Hello to all my loyal followers. Yes its me. I know its been forever since my last post. Actually less then a hockey season, My last post was for opening week in the NHL. There have been a few reasons for my absence and just for clarity this is going to be a long post. Sports stuff will be at the bottom so if you want to skip this part fine. The main reason for my absence was timing. I took a good role at work and the timing wasn't great to be at work, come home and make a decent sports blog. Then that led to some depression of not being able to do what has been a passion of mine and that's talking sports. So I took a break. I watched games without worrying about what I was going to say or if I would get a post out in time. For the first time in a while I went back to just watching. Fast forward to early this year. I hit what I am calling a very dark spot in life. I hated my self. I hated my body image. Getting older. Not being where I thought I should be. Wondering if I was good enough for my kids, My wife, My friends and family. It took a lot out of me. I didn't even enjoy watching sports anymore cuz I wasn't in the field anymore. I wasn't working at NBC sports Boston, I wasn't at the Sports hub. But even through all that I wanted to still talk sports. So, In late February I decided id start climbing out. I have a lot of good people around me. Some that probably don't read this. Some that do. But im going to thank everyone of them. Starting with my wife and kids. They have always been there for me and its still the most amazing feeling coming home from work and having my 6 year old say hi dad. Having my 4 year old ask me who the bruins are playing. I know I haven't been the best husband but through it all my wife has stuck by me and I can not express into words how much that means to me. Next I want to thank as loud as I can someone who has become the best sounding board and is one the most genuine people walking gods green earth. Charlie. My introduction to you started with my friendship with your daughter. From there we were texting about BBQ smokers and recipes. Then it changed to the Bruins. And then when my depression hit hardest you were one of the first people to text me make sure first I was ok and then give me advice, An ear, A laugh. Anything. I owe so much of this comeback to you and i promise one day I will find a way to make that up to you. Next is Mike. Mike we have been friends since high school and have played hockey on the same team or some summer showcase together since forever. You sent me a random text one day during one of the harder times I was going through. And simply asked "Hey want to skate" What you might not have known was that at that time I had not skated in close to 18 months. Im pretty sure the last time I did was when I coached a Rockport. So having that back in my life just set the fire going. And is the sole reason I am in such a better place now. That simple hour on the ice with the boys. Doing what I've loved since I was 3 years old was the perfect medicine. Not to put to fine a point on it, I think you may have saved my life. I love you with every fiber of my being for that. Ok, I know there are a lot of other people who have reached out and said if i need anything to call them and I know im forgetting someone as most of these things tend to do. But quickly just to name a few. Angel, Jen, Aaron, Chris, Ryan, Matt, Jackie, Larry, Frank. Again I know im missing a few people and im truly sorry for that. Most likely they don't read my blogs anyways haha.
I know that's not really what the few people who come to read this blog come for but I really needed to get that off my chest and out in the open. If anyone reading this ever needs help or someone to talk to about their own problems i am always here. Reach out VIA text if you have my number or DM me on FB either on the blog FB page or my own. Everyone needs to know there is someone who will just listen and not pass judgment.
Ok now let's get to the reason that all 7 of you read this blog. SPORTSSSSSS
Starting with the Greatest weekend in sports. The Masters. Tomorrow 91 golfers will descend upon Augusta National and try their shot at winning the Green jacket. I have always said that the course at Augusta is the most beautiful course on the planet. The pageantry of it all just makes for a great weekend of golf. But Tuesday morning the golf world got the best news it has had in a long time. 5 Time masters champion, Former number 1 in the world golfer Eldrick Tiger Woods is going to compete. Now some might ask why this is big news. Especially those that don't really follow golf. But 18 months ago Tiger was in a major car accident. His legs were broke or at least damaged and he said shortly after he would never be able to walk a course with out pain or play competitive golf. Essentially retiring. But thanks to modern medicine and obviously his millions of dollars he and his medical team have got him back to a point where he is pain free enough to walk the grounds of Augusta for 4 days. I've always been a tiger fan. But in hi absence from the game i have come to enjoy other players. Im not saying tiger will win. But his decision to play and the determination he has sure does make it a very good story and it makes for a great weekend.
As I mentioned my new role at work in the beginning of this post I left out a person who has sort of rekindled my feelings for baseball. I know on this blog many many posts ago i covered a Paw-sox game. I've always liked baseball but haven't really watched much in recent years. Well my co worker Dan Johnson has changed that. He is a baseball fan through and through. And a die hard sox fan. We have been talking baseball all through the lockout and now i have watched or at least followed every spring training game for the sox. So I think you may be seeing a slight uptick in my posts about our boys of summer. So thank you Dan.
The NHL season is down the final month. The teams near the bottom or at the bottom are slowly starting to be mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. Lets be honest, Some of those teams have been out since November. A few surprise teams that are either in or unless they implode will be in would include the Bruins and the Leafs. The Leafs have been one of the hottest teams all season. As they have been for a few years. But need I remind Bruins fans everywhere that the leafs always die in the first round. The way its shaping up right now it look like the Bruins could end up playing the leafs in the first round for the first time since 2013. I doubt the series will end up like it did then as both teams have a much different look now. But hey I can dream right? Another surprise from this season is the Florida Panthers. Led by Jonathan Huberdeau and his 102 points (as of this post) they have very quickly become the favorite in the east. If anyone watches hockey as much as I do you should recall that 26 years ago the Panthers went all the way to the cup finals where they lost to the newly moved Colorado Avalanche. Looking across the standings and having seen them play this season, There is a real shot that that could end up being the finals this year as well. The Avs are having an incredible season led by Cale Makar. He is probably one of if not the best defenseman in the league. He will lead that team for years to come and be the anchor on the blue line that Colorado has been looking for since the days of Adam Foote. With arenas back at full capacity this years Stanley Cup playoffs will have that loud home ice advantage feel again and that's exactly what these teams have been needing.
I am going to save Football and basketball for another post. I need to get some thoughts together on the NBA and there is just to much for this already lengthy post to put anything about the NFL yet. I may do a blog on just the NFL off season. That being said Tom Brady is not retiring and that's amazing. Im not ready to have a football season without him. No matter who he is playing for.
I know this post was long and if you have made it to here and read the whole thing then I truly thank you. If you skipped the beginning and came right to the sports that's fine also. At least you gave the main part of this a read. I will try to post every other week if not more. But for now I just wanted to thank people, Welcome my self back. And hopefully bring in some new people on this sports journey. Im hoping to have the podcast back soon as well. I've been looking into some ideas and it might lead to a Vlog instead of a podcast. But that's still being planned. For now just give me 10-12 minutes of your time to read my rants and talk sports. As always there is the blog Facebook page where you can comment on what you think about my takes. It is always where we can interact and have a good back and forth if you have a differing opinion. If its good and its productive I will put it in a post.
Thank you all again. Its good to be back.
Brad
No comments:
Post a Comment