November 11 is the day designated to do what we all should really do every day of the year, and that is give thanks to our veterans for defending our freedom and way of life.
Whether or not they have seen combat, everyone who puts on the uniform of our armed forces takes the risk that they will be called upon at some point to risk their life to ensure the freedoms promised in the Constitution. Making that commitment is an act of heroism in and of itself, which is accentuated by any further acts that a soldier is called upon to make in the line of duty.
It is not only our freedom as Americans that our veterans have sacrificed to protect, but also the freedom and well being of people they would otherwise have never met. American soldiers have fought for freedom in almost every continent of the world. Only Antarctica is left off the list because the vast penguin legions have proven capable of defending their own interests without our help.
So proudly enjoy your freedom today and thank every veteran and/or currently serving member of our armed forces for that privilege. Listen to Big and Rich sing about the 8th of November, and Merle Haggard extol on his Fightin' Side.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Consider Our Roster
Knobler:
Some people in the comments section over at the AJC have raised the question of whether the Thrashers should bring in Brett Sterling to play semi-permanently on the fourth line. This would send Eric Boulton to Chicago, I reckon. I can understand the argument, as Sterling would give our fourth line some scoring punch and perhaps generate even more energy, which is exactly what a fourth line should do. Sterling and Slater seemed to play well together in the game against Detroit.
The problem with this, though, is that our fourth line has actually been playing quite well in the last few games. They're doing what they're meant to do, namely keeping the other team pinned down in their own zone. And you can't say that Eric Boulton doesn't generate energy. Yes, the man's a penalty machine, but he fights! Fighting creates energy.
In a press conference a few weeks ago John Anderson told journalists that he wanted goals from the top two lines, goals and the prevention of goals from the third line, and energy from the fourth line. In the last four games, especially in the last two, each line has done exactly what it was supposed to do. If the Party Line (the new unofficial name for our third line) can keep scoring goals, the Thrashers will only get better. Even without the goals, the line wins shifts like nobody's business and prevents the opponent from scoring.
And like I said, the fourth line does what it's supposed to do. Unless something goes drastically wrong I don't think we should tinker with the line-up. It appears that that elusive thing, chemistry, might be setting in.
I suppose this is the best course of action for now. Kari is our #1 guy, and Moose has proven he's still a capable back-up. Obviously, if things fall apart again we can make a move via trade. For right now, though, things look good.The Thrashers sent Ondrej Pavelec back to Chicago in what Johan Hedberg had made a predictable move with his play in the third period at Buffalo and throughout the game at Carolina. Hedberg proved himself capable of still being a quality NHL goalie, and if the plan is to have Kari Lehtonen as the No. 1 it makes sense to have Pavelec in Chicago where he can play.
That leaves the Thrashers with 20 healthy players pending the returns of Mathieu Schneider (sooner) and Zach Bogosian (later). There’s no need to rush to bring up spares, based on the the schedule for the next couple of weeks: Three home games, one road game, no back-to-backs and the road game is in Philadelphia, which is very easily accessible should the Thrashers need a last-minute call-up.
The next time the Thrashers might want an extra forward around is Nov. 25 and 26, when they play at Toronto and Washington back-to-back, with a Nov. 28 home game making it three games in four days. Might Brett Sterling be back for that, or Mike Hoffman, who should be ready to fight by then? How about Hoffman vs. Donald Brashear?
Some people in the comments section over at the AJC have raised the question of whether the Thrashers should bring in Brett Sterling to play semi-permanently on the fourth line. This would send Eric Boulton to Chicago, I reckon. I can understand the argument, as Sterling would give our fourth line some scoring punch and perhaps generate even more energy, which is exactly what a fourth line should do. Sterling and Slater seemed to play well together in the game against Detroit.
The problem with this, though, is that our fourth line has actually been playing quite well in the last few games. They're doing what they're meant to do, namely keeping the other team pinned down in their own zone. And you can't say that Eric Boulton doesn't generate energy. Yes, the man's a penalty machine, but he fights! Fighting creates energy.
In a press conference a few weeks ago John Anderson told journalists that he wanted goals from the top two lines, goals and the prevention of goals from the third line, and energy from the fourth line. In the last four games, especially in the last two, each line has done exactly what it was supposed to do. If the Party Line (the new unofficial name for our third line) can keep scoring goals, the Thrashers will only get better. Even without the goals, the line wins shifts like nobody's business and prevents the opponent from scoring.
And like I said, the fourth line does what it's supposed to do. Unless something goes drastically wrong I don't think we should tinker with the line-up. It appears that that elusive thing, chemistry, might be setting in.
Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers
- Cool name, or coolest name ever?
- Things went well in the old NHL last night. The Caps beat the Lighting (which is probably better for the Thrashers) and the Oil beat the Rangers. Solid. This was Olaf Kolzig's first game back at the Verizon Center with his new team, and the poor fellow gave up 4 goals.
- I can't believe we still have three days until the Thrashers play again. It feels ten years away. The suspense is killing me.
- In other hockey news, the St. Louis Blues want to save you from the creditors.
- Meanwhile, Igor Larionov (he of the infamous Russian Five, which co-starred our own Slava Kozlov) and Glenn Anderson (he of Mark Messier's line) were inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame (which is located in a Toronto mall) yesterday. I think that means they can dine in the food court for free.
- I expected the Dallas Stars to do reasonably well right out the gate this season. That hasn't been the case, for whatever weird reason. It's the same team as last season, plus Sean Avery. At any rate, the Stars beat writer suggest ways to pick up the pieces here.
