Today’s reason you love hockey comes from the inestimable and incomparable Earl Sleek, who really, let’s be honest — needs no introduction. It should be mentioned, though, that he was the one who suggested we run this series in the first place, so a million thanks for the idea, as well as this post! (As always, if you want to see your name in lights here, just email us your reason for loving hockey at interchangeablepartsblog [at] gmail [dot] com.)
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this “Reasons We Love Hockey” series, but I think there’s one area that’s been awfully neglected, and it’s about time I did my fucking homework anyway.
One reason why I love hockey: NHL 94 (SNES)
Hockey, above all sports, was made to be a video game. The physics of a puck moving along a flat, confined ice surface is relatively simple compared to the 3-dimensional programming required for football, baseball, basketball, or golf. It’s not surprising that in the infancy days of video games, hockey was the first sport to translate really well into pixels.
That said, the best thing about NHL 94 was its simplicity, not its sophistication. There were always two options, shoot/pass or hit/switch player. You knew your options as a skater, and you knew your opponent’s options as a defender.
If I can rant a bit about modern hockey video games, I think they have complicated things quite a bit—not just in terms of buttons, either. I have no idea in today’s games on a given play whether a goaltender will make a save or not—it just seems to rely on a complicated algorithm where great plays are stymied while simple-looking shots go in. There’s not any clear rhyme or reason to it, and while it does capture the bounce-luck of actual hockey more realistically, it doesn’t necessarily make for a better game.
Wittingly or not, NHL 94 was special in that both players knew the reliable scoring options and how they could be stopped. It was simple enough that you could play it while drunk, and it was clear-cut enough that you knew what you needed to do in order to win—its repeated playability really made for great gloating and taunting, too.
Like quite a few hockey fans, NHL 94 was my real gateway into actual hockey—it’s tough to say whether I would be a fan today or not had I not gotten hooked to the game. It was not only the right sport for that programming era, but it really had a straightforwardness to it that I genuinely miss in today’s releases. We can debate SNES vs. Genesis all we want (hey, I love one-timers), but in the end it needs to be said:
Classic video games are a very good reason to love hockey.
(Aside: I should disclose that my NHL 94 team is the Los Angeles Kings, not Anaheim. I very nearly became a Kings fan, but that’s a story for another day.)
That Sleek–what a genius!
He really is! I feel the legitimacy and geniusness of IPB just skyrocketing since getting him to pen a post for us…
Oh, I was thinking BoC’s legitimacy was skyrocketing ever since one it’s authors was showcased on IPB! :)
Expect the Sports Illustrated crowd (generally acknowledged as the most sophisticated sports crowd on the internet) to be pouring in any second now!
I’ve never played NHL ’94 (or any other sports video game for that matter) but I’m all for simple video games! :)
I hadn’t considered the SI crowd. Hm. We probably should have done more advance publicity for this post.
I’ve heard it was better than some of the newer versions after it :D
that said, does anyone want to buy me a 360 and EA 08 when it’s out?
It really was the apex of hockey video gaming, which in one sense is a shame (awfully early time to peak), but in another sense is a boon (hey, I’m a hockey fan today).
I should disclose also that the Genesis version (that one was featured in Swingers) was really good too. I played both systems, really, but if I run into one of those desert-island scenarios, I’m bringing the SNES.
I have to say, NHL ’94 was also probably why my brother turned into a hockey fan too. Are you sure you’re not my brother? We still have it actually, and despite buying the other EA NHL games, I think ’94 is still his favourite. I have fond memories of seeing pixelated players getting flattened on the ice. And it was so helpful they put a circle underneath the player you were controlling.
Anyways, this is off-topic but I just had to share the Senators new uniforms:
http://scarlettice.blogspot.com/2007/08/senators-unveil-new-look.html
Are you sure you’re not my brother?
If you’re name’s not really Sherry, then it’s possible, I suppose.
Before Steph, the grammar police gets to it…”your” and no, Sherry’s in fact not my real name (I’ve mentioned this before, haven’t I?)
HA! I’ve never even owned a SNES so Genesis is my preffered system by default. I own NHL 94, 95, and 96 for the Genesis Howewever, I do not play them anymore because the buttons on the controllers have become unreliable.
Those video games were not my first introduction to hockey though, it was Blades of Steel for the NES. My brother,cousins and I set up a whole season and tournament for that game. I won the very first season we played with Chicago. So, I almost became a Blackhawks fan. Fortunately I found out New Jersey had a team, and being that I was born in NJ, the Devils were my team of choice.
Before Steph, the grammar police gets to it…”your”
Sorry, I was distracted. I was also working on my own post with the logo I made this afternoon.
Holy spelling and grammer, Batman! Maybe I need to give myself more time after I wake up from a nap before commenting.
I saw the Ottawa jersey unveiling on TSN earlier. I kind of liked the old one better, but at least this new one isn’t atrocious or anything. Although honestly.. the old Senator logo was better I think.
I’m really not looking forward to seeing how they’re going to screw up a Maple Leaf. The one CBC put up is simply horrendous.
Yeah, the Sens one is pretty good–I imagine we’ll see much worse than that. How do you mess up a Maple Leaf, though? Other than misspelling, it’s pretty basic, right?
well the islanders’ logo seemed pretty basic too and look what happened. the rangers’ new uniform doesn’t look that pretty either.
they should all just screw the whole changing concept idea.
they should all just screw the whole changing concept idea.
Well, the way they’ve done it is very bizarre. All this “unveiling” and mystery from the public doesn’t really work out for anyone, I think.
I understand that they have designers and everything, but it’s silly to not take any input from the very consumer base you are hoping to sell to.
Take some input, you stupid league!
Great post, Sleek. But I have to admit that I never had a video game system. I waited too long, and when I finally thought I’d give in and get one, it was too late. I couldn’t get interested.
I bet I’d be with you on the classic game vs. the new, complicated ones, though.
Take some input, you stupid league!
I bet the Mooterus Jersey designers wish they had taken this advice!
Take some input, you stupid league!
when pigs fly :X
God! I step away for a few minutes to get dinner started and the grammar here just goes to hell!
Sherry, your boys’ new unis are, all things considered, way better than they could have been. It’s nice to see an absence of piping, but come on, new sweater designers — why the loss of horizontal stripes? The horizontal stripes are my favorite part of the traditional sweater aesthetic; hell, they’re probably my 119th reason why I love hockey. Slapping a bunch of color blocks on the arms and sides of the sweaters is not a suitable substitute! Gah. But yeah, compared to some others we’ve seen, I think Sens fans dodged a major bullet.
Earl, the DUCK! post is wonderful! And thanks for the nice things you said about IPB… :)
Mags is IPB-cut-off, but wishes to send the following Boxworthy update:
“could you tell IPB that all that is left to do on boxworthy the knitted is his sleeves and his legs?”
It sounds exciting!
It sounds cute too. :D
I saw a photograph of the shell–it’s got perfect hexagons. Very impressive.
Seriously? An equilateral hexagon with 120 degree inside angles and everything?
Seriously? An equilateral hexagon with 120 degree inside angles and everything?
Oooh, math-bitty! :D
Schnookie, I too wish that they had put horizontal striping in, at least at the bottom of the jersey. The solid background colour is nice, but with no striping at the bottom it just looks a bit too…open.
I’m completely divided about how I feel about the new jerseys. We all know the RBK Edge jerseys are ridiculous but I do like the tweaking to the new Senators logo, but the changes done to the old profile logo are hideous and unnecessary.
Anyways, end rant for the day. Night everyone!
