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
Nate
August 16th, 2010
1:04 pm
I like it. Like a commenter said under the article. It really can’t get any worse for the Thrashers, can it???
And thanks to FormerIslesFan for finding the orginally article. (no offense Rawhide)
DWTOO
August 16th, 2010
1:04 pm
You’re right much ado about nothing. Buff, and the other guys, are in a bit of a tough spot. Damn if you do and damn if you don’t. You’re not a Hawk anymore even tho’ you won the cup. I really don’t care which jersey you wear on your day with the Cup, but damn if Buff doesn’t look good in Thrasher blue! Maybe think of it as looking ahead.
Hockey Biltong
August 16th, 2010
1:09 pm
Hell, it’s all good!!!
The Real Thrash
August 16th, 2010
1:12 pm
The guy has his head and heart in the right place. And with the right team!
J.B.
August 16th, 2010
1:13 pm
i think ben pointed out that it doesn’t appear that the jersey itself touched the cup, so we’re ok. Was hesitant at first when i saw the pics this morning, but i’ve given it some thought and… Good Omen!
Buzilla in CT
August 16th, 2010
1:16 pm
I have switched to DirecTv. I am done with cable and can now get the NHL package again. I only watched 4 Thrashers games last year, and I was at Nassau Coliseum for one of them. I felt very disconnected. Now that I dumped Comcast (which didn’t offer the Center Ice package in my area) I can watch in HD…
Sorry to be off topic, but I am very excited.
I have no problem seeing Buff hoist the cup with the blue jersey. In fact, I love it.
Dwayne
August 16th, 2010
1:19 pm
As long as he didn’t say “it is what it is”
Rawhide, can we get a pic of you in your Thrasher jersey holding up your you know who milk carton?
Rawhide
August 16th, 2010
1:22 pm
The guy has his head and heart in the right place. And with the right team!
The Real Thrash – You make a compelling point.
it doesn’t appear that the jersey itself touched the cup, so we’re ok.
J.B. – That is comforting. It may be a technicality, but I feel better now that we may be able to appease the hockey gods if they indeed felt it ran afoul of any etiquette.
Rawhide, can we get a pic of you in your Thrasher jersey holding up your you know who milk carton?
Dwayne – Autographed by me or not? It makes a difference in what I charge.
TableHockey
August 16th, 2010
1:22 pm
To me it’s a good sign that he wanted to wear the jersey – I’d like to think this means he’s pretty excited to come to ATL. If he didn’t want to wear the Hawks jersey he could have just worn an Ed Hardy T.
J.B.
August 16th, 2010
1:23 pm
bad juju or not, i have to say it puts a smile on my face to see the cup lifted up over a Thrashers jersey. our time will come!
Zim
August 16th, 2010
1:27 pm
This action and these images will have no effect on the Thrashers or Byfuglien’s 2010-11 season. The fact that Dustin is wearing Thrashers gear at all (also rumored to have been sporting a Thrasher hat and t-shirt at a recent Cubs game) is good news, whether he’s holding the Stanley Cup or a salad fork.
The man won a Cup and had his time with it… Jinxes, curses, and bad karma do not apply until he hits the ice in an Atlanta sweater. Currently, Buff is a Stanley Cup champion. He can wear whatever dang ole clothes he wants to!
Rawhide
August 16th, 2010
1:28 pm
And thanks to FormerIslesFan for finding the orginally article. (no offense Rawhide)
Nate – None taken. And while it is true that FIF posted the link to Puck Daddy’s blog, (and thanks to him for that), for the record I must credit kracker for tipping me off to the photos early this morning via direct tweet.
R. Stroz
August 16th, 2010
1:30 pm
Lets just hope it’s foreshadowing.
Sports Climax
August 16th, 2010
1:33 pm
Love it! Buffs is showing he’s accepted the fact he’s bringing his game to the south. And he’s showing it way earlier then he was required to.
Paminski
August 16th, 2010
1:33 pm
If nothing else, it’s great PR for Byfuglien. I’m ready to cheer him on when the puck drops.
Tom M.
August 16th, 2010
1:33 pm
Not a Thrash fan here, just a hockey fan, so take my opinion with the grail of salt it deserves…if I were a Thrashers fan I would LOVE this. Chicago fans are a bit peeved by it, but so be it, it’s not like Byfuglien bolted as a free agent, THEY traded him. You can talk about bad karma all you want, but when you’ve never even won a playoff series, it’s time to throw out the old superstitions and start taunting the luck-gods with all you’ve got. The number 1 thing I’d take from this if I were a Thrashers fan is how great it would be see Byfuglien embracing his new team and identity. On that day, the cup belonged to him, not Chicago…let’s see him work to earn another one in Atlanta.
SomaAtl95
August 16th, 2010
1:34 pm
I look at it like this – we’ve had so many players leave just so they can touch the cup. Now we’re getting players who ACTUALLY WON IT, and not ages ago (I’m looking at you, Slava Kozlov) I was at a Thrashers game a few years ago when the cup was also there at Philips. No disasters became to Philips or the people who attended the game that night and the cup was in our house.
Big Buff has pride in his new team – I don’t care how many “superstars” have left us in the past to join “First Class Organizations” we now have decent players led by a PLAYER THAT MADE A DIFFERENCE IN THE PLAYOFFS (yes, I am looking at you Ilya “Prostitute” Kovalchuk) and guess what guys, it seems strange and maybe like bad karma to us but that is because for one reason or another we have not been the luckiest team in the world.
For the first time we have someone that played the role of “Difference Maker” and he made a big statement by spending his day with the cup in Thrasher Blue… and I’m betting dollars to doughnuts that his statement is nowhere near “It is what it is”. Let the rest of the hockey world sneer, snicker and say whatever negative things they want, hey let the local naysayers say what they want (Sage, Stendec, etc) but I for one am excited about what is in our future and I’ve spent a decade saying “Well, maybe this year” and then instantly thinking “… if monkeys fly out of my butt” Not this year.
Let us not question this, and for once enjoy the sight of one of those things all of us Thrasher fans never thought we would see.
Snoman
August 16th, 2010
1:36 pm
I love it!! Buff looks excited to be a Thrasher and that is a very positive sign. Maybe this will spur him into playing every game like he did in the playoffs this past season. I say Good Karma!!
Smoothie
August 16th, 2010
1:36 pm
“but damn if Buff doesn’t look good in Thrasher blue! Maybe think of it as looking ahead”
Hopefully “looking ahead” to good times in Thrasherville and not “losing ahead” in his mind!
I think the wounds of getting traded were still fresh for Buff when he was interviewed at the Thrashers’ Draft party. Since then, I trust he has spoken to a few of our players like Kaner, Slatesy and Bogo to get a sense for how much fun it will and can be. Also, we didn’t know about Ladd just yet so now Buff knows there’s a good chance he won’t be the only former Hawk “stuck” in Atlanta for the next 2 or 3 years.
Judging by his teary and heartfelt remarks at the rink where he played in Roseau, MN, I think we will find Buff to be a dedicated, hard-working passionate player. And being around mature and intelligent young players like Bogo, Kane, Lits etc should only help solidify that even more. Not to mention savvy vets like Mason, Antropov — who chose to be here — and Hainsey, who probably feel like they have something to prove to the hockey world.
God I hate August!!! Uggggghhhhhh! Makes me want to break out my “crunk cup” and get crizz-unk! http://thrashingbirds.blogspot.com/2010/08/does-big-buff-love-us-or-doth-he-mock.html
GaVaHokie
August 16th, 2010
1:37 pm
Actually, this photo was taken in August 2011… it must have been stuck to my shoe when I got back in my time machine.
Alan R.
August 16th, 2010
1:38 pm
I’m happy to see it. Good omen. On top of that, he seems to be rather enthusiastic to be a member of our Atlanta Thrashers.
Your Mammy
August 16th, 2010
1:39 pm
No such thing as bad omens, bad karma, etc…just bad plays, bad decisions, and bad teams. I think it’s wonderful to have him on the team, and that he decided to wear the Thrashers uniform to my home state of MN. GO THRASHERS!!!!!!!
GaVaHokie
August 16th, 2010
1:39 pm
To me it’s a good sign that he wanted to wear the jersey – I’d like to think this means he’s pretty excited to come to ATL. If he didn’t want to wear the Hawks jersey he could have just worn an Ed Hardy T.
