I completely understand modern day Winnipeg Jets fans. I understand why those "Coyotes to Winnipeg" rumors and always check out the "what do you think of my updated Jets logo?" posts over at HF.
Major league baseball begins anew tomorrow night. All teams have an equal chance to win it all, all teams are unbeaten, all teams have hope and a brand new day.
But not my team, not Felipe Alou's great 1994 team, not the team that MLB turned its back on a few years ago. We are left with melancholy and memories, we are the new Brooklyn Dodgers. Where there was once glory there are only memories, and the train doesn't run by here anymore. Good luck you Jets fans, I hope your team comes home during my lifetime.
--
The Oilers are running out the string and the only constant is injuries. Gagner doesn't look like he'll return, Brule was hurt in last night's game. Don't worry, though. They still have Slava Trukhno.
At first I wondered why you put a picture of the Grandpa from The Cosby Show up on this post.
ReplyDeleteStriking resemblance.
If anyone hasn't checked out the elliotte friedman article at cbc.ca on the KHL it's a great read. I think they're doing a feature on Russian hockey on HNIC tonight.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.cbc.ca/sports/blogs/elliottefriedman/2010/04/postcard-from-russia-great-people-crazy-country.html
Glory? The Expos?
ReplyDeleteLowetide, you really need to see the Oilers hoist the cup in your lifetime, preferably while you still have most of your teeth.
I became a baseball(Red Sox) fan in college, having dossed less than a mile from Fenway Park. Then the Sox won a couple of World Series, and it's never seemed quite the same.
Hunter: El Presidente el perfecto, Tim Raines at Shea May 1, Wallace Johnson's triple, Ray Burris in October, 1973's first real pennant run, the kids of 77-80, 1981's wonderful run.
ReplyDelete1994. Nineteen-ninety-fucking-four. Glory.
1. Grissom
2. Floyd
3. Alou
4. Walker
5. Fletcher
6. Cordero
7. Berry
8. Lansing
Beauty.
BG: I had the same fucking thought!! I was thinking that LT had finally had it with his woman and he was putting up a post talking about how both Russel And Cliff Huxtable had been ruled by their women and now Lain was taking back the night goddammit!
ReplyDeleteIn all seriousness the old picture of Alou reminded me of when I loved that guy and when he took over for Runnels in '92 and how that club was then a contender for the better part of '92-97. I remember first when Brochu talking of moving the club and I was on an exercise bike at home watching the evening sportscast and I got a huge lump in my throat when I thought of them moving and that's the first time I realized how much I loved that club.
I can imagine it's worst on Lain because he had 10-15 extra years of fandom and as many times as I joked about the Oilers moving it's not really something I'd want to go through again.
I still get the pangs for the Expos every now and then and I really try not to dwell on it because it hurts that much.
So I certainly hope the Jets come back to Winnipeg because I know there are people that have felt the same as I do since the spring of '96; it's just that I don't know if it can work longterm.
They've got a smaller building and they'll be no significant local TV money so what's the future? First things first and that building Has to be full every night; absolutely has to. That's likely to happen the first couple of years but do you see them as anything more than a club that comes in at the bottom of the cap? And that's probably good enough for the fans to support them for the first few years but what happens if you hire a GM that's Doug Maclean-esque and now only are you thrifty, you're also perpetually mediocre.
What happens then?
Don't get me wrong, I really want hockey back in Canada and in Winnipeg and back in Que and that second team in Ontario but let's make sure it's gonna work before the undertaking begins.
Of course the other side - and as mentioned in yesterday's Globe - is that Bettman's very cognizant of keeping franchise values high and with all the dogs in the US he
's just gonna move the Yotes and Thrashers without much longterm thought.
A funny sidenote about tonight game is my online book - Bowman's - has a +100 number for the over with the line set at 5.5. I imagine that means the Yotes are playing a tonne of unders but these are the Oilers and you'll have a goal in the first 10 min and two by the end of the first. Plus the Oilers might score a couple as well;)
The way that MLB jerked around the Expos made me furious. What a way to treat a team and the fans. Pissed me right the hell off.
ReplyDeleteWhen we talk about franchise value and comparative revenue we should remember that the once-mighty US$ has had its run and is now headed to the same part of the standings relative to its peers that the Oilers currently occupy. Debt at every level of government, unemployment, lack of manufacturing capacity, local banks failing at record paces -- all these mean the US$ will be weaker than the loonie and US fans will be more careful with their discretionary funds.
ReplyDeleteI bet that over the next 5 years the Oilers, even in the current building, will out-revenue most of their US brethren, if you are converting everything to US$.
I recall reading that leaving the Jets in the 'Peg would have lost less than the Yotes did in Phoenix, over the years since the move. Seems very plausible to me.
The owners and players shrug and tell us "it's a business" when explaining an unpopular move. Buck Up, Boys. It will be every Canadian fan's turn to enjoy the implications of this statement soon enough. Hamilton or SW Ontario, Winnipeg, maybe Quebec if they could learn to live on their own money, all these places are a better business proposition than Bettman's Bedmates.
Still dont think they would have won the series is '94 LT. That Yankees team was rolling too.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteWe are left with melancholy and memories, we are the new Brooklyn Dodgers.
ReplyDeleteYes, that's exactly right. For whatever reason I've never seen that comparison made but its apt. At least the Dodgers kept their name, but like the Expos, the team may have moved, but its soul stayed behind.
Continuing condolences to Lain, Dennis, and all those other once-and-still Expo fans. What happened to your team was cruel. You never even got your 1955.
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ReplyDeleteThat's the agony/beauty of sports, isn't it? Just like when I daydream about the Oilers run in 2006, thinking about Expos 1994... oh man. Made worse of course by what came next, when baseball returned and the organization began to disintegrate.
ReplyDeleteI've never met a professional baseball player, or very many sports pros period, but I would be beyond thrilled to meet Felipe Alou and shake his hand. I think of Felipe and I think of class, calm, and loyalty. Wish I was a bit older and would have seen him play the game (he retired when I was 6). Think it was so cool he played in the pro in the SAME OUTFIELD as his brothers, and got to coach his son in the bigs as well.
And I can't resist - who could forget the line from former Giants broadcaster Hank Greenwald, where he named all the Alou brothers?:
"There is Felipe Alou, Matty Alou, Jesus Alou, Toot Alou, Bob Alou, Skip Alou, BeBop Alou, Boog Alou, their long lost sister, Hullub, and their legendary brother, Walleeb."