The new Canucks Jerseys supposedly have Vancouver in block letters under the logo. I actually almost threw up in my mouth. I hope it’s just a rumour. It sounds so tacky. Good night to anyone still hanging around!
Nice one, Earl! This is a truly awesome reason to love hockey.
“I should disclose that my NHL 94 team is the Los Angeles Kings”
Eww dude, gross…..
Okay, now that I’m past the shock of Sleek as a…*shudder*…Kings fan. I will say, great post man. I have loved hockey video games, on any system, since forever. I remember playing “Ice Hockey” on NES way before I was an actual hockey fan. Just remember, stock your team with 5 of the fat guys and you just hit the shit out of everyone and steal the puck. Simplicity = genius.
Which one was featured in Swingers NHL 93 or 94?
“Y’know, it’s not so much me as Roenick; he’s good. ”
“I’m gonna make Gretzky’s head bleed for super fan 99 over here. ”
“Well that’s why they put the instant replay in the fucking game! So you can see if it’s bullshit!”
Sue: This is bullshit, such bullshit!
Mike: The Kings suck in this game you should play another team.
Sue: I took the Kings to the cup.
Trent: Yea, against the computer with the offsides off.
Sue: They are a finesse team.
Trent: LA is a fucking bitch team. OOOOHHHHHHH!
[Trent bodychecks one of sue's players]
Sue: BITCH!
“I wish they still had fights in this game so I could bitch-slap Wayne.”
Which one was featured in Swingers NHL 93 or 94?
You know what? I thought it was 94, but Wikipedia says NHLPA 93 for Genesis.
But I have to admit that I never had a video game system. I waited too long, and when I finally thought I’d give in and get one, it was too late. I couldn’t get interested.
I’ve never had a video game system either, Patty. The ‘rents didn’t believe in them when I was a kid (go play outside, kid), and now I’m kind of ambivalent about them, although the Wii does look kind of cool.
I’m really not looking forward to seeing how they’re going to screw up a Maple Leaf. The one CBC put up is simply horrendous.
I saw that jersey, and I’m not a fan. Ick.
Earl (dowdros) Sleek, you should have been a Kings fan.
But I have to admit that I never had a video game system. I waited too long, and when I finally thought I’d give in and get one, it was too late. I couldn’t get interested.
I’ve never had a video game system either, Patty. The ‘rents didn’t believe in them when I was a kid (go play outside, kid), and now I’m kind of ambivalent about them, although the Wii does look kind of cool.
We at one point had a Sega Genesis for about a year, and then it broke and we never replaced it. The only game we owned for it was Sonic the Hedgehog 2. My parents eventually did get my brother video game stuff, but by that time I was finishing high school and just couldn’t get into it.
I agree though, that the Wii looks pretty nifty.
Earl (dowdros) Sleek
Ohhhh… we’re getting some of the -ros jargon here now! Having Earl post for us makes us so insider-y!!
The new Canucks Jerseys supposedly have Vancouver in block letters under the logo.
Did nobody learn anything from those awful Kings sweaters with the block writing around the hems? Block writing = BAD! I have a feeling I’m going to spend a lot of the first part of the season crying every time the games start as I’m reminded of how hideous every single one of the sweaters are. I’ve been kind of ignoring it this summer — each new one sort of goes in one eye and out the other (normally leaving a trail of vomit and blood), and it’s just going to be such a shock when the season starts and EVERY SINGLE TEAM looks assy.
I don’t know…I thought the Bruins wasn’t so bad, Schnookie.
I’m actually kind of relieved that, as a Sabres fan, I’ve had a year to get used to the assy-ness of the Sabres look. Although not having the retro logo this year will be sad.
I don’t know…I thought the Bruins wasn’t so bad, Schnookie.
See, I don’t remember it already. In one eye and out the other.
I’m not sure an entire year of just getting used to one team wearing these things is enough. I mean, now it’s going to be all of the teams… I think the enormity (and obnoxiousness) of this is only just hitting me now. I’ve been in denial all this time. I mean, I’m someone who’s still reeling from the switch to wearing white on the road.
All the new revealed (including probably some fake ones) uniforms are here on BBeR
http://onveutlacoupe.blogspot.com/2007/06/presenting-your-2007-2008-nhl-uniforms.html
The Bruins ones are pretty good actually, and dare I say it, the Rangers also? (Except they have the infamous controversial laces)
Thanks Sherry. That overview was both calming and very disturbing. Sigh. It’s just sad that my beloved NHL isn’t going to look at all the same anymore… (Again, I still think the team in white is the home team. I don’t handle change well.)
Schnookie, I also grew up thinking the home team was white and it just totally rocked my world when they switched it around (mainly because I grew up cheering for the Leafs and always liked the white jerseys better. Okay, now that you have that piece of information I have to destroy all of you).
We all have our shameful secrets, and IPB is a safe place where Devils fans can admit to having been Rangers fans once, Ducks fans can fess up to their Kings origins, and even Senators fans can come clean about their Leafs years. Don’t be afraid! Be proud that you were smart enough and strong enough to rise above your early years and become the savvy fan you are now!
Or how a Blackhawks fan, who couldn’t stand the Ducks, somehow became a Ducks fan. Someday I’ll write the story.
I feel so shamed admitting of my previous Leafs fandom though, because the Senators were in fact already in existence. I should have known better! (Well, I was 5).
Luckily, I don’t think I’m in danger of becoming a Ducks fan anytime soon. Phew.
Earl (dowdros) Sleek
Heh, McFed! McFed and I lived together for two years, despite his King fandom and my Ducks disease, and actually it worked out great (it was back in some glory day when hockey was on ESPN).
Now I believe he’s left as many messages on IPB as he has on BoC. That’s loyalty for ya.
Luckily, I don’t think I’m in danger of becoming a Ducks fan anytime soon. Phew.
Yeah, getting your ass handed to you by them during the SCF tends to put a crimp in the “becoming a fan” process.
That is a truly sad assortment of sweaters….and I’m not even attached to the old looks. I think the Kings are the worst. The Islanders are hideous, but I think there is something sort of kitschy and fun about them too. (I am QUITE certain that NHL jerseys should not look “kitsch”, but I’m trying to be generous here.)
….also, as much as I hate the slug, that effing Panther is so, so, so, much worse. I hate animal logos that are trying too hard to look ferocious.
And the Blue Jackets jersey looks like it could be any random olympic logo from any random red, white, and blue country. It’s the most generic thing I’ve ever seen.
Yeah, I don’t like the Columbus logo either. It looks too much like they want to be the Dallas Stars.
I like the jerseys all right and this logo is much better than those gymnastics ribbons they had before.
I think the Columbus sweater still looks better than the old one. That thing was rediculous, I heard people actually had seizures from staring at it for too long.
It seems like they’re leaving the original six sweaters pretty much intact and pissing on the rest of the NHL. That Penguins sweater is nasty. And not even “good” nasty, just bad.
…I’m kind of ambivalent about them, although the Wii does look kind of cool.
I agree though, that the Wii looks pretty nifty.
I’ve been thinking the same thing!
This also is a bit of a theory of mine. What’s a better way of making a buck off your fanbase than re-designing 30 team sweaters?
Re-designing 30 team sweaters with lots of room for improvement. Maybe the league isn’t so much ignorant of fashion crime as it appears, but rather is deviously projecting ways into my future wallets.
. That Penguins sweater is nasty. And not even “good” nasty, just bad.
