3-2-1 Hockey: 13
Not too long ago, we were all elated because the Devils had signed Ilya Kovalchuk. There was much hoopla and rejoicing, and there was a big press conference (their first one ever!!11!!!!1!), and it was all going to be awesome. And then the NHL rejected the contract. And then we found out that the team knew the contract was going to be rejected but went ahead with the announcements and the “ooh, ooh, buy season tickets!” crap anyway. And then the NHLPA grieved the contract rejection, so we all had to wait for arbitration. And today the arbitration came down in favor of the league. So Victory Euro Mats did what any sane unofficial Devils mascot would — he found a sturdy beam on the patio table out on the deck, and hanged himself.
Oh no! That’s a graphic image and should come with a warning that says it isn’t suitable for children under 17!
PS – here’s to hoping he arises from the dead, like a phoenix!
it isn’t suitable for children under 17!
Heh. Isn’t that true of everything the Devils have done this offseason?
PS — and no worries. It’ll take more than death by hanging to keep V.E. Mats down! :P
Well, it certainly has been an offseason for the ages, hasn’t it? Probably more interesting than anything that will happen during the season.
I…may not go to any Devils games this season after all.
And that’s even without the threat of Zombie Euro Mats roaming the arena.
It’ll take more than death by hanging to keep V.E. Mats down! :P
Sometimes it’s so convenient to have a plastic neck.
While neither the situation nor a suicidal Euro Mats is a laughing matter, I did start to giggle when I looked at all 150 tags. Each tag got more and more depressing until I was expecting the last one to be “Life is pain and the only relief is death.”
Oh and Happy Belated 8/9/10!!
Oh and Happy Belated 8/9/10!!
you’re not belated at all mcguffers. 08/09/10 is September 8, as everyone should realize! :p
I’m sorry for ChucklesNation, but I’m happy to note that even hanged by the neck and about to die, V.E. Mats gleefully keeps his arms up! That’s the attitude!
Sometimes it’s so convenient to have a plastic neck.
:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Yeah, poor guy. He really thought this would do the trick, but he’s always getting tripped up by that damn plastic neck!
I’m happy to note that even hanged by the neck and about to die, V.E. Mats gleefully keeps his arms up! That’s the attitude!
:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: He’s not “Victory” Euro Mats for no reason! :D
Each tag got more and more depressing until I was expecting the last one to be “Life is pain and the only relief is death.”
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! That’s probably one we should think about adding. I was surprised at the catalog of sad tags we’ve already created — I didn’t even use all of them! I left the “Angry” “Angrier” and “Angriest” tags out of the mix…
And this 8/9/10 stuff is fascinating. I hadn’t even considered it, and I think Grrrreg’s wise to point out that we totally have a mulligan next month for it! :D
Good morning, everybody!
And that’s even without the threat of Zombie Euro Mats roaming the arena.
:^::::::::::::::::::::: He could do a lot of damage to all the teensiest, tiniest parts of the Ironbound.
I’m happy to note that even hanged by the neck and about to die, V.E. Mats gleefully keeps his arms up! That’s the attitude!
:^::::::::::::::::::::: We could all learn a thing or too from V.E. Mats. Maybe I’ll try looking at the Devils through his pink-tinted glasses. ::looks:: Nah, it all still looks like crap.
Good morning, everyone! I don’t have to go to work today! Woo-hoo!
He could do a lot of damage to all the teensiest, tiniest parts of the Ironbound.
:^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Oh, poor Mats!
And this 8/9/10 stuff is fascinating. I hadn’t even considered it, and I think Grrrreg’s wise to point out that we totally have a mulligan next month for it!
Oh lord, then I get to have the same conversation again next month. One of my family members made a comment on FB that 05:06:07 8/9/10 will only happen again in the year 3010. I inquired as to why it wouldn’t happen again in 100 years (you know, 2110) and was told I was wrong.
I get why the arbitrator rejected the Kovy deal, but to make a comment that it might be fair game to go after the other ridonk deals is heading the league down a dangerous path. It will just make that pesky lockout get here faster, I guess.
I inquired as to why it wouldn’t happen again in 100 years (you know, 2110) and was told I was wrong.
:^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Um, yeah, Amy, you’re TOTALLY wrong! ::shifty eyes:: Look at that hobo!
