“MISTY WATERCOLOR MEMORIES”…
THAT’S ALL THAT’S LEFT OF THE ONCE MIGHTY…ANAHEIM DUCKS…
LESS THAN 2 YEARS AGO THESE DUCKS WERE STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS…
THE NEIDERMAYER BROTHERS CELEBRATED ON THE TOP OF A MOUNTAIN…
BRIAN BURKE…SMILED…
IT WAS PERFECT…
NO…IT WAS BETTER THAN PERFECT…
“CAN IT BE…THAT IT WAS ALL SO SIMPLE THEN???”
APPRENTLY SO…
FIRST DUSTIN PENNER SIGNED WITH EDMONTON…
BURKE RE-ACTED BY GETTING INTO A “PISSING CONTEST” WITH EDMONTON GENERAL MANAGER KEVIN LOWE…
BURKE CALLED LOWE…”CLASSLESS AND GUTLESS”…LOWE CALLED BURKE…”A MORON”…
“IF WE HAD THE CHANCE TO DO IT ALL AGAIN…TELL ME…WOULD WE???”…
LATER THAT SUMMER… BURKE SIGNED TODD BERTUZZI AND MATHIEU SCHNEIDER TO CONTRACTS WORTH A COMBINED…$10 MILLION A SEASON…
TO FIND ROOM UNDER THE SALARY CAP…THE DUCKS WERE FORCED TO GIVE AWAY ANDY MCDONALD…
LAST SUMMER OWNER HENRY SAMUELI WAS SUSPENDED BY THE NHL FOR LYING TO THE U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION…
SAMUELI IS NOW FACING 5 YEARS IN PRISON…
“WHAT’S TOO PAINFULL TO REMEMBER…WE SIMPLY CHOOSE TO FORGET”…
IN NOVEMBER…BURKE JUMPED SHIP AND SIGNED A NEW DEAL IN TORONTO…
HE LEFT BEHIND A MESS…
SERIOUS CAP PROBLEMS AND 13 PLAYERS ABOUT TO BECOME “UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS”…
AT THE TRADING DEADLINE THE DUCKS HAD NO OPTION BUT TO CLEAN HOUSE…
CHRIS KUNITZ WENT TO PITTSBURGH…
SAMUEL PAHLSSON WENT TO CHICAGO…
TRAVIS MOEN WENT TO SAN JOSE…
AND BRENDAN MORRISON WENT TO DALLAS…
THE DUCKS ARE NOW IN 12TH PLACE IN THE WESTERN CONFERENCE…
AND…THIS SUMMER THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE SOME VERY TOUGH DECISIONS ON BOTH…CHRIS PRONGER AND SCOTT NEIDERMAYER…
THESE DAYS HOCKEY FANS IN ANAHEIM HAVE ONLY THING THAT CAN EASE THE PAIN…
“HIT IT BARBRA”…
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Monday, March 9, 2009
Sports Media
FIRST…LET US BE CRYSTAL CLEAR ABOUT ONE THING…
IT IS THE BIRTH RIGHT OF EVERY HOCKEY FAN…IN EVERY NHL CITY…TO QUESTION…OUT LOUD…HOW THE GENERAL MANAGER OF THEIR TEAM IS RUNNING THE SHOW…
SECONDLY…IT IS THE BIRTH RIGHT OF EVERY MEMBER OF THE “SPORT MEDIA” TO DO THE EXACT SAME THING…
BUT THERE ARE LIMITS…
THE GOLDEN RULE IS THIS…
“YOU CAN NOT BOO A HOME RUN”…
SATURDAY NIGHT THE CANUCKS HIT A GRAND SLAM WHEN THEY BEAT SAN JOSE 3-1…
THEY’VE NOW WON 4 IN A ROW AND 12 OF THEIR LAST 14…
THE CANUCKS NOW FIND THEMSELVES JUST 8 POINTS BACK OF CALGARY WITH TWO GAMES IN HAND…
STARTING TONIGHT IN LOS ANGELES…16 OF THEIR LAST 18 GAMES…ARE AGAINST TEAMS BELOW THEM IN THE STANDINGS…
ADD IT ALL UP AND…THE CANUCKS HAVE A LIGITMATE SHOT TO WIN THE NORTH WEST DIVISION…
SO TRY AND IMAGINE THE RE-ACTION THIS MORNING FROM GENERAL MANAGER MIKE GILLIS WHEN HE PICKED UP THE VANCOUVER PROVINCE AND READ THE COLUMN BY ED WILLIS…
WILLIS RIPPED INTO GILLIS FOR NOT DOING SOMETHING AT THE TRADING DEADLINE…
THE ARGUMENT WAS THIS…
THERE ARE 6 FRONT LINE PLAYERS…WHO ARE PLAYING MILES BELOW THEIR MARKET VALUE…
TO WHICH WILLIS POSED THE QUESTION…
“IF NOT THIS SEASON…WHEN?”
