MARK TWAIN WOULD PROBABLY PUT THIS WAY…
“THE COLDEST WINTER ROBERTO LUONGO WILL EVER SPEND…IS A SUMMER IN VANCOUVER”…
IT APPEARS THERE IS MORE FORGIVENESS…IN THE HEARTS OF HOCKEY FANS IN THIS CITY…FOR MICHAEL VICK…THAN THERE IS FOR LUONGO…
7 GOALS IN A PLAYOFF GAME IS…“THE ULTIMATE SIN”…
AS A RESULT…THERE IS NOW A MOVEMENT IN VANCOUVER TO NOT ONLY TRADE LUONGO…
BUT ALSO KEEP HIM OFF TEAM CANADA….
THIS MORNING THE HEADLINE ON THE VANCOUVER PROVINCE READ…“CRAZY TALK”…
ON THE INSIDE…JASON BOTCHFORD ATTEMPTED TO BRING SOME REASON…TO ALL THIS MADNESS…
BOTCHFORD USED SMALL WORDS…AND POINTED OUT…THAT SINCE THE LOCKOUT LUONGO HAS THE BEST SAVE PERCENTAGE OF ANY CANADAIN GOALTENDER IN THE NHL…
NICE TRY BOTCH…HERE’S THE PROBLEM…
YOU ASSUMED “THE PINHEADS” CAN READ…
BIG MISTAKE…
NO QUESTION $7.5 MILLION IS A LOT TO PAY FOR A GOALTENDER…
BUT THE CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS HAVE $12 MILLION COMMITTED TO THEIR GOALTENDING…AND THEY’RE IN THE CONFERENCE FINALS…
THE REASON IS…
THEY HAVE DRAFT PICKS SUCH AS KANE…TOEWS…VERSTEEG…BOLLAND AND BAKER ALL MAKING LESS THAN A MILLION DOLLARS A SEASON…
DETROIT HAS 8 DRAFT PICKS IN THEIR LINE UP MAKING THAT KIND OF MONEY…
IT’S WHY THE WINGS CAN PAY LIDSTROM…HOSSA AND DATSYUK A COMBINED $22 MILLION A SEASON…
SINCE TAKING RYAN KESLER IN 2003…THE CANUCKS DO NOT HAVE A SINGLE PLAYER DRAFTED IN THE FIRST ROUND THAT IS CURRENTLY IN THEIR LINE UP…
INSTEAD THE TEAM PASSED OVER THE LIKES OF…
MIKE GREEN…
JOHAN FRANZEN…
ANZE KOPITAR…
PAUL STASTNY…
MILAN LUCIC…
PATRICK BERGLUND…
AND DAVID PERRON…JUST TO NAME A FEW…
YES CODY HODGSON IS ON THE WAY…
BUT GENERAL MANAGER MIKE GILLIS IS STILL FORCED TO LIVE WITH THE MISTAKES MADE BY OTHERS…
IN THE MEANTIME…HERE’S A REALITY CHECK…
DURING THE REGULAR SEASON…THE CANUCKS WERE 20 GAMES OVER .500…WITH LUONGO IN GOAL…
WITHOUT HIM THEY WERE 2 GAMES UNDER .500…
WITHOUT LUONGO THE CANUCKS NEVER SEE THE PLAYOFFS…LET ALONE THE SECOND ROUND…
MEMO TO THE PINHEADS…
IT’S BEEN NEARLY TWO WEEKS SINCE GAME 6 IN CHICAGO…
GET OVER IT!!!
Friday, May 22, 2009
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Pierre Mcguire
PIERRE MCGUIRE IS ONE OF THE BEST TALKERS IN HOCKEY…
UNFORTUNATELY IN THE LAST WEEK…HE WAS NOT ABLE TO TALK HIS WAY INTO BECOMING THE NEXT GENERAL MANAGER OF THE MINNESOTA WILD…
ACCORDING TO TSN…THE JOB NOW BELONGS TO CHUCK FLETCHER…
WHO IS NOW THE ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER OF THE PITTSBURGH PENGUINS…
IRONICALLY…THE MAN WHO BROKE THAT STORY…WAS PROBABLY…PIERRE MCGUIRE…
EARLIER THIS WEEK MCGUIRE WAS TOLD HE WAS A FINALIST…
FOR GOOD REASON!!!
