Welcome to the new Binge SportsCast! After our previous host, Luke, departed after giving us valiant service for 23 years, we finally found a couple CSers to fill the hosting void. Enter PJ and TM. After much discussion and planning, the boys recorded a show to give the lay of the land, talk about what teams their sport hearts lie with, and some current events.
This isn’t a 19 hour long BingeCast, but the boys did want to hit the ground running with this show, so let’s consider this episode, Episode 00.
Now in our regular spot, I start off the show by going on a little, okay maybe a big fucking rant about random fans and their inability to actually see what’s happening on the television screen. I might come off like an asshole, but hey, what else is new? The rant really came about due to comments I saw over the weekend about the Mayweather vs Pacquiao fight from Saturday night. Seriously folks, watch the fight again. The fight wasn’t even close. But which side am I on?
Kupka joins me for his take on the fight and goes on his own little rant on how people spend their money. After possibly going a little long on boxing, we get into the NBA Playoffs while watching Bulls/Cavs one minute apart. We talk the other three series as well before getting into the Stanley Cup Playoffs. We talk all series and conclude with some Blackhawks talk (shocking, right?)
I’m digging where the show is going, so just do me a favor and check it out. Let me know what you thought and where you come out on the opening of the show. Follow Kupka on Twitter @jekupka, and catch up with me @THElukenorris and of course, you can always get the latest updates @BingeSports. Enjoy.
Last week, I wrote an entire column basically describing how fan boys are assholes and try how they might to ruin a film for you before you even see it. It is almost like they say ‘I know. I will put down (insert movie title) because (insert person anticipating it) is really looking forward to it.’ It is a real ineffective way to live your life and if you are one of these types of people, please stop reading this and any future columns of mine right now because you are an asshole.
However, even with how hard people work at convincing you a new film is not up to your entertainment standards, sometimes our own worst enemy when it comes to watching movies is ourselves. Specifically, our own vested anticipation. How many times have you anticipated a movie for months, sometimes years, only to have the date creep up on you and you walk out feeling not nearly as fulfilled as you thought you would? It is something each film fan has experienced at least once in their lives. But why is it that we find ourselves even in that position? What are our own personal standards of how a film can be classified as personally life-changing?
I feel it is quite a number of things, mostly what kind of personal baggage we bring into each movie. Let me get the two most obvious examples out of the way quickly. One of my most memorable childhood film going experiences involved going with my father to see Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. With hardly an eye on anything other than all the times I watched Raiders of the Lost Ark on our just acquired cable network HBO, I walked in only knowing that hero Indiana Jones would probably crack his whip a lot. Seen back to back with Gremlins in a soda floored movie theater in Fairfield California, I was transfixed on each new situation Indy found himself in, and I can safely say the darkness of this film also made me fall in love with the horror genre. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, while not as life changing, was another fantastic film going experience. This time I was 12 years old and walking into a movie theater with a friend, and for the first time I was without a parent in a movie theater. I loved how the movie turned into an entertaining farce with some family values and an obvious love for history thrown in for good measure.
Flash forward to January 2008. I had just started my three year sabbatical in University living, and while surfing the net doing research for a paper, something crawled across my screen that made my eyes light up like a Christmas tree: New Indiana Jones Trailer. The way this trailer, titled Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, integrated old Indy adventures with new footage of him falling into a truck backwards and punching the driver & its passenger chilled me to the bone. It was something I watched many times, sending it to my Myspace (yep) friends at the time and even showing my father, who was also smiling from ear to ear afterwards. I then went to a screening, which I was invited to thanks to the site I was working for at the time, and walked out….well, I don’t know how I walked out of there. Dejected is not the right word. Neither is angry. In fact, it still holds the record for the most conflicted I have ever been after seeing a movie. I ended up giving the movie a fairly decent review, and took my brother to it on opening night, almost holding my head in my hands saying out loud, ‘what was I thinking?’
Looking back, I have no idea what I expected. Nearly twenty years after Last Crusade, Ford was still Indy. He was still using his whip and shooting his revolver. But in between all the swinging with monkeys and bad guys getting decimated by CGI ants, the charm and sheer wit which drew me in was missing. Now when I watch Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, I find myself halfway enjoying it. Is it the least of the films? Absolutely. But I can watch it now and think that it was not nearly as bad as I thought. In fact, my father and I had a real fun time watching it the week it came out on DVD. The anticipation for that movie changing my life like the previous two got in the way of me actually enjoying it. Did it make me love horror and want to explore history? No. But hardly any film has that kind of impact on anybody, so what the hell was my problem the first time?