Unfortunately, there's still a lot of time for the Stars to get better.
- Mike Chen wonders about the relatively low save percentages of the NHL's elite goaltenders.
- Dion Phaneuf narrowly avoids catastrophic eye injury. Good. Need him for fantasy.
- Things went well in the old NHL last night. The Caps beat the Lighting (which is probably better for the Thrashers) and the Oil beat the Rangers. Solid. This was Olaf Kolzig's first game back at the Verizon Center with his new team, and the poor fellow gave up 4 goals.
- I can't believe we still have three days until the Thrashers play again. It feels ten years away. The suspense is killing me.
- In other hockey news, the St. Louis Blues want to save you from the creditors.
- Meanwhile, Igor Larionov (he of the infamous Russian Five, which co-starred our own Slava Kozlov) and Glenn Anderson (he of Mark Messier's line) were inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame (which is located in a Toronto mall) yesterday. I think that means they can dine in the food court for free.
- I expected the Dallas Stars to do reasonably well right out the gate this season. That hasn't been the case, for whatever weird reason. It's the same team as last season, plus Sean Avery. At any rate, the Stars beat writer suggest ways to pick up the pieces here.
Unfortunately, there's still a lot of time for the Stars to get better.
- Mike Chen wonders about the relatively low save percentages of the NHL's elite goaltenders.
- Dion Phaneuf narrowly avoids catastrophic eye injury. Good. Need him for fantasy.
90 Years Ago Today...
The First World War ended. Ever since most of the Western world recognizes its fallen and its veterans on November 11th. Here's a poem for Remembrance Day. You all know "In Flanders Fields," right? Well, this is something different:
The darkness crumbles away -
It is the same old druid Time as ever.
Only a live thing leaps my hand -
A queer sardonic rat -
As I pull the parapet's poppy
To stick behind my ear.
Droll rat, they would shoot you if they knew
Your cosmopolitan sympathies
(And God knows what antipathies).
Now you have touched this English hand
You will do the same to a German -
Soon, no doubt, if it be your pleasure
To cross the sleeping green between.
It seems you inwardly grin as you pass
Strong eyes, fine limbs, haughty athletes
Less chanced than you for life;
Bonds to the whims of murder,
Sprawled in the bowels of the earth,
The torn fields of France.
What do you see in our eyes
At the shrieking iron and flame
Hurled through still heavens?
What quaver - what heart aghast?
Poppies whose roots are in man's veins
Drop, and are ever dropping;
But mine in my ear is safe,
Just a little white with the dust.
- Isaac Rosenberg, "Break of Day in the Trenches"
Oh what the hell, let's use this as an excuse to read some more poems. The least we could do for the dead. And you philistines could use a bit of culture.
They throw in Drummer Hodge, to rest
Uncoffined - just as found:
His landmark is a kopje-crest
That breaks the veldt around;
And foreign constellations west
Each night above his mound.
Young Hodge the Drummer never knew -
Fresh from his Wessex home -
The meaning of the broad Karoo,
The Bush, the dusty loam,
And why uprose to nightly view
Strange stars amid the gloam.
Yet portion of that unknown plain
Will Hodge forever be;
His homely Northern breast and brain
Grow to some Southern tree,
And strange-eyed constellations reign
His stars eternally.
-Thomas Hardy, "Drummer Hodge"
************************************
Move him into the sun —
Gently its touch awoke him once,
At home, whispering of fields unsown.
Always it woke him, even in
Until this morning and this snow.
If anything might rouse him now
The kind old sun will know.
Think how it wakes the seeds —
Woke, once, the clays of a cold star.
Are limbs so dear-achieved, are sides
Full-nerved, — still warm, — too hard to stir?
Was it for this the clay grew tall?
— O what made fatuous sunbeams toil
To break earth's sleep at all?
-Wilfred Owen, “Futility”
***********************************
It seemed that out of battle I escaped
Down some profound dull tunnel, long since scooped
Through granites which titanic wars had groined.
Yet also there encumbered sleepers groaned,
Too fast in thought or death to be bestirred.
Then ,as I probed them, one sprang up, and stared
With piteous recognition in fixed eyes,
Lifting distressful hands, as if to bless.
And by his smile, I knew that sullen hall, -
By his dead smile I knew we stood in Hell.
With a thousand pains that vision's face was grained;
Yet no blood reached there from the upper ground,
And no guns thumped, or down the flues made moan.
'Strange friend,' I said, 'here is no cause to mourn.'
'None,' said that other, 'save the undone years,
The hopelessness. Whatever hope is yours,
Was my life also; I went hunting wild
After the wildest beauty in the world,
Which lies not calm in eyes, or braided hair,
But mocks the steady running of the hour,
And if it grieves, grieves richlier than here.
For by my glee might many men have laughed,
And of my weeping something had been left,
Which must die now. I mean the truth untold,
The pity of war, the pity war distilled.
Now men will go content with what we spoiled,
Or, discontent, boil bloody, and be spilled.
They will be swift with swiftness of the tigress.
None will break ranks, though nations trek from progress.
Courage was mine, and I had mystery,
Wisdom was mine, and I had mastery:
To miss the march of this retreating world
Into vain citadels that are not walled.
Then, when much blood had clogged their chariot-wheels,
I would go up and wash them from sweet wells,
Even with truths that lie too deep for taint.
I would have poured my spirit without stint
But not through wounds; not on the cess of war.
