Buff with Cup in Thrasher blue – Bad karma or good omen?
First off, I’m going to say up front that today’s topic probably is much ado about nothing…mountains vs. molehills and all that. But seeing that we are still in the middle of August – we are still awaiting the latest chapter in “As The Kovalchuk Turns” – it seems as though this summer’s version of the “Will Tomas Kaberle Be Traded?” game will end up like last year’s – and, let’s face it, we have just done possible Thrashers lineups to-freakin’-death…I figured what the heck.
Dustin Byfuglien sports his new Thrashers jersey while spending his day with the Stanley Cup (TwitPix/Ben Hankinson)
Anywhoooo…have you seen these photos of Dustin Byfuglien spending his day with the Stanley Cup in his hometown of Roseau, Minnee-SOH-Tah. His agent Ben Hankinson posted them recently via TwitPic.
Nice shots. But at first glance at these photographs, something just didn’t seem ’right’ to me.
An NHL player…with the Stanley Cup…wearing a Thrashers jersey.
If nothing else, it certainly makes for an interesting visual.
Like so many others, I followed Byfuglien closely last spring when he and the Chicago Blackhawks made their successful push through the playoffs. And when my crackberry lit up in June informing me that he and a couple other Hawks had been traded for by Atlanta, I was thrilled.
But since that time, whenever I pictured Byfuglien in my mind…the mental image painted still had him in that classic red jersey of the Chicago Blackhawks. So having the first image of Buff in Thrashers blue being one of him holding Lord Stanley’s Cup triumphantly over his head was indeed eye-catching.
Also, I have to admit it’s nice to see that D-Buff is more than willing to sport his new colors during his special day with the Cup. I suppose one could take away from this the fact that he’s taking kindly to the thought of playing in Atlanta. Of course, knowing that so many of his Stanley Cup-winning teammates will be on hand to help him through any transition period has to be comforting.
Byfuglien's wearing of Thrasher blue while with the Stanley Cup is...
- Good omen: Makes for a good picture of future possibilities (47%, 136 Votes)
- Bad karma: It just isn't 'right' (22%, 65 Votes)
- What was that you said about mountains and molehills? (31%, 88 Votes)
Total Voters: 289
Loading ...Because of this maybe, just maybe, to some the sight of Buff with the Cup in Thrasher blue is good thing…a good omen, as it were. I mean, a player hoisting the Cup in an Atlanta jersey isn’t exactly something we in Thrasherville are accustomed to, if ya get my drift?
Uh-huh, maybe. But at the risk of sounding too much like a curmudgeon, let me tell you why these pictures have me reaching for some salt to toss over my left shoulder.
To me, there is something not quite ‘kosher’ about seeing your team’s jersey on a player lifting the Cup when he won it with another team. This is especially true when your team has never actually won the Cup. More correctly stated… never even been within sniffing distance of the Cup.
Now, I’m not really “superstitious” mind you. Oh sure, I may never wash my jersey when the Thrashers are playing well. And even when I do it’s the only item in the washer, it’s hung up to dry with the crest facing north toward the hockey Mecca of the NHL Hall of Fame in Toronto. Also, I only eat at the Chick-Fil-A at CNN Center before home games. Oh yeah, and I must…MUST…MUST salute he The Blueland Chronicle boys when passing by their perch in section 317 on way to my ‘far closer to the ice than theirs’ seat. Plus, I may be prone to switching places on the couch if the Thrashers are not playing well during a road game. Oh, and if I wear a new item of clothing to a game and the Thrashers lose not only do I never wear it there again, it actually gets sent to Goodwill or The Salvation Army. That is, of course, if I don’t actually sacrifice it as a burn offering upon the alter to the hockey gods constructed in my back yard.
But I am NOT superstitious.
What I am, however, is a person who believes that there is something to this whole “karma” business. As such, I don’t like messing with it. And seeing this photo of Buff in a Thrashers jersey with the Stanley Cup… well, let’s just say I felt a disturbance in the force. The karma force.
…shudders…
Plus, I’m just not so sure this will sit well with the hockey gods. And since I can’t burn Byfuglien’s new #33 sweater on an altar to counter this possible breach of hockey etiquette, I would suggest that he and/or his agent send a few cases of Moosehead beer to them for appeasement purposes.