And then there is 1999’s Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. Now, I have already been on record in various columns and podcasts saying I do not hold Phantom Menace, or any of the Star Wars prequels, as far deep in the barrel as most. But starting in 1984, when I read in People Magazine that George Lucas wanted to tell Darth Vader’s backstory, I was already counting down the days. By the way, if there was someone on the cover of People whom I wanted to read about, I would always beg my mom to get it for me. This particular one had, who else, but Indy. Anyway, Lucas already started the wheels in motion, and by 1997, when the original trilogy was re-released to theaters with brand new scenes, the anticipation was at an all time high. Working at a grocery store, I would scour the magazine rack looking for anything on Star Wars. I would spend hours looking on Star Wars sites. Years. Months. Weeks. Days. Of course, the question once again comes up: what the hell was I expecting? Another Empire Strikes Back? Another series of Ewok scenes? The Darth Vader mask to be the final shot of the film? No idea. Yet, when I got tickets for my father and I, we walked in that theater, and the familiar Star Wars theme blasted the speakers. It was almost magic. Yet when the movie ended, I walked out and once again declared, ‘what happened?’
I see and enjoy all three of the prequels for what they are. I won’t go into the reasons for that here. But I honestly believe the main reason people have such disdain for them, notably Phantom Menace, is because they were expecting the highest of orders. They were expecting to see everything that made one of the best villains in history tick within one film. They also were not expecting the senate hearings, and things which eventually led to the Galactic Empire being built from the ground up. Are the scenes boring? Sure. But what someone brings into the film in anticipation of it has almost everything to do with why they hate it. And of course, they were not expecting Jar Jar. Yet as I have already outlined many times, I do not hate it.
Of course, I have many examples of these instances happening to me in which I DO fully understand the reasons why it did not live up to my anticipation. James Cameron promised a movie which would change the way movies were made in the years and months leading up to Avatar‘s 2009 release. But was it all for the better? I have watched Avatar a grand total of one time since it left theaters (I saw it two times in that capacity, both in 3D) and none since. Rewatching the movie without the experience of living in Cameron’s 3D world is a downer. The story is completely lackluster, and there are certain times I would argue that some of Cameron’s dialogue would wilt in comparison to even Lucas’s. But in looking back, was there anything more to expect from the man who had never been known as a smart dialogue writer? Not really, I guess. But in Avatar I anticipated a movie I had not seen a hundred times before in less expensive (and much better) features before it.
The 2010 remake of A Nightmare on Elm Street was another film which went on my radar the moment it was announced. Freddy Krueger was a character that, despite only being a few steps up from a poor hapless chap getting his heart ripped out in Temple of Doom, forever cemented my love for horror. But it is no secret that after an admittedly enjoyable part IV, the series quickly went into a downward spiral, until eventually being bookended by a remarkably shitty and pretentious movie called Wes Craven’s New Nightmare. So when Platinum Dunes announced they were moving ahead with a remake, I found myself getting incredibly excited. Even the first film, in watching it now, falls apart at the seams after the midway point. So how about a dark take on a character which has the potential to be one of the scariest in history? Put notable character actor Jackie Earle Haley in the fedora, and you have a winner. Right? RIGHT?!
I guess if I had a movie going experience similar to those people who say they hate Phantom Menace had, it would be this one. Not as much a remake as a stilted piece of shit and rehash of old scenes using computer graphics as opposed to practical effects, A Nightmare on Elm Street 2010 just stomped all over any sort of anticipation I may have had. Why turn the character of Freddy Krueger from a scary scar-faced entity…to a muppet-faced scumbag….is baffling, and how epic a fail director Samuel Bayer and producer Michael Bay pulled off with this remake is beyond words. Thank God there was never a sequel to squash any more dreams I had of seeing a good Freddy movie ever again.
So what is it about anticipation that gets us where it hurts? I don’t know. What I do know is that if the outside world doesn’t get you, your very own anticipation will. Just once, I would like a movie to sneak up on me. With so many cinematic influences out there, many of which are mentioned above, and social media making it harder and harder to do so, it is looking like an unending battle to once again find that lightning in a bottle.
What are some of YOUR most anticipated letdowns?
