Penny pinching

My search for what the next year of my life will bring continues. And as it does, I come to a sad realization: I have no money.
This is quite unfortunate. It really limits what I can do here in Charlotte and elsewhere. I prolly was a little too much of a free-spender in college, and I now have no cash in-flow. Parent's money and RA paychecks were nice during college. Those are now gone. Thank goodness for graduation money.
So, spending a lot of time doing free activities and looking for part-time work. Might sell myself over to FedEx for a while just to make some change as I wait on some long-term possibilities.
Those? Teaching English in Japan, a sports related job, a job in a law firm (in that order, with 2/3 all but tied), or, the rank outsider, a job in the journalism industry.
Each of these has its advantages and disadvantages. Unfortunatley none will be making me a ton of money any time soon. With Japan the leader, and with a job offer from a Japanese school that sadly does not pay incredibly handsomely, I am left to save up money for a potential plane flight and a first month there in which I'll have to support myself pre-first pay check.
Adds up to a pretty uneventful summer. But things would pick up when I land one of said jobs, I'm sure.
The search continues.

The 6 In 16

This is long…and the last lengthy sports diatribe for a while, as there are some other matters to attend to. But hopefully this will be a pretty darn good tribute to the ‘Canes. So if you’re interested, bear with me.

After 2 months of playoff competition, the Carolina Hurricanes are the team to hit the magic number of 16 wins that yields that big, shiny trophy.

And it is this number, 16 wins, that is the real definer of the great accomplishment that is winning the Stanley Cup. Yes, Game 7 was a great game and seeing the ‘Canes win the Cup was a truly amazing moment, but the real accomplishment is not victory in this one game but surviving the grinding, nail-biting race that is the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

At times, it did not look like the moment with the cup would come for the ‘Canes. Yet, throughout the playoffs, the ‘Canes responded to adversity with the guile of the champions that they rightly are.

Here are the 6 moments that defined the ‘Canes run and really, really helped bring the Cup to Carolina:

#6- HURRICANES 3, DEVILS 2 (OT) GAME 2, CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS

I had the pleasure of attending this game. Heading into the game, I didn’t like our chances. We had beaten Jersey 6-0 in the opener and I knew the Devils were too good, especially in net, to accept this beating lying down.

Brodeur was as advertised in this game, making spectacular save after spectacular save. Then, Jersey took a numbing lead 20 seconds from the final on a deflected goal.

People cleared out of the row in front of me, anticipating that the game was lost and the series tied. Yet, the ‘Canes found a way to equalize three seconds from the gun, when Eric Staal slid one under Brodeur’s pads.

After Niclas Wallin added the winner (with his skate, but they count the same) in overtime, fans poured out of the RBC roaring. A certain loss had been turned into a spectacular win.

More importantly, the win showed the ‘Canes were both capable of playing outstanding hockey and pulling out the big goals and the crucial wins when needed. This game, more than any other, was enough to convince me the ‘Canes could win the championship.

#5- HURRICANES 3, OILERS 1 GAME 7, STANLEY CUP FINALS

Low down the list for the clincher, mainly because it lacked some of the pizzazz of other games.

However, three things stand out from the final game: the Hurricanes resilience after being absolutely blown out in Edmonton in Game 6; the ability of bit players (see Aaron Ward, Frank Kaberle and Matt Cullen) to come up huge; and CAM FREAKIN’ WARD.

The first factor is the most important. Many counted the Hurricanes for dead after Game 6. Instead, the ‘Canes came out hitting, scored in the first 90 seconds, and carried the play for the next 40 minutes, until that goalie dude finished it off.

#4- HURRICANES 4, SABRES 2 GAME 7, CONFERENCE FINALS

Justin Williams should be named “the Finisher.” Williams scored the game and series finisher in both this game and the Oiler finale, as well as taking out Koivu in the Montreal series (albeit accidentally).

The key to this one was a great 3^rd period, yet another characteristic of the ‘Canes championship team. Trailing 2-1, the ‘Canes picked up goals from Williams, Dougy Weight and the captain, Rod Brind’Amour, who put in the game-winner.

Stanley Cup Finals, here we came.

#3- HURRICANES 4, SABRES 3 (OT) GAME 5, CONFERENCE FINALS

After a spectacular Game 4, Martin Gerber and the ‘Canes defense were a step off in the first 25 minutes of this one. As a result, the Hurricanes trailed on the scoreboard 3-1 and Gerber was pulled from the game.