What exactly would be a “good nasty” version of the Penguins sweater, andrew? I’m not sure if “good nasty” can really exist within the confines of the NHL jersey redesigns, but, you might have a very different definition of “good nasty” than me! :D
Earl, I loved your new logo post over on BoC! I liked it better without the words all around it, though. It was much more subtle. :D
I should comment over there more, but blogger gives me such trouble. Is it just me? It seems like I have to change my password every time I log in from a different computer.
“I’m not sure if “good nasty” can really exist within the confines of the NHL jersey redesigns”
Sure it can Kate! When I say “good” nasty, I mean NASTY! Like, gnarly, y’know. Something that strikes fear into the hearts of evildoers.
Katebits, I agree with you that the Blue Jackets sweaters look like they should be for Team USA in some random, non-Olympic year tourney. But not Team USA hockey — Team USA soccer. They’re just that generic and ugly.
Earl, I think you’re on to something with this “lots of room for improvement” theory. In fact that’s got to be the only explanation for this; the league was like, “Let’s half-ass the redesigns so the fans, even while clamoring for the new sweaters, will be grumblingly demanding another redesign in a year or two.” It’s almost brilliant.
Oh, and the Pens sweaters are totally nasty. And I’ve always hated the Panther logo. Give me a simple logo that is easy for a 10-year-old to draw. That’s how logos should be!
I’m getting more and more wary of what they’re going to do to the Stars jerseys now. Personally, I love the star shape around the outside. I know a lot of people think it’s hokey, but I love it. We’re far from Original Six, so we don’t have to be traditional. But, the font on the actual Star logo part could be updated, I think.
I’m sure they’ll ruin it if they do update it, so I’m secretly wishing they don’t.
I really don’t like the little dickey that they all have at the collar. REALLY don’t.
I liked it better without the words all around it, though. It was much more subtle. :D
Yeah, I got torn on it. I made the text last night, and wasn’t sold either way (to use it or not to use it). I ended up switching, but could easily be talked into switching back.
I dunno about Blogger–it’s a silly system, but I get by.
I should comment over there more, but blogger gives me such trouble. Is it just me? It seems like I have to change my password every time I log in from a different computer.
Blogger gives me an impossible time, too Patty. I have been reduced to being able to comment only on TWC at this point; everyone else’s blogs are comment-disabled for me.
“everyone else’s blogs are comment-disabled for me.”
I don’t know if that’s an accident, Schnookie.
ooohhh burn!
Patty, considering the Stars’ past history of completely misjudging their logo redesigns, I’d also be very afraid of what they’ve got in mind for this season!
I don’t know if that’s an accident, Schnookie.
ooohhh burn!
I suspected as much! :P
(Actually, the problem is that my work computer spazzes out because of the security measures on blogger’s comment page. So if people are deliberately blocking me, I wouldn’t even know it because my computer won’t let me get that far…)
Also, a lot of the time, I’m pretty intimidated over there. I usually don’t have anything funny to say. I just want to LOL at something Sleek or RudyKelly said, so I don’t work too hard to overcome the login problems. Maybe I’ll just stick with “anonymous” and sign my name at the end.
So Earl, just know that I have read what you posted and laughed out loud. :D
When I say “good” nasty, I mean NASTY! Like, gnarly, y’know.
Oh. I took that in a different direction and was imagining all sorts of slutty looking jerseys. Hee. (I knew what you meant.) See, I don’t think a jersey can ever really look “scary” (except for the all black ones, sometimes those seem pretty evil), so I would always opt for simple designs over “good nasty”.
They’re slutty as in they’re tighter than they should be!
Looking at the sweaters on the mannequins, especially from the backview, because they’re so body-hugging, it makes their shoulders look enormous and their heads absolutely tiny. Same with everything else from the shoulders down. Maybe this was all done to balance out Sidney’s caboose.
Also, a lot of the time, I’m pretty intimidated over there. I usually don’t have anything funny to say. I just want to LOL at something Sleek or RudyKelly said
Get out of my brain.
…considering the Stars’ past history of completely misjudging their logo redesigns, I’d also be very afraid of what they’ve got in mind for this season!
So true. The “committee” is apparently made up of New Yorkers whose entire knowledge of Texas comes from 50s westerns.
“Don’t they, like, raise cattle out there or something?”
“Yeah! And wear cowboy hats!”
“Let’s do something along those lines!”
“See, I don’t think a jersey can ever really look “scary””
The Flames and Stars third jerseys with the psuedo-evil cow heads were kinda scary.
The Flames and Stars third jerseys with the psuedo-evil cow heads were kinda scary.
I’ll give you the Flames head (I think it’s actually a horse) but not the Mooterus one.
The Flames and Stars third jerseys with the psuedo-evil cow heads were kinda scary.
Is that the Flames jersey with the horse that’s on fire? That kind of creeps me out. Maybe I’m not remembering it right.
Is that the Flames jersey with the horse that’s on fire?
We have a long-standing running joke in our house about Mark Messier’s childhood pet pony, Billy (I’m not making that up, by the way), so the fact that we always referred to those Flames sweaters as “The Flaming Billies” kind of undermined whatever scariness they might have posessed.
“a lot of the time, I’m pretty intimidated over there. I usually don’t have anything funny to say. I just want to LOL at something Sleek or RudyKelly said…”
Bah, they’re pretty mellow over there. It’s a Pacific Division blog, the only time it gets rowdy is when Senators/Canucks/Red Wings/ fans flood it during the playoffs.
Not flood, politely appear uninvited :)
the only time it gets rowdy is when Senators/Canucks/Red Wings/ fans flood it during the playoffs
Mostly just the Red Wing fans–they sure got a lot of viciousness to them, that’s for sure. That’s what makes them extra special playoff victims.
They were noting in last night’s Angels game how the Halos had eliminated the Yankees in each of the last two playoff meetings, and I immediately thought, “Hey–the Yankees are the Angels’ version of the Red Wings!”
Bah, they’re pretty mellow over there.
I don’t think they’ll get mad, I just think they’re much funnier than I am. :D
Hey, speaking of baseball, did y’all see that the Rangers beat the Orioles yesterday, THIRTY to three?
I wish I’d seen it.
“I don’t think they’ll get mad, I just think they’re much funnier than I am. :D”
Don’t sell yourself short, Patty! You’re influence has even got Earl saying “Y’all.”
It’s okay Patty, the only time I comment over there is when they say something offensive about my team or when Sleek posts a cartoon I like :P
And I didn’t see the game but I saw the article on Deadspin. Seriously! That’s like the only time I would find baseball interesting. Japer’s Rink has an article talking about how in hockey equivalents, the score would be something like 18-2.
your influence. damn.
your influence. damn.
The “y’all” influence is pervasive — I find myself wanting to put apostrophes in everything that starts with a Y now.
your influence. damn.
Heh, that’s my influence, corrupting IPB commenters! :)
The whole exercise seems kind of a bust.
Standalone, the sweaters can be ok, but over hockey pants, even Spezza looks like he gained a gut over the summer, the lines just don’t work.
Another lamentable example of working in isolation without regard for the integrated whole…
Standalone, the sweaters can be ok, but over hockey pants, even Spezza looks like he gained a gut over the summer, the lines just don’t work.
Spezza’s thinking right now, “Oh thank God — they’re blaming the sweater!” :P
Umm, didn’t you mean Mike Comrie?
Heh! Spezza doesn’t strike me as the type of guy who would exactly have washboard abs but he has an affinity for tight t-shirts, so either he has been working out and got some muscle or it’s the gut.
The Senators page has some pictures from his 2K8 commercial shoot (with a back view of the new jerseys). I guess Marty Turco’s in it as well?
http://senators.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=MediaGalleryBrowser
“Heh, that’s my influence, corrupting IPB commenters!”
