A few weeks ago we were exchanging emails with Heather B., Katebits and Patty, and got into a bit of a good-natured exchange about how we felt our teams most deserved to win the Cup this year. Of course, “good-natured” quickly escalated into a firestorm of bitterness and hurt feelings; we were surprised at how quickly we all felt seriously slighted and defensive about our deservedness. We’ve been thinking a lot about that conversation ever since, and what we’ve come to realize is that everyone has legitimate reasons why they “deserve” to win (with a few notable exceptions), and conversely, everyone has legitimate reasons why they don’t “deserve” to win. Since it’s way too easy to just go through the matchups and pick winners (we think we were 100% right last year…), for our playoff preview this year we’re going to take a look at all sixteen teams with the idea of deservedness in mind.
1. Montreal Canadiens
Why They Deserve To Win:
The Habs are a popular second team choice this year and we think this speaks to several things: generally likable players, a lack of recent playoff intensity that might get other fans’ dander up, good sweater design, and a long history of greatness. One more Cup win will tie them with the Yankees for the most championships by a major North American pro sports team, a claim that the NHL really should wrest back from the evil clutches of MLB.
Why They Don’t Deserve To Win:
If we thought the Canadian media was insufferable last year about Ottawa, just imagine what they’ll be like about Montreal. And if we thought Sens fans last year were insufferable in their self-congratulation, just imagine what Habs fans will be like. Also, they’ve won the Cup a ton of times already; maybe it’s time for some other fanbases to get a turn.
Why It Would Be Deliciously Funny If They Do Win:
After hearing the Canadian media spend the first half of the 07-08 season all but mailing the Cup to Ottawa, it would be deliciously funny to see Lord Stanley alight one province over.
Why It Would Be Deliciously Funny If They Don’t Win:
The Canadiens would once again be burned for deciding an unproven goalie was capable of being the next Patrick Roy.
2. Pittsburgh Penguins
Why They Deserve To Win:
Two Words: Crosby, Malkin. We don’t really have hearts, but we suppose it would be fair to say that it’s a feel-good story for a team that was on the brink of relocation last year finally finding its way and becoming a beloved champion. Also, we suppose it would be a marketing coup for the league to have Sid win the Cup, as much as those of us who already watch hockey would all want to kill ourselves from the overhype.
Why They Don’t Deserve To Win:
Two words: Crosby, Malkin. Do we really want to suffer the media overload if those guys win? Also, how much of a feel-good story is it to see a team rewarded for a seasons-long cycle of tanking? Shouldn’t willful mismanagement and tanking for draft picks be punished by the wrath of the Hockey Gods, in the form of lousy amateur scouting and colossal draft busts?
Why It Would Be Deliciously Funny If They Do Win:
After the way so many Ovechkin fans have decided that their guy’s ascension to regular-season MVP makes Sid irrelevant in the NHL superstar firmament, it would be fantastically delicious if Ovie’s Hart season was answered by a Crosby Stanley Cup.
Why It Would Be Deliciously Funny If They Don’t Win:
Ray Shero gave up quite a bit to get Hossa and in the process turned this season’s Penguins from a young team with a great future ahead of it to a “Win Now” team. If the team doesn’t bring home the Cup this season that deal will go down as solid argument against mortgaging a promising future for a known playoff bust. Also, we hated hearing about the Conklin revival this season, so we’d cackle with glee if he once again cost his team their most important game.
3. Washington Capitals
Why They Deserve To Win:
There’s no denying that there’s a bit of the “long-suffering” thing going on for fans in DC. So, um, there’s that. And we guess the marketing thing would be good for the league to have Ovechkin win the Cup…
Why They Don’t Deserve To Win:
… but that said, we don’t want to live in a world where the hockey media is in an orgasmic supernova of Ovechkin adulation. Psst, hockey media — when other guys do what Ovie does after scoring goals, they’re criticized for showboating. Oh, and there are other players who are enthusiastic and enjoy their jobs. He, um, didn’t invent that. And don’t even try it with the “Isn’t he cute? He ordered a cute girlfriend from the internet” thing. He, um, didn’t invent that, either.
Why It Would Be Deliciously Funny If They Do Win:
We’re under the impression there are some in the hockey world who would find some Schadenfreude from Ovechkin winning the Cup before Sid. (We think those people are pretty willfully ignoring the fact that Ovie is just as overhyped as Sid is, but we digress.) So we guess some people would find that deliciously funny. We don’t personally agree with that assessment, and the only thing we’d be able to cling to in the eventuality of a Caps Cup would be if Kolzig had nothing more to do with it than opening the bench door during games. Yeah, we still resent that Vezina.
Why It Would Be Deliciously Funny If They Don’t Win:
We’ve been hearing from Caps fans for three years that the greatest travesty in the world is having to suffer through the overhype of Crosby and the Penguins. On the eve of this playoffs, non-Caps fans are being drowned in an onslaught of Ovechkin and Capitals overhype. It would be delightful for Caps fans (no matter how long-suffering) to have burned through all their karmic fan-goodwill over a team that doesn’t win it all.
4. New Jersey Devils
Why They Deserve To Win:
Marty Brodeur is going to retire as the most underappreciated, best-at-his-position guy ever to play the game. He deserves to get that fourth ring to balance out the other hardware he’s deserved but won’t get (the Hart, previous Conn Smythes, et al). And, after winning three Cups and being mocked for not playing in a city proper, it would be awesome for the Devils to be able to win a championship in Newark. Also, we kinda like the Devils. We hear they’re pretty awesome.
Why They Don’t Deserve To Win:
There are no reasons why they don’t deserve to win. Please.
Why It Would Be Deliciously Funny If They Do Win:
Only one person thinks the Devils can win the Cup this year and that’s Mike “Crazy Old Man” Robitaille. And that includes Devils fans and members of the organization. It would be deliciously funny if the team proved everyone (but Robi) wrong. Also, two words: Scott Gomez.
