Hockey Has Made A Comeback

Back in the day, I LOVED hockey.  Spending some time just north of Detroit as a kid during a time when I was old enough to start forming my own favorite teams and given the fact that the Red Wings were awesome naturally they were my favorite team.  I can remember watching the greats of the day during games and cheering on Sergei Fedorov and Steve Yzerman.  I followed hockey loyally until the strike of 2004-2005 and then I lost interest.  Part of the reason can be attributed to the fact that I no longer lived near Detroit so I didn't have the every day coverage that I was used to and part of the reason can be attributed to the fact that I was playing college football at that time as well so my time was committed more to watching game film rather than TV.  But I think the main reason was I was just over it.

Now I am not going to pretend that I know all the ins and outs of their negotiations but the fact is they all make millions of dollars and they should have been able to come to an agreement that was fair and equitable for everyone without losing a season.  I understand that everyone needs to be paid and those players in the NHL are able to do things that most humans cannot and deserve to be compensated for that and the team owners deserve to capitalize on that as well.  However, you cannot tell me that it takes almost a full year to reach an agreement when both sides are looking at it with an unselfish view that is fair and realistic for everyone.  It's one of the reasons that I hate Major League Baseball, but that is a different post.

The details of the lockout are in the past and not what this post is about.  As most of you know the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs are happening now and one day I decided to give hockey another try and I was hooked almost immediately.  I am hooked into every game and love the non-stop action that hockey provides, watching these playoff games has reminded me of why I loved hockey in the first place.  I am really excited for next season to get back into following hockey and this season isn't even over yet!  But that leaves me with one major issue.  What team do I follow?  Do I have to go back to the Red Wings from my youth just because they were my team once upon a time or do I have the unique opportunity of choosing a new favorite team without being considered a band-wagoner?

Option 1:  Go back to the Red Wings.  I admittedly have not followed them recently so I don't know any of the players or if they are even that good of a team any more but they were my team once-upon-a-time so now that I have decided to get back into hockey do I have to take them back as well?

Option 2:  The Pittsburgh Penguins.  For those of you that know me, the reasoning for this team is obvious.  I love penguins.  So why not choose the team that has a penguin as a mascot?  Sidney Crosby isn't a bad reason either.

Option 3:  The New York Islanders.  Much like when I originally chose the Red Wings the Islanders are my true hometown team.  I grew up in New York so it would be logical to choose a team from New York to cheer for.  Now, I know what you are thinking, "what about the New York Rangers?".  Well, to understand that, you have to understand the generalities of New York fans.  Generally, if you like the JETS you also like the Mets and the Islanders and if you like the Giants you also like the Yankees and the Rangers.  If I hate anything in this world it is the a-typical New York Yankees fan.  I cannot stand to even be around the Yankee fans that are "die hard" and so proud of their world championships but cannot even name their starting center fielder.  If you don't know the players on your team, you are not a fan.  That's getting off point, back to the Islanders, they are a solid option and one to certainly be considered.

So, what is a guy to do that wants to rejoin his long-lost friend in iced excitement once again?  The one thing I know for sure is hockey, at least in my mind, has made a comeback and I cannot wait... Now, just what team to call my own.

I have lots of opinions.  You may not agree with them, or may want to argue with me about them, and that is perfectly fine!  Even encouraged.  These are thoughts that are "just in my mind" that I have decided to put down in words as well.  Feel free to comment on any post or take it to twitter and follow @JustinRolfes.

The Big Miss

So... I did it.  I bought Hank Haney's book "The Big Miss" and I am extremely excited to start reading it.  I, like everyone else, have heard all the controversy surrounding the book so I am excited to see if there is any truth to it or if it is all the ramblings of people who would rather judge first and gather facts later.  My gut feeling, Hank's book will provide a unique look into the mind of one of the greatest players to ever play the game of golf and will have a pull no punches approach to his thoughts on Tiger and his game.  Have you read it?  What were your thoughts?  Ill post updates as I reach certain parts in the book to see if my gut feeling is right.

Many people have said that Hank Haney crossed a line by writing the book, I don't agree.  Hank has every right to tell his side of the relationship and put into words the memories that were created in his time with Tiger.  Why should he have to keep those private if he chooses not to?  It is not like Hank is giving everyone the secrets that have made Tiger so good for so many years.  If Hank was trying to pull back the curtain on the Wizard of Oz or give a how-to about some illusion from David Copperfield, I could understand the backlash a bit more but he is simply talking about the time he spent with Tiger and as I fan of both of them, I want to know as much as I can.

I choose to buy the book because I appreciate what Hank Haney was able to accomplish with Tiger Woods and as a fan of the game of golf I want to see how they prepared each day for the important moments in their careers and this book gives me the rare opportunity to see aspects of what it takes to be great that most people wont get the chance to see.  I'm excited to begin reading the book and see what all the hype was about, justified or not.  

I have lots of opinions.  You may not agree with them, or may want to argue with me about them, and that is perfectly fine!  Even encouraged.  These are thoughts that are "just in my mind" that I have decided to put down in words as well.  Feel free to comment on any post or take it to twitter and follow @JustinRolfes.

Why Bobby Petrino got fired and what it means for Bo Pelini

With all the recent happenings across both professional and college sports I have heard a lot of people discuss why Bobby Petrino got fired for having a mistress and Ozzie Guillen got a "slap on the wrist".  First of all, Petrino got fired for much more than having a mistress, he gave her $20,000 and a job in the athletic department and most importantly, he lied about it all following his motorcycle accident.  He not only made the mistake of having the affair but then compounded the mistake by trying to cover it up and keep it under wraps.  Ozzie Guillen's comments, while not appropriate, do not justify a firing.  It is important to listen to what he actually said and not take it out of context.  He said that he respected Fidel Castro for being able to stay in power for so long, not the way that he went about it or the ways that he runs the country but for being able to stay in power for so long.  Respecting someone for having longevity in a position is not wrong, is this the best example that he could have used, obviously not and it should not be swept under the rug either but nor is it grounds for firing.  

