Don't Eat Too Much

  When you are house-bound, you watch lots of television. When you are not sleeping due to the insidiousness of COVID. Or when the games themselves present ample opportunity to doze off. 

Believe me, I have watched more NHL hockey than I have since last season’s playoffs. In the New York metro area, we have three teams to choose from. All three are situated on the MSG Network channels, all in close proximity when one plays with the remote buttons. 

I root for the New Jersey Devils. They have been my team since the Colorado franchise relocated to the Meadowlands in the 1980’s. Until that time, I was a diehard New York Rangers fan, having had season tickets from 1977-86. Except for when they play the Devils or the two teams are competing for one playoff spot, I don’t root against the Original Six team. 

The Islanders are the outliers. When the franchise came into being in 1971-72, they were a novelty. I had ample opportunity to see the team play at the Nassau Coliseum because I was engaged to a woman who lived on Long Island at that time.

While the engagement broke, I never stopped liking or watching the Isles. I was pulling for them in their glory years—except when they went head-to-head with the Rangers. Those championship teams were amongst the greatest the NHL has seen. 

I am always hoping that the three franchises make the playoffs in the same season. Last season was the first time that had occurred since 2007. And so far this season, the Rangers have excelled, as they are among the top teams in points. The Islanders are in third place in the Metropolitan Division, tied with a resurgent Philadelphia. The Devils record is above .500, but they trail the Islanders by 5 points. 

I was able to see the big bad Boston Bruins, last season’s powerhouse which flamed out in the first round of the playoffs against a Florida team which reached the Stanley Cup Finals, play all three NY area teams in a scheduling quirk. Boston went 1-2, with all three games having gone into overtime. The lone team to lose was the Islanders, at home. 

New Jersey had a rough go—they came back to beat Boston, humbled Columbus on the road, then Lost to Anaheim on Sunday and in overtime to Philadelphia. The talent is there. The inconsistency is maddening. I saw it in Calgary when the team looked lethargic in the first period then completely outplayed the Flames for the remainder of the game. The Devils have to figure out who they are and play better hockey for 60 minutes if they are going to make the playoffs.

The Rangers are a solid hockey club. While they were decimated at home by Toronto, the Rangers got it together, stringing wins over Anaheim, plus Boston and Toronto on the road—each victory better than the previous one. Are the Rangers a Cup contender? If they avoid serious injuries, they have the makings of a team which could go deep into the playoffs.

As for the Isles, they continue to surprise me. They would be in the playoffs if the season ended today. Although they lost on the road to Washington, NYI managed to beat Toronto in OT, Anaheim and fast-rising Edmonton at home. The loss to Boston and a road loss to Montreal showed me that the team has a way to go to convince me they are legit. I do like players Anders Lee and Mathew Barzal.

One more comment on hockey. I was able to see Auston Matthews, the Toronto center. Hard to believe, the former phenom is in his eighth season and he is putting up big numbers again. In 28 games, Matthews has scored 25 goals and added 12 assists. He can make plays look effortless. This American is truly a star in one of the biggest hockey cities in the league.

Football has been everywhere. A game here. A game there. Thursday nights. Saturday tripleheaders. A full Sunday slate, with a Sunday night game on NBC. Plus Monday Night Football on ABC/ESPN. 

Christmas and New Year’s are no exception. The airwaves will be saturated with the product. There will even be a game broadcast over Nickelodeon. Get ready to be slimed. 

One person who will not be playing—although it is unclear if he will be suited up for an emergency is Aaron Rodgers. Activated from IR to the 53 man roster, his rehab has been incredible. It makes no sense to push him when the Jets’ season has been lost. 

Tommy De Vito, humbled by the Saints and involved in an agent-created money flap with a Morristown pizzeria, takes his Giants team to Philadelphia, where the Eagles are now in a three game slide when they faced three quality opponents. I don’t think much of the NFC East—notwithstanding Dallas and Philly have good records. Look how Buffalo framed the Cowboys on Sunday. 

Baltimore looked good against Jacksonville. Only the 49’ers seem to be above the fray, and I don’t really know how good they are—look at the three game slide they put up in mid-season. Christmas night’s marquee matchup between the two teams should be highly competitive. Could it be a preview of the Super Bowl?

I have not watched too many bowl games thus far. I was more enthralled with the Division III Championship in Salem, Virginia, where unheralded Cortland beat North Central, the top-rated team in a thrilling shootout. The Red Dragons stopped a two point conversion by the defending Champions with 1:20 to go to preserve a 38-37 victory. Zac Boyes, the Cortland QB, completed 26 of 34 passes for 349 yards and 5 touchdowns, while also racking up 123 yards on 16 carries. Some of his throws were pro caliber. He deserved to be Most Outstanding Player. 

My interest was piqued by the South Dakota State Jackrabbits as they hosted the Albany Great Danes. I thought it would be brutally cold that night. It wasn’t, except that Albany was more frigid than the weather, as SDST clobbered them with a 59-0 score. 

The Jackrabbits take on the Montana Grizzlies on January 7th in hopefully warmer Frisco, Texas for the FCS title. Montana beat a good North Dakota State team in overtime. 

South Dakota State is the defending champ—like North Central was in DIII. They are a strong team and the only one left unbeaten left at their level. I looked at their schedule and saw interesting names to games at home—the Dairy Drive vs. Western Oregon; the Beef Bowl vs Montana State; the Precision AG Bowl vs. North Dakota; Hobo Day vs. Northern Iowa; and the Dakota Marker game against arch-rival North Dakota State. 

They sure know how to market in South Dakota. After all, the now Mount Rushmore State used t be called the Sunshine State until 1992. I kid you not. 

Lastly, some basketball comments. Suddenly, the Golden State Warriors are playing better. Klay Thompson has awoken from his shooting slump in the absence of the suspended Draymond Green. Steph Curry is as spectacular as ever. 

Shaquille O’Neal has mentioned Curry as possibly the G.O.A.T. Yes, he’s really good. Is he in the top 10 of all-time? I think so. He is so underrated among giants. But it is not for me to decide if he’s the best. I just love to watch him play. What a competitor. 

The two teams which were in the In-Season Tournament finals slumped in their return to the regular season. Too much energy expended?

As for college basketball, expect upsets throughout the season. Look no further than the Big East where Providence downed #6 Marquette and defending champion UConn was upended by Seton Hall. Home courts mean that much in college hoops. 

One last thought. Navy demolished Washington College of the Centennial Conference by 58 points. Ohio University trounced Defiance. The final score was 108-28. Why are DI programs allowed to play DIII schools in “exhibition” games? To rack up needless wins by ridiculous margins? If the NCAA was truly a governing body, they should never allow this to happen. 

Merry Christmas. Don’t eat too much—especially Chinese food.