Why It Would Be Deliciously Funny If They Don’t Win:
There will be no delicious humor in Mudville if the Devils don’t win. This kind of schadenfreude requires that people outside of NJ have paid any attention to specifics about the team. Since the general consensus seems to be that Marty’s stats are buoyed by a great defense and good goal support, we have to assume no one outside of NJ has watched a Devils game all season.
5. New York Rangers
Why They Deserve To Win:
You’ve got to be joking.
Why They Don’t Deserve To Win:
Where to begin? First of all, it just Rangers. Second of all, after years of building their team with patience and intelligence, they went out and bought the biggest names on the free agent market last summer, throwing franchise-player numbers at second- and third-line centers. Third of all, it just Jagr. Fourth of all, it just Sather. Fifth of all, it just Avery.
Why It Would Be Deliciously Funny If They Do Win:
The MSM would have to find some other thing to point to than just “They need a big-market team like the Rangers winning the Cup” when explaining how lame-assed the NHL is.
Why It Would Be Deliciously Funny If They Don’t Win:
Yet another season would come and go without the name Chris Drury getting engraved on Lord Stanley’s Cup. Look closely at that Cup. How many times does that name appear on it? Once? Just once? Really? How many more seasons coming and going without that number growing do we need before the title “Captain Clutch” gets transferred to someone who’s actually, well, been more clutch?
6. Philadelphia Flyers
Why They Deserve To Win:
The 06-07 Flyers were so awful and the fans handled it with such unexpected aplomb even we, Devils fans living in the heart of Flyer country, felt a little sorry for them. To follow the kind of season we evidently wouldn’t wish on our worst enemy (okay, second worst; we’d happily see the Rangers have that win-loss record) with a Cup, well, that’s a feel-good story. We suppose.
Why They Don’t Deserve To Win:
They tried to bring back the Broad Street Bullies. And they’ve mismanaged yet another star player’s concussion. The Flyers organization doesn’t deserve much more than a kick in the nuts. (Furthermore — it just Flyers.)
Why It Would Be Deliciously Funny If They Do Win:
There’s not a lot we can think of that would be funny about the Flyers winning, but we guess we could get behind the idea of them finally getting over the hump the year after they jettison Bobby Clarke.
Why It Would Be Deliciously Funny If They Don’t Win:
Daniel Briere? And that stupid contract? Really? Her?
7. Ottawa Senators
Why They Deserve To Win:
Because it would make Toronto’s head explode. Also, Jason Spezza is dreeeeeamy. And that’s all we’ve got. But, that was enough last year for us to be happy to see Ryan “Dreeeeamy” Getzlaf’s despicable team win.
Why They Don’t Deserve To Win:
We had some trouble concisely verbalizing our reasons why the Senators don’t deserve to win this year, and this is the exchange that best sums up our conversation:
Pookie: “Why they don’t deserve to win? They’re the Ottawa fucking Senat–” Schnookie cuts her off by saying, “Hubris.” Long pause. Pookie: “Oh. Hubris. That works too.”
Why It Would Be Deliciously Funny If They Do Win:
Well, everyone’s pretty well written them off, so we guess if you’re into that kind of thing, it would be funny to see them surprise some unsuspecting opponent. But it wouldn’t be funny at all if that win involved Emery. Or Neil. Or Alfredsson. Basically, it would have to be all Spezza and Commodore, because they’re dreeeeeamy.
Why It Would Be Deliciously Funny If They Don’t Win:
Not winning the Cup would be the deliciously funny cherry on the top of the deliciously funny sundae that has been the 2007-2008 Ottawa Senators.
8. Boston Bruins
Why They Deserve To Win:
Bruins fans are the one Boston fanbase that hasn’t become a big-B, big-F Boston Fanbase.
Why They Don’t Deserve To Win:
This is a franchise that passed up the opportunity to name their ursine mascot “Spokey The Bear”. This? Is a travesty. A travesty. Talk about not deserving anything better than a kick in the nuts. Also, Tim Thomas apparently has a bear on his mask because he likes to kill bears. Isn’t that a bad karma thing?
Why It Would Be Deliciously Funny If They Do Win:
A Bruins Cup would be deliciously funny to anyone who thought it was classless of Lou to fire Julien with three games to go last season.
Why It Would Be Deliciously Funny If They Don’t Win:
It would be delicious for anyone who’s ever had to listen to Jack Edwards calling a game on NESN.
I should point out here for everyone who’s interested in playoff prognosticating, be sure to check out Frisby’s IPB Confidence Pool:
LINK
I mean, I’m going to win it, but it might still be fun for y’all to play.
The 06-07 Flyers were so awful and the fans handled it with such unexpected aplomb even we, Devils fans living in the heart of Flyer country, felt a little sorry for them.
Heh. I didn’t. I enjoyed every second of that. Except for the rare occasions when they won.
Also, Tim Thomas apparently has a bear on his mask because he likes to kill bears. Isn’t that a bad karma thing?
Seriously? Tim Thomas, that’s scary. I’ve heard of people going out and killing a lot of things, but I had no idea people bear-hunted.
I mean, I’m going to win it, but it might still be fun for y’all to play.
Whatever, I’m just out to beat andrew! Although doing those picks just exploded my brain!
“I mean, I’m going to win it, but it might still be fun for y’all to play.”
Um…Schnookie? You did see that I signed up, right? Yeah, good luck winning now! Woot!
“I’ve heard of people going out and killing a lot of things, but I had no idea people bear-hunted.”
I’ve read that he’s a freaking bow-hunter too. That’s extra insane, hunting bears with a bow and arrow. M’kay.
“Whatever, I’m just out to beat andrew!”
