Already in playoff mode
Random sports thoughts as we stagger into 2019
■ The season starts now. The Junior A Crushers enter 2019 on a five-game win streak, with an eye on hunting down the South Shore Lumberjacks in the South Division of the Maritime Hockey League.
The first big test of the New Year for Pictou County: the Amherst Ramblers, who visit the Pictou County Wellness Centre on Jan. 3, having already posted two wins in their two trips to the PCWC.
The Crushers had reached a point by mid-November where they were already having to think of every game as a playoff game: that’s how far behind the eightball they had found themselves by that point.
Like the Yarmouth Mariners and Summerside Western Capitals, the Crushers have won eight of their past 10 games; while one game in early January isn’t a make-or-break scenario, if the Crushers can find a way to beat the Ramblers and keep good times rolling, it would be another valuable two points in the race to the playoffs.
■ It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and I’m not talking about the holidays – the NFL playoffs arrive this weekend – two games Saturday, two on Sunday – and football fans seriously look forward to the post-season. Football isn’t like hockey, baseball or basketball, where if you don’t perform well in a playoff game, you get another chance. In this sport, you either show up on game day, or you’re finished.
This week’s playoff matchups:
Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans
Houston’s pass rush is highly disruptive, but the Colts are playing very well right now. Toss up.
Indianapolis wins, 27-23.
Seattle Seahawks at Dallas Cowboys
I don’t care about this game, but since I must: Dallas is at home, and that should make the difference.
Cowboys win, 30-20.
San Diego Chargers at Baltimore Ravens
Due to the events of 1996, when the Cleveland Browns’ franchise bolted for Baltimore, I always hope that bad things happen to the Ravens.
Chargers win, 27-20.
Philadelphia Eagles at Chicago Bears
The Eagles surprised everyone when they roared to a Super Bowl title a year ago but lightning won’t strike twice for them, not against that Bears’ defence.
Bears win, 24-13.
Non-Sports Thought of the Week:
Let me tell you a bit about my mother-in-law Peggy Jardine, who died suddenly on Dec. 23. The things I liked least about her were that she was a meddler and highly opinionated. The things I loved best about her was that she was a meddler and highly opinionated.
One time, early in my courtship of her daughter, I did something that I thought might bother Peg, just to get a reaction, and I certainly got one.
Peg told me exactly what she thought of that, and while I don’t remember the one-sided conversation in its entirety, I do know that it ended with: “and if you don’t like, don’t let the door hit you on the way out.”
Nice to meet you, Peg.
Peg loved her family and constantly worried about all of them, and she cared about the homeless and the helpless. She loved to feed a couple of local stray cats, making sure they and the birds that regularly flocked to the back lawn knew they had a place to get some food.
I don’t know if she was right about the Pearly Gates and heaven, but if so, I’m sure she’s telling the big guy upstairs that he might need to make changes to the operation, and that if he doesn’t like it…
We miss ’ya, Peg.