It's Hockey Season!!

“Right Tango. I'm the only one who says Sid dives, and it's not just fans who say that.

There is no question he's a great hockey player. There's no question he gets tripped, hooked, cross-checked, and all that. Everybody who laces up skates gets tripped, hooked, cross-checked and all that. It's part of the game.

Hell, the Flyers constantly get the skates yanked out from under them without a penalty being called. That's part of the game too. In the Montreal series the officiating was so egregious that even a Montreal reporter admitted the Flyers were hosed. The team still has to pull together and put the puck in the net.

But all of that said, the take on Sid is what it is, and it's from people who watch a lot more hockey than I do.

The Black Hawks of long ago had a defenseman who dished out cheap penalties, constantly getting caught for all sorts of violations. He spent a major part of his career sitting in the box. And he also dove. Gordie Howe worked him over in the corner one day, away from the play. All the zebras knew was that he was picking himself up off the ice and squawking his yap off while Gordie skated up ice like he was taking a turn in the park. That was the way things like that got dealt with back then.

Sid is young. He still has much to learn about the game. The day could easily come when he is all that and more. But he needs to just play the game. He has more than enough talent to carry him.

Zac, it's a seven game series, so whoever wins tonight does not mean a damn thing. The Flyers lost the first game of the two series they played so far.”

“Crosby is the biggest crybaby in the league. He has to whine like a little twit after every play. The whistle blows and there he goes yelling gibber jabber (because that's all he's capable of) into the ref's ear. As a player, i'm running him straight into the wall whenever I can....because this is the playoffs and refs swallow whistles....”

“Never trust a player who can't grow a playoff beard. ;-)”

“the Barclay brothers would've taken this little brat Crosby and toss'em around like a rag doll....”

“Everybody who laces up skates gets tripped, hooked, cross-checked and all that. It's part of the game.

I think that is an untrue statement. And the frequency with which it happens to great players is far beyond the bounds of what's part of the game.

All the great players were given flaws by the media and opposing coaches and players to try to even up the play.

I watched every Pens game last year but 1 and I've watched every game this year! He's scores when he's on his knees and when he's sliding on his butt to the goal. I have no prob with that!

It's funny there was an opposing coach (I don't remember who it was) after a hard fought game was asked about Syd's diving and he said. "Sid doesn't dive". I wish I could remember who it was.

LZ- I can't grow a playoff beard (yet, haven't gone through menopause) Ha ha ha~!”

“Tango....so why does he cry like a baby to the refs after every play? But then again you wouldn't see or know that by watching hockey on tv.....he's known around the league amongst the players as a big whiner....just shut the hay up, the refs and alot of players can't stand him....”

“First how do you know what he's saying? And I don't see it after every play or even after every call. Let's watch the series and see if you're close to being right or wrong.

Rocky statue has a new look



AND (an older pic)


last edited: 5/09/08 2:10:14 PM”

“Here's a little story you'd like Strat:

Crosby’s introduction to the rivalry came by the blunt end of Flyers defenseman Darian Hatcher’s stick in November 2005, leaving Crosby with some chipped teeth, a bloody mouth and an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for protesting the lack of a penalty. No doubt that’s one reason he has 37 points in 20 career games against them.”

“How do I know what he's saying? The point is not about "what" he's saying, its about saying anything at all to the refs. There's no bloody reason to hound the refs after every play and complain that he was hooked, slashed, cross checked, whatever....just shut the hay up, get in the circle and take the draw....sheesh...shut your yapper already...”

“WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1”

“OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

“Good game.

After seeing the piece on the kid with terminal cancer, it puts sports in its proper perspective. Thanks to Mario, Ben, the Pens, and all the other sports personalities who contributed to making a happy time for the kid. That was an awesome sidebar.

For whoever wins and whoever loses, the next day will dawn and life will go on. Not so for the boy, but he got some happy time while he could enjoy it.”

“George...thanks for posting that because I was just pondering those similar thoughts a few moments ago and that's exactly what is important in life. This kid should be an example for us all and he laid out what we all should be concerned with, and that is to focus on the positive things around us.”

