ON NEW YEARS DAY…THERE COULD MORE FOR HOCKEY FANS IN THIS CITY TO PAY ATTENTION TO…THAN JUST A HANGOVER…
THAT’S THE DAY THE CANUCKS RETURN TO NASHVILLE…
THE STAGE WAS SET TUESDAY NIGHT WHEN THE CANUCKS PLAYED ONE OF THEIR MOST PHYSICAL GAMES OF THE SEASON…
ALEX BURROWS…RYAN KESLER AND ROB DAVISON ALL DELIVERED BIG HITS…
AFTER THE GAME NASHVILLE HEAD COACH BARRY TROTZ RIPPED INTO THE CANUCKS…
TROTZ CLAIMED THE CANUCKS…QUOTE…”CROSSED THE LINE”…
VANCOUVER CANUCKS ALAIN VIGNEAULT DID NOT SEE IT THAT WAY…
IN HIS WORDS…”THERE’S NOT A RULE IN THE BOOK THAT SAYS WE CAN’T HIT A NASHVILLE PREDATOR”…
LASTNIGHT ON THE BLAKE PRICE SHOW…DARCY HORDICHUK TOOK IT A STEP FURTHER…
HORIDCHUK MADE REFERENCE TO THE 9 GAME SUSPENSION SCOTT NICHOL OF THE PREDATORS RECEIVED 2 YEARS AGO WHEN HE SUCKER PUNCHED JAROSLAV SPACEK…
IN HIS WORDS…“WHERE WAS BARRY TROTZ”???
“I JUST DON’T THINK HE HAS CONTROL OF THE TEAM”…
DOES ANY OF THIS SOUND FAMILAR???
CERTAINLY…THIS SITUATION IS NOT AT DEF-COM 4…AT LEAST NOT YET…
BUT THIS IS EXACTLY THE ATMOSPHERE THAT EVENTUALLY LED TO THE TODD BERTUZZI…STEVE MOORE INCIDENT…
AND ONCE AGAIN WE ARE FORCED TO QUESTION THE LOGIC BEHIND THE NHL’S “INSTIGATOR RULE”…
A RULE THAT DOES NOT ALLOW THE PLAYERS TO POLICE THEMSELVES…
SO WHEN THE LEAGUE FAILS TO PROTECT THE PLAYERS…THE END RESULT IS TOO OFTEN “FRONTIER JUSTICE”…
WHAT DRIVES IT ALL IS LACK OF RESPECT BY THE PLAYERS…FOR EACH OTHER…
BUT LET’S BE CLEAR…THE ANSWER IS “NOT” MORE SUSPENSIONS…
8 OF THE 10 LONGEST SUSPENSIONS EVER HANDED OUT BY THE NHL…HAVE COME IN THE LAST DECADE...AND THE PROBLEM IS NOT GETTING BETTER…IT’S GETTING WORSE…
IN THE MEANTIME…MARK…JANUARY THE 28TH ON YOUR CALENDAR…
THAT’S THE DAY NASHVILLE IS IN VANCOUVER…
WHO KNOWS…MAYBE THE NHL WILL GET LUCKY…MAYBE A HOCKEY GAME WILL BREAK OUT
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Sean Avery
WHY ARE WE SURPRISED???
NOT THAT SEAN AVERY IS AN IDIOT…
WE KNEW THAT!!!
THE QUESTION IS…WHY ARE WE SURPRISED THE NHL AND THE DALLAS STARS ALLOWED THIS PROBLEM TO GET TO THIS POINT???
THERE WERE PLENTY OF WARNINGS…
THE FIRST CAME IN OCTOBER WHEN THE STARS MADE THEIR FIRST TRIP TO NEW YORK…
BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND PERIODS…AVERY WALKED OUT OF THE TEAM DRESSING ROOM AND BEGAN YELLING OBSCENITIES AT THE TELEVISION HOST “JOHN GIANONNE” FROM MSG…
FINALLY AVERY DIRECTED HIS PROFANITY AT GIANONNE’S WIFE…
AND THAT’S WHEN GIANONNE FIRED BACK AT AVERY…
THE WHOLE INCIDENT WAS EXTREMELY UGLY…AND THE NEXT MORNING…IT WAS ALL IN THE NEW YORK PAPERS…
YET…THE NHL AND THE STARS DID NOTHING…
LAST MONTH DALLAS WAS IN BOSTON…
IN THE THIRD PERIOD AVERY WAS TOSSED OUT OF THE GAME FOR UNSPORTSMAN LIKE CONDUCT…
AS HE WAS LEAVING THE ICE…AVERY GOT INTO ANOTHER YELLING MATCH…
THIS TIME WITH A FAN…
ONCE AGAIN IT ESCALATED…
AND ONCE AGAIN IT WAS LACED WITH OBSCENITIES…
THIS TIME AVERY TOOK OUT HIS FRUSTRATION ON A FEMALE COMPANION…WHO WAS STANDING NEXT TO THE FAN…
THERE WAS A POLICE OFFICER ON THE SCENE…
THERE WERE COMPAINTS SENT TO THE NHL…AND THE BRUINS SENT THE LEAGUE A COMPLETE REPORT…
NEVERTHELESS…THE NHL AND THE STARS DID NOTHING…NO FINE…NO SUSPENSION…NOTHING…
HOW’S THAT FOR A MESSAGE???
