Raptors Keep Winning, Wild Card Weekend Predictions and More!

Kyle Lowry is a fucking beast, as far as athletes on Toronto teams go I would have to say he is the best, Jose Bautista and Phil Kessel might have something to say about it, but Kyle Lowry is a bonafide MVP candidate and he keeps getting better and better.  I really don't give a flying fuck about All-Star games, but if he isn't a starter this year that would be a crime.  Currently he sits fourth in voting behind John Wall, Dwayne Wade and Kyrie Irving, all those are great players, especially John Wall but Lowry is better.  What a performance last night in Denver playing in altitude on the second half of a back to back, he only came out with 31 points and 11 assists for the double-double.  He is capable of carrying this team on his back alone, but he is also great at getting his teammates involved.  If a 32 year old didn't look like a clown in a basketball jersey I would definitely get one of his. I was worried about the Clippers game last week... why?  That was a really fun game to watch, it was close most of the game until "We The Forth" took over.  The Raptors/Clippers game was the only game happening at the time, and the rest of the NBA world must have stood up and noticed the Raptors if they haven't already.  I know it's the typical Canadian little brother syndrome, but I love it when ESPN or TNT or any other American sports outlets praise the Raptors, after years of ignoring them.  The Raptors are finally getting the respect they deserve.

The Week Ahead: @ Portland (12/30), @ Golden State (1/2), @ Phoenix (1/4).  The Raptors West Coast Swing continues against two of the elite teams in all of basketball.... and the Suns (who are still a pretty decent team!)  Last week I said I would be thrilled if the Raptors went 3-3 on this trip, and they are already 2-1 thus far.  I am really looking forward to both the Portland and Golden State games, they are such fun teams to watch, plus it's late starts!  I love late games, back when I was a working man dick I hated them, but now I have nothing better to do but stay up until 1 am watching sports!

While I just fawned over how great Kyle Lowry was, I have to say Phil Kessel is the best too.  Last night he only played his 400th straight game for the Leafs, he hasn't missed a game since his debut.  But according to fucking Dave Feschuk and the rest of the squids in the Toronto media, who get all poopy pants when he doesn't want to talk to them, he is lazy, fat and out of shape.  I'm lazy, fat and out of shape, I know my own kind and Phil Kessel isn't one of us.  I really hate the Toronto sports media, the same dick heads that never gave Hall of Famer Mats Sundin any credit criticize Phil Kessel at every turn, when he has only been consistently in the Top 10 in NHL scoring every year he's been in Toronto.  Sure he goes through dry spells, but who doesn't?  I'd take him on my team before anyone else in the NHL... mumpy face Crosby included.  Anyways, the Leafs only had two games this past week, they dominated Dallas, but since that game was before Christmas it seems like it was a month ago instead of a week ago.  They really looked like shit against Florida last night, save for a little stretch in the second where they scored all their goals.  Richard Panik who has been awesome this season left the game with a concussion... ugh hopefully he isn't gone as long as Leo Komarov has been.

The Week Ahead: @ Tampa Bay (12/29), @ Boston (12/31), @ Minnesota (1/2), @ Winnipeg (1/3).  This road trip continues against some tough opponents.  Tampa Bay is amongst the elite in the NHL, so I am not counting on anything from that tonight, we always suck against Boston, especially in front of their Masshole fans... Minnesota is boring and shitty, and the Jets are surprisingly having a good year.  Like I have said all season the Leafs are so fucking bipolar it's tough to say what team will show up... the team that gets horrifically out shot with very little offensive puck possession, relies on amazing goaltending and manages to win, or if all that still happens and they look like the Mighty Ducks before Emilio Estevez was forced to coach those little fuck heads.

The World Juniors are in full swing and as usual Canada is destroying weaker competition.  We kicked the ever loving shit out of Slovakia on Boxing Day, I miss playing France on Boxing Day, there is nothing better than beating the French... well maybe beating Germany like we did the next night.  Canada has a long and storied history of beating the Krauts at things - hockey, World Wars etc.  The top line of Max Domi, Anthony Duclair and Sam Reinhart have been amazing, obviously the apple doesn't fall far from the tree with Max Domi, as his old man Tie was the best.  Things get a little tougher for Canada as we play reigning gold medalists Finland tonight, the same Finnish team that knocked us out in the semi-finals last year, and the stinkin' Americans on New Years Eve.  At least those games there will be some competition, it gets a little boring to beat the shit out of these weaker hockey nations.  The elimination rounds happen this weekend and the gold medal game is next Monday night, hopefully we'll be in it!