THE ARTICLE CONCLUDED THAT MIKE GILLIS HAS WASTED…A “GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY” FOR THE CANUCKS TO WIN A STANLEY CUP…
“THAT SON-OF-A-BITCH”…
COME ON EDDIE…LET’S FORM A HALF CRAZED MOB…AND BURN “GILLIS” IN EFFIGY…
THE TRUTH OF MATTER IS THIS…
OVER THE LAST 40 YEARS PEOPLE IN THIS CITY HAVE BEEN CONDITIONED TO EXPECT THE WORST…AND RARELY HAVE WE BEEN SURPRISED…
BUT…MAYBE…JUST MAYBE…GILLIS KNOWS WHAT HE’S DOING…
MAYBE…JUST MAYBE…THE CANUCKS ARE FOR REAL…
AND MAYBE…JUST MAYBE…WE SHOULD SIT BACK AND ENJOY THIS RIDE…
HEY…WORST CASE SENARIO???
WE WILL STILL HAVE ALL THE SUMMER TO QUESTION…”OUT LOUD”…HOW GENERAL MANAGER MIKE GILLIS IS RUNNING THIS SHOW…
IT IS THE BIRTH RIGHT OF EVERY HOCKEY FAN…IN EVERY NHL CITY…TO QUESTION…OUT LOUD…HOW THE GENERAL MANAGER OF THEIR TEAM IS RUNNING THE SHOW…
SECONDLY…IT IS THE BIRTH RIGHT OF EVERY MEMBER OF THE “SPORT MEDIA” TO DO THE EXACT SAME THING…
BUT THERE ARE LIMITS…
THE GOLDEN RULE IS THIS…
“YOU CAN NOT BOO A HOME RUN”…
SATURDAY NIGHT THE CANUCKS HIT A GRAND SLAM WHEN THEY BEAT SAN JOSE 3-1…
THEY’VE NOW WON 4 IN A ROW AND 12 OF THEIR LAST 14…
THE CANUCKS NOW FIND THEMSELVES JUST 8 POINTS BACK OF CALGARY WITH TWO GAMES IN HAND…
STARTING TONIGHT IN LOS ANGELES…16 OF THEIR LAST 18 GAMES…ARE AGAINST TEAMS BELOW THEM IN THE STANDINGS…
ADD IT ALL UP AND…THE CANUCKS HAVE A LIGITMATE SHOT TO WIN THE NORTH WEST DIVISION…
SO TRY AND IMAGINE THE RE-ACTION THIS MORNING FROM GENERAL MANAGER MIKE GILLIS WHEN HE PICKED UP THE VANCOUVER PROVINCE AND READ THE COLUMN BY ED WILLIS…
WILLIS RIPPED INTO GILLIS FOR NOT DOING SOMETHING AT THE TRADING DEADLINE…
THE ARGUMENT WAS THIS…
THERE ARE 6 FRONT LINE PLAYERS…WHO ARE PLAYING MILES BELOW THEIR MARKET VALUE…
TO WHICH WILLIS POSED THE QUESTION…
“IF NOT THIS SEASON…WHEN?”