My sentiments exactly.
GaVaHokie
August 16th, 2010
1:42 pm
Smoothie… I’m all about crunking up some blue plastic cups.
rob
August 16th, 2010
1:48 pm
They traded him. He didn’t ask for it or walk away from it. Buff’s play was a major reason they ended up champs. Here’s to hoping that winning the Cup has made him want to bring this attitude to the rink every night! If so I have to say there are a lot of goalies out there who will be having long nights watching #80 and #33 eclipse their vision! Gotta get you ready thinking that!
Cornbread
August 16th, 2010
1:49 pm
Good for you Buff.
Smoothie
August 16th, 2010
1:49 pm
Hokie – fo’ shizzle my nizzle! I’ll be toting my platypus as usual if not a big-a$$ cup of my own. Perhaps I should just “trick-out” my platy canteen with some bedazzling beads and fake rhinestones.
So who’s the wisenheimer who thinks Kane won’t even score more goals than Eric Boulton!
Former AIZ-er JD
August 16th, 2010
1:51 pm
Not a bad omen at all…here’s my reasoning.
1. Slap in the face of the Blackhawks fans and management. Always good to slap other teams!
2. Shows our new Buff is our Buff. He’s a Thrasher now and is proud to show it off.
3. How worse off could we be? We have 0 playoff wins! Bad juju, bad omens, bad karma… Maybe that’s what is needed to win a playoff series!
Cliff Fletcher
August 16th, 2010
1:53 pm
We should super-impose Don Waddell’s face on anyone holding the Stanley Cup, just to get Sage of Blueland going.
kracker
August 16th, 2010
1:53 pm
Even though I fear it may be bad karma, I voted the glass-half-full choice of ‘good omen,’ reasoning that the Hockey Gods have heard our cries in this hockey wilderness and will not punish the Thrashers. After all, Big Buff did win the Cup so there is no problem with him touching it, drinking from it, being photographed, etc. #2 thing is that Byfuglien has not actually skated with the Thrashers in a meaningful pre-season or regular season game, much less competed for the Cup as a Thrasher, so really, how much of a Thrasher is he at this point? Doesn’t he have to leave some game-sweat on the ice, some skin along the boards, shine the pine during a game to be counted as 100% Real Thrasher?
But I don’t know. I look at that pic and my gut says “NO! This is not a good thing!” Fortunately, my gut is frequently simply saying “I’m hungry” instead of accurately reading the chicken entrails. So, I’m sticking w/ ‘good omen’ until I see a lenghty 0-fer start to the season.
icy nards
August 16th, 2010
1:58 pm
It’s not a bad omen if it already happened.
Explanation: this picture is FROM THE FUTURE!!!
R. Stroz
August 16th, 2010
2:03 pm
yes, I am looking at you Ilya “Prostitute” Kovalchuk
Did Kovalchuk score in the playoffs?
I thought those type of individuals scored alot.
SomaAtl95
August 16th, 2010
2:07 pm
No, he didn’t score – but he sure screwed us Thrasher fans.
SomaAtl95
August 16th, 2010
2:09 pm
oh and BAAAAHHHHH, BAHHHHHHHHH, BBBAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH! Showing my sheeple pride today.
Smoothie
August 16th, 2010
2:09 pm
If we do win a Cup while Dustin is here, I shall start a campaign to create a big chalice that is blinged out like Lil’ Jon’s “crunk cups”.
I shall call it….
Lord Dustin’s Chalice of Crunkitude!! Yeeeeeeaaaaaaahhhhhh!
SomaAtl95
August 16th, 2010
2:11 pm
OH-KAY!
Nikita (in PA)
August 16th, 2010
2:14 pm
Good omen. It shows that Buff is ready to embrace his new team.
As for The Cup, I just touched the one in the HHOF. As I mentioned before, we really need to get some things done there. The Thrashers representation is tiny and consists of coverage of just two players: Nik Antropov and Todd White. There’s even a little bio of Todd White posted.
Elsewhere in the Hall there’s a plaque alongside a jersey identifying its wearer as “defensive stalwart, Atlanta Thrasher Steve Rucchin,” and several pieces of memorabilia recognizing the performance of Thrashers Kari Lehtonen and Ilya Kovalchuk in non-NHL events.
The point here is that hopefully appearance in the hall with Thrashers ID isn’t a curse. But it’s definitely not true to what I think all we fans and management would consider the team’s most representative players.
Also, at the HHOF, as I was checking out the kids behind the counter are like “you’re Thrashers fans? Man, you guys dodged the bullet with Kovalchuk.”
Nate
August 16th, 2010
2:16 pm
Rawhide – In that case, I’ll throw some thanks out to cracker as well. Preciate it kracker. It made for an entertaining read on an otherwise slow news day.
R. Stroz
August 16th, 2010
2:25 pm
There’s even a little bio of Todd White posted.
Is there a roll of Charmin and a milk carton as well?
Zombie Steve
August 16th, 2010
2:25 pm
It’s weird seeing a Thrasher jersey so close to the Cup….
TrueBlue
August 16th, 2010
2:34 pm
The only ones that should be offended by this are the Chicago Blackhawks. The Atlanta Thrashers and their fans should be happy that an incoming player was willing to part with their “own teams jersey” and sport the new one.
Think about it. If the Thrashers won and then traded someone like…I don’t know, Bogosian or something, wouldn’t you be pissed that he was wearing his new teams jersey with “our” cup?
I think this is a strong statement that he will come in and be proud to be a Thrasher…or at least accepting of his new situation.
Rawhide
August 16th, 2010
2:36 pm
It’s weird seeing a Thrasher jersey so close to the Cup….
Zombie Steve – Yeah. I think that’s it. It just made me feel…you know…funny.
GaVaHokie
August 16th, 2010
2:44 pm
If Buff ain’t worried about it, neither am I.
TrueBlue… good point.
TrueBlue
August 16th, 2010
3:15 pm
Rawhide, a funny feeling like when you used to climb the rope in gym class?? (Hopefully we all know what movie that is from).
BG33Brown
August 16th, 2010
3:19 pm
I’m so happy to see a guy who was traded here to a “non-hockey” market, try and embrace us and give us a shot out. Before today I was luke warm on big buff as a thrasher b/c I wasn’t sure he would show the same intensity that he brought to the Hawks on most nights. With that picture, my perception took a 180. I will now finally by a jersey (i’m not a jersey guy) and I will definitely customize it with Buff’s number and name.
Flames
August 16th, 2010
3:19 pm
Thank You GOD!!!!!!!! I think Buff is upset about the trade and is going to show the Blackhawks that he is the man. The Blackhawks will regret trading him. He will be a thorn in their side for years to come. We now have a good player with a chip on his shoulder. He will have an awesome year….He has something to prove….This is a good omen!!!!!!
Zombie Steve
August 16th, 2010
3:39 pm
Atropov and Buff: The Creasemongers
DB
August 16th, 2010
3:42 pm
Bad karma meet Don Waddell.
GaVaHokie
August 16th, 2010
3:52 pm
Atropov and Buff: The Creasemongers
How about Buff’n'Stuff in tribute to the old “World of Sid and Marty Croft”?
A27
August 16th, 2010
3:53 pm
I like it…that’s good to see: )
Willie Dixon
August 16th, 2010
4:03 pm
Ain’t superstitious
Black cat crossed my trail
I ain’t superstitious
But a black cat crossed my trail
Bad luck ain’t got me so far
And I won’t let it stop me now
I can only be good kharma if Big Buff wants to sport a Thrashers jersey
Don’t think so hard
glovesave29
August 16th, 2010
4:09 pm
As a goalie – I AM SUPERSTITIOUS…and I love this photo!!! He won the right to touch the grail, and that he did it in Atlanta blue is FANTASTIC!
No one FORCED him to wear it. He’s proud to wear the colors – which is something I could get used to around here.
Thrashers27
August 16th, 2010
4:13 pm
He can do whatever he wants when he wins the cup as a Thrasher…If only he’ll wear his ballcap straight, instead of cocked to the side like one of the millions of punk-a$$, little, douchebag kids in the world. It’s hockey Dustin, not basketball.
