We can't handle the truth

Loved the BIG win by Seattle this weekend. What an entertaining game to watch and it came down to the wire! 

I just read an incredible article by a Sportsnet magazine writer named JordanHeath-Rawlings ‏@TheGameSheet To view his blog post click here: Sherman, Subban, and hypocritical fans. 

I think he's right, we are hypocritical. We get mad at Sherman for not just letting his play do the talking. Media are shoving microphones in his face after his big play. We want a real, honest, opinion. Then he says this and people are upset. Who's shocked by what he said? Not me. 

Is it that we can't handle the truth? I'm tired of watching games where they ask stupid questions to players & coaches like "What are the keys to winning the game?" And their reply is something like this, "If we score more goals/points more than our opponent we got a good shot at winning the game" ??? 

And we wonder why players give these kinds of stupid answers because they are being asked stupid questions. Also if they do say what they really think they are judged, insulted, and possibly fined.

Love or hate these people at least they are entertaining: Allen Iverson, John Tortorella, Don Cherry, Deion Sanders, Terrell Owens, Brian Burke, Rex Ryan, Shaq, etc. It sells magazines, it good for blogging, it's hilarious to share their video clips on Facebook and Twitter, etc

I'm not promoting arrogance or trash talk but what I'm saying is at least they are being honest and real. Yes, what Sherman said in the interview with Erin Andrews was over the top. 

Yes, when Sherman was trying to shake Crabtree's hand was it insulting, had history (supposedly he tried to shake his hand before & it lead to a confrontation), and was at an inappropriate time. Yes, Sherman calling Crabtree a mediocre WR is over the top and untrue. 

Granted what Sherman said publicly on the national stage is exactly what Crabtree has been saying publicly too.  And Jordan Heath-Rawlings made this exact point. 

Some might recall the time Sherman taunted Patriots quarterback Tom Brady on Twitter after a Seattle victory over New England, dropping a “U Mad Bro?” onto a picture of him yelling at Brady. Sherman received so much criticism that he deleted the tweet.

Mostly forgotten was what that tweet said: “(Brady) told me and (Seahawks safety) Earl (Thomas) to see him after the game when they win…”.

So Brady talks trash on the field, Sherman responds where everyone can see it and the sports world...

No one criticizes Brady for his trash talk. People don't know that Tom is a big trash talker. Plus he's probably responding to other trash talk. 

People recently were sharing this article on Kaepernick and Wilson. I like what Kyle Terada (USA TODAY Sports) had to say about Colin Kaepernick's arrogance & NFL celebrations. 

Don’t get me wrong, I think it is perfectly find to celebrate after a touchdown. I even believe the league has taken away some of the fun in that aspect of the game. But, the way Kaepernick went about his mocking of Newton on Sunday was unacceptable. In fact, it reminded me exactly why I have such a high amount of respect for Wilson and, well, not too much for Kaepernick
Read more at http://www.rantsports.com/nfl/2014/01/13/cocky-colin-kaepernick-should-take-notes-from-russell-wilson/?pb58vHjr27Y04CoE.99

Russell Wilson is complimented and rightly so, but Sherman is also on the same team and until yesterday wasn't too criticized. What's the difference between Sherman and Kaepernick? Not much, if any. 

I don't mind a little trash talk. But I have found that people can dish it but rarely can handle it when it's given back. Fantasy sports is fun to have a little banter but we got to be careful that it's not over the top or personal. That's when it isn't fun but hurtful. 

Probably my favourite trash talk clip is Roy vs Roenick. 2 rings in my ears? It think it's hilarious and clever. 

My title of my blog wreaks of arrogance, I could be wrong but I doubt it. It's more of a joke than it is arrogant. We are all entitled to our opinion and I'm making fun of that truth. I'm poking fun that everyone thinks they are right. 

When my wife and I disagree it's hilarious. When she knows she's right she stops arguing, finishes the conversation, and walks away confident that I'm wrong and sure she's right. I, on the other hand, love to make sure I share all the facts to prove my point. The difference is, I think I'm right and she knows she's right. And most times, she's right. haha

Maybe we can't handle the truth because we were wrong, we lost, or we weren't good enough on that day. 

I could be wrong but I doubt it...haha

Are we going to win gold?

Are we going to win gold? This is the question we need to answer. Steve Yzerman and crew are under the gold pressure. And we should not lose because we are stacked. We are good enough to make 2 teams. 1^st world hockey problems! Haha So are we going to win gold? Well we have a great chance. But we need to remember that the world has caught up and they aren’t going to just let us win without a fight. Think about Russia for example, they could have a top line of Ovechkin, Datsyuk and Malkin!