Felipe Alou replacing Tom Runnells may be the most extreme culture change I've ever seen after a managerial/coaching change. Seemed like the stress meter went from 100 to 0.
ReplyDeleteGary: I recall watching an NBC Game of the Week in my earliest days of watching ball, must have been 1963, where the Giants were playing and the three Alous lined up in the OF. Jesus was a rookie that year - geez, that looks funny - but Felipe was traded that off-season so it must have been then cuz I remember the fuss the announcers made of it.
ReplyDeleteFelipe had the most pop in his bat, and Matty was the one who hit for average. He got traded to Pittsburgh and his BA went from .231 to .342 in one year, and then more or less stayed there for several years running.
Best of the bunch though was probably Moises.
Interesting comments by Stu MacGregor, and pretty much kills any theory that Tambellini will draft that phudu that is Cam
ReplyDeleteFowler.
http://oilersnation.com/2010/3/31/seguin-and-hall-hype-hoopla-and-projections
"Hall is the easy pick. I understand that," MacGregor said. "But, you want to make the pick that makes you better for a long time.
"So, maybe the other guy isn't quite as developed as Hall is. It's easy to say, 'Taylor Hall,' and then you move on. It depends where you want this thing to go.
"The idea of the process we're now going through is to make sure we make unemotional decisions. We make decisions based on the best thing for this hockey club moving forward and projecting this player."
I didn't know anything about Felipe until he came to Montreal in 1973 (this was for the pennant run I mentioned earlier).
ReplyDeleteHe came over from the Yankees, a team Montreal never did business with (or at least it was unusual enough that it made an impression).
I read some about him later on and his batting records look a little wonky when he was a Brave. He hit 31 homers on year and only drove in 74 runs. Scored 122. Reason? They had him bat leadoff all year, despite 355 total bases (leading the NL).
LT: Yeah, I think Felipe set some sort of record for dingers leading off a game or some such. Rickey Henderson may have been the one to break it.
ReplyDeleteYou're right, though, having a guy who leads in TB leading off does seem a curious use of resources. Led the majors in AB, R, and H, but drew just 24 walks and stole just 5 bases while getting caught stealing 7 times. Not exactly your prototypical leadoff hitter. I used to do shit like that playing APBA baseball but it's hard to believe a real major league manager would do such a thing.
^Unless of course Stu is referring the ''other guy'' as Cam Fowler
ReplyDeleteWell I'm not bonkers so I never thought they would draft Fowler anyways.
ReplyDeleteBruce: LOVED APBA. Johnny Bench 1970 was a ridiculous card.
ReplyDeleteDon't get me wrong, I really want hockey back in Canada and in Winnipeg and back in Que and that second team in Ontario but let's make sure it's gonna work before the undertaking begins.
ReplyDeleteYes, Dennis, I agree, the millions of fans in Ontario deserve a second NHL team beyond the Ottawa Senators.
(I know this was a Freudian slip not saying "southern Ontario" and an easy joke to make, but dammit, you have to swing at a 70-mph meatball over the middle of the plate, right?)
The Hall pick is made especially easy for anyone who saw the replay of his second goal on Thursday night.
ReplyDeleteWow.
That shot would have been in on any NHL 'tender.
PJO: While I agree that picking Fowler doesn't make sense, what the heck has he done to deserve being called a Phudu at every opportunity?
ReplyDeleteHe could turn out to be a hell of a defenseman. Not saying I'd pick him 1st or 2nd, but come on, give the kid a damn break.
The Big Smoke needs two teams. That way the teachers retirement fund might have to give a crap.
ReplyDeleteI hope they call them the Hamilton Fincups.
Like Jacques Doucet used to say when we things didn't look good at the beginning of a season (In french):
ReplyDeleteIt's the start of the season, everyone is first and everyone is last.
Remember voting like mad when i was a kid so Guerrero would go to the All-Star game.
1. Endy Chavez
2. Jose Vidro
3. Brad Wilkerson
4. Vladimir Guerrero
5. Wil Fredo Cordero
6. Orlando Cabrera
7. Brian Schneider
8. Jamey Caroll
9. Livan Hernandez
Heh brings back memories =P.
Btw LT, did you ever saw a live game of Expos (Or Nos Amours)?
FPB: Never did. I've been to Seattle, Los Angeles, San Diego and Anaheim to watch MLB but didn't see the Expos.
ReplyDeleteLT: It's a shame. If they ever come back it should be in your kick'in the bucket list (Well i assume they shouldn't be back until we're super old).
ReplyDeleteMight not have been the prettiest boys, but they tried every damn game.
what the heck has he done to deserve being called a Phudu at every opportunity?
ReplyDeleteIrrational hate.
I'm sure he'll have a great career, but I hope it's not in Edmonton.
As for Hall/Seguin, I'm clearly in Hall's corner, and I'd imagine the Oilers are too. It's just a perfect fit for both parties. April 12, 2010 will be a big, big day for this franchise.
PJO: I really don't think they can go wrong with Hall or Seguin.
ReplyDeleteThe scouts might deep down be hoping for some other team to win the lottery and draft 1st overall. Their job would suddenly become incredibly easy - pick the guy that's left out of the two.
If they get 1st overall, they'll probably go Hall. But odds are if they fall to second, they're going to have to "settle" for Seguin. Given the presence of Eberle and MPS as wingers coming up through the system, it may actually be a better fit too....
'94 Pedro just too painful to mention LT?
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine what it would have done to my young soul if Gretz had been traded in '83.
Vince: I've mentioned this before, but I saw a KHL game in Latvia last year and it was incredibly fun, one of the best times I've had watching a hockey game in my entire life. Friedman's article captures the KHL pretty well, I think. People don't give the quality of play enough credit, and the fans are absolutely fanatical.
ReplyDeleteTo anyone, if you're ever in the region, you owe it to yourself to check out a game.
I love my Jets jersey.
ReplyDeleteI was a huge Spos fan. A bit more simplistic than you guys in the sense that I wasnt a stats guy at all, just a religious follower. During the fall, it was a struggle to get interested in hockey because the Expos were usually making their stretch comeback to within a couple games of the Braves.