“His name is John Chalis and the piece can be viewed by going to Versus and typing in John Chalis in the search window. After a brief commercial the piece starts.

Kudos to Versus and reporter Christine Simpson for getting it.”

“Very good story. Great kid. I do love the athletes that visit hospitals and do good works. It's sad that we don't here too much of that and we are inundated with pacman jones and tank johnson arrest stories.

I remember when Mario was diagnosed with cancer Non Hodgkins Lymphoma; my Grandmother was diagnosed at nearly the same time. They went through it together, though Mario didn't know it.”

“Ozzie 9-0 since stepping in.....one more to go for the sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeep!”

“At the moment it looks like it's going to be Detroit vs Pittsburg for the finals....

Detroit 3 games Dallas 0

Pittsburg 3 games Philidelphia 0”

“Come what may, the Flyers did better than I expected in the playoffs. At season's end I figured they'd go out in the second round and worried they might even go in the first. They made it to the conference finals. Now they need a four-game winning streak to go forward. Not likely given the fact that our best defenseman is out with a blood clot and our second best defenseman is out with an eye swollen shut. The kids replacing them keep making kid mistakes.

I will say that Crosby seems to have matured.

All that said, GO FLYERS!”

“I would have figured the Stars and Flyers would have put up more of a fight. How crappy will it be if both the Red Wings and the Penguins sweep?”

“"How crappy will it be if both the Red Wings and the Penguins sweep?"

Do tell....”

“Blow out hockey is just boring to watch.”

“The Flyers were done as soon as Timonen went down.. Then to lose Coburn... any chance for a decent series was over...

I agree with Geobeet, even if they get swept it was a better season than anyone expected..

I just hope Gagne can overcome his concussions...

'fool”

“I have sensed all season long that this Flyers team has some glaring weaknesses. Their passing is less than crisp, they cough up the puck too much, and the D lets the goalie down too often. Both Biron and Nittymaki have been virtually left alone.

They also take way too many penalties. The officiating is one issue, but beyond that you have to wonder at some of the things they do to get admission to the box. Great penalty killing does not always overcome the problem, because if you give up a PP goal that ties the game late or breaks a tie late you've pretty much coughed up a game.

As far as injuries, every team has to deal with injuries. Losing the two big D-men at this stage of the playoffs goes beyond that. But that's hockey. People get injured and the team has to deal with it. Great teams do, good teams do.

There will be issues for Homey to work on in the off season. And Stevens will have to work with the team on passing and penalties. At some point the players have to step up and take responsibility. They always say the right things, but the doing part is where they come up short.

Above all that, Fleury has played a hell of a great game in net so far. The kid subsists on a diet of rubber and just grows stronger. Crosby and Malkin have been less of a problem than Fleury. He's been the main difference.”

“Was a great game last night. Syd leads the play off points passed Henrik Zetterberg with 1 less game played. Malkin is 3rd in points. All four of our lines are contributing and mostly we have stepped up to playoff play, unlike last year. Tango Happy!”

“That was my thought as the game ended last night ... at least Tango is happy. Of course, I'd rather be happy than you, but the hockey gods seem to be smiling to the west of here this year.

But, the Flyers will still be there tomorrow night. I'm rooting for a four-game sweep (winning the lottery and being young again, for that matter(.”

“Oh, I misread that, when you said you were hoping for a 4 game sweep, I was wondering why you'd want us to sweep you? Kinda curious, but then I got what you were really talkin' 'bout.”

“Coburn is out for tonight's game.

I'll miss it in any event. Got a rehearsal to attend to.”

“Kasparaitis played with a broken foot! What kind of cream puffs you raising over there in Philly??”

“Guy can't see. His eye is swollen shut. You can't shoot what you can't see!

And Timmonen has a blot clot; Gagne had a concussion. If Kate Smith wasn't dead we'd have her playing the point!”

“Yeah, Kate could shatter some plexiglass.”

“He has TWO eyes!!! I love Simone Gagne, I've really missed him this year.”

“TANGO SAD!”