Foreheads of men have bled where no wounds were.
I am the enemy you killed, my friend.
I knew you in this dark: for so you frowned
Yesterday through me as you jabbed and killed.
I parried; but my hands were loath and cold.
Let us sleep now...'
- Wilfred Owen, “Strange Meeting"
Monday, November 10, 2008
Report from the Hall of Fame
Some kind of ceremony going down in Toronto today. James Mirtle has pictures and a report here.
Is Colby Armstrong Our Best Player?
In the realm of winning shifts, shooting the puck, and preventing the other team from shooting?
The Falconer emerges from his plush office on the 40th floor of Statistics Analysis World Headquarters and says YES.
Do read.
The Falconer emerges from his plush office on the 40th floor of Statistics Analysis World Headquarters and says YES.
Do read.
Do West Coast Goalies Exist?
Several people--myself included--thought that Evgeni Nabokov deserved the Vezina Trophy for his play last season. The fact that he didn't win it, and that it went to Martin Brodeur (again) instead, led many--myself included--to wonder if there wasn't some kind of bias against West Coast teams.
Basically, I thought that Nabby was stripped of his belongings, stripped of his clothing, urinated upon and left to die on a desert highway at the awards ceremony last summer. Brodeur is undoubtedly the best goalie of his generation, but his peformance in 07-08 didn't compare to Nabokov's.
I suppose we'll see if there truly is an anti-West bias this season. Brodeur is out, and giving an absentee goalie the Vezina would sort of give the game away. Meanwhile, Roberto Luongo presently has 3 shut-outs. 3 shut-outs. But the fact that he plays in a city on the Pacific Ocean might count against him.
I know it's still early, but my candidates for the Vezina thus far are Luongo, Henrik Lundquist, and Ryan Miller. If Luongo doesn't at least get a huge degree of consideration we'll know the award folks are West Coast-hating frauds.
Puck Daddy, who has intellectual credibility on this issue because he's a New Jersey Devils fan, considers the case here.
Basically, I thought that Nabby was stripped of his belongings, stripped of his clothing, urinated upon and left to die on a desert highway at the awards ceremony last summer. Brodeur is undoubtedly the best goalie of his generation, but his peformance in 07-08 didn't compare to Nabokov's.
I suppose we'll see if there truly is an anti-West bias this season. Brodeur is out, and giving an absentee goalie the Vezina would sort of give the game away. Meanwhile, Roberto Luongo presently has 3 shut-outs. 3 shut-outs. But the fact that he plays in a city on the Pacific Ocean might count against him.
I know it's still early, but my candidates for the Vezina thus far are Luongo, Henrik Lundquist, and Ryan Miller. If Luongo doesn't at least get a huge degree of consideration we'll know the award folks are West Coast-hating frauds.
Puck Daddy, who has intellectual credibility on this issue because he's a New Jersey Devils fan, considers the case here.
Who Gets the C?
Rawhide makes the case for Slava Kozlov.
I wouldn't be against giving Slava the captaincy; he's been excellent all year, and by all accounts his veteran presence is a stabilizing influence on the team. Even though the Chronicle took an Official Editorial Position on this issue last week, I'm really not sure who should get the C. I'd be happy with Kovalchuk, Kozlov, or Hainsey.
I wouldn't be against giving Slava the captaincy; he's been excellent all year, and by all accounts his veteran presence is a stabilizing influence on the team. Even though the Chronicle took an Official Editorial Position on this issue last week, I'm really not sure who should get the C. I'd be happy with Kovalchuk, Kozlov, or Hainsey.
Danger! Danger! News About the Hockey!
- Evgeni Nabokov injured himself at the tail end of a shoot-out last week. He's been out ever since, with Sharks back-up Brian Boucher minding the net in the Sharks' last two games (a 2-1 win against the Dallas Stars on Saturday and a 4-2 loss to the Phoenix Coyotes last night). This is not cool. Get well soon, Nabby.
- Jonathan Cheechoo also out with some injury or other. Equally uncool.
- Speaking of that Sharks-Coyotes game, Jokinen and Mueller and co. put an end to the Sharks' 7 game winning streak. Ilya Bryzgalov was unreal.
- Things have been a little dispirited in the Florida Panthers locker room of late. But last night the Cats regained some of their mojo and snapped their game 6-losing streak thanks to a David Booth hat trick and a super-solid performance from non-Vokoun goaltender Craig Anderson. The Ducks must be ashamed. What happened, Earl Sleek?
- Speaking of Mr. Sleek, every single staff blogger over at the Battle of California has started their very own grassroots voting campaign. Sharks fan Mike Chen has begun the "Put Devin Setoguchi on the All-Star Ballot" initiative, Kings fan RudyKelly has already started the "Give the Calder to Drew Doughty Already" initiative, and Ducks fan/Chronicle favorite Earl Sleek is trying to amend the Constitution to force the Ducks to sign Samuel Pahlsson for four more years.
- Speaking of Doughty: he is awfully good. I wonder when Bogosian's knees will heal.
- So the Chicago Blackhawks blew out the Calgary Flames last night. Patrick Kane is every bit as good as he should be, and Jonathan Toews scored his first goal of the year.
- KOVALCHUK IS NOT GOING TO BE TRADED.
- What in God's name are the Lightning doing?
- Jonathan Cheechoo also out with some injury or other. Equally uncool.
- Speaking of that Sharks-Coyotes game, Jokinen and Mueller and co. put an end to the Sharks' 7 game winning streak. Ilya Bryzgalov was unreal.