Manny Pacquiao vs Floyd Mayweather Thoughts
I know this column is already way over worded and the great Luke Norris is waiting with baited breath to get his thoughts on it out there. But I thought my feelings on last Saturday’s fight, the most anticipated in decades, kind of echoes the theme of what this entire column has been about. I felt from the beginning that this fight was held five years too late. That being said, even though I really had no dog in the fight, I still thought there was potential for it to be even better than anticipated. Coming in, all people said is that no one could take it to Mayweather like Pacquiao could. And the only way Pacquiao would have a chance is if he did exactly that, and not let Mayweather pile on points and run.
Yet, there was always the solid chance that Mayweather would not let that happen. So after paying $89.95 to see Mayweather lose, people are now calling him a coward for fighting like he did and winning like he has for 90% of his fights. Even though he has done it almost his entire career. So I will say it again: What did people expect? I better take this moment to say that as someone who did not have to pay as much to watch it, I guess my thoughts are kind of stilted.
Afterwards, retired boxer Oscar De La Hoya took to Twitter criticizing Mayweather for running like he did (even though De La Hoya did the same exact tactic in the later rounds of a 1999 fight after he thought he had Felix Trinidad beaten by points), Mayweather bragged about making $100 million on the fight, and Pacquiao made himself look even worse by saying it was a shoulder injury which prevented him from fighting like he wanted to. The funniest part of all this is that the shoulder injury will probably make Pacquiao pursue a rematch, people will still pay out of the bank to hopefully watch Mayweather lose, and the only people who lose are those aching for a big money fight to be entertaining. And then the A word starts all over again.
In what is seemingly the busiest time of the year in sports, we press on this week with a ton to get to. The NHL and NBA Playoffs are gearing up for their respective second rounds, and I’ll have the Stanley Cup Playoffs preview ready to go for you tomorrow (just waiting on Detroit v Tampa Bay to finish up tonight). We’ll have to see what happens over the next few days with the NBA Playoffs, but expect to see that very soon as well. We’ll also have a brand new episode of the Binge Sportscast for you next week, so I think it’s safe to say that I’m staying busy and watching and listening to a ton of sports to make sure I keep you, and myself, updated on all the happenings during this crazy time of year.
As for today, let’s focus on a few of the other major events happening over the next few days.
THE BALTIMORE SITUATION
Okay, so this may not be a major sporting event, but Wednesday’s game between the Baltimore Orioles and the Chicago White Sox will make history. While it’s happened in the minors on a few separate occasions, a major league baseball game has never been closed to the public. That streak ends today. Due to the unrest in Baltimore following the funeral of Freddie Gray (not touching that part of the story), Major League Baseball made the decision to postpone the first two games of this series (which will be made up in a doubleheader on May 28), but will go ahead with the finale, albeit in front of zero people.
In an email to the Associated Press, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred wrote: “All of the decisions in Baltimore were driven first by the desire to insure the safety of fans, players, umpires and stadium workers. Only after we were comfortable that those concerns had been addressed did we consider competitive issues and the integrity of the schedule.”
If there is a humorous aspect to this story, the Orioles also announced that they’re moving their weekend series with the Tampa Bay Rays from Camden Yards down to Tropicana Field. So you’re telling me that the Rays will actually outdraw somebody in attendance? In front of that raucous Rays fan base, the Orioles will play as the home team.
NFL DRAFT
I hope you didn’t come here expecting to see another mock draft. If that’s the case, then you’ve come to the wrong place. Besides, I think between Kiper and McShay, there’s probably about fifty versions floating around right now. Look, I get it. The NFL is king in this country. There’s no disputing that. The ratings let me know that. The revenue lets me know that. ESPN Radio certainly lets me know that. Seriously guys, there are so many more things to talk about that people want to listen to. Maybe that’s just me, but spread it around a little bit. I know that it’s early in the baseball season, but there’s already some great stories going on. The NHL has the most exciting playoffs, yet they’re getting barely a few minutes during a three or four hour show depending on which one you’re listening to. Come on, how many analysts do we need to discuss the difference between Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota? I think I’ve got it by now. I think I had it months ago. Okay, the rant may have gotten out of hand.
I see the allure of the draft, but it’s just really not for me. With that being said, I will admit that I did watch a bit of the first round last year with the hope that Johnny Manziel would sit there all night without being drafted. I know it can be exciting if your team drafts some good players, but until actual games begin almost four months from now, color me mostly disinterested.
