(Originally posted at Bleeding Green Nation)
As everyone knows by now, the Eagles have won the NFC East and are now the 3-seed in the NFL Playoffs. In 1990, the NFL adopted its current format for the playoffs where the top 2 seeds get a bye while the remaining teams face off in a Wild Card round where the 3 seed faces the 6 seed and the 4 seed faces the 5 seed without any restrictions on not being able to play a divisional rival. Now it is important to note that in 2002 there was divisional re-alignment and each conference took a team away from a division and a 4th division in each conference was born, but for the past 20 years, the #3 seed was (record wise) the 3rd best division in each conference, their 1st opponent was the worst (record wise) non-division winner to make the playoffs, and their 2nd opponent should they advance has always been the #2 seed which (record wise) is the 2nd best division winner in the conference. So while division re-alignment happened, the path of the identity and path of the #3 seed have remained the same. So without further ado, here is a look at how both the NFC and AFC #3 seeds have fared since the adoption of this playoff format and what seed the eventual Super Bowl champions started out as! (FYI, I am going into this with no idea what I am going to discover or what the majority of the results will be)
Showing posts with label History. Show all posts
Showing posts with label History. Show all posts
Friday, December 31, 2010
Friday, May 14, 2010
History Has Been Made
Words fail me right now.
I honestly am yet to wrap my head around the fact that the Philadelphia Flyers have just completed a comeback that only 3 other teams in all of American professional sports have ever completed. I will run down the list again.
The 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs.
The 1975 New York Islanders.
The 2004 Boston Red Sox.
The 2010 Philadelphia Flyers.
Amazing. Unbelievable. Incredible. Wowzers. Insert your expression of amazed disbelief and it fits what just happened. I type this as I am texting my friend and I just told him it was "seriously stunningly awesome." Is that the best way to describe what happened tonight at TD Garden? And not only are they the 3rd hockey team to ever complete such a series comeback, but in the history of Game Sevens, only 2 teams have comeback from a 3-0 game deficit to win the game. Washington did it against Philadelphia in 1988 and Edmonton did it against Calgary 3 years later in 1991.
I guess the best way to go about this post is to tell you how I think this happened.
The Bruins and the Flyers are two similar hockey teams. That was not a secret coming in. They both play a similar hard-nosed, blue-collar style of hockey with similar types of players. In the first two games of the series, aside of a disastrous first period of Game 1 in which the Flyers were coming off of 9 days without playing, the Flyers proved to be the Bruins equal. The game, outside of that first period, was tightly contested and the Bruins pulled it out in overtime with a goal by Savard. The same can be said for Game 2, except there was no bad 1st period, the winning goal was scored by Milan Lucic, and it came in the dying minutes of regulation, not overtime. But through all the closeness, the Flyers never led in the series. Then in Game 3 they took a lead for the first time with Arron Asham scoring. What happened a few minutes later forever changed the course of this series.
Mike Richards laid a hard, but by all accounts, clean hit on David Krejci that broke his wrist and knocked him out for the series. The Bruins went on to score that play and would win that game convincingly by a score of 4-1, but, the Bruins were down their best player, and the Flyers were getting theirs back.
Enter Simon Gagne. Long labeled a playoff choker, he was coming off a Devils series that saw him have worse luck than cursed people. He hit the post at least 4 times and did not score a goal. His hard-luck series only got worst when he went out with a broken toe. But through the first 3 games, the one thing the Flyers missed was an extra forward with defensive responsibility. Laviolette had Briere trying to replace Gagne. Now Briere is a real good scorer, but he flat out sucks defensively. He was responsible for 3 of the 5 Bruins goals in Game 1. The return of Gagne, along with the elimination of Krejci, turned a close series favoring Boston, into something unprecedented.
The Flyers still needed to hang on to a lead and win though. Even with Gagne back, they still needed something. And after blowing it in the final minute of Game 4, Simon Gagne scored the game-winning goal in overtime.
The Flyers would not look back for Games 5 and Games 6, though there was one difference between the two. The Bruins did not show up for Game 5. They played very well in Game 6.
Then Game 7 started, and to say it was a microcosm of the series, is an understatement. If you gave Hollywood a script for this series and this comeback, they would have laughed out loud at you and say it was too corny.