Damn youse!
Hey Katebits, there’s a post over at American Hockey Fan with a video of some dude playing Metallica’s “Creeping Death” on a cello. It’s actually pretty funny. It made me think…you should totally hook us up with some viola madness! C’mon! Play something kickass and put it on TWC!
I wonder how much the players care or don’t care about their uniforms. The closest I have to a uniform is a nametag lanyard thing that I despise with every bone in my body. I can’t imagine having to wear these new hideous unis every day for work if I can’t even handle the nametag.
…you should totally hook us up with some viola madness! C’mon! Play something kickass and put it on TWC!
Hee. I think you are missing the entire point of the viola, andrew! Kickass? I know nothing of this…..”kickass”.
Actually, my friend Glenn and I have big plans to arrange Sabre Dance for a small, motley collection of instruments, and if we ever get around to it, you can rest assured, I will share it with y’all. (Heather doesn’t know about this yet, but Glenn and I might even bring our instruments to some pre-season practices and play our ridiculous fight songs from the stands. Heather doesn’t know yet because I don’t want her to refuse to sit with me. I’m pretty sure that if the players see us playing their theme song they will all fall in love with me an then my “Kate’s Favorite Sabre” break-down can be put to some good use.)
Katebits, you seem awfully confident that Heather doesn’t read anything in parentheses (I heard she does).
“I think you are missing the entire point of the viola, andrew! Kickass? I know nothing of this…..”kickass”.”
Ha! My high school American Lit. teacher played the viola for the city’s orchestra, he was a freakin’ crack up, but yeah I know exactly where you’re coming from.
In fact my Humanities teacher played the violin in the same orchestra and would pick on him all the time. I had no idea there was such a hierarchy of classical musicians.
Katebits, you seem awfully confident that Heather doesn’t read anything in parentheses (I heard she does).
:^::::::::
Damn it! Now I’m desperately trying to think of all of the stuff I’ve put in parentheses to prevent Heather from seeing. Shit! What else does she know?! How could I have been so careless!
I had no idea there was such a hierarchy of classical musicians.
Oh, yes. Violists are supposedly the dim-witted retards of the orchestra. I would argue, but I’m too busy being cooler than the violinists. Heh. There are in fact, a whole series of “violists are dumb” jokes out there.
Glenn and I might even bring our instruments to some pre-season practices and play our ridiculous fight songs from the stands.
That would be so awesome!
Do the practices draw crowds? When I go to Stars practices, it’s usually just about 10 or 20 of us. If there were a couple of people from the Philharmonic playing Pantera’s DALLAS! STARS! song, I would fall in love with them myself.
“There are in fact, a whole series of “violists are dumb” jokes out there.”
Oh my god, there are! I remember that now! I had completely forgotten the violist jokes.
and btw, check this out. You’ll be glad to know you’re not the only one who hates the Philly Phanatic….
http://tommy.mlblogs.com/my_weblog/2005/07/i_hate_the_phil.html
Patty, you talked me into it. I went back to the “textless” picture. See? Your influence is all over BoC (and the drinks we order, too)!
See? Your influence is all over BoC (and the drinks we order, too)!
Wait! Don’t listen to me!
OH MY GOD! Is that really Tommy Lasorda’s blog? That is hiLARious. I think it is priceless that he felt he needed to “confront” the Phanatic! Can you imagine walking up to the Phanatic to attempt to voice a legitimate concern?- and when the MASCOT fails to enter into a reasonable dialog, you decide your only course of action is to body slam the Phanatic?!!! That is so fucking funny!
(For the record, I like the Phantic….just not when he is knocking me over while I’m holding my viola.)
You konw what? I can’t really tell if Tommy Lasorda is actually serious or not because if he wasn’t, that bit about whole body slamming thing would be REALLY funny.
I KNOW! And to write a whole post so seriously! “I hate the Phillie Phanatic”, as if he was a real person. Oh my GOD I love that!
That is Lasorda’s blog and he actually did get into it with the Phanatic. I grew up in a family of Dodger fans, I actually remember it happening. It was back in the mid 80′s. But seriously, hilarious! Steve Sax was giving the Phanatic his jerseys!
It took me a while to clue in that it was Tommy Lasorda’s blog. I was thinking, “Wow. That Phanatic is a jerk, going up to fans and somehow stealing their jerseys off their backs and using them for public humiliation.”
Actually, that nonsense scenario kind of made me pro-Phanatic.
“can’t really tell if Tommy Lasorda is actually serious or not”
He’s dead serious. Tommy Lasorda was an a-hole, bigtime. He was the baseball equivalent of John Tortorella.
What a pill! I just can’t believe that Tommy Lasorda would get so bent out of shape about the PHANATIC! Is there video footage of Tommy and the Phanatic? Oh please, sweet merciful heavens, tell me I can watch this on YouTube! I’ll be right back.
Do the practices draw crowds?
Patty, when we were in Buffalo they had their usual, open game-day skate, and it had been announced ahead of time that most of the players wouldn’t be there. So we headed down there anyway, and there must have been 2,000 fans there, just watching the injured guys and Amerk call-ups drifting around aimlessly for 40 minutes.
“I hate the Phillie Phanatic”, as if he was a real person.
He’s not?
Okay, I’m not super gifted at finding stuff on YouTube, but I didn’t see any Lasorda-on-Phanatic action. I did however find a bunch of other hilarious Phanatic clips. That guy is awesome.
…there must have been 2,000 fans there, just watching the injured guys and Amerk call-ups drifting around aimlessly for 40 minutes.
Toward the end of the season, and for any advertised practices, they might get several hundred fans. I haven’t ever been to a game-day morning skate.
I can’t wait to see Lasorda’s blog at home later. (SJ)
The Phanatic is like the single most awesome thing on the planet! I literally can’t verbalize how I feel about the Phanatic; it just… Phanatic. I am now gazing dreamily at my large, plush Phanatic stuffed animal on my windowsill (no joke) and thinking, “Oh, Phanatic. I love you so.”
Do the practices draw crowds? When I go to Stars practices, it’s usually just about 10 or 20 of us. If there were a couple of people from the Philharmonic playing Pantera’s DALLAS! STARS! song, I would fall in love with them myself.
Sorry, Patty. I forgot to respond in my Tommy vs. Phanatic emotional frenzy. Yeah, although I’ve never been before, the open practices are kind of a thing I think. Heather told me she went once and the concessions were open and Rick Jennerret was announcing. I’m pretty sure the pre-season stuff is a bigger deal than the pre-game practices, but I don’t know. All I know is that I am THERE.
If there were a couple of people from the Philharmonic playing Pantera’s DALLAS! STARS! song, I would fall in love with them myself.
…also one other advantage we (Buffalo Philharmonic players), is that the Sabres theme song is a legitimate piece of classical repertoire. One of my greatest frustrations with the orchestra management is that they don’t understand we should be playing this music AT EVERY CONCERT.
I’m pretty sure the pre-season stuff is a bigger deal than the pre-game practices, but I don’t know.
That’s been my impression as well, although I’ve never been. They do a lot of scrimmaging and stuff in the pre-season, so it would be more entertaining than the practices.
And hey, I could swear I heard they were getting well over a 100 people at the July prospect camp thing, so you’ve got to figure they get good attendance when they have actual NHL players there.
I don’t know, I kind of feel like Lasorda should have gone the MacTavish way and ripped off its nose (seeing as it’s lacking a tongue).
