Thirteen
I was listening to the new Paul Weller [22 Dreams] Christmas Eve before going to Mom's. As I'm sitting there grooving and thinking how much Cold Moments sounds like something from the Shaft soundtrack ["Shut your mouth..."], it strikes me how my niece would never appreciate this. Shelby is 13 and I'm sure one day will begin that "music is so cool" thing. But would she appreciate something sophisticated like the Weller album or something more mature like the Hold Steady or the Black Crowes? Probably not - not in the next few years anyway. Weezer - maybe. The Killers? Jimmy Eat World? Fountains of Wayne? Get Up Kids? The Gits? The Ramones? The Faces? Black Sabbath? Please, not rap! Not this current trend of high note holding chicks and not this false boom boom that's not really an instrument and every syllable punched in garbage! PLEASE get over the Britney! [Of course, last year I think she wanted Santana, so there IS hope!]
And I had one of Jim's mix tapes tapes [93] going in my Walkman Tuesday night [yes, I got a new an MP3 player for Christmas]. Just the cool things Jim would put on like Eleventh Day Dream, My Sister's Machine, Bonnie Hayes, Pere Ubu and Junk Monkey - things I've never heard or seen before or since. Will Shelby ever come in and look at my stuff and just go "make me something interesting."
Maybe - someday. And she'll get things like Paul Weller, Paul Westerberg, the Hold Steady, Wilco, X, XTC, Superchunk, the Blasters, Glossary, Bowie and Johnny Cash and throw on something like Sam Cooke or the Impressions or Jr. Walker & the All Stars for a little even more off the wall. And she'll decide never to do that again. Or maybe she'll find something there she likes - like I did when Uncle Mike suggested Frank Zappa, Johnny Winter or Rory Gallagher and I can make suggestions... That would be totally cool! I don't know, though. Who listens to the old crap that their uncle listens to? Oh, me. But who else?
Someday she and Erin may realize I am a soft touch for trips to Borders and Half Price for CDs and books. Or just looking at things, finding new sources.
But she's a teenager now, and I got a full dose last night. 13 with attitude. Beginning down the road to adulthood, but still horseplaying with her sister and aunt [Yes, my half sister who is 3 is her aunt. That's so funny.] and grandfather. But was totally excited about receiving tons of hair care and Bath and Bodyworks things.
13 makes me think Big Star's song Thirteen. Junior high.Feeling freakishly awkward, unsure of one's self and not coping well with changes. Of course some of us never grow out of that. Nerdy at 13 = nerdy for life? Maybe so.
At least Shelby is not nerdy. Well, not too much. Glasses and braces, but she has confidence in herself. I will give her that.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Scattershooting and Wondering Whatever Happened to the Christmases of Yore...
I just haven't felt the holidays this year. There's too much blah this year. 2008 sucked on a lot of levels. I didn't even hang out the Christmas lights, which is a ten minute job. The weather was too warm and then when the north wind did blow, it was too cold. Maybe next year.
I was never too wrapped up in the whole "white Christmas" deal, though I am sure we had them. The wonder of coming out and finding what Santa left is long gone. I guess when one stops getting toys, the wonder goes. CDs and leather jackets and stuff are cool, but it's not Tonka trucks and super hero dolls... er, action figures.
Some NHL Thoughts
Since the season is closed for Christmas [2 days], I'll put a couple quick hits down. The Dallas Stars have been upgraded from "Total Suckage" to just "Suckage." They've put some goals in recently, but still can't stop the puck when they need to. Watched Pens - Sabres Monday - this kid on defense, Alex Gologoski, has potential. But Crosby needs to take shots more often. You can't score if you're not shooting.If Philadelphia can get consistent goaltending, they could be trouble again this year. I love that I got Jeff Carter in one of my leagues and he's lighting it up - 26 goals in 32 games? Mats Sundin signed. Who cares? Well, if you're a Canucks fan, you care. Still San Jose and Detroit are the teams to beat and I don't see Sundin changing that. Peter Forsberg wants to try the NHL again? After another surgery on his wonky foot? When will the NHL GMs get it through their heads that he is done like dinner!?! But he'll probably get an offer and play half his team's remaining games in March and April and go on the shelf as soon as the playoffs start - just like last year. SAY NO NASHVILLE! Speaking of the Preds, could blueliner Shea Webber lead the team in scoring this year? I know Zubov did it in NY the year the Rangers won the Cup...
And I'll Say It One More Time:
Who is running the offense in Pittsburgh? I just don't see Rothlisberger as a Steve Young / West Coast offense type of quarterback. For years the calling card of this team has been running the football at you until you just give up. I know, there's no Jerome Bettis there - big bulky back. But you have Parker and Moore and they seem to be okay. Stop emptying the backfield, run the ball and control the line of scrimmage before Ben gets really scrambled on one of those sacks! Ask Troy Aikman how those concussions affect you!
I just haven't felt the holidays this year. There's too much blah this year. 2008 sucked on a lot of levels. I didn't even hang out the Christmas lights, which is a ten minute job. The weather was too warm and then when the north wind did blow, it was too cold. Maybe next year.
I was never too wrapped up in the whole "white Christmas" deal, though I am sure we had them. The wonder of coming out and finding what Santa left is long gone. I guess when one stops getting toys, the wonder goes. CDs and leather jackets and stuff are cool, but it's not Tonka trucks and super hero dolls... er, action figures.
Some NHL Thoughts
Since the season is closed for Christmas [2 days], I'll put a couple quick hits down. The Dallas Stars have been upgraded from "Total Suckage" to just "Suckage." They've put some goals in recently, but still can't stop the puck when they need to. Watched Pens - Sabres Monday - this kid on defense, Alex Gologoski, has potential. But Crosby needs to take shots more often. You can't score if you're not shooting.If Philadelphia can get consistent goaltending, they could be trouble again this year. I love that I got Jeff Carter in one of my leagues and he's lighting it up - 26 goals in 32 games? Mats Sundin signed. Who cares? Well, if you're a Canucks fan, you care. Still San Jose and Detroit are the teams to beat and I don't see Sundin changing that. Peter Forsberg wants to try the NHL again? After another surgery on his wonky foot? When will the NHL GMs get it through their heads that he is done like dinner!?! But he'll probably get an offer and play half his team's remaining games in March and April and go on the shelf as soon as the playoffs start - just like last year. SAY NO NASHVILLE! Speaking of the Preds, could blueliner Shea Webber lead the team in scoring this year? I know Zubov did it in NY the year the Rangers won the Cup...
And I'll Say It One More Time:
Who is running the offense in Pittsburgh? I just don't see Rothlisberger as a Steve Young / West Coast offense type of quarterback. For years the calling card of this team has been running the football at you until you just give up. I know, there's no Jerome Bettis there - big bulky back. But you have Parker and Moore and they seem to be okay. Stop emptying the backfield, run the ball and control the line of scrimmage before Ben gets really scrambled on one of those sacks! Ask Troy Aikman how those concussions affect you!
Sunday, December 07, 2008
Update: Leisa's condition is actually Sigmoid Colon cancer, spread to one ovary and her appendix. I went to the hospital, really scared, but Leisa was absolutely herself and we spent over two hours gossiping and going over the old days. I also go to meet her priest and sit in on a bedside blessing / service, which was kind of neat. I had brought her my "Buddy Christ" [from Kevin Smith's Dogma] when the father, whom I had ridden up in the elevator with walked into the room. And I met her mohter in law.
Anyway, she's emotional, but still has her humor - when the surgeon held up his hands indicating about a foot of bowel was taken, she popped out with "$ 5 foot long." He didn't get it but I did when she told me. Surgeons don't have any sense of humor. Or don't watch enough TV. Her attitude is right and I expect her to do well.
GO STEELERS!
After an ugly 50 minutes of [allegedly] football, the Steelers defense came through, bookending the game with interceptions. I still say the offensive co-ordinator needs to be shot. Stop trying to pass, pass, pass all the time. I realize neither Willie Parker or Mewelde Moore is Jerome Bettis as far as size goes, but Steeler football is smash mouth, run it up the gut until the defense breaks football. Rothlesberger is a target because they will not run the damn ball. I understand you want to get Hines Ward and Nate Washington and Santonio Holmes into the game - but you do that by making teams respect your running game.
Anyway, she's emotional, but still has her humor - when the surgeon held up his hands indicating about a foot of bowel was taken, she popped out with "$ 5 foot long." He didn't get it but I did when she told me. Surgeons don't have any sense of humor. Or don't watch enough TV. Her attitude is right and I expect her to do well.
GO STEELERS!
After an ugly 50 minutes of [allegedly] football, the Steelers defense came through, bookending the game with interceptions. I still say the offensive co-ordinator needs to be shot. Stop trying to pass, pass, pass all the time. I realize neither Willie Parker or Mewelde Moore is Jerome Bettis as far as size goes, but Steeler football is smash mouth, run it up the gut until the defense breaks football. Rothlesberger is a target because they will not run the damn ball. I understand you want to get Hines Ward and Nate Washington and Santonio Holmes into the game - but you do that by making teams respect your running game.
Saturday, December 06, 2008
Mixed Emotions for a Friend
I got home Friday evening to some really bad news - my friend Leisa, whom I have known since high school, who was in for surgery found that the news was a lot worse than expected. What had been hopeful from the pre-op screenings was found to be stage 4 colon cancer. And I've been numb about the whole thing ever since.
You want to stay positive and you want to be positive for your friend, but I just find myself really shocked. Someone MY AGE, someone I used to ride the bus with in high school and hang out with. She and I are not that close now, but we have been keeping in touch with this internet thingy...
I say again, my family is really lucky to be long lived and relatively healthy - I don't have the experience of dealing with things like this. It makes me wonder: "Do I want to see it coming or do I just want to get hit by a bus or just not wake up?"
2008 has been a suck year on so many levels... let's get on to 2009 all ready.
I got home Friday evening to some really bad news - my friend Leisa, whom I have known since high school, who was in for surgery found that the news was a lot worse than expected. What had been hopeful from the pre-op screenings was found to be stage 4 colon cancer. And I've been numb about the whole thing ever since.
You want to stay positive and you want to be positive for your friend, but I just find myself really shocked. Someone MY AGE, someone I used to ride the bus with in high school and hang out with. She and I are not that close now, but we have been keeping in touch with this internet thingy...
I say again, my family is really lucky to be long lived and relatively healthy - I don't have the experience of dealing with things like this. It makes me wonder: "Do I want to see it coming or do I just want to get hit by a bus or just not wake up?"
2008 has been a suck year on so many levels... let's get on to 2009 all ready.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Lord, I'm Discouraged
A conversation with Nate the other night has left me saddened. Dallas' own CD World, the last of the great used CD stores, has closed up shop.
So what's left for the discriminating music lover in DFW? The once fairly good chain CD Warehouse has dried up - there may only be the two Arlington locations left. Forever Young is still around, but their niche is still vinyl and catalog items - like having 35 of the 40 some odd Frank Zappa CDs in stock. Although they do have a huge selection of used CDs.
I guess Nate and I agree that the old business models doesn't work anymore. Going into a store and spending an hour just flipping through the racks - eyes lighting up when you find the unexpected - like John Lee Hooker's Never Get Out of These Blues Alive. No clerk to ask about the new Joe Strummer / Elvis Costello / Wilco / something different. Or just jaw with about great bands you've seen live or debate the classic Cheap Trick albums. [Sorry Joe, if you're out there - In Color just isn't my fave!]
I guess CD World will be cataloged and eventually find its way onto Ebay like everyone else. Not that I don't appreciate Ebay, but I wouldn't buy a used CD that way. The one I did, which was listed as "mint, played twice" had a big ol' scratch. Still played okay, but I 'neutral-ed' the seller.
But again, you can't find the unexpected on Ebay. You kind of have to 'know' what you're looking for. You can't just be walking by 'Blues' and decide to check for John Lee Hooker or Lightnin' Hopkins. You can't be checking the new arrivals rack and find the out of print Sing It Again, Rod.
And at Best Buy, you can't find anything interesting. I went in to get the new Killers [10.99] and checked for a couple of other things I was looking for. Elvis Costello - no catalog, only two of the most recent Best Of. Cheap Trick - two different hits collections. Paul Weller - nothing. Zappa - 2 CDs, didn't look at titles. And the guys in their Dockers and golf shirts asking "Are you finding everything okay?" Well.. no not really, but nothing you can do about it.
And let me say this: Since Amazon added downloads, I can't find anything on their site. I have just given up.
Borders, once a haven for catalog, has cut way back on their stock. Barnes and Noble is still too proud of their product, though I have occasionally bought really off the wall stuff there.
Yes, the big box store cut into them by undercutting them. This is not helped by the Wal Mart and Target exclusive deals now beginning [Eagles, AC/DC, Christina Aguilerra]. And yes, the old music business model is flawed in the light of the Internet and Ebay. The 'product' is now truly the music, not the packaging and not the disc, whether vinyl or CD.
Still, for old schoolers like me who like shopping for their music and like buying that piece of plastic or CD, our choices just got narrower.
On the Good News side, Nate's recovery and therapy is going well. His wrist is still locked up, but he's starting to get feeling and motion back in his fingers. The boy has managed to be able to hold a pick and he is now grooving on bass and has found a new appreciation for Cheap Trick's Tom Peterson.
A conversation with Nate the other night has left me saddened. Dallas' own CD World, the last of the great used CD stores, has closed up shop.
So what's left for the discriminating music lover in DFW? The once fairly good chain CD Warehouse has dried up - there may only be the two Arlington locations left. Forever Young is still around, but their niche is still vinyl and catalog items - like having 35 of the 40 some odd Frank Zappa CDs in stock. Although they do have a huge selection of used CDs.
