HOCKEY

The Philadelphia Flyers trailed the Chicago Blackhawks 2-0.  They needed a win on their home ice to give themselves a fighting chance.  Well, the game was neck and neck and needed an overtime to settle the bout.  Then, in OT, the Flyers’ Claude Giroux put in a beautiful goal to give the Flyers the win.  Now the series is 2-1, and if you ever wanted to see what this whole “Hockey Thing” is all about, you NEED to check out this series.  The stakes are high, and the teams want it badly.  You can’t get much better than that.  Philadelphia 4, Chicago 3.

BASEBALL

But the main stories of the day were out of the baseball world.  First up, we’ve already had 2 perfect games this season.  That’s absolutely crazy!  And we’re not even at the all-star break yet.  Well, last night, Detroit Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga was in the midst of yet another perfect game.  There were 2 outs in the top of the ninth, and he just needed one more.  Well, on a routine grounder and throw to first base, the first base umpire called it SAFE.  Well, upon examining the replay, the evidence shows that the runner was clearly out.  The umpire then said after the game, “I just cost that kid a perfect game.  I thought he beat the throw, I was convinced he beat the throw, until I saw the replay.”  This is a once-in-a-career opportunity for a pitcher and Gallaraga won’t join the ranks in the history books.  But, kudos to him, he just smiled and walked off the field.  Detroit 3, Cleveland 0.

Finally, last night marked the end of one of sports most illustrious and talked about careers.  After 22 years, Ken Griffey Jr. is finally retiring from baseball.  Griffey entered the league in 1988, and had a fantastic run with the Seattle Mariners.  In the 90s, he was talked about as the best player in baseball and even one of the greatest athletes of all time.  He was also a hero to the Mariners and the Seattle community.  Then, he went to play for the Cincinnati Reds, and was plagued by injuries for most of this decade.  Last season, he came back to the Mariners for one last hurrah and allowed his fans to watch him one last time.  Keep in mind, kids who rooted for him when they were 10 are now married with kids.  He’s been a part of the sport for as long as they can remember.  He finished his career with 630 homers, and will be sorely missed.