The Good, The Bad, The Ugly – January 20th

Damn it was a good weekend.  Not really personally. I don’t think I actually left my house.  That’s okay though.  Between the NFC & AFC Championship Games, the NHL, and basketball (both NBA and college), I didn’t need to.  I was satisfied just sitting on my couch.  Anyway, enough about my exciting social life, what actually went down this weekend?

The Good – Sports Chaos – When most people see the words chaos and sports together they don’t associate it with something good.  I disagree; well unless it’s a soccer hooligan riot (that’s just funny).  Chaos gives fans something to talk about and makes social media websites entertaining.  This weekend I was treated to not just one act of chaos but two.

Two seconds into Saturday night’s Flames/Canucks game a line brawl erupted that would make Reggie Dunlop proud.  Well 8 ejections, 188 penalty minutes, and 19:58 minutes later the real fireworks began.  Canucks coach John Tortorella, still pissed that Flames coach Bob Hartley started his fourth line, tried to go through the Flames to get into their locker room.  Torts was stopped by the Flames Brian McGrattan, and almost got his teeth knocked out by goaltending coach Clint Malarchuk.  Oh, I forgot to mention this game was televised nationally in Canada as part of Hockey Day in Canada (as if Canada needs a dedicated day to celebrate hockey), so it was for all to see.  Torts’s episode resulted in an absolute media frenzy, and it’s probably not going to end well.  He is in New York today meeting with the league and facing discipline.

I know Torts is taking a lot of heat for his actions, and frankly he did go too far, but he was doing what he could to stick up for his club.  Hartley is a world-class jerk (no I don’t know him, I’m basing this on his actions, both past and present), and by starting his 4^th line or “goon line” (as ESPN refers to it), he baited Torts into starting his 4^th line, knowing it would piss him off (he did tell his players the Flames were starting their “Idiot Line”).  Hartley may be an asswipe, but he’s not stupid.

On to Richard Sherman…  He spun television gold after last night’s NFC Championship game.  In case you missed it, Erin Andrews approached him right after the game to get his thoughts on the Seahawks victory over the 49ers.  Instead of giving the standard cliché bullshit he chose to go the WWE route (if you watch the video Andrews looked both scared and disgusted):

“I’m the best corner in the game! When you try me with a sorry receiver like Crabtree, that’s the result you’re going to get. Don’t you ever talk about me!’

After this little gem occurred my Twitter timeline went Chernobyl (dated reference).  Some of the tweets were pretty funny, but a majority of them had an appalling tone.  People need to relax.  He was pumped up because his team is going to the Super Bowl.  It’s funny how fans complain that players are indifferent, but once someone does show some emotion, he’s an asshole.  Come on…  And before people start thinking he’s a classless thug because he’s a big black guy with dreads, remember he’s a Stanford graduate.  Are you?

  

Sherman had a few more interviews where he didn’t feel the need to hulk-out, but they all had one common theme.  He’s not a fan of Michael Crabtree.

Honorable Mention – Peyton Manning – 400 yards and 2 touchdowns in the AFC Championship Game

The Bad – 4^th Quarter of NFC Championship Game – Yesterday’s NFC Championship game was one of the best games I’ve watch this season.  It was a tightly played game, where both teams fought hard.  Heck, it pretty much came down to one play.  Even so, the game was three solid quarters and one quarter of crap.  The 4^th quarter consisted of four turnovers (three by the San Fran), a gnarly injury, and a terrible officiating call (how could you lay on the ground holding the ball, then not get possession?!?!).  The final turnover can be forgiven (the Sherman tip in the end zone), but the other three were just sloppy play by two normally disciplined teams.  As for the injury, I hope NaVorro Bowman makes a full recovery.  Knees aren’t supposed to bend that way.

Dishonorable Mention – Wes Welker - Dirty hit on Aqib Talib in the AFC Championship Game

The Ugly – Devan Dubnyk – When I heard the Oilers traded Devan Dubnyk to the Predators for Matt Hendricks, I was happy.  Not because I’m a Hendricks fan (he seems like a tough sonavabitch, but the jury is still out), I hate Dubnyk.  You’d think by his frame (6’5, 210lbs.), he’d be the big goalie everyone wants.  No, he’s an abortion.  Saturday night he made his Predators debut and I was interested to see how he fared with an actual defense in front of him (Shea Weber anyone?).  Well as it turns out he began his Nashville career just how he finished his Edmonton career; TERRIBLE.  Dubes allowed 5 goals on 29 Avalanche shots as the Preds fell 5-4.  Dubnyk is now 11-18-2 with a 3.42 GAA and a .892 Sv%.  Keep up the good work Devan.

Dishonorable Mention – Edmonton Oilers – Allowing their league-high 9^th shorthanded goal against the Jets

What were your good, bad, and ugly from the weekend?  Drop me a line at gimmeasign@gmail.com.  Follow me on Twitter @JayPlatt to see my current Flyers/Islanders tweets.