The Bruins jumped up to an early 3-0 lead, most of them being weak goals on the part of Michael Leighton. Peter Laviolette then called the greatest timeout in the history of his career. The timeout settled the Bruins down and gave him the opportunity to give the Flyers a pep talk. As much as I think Andy Reid is one of the worst timeout callers in football, Peter Laviolette is one of the best timeout callers in hockey. He knows when to use the timeout so that his team can regroup and recover, and he used it to perfection tonight.
It worked almost instantly as late in the first period, James van Riemsdyk scored one of the ugliest goals I have ever seen. JVR is a 20-year old kid who has never played a schedule of more than 40 games in a season, and yet, he has been with the Flyers all year. Naturally, he played well to start the year, but he started wearing down and grew to be completely useless by the end of the season. This was his first goal of the playoffs, and frankly, when the rest of this team was down, JVR carried them through that first period and not with just that goal. He was the guy who wanted it the most out there.
The Flyers responded to that goal quickly in the 2nd, scoring 2 goals to tie it up at 3 before the game was even halfway through. The first of those 2 was Scott Hartnell, who is normally beyond useless and harmful to the team (and his idiocy showed in the way the Bruins got their 1st goal in this game), but for the past few games, has been serviceable and solid. That Scott Hartnell showed up for the 2nd. And then Briere tied it up.
Now here is where we were at. Marc Savard returned. The Bruins won the first 3 games after that. Simon Gagne returned. The Flyers won the first three games after that. The Bruins took a 3-0 lead in Game 7. The Flyers tied it at 3-3. It's been a complete microcosm of the series. Tied at 3 after 2. One period left. All this comeback shit has just been about tying it up. Now who wins it?
The answer:
Simon. Fucking. Gagne.
OMGagne.
History has been made.
I honestly am yet to wrap my head around the fact that the Philadelphia Flyers have just completed a comeback that only 3 other teams in all of American professional sports have ever completed. I will run down the list again.
The 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs.
The 1975 New York Islanders.
The 2004 Boston Red Sox.
The 2010 Philadelphia Flyers.
Amazing. Unbelievable. Incredible. Wowzers. Insert your expression of amazed disbelief and it fits what just happened. I type this as I am texting my friend and I just told him it was "seriously stunningly awesome." Is that the best way to describe what happened tonight at TD Garden? And not only are they the 3rd hockey team to ever complete such a series comeback, but in the history of Game Sevens, only 2 teams have comeback from a 3-0 game deficit to win the game. Washington did it against Philadelphia in 1988 and Edmonton did it against Calgary 3 years later in 1991.
I guess the best way to go about this post is to tell you how I think this happened.
The Bruins and the Flyers are two similar hockey teams. That was not a secret coming in. They both play a similar hard-nosed, blue-collar style of hockey with similar types of players. In the first two games of the series, aside of a disastrous first period of Game 1 in which the Flyers were coming off of 9 days without playing, the Flyers proved to be the Bruins equal. The game, outside of that first period, was tightly contested and the Bruins pulled it out in overtime with a goal by Savard. The same can be said for Game 2, except there was no bad 1st period, the winning goal was scored by Milan Lucic, and it came in the dying minutes of regulation, not overtime. But through all the closeness, the Flyers never led in the series. Then in Game 3 they took a lead for the first time with Arron Asham scoring. What happened a few minutes later forever changed the course of this series.
Mike Richards laid a hard, but by all accounts, clean hit on David Krejci that broke his wrist and knocked him out for the series. The Bruins went on to score that play and would win that game convincingly by a score of 4-1, but, the Bruins were down their best player, and the Flyers were getting theirs back.
Enter Simon Gagne. Long labeled a playoff choker, he was coming off a Devils series that saw him have worse luck than cursed people. He hit the post at least 4 times and did not score a goal. His hard-luck series only got worst when he went out with a broken toe. But through the first 3 games, the one thing the Flyers missed was an extra forward with defensive responsibility. Laviolette had Briere trying to replace Gagne. Now Briere is a real good scorer, but he flat out sucks defensively. He was responsible for 3 of the 5 Bruins goals in Game 1. The return of Gagne, along with the elimination of Krejci, turned a close series favoring Boston, into something unprecedented.