MCGUIRE HAS AN IMPRESSIVE RESUME…
HE WON 2 STANLEY CUPS IN PITTSBURGH AS AN ASSISTANT COACH IN THE EARLY 90’S…
HE WAS A HEAD COACH IN HARTFORD…
AND HE HAS ALSO BEEN AN ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER…
BUT…THIS IS WHAT HURT HIS CHANCES…
PIERRE MCGUIRE HAS NOT BEEN INVOLVED WITH ANY TEAM IN 12 YEARS…
THAT’S A LONG TIME TO SIT ON THE SIDELINES…
THE TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING TOOK A SHOT WITH BARRY MELROSE THIS SEASON AS THEIR HEAD COACH…
MELROSE HAD NOT COACHED IN 13 YEARS…
HE LASTED A GRAND TOTAL OF 16 GAMES…
NEVERTHELESS THERE ARE SUCCESS STORIES OF BROADCASTERS MOVING INTO THE FRONT OFFICE…
THE MOST RECENT ARE…
DALE TALLON IN CHICAGO…AND JOHN DAVIDSON IN ST. LOUIS…
EVEN IF ONE DAY MCGUIRE BECOMES A GENERAL MANAGER IN THE NHL…THERE IS NO GUARENTEE OF SUCCESS…
UNLIKE A HEAD COACH…THE SURVIVAL OF A GENERAL MANAGER DEPENDS ON MORE THAN JUST WINNING…
POLITICS PLAY A MAJOR ROLE…
NOT ONLY WITH THE OWNERS…BUT ALSO WITH:
THE PLAYERS…THE AGENTS…THE OTHER GENERAL MANAGERS…THE NHL FRONT OFFICE AND ABOVE ALL…THE MEDIA…
ANY ONE THEM CAN COST A GM “HIS JOB”…
BUT DO NOT KID YOURSELF…
THERE IS NOBODY IN BROADCASTING THAT PLAYS THIS GAME BETTER THAN PIERRE MCGUIRE…
WE KNOW HE CAN “TALK THE TALK”…
SOME DAY WE MAY FIND OUT IF MCGUIRE CAN ALSO…“WALK THE WALK”…
UNFORTUNATELY IN THE LAST WEEK…HE WAS NOT ABLE TO TALK HIS WAY INTO BECOMING THE NEXT GENERAL MANAGER OF THE MINNESOTA WILD…
ACCORDING TO TSN…THE JOB NOW BELONGS TO CHUCK FLETCHER…
WHO IS NOW THE ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER OF THE PITTSBURGH PENGUINS…
IRONICALLY…THE MAN WHO BROKE THAT STORY…WAS PROBABLY…PIERRE MCGUIRE…
EARLIER THIS WEEK MCGUIRE WAS TOLD HE WAS A FINALIST…
FOR GOOD REASON!!!
MCGUIRE HAS AN IMPRESSIVE RESUME…
HE WON 2 STANLEY CUPS IN PITTSBURGH AS AN ASSISTANT COACH IN THE EARLY 90’S…
HE WAS A HEAD COACH IN HARTFORD…
AND HE HAS ALSO BEEN AN ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER…
BUT…THIS IS WHAT HURT HIS CHANCES…
PIERRE MCGUIRE HAS NOT BEEN INVOLVED WITH ANY TEAM IN 12 YEARS…
THAT’S A LONG TIME TO SIT ON THE SIDELINES…
THE TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING TOOK A SHOT WITH BARRY MELROSE THIS SEASON AS THEIR HEAD COACH…
MELROSE HAD NOT COACHED IN 13 YEARS…
HE LASTED A GRAND TOTAL OF 16 GAMES…
NEVERTHELESS THERE ARE SUCCESS STORIES OF BROADCASTERS MOVING INTO THE FRONT OFFICE…
THE MOST RECENT ARE…
DALE TALLON IN CHICAGO…AND JOHN DAVIDSON IN ST. LOUIS…
EVEN IF ONE DAY MCGUIRE BECOMES A GENERAL MANAGER IN THE NHL…THERE IS NO GUARENTEE OF SUCCESS…
UNLIKE A HEAD COACH…THE SURVIVAL OF A GENERAL MANAGER DEPENDS ON MORE THAN JUST WINNING…
POLITICS PLAY A MAJOR ROLE…
NOT ONLY WITH THE OWNERS…BUT ALSO WITH:
THE PLAYERS…THE AGENTS…THE OTHER GENERAL MANAGERS…THE NHL FRONT OFFICE AND ABOVE ALL…THE MEDIA…
ANY ONE THEM CAN COST A GM “HIS JOB”…
BUT DO NOT KID YOURSELF…
THERE IS NOBODY IN BROADCASTING THAT PLAYS THIS GAME BETTER THAN PIERRE MCGUIRE…
WE KNOW HE CAN “TALK THE TALK”…
SOME DAY WE MAY FIND OUT IF MCGUIRE CAN ALSO…“WALK THE WALK”…
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Scott Niedermayer
THE FUTURE OF THE VANCOUVER CANUCKS…
WILL BE DECIDED IN THE NEXT 40 DAYS…
THE SINGLE BIGGEST CHALLENGE FACING GENERAL MANAGER MIKE GILLIS IS GETTING DANIEL AND HENRIK SEDIN SIGNED TO LONG TERM CONTRACTS…
LET’S SAY FOR A MOMENT…THE TWINS SIGN…
THE NEXT MOVE WOULD BE TO GET ROBERTO LUONGO SIGNED…
LUONGO HAS NOT MADE ANY SECRET OF THE FACT…HE WANT TO WIN A STANLEY CUP…
IN HIS WORDS…“WHICH EVER TEAM IS GOING TO GIVE ME THE BEST CHANCE TO DO THAT…IS THE TEAM I WANT TO BE WITH”…
YOU CAN DEBATE HIS JUDGEMENT IN MAKING THAT STATEMENT…
BUT WHAT YOU CAN NOT DEBATE IS WHERE HIS PRIORITY IS AT…
IT IS NOT ABOUT “THE MONEY”…
IT IS ABOUT WINNING…
AND GILLIS HAS MADE IT CLEAR…HE INTENDS TO GET LUONGO SIGNED…
IN HIS WORDS…“WE HAVE A WAY TO MAKE IT WORK…AND WE INTEND TO DO THAT”…
SO NOW THE QUESTION IS…HOW???