Darth Vader
August 16th, 2010
4:14 pm
I, too, felt a disturbance in the force.
Russ
August 16th, 2010
4:46 pm
The following is taken directly from C-Viv’s current article on DW:
Waddell is still involved in the team’s day-to-day operations and roster moves. He said he works with Dudley and assistant general manager Larry Simmons, with all three bringing their individual strengths to the process.
“Rick … is the best at player development. That’s why I hired him two years ago,” Waddell said. “My strengths compliment Rick’s strengths. Rick and I are side-by-side as we are making decisions. Rick doesn’t have to worry about the business side, the contracts, the budgets … because he knows I’ll handle it. When a decision has to be made, he and I sit down and make decisions that we feel are best for the long term of this franchise.”
I feel like throwing up every time I hear something like that.
glovesave29
August 16th, 2010
4:54 pm
Alan Muir has us ranked #16 in the pre season power poll.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/allan_muir/08/13/offseason.rankings/index.html
Zombie Steve
August 16th, 2010
4:55 pm
It is what it is….at least his nose in now in the books and out of talent aquisition.
Buzzeng
August 16th, 2010
5:00 pm
Happy to see it…heck, I’m happy to see any player that’s proud to be a Thrasher! I think it speaks to his character, too, embracing the changes that are inherent with playing in the league – your team is your team and you should embrace it as no other. I can’t help but think there are a lot of people in the Chicago area who are now aware that there is a Thrasher franchise.
Go Thrashers!!
P.S. Bill – don’t look a gift horse in the mouth. He’s on our team and he’s already wearing the jersey and hat. Don’t go looking for trouble!
FormerIslesFan
August 16th, 2010
5:00 pm
Here is a good shot of Buff from the back wearing the Thrasher Blue and carrying the cup over his head: http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/hockey/blackhawks/chi-100617-stanley-cup-tour-pictures,0,1199475.photogallery If it doesn’t link directly to the photo in question, click on photo number 7.
volgrad1985
August 16th, 2010
5:45 pm
In the words of Michael Scott, “I’m not superstitious…..but I AM a little stitious.”
Lord Stanley
August 16th, 2010
5:49 pm
GS 29. Thanks not sure if I agree with Carolina being ahead of us in the power rankings. We shall see.
MB
August 16th, 2010
5:58 pm
Forget about the jersey, Rawhide…maybe it’s YOUR traditions that need changing. Let’s face, if you’ve been taking these same actions for years and, well, we know the results, maybe it’s time to change some of your rituals. Isn’t one of the most overused (and most inaccurate, for that matter) blog comments something about doing the same thing and expecting different results the definition of insanity? What the heck…couldn’t hurt to change things a little.
As for Buff in an Ed Hardy t-shirt…wouldn’t that make him a d-bag?
Better to keep him in the Thrashers jersey.
R. Stroz
August 16th, 2010
6:08 pm
GO THRASHAWKS!
Lord Stanley
August 16th, 2010
6:32 pm
Flames I agree with you. Surprised no oneI has mentioned that part. After all if your ex-girlfriend bought you a shirt that wasn’t your favorite would you wear it after the break up?
I would be interested to know what the old hawks new thrashers have to say, but I am with Buff on this one. This was not a mistake, but maybe a way to reach out to the Thrasher fans that he has not met, or a motivational tool.
.So with that said Flames, any news?
Hokie P. Clisters
August 16th, 2010
6:42 pm
Man, its great to see a Thrasher hoisting the SC. If only he was on top of Brasstown Bald…then that would have been perfect. My “sources” tell me that the photo was actually taken in Hall County and not Minnesota. Elrod swears that its his truck next to Buff in photo. Unfortunately, the photo fails to show Elrod’s elaborate signature gun rack. Elrod is now dealing with a little superstition since the rack was left out. Oh well, you can’t have it all…………….
Flames
August 16th, 2010
7:06 pm
Lord Stanley- Nothing to report yet. I hoping something happens soon.
Sage of Bluesland
August 16th, 2010
7:10 pm
I’m sitting here in stunned silence after reading that tripe posted by our esteemed beat-writer (who needs to learn the difference between ‘complement’ and ‘compliment’–one of my favorite wordsmithing errors; but, then again, I don’t expect too much from the local, umm, “coverage”).
Simply stunned.
It’s a shame there is no ‘comment’ feature.
Whoever wonders why we are where we are, then look no further than this insult of a “story”…Whoever pays for this fraudulent clown and his minions–well, don’t ever cry about the results…
KM
August 16th, 2010
7:24 pm
Its great to see Sage back with his Emmy Award nominated comments.
Lord Stanley
August 16th, 2010
7:27 pm
Thanks Flames, I feel the same way. Also like many of I hope Kchuk soap opera ends soons. Definetly not award winning.
Cliff Fletcher
August 16th, 2010
7:51 pm
Reading Sage is like being forced to watch “Momma’s Family” repeats over and over again.
“Subsidize the stupidity”
Get over it Sage and move on!
World Be Free
August 16th, 2010
7:58 pm
I remember when the trade was made, how many fans were not psyched about having Buff in Atlanta. Now it sounds like everyone has come around to the force this guy can be in a Thrashers’ jersey. We still need more depth at center, you wonder if things will start to happen now that the Kaberle circus is over. I really hate the Leafs. So has anyone gone out and bought a Buff jersey? Do we know what number he’s wearing?
How about Todd White carrying the Stanley Cup?
Lord Stanley
August 16th, 2010
8:05 pm
Kaberle circus over? was there a trade?
DWTOO
August 16th, 2010
8:12 pm
Kaberle’s NTC kicked back in yesterday. There was only a small window where the Leaf’s could move him. And Burke was quoted as having 20 offers.
Did anyone catch the Thrashers GM rating on NHL Center Ice this PM? First I heard was Chicago’s.
Lord Stanley
August 16th, 2010
8:16 pm
Thanks DW was unaware. Sorry did not see the gm power ratings
SomaAtl95
August 16th, 2010
10:28 pm
Cliff Fletcher – Never thought I would say this, but don’t be that hard on “Mama’s Family”. What did Vickie Lawrence ever do to you?
Brendan
August 16th, 2010
10:51 pm
Re: the Waddell story … did everyone read about how “involved” Waddell is with respect to decision-making and roster? His role is much MORE than just budgetary oversight. I still don’t understand what has changed, other than offices and titles … and perhaps semantics. If Rick Dudley isn’t handling the contracts, like the article intimates, and Larry Simmons is working on a ’strategic vision,’ leaving Dudley to principally handle ‘player development,’ what CHANGED from last year??? Don Waddell just told Chris Vivlamore that he and Dudley make the roster decisions. In short, Don Waddell is still the GM. He makes the contracts. He makes the roster decisions. While Dudley, just like he did as “Associate GM,” works on ‘player development’ while Larry Simmons (Assistant GM) does whatever it is that Larry Simmons does.
Either Don Waddell is utterly fibbing about what his role with this team is, or nothing has changed. You decide. I don’t personally believe Waddell, alone, could have pulled off the Devils and/or Blackhawks trades. I suspect that was Dudley’s doing, with Waddell’s acquiescence. To Waddell’s credit, he stayed out of the way. But with Boulton and Slater re-signed, that smells like Waddell to me, with Dudley “acquiescence.” I’ll never really know, of course. Who could?
What bothers me the most is … this notion or insinuation that Rick Dudley doesn’t KNOW HOW to negotiate contracts, therefore, he needs Waddell’s assistance. What kind of ‘non-sense’ is that? Rick Dudley has been a GM before. He’s drafted players before … and signed them (while understanding the dynamics of the NHL price structure and free market) … and traded them. Long, long before he set foot inside the offices of the Atlanta Spirit, LLC. Rick Dudley is not an ‘incapable,’ whose hands needs to be held, and carefully stroked, to be sure the franchise is moving in a BETTER direction. (I’d say ‘moving in the right direction,’ but that’s copyrighted by Bruce Levenson and Don Waddell, 2004-present, and I’m not paying them a royalty.)
NYC
August 16th, 2010
11:17 pm
Ask yourself this: What if he had worn his Blackhawks sweater for these photos? Would it’ve been wrong? Would you feel….jilted? Bad mojo, good mojo – whatever, I think it’s cool as sh*t he’s embracing the Thrash. I’m pschyed he’s one of ours!
