Beneath the Surface

While it is hard to argue that the NHL playoffs are more exciting than the NBA playoffs, at least for a person whose favorite sport is neither hockey or basketball, the NBA have the NHL beat this year. And it had nothing to do with the sports themselves.

In the Stanley Cup Finals we have the Boston Bruins v Vancouver Canucks. Boston Bruins have not won the Cup since 1972, Vancouver has never won in their 40 years of existence, nor has a Canadian team hosted Lord Stanley's cup since 1993. There's also a great match up between 2 top goalies, Roberto Luongo and Tim Thomas, with great players such as the Sedin twins, Zdeno Chara and Tomas Kaberle playing, as well. And while we are guaranteed some great hockey (in my mind, there are very few better things in the world than playoff overtime hockey), there is something lacking. Hype.

Sports can only sell themselves so well and besides the fact that neither team has won the cup in a long time, there aren't many subplots to the Stanley Cup Finals, at least not for a neutral.

The NBA Finals on the other hand, have more substance than just the game itself. As with every series you have the aging star that no one knows how he is playing so well, Kidd and you have a super star at the top of his game but this series could be his final chance, Dirk. But this is not special, what is special is the emotion that the Miami Heat invoke from even the most causal fan. Whether you love them or hate them or simply fall somewhere in between, the Miami Heat and the personality of the players is what makes the NBA Finals.

The NHL could take a page out of the NBA's book and not try and crush young and talented players like PK Subban and encourage sport based on personality as well as excitement. And at the same rate, the NBA needs to look at why they are getting so much PR and that is because players are the main focus. Not the refs, not the owners, and not a potential Franchise tag.

Basketball and Hockey are great sports, but to neutral fans, the games are only as interesting as their subplots.

-Max

25 Coolest

While GQ isnt the finest magazine, often I see it as the guy that wants to be cool but is always late into trends or a style and just comes off looking mass produced and without much personality. Example, in the wear this not that section, Dont wear that hoodie, put on a sweater and a button down and some pants. But then don't tuck your shirt in and make those pants cargo pants. Then put on a pair of tennis shoes that your grandpa would wear. But anyway.

But after saying all this GQ has put together a pretty decent list of the 25 coolest athletes of all time. While a list can never be perfect, and yes they do have Tim Lincecum on it but leave out the likes of a Satchel Paige or a Jack Johnson, over all I think they did a pretty good job.

Joe Namath
Mario Andretti
Allen Iverson
Bjorn Borg
Arthur Ashe
Pele
Walt Frazier
Evel Knievel
Jean-Claude Killy
Pete Maravich
Tom Brady
Muhammaed Ali
Bob Gibson
Julius Erving
Bo Jackson
Arnold Palmer
George Best
Derek Sanderson
Tim Lincecum
Kenny Stabler
Michael Jordan
Gary Player
Jim Brown
Ted Turner
Kelly Slater

Who do you think they missed?