CERTINALY THE SEDINS ARE THE FIRST STEP…
BUT ADD TO THAT…THE CANUCKS HAVE 12 PLAYERS ALREADY SIGNED FOR NEXT SEASON…FOR A TOTAL OF $33 MILLION DOLLARS…
AND THERE COULD BE AS MANY AS 3 OR 4 PLAYERS ADDED FROM THE MANITOBA MOOSE…
INCLUDING CODY HODGSON…
WHICH MEANS…
EVEN AFTER THE SEDINS GET SIGNED…GILLIS WILL HAVE ENOUGH ROOM UNDER THE CAP TO MAKE A BIG DEAL…
AND THAT GETS US TO:
SCOTT AND ROB NIEDERMAYER…
BOTH ARE ABOUT TO BECOME UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS…
WORD ON THE STREET IS… THE TWO HAVE EXPRESSED AN INTEREST TO FINISH OUT THEIR CAREERS HERE IN VANCOUVER…
NOT ONLY WOULD THIS BE A HOME COMING…
BUT IT WOULD ALSO ALLOW SCOTT NIEDERMAYER THE OPPORTUNITY TO WIN AN OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL IN HIS OWN BACK YARD…
AFTER THE DUCKS WERE KNOCKED OUT OF THE PLAYOFFS…
SCOTT SAID A DECISION ON HIS FUTURE WOULD COME VERY SOON…SIMPLY OUT OF RESPECT FOR ANAHEIM GENERAL MANAGER BOB MURRAY…
SO NO MATTER HOW ALL THIS PLAYS OUT…
IT WOULD APPEAR…CANUCK FANS ARE ABOUT TO GET A GOOD LOOK AT THEIR FUTURE…
AND THEY MAY BE VERY SURPRISED…AT WHAT THEY SEE…
WILL BE DECIDED IN THE NEXT 40 DAYS…
THE SINGLE BIGGEST CHALLENGE FACING GENERAL MANAGER MIKE GILLIS IS GETTING DANIEL AND HENRIK SEDIN SIGNED TO LONG TERM CONTRACTS…
LET’S SAY FOR A MOMENT…THE TWINS SIGN…
THE NEXT MOVE WOULD BE TO GET ROBERTO LUONGO SIGNED…
LUONGO HAS NOT MADE ANY SECRET OF THE FACT…HE WANT TO WIN A STANLEY CUP…
IN HIS WORDS…“WHICH EVER TEAM IS GOING TO GIVE ME THE BEST CHANCE TO DO THAT…IS THE TEAM I WANT TO BE WITH”…
YOU CAN DEBATE HIS JUDGEMENT IN MAKING THAT STATEMENT…
BUT WHAT YOU CAN NOT DEBATE IS WHERE HIS PRIORITY IS AT…
IT IS NOT ABOUT “THE MONEY”…
IT IS ABOUT WINNING…
AND GILLIS HAS MADE IT CLEAR…HE INTENDS TO GET LUONGO SIGNED…
IN HIS WORDS…“WE HAVE A WAY TO MAKE IT WORK…AND WE INTEND TO DO THAT”…
SO NOW THE QUESTION IS…HOW???
