 CRACK THE CODE // deciphering intelligence gathered by our secret agents |
|
PART TIME COWARD
-
posted
on Mon. Feb. 20, 2012
Apparently the much hated Vancouver defenceman Kevin Bieksa doesn’t like polls. Especially polls where the majority of NHL players responding declared the Canucks to be the NHL’s most over rated team, and the Sedin twins amongst the easiest to intimidate.
WHAT HE SAID:
"If everyone wants to bring out these polls, then put your name on it. Don't be anonymous, don't be a coward. If you have something to say, then say it publicly. Everyone in the league has an opportunity to voice their opinion with a microphone. Just say it. Don't hide behind an anonymous Sports Illustrated poll. It's cowardly."
WHAT HE MEANT:
“Responding to those polls is almost as cowardly as I was last year in the playoffs, when I ran away from John Scott because he’s tough, just before jumping and pummeling Viktor Stalberg because he isn’t.”
 |
HE HAS A NICE PERSONALITY
-
posted
on Mon. Feb. 6, 2012
Jets goalie Chris Mason had some nice words of praise for his teammate Chris Thorburn:
WHAT HE SAID:
“He’s one of those guys that will do anything for the team. He’ll block shots, fight. That’s the kind of guy he is.”
WHAT HE MEANT:
“He couldn’t score if his life depended on it.”
|
BIG GAMES
-
posted
on Thurs. Jan. 26, 2012
Blue Jackets interim-coach Todd Richards has the difficult task of trying to prove he’s a good coach, despite his lousy team. Columbus sits dead last in the NHL, a mere 9 points behind the second worst team. While we wonder if any of his players will bother coming back after the all-star break, Richards is whistling past the graveyard, trying to put a meaningful spin on the balance of the schedule:
WHAT HE SAID:
“These are character games.”
WHAT HE MEANT:
“Convincing my players that these are character games is like convincing your buddy to date the ugly girl because she has a nice personality.”
|
DOUBLE STANDARD
-
posted
on Thurs. Jan. 19, 2012
Hopefully you remember this one, from the winter of 2009:
"The All-Star break will be slightly longer than anticipated for a pair of Red Wings, as defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom and center Pavel Datsyuk must sit out Detroit's game Tuesday at Columbus, NHL vice president Colin Campbell said. Campbell told The Canadian Press that players who miss Sunday's All-Star game -- Lidstrom and Datsyuk withdrew this week because of injuries -- must sit out one game before or after the event, or at least show up in Montreal to attend various All-Star functions." (Ansar Khan)
There has been a steady murmur of cynicism about the 2012 NHL All-Star game, specifically the fact that Detroit’s Nick Lidstrom and Anaheim’s Teemu Selanne plan to skip the event.
Suddenly, that’s okay, according to former all-star Rob Blake, who is now part of the NHL hockey operations team.
WHAT HE SAID:
"There's only a few (players) each year that have earned that right and those two guys have definitely represented the league a number of times and been outstanding players. A lot goes into how they're feeling for their run down the stretch. You obviously want them to be ready for their team especially -- a guy like Nick Lidstrom is continuously in conference finals and Stanley Cup finals, the amount of games he plays.Those two guys have earned more respect from their years of service in the league."
WHAT HE MEANT:
“We have more respect for those two guys, than we do for our own rules, and our own integrity.”
|
BETWEEN THE PIPES
-
posted
on Mon. Jan. 9, 2012
Vancouver fans were ecstatic over their team's victory over the hated Bruins last Saturday. As was Canucks goalie Cory Schneider, who was the surprise starter, in the only regular season clash scheduled between last year’s Cup finalists.
WHAT HE SAID:
"Last year is done. The memories and bad blood carried over. But in the scheme of things … it's a big statement win for our team. It's a bit of a statement to the rest of the league that we're back where we were last year."
WHAT HE MEANT:
“It’s a big statement to our coach, to play me, instead of Luongo.”
|
I'LL DRINK TO THAT
-
posted
on Mon. Jan. 2, 2012
According to Yahoo.com, Minnesota Wild players are not impressed with NHL judge/jury/dictator Brendan Shanahan. Three different Wild players have been hit from behind, without a single suspension being handed out to the opposing aggressor.
