Tom_Curran's Blog

No, its not hockey this week. How about baseball! Specifically the Rays. Last nights loss in Baltimore bumped Tampa Bay out of first place in he A.L. east. Nothing long to blog on their early season because we have to remember there are still five months left in the regular season. But I did want to say how fun it is having this group of young talented players who give us an eye to the future. Hang on tight because I think the next few years are going to bring some exciting moments.

GO RAYS!!

 

You could see it on Tiger Woods face at last weekend's Masters.  It turns out he wasn't  just looking that way because he was losing. Now we learn that Tiger was playing with the same bumb knee which has been operated on on two previous occations. Now Tiger has surgery number three on the knee. And to think,. his agent says Tiger has been  feeling pain in the knee since the middle of last year.

Now we won't see Tiger on the course for about a month. I love watching this guy play but injury is about the only thing that is going to keep Tiger from becoming the best of all time.

Many of you knew what I would be blogging about this week and you guessed it, the sale of the Tampa Bay Lightning. I'll keep things brief because only time will tell the real story of the 200-million dollar sale from Palace Sports to a group called Absolute Hockey. Former stinking Panthers coach Doug MacLean led his group to the podium to state the obvious. NO the bolts will not be moved. Vinny, Brad, Marty and Dan will not be dealt. Jay Feaster is sill the g.m. and Torts is head coach. What would you expect them to say. The team is moving to Kansas City. The big salary players will be shipped out of town and a highly successful management team is out on their collective ears. No, these guys know thay have to be cool and let their real intentions come along at a later time. I really only have one thing to say. Can MacLean trade goalie Marc Denis back to Columbus for Feddie Modin. That would be a great way to start  the new regime.

Alright Devils fans. Its time for me to eat crow as the old saying goes. Yes I picked the Lightning to defeat New Jersey in the Eastern Conference quarter-finals in six games. A couple of things became painfully true during the series. As goes Marty Broduer, so go the Devils. Plus, the Bolts need help if they are to make it past the first round next year. Start with goaltending, a rugged defenseman and some scoring wingers. Tampa Bay needs them all. A tough order to fill with management making rumblings about a budget cut.

So the Devils win the series in six and I am happy for Broduer who happens to be one of the nice guys in professional sports. We'll see you next season Marty!

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Well since I'm the self-proclaimed hockey nut around here I guess its time for me to predict how far the Lightning will go in the playoffs this year.

First off, I must tell you I have some seroius concerns. On offense the only thing the bolts can count on is their M.V.P. line, also known as Marty, Vinny and Prospal. It takes more than one line to win Lord Stanley's cup. Brad Richards can't do it all by himself on the second line, and the third and fourth lines can only be counted on for the occasional score.

The defence is better known for the scoring of Dan Boyle and Philip Kuba more than any play stopping prowess. In goal its all up to "HOLMER". He needs to find the consistency that has avoided Lightning goalies all season long.

So here is my call. Tampa Bay matches up great against the New Jersey Devils and will beat Martin Broduer and company in six games. Meanwhile Buffalo will take out the Islanders easily so the Bolts get the Sabres in round-2. That is where it ends for "Torts" and his men. Buffalo wins in an easy five games. Then Jay Feaster can begin his off season trying to figure out how to make this team a seroius contender.

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The Tampa Bay Titans Bantam AA team is back from the Silver Stick North American Championships in Port Huron Michigan. The 14 and under team came up short in the effort to win back to back titles. The Titans were unable to get out of the round robin in their group with a 1-2 record. The team needed a second win to advance to the quarter-finals. Still, the team managed an upset against the kids from Chatham Ontario. The Canadians where stunned by the Titans 6-3. Now its off to the state championships February 23-25. We'll let you know how they do.