CERTINALY THE SEDINS ARE THE FIRST STEP…
BUT ADD TO THAT…THE CANUCKS HAVE 12 PLAYERS ALREADY SIGNED FOR NEXT SEASON…FOR A TOTAL OF $33 MILLION DOLLARS…
AND THERE COULD BE AS MANY AS 3 OR 4 PLAYERS ADDED FROM THE MANITOBA MOOSE…
INCLUDING CODY HODGSON…
WHICH MEANS…
EVEN AFTER THE SEDINS GET SIGNED…GILLIS WILL HAVE ENOUGH ROOM UNDER THE CAP TO MAKE A BIG DEAL…
AND THAT GETS US TO:
SCOTT AND ROB NIEDERMAYER…
BOTH ARE ABOUT TO BECOME UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS…
WORD ON THE STREET IS… THE TWO HAVE EXPRESSED AN INTEREST TO FINISH OUT THEIR CAREERS HERE IN VANCOUVER…
NOT ONLY WOULD THIS BE A HOME COMING…
BUT IT WOULD ALSO ALLOW SCOTT NIEDERMAYER THE OPPORTUNITY TO WIN AN OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL IN HIS OWN BACK YARD…
AFTER THE DUCKS WERE KNOCKED OUT OF THE PLAYOFFS…
SCOTT SAID A DECISION ON HIS FUTURE WOULD COME VERY SOON…SIMPLY OUT OF RESPECT FOR ANAHEIM GENERAL MANAGER BOB MURRAY…
SO NO MATTER HOW ALL THIS PLAYS OUT…
IT WOULD APPEAR…CANUCK FANS ARE ABOUT TO GET A GOOD LOOK AT THEIR FUTURE…
AND THEY MAY BE VERY SURPRISED…AT WHAT THEY SEE…
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Phoenix Coyotes
TRUST ME ON THIS KIDS…
WHAT’S AT STAKE TODAY IN A PHOENIX COURT ROOM…IS A LOT MORE THAN JUST…THE FATE OF THE COYOTES…
THIS IS ABOUT WHO RUNS THE NHL…
ON THE SURFACE IT APPEARS THIS FIGHT IS BETWEEN JIM BALSILLIE AND COMMISSIONER GARY BETTMAN…
IN TRUTH…THIS IS A FIGHT BETWEEN JIM BALSILLIE AND THE TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS…
THE PRIZE…IS A SHARE OF THE BIGGEST HOCKEY MARKET IN THE WORLD…
TO PUT IT QUITE SIMPLY…THE LEAFS DO NOT WANT TO SHARE IT…
AND IT’S BETTMAN’S JOB…TO MAKE SURE THEY DON’T…
LET’S DO THE MATH…
SHOULD THE COYOTES MOVE FROM PHOENIX TO HAMILTON FOR NEXT SEASON…
THE TEAM WOULD TAKE A FRANCHISE LOSING $40 MILLION DOLLARS A SEASON…AND TRANSFORM IT INTO A TEAM GENERATING $200 MILLION DOLLARS A SEASON…
THAT MONEY WOULD FIND ITS WAY INTO THE POCKETS OF EVERY PLAYER AND OWNER IN THE LEAGUE…
SO WHY IS THE NHL FIGHTING WITH A BILLIONAIRE…WHO IS WILLING TO BAIL THEM OUT???
SIMPLE…
BALSILLIE REPRESENTS A CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER TO “THE ESTABLISHMENT” THAT CONTROLS THIS LEAGUE…
A HAND FULL OF OWNERS…SUCH AS ED SNIDER IN PHILADELPHIA…JEREMY JACOBS IN BOSTON…AND ABOVE ALL…
THE TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS…
THESE TEAMS ARE THE SINGLE REASON WHY BETTMAN STILL HAS A JOB…
HOWEVER THEY ARE STILL A “MINORITY”…
AND THIS FIGHT OVER THE COYOTES…HAS CERTAINLY RAISED SOME SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT THE LEADERSHIP AND DIRECTION OF THE LEAGUE…
KEEP IN MIND…
BEFORE THE LOCK OUT…BETTMAN GUARENTEED THESE OWNERS “COST CERTAINTY”…
NO WHERE IS THAT “FAILURE” MORE EVIDENT…THAN IN PHOENIX…
UNFORTUNATLEY FOR THE NHL…THIS IS JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG…
THERE ARE AT LEAST ANOTHER 5 FRANCHISES THAT ARE IN IMMEDIATE NEED OF RE-LOCATION…
THE LIST INCLUDES…ATLANTA…NASHVILLE…FLORIDA…TAMPA BAY AND THE NEW YORK ISLANDERS…
BETTMAN’S VISION OF RAPID EXPANSION AND RELOCATION INTO NON TRADITION MARKETS HAS BLOWN UP IN HIS FACE…
THE LOSSES ARE NOW BEING COUNTED IN THE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS…
ADD IT UP…AND NO MATTER WHO WINS IN COURT TODAY…
BY THE TIME THE SMOKE CLEARS…THIS IS GOING TO COST GARY BETTMAN HIS JOB…
WHAT’S AT STAKE TODAY IN A PHOENIX COURT ROOM…IS A LOT MORE THAN JUST…THE FATE OF THE COYOTES…
THIS IS ABOUT WHO RUNS THE NHL…
ON THE SURFACE IT APPEARS THIS FIGHT IS BETWEEN JIM BALSILLIE AND COMMISSIONER GARY BETTMAN…
IN TRUTH…THIS IS A FIGHT BETWEEN JIM BALSILLIE AND THE TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS…
THE PRIZE…IS A SHARE OF THE BIGGEST HOCKEY MARKET IN THE WORLD…
TO PUT IT QUITE SIMPLY…THE LEAFS DO NOT WANT TO SHARE IT…
AND IT’S BETTMAN’S JOB…TO MAKE SURE THEY DON’T…
LET’S DO THE MATH…
SHOULD THE COYOTES MOVE FROM PHOENIX TO HAMILTON FOR NEXT SEASON…
THE TEAM WOULD TAKE A FRANCHISE LOSING $40 MILLION DOLLARS A SEASON…AND TRANSFORM IT INTO A TEAM GENERATING $200 MILLION DOLLARS A SEASON…
THAT MONEY WOULD FIND ITS WAY INTO THE POCKETS OF EVERY PLAYER AND OWNER IN THE LEAGUE…
SO WHY IS THE NHL FIGHTING WITH A BILLIONAIRE…WHO IS WILLING TO BAIL THEM OUT???
