SPRINGFIELD–During his playing career Dennis Rodman was bad as he wanted to be. On Friday night, “The Worm” was honored for how great of an NBA player he was during a 14-year NBA career in which he left an indelible mark.

That career took up residence in a pair of league dynasties beginning first with the infamous Detroit Pistons, more affectionately known by the moniker of the “Bad Boys,” and finishing up with the 1990’s Chicago Bulls headlined by on-the-court titans named Jordan and Pippen, and coached by Phil Jackson.

Dennis Rodman at the Springfield dais on Friday night

Those Windy City winning teams were NBA royalty, and in that basketball castle, Rodman played the role of court jester. The tattoos, piercings, Big Box Crayola chromatic hair, and the infamous wedding dress, were all parts of Rodman’s rebellious and perpetual uniform.

“I didn’t play the game for the money. I didn’t play the game to be famous,” Rodman said as he choked back tears Friday night. “What you see here is just an illusion, and that I love to be an individual that is very colorful,” he added about his persona.

Rodman’s career was checkered with incidents and mishaps, many of which landed him in hot water with NBA commissioner David Stern. However, Rodman was cognizant of Stern’s presence in the theater on Friday night.

“I want to thank David Stern and the NBA community for even having me in the building,” Rodman said. His Hall candidacy could have been hindered by his trouble-making ways, including a notable 1997 suspension for kicking a sideline camera man that sidelined him for 11 games.

Rodman’s fashion sense was also something that set him apart from others in the annals of basketball history. Friday night’s wardrobe was no different, as Rodman wore a black suit with sequined designs (including his jersey numbers with the Bulls and Pistons), red lapel and a frilly and sequin-adorned shirt that looked as if it was once worn by the artist formerly and now currently known as Prince.

His red carpet outfit was even crazier as he wore a pewter gray suit, cowboy hat with matching gray plumage attached to it, and a black feather boa.

All theatrics, incidents, and fashion faux pas aside, Rodman, a two-time All-Star, proved to be a rebounding machine. His 11,954 boards come in at 23^rd all-time in league history.

His game on the defensive end of the floor set him apart from and stifled a great many of his contemporaries. Rodman was twice named the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year and named to the All-NBA Defensive team a whopping seven times.

Rodman played the game with a feverish passion. That passion and appreciation was evident during The Worm’s ten-minute speech Friday night,as for most of it he held back tears and stammered through chunks of his improvisational prose.

“This game has been very good to me,” Rodman admitted. “I could have been anywhere in the world. I could have been dead. I could have been a drug dealer,” he added about the possible alternatives that he could have potentially faced had basketball not been such a prevalent part of his life.

Rodman’s road to Hall of Fame enshrinement can certainly be classified as a circuitous route to Springfield’s hallowed hoops shrine. His career at times was could have also been classified as a circus.

With five NBA championship rings, earned with a pair of the last half-century’s most memorable teams, that career is now cemented alongside the game’s all-time greats. In that career which spanned nearly a decade and a half, Dennis Rodman was called many things including troublemaker, defensive player of the year, and even menace.

But you can now add one more title to that litany of distinctions: Hall of Famer.

Follow Greg Cameron on Twitter: @Greg_Cameron and shoot him an e-mail at gregory.r.cameron@gmail.com.

“Times like these we learn to love again.” — Foo Fighters

On normal days, this space is reserved for what folks in journalism call the “toy department,” sports.

Today was as far as a normal one in Western New England as a tornado ripped through here.

You read pieces like Lars Anderson’s from a recent issue of Sports Illustrated regarding the tornado in Tuscaloosa and you have two thoughts: 1.) That can’t happen where I’m from and 2.) That town has such remarkable character.

Springfield, Massachusetts, my home (not far) away from home is a town with that kind of remarkable character. The City of Homes is a hardscrabble town that has seen its fair share of economic crises, crime, and now this significant weather event.

And man, Springfield is a great sports town! Basketball was invented there in the late 1800′s, and helps keep the pulse of the city.

At the epicenter of that heartbeat is a small college, that prides itself on being a part of the community and lends a helping hand on a moment’s notice. That educational institution, Springfield College, was my home for four years.

SC was hit hard by the storm which is reflected in pictures captured by my friend and collegiate newspaper colleague Justin Felisko captured on The Springfield Student’s Facebook page.

