LOTS OF STUFF

 Officiating in the NHL is so awful that players (and coaches) are getting used to it, so why bother complaining even when replay once again shows another bad decision? … Sunday, homestanding Anaheim was clinging to a 2-0 advantage against the New York Rangers when Ducks defenseman Urho Vaakanainen was sent off for hooking Alexis Lafreniere. What really happened? Lafreniere was holding onto Vaakenainen’s stick and probably thought he would get the two minutes … “Terrible call,” said Ducks’ TV analyst Brian Hayward, almost matter-of-factly … It took the Rangers one rush to cut the deficit to one in a game Anaheim had a goal disallowed for offsides. THAT was a good call … Ducks lost 5-2, befitting a terrible team.


Riddle me this: Why am I losing interest in English Premier League 

soccer? It’s still a great game to watch – when played by the world’s 

best … but… can it be the VAR replay system that should be full 

(fool?) proof and still doesn’t always get it right? Or, how about 

excessive diving that is unbecoming in the world’s favorite sport, yet 

no one seems willing to do anything about it? … Or, could a big 

finger be pointed by this fan of Manchester United for having all that 

talent … and not getting nearly enough out of it? … Me thinks it is 

… all of the above … and then some.


One thing it isn’t … is NBC’s coverage which remains by far thebest. 

Studio host Rebecca Lowe, along with Tim Howard and The 2 

Robbies, Earle and Mustoe, are unequaled (any sport), the total 

package.


Stop the presses! Really BIG news from ManU … which has signed

 Omar Barreda away from Manchester City to run the club as CEO.


That explains it. “I am the face of ESPN,” said Stephen A. Smith. And don’t you forget it.


Sparring no expense – not, The NHL Network had studio host Jamie 

Hersch on play by play (from the studio) for Sunday’s Ottawa-

Philadelphia game. Very annoying … voice and delivery. Click!


Until next time ...








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