For a month every four years, everyone's an expert

Like most of planet Earth, I'm becoming quite eager for the opening of the FIFA World Cup of Soccer to begin on June 9th. In a little over a week, the world's greatest sporting spectacle will kickoff highlighting sport, passion and patriotism. You'd think from my comments that I'm a hard core soccer fan, but surprisingly, I'm truly not.

Like millions of Canadians, and I can only assume people across the globe, once, every four years, I become a soccer "expert". I get swept up in the World Cup tournament, admittedly, watching a number of players I had never heard of before the opening round robin games.

I'm certain I'll find myself racing in front of a television to watch teams such as Angola and Tunisia face off against one another. Do I know any players on either team? No. Do I have any heritage or history with either country? No. I just can't miss a minute of the action for some strange reason.

So as we embark on this month long tournament, I have some words of wisdom for those who DO follow soccer year round. Please, tolerate our comments about how exciting it will be to see Beckham face off against Ronaldo, or how we hope that "the volley from the corner finds it's way past the keeper". You only need to put up with us for a month - then you'll have four years all to yourself.

The drive to the Cup

It was great to see the Oilers knock off those pesky Mighty Ducks to advance to the Stanley Cup. I'm cheering for those Oilers because the facts speak for themselves. No Canadian team has won the Cup since the Montreal Canadians more than a decade ago. That's far too long of a drout for a hockey crazy country like this one. So in the emortal words of of fans across the nation, "LET'S GO OILERS!".

715*

As a long time baseball fan, I recoil in horror that Barry Bonds has tied the great Babe Ruth for career homeruns at 714. Bonds is now only 41 dingers behind all-time leader Hank "The Hammer" Aaron.

Baseball is a timeless game that has withstood the change that has been thrust on to other sports. There is no overtime shootout, there is no shot clock, it's just 9-innings and 54 outs. As such, long standing records have stood the test of time. Barry Bonds has seemingly found a way around it.

The allegations of steroid use for Bonds has been prevalent for years now. The slugger has never truly commented on them, but rather kept on playing. I am one who firmly believes in innocence until guilt is proven. In saying that, the evidence is now a mile high, and Bonds has no answers.

Through the alleged actions of people like Bonds, there has been a stain set upon not only the records he sets, but also the game itself.

As Bonds sets forth each night to hit his 715th homerun to become #2 on the all-time list, I hope there will forever be an asterisk next to his achievement if he did indeed use performance enhancing drugs. To do otherwise would be to admit it's okay to cheat and still be in the record books.

There's still magic left in Oil Town

There is still magic left in Oil Town. Yes, those pesky Edmonton Oilers have advanced to the final four in the Stanley Cup Playoffs by edging out the San Jose Sharks 2-0.

After the Sharks looked solid by winning games one and two, the Oilers stepped up their play and San Jose couldn't catch up. The Oilers won the last four games in the series.

This is not the skilled team of Gretzky, Messier, Kurri, Coffey, and Fuhr. This is a team that is surviving on hard work and leaving everything they have on the ice. They simply wanted it more than San Jose, and it showed.

Now the Oilers move on to take on those Anaheim "Mighty" Ducks. Anaheim has looked good so far in the playoffs, but with Oiler goalie and trade deadline pickup Dwayne Roloson on fire, and those aforementioned grinders working every single shift, they will be in for a battle.

Besides, it would be wonderful to see the Oilers get some revenge and knock out those Ducks who ousted my Flames in the first round. It doesn't sound like something a "Flames Fan" would say, but hey, these are the playoffs and the Oilers are the last Canadian team around.

And now it's officially over...

The Ottawa Senators were officially eliminated from the NHL playoffs tonight, losing 3-2 in Game 5 to the Buffalo Sabres in overtime. In typical Senator playoff style, Buffalo added insult to injury by scoring the winning goal shorthanded.

You always hope for more, but in your heart of hearts, I believe we all knew it would end up this way.

What's wrong with Ottawa? The hockey team that is...

What is it about the Ottawa Senators that just falls apart during the playoffs?

Ottawa dominated the regular season in the Eastern Conference, almost looking unbeatable at times, and now their down 3-0 in a best of seven game series with the Buffalo Sabres. Looking back at the last few years, Ottawa has shown promise, but left their fans only with disappoint.

• 2004 -- lost to Toronto, 4-3, Eastern Conf. quarterfinals
• 2003 -- lost to New Jersey, 4-3, Eastern Conf. finals
• 2002 -- lost to Toronto, 4-3, Eastern Conf. semifinals

And now the streak looks like it's going to continue.

Why is it that Ottawa sets themselves up for early playoff exits? Could it be that "superstar" Daniel Alfredsson goes missing once the regular season is over? Could it be that their team is too small in size to handle the bruising of the playoffs? Could it be weak goaltending? Or is it something I just can't put my finger on.

Personally, I don't know. Maybe it's all the above.

Oh Canada!

Way to go Steve Nash on your second straight NBA MVP award!

"There's always next year"

If there is one phrase I've never particularly cared for it's "there's always next year". Unfortunately, that's what I've been relegated to saying with my beloved Calgary Flames being knocked out tonight by the Anaheim Mighty Ducks.

I have to give the Ducks full dollar for what they've done. They played hard and got the goaltending needed to pull it off.

The Flames, looking to next year, will have to try and acquire some more scoring depth. They've got a great team, but admittedly had great difficulty finding more than one person to fill the opposition net. That needs to be addressed in the off season.

Go Edmonton. Go Ottawa. Either way, I hope a Canadian team can hoist the cup in a few weeks time.

For now though, "there's always next year".

It's no fun unless it's game 7...

My prediction of the Calgary Flames winning their playoff series in six games is now out the window with the "Mighty" Ducks 2-1 win tonight.

After so many years of the Flames not making the playoffs, a little game seven drama should prove quite exciting. Don't get me wrong. I was still swearing at my TV when the Flames went down by a goal with 5-minutes left in the game, but hey, I'm an optimist.

Wednesday night, let's hope the Flames can pull it off. A classic "Battle of Alberta" is just what the doctor ordered.