Shanahan spoke out in an attempt to assure Wild fans he isn’t out to get them:
WHAT HE SAID:
"I can promise you, believe it or not, there's not some conspiracy in New York or within me against the state of Minnesota or Minnesota Wild. Earlier this month, I was at the same hotel as the Wild in San Jose and I sat around and had a few beers and told some stories and had some laughs with Matt Cullen and Devin Setoguchi and Dany Heatley."
WHAT HE MEANT:
“I can promise you, believe it or not, picking up the tab was a smart move on their part.”
|
BONJOUR
-
posted
on Tues. Dec. 20, 2011
If Montreal Canadiens’ fans weren’t whining about something, they wouldn’t know what to do with themselves. So it is no surprise that half the city is in an uproar over the new coach, Randy Cunneyworth. These Hab supporters couldn’t care less how good a coach Cunneyworth may, or may not be. The bottom line is the poor guy doesn’t speak French. Yikes. Can’t have that.
As the backlash grew over the past two days, team CEO Geoff Molson - as in Molson beer - felt compelled to release a statement:
WHAT HE SAID:
“Although our main priority remains to win hockey games and to keep improving as a team, it is obvious that the ability for the head coach to express himself in both French and English will be a very important factor in the selection of the permanent head coach.”
WHAT HE MEANT:
“After two days on the job, Cunneyworth is a lame duck. I’ll dump his ass soon, and get a French dude in here, so we can get back to gouging you on tickets, and selling more beer. He might not be able to coach, but he will speak French, nes pas?
|
HOW DARE THEY SCORE
-
posted
on Thurs. Dec. 8, 2011
While coaching changes often deliver rapid-fire results, that hasn’t been the case with the Carolina Hurricanes. Since rookie coach Kirk Muller came on board, the Canes have only win one in five games. It didn’t take Muller long to discover what previous coach Paul Maurice already knew. The team stinks. Obviously a coach can’t spew that kind of observation publicly, so instead we get clichés.
WHAT KIRK MULLER SAID:
“We just get momentum and we just can’t seem to sustain it. These goals against come at just the wrong time.”
WHAT KIRK MULLER MEANT:
“As long as teams keep scoring goals during the first sixty minutes of the game, we’re gonna be in trouble.”
|
DONALD TRUMP WOULD HAVE BEEN PROUD
-
posted
on Thurs. Dec. 1, 2011
As usual, the post-Thanksgiving weekend shakedown took place in the NHL again this year. On the same day, both Washington coach Bruce Boudreau, and Carolina coach Paul Mauric were fired. A few days later, Anaheim sent coach Randy Carlye packing as well. While each circumstance was somewhat different, all three General Managers involved in the bloodletting offered up similar messages albeit using different words:
WHAT HE SAID IN WASHINGTON:
“This was simply a case of the players were no longer responding to Bruce. When you see that, as much as you don’t want to make a change, you have to make a change,” said Capitals GM George McPhee.
WHAT HE MEANT:
“I had to fire somebody before somebody fired me.”
WHAT HE SAID IN CAROLINA:
"When you put a group of guys together at the start of each season, you watch to see the team come together and to jell," Carolina GM, Jim Rutherford said. "Some teams do, and some teams don't. And at this point in time, this team hasn't — for whatever reason."
WHAT HE MEANT;
“I had to fire somebody before somebody fired me.”
WHAT HE SAID IN ANAHEIM:
“Randy is a terrific head coach, and did a tremendous job for us for six-plus seasons,” Anaheim general manager Bob Murray said. “We thank him greatly for his hard work and dedication to our franchise, not the least of which was a Stanley Cup championship. At this time, we simply felt a new voice was needed
WHAT HE MEANT;
“I had to fire somebody before somebody fired me.”
|
WHO ME?
