2007 HAD IT’S SHARE OF THE GOOD…THE BAD AND THE UGLY…
IN HOCKEY…THE GOOD STARTED WITH THE ARRIVAL OF SYDNEY CROSBY AS THE NEW FACE OF THE NHL…
CROSBY TOOK HOME THE HART…THE ART ROSS AND THE PEARSON…
THE NEIDERMAYER BROTHERS WON A STANLEY CUP TOGETEHER IN ANAHEIM…
TEAM CANADA WON ITS THIRD STRAIGHT WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP…
AND THE VANCOUVER GIANTS WON THE MEMORIAL CUP IN FRONT OF A SOLD OUT PACIFIC COLISEUM…
THE BAD…WAS AN UNBALANCED NHL SCHEDULE THAT STILL DOES NOT ALLOW 10 EASTERN CONFERENCE TEAMS TO PLAY IN VANCOUVER THIS SEASON…THAT INCLUDES THE LEAFS…THE CANADIANS AND THE SENATORS…
THE UGLY…WAS THE INCREASED VIOLENCE IN THE GAME…CONCUSSIONS ARE NOW EPIDEMIC…AND THE NEW POSTER BOY IS CHRIS SIMON…WHO WAS SUSPENDED A TOTAL OF 55 GAMES FOR TWO SEPARATE ATTACKS…
IN BASEBALL…THE GOOD WAS THE PLAY OF THE BOSTON REDS SOX…
THE BAD…WAS THE MITCHEL REPORT…
THE UGLY…WAS BARRY BONDS…WHO’S NOW BEEN CHARGED WITH BOTH PERJURY AND OBSTRUCTION…
IN FOOTBALL…THE GOOD WAS THE NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS…AND THE SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS…
THE BAD WAS THE MIAMI DOLPHINS…
THE UGLY WAS MICHAEL VICK…
2007 HAD MORE THAN IT’S SHARE OF SCANDALS…
NBA REFEREE TIM DONAGHY WAS CAUGHT GAMBLING ON HIS GAMES…
MARION JONES WAS STRIPPED OF HER OLYMPIC MEDALS…
FLOYD LANDIS WAS STRIPPED OF HIS TOUR DE FRANCE TITLE…
THE NFL HAD A LONG LIST OF SUSPENEDED PLAYERS SUCH AS…PACMAN JONES…TANK JOHNSON AND CHRIS HENRY…
EVEN NEW ENGLAND HEAD COACH BILL BILLICHICK GOT NAILED IN SPY-GATE…
THE ONE THING THAT REMAINED CONSTANT THROUGH IT ALL WAS THIS…
“WE ALL KEPT WATCHING”…
IN 2007 MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL RAKED IN $6 BILLION DOLLARS IN REVENUE…AN ALL TIME HIGH…
AND IN ATLANTA THERE’S STILL A WAITING LIST FOR SEASONS TICKETS…TO THE FALCONS…
A LOT HAPPENED IN 2007…BUT IN TRUTH…VERY LITTLE CHANGED…
HAPPY NEW YEAR…
Monday, December 31, 2007
Friday, December 21, 2007
12 days of Christmas
INSTEAD OF THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS…
ALLAN MACDONALD AND KEVIN O’NEIL OF THE VANCOUVER SUN HAVE COME UP WITH THEIR 12 WAYS TO SAVE THE NHL…
ON THE FIRST DAY OF CHRISTMAS THEY WOULD FIRE GARY BETTMAN…
WHAT IS EVEN MORE IMPRESSIVE IN THAT ON THE 6TH DAY OF CHRISTMAS…
THEY WOULD FIRE GARY BETTMAN…
NO QUESTION BETTMAN IS THE WORST COMMISSIONER IN THE HISTORY OF MAJOR LEAGUE SPORTS…
TWO MAJOR LABOUR FIGHT IN HIS FIRST DECADE ON THE JOB ARE JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG…
WHEN YOU GO DOWN THE WISH LIST…ALMOST ALL OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THE NHL CAN BE DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO BETTMAN AND HIS FAILED VISION…
TOO MANY TEAMS IN TOO MANY CITIES THAT DO NOT WANT HOCKEY…INCLUDING NASHVILLE…
THE SCHEDULE…
THE 2 REFEREE SYSTEM…AND THE LOSS OF ESPN…
THE INSTIGATOR RULE WAS ALREADY IN THE PLACE WHEN BETTMAN ARRIVED IN 1993…
BUT HIS REFUSAL TO GET RID OF IT IS VERY MUCH ON HIS RESUME…
SO DOES THIS CLOWN HOLD ONTO HIS JOB???
