The Trade Deadline That's Not The Trade Deadline

Yup. Lots of shit to assess. But then again maybe not that much. How did everyone do on Blockbuster Sunday?

How about win, win and win.

1. Leafs. You know when you make a trade in your hockey pool just for the fuck of it, because you hate practically everyone on your squad? Apparently Brian Burke does. And let's get serious. Landing Phaneuf is a coup. The kid's having an off year. His horseplay in Cowtown will not fly in Hogtown, and watch him light it up the second he takes the ice at the ACC.

2. Flames. If they crap out of the playoffs, there's a good chance the Calgary townsfolk will burn down the Saddlebarn. Stajan is on Team Maniwaki and unbelievably has been quite productive. Hagman is no slouching Texan either. The Flames can't score worth a fuck, now they'll get some periphery players which will result in coveted tallies. Phaneuf apparently has become as relevant in Cowtown as a clown at the Stampede. He stays, and he gradually grows from a dust devil into a full blown tornado of controversy. He goes to Burkeville and he gets Wilsoned back into shape. I can honestly say as a Canucks fan, that the Flames got better today and they legitimately concern me.

3. Anaheim. Big win. They dump salary on a goalie who's no longer their starter and pick up a Toskala and a Jason Blake who no longer plays under the TO Burke/Wilson atomic microscope. If anyone needed a change of scenery it was Blake, the Yank that looks like Swede. Watch him chill out for a bit under the California sun, and then proceed to light up the Honda Centre. Crank the Pennywise and hop on your Mike V deck, because the Ducks just got better today as well.

...and what's this? More...?

Mc-What....?

Aside from a Team Canada hockey stub, the one ticket that I don't have and would kill get is Men's snowboarding. Why? One of the most dominant athletes in the entire Games will be just up the hill on Cypress (hopefully) blasting out some of the most ridiculous airs ever conceived.

One such move being a Double McTwist 1260???!!!! A stunt so scary and insanely ludicrous, I wouldn't even attempt it on X-Box.

After severely flailing on one in practice - smacking his head off the icy lip falling from at least 10 feet up - then proceeding to nail this absolute leviathan of a trick down in the finals, garnering his third straight X-Games gold in the process, I'm convinced Shaun White should really be riding for Shaolin, China.

Think George LaRaque is the toughest guy on the ice? Think again. Roll footy please:

We Stand On Guard For Thee

So after the dog and I did our daily patrol of the south western portion of the seawall, we retreated to the dog beach by Granville bridge for the obligatory fielding session. And it appeared that today in the lower mainland, military maneuvers were afoot.

No sooner did I throw the ball for Arthur, the canine fielding phenom, than we both heard the unmistakable low rumble of a low flying aircraft. Sure enough two fighter jets in tight formation streaked overhead, at a clip that was faster than the sound of their engines, heading west presumably to CFB Comox.

Not two minutes later, a very military looking helicopter strafed the sky heading south. Then within seconds a Coast Guard patrol boat chugged past and parked itself at the Vanier Park landing. Followed directly by a Vancouver Police boat, and then a very stealthy looking Navy Seal type combat raft.

Maybe this multiple convergence was complete coincidence ,but I'm assuming that some kind of war games/terrorism scenario was in play. Which would be par for the course as the military presence in town and in Whis has been quite noticeable recently. Yesterday, while hiking Davie St with the dog, we came across a massive Navy pick up truck. Also of note, Muskoka regaled tales recently of back country poachers getting pinched by ski snow troopers, out of bounds around the Whistler/Blackcomb hills.

So to all this, may I put on my Don Cherry zoot suit, complete with Maple Leaf tie, and broadcast from Camp Maniwaki this message re: the added security:

Affirmative.

With some of the shenigans going on recently and in Olympics past it's good to know that we're taking the last few lines of our national anthem to heart.

To add to this sense of national pride swirling around Camp Maniwaki today, the Canadian Olympic brass has named our flag bearer for the opening ceremonies. And although she took a pass the last time around (garnering the very justified backlash including the Wrath Of Grapes) HQ supports this stellar choice in speed skater, Clara Hughes.

