Dear New Jersey Devils,
We often use this space as a stage for the ridiculous, frivolous and stupid, but something happened today that demands a serious, meaningful response from us: we tried to buy tickets to a game at The Rock. Devils, you guys have got to be kidding. Now, we’re just the kind of people that teams like you love to target; we’ve got a comfortable household income, much of which we consider “disposable”, and we love nothing more than spending it all on hockey. We spend more on our television set-up than we do on all of our monthly utilities combined. We eagerly peruse the merchandise catalogs for the teams we like, just so we can shell out $40 a pop for logo branded t-shirts. We recently forked over many hundreds of dollars for a hockey vacation that included only three live games; we calculated that we spent half of an entire paycheck for the tickets to one of those games alone. We are clearly not people who shy away from obscenely high ticket prices. But you, New Jersey Devils, have taken things too far.
In trying to think of a nice Christmas gift for Boomer, we lit upon the notion of treating her to a night at the new arena during the Holidays. But when we went online to see what was available, we discovered the entire lower bowl was sold out. This seemed a little unbelievable considering the crowds — or lack thereof — we’ve seen on TV, but fine. So we went to see what was available anywhere. And what did we discover, Devils? We discovered that you are expecting people to spend $100 on tickets in the upper deck. Oh, we can already hear you protesting — “It’s not the upper deck! It’s the mezzanine! The sightlines are great! You’re right on top of the ice…” Stuff it. We don’t want to hear it. If we’re spending $100 per ticket, we damn well better be up close to the action. For that kind of money we should be able to see the game in a way we can’t on television; we should be able to see the boards shaking and feel how hard the puck whips around them, we should be close enough to read the players’ lips when they yap at officials, we should be able to feel like we’re really there. We’re happy to watch games in person from upper deck — sorry, mezzanine seats, but not for $100. For $100 dollars we should get to ogle the guys up close. And don’t even try telling us the fast-food sushi and empanadas are worth the extra bucks, since those aren’t exactly included in the price of the ticket, and frankly, we can eat better than that at home without having to spend 90 minutes round-trip on the train (assuming we get an express). Devils, you should be ashamed of yourself. You have managed to price us out of buying tickets. It’s one thing to price Joe Lunchpail or the average family of four out of attending your games, but it’s another thing altogether to price out people with deep pockets and a total lack of prudence about how to spend their money.
So the long and the short of it is this: it’s no skin off our back to not go to the game. Heck, we’ll be more comfortable watching it in our pajamas on the couch and we can blog while we watch. But we hereby refuse — refuse! — to be ashamed and embarrassed by the small crowds turning up at the Rock. Every television talking head, every blogger and every fan will spend all season looking down their noses at Devils fans based on the sea of empty seats but we will no longer feel even a tiny bit responsible. You’re on your own with this. Until you get your head out of the clouds about ticket prices, we wash our hands of your attendance issues.
Sincerely,
Pookie and Schnookie
UPDATE It seems the Devils are not content just to ruin our lives with their terrible play on the ice. Now they’re ruining our lives by rendering our posts into a web of lies. In writing this post, we decided to double-check the ticket availability for the game in question and discovered there were indeed at least 3 seats available in the lower bowl, but not in the area where we’d want to sit. So, we’re still ticketless. And we stand by all our assertions that the ticket pricing is out of control. But in the interest of being honest and forthright, we figured it was only fair to point out that we could buy seats closer to the ice than the upper deck — er, sorry, mezzanine.
Totally justifiable attitude, Ookies.
Even if there are tickets in the lower bowl, $100 is too much for the upper mezzadeck.
upper mezzadeck
:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::
I’d laugh at the term “mezzadeck” but it’s just so expensive that it ceases to be a laughing matter. :P
I understand, Schnookie.
I think you should actually send them the letter. Or somehow get the newspaper blogs around there to link to is so the team will see it.
We cross-posted to HLOG. Maybe they’ll see it there? Oh, who am I kidding? Since when does anyone involved with the Devils read blogs?
You know, I have an advertising degree (unused), but I think I learned in Economics 101 that if you’re trying to attract buyers, you don’t both change your product AND raise the prices.
Then you’re right back where you were. People just change reasons for not buying your product.
Basic supply and demand tells us that if you can’t sell your widget, you either make it better than other widgets at the same price, or you lower your price. You raise your price when you don’t have enough widgets to go around.
True. First, write them a letter on a piece of paper and send it to them, informing them of blogs.
Then send them a letter with a link to this one. :D
You raise your price when you don’t have enough widgets to go around.
Perhaps the Devils (rightly) assume they’re the only New Jersey Devils NHL team around? (I just don’t understand them at all. I’m currently banging my head against the wall.)
First, write them a letter on a piece of paper and send it to them, informing them of blogs.
Then send them a letter with a link to this one.
:^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Well, if you’re buying the team for $100, that’s a good deal! You should take it!
Well, if you’re buying the team for $100, that’s a good deal! You should take it!
:^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Well, if you’re buying the team for $100, that’s a good deal! You should take it!
I dunno… $100 is an awful lot to be taking on Patty Elias. I mean, right now he’s annoying the living crap out of me, but at least I’m not his employer. No way I pony that much up for this team — I won’t pay a penny more than $75.
You don’t think the other $25 is worth it for Clarkson?
Pensgirl, right now the only good I can think of that I’d be getting for my $75 is Clarkson. I’m not sure that offsets the rest of the guys. (Just kidding! I include Travis, Zach and Paulie as the good stuff. But still, that’s not enough to balance out the wretchedness that would be dealing with the rest of them.)
Hello from the league basement!! :)
We were there a week ago, CapsChick! And charging $100 to watch that hot league-basement action from the mezzadeck, to boot.
True. There aren’t any rats or anything down here, are there?
I guess the silver lining to this is that thanks to the world’s dumbest exclusivity agreement, I didn’t have to watch the Caps lose in OT to the former worst team in the league. Yay and woo.
Sorry, CapsChick!
I wanted to watch the end of that game when I got home, but I couldn’t find it anywhere.
Sorry, CC. There’s a lot of season left.
Two things: you should be heartened that Sutter punished the guys after last night’s game by making them ride stationary bikes till they keeled over with rubber legs.
DOPG and I decided we want to try to drive an hour and a half to take in a Pens-Devils game at the Rock but I do have to tell you current availability for $95 seats is a corner in what appears to be the nose bleed section for any of the remaining games in Jan, Feb or March.(I do not liek nose bleeds for $200 plus). I’d also like to know which end each team shoots in but I expect they don’t care of the nonseason ticket holder or visiting team fans knows this stuff. Just spend the money dammit!
My verification codes were “paddle” ooo naughty Devils – and “shorten. ” I guess Sutter paddled them last night and they wanted to shorten their punishment, the season?.
I wanted to watch the end of that game when I got home, but I couldn’t find it anywhere.
You wouldn’t have – thanks to Versus, no other games can be aired anywhere on Tuesday nights (and then Monday nights after football season). It’s all for the best though. Kovalchuk didn’t get a hat trick and actually left with back spasms, and the Caps lost in OT. BLAH.
Sorry, CC. There’s a lot of season left.
Oh, see? Now that’s just depressing ;)
thanks to Versus, no other games can be aired anywhere on Tuesday nights
That’s weird, because I did have one game on my Center Ice. But I actually have other TV I watch on non-Pen Tuesdays, so I didn’t pay attention to who it was.
Oh, see? Now that’s just depressing ;)
Your injured guys won’t be out forever?
Has PandoNation seenthis yet?
Darn, almost got it right!
Yeah, it was the Sens-Leafs game (which at last check was a 5-1 drubbing by Ottawa). I think the agreement only applies to US games or something…
Your injured guys won’t be out forever?
Well, Poti was back tonight. I don’t know. I’m getting very, very frustrated – how does a team with Ovechkin, Nylander, Kozlov, and Backstrom score 3 goals in their last 4 games? Defense was supposed to be a problem for us, not offense.
I’m cranky. Cranky and annoyed. Cranky and annoyed and not at all looking forward to playing Ottawa in two days. I’m going to bed so I don’t start to bug all you lovely IPBers who were nice enough to try and cheer me up ;)
Oh Pensgirl….YooHoo!
There’s your buddy Roszival on the list of “underrated” (for the rest of you: say or think “Newman!”
It’s early! The Caps will turn it around!
First off, zot, thanks for bringing that up! I totally saw that this morning and thought, “Pando? What an obvious choice!” Just kidding. I was so happy for him, but also wondered, along with Pahlsson, how a guy continues to be underrated after being a finalist for the Selke.
The VS exclusivity is really dumb, but didn’t ESPN have the same deal back in the day?
MOPG, I was delighted to hear that Sutter biked the guys’ legs off. I hope he did it again to them today, and will do so again tomorrow. And then I hope he charges them $100 a seat to sit in the mezzadeck.
SNORK, Schnookie! $100 to sit in the mezzadeck! How about $100 to have a seat on the bike they are riding?
I’m cranky. Cranky and annoyed. Cranky and annoyed and not at all looking forward to playing Ottawa in two days.
You’re playing Ottawa? I thought the whole league was all-division, all-the-time until Thanksgiving!
Mom – how many times do I have to tell you I don’t care about Roszival?! You should be talking to DOPG – he’s the one who still growls. To me he’s just another Ranger.
Awwww! Kesler was chosen for the Canucks. That kid’s been on fire ever since he got cross checked by that Boulerice slime. Plus he wanted them to cut off his broken finger so he could play in the playoffs last year. Good little insane hockey player. The way the Devils are playing right now, they should pay you out of their own pockets to come watch them(And I love the Devils, I do)
Plus he wanted them to cut off his broken finger so he could play in the playoffs last year. Good little insane hockey player.
Holy shit! That’s more dedicated than Sid! Are you sure he’s not a robot too?
I thought the whole league was all-division, all-the-time until Thanksgiving!
