East	Winner	Comment
Buffalo vs. NY Rangers		While the Rangers are a feel good story, Buffalo is the real deal.  Buffalo goalie Ryan Miller is been pretty impressive. Buffalo is too quick for the Rangers to deal with.  In a long series, Buffalo will wear the older Rangers down.  Although, it's hard to count out a team with Brendan Shanahan.
Ottawa vs. New Jersey		This should be a tremendous series.  If Ottawa doesn't get frustrated by New Jersey's style of play, the Sens will pull it off.  Marty Brodeur looked very human against Tampa Bay and Ottawa has even better fire power led by the explosive Dany Heatley.

West	Winner	Comment
Detroit vs. San Jose		Remember on the playground when you used to tell the bully to pick on someone his own size.  Ron Wilson, meet the Detroit Red Wings. They have talent and they won't let you knock them around like Nashville did.  Only hope for the Sharks, keep whining and hope the refs listen
Vancouver vs. Anaheim		This may be the hardest second round series to pick.  But with Vancouver surviving against an experienced Dallas team and with Roberto Luongo in the net, slight edge to Vancouver.  Besides, sooner or later the Canucks offense will snap out of it.

Lightning Round:

• Shortly before George Brett started on an ark, they began play in Kansas City. After a one hour, forty-five minute rain delay, the Sox and Royals played a game of which team is more pathetic.  The Sox made three errors in the game, two of them leading to Royals runs.  Fortunately for the Sox, the Royals are even worse and with the game tied at seven in the top of the ninth, the Sox scored on a throwing error and a wild pitch to win 9-7.  A.J. Pierzynski, was offensive in a good way, going three for five.  Javy Vasquez pitched well even though he got a no decision , partly due to poor bullpen work from Matt Thornton and Mike MacDougall.  MacDougall looked totally lost and it was a wonder he was allowed to start the eighth. Bobby Jenks pitched a scoreless ninth probably due to the fact the team was almost two hours late for the post game buffet and Bobby was getting his hunger on.  The Sox and Togers meet tonight at Commiskey Park (a.k.a. the Phone Booth) weather permitting.  One more note: Jermaine Dye was pulled after the seventh with the Sox down by a run at the time.  This indicates to me he may have sustained some sort of injury, but at this point, I'm not 100% certain. And, I'm glad this series is over.  Watching it on Extra Innings (thanks again, Senator Kerry) the Kansas City announcers have to be the most lifeless in all of baseball.  That and I will forever hate Paul Splintorff for never losing to the White Sox back in the day.
• Rich Hill has been sucked into the vortex that is the Chicago Cubs.  At least number 10 is okay.
  
• Nick Swisher left the game on early on Tuesday after straining a  hammy.  It was bound to happen sooner or later lugging all that hair around the bases. (Yes, I know it's for charity.)
  
• Torri Hunter thought he was making a nice gesture when he sent four bottles of champaign to the Kansas City Royals last week for their help in beating Detroit at the end of the season and giving the Twins the central division title.  Turns out, Hunter broke major league rule  21-b which prohibits players for rewarding other teams for beating the competition.  The bottles have been sent back and the league is reviewing it which could lead to a fine, suspension or both for Hunter.  Personally, I think Hunter has more to worry about when the Tigers catch up with him.
• I think Bob Hill has run out of opportunities as an NBA head coach.  In fact, count him out of high school, college and rec league too.
  
• Some whack job in the pacific northwest is being hunted by the FBI for sending threatening letters to TV stations about cheerleaders.  The whack job says that TV shows too many shots of cheerleaders.  Hey, when it's say Auburn vs. Vanderbilt, you can't show ENOUGH shots of cheerleaders.  I think it's time Senior Supervisory Special Agent Jason Gideon and the Criminal Minds guys figure out who the whack job is. 
  
• If you leak in the NFL, prepare to get your leaker spanked.
  
• Here's a sobering thought: MSNBC might be considering Tony Kornheiser for a possible replacement for Don Imus. Why is it that lifelong radio guys are out of work and newspaper guys like Tony get good gigs?  Maybe it isn't about talent after all.  I still haven't figured out his appeal. And, for the record, that's frustration, not bitterness, thank you very much.
• Looks like Katie Couric may be the victim of a well known co-worker.  This has Lifetime Movie Network movie of the week written all over it.  The young, eager woman who wins the big anchor job and the mean old guard guy who tries to stop or discredit her.  Not quite "Anchorman" but close.
  
• If you are a fan of Food Network's "Dinner: Impossible" with Chef Robert Irvine, you are in luck.  According to our friends at TV Foodfan.com, Food Network wants to cook up twenty-six more episodes.  BTW, if you have seen this show, please send me your thoughts on little George vs. Barry.  Seriously.
• An outstanding story on how restaurants can make it easier for consumers by putting their menus on line.  I am more apt to go to a restaurant if I can see what my choices are in advance than if I can't.  That's because Princess is a notoriously picky eater.
• This is pretty cool