- Things have been a little dispirited in the Florida Panthers locker room of late. But last night the Cats regained some of their mojo and snapped their game 6-losing streak thanks to a David Booth hat trick and a super-solid performance from non-Vokoun goaltender Craig Anderson. The Ducks must be ashamed. What happened, Earl Sleek?
- Speaking of Mr. Sleek, every single staff blogger over at the Battle of California has started their very own grassroots voting campaign. Sharks fan Mike Chen has begun the "Put Devin Setoguchi on the All-Star Ballot" initiative, Kings fan RudyKelly has already started the "Give the Calder to Drew Doughty Already" initiative, and Ducks fan/Chronicle favorite Earl Sleek is trying to amend the Constitution to force the Ducks to sign Samuel Pahlsson for four more years.
- Speaking of Doughty: he is awfully good. I wonder when Bogosian's knees will heal.
- So the Chicago Blackhawks blew out the Calgary Flames last night. Patrick Kane is every bit as good as he should be, and Jonathan Toews scored his first goal of the year.
- KOVALCHUK IS NOT GOING TO BE TRADED.
- What in God's name are the Lightning doing?
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Just Win Baby
I have a hard time getting my head around a four game winning streak. I mean, come on... its not like I've got a whole lot of experience with this kind of thing. The neat part about all of this is that it is a current winning streak. It might even go on! Some thoughts:
Kari is probably in a mental hospital right now. He stands on his head, loses nearly every game, gets hurt, team wins 4 in a row. Big Shooter scored an interview with our young goalie at the mental home after the 5-2 win and he had this to say:
Jason Williams seems to be a great pick up at a great price. He has seized the opportunity to play number 1 center to our Czar. Williams turned down more money and more years from other teams to be our #1 guy. After the offseason we had, I don't think we have talked about that enough. What a great man, that Williams. He is breezing through the NHL just like he did through High School:
Slava "The Undead" Kozlov is back to his old tricks. My, it is amazing what a healthy body can do. There is no reason to think Slava can't keep this up all year. If he stays healthy, what a beautiful thing it will be:
Bryan Little seems to be unaware he was drafted by Don Waddell. He is playing excellent. I've been told Waddell can't draft anything but a slam dunk. At least that's what I heard on the messageboards. He is on pace for 40 or so goals. Not gonna happen, but a fine addition to the second line he is. Or is it the first line...
The Czar hasn't quite gotten it going yet. I say this as a good thing. Imagine what will happen when he DOES get it going. Perhaps he could turn it up a notch if he showed up wearing something a little more comfortable:
Ron Hainsey should be our captain. Good American boy. Well spoken. Team guy. Given CPR to the career of Garnet Exelby. What more can you ask for? Post game interviews he ends every answer with that great smile of his:
Let's check back in with Kari:
Speaking of Kari, what are we going to do? A 4 game win streak isn't the ideal time to strike a deal. But it does seem as though something might give (NJ just gave up a goal). Could we be looking at Moose and his young, baby Moose named Pavs:
Mr. Party is the perfect third line center. God I love having Oilers on this team. Why don't we check in with Marty and see how the post game celebration is going:
For The Blueland Chronicle, I'm Big Shooter.
For The Blueland Chronicle, I'm Big Shooter.
24 Hour Party People
You know what makes a cool game? A Czar, a Moose, Neil Patrick Harris (Williams), Pat Bateman of American Psycho (Hainsey), Erik Christensen, Eric Perrin and Bryan Little all hanging out with Marty "the Party" Reasoner.
That'd be a cool party.
So we have gone four in a row, very impressive. They boys have till Friday to play again, against the Canes as well. So hopefully they'll enjoy a nice rest and come back at full steam. I just can't help but post this song after looking at Morty's post below. Enjoy.
Quotes
"Our goaltender played really well today. He was really sharp," Atlanta coach John Anderson said. "He was tremendous."
"Our team, we feel if we keep playing hard and don't get too crazy taking chances, we know we will get our own chances," Reasoner said. "We've been able to come back from some deficits the last few games and we are believing in ourselves."
"It went to a run-and-gun style for a while and fortunately we came out on top," said Hedberg, who has seven career wins against the Hurricanes. "That hasn't been the case so far this year. It helped getting the lead at 4-2. We played a solid team game after that. We deserved to get a good win."
"It's a confidence builder for us," Williams said. "I find when you get on a winning streak you want to stay on it as long as possible because anything can happen, especially early in the season. You can go through some adversity right there at the beginning. We were struggling and guys weren't happy, but it's definitely a lot better when you're winning. We want to make sure we take care of the things we're doing and keep going."
That'd be a cool party.
So we have gone four in a row, very impressive. They boys have till Friday to play again, against the Canes as well. So hopefully they'll enjoy a nice rest and come back at full steam. I just can't help but post this song after looking at Morty's post below. Enjoy.
Quotes
"Our goaltender played really well today. He was really sharp," Atlanta coach John Anderson said. "He was tremendous."
"Our team, we feel if we keep playing hard and don't get too crazy taking chances, we know we will get our own chances," Reasoner said. "We've been able to come back from some deficits the last few games and we are believing in ourselves."
"It went to a run-and-gun style for a while and fortunately we came out on top," said Hedberg, who has seven career wins against the Hurricanes. "That hasn't been the case so far this year. It helped getting the lead at 4-2. We played a solid team game after that. We deserved to get a good win."