I think every team is playing, like, one non-divisional team over the next two weeks. And lucky us, we get the one team that is steamrolling over everyone else (oh, and the Canes a couple more times, too – yay and woo again).
didn’t ESPN have the same deal back in the day?
You know, I’m not sure but that’s very possible – I’ve kind of blacked out everything connected to ESPN. I think I’ve just been kind of spoiled lately since all 82 games have been locally broadcast over the past few years and I hate not being able to watch my boys.
Oh, and more people got ESPN so at least there was hockey available if you were craving it. I get VS…of course, no way in hell was I watching the Rags vs. the Isles. I had Ottawa-Toronto on my computer instead while I listened to Steve “Every Play is Heart Attack Inducing” Kolbe.
My verification codes were “paddle” ooo naughty Devils – and “shorten. ”
Mine were “beshine” and “vaquero”. Vaquero?!
“Holy shit! That’s more dedicated than Sid! Are you sure he’s not a robot too?”
Hee. Maybe he’s half robot? Because I do know that he has hobbies and favorite music
Maybe he’s half robot? Because I do know that he has hobbies and favorite music
Oh, well then he can’t be a robot.
Unless they gave him chips for those things. Is he younger than Sid? Maybe they added “hobbies and music” to the next model!
Vaquero sounds like it should be Senor Spam’s comment snatching weapon.
Hee!
I think he’s two years older than Sid, so maybe not quite a robot.
Hm. Well then he’s just balls-to-the-wall crazy.
I guess he is :) I think he’s future captain material when he gets a bit older.
Ok, I hate the Leafs and all, but could Ottawa please start losing, at least once and awhile? Holy crap.
but could Ottawa please start losing, at least once and awhile? Holy crap.
Well, I’m certainly not complaining. I have to admit all of this winning has got me a bit unsettled because a part of me is just waiting for it all to come crashing down but I am having WAY too much fun with this team right now.
Plus if we lose, it can’t be to the Leafs. At least give us that!
(P.S., I got really freaked out when I clicked on IPB and they asked me for a password and told me I wasn’t authorized to view this blog! I thought the -ookies locked me out for some reason. Hope it was just a glitch :P)
(P.S., I got really freaked out when I clicked on IPB and they asked me for a password and told me I wasn’t authorized to view this blog! I thought the -ookies locked me out for some reason. Hope it was just a glitch :P)
Dammit! You got through our defenses! As soon as your team starts losing, Sherry, we’ll clear you to get through to IPB again. :P
It’s early, Sherry! The Senators will turn it around!
Oh. Wait. Sorry… force of habit.
HA HA. It is totally a force of habit now. And sorry Sherry, didn’t mean to hate on your team :p I’m just bitter mine has the worst home record in franchise history.
Final word of the night for me: see, the Rangers learned a thing or 2 from the Pens. They blew a 2-0 lead to the Isles and lost 3-2. spooky.
…see, the Rangers learned a thing or 2 from the Pens.
And we appreciate the sacrifice the Pens made to teach them that lesson. :D
And we appreciate the sacrifice the Pens made to teach them that lesson. :D
I don’t! All these other divisional games are lose-lose for us and we needed those two wins! Yesterday we were behind Philly and NYR, and now we’re behind NYI and Philly (NYI leapt everybody by winning tonight, but we leapt NYR because though we remained equal in points, the Pens now have a game in hand. Side rant: games-in-hand is an asinine tiebreaker – it becomes moot at the end of the season. DOY.). But if NYR had won, they’d have leapt Philly for the lead. My head is spinning!
It’s not like all these games wouldn’t be played eventually, but why does it feel like this all-division-all-the-time is somehow going to find a way bite us in the ass?
I like games-in-hand. I can always fool myself, when we’re behind in points, into believing that we’ll make the best of those games and catch up in points.
I like games-in-hand. I can always fool myself, when we’re behind in points, into believing that we’ll make the best of those games and catch up in points.
Oh, I totally track them. I just think they’re stupid as a tiebreaker, because the tiebreakers only really count when the season is over, and at that point there are no games in hand. As soon as tiebreakers really mean something, it gets thrown away, so why use it as one at all?
Ah. I didn’t know meant an actual tiebreaker. Maybe it’s just for the very rare time when a game is canceled and at the end of the year one team has one game fewer. If they’re tied with someone but they have the game in hand…
I’m just makin’ shit up. :P
It’s late, I should go on to bed.
Perfect sightlines my ass.
In other ticket related news, thanks to the Ookies and Pensgirl for encouraging me to change my season seats. My sis and I moved back a few rows and that damn railing is out of the way now! Plus, our seats are strangely more spacious…maybe since there’s a handicapped seat at the end of the row? (Who would sit in that? You have to climb about 15 steps to get to it!)
I agree with Patty that you should send this to the Devils somehow. Whether its snail-mail, e-mail, carrier pigeon, Boxworthy’s lunchpail, etc, the Devils do deserve to hear from disgruntled fans. It could be a nice change of pace for them to hear from fans disgruntled about the new arena instead of fans disgruntled about the on-ice product.
this all-division-all-the-time is somehow going to find a way bite us in the ass?
Its going to bite a lot of teams in the ass, that’s for sure. Maybe after hearing about all the disgruntledness from the fans/media/players they’ll re-think this “division-month” nonsense for next year.
There’s plenty of room up here in the cheap seats if anyone’s interested….anyone?….or not
You do know that there are $20, $25, $35, $65, $75, and yes, even $10 tix available at the box office on game days? It sounds like you echo many other devils fans in their tepid support of the team and boundless criticisms. Why not go to a game once in a while instead of just whining about attendance? I’m sure you’ll say the product isn’t worth it. It’s just another instance of apathetic fans who’d prefer to make snarky comments.
Maybe it’s just the arena is a case of pearls before swine.
My sis and I moved back a few rows and that damn railing is out of the way now!
Good for you, Pam! I’m glad it worked out.
Maybe after hearing about all the disgruntledness from the fans/media/players they’ll re-think this “division-month” nonsense for next year.
:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Sorry, but I have little hope for that. You know the saying “the biggest detriment to public service is the public?” Well, in this case it’s “the biggest detriment to the National Hockey League is the league.” I would love to spend a week in the front office. Things would look vastly different at the end of it.
Why not go to a game once in a while instead of just whining about attendance?
Albert, we were season ticket-holders for six years, a time span during which we attended every single preseason, regular-season and playoff home game. We had seats in the lower bowl for some of those years, and seats in the last row of the upper deck for others. It was a 90-minute one-way drive for us to get to CAA, and we still attended all of those games (on weeks where the Devils had three-game homestands we spent literally more hours at games and in transit to them than we did on our full-time jobs). We had to part ways with the team as ticketholders when Pookie got a job that is another hour further south, making it impossible for us to get to games on weeknights — I mention this just to explain that geography is the factor that keeps us from attending games. We’re hardly apathetic.
The new arena is still a 52-minute train ride from the station nearest us, which happens to be a 20-minute drive from our house. The fare runs between $14.50 and $17.00 a pop, depending on whether the game is on a weekend, and the parking at the train station is extra on top of that. If I am going to spend that much time and money to go to a game, frankly, I don’t want to be sitting in the upper deck in narrow seats with little legroom and questionable sight lines. The point I’d like the Devils to hear is that I am an ardent fan, I’m willing to spend over two hours just in transit to attend a 2 1/2-hour game, and I’m more than willing to fork over premium prices to do so. But I expect premium prices to buy premium seats.
Schnookie, it is also worth noting that you guys were specifically NOT “whining about attendance.” All it takes to know that is to pay even a half-bit of attention to what you wrote, which is the very opposite of said complaint.
And as to the ticket prices dropping on gameday – if people only actually buy your widget when you significantly drop its price, then it was originally overpriced. That’s the most basic of supply-and-demand rules. And the Ookies make a handy pricing barometer, what with their discretionary income and their desire to spend that income on all things hockey (and specifically Devils hockey).
I’m with Patty, ladies – the organization would benefit from hearing from you.
I can appreciate your enthusiasm and team spirit in your support in travelling those distances. I just get irritated with fans who jump on the attendance bandwagon without admitting that there are affordable options. If you’re looking for premium seats, you could sit downstairs for $95 or $115, which I think you’d be happy with.
And as far as upstairs, yes some of the seats are a little smaller, and there are Code mandated railings that can obstruct some views, and yes, some of the seats do have a little less leg room, but that is not every seat upstairs. And for the affordability of those seats, one can’t expect the same seats or view that someone who pays more should expect. But for $20 a game, I’m pretty satisfied with a smaller seat and a view that’s a little higher but still pretty crispy.
Albert, thank you very much for pointing out the cheaper tickets available and the $10 tickets offered on game days. I very much appreciate that the Devils do make those an option, and it should be shouted from the roof-tops to get people’s attention. However, we made it pretty clear in our post that these were not the seats we were looking for as a special present to give our mother for Christmas.
I do however take umbrage at one thing you said:
I’m sure you’ll say the product isn’t worth it.
Please do not put words in our mouths. I suggest you try reading more of our work (perhaps even all 118 reasons we compiled about how much we love this sport) before you suggest that we would ever say money spent attending a hockey game is wasted. We may snark (a lot) but in 6 years of having season tickets (7 for me) we have never said a game wasn’t worth the price.
We love hearing from new commenters, and again, appreciate that you had valid points to add to the argument, but in the future, keep such presumptions about us to yourself.
Pensgirl,
Sorry, maybe I wasn’t clear enough. The $10 seats are only available gameday. The rest of the seats hold their price. It’s not a question of whether their value decreases or original market value. The team holds the $10 seats for gameday.
And I understood the point of the article. I’ve just noticed that people who make a point of attendance issues and pricing should be held to a standard of honesty. Tickets are available in 7 price zones less expensive than the ones referred to, some with better views. That’s all.
