Golden Spring

And now, the NBA playoffs have what the NHL wished it had - a Cinderella story.

By upsetting the 67-win Dallas Mavericks in a series completed Thursday night, the long-downtrodden Golden State Warriors, a team that needed to win on the final day of the season just to make the playoffs, have suddenly got the attention of the basketball world.

From Chris Mullin to Don Nelson to Baron Davis, the Warriors are a terrific story, and if you include the oft-troubled Stephen Jackson, certainly an intriguing one.

The NHL had one of these stories last year in the Edmonton Oilers, and even the Carolina Hurricanes, while they had a strong regular season, were also an attractive story because of the history of the franchise.

This year? There's nothing even close, really, with the Ottawa Senators, perhaps the closest.

But after being favorites who couldn't make it happen for so many years, it's hard for the Sens to be Cinderella now.

Such a team would surely help the NHL playoffs, which are gradually devolving into a thoroughly unexciting tournament because of the shocking decrease in goal-scoring, both from the regular season this year and in comparison to last spring's playoffs.

No NHL club has scored more than three goals in a game for a week now, this week's combined goals-per-game average has dropped under four and there's no sign of the drought ending anytime soon.

The NBA Warriors, meanwhile, play a chaotic game at breakneck speed, playing an anti-system style of basketball that totally befuddled Dirk Nowitzki and the Mavs.

The NBA playoffs already have LeBron, Steve Nash, Tim Duncan, Jason Kidd and now the Cinderella Warriors.

The NHL playoffs have the blocked shot and soccer scores.

Comments

[bob dumond]

Damien, couldn't agree more.

Not saying close games aren't fun but it's almost like if you get the 1st goal in the play-offs, the nights over or at least the Team that gets that goal plays that way.

[Marijan Kalman]

And the reason is REFEREEING.

Last night they allowed goal that was interference on Vancouver goalie and to make things worst then they don't call penalty for elbow to the had of Vancouver player and Ducks score.
How they call this game of HOCKEY referees destroyed any chance of getting more scoring.

No wonder NBA last night game was watched in 168 countries.

Does anyone in right state of mind believe that someone, somewhere in the World is going to wake up to watch this crap........

Even die-hard fun's in Detroit gave up.........

This NHL is ready to be buried alive..

Regards,
Marijan Kalman

[Sanj]

I was really looking forward to seeing the Buffalo Sabers that won their first 10 game of the season, the Sabers that scored like 100 goals in a span of 5 minutes against the Leafs, the Sabers that led the league in goals scored and points last season. Where is that team? In fact where are all the high scoring teams that we saw during the regular season? Where is this new NHL???

[Rick Gosso]

Mr Cox. To compare hockey to basketball, where they score 100 points per team, is totally ridiculous.

Then again why is it you marvel at a great pitched game in baseball (yawn), yet great goaltending in hockey is considered boring?

And really. Hockey fans like the game the way it is. You obviously know alot about basketball. More then 99% of the Canadian population.

So why don't you cover the NBA, or baseball, which you are in love with, and leave hockey to hockey fans so we can enjoy it in peace without the constant whiners who call for rule changes at least twice day.

So the Americans don't care? They think baseball is exciting. Case closed.

[roberto]

One thing really annoys me.....stupid people! It really does bother me.

I even try to reason with myself by saying to myself that if everyone in the world were smart, then I would not be able to survive in a capitalistic society.

That reasoning still doesn't work with me. I still get annoyed with idiots.

For example, anyone who pays 182.00 per game for a season of Leafs hockey is an idiot. No ifs ands or buts.

Anyone who pays 1.10 for a litre of gas is even more stupid. Period!

You're probably saying that these things shouldn't bother me because it's none of my business. But you're wrong.

It does effect me.....meaning I lose the priviledge of driving unless I fork out 1.09 per litre. Further, I can't watch the Leafs live unless I fork out up to 15,000.00 for 2 platinum season tickets.

Now you're probably asking, what's the answer? The whiners would be crying that they can't stop driving......need the car for work, take the kids around, etc....

If you really want to stop the oil companies from making billions and still continue driving.....very simple solution.

Organize a boycott of just 1 company for lets say a couple of months. Can you imagine if no one bought ESSO gas in Canada for 2 months, or in the United States? Or in the world....watch how fast Esso would drop their price. Once Esso is brought to their knees, then do the same with Shell, etc. etc. That's what intelligent people would do....and they still get to drive, don't they?

Now, back to the Leafs......can't go without hockey say the whiners. But, what if everyone boycotted a private for greedy for profit corporation aka the Leafs for 2 months. Go watch the Sabres, the Senators or the Marlies, etc. during this time.

