The Game Owl

The Good

The Super Bowl on Sunday will be broadcast by NBC, and I would like to thank Al Michaels for doing the game in advance.  This might be the last Super Bowl for the team, since they won’t have another one for at least 3 more years.  Out of all the broadcast teams, Michaels and Madden, have been the most entertaining and intelligent.  The rest of them can take a hike, because I am waiting for the time when I can turn the broadcast off, listen to the game in Surround Sound, and just have the PA Announcer from the Stadium.  I know what you are going to say…NBC tried it already and it was a major flop.  Well at that time, NBC did not have the fancy graphics package that shows us down, yardage, penalties, player names, etc.  Also with Directv Sunday Ticket you can follow the game stats while watching the game, thanks to the handy red button.

The Bad

So what is preventing the switch?  Ego.  If we went to a no nonsense broadcast who would pay Phil Simms ridiculous amounts of money to sound like an Jackass?  We wouldn’t get to hear the ex-player talk about his experience and get his view point on life from the millionaire’s club.  To be honest, if the networks were smart they could use the create a seperate sound broadcast for those of us that don’t want to hear the Awful Announcing.  It could be used much like the SAP button is used for spanish broadcasts.  Another good “idea” would be to cut out the high paid third/fourth wheels in the booth and just stick to a two man show.  The country as a whole has past the “Talking Heads” in football knowledge, due to the sheer amount of games seen and video games played.  A lot of guys are tired of explaining to their wives/girlfriends why the so called “smart broadcasters” are wrong in play calls.  You see from my 50 inch HDTV I can see the play a whole lot better then Joe Buck can, some 300 feet away in the booth looking down at a 19 inch monitor.

And...The Ugly.

The guys that are really important are the ones running the show from the broadcast truck who give us the replays we need to see.  And the camara men on the field are also the ones who give us such a great shot of the game anyway.  I would give them all a raise and fire the crappy “talent” in the booth they have working for regional broadcasts.  So maybe they have to keep the National Broadcast Announcers for the general public.  At least give me an option of not listening to them and enjoying a “game like” experience in my living room.  Technology has come a long way, I just want the ability to selectively mute out Phil Simms, someone please make that happen.

Kevin Durant

The Cavs Should Be A Hot Ticket

This weekend brings us a break in the action from the NFL and we get to see the NHL All-Star game in Montreal.  I hope everyone is over their Holiday Hangover and ready for the post-Super Bowl lull before March Madness.  2009 has been interesting so far, we have a new President and maybe a new outlook on life.  We still however are in the same economic downturn and might not be seeing as many games as we normally would want to see.  I would like to point out that if you are gainfully employed and still living comfortably, now is not the time to sit at home and watch.

Pens Need to Get Some Wins

There are a few good things that have happened due to the recession.  First, gas prices are back to being relatively manageable.  Second, with less people traveling the roads aren’t as packed.  And third, there are plenty of hotel deals out there to be had.  So if you are up to any traveling over the winter be it for skiing/snowboarding, visiting friends/family, or just want to visit someplace new, I suggest you try to catch a hockey, basketball, or spring training game.  This is the hangover time when prices are usually down from football season and the hyped holiday events are over.  So here are a few rivalries, within driving distance, you might want to check out during the Break In The Action.

NHL Action (All Games Listed are played Friday through Sunday for weekend travel)

Steve Mason is Becoming a Stud

1. Pittsburgh Penguins at Washington Capitals (2/22) and (3/8) Both Sunday match ups will be on National TV and will have a good mix of home and away fans.  Not to mention the Ovechkin/Semin vs. Crosby/Malkin match up.
2. New Jersey Devils at Philadelphia Flyers (3/1) Both teams are battling for the Division Lead.  Plus, the Devils can score now, so it will be an interesting Sunday game.
3. Philadelphia Flyers at New York Rangers (2/15) Another great inner division match up and two cities that don’t like each other.  Another Sunday TV game for the rest of us.
4. San Jose Sharks at Anaheim Ducks (3/15)  Should be a good Sunday battle between two of the Best in the West.
5. Calgary Flames at Edmonton Oilers (2/21) A fun Saturday night for all the Canadians in Alberta, check out the NHL network for the rest of us.
   

   Get a Room You Two

6. Columbus Blue Jackets at Pittsburgh Penguins (2/6) & vs Detroit Red Wings (2/13) So I had to get the Blue Jackets in here twice.  They have a great rookie Goaltender who is worth seeing.  Both games are on Friday nights.
7. Phoenix Coyotes at LA Kings (2/21)  The Coyotes are playing for their franchise life and a drive through the desert for a Saturday night game won’t be too bad.
8. Toronto Maple Leafs at Montreal Canadiens (2/7) Another Hockey Night in Canada tilt, and no love lost here.
9. Carolina Hurricanes at Atlanta Thrashers (2/28) For those in the Southeastern Division who want to check out Atlanta for a Saturday Night Game.
10. Toronto Maple Leafs at Ottawa Senetors - (2/28)  And finally the battle for Ontario between the Leafs and Sens.
    

    Sweet Goal

NBA Action

1. Detroit Pistons at Cleveland Cavaliers (2/22)  Easy drive for an important Sunday match up, just hope there isn’t any Lake Affect Snow.
   

   Paul Pierce

2. Boston Celtics at New York Knicks (2/6) This one is for all those Obnoxious Celtics fans who might want to head to NYC on a Friday night to rub it in.
3. LA Lakers at Phoenix Suns (3/1)  Should be a great Sunday day game and entertaining as usual.
4. New Jersey Nets at Philadelphia 76ers (1/31)  Ok, so if you are a Nets fan you might be proud to drive down the Jersey Turnpike and visit a much nicer city (appearance, not fans).
5. Dallas Mavericks at Houston Rockets (2/20)  There shouldn’t be any thunderstorms in Houston this time of year so traveling down from Dallas should be fine.
6. Miami Heat at Orlando Magic (2/22)  I know it is tough to get Heat fans and people in Miami to leave the beach to head to Orlando.  But, this match up should be fun to watch.
7. Oklahoma City Thunder at Dallas Mavericks (2/27)  This is a good reason for Thunder fans to go watch their team “develop” outside their own arena.
8. Chicago Bulls at Indiana Pacers (2/22)  Another easy drive weather permitting.  Maybe not as fun as when Jordan and Miller played but still a good time.
   

   Dwight Howard

9. Milwakee Bucks at Chicago Bulls (3/6)  Here’s an excuse to travel to the Second City and enjoy slightly different fattening foods.
10. Washington Wizards at New Jersey Nets (2/20)  Here is a stop over game for any Wizards fans who want to catch a game before heading into the city.