Those railings are okay for a one time deal…but I have season tickets ($25 seats, about an hour commute, depending on traffic, not to mention, on a grad student’s salary), and that shit gets old really fast. That’s why I had to move. I just wish I had been told that my view would suck if I sat there. Is it possible they didn’t know?
our mother
The Ookies are sisters? I did not know this…
Albert, you’re right that we’ve got no beef with spending $95 or $115 for lower-bowl seats (which was what we were looking for in the first place before Ticketmaster told us the best available were $100 mezzanine seats). I know I come off sounding like a snob, but I’ve just reached a point in my life where if I’m going to take all that time to go to a game (after having attended literally hundreds of Devils games already in my life), I want it to be something a lot different from what I can see (a lot more comfortably) on the TV. So I’m kind of a “lower bowl or bust” fan at this point; my complaint with the Devils here is that they’re charging lower bowl prices for a lot of non-lower bowl seats, and then scratching their heads at why no one’s coming to the games.
But for $20 a game, I’m pretty satisfied with a smaller seat and a view that’s a little higher but still pretty crispy.
I hear that! We spent two years literally in the last row of CAA, and had a great time. I’m glad to hear that you’re happy with your tickets!
But for $20 a game, I’m pretty satisfied with a smaller seat and a view that’s a little higher but still pretty crispy.
For $20 sure! We had $20 last-row seats for Game 7 of the SCF in 2003 and for that one night, they were the best seats in the house! However, for a smaller seat that’s higher up I’m not satisfied to pay $100. That’s the argument we’re making here. We were trying to get the $95 or $115 seats. And as you can see in the updated portion of the post, they were still available. They just weren’t in the part of the arena we want to sit in. We thought a post ranting about Ticketmaster wasn’t what anyone wanted to read, so we left it at that! I’m sure we could go up on game day and get perfectly good seats from the box office, but as Schnookie detailed, getting there isn’t easy for us Central Jersey folks. If we lived a sensible 20- or 30-minute ride from the Rock this would all be another ball game. But for us to go, it has to be a special event.
The Ookies are sisters? I did not know this…
Hee! I’m not sure I want to know what we sound like if you don’t know we’re sisters… :D (But for the record, I’m the older, prettier, smarter, better sister.)
(But for the record, I’m the older, prettier, smarter, better sister.)
Older, sure…
wow…the comments thread is getting heated!! I’ve been absent for some time and it’s a treat to be reading this discussion.
-ookies, my suggestion is for you to constantly keep track of stubhub. When your team isn’t doing well sellers tend to slash their prices. I know from experience. We got over 50% off the face value at stubhub last year when the Kings were sucking it pretty hard. The tickets may not be cheap right now but just keep an eye out.
Thanks for the stubhub heads up, kms2!
And I understood the point of the article. I’ve just noticed that people who make a point of attendance issues and pricing should be held to a standard of honesty.
They didn’t lie, they just have different preferences than you do. You are taking what satisfies you and expecting that it should satisfy them. Some people are happy to go to a game and sit anywhere just to be there. Others want something more out of it. Neither perspective is “wrong,” but with the Ookies’ travel situation they are even more justified in being particular about what they want to experience.
Related to that point, each pricing tier is a product in and of itself and has its own market. That there are $20 seats does not negate or refute the Ookies’ allegation that $100 is too high for “mezzanine.” The Ookies, with their desire to sit lower, are the target market for those seating areas. You, with your (seeming) desire to be there but not pay a lot, are the target market for the upper seats. Ultimately, even though you end up taking in the same game, it really is just a matter of apples and oranges.
Ultimately, even though you end up taking in the same game, it really is just a matter of apples and oranges.
Exactly, Pensgirl! As always with IPB, we’re all right! (But only because Earl isn’t here right now… oh, did I say that out loud? Hee hee! Sorry, Earl!)
but with the Ookies’ travel situation they are even more justified in being particular about what they want to experience.
Add in the fact that its a holiday present, too.
I don’t know if the Devils have it, but some teams have a feature where season ticket holders can re-sell tickets they can’t use, allowing the general public to pick up good seats.
Ultimately, even though you end up taking in the same game, it really is just a matter of apples and oranges.
Exactly, Pensgirl! As always with IPB, we’re all right! (But only because Earl isn’t here right now… oh, did I say that out loud? Hee hee! Sorry, Earl!)
Awwww, your post on your blog almost made me cry Kms2. Poor Cloots. He was such a sweetie. And he was a pretty good goalie before his knee injuries.
New arenas are a pain.
Here in Dallas, when they built the AAC, there was nothing but talk about what a waste it was and how the taxpayers were screwed because nothing was being built around it like they promised.
Then, the city decided not to kiss Jerry Jones’ feet and pay for his big new Cowboys stadium (that he could write a check for — he doesn’t need us paying for it). So now the city is stupid for NOT paying for a venue.
And now, they are finally finishing up a lot of the building plans around the AAC and I actually heard one of the radio dorks say that it’s such a model of what can be done and how visionary he and his pals were by knowing it would happen from the beginning and why couldn’t we do the same thing for the Cowboys. Argh! They were the whiners at the beginning!!
I give up.
Also, I hate the Cowboys.
And sorry I took over the comment thread to talk about other blogs ookies :p I hope Boxworthy personally delivers you lower bowl seats in his turtle car. You deserve it you wheaty fans, you!
I just typed up a long, and dare I say, profound comment about new arenas, but it got lost somehow. Probably something I did.
I’ll just sum it up thusly:
I hate the Cowboys.
I hope Boxworthy personally delivers you lower bowl seats in his turtle car. You deserve it you wheaty fans, you!
:^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
The Devils should offer special wheaty seats just for us. They’d be in the lower bowl, they’d be nice and comfy, and they’d have wifi. That’s my dream!
I just typed up a long, and dare I say, profound comment about new arenas, but it got lost somehow. Probably something I did.
Senor Spam is apparently a Cowboys fan. Huh. Anyway, your comment is back, now numbered 77.
As always with IPB, we’re all right!
Yup! Back in grad school, I student-rushed, I put up with obstructed seats, I did whatever I could just to be there. I was at Mario’s second “comeback” game, in overhang seats that actually kind of scared me. Back then, I couldn’t afford to be choosy, and I wanted my being there to serve as a message that “I love this team no matter what and it deserves a new arena.” Just being there was enough.
But now, I’m making good money, and I’m driving four hours to be there. In a couple of cases I’ll be taking time off work to be there. If I’m going to make that level of effort, I want to smell the ice. I want to get pictures like those Habs game ones I shared with you. I want the players to be able to see me in my sixteen-year-old jersey and know that I am with them.
The Devils should offer special wheaty seats just for us. They’d be in the lower bowl, they’d be nice and comfy, and they’d have wifi. That’s my dream!
Also? A TV, positioned between your seats and just below the boards, featuring the feed from ClarksonCam. All closeups, all the time. :P
Pensgirl, I’m glad to hear we’re not the only ones who feel that way. There are times when I wonder if I’m being a shitty fan, for the way that I’m just not interested in sitting in the nosebleeds anymore, so it’s reassuring that I’m not alone in this. :D (Not that I think you’re a shitty fan. Neither of us are! We’re just fans who’ve put in enough hours in the cheap seats that we know it’s not worth it to us to put in the time and effort of getting to the game for that. Furthermore, I have a really, really nice television. On which I get close-up shots of the players. Tell me why, again, I’d opt to spend all that time in transit to be sitting in the last row? :P)
Awwww, your post on your blog almost made me cry Kms2. Poor Cloots.
Haha! I do feel bad for the guy but it’s just difficult not to make fun of him. I can’t believe he’s doing so poorly in Manchester.
I wonder how teams/arenas decide what to price tickets and whether low attendance will help lower the prices.
Senor Spam is apparently a Cowboys fan.
According to the sportstalk radio scene around here, EVERYBODY is.
Also, hate sportstalk radio.
(Now that my comment is back up for everybody to read, I take back that “profound” claim. :P )
I wonder how teams/arenas decide what to price tickets and whether low attendance will help lower the prices.
I would have thought low attendance would do something for the Devils, but they’ve been among the most expensive in the league for years. (I would like to note the price zones we haven’t even touched on in this thread — $65-$75 for upper deck seats? THEY’RE INSANE.) I know at CAA they used to have echoingly empty seats down where the TV camera can see them, and then the entirety of the crowd crammed into a narrow ring of $40-and-cheaper seats at the back of the upper deck. I am assuming that’s what’s going on at the Rock now, too.
Now that my comment is back up for everybody to read, I take back that “profound” claim.
Patty, it was incredibly profound.
I hate the Cowboys.
*huge, Texan-sized hug*
We’re just fans who’ve put in enough hours in the cheap seats that we know it’s not worth it to us to put in the time and effort of getting to the game for that.
Exactly. And for what it’s worth, there are circumstances where I’ll sit in the cheap seats. In DC, for example, where the roomie goes with me and for her the expensive ones are too much, I’m willing to sit high because she’s new to hockey and I want to encourage her fandom. If I’m already in Pittsburgh and my brother – currently a grad student – wants to go to a game, I’m not going to make him pay outside of his means to satisfy me. But when my best friend and I got our mini-plan tickets, I was more discriminating.
$65-$75 for upper deck seats? THEY’RE INSANE
The Caps do that too. I’m sensing a pattern here….
kms2, your Cloots post just cracked me up! I remember him best as Mike Richter’s backup from 100 years ago. Oh, how we used to make fun of him when he was a bad young Rangers goalie… I can’t believe it’s ending like this for him, though. Poor guy.
ClarksonCam, eh? Remember when they experimented with the second feed of the game that only showed Mario (I think it was Mario)? They should totally bring that back for the hot guys. That’d be some excellent marketing. We could all vote on which hotties get a special camera all their own. It could be called SqueeCam and Margee could organize all the votes to then present them to the league.
…I’m not going to make him pay outside of his means to satisfy me.
See, this is where I would put my foot down and say that I’ll just buy the tickets and the grad-student budget person can pick up the popcorn! :D
Ah, Clouts. Well, I hope he’s investing those gold coins wisely! (Great post, kms2!)
Remember when they experimented with the second feed of the game that only showed Mario (I think it was Mario)?