"It's a confidence builder for us," Williams said. "I find when you get on a winning streak you want to stay on it as long as possible because anything can happen, especially early in the season. You can go through some adversity right there at the beginning. We were struggling and guys weren't happy, but it's definitely a lot better when you're winning. We want to make sure we take care of the things we're doing and keep going."
How do scientists classify the phenomenon of winning four games in a row?
Ric Flair has nothing on Ron Hainsey.
It looks like the excellent Kozlov-White-Little line decided to be generous and let other people score this afternoon. Nice work, Czar.
And nice work yet again, Jason Williams.
But everyone knows that there are two mega-stories from this game. Marty the Party came through big this time.
He threw us an exceptionally sexy party this afternoon.
And where would we be without Moose?
Moose moose!
Excellent, excellent.
Ho Hum
Something you've already heard about Lehtonen trade rumors.
Does anyone have any clue who's in goal today? All I know is that 1) Kari is probably our best goalie, 2) the team seems to try harder in front of Moose and Pavelec, and 3) we don't need 3 goalies.
UPDATE: Okay, this is cryptic. Mike Knobler in the AJC: "I asked John Anderson before the game how the Thrashers will handle their three-goalies-for-two-spots situation. He said they don’t have to make that call until Monday."
Heenngh?
Does anyone have any clue who's in goal today? All I know is that 1) Kari is probably our best goalie, 2) the team seems to try harder in front of Moose and Pavelec, and 3) we don't need 3 goalies.
UPDATE: Okay, this is cryptic. Mike Knobler in the AJC: "I asked John Anderson before the game how the Thrashers will handle their three-goalies-for-two-spots situation. He said they don’t have to make that call until Monday."
Heenngh?
Coach's Corner Remembrance Day
Three games in a row. That is what you call a winning streak I've been told. We really need to win a couple more in a row given the fact our next two games are against the Canes. No TV today. I kind of enjoy the radio only games as it forces me to listen to the absolute beauty that is Dan Kamal.
If you always pass by the Coach's Corner segments I post on here, no big deal. But if you can spare about seven minutes of your life, please sit back and watch this one. Always the most important Coach's Corner of the year. Every single Canadian solider killed in action over the last year is honored. God love 'em:
For The Blueland Chronicle, I'm Big Shooter.
If you always pass by the Coach's Corner segments I post on here, no big deal. But if you can spare about seven minutes of your life, please sit back and watch this one. Always the most important Coach's Corner of the year. Every single Canadian solider killed in action over the last year is honored. God love 'em:
For The Blueland Chronicle, I'm Big Shooter.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Moose Humiliates Buffalo
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!
Analysis later, drinks now.
UPDATE: Man, could the people who run NHL.com be bigger tools? Bryan Little scores two goals, one of which is acrobatic, Slava gets three assists, Moose pulls himself out of a rut and makes some amazing saves late in the game, and Jason Williams scores two goals, including the game-winner. But they give both the 1st and 3rd stars of the game to Sabres players. Dicks.
Heart + Soul
My goodness. What do we have here? This team just doesn't give up. I think in the last four minutes of that game I was about to have a heart attack. Little, Williams, Moose, Kovy, Slava, Toby, Hainsey, Crusher, and the rest, amazing stuff. The elation I have right now is overwhelming. Also, I just want to point out that the fourth line played amazing tonight keeping up that energy and pressure. We did it. We won. This team has some true "Heart and Soul." They just don't give up. Congrats boys.
"And we want revolution, girl-style, now!"
Mirtle discusses an ESPN article about the lack of women in the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.
Can't say I disagree. Ladies, gents, what are your thoughts?
The misogynist nature of the self-proclaimed "hockey's greatest museum" came into sharp focus last year, when both the International Ice Hockey Federation's Hall of Fame and the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame inducted female members for the first time. Longtime American star Cammi Granato was a member of both groups, while Canadians Geraldine Heaney and Angela James were included in the IIHF Hall.
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame has inducted women since Ann Meyers was honored in 1993. Cooperstown admitted its first female honoree in 2006, when Effa Manley, the co-owner of the Newark Eagles of the Negro Leagues, was inducted.
But the Hockey Hall of Fame, long mocked by other sports as the most lenient when it comes to credentials, remains the last holdout.
It's hard to argue with Cox's premise — there certainly should be female players, coaches and builders in the HHOF — but this is also something that's emblematic of a larger problem with the women's game all over the world. Hockey, like football or rugby, is seen as a man's game, in its physicality and in the world setup around it, and it's not easy being a female player in Canada or elsewhere.Here's hoping that changes with time, as women's hockey gains more respect and becomes more popular for young girls, but for now, the HHOF is a good place to start.
Can't say I disagree. Ladies, gents, what are your thoughts?
Thrashers Go to Boot Camp
The photoshop possibilities are endless. Head over to Fire Wagon for a surreal parade of photos from the Thrashers' recent trip to Fort Benning. I'll just post a few of my favorites: the one above is clearly the greatest picture of all time.
The Czar giving orders.
Afghanistan veteran regales Neal Patrick Harris, Colby Armstrong, Bryan Little, Todd White, and Eric Perrin with the story of the time he saved his entire unit by ripping out the hearts of 50 Taliban fighters.
In all seriousness, you do have to wonder what grisly war stories are being told here. Army is gaping in disbelief, Eric Perrin looks disgusted, and Todd White looks unimpressed: "Well, I have 14 points this season. Team leader."