ReplyDeleteAfter all this time, 94 still hurts. I made my own banner that hang in my dorm for my education career which started in 1994... Montreal Expos, 1994 Champs. They really are.
THAT SAID... how quick are we to say pull that team out of Phoenix because its a canadian game, played on ice in the middle of a desert?
Montreal didnt support the Expos. They were a sideshow there. Crowds came when they were stomping, but other than that, or when there was habs activity, it was mostly like seeing a hockey game in phoenix.
That organization deserved a lot better, from MLB and from its fanbase.
Danny: Much more of a cultural change then anything. Little to no people play baseball anymore.
ReplyDeleteI'm starting my Midget A season soon. And we're 1 team for a like 75 000 people city. Not even a Midget B team.
They're all playing soccer, part of it is because it requires a lot less skills to have fun.
But heh, i hope this effect will be reversed someday. I'l sure try as much as i can to get my kids into Baseball.
I love my Jets jersey.
ReplyDeleteI have three of the four NHL jerseys. Only missing the white John Ferguson Sr. jersey.
I saw the creature called "The Mets fan" in it's natural habitat this week. Guy had on a Mets jacket and was reading the Mets 2010 schedule. His buddy joined him on the train. He said "I'm trying to figure out how many of these train wrecks I can attend."
ReplyDeleteGuy was an real character. He reminded me of a fat Woody Allen.
Montreal fucked up big time with that terrible Olympic Stadium. Had to be the worst ballpark ever. Jarry Park was a totally fun place to watch a game, but when they "upgraded" ... yecch!
ReplyDeleteI went to a game there around around '83, and it was the most sterile place imaginable. The game was 100 miles away, and you couldn't even hear the crowd. Place wasn't even finished yet, there was still constrcution equipment behind the centre field fence.
The Alouettes nearly died in the same stadium - in fact they did, come to think of it - and they only solved the problem by getting the fuck out of there into a more intimate stadium that was actually built with their sport in mind. Today they are thriving, because it's actually fun to go to a game.
I'm convinced the Expos would still be alive and well if they had built a real baseball stadium in the manner of a Camden Yards rather than that billion-dollar bust. What a shame.
Bruce: Actually there WAS a project all set up. Most of the compagny seats were sold. (Like 30 Millions i believe).
ReplyDeleteBut the Governement refused to help in the project D=.
It was a 35 000 exterior park in the middle of the town.
We can't even fill up the lower bowl of the MTS Centre for an AHL game.
ReplyDeleteWinnipeggers just don't appreciate live hockey anymore. If they won't pay 20$ for a very good AHL ticket, there's no reason to believe we'll pay 50$ for a crappy NHL one.
I have a very hard time convincing myself that if the NHL would return to Winnipeg, I would cease to be an Oilers fan first and foremost.
"Montreal fucked up big time with that terrible Olympic Stadium."
ReplyDeleteI saw the Expos there, and it was about as entertaining as a poorly played beer league hockey game. Zero fucking atmosphere, and I don't blame anyone for not wanting to pay to watch.
I also saw the Blue Jays in both of their abortions of stadia. Domeball, or shiteball, take your pick.
To appreciate baseball - you really need to see the game at an American ballpark, preferably an ancient one - during July/August. Everything else is academic.
Tear...I loved the Expos too...grew up watching the late 80's early 90's Spos (shows you that I'm a spring chicken compared to some y'all here). Seen them good a couple of times at the Big O on family vacation. Man that place was a cavernous place. Love the yellow seats though...
ReplyDeleteThen after 94, I stopped watching baseball since MLB conspired to keep the Spos from winning that year (in my young mind it was all MLB's fault).
Expos memorabilia still in my room at my parents house:
1) Schedule of the 94 season taped on my wall.
2) Pennant from the 1982 All-star game and 2 ticket stubs (can't remember if I went or not 'cause I would have been 5, or if my Dad went).
3) Youpie stuff toy with the pinstripe uniform.
4) 2-3 baseball caps of varying size and rattyness including a couple original ones i.e. red, white and blue
5) Moses Alou pinstripe jersey (one and only baseball jersey I own)
6) Newspaper clipping from the Edmonton Journal of El Presidente's perfect game.
Just bought a New Era retro Expos baseball cap...just to represent my team...sigh...them were the days.
hunter: I like you way more now knowing that you're a Red Sox Nation member. I used to root for the Expos, but I moved over to the Sox when Pedro was traded there (started developing a hatred of the Yankees around that time and decided to take a blood-oath to follow the Sawx). Have you actually been to Fenway? I hope to get there in the next couple of summers.
ReplyDeleteD2K: I'm after a white Hawerchuk jersey (1980's style with the circular logo) to add to my hockey collection, which, with the recent addition of a Kings alternate "Doughty" jersey, will grow to 35 jerseys strong. Currently debating between Tyler Myers, Paul Stastny and Steven Stamkos as to which to add next. Going to go for a Hall or Seguin next fall if the Oilers do what I suspect they will and come up with a white "retro" RBK Edge jersey and ditch the current road unis. Next Team Canada jersey will be a "Getzlaf", and two uniforms that I want to see released for sale are a 1980's Bruins Cam Neely and the 87 Canada Cup jerseys (I'd have to buy a Gretzky AND a Lemieux here, one in red and one in white). And no, for the record, I don't think I have any sort of a collection-addiction here, thank you very much.
fpb: That Labatt park project would have saved the Expos, for certain. Sad that it didn't get done.
But the Governement refused to help in the project D=.
ReplyDeleteIn large part cuz they were still paying for the Big Owe. Hard to blame anybody bankrolling a stadium of being terrified by that point. Undoubtedly played a role in the loss of the Expos and the Nordiques.
When you look at the legacy from Calgary '88 and (hopefully) Vancouver '10, what Montrealers got vs. what they paid for was shameful. The other showcase was the Velodrome; what is it now, a mushroom farm? I exaggerate ... but does it even exist? FPB, what other stadia have survived from '76?
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ReplyDeleteBruce: I don't know, but the Big O was made for the Olympics, not the Expos. So it's absolutely not theyr fault, and hey, it was cool at the time, kinda like the metrodome and skydome. But when the old classic parks came back with a charge, they refused to help. The big O's cost was inflated by politicians. As a good 25% of the material was stolen to make private buildings.