I remember that! And then they realized that hockey players really only spend a small amount of their time directly involved in the play, and the full-game, iso-cam has ne’er returned. But how much better would it be for hotties? I mean, an ENTIRE GAME of shots of Clarkson on the bench? I’d be ALL OVER THAT.
Remember when they experimented with the second feed of the game that only showed Mario (I think it was Mario)? They should totally bring that back for the hot guys.
It’s possible, because the Pens did have a MarioCam – I don’t know if it was from the very beginning or not, but at least at some point they realized, hey, we should be following this guy around. They used it to make videos, commercials, jumbotron features, etc.
They’ve had SidCam from the very beginning Unfortunately, it’s just on-ice, so no trips to Giovanni are included.
See, this is where I would put my foot down and say that I’ll just buy the tickets and the grad-student budget person can pick up the popcorn!
Sometimes I’ll do that, but I don’t have that much discretionary income to do it all the time.
I mean, an ENTIRE GAME of shots of Clarkson on the bench? I’d be ALL OVER THAT.
You BET. In fact, they could have ClarksonChannel and I’d pay for it. Just on the bench, skating before a faceoff or after a whistle, sitting in the box, whatever. I looked through Yahoo for good photos, but the only ones I found of him were during the action where his face is all contorted.
For a guy as relentlessly hot as Clarkson, he’s surprisingly not photogenic.
I know I’ve been bitching about the schedule a lot, but my boys haven’t played since saturday, and they don’t play until tomorrow! They’ve probably lost all that momentum after beating the Avs. Bettman is slowly killing me. They’re just asking me to find a secondary team.
Too bad the tv watcher can’t pick whatever player they want closeups of for the entire game.
I looked through Yahoo for good photos
Try this:
DAVID CLARKSON
And just FYI, how did I find this picture? Why, by using my mad librarian skillz and my mad librarian access to America’s Newspaper database. So take that all you who said my researching needs a little work! And, um, while we’re on the subject, any Canadians here want to give me their library card number so I can access Canadian newspaper archives? :)
According to the sportstalk radio scene around here, EVERYBODY is.
I’m not a Cowboys fan, but the reality show about the selection of their cheerleaders is the cheesiest reality show. Yet I kept watching.
We could all vote on which hotties get a special camera all their own.
If NASCAR can have separate cameras and channels for important drivers, then it is doable!
The NHL could also experiment with installing cameras overhead all around the rink (not just at the goal line). Imagine how cool that would be.
I think I may have a decent shot of him…I’ll check that…if it’s good, I’ll send it to you…
And between my sis and me, I’m the “pookie”
We could all vote on which hotties get a special camera all their own
Do these cameras ever make their way beyond the ice? Like say, the lockerroom…oh dear, I’ll stop now…
Patty – re: changing the product and raising the price at the same time, actually, you can do it. I’ve been involved in product re-stages where Consumer Product companies have made significant changes to the product and raised the price at the same time, however, they tended to do a test market beforehand (with a marketing plan to test behind the “new news”) and have a forecast off the revised product/new price combo to see whether it was worth it.
When you have new news to deliver is often the time when you can raise price. But you have to be sure that (a) the new news is something that your customers will be interested in (and, I suspect here, mezzanine seats for $100 with no food thrown in is not new news people were interested in, no matter how nice the arena, or the site lines) and (b) you have to have a marketing plan that gets that new news to the consumer. I think we all know the extent (or lack therof) of NJD marketing.
Try this:
DAVID CLARKSON
Sold!! Why, I nearly fainted off my chair.
I looked through the Devs’ pix but I didn’t bother searching on him; I thought it would be moot given that Google images only turned up that one little black and white (but what a b&w it was). Nicely done, Madame Librarian!
(and, I suspect here, mezzanine seats for $100 with no food thrown in is not new news people were interested in, no matter how nice the arena, or the site lines)
Hee! What amazes me is that a bunch of us hanging out on a hockey blog are able to see very clearly what the professionals doing the pricing and marketing are unable to discern. (Oh, and hi, SueNJ97 — it’s great to hear from you!)
Pensgirl, I want it pointed out that the picture of Clarkson there that Pookie “found” was a link in a newspaper article she’d dug up. It just so happened that our intrepid researcher didn’t think to click on the link, so later when I emailed her back to thank her for forwarding the article, I was all, “And DAMN but that picture’s a nice one” and she was all, “WHAT PICTURE???” I think I deserve some credit for finding this one, too! :P
Oh, and Pam, I’m keeping my fingers crossed the picture you’ve got of Clarkson is a good one!
(As for being “the Pookie”, I’m so sorry. Life is far, far better as the Schnookie. :P) (I kid! I kid! I fully put forth that Pookie is a billion times cooler than I am. I say that with all sincerity.)
Well, then. Nicely done, Schnookie!
Is it just me or does he have kind of a Paul Gross thing going in that shot?
(By the way, if you’ve never seen Men With Brooms, you absolutely must. It is utterly Canadian in the most wonderful of ways, and it actually taught me curling!)
I know I’ve been bitching about the schedule a lot, but my boys haven’t played since saturday, and they don’t play until tomorrow!
My guys haven’t played since Sat and they don’t play again until this Saturday!! Alix, I agree, these schedules absolutely blows!!! We play Dallas on Saturday and Dallas will have played three games while the Kings will have played zero. We’re screwed if Dallas gets on a roll this week.
-ookies, thanks for the kind words. I didn’t know he was Richter’s backup; Cloots had big skates to fill!
How much did the Rock cost? I bet the high prices are to cover overrun construction costs and because management thinks the new arena should demand high prices.
Alix, I agree, these schedules absolutely blows!!
The only consolation is that they seem to be doing it to everybody. In years past, I was too lazy to look at every team’s schedule but I was convinced that they were only doing shit to us. Coming here and having people from across the league has shown me that at least for this year, that’s really not the case. We’re all screwed.
I know the Isles had a week-long layoff in October, and I think someone else did too. We have one at the end of November (after Atlanta at home on the 24th we’re off until Dallas comes to town on the 30th).
The only way that’s remotely fair is if both teams in a game had the same layoff. And even then it’s still stupid.
This is our 2nd week-long layoff, but the first did occur after the London trip. Somehow we got the long layoff and the Ducks had 2 or 3 games before we played our next one. I remember Sherry talking about the Sens having a long layoff not too long ago, too, so I guess it is happening leaguewide.
I was looking at our schedule and at the end of January-early February we have 8 road games in a row that spans 3 weeks. That will suck for the players…
Yup, I guess at least not one team can feel put upon, because they’re all getting screwed. It seems like they hired a drunk money to design the schedule this year.
And it just seems odd, that if they had to have these long lay offs, why not have them closer to the end of the season when all the players are exhausted?
This is our 2nd week-long layoff
Now THAT is just wrong. I checked before and that one this month is the only one we have. Although, just like last year we’re getting crunched at the end.
I was looking at our schedule and at the end of January-early February we have 8 road games in a row that spans 3 weeks. That will suck for the players…
That would make it after the all-star break, and I can’t figure out whether that’ll help you or hurt you.
Does anybody else end their season with another all-divisional run? Our last 8 games and 10 of our last 11 are divisional.
How much did the Rock cost? I bet the high prices are to cover overrun construction costs and because management thinks the new arena should demand high prices.
I get the feeling they don’t care about selling the seats as long as the naming rights to the arena went for a shitload of money and the luxury boxes are all sold.
I have to admit that I’ve not paid very close attention to the Devils schedule. The 9-game road trip to start the season was of their own design, and they spent most of that “road trip” being at home anyway, so it couldn’t have been that bad. As for the rest, I have no idea whether there are huge chunks of time off. I’m inclined to say there aren’t, but I could be making that up. (Everyone likes to complain that the Devils have the easiest schedule all the time anyway, so I should just assume they do and not bother actually looking it up. :P)
Pensgirl, the devils last 10 games are 9 divisional games
OK, so they’re probably saying “eff you” to the whole league again. It’s like they looked at how exciting the East race was last year and tried to pre-arrange another ending like that. I mean, it was fun to watch for someone whose team was firmly ensconced in the playoffs, but what was cool was that it was organic. To try to do that to us on purpose? Assholes.
Does anybody else end their season with another all-divisional run? Our last 8 games and 10 of our last 11 are divisional
Yeah, we have the last 9 against other Pacific division teams. But that’s not as bad as the 11 in a row we have in November.
That would make it after the all-star break,
ugh, I completely forgot about that! See, now that would have been a great time to have a week-long layoff but instead we have a 4-day layoff.
Yup we have 9 divisional games to end the season as well. November and April are going to be terrifying and mind numbing. Not to be all chicken little, but the way the NW division is, those months will most likely make or break our playoff spot.
the luxury boxes are all sold.
Ahhhhh….yeah, probably. Staples Center has three levels of luxury boxes and Lisa Ovens (the H&HH author) was almost appalled at how many luxury boxes we have and how it wasn’t really “hockey-esque” to have that. But then we reminded her that the Lakers play there and they definitely attract the high end crowd.
It’s like they looked at how exciting the East race was last year and tried to pre-arrange another ending like that.
It’s incredibly frustrating how stupid they think we are. I mean, rivalries are great, but you’re absolutely right that they have to be organic. And after three years of the all-divisional, all-the-time diet, I’ve gorged plenty on these “rivalries”, thank you very much. I’m just tired of it. And I hate, hate, hate that they’ve narrowed our vision down so much that as fans there is absolutely no reason to pay attention to the other conference, and barely any reason to pay attention to the other divisions in your own conference. I think I need to start a new “I hate the schedule that the NHL is getting rid of anyway” blog, just so I stop repeating myself about this all the time here.
Staples Center has three levels of luxury boxes and Lisa Ovens (the H&HH author) was almost appalled at how many luxury boxes we have and how it wasn’t really “hockey-esque” to have that.