-
posted
on Thurs. Nov. 24, 2011
Ottawa Senators forward Jesse Winchester stood close to the boards, directly in front of the Vancouver Canucks bench, bracing for the incoming hit from Maxime Lapierre. Suddenly the bench door opened, sending Winchester into a dangerous sprawl. Yahoo Sports reports that Winchester “suspiciously landed” at the feet of Canuck troublemaker Alex Burrows.
Winchester was not impressed:
WHAT HE SAID:
"It's not a safe play. I was under the impression my butt was against the wall, the next thing I know I'm through the bench. I couldn't see behind me, I'm not paying attention to what's on the bench."
WHAT HE MEANT:
“I thought Burrows specialty was biting.”
|
WHAT GOES AROUND...
-
posted
on Fri. Nov. 18, 2011
To set the scene, during a Boston/Montreal regular season game last year, the Canadiens had just scored a routine goal. Seconds later Montreal forward Max Pacioretty was seen mocking and lightly shoving Bruin defenceman Zdeno Chara. Chara reacted immediately, charging after Pacioretty, but the large player scrum prevented Chara from settling the score.
Fast forward to the next Habs/Bruins encounter in Montreal. As Pacioretty carried the puck up the boards through the neutral zone, Chara raced over, angled Pacioretty off, and drilled him with a heavy hit. Unfortunately for Pacioretty, there was a stanchion in his way. Pacioretty went down for the count, spending the next few days in hospital.
Montreal police decided to investigate. Earlier this week they announced they would not be proceeding with any charges. Case closed.
Bruin’s president Cam Neely released a statement on behalf of the team:
WHAT HE SAID:
"The Bruins organization respects the process that the Quebec prosecutors office undertook regarding Zdeno Chara and we are satisfied with their announcement today. We now consider the matter closed."
WHAT HE MEANT:
“We now consider the matter closed. Did I mention that payback is a bitch?”
|
JUST LIKE THE GOOD OLD DAYS
-
posted
on Thurs. Nov. 10, 2011
Vancouver Canucks captain Henrik “Don’t Call Me Daniel” Sedin was all pumped up after the Canucks knocked off their rivals from Chicago, in their first showdown since last year’s classic playoff series.
WHAT HE SAID:
"This is a game where we showed why we don't need a big, tough guy.”
WHAT HE MEANT:
“That was old-time Swedish hockey out there tonight."
|
LOST IN THE WOODS
-
posted
on Wed. Nov. 2, 2011
Philadelphia Flyer’s goalkeeper Ilya Bryzgalov offered up a full mea culpa after allowing four goals on ten shots during a bizarre 9-8 loss to the Winnipeg Jets. That nightmare performance leaves Bryzgalov with a .880 save percentage, as he begins year-one of his new nine-year deal with the goalie starved Flyers.
WHAT HE SAID:
“I have zero confidence in myself right now, I’m terrible. I want to apologize to the fans and my teammates. I don’t know what’s going on. I have no answer for you guys. I thought the last game in Montreal was the worst, but today was worse … I feel like I’m lost in the woods. I am totally lost. I don’t know what’s going on. I can’t stop the puck. It’s that simple. It’s me.”
WHAT HE MEANT:
“With a nine-year, $51-million dollar contract, I can admit to murder and I’ll still be in the net next game.”
|
A MAN OF FEW WORDS
-
posted
on Mon. Oct. 24, 2011
New York Rangers coach John Tortorella was fuming after his boys from Broadway dropped a 2-0 game to the fast-rising Edmonton Oilers. He set a new modern day record for shortest post-game press conference, when he departed after only 16 seconds. This eclipses the previous record held by legendary hothead Mumbles Murphy, who stormed out after 22 seconds in response to a question about his team’s 477 game losing streak.
WHAT HE SAID:
"This is gonna be really quick. I'm not taking any questions. We sucked from head to toe and we need to move by it. So I'm not going to dissect it with you guys. I know you guys have to do your job, but I'm not answering any questions. Okay?"
WHAT HE MEANT:
“We only come to Edmonton once every two years, and I’m not missing out on the best chicken wings in town just so I can talk to you guys.”
|
WHATEVER IT TAKES
-
posted
on Tues. Oct. 18, 2011
Dallas forward Adam Burish obviously believes you can get more of what you want with honey, rather than vinegar. Burish was overly complimentary to his coach following a recent win over the lowly Columbus Blue Jackets:
WHAT HE SAID:
“After tonight you can finally see that playing the way our coach is telling us to play works. It's a good feeling.”
