Wow. Just heard something about Hockey

So I'm listening to a little sports radio right now. WFAN to be specific (I'll be sure to hit them up for advertising money). I heard something that almost made me spit my coffee out. These two guys are talking about Olympics hockey and commenting on what a high level of intensity (as is always part of the lexicon concerning Hockey) is being displayed during each game. And then I heard something that I've only heard about the NBA: "Too bad that if/when the casual fan tunes into regular season hockey, once the Olympics is over, they will be disappointed because the intensity level isn't like that during the regular season. During the playoffs its intense, but not the regular season."

Whaaaat? I thought that only the NBA was guilty of this? Only those millionaire hooligans with the tattoos didn't play with all-out intensity during the regular season. Why is this the only time I've heard this about Hockey? Maybe because whenever I've listened to sports radio and Hockey is brought up, I switch stations quickly and look for some Nas or Jay-Z. If I'm being totally honest, I'll leave Cyndi Lauper on if it'll mean getting me away from Hockey.

I guess the point I'm bringing up though is that this rarely is brought up, if ever. When I do listen to people talk about Hockey, its always in this tone that all should revere Hockey as it is the last bastion of true, competitive sport. There aren't spoiled millionaires with entourages and they get all the super models too to boot (for anyone speaking Canadian, I wrote "boot", not "aboot", or about).

I've never considered Hockey to be a real "sport". Besides the athletic aspect of a competition being a sport, in my book, there should also be an element of, um, no sanctioned fighting. And yes, I know there is a penalty box when you hit someone with a weapon (hockey stick). But its still allowed basically, as is fighting.

Maybe Hockey gets a pass because its on ice? Like, "Grease on Ice", or, "Cats on Ice", etc. It makes everything cuter and cuddlier I guess. So fighting doesn't seem so bad if guys are slipping a little while trying to incapacitate someone by pulling their jersey over their head so their defenseless and THEN punching them in the face (because ordinarily, that's a fair fight?). Maybe that's it? Because I can't even imagine the uproar that would take place if America, or the heartland of America, seeing Lebron pulling Kobe's jersey over his head so that he couldn't defend himself and then punching him in the face. That ultra-human known as Lebron would be in jail for murder because he might decapitate someone in that situation. Does that guy with that very business-like mullet on ESPN ever say anything semi-negative about the NHL? I don't know.

I can't quite place my finger on why there is this disparate difference in the coverage of the two sports? Can anyone help me?

Tiger. What else?

Tiger Woods. The name. The brand. It used to be associated with golf, big money, advertising, Chrysler, etc. Now? Well, just google his name now in case you've been buried in a closet somewhere.

He had his first press conference a couple of days ago (way to be on top of things, huh?) and its had some mixed reviews. He was stiff up there. I'm not sure if he meant what he said, but at least he said it. I'm not going to pretend that I know what he was thinking, which is what a lot of members in the media have been trying to say. I'm not sure because he's always been stiff. He's never seemed particularly effusive when at a podium. He's a boring guy. Oh wait, he plays golf. Right.

The only time he shows a lot of emotion - according to reports - is when he doesn't hit a shot as perfectly as he would like. I, personally, don't care. Golf is a boring game - even the announcers whisper their commentary during telecasts - and if he's there cursing up a storm after not hitting the perfect 50ft. putt, people say it's "disrespectful" to the game. Honestly, I think it would be entertaining. John Daly gets a pass because I guess he doesn't curse at holes. I'm assuming he doesn't because no one has ever mentioned it. Even though he's a bit of a cult hero because he's a drunk, I guess he gets a pass because he "respects" the game. But man, it sure seems like they've been dying to go at Tiger.

All guns a blazin'

Over the last couple of months, I've been hearing members of the sports media saying some pretty ludicrous things: "how dare he", "he owes us an apology", etc. Really, are these guys serious? Tiger owes his family (wife, children, in-laws) an apology. But a sportscaster? Dude, you got a degree in sports journalism and you have what pretty much amounts to a dream job. You get to talk and write about sports. When did you become a holy roller? This is the sports world. Are these guys naive enough to think that Tiger is the only athlete to cheat on his wife? I'm married with child and I wouldn't do it, but for these guys to get indignant is ridiculous. Sports writers have looked the other way for years when it comes to athletes infidelities. So he was wrong because his wife caught him cheating on her? It has the feel to me that the media has just been counting the days when they could jump him. Literally, the other day I heard a sports talk show host yelling about how Tiger owes him an apology. Dude, you talk about sports: That's all you do. Don't take yourself too seriously.

Politicians are the one's that run on these Family Morals platforms. THEY are the ones that are the hypocrites. Tiger just sold you a car and did it based on his ability to hit a golf ball. He didn't say, "Buy this car, because I won't play my wife dirty". Just buy the damn car already.

What do you guys think? Is this another case of the media just thinking that they are more important than they really are? I'm tired of these people - yeah I said it, these people - thinking that athletes have to bow down to them. KRS-One should make a song about this.