But today Team Canada announced their roster and we knew there would be tons of feedback and no matter who they selected and didn’t select not everyone would be happy. 11 players who played on the 2010 Olympic Gold Medal team are returning and we have 13 newbies. 

Overall I’m happy with the team but I’m a little miffed about some who made it and didn’t. Here are my thoughts:

Goalies:

Luongo, Price, and Smith. I’m happy with this trio. I think Luo and Carey are no brainers. Smith is the one who people are questioning. Mike Smith is a very good goalie on a very average hockey team. Without Smith the Coyotes would stink. On this team it makes perfect sense to add Smith. But the bigger question is if not Mike Smith then who? Harding? No. Fleury? Come on…if we want to let 5 goals in a game. Maybe Crawford but he’s so young but like Fleury he won a Stanley Cup.

Who’s starting? I think either Price or Luongo are good enough to win it all. But it sounds like it’s Luo’s job to start.

Defense:

Doughty, Keith, Weber and Pietrangelo I can’t see anyone arguing about. So who’s going to be the next 2 who actually play? Subban should be there for the power play but then it’s going to be someone solid defensively like Bouwmeester, Vlasic, or Hamhuis.

The guy that should of made this team is Letang…why is he not on this roster? He’s one of the elite D in the NHL. But who should not be here…the most obvious answer is Hamhuis but we need some stay at home D that can help block shots and pass it to our scoring forwards.

Forwards:

Crosby, Tavares, and Toews are going to be great C’s. I love it that Getzlaf, Sharp, Stamkos, Nash and Perry on are the team. Super pumped about the young guns too in Duchene and Benn. I like that Bergeron can play on the penalty kill and is a solid faceoff guy. The guys that people are questioning are Knutiz and Marleau. And I would add Carter. All 3 of these guys are talented but I would have rather seen St.Louis, Giroux, and Thornton or Taylor (I can’t believe I’m saying this) Hall.

Martin St.Louis is going to be in the NHL Hall of Fame and he can’t make Team Canada??? He’s made for the intentional ice with speed, quickness, and tons of skill. TB has no Stamkos and they are still winning games because of St.Louis. Giroux is more talented than those bottom three. He had a slow start but Giroux is on fire now. And if it’s a decision of Marleau or Thornton it’s Thornton and not close. After 43 games, he’s leading the NHL with 43 assists! Regarding Taylor Hall I have been on recorded to say the Oilers made a mistake not taking Seguin 1^st overall. I was wrong…Hall is the better player, plus he’s a much needed LW.

Line Combo’s:

And the debating will continue but what intrigues me more is who’s going to play on what lines. Obviously the management thought it would be wise to keep line mates on the roster. So it could look like this…

Line 1 LW Knutiz, C Crosby, RW Stamkos

Line 2 LW Sharp, C Toews, RW Tavares

Line 3 LW Nash, C Getzlaf, RW Perry

Line 4 LW Duchene, C Bergeron, RW Carter

Def 1 Weber, Keith

Def 2 Doughty, Subban

Def 3 Pietrangelo, Bouwmeester

But if I was in charge this could be my fwd lineups.

Line 1 LW Duchene, C Crosby, RW Tavares

Line 2 LW Sharp, C Toews, RW Stamkos

Line 3 LW Knutiz, C Getzlaf, RW Perry

Line 4 LW Benn, C Bergeron, RW Nash

Man, it’s fun but difficult to come up with proper line combos. It could be totally different…and if Stamkos isn’t healthy and they bring in St.Louis and what if Carter gets hurt and they replace him with Giroux

Line 1 LW Nash, C Crosby, RW St.Louis

Line 2 LW Sharp, C Toews, RW Tavares

Line 3 LW Benn, C Getzlaf, RW Perry

Line 4 LW Duchene, C Bergeron, RW Giroux

But if I were Steve Yzerman I would have had this lineup as the one going to Sochi, Russia:

Line 1 LW Stamkos, C Crosby, RW St.Louis

Line 2 LW Sharp, C Toews, RW Giroux

Line 3 LW Tavares, C Getzlaf, RW Perry

Line 4 LW Duchene, C Thornton, RW Nash

Oh Canada! One only can dream…isn’t this lineup better than what we got?

Of course I could be wrong but I doubt it.