As in Game 2 of the Montreal series, Ward entered and the game instantly changed. In that game, the deficit proved to be too much to overcome as the ‘Canes fell 6-5 in double overtime (an honorable mention even in a losing effort). Here, the two goal margin was nullified by Recchi and Brind’Amour second period strikes. Ward then denied Afinogenov and Hecht on potential game-winners, setting the stage for Cory Stillman’s overtime power play winner.

This was an essential victory…a loss would have put the Hurricanes on the verge of elimination returning to Buffalo, an unenviable situation. It showed the Hurricanes ability to rally on home ice, where they finished 10-4 in the playoffs and a sparkling 10-2 in their last 12 games. It also showed the Hurricanes ability to get crucial goals and to prevent the opposition from getting them.

And on that note…

#2- HURRICANES 2, CANADIENS 1 (OT) GAME 3, 1^ST ROUND

You can’t win the Stanley Cup, a so-called journey, until the journey begins with the first win. And the Hurricanes run to the Cup was birthed on this eve, the night of the ‘Canes first win of the playoffs.

The biggest key to this night was, without question, the emergence of Cam Ward. In his first start in eons and his first career playoff start, Ward was every bit the Conn Smythe winner that he would prove to be. If not for him, the Hurricanes would have trailed by at least 3-0 in the game and by the same mark in the series…a death knoll for any team. As impressive as Ward’s saves were on Horcoff in Game 1 and Pisani in Game 7 of the Cup Finals, his best may have been glove robberies of Komisarek and Riberio in this one.

On the other end of the ice, the ‘Canes disappointed through 40 minutes before playing an excellent third period and overtime that resulted in the Brind’Amour equalizer, some well-drawn penalties and a Staal lazer in overtime from the point that won the game.

It was only the first of 16 wins, but without it the others could not have occurred. Had Cam Ward not been as spectacular as the ‘Canes need him to be in this one, the cup would almost certainly not have been hoisted in Raleigh, but instead in Edmonton, Buffalo or maybe even Montreal.

But thankfully, he was, and that did not have to happen.

#1- HURRICANES 5, OILERS 4 GAME 1, STANLEY CUP FINALS

Oiler boss Craig MacTavish said his team did not lose the Cup Finals in Game 7. And he was right. The ‘Canes seized control of the series in this game and never lost it, despite the looks of things in Games 5 & 6.

This game had all of the above elements rolled into one. A STERLING GOALTENDING PERFORMANCE. Ward may have given up four goals, but it would have been five or six or seven if not for robberies of Horcoff and denials on many of Edmonton’s 38 shots. RALLYING ON HOME ICE. The Hurricanes caught bad breaks and played poorly in falling down 3-0, but overcame this to pull off their biggest come-from-behind victory of the playoffs. GETTING THE BIG GOALS. The Hurricanes did not panic in falling behind 3-0, but instead waited for their opportunities and capitalized with patience and precision.

<>To win a series when you are not overmatching a team, you usually need to steal a game you shouldn’t win. This was the theft for the Hurricanes. The Oilers tried to rally, and they almost pulled it off, but this victory was more than big. In the end, it won the Hurricanes the Stanley Cup.

The Hurricanes were dominant at stretches of this season, including an early season run that saw the ‘Canes lose ZERO games in regulation in 5 weeks and a January revival when they lost just one game in 14 attempts, and.

The team tailed off towards the end with the division clinched, Erik Cole injured and with Gerber ailing. This carried into the playoffs, including the brutal 6-1 opening loss to Montreal that I had the pleasure of attending.

Cam Ward came in in Game 2, providing a necessary dominant backstopping presence, veteran additions Recchi and Weight combined to replace Cole and jelled with the team, Staal and Brind’Amour and many, many others combined to provide the crucial goal every time the Hurricanes needed it, and the ‘Canes took home Lord Stanley.

Expectations weren’t exactly high when the Hurricanes opened up against the defending champions in Tampa way back in October. Then again, they never really had been for a franchise that had never really had much success hopping from Hartford to Greensboro to Raleigh. Even when success came, as in the 2002 Stanley Cup run, it was followed by an awful season in 2002-2003 in which the Hurricanes plummeted to dead last. But with shrewd moves over the course of the next three years, a great team was eventually assembled. When this team combined spectacular playoff performances with wizardry in net, the Carolina Hurricanes, yes, the Carolina Hurricanes, were the Stanley Cup Champions, and a new hockey power had emerged.

And nothing could be finer.

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS!!!!