Watch how fast the ticket prices would drop......watch how equally fast, the player salaries of millions for playing a game would drop.

Once this greedy Leaf corporation is brought to their knees, move to the next team and then the next until everything comes in line.

In today's day and age with tv, satellite, internet, etc. it's a lot easier than you would think to organize such boycotts. Keep in mind, you never boycott all of the NHL, just 1 team at a time. Same with the oil companies. How many billions of dollars would Esso lose in just a simple 1 or 2 month boycott? Enough for them to take action, I guarantee that!

I'm sure you're now asking about the corporate sponsors of these greedy suits pretending to be a community team.

Most people don't even think about the fact that when a corporation buys a box from the Leafs, they a) write it off their taxes and b) any costs incurred by said sponsor gets passed on to all of us in the form of higher prices. Economics 101.

Okay, do the same with these guys....pick one sponsor and boycott for a couple of months.

Remember, this is not the age of 30 years ago or 20 years ago or even 10 years ago. We live in a truly amazing time with tremendous communication tools available to most people around the world. For example, I live on the other side of the world and I still know what's happening in Toronto. I call Canada and the USA all day long for free (it's even legal-my phone company offers a fantastic package of unlimited calls for the equivalent of 3.00 canadian dollars per month flat rate, not per call but PER MONTH!). All it takes is for 1 guy to organize not a huge boycott against an entire industry but only against one entity of that industry. The mistake made in the past was that the do gooders would boycott an entire industry....big mistake....can't do it.....that would be like cutting off your nose to spite your face. Do it the way I suggest is much easier, no pain to the consumer and I promise you that the rest fall like dominos. I hope the suits of the Leafs are listening.

PS: whoever that person is will definately need to hire body guards because you know the big boys don't f--- around with their profits and their lifestyle.

How about you Damien? You'd be perfect for this type of campaign. Want to help your fellow Canadians from being ripped off? This is the way to do it. One person can make a difference in this world. Why can't it be you?

[Stephen]

People who can afford to buy Leafs season tickets aren't going to give up watching them for two months so that you can afford to.

Good thoughts, Damien, though the Rangers have a shot at being Cinderella this year.

[Daniel]

I call foul...i was just in the States and the overwhelming tone of the press I read was how this year's first round of the NBA playoffs was well, underwhelming. You seized on the one series that was most newsworthy. Try watching the Jazz-Rockets. Local interest aside, the Raps-Nets was fairly brutal. Lakers-Suns was less competitive than last time, Nuggets fizzled, etc. etc.
I guess the view is different up here where the second biggest sport is teeth gnashing over the state of the biggest sport.
Ya think the difference might have something to do with comparing sports that are different stages of their playoffs? Which means comparing a game six or seven, where most remaining NBA are at.
I'd imagine the NHL series will get more exciting in the next few days as we head into at least two, if not three, game 6's or more.
Heck, it started last nite with that unbelievable NYR-Buff finish.

[chris]

While I don't often agree with you sometimes Damien , I do agree with you most of the time. Such as with this post. Keep up the good work in sticking it sideways to the Rick Gossos of this country. The more they whine and cry, the more you're right.

[Jim Maron]

The only NHL hockey worth watching is 4 on 4 overtime play in the regular season. In 4 on 4 hockey the defensive strategies just don't work any more. Lots of open ice and chances to score.

I'm amazed some minor league operation hasn't decided to give it a try yet.

[roberto]

to Stephen, the one who wrote..."People who can afford to buy Leafs season tickets aren't going to give up watching them for two months so that you can afford to."

There you go again....how stupid are you? You missed the entire point of my note.

It is NOT a question of who can or who can't afford to buy Leaf tickets.......most people can afford said tickets!

The letter was about the CONSUMER NOT TO GET RIPPED OFF. Even the richest of the rich do not want to get ripped off!!!

It was further about how the consumer can join together as a group to make sure they don't get ripped off!

Point a single finger and you'll probably get it broken. But, join that single finger with three other fingers and a thumb and close the fingers tightly together in the shape of a fist and one can make for a hell of a powerful punch!

The Leafs thank God everyday for dummies like you. It's because of people like you, these guys thrive.

What are the teachers teaching in our schools today? "Not much" would be the answer based on your comments. How someone can totally miss the soooo obvious point being made in my letter is really mind boggling.

I just cannot fatham someone being that dumb...it's just unimaginable.

[chris]

Well Roberto, We'll bet you dollars to doughnuts that we'll be seeing, as usual, sellouts at the ACC as well as brisk sales of Leaf merchandise and a spike in subscriptions to Leaf TV. Because, no matter how much members of the Leaf Nation whine and cry about rising costs, they ALWAYS pay up!