We saw a game there about four years ago and I remember thinking it just seemed like a strange layout for an arena, with all those luxury boxes propping up the upper bowl. But such is the way these things are designed these days, no? Heaven forbid the people who are there to watch the game be closer to the ice than the people who are there to schmooze with business clients.
And after three years of the all-divisional, all-the-time diet, I’ve gorged plenty on these “rivalries”, thank you very much. I’m just tired of it. And I hate, hate, hate that they’ve narrowed our vision down so much that as fans there is absolutely no reason to pay attention to the other conference, and barely any reason to pay attention to the other divisions in your own conference.
Yes, yes, and yes.
Back when they were still Wales and Campbell, I knew what was going on with everybody. The philosophies they’ve moved to when they went East/West have made knowing anything about the other conference irrelevant!
It’s like they’re looking at the NFL for a model. But with football the limited number of games played is the reason they don’t see every team each year. Hockey SO does not have that excuse!
The Canucks owners apparantly want to change the media press box into more luxury boxes. And while the media pretty much pisses me off, I don’t like the number of luxury boxes either.
I don’t like the number of luxury boxes either.
I’d be OK with them if they were just for rich people who love hockey (or for players to use for charity for people who love hockey) but we all know that like Schnookie said, it’s just a place that people schmooze with clients and that’s the part that stinks.
I came to hockey after the East/West thing was put in place, and I was still able to follow very closely what was going on league-wide back when everyone played everyone else. I especially liked when everyone played at least once in everyone else’s buildings, but I guess I can kind of see why they’ve jettisoned that. But this three-year plan of “Fans, we know you want division rivalries! What’s that? You don’t? Shut up. We know best, and we know that’s what you want” scheduling has been exhausting. Considering the Devils tunnel-vision I had before the lockout, it’s a miracle that I’m even aware right now that there are teams outside the Atlantic Division. Despite the NHL’s best efforts to thoroughly eradicate my interest in non-Devils teams, they’ve got enough charismatic new players scattered around the league that I’ve been able to persevere. Can you even imagine how much we’d all be in love with the “New NHL” if the NHL actually found a functional way to schedule it?
Can you even imagine how much we’d all be in love with the “New NHL” if the NHL actually found a functional way to schedule it?
I think I’d have to find a job IN hockey if that happened, because I’d be spending so much time on it anyway.
Come to think of it, why didn’t I just do that in the first place?
I think I’d have to find a job IN hockey if that happened, because I’d be spending so much time on it anyway.
Come to think of it, why didn’t I just do that in the first place?
Haha, I think that too! But then I try to covince myself that if I actually worked in a field that I have tons of interest in then I might start to hate it.
But then I try to covince myself that if I actually worked in a field that I have tons of interest in then I might start to hate it.
I agree! I’ve read Bill Simmons talking about this, explaining why he refuses to be a sportswriter who goes into dressing rooms to talk to the players and coaches. He has an anecdote about his first (and last) opportunity to do that, where he got to interview his favorite current player on the Red Sox, and the guy was a complete and utter asshole just because he hated the media. Simmons wrote that he completely understood after that experience why so many sportswriters end up hating the sports they cover. (He also explained that he understands 100% why the players hate the media, to be fair.) I really don’t think I’d want a job in the NHL or with one of the teams, just because I wouldn’t want to end up like that.
I really don’t think I’d want a job in the NHL or with one of the teams, just because I wouldn’t want to end up like that.
I think it’d be OK as long as you didn’t have to interact with the players or the media too much. Just a normal job – say, an accountant – that happens to be for an NHL team.
I used to love the luxury boxes, because our company drew names and gave us tickets to a few games a year. Now that they don’t, they irk me. :D
I have a friend who bought lower-bowl season tickets every year to use to take clients to games. She fell in love with the game and started just taking friends and family instead.
Here’s the typical convo with a client:
My friend: Here’s where we’re sitting!
Client: Wow. These are great seats. I love whatever you sell.
My friend: Great!
Client: Let’s go to the bar.
Here’s the typical convo with a client:
My friend: Here’s where we’re sitting!
Client: Wow. These are great seats. I love whatever you sell.
My friend: Great!
Client: Let’s go to the bar.
You forgot
Pensgirl: SLAP!
Haha!
I’d probably just say, Yeah, I’ll meet you there.
And then tell my boss the guy never showed up.
You forgot
Pensgirl: SLAP!
Hee!
We are really adamanant non-purchasers of food and drink at hockey games. So much so that when we were in the Igloo Club in Pittsburgh, with the swanky bar and carving stations and no lines to get the goods they were selling, we still didn’t partake of them. (Perhaps this is one more reason I’m so “meh” about The Rock. I really don’t give a shit what kind of food they sell there.)
And then tell my boss the guy never showed up.
:^::::::::::::::::::::::::::
She didn’t realize how good she had it until she started giving me her extra ticket occasionally. I never shut up about the hockey. I imagine she would have preferred a happy medium.
I’ve said before that if I ever win the lottery, I’m getting a suite at the AAC, then I’ll divide up what’s left with my family.
I was driving to work for the last hour and thus didn’t get a chance to point out that I knew there were links at the ends of the newspaper articles in that database but when the first 100 links I clicked on didn’t work, I stopped paying attention to them. How was I to know that this was the one link that would work? TELL ME HOW!!!
The one place where I’m OK with them is college football stadiums. I catered for my President’s office during my last semester, which happened to be in the Fall (I changed majors), and the elderly benefactors of the school who got to sit in the President’s box were the best fans. They used to tell us to stop serving them food and come watch when we were getting into red zone territory, even though we could all see the TVs stationed across the box. And they’d go crazy for the team. That was great.
But I fear that football, and particularly college football, is the only sport (here in America) where you see that.
Morning (or afternoon), everyone. How’s tricks?
TELL ME HOW!!!
ClarksonDar.
Morning (or afternoon), everyone. How’s tricks?
Going great, Earl! And you? Feeling better than you were yesterday, now that there’s a little time and space between you and that 5-0 game?
Feeling better than you were yesterday, now that there’s a little time and space between you and that 5-0 game?
That’s an ironic thing to say!
;)
Hey Earl! Don’t worry, you’re still above the Canucks in the standings.
How’s tricks?
Did Earl just call me a hooker?
Yeah, writing a post last night about Adam Oates helped me keep things a bit in perspective (better than my non-stop beratement of the team, which I resumed a bit later).
Also, I got my first contribution up to the Fanhouse today. Even though it is outside my CA-only jurisdiction, was enough to prove that I could indeed post.
Hooray! How funny that your first post was a gossip piece. I’m glad they let you keep your cartoons.
Nice job, Earl, nice job.
Yeah, writing a post last night about Adam Oates helped me keep things a bit in perspective (better than my non-stop beratement of the team, which I resumed a bit later).
I adored Adam Oates. Just adored. It breaks my heart he never got a Cup. He was the biggest reason I was rooting for the Ducks that year.
I’m glad they let you keep your cartoons.
Me too. First off, I am terrified of all the rules about using photographs, but also it lets me show off something I can actually do.
Though I am sort of a tool–I did have to look up what Hilary Duff looks like.
Nice post, Earl! It looks like you had fun with your first foray into being a corporate blogging drone!
How’s tricks?
Did Earl just call me a hooker?
Either that or a bridge player. I’m kind of a sucker for once-popular phrases that are fairly vague as to their actual meaning.
Though I am sort of a tool–I did have to look up what Hilary Duff looks like.
That actually makes you NOT a tool.
You know, Earl, this is how Scott Adams got started.
I’m just sayin’
(And nice post. Hilarious cartoon!)
Nice job, Earl! And also . . . ew.
Great post, Earl! Keep up the fancy-pansty blogging good work! If they weren’t going to let you do your cartoons, rest assured AOL would have been flooded with demands from your loyal readers to fix that.
I’m kind of a sucker for once-popular phrases that are fairly vague as to their actual meaning.
I said the other day, “the proof is in the pudding”. The person I was speaking to is probably in their late 20′s and had never heard that expression before. I was surprised. And then I had to try to explain it… “Uh, well… HOW CAN YOU HAVE ANY PUDDING IF YOU DON’T EAT YOUR MEAT?!?! TELL ME HOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
Icing, my 12th grade English teach said “the proof is in the pudding” almost every class. Then at the end of the year, the New Yorker ran a cartoon with lawyer in a courtroom saying, “The proof was in the pudding, but the pudding was inadmissible”. My classmates and I cracked up and excitedly showed it to Mr. L next class. He looked at it blankly and said, “What?” He had no idea he’d been saying it so often. It was a major let-down. But, it still makes me laugh.
The person I was speaking to is probably in their late 20’s and had never heard that expression before.
Apparently (I haven’t heard this for myself), Corey Perry was asked last week about his Gordie Howe hat trick against Phoenix and his classic response: “What’s that?”
Boy. Talk about generation gaps. (I’m not 100% sure that he was serious, though, but from what I know about Perry, he could have been.)
HOW CAN YOU HAVE ANY PUDDING IF YOU DON’T EAT YOUR MEAT?!?! TELL ME HOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
Hee!! That was my favorite song when I was like two or three.
I’ve never heard of an adult who hasn’t run across that phrase at some point.
Pookie, I actually think “but the pudding was inadmissable” every time I hear “the proof is in the pudding”. It’s like a little mental call and response for me.
Apparently (I haven’t heard this for myself), Corey Perry was asked last week about his Gordie Howe hat trick against Phoenix and his classic response: “What’s that?”
Boy. Talk about generation gaps. (I’m not 100% sure that he was serious, though, but from what I know about Perry, he could have been.)
I hope to God he was kidding. Because, SERIOUSLY?
I like the inadmissable pudding story. That would make a great murder mystery title. -ookies…???? “Boxworthy and the Inadmissable Pudding Adventure” or some such thing.
Corey Perry – I just lost a little bit of respect.
I hope to God he was kidding. Because, SERIOUSLY?
Pensgirl beat me to it….SERIOUSLY?!?! I mean I already knew that Corey Perry is an f’ing d-bag and has his head so far up his own ass, but still….how does an NHL hockey player not know what a Gordie Howe hat trick is?