SIMPLE…
GARY BETTMAN IS THE SMARTEST GUY AT THIS CIRCUS…
THE NHL IS FILLED WITH ABSENTEE OWNERS…
THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO ROUTINELY HAND OVER THE DAY TO DAY OPERATION OF THEIR TEAM TO THE HIRED HELP…
UNLIKE THE NFL…OR THE NBA…OR MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL…BETTMAN ANSWERS TO A VERY SMALL NUMBER OF OWNERS…
IT’S THEIR AGENDA THAT MATTERS…
TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF JUST BIZZARE THE NHL IS…CHECK THIS OUT…
IN THE FIRST 11 YEARS ON THE JOB…BETTMAN SIGNED THE SAME COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT THREE TIMES…
IT WAS A DEAL THAT ALLOWED PLAYERS SALARIES TO CLIMB FROM AN AVERAGE OF $560 THOUSAND TO $1.8 MILLION…
TO FIX THE PROBLEM BETTMAN BLAMED THE PLAYERS FOR TAKING THE MONEY…AND SHUT DOWN THE LEAGUE FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR…
THE LOCK OUT COST THE LEAGUE TWO BILLION DOLLARS IN REVENUE…
THE OWNERS WERE SO HAPPY…THEY GAVE BETTMAN A $2 MILLION DOLLAR A YEAR RAISE…
HE NOW MAKES $5.9 MILLION A YEAR…
AS FOR THE PLAYERS…THEY’RE BACK MAKING AN AVERAGE OF $1.8 MILLION A YEAR…
ON THE FIRST DAY OF CHRISTMAS…I’D MUCH RATHER FIRE THE OWNERS…
ALLAN MACDONALD AND KEVIN O’NEIL OF THE VANCOUVER SUN HAVE COME UP WITH THEIR 12 WAYS TO SAVE THE NHL…
ON THE FIRST DAY OF CHRISTMAS THEY WOULD FIRE GARY BETTMAN…
WHAT IS EVEN MORE IMPRESSIVE IN THAT ON THE 6TH DAY OF CHRISTMAS…
THEY WOULD FIRE GARY BETTMAN…
NO QUESTION BETTMAN IS THE WORST COMMISSIONER IN THE HISTORY OF MAJOR LEAGUE SPORTS…
TWO MAJOR LABOUR FIGHT IN HIS FIRST DECADE ON THE JOB ARE JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG…
WHEN YOU GO DOWN THE WISH LIST…ALMOST ALL OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THE NHL CAN BE DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO BETTMAN AND HIS FAILED VISION…
TOO MANY TEAMS IN TOO MANY CITIES THAT DO NOT WANT HOCKEY…INCLUDING NASHVILLE…
THE SCHEDULE…
THE 2 REFEREE SYSTEM…AND THE LOSS OF ESPN…
THE INSTIGATOR RULE WAS ALREADY IN THE PLACE WHEN BETTMAN ARRIVED IN 1993…
BUT HIS REFUSAL TO GET RID OF IT IS VERY MUCH ON HIS RESUME…
SO DOES THIS CLOWN HOLD ONTO HIS JOB???
SIMPLE…
GARY BETTMAN IS THE SMARTEST GUY AT THIS CIRCUS…
THE NHL IS FILLED WITH ABSENTEE OWNERS…
THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO ROUTINELY HAND OVER THE DAY TO DAY OPERATION OF THEIR TEAM TO THE HIRED HELP…
UNLIKE THE NFL…OR THE NBA…OR MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL…BETTMAN ANSWERS TO A VERY SMALL NUMBER OF OWNERS…
IT’S THEIR AGENDA THAT MATTERS…
TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF JUST BIZZARE THE NHL IS…CHECK THIS OUT…
IN THE FIRST 11 YEARS ON THE JOB…BETTMAN SIGNED THE SAME COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT THREE TIMES…
IT WAS A DEAL THAT ALLOWED PLAYERS SALARIES TO CLIMB FROM AN AVERAGE OF $560 THOUSAND TO $1.8 MILLION…
TO FIX THE PROBLEM BETTMAN BLAMED THE PLAYERS FOR TAKING THE MONEY…AND SHUT DOWN THE LEAGUE FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR…
THE LOCK OUT COST THE LEAGUE TWO BILLION DOLLARS IN REVENUE…
THE OWNERS WERE SO HAPPY…THEY GAVE BETTMAN A $2 MILLION DOLLAR A YEAR RAISE…
HE NOW MAKES $5.9 MILLION A YEAR…
AS FOR THE PLAYERS…THEY’RE BACK MAKING AN AVERAGE OF $1.8 MILLION A YEAR…
ON THE FIRST DAY OF CHRISTMAS…I’D MUCH RATHER FIRE THE OWNERS…
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Rivalries
IS ONE PLAYOFF MEETING ENOUGH TO ACTUALLY CREATE A RIVALRY???