Springfield College will clean up and rebuild as it is a place beloved by the people who were matriculated there. Not only will the school lick its own wounds, but it will help the surrounding area too.

Why? Because that’s the right thing to do, and it what SC does best.

I’ve seen the best and worst of Springfield in my years working in multiple journalistic facets. As a production assistant for an ABC affiliate in town in the summer of 2008, I worked on quite a few stories that would were, in a word, harrowing.

That summer affirmed that working in sports was for me. I didn’t have the stomach for the rough and tumble life of many of the seemingly stoic news reporters I was learning under.

But in the face of a lot of the tragedies that I covered, I saw a community move forward with resolve and resiliency. These qualities will serve well in the coming days and weeks.

Today, the South End Community Center, an inner-city landmark took severe structural damage. This edifice  is a building that is key to keeping kids off the streets, out of crime, and into athletics.

During that summer of 2008, I was able to see the impact this building had as a place of healing in a time of need as Springfield Central High School’s boys basketball team mourned the death of their point guard and friend, Mario Hornsby. Basketball became their outlet for their frustration, grief and the rest of the emotions racing through them.

They didn’t turn to violence or retaliation. They turned to what was most familiar, sports.

Sports will play a role in the recovery that the City of Springfield will undertake in the coming days and weeks. In time, fastballs and fast breaks will help in the rebuilding of a city whose character shines through the bleakest of conditions.

Ernest Hemingway once wrote that courage is grace under pressure. In the coming days and weeks, we will see that grace under immense pressure in the Pioneer Valley.

When you knock your knees at night, keep the Pioneer Valley in your thoughts. This area sure could use any kind of positive divine intervention it could get a hold of.

Comments? Questions? Anything? Feel free to e-mail Greg or send him a shout on Twitter @Greg_Cameron.

What. A. Postseason.

Is there anything else you can say about this year’s brand of the NHL Playoffs? I certainly have trouble coming up with any kind of vocabulary to top that statement.

Tonight, hockey fans all across the North American landscape saw quite possibly the best non-Cup Finals series in recent memory end in instant classic fashion as San Jose took down Detroit 3-2 in a Game Seven that boiled down to a war of attrition.

The Sharks leaped ahead early thanks to goals from Devin Setoguchi and Calder trophy candidate Logan Couture. San Jose looked to have its pedal on the floor, and headed for an easy victory.

This series was a face-off for the ages!

In the early periods, things looked bleak for the perennial playoff contenders from the Motor City. Primarily, Todd Bertuzzi and Dan Cleary went down with injuries and didn’t return.

And Antti Niemi had the look of Richter in ’94, Giguere in ’03, and Ryan Miller in the 2010 Olympics. The young Finn netminder had the look of a goalie in control of a moment that would induce palpitations in a much more common man.

Remember Niemi? He’s the guy who was cool as a cucumber and led the Chicago Blackhawks in between the pipes this time last Spring.

However, the Detroit Red Wings weren’t going to let their false start hold them down for all sixty minutes. Like all great players, Henrik Zetterberg and the ever-dazzling Pavel Datsyuk weren’t going to let this game go by the boards without a fight.

Zetterberg potted a goal of of a sweet pass from Valtteri Filppula at 13:10 of the second period. With the play, there was suddenly spring in the Detroit skates; it was a team-collective moment  of, “We can do this, fellas!”

However, the Sharks staked their visitors from the midwest to another two-goal hole. Patrick Marleau picked the right moment to end a scoring drought, and he cleaned up a chance from Setoguchi with eight minutes left.

Datsyuk then showcased his silky smooth handling on a magnificent coast-to-coast goal on the backhand. If you haven’t seen Datsyuk’s skills, just YouTube him, it’s totally worth it.

But, as surely as Cinderella’s glistening coach turned back into a pumpkin after the clock struck midnight, so too did Detroit’s ride through the playoffs. After a frenetic third-period assault with the extra attacker on the ice, the Red Wings fell just short of the miraculous comeback.

But, what a series! Detroit comes back from an 0-3 hole, to tie it up a three games apiece.

If only Game 7 was just five minutes longer…who knows what could’ve happened.

But it wasn’t. And the game ended with the ceremonial handshake line, a statement of sportsmanship revered by fans everywhere.

