katiephd

The sports awards show will air July 20 on ESPN.

[...]The Boston Red Sox, New York Giants, Boston Celtics, Detroit Red Wings and Kansas men's basketball and Tennessee women's basketball are nominated for best team.

Fans determine the winners in 37 categories by voting online or with mobile phones. (more)

The full NHL schedule for 2008-09 will be released in mid-July, and it will show the Maple Leafs opening up the regular season with a game at Detroit on Thursday, October 9th — the start of the Red Wings’ Stanley Cup defence. (more)

“It was unbelievable – it was the best time of my life. The whole playoffs was great, you know, just a great feeling. It was a great experience and now I understand why those guys like Draper, Lidstrom, Maltby, McCarty [Detroit team-mates] were so hungry for it.”

How did you celebrate?
“We celebrated in Detroit – there was a million and a half people, it was great, it was unbelievable…”

There was some kind of parade?
“Yeah, it was a parade, 1.5 million people. It was unbelievable – a great experience.”

What would you say you learned from winning the Stanley Cup, and winning it so young?
“It was such a great feeling – you get even hungrier. I’m glad I experienced it at this age.”

When are you bringing the Stanley Cup to the Czech Republic? Or rather when is the Stanley Cup coming to you?
“It’s coming on August 4 and it’s going to be exciting. The whole town where I grew up and where I live now is so excited for me. I’m going to try to do everything to show them the cup. They can touch it and, you know, get the experience that I did.”

Finally, you of course played with Dominik Hašek. What was it like playing with him, and how long before he announced his retirement did you learn that he was going to quit?
“Actually, I didn’t know – I got a text message the night before from our PR guy saying, he’ll be glad if you are there. It surprised me a little bit but it’s his decision. He’s a legend, he’s a living legend, probably the best goalie who ever played, and I’ve got so much respect for him.”

Injuries? Yeah, they had a few. More than a few, actually. Talked to a champagne-soaked trainer, Piet van Zant, in the Zamboni entrance a couple hours ago and his initial response was, "Everybody was playing through something." But then he rattled off the abridged version:

Tomas Holmstrom was playing with a sports hernia (for a long time) and a torn hamstring.

Valtteri Filppula wasn't practicing because of a fairly signficant knee injury.

Brad Stuart also was playing with a knee injury that would've had him sitting in the regular season.

Darren Helm limped out of there tonight with a nasty Charley horse.

And, yes, there was more than just concussion-like symptoms plaguing Johan Franzen, but van Zant said the team and Franzen will wait a day or two before explaining what exactly went on with that whole saga.