Monday December 24, 3:00 PM
Here's hoping these fine folks find what they're looking for under the Christmas tree (and you too):
Cristobal Huet-a thank you note with his parting gift
Michael Ryder-two weeks in Hamilton
Saku Koivu-a badly swollen middle finger
Guy Carbonneau-Brenden Morrow (oh wait...)
NHL Officials-a muzzle for Guy Carbonneau
Bob Gainey-Size and strength down the middle
Michel Therrien-a safety net
PJ Stock-An English/French dictionary
Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens et al-lie detector tests
Bud Selig-a pink slip
Washington Nationals-a fire; without the sale
Donald Fehr-Bah, humbug!
Michael Vick- a cell full of rabid rottweilers
Bill Belichik-a '72 Dolphins dartboard
Anthony Calvillo-a healthy family
Jim Popp-a Jack Todd whoopi cushion
Jack Todd-empathy, heart, soul & a baby seat in Popp's hummer
The Green Room-an Open for Business sign
Hurley's, Irish Embassy, Ye Olde Orchard, McKibbin's, Champs & Vargas-a very very Green Christmas
And from a very creative listener:
The following are a few of the gifts santa plans to hand to the HABS:
Francis Bouillon: 2 inch lifts.
Michael Ryder: A soccer net.
Andrei Markov: "Searching for Bobby Orr" by Steven Brunt.
Mike Komisarek: Darcy Tucker with his head down.
Christopher Higgins: 2 highly trained dobermann pinschers, Zeus and Apollo (A.K.A. "The Lads").
Tom Kostopoulos: A weekend with Bob Probert.
Andrei Kostitsyn: An invitation to Paul Maurice's house.
Maxim Lapierre: A double wide "tempo" for his Hummer. (St-Leonard style).
Sergei Kostitsyn: A fake ID card.
Saku Koivu: Subscription to the Journal de Montreal.
Patrice Brisebois: Already got his present... (Christmas was in July for Pat this year!)
Carey Price: 2 cases of REDBULL!
Guy Carbonneau: A perpetual road trip.
Doug Jarvis: A day off. (FINALLY!)
Bob Gainey: Alexander Ovechkin... or a win on Dec 23.
The rest get a $10 gift certificate to the Barfly. Thanks for all the good work.
Girth
Back in a few days with some suggestions for your eyes & ears.
Peace.
Monday, December 24, 2007
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Snow Balls and Baseballs
Sunday December 16 4:30 PM
What a great day to do nothing but eat and drink-oh wait, we did that Friday at our station Christmas party. Snow days like this remind me of elementary school, specifically Churchill school in Chomedey (later renamed Irving Bregman Memorial) where our gym teacher was future Queen's football coach Ian Breck. Those of us who were within walking distance actually looked forward to heading to school on snow days because Ian would gather some fellow teachers in the library for a bull session with students. A couple of times he introduced us to one of his roommates who looked vaguely familiar. Turns out he was an American Hockey League goaltender named Wayne Thomas. (The Canadiens' top farm team was based in Montreal for one year. Their home rink was the Forum. Some of the other players included Bobby Sheehan, Phil Roberto, Chuck Lefley, Bob Murdoch and another goaltender named Ken Dryden.)
The next time I met Wayne Thomas was in the early 1980's very late one night at a bar in Cape Cod. I don't remember how I was introduced to him but I do remember that he said he was part owner of the place. I told him the story about Churchill School in Chomedey. His eyes lit up (just like the rest of him at that point) and he started telling me stories of the Voyageurs. A few minutes later he took me over to another part of the room to introduce me to his partner in the bar. I instantly recognized Nick Fotiu. Oh the stories we could tell...
http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php3?pid=5378
http://www.legendsofhockey.net:8080/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayer.jsp?player=12635
Ian Breck is currently the head coach of Team Canada's Under- 20 Junior Football team.
The Mitchell Report. Just another in a list of "scandalous moments" in baseball. I keep reading of comparisons to the 1919 Black Sox scandal. How about the Dowd report? Or the cocaine scandal of the early 1980's? Have we already forgotten about the collusion cases organized by Commissioner Peter Ueberroth and the pathetic owners in the mid-80's? (if you don't think collusion helped kill at least one market, consider this-players forced back to their old teams included Tim Raines. But free agency rules being what they were, a player couldn't re-sign with his old team until May 1. So the 1987 Expos played the entire month of April with Triple A leftfielder Alonzo Powell. He batted .195. The Expos April record was 8-12. From the moment Raines re-joined the team ( in 139 games in 1987 Raines hit .330 with 18 home runs, 68 RBI's, 50 stolen bases, a slugging pct of .526, an OBP of .429 and a LEAGUE LEADING 123 runs scored) the Expos went 83-59. A total won loss record of 91-71 was good enough for 3rd place in the NL East, just four games behind the division champion St. Louis Cardinals. And what about baseball's biggest scandal of them all-not allowing a single black player to play until 1947?
So spare me the moralizing. There have been worse moments than this.
Two scenes I'll never forget:
Scene #1
A former Expos catcher tapping me on the shoulder in the clubhouse asking me what I thought about a couple of his teammates who were certainly on something (David Segui was one of them). I said if it's obvious to me what's going on how can anybody directly involved in the sport not seem to know or care? He then asked me if I thought it was fair that he should have to decide whether to bulk up or not. If ever there was a rhetorical question that was it. And it was repeated in every clubhouse in baseball. I salute the guys who resisted the temptation and played through through nothing stronger than the odd greenie or (in John Wetteland's case) an over consumption of caffeine.
Scene #2
A bunch of media types gathered at Hurley's Irish pub. I mention to a baseball writer that players are starting to grumble about obvious steroid use. I tell him it's a huge story about to explode. He agrees but says he can't really sniff around because he'd have his "access" cut off. He says it's more of an investigative piece that has to be done on a national level with a parade of sources and an almost unlimited expense account. And then Ken Caminiti won the NL MVP award.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/magazine/12/13/flashback_juiced/index.html
Saku Koivu goes a dozen games without scoring and he's either washed up or a lousy leader or both. He scores two goals against the Leafs and his critics will say the Leafs were tired. I think we're all guilty of over analyzing after each game or block of games. There's still a lot of hockey left to play. Among Koivu's right wingers this season-Michael Ryder, Tom Kostopolous, Mark Streit, Bryan Smolinski, Guillame Latendresse, Alex Kovalev, Mathieu Dandenault and Sergei Kostitsyn. Who's next-Stephen Harper?
Saku Koivu is a special guy. "Un champion", says Bob Gainey. It takes one to know one. Koivu is not part of the problem, never has been. I'd concede that at this point he might not be part of the solution either. The fact that the Habs seem to go only as Koivu goes is not his fault. It's an organizational failure. But if they are to trade him (out west) they had better hit a home run. Steroid-free.
What a great day to do nothing but eat and drink-oh wait, we did that Friday at our station Christmas party. Snow days like this remind me of elementary school, specifically Churchill school in Chomedey (later renamed Irving Bregman Memorial) where our gym teacher was future Queen's football coach Ian Breck. Those of us who were within walking distance actually looked forward to heading to school on snow days because Ian would gather some fellow teachers in the library for a bull session with students. A couple of times he introduced us to one of his roommates who looked vaguely familiar. Turns out he was an American Hockey League goaltender named Wayne Thomas. (The Canadiens' top farm team was based in Montreal for one year. Their home rink was the Forum. Some of the other players included Bobby Sheehan, Phil Roberto, Chuck Lefley, Bob Murdoch and another goaltender named Ken Dryden.)
The next time I met Wayne Thomas was in the early 1980's very late one night at a bar in Cape Cod. I don't remember how I was introduced to him but I do remember that he said he was part owner of the place. I told him the story about Churchill School in Chomedey. His eyes lit up (just like the rest of him at that point) and he started telling me stories of the Voyageurs. A few minutes later he took me over to another part of the room to introduce me to his partner in the bar. I instantly recognized Nick Fotiu. Oh the stories we could tell...
http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php3?pid=5378
http://www.legendsofhockey.net:8080/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayer.jsp?player=12635
Ian Breck is currently the head coach of Team Canada's Under- 20 Junior Football team.
The Mitchell Report. Just another in a list of "scandalous moments" in baseball. I keep reading of comparisons to the 1919 Black Sox scandal. How about the Dowd report? Or the cocaine scandal of the early 1980's? Have we already forgotten about the collusion cases organized by Commissioner Peter Ueberroth and the pathetic owners in the mid-80's? (if you don't think collusion helped kill at least one market, consider this-players forced back to their old teams included Tim Raines. But free agency rules being what they were, a player couldn't re-sign with his old team until May 1. So the 1987 Expos played the entire month of April with Triple A leftfielder Alonzo Powell. He batted .195. The Expos April record was 8-12. From the moment Raines re-joined the team ( in 139 games in 1987 Raines hit .330 with 18 home runs, 68 RBI's, 50 stolen bases, a slugging pct of .526, an OBP of .429 and a LEAGUE LEADING 123 runs scored) the Expos went 83-59. A total won loss record of 91-71 was good enough for 3rd place in the NL East, just four games behind the division champion St. Louis Cardinals. And what about baseball's biggest scandal of them all-not allowing a single black player to play until 1947?
So spare me the moralizing. There have been worse moments than this.
Two scenes I'll never forget:
Scene #1
A former Expos catcher tapping me on the shoulder in the clubhouse asking me what I thought about a couple of his teammates who were certainly on something (David Segui was one of them). I said if it's obvious to me what's going on how can anybody directly involved in the sport not seem to know or care? He then asked me if I thought it was fair that he should have to decide whether to bulk up or not. If ever there was a rhetorical question that was it. And it was repeated in every clubhouse in baseball. I salute the guys who resisted the temptation and played through through nothing stronger than the odd greenie or (in John Wetteland's case) an over consumption of caffeine.
Scene #2
A bunch of media types gathered at Hurley's Irish pub. I mention to a baseball writer that players are starting to grumble about obvious steroid use. I tell him it's a huge story about to explode. He agrees but says he can't really sniff around because he'd have his "access" cut off. He says it's more of an investigative piece that has to be done on a national level with a parade of sources and an almost unlimited expense account. And then Ken Caminiti won the NL MVP award.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/magazine/12/13/flashback_juiced/index.html
Saku Koivu goes a dozen games without scoring and he's either washed up or a lousy leader or both. He scores two goals against the Leafs and his critics will say the Leafs were tired. I think we're all guilty of over analyzing after each game or block of games. There's still a lot of hockey left to play. Among Koivu's right wingers this season-Michael Ryder, Tom Kostopolous, Mark Streit, Bryan Smolinski, Guillame Latendresse, Alex Kovalev, Mathieu Dandenault and Sergei Kostitsyn. Who's next-Stephen Harper?
Saku Koivu is a special guy. "Un champion", says Bob Gainey. It takes one to know one. Koivu is not part of the problem, never has been. I'd concede that at this point he might not be part of the solution either. The fact that the Habs seem to go only as Koivu goes is not his fault. It's an organizational failure. But if they are to trade him (out west) they had better hit a home run. Steroid-free.
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Dancing (5th, 6th, 7th, 6th, 8th cha cha cha) With the Habs
Sunday December 9, 1:30 PM
What's wrong with the Canadiens? Let me count the ways.
-they can't win at home
-they can't win key face offs
-they can't score
-they can't kill penalties
-they can't (won't) fight
-their goalies have caved
What did I miss?
The Habs have no home identity-other than the "history" in the soon-to-be 12 year old Bell Center. Opposing teams dictate play. And with little or no physical fear they pretty much do what they want. Playing the Canadiens in Montreal has become ultra-comfortable. A pro sports sin. The only response the Habs have is to hope their goaltender out-plays everyone. From John Ferguson to Pierre Bouchard to Rick Chartraw to Chris Nilan to Lyle Odelein, every successful Montreal team has had a cop, a cop who could play. Some winning teams featured 4-5 guys who could fight. (The last Cup team in '93 featured Odelein, Todd Ewen, Mario Roberge and the league's best middleweight-Mike Keane.) This bunch? I'd rather see PJ Stock out there 3-4 minutes a game than Mark Streit. (I like Streit-as a power play specialist and role player. He gets way too many minutes of ice time).
The stat sheet (always be wary of the Montreal sheets) says the Canadiens won 60% of their face offs vs Carolina. Fact is, other than Koivu, Habs' centermen have been pretty dismal this season. Hard to comprehend with three of the best face-off men of their respective eras behind the bench. Lack of success in the face off circle also explains, partially, the woeful PK record.
I'm not enough of an X's & O's student to further explain the PK problems. Again, with Guy Carbonneau, Doug Jarvis and Kirk Muller to teach, it would be difficult to believe it's poor coaching. And it hasn't been the fault of the goaltending. Kyle Chipchura, Brian Smolinski, Tom Kostopolous and Steve Begin have been the go-to players on the PK unit. Chipchura will be fine but it's not often a rookie is handed that kind of responsibility. He's made some (rookie) mistakes. Smolinski, on the other hand, looks done. He doesn't win battles one on one or along the boards. Unlike Begin and Kostopolous he doesn't block shots. He's been a solid NHL player for a long time but this is beginning to look a lot like Janne Niinimaa revisited. (Which brings us to another area of concern for Hab fans-pro scouting. Ultimately, it's Bob Gainey who rightfully takes the heat for poor signings/trades. But a constant during the Gainey regime is Pierre Gauthier, who's title is assistant GM but who, in essence, is their top pro scout. Among the NHL players brought in during his watch: Radek Bonk, Todd Simpson, Mike Johnson, Sergei Samsanov, Niinimaa, Josh Gorges, Smolinski and Kostopolous. Those in a hurry to see Gainey go should shudder at the prospect of Gauthier as GM in-waiting.)
We knew goal scoring, especially five on five, would be tight for this team. But who could have possibly predicted that Michael Ryder would be stuck on three goals less than a month away from the all star break? It's sad to see. Sadder still is the pssibilty that his NHL career has already peaked. Shoot puck. Score goals. That's his job. He can't skate well or check and has possibly the worst hockey sense of any forward on the team. Shoot puck. Don't score goals. No job.
Goaltending, as mediocre as it's been lately, is a non-issue as far as I'm concerned. Carey Price will be fine. He's discovering that NHL shooters are pretty good. Rod Brindamour alone in the slot can pick a corner a lot faster than the typical AHL'er or Junior player. It's part of the learning curve.
Captain Koivu? Struggling to be sure. A goal here or there would help but remember first and foremost he's a playmaker. What I look for from Koivu is if he's putting the puck on the stick of his linemate(s), and whether it's Higgins, Ryder, Streit, Smolinski or whomever, he's getting that job done. Of more concern is that he looks a step or two slower.
Maybe it's just the late fall blahs, weeks ahead of the Christmas swoon. And what looks piss-poor right now will eventually be straightened out. Until then the Habs will likely drop lower than 8th. Perhaps to 10th or 11th. And two or three games later jump all the way to 6th. The only thing we know for certain about this team is they can't play with Detroit. So they have a lot of company.
In the meantime, Bob Gainey has to find a couple of bodies with some size and toughness and talent. That's all. And he has to find this player or two by himself.
What's wrong with the Canadiens? Let me count the ways.
-they can't win at home
-they can't win key face offs
-they can't score
-they can't kill penalties
-they can't (won't) fight
-their goalies have caved
What did I miss?
The Habs have no home identity-other than the "history" in the soon-to-be 12 year old Bell Center. Opposing teams dictate play. And with little or no physical fear they pretty much do what they want. Playing the Canadiens in Montreal has become ultra-comfortable. A pro sports sin. The only response the Habs have is to hope their goaltender out-plays everyone. From John Ferguson to Pierre Bouchard to Rick Chartraw to Chris Nilan to Lyle Odelein, every successful Montreal team has had a cop, a cop who could play. Some winning teams featured 4-5 guys who could fight. (The last Cup team in '93 featured Odelein, Todd Ewen, Mario Roberge and the league's best middleweight-Mike Keane.) This bunch? I'd rather see PJ Stock out there 3-4 minutes a game than Mark Streit. (I like Streit-as a power play specialist and role player. He gets way too many minutes of ice time).
The stat sheet (always be wary of the Montreal sheets) says the Canadiens won 60% of their face offs vs Carolina. Fact is, other than Koivu, Habs' centermen have been pretty dismal this season. Hard to comprehend with three of the best face-off men of their respective eras behind the bench. Lack of success in the face off circle also explains, partially, the woeful PK record.
I'm not enough of an X's & O's student to further explain the PK problems. Again, with Guy Carbonneau, Doug Jarvis and Kirk Muller to teach, it would be difficult to believe it's poor coaching. And it hasn't been the fault of the goaltending. Kyle Chipchura, Brian Smolinski, Tom Kostopolous and Steve Begin have been the go-to players on the PK unit. Chipchura will be fine but it's not often a rookie is handed that kind of responsibility. He's made some (rookie) mistakes. Smolinski, on the other hand, looks done. He doesn't win battles one on one or along the boards. Unlike Begin and Kostopolous he doesn't block shots. He's been a solid NHL player for a long time but this is beginning to look a lot like Janne Niinimaa revisited. (Which brings us to another area of concern for Hab fans-pro scouting. Ultimately, it's Bob Gainey who rightfully takes the heat for poor signings/trades. But a constant during the Gainey regime is Pierre Gauthier, who's title is assistant GM but who, in essence, is their top pro scout. Among the NHL players brought in during his watch: Radek Bonk, Todd Simpson, Mike Johnson, Sergei Samsanov, Niinimaa, Josh Gorges, Smolinski and Kostopolous. Those in a hurry to see Gainey go should shudder at the prospect of Gauthier as GM in-waiting.)
We knew goal scoring, especially five on five, would be tight for this team. But who could have possibly predicted that Michael Ryder would be stuck on three goals less than a month away from the all star break? It's sad to see. Sadder still is the pssibilty that his NHL career has already peaked. Shoot puck. Score goals. That's his job. He can't skate well or check and has possibly the worst hockey sense of any forward on the team. Shoot puck. Don't score goals. No job.
Goaltending, as mediocre as it's been lately, is a non-issue as far as I'm concerned. Carey Price will be fine. He's discovering that NHL shooters are pretty good. Rod Brindamour alone in the slot can pick a corner a lot faster than the typical AHL'er or Junior player. It's part of the learning curve.
Captain Koivu? Struggling to be sure. A goal here or there would help but remember first and foremost he's a playmaker. What I look for from Koivu is if he's putting the puck on the stick of his linemate(s), and whether it's Higgins, Ryder, Streit, Smolinski or whomever, he's getting that job done. Of more concern is that he looks a step or two slower.
Maybe it's just the late fall blahs, weeks ahead of the Christmas swoon. And what looks piss-poor right now will eventually be straightened out. Until then the Habs will likely drop lower than 8th. Perhaps to 10th or 11th. And two or three games later jump all the way to 6th. The only thing we know for certain about this team is they can't play with Detroit. So they have a lot of company.
In the meantime, Bob Gainey has to find a couple of bodies with some size and toughness and talent. That's all. And he has to find this player or two by himself.
Saturday, December 1, 2007
New Month, Same Team
Saturday December 1 2:00 PM
December-finally. I don't mind the blast of cold air-as long as the sun is shining. I'll spare you the metaphors.
Getting ready to watch the Rangers and Senators. Those silly comparisons to the Habs of the late 70's can now be buried for good. Love what Senators coach John Paddock said about his teams' losing streak. "It's part of the ebb and flow of a long season", said Paddock while (just a guess here) silently starting to worry about Martin Gerber. Canadiens fans need to keep that in mind. Look at the standings. As I write this the Habs are 5th in the eastern conference, two points behind the second place team and just two points out of eighth. Welcome to the salary cap era. It's just as tight in the west. Teams that started the season surprisingly slow (Buffalo, New Jersey) have righted themselves. Teams that started surprisngly well (Washington, Ottawa) have also settled into a more realistic zone.
For one of those rare instances this season, the Canadiens actually dominated a first period of play. Last night in Newark (what a great title for a movie, huh?) the Habs dominated, helped out by, but not just because of, the power play. Best save of the night was Martin Brodeur on Alex Kovalev, a low, well aimed wrister that Brodeur cooly kicked away. And as often has been the case the last two seasons, if the Canadiens don't score on the power play they find themselves in a bit of trouble. This season, their penalty killing unit continues to struggle. Lousy combo. One of the reasons Steve Begin and Tom Kostopolous are sitting tonight vs Nashville. The other reason-a team TOTAL of 9 hits the last two road games. Why bother putting on shoulder pads? If Begin and Kostopolous don't hit they don't play. Simple as that. Good move by Carbonneau. Why not Brian Smolinski or Michael Ryder? I think Ryder is next. Smolinski won 9 of 12 faceoffs last night.
So what does Bob Gainey do to improve his team's 5 on 5 play and/or goal scoring? He's not going to find it in Hamilton. The Bulldogs were shutout 6-0 on home ice last night. And their best players to start this season (Sergei Kostitsyn, Maxim Lapierre and Jonathan Ferland) are not goal scorers. Perhaps Gainey was in attendance in an effort to piece together a package for
immediate NHL help (Brad Richards?). In the meantime, Ryder sticks out like a sore thumb. A goal scorer not scoring for a team that needs a goal scorer.
Where have you gone Stephane Richer?
Martin Brodeur's career record against Montreal is 34-12-5. 12 losses? I can barely remember one...You won't have Jack Todd to kick around anymore...he's accepted a buyout from The Gazette...oh yeah, I'll have plenty more to say next month...The Black Hawks are once again fun to watch...They're playing for Denis Savard and Chicago area hockey fans who can once again see them on local TV....and whaddya know, the crowds are starting to return (over 16,000 last night vs Phoenix)...I'm starting to warm to the idea of bigger nets..the highest scoring team in the east is Carolina with 85 goals in 26 games...I'd rather see a little more room on the ice and I no longer buy the notion that ripping out the first few rows of seats in places like the Bell Center automatically means a huge loss in revenue...it's a loss the Habs can easily make up by charging more for premium seats and loges...the white- collared crowd that enjoys a pre-game meal at Queue De Cheval have plenty more money to spend...Angels owner Arte Moreno says baseball fans are "going to be angry and disappointed" when the Mitchell report on steroid use is made public...do you think one of Moreno's own stars might be on the list of players George Mitchell names as a user?...Best wishes to Terry DiMonte in Calgary, even though he thinks John Mellencamp is a better artist than Bob Dylan..Finally got around to actually seeing Nirvana Unplugged, finally out on DVD...It's stunning to see and hear the performance in HD and surround sound (watch for Kurt Cobain's facial expression at the end of Leadbelly classic):
http://www.nme.com/news/32183
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEtDC6MuImU
Happy December.