This is some bullshit! I am taking you all down!
I’ve read that he’s a freaking bow-hunter too. That’s extra insane, hunting bears with a bow and arrow. M’kay.
Okay, I hope dude is packing a rifle as well, because if you’re taking down bears with a bow and arrow, you are officially insane.
Not to go off into hunter-land, but basically, I would hope he would retain some sort of extra protection against a bear than just a freaking bow & arrow. That is lunacy.
This is some bullshit! I am taking you all down!
Whatever. Can’t we all gang up against you and steal your lunch money now?
Um…Schnookie? You did see that I signed up, right? Yeah, good luck winning now! Woot!
Pfft. You have no power over this competition, Mr. Commissioner. I’d just like to see your shenanigans coming into play here. :P
Can’t we all gang up against you and steal your lunch money now?
mm lunch.
“Not to go off into hunter-land, but basically, I would hope he would retain some sort of extra protection against a bear than just a freaking bow & arrow.”
I read an interview with him about two years back, he was talking about how a bear had trapped him up in his tree house (or whatever it’s called when you hunt from up in a tree). He was stuck up in the tree for some rediculous amount of time, like a day or two.
“You have no power over this competition, Mr. Commissioner.”
I’ve got the power of positive thinking! Oh, and also unsurpassable skill in hockey prognostication. Good luck! You’re all gonna need it!
he was talking about how a bear had trapped him up in his tree house (or whatever it’s called when you hunt from up in a tree).
Okay, the mental image of Tim Thomas stuck in a treehouse, like the kind little kids have, while a bear is looking for him is HILARIOUS.
(And also, I’ve always heard it referred to as a stand or a blind.)
Good luck! You’re all gonna need it!
I hope you can write a haiku at the end of all this that expresses perfectly your feelings of resentment and bitterness that someone beat you, andrew.
But, that was enough last year for us to be happy to see Ryan “Dreeeeamy” Getzlaf’s despicable team win.
This still rankles. I hope y’all have seen the error of your ways and won’t be tricked into rooting for the Ducks again.
Okay, the mental image of Tim Thomas stuck in a treehouse, like the kind little kids have, while a bear is looking for him is HILARIOUS.
With the bear reaching into the little be-windowboxed window and feeling around for him! Haha!
I hope you can write a haiku at the end of all this that expresses perfectly your feelings of resentment and bitterness that someone beat you, andrew.
Not just “someone”. Schnookie McCrotch.
Here’s a starter haiku for you:
Schnookie McCrotch is
the best prognosticator
andrew’s ever met.
Frisby’s got a pool
Everyone’s gonna jump in
Of course, andrew wins
With the bear reaching into the little be-windowboxed window and feeling around for him! Haha!
All my friends had tea parties in their treehouses, so I just automatically imagine Tim Thomas having a tea party with dollies. All of a sudden, this maniac bear is trying to eat Tim Thomas, who valiantly says to the dolls, “Save yourselves and the finger sandwiches, ladies! Run while you still can!”
With the bear reaching into the little be-windowboxed window and feeling around for him! Haha!
I’m seeing this big bear arm pushing aside little pink frilly curtains and the paw swatting at a toy tea set while groping around for Thomas.
I hope y’all have seen the error of your ways and won’t be tricked into rooting for the Ducks again.
I can’t lie — on paper, right now, there are some teams I’d be pulling for the Ducks to beat. That might change, based on what happens when the games start, but I can’t say I’d be able to cheer for the Avs, Caps or Rangers over the Ducks if I was asked to right now. Of course, the point is moot because the Stars are going to take care of them for me, right?
All of a sudden, this maniac bear is trying to eat Tim Thomas, who valiantly says to the dolls, “Save yourselves and the finger sandwiches, ladies! Run while you still can!”
:^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Caitlin, I love that we’re both like, “Tree house? That means tea parties!” :D
Caitlin, I love that we’re both like, “Tree house? That means tea parties!” :D
I don’t know why I associate the two together, but I do! Always! I’m glad someone else out there does too!
I’m seeing this big bear arm pushing aside little pink frilly curtains and the paw swatting at a toy tea set while groping around for Thomas.
And we cut to the outside of the treehouse and see the bear straining to stretch his arm in, and looking up to the skies while he does.
And keeps grabbing a dolly, realizing it’s not Thomas, then throwing it down, and grasping some more.
“Save yourselves and the finger sandwiches, ladies! Run while you still can!”
:^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
When you first brought it up, I thought about a deer stand, because I got a tour of one on a camping trip. The guy I was with just left me there in the tree and went off on a “walk”. It was very peaceful and nice. It wasn’t deer season, or I wouldn’t have gone, but it was nice to sit up there and listen to the breeze make its way through the trees. As a city girl, I rarely experience a total lack of traffic noise.
And we cut to the outside of the treehouse and see the bear straining to stretch his arm in, and looking up to the skies while he does.
:^::::::::::::::::::::: Absolutely!
“…but it was nice to sit up there and listen to the breeze make its way through the trees.”
Sounds positively serene! Probably much less so if there were 1,500 bear circling the base of the tree, waiting for a chance to eat the shit out of you!
Ugh. Don’t get me started on hunting. I grew up in the country where it wasn’t unusual to wake up to the sounds of deer rifles. Also, our neighbors across the road (not street) had a “deer processing” butcher shop. Yuke.
Here’s another haiku about my inevitable victory:
Beating andrew is
easy as a bear breaking
up a tea party.
Probably much less so if there were 1,500 bear circling the base of the tree, waiting for a chance to eat the shit out of you!
Oh, no worries. The shit would already be out of me! ;P
“Beating andrew is
easy as a bear breaking
up a tea party.”
I just love Hockey Haiku!
When you first brought it up, I thought about a deer stand, because I got a tour of one on a camping trip.