NOT IN THE TRADITIONAL SENSE…
BUT IN TODAYS NHL TRADITION DOES NOT PLAY MUCH OF A ROLE…
THANKS TO THE SALARY CAP AND FREE AGENCY NO TEAM CAN STAY ON TOP FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME…
AND YOU NEED “TIME” TO BUILD A RIVALRY…
FROM 1995 UNTIL 2002…DALLAS…DETROIT AND COLORADO…CREATED THE BEST RIVALRIES IN HOCKEY AS THEY WENT TO 8 STRAIGHT CUP FINALS…
TONIGHT THE STARS ARE IN TOWN…
IT WILL BE THEIR FIRST VISIT TO VANCOUVER SINCE LOSING GAME 7 IN THE FIRST ROUND OF LAST SEASONS PLAYOFFS…
3 OF THOSE GAMES WENT INTO OVERTIME…
IT WAS NOT EXCITING HOCKEY…BUT FOR MARTY TURCO OF THE STARS IT WAS A BITTER DISSAPPOINTMENT…
HE PLAYED SOME OF THE BEST HOCKEY OF HIS CAREER…GIVING UP A TOTAL OF JUST 11 GOALS…
THE SERIES WAS NOT DECIDED UNTIL TREVOR LINDEN SCORED AT THE 7 MINUTE MARK OF THE THIRD PERIOD OF GAME 7…
SO IS ALL THAT ENOUGH TO NOW CALL THIS A RIVALRY…NOT REALLY…
HOWEVER THE CANUCKS DO HAVE 3 TEAMS THAT HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BECOME A LIGITIMATE RIVAL…
1) ANAHEIM…NOT ONLY DID THE DUCKS KNOCK THE CANUCKS OUT OF THE PLAYOFFS LAST SPRING…
BUT THERE ARE LOTS OF FAMILIAR FACES…BRIAN BURKE…TODD BERTUZZI AND BRAD MAY…
2) CALGARY…THE CANUCKS HAVE MET THE FLAMES 6 TIMES IN THE PLAYOFFS…THAT’S MORE THAN ANY OTHER TEAM…AND THERE’S ALSO MIKE KEENAN…
3) MINNESOTA…THE WILD BEAT THE CANUCKS IN A 7 GAME SERIES IN 2003…BUT THIS SEASON THERE WAS SOME FUEL ADDED TO THIS FIRE WHEN MATTIAS OHLUND GAVE MIKKO KOIVO A TWO HANDER…
OHLUND GOT 4 GAMES AND KOIVO IS STILL NOT BACK IN THE LINE UP…
DEREK BOOGAARD MAY STILL PLAY A ROLE…
PERHAPS THE BEST RIVALRY IN THE NHL BELONGS TO ANAHEIM AND EDMONTON…
TWO YEARS AGO THE OILERS BEAT THE DUCKS IN THE WESTERN FINAL…
CHRIS PRONGER IS NOW IN ANAHEIM…DUSTIN PENNER IS NOW IN EDMONTON…AND BURKE IS FIGHTING WITH KEVIN LOWE…
YEAH…IT’S A LONG WAY FROM SAY…THE RED SOX AND THE YANKEES…OR THE PACKERS AND THE COWBOYS…
BUT THIS IS THE NHL!!!
