Hockey at Last!

First of all, I would like to thank all of those who made my bachelor party possible. It was great to see all of you and from what I remember, I had a great time. Thanks to Ryan and all the guys for making it happen. Extra special shout out to Doctor Tommy fever for driving all of us around. We went to the Caps home opener, went for a jog along New York Avenue, Cousin Mike snuck me in to a Skybox, I stole a few new Caps hats from some loser skybox owner and the Capitals Won! Altogether, a very successful evening. As for what happened after the game, things get a little hazy for me, so ask the others how it went. All I know is that I cursed like a sailor, drank many shots of something, but no one got arrested and had to be bailed out of jail, which is good... one less thing! Last I remember was laughing with Drew and Mac at 3 in the morning back at my house pretty wasted. Good times.

With the start of the new hockey season, my life should be focused on the Caps and my Fantasy Hockey team this fall. However, with my impending nuptials and work consuming my every waking moment, I have not had much of a chance to read the sports page or watch a full game, much less even join a hockey league and try to maneuver my team to the top of the fantasy ranks. (Much to the surprise of all of those who have played fantasy baseball and football with me, my fantasy hockey acumen is actually kick ass, so keep the snickers to yourselves and suck my balls.)

I just wanted to check in with all of you and let you know that I will most likely be back to the hockey blogging around Thanksgiving, with at least 1 or 2 entries per week. So fear not, John Buccigross and Sean Salisbury, I shall return!

So with that said, let's dive in to the world of sports for a moment, shall we?

• If the Caps continue to play uninspired hockey when Boyd Gordon (their best defensive forward and key penalty killer) and Alexander Semin (the other Alex and their power play sniper) return from injury, look for Coach Glen Hanlon to lose his job after Christmas.

• GM George McPhee might want to look over his shoulder as well.

• Has anyone driven by the new Nationals Stadium? It looks awesome! I watched "Build it Bigger" on Discovery Channel the other day and they showed everything that had taken place with the design and construction up until mid September. Really cool to watch, except for the nerdy, bespectacled loser who is the host. Don't know his name... I think it was Tim Murray.

• I know the Celtics have been been given the Eastern Conference Crown before the season has begun, but does anyone think they really will be better than Cleveland?
  

• Not to be a homer, but I don't think Cleveland is better than a healthy Wizards team. Draw your own conclusions. I have.

• The Redskins are sitting at 3-2. The two losses were more than winnable. At this rate they will finish 9-7 or 10-6 and reach the playoffs. They are not an elite team, obviously, but this was never going to be their year. This is merely a year to grow.

• Next year, the Skins get that possession receiver they desperately need, add another premiere pass rusher, have Jason Campbell another year older and wiser, and go to the Super Bowl. 2008 is their year. I'm calling it now.
  

• Oh yeah, Brandon Lloyd catches 7 TD's this year on his way to the Pro Bowl- HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Sorry, I tried but just couldn't hold back the ridiculous laughter.

• Donovan McNabb has a mediocre season, gets booed out of Philly and signs with the Bears in the off-season. Next year, with a healthy knee and more weapons around him, he leads "Da Bears" to the NFC title game, only to lose to the Redskins on a last minute Nick Novack Field Goal. (No, I have not given up hope that Nick will be back with the Skins when it matters.)

• The Orioles are a shambles! Wait, that isn't anything new. Sorry.

• I was listening to the Sports Reporters the other day on AM 980 and this guy called up and proceeded to say how much he was looking forward to the Red Sox losing to the Indians, how happy he was that the Yankees were out of it and he hoped hockey television ratings would outdraw the ratings for a Rockies-Indians World Series. When asked why he was so bitter, his response was, "Because the Orioles have sucked for the past 10 years!" And how, brother... and how!

• ...and finally, I will soon marry the girl of my dreams. For all of the people who told me that the kind of girl I wanted, dreamed about and waited for for 33 years was a fantasy, for those who scoffed at my naivety that a girl like that could exist, I have one thing to say to you... you were wrong. She does exist and I found her. Which made me realize that anything is possible. Life is what you make it, you get out what you put in to it. If you refuse to settle for less, than you will never have less than you want. Everyday is precious. Life is short. Dallas Sucks. Words to live by.