SIMPLE…
BALSILLIE REPRESENTS A CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER TO “THE ESTABLISHMENT” THAT CONTROLS THIS LEAGUE…
A HAND FULL OF OWNERS…SUCH AS ED SNIDER IN PHILADELPHIA…JEREMY JACOBS IN BOSTON…AND ABOVE ALL…
THE TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS…
THESE TEAMS ARE THE SINGLE REASON WHY BETTMAN STILL HAS A JOB…
HOWEVER THEY ARE STILL A “MINORITY”…
AND THIS FIGHT OVER THE COYOTES…HAS CERTAINLY RAISED SOME SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT THE LEADERSHIP AND DIRECTION OF THE LEAGUE…
KEEP IN MIND…
BEFORE THE LOCK OUT…BETTMAN GUARENTEED THESE OWNERS “COST CERTAINTY”…
NO WHERE IS THAT “FAILURE” MORE EVIDENT…THAN IN PHOENIX…
UNFORTUNATLEY FOR THE NHL…THIS IS JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG…
THERE ARE AT LEAST ANOTHER 5 FRANCHISES THAT ARE IN IMMEDIATE NEED OF RE-LOCATION…
THE LIST INCLUDES…ATLANTA…NASHVILLE…FLORIDA…TAMPA BAY AND THE NEW YORK ISLANDERS…
BETTMAN’S VISION OF RAPID EXPANSION AND RELOCATION INTO NON TRADITION MARKETS HAS BLOWN UP IN HIS FACE…
THE LOSSES ARE NOW BEING COUNTED IN THE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS…
ADD IT UP…AND NO MATTER WHO WINS IN COURT TODAY…
BY THE TIME THE SMOKE CLEARS…THIS IS GOING TO COST GARY BETTMAN HIS JOB…
Monday, April 13, 2009
Canucks Playoffs
THIS IS WHY WE SPEND $20 DOLLARS TO PARK OUR CAR…
$7 DOLLARS FOR A BEER…
AND A $100 DOLLARS FOR A TICKET…
THIS IS WHY WE PUT OUR PERSONAL LIFE ON HOLD…FOR HOURS…
SO WE CAN SPEND QUALITY TIME IN FRONT OF A TELEVISION…
BECAUSE…GOOD OR BAD…SPORTS IS REAL…
LET’S START WITH THE MASTERS…
IF HOLLYWOOD PRODUCES THIS EPIC…
TIGER WOODS AND PHIL MICHELSON MAKE A CHARGE ON THE BACK 9 TO SAVE THE DAY…
INSTEAD…IT COMES DOWN TO A 48 YEAR OLD MAN…
WHO…BOGIES THE LAST 2 HOLES….AND LOSES TO THE 69TH RANKED PLAYER IN THE WORLD…IN A PLAYOFF…
THERE’S A REASON HOLLYWOOD WOULD NEVER TOUCH THAT SCRIPT…
WHO THE HELL WOULD BELIEVE IT…
SO NOW…LET’S TRY AND IMAGINE…
WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE CANUCKS…
IT’S ALREADY BEEN A SEASON THAT HAS HAD MORE SURPISES…THAN THE “CRYING GAME”…
HERE’S WHAT WE KNOW…GOING INTO THE SERIES WITH ST. LOUIS…
IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE SEASON THE BLUES WERE THE WORST TEAM IN THE WESTERN CONFERENCE…
IN JANUARY THE CANUCKS WERE THE WORST TEAM IN THE ENTIRE NHL…
IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE SEASON…THEY WERE TWO OF THE HOTTEST TEAMS…WITH THE TWO HOTTEST GOALTENDERS…
BOTH ENDED THEIR REGULAR SEASON…WITH A 1-0 VICTORY IN DENVER…
HOW WEIRD IS THAT???
WHAT THIS STORY NEEDS IS A HERO…
HOW ABOUT THE SEDINS???