Hey Earl, great post on Fanhouse. I like that you get to put “Art by Earl Sleek” under the cartoon.
“how does an NHL hockey player not know what a Gordie Howe hat trick is?”
I bet he’s more familiar with the Sidney Crosby Hat Trick: Goal, assist, and an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty
I bet he’s more familiar with the Sidney Crosby Hat Trick: Goal, assist, and an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty
ZING! Hee hee!
I bet he’s more familiar with the Sidney Crosby Hat Trick: Goal, assist, and an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty
You better watch it Mr. “My team has the biggest Mouth in the history of sports.”
I bet he’s more familiar with the Sidney Crosby Hat Trick: Goal, assist, and an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty
Hee! If you really want to go in that direction though wouldn’t it be: Goat, secondary assist, and an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
And yeah, awesome cartoon Earl. Although I think the player complaining should have been Avery. Other than that, bravo!
Shit . . . Goal, not goat, obviously.
“You better watch it Mr. “My team has the biggest Mouth in the history of sports.””
Aww, come on Pensgirl…I keed!
And damn! Cold blooded, Meg!
andrew, he who has JR cannot talk. Period! (And only partly because we couldn’t hear you over JR anyway.)
andrew, he who has JR cannot talk. Period!
I think andrew’s exempt of this because he never wanted JR!
“andrew, he who has JR cannot talk. Period!”
Let’s not forget, I got the Sabres too. So if I can call Derek Roy a diver, I can call Sid one too!
“I think andrew’s exempt of this because he never wanted JR!”
Oh man! So true!
I have to admit, I have been shocked at how quiet his dumb ass has been this year. Shocked!
Shit . . . Goal, not goat, obviously.
I dunno Meg. I kind of liked it with “goat”. I thought at first I was going to have to apologize to Corey Perry because I didn’t know what “goat” referred to (other than the obvious – the animal).
I think I’m going to have to drop Stafford in my non-IPB pool. Maybe pick up Parrish. Anyone care to voice their objections and/or support?
Goats are great, but as far as I know, un-hockey related. Also, whenever I think of goats, I think of the fact that the Queens Zoo has goats named Simon and Garfunkel and then I get Bridge Over Troubled Water stuck in my head.
Aren’t you glad I shared that though process?
I bet he’s more familiar with the Sidney Crosby Hat Trick: Goal, assist, and an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty
What about the Marty Turco hat trick?
…and then I get Bridge Over Troubled Water stuck in my head
Dammit, Meg!!
So if I can call Derek Roy a diver, I can call Sid one too!
You realize you just said “So if I can talk about my momma, I can talk about yours too?” Let me know how that goes.
By the bye, out of 13 assists this year 4 are secondaries. So much for that…I know you were just kidding, Meg, but when people say that and mean it, it really pisses me off. I’d like to see what anybody’s stats would be without them.
I think I’m going to have to drop Stafford in my non-IPB pool. Maybe pick up Parrish. Anyone care to voice their objections and/or support?
At this point I don’t think even Pookie could defend keeping Staffy on your team.
Dropping, Stafford sounds like a good move.
At this point I don’t think even Pookie could defend keeping Staffy on your team.
Ouch.
I get Bridge Over Troubled Water stuck in my head
I’m partial to Me and Julio Down By The Schoolyard, myself.
whenever I think of goats, I think of the fact that the Queens Zoo has goats named Simon and Garfunkel and then I get Bridge Over Troubled Water stuck in my head.
Aren’t you glad I shared that though process?
Yes, thank you. *humming*
I know you were just kidding, Meg, but when people say that and mean it, it really pisses me off.
Yeah, I consciously thought, “what could I put here other than unsportsmanlike conduct that would piss off Pens fans the most?” and then went with it. Personally, I have no problem with secondary assists as, among other reasons, sometimes they’re the more important one.
And while I confess that I don’t really see the hott with Sid, I am a big fan of his mad hockey skillz.
I’m partial to Me and Julio Down By The Schoolyard, myself.
Gah! Stop it!
:P
Not that those aren’t great songs, I just don’t want them in my head. What about Kodachrome? Don’t forget that one!
Yes, thank you. *humming*
No problem!
“You realize you just said “So if I can talk about my momma, I can talk about yours too?””
Psh…abso-freakin’-lutely!
“At this point I don’t think even Pookie could defend keeping Staffy on your team.”
Or any other Sabre for that matter. sonsabitches.
And to think I was looking to drop Patrick Kane at the beginning of the season. Stafford was one of my possible replacements, sheesh…dodged a no-goal-scoring-bullet there.
what could I put here other than unsportsmanlike conduct that would piss off Pens fans the most?
Honestly if someone said “what Sid-complaints bother you?” unsportsmanlike wouldn’t have entered my mind. Secondaries would have, and maybe “whining” (I just love how the same behavior by Messier was “leadership”), but he really doesn’t get many unsportsmanlikes. I thought andrew only brought that up because he did get the one last week.
Frankly I think he’s a little liberal with his stick along the boards (not bringing it high, just hooking and whacking), but he gets away with enough of those that he keeps doing it. I’d rather he just stop that and muscle in like we all know he can.
I have no problem with secondary assists as, among other reasons, sometimes they’re the more important one.
I’ve seen guys get secondaries that should be worth three points. Four words: Paul Coffey breakout pass.
And besides, it’s really the only way to get goalies points, and as I’ve said about a billion times in my short tenure here, I love that.
I don’t really see the hott with Sid
I don’t understand, but yay, more for me!
Psh…abso-freakin’-lutely!
Try it. My momma hangs out here. :P
I don’t really see the hott with Sid
I don’t understand, but yay, more for me!
Me neither really. It makes me feel dirty. Soooooo Pensgirl, you can have my theoretical part of Sid too.
Soooooo Pensgirl, you can have my theoretical part of Sid too.
Sid’s got a lot of Bits to go around.
“I thought andrew only brought that up because he did get the one last week.”
I actually was borrowing it from a much more original person than I. That term was being thrown around a bit on the internet during Sid’s rookie year. I thought it was fitting simply because we were talking about Perry.
That and I gotta stir up the shit once in a while (which, apparently, worked pretty well!)
Gah, I worked so hard not saying Bits!
“Sid’s got a lot of Bits to go around.”
You gals could probably divide up his ass alone into 28 equal parts to share amongst yourselves.
You gals could probably divide up his ass alone into 28 equal parts to share amongst yourselves.
Har! Well done Andrew.
One question, would those be *interchangeable parts*? :)
One question, would those be *interchangeable parts*? :)
One award for commenting excellence for Icing. I just snorted diet coke up my nose. It’s been a long time coming :P
I’d like to thank Mags, Andrew for the assist (not secondary), and the Academy…
Seriously Mags, thanks, “commenting excellence” sounds like I’m a real journalist :)
And besides, it’s really the only way to get goalies points…
Marty’s got a few primary assists! (Turco.)
Sure, most of them are secondary. But like you say, the secondary is often the most important one. :D
That term was being thrown around a bit on the internet during Sid’s rookie year.
Really all I remember about that is that the refs were hazing him into the league (as they do with every young star) by not calling stuff that veterans did to him, and his response to being manhandled. I know it resulted in the odd penalty against him, but it definitely did not happen to the extent that people think (or wish, as it were).
I really didn’t think he behaved any differently than any 18-year-old would have (or has). But every 18-year-old doesn’t have people hating him right off the bat just because he’s a star, either; I guess people were looking for any ammo they could get. I used to do that, too, but I don’t bother any more – I’d rather spend my energy cheering my star than hating someone else’s. I’ll give everybody a chance, and if someone shows me he’s a douchebag then I’ll hate him. But probably only when someone else brings him up, because otherwise I’m back to that whole “wasting my energy on you” thing.
But like you say, the secondary is often the most important one.
Yes, just like you first go to primary school and then to secondary school. My logic is impeccable. As long as it isn’t inadmissable.
” My logic is impeccable. As long as it isn’t inadmissable.”
mmmm….pudding logic.
Marty’s got a few primary assists!
Yeah, I didn’t really mean “only,” but I wasn’t coming up with a way to say “the best foreseeable shot a goalie has at points” in just one word, so I went with “only” anyway.
And in alix, Katebits, and andrew related news….Dan Boyle is out of the lineup indefinitely, again. Two of his severed tendons didn’t heal properly, so it’s back to surgery. lame!
just like you first go to primary school and then to secondary school.
So where in hockey do college/university come in? Because I assume the final GOAL is a JOB. Then again, there’s garbage goals, like there are garbage jobs after high school, and highlight reel goals which are like jobs for educated people. Which again begs the question, where do college/uni come in?
Which again begs the question, where do college/uni come in?
I guess going along the assist analogy, college and uni are like goalie screens. Generally they get excluded from the scoresheet, but you don’t score many goals without them.
Yeah, I didn’t really mean “only,”
I know… I was just chiming in with some Turco slurpage! :P
Thanks Sleek. That makes sense.
I was just chiming in with some Turco slurpage!
Ew. I’ve got Stars drool on me.
Because I assume the final GOAL is a JOB.
What, in this analogy, is the Cup?
Oh, wait, I know!
Job leads to money, which leads to being able to buy hockey tickets, which leads to being able to see your team. So money is wins, and getting to see your team is the playoffs, and getting to see your team win the Finals is the Cup.
So the Cup is…the Cup.
Ew. I’ve got Stars drool on me.
That’s why at Duck playoff games they hand out Fowl Towels–pretty handy for that opponent drool.
“That’s why at Duck playoff games they hand out Fowl Towels–pretty handy for that opponent drool.”
Or crying into.
So the Cup is…the Cup.
The Cup is a big fat end of year bonus for being so terrifyingly awesome at your job.
The Cup is a big fat end of year bonus for being so terrifyingly awesome at your job.
Yeah, I don’t get those – management keeps it for themselves. I get lavish praise and nothing to show for it.
Is it any wonder this is my last week?