Way to go. Hoist'er high and as proud as a hostess can, when you lead our squad last into BC Place on the 12th. We'll be standing on the seawall for you.

Praying For No Rain

Ok, had a great time in Whis last night with the Oaktown fam. However, the drive up, coupled with this, is admittedly concerning. Usually at this time of the year, Highway 99 up to the twin peaks, is pretty picturesque, "snow falling on sitka", something out of Group Of 7 painting...you get the idea.

This year however, it's looking more like the QEW in March. Dirty piles and patches of snow off to the side of the road. Hell VANOC might even have a better go of things if they moved some of the events to Blue Mountain. Concerning.

We hit the trail back to town early this morning, and low and behold, it looked like the Olympic Gods themselves decided to quit meddling in the affairs of men. A light dusting was coming down over the town as we jettisoned from the parking lot. However, not more than 10 K out of town and all that precipitation had transmuted into rain. By the time we hit Squampty Dampty, for coffee, it was back to buckets.

Yikes.

So what can a guy do but petition The Pantheon for a deep freeze? They seem to take care of the Winter Classic year in year out. Hopefully they'll see fit to hand us an Olympic OT storybook scene.

Off To Whis...

...and since my duds are retro Team Canada red (circa 1998), let's check out some retro footy of Oly vet, Jasey-Jay Anderson, since he won Gold at the World Cup in Valmalenco, Italy on the weekend. Back to Nagano we go:

You Fucking Little Shit

Really? Too severe? Well, while you're busy appealing your suspension to the powers of the Q, whining about not playing for the rest of the season, Mikael Tam will be wondering when and if he's ever going to play again.

Phoning in said appeal plans, draped over a thin apology, is as weak and cheap as the shot that got you into this in the first place. At least Bertuzzi had the stones to stand up in front of the press.

You're going to bitch about 48 games? Be fucking happy you're not in the clink, as anyone that pulled this kind of shit on the street would be charged with assault , and would have plenty of time to replay the youtube footy.

Memorial Cup?

Bitch please....

At this stage, if you want to salvage what little credibility you have as a player and as a human goddam being;

Take the suspension. Issue a press conference tomorrow to apologize to Tam directly, and be goddamned happy that somehow out of all of this, you'll still somehow have a future career in professional hockey.

Light years beyond ludicrous.

The Third Frame

Just walked into HQ. 2-1 to us in the second int. Haven't done a random live feed for a while. Looks like the zamboni's on its final lap. Let's get to it:

20:00 Looks like 2 manner. Must've been some rough ass shit in the second. Last I saw of this match, I was walking pas the Bread Garden and Samuelsson had just tied it on their telly.

19:06 Now a 4 on 3. Nay.

18:38 4 on 4.

18:16 Now a Sabres power play. First of the game for them. We didn't even get a shot on net during the last minute and a bit. These fuckers just put on in the net. Twos.

18:00 What will I be writing about Luongo in the remaining minutes of this tilt? As he's flopping around like a jackfish in the crease and narrowly escapting another Sabres surge, I'm guessing it won't be the most positive.

16:46 Holy fuck!!! Just about a shorthanded goal courtesy of....Demitra and Wellwood....?

15:15 My God is Samuelsoson on fire. Makes me with the Olympics were every year, and

14:39 Holy. Fuck. Now this is the kind of goal you see from a line worthy of the title "Top Line In The League." Just an unreal dangle/drop pass from Hank to Brad Lukowich. Just a fucking filth fest. 3 -2. Let's post that shit right now.



12:15 Ok, Bob. Another sprawling to scissors stopper. We didn't give them the momentum. So far so good. Comments will remain positive.

11:46 And another nice one off the left pad. A positive.

10:41 These Frères Sedins. Just stunning every time they have the puck. They just peppered Miller as if he were a NY striploin. I absolutely can't wait for the Olympics.

10:22 The Spouse and Brother Carn are alarmed at Heidi Montag's multiple plastic surgery. An investigation ensues. Yikes.

