Koivu, Kovalchuk, and Mauer

Mikko Koivu

Signs the largest contract in history for my boys, the MN Wild (it's not that I have a MN Wild tatoo on my chest or anything.  It's not like I have a deep, deep loyalty to a team that has been around for...well...10 years (only 9 seasons if you don't count the lock out year, and I don't) -- it's just that they are an NHL team in my back yard, which all the news is about, and I get to watch all of their games on the tube.  So, I guess, they are my boys ( but not like the Vikings are *MY BOYS!*).

Anyway, back to Koivu.  That guy is one tuff sonofabitch.  I love the way he plays.  He plays all 200 X 85 feet of the rink, never takes a night off, is a workout fiend, and definitely earns the "C" he wears on his jersey.

So, with his 7 years $47 million contract extension...I say, "Good on him."

SIDE HOCKEY REFEREE NOTE: Watch Koivu play a game in person if you can.  He "chirps" at the refs all the time and has drawn a few 10 Min. MISC.  

SIDE HOCKEY REFEREE PERSONAL NOTE: When I went to the USA Hockey Elite Officiating Experience, which is a tryout to get an IIHF license, it was 2001.  This is at Lake Placid, NY and it is the U20 World Junior Camp for the USA.  Each year USAH invites European teams to come over and play a series of games with the two USA teams.  In 2001, it was Finland who was there and their captain was the MN Wild's first round draft pick, Mikko Koivu.  One of the games I was working turned into a swordfight.  The referee was Jonathan Morrison, who knew, like, two Finnish phrases, one of which was "eff you".  Johnny Mo-town tells us it is "Hi-stoo Vee-too".  So...during one of the "melee's" Motown is at the referee's crease, dividing up the penalties, and Koivu is there.  Mikko hears that Finland is going to be short-handed in this situation and he mutters something.  Motown flips on him, "WHAT DID YOU SAY?!?  I KNOW HOW TO SAY F**K YOU IN FINNISH! WHAT DID YOU SAY?!?"  Koivu responds, "I said 'Hi-stoo'...you know... like, "Fuck-in-eh".  Motown said, "OK! I thought you said Eff You!"

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(have you ever noticed I use parentheses a lot?  I even used a parenthesis inside another one earlier in this blog = (wow)).

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Ilya Kovulchuk

Ever notice that he wears the number 17 for the Thrashers...I mean, the Kings...I mean...oh yeah...he was supposed to make a decision right after the 4th of July, wasn't he?

Anyway, he wears the number 17 to honor Valeri Kharlamov.  Go check him out...another warrior.

Ever notice that Geno Malkin wears 71 for the Penguins?  Once again, Kharlamov.

Ever notice that Kovulchuk wears 71 for Team Russia?  Nobody can wear 17 for the "Reds"...it's retired.

** SIDE NOTE: Kharlamov and one other Soviet are the *ONLY* two players inducted to the NHL Hockey Hall of Fame, who have never played in the NHL.  Who is the other player?

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Have you ever noticed that I like...to use...the "three dots" a lot?  Useless trivia = the three dots are called "Ellipsis".

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Joe Mauer

The guy is batting .298 one game after the All Star game.  The guy was just given the largest contract in MN Twins history - $184 million.  

The dude looks like he gets beaten like a rented mule.  What's going on Joe?  New Target Field not all it's cracked up to be?  Dude, you have got 4 home runs...once again, Target Field?  You have no homers in Target Field, what's up?  

Joe has got some natural talent.  Some people kid that he is the second best quarterback in the state, after Brett Favre (are you coming back?).  I know the guy tries real hard but he is not inspiring to me like Koivu inspires me.  Why? Because I can't imagine being that talented.  

I can imagine working like my life depended up it.

And, considering I have a torn MCL and a bad bone bruise on my tibia, I know what it feels like to be beat on like a rented mule: