andPOP - Pop Culture With Substance

The Play offs have started.

The last hockey game I bought for full price was Wayne Gretzky’s 3D Hockey for the N64, since then I haven’t really fallen in love with any new hockey games. Sure, I’ve played my share but nothing has captured the frenzy of the old hockey games and has left me wondering if maybe my expectations are a bit too high.  No, I haven’t been under a rock or anything, I’ve played and kept up to date on the newer NHL games but nothing has really stood out enough for me to merit a purchase.

When talks were brewing about NHL 2K10 utilizing the Wii Motion Plus accessory I was really excited to see how evolutionary this title might turn out to be. This excitement was due to the fact that the last sports title I played that utilized the Motion Plus was the excellent Tiger Woods 10. In the end it’s the actual utilization of this little gizmo that will either make or break this title.

So does NHL 2k10 have what it takes? READ MORE »

There are two things I have never done. 1) I have never gotten so into a sporting event that I yelled for (or at) a team or player. 2) I have never gotten so into a video game that I jumped up, yelled at the screen, and swore. NHL 10 for the Xbox 360 made me do both, and I have to admit, I liked it.

I’ve never been an emotional gamer, and I’ve never been that much into sports (then again, as a Canadian, I feel there’s a default certain level of national pride we all share with hockey), but when playing as the Toronto Maple leafs and winning 2-1 on game seven against Ottawa for the Stanley Cup and with less than 1 minute left in the third period you can’t help but get a little into it when Ottawa scores the tying goal with seconds left on the clock. Yes, I jumped up, yes my voice got loud and shrill, and yes I did say some things that would make a sailor blush. I think this was the most rewarding aspect of NHL 10, that after 17 past NHL titles, EA still has what it takes to make a casual hockey fan into a raving sports fanatic, and I didn’t see it coming. READ MORE »

Are you excited for EA Sports NHL 10? If you’re Canadian, probably.  The #1 selling console game in Canada has it’s launch parties in Toronto and Vancouver Monday, September 14.  The Toronto party will be at the Yonge and Dundas Future Shop with Wendel Clark and Ian White (of Maple Leafs fame) from 9pm to 11:45pm, and in Vancouver’s Granville and Robson Future Shop with Trevor Linden of the Canucks.  The Future Shop locations will be open until 1am, so check it out if you’re not too busy… and on a Monday night, what’s your excuse?

Cheers!

Get the version that includes the motion plus!

A Glorious Swing!

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10

You know a little more than a decade ago I remember golf breaking into the gaming scene.  Back then Tiger Woods was fast on his way to becoming a worldwide recognizable sports icon, which meant we were going to get a new game  franchise thrown our way. Besides the Hotshotz series of games, we had nothing really serious and cool on the consoles… well Mario Golf was definitely one of the better titles out there on the N64.

My first Tiger Woods PGA Tour experience was with the 2004 edition. I was amazed at how gorgeous this game looked running on a ps2, it played like a deeper, realistic version of the famed Hotshotz golf games. Suddenly we had an alternative to the arcade-like golf games on our consoles. READ MORE »

Olympian champion Michael Phelps made a public apology on Wednesday after being photographed inhaling from a marijuana bong.

In the picture, 23-year old Phelps is captured engaging in illegal drug activity at a South Carolina party nearly three months after his record-breaking performance at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

Stephen Marche from the National Post commented online that ‘the real anomaly in Phelps’s life isn’t his marijuana usage, it’s his 12-litre lung capacity and 12,000-calories a day diet’. The editorial included Phelps’s apology.

“I engaged in behavior which was regrettable and demonstrated bad judgment,” Phelps said in the statement released by one of his agents. “I’m 23 years old and despite the successes I’ve had in the pool, I acted in a youthful and inappropriate way, not in a manner people have come to expect from me. For this, I am sorry. I promise my fans and the public it will not happen again”.

The consequences of Phelps’s actions are yet to be determined. The Richland County Sheriff released a statement saying that it was going to look into pressing charges, and embarrassed corporate sponsors might be looking into retracting their deal with the swimmer.

As of today, the only sponsor to drop Phelps is Kellogg’s. There was speculation over Phelps’s big deal with Subway, but according to Perez Hilton’s online blog, a publicist for Subway has refuted claims that Phelps will be dropped as a sandwich spokesperson.

Not only will CTV be airing the Olympics in 2010 and 2012, but they will also have a familiar face reporting on them.

CTV announced yesterday that Brain Williams of CBC will be joining the network in the new year.

“Brian Williams has been the face of the Olympics for Canadians for decades and we’re delighted that he will bring this legacy to CTV for 2010 and 2012,” says Rick Brace, president of CTV Inc.

Williams will also be featured on TSN, as well as other sporting assignments and will be the network’s primetime anchor for the 2010 and 2012 Olympics.

“For more than 30 years, I’ve enjoyed tremendously my role with the CBC. Now, I look forward to joining the CTV/TSN team and the opportunity to play a role in shaping coverage for Vancouver 2010,” Williams said after the announcement had been made.