4:38 We iced the puck and Vigneault calls a time out. Hey, he didn't win the Jack Adams a few years ago for nothing!

2:38 Aaron Rome (who has one of the best name in the NHL) blasts one from the point, but she's deflected. Too bad. Would be nice to see these defensive call ups snag a few points.

1:01 Miller gone to the bench.

:38 Daniel just about squeadked on in but intercepted like a Brett Favre pass.

:28 Face off in our zone. Ok Captain Bob. Go time.

:14 We iced that shit. Another face off in our zone. A shot!! BURROWS BIG BLOCK!!! Champion!!!! Give him the Vezina!!!! We clear it to centre ice and 3, 2, 1;

0:00 3-2 we win again!! Five in a row!!!! We lead the league in home wins!!! One more at home against St. Louis and then the epic 14 game tour.

HQ is absolutely buzzing!!!! Bring on the Five Rings!!!

Playoff Week 3. All Saints Day.

1. Typical.

2. Yes.

Fine Cuisine Avec Les Marques

The Spouse and I just got back from a great dins with Vlad The Dad, Cathy, and Muskoka. In between courses and reminisces of many Eastern adventures we of course chimed in on many subjects of that game of "ice hockey." The updates, debates and consensuses:

1. RIT 4. American International 0. Continuing their dominance of the Atlantic League, the Dangler and fellow Tigers dispatched American Int'l for the second straight night. Never hearing of this upstart college, I have to question its legitimacy as a Div 1 contestant. Not helping matters. It's location. Springfield, Mass. Did the first line consist of Otto, Nelson and Milhouse?

2. The Yankees Are Coming, The Yankees Are Coming. As I have been rolling on this colonial snare for a spell, The Dad also added to my Revolutionary rhythm stating that the States are going to go far in the imminent Olympic Tourney. Even predicted them to go to the final, which is even a bolder proclamation that I would announce in the town square. Stellar goaltending, a solid system in place and a favourable ice surface could vault the Yanks back into "Miracle" territory. On this we agree. Where we disagree:

3. The Fins. The Dad is convinced that they are the true underlying power in the tourney, stating that their goaltending is superior to the aforementioned US. I remain unconvinced. But then again I haven't even bothered to check out their roster. Not bad between the pipes. And if the Skips's story of his encounter with incredibly stealthy Fins is indicative of their national resolve, we might all be scratching our heads, walking into lamp posts on Granville during the Gold Medal game as the Brothers Koivu laugh at us all.

4. As Well As Sami Salo.He's already laughing tonight, as we dumped the Hawks 5-1. Don't get me wrong. I'm not bitching. But a shutout for Maniwaki Fantasy would've been nice. I'm just saying.

Prospectus Benedictus

Ok, now I've heard it all. Hopefully though this thing isn't contagious and sits dormant in one's system until a random future date. As I wouldn't be surprised if in two years Brett Wallace is tearing up the AL hitting .330 and leading in bombs, only to wake up one day and decide to trade in his Jays uni for a brown robe, to become an actual Padre.

Thursday Night Notes

....mostly of the hockey variety.

1. Back2Back. No that's not some one hit wonder from the early '90's with their track cued up on the dj's playlist next to Snap's "World Power." It's the fucking Canucks squeaking out another late win. So far the Roberto Luongo experiment on Team Maniwaki Fantasy has proven to be a success.

2. Habs Wuss Out. By dumping LaRaque, as apparently Jacques Martin thinks they don't need an enforcer. Hell if our guys weren't so damn scrappy (Rypien, Burrows, etc..) I'd vote that we should sign him to bolster our Western play off push.

3. Because He Knows How To Scrap And This Guy Is Just A Cheap Thug. What the fuck, Patrice Cormier, what the fuck? Having thrown literally thousands of elbows in Karate class over the years, I can attest to the technique's absolutely devastating impact. If it connects. Which of course we never trained with full contact, for the simple fact that if we did, we'd be perpetually concussed, have no front teeth and have suffered multiple brain injuries like poor Mikael Tam of the Remparts. Cormier's hit was one of the most brutal and cowardly cheap shots I've ever seen anywhere in my life. And I've been privy to some nasty bar scraps in my time. Ban this piece of shit for the rest of the season. To start.