ReplyDeleteAs for your question, i don't know how much. But Fenway Park is still kickin' :P.
Jesus, HBomb. I thought my 16-jersey collection (Hitmen, 3xCAN, 2xEDM, 5xMTL, 3xWPG, CHI-WC, DET-WC) was pretty impressive. I bow before your superior collection and presumably greater income; I am in awe. I haven't even gotten any of mine customized (the first will probably be Ian Schultz on the Hitmen jersey; I would get Kozun, but I already got that for my mom's for her birthday and I want to avoid confusion). But yeah, that 80s white jersey (I called it the JFS jersey because it was the design he brought over after the Rangers chucked it out the door) is a bitch to find, but I think my next purchase is going to be that new green Whalers jersey, because I'm a sucker for the sweaters of my childhood, even if they weren't exactly aesthetically pleasing. Plus, it follows my consistent pattern of "let's see another person in Calgary wearing this thing!" that's informed most of my purchases since about 2008. If only I'd bought that hideous Nashville third when I was there a few years ago. I'm also eyeing the black and silver Kings jersey, the black vintage Pens jersey, and STL's really sharp-looking third, in addition to the retro/third Oilers jersey.
ReplyDeleteBruce: The value for Calgary '88 especially has been fantastic. The facilities from 1988 are a big reason why we've been a power at the last two or three Olympics, in addition to things like OTP. I'll be a little sad if the training hub moves to Vancouver: I'll miss passing Olympic speed skaters in the hallway going to half my classes.
FPB: Sorry, I meant "Olympic legacy" stadia within Montreal.
ReplyDeleteDoogie: You might consider getting an Oilers orange jersey from the WHA days, e.g.
ReplyDeleteBruce: Well those penguins in the biodome are still kickin'.
ReplyDelete:P
Hey Dennis, check out your (hotmail) e-mail.
ReplyDeleteNot having a real stadium was pretty hard on the Expos. But the real killer was Bronfman selling them to a bunch of grocers yapping from 94 to 2000 about moving the team because they tought the city didn't support them properly by handing them a stadium (while both government were slashing everywhere trying to resorb gargantuan deficits) for free. Oh, and then they sold part of the team to a New York art dealer who promptly outmanoeuvered them (oooh, he made a cash call! How novel!) and sold the damn thing to MLB.
ReplyDeleteAlso, with all due respect, and I certainly don't want to annoy anybody with that (I'm just sour over the franchise being ran into the ground by crooks, that's all) but I never got the whole "Stadium is sooo far away" thing. The place is a toilet, I agree, but there is a fricking metro station running trough it and over 250K people living at walking distance from it. I understand it's on the eastern part of the island, but it's a very populous area and the big Owe is right in the middle of the fucking place. It's not like Kanata or something. I live in the Plateau and we used to walk along Rachel street to go to the ballgame.
There is a pretty big (and nice) part of Montreal east of St-Laurent guys... Try and go for a walk out there, you'll love it. Don't take my word for it, just ask Pat Maclean! (Or FPB? Any other motrealers out there?)
Dorito: I completely agree. I would love to see an NHL team here again, but when you see the turnout at the (TINY) MTS Centre, you realize it just wouldn't pan out here. As much as we wish it were otherwise, this city doesn't have the population or the wealth to support an NHL franchise.
ReplyDeletePlus, Phoenix has been turning it around this year: not just in success, but in attendance, community involvement and in building the sport in the desert. Seeing it firsthand over Christmas was really impressive, and made me appreciate how much the Oilers org takes its fanbase completely for granted.
I think they still have a chance at a viable future in the land of the snow birds. Now Florida having two teams on the other hand...
Doogie: You might consider getting an Oilers orange jersey from the WHA days, e.g.
ReplyDeleteI saw a guy wearing one in the crowd of the Coliseum during the Cup run, and even saw him outside the arena (as well as Martin Gelinas!) when I was there trying to score tickets to the Final (I failed). If I could find one that wasn't hundreds of dollars and game-worn...oh man, I would be there in a heartbeat. Heartbeat.
Olivier: I've wandered through the Eastern part of Montreal lots, and I like it. I think us Anglo westerners avoid it because we can't get away with speaking English all the time, like we can on the Plateau or west of downtown, so we have to dust off our hideous, rusty elementary school French whenever we need to communicate.
ReplyDeleteIt's not that hard to order "un steamie, s'il vous plait", though. My accent sounds like fingernails on a chalkboard, but I always get my steamie.
HBomb:hunter: I like you way more now knowing that you're a Red Sox Nation member. I used to root for the Expos, but I moved over to the Sox when Pedro was traded there (started developing a hatred of the Yankees around that time and decided to take a blood-oath to follow the Sawx). Have you actually been to Fenway? I hope to get there in the next couple of summers.
ReplyDeleteI went a couple of summers ago. Me and 3 friends went to NYC, saw 2 games (NYY vs Oak) at old Yankee Stadium, went to N.J. to watch the Dolphins-Jets and then off to Boston to catch the Jays-Sox. It was a great trip but Fenway was the highlight. I was the Sox fan, the other guy liked the Yanks, one guy liked the Dolphins and the last guy was an A's fan. It worked out perfectly. Before the Sox game, they close the streets surrounding the pawhk down and it's basically a street festival where they sell beer and food and everyone mills around and has a good time. A must see for a fan of the Old Towne Team.
D2K - OK, I lied, I forgot to count the two Oil Kings jerseys.
