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Here are the odds on the NHL quarterfinal matchups; Detroit -300, Vancouver -135, Boston -220, and, somewhat surprisingly, Washington -140….sometimes you’re just feeling contrarian. My toonies tumble to the Blackhawks at +115, Carolina at +180 and Pittsburgh at + 120. I feel confident of a handy 3-0 run, usually the feeling I get before the bitch goddess of wagering serves up an extra large order of humble pie. Remember, lads, the rent money goes to the landlord…a long write up of the playoff series is, as they say, kind of like pissing down your own leg. It feels hot to you but for everyone else? Not so much…the Chicago Blackhawks were easily manhandled 7-3 by the Canucks in February. Word on the street was the Hawks were “Roxied”, a term used on the West Coast when a visiting team spends the night before a game getting oiled at the legendary Vancouver club. The seasons series ended in a 2-2 tie…an interesting side story to the Carolina - New Jersey series is the competition between Cam Ward and Martin Brodeur for a spot on the 2010 Canadian Olympic team. If we grant the starting role to Roberto Luongo then surely the back-up role falls to either the Cane (correct answer) or Devil (wrong answer) goalie…Olli Jokinen, Calgary Flame, dressing room whiner, playoff disappointment…how about a straight up trade of Jason Spezza for Joe Thornton? Fresh start, new surroundings etc etc. maybe one of the busts could benefit in a new locale?…hmmm, the San Jose Sharks were, despite the addition of Rob Blake and Dan Boyle, no better without Coach Ron Wilson. And the Anaheim  Ducks, the team constructed by Brian Burke, appear pretty damn solid. We, thus, conclude that the Toronto Maple Leafs are in very good hands…the headline in yesterdays Globe read Crosby vs. Ovechkin. Shouldn’t that be Malkin vs. Ovechkin? Evengi was the Penguins best player during their series against the Philadelphia Flyers…a friend who is a former resident of New York City described the Long Island arena that is home to the Islanders as, “old with no charm”. Sums it up nicely. Same applies to my girlfriend…love the rumour coming from Tampa Bay concerning the Bucs decision to sign Byron Leftwich. After watching their plethora of QB’s work during an April mini-camp, the Buc brain trust was aghast to discover the collection, well, sucked. They put out a call for Byron shortly thereafter…can’t avoid the whispers that suggest Brett Favre will play for the Minnesota Vikings this year. The New York Jets have granted the washed up pigskin slinger complete free agent status, clearly disappointed by the QB’s late season meltdown…the 1-0 score does not reflect the complete dominance of Manchester United over beleaguered Arsenal at Old Trafford yesterday. The semi finals of the Champions League will be settled next week with Barcelona and Chelsea very much a going concern, but the boys from the Theatre of Dreams all but home and cooled out…Woodbine jockey Todd Kabel has apparently been suspended for 15 days. Why? No one is saying. The jock has simply disappeared, undermining his attempts to revive his career after sitting out pretty much all of 2008. Jennifer Morrison would seem to be the logical individual to investigate the truth, but she has said nary a word about the subject that has the backstretch buzzing…nothing I can write will do justice to Thomas Hauser’s piece on Dave Wolf and Joe Frazier currently up on the Seconds Out site. Derived from the notes left by the now deceased Wolf, the article paints the best picture yet of Frazier’s evolving feelings towards Ali. It also gives us insight into his reactions to the street taunts Smokin’ Joe faced after Ali painted him as an “Uncle Tom”, ignorant and ugly. It’s a must read…I thought the Kentucky Derby post position draw was largely uneventful for the contenders. They all avoided the really treacherous spots, the ones down by the rail. Dunkirk rolls from 14, PioneeroftheNile from 15 and Desert Party from 19… with predictions of rainfall for the Churchill Downs area on Saturday many will be adding mud hound Friesan Fire to their wagering menu…