And seeing that I'm all fired up, I'm thinking about donning a cape and some black kevlar. To dole out justice. I've already got a state of the art HQ. A roster of compadres to call on. All that's needed to finish the inking on the panel;

4. Are The Wheels. Which today rolled off the R&D lot, rocketed onto the highway, patrolled the city for a few laps, and eventually parked itself in its new home, in the cave far below HQ. That's right. Hide the plutonium. The Maniwaki Mobile is now in the stable.

A New Decade...A New Squad....?

For the first two periods of tonight's game, the case was the same old, same old. The Canucks were predictably losing to a basement team, and when Burrows tied it up, Souray immediately responded to put the laaaaaaast place Oil up again.

The Aussie hostess who's been in Canada less than a year, strolled up to the bar and offered her assessment:

Sheila: I know what's wrong with the Canucks.

Me: Oh yeah? What?

Sheila: The Canucks could be a great team but they have no consistency. They're maddeningly inconsistent. This is my second season watching - I came to Canada during the playoffs last year- that's what I see.

Me: You don't say....

Me: .....

Me: Well you've hit the nail square on the head there. It's been that way for the last 5, 10 years, hell it's been like that for the last...well forever!!! We'll sneak into the playoffs and crap out in the second round. Then everyone around here will scratch their heads in the off season wondering what went wrong. And goddammit aren't you sick of it??!!! I know I am! Year after year after of the same shit!!!! We're losing to a last place team!! Again!!! SO FUCKING PREDICTABLE!!!!!!! GODDAMMIT IT'S A NEW YEAR, AND A NEW DECADE AND I DEMAND A NEW TEAM!!!!!

Packed up and left in a huff. Or a tizzy. Or both. It was the second intermission. Marched all the way home. Fired up the blog. Checked the feeds expecting the inevitable.

Only to find....this?

Lebron Leaves Them In Half

Caught the last 5 minutes of the Raptors/Cavs tilt tonight and I have to say I was on the edge of the HQ couch. I think I would watch more basketball if I tuned in this point during close games between good teams more often. Here it was 95-94 to the Lebrons, but the Raptors were clawing desperately trying to make a case.

And not bad. Not bad at all. Lebron and Shaq are so imposing they look like Na'vi tribesmen compared to everyone else on the court. Yet Bosh and the boys were able to keep up relatively well in the offensive zone. A couple of shanky three pointers and a give away at the end being the difference.

Rebounding and defense was what did them in. You could put an actual Tyrannosaurs Rex in a Raptors uni and still Shaq would find a way to dominate. What an absolute behemoth, even in the hired gun, tail end of his career.

Still though a promising match. And the best playoff chance that any T.O. team is going to get for a while as they sit at .500 in the top eight. Will Colangelo be a buyer or seller at the deadline? After tonight, even if the Raps sit in eights on Feb 18th, they've shown they can play with the biggest of the big boys. I'm saying they're bona fide buyers.

What I Don't Want To See

An over .500 Grizzles squad on a four game win streak, dealing their latest "L"to the Suns and Van Isle native, Nash. Gay.

Playoff Week 2. Avatar.

Holy fuck, I don't remember being this blown away by a visual effects film since I was 5 and Vlad The Dad took me to Star Wars. I remember sitting in the back of the car firing at imaginary TIE fighters and Star Destroyers all the way homes, as the car rocketed down the Death Star chasm.

This film was on par with that. And calling it a film seems like an injustice. As Star Wars was a true bona fide experience so is Avatar. Initially I didn't see what all the hype was about, as the only footage I'd seen of it, made it look like just another disposable, pixellated parable, with a couple of very lame blue Snagglepusses swinging around. Big deal. A spruced up video game trailer.

But wow, was I ever wrong. This was the 21st century definition of the word, "immersion." That's pretty much all I can say, so if you think it looks lame, just go see it. It's like looking at a photograph. In 1830.