Rob Parker of the Detroit News recently reported that LeBron James? deal with Nike (currently at $100 million) will double if he leaves the Cleveland Cavaliers and opts to sign with Chicago, New York or Los Angeles.

Now, I?m sure legally and logistically that?s acceptable, but just what are we promoting here? With David Stern?s adamant rejection of all things to do with sports gambling, including turning down the possibility of an NBA franchise in Las Vegas until the city agrees to take NBA games off the agenda (good luck!), this should be raising many eyebrows. However, to this point, it hasn?t.

Maybe it?s because we?re so used to corporations affecting sports, or maybe it?s because we?re just so jaded at this point? with the sex boats, steroids and spoiled athletes. But it seems as if we simply do not care anymore.

I?ve yet to read an article on how this is one of the most blatant examples of big business interfering with the equality and competitiveness of professionally sports. Maybe that?s because most of the big sports writers live in New York, Chicago or Los Angeles.

Stern?s overly concerned with bookies and point-shaving, but really what is the difference? Dictionary.com defines point-shaving as: ?The illegal practice of deliberately limiting the number of points scored by one’s team in an athletic contest, as in return for a payment from gamblers to ensure winnings.?

If LeBron were to snub a smaller market team simply because he?d make more endorsement money if he went to New York, L.A. or Chi-town (not that he?d ever admit that, of course), I?d call that team-shaving? a much more egregious offense. In my dictionary, team-shaving is defined as: The reprehensible practice of deliberately limiting the competitiveness of small to medium sized market teams in a professional athletics league, as in return for a payment from big business.

And if we let that slide, why even hold a draft lottery? Why not just give preferential draft positioning according to the size of a given team?s market? Ohh right, because that wouldn?t be fair!

In an age where salary caps are becoming reality and the dream of your team having a shot to win a championship is sold to gullible sports fans, this is a step backwards and simply unacceptable. Why step in on the issue of gambling, and not on this? Does Nike have David Stern in their pocket as well? Perhaps that old tale of Stern freezing New York’s lottery ball, back in the Patrick Ewing draft, to ensure the Knicks would land the first overall pick was more fact than fiction.

With most teams having played 30 or more of their 82 game schedule, the NBA landscape is becoming clearer. The good teams are separating themselves from the average and poor teams, and despite some interesting surprises, the outlook for the NBA Finals in June looks pretty much like what we predicted prior to the season. The San Antonio Spurs, Detroit Pistons, and Miami Heat are still the clear favourites to win it all.

The Detroit Pistons are dominating the league and have many people not only talking about a Finals appearance, but also a regular season MVP award for their floor leader, Chauncey Billups. Some even see the Pistons challenging the record for most wins in a season. That record is currently held by the 1995-1996 Chicago Bulls who won 72 games that year.

Miami is the only other legitimate contender in the East. They are still struggling with the transition from former coach Stan Van Gundy to new coach Pat Riley (who is also the team President and likely the reason for Van Gundy?s departure) and also with team chemistry after making significant roster moves in the off-season. Did Pat Riley tinker too much? After all, they would have beat Detroit in last year?s Eastern finals if it hadn?t been for key injuries to their star players, namely Shaquille O?Neal. Even if the moves were a good idea, will Riley be able to turn this club of self-centered players into a championship team? The regular season record doesn?t matter much for the Heat; as with most good teams, it?s all about preparing for the playoffs (in Miami?s case, preparing for the Pistons).

The Indiana Pacers have underachieved so far and are facing yet another media circus surrounding their troubled star wingman Ron Artest, who has publicly asked for a trade. Management has decided not to play Artest and have asked him to stay home until a trade can be arranged.

The Cleveland Cavaliers and New Jersey Nets have been positive surprises with their early season play and may be capable of a playoff upset.

The New York Knicks have been a huge disappointment this season after numerous questionable off-season moves to both their coaching staff and player roster. The Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards have also struggled much more than expected.

In the Western Conference the San Antonio Spurs continue to quietly and professionally go about their business of dominating the conference. Perennial MVP candidate Tim Duncan leads one of the deepest and best coached teams in the league. It is difficult to see anyone stopping a healthy Spurs team from reaching the Finals.

The Phoenix Suns have been a big surprise in the Western conference. The Suns have been without Amare Stoudemire the entire season and lost two key starters this summer. Reigning MVP Steve Nash is proving that award was well deserved by leading an entirely new club to third best record in the West. Yet surprisingly Nash has garnered no MVP buzz this year?

The second best record belongs to the Dallas Mavericks who are showing an astounding commitment to defense, along with their traditional high powered offense. Underachievers in the West include the Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, Seattle Supersonics, and Sacramento Kings who would all miss the playoffs if the season ended today.

Overall, it has been a very interesting NBA season to date? and we?re not even at the all-star break. The playoffs should prove to be worth the price of admission.