December-finally. I don't mind the blast of cold air-as long as the sun is shining. I'll spare you the metaphors.
Getting ready to watch the Rangers and Senators. Those silly comparisons to the Habs of the late 70's can now be buried for good. Love what Senators coach John Paddock said about his teams' losing streak. "It's part of the ebb and flow of a long season", said Paddock while (just a guess here) silently starting to worry about Martin Gerber. Canadiens fans need to keep that in mind. Look at the standings. As I write this the Habs are 5th in the eastern conference, two points behind the second place team and just two points out of eighth. Welcome to the salary cap era. It's just as tight in the west. Teams that started the season surprisingly slow (Buffalo, New Jersey) have righted themselves. Teams that started surprisngly well (Washington, Ottawa) have also settled into a more realistic zone.
For one of those rare instances this season, the Canadiens actually dominated a first period of play. Last night in Newark (what a great title for a movie, huh?) the Habs dominated, helped out by, but not just because of, the power play. Best save of the night was Martin Brodeur on Alex Kovalev, a low, well aimed wrister that Brodeur cooly kicked away. And as often has been the case the last two seasons, if the Canadiens don't score on the power play they find themselves in a bit of trouble. This season, their penalty killing unit continues to struggle. Lousy combo. One of the reasons Steve Begin and Tom Kostopolous are sitting tonight vs Nashville. The other reason-a team TOTAL of 9 hits the last two road games. Why bother putting on shoulder pads? If Begin and Kostopolous don't hit they don't play. Simple as that. Good move by Carbonneau. Why not Brian Smolinski or Michael Ryder? I think Ryder is next. Smolinski won 9 of 12 faceoffs last night.
So what does Bob Gainey do to improve his team's 5 on 5 play and/or goal scoring? He's not going to find it in Hamilton. The Bulldogs were shutout 6-0 on home ice last night. And their best players to start this season (Sergei Kostitsyn, Maxim Lapierre and Jonathan Ferland) are not goal scorers. Perhaps Gainey was in attendance in an effort to piece together a package for
immediate NHL help (Brad Richards?). In the meantime, Ryder sticks out like a sore thumb. A goal scorer not scoring for a team that needs a goal scorer.
Where have you gone Stephane Richer?
Martin Brodeur's career record against Montreal is 34-12-5. 12 losses? I can barely remember one...You won't have Jack Todd to kick around anymore...he's accepted a buyout from The Gazette...oh yeah, I'll have plenty more to say next month...The Black Hawks are once again fun to watch...They're playing for Denis Savard and Chicago area hockey fans who can once again see them on local TV....and whaddya know, the crowds are starting to return (over 16,000 last night vs Phoenix)...I'm starting to warm to the idea of bigger nets..the highest scoring team in the east is Carolina with 85 goals in 26 games...I'd rather see a little more room on the ice and I no longer buy the notion that ripping out the first few rows of seats in places like the Bell Center automatically means a huge loss in revenue...it's a loss the Habs can easily make up by charging more for premium seats and loges...the white- collared crowd that enjoys a pre-game meal at Queue De Cheval have plenty more money to spend...Angels owner Arte Moreno says baseball fans are "going to be angry and disappointed" when the Mitchell report on steroid use is made public...do you think one of Moreno's own stars might be on the list of players George Mitchell names as a user?...Best wishes to Terry DiMonte in Calgary, even though he thinks John Mellencamp is a better artist than Bob Dylan..Finally got around to actually seeing Nirvana Unplugged, finally out on DVD...It's stunning to see and hear the performance in HD and surround sound (watch for Kurt Cobain's facial expression at the end of Leadbelly classic):
http://www.nme.com/news/32183
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEtDC6MuImU
Happy December.
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Hard To Hold A Candle In The Cold November Rain
Saturday November 24 3:30 PM
I hate November. Worst time of the year. A clear reminder that many more dark and dreary days are ahead before we finally see the sun again on a regular basis. It's cold but far worse for me is the fact that it's so damp. I also hate the slush. So does the bottom of my jeans. Yet we all soldier on. Further proof that Montreal is one terrific place to live.
Can you find anything good about the month of November? Oh sure, if you're a winter outdoor enthusiast like Andie Bennett it means you're on the fast track to snowboarding, skiing, tobogganing (the first time I've ever written the word-honest), skating and washing your long underwear. Whoopi.
The best word I can use to describe this month is: bleak. Such a bleakness to it. In hockey the Canadiens play the Sabres and Leafs and Senators and Bruins. Same teams they played in October. There's no longer a local baseball hot stove session to follow. And only once in the last 30 years have we been able to attend a Grey Cup parade. And that one-five years ago-was damn cold-even with all the whiskey.
It's also hard to ignore-especially for anybody over 45-that the world changed forever-and for a lot worse-on November 22, 1963.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFpPjjKdUds&feature=related
Thanks to Larry Robinson for helping some of us escape the darkness for a few hours on November 19th. Shame on Ron Corey, Francois Seigneur, Pierre Boivin and anybody else who dragged their rear ends while Larry lost his mother, father and older brother while waiting to be properly honored. Kudos to Larry and Lou Lamorellio for making the evening so memorable.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9rp-ewJ8mI&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKd4HJNSbQg&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZmRWz_Dyk0&feature=related
Brief observations about the Habs more than one quarter through this season....anybody still need to be "sold" on Carey Price? Imagine how good he'll be when he plays more often then once a week or every 10 days...Mark Streit's bubble has burst...time to cut back on his ice time...I admire the guy but the Habs need an upgrade on Francis Boullion...How can a team coached by Guy Carbonneau, Doug Jarvis & Kirk Muller struggle so much to kill penalties?...it's not the goaltending...Michael Ryder is almost out of time...this year's Sergei Samsonov?...If he's still stuck in neutral by the 30 game mark he ought to be replaced...I'm not at all worried about Saku Koivu but I'm still waiting for another performance like the one he delivered against Briere and the Flyers; over three weeks ago...some refs clearly have it in for Alex Kovalev..then again some refs wouldn't be in the NHL if not for the two man system...brutal calls (and non-calls) seem to be a hot topic every night...to paraphrase Pierre McGuire..where can the Habs find a guy like Rick Tocchet (circa 1992)?...or Kevin Stevens for that matter?...Bob Gainey's x-mas wish list: Olli Jokinen, Marian Hossa, Mats Sundin (3-way trade?) or Shane Doan...
The greatest hockey team of all-time ( Montreal Canadiens 1955-1960) lost another Hall of Famer this week. Tom Johnson was Doug Harvey's defense partner. And Red Fisher's drinking partner. But he never called Fisher Red. Read it and weep. And laugh:
http://www.boston.com/sports/hockey/bruins/articles/2007/11/23/heres_looking_at_you_kid/
I hate November. Worst time of the year. A clear reminder that many more dark and dreary days are ahead before we finally see the sun again on a regular basis. It's cold but far worse for me is the fact that it's so damp. I also hate the slush. So does the bottom of my jeans. Yet we all soldier on. Further proof that Montreal is one terrific place to live.
Can you find anything good about the month of November? Oh sure, if you're a winter outdoor enthusiast like Andie Bennett it means you're on the fast track to snowboarding, skiing, tobogganing (the first time I've ever written the word-honest), skating and washing your long underwear. Whoopi.
The best word I can use to describe this month is: bleak. Such a bleakness to it. In hockey the Canadiens play the Sabres and Leafs and Senators and Bruins. Same teams they played in October. There's no longer a local baseball hot stove session to follow. And only once in the last 30 years have we been able to attend a Grey Cup parade. And that one-five years ago-was damn cold-even with all the whiskey.
It's also hard to ignore-especially for anybody over 45-that the world changed forever-and for a lot worse-on November 22, 1963.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFpPjjKdUds&feature=related
Thanks to Larry Robinson for helping some of us escape the darkness for a few hours on November 19th. Shame on Ron Corey, Francois Seigneur, Pierre Boivin and anybody else who dragged their rear ends while Larry lost his mother, father and older brother while waiting to be properly honored. Kudos to Larry and Lou Lamorellio for making the evening so memorable.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9rp-ewJ8mI&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKd4HJNSbQg&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZmRWz_Dyk0&feature=related
Brief observations about the Habs more than one quarter through this season....anybody still need to be "sold" on Carey Price? Imagine how good he'll be when he plays more often then once a week or every 10 days...Mark Streit's bubble has burst...time to cut back on his ice time...I admire the guy but the Habs need an upgrade on Francis Boullion...How can a team coached by Guy Carbonneau, Doug Jarvis & Kirk Muller struggle so much to kill penalties?...it's not the goaltending...Michael Ryder is almost out of time...this year's Sergei Samsonov?...If he's still stuck in neutral by the 30 game mark he ought to be replaced...I'm not at all worried about Saku Koivu but I'm still waiting for another performance like the one he delivered against Briere and the Flyers; over three weeks ago...some refs clearly have it in for Alex Kovalev..then again some refs wouldn't be in the NHL if not for the two man system...brutal calls (and non-calls) seem to be a hot topic every night...to paraphrase Pierre McGuire..where can the Habs find a guy like Rick Tocchet (circa 1992)?...or Kevin Stevens for that matter?...Bob Gainey's x-mas wish list: Olli Jokinen, Marian Hossa, Mats Sundin (3-way trade?) or Shane Doan...
The greatest hockey team of all-time ( Montreal Canadiens 1955-1960) lost another Hall of Famer this week. Tom Johnson was Doug Harvey's defense partner. And Red Fisher's drinking partner. But he never called Fisher Red. Read it and weep. And laugh:
http://www.boston.com/sports/hockey/bruins/articles/2007/11/23/heres_looking_at_you_kid/
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Bye Bye Barry (and Cristobal); Hello (Again) A-Rod; RIP Norman
Thursday November 15, 7:45 PM
Poor Cristobal Huet. Quickly becoming the Rodney Dangerfield of the Montreal Canadiens. If NHL GM's outside of Montreal feel as strongly about the guy as some hardcore Hab fans do, then those very fans ought to rejoice. Because they'll get to see their man play a lot of hockey over the next couple of years. But they'll have to subscribe to the NHL Center Ice package to do so because Cristobal won't be here. There are many out there who believe Huet will return to Montreal with a "home town discount" but I find that far-fetched. He'll be 33 next season. He's currently making $2.75 million. He's going to return here to play 20 games-and the Habs are going to pay him about two million a year for that? I think not.
Cristobal Huet is a very good goaltender who should be creating interest among several GM's who are in search of a talented, experienced goaltender (Ray Shero?). A good team guy. And a big Bob Dylan fan. But he's on his way out as a Hab. To be remembered as the guy who forced Jose Theodore out of town (and who kept the crease warm for Carey Price).
Couldn't the Feds in the U.S. Justice Department have indicted Barry Bonds last summer? If Bonds is going to jail for lying to a grand jury then how about Bud Selig follow him into the same hole for lying to congress during the anti-trust exemption hearings which followed his announcment that MLB was going to contract the Expos and Twins. And oh, how he lied again during hearings into steroid use.
Picture it. Selig and Bonds in jail garb. Working together on a chain gang. Like Tony Curtis and Sydney Poitier in "The Defiant Ones". But those guys got paid to play a part. Selig and Bonds are paying the price. They deserve each other.
I was in New York when my favorite writer died. Norman Mailer, who lived in Brooklyn, spoke to me at a time when I was still searching for a literary hero. I tried reading many of the classics, mostly because the young woman I was in love with seemed so deep and she read 'em all-and I mean all of them, devouring one after the other (Kafka, Dostoyevsky, Thomas Mann, Camus, Jane Austen, Melville, Tolstoy, Chekov, Joseph Conrad...) until I started to go through her collection. I found it to be a chore. Too dark, too complicated for me. At the time, anyway.
I was always a political junkie, even as a kid. So I remember picking up Fear And Loathing: On the Campaign Trail '72 by a guy named Hunter S. Thompson. And howled for days. Which then led me directly to Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and Hell's Angels. And I was hooked. It was through Thompson that I discovered Mailer.
I read The Naked And The Dead in one night. I couldn't believe it was written by a 25 year old. I then managed to find, mostly through the help at Cheap Thrills, everything Mailer had written.
If he wasn't America's finest novelist (too many clunkers) in my mind he was it's finest reporter.
If anybody wants to know what the 1960's were about read The Armies of The Night. He also chronicled the space program (Of a Fire on The Moon), politics, pop culture and sports. His masterpiece, The Executioner's Song, was essentially a reporting job on murderer Gary Gilmore's right to have himself executed. The book won the Pulitzer prize for literature.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/10/books/11mailer.html?ex=1210309200&en=52a0dcec1e5801af&ei=5087&excamp=GGGNnormanmailer&WT.srch=1&WT.mc_ev=click&WT.mc_id=GN-S-E-GG-NA-S-norman_mailer
And here's a terrific piece by Mark Kriegel on Mailer's love for boxing:
http://msn.foxsports.com/boxing/story/7441264
Mailer was a man who inspired me greatly. Somebody I wish I had the opportunity to interview. Or at least thank.
This week marked the 25th anniversary of the Ray Mancini-Duk Koo Kim championship fight in Las Vegas which resulted in the death of Kim. Long time boxing writer Ron Borges puts it in perspective:
http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=3107079
A-Rod back to the Yankees for even more money than what Tom Hicks paid him in Texas? Hank and Hal Steinbrenner have made it obvious in a hurry. Like father like son(s).
Poor Cristobal Huet. Quickly becoming the Rodney Dangerfield of the Montreal Canadiens. If NHL GM's outside of Montreal feel as strongly about the guy as some hardcore Hab fans do, then those very fans ought to rejoice. Because they'll get to see their man play a lot of hockey over the next couple of years. But they'll have to subscribe to the NHL Center Ice package to do so because Cristobal won't be here. There are many out there who believe Huet will return to Montreal with a "home town discount" but I find that far-fetched. He'll be 33 next season. He's currently making $2.75 million. He's going to return here to play 20 games-and the Habs are going to pay him about two million a year for that? I think not.
Cristobal Huet is a very good goaltender who should be creating interest among several GM's who are in search of a talented, experienced goaltender (Ray Shero?). A good team guy. And a big Bob Dylan fan. But he's on his way out as a Hab. To be remembered as the guy who forced Jose Theodore out of town (and who kept the crease warm for Carey Price).
Couldn't the Feds in the U.S. Justice Department have indicted Barry Bonds last summer? If Bonds is going to jail for lying to a grand jury then how about Bud Selig follow him into the same hole for lying to congress during the anti-trust exemption hearings which followed his announcment that MLB was going to contract the Expos and Twins. And oh, how he lied again during hearings into steroid use.
Picture it. Selig and Bonds in jail garb. Working together on a chain gang. Like Tony Curtis and Sydney Poitier in "The Defiant Ones". But those guys got paid to play a part. Selig and Bonds are paying the price. They deserve each other.
I was in New York when my favorite writer died. Norman Mailer, who lived in Brooklyn, spoke to me at a time when I was still searching for a literary hero. I tried reading many of the classics, mostly because the young woman I was in love with seemed so deep and she read 'em all-and I mean all of them, devouring one after the other (Kafka, Dostoyevsky, Thomas Mann, Camus, Jane Austen, Melville, Tolstoy, Chekov, Joseph Conrad...) until I started to go through her collection. I found it to be a chore. Too dark, too complicated for me. At the time, anyway.
I was always a political junkie, even as a kid. So I remember picking up Fear And Loathing: On the Campaign Trail '72 by a guy named Hunter S. Thompson. And howled for days. Which then led me directly to Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and Hell's Angels. And I was hooked. It was through Thompson that I discovered Mailer.
I read The Naked And The Dead in one night. I couldn't believe it was written by a 25 year old. I then managed to find, mostly through the help at Cheap Thrills, everything Mailer had written.
If he wasn't America's finest novelist (too many clunkers) in my mind he was it's finest reporter.
If anybody wants to know what the 1960's were about read The Armies of The Night. He also chronicled the space program (Of a Fire on The Moon), politics, pop culture and sports. His masterpiece, The Executioner's Song, was essentially a reporting job on murderer Gary Gilmore's right to have himself executed. The book won the Pulitzer prize for literature.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/10/books/11mailer.html?ex=1210309200&en=52a0dcec1e5801af&ei=5087&excamp=GGGNnormanmailer&WT.srch=1&WT.mc_ev=click&WT.mc_id=GN-S-E-GG-NA-S-norman_mailer
And here's a terrific piece by Mark Kriegel on Mailer's love for boxing:
http://msn.foxsports.com/boxing/story/7441264
Mailer was a man who inspired me greatly. Somebody I wish I had the opportunity to interview. Or at least thank.
This week marked the 25th anniversary of the Ray Mancini-Duk Koo Kim championship fight in Las Vegas which resulted in the death of Kim. Long time boxing writer Ron Borges puts it in perspective:
http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=3107079
A-Rod back to the Yankees for even more money than what Tom Hicks paid him in Texas? Hank and Hal Steinbrenner have made it obvious in a hurry. Like father like son(s).
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Schilling, Shula & Shots on Huet
Tuesday November 6, 7:45 PM
Red Sox in three games was an accurate call in the world series wasn't it? I mean, you knew it was over after they took a 3-0 lead, right? The Red Sox second world championship since 2004 has resulted in a parade of appearances on various variety and late night talk shows (until the writer's strike got in the way). I especially enjoyed Manny Ramirez on The Tonight Show w/Jay Leno. I stopped watching Leno years ago. Great stand up comic. Horrible host. Best thing you can say about him is that he's a better talk show host than, say, Chevy Chase. Or Pat Sajak. Or Alan Thicke. Or John McEnroe. Anyway, an example of why Bill Lee, among others, loves Manny (check NESN video, about halfway down the page, on left):
http://www.boston.com/sports/
Further proof technology is taking us places we thought we'd never go: Curt Schilling announces he's re-signing with the Red Sox before the team does, with their permission:
http://www.38pitches.com/
Cristobal Huet looked a lot like Carey Price in goal as he shutout the Buffalo Sabres monday night. In perfect position, making tough saves look not so tough. Quiet, not flopping around. Now if he can only learn how to handle the puck like Price...Michael Ryder needs a puck to bounce off his rear end and into the net and then watch, he'll pull a Brian Savage and score five or six goals over two or three games...Andrei Markov is a legit all star defenseman right now...Mike Komisarek is on his way....Anybody still think letting Sheldon Souray go was a mistake?...I keep hearing people complain that Chris Higgins doesn't have much "finish". What do people expect, a 40-45 goal season?...Higgins reminds me a lot of Rod Brindamour...Where are the poppies on the two french round table shows (110% & La Zone)?...There's a new book out about Patrick Roy, written by Roy's father Michel. Wonder if Mathieu ("He's a cancer in the room") Schneider plans to read it:
http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/10811-Patrick-Roys-dad-aims-to-correct-image-of-his-son-in-new-Quebec-book.html
The single season greatest team in NFL history is the 1972 Miami Dolphins. No ifs, and's, but's, or maybe's. Those Dolphins, led by a Hall of Fame coach & GM, a solid QB, a sensational running game and tremendous defense, were perfect 35 years ago. Hard to beat perfection.
If this year's New England Patriots go all the way to a Super Bowl championship without losing, they move past the Dolphins, again no if's, and's, etc. even though Don Shula would have you believe otherwise:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21655235/
http://www.miamidolphins.com/newsite/history/1972perfectseason/1972perfectseason.asp
The Jimi Hendrix Experience Live At Monterey has been re-released on cd & dvd. I have original album and cd, plus the entire Monterey Pop Festival (1967) on cd & dvd but it's Hendrix so of course I bought it. What I had forgotten was the less than enthusiastic response Jimi got for his first major concert in his homeland. Actually, there was a lot of stunned slilence before, during and after he"sacrificed" his guitar to express his "love". If you care about the history of rock and roll it's a must-have *****
http://www.hendrixatmonterey.com/
Also listening to "I'm Not There", the soundtrack to the much discussed Todd Haynes biopic on Bob Dylan. I was lucky enough to see the movie a few weeks back with my pal Terry Haig (who's in it-briefly) and can't wait to see it again later this month. I'm certain most Dylan fans will expect nothing less than a beautiful, mind-blowing experience. It was for me.
http://www.imnotthere-movie.com/
Standout performances on the cd are Eddie Vedder on "All Along The Watchtower"; Jim James (My Morning Jacket) & Calexico on "Goin' To Acapulco"; the amazing Cat Power on "Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again"; John Doe on "Pressing On"; Los Lobos on "Billy 1"; Jeff Tweedy (Wilco) on "Simple Twist Of Fate"; and Mark Lanegan on "Man In The Long Black Coat". And that's only disc one.
http://www.amazon.com/Im-Not-There-Original-Soundtrack/dp/B000VS6P9Q
Eric Lindros, we hardly knew ya.
Red Sox in three games was an accurate call in the world series wasn't it? I mean, you knew it was over after they took a 3-0 lead, right? The Red Sox second world championship since 2004 has resulted in a parade of appearances on various variety and late night talk shows (until the writer's strike got in the way). I especially enjoyed Manny Ramirez on The Tonight Show w/Jay Leno. I stopped watching Leno years ago. Great stand up comic. Horrible host. Best thing you can say about him is that he's a better talk show host than, say, Chevy Chase. Or Pat Sajak. Or Alan Thicke. Or John McEnroe. Anyway, an example of why Bill Lee, among others, loves Manny (check NESN video, about halfway down the page, on left):
http://www.boston.com/sports/
Further proof technology is taking us places we thought we'd never go: Curt Schilling announces he's re-signing with the Red Sox before the team does, with their permission:
http://www.38pitches.com/
Cristobal Huet looked a lot like Carey Price in goal as he shutout the Buffalo Sabres monday night. In perfect position, making tough saves look not so tough. Quiet, not flopping around. Now if he can only learn how to handle the puck like Price...Michael Ryder needs a puck to bounce off his rear end and into the net and then watch, he'll pull a Brian Savage and score five or six goals over two or three games...Andrei Markov is a legit all star defenseman right now...Mike Komisarek is on his way....Anybody still think letting Sheldon Souray go was a mistake?...I keep hearing people complain that Chris Higgins doesn't have much "finish". What do people expect, a 40-45 goal season?...Higgins reminds me a lot of Rod Brindamour...Where are the poppies on the two french round table shows (110% & La Zone)?...There's a new book out about Patrick Roy, written by Roy's father Michel. Wonder if Mathieu ("He's a cancer in the room") Schneider plans to read it:
http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/10811-Patrick-Roys-dad-aims-to-correct-image-of-his-son-in-new-Quebec-book.html
The single season greatest team in NFL history is the 1972 Miami Dolphins. No ifs, and's, but's, or maybe's. Those Dolphins, led by a Hall of Fame coach & GM, a solid QB, a sensational running game and tremendous defense, were perfect 35 years ago. Hard to beat perfection.