So while this was an all day excursion out to the IMAX, let's see what happened in the non digital sporting realm. NFL Playdowns. Week 2. Who's in?

1. Minny. Brett and the boys beat the Cowboys 34 - 3? I'll take it. Two birds with one stone this one was as the Favre circus gets to continue for another week while the fucking Cowboys are ousted. But who to root for next week in the NFC Finale?

2. New Orleans? I think so. Maybe it's the after effects of the billion dollar box office blockbuster still lingering but I'm going for the Hollywood ending in this playoff saga. After watching the movie today and catching the end of the 45 -14 clipping of the Cardinals yesterday, I hope Brees shows up next week in the Superdome painted blue and firing the ball from a bow and arrow. A 3D bow and arrow. Because after he out guns Favre he's going to have to face either:

3. Indy. Who of course Peytoned themselves over Baltimore 20- 3. Or;

4. The Jets. What happened here? An upset? Perhaps. Or from the looks of things another playoff collapse from the Chargers. I wonder if Joe Thornton started at QB for San Diego.

Next week. I start tuning in for real.

The Fantasy Gods Must Be Crazy...

...as I have done a complete about face and traded for the last guy one would ever expect me trade for. And a Joe Thornton swap at that.

Ladies and Gentlemen of Maniwaki Country, I, as GM of Team Maniwaki Fantasy Hockey Club, am proud to present our new #1 goal tender:

Roberto Luongo.

[gasp]

Yup.

That's right. Thornton is a point per game lock until the end of the regular season. However that's not going to be enough to vault us into top spot. However, three or four shutouts, coupled with a compelling Canucks second half will. A huge gamble yes, but one that needs to be taken.

Let's view the tape on this guy. From the game vs Sid and the Kids tonight:

A Top 10 Tirade

Sometimes when a guy is juiced up (in the non HGH sense) and he's got get something to get off his chest, it's just best to sit back and let the missiles fire from the MLB air craft carrier. How can I possibly write anything today when this guy has pretty much sewn it up for Jan 15, 2010. Holy golden:

A Helping Hand From...Who!!!??

First things first. This Haitian earthquake is light years beyond heartbreaking. I don't know why, during any natural catastrophe, the poorest nations are always hit the hardest. Just rough all the way around. How about a quick click here?

And what's this? Who was one of the first to step up to the plate handing out a million dollars in relief assistance? This guy? Seriously? Maybe he is having a change of heart as the end of his tenure is in sight.

I can't believe I'm actually going to write this next sentence but even I've got to say:

Way to go Bud...?

Strange days this new decade. Strange days.

Del-gonzo

Ok, can everyone just chill the fuck out now? There won't be a second tour in Toronto (which most likely would've been around 25 games in total anyways as Delgado would've seen more time in the infirmary than in the DH spot) so can everyone just stop losing their shit about him blocking the base paths for Brett Wallace?

Christ this is a total throw away year (soooo happy to be typing that one) which of course you, I and everyone know. BUT. AA still has to bring in some ticket buyers for 2010 and many Jays fans are of the casual variety. The absolute last thing I want to be hearing about in 2010 is some Expos alarmism when we're 20 games out in May and there's 15000 people in the stands.

Like it or not Blue Jays faithful, Antholopoloppoulos is going to have to draw in the casuals from Etobicoke, and Richmond Hill. So is Scott Richmond on the hill the answer? Most likely not. So if we do sign some aging star for a year, who's better days are long gone, then I really don't care. I'd rather see Jim Thome or some other such slugger strike out for a year than listen to some relocation bull shit in the press. All. Season. Long.

What's Past Is Prologue

Ouch. Again.

The Hangover Era

Ok, so Big Mac finally came clean and will have his two or three weeks on the HGH hot seat. Had this story broke five years ago at the Congressional hearings, we'd all be floored as if we'd been filibustered for fourteen hours, and the news feeds would be literally jumping out of their routers.