WHAT HE MEANT:
“There’s two ways to get more ice time. Play better. Or suck up to the coach. I tried the first way. Didn’t work. So it’s on to plan B”
|
OUCH. THAT HURTS!
-
posted
on Tues. Oct. 11, 2011
When Toronto Maple Leafs signed centre Tim Connolly to a free agent contract this past summer, some eyebrows were raised because of Connolly’s inability to stay in the lineup. This guy has a bucket load of talent, especially when it comes to playmaking, but none of that does any team, any good, if he’s sitting in the press box, mulching down hot dogs all winter long.
Almost predictably, Connolly tripped over a stray piece of air during the Maple Leafs training camp and hurled himself into the end boards. He hasn’t played a shift of hockey since. Some pundits were suggesting Connolly would be ready to go this coming Saturday, but according to coach Ron Wilson, maybe not.
WHAT HE SAID:
“He was sore today, so we backed off,” Wilson said. “There’s no surgery necessary.”
WHAT HE MEANT:
“Tim’s already giving always-injured St. Louis defenceman Carlo Colaiacovo a serious challenge for the Peter Forsberg Trophy – awarded annually to the NHL’s most brittle player.”
Note: New York Rangers forward Marian Gaborik, and Vancouver's Sammy Salo have both filed an official grievance, arguing that the trophy should be named after them.
Perhaps, but the Forsberg rap sheet is indeed impressive:
2008/05/02 Missed Game 4 of Round Two against the Detroit Red Wings (back injury).
2008/05/01 Groin, day-to-day.
2008/04/29 Missed Game 1 and 2 of Round Two against the Detroit Red Wings (back injury).
2008/04/24 Groin, day-to-day.
2008/04/01 Missed 1 game (groin).
2008/03/30 Groin, day-to-day.
2008/03/24 Missed 2 games (groin).
2008/03/20 Groin, day-to-day.
2008/03/17 Missed 4 games (groin).
2008/03/09 Groin, day-to-day.
2007/03/17 Missed 6 games (upper body injury).
2007/03/04 Upper body injury, day-to-day.
2007/01/11 Missed 4 games (groin).
2007/01/04 Groin, day-to-day.
2006/12/27 Missed 3 games (concussion).
2006/12/19 Concussion, day-to-day.
2006/12/16 Missed 5 games (foot injury/flu).
2006/12/08 Foot injury, day-to-day.
2006/12/02 Flu, day-to-day.
2006/11/24 Missed 1 game (back injury).
2006/11/22 Back injury, day-to-day.
2006/11/15 Missed 2 games (ankle injury).
2006/11/11 Ankle injury, day-to-day.
2006/10/26 Missed 1 game (left wrist injury).
2006/10/20 Left wrist injury, day-to-day.
2006/10/19 Left wrist injury, left Thursday's game.
2006/04/18 Missed 1 game (groin).
2006/04/16 Groin, day-to-day.
2006/04/15 Missed 4 games (groin).
2006/04/07 Groin, day-to-day.
2006/03/21 Missed 1 game (knee injury).
2006/03/18 Knee injury, day-to-day.
2006/03/01 Missed 8 games (groin).
2006/01/26 Groin, day-to-day.
2006/01/25 Groin, left Wednesday's game.
2006/01/23 Missed 2 games (groin).
2006/01/18 Groin, day-to-day.
2005/12/10 Missed 6 games (strained groin).
2005/11/26 Strained groin, day-to-day.
2005/11/25 Strained groin, left Friday's game.
2004/03/23 Missed 17 games (hip injury).
2004/02/18 Hip injury, day-to-day.
2004/01/24 Missed 4 games (groin).
2004/01/17 Groin, day-to-day.
2003/12/27 Missed 19 games (groin).
2003/11/11 Groin, sidelined indefinitely.
