New readers and some HOCKEY

It's exciting to hear that I'm gaining readers every day. Loyal readers like Chad Gray are the perfect example of why I write this blog. These people need to read my thoughts to get their necessary entertainment and sports knowledge for the day. Thank you, Chad. You've given me the encouragement I need to keep chasing my dream of becoming a sports writer. I'm just as encouraged as a drunk man trying to jump a campfire or trying to climb to the top of an old barn. You've shown me that it doesn't matter whether people like me or not. I'm getting my words out there for the people who desperately need it.

Now that I have that out of the way, let's talk about some huge news in the National Hockey League. Canada will be getting a franchise back, or at least that's what it's looking like. Jim Balsillie, the multi-millionaire CEO of Research in Motion, has made a $212.5 million offer to buy the flailing Phoenix Coyotes and move them to southern Ontario. 

To be completely honest, it's a move that makes all the sense in the world. The NHL would move a franchise from the desert and into a hockey haven near Toronto. It's clear that hockey doesn't work in Arizona. It's a wonder that they've heard of the game. Canada, however, is the best country in the world for the game... obviously. 

My only question is: Why move teams away from Canada in the first place? There have only been two franchise relocations from north of the border to the states and one has worked out with the Nordiques becoming the Avs of Colorado. However, moves from the states to the north are 1 for 1 (Atlanta Flames to Calgary). Now the talk of moving the Coyotes back to their original home in Canada has me very excited. 

Now, another question arises. Where does Balsillie move the team? He wants to move it to southern Ontario to Hamilton. This would be the best fit, in my humble opinion. Others have opposed it by saying Winnepeg should get their team back and that Hamilton is too close to Toronto. It would be like having a team in Los Angeles and Anaheim... oh, wait. It works.

Well, what about Kansas City? They deserve a team, don't they? Well, just be patient. The Islanders seem to be a good possibility for you. Especially with the Sprint Center as a very nice venue. I went to see the Blues play the Kings there during the preseason and was quite impressed. It still amazes me that KC is lacking a hockey team.

Finally, one last problem must be addressed. How do you re-align the divisions? If you take the Coyotes out of the west and put them in the east, that means a team from the east must come west. If the Islanders do make their way to KC, the problem is solved. But since that isn't the case (yet), we have the dilemma of what to do with the empty spot in the Pacific Division.

Easy. Move Atlanta to the Western Conference and have them fill the vacancy that the Coyotes left. Then rename the division to the South Division. Then move Pittsburgh to the Southeast and have a nice divisional rivalry between the Pens and Caps. Then have the Coyotes join the Atlantic. Done.

That hockey talk got me all worked up, but I must keep going for the readers out there like Chad. This one's for you.

So, time for the daily question: Kobe, LeBron, or Dwight Howard? Who's the most marketable?

More posts coming soon...

I'll be talking about my new readers along with the new NHL team in Canada and what it means for the rest of the league... Stick around.

More soccer today

Some people have really forgotten what sports are all about. Especially soccer. Soccer has a stereotype of being a sport suitable for the typical 8 year old girl. Not to mention the hooligans that follow the team and wreak havoc among other fans. That's Hollywood for you... thanks, Green Street Hooligans (it really did help me to like the Hammers and hate M*llwall, though). 

Well, I was reminded of the importance of just getting together and playing a nice pick up game on an open field (pitch, for those across the pond). I walked up to Stankowski Field here at ol' Mizzou looking to play a game. I chose my Ireland national jersey for the occasion and came across all three of the fields taken. I set my bag near the fence behind a goal and just watched the games going on with hope that I would soon be able to get a chance to kick the ball at the net for a while. To my right, I saw about six people speaking spanish and kicking a ball in a circle while looking at the same field I was looking at. A game was about to happen. To my left, four Russians walked up with a ball. Alright, a soccer match with some international flavor here. This was more exciting than the time I played the stunt double for Tom Hanks in Apollo 13 (cue Family Guy clip). Not to be outdone, a man by the name of Ohse walked up and started a nice conversation about school and his home country Ghana. 