TOMORROW MORNING AVERY AND DALLAS GENERAL MANAGER BRETT HULL WILL MEET WITH NHL COMMISSIONER GARY BETTMAN…
TRUST ME…AVERY WILL NOT HAVE A FRIEND IN THE ROOM…
THERE WILL CERTAINLY BE A SUSPENSION BY THE LEAGUE AND AVERY MAY HAVE PLAYED HIS LAST GAME FOR THE STARS…
BUT IN THE END…THE NHL IS LEFT WITH ANOTHER BLACK EYE…
AND ONCE AGAIN IT HAS ONLY ITSELF TO BLAME…
NOT THAT SEAN AVERY IS AN IDIOT…
WE KNEW THAT!!!
THE QUESTION IS…WHY ARE WE SURPRISED THE NHL AND THE DALLAS STARS ALLOWED THIS PROBLEM TO GET TO THIS POINT???
THERE WERE PLENTY OF WARNINGS…
THE FIRST CAME IN OCTOBER WHEN THE STARS MADE THEIR FIRST TRIP TO NEW YORK…
BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND PERIODS…AVERY WALKED OUT OF THE TEAM DRESSING ROOM AND BEGAN YELLING OBSCENITIES AT THE TELEVISION HOST “JOHN GIANONNE” FROM MSG…
FINALLY AVERY DIRECTED HIS PROFANITY AT GIANONNE’S WIFE…
AND THAT’S WHEN GIANONNE FIRED BACK AT AVERY…
THE WHOLE INCIDENT WAS EXTREMELY UGLY…AND THE NEXT MORNING…IT WAS ALL IN THE NEW YORK PAPERS…
YET…THE NHL AND THE STARS DID NOTHING…
LAST MONTH DALLAS WAS IN BOSTON…
IN THE THIRD PERIOD AVERY WAS TOSSED OUT OF THE GAME FOR UNSPORTSMAN LIKE CONDUCT…
AS HE WAS LEAVING THE ICE…AVERY GOT INTO ANOTHER YELLING MATCH…
THIS TIME WITH A FAN…
ONCE AGAIN IT ESCALATED…
AND ONCE AGAIN IT WAS LACED WITH OBSCENITIES…
THIS TIME AVERY TOOK OUT HIS FRUSTRATION ON A FEMALE COMPANION…WHO WAS STANDING NEXT TO THE FAN…
THERE WAS A POLICE OFFICER ON THE SCENE…
THERE WERE COMPAINTS SENT TO THE NHL…AND THE BRUINS SENT THE LEAGUE A COMPLETE REPORT…
NEVERTHELESS…THE NHL AND THE STARS DID NOTHING…NO FINE…NO SUSPENSION…NOTHING…
HOW’S THAT FOR A MESSAGE???
TOMORROW MORNING AVERY AND DALLAS GENERAL MANAGER BRETT HULL WILL MEET WITH NHL COMMISSIONER GARY BETTMAN…
TRUST ME…AVERY WILL NOT HAVE A FRIEND IN THE ROOM…
THERE WILL CERTAINLY BE A SUSPENSION BY THE LEAGUE AND AVERY MAY HAVE PLAYED HIS LAST GAME FOR THE STARS…
BUT IN THE END…THE NHL IS LEFT WITH ANOTHER BLACK EYE…
AND ONCE AGAIN IT HAS ONLY ITSELF TO BLAME…
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Markus Naslund
IF YOU READ IAN MACINTYRE IN THE VANCOUVER SUN TODAY…
YOU WOULD BE FORCED TO CONCLUDE…
THE FANS AND THE MEDIA IN THIS CITY TREATED FORMER CAPTAIN MARCUS NASLUND AS IF HE WAS COVERED IN LEETCHES…
ACCORDING TO MACINTYRE THE CRITICISM OF NASLUND WAS…QUOTE…”DESPICABLE”…
CERTAINLY NASLUND WAS NOT LOVED THE WAY TREVOR LINDEN WAS LOVED IN THIS TOWN…
BUT…”DESPICABLE???”
PLEASE!!!
IN THE LAST 3 SEASONS NASLUND PLAYED IN VANCOUVER HE WAS PAID NEARLY $20 MILLION DOLLARS…
NOT BAD FOR A PLAYER WHO AVERAGED JUST 27 GOALS…AND IN THE 11 YEARS HE WAS THE CAPTAIN…NEVER LED THE CANUCKS PAST THE SECOND ROUND OF THE PLAYOFFS…
AS FOR NASLUND THE PERSON???