Today, though it's an off season right that's inevitable as the Winter Meetings and spring training. In fact, I submit that we should start calling the Jan/Feb period, Steroid Season, as there are way more names on the 100 player list which have yet to surface. Fuel enough for a solid decade of future exposes, admissions and remorseful press conferences.

Betting pools will start up around Christmas, as to who gets outed for the following year. Journalists will jockey for the rights to break the news. Hell, maybe MLB should institutionalize the entire event (like the draft) and pick a location each year to hold annual steroid transgressions confessions. Trot out 5-10 players up in front of the cameras and let them spill their guts for an hour, then do it again the next year.

Who wouldn't watch this?

Wild Card Week

Ok, maybe I was a tad liquored when I lambasted Luongo last night, but whatever. Would you start him in the Gold Medal game? Nope. Didn't think so.

So onto the NFL, and really the only time of the season where I actually try and pay attention. So far looks like the end of the decade also has pulled the curtains on the Brady/ Belichik era. Which I'm totally fine with as how much more can one guy have? Three Super Bowl rings, perfect regular season record, super model wife...If a genetic leap in evolution occurs in the next few years, spawning an X-men generation of super powered "homo superior", then I'm sure Brady will be the first one to have his hide transmute into stainless steel, before teleporting into the opposing team's end zone.

However, since the mutant genes still lay dormant, and the Pats will most likely crap out of this game, where does this leave the rest of the playoff slate? And namely who does Maniwaki officially endorse for the 2010 Big Bowl?

According to my very thin, and very biased framework let's look:

I Hope They Win.

The Saints. Monster season, 13 - 3, N'ary a Super Bowl win, n'ary even an appearance. Katrina clean up crews still in the city, the after effects still hovering five years on. Don't care if it's Hollywood, or Cinderella or sappy, a Bowl win wouldn't be a bad thing in New Orleans.

The Vikings. Wouldn't the spectacle of a Favre led Lombardi trophy clincher for Minnesota be so incredibly annoying, yet ultimately compelling? Even if you hate Favre, hate the Vikings, hate the NFL, and hate football, you'd still be planted on the couch eating chili on Super Bowl Sunday. Don't tell me you wouldn't.

I Hope They Don't Win.

Colts. Cowboys. Green Bay. Enough already. Like really.

I Don't Give A Shit Either Way.

Baltimore. Arizona. NY Jets. San Diego. Ok, maybe a San Diego win would be acceptable. Have they really ever won anything? WS? Nope. Super Bowl? Nope. Bump them back up to the first category. The rest of these squads could be contracted or relegated to arena football and I wouldn't even notice.

Calling Out The Captain

Holy fuck. Two words....maybe three with an opening preposition:

The trading block.

The most competitive game of the year, a potential div leader, against our fiercest rival. And the game can be hung on the Captain. A soft second goal Cowtown game tie-er, followed by a positively gelatinous, bordering on liquid shoot out.

No way Marty would've gotten shortsed on three straight. Here's the footy of the first one mentioned above. Can't find the shoot out vid. And thank fuck for that.

Random Friday Ticker....

Just a few snippety snippets.

....Sens officially shortsed...If the Heatly trade debacle in the off season wasn't one sided enough, the "steal" in the deal Milan Michalek has gone down with the dreaded "upper body injury"...Looks like he won't even get the much coveted and projected 41 points this year as he sits at a whopping 22...

...Lights out...What? Half the Devil's rink went out and they couldn't fix the shit, leaving the game suspended? ...You're telling me they couldn't hook up a Honda genny and finish the match....? ...And they'll have to do it another time?....Who's in charge here, Selig?.....Lucky centre ice wasn't washed out with mud ala the 08 WS....

....Jays look like players...as it looks like they're going to throw out 23 million Rogers bucks on the newest Cuban Assassin, Aroldis Chapman...Yup...although its still the off season the Doc trade still stings, the new era is looking more promising than a freshly stitched Big League ball cap, hot off the presses, and heading off to the hip hop club...

Holy Fuck Canucks!