You know, just to be on the safe side.
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282 comments Add your comment
Dwayne
August 17th, 2010
11:29 am
I feel Duds gives Wads a list of players he would like to have in Atl., Wads makes the phone call about how much $$ it would take and lenght of contract. Presents it to the octotards. Do I need to go on???? Any one of you long winded bloggers want to finish this??
kracker
August 17th, 2010
11:30 am
It is wholely obvious that Dudley the GM is making the player moves that a good GM makes. This is true for the upcoming season and, apparently, it was true during the last season as well, i.e. the return for a rented Kovalchuk. The deal in which White was moved was a masterstroke beyond the skill level of the previous GM. Hiring the current coaches and acquiring solid players while letting others go who either don’t fit the team model or whose demands were too high bodes well for the future. Young and/or maturing talent is expected to soon contribute.
We have a few folks insisting that Don Waddell is still behind the scenes pulling the strings on all the moves, that he is still making the calls on these personnel assessments. Yes, they are certainly entitled to their opinions, of course, but……those who willfully choose to “see” such folderol can keep their blinders on, I care not.
Smoothie
August 17th, 2010
11:31 am
There is no way in Hades that D-Wad orchestrated the Kovalchuk trade! The same guy who got fleeced for Marian Hossa? Doubt it very highly. The way Dudley drools all over Cormier makes it quite obvious Duds made that trade happen. Perhaps Waddell had some input, but that trade does not go down like that without Dudley playin’ hard-ball.
Some of you just refuse to admit that Dudley has changed the culture. How in the hell do you explain Ramsay AND Torchetti coming here??
Just sit back and enjoy the ride. Duds ain’t done and hopefully the next big announcement will be 4 or 5 year deals for Little & Bergie.
Rawhide
August 17th, 2010
11:33 am
I would simply ask…does anyone here think Don Waddell could have convinced Ramsay AND Torchetti to both come coach here?
No?
Me either.
kracker
August 17th, 2010
11:35 am
Let me add: Of course Dudley is given a budget, etc. to work within. And he, like any GM, probably needs approval by the guys writing the checks on some deals. But where it counts, Dudley is doing the player assessment. Recent events tell us that.
Smoothie
August 17th, 2010
11:36 am
Badger – almost forgot. Bravo on the little ditty. I chuckled out loud. Beer on me next time I see ya!
kracker – well said, my friend. Well said, or typed I mean.
Flames – will you go down the hall and pound on Duds’ office door and tell him to “get ‘er done” w/r/t the Little & Bergie deals?!
Smoothie
August 17th, 2010
11:36 am
There you go again Bill just stealin’ my thunder!
Rawhide
August 17th, 2010
11:40 am
Smoothie – Ah…yeah. Yikes….sorry.
Let me then say….”AS SMOOTHIE SAID”, does anyone here think Don Waddell could have convinced Ramsay AND Torchetti to both come coach here?
And to also brush on what kracker had to say…I don’t think it’s surprising to learn that the person who has taken on the role of team president communicates with the person who has taken on the role of GM.
The real news would be if the two DID NOT communicate about such matters.
Dwayne
August 17th, 2010
11:44 am
Wads got one hell of an ego doesn’t he. He is the Thrashers version of the 5th Beatle
Lord Stanley
August 17th, 2010
11:47 am
Rawhide i would simply answer the question with HTTN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The same answer would be correct if asked, Do you think Waddell could convince Bowman on trades with the Blackhawks?
kracker
August 17th, 2010
11:55 am
One little thing more. I think it’s a given that Sage, JF and some others are, in addition to how they really see it, also doing more than a little bit of pot-stirring here. They throw out Don Waddell blah-blah-blah and a lot of us react accordingly. The same goes the other way, too, we make a point and they react.
And so it goes in August….
Smoothie
August 17th, 2010
11:59 am
It’s easier to be negative all the time if you’re only hope is to be right on a message board or blog. But the more optimistic ones here actually enjoy seeing players develop, teams come together, leaders emerge etc. We’re not just here trying to be right in two years so we can come back and say “I told you so”. It takes a lot bigger b__lls to be an optimist w/r/t the Thrashers.
kracker
August 17th, 2010
12:05 pm
Smoothie, in that case, I guess I have a pair! lol
Badger Bob
August 17th, 2010
12:11 pm
WBF, Smoothie et al, that little Blues Brothers ditty (updated) was on behalf of all our new Chicago players. Oh wait, our favorite troll doesn’t care which players we have.