They’re very comfy little places to sit, believe it or not.
It wasn’t deer season, or I wouldn’t have gone
Understandable that you wouldn’t want to go during deer season. :D
Ugh. Don’t get me started on hunting.
Yeah, forget I mentioned it! That’s sounds terrible.
“Beating andrew is
easy as a bear breaking
up a tea party.”
Oh! That’s a good one!
Beating andrew is
easy as a bear breaking
up a tea party.
Heh! WIN!
Oh, andrew. You are so going down. I know I probably won’t beat you, but I’m Team Schnookie McCrotch all the way!
I love that haiku, Schnookie.
I think you are the bear, and andrew is one of the dollies he keeps crushing. Unfortunately, I’m probably one of the other dollies that the bear crushes.
On the positive side, not many things can really gross me out.
Not even andrew winning all his fantasy leagues this season? :D
Not even andrew winning all his fantasy leagues this season?
Yeah, that’s pretty gross.
EEWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
For me, I’m assuming that:
Be-windowboxing
Of a little kid’s treehouse
Tougher than winning
For the game last night (and maybe Andrew) :P
Oh little Otter
Petulant little ice troll
How we adore you
“I think you are the bear, and andrew is one of the dollies he keeps crushing. Unfortunately, I’m probably one of the other dollies that the bear crushes.”
Schnookie is Tim Thomas, she came with intention of finding and killing the bear, but then just got stuck in a tree.
Patty (the Racoon Wives) is the dollie that fell out of the backpack on the way to the treehouse. Never even made it to the party.
And the Bear? I think we all know who the Bear is…
Katebits. She’s going to destroy us all in FrisbyBowl I.
:^::::::::::::: andrew
FrisbyBowl I!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
And if Katebits beats us all, I quit. :P (Just kidding! You’re probably right, andrew.)
Matty has a tree house for threesomes. Heh. But Rufus is kind of pissed because it’s tres difficult for a rhino to climb up that little rope ladder.
Matty has a tree house for threesomes. Heh. But Rufus is kind of pissed because it’s tres difficult for a rhino to climb up that little rope ladder.
:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
He keeps breaking it trying to deliver piping hot Swedish delicacies to Matty and his cabmates.
And the Bear? I think we all know who the Bear is…
Katebits. She’s going to destroy us all in FrisbyBowl I.
Gaaaaasp! That’s right, beeyotches! (I guess I had better go sign up. Hey Andrew, remember at the beginning of the season when I was whining about the IPB league and how I wouldn’t be able to do it because I didn’t know any of the players? And you said something about Dion Phaneuf, and I said something like, “I have no idea who she is.” Then you told me that in a few months I would think that’s hilarious…..and you were right! I TOTALLY know who Dion Phaneuf is now. So, my point is, I am totally ready to kick some ass in whatever weirdo playoff league you guys have going on. I’m a hockey expert now.)
I love this post by the way. (Although I have no idea what conversation you are referring to in which we all got hurt feelings about our teams. Perhaps I’ve been in such a state of perpetual “hurt feelings” over the Sabres that it all just blends together in my mind….)
So I’ve been trying for days to write a sum up of the Canucks season and then a playoffs post. But my heart has been stomped on. I don’t think I can do it.
I totally know the feeling alix. This is rough times for the popped bubble teams.
I TOTALLY know who Dion Phaneuf is now.
WOO HOO! Becoming a hockey expert really sneaks up on a girl.
Although I have no idea what conversation you are referring to in which we all got hurt feelings about our teams.
Remember when Heather wrote her list of 10 reasons Buffalo deserves the Cup, and Pookie responded with 10 reasons Jersey does, and all of a sudden we were like, “We need to stop talking about this because we’re all feeling irrationally upset about it”? That made a lasting impression on me, even if it didn’t impress upon you. :P
“He keeps breaking it trying to deliver piping hot Swedish delicacies to Matty and his cabmates.”
:^:::::::::::::::::::: Yes, yes he does.
“I totally know the feeling alix. This is rough times for the popped bubble teams.”
It really is, Katebits. We should start a support group.
Oh, yeah. That’s right. The top ten lists were ugly. I totally forgot about those. :P
“And you said something about Dion Phaneuf, and I said something like, “I have no idea who she is.” Then you told me that in a few months I would think that’s hilarious…..and you were right!”
Funny how that sneaks up on you, huh?
You start thinking back to the time when didn’t know how to pronounce some guys name because you had only read it and never actually seen a game against that team before. Or how your original “second favorite” or maybe “third favorite” team is now disgusting and reprehensible in your eyes.
Time changes everything.
Kate, I went back to see if I could find the e-mail, It’s too funny. Hope you don’t mind me putting it here, but I thought it was worth sharing…your fandom has grown exponentially!
Here’s what you wrote:
I was just emailing about this “Katebits doesn’t know shit about the WC” fantasy league issue with Pookie, and in an example of how easy it was to play, she mentioned the name “Dion Phaneuf”. To which I replied, “Who’s that? Never heard of him.” Then I googled him. So, now I’ve heard of him although I have no idea how to say his name, and I have already forgotten which team he plays for.
And my reply:
The Dion Phaneuf thing is hilarious. You’re going to remember this in a year or two and be totally embarrassed looking back on your former-hockey-newbie self!
Good stuff.
Awww, andrew, thanks for sharing that email! It totally brings a tear to my eye, thinking of Katebits’s newbie fandom! It seems like just yesterday! :D
(Actually it really does seem like just yesterday. I can’t believe another season has come and gone.)
I can’t believe another season has come and gone.)
Just think, you’re one step closer to being back to November hockey!
andrew, :^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Thanks for digging that up! That’s awesome!
