It has been a couple weeks since the Sharks exited the Stanley Cup Playoffs and I think I have finally reached the acceptance stage. Like the Sharks' General Manager, Doug Wilson, I have given it some time before reacting (well at least reacting in the written form) so what I write now is not based solely on emotions. With that, here are some thoughts on the playoffs so far:

1. Here is a few of the players the Sharks have said goodbye to in the last few years: Mike Ricci, Scott Thornton, Todd Harvey, Mark Smith, Matt Bradley, Marco Sturm. Now, some of these players left via free agency and others left as part of trades. Most of these players were third or fourth line players whose exits led to the additions of seemingly more talented players. However, while talent is necessary on any winning team, these players each provided the character I believe is missing from the Sharks' current squad. While I am not arguing with the release and/or trade of any of the above players, I think the collective loss is something the team is now starting to realize. We have few, if any, players like these any more. Who show up every single night with unrelenting effort...with heart. San Jose needs to find more of this if there is any hope of winning it all in the near future.

2. It was time for Ron Wilson to be fired. I don't think it was a surprise to anyone and in my opinion, it was for the best. Wilson was a great coach and he will go on to be a great coach again. But Wilson was an X's and O's kinda guy, and the Sharks have the X's and O's down. What San Jose needs now is the X-factor. I do not believe Wilson is the only person to blame for the Sharks' poor performance in the playoffs but changes need to be made and those changes have to start at the top.

3. The Sharks did not deserve to win, but the Dallas Stars' fans do not deserve to see their team win. I witnessed these fans in person at the American Airlines Center for the closing regular season game. This game had over 90 minutes of penalties in the first period. Dallas won the game, and still they were the most pathetic fans I have ever seen. It was as if someone put Valium in the arena's fountain drink dispensers. I was in awe, and slightly embarrassed for the fans. Although Andy will kill me for saying this, I am really hoping Detroit finishes the Stars off in the conference finals. I've always disliked Dallas due to the Pacific Division rivalry with the Sharks, but after my visit to the AA Center I don't have much respect for that team at all.

4. I guess I am rooting for the Pittsburgh Penguins. I am not thrilled about this. But I can't really justify rooting for either Western Conference hopeful representative, so I guess the Pens will have to do. I don't really have much against the team itself, I just can't stand how the NHL shoves them down our throats all year long. And it drives me crazy that Sidney Crosby is the only young star marketed to the casual fan when there many others in the league. My dad put it perfectly when he said, "I'll root for the Penguins this year but after they win they are going to be pretty obnoxious."

5. Stepping away from hockey to close... I love watching the triple-crown horse races. I really pay no attention to racing the rest of the year, but the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont are just so darn exciting. I must admit, I shed a tear for Eight Belles two weeks ago. I was so excited for the great race she ran and then all of the sudden she went down. It was heartbreaking. As for Big Brown, he's won the first two as of yesterday and in three weeks he will look to be the first horse since 1977 to win the triple-crown. For some reason, I really don't want to see that happen. Nothing against Big Brown at all but I just like the idea of something being almost impossible to attain. In my living room, I have the famous photo of Secretariat topping off the triple-crown with a 33-length victory in the 1973 hanging on my wall. I guess I am a traditionalist who just likes the idea of a moment like that staying unique. That being said, I think Big Brown will probably pull it off in three weeks.

That's all for now. Be good you all and watch your hockey.