Life's Too Sports

Following their impressive 2-1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings in the 2016-2017 Season Opener, the San Jose Sharks flew eastward to Ohio, in preparation for a five-game road-stint, beginning at Nationwide Arena in Columbus. In their opening contest, the Columbus Blue Jackets were forced to watch multiple two-goal leads dissipate, eventually falling to the always-scrappy Boston Bruins by the disappointing final of 6-3. Though certainly looking for more positive results on Saturday evening, the Blue Jackets night would not exactly open "according to plan". In the opening stages of the game, Sharks' defenseman Brent Burns took a high-stick directly underneath his visor, which would lead to a double-minor power-play for the typically-ferocious Sharks' "man-advantage" squad. After managing to squander four minutes of power-play time, however, it seemed almost certain that the pendulum of momentum would swing from the Sharks bench, in favor of the newly-e...

Following a previously unprecedented run to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2015-2016, the San Jose Sharks took the ice once more at SAP Center on Wednesday night, with the aspiration of achieving yet another improbable run through the West Coast's finest. First on the docket for Team Teal: perhaps their fiercest rivals. Victors in both the 2012 and 2014 Stanley Cup Finals (against the New Jersey Devils and New York Rangers, respectively): the always-impressive Los Angeles Kings. With eleven-year veteran Anže Kopitar donning the Los Angeles "C" for the first time in his career, the battle-tested Kings came into tonight's season-opening contest with renewed vigor, seeking to dethrone the reigning Western Conference Champion Sharks. Indeed, the opening stages of tonight's game proved to be nearly flawless for Los Angeles. After an unfortunate tripping penalty was attributed to Logan Couture just 33 seconds removed from the opening puck-drop, it was Kings' forwar...

After being massacred at Quicken Loans Arena in Game Three of the NBA Finals on Wednesday evening, the Golden State Warriors strolled into enemy territory once more on Friday, seeking a confidence-renewing victory. With a win tonight, the Western Conference Champion Warriors could propel themselves to a nearly insurmountable 3-1 series advantage, while pushing the Eastern Conference Champion Cleveland Cavaliers to the brink of elimination. As the game progressed, however, it became clear that Cleveland's aforementioned victory had done wonders for their confidence, whilst Golden State was poised to rebound and shut the door on a rather animated Cavalier rally. Game Four would quickly become the most tightly-contested game of the 2016 NBA Finals thus far. With tempers aflame and the stakes ever-increasing, both the Warriors and Cavaliers would come out firing, in relentless pursuit of a momentum-shifting victory. At the conclusion of the first quarter, Golden State would hold ...

Following a decisive Game One victory which was backed by limited production from the duo fondly known as the "Splash Brothers", the Golden State Warriors entered Oracle Arena on Sunday night in hopes of earning a second victory against the Cleveland Cavaliers, thus seizing a rather intimidating 2-0 series advantage. As the first-quarter progressed, however, this evening's contest seemed designated to be yet another "grind it out" affair. In the early stages of the game, Warriors' center Andrew Bogut recorded 4 monumental blocked shots, whilst at the opposite end of the spectrum, point guard Stephen Curry collected a pair of early fouls. Bogut's productivity would cease as the evening advanced, yet Curry's ongoing foul trouble continued to haunt Golden State. Steph was whistled for his third personal foul in the second-quarter, and picked up his fourth in the early stages of the second-half. Thankfully for Golden State, Cleveland's overall ...

After erasing a daunting 3-1 series deficit to overcome the Oklahoma City Thunder in thrilling "Game Seven" fashion, the Golden State Warriors stepped onto their home court at Oracle Arena on Thursday night backed by the highly-anticipated elation of over 19,000 supporters. Game One of the 2016 NBA Finals had finally arrived. As many had expected, this year's championship would be decided in a rematch of the 2015 edition of the Finals, featuring the defending NBA Champion Golden State Warriors (victors in 73 historic contests throughout the regular season), and the Cleveland Cavaliers (finally returned to full strength, and in pursuit of their first championship in franchise history). For the Warriors, it had been a quite eventful trip to the Finals, featuring a plethora of injuries to back-to-back NBA MVP Stephen Curry, and a shockingly furious rally to snatch the Western Conference Championship from the clutches of Russell Westbrook and company. In contrast, the C...

