My Bestfriend

My blog topic is supposed to be sports, but sports are the last thing on my mind right now.  So my apologies, but sports will not be involved in this post.  This is about my best friend Jake.  You know how when you are little and all the kids are wanting to grow up and be doctors or firemen?  Well Jake wasn't one of those kids.  He set a goal and he's reaching to tomorrow.  Well boot camp isn't really his goal, but being a Marine is.  And boot camp is the stepping stone to becoming one.  And that's exactly where he is headed.  Here I thought I had about 20 some more days left to see my best friend before everything changes.  Well everything changed this morning when I got a call from him and he told me he's leaving tomorrow now.  I felt like someone took my mattress and flipped me out of my bed.  "You're joking right ya jack ass?" is what I wanted to say but I just asked if he was serious.. and he was.  All I could think was, "How the HE double hockey sticks is this happening??".  Well it's pretty simple.  Think of everyone in a single file line, if someone leaves the lines in front of you it's your turn next.  Well the guy in front of him got into a car accident and had to get out of line.  Meaning Jake was next up.  So just like that, my friend ships for the Marines tomorrow.  I cried as soon as I hung up the phone with him.  I'm not even the one shipping out and I'm over here crying like a girl?  Doesn't make much sense.  But after being best friends all of high school and most of middle school,  it all comes back and hits you like a freight train.  I guess all I can say is good luck Jake and take care of yourself.  I couldn't be more proud.  Love you man.

 

NHL Lockout

After the Collective Bargaining Agreement expiration date, the NHL released a statement saying although it has expired, they are still working on a solution with the Owners and Players of the league.  But that doesn't help us out any since they're still locked out!  You'd think after seeing how angry the NBA lockout made its fan, that the National Hockey League wouldn't want to follow in those foot steps and do the exact same thing in the same year!  I absolutely despise professional sports lockouts.  They're pointless and stupid.  Not to mention they waste so much time!  The worst part of it is, is that usually somewhere causing the lockout is selfishness.  Either the players wanting more money, the owners, or even coaches.  It's all really unfortunate.  As if they don't make enough money already?!!  They could all easily buy my house ten times for kicks and gigs.  So what if your insurance went up on your Lamborghini, sell one of them!

(Evgeni Malkin, left and Sergei Gonchar, right)

I guess it's just going to have to be waited out like the NBA.  It makes me angry.  There's so much time in the off season to handle this stuff.  But at least most of the players will still play.  Some of them have already signed over seas.  Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin and Ottawa Senators defenseman Sergei Gonchar have already signed with Metallurg in the KHL. (Russia-based, Kontinental Hockey League).  Over 300 Players from the NHL played in Europe during the '04-05 lock out, so it would not surprise me if a lot did this year too.  They don't know how long this could last, so why not play some where else if you can?  Some players say it's too expensive to insure their NHL contracts and play over seas at the same time.  Others have families that they can't just up and leave.  So I guess we'll see how this season goes, if there is one.

Lakers' Trade and Signing

This year was a pretty hectic year for the NBA.  With the lock out at the beginning of the season, it was beginning to look like there wouldn't even be a season this year.  But once it kicked off, the trade rumors around the league began to take over the headlines.  Since they didn't have much time before the trade deadline, teams had to hold off until the off season.  The first big signing was the AMAZING free agent, Steve Nash.  His contract ended with the Phoenix Suns and he had said he couldn't stay there any longer if they weren't making immediate changes to the roster in order to help him win his first championship.  People may say he's not a loyal player anymore after leaving the Suns organization after so long, but why would he continue to stay if they haven't given him any help in all these years?  LeBron made the same decision and it won him an NBA Championship.  That's what these players are in the league for... Championships!  But this scenario was no where near as big of story as LeBron's.  I don't mind that though, Steve Nash has always been my favorite player and he definitely does not deserve to be put on the negative spot light for going to any organization that could quite possibly win him his well deserved Championship.  

On top of signing Steve Nash, another big move was the four-team trade the Lakers' took part in to acquire Superman himself, Dwight Howard.  Although I haven't been a fan of him lately because he pretty much quit on the Magic, but this deal excites me.  Steve Nash deserves a ring more than any other player playing in the NBA right now.  That might just be my own opinion, but I'm sure that anyways who knows the NBA slightly well can vouch for me on this.  He's almost 40 years old now; his time in the league is short.  GET HIM A RING LOS ANGELES!!

NFL Refs

The NFL referees decided to go on strike last year so this season the NFL has replacement refs.  This needs to change as quickly as possible.  Not saying being a referee is easy, but if it is your profession.. well you should at least be somewhat good at it.  These refs are terrible! They can not make calls to save their lives.  It's pretty sad.  The NFL could end up losing fans if it keeps up.  I know it's aggravating me every time I watch a game.  Now every time I turn on Sportscenter, it is all they talk about when the games are highlighted.  The analysts even agree that these refs need to go.  One even said the NFL needs to "kiss and make up" with the original refs.  I couldn't agree more!  It's bogus when a game is determined by penalties and flags.  And that is exactly what is going to start happening if these referees stay.  They're too inexperienced to be in the National Football League.  They obviously can not handle being in the pros.  Which is understandable, but something needs to be done about it and FAST.  I literally watched a ref throw a flag, then he threw another, and then they had to pause for a while and discuss the flags.  After a while the ref came back just to say there was no flag on the play... REALLY?!  That is just completely unacceptable.  Well at least it should be in a professional sport.

All I am saying is the National Football League needs to act on this fast.  Just pay the referees a little bit more or whatever they're demanding.  It can't be worth this horrible publicity the replacements are bringing!  And that is for DARN sure.  Every one will eventually get sick of them ruining the games and stop watching. Well, maybe.  That might be a little exaggerated..