I am definitely enjoying the ride! I’m sure true Blackhawks fans would agree the taste of victory was much sweeter for those who rode through the tough times 5 years ago and saw the slow turnaround created by their incremental improvements.
rob
August 17th, 2010
12:26 pm
With all the excitement swirling around this team, can Vivs kill it all any quicker than this? WTF is that all about? Let DUMBWAD go fall in his “team president” hole and LEAVE HIS A$$ THERE! We DON’T want to hear about him! We DON’T care about him! We WISH he would JUST DISAPPEAR since the Octotards won’t get rid of him! Bad enough we know he is still here but DAMN don’t give him space in an article! To think that SORRY excuse for writing took Rawhide’s spot on the page, and Dumbwad’s mug replaced Kane’s. Vivs must be covered up with the Braves to let this drop.
Smoothie
August 17th, 2010
12:30 pm
rob – it sure would be nice to get an update on Little & Bergfors from Vivlamore. Then we could at least get a Little picture up on the page.
Lord Stanley
August 17th, 2010
12:37 pm
Viva is done with braves but on vacation. He said if something happens he will report for duty. Can’t wait for him to be fulltime
Teflon Don
August 17th, 2010
12:52 pm
I’m still somebody. Look at me, Look at me, I’m in the news again.
Sage of Bluesland
August 17th, 2010
1:30 pm
“…With all the excitement swirling around this team, can Vivs kill it all any quicker than this?…”
Amen, rob. Someone who finally gets it.
It’s a matter of principle sometimes. But, then again, in the figurative joke otherwise known as “Blueland”, logic always apply.
I’ve been lied to and listened to the “promises” and bluster for so long by this organization, I don’t believe anything anymore….Whereas some are fans of ‘hockey’ (and will do anything to keep it from leaving, despite the local product), I’m a fan of the concept of the Atlanta Thrashers…well, at least them in the context of winning and having a legitimate shot at contending for a title.
No message to ownership equals no changes…equals same old disfunction…equals same old results.
Oh well, I try–and will continue to get the most basic of economics-lessons out there…The Crusade seemingly never ends…Now there’s a whole new crop of delusional posters/sheep to educate…only for them to amazingly hide when their fantasies have come crashing down…It must be embarrassing, though, to be so wrong so often on so many things?
(I’m used to this cycle with this organization and its ‘fans’…Batter up!)
Sage of Bluesland
August 17th, 2010
1:31 pm
“…logic [sic] always apply…”
Oooops…word error there! …logic doesn’t always apply…
(It happens to the best of us sometimes…)
Smoothie
August 17th, 2010
1:44 pm
And dysfunction is spelled with a ‘y’ jackalope. You should know as it’s your favorite word as in “Y do you hate me so much Donnie!!”
Christ Almighty are you Bernie Mullin? Wait, that’s a terrible insult to Bernie Mullin. Sorry Bernie!
Get The Puck Out
August 17th, 2010
1:51 pm
Did someone hear the wind blow??
Three Stooges/Peas in a Pod/Barrell full of Monkeys
August 17th, 2010
2:05 pm
Sage, Stendec and Donnie Wadell.
SomaAtl95
August 17th, 2010
2:06 pm
Main Entry: de·lu·sion
Pronunciation: \di-ˈlü-zhən, dē-\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Late Latin delusion-, delusio, from deludere
Date: 15th century
1 : the act of deluding : the state of being deluded
2 a : something that is falsely or delusively believed or propagated b : a persistent false psychotic belief regarding the self or persons or objects outside the self that is maintained despite indisputable evidence to the contrary; also : the abnormal state marked by such beliefs
Sage, you are delusional because you think that no matter what you and your “one man army” demanding change will cause some sort of change when that isn’t going to happen and that somehow insulting everyone who disagrees will sway their opinion.
We other posters are delusional because we want our team to be a success and think that the recent personnel and player changes could actually spell SUCCESS for a long suffering team and its fans.