Badger Bob
August 17th, 2010
12:18 am
Trolling, trolling, trolling
With his ego swollen
Watch that Sagebrush trolling
Rawhide
Repetitive, not clever
End his boycott? “Never”
Whining that DW lied and lied
Move ‘em on, head’ em up
Head ‘em up, move’ em on
Move ‘em on, head’ em up
Rawhide
Cut ‘em out, ride ‘em in
Ride ‘em in, cut ‘em out
Call ‘em out, ride ‘em in
Rawhide
Badger Bob
August 17th, 2010
12:33 am
WBF, Buff will keep his #33.
Former Thrasher #33’s include: Ondrej Pavelec (2007-08), Adam Berkhoel (2005-06), Milan Hnilicka (2000-01 to 2002-03) and Maxim Galanov (1999-00).
Cliff Fletcher
August 17th, 2010
5:51 am
Soma ATL-Vicki Lawrence was pretty hot in the gray wig. Just a younger Carol Burnett.
Putting On The Foil
August 17th, 2010
7:21 am
Can you guys not see the life being sucked out of the Blackhawks via the cup into the Thrashers? Nobody sees that whisp of cold air in the pic but me?
kracker
August 17th, 2010
8:00 am
Hey Cliff, “Momma’s Family” was a good show! In addition to the regulars, Rue McClanahan and Betty White would pop in. We even had Eunice and Ed (Carol Burnett & Harvey Korman) on a few times. That was some good, funny and clean programming.
Befuddled
August 17th, 2010
8:05 am
Great stuff Badger Bob! Even Sage should get a chuckle out of that.
Spud Webb
August 17th, 2010
8:26 am
I think it’s great…even if it’s nothing other than a giant middle finger to the hawks!!! ahahahah
kracker
August 17th, 2010
8:38 am
It’s about another month until the rookies report to camp. Now is the hardest time of the year. This is when I get to thinking that I may expire. Buff and his Cup pictures, RH and his blogs are helping to get us thru.
glovesave29
August 17th, 2010
9:13 am
NYC – I would have been hard to fault Buff for wearing the Hawks jersey when he had his day with the cup. He did win it with them, after all. That he chose to wear his new duds is pretty damn cool.
Mama’s Family – HA! I totally forgot that piece of tripe! Sure, had some big stars on the show, but they have to put food on the table too. I cannot imagine guest starring on “Mama’s Family” is at the top of their resume. Everyone makes mistakes…look at Grace Slick. She wrote a timeless rock anthem in “White Rabbit” AND she wrote the worst song in the history of recorded music – “We Built This City”. So Grace and Vikki get buy on the OVERALL quality of their work, and in some specific instances – FAILED.
Since I will be there opening night – this is for you Sage – baaaaa, baaaaa, baaaaa AND PROUD OF IT. We are going the right direction. As an Atlantan on that dark spring day in 1980 when the selfish moron Tom Cousins sold our team to Calgary – I will do what I can to keep NHL hockey here in Atlanta.
kracker
August 17th, 2010
9:17 am
I wonder if Sage liked Mama’s Family?
SomaAtl95
August 17th, 2010
9:23 am
GS29 – Glad to see you wear your sheeple pride!
Here is a link of interest for those of you who want a quick fix to get through the rest of the month -
http://phoenix.fanster.com/2010/08/17/ea-sports-releases-nhl-11-demo-today/
SomaAtl95
August 17th, 2010
9:23 am
Oh and BAAAAHHHHHHHHH! BBBAAAAHHHHHHHH!!! BBBBAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!! Baa baa Bluesheep!
World Be Free
August 17th, 2010
9:59 am
Sage doesn’t laugh
Badger Bob-real good stuff-like the trolling part, all it needed was a reference to another 5 year plan.
Glovesave – Grace Slick reference. The original Jefferson Airplane members all laughed at “We Build This City” as a piece of commercial garbage. Great band that turned into garbage when Mickey Thomas joined and Grace rejoined looking for some bucks.
Still hoping Dudley has the upper hand in the player transactions, though I still would like to know what the team’s internal cap is.
Joe Friday
August 17th, 2010
10:31 am
“Re: the Waddell story … did everyone read about how “involved” Waddell is with respect to decision-making and roster? His role is much MORE than just budgetary oversight. I still don’t understand what has changed, other than offices and titles … and perhaps semantics. If Rick Dudley isn’t handling the contracts, like the article intimates, and Larry Simmons is working on a ’strategic vision,’ leaving Dudley to principally handle ‘player development,’ what CHANGED from last year??? Don Waddell just told Chris Vivlamore that he and Dudley make the roster decisions. In short, Don Waddell is still the GM. He makes the contracts. He makes the roster decisions. While Dudley, just like he did as “Associate GM,” works on ‘player development’ while Larry Simmons (Assistant GM) does whatever it is that Larry Simmons does.”
Russ and Brendan both get it, I’ve known it was a sham all along, but “it is what it is” (man, I hate that worthless saying). All that changed this summer was the titles on the doors and it was done to simply appease the boycotters. The big change was 2 years ago when Dudley was hired, not this past year. And Dudley has helped Waddell make better decisions. But the facts are Don Waddell’s hands are still all over the players and the day to day operations of the club, and we’ll continue to suffer for it until one day the Spirit and he are both gone.
I was very pleasantly surprised to see Buff wearing his Thrashers’ sweater on his Cup day. Good stuff.
SomaAtl95
August 17th, 2010
10:45 am
Re: D-Wad – Take it with a grain of salt guys – how much of what he has said in the past decade have you guys honestly believed? Why choose to believe what he says now?
Get The Puck Out
August 17th, 2010
10:52 am
Maybe next time we see Buff in a photo he’ll be wearing a Braves jersey instead of a Cubs jersey.
glovesave29
August 17th, 2010
10:58 am
JF – 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.
Thrashers27
August 17th, 2010
10:59 am
I just noticed that our most hated nemesis goalie, “Nitty-Monkey” is now a member of the San Jose Sharks. Nice to know we won’t be seeing him much this season. You know he’ll get the start when our Thrashers roll into SJ though.
Lord Stanley
August 17th, 2010
10:59 am
If waddell is truly still in decison making why is dudley title not agm or puppet master. Seriously I think Dudley is making more decsions than Donny is portraying. Besides would Waddell really trade for good players and not give up that much. Also would waddell really trade away White?
Lord Stanley
August 17th, 2010
11:01 am
I think Chris V needs to ask Donny What in detail is your roll in player decsions especially when free agency and trades come into play.
Lord Stanley
August 17th, 2010
11:05 am
thrashers27 now if kchoke could go to the west coast or in Vodkaville
Midfield
August 17th, 2010
11:25 am
Brendan, ever since the all-star events in Atlanta, I’ve heard rumors from within that Waddel has a penchant for self-aggrandizing. So, hopefully his “my strengths” comment does not mean much more beyond an opportunity for him to shine on the back page of AJC on a slow news day. But it is still a problem, since other people in the organization dislike this habit of his.
Matt
August 17th, 2010
11:26 am
DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMED!
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…
Red Light
August 17th, 2010
4:55 pm
That’s the last meeting of the year in Sunrise. But, Gulfstream has great races from Jan. 1 through April. The Florida Derby is the pinnacle but not until late March.
Red Light
August 17th, 2010
4:56 pm
Smoothie: Suggest skipping NBA then and go to Scarlett’s in Hallandale Beach near Gulfstream Park.
Smoothie
August 17th, 2010
5:15 pm
U dirty devil! Don’t think K-belle would approve of such a place. But I do like the little town of Hallandale. Great places to eat in and around the big traffic circle!
I guess I’m mildly curious to see the new arena that replaced the dump in which I was fortunate to see Timmy Duncan completely school Alonzo Mourning in ‘97 as a rookie for the Spurs. But alas, I’m sure tickets to see the Dywane LeBosh show will be too rich for my blood.
Joe Friday
August 17th, 2010
5:33 pm
Work here is done. I’m needed elsewhere now. I’m needed wherever outlaws rule the NHL, wherever innocent women and children are afraid to walk the streets, wherever a man cannot live in simple dignity, wherever a people cry out for justice.
Ah, screw it, where the white women at?