If this year's New England Patriots go all the way to a Super Bowl championship without losing, they move past the Dolphins, again no if's, and's, etc. even though Don Shula would have you believe otherwise:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21655235/
http://www.miamidolphins.com/newsite/history/1972perfectseason/1972perfectseason.asp
The Jimi Hendrix Experience Live At Monterey has been re-released on cd & dvd. I have original album and cd, plus the entire Monterey Pop Festival (1967) on cd & dvd but it's Hendrix so of course I bought it. What I had forgotten was the less than enthusiastic response Jimi got for his first major concert in his homeland. Actually, there was a lot of stunned slilence before, during and after he"sacrificed" his guitar to express his "love". If you care about the history of rock and roll it's a must-have *****
http://www.hendrixatmonterey.com/
Also listening to "I'm Not There", the soundtrack to the much discussed Todd Haynes biopic on Bob Dylan. I was lucky enough to see the movie a few weeks back with my pal Terry Haig (who's in it-briefly) and can't wait to see it again later this month. I'm certain most Dylan fans will expect nothing less than a beautiful, mind-blowing experience. It was for me.
http://www.imnotthere-movie.com/
Standout performances on the cd are Eddie Vedder on "All Along The Watchtower"; Jim James (My Morning Jacket) & Calexico on "Goin' To Acapulco"; the amazing Cat Power on "Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again"; John Doe on "Pressing On"; Los Lobos on "Billy 1"; Jeff Tweedy (Wilco) on "Simple Twist Of Fate"; and Mark Lanegan on "Man In The Long Black Coat". And that's only disc one.
http://www.amazon.com/Im-Not-There-Original-Soundtrack/dp/B000VS6P9Q
Eric Lindros, we hardly knew ya.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Red Sox in 3; A Grand Alex-Music To My Ears
Thursday Oct 25, 7:55 PM
I dont much care about this year's world series. As outlined earlier I feel for the long suffering fans in Cleveland. I guess it really was too much to ask for an Indians-Cubs series. Boston? Fine. But Colorado? I realize what they did to win the National League pennant but I just can't get excited over it. Red Sox-Mets; now you're talking. Red Sox-Phillies would have been interesting (Francona, Schilling back in Philly, a slugfest almost every night). But the fact that the Rockies are, statistically, one of the great defensive teams of all time? Yawn. I appreciate defense. I wish that boxscores could add another category-RS, as in" runs saved". But unless you can promise me Brooks Robinson circa 1970 or Graig Nettles circa '76 or Ozzie Smith in 1987, I'm not going to tune in to watch it.
The Red Sox had their scare. The only major league team close to them all season was Cleveland. The ALCS was in fact the World Series. It ends this weekend. I'll be watching hockey.
1,000 games for Alex Kovalev. !,000 headaches for 15 different coaches. I love the guy. Just imagine, if he had players other than Plekanic, Samsanov, Perezhogin, Ribeiro, Bulis, or Zednick as linemates the last three seasons. Oh, wait. In the 2004 playoffs he scored six goals and 10 points in 11 games, playing alongside Saku Koivu & Zednick. Imagine, say, Jaromir Jagr by his side. Or Peter Forsberg. Or Joe Thornton. Oh, wait again. We know what he can do playing with Jagr (mostly on the power play). Kovalev's career needs to be examined carefully. When not hampered by injuries he has put up solid numbers. When those numbers have dipped it hasn't all been on him. Toward the end of his first tenure in New York, Kovalev had as teammates/centermen a past his prime, the puck-is-mine-not-yours-Alex, Wayne Gretzky. And a past his prime Mark Messier. He gets sent to Pittsburgh. Re-born, playing mostly alongside Robert Lang and Martin Straka and part of one of hockey's great power plays with Jagr and Mario Lemieux. He remains effective offensively-even without Lang-on a terrible Penguins team. Sent back to New York he meets up again with a now 43 year old Messier. A past his prime Eric Lindros. And that noted play-making centerman at nine million a year Bobby Holik. Then it's onto Montreal for Josef Balej (when does Bob Gainey get full credit for that?). Other than Koivu, briefly, Kovalev has not had a centerman or linemates that fit his talent. That's an organization failure, not Kovalev's. Just watch, as I have since he got here, how many times Kovalev puts his teammates in a position to score. Rarely have I seen a talent with the Habs as good from the blueline in as Kovalev. While he still might not have the perfect centerman or linemates he's getting the opportunity to create offense on the power play. A major reason the team does not (so far) miss Sheldon Souray. Long live Alex.
While game one of the World Series was played at Fenway I was at Club Lambi for a cd launch party for The Jimmyriggers. Local musicians Andre Kirchoff, Ram Krishnan (yes the same guy who pours at Grumpy's) & David Pearce (son of Brent who used to sit in for Ted Tevan way back when) deliver the goods for the alt/country, country/rock crowd. The cd is Traveling Salesman, Killer On the Run...*** www.myspace.com/thejimmyriggers
More music you might have interest in with the holiday season approaching:
Ryan Adams: Easy Tiger *** 1/2 Tight, focused, happy; let's hope his Halloween Head is history
Johnny Cash: The Great Lost Performance *** 1990 Concert at Asbury Park before his American revival; rare live nuggets on this one http://www.invitatiionline.ro/johnny-cash-the-great-lost-performance-2007/
Guy Clark: Workbench Songs *** 1/2 Master craftsman whos songs never grow old
http://www.guyclark.com/
John Doe: A Year In The Wilderness **** Founding member of X delivers his best solo work with help from Dave Alvin, Kathleen Edwards & Aimee Mann http://www.yeproc.com/artist_info.php?artistId=9863
Goin' Home (A Tribute To Fats Domino) *** 1/2 Whos Who of Music biz salute New Orleans legend who lost his home and gold records in Katrina; first cd is a treat, second is just ok; the cause makes it worthwhile http://www.tipitinasfoundation.com/
Dropkick Murphys: The Meanest of Times **** My favorite Murphys cd; the title says it all spewed out with pure punk energy and anger; snaps, crackels but no pop; at Metropolis NOV 17
http://www.dropkickmurphys.com/
Steve Earle: Washington Square Serenade **** New Greenwich Village resident pays homage to his new home and new wife (Allison Moorer) http://www.steveearle.com/
Bryan Ferry: Dylaneque *** 1/2 Rolled my eyes when first heard of this Dylan tribute but it works. Try to find DVD to go with it http://www.bryanferry.com/
John Fogerty: Revival **** 1/2 Fantastic return to form with guitar heavy licks any punk band would be proud of; some great songs about American nightmare in Iraq http://www.johnfogerty.com/
Steve Forbert: Strange Names & New Sensations *** Workingman's musician now selling cd's on line and at live gigs; still worth listening to http://www.steveforbert.com/
Mary Gauthier: Between Daylight and Dark *** 1/2 pronounced Go-shay; gifted songwriter; some bleak stuff here http://www.marygauthier.com/
Ian Hunter: Shrunken Heads **** One of my all time favorite artists still going strong with well aimed swipes at Bush and neocons http://www.ianhunter.com/shrunkenus.shtml
Lee Hazelwood: Cake Or Death *** Legendary renegade songwriter knew he was dying while recording this; features original version of (These) Boots with Duane Eddy on guitar
http://www.everrecords.com/index.php
The Hold Steady: Boys And Girls In America **** Rock and roll party album of the year
http://www.theholdsteady.com/
Mark Knopfler: Kill To Get Crimson *** 1/2 Following tributes to U.S. in his last two albums Knopfler returns home to chronicle many lives; as close to a musical novel as you'll hear
http://www.mark-knopfler.com/
Jimmy LaFave: Cimarron Manifesto **** Gorgeous originals and three beautiful covers (including a striking re-working of Donovan's "Catch The Wind") by Montreal's favorite Austin musician; watch for november gig http://www.redhouserecords.com/LaFave.html
Bettye LaVette: The Scene Of The Crime *** 1/2 Soul great backed by Drive By Truckers recorded at Muscle Shoals http://www.bettyelavette.com/
Nick Lowe: At My Age ** 1/2 Nick doing the crooning thing; and so it goes...
http://www.nicklowe.net/
Joni Mitchell: Shine ** I admit it...I don't get it. I tried, I really did. Maybe you have to see the dances that go with it....or just read the lyrics and hum http://www.jonimitchell.com/
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss: Raising Sand **** 1/2 Beautiful; haunting versions of songs by The Everly Brothers, Tom Waits, Mel Tillis, Townes Van Zandt and the late, under appreciated Gene Clark; masterfully prodcued-as usual-by T-Bone Burnett who also backs up in the band which also features Norman Blake and Marc Ribot. A stunner. And Alison Krauss never looked so hot http://www.robertplant.com/
http://www.alisonkrauss.com/
http://www.tboneburnett.com/
Grace Potter And The Nocturnals: This is Somewhere **** I love this cd. Vermont resident Potter can rock and pop and write a damn good tune. If you want to feel what life is like for a young rock and roll band while touring "This" is it (along with Kings of Leon's "Aha Shake Heartbreak") . http://www.gracepotter.com/
Rilo Kiley: Under The Blacklight ** 1/2 Not nearly as good as Potter and nowehere near as good as the solo cd by lead singer Jenny Lewis http://www.rilokiley.com/
Tom Russell: Wounded Heart Of America (Tom Russell Songs) *** It's Russell songs covered by everyone from Johnny Cash to Ian Tyson to poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti plus a couple of new songs by the man himself http://www.hightone.com/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=138&products_id=335&osCsid=302073d13202e6e38e01a85dfc3bb1d8
Patti Scialfa: Play It As It Lays *** 1/2 I love her soulful voice; look for clues about her marriage to The Boss and you might actually find a couple; now if Bruce really had balls he'd let her open for him http://www.pattiscialfa.net/
Suzanne Vega: Beauty & Crime *** Vega's love letter to New York City http://www.suzannevega.com/
Porter Wagoner: Wagonmaster *** 1/2 The real thing; still sounding great at 80; lovingly produced and arranged by Marty Stuart http://www.anti.com/artist.php?id=42
The Weakerthans: Reunion Tour **** Tasteful, literary punk by Winnipeg Indies; includes "Elegy For Gump Worsley"; be sure to catch them Nov 2 at Le National http://www.myspace.com/theweakerthans
Neil Young: Chrome Dreams II **** It's getting mixed reviews but I can't get enough right now; some critics suggest "Ordinary People" is way too long at over 18:00. I say who cares how long a song is if it moves you? I think the song is fucking brilliant and I've heard it over a dozen times by now; like the ride home it seems to get shorter and shorter with each listen; if you're a big Neil Young (or Dylan, Van Morrison, Leonard Cohen, Elvis Costello) fan you've already dismissed what critics say. Buy/Download it now http://www.neilyoung.com/
I dont much care about this year's world series. As outlined earlier I feel for the long suffering fans in Cleveland. I guess it really was too much to ask for an Indians-Cubs series. Boston? Fine. But Colorado? I realize what they did to win the National League pennant but I just can't get excited over it. Red Sox-Mets; now you're talking. Red Sox-Phillies would have been interesting (Francona, Schilling back in Philly, a slugfest almost every night). But the fact that the Rockies are, statistically, one of the great defensive teams of all time? Yawn. I appreciate defense. I wish that boxscores could add another category-RS, as in" runs saved". But unless you can promise me Brooks Robinson circa 1970 or Graig Nettles circa '76 or Ozzie Smith in 1987, I'm not going to tune in to watch it.
The Red Sox had their scare. The only major league team close to them all season was Cleveland. The ALCS was in fact the World Series. It ends this weekend. I'll be watching hockey.
1,000 games for Alex Kovalev. !,000 headaches for 15 different coaches. I love the guy. Just imagine, if he had players other than Plekanic, Samsanov, Perezhogin, Ribeiro, Bulis, or Zednick as linemates the last three seasons. Oh, wait. In the 2004 playoffs he scored six goals and 10 points in 11 games, playing alongside Saku Koivu & Zednick. Imagine, say, Jaromir Jagr by his side. Or Peter Forsberg. Or Joe Thornton. Oh, wait again. We know what he can do playing with Jagr (mostly on the power play). Kovalev's career needs to be examined carefully. When not hampered by injuries he has put up solid numbers. When those numbers have dipped it hasn't all been on him. Toward the end of his first tenure in New York, Kovalev had as teammates/centermen a past his prime, the puck-is-mine-not-yours-Alex, Wayne Gretzky. And a past his prime Mark Messier. He gets sent to Pittsburgh. Re-born, playing mostly alongside Robert Lang and Martin Straka and part of one of hockey's great power plays with Jagr and Mario Lemieux. He remains effective offensively-even without Lang-on a terrible Penguins team. Sent back to New York he meets up again with a now 43 year old Messier. A past his prime Eric Lindros. And that noted play-making centerman at nine million a year Bobby Holik. Then it's onto Montreal for Josef Balej (when does Bob Gainey get full credit for that?). Other than Koivu, briefly, Kovalev has not had a centerman or linemates that fit his talent. That's an organization failure, not Kovalev's. Just watch, as I have since he got here, how many times Kovalev puts his teammates in a position to score. Rarely have I seen a talent with the Habs as good from the blueline in as Kovalev. While he still might not have the perfect centerman or linemates he's getting the opportunity to create offense on the power play. A major reason the team does not (so far) miss Sheldon Souray. Long live Alex.
While game one of the World Series was played at Fenway I was at Club Lambi for a cd launch party for The Jimmyriggers. Local musicians Andre Kirchoff, Ram Krishnan (yes the same guy who pours at Grumpy's) & David Pearce (son of Brent who used to sit in for Ted Tevan way back when) deliver the goods for the alt/country, country/rock crowd. The cd is Traveling Salesman, Killer On the Run...*** www.myspace.com/thejimmyriggers
More music you might have interest in with the holiday season approaching:
Ryan Adams: Easy Tiger *** 1/2 Tight, focused, happy; let's hope his Halloween Head is history
Johnny Cash: The Great Lost Performance *** 1990 Concert at Asbury Park before his American revival; rare live nuggets on this one http://www.invitatiionline.ro/johnny-cash-the-great-lost-performance-2007/
Guy Clark: Workbench Songs *** 1/2 Master craftsman whos songs never grow old
http://www.guyclark.com/
John Doe: A Year In The Wilderness **** Founding member of X delivers his best solo work with help from Dave Alvin, Kathleen Edwards & Aimee Mann http://www.yeproc.com/artist_info.php?artistId=9863
Goin' Home (A Tribute To Fats Domino) *** 1/2 Whos Who of Music biz salute New Orleans legend who lost his home and gold records in Katrina; first cd is a treat, second is just ok; the cause makes it worthwhile http://www.tipitinasfoundation.com/
Dropkick Murphys: The Meanest of Times **** My favorite Murphys cd; the title says it all spewed out with pure punk energy and anger; snaps, crackels but no pop; at Metropolis NOV 17
http://www.dropkickmurphys.com/
Steve Earle: Washington Square Serenade **** New Greenwich Village resident pays homage to his new home and new wife (Allison Moorer) http://www.steveearle.com/
Bryan Ferry: Dylaneque *** 1/2 Rolled my eyes when first heard of this Dylan tribute but it works. Try to find DVD to go with it http://www.bryanferry.com/
John Fogerty: Revival **** 1/2 Fantastic return to form with guitar heavy licks any punk band would be proud of; some great songs about American nightmare in Iraq http://www.johnfogerty.com/
Steve Forbert: Strange Names & New Sensations *** Workingman's musician now selling cd's on line and at live gigs; still worth listening to http://www.steveforbert.com/
Mary Gauthier: Between Daylight and Dark *** 1/2 pronounced Go-shay; gifted songwriter; some bleak stuff here http://www.marygauthier.com/
Ian Hunter: Shrunken Heads **** One of my all time favorite artists still going strong with well aimed swipes at Bush and neocons http://www.ianhunter.com/shrunkenus.shtml
Lee Hazelwood: Cake Or Death *** Legendary renegade songwriter knew he was dying while recording this; features original version of (These) Boots with Duane Eddy on guitar
http://www.everrecords.com/index.php
The Hold Steady: Boys And Girls In America **** Rock and roll party album of the year
http://www.theholdsteady.com/
Mark Knopfler: Kill To Get Crimson *** 1/2 Following tributes to U.S. in his last two albums Knopfler returns home to chronicle many lives; as close to a musical novel as you'll hear
http://www.mark-knopfler.com/
Jimmy LaFave: Cimarron Manifesto **** Gorgeous originals and three beautiful covers (including a striking re-working of Donovan's "Catch The Wind") by Montreal's favorite Austin musician; watch for november gig http://www.redhouserecords.com/LaFave.html
Bettye LaVette: The Scene Of The Crime *** 1/2 Soul great backed by Drive By Truckers recorded at Muscle Shoals http://www.bettyelavette.com/
Nick Lowe: At My Age ** 1/2 Nick doing the crooning thing; and so it goes...
http://www.nicklowe.net/
Joni Mitchell: Shine ** I admit it...I don't get it. I tried, I really did. Maybe you have to see the dances that go with it....or just read the lyrics and hum http://www.jonimitchell.com/
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss: Raising Sand **** 1/2 Beautiful; haunting versions of songs by The Everly Brothers, Tom Waits, Mel Tillis, Townes Van Zandt and the late, under appreciated Gene Clark; masterfully prodcued-as usual-by T-Bone Burnett who also backs up in the band which also features Norman Blake and Marc Ribot. A stunner. And Alison Krauss never looked so hot http://www.robertplant.com/
http://www.alisonkrauss.com/
http://www.tboneburnett.com/
Grace Potter And The Nocturnals: This is Somewhere **** I love this cd. Vermont resident Potter can rock and pop and write a damn good tune. If you want to feel what life is like for a young rock and roll band while touring "This" is it (along with Kings of Leon's "Aha Shake Heartbreak") . http://www.gracepotter.com/
Rilo Kiley: Under The Blacklight ** 1/2 Not nearly as good as Potter and nowehere near as good as the solo cd by lead singer Jenny Lewis http://www.rilokiley.com/
Tom Russell: Wounded Heart Of America (Tom Russell Songs) *** It's Russell songs covered by everyone from Johnny Cash to Ian Tyson to poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti plus a couple of new songs by the man himself http://www.hightone.com/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=138&products_id=335&osCsid=302073d13202e6e38e01a85dfc3bb1d8
Patti Scialfa: Play It As It Lays *** 1/2 I love her soulful voice; look for clues about her marriage to The Boss and you might actually find a couple; now if Bruce really had balls he'd let her open for him http://www.pattiscialfa.net/
Suzanne Vega: Beauty & Crime *** Vega's love letter to New York City http://www.suzannevega.com/
Porter Wagoner: Wagonmaster *** 1/2 The real thing; still sounding great at 80; lovingly produced and arranged by Marty Stuart http://www.anti.com/artist.php?id=42
The Weakerthans: Reunion Tour **** Tasteful, literary punk by Winnipeg Indies; includes "Elegy For Gump Worsley"; be sure to catch them Nov 2 at Le National http://www.myspace.com/theweakerthans
Neil Young: Chrome Dreams II **** It's getting mixed reviews but I can't get enough right now; some critics suggest "Ordinary People" is way too long at over 18:00. I say who cares how long a song is if it moves you? I think the song is fucking brilliant and I've heard it over a dozen times by now; like the ride home it seems to get shorter and shorter with each listen; if you're a big Neil Young (or Dylan, Van Morrison, Leonard Cohen, Elvis Costello) fan you've already dismissed what critics say. Buy/Download it now http://www.neilyoung.com/
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Atlanta Belongs In The Deep North; Kovy Being Kovy?
Wednesday October 17th 7:45 pm
Bob Hartley getting fired might be the first step towards eventual relocation of the Thrashers. Let's get the NHL out of Atlanta, Nashville and one or two other U.S. outposts and back here up north where it belongs-including, with or without Jim Balsillie-Hamilton or Southern Ontario.
Guy Carbonneau says Alex Kovalev criticizing him for not taking a time out late in tuesday's eventual loss to Florida was not that big a deal. He likens Kovalev's ill-timed outbursts to those of Guy Lafleur. As the late Lloyd Bentsen said about then VP Dan Quayle:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-7gpgXNWYI
And Alex Kovalev is no Guy Lafleur.
Carbonneau did not blow the time out issue, he just had the wrong guys on the ice with 10 seconds to play. Kyle Chipchura might soon develop into that defensive, shut- down centerman and elite penalty killer, perhaps as soon as later this season. But not in his 3rd NHL game. Mathieu Dandenault and Patrice Brisebois on the ice with Roman Hamrlik, Bryan Smolinski, Christopher Higgins, Thomas Plekanic and Saku Koivu on the bench makes little sense. But not exactly a fireable offense.
So TSN's Gord Miller sends NHL deputy Comissioner Bill Daly an e-mail with the names of players/agents/lawyers who were upset with Ted Saskin's knifing of Bob Goodenow so he could "get information back". Daly promptly forwards the e-mail to Saskin. Think Gord might want to stick to more reliable sources from now on? (Like his pal from Edmonton-Wayne Gretzky). This "incident" tells you everything you need to know about Daly, Saskin and especially Chris Chelios who's been as relentless off the ice in his pursuit of justice as he has been on it in pursuit of championships for 25 years.
It's now up to 50-50 that Joe Torre will actually return to manage the Yankees in 2008, probably with a new pitching coach. An even bigger decision in The Bronx is whether or not A-Rod opts out of his monster contract. Yankees fans (and Torre since he hasn't quit by now) have to hope that Rodriguez takes his act elsewhere. Check this out, courtesy of SI's Tom Verducci:
...his final 59 postseason at-bats as a Yankee will be one of the more confounding, odds-defying trends in the history of great players. In those 59 at-bats, Rodriguez:
• went 8-for-59, a .136 batting average.
• batted with a total of 38 runners on base and left every single one of them on base. Not one did he drive in. He went 0 for 27, including 11 strikeouts, in at-bats with runners on.