I guess Nate and I agree that the old business models doesn't work anymore. Going into a store and spending an hour just flipping through the racks - eyes lighting up when you find the unexpected - like John Lee Hooker's Never Get Out of These Blues Alive. No clerk to ask about the new Joe Strummer / Elvis Costello / Wilco / something different. Or just jaw with about great bands you've seen live or debate the classic Cheap Trick albums. [Sorry Joe, if you're out there - In Color just isn't my fave!]
I guess CD World will be cataloged and eventually find its way onto Ebay like everyone else. Not that I don't appreciate Ebay, but I wouldn't buy a used CD that way. The one I did, which was listed as "mint, played twice" had a big ol' scratch. Still played okay, but I 'neutral-ed' the seller.
But again, you can't find the unexpected on Ebay. You kind of have to 'know' what you're looking for. You can't just be walking by 'Blues' and decide to check for John Lee Hooker or Lightnin' Hopkins. You can't be checking the new arrivals rack and find the out of print Sing It Again, Rod.
And at Best Buy, you can't find anything interesting. I went in to get the new Killers [10.99] and checked for a couple of other things I was looking for. Elvis Costello - no catalog, only two of the most recent Best Of. Cheap Trick - two different hits collections. Paul Weller - nothing. Zappa - 2 CDs, didn't look at titles. And the guys in their Dockers and golf shirts asking "Are you finding everything okay?" Well.. no not really, but nothing you can do about it.
And let me say this: Since Amazon added downloads, I can't find anything on their site. I have just given up.
Borders, once a haven for catalog, has cut way back on their stock. Barnes and Noble is still too proud of their product, though I have occasionally bought really off the wall stuff there.
Yes, the big box store cut into them by undercutting them. This is not helped by the Wal Mart and Target exclusive deals now beginning [Eagles, AC/DC, Christina Aguilerra]. And yes, the old music business model is flawed in the light of the Internet and Ebay. The 'product' is now truly the music, not the packaging and not the disc, whether vinyl or CD.
Still, for old schoolers like me who like shopping for their music and like buying that piece of plastic or CD, our choices just got narrower.
On the Good News side, Nate's recovery and therapy is going well. His wrist is still locked up, but he's starting to get feeling and motion back in his fingers. The boy has managed to be able to hold a pick and he is now grooving on bass and has found a new appreciation for Cheap Trick's Tom Peterson.
Monday, November 24, 2008
A moment - recorded, but for whom?
It's my bookmark right now, but it's also my receipt and a marker of a moment. It tells me at 12:57 Nov 18 08 I bought a copy of The Fountainhead at Simply Books at Charlotte Douglas Int'l Airport. The book itself was 8.99, tax .65 for a total of 9.64. I handed clerk 6168 Joshua a ten and got .36 cents change.
Which brings up a question: If one had all of their receipts - and they were as well documented as this - how much of one's life could you reconstruct? Could you remember or be reminded of such a date and time and scour one's memory to recall the details?Could you recall the waitress or the conversation or how annoying the trio in front of you were paying for each of their own things while you're in a hurry?
It's my bookmark right now, but it's also my receipt and a marker of a moment. It tells me at 12:57 Nov 18 08 I bought a copy of The Fountainhead at Simply Books at Charlotte Douglas Int'l Airport. The book itself was 8.99, tax .65 for a total of 9.64. I handed clerk 6168 Joshua a ten and got .36 cents change.
Which brings up a question: If one had all of their receipts - and they were as well documented as this - how much of one's life could you reconstruct? Could you remember or be reminded of such a date and time and scour one's memory to recall the details?Could you recall the waitress or the conversation or how annoying the trio in front of you were paying for each of their own things while you're in a hurry?
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Oh My...
16 games into the season, Tampa Bay has fired former ESPN analyst and one time LA Kings coach Barry Melrose. Granted, the Bolts are 5 - 7 - 4 and still seem to have no plan on how to win games. Melrose told ESPN News, "a lot of nights the team just didn't compete hard and that's my responsibility."
So, Barry and his three year deal are gone - how long before the Dallas Stars [at 5 - 8 - 3 now dead last in the Western Conference] consider dumping Dave Tippet? Yes, the Stars made a hell of a run LAST season - but it's 2008 - 2009 now and this team has just not competed, hasn't looked like a team many considered to be one of the contenders in the West. Usually when you get to this point, there's either a big trade or the coach gets the axe. I don't think Dallas has a bad group of players, but I think their run last year left some over confident and they've forgotten about the work. Jere Lehtinen's return will shame some into working harder, but there's still concern [at least at Brinks] that Marty Turco has lost his mojo.
It's odd to think that the Stars, who once held a stable of up and coming goalies are now tied only to Marty Turco. If you can't trade him and you won't move Mike Modano because it will upset your fans, then you're stuck like Chuck.
But I think the pieces are there, they just need a new voice - the same thing that happened in 2001 - 02 when Ken Hitchcock was dumped after two runs to the Stanley Cup finals [winning in 98 - 99, losing to the Devils in 1999 - 2000] . The players just tune a coach out and a change is needed.
Maybe it's too early to make that call, but 3 - 5 - 2 run in the next ten games means there's something terribly wrong that needs fixin'. So long, Dave, it's been good ta know ya!
16 games into the season, Tampa Bay has fired former ESPN analyst and one time LA Kings coach Barry Melrose. Granted, the Bolts are 5 - 7 - 4 and still seem to have no plan on how to win games. Melrose told ESPN News, "a lot of nights the team just didn't compete hard and that's my responsibility."
So, Barry and his three year deal are gone - how long before the Dallas Stars [at 5 - 8 - 3 now dead last in the Western Conference] consider dumping Dave Tippet? Yes, the Stars made a hell of a run LAST season - but it's 2008 - 2009 now and this team has just not competed, hasn't looked like a team many considered to be one of the contenders in the West. Usually when you get to this point, there's either a big trade or the coach gets the axe. I don't think Dallas has a bad group of players, but I think their run last year left some over confident and they've forgotten about the work. Jere Lehtinen's return will shame some into working harder, but there's still concern [at least at Brinks] that Marty Turco has lost his mojo.
It's odd to think that the Stars, who once held a stable of up and coming goalies are now tied only to Marty Turco. If you can't trade him and you won't move Mike Modano because it will upset your fans, then you're stuck like Chuck.
But I think the pieces are there, they just need a new voice - the same thing that happened in 2001 - 02 when Ken Hitchcock was dumped after two runs to the Stanley Cup finals [winning in 98 - 99, losing to the Devils in 1999 - 2000] . The players just tune a coach out and a change is needed.
Maybe it's too early to make that call, but 3 - 5 - 2 run in the next ten games means there's something terribly wrong that needs fixin'. So long, Dave, it's been good ta know ya!
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Well... It's Over
Finally. Of course there will be a lot of people going into work with hangovers - Dems from sipping champagne, Repubs from just drinking.
I was, of course, at work when the race was called about 10:00 CST. By 1030, the National Socialists that I work with was calling for Bush to be on trial by February first for Treason and whatever else or picturing the scenario where he would would resign effective January 19th so President Cheney could pardon him. And lining up oil company and insurance company executives and shooting them. How fitting, how Stalinesque of them.
I will say this: Obama lit a fire under a base that hasn't been seen since Clinton in 92 or Reagan in 80. But I feel sorry for those who bought the myth. "95% of all Americans will get a tax cut." Until we cancel the Bush tax cuts or let them expire in 2010. "Health care is a right!" Pshaw.
What ever happened to personal responsibility? What ever happened to "Ask not what your country can do for you...?"
What I don't get get is why there wasn't more turnover in the House. Congressional approval ratings in the single digits yet, how many of these clowns got re-elected. "Ahhh, they all stink! Except my guy - he brings home the pork!"
Finally. Of course there will be a lot of people going into work with hangovers - Dems from sipping champagne, Repubs from just drinking.
I was, of course, at work when the race was called about 10:00 CST. By 1030, the National Socialists that I work with was calling for Bush to be on trial by February first for Treason and whatever else or picturing the scenario where he would would resign effective January 19th so President Cheney could pardon him. And lining up oil company and insurance company executives and shooting them. How fitting, how Stalinesque of them.
I will say this: Obama lit a fire under a base that hasn't been seen since Clinton in 92 or Reagan in 80. But I feel sorry for those who bought the myth. "95% of all Americans will get a tax cut." Until we cancel the Bush tax cuts or let them expire in 2010. "Health care is a right!" Pshaw.
What ever happened to personal responsibility? What ever happened to "Ask not what your country can do for you...?"
What I don't get get is why there wasn't more turnover in the House. Congressional approval ratings in the single digits yet, how many of these clowns got re-elected. "Ahhh, they all stink! Except my guy - he brings home the pork!"
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Talent Show
Let me say thanks to all of you who emailed and told me that the Replacements Sire catalog is now available via Rhino reissue. That's none of you. Did I not email in excitement when I discovered the first two available as Rhino deluxe reissue? But I had to find out on Wikipedia!
I guess this is what we're getting instead of the box set we heard about - what, 2 years ago?
Anyway, it's a festival of music not seen at my house since finding the Faces box [Five Guys Walk Into A Bar...] half off at the closing of the Dallas Virgin Megastore. I must admit here, though, that I am not head over heels for the whole 'Mats catalog. Tim I don't think I'll be getting. Yeah, I know for a lot of people that was an important album - but not for me. It wasn't my first and when I got back to it, it just didn't move me like some of the others. My first was the masterpiece of Pleased to Meet Me. Me as a fresh eared kid working in a record store and this is one of my first discoveries [along with R.E.M.'s Life's Rich Pageant] and I rushed to Best Buy on my lunch hour to pick it up immediately. And what a ratty, nasty mess it remains, buoyed by the last two gems - the much anthologized Skyway and Can't Hardly Wait. "Jesus rides beside me / He never buys any smokes..." Genius.
I ordered 88's Don't Tell A Soul and 90's All Shook Down used promos on Ebay - who sells their Replacements promos? Some people [Dunnigan] claim that these aren't 'real Replacements records.' I disagree. I see that some people like the sloppy, hard, fast earlier stuff - I can get into Hootenany and Let It Be - and think ther band tried making more popular records. Okay, guilty. But what's the point if you're not going to expand your audience, try and get on MTV or the radio? R.E.M. made that leap, the Replacements, like Wyle E. Coyote didn't.
Anyway, I think there's a lot of beautiful songs on those two - Sadly Beautiful, Achin' to Be, They're Blind, Darlin' One, Rock N Roll Ghost - and enough rock and roll and off kilter weirdness for all. I love the progression of the band over the three final albums. They connected with me. "The things you hold dearly / Are scoffed at and yearly / Judged once and then left aside..." Genius. Call me a girly man, but it moves me.
And just like the X catalog, the Elvis Costello 2nd reissues and the reissue of Television's Marquee Moon, they got real writers from the scenes to add essays and fill in some of the blanks. This is why I really, really, really want Rhino to do a reissue of the Cars catalog - give me some background, some of the back story!
Yes, 1988's Inconcerated promo EP remains unissued. Why it was not put on the back of the ultra-short Stink! I don't know. Those takes of Here Comes A Regular and Answering Machine remain some of my favorites.
Go forth and buy! No burns!
Okay, we haven't done HAWKEY TAWK for a while, so....
Trade Marty Turco - NOW!
The Dallas Stars have stumbled out of the gate here to an un-Stars-like 3 - 4 - 2. And don't kid yourself, that this is just 'slow out of the gate.' The falter that's been predicted in Big D for the last two seasons may have finally come home to roost. Which is fine, unless you watched them improbably ride into the Western Conference finals, where they really had no business being except that Marty Turco really stood on his head behind a depleted defense. Did I think Mattias Norstrom was the glue holding the D together? No, but it certainly appears this is the case, because they suck without him. Trevor Daley, like Brian Campbell in Chi-town, remains a one way player - good on the rush, clueless in his own zone. All flash, no pan. And Marty Turco has been just terrible. And apparently coach Tippett has no confidence in Tobias Stephan, the backup acquired in the Brad Richards - Mike Smith deal last season. [UPDATE: I wrote this Tuesday evening - Wednesday evening the Stars started Stephan and he held Minnesota to 2 for his first NHL win.] Yes, Sergei [My Sergei!] Zubov will be back in a couple weeks and his smooth skating and absolutely ice water demeanor should help calm things for the sophomores Nik Grossman, Mark Fistric and Matt Niskanen. But if I was GMs Jackson and Hull, I might begin looking at the L.A. Kings pile of goalies for someone to bring in - or bringing in a guy like Dan Cloutier who can capably back Marty up. Turco is not Martin Brodeur - he will not thrive playing 75 games a year.
Speaking of Goalies...
Although they're boring as watching paint dry, all eyes should be turned toward Newark as Martin Brodeur begins his final climb to the top of the goaltending heap. He may be the best goaltender to ever lace 'em up in the books, but I still prefer the fiery Patrick Roy. Roy's emotional outbursts and sense of humor make him seem more human than Brodeur, Brodeur just goes about his business like a machine. Of course as of this writing he is only 8 wins shy of St. Patrick's 551 and 5 shutouts short of Terry Sawchuck's record 103. Still, I'd rather have Roy in net - he's my choice as best money goaltender ever - Gretzky's claims for Grant Fuhr notwithstanding.
Hot and Not and Others
The Philadelphia Flyers looked pathetic going 0 - 3 - 3 before taking a home and home from the Devils and drubbing Atlanta 7-0. Injuries to the defense again - Derian Hatcher likely being forced to retire his aching knees, Rich Parent - the stud acquired in the Forsberg deal two years back - and Randy Jones out. And now Daniel Briere out for a month.
Who would have though Vancouver would be able to score enough to go 4 - 4 to start the season? Not me. But now the oft injured Pavol Demitra is on the shelf with busted ribs. Let's see if they can get Mats Sundin there now.