Despite more turnovers than a Pilsbury convention, these Canucks have made a compelling case for themselves dumping Phoenix 4 - nil. Gold stars to dish out all around.

1. Bob Is Back. Bailing out the squad as they dished over the puck on line change after line change. Add to that, posting his 50th career shut out, to boot. Brodeur beware.

2. Burrows Is Back. Just the other day I was asking the cats at work, "Where's Burrows?" And was he in fact sitting at the bar wearing horn rimmed glasses and a fake mustache? As since I queried the lads, he's posted two hat tricks in two games. Which of course leads to the next logical line of questioning;

3. Is This The New West Coast Express? Look, you're thinking it. I'm thinking it. The Sportsnet colour is commenting on it. Sure Big Joe and the Heatley Kid are sniping it up in San Jose, but with Henrik sitting in top spot in the scoring race you can't deny this line's contention for taking the torch from Nazzy/Bertuzzi. And just think. Just a few weeks ago you and your ever so clever cohorts were sitting around the Shark Club still calling the Brothers Sedin, "The Sisters." Recognize, bitches. Or lest you face;

4. The Assiniboine Assassin Holy Hordy! What a tilt! Absolutely flattening Paul Bissonnette like it was Boxing Day Cabaret at Madge.

4. Samuelson Vs Sweden.Mikael Samuelsson has a point per game since getting nixed from the Swedish Olympic Team. You think when Forsberg inevitably goes down with a high ankle sprain in the opening game against Germany coach, Bengt-Åke Gustafsson isn't going to be screaming, "Förbannat!"

Hope In 2010 And Beyond....?

Who is this Alex Anthopoulos character? Because if this is true especially in the current economic reality of this then that is some serious ointment to help take the sting off the Halladay trade.

Sure, prospects are still prospects and ultimately unproven at the major league level. But if you reap a whole swath of the finest rated no. 1 wheat, you're definitely going to be baking some gourmet bread.

Let's just consider this potential future rotation for a second:

Rickey Romero, Araldis Chapman, Brandon Morrow, Kyle Drabek peppered with McGowan and/or Litsch, and I'm listening. Intently.

God Bless The USA

Now that was a game. A solid 60+ minutes of gold medal, Game 7 worthy, international ice hockey. You watched it. I watched it. What can you say other than "Wow."?

Everything we wanted (well everything I wanted) as the action was as furious as any Championship clincher I've ever seen in any tourney. Things were looking as predictable as the previous five years when the inevitable comeback started late in the third. I just about left my barstool and headed for HQ as I figured the match wouldn't even reach OT and would most likely end with Eberle somehow conjuring up some mystical goal from centre ice with .003 left on the clock.

But nay. Not today.

And no matter if you're crying in your Canadian, you have to hand it to the Yanks as they overcame their own late period demons in a very rowdy barn. Speed, grit, determination and every other hockey cliche you can throw out, they displayed it. Herb Brookes must be proud.

And yes, even I did feel a tad sad for the Sasky faithful and Team Canada. But not that bad. As the tally came across the screen "...only the second World Juniors win for the US....Canada's streak ends at five...."

Yup, Canada dethroning in this was necessary for international hockey.

Consider:

The Dangler and I last January sat in Southern Ont, and watched some hockey on the TSN. He informed me that the US had cut one of its elite junior hockey programs for that year. Why? Because they never saw any results in the World Juniors. This was the same program that was responsible for the likes of Phil Kessel and Patty Kane. I could only imagine what was being turfed in Slovakia and Switzerland.

So thank the Hockey Gods that the Yanks had a change of heart and doubled their efforts this year. Speaking with Vlad the Dad tonight (who is immersed as anyone can be in NCAA DIV 1 without actually lacing up and who just drove 30 hours in total to watch the Dangler play in Minny on the weekend) apparently the Americans changed their approach this year for the World Juniors and held more camps in an effort get the players to gel. Looks like it worked.

So. Where does this leave us?