HIS TEAMMATES CAN NOT SAY ENOUGH GOOD THINGS…AND IN HIS DEFENCE…AFTER EVERY GAME…NO MATTER WHAT THE SCORE…NASLUND ALWAYS FACED THE MUSIC…
UNFORTUNATELY HIS CHARACTER IS NOT THE ISSUE…
IN THE ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS…PERCEPTION IS REALITY…
THE PASSION THAT HE SHOWED PRIVATELY IN THE LOCKER ROOM…OFTEN DID NOT TRANSLATE ON THE ICE…
AND HIS COMMENTS TO THE MEDIA OFTEN CAME ACROSS…AS COMING FROM A PERSON WHO…EITHER DID NOT KNOW THE ANSWER…OR DID NOT CARE…
NOT ACCEPTABLE FOR AN NHL CAPTAIN WORKING IN A CANADAIN CITY…
THE FANS SIMPLY HAD DIFFICULT DEALING WITH IT…NIGHT AFTER NIGHT…
THE PUBLIC RELATIONS PROBLEM WAS OF HIS OWN MAKING…
PERHAPS NO WHERE WAS THAT “DISCONNECT” MORE APPARENT THAN ON THE FINAL NIGHT OF LAST SEASON…
IT WAS UNDERSTOOD THAT BOTH NASLUND AND TREVOR LINDEN WERE PLAYING THEIR LAST GAME AS CANUCKS…
LINDEN RECEIVED A STANDING OVATION…
NASLUND WAS ALL BUT IGNORED…
WHEN YOU CONSIDER MARKUS NASLUND HAS SCORED MORE GOALS AND COLLECTED MORE POINTS THAN ANY PLAYER IN FRANCHISE HISTORY…
THAT TREATMENT ON THAT NIGHT…WAS CERTAINLY “UNFAIR”…BUT NOT “DISPICABLE”
LIKE IT OR NOT…THIS GAME IS NOT JUST ABOUT NUMBERS…
IT’S WHY NASLUND IS NOW IN NEW YORK AND IT’S WHY NEXT MONTH THE CANUCKS WILL RETIRE NUMBER 16…
YOU WOULD BE FORCED TO CONCLUDE…
THE FANS AND THE MEDIA IN THIS CITY TREATED FORMER CAPTAIN MARCUS NASLUND AS IF HE WAS COVERED IN LEETCHES…
ACCORDING TO MACINTYRE THE CRITICISM OF NASLUND WAS…QUOTE…”DESPICABLE”…
CERTAINLY NASLUND WAS NOT LOVED THE WAY TREVOR LINDEN WAS LOVED IN THIS TOWN…
BUT…”DESPICABLE???”
PLEASE!!!
IN THE LAST 3 SEASONS NASLUND PLAYED IN VANCOUVER HE WAS PAID NEARLY $20 MILLION DOLLARS…
NOT BAD FOR A PLAYER WHO AVERAGED JUST 27 GOALS…AND IN THE 11 YEARS HE WAS THE CAPTAIN…NEVER LED THE CANUCKS PAST THE SECOND ROUND OF THE PLAYOFFS…
AS FOR NASLUND THE PERSON???
HIS TEAMMATES CAN NOT SAY ENOUGH GOOD THINGS…AND IN HIS DEFENCE…AFTER EVERY GAME…NO MATTER WHAT THE SCORE…NASLUND ALWAYS FACED THE MUSIC…
UNFORTUNATELY HIS CHARACTER IS NOT THE ISSUE…
IN THE ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS…PERCEPTION IS REALITY…
THE PASSION THAT HE SHOWED PRIVATELY IN THE LOCKER ROOM…OFTEN DID NOT TRANSLATE ON THE ICE…
AND HIS COMMENTS TO THE MEDIA OFTEN CAME ACROSS…AS COMING FROM A PERSON WHO…EITHER DID NOT KNOW THE ANSWER…OR DID NOT CARE…
NOT ACCEPTABLE FOR AN NHL CAPTAIN WORKING IN A CANADAIN CITY…
THE FANS SIMPLY HAD DIFFICULT DEALING WITH IT…NIGHT AFTER NIGHT…
THE PUBLIC RELATIONS PROBLEM WAS OF HIS OWN MAKING…
PERHAPS NO WHERE WAS THAT “DISCONNECT” MORE APPARENT THAN ON THE FINAL NIGHT OF LAST SEASON…
IT WAS UNDERSTOOD THAT BOTH NASLUND AND TREVOR LINDEN WERE PLAYING THEIR LAST GAME AS CANUCKS…
LINDEN RECEIVED A STANDING OVATION…
NASLUND WAS ALL BUT IGNORED…
WHEN YOU CONSIDER MARKUS NASLUND HAS SCORED MORE GOALS AND COLLECTED MORE POINTS THAN ANY PLAYER IN FRANCHISE HISTORY…
THAT TREATMENT ON THAT NIGHT…WAS CERTAINLY “UNFAIR”…BUT NOT “DISPICABLE”
LIKE IT OR NOT…THIS GAME IS NOT JUST ABOUT NUMBERS…
IT’S WHY NASLUND IS NOW IN NEW YORK AND IT’S WHY NEXT MONTH THE CANUCKS WILL RETIRE NUMBER 16…
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Alain Vigneault
IF ONLY THE CANUCKS WERE AS ENTERTAINING AS THEIR HEAD COACH ALAIN VIGNEAULT…
YESTERDAY VIGNEAULT HELD COURT WITH THE MEDIA TO EXPLAIN WHY THE SEDINS ARE NOT PRODUCING…
HE COMPARED THEM TO THE STOCK MARKET…
QUOTE…”HISTORY SAYS THE STOCK MARKET SOONER OR LATER COMES BACK UP…I HAVE TO BELIEVE THE TWINS ARE THE SAME WAY…BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE SHEET ON THE STOCK MARKET…I’M LOSING MONEY AND THEY’RE NOT GETTING POINTS”…
IN THE LAST 7 GAMES THE SEDINS HAVE PRODUCED A MERE 4 POINTS BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM…
THOSE STATS MORE THAN ANY OTHER HELP TO EXPLAIN WHY THE CANUCKS HAVE LOST 5 OF THEIR LAST 7 AND FIND THEMSELVES IN 12TH PLACE IN THE WESTERN CONFERENCE...