As I correctly predicted last week, the Bills showed up and beat the god forsaken Patriots in Foxborough for the first time since 2000 when the game did not matter for either side.  Still a win is a win and fuck Tom Brady, fuck Bill Belichuk and fuck that cave man Gronk.  The win left them at 9-7 on the season.... their first winning season in a decade, ugh.  Kyle Orton retired, so the Bills are either have to make a move at QB or decide to go with EJ Manuel, it'll be interesting to see how that pans out.  Doug "Moron" Marrone looks like he is going keep his job (stupid decision), hopefully he deep-sixes Nathanial "Can't" Hackett and get a decent offensive co-ordinator.  If they can get a decent QB and some good offensive linemen then this is a playoff team next year.  Hopefully Jim Schwartz sticks around, because their defense is unbelievable and Kiko Alonso coming back next season will just make them better.

NFL playoffs are upon us and wild card weekend is always the best football you'll see all season.  Call your bookies and get your Pro-Line tickets ready because these are my can't miss predictions for the games this weekend:

ARIZONA @ CAROLINA

WINNER:

It's a fucking joke that Carolina is in the playoffs, let alone hosting a game just because they won the god-awful NFC South.  Arizona was having a break-out season before Carson Palmer got hurt, and they still managed to play pretty well without him.  Cam Newton is good, but they aren't good enough to pull this one off.

BALTIMORE @ PITTSBURGH

WINNER:

I have a soft spot for the Steelers, I've always kind of liked them, plus Pittsburgh is an awesome city... it reminds me of Hamilton.  Pittsburgh is back in the playoffs after missing it last year, and Big Ben is a 2 time Super Bowl winner, come January he could easily string some wins together.  Steelers-Ravens games are always good ol' time football games, the way it was meant to be played, so I am expecting a hard-hitting tough affair with the Steelers pulling it off.

CINCINNATI @ INDIANAPOLIS 

WINNER:

This is the HDH upset of the week, yeah Indy has Andrew Luck and they are playing at home but I don't trust the Colts.  The Bengals played in a way tougher division than Indy who coasted into the playoffs, plus I always liked their Tiger-Striped helmets.  I can see this game going down to the wire, with the Bengals pulling it off late.

DETROIT @ DALLAS

WINNER:

This was a tough one for me too choose, I have a soft spot for the Detroit Lions, as I can identify with any long-suffering fan base.  I am a big fan of Calvin Johnson and Matthew Stafford, but I don't see them beating Dallas, especially in Big D.  DonkeyKong Suh went out and got himself suspended again for stomping on Aaron Rodger's ankle yesterday... does this guy have difficulties? Seriously how dumb can he be.  I kind of have a soft spot for the Cowboys too, I got over my hatred of them from the early 90's when they beat the Bills in back to back Super Bowls.  Tony Romo is good despite his many critics and Dez Bryant and DeMarco Murray are unreal, I want this to be a high scoring game with Dallas coming through in the end.

Well that's my last post of 2014... it's been a year of a lot of ups and downs for me, but the last few months have definitely been on the "up" side of things.  I actually want to expand this sports blog a little more in the New Year.  I want to start a podcast with my buddy, who is also very sports inclined and is hilarious.  Maybe get a new website for my sports blogs and the podcast, make it slightly more professional looking and keep this one for my Big Brother and Food Reviews... we'll see it's just a thought but I think it would be fun.  Until then I hope you have a very Happy New Year and as usual hit me up on twitter @HDH2112 

A Rare Trifecta, Jack Armstrong Drinking Game and more!!