The Phanatic has that party blower thing that comes out of his nose. Lasorda should have gone after that. Although it probably wouldn’t be very satisfying…
Ha! Can you imagine an enraged Lasorda with his hand up the Phanatic’s snout thing? The thing about the Phanatic is he will ALWAYS make a fool of you. You really should try to fight the Phanatic. Even if you got your mitts on his party blower, he’d still find a way to make you look like an idiot.
I meant to say, “you really shouldn’t try to fight the Phanatic.”
It’s so true, Katebits. Since the Phanatic has no pride to start out with, there’s just no way to beat him.
Kate, that’s Sabre Dance? It’s fantastic! Crap I can’t believe I didn’t remember that! I can play the cello in that piece *very proud of self*
Oooh. Nice, Mags. That’s a pretty hard cello part!
Even if you got your mitts on his party blower, he’d still find a way to make you look like an idiot.
I really, really, really want to find a way to use this in a game diary this coming season… This sounds sort of like something Chico would say, doesn’t it?
That’s a pretty hard cello part!
I know, and I’m a rotten cello player. But it’s the only thing I was ever motivated to study for because I liked it.
It’s so true, Katebits. Since the Phanatic has no pride to start out with, there’s just no way to beat him.
I never thought of it like that. If we all abandoned all pride, would we all be as awesome as the Phanatic? Hmm. I don’t think so. Look at Michael Peca.
“I can play the cello in that piece *very proud of self*”
yes, but can you play early Metallica?
But it’s the only thing I was ever motivated to study for because I liked it.
Actually, one of the sad things about the Sabre Dance is that it is actually pretty difficult and it can make a fool out of an unsuspecting orchestra. There are many pieces of music that a professional orchestra can play without any rehearsal whatsoever, but Sabre Dabce isn’t one of them.
I can’t imagine having to wear these new hideous unis every day for work if I can’t even handle the nametag.
I’m with you, Pookie. I’m extra-irked about the new badge we have to wear here. We used to only have to carry one, to get to this floor on elevator and to get into the garage, but now we have to wear a photo badge. It is a big player on the pro side of job-hunting.
I don’t think so. Look at Michael Peca.
Peca’s problem is an overabundance of pride. It’s shame he’s utterly lacking.
yes, but can you play early Metallica?
If Apocalyptica played it, I probably have the sheet music. So yeah, I could thereotically play some of it. Bet Kate would be better though.
Kate, other people in an orchestra were never much of a problem for me. I just played along with a CD. I’m so not musical though.
Since the Phanatic has no pride to start out with, there’s just no way to beat him.
It’s like matching up against Phoenix. Even if you win, you get no satisfaction out of it.
Peca’s problem is an overabundance of pride. It’s shame he’s utterly lacking.
Totally! I knew there was something wrong with my statement, I just couldn’t figure out what it was. Funny that I can’t differentiate between pride and shame!
Patty, I have to wear a photo badge, too. My picture looks exactly like Quasimodo. Fortunately, I’ve now been working here long enough that the little plastic sleeve that holds my badge finally stuck to the surface of the badge, and when I pulled them apart, it peeled about 40% of the picture off. So now I look like a bona fide old-timer (a sign of a veteran of my company is a photo badge bearing what looks like a big gray smudge in place of the photo), and I don’t have an official company-sanctioned portrait of myself as a monstrous hunchback dangling from my belt loop all day long.
Even if you got your mitts on his party blower, he’d still find a way to make you look like an idiot.
I really, really, really want to find a way to use this in a game diary this coming season… This sounds sort of like something Chico would say, doesn’t it?
It really does, Schnookie.
When I read that, I immediately started thinking about whose party blower I’d like to get my mitts on. :P
Randomly, you guys thought the NHL uni’s were bad, these are the new English field hockey ones. If they forget which country they’re playing for, they can just look at their socks. Weeeeeeeird.
If they forget which country they’re playing for, they can just look at their socks. Weeeeeeeird.
Maybe there’s been an outbreak of sock theft and they need to put a stop to it?
Maybe there’s been an outbreak of sock theft and they need to put a stop to it?
I have no idea. The hockeyroos have it too, and it’s even sillier on them.
Where have y’all gone? I promise to never mention field hockey again if you come back.
A photo badge used to get in and out of buildings, I could deal with, since that’s a necessary part of corporate security. It’s the fact that I have to wear a nametag that bugs me. It was no security element at all. In fact, there are a number of people here who I feel less safe for the fact that they know my name. I feel like it should be up to me if I want someone to know my name or not, you know? The worst part of it was the giant, thick, bright blue lanyard that came with it. I was finally given a much smaller one in stylish Devils red at a conference. I have no idea what the company whose name is slathered all over it does, but I give them free advertizing all day long!
Clearly, the Ookies get no love….
http://www.thenosebleeds.com/2007/07/ookie-ookie.html
I have no idea. The hockeyroos have it too, and it’s even sillier on them.
Hmm…I find that sometimes, when dealing with England, it’s best to just not ask.
And yet does knowing that stop me? No, it does not.
andrew, I am aghast that someone thinks “Ookie” is a bad nickname! I mean, going by an -ookie name proves you a highly discriminating person of vast cultural learning, with neither pride nor shame to your name. Literally.
I am deeply, deeply troubled by the fact that Michael Vick is trying to sully my fine nickname.
Yeah, Pookie, I have to admit that it’s better to have a photo badge than an actual nametag. Sorry about that. :D
I am not “client-facing” as we call it in the corporate wasteland.
“It’s the fact that I have to wear a nametag that bugs me.”
It would become super-cool if you could write “Pookie” on your nametag.
I loved the Jon Stewart coverage of Michael Vick. Especially when he was so amazed that the football guys were more disturbed about the gambling part of it or whether he would abandon his team mates. I mean come on! Poor Pookie. I’ll always think of Ookie as a good name.
It would become super-cool if you could write “Pookie” on your nametag.
Boomer seems to frequently be in positions that require nametags, and hers always say Boomer. When she worked in a bank, when she worked in an insurance call center, when she does volunteer work with the Master Gardeners…
alix, I always feel superior to Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert when they talk sports. They just seem like total sport-phobes trying to sound cool making fun of something about which they know nothing. (Although Stewart is actually a bit of a sports fan, or so Pookie assures me…) The clip he was using of the football guys inanely discussing the Vick thing was hilarious, though. (Despite it obviously being the 700th cycle through the story, so they were well past discussing the actual dogfighting aspect of it and were in that “desperately casting about for something new and shouty to say about this” stage that allows sports[and news]casters to sound like the biggest idiots in the world.)
“Mostly just the Red Wing fans–they sure got a lot of viciousness to them, that’s for sure. That’s what makes them extra special playoff victims.”
Earl I’ve had Ducks ticket for 8 years now. My theory most of the Ducks fans are Wings fans and don the Santa Suits for the Wings game in Anaheim. Much like up until a few years ago I tossed on my Hawks Larmer sweater when Chicago visited the Pond. There is just a crap load of RedWing fans.
I agree, Schnookie, usually I don’t like their sports coverage but this somehow worked for me. I read somewhere that Colbert likes hockey but that might be a complete lie.
Oh and I LOVE that Boomer always has Boomer on her nametags. So awesome.
Colbert only likes OHL hockey for the obvious reasons, haha.
I saw the Daily Show’s Vick coverage yesterday too and it was brilliant. I always wanted to get their take on the idioticy that is the Sports News Coverage sometimes.