ReplyDeleteLet's run an inventory:
Oilers uniforms (8) - Messier, Gretzky, Hemsky, Pisani, Torres, Gilbert, Horcoff and Moreau (from 2004, when he wasn't a complete ass)
Team Canada uniforms (5) - Iginla, Lecavalier, Simon Gagne, Weber, Eberle
Others:
- Two Blackhawks jerseys (Toews white and Keith retro-alternate)
- Two Penguins jerseys (old school Lemieux and a baby blue Crosby)
- White Caps jersey (Ovechkin)
- Baby blue Thrashers jersey (Kovalchuk)
- Two Senators jerseys (Alfredsson in white, Heatley in black)
- Black Sharks pre-2007 jersey (Thornton)
- Black Bruins jersey (Bergeron)
- Orange Flyers jersey (J. Carter)
- White Red Wings jersey (Zetterberg)
- Blue 2007 retro Sabres jersey (Vanek)
- Blue Islanders retro (Tavares)
- Black LA Kings 3rd (Doughty)
- Black LA Kings retro (Gretzky)
- 1983 All Star (Gretzky)
- 2004 All Star (Sakic)
- Blue Nordiques (Sakic)
- Green Whalers (Francis)
- Blue Lady Liberty Rangers (Messier)
- Blue Slovakia jersey (Chara)
- Both red and white Oil King jerseys (the white in the RBK Edge cut)
I have a few non-hockey jerseys as well:
- Three Esks jerseys (Ray, Tucker, Peterson)
- Arizona Cardinals (Larry Fitzgerald)
- Chicago Bulls (Jordan)
- Boston Red Sox (Ramirez)
- New Zealand All-Blacks
- Arsenal FC red jersey
Currently on order, I'm waiting on three NFL jerseys (Peyton Manning, Philip Rivers, and Mark Sanchez), and the afformentioned Dale Hawerchuk Jets jersey.
The bottom line? I don't just spend my money on liquor.
To appreciate baseball - you really need to see the game at an American ballpark, preferably an ancient one - during July/August. Everything else is academic.
ReplyDeleteHow do you define "ancient"? Because as far as I can tell, the only two "ancient" stadiums left are Wrigley and Fenway.
First time poster. Maritimer here in Moncton. Oiler fan since 1981 and Expos fan since 1978. Oh the agony of 1981 (Monday homer). I was living in Montreal in 1994 doing a university work term and saw I think it was game 2 of the JUNE series vs. Atlanta. Well the atmosphere that night in the Big O was like nothing I had experienced previous. 45000 people going nuts for baseball (in June!!). Cliff Floyd I believe it was hit a 3 run home run late in game and Expos won. I had tickets for the games the weekend the seasoned was cancelled in August. Bitter you ask?? MLB could not have 3 Canadian WS champions in a row. Hitting, pitching, quel equipe!! sigh. Wonder where Youppi is (sheds a tear). Go spos.
ReplyDeleteJake: Youppi's still out there
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThe bottom line? I don't just spend my money on liquor.
ReplyDeleteEven so, that's quite a few. Do you get them all new and customized, or do you bargain-hunt? All my jerseys to date have been brand-spanking-new.
The precise inventory:
--Hitmen black pre-RBK
--Canada white '74, Canada white and red 2010
--Chicago WC
--Detroit WC
--Oilers dark blue pre-RBK, Oilers Spawn third
--Montreal centennial complete set ('10 blue, '11 red/green, '13 barberpole, '16 red CA tricolour, and '43 white tricolour -- the '43 jersey was from the original Vintage program, the rest are obviously from the last couple of years)
--Jets '80s blue, Jets '90s blue and white
None customized, though I have a good idea of who'd go on the back of about half of them.
I got a brand new Ovechkin, Red RBK Edge jersey with fighting strap and no little sign that says your size, bref, a total replica of what the players use. (Usually 300$ something), i got it for 60$
ReplyDeleteOT :: i bought the ohl streaming package for the hall/seguin series, but it won't let me login to the site. is anyone else having this problem?
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteD2K: I always go new and customized. Although some are products of bargain hunting (example: I was on the fence about the Tavares Islanders jersey, but I picked it up for $150 when I saw it in my size).
ReplyDeleteJfry: Looks like a few people are having this problem.
ReplyDeletehttp://hfboards.com/showthread.php?t=757532&highlight=ohl+streaming
Final post in the thread:
Sorry for continuing to venture off-topic here. I'm having the same issue with the OHL Livestream package. I never had the issue at all during the season. I've sent emails to every email address I have trying to get it resolved. Generally when the emails are sent, an automated reply comes back with a ticket number saying that it's being looked into. I have yet to receive even that.
Back on-topic, can't say I've heard of any free video streams of the games of yet. I'd be surprised if any are available
You say "OT" as if we've actually been on-topic yet this thread.
ReplyDeleteAnd unfortunately, I can't help you; I've streamed a handful of games, never an entire series, and I truthfully don't recall the procedure, because the last time was during the WHL Final last year.
Yeah, I can in no way afford to buy new/customized every time; most of the time, my jerseys are semi-impulse purchases, and I'm still on the student budget. On the plus side, as a Hitmen STH, I get 10% or 15% off customization at the FanAttic, so it's only $85 or something like that. Not sure what the hell I'm gonna do with my Oilers jerseys, mind you. ;)
ReplyDeleteD2K: Were you able to view the jersey photos on Facebook without being on my friends list?
ReplyDeleteI was.
ReplyDeletethanks for the feedback everyone.
ReplyDeletewish i knew a lick about baseball. if you ever want to natter on about golf, i've got you.
D2K: Ok, thanks. Just making sure my security settings allow for such.
ReplyDeleteYeah, feel free to bin that if you choose.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteEberle with another goal for Springfield tonight.
ReplyDeleteEberle 1G 0A -3
ReplyDeleteSeguin 0G 0A -2
Hall 1G 1A +2
(Both Hall and Seguin were out there for the 5-3 empty net goal for purposes of +/-)
Also of interest; 56 shots to 26 for Windsor. Hardly a fair fight for Seguin.
Hall 6 games 9-5-14
ReplyDeleteWindsor Spitfires 31 goals
Seguin 7 games 5-5-10
Plymouth Whalers 30 goals
So far the playoffs have been pretty lopsided. Hall's performing pretty well against a big, physical Plymouth team. I'd guess that Seguin might be better suited with another year in junior. He needs to gain some strength and then he also needs to use it by battling on the boards more. He seems to rely on others too much to get the puck for him which might be a limiting factor in his production so far. Just my opinion.
Chorney gets a second assist there.
ReplyDeleteIf the Oilers resign Strudwick then you know they're in full rebuild mode again next year and should plan accordingly.
ReplyDeleteFor a guy playing for his job next year, Chorney sure didn't show much hustle on the backcheck after his giveaway.
ReplyDeleteNice joint effort by Gilbert, Stortini and Jones.
ReplyDeleteanother 2nd assist for Gilbert. Shameful.
ReplyDeleteYeah, Chorney has been an abject failure.
ReplyDeleteNice to see the Oilers being interested in Finnish goaltending prospect Jussi Rynnas, whom they met today in Phoenix. I was disgusted the Oilers didn't show any interest in Gustavsson last year.