The Minnesota Wild are without their oft injured superstud Marian Gaborik, but they keep rolling on anyway behing Mikko Koivu [12 assists] and ex-Star Antti Miettinen [yes, I checked those spellings] becoming a scorer with some ice time [6 goals in 8 games].
Oft injured Chicago Blawkhawks supersniper Martin Havlat has made it 9 whole games without hurting himself - yet. He tweaked a groin last year in Dallas and the Hawks are here Friday evening. If he makes it though this, he might finally have a 60 - 65 game season, something he hasn't done since the lockout. If he can stay healthy, the Hawks will have two really threatening scoring lines and the defense to challenge for a playoff spot and actually make some noise.
The Anaheim Ducks limped out of the gate [1 - 5] before a 4 game road sweep and taking the Red Wings out in OT tonight. Still, San Jose and Detroit look to get so far out early that they have their divisions wrapped up by Valentines Day. Of course Detroit is in the Central with Chicago, Nashville and St, Louis, so they might accomplish it.
Where the hell did the Buffalo Sabres come from? Who plays for them now? It's still early, but a 6 - 1 - 2 start to keep even with Montreal puts the pressure on the Habs in their 100th year.
The surprise in the East though, has to be the New York hockey Rangers. If you told me that they'd lose Jaromir Jagr [locker room cancer or not], Brendan Shannahan and Martin Straka and be all right, I'd have taken $ 10 of that action. But the guys brought in to replace those men - Markus Naslund, Nikolai Zherdev and Wade Redden - have all performed as expected. And the youngsters on the team - defenseman Daniel Girardi and Mark Stall and center Brandon Dubinsky- have continued to show growth and the upside they showed last year. This is a team no one wants to play right now.
Pittsburgh and Washington seem to be doing okay in spite of the fact that their name superstars - Sidney Crosby [ 1 goal - 7 assist before adding 2 - 2 in his last 5] and Alexander Ovechkin [2 / 3 in 8 games] - being slow out of the gate. Of course, The Pens have Evgeni Malkin's 3 - 12 in 10 games] and Washington has Alex Semin [8 - 8 in 9 games] to pick up the slack some. And how about Marc Andre Fleury in Pittsburgh? 2.17 goals against? Whatever he learned in the minors after last year's ankle injury took root!
And for all the pre-season concern about their defense, who would have guessed that with all the pickups at forward [Ryan Malone, Gary Roberts, Mark Recchi, Radim Vrbata and 1st overall Steven Stamkos] that the Lightning would have trouble scoring goals? Anyone who had them 7th in the league with a 2.36 goals against, but dead last [30th] in scoring with 1.5 goals for, please raise your hand? Sit down, Mr. Bowman. For comparison, Dallas was tied for 13 [with the L.A. Kings???] in goals for with 3.07, but had an abysmal 4.17 goals against.
Let me say thanks to all of you who emailed and told me that the Replacements Sire catalog is now available via Rhino reissue. That's none of you. Did I not email in excitement when I discovered the first two available as Rhino deluxe reissue? But I had to find out on Wikipedia!
I guess this is what we're getting instead of the box set we heard about - what, 2 years ago?
Anyway, it's a festival of music not seen at my house since finding the Faces box [Five Guys Walk Into A Bar...] half off at the closing of the Dallas Virgin Megastore. I must admit here, though, that I am not head over heels for the whole 'Mats catalog. Tim I don't think I'll be getting. Yeah, I know for a lot of people that was an important album - but not for me. It wasn't my first and when I got back to it, it just didn't move me like some of the others. My first was the masterpiece of Pleased to Meet Me. Me as a fresh eared kid working in a record store and this is one of my first discoveries [along with R.E.M.'s Life's Rich Pageant] and I rushed to Best Buy on my lunch hour to pick it up immediately. And what a ratty, nasty mess it remains, buoyed by the last two gems - the much anthologized Skyway and Can't Hardly Wait. "Jesus rides beside me / He never buys any smokes..." Genius.
I ordered 88's Don't Tell A Soul and 90's All Shook Down used promos on Ebay - who sells their Replacements promos? Some people [Dunnigan] claim that these aren't 'real Replacements records.' I disagree. I see that some people like the sloppy, hard, fast earlier stuff - I can get into Hootenany and Let It Be - and think ther band tried making more popular records. Okay, guilty. But what's the point if you're not going to expand your audience, try and get on MTV or the radio? R.E.M. made that leap, the Replacements, like Wyle E. Coyote didn't.
Anyway, I think there's a lot of beautiful songs on those two - Sadly Beautiful, Achin' to Be, They're Blind, Darlin' One, Rock N Roll Ghost - and enough rock and roll and off kilter weirdness for all. I love the progression of the band over the three final albums. They connected with me. "The things you hold dearly / Are scoffed at and yearly / Judged once and then left aside..." Genius. Call me a girly man, but it moves me.
And just like the X catalog, the Elvis Costello 2nd reissues and the reissue of Television's Marquee Moon, they got real writers from the scenes to add essays and fill in some of the blanks. This is why I really, really, really want Rhino to do a reissue of the Cars catalog - give me some background, some of the back story!
Yes, 1988's Inconcerated promo EP remains unissued. Why it was not put on the back of the ultra-short Stink! I don't know. Those takes of Here Comes A Regular and Answering Machine remain some of my favorites.
Go forth and buy! No burns!
Okay, we haven't done HAWKEY TAWK for a while, so....
Trade Marty Turco - NOW!
The Dallas Stars have stumbled out of the gate here to an un-Stars-like 3 - 4 - 2. And don't kid yourself, that this is just 'slow out of the gate.' The falter that's been predicted in Big D for the last two seasons may have finally come home to roost. Which is fine, unless you watched them improbably ride into the Western Conference finals, where they really had no business being except that Marty Turco really stood on his head behind a depleted defense. Did I think Mattias Norstrom was the glue holding the D together? No, but it certainly appears this is the case, because they suck without him. Trevor Daley, like Brian Campbell in Chi-town, remains a one way player - good on the rush, clueless in his own zone. All flash, no pan. And Marty Turco has been just terrible. And apparently coach Tippett has no confidence in Tobias Stephan, the backup acquired in the Brad Richards - Mike Smith deal last season. [UPDATE: I wrote this Tuesday evening - Wednesday evening the Stars started Stephan and he held Minnesota to 2 for his first NHL win.] Yes, Sergei [My Sergei!] Zubov will be back in a couple weeks and his smooth skating and absolutely ice water demeanor should help calm things for the sophomores Nik Grossman, Mark Fistric and Matt Niskanen. But if I was GMs Jackson and Hull, I might begin looking at the L.A. Kings pile of goalies for someone to bring in - or bringing in a guy like Dan Cloutier who can capably back Marty up. Turco is not Martin Brodeur - he will not thrive playing 75 games a year.
Speaking of Goalies...
Although they're boring as watching paint dry, all eyes should be turned toward Newark as Martin Brodeur begins his final climb to the top of the goaltending heap. He may be the best goaltender to ever lace 'em up in the books, but I still prefer the fiery Patrick Roy. Roy's emotional outbursts and sense of humor make him seem more human than Brodeur, Brodeur just goes about his business like a machine. Of course as of this writing he is only 8 wins shy of St. Patrick's 551 and 5 shutouts short of Terry Sawchuck's record 103. Still, I'd rather have Roy in net - he's my choice as best money goaltender ever - Gretzky's claims for Grant Fuhr notwithstanding.
Hot and Not and Others
The Philadelphia Flyers looked pathetic going 0 - 3 - 3 before taking a home and home from the Devils and drubbing Atlanta 7-0. Injuries to the defense again - Derian Hatcher likely being forced to retire his aching knees, Rich Parent - the stud acquired in the Forsberg deal two years back - and Randy Jones out. And now Daniel Briere out for a month.
Who would have though Vancouver would be able to score enough to go 4 - 4 to start the season? Not me. But now the oft injured Pavol Demitra is on the shelf with busted ribs. Let's see if they can get Mats Sundin there now.
The Minnesota Wild are without their oft injured superstud Marian Gaborik, but they keep rolling on anyway behing Mikko Koivu [12 assists] and ex-Star Antti Miettinen [yes, I checked those spellings] becoming a scorer with some ice time [6 goals in 8 games].
Oft injured Chicago Blawkhawks supersniper Martin Havlat has made it 9 whole games without hurting himself - yet. He tweaked a groin last year in Dallas and the Hawks are here Friday evening. If he makes it though this, he might finally have a 60 - 65 game season, something he hasn't done since the lockout. If he can stay healthy, the Hawks will have two really threatening scoring lines and the defense to challenge for a playoff spot and actually make some noise.
The Anaheim Ducks limped out of the gate [1 - 5] before a 4 game road sweep and taking the Red Wings out in OT tonight. Still, San Jose and Detroit look to get so far out early that they have their divisions wrapped up by Valentines Day. Of course Detroit is in the Central with Chicago, Nashville and St, Louis, so they might accomplish it.
Where the hell did the Buffalo Sabres come from? Who plays for them now? It's still early, but a 6 - 1 - 2 start to keep even with Montreal puts the pressure on the Habs in their 100th year.
The surprise in the East though, has to be the New York hockey Rangers. If you told me that they'd lose Jaromir Jagr [locker room cancer or not], Brendan Shannahan and Martin Straka and be all right, I'd have taken $ 10 of that action. But the guys brought in to replace those men - Markus Naslund, Nikolai Zherdev and Wade Redden - have all performed as expected. And the youngsters on the team - defenseman Daniel Girardi and Mark Stall and center Brandon Dubinsky- have continued to show growth and the upside they showed last year. This is a team no one wants to play right now.
Pittsburgh and Washington seem to be doing okay in spite of the fact that their name superstars - Sidney Crosby [ 1 goal - 7 assist before adding 2 - 2 in his last 5] and Alexander Ovechkin [2 / 3 in 8 games] - being slow out of the gate. Of course, The Pens have Evgeni Malkin's 3 - 12 in 10 games] and Washington has Alex Semin [8 - 8 in 9 games] to pick up the slack some. And how about Marc Andre Fleury in Pittsburgh? 2.17 goals against? Whatever he learned in the minors after last year's ankle injury took root!
And for all the pre-season concern about their defense, who would have guessed that with all the pickups at forward [Ryan Malone, Gary Roberts, Mark Recchi, Radim Vrbata and 1st overall Steven Stamkos] that the Lightning would have trouble scoring goals? Anyone who had them 7th in the league with a 2.36 goals against, but dead last [30th] in scoring with 1.5 goals for, please raise your hand? Sit down, Mr. Bowman. For comparison, Dallas was tied for 13 [with the L.A. Kings???] in goals for with 3.07, but had an abysmal 4.17 goals against.
Friday, October 03, 2008
Why Not Inaction?
I, like everyone else who watches the news, have been watching this "economic bailout" situation before Congress with bemused dread. We're talking about the Federal government taking a bunch of loans from deadbeats off the books of privately held corporations and putting them in their back pocket and saying "We'll hold these, you go back to the business of making loans. Try not to make as many bad decisions next time."
Now I rightly blame the Federal Reserve for this mess. Alan Greenspan had this mystical aura about him, but he spoke some magic doublespeak that never let anyone know what he was thinking. The Fed has left interest rates incredibly low, causing a free flow of cash, when maybe when they should have pulled the reins and tightened the supply of money when inflation began to drag the economy a couple of years ago. Instead, they lowered interest rates again and let loose more money into the economy, thus boosting inflation! [High availability of cash = more cash needed to buy goods = inflation]
I was surprised that the House of Representatives showed some stones in defeating this monstrosity on Monday. The honest Reps who voted no let people know it was because "We The People" told them we weren't interested in this rescue plan. Wall Street reacted to "We the People" pulling away their parachute with a drop, then a rally and another rally on Tuesday as the smart people bought up what had fallen on Monday.
I understand that right now that the credit market is tighter than Dick's hatband. They should be wary! They, though some urging by the government, made a bunch of bad loans to people who could not afford what they were getting into and those people's financial reality bit them in the butt. Especially when inflation kicked in. So now, the credit is hard to come by because all that paper is tied up in people who can't pay. Okay. Why is the Federal government, the largest borrower and slowest payer of all, wanting to create an immediate $ 250 billion dollars out of thin air to buy up a bunch of loans that are not being paid? How well did the $150 billion they poofed out of thin air earlier this year as "Economic Stimulus" work? [Poorly - you/we paid bills with that money instead of going out and buying things.]
I know the President is being told this is a necessity to free up the credit market and allow things to get moving in our economy again, but it's a bad political move and it's the wrong message to send to anybody. I was about ready to come unglued when there was a $ 25 billion idea floated to loan to automakers - those same folks who were betting that gas would stay cheap and you'd keep buying gas guzzler status symbols you could barely afford. But this just send a message that any time you screw up, you can get the government to help you out.
And what does the taxpayer who's tightened the belt and sacrificed and is making his house payments get? Really, another huge "Welfare State." Yes, those people who paid no money down and had balloon payments in 2 years played by the rules, but they and the banks should have known they could not afford this. The banks did and they packaged the bad loans into "Mortgage Backed Securities" and got them off their books. It's a shitty idea, but again, within the rules. Well now the note is due. And the Federal Government wants to buy up this "bad paper" and what? Refinace those and try to get their money back over time? The Federal Government is not going to make money or break even on this. Washington D.C. is a vaccuum of the highest order and nothing comes out once it goes in. Look at the national highways if you need an idea.
Congressman Mike Pence [R - Indiana] released this statment and I agree 110%. I quote in part [full statement at humanevents.com, or this direct link] to Congressman Pence's statement:
“...this legislation remains the largest corporate bailout in American history, forever changes the relationship between government and the financial sector and passes the cost along to the American people.
“I did not come to Washington to expand the size and scope of government.