THE ARTICLE CONCLUDED THAT MIKE GILLIS HAS WASTED…A “GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY” FOR THE CANUCKS TO WIN A STANLEY CUP…
“THAT SON-OF-A-BITCH”…
COME ON EDDIE…LET’S FORM A HALF CRAZED MOB…AND BURN “GILLIS” IN EFFIGY…
THE TRUTH OF MATTER IS THIS…
OVER THE LAST 40 YEARS PEOPLE IN THIS CITY HAVE BEEN CONDITIONED TO EXPECT THE WORST…AND RARELY HAVE WE BEEN SURPRISED…
BUT…MAYBE…JUST MAYBE…GILLIS KNOWS WHAT HE’S DOING…
MAYBE…JUST MAYBE…THE CANUCKS ARE FOR REAL…
AND MAYBE…JUST MAYBE…WE SHOULD SIT BACK AND ENJOY THIS RIDE…
HEY…WORST CASE SENARIO???
WE WILL STILL HAVE ALL THE SUMMER TO QUESTION…”OUT LOUD”…HOW GENERAL MANAGER MIKE GILLIS IS RUNNING THIS SHOW…
Friday, February 20, 2009
Bad Jobs!
WE CAN NOW ADD ANOTHER ENTRY…TO THE LIST OF…
“WORST JOBS IN THE WORLD”…
“HOSTING A RADIO SPORTS TALK SHOW…IN TORONTO”…
IT’S RIGHT NEXT TO…”INJECTING STERIODS INTO THE BUTT OF A-ROD”…
IMAGINE LIVING THIS NIGHTMARE…
YOU WAKE UP EVERY MORNING…GO TO WORK…
AND SPEND YOUR ENTIRE DAY TALKING TO LOSERS…ABOUT…LOSING…
IN THAT TOWN IT ALWAYS BEGINS AND ENDS WITH…“THE LEAFS”…
WHY???
IT’S BEEN 5 YEARS SINCE THE LEAFS LAST MADE THE PLAYOFFS…
AND 42 YEARS SINCE THE LAST TIME THEY SAW THE STANLEY CUP FINALS…
THEY CURRENTLY HAVE THE “27TH WORST RECORD” IN THE ENTIRE NHL…
WHAT’S THERE TO TALK ABOUT???
THEN THERE’S THE RAPTORS…
THESE DAYS THE RAPS CAN BE FOUND IN 14TH PLACE IN THE EASTERN CONFERENCE…
HELLO…TORONTO???…
THIS IS VANCOUVER CALLING…”THE GRIZZLIES HAVE A BETTER CHANCE OF WINNING THE NBA CHAMPIONSHIP”…
IN FLORIDA…THE BLUE JAYS ARE AT TRAINING CAMP…
LAST SEASON THE JAYS FINISHED 11 GAMES OUT…
IT’S BEEN ALMOST 2 DECADES SINCE THEY WERE IN A PLAYOFF GAME…
“LET IT GO TORONTO”…”LET IT GO”…
AND THEN THERE’S THE ARGO’S…
A TEAM THAT IN 2008 MANAGED TO WIN A GRAND TOTAL OF 4…COUNT ‘EM…4 GAMES…
TOMORROW THE VANCOUVER CANUCKS ARRIVE…ALONG WITH MATS SUNDIN…
THE SAME MATS SUNDIN…WHO DUMPED THEM IN DECEMBER…
THE FANS ARE EXPECTED TO “BOO” HIM…
THAT’S WHAT 13 YEARS BUYS YOU IN TORONTO…
NOT EVEN MIKE MYERS COULD MAKE PEOPLE BELIEVE THE LEAFS COULD SOME DAY BECOME WINNERS…
HIS MOVIE “THE LOVE GURU” HAS BEEN NOMINATED FOR 7 RAZZIES…
INCLUDING “WORST PICTURE OF THE YEAR”…
IN THE MEANTIME…THE PHONE BOARDS IN TORONTO ARE JAMMED…
YOU’D THINK…SOONER OR LATER…THOSE PEOPLE WOULD GET TIRED OF LOSING…
OR…AT LEAST GET TIRED OF TALKING ABOUT IT…
BUT…YOU’D BE WRONG!!!
“WORST JOBS IN THE WORLD”…
“HOSTING A RADIO SPORTS TALK SHOW…IN TORONTO”…
IT’S RIGHT NEXT TO…”INJECTING STERIODS INTO THE BUTT OF A-ROD”…
IMAGINE LIVING THIS NIGHTMARE…
YOU WAKE UP EVERY MORNING…GO TO WORK…
AND SPEND YOUR ENTIRE DAY TALKING TO LOSERS…ABOUT…LOSING…
IN THAT TOWN IT ALWAYS BEGINS AND ENDS WITH…“THE LEAFS”…
WHY???