Smitty
August 17th, 2010
5:35 pm
Hey Wacko New Years in Montreal sounds like a great trip. Took a train trip to Montreal many years ago to see the French Connection and the Sabres spank the Canadiens. They told me I had a blast. I do remember the fans in Montreal loved Perreault and Martin because they played junior hockey there. However Santa Claus is taking my son to Buffalo for the world Junior Tournament
Badger Bob
August 17th, 2010
5:39 pm
Candygram for Sage
SomaAtl95
August 17th, 2010
5:41 pm
Watch out sage! Its that Land-Sheep again!
SomaAtl95
August 17th, 2010
5:57 pm
bbbaaahhhhhh! bbbbaaahhhhhhhhhh! Interesting talk I just had with Mr. Heat Miser (we work together) I was telling him I was proud to be a sheep and he looked at me for a second and said “well, thats better than being (someone that does immoral things with sheep)!”
I replied, “Nah, thats my wife!!”
He LOL’ed.
Gabby Johnson
August 17th, 2010
6:16 pm
http://www.ladyofthecake.com/mel/saddles/sounds/gibbersh.wav
Cliff Fletcher
August 17th, 2010
6:17 pm
Waco, Jan 1, 1996 I completed an inventory in Ganaoque, Ontario and decided to drive to Tronna through a blinding snowstorm. Take the train.
What is a dazzling urbanite like you doing in a rustic setting like this?
Cliff Fletcher
August 17th, 2010
6:33 pm
R.I.P. Bobby Thomson
ex-ex-STH
August 17th, 2010
7:17 pm
I’m not sure where this blog is heading….but I just saw where Tampa Bay just signed another forward! I already stated how I have a “man-crush” on the Duds but can we sign somebody!!! Who’s going to be that top 6 forward that needs to fill the lineup. When will Duds sign Litts and Bergy?? Just give us something to enjoy this hot steamy month of no hockey news!
kracker
August 17th, 2010
7:54 pm
Waco Kid/RL: I’m liking your New Year’s trip into the great frozen Canada. Tickets/accomadations?…..I wonder if Rawhide would be so good as to ask the charming Ms. Trixie to have the AJC Travel & Hockey Trip Booking Service to check on the availability of tickets and such. Do trains still have sleeper cars or berths? lol
Lord Stanley
August 17th, 2010
7:55 pm
STh who did TB sign
Gabby WTH??
R. Stroz
August 17th, 2010
8:08 pm
LIGHTNING SIGN FREE AGENT BERGENHEIM TO ONE-YEAR DEAL
Excuse the caps, I just copied the story from tsn.ca
http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=330840
HookyBob
August 17th, 2010
8:10 pm
I thought Big Buf looked pretty good in a Thrashers jersey. Considering what else he could have worn,..I like his choice. I think he is onboard with being a Thrasher,..or good at PR.
Here’s a link for anyone who is feeling bored with no hockey news the last few days:
http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/Six-rules-changes-we-re-excited-to-see-tested-at?urn=nhl-262996#remaining-content
Another thing that revs up in August is the Thrasher PR machine getting the fans ready for a potential break-out season. I’ve been sucked into this for many years and have finally taken Joe’s “show-me before I buy” stance this year. I am feeling good about the upcoming season,..but they’ve fooled me too many times for me to bite yet again.
One aspect of the PR is that Ramsay is supposed to be so great at teaching and bringing along all the great young talent we have. Didn’t we aslo hear that about Fraser, Hartley, & Anderson? I do feel good about new players and that it can move on from the “Ilya” period.
Dudley Wants To Do Right
August 17th, 2010
8:24 pm
I’d sign some more NHL players if Don could get some money from the Octotards.
Octotards
August 17th, 2010
8:45 pm
Dudley, didn’t Don tell you we were going to spend all of our money on the Hawks?
Dudley Wants To Do Right
August 17th, 2010
8:46 pm
Yes Octotards, but I thought Don meant the BlackHawks.
Octotards
August 17th, 2010
8:47 pm
Dudley, you don’t need to bring up the race card.
Dudley Wants To Do Right
August 17th, 2010
8:48 pm
Don, I quit. These are the dumbest rich guys I’ve ever met.
ex-ex-STH
August 17th, 2010
10:00 pm
Lord Stanley, Tampa just signed Bergenhiem to go along with re-signing St Louis,getting Gagne, Dom Moore, Brett Clark, Dan Ellis, Pavel Kubina and they just swapped back-up goalies Desjardins for Ramo w/ Montreal. They also signed player scouting guru Al Murray. This all happened since July 1!!!. I check the news wires everyday and haven’t heard a peep from Duds. Whas Up?!?!?
World Be Free
August 17th, 2010
10:06 pm
I don’t think Bergenhiem is going to tilt the balance of power in our division. Is Bergie’s deal 1 way or 2 way? if it’s a one wayt, then there goes a roster spot on the big club to a low impact guy. The Bolts have Gagne for one season, assuming he holds up physically.
Dudley Wants To Do Right
August 17th, 2010
10:09 pm
ASG, Show Me The Money
Cliff Fletcher
August 17th, 2010
10:50 pm
It looks like alotta teams are sitting on the sideline waiting for things to happen, including the Thrash.
Flames
August 17th, 2010
11:28 pm
I want everyone to trust me on this. This team is Dudley’s ship. He orchestrated the trades with the Blackhawks. He brought in both coaches. He is running the show. Smoothie- Duds is trying to lock both Little and Bergfors for several years. I have been looking down the hall way and his door has been shut for several days trying to work on somethings. I personally think DW is jealous. I still have a hunch that Duds isn’t through dealing. I think we at least sign another UFA.
SomaAtl95
August 17th, 2010
11:33 pm
Thank you Flames for that. I trust you, and I will repost what I said this afternoon…
Re: D-Wad – Take it with a grain of salt guys – how much of what he has said in the past decade have you guys honestly believed? Why choose to believe what he says now?
Cliff Fletcher
August 18th, 2010
7:50 am
Flames thanks for confirming what some of us believed to be true.
Can’t believe some people still believe Dudley would come here to be a lapdog, never has been anywhere he has been before.
GaVaHokie
August 18th, 2010
8:46 am
Thanks Flames… some people concern themselves too much with the business side of things.
It’s refreshing seeing veteran players like Buff and Mason coming to Atlanta with excitement instead of feeling like they’re in purgatory.
http://thrashers.nhl.tv/team/console.jsp?catid=656&id=74581
Red Light
August 18th, 2010
8:55 am
List of remaining free agents. Any of these guys turn a mediocre team into a Cup Contender? Excited?
Who’s your top pick that you want Duds to sign? Why?
Artyukhin
Asham
Belanger
Comrie
Dawes
Donovan
Exelby
Fedetenko
Guerin
Hnidy
Kariya
Krajicek
Lisin
MacArthur
Mara
Marc-Andre Bergeron
Mitchell
Morrison
Niemi
Popovic
Satan
Schubert
Stempniak
Svatos
Theodore
Torres
Wellwood
World Be Free
August 18th, 2010
9:08 am
Red light-I beleive you stated you don’t like Asham, but he would be an asset here. More edge and you never have enough of that.
Schubert was good depth last season too. He was a good body checker in the defensive zone.
J.B.
August 18th, 2010
9:11 am
I’d be ok with tryout invites or one year cheapo contracts for:
Artyukhin
Asham
Comrie
Dawes
Fedetenko
Guerin
Stempniak
Torres
It’s been all but confirmed that Belanger is going back to the Caps. They need to move a forward out first; likely Fleichmann (sp?)
kracker
August 18th, 2010
9:17 am
Eight ex-Thrashers on that list!?
Maybe Schubert or Pop on a two-way and Stempniak.
J.B.
August 18th, 2010
9:18 am
actually, i’d be ok for 2-3 years on Artyukhin. I liked him here alot last year. Pretty sure Duds has cut ties with him though. Somebody told me a while back, he was likely going back to Russia.
kracker
August 18th, 2010
9:29 am
I didn’t include Arty or Belanger because I don’t see them back here.
GaVaHokie
August 18th, 2010
9:32 am
If Buff moves back to Defense, then Stempniak is the only one I like on that list… Wellwood, I would give a camp invite.
