Sports Perspectives

By Beaker

I generally steer clear of pointing out logical fallacies and other incoherent comments from our masters in the print and broadcasting arena because I would have to quit my day job just to keep up. One local writer alone keeps all nodding in quiet disbelief on a regular basis.

So I let it go. Besides, the fine folks who run Fire Jay Mariotti blog have enough vitriol, anger and humor in them to do the job right.

Nevernonetheless, sometimes comments are too rich to ignore.

Keep in mind I’ve read and heard far worse.

Let’s start with Jay Mariotti. On a recent episode of ‘Around the Horn’ the topic centered around Steven A. Smith’s story about Allen Iverson’s alcohol and gambling addictions. As the story went “around the horn,” Mariotti said something to the effect of, “Iverson deserves out sympathies because he was an electrifying player.” Because, you know, if he was just a player – or worse a mere person – he wouldn’t deserve the sympathy.

Ugh.

The next comes by way of Pat Hickey, hockey writer for the Montreal Gazette – a logical wizard next to one of his colleagues who “contributes” on the same sports pages.

On a local radio show he talked about the success the Montreal Canadiens  had on a recent road trip. The Habs went 3-1 beating Boston, Anaheim and Los Angeles while narrowly losing to San Jose.

Hickey said the Habs could have easily gone 3-0 on the Western portion of the trip alluding to the heatbreaker in The Josie. If you’re apt to take a one-side, myopic Habs view (and I’m not directing this at Hickey), sure, that’s the case.

However, they just as easily could have gone 0-3 were it not for Anaheim’s lazy play with a 3-0 lead allowing the Habs to get back into the game and eventually winning it in a shoot out and the lackadaisical play of Los Angeles.

Meh.

I’m still reeling from Bob Costas – seriously, the greatest sports broadcaster ever – proclaiming Michael Johnson the “fastest man alive” after winning the 200 meter even though it was Donovan Bailey who run the 100 meter race at the Olympic games  in 1996 in Atlanta. For a century everyone called the 100-meter champion the “fastest human or man alive.” In one shot, Costas decided to shift that to the 200 meter.

NBC coverage, by the way, of the Winter games in Vancouver were terrible. They weren’t even close to the great coverage by the consortium of TSN/CTV/Sportsnet/RDS. For the record.

***

Man. I just don’t get what Jaroslav Halak needs to do more to be given the starting job once and for all for the Habs. He clearly is having a solid year and significantly outplaying Carey Price in the process. I don’t think the Habs have a 1-2 punch in nets. Right now, Halak is the man. He gives them the best chance to win.

This “potential” thing about Price is getting old. We get it. He has “more” potential but right now the Habs are in a tight playoff race in the eastern conference and need all the points they can get and Halak has enough of his game together to go get those points.

Letting aside the over-analysis of “it wasn’t his fault” and the “defense left him alone” routine in defense of Price, statistically, it’s a no-contest. Price has 13 wins in 39 games (33%)with a .911 save percentage and no shut outs. Halak has 20 wins in 33 games (61%), with a .924 SP and three shut outs. Subjectively, it’s also evident Halak is on his game. Yet, Price has started most of the games.

What am I missing here? There must be a nit-picking statistic out there to explain this.

At this point, I wouldn’t be surprised the Habs start Price in the playoffs that’s how weird it is.