Repulsive
The Rangers want "compensation" for the death of Alexei Cherepanov.
Larry Brooks of the New York Post:
Larry Brooks of the New York Post:
Puck Daddy's take here.The Rangers
are seeking a compensatory selection in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft for the loss of Alexei Cherepanov, The Post has learned.
Glen Sather raised the issue at the general managers' meeting in Chicago two weeks ago, citing CBA Article 8.3 (b) that stipulates that compensatory picks be awarded to teams unable to sign first-round draft picks.
...
"At this point, the league has taken no position on the Rangers' request," NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told The Post.
Historical Examples
Mike Chen with a fine post on teams that start the season with an appalling record and go on to achieve some reasonably great things. In this case, the 03-04 San Jose Sharks (who, interestingly, had finished the previous season in the exact same spot the Thrashers finished last year; just saying).
2003-04 started off as a pretty awful year for the Sharks. Fresh off being one of the worst teams in the league, losing their long-time captain to a trade (Owen Nolan), and losing their most-talented player to free agency (Teemu Selanne), the Sharks began the season in earnest under the watchful eyes of Ron Wilson. Wilson, if you recall, took over partially through the season for Darryl Sutter, but this was his first full kick at the can in San Jose.
How did it begin? How about one win in October. San Jose finished October a scary 1-5-4, including a god-awful 0-0 tie of a home opener (yes, there were ties back then, and yes, I was there for that). In the press, Wilson kept preaching his system and patience, saying over and over that once the players bought into it and understood it, good things would happen.
Well, the system had to eventually work because on paper, not a lot else would have. Their best player was a pre-80-point Patrick Marleau. They gambled on some Swedish league castaway with no eyebrows named Nils Ekman. Vincent Damphousse was a shell of his former self and some fellow named Jonathan Cheechoo seemed like he couldn’t even skate.
Patience, patience, patience. Sharks fans heard the word so much that it seemed like Wilson had a copy of Guns n’ Roses’ Lies album playing on repeat every time he opened his mouth. The funny thing is that around mid-November, Wilson’s words starting ringing with a little bit of truth. The team was playing better, using their speed and seemingly keeping in games when everyone else had written them off. Finally, it all clicked with a 5-0 win at Phoenix. After that game, the Sharks won five straight and closed out November with a 8-6-8-2 record. Over the next two months, the Sharks went on a tear, losing only six times in regulation over the next 27 games.
Hmmm? HEEENGH?
Some Notes on Last Night's Game
- Slava Kozlov is flourishing. Anderson told the AJC recently that it has less to do with quick skating (he is 36, after all) than perfect positioning. He's a very smart hockey player, and he knows where to go. Thank God he's healthy. We at the Chronicle love you, Slava.
- How many scoring chances did Erik Christensen get and fail to deliver on? He was positioned in front of a wide-open net at least six times during the game, and each time he either failed to notice the puck or he shot it wide. Sometimes it wasn't his fault; the Islanders defense was actually quite aggressive last night. I hope Crusher can pick himself up.
- Is Toby Enstrom finally hitting his stride? Perhaps it'd be wiser to give him more ice time than Mathieu Schneider. He'll be getting that ice time throughout the next 3 games (at least), as Schneider is out with an injured hip something or other. He needs that ice-time to score.
- Which brings me to the D-men situation. At the end of the 2nd period last night I was convinced that we were going to lose to a miserably bad team like the Islanders because our roster had two AHL defensemen on it. Oystrick wasn't very good last night, and Boris Valabik was an outright disaster. I was willing to give Boris a chance last year and during the pre-season this year, but dear God does he ever suck. I'm sure he's a great guy and all, but he'll never be an NHL defenseman.
- How about that Ondrej Pavelec? If Kari doesn't hurry up and get healthy Pavs just might take his job. Maybe. I still think Waddell should trade one of our goalies for something super-good...but then again, maybe not. Maybe it's best to have this kind of depth in the net. I think Kari is the more naturally talented goalie--a better goalie all around, really--but Pavelec does have something Kari sometimes lacks: mental toughness. He doesn't get rattled like Kari does. He stays calm and sturdy no matter what the score is. Just something to consider; if I had to choose I'd still choose Kari.
- As some others have already pointed out, in days past the Thrashers would not have come back in the aggressive way they did last night if we'd given up two shit goals within a minute or so of one another in the second period. Knobler reports that Anderson laid into them after the second period; it worked. I still have full confidence in the man.
- Ron Hainsey was wondrous. He's at least as good defensively as he is offensively. He broke up several plays, blocked several shots, and played solid (solidly?) all night.
- Kovy is all over the ice. He's playing like his life depends on it. This is a good thing.
UPDATE: Be sure to check out the Falconer's analysis of the last two games. Precise and thorough as always. What does it all MEAN?
- How many scoring chances did Erik Christensen get and fail to deliver on? He was positioned in front of a wide-open net at least six times during the game, and each time he either failed to notice the puck or he shot it wide. Sometimes it wasn't his fault; the Islanders defense was actually quite aggressive last night. I hope Crusher can pick himself up.
- Is Toby Enstrom finally hitting his stride? Perhaps it'd be wiser to give him more ice time than Mathieu Schneider. He'll be getting that ice time throughout the next 3 games (at least), as Schneider is out with an injured hip something or other. He needs that ice-time to score.