IT’S BEEN 5 YEARS SINCE THE LEAFS LAST MADE THE PLAYOFFS…
AND 42 YEARS SINCE THE LAST TIME THEY SAW THE STANLEY CUP FINALS…
THEY CURRENTLY HAVE THE “27TH WORST RECORD” IN THE ENTIRE NHL…
WHAT’S THERE TO TALK ABOUT???
THEN THERE’S THE RAPTORS…
THESE DAYS THE RAPS CAN BE FOUND IN 14TH PLACE IN THE EASTERN CONFERENCE…
HELLO…TORONTO???…
THIS IS VANCOUVER CALLING…”THE GRIZZLIES HAVE A BETTER CHANCE OF WINNING THE NBA CHAMPIONSHIP”…
IN FLORIDA…THE BLUE JAYS ARE AT TRAINING CAMP…
LAST SEASON THE JAYS FINISHED 11 GAMES OUT…
IT’S BEEN ALMOST 2 DECADES SINCE THEY WERE IN A PLAYOFF GAME…
“LET IT GO TORONTO”…”LET IT GO”…
AND THEN THERE’S THE ARGO’S…
A TEAM THAT IN 2008 MANAGED TO WIN A GRAND TOTAL OF 4…COUNT ‘EM…4 GAMES…
TOMORROW THE VANCOUVER CANUCKS ARRIVE…ALONG WITH MATS SUNDIN…
THE SAME MATS SUNDIN…WHO DUMPED THEM IN DECEMBER…
THE FANS ARE EXPECTED TO “BOO” HIM…
THAT’S WHAT 13 YEARS BUYS YOU IN TORONTO…
NOT EVEN MIKE MYERS COULD MAKE PEOPLE BELIEVE THE LEAFS COULD SOME DAY BECOME WINNERS…
HIS MOVIE “THE LOVE GURU” HAS BEEN NOMINATED FOR 7 RAZZIES…
INCLUDING “WORST PICTURE OF THE YEAR”…
IN THE MEANTIME…THE PHONE BOARDS IN TORONTO ARE JAMMED…
YOU’D THINK…SOONER OR LATER…THOSE PEOPLE WOULD GET TIRED OF LOSING…
OR…AT LEAST GET TIRED OF TALKING ABOUT IT…
BUT…YOU’D BE WRONG!!!
Thursday, February 12, 2009
2010
THE 2010 WINTER OLYMPICS…
THEY’RE LIKE WATCHING YOUR BRAND NEW MERCEDEZ GOING OVER A THOUSAND FOOT CLIFF…
WITH GARY BETTMAN IN THE FRONT SEAT…
THERE ARE MIXED FEELINGS…
YES…THERE IS EXCITEMENT ABOUT THE EVENT…
LIKE EXPO 86…THIS IS GOING TO BE ONE HELLUVA PARTY…
BUT JUST LIKE WAKING UP NEW YEARS DAY…YOU KNOW THERE’S GOING TO BE SOME PAIN…
THIS “HANGOVER”…WILL COST AT LEAST…$5 BILLION…
THE FACT WE WERE KEPT IN THE DARK ABOUT SUCH THINGS AS…THE SECURITY COSTS AND THE ATHLETES VILLIAGE…IS A COMPETE BETRAIL BY…LOCAL…PROVINCIAL AND FEDERAL POLITICIANS…
SHAME ON ALL OF THEM…
SHAME ON ALL OF US... FOR NOT DEMANDING BETTER…
IT’S NOT LIKE WE HAVE NOT SEEN THE MOVIE…
IN 1976…”OLYMPIC STADIUM” IN MONTREAL COST $1 BILLION DOLLARS…
IT TOOK THE PROVINCE OF QUEBEC 30 YEARS TO PAY IT OFF…
NOBODY CAN SAY HOW MANY YEARS IT WILL TAKE “BRITISH COLUMBIA” TO CLEAR ITS’ DEBT…
HOW’S THAT FOR A LEGACY???