Time has run out on JDD. Move him at the draft for any draft pick (conditional pick which is contingent on playing X number of games if necessary). Sign DD to a two way contract (nobody is going to claim him), and sign this Finnish goaltender to backup Khabibulin next year.
I'd give JDD a little bit of a break on the goal. Scoring chances don't really get any better then that.
ReplyDeleteI know the math guys haven't found any numerical evidence that proves some teams give up higher quality scoring chances then others, but there is just no way that the Oilers players don't have an adverse effect on their goaltender's sv%.
They give up more oddman rushes and one timers from the low slot in a game then good teams give up in three.
Bank Shot: Mostly agreed, but goddammit, the goalie needs to stop a shot like that. Same with DD on the winner last night. It was a clusterfuck, but the shot wasn't all that tough. No way you should get beaten through the Sieve Hole.
ReplyDeletespeeds: Yeah, I heard Milbury. Made me thankful he's not our GM. Whatever we might think about Tambellini he's certainly allowing MacGregor to do his job.
ReplyDeleteCan someone recap what Milbury said?
ReplyDeleteJDD... beaten bar down?
ReplyDeleteNever seen that before, no sir.
Schitzo:
ReplyDeleteThat it should be Tambs making the pick, not the Magnificent Bastard.
How many Oilers played that goal properly?
ReplyDeleteOh. Well, it makes sense. That way, when you trade the player away later for pennies on the dollar you can assure the other GM that you picked him yourself.
ReplyDeleteLT:
ReplyDeleteNot many, but I can't imagine it's good for anyone's development as a player when every mistake they make is in the back of the net because the goalie is a sieve.
Is anyone watching theses games anymore other than diehards with absolutely nothing better to do?
ReplyDeleteBTW, we're 12:30 into the second and I haven't seen a scoring chance for the Oil yet this period.
Nice shift there for 78. Gets a nice SC and draws a penalty a few seconds later.
ReplyDeleteMC: I can't imagine, no.
ReplyDeleteHNiC had the scoring chances at 7-1 this period. Pouliot's shift might have got us up to 2.
ReplyDeleteI don't remember the first one either.
PDO: Agreed. Deslauriers is saloon doors all the way. Nice play Pouliot.
ReplyDeleteActually, I do. It was Zorg on the power move out front. How could I forget that?
ReplyDelete78 with two excellent shifts in a row.
ReplyDeleteThere's something relaxing in watching games that bear absolutely no weight. Although, I do feel somewhat nostalgic remembering the stomach-knotting feeling of watching a game where the outcome mattered and the Oilers were a team capable of affecting it.
ReplyDeleteThe Oilers affect the outcomes of games all the time, just not in the way you would want them to.
ReplyDeleteOne good thing about the Oilers sucking so bad that HNIC wants nothing to do with them...We rarely have to put up with Mark Lee and Kevin Weekes. These 2 make Quinn and Debrusk sound like the NHL equivalent of Summerall and Madden.
ReplyDeleteWeekes is fingernails on chalkboard, but he's actually called a pretty good game tonight. Has really given it to the Oil for their lack of defensive commitment a few times .... you won't hear much of that from Louie. Also, Weekes called out JDD for giving up the short side, the top side, and the glove side all on the same shot.
ReplyDeleteI don't mind Weekes.
ReplyDeleteYeah Bruce, Weekes carved JDD pretty good on that one - and deservedly so. Probably half the guys in my rec league would have scored on that with the goalie down that early and giving up that much room on the glove side. Weekes content has gotten better as the season has gone on and he's theoretically become more comfortable in his position, but his delivery is absolutely awful. I went back and listened to his breakdown of that goal and neither he nor Lee even mentioned Strudwick who got caught flat footed at the blueline and gave the Coyotes a 140 foot 2 on 1.
ReplyDeleteAs for Debrusk - it's a joke that a hockey market like this is subjected to his color commentary. The next insightful thing he says will be the first. Some of my favorite posts this season were where you deciphered "Louie-speak" where Debrusk would give some longwinded explanation of what just happened and you would summarize it as "X screwed up."
Didn't see this mentioned elsewhere in the thread, and not exactly surprising, but Matheson has an article on the EJ website saying 67's gone for the rest of the year with a high ankle sprain.
Rider Guy: Thanks, those were fun. Louie is really, really bad.
ReplyDeleteProbably half the guys in my rec league would have scored on that with the goalie down that early and giving up that much room on the glove side
Probably 90% of the goalies in your rec league would have made that save.
6 on 3 lol.
ReplyDeleteOur guy gets a stick in the face and we get a penalty?
ReplyDeleteThis ref should probably go fuck himself.
I know the game is meaningless and I don't care if the Oilers win but this is some bad officiating.
ReplyDeleteThis reffing is ridiculous. If there ever a showcase game for the league trying to influence the outcome of games for certain teams, this is it.
ReplyDeleteJeff Drouin-Deslauriers is seeing more rubber tonight than Jenna Jameson
ReplyDelete2nd flying mask in 3 minutes. Starting to look like Deslauriers learned a bit from Roloson after all.
ReplyDeleteI want these boys to win this game if anything just because they're getting shit on by these officials in a bad way.
ReplyDeleteIncidentally, JDD has 37 saves on 39 shots tonight so far... the guy has been starting to make a real case for himself.
ReplyDeleteWhere can I find a place that will break out his stats over a selcted part of the season? I am really curious to see what his save % is since the Olympic break.
Bank Shot: Actually there IS stats to prove that teams do allow more or less shots from dangerous area (And it GREATLY affects the save%)
ReplyDeleteIt's just not available for everyone.
I think it went like that:
,980% for Blue line shots
,935% From the High Slot to blue line
,750% in the low slot
(Average of league)
JDD's save% in each game since the Olympics per game (excluding tonight):
ReplyDelete.857
.966
1.00
.897
.821
.857
.939
.925
.886
This is JDD. An inconsistent goaltender, whose career ceiling appears to be a backup goalie.
No need to continue wasting time developing him and giving him at-bats, when it's becoming quite clear he doesn't have starter potential left.
Eat it NHL!
ReplyDeleteDustin Penner would be deadly at pool.
ReplyDeletePENNER! Now sits at 29-29-58.
ReplyDeleteFeels good to finally cheer for the Oilers.