In pretty damn good shape. Nationally, we've got a little extra steam in our engines to win the Gold in the Olympics. And further down the ice, next year's World Juniors are in Buffalo with the Yanks feeling all the pressure at home as defending champs. Sounds like the makings of a good card to me already. Hell, maybe I'll even make my way over and take in the tourney myself. Which of course I'll be wearing the Maple Leaf and rooting for the lads.

WJHC

No.

- The Skip

H1NFUCK

Yup the bug has penetrated HQ. At least from what my meagre web self diagnosing skills can surmise. So it's DL time, with plenty o' chicken soup to ride'r out.

In other DL news looks like Bieksa's going to be out of our lineup for two or three as his tendons are severed. Now that sounds just darn painful, like some disturbing scene out of Saw XII or something.

Let's all get feeling better soon because I've got too much shit to do.

A Tale Of Two Games

1. Worth Watching. Fast breaks. End to end rushes. Laser accurate passes. Short handed goals. Brilliant saves. See saw leads. A highly competitive international World Jr's match, and by far the most entertaining one I've seen yet. For a few periods it actually felt like I was watching a compelling hockey tourney. Good on the US for upsetting the Swedes and earning their way into the final. HQ, for one day and one day only, will be a US hockey consulate. Call me Brett Hull. I don't give a fuck. Why? Because the earlier game definitely was;

2. Not Worth Watching. Sound the alarms. We must be slacking. Only 6-1 over the Swiss to cruise to our sixth straight finals. Yay. Oh and look at this TSN states:

"Canada remains a perfect 18-0-0 in all-time tournament play against Switzerland."

How awesome, especially for a developmental league. I don't see why the IIHF doesn't throw Botswana into our group next year.

One bit of sympathy I will share for our lads, is the utterly putrid hit on Travis Harmonic by Jeffrey Fuglister. Quite possibly one of the dirtiest hits from behind in hockey that I've ever witnessed. Can't wait to see Grapes tee off on that one.

And Tuesday. Since the Yanks have really provided the only competition for us thus far, let's hope we get a real gold medal game. Even better, another Miracle On Ice would be great for hockey.

Bob Is Back

2010, so far so good. Still. I know I've been giving him a rough time over the last few months, but today I'm going to give it a rest. As Captain Bob has picked up where Timmy Tommy left off yesterday, putting on a mind numbing display post to post to post.

This is the Luongo I remember dancing a jig about when I heard he traded to Van. This is the Luongo who deserves to have his name mentioned along side Marty as a potential Team Canada #1. And this is the Luongo who would scoff at giving up one goal in an elimination game, never mind six. This is the footy to prove it:

A True Classic

What a way to turn the page. Woke up this morning and flipped on the Winter Classic. Sat hung over with the dog as Dropkick blasted through "Shipping Up To Boston" in front of the Fenway faithful and the Philly fanatical.

Yup, this new decade had already won me over.

The pre-game ceremonies with Bobbys Hull and Orr acting as honorary captains, taking the ceremonial puck drop was so good for hockey, the US Mint should issue a commemorative coin.

The game? How about just plain great. Got to see the first tilt ever in a classic, as Carcillo and Thornton dropped'em in the first. The dog and I hustled over to Dice's as a full New Years breaky spread was about to descend on the abode.

Poured myself an obscenely large cup of skeep and battened down the hatches. This is what the Winter Classic is all about. Three for three as far as I'm concerned. Sure it was a low scoring game, but the last seven minutes alone were as tense as any Game 7.

Recchi's late innings heroics with his blast to tie the game was as thunderous and compelling as any Manny or Papi jack. Tim Thomas's OT showcase had me sprawling and stretching across Dice C's floor in solidarity.

And Sturm sealing the deal to vapourize the shootout left myself along with the rest of Fenway screaming like I was fronting the Dropkicks.

Even the denouement, with the unveiling of the US Olympic Team, was storybook as they read off a compelling roster, punctuated by Thomas skated out clad in his new Team USA jersey.

All in all just a treat. The best way to spend a New Year's Day. Fuck jumping in the frigid ocean. The Winter Classic has reeled me in for three years straight now. With this match topping last year's. If you didn't love this game, you just don't like hockey.