NEVERTHELESS…IT’S NOT ALL BAD NEWS…
THE GAMES WILL GIVE THIS PROVINCE AN ECONOMIC SHOT IN THE ARM…RIGHT AT TIME…WHEN WE NEED ONE…
THEY WILL ALSO LEAVE US WITH AN IMPROVED TRANSIT SYSTEM…AND A NEW CONVENTION CENTER…
“VANOC” HAS DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB IN GETTING THE VENUES READY...
WHICH MEANS…THE WORLD WILL SEE US IN THE BEST POSSIBLE LIGHT…
WHICH MEANS…”TOURISM” IN THIS PROVINCE WILL BENEFIT FOR YEARS TO COME…
THE RICH AND FAMOUS WILL GET THEIR SUPER HI-WAY TO WHISTLER…WHICH HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THESE GAMES…
THERE WILL BE LOTS TO FEEL PROUD ABOUT…CANADA WILL “OWN THE PODIUM”…
FINALLY THE PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY WILL SEE…FIRST HAND…WHAT OUR ATHLETES ARE CAPABLE OF…WHEN THEY ARE PROPERLY FUNDED AND ALLOWED ON COMPETE ON A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD…
AND FOR HOCKEY FANS…
THE BIGGEST AND BEST TOURNAMENT…EVER…
SO…ENJOY THE GAMES…BATHE IN THEM…AND ABOVE ALL…REMEMBER TO TELL YOUR GRANDCHILDREN…
WHY NOT???
THEY’RE ONES PAYING FOR THEM…
THEY’RE LIKE WATCHING YOUR BRAND NEW MERCEDEZ GOING OVER A THOUSAND FOOT CLIFF…
WITH GARY BETTMAN IN THE FRONT SEAT…
THERE ARE MIXED FEELINGS…
YES…THERE IS EXCITEMENT ABOUT THE EVENT…
LIKE EXPO 86…THIS IS GOING TO BE ONE HELLUVA PARTY…
BUT JUST LIKE WAKING UP NEW YEARS DAY…YOU KNOW THERE’S GOING TO BE SOME PAIN…
THIS “HANGOVER”…WILL COST AT LEAST…$5 BILLION…
THE FACT WE WERE KEPT IN THE DARK ABOUT SUCH THINGS AS…THE SECURITY COSTS AND THE ATHLETES VILLIAGE…IS A COMPETE BETRAIL BY…LOCAL…PROVINCIAL AND FEDERAL POLITICIANS…
SHAME ON ALL OF THEM…
SHAME ON ALL OF US... FOR NOT DEMANDING BETTER…
IT’S NOT LIKE WE HAVE NOT SEEN THE MOVIE…
IN 1976…”OLYMPIC STADIUM” IN MONTREAL COST $1 BILLION DOLLARS…
IT TOOK THE PROVINCE OF QUEBEC 30 YEARS TO PAY IT OFF…
NOBODY CAN SAY HOW MANY YEARS IT WILL TAKE “BRITISH COLUMBIA” TO CLEAR ITS’ DEBT…
HOW’S THAT FOR A LEGACY???
NEVERTHELESS…IT’S NOT ALL BAD NEWS…
THE GAMES WILL GIVE THIS PROVINCE AN ECONOMIC SHOT IN THE ARM…RIGHT AT TIME…WHEN WE NEED ONE…
THEY WILL ALSO LEAVE US WITH AN IMPROVED TRANSIT SYSTEM…AND A NEW CONVENTION CENTER…
“VANOC” HAS DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB IN GETTING THE VENUES READY...
WHICH MEANS…THE WORLD WILL SEE US IN THE BEST POSSIBLE LIGHT…
WHICH MEANS…”TOURISM” IN THIS PROVINCE WILL BENEFIT FOR YEARS TO COME…
THE RICH AND FAMOUS WILL GET THEIR SUPER HI-WAY TO WHISTLER…WHICH HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THESE GAMES…
THERE WILL BE LOTS TO FEEL PROUD ABOUT…CANADA WILL “OWN THE PODIUM”…
FINALLY THE PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY WILL SEE…FIRST HAND…WHAT OUR ATHLETES ARE CAPABLE OF…WHEN THEY ARE PROPERLY FUNDED AND ALLOWED ON COMPETE ON A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD…
AND FOR HOCKEY FANS…
THE BIGGEST AND BEST TOURNAMENT…EVER…
SO…ENJOY THE GAMES…BATHE IN THEM…AND ABOVE ALL…REMEMBER TO TELL YOUR GRANDCHILDREN…
WHY NOT???