Generally inspired by an unpleasant Chemistry instructor whom J.K. Rowling was forced to endure during her time in secondary school, Professor Severus Snape is amongst the most intriguing of characters in the Harry Potter world. In many ways, Severus Snape acts as the catalyst for the entire series, as it is he who initially informs Lord Voldemort of the prophecy involving a boy who is to become the Dark Lord's downfall (which consequently leads to the death of Lily and James Potter, as well as the first disappearance of “You-Know-Who” himself). However, Snape's impact is much more widespread than on this specific occasion -- rather, the reader spends essentially the entire duration of the series struggling to decipher where his loyalties truly remain. In essence, as the reader becomes more familiar with Snape's character, they also become more confused in regards to his allegiance.  From the onset, J.K. Rowling places Snape in a quite shady role. The reader can...

O n November 15, 2002, almost a full year after the release of the first Harry Potter film, hardcore Potter fans across the globe would finally receive what they had spent four agonizing years awaiting: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets was coming to the Big Screen. Much as the first film was quite similar to the novel, the film for Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets remained very faithful to J.K. Rowling’s second masterpiece. However, there were (of course) still quite a few omissions, and general liberties taken by the filmmakers, which is why I have dedicated my time to analyzing the differences and creating yet another blog post (I’m sorry . . . or perhaps, you’re welcome). As this novel seems to have even more differences of greater significance than its predecessor, I shall attempt to refrain from stressing the utterly pointless, minor details. (No promises . . .) Once again, I will reiterate that I am not suggesting that there is anything necessarily ...

On the highly anticipated day of November 16, 2001, avid fans of the Harry Potter book series busted into theatres across the globe with purpose, in a desperate attempt to finally catch a glimpse of their favorite characters’ Big Screen adaptations. As these fans left the cinema, however, many of them immediately found something (regardless of how miniscule) to complain about. And while Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s (or, before many of you exit this tab in sheer disgust – Philosopher’s ) Stone ended up being perhaps the most true to the novel, in comparison with all eight of the “Warner Bros.” productions, the vast majority of hardcore Potter fans still felt strangely disappointed by this movie. In actuality, I am not suggesting that every single minor difference between the novel and the film must be highly scrutinized. I am not suggesting that we should collectively revolt because we do not get to see Professor Snape officiating a Quidditch match in the film. I am not sugg...

Throughout the course of twenty-five hard-fought seasons of NHL Hockey (or twenty-four, if you prefer to exclude the 2004-2005 NHL Lockout), the San Jose Sharks have often been selected as favorites to win the sport's ultimate prize: Lord Stanley's Cup. And while the appealing title of 'Stanley Cup Champions' has somehow managed to elude Team Teal in each and every one of their campaigns, hockey experts and loyal Shark fans alike have frequently resorted to the laughable, clich é murmurings of, "They'll get 'em next year . . ." In reality, this is an indisputable case of a franchise which has enjoyed countless regular season "highs" since its inaugural season in 1991 (such as clinching the 2008-2009 Presidents' Trophy for the NHL's best record), while merely achieving mediocrity in their many fruitless postseason endeavors. Yes, the Sharks battled their way to the Western Conference Finals in 2004. Yes, they did it again in 2010...

After allowing a series-clinching opportunity to slip through their grasp on Wednesday evening, the San Francisco Giants went back to work on Thursday afternoon in pursuit of an overall record of 7-3. With Matt Cain and Jorge De La Rosa quickly locked in a pitcher’s duel, San Francisco’s chances at a series victory seemed rather substantial. In the first four innings, Colorado’s explosive offense managed only one hit, while the Giants struck first, taking the lead in the top of the fourth on a wild pitch which scored center-fielder Denard Span. In the bottom of the fifth inning, however, disaster would strike for a confident San Francisco squad. First, Gerardo Parra launched a solo-shot into right field to even the score at one apiece. Then, Colorado starter Jorge De La Rosa knocked one into right field, plating a pair and boosting the Rockies lead to 3-1. As though still unsatisfied, Colorado would proceed to load the bases (which resulted in Matt Cain’s remo...

With an impressive series-opening victory now behind them, the San Francisco Giants entered Coors Field on Wednesday evening in hopes of dropping the Colorado Rockies once more to clinch an early series-victory. Unfortunately for San Francisco, however, their starting pitcher Jake Peavy was unable to quite keep pace with Colorado's starter Jordan Lyles (who also struggled mightily throughout the contest). Inconveniently for the Giants, the Rockies struck rather early this evening, courtesy of a sacrifice fly from Trevor Story and an RBI ground-out from Nolan Arenado in the bottom of the first inning. In the top of the third, however, the Giants were quick to respond, as Denard Span ripped a two-out double into right-center field to plate Angel Pagan and Trevor Brown, evening the score at 2-2. The game would continue very much in this manner -- the Rockies would score, the Giants would answer, the Rockies would score again . . . In the bottom of the third inning, Colorado ...