Illinoistocht

It's already 2010 in some parts of the world, and will be shortly in the Americas.  In addition to the usual festivities and football games, for the third year in a row, the NHL will play an outdoor hockey game.  This year's NHL Winter Classic 2010 will feature the Boston Bruins playing the Philadelphia Flyers at historic Fenway Park.  There could be snow, which would be like the Penguins - Sabres game in Buffalo a couple of years ago.  Despite what can be dicey ice conditions, the game is a lot of fun to watch.  By contrast, the football bowl games, mostly bereft of the top teams that play later in BCS matchups, are less interesting--only the classic Pac-10 vs. Big-10 matchup in the Rose Bowl featuring #7 Oregon vs. #8 Ohio State seems compelling to me.  I'm tired of hearing the broadcasters go on and on about Tim Tebow and Florida so I'm skipping the Cincinnati / Florida Sugar Bowl.   

I'm hoping that someday the NHL will feature an outdoor game in Ottawa, maybe between the Washington Capitals and the Ottawa Senators.  Instead of a New Year's Day matchup, why not in February during Winterlude at Ottawa's Frank Clair Stadium in Lansdowne Park, right next to the Rideau Canal.  Add to the festive atmosphere by setting up big screen televisions for people to watch the game from the canal making for a great celebration of hockey and winter activities.  The stadium needs some work--an outdoor NHL game might be the catalyst for Ottawa to make some needed improvements to the facility.