• went 0 for 12 with a total of 17 runners in scoring position, driving in none of them.
The streak dates to the fifth inning of Game 4 of the 2004 ALCS. The Yankees went 3-14 in that stretch...
A-Rod and agent Scott Boras have until November 10 to decide if they want to stay put with NY or head elsewhere. Boras' price tag this time around is even more than the stupid contract Tom Hicks paid him in texas (10 yrs, 250 Million). Or you can make that even more stupid. Some idiotic team (Angels? Giants?) will pay him $300 million this time. And he'll win an MVP award or three. And he'll still whiff in the post season.
How'd you like to have Jay Rothman as a boss? Rothman is the producer of Monday Night Football on ABC. Last weekend Joe Theismann, replaced this year in the MNF booth by Ron Jaworski whined to a newspaper that the show has "become three hours of Tony Kornheiser". So when Jimmy Kimmel aka Mr. Sarah Silverman shows up to promote his late night talk show on ABC he has a special hello for "Joe Theismann who's sitting at home with steam coming out of his ears." A good shot at Theismann who makes Tim McCarver sound mute. And a strong defense of fellow company employee Kornheiser. But Rothman sided with Theismann saying Kimmel's comments were "classless and disappointing." And for good measure Rothman has banned Kimmel from future monday night telecasts. An update on the "You'll never work in this town again" riff. Rothman should be forced to watch rerun after rerun of every Joe Theismann appearance on tv over the last 20 years. Should be enough to send him straight into sense of humour rehab.
Which is the most predictable headline of October?
Kovalev Criticizes Carbonneau
Souray Out With Separated Shoulder
Alex Hilton Arrested After Acquittal
How about those wild and crazy Grey Cup organizers in Toronto going all out by lining up Lenny Kravitz to perform at half time. Oh, that's not all. There WILL be Canadian content too. Blue Rodeo, Great Big Sea, Spirit Of The West, Kim Mitchell, Loverboy & Trooper. Oh, the cutting edginess of it all. Couldn't they find room for April Wine? Chiliwack? Dan Hill?
So a genuine Montreal moment takes place sunday night as Win Butler and Regine Chassagne of Arcade Fire join Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band onstage......in &%@! Ottawa:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5bT1_niUgk&mode=related&search=
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4Zkz2pUt_g&mode=related&search=
Last month Jack White jumped onstage with Bob Dylan and his band at the famed Ryman in Nashville, getting Dylan to play two songs he had never performed in public, "Outlaw Blues" (..don't ask me nothin' about nothin' , I just might tell you the truth") and Meet Me In The Morning" plus the rarely performed "One More Cup Of Coffee (Valley Below)":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSfSHD9SW_g&mode=related&search=
Great to see two generations of superb talent sharing the stage. Think about more possibilities.
The Strokes & Lou Reed. Ryan Adams & Neil Young. Cat Power & Patti Smith. Joss Stone & Aretha Franklin. Pete Doherty & Keith Richards...
http://music.guardian.co.uk/news/story/0,,2161966,00.html
Bob Hartley getting fired might be the first step towards eventual relocation of the Thrashers. Let's get the NHL out of Atlanta, Nashville and one or two other U.S. outposts and back here up north where it belongs-including, with or without Jim Balsillie-Hamilton or Southern Ontario.
Guy Carbonneau says Alex Kovalev criticizing him for not taking a time out late in tuesday's eventual loss to Florida was not that big a deal. He likens Kovalev's ill-timed outbursts to those of Guy Lafleur. As the late Lloyd Bentsen said about then VP Dan Quayle:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-7gpgXNWYI
And Alex Kovalev is no Guy Lafleur.
Carbonneau did not blow the time out issue, he just had the wrong guys on the ice with 10 seconds to play. Kyle Chipchura might soon develop into that defensive, shut- down centerman and elite penalty killer, perhaps as soon as later this season. But not in his 3rd NHL game. Mathieu Dandenault and Patrice Brisebois on the ice with Roman Hamrlik, Bryan Smolinski, Christopher Higgins, Thomas Plekanic and Saku Koivu on the bench makes little sense. But not exactly a fireable offense.
So TSN's Gord Miller sends NHL deputy Comissioner Bill Daly an e-mail with the names of players/agents/lawyers who were upset with Ted Saskin's knifing of Bob Goodenow so he could "get information back". Daly promptly forwards the e-mail to Saskin. Think Gord might want to stick to more reliable sources from now on? (Like his pal from Edmonton-Wayne Gretzky). This "incident" tells you everything you need to know about Daly, Saskin and especially Chris Chelios who's been as relentless off the ice in his pursuit of justice as he has been on it in pursuit of championships for 25 years.
It's now up to 50-50 that Joe Torre will actually return to manage the Yankees in 2008, probably with a new pitching coach. An even bigger decision in The Bronx is whether or not A-Rod opts out of his monster contract. Yankees fans (and Torre since he hasn't quit by now) have to hope that Rodriguez takes his act elsewhere. Check this out, courtesy of SI's Tom Verducci:
...his final 59 postseason at-bats as a Yankee will be one of the more confounding, odds-defying trends in the history of great players. In those 59 at-bats, Rodriguez:
• went 8-for-59, a .136 batting average.
• batted with a total of 38 runners on base and left every single one of them on base. Not one did he drive in. He went 0 for 27, including 11 strikeouts, in at-bats with runners on.
• went 0 for 12 with a total of 17 runners in scoring position, driving in none of them.
The streak dates to the fifth inning of Game 4 of the 2004 ALCS. The Yankees went 3-14 in that stretch...
A-Rod and agent Scott Boras have until November 10 to decide if they want to stay put with NY or head elsewhere. Boras' price tag this time around is even more than the stupid contract Tom Hicks paid him in texas (10 yrs, 250 Million). Or you can make that even more stupid. Some idiotic team (Angels? Giants?) will pay him $300 million this time. And he'll win an MVP award or three. And he'll still whiff in the post season.
How'd you like to have Jay Rothman as a boss? Rothman is the producer of Monday Night Football on ABC. Last weekend Joe Theismann, replaced this year in the MNF booth by Ron Jaworski whined to a newspaper that the show has "become three hours of Tony Kornheiser". So when Jimmy Kimmel aka Mr. Sarah Silverman shows up to promote his late night talk show on ABC he has a special hello for "Joe Theismann who's sitting at home with steam coming out of his ears." A good shot at Theismann who makes Tim McCarver sound mute. And a strong defense of fellow company employee Kornheiser. But Rothman sided with Theismann saying Kimmel's comments were "classless and disappointing." And for good measure Rothman has banned Kimmel from future monday night telecasts. An update on the "You'll never work in this town again" riff. Rothman should be forced to watch rerun after rerun of every Joe Theismann appearance on tv over the last 20 years. Should be enough to send him straight into sense of humour rehab.
Which is the most predictable headline of October?
Kovalev Criticizes Carbonneau
Souray Out With Separated Shoulder
Alex Hilton Arrested After Acquittal
How about those wild and crazy Grey Cup organizers in Toronto going all out by lining up Lenny Kravitz to perform at half time. Oh, that's not all. There WILL be Canadian content too. Blue Rodeo, Great Big Sea, Spirit Of The West, Kim Mitchell, Loverboy & Trooper. Oh, the cutting edginess of it all. Couldn't they find room for April Wine? Chiliwack? Dan Hill?
So a genuine Montreal moment takes place sunday night as Win Butler and Regine Chassagne of Arcade Fire join Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band onstage......in &%@! Ottawa:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5bT1_niUgk&mode=related&search=
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4Zkz2pUt_g&mode=related&search=
Last month Jack White jumped onstage with Bob Dylan and his band at the famed Ryman in Nashville, getting Dylan to play two songs he had never performed in public, "Outlaw Blues" (..don't ask me nothin' about nothin' , I just might tell you the truth") and Meet Me In The Morning" plus the rarely performed "One More Cup Of Coffee (Valley Below)":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSfSHD9SW_g&mode=related&search=
Great to see two generations of superb talent sharing the stage. Think about more possibilities.
The Strokes & Lou Reed. Ryan Adams & Neil Young. Cat Power & Patti Smith. Joss Stone & Aretha Franklin. Pete Doherty & Keith Richards...
http://music.guardian.co.uk/news/story/0,,2161966,00.html
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Cleveland Rocks! Elvis Lives! (Where Are The Mets?)
Tuesday October 9 8:30 PM
What a great time of the year for a sports fan. NHL underway, CFL winding down, NFL in full gear and MLB in LCS mode. Ah yes, major League baseball. First year in 40 that I did not attend a single game. Since the loss of the Expos I've managed to get to Fenway Park and Shea Stadium a few times but this year-not even a trip to Ottawa for an Expos tribute. Call it a nasty divorce. I still read boxscores, every one of them. I read stories, mostly those written by Jeff Blair. But otherwise I've lost that lovin' feeling. Haven't played fantasy baseball since 2003. Watch very little during regular season. Maybe the odd Jays game, cheering for Matt Stairs.
Some late games involving Cabrera and Angels or Russell Martin and the Dodgers. The Red Sox. The Mets, especially after Pedro returned. But that's pretty much been it. Until now.
I've already explained why I'd like to see Cleveland win it all. But can Joe Borowski really close it out at Fenway against Manny & Ortiz? Jonathan Papelbon reminds me so much of John Wetteland circa 1993 (9-3, 43 saves, 1.37 ERA, 70 G, 83 IP, 58 H, 28 BB 113 K) while Grady Sizemore make me think of a young Larry Walker. Josh Beckett & CC Sabathia would both be legit Cy Young award winners. RED SOX in 6.
While we're still on topic, don't the Colorado Rockie make you think of the 1993 Expos? Problem in '93 was, the Expos simply ran out of time to catch the Philadelphia Phillies. Remember, there were still only two divisions and no wild card. The Rockies are on a roll that might not stop until the final game is played this season. Whether they win or not, they're certainly poised to pick up in 2008 as the Expos were in 1994. Pitching is a big concern as Canadian Jeff Francis (17-9) is the only member of the rotation to win more than 10 games. Arizona rellies a lot more on it's staff, especially true ace Brandon Webb, plus Doug Davis (13-12) & Livan Hernandez (11-11; 6-2 career post season). Imagine if they had a healthy Randy Johnson. Arizona in 7.
Still can't believe the Mets collapsed they way they did. Billy Wagner didn't get it done down the stretch yet told a NY magazine that pitching coach Rick Peterson and manager Willie Randolph didn't properly handle the bullpen. He might have had a point. Randolph repeatedly went back to ineffective middle men Jorge Sosa (4.47 ERA) Scott Schoenweiss (5.03), Aaron Sele (5.37) and Guillermo Mota (5.76-pretty bad without the 'roids, huh?). But then again what else was he supposed to do? Omar Minaya did the right thing in keeping Randolph. Now he has to rebuild the bullpen. And good riddance to Tom Glavine who's matter-of-fact reponse to getting blown out of the final game of the season versus Florida...Florida ! (7 runs in less than an inning) was enough to lead one to believe that he just wanted to go home with his 300 victories.
Congrats to Dan Seligman and staff at Pop Montreal for putting together a music and arts festival that seems to perfectly fit the indy spirit of our city. Last thursday at Barfly I got to see four bands in four hours including Hey Rosetta from St. John's. Lead vocalist and songwriter Tim Baker joined us in studio earlier in the day with just his acoustic guitar and some stories about Newfoundland and living around Concordia 5-6 years ago. He was awfully impressive and very intense while performing a couple of songs for us, repeating the mood with his full band (and string section) at the stage-less Barfly. Baker's masterpiece (so far) is "Lions for Scottie", a tribute to Jeff Buckley.
http://www.heyrosetta.com/
Friday night I was among 2,000 who worshipped at the church of Patti Smith. I met Patti a few years back while strolling through Greenwich Village with Cathy Newton. She seemed pleased when I mentioned that I had been reading her work for years. At the beautiful St Jean Baptiste church on Rachel Street Patti began her sermon by reading Alan Ginsberg:
http://www.fort.org/ginsberg_footnote_to_howl.html
Then came the music as she opened with "Within You Without You" from her recent cd "Twelve" (as in number of cover tunes), one of five songs performed from the album ("Are You Experienced" with a glaring clarinet solo, "Helpless" which she dedicated to her late husband Fred "Sonic" Smith ("...sing with me somehow"), The Doors' "Soul Kitchen" and "Smells Like Teen Spirit" which earned the loudest pre-encore ovation of the night). Between well aimed blasts at George Bush Patti also managed to make her way onto the floor a couple of times, dancing and grooving to her longtime band, especially during "Dancing Barefoot". She reached way back for "Because The Night" but not for "Gloria". Improvised a song about the three days she spent in Montreal. And finished off with "Rock and Roll Nigger" while pulling off the strings from her electric guitar. It was all so beautiful.
http://www.pattismith.net/
Fourteen hours later I was at the border, waiting over two hours to cross for an Elvis Costello-Bob Dylan double bill in Albany, thinking a lot about what Bruce Springsteen recently said about his country in response to the right wing lunatic fringe crowd labelling of him as "Anti-American":
"I think we've seen things happen over the past six years that I don't think anybody ever thought they'd ever see in the United States," Springsteen told CBS television.He notably criticised CIA interrogation techniques, Bush's domestic surveillance program and the detention of terrorist suspects at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, without referring to them explicitly."When people think of the Unites States' identity, they don't think of torture. They don't think of illegal wiretapping ... They don't think of no habeas corpus," he said, referring to suspects being held without charge."Those are things that are anti-American," he said.
Elvis is performing solo on this tour of U.S. college towns. His entire back catalogue has been given the deluxe reissue treatement. A back catalogue that prompted former music critic Stephen Brunt to suggest on monday that "He's never made a bad album".
Currently listening to "My Aim Is True" **** 1/2, bolstered by out-takes (including an early version of "No Action") and demos plus a second cd of a soundcheck and complete concert at The Nashville Rooms in August of 1977, a show that was nearly scrapped for security reasons.
http://www.elviscostello.com/
In less than 24 hours I saw Patti Smith, Elvis Costello and Bob Dylan. So did Montreal Jazz Fest
President Andre Menard who arrived during Costello's set to ask a couple of guys he didn't know if we were in the right seats. We weren't. And we didn't move.
What a great time of the year for a sports fan. NHL underway, CFL winding down, NFL in full gear and MLB in LCS mode. Ah yes, major League baseball. First year in 40 that I did not attend a single game. Since the loss of the Expos I've managed to get to Fenway Park and Shea Stadium a few times but this year-not even a trip to Ottawa for an Expos tribute. Call it a nasty divorce. I still read boxscores, every one of them. I read stories, mostly those written by Jeff Blair. But otherwise I've lost that lovin' feeling. Haven't played fantasy baseball since 2003. Watch very little during regular season. Maybe the odd Jays game, cheering for Matt Stairs.
Some late games involving Cabrera and Angels or Russell Martin and the Dodgers. The Red Sox. The Mets, especially after Pedro returned. But that's pretty much been it. Until now.
I've already explained why I'd like to see Cleveland win it all. But can Joe Borowski really close it out at Fenway against Manny & Ortiz? Jonathan Papelbon reminds me so much of John Wetteland circa 1993 (9-3, 43 saves, 1.37 ERA, 70 G, 83 IP, 58 H, 28 BB 113 K) while Grady Sizemore make me think of a young Larry Walker. Josh Beckett & CC Sabathia would both be legit Cy Young award winners. RED SOX in 6.
While we're still on topic, don't the Colorado Rockie make you think of the 1993 Expos? Problem in '93 was, the Expos simply ran out of time to catch the Philadelphia Phillies. Remember, there were still only two divisions and no wild card. The Rockies are on a roll that might not stop until the final game is played this season. Whether they win or not, they're certainly poised to pick up in 2008 as the Expos were in 1994. Pitching is a big concern as Canadian Jeff Francis (17-9) is the only member of the rotation to win more than 10 games. Arizona rellies a lot more on it's staff, especially true ace Brandon Webb, plus Doug Davis (13-12) & Livan Hernandez (11-11; 6-2 career post season). Imagine if they had a healthy Randy Johnson. Arizona in 7.
Still can't believe the Mets collapsed they way they did. Billy Wagner didn't get it done down the stretch yet told a NY magazine that pitching coach Rick Peterson and manager Willie Randolph didn't properly handle the bullpen. He might have had a point. Randolph repeatedly went back to ineffective middle men Jorge Sosa (4.47 ERA) Scott Schoenweiss (5.03), Aaron Sele (5.37) and Guillermo Mota (5.76-pretty bad without the 'roids, huh?). But then again what else was he supposed to do? Omar Minaya did the right thing in keeping Randolph. Now he has to rebuild the bullpen. And good riddance to Tom Glavine who's matter-of-fact reponse to getting blown out of the final game of the season versus Florida...Florida ! (7 runs in less than an inning) was enough to lead one to believe that he just wanted to go home with his 300 victories.
Congrats to Dan Seligman and staff at Pop Montreal for putting together a music and arts festival that seems to perfectly fit the indy spirit of our city. Last thursday at Barfly I got to see four bands in four hours including Hey Rosetta from St. John's. Lead vocalist and songwriter Tim Baker joined us in studio earlier in the day with just his acoustic guitar and some stories about Newfoundland and living around Concordia 5-6 years ago. He was awfully impressive and very intense while performing a couple of songs for us, repeating the mood with his full band (and string section) at the stage-less Barfly. Baker's masterpiece (so far) is "Lions for Scottie", a tribute to Jeff Buckley.
http://www.heyrosetta.com/
Friday night I was among 2,000 who worshipped at the church of Patti Smith. I met Patti a few years back while strolling through Greenwich Village with Cathy Newton. She seemed pleased when I mentioned that I had been reading her work for years. At the beautiful St Jean Baptiste church on Rachel Street Patti began her sermon by reading Alan Ginsberg:
http://www.fort.org/ginsberg_footnote_to_howl.html
Then came the music as she opened with "Within You Without You" from her recent cd "Twelve" (as in number of cover tunes), one of five songs performed from the album ("Are You Experienced" with a glaring clarinet solo, "Helpless" which she dedicated to her late husband Fred "Sonic" Smith ("...sing with me somehow"), The Doors' "Soul Kitchen" and "Smells Like Teen Spirit" which earned the loudest pre-encore ovation of the night). Between well aimed blasts at George Bush Patti also managed to make her way onto the floor a couple of times, dancing and grooving to her longtime band, especially during "Dancing Barefoot". She reached way back for "Because The Night" but not for "Gloria". Improvised a song about the three days she spent in Montreal. And finished off with "Rock and Roll Nigger" while pulling off the strings from her electric guitar. It was all so beautiful.
http://www.pattismith.net/
Fourteen hours later I was at the border, waiting over two hours to cross for an Elvis Costello-Bob Dylan double bill in Albany, thinking a lot about what Bruce Springsteen recently said about his country in response to the right wing lunatic fringe crowd labelling of him as "Anti-American":
"I think we've seen things happen over the past six years that I don't think anybody ever thought they'd ever see in the United States," Springsteen told CBS television.He notably criticised CIA interrogation techniques, Bush's domestic surveillance program and the detention of terrorist suspects at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, without referring to them explicitly."When people think of the Unites States' identity, they don't think of torture. They don't think of illegal wiretapping ... They don't think of no habeas corpus," he said, referring to suspects being held without charge."Those are things that are anti-American," he said.
Elvis is performing solo on this tour of U.S. college towns. His entire back catalogue has been given the deluxe reissue treatement. A back catalogue that prompted former music critic Stephen Brunt to suggest on monday that "He's never made a bad album".
Currently listening to "My Aim Is True" **** 1/2, bolstered by out-takes (including an early version of "No Action") and demos plus a second cd of a soundcheck and complete concert at The Nashville Rooms in August of 1977, a show that was nearly scrapped for security reasons.
http://www.elviscostello.com/
In less than 24 hours I saw Patti Smith, Elvis Costello and Bob Dylan. So did Montreal Jazz Fest
President Andre Menard who arrived during Costello's set to ask a couple of guys he didn't know if we were in the right seats. We weren't. And we didn't move.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
NHL East; Who's The Boss?
Tuesday October 2 10:22 PM (Bucky "Effin" Dent Day-no longer nearly as painful)
Listening to "Magic" by Springsteen while wondering what Habs marketing genius Ray Lalonde has planned after placing billboards all over town of Maxim Lapierre, the 22 year old checking centerman who has a total of 47 games of NHL experience. Oops, now playing at an arena in Hamilton. What's next-television commercials featuring the key to the Habs blueline-Jean-Phillipe Cote?
Ok, here we go...drumroll please....how the NHL's Eastern Conference will wind up:
1. Ottawa: Spezza, Alfredsson & Heatley...who can possibly defeat me? (How about that 8th place team)
2. Pittsburgh: Crosby wins everything, including the Cup, then asks for trade to Montreal
3. Carolina: Back to top of Southeast but an early spring exit
4. NY Rangers: Sean Avery hosts season finale of SNL
5. Philadelphia: Paul Holmgren, Executive of the Year (By 2009 he'll look like an idiot)
6. Buffalo: Still stacked with talent; Tim Connelly is comeback player of the year
7. New Jersey: Brent Sutter takes them to the top...once they're in Newark
8. Montreal: Stop laughing; Carey Price makes the difference; all bets are off it's Huet
9. Florida: Olli Jokinen still looking for a playoff game
10.Washington: Olie Kolzig runs out of gas
11.Atlanta: Kovalchuk demands a trade by Christmas
12.NY Islanders: Di Pietro wins a Cup in 8th year of his contract
13.Tampa Bay: Tortorella finally fired; Feaster too
14. Boston:Next team for Claude Julien, the Leafs...
15. Toronto: Dysfunctional goofs would rather have John Ferguson Jr. than Scotty Bowman
Now that you've composed yourself...Price is that good. If given the opportunity he'll steal the starting job from Huet. Suddenly 4-3 losses and 3-2 losses in overtime turn to victories. Remember this is a team that finished just six points behind the Rangers last season.
Where does the offense come from? Both Ryder and Higgins can score 30. Kovalev is the key. He must be given every opportunity to do what he does best-create offense-which means more power play time than anybody on the team. It's difficult to believe that a content Kovalev won't be able to jump back to where he was two seasons ago, averaging nearly a point per game. If Kovalev moves as I think he does than so do his linemates. I love what Bob Gainey said when asked if Grabovski (for now) can elevate Kovalev's game. "Maybe it's up to Kovalev to get Grabovski moving" said the Habs GM. Bingo. And Kovalev will do the same for Kostitsyn.
