In an interview with assistant editor Greg Tepper, Scott Akers, director of instruction at Tenison Park Golf Club and PGA member, dropped some friendly hints for golfers in this week's neighborsgo. You can read the story in Friday's editions of Coppell/Valley Ranch, Lewisville/Flower Mound and Carrollton/Flower Mound/Addison. Click here for a PDF of LFM's page.

And hardly anyone cares ... moreso than usual since your Dallas Stars are not in the mix. SportsDay reporter (and Darryl Reaugh's whipping boy) Mike Heika dropped some reasons why you should still watch the games and offers you his series picks.

You come here for my opinion, so here it is:

1. WESTERN CONFERENCE: I will take the young-but-impressive Chicago Blackhawks — Toews, Kane, 'Bulin are gonna get it done, son. They are due ... but first cup since 1961? Not so fast ...

2. EASTERN CONFERENCE: I could see the Pittsburgh Penguins return to the finals. However, I think the Washington Capitals are going to surprise everyone, especially the top-seeded Boston Bruins. That's right Sowks/C's bandwaggoners -- you will not be rejoicing another championship in Southie because Alex Ovechkin will continue to wow everyone, Sergei Federov will perform in a last hurrah and Jose Theodore will only have to be good, not stupendous.

By Marcus Murphree
neighborsgo editor

In 1987 glam rock band Lizzy Borden released an album called Visual Lies with a hit single titled, “Me Against the World.”

Last weekend, five soccer teams from the Dallas area entered into the UIL Soccer State Championships in Georgetown and three came home with first place medals for the third consecutive year.

In a way, the tournament was in a Dallas against Texas format.

If you haven't seen Ribby's shootout goal in last night's game against the Avs, do it right now, right here.

It's ridiculous, really. It's one of the coolest goals I've ever seen. What makes it even better, the Stars won. Too bad we won't get to see many more Stars highlights this season — tonight's game against the Ducks marks the end of a woeful season.

Gloating time! My NCAA mens bracket didn’t do so hot ... but it did whip up President Obama’s. To be fair and to put both of our brackets in perspective, the winner of ESPN’s bracket contest got a score of 1,860 points. But enough about him, right? Read ’em and weep, Mr. President:

Barack " El Presidente" Obama's entry: 1230 pts, 80.50 percent, 903,125th place
Robert “Humble Jefe” Tracy’s entry: 1410 pts., 96.92 percent, 142,643th place 

Sidenote: Does it strike anyone else as odd that a lot of my posts — one, two, three — have to do with  presidents?

I just finished talkin' all things hockey with my favorite Canadian aunt, so I'm supercharged for the Stanley Cup playoffs. Some points ...

• Your Dallas Stars are almost mathematically eliminated from the playoffs. Naturally, this means several fanatics want to fire Coach Dave Tippett (for Carbo? I don't think so) and trade goaltender Marty Turco (um, no thanks — just get him healthy players, a new blueliner and a competitive backup). I firmly believe a healthy Stars team (especially a full season with Brenden Morrow and Brad Richards) would be a playoff squad. And I think Tippett deserves some slack, but only if we see a return of the 'stache. And yes, I will continue to campaign for this forever.

• The Montreal Canadiens' centennial celebration is definitely not going well. At least the Habs are still in the eighth spot for the playoffs (of course, that means a first-round defeat to the Boston Bruins -- more on them in a second).

• So, who's gonna hoist Lord Stanley's Cup this year? It's too easy -- the Detroit Red Wings, again. Honestly, I'll be happy with any Western Conference team in the finals except the Sharks (man, I hate San Jose). As for the best in the Eastern Conference, I wouldn't mind seeing a repeat of last year's match up. I think the Pittsburgh Penguins would give the Wings more of a fight this time around. My preferred Eastern Conference representative: the Washington Capitals. I — unlike "Grapes" — can't get enough of Alex Ovechkin. But what about the New Jersey Devils or Boston Bruins? Sure, Martin  Brodeur can backstop the Devils all the way, but I'm just not keen on either team. I see second-round exits for both.