I don't golf all that often, and it's a complete shame. I don't just mean for me, but the sport as a whole. I actually took golf lessons as a kid. I think it was only like a week-long clinic, but it was at a country club so it counts for at least six weeks of regular lessons. I showed promise back then, and I even remember them saying I could be the next John Daly. That's high praise. The legend, John Daly. I took some time away from the sport in which I showed so much promise as a youngster to pursue other interests like hockey, music, and puppetry. However the mistress that is the game of golf always sang her siren song; trying to lure me back to the links. This week, I answered that siren call. Not unlike the sirens in Homer's Odyssey, golf, while enchanting, turned out to be a total bitch. Playing golf is like riding a bike. However, for me, golfing is like riding a bike after you've sustained a head injury that made you forget how to r...

The Women's World Cup is under way, and for the next month I'm all about it. The Stanley Cup Final has a maximum of two games remaining, so I'm looking for that next thing to whet my sports whistle. The World Cup is so great because it's one month every few years where we all put aside our differences and collectively forget about what a wildly corrupt organization FIFA is. As an American, the Women's World Cup is more exciting than the Men's because we not only qualified for this one, we even have a chance to win it! Do you know how mad that has to make all of the soccer crazed countries when we win soccer tournaments? Soccer is so unpopular here in our country, compared to everywhere else in the world that we call it soccer. Why not call it "football" like everyone else?  Because we came up with a better sport and we're going to use the name just to bug everyone else on the planet. Say it with me ladies and gentlemen: U.S.A., U.S....

Without a doubt Tom Brady is one of the best, if not the greatest, quarterbacks in the history of the NFL. He's the archetype for successful superstar athlete: he's got the rings, the houses, the jaw-dropingly beautiful Brazilian wife. But still, Tom Brady creeps me out. Tom Brady reminds of any movie where aliens are masquerading around the Earth in human costumes. I expect at any second, his chest could pop open revealing the little alien who is piloting his Tom Brady suit. The nickname "TB12" even sounds like what you'd call a robot. A few months ago there was that video of Brady kissing his way too old son on the lips. That was creepy but I also believe that most straight, male Patriots fans would do unspeakable things for the opportunity to plant a smooch on ol' Tom. I've noticed lately we're getting this newer "I'm a badass" Tom Brady and I'm not a fan of it. He's already one of the greatest players to ever toss ...

I'm still in the midst of my post-collegiate job search so tonight is a big night. This evening in Dallas is the NHL Entry Draft. I know I'll be watching, but I'll also be making sure that my phone is within reach. Another year, another chance to realize my dream of being drafted by an NHL team. Sure, I haven't played an actual competitive game in four years, and those games were in Pennsylvania high school hockey, but I'm not saying I expect to be drafted in the first round. I think third or fourth is pretty reasonable though. Senior year of high school I lead the team in assists while wearing the "C" (can you say leadership qualities?). Yeah, I took four years off to attend college but now I have a Bachelor's Degree in Radio-Television with a minor in creative writing so that probably helps my chances like it does for any job. There's some video of me playing on YouTube. I'll concede that it's of me turning the puck over on ...

   PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa. (WPVI) --   Kathy McVay of Plymouth Meeting learned the hard way that a hot dog can hurt.    If your capable of not reading past that first sentence, you're more powerful than I.   Believe it or not, it gets better! "It just came out of nowhere. And hard," she said   On Monday night, McVay was at the Phillies-Cardinals game at Citizens Bank Park. She was seated behind home plate when the Phanatic rolled out onto the field with his hot dog launcher.   The big green mascot started firing away into the stands. The Phanatic shoots real hot dogs, but they are wrapped in duct tape.   One headed straight for Kathy McVay's head. BOOM! Headshot! And was it ever. Ms. McVay received quite the shiner. She is lucky that she didn't get Maude Flanders-ed: Maude was shot by t-shirts, but ironically was returning with an order of hot dogs. Just no foot-longs; they make Ned uncomfortable. Who would ha...

Many people think that awards season (or "Awards SZN" to all the hip youngsters) ended months ago, but in reality we only reach the season's pinnacle here at the end of June with the NHL Awards. The NHL Awards has it all. Uncomfortable monologues, acceptance speeches in broken English, and lots of sweet, sweet Canadian hardware. You'll want to impress your friends when you show up to your NHL Awards viewing party so I'm here to help with my predictions. Vezina Trohpy - Best Goaltender Finalists: Pekka Rinne, NSH; Connor Hellebuyck, WPG; Andrei Vasilevskiy, TBL The first award we're taking a look at is a tight race. We have a former finalist in Rinne, and two very well deserved relative newcomers in Hellebuyck and Vaslievskiy (both of whom have names that are impossibly difficult to spell). I would say Rinne is the favorite and likely winner. He helped lead the Preds to a President's Trophy (more NHL trophy goodness) and has a...

Authentic picture of me on the ol' tennis court. Don't call it a comeback since I never really went anywhere, but I returned to the tennis court this morning after an over four year absence.  I was a certified gym class tennis stud despite only having a very basic understanding of the rules, gleaned mostly from video games like Wii Sports and Super Mario Tennis. I'm not 100% on how scoring works. I know that it goes 15 then 30 then the next one is inexplicably worth only 10 points, then one more volley and it's over, That said, your guess is as good as mine when it comes to how sets are counted up. I thought it was a best of five, or maybe seven, but I don't think that's the case. I guess I could simply google this but that's what the officials are there for so I don't have to worry about the score and can focus on blasting aces and putting some nasty top spin on the ball. I have KAYAK on my phone (I'm a bit of a jet-setter, not a big deal)...

I really enjoy watching sports, but there is one that has never quite clicked for me, that's why I decided that this spring, I would try and get into basketball. So far, the results are underwhelming. Basketball is so popular and such a part of the public zeitgeist these days that I'll admit I kind of felt left out. I threw on some March Madness games and they were fun to watch but with that over In decided to try watching some NBA basketball. The main reason I never really got into basketball is that it occupies the same slot on the calendar as the hockey season, and there's not a chance in hell I would ever fore go some hockey so that I could watch some basketball. Hockey is so ridiculously exciting that it makes most other sports feel slow and dull. But Matt. Yes? In basketball they put up like 100 points a game, how is that not exciting? Because what's exciting about someone scoring if it happens 50-100 times a game? Hockey falls right in between socc...

I’ve been known to throw on a little ESPN in the background as I go about my day. Today was no different. What WAS different was the programming. I was introduced to competitive beanbag toss. At least that’s what I call it. They were calling it “cornhole” which is a horrendous name that I just refuse to use it.  You have beanbags, you toss them, boom, beanbag toss.  It might be a table tennis vs. ping-pong sort of thing, where one is the professional sounding name while the other is the what you call it in when you play in your basement. The athletes were exactly what you’d expect. Kind of nerdy looking dudes, who I’m shocked didn’t have Bud Lights in their non-throwing hands. That’s not because they look like they enjoy tipping a few back, but because in my experience, playing this game with a few in you was the only way to be any good. Outside of elite competitions like the one I watched this afternoon (which looked like it was being held in the smal...