Sports: Rodman, Leroux And The NHL

Dennis Rodman claimed today on the Dan Patrick Show that Lebron James would be an 'average' player if he played during the Chicago Bulls dynasty.

Hogwash.

There's nothing average in Lebron James.

Anyway. That's a tired argument to make. If this guy played in our era he'd suck. It's a little like those math-stats challenged journalists who still make the claim Wayne Gretzky's numbers were over inflated because of the era he played in and that he wouldn't amass such dominance in different times.

Dumbass argument.

We don't know that and it's unfair. 

They talked about the fact that Jordan played in a pre-flagrant NBA. Again, similar to what Mario Lemieux faced when the NHL was a slugging-mugging fest. But I'm not about to start wondering what these guys would have done in different eras. They still dominated their leagues like few athletes ever did. Go figure.

Loved when Patrick brought in the Detroit Pistions of the late 80s and early 90s and their smash-mouth borderline delinquent style of play. Because of the flagrant foul now, you don't see teams like that anymore. Once again, we see a similar trend in hockey. We still see physical teams but not outright bullies like the Philadelphia Flyers of the 70s anymore.

The discussion got a little more balanced and interesting when they went over the matchups. Pippen v. Bosch for example. I will admit to entertaining the overall point that Bulls would beat the Heat. I think they would. The Spurs on the other hand pose a different issue.

Meh.

Statisticians have already measured Gretzky's numbers, for the record. Even when adjusted for different eras, his stats were ethereal.

***

Looks like an Original Six match up is on the table between the Boston Bruins and Chicago Blackhawks.

I think the best four teams in the league reached their respective Conference finals but Boston and Chicago differentiated and distanced themselves from their opponents. The Bruins in particular were quite impressive in completely shutting down a uber-octane offense like the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Chicago's feat has been no less stunning given they had to overcome a 3 games to 1 deficit against their arch-rivals in the machine known as the Detroit Red Wings - who were outstanding in the playoffs - in the last round and now hold a 3-2 series lead against the defending champs Los Angeles Kings. The Kings are a bruising, talented group who avoided the 'Stanley Cup hangover' by reaching this far if you ask me.

As for who would win between the Bruins and Hawks. Honestly, it's hard to say. Both are fantastic but if I had to choose it would be an ever so light nod to Boston for the simple reason they play like a total team, have a wolf-pack mentality and tend to be more physical and do have an intimidation streak in them. Chicago is tough but are more along the lines of Pittsburgh as they tend to focus on individual skill, skating and fluidity.

I'll tell you one thing, the fact that they're are one game away from reaching the finals despite captain Jonathan Toews having scored only one goal shows the depth they have. Toews has been, however, a beast in other facets of the game. A key leader on that team to be sure.

I have no idea why Claude Julien is always rumored to be fired in Boston. It's retarded. He's a stellar and successful coach.

***

Ok. Sidney Leroux. I don't watch women's soccer all that much but I'll watch USA-Canada match ups in both soccer and hockey if I'm around.

Leroux is a Canadian born (British Columbia) soccer player who held dual citizenship because I believe her father is American. When the time came to pick sides she picked USA.

As most serious Canadians are sometimes apt to do. Think Owen Hargreaves, Lennox Lewis and Greg Rusedski. You can't fault them for bolting to a country where funding and sponsorship is available and a commitment to winning is without doubt.

Canadian women's soccer program is leaps and bounds beyond the senior men's program. They're more competitive but the U.S. program is still the gold standard.

In a recent friendly, Canada had a chance to show the soccer world that they were once and for all a better team than the United States. It was a chance to settle old scores particularly after their controversial loss at the London games.

Quick recap off the top of my head. Canada has a fantastic tournament and had twice had the Americans trailing but each time the U.S. bounced back thanks to shoddy defensive play by Canada. A controversial call eventually led to a go-ahead goal for the U.S. who didn't relinquish the lead.

While Canadians chose to only focus on the questionable call as the reason for the loss, I choose, rather, to be objective. The fact of the matter is they failed to hold the lead. The goals conceded were results of mental breakdowns. You can't do that against the most powerful side in the world.

Not only that, it was hack-a-Shaq the way the Canadian girls were playing. They should have be cognizant of the fact they were lucky not to be 1 or maybe 2 girls short because the referee could have sent a couple off for butchery play.

Blah, blah. Fast forward.  With everyone looking on, in typical Canadian fashion, Canada laid an egg. A stinker as they were pummeled 3-0.

Enter Leroux. After scoring the game's third goal she pointed to her U.S. crest and shushed the crowd.

Well, this set off people. Even the announcers Dobson and Forrest couldn't contain their disdain for the antics - which I was surprised by. It was a little over the top.

In the heat of the moment I guess but still.

She contends she was racially abused but people at the game claim they didn't hear anything.

Whatever.

Perhaps it was a classless move (I don't know what really happened) but the bigger issue was Canada's performance in my view.