WHO ARE ABOUT TO BECOME UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS…
THERE’S MATS SUNDIN…
WHO IN 13 YEARS IN TORONTO… NEVER GOT TO A STANLEY CUP FINAL…
WHAT ABOUT RYAN KESLER AND ALEX BURROWS…
WHO HAVE SUDDENLY LEARNED TO “LEAP TALL BUILDINGS WITH A SINGLE BOUND”…
AND THERE’S PAUL KARIYA…
WHO IS RETURNING HOME TO VANCOUVER…
DESPITE MISSING MOST OF THE REGULAR SEASON…KARIYA COULD BE IN THE LINE UP FOR GAME 1…
SOME HOW…SOME WAY…SOME PLAYER WILL SEIZE THE MOMENT…AND LEAD HIS TEAM INTO THE SECOND ROUND…
BUT…IF WE LEARNED ANYTHING ON THE WEEKEND…EXPECT…THE UNEXPECTED…
$7 DOLLARS FOR A BEER…
AND A $100 DOLLARS FOR A TICKET…
THIS IS WHY WE PUT OUR PERSONAL LIFE ON HOLD…FOR HOURS…
SO WE CAN SPEND QUALITY TIME IN FRONT OF A TELEVISION…
BECAUSE…GOOD OR BAD…SPORTS IS REAL…
LET’S START WITH THE MASTERS…
IF HOLLYWOOD PRODUCES THIS EPIC…
TIGER WOODS AND PHIL MICHELSON MAKE A CHARGE ON THE BACK 9 TO SAVE THE DAY…
INSTEAD…IT COMES DOWN TO A 48 YEAR OLD MAN…
WHO…BOGIES THE LAST 2 HOLES….AND LOSES TO THE 69TH RANKED PLAYER IN THE WORLD…IN A PLAYOFF…
THERE’S A REASON HOLLYWOOD WOULD NEVER TOUCH THAT SCRIPT…
WHO THE HELL WOULD BELIEVE IT…
SO NOW…LET’S TRY AND IMAGINE…
WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE CANUCKS…
IT’S ALREADY BEEN A SEASON THAT HAS HAD MORE SURPISES…THAN THE “CRYING GAME”…
HERE’S WHAT WE KNOW…GOING INTO THE SERIES WITH ST. LOUIS…
IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE SEASON THE BLUES WERE THE WORST TEAM IN THE WESTERN CONFERENCE…
IN JANUARY THE CANUCKS WERE THE WORST TEAM IN THE ENTIRE NHL…
IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE SEASON…THEY WERE TWO OF THE HOTTEST TEAMS…WITH THE TWO HOTTEST GOALTENDERS…
BOTH ENDED THEIR REGULAR SEASON…WITH A 1-0 VICTORY IN DENVER…
HOW WEIRD IS THAT???
WHAT THIS STORY NEEDS IS A HERO…
HOW ABOUT THE SEDINS???
WHO ARE ABOUT TO BECOME UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS…
THERE’S MATS SUNDIN…
WHO IN 13 YEARS IN TORONTO… NEVER GOT TO A STANLEY CUP FINAL…
WHAT ABOUT RYAN KESLER AND ALEX BURROWS…
WHO HAVE SUDDENLY LEARNED TO “LEAP TALL BUILDINGS WITH A SINGLE BOUND”…
AND THERE’S PAUL KARIYA…
WHO IS RETURNING HOME TO VANCOUVER…
DESPITE MISSING MOST OF THE REGULAR SEASON…KARIYA COULD BE IN THE LINE UP FOR GAME 1…
SOME HOW…SOME WAY…SOME PLAYER WILL SEIZE THE MOMENT…AND LEAD HIS TEAM INTO THE SECOND ROUND…
BUT…IF WE LEARNED ANYTHING ON THE WEEKEND…EXPECT…THE UNEXPECTED…
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Northwest Division title
SO WHAT IS A “DIVISIONAL TITLE”…REALLY WORTH???
YES THERE’S SOME PRIDE INVOLVED…FOR BOTH THE PLAYERS AND THE FANS…
HOME ICE ADVANTAGE IN THE FIRST ROUND COULD RESULT IN AN EXTRA GAME AT GM PLACE…
SO…FOR OWNER FRANCESCO AQUILLINI…THAT’S A BONUS…
BUT IN THE BIG PICTURE…
WINNING THE NORTH WEST DIVISION AND LANDING THE THIRD SEED IN THE PLAYOFFS DOES NOT GUARENTEE ANYTHING…
LAST YEAR BOTH THE WASHINGTON CAPITALS AND THE MINNESOTA WILD WON THEIR DIVISIONS AND BOTH WENT INTO THE PLAYOFFS AS THE NUMBER 3 SEED IN THEIR CONFERENCES…
IN THE FIRST ROUND…THE CAPITALS WERE BOUNCED BY PHILADELPHIA…
AND THE WILD WERE BEATEN BY COLORADO…
IN FACT…SINCE THE LOCK OUT…NOT ONE…NOT ONE…THIRD SEED HAS ADVANCED PAST THE SECOND ROUND…
ALSO LAST YEAR…THE MONTREAL CANADIANS WERE THE NUMBER 1 SEED IN THE EAST…WITH A 104 POINTS…
IN THE SECOND ROUND THE HABS MET THE FLYERS…THE NUMBER 6 SEED…
5 GAMES LATER THE CANADAINS WERE PLAYING GOLF…
EVEN WINNING THE PRESIDENT’S TROPHY…
WHICH GOES TO THE TEAM WITH THE BEST RECORD IN THE REGULAR SEASON…
DOES NOT INSURE SUCCESS IN THE PLAYOFFS…
SINCE 1986…ONLY 7 TEAMS HAVE WON THAT TROPHY AND GONE ONTO WIN THE STANLEY CUP…
NO!!!WHAT TRULY MATTERS AT THIS TIME OF THE YEAR ARE THREE THINGS…
THE FIRST…AND MOST IMPORTANT IS…HEALTH…
THE SECOND IS…GOALTENDING…
AND THE THIRD IS THE OVER ALL PLAY OF THE TEAM…
UP UNTIL LAST WEEK THE CANUCKS WERE THREE FOR THREE…
THAT WAS UNTIL THEY LOST 3 STRAIGHT…AND ROBERTO LUONGO LET IN 13 GOALS…
IN HOCKEY…AS IN LIFE…SUCCESS COMES FROM WORKING ON THOSE THINGS IN YOUR CONTROL…
WHAT THE CANUCKS REALLY NEED TONIGHT…IS TO FIND THEIR GAME…
FOR THE RECORD…
IN THE 40 YEARS…THE CANUCKS HAVE WON 5 DIVISION TITLES…
DO YOU REMEMBER WHERE YOU WERE…FOR ANY OF THEM???
