Hockey on New Year's Day? Damn straight.

Unlike most people, my New Year's Day was spent watching hockey on TV. NBC hosted the first-ever outdoor NHL game. It was the Pittsburgh Penguins vs. the Buffalo Sabres. It may seem cliche to say this, but the Winter Classic really was classic. Maybe it was the snow that continued to form on the ice, causing the Zamboni's to work overtime. Maybe it was the sleet that kept pelting the players in their faces, compromising their vision. No matter what it was that made the Winter Classic great, it definitely brightened my New Year's.

Seeing as how I am a die-hard St. Louis Blues fan, it was pretty great for me to watch Sidney Crosby in action without any bias. It was as if the Winter Classic had been mapped out to be the perfect game. Tie score at 1. Hold throughout all 3 periods. Overtime comes and still no score. Holy Grail of all hockey games -- the shootout. (Cue Heavenly songs.) It was fantastic. Sidney Crosby makes the goal and brings Pittsburgh up for a 2-1 win over Buffalo. Crosby is the face of the NHL. The Blues have some amazing young players, but (and it pains me to say this because I hate speaking against my boys) none of them are Crosby. Crosby plays with such a passion and fire, the ice may as well melt underneath his skates. Just watching him dribble the puck on his stick while dodging Sabres was worth watching.

The Winter Classic brought in such high ratings that there is already talk of where the next one will be held. (*Cough* St. Louis *Cough*) Over 71,000 fans were in attendance, despite the frigid temperatures and horrible weather.

The game had a little bit of everything. Fights? Check. Drama? Check. Shootout? Check. Football may be the most popular sport to watch on New Year's Day, but for me nothing beats a good hockey game.