Rick on Sports

Entering the Hockey Playoffs

rick_umali — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 10:58:08 -0700

During ice hockey's regular season, I'll probably watch maybe 10, even a dozen games. It's different for the playoffs. Each game of the four seven-game series will have me glued to the TV. This year, the Bruins have a chance to repeat (last done by the Detroit Red Wings). Of course I'll be watching that. But my West Coast favorite, San Jose, made it into the playoffs (and even won their first game over St. Louis) too. And some old home teams are in the mix (the Devils and Rangers). It's an exciting menu, one that will take me all the way into June. Bring it on!

The Return of the Master

rick_umali — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 01:47:34 -0700

Last weekend, Tiger Woods won his first PGA Tour event since 2009. He has slowly been regaining his form, hampered by injury, coaching changes, caddie changes, and yes, the Thanksgiving week incident involving him and his now former wife. His victory charges up the atmosphere this coming Masters Week. Tiger's back. That means golf for non-fans is back. It was only a matter of time.

Processing the Super Bowl Loss

rick_umali — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 03:39:54 -0800

Giants 21, Patriots 17. It's still hard to believe that the Patriots lost the Super Bowl to the Giants again! Unlike Super Bowl XLII, I was able to rewatch the NFL Network Replay of Super Bowl XLVI.

The Patriots really needed Wes Welker to make that catch with four minutes to go. But in the end, the deep pass by Eli Manning to Mario Manningham to get them 38 yards was for me the key. Manning was pinned, but Manningham kept his feet inbounds and pulled in the catch.

In the fourth quarter, after the Patriots "let" the Giants score, Brady had the ball in his hands, albeit with a 4-point deficit and under a minute on the clock. It's here where my mind veers into fantasy land.

In my fantasy, Branch makes that 22-yard catch, then Hernandez makes that 15 yard catch. Add these to Branch's 19-yarder to Branch, and you've got one last good play left in the end zone with Brady 'throwing', not heaving a Hail Mary. My favorite moment of the replay: Hearing Tom Brady instruct his receivers on the last play: "Run the goal post! And catch the ball!"

If only!

Super Bowl Prediction: Patriots

rick_umali — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 03:29:22 -0800

The Vegas line has the Patriots favored over the Giants by the slimmest of margins (-3). Take the Pats on this one. I predict that the Patriots will win for two reasons: 1) This is the first game in a dome this season for the Patriots. If this is going to be a track-meet, shooting-match style of game, then I'll take Tom Brady. 2) Rob Gronkowski. Is he 100%? Is he 80%? Will he have to take a pill to play? I predict Gronk will play, and I don't think the Giants defense will know what to do with him. Forget 2007. Forget Week 9. This is the Super Bowl, and Brady and Bill Belichick must sense the history making moment in front of them. I know I do.

Conference Championship Picks

rick_umali — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 21:27:46 -0800

We're now down to two games: the AFC Championship and the NFC Championship. My picks against the Vegas line (the favorite has the betting spread next to them). Baltimore Ravens at New England Patriots (-7.5). The Patriots more than covered last week against Denver. I won't make the same mistake: take the Pats. There's no covering Gronkowski, Flacco is no Brady, and the Pats have something to prove against these Ravens! NY Giants at San Francisco (-2.5). I tweeted to someone earlier that I was dreading a Giants/Patriots rematch (of Super Bowl XLII). I'm slowly warming up to the idea, but for the NFC match up, I really think Eli Manning is going to get it done.

Division Playoff Picks

rick_umali — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 02:00:56 -0800

I got two out of four picks correct last week (against the Vegas line). Let's see how I do this week. (The favorite team has the betting spread next to them.)

New Orleans (-3.5) at San Francisco. I was so wrong about NO last week (they more than covered the 11 point spread). That said, the "outdoors and away" factor is making me pick San Francisco. If Drew Brees beats me this pick, it won't be the first time.

Denver at New England (-13.5). NE will only do what they need for the win. I think they have a new respect for Tebow, especially after last weekend's win. Pick Denver on this line, but NE will win.

Houston at Baltimore (-7.5). Pick Baltimore. I have started following Arian Foster on Twitter, but this game is about Houston's third-string quarterback versus Baltimore's highly credentialed defense.

NY Giants at Green Bay (-7.5). Pick the Giants. I think they will make it a close one, only to actually lose to GB. Besides, a Giants/NE rematch in the Super Bowl frightens me.

Wildcard Weekend Picks

rick_umali — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 18:01:30 -0800

Four NFL wildcard games this weekend, and I've got your picks! (Or, at least, I've got my picks.) (The number next to a team in parenthesis represents the line and the favorite.) Cincinnati at Houston (-3). Pick Cincinnati. I have this vague "sense" that this will be the upset game (the Bengals are the #6 seed). Detroit at New Orleans (-11). Eleven points! I'd take the points by picking Detroit. NO will win, but the betting line feels too high to me for a playoff game. Atlanta at NY Giants (-3). Pick the Giants. Manning is riding momentum. Pittsburgh (-9) at Denver. Pick Denver. I think the win will go to Pittsburgh, but I think they won't cover. I think the injuries to Pittsburgh, plus the fact that Tim Tebow could pull a rabbit out of his college playbook will make this a closer contest.

