Archive for May 8th, 2012

WATERCOOLER CHAT: RANGERS TIE IT UP, SPURS SWEEP JAZZ, HAMELS THROWS FASTBALL AT HEAD

HOCKEY

In the NHL, there has been a hard fought battle between the #1 NY Rangers and the surging #7 Washington Capitals.  The series was tied at 2 games a piece, so Game 5 was extremely pivotal.  The Rangers struck first, getting a goal from Anton Stralman, but then the Caps evened it up with a goal from Brooks Laich in the second period.  Then, in the 3rd period, John Carlson gave the Caps a 2-1 lead and it looked like they were en route to stealing New York’s home-ice advantage.  But, in a miracle, with just 6.6 seconds left in the game, Brad Richards got a close range goal for the Rangers to tie it up.  Amazing!  That gave the Rangers all the momentum they needed in overtime, as they immediately got a goal from Marc Staal to nab the win and take a 3-2 lead in the series.  The Caps will try to square it up in Game 6, to hopefully give us a thrilling Game 7.  NY Rangers 3, Washington 2.

BASKETBALL

In the NBA, the San Antonio Spurs were hoping to sweep the Jazz out of the playoffs, and get some rest before their difficult Round 2 match-up against either the Memphis Grizzlies or the Los Angeles Clippers.  Could they do it?  The Spurs got off to a hot start — and Manu Ginobili finally got out of his shooting slump.  He had 17 points on the night.  But, don’t think the Jazz would go quietly into the night.  Nope, not on a home court that used to host some of the best teams of the 90s.  These fans love when their team plays hard, which is why the Jazz came soaring back in the 4th quarter behind a solid 26 point, 10 rebound night from Al Jefferson.  But, in the end, the Spurs were just too smart, too skilled, and too well-coached, and they held of the Jazz’ late surge to sweep the series.  This San Antonio team is on a mission:  Win an NBA Championship before their players are too old to compete.  San Antonio 87, Utah 81.

BASEBALL
Finally, in baseball, star Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels, who has been fantastic for them ever since helping them win the their first World Series this decade just showed amazingly poor judgement, and is now going to pay.  In a game against the rising Washington Nationals, who have the premium product in the league right now — 19-year slugging phenom Bryce Harper, Hamels wanted to “welcome Harper to the league”.  So how did he do that?  Did he shake his hand?  Give him some career advice?  Give Harper his autograph?  Nope, none of the above.  Hamels decided he would intentionally throw a fastball at his head.  Harper turned at the last second, and it hit his back, but that is incredibly dangerous.  Then, to add a cherry to this, after the game, Hamels said he INTENTIONALLY did it.  Admitting guilt is a good way to get suspended, and that’s exactly what happened to Hamels:  A 5-game suspension.  But, the Nats coach thought it should have been a much more severe punishment.  Really bad move by Hamels.

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