The best young forward on the team might actually be Thomas Plekanic. I think he might end up back between Kovalev and Kostitsyn but ends up scoring at least 25 no matter where he plays.
Koivu, Ryder, Higgins, Kovalev, Plekanic, Smolinski, Latendresse, Kostitsyn, Grabovski, Begin, Kostopolous, Chipchura...I like this group. Maybe one serious body short but they should be fun to watch.
The blueline will miss Craig Rivet. Like countless other non-flashy anglos through the years (Doug Jarvis, Jimmy Roberts, Brian Skrudland, Mike McPhee, Mike Keane, Turner Stevenson, Lyle Odelein among others) Rivet was under appreciated here. He struggled through the first part of last season but he's a proud guy and might have let his contract status get the better of him. He sure looked like the old, solid Rivet once he made it to San Jose. Anybody who'd rather have Mathieu Dandenault or Francis Boullion ought to have their hockey heads examined.
Andrei Markov served notice last spring at the World Hockey Championships that he was ready to elevate his play. His decsion to re-sign here also seems to have loosened him up. By far the Habs best player during training camp Markov is now ready to join a select group of NHL defensemen. Not quite Lidstrom or Pronger territory but just a rung lower.
Mike Komisarek is a star-in-the-making. Roman Hamrlik is a dependable, strong, minutes-eating, experienced two way vet the Canadiens sure could have used the last few seasons.
Dandenault and Boullion appear to be on their way out. Mark Streit has zoomed past both of them and will be asked to fill a huge void on the power play. Josh Gorges? I still don't know what he looks like. And Patrice Brisebois. Oy.
A year ago at this time Bob Gainey swung a deal that appeared to make sense. Mike Ribeiro for Janne Niinimaa. The trade looked good. For about three weeks. 12 months later Gainey again needs to make a move. The current hole on defense will not be filled by Ryan O'Byrne or anybody else in Hamilton. Which is why goaltending will be even more important than it usually is. Which is why I like a multiple award winning 20 year old over a 32 year old knee flopper.
Can Cristobal Huet take the Habs into the post-season? He's done it once. To do it again he'd have to perform some magic...
Magic **** 1/2 Springsteen at his rocking, rollicking, message-from-the-heartland best. I can already see the concert highlight that Montrealers evidently won't get to experience. Bruce and the E Street Band get you out of your seat feelin' oh so James Brown good before they deliver a kick to the gut and the mind with "Last To Die", invoking the John Kerry line about Iraq.
Who'll be the last to die for a mistake
The last to die for a mistake
Whose blood will spill, whose heart will break
Who'll be the last to die, for a mistake
Bic lighter anyone?
http://www.brucespringsteen.net/
Listening to "Magic" by Springsteen while wondering what Habs marketing genius Ray Lalonde has planned after placing billboards all over town of Maxim Lapierre, the 22 year old checking centerman who has a total of 47 games of NHL experience. Oops, now playing at an arena in Hamilton. What's next-television commercials featuring the key to the Habs blueline-Jean-Phillipe Cote?
Ok, here we go...drumroll please....how the NHL's Eastern Conference will wind up:
1. Ottawa: Spezza, Alfredsson & Heatley...who can possibly defeat me? (How about that 8th place team)
2. Pittsburgh: Crosby wins everything, including the Cup, then asks for trade to Montreal
3. Carolina: Back to top of Southeast but an early spring exit
4. NY Rangers: Sean Avery hosts season finale of SNL
5. Philadelphia: Paul Holmgren, Executive of the Year (By 2009 he'll look like an idiot)
6. Buffalo: Still stacked with talent; Tim Connelly is comeback player of the year
7. New Jersey: Brent Sutter takes them to the top...once they're in Newark
8. Montreal: Stop laughing; Carey Price makes the difference; all bets are off it's Huet
9. Florida: Olli Jokinen still looking for a playoff game
10.Washington: Olie Kolzig runs out of gas
11.Atlanta: Kovalchuk demands a trade by Christmas
12.NY Islanders: Di Pietro wins a Cup in 8th year of his contract
13.Tampa Bay: Tortorella finally fired; Feaster too
14. Boston:Next team for Claude Julien, the Leafs...
15. Toronto: Dysfunctional goofs would rather have John Ferguson Jr. than Scotty Bowman
Now that you've composed yourself...Price is that good. If given the opportunity he'll steal the starting job from Huet. Suddenly 4-3 losses and 3-2 losses in overtime turn to victories. Remember this is a team that finished just six points behind the Rangers last season.
Where does the offense come from? Both Ryder and Higgins can score 30. Kovalev is the key. He must be given every opportunity to do what he does best-create offense-which means more power play time than anybody on the team. It's difficult to believe that a content Kovalev won't be able to jump back to where he was two seasons ago, averaging nearly a point per game. If Kovalev moves as I think he does than so do his linemates. I love what Bob Gainey said when asked if Grabovski (for now) can elevate Kovalev's game. "Maybe it's up to Kovalev to get Grabovski moving" said the Habs GM. Bingo. And Kovalev will do the same for Kostitsyn.
The best young forward on the team might actually be Thomas Plekanic. I think he might end up back between Kovalev and Kostitsyn but ends up scoring at least 25 no matter where he plays.
Koivu, Ryder, Higgins, Kovalev, Plekanic, Smolinski, Latendresse, Kostitsyn, Grabovski, Begin, Kostopolous, Chipchura...I like this group. Maybe one serious body short but they should be fun to watch.
The blueline will miss Craig Rivet. Like countless other non-flashy anglos through the years (Doug Jarvis, Jimmy Roberts, Brian Skrudland, Mike McPhee, Mike Keane, Turner Stevenson, Lyle Odelein among others) Rivet was under appreciated here. He struggled through the first part of last season but he's a proud guy and might have let his contract status get the better of him. He sure looked like the old, solid Rivet once he made it to San Jose. Anybody who'd rather have Mathieu Dandenault or Francis Boullion ought to have their hockey heads examined.
Andrei Markov served notice last spring at the World Hockey Championships that he was ready to elevate his play. His decsion to re-sign here also seems to have loosened him up. By far the Habs best player during training camp Markov is now ready to join a select group of NHL defensemen. Not quite Lidstrom or Pronger territory but just a rung lower.
Mike Komisarek is a star-in-the-making. Roman Hamrlik is a dependable, strong, minutes-eating, experienced two way vet the Canadiens sure could have used the last few seasons.
Dandenault and Boullion appear to be on their way out. Mark Streit has zoomed past both of them and will be asked to fill a huge void on the power play. Josh Gorges? I still don't know what he looks like. And Patrice Brisebois. Oy.
A year ago at this time Bob Gainey swung a deal that appeared to make sense. Mike Ribeiro for Janne Niinimaa. The trade looked good. For about three weeks. 12 months later Gainey again needs to make a move. The current hole on defense will not be filled by Ryan O'Byrne or anybody else in Hamilton. Which is why goaltending will be even more important than it usually is. Which is why I like a multiple award winning 20 year old over a 32 year old knee flopper.
Can Cristobal Huet take the Habs into the post-season? He's done it once. To do it again he'd have to perform some magic...
Magic **** 1/2 Springsteen at his rocking, rollicking, message-from-the-heartland best. I can already see the concert highlight that Montrealers evidently won't get to experience. Bruce and the E Street Band get you out of your seat feelin' oh so James Brown good before they deliver a kick to the gut and the mind with "Last To Die", invoking the John Kerry line about Iraq.
Who'll be the last to die for a mistake
The last to die for a mistake
Whose blood will spill, whose heart will break
Who'll be the last to die, for a mistake
Bic lighter anyone?
http://www.brucespringsteen.net/
Monday, September 24, 2007
McGuire Hates Montreal; Ryan Adams Doesn't
Monday September 24 10:45 PM
So now even Pierre McGuire says the Canadiens won't make the playoffs. During his 5:25 hit today Pierre gave us his list of playoff teams in the eastern conference, as part of a TSN project:
1. Ottawa
2. NY Rangers
3. Carolina (wins Southeast)
4. Pittsburgh
5. Philadelphia
6. NJ Devils
7. Buffalo
8. ?
Pierre wouldn't tell us who he picked for 8th, other than to say it was a "darkhorse". Not Florida. And not Montreal. There, further proof that the Montreal- born and raised McGuire hates the Habs.
Somewhere along the way being a die-hard Canadiens fan meant acting like a Leafs fan, taking every perceived slight or criticism of their team oh so personally. Maybe it's just an extension of the in-game experience at the always sold out Bell Center. (Remember making fun of those Leafs fans who kept showing up at Maple Leaf Gardens year after year while they're team finished out of the playoffs or were quickly eliminated? Still find it funny?) Treat the customer like it's the first game they've ever been to and they start acting like hockey newbies.
McGuire thinks Cristobal Huet is playing over his head. Lambaste him. McGuire thinks Sheldon Souray has trouble in his own end. Crucify him. McGuire think Guilluame Latendresse should have been sent back to Junior. Ridicule him. McGuire thinks the Habs are in for a losing season. Fire him!
I'll make my picks next week. How I think the Habs finish will depend on the make up of the final roster. In the meantime, contrary to current popular opinion, here are a few reasons why I believe the Canadiens might make the playoffs:
Alex Kovalev will score more than 47 points.
Chris Higgins won't miss over 20 games.
Andrei Markov moves into legit #1 defenseman territory.
Mike Komisarek picks up where he left off a year ago. So does Thomas Plekanic.
Bryan Smolinski is better than Radek Bonk.
Roman Hamrlik is better than Sheldon Souray.
Tom Kostoplous is more valuable than Mike Johnson.
Michael Ryder is a free agent-to-be.
Sergei Samsanov is in Chicago.
The coaching staff-with 0 days of previous head coaching experience a year ago-will be better.
A nasty virus won't re-emerge at Christmas time.
Key players (especially captain Koivu) won't take nearly as many penalties in the offensive zone.
Andrei Kostitsyn will show why he was selected 10th overall in the 2003 draft.
What about the loss of Souray on the power play? I'll get to that more in-depth next week. But of the 19 power play goals that he takes to Edmonton with him, do you think the Canadiens get absolutely nothing back?
Once again this year we at Melnick in the Afternoon are offering the opportunity of a lifetime for an enterprising business type who loves his or her Habs. The chance to sponsor a segment, small as it might be, every afternoon at 5:15 called "Michel Bergeron can kiss Saku Koivu's ass".
Please send an e-mail to drive@team990.com addressed to me. Imagine. Everyday during the hockey season and the playoffs you'll get to hear me say, "Michel Bergeron can kiss Saku Koivu's ass! Brought to you by (your company)". Don't wait.
Red Sox-Yankees. Yankees-Red Sox. Yankees-Angels. Red Sox-Angels. Ho-Hum.
Sorry but even as a Red Sox fan I want to see the Cleveland Indians win the world series. I've seen my miracle Red Sox season. I can wait a little longer for a second. Cleveland fans have been waiting since 1948.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CLE/1948.shtml
Plus it would give the rest of the world a chance to see so many terrific players they know so little about including Victor Martinez, Ryan Garko, Jhonny Peralta, Franklin Gutierrez, Casey Blake, Fausto Carmona, Rafael Perez, Rafael Betancourt (5-1, 1.41, 76 IP, 49 H, 9 BB, 75 K!) and the best former Expo never to play for the Expos Grady Sizemore. Difficult as it might be to think that a team who's closer is Joe Borowski can get by Jonathan Papelbon, Mariano Rivera or Fransisco Rodriguez but stranger things have happened. And if the Cubs can win the NLCS in search of their first world series win since 1908 then we'd really have something to talk about. A world series featuring the two worst closers in modern history (Borowski-a former Cub & Ryan Dempster). Anybody seen Steve Bartman lately?
Ben Cahoon tells Herb Zurkowsky there are "in-house issues" affecting the Alouettes moments after they lose their second straight game to a very mediocre Edmonton Eskimos team and VP & GM & Head Coach Jim Popp questions the play calling of his offensive co-oridnator and two days after Herb reported that Don Matthews had been in town as a guest of owner Robert Wettenhall, something Popp was not aware of until questioned about it by Herb. There's no smoke here. It's a full blown fire. And Robert Wettenhall will not watch his team go up in flames while getting ready to add 5,000 new seats to Molson Stadium. Not Surprisingly Zurkowsky thinks re-hiring Matthews is a terrible idea.
http://communities.canada.com/montrealgazette/blogs/thesnap/default.aspx
For all those in the Montreal media (and I mean all) who couldn't stand the guy (continuously harping on Matthews as if the fans cared about their problems dealing with him) I ask, now what? There too likely goes your Grey Cup expense account.
It was so good to see singer-songwriter Ryan Adams in a positive frame of mind last wednesday in a (at least) one-third empty Theatre St. Denis. Perhaps put-off by his last performance at The Spectrum (puffing away madly on cigarettes when he wasn't downing Beaujolais right out of the bottle and challenging the obligatory idiot who yelled out "Summer of '69!") or competition from Rilo Kiley across town at La Tulipe not enough music fans came out to watch the newly straight and sober Adams with his group The Cardinals ("Our group" says Adams. "I'll never be a solo act again"). Pity. The sound was as pristine as I've ever heard in the place while Adams' voice soared to new heights. After jamming out on "Beautiful Sorta" Adams announced that his underwear had snuck up into his crack making the jam a little difficult. Yes, he was in a playful mood, describing his off-day browsing in a french bookstore, poking fun at himself "Not that I'd know what it's like to perform on stage on drugs and alcohol" and riffing hysterically on Bon Jovi and a massive leather jacket (you had to be there). Most of it all it was about the songs. Delivered with passion and focus including "Off Broadway" and "Goodnight Rose" from Easy Tiger, "Peaceful Valley", "Dear John", "Magnolia Mountain", "Cold Roses" solo at the piano versions of "Sylvia Plath" and "Sweet L'il Gal" plus, among others "Rescue Blues" and "Goodnight Hollywood Boulevard".
Here's hoping his daily speedballs are gone forever. As a singer-songwriter-guitarist and bandleader I can think of only Jack White and Jeff Tweedy who can rival Adams among the under 40 crowd in rock and roll. We need them.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/17/arts/music/17decu.html
So now even Pierre McGuire says the Canadiens won't make the playoffs. During his 5:25 hit today Pierre gave us his list of playoff teams in the eastern conference, as part of a TSN project:
1. Ottawa
2. NY Rangers
3. Carolina (wins Southeast)
4. Pittsburgh
5. Philadelphia
6. NJ Devils
7. Buffalo
8. ?
Pierre wouldn't tell us who he picked for 8th, other than to say it was a "darkhorse". Not Florida. And not Montreal. There, further proof that the Montreal- born and raised McGuire hates the Habs.
Somewhere along the way being a die-hard Canadiens fan meant acting like a Leafs fan, taking every perceived slight or criticism of their team oh so personally. Maybe it's just an extension of the in-game experience at the always sold out Bell Center. (Remember making fun of those Leafs fans who kept showing up at Maple Leaf Gardens year after year while they're team finished out of the playoffs or were quickly eliminated? Still find it funny?) Treat the customer like it's the first game they've ever been to and they start acting like hockey newbies.
McGuire thinks Cristobal Huet is playing over his head. Lambaste him. McGuire thinks Sheldon Souray has trouble in his own end. Crucify him. McGuire think Guilluame Latendresse should have been sent back to Junior. Ridicule him. McGuire thinks the Habs are in for a losing season. Fire him!
I'll make my picks next week. How I think the Habs finish will depend on the make up of the final roster. In the meantime, contrary to current popular opinion, here are a few reasons why I believe the Canadiens might make the playoffs:
Alex Kovalev will score more than 47 points.
Chris Higgins won't miss over 20 games.
Andrei Markov moves into legit #1 defenseman territory.
Mike Komisarek picks up where he left off a year ago. So does Thomas Plekanic.
Bryan Smolinski is better than Radek Bonk.
Roman Hamrlik is better than Sheldon Souray.
Tom Kostoplous is more valuable than Mike Johnson.
Michael Ryder is a free agent-to-be.
Sergei Samsanov is in Chicago.
The coaching staff-with 0 days of previous head coaching experience a year ago-will be better.
A nasty virus won't re-emerge at Christmas time.
Key players (especially captain Koivu) won't take nearly as many penalties in the offensive zone.
Andrei Kostitsyn will show why he was selected 10th overall in the 2003 draft.
What about the loss of Souray on the power play? I'll get to that more in-depth next week. But of the 19 power play goals that he takes to Edmonton with him, do you think the Canadiens get absolutely nothing back?
Once again this year we at Melnick in the Afternoon are offering the opportunity of a lifetime for an enterprising business type who loves his or her Habs. The chance to sponsor a segment, small as it might be, every afternoon at 5:15 called "Michel Bergeron can kiss Saku Koivu's ass".
Please send an e-mail to drive@team990.com addressed to me. Imagine. Everyday during the hockey season and the playoffs you'll get to hear me say, "Michel Bergeron can kiss Saku Koivu's ass! Brought to you by (your company)". Don't wait.
Red Sox-Yankees. Yankees-Red Sox. Yankees-Angels. Red Sox-Angels. Ho-Hum.
Sorry but even as a Red Sox fan I want to see the Cleveland Indians win the world series. I've seen my miracle Red Sox season. I can wait a little longer for a second. Cleveland fans have been waiting since 1948.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CLE/1948.shtml
Plus it would give the rest of the world a chance to see so many terrific players they know so little about including Victor Martinez, Ryan Garko, Jhonny Peralta, Franklin Gutierrez, Casey Blake, Fausto Carmona, Rafael Perez, Rafael Betancourt (5-1, 1.41, 76 IP, 49 H, 9 BB, 75 K!) and the best former Expo never to play for the Expos Grady Sizemore. Difficult as it might be to think that a team who's closer is Joe Borowski can get by Jonathan Papelbon, Mariano Rivera or Fransisco Rodriguez but stranger things have happened. And if the Cubs can win the NLCS in search of their first world series win since 1908 then we'd really have something to talk about. A world series featuring the two worst closers in modern history (Borowski-a former Cub & Ryan Dempster). Anybody seen Steve Bartman lately?
Ben Cahoon tells Herb Zurkowsky there are "in-house issues" affecting the Alouettes moments after they lose their second straight game to a very mediocre Edmonton Eskimos team and VP & GM & Head Coach Jim Popp questions the play calling of his offensive co-oridnator and two days after Herb reported that Don Matthews had been in town as a guest of owner Robert Wettenhall, something Popp was not aware of until questioned about it by Herb. There's no smoke here. It's a full blown fire. And Robert Wettenhall will not watch his team go up in flames while getting ready to add 5,000 new seats to Molson Stadium. Not Surprisingly Zurkowsky thinks re-hiring Matthews is a terrible idea.
http://communities.canada.com/montrealgazette/blogs/thesnap/default.aspx
For all those in the Montreal media (and I mean all) who couldn't stand the guy (continuously harping on Matthews as if the fans cared about their problems dealing with him) I ask, now what? There too likely goes your Grey Cup expense account.
It was so good to see singer-songwriter Ryan Adams in a positive frame of mind last wednesday in a (at least) one-third empty Theatre St. Denis. Perhaps put-off by his last performance at The Spectrum (puffing away madly on cigarettes when he wasn't downing Beaujolais right out of the bottle and challenging the obligatory idiot who yelled out "Summer of '69!") or competition from Rilo Kiley across town at La Tulipe not enough music fans came out to watch the newly straight and sober Adams with his group The Cardinals ("Our group" says Adams. "I'll never be a solo act again"). Pity. The sound was as pristine as I've ever heard in the place while Adams' voice soared to new heights. After jamming out on "Beautiful Sorta" Adams announced that his underwear had snuck up into his crack making the jam a little difficult. Yes, he was in a playful mood, describing his off-day browsing in a french bookstore, poking fun at himself "Not that I'd know what it's like to perform on stage on drugs and alcohol" and riffing hysterically on Bon Jovi and a massive leather jacket (you had to be there). Most of it all it was about the songs. Delivered with passion and focus including "Off Broadway" and "Goodnight Rose" from Easy Tiger, "Peaceful Valley", "Dear John", "Magnolia Mountain", "Cold Roses" solo at the piano versions of "Sylvia Plath" and "Sweet L'il Gal" plus, among others "Rescue Blues" and "Goodnight Hollywood Boulevard".
Here's hoping his daily speedballs are gone forever. As a singer-songwriter-guitarist and bandleader I can think of only Jack White and Jeff Tweedy who can rival Adams among the under 40 crowd in rock and roll. We need them.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/17/arts/music/17decu.html
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
The Cro Flies in; Briere Flies South
Wednesday September 12 8:00 PM
Warren Cromartie aka "Chief Running Mouth" has been in Montreal all week...in studio with me everyday at three...what a treat...Cro deserves a lot of credit for trying to revive the Expos fantasy camp....Mike Stenhouse ran it from 1993-1997....I was fortunate enough to be a part of all of them....winning the Cy Young award in year one....the entire experience was an absolute joy....if you've always wanted to check one out it looks like you'll be able to do so this january....Cro and his friends (including Stenhouse) are THIS close to finalizing plans....please stay tuned to The Team 990 for a chance to win a coveted spot to the camp...in the meantime, if you have any questions at all send Cro an email at warrencromartie49@yahoo.com
This just in: Daniele Briere says he didn't sign with the Canadiens because there are too many french people in Montreal while player agent Bob Perno says Saku Koivu is a "cancer" in the room....
