Hockey, Hockey, Hockey, Did I Say Hockey?

Since Blogger was down for a bit last week, I didn't really get to post anything. But, seriously, I was watching the hockey play-offs, and that is probably all I would have blogged anyway. I mean, with the state of chaos in the world, including the U.S., and nothing really good to report on, a week off didn't seem to matter much. Nothing uplifting to say, since Blogger is back up, except that Lakers got swept (yeah!) and that game 7 between San Jose and Detroit was a doozie!

With two games down in the finals, Boston definitely looked like it was asleep on the ice, especially during the power play. Tampa Bay was all over them, like flies to you know what. To be fair, though, Boston started out sluggishly in each of its series thus far ...

Last night's game between San Jose and Vancouver started out fast and ended fast. One of the better playoff games I've seen over the years. Although, in all honesty, I do not have a team I prefer of the four remaining, I had reasons to want to root for both Vancouver and San Jose. Vancouver is the only Canadian team still in it this year, and no Canadian team has won the Cup since Montreal steamrolled over Los Angeles in 1993. On the other hand, I have always had a soft spot for San Jose ever since they first came into the league, and my girlfriends and I would go to the Cow Palace to see them play (and support the team) before they eventually moved into a permanent arena in San Jose.

Both Vancouver and San Jose have never won the Cup (although when the Stanley Cup was a challenge trophy, it was won by the Vancouver Millionaires way back in 1914/15).

Boston and Tampa Bay have both won the Cup, Tampa Bay recently, Boston not so recently!

And, speaking of hockey, this little ditty came out during the Blogger breakdown. Seems the little tough guy, Sean Avery (who I detested both on the ice and off the ice, even when he played for the Kings, because he was such an ass) came out recently in an ad in favor of same sex marriage, which apparently brought the wrath of a few in the hockey world.

“Very sad to read Sean Avery’s misguided support of same-gender ‘marriage.’ Legal or not, it will always be wrong,” tweeted (Todd) Reynolds. He’s the vice president of Ontario-based Uptown Sports Management, which counts Chris Neil(notes), Cody McCormick(notes) and Mike Fisher(notes) among its hockey clients.

Avery, the New York Rangers agitator who is known for making headlines on and off the ice, stated his support for same-sex marriage in a video that is part of the New Yorkers for Marriage Equality campaign, organized by gay-rights organization Human Rights Campaign.

“I’m Sean Avery and I’m a New Yorker for Marriage Equality. I treat everyone the way I expect to be treated and that applies to marriage,” Avery says in the video.

“Committed couples should be able to marry the person they love,” he adds. “Join me in supporting marriage equality.”

Of course, after his initial "tweet," Reynolds further tweeted he was not a bigot! Then another "bigot" tweeted, but this one got fired!

A Toronto broadcaster has been fired after he posted on Twitter about the debate surrounding New York Rangers forward Sean Avery’s(notes) support of same-sex marriage.

Damian Goddard was a host on Rogers Sportsnet. On Tuesday, he tweeted his support for hockey agent Todd Reynolds, who used Twitter to voice his opposition to Avery’s position.

Goddard wrote: “I completely and whole-heartedly support Todd Reynolds and his support for the traditional and TRUE meaning of marriage.”

The TV network then issued its own tweet, saying: “Today’s tweet from Damian Goddard does not reflect the views of Rogers Sportsnet.” On Wednesday, it severed ties with Goddard.

In a statement, Sportsnet spokesman Dave Rashford said: “Mr. Goddard was a freelance contractor and in recent weeks it had become clear that he is not the right fit for our organization.”

Kudos to Sportsnet for not tolerating intolerance, even if it is a twit tweeting!