- Which brings me to the D-men situation. At the end of the 2nd period last night I was convinced that we were going to lose to a miserably bad team like the Islanders because our roster had two AHL defensemen on it. Oystrick wasn't very good last night, and Boris Valabik was an outright disaster. I was willing to give Boris a chance last year and during the pre-season this year, but dear God does he ever suck. I'm sure he's a great guy and all, but he'll never be an NHL defenseman.
- How about that Ondrej Pavelec? If Kari doesn't hurry up and get healthy Pavs just might take his job. Maybe. I still think Waddell should trade one of our goalies for something super-good...but then again, maybe not. Maybe it's best to have this kind of depth in the net. I think Kari is the more naturally talented goalie--a better goalie all around, really--but Pavelec does have something Kari sometimes lacks: mental toughness. He doesn't get rattled like Kari does. He stays calm and sturdy no matter what the score is. Just something to consider; if I had to choose I'd still choose Kari.
- As some others have already pointed out, in days past the Thrashers would not have come back in the aggressive way they did last night if we'd given up two shit goals within a minute or so of one another in the second period. Knobler reports that Anderson laid into them after the second period; it worked. I still have full confidence in the man.
- Ron Hainsey was wondrous. He's at least as good defensively as he is offensively. He broke up several plays, blocked several shots, and played solid (solidly?) all night.
- Kovy is all over the ice. He's playing like his life depends on it. This is a good thing.
UPDATE: Be sure to check out the Falconer's analysis of the last two games. Precise and thorough as always. What does it all MEAN?
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Give Me Every Little Thing
So, we won. Thank God. We certainly needed to. I am so happy that Toby is getting the points he deserves. I wish he would shoot more because he really can. Williams got a goal, which is good obviously. Slava "Romero Zombie" Kozlov played as cool as it gets. He just knows where to be and how to act. Kovy wanted to score, but he hit the post I believe. White almost did at point-blank but was robbed.
Christensen tried, but he just couldn't do it. That upsets me: not in a mad way; I just want him to succeed so badly. Back in 1999 when I was a huge Braves fan I was a huge fan of Walt Weiss. He wasn't the greatest player on the team, but for some reason I just wanted the best for him. Christensen is my Thrashers Walt Weiss if that makes any sense at all. I hope the absolute best for him.
OK, so there is this guy named Pavelec. He played a good game. He's a little shaky, but I'll give him credit for the win. There is also a guy named Kari. I love Kari and I want him here. I love Moose too. If I could make a team out of our goalies I would be so happy, but that is just not the case sadly. It's one of those subjects I refrain from talking about because I have affections for all three: Kari is our man and awesome, Moose is a pure soul, and Pavs is a few months older than me, so I admire someone my age playing in the NHL as a goalie. I'll let the people decide on the goalies. I just can't make my decision as to who goes and who stays like in the movie The Seventh Seal.
Then there are the defensemen who took over tonight. The goals let in weren't really Pavs's fault in my opinion. They were Boris's and Oystrik's. Man, I got issues with Boris. I personally think Kulda is a better player and should be here in his stead. I like Oystrick, but Boris is a let down. Boris is just kind of a lumbering giant. Oh well, JA will do what he has to do.
In the end, we won. That's awesome. We had to win; we needed this. It would have been so embarrassing if we lost. Hopefully we'll battle in Buffalo and Carolina. They are both playing well, so good luck boys. With this win, "Give Me Every Little Thing," I'll take it.
Christensen tried, but he just couldn't do it. That upsets me: not in a mad way; I just want him to succeed so badly. Back in 1999 when I was a huge Braves fan I was a huge fan of Walt Weiss. He wasn't the greatest player on the team, but for some reason I just wanted the best for him. Christensen is my Thrashers Walt Weiss if that makes any sense at all. I hope the absolute best for him.
OK, so there is this guy named Pavelec. He played a good game. He's a little shaky, but I'll give him credit for the win. There is also a guy named Kari. I love Kari and I want him here. I love Moose too. If I could make a team out of our goalies I would be so happy, but that is just not the case sadly. It's one of those subjects I refrain from talking about because I have affections for all three: Kari is our man and awesome, Moose is a pure soul, and Pavs is a few months older than me, so I admire someone my age playing in the NHL as a goalie. I'll let the people decide on the goalies. I just can't make my decision as to who goes and who stays like in the movie The Seventh Seal.
Then there are the defensemen who took over tonight. The goals let in weren't really Pavs's fault in my opinion. They were Boris's and Oystrik's. Man, I got issues with Boris. I personally think Kulda is a better player and should be here in his stead. I like Oystrick, but Boris is a let down. Boris is just kind of a lumbering giant. Oh well, JA will do what he has to do.
In the end, we won. That's awesome. We had to win; we needed this. It would have been so embarrassing if we lost. Hopefully we'll battle in Buffalo and Carolina. They are both playing well, so good luck boys. With this win, "Give Me Every Little Thing," I'll take it.
Defining the South
In college, I once took a series of classes (if two classes can be called a series) on the history of the South. In the second course, History of the New South (2nd Industrial Revolution forward, post reconstruction) our first assignment was to draw a map of what we consider to be The South.
As you would expect, the maps varied wildly. If you were to give that assignment to, say, a random Georgian, a political theorist, a historian, a member of the Toronto Sports Media, and a member of the Mainstream Media (MSM), the maps would be barely recongnizable from one another.
