The best hockey commercials EVER, …and how we MIGHT be seeing more of ’em, sooner than we think

The commercials are at the bottom of this post. But if you’ll allow me just a moment, I’ll explain what got me thinking about ’em in the first place.

As a lifelong fan of all things hockey, I’m well aware that it’s the black sheep of the United States professional sports “family”, viewership-wise. To illustrate, the NBA’s playoffs ratings are destroying the NHL’s right now; it’s not even close. Even the NFL draft (the freakin’ draft?!?!?) crushed the Boston/Montreal Game 6 Semifinal in the ratings by a 5-to-1 margin.

And this has been the trend, unfortunately. Heck, the first two games of the 2012 Stanley Cup Finals (both nationally broadcast on NBC, by the way) got soundly thrashed by RERUNS of the following programs: ‘Dogs In The City’, ‘America’s Funniest Home Videos’, ‘Secret Millionaire’, ‘America’s Got Talent’, ‘Grimm’, ‘2 Broke Girls’, …and a rerun of the rerun of ‘America’s Got Talent’.

Yikes.

That’s the difference between getting beat …and getting a beat-down.

And yet, both the league and the sport are positioned for success, perhaps now more than ever before.

It’s back: the NHL Winter Classic!

We were denied the opportunity to see it last year, but thankfully it’s back. And if you haven’t seen this event before, you owe it to yourself to watch.

It’s gonna be special, especially with having skipped a year.

Even if you’re not a hockey fan, …try it.

Just once:

Patriots: “Boston Bruins fans and our National Anthem”

All of us were horrified by the Boston Marathon Bombings, but there was little that we could do here to shed any new light on the situation. The coverage has been wall-to-wall, major news agencies have gotten stories completely wrong, and others have predictably used the situation to push their preconceived agendas.

None of it will do anything to fill-in the holes in people’s hearts, placed there by villains’ bombs. None of it will help a loved one, a city, or a country, heal.

It’s Frozen Four time, which means …I’m outta here!

I’ll be away for a few days, as one of my best friends and I make our annual hockey pilgrimage to the NCAA Frozen Four.

***It’ll be broadcast on ESPN2, just in case you’re interested.

So, I have enlisted some assistance to pick up my slack while I’m off having fun. The other head, GBL, will obviously be around (thanks, Sis!!), and our regular Guest Noggin’, PGH, will be back, too.

How the NHL managed to screw-up one of the ONLY good ideas they’ve had recently…

As a public service, I thought I’d remind everyone what we SHOULD have seen on New Year’s Day:

The NHL Winter Classic.

And now let’s discuss WHY we won’t get to enjoy one of our best, and most unique, sporting events in 2013.

A ‘Quick’ Highlight Reel

This blog doesn’t do sports…usually. But, since the Stanley Cup Finals are going on right now (Game 3 is tonight), this could arguably fall under the “News – General” heading.

Plus, I love hockey.

My Bruins aren’t in it this year (*sniffle*), but the LA Kings are trying for their first cup ever and find themselves up 2-0 over the Devils, going into tonight’s game. The Kings’ surprising success is largely due to the incredible performance of their goalie, Jonathan Quick. Quick is having a career year, and some of his saves have been head-shakingly good.

Even if you’re not a hockey fan, this video gives you some of his best ones from this year in just under 4 short minutes. Just think how impressed your co-workers will be when you tell them that of course you knew that in the playoffs so far, Quick has a 1.44 GAA (goals against average) and a 9.47 Save Percentage.

And suddenly, you’ll be living in a little town called “Instant Sports Guru”, …population: YOU.

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