Dion Phaneuf plays for the Canucks, right? ;)
It’s a beautiful day in Buffalo, and I am tooootally feeling summer on its way, and I’m feeling super nostalgic for my very first days as an infant fan. In that way I think I’ll always have a soft spot for summertime “hockey”. In a lot of ways, because of IPB and all of you guys, I fell in love with hockey during the offseason!
Also, I already feel DESPERATE for hockey to return (and it’s not even gone yet!) My fandom has come full circle.
In a lot of ways, because of IPB and all of you guys, I fell in love with hockey during the offseason!
You really did, didn’t you? That’s so awesome that you always will have a reason to be nostaligic for summertime hockey! I really fell in love with hockey during November/December of my first season — I wonder if that’s part of why I love that part of the year best?
(I’m so jealous of this “summer’s in the air” weather you’re feeling. I’m getting completely effin’ stir-crazy here because it’s dreary and cold and gray again today. I’m normally all over this sort of thing, but dammit, I don’t want for it to feel like Fall [for once in my life]! I want summer! All I want to do is grill. I just put together my grocery list for this week, and I’m basically planning for us to eat Hot Pockets all week, because I’m like, “It’s grilling burgers or bust for us.” It’s TERRIBLE.)
Oh, and Caitlin, don’t think that I haven’t already considered how we’re creeping every closer to early-season hockey again! :P
don’t think that I haven’t already considered how we’re creeping every closer to early-season hockey again!
Pre-season will be here before you know it, right? Right? Right?
Pre-season will be here before you know it, right? Right? Right?
Oh, DEFINITELY. :D
Oh, and Schnookie, I feel you on the grilling. It’s getting spring-ier here, but I just feel like spring hasn’t sprung at all, so I’m just going to go home and pull the covers over my head. :p
Hm. Pulling the covers over my head sounds like a great plan, actually. (Of course, now that I’m planning a week of wintry food, Spring will TOTALLY spring on, like, Wednesday. And I’ll be there all, “Wait, why am I making chicken pot pie?”)
in FrisbyBowl I
Ha! That’s awesome.
I’ve been racking my brain over my picks all day. Finally I just said screw it and saved what I had.
Ookies, this was the best playoff primer that I have read all day.
I’m really looking forward to focusing hard on my FrisbyBowl picks tonight. This should be a blast!
I’ve been racking my brain over my picks all day. Finally I just said screw it and saved what I had.
I picked people with careless, reckless abandon. They will probably turn out to be horribly wrong guesses, but I decided that thinking about it a great deal would just make me throw up my hands, give up and pick randomly anyways, so I decided to skip the hard part. :p
“Pre-season will be here before you know it, right? Right? Right?”
Gosh, I hope so! Even though the Canucks made me drink litres of alcohol over the past month, I already miss those crazy bastards.
That’s so wierd to me, winter ended about a month ago out here. It’s actually already starting to get warm….like uncomfortably warm.
And also, woo hoo! I got the irrigation piped in and the soil put into my beds yesterday! Now I just have to give them a couple of good soakings and I can start planting! (hopefully this weekend!) I even bought a little tiny Brandywine plant at the farmers market!
I’m so jealous of this “summer’s in the air” weather you’re feeling.
For the first time all season, I finally remembered to take a jacket to the game and for the first time it was not cold in there. 85 and sunny. I’m not looking forward to the summer, because it’s much worse than that.
“…but I decided that thinking about it a great deal would just make me throw up my hands, give up and pick randomly anyways, so I decided to skip the hard part. :p”
You just decided to go with Roenick, all the way to the finals…right? Go Sharks!
I decided that thinking about it a great deal would just make me throw up my hands, give up and pick randomly anyways, so I decided to skip the hard part.
I’m planning to marry the two approaches, and basically think very hard about the best way to throw up my hands, give up and pick randomly.
You just decided to go with Roenick, all the way to the finals…right? Go Sharks!
Seriously, I thought it was so funny that you were talking about things that change from when you start being a hockey fan until you become a diehard, because I can pinpoint the exact moment I started intensely disliking JR and ever since then my dislike has grown year after year with that man.
I put the Sharks higher than I wanted, but they’re nowhere near first, sorry. (I may have lost my mind somewhat, but not completely.)
I can’t believe the Wild and the Avs are playing each other. Who the heck am I supposed to hope for in that situation?Maybe Rufus can just eat all of them at center ice.
Maybe Rufus can just eat all of them at center ice.
:^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
And also, woo hoo! I got the irrigation piped in and the soil put into my beds yesterday! Now I just have to give them a couple of good soakings and I can start planting! (hopefully this weekend!) I even bought a little tiny Brandywine plant at the farmers market!
Congrats on finishing the garden! That’s so exciting!!! That little Brandywine plant can’t wait to get started churning out the tomatoes for you!
Well the good news is that you can change your picks all the way up until the deadline Wednesday 7:00 pm ET.
That gives me plenty of time to get my drink on tonight, look at my picks, say “what was I thinking?”, change them around, wake up sober, look at my picks, say “what was my drunk ass thinking?”, change them again, rinse…repeat.
“…I can pinpoint the exact moment I started intensely disliking JR and ever since then my dislike has grown year after year with that man.”
It’s crazy how things change. Hell, I have a Rangers sweater somewhere in the depths of my closet.
“Congrats on finishing the garden! That’s so exciting!!! That little Brandywine plant can’t wait to get started churning out the tomatoes for you!”
Thanks! And yes, tomatos!! If I can keep it alive! And honestly, it was exciting. I’ll have to take a picture and post it up so you guys can check it out. It was so much damn work! Hauling soil was the easiest part.
That gives me plenty of time to get my drink on tonight, look at my picks, say “what was I thinking?”, change them around, wake up sober, look at my picks, say “what was my drunk ass thinking?”, change them again, rinse…repeat.
:^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
That sounds like a great plan!
