Quick Hits V

I've got quite a few things on my mind so it's time for another edition of Quick Hits!

First, the Olympics are over after two weeks of very good action. I thought that I didn't like the Olympics but it's really just the figure skating I can do without. We saw some amazing highs including Apolo Ohno becoming the most decorated Winter Athlete in U.S. History and team Canada winning the hockey gold on their home soil. I would have rather seen Team USA win, but if they couldn't do it, I'd rather have it be Canada than anyone else. We also saw some lows including the death of the Georgian luger just a day before the games started and the horrible attitude of some Olympians including Evgeni Plushenko complaining about the judging in figure skating. All in all, I enjoyed the game this year.

Next, the NBA regular season is starting to wind down and we find the Cavs and Lakers still battling for the home court advantage throughout the playoffs. The Cavs won both regular season meetings with the Lakers so they hold the tie breaker as well. The Cavs just learned that Shaquille O'Neal will have surgery on his thumb that will most likely shut him down for the rest of the regular season. That shouldn't be too much of a problem though as the Cavs have a fairly easy schedule down the stretch with just two games against San Antonio and single games against Boston and Orlando (both home games) that stick out as possible pit falls. My playoff preview and predictions will be out in April when the seeds are set.

MLB's Spring Training is underway and games get underway later this week. A ton of players were on the move this offseason and you can read an in-depth season predictions article over at http://headsortailsdebates.blogspot.com that I write with my buddy Jason Kaminski. My predictions for the Indians will be coming soon but I wanted to at least wait until a few of the Spring games have been played to decide just how bad this team will be. I really hope I'm wrong and Manny Acta is the savior we've been waiting for but I'm not too optimistic.

March Madness is almost here too! I love the tournament. It's one of my favorite sporting events of the year. Three weeks of hopes, dreams and upsets. There is really nothing like it. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like the defending National Champion Tar Heels are going to make it to the dance. It's been quite the disappointing year for them and Roy Williams can't wait for the season to be over, it seems. I'll have predictions for the tournament in the next few weeks as well!

The Hockey regular season can resume now too. In the Eastern Conference, three teams (Tampa Bay, NY Rangers and Atlanta) are all within two points of the eighth playoff spot. The West is even more congested as five teams are within five points of the final spot in the playoffs. It will be interesting to see how the Olympic players come back from the tournament, whether they are energized or tired. All I know is that I can't wait for the NHL playoffs!

I went to Bowling Green this past weekend and got to see the men's Hockey team beat the #12/13 Michigan State Spartans 3-2 in a shootout. What a game! Bowling Green has struggled all season but have been putting up great fights in their last few outings heading into the CCHA playoffs. They are looking good at just the right time as they head to Omaha to take on the Mavericks of UNO. I like the Falcon's chances. While I was at the game I got to meet BG Alumni and member of the 1980 Miracle on Ice team, Ken Morrow. Awesome experience!

I think that covers things for now but I will be back soon with all those previews I've promised!