ON THE MARK.

HABS SUCK.  SO DOES BELICHICK.

If Saturday night's pre-game ceremony is any indication, it's going to be a long, painful hockey season in Montreal.   To celebrate their 60th anniversary, the Habs put on a 13 minute show that was about as overdone as my Mom's roast beef.  Montreal is already the capital of standing ovations, and they clearly went overboard on Saturday as they introduced the trainers, therapists, video coordinators, assistant coaches, players not dressed, players in uniform and, finally, after more than 30 introductions,  5 former Habs captains who passed a flaming torch to one another until Jean Beliveau handed it to current captain Brian Gionta.   By that time, however, the crowd was clapped out, and the ovation was far quieter than it should have been.   Next time, let's get the P.A. announcer to tell the fans to "hold your applause until everyone has been introduced".   The ceremony was so stagnating, the Maple Leafs remained in their dressing room throughout, and then burst onto the ice with energy, while the Habs players likely cramped up waiting for the ceremony to end.    And, oh yeah, the Habs lost, which they will many more times this year.   Last place in the East a season ago, they'll be lucky to finish any higher this season.  Better go and sign PK Subban, and fast.
     The Goofball of the Week award goes to Patriots coach Bill Belichick, who not only was outcoached by Baltimore's John Harbaugh, but also stiffed CBS for the mandatory post-game interview. 

 This isn't the first time Belichick has acted like a sore loser.  At the end of Super Bowl XLII, Belichick left the field with one second left in the game, rather than have to congratulate Giants coach Tom Coughlin on his victory.  He did the same a few years ago against Cleveland's Eric Mangini, after Mangini blew the whistle on him for "Spygate".    Let's face it, the Belichick era in New England could be coming to a close.  Twice yesterday he chose a conservative game plan by having his team punt, rather than try field goals from 51 and 52 yards.   Now, I know the wind was blowing, but come on.  Stephen Gostowski had hit on his last 9 straight field goals, and had hit a 53 yarder earlier in the year.   If you're not going to let him kick, at least go for it on 4th down.   As well, Belichick and Tom Brady showed terrible clock management late in the first half, having to kick a field goal rather than get one more play off in the dying seconds.    Oh well, at least we won't have to see his sour puss and headphones-over-the-hoodie look anymore (see above).
     I watched an awful lot of sports on TV this past weekend (Hey, it's my job and I take it seriously!) and I was particularly impressed with three of the telecasts.
1)  NFC Championship game (FOX)  Joe Buck and Troy Aikman.   These two are absolute magic.  I much prefer Buck doing football over baseball (He's still not as good as his late father, Jack Buck) and with Aikman, he has maybe the best analyst in all of TV sports.  As good as Summerall and Madden in their prime.
2)  Raptors-Lakers (TSN)  Matt Devlin and Sherman Hamilton.   Regular analyst Jack Armstrong has laryngitis, which allowed Hamilton to step in and do a very nice job alongside Devlin.   It's nice to hear another voice, especially a guy who played recently and is a solid, experienced broadcaster.  Of course, it helps when the home team wins over Kobe, Nash and company.  Still, a very enjoyable telecast.
3)  Leafs-Canadiens (CBC)  Jim Hughson and Craig Simpson.   The mark of a good broadcast team is their ability to take a sloppy, uneven game with the crowd totally out of it, and make the game appear exciting.  Kudo's to these two, who, after several months of inactivity, sounded in mid-season form despite a terrible game in front of a crowd that had little gas left in the tank after that endless pre-game ceremony.
     Honourable mention to the many NBC broadcast teams, who combined to give the Peacock network some scintillating Opening Day ratings, including a 2 share, which is massive for hockey in the U.S.   With the exception of the Winter Classics of the past, that's the highest overnight rating for NBC hockey.    So much for the threat of fan boycotts and slow ticket sales.   It's like the NHL never left.