Colbert is most distinctly not a hockey fan. Or if he is, he knows NOTHING about the sport. He aired a phone interview between him at the coach of the Saginaw Spirit in which he tried repeatedly to joke that the team needed a “stronger forecheck in the nuetral zone”. He kept saying it like, “aren’t these words funny?” but the coach was like, “WTF? Who is this clown” all while trying to be polite. For us hockey fans watching at home, it was very depressing. That said, I adore Colbert and Jon Stewart — I just wish they’d leave sports out of it. When they talk sports, it makes me feel so very low.
(I think I overstated Stewart’s sports fandom last night, Schnookie. I think he played soccer in college, and as a result, as shown up in SI and a compilation about the importance of sports in young people’s lives that I found while strainghtening shelves here at work.)
I think I overstated Stewart’s sports fandom last night
Well, being Jewish is pretty much a built in excuse for not knowing anything about sports (except possible Ultimate)…or at least, I’ve always liked to think so.
Much like up until a few years ago I tossed on my Hawks Larmer sweater when Chicago visited the Pond.
Heh, getting back to NHL 94, one of my pals always played as the Blackhawks (he was heavily influenced by the fact that they had Belfour rated 100 and Roenick rated 100), and always threw Larmer up on the wing.
I must admit–Larmer’s a guy who’s pissed me off a lot in the past, and I don’t even think I ever saw the guy play in the flesh.
Oh no! I killed the comments to my own post! Sleek you imbecile!
Yeah I played the Blackhawk through may seasons of 93. Back we they had a team.
There just seems to be a lot of pent-up dislike of Steve Larmer here. He’s not the guy I would have picked to be the one to silence the IPB Irregulars, but there you go!
Yeah, Steve Larmer is the NJ Devils of comment threads.
How can you not like Larmer, steady, reliable, played both ways and could score a few points. He probably got a bad rep playing alongside Big Al Secord.
Yeah, Steve Larmer is the NJ Devils of comment threads.
Dear God — he’s killing the thread!!! Someone make it stop! AIEEEEE!!!
I have no opinion on Larmer, to be honest. He retired before my time.
Well, for me Larmer’s crimes were more of the digital variety, but if there really was a linemate named Big Al Secord, I’m holding that against him too.
He retired in ’95 that make you 12 or younger….lol
Earl,
This was before 94 but Larms started playing with
Secord and Savard before teaming up with Roenick
Yeah, although I’ve never been before, the open practices are kind of a thing I think. Heather told me she went once and the concessions were open and Rick Jennerret was announcing.|
The Sabres have the usual open practices during the day – drills, skating, maybe a scrimmage etc. But then right before the season starts they have a night scrimmage. The team is split into two squads and they play an actual game (although they did play parts of it 4 on 4 and other variations to get in some practice on certain things) with Rick and Jim announcing over the PA and the concessions open and the t-shirt gun etc. I don’t know if that’s an annual thing or not but it was totally fun and drew a pretty decent sized crowd.
During the pre-season open practices drew anywhere from 10-50 people the few times I went but I know by the end of the season they had closed all practices because of some unruly behavior in the players; parking lot. (People blocking players’ cars from leaving etc.)
westcoast_ray, my first year as a hockey fan was 95-96. I had an abortive attempt to discover hockey after the Rangers Cup win (what can I say? I live in what considers itself an outlying NY suburb, and I was a Knicks fan at the time…) that was stymied by the lockout. So I almost got to know Larmer as a Ranger…
(psst Heather, can you please email me at the hlogadmin addy to update your email? I keep getting bounce backs. Everyone else ignore me.)
I can’t imagine having to wear these new hideous unis every day for work if I can’t even handle the nametag.
I strongly believe that the Sabres fell apart in the playoffs because one of them finally caught a glimpse of himself in mirror and pointed out to the rest of the team what they were wearing every night.
Wow, HG has the parenthesis thing down perfect. Go HG!
Wow, HG has the parenthesis thing down perfect. Go HG!
That’s exactly what I was going to say. Or had we decided Heather doesn’t read the stuff in parenthesis?
I strongly believe that the Sabres fell apart in the playoffs because one of them finally caught a glimpse of himself in mirror and pointed out to the rest of the team what they were wearing every night.
Does this mean we can expect an across-the-board decrease in the quality of the NHL product? And a Boston Cup win?
Katebits, you seem awfully confident that Heather doesn’t read anything in parentheses (I heard she does).
Earl, I didn’t get that last part. Can you repeat it?
Kate, I’ll totally sit with you, Glen, and your motley crew of instruments. I am going to withhold this info from Mark though.
Does this mean we can expect an across-the-board decrease in the quality of the NHL product? And a Boston Cup win?
Yes. Unless all mirrors are removed from the arenas. And reporters and fans are banned from taking photos the players might see. I mean, you saw the Sabres in the playoffs, right? This could get ugly, people! Because our jersey doesn’t look that bad compared to some of these!
Or had we decided Heather doesn’t read the stuff in parenthesis?
We decided that she might. But judging by her last comment, apparently we were wrong.
This could get ugly, people! Because our jersey doesn’t look that bad compared to some of these!
Well, if nothing else, the Blue Jackets will think they’re some iteration of the US soccer team from the mid-’90s, so they’ll be able to beat Mexico. But other than that, this might be a really hopeless season…
Unless all mirrors are removed from the arenas. And reporters and fans are banned from taking photos the players might see.
This is troubling. If player abilities will be limited by the uniform atrociousness factor, then will one-eye Berard win the Norris?
(psst Heather, can you please email me at the hlogadmin addy to update your email? I keep getting bounce backs. Everyone else ignore me.)
HG just posted a completely blank comment! How strange!
I’m glad I can entertain you all even while I’m not here.
Sadly, I think Columbus’s jerseys are one of the best of the new lot. They are very USA-y looking but they’re not ugly anymore which is a big improvement.
If player abilities will be limited by the uniform atrociousness factor, then will one-eye Berard win the Norris?
Burn!
Oh, and Crunchy may very well win the Vezina, based on how he chooses to dress himself off the ice. His main competition? Bryz.
HG just posted a completely blank comment! How strange!
Hilarious!
HG, Heather’s got a very touchy Senor Spam on her e-mail that will bounce back anything with parentheses. Be warned.
Oh, and Crunchy may very well win the Vezina, based on how he chooses to dress himself off the ice. His main competition? Bryz.
Patty “Shiny Shirt” Elias for the Hart!
“Sadly, I think Columbus’s jerseys are one of the best of the new lot.”
Apparently they’re based on the Ohio state flag. Which, if you’ve seen that, looks remarkably like it belongs at the top of a mast, flying on some moron’s yacht.
I actually kind of hope this comes true now, because the ramifications for Ottawa ’08 would be off the charts.
“Hey Burke, draft this kid! He dresses like shit!”
I actually kind of hope this comes true now, because the ramifications for Ottawa ‘08 would be off the charts.
“Hey Burke, draft this kid! He dresses like shit!”
I cannot WAIT for us to get to be a grove of potted plants shouting encouragement at the worst-dressed kids at the Draft. This is going to be so traumatic for them!
:0 Poor Cherepanov. I mean, if he waited just a year he might’ve gotten a top 10 pick…
(if memory strikes correctly).
With that ‘do, he’d totally go first.
What is going on in here today? There is an insane amount of hockey talk at IPB! I hate to throw in something off topic, but…
with Rick and Jim announcing over the PA and the concessions open and the t-shirt gun etc
That reminds me of somethnig I heard on the radio today, a new Bud Light commercial:
“Today we salute you, mister t-shirt gun maker.”
Uh oh, my cousin dresses quite normally. I should send him some ugly shit STAT.
I hate to throw in something off topic
I do believe that is the first time in history that IPB has been thrown off topic.