The Flyers still needed to hang on to a lead and win though. Even with Gagne back, they still needed something. And after blowing it in the final minute of Game 4, Simon Gagne scored the game-winning goal in overtime.
The Flyers would not look back for Games 5 and Games 6, though there was one difference between the two. The Bruins did not show up for Game 5. They played very well in Game 6.
Then Game 7 started, and to say it was a microcosm of the series, is an understatement. If you gave Hollywood a script for this series and this comeback, they would have laughed out loud at you and say it was too corny.
The Bruins jumped up to an early 3-0 lead, most of them being weak goals on the part of Michael Leighton. Peter Laviolette then called the greatest timeout in the history of his career. The timeout settled the Bruins down and gave him the opportunity to give the Flyers a pep talk. As much as I think Andy Reid is one of the worst timeout callers in football, Peter Laviolette is one of the best timeout callers in hockey. He knows when to use the timeout so that his team can regroup and recover, and he used it to perfection tonight.
It worked almost instantly as late in the first period, James van Riemsdyk scored one of the ugliest goals I have ever seen. JVR is a 20-year old kid who has never played a schedule of more than 40 games in a season, and yet, he has been with the Flyers all year. Naturally, he played well to start the year, but he started wearing down and grew to be completely useless by the end of the season. This was his first goal of the playoffs, and frankly, when the rest of this team was down, JVR carried them through that first period and not with just that goal. He was the guy who wanted it the most out there.
The Flyers responded to that goal quickly in the 2nd, scoring 2 goals to tie it up at 3 before the game was even halfway through. The first of those 2 was Scott Hartnell, who is normally beyond useless and harmful to the team (and his idiocy showed in the way the Bruins got their 1st goal in this game), but for the past few games, has been serviceable and solid. That Scott Hartnell showed up for the 2nd. And then Briere tied it up.
Now here is where we were at. Marc Savard returned. The Bruins won the first 3 games after that. Simon Gagne returned. The Flyers won the first three games after that. The Bruins took a 3-0 lead in Game 7. The Flyers tied it at 3-3. It's been a complete microcosm of the series. Tied at 3 after 2. One period left. All this comeback shit has just been about tying it up. Now who wins it?
The answer:
Simon. Fucking. Gagne.
OMGagne.
History has been made.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
O.M.G.
The 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs.
The 1975 New York Islanders..
The 2004 Boston Red Sox.
The 2010 Philadelphia Flyers are one win away from joining this club in the annals of history.
The 1975 New York Islanders..
The 2004 Boston Red Sox.
The 2010 Philadelphia Flyers are one win away from joining this club in the annals of history.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Boston's Mayor Has Fond Recollections Of Jason Varitek's Field Goal
Today is a monumental day in Boston sports. 40 years ago today, Bobby Orr flew across the air giving us one of the most indelible images in all of sports. To commemorate the 40th anniversary, a statue of Bobby Orr flying was unveiled in front of the TD Garden this afternoon. At this statue unveiling, Boston mayor Tom Menino had shared many of Boston's fond moments in sports, including the ever historical splitting of the uprights by Jason Varitek. From CSN New England
Wow....just wow. You would think that the guy would have a firmer grasp or sports. I mean really? Varitek kicked field goals? I get that his name could be confused with Vinatieri, especially seeing as Vinatieri defected to the Colts, but Varitek is basically synonymous with the Red Sox. Oy ve.
(Hat tip to Stanley Cup of Chowder.)
"Boston has an amazing set of remarkable athletes whose actions in the moment have become (sic) ionic in sports. Havlicek stole the ball. Fisk waved the ball fair. Flutie launched the Hail Mary pass. Varitek split the uprights. Today we honor one of the most brilliant moments: Bobby Orr flying through the air. Who could forget that play against St. Louis as the Bruins beat the Blues to bring a Stanley Cup to Boston."And wait, ionic moments? They were using ions? HA! Bill Belichick is a cheater after all!
Wow....just wow. You would think that the guy would have a firmer grasp or sports. I mean really? Varitek kicked field goals? I get that his name could be confused with Vinatieri, especially seeing as Vinatieri defected to the Colts, but Varitek is basically synonymous with the Red Sox. Oy ve.
(Hat tip to Stanley Cup of Chowder.)
