Joe Thornton wins the Art Ross Trophy as the National Hockey League’s point’s leader and Johnathan Cheechoo takes the Rocket Richard Award as the NHL’s top goal scorer. Not a bad April for the San Jose Sharks and the playoffs haven’t even started yet. But they start Friday night in Nashville (Live on Fox Sports Net) and the big question on everybody’s mind around here is, do the Sharks have enough to go all the way.

Just before the hockey season started in September, I appeared on a televised “NHL Preview” show and boldly predicted that the Ottawa Senators would meet the San Jose Sharks in the 2006 Stanley Cup Final. Now that we’re a little past the halfway point of the schedule, lets see how I’m doing. 

When the National Hockey League ended it’s year long work stoppage this past summer with a new collective bargaining agreement between the players and the owners, I was definitely in the group that believed the league would have a long road ahead of it to win back the fans. I mean it’s one thing to shut down for a few months like the NHL did in 1994, hammer out a deal, and then come back to the ice. But when you wipe out an entire season and fail to hand out the Stanley Cup trophy in June, it’s pretty serious stuff.

One of the great perks of my job is that I’m invited to many wonderful charitable events. But if you put me on the spot and asked me which one is my favorite, I’d have to say it’s the San Jose Sports Hall of Fame’s annual induction ceremony and dinner. It’ll take place this week on the floor at the lavishly transformed HP Pavilion and, if you’ve never attended, I highly recommend it.

With the San Jose Sharks opening their home schedule this week, downtown is alive at night again. Not to imply that it’s been dead for the last year while the NHL shut down, but let’s be serious there’s nothing quite like the buzz that a Sharks home game generates.

By Guest Blogger Randy Hahn

With the Sharks returning to the ice, the Athletics in a pennant race, Bonds hitting splash home runs again and the 49ers and Raiders back on the gridiron, the biggest sports success story of the year is getting lost in the shuffle. The San Jose Earthquakes are the best team in Major League Soccer. And by the way, you better hurry and see them soon because they’re getting ready to leave town for good.

By Guest Blogger Randy Hahn

Have you ever thought about doing an Ironman Triathlon? I haven’t. Oh, once, on a bet, I ran a marathon. But that was a bet (which I won incidentally…my time was 4:28:00 in case you were wondering). But I’m talking IRONMAN here. A two and a half mile swim followed by a 112 mile cycling race and then a full blown 26.2 mile marathon for dessert. Ironman is right. Or, Ironwoman in my case.

My friend Tom, who used to run San Jose a few years ago, asked me to become a blogger.  Tom doesn’t ask me for much and always includes me on his mass mailing holiday card list, so I relented.