It’s the final column of the year. People have had to suffer through me whining or raving about the most random subjects possible. You probably think my goal this year was to annoy you, but I promise it wasn’t.
Now is one of the few times of the year when all sports are relevant. Baseball is entering its second month, where the true contenders are shown. Basketball and hockey are in the midst of their playoffs, while the NFL Draft has just passed, leaving every fan wondering what will be and what could have been.
The Orioles have begun to rebound following their eight game losing skid, and came out of the month of April just below .500, 12-13. Considering the aforementioned losing skid, that isn’t too bad. Zach Britton has proven himself to be the great player that many people expected him to be. The hitting is getting back on track, and the Orioles as a whole have been somewhat impressive compared to previous seasons.
In the NHL, the Capitals flew into the second round with a five game romp over the New York Rangers. Second year goal tender Michael Neuvirth has played far beyond his years, and led all major goalkeeping statistics in the first round.
Unfortunately, the Caps have suffered a letdown on a massive scale, and are trailing divisional rivals Tampa Bay in the Conference Semifinals, 3-0. The stars will have to shine if they want their coach back next year. There is no way Bruce Boudreau will survive the offseason if the Caps lose in the second round again.
While the NBA is not too high on my list of sports to watch, the playoffs do bring one thing to basketball: defense. During the regular season, I have never seen so little effort exerted on the defensive side of the court. But, in the playoffs, players elevate their defensive intensity, and the level of basketball is elevated as well.
Most importantly for most people, the NFL draft has come and gone amidst the drama of the lockout. The Ravens drafted cornerback Jimmy Smith in the first round, who is no doubt talented, but has a checkered past. This doesn’t bother me, considering the amount of players who are there to take Smith under their wing and lead him in the right direction. The Ravens also got local star Torrey Smith from Maryland, the big play receiver that the Ravens needed so badly last year. In the end, Ozzie Newsome led the Ravens to another impressive draft class.
On a local note, the spring sports teams have continued their impressive run. The men’s track team conquered the B conference with a variety of new school records. The men’s lacrosse team faces off against Archbishop Curley, while the girl’s lacrosse team lost to NDP, 16-15, to end their season.
In retrospect, it’s been a good sports season for all. Hopefully, JC will be able to continue their hot streak next year.
Henry Shepard is a reporter for “The Patriot” and jcpatriot.com