THE 141st KENTUCKY DERBY
I’m not even going to attempt to pretend that I know a ton about horse racing. I don’t. Yet every year there I am in front of a TV waiting for “The Greatest Two Minutes in Sports”. And it actually only takes two minutes (take notes last two minutes of a basketball game). I do enjoy watching it, but I will not insult those of you that may follow it by giving you a preview that I’ve read on another website by actual experts on the sport. But I still want to give you something, so I’ll just go with another fan vote. Post positions for the 2015 Kentucky Derby will be drawn tonight, but I did go to Bovada and get the odds as of right now. There are a few days between now and the race, so a few of these are certain to change, and there’s always the chance of a late scratch, but as of last night, here are the odds. Just take a guess. That’s what I do.
[yop_poll id=”235″]
FLOYD MAYWEATHER v. MANNY PACQUIAO
It’s finally here! Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know we live in an MMA world these days, but as one who still enjoys and respects the art of boxing, I’m excited for the fight on Saturday. Sure, it may be a few years too late, but let’s be honest here. These two men are still two of the best boxers in the world. In the latest pound-for pound rankings from Ring Magazine, Mayweather is number one and Pacquiao is number three. So let’s just stop all the talk that these are two has-beens with nothing left to offer.
Yes, it’s true that boxing has fallen from grace and there are problems within the sport that need to be addressed. First of all, there’s just too many champions these days. I remember the days when winning a title truly meant something. It signified the struggle of fighting your way through the ranks for years and years to finally earn a title shot. There’s just too many agendas right now. I know that sports is a business. I get it. But if you take away some of the integrity, then you’re going to lose viewers and fans. That’s exactly what’s happened to boxing. Instead of focusing on the fighters, they’ve put sole focus on the number of pay-per-view buys. I do applaud the networks for bringing free boxing back to prime time. I hope that this trend continues and visibility for some of these up and coming fighters can grow. That’s a big part of the problem. Nobody knows who these guys are. Sure, we know who Mayweather and Pacquiao are, but only because they’ve been headlining pay-per-views for fifteen years.
Were you aware that the heavyweight championship was defended last weekend at Madison Square Garden? I didn’t think so. Well, it was. Wladimir Klitschko defended his five heavyweight crowns (told you it was too many) as he pounded Bryant Jennings to defend his WBA, IBF, WBO, IBO, and The Ring championships. Were you even aware that this fight was taking place? Probably not, and that makes me sad. I remember the days when a heavyweight title fight was must-see television. Seriously, if there was a Tyson fight coming up on a Saturday night, you made sure you found a place to watch it. Even when he wasn’t involved, you found somewhere to watch Holyfield-Bowe or Holyfield-Lewis. It was just something you had to see. The problem in this country right now is the shortage of great American heavyweights. That problem may be on the mend as Deontay Wilder may be getting a title shot early next year. He currently holds the WBC Heavyweight Championship (I know, another one), but really is one of the hardest hitters in the heavyweight division, as evidenced by his 33-0 record with 32 of them coming by way of knockout. If certain decision makers would have scheduled correctly (and promoters could get out of their own way), they would have made it a point to put this guy on the undercard to get him some visibility. That’s an issue. There is an American who is technically a heavyweight champion and nobody knows who he is. Find a way to make people care about somebody that’s not the two guys in the ring this Saturday night.
Speaking of that, I suppose I should get to my thoughts on the main event. I guess I’m in a ranting kind of mood this morning, but it does upset me when I sport I truly love is making no serious effort to save a sport with such a rich and storied history. But enough of my rambling. Let’s get to the fight.
This has the potential to be a really beautiful fight. I know that the casual boxing fan tunes in for the knockouts, but these two are not knockout artists. Mayweather and Pacquiao are boxers. They rely on footwork, speed, and defense to win a lot of their fights. Look at Floyd Mayweather’s record. He’s 47-0, but he only has 26 knockouts. Sure, he can knock you out, but he wears his opponents down. His ability to counter is simply unmatched in this era. That’s how he wins. He waits for you to make a mistake, and then capitalizes on it. Say what you will about “Money” and his big talk, but he backs it up. He’s won titles in five divisions and has been the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world for a long, long time.
In the other corner, Manny Pacquiao is the first and only boxer to hold titles in eight divisions. He currently has a record of 57-5-2 with 38 knockouts, but again about the KO, he hasn’t scored a win that way since stopping Miguel Cotto in 2009. Like Mayweather, Pacquiao wears his opponents down. His defense isn’t quite as good, but he really knows how to get the job done. Ask Chris Algieri, who was knocked down six times as he lost in November in Pacquiao’s latest bout.