I’m sorry Sage. I am sorry that you feel so hurt/frustrated/annoyed with D-Wad and the Octocluster that you have made it your personal mission to completely suck the joy out of being a fan from everyone else in the room.
Honestly man, I have to ask you – in the event that the Thrashers actually go further than any of us expect are you going to still revel in your crusade or will you become “Sage, the Thrashers Fan” again? Remember that there are millions of Yankees fans in the world and I am sure when the Yanks were terrible people demanded that Steinbrenner offload the team. When they hit their stride again do you think those same people were demanding George still offload the team or were they enjoying being a fan again?
Again, I am sorry for whatever turned you into someone who gets off on saying “My point of view is the only point of view and I will not waiver” Have you thought of doing your own blog where you can get all of this hatred towards a team you supposedly are a fan of out of your system, therefore getting all of it off your chest where you can come here and ACTUALLY TALK HOCKEY?
SomaAtl95
August 17th, 2010
2:08 pm
Trixie, would you release the post I just tried to post? Thank you very much, ma’am.
Smoothie
August 17th, 2010
2:21 pm
“The Crusade seemingly never ends…Now there’s a whole new crop of delusional posters/sheep to educate”
Who exactly are you educating? Most of the folks that actually try to reason with you on this blog have been going to hockey games for eons and they will continue to do so no matter how much you post your silly tripe on this here blog. We’re here to “talk” hockey; get over yourself and go do something constructive like an organized boycott of BP.
Joe Friday
August 17th, 2010
2:24 pm
“I just cannot see Duds taking a job where he has to run everything by DW. He doesn’t seem like that kinda guy, and he has earned the status where he should not have to”
Since his boss just told the local rag that he’s still in on personnel decisions, should we expect his resignation later today?
Of course not. I’ll say it again, the big change was two years ago when Dudley was hired. Since that time, Dudley has been helping Waddell make better decisions, and that’s been a “good thing”. But you have to realize that the nameplate change was made this summer as a PR move by the club in reaction to the boycott and the vast thousands of us who are former season tix holders, b/c we have no faith left in Waddell. The hierarchy remains though, and if that’s what Dudley didn’t expect, he wouldn’t have taken the job. He and Waddell are buddies, remember? That’s why he took the job, he probably has no problem working for him and working with him, they’re buddies and have worked together in the past. The good news is Dudley is helping him make MUCH better decisions. The bad news is the reality that Waddell is still in on the personnel side, they’re working together, just like they did last year when the nameplates said Assoc. GM and GM instead of GM and President.
“It’s easier to be negative all the time if you’re only hope is to be right on a message board or blog. But the more optimistic ones here …”
oof. How bout this for a novel concept, forget negative, optimist, how bout just dealing with reality and go from there?
Nah, watching Sage get some of youse in a tizzy is kind of like watching a train wreck, hard to watch but can’t look away . . . pass the popcorn and carry on . . .
Smoothie
August 17th, 2010
2:36 pm
Joe – I just enjoy calling him names! Gives me something to do when I’m bored during the lazy days of summer.
Also, who says you have to be detached from reality to be an optimist. I’ve learned a lot over the years being a sports fan and thanks to the Demon Deacons and Buffalo Bills, I’ve decided that there’s nothing wrong with some carefully crafted optimism. In other words, being cautiously optimistic without sounding like a bitter, scorned lover like Sage is really not that hard to do. We’re not sheep, hardly. We’re more like ducks who let the frustration of following a troubled franchise roll off our backs like water.
SomaAtl95
August 17th, 2010
2:36 pm
I’m not in a tizzy Joe Friday, I just wish I could understand his point. At least Stendec will be a little positive sometimes. I’m done feeding the trolls though, I know all Sage will do is respond negatively and not answer my question. He will just point out I am a sheep. And for that I say “baaahhhhhhh”
Much rather have “Sheeple Pride” than be negative all the time about a team I supposedly once cared for. Hell, I’m sure OJ still loved Nicole, even when he went crazy and killed her.
Jeff97
August 17th, 2010
2:40 pm
Is this the dullest August ever? absolutely no hockey news this month other than Kovy’s contract being rejected (and what news that was!). about the only thing that keeps my interest is watching the “Classic Series” and “Vintage Games” on NHL network. Football season cant here fast enough and then before we know it the puck will drop.