“Yeah, I don’t get those – management keeps it for themselves. I get lavish praise and nothing to show for it.”
I was gonna say…we government types don’t get money…or recognition for that matter.
Hey Pensgirl, at least you get the lavish praise! In two years and a half years I’ve had my boss once mention “we want to make sure we’re keeping you happy so you don’t leave” but that’s it. Other than that? Zilch. Oh, I got a customer compliment once, but that got cancelled out when the guy who I spent hours and hours and hours going out of my way to help wrote compliments for literally every other person in the department but me.
Or crying into.
My memory only goes back so far.
Is it any wonder this is my last week?
Good for you. Gomez your way outta there!
“Hey Pensgirl, at least you get the lavish praise!”
I know! Jealous! Just today I got my reward for the “great” job I’ve been doing. I get to take over L.A. and San Diego counties. The busiest, and most politically charged in the state. Yay.
I think it’s a set up.
Gomez your way outta there!
Actually, you might say I Bourqued my way out…I totally got help from people in my current agency.
The man who hired me here forwarded the job opening to me and served as a reference (he did a brief stint in my new place). My actual boss admitted to the new place that the only reason she was willing to give me a reference and let me go was because she’s retiring in a few months so it’ll be someone else’s problem (she’s not so pleased with management here herself). So really I’m getting traded for my own benefit.
Actually, you might say I Bourqued my way out…
Added to my dictionary. :) Nice.
“Actually, you might say I Bourqued my way out…”
Sounds like the plot to a porno.
I think it’s a set up.
No good deed goes unpunished.
Hey Pensgirl, at least you get the lavish praise! In two years and a half years I’ve had my boss once mention “we want to make sure we’re keeping you happy so you don’t leave” but that’s it. Other than that? Zilch. Oh, I got a customer compliment once, but that got cancelled out when the guy who I spent hours and hours and hours going out of my way to help wrote compliments for literally every other person in the department but me.
My boss is pretty good about the lavish praise. She’s big on superlatives. But she’s not the one who has the power to do anything about it, so yeah all I get is lip service.
A friend of mine used to work in a university law library, and one night while she was on duty this weird guy came up wanting her to give him change for a $5 so he could add a dollar to his copy card. Of course she didn’t HAVE any money behind the desk, and when she told him that he said “You beefin’ wit me?”
Not really related to job praise, but it seemed relevant somehow. Maybe just in a “the-shit-you-put-up-with-working-in-a-library” way?
Sounds like the plot to a porno.
I was hoping nobody would notice. At least he wasn’t Bonk!
That’s such sad news about Boyle! He was going to pull my meatballs out of the basement. Apparantly my real team and fantasy team both have devastating injuries. Maybe it’s all because of me. *Sniff sniff* Just ignore this half of my comment in the other thread. Apparantly my brain can’t handle keeping up with two threads.
At least he wasn’t Bonk!
Also added to the dictionary.
Apparently my brain can’t handle keeping up with two threads.
That’s why I’m not a knitter.
“That’s why I’m not a knitter.”
Oh!!!
HA! You’re so punny.
Happy to be your Dictionaress, Earl. :P
“He was going to pull my meatballs out of the basement.”
I hear ya, alix. I was looking forward to having him jump into my league dominant D. But alas, I have to put him back on the IR and hope Matt Carle finds his head and dislodges it from his ass.
Boyle’s injury has to go down as one of the worst of all-time just in its horrid freakishness.
Hee! Half my team has to dislodge their heads from their asses. Stupid Sabres/Devils…
Hee! Half my team has to dislodge their heads from their asses.
See: Cheechoo.
Haha. But I have a whole team of Cheechoos right now! At least with my forwards. Anybody know if Brendan Witt is any good?
Anybody know if Brendan Witt is any good?
I know he’s PURE EVIL.
Haha. Good to know. But is he a good player to have on your team evil?
But is he a good player to have on your team evil?
Sadly, no. He’s just the kind of evil that sits among the available fantasy players all year.
Haha. Good to know. But is he a good player to have on your team evil?
I don’t know how fantasy works, but he’s a pest. I seriously doubt he gets many points, though honestly I don’t know. But he’s the guy who gets put on the other team’s star.
Brendan Witt? Not so much.
“Sadly, no. He’s just the kind of evil that sits among the available fantasy players all year.”
Yeah, he’s decent for PIMs, but there’s a dozen other guys that can get those for you, plus maybe a point or two.
*pops in*
“Hee! Half my team has to dislodge their heads from their asses. ”
The proper term here is “asshat,” or, making one ass into a hat by sticking his head up his ass.
Thanks and good luck tonight everyone!
*pops out*
ps andrew: yo’ momma
MOPG: Drive-by comment of the day.
Ok thanks! I like Komisarek’s roster picture. I might just pick him. Who am I kidding, my team’s a trainwreck anways :p
Alix, it’s becoming obvious to me that you are not in our league. I’m the basement resident in our parts :)
Awwww we’re basement twins :)
If the Red Wings slow down at any point I anticipate a precipitous fall down there with you folks.
If the Red Wings slow down at any point I anticipate a precipitous fall down there with you folks.
It could take a while. I believe (this could be off by one or two) that my goalies have still–to this day–provided me with a total of three goalie wins.
Yee haw!
I think this calls for an impromptu IPB fantasy league standings update!
First up! SUUUUPEEEERLEEEAAAAGUE
1. The Invinnycibles 29-13-8 .660
2. Rabid Chinchillas 28-19-3 .590
3. 3-Way Lightbulbs 26-21-3 .550
4. Mmmmm Kool-Aid! 24-21-5 .530
5. Evil Orange Stripes 22-20-8 .520
6. Statbitty Avengers 22-21-7 .510
7. Rumble Frog Robots 22-23-5 .490
8. Fancy Bits 21-22-7 .490
9. It Just… Team 22-24-4 .480
10. The Freudian Slips 21-27-2 .440
11. wdintrtkn 15-27-8 .380
12. Sleek and Destroy 15-29-6 .360
Wow, Earl — your team really is awful!
Oh phew. I thought I was out of it, but I’m only .3 points behind the leader.
Wait, those aren’t points?
Next up! AAAAMAAAAZIIIIINGLEEEAAAGUE!!!
1. McCrotch’s Marauders 32-13-5 .690
2. Slag Faced Horcoffs 29-12-9 .670
3. Keyboe Soloists 23-15-12 .580
4. Itty Bitty Sidbits 23-21-6 .520
5. Pandora’s Boxworthy 22-22-6 .500
6. Tally-Hos 20-20-10 .500
7. The Waffles 21-22-7 .490
8. Mother Puckers 20-22-8 .480
9. The Raccoon Wives 22-25-3 .470
10. Pink Piranhas 17-29-4 .380
11. Swedish Meatballs 15-27-8 .380
12. BraveLittleToasters 12-28-10 .340
I guess by “Destroy” he meant “Self-destruct”.
Oh thank God the PanBoxers made it to .500 before the standings got posted! Wow, Earl, that’s… bad. It just… suck. What’s amazing though is that the Brave Little Toasters are worse!
Some high points from last week:
The Waffles and Meatballs deadlocked at 4 pts apiece, while the Brave Little Toasters got the shit kicked out of them 6-0 in the Amazingleague.
Over in the Superleague Kool Aid kicked the crap out of wdintrtkn 7-1 and the Evil Orange Stripes punished the Lightbulbs with an 8-1 ass-stomping.
Oops…I should make it known that the Soloists were the team that killed the Toasters last week.
Ha! I didn’t even notice I had gone up one spot. Still mighty damn close to the basement though.
Wow, Earl, that’s… bad. It just… suck.
I was so busy doling out fantasy advice that I neglected my own team.
Well, I guess the lesson is: if Yahoo autodrafts a goaltending trio of Emery, Raycroft, and Fernandez, pray to god that Emery isn’t the guy who starts the year hurt.
I’m in 4 Yahoo! hockey pools. All have 10-12 teams. I’m in 10th, 11th, 2nd, and 1st. Apparently there is no middle ground with me.
This week, the Horcoffs are looking to humiliate the Marauders and take over 1st place with a 9-0 score early on. The Sidbits are trying to work their way up the standings, currently holding the Tally-Ho’s by the throat with an 8-1 lead.
And in the Superleague, The Rumble Frog Robots are making a bid to jump 4 spots in the standings with an 8-1 early lead over the Chinchillas. And 9th place It Just…Team is pulling ahead in a shocker over 4th place Kool Aid with a 7-0 lead!!!
Time for a caffeine hit. Talk to you all later tonight. Good luck Pens.
This week, the Horcoffs are looking to humiliate the Marauders and take over 1st place with a 9-0 score early on.
It should be pointed out that the Horcoffs have 400 players active every night, and the Marauders come from teams that don’t play at all this week! It’s not that we suck — it’s that the NHL scheduler has it out for us!
“It’s not that we suck — it’s that the NHL scheduler has it out for us!”
Would that then qualify as an East Coast Bias??
I too would like to note that my players have barely played at this stage in the week, while the Rumble Frog Robots have you know, actually played games. The comeback starts tonight! Except in the goaltending category. My ass is going to get kicked there.
And what do you know . . . it’s time for me to leave work. So that I can wash my bathroom floor. My life is so exciting.
Have a good time Meg!
So that I can wash my bathroom floor. My life is so exciting.
Sounds dreamy. Have fun!
Ah yes, cleaning the bathroom floor. That’s one of the many bathroom-cleaning related tasks I’ve been putting off for weeks now. Basically, I need CapsChick to be in the driveway before I’ll have entirely enough motivation to get started.
“That’s one of the many bathroom-cleaning related tasks I’ve been putting off for weeks now.”
I can’t imagine why! It’s so much fun!!
I’m supposed to be digging up a drainpipe in the backyard tonight. Imagine my wife’s surprise when she comes home and finds me watching the Sabres game instead.
Alright, yinz guys, I’m done with work now too. Hopefully my floor-wiping activities for the evening will involve Philly goin’ down, down in an earlier round, a middle-er round, and a later round.