Now, back to Bobby Petrino and the new head coaching vacancy.  It has already been rumored that Nebraska Head Coach Bo Pelini is a candidate to fill the vacancy and I can already sense Husker Nation's wheels spinning.  First of all, take a deep breath and realize the true situation.  First of all, typically with a surprise firing or a high profile coach like this was there typically is not a short list of replacements so the fact that Bo Pelini's name is being thrown around means absolutely nothing and is pure speculation.  Secondly, Husker Nation should be proud that their coach is being considered for another high profile coaching position, not threatened by it.  It shows that you have a quality coach that other programs wish they had.  I'll be honest, the head coach at the University of Nebraska is a great position... and this coming from a Hawkeye fan... you should be able to trust that their are not many positions in line ahead of the one that Bo Pelini already has.  I realize it is a job in the SEC and an attractive one at that but is Arkansas a step up now that you are in the Big Ten??  I don't think so.  The Huskers are consistently ranked in the top 25 and continue to attract top tier recruiting classes, it is a good place to be and a place where Bo has history and roots.

So take a breath Husker Nation and at least wait until official candidates are announced to begin to look for a replacement coach.  I don't think Bo Pelini is going anywhere but then again, that may be just in my mind.

The Masters Recap

And exhale.. The best week of golf is over.  And what a week it turned out to be!  Masters week is always fun, there is so much nostalgia on the line, forget about the money, you want the green jacket and the opportunity to call yourself a Masters Champion.  Now, Bubba Watson can.   As a huge golf fan I have grown to really like Bubba.  You have to respect a guy who not only plays on the PGA Tour but wins on tour and has NEVER had a swing coach, nothing but his raw talent and creativity.  Some of the shots that he can carve are down right unthinkable for most players. Bubba is to shot shaping what Lefty is to wedge play.

In my opinion, what Bubba is as a golfer is nothing compared to the person that he his.  Now, I don't know him personally but from all the interviews and articles I have seen and read about him I think I know enough about his character to make that statement.  In the biggest moment of his professional career, he wasn't thinking about himself, but rather his family.  His father who was undoubtedly watching from above, his wife and new son watching from home, he is able to keep perspective amidst an onslaught of emotions and keep his values, faith and family above all else.  I truly appreciate that.  You do not find that very often in professional athletes anymore.  I think he represents the game of golf the way it is meant to be represented and did so at a place where the game of golf has a storied and documented history.

Now, lets change the subject from the high of the tournament to one of the lows.  Tiger Woods.  Not the play of Tiger Woods, who was expected by many to win the Masters, but the actions.  Let it be known, I am a Tiger fan.  What he has been able to accomplish to this point in his career is truly remarkable and he still has many years left to improve upon it.  After his win at Bay Hill, everyone who was so quick to jump off the bandwagon when times got tough was just as quick to jump back on and claim Tiger's success' for their own.  Now, I cannot begin to try to understand the psyche of a man who was raised to be a phenom, and full filled the prophesy, but his actions at the Masters (and previous other tournaments) is simply inexcusable.  There is a tremendous amount of pressure on him as an athlete and even more sets of eyes waiting for his next failure.  However, his 3-year-old-like temper tantrums do nothing but embarrass himself and the game.   The one thing I do understand about Tiger Woods is his competitive nature, I don't care if I am playing a football game or go fish, I want to win and it bothers me if I don't but you have to be able to keep everything in perspective and understand that everything happens for a reason and you need to learn from it and grow from it and move on to the next one.  That is something that Bubba displays perfectly, evident by the audio captured after an errant tee shot that landed in the trees when Bubba said "...I killed it though", finding that ever present silver lining.

This year's Masters was one of the more exciting tournaments that I can remember, everyone was so close together and unlikely leaders emerged.  That is one of the things that makes golf such a great sport, it doesn't care what you have done in the past, what your name is or where you come from, it only cares about the shot you just hit and how you are going to make your next one... but then again, that may be just in my mind... 

Welcome

I have lots of opinions.  You may not agree with them, or may want to argue with me about them, and that is perfectly fine!  Even encouraged.  These are thoughts that are "just in my mind" that I have decided to put down in words as well.  Feel free to comment on any post or take it to twitter and follow @JustinRolfes.

You will find a little bit of everything here but mostly I will be talking about the things that interest me, after all, it is my blog.  So, what are the things that interest me you ask?  First off, my family, some are close, some are far and some are no longer with us but all of them have influenced who I am today so don't be surprised if a story or two comes out.  The rest of my interests can really be summed up in one word, sports.  I love sports, any level, any game.  Now, certain sports do attract more of my attention over others, in particular, golf and college football and really anything having to do with the Iowa Hawkeyes.  I realize some of you will want to close out of this window at this point, but don't worry, I pay attention to more than just Iowa and at the very least I think you will see I am not only open minded but realistic as well.  Nothing drives me more crazy than "fans" who can not see any level of reality.  I'm sure we will talk more about them later.

I grew up all over the US, living in 9 states so far, spending the most time in Brewster, NY.  Now, I am putting down roots in Omaha, NE with my wonderful wife Sammie (I'm sure we will talk more about her later too ;)) and our two golden retrievers, Jack and Oakley.  I played almost ever sport I could growing up and through high school including golf, basketball, baseball, lacrosse and football which I played at both the DIaa and DII level at Stony Brook University and the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

I look forward to the discussions and arguments to come, don't forget to hit me up on Twitter too @JustinRolfes.