As for the Kovalchuk ruling, and the possibility of rejecting previously-approved contracts, and the looming threat of another lockout… sigh. This is SO not what I follow sports for. That’s not meant as some sort of head-in-the-sand attitude, nor would I ever suggest that annoying “it’s all about the business these days, but I remember back when things were pure and good in sports!” tack. It’s just that I like hockey (and sports in general) because it’s fun to watch. Period. I just get so fatigued from the off-ice stuff, and have found in the last year that with the constant stream of information and opinion and hysteria that the interwebs provide us around the clock, I have less and less energy to keep up on it. Pookie suggested last night that she’s never going to pay attention to hockey news in the offseason ever again, because it’s always just too depressing or exhausting. Nope, she’s just going to to tune in on Opening Night and get caught up with whatever happened in the league during the interim once the games start. I think that’s a great plan! :D
While I respect Grrrrreg’s point, I have to stick to our stubborn American ways so that my son has his awesome birth date of 03/06/09. And the newest addition has a due date of 12/11/10! (the one in December) This pleases me way more than it should.
Yup, I’m just going to tune in in October and be all, “Whaddya know, Paul Martin’s not in the top pairing any more! Or the second. Or the third…. Heeeeey, wait a minute…” It’s going to make the first part of the season even more exciting!
I have to stick to our stubborn American ways so that my son has his awesome birth date of 03/06/09. And the newest addition has a due date of 12/11/10!
Hm. You make a good point. Perhaps it’s something that can be decided on to suit the situation? Like, we can go American for these awesome birthdates, but we can go Euro because most of us failed to note that yesterday was 8/9/10? :D
Whaddya know, Paul Martin’s not in the top pairing any more! Or the second. Or the third…. Heeeeey, wait a minute…
Please. You’re acting like you don’t already do that! (Seriously, though, since we already spend the first month of every season disgustedly exclaiming “When did [Player X] become a [Team Y]?????”, I’m not entirely sure an official not-paying-attention policy would even change how much attention we pay to the offseason. :P)
12/11/10 would be a hilarious birthday! 10/11/12 would be better, though, so when asked what your birthday is, you could sing the “Ladybug’s Picnic” song from Sesame Street.
I’m not entirely sure an official not-paying-attention policy would even change how much attention we pay to the offseason.
You make a good point.
10/11/12 would be better, though, so when asked what your birthday is, you could sing the “Ladybug’s Picnic” song from Sesame Street.
GAAAAAAAAASP! I want that birthday SO BADLY!
Soooo…the Devils and Kovy are back to negotiating, which means we could still get him, only for cheaper (or more expensive, but I’m gonna pretend like that’s impossible) in which case….I CALLED IT!
only for cheaper (or more expensive, but I’m gonna pretend like that’s impossible) in which case….I CALLED IT!
:^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: You and VE Mats have a lot in common, with those arms perpetually raised over your heads even in the direst of circumstances. :P
It may say a lot that my favourite poem is “The Charge of the Light Brigade”.
which means we could still get him, only for cheaper (or more expensive, but I’m gonna pretend like that’s impossible)
Probably for the amazing, salary-cap-world scenario of less money overall, but higher cap hit. So, both cheaper and more expensive.
Probably for the amazing, salary-cap-world scenario of less money overall, but higher cap hit. So, both cheaper and more expensive.
Or…..less money overall, AND a lower cap hit! And a night with Mrs. Lamoriello!
Cannon to the right of them,
Cannon to the left of them…
Probably for the amazing, salary-cap-world scenario of less money overall, but higher cap hit. So, both cheaper and more expensive.
Oooh, awesome! If there’s anything this situation needs, it’s to become cheaper and more expensive at the same time!
Cannon to the right of them,
Cannon to the left of them…
:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: It’s good to be a hopeless dreamer, though, right? :P
she’s just going to to tune in on Opening Night and get caught up with whatever happened in the league during the interim once the games start. I think that’s a great plan!
That is a great plan, I will attempt to adopt it! So how about that weather, here it’s pretty rainy and gloomy. A nice break from the boiling sun of the desert Southwest on my vacation last week though.
I am so jealous of your rainy, gloomy weather, Mike! We haven’t had a legitimately rainy day since early June (at the very least. It may have been even longer than that). Last summer we couldn’t stop the rain, and this summer we can’t get it to start!
Anyway, where were you on vacation? Did you have a great time?
(See? Isn’t this a WAY funner conversation than discussing a looming lockout? :D)
It rained here this morning, and is meant to rain all day, but I haven’t seen the outside in a while, so I dunno.
The Southwest? Were you attacked by Apaches?
I think I need to cut back on the Flashman if that’s all that springs to mind about the Southwest.
It rained here this morning, and is meant to rain all day
What?? You’re not that far from here! Why are you getting rain and we’re getting diddly-poo??? GAH! (I’m getting a bit rain-crazy.)
Last summer we couldn’t stop the rain, and this summer we can’t get it to start!
We had rain last night, but it did more harm than good. It brought in that infernal humidity that just hangs in the air.
We have no more rain, mebbe later.
I’ve been holding off putting on the AC, but I think I am going to have to later today. Sigh. I might be able to stand it, but the cat are not happy.
You’ve been going without AC, Sue??? Wow! You’re way stronger than I am. As soon as the temperature gets over 76, I have to close up the house. I’m such a wimp. :D
If it isn’t humid, I can stand it into the high 80s. I didn’t use the AC yesterday. However, today is more than I think even I can take. I am happy with temps around 83 and dry. I am happier with temps around 78 and dry. Really, I should live in Maine during the summer.
Yeah, I think Maine would be a bit more accommodating to your tastes than Jersey’s summer are! (And you make a good point about the humidity being the unbearable part. I hate in September when it gets cool enough that the AC won’t come on, but it’s so humid that opening up the house is a nightmare.)
Dave is about halfway through his interview. Good thing I don’t chew my nails.
It’s 96 with a heat index of 103 here right now. I’m sure it’s way cooler in Longview (in East Texas, where Dave is interviewing), right? Right?
It’s 96 with a heat index of 103 here right now. I’m sure it’s way cooler in Longview (in East Texas, where Dave is interviewing), right? Right?
I’m sure they have working AC, or they’d have shut the office.
I’m sure it’s way cooler in Longview (in East Texas, where Dave is interviewing), right? Right?
Oh, it’s probably AT LEAST 60 there. Probably closer to 50. Perfect blustery Fall weather. No question about it! (Because it’s been so hot and rainless this summer here, some of the trees are starting to drop their leaves already. So I’m totally like, “EEE! FALL!!!” It’s… not fall.)
It’s got to be at least 60 out there by now! That 2 hours east makes all the difference! They do get 14 more inches a year in rain than we do here. That’s pretty cool.
East Texas is known for their huge trees. I’ve been looking at houses on line (yes, I’m putting the cart way before the horse) and the yards are fabulous.
And Sue, everyone in Texas has AC and we’ve been using it since March. It’s been 100 or more for over a week now. Pooh.
They do get 14 more inches a year in rain than we do here. That’s pretty cool.
Wow! That’s pretty wild! I would never guess that much of a difference could be found just two hours away.
As for the lovely yards, I might have to check this out myself…
Get a tree house! If I was fabulously wealthy I’d move to Africa and turn a baobab into a house.
and we’ve been using it since March. It’s been 100 or more for over a week now.
And this is a reason why I don’t think I could live there. I just don’t like being shut up for that long. I’ll leave the house open for as long as possible, both summer and winter. If it’s high 40s here during the winter I will shut off the heat, open up a little and put on sweaters for a few hours to get some fresh air in the house.
Anyway, where were you on vacation? Did you have a great time?
(See? Isn’t this a WAY funner conversation than discussing a looming lockout? :D)
You’re right, this is much better than talking about What’s-his-name. We went to Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon and Arches/Canyonlands national parks in the hinterland of Utah. I hate Vegas but the national parks were awesome! I was stunned to find the Utah part of the trip was the best, great hiking and scenery. If I can figure out that flickr or photobucket thing like you guys do, I will put up some pictures.
And this is a reason why I don’t think I could live there. I just don’t like being shut up for that long.
Yeah, living here in the summer is about like living in North Dakota in the winter. You try to not go anywhere during the afternoons and have to keep the blinds closed to cut down on the heat. When I wasn’t working, I was a total shut in during June, July and August.
if kovalchuk sign another, this time a league approved contract with the devils, can ve mats be resuccitated and resume his usual and accustomed mascot activities?
Mike, I’m SO jealous! Arches N.P. is very high on my list of places to go next. I’d love to see that place!