I’m sure most of you know, but this fight was originally supposed to happen in March 2010, but complications in the negotiations led to the fight never taking place. The biggest roadblock back then was in Pacquiao’s refusal to submit to drug testing, which led the Mayweather camp to accusing “Pacman” of using banned substances. Defamation lawsuits were filed and the fight that boxing fans wanted and the sport needed was put on hold. Negotiations were to start up again a few years later, but back-to-back losses by Pacquiao put a stop to that. He lost a very controversial decision to Timothy Bradley, which was an absolute joke (and made up for during the rematch), and then he just got caught in his fourth fight with Juan Manuel Marquez. But that last loss was two and a half years ago, and Pacquiao seems to be back on track with wins against Bradley, Brandon Rios, and Algieri. As I mentioned, Mayweather comes in on a little 47 fight winning streak, the last two coming against Marcos Maidana, the first of which is one of the only times he’s looked halfway beatable.
So, I suppose you want my prediction. I’ve got to go with Mayweather here. Don’t get me wrong, I like Manny Pacquiao. But if you’ve really watched Floyd fight, then you realize he doesn’t have a lot of weaknesses. Pacquaio is also not as strong as he was five years ago. I don’t think the southpaw thing really bothers Mayweather at all. He’s adapted to every fighter he’s ever been in the ring with, so I expect to see nothing different on Saturday night. Both fighters have been claiming to be looking for the knockout, and they actually might be, but I certainly won’t be expecting that, especially early in the fight. The extra energy that comes with a fight with this much hype may take its toll, but I’d be really surprised if either man lets himself get caught. You know Pacquiao certainly doesn’t want that embarrassment again. I just think Mayweather’s ability to counter is something that Pacquiao might not be able to handle. In my opinion, that’s what wins the fight for Floyd Mayweather. But hey, I’ve been wrong before. So you tell me, how does this fight go down?
[yop_poll id=”230″]
That’s a lot of big events in just a few days, Is there one you’re looking forward to more than the others? Who does your team need to draft? Who’s winning the Kentucky Derby? Can Pacquiao be the guy to take down Mayweather? Let me know below or follow me @BingeSports and/or @THElukenorris on Twitter and let me know what’s on your mind. Keep checking back in as we’ve still got the NHL and NBA Playoffs going on and I’ll be with you for every single series. Until next time.
Welcome to the start of another busy week here at Binge Media. We start things out this week with another episode of the newest addition to the podcast family, the Binge Sportscast.
Thanks to all those who downloaded and listened to the premiere episode this past Wednesday. We do now have a plan to run this show bi-weekly, basically alternating with the Gamecast. But there’s also a plan to run this type of show, the wrestling version, every Sunday that WWE has a pay-per-view. So at least now you know when to catch up with us for the Sportscast.
As far as this episode is concerned, Batch and I get into all things wrestling. Batch talks the indy circuit and really gets into the Ring of Honor show heading to Toronto in a few weeks. We talk a little Global Force and TNA as well.
From there, we talk a little bit about the awesome documentary on The Iron Sheik, and then we get into a full breakdown of what we thought of Wrestlemania. To close, we fill you in on the matches for Extreme Rules and our thoughts on those as well.
The show ran a little longer than we expected, but hey, it was worth it. It’s wrestling, so of course it’s going to be drawn out and over the top. Deal with it.
I talked about this at the start of the podcast, but stay tuned later this week for the written word of Binge Sports, where I’ll get into the Kentucky Derby and really get into my thoughts on Mayweather vs Pacquiao. Catch up with us @BingeSports. Catch up with me @THElukenorris. And catch up with Batch @multiversefive. Enjoy.
Welcome back to Binge Sports and picture me singing that classic song…It’s the most wonderful time of the year. We’ve got so many great events on the horizon and this is by far the best six weeks or so in the world of sports. I won’t get too much into detail today on each topic as I’ll get to that when the event rolls around, but let’s take a look at what’s coming up and why I’m so jacked.