LETS GO spOILERS!
Icecastles - I can't answer your question about breaking out stats for certain parts of the year, but the problem with JDD in my opinion and I believe the opinions of many here is that he can make acrobatic saves all over the place, but has a habit of letting in absolutely terrible goals - the second goal tonight for example. If the Oil go on to lose tonight, many will say that JDD let in a terrible GWG, and they'll be right. At that point it doesn't really matter if he made a dozen 10 bell saves - it only matters that he routinely gets beaten by shots that shouldn't get by him. The Ottawa game just after the Olympics was a great example of this. Dude stood on his head for 39 minutes and was the best player on the ice by a mile, but gave up a goal from the corner to tie the game up in the last minute of the 2nd and then gave up 3 stinkers in the third to lose 4-1. He probably should have given up 4 goals that night, just not the 4 shots he let in.
ReplyDeleteSKYROCKETS!! Tie game. After the disgraceful job by the officials tonight, maybe the hockey gods owe us one.
THAT was a commnet they used to make decades ago. "Kids, take heed and shoot that puck at the net."
ReplyDeleteAnd then Bob Cole would say "that's right, Kevin. We'd also like to take time to say hello to all of the shut-ins across the country watching tonight's game."
A simpler time.
trade penner while the value is high...30 goals could net us a nice return.
ReplyDeleteRider Guy. Are you ready to see Barrin Simpson breaking necks and cashin cheques?
ReplyDeletePJO - so he's been over .905 since the break not counting this game. On the worst team in the league. Behind an AHL defense. After spending most of last year on the bench and getting only five actual games. And being shipped around constantly for several years before that.
ReplyDeleteI just fail to see how you can come to this conclusion on a goalie who for all practical intents, in an NHL rookie this year.
You might end up being right. But it would be like calling heads on a coin toss, having it come up heads, and claiming that you knew all along it would.
For a guy that was supposed to be butter. Whitney is pretty chippy.
ReplyDeleteSwarmy Boss - Damn rights. Can't wait to see the Minister of Defence in the middle of the Riders D. The offence will be great with Durant's continued development and the addition of Rodriguez to what was arguably the deepest set of receivers in the league.
ReplyDeleteIf they can find someone to rush the passer to replace Chick and Baggs it should be great season.
My #4 Darian Durant retro jersey is pressed and ready to go.
Smarmy Boss: Call it even with Anaheim...
ReplyDeleteWhitney was supposed to be butter and has grit
Penner was supposed to have grit and instead he participates in the Vagina Monologues
Par for the course?
JDD has no trouble making difficult saves. His problem is allowing softies on an otherwise regular basis.
ReplyDeleteThat is effectively the difference between a starter and backup
For crying out loud...POS and Nilsson out together in OT. Isn't that the equivalent of waving the white flag?
ReplyDeleteI'm calling Arsene with the winner in the SO.
Rider Guy - agreed, somewhat. I think the 'letting in softies' is among the least of the concerns though, compared to the *why* and the *how*. Most inexperienced goalies are going to let in crap goals more than they should, because focus over 60 minutes is a brutally hard thing for the young guys to learn. Being a former goalie who now plays wing (destroyed knees has killed my ability to butterfly), I'd say that 60 minute focus is the biggest difference in playing net. It comes.
ReplyDeleteThe main reason I see JDD letting in *so many* shit goals though, is a bad glove (which has been improving somewhat) and a tendency to go down way too early (which can be improved with a good goalie coach). His positional play isn't brilliant, but I don't see it being much worse than most other young netminders.
SB: I was just saying the exact same thing re: Whitney.
ReplyDeleteLT: That was Jim Robson who used to wish a "special hello" to the shut-ins every single game he did. Just one of the reasons I respected Robson as one of the better (and most underrated) play-by-play men of his time.
PJO: it's tough to take you serious as an evaluator of talent after you called Fowler a Phudu.
ReplyDeleteJust sayin...
Feed for the game please =D?
ReplyDeleteSmarmy Boss: Call it even with Anaheim...
ReplyDeleteWhitney was supposed to be butter and has grit
Penner was supposed to have grit and instead he participates in the Vagina Monologues
Par for the course?
Yeah I can't argue that.
fbv you don't get CBC in your neck of the woods?
ReplyDeleteBruce: You're right. It was Robson.
ReplyDeleteALL HNIC games are streamed live on cbc's excellent website.
Smarmy: No it just never went trough my mind that CBC would diffuse a game between the last place Oi and the Phoenix Coyotes.
ReplyDeleteEven if i read comments talking about Weekes Previously =P.
LT get your wife on here so we can talk Riders. ;)
ReplyDeleteSmarmy: Oh lol, that one sounded weird.
ReplyDeleteDeslauriers with the glove save? Hmmm, alright...
ReplyDeleteSmarmy: he's coming along. :)
ReplyDelete(fully aware that I probably just jinxed him)
ReplyDeleteSecond Roli move of the night! First he tosses the mask, now the stick! Love it.
ReplyDeleteIf Aucoin wins this I'll punch my cat.
ReplyDeleteStempniak somehow comes up with a lamer shooter then POS.
ReplyDeleteIC - I agree that JDD's "problems" could be solved to some extent as he matures and I would have no problem with the Oil keeping him as the backup if they had a starter that they could count on for 65-70 games. However, when Tambellini gave a long term contract to a guy that has a history of not being able to stay healthy (or sober for that matter), he basically conceded that whoever the backup goalie is will have to play 30 games in an average year and in a year like this, a whole lot more. In fact, in announcing the signing I believe Tabellini said he thought 35 would play about 50 games a year. When you're counting on your backup to play 30+ games a year, you can't allow him to mature as he plays - he's got to be pretty much a finished product. That's why I think they should go after a 1A veteran who can hold down the fort when the inevitable happens with Khabby.
ReplyDeleteYou're safe for the moment Ms. Merg...
ReplyDeletePJO: In the words of Michael Scott from the Office:
ReplyDeleteJDD say's...
"BOOM!!! Roasted!"
Good points, Rider Guy, totally agreed. If we're gunning for a rebuild year and a high pick in the '11 draft, does that change your position?
ReplyDeleteThis shootout is epic. So glad they're my two favourite teams. I'll be happy no matter what. (got a Coyotes t-shirt on under my Oilers jersey with a Jets cap on).