Sharks coach Todd McLellan made sure he had something to say to each and every Detroit player. After all they used to be his guys before he ascended to the top job in San Jose.

Hockey’s grand tournament is chock full of small moments like this. It shows how much these players love the game and the competition, especially in a series like this one.

But, what is the overall thesis on this series? Is there a definitive one?

I think I have one: What. A. Series.

Questions? Comments? Concerns? Compliments? Let Greg Cameron know, send it his way! Or tweet him at @Greg_Cameron!

First off a big congratulations to the Texas Rangers on winning their first postseason series. They were the last club in the majors to do so.

Thanks in large part to a flat-out dominant performance from Cliff Lee, the Rangers move onto the ALCS to face the vaunted defending World Series champion New York Yankees.

However, a lot of talk a few weeks back was on the customary champagne celebration after such clinching wins like last night’s. Rangers all-world outfielder, and recovering addict, Josh Hamilton was going to skip such a celebration due to the demons he fought so furiously to fend off and reach the heights that he has in recent years.

Not so fast, Josh…your teammates have a solution! Instead of champagne, the plucky Rangers squad celebrated with Schweppes Ginger Ale.

Not a bad sign of friendship, sportsmanship, and teamwork, eh?

Moving to the hardwood and Gilbert Arenas seems to just find his way into trouble, doesn’t he?

Today, the former Agent Zero finds himself in hot water for faking an injury. Yes, you read that right, Arenas faked an injury.

However, I can’t really fault the guy; his agenda was pretty benevolent. Wizards guard Nick Young had been getting frustrated about not getting much playing time (especially on a team with a glut of talented guards, like Washington. So, Arenas did what he thought was right, fake an injury and get Young into the starting lineup.

I mean it could be worse, right? Arenas could’ve gotten Young into the lineup after bringing a firearm into the locker room–again.

Finally, to the collegiate gridiron for a story that has been making some noise recently. And no, this one doesn’t involve Mel Kiper Jr., agents, or Ryan Leaf.

In a game against Central Michigan on Saturday, Virginia Tech offensive lineman Greg Nosal was giving just about all that he could give for the Hokies’ offense. That included a part of his left pinkie!

Best part is that the craziness of the whole thing was predominantly lost on Nosal. “I guess it’s a big deal if your pinkie got ripped off,” the redshirt junior said nonchalantly.

This story is reminiscent of a time-honored tale of 49ers legendary safety Ronnie Lott having his pinkie amputated after the 1985 season.

But after the season? A legend like Lott has nothing on Greg Nosal.

I’m willing to bet Virginia Tech QB Tyrod Taylor is glad to have tough guy like Nosal up in front of him.

Enjoy what you have left of your Wednesday!

Without further ado, let’s get to the links, shall we?

In case you haven’t heard, the Patriots brought a blast from the past back to Foxborough. No, not this one. She will not be back.

As we digress from Terry Glenn, the Patriots have brought Deion Branch back from the spot from which he was plundering on Pete Carroll’s Seattle Seahawks depth chart. Where we last saw Branch he was gridiron BFF’s with Tom Brady and winning Super Bowl MVP accolades.

With his old #83 being worn by everyone’s favorite slot receiver, Wes Welker, Branch is donning the #84 jersey abandoned by the absence (which is not being missed by anyone, by the way) of Benjamin Watson.

Moving from the turf to the ice, and Sean Avery finds himself immersed in yet another controversy–again.

No, he didn’t say something stupid like this, or act like a nincompoop like he did when he did this. Instead, he’s complaining about someone else dishing out trash talk to him.

James Wisniewski, of the New York Islanders, wasn’t taking any of Avery’s crap after the time-honored Blueshirts pest crashed into the Isles’ crease, so he made sure he let him know about it. Was it a stupid and probably vulgar gesture on Wisniewski’s part? Sure was, but anytime Avery gets a taste of his own medicine, this here blog space stands up and cheers.

Finally, we’re going to cross the point for some soccer…Yeah, you read that right, soccer. But to preface, let me if you will make a statement about the great continent of Europe.

They have given us such great things as the collective works of Michaelangelo, Oscar Wilde, and The Beatles. Not to mention they’ve given us some pretty awesome soccer.

The Euros have also given us some pretty awesome soccer goal celebrations. However, This morning, I am saddened to report that we have reached a new low in proud celebrations on the pitch.

