stadium impacts the Hartford Whalers

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How does the new 60 Million $ Stadium in Hartford impact the Whalers?

How does the new 60 Million $ Stadium in Hartford impact the Whalers?

On June 4th it was revealed that the city of Hartford was undertaking a huge project in an effort to revitalize the downtown area. The City announced plans to build a 60$ million dollar stadium downtown that will be completed in 2016. The stadium, which will seat 9,000 spectators, will be the future home of the New Britain Rock Cats whose lease in New Britain expires in 2015. While the negotiations between Hartford and the ball club have caused a stir, mainly because New Britain feels betrayed because the team did not alert them of the possibility of a move, the big question that comes from this is who does this impact the NHL’s return to Hartford.

Since 1997 the question that has lingered is will the NHL return to Hartford? With this new stadium there are two school of thoughts. Either this new stadium will help push the city to build a new arena, or the new ballpark will prevent the city from exploring a new hockey arena.

Is Hartford making an effort to make itself more attractive for the NHL?

Is Hartford making an effort to make itself more attractive for the NHL?

For some people, they think this ballpark helps the Whalers. If the ballpark helps to revitalize downtown Hartford. If it attracts large crowds and is a financial success, it maybe the spring-board for building a new arena in the Hartford area. On the surface the stadium seems like a good idea, especially for the NHL in the city, but it is a huge mistake.

Who are the New Britain Rock Cats? They are a Double A baseball team. It amazes me that the city of Hartford has made such an effort to acquire a minor league franchise rather than try to lure a professional franchise. Look, I understand that this sounds like a good idea, but it could come back to haunt the city. The Rock Cats currently play 15 minutes aways, was it really worth it the spend 60$ million to move them closer? Instead of building a minor league baseball stadium, especially with baseball’s popularity declining, Hartford should have invested in a new arena. They won’t build a 200$ million dollars arena that could host an NHL franchise, UConn basketball, concerts, and other events ? Let’s face it. UConn basketball is the most popular sports franchise in the state. Why not build an arena for them? This just seems like a short-sighted and almost a conciliation prize type of move by the city. We won’t invest in a new arena but here’s minor league baseball enjoy.

It still is a long road for the NHL to return to Hartford in the future. The hope for Whalers’ fans is that this downtown ballpark will be a step in the right direction. A building block for revitalizing downtown and pushing the city to build a new arena. However, this could be a bad investment that will deter the city from investing in a new arena that an NHL franchise would need. Either way, the city’s decision to build this new ballpark will greatly impact the future of the Whalers in Hartford. Here’s hoping this ballpark will be the first step in bring an NHL franchise back to Connecticut.

Kings Vs. Rangers: Stanley Cup Preview

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Kings Vs. The King

Kings Vs. The King

It’s finally here! The Stanley Cup Final is upon us. From the Western Conference, the Los Angeles Kings have battled through the defending Cup champions and look for their second championship in three years. From the Eastern conference, the New York Rangers have been the perennial underdogs who find themselves in the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in twenty years. With talented rosters and very different roads to reach the Cup Finals, the question is who has the edge? Both teams have been up and down this postseason and have been on the brink of elimination. Now we have the battle between Los Angeles and New York City to see who will be the Cup City. Let’s see how these two teams matchup.

Offense: The Rangers have relied on their speed and aggressiveness to manufacture goals this postseason. With clutch goal scoring at crucial times, the New York offense has scored when it needs it the most. However, despite their speed and ability to use their defense as a fourth forward in the zone, the Rangers still do not have the Kings fire power. The Rangers may distribute the scoring, but scoring leader Martin St. Louis has six goals while LA has four players with more than six goals. The Rangers have also struggled mightily on the power play while the Kings have been one of the best teams on the power play this postseason. The Rangers have been clutch, but with LA’s firepower including Marian Gaborik’s team leading 12 goals, the Kings are the better offensive team. Edge: Kings

Defense: Defense can win championships. LA has some of the most physical defensemen in the NHL. LA will have the physical edge over New York, but the Rangers defense is one of its biggest strengths. Not only does the Rangers defense have incredible speed, but their ability to block shots this postseason is a major reason why they are here. This defense has been great taking the pressure off of Lundqvist when it counts. In game six they held the Canadiens offense, one of the best in the league, to eighteen shots on goal for the whole game. With the fewest goals allowed this postseason the Rangers are hoping that the old saying that “defense wins championships” will work for them. Edge: Rangers

Goaltending: This is what will make or break the series for either team. . There is no question that both Quick and Lundqvist are two of the best if not the two best goaltenders in the NHL. With this being such a close call it is in my opinion that whoever has the best goaltending in this series will win the Cup. With that said, I am giving just the slightest edge in this competition to the Rangers. What? Is probably what most of you are saying. It’s understandable you’ll argue that Quick is younger, has a better post season record, and oh by the way a championship ring already. So why does Lundqvist get the edge? One word, consistency. When Quick is on he is the best goalie in hockey, no question. The problem? He has been maddeningly inconsistent. His 2.86 GAA and .906 save percentage is still far behind Lundqvist’s 2.03 GAA and .928 save percentage. Lundqvist did have that terrible game 5 in Montreal, but when the Rangers have needed him most, he has answered the call. Quick has also played his best hockey when the Kings have been backed into a corner too, but part of the reason for that is his poor play in the beginning of some of those series. Jonathan Quick has given up more than four goals in a game five times this postseason. compared to Lundqvist’s four times. This battle is neck and neck and if Quick plays his best, he is better than Lundqvist. However, Lundqvist has more at stake than Quick and is more reliable than Quick this year. Edge: Rangers (Slight)

Conclusion: Rangers in Seven

This will be a close series. One lucky bounce or bad penalty could decide the who will be champ. The Kings do have home ice advantage, but the Rangers have played well on the road with a 6-4 away record. This will be a great series that will go at least six or seven games. While I won’t be surprised if the Kings win, especially with their experience and if Quick is on, the Rangers are my pick. With their clutch scoring, defense, and Lundqvist in the net I believe the Rangers have the slightest edge and will bring back the cup to New York for the first time in twenty years.

Mets break record! Most cheesesteaks eaten!

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Now we know where Colon's belly came from

Now we know where Colon’s belly came from

The Mets are victorious! They are record breakers! They are cheese steak connoisseurs? On April 30th the Mets broke the record for most cheese steaks devoured by a team in one day at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. The Mets ate 103, yes 103 cheese steaks during the rain delay and postponed game that day. They may not win in the standings, but watch out for these Mets in the buffet line. I guess we now the mystery of one of the biggest Mets questions of 2014. What is in Bartolo Colon’s tummy? If anyone was wondering why the Metropolitans maybe moving slower these days, I think we can thank the cheese steaks for that. Maybe that’s why they played so many innings this past weekend. To have more time to chow down. The Mets broke the unofficial record of 80 by a wide margin, but this might have only been the appetizer. Who knows? If the team is out of contention in August they might forget about the game on the field and try to reach to 120 mark. One thing is for sure, if Terry Collins takes his team to Pizza Hut after the game, that’s going to be one New York size bill.