Ever since a couple of friends who most often hosted Super Bowl parties each relocated out of town, I’ve…discovered the sheer joy and found time that comes with not following the NFL. An intense, grueling season of Sundays to myself and my family culminates in Super Bowl Sunday, when I can go wherever I want and not another soul is around.
Yesterday I went hiking and continued reading The Wayfinder; last night I remembered I’ll have very little idea what people are talking about as they run through their small talk this morning. I used to feel obliged to pay attention to maintain that sort of pop culture literacy, but it was very freeing once I got over that.
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This is not a self-help column nor a “you should do X” thing, just a transition as the NHL turns toward the Olympics this month and most humans get past the hoopla of the NFL trademarked championship game. I understand there were field goals and AI commercials.
As for us, the other global sports hype machine is now underway. For the men, Olympic hockey starts Wednesday with two games (Slovakia vs. Finland and Sweden vs. Italy). On the women’s side, things began last week already and there are four preliminary round games today, with both the U.S. and Canada in action.
Olympic Hockey News
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Bill Daly also skipped the Super Bowl, but for a better reason: He’s headed to Milan. He discusses excitement for Olympic hockey, the talent on display, and how the NHL gets to provide more officials and George Parros as discipline czar. Gulp. [NHL]
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Jack Hughes couldn’t be there for his team as they were swept by the Islanders, but he’s good to go for Team America. [NHL]
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Mike Sullivan isn’t publicly naming his starting goalie yet. [Sportsnet]
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Pavel Zacha is still out, so he’ll miss the Olympics where he was going to play for the Czechs. [ESPN]
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32 Thoughts: How Artemi Panarin decided on the Kings, plus random Olympic thoughts. [Sportsnet]
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Curtis Douglas was fined, and that’s all the supplementary discipline that came from the latest Panthers-Lightning brawl. [Sportsnet]
Islanders News
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Breaking out of his slump, Bo Horvat receives a parting gift as NHL 2nd Star of the Week. [Isles]
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Victor Eklund discusses winning WJC gold with Sweden, “playing with men” and such. [Isles]
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Speaking of Swedes, Dick “no seriously, I’m Swedish” Tarnstrom is the latest Weird Islanders subject. He was waived and claimed by the Penguins, during one of their many dark, bottom-feeder eras that most of their fans pretend never happened. [LHH]
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Cal Ritchie made a surprise return just before the break and looked pretty good. [Post]
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They may end up gassed, but at least Bo Horvat and Ondrej Palat will stay in game shape by playing at the Olympics. [Newsday]
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Also: Three takeaways for the Isles at the break. [Newsday]
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Good luck as you discuss that one commercial or that one play today.
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