In a Canes Coma

Life is still happening outside of hockey? In the past 14 days, I’ve gone to 3 Canes practices, 4 home games, watched 3 games on tv, re-watched DVRed games I went to, stayed after for signatures, shopped at The Eye, coordinated and picked up 26 tickets for upcoming games, developed a Twitter habit (following primarily Canes/NHL affiliates and Caniacs), and read/listened to/watched every bit of Canes media I could get access to. It’s been intense, but I’ve been accompanied by at least 1 other member of our Caniac quartet for most of that, so it’s been a lot of fun. (Have I mentioned lately that we love this team?) Alas, there are other things going on in the world of sports, and I’m usually much more well-rounded than this when it comes to team loyalty. Tonight being Canes-free (after a frenzy of media activity throughout the day) seemed like a good opportunity to check in with my other teams on the blog. The title is EastCoastSportsChick not HyväCanes, after all…

I’m starting to feel the absence of college football, and I don’t like it. If I didn’t have hockey to distract me, I don’t know what I’d do. The NFL Playoffs have nicely lessened the blow, especially because my Packers made it to the NFC Championship. Even sweeter, they’re playing the Bears. I was secretly hoping for this matchup partially because it makes things interesting between myself and some of my friends, but also because of the history and rivalry that runs so deeply between these two teams. The talent levels are a great matchup as well, so it will actually be a great battle between the Ds and QBs of each team. Any given Sunday and all, but Aaron Rodgers tends to be the more consistent of the two. Plus, with all the injuries we’ve suffered this season, we’ve finally looked functional and like we’re peaking in the post-season, which is perfect timing if you ask me. The other side of the league is interesting as well. I was ecstatic to see the Jets take down Brady and the evil empire, and still hold that the battle of the Green would make an awesome Super Bowl. The downside is that’s gonna mean pitting factions of my family against each other and a strange spreading thin of the typical respectful cheering that usually helps make stressful games more manageable. The Steelers and Jets are both total wild cards right now. You never know which versions of their teams are gonna show up, so I guess we’ll just have to wait and see. That is why they play the game, after all…

Gator bball has been working its way through the SEC. It’s not been bad, but it’s not been consistent either. Living in ACC territory, when my local ESPN radio station isn’t talking about my Canes, they’re blabbing on about ACC basketball. Normally, I’m ok with that and at least partially interested, but right now, I’m just not in it. Once the NFL wraps up, I’m sure I’ll get around to watching more games, but for now, NCAA hoops is hovering in the background of my sports radar.

Ironically, opposite of most of the country, NBA hoops actually is on my radar. I’ve been watching the Magic a little more closely, though I jinxed them in a recent post when I questioned how far their winning streak could go. It ended at 9 (which is where it was when I wrote about them). They’ve won some and lost some since. Respectable losses, though, like a close game against the Celtics, so I can’t complain. I’m loving that Turkoglu is back. The revamp of the team definitely has my approval. I don’t know what possessed me to do so- I’ll blame a hunt for MishandledBalls blog fodder- but I watched a Lakers game the other night, and actually another is about to come on right now. These always upset me, because more often than not, the Lakers win. And I hate the Lakers. The particular game on now is at the Nuggets, which means it will be peppered with Melo drama. (See what I did there?) Should be a good time. The upside? Pau Gasol cut his hair. Looking less like a greasy pedophile lately, which makes him more tolerable to watch. At least I know my Finnish hockey crush and some of his friends are hot under those helmets on the ice… Canes Coma resumes :)