Brendan
August 17th, 2010
2:40 pm
Midfield, I hope you are correct. To this very day, I cannot understand what Waddell has done to deserve continued employment with the Thrashers. Any accountant can keep a budget. Rick Dudley can write contracts, sign players, and draft them. Why not cut the cord with Waddell?
Smoothie
August 17th, 2010
2:52 pm
Brendan, perhaps its the “old boy network” phenomenon at work. Believe it or not, D-Wads has lots of friends in the game of hockey. Not trying to excuse nearly a decade of futility, but if you’re handling the money and resources of Montgomery Ward and not Sears, there is a difference with how successful you might become. The biggest issue is he took a huge risk in 2007 with the deadline trade and he went down swinging. I bet had it not been for the lost season the year before, the presure to do something drastic might not have been as great. But wait, here we go again. Not this old tired discussion.
Did y’all see Johnny Burma is already at the DIF getting himself ready for camp? I have a feeling Big Nik may be taking the young whipper-snapper under his wing. One word of advice for Nik: feed the man lots and lots of red meat over the next month!
Midfield
August 17th, 2010
2:52 pm
Why indeed? I’d ask Levenson, but usually he just calls people names in response.
World Be Free
August 17th, 2010
2:54 pm
After reading posts from the last few days, I have come to the conclusion that we need to drop the puck and get on with the game! NHL off-season is the shortest of all sports, it just seems so long this year because we have had so many changes to the Thrashers.
The Thrashers’ player and coaching changes have Dudley’s fingerprints all over it-as Rawhide had alluded to earlier. No Max or Arty indicates that he favors mainly North American players, with a sprinkle of the right European talent-no surprise here. This team will play a lot like Dudley and Ramsay did as players, responsible in your own and hard working in the offensive zone.
Ponder this question-how miserable would ALL of you be if the Thrashers had not hired Dudley, Ramsay, Torchetti and/or traded for the players acquired since the end of the season? Toss in the exile of Todd White to MSG and Colby cheese to the wolves in Tronna. See, I cheered you guys up already.
Smoothie
August 17th, 2010
2:54 pm
I mean “feed the boy lots of red meat” so he can become a man!
Cliff Fletcher
August 17th, 2010
3:03 pm
Talking to Sage is like talking to that boss we have all had that never listens.
Jeff97
August 17th, 2010
3:06 pm
World Be Free – much more miserable. I am just more than anxious to get on with this season and see what our next player move is. I think we still have at least one more player move to be made. One more goal scorer.
One of the best things of all is that this team finally has the look of a team that wont be SOFT.. Thank Goodness! Honestly, I am so tire of the Charmin White’s, Gloria E-Stefan’s of the world on this team. Having a hard nosed physical team will do wonders for this organization and city. Even in losses we will be more entertaining to watch. I also think it bodes well for playoff time. Hard nosed, gritty players get it done in the playoffs. that is what we needed. The next biggest question is who is going to rise up (thank you falcons) and lead this team in 2010..another thing that was sorely lacking last year…leadership.
Delusional posters/sheep
August 17th, 2010
3:15 pm
Hmmm, where’s that yummy Sagebrush. I’m hungry. Baaaaaa…
alex
August 17th, 2010
3:17 pm
i remember levenson told dw out from day to day operation and contract decision to focus on pure business, work with sponsors, etc. who is lieng big boss or smaller one? my guess is both. any way, untill thrashers get rid off two cancer tumor asg and dw difficult to be optimistik about team future.
glovesave29
August 17th, 2010
3:43 pm
JF – my feeling is that DW has had his pride injured a bit, and is overstating his importance to the organization with regards to player / personel decisions. As for Sage, I just like that he cannot get under my skin no matter what. That I am proud to be a fan. Fans may get disappointed, but we do not waiver in support of our side – anything else is the dreaded “fair weather” fan..those who wear the jersey of whatever team is the best in the league at that particular time. They are on equal footing as a blog troll.
While I am disappointed in the way the team has been run in the past, I am optimistic that we are heading in the right direction. I find it funny that Sage cannot actually talk hockey…the history, strategy, or even offer any insight. It’s alway just busting on DW, calling fan sheep and running his one man boycott. You and I disagree JF…often. But we both can talk hockey, we just see it from different perspectives.
