Concussions in the NHL

Lately there has been, it seems like, an NHL player getting a concussion every night. The NHL has no idea what to do and need to figure out a way to improve player safety. In my opinion, these concussions are a result of players not being able to police themselves on the ice. For the longest time, fighting was a huge part of hockey. After the lockout in 2004, the NHL made attempts to revolutionize the game, making it much faster, high paced, and incorporate more scoring. In doing so, the NHL has nearly taken fighting out of the game. Teams stack their rosters with scorers and many teams do not even carry one enforcer on their roster.

Now here is where I will try to make some sense of all of this. With the art of fighting nearly disappearing, players are skating around looking for big hits wherever they can find them because, hey, you aren’t going to have the other teams 6 foot 5 250 pound enforcer pounding your face in every other shift you have. There are no consequences for these players making these big hits. Pre lock-out, if you made a run at someone, you better believe you would have 3 or 4 guys coming after you. Now, with strict instigating rules and suspensions being handed out like candy, the players are not being allowed the opportunity to police themselves.

The NHL needs to take a step back and reevaluate what they are trying to accomplish. There are consequences for having a high paced, finesse game rather than an old school type of game. Fighting will always be part of the game, and players will always fight at their own risk. Embracing the art of fighting rather than trying to push it away will make some of these players think twice before they go for a center ice hit or throw an elbow to someones head. There are three things in hockey that get the fans out of the seats; goals, fights and beer. As Coach Herman Boone once said, ” Let the boy’s play”.

Sixers vs Wizards

I know everyone is super excited for the most anticipated matchup since Brady vs. Tebow. Yes I am talking about the Philadelphia 76ers and the Washington Wizards. Ok, maybe I will be the only one watching but I figured I’d throw something together. The Sixers routed the Wizards last week in their first preseason game 101 to 79. My boy Lou Williams went off for 19 off the bench and 2nd year forward Evan Turner added 16 points and 7 rebounds (although he did turn it over 5 times). The key to this season for the Sixers to be successful is consistent play from overpaid forward Elton Brand. Once a dominant force in the NBA, Brand has been battered by injuries and finally showed some signs of life last year. If he can stay healthy and productive, the Sixers have a good shot this season.

Tonight the Sixers go against John Wall and his Wizards. The only thing good about the Wizards this year is their new jerseys, and that might be an overstatement. The Sixers are too athletic for the Wizards and I look for them to win pretty easily in this rematch. Forward off the bench Thaddeus Young is going to have a big night, as the big lefty will go for 20+ points in front of the probably dismal Philly crowd. Also look for Lou Williams to contribute with the 3 ball tonight scoring his usual 15. Who knows what Andre Iguodala will do. That guy has been on the trade block every year he’s been in Philly, and it must be hard to play in a city that you know you’re not truly appreciated. He is a great all around player, but that is not what the Sixers need. They need a veteran scorer who can take over a game. I do believe this is Andre’s last year in Philly and the Sixers find a new home for him relatively soon. In the end, Philly wins 96-82 in the Saco Bowl and the Sixers improve to 2-0 in the Preseason (possibly the most wins they have ever had in December).

Top 5 Christmas Movies

We are 5 days away from Christmas so it would be a good time to countdown the top 5 Christmas movies.

#5- The Muppets Christmas Carol: This movie is one of those must watch on Christmas Eve movies. Michael Caine plays a great Scrooge and who doesn’t love the muppets? I am pretty sure Michael Caine has done every role possible in the history of the world. From Scrooge to Austin Powers to the Prestige to Alfred from Batman? It is definitely one of the best versions of a Christmas Carol out there, although the Christmas Carol 3D with Jim Carey last year is also pretty good. And any movie with Gonzo as the narrator is a must watch. The best part of this entire movie is when Jacob and Marley or Statler and Waldorf come to Scrooges house. And im pretty sure Harry Potter got the Hagred idea from this movie because the ghost of Christmas present looks scarily similar if that’s possible.