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Ryan Howard Is A History Making Beast
For all the critics that Howard has about his plethora of strikeouts, the guy sure can smack around a baseball and he now has the numbers and the company to prove it. Check out these numbers from compiled by CSN Philly's John Finger in his blog, Finger Food
Friday night’s pair of homers made Howard the first Phillie ever to bash 40 in four different seasons. And not only did Howard hit his 40th homer for the fourth season, but he did it with panache.Wow, whether you are a Phillies fan or not, you have to respect what Ryan Howard has been able to do to baseball. His weakness may be that he strikes out a lot, but as long as he keeps getting that kind of production, I'll take those strikeouts any day of the week. If he can keep this up throughout the rest of his career, there is no doubt in my mind that Ryan Howard will end up in Cooperstown right next to The Babe, himself.
For Howard it’s 40 homers AND 120 RBIs in four straight seasons. Not only hasn’t a Phillie ever pulled off such a feat, but very few Major Leaguers have accomplished it. In fact, Howard became just the fourth member of the club on Friday night at Turner Field.
The Big Piece joins Babe Ruth, Ken Griffey Jr. and Sammy Sosa as the only sluggers in Major League Baseball history to slug 40 homers and drive in at least 120 RBIs in four straight seasons. That’s it.
But get this, only one other hitter accomplished the 40-120 trick in more than four straight seasons and that was The Sultan of Swat himself. The Babe did it in seven straight.
Here’s the amazing stat for Howard – in 717 career games, he has 620 RBIs. That comes to an average of 140 RBIs per 162 games, which is the career high of Hall of Famers Harmon Killebrew and Jim Rice.
And that’s Howard’s average.
There’s more to consider, too. Howard doesn’t turn 30 until November 19, he never drove in more than 149 RBIs in a season which points to his uncanny consistency. However, the numbers that really stand out are the splits from August, September (and October) from the Big Piece.
Check this out: 91 of Howard’s 217 career homers have come in the last two months of the season. Additionally, 254 of his 620 career RBIs have come in the last months, too. That means Howard feasts on pitching late in the season when the games take on added significance.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
I'M BAAAAACK!!!!!!!
As I'm sure you noticed by my various posting in the past few hours, after surviving my first beer, the worst thunderstorm I have ever been in in my life with rain force and wind speed that would make hurricanes quake with fear, walking on the old Nazi Party rally grounds, and one hellacious day at the airport straight out of a bad comedy movie, I have made it back home. And that hellacious day at the airport was today (or yesterday, at this point, seeing as it's currently July 22 and I'm talking about July 21). Top that with the fact that I have literally been up for 23 hours straight and you can imagine how I'm feeling right now. Regardless, I am back and will have some actual sports related posts up tomorrow.
But first, I would like to greatly thank James Craven and 49er16 for their absolutely tremendous work on my blog over the past week and a half. I must say, you guys were awesome! And while I was unable to find an internet cafe in Germany, I did read all of your posts on this site (I'll catch up on your actual blogs tomorrow, so prepare for a bevy of comments) including the live blogs and once again, great work guys! You did me and this blog proud. Oh, and sadly, I was unable to locate any German porn. ;'-( However, I did legally have beer! Oh, by the way, never try Bitburger Beer in your life.
I brought this up in the 1st paragraph, but I want to elaborate on this a bit. It will be my only sports tidbit until I am fully awake and functional later today. As of now, the largest soccer stadiums in the world (notably Estadio Azteca and the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro) do not and probably cannnot hold 200,000 people. That being said, while being showed around Nuremberg, Germany, as I was standing on Nazi Parade grounds, starring at the exact platform where Adolf Hitler stood and made his speeches, with the Frankenstadion in the background (yes, that is the stadium where the U.S.A. lost 2-1 to Ghana in the 06 World Cup and the Battle of Nuremberg took place; just seeing a World Cup soccer stadium in person was enough to get me excited, not to even mention the historical nature of where I was standing), our tour guide told us perhaps one of the most amazing things I have ever heard about sports. The Nazis had a proposed soccer stadium that would have been in Nuremberg, Germany (which was essentially going to serve as the Mecca of Nazi Germany) which would seat 400,000 people! No typo, no sarcasm, no joke. 400,000 people. And for those that do not believe me, here is a picture of that proposed stadium:
Since returning from the trip, I did do a brief search on this proposed stadium and the story checks out. 400,000 people in a stadium. And while one can make the argument that the upper 200,000 seats in that stadium would be pretty much pointless and serve no other purpose to fans other than to see small looking dots that look like people kicking some black and white speck, one has to admire and gape at what they wanted and had it not been for World War 2, which derailed those plans, probably what would have eventually come to be.
