Once the rain leaves it will be nice to hit the links and just get outside again. This past week has been cold, rainy and gloomy so with the forecast predicting sunshine all next week with a high of 24 for May 9, that will be a very welcome thing. As for today with a chance of a thunderstorm and WHS grads having their ceremony it makes for the potential of some messy outfits. Our grad, ten years ago, was cold - I don't think it really rained but it was chilly over the first weekend in May. Anyway here are some sports observations over this past week for you - have a great weekend!
We are into that part of the year when sports fans can watch practically whatever professional sport they want, other than football. However, both NFL and CFL drafts were held a week apart so technically a fan could watch baseball, golf, hockey playoffs, football draft and some basketball playoffs, among other sports.
While many enjoy the abundance of sports to view, including myself, others anxiously await for many of them to be over :)
Until that time approaches, here are some of my thoughts from the week or two that were:
• Putters up for Saskatchewan native Graham DeLaet who placed in the top five at the Zurich Classic in New Orleans. After four rounds, DeLaet placed in a tie for fourth with a 16-under par. The Weyburn golfer ended the final round at one-under and was three strokes back of the leaders. Jason Dufner beat Ernie Els for the victory. However, DeLaet pocketed over $280,000 for his efforts and now needs to make another $170,000 to keep his tour card. With 14 more tournaments that goal is very possible and is it time to say that he could become the best Canadian golfer.
• Hockey sticks up for the SJHL’s Humboldt Broncos who won this year’s Anavet Cup. The Broncos blanked Portage in game seven of their series to capture the last Anavet Cup. The series will take on a different format next year.
• The Broncos are now up against the top teams from across Canada in the RBC Cup. Humboldt is the host venue and, having had the opportunity to cover some games during the Canalta Cup, the team looks like it could compete with any across the nation. I would not be surprised to see them in the finals as the event concludes May 13.
• Team allegiances aside, how many hockey fans have enjoyed the NHL playoffs so far? I have but who would have thought at the start of the playoffs that one of Los Angeles, Nashville, Phoenix or St. Louis would make it to the Stanley Cup finals?! That will happen this year.
• I like the new mix of teams competing for the Cup and as I write this, Los Angeles and New York are still the two teams I am picking for the finals.
• My picks for MVP of the playoffs if their team gets there: Mike Smith from the Phoenix Coyotes and Claude Giroux of the Philadelphia Flyers.
• The ‘Riders extended quarterback Darian Durant and offensive lineman Chris Best to 2014. Durant was entering his option year and it was good to see general manager Brendan Taman get that out of the way. Getting Durant signed now allows the quarterback to focus on football. I like the moves and if Durant minimizes his interceptions he should see his numbers jump back up to where they should be.
• The NFL held its draft and to no surprise a pair of quarterbacks went one and two. Indianapolis and Washington are hoping the pair are the keys to each team’s future.
• The Albert Pujols signing by the Angels has not been paying off so far. The slugger had yet to hit a home run as of early last week. Last year he hit 37 dingers and 42 the year before. He still has a lot of season left though.
• The Jays keep rolling. I like to see that, not to mention a thumbs up for their uniforms. Nothing like a little retro look to inspire a run to the postseason.
• Like in the NHL, playoffs are also underway in the NBA. The Miami Heat had a huge game one against the Knicks and I imagine will keep rolling.
• With virtually no knowledge of the current basketball picture, it was nice to see some classic clubs like the Pacers, Bulls, Jazz and 76ers in the picture. I did watch some playoff games during the days of Michael Jordan, Reggie Miller, Carl Malone and Allan Iverson, each from those teams. Perhaps the Bulls will get back to the glory days since they finished first in the east.
