HOCKEY

In the NHL, the Chicago Blackhawks began this season with one of the best starts in NHL History.  They were a perfect 16-0 before they were finally handed a loss.  They were so good, everyone thought they were a shoe-in to reach the Stanley Cup Finals.  However, unlike other professional sports, the hockey playoffs are completely unpredictable.  There are major upsets all the time, and the #1 seeded Blackhawks suddenly found themselves on the wrong end of one.  They were down 3-1 in a series against the red hot #7 seed Detroit Red Wings.  But unlike in the NBA, home games in hockey are not as powerful, and the road team comes in with just as much aggression.  Because of this, Chicago was able to force their way to a Game 7, where anything can happen.  Wednesday night, in Game 7, it was tied 1-1 for most of the game, until Chicago’s Brent Seabrook scored the go ahead goal with just over 3 minutes remaining in the game.  And, in a miracle comeback, the Chicago Blackhawks advance to the Western Conference Finals where they will take on the Los Angeles Kings.   Chicago 2, Detroit 1.

FOOTBALL

There is no question that the Patriots Rob Gronkowski is one of the best tight ends if not one of the best players in the game.  But this off-season has been a health nightmare for him.  Gronk has had to have a few surgeries to repair a forearm injury.  Once you go under the knife a couple times, you’re never exactly the same as an athlete.  And now, a source is saying that Gronk will likely need back surgery.  Back surgery is a serious thing in the sports world, as it takes a player significant time to recover — especially in football where they could quickly suffer a detrimental re-injury to the region.  The Patriots may want to look at a game plan this season that isn’t completely determinant on having Gronk.

BASEBALL

Tampa Bay has a tongue-in-cheek reputation for having the most and best strip clubs in the country.  Athletes are famous for visiting the clubs on road trips, but not much else is said about it.  However, Tampa Bay prospect Jose Sale was at the strip club and bragged about it on social media.  The Rays organization found it so foul, they suspended him.  And rightly so, as Sale said on his Facebook account, “Threw fifty cents at a stripper tonight. First time. Got kicked out and she got so (mad) thought she was gonna cry. You’re a stripper. Be thankful”.  Yep, gross and a low class move, and it’s unsure when Sale will see a Rays uniform again.