For the random Georgian, I will use a compilation of the folks from that undergrad class. It was, after all, at Georgia Tech. My map drew an adjusted Mason-Dixon Line from the coast at about Virginia Beach, just barely north of Richmond, and out west to include most of West Virginia, all of Kentucky, and ended somewhere in Missouri. Parts of Florida were included, but nothing south of Polk County. Northern Louisiana is the South, but New Orleans certainly is not. Texas is a country of its own, but is allied with the South. My favorite map from that class relied on the cartographer's own experiences. He had a "core" area of the South where he had been able to reliably get sweet tea at any restaurant. There was a "border" area outside of that where he had been able to get sweet tea in a southern themed restaurant (read barbecue, Cracker Barrel, or Chik-Fil-A). Everything else was not the South. This works with my own map, as it keeps Texas and south Florida in the border category, as well as northern Virginia.
Political theorists will point to the unique political identity historically shared by Southern states. From antebellum times, most Southern states voted together in national elections. This was a product of the common geography and therefore common economics. Slavery was a part of those economics. Today, the South is generally more conservative than the West or the North. A political theorist may actually extend the South out west and up into the Midwest to the traditional red states, while shaving off Virginia, West Virginia, Florida, and Louisiana.
A historian will usually simply rattle off a list of the Confederate States of America and neutral states, including states from Florida to Maryland, over to Missouri, down to Texas. It would use the traditional Mason Dixon line that originates along the Pennsylvania/Maryland border. However, Maryland wasn't even the South at the time of the Civil War, and certainly isn't now, even if the NCAA seems to think that MD and BC belong in the same conference with teams from Georgia, Florida, and the Carolinas, and the NHL thinks Washington is in the Southeast. In their defense, Washington DC was put where it is precisely so that it would be in the South. It was part of a compromise to allow new territories to be brought into the United States without slavery.
The Toronto Sports Media would write off everything south of Philadelphia as being "the South" and unworthy of a professional hockey team. Then they would trump up a rumor that every player on every team in "the South" was being offered in trades with the Leafs.
The Mainstream Media considers the South to be anything east of New Mexico and south of Indiana. They don't give any consideration to the South other than how to minimalize its impact on the national stage.
All of this brings me to my point. Sports South apparently defines the South as Georgia and North Florida. Outside those borders, you don't get to see Thrasher games. As I am just over the border in North Carolina tonight, I can't see the Birds/Isles game. This pisses me off and makes me write pointless columns.
For the Chronicle, I'm Razor Catch Prey.
P.S. Agent Gibbs from NCIS needs to be the Thrashers' captain.
As you would expect, the maps varied wildly. If you were to give that assignment to, say, a random Georgian, a political theorist, a historian, a member of the Toronto Sports Media, and a member of the Mainstream Media (MSM), the maps would be barely recongnizable from one another.
For the random Georgian, I will use a compilation of the folks from that undergrad class. It was, after all, at Georgia Tech. My map drew an adjusted Mason-Dixon Line from the coast at about Virginia Beach, just barely north of Richmond, and out west to include most of West Virginia, all of Kentucky, and ended somewhere in Missouri. Parts of Florida were included, but nothing south of Polk County. Northern Louisiana is the South, but New Orleans certainly is not. Texas is a country of its own, but is allied with the South. My favorite map from that class relied on the cartographer's own experiences. He had a "core" area of the South where he had been able to reliably get sweet tea at any restaurant. There was a "border" area outside of that where he had been able to get sweet tea in a southern themed restaurant (read barbecue, Cracker Barrel, or Chik-Fil-A). Everything else was not the South. This works with my own map, as it keeps Texas and south Florida in the border category, as well as northern Virginia.
Political theorists will point to the unique political identity historically shared by Southern states. From antebellum times, most Southern states voted together in national elections. This was a product of the common geography and therefore common economics. Slavery was a part of those economics. Today, the South is generally more conservative than the West or the North. A political theorist may actually extend the South out west and up into the Midwest to the traditional red states, while shaving off Virginia, West Virginia, Florida, and Louisiana.
A historian will usually simply rattle off a list of the Confederate States of America and neutral states, including states from Florida to Maryland, over to Missouri, down to Texas. It would use the traditional Mason Dixon line that originates along the Pennsylvania/Maryland border. However, Maryland wasn't even the South at the time of the Civil War, and certainly isn't now, even if the NCAA seems to think that MD and BC belong in the same conference with teams from Georgia, Florida, and the Carolinas, and the NHL thinks Washington is in the Southeast. In their defense, Washington DC was put where it is precisely so that it would be in the South. It was part of a compromise to allow new territories to be brought into the United States without slavery.
The Toronto Sports Media would write off everything south of Philadelphia as being "the South" and unworthy of a professional hockey team. Then they would trump up a rumor that every player on every team in "the South" was being offered in trades with the Leafs.
The Mainstream Media considers the South to be anything east of New Mexico and south of Indiana. They don't give any consideration to the South other than how to minimalize its impact on the national stage.
All of this brings me to my point. Sports South apparently defines the South as Georgia and North Florida. Outside those borders, you don't get to see Thrasher games. As I am just over the border in North Carolina tonight, I can't see the Birds/Isles game. This pisses me off and makes me write pointless columns.
For the Chronicle, I'm Razor Catch Prey.
P.S. Agent Gibbs from NCIS needs to be the Thrashers' captain.
A Point of Comparison
the Sharks are off to their best start in history. They won their 11th game Tuesday night. Let's put that in perspective. The Sharks of 1992-93, back in the Cow Palace days, won only 11 games in that entire season. And they did not win the 11th game until April 6.
- Mark Purdy, San Jose Mercury News
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