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And don't it feel amazing. The Hurricanes have captured the Stanely Cup for the 2005-2006 season, beating the Edmonton Oilers 3-1 and 4-3 in the series.
MASSIVE postscript/salute to come. As for this evening, my predicted hero Cullen may not have scored a goal, but he was all over the place in picking up 2 assists, including a HUGE play keeping the puck in the zone that lead to the Kaberle game winner. Also huge kudos to Erik Cole, who drove to the net and drew the penalty on Spacek that lead to the aforementioned goal just seconds later.
And CAM WARD. What more can be said? Well, more will be said tomorrow, but the kid is amazing. Makes no mental mistakes and consistently makes outstanding saves. This may not be the last Cup celebration at the RBC with this kid in net the way he's going.
More to come.

Relentless...

...and whatever it takes. The two slogans of the Carolina Hurricanes run to the Stanley Cup. Both could not be more in line with how the 'Canes should approach Game 7 Monday. Badly outplayed the last 85 minutes of action in this series, it's time to turn the tables and give it every last ounce left in the collective tank and do whatever is needed to get a win and that big jug.

My prediction? The 'Canes respond, as they have done all season. For only the second time all series the 'Canes get the first goal of the game and add to the lead before holding off the Oilers to the tune of a 4-2 final. Matt Cullen scores a big goal. Which would be overdue, Cullen hasn't scored since beating Martin Brodeur on the backhand a month and a half ago.

That's enough predictions though. PLEASE WIN 'CANES. I've had to deal with enough teams choking close to a championship...actually having one win something would be nice.

A night that coulda been better

Sticking with sports since my hockey team is competing for a little jug that some Canadian governor donated 114 years ago.
Some say a sporting series does not begin until one team wins in the other's arena. I disagree. For example, the Hurricanes/Devils series didn't begin when the 'Canes won Game 3 in the swamps of Jersey, the first road victory for either side in that series. The 'Canes had a 3-0 lead as a result, and the series did not begin, it was OVER. Jersey put up a nice fight in Game 4, but fell as all teams that fall behind 3-0 do, with the exception of the greatest chokers of all time the New York Yankees.
Thus, I propose a new theory, kinda like those man-law dudes that sit around making stuff up: A series does not begin until both teams win in the other's arena. To cite the Jersey example, the series certainly would have been on had Jersey won Game 5 in Raleigh and taken the series back to Jersey for Game 6.
And this is what we have in the Stanley Cup Final. The 'Canes fell at the RBC Center for the first time since May 20th, losing to Edmonton 4-3 in overtime, and must now deal with the loony eskimos up in northern Alberta once more .
The problem with this game is the 'Canes did not sustain a level of play worthy of finishing off such a gutsy and, I'll admit, talented team. The first period was great from an effort and performance standpoint...yet the 'Canes trailed 3-2 at the first intermission thanks to some well-taken Oiler goals. Ales Hemsky was once again at the center of the Oiler attack, scoring one goal and assisting on the other, and surely will be one of the top players in the league sooner rather than later. The 'Canes, and few other teams, have a match for his speed and skill. Ward had no chance to stop his lazer to knot the game at 2.
After this, the 'Canes really tailed off. An equalizer did come but the Oilers won most of the 50/50 battles and threw their bodies around, taking Aaron Ward and Doug Weight out of the game for brief points. Then the Oilers came out ready to play in OT, bombed away and burned our defense-deficient power play for the first short-handed overtime goal in the history of said cup.
Shock at this goal was palpable. I could do nothing but raise hands to head and stare at the screen, which seemed to be the par-for-the-course reaction at the RBC as well. A power play that had been doing such an amazing job of putting the puck in the other team's net for 3 consecutive series was picked apart. This indeed was a night that coulda been better.
A greater sense of urgency and higher levels of performance from top players will be needed to finish this team off. If this not occur, this newborn series could become quite tenuous quite quickly.

The joy of sport

Formal introductions will come soon enough, but let's get right to the business of today.

Why? Well, when the hockey team you have followed through thick and (mostly) thin and the soccer team you've rooted for for years finally both hit the big stage at the same time, it's worth talking about.

Those teams? THE CAROLINA HURRICANES of hockey and the NHL and USA SOCCER of the World Cup.

Interestingly, this is not the first time these two teams have played in their highest competitions at the same time. In fact, two of the highest moments in the history of both organizations occurred within a 12 hour time period in 2002...as on the evening of June 4 the Hurricanes beat the Detroit Red Wings 3-2 in overtime to take a 1-0 series lead in their only previous trip to the Stanley Cup Finals (it would prove to be their only win), and in the early morning hours of June 5 (yeah crazy Japan/Korea times) the US MNT beat Portugal by the same score.