Montenegro’s Mirko Vucinic has given us that new low. After scoring a clutch goal against the Swiss this weekend, he proceeded to do this.

At the risk of sounding like Lloyd Bentsen here, Mr. Vucinic, you are no Starjnan of the Icelandic league. I know Starjnan, and you sir, are no Starjnan.

With all of that said, hope you enjoy what is left of your Tuesday!

To reach Greg Cameron, fire off an e-mail to gcameron@spfldcol.edu, or you can now send him a tweet @Greg_Cameron.

When the dust settled, the Whip City ballplayers came away with an incredible and seemingly improbable 5-4 victory over Amherst at Billy Bullens Field.

“It didn’t look good for awhile there,” Westfield manager Paul Chapdelaine said. “But we came around at the end,” he added.

With one out in the seventh inning, up strode centerfielder Kyle Murphy looking to double his team’s hit total. The lanky leadoff man did just that as he connected with an opposite-field single to left.

Third baseman Robbie Sullivan followed by drawing a five-pitch walk to give Westfield two runners on base. Pitcher/first baseman Ian Wolski knocked a base hit to right, which Murphy scored on due to an error by Amherst catcher Chris Wardlaw.

Connor Sas, who entered the game behind the plate for Jack Templeton in the fourth, then charged a single in the neighborhood of the left-field line to bring home Sullivan. Lee Papadimitriou, who had a key late-inning hit on Sunday for Police in the City Cup championship game, came up to the plate with his all-star squad trailing by a run and the game on the line.

On the first pitch from Amherst hurler Alex Tajima in the seventh, Papadimitriou hit a game-winning single to shallow center field to score Matt Tsatsos and Templeton, who came on in the final frame as pinch-hitters. Papadimitriou pinch-hit for infielder Luc Zayac in the seventh during that fateful at-bat.

“I was just trying to go out there and get something going for my team,” Papadimitriou said about his walk-off heroics.

“We just kept battling and battling,” Chapdelaine said. “They’ve got too many good sticks to stay down for the whole game,” the skipper added.

Through four and two-thirds innings, Westfield was being no-hit by Amherst starter Asher Young. Young tallied a pair of strikeouts and just a walk and a hit batsmen until Murphy hit a single.

Murphy’s single could have scored Tim Donohue, but the Westfield shortstop was gunned down in a close play at the plate.

Westfield got an up-and-down outing from Papdimitriou on the mound last night. The righthander tossed four innings with seven strikeouts and surrendered just a pair of hits.

“My arm felt great,” Papdimitriou said of his outing. “Jack called a great game and I had good defense behind me,” he added.

Papadimitriou retired the first six hitters he faced until giving up a hit to Young. Young scored five batters later after Papadimitriou walked Tim Knightley to re-load the bases.

The 15-year-old squad will take to the Bullens diamond tomorrow night against the winner of the Amherst and Greenfield game. The game is slated for 7:30.

Last night’s 15-year-old game was delayed for close to an hour as the 14-year old All-Stars played in a wild affair of their own. After losing grip of a 6-3 lead to Franklin County, Westfield came back to win 7-6 on a base hit by Jeff Hockenberry knocked in Dean Varelas for the Whip City win.

After playing  five games over the course of seven days, what was an extra three innings to manager Marc Camerlin’s 15-16 year old Babe Ruth tournament entrant Westfield Police?

Second baseman Brandon Affeldt knocked in teammate Victor Rosario with a one-out single in the bottom of the tenth to give Police a wild 3-2 victory over Advance Manufacturing at Billy Bullens Field last night. Affeldt left the diamond with a pair of hits and pair of RBI in the City Cup victory.

“I’ve been watching David Ortiz as I’ve been growing up and I tried to be like him,” Affeldt wryly said of his walk-off heroics. “I waited for my pitch and took advantage of it.”

Going into the bottom of the tenth, Police trailed 2-1 after Advance’s Karl Kober plated Adam Mayhew with a sacrifice fly to center field. In addition to the key RBI, Kober threw five strong innings mixing in four strikeouts to pace Advance on the mound.

Outfielder Lee Papadimitrio got the tenth inning Police rally rolling with a leadoff ground-rule double to left-center field. As the ball sailed into the warm Westfield night, many in attendance at Bullens field believed the ball had cleared the fence through the air and not by way of a bounce.