Memorizing the NFL Teams

rick_umali — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 02:57:27 -0800

I spent the past few months memorizing the 32 teams of the National Football League, by division and conference. Every morning, I'd jot down one or two divisions on a piece of paper, then I'd write down the corresponding teams. For a long time, this knowledge wasn't at my finger tips. It always surprised me how the Patriots would end up needing to go through Pittsburgh, or Denver, or San Diego. Now, of course, it makes perfect sense. Memorizing the 32 teams has also made more sense of the Sunday scores. The Giants and the Jets are in different conferences. Kansas City and Denver: intra-division. And so on. I think I'll tackle the other sports leagues too, but this simple act has made watching the NFL that much more enjoyable.

Boston's Beefy Goal Differential

rick_umali — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 12:15:17 -0800

I watched the Boston Bruins beat the Pittsburgh Penguins last night. Pittsburgh is at the top of the Eastern Conference, so taking them down is a great result, and confirms that the B's are playing some really good hockey right now.

The B's "goal differential" is a plus-36 (+36). The second highest diff in the league right now is Detroit with plus-19 (+19). Detroit is the last team to take a point from the Bruins (a shoot-out loss).

No doubt about it: the Bruins have become a solid Stanley Cup defender!

The Big Break: Ireland

rick_umali — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 04:03:40 -0800

I'm a big fan of "The Big Break", the reality show produced by The Golf Channel. Tonight was their finale episode, pitting Mark Murphy against Julien Trudeau. Mark and Julien reached the finale after successfully surviving many episodes of "golf" against a larger field of eleven contestants. I put "golf" in quotes because the players play very little "actual golf", but instead perform feats of golf skills (closest to the flag, breaking window panes with golf shots, hitting towering flop shots). Tonight, I was treated to a finely edited 18 holes of match play. The fast-talking Mark and the easy-going Jules provided a scintillating match.

I think what I like best about the show is getting to know the contestants through the competition. By the time you reach the finale, you feel like you know the players. You miss the ones you were rooting for (Nicole Smith, in my case), but you cheer the ones that made it. That's what being a fan is about: knowing the players you root for (and, sometimes, root against). This is especially true in golf, an individual sport.

Mark said the show changes lives. I'd agree! Congrats on a fine finish, mate!

Bruins Climbing Out

rick_umali — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 02:40:20 -0800

The Boston Bruins won their game tonight against the NY Islanders, and they have begun the ascent. With this win, they're no longer the worst team in the Northeast Division. In the last three games, the Bruins have outscored their opponents 18-5! Tyler Seguin looks incredibly poised and improved, and that's going to be a huge help if when the Bruins can get into the playoffs.

Bruins in the Basement

rick_umali — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 17:25:22 -0700

ESPN's Scott Burnside's Power Rankings (Week 5) have the Boston Bruins in the next to last position (above the Columbus Blue Jackets). Columbus is in the Western Conference, but Boston shares last place honors with them in the Eastern Conference. It's quite the turn of events: Stanley Cup champions just five months ago, and now we're in the cellar.

I know it's way too early to panic. Only 10 games have gone by, with another 72 to go. But you can't help it in Boston. I haven't watched a lot of games, but of the few that I have watched, there's little in the way or urgency of determination. I'm sure the team will right its ship soon. The Boston Red Sox had a horrific opening month last season, before they went on to dominate the the standings. Of course, with their September swoon, perhaps I shouldn't use them as inspiration.

World Series Prediction

rick_umali — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 11:13:16 -0700

I enjoyed keeping an eye on the ALCS and NLCS. I said to my wife that this was the series of underdogs (i.e. not the Yankees, or the Red Sox, or any other "big money" team). I really felt like any team that got through to the World Series would be my favorite. Well, as the LCS wore on, I found myself pulling for Milwaukee in the National League, and Detroit in the American League. Well, both of these teams have lost, and we now have the St. Louis Cardinals versus the Texas Rangers.

I'm going to root for the Texas Rangers, and I predict that they will win the World Series. I liked this team last year, and they fell short. They regrouped and got back into the Postseason, and I admire that. St. Louis has done it before, so they will be a worthy opponent.

Go Rangers!

NLDS 2011 Game 5 Predictions

rick_umali — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 11:21:30 -0700

I just found out that there are two Game 5s tonight: Arizona and Milwaukee, and St. Louis at Philadelphia. I'm an American League fan, but when there's a deciding game, it's helpful to have a rooting interest.

I like St. Louis to pull out the upset. I have nothing to base this on, other than I read "Three Nights in August" (Buzz Bissinger's book about Tony La Russa), and I believe La Russa can get what he needs out of this team. We'll see. Philly is the consensus "best team left".