WHAT MAKES THIS SLUMP SOME WHAT SUPRISING IS THE TIMING…
THE SEDINS ARE IN THE LAST YEAR OF THE THEIR CONTRACTS…NEXT SUMMER BOTH ARE SCHEDULED TO BECOME UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS…
ACCORDING TO A REPORT ON TSN…NEXT MONTH GENERAL MANAGER MIKE GILLIS PLANS TO SIT DOWN WITH THEIR AGENT J.P. BARRY TO TALK CONTRACT…
THEIR NUMBERS OVER THE LAST 3 SEASONS WOULD INDICATE THAT BOTH PLAYERS ARE WORTH AT LEAST $6 MILLION DOLLARS PER SEASON…NEARLY TWICE WHAT THEY ARE MAKING NOW…
THEY WOULD ALSO WANT A MINIMUM OF 5 YEARS WITH A NO TRADE CLAUSE…
THAT’S A BIG COMMITMENT…ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU LOOK AT THEIR PLAYOFF NUMBERS…
IN 86 COMBINED GAMES THE TWINS HAVE PRODUCED A MERE 38 POINTS…
TO HELP SHAKE THINGS UP…VIGNEAULT HAS GIVEN THE SEDINS A NEW LINEMATE FOR TONIGHT’S GAME…DESPITE THE FACT HE INSISTS STEVE BERNIER HAS NOT BEEN THE PROBLEM…
THE JOB NOW BELONGS TO MASON RAYMOND…
IT MAY ALL COME BACK TO WHAT GILLIS SAID ABOUT THE SEDINS AT HIS VERY FIRST PRESS CONFERENCE…
“I DON’T KNOW IF THEY ARE THE PLAYERS THE TEAM WILL BE BUILT AROUND MOVING FORWARD”…
LAST MONTH GILLIS TRIED TO RE-TRACK THAT STATEMENT BY SUGGESTING…”IT JUST CAME OUT WRONG”…
SO WHERE DO THE CANUCKS NOW STAND ON THE SEDINS???
TO GET THE ANSWER THINK OF HOCKEY AS THE STOCK MARKET…
“TO FIND THE TRUTH…SIMPLY FOLLOW THE MONEY”…
YESTERDAY VIGNEAULT HELD COURT WITH THE MEDIA TO EXPLAIN WHY THE SEDINS ARE NOT PRODUCING…
HE COMPARED THEM TO THE STOCK MARKET…
QUOTE…”HISTORY SAYS THE STOCK MARKET SOONER OR LATER COMES BACK UP…I HAVE TO BELIEVE THE TWINS ARE THE SAME WAY…BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE SHEET ON THE STOCK MARKET…I’M LOSING MONEY AND THEY’RE NOT GETTING POINTS”…
IN THE LAST 7 GAMES THE SEDINS HAVE PRODUCED A MERE 4 POINTS BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM…
THOSE STATS MORE THAN ANY OTHER HELP TO EXPLAIN WHY THE CANUCKS HAVE LOST 5 OF THEIR LAST 7 AND FIND THEMSELVES IN 12TH PLACE IN THE WESTERN CONFERENCE...
WHAT MAKES THIS SLUMP SOME WHAT SUPRISING IS THE TIMING…
THE SEDINS ARE IN THE LAST YEAR OF THE THEIR CONTRACTS…NEXT SUMMER BOTH ARE SCHEDULED TO BECOME UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS…
ACCORDING TO A REPORT ON TSN…NEXT MONTH GENERAL MANAGER MIKE GILLIS PLANS TO SIT DOWN WITH THEIR AGENT J.P. BARRY TO TALK CONTRACT…
THEIR NUMBERS OVER THE LAST 3 SEASONS WOULD INDICATE THAT BOTH PLAYERS ARE WORTH AT LEAST $6 MILLION DOLLARS PER SEASON…NEARLY TWICE WHAT THEY ARE MAKING NOW…
THEY WOULD ALSO WANT A MINIMUM OF 5 YEARS WITH A NO TRADE CLAUSE…
THAT’S A BIG COMMITMENT…ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU LOOK AT THEIR PLAYOFF NUMBERS…
IN 86 COMBINED GAMES THE TWINS HAVE PRODUCED A MERE 38 POINTS…
TO HELP SHAKE THINGS UP…VIGNEAULT HAS GIVEN THE SEDINS A NEW LINEMATE FOR TONIGHT’S GAME…DESPITE THE FACT HE INSISTS STEVE BERNIER HAS NOT BEEN THE PROBLEM…
THE JOB NOW BELONGS TO MASON RAYMOND…
IT MAY ALL COME BACK TO WHAT GILLIS SAID ABOUT THE SEDINS AT HIS VERY FIRST PRESS CONFERENCE…
“I DON’T KNOW IF THEY ARE THE PLAYERS THE TEAM WILL BE BUILT AROUND MOVING FORWARD”…
LAST MONTH GILLIS TRIED TO RE-TRACK THAT STATEMENT BY SUGGESTING…”IT JUST CAME OUT WRONG”…
SO WHERE DO THE CANUCKS NOW STAND ON THE SEDINS???