A rare thing occurred yesterday.  A trifecta of victories amongst my teams - the Bills, Leafs and Raptors all were victorious, I don't think that has ever happened.  Because of the overlap in seasons it isn't very often 3 of my teams play on the same day, a Bills/Leafs/Raptors trifecta is especially rare as the Leafs rarely play on Sundays when the Bills always play (also it's not often the 3 teams would win in recent years).  So needless to say yesterday I was on cloud fuckin' 9.

#BUDSALLDAY

Sweet hollering fuck were the Leafs ever glorious last week.  In this blog post last week I foresaw a tough week for my beloved Maple Leafs, and said that they will need "Nelson" Bernier to be in top form to get through that.  What tough week?? They went 4-0 against those shit-heads and they got excellent goaltending from both Nelson, and James "Optimus Reim" Reimer.  I'm a fan of both Bernier and Reimer, someone accused me of being a Reimer "Nut Hugger" on Facebook last week, and yeah I am a bit of a nut-hugger I like Optimus, and I think he can flourish in a #1 role on another team, and I don't like the way that Randy Carlyle has treated him.  In the meantime I like the idea of Bernier and Reimer being a 1a and 1b... you can never have enough goaltending.  Optimus was especially lights out against the Chicken Wings last Wednesday, he was the main reason we picked up two points against those assholes.

Someone buy this shirt for me for Christmas at http://teespring.com/budsalldaybud

The other thing that I have loved about the Leafs so far this season is they FINALLY have a great puck-possessing 3rd and 4th line.  Last season that piece of shit Randy Carlyle insisted on icing 2 face-punchers a night in Colton Orr and Fraser McClaren, don't get me wrong I am not one of those anti-fighting weasels like Damien Cox, I love a good scrap, but in todays NHL you don't dress 2 goons, it is a waste of a roster spot.  Instead of those cavemen, players like Richard Panik "On the team of Carlyle", Daniel Winnik, Mike Santorelli and Leo Komarov (when healthy) have stepped up, and provided the team with great production, they need this secondary scoring especially when they have streaky players like my beloved Phil Kessel playing on the first line.  Santorelli and Panik especially have had break out years, I give Dave Nonis a lot of (deserved) shit but those were shrewd pick ups.  Buds All Day.  Buds All Fucking Day.

The Week Ahead: vs. Anaheim (12/16), @ Carolina (12/18), vs. Philadelphia (12/20), @ Chicago (12/21).  This is the last gasp of the Leafs big homestand before they're kicked out of the ACC for the World Junior Tournament.  Corey Perry has the fucking mumps so the Ducks are missing their best player, Carolina is shit and so are the Flyers, but the Blackhawks should be a tough test.  The nerds are all saying the Leafs play isn't sustainable and they'll come crashing down to earth but fuck you nerds, what have you ever done for us (besides every scientific and technological advance in history).  The Leafs play again on Sunday, what is with these Sunday games? Sunday is for football, quit trying to make Hometown Hockey a thing Rogers, nobody cares that some Jethro from Moose Jaw grew up playing hockey on an outdoor rink.  I hate that shit.

The Raptors had a good week, their only blemish being the loss to the fucking Cleveland LeBrons, they also nearly lost to the Nuggets last Monday.  The Raptors against Denver and Cleveland were being out-rebounded and out-played late in the game (what happened to We the Fourth??)  and unfortunately that cost them against the LeBrons.  They kicked the shit out of Indiana like they were supposed to, but last night in New York they still won but they looked very sluggish.  The Knicks brought their A game against the Raptors, shitty teams are always going to do that now against the Raptors, and it is up to the Raps not to play down to their level.  I think they were out partying in NYC on the Saturday night, and no I don't think that is a big fucking deal.  These kids have millions of dollars at their disposal, they're in their 20's, of course they are going to go out partying in Manhattan, I would be very disappointed in them if they didn't.  Thankfully it didn't cost them a loss like it did in LA a few weeks ago.

The Jack Armstrong Drinking Game 

I fucking love Jack Armstrong, when the Raptors were shitty and unwatchable, he was the only reason to tune into a game.  My buddy and I have come up with a Jack Armstrong drinking game, when you do this, you'll end up as drunk as he is during the broadcasts.  You must take a drink everytime Jack:

Says Helloooooooooooooo. Usually done when showing a replay of a big dunk.