All right, I'm officially out of it. I'll read everyone's blogs tomorrow and will most likely have a post or 2 up about some piece(s) of sports news. Although, I think I might think about moving to Europe permantently.......the Phils did not lose a game while I was away!
But first, I would like to greatly thank James Craven and 49er16 for their absolutely tremendous work on my blog over the past week and a half. I must say, you guys were awesome! And while I was unable to find an internet cafe in Germany, I did read all of your posts on this site (I'll catch up on your actual blogs tomorrow, so prepare for a bevy of comments) including the live blogs and once again, great work guys! You did me and this blog proud. Oh, and sadly, I was unable to locate any German porn. ;'-( However, I did legally have beer! Oh, by the way, never try Bitburger Beer in your life.
I brought this up in the 1st paragraph, but I want to elaborate on this a bit. It will be my only sports tidbit until I am fully awake and functional later today. As of now, the largest soccer stadiums in the world (notably Estadio Azteca and the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro) do not and probably cannnot hold 200,000 people. That being said, while being showed around Nuremberg, Germany, as I was standing on Nazi Parade grounds, starring at the exact platform where Adolf Hitler stood and made his speeches, with the Frankenstadion in the background (yes, that is the stadium where the U.S.A. lost 2-1 to Ghana in the 06 World Cup and the Battle of Nuremberg took place; just seeing a World Cup soccer stadium in person was enough to get me excited, not to even mention the historical nature of where I was standing), our tour guide told us perhaps one of the most amazing things I have ever heard about sports. The Nazis had a proposed soccer stadium that would have been in Nuremberg, Germany (which was essentially going to serve as the Mecca of Nazi Germany) which would seat 400,000 people! No typo, no sarcasm, no joke. 400,000 people. And for those that do not believe me, here is a picture of that proposed stadium:
Since returning from the trip, I did do a brief search on this proposed stadium and the story checks out. 400,000 people in a stadium. And while one can make the argument that the upper 200,000 seats in that stadium would be pretty much pointless and serve no other purpose to fans other than to see small looking dots that look like people kicking some black and white speck, one has to admire and gape at what they wanted and had it not been for World War 2, which derailed those plans, probably what would have eventually come to be.
All right, I'm officially out of it. I'll read everyone's blogs tomorrow and will most likely have a post or 2 up about some piece(s) of sports news. Although, I think I might think about moving to Europe permantently.......the Phils did not lose a game while I was away!
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Harry Potter and The Incredibly Ginormous Theatrical Cash Cow
Sounds like something Joanna Kathleen Rowling (yes, that is her real name) would have written in high school for shiggles. In reality, it could be the way that the movie adaptation of the Harry Potter books has been going as of late.
In the USA and Canada, the latest film, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, grossed nearly $160 million in the first five days alone. Worldwide, it broke Spiderman 3's world record with $237 internationally (outside the USA and Canada), bringing the total gate to...$397,000,000.00, and the question is will it ever end?
Two movies based on the final book are forthcoming within the next three years, so stay tuned.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
"We Have Chosen Hope Over Fear"
The Oath of Office
Part 1 of the Speech
Part 2 of the Speech
Just an absolutely phenomenal speech. I honestly watched the whole thing with tears in my eyes. Congrats, President Obama, I'm sure you will lead our wonderful nation in the right direction and pull us out of The Black Hole That Is The Bush Administration.
The Text of Obama's Speech (Yahoo!)
Part 1 of the Speech
Part 2 of the Speech
Just an absolutely phenomenal speech. I honestly watched the whole thing with tears in my eyes. Congrats, President Obama, I'm sure you will lead our wonderful nation in the right direction and pull us out of The Black Hole That Is The Bush Administration.
The Text of Obama's Speech (Yahoo!)