YES THERE’S SOME PRIDE INVOLVED…FOR BOTH THE PLAYERS AND THE FANS…
HOME ICE ADVANTAGE IN THE FIRST ROUND COULD RESULT IN AN EXTRA GAME AT GM PLACE…
SO…FOR OWNER FRANCESCO AQUILLINI…THAT’S A BONUS…
BUT IN THE BIG PICTURE…
WINNING THE NORTH WEST DIVISION AND LANDING THE THIRD SEED IN THE PLAYOFFS DOES NOT GUARENTEE ANYTHING…
LAST YEAR BOTH THE WASHINGTON CAPITALS AND THE MINNESOTA WILD WON THEIR DIVISIONS AND BOTH WENT INTO THE PLAYOFFS AS THE NUMBER 3 SEED IN THEIR CONFERENCES…
IN THE FIRST ROUND…THE CAPITALS WERE BOUNCED BY PHILADELPHIA…
AND THE WILD WERE BEATEN BY COLORADO…
IN FACT…SINCE THE LOCK OUT…NOT ONE…NOT ONE…THIRD SEED HAS ADVANCED PAST THE SECOND ROUND…
ALSO LAST YEAR…THE MONTREAL CANADIANS WERE THE NUMBER 1 SEED IN THE EAST…WITH A 104 POINTS…
IN THE SECOND ROUND THE HABS MET THE FLYERS…THE NUMBER 6 SEED…
5 GAMES LATER THE CANADAINS WERE PLAYING GOLF…
EVEN WINNING THE PRESIDENT’S TROPHY…
WHICH GOES TO THE TEAM WITH THE BEST RECORD IN THE REGULAR SEASON…
DOES NOT INSURE SUCCESS IN THE PLAYOFFS…
SINCE 1986…ONLY 7 TEAMS HAVE WON THAT TROPHY AND GONE ONTO WIN THE STANLEY CUP…
NO!!!WHAT TRULY MATTERS AT THIS TIME OF THE YEAR ARE THREE THINGS…
THE FIRST…AND MOST IMPORTANT IS…HEALTH…
THE SECOND IS…GOALTENDING…
AND THE THIRD IS THE OVER ALL PLAY OF THE TEAM…
UP UNTIL LAST WEEK THE CANUCKS WERE THREE FOR THREE…
THAT WAS UNTIL THEY LOST 3 STRAIGHT…AND ROBERTO LUONGO LET IN 13 GOALS…
IN HOCKEY…AS IN LIFE…SUCCESS COMES FROM WORKING ON THOSE THINGS IN YOUR CONTROL…
WHAT THE CANUCKS REALLY NEED TONIGHT…IS TO FIND THEIR GAME…
FOR THE RECORD…
IN THE 40 YEARS…THE CANUCKS HAVE WON 5 DIVISION TITLES…
DO YOU REMEMBER WHERE YOU WERE…FOR ANY OF THEM???