“I did not come to Washington to ask working Americans to subsidize the bad decisions of corporate America.
“Therefore, I cannot support the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008.
“While this bill promises to bring near-term stability to our financial turmoil, I ask my countrymen, at what price?
“The decision to give the federal government the ability to nationalize almost every bad mortgage in America interrupts a basic truth of our free market economy.
“Government cannot control outcomes in the economy without eroding the independence and integrity of our free market system. When the government chooses winners and losers in the market, every American loses.
“This Congress will choose whether we will confront this crisis by elevating the individual and personal responsibility or by elevating the role of the state in our financial markets and our daily lives.
“Some say that this crisis is too acute to rely on antiquated notions about the role of government in the private sector, but I disagree. I believe the principles of limited government, free enterprise and representative democracy are as relevant today as they were in 1776.
“In another October -- 1964 -- Ronald Reagan addressed the American people about a 'time for choosing' not much different than today. He said their choice was ‘whether we believe in our capacity for self-government or whether we abandon the American Revolution and confess that a little intellectual elite in a far-distant capital can plan our lives for us better than we can plan them ourselves.’
“There are no easy answers, but the American people deserve to know there were alternatives to massive federal spending."
PS: I just emailed my Congressman [R- Mike Burgess, TX 26th] and told him to fight for these principles; I urge you to do the same: Representatives email site:
https://forms.house.gov/wyr/welcome.shtml
I, like everyone else who watches the news, have been watching this "economic bailout" situation before Congress with bemused dread. We're talking about the Federal government taking a bunch of loans from deadbeats off the books of privately held corporations and putting them in their back pocket and saying "We'll hold these, you go back to the business of making loans. Try not to make as many bad decisions next time."
Now I rightly blame the Federal Reserve for this mess. Alan Greenspan had this mystical aura about him, but he spoke some magic doublespeak that never let anyone know what he was thinking. The Fed has left interest rates incredibly low, causing a free flow of cash, when maybe when they should have pulled the reins and tightened the supply of money when inflation began to drag the economy a couple of years ago. Instead, they lowered interest rates again and let loose more money into the economy, thus boosting inflation! [High availability of cash = more cash needed to buy goods = inflation]
I was surprised that the House of Representatives showed some stones in defeating this monstrosity on Monday. The honest Reps who voted no let people know it was because "We The People" told them we weren't interested in this rescue plan. Wall Street reacted to "We the People" pulling away their parachute with a drop, then a rally and another rally on Tuesday as the smart people bought up what had fallen on Monday.
I understand that right now that the credit market is tighter than Dick's hatband. They should be wary! They, though some urging by the government, made a bunch of bad loans to people who could not afford what they were getting into and those people's financial reality bit them in the butt. Especially when inflation kicked in. So now, the credit is hard to come by because all that paper is tied up in people who can't pay. Okay. Why is the Federal government, the largest borrower and slowest payer of all, wanting to create an immediate $ 250 billion dollars out of thin air to buy up a bunch of loans that are not being paid? How well did the $150 billion they poofed out of thin air earlier this year as "Economic Stimulus" work? [Poorly - you/we paid bills with that money instead of going out and buying things.]
I know the President is being told this is a necessity to free up the credit market and allow things to get moving in our economy again, but it's a bad political move and it's the wrong message to send to anybody. I was about ready to come unglued when there was a $ 25 billion idea floated to loan to automakers - those same folks who were betting that gas would stay cheap and you'd keep buying gas guzzler status symbols you could barely afford. But this just send a message that any time you screw up, you can get the government to help you out.
And what does the taxpayer who's tightened the belt and sacrificed and is making his house payments get? Really, another huge "Welfare State." Yes, those people who paid no money down and had balloon payments in 2 years played by the rules, but they and the banks should have known they could not afford this. The banks did and they packaged the bad loans into "Mortgage Backed Securities" and got them off their books. It's a shitty idea, but again, within the rules. Well now the note is due. And the Federal Government wants to buy up this "bad paper" and what? Refinace those and try to get their money back over time? The Federal Government is not going to make money or break even on this. Washington D.C. is a vaccuum of the highest order and nothing comes out once it goes in. Look at the national highways if you need an idea.
Congressman Mike Pence [R - Indiana] released this statment and I agree 110%. I quote in part [full statement at humanevents.com, or this direct link] to Congressman Pence's statement:
“...this legislation remains the largest corporate bailout in American history, forever changes the relationship between government and the financial sector and passes the cost along to the American people.
“I did not come to Washington to expand the size and scope of government.
“I did not come to Washington to ask working Americans to subsidize the bad decisions of corporate America.
“Therefore, I cannot support the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008.
“While this bill promises to bring near-term stability to our financial turmoil, I ask my countrymen, at what price?
“The decision to give the federal government the ability to nationalize almost every bad mortgage in America interrupts a basic truth of our free market economy.
“Government cannot control outcomes in the economy without eroding the independence and integrity of our free market system. When the government chooses winners and losers in the market, every American loses.
“This Congress will choose whether we will confront this crisis by elevating the individual and personal responsibility or by elevating the role of the state in our financial markets and our daily lives.
“Some say that this crisis is too acute to rely on antiquated notions about the role of government in the private sector, but I disagree. I believe the principles of limited government, free enterprise and representative democracy are as relevant today as they were in 1776.
“In another October -- 1964 -- Ronald Reagan addressed the American people about a 'time for choosing' not much different than today. He said their choice was ‘whether we believe in our capacity for self-government or whether we abandon the American Revolution and confess that a little intellectual elite in a far-distant capital can plan our lives for us better than we can plan them ourselves.’
“There are no easy answers, but the American people deserve to know there were alternatives to massive federal spending."
PS: I just emailed my Congressman [R- Mike Burgess, TX 26th] and told him to fight for these principles; I urge you to do the same: Representatives email site:
https://forms.house.gov/wyr/welcome.shtml
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
An Elvis Costello Exercise
So I am grooving to tape 1 of my Elvis Costello car tapes and I pick up a line... I'm not saying what line... and I thought "Can I steal that?"
Then I noticed a good one in the next song. And the next.
So I decided to steal a line or two from every song on the tape [with the exception of the lone cover song I Can't Stand Up for Falling Down] and see if I could make a little Elvis Costello song of my own. Totally not serious and not for like publication so Elvis and/ or ASCAP don't sue me... guess the songs and win a pat on the back from former major leaguer Mario Mendoza.
So I am grooving to tape 1 of my Elvis Costello car tapes and I pick up a line... I'm not saying what line... and I thought "Can I steal that?"
Then I noticed a good one in the next song. And the next.
So I decided to steal a line or two from every song on the tape [with the exception of the lone cover song I Can't Stand Up for Falling Down] and see if I could make a little Elvis Costello song of my own. Totally not serious and not for like publication so Elvis and/ or ASCAP don't sue me... guess the songs and win a pat on the back from former major leaguer Mario Mendoza.
History repeats, the old conceits
The glib replies, the same defeats
There's no money back guarantee on future happiness
There's no such thing as an original sin
The sport of kings, the old queen's heart
The prince in darkness stole some tart
It's in the papers, it's in the charts
You tell me you can take it or leave it
Sometimes I think that you really believe it
He's got a mind like a sewer and a heart like a fridge
He's no angel, she's no saint
They're all covered up in white wash and greasepaint
He'd seen the bottom of a lot of glasses
But never seen love so clear
Lovers laughing in their amateur hour
Never knowing it's the real attraction
All these promises of satisfaction
Maybe I'll never get over this change in style
But I don't want to lock you up and say you're mine
You talk in hushed tones, I talk in lush tones
Try to look Italian through the musical valium
Each tender mumble brings us closer to bedlam
The toast of the town, the talk of the bedroom
History repeats, the old conceits
The glib replies, the old defeats
It's the damage that we do and never know
It's the words that we don't say that scare me so
Come home disappointed every time they put you down
Laughing with the old boys, saying that it's all noise
Don't say you love me when it's just a rumour
Are you really only going through the motions
You can please yourself but somebody's gonna get it
Everybody loves a happy ending but we don't even try
Forever doesn't mean forever anymore
I wish I could push a button
And talk in the past and not the present tense
Love is gone, it's no one's fault
Love has stopped here, lover's halt
She said that's that, I don't want to chitterchat
Capital punishment, she's last year's model
It starts with a face and becomes a fixation
That's what you get for going after vengeance
Sometime I call you when I know you're not lonely
But I always disconnect it in time
History repeats, the old conceits
The glib replies, the same defeats
I don't know how we came to grow
Into this very sad affair
But it's easier to say I love you
Than yours sincerely I suppose
Monday, September 08, 2008
Thanks to Teemu Selanne and Scott Neidermeyer, I Now Have to Sit Through This
You know what - shut up all ready. You didn't see 39 year old Joe Sakic holding up his team's camp with this "I don't know if I can handle another year." 45 year old Chris Chelios will be ready on day 1 of camp and he's going to have a much reduced role with the Red Wings this year.
Look Mats, if you don't think you can handle another year in the NHL, then shut up and retire all ready. Yes, it means leaving a lot of money on the table, but if I have to sit through three months of "He's signing here - no he's signing there" like we did with the king of broken down, Peter Forsberg, I may just give up on hockey all together.
When Selanne and Neidermeyer joined the Ducks mid season last year, [coming off a Stanely Cup win, I add, something Sundin has never accomplished] they thought they could turn on the switch and be in mid-season form and have the mind set going into the playoffs to push themselves and their team deep into the playoffs. And it didn't happen. They went down in 6 to a hungrier Dallas Stars team. Peter Forsberg brought his damaged body in at the trade deadline, out up 14 points in 9 games and was injured yet again going into the playoffs.
But what really stinks about the Sundin situation is that teams have been waiting now - holding cap space and a roster spot available - since July 1st for Sundin to decide if and where he was going to play and now, with camps a week away, Sundin is giving everyone a "Thanks, I'll think about it." Now teams have to scramble to bring in someone and the cupboard is pretty bare as far as star centers - as in zero. You can get a 36 year old Bryan Smolinski probably pretty cheap, you might be able to pry Yannic Perreault from the Chicago Blackhawks, the Nashville Predators might pay you to take Radek Bonk, but as far as first line talent - forget it.
It kills the Vancouver Canucks, who were hoping $ 20 million big ones for 2 year would cause Sundin to forget his aches and pains and leaving Toronto. The Sedin's are going to have to try and do this all alone unless Vancouver offers some cash to maybe Brendan Shannahan or Glen Murray. They really don't have any players to even offer for a second line guy like Chicago's Robert Lang.
I hope this ends all the talk about what a classy guy Sundin is. Yeah, he liked being in Toronto and he stayed there for years when he could have moved to a contender and maybe a Stanley Cup. But he's now become a little selfish. He killed the Leafs retooling by not allowing himself to be moved at the deadline last year. And the Leafs needed new blood in a bad, bad way. If he's trying to "get back" at Leafs management, this is the wrong way to do it - the best way is to sign with Buffalo or Montreal and kick their ass 8 times a year. And laugh while doing it.
AP - STOCKHOLM, Sweden -- The NHL camps open in two weeks and Mats Sundin still hasn't decided if he'll return for another season.
Sundin said Wednesday he's unsure if his 37-year-old body can handle another grueling year in the NHL. He's received contract offers from numerous teams, including the Toronto Maple Leafs, the team he's led for 13 seasons. "I will not make up my mind before the season starts," Sundin said at a news conference. "That's how I feel right now. Others have started playing in the middle of the season. If I would feel like retiring, I would say it."You know what - shut up all ready. You didn't see 39 year old Joe Sakic holding up his team's camp with this "I don't know if I can handle another year." 45 year old Chris Chelios will be ready on day 1 of camp and he's going to have a much reduced role with the Red Wings this year.
Look Mats, if you don't think you can handle another year in the NHL, then shut up and retire all ready. Yes, it means leaving a lot of money on the table, but if I have to sit through three months of "He's signing here - no he's signing there" like we did with the king of broken down, Peter Forsberg, I may just give up on hockey all together.
When Selanne and Neidermeyer joined the Ducks mid season last year, [coming off a Stanely Cup win, I add, something Sundin has never accomplished] they thought they could turn on the switch and be in mid-season form and have the mind set going into the playoffs to push themselves and their team deep into the playoffs. And it didn't happen. They went down in 6 to a hungrier Dallas Stars team. Peter Forsberg brought his damaged body in at the trade deadline, out up 14 points in 9 games and was injured yet again going into the playoffs.
But what really stinks about the Sundin situation is that teams have been waiting now - holding cap space and a roster spot available - since July 1st for Sundin to decide if and where he was going to play and now, with camps a week away, Sundin is giving everyone a "Thanks, I'll think about it." Now teams have to scramble to bring in someone and the cupboard is pretty bare as far as star centers - as in zero. You can get a 36 year old Bryan Smolinski probably pretty cheap, you might be able to pry Yannic Perreault from the Chicago Blackhawks, the Nashville Predators might pay you to take Radek Bonk, but as far as first line talent - forget it.
It kills the Vancouver Canucks, who were hoping $ 20 million big ones for 2 year would cause Sundin to forget his aches and pains and leaving Toronto. The Sedin's are going to have to try and do this all alone unless Vancouver offers some cash to maybe Brendan Shannahan or Glen Murray. They really don't have any players to even offer for a second line guy like Chicago's Robert Lang.