TO GET THE ANSWER THINK OF HOCKEY AS THE STOCK MARKET…
“TO FIND THE TRUTH…SIMPLY FOLLOW THE MONEY”…
Friday, October 10, 2008
Thanksgiving
WHEN YOU GOT UP THIS MORNING…DID YOU NOTICE THE SUN WAS SHINNING???
THE BIRDS WERE SINGING…
YOUR ORANGE JUICE TASTED A LITTLE SWEETER…
EVEN THE PERSON DOWN THE HALL…YOU KNOW THE ONE THAT HAS NOTHING TO SAY BUT WILL JUST NOT “SHUT UP”…
YOU KNOW WHO I’M TALKING ABOUT…
EVEN “THAT” PERSON COULD NOT RAIN ON YOUR PARADE…NOT TODAY…
LASTNIGHT THE CANUCKS THUMPED CALGARY 6-0…AND LOOKED GREAT IN DOING SO…
THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT WINNING SPORTS TEAMS THAT CONNECTS A CITY…
IT IS A SHARED COMMON EXPERIENCE THAT TRULY DOES ELEVATE THE QUALITY OF LIFE…
TONIGHT THE B.C. LIONS TAKE ON THE ESKIMOES…
THAT WOULD BE THE “FIRST PLACE”… B.C. LIONS…WHO HAVE NOW WON 5 STRAIGHT…
ALSO TONIGHT…THE VANCOUVER GIANTS TAKE ON KELOWNA AT THE PACIFIC COLISEUM…
THE GIANTS HAVE THE BEST RECORD IN THE ENTIRE WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE…
SATURDAY THE CANUCKS ARE IN CALGARY…
AND ON SUNDAY AT SWANGGARD STADIUM…THE VANCOUVER WHITECAPS WILL PLAY PUERTO RICO IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL…
FANS IN THIS CITY HAVE EARNED THE RIGHT TO BATHE IN ALL THIS…BECAUSE IN THE PAST THE SPORTS GODS HAVE NOT ALWAYS BEEN KIND…
EXACTLY ONE YEAR AGO TONIGHT…
THE PHILADELPHIA FLYERS CAME INTO TOWN AND KICKED SNOW INTO THE FACE OF THE CANUCKS…
THE FINAL COUNT WAS 8-2…
IT WAS DIFFICULT TO KNOW WHAT WAS WORSE…THE SCORE OR HOW THE CANUCKS WERE PUSHED AROUND IN THEIR OWN BUILDING…
A FEW WEEKS LATER THE LIONS LOST THE WESTERN FINAL ALSO IN THEIR OWN BUILDING…
THIS SEASON THEY HAD A LOSING RECORD BY THE HALF WAY POINT…
AS FOR THE CAPS…LAST YEAR THEY FINISHED 7TH IN THE REGULAR SEASON AND WERE BOUNCED IN THE FIRST ROUND OF THE PLAYOFFS…
YES WE HAVE SUFFERED…BUT IT PALES IN COMPARISON WITH WHAT SEATTLE FANS ARE GOING THROUGH…
THE MARINERS FINISHED DEAD LAST IN THE AMERICAN LEAGUE…THE SEAHAWKS ARE 1 AND 4…THE HUSKIES ARE 0 AND 5…AND THE SONICS HAVE MOVED TO OKLAHOMA CITY…TALK ABOUT A BAD YEAR…
SO AS YOU SIT DOWN FOR YOUR TURKEY DINNER THIS WEEKEND…
TAKE A MOMENT TO THINK OF THE CANUCKS…THE LIONS…THE GIANTS AND THE WHITECAPS…
RIGHT NOW WE ALL HAVE PLENTY…TO BE THANKFULL FOR…
THE BIRDS WERE SINGING…
YOUR ORANGE JUICE TASTED A LITTLE SWEETER…
EVEN THE PERSON DOWN THE HALL…YOU KNOW THE ONE THAT HAS NOTHING TO SAY BUT WILL JUST NOT “SHUT UP”…
YOU KNOW WHO I’M TALKING ABOUT…
EVEN “THAT” PERSON COULD NOT RAIN ON YOUR PARADE…NOT TODAY…
LASTNIGHT THE CANUCKS THUMPED CALGARY 6-0…AND LOOKED GREAT IN DOING SO…
THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT WINNING SPORTS TEAMS THAT CONNECTS A CITY…
IT IS A SHARED COMMON EXPERIENCE THAT TRULY DOES ELEVATE THE QUALITY OF LIFE…
TONIGHT THE B.C. LIONS TAKE ON THE ESKIMOES…
THAT WOULD BE THE “FIRST PLACE”… B.C. LIONS…WHO HAVE NOW WON 5 STRAIGHT…
ALSO TONIGHT…THE VANCOUVER GIANTS TAKE ON KELOWNA AT THE PACIFIC COLISEUM…
THE GIANTS HAVE THE BEST RECORD IN THE ENTIRE WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE…
SATURDAY THE CANUCKS ARE IN CALGARY…
AND ON SUNDAY AT SWANGGARD STADIUM…THE VANCOUVER WHITECAPS WILL PLAY PUERTO RICO IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL…