“I just tried to make contact with it and get something started,” Papadimitrio said. “I had my head down, I didn’t know if it was gone or not,” he added.

After the double, Rosario picked the perfect time and place to lay down his first bunt of the season to move Papadimitrio over to third and give Police runners on the corners. Kyle Murphy then followed with a sacrifice fly of his own plating the shaggy-haired Papadimitrio. Danny Jacques drew a key walk, followed by Anthony Nomakeo drawing an intentional pass to batters later before Affeldt’s heroics.

Nomakeo threw six innings of relief in the Police victory. The righthander chipped in six strikeouts through the course of his outing.

“I was just trying to get through the innings with what I had left and throw strikes,” Nomakeo said of his performance in the game’s later innings.

Advance got on the Bullens Field scoreboard early with a sacrifice fly from Robby Sullivan in the top of the first inning. Affeldt plated Andrew Schultz with an RBI single in the fourth inning for Police’s first run of the evening.

To reach last night’s final, Police needed to defeat Advance on Saturday night. Behind a stout pitching performance collaborated by Papadimitrio and Schultz, Police won Saturday’s contest 6-1.

On Saturday, Nomakeo chipped in with a key two-run double off of Mayhew, who was Advance’s starter. Aubrey Partyka scored in the fourth to put Police up by four after Chris Hilliard advanced on an infield error.

Advance answered back with an RBI single from Chris Williams which plated Billy Wagner. In the seventh, Jacques scored on a Williams wild pitch and Nomakeo chipped in with an RBI single to seal the win for Police.

Cortina  Tile 6, Berkshire Industrial Group 2

After going 0-5 against Amanti Cup playoff’s top seed, Berkshire Industrial Group, something had to give for third-seeded Cortina Tile in Saturday’s championship game in Westfield. After losing the first five matchups between both teams, Cortina’s resiliency had shown through on an overcast afternoon at Billy Bullens Field as manager Brian Sullivan’s crew came away with a 6-2 victory.

“We played them tough and kept having tough innings,” Sullivan said about how his squad fared against Berkshire during the regular season. “The kids thought they could beat them this time around and they deserve this win,” he added.

Shortstop and leadoff man extraordinaire Vincenzo Carbone led the way for Cortina with some late-inning heroics. Carbone finished his afternoon at Billy Bullens Field by drawing a key sixth inning walk that started a big frame for Cortina and belting a seventh inning triple to deep left-center field.

“It felt amazing,” Carbone gushed about his triple. “It [the pitch] was right down the middle and I took it to left center,” he added.

Cam Robitaille then strode up to the plate and advanced on an infield error to put runners on the corners for Cortina. Nate Summers then hit into a fielder’s choice but Carbone crossed the plate.

Two hitters later, Jeff Hockenberry drew a walk and Chris Sullivan followed with a single to score Robitaille. Kenny McLean then followed up with a 2-run single to put Cortina up 5-1.

Cortina’s sixth and final run came from Chris Sullivan who scored on a wild pitch in the sixth. All in all, Cortina sent ten hitters to the plate against Berkshire pitcher Jacob Hough during the sixth frame.

Cortina starter Nate Summers went four impressive innings striking out seven Berkshire hitters. However, Summers’ afternoon on the mound wasn’t without some stressful moments.

Summers surrendered a first-inning leadoff single to Mike Santaniello, who later stole second. Noah Parker followed Santaniello on the base paths by drawing a walk.

Matt Bruno then reached base on an infield single. Berkshire third baseman Jeff Tobias got plunked by a Summers offering to plate Santaniello.

After conceding the run, Summers settled right down and got Jacob Hough on strikes, Dominic Liquori to ground into a force play at the plate and Alex Marcyoniak to fly out to the mound.

In addition to Summers, McLean tossed three innings of relief. The diminutive southpaw stuck out three in his time on the mound Saturday afternoon.

I must confess to you, the loyal Springfield Student reader, something that I feel as though I should share. I have fallen head over heels in the recent days and weeks.

Now, you’re probably wondering with whom and why with just a short time left on Alden Street. To be perfectly honest, this love has been fermenting for some time now.

Are you ready to hear about this new found love? Are you positively sure you’re ready for such heart-stopping, yet heart-enriching news?