Today is a Historic Day
Today is one of those days that no matter who you are, where you are from, or what your political ideology is, you will never forget.
When Barack Obama is sworn in as the 44th President of the United States of America at noon, this country will never be the same again. I realize that while I am a product of the presidency of Bush XLI, I am currently majoring in history and while I did not experience the turbulent times of the civil rights period, to the greatest extent that one possibly can without living through the period, I understand what this day means to our country, and to the world.
I won't bore you by repeating all of the rhetoric surrounding today's historic events, but it is about time someone responsible is in the White House. As Al Michaels allegedly said (and when I say allegedly, I mean, Wikipedia says he said it), "The adults are back in charge". Of course, Al's quote was back in 2000 when Bush XLIII was elected. But aside from being a failure in all other ventures of his life (i.e. he was at-best in average student - he spent most of his days college days partying and doing drugs and alcohol, he failed in all of his prior business ventures before becoming president....and actually he failed in that as well), he single-handedly plundered more money from the U.S. Treasury than any president has in history, he also has authorized the use of waterboarding (which is torture, and that is something that either in the comments section or in another forum I am willing to debate with someone at any moment at any time, just a warning though, you will not win). I've read several lunatic-fringe right wing blogs (a. for the hilarity and b. because I do like to read up on the opposing viewpoint), and they like to blame Clinton for the 9/11 and the current mess our country is in. As someone who is a history major and someone who several relatives well-versed in history, I can tell you with all certainty that in 50 years or so, Bill Clinton will be judged as a great president, while as Bush XLIII will be known as one of, if not the worst president ever.
Which is what makes today's events all the more memorable. Not only is this a time of re-birth from the current hole Bush XLIII got us in, but it is also a re-birth of a nation that for centuries forced blacks into slavery. And now. January 20, 2008, that same black man is about to be president of the United States of America. And there are those that say, well, Obama is not a real black, he's half-white and half-black. And that is true. His mother was white. But throughout the course of history, if you even had a great-grandparent who was a man of color, you were considered black and were discriminated against and denied your rights.
So let's sit back, relax, and enjoy the inauguration of now-President-elect, soon to become President Barack Obama. I'll have the video up later in the day.
When Barack Obama is sworn in as the 44th President of the United States of America at noon, this country will never be the same again. I realize that while I am a product of the presidency of Bush XLI, I am currently majoring in history and while I did not experience the turbulent times of the civil rights period, to the greatest extent that one possibly can without living through the period, I understand what this day means to our country, and to the world.
I won't bore you by repeating all of the rhetoric surrounding today's historic events, but it is about time someone responsible is in the White House. As Al Michaels allegedly said (and when I say allegedly, I mean, Wikipedia says he said it), "The adults are back in charge". Of course, Al's quote was back in 2000 when Bush XLIII was elected. But aside from being a failure in all other ventures of his life (i.e. he was at-best in average student - he spent most of his days college days partying and doing drugs and alcohol, he failed in all of his prior business ventures before becoming president....and actually he failed in that as well), he single-handedly plundered more money from the U.S. Treasury than any president has in history, he also has authorized the use of waterboarding (which is torture, and that is something that either in the comments section or in another forum I am willing to debate with someone at any moment at any time, just a warning though, you will not win). I've read several lunatic-fringe right wing blogs (a. for the hilarity and b. because I do like to read up on the opposing viewpoint), and they like to blame Clinton for the 9/11 and the current mess our country is in. As someone who is a history major and someone who several relatives well-versed in history, I can tell you with all certainty that in 50 years or so, Bill Clinton will be judged as a great president, while as Bush XLIII will be known as one of, if not the worst president ever.
Which is what makes today's events all the more memorable. Not only is this a time of re-birth from the current hole Bush XLIII got us in, but it is also a re-birth of a nation that for centuries forced blacks into slavery. And now. January 20, 2008, that same black man is about to be president of the United States of America. And there are those that say, well, Obama is not a real black, he's half-white and half-black. And that is true. His mother was white. But throughout the course of history, if you even had a great-grandparent who was a man of color, you were considered black and were discriminated against and denied your rights.
So let's sit back, relax, and enjoy the inauguration of now-President-elect, soon to become President Barack Obama. I'll have the video up later in the day.
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