THEY’RE ONES PAYING FOR THEM…
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Anything is possible!
THE PHILADELPHIA PHILIES WIN THE WORLD SERIES…
THE ARIZONA CARDINALS ARE GOING TO THE SUPER BOWL…
AND THE UNITED STATES HAS ELECTED ITS FIRST BLACK PRESIDENT…
ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE!!!
SO LASTNIGHT WAS IT TOO MUCH TO BELIEVE THE CANUCKS COULD GO INTO SAN JOSE AND WIN A HOCKEY GAME???
APPARENTLY SO!!!
THEY CAME CLOSE…BUT DEVIN SETOGUCHI TIED WITH 40 SECONDS LEFT IN THE THIRD PERIOD…
AND THEN PATRICK MARLEAU WON IT FOR THE SHARKS IN OVERTIME…
AS A RESULT…THIS MORNING THE CANUCKS WOKE UP IN A THREE WAY TIE FOR 8TH PLACE…IN THE WESTERN CONFERENCE…
AND THERE ARE 4 TEAMS NOW WITHIN STRIKING DISTANCE OF THAT LAST PLAYOFF SPOT…
ALL OF THEM…HAVE GAMES IN HAND…
ADD TO THAT…THE CANUCKS DO NOT PLAY AGAIN FOR ANOTHER WEEK…
WHICH MEANS…WHEN THE ALL-STAR BREAK IS FINALLY OVER…
THEY’LL FIND THEMSELVES IN THE MIDDLE OF ONE OF THE TIGHTEST PLAYOFF RACES IN NHL HISTORY…
LET’S START AT THE BOTTOM AND WORK UP…
RIGHT NOW DALLAS IS IN 12TH PLACE…
BUT THE STARS ARE IN FLORIDA TONIGHT AND AT HOME TO ATLANTA NEXT TUESDAY…
COLORADO IS IN 11TH PLACE…SHOULD THE AVALANCHE WIN THEIR TWO GAMES…THEY CAN CATCH CANUCKS IN THE STANDINGS…
MINNESOTA PLAYS TORONTO ON MONDAY… A WIN ALSO PUTS THE WILD INTO A TIE WITH THE CANUCKS….
COLUMBUS IS IN CALGARY TONIGHT…A WIN GETS THEM TO WITHIN A POINT OF VANCOUVER…
EDMONTON AND ANAHEIM ALSO PLAY NEXT MONDAY…WHICH COULD PUSH BOTH TEAMS 2 POINTS AHEAD OF VANCOUVER…
HERE’S THE MATH…
THERE ARE 8 TEAMS IN THE WEST…FIGHTING FOR THE LAST 4 PLAYOFF SPOTS…
BY NEXT WEDNESDAY ALL 8 OF THOSE TEAMS COULD BE SEPARATED BY A MERE 4 POINTS…
THE CANUCKS HAVE 38 GAMES REMAINING…15 OF THOSE GAMES ARE WITH THOSE OTHER 7 TEAMS…
AS A DISSAPOINTING AS LASTNIGHT WAS FOR CANUCKS FANS…
THE GOOD NEWS IS…THE FATE OF THEIR SEASON IS STILL VERY MUCH IN THEIR OWN HANDS…
REMEMBER…ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE…
THE ARIZONA CARDINALS ARE GOING TO THE SUPER BOWL…
AND THE UNITED STATES HAS ELECTED ITS FIRST BLACK PRESIDENT…
ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE!!!
SO LASTNIGHT WAS IT TOO MUCH TO BELIEVE THE CANUCKS COULD GO INTO SAN JOSE AND WIN A HOCKEY GAME???
APPARENTLY SO!!!