Alright, I’ll let the cat out of the bag. I have fallen back in love with playoff hockey and the excitement that comes with it.

By this point, many of you have likely turned the page or read the other fine articles in this publication, but if I may, let me keep you just a little longer. Besides, maybe someday you’ll lovingly miss my hockey columns after I graduate.

Anyway, this is simply an awesome time of year to get into a sport that doesn’t entirely get the national media exposure that it so righteously deserves. This year’s playoffs have been a showcase thus far of the young and the restless in the NHL.

Sure, much of the league’s stalwarts are still there in San Jose, Washington, Pittsburgh, New Jersey, and Detroit. But, this year some new blood has transfused in the NHL playoffs in the form of Phoenix, Colorado, and Los Angeles in addition to countless young players like Boston’s Tuukka Rask.

Rask hasn’t been the only young netminder making his mark on these playoffs. Let me introduce you to Detroit’s Jimmy Howard, a University of Maine product playing stellar in between the pipes for the Red Wings.

His emergence for the Red Wings has been nothing short of a revelation for a team that gutted their way into the playoffs and got healthy at the right time. Just the other night, Howard robbed a would-be Coyote goal-scorer with a beautiful kick save sans facemask.

So far in the first round of play we’ve seen just about anything a hockey fan can possibly see including an own-goal. Yes, you read that right, an own-goal—by professional hockey players.

San Jose’s Dan Boyle, an all-star and a gold medalist in this year’s Vancouver Olympics, managed to misplay the puck and slip it between the pads of fellow Shark and goaltender Evgeni Nabokov. Mind you, this own-goal and stroke of the greatest misfortune ended the Sharks’ tilt against the Colorado Avalanche Sunday night.

Now, as a former mite hockey player, I’ve done the same thing; just not on the NHL level. Trust me, my own lovely parents could probably tell you all about that fateful play held coincidentally at nearby Smead Arena at Blunt Park.

Of course, I wasn’t at all the caliber of player that Dan Boyle is, but all I’m saying is, I feel the guy’s pain.

However painful for some playing in the playoffs or however fortuitous a bounce of the puck in your favor, few things concerning playoff hockey can’t be beat.

Now, as a hockey fan, I’ve already proclaimed my love for playoff hockey. Hopefully, as a Bruins fan, the playoffs can love me back.

In case you haven’t heard, there’s a global epidemic going on right now. No, I’m not talking about the H1 N1 virus, I’m talking about Olympic fever.

For the next two weeks, the collective eyes of the world look to Vancouver, British Columbia for the Winter Olympics. As a sports enthusiast, consider me impressed with the quadriennal event.

Friday night’s festivities included the first-ever indoor opening ceremony complete with giant polar bear statues, Donald Sutherland narration, Sarah McLachlan, and arguably the two greatest hockey players ever without the surnames Lemieux, Crosby, or Ovechkin in Bobby Orr and Wayne Gretzky. Athletic implications aside, the celebration was a seemingly stunningly celebration of our neighbors to the north and their abundant excitement for all events occurring over the following fortnight.

Despite all of the dazzling elements, seeing the procession of countries and the athletes themselves produced the greatest sequences of goosebumps and excitement. Eighty-two nations sent a whopping 2,629 athletes to beautiful Vancouver.

It was truly a global affair on Friday night as countries like Pakistan, Ghana, Cayman Islands, and Colombia made their Winter Olympic debuts. Nations that have idealogical and military differences compete with each other side-by-side for the next two weeks.

However, not all of the Opening Ceremony came with an ear-to-ear smile as tragedy struck these very games mere hours before the world looked to the Pacific Coliseum. Georgian luge athlete Nodar Kumaritashvilli was killed in a crash during training runs on the Whistler sliding complex.

In my opinion, the ceremony addressed Kumaritashvilli’s passing with as much grace as possible despite having happened mere hours before the ceremony. Flags were dropped to half-staff, and the applause for the Georgian delegation received much more applause and deservedly so, than your run-of-the-mill country fielding just three athletes for the Games.

The athletes presence at the Opening Ceremony helped to make it seem much more like a world celebration than it had in previous years. Personally, I liked seeing NBC’s camera catch glimpses of Shaun White, Lindsey Jacobellis, and others as they saw the amazing spectacle before them.