2003/11/06 Missed 3 games (groin).
2003/11/01 Groin, day-to-day.
2003/03/20 Missed 1 game (bruised leg).
2003/03/16 Bruised left leg, day-to-day.
2003/03/15 Bruised leg, left Saturday's game.
2002/12/27 Missed 1 game (flu).
2002/12/26 Flu, day-to-day.
2002/12/21 Missed 3 games (concussion).
2002/12/18 Concussion, sidelined indefinitely.
2002/12/14 Neck injury, day-to-day.
2002/12/06 Missed 2 games (groin).
2002/11/29 Groin, day-to-day.
2002/04/29 Missed Game 6 of Round One against Los Angeles (leg injury).
2002/04/27 Leg injury, day-to-day.
2002/04/18 Missed all 82 games of the regular season (ankle/foot injury).
2002/01/10 Ankle surgery, sidelined indefinitely.
2001/06/09 Missed the last 12 games of the playoffs (spleen surgery).
2001/05/10 Spleen surgery, remainder of the playoffs.
2000/12/03 Missed 8 games (rib injury).
2000/11/13 Rib injury, sidelined indefinitely.
|
IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE
-
posted
on Tue. Oct. 4, 2011
Los Angeles Kings star defenceman Drew Doughty sat out most of training camp due to a bitter contract dispute with team management. Although the two sides were only $200,000 apart, it seemed certain that the stalemate would last long into the regular season. That much became obvious when Kings boss Tim Leiweke offered his take on the situation:
"If someone's whispering in Drew's ear that ownership is going to get impatient and blink, they're wrong," warned Leiweke.
A week later, Leiweke and the Kings caved in and gave Doughty the extra dough after all. Naturally, the local media were interested in the team’s take on the sudden reversal.
WHAT HE SAID:
"Let's go win some Cups. We just spent more money this off-season than it cost to buy the team. We are committed."
WHAT HE MEANT:
“I can’t stop blinking."
|
DROP THE PUCK
-
posted
on Mon. Sep. 26, 2011
A recent Hockey News article zeroed in on the faceoff situation. Many fans get cranky when the linesmen take what seems like forever to drop the puck, or when linesmen eject multiple players from the faceoff dot.
During the NHL’s summer Research and Development Camp, the league experimented with the idea of one linesman dropping the puck for the entire game. Supposedly this would provide some consistency and eliminate the frustrating delays.
NHL linesman Pierre Racicot doesn’t like the idea:
WHAT HE SAID:
“If the linesman who’s going to drop the puck doesn’t have the same standard as the one in the prior game, then that doesn’t solve the problem.”
WHAT HE MEANT:
“I want to be on television too.”
|
SHOPPING SPREE
-
posted
on Tues. Sep. 20, 2011
The Buffalo Sabres have signed defenceman Tyler Myers to a seven-year contract worth over $38-million. This is just the latest in a series of aggressive moves made by the Sabres since new owner Terry Pegula took over control of the team. Unlike the nasty negotiations going on down in L.A., between the Kings and their ace defenceman Drew Doughty, this deal only took two weeks to put together.
After years of trying to juggle low budget rosters, Sabres general manager Darcy Regier is thrilled with the new regime’s attitude:
WHAT HE SAID:
"You want to avoid contentious negotiations, and create a relationship that is a win-win situation," Regier said during a news conference Thursday in Buffalo. "We wanted to recognize Tyler for his abilities now, and in the future."
WHAT HE MEANT:
“No need to negotiate, I got myself a real live Sugar Daddy.”
|
BYE BYE ZACH
-
posted
on Mon. Sep. 12, 2011
The New York Post, always a fun bunch, claims that the New Jersey Devils are on the verge of bankruptcy. The Devils’ operating formula does raise some eyebrows. A team that spends freely on payroll, while playing in a new arena, with spotty attendance, can’t be making money - no matter whom the minority partner is.
The Devils responded quickly with a flat-out denial of the story. They don’t need the negative publicity this close to the start of the new season. And they do need to re-sign star forward Zach Parise before next year. Bankruptcy stories could sabotage that entire process.