Says either MGD!! or BACARDI!!!! Gotta get those sponsorship plugs in.

Says Matty D  He always refers to Matt Devlin as Matty D.

Says GET THAT GAHH-BAGE OUTTA HERE!! Always screamed during a replay of a massive block/rejection.

Complains about the Referees:  He was really losing his mind during the playoffs last year, and he was getting really pissed off over LeBron getting calls.  Our Jack does not take refereeing bullshit laying down.

Concedes a good call was made by the refs:  Usually I am up screaming at the refs when a call against the Raptors is made, but often on the replay Jack will calm me down and begrudgingly admit the refs made the correct call, maybe take two drinks when this happens because NBA refs fuck up more often than not.

Jack Sings:  This is especially prevalent during the Holiday Season, he'll sing "Silver Bells" or that bizarre "Happy Holidaaaaaaays" song when Matty D is announcing some Christmas Ticket promotion.  Thankfully he doesn't sing Bon Jovi anymore.

Goes off Topic:  Usually done when Matty D says somthing about one of the sponsors, Jack spent a good two minutes talking Swifter Sweepers a couple of weeks ago.

Mentions coaching at Niagara or being from Brooklyn.  Pretty self explanatory.

Gets Excited:  This is a judgement call for you and your friends, I've generally said this happens when he raises his voice a few octaves, he usually does this going into a commercial, but he will do it throughout the broadcast.

Says "A little pepperoni, a little sauseech" You MUST finish your drink if this happens, as this doesn't happen anymore.  In years past the Raptors would have a promotion where if they scored over 100 points and won everyone in the crowd would get a slice of pizza.  So when the Raptors would break 100 points, Jack would ALWAYS say "A little pepperoni!! A little sauseech!!" He's only said this once this season, he went off topic (so that is already a drink) talking about pizza to Matty D, and yes he did say, "a little pepperoni, a little sauseech!" This drinking game didn't exist then, but if it did I would've shot gun a beer.

The Week Ahead: vs. Orlando (12/15), vs. Brooklyn (12/17), @ Detroit (12/19), vs. New York (12/21).  Another week and another 4 match-ups against Eastern Conference shit bags.  I know this is recurring theme but the Raptors must take advantage of this light schedule, especially with DeMar DeRozan on the mend.  Game of the week for me should be the pay back against Brooklyn on Wednesday, Brooklyn no longer has Paul Pierce, but they still have Kevin Garnett who is one of the most loathsome players in the NBA.  Fuck Brooklyn!.

Perhaps I should write-off my teams more often??  In completely shocking news the Buffalo Bills upset Super Bowl favourite Green Bay.  The funny thing is the Bills offense did all they could to let the Packers back into the game, but that defense... holy fuck that defense is amazing.  For the second week in a row they have made an elite quarterback look rather pedestrian, but unfortunately for the Bills they only have a pedestrian quarterback in Kyle Orton and even shittier offensive play calling.  If it wasn't for the Special Teams (Former Ti-Cat Marcus Thigpen with the punt return TD!!) and the magical boot of Dan Carpenter, they could have well blown that defensive masterpiece.  For the first time in over a decade, heading into Week 16 the Bills are still "in the hunt" for a playoff spot.  The game that will stick out for me if they miss the playoffs was the Week 10 loss against Kansas City, we should've won that game based on the defense, but the atrocious offensive play calling led to a 17-13 defeat.  That game could be the one we'll need to get into the playoffs.

The Week Ahead: @ Oakland (12/21).  When I looked at their December schedule I assumed this was the one game that they'd win, and it is definitely a must-win if they want to still be considered in the hunt for a playoff spot.  Oakland is hot garbage, but they did beat Kansas City and San Francisco, and as the Bills proved yesterday anything is possible.  The Bills have Pittsburgh and Baltimore ahead of them in the standings, and they are tied with Kansas City and San Diego. I am not smart enough to determine what scenarios are best for the Bills, but they are going to need to win out, and it starts against Oakland on Sunday.