Quite a start to the NFl season, huh? Randy Moss and Terrell Owens combine for 15 receptions for 270 yards (that's 18 yards a catch) and 3 td's..wonder what Keyshawn Johnson was thinking?...Shaun Alexander (105 yrds rushing) serves notice that he's healthy while LaDainien Tomlinson shows-again-that he can beat you in more ways than any other player in the league with 7 receptions and an all-important TD pass in a tight win over the Bears....LT's Passing rating for the day-158.3....passing rating for his career (8-11 with 7 TD's)-154.4'...I know the Chargers are a strong pick by many to win the AFC but really, unless Peyton Manning tears up his knee or Bill Belichick joins the CIA can you really see a team coached by Norv Turner get past Belichick or Tony Dungy?...Personally I'm rooting for Manning, hoping to see Peyton win again while Eli at least comes close...Eli will do his part but it looks like he'll need help from a few retired Giants not named Tiki Barber...(Everson Walls, Pepper Martin, Lawrence Taylor...)..I'm also rooting for Brett Favre, Carson Palmer, Donovan McNabb, J.P. Losman and the New Orleans Saints...Losman? Check out final item in Peter King's column last week:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/peter_king/09/04/letters/2.html
Now, more than ever, we need more stories like the one about Losman. Which naturally brings us to Michael Vick and our leading contender for e-mail of the year:
Subject: Vick goin bye bye
Mitch;
Last Friday I returned from an extended sabbatical as a guest of the New York State Department of Corrections in beautiful downtown Altona N.Y. Fortunately Altona is close enough to the border that 990 comes in loud and clear. On Tuesday the 14th, all of cell block "C" rejoiced to here the news that Andie Bennett loves her "Bangs," there are now 8 guys willing to accommodate her as soon as they're paroled. Except for "Little Guido" who wants to give Rod Francis a pedicure and facial. With what I've learned I feel qualified to give Michael Vick some free advice for his up coming hiatus. The top ten pearls of wisdom:
10. Start smoking, cigarettes are like money.
9. Never call a screw a "screw".
8. Devout Muslims and Orthodox Jews eat better.
7. If offered a "Milkbone" decline.
6. Those women who look like Cher, Liza Minelli and Madonna are not.
5. Cock fighting isn't what you think it is.
4. "The Longest Yard" is just a movie.
3. Avoid prison rodeos, especially "bareback riding".
2. Learn to "moonwalk" in the shower.
1. Don't forget to set your TiVo before you leave.
R.K. Kahnawake (via Altona)
This just in: Daniele Briere says he signed with the Flyers instead of the Habs because he prefers hoagies to smoked meat...must be Koivu's fault...an unnamed agent claims Koivu had no intention of ever taking Briere to Schwartz's...
Warren Cromartie aka "Chief Running Mouth" has been in Montreal all week...in studio with me everyday at three...what a treat...Cro deserves a lot of credit for trying to revive the Expos fantasy camp....Mike Stenhouse ran it from 1993-1997....I was fortunate enough to be a part of all of them....winning the Cy Young award in year one....the entire experience was an absolute joy....if you've always wanted to check one out it looks like you'll be able to do so this january....Cro and his friends (including Stenhouse) are THIS close to finalizing plans....please stay tuned to The Team 990 for a chance to win a coveted spot to the camp...in the meantime, if you have any questions at all send Cro an email at warrencromartie49@yahoo.com
This just in: Daniele Briere says he didn't sign with the Canadiens because there are too many french people in Montreal while player agent Bob Perno says Saku Koivu is a "cancer" in the room....
Quite a start to the NFl season, huh? Randy Moss and Terrell Owens combine for 15 receptions for 270 yards (that's 18 yards a catch) and 3 td's..wonder what Keyshawn Johnson was thinking?...Shaun Alexander (105 yrds rushing) serves notice that he's healthy while LaDainien Tomlinson shows-again-that he can beat you in more ways than any other player in the league with 7 receptions and an all-important TD pass in a tight win over the Bears....LT's Passing rating for the day-158.3....passing rating for his career (8-11 with 7 TD's)-154.4'...I know the Chargers are a strong pick by many to win the AFC but really, unless Peyton Manning tears up his knee or Bill Belichick joins the CIA can you really see a team coached by Norv Turner get past Belichick or Tony Dungy?...Personally I'm rooting for Manning, hoping to see Peyton win again while Eli at least comes close...Eli will do his part but it looks like he'll need help from a few retired Giants not named Tiki Barber...(Everson Walls, Pepper Martin, Lawrence Taylor...)..I'm also rooting for Brett Favre, Carson Palmer, Donovan McNabb, J.P. Losman and the New Orleans Saints...Losman? Check out final item in Peter King's column last week:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/peter_king/09/04/letters/2.html
Now, more than ever, we need more stories like the one about Losman. Which naturally brings us to Michael Vick and our leading contender for e-mail of the year:
Subject: Vick goin bye bye
Mitch;
Last Friday I returned from an extended sabbatical as a guest of the New York State Department of Corrections in beautiful downtown Altona N.Y. Fortunately Altona is close enough to the border that 990 comes in loud and clear. On Tuesday the 14th, all of cell block "C" rejoiced to here the news that Andie Bennett loves her "Bangs," there are now 8 guys willing to accommodate her as soon as they're paroled. Except for "Little Guido" who wants to give Rod Francis a pedicure and facial. With what I've learned I feel qualified to give Michael Vick some free advice for his up coming hiatus. The top ten pearls of wisdom:
10. Start smoking, cigarettes are like money.
9. Never call a screw a "screw".
8. Devout Muslims and Orthodox Jews eat better.
7. If offered a "Milkbone" decline.
6. Those women who look like Cher, Liza Minelli and Madonna are not.
5. Cock fighting isn't what you think it is.
4. "The Longest Yard" is just a movie.
3. Avoid prison rodeos, especially "bareback riding".
2. Learn to "moonwalk" in the shower.
1. Don't forget to set your TiVo before you leave.
R.K. Kahnawake (via Altona)
This just in: Daniele Briere says he signed with the Flyers instead of the Habs because he prefers hoagies to smoked meat...must be Koivu's fault...an unnamed agent claims Koivu had no intention of ever taking Briere to Schwartz's...
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Feeling Nostalgic
Wednesday Sept 5 7:45 PM
You know what say about nostalgia-it never goes out of style.
I was reminded recently by Elliott Price that we had just passed a significant date in our broadcasting careers. We did our first on-air gig together 25 years ago last month.
I was hired by Jeff Rimer at CFCF-radio in september of 1981, just in time to (kind of) experience Blue Monday (chronicled in an earlier but no longer available blog-I've since learned how to save- but rescuscitated here (after a frantic google search) for your enjoyment:
http://www.baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?t=52831
By the spring of '82 I had established myself as a talented smart-ass who still sounded several gallons of whiskey and hundreds of cartons of cigarettes away from having any kind of depth to my voice. But I brought an attitude into the booth and pressbox shaped not by what teams or players wanted me to say but having grown up watching and reading Howard Cosell and Jim Bouton and listening to talk shows, especially south of the border, that featured hosts who were outspoken. Here in Montreal Ted Tevan ruled the airwaves, hardly a yes man to anybody. So I had an attitude that rubbed some older members of the media the wrong way but those who took the time to listen realized that I had the smarts, and most importantly, the passion, to go with the attitude. Bob Dunn was one of those guys.
Dunn had been an Expos beat writer who later became the sports director at CJAD where they were attempting to re-build the sports department and "get younger" (some things never change). He had already hired a young kid from Ontario who sounded even squeakier than I did but who was clearly on the fast track to a newtork job. His name was Chris Cuthbert.
I was told to phone Dunn (quick lesson on negotiating from strength: let them call you) which I did that June. I was hired only after he agreed to bump my starting salary to a more reasonable
$14, 500. I was late for my first shift (co-hosting a show called "Sunday Morning Sportspage") but hey, as Larry Parrish once said, "I was single, in my early 20's and living in downtown Montreal...") but smoothed things over the following monday. It was the first week of july. On my way out for lunch I walked out of the Fort street elevator right passed a young guy with an even bigger head of curls than mine. Later, I was told that Bob had just hired somebody from Regina to fill out the department. A native Montrealer who was described to me just as that guy I had passed in the elevator. Name was Elliott Price.
Elliott and I first appeared on the air together in August of 1982. There was instant chemistry. We came from similar backgrounds although he had to go the Maritimes to do a country music show (Haggard rules!) before driving out to Regina for what he promised that station manager would be a long term arrangement. Three days later he was on his way back to Montreal. Thankfully, I never had to leave town, cutting my teeth at CKO Radio, before heading back to school, then a cross-continent trip during the baseball strike of 1981 and eventually to CFCF.
In August of 1982 The Expos had gone through umpteen second basemen while trying to replace Rodney Scott (Wallace Johnson, Mike Gates, Frank Taveras, Tim Raines (yes-Raines), Bryan Little, Joel Youngblood and Mike Phillips) before finally settling on Doug Flynn. And a few southpaws trying to replace Bill Lee (Randy Lerch anyone? Tom Gorman? Dave Tomlin? Chris Welch in '83) before finally re-acquiring Dan Schatzeder. The so-called Team of the 80's was falling apart. It didn't take long for Dunn's boys to go after the culprits, namely John McHale and Jim Fanning.
Professional soccer was "the next big thing" in North America in the 1970's thanks to the New York Cosmos and the North American Soccer league. In the summer of '82 The Montreal Manic
were into its second season after a move from Philadelphia. With former Cosmos coach Eddie Firmani leading the way, the Manic, bankrolled by Molson's, appeared on solid ground averaging over 21 thousand fans a game at Olympic Stadium. Chris Cuthbert was the radio voice of the franchise, occasionally calling games in front of over 55,000 fans.
Montreal's CFL franchise in 1982 was actually known as the Concordes. The Alouettes died following the 1981 season when Nelson Skalbania tried to buy a Grey Cup by importing NFL stars Vince Ferragamo, James Scott and Billy "White Shoes" Johnson. As was the case with baseball in 1968, Charles Bronfman came to the rescue and in august of '82 the franchise seemed as solid in Montreal as baseball itself.
In the summer of '82 the Montreal Canadiens were coached by Bob Berry who would spend many a post game media session slumped on a chair in his office, head down, puffing on cigarettes (usually bummed off Elliott or Randy Tieman) while waiting for the 5-6 reporters to finish up so he could head up to DJ's on Crescent for a couple of drinks and a lot more (bummed) cigarettes. Berry had reason to stress. Even though the '82 Habs featured Lafleur, Shutt, Robinson, Lapointe and Gainey the magic of the late 70's was clearly gone. Their leading scorer was Keith Acton. The goaltending, two years removed from the Ken Dryden era, was merely adequate (Rick Wamsley, Denis Herron, Richard Sevigny). And Doug Wickenheiser, drafted instead of Denis Savard in 1980, had scored a total of 19 goals in his first two seasons while Savard's 81-82 season produced 119 points for Chicago. But surely help was on the way in 1982-83 after Irving Grundman's staff, with its first two selections, drafted Alain Heroux and Jocelyn Gauvreau. By the end of the season Berry and Grundman (and his staff including Ron Caron) were gone. And the Ron Corey era would begin.
We've seen a lot, Elliott and I in the last 25 years. Covered most of it. Would have made a good full time radio team if only radio execs had more of "that vision thang" that Bob Dunn had way back then. We've been roommates, radio opponents, brief adversaries and finally on air partners once again during the last two years of the Expos. Somewhere along the way we also became related. Didn't really need a marriage to make that happen. We've been brothers since August of 1982.
1982 Habs & Expos you might have forgotten about:
Jeff Brubaker, Dan Daoust, Yvan Joly, Bill Kitchen, Mark Holden, John Newberry, Dave Orleski, Bill Root, Dwight Schofield; Terry Francona, Brad Mills, Tim Blackwell, Brad Gulden, Bob James,Roy Johnson, Dan Norman, Chris Smith.
Nostalgia-it ain't what it used to be.
You know what say about nostalgia-it never goes out of style.
I was reminded recently by Elliott Price that we had just passed a significant date in our broadcasting careers. We did our first on-air gig together 25 years ago last month.
I was hired by Jeff Rimer at CFCF-radio in september of 1981, just in time to (kind of) experience Blue Monday (chronicled in an earlier but no longer available blog-I've since learned how to save- but rescuscitated here (after a frantic google search) for your enjoyment:
http://www.baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?t=52831
By the spring of '82 I had established myself as a talented smart-ass who still sounded several gallons of whiskey and hundreds of cartons of cigarettes away from having any kind of depth to my voice. But I brought an attitude into the booth and pressbox shaped not by what teams or players wanted me to say but having grown up watching and reading Howard Cosell and Jim Bouton and listening to talk shows, especially south of the border, that featured hosts who were outspoken. Here in Montreal Ted Tevan ruled the airwaves, hardly a yes man to anybody. So I had an attitude that rubbed some older members of the media the wrong way but those who took the time to listen realized that I had the smarts, and most importantly, the passion, to go with the attitude. Bob Dunn was one of those guys.
Dunn had been an Expos beat writer who later became the sports director at CJAD where they were attempting to re-build the sports department and "get younger" (some things never change). He had already hired a young kid from Ontario who sounded even squeakier than I did but who was clearly on the fast track to a newtork job. His name was Chris Cuthbert.
I was told to phone Dunn (quick lesson on negotiating from strength: let them call you) which I did that June. I was hired only after he agreed to bump my starting salary to a more reasonable
$14, 500. I was late for my first shift (co-hosting a show called "Sunday Morning Sportspage") but hey, as Larry Parrish once said, "I was single, in my early 20's and living in downtown Montreal...") but smoothed things over the following monday. It was the first week of july. On my way out for lunch I walked out of the Fort street elevator right passed a young guy with an even bigger head of curls than mine. Later, I was told that Bob had just hired somebody from Regina to fill out the department. A native Montrealer who was described to me just as that guy I had passed in the elevator. Name was Elliott Price.
Elliott and I first appeared on the air together in August of 1982. There was instant chemistry. We came from similar backgrounds although he had to go the Maritimes to do a country music show (Haggard rules!) before driving out to Regina for what he promised that station manager would be a long term arrangement. Three days later he was on his way back to Montreal. Thankfully, I never had to leave town, cutting my teeth at CKO Radio, before heading back to school, then a cross-continent trip during the baseball strike of 1981 and eventually to CFCF.
In August of 1982 The Expos had gone through umpteen second basemen while trying to replace Rodney Scott (Wallace Johnson, Mike Gates, Frank Taveras, Tim Raines (yes-Raines), Bryan Little, Joel Youngblood and Mike Phillips) before finally settling on Doug Flynn. And a few southpaws trying to replace Bill Lee (Randy Lerch anyone? Tom Gorman? Dave Tomlin? Chris Welch in '83) before finally re-acquiring Dan Schatzeder. The so-called Team of the 80's was falling apart. It didn't take long for Dunn's boys to go after the culprits, namely John McHale and Jim Fanning.
Professional soccer was "the next big thing" in North America in the 1970's thanks to the New York Cosmos and the North American Soccer league. In the summer of '82 The Montreal Manic
were into its second season after a move from Philadelphia. With former Cosmos coach Eddie Firmani leading the way, the Manic, bankrolled by Molson's, appeared on solid ground averaging over 21 thousand fans a game at Olympic Stadium. Chris Cuthbert was the radio voice of the franchise, occasionally calling games in front of over 55,000 fans.
Montreal's CFL franchise in 1982 was actually known as the Concordes. The Alouettes died following the 1981 season when Nelson Skalbania tried to buy a Grey Cup by importing NFL stars Vince Ferragamo, James Scott and Billy "White Shoes" Johnson. As was the case with baseball in 1968, Charles Bronfman came to the rescue and in august of '82 the franchise seemed as solid in Montreal as baseball itself.
In the summer of '82 the Montreal Canadiens were coached by Bob Berry who would spend many a post game media session slumped on a chair in his office, head down, puffing on cigarettes (usually bummed off Elliott or Randy Tieman) while waiting for the 5-6 reporters to finish up so he could head up to DJ's on Crescent for a couple of drinks and a lot more (bummed) cigarettes. Berry had reason to stress. Even though the '82 Habs featured Lafleur, Shutt, Robinson, Lapointe and Gainey the magic of the late 70's was clearly gone. Their leading scorer was Keith Acton. The goaltending, two years removed from the Ken Dryden era, was merely adequate (Rick Wamsley, Denis Herron, Richard Sevigny). And Doug Wickenheiser, drafted instead of Denis Savard in 1980, had scored a total of 19 goals in his first two seasons while Savard's 81-82 season produced 119 points for Chicago. But surely help was on the way in 1982-83 after Irving Grundman's staff, with its first two selections, drafted Alain Heroux and Jocelyn Gauvreau. By the end of the season Berry and Grundman (and his staff including Ron Caron) were gone. And the Ron Corey era would begin.
We've seen a lot, Elliott and I in the last 25 years. Covered most of it. Would have made a good full time radio team if only radio execs had more of "that vision thang" that Bob Dunn had way back then. We've been roommates, radio opponents, brief adversaries and finally on air partners once again during the last two years of the Expos. Somewhere along the way we also became related. Didn't really need a marriage to make that happen. We've been brothers since August of 1982.
1982 Habs & Expos you might have forgotten about:
Jeff Brubaker, Dan Daoust, Yvan Joly, Bill Kitchen, Mark Holden, John Newberry, Dave Orleski, Bill Root, Dwight Schofield; Terry Francona, Brad Mills, Tim Blackwell, Brad Gulden, Bob James,Roy Johnson, Dan Norman, Chris Smith.
Nostalgia-it ain't what it used to be.
Monday, August 27, 2007
How Conveeeeeeeenient!!!
Monday August 27 10:00 PM
Michael Vick and Dana Carvey (aka the Church Lady) linked forever. I'd love to be in Carvey's presence right about now. Convince him to take the Church lady on the road. First stop Hollywood. Paris Hilton step right up. Can Lindsay Lohan be far behind? (and what's with Owen Wilson???)....Paris, after yelling for Mommy, does (soft) time, appears on Larry King to announce that she's found Jesus. Give Vick some credit. He didn't wait for his CNN appearance. Or even HBO's Real Sports. We all got the scoop at the same time. Time will tell if Vick's confession is a righteous one. But at this very moment it seems as though he read from the same damage-control script as Hilton did.
I think Jesus was a helluva guy (sorry, make that heckuva). He intrigues me at least as much as Babe Ruth. Or Eddie Shore. But I can't help but think that if the original JC were around today his face would be filled by a constant stream of tear drops. Much like that commercial from the 70's featuring the Native American crying over what polluters have done to his land.
Don't remember it/Never seen it?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3QKvEy0AIk
If I could speak to Michael Vick I'd ask him if he ever listened to Kris Kristofferson instead of Roc-a-fella
http://www.homestead.com/deehymn/whyme.html
http://www.nflplayers.com/players/player.aspx?id=30067§ion=qa
Good judgement...hmmm. Could it have been... SATAN???
Michael Vick and Dana Carvey (aka the Church Lady) linked forever. I'd love to be in Carvey's presence right about now. Convince him to take the Church lady on the road. First stop Hollywood. Paris Hilton step right up. Can Lindsay Lohan be far behind? (and what's with Owen Wilson???)....Paris, after yelling for Mommy, does (soft) time, appears on Larry King to announce that she's found Jesus. Give Vick some credit. He didn't wait for his CNN appearance. Or even HBO's Real Sports. We all got the scoop at the same time. Time will tell if Vick's confession is a righteous one. But at this very moment it seems as though he read from the same damage-control script as Hilton did.
I think Jesus was a helluva guy (sorry, make that heckuva). He intrigues me at least as much as Babe Ruth. Or Eddie Shore. But I can't help but think that if the original JC were around today his face would be filled by a constant stream of tear drops. Much like that commercial from the 70's featuring the Native American crying over what polluters have done to his land.
Don't remember it/Never seen it?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3QKvEy0AIk
If I could speak to Michael Vick I'd ask him if he ever listened to Kris Kristofferson instead of Roc-a-fella
http://www.homestead.com/deehymn/whyme.html
http://www.nflplayers.com/players/player.aspx?id=30067§ion=qa
Good judgement...hmmm. Could it have been... SATAN???
Monday, August 20, 2007
August 20-July 4 (Or How I Spent My Summer)
Monday August 20, 9:30 PM
1st attempt at a blog in hebrew...back to front...Michael Vick is guilty, now let him plead for mercy on his hands and knees...doggy style...attended 14th annual Ottawa Folk Festival saturday at Brittania Park on the Ottawa River....Kris Kristofferson was headliner, age 72 but looking at least 20 years younger...Buffy Sainte Marie also looks terrific at age 65 (?)(she's the Satchel Paige of singer-songwriters)..plus Jimmy Lafave, Ray Bonneville, Eliza Gilkyson, Oh Susanna, Penny Lang, Michael Jerome Browne and many others....Woody Guthrie was dominant theme...his daughter Nora was featured guest along with Lafave and Kristofferson during saturday afternoon interview session with Mike Regenstreif plus the travelling Guthrie tribute show "Ribbon of Highway" closed the concert after 1 sunday morning...listen for audio highlites on mike's thursday morning CKUT show...kristofferson was truly shocked that woody guthrie is not in country music hall of fame...
http://www.ribbonofhighway.com/
I dont know what Dan Patrick is going to do now(apparently neither does he) but count me among the crowd that will miss him on ESPN radio, especially right before my own show....Patrick signed off friday at 4 after 18 years at ESPN...
http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-patrick10jul10,1,1292278.story?track=crosspromo&coll=la-headlines-sports&ctrack=2&cset=true
I've had a major crush on Emmylou Harris since the time I first saw her on The Mike Douglas Show in the mid-70's...now 60 emmylou headlined a show in shelbourne, vermont on august 6th...not only does she sing like an angel (and looks even better) but she is a baseball junkie who keeps a portable sportsticker backstage to keep track of her favorite team, the atlanta braves...and is a big time animal lover, especially dogs, fostering three at a time until they are ready for adoption...how do you think she feels about michael vick?...wish she could find out how i feel about her...
http://www.emmylou.net/
What did I learn about myself after taking all but one day in july off?...that i could easily do it again...don't get me wrong, i love this job but after nearly 30 years i discovered that i enjoy doing nothing even more..well, not exactly nothing but just having the opportunity to sit under a tree on the lachine canal...or enjoy a pint on the terrace at hurley's...or meet a friend for a movie...all between 3 and 7...was a real treat...so was pulling my first all-nighter in years...first all-nighter without worrying about being coherent the next day...i'll spare you most of the details other than to say we forced Tony to open up early for us the next morning at Cosmo...and the mish-mash never tasted so good...there was plenty of music to enjoy, as always during a Montreal july but even by montreal standards this past july was exceptional...Dweezil Zappa and friends finished off the month in grand style...his second visit to montreal with "Zappa plays Zappa" in less than a year was sensational....as musician Liam Callaghan observed Zappa played the equivalent of six hours over two nights in town with a different band and did not play a single song twice...I found the moments that Dweezil "shared" the stage with his dad (beamed onto giant screen) very emotional...be sure to check out the videos, exceptional quality of two performances from his first montreal visit last october...
http://www.zappaplayszappa.com/index.html
I'd never say nearly 40 years is worth waiting for anybody or anything but John Fogerty sure delivered during his first ever Montreal appearance on july 17 at Place Des Arts..I heard some sound complaints but fogerty and his band-including kenny aranoff on drums and billy burnette on lead guitar- sounded tremendous from where i was located (corbeil-5th row)...so now that one of the best-if not THE best songwriter in American rock and roll history (that's songwriter-not lyricist) can anybody explain why Montrealers had to wait so long???...
http://www.johnfogerty.com/
http://www.kennyaronoff.com/
http://www.burnette-rock.com/BillyBurnette.htm
Canada week began in style at the JazzFest as I saw The Cowboy Junkies (my last show at The Spectrum), Van Morrison, Bob Dylan, The White Stripes and Buddy Guy from July 2-7.