THEY CAME CLOSE…BUT DEVIN SETOGUCHI TIED WITH 40 SECONDS LEFT IN THE THIRD PERIOD…
AND THEN PATRICK MARLEAU WON IT FOR THE SHARKS IN OVERTIME…
AS A RESULT…THIS MORNING THE CANUCKS WOKE UP IN A THREE WAY TIE FOR 8TH PLACE…IN THE WESTERN CONFERENCE…
AND THERE ARE 4 TEAMS NOW WITHIN STRIKING DISTANCE OF THAT LAST PLAYOFF SPOT…
ALL OF THEM…HAVE GAMES IN HAND…
ADD TO THAT…THE CANUCKS DO NOT PLAY AGAIN FOR ANOTHER WEEK…
WHICH MEANS…WHEN THE ALL-STAR BREAK IS FINALLY OVER…
THEY’LL FIND THEMSELVES IN THE MIDDLE OF ONE OF THE TIGHTEST PLAYOFF RACES IN NHL HISTORY…
LET’S START AT THE BOTTOM AND WORK UP…
RIGHT NOW DALLAS IS IN 12TH PLACE…
BUT THE STARS ARE IN FLORIDA TONIGHT AND AT HOME TO ATLANTA NEXT TUESDAY…
COLORADO IS IN 11TH PLACE…SHOULD THE AVALANCHE WIN THEIR TWO GAMES…THEY CAN CATCH CANUCKS IN THE STANDINGS…
MINNESOTA PLAYS TORONTO ON MONDAY… A WIN ALSO PUTS THE WILD INTO A TIE WITH THE CANUCKS….
COLUMBUS IS IN CALGARY TONIGHT…A WIN GETS THEM TO WITHIN A POINT OF VANCOUVER…
EDMONTON AND ANAHEIM ALSO PLAY NEXT MONDAY…WHICH COULD PUSH BOTH TEAMS 2 POINTS AHEAD OF VANCOUVER…
HERE’S THE MATH…
THERE ARE 8 TEAMS IN THE WEST…FIGHTING FOR THE LAST 4 PLAYOFF SPOTS…
BY NEXT WEDNESDAY ALL 8 OF THOSE TEAMS COULD BE SEPARATED BY A MERE 4 POINTS…
THE CANUCKS HAVE 38 GAMES REMAINING…15 OF THOSE GAMES ARE WITH THOSE OTHER 7 TEAMS…
AS A DISSAPOINTING AS LASTNIGHT WAS FOR CANUCKS FANS…
THE GOOD NEWS IS…THE FATE OF THEIR SEASON IS STILL VERY MUCH IN THEIR OWN HANDS…
REMEMBER…ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE…
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Canucks
TO COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEMS OF THE VANCOUVER THE CANUCKS…ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS LOOK AT ONE STAT…
THE CANUCKS HAVE GIVEN UP 25 GOALS IN THEIR LAST 5 GAMES…
AS A THE RESULT…
THE CANUCKS MANAGED TO EARN JUST 1 OUT OF A POSSIBLE 10 POINTS DURING THEIR 5 GAME HOME STAND…
NOW COMES THE TOUGH PART…
THE ATTACHMENT OF “BLAME”…
RIGHT NOW THERE’S PLENTY TO GO AROUND…
BUT…GET SOME DISTANCE FROM THIS MESS…AND LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE…
THIS SEASON THE CANUCKS HAVE MADE A COMMITMENT TO A MUCH MORE UP TEMPO…OFFENSIVE STYLE…
GENERAL MANAGER MIKE GILLIS MADE IT A PRIORITY TO ADD PLAYERS WHO COULD FIT INTO THAT STYLE…
THE LIST INCLUDES…MATS SUNDIN…PAVOL DEMITRA…KYLE WELLWOOD…AND STEVE BERNIER…
NO LONGER ARE THE CANUCKS COMMITTED TO A “DEFENCE FIRST” PHILOSOPHY…
THE QUESTION THAT MUST BE ASKED…HEADING INTO THE ALL-STAR BREAK…IS THIS…
DO THE CANUCKS HAVE “THE FIRE POWER” TO PLAY THIS BRAND OF HOCKEY???