Both results were colossal upsets. Today, the same would not be said were the Hurricanes to defeat the EDMONTON OILERS or the USA to knock off the CZECH REPUBLIC, even though the Czechs entered the game ranked #2 in the world.


Here was the good, the bad and the ugly from these 2 teams performances:


'CANES 2, OILERS 1
After struggling through the better half of the first 3 games of these Finals, Eric Staal finally made himself heard tonight. Staal set up Mark Recchi for the game-winner late in the 2nd to provide the 'Canes with the winning margin.
Edmonton really missed their chance to put the 'Canes away in the first period. The Hurricanes were whistled for four consecutive penalties over a 6 minute, 19 second stretch, yet the Oilers failed to add to the 1-1 score. The Hurricanes, meanwhile, needed just 12 seconds of power play action in the 1st to get a marker, coming off the stick of red-hot Cory Stillman. The Oilers have now scored just one power play goal all series in 25+ chances.
Edmonton's offense continues to fail to impress. Though they did send some menacing scoring opportunities towards Ward, shots from the point (are there any other kind with this team?) missed the net and passes failed to connect. As a result, in the last three games they have beaten Ward (who is no Vesa Toskala, nor no Manny Legace, for the record) just thrice. Going back further, the Oilers have only scored more than 2 non-empty net goals in 7 of their last 10 games. That, my friends, is not a good offense.
The 'Canes, meanwhile, did an excellent job of making good scoring chances out of their opportunities...another thing they have done all playoffs that has been overlooked. You can't be a bad offensive team, or even an average offensive team, and take out the likes of Montreal, Martin Brodeur and Ryan Miller. Truth be told, this could have been a 3-1 or 4-1 game if not for some strong goaltending from Oiler back-up Jussi Markinen.
All in all it was a pretty blah game, with only 20 shots per side and few, if any, moments that would classify as memorable. Yet, when you are one win away from the Stanley Cup, as the Hurricanes now are, it's hard to get too picky about how the wins come.
I refuse to write the Oilers off, or mention the names of some of their offensive stars that have disappeared, because invariably right when I do that the Oilers will catch fire (there is a long history of jinx here) . Nonetheless, with the 'Canes returning home, I like our chances.

CZECH REPUBLIC 3, USA 0
Eh boy. Time to take a turn toward negative town.
I will say this, it has been a lot of fun watching the World Cup. Games have been highly competitive. Even when you thought a blowout would occur, like Angola/Portugal or the complete shock that was the T&T/Sweden draw, it didn't. Teams have largely been playing at high levels too, perhaps best represented by Argentina/Cote d'Ivoire, which was played at a level befitting at least a World Cup quarterfinal, if not better.
All these positive elements were not true of today's US game. A blowout did come, and it was the hands of the US of A.
I won't bother with tactical errors or the line-up ( although Eddie Johnson and/or Clint Dempsey better start against Italy) . What I find amazing at this team looked so unprepared. Bruce Arena & staff have known they would be playing the Czech Republic in the World Cup for just over half a year...yet the Czechs looked like they were putting on a clinic out there.
I have always had a problem with the fact that the US lacks realisitc competition against the powers of the world outside of the World Cup. Yeah, Tony Kornheiser rants about how the US' #5 ranking is largely the byproduct of whipping up on the Hondurases of the world, but he's partially right. The US just does not see World Cup quality competition on a regular basis.
The best way to offset this would be to schedule difficult friendlies in the build-up, but the US did not, choosing instead to play minnows Morrocco (who we lost to, btw), Venezuela and Latvia, all at home. Mexico on the other hand, a team the US is level with and that it beat in the '02 World Cup, chose to go to Europe and play France and the Netherlands. They won neither game, but they sure as heck looked a lot more ready to play in their opener than the US did.
Thankfully all is not lost. I did not think it was possible that the US could beat the Czechs, so in reality only one point was lost from the afternoon. Italy is a much more ideal match-up...for reasons that will be spelled out later this week. I think a win is possible Saturday...especially if a fire is lit after this disaster.
Hey, it's still even possible the US could win the group and avoid Brazil if they win out and CZE/GHA and CZE/ITA end in draws...two results I also feel are not entirely out of the realm of possibility. The team just needs to realize and put their best foot(ball) forward on Saturday.

That's way too much for now. But welcome to the blog