This right here is the Bucknell logo. Take a look at it because it means excellence. It's hard not to become a snob when your team was recently named the Patriot League's best athletic department for the 17th year out of the past 21 years, including 13 of the past 14. I know that we are minnows against elite competition, but against our main rivals we are untouchable (I'm talking to you Lehigh, Colgate, Holy Cross, American, Navy, Army, Lafayette). Every year we get it done thanks in large part to the success of the less glamorous sports such as track, swimming and cross country, but this year was extra special as the Bison won 3 of the 5 most important titles - men's basketball, men's lacrosse and men's soccer. It is good to be a bison. Ray for the Orange and the Blue.
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Two other things that are on my mind this morning:
First, great response by the Bruins last night. I questioned whether the heartbreaking losses in Games 1 and 2 would be too much for the B's to overcome, but after the loss of Nathan Horton they erupted for 8 goals in two periods at home. I think it would be easy for most people to assume that Boston will win game 4 and make it a series. I'm not as convinced. I mean, sure 8-1 is humiliating but so is 5-1. At some point you have to believe that the Canucks realized they weren't going to overcome the emotion of the Bruins. They took the loss and tried to stay healthy knowing they were still up 2-1. Give the Bruins credit though - instead of collapsing, they went the other way. I think it might be a one time thing and that the series will be even form here on out. All the crazy shit has happened - a goal with 18 seconds left, a goal 11 seconds into OT and now a 8-1 killing. It is bound to be normal from here on out.
Second, it struck me that for all that is being made about the Mets payroll next year, the new regime will ultimately be judged by what they do over the next few days. Sandy Alderson brought with him Paul DePodestro and JP Riccardi to help make the organization more efficient and less top heavy. Sure, the Mets can continue to spend money like any good NY club does, but they can also be smarter with their drafts. In the first two rounds this year, they selected Brandon Nimmo, an OF from Wyoming (and the first Wyoming player ever to be drafted above the 4th round) and RHP Michael Fulmer from Oklahoma. I don't know anything about any of these players, but in reading some reviews, it sounds like they didn't go the safe route and instead drafted based on a ceiling. With Nimmo, they apparently like his raw power, his arm and the fact that he is a lefty bat. Interestingly though, the state of Wyoming doesn't sanction baseball as a sport, so his only competition has been AAU stuff. Some wonder if he has seen proper competition, but to his credit, he was named MVP of the Under Armor All-American Game. Fulmer, meanwhile, is a righty pitcher with a great curveball who flew under the radar. Both picks appear to be surprises (and I never feel good about HS pitchers), but I will reserve judgment for another 3 years on whether the new regime knows what they are doing - I can't believe either pick will be anything more than a long-term projects.
[Update: An interesting tid bit- apparently both Nimmo and Fulmer committed to play ball at the University of Arkansas this year, so maybe we have someone there that is giving us some information]
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