See ya from the comforts of my couch.
Imagine my wife’s surprise when she comes home and finds me watching the Sabres game instead.
“Relax, honey. That drainpipe’s not going anywhere. Too bad we couldn’t say the same for ________ and _________.”
(two former Sabres names could be inserted there, but I dare not type their names)
““Relax, honey. That drainpipe’s not going anywhere. Too bad we couldn’t say the same for ________ and _________.””
Drury and Briere? OUCH!
The hard part will be finishing watching the Sabres, then skillfully switch over to the Sharks game without her noticing.
It seems like every night it’s either all West or all East. If you’re playing a team with the opposite conference you can either shut them out or be shut out.
Not that it’s much better in my mixed league. I went from 2nd to 3rd to 6th. Still better than the Racoons.
And andrew, that slacker Bouwmeester better not pick up his game now that I dropped him and you picked him up.
“And andrew, that slacker Bouwmeester better not pick up his game now that I dropped him and you picked him up.”
HA! That’s the fun of it Patty!
I’ve learned that (usually) sticking with good players through a slump will pay off later. I’ve made some pretty dumb impulse trades in the past because of it.
Stupid Jay Bouwmeester killed the thread.
andrew, I think East Coast bias killed the thread. It’s dinner time over here (and in my case, I’m also putting on extra padding in case a Flyer jumps through the TV and clotheslines me).
I’ve learned that (usually) sticking with good players through a slump will pay off later.
With all the drops and adds I see you do, andrew, I didn’t think you had stuck with anybody! :D
I am glad I stuck with Voukoun.
Stupid Jay Bouwmeester killed the thread.
I keep trying to think of something clever to say, but I’ve got nothing. He really did kill it.
I’m also putting on extra padding in case a Flyer jumps through the TV and clotheslines me).
Haha! Can’t be too careful when it comes to Flyers.
“With all the drops and adds I see you do, andrew, I didn’t think you had stuck with anybody”
Well, I would like to point out that it’s the same 2 or 3 positions that just keep swapping out mediocre (or injured) players. I keep my “good” players, even when they’re playing lousy (Thanks McCabe, Vanek. a-holes.)
“I am glad I stuck with Voukoun.”
And yes, with the power of hindsight, had you given me Vokoun for Lehtonen…that would have possibly been the most one sided trade in IPB history.
Then I’m surprised I didn’t do it. Certainly sounds like my way of managing a team.
Actually, I was about to give him to you for Hossa, and whoever else you wanted to give me. Hossa was the one I wanted. I haven’t kept up with him… is he in a slump?
Well, I would like to point out that it’s the same 2 or 3 positions that just keep swapping out mediocre (or injured) players.
I figured as much, really. I can barely remember who’s on my team so I gave up trying to keep up with even my opponent at the time. Did you see I forgot to move Stillman off the bench and he got a frickin’ hat trick?
“Did you see I forgot to move Stillman off the bench and he got a frickin’ hat trick?”
Bummer.
“Actually, I was about to give him to you for Hossa, and whoever else you wanted to give me.”
Wasn’t it going to be Hossa for Drury and another forward-to-be-named?
“Hossa was the one I wanted. I haven’t kept up with him… is he in a slump?”
Yeah, and in a contract year. I think he’ll wake up soon here though.
Did you see I forgot to move Stillman off the bench and he got a frickin’ hat trick?
Ah, the old Stillman Hat Trick. 3 goals and no fantasy help.
It’s no wonder Perry has trouble keeping up. These personalized hat tricks are being invented at an alarming rate.
Yeah, and in a contract year.
I hope they decide to trade him because he doesn’t want to play there anymore and Doug Armstrong swoops in with Matty Norstrom and switches them out.
What do you mean, Earl? Perry did that to you?
Har Earl. And also, you get a secondary assist in blog inspiration – I posted about ‘old-fashioned phrases’.
Woo hoo! Secondary assist!
Offer sheets, here I come!
I’m off to the ol’ castle, though. I’ll check it out when I make it home.
See ya, folks!
I’ll have to check that out when I get home, too, Icing!
I have a ton of them. A TON. My mom grew up in rural Oklahoma and I’ve picked up a lot of sayings that just make people blink at me in confusion.
“These personalized hat tricks are being invented at an alarming rate.”
The Earl Sleek/Ducks Hat Trick: Win a Stanely Cup, Stink up the Ice, Get shitty drunk.
Gee Andrew, my Earl Sleek hat trick was a lot kinder. It involved a cigar and a jack 2 o and some swanky ladies.
Oh! I see. I’ve been working. I have a short attention span.
(One more excuse and I have a hat trick of my own!)
Go Patty!
(I meant “go” as in getting a hat trick, not as in “go home”, as I’m sure you knew) :)
The Patty in Dallas Hat Trick:
Work too much, forget what’s going on, and turn down an IPB fantasy trade.
Ugh. THAT did not start well. Unless your captain and the league’s best player turning the puck over in the neutral zone and the other team getting a goal out of it falls under your definition of “well.”
Can reverse 2-0 leads work too?
Also: a Filthadelphia hat trick: a hit from behind, a cross check to the head and a goon gets a goal.
The Patty in Dallas Hat Trick:
Probably behooved me.
Wait, forget what’s going on?? I sat at my computer refreshing my yahoo mail the whole weekend while you were galivating around, living your life and not checking your mail until I had already re-thought it twenty times. :D
How about Bouwmeester for Hossa!
What?
Dammit!
Also: a Filthadelphia hat trick: a hit from behind, a cross check to the head and a goon gets a goal.
Good one!
Thank you Patty. At least THAT (pickle) stab at irony went well. I always hate late goals but a real early goal or 2 is bad too. *sighs*
Mike and Phil just said Laraque and Talbot served pizza to the kids in the Student Rush line. They had kids there in sleeping bags! and it was COLD!
At least THAT (pickle) stab at irony went well.
Hee hee! Pickle stab! I’m having an annoyingly busy night here at the library, so I’ve been getting grumpier and grumpier all night but that just made me laugh out loud!
Hey, why doesn’t Talbot deliver pizza to me here at work? Or better yet, Clarkson.
…Talbot served pizza to the kids
I saw a Yahoo Sports picture of that, but I couldn’t see the big version, just the thumbnail.
Pensgirl hates pcikles. We can’t even say the word around her..or write it.
Hey, why doesn’t Talbot deliver pizza to me here at work? Or better yet, Clarkson.
Clarkson deliver pizza to you? Or Talbot deliver Clarkson to you?
How about Talbot delivers Sid and Clarkson and THEY have pizza?
That’d be “pickles.”
Patty, they have done this before cause the students were very loyal during the lean years.
Talbot has that grubby look going on but he’s hilarious and has that “je ne sais quoi” about him. Clarkson has that “we KNOW what” about him!
How about the pizza guy delivers all 3 of them?
Oh I am about to be treated to Wayne Fish of the Bucks County Courier, a Flyers expert. GAG
Pensboy was a pizza guy-talk to him.
I saw Talbot in a Penguins commercial and thought he was adorable! Then I saw him with that crazy mustache and I’m glad I saw the first one first. I’d have never thought he was so cute if I had his current look to go by.
Even though he’d still get a ton of points for being named Maxime.
Even though he’d still get a ton of points for being named Maxime.
He is definitely the “team personality” (well, he and Colby). Which is fitting, because a certain number 25 whose jersey I own was the team personality back in the day.
Oddly enough I was thinking of Clarkson delivering pizza. But the alternatives you suggested are much better!
But, finally! It’s time to leave! Good night, all!
‘night Pookie!
I love Maxie’s moo-stache! And not just in an ironic way! I wish more guys grew them. But I think I’m weird that way.
Bye Pookie!
Schnookie, I like the French Manchu ’cause it totally fits his personality…I don’t, however, like it in the same way I like Giovanni’s handiwork. :P
Well, no, it’s not quite Sid’s caboose, but few things are! :D
I have a tehcnical question. Is Clarkson generally considered the cream (ahem) of the NHL crop? Who are the contenders for say, top 5? I am behind (ahem) the times.
Well I just meant the FM isn’t something I find sex-ay, but of course you’re right. Few things indeed.
Sid’s Caboose. Good name for a club or a bar. Or a tequila drink.
I have a tehcnical question. Is Clarkson generally considered the cream (ahem) of the NHL crop? Who are the contenders for say, top 5? I am behind (ahem) the times.
Oh, MOPG, you dirty, dirty girl!
I’m not sure what the general consensus is. Frankly, I am shocked every time I see Clarkson for how staggeringly, objectively handsome he is. So often for NHL hotties, that’s not really the case, and the hott is a bit more subjective, hinging on “he’s hot because he plays hockey” more than “he’s hot because… well, look at him!” I am currently very partial to the Big Three on the Devils — Clarkson, Parise and Zajac, but I’m probably biased. Matt Lombardi is another flat-out stone fox, so he might be another objective Top 5 guy, but he’s kind of marginal, too. I really don’t know! I know my Top 5 favorites aren’t all pure hotties; some of them are those “hott because I like how they play hockey” types (*cough*Sid*cough*).
Sid’s Caboose. Good name for a club or a bar. Or a tequila drink.
Or an update of a Mario Bun Bar.
Yes I admit. I can be dirrty. Mostly I like bad puns.
Clarkson is unusually handsome – to be honest he looks more like a pitcher or a QB rather than a hockey player – like Jagr is gorgeously “pretty.” I’ll have to check out the rest. Sid is a special case I agree. He’s hott cause he plays so damn hott and has that something going on. His hockey passion seeps out into everything he does. Intensity is fiercely sexy. He seems like a hockey robot. Maybe he was made in Japan and is really an android.
Damn those hated Flyers. BAH HUMBUG
OH Pensgirl, VERY GOOD! Mario Bun Bar! I just found one of those old cards. The best play of the night. I’m going now. Have to pack to high tail it outta here tomorrow afternoon.
Nytol.