I think the current DW situation smacks of exactly what the Falcons did to Rich McKay. The man has credibility and pull within the league, but cannot make a GM decision to save his life. Rich overstated his position within the organization aafter the change was made to move him upstairs, but we all know what happened when Dimitroff came on board. I see similarities with Dudley. Rick may go to him with regards to budgeting and other fiscal decisions, but building the team is all on him.
kracker
August 17th, 2010
3:46 pm
Have the Thrashers gone to a variable pricing scheme for game tickets? The email I just got indicates they have or that they will when single game tix go on sale. It reads’ in part:
When you receive your tickets, you will notice that this year, the prices printed on your game tickets are not identical, but rather vary depending upon the game. Variable pricing is something that you’ve most likely become familiar with in a variety of industries, like air travel…Similarly, some Thrashers games are in higher demand with the general public than others….
This season, we are recognizing this difference in demand by printing different prices on your season tickets to better reflect the value placed on each game….
The varying of prices listed on your tickets does not affect your overall season ticket package price; rather it affects how the price of your overall season ticket packages is allocated to each game. The total price for your season ticket(s) has not changed.
World Be Free
August 17th, 2010
3:50 pm
Jeff-yup, we will be tougher. No longer an “Air Supply” team.
schroeder
August 17th, 2010
4:06 pm
gs29- Spot on!!! You can always count on a goaltender to have a logical angle on any subject. If you spend all game with a$$holes in your face,they are easy to spot anywhere else!!!
GaVaHokie
August 17th, 2010
4:23 pm
Looks like Evander Kane is getting back in town this week…
per twitter EKaneATL9 Finally relaxing for the rest of the day. Doing a little shopping before heading back to the ATL
R. Stroz
August 17th, 2010
4:37 pm
If you spend all game with a$$holes in your face,they are easy to spot anywhere else
Glovesave29 – Have you played an exhibition against the Flyers?
The Waco Kid (Red Light)
August 17th, 2010
4:43 pm
For those of you who’d like a drastic, much-needed change in direction…
Found a great road trip possibility for you hockey fanatics…
Dec. 31, 2010
Fly Atlanta to Montreal (cheaper than flying to Ottawa) and spend New Years Eve in Montreal
Jan. 1, 2011
Rental car or train to Ottawa (train)
• Maple Leafs at Senators 7:00 PM
Jan 2
Rental car or take train to back to Montreal
• Thrashers at Canadiens 1:00 PM
Jan 3
Rental car or take train to Toronto
• Bruins at Maple Leafs 7:00 PM
“Well don’t just sit there looking stupid, grasping your hands in pain. How ’bout a little … applause for the Waco Kid?”
The Waco Kid (Red Light)
August 17th, 2010
4:46 pm
Other two-sport options:
Nov 14 Thrashers at Capitals 5:00 PM
Nov 15 Eagles at Redskins 8:30 p.m
Nov 19 Ottawa at St. Louis 8 pm
Nov 20 New Jersey at St. Louis 8 pm
Nov 21 Falcons at St. Louis 4:05 pm
Dec. 4 Connecticut at South Florida NCAA FB
Dec. 4 Colorado at Tampa Bay
Dec. 5 Falcons at Tampa Bay
Dec. 11 Boston at Charlotte 7 pm
Dec. 12 Falcons at Carolina 1 pm
Mon Jan 17 Thrashers at Panthers 7:30 pm
Tue Jan 18 Hawks at Heat 7:30 pm
(Note: horse racing at Gulfstream Park or golf during the day).
The Waco Kid (Red Light)
August 17th, 2010
4:49 pm
Joe Friday: “What’s a dazzling Urbanite like you doing in a rustic setting like this?”
The Waco Kid (Red Light)
August 17th, 2010
4:50 pm
The three train rides mentioned above are $147 Canadian!!!
Smoothie
August 17th, 2010
4:52 pm
R/L – I love your thinking for the Florida trip save for two things: I hate NBA basketball and Dade County has very ornery policemen who have no tolerance for logic or reason.
Do we play in Fla in early March? That’s the time of year to be at Gulfstream! Ahhh, the memories…