John Rooke - Thinking Out Loud

John Rooke - Thinking Out Loud

Thinking Out Loud…while praising, laughing and cursing at the “Twitterverse” all at once this week…

• The suddenness of it all…nine of the last 11 Stanley Cup champs could not make it out of the first round of the playoffs the year after they won…

• The wonder of it all…every game of the Caps-Bruins series was decided by just one goal, a record that can only be matched – and never broken…

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• The blame of it all…as long as you were wondering…goes to the offense. Tim Thomas may not have been as sharp as was last year, but it was clear that an anemic power play, coupled with some late-series line shuffling just couldn’t jumpstart a stalled-out offense…

• First thing I learned about Twitter? Take everything in moderation. Including moderation…

• A playoff? For major college football? Apparently, it could happen…as soon as 2014. Out of the BCS meetings this week, four teams could pair off in a national semi-final round, with the winners deciding the title on the field. Where’s Jim Mora when we need him? Playoffs? You kiddin’ me?

• I have long been a proponent of the college bowl system, simply because there’s just no other system like it in any other sport. While the current system has been derisively ridiculed in past years, the system has helped make college football the kingpin it is (outside of New England, of course) today…

• All good things do come to an end, however…and in this “win at all costs” era in which we now live, the public demands a true champ, decided on the field – not by the polls or computers. The four-team playoff will be as close as we come to a true “tournament” for football, as the bowls and their big bucks still have their hooks in tradition – and the NCAA. But this could be a start to changing college football forever…

• Twitter joke I saw this week that I liked: Support bacteria. They’re the only culture some people have…

• Bill Belichick told the crowd of season ticket holders at Gillette Stadium Thursday night for the NFL Draft that he was “sorry.” Sorry for their having to be out late, but not sorry that the team was picking so late…

• Trading Up? Trading away later round picks in order to move up? And finding defense? Be still, my heart…

• You’ve gotta love the potential of a guy like Chandler Jones, whose brother Jon is a Mixed Martial Arts champion. Don’t young brothers usually fight all the time? I did with mine. Bet the Jones boys’ battles were epic. And the other brother, Arthur? Already in the NFL, with Baltimore…

• Ten of the first 12 selections in the NFL Draft were “early entrants,” the most ever in the first dozen picks. Kinda knocks the wind out of “stay in school,” doesn’t it?

• A great honor or the kiss of death? Calvin “Megatron” Johnson of the Detroit Lions won the vote over Carolina’s Cam Newton for the cover of the new Madden ’13 video game…

• Of course, this now begs the question, if Johnson is the NFL’s Megatron, who is Optimus Prime?

• I don’t know what you think, but I think Carl Crawford’s sprained elbow ligament means he won’t be back in the Red Sox line up anytime soon…maybe another 2-3 months…

• And that might be a good thing…just sayin’…

• But if he can’t play, can’t really hit, and is supposedly rehabbing his already-injured wrist, how exactly did he hurt his elbow? Please ‘splain…

• Can we have more Minnesota Twins on the Red Sox dinner plate, please?

• What I’ve learned - Twitter is 1) An obsession. 2) A distraction. 3) A tracking device. 4) Where drama lives. 5) Everybody’s diary…and it can go worldwide…

• The elbow that the Lakers’ Metta World Peace (aka Ron Artest) threw to knock down OKC’s James Harden was worth more than the seven games he received from the NBA. It was vicious. This was a guy who sat out 86 games for fighting in the stands back in ’04. The NBA has always erred on the side of caution (or the player) when it comes to meting out punishment…

• David Stern’s philosophy? Simple. Don’t let the stars – good or bad – stay away from the game too long. We’ve got tickets to sell…

• Not for nuthin’…but Willie McGinest’s calling out Wes Welker this week was spot on. McGinest called Welker “a diva” for his approach to his current contract situation – a franchise tag which calls for him to receive $9.5 million in 2012. Good for you, Willie…

• Welker did fire back in a tweet “Why did u ever leave the Pats and play for the Browns?” Perhaps because they wouldn’t give McGinest more than a one year deal, and Cleveland gave him three? McGinest answered the tweet with “we’re all expendable at Patriot Place.” Well played, McGinest…

• 140 characters just don’t – just can’t – tell a story, or portray feelings and emotion properly. Email isn’t a true read, either…and now, we’ve limited ourselves even further with Tweets? T.W.I.T.T.E.R. = This Wonderful Internet Thing That'll Eventually Ruin your life…

• RIP, Pro Bowl. But really, what does it say about the game itself, when the most popular sport on the planet has the WORST all-star game?

• Now, if college football would do away with about half-a-dozen bowl games…and they might, if mediocre 6-6 records are no longer considered “bowl eligible…

• My buddy Statbeast sez to beware the lollipop of mediocrity. One lick and you’ll suck forever…

• And my man Friarblog says PC will have a 7-footer on campus this week. Sergej Vucetic from Serbia, out of AIM Prep in Michigan, has interest in PC. Bet the feeling is mutual…

• Can’t imagine that Twitter’s creators expected their invention to become a conduit for cretins in this country, but that’s what the world according to Twitter stooped to this week…

• You’re probably aware by now…of the hatred spewed forth via Twitter after the Bruins were eliminated by the Capitals Wednesday night. Joel Ward can’t help his skin color. He’s a hockey player, period, whose goal in overtime eliminated the defending Cup champs. As it turns out, most of the fans who lashed out have Twitter accounts that have now been taken down…and many weren’t even from New England, much less Boston. Still, we get the black eye… stupid is, as stupid does…

• Our mailbag question/comment this week comes from James, via Twitter @patriotsrn1: “The Patriots must be really sold on (Chandler) Jones to MOVE UP and did not want to lose him!” James: Apparently. I’m just as shocked and surprised as you – and many other Pats fans – that they not only moved up, but that one of their targets was someone we actually knew about. Oops, sorry – that’s more than 140 characters, isn’t it?

• Interested in having your questions on local RI sports (including the Patriots, Red Sox, Bruins and Celtics) answered in a somewhat timely fashion? Send ‘em to me! It’s your chance to “think out loud,” so send your questions and comments to [email protected]. We’ll share mailbag comments/Facebook posts/Tweets right here! Yes, please follow me on Twitter, @jrooke0722…and on Facebook, www.facebook.com/john.rooke ...

• And you’re up early anyway…don’t forget to join us for GoLocal Sports on 103.7 FM, every Saturday from 7:00-9:00 am! Call in (401) 737-1287, or text 850850…and send email to the show - [email protected]