That reminds me of somethnig I heard on the radio today, a new Bud Light commercial:
“Today we salute you, mister t-shirt gun maker.”
I LOVE that one!
“He’ll give you the shirt off his back. At 300 feet per second.”
I should send him some ugly shit STAT.
I think Sherry can lend you one of her pink shirts.
Frisby, I’ll never forgive you. How dare you take this thread off topic.
IPB is ALWAYS on topic. TELL ME WHEN WE WEREN’T ON TOPIC!!
IPB is ALWAYS on topic. TELL ME WHEN WE WEREN’T ON TOPIC!!
:^:::::::::::
IPB is ALWAYS on topic. TELL ME WHEN WE WEREN’T ON TOPIC!!
TELL ME WHEN!!!
Boo…I have to start packing for school but I hate packing. I’d rather just be the best IPB commentator I can be.
Frisby, I’ll never forgive you. How dare you take this thread off topic.
Perhaps a hard spanking is in order?
UNGHH! Too hard!!!
“Perhaps a hard spanking is in order?”
“UNGHH! Too hard!!!”
Do you know what it’s like being a fem-bot living in a man-bot’s man-puter world?
Perhaps a hard spanking is in order?
Lesson learned. I should not let my guy friends read an IPB thread with me. I am never going to live this one down.
Thanks Frisby.
Perhaps a hard spanking is in order?
HAHA I thought I had seen eveything on IPB but apparantly not. Now IPB is going to be known as that “kinky” hockey blog :p
Now IPB is going to be known as that “kinky” hockey blog :p
You weren’t around for Schnookie’s piss porn career? Boy did you ever miss out.
That’s true, I had forgotten all about that!
I think Sherry can lend you one of her pink shirts.
Do you want to break double digits?
Lest you think I actually own a large collection of pink shirts, he’s referring to my rantage on HLOG today:
http://hlog.blogspot.com/2007/08/angry-feminist-rant.html
Come to think of it, if the guys wore it, they’d probably be seen as avante-garde and so fashion forward that it becomes some sort of ironic trend. Because the universe is cruel like that.
Do you want to break double digits?
Now you’re sensitive about this too? I don’t know if you’re just hypersensitive or just thirsty.
Besides, there’s no evidence that Robert Lang wears pink shirts. Just sayin’.
Wow Sherry that shirt is really disgusting. It boggles my mind that these are consistently produced and targeted at women over the age of 5.
You guys, I’m so bored. and I still have an hour till I can go home. I think i’m gonna kill myself.
I am never going to live this one down.
Awe, I’m sorry Mags. It was just a Futurama reference (andrew caught it).
C’mon, Andrew, I’ve been bored all week and I’m still alive.
Still, though, this “killing yourself” idea isn’t without merit. August really is the cruelest month.
“It was just a Futurama reference”
Frisby, I could go all day quoting Futurama. I freaking love that show.
“I’ve been bored all week and I’m still alive.”
Dude, you have no idea. I’m talking about maddening boredom. Soul-crushing boredom. Yes…in fact it is NJ Devils boredom.
I don’t know if you’re just hypersensitive or just thirsty.
None, Bailey’s is expensive I’m stocking up!
that was a poorly punctuated sentence, I apologize.
Bored at work? Sounds like my day everyday.
Thank god August is almost over! I hate it. I’m off to clean my kitchen…that’s how bored I am. Hopefully things will have picked up here by the time I get back. Try to have fun everybody :)
Oh wow, Vinny, I just saw that Leafs unofficial jersey leak, and yeah, apparently they can mess up anything!
see ya alix.
Speaking of Bailey’s…Sherry, I saw your profile picture has changed over at Scarlett Ice. Interesting.
Could that picture possibly be IPB’s resident teetotaler chugging a Corona? hmmm…
It was just a Futurama reference
I’ll let the guys know.
I’m headed off to bed.
(This is so irrelevant it hurts, but bear with me: Ok, so I’m the biggest wuss in the world, but selections for my team (and I’m competing against someone else for the starting job, and I don’t know who, and I’m scared) start tomorrow evening, and I’m killing myself over them. I’d like to apologize in advance, because I know I’m going spazz out tomorrow afternoon. Think of me at 14:00 Jersey time? Please? It’d help.)
You got it Mags. Best of luck!
Night Mags! You’ll be fabulous. I’ll send my positive vibes your way tomorrow afternoon.
Mags, that is way relevant.
Uh, 11 am on the west coast? (checks calendar) Well I’ll apparently be sitting here bored, so sure, you’ll get my well-wishing.
Maybe I’ll even wear green shirt tomorrow.
I forgot! I’ll wish you luck as long as you wish me luck tomorrow, Mags. I’m interviewing at a different department. Same job, 20% pay raise! Woo Hoo!
Thanks guys, y’all rock a whole bunch.
Andrew, sure thing.
Damn, green shirt it is, then. Everyone gets a 4% boost in luck!
13:00 my time, got it. Good luck, Mags.
Could that picture possibly be IPB’s resident teetotaler chugging a Corona? hmmm…
What’s next, the Ookies at an all-you-can-eat fish house?
Good luck with your last stretch of the workday, Andrew. I’m shutting down and getting the hell outta here.
Good luck Andrew! pay raises are always fun :)
thanks guys! Actually I have found the gov’t interviews are pretty cake. So many rules they have to follow…makes the whole thing very predictable. But still, a little luck never hurts!
Gov’t job huh? What are trying go from grade 36 bureaucrat to grade 37?
“It was a regulation date that ended in regulation disappointment.”
“Yes, but you only stamped it four times.”
“I was young, reckless!”
Mr. Fry! Why is this baseball cap filled with yogurt?
No, wait! I can explain! You see, it was actually filled with milk…and well, time makes fools of us all.
“What are trying go from grade 36 bureaucrat to grade 37?”
You have no idea. I’m actually convinced the writing staff spent a month at a government job to study up for that one.
She liked me because of the part of me that’s a slob. I liked her because of the part of me that’s desperate.
Hermes, who we’re you yelling at in there?
Me self, I asked for some time off but I was in no mood for me shenanigans.
13:00 my time, got it.
Ditto. I’ll send luck vibes for you Mags!
I have every confidence in the world that you’ll make it.
Stick to someone else you windy barnacle!
Good luck to you too, andrew!
When you get that job, hopefully it’ll bode well for the one I’m trying to get. (This is just among all of us, of course. Don’t tell anybody at my SJ.)
Oops, sorry Patty. That wasn’t directed towards you.
Poor Patty, just walked right into a Futurama geek-off.
Sweet guinea pig of Winnipeg!
And thanks Patty!!
My supervisor just came by and gave me a very reluctant “good luck”. She’s upset that I might leave.
And hell yes, good luck to you!!
MrF, I’m out of here. We shall continue another time.
to be fair, Andrew…I’m not chugging it, merely slowly drinking it ;P
Andrew, Mags, break a leg both of you!
(Andrew, if you kill yourself, you’ll void all your IPBucks. You don’t want to do that, do you? It’s gonna be a beautiful day tomorrow, andrew! Don’t do it!!!)
Oh, as for being “on topic”, back when I used to ride the bus to hockey games, I’d meet the same group of fans every game and we’d all talk hockey while waiting for the bus and while riding to the game. I remember one particular bus ride when someone said, “Oh, speaking of hockey, ‘Mystery Alaska’ opens next week.” It was like a record player screeching to a halt. “Speaking of hockey”?! We had really reached the point where that turn of phrase would only work if someone mentioned something not hockey related at all, prompting, “Speaking of not-hockey…”
One last thing: my favorite one of those radio commercials was the one saluting the ugly multi-colored NBA sweater. I don’t remember any of the lines, but it cracked my shit up every time.
