NHL Post-Season Awards Ceremony

On June 22, 2011, the NHL will hold its awards ceremony in Las Vegas for the 2010-11 season. Each year, the NHL issues an award to the top player in various individual categories. This year, the Art Ross Trophy given to the league's top point scorer will be awarded to Daniel Sedin who scored 104 points for the Vancouver Canucks (43G, 61A). Corey Perry, who scored 50 goals for the Anaheim Ducks will be awarded the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy as the league's top goal scorer. Most notably, neither Alex Ovechkin or Sydney Crosby are expected to receive any awards as Ovechkin had an "off" year and was not considered for any of the prominent trophies and Crosby, as most know, missed a large part of the season with a head injury. 

Here are the finalists in some of the top categories:

Sunday Brunch....Clarence Clemons 1942-2011

Source: Star Ledger file photo

For the most part, this blog is dedicated to the world of sports. However, at my discretion, there are stories or events that I feel worthy of my attention that have nothing to do with sports. This post is one of those moments. 

There are no words to describe the loss of Clarence "Big Man" Clemons, who succumbed last evening to complications related to the stroke he suffered earlier last week. He was a gentle giant who no doubt, was the lynch pin of The E Street Band. I have been following Springsteen since 1978 (just prior to the release of the Darkness on the Edge of Town album) and for 33 years he, Clarence and the rest of The E Street Band are (to me), simply the greatest Rock 'N Roll show on earth. 

34 Years Ago Today Seaver Traded to Reds

Source: ESPN.go.com

Well it was 34 years ago today that the New York Mets traded Tom Seaver, their most popular player in team history, to the Cincinnati Reds for Doug Flynn, Pat Zachry and two minor leaguers. Seaver, also known as The Franchise, led the Mets to victory in the 1969 World Series versus the Baltimore Orioles. Prior to his arrival in 1967 (he was Rookie of The Year), the Mets were considered a laughingstock but by 1969, no one was laughing at them any more as they won 100 games en route to their world championship. The Orioles were heavily favored to win the series and when the Mets took the series in five games, they were forever known as the Miracle Mets

Sunday Brunch.....Playoff Beards

Well, we're deep into the hockey playoffs and that can only mean one thing - beards!! Who will be this year's winner for the narliest playoff beard? Damned if I know but anyway, below is a group of some of the more mangier rat nests that have been weaved over the years. Take a look.

NHLer Derek Boogaard Found Dead

Source: James Keivom/News

Really sad new coming out of Minneapolis today. New York Rangers forward Derek Boogaard, 28 was found dead in his apartment last evening and the cause at this time is unknown. Boogaard who had just signed a 4-year contract with the Rangers at the start of the 2010 season was considered one of the toughest fighters in the NHL. At 6"7 and 260 lbs he was an intimidating force on the ice and often took on the other teams enforcers. This season Boogaard was limited to only 45 games due to injury. In December he suffered a shoulder injury during a fight and then experienced concussion-like symptoms during an off-ice work out and never returned to the ice for the rest of the season.

Lightning Sweep Caps 4-0. Are the Caps Done?

So the Tampa Bay Lightning whipped the Washington Capitals in their Eastern Conference semifinal round. I'm not even sure which is the bigger story; the Lightning sweep or the Capitals loss. Yes, I know it's been four years since the Lightning made the playoffs and they had a great season and now they knocked off Ovie & Company in four straight games (not an easy task), but I'm thinking long term ramifications. Where is the bigger impact? I'm thinking the answer lies with the Washington Capitals.

Verlander Joins Exclusive No-Hit Club

Over the weekend, Justin Verlander threw the second no-hitter of his career. Verlander was brilliant in throwing 108 pitches, 74 for strikes and allowing only one walk en route to a 9-0 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.  In 2007, Verlander tossed his first no-hitter against the Milwaukee Brewers.  According to Baseball Reference.com he ties  twenty other pitchers since 1919 to throw two no hitters. Nolan Ryan is the all-time leader with seven no-hitters, followed by Sandy Koufax with four and Bob Feller with three.