FANS IN THIS CITY HAVE EARNED THE RIGHT TO BATHE IN ALL THIS…BECAUSE IN THE PAST THE SPORTS GODS HAVE NOT ALWAYS BEEN KIND…
EXACTLY ONE YEAR AGO TONIGHT…
THE PHILADELPHIA FLYERS CAME INTO TOWN AND KICKED SNOW INTO THE FACE OF THE CANUCKS…
THE FINAL COUNT WAS 8-2…
IT WAS DIFFICULT TO KNOW WHAT WAS WORSE…THE SCORE OR HOW THE CANUCKS WERE PUSHED AROUND IN THEIR OWN BUILDING…
A FEW WEEKS LATER THE LIONS LOST THE WESTERN FINAL ALSO IN THEIR OWN BUILDING…
THIS SEASON THEY HAD A LOSING RECORD BY THE HALF WAY POINT…
AS FOR THE CAPS…LAST YEAR THEY FINISHED 7TH IN THE REGULAR SEASON AND WERE BOUNCED IN THE FIRST ROUND OF THE PLAYOFFS…
YES WE HAVE SUFFERED…BUT IT PALES IN COMPARISON WITH WHAT SEATTLE FANS ARE GOING THROUGH…
THE MARINERS FINISHED DEAD LAST IN THE AMERICAN LEAGUE…THE SEAHAWKS ARE 1 AND 4…THE HUSKIES ARE 0 AND 5…AND THE SONICS HAVE MOVED TO OKLAHOMA CITY…TALK ABOUT A BAD YEAR…
SO AS YOU SIT DOWN FOR YOUR TURKEY DINNER THIS WEEKEND…
TAKE A MOMENT TO THINK OF THE CANUCKS…THE LIONS…THE GIANTS AND THE WHITECAPS…
RIGHT NOW WE ALL HAVE PLENTY…TO BE THANKFULL FOR…
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Hockey Canada
TEAM CANADA HAS BEEN GIVEN SOME VERY BAD NEWS…
WAYNE GRETZKY WILL NOT BE THE GENERAL MANAGER IN 2010…
PRESIDENT OF HOCKEY CANADA BOB NICKOLSON MET WITH GRETZKY IN TORONTO OVER THE WEEKEND…
GRETZKY HAS DECIDED THAT HIS PRIORITY MUST BE THE PHOENIX COYOTES…
ALTHOUGH HE DID THE LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN TO ACT AS A CONSULTANT TO HELP CHOOSE THE PLAYERS AND COACHES THAT WILL FORM TEAM CANADA…
GRETZKY WOULD ALSO LIKE TO BE CONSIDERED AS A COACH…
HOWEVER WE SHOULD NOT BE ALL THAT SURPRISED THAT GRETZKY DOES NOT WANT TO DEAL WITH ALL THE PRESSURE THAT GOES WITH RUNNING THE TEAM…
TO SAY THE LEAST…HIS EXPERIENCE IN TORINO WAS A NIGHTMARE…
IT BEGAN WITH THE GAMBLING SCANDAL INVOLVING HIS ASSISTANT COACH IN PHOENIX RICK TOCCHET AND HIS WIFE JANET…
GRETZKY WAS ALSO OPENLY CRITIZED FOR HIS LOYALTY TO PLAYERS WHO CLEARLY WERE NOT THE BEST THIS COUNTRY HAD TO OFFER…
TODD BERTUZZI MADE THE TEAM…ERIC STAAL AND SIDNEY CROSBY DID NOT…
TEAM CANADA WAS SHUTOUT 2-0 BY BOTH FINLAND AND SWITZERLAND…
FINALLY WHEN THE RUSSIANS ELIMINATED CANADA…GRETZKY TOOK ALL THE BLAME…
QUOTE…”I’LL TAKE ALL THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR NOT WINNING…IT’S NOBODY ELSE’S FAULT”
HE ALSO SAID AT THE TIME…”I’M GOING TO RE-ASSESS WHERE I FIT”…
18 MONTHS LATER…WE KNOW…
STARTING NEXT MONTH NICHOLSON WILL BEGIN THE PROCESS OF FINDING A NEW GM…
THE GOOD NEWS IS…HE’LL HAVE AN IMPRESSIVE LIST OF CANDIDATES…
ON THE TOP WOULD HAVE TO BE KEN HOLLAND IN DETROIT…
AS FOR A HEAD COACH…MIKE BABCOCK WOULD HAVE TO BE THE FRONT RUNNER…
ALTHOUGH BOTH KEN HITCHCOCK AND BRENT SUTTER WILL BE CONSIDERED…
WHOEVER TAKES THE RESPONSIBILITY OF PUTTING THIS TEAM TOGETHER…
IT’S CLEAR THE PRIORITY WILL BE TO PUT TOGETHER THE BEST TEAM POSSIBLE…
FORGET ALL THE MISPLACED LOYALTIES AND POLITICS…
WHEN IT COMES TO PRESSURE…VANCOUVER IN 2010 WILL MAKE TORINO LOOK LIKE TOFINO…
ANYTHING LESS THAN GOLD…WILL BE CONSIDERED A COMPLETE FAILURE…
IF NOTHING ELSE…IT DOES HELP EXPLAIN WHY GRETZKY NO LONGER WANTS THE JOB…