WHAT THEY SAID:
"The Devils value their relationship with their banks and are confident a refinancing will be completed shortly. As stated previously, ownership is close to finalizing an agreement that would lead to a buyout of (minority owner) Brick City's share of the company."
WHAT THEY MEANT:
“Maybe paying Kovalchuk $102-million wasn’t such a great idea after all.”
|
HELL ON WHEELS
-
posted
on Tues. Sep. 6, 2011
Philadephia Flyers General Manager Paul Holmgren has been hospitalized following a bike accident in New Jersey.
The former Flyer enforcer suffered broken ribs, a broken shoulder and stitches.
Flyers president Peter Luukko later issued an update/statement:
WHAT HE SAID:
"It appears as if he hit a rut or something,"
WHAT HE MEANT:
“It appears he either hit a rut or the president of the Jeff Carter Fan Club.”
|
ALMOST SORRY
-
posted
on Wed. Aug. 31, 2011
Boston Bruins forward Nathan Horton says he has fully recovered from his concussion problems and expects to be a full-time participant at training camp. Horton was wiped out during game three of the Stanley Cup finals, when Vancouver defenceman Aaron Rome caught him with his head down, as he entered the Canuck zone. Rome did not visit Horton while he was hospitalized, but did send a text message. Horton was less than impressed with the digital apology.
WHAT HE SAID: “If it was me, I wouldn't have thrown a text message someone's way.”
WHAT HE MEANT: “He already rang my bell. Surely he could ring my cell.”
|
BLOODLINES
-
posted
on Wed. Aug. 24, 2011
If bloodlines are the key to winning in horse racing, other sports might want to consider a similar breeding program for their farm systems.
Can’t you just see it in your local newspaper: “Hockey superstar Wayne Gretzky is enjoying his retirement as he stands at stud at Hockey Puck Farms in Kentucky. Gretzky has already sired 22 first-round NHL draft picks, 14 team assist-leaders, and 3 grinders. As a result, the NHL’s stud fees will be going up yet again. Gretzky is also the great-grandsire of three year-old sensation Richard Rocket, who has scored 132 goals in his first season of major junior hockey.”
Then again there are no guarantees. In the real world, Gretzky doesn’t actually have a son working his way towards the NHL. But his son Trevor was drafted, and signed, by the Chicago Cubs earlier this summer. One trip to Yankee Stadium was all it took to set young Trevor on his current career path.
WHAT HE SAID:
“I was introduced to it, probably, in New York. Growing up, my dad was with the Rangers and I remember him taking me to a Yankee game and ever since then I’ve wanted to play. It’s been my dream to play in the major leagues ever since then.”
WHAT HE MEANT:
“I can’t skate.”
|
NOT SO GENTLE PERSUASION
-
posted
on Fri. Aug. 19, 2011
The New York Islanders are hosting a series of “fan viewing parties” this summer – eight in total - as a promotional tool. They bring fans together to watch replays of past games, while they enjoy some milk and cookies - or some variation thereof.
Which seems odd to us. If Long Island sports fans didn’t care to attend the games when they happened live, why would they want to see replays of them months later?
Initially, plans called for the February 11, 2011, brawl-filled game against the Pittsburgh Penguins to be part of the eight game series. According to this story from ESPN, the NHL front office was not amused:
“In an interview with USA Today, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly originally came down on the Islanders for having a party to watch the brawl-filled game. But on Thursday, Daly softened his stance.”
It should be noted that Daly softened his stance only after the game had been removed from the scheduled series of eight.
WHAT HE SAID:
"As I understand it, the game selection issue was really MSG's decision as opposed to the Islanders. Having said that, the Islanders proactively acted to change the selection, and prevailed. We obviously support the team's intervention and decision."
WHAT HE MEANT:
“Mr. Bettman told the Islanders’ owner to take that game off the list, before he laid a beating on him, twice as bad as the one that Penguin goalie Brent Johnson laid on Islander netminder Rick DiPietro that day.”
|
KOVALEV FLOATS TO KHL
-
posted
on Mon. Aug. 15, 2011
Long time NHL floater/underachiever Alex Kovalev has decided to return home to Russia and finish his career with the KHL. Kovalev didn’t leave quietly however. In an interview with Russian newspaper Sovetsky Sport he took some parting shots at the Ottawa media and former Ottawa head coach Cory Clouston.