Well that's all for this week.  I just realized next Sunday we could see another Trifecta of victories for my team, which would be awesome because it is 12/21... reverse that and you've got 21/12.  As in @HDH2112 and 2112, my lucky number and the one the best albums of all time - Rush 2112.  I am going to try my hardest to have a post up Monday, but I might be in transit to London for the Christmas Holidays (hahaha holidays, I've been on vacation since April!), so if I don't post next week I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas!

Buds All Day, AA the Best and more!

We saw two different versions of the Leafs last week, the same team that made short work of the Dallas Stars and the god forsaken Vancouver Canucks and the creepy Sedin twins, lost in extremely boring fashion to the New Jersey Devils.  That Devils game sucked, but such is life in an 82 game season, sometimes you're the dog, sometimes you're the fire hydrant.  What really pissed me off about that Devils game is that some cretin threw his jersey on the ice... really bud?  This jersey tossing thing is so fucking stupid and it needs to end immediately. Yeah the Leafs came out flat and played like shit, but they were playing the Devils who without Jagr and Elias (combined age 114) played typical boring neutral zone trap New Jersey Devil hockey.  The Leafs have been winning a ton lately, and just because you paid half a months salary to go see them does not give you the right to throw your jersey on the ice.  Squid move bud.  By the way, unless you got Craig Jones to order you a jersey from China for $30 they're pretty fucking expensive, so not only did you drop all that money for a ticket and beer you just threw a $200 jersey on the ice to prove some point? Give it up for lent bud, go fuck yourself.

Something is amiss with my beloved Phil Kessel, yes he did score against Dallas and New Jersey, but I think he is hurt, he took a vicious hit against Dallas, and they keep showing him in practice wincing and stretching out his back.  Everytime they show him on the bench he is crunched over in pain (or he is winded: insert lazy fat joke here Toronto media dickheads).  If he is indeed hurt like many are suggesting then he should take a few games off, we'll need him in March and April, not in December.

The Week Ahead: vs. Calgary (12/9), @ Detroit (12/10), vs. Detroit (12/13), vs. Los Angeles (12/14).  This is a tough week for the Buds.  For the first time in years the Calgary Flames are actually a good team, they are solidly in a playoff position and don't seem to be letting it go.  Hopefully the Leafs beat the Flames to make up for the Stampeders beating the Ti-Cats in the Grey Cup. There is a home and home against the pesky fucking Red Wings, and then the defending Stanley Cup champs come in for a bizarre 5 pm game on Sunday.  Jonathan "Nelson Mandela is my Favourite Athlete" Bernier, has been playing really well lately, as the Leafs have started up their old habit of giving up a buttload of shots every game, and we are going to need Bernier to keep it up during this tough stretch next week.  Speaking of Bernier that Nelson Mandela thing is inexcusable, I know that athletes are not the smartest breed, and English isn't Bernier's first language, but come on, how can he possibly say Nelson Mandela was one of his favourite athletes growing up?  When Bernier was growing up Mandela was in his 70's and the President of South Africa.  Jesus Christ Bernier get a fucking clue.

Photo Credit @mattomic 

AA strikes again.  At the end of the regular season I was getting kind of sick of hearing AA's bullshit, talking about "payroll parameters" and the Blue Jays refusal to give out contracts longer than 5 seasons, plus the 2014 season ended on (another) sour note.  Now I am singing his praises again and the 2015 season can not start soon enough.   Last week that Jays dealt JA Happ to Seattle for Left Fielder Michael Saunders.  Considering Melky Cabrera is as good as gone, Saunders is a great pick-up for the team, a good sign that it is a great move is that Seattle Mariner bloggers are very upset about giving up Saunders.  Saunders has been hurt, and the unforgiving SkyDome Rogers Centre turf may not help issues, but I think he'll be as equal as Melky if not better in the coming seasons.  Plus for all you who get Maple Boners... he's Canadian! Despite losing Brett "Spazz" Lawrie they will be fielding 3 Canadians in their starting line-up next season along with Russel Martin, and Dalton "Live At" Pompey.  Ohhhh fuck yah bud.  AA and the Jays still have work to do, their starting line-up is pretty much set, but they still need some bullpen arms, and perhaps another starting pitcher.  There is 3 long months until Spring Training starts, and I don't think they're done tinkering yet! 