WAYNE GRETZKY WILL NOT BE THE GENERAL MANAGER IN 2010…
PRESIDENT OF HOCKEY CANADA BOB NICKOLSON MET WITH GRETZKY IN TORONTO OVER THE WEEKEND…
GRETZKY HAS DECIDED THAT HIS PRIORITY MUST BE THE PHOENIX COYOTES…
ALTHOUGH HE DID THE LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN TO ACT AS A CONSULTANT TO HELP CHOOSE THE PLAYERS AND COACHES THAT WILL FORM TEAM CANADA…
GRETZKY WOULD ALSO LIKE TO BE CONSIDERED AS A COACH…
HOWEVER WE SHOULD NOT BE ALL THAT SURPRISED THAT GRETZKY DOES NOT WANT TO DEAL WITH ALL THE PRESSURE THAT GOES WITH RUNNING THE TEAM…
TO SAY THE LEAST…HIS EXPERIENCE IN TORINO WAS A NIGHTMARE…
IT BEGAN WITH THE GAMBLING SCANDAL INVOLVING HIS ASSISTANT COACH IN PHOENIX RICK TOCCHET AND HIS WIFE JANET…
GRETZKY WAS ALSO OPENLY CRITIZED FOR HIS LOYALTY TO PLAYERS WHO CLEARLY WERE NOT THE BEST THIS COUNTRY HAD TO OFFER…
TODD BERTUZZI MADE THE TEAM…ERIC STAAL AND SIDNEY CROSBY DID NOT…
TEAM CANADA WAS SHUTOUT 2-0 BY BOTH FINLAND AND SWITZERLAND…
FINALLY WHEN THE RUSSIANS ELIMINATED CANADA…GRETZKY TOOK ALL THE BLAME…
QUOTE…”I’LL TAKE ALL THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR NOT WINNING…IT’S NOBODY ELSE’S FAULT”
HE ALSO SAID AT THE TIME…”I’M GOING TO RE-ASSESS WHERE I FIT”…
18 MONTHS LATER…WE KNOW…
STARTING NEXT MONTH NICHOLSON WILL BEGIN THE PROCESS OF FINDING A NEW GM…
THE GOOD NEWS IS…HE’LL HAVE AN IMPRESSIVE LIST OF CANDIDATES…
ON THE TOP WOULD HAVE TO BE KEN HOLLAND IN DETROIT…
AS FOR A HEAD COACH…MIKE BABCOCK WOULD HAVE TO BE THE FRONT RUNNER…
ALTHOUGH BOTH KEN HITCHCOCK AND BRENT SUTTER WILL BE CONSIDERED…
WHOEVER TAKES THE RESPONSIBILITY OF PUTTING THIS TEAM TOGETHER…
IT’S CLEAR THE PRIORITY WILL BE TO PUT TOGETHER THE BEST TEAM POSSIBLE…
FORGET ALL THE MISPLACED LOYALTIES AND POLITICS…
WHEN IT COMES TO PRESSURE…VANCOUVER IN 2010 WILL MAKE TORINO LOOK LIKE TOFINO…
ANYTHING LESS THAN GOLD…WILL BE CONSIDERED A COMPLETE FAILURE…
IF NOTHING ELSE…IT DOES HELP EXPLAIN WHY GRETZKY NO LONGER WANTS THE JOB…
Thursday, September 11, 2008
The Canucks
THE LAST TIME THE VANCOUVER CANUCKS PLAYED A GAME THAT MATTERED WAS APRIL THE 5TH…
THAT’S 5 MONTHS AGO…
THE SEASON ENDED WITH A WHIMPER…NOT A BANG…7-1 TO CALGARY…
IT COST GENERAL MANAGER DAVE NONIS HIS JOB…
ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER STEVE TAMBELINI IS NOW THE GENERAL MANAGER IN EDMONTON…
MARKUS NASLUND IS IN NEW YORK…
BRENDAN MORRISON IS IN ANAHEIM…
TREVOR LINDEN HAS RETIRED…AND THE ORGANIZATION SUFFERED THE LOSS OF LUC BOURDON…
NEVER IN CANUCK HISTORY HAVE HOCKEY FANS IN CITY HAVE HAD TO DEAL WITH SO MUCH DRAMATIC CHANGE…
SO IT SHOULD NOT COME AS ANY SURPRISE THAT THESE FANS HAVE REAL CONCERN ABOUT WHAT LIES AHEAD THIS SEASON…
TO MANY THE NEW CANUCKS LOOK PRETTY MUCH LIKE THE ODD CANUCKS…
NASLUND AND MORRISON HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY…PAVOL DEMITRA AND STEVE BERNIER…
80 POINTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED WITH 87 POINTS…
ALL THE EXCITEMENT THAT SURROUNDED THE $20 MILLION OFFER TO MATS SUNDIN ON JULY THE 1ST…TURNED OUT TO BE AN ENDLESS SOAP OPERA THAT IS NOW USED BY DOCTORS TO HELP CURE INSOMNIA…
TOMORROW THE CANUCKS WILL OPEN THEIR PROSPECTS CAMP…