Dylan, playing at Place Des Arts for the first time since 1966, was tremendous(what-you expected me to say he was crap?)...highlites included a slow, mournful "Shelter From the Storm" and a song that is currently my favorite from Modern Times-"Spirit On The Water"...when Dylan got to final verse of "Spirit" fans in cheap(er) seats had their say....
"You say I'm over the hill", sang Bob...followed by shouts of "NO! NO!"...
"You think I'm past my prime"..again followed by cries of "NO! NO! NO!"...
"Let me see what you got gal
We could have a whoppin' good time"
...we sure did...Dylan is still "headed for another joint"...currently in Australia, he returns to North America in October for a series of concerts in U.S. college towns accompanied by Elvis Costello...
http://www.bobdylan.com/moderntimes/songs/spiritonthewater.html
I knew The Spectrum was too good to be true...I haven't been to every select rock club in north america but I have been to a lot and none of them are/were better than The Spectrum...I consider it a privilege to have played a small but vital role in the history of the venue as a member of BillyBob Productions...we (Lloyd Fischler, Gary Silverman, Andrew Besner) coaxed Jesse Winchester out of hibernation in January of 1998 to help fill the place (with Loudon Wainwright III opening up)...I'll never forget the site of Jack Todd with tears rolling down his cheeks as Jesse sang "Yankee Lady"...Frank Marino, also on the comeback trail shortly afterwards, approached us to promote his return gig there and then to top it all off legendary singer-songwriter John Prine played a sold-out show (we even made money-$300) for us...Prine had previously never been asked to play Montreal...he slashed his usual performance fee (down to 10g) for us as long as we took him out for a genuine french meal...i asked him to play "Bad Boy" which he did...at soundcheck-just for me...perhaps not The Police circa 1982 but historic music nights nonetheless...and it couldn't have happened without us...(you're welcome)...The Prine concert also led me out of a hosting gig on "The Habs This Week" but that's a long story for another time...
Favorite Spectrum Shows (I can remember...)
1. John Prine
2. Stevie Ray Vaughan
3. Frank Marino & Mahogany Rush
4. Steve Earle
5. Jesse Winchester
6. Little Steven & Disciples Of Soul
7. Gary "U.S." Bonds
8. Clarence Clemons
9. Sonny Landreth
10.Daniel Lanois
www.johnprine.net
Spectrum Shows I wish I had seen:
Alvin Lee, Big Joe Turner, Cat Power, Iggy Pop, Joe Strummer, Lonnie Mack, Paul Butterfield, Phish, Rory Gallagher, Screaming Blue Messiahs, The Blasters w/The Fabulous Thunderbirds, The Replacements, Wilson Pickett
I've never been hassled by a wrestler before but this Green Phantom guy swears he's coming to get me this week....anyone have Jacques Rougeau's phone #?...
http://youtube.com/watch?v=BLvApsbEJbo
1st attempt at a blog in hebrew...back to front...Michael Vick is guilty, now let him plead for mercy on his hands and knees...doggy style...attended 14th annual Ottawa Folk Festival saturday at Brittania Park on the Ottawa River....Kris Kristofferson was headliner, age 72 but looking at least 20 years younger...Buffy Sainte Marie also looks terrific at age 65 (?)(she's the Satchel Paige of singer-songwriters)..plus Jimmy Lafave, Ray Bonneville, Eliza Gilkyson, Oh Susanna, Penny Lang, Michael Jerome Browne and many others....Woody Guthrie was dominant theme...his daughter Nora was featured guest along with Lafave and Kristofferson during saturday afternoon interview session with Mike Regenstreif plus the travelling Guthrie tribute show "Ribbon of Highway" closed the concert after 1 sunday morning...listen for audio highlites on mike's thursday morning CKUT show...kristofferson was truly shocked that woody guthrie is not in country music hall of fame...
http://www.ribbonofhighway.com/
I dont know what Dan Patrick is going to do now(apparently neither does he) but count me among the crowd that will miss him on ESPN radio, especially right before my own show....Patrick signed off friday at 4 after 18 years at ESPN...
http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-patrick10jul10,1,1292278.story?track=crosspromo&coll=la-headlines-sports&ctrack=2&cset=true
I've had a major crush on Emmylou Harris since the time I first saw her on The Mike Douglas Show in the mid-70's...now 60 emmylou headlined a show in shelbourne, vermont on august 6th...not only does she sing like an angel (and looks even better) but she is a baseball junkie who keeps a portable sportsticker backstage to keep track of her favorite team, the atlanta braves...and is a big time animal lover, especially dogs, fostering three at a time until they are ready for adoption...how do you think she feels about michael vick?...wish she could find out how i feel about her...
http://www.emmylou.net/
What did I learn about myself after taking all but one day in july off?...that i could easily do it again...don't get me wrong, i love this job but after nearly 30 years i discovered that i enjoy doing nothing even more..well, not exactly nothing but just having the opportunity to sit under a tree on the lachine canal...or enjoy a pint on the terrace at hurley's...or meet a friend for a movie...all between 3 and 7...was a real treat...so was pulling my first all-nighter in years...first all-nighter without worrying about being coherent the next day...i'll spare you most of the details other than to say we forced Tony to open up early for us the next morning at Cosmo...and the mish-mash never tasted so good...there was plenty of music to enjoy, as always during a Montreal july but even by montreal standards this past july was exceptional...Dweezil Zappa and friends finished off the month in grand style...his second visit to montreal with "Zappa plays Zappa" in less than a year was sensational....as musician Liam Callaghan observed Zappa played the equivalent of six hours over two nights in town with a different band and did not play a single song twice...I found the moments that Dweezil "shared" the stage with his dad (beamed onto giant screen) very emotional...be sure to check out the videos, exceptional quality of two performances from his first montreal visit last october...
http://www.zappaplayszappa.com/index.html
I'd never say nearly 40 years is worth waiting for anybody or anything but John Fogerty sure delivered during his first ever Montreal appearance on july 17 at Place Des Arts..I heard some sound complaints but fogerty and his band-including kenny aranoff on drums and billy burnette on lead guitar- sounded tremendous from where i was located (corbeil-5th row)...so now that one of the best-if not THE best songwriter in American rock and roll history (that's songwriter-not lyricist) can anybody explain why Montrealers had to wait so long???...
http://www.johnfogerty.com/
http://www.kennyaronoff.com/
http://www.burnette-rock.com/BillyBurnette.htm
Canada week began in style at the JazzFest as I saw The Cowboy Junkies (my last show at The Spectrum), Van Morrison, Bob Dylan, The White Stripes and Buddy Guy from July 2-7.
Dylan, playing at Place Des Arts for the first time since 1966, was tremendous(what-you expected me to say he was crap?)...highlites included a slow, mournful "Shelter From the Storm" and a song that is currently my favorite from Modern Times-"Spirit On The Water"...when Dylan got to final verse of "Spirit" fans in cheap(er) seats had their say....
"You say I'm over the hill", sang Bob...followed by shouts of "NO! NO!"...
"You think I'm past my prime"..again followed by cries of "NO! NO! NO!"...
"Let me see what you got gal
We could have a whoppin' good time"
...we sure did...Dylan is still "headed for another joint"...currently in Australia, he returns to North America in October for a series of concerts in U.S. college towns accompanied by Elvis Costello...
http://www.bobdylan.com/moderntimes/songs/spiritonthewater.html
I knew The Spectrum was too good to be true...I haven't been to every select rock club in north america but I have been to a lot and none of them are/were better than The Spectrum...I consider it a privilege to have played a small but vital role in the history of the venue as a member of BillyBob Productions...we (Lloyd Fischler, Gary Silverman, Andrew Besner) coaxed Jesse Winchester out of hibernation in January of 1998 to help fill the place (with Loudon Wainwright III opening up)...I'll never forget the site of Jack Todd with tears rolling down his cheeks as Jesse sang "Yankee Lady"...Frank Marino, also on the comeback trail shortly afterwards, approached us to promote his return gig there and then to top it all off legendary singer-songwriter John Prine played a sold-out show (we even made money-$300) for us...Prine had previously never been asked to play Montreal...he slashed his usual performance fee (down to 10g) for us as long as we took him out for a genuine french meal...i asked him to play "Bad Boy" which he did...at soundcheck-just for me...perhaps not The Police circa 1982 but historic music nights nonetheless...and it couldn't have happened without us...(you're welcome)...The Prine concert also led me out of a hosting gig on "The Habs This Week" but that's a long story for another time...
Favorite Spectrum Shows (I can remember...)
1. John Prine
2. Stevie Ray Vaughan
3. Frank Marino & Mahogany Rush
4. Steve Earle
5. Jesse Winchester
6. Little Steven & Disciples Of Soul
7. Gary "U.S." Bonds
8. Clarence Clemons
9. Sonny Landreth
10.Daniel Lanois
www.johnprine.net
Spectrum Shows I wish I had seen:
Alvin Lee, Big Joe Turner, Cat Power, Iggy Pop, Joe Strummer, Lonnie Mack, Paul Butterfield, Phish, Rory Gallagher, Screaming Blue Messiahs, The Blasters w/The Fabulous Thunderbirds, The Replacements, Wilson Pickett
I've never been hassled by a wrestler before but this Green Phantom guy swears he's coming to get me this week....anyone have Jacques Rougeau's phone #?...
http://youtube.com/watch?v=BLvApsbEJbo
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Back In The Saddle Again
Wednesday August 8th 11:25 PM
....Now where was I?
Received a couple of humorous text messages on my cellphone recently.....at 3:23 this afternoon:
"I liked Picard better"
From: pj
And from Aug 3 @ 5:44 PM:
"This is Oliver from The Stills. I'm so sorry to bother you but I'm so fucking pissed about the Brisebois signing I just had to tell you! Have a nice weekend!"
Oliver (Crowe) is actually Olivier Corbeil, bass player for the popular Montreal rock group. And that's how I found out that Brisebois was back. Oh, the angst. More on this later in the week. But I'll say this. I'd rather have Brisebois than Luke Richardson (Richardson just signed a similar deal with Ottawa).
http://www.myspace.com/thestills
Where's Bud? (composed 1:30 AM AUG 8)
watchin' Bonds on tv
waiting on the hit
playin' the old expos
do you believe that shit?
without a homer
the game's a dud
but I keep thinking
where's Bud?
the pitcher's name is Bacsik
an ordinary lefty
Hey-there's Tony Batista!
(looking a little hefty)
and Brian Schneider, like Wilkerson in Texas
how their careers went thud!
they're all there in 'Frisco but
where's Bud?
thousands of flashbulbs on every pitch
lighting up the park
watch him go 2 for 2
not a bad way to start
Kuiper and Krukow upstairs keeping it real
(I suddenly find myself thinking of Todd Zeile)
steroids make it unreal?
who am I to judge
the only question I really have is
where's Bud?
Into the 5th; third time up
25 is on every pitch
locked-in, looking good
he's really going to do it
(the son of a bitch)
seven pitches in, the ball strikes
Sam Holman's wood
Deep to right center
and there Barry stood
alone
40 years later it's another love-in
in San Fransisco
but now there's no reason to go
unless you'd like to visit F.P. Santangelo
a New York kid gets the ball
kind of fitting, with Willie in the hall
755 shows some class
a lot more than barry who spent his career
asking everybody to kiss his ass
and suck his
blood
but where's Bud?
let the debate begin
hall of fame? No question he's in
asterisk? Leave alone his next of kin
Barry didn't start this fight
he just took it to a different height
looking for a villian
who's wrong and who's right?
look no further than the man who led the sport
dragging it through the mud
Look! There's Bud
Among many e-mails received today (from our New York producer Stu Hackel)
Welcome back.
I am not among those confused about Bonds, of course. As a Giants fan, I've cheered this guy for 15 years, like all the iconoclasts in San Francisco (which is the entire city, most likely). I may not like his standoffish attitude toward the media or the fact he did steroids, but so did so many others. Brunt alluded to this, that so many people were complicit in Bonds taking supplements, but I think of it in even stronger terms. I think Baseball forced Bonds (and others) to take this stuff by turning a blind eye to it in the quest for home runs, the weapon the sport used to win fans back and revive their business after the mid-90s strike. This is the era in which Bonds played and, not only does Bud Selig have no moral high ground to be critical of Bonds, but no one does. Bonds doesn't do himself any favors by being curt and disparaging of the media, of course, but the media has ganged up on him. He's an easy target and I find the media's treatment of him the same as most of the US media accords hockey, jumping on every little wrinkle and gaffe as proof the NHL is not a major league sport, when in fact, they don't understand the game and have no desire to broaden their shallow understanding of it.
And you know something? I think the MLB players by in large have supported and cheered Bonds on. They understand the magnitude of his accomplishment, they understand the era in which he lived, they know he is probably the greatest hitter and one of the greatest players who ever lived. You don't see a gigantic outcry from the players to condemn him for cheating. The few who have (I think Schilling was one) have gotten headlines, but I sense most of the players are happy for him.
Personally, this guy won a bunch of games for the team I cheer for, a seven time MVP, and -- just like a hated visiting irritating hockey player, a Chelios, a John Ferguson, maybe every sandpaper guy except Claude Lemieux -- every baseball fan would be happy to have had Barry Bonds to have him on their team, wearing their uniform and winning games for them. Given who he is and the way he carries himself, he is fated to be hated in every city he plays in except his home team and their fans..
Stu
A more nastier e-mail was sent by a Montreal wrestler who goes by the name "Green Phantom". Apparently Mr. Greenie took exception to my recent posting of an old Phil Mushnick column about steroids in wrestling.
This ugly guy (must be ugly since he hides behind a mask) says I should "watch my back everday between 3 and 7".
Oooh, I'm scared. At least I know where to bite him:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDC08_issBc
....Now where was I?
Received a couple of humorous text messages on my cellphone recently.....at 3:23 this afternoon:
"I liked Picard better"
From: pj
And from Aug 3 @ 5:44 PM:
"This is Oliver from The Stills. I'm so sorry to bother you but I'm so fucking pissed about the Brisebois signing I just had to tell you! Have a nice weekend!"
Oliver (Crowe) is actually Olivier Corbeil, bass player for the popular Montreal rock group. And that's how I found out that Brisebois was back. Oh, the angst. More on this later in the week. But I'll say this. I'd rather have Brisebois than Luke Richardson (Richardson just signed a similar deal with Ottawa).
http://www.myspace.com/thestills
Where's Bud? (composed 1:30 AM AUG 8)
watchin' Bonds on tv
waiting on the hit
playin' the old expos
do you believe that shit?
without a homer
the game's a dud
but I keep thinking
where's Bud?
the pitcher's name is Bacsik
an ordinary lefty
Hey-there's Tony Batista!
(looking a little hefty)
and Brian Schneider, like Wilkerson in Texas
how their careers went thud!
they're all there in 'Frisco but
where's Bud?
thousands of flashbulbs on every pitch
lighting up the park
watch him go 2 for 2
not a bad way to start
Kuiper and Krukow upstairs keeping it real
(I suddenly find myself thinking of Todd Zeile)
steroids make it unreal?
who am I to judge
the only question I really have is
where's Bud?
Into the 5th; third time up
25 is on every pitch
locked-in, looking good
he's really going to do it
(the son of a bitch)
seven pitches in, the ball strikes
Sam Holman's wood
Deep to right center
and there Barry stood
alone
40 years later it's another love-in
in San Fransisco
but now there's no reason to go
unless you'd like to visit F.P. Santangelo
a New York kid gets the ball
kind of fitting, with Willie in the hall
755 shows some class
a lot more than barry who spent his career
asking everybody to kiss his ass
and suck his
blood
but where's Bud?
let the debate begin
hall of fame? No question he's in
asterisk? Leave alone his next of kin
Barry didn't start this fight
he just took it to a different height
looking for a villian
who's wrong and who's right?
look no further than the man who led the sport
dragging it through the mud
Look! There's Bud
Among many e-mails received today (from our New York producer Stu Hackel)
Welcome back.
I am not among those confused about Bonds, of course. As a Giants fan, I've cheered this guy for 15 years, like all the iconoclasts in San Francisco (which is the entire city, most likely). I may not like his standoffish attitude toward the media or the fact he did steroids, but so did so many others. Brunt alluded to this, that so many people were complicit in Bonds taking supplements, but I think of it in even stronger terms. I think Baseball forced Bonds (and others) to take this stuff by turning a blind eye to it in the quest for home runs, the weapon the sport used to win fans back and revive their business after the mid-90s strike. This is the era in which Bonds played and, not only does Bud Selig have no moral high ground to be critical of Bonds, but no one does. Bonds doesn't do himself any favors by being curt and disparaging of the media, of course, but the media has ganged up on him. He's an easy target and I find the media's treatment of him the same as most of the US media accords hockey, jumping on every little wrinkle and gaffe as proof the NHL is not a major league sport, when in fact, they don't understand the game and have no desire to broaden their shallow understanding of it.
And you know something? I think the MLB players by in large have supported and cheered Bonds on. They understand the magnitude of his accomplishment, they understand the era in which he lived, they know he is probably the greatest hitter and one of the greatest players who ever lived. You don't see a gigantic outcry from the players to condemn him for cheating. The few who have (I think Schilling was one) have gotten headlines, but I sense most of the players are happy for him.
Personally, this guy won a bunch of games for the team I cheer for, a seven time MVP, and -- just like a hated visiting irritating hockey player, a Chelios, a John Ferguson, maybe every sandpaper guy except Claude Lemieux -- every baseball fan would be happy to have had Barry Bonds to have him on their team, wearing their uniform and winning games for them. Given who he is and the way he carries himself, he is fated to be hated in every city he plays in except his home team and their fans..
Stu
A more nastier e-mail was sent by a Montreal wrestler who goes by the name "Green Phantom". Apparently Mr. Greenie took exception to my recent posting of an old Phil Mushnick column about steroids in wrestling.
This ugly guy (must be ugly since he hides behind a mask) says I should "watch my back everday between 3 and 7".
Oooh, I'm scared. At least I know where to bite him:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDC08_issBc
Saturday, July 21, 2007
See You Later, Alan Ginsberg
Saturday July 21st 1:45 PM
What am I doing inside on this first gorgeous day since mid-week? Well, as somebody who gets on fellow bloggers for not updating their sites more often, I was about to start whipping myself. Plus, I just completed an email to Gail Zappa in an effort to get her on the air next week to discuss the upcoming Zappa plays Zappa concert and the recently released DVD on the making of two hugely important albums of all-time, not just the 1970's: Apostrophe (') & Over-Nite Sensation.
http://www.zappa.com/
I'm having a great time. Who wouldn't want to hang out in Montreal for the month of July? Will tell all when I'm back in August.
Hi-lights include Van Morrison & Bob Dylan back to back at Place des Arts during the Jazz Fest, Buddy Guy at Metropolis wading into the crowd and buying a round of shots for everybody at the bar closest to the stage and Shane Murphy's raucous cd launch on friday the 13th in front of an over-capacity crowd that included Habs GM Bob Gainey.
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=18101956
Low-light? The death of one of my earliest hockey heroes John Ferguson. I had the privilege of interviewing Fergy many times through the years. Stay tuned for an in-depth tribute when I get back on the air.
Looking forward to director Todd Haynes' take on Bob Dylan. The Biopic "I'm Not There" features several different actors playing Dylan at various stages of his career, including Cate Blanchett. Check this out, it might have been filmed in Rawdon:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imGyrMce-pU
Back on the air Wednesday August 8th. Enjoy the sun.
What am I doing inside on this first gorgeous day since mid-week? Well, as somebody who gets on fellow bloggers for not updating their sites more often, I was about to start whipping myself. Plus, I just completed an email to Gail Zappa in an effort to get her on the air next week to discuss the upcoming Zappa plays Zappa concert and the recently released DVD on the making of two hugely important albums of all-time, not just the 1970's: Apostrophe (') & Over-Nite Sensation.
http://www.zappa.com/
I'm having a great time. Who wouldn't want to hang out in Montreal for the month of July? Will tell all when I'm back in August.
Hi-lights include Van Morrison & Bob Dylan back to back at Place des Arts during the Jazz Fest, Buddy Guy at Metropolis wading into the crowd and buying a round of shots for everybody at the bar closest to the stage and Shane Murphy's raucous cd launch on friday the 13th in front of an over-capacity crowd that included Habs GM Bob Gainey.
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=18101956
Low-light? The death of one of my earliest hockey heroes John Ferguson. I had the privilege of interviewing Fergy many times through the years. Stay tuned for an in-depth tribute when I get back on the air.
Looking forward to director Todd Haynes' take on Bob Dylan. The Biopic "I'm Not There" features several different actors playing Dylan at various stages of his career, including Cate Blanchett. Check this out, it might have been filmed in Rawdon:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imGyrMce-pU
Back on the air Wednesday August 8th. Enjoy the sun.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Zebras, Free Agents & Bruno Sammartino
Wednesday June 27 10:30 PM
Just got back from a wonderful afternoon and evening with members of the NHL Officials Association. Last year Montreal native Dave Jackson organized a BBQ in his back yard. Today we were at an art gallery in Lachine. Beautiful place. New York style loft run by Mike Valee. If you need a fully equipped loft to showcase art or rent it out for a private party, cd launch or Scientology convention be sure to contact Mike:
http://www.canvasmontreal.com/
Much like a year ago the officials were terrific guests, offering thoughtful, insightful commentary on the state of the game and their profession. Most noteworthy moment for me was Don Koharski's response to my question about there being no doubt that the post lockout NHL rulebook has delivered on it's promise, no matter the criticism.