WHAT HE SAID:
“In two seasons I still couldn’t understand the ideas of our coach Cory Clouston.”
WHAT HE MEANT:
“For two years this guy actually thought he could get me to try. What’s that all about?.”
|
A FRIEND IN NEED
-
posted
on Thurs. Aug. 11, 2011
You’ll never see a Hatfield come to the aid of a McCoy. Nor will you see a New York Yankee lend a hand to anyone wearing a Red Sox logo.
How then is it possible that a New York Ranger was coming to the aid of a New York Islander? Are we back in the 1960’s when love and peace replaced all previously known logic?
As Islanders’ owner Charles Wang’s campaign to get taxpayer dollars behind a new arena on Long Island approached vote day, Sather released a statement urging citizens to support the concept and to keep the New York rivalry alive.
WHAT HE SAID:
"The rivalry that has existed between the Rangers and Islanders for almost 40 years is one of the best in hockey and in all of sports. The intense passion and emotion involved in these games is something we cherish and would like to see continue for generations to come. We urge Rangers fans, Islanders fans and all hockey fans in Nassau County to vote yes for the referendum on Monday, August 1".
WHAT HE MEANT:
“As long as that dufus owner on Long Island lets his backup goalie run the team, no one is going to notice I haven’t accomplished a damn thing since Gretzky bolted to L.A.”
|
CUP FOR A DAY
-
posted
on Thurs. Aug. 4, 2011
Times have certainly changed when it comes to handling the Stanley Cup. Old videos from the 1960’s show team captains accepting the Cup - from Clarence “Chuckles” Campbell - as it sat on a table that someone’s Aunt Mabel loaned them for the night.
The captains placed their hands on the cup as they smiled for the on-ice photographers, but they never did actually lift it or carry it to share with their teammates. Somewhere along the way captains started picking up hockey’s holy grail for a brief ride. Eventually it evolved into today's “pecking order” ritual, where the team superstars get to carry it first, followed by role players, followed by call-up players.
This is where things get interesting. The call-up players sit in the stands all night long in their fancy suits. But as the third period reaches the halfway point, they dash down to the dressing room and put their uniforms on. Should their mentors playing the game actually win the cup, they too pour out onto the ice and jump into the celebration.
When the superstars and role players finish their individual trips with the cup, they turn to the call ups, hand the Cup over and say, “Here you go……whoever you are.”
Over the summer break, each player on the championship team gets control of the cup for a day. Rookie Tyler Seguin brought the cup back to his hometown of Brampton, Ontario (just north of Toronto) and then took it to Westwood Arena in the heart of Toronto.
According to the Toronto Star , Seguin was asked to explain the pilgrimage to Toronto:
WHAT HE SAID:
“I just thought, growing up, I wanted to see the Stanley Cup somewhere around here so I thought why not bring it back here?”
WHAT HE MEANT:
“I just wanted to show it to Phil Kessel”
|
A DREAM COME TRUE
-
posted
on Tues. Aug. 2, 2011
Veteran NHL defenceman Brett Sopel is off to Russia to play hockey for the next two years as a member of the KHL’s Metallurg Novokuznetsk. Some people dream of being a Maple Leaf. Some fantasize about being a Bruin or a Ranger. And then there are those that have always wanted to be a Novokuznetsk.
Sopel’s wife Kelly weighed in on the transaction on her blog:
WHAT SHE SAID:
“It would be crazy to say this was his first choice. Chicago would have been great, and we assumed it would be a huge pay cut, but he just wasn’t in their plans.”
WHAT SHE MEANT:
“Six hundred guys playing in the NHL and I end up with the one who’s off to Metallurg.”
HOME | JOKE & DAGGER | FAILED MISSIONS | EAVESDROPPING | CRACK THE CODE | INTERROGATION | ARCHIVES | CONTACT US
|
|