I like Milwaukee, simply because my youngest brother lives there. I don't know if he's a fan of his city's team (he grew up a Mets fan). I haven't sent him any e-mail, but I can imagine that the atmosphere in his city is very festive.

Thanking Tito

rick_umali — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 11:12:33 -0700

I spent most of last night watching the separate (and perhaps dueling) press conferences of Terry ("Tito") Francona and Red Ownership (represented by General Manager Theo Epstein, Larry Lucchino, Tom Werner).

As I watched the highlights of Francona's eight years, I was taken back to 2003 (his hiring), 2004 (the miraculous ALCS, and winning the first World Series since 1918), and this past September (which kids will denote as "an epic fail").

To say he's done a lot for the Boston Red Sox is an understatement. At the same time, the Red Sox is bigger than any one manager. Ultimately, it will be bigger than this group of current owners, but last I heard, owners have the ultimate hire and fire power.

I don't pretend to know or even understand all the underlying factors that lead to this decision. All I know, when I see the highlight reel of Francona's era, is that he brought to Red Sox Nation, and to me, a wondrous resurgence of baseball love.

Thank you, Tito. Thank you!

The Last Game

rick_umali — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 02:52:49 -0700

Red Sox baseball comes down to the last game of their season against the Baltimore Orioles! A win ensures at least a play-in game for the Wild Card spot with the Tampa Bay Rays. It's hard to believe that I'll be in "nail biting" mode, but bring it on. I've been through it before!

200 Wins for Wakefield

rick_umali — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 03:04:51 -0700

I can remember in the early 1990s when Tim Wakefield was pitching for the Pirates. One of my favorite roommates was watching the slow motion of Wake's knuckleball. He was not a sports fan, and I was just beginning to follow the sport, but we both watched how the ball flew without spin towards the catcher. A knuckleball!

Fast forward almost 20 years later, and I'm still fascinated with Wake's pitch. It took him a long time to get to his 200th win. For the 2011 Red Sox, reeling from a 5 game losing streak, it was about time!

My Sporting Roots (Part 2)

rick_umali — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 01:07:42 -0700

I have written before about my "baptism" into Red Sox nation. I often remark to anyone who'll listen that baseball was the "entry drug" of sports for me. I spent many hours watching, listening, and reading about baseball. I attended numerous games at Fenway during the Mo Vaughn/John Valentin years (early 1990s). My girlfriend (now wife) encouraged my fandom.

The key thing that I learned about following sports was figuring out what was at stake. Where are we in the standings? What is the opponent's record? Knowing what was at stake is half the battle of being a fan.

When the New England Patriots marched towards their first Super Bowl victory, I began to latch onto football. By now my Dad and I could carry on a decent back and forth about this great sport. Learning what's at stake in football is easier, in many respects, because there are only 16 games.

Over the years, I began to read more about football. I paid more attention to sports radio. All of this helped with becoming more of a fan.

It helped that New England kept winning. When the Celtics made their championship run, I rekindled my love for basketball. And I've always had a soft spot for ice hockey (and ice skating). My sporting roots are still forming, but living 20 years in Boston has gotten them used to winning.

My Sporting Roots (Part 1)

rick_umali — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 02:59:25 -0700

I grew up in Jersey City, New Jersey, where I lived up until I moved to upstate New York for college. By all rights I should be a NY/NJ sports fan, but instead I established my sports roots in Boston, after I graduated college.

It's amazing to me now how much of an ignoramus I was about sports growing up in the 1970s and 80s. I didn't realize that the Jets and Giants played in different conferences. I "vaguely" knew that the New York Yankees were a dominant sports franchise. When professional basketball arrived in New Jersey, I couldn't have told you who any of the starters were. When adults engaged me in conversation about the Mets or the Islanders, I could only mumble the most basic responses.

I did love soccer, playing it in the streets, and riding the pine for my high school team. I also loved the Tour de France, way before it was "in vogue". My Dad taught me tennis, a sport that I would enjoy playing and later watch. I would confess that I was a dork and a geek, but that was only partially true. I loved computers, and math, and science. But I also I loved playing sports: high school gym, kick ball, tag, pick up basketball. I wasn't a stellar athlete, but I played sports as a kid.

If I were to pinpoint where things went wrong, I'd have to point to my parents (that's right: blame the parents). My Mom and Dad were immigrants to this country (and technically, so am I). My Dad enjoyed following sports, but growing up, I never got the sense that he knew what exactly was going on.

I can remember a book that he had. It was the equivalent of "Football for Dummies". He had marked up the entire book, underlining rules and other things to remember. On the inside back cover, he had drawn up his own charts and graphs. I wish I had that book now. It would make a marvelous artifact. He wanted to be a fan, but back then he was learning. Like him, I ended up forming my own approach to fandom.

Welcome, Sports Fans

rick_umali — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 22:32:40 -0700

Welcome to my sports BLOG! I originally had a sports BLOG on SportingNews. That site ended up moving all their comunity BLOGs to Rowdy, a terrific website with a strong focus on NASCAR. Unfortunately, I missed being part of a sprawling sports base. So here I am. Welcome!