Holy Shit Kyle Lowry is a beast, in fact he was just named NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week for the past week.  When it's all said and done he will end up being the best player in Toronto Raptors history.  He dropped 27 against the Kings and then put up a career high 39 against the Jazz the next night.  We're a quarter of the way through the season now and in my completely biased opinion I would say Lowry is the MVP thus far.  Granted we're only a quarter through the season and Anthony Davis, LeBron James and the other usual suspects might have a thing or two to say about that, but he definitely needs some consideration, and he will be a starter in the All-Star Game in February.  Just for the love of God don't get hurt.  The Raptors really felt that DeRozan injury during the Cleveland game, T-Ross and "Captain" Lou Williams shot like shit, Jonas "Big V" Valaciunas got in foul trouble off the hop, but despite all that it was close most of the game and Cleveland only pulled ahead in the 4th quarter when it was all but over.  They said DeRozan won't need surgery on his groin which is good news, but there is still no time line for his return.

The Week Ahead: vs. Denver (12/8), @ Cleveland (12/9), vs. Indiana (12/12), @ New York (12/14).  The Raptors are playing 3 teams that are under .500 and out of the playoff hunt, once again they need to take advantage of these games, the Raptors have shown a killer instinct against these mediocre teams and must continue to do so.  They play the Cleveland LeBrons once again in what should be a big game, this could well be a 2nd or 3rd round playoff preview, it'll be tough again without DeRozan, but I am confident that it will be close, Kyle Lowry will need to step up and beat those assholes himself.

The Bills are fucking done again, Jesus Christ this team can't do anything right.  That game was ripe for picking too, Peyton had a terrible un-Peyton like game, in fact it's the first time in 4 fucking seasons that he hasn't thrown a touchdown pass.  On the surface a 24-17 loss to Denver with Kyle Orton throwing 355 yards doesn't look too bad, but fuck he sucked.  Untimely interceptions, weak red zone play and some questionable play calling has led us to YET ANOTHER playoff-less season.  They might as well go back to EJ Manuel for the last few weeks of the season, let's see what the kid can do as Kyle Orton is not the QB of the future.  Doug "Moron" Marrone should be axed at the end of this season, and so should that clown offensive coordinator Nathaniel "Can't" Hackett.  Why not have defensive co-coordinator Jim Schwartz take over?  The Bills D has once again been amazing, plus he has NFL head coaching experience.  There are pieces in place for the Bills to be a playoff team but that fucking offense, especially the play calling needs to improve.

The Bills in Toronto Series is as dead as their season!  This was a joke right from the get-go, greedy-assed Rogers expecting people to fork over a ton of their money to watch the shitty Bills play in the SkyDome.  They were giving away tickets for free next to people who dropped $300 bucks for their seats, no wonder people were pissed off.  There is a lot of Bills fans in Southern Ontario, but there is also fans of a shit load of other teams.  Amongst my friends I know Dolphins, Lions, Steelers, Titans, Patriots, Vikings, Giants and 49ers fans.  This should come as no surprise, the Bills have done fuck all to lure new fans since the days of Flutie Flakes, idiots like me only hold out because they were amazing when I was a kid, and I am loyal to a fault.  My point is as a Bills fan in Southern Ontario I would way rather make the 2 hour drive to Orchard Park to watch the Bills play at the Ralph, have the tailgate experience at a true home game then to watch them at the mausoleum known as the SkyDome where everything is over-priced and there is maybe less than half Bills fans there.  When they played the Dolphins shit-heads like my buddys Jeff and Mike showed up because it is a lot easier for them to see their favourite team in Toronto than to fly all the way to Miami, same thing happened when they played Seattle or Atlanta.  Maybe one day Toronto will have their own NFL team (not bloody likely) but until then keep the Bills in Buffalo where they belong.

The Week Ahead.  vs. Green Bay (12/14).  Jeezum Crow this is an ass-kicking waiting to happen.  It is the last home game of the year, so maybe they'll go out in style?? Who am I fucking kidding there is nothing stylish about Buffalo.

As usual you can catch me on the Twitter @HDH2112 you can also leave a comment in the comment section, I do love all feedback good or bad.  See you next week!