IT WILL BE THE FIRST REAL OPPORTUNITY FOR FANS TO SEE THE TEAMS FIRST ROUND DRAFT PICK CODY HODGSON…
AND CERTAINLY THERE WILL SOME ATTENTION SPENT ON MICHAEL GRABNER…WHO HAS SO FAR BEEN ANOTHER SWING AND A MISS FOR THE SCOUTING STAFF…
NOW COMPARE THIS TO WHAT THE PITTSBURGH PENGUINS PULLED OFF YESTERDAY…
SIDNEY CROSBY AND 8 OTHER PLAYERS HAND DELIVERED SEASON TICKETS TO 35 CUSTOMERS…
THIS IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT WENT TO THE STANLEY CUP FINAL…
QUITE SIMPLY THE PENGUINS ARE NOT TAKING THEIR FANS FOR GRANTED…
IT’S A MISTAKE THE CANUCKS CAN NOT AFFORD TO MAKE…
YES…THE TEAM HAS SOLD OUT 215 STRAIGHT GAMES…
AND YES…THERE ARE 8 THOUSAND NAMES ON THE WAITING LIST FOR SEASON’S TICKETS…
BUT…AS GREAT AS THE HOCKEY FANS ARE IN THIS CITY…THERE IS A LIMIT TO WHAT THEY’LL PUT UP WITH…
IT’S EASY TO FORGET THAT JUST 10 YEARS AGO THE CANUCKS AVERAGED A MERE 14 THOUSAND FANS A GAME…
THAT’S 5 THOUSAND EMPTY SEATS PER GAME…
WHAT THESE FANS NEED NOW IS A REASON TO BELIEVE…
THE SOONER THEY GET IT THE BETTER…
THAT’S 5 MONTHS AGO…
THE SEASON ENDED WITH A WHIMPER…NOT A BANG…7-1 TO CALGARY…
IT COST GENERAL MANAGER DAVE NONIS HIS JOB…
ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER STEVE TAMBELINI IS NOW THE GENERAL MANAGER IN EDMONTON…
MARKUS NASLUND IS IN NEW YORK…
BRENDAN MORRISON IS IN ANAHEIM…
TREVOR LINDEN HAS RETIRED…AND THE ORGANIZATION SUFFERED THE LOSS OF LUC BOURDON…
NEVER IN CANUCK HISTORY HAVE HOCKEY FANS IN CITY HAVE HAD TO DEAL WITH SO MUCH DRAMATIC CHANGE…
SO IT SHOULD NOT COME AS ANY SURPRISE THAT THESE FANS HAVE REAL CONCERN ABOUT WHAT LIES AHEAD THIS SEASON…
TO MANY THE NEW CANUCKS LOOK PRETTY MUCH LIKE THE ODD CANUCKS…
NASLUND AND MORRISON HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY…PAVOL DEMITRA AND STEVE BERNIER…
80 POINTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED WITH 87 POINTS…
ALL THE EXCITEMENT THAT SURROUNDED THE $20 MILLION OFFER TO MATS SUNDIN ON JULY THE 1ST…TURNED OUT TO BE AN ENDLESS SOAP OPERA THAT IS NOW USED BY DOCTORS TO HELP CURE INSOMNIA…
TOMORROW THE CANUCKS WILL OPEN THEIR PROSPECTS CAMP…
IT WILL BE THE FIRST REAL OPPORTUNITY FOR FANS TO SEE THE TEAMS FIRST ROUND DRAFT PICK CODY HODGSON…
AND CERTAINLY THERE WILL SOME ATTENTION SPENT ON MICHAEL GRABNER…WHO HAS SO FAR BEEN ANOTHER SWING AND A MISS FOR THE SCOUTING STAFF…
NOW COMPARE THIS TO WHAT THE PITTSBURGH PENGUINS PULLED OFF YESTERDAY…
SIDNEY CROSBY AND 8 OTHER PLAYERS HAND DELIVERED SEASON TICKETS TO 35 CUSTOMERS…
THIS IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT WENT TO THE STANLEY CUP FINAL…
QUITE SIMPLY THE PENGUINS ARE NOT TAKING THEIR FANS FOR GRANTED…
IT’S A MISTAKE THE CANUCKS CAN NOT AFFORD TO MAKE…
YES…THE TEAM HAS SOLD OUT 215 STRAIGHT GAMES…
AND YES…THERE ARE 8 THOUSAND NAMES ON THE WAITING LIST FOR SEASON’S TICKETS…
BUT…AS GREAT AS THE HOCKEY FANS ARE IN THIS CITY…THERE IS A LIMIT TO WHAT THEY’LL PUT UP WITH…
IT’S EASY TO FORGET THAT JUST 10 YEARS AGO THE CANUCKS AVERAGED A MERE 14 THOUSAND FANS A GAME…
THAT’S 5 THOUSAND EMPTY SEATS PER GAME…
WHAT THESE FANS NEED NOW IS A REASON TO BELIEVE…
THE SOONER THEY GET IT THE BETTER…
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