NBA Finals Game 1 Live Blog

Game 1: Mavericks @ Heat 9:00 (ABC - Mike Breen, Mark Jackson, and Jeff Van Gundy, SR: Doris Burke)

2011 Stanley Cup Finals Schedule

Here is the schedule for the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals. I have very little rooting interest in this series, although if the previous rounds of these playoffs are any indication, this should still be one hell of a series to watch. (all times ET)

Stanley Cup Finals

#3 Boston Bruins vs. #1 Vancouver Canucks

Game 1: June 1: Bruins @ Canucks 8:00 (NBC - Mike Emrick and Eddie Olczyk, ItG: Pierre McGuire) (CBC - Jim Hughson and Craig Simpson, ItG: Glenn Healy, SR: Scott Oake and Elliotte Friedman)
Game 2: June 4: Bruins @ Canucks 8:00 (NBC - Mike Emrick and Eddie Olczyk, ItG: Pierre McGuire) (CBC - Jim Hughson and Craig Simpson, ItG: Glenn Healy, SR: Scott Oake and Elliotte Friedman)
Game 3: June 6: Canucks @ Bruins 8:00 (Versus - Mike Emrick and Eddie Olczyk, ItG: Pierre McGuire) (CBC - Jim Hughson and Craig Simpson, ItG: Glenn Healy, SR: Scott Oake and Elliotte Friedman)
Game 4: June 8: Canucks @ Bruins 8:00 (Versus - Mike Emrick and Eddie Olczyk, ItG: Pierre McGuire) (CBC - Jim Hughson and Craig Simpson, ItG: Glenn Healy, SR: Scott Oake and Elliotte Friedman)
Game 5: June 10: Bruins @ Canucks 8:00 (NBC - Mike Emrick and Eddie Olczyk, ItG: Pierre McGuire) (CBC - Jim Hughson and Craig Simpson, ItG: Glenn Healy, SR: Scott Oake and Elliotte Friedman)
Game 6: June 13: Canucks @ Bruins 8:00 (NBC - Mike Emrick and Eddie Olczyk, ItG: Pierre McGuire) (CBC - Jim Hughson and Craig Simpson, ItG: Glenn Healy, SR: Scott Oake and Elliotte Friedman)
Game 7: June 15: Bruins @ Canucks 8:00 (NBC - Mike Emrick and Eddie Olczyk, ItG: Pierre McGuire) (CBC - Jim Hughson and Craig Simpson, ItG: Glenn Healy, SR: Scott Oake and Elliotte Friedman)

2011 NBA Finals Schedule

Well the NBA Finals are here and for the first time that I can remember, they are starting before the Stanley Cup Finals. It's the Mavs and the Heat playing for the trophy. Personally, I am rooting for the rapture to happen and to take both of these teams and their fanbases with them, but I also rooted for the 76ers to beat Wade, LeBron,and Bosh. Fortunately, they did that. Unfortunately, they could not beat Joel Anthony, and thus the Heat won. So that goes to show how much my rooting impacts things. Anyways, here is your schedule with announcers. For once the NBA have not gone insane with their schedule. Live blog Tuesday night. Be there or be square. (all times ET)

NBA Finals

#3 Dallas Mavericks vs. #2 Miami Heat

Game 1: May 31: Mavericks @ Heat 9:00 (ABC - Mike Breen, Mark Jackson, and Jeff Van Gundy, SR: Doris Burke)
Game 2: June 2: Mavericks @ Heat 9:00 (ABC - Mike Breen, Mark Jackson, and Jeff Van Gundy, SR: Doris Burke)
Game 3: June 5: Heat @ Mavericks 8:00 (ABC - Mike Breen, Mark Jackson, and Jeff Van Gundy, SR: Doris Burke)
Game 4: June 7: Heat @ Mavericks 9:00 (ABC - Mike Breen, Mark Jackson, and Jeff Van Gundy, SR: Doris Burke)
Game 5: June 9: Heat @ Mavericks 9:00 (ABC - Mike Breen, Mark Jackson, and Jeff Van Gundy, SR: Doris Burke)
Game 6: June 12: Mavericks @ Heat 8:00 (ABC - Mike Breen, Mark Jackson, and Jeff Van Gundy, SR: Doris Burke)
Game 7: June 14: Heat @ Mavericks 9:00 (ABC - Mike Breen, Mark Jackson, and Jeff Van Gundy, SR: Doris Burke)

May 27 Playoffs Live Blog

Well here we go. Game seven. Lightning. Bruins. Someone's going to Vancouver. Someone else is going home. For my thoughts heading into this game, click here.

Game 7: Lightning @ Bruins 8:00 (Versus - Mike Emrick and Eddie Olczyk, ItG: Pierre McGuire) (CBC - Bob Cole and Garry Galley, SR: Scott Oake)

CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE LIVE BLOG!

I'm Not Okay (I Promise)

(Originally published as a fanpost at Broad Street Hockey)

Saturday, May 22, 2004.

The Philadelphia Flyers were one win away from the Stanley Cup Finals. One win away from the Calgary Flames. One win away from the Stanley Cup itself.

As a sports fan, there are certain inevitable truths that however unfounded they may be, I hold near and dear to my heart. One of them is the Flyers would not lose that series against Calgary. There was just no way. That was the year. That was the team. I know it. I'll always know it. Even if I never got a chance to see it.

We all know what happened that day. There is no need to run through the events. The overly drawn out narrative of Dave Andreychuk. The cruel torturous hope provided by Kim Johnsson. We all know how it ended. And it's too depressing to think about.

Yet I can't help but dwell on it. So what if the Phillies, who I love just as much as the Flyers, won a World Series since then. So what if after the direct kick to the junk the Panthers gave the Eagles in January 2004, they would finally make the Super Bowl one year later? So what if the Flyers have gotten over the Eastern Conference Finals hurdle?

That feeling of lost opportunity from 2004. Primeau. Gagne. Roenick. Kapanen. LeClair. Recchi. Markov. Johnsson. Radivojevic.

I could go on. Those were the guys. That was the team. The over-achievements of the 2010 team, as fun as they were to watch and celebrate in, do not and cannot replace the emptiness of 2004. They can't take back the tears I cried. They can't replace the nights I spent thinking "what if.....what if......."

May 26 Playoffs Live Blog

Game 5: Heat @ Bulls 8:30 (TNT - Marv Albert, Steve Kerr, and Reggie Miller, SR: Craig Sager)

The Game Winning RBI Hours After Wilson Valdez Became A Winning Pitcher

As luck would have it, the game scheduled after a 19-inning marathon was a 1:00 day game. Also as luck would have it, hours after utility infielder Wilson Valdez picked up a win as a pitcher, Cliff Lee would pitch 8-innings...........and bat in the game-winning RBIs.

Phillies went on to win 10-4.

The first 16 hours of May 26, 2011 are 16 hours that the Phillies and Phillies fans won't forget any time soon.