A shout-out is in order for my man, Henry McNamara '13. For those of you who don't know, the Lego-head lookalike spent his Monday running in the 115th Boston Marathon. In an interview with the Boston Globe after his incredible finish, Henry was asked how his legs felt after the grueling 26.2 mile trek.
He simply replied, "Crushed it. I was nipping at Geoffrey Mutai's [winner of the Marathon] heels the whole way, lost him right around Heartbreak Hill. Hate to see it happen but you know all I can do is be happy about my top-ten finish and hope to place better next year."
Spoken like a true champion, Hank. Hats off to ya.
Ah yes, springtime has officially arrived in Brunswick, Maine. The sun is shining, tunes are blasting, grills are sizzling, bros are bro-ing, and the Red Sox are on pace to win the World Series. What could be better?
I find no better a time to introduce what I like to call: Legends and Letdowns.
Legends:
Aroldis Chapman: For those of you who don't know Aroldis Chapman, it's about time you did. The left-handed relief pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds had his welcome-to-the-league moment last fall when he was recorded throwing the fastest pitch in MLB history at 105.1 mph. 105.1 mph! That is just absolute gas—good luck trying to see that, let alone get a piece of it in the batter's box. This year Chapman has gotten off to a fast start, and I know it's early, but in just 5.1 innings of relief work he has only let up two hits, recorded six strikeouts, and has posted an ERA of 0.00. Lights out.
Vancouver Canucks: The President's Cup Trophy is awarded at the end of the regular season to the NHL team with the most regular season points. The Vancouver Canucks were the recipients this year and they have been carrying their success over into the first round of the playoffs.
Led by the two Swedish twins—Henrik and Daniel Sedin—this team is scary in all different assets of their game and appears to be the front-runner to hoist the ever-coveted Lord Stanley's Cup. What I also love about this team is the two-headed monster of Roberto Luongo and ex-Boston College Eagle Corey Schneider.
These two goaltenders are both rock solid and, along with Boston's Tim Thomas and Tuuka Rask, might be the best goaltending tandem in the league right now. You need goaltending and secondary scoring in the playoffs. Check and check.
Oklahoma City Thunder: I've said it since day one: the Thunder are a legit title contender. There is no denying that this team is led by their two young guns Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. But the thing I like so much about Oklahoma City is its electric role players. Guys like James Harden, Serge Ibaka and Eric Maynor can put up quality points.
But probably the missing piece to a title run is the trade deadline acquisition of center Kendrick Perkins. He is a great defender and fits into their style of playing hard and tough on every possession. They're my dark horse out west.
Jimmie Johnson: The legend that is Jimmie Johnson continues to thrive on the racetrack. The five-time consecutive Sprint Cup Champion continued his winning ways on Sunday at the Talladega Superspeedway.
This was one for the ages, folks. As six cars vyed for the lead with 100 yards to go, Johnson made an aggressive move to the inside and edged his way to the front of the pack and poked the nose of his car over the finish line a mere .0020 of a second ahead of Clint Bowyer and .0039 ahead of my main man Jeff Gordon. A crushing defeat for both. Ricky Bobby did not finish.
Charlie Davies: I'm not a soccer connoisseur by any means, but it wouldn't feel right if I didn't discuss the great story developing in our nation's capital. In October of 2009, Davies was involved in a near-fatal car accident that required extensive surgery to repair a shattered femur, broken elbow, broken nose, forehead and eye socket.
Kissing his chances of lacing his boots up for the U.S. in the World Cup goodbye, Davies started his long and painful rehab process. After almost a full year and a half, the Brooks School alum (also home to Bowdoin's own Jimmy Herter '11) is making his miraculous comeback tour in style.
In his first game for D.C. United, he came off the bench and netted two goals. In his first start for the squad last Saturday he registered a crucial goal for the United, his fifth in the last four games.
Letdowns:
Phoenix Coyotes: Tough draw for any team to be paired up for Detroit in the first round, let alone Phoenix. The team is in desperate need of a solid playoff run to help its chances of the organization staying afloat in Glendale, but the Red Wings are putting that notion to rest and doing so with authority. If the Red Wings complete the series it will be the second year in a row that they knock out the Coyotes.
And right now it doesn't look like the Coyotes are putting up much of a fight. They're playing uptight and getting inconsistent goaltending from Ilya Bryzgalov...not ideal. Can't see them getting swept, I think Detroit will clinch it back at the Joe.
Carl Crawford: And the hitting woes continue for the newly acquired Crawford. The numbers (.133 batting average, 0 home runs, 2 RBIs) certainly don't indicate the expectations that the Red Sox had for their stud left fielder. In an attempt to combat this slump, Terry Francona has continually shuffled him around the lineup, but nothing really has seemed to work.
It is only April and Crawford can look down the locker room to certain teammates of his—David Ortiz and Dustin Pedroia—who've gotten off to similar starts in the recent past. What happened to Ortiz and Pedroia? Laser show. Red Sox Nation can only hope for the same result with Crawford.
Shaq: While it pains me to do so, I'm going to keep going on this theme of Boston letdowns. I feel like I haven't seen Shaq play a basketball game since January, oh wait that's right, he hasn't (not counting that 49 second stint in April where he somehow found a way to injure himself).
Now when the Celtics decided to sign Shaq this past summer, I was a little skeptical due to his age, health, declining statistics and egoist mentality; but I never thought it could get this bad. All those skits of him being a conductor for the Boston Pops and acting as a fake statue in Harvard Square were tolerated when he was actually playing. Reports say that he's getting better, but I won't believe it until he's on the court and actually putting in substantial minutes. Sure makes the Perkins trade a whole lot tougher to swallow.
Kenny Britt: Britt, a skilled 22-year-old wide receiver for the Tennessee Titans, was arrested earlier this month in his hometown of Bayonne, New Jersey. Apparently he thought that it would be a good idea to get his Porsche going 71 in a 50 mph zone (which isn't the worst speeding violation I've ever heard of) but then try to speed away from the ensuing cop. Just a stellar idea. To make matters worse, it's Britt's third time being arrested since entering the league two years ago. Figure it out, pal.
Jam of the Week: This week was tough for me. I'm not going to lie, I struggled a bit trying to find a respectable tune. I've decided to go with Lady Gaga's new single entitled "Judas." I'm a fan of Gaga, especially her older stuff. Nothing can quite beat "Just Dance" for me. However, this song kind of reminds me of "Bad Romance;" it has the similar style. I didn't like it initially, but it's been growing on me. And so the statement goes: one man's garbage is another's gold.