HOCKEY: Edmonton at Carolina

I'm doing this against my better judgment. I'm doing this because I pledge not to mention the words "NHL hockey" here for the next 4 months.

Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals is today's One To Watch.

I haven't really followed the NHL playoffs this year. I don't think it was the strike that lost me. There are broader problems that prevent me from getting enthused about hockey. Many of them are similar to why I feel soccer in America isn't cool. But hockey also has 2 bigger issues.

Firstly, most players aren't even from the US. Don't get me wrong: I enjoy the contributions of foreign athletes to our national sports. I love rooting for a Dirk Nowitzki or Ichiro Suzuki. However, when American boys are comprising only 25% of a roster of an American team, I'm going to tire of pronouncing names like Edmonton goalie Jussi Markkanen before too long. Secondly, the older I get, the more I realize that I can't even see the damn puck most of the time. Ice hockey simply moves too quickly for television. I don't think there's a remedy for this either. And that's why hockey will continue to pack local areans with rabid fans, but lag behind eating contests in Nielson ratings.

Back to the game at hand. Edmonton is trying to become only the 2nd team to win a Cup after trailing 3-1 in the finals. That would be impressive by any standard. Since I'm not properly informed to analyze the talent, let's focus on who to root for: the USA or Canada? Need I really say more? The state of North Carolina has never won a major pro championship. It didn't even have a top-level pro team until the 1990s. Meanwhile Edmonton has won many titles with hockey legend Wayne Gretzky. Therefore I say go Hurricanes. Just stay away from Florida later this summer, ok?

My pick: Carolina. Lord Stanley can sample some BBQ and take in a NASCAR race while visiting Carolina.

So that's what I'll be watching today - Will Edmonton complete the comeback and win another Stanley Cup or will the American South again prove to be the home of ice hockey in June?






What will you be wacthing? The NHL? Or do you prefer something a little lighter on ice, such as Olympic Silver Medalist Sasha Cohen?

UPDATE: Carolina wins. And Big Daddy hits 2 daily picks in a row. The curse of TOTW is over before it even began! And the Stanley Cup stays in Dixie....Tampa, Carolina....hmmm, do I see a championship in the city of Atlanta's future???