"3o years in the league...it's the best hockey I've seen" said Koharski who runs an officiating camp every summer in Boucherville.
http://www.dkrefcamps.com/
The officials get together each year to honor the late Stephane Provost and to help his young family.
http://www.nhlofficials.com/display_news.asp?articleID=106
For the last two years we've had the opportunity to spend quality air time with Jackson, Koharski, Mike Leggo, Don VanMassenhoven, Terry Gregson, Greg Devorksi, Jean Morin,
Brian Murphy, Pierre Racicot, Brad Watson, Rob Shick, Bill McCreary and Director of Officiating Stephen Walkom. The NHL would be doing itself a big favour by allowing these guys the freedom to talk at length during the season and the playoffs. They care every bit as deeply about their sport as players, coaches, and managers. (I hesitate to add owners only because Boston's Jeremy Jacobs has been named Chairman of the Board of Governors. What's next-Bill Wirtz as Director of Marketing?)
http://www.nhlofficials.com/home.asp
And now for your viewing pleasure, described by Greg Devorski as the easiest fight he's had to break up since both guys were so tired...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJJPivHWy2k
I liked the idea of having this year's draft in prime time but couldn't GM's have done a little more to co-operate? I realize you can't force guys to make trades but if the event were any duller it would be called The NHL Awards Show. Thank goodness Pierre McGuire was around to describe the slippage of Russian Alexei Cherepanov as "Unonscionable". McGuire was just about the only TSN Staffer to win props from former hockey fan Bill Simmons in his post draft blog on ESPN:
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/070625
Why all the continued hand-wringing over the Habs decsion to skip Angelo Esposito? Don't think Max Pacioretty will raise the passion level in Lasalle and St. Leonard?
I'm far more interested in right now. I've believed all along that Bob Gainey will make a dramatic player move or two (trade, free agent signing or both) beacuse he has to. A team that hasn't played to an empty seat since 2004 has to deliver more than a 10th place finish. So, assuming Sheldon Souray is gone, who becomes the most sought after free agent for Habs fans come Sunday morning? Here's how my shopping list would look, with even more slippage anticipated than Cherapanov and Esposito combined:
1. Chris Drury - perfect combo at C, might get 7 million
2. Brian Rafalski - best playmaking D, much better than Souray
3. Ryan Smith- Oh Canada and Oh can he play
4. Peter Forsberg - superstar C who plays like a Sutter; expiry date very near
4. Daniel Briere - Oh Quebec
5. Scott Gomez - Scary good and just 27
6. Jason Blake - last 3 goal scoring seasons: 22, 28, 40
7. Paul Kariya - yes Habs need size, but if he wants to play here...
8. Teemu Selanne - retiring after 48 goal season? Imagine Koivu & Selanne...
9. Roman Hamrlik - when Rafalski signs elsewhere
10.Brad Stuart - ok, so when Hamrlik goes elsewhere...
11. Scott Hannan - strong leader type
12. Corey Sarich -big, strong, young, much needed RH shot
13. Brent Sopel - Souray lite
14. Andy Sutton - thus ends our run of defensemen
15. Todd Bertuzzi; And just for fun Ed Belfour because once the Habs trade Huet they'll need an experienced back up...and while we're at it...Ladislav Nagy & Eric Lindros...then sign restricted free agent Sean Avery and watch 110% studio implode....oy, it's getting late
But seriously, Michel Ouellet cut loose by Pittsburgh at 25 is very intriguing; as is 6'5" 26 year old winger Brad Winchester non-tendered by Edmonton. And I'd like to see the Habs bring Aaron Asham back to play alongside Maxime Lapierre/Steve Begin.
You can watch the free agent frenzy unfold live on TSN. Don't look for the Bill Simmons sequel on monday.
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=212042&hubname=
The first thing I thought of after hearing the news that wrestler Chris Benoit had killed his family and then himself was Phil Mushnick. Mushnick is a New York Post columnist who made his name critiquing members of the electronic sports media in the Big Apple. He usually takes the high-sometimes too high-moral ground on issues but can be relentless once he has a target in sight. But to his credit, he's usually way ahead of the curve on the most important issues dogging the world of sports and the sports media world. For instance, this is just one in a series of columns he wrote on the sad state of professional wrestling. This was ELEVEN years ago:
http://www.solie.org/articles/gilbert.html
And five years later:
WWF DROPS GOP INTO GUTTER
(New York Post, August 13, 2000)
By Phil Mushnick
The worst forces of popular culture now are more powerful than mainstream, two-party American presidential politics.
To sleep, perchance to dream - even a bad one - has become a welcomed alternative to the nightmarish reality of witnessing the free fall of common decency and common sense at the highest levels of media, commerce and politics. Anything for a buck, anything for a vote.
Two weeks ago in Philadelphia, in nominating George W. Bush as its presidential candidate, the Republican Party reached a new low in expeditious, Machiavellian pandering.
While the Republican Party ostensibly stands for good, old-fashioned family values, its special guests during its presidential convention were none other than the leading action figures of the World Wrestling Federation, an organization practiced at wearing its sweet, civic-minded mask when needed, but that's long been in the business of popularizing degenerate acts.
That the Republican Party was able to escape widespread and lasting ridicule for embracing the WWF during a presidential convention is evidence of a news media that is either sorrowfully blind to the WWF's content or, in the case of television news, co-opted by their networks' investments in pro wrestling.
Two Mondays ago, as the Republican National Convention began in Philly, Vince McMahon's WWF staged a nationally televised show in Atlanta. It featured its usual pornographic, hateful and violent performances that have made it so attractive to children, young adults and now, three months before a presidential election, to the Republican Party.
At one point, a group of barely clothed, large-breasted WWF women paraded outside the Georgia Dome in a mock demonstration. They encouraged onlookers to chant, "Save the Ho's!"
"Ho's" is street for whores. Little boys now reflexively refer to little girls as bitches and ho's in large part thanks to McMahon and his national TV enablers, which now, incredibly, include NBC and CBS.
As a WWF camera panned the crowd, children, some no older than 8, chanted, "Save the Ho's!"
During the in-house, scripted prime-time TV show, McMahon's latest top star, The Rock, slammed a shapely female wrestler to the mat. She was left stretched out, "unconscious," on her back.
The Rock then grabbed a folding chair and hit a male nemesis over the head with it. He staggered, then fell, also "unconscious." He landed with his face in her crotch and her face in his crotch. And there they stayed as The Rock sauntered around the ring, grinning broadly and knowingly. The live audience, comprised of thousands of children, was delighted.
Two nights later, this same guy, "The Rock," sat on the podium, among the Bush family, including the ex-President of the United States and his wife, Barbara. The Rock was an honored guest of the Republican Party and a featured speaker at the Republican National Presidential Convention in Philadelphia. This is the state of our nation.
In fact, Vince McMahon and his WWF were bestowed fully credentialed, VIP treatment at the convention. Within the same WWF show that included 8-year-olds chanting "Save the ho's" and The Rock's latest vile performance, came remote video reports from a WWF announcer working the floor from the Republican National Convention.
If only The Rock had brought along the tape from that show, two nights earlier, to demonstrate to the delegates and to national TV audiences what makes him so popular among younger folks that he was worthy of featured speaker status at the Republican Presidential Convention. And just how badly the Republicans were being had.
If only he had brought along tapes of some of his celebrated TV acts, like the one where he demands sex by hollering a profane expression for the female genitalia. That one was popular enough to inspire McMahon to sell merchandise carrying The Rock's visage along with the unprintable expression.
Why didn't The Rock and McMahon demonstrate to the assembled exactly why they're so popular that they were worthy of invites as honored guests and speakers? Why so circumspect before this audience?
Linda McMahon, Vince's wife, addressed a Republican Convention symposium entitled "The American Dream." Why didn't she distribute some of those oversized, foam rubber hands - the ones with the raised middle finger - that the WWF sells to kids at shows and features on TV?
Why didn't she explain to her Republican Convention audience how one of the WWF's most popular acts features wrestlers pointing to their crotches and hollering "Suck it"? Why didn't she provide full disclosure to her audience, especially to the uninitiated, as to how she and her husband have fulfilled their American Dream?
"Ladies and gentlemen" she might have begun, "I stand before you today to tell you that we've grown fabulously wealthy by selling violence, homophobia, misogyny, twisted sex, negative ethnic stereotyping and senseless hate to American children!
"We have grown rich, famous and powerful by doing dirt to society, but especially to your children. That's the realization of our American Dream. Oh, and God knows how many of our wrestlers are juiced to the max on steroids. Good day."
The Republican Party is one that largely embraces the sanctity of the Bible. Why didn't Mrs. McMahon or The Rock or Vince, while working the convention, tell their audiences how Stone Cold Steve Austin, another WWF American Dream money-maker, draws approval among young audiences by making lewd gestures and mocking the New Testament?
Why didn't Vince, or Linda, or The Rock speak of the modern, ongoing history of the WWF - and all of pro wrestling, for that matter - that includes rampant and systematic drug abuse? Why not a roll call of the wrestlers who have died closeted deaths from drug overdoses in order to "get big" for the likes of the McMahons?
Why not talk about the ring announcer/ring boss in the McMahons' employ who was widely known to use his position to sexually prey on under-aged boys? He operated with Vince's knowledge and to his amusement. McMahon cracked jokes about his deviance.
Why not show the tape of the transvestite oral sex scene that the WWF staged and aired in primetime? McMahon claimed to have loved that one, so why not share it with those delegates who might have missed it?
Why not a moment of silence for Owen Hart, who died last year performing a pay-per-view stunt for McMahon? Why not note for the assembled that after Hart was killed the show not only continued, but the next night, McMahon, rather than allow his wrestlers to mourn, gathered them for a national TV show to exploit Hart's death for bigger-than-usual ratings?
Or why not tell the Republican National Convention how the WWF's physician did a stretch in federal prison for distributing drugs to McMahon and his wrestlers?
Why not tell the Republican Party about how major TV advertisers, including the U.S. Armed Forces, pulled out of WWF shows because their content has become so vile?
Of all the "works" McMahon has pulled, this one's tops. The Republican National Committee provided the WWF with a starring role during its presidential convention. Staggering.
The WWF is extremely hot among the young, so the Republicans wanted a piece of the feel. They may not know why it's hot. They may not even care. Look what pro wrestling did for Jesse Ventura.
McMahon lately has talked big about how 14 million eligible voters watch the WWF every week. Bigshots within the Republican Party must've bought that.
While the WWF is enormously popular, on a good night it attracts roughly 7 million viewers, nearly 40 percent of whom are minors. How does that translate into 14 million voters?
But that's McMahon. One day he says the WWF is adult entertainment, the next day he brags about the increased number of kids who watch. One day he says it's up to parents to monitor what their kids watch, the next day he grows solemn and speaks of how his father was never around when he was growing up.
One day he says that there's no drug problem within the WWF, the next day he admits that there's a big drug problem within the WWF. One day he holds a news conference to declare that he has instituted rigid drug testing, the next day he says there's no drug testing because no one cares if his wrestlers are on drugs.
And just a few days ago, he and his charges took time out from producing another disgusting, kid-desensitizing national TV show to be the honored guests and speakers at the Republican National Presidential Convention. And the WWF, we're told, will be embraced by the Democrats this week in Los Angeles. God help us. _________________________________________
Just got back from a wonderful afternoon and evening with members of the NHL Officials Association. Last year Montreal native Dave Jackson organized a BBQ in his back yard. Today we were at an art gallery in Lachine. Beautiful place. New York style loft run by Mike Valee. If you need a fully equipped loft to showcase art or rent it out for a private party, cd launch or Scientology convention be sure to contact Mike:
http://www.canvasmontreal.com/
Much like a year ago the officials were terrific guests, offering thoughtful, insightful commentary on the state of the game and their profession. Most noteworthy moment for me was Don Koharski's response to my question about there being no doubt that the post lockout NHL rulebook has delivered on it's promise, no matter the criticism.
"3o years in the league...it's the best hockey I've seen" said Koharski who runs an officiating camp every summer in Boucherville.
http://www.dkrefcamps.com/
The officials get together each year to honor the late Stephane Provost and to help his young family.
http://www.nhlofficials.com/display_news.asp?articleID=106
For the last two years we've had the opportunity to spend quality air time with Jackson, Koharski, Mike Leggo, Don VanMassenhoven, Terry Gregson, Greg Devorksi, Jean Morin,
Brian Murphy, Pierre Racicot, Brad Watson, Rob Shick, Bill McCreary and Director of Officiating Stephen Walkom. The NHL would be doing itself a big favour by allowing these guys the freedom to talk at length during the season and the playoffs. They care every bit as deeply about their sport as players, coaches, and managers. (I hesitate to add owners only because Boston's Jeremy Jacobs has been named Chairman of the Board of Governors. What's next-Bill Wirtz as Director of Marketing?)
http://www.nhlofficials.com/home.asp
And now for your viewing pleasure, described by Greg Devorski as the easiest fight he's had to break up since both guys were so tired...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJJPivHWy2k
I liked the idea of having this year's draft in prime time but couldn't GM's have done a little more to co-operate? I realize you can't force guys to make trades but if the event were any duller it would be called The NHL Awards Show. Thank goodness Pierre McGuire was around to describe the slippage of Russian Alexei Cherepanov as "Unonscionable". McGuire was just about the only TSN Staffer to win props from former hockey fan Bill Simmons in his post draft blog on ESPN:
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/070625
Why all the continued hand-wringing over the Habs decsion to skip Angelo Esposito? Don't think Max Pacioretty will raise the passion level in Lasalle and St. Leonard?
I'm far more interested in right now. I've believed all along that Bob Gainey will make a dramatic player move or two (trade, free agent signing or both) beacuse he has to. A team that hasn't played to an empty seat since 2004 has to deliver more than a 10th place finish. So, assuming Sheldon Souray is gone, who becomes the most sought after free agent for Habs fans come Sunday morning? Here's how my shopping list would look, with even more slippage anticipated than Cherapanov and Esposito combined:
1. Chris Drury - perfect combo at C, might get 7 million
2. Brian Rafalski - best playmaking D, much better than Souray
3. Ryan Smith- Oh Canada and Oh can he play
4. Peter Forsberg - superstar C who plays like a Sutter; expiry date very near
4. Daniel Briere - Oh Quebec
5. Scott Gomez - Scary good and just 27
6. Jason Blake - last 3 goal scoring seasons: 22, 28, 40
7. Paul Kariya - yes Habs need size, but if he wants to play here...
8. Teemu Selanne - retiring after 48 goal season? Imagine Koivu & Selanne...
9. Roman Hamrlik - when Rafalski signs elsewhere
10.Brad Stuart - ok, so when Hamrlik goes elsewhere...
11. Scott Hannan - strong leader type
12. Corey Sarich -big, strong, young, much needed RH shot
13. Brent Sopel - Souray lite
14. Andy Sutton - thus ends our run of defensemen
15. Todd Bertuzzi; And just for fun Ed Belfour because once the Habs trade Huet they'll need an experienced back up...and while we're at it...Ladislav Nagy & Eric Lindros...then sign restricted free agent Sean Avery and watch 110% studio implode....oy, it's getting late
But seriously, Michel Ouellet cut loose by Pittsburgh at 25 is very intriguing; as is 6'5" 26 year old winger Brad Winchester non-tendered by Edmonton. And I'd like to see the Habs bring Aaron Asham back to play alongside Maxime Lapierre/Steve Begin.
You can watch the free agent frenzy unfold live on TSN. Don't look for the Bill Simmons sequel on monday.
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=212042&hubname=
The first thing I thought of after hearing the news that wrestler Chris Benoit had killed his family and then himself was Phil Mushnick. Mushnick is a New York Post columnist who made his name critiquing members of the electronic sports media in the Big Apple. He usually takes the high-sometimes too high-moral ground on issues but can be relentless once he has a target in sight. But to his credit, he's usually way ahead of the curve on the most important issues dogging the world of sports and the sports media world. For instance, this is just one in a series of columns he wrote on the sad state of professional wrestling. This was ELEVEN years ago:
http://www.solie.org/articles/gilbert.html
And five years later:
WWF DROPS GOP INTO GUTTER
(New York Post, August 13, 2000)
By Phil Mushnick
The worst forces of popular culture now are more powerful than mainstream, two-party American presidential politics.
To sleep, perchance to dream - even a bad one - has become a welcomed alternative to the nightmarish reality of witnessing the free fall of common decency and common sense at the highest levels of media, commerce and politics. Anything for a buck, anything for a vote.
Two weeks ago in Philadelphia, in nominating George W. Bush as its presidential candidate, the Republican Party reached a new low in expeditious, Machiavellian pandering.
While the Republican Party ostensibly stands for good, old-fashioned family values, its special guests during its presidential convention were none other than the leading action figures of the World Wrestling Federation, an organization practiced at wearing its sweet, civic-minded mask when needed, but that's long been in the business of popularizing degenerate acts.
That the Republican Party was able to escape widespread and lasting ridicule for embracing the WWF during a presidential convention is evidence of a news media that is either sorrowfully blind to the WWF's content or, in the case of television news, co-opted by their networks' investments in pro wrestling.
Two Mondays ago, as the Republican National Convention began in Philly, Vince McMahon's WWF staged a nationally televised show in Atlanta. It featured its usual pornographic, hateful and violent performances that have made it so attractive to children, young adults and now, three months before a presidential election, to the Republican Party.
At one point, a group of barely clothed, large-breasted WWF women paraded outside the Georgia Dome in a mock demonstration. They encouraged onlookers to chant, "Save the Ho's!"
"Ho's" is street for whores. Little boys now reflexively refer to little girls as bitches and ho's in large part thanks to McMahon and his national TV enablers, which now, incredibly, include NBC and CBS.
As a WWF camera panned the crowd, children, some no older than 8, chanted, "Save the Ho's!"
During the in-house, scripted prime-time TV show, McMahon's latest top star, The Rock, slammed a shapely female wrestler to the mat. She was left stretched out, "unconscious," on her back.
The Rock then grabbed a folding chair and hit a male nemesis over the head with it. He staggered, then fell, also "unconscious." He landed with his face in her crotch and her face in his crotch. And there they stayed as The Rock sauntered around the ring, grinning broadly and knowingly. The live audience, comprised of thousands of children, was delighted.
Two nights later, this same guy, "The Rock," sat on the podium, among the Bush family, including the ex-President of the United States and his wife, Barbara. The Rock was an honored guest of the Republican Party and a featured speaker at the Republican National Presidential Convention in Philadelphia. This is the state of our nation.
In fact, Vince McMahon and his WWF were bestowed fully credentialed, VIP treatment at the convention. Within the same WWF show that included 8-year-olds chanting "Save the ho's" and The Rock's latest vile performance, came remote video reports from a WWF announcer working the floor from the Republican National Convention.
If only The Rock had brought along the tape from that show, two nights earlier, to demonstrate to the delegates and to national TV audiences what makes him so popular among younger folks that he was worthy of featured speaker status at the Republican Presidential Convention. And just how badly the Republicans were being had.
If only he had brought along tapes of some of his celebrated TV acts, like the one where he demands sex by hollering a profane expression for the female genitalia. That one was popular enough to inspire McMahon to sell merchandise carrying The Rock's visage along with the unprintable expression.
Why didn't The Rock and McMahon demonstrate to the assembled exactly why they're so popular that they were worthy of invites as honored guests and speakers? Why so circumspect before this audience?
Linda McMahon, Vince's wife, addressed a Republican Convention symposium entitled "The American Dream." Why didn't she distribute some of those oversized, foam rubber hands - the ones with the raised middle finger - that the WWF sells to kids at shows and features on TV?
Why didn't she explain to her Republican Convention audience how one of the WWF's most popular acts features wrestlers pointing to their crotches and hollering "Suck it"? Why didn't she provide full disclosure to her audience, especially to the uninitiated, as to how she and her husband have fulfilled their American Dream?
"Ladies and gentlemen" she might have begun, "I stand before you today to tell you that we've grown fabulously wealthy by selling violence, homophobia, misogyny, twisted sex, negative ethnic stereotyping and senseless hate to American children!
"We have grown rich, famous and powerful by doing dirt to society, but especially to your children. That's the realization of our American Dream. Oh, and God knows how many of our wrestlers are juiced to the max on steroids. Good day."
The Republican Party is one that largely embraces the sanctity of the Bible. Why didn't Mrs. McMahon or The Rock or Vince, while working the convention, tell their audiences how Stone Cold Steve Austin, another WWF American Dream money-maker, draws approval among young audiences by making lewd gestures and mocking the New Testament?
Why didn't Vince, or Linda, or The Rock speak of the modern, ongoing history of the WWF - and all of pro wrestling, for that matter - that includes rampant and systematic drug abuse? Why not a roll call of the wrestlers who have died closeted deaths from drug overdoses in order to "get big" for the likes of the McMahons?
Why not talk about the ring announcer/ring boss in the McMahons' employ who was widely known to use his position to sexually prey on under-aged boys? He operated with Vince's knowledge and to his amusement. McMahon cracked jokes about his deviance.
Why not show the tape of the transvestite oral sex scene that the WWF staged and aired in primetime? McMahon claimed to have loved that one, so why not share it with those delegates who might have missed it?
Why not a moment of silence for Owen Hart, who died last year performing a pay-per-view stunt for McMahon? Why not note for the assembled that after Hart was killed the show not only continued, but the next night, McMahon, rather than allow his wrestlers to mourn, gathered them for a national TV show to exploit Hart's death for bigger-than-usual ratings?
Or why not tell the Republican National Convention how the WWF's physician did a stretch in federal prison for distributing drugs to McMahon and his wrestlers?
Why not tell the Republican Party about how major TV advertisers, including the U.S. Armed Forces, pulled out of WWF shows because their content has become so vile?
Of all the "works" McMahon has pulled, this one's tops. The Republican National Committee provided the WWF with a starring role during its presidential convention. Staggering.
The WWF is extremely hot among the young, so the Republicans wanted a piece of the feel. They may not know why it's hot. They may not even care. Look what pro wrestling did for Jesse Ventura.
McMahon lately has talked big about how 14 million eligible voters watch the WWF every week. Bigshots within the Republican Party must've bought that.
While the WWF is enormously popular, on a good night it attracts roughly 7 million viewers, nearly 40 percent of whom are minors. How does that translate into 14 million voters?
But that's McMahon. One day he says the WWF is adult entertainment, the next day he brags about the increased number of kids who watch. One day he says it's up to parents to monitor what their kids watch, the next day he grows solemn and speaks of how his father was never around when he was growing up.
One day he says that there's no drug problem within the WWF, the next day he admits that there's a big drug problem within the WWF. One day he holds a news conference to declare that he has instituted rigid drug testing, the next day he says there's no drug testing because no one cares if his wrestlers are on drugs.
And just a few days ago, he and his charges took time out from producing another disgusting, kid-desensitizing national TV show to be the honored guests and speakers at the Republican National Presidential Convention. And the WWF, we're told, will be embraced by the Democrats this week in Los Angeles. God help us. _________________________________________
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