It?s now 2006, and because everyone is either hung over or just really tired , I?ll give you a nice quick-hitter column. Instead of doing clich? new years resolutions, I?ll put on my Dr. Phil hat and dish out some advice for our beloved sports celebs.

? Mike Tyson- For the love of all that is good in this world, please do not appear in Playgirl (as has been rumoured for some time). You can imagine what a slippery slope that is…

? Phil Jackson- Next time you decide to come back into coaching, try not to do it with a player you called ?uncoachable.? Oh, and maybe you could learn a thing or two from Pat Riley? your chances of success greatly increase when you have a guy named Shaquille O?Neal on your team.

? Lenny Wilkins- It?s over Lenny. The only thing you should be allowed to coach now is an octogenarian bingo team.

? Rudy Gay- Thought by many as being the best prospect in the next NBA draft, Rudy Gay should consider changing his last name. Many NBA players have openly stated they wouldn?t be comfortable with a homosexual teamate, which sets the tone for a very anti-gay sport. This trickles down to the fans, many of whom have already laughed at the potential purple Raptors jersey with Gay across the back. A Nightmare for marketing. I?m not saying it?s right, but it?s a reality.

? Minnesota Vikings- Sea a Ho, Land ahoy. I don?t blame the Vikings for the notorious ?sex boat? incident. I blame the sea; there have been many tales of what the sea can do to weak-willed men. Stay on land me matees.

? Larry Brown- Who leaves the Detroit Pistons to coach the New York Knicks? Larry, my advice to you? seek professional mental help, something?s not right there.

? Ron Artest- Call Larry Brown and ask for his psychiatrist?s number ASAP.

? Latrell Sprewell- Call Ron Artest for Larry Brown?s psychiatrist?s number ASAP. Or just see a financial advisor and learn how to feed your family on only tens of millions of dollars a year. Poor Sprewells.

? Michelle Wie & Annika Sorenstam- Not that they can?t compete at a high level in the PGA, I just don?t think they should. If I?m not mistaken, there is a LPGA, is there not? This just reeks of reverse-sexism. If they?re allowed to play in the PGA, I think NBA bench warmers should be able to play in the WNBA. It?s only fair.

New York Rangers? forward Jaromir Jagr is the cover boy of this week?s issue of the Hockey News with the headline that reads: ?I Love New York.?

The last time fans saw Jagr, it would be hard to convince anyone he loved playing in the Big Apple. It seemed the passion Jagr displayed during his years in Pittsburgh was gone.

However, with a full NHL campaign lost due to a labour dispute, it is out with the old and in with the new.

Jagr is one of the many NHL players who have embraced the rule changes implemented by the League to allow the offensive, skilled players the time and space to be crafty with the puck to boost scoring and create excitement for fans.

During the lockout last season, Jagr re-gained his love for the game of hockey when he played for Avangard Omsk of the Russian Super League. Jagr even agreed to return to Omsk if the lockout would have continued on into this season as well.

Prior to the start of the season, the question surrounding Jagr was: ?Which Jagr would show up? Would it be the Jagr who played in Pittsburgh or the Jagr who played in Washington and New York??

Along with the ?new? NHL, fans and reporters alike have seen a ?new? Jagr lead his team with 23 points in only 15 games. The Rangers as a team have been a pleasant surprise as they current sit atop of the Atlantic division in the East. If the Rangers keep up their winning ways, they could be poised to make the playoffs for the first time since 1997.

Alexei Kovalev, Jagr?s former team mate in both Pittsburgh and New York, is also proving critics wrong with his play thus far this season.

Kovalev, who re-signed with the Montreal Canadiens after testing the free agent market this summer, cleared up any thoughts that he did not enjoy his brief stint with the Habs after being traded from the Rangers in March 2004.

After a slow start with Montreal, Kovalev showed what he was made of during the playoffs as he was a key player in helping the Canadiens upset the Boston Bruins in the first round.

With the crackdown on obstruction, Kovalev has been given the room he desires to hold onto the puck and cycle dangerously around the opposing net. This season, Kovalev has 16 points in 15 games and has seemingly been a positive role model for rookie Alexander Perezhogin.

Montreal fans have been treated to an Alexei Kovalev who not only scores goals, but passes the puck, doesn?t over-stay his shifts, delivers hits, blocks shots, plays defensively to kill off penalties and so far has yet to give up on plays like he has done in the past.

Both Jagr and Kovalev are surrounded by skilled linemates, [Michael Nylander & Martin Straka for Jagr and Saku Koivu & Richard Zednik for Kovalev], which helps enhance their play as first-line players and also being a part of winning teams helps boost their confidence.

Prior to the start of the season, Kovalev, eager to bring another championship home to Montreal, was quoted as saying playing in New York messed up his career and the Rangers in the last few years are notorious for ruining careers of star players.

That may have been the case since the Rangers, who had the highest payroll in the pre-salary cap era of the NHL, were New York?s greatest under-achievers; however, Jagr and a younger Rangers squad are proving that anything is possible in the new NHL.