WHO KNOWS…IF THE LEAGUE HAD GREAT RIVALRIES…MAYBE WE’D STOP TALKING ABOUT CHRIS SIMON…
NOT IN THE TRADITIONAL SENSE…
BUT IN TODAYS NHL TRADITION DOES NOT PLAY MUCH OF A ROLE…
THANKS TO THE SALARY CAP AND FREE AGENCY NO TEAM CAN STAY ON TOP FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME…
AND YOU NEED “TIME” TO BUILD A RIVALRY…
FROM 1995 UNTIL 2002…DALLAS…DETROIT AND COLORADO…CREATED THE BEST RIVALRIES IN HOCKEY AS THEY WENT TO 8 STRAIGHT CUP FINALS…
TONIGHT THE STARS ARE IN TOWN…
IT WILL BE THEIR FIRST VISIT TO VANCOUVER SINCE LOSING GAME 7 IN THE FIRST ROUND OF LAST SEASONS PLAYOFFS…
3 OF THOSE GAMES WENT INTO OVERTIME…
IT WAS NOT EXCITING HOCKEY…BUT FOR MARTY TURCO OF THE STARS IT WAS A BITTER DISSAPPOINTMENT…
HE PLAYED SOME OF THE BEST HOCKEY OF HIS CAREER…GIVING UP A TOTAL OF JUST 11 GOALS…
THE SERIES WAS NOT DECIDED UNTIL TREVOR LINDEN SCORED AT THE 7 MINUTE MARK OF THE THIRD PERIOD OF GAME 7…
SO IS ALL THAT ENOUGH TO NOW CALL THIS A RIVALRY…NOT REALLY…
HOWEVER THE CANUCKS DO HAVE 3 TEAMS THAT HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BECOME A LIGITIMATE RIVAL…
1) ANAHEIM…NOT ONLY DID THE DUCKS KNOCK THE CANUCKS OUT OF THE PLAYOFFS LAST SPRING…
BUT THERE ARE LOTS OF FAMILIAR FACES…BRIAN BURKE…TODD BERTUZZI AND BRAD MAY…
2) CALGARY…THE CANUCKS HAVE MET THE FLAMES 6 TIMES IN THE PLAYOFFS…THAT’S MORE THAN ANY OTHER TEAM…AND THERE’S ALSO MIKE KEENAN…
3) MINNESOTA…THE WILD BEAT THE CANUCKS IN A 7 GAME SERIES IN 2003…BUT THIS SEASON THERE WAS SOME FUEL ADDED TO THIS FIRE WHEN MATTIAS OHLUND GAVE MIKKO KOIVO A TWO HANDER…
OHLUND GOT 4 GAMES AND KOIVO IS STILL NOT BACK IN THE LINE UP…
DEREK BOOGAARD MAY STILL PLAY A ROLE…
PERHAPS THE BEST RIVALRY IN THE NHL BELONGS TO ANAHEIM AND EDMONTON…
TWO YEARS AGO THE OILERS BEAT THE DUCKS IN THE WESTERN FINAL…
CHRIS PRONGER IS NOW IN ANAHEIM…DUSTIN PENNER IS NOW IN EDMONTON…AND BURKE IS FIGHTING WITH KEVIN LOWE…
YEAH…IT’S A LONG WAY FROM SAY…THE RED SOX AND THE YANKEES…OR THE PACKERS AND THE COWBOYS…
BUT THIS IS THE NHL!!!
WHO KNOWS…IF THE LEAGUE HAD GREAT RIVALRIES…MAYBE WE’D STOP TALKING ABOUT CHRIS SIMON…
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Chris Simon
THE PEOPLE WHO RUN THE NHL SIMPLY DO NOT GET IT…
TODAY THE LEAGUE SUSPENDED CHRIS SIMON FOR A MERE 30 GAMES FOR STOMPING ON JARKKO RUUTU...
YES SIMON WILL ALSO LOSE $300 THOUSAND IN SALARY…
BUT THE REAL ISSUE HERE IS THIS…
SIMON WILL BE ELIGIBLE TO RETURN THE ISLANDERS LINE UP ON FEBRUARY 21ST…
HOW CAN THIS BE???