MARCH MADNESS
In my eyes, this week alone is one of the greatest weeks of the year. Starting on Thursday, 64 teams will vie for the top prize in college basketball. By Sunday night, 48 teams will have been eliminated. You’re talking wall-to-wall games for four straight days. I always marvel at the productivity lost this week. And before you get angry, yes, I know that 68 teams get in, but let’s not even attempt to pretend that you watch the play-in games unless there’s nothing else on at the dive you’re sitting in. And if you’re sitting in a dive bar on a Tuesday night, maybe you’ve got more things to worry about, but we’ll save that for another day. I do have one quick thought on the Tuesday night games. I actually find it funny that the first four games are always played in Dayton and who by chance is in one of these first four games? You guessed it. Dayton. So technically, they actually get a home game in the NCAA tournament. I’m not sure why I like that so much, but I do.
At this point, it would take way too much work for me to break down every single game this week, but I’ll start getting into more detail next week when we reach the Sweet 16. We do know that Kentucky is the number one overall seed and continue their quest for perfection on Thursday night on CBS. They enter this tournament with a 34-0 record and are looking to become the first team to run the table since the Indiana Hoosiers in 1976. On the same side of the bracket in the West Region, number one seed Wisconsin kicks off against one of my favorite schools in the country, Coastal Carolina, on Friday night on TBS. I love Myrtle Beach, okay?
On the opposite side of the draw, we’ve got number one seed Villanova leading the way in the East with a 32-2 record. They’ll get going on Thursday evening on TBS. And, of course, we’ve got the team that everyone loves to hate rounding out the number one seeds in the South. The Duke Blue Devils begin their quest for Coach K’s fifth NCAA title on Friday on CBS.
Is there anyone in the field that can take down Kentucky? See how the draw played out last night at print your brackets right HERE.
Enjoy the madness that leads up to the Final Four in Indianapolis on April 4.
WRESTLEMANIA XXXI
Okay, this one may not be for everybody, but I have no problem admitting that I am a 35-year-old man that still watches wrestling. I just can’t stop. I’ve been watching since I was five and really haven’t stopped. I’m still and will always be a Hulkamaniac and I don’t care who knows it. I know there are still haters out there who call it “fake”, but if you’ve ever stepped into a ring and taken a few bumps (which I have), you’d know that it freaking hurts. These guys are some of the best athletes on the planet and are dedicated as hell about what they do and put their bodies on the line each and every night to entertain the audience. We’re adults. We know that the outcomes are predetermined. But that doesn’t take away from the entertainment value of it. We like other television shows that are scripted. If you don’t like it, I’ve got no problem with that. But don’t watch Game of Thrones and then judge me because I still do. Wow, I’m sounding really angry right now, but honestly, it’s always been a nice getaway for me. Some of my fondest memories growing up actually have something to do with professional wrestling, especially the biggest event of the year, Wrestlemania.
This is the 31st installment of the “showcase of the immortals” and this year’s event has the potential to be good or really, really bad. I’ll be back in a few weeks with a match-by-match breakdown before Wrestlemania XXXI airs live from Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, CA on March 29th at 7E/4P on the WWE Network for only…….$9.99.
MLB OPENING DAY
Oh, how I love the return of baseball. The green grass. The infield dirt. The crack of the bat that lets you know that the boys of summer are back. Spring training is in full swing (pun intended) as we speak, but let’s not get too excited about exhibitions and split-squad games. Let’s focus instead on Sunday night, April 5th. Well, first of all, let’s be happy that the schedule doesn’t call for the season to start in Japan. Do we all remember those actual regular season games that were played overseas while the exhibition season was still going on? Ridiculous.
Nope, this year we get a real start to the season with my favorite rivalry opening things up. The St. Louis Cardinals visit my beloved Chicago Cubs at historic Wrigley Field, although it may not actually look that great on Opening Day with all the renovations going on, but that’s beside the point. There’s a ton of excitement on the North Side these days and there’s nobody better to kick off the season against than the standard-bearers of the division, the 11-time World Series champion Cardinals. The other 28 teams get going on Monday, April 6.
THE MASTERS
Hello friends. Every April, I look forward to the soothing sounds of Jim Nantz and my favorite sporting event. No, seriously, give me the choice of watching the Masters or the Super Bowl every year and I’d take the “event unlike any other” any day of the week. I’ll dive into why I love this golf tournament so much as we get closer, but this is the event that really lets me know that spring has arrived. Magnolia Lane. The azaleas. Amen Corner. The back nine on Sunday afternoon. Drama doesn’t get much better than this.
