The day

It is 32 degrees as I arrive home,but it is perfect weather for this day.
This is the day that only comes once a year-Ohio State vs michigan.
Everyone has their teams that they "hate" in every sport,I have quite a few-Yankees,Phillies,Ravens,Steelers,Flyers,Rangers and so on.
But none shares the singular hatred that is reserved for the michigan wolverines.
If any of you saw the new HBO special on the rivalry,I am kinda to the right of the guy cursing michigan that was dressed like Woody Hayes on this topic.
Win or lose,this is my favorite sports day of the year.
You can have the Super Bowl,I will take this game every time.
For the actual game itself-I hate picking this game because I feel it jinxes the Buckeyes.
But doing this means putting your opinions on the line,so I like Ohio State 24-14.
The big difference between these two teams is team speed.
Every game that I have seen michigan play this season against good teams,they seem painfully slow.
Here is hoping that my favorite day is a good one.

In a true goaltenders duel,the Islanders and Rick DiPietro bested
Martin Brodeur and the New Jersey Devils at the Rock 1-0.
Only a shorthanded goal by Josef Vasicek in the second period separated the two goalies.
One cannot blame Brodeur however as Vasicek was allowed to go straight to the net with little no help after a clear miscue by the Devils Mike Mottau.
Mottau tripped over himself and Vasicek grabbed the puck and deked out Brodeur for the games only marker.
A tough loss for Marty in looking for win 500 and certainly far from accountable for this one.
The Devils have never been a high flying offensive team and with the mass overturn of the blue-line corps,they simply are not as talented as past teams.
Look at tonight's defensemen for proof.
With the injuries to Paul Martin and Colin White,tonight gave us Andy Greene as the teams top defensemen and he has not even played 30 games in the league yet.
These are not excuses,they are simple facts.
The Devils go for Marty's 500th win AGAIN tonight vs the Flyers.

The Ashland Arrows advanced to the Final Four of Ohio High School with a 21-14 regional final win over Sylvania Southview.
All of the points scored in the game occured in the first half,as Taylor Housewright ran for two touchdowns and threw a scoring strike to Anthony Fairhurst for what proved to be the game winner.
Not sure who the Arrows will play next week or where as of this time.


Bullpen Notes

Ryan told me about a ridiculously dumb statement by Stan Fischler between periods.
Fischler claimed that both Denis Potvin and Brian Leetch were both superior defensemen to Bobby Orr.
Both Potvin and Leetch were fine players and Hall of Fame caliber,but comparing them to Bobby Orr is like comparing backs in the Football Hall of Fame to Jim Brown.
Big difference between great and THE greatest.
That is called the New York bias,my friends!

Hang in there for posts next week on Mudcat Grant and my talk with Craig Deas, the voice of the Lake County Captains.

Photo Credits
Hockey-Rich Schultz-AP Photo
Arrows-Daniel Melograna-Mansfield News-Journal