So far just about a week into the Games, we’ve already seen some great Olympic stories. First, Canada’s Alexandre Bilodeau took home the host country’s first gold on home soil ever in men’s mogul skiing.

I’m not too certain who was happier about the achievement, the entire country of Canada or Bilodeau’s brother Frederic. Frederic Bilodeau lives with Cerebal Palsy, and Alexandre credits his brother’s determination and inner strength to his own athletic exploits.

And on Monday night, we saw the power of love in these Olympics make their presence felt just three days into the Games. Chinese figure skating pair Shen and Zhao took home the gold in the sport they love.

However, more remarkable is that they’ve been skating together for 18 years, and have competed in four Olympic Games. Even better than that is that the pair fell in love, got married and retired in 2007.

For most of us, that seems like a pretty awesome life with the person we love the most and in the discipline that we love the most too. But for Shen and Zhao, that bright shining gold medal was missing—until now.

As we’re only a week into these Olympic Games, and the compelling stories of the Games keep coming each day. The best may be yet to come from Vancouver, as we still have a ways to go until the Closing Cermonies.

But, one thing is for sure, The Olympics, regardless of season, do a great job of bringing the 6.8 billion people on this planet closer together for two weeks. We can sit in Springfield, Mass., and watch athletes from China win gold in an ice rink some 3,000 miles away.

This event makes a certain chorus from a certain Disney World ride ring true.

It’s a small world, after all.

It was right around this time some thirty years ago, when America began to embrace a game played on a frozen sheet of ice and believing in miracles.

On that same February night, while a seemingly rag-tag group of collegiate hockey talents (including a quartet from right here in the Hub of Hockey) a five-year old boy in Flint, Mich., watched Jim Craig and cohorts take down the mighty Soviet Union hockey team 4-3 in Lake Placid. From then on, Thomas like many other children in 1980, was hooked on the game of hockey.

Thomas is now a hero to young kids here in New England, played in what will surely be a generationally memorable game of his own. As much as Marco Sturm’s game-winner in overtime did in fact slide past Philadelphia goaltender Michael Leighton, the afternoon belonged to the well-traveled Bruins netminder.

Thomas faced an afternoon-long barrage from the Flyers. The newly-minted Olympian turned back a stout 25 shots fired by his counterparts from the City of Brotherly Love.

However, the hearty faithful souls numbering nearly 40,000 at Boston’s beloved Fenway Park, were just a few minutes shy of rightfully pinning the loss on Thomas. The Flyers only goal was caused by a mental lapse from the Black and Gold’s normally steady man in net.

Thomas took a potshot at Philadelphia’s Scott Hartnell during the second period, leaving much of the net wide open for Danny Syvret.

“You could feel the energy when we tied it up with two minutes left,” Thomas said to reporters on Friday. And at that point, I was very grateful to tie the game, because the goal was basically because I lost my cool and wasn’t following the puck.”

However as Thomas alluded, the Bruins battled back in the final minutes to knot things up at one after a goal right in front of the net from 41-year-old Mark Recchi. The goal was the 553^rd of the former Flyer and current Bruin’s distinguished career.

It wasn’t until 1:57 of overtime that the afternoon was complete on 4 Yawkey Way. At that very moment, one of the Bruin’s five-pack of Olympians, Germany’s Marco Sturm sent a shot past Leighton and simultaneously sent the Fenway faithful into a frenzy.

On a day where hockey’s heritage and glory took center stage in a bona fide hockey town, things were not quite over at the Athens of America’s ballpark. Three of the “Miracle on Ice” players who call Boston home, were on hand to see the 2010 Team USA roster be revealed.

A slew of “mite-sized” hockey players revealed that roster by showing the NBC cameras the NHLer’s name emblazoned on the backs of their navy blue jerseys. However, Team USA GM Brian Burke and company had Tim Thomas, the Bruins’ only American-Olympian do the honor of revealing his presence on the roster in front of a continuously boisterous home crowd.

If the Winter Classic is of any indication, magical things can occasionally happen out there on the ice. Gold has been mired in a 30-year drought for Team USA and the Bruins have been waiting eight more years than that for Lord Stanley’s Cup returning to Boston.

You never know what could happen.

Do you believe in miracles?

Feel free to send Greg an e-mail at gcameron@spfldcol.edu!