As I’m legally required to mention Tiger Woods in any golf-related piece that I write, he will be a topic of conversation leading up to the event as we await word on whether or not he’ll play. But I’d rather focus on those we know will be there. There’s of course the world number one, Rory McIlroy, who will be looking for his third straight major and the career grand slam at only age 25. However, the “future of American golf” as he’s been called by many, Jordan Spieth, is coming off of a great win at this past weekend’s Valspar Championship. Sure, it was only his second win, but he showed yesterday that he can make some putts at crunch time. Also involved in that playoff was golf’s new bad boy, Patrick Reed, who will also be looking to make a big splash at Augusta National. Tiger or no Tiger, the field will be packed with stars looking to take the title from two-time winner and defending champion, Bubba Watson.
Look for another drama-filled four days starting Thursday, April 9.
STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS
Speaking of high drama, is there anything better than a Game 7 in the Stanley Cup Playoffs? I really don’t think so. And what if that Game 7 goes into overtime? Holy hell! I’ve seen people literally on the edge of their seats when this happens. We’ve still got nearly a month before the regular season ends on April 11, with the playoffs starting soon after, so we’ll obviously have to wait to see who gets in and who matches up with who. But just as I did last year, I’ll be back with previews and fan votes during every single series.
NBA PLAYOFFS
I, for one, am very excited about this year’s NBA Playoffs. There’s no favorite. Last year, it was pretty easy to know that LeBron and the Heat were going to match up with the eventual champion San Antonio Spurs. But a year later, LeBron is back in Cleveland and the Spurs are a year older in a very competitive Western Conference. Is Golden State the real deal? Did you really pick the Atlanta Hawks to be a top seed in the East? Can Russell Westbrook even get the Thunder in? We’ll have a lot more answers when the NBA Playoffs begin on April 18. And once again, just like the NHL, I’ll be back with breakdowns and fan votes for every single series leading up to the NBA Finals in June.
NFL DRAFT
I gotta be honest with you. I almost didn’t even put this on here, but you can’t deny the power of the National Football League. When the draft rolls around on April 30, there won’t have been a game played for nearly three months nor a game that matters for four more, but people will still sit and talk at length about what their team needs. The names Mel Kiper and Todd McShay will be everywhere as ESPN will undoubtedly tell us about the combine performance of the backup quarterback from Appalachian State. But we’ll listen like we always do. I told myself last year that I wanted nothing to do with the draft as the overabundance of NFL coverage has gotten out of control. Yet there I was in front of a TV with the hope that Johnny Manziel would go the whole night sitting in the green room. And this year, I’m sure I’ll get sucked in again for at least a little while as we await the decision of where Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota will end up.
Tampa Bay…you’re on the clock.
KENTUCKY DERBY
I will not ever pretend to be an expert on horse racing, but it’s hard to not watch the Kentucky Derby. Do I see the need for four hours of coverage for a two minute race? No, and I certainly don’t subject myself to it, but when race time rolls around, I’m in. And this year, as it’s on May 2, it will actually be a nice warmup to what comes later that night….
FLOYD MAYWEATHER v. MANNY PACQUIAO
It’s finally happening. Sure, it’s a few years later than it should have been, but “Money” versus “Pacman” is actually going to take place. If you really know me, then you know that I’m still a big fan of boxing. I realize that’s it’s taken a backseat to MMA in recent years, but I still believe that this sport has some life left in it. There are some young stars on the horizon, but for now, the sport’s two biggest draws are still Mayweather and Pacquiao. Say what you want about Floyd, but the fact remains that 47 have tried and 47 have failed to beat him. He’s one of the smartest fighters to ever step in the ring. He doesn’t need to knock you out. Hell, only 26 of those wins have been via knockout. But he’ll just outbox you. He knows where he is at all times and rarely looks vulnerable. But if anybody has the chance to knock him off, it’s Manny Pacquiao. With 57 wins of his own, he’s got the tools and the patience to test Mayweather. Believe me, as the fight gets closer, I’ll be back with a huge breakdown of the biggest fight that boxing has had since Mike Tyson v. Lennox Lewis in 2002.
I told you there was a lot coming up. The sports world is going to be as busy as can be and Binge Sports will be there every step of the way. Keep checking back in for all the updates, breakdowns, and fan votes you can handle. What are you most looking forward to? Who survives this weekend? Give me your thoughts below or even better, follow me on Twitter @BingeSports and/or @THElukenorris and let me know if there’s something I’m missing. Enjoy the madness and we know I’ve got no choice but to be back soon.