If Buff stays up front, then I’d like Asham for the 3rd and 4th line to swap out with Boults and Rissimiller.
I’d rather see what Burmistrov can do in camp playing with other smart players like Peverley and Little.
I don’t see much room on this roster without a trade.
Berg Antro Little
Kane Pevs Ladd
Eager Cormier Buff
Thorsy Slater Boults
Rissimiller
J.B.
August 18th, 2010
9:38 am
I like Burmistrov alot, but I just don’t think he’s going to make the roster this year. Maybe I’ll feel differently at training cap. We’ll see.
World Be Free
August 18th, 2010
9:49 am
Whoever signs here from this list will be on a 1 year contract only
Joe Friday
August 18th, 2010
9:52 am
I can’t believe some of you are so gullible that you think the club would allow some guy sitting “down the hall” from Dudley to post the inner workings of the team on the local rag’s message board. Oh wait, he’s doing it in secret without them knowing it, right? lol
Some of you read and believe Eklund as well, eh? P.T Barnum, indeed . . .
Alan R.
August 18th, 2010
9:53 am
Flames, thanks for confirming what most of us already assumed to be true. It amuses me how some people will sit here and call DW a liar, yet look at his interview with CViv and say Dudley is nothing but a lapdog because Waddell said he’s still orchestrating roster moves. I sincerely hope Dudley gets Little and Bergfors signed long-term.
Kracker, I’m not keen on bringing back Popovic. He was mediocre at best, and I don’t think he’s the sort of piece we need in Atlanta. He’d be okay for Chicago, though, as perhaps a depth D-man in the case of injuries.
Hokie, I’m not sure Whalewood would be a good fit here.
Smoothie
August 18th, 2010
9:54 am
Do NOT underestimate the talents and determination of one Johnny Burma!
kracker
August 18th, 2010
9:54 am
Chris Mason’s new goalie mask.
http://thrashers.nhl.com/club/gallerylanding.htm?id=16388
Cliff Fletcher
August 18th, 2010
9:56 am
JF
I just happen to agree with his assessment of who is making the player decisions. D-W is a non-factor when it comes to player moves, has been for some time. Stopped reading Eklund long ago.
Joe Friday
August 18th, 2010
9:58 am
“Any of these guys turn a mediocre team into a Cup Contender?”
Nope.
With all the turnover in our lineup, it’s going to be a build year. New coach, new system, multiple new players, new goalie, new youngsters cracking the lineup. There’s some sophomore slumps that we’ll have to get over. I’m ready to watch a different brand of hockey and see some youngs guys grow this year. No expectations beyond that. Playoffs are a possibility as there are many middling lineups like ours in the East, but no big moves to make us a contender immediately, and that’s smart. That can come next offseason after these guys have a year to gel together in the new system.
Rhytnmpenguin
August 18th, 2010
10:18 am
I like Mason’s new mask. =)
R. Stroz
August 18th, 2010
10:21 am
I’m in favor of offer sheets for darn good RFAs on teams with cap issues.
Put the screws to them.
glovesave29
August 18th, 2010
10:26 am
Kracker – that is a TERRIBLE mask. Even me, a lowly beer league goalie has better designs than that one. I have one that looks like I am in the mouth of a beast with blodshot eyes, bloody teeth and chromed wires, and the other looks like a cold pint of beer – complete with condensation droplets and a foaming head.
JF – build slowly. TOTALLY agree. Add parts wisely instead of a complete overhaul of the lineup. In hockey, more than any other sport, a good team is intuative. A good team is more often the sum of its parts. They know their team mates tendancies and react to them. Find out what good changes were made this year and add a few more next season. Let the chemistry build from within. There is enough here to challenge for the playoffs, perhaps even slide in a 7 or 8. One thing is certain, they are certainly waaaaay tougher. That is never a bad thing.
World Be Free
August 18th, 2010
10:30 am
Stroz-who do you have in mind with an offer sheet? Staal maybe?
That works both ways-seems like there’s “Gentleman’s Agreement” in the NHL unofficially restricting offer sheets. Dudley doesn’t seem like an offer sheet kinda guy, but maybe I am wrong.
Spud Webb
August 18th, 2010
10:33 am
Give me Comrie or Stempniak. I do like Asham or Artyukhin and would to have them on our 4th line.
ChippersLoveChild
August 18th, 2010
10:42 am
Gotta salute Buff for embracing the Thrashers and sporting the sweater… too often players want nothing to do with our franchise or are full of negative thoughts when they play here, counting down the days until they can eventually leave. I’m happy he did it, karma be damned.
Lord Stanley
August 18th, 2010
10:42 am
Adding slowly maybe corrct, but they need a playoff team now to bring back fans or keep them for that matter.
JF your opinions are appreciated but backoff on Flames, He has had some great knowledge that has been anounced prior to any media outlets including Eklund.
kracker
August 18th, 2010
10:54 am
Have Mason pitch a couple of shutouts and that mask will look really good. Or….we could go back to Kari w/ his space game girls.
Rhytnmpenguin
August 18th, 2010
11:01 am
Why is simple bad? The way a mask looks is not going to change the game.
GaVaHokie
August 18th, 2010
11:08 am
At least Mason’s mask doesn’t have cartoon and video game characters on it.
J.B.
August 18th, 2010
11:09 am
Yep. Flames has consistently had inside information that’s been proven to be valid. Don’t know who he is or what he does, but he’s in there at some level. I don’t recall him posting anything that’s turned out bogus.
Smoothie
August 18th, 2010
11:11 am
RE: Mason’s mask. I can appreciate the old school sentiments, but I don’t really like it aside from the back of the helmet. The personalization of the back is pretty cool and the stars and stripes maple leaf is pretty dope. Unity baby. North America needs to be a unified front in this crazy world, even if them thar Canuckleheads have socialized medicine!
Smoothie
August 18th, 2010
11:13 am
I just hope Flames doesn’t raise the ire of D-Wad and get himself into trouble by posting here. Hopefully he is protected somehow and somebody is purposefully feeding him leaks.
BTW, 206 posts in the dead of August when there’s no news to report? Wow Rawhide, look what you have built here! You should be proud indeed.
GaVaHokie
August 18th, 2010
11:13 am
Hokie, I’m not sure Whalewood would be a good fit here.
That’s why I only give him a tryout… if he can’t be motivated to stay in shape and play in Toronto and Vancouver, Atlanta has no chance of getting a good performance out of him.
It’s a shame really… when he’s on top of his game, he’s great at finding time and space.
Joe Friday
August 18th, 2010
11:22 am
“Flames has consistently had inside information that’s been proven to be valid.”
I think I follow the board fairly closely, not as much as in the regular season, but what inside info did he provide that no one else knew? Only thing I’ve seen from Flames is last week (mabye the week before?) he posted something about a big trade coming, did I miss the big trade?
But then again I don’t understand why people believe Eklund, he doesn’t have any real inside info, he makes a million claims, most of which are common knowledge. You throw enough crap against the wall, eventually some of it sticks.
The club monitors this message board, I know that to be true.
The NHL has rules about tampering and GMs always play things very close to the vest, no one wants it to be known what their plans are, and teans monitor other clubs’ message boards to try to glean any info.
Again, if you think someone inside the Thrashers’ front office would be posting inside info on the local rag’s public message board, you might want to rethink that . . .
rob
August 18th, 2010
11:28 am
I would say Rissimiller shouldn’t make the lineup unless he has some kind of camp. More upside would be gained giving a prospect a spot vs a guy who hasnt been able to crack the league and stay in it for a length of time IMO. Would rather have a youngster practicing with the team and being eased into things now rather than throwing them in later.
As for the mask, Mason seems like the kind of guy we need here. Outspoken and passionate. He seems pretty approachable and happy to be here. I just hope that doesn’t change if the fans stay away and take a wait and see approach. Same goes for Buff, I hope the pics in the Thrashers sweater are him liking the team and not just being a FU to the Blackhawks for trading him. With all the young guys here, the team needs to have everyone here have a positive attitude so we can move forward.
Frankly
August 18th, 2010
11:29 am
Joe Friday is the jealous Don Waddell
The One
August 18th, 2010
11:30 am
Actually he is Sage with a new name
Jack
August 18th, 2010
11:34 am
Good Mask for Mason,wonder if he has a home and away mask.
rob
August 18th, 2010
11:44 am
Lost my train of thought there…..as for the mask I like it. Simple and to the point. He can let his play be what stands out…..I hope.