I hope this ends all the talk about what a classy guy Sundin is. Yeah, he liked being in Toronto and he stayed there for years when he could have moved to a contender and maybe a Stanley Cup. But he's now become a little selfish. He killed the Leafs retooling by not allowing himself to be moved at the deadline last year. And the Leafs needed new blood in a bad, bad way. If he's trying to "get back" at Leafs management, this is the wrong way to do it - the best way is to sign with Buffalo or Montreal and kick their ass 8 times a year. And laugh while doing it.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Taps
Salutations at last, I'm down on my knees
I heard the bugle this morning, the last revellie
Woke from a dream, I was in a terrible realm
All my sins were ablaze, I was chained to the healm
Now I'm overwhelmed...I'm overwhelmed
-Mockingbirds; Grant Lee Buffalo
There are no words to accurately describe the swells of emotion and memory one goes through at any funeral, let alone the funeral of your grandfather. There is no right word to describe the feelings as people you've known all your life, people you share blood and DNA and the bonds of family wracked with sobs. Even days later it brings those swells up again just thinking about it.
To look at the the man's face for the last time as he lays 'sleeping' in the casket, flowers and photos and two reminders of service adorning is a kick in the chest. You know he is finally at peace with the body he's known is breaking down, but it's still hard.
When the Veterans of Foreign Wars come in and they say their prayers and place a wreath and a flag on the casket, forever anointing his position in the eternal Band of Brothers, it's very very hard.
The viewings you attend are hard. Long distant relatives, friends of the family you do not know because you haven't lived here since you were a tyke... you hang with your cousins and the in laws at the back of the room. But you see the number of lives he touched, people who admired the man and came to pay their last respects.
The funeral is a very low key affair. I was asked and honored to read the piece I wrote for Grandpap's 86th birthday. I wouldn't call it a eulogy per se, but I hope it left everyone with some impression of the man and it was taken as a celebration of his life.
We carried the casket to the grave - against the funeral directors wishes - and the honor guard did their business. I did not know that three shells were placed in the flag presented to the family, but I do now. Each volley of that salute cuts through the clear early afternoon like a rip in the fabric of life and the smell of gunfire... And then it's over.
One of the things - well, two things the Sheets' do well, we did all weekend long: laughing and eating. My uncle Darrell said later that "it's great to have a big family to lean on at times like this" and we exhibited that all weekend long. We retired to the wake and ate and laughed and told tales and took pictures and hugged and then back to the house for more of the same.
But it was at the house where I really missed the presence of the man. He was not holding court in his living room chair. He was not holding down his spot at the kitchen table. He was not hiding from all the noise and commotion in the bedroom in the chair with the TV up loud enough for him to hear it. He would not again receive our kisses on the dome, bald as long as I knew him [though there were photos of him with hair - and he was a handsome man]. He would not tell tales of himself or confirm what other tales were being told on him. He could laugh at himself, too. It takes a man at peace with himself to laugh at himself.
I will miss that easy chuckle. I will miss it like I miss the smell of the man and the sound of traffic on PA 68 and the smell of clover that when I think of them I am always reminded of the home that 116 Schoolhouse Road is and was and always will be. And when I think of him, I will remember my world is a slightly sadder place because he is gone from it.
In kind words from my friends the last week or so, I have come to feel that sometimes we takes the bonds and relationships of family for granted. Several of my friends lamented that they never had relationships with grandparents who passed before they were born or shortly after, to which I can relate as my Dad's father passed when he was a young man. Sometimes it is necessary to renew those bonds, to draw everyone together and celebrate lives and being together.
I prefer weddings as these occasions, but life is a cycle and occasionally some must get off this roller coaster ride. My grandfather's passing brought our family together again and reminded us that though separated by miles and sometimes lost in our own little worlds, that we are really one clan together, for better, for worse, in happiness and in sadness and that even though we sometimes forget it, we do have each other to fall back on, to laugh and cry and love each other. And in the case of the Sheets clan, we really do all get along and love each other.
So long, baby and Amen.
Salutations at last, I'm down on my knees
I heard the bugle this morning, the last revellie
Woke from a dream, I was in a terrible realm
All my sins were ablaze, I was chained to the healm
Now I'm overwhelmed...I'm overwhelmed
-Mockingbirds; Grant Lee Buffalo
There are no words to accurately describe the swells of emotion and memory one goes through at any funeral, let alone the funeral of your grandfather. There is no right word to describe the feelings as people you've known all your life, people you share blood and DNA and the bonds of family wracked with sobs. Even days later it brings those swells up again just thinking about it.
To look at the the man's face for the last time as he lays 'sleeping' in the casket, flowers and photos and two reminders of service adorning is a kick in the chest. You know he is finally at peace with the body he's known is breaking down, but it's still hard.
When the Veterans of Foreign Wars come in and they say their prayers and place a wreath and a flag on the casket, forever anointing his position in the eternal Band of Brothers, it's very very hard.
The viewings you attend are hard. Long distant relatives, friends of the family you do not know because you haven't lived here since you were a tyke... you hang with your cousins and the in laws at the back of the room. But you see the number of lives he touched, people who admired the man and came to pay their last respects.
The funeral is a very low key affair. I was asked and honored to read the piece I wrote for Grandpap's 86th birthday. I wouldn't call it a eulogy per se, but I hope it left everyone with some impression of the man and it was taken as a celebration of his life.
We carried the casket to the grave - against the funeral directors wishes - and the honor guard did their business. I did not know that three shells were placed in the flag presented to the family, but I do now. Each volley of that salute cuts through the clear early afternoon like a rip in the fabric of life and the smell of gunfire... And then it's over.
One of the things - well, two things the Sheets' do well, we did all weekend long: laughing and eating. My uncle Darrell said later that "it's great to have a big family to lean on at times like this" and we exhibited that all weekend long. We retired to the wake and ate and laughed and told tales and took pictures and hugged and then back to the house for more of the same.
But it was at the house where I really missed the presence of the man. He was not holding court in his living room chair. He was not holding down his spot at the kitchen table. He was not hiding from all the noise and commotion in the bedroom in the chair with the TV up loud enough for him to hear it. He would not again receive our kisses on the dome, bald as long as I knew him [though there were photos of him with hair - and he was a handsome man]. He would not tell tales of himself or confirm what other tales were being told on him. He could laugh at himself, too. It takes a man at peace with himself to laugh at himself.
I will miss that easy chuckle. I will miss it like I miss the smell of the man and the sound of traffic on PA 68 and the smell of clover that when I think of them I am always reminded of the home that 116 Schoolhouse Road is and was and always will be. And when I think of him, I will remember my world is a slightly sadder place because he is gone from it.
In kind words from my friends the last week or so, I have come to feel that sometimes we takes the bonds and relationships of family for granted. Several of my friends lamented that they never had relationships with grandparents who passed before they were born or shortly after, to which I can relate as my Dad's father passed when he was a young man. Sometimes it is necessary to renew those bonds, to draw everyone together and celebrate lives and being together.
I prefer weddings as these occasions, but life is a cycle and occasionally some must get off this roller coaster ride. My grandfather's passing brought our family together again and reminded us that though separated by miles and sometimes lost in our own little worlds, that we are really one clan together, for better, for worse, in happiness and in sadness and that even though we sometimes forget it, we do have each other to fall back on, to laugh and cry and love each other. And in the case of the Sheets clan, we really do all get along and love each other.
So long, baby and Amen.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Joe Biden? Really?
I just want to know one thing - when, oh really when, did the VP / running mate ever tip and election? Well, I mean since Johnson had dead people voting down in the Rio Grande Valley back in 1960? Did Dick Cheney win Bush any supporters? Dan Quayle? How did Lieberman assist the Kerry ticket? Al Gore brought who onto the Clinton bandwagon?
It doesn't really cover up any of Obama's shortcomings - he's still a first term Senator with no foreign policy experience and little to zero governing experience. Biden is a long time Senate hanger on from a nowhere state who's been on the Foreign Relations and Armed Services committees and who also said Obama had no governing / leadership experience.
If Biden is the best the Dems can do, they may really be in trouble again this time around. I'm sure Hillary was blocked for all the negatives she brings to the ticket. John Edwards is now under the bus, too. Did you see the chick he was bagging? What is it with Dems and ugly women? I can see, Bill doing the fat girl because fat girls are very thankful when they get a little - so I hear. Al Gore's done being the second banana. Kerry? Ha ha.
As for the McCains having 6 or 7 houses - hey, he was smart and married a rich and good looking woman. Jealous?
Not that I am all 100% Red State Dude - the state Senator Kim Brimer here in Ft. Worth has been trying for months and three appeals to get the Democratic Candidate Wendy Davis thrown off the ballot 'because her replacement on the city council wasn't yet sworn in, although yes, she had resigned, when she filed for the Senatorial race.' Three courts now have said she has followed the election rules, but Brimer is making this the issue of the campaign. Not other important issues like gas companies condemning land for right of ways and using up all the city water to force that natural gas up out of the ground. So I may not canvass or anything for Davis, but I will sure be voting for her in November. 'Cause this dude is just being a dick.
I just want to know one thing - when, oh really when, did the VP / running mate ever tip and election? Well, I mean since Johnson had dead people voting down in the Rio Grande Valley back in 1960? Did Dick Cheney win Bush any supporters? Dan Quayle? How did Lieberman assist the Kerry ticket? Al Gore brought who onto the Clinton bandwagon?
It doesn't really cover up any of Obama's shortcomings - he's still a first term Senator with no foreign policy experience and little to zero governing experience. Biden is a long time Senate hanger on from a nowhere state who's been on the Foreign Relations and Armed Services committees and who also said Obama had no governing / leadership experience.
If Biden is the best the Dems can do, they may really be in trouble again this time around. I'm sure Hillary was blocked for all the negatives she brings to the ticket. John Edwards is now under the bus, too. Did you see the chick he was bagging? What is it with Dems and ugly women? I can see, Bill doing the fat girl because fat girls are very thankful when they get a little - so I hear. Al Gore's done being the second banana. Kerry? Ha ha.
As for the McCains having 6 or 7 houses - hey, he was smart and married a rich and good looking woman. Jealous?
Not that I am all 100% Red State Dude - the state Senator Kim Brimer here in Ft. Worth has been trying for months and three appeals to get the Democratic Candidate Wendy Davis thrown off the ballot 'because her replacement on the city council wasn't yet sworn in, although yes, she had resigned, when she filed for the Senatorial race.' Three courts now have said she has followed the election rules, but Brimer is making this the issue of the campaign. Not other important issues like gas companies condemning land for right of ways and using up all the city water to force that natural gas up out of the ground. So I may not canvass or anything for Davis, but I will sure be voting for her in November. 'Cause this dude is just being a dick.
Friday, August 22, 2008
Darrell J. Sheets 11/24/1919 - 8/22/2008
My Buddy [Donaldson - Kahn]
Nights are long since you went away
I think of you all through the lonely days
My buddy, oh buddy, nobody's quite so true
I miss your voice, miss the touch of your hand
I miss the way your eyes saw things upon the land
Oh buddy, oh buddy, your buddy's missin' you
They tell me life's a book to study with lessons to find
Well ours is written that we'd part you and I
But biddies through the good old days
And pals if things would fall
It's just the grey days I miss you most of all
Buddy, oh buddy, your buddy's sure missin' you
Yessir, they say it must be in His plan
So I'll be like a good boy and say I understand
But buddy, your buddy will always have the blues
Oh buddy, oh buddy, your buddy's missin' you
My Buddy [Donaldson - Kahn]
Nights are long since you went away
I think of you all through the lonely days
My buddy, oh buddy, nobody's quite so true
I miss your voice, miss the touch of your hand
I miss the way your eyes saw things upon the land
Oh buddy, oh buddy, your buddy's missin' you
They tell me life's a book to study with lessons to find
Well ours is written that we'd part you and I
But biddies through the good old days
And pals if things would fall
It's just the grey days I miss you most of all
Buddy, oh buddy, your buddy's sure missin' you
Yessir, they say it must be in His plan
So I'll be like a good boy and say I understand
But buddy, your buddy will always have the blues
Oh buddy, oh buddy, your buddy's missin' you
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Waiting and Wondering
There is no change in my grandfather's condition other than his blood level is low [dehydrated? diabetes?] and they're not sure if he can survive off a respirator.
The hardest part is the helplessness. You can't help him anymore. The second hardest part is the waiting. In spite of what Tom Petty says. Now when the phone rings, you're dreading "The News." You don't think about things like that any other time. You don't think about getting calls in the middle of a Sunday afternoon telling you that friends have passed this mortal coil. It happens, but you don't think about it happening again once that shock wears off.
Add to the fact that we are so far away - we will not get to say our goodbyes and make our peace. My friend Scott sent me a line when Grandpap began having trouble earlier this year and said "you feel bad because you don't get to shake the man's hand again and say thanks." And he's right.
I've said it before, my family is very blessed with long life and we have not dealt with a lot of people passing away. Out of 24 cousins [not counting their spouses and their children], 21 aunts and uncles and 3 grandparents in my 41 years, we've only lost one cousin, one uncle and one grandparent, all on my Dad's side. I lost my two great grandmothers and one great grandfather, but that was all decades ago.
I guess it's inevitable when one considers mortality - yours and the mortality of your loved ones - one starts to think and remember. Why should I remember as one of the happiest times, a week one summer spent with Grandma Galupi in a little apartment in the middle of nowhere Ohio when she didn't even have a car. Grandma didn't have a whole lot of money, so we didn't go out or anything, but we had fun walking over to the little store in her town and we found ready made pizza crusts and bought some Ragu and some pepperoni and made our own pizzas and we'd have iced tea and whatever - we found fun just in being together.
Summers at the Sheets spread weren't high dollar affairs either, although there was always ice cream and pop in the fridge. We'd stay out of Grandma's way while she straightened up the house, run in and out through the garage, cellar shop, swing on the swings, practice croquet or hitting the whiffle ball out back. Sometimes after lunch or supper Grandma would play 500 Rummy. These are the things you remember. You remember sitting on the hammock smelling clover, catching lightning bugs, listening to the adults chatting and laughing in the kitchen. You remember hide and seek and freeze tag games with your cousins in the basement and in the fields.
