NHL, Hopkins-Dawson 2, NLL

Question: What day is it? 

You say:  SPORTS-DAY!!!..(instead of Saturday) 

&

Saturday night, is now: SPORTS-NIGHT!!!....got it?

#DIDJAKNOW

There were two NHL playoff games on, the NBA playoffs have begun, the NLL wrapped up their regular season and there was an HBO boxing card. (I barely noticed but I spent most of the day on my ass in front of the television and had no human contact)  -- To do: Get out of the house and say hello to someone.

NHL

In game 1 - The New York Rangers hosted the Washington Capitals in game one of the the eastern conference semi-finals. The first period was scoreless and both teams had some chances. The Caps forward Alex Semin took a selfish
retaliation penalty to quell a powerplay and we had some 4-on-4 hockey momentarily.

Rangers forward Artem Anisimov circles behind the Caps net and wraps in the first goal of the game. This game was actually quite boring for the first half, I caught myself dozing off briefly and woke up to see a Washington player get hauled down on a one-on-one charge to the net, I initially thought there maybe a penatly shot awarded because the Rangers defenceman dove and took the feet out from under the caps player and made no contact with the puck. But no call and no penalty. But the Capitals get it back on a 3-on-2 break as Jason Chimera chips in a saucer pass from Brooks Laich with 3.5 seconds to go in the period and we have a 1-1 tie after two periods of play.

The speedy Rangers rookie Chris Kreider drives home a slapshot from the top of the circle to restore the Rangers lead. Then mere moment later, Brad Richards makes a nifty individual play from the corner and walks his way to the goal and slips a shot through the five hold of Caps goalie Brayden Holtby.

The score would end up 3-1 Rangers and they take a 1-0 series lead.

The Capitals hit four posts but this was a boring hockey game. There were very few shots on net: Rangers 14 - Capitlal 18. I wonder if any series will live up to some of the first round match-ups like Rangers - Ottawa and Philly - Pitt.

NLL

John Grant Jr had 2 goals and 4 assists in a 16-13 loss to Minnesota. 

With six points Grant Jr now holds the NLL single season points record with 116, surpassing John Tavares who has 115 in 2001.

Boxing

Why is Bernard Hopkins still fighting?

Because at 47 he still held the WBC light heavyweight belt. But no longerer he lost a 12 round unanimous decision to Chad Dawson. Fans may remember that Dawson had fought six months prior but the fight was called after Dawson threw Hopkins down to the mat landing akwardly on his shoulder Hopkins could only fight with one arm, and referee Pat Russel put a stop to the fight and awarded Dawson the technical ko. Hopkins' team protested the ruling and was later awarded his belt back.

Bringing fight fans a rematch.

The fight itself resembled MMA at points but that is the kind of fight Hopkins likes. The heavy underdog, hopkins didn't do too much with his hands, aside from a lot clutching and grabbimg. Hopkins head did the most damage. In the fourth, Hopkins ducked some solid punches and as he was swinging back up for a counter shot, Hopkins clashed his head with Dawson's splitting his brow open. The referee immediately signaled it an accidental and the fight continued. 

Hopkins 47 and holding a 52-6-2 record is still a brawler and has still never been knocked out. He now lost his belt, there is no-one else to fight. He should retire but its up to him. Hopkins denied a post fight interview. 

Dawson in his post fight speech, gave respect to Hopkins calling him a future hall of famer but was quick to call him out as a dirty fighter, and suggested the head butt on purpose. Altogether he showed respect but with frustration. Dawson won the fight and it was clear he's happy to never see Hopkins again.

Will the fans see Hopkins again? I am almost sure. It is sad, almost nobody retires anymore.

Dawson was the unanimous decision, landing more punches and controlling the fight. Hopkins landed some shots but wasn't as busy as Dawson. Hopkins elected to clutch and grab and keep Dawson close. 

Veteran referee Eddie Cotton likely got the biggest workout, having to continually duck in and split the fighter from the cluthching and grabbing. 

As I say the fight looked like MMA with boxing gloves. Late in the fight Hopkins appeared to fly tackle Dawson and both fighters ended up on the canvas in the middle of the ring.

The fight was entertaining. The knockout of the night came in the heavyweight bout before. Where the former Michigan State University football lineman is still being considered a raw boxer because he got in to the sport late and has only been boxing professionally for four years but has an impressive 24-0-1, 18 KO's record.

So and so HBO wise guy didn't give much credit to Mitchell. I felt Mitchell earned more respect. It was a nice knockout. Mitchell revealed the heavyweight division is unique in that one good punch can end the fight. Mitchell survived a couple haymakers from Witherspoon early. Mitchell rocked Witherspoon in the third round with a shot on the chin, Witherspoon would get back to his feet but Mitchell woould rock him with a combination sending the fighter to the ropes, the referee Randi Neuman would step in and stop the fight.

Mitchell is now the NABO heavyweight champ. The title was previously vaccant.