Smoothie
August 18th, 2010
11:52 am
Flames was posting more on Viv’s blog long before he started posting more frequently over here. Obviously you take everything with a grain of salt, but he’s yet to be wrong really. I think he said there was a trade that fell through, but that is perfectly plausible. Hey, it gives us some added intrigue apart from the usual August tripe that Sage feeds us.
Jack
August 18th, 2010
11:56 am
Smoothie totally agree. Don’t remeber him being wrong matter fact as you said he mentioned that something was on the table but did not materalize. Even I have moved over here, because there has been more Blog activity here vs Chis’s blog this summer which is partly due to Chris covering the Bravos .
Smoothie
August 18th, 2010
12:11 pm
Jack – no offense to C-Viv, but this is THE PLACE TO BE as far as blogging goes. Go to Viv for some news updates, but the real discussions seem to happen here. Of course, it may be a bit too long-winded for some’s tastes, but seems like there are very few trolls here compared to Viv’s blog, which goes stale very quickly.
JF makes some good points about the potential legitimacy of Flames, but he was correct in several assertions he made earlier this summer on Viv’s blog. I believe he broke the news on our coaching hire, but I can’t remember. I’d have to go back and look at old blogs.
Anyway, how do y’all like the idea of having Derek Lee play 1B here?
GaVaHokie
August 18th, 2010
12:24 pm
In all fairness to Eklund, he did mention “John Madden to the Wild” 5 hours before it hit the AP Wires and was posted on TSN.
Flames
August 18th, 2010
12:24 pm
I would never put out any information on this blog that isn’t true. I really enjoy reading everyone’s post. I have nothing to gain or lose by posting bad information. I am able to add some insight on things that are going on behind closed doors. JF- I’m not throwing crap against the wall and hoping that somethings stick. Chris Vic has e-mailed in the past wanting to know who I was and how I get such information. I didn’t tell him much because he is the beat writer for them. I’m sorry if I have offended anyone. I will continue to post things that I know are going to happen. I really try to keep a low profile and just read the blogs. This is the best hockey blog in the country. Chris Viv and Rawhide has done a awesome job reporting on the Thrashers. You guys are true hockey fans! Again I am sorry if I have offended anyone. Go Thrashers!
J.B.
August 18th, 2010
12:31 pm
i don’t think you’ve offended anyone Flames. Some are just more skeptical than others. That said, wouldn’t Chris be able to see your email address, at minimum since you post here?
Smoothie
August 18th, 2010
12:36 pm
Not that Flames owes anything to anyone, and it’s up to you as an individual if you choose to believe him, but I give you this:
POSTED BY FLAMES ON 6/22: I’m for resigning Boults as well. He is a tough SOB and has a lot of grit. He will not make a huge dent on the cap space at around 500K. He is a leader in the locker room. Bogo, Slater and Thorburn look up to him. I expect him and a few others to sign in the next 7-10 days. Bogo and Slater are leaving in a few weeks to go to Iraq on behalf of the Thrashers to visit the troops. I wish them well. The NHL wanted two American Players from each team to go. I’m still hearing the echos of a trade draft day with Chicago…Please let it be # 10.
For the record, the Byfuglien trade went down on the 24th. Boulton signed in early July along with a couple of other UFA’s, albeit depth signings for Chicago. Have not heard anyone else mention Slater’s & Bogo’s trip to Iraq so perhaps Flames can point us in the direction of some press release regarding the trip to visit the troops.
I know there are other instances of Flames posting good information for the bloggers over on Viv’s page, but I’m too lazy to look up anymore. He’s shown me enough to believe that he is privy to some information coming out of the Thrashers’ management circles.
Brendan
August 18th, 2010
12:36 pm
Red Light, only two really grab me. Stempniak, because of his awesome production post-trade deadline, and Artyukhin … just because he’s a big body to help us win puck battles in the corner boards. I don’t think R2Kin did anything to play himself out of a job while here. To me, the issue with Artie is … “does he WANT to play here?” And if so, is he willing to do just a 1-year deal, or … are his demands something larger?
Red Light
August 18th, 2010
12:38 pm
Speaking of long-winded…
I agree that you can never have enough grit, but you also need more skill on this current roster, even if you keep Burmistrov, Little returns to 2009 form, Bergfors duplicates his rookie season, Kane improves, and Ladd and Byfuglien contribute 20 goals each. As ex ex STH said, and I firmly believe, this club needs a top-6 forward, preferably a playmaking assist man. Little, Bergy, Kane, Byfuglien, Ladd, Eager, Slater, Boulton, Thorburn aren’t top-flight passers. Antropov, Burmistrov (not yet at the NHL level), Peverley (occasionally) fit that bill. In fact, the best passers on the team are Enstrom and Oduya in my opinion (Hainsey’s not bad either), but those are more up the ice passes rather than setting up goals. As you know, many assists are recorded because of rebounds off shots.
There isn’t a single forward that you can label as a great passer/playmaker, like Backstrom, St. Louis, Sedin, Crosby or Parise for example. Antro is the closest thing this team has.
There is a guy whose performance slipped last year, who will come at a considerable discount to what he was making… who is a fabulous playmaker: Paul Kariya.
He has averaged 48 assists per every 82 games since the lockout. The downside: age, 36 in October; only two times in his career has he played in more than one playoff series in a single season, averaged only 17 minutes of ice time last season, and of course, he’s small.
Is it a perfect fit? No. Could it be a good option for him and the team? Maybe. If Dudley sends Burmistrov back to Juniors, then what other options do you have?
Red Light
August 18th, 2010
12:44 pm
By the way…Kariya is third on the active list among guys who will (could) eclipse the 1,000-point mark this season…
Alfredsson 992
Kovalev 990
Kariya 989
Flames
August 18th, 2010
12:46 pm
Yes! He e-mailed and asked who I was. It worried me. My E-mail address doesn’t give me away. I have several addresses. I was worried that somebody but him up to it. I think he was just wanting me to keep him in the loop. I reported the Blawkhawks trade before it happened. That was when he contacted me. JF- is right that the organization does read theses blogs. I really don’t want to get anyone in trouble, including myself.
Brendan
August 18th, 2010
12:54 pm
I have a question to ask. “Why is the budget still so low?” Before anyone answers, I want this thought in the back of your minds. Back in 2008, I thought “This is a build year.” And it was. In 2009, I thought, “this is a build year.” And it was. By then, we’d added Bogosian and Kane, Lasu, Redmond, Klingberg, etc., via the draft. In 2010, I thought, “This is Year 3 of what I still suspect is a 4 year building process.” But here we are now, at the beginning of the 2011 season … so … let me ask you: “Is this ‘Year Four’ of the building process?,” which would help explain the low budget, or is this a year where the ‘bluster’ about playoffs is actually justified? My $0.02 is … this is YEAR FOUR, the last and FINAL year of the build-up process. When Craig Custance was the beat writer, he said that it would take the Thrashers 5 years to get back to the postseason, after the disasterous 2007 trade deadline moves. I counter-argued, at the time, that it would only take four years (2011) to get back. If we make the playoffs, great! I win my argument with Custance. If not, I lose. But remember the formula. We need to be a +22 on the GF/GA differential for that the happen. I think I remember someone posting that we were a -22 last year. That means we need to improve by 44 goals this year. I can honestly see us shaving 30 goals off the GA, but I’m not too confident that we’ll even reach last year’s GF totals. We needed a Frolov, or an Afinogenov, or something to make up for Kovy’s goals and Finny’s goals, from last season. If Antropov, Little, and Kane can make up that difference between the three of them, then great! If not, we need to sign or trade for a goal scorer, or two.
Re: Playoffs, I hear ya! “Look at the East last year, it only took 88-points to get in!, so ’screw the formulas!!’” I think we had 83-points last season. Well, the thing is … those formulas tend to be right. And 88-points, to make the playoffs, is a bit of a statistical anomaly. It normally takes 93 to 94-points to qualify for the postseason dance. Think it over. On your marks, get set, post!!