Thanks! And yes, tomatos!! If I can keep it alive! And honestly, it was exciting. I’ll have to take a picture and post it up so you guys can check it out. It was so much damn work! Hauling soil was the easiest part.
I have no doubt that you’ll be drowning in awesome Brandywine tomatoes this year. I had always believed that I had a black thumb, and what I’ve learned is that if you put in the work on the front end to build nice raised beds, you’ve basically eliminated 95% of the problems that plague the in-ground gardener. Once your done with the back-breaking stuff, you just put seeds/plants in the ground, and then sit back and rake in the produce. :P
I can’t wait to see pictures of the garden!!!
And on that note, I’m off to buy all my pot pie and stew ingredients, while cursing the gray, cold sky. Then… we’re planting peach trees! Woo hoo!
I better go look at those tasty draft picks again…I’m getting playoffs grouchy.
It’s crazy how things change. Hell, I have a Rangers sweater somewhere in the depths of my closet.
I no likey what you’re implying. :p
I do hope the garden goes well, though, andrew! That’s so cool that you did that, I need to start on my home improvement projects soon. :p
“…and what I’ve learned is that if you put in the work on the front end to build nice raised beds, you’ve basically eliminated 95% of the problems that plague the in-ground gardener.”
Oh my god I hope you’re right. It’s been a lot of work getting these things done! If the hard part is done, then I’m all about it.
“I do hope the garden goes well, though, andrew!”
Thanks, Caitlin! (and I’m not 100% done yet. Going to a worm farm tomorrow to get me some earthworms! Gross!)
Wait, are you saying that you can buy worms for purposes other than bait?
“Wait, are you saying that you can buy worms for purposes other than bait?”
That’s exactly what I said! I feed those things to my turtle, I’m not paying $30/lb for (in my mind) turtle food.
Heck, you could just show up at my house before sunrise and rescue all the little buggers on my sidewalk before the sun bakes them into a crisp.
I’m not paying $30/lb for (in my mind) turtle food.
Word, can’t you just buy live bait somewhere and turn ‘em loose? Or do they have to be “special” worms or something?
(Can you tell I know nothing about gardening?)
Whew! All-Afternoon Training session, complete! Thank goodness; it was a humdinger. So… what did I miss?
Glad you guys liked the preview! It was surprisingly fun to write; I was really thinking all the teams sucked so bad it was going to be like pulling teeth.
I checked in on the thread during the training and all that stuff about the bear/tea-party was too, too funny! It’s good thing I was too chicken to check in earlier than break or else I would have been laughing up a storm in the second row of the meeting room.
That’s so funny about Kate’s Dion Phaneuf email. I’d forgotten all about that!
andrew, as for your garden, we have a sister kitchen in Dallas thanks to Patty, can IPB Living have a sister garden in San Jose? We can compare how lush and gorgeous our crops are! It can be a competition! A competition you won’t win! :PPPPPP
“Heck, you could just show up at my house before sunrise and rescue all the little buggers on my sidewalk before the sun bakes them into a crisp.”
So sad, the daily worm massacre at Stately Frisby Manor.
So, how lame is it that I can’t even dig in my backyard to get some worms. I have to go buy them. Lame! Stupid clay backyard.
Also, not lame at all…I bought hops! I’m planting them under my pergola, for a nice summer screening, then harvesting them for beer *mmm…beer* at the end of the summer. Maybe, if they can grow in clay.
“Word, can’t you just buy live bait somewhere and turn ‘em loose? Or do they have to be “special” worms or something?”
Dude, I guess there are people out there who breed worms like they were dogs or horses. It’s insane. According to them, there’s a difference. I honestly don’t know if they’re that much better than the $3.99 nightcrawlers at Petsmart.
“can IPB Living have a sister garden in San Jose? We can compare how lush and gorgeous our crops are! It can be a competition! A competition you won’t win! :PPPPPP”
We’ll do it! Except you’ll totally win! But I’ll try my damn hardest. (And I’m not actually in SJ, just so ya know. Sacramento, which is pretty close by.)
Dude, you’re growing hops?! And all we’ve got is some sweet pickles and some potatoes. Dammit! We’ve lost the sister-garden competition already!
(I’m off to plant some peach trees. Which are not, last time I checked, hops. Grumble, grumble.)
then harvesting them for beer *mmm…beer* at the end of the summer. Maybe, if they can grow in clay.
Mmm, beer. If those hops grow correctly, I fully expect some beer to get FedExed to me, andrew. Hmph! (Kidding…I don’t think you can FedEx beer. UPS looks like they’ll let any old riff-raff packages in, so you should try them.)
Glad you guys liked the preview! It was surprisingly fun to write; I was really thinking all the teams sucked so bad it was going to be like pulling teeth.
I loved the preview! Are you guys doing the West, or is this East only?
“Dude, you’re growing hops?! We’ve lost the sister-garden competition already!”
Don’t be so sure! They might not be able to grow in soil. Seriously our backyard looked like the surface of Mars before the landscaping! It’s not a plant friendly environment.
But they should be arriving in the mail today or tomorrow! Yeah!
‘UPS looks like they’ll let any old riff-raff packages in, so you should try them.”
I’m on it. One beer, coming up!
“I loved the preview! Are you guys doing the West, or is this East only?”
Me too! And you guys have to do the West!
See ya Pookie, have fun planting!
I’m so pumped for the sister garden competition!
AHHHHHH! AV just said every team in the league plays his system. Are you freakin KIDDING me?!?! Someone needs to take this guy away from Vancouver stat. Maybe Rufus can lock him in the tree house for all of next season.
Sorry…I should stop whining/raging. *You get a tasty draft pick, you get a tasty draft pick, you get a tasty draft pick*
See ya, Pookie!
Maybe Rufus can lock him in the tree house for all of next season.
