Friday Morning Fracas: 8-23-08

As we all head into the long weekend, it's time to have our weekly look around the sporting planet. After the jump we'll look at what's been happenin', what is happenin', and what's still left to happen. We might even watch an episode of "What's Happenin'!!" That'd be sweet. Make sure to get out the readin' spectacles, though. There's tons of great writing (Editor's Note: None of which was done by us.), some fun StubTubes, and even a handful of pictures. Woo-hoo!

After a strange, six-day delay in between rounds, the Stanley Cup Finals finally get underway tomorrow at 7 p.m. (Central) on Versus.



(courtesy of Awful Announcing)

Speaking of hockey, The Big Lead points out that Cloud9Sports has drawn a comparison between the great game on ice and the great woman talk-show host of the 20th century.



Me? I don't get it, but I'm not smart or rich.

Still more hockey: We Are the Postmen shares a feature on young Chicago Blackhawk Patrick Kane, and how he likes burying the disc in the twine, the biscuit in the basket, the stick in the (penalty) box.



Those these lovely ladies aren't Russian, I imagine the practice they display is one in which the great woman of Siberia and Moscow may want to employ when the youngster's around. Cane admits that when in Russia, "you’ll see the hottest chicks you’ll ever see. It’s not a great area but the girls down there, they’re pretty good."

In NFL news from The Postmen, the Cedric Benson tale gets bizarrer.



So far, the only certain facts we've gotten out of this twisted tale are: a) Cedric Benson owns a boat, and b) Cedric Benson hangs out with white girls. I mean, what is this, the 21st Century? Aren't those reason enough to put him away for life? Come. On. (Editor's Note: That was a joke, people.)

While we'd love to pledge more -- more, I mean some -- NBA coverage, that's a promise we can't guarantee. We're way too white, short, fat, uneducated, lazy, sans vertical jump, the list just keeps on going. What we can do, is point you in the direction of good hoops blogs from time to time.



Like Free Darko. They publish a) consistently, b) hoops material (almost exclusively), c) good writing, and d) lots of scary and odd photos. Have a looksie.

In MLB, the Red Sox made (relatively) easy work of the Royals in a four-game set this week. The fluctuation of scores was pretty interesting: (the no-hitter led off; 2-1; 6-3; 11-8). Each game had a the proverbial big inning, killing the Royals' chances. Yesterday's match, however, had more than one including a pair of Boston grand slams. Other news from the AL East include a Yankees victory?



Crazy. I can't figure out if that's the ghost of Billy Martin, or Lou Piniella, or Joe Girardi.

(courtesy of Bugs & Cranks)

Also in the sticks-and-balls department, more cameras to be added to the wide world of sports?

And hey -- some hockey! ESPN's Page II provides us with "44 Reasons Not to Miss the Stanley Cup Finals." There's some great stuff in there. Trust me. I know what I'm talkin' a-boot.

As (semi-) promised...



Happy Memorial Day, y'all.