Seriously, People, I Don't Get It

What in the wide world of sports is going on here?  And I am not referring to all the shenanigans going on...I am referring to the uniforms these officials are wearing.

What do you think?:

a. Rorschach test gone bad

b. kindergarten kids color painting

c. bad acid trip

d. All of the above


You be the judge:

I Found this to Be Slightly Amusing

Definitely not fall on the floor laughing, but still enough to make you crack a smile.  At least the following line has to make you smile:

"That the Pens are gonna fall like...Like that pr*ck Matt Cooke when he tries to fight":


http://www.team1200.com/audio/SensiGottaFeeling.mp3

Once Again...Justice is Served

The answer = yep.

(a little props to our MN boy #78 Brian Mach)

The Enforcer and Colin Campbell

A really, really good friend of mine asked me what I thought of the enforcer.  This was in response to the previous post, "March Madness".  I personally don't like the enforcer.  The guy just takes up too much space.  I mean...look at the MN Wild...they (are still trying to convince us) that they are fighting for a playoff spot and they have two guys in the lineup like Derek Boogaard  and John Scott ?  What is their combined 6 minutes of playing time going to do?  Little to nothing. 

BTW, I once gave John Scott a penalty when he was playing for Michigan Tech against St. Cloud State...it was for 'Holding the Stick' = hahaha.  Seriously, though, when he played, I told my lines partner that if he ever did anything on the ice (and he never did back then), I was just going to jump on his back!

So, let's get this straight: (1) I approve of fighting in the NHL and I don't want to pander to 'marginal' fans who don't like the 'violence' and want fighting out of the game, and (2) I believe in old school guys who take care of stuff themselves with passion, grit, and, yes, sometimes, knuckles.

Thanks to Justin Bourne, here is are a couple of old school guys taking care of Colin Campbell:

Playground Justice

You really want to know what I think?? (if you don't...well...you probably shouldn't visit my blog then, eh?).  I think those "marginal" fans of hockey who complain about the NHL and make comparisons to the Olympic Games, where there is no fighting or goons, are the type of people who don't really "get" hockey.  And I don't know if I would be willing to bend over backwards to win them over as fans, anyway.

Let's face this fact, please: Hockey is a regional sport that has it's own small niche (unless you are in Canada, where 50% of the public PASSIONATELY follows the game -- you know what the most passionate fan base in the United States is???  NFL Football at 30% = no comparison).

So, the long and the short of it is that I think fighting has its place in the sport.  I love some of the thoughts and sentiments that John Buccigross has had about fighting in the NHL:

"For some, this sanctioned pugilism gives a Wild, Wild West, Darwinism, Green Day mosh pit, uncivilized, circus vibe to the NHL. Well, duh ... that's what some of us like about it. That's the charm and uniqueness of hockey. No sport powered by humans is more dangerous. Sticks, boards, pucks, ice, razor-sharp blades and fists make hockey the most dangerous and unpredictable game. That's what makes for an excellent spectator sport. Hockey is best when it is played by crazy, fast and unpredictable young men trying to prove something."

And Bucci's 'safety' wrap up this way:

"I would still watch NHL games if fighting was "banned," and I certainly understand someone could actually get killed in an NHL fight; but I also get that people have died slipping in their own bathrooms, and they still haven't banned showers."

Here's the "Playground Justice":


And a bit more for good measure:



Watching hockey fights doesn't make a person violent.  I am sure some psychologist out there would disagree, but I don't feel any urge to rip the heads off doves, go punch my neighbor, or drive on the freeway with road rage.  I just like the intensity, the battles, the beauty followed by 'knuckle-dragging' neanderthal-ism of the game.  "It's a Great Day for Hockey".

Ever Feel Like a Kid in a Candy Store???

Linkorama:

The Flames and the Blackhawks clash in Game 4 tonight. The fur is going to {be flying}. From my perspective, I will be really curious to see who is working this game, because you bet they'll be bringing their "A" game.

Games like this have a certain type of "air" about them. The officials need to react to what happens. I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if they are allowed to bang each other really hard. The worst thing a referee can do is come in and try to lay the law down from the outset. See what they are going to do...see how they are going to react. This is NHL Stanley Cup hockey. I can guarantee you that the standard will be there when it comes to open ice stuff...restraining fouls, etc. But I will also bet that when it comes to battling along the boards or in front of the net, there will be some leniency.

"You saw what happened in the end of the game yesterday," said Burish, who has escaped official censure for his run at Bourque. "Ten guys on the ice acting like wild animals.

I'm expecting an awesome, awesome game. You guys are all going to be in for a treat. I know the fans are going to be in for a treat.

It's going to a blast. It's going to be a war. It's going to be nasty. And that's what I love."

The Fur is Flying - Attache le tuque

Strap that chin strap on tight for Wednesday night!

Blackhawks at Flames - Game 4 on VS.

For those of you who have not done your homework assignment yet, consider watching this game (I know my tivo will be running!) I was pumped to see our local boy Thor Nelson working the lines and working his kiester off! If you wanted to see what it was like to hustle at stoppages in play, Thor and fellow linesman Brad Lazorowich put on quite a display.

Here's a few game worthy notes:

• There were 86 pims in this hotly-contested game

• There were some noteable ex-WCHA'ers in the game - Curtis Glencross (CAL -Anchorage), Jordan Leopold (CAL - Minn), Johnathan Toews (CHI - UND), Patrick Sharp (CHI -DU), and Adam Burrish (CHI - Wisc)

• Speaking of Adam Burrish, he was chirping Jarome Iginla all game long, being a pest, and broke his stick cross checking Rene Borque in the last seconds of the game!

• Awareness of all officials was at an all-time high. This is one reason I love watching the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The officials are fighting for their lives EVERY TIME they step on the ice for a playoff game. One mis-step, and they are done, sent home, left to think about what-might-have-been until next season. This is "game-by-merit" only...the best move on. No political mumbo-jumbo you see in some other leagues or championships.
  

• When you check out the video link below from TSN (by the way, do any of you remember Chris Cuthbert, the play-by-play guy who has worked Hockey Night in Canada and used to do the Minnesota High School Tournament when WCCO had the rights?? He's awesome.), you will see Burrish make that late game cross check (never mind the no call - oops), you will see who referee, Chris Rooney (#5 - American) goes after to get out of the melee = AWARENESS.

Check out the [TSN Highlights] and get ready for Game 4!!!

You're Gonna Eat that Koho!

Seeing the next clip made me think of this Herb Brook's comment.

I don't know anything more about this clip other than Maxim Laperierre is one gritty, hard-nosed, you-love-him-on-team-hate-him-on-the-other team, kind of guy (I personally love the guy because, like the Wild's Cal Clutterbuck, he wears his heart on his sleeve.

Officiating Crew:

Refs -Mike Leggo #3 and Tim Peel #20
Lines - Tony Sericolo (#84 - YES, OUR BOY, AN AMERICAN!) and Pierre Racicot #65
TEACHABLE MOMENT: When shenanigans break out on the ice, the linsemen should always get the original combatants. You will see instances where linesmen will try to get 'everybody' involved, and I think that is a natural instinct because you are there to "put out fires". DON'T DO THAT. Notice how well Sericolo and Racicot stay with the original combatants = CLUTCH!!