With a bear underneath and an unlimited supply of dollies and tea, right? Scratch that, how about seventy bears? And they’re all hungry and rabid, and the tea should probably be cold too.
I’m on it. One beer, coming up!
Merci beaucoup!
Have fun with those peach trees, -Ookies!
Shouldn’t it be a brother garden? I’m just sayin’.
And that’s pretty exciting to get your garden all up and running, andrew! If the hard part were behind me, I’d love gardening. :D
“With a bear underneath and an unlimited supply of dollies and tea, right? Scratch that, how about seventy bears? And they’re all hungry and rabid, and the tea should probably be cold too.”
Hee! Exactly!
Bye, Pookie!
(Want some pear trees? I have two I’m hoping to find new homes for.)
And they’re all hungry and rabid, and the tea should probably be cold too.
:^::::::::::::::::::::
“Shouldn’t it be a brother garden? I’m just sayin’.”
Not if the garden is personified as a girl. Like most ships, cars, planes, etc. (Why is that? I’ve always wondered.)
Adrian Dater (Denver Post) thinks that the Sharks would have been preferable over the Wild as a match up for the Avs. What is he smoking? I would have loved to see the Sharks face the Avs in the first round.
(Want some pear trees? I have two I’m hoping to find new homes for.)
I’m envious that people have trees. Our yard is much too small for any sort of trees. We have a few cannas. That’s about it.
What is he smoking?
If you gave me the choice of the Sharks or the Wild, I’d take the Wild first off the bat, personally.
I don’t know. Isn’t Dater the beat writer Fanhouse talks about constantly who has the totally unadulterated rants about the Avs on his blog?
He’s like the Colorado version of Jennifer Floyd Engel, I think.
1. Montreal Canadiens
Why They Deserve To Win
good sweater design
it was the best sweater design when there were six teams and it is still the best when there are thirty…that isn’t really open to discussion, is it?…the red one is the best and if the blackhawks ever reappear in the playoffs they’ll be the second best, right?
Not if the garden is personified as a girl. Like most ships, cars, planes, etc.
You have a point there. :D
“Isn’t Dater the beat writer Fanhouse talks about constantly who has the totally unadulterated rants about the Avs on his blog?”
I think that is the very same guy.
I think most teams in the West wouldn’t mind facing the Wild. I know they won the division and all, but they just seem so…beatable come playoff time. Probably because shutting down Gaborik means you’ll most likely win.
I think most teams in the West wouldn’t mind facing the Wild.
True. I wouldn’t feel badly about a match-up against the Flames, either.
I definitely wouldn’t mind facing the Wild in the postseason.
“I wouldn’t feel badly about a match-up against the Flames, either.”
I dunno, I’ve still got lingering effects from the WCF against them a few years back. Is it just me or does Calgary really ratchet up their play for the post season? They just get crazy good as soon as the regular season ends.
Dater is such a bandwagonning hack. One day he was practically having a word orgasm about watching Forsberg in practice, and then two days later he was ranting about him being an injured distraction (who should wear a tutu).
But he did have a rant about Celine Dion being a punk, which was pretty damn amusing.
True. I wouldn’t feel badly about a match-up against the Flames, either.
Of course not, cause crazy eyes hagman scored on kipru every game didn’t he?
cause crazy eyes hagman scored on kipru every game didn’t he?
Finn on Finn crime, that’s right! (Nik Hagman should get “Crazy Eyes” tattooed on his shoulder or something. Dude brings new meaning to the term intense.)
alix, at least you can always be certain that Dater’s bananas, so you can never trust anything he says. Other than the fact that Celine Dion is a punk. :D
“Finn on Finn crime, that’s right!”
:^::::::::::
“alix, at least you can always be certain that Dater’s bananas, so you can never trust anything he says. Other than the fact that Celine Dion is a punk. :D”
Word.
“But he did have a rant about Celine Dion being a punk, which was pretty damn amusing.”
That makes me laugh. Stupid Celine Dion.
Just to clear up, I meant Celine Dion Phaneuf.
“Just to clear up, I meant Celine Dion Phaneuf.”
HA! Either way, Celine the hack songstress…or Celine the cheapshot dirtbag, it’s funny.
HA! Either way, Celine the hack songstress…or Celine the cheapshot dirtbag, it’s funny.
:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Truer words have never been spoken. I always refer to Phaneuf as “Frankenstein” because he looks like he should have bolts coming out of his damn neck.
“I always refer to Phaneuf as “Frankenstein” because he looks like he should have bolts coming out of his damn neck.”
Yes, plus his brow is very…prominent. (okay, he looks like neanderthal man.)
“Either way, Celine the hack songstress…or Celine the cheapshot dirtbag, it’s funny.”
HA HA! So true!
“I always refer to Phaneuf as “Frankenstein” because he looks like he should have bolts coming out of his damn neck.”
I’ve always thought he looked like a caveman, but making fun of his stupid name is too hard to pass up. I’ve also heard he looks like Shrek. But I think that’s mean to Shrek. Shrek was kind of cute.
Just to clear up, I meant Celine Dion Phaneuf.
I’m glad you said that, alix, because I was a little thrown, not only by your bringing up the actual Celine Dion, but also by an Avs hack writing a column about her. :D
Yeah, I forgot for a second that wasn’t a common nick name for people that aren’t Canucks fans. Heh.
It’s funny, though! Maybe he and Forsberg shop for purses together.
“Maybe he and Forsberg shop for purses together.”
They borrow each others Crocs.
“Maybe he and Forsberg shop for purses together.
They borrow each others Crocs.”
:^:::::::::::::::::::::::: Of course they do! And Forsberg is trying to get Phaneuf into a tutu and point shoes as well.
Anyone know how I will be able to watch the first two games of the Devils/Rangers series? I can’t find out if they’re on center ice.
2 peach trees planted! Woo-hoo!
Yes, we are doing a preview for the WC. It’s… not as easy to write. We’re working on it though!
And Forsberg is trying to get Phaneuf into a tutu and point shoes as well.
:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Anyone know how I will be able to watch the first two games of the Devils/Rangers series?
I think you should be okay because they’re being aired on MSG and MSG+ and, as far as I can tell, not on Blersus.
So you think they’ll be on NHL Center ice? Because I don’t get MSG out here unfortunately.
I think so, KG. I think Center Ice should show the non-national games.
Gah I hope so. Though it might not be a good idea to watch this series, I think I’ll have a stroke or something.
I may be wrong, but I think that you might be saying that there is too much hype about Ovie. It’s subtle, but I can sense that as as whispered undercurrent in you post.
All kidding aside, during the regular seasons I was not getting too much of the Ovie hype on the local Capitals game coverage. I did not see much of the National Coverage because I do not get Versus.
You know, I think that other Caps players are better than Ovie at certain things. Semin has better hands. Green is a more fluid skater. Gordon is more defensive minded. Goodness knows that some players are tougher than Ovechkin. (Like Jagr! Oh wait we traded him? Thank God! The big baby. “Ow! You checked me too hard! I am going to sit on the bench and pout.”)
I have seen Sid in three games in total. He is very good. But he plays more conservatively. Maybe that could be read as “Smarter” or “more in control”.
Ovechkin lays it all out there every time he plays. (And yes, others do too, he is not alone there). His defense is much better this year. He played in every game this year. And I have seen enough hockey to know that he was playing hurt at times. He is getting better at finding his team mates for passes. And I saw him knock down Semin trying to hug him when he scored a goal. He did the same with Green earlier this season. In both games Ovie had no goals. That does not strike me as show-boating.
I’m just saying…
Is he worth all that money? Hell no. Am I happy he is playing for my home town team? Yes indeed.
It’s subtle, but I can sense that as as whispered undercurrent in you post.
I’m so impressed you picked up on it! I mean, we practically wrote that part in invisible ink we were so subtle. Heh.
You’re so good at reading between the lines around here, Steve! :D
Is he worth all that money? Hell no. Am I happy he is playing for my home town team? Yes indeed.
I would never expect a Caps fan to say differently, and that’s exactly how I would feel if I were a Caps fan! Ovie is truly an amazing player, and he’s a guy hockey fans everywhere are lucky to get to see play. But when the dialog across the hockey mainstream media is confined entirely to Ovechkin, I just get tired of the guy, exactly the way I did with Sid when he first came into the league.
As for the “showboating”, I understand that he’s gleeful, enthusiastic, and is demonstrative in celebrating his teammates’ successes as well as his own. That said, if Kovalchuk celebrated goals the same way Ovechkin does, he’d be criticized for being disrespectful of his opponents. Ovie gets a pass on the “act like you’ve been there before” front the same way Pronger gets a pass on the “you’re not supposed to elbow opponents in the head” front. :P
Hehehehe.
I have been sitting here counting slowly to myself waiting for the smack down to come….
But But Pronger is simply trying to get close to you. You know, for hugs and stuff…
But But Pronger is simply trying to get close to you. You know, for hugs and stuff…
It’s true — and he’s just so tall! He can’t help himself! He loves too much.
(And this isn’t really “smack talk”, is it? I haven’t dropped a single f-bomb!)
Yes but that is only because I fed members of your family…
All kidding aside, during the regular seasons I was not getting too much of the Ovie hype on the local Capitals game coverage. I did not see much of the National Coverage because I do not get Versus.
I avoided a lot of the games on Versus and NBC, but I did see the All Star Game which was an entire weekend devoted to how unique Ovechkin is because has “so much fun playing hockey”. I know we groused about that a lot, but honestly, how does it help to sell the game by ignoring all the other great players who obviously take joy in the game? I’ve also spent a lot of time in the blogosphere, where Caps writers have a pretty big slice of the pie.
Yes but that is only because I fed members of your family…
You’re so right. If you were anyone else, I’d be blacklisting you right now. :P
Steve, I’m sitting here weighing how much I want to argue ’til I’m blue in the face over Ovie vs. future meals from Jaipur… Jaipur wins out, methinks!
As I stated earlier, there are other talented players that play for the Caps. I think they are young and may get better.
That is strange that the blogs are all Ovie all the time. My impression was that everyone thought the Caps sucked. And let’s face it: they were in last place for much of the season despite the antics of Mr. Fancy Dance.
Hockey is a team sport. One person cannot carry an entire team. Unless we are talking about Gretzky….
Juuuuust Kidding.
Mr. Fancy Dance! HAHAHAHAHA!!
I bet Ovie does not even like Indian food…
There is no denying that the future is CRAZY bright in DC. Assuming the team doesn’t get too handcuffed by bad contracts too quickly (see: Tampa Bay Lightning), of course. Actually, I think Tampa’s probably a pretty good comparison for how I’m approaching them as a fan right now — when Tampa won the Cup on ’04, I was like “NOOOOO!” A few years later, though, I was like, “Oh, I kind of like those guys!” Too bad for me, they’d already fallen apart. Basically what I’m saying here is that I’d like the Caps to continue to be good long enough for me to be able to enjoy them when I finally come around.
I bet Ovie does not even like Indian food…
Next time we’re all together for some Jaipur, we should invite him over and find out. :D
Next time we’re all together for some Jaipur, we should invite him over and find out. :D
I call dibs on the samosas he doesn’t want.
It’s a deal. In the meantime, let’s toast our teams success in the playoffs. Luck to the Devils!
::Clink::
Luck to the Caps!
::Clink::
Luck to the Devils and the Caps!
::Clink::