THE CANUCKS HAVE LOST 7 OF THEIR LAST 8…
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY…IT’S WHO THEY’VE LOST TO…
5 OF THOSE 7 LOSSES HAVE COME AT THE HANDS OF TEAMS “BELOW” THEM IN STANDINGS…
THEY’RE ALSO 1 AND 6 IN THE SHOOTOUT…
NOW ALL THIS IS NOT TO SUGGEST…THE CANUCKS SHOULD GO BACK TO THE “DULL AND BORING STYLE” THEY USED IN THE PREVIOUS TWO SEASONS…
NOBODY WANTS THAT…NOBODY!!!
BUT KEEP THIS IN MIND…
TWO YEARS AGO THE CANUCKS WERE THIRD IN THE NHL IN “GOALS AGAINST”…
THEY WON THEIR DIVISION AND KNOCKED OFF DALLAS IN THE FIRST ROUND…
WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM HIS FRIENDS…ROBERTO LUONGO WAS A FINALIST FOR 3 LEAGUE AWARDS…INCLUDING THE HART TROPHY…
AND…OF THE 49 WINS THE CANUCKS ENJOYED THAT SEASON…LUONGO WAS IN GOAL FOR 47 OF THEM…
QUITE SIMPLY THE CANUCKS ARE NOT “GOOD ENOUGH” TO OUT SCORE THEIR MISTAKES…
SO MAYBE IT’S TIME…THEY STARTED CONCENTRATING ON MAKING A LOT LESS OF THEM…
THE CANUCKS HAVE GIVEN UP 25 GOALS IN THEIR LAST 5 GAMES…
AS A THE RESULT…
THE CANUCKS MANAGED TO EARN JUST 1 OUT OF A POSSIBLE 10 POINTS DURING THEIR 5 GAME HOME STAND…
NOW COMES THE TOUGH PART…
THE ATTACHMENT OF “BLAME”…
RIGHT NOW THERE’S PLENTY TO GO AROUND…
BUT…GET SOME DISTANCE FROM THIS MESS…AND LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE…
THIS SEASON THE CANUCKS HAVE MADE A COMMITMENT TO A MUCH MORE UP TEMPO…OFFENSIVE STYLE…
GENERAL MANAGER MIKE GILLIS MADE IT A PRIORITY TO ADD PLAYERS WHO COULD FIT INTO THAT STYLE…
THE LIST INCLUDES…MATS SUNDIN…PAVOL DEMITRA…KYLE WELLWOOD…AND STEVE BERNIER…
NO LONGER ARE THE CANUCKS COMMITTED TO A “DEFENCE FIRST” PHILOSOPHY…
THE QUESTION THAT MUST BE ASKED…HEADING INTO THE ALL-STAR BREAK…IS THIS…
DO THE CANUCKS HAVE “THE FIRE POWER” TO PLAY THIS BRAND OF HOCKEY???
THE CANUCKS HAVE LOST 7 OF THEIR LAST 8…
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY…IT’S WHO THEY’VE LOST TO…
5 OF THOSE 7 LOSSES HAVE COME AT THE HANDS OF TEAMS “BELOW” THEM IN STANDINGS…
THEY’RE ALSO 1 AND 6 IN THE SHOOTOUT…
NOW ALL THIS IS NOT TO SUGGEST…THE CANUCKS SHOULD GO BACK TO THE “DULL AND BORING STYLE” THEY USED IN THE PREVIOUS TWO SEASONS…
NOBODY WANTS THAT…NOBODY!!!
BUT KEEP THIS IN MIND…
TWO YEARS AGO THE CANUCKS WERE THIRD IN THE NHL IN “GOALS AGAINST”…
THEY WON THEIR DIVISION AND KNOCKED OFF DALLAS IN THE FIRST ROUND…
WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM HIS FRIENDS…ROBERTO LUONGO WAS A FINALIST FOR 3 LEAGUE AWARDS…INCLUDING THE HART TROPHY…
AND…OF THE 49 WINS THE CANUCKS ENJOYED THAT SEASON…LUONGO WAS IN GOAL FOR 47 OF THEM…
QUITE SIMPLY THE CANUCKS ARE NOT “GOOD ENOUGH” TO OUT SCORE THEIR MISTAKES…
SO MAYBE IT’S TIME…THEY STARTED CONCENTRATING ON MAKING A LOT LESS OF THEM…
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