Mr. Frisby, I didn’t even dream you meant me when you called someone a windy barnacle! :D
…my favorite one of those radio commercials was the one saluting the ugly multi-colored NBA sweater. I don’t remember any of the lines, but it cracked my shit up every time.
My new favorite, right behind the t-shirt gun one, is the taco salad inventor tribute. I haven’t heard the NBA sweater (?) one.
I’m off! See y’all later.
I don’t remember any of the lines, but it cracked my shit up every time.
I’m glad Patty remembered a line from the one I mentioned. I couldn’t remember any myself, just that I almost ran off of the road because I was laughing so hard.
*watches tumbleweed roll by*
Oops, I missed Mags and Andrew…I suck. Good luck you two!!
Pink sucks.
Oh wow, Vinny, I just saw that Leafs unofficial jersey leak, and yeah, apparently they can mess up anything!
it’s not true! it’s not true! (yes it’s a mantra i repeat to myself.)
CBC just took all of the Leaf “leaks” and smushed it into one thing. >.> it’s not true.
they’re not getting rid of my horizontal stripes at the bottom damnit!
I’m afraid that the next lockout won’t be about salaries, but instead about basic design.
Pink sucks.
I agree.
Although the walls in my bathroom are pink.
But what could I do? I had to match the sink and the tub! :D
I took a look at that link from way earlier where they have all the jerseys, and if that’s what the Stars unis are going to look like, I’m okay with that.
I heard a while back a rumor or a fact (don’t remember) that they were going back to the whites being the home jerseys. I hope it’s true.
Those Stars jerseys might indicate that, since the dark one has Dallas on it. In the vein of baseball unis, the away jersey would have the city name on it. And I think it’s kind of cool to have D A L L A S on the front with the number.
Not sure if that was a leak, or just an educated guess.
Pink is ok on walls and flowers but on hockey gear? No way Jose.
Not sure if that was a leak, or just an educated guess.
Yeah, it’s like Eklund-level guessing at this point, who knows?
Maybe a franchise will have sympathy for its beleaguered female fanbase and have the team wear the pink jerseys. C’mon, Leafs. Do it.
Exactly, alix.
If there were a pink team, I’d think about it. Although I’d be separately livid that a team picked pink for its colors.
Speaking of colors and commercials, does anybody remember the commercial:
“…when a hockey player wouldn’t be caught dead wearing the color teal…”
I can’t even remember what the product was.
Vaguely, Mr. Frisby. But I don’t remember the product either.
Maybe a franchise will have sympathy for its beleaguered female fanbase and have the team wear the pink jerseys. C’mon, Leafs. Do it.
oh come on! We have Bell, Tucker, Belak, a whole slew of interchangeable fourth line grinders … and you couldn’t use say, the Rangers, instead?
I mean, just think of Avery! :D
Yeah, but who’s going to stand up for the Rangers then? ;P
“…when a hockey player wouldn’t be caught dead wearing the color teal…”
I can’t even remember what the product was.
shark fin soup :x
( btw, no I have no inkling of this commercial at all.)
Maybe a franchise will have sympathy for its beleaguered female fanbase and have the team wear the pink jerseys. C’mon, Leafs. Do it.
Sweet.
The one thing I was looking forward to in the skills competition last year was going to be the fastest skater wearing the new-style uniforms. I wanted to see if there was any noticeable speed improvement at all. But then I was let down when they wore regular uniforms for the skill day. But then I was re-excited when little Andy Mac was the fastest of them all.
Does anyone remember a commercial (or some sort of t.v. spot) featuring Mike Modano as “a giver”?? I saw it a long time ago and I’ve never found it since. I’m beginning to think I dreamt the whole thing except I know I didn’t.
The recollection I have is that it was a guy on a couch who kept saying what a giver Modano was, that he let him (the guy talking) have a girl that he (Modano) could have had. Then the camera pans over to the girl sitting by the guy and she’s…well…very unattractive let’s say. It was quite funny. Anyone? Patty? Bueller?
Don’t remember that at all. But it sounds hilarious!
I don’t remember it Icing, but nobody seems to remember the short-lived commercial series “Rooming with Roenick”, and I swear I’m not crazy either.
I’m going to write a modern day Cinderella story. Instead of a glass slipper, someone will find a recording of that commercial for me. (Or maybe I should just think of getting back to Chasing Sidney).
“Rooming with Roenick”
That sounds freakin’ hilarious.
Sample episode: Roenick has just finished preparing dinner, and is bringing it to the table. Anson Carter is there ready to eat, but from the next room, another housemate starts yelling “Goal! Anson, you gotta see this goal!”
Anson is ever-eager and runs out, and an exasperated Roenick (who was proud of his steaks) yells “Anson! Hey! Get back here!”
And then it went into a Center Ice commercial. Good times.
you’re joking right?
There wasa a series titled Rooming with Roenick?!
merciful heavens, i hope youtube is my friend tonight.
We used to see some cool Southwest Airlines commercials where they’d show regular people trying to do stuff that hockey players make look easy.
They’d show a generic business man at a subway/train station who drops his token. He looks around, backs up, runs at the turnstile and tries to jump it. He falls flat on his face. Then they cut to players leaping over the boards and the words, “Not as easy as it looks.” Or words to that effect.
Then they showed a couple of workers feeding tree branches into a wood chipper in a quiet neighborhood. The one by the chipper calls to the other one over by the pile of branches and says, “Hey! Toss me that glove!” The guy tosses it, the other guy reaches to catch it, misses, and the glove goes ZIP! right into the chipper. Then they cut to some great goalie saves with the same tag line.
Kinda fun.
You’ll never find it. It doesn’t exist on the internet, but I swear it was real. And it was bizarre.
Cast: Roenick, in his house
His trainer, who decided to move in also.
Anson Carter, also on the program, also moves in.
Roenick’s friend, who moves in also, no reason given.
And their neighbor, Glenn Healy, who is pissed because he’s too cheap to get Center Ice but they won’t let him watch at Roenick’s house.
The whole thing is kind of reality-showish, with asides and all, but all scripted. One season (I dunno, 5 years ago?) we saw a ton of it. Maybe it played in off-hours? I think I’ve seen hours of it, and I still never really understand the premise, but it was so stupid it was hilarious.
Earl, I don’t remember any of those. I do remember one where Roenick was building a house or something and stood in front of a table on sawhorses outside the unfinished houses discussing the blueprints in front of him. But I was so disgusted by his very being, that I never got through the whole commercial without muting it or changing the channel. I think it was for Center Ice, too.
It was a show? Like a half-hour at a time?
No, it was all just a series of commercials, maybe a minute or two in length, but they’d run on endless loop for us. Maybe it was just our market, but man, there was a lot of it. I’m shocked it’s not recorded somewhere, because it was pretty crazy–it was never really addressed why they really lived together, or had cameras around all the time.
(they didn’t really–that was just the premise of the commercials)
wow 0.0 Center Ice commercials sure are…. different.
Is it just me, or is it not rather frustrating when the internet cannot provide this kind of thing – I’m so used to easily finding stuff that I’m irked when that doesn’t happen.
Didn’t take us long to start taking YouTube for granted, eh?
Earl, I didn’t find any video, but here’s a press release from 2002 that proves you’re not making it up. :D
Hooray! I’m not crazy!
Well, you’re not crazy in relation to having dreamt up “Rooming with Roenick” but I’m not sure this says much about your overall level of craziness ;)