The Autistic Sports Nerd

A Weekly Column

By: Anthony O'Hagan

Posted: 2/26/10

Hey guys! The Autistic Sports Nerd here, and we have a lot to talk about. Let's get right into it.

Olympics

Remember last week when I told you guys that the hockey team was doing a pool for Olympic men's hockey? It turns out that I am in first place right now, out of 30 players and the coaches. Out of every game played as of right now, I have only lost one pick so far.

My teammates were shocked that I was able to pick Slovakia over Russia and Czech Republic over Slovakia. At least four different guys wondered why I made those picks. I knew Slovakia had good shooters so I took a shot at the upset and it worked. Same with Czech Republic with Jagr, Nylander, and Straka.

Hey, Coach Heenan! Did you not laugh when I first picked USA over Canada? I declared that USA would upset Canada, and you laughed at me and vowed never to read my blog again. If you are reading this blog, you are reading my words while eating your words.

Team USA defeats Canada 5-3 thnaks to great goal-tending from Ryan Miller, a clutch goal by Drury and a pair of goals by Rafalski.

Canada stacked their team with superstars and they are paying the price. Teams filled with superstars destroy chemistry and cause a team to not have success. Look at the Cowboys. Look at the Yankees from 2002 to 2008. They have had teams full of superstars but that didn't help them win.

Teams like the Pistons of 2004, Giants of 2007 and the Knicks of the 90's didn't have big superstars. They just had roleplayers that worked well together, formed great chemistry and won championships. Well, not the Knicks but they consistently came close.

USA doesn't have superstars on their team, just roleplayers and great goaltending. That's why they are the number one seed right now in the tournament. I am dreaming of a gold medal game between USA and defending champion Sweden.

What everyone thought would be this year's gold medal game turns out to be a quarterfinal match between Canada and Russia. Crosby versus Oveckin and Malkin. Sounds odd, doesn't it? I will pick Canada to win this game because Roberto Luango is a great goaltender, which will make the difference. Luango is obviously used to playing in Vancouver. Whoever loses, no medal for them.

In Women's Hockey, it's USA versus Canada in the gold medal game. Hopefully, USA pulls off a huge upset and wins the gold. USA, USA, USA, USA!

Wrestling

I watched the Elimination Chamber Pay-Per-View with my friends, the Atwoods. We plan on watching WrestleMania 26 as well. The Undertaker will put his WrestleMania undefeated streak on the line against Shawn Michaels, who will put his career on the line.

These two put on a classic at last year's WrestleMania, but will they be able to top that performance this year? I love the streak versus career concept, as it makes the match more unpredictable and exciting. If Undertaker's 17-0 streak ends at anytime, this would be it. This is a tough match to call.

TNA will be permanently moving to Monday nights to compete with the WWE starting on March 8. Hopefully, the Monday Night War becomes intense like it was between the WWE and WCW during the mid-to-late 1990's.

Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff are running things in TNA against Vince McMahon and the WWE. TNA put a show on Monday night back on Jan. 4, which was Hogan's TNA debut, and ended up scoring the highest rating in its eight-year history. Will they be successful on a weekly basis? Only time will tell.

Volleyball for Disabilities

The Autism Awareness Club is hosting a volleyball event, Volleyball for Disabilities, which is a tournament to benefit people with disabilities. Each team that enters the tournament submits $8.

Half of the total money made goes to the winning team while the other half of the total money goes to the Kelberman Center to benefit children and adults with disabilities. Twelve teams have entered our tournament including our team, the Disability Abilities.

Opening round match-ups took place Tuesday night. It was cool because earlier this afternoon, I overheard two people talking that three teams tried recruiting them for volleyball. Nice! I even overheard another pair talking and saying the game will be at 10:05pm. It was cool to hear people on campus buzzing about this event.

I was interviewed on camera by a student in a broadcasting class as we talked about the tournament, why I created it and other details. She even took the camera and filmed footage of the games later that night. It was incredible. At the same time, I was interviewed by a writer from The Tangerine.

Our event is getting a lot of publicity, which is a great thing. We are spreading awareness of people with disabilities, and it has been a huge success so far.

Hockey players, football players, PRSSA members, volleyball players, occupational therapy students, intramural athletes, cross country players, basketball players, the Tangerine staff, the Chi Betas, math people,and more have participated in this tournament.

Thank you to every team and individual who has participated and donated.

Quarterfinal matches take place next Tuesday, and the Disability Abilities will be making their debut against the PRSSA, an organization I am also involved in so it will be unusual facing them.

UC Hockey

The Utica College Pioneers lost to Hobart 4-1 on Friday night in Geneva. In a rematch the next night, the Pioneers tied the game at three in the third period and killed a five-on-three that lasted just under two minutes at the end of regulation and the beginning of overtime to earn a hard-fought 3-3 tie.

Kyle Guestin and Patrick Dunn started their first games of their collegiate careers for the Pioneers and they played extremely well.??

I'm the Autistic Sports Nerd. Have a good day, guys.