SIMON HAS NOW BEEN SUSPENDED A TOTAL OF 8 TIMES IN HIS CAREER…
THE MAN IS SERIAL OFFENDER…
IN MARCH HE TOOK HIS STICK TO THE HEAD OF RYAN HOLLWEG OF THE RANGERS…
THAT EARNED HIM 25 GAMES…
CHRIS SIMON NOW OWNS THE TOP TWO LONGEST SUSPENSIONS IN NHL HISTORY…
NHL VICE PRESIDENT COLIN CAMPBELL CALLED THE INCIDENT…”REPUGNANT AND UNACCEPTABLE”…
TOUGH TALK…BUT ONCE AGAIN THE PUNISHMENT DOES NOT FIT THE CRIME…
SIMON COULD VERY EASILY HAVE ENDED RUUTU’S CAREER…
LET’S GET ONE THING STRAIGHT…
HOCKEY IS UNIQUE…
YOU NEED A CAR TO PARTICIPATE IN SPORT THAT USES MORE SPEED…
THE GAME IS PLAYED ON ICE…WITH BOARDS AND PLEXI-GLASS…
THERE IS NO “OUT OF BOUNDS”…
THE PLAYERS WEAR RAZOR SHARP SKATES AND EVERY ONE CARRIES A STICK…
THE ONLY SAFETY IN THE GAME IS THE RESPECT THE PLAYERS HAVE FOR EACH OTHER…
MORE AND MORE THAT RESPECT IS DISSAPPEARING…
THE RESULT IS A GROWING CULTURE OF VIOLENCE IN HOCKEY…
FOR WHATEVER REASON THE NHL HAS NO INTEREST IN ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM…
IT IS NOT A MATTER OF “IF”…BUT ONLY “WHEN” A PLAYER IS EITHER CRIPPLED OR KILLED IN THE NHL…
UNTIL THAT HAPPENS…ITS BUSINESS AS USUAL…
THE NHL SHOULD HAVE SUSPENDED SIMON FOR LIFE…
BUT IT SHOULD HAVE EVEN MORE…
THE NHL SHOULD HAVE COME OUT WITH A NEW AND MUCH TOUGHER POLICY TO DEAL WITH VIOLENCE IN THE GAME…
A POLICY THAT INCLUDES MASSIVE FINES AND GUARENTEES LIFE TIME SUSPENSIONS TO REPEAT OFFENDERS…
INSTEAD THE LEAGUE ONCE AGAIN STUCK ITS HEAD INTO THE SAND…
AS A RESULT…ON FEBRUARY 21ST CHRIS SIMON WILL BE BACK ROAMING THE NHL…LOOKING FOR HIS NEXT VICTIM…
TODAY THE LEAGUE SUSPENDED CHRIS SIMON FOR A MERE 30 GAMES FOR STOMPING ON JARKKO RUUTU...
YES SIMON WILL ALSO LOSE $300 THOUSAND IN SALARY…
BUT THE REAL ISSUE HERE IS THIS…
SIMON WILL BE ELIGIBLE TO RETURN THE ISLANDERS LINE UP ON FEBRUARY 21ST…
HOW CAN THIS BE???
SIMON HAS NOW BEEN SUSPENDED A TOTAL OF 8 TIMES IN HIS CAREER…
THE MAN IS SERIAL OFFENDER…
IN MARCH HE TOOK HIS STICK TO THE HEAD OF RYAN HOLLWEG OF THE RANGERS…
THAT EARNED HIM 25 GAMES…
CHRIS SIMON NOW OWNS THE TOP TWO LONGEST SUSPENSIONS IN NHL HISTORY…
NHL VICE PRESIDENT COLIN CAMPBELL CALLED THE INCIDENT…”REPUGNANT AND UNACCEPTABLE”…
TOUGH TALK…BUT ONCE AGAIN THE PUNISHMENT DOES NOT FIT THE CRIME…
SIMON COULD VERY EASILY HAVE ENDED RUUTU’S CAREER…
LET’S GET ONE THING STRAIGHT…
HOCKEY IS UNIQUE…
YOU NEED A CAR TO PARTICIPATE IN SPORT THAT USES MORE SPEED…
THE GAME IS PLAYED ON ICE…WITH BOARDS AND PLEXI-GLASS…
THERE IS NO “OUT OF BOUNDS”…
THE PLAYERS WEAR RAZOR SHARP SKATES AND EVERY ONE CARRIES A STICK…
THE ONLY SAFETY IN THE GAME IS THE RESPECT THE PLAYERS HAVE FOR EACH OTHER…
MORE AND MORE THAT RESPECT IS DISSAPPEARING…
THE RESULT IS A GROWING CULTURE OF VIOLENCE IN HOCKEY…
FOR WHATEVER REASON THE NHL HAS NO INTEREST IN ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM…
IT IS NOT A MATTER OF “IF”…BUT ONLY “WHEN” A PLAYER IS EITHER CRIPPLED OR KILLED IN THE NHL…
UNTIL THAT HAPPENS…ITS BUSINESS AS USUAL…
THE NHL SHOULD HAVE SUSPENDED SIMON FOR LIFE…
BUT IT SHOULD HAVE EVEN MORE…
THE NHL SHOULD HAVE COME OUT WITH A NEW AND MUCH TOUGHER POLICY TO DEAL WITH VIOLENCE IN THE GAME…
A POLICY THAT INCLUDES MASSIVE FINES AND GUARENTEES LIFE TIME SUSPENSIONS TO REPEAT OFFENDERS…
INSTEAD THE LEAGUE ONCE AGAIN STUCK ITS HEAD INTO THE SAND…
AS A RESULT…ON FEBRUARY 21ST CHRIS SIMON WILL BE BACK ROAMING THE NHL…LOOKING FOR HIS NEXT VICTIM…
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