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Win and You're in
WIN AND YOU’RE IN…
IT’S THAT SIMPLE FOR THE VANCOUVER CANUCKS…
THEY ARE NOW JUST ONE VICTORY AWAY FROM CLINCHING A PLAYOFF SPOT…
MUSIC TO THE EARS TO THE FANS WHO HAVE SUFFERED SO MUCH…
IN THE LAST 15 YEARS THE CANUCKS HAVE MISSED THE PLAYOFFS 6 TIMES…
INCLUDING 2 OF THE LAST 3 SEASONS…
AND IN THE 7 SEASONS THEY DID QUALIFY…THEY WERE BOUNCED IN THE FIRST ROUND…4 TIMES…
AND BOUNCED IN THE SECOND ROUND…3 TIMES…
OH…AND THERE’S THE LOCKOUT THAT WIPED OUT AN ENTIRE SEASON…
SO IT’S EASY TO UNDERSTAND WHY THERE IS SO MUCH EXCITEMENT IN THIS CITY…
THE CANUCKS ARE IN FIRST PLACE IN THE NORTH WEST DIVISION…
THEY HAVE WON 11 STRAIGHT AT HOME…
ROBERTO LUONGO IS NOW BEING CONSIDERED FOR THE VEZINA…
HEAD COACH ALAIN VIGNEAULT FOR THE JACK ADAMS…
AND ALEX BURROWS FOR TEAM CANADA…
BUT TODAY THE CANUCKS MAY HAVE RECEIVED THE ULTIMATE COMPLIMENT…
PIERRE LEBRUN OF HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA HAS APOLOGIZED TO THE TEAM…
THREE WEEKS AGO LUBRUN WAS DOING AN INTERVIEW WITH ROBERTO LUONGO WHEN SUGGEST THE CANUCKS WERE A “DARK HORSE” IN THE WEST…
HE PLACED THEM BEHIND…SAN JOSE…DETROIT…CALGARY AND CHICAGO…
LUONGO WAS NOT HAPPY…
HE RE-ACTED WITH THIS STATEMENT…”WE KNOW WE CAN COMPETE AND GIVE THESE GUYS A RUN FOR THEIR MONEY”…
TODAY LEBRUN WROTE IN HIS COLUMN FOR ESPN…QUOTE…
“MR LUONGO WE OWE YOU AN APOLOGY”…
IT TAKES A LOT GUTS FOR A MAN TO KNOW WHEN HE’S WRONG…AND EVEN MORE TO ADMITT IT…
5 MONTHS AGO…DON TAYLOR PREDICTED THE CANUCKS WOULD NOT EVEN MAKE THE PLAYOFFS…
FOR 76 GAMES TAYLOR HAS REFUSED TO BACK DOWN…
SO TODAY…THERE ARE TWO QUESTIONS THAT NEED TO BE ANSWERED…
THE FIRST IS…
WILL DON TAYLOR FINALLY ADMITT HE WAS WRONG AND APOLOGIZE???
AND THE SECOND IS…
DO YOU…THE CANUCK NATION…WANT HIM BACK???
IT’S THAT SIMPLE FOR THE VANCOUVER CANUCKS…
THEY ARE NOW JUST ONE VICTORY AWAY FROM CLINCHING A PLAYOFF SPOT…
MUSIC TO THE EARS TO THE FANS WHO HAVE SUFFERED SO MUCH…
IN THE LAST 15 YEARS THE CANUCKS HAVE MISSED THE PLAYOFFS 6 TIMES…
INCLUDING 2 OF THE LAST 3 SEASONS…
AND IN THE 7 SEASONS THEY DID QUALIFY…THEY WERE BOUNCED IN THE FIRST ROUND…4 TIMES…
AND BOUNCED IN THE SECOND ROUND…3 TIMES…
OH…AND THERE’S THE LOCKOUT THAT WIPED OUT AN ENTIRE SEASON…
SO IT’S EASY TO UNDERSTAND WHY THERE IS SO MUCH EXCITEMENT IN THIS CITY…
THE CANUCKS ARE IN FIRST PLACE IN THE NORTH WEST DIVISION…
THEY HAVE WON 11 STRAIGHT AT HOME…
ROBERTO LUONGO IS NOW BEING CONSIDERED FOR THE VEZINA…
HEAD COACH ALAIN VIGNEAULT FOR THE JACK ADAMS…
AND ALEX BURROWS FOR TEAM CANADA…
BUT TODAY THE CANUCKS MAY HAVE RECEIVED THE ULTIMATE COMPLIMENT…
PIERRE LEBRUN OF HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA HAS APOLOGIZED TO THE TEAM…
THREE WEEKS AGO LUBRUN WAS DOING AN INTERVIEW WITH ROBERTO LUONGO WHEN SUGGEST THE CANUCKS WERE A “DARK HORSE” IN THE WEST…
HE PLACED THEM BEHIND…SAN JOSE…DETROIT…CALGARY AND CHICAGO…
LUONGO WAS NOT HAPPY…
HE RE-ACTED WITH THIS STATEMENT…”WE KNOW WE CAN COMPETE AND GIVE THESE GUYS A RUN FOR THEIR MONEY”…
TODAY LEBRUN WROTE IN HIS COLUMN FOR ESPN…QUOTE…
“MR LUONGO WE OWE YOU AN APOLOGY”…
IT TAKES A LOT GUTS FOR A MAN TO KNOW WHEN HE’S WRONG…AND EVEN MORE TO ADMITT IT…
5 MONTHS AGO…DON TAYLOR PREDICTED THE CANUCKS WOULD NOT EVEN MAKE THE PLAYOFFS…
FOR 76 GAMES TAYLOR HAS REFUSED TO BACK DOWN…
SO TODAY…THERE ARE TWO QUESTIONS THAT NEED TO BE ANSWERED…
THE FIRST IS…
WILL DON TAYLOR FINALLY ADMITT HE WAS WRONG AND APOLOGIZE???
AND THE SECOND IS…
DO YOU…THE CANUCK NATION…WANT HIM BACK???
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