It was at this time that field one opened up. I turned to the six guys kicking the ball around and said "¿Quieres jugar?" They said yes and a nice 7 on 7 game was about to be underway.

There wasn't a good amount of skill on the field, but it was still a game. I mean, what else is going to bring together 6 men from Mexico, 4 men from Russia, and 2 men from Ghana and America? Sports is the easiest answer. Soccer brings people together. For those that don't know or haven't heard, in 2006 for the World Cup in Germany, the Ivory Coast stopped their civil war and came together as one nation to cheer for their first ever team to qualify for the world's biggest tournament. They STOPPED their CIVIL WAR. That's what sports can do. It was on full display yesterday during that game and I was happy to be a part of it.

I should probably get back to this history lecture now, so I'll just leave you with a random question today: If you're in a rush to get to work in the morning and need a quick breakfast, where do you stop to eat?

Let's say hello to some Champions League Soccer

Well, this is my first of hopefully thousands upon thousands of blog entries in my journalism career. Let me start off by telling you a bit about myself. My name is Steve Schenck and I'm a journalism major at Mizzou with a minor in Spanish and I am currently working on a minor in theatre. So, what am I going to do with such a diverse degree you may ask? Sports writing. Yeah, they don't offer that at any school, so I'll have to stick with what I listed above. 

I'm a die hard fan of the St. Louis Blues and hockey in general.I post on the stltoday forums as tigerman550. I also love playing and watching soccer (football for those across the pond/fútbol para los países de habla en español). I'm also a fan of the Cardinals and I follow the Red Sox. Ok, that's enough about me. I don't have any credentials, but I hope to soon change that.

For those that haven't heard (America, that's you), the second leg of the UEFA Champions League Semifinals start tomorrow with Manchester United facing Arsenal at 1:45pm CDT. The gunners are down 1-0 in the aggregate, but hope to move on and face the winner of the Barça/Chelsea match up (aggregate at 0-0). In all honesty, I'd rather see Manyoo or Arsenal face Chelsea in the final to set up an all EPL championship because my view of Barcelona hasn't been the same since the Miami MLS fiasco. I don't know why I don't like them. I just don't. 

The real final I want to see is Arsenal and Chelsea. Arsenal reminds me a lot of my St. Louis Blues hockey club as far as the injuries are concerned. Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger made a total of eight changes to the lineup after the first leg of the semis at Old Trafford due to the injuries of defender Mikaël Silvestre and leading scorer Robin van Persie. Sounds like Andy Murray changing his lineups a bit, doesn't it? The story would be great if Arsenal could come from the 1-0 deficit and win the Champions League. I'd have a lot of fun watching that. I also like the Heineken ads with the choir singing "Champions!!!" after every great beer moment. It looks so cool on tv that so many people have probably tried it and made complete morons of themselves. Nothing is ever as good in real life as it is on television. That's why we have stupidity.

Anyways, I want to see Arsenal win. I want to see them overcome their injuries and make the finals in front of their home fans. I want to see them take it to Chelsea and hold that trophy high in the air. You know why? Because it gives me hope. It helps me keep that fiery passion alive for my Blues. I think of all the fans that have waited so long for something and have never given up. I want that feeling that the New York Rangers had in 94 when they won the cup. The feeling of finally getting something you've wanted forever. That would make me feel so amazing. Just think of the moment that Harold and Kumar finally took their first bite of those delicious, steam grilled White Castle sliders. I want that. And Arsenal winning would hold me over for the moment. So will some Extreme Buffalo Wing Pringles and a Pepsi (I hope I get some compensation for all the product placement, too).

Finally, I'm going to leave you all with a question of the day in each entry: What is your own most cherished moment in sports history?

- tigerman550