Midfield
August 18th, 2010
12:57 pm
Now I’m worried too. If I don’t come back home in three weeks, my lawyer will open an envelop tipping off investigators in the direction of Teflon Don and the ASG mafia.
J.B.
August 18th, 2010
1:00 pm
Flames – i guess i assumed your email address would at least partially give you away. e.g, if it ended in @atlantaspirit.com or something like that
. I only have one and forget that alot of people keep different addresses for different purposes.
Don’t get yourself in trouble!
I know you mentioned feverish work on Little and Bergfors. Is there any chatter regarding bringing in someone else from outside via UFA or trade or has that ship sailed for the season?
Flames
August 18th, 2010
1:05 pm
Smoothie- The trip to Iraq got canceled by the NHL. It was suppose to happened in August. If any of you get a chance, ask Bogosian or Slater about the trip. Each team was supposed to send two Americans. Bolts volunteered to go but he is Canadian.
Jack
August 18th, 2010
1:12 pm
Flames thanks for all your great information. Don’t see how anyone could be offended, especially the true Thrasher fans that wants to know what the team is ir is not doing.
Thank you again.
Flames
August 18th, 2010
1:15 pm
I’m not sure. They think they might need another scorer. It depends on what they do with Buff. I think he will be a forward and not a blueliner. If that is the case then they might be done. I will keep you posted. I just don’t think we are done.
Dwayne
August 18th, 2010
1:18 pm
To Flames….Who was the Grassy Knoll gunman?
Jack
August 18th, 2010
1:24 pm
On a side note any more news on the kchoke saga
Alan R.
August 18th, 2010
1:27 pm
I just don’t think we are done.
Neither do I. We need to add more salary to get to the floor, and I don’t think all that salary will be covered by the RFA signings.
Flames
August 18th, 2010
1:28 pm
Dewayne- Sage! J/k
Smoothie
August 18th, 2010
1:32 pm
Flames – Damn, just damn.
Sage will be gunning for you next probably!
Alan – pretty sure the Little & Bergfors deals should get us comfortably above the floor. However, not sure how bonuses are accounted for at the beginning of the year. If the full potential counts against the floor at Day 1, then we’re fine. But I could see us making one more depth signing or trading for an odd-man out from the Bruins as Ramsay would be able to give us some good insight on whether a particular player is worth it.
SomaAtl95
August 18th, 2010
1:34 pm
Thanks again Flames – one of your posts got me to thinking – your employers read these blogs? Any responses to what is posted here? I’m sure some folks would be unhappy if they knew that the ASG was reading what they had to say and just didn’t care.
kracker
August 18th, 2010
2:04 pm
twitter dankamal Top-pick Alexander Burmistrov has been skating in Duluth for about a week. He looks 10 lbs heavier than last month. I’d say 180, all muscle.
For the skeptics: It’s good to hear that A. Burma is here in Duluth and not somewhere in Russia. And he will probably be about a muscular 185 for camp.
GaVaHokie
August 18th, 2010
2:14 pm
Burma will also have a couple weeks to play with Antro, Little and Kane (next week) before training camp starts up… good for him, taking full advantage of his opportunity.
Flames
August 18th, 2010
2:15 pm
Sage- I was just poking fun at you. Nothing personal.. I really respect everyones opinion on this blog.
Smoothie
August 18th, 2010
2:27 pm
Johnny Burma is every bit the character guy Dudley says he is. Judging from his work ethic at prospect camp, we will be very pleased with this kid when he dons the cobalt blue for real. He was the first on the ice and last off of it, reportedly with Telegrin, and I witnessed how gracious and friendly he was signing autographs and posing for pics after the last prospect camp scrimmage. If he continues to put on the weight and matures adequately, we may finally have our franchise center in 2011. Although I do think he’ll get his 9 games this fall before heading back to Barrie in mid-November. And I didn’t even have to rely on Flames for that prediction!
Brendan
August 18th, 2010
2:32 pm
I remember that one of the Spirit members specifically cited poster LAC in some article about message boards. They wanted to know if he was a poster named “whammer.” But, it turned out … that “whammer” posted during the interview with the paper, trying to catch him hiding/posting under this name. Not even I would believe Gearon or Levenson would do something like that.
But, the fact that at least one (1) owner of the team knew who LAC was … is encouraging. Although, LAC was usually challenging him/them to a fist fight for control of the team.
kracker
August 18th, 2010
2:47 pm
twitter – scottywazz Boo-urns. RT @KatsHockey: Big faceoff dot in the middle of the zones is just another rule tweak http://tweetphoto.com/39825888
Are they going to do this???
kracker
August 18th, 2010
2:48 pm
Surely that’s a photoshop altered pic!?
Jack
August 18th, 2010
2:56 pm
Thats crazy it looks like (real) wrestling on ice.
kracker
August 18th, 2010
3:11 pm
More twitter – mirtle I must have missed it, but why is the NHL testing out shallower nets at the R&D camp?
More room to set up & pass from behind the net? That could be interesting…
Jack
August 18th, 2010
3:15 pm
and more checking. Did I hear right that they are also testing not using the trapazoid behind the goal?
kracker
August 18th, 2010
3:20 pm
Here is another pic
mirtle I call it cyclops. RT @reporterchris: This is what an NHL rink looks like with one faceoff dot in each zone. http://tweetphoto.com/39829739
Does the goal net look smaller? I think it does. And note the 3′ wide blue line.
kracker
August 18th, 2010
3:21 pm
By ’smaller’, I mean not as deep.
glovesave29
August 18th, 2010
3:28 pm
Kracker – Brendan Shanahan of the league office is working with the Leafs to try out new configurations and rules. This happens every year. So the 3 face off circles in the middle are not a doctored photo. This is not the first time they have considered centered face off circles either. In the last few years they have also tried wider lines and smaller circles. The smartest change ever was the removal of the old Art Ross style nets – the old ones that were shaped like a “3″ at the base and had a sharp protrusion in the middle. Mark Howe hit one once (once) in a game and got a huge gash in his thigh. Nasty
The faceoff circle change seems a bit much for me. The 4 rules I would remove are -
1. Remove the trapezoid from behind the net
2. No icing when shorthanded
3. Team must serve all 2 minutes of a penalty kill regardless of how many goals are scored
4. No touch up icing – play is dead when it crosses the goal line (unless passes thru crease)
On another note – looks like Hamilton may lose the CFL Tiger-Cats. Cant keep that team in town, but they expect to support NHL hockey? They are proposing a new stadium for the team that seats 15,000. 15,000? High school football games get a larger crowd than that!
Jack
August 18th, 2010
3:33 pm
glovesave Ilike 1-3 rules you mentioned changing.
Jack
August 18th, 2010
3:35 pm
Its interesting to note that they can’t keep a CFL teambut think they can keep a NHL team.
kracker
August 18th, 2010
3:42 pm
The single faceoff circle configuration just doesn’t look right, though it might make for really interesting and dangerous FO pulls. There would be no slot!
The blueline in the pics is only 24″ wide not 36″ like I guessed above.
The trapezoid I am ok with. I prefer the goalie playing at the net. Agree, no SH icing. I keep penalty durations as they are. If my team is down 1 and gets a penalty with a few minutes to go, I’m heading for the door. It’s tough enough as it is to come back. Agree, no touch up icing. It it a long season. This is a sensible way to give the players a break.
Sage of Bluesland
August 18th, 2010
3:54 pm
Brendan–to answer your question, every year is a “build year” with bumbling Donny still in the building…You should know better…
Flames–I want to go back and see precisely what you said in this thread that has all the sheep in a tizzy…I will–but I’m not offended in the least…In fact, I wish you would go down the hall and give that lisping idiot a kick in the pants for me…
Too bad all he would do is laugh at the sheep who still haven’t recognized what’s going on–and with how handsomely he gets paid, I would laugh too.
It’s a shame, maybe Sara can serve up a spweadsheet on GM (or Team Presidents, if you are so inclined to bewieve) salaries? I would be eternally grateful….
kracker
August 18th, 2010
3:54 pm
Wait a minute, Glovesave. If you are short-handed (on the PK) there is already no icing, right? So what did I just agree to? lol
glovesave29
August 18th, 2010
4:06 pm
My thought is that you are giving an advantage to a team that is killing a penalty that the even strength or power play team does not get, and that is not right. