Championship Week

There’s a lot happening in the sports world this week, including four tournaments or championships that will either begin or wrap up.

NHL Finals – I used to be a big hockey fan when I was a kid, but as I got older and teams forgot how to play the game the way it was meant to be played (e.g., without the fisticuffs), the sport lost its luster for me. Besides, it’s hard to maintain any interest in the sport without a really good home team to cheer for.

This year’s NHL finals between the Edmonton Oilers and the Carolina Hurricanes might be worth watching, though. I’m a sucker for underdogs, and the Oilers as an eighth seed, are one of the biggest underdogs you’ll find. In March, they were fighting for their playoff lives and just barely made the playoffs on the last day of the regular season. Very quietly, they’ve become one of the best sports stories of the year.

Originally, I picked Edmonton to win the series in seven games, riding their momentum to the Stanley Cup championship. But after Monday night's loss, in which the 'Canes came from three goals down to win, 5-4, and the Oilers lost their goalie to a knee injury in the third period, I have to alter my prediction. The 'Canes have the edge, although a very close one. This series will go seven games.

NBA Finals – When the Miami Heat played the Chicago Bulls in the first round of the NBA playoffs, there were times when the Heat played like the slow, old team that they were. Dwayne Wade appeared to be the only guy who could match up well against the Bulls’ youth and quickness. I don’t think many fans or experts believed the Heat would make it to the Finals.

Lo and behold, the Heat now find themselves in the NBA finals against the Dallas Mavericks after defeating the Bulls, New Jersey Nets and the defending champion Detroit Pistons. The series begins Thursday night. My pick: Miami in six games

Arena Football – Another sport I don’t follow closely is arena football, simply because too many other sports compete for my time and attention. Every now and then, I do keep an eye on the local team. Next Sunday, the Chicago Rush will play in its first playoff final since the league began. Their opponent is the Orlando Predators (don't you just love some of these team names?) The Rush is another team that needed a strong push at the end of the regular season to make the playoffs. The team has been one game away from the final the last two years. This may be the year they win it all.

French Open Tennis -- I was really hoping to see Venus Williams and Martina Hingis meet in the finals at the French Open this year, but as they were both eliminted in today's rounds, that obviously won't happen. Still, there should be plenty of good tennis to watch.

Have a good week.