What'd I Miss? A Stanley Cup Finals Primer for Those Who Have Missed Anywhere Between The Last One Day To The Last Thirty Years of NHL Action

Sidney Crosby smiles at a grizzly bear named Brent. Courtesy of Zimbio.

In this edition of MN Sports Emporium, Dr. J—a former college netminder—talks to himself about the NHL playoffs. Let’s listen in. CAUTION: If you keep reading, you will learn about physics, and it will be fun and interesting and you won't fall asleep.

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So Dr. J, why should I be watching the NHL playoffs? Isn’t hockey less popular than NASCAR?

Well, if you are going by the 2014 Harris Poll of favorite American sports, then yes, hockey (6% of poll) is below NASCAR (7%). Just for reference, the NBA is also at 6%. The NFL still has a stranglehold on this poll, as it is the favorite sport of 32% of the American population. Doesn’t mean any of the sports mentioned here aren’t exciting.

Drive fast, turn left!

Yeah something like that. Anyway, how about we talk some ice hockey?

I mean, if we have to…

We have to. This is Minnesota.

Crazy Like a Wolf: The Recent Competency of Glen Taylor

Courtesy of TCBMag.com

Ed.: This article's author, Dr. J, is an esteemed and respected member of several online Minnesota sports communities. The Timberwolves' recent front-office moves inspired this friend and colleague to jolt this hibernating community back to life. Welcome to the 2 1/2th renaissance of MSE, and thanks, Dr. J, for this thought-provoking piece.

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Glen Taylor is not a “basketball guy”. He likely wouldn’t be able to dissect his players’ pick-and-roll defense or tell you the intricacies of a motion offense. Hell, I don’t even know if he has ever played an organized sport. But one thing the current Timberwolves owner has always been is a businessman. And the recent moves made to his basketball operations staff this offseason only add to his business savvy. Pairing a young, talented roster with an equally talented coach and front office has the potential to make Glen Taylor richer. How much richer? How about hundreds of millions of dollars richer?

Actual Things You Might Want To Know About Tonight's Top 21 Draft Prospects

Editor's Note: Tony D put this together. These 21 players are projected to be drafted in the first round of the NFL draft. Rankings are based SOLELY on video highlights from YouTube. This is not a “big board” or mock draft, it is simply a list of player rankings and ratings based on their highlight films. Player position, off the field issues, and potential are not directly taken into account here. 

Take these to your draft party tonight and sprinkle in whatever ones Todd McShay or Mel Kiper don't say when these guys get drafted. Or just be smart and watch the NFL Network's coverage. Enjoy. 

Leonard Williams, DT, USC                                                                        

Video Grade:  9.5
Positives:  First of four guys that really surprised me on film. Very disruptive. He tackles everything that moves. Can make plays all over the line. Explosive. Mean Streak. He’s got it all.
Negatives:  For many teams, DT is not a position of pressing need (especially at the top of the draft).

Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama

Video Grade:  9.0
Positives:  Complete player. Good speed. Good hands. Decent size. Makes plays. Solid and safe pick.
Negatives:  He’s not the most explosive player in the draft. Wish he was taller (6’1”)

Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia                                                                                                     

Video Grade:  9.0
Positives:  Explosive. Great speed. Good moves. Decent strength. Home-run guy.
Negatives:  Runs recklessly – Fear more injuries. Not super powerful between the tackles.

Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin                                                                                   

Video Grade:  9.0
Positives:  Great short burst. Big, strong. Good vision. Shifty. Fast enough.
Negatives:  Not as explosive as some runners. Not many highlights catching the ball.

Vic Beasley, DE/LB, Clemson                                                                                       

Video Grade:  9.0
Positives:  Second of four that really surprised me on film. Super fast. Often gets in the backfield before you can figure out where he came from. Disruptive off the edge. Reminds me of Clay Matthews.
Negatives:  He is a little small. Lacks strength to contribute consistently in run support. Relies on his speed.

DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville                                                                                  

Video Grade: 8.5             
Positives:  Fluid player. Natural. Great hands. Beast in the red zone. Brings in jump balls. Long arms. Good route runner. As a Viking fan, it was fun watching Teddy throw TDs to him.
Negatives:  Not explosive. Slender frame. Doesn’t have great speed or moves.

Landon Collins, S, Alabama                                                                                          

Video Grade:  8.5
Positives:  Third of Four guys that really surprised me on film. Made many impact plays. Big hitter. Great tackler. Good hands. Nose for the ball. Plays like a LB on running downs. Reminds me of Harrison Smith.
Negatives:  Not super fast. Better against the run. Always had a great defense around him to compensate for mistakes.

(14 more after the jump.)

"Set Two $100 Bills On Fire": The Twins in 2013

This is Part 3 of a 7-part look-back at what happened in Minnesota sports over the past 12 months. Some of these stories are obviously figments of my imagination. A couple actually happened. These are the tales, imageries, conversations, and visualizations that best described, at least for me, what it meant to be a Minnesota sports fan over the past 12 months.

Courtesy of AaronGleeman.com.

Three friends and I went in on a Minnesota Twins 20-game season ticket plan for the 2012 season. We held two seats just to the right of the bullpens in the right field bleachers. 2011 had been a disappointing, injury-riddled year for a Twins team that had been expected to challenge in the American League, the year when only three position players made it through 100 games, Tsuyoshi Nishioka broke out and Drew Butera played in 93 games and posted a .449 OPS—a figure that I think could have been matched by either of Joe Mauer’s at-that-point-unborn twin girls.

"Well, At Least We Got a Point": The Wild in 2013

This is Part 2 of a 7-part look-back at what happened in Minnesota sports over the past 12 months. Some of these stories are obviously figments of my imagination. A couple actually happened. These are the tales, imageries, conversations, and visualizations that best described, at least for me, what it meant to be a Minnesota sports fan over the past 12 months.

Cal Clutterbuck, commencing his traditional post-goal rendition of "The Circle of Life." Courtesy of the AP.

The game proceeded as most other high-stakes contests had during the time I had known these guys. Tense stretches of rising action followed by Vesuvius bursts of unfettered emotion: directed at refs, at the personal shortcomings of opposing players, at the heroics of Josh Harding, the Wild’s emergency man-between-the-pipes.

A first period Cal Clutterbuck tally sent us into raptures, but an absolute snipe by Marian Hossa late in the second equalized for the host Blackhawks. The shots piled up for Chicago, but Josh Harding went low, went high, and stayed in front of everything the world-class opposition could throw at him. The game trickled into overtime, and star Zach Parise had a clear shot from in front that goalie Corey Crawford kicked just wide.

0-for-Vegas, or: Aneurysms for Everyone! Gophers Men's Basketball in 2013

This is Part 1 of a 7-part look-back at what happened in Minnesota sports over the past 12 months. Some of these stories are obviously figments of my imagination. A couple actually happened. These are the tales, imageries, conversations, and visualizations that best described, at least for me, what it meant to be a Minnesota sports fan over the past 12 months.

“Bud Light Lime-a-Rita TALL BOYS. Shit will HIT YOU QUICK,” said Ron, in reference to the 8% alcohol-by-volume drink that was inexplicably lumped in with other pretender beverages in the “2-for-$10” cooler in a long hallway at the Tropicana. We both bought one for each hand and headed to the sports book because we knew that the best way to watch the maddening roller-coaster that was the under-utilized talent of the 2012-13 Gophers basketball team was with a steady dose of lime-flavored sugar-booze coursing through one’s bloodstream.

Don't Buy a House: Catching Up with Minnesota Sports in 2,100 Words or Less

First rule of buying a house: Don't buy this tiny of a house.

On May 30th, my girlfriend and I closed on a house just east of the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. This was the culmination of a whirlwind month-long search to find a place we could afford in a nice neighborhood relatively close to where we worked. A couple dozen showings and open houses into our search, we found what would become our new house on the last day before we would have to switch our focus to rentals. It's a charming 3-bedroom with room for renovation in the finished upstairs and enough work done in the "unfinished" basement to host Vikings games and (heaven forbid) the occasional Minnesota playoff contest.