You remember how your grandfather would stop the grandfather clock when you slept in the living room because the chiming had an evil chord and scared you and how each morning he would catch the time up, running through the quarter, half, three-quarter and hours again. You remember his laugh. You remember rough whiskers as you kissed him good morning before he shaved. You remember sneaking up on him and planting a kiss on the top of his bald head. You remember how he'd squeeze you and how he smelled of Old Spice. You remember the sadness you'd feel every summer, every time you had to leave the Eden that was your grandparents house to return to your home in West Virginia or Texas and knowing you wouldn't be there again for another year or two. You return and you're amazed at how they are aging... is is because you don't see them every week or month? You watch helplessly as they shrink and begin to fade away.
Somewhere about a decade ago, I began to know that my grandparents weren't going to be around forever. I began asking questions about them, their lives, the lives of all the people around them - my aunts and uncles and other relatives. I began to understand a little of the family history and I began to know them as real people, not just people who I pop in on for a week every couple of years. I'm glad I did. Now I do know some things that their kids or their grandkids don't know, just because they never asked. I began to make my peace so that when the inevitable came, I wouldn't be left saying "I never asked...."
I was watching Clerks this evening.It struck me funny because we used to make out that we were so cool working in a record store back then and we were just doing and easy job that a monkey could do. But we were "The Cool Kids Who Work in the Record Store." I think back to what were 'good times' before we really had a care in the world and we could do stupid stuff and still get away with 'being young.' You wonder what happened to some of those people. I was talking earlier this week about running into a song that reminded me of someone. I ran into a few others this week on one of my 80s flashback tapes. I used to make tapes for this girl, I used to write stories, thinly veiled autobiography that this one enjoyed and why didn't this work out and why didn't that ever...
Anyway... hug your families.
There is no change in my grandfather's condition other than his blood level is low [dehydrated? diabetes?] and they're not sure if he can survive off a respirator.
The hardest part is the helplessness. You can't help him anymore. The second hardest part is the waiting. In spite of what Tom Petty says. Now when the phone rings, you're dreading "The News." You don't think about things like that any other time. You don't think about getting calls in the middle of a Sunday afternoon telling you that friends have passed this mortal coil. It happens, but you don't think about it happening again once that shock wears off.
Add to the fact that we are so far away - we will not get to say our goodbyes and make our peace. My friend Scott sent me a line when Grandpap began having trouble earlier this year and said "you feel bad because you don't get to shake the man's hand again and say thanks." And he's right.
I've said it before, my family is very blessed with long life and we have not dealt with a lot of people passing away. Out of 24 cousins [not counting their spouses and their children], 21 aunts and uncles and 3 grandparents in my 41 years, we've only lost one cousin, one uncle and one grandparent, all on my Dad's side. I lost my two great grandmothers and one great grandfather, but that was all decades ago.
I guess it's inevitable when one considers mortality - yours and the mortality of your loved ones - one starts to think and remember. Why should I remember as one of the happiest times, a week one summer spent with Grandma Galupi in a little apartment in the middle of nowhere Ohio when she didn't even have a car. Grandma didn't have a whole lot of money, so we didn't go out or anything, but we had fun walking over to the little store in her town and we found ready made pizza crusts and bought some Ragu and some pepperoni and made our own pizzas and we'd have iced tea and whatever - we found fun just in being together.
Summers at the Sheets spread weren't high dollar affairs either, although there was always ice cream and pop in the fridge. We'd stay out of Grandma's way while she straightened up the house, run in and out through the garage, cellar shop, swing on the swings, practice croquet or hitting the whiffle ball out back. Sometimes after lunch or supper Grandma would play 500 Rummy. These are the things you remember. You remember sitting on the hammock smelling clover, catching lightning bugs, listening to the adults chatting and laughing in the kitchen. You remember hide and seek and freeze tag games with your cousins in the basement and in the fields.
You remember how your grandfather would stop the grandfather clock when you slept in the living room because the chiming had an evil chord and scared you and how each morning he would catch the time up, running through the quarter, half, three-quarter and hours again. You remember his laugh. You remember rough whiskers as you kissed him good morning before he shaved. You remember sneaking up on him and planting a kiss on the top of his bald head. You remember how he'd squeeze you and how he smelled of Old Spice. You remember the sadness you'd feel every summer, every time you had to leave the Eden that was your grandparents house to return to your home in West Virginia or Texas and knowing you wouldn't be there again for another year or two. You return and you're amazed at how they are aging... is is because you don't see them every week or month? You watch helplessly as they shrink and begin to fade away.
Somewhere about a decade ago, I began to know that my grandparents weren't going to be around forever. I began asking questions about them, their lives, the lives of all the people around them - my aunts and uncles and other relatives. I began to understand a little of the family history and I began to know them as real people, not just people who I pop in on for a week every couple of years. I'm glad I did. Now I do know some things that their kids or their grandkids don't know, just because they never asked. I began to make my peace so that when the inevitable came, I wouldn't be left saying "I never asked...."
I was watching Clerks this evening.It struck me funny because we used to make out that we were so cool working in a record store back then and we were just doing and easy job that a monkey could do. But we were "The Cool Kids Who Work in the Record Store." I think back to what were 'good times' before we really had a care in the world and we could do stupid stuff and still get away with 'being young.' You wonder what happened to some of those people. I was talking earlier this week about running into a song that reminded me of someone. I ran into a few others this week on one of my 80s flashback tapes. I used to make tapes for this girl, I used to write stories, thinly veiled autobiography that this one enjoyed and why didn't this work out and why didn't that ever...
Anyway... hug your families.
Friday, August 15, 2008
For My Grandfather
The old man is in ICU in an induced coma, dehydrated and pneumonia. His potassium is through the roof and they called the family in today... none of these are good.
I had a word with Mom before I left there this evening. We know he's going to pass sometime and we think it's going to be soon. But she said "Even though you know it, even though you know he's so frail and weak [she was there in PA last week], when someone says this could be it, it still [takes your breath away]."
This is from November 2006. Tell your loved ones you love them because you never know when it will be the last time you see them.
For Grandpap
The old man is in ICU in an induced coma, dehydrated and pneumonia. His potassium is through the roof and they called the family in today... none of these are good.
I had a word with Mom before I left there this evening. We know he's going to pass sometime and we think it's going to be soon. But she said "Even though you know it, even though you know he's so frail and weak [she was there in PA last week], when someone says this could be it, it still [takes your breath away]."
This is from November 2006. Tell your loved ones you love them because you never know when it will be the last time you see them.
For Grandpap
My Grandfather will be 86 on Friday. My niece just did a paper on her hero for a school project and I was just thinking about real heroes, not the baseball players or whoever we admired as kids, but the real people who had an impact on our lives and were true role models. And Grandpap Sheets is one of those people.
He’s never lived nor had any desire to live beyond the borders of Beaver Country in southwestern
He’s a retired carpenter and one of the stories I’ve heard a zillion times is when he retired and came home with his tool chest. I guess I would have been about five or six and I helped him take the box into the shop, me at one end, he at the other and I just quipped “Now this is what I call cooperation!”
He built his own house on the hill there in Beaver County, getting a lot from my Grandmother’s Dad, Joe Vorderbrueggen in 1947 [he also acquired two more lots over the years before Grandpap died in 1976], living in the basement for about two years while the upstairs was constructed with a wife and 5 small children. They added on in the early 60s and still had 8 kids [‘seven in school at one time,’ he reminded me] sharing one bathtub, though they added a half bath in the addition. They still get water from a well and it is the sweetest tasting water in the world and makes excellent iced tea.
I think part of my love of music comes from him. I know my grandfather was a guitar player. During the war, he and some guys from his company would go around to other units in the area and play country music. [Remember, this was when there was “both kinds, country and Western.”] They were loosely known as the Ozark Mountaineers, Ozark being their company. I just asked for the clarification, as I thought he played in a band in the States, but he said, “No, other than some guys that used to come around once in a while.” [I called him a “Hootenanny Hippie” for this]. He used to play for me, up to about 1995 or so before his hands shook so much. Somewhere around 1999 or 2000 my cousin’s Melissa’s fiancée
He was always quick with a joke or a stunt like betting me a dollar he could jump higher than a fence post [Warning: fence posts do not jump]. He was always interested in how things worked and building things. I have several little knick-knacks like a sling shot he whittled for me and a little ‘road runner’ made out of scrap metal and a box for holding playing cards he made for me ‘on spec.’ I have the rolling pin he gave to all my cousins as wedding presents because I think he’s given up waiting for me to [or more accurately fears he’ll be gone when I do] get married. He also never lets me forget about getting the wrong oil filter and pouring 4.5 quarts of Penzoil out on the grass because I wouldn’t listen to him. He’s impressed pride in my work on me. Once at Sound Warehouse I was building crates for display and I’d just keep telling myself to ‘Do it like the old man would have.’
The only time I recall him being upset was when I ran over one of his trees while mowing the field down in front of the house. OOPS! I had been trying to see how close I could get to them and got a little too close to one. OOOPS! I was banned from the tractor for a while for that one. As kids we all loved riding on or driving the little Cub Cadet tractor. I know I spent hours on it pretending it was some WWII airplane I was flying or an X Wing fighter of the Millennium Falcon after Star Wars came out. I can still recall mornings in the kitchen of the house he built, you’d come in and kiss a face full of stubble, or if you can sneak up on him, kiss his bald head, which is a lot easier now that I am 6’2”.
I know he is proud of the fact they he and my Grandma Rose were able to raise 8 kids through sometimes trying times. Once, he says they had dinner and there was one pork chop left and he reached for it and got eight forks in the back of his hand. But the Sheets clan is pretty tight and there isn’t any infighting or name calling [that I am aware of]. Grandma and Grandpap have been married for 63 years and there is a special place in heaven for her that. As he’s gotten older he’s a little shorter on patience than he used to be. His hand shakes more trying to raise a cup of coffee and he’s a lot slower than he used to be, but steadfastly yearning to be independent even though his body is telling him that he cannot be.
But I talked to him today and I know there is a peace there that he’s lived a wonderful life with few, if any regrets. I asked if there was anything that he has wanted to try but never had and he answered ‘no,’ even though I know he’s never tried pizza. I know I have learned in the last 10 years or so to appreciate that time I have with my grandparents and to take the time and ask the questions now that someday I will not be able to get answers to.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Oh Shit...
I was working on the conversion project [converting Lp to MP3] again after a long, long, long break, up to the Es now and I was taken by surprise by a song. The song I dedicated to her long before it was a hit. I confirmed it was 1990 on the Lp jacket. Seeing the Rave Ups at Tommy's [formerly The Venue, now Deep Ellum Live], Bowie at the "Coca Cola" Starplex [later Smirnoff Music Center, now the Superpages.com Center?], pregnant cat and kittens in your room and all the stupid shit I did.
I doubt she ever thinks about me and that summer anymore. It's just a song that took me by surprise.
Manly Man Stuff
I spent about 5 hours this last week in the 2nd to last bastion of true manly manliness [#1 is still the barber hop] - the tire store.
Never mind being pissed off that my tire wasn't fixed or replaced the first trip over there at an ungodly hour [for me] and that the store I went to didn't have my tire in stock and that I had to go across town and get back in line again for service.
While I was at the 2nd store I just took a quick look around - 10 men to one woman. All sizes and shapes. Four T-shirts promoting a favorite college, pro team or car. Sneaker ruled. Couple business casual guys, one in work coveralls for an airline that is cutting jobs [hope you're still employed come Labor Day!]. Pants ruled over shorts.
Are these men sent because their spouses know that this is 'their territory?' Can't stand the smell of rubber that just permeates the whole place? Can't stand the air wrenches? Or is this just the bone they throw their men because big box retail home repair places have become the unisex place for coupes now? How did we [men] lose the hardware store?
I was working on the conversion project [converting Lp to MP3] again after a long, long, long break, up to the Es now and I was taken by surprise by a song. The song I dedicated to her long before it was a hit. I confirmed it was 1990 on the Lp jacket. Seeing the Rave Ups at Tommy's [formerly The Venue, now Deep Ellum Live], Bowie at the "Coca Cola" Starplex [later Smirnoff Music Center, now the Superpages.com Center?], pregnant cat and kittens in your room and all the stupid shit I did.
I doubt she ever thinks about me and that summer anymore. It's just a song that took me by surprise.
Manly Man Stuff
I spent about 5 hours this last week in the 2nd to last bastion of true manly manliness [#1 is still the barber hop] - the tire store.
Never mind being pissed off that my tire wasn't fixed or replaced the first trip over there at an ungodly hour [for me] and that the store I went to didn't have my tire in stock and that I had to go across town and get back in line again for service.
While I was at the 2nd store I just took a quick look around - 10 men to one woman. All sizes and shapes. Four T-shirts promoting a favorite college, pro team or car. Sneaker ruled. Couple business casual guys, one in work coveralls for an airline that is cutting jobs [hope you're still employed come Labor Day!]. Pants ruled over shorts.
Are these men sent because their spouses know that this is 'their territory?' Can't stand the smell of rubber that just permeates the whole place? Can't stand the air wrenches? Or is this just the bone they throw their men because big box retail home repair places have become the unisex place for coupes now? How did we [men] lose the hardware store?
Sunday, August 10, 2008
The Hot Hot Heat
I left work last night with a sense of malaise. Physically a little tired but just mentally worn down.Probably the fact that Saturday night is my Friday didn't help. Entering the heat certainly didn't. Will it ever cool off? Will it ever rain again? I watered the grass, don't MAKE me wash the truck!
I got out on the freeway and lowered the windows trying to catch some breeze and fresh air. Sometimes all that air conditioning just makes my sinus close up. I just want to drive and get out of the heat footprint of the city. Too much concrete, too much heat.