#4- A Christmas Story: I went back and forth on this one but I think the 4 spot is the best spot to put this. It could easily be number 1 on someones list if you have absolutely no sense of humor, but I am going to think most of the people reading this like to laugh once in a while. Many people have declared their hate for this movie, but I guarantee every single person in the history of the world has watched this at least once and has liked it at one point in their life. Just because TBS butchers this movie by showing it for 24 hours straight on Christmas Eve doesn’t take away from the greatness of this movie. You’ll shoot your eye out, Oh Fudge, Fra-gee-lay, the leg lamp, you just can’t go wrong. Watch it once on Christmas Eve/Day and enjoy it and be quiet.

#3- Home Alone 2: Lost in New York: This one killed me. If you talked to me a few years ago, I would have this movie at number 1. This movie has everything. It’s one of those movies that you can watch any time of the year as well which makes it that much better. Kevin McCallister is the little kid that knows more than any of us will ever know in our lives. The brick scene has to be one of the best scenes in the history of any movie. And a Christmas movie isn’t complete without a disgusting lady covered in pigeons and pigeon poop. I think they wanted to incorporate our version of that crazy cat lady, but couldn’t come up with an idea of how she could get the cats to attack Harry and Marv at the end because we all know cats will do the opposite of what you tell them. So suck brick kid and watch this as many times as you can this week, it will probably be on ABC Family about 10 times if you can’t find it.

#2- Elf: This movie has moved up my list faster than you can say Sandusky. Will Ferrell is the only actor who could pull of this role and I could post all the good one-liners in here but I would run out of room; that’s how funny it is. It is humor for the whole family.  The only reason this is not number one is because it hasn’t put in the time yet. To be number one you must have a solid ten years in existence. Elf is just existential yet so accessible, and who doesn’t love eating chewed gum off of New York sidewalks? This movie will be the best Christmas movie in a few years, hands down. The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear so watch this and try not to say Francisco too much, it’s fun to say.

#1- Christmas Vacation: This was a no brainer. Christmas Vacation is a movie everyone can relate to at some point of the movie. It is also a movie that if you’re flipping through the channels and see it on, you have to watch the rest no matter what point in the movie it is. This is arguably the best National Lampoon Vacation movie, although Vegas Vacation is right there with it. Cousin Eddy makes this whole movie with his Dickie and moose mug, emptying his shitter, and assuring Clark that Jelly of the Month Club is the gift that keeps on giving the whole year round. If I was trapped on an island somewhere and I was only allowed to watch one movie the entire time, it would be Christmas Vacation because you can’t go a year without watching it. On a side not this movie may have the best lines of all time in any movie. ” And why is the carpet all wet Todd?” “I don’t know Margo”. I’m not sure why this line is so funny but it is.

NBA Season

You should all know off the bat, I hate the NBA. It’s 10 guys playing one on one for 48 minutes, nothing like how it used to be. And ever since Allen Iverson left the league I have lost much interest. But this year could be the year the Sixers make a push deep into the playoffs.I mean we all know Lebron is going to win this year since he always plays really good 3 quarters of the season, but hopes are high for the Sixers. Young Evan Turner is a year older as well as point guards Jrue Holiday and Lou Williams. I know I say it every year but I honestly do believe this year the Sixers can compete for the Division. The Celtics are old, and I mean old. And with the shortened season, the Celtics have to play a ton of back to back games throughout the year, and it’s not easy for guys that old to play games on back to back days, plain and simple. They also lost Jeff Green who was looking to be their 6th man so things aren’t looking too good for the Celts at least for now. The only one who doesnt seem to be aging is Tommy Heinson who couldn’t age faster. He’s got the annoyance of Joe Buck and the brain capacity of John Madden. Chris Paul and Kobe are going at it right now in L.A. and I really could care less. I along with much of the country would rather watch the lights go on and off in San Francisco right now than that game, mostly just because it’s hard to get into basketball until football is over. Look for the Sixers to get off to a hot start this season and Lou Williams to suprise a lot of folks this year off the bench.