the mad sports man

It's been awhile. Today we visit Aruba. They were part of Netherlands Antilles until 1986. They are 29 km, or 18 miles north of the Venezuela peninsula and the capital is Oranjestad. Primary language is Dutch.  They are part of the ABC Islands with Bonaire and Curaçao 🇨🇼. At the Olympics, they competed under the Netherlands Antilles flag from 1952-1984. 1988 they competed under the Aruba flag for the first time and been to every games since. No winter games appearances yet and no medals won either. Flag bearers are: 1988 Bito Maduro (judo), 1992 Lucien Dirksz (cycling), 1996 Junior Faro (weightlifting), 2000 Richard Rodriguez (athletics), 2004 Roshendra Vrolijk (swimming), 2008 Fidero Vis (judo), 2012 Jemal Le Grand (swimming), 2016 Nicole van Der Velding (sailing) and 2020 Allyson Ponson & Mikel Schreuders (swimming).  Here is their flag. 

 This ended up a no doubter as Vegas beats Dallas 6-0 to in game 6 to advance to the Stanley Cup finals against Florida.  Series starts Saturday I believe. 

 Josef Newgarden won his first Indianapolis 500 after taking the lead on the last restart of the race on the last lap. First race to have has three red flags. Average speed was 168.193 mph.

 It was close for two periods. It was tied at two goals apiece.  Canada scores 3 in the third to win the world hockey championships 5-2. It is Canada's 28th title. This is Germany's highest finish since 1953. Czech Republic is hosting next year with Prague and Ostrava ad host cities. 

 A surprise.  Latvia beat the USA 4-3 in overtime. Wow. Latvia will be partying tonight.  This is their highest finish ever.  Gold medal game in a couple of hours. 

 Wow. Germany beat the USA 4-3 and will face Canada for gold, whole the USA plays Latvia fir bronze. This will be a good finish.

 Canada beat Latvia 4-2 to play for gold tomorrow. Latvia gave them a run for their money,  going up 1-0 and 2-1. Up next is USA vs Germany. 

 Canada beat Finland 4-1 and a big surprise is Latvia beating Sweden 3-1.  Wow. Canada will be playing Latvia in the second semi final,  while the United States will play Germany.  Semi finals are on Saturday. 

 First two quarterfinals are done. United States beat Czech Republic 3-0 and Germany surprised Switzerland 3-1. Even with the reseeding happening,  the United States will play Germany in one semi final game.  Canada vs Finland and Sweden vs Latvia are on now.

 Geez the Florida Panthers are on a roll and in the Stanley Cup finals after sweeping the Carolina Hurricanes.  All four games were one goal games. It felt close. Florida will be starting in either Dallas or Vegas. That series could be over tomorrow. 

 OK I'm late on this.  National Treasure won the Preakness by a head over Blazing Sevens. Kentucky Derby winner Mage was third.  Winning time was 1:55.12. John Velazquez was winning jockey and Bob Baffert with his 8th Preakness din as trainer.   Belmont Stakes are June 10th

 The round robin has ended and the quarterfinals are set. It will be: Switzerland vs Germany, Canada vs Finland, Latvia vs Sweden and Czech Republic vs USA. Canada beat the Czechs 3-1 and Switzerland lost to Latvia 4-3 in two of today's games. Quarterfinals are on Thursday. 

 This season has (for the last time) 70 games and 6 teams. Highlights had: 1. Bobby Orr signing with Boston on September 3rd and debuting that season. 2. March 4, Terry Sawchuk records career shutout 100. 3. March 18 Bobby Hull first player to record back to back 50 goal seasons. 3. March 28 Stan Mikita records most assists in season with 62.  Expansion draft had the 6 teams pick 18 skaters and 2 goalies.  Semi finals had Montreal 4 New York 0 and Toronto 4 Chicago 2. Toronto then beat Montreal 4-2 to win the 1967 Stanley Cup,  the last in the original 6 and in Canada's centennial. It us also Toronto's 13th and final Cup. Dave Keon wins Conn Smythe trophy for playoff MVP. First pick in the 1967 amateur draft was Rick Pagnutti, chosen by Los Angeles. He never plays an NHL game. Next up - the 1967-68 NHL season. 

 The Dallas Stars will be playing the Vegas Golden Knights in the Western conference final after beating the Seattle Kraken 2-1 in game 7.  Series starts in Vegas. Schedule to be announced soon.

 The Vegas Golden Knights are into the western conference finals after beating Edmonton 5-2 in game 6 and the series 4-2. Vegas will play Dallas or Seattle next. Game 7 of that is tomorrow 

 This ended in overtime and it was Florida winning 3-2 to end Toronto's season. Many will talk about whether Toronto should have had a goal or not. Anyways, Florida will play Carolina I the eastern conference final. 

 Boy did the Carolina Hurricanes make this look easy. They just eliminated the New Jersey Devils I'm game 5 3-2 and the series 4-1. They will face either Toronto or Florida in the eastern conference final.  Stay tuned for that.

 Today we visit Thailand.  Capital is Bangkok. Borders Myanmar, India (maritime), Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, Vietnam and Indonesia. NOC was created in 1948 and recognized in 1950. First summer games in 1952 and been to every games since except 1980. First winter games was 2002 and have missed only 2010 since. All their medals in the summer games in boxing, taekwondo and weightlifting (10g, 8s, 17b 35t). First medal was a bronze in 1976 by Payao Poontarat in mens lightweight boxing. First silver was Dhavee Unponmaha in mens lightweight boxing. First gold was was Somluck Kamsing. Here is the flag of Thailand. 

 Today we visit Saint Kitts and Nevis. Their NOC was created in 1986 and recognized in 1993. First the Commonwealth Games. They first appeared in 1978 as part of the Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla team. They appeared independently in 1990 and been to every games since. Only one medal and it was a gold from Kim Collins in 2002 in the 100m. Flag bearers include: Antoine Adams (2014), St Clair Hodge (2018 & 2022) and Amya Clarke (2022). Now for the Olympics. First appearance was 1996 in Atlanta and have appeared in every games since. No winter appearances yet.  No medals won yet.  Flag bearers include: Diane Francis (1996), Kim Collins (2000, 2004, 2012), Virgil Hodge (2008), Antoine Adam's (2016) and Amya Clarke/Jason Rogers (2020). Their specialty is athletics. So that's our visit to Saint Kitts and Nevis. Here is their flag.

Haven't done this I awhile. Today it's Ukraine 🇺🇦 at hhe Olympics.  It will be since they gained independence in 1991.  Their NOC was formed in 1990 and recognized in 1993. Their first summer games was 1996 and been to every one since. Their first winter games was 1994 xnd been to every games since. 1994 produced their first ever gold by Oksana Baiul and Ukraine also got a bronze. Highest winter total was 2 in 1994, 2006 and 2014. Highest summer total was 23 in 1996 and 2000. Overall, their summer total is 35g, 36s, 68b for 139 total. Overall winter is 3g, 2s, 4b for 9 total. That's Ukraine. Here is their flag. 

 The first running of the triple crown had Mage win the 149th Kentucky Derby in a time of 2:01.57. Javier Castellano was winning jockey and Gustavo Delgado was winning trainer. Two Phil's came second.  Next up the Preakness in two weeks.

 It will be Carolina vs New Jersey as the Devils knock out  the New York Rangers in game 7 with a 4-0 win.  That series starts Wednesday as well as Edmonton vs Vegas. Toronto vs Florida and Seattle vs Dallas starts tomorrow.