I take 114 west out of Grapevine towards the county instead of 121 south back towards the city. I don't expect any heat break as I travel though Grapevine or Southlake - face it, these suburbs just hold the heat, too. But as I pass the theater and the two story Barnes and Noble the road is suddenly lines with trees and I do expect the heat to drop a little... like it does coming down 820 from Hurst into Fort Worth, that stretch between highway 10 and I-30... but it doesn't.
It's 11:15 at night and there is quite a bit of traffic - are these folks really going somewhere or are they trying to escape just like me? We ride the freeway - 10 lanes to 8 to 4 back up to 6 then 4 again. I enter Denton County and we're on the access road. I take a 'wrong turn' at the split of 114 and 170.My plan was to just take 114 out to the Speedway and just take I-35 back through Alliance and back down into Fort Worth. But in the confusion in the dark I take 170. I have never been out this road but there is other traffic going with me, I have half a tank of gas and I can always turn around.
170 takes you from Westlake back into Fort Worth. This is technically Fort Worth, for mapping, taxing and city services only - there is really nothing out here. I recognize a couple of streets and red lights as I go out this road. 377 goes all the way back down into Fort Worth, Old Denton Road will get me at least back to north Loop 820. I am going southwest now instead of due west or slightly northwest and I get wind blowing into the car, but it's just warm dry wind. It's not what I was hoping for. Maybe I should just bust north towards Oklahoma, just ride up to Ardmore and clear the cobwebs. But I don't have a radio - all I have is the wind and the sound of the rubber meeting the road. I decide to just head back into town and have a beer.
I come up in I-35 at the south end of the Alliance Airport instead of the north end by the Speedway. As I cross over to get on the freeway, the left runway of Alliance is off to my immediate right, all lit up stretching out for what, 5000 feet? Almost a mile? I think how cool it would be to see someone landing, but it is unlikely at this hour.
I am back on the freeway heading south towards downtown and home. When was the last time I was on this stretch of road? Last time I took a ride up to Ardmore to clear my head? How long ago was that? When I took a load of stuff up to Recycled in Denton? That was over a year ago.
I am jealous now of my mother who is in Pennsylvania. She called and bragged how it's been in the mid 70s all week long. I'd love to be on a hammock there as the temperature drops through the 60s just smelling the clover and listening to the traffic. She says Grandpap is very bad, holding water and not able to move around much and always cold due to poor circulation. She feels he will be back in the hospital soon. I know what's coming - congestive heart failure. He will go into the hospital one of these times and not come home. Then I will be sad. Grandma, she says though is getting around well, still. Slow but mobile.
I'm back inside the loop and off to the right are the bars and action of northside and the stockyards. I wonder if I know one of the girls drinking over there with her buddy. They'd be in one of the cowboy bars, not the Hispanic clubs the line Main Street and 38th. As we come around the curve by Long Avenue, there's and accident on the other side - I see the flashing lights and I know something bad has happened. Two fire trucks and a couple cop cars and the traffic backed up, narrowed to one lane as the emergency crews work.
I take the ramp to I-30 East / Lancaster to head back into my neighborhood. I don't know if I've ever been up on this high, high ramp after dark. Over to the left the street lights and the houses look very calm and peaceful. You can't tell that those are some of the meanest streets of Fort Worth, some streets you just don't go down after dark. But as I say, from the height, the city looks pretty and peaceful.
I pull into the driveway, go in and grab an MGD. It's 11:57 and I flip on Weather on the 8s; it's 88 degrees at midnight! It's just too damn hot.
I left work last night with a sense of malaise. Physically a little tired but just mentally worn down.Probably the fact that Saturday night is my Friday didn't help. Entering the heat certainly didn't. Will it ever cool off? Will it ever rain again? I watered the grass, don't MAKE me wash the truck!
I got out on the freeway and lowered the windows trying to catch some breeze and fresh air. Sometimes all that air conditioning just makes my sinus close up. I just want to drive and get out of the heat footprint of the city. Too much concrete, too much heat.
I take 114 west out of Grapevine towards the county instead of 121 south back towards the city. I don't expect any heat break as I travel though Grapevine or Southlake - face it, these suburbs just hold the heat, too. But as I pass the theater and the two story Barnes and Noble the road is suddenly lines with trees and I do expect the heat to drop a little... like it does coming down 820 from Hurst into Fort Worth, that stretch between highway 10 and I-30... but it doesn't.
It's 11:15 at night and there is quite a bit of traffic - are these folks really going somewhere or are they trying to escape just like me? We ride the freeway - 10 lanes to 8 to 4 back up to 6 then 4 again. I enter Denton County and we're on the access road. I take a 'wrong turn' at the split of 114 and 170.My plan was to just take 114 out to the Speedway and just take I-35 back through Alliance and back down into Fort Worth. But in the confusion in the dark I take 170. I have never been out this road but there is other traffic going with me, I have half a tank of gas and I can always turn around.
170 takes you from Westlake back into Fort Worth. This is technically Fort Worth, for mapping, taxing and city services only - there is really nothing out here. I recognize a couple of streets and red lights as I go out this road. 377 goes all the way back down into Fort Worth, Old Denton Road will get me at least back to north Loop 820. I am going southwest now instead of due west or slightly northwest and I get wind blowing into the car, but it's just warm dry wind. It's not what I was hoping for. Maybe I should just bust north towards Oklahoma, just ride up to Ardmore and clear the cobwebs. But I don't have a radio - all I have is the wind and the sound of the rubber meeting the road. I decide to just head back into town and have a beer.
I come up in I-35 at the south end of the Alliance Airport instead of the north end by the Speedway. As I cross over to get on the freeway, the left runway of Alliance is off to my immediate right, all lit up stretching out for what, 5000 feet? Almost a mile? I think how cool it would be to see someone landing, but it is unlikely at this hour.
I am back on the freeway heading south towards downtown and home. When was the last time I was on this stretch of road? Last time I took a ride up to Ardmore to clear my head? How long ago was that? When I took a load of stuff up to Recycled in Denton? That was over a year ago.
I am jealous now of my mother who is in Pennsylvania. She called and bragged how it's been in the mid 70s all week long. I'd love to be on a hammock there as the temperature drops through the 60s just smelling the clover and listening to the traffic. She says Grandpap is very bad, holding water and not able to move around much and always cold due to poor circulation. She feels he will be back in the hospital soon. I know what's coming - congestive heart failure. He will go into the hospital one of these times and not come home. Then I will be sad. Grandma, she says though is getting around well, still. Slow but mobile.
I'm back inside the loop and off to the right are the bars and action of northside and the stockyards. I wonder if I know one of the girls drinking over there with her buddy. They'd be in one of the cowboy bars, not the Hispanic clubs the line Main Street and 38th. As we come around the curve by Long Avenue, there's and accident on the other side - I see the flashing lights and I know something bad has happened. Two fire trucks and a couple cop cars and the traffic backed up, narrowed to one lane as the emergency crews work.
I take the ramp to I-30 East / Lancaster to head back into my neighborhood. I don't know if I've ever been up on this high, high ramp after dark. Over to the left the street lights and the houses look very calm and peaceful. You can't tell that those are some of the meanest streets of Fort Worth, some streets you just don't go down after dark. But as I say, from the height, the city looks pretty and peaceful.
I pull into the driveway, go in and grab an MGD. It's 11:57 and I flip on Weather on the 8s; it's 88 degrees at midnight! It's just too damn hot.
Thursday, August 07, 2008
What's Up?
Well, it's been a long month. The major pain in my life was a real pain in my jaw. I had a bicuspid that was giving me on and off trouble for the last couple years finally give and I had to have root canal. The GOOD NEWS [if there is any associated with root canal] is that I was able to get away with just a couple of fillings for now. And the root canal was not as horrible as I thought it would be... not that I want to do it again anytime soon. But is there any pain worse than a bad tooth?
My truck got broken into 4th of July down in Deep Ellum. They jacked my radio, my CD wallet [99% stuff I burned] and my briefcase with my work headset and crappy Sony MP3 player I didn't like anyway. I went down to see the return of the American Fuse, who were grand but loud. I guess in 20 years of going to D.E. and this is the first trouble I've had I was due. It's just a pain in the ass to replace the window and the radio [which I haven't yet]. And the time doing so. Then my CD burning program goes on the fritz and I have to learn a new one.
My beloved grandfather continues to struggle with his health. There was an incident of heat exhaustion and he lost about ten pounds in the hospital. Mom is going north tomorrow for about a week, so I expect a pretty bad progress report.
My friend and guitarist extraordinare Nate Fowler was in a wreck and shattered his right wrist. I guess the Fuse will not be playing for a while.
It was the 5th anniversary of Heather and Henry's crash. We took some Shiners out to the cemetery and shared some thoughts and beers with the marker.
Henry's mom Andee took a hit in her fight against cancer - a treatment a few days after I saw her in mid July has left her unable to speak.
Other than that, life is a series of bad traffic tie ups and disappointments. The usual. I was going over an old notebook and it seems I was a confused, scared lad back in the 90s and not a whole lot has changed. Except the grey in my hair and all these lines on my face gettin' clearer...
I did find a most excellent band courtesy of the Fort Worth Startlegram: If you haven't checked out The Hold Steady, do so immediately. The comparison is to Springsteen and the E Street band, but it's a modern sound and it's not all about girls, cars and Jersey, eh?
SALEH!
Well, it's been a long month. The major pain in my life was a real pain in my jaw. I had a bicuspid that was giving me on and off trouble for the last couple years finally give and I had to have root canal. The GOOD NEWS [if there is any associated with root canal] is that I was able to get away with just a couple of fillings for now. And the root canal was not as horrible as I thought it would be... not that I want to do it again anytime soon. But is there any pain worse than a bad tooth?
My truck got broken into 4th of July down in Deep Ellum. They jacked my radio, my CD wallet [99% stuff I burned] and my briefcase with my work headset and crappy Sony MP3 player I didn't like anyway. I went down to see the return of the American Fuse, who were grand but loud. I guess in 20 years of going to D.E. and this is the first trouble I've had I was due. It's just a pain in the ass to replace the window and the radio [which I haven't yet]. And the time doing so. Then my CD burning program goes on the fritz and I have to learn a new one.
My beloved grandfather continues to struggle with his health. There was an incident of heat exhaustion and he lost about ten pounds in the hospital. Mom is going north tomorrow for about a week, so I expect a pretty bad progress report.
My friend and guitarist extraordinare Nate Fowler was in a wreck and shattered his right wrist. I guess the Fuse will not be playing for a while.
It was the 5th anniversary of Heather and Henry's crash. We took some Shiners out to the cemetery and shared some thoughts and beers with the marker.
Henry's mom Andee took a hit in her fight against cancer - a treatment a few days after I saw her in mid July has left her unable to speak.
Other than that, life is a series of bad traffic tie ups and disappointments. The usual. I was going over an old notebook and it seems I was a confused, scared lad back in the 90s and not a whole lot has changed. Except the grey in my hair and all these lines on my face gettin' clearer...
I did find a most excellent band courtesy of the Fort Worth Startlegram: If you haven't checked out The Hold Steady, do so immediately. The comparison is to Springsteen and the E Street band, but it's a modern sound and it's not all about girls, cars and Jersey, eh?
SALEH!
Friday, July 04, 2008
I saw this on Idolator.com and thought it would be a fun exercise. 1970 and 1971 proved to be hard years [70: Traffic's John Barleycorn Must Die, Rod Stewart's Gasoline Alley, Michael Nesmith's Magnetic South and Loose Salute, Santana's Abraxas; 71: Rolling Stones Sticky Fingers, Marvin Gaye's What's Going On, Stewart's Every Picture Tells A Story, Lennon's Imagine, Alice Cooper's Killer, Elton John's Madman Across the Water, Led Zeppelin IV, Bowie's Hunky Dory] . 2000 was a good year for compilations, but not much in my catalog for great releases [Ryan Adams' Heartbreaker, Neil Young's Silver and Gold and Budd being the only real standouts]. 2007 was a really good year for me [the two Harold Budd / Robin Guthrie collaborations Before the Day Breaks and After the Night Falls, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club's Baby 81, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss' Raising Sand, Watts' One Below the All Time Low].
Hope this inspires a walk through your record collections!
Hope this inspires a walk through your record collections!
1967 – After Bathing At Baxter’s by Jefferson Airplane
1968 – Beggar’s Banquet by the Rolling Stones
1969 – Let It Bleed by the Rolling Stones
1970 – John Lennon / Plastic Ono Band by John Lennon [close 2nd: Rides Again by the James Gang]
1971 – Who’s Next by the Who
1972 – Harvest by Neil young [2nd: Burgers by Hot Tuna]
1973 – Blueprint by Rory Gallagher
1974 – Bad Co. by Bad Company
1975 – A Night at the Opera by Queen [2nd: Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd]
1976 – Rocks by Aerosmith
1977 – Marquee Moon by Television
1978 – The Cars by the Cars [2nd: This Year’s Model by Elvis Costello and the Attractions]
1979 - London Calling by the Clash [by 2 weeks] [2nd: Cheap Trick at Budokan by Cheap Trick]
1980 – Get Happy!!! By Elvis Costello and the Attractions
1981 – Discipline by King Crimson
1982 – All the Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes by Pete Townshend
1983 – More Fun in the New World by X
1984 – Learning to Crawl by the Pretenders
1985 – Town and Country by the Rave Ups
1986 – Tones by Eric Johnson [2nd: Life’s Rich Pageant by R.E.M.]