Cripes Deslauriers has been awesome in this shootout. Not akward like he was in that L.A. shootout.
ReplyDeleteGOOD LORD! What a save of JDD on Prucha!
ReplyDeleteRyan Jones?
ReplyDeleteSend Stortini while you're at it.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I was hoping Quinn would give Zorg a crack at it. He couldn't have done any worse than the rest of them. 0 for fucking 8.
ReplyDeleteGoddam that JDD anyway. Only stopped 7 in a row after a miserable 42 stops in regulation. If we had a real goalie we would have won that game.
Hope Barrin Simpson can stay healthy in sask. Good player had to put up with a lot of BS in wpg.
ReplyDeleteGoddam that JDD anyway. Only stopped 7 in a row after a miserable 42 stops in regulation. If we had a real goalie we would have won that game.
ReplyDeleteThe difference between a starter and a backup isn't whether they can steal you a game you should have lost. It's how often they shit away a game you should have won.
JDD does some of the former, and too much of the latter.
IC - Absolutely. I've said on this blog before that imo the real tell about what the intentions are next year will be what they do with the goaltenders. If they bring in Jagr and fill another couple of holes with cheap veterans (hello Phoenix model!!!) then they at least think they can make a run at the playoffs. If they do that, they can't run the risk of losing the season to inexperienced goaltending. However, if they continue to go young, don't bring in any veteran help, keep Eberle, Hall / Seguin, play Peckham in the top 6 then they are willing to take another run at a lottery pick.
ReplyDeleteAgree with you though. "Good JDD" like we saw tonight can be pretty enticing. It's just that he tends to follow up one of these efforts with a stinker.
That, and I'm not even sure that I like him more long term than the other young goalie on the roster.
And not having Pies in the shootout made me sad. Dude is like 50%+ lifetime.
ReplyDeletePhoenix model would be best to follow as you bring in a bunch of cheap vets which force kids down to the minors and makes them compete for a roster spot.
ReplyDeleteSchitzo: I'm trying to remember the last game we should have won. Help me out here: was it this season?
ReplyDeleteDid Glen Healy just question OTC for not having thecaptainethanmoreau in the shootout? Has Healy actually watched an Oiler game since 2003?
ReplyDeleteI woulda used Cogs or Linglet before Moreau. Strudwick and Dubnyk too, for that matter.
ReplyDeleteBruce: thanks, that was a genuine lol. My project partner is beginning to suspect I'm not 100% focused on our homework assignment though. :)
ReplyDeleteThat, and I'm not even sure that I like him more long term than the other young goalie on the roster.
ReplyDeleteDespite JDD being a couple of years older, both goalies have played basically the same amount of pro hockey games.
If DD has room to improve, then perhaps JDD does as well.
Sorry Swarmy. We can't follow the Phoenix model. We've been following the Chicago model going on a month now since Tambo got hired and before that we were closely following the Detroit model by hiring a bunch of management types. If we change the model that we're following 3 times in a couple of months, people will start to think our management doesn't know what they're doing;)
ReplyDeleteMakes me wonder how many other teams are mimicking the Edmonton Model?
ReplyDeleteCan we make a goalie shoot actually? I would do it for dah lulz!
ReplyDeleteScott Oake did a straight up interview with Ron McLean. I'm very disappointed.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone remember the Oilers EVER using 13 in the shootout?
ReplyDeleteGoddam that JDD anyway. Only stopped 7 in a row after a miserable 42 stops in regulation. If we had a real goalie we would have won that game.
ReplyDeleteLike a rollercoaster Bruce, like a rollercoaster.
Like a rollercoaster Bruce, like a rollercoaster.
ReplyDeleteSome see the silver lining, some only see the cloud. Personally, I like to be thankful for the good days rather than complain that they just make a stronger contrast to accentuate the bad ones.
Dave: Maybe he just sucks at it in practice.
ReplyDeleteAt least a rollercoaster has some ups. That's more than I can say about some of these fucking guys.
ReplyDeleteHey JDD let in two horrible goals tonight, but the son of a bitch battled his ass off, stole us a point and gave us every chance to steal the second one as well. I say give him a little credit.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteDave: According to NHL.com, Cogliano went 0-for-1 in 2007-08 (likely that 12 round marathon in Washington), and has not had an attempt since. Sam Gagner meanwhile is 0-for-7 this year alone.
ReplyDeleteSeconded, Bruce. "Gather your rosebuds while ye may."
ReplyDeleteI actually have no idea what that phrase really means, but the point is that yeah the team sucks, yeah JDD is inconsistent. But we can still take pleasure in the little victories. In a way, that's the joy of being sports fans. Lets face it: if the only pleasure came from the winningest record, we'd all pick a new team to cheer for every year based on the odds and the stats.
There's more to it than that though, and when we get so wrapped up in the failures that we can't find any joy in the things that go right, or any hope in at least parts of the future, then why do we watch?
So I (and Bruce and many others on here) will continue to celebrate the nights and the moments when things work. Unsustainable shooting percentages and ten-bell saves be damned. Who cares if they're rare? That just makes them more thrilling.
I was just beginning to miss Sully and Nilsson play, and then I saw them tonight. I should be good for a good long while.
ReplyDeleteThe Oilers just fucked away the last 20 games of the year. The only things I feel confident in is Gilbert and Whitney as a top D pairing, everything else is just as much a question mark as it was at the beginning of the season.
Flaming reporting that Vande Velde to sign on Sunday. Good news and I wonder what took so long.
ReplyDeletehttp://thepipelineshow.blogspot.com/2010/04/vande-velde-contract-to-come-sunday.html
Hope Barrin Simpson can stay healthy in sask. Good player had to put up with a lot of BS in wpg.
ReplyDeleteYou're probably not around anymore, but all Sask fans need to know that Simpson was the biggest cancerous tumor in a room full of them last year. I met him in real life, he's as much an asshole off the field as he is on it. Huge sense of entitlement that your media is going to fellate like Pierre does Crosby!.
You can have him. I'm still upset that we traded Moreno to the Argos over Simpson.
DG - Simpson was really made to look like the victim in Wpg last year what with Kelly trying to put him on the 9 game injured list and all. Was there more to the story than that? Or was the way the story was reported by the media simply a product of their collective hatred for Kelly?
ReplyDelete