1987 – Pleased to Meet Me by the Replacements
1988 – Talk Is Cheap by Keith Richards
1989 – New York by Lou Reed
1990 – Bloodletting by Concrete Blonde
1991 – Badmotorfinger by Soundgarden
1992 - The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion by the Black Crowes
1993 – Friday Night is Killing Me by Bash ‘N’ Pop [2nd: Anodyne by Uncle Tupelo]
1994 – Amorica by the Black Crowes
1995 – Here’s Where the Strings Come In by Superchunk
1996 – Being There by Wilco
1997 – Stranger’s Almanac by Whiskeytown [2nd: Love Songs for Underdogs by Tanya Donelly]
1998 – Mermaid Avenue by Billy Bragg and Wilco
1999 – Come Pick Me Up by Superchunk
2000 – The Room by Harold Budd
2001 – Global A Go Go by Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros
2002 – Stereo / Mono by Paul Westerberg [2nd: One by One by the Foo Fighters]
2003 – Getting’ Up the Rent by Nope
2004 – Paper by Rich Robinson
2005 – Howl by Black Rebel Motorcycle Club [2nd: Martha Wainwright by Martha Wainwright]
2006 – The Greatest by Cat Power [2nd: Black Cadillac by Rosanne Cash]
2007 – The Better Angels of Our Nature by Glossary
2008 – Warpaint by the Black Crowes [ONLY PURCHASE]
Pens Get Scraps, Jagr on the sidelines...
In a deal more suited to the Nashville Predators [Sorry, Marty!] the Pens sign Islanders cast offs Miroslav Satan and Ruslan Fedotenko. Satan, if motivated, could pot some goals alongside Crosby - Fedotenko could be a serviceable grinder. Apparently they were pushing hard for Nasland, but the Rangers, tired of waiting for Jagr to make up his mind, swooped in. It's not outrageous to think the Pens couold sign Jagr, but with goalie Marc -Andre Fleury agreeing to a long term deal, I don't see the cash.
Jagr to Nasville? Jagr to Long Island? Jagr to Russia as rumored? With Marty Straka returning to the Czech Republic, could the Rangers sign Jagr to a 1 year low pay, high bonus deal?
AM Update:
ESPN.GO.com is reporting that Russian Superleague team Avangard Omsk has signed Jaromir Jagr. Jagr played for Omsk during the lockout of 04-05.
It's official: Tampa Bay is going to try to win games 9-7. It's reported this morning that defensemen Dan Boyle and his $ 4.5 million/year contract and Brad Lukowich have been shipped to San Jose for young defenseman Matt Carle [read: cheaper] and a couple draft picks. Wow. And we though lousy goaltending was Tampa's issue last year.
On the other hand, this works out good for San Jose, who also just signed former L.A. Kings and Avalanche defenseman Rob Blake. Blake, like Chris Chelios has clearly lost a step, but tries to make up for it by smart positioning. I think Carle would have been a very very good for a long time in San Jose, but they needed someone to quarterback the PP after Brian Campbell left for Chicago and that is just beyond Blake at his age. But in Boyle, Blake and Lukowich, the Sharks get the experience of guys who have all won the Stanley Cup.
In a deal more suited to the Nashville Predators [Sorry, Marty!] the Pens sign Islanders cast offs Miroslav Satan and Ruslan Fedotenko. Satan, if motivated, could pot some goals alongside Crosby - Fedotenko could be a serviceable grinder. Apparently they were pushing hard for Nasland, but the Rangers, tired of waiting for Jagr to make up his mind, swooped in. It's not outrageous to think the Pens couold sign Jagr, but with goalie Marc -Andre Fleury agreeing to a long term deal, I don't see the cash.
Jagr to Nasville? Jagr to Long Island? Jagr to Russia as rumored? With Marty Straka returning to the Czech Republic, could the Rangers sign Jagr to a 1 year low pay, high bonus deal?
AM Update:
ESPN.GO.com is reporting that Russian Superleague team Avangard Omsk has signed Jaromir Jagr. Jagr played for Omsk during the lockout of 04-05.
It's official: Tampa Bay is going to try to win games 9-7. It's reported this morning that defensemen Dan Boyle and his $ 4.5 million/year contract and Brad Lukowich have been shipped to San Jose for young defenseman Matt Carle [read: cheaper] and a couple draft picks. Wow. And we though lousy goaltending was Tampa's issue last year.
On the other hand, this works out good for San Jose, who also just signed former L.A. Kings and Avalanche defenseman Rob Blake. Blake, like Chris Chelios has clearly lost a step, but tries to make up for it by smart positioning. I think Carle would have been a very very good for a long time in San Jose, but they needed someone to quarterback the PP after Brian Campbell left for Chicago and that is just beyond Blake at his age. But in Boyle, Blake and Lukowich, the Sharks get the experience of guys who have all won the Stanley Cup.
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
Oh, the Madness... When Will This Madness End?
UP FIRST - the Man Now to Be Referred to as "The Lying Motherfucking Ass Munch":
Yes, I mean YOU MARIAN HOSSA. How can you pass up security and a good payday and a chance to pad your stats out the ass playing a power play with Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin? You could have had 50 goals and 125 points for the next 5-7 years! A lock for the Hall of Fame... well, maybe not since Glenn Anderson took so long getting there. But Jari Kurri went in pretty quick! That's good company! But no, you pull THIS shit:
I will be booing you every time you touch the puck, now. You will hear me from Funkytown when you play in Dallas. You've just replaced Jaromir Jagr as the most despised man of Penguins fans. And considering how they boo Jagr, that's not a nice place to be.
Other hits and misses:
Brooks Orpik re-signs with the Pens - FOR LESS THAN MARKET VALUE. Evgeni Malkin re-signs with Pens - DITTO! Okay, the fourth line is gone and the 3rd line is hanging by a thread - still, the Pens re-signer Pascal Dupuis to ride shotgun with Crosby and for a reasonable amount. One more scoring winger. Jagr is a rumor. Markus Nasland could regain his scoring touch on Crosby's line...please sign Yannic Perrault to teach these guys how to win faceoffs!
DAMN, I just read Kristian Huselius is off the board! To Columbus? My, those boys have been busy! Yeah, they lost journeyman Ron Hiansey to Atlanta, but they did fleece the NY Hockey Rangers for two servicable defensemen in Christian Backman and Fedor Tyutin. Adding also Mike Commodore from Ottawa and Raffi Torres from Edmonton... looks like management has decided to play for a playoff spot this year.
And just when it seemed like the Rangers were in good shape on the back end, too. They got Wade Redden out of Ottawa and re-signed Michael Rosival and they have their most solid D-corps since 95-96... and they trade Backman and Tyutin for two SPARES like Dan Frtische and Nikolai Zherdev? Now Backmand and Tyuitin were not the second coming of Scott Stevens and/ or Brian Leetch. but as third pair they would be safe! This deal only makes sense if it frees cap space for Jaromir Jagr AND Martin Straka AND... but I don't know now. They did add character guys in former Shark Patrick Rissmiller and Wild Aaron Varros.
Doug Weight moves to Long Island to reunite with his old buddy from Edmonton and St. Louis, Bill Geurin. If those two can find magic again at their age, it will allow the Islanders to season some young guys for one more year. The adding of defenseman Mark Streit from Montreal will help, but they need a whole second line.
Let me see if I have this right: The Dallas Stars walk away from they guy they know is a good and dangerous penalty killer and who can chip in offensively and let him sign with Toronto for 4 years / $ 12 million and bring in an unknown quantity with a big mouth for 4 years / $ 15.5 million? No, this is not Jamie Langenbrunner and Brett Hull we're talking about - it's Nik Hagman and Sean Avery. Avery is an agitator who plays hard, but is also injury prone. I don't see this as a good move. We'll see.
The New Jersey Devils let go of a much younger and just as talented Sergei Brylin and bring in Bobby Holik, who couldn't get out of Jersey fast enough after the 2003 Cup win? Brian Rolston, yes! He's a good scorer and has some speed left. Holik is a traffic cone on the ice.
The cream of the defensemen crop , Brian Campbell takes the bucks and goes to the Chicago Blackhawks. The Hawks also add goalie Christobal Huet, he who kept the Washington Capitals in the playoff hunt. Now all they need is a scorer who can take up the slack when [notice, I did not say IF] Martin Havlat goes down. And it better not be Pavol Demitra... although they could keep the spot in the IR warm while the other plays 10 games before going down again.
Why Philadelphia traded Vinnie Prospal back to Tampa is a mystery. He seemed to have some chemistry with Daniel Briere and he would be an insurance policy if Simone Gagne goes down again...
Huet out in D.C., Jose Theodore in? It feels like a drop, but it could end up being a push.
WHY DID PHOENIX LET RADIM VRBATA WALK?
Colorado adds no one and likes it. Who's their starting goalie? And Darcy Tucker? Give me a break. Oh, well, Peter Forsberg is still signed.... HA HA! Let the re-tooling begin!
Cory Stillman is going to be very lonely as the only scorer for the Florida Panthers.
Lots of backup goalies moving... who cares?
No word on Markus Nasland and Mats Sundin appears to be taking his time mulling over $ 20 million / 2 year offers. Jagr says he wants to stay in NYC.
QUIET... TOO QUIET: San Jose Sharks, St. Louis Blues, Phoenix Coyotes, Nashville Predators, Montreal Canadiens...
UP FIRST - the Man Now to Be Referred to as "The Lying Motherfucking Ass Munch":
Yes, I mean YOU MARIAN HOSSA. How can you pass up security and a good payday and a chance to pad your stats out the ass playing a power play with Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin? You could have had 50 goals and 125 points for the next 5-7 years! A lock for the Hall of Fame... well, maybe not since Glenn Anderson took so long getting there. But Jari Kurri went in pretty quick! That's good company! But no, you pull THIS shit:
Hossa signed a one-year contract with Detroit on Wednesday, and a person in the NHL told The Associated Press the deal is worth $7.45 million.
He had rebuffed a chance to re-sign with the Pittsburgh Penguins, who were reportedly offering $7 million a season as part of five-year contract after they lost the Stanley Cup finals to Detroit last month.
“It was a really tough decision for me to make,” Hossa said. “When I compared the two teams, I felt like I would have a little better of a chance to win the Cup in Detroit.”
I will be booing you every time you touch the puck, now. You will hear me from Funkytown when you play in Dallas. You've just replaced Jaromir Jagr as the most despised man of Penguins fans. And considering how they boo Jagr, that's not a nice place to be.
Other hits and misses:
Brooks Orpik re-signs with the Pens - FOR LESS THAN MARKET VALUE. Evgeni Malkin re-signs with Pens - DITTO! Okay, the fourth line is gone and the 3rd line is hanging by a thread - still, the Pens re-signer Pascal Dupuis to ride shotgun with Crosby and for a reasonable amount. One more scoring winger. Jagr is a rumor. Markus Nasland could regain his scoring touch on Crosby's line...please sign Yannic Perrault to teach these guys how to win faceoffs!
DAMN, I just read Kristian Huselius is off the board! To Columbus? My, those boys have been busy! Yeah, they lost journeyman Ron Hiansey to Atlanta, but they did fleece the NY Hockey Rangers for two servicable defensemen in Christian Backman and Fedor Tyutin. Adding also Mike Commodore from Ottawa and Raffi Torres from Edmonton... looks like management has decided to play for a playoff spot this year.
And just when it seemed like the Rangers were in good shape on the back end, too. They got Wade Redden out of Ottawa and re-signed Michael Rosival and they have their most solid D-corps since 95-96... and they trade Backman and Tyutin for two SPARES like Dan Frtische and Nikolai Zherdev? Now Backmand and Tyuitin were not the second coming of Scott Stevens and/ or Brian Leetch. but as third pair they would be safe! This deal only makes sense if it frees cap space for Jaromir Jagr AND Martin Straka AND... but I don't know now. They did add character guys in former Shark Patrick Rissmiller and Wild Aaron Varros.
Doug Weight moves to Long Island to reunite with his old buddy from Edmonton and St. Louis, Bill Geurin. If those two can find magic again at their age, it will allow the Islanders to season some young guys for one more year. The adding of defenseman Mark Streit from Montreal will help, but they need a whole second line.
Let me see if I have this right: The Dallas Stars walk away from they guy they know is a good and dangerous penalty killer and who can chip in offensively and let him sign with Toronto for 4 years / $ 12 million and bring in an unknown quantity with a big mouth for 4 years / $ 15.5 million? No, this is not Jamie Langenbrunner and Brett Hull we're talking about - it's Nik Hagman and Sean Avery. Avery is an agitator who plays hard, but is also injury prone. I don't see this as a good move. We'll see.
The New Jersey Devils let go of a much younger and just as talented Sergei Brylin and bring in Bobby Holik, who couldn't get out of Jersey fast enough after the 2003 Cup win? Brian Rolston, yes! He's a good scorer and has some speed left. Holik is a traffic cone on the ice.
The cream of the defensemen crop , Brian Campbell takes the bucks and goes to the Chicago Blackhawks. The Hawks also add goalie Christobal Huet, he who kept the Washington Capitals in the playoff hunt. Now all they need is a scorer who can take up the slack when [notice, I did not say IF] Martin Havlat goes down. And it better not be Pavol Demitra... although they could keep the spot in the IR warm while the other plays 10 games before going down again.
Why Philadelphia traded Vinnie Prospal back to Tampa is a mystery. He seemed to have some chemistry with Daniel Briere and he would be an insurance policy if Simone Gagne goes down again...
Huet out in D.C., Jose Theodore in? It feels like a drop, but it could end up being a push.
WHY DID PHOENIX LET RADIM VRBATA WALK?
Colorado adds no one and likes it. Who's their starting goalie? And Darcy Tucker? Give me a break. Oh, well, Peter Forsberg is still signed.... HA HA! Let the re-tooling begin!
Cory Stillman is going to be very lonely as the only scorer for the Florida Panthers.
Lots of backup goalies moving... who cares?
No word on Markus Nasland and Mats Sundin appears to be taking his time mulling over $ 20 million / 2 year offers. Jagr says he wants to stay in NYC.
QUIET... TOO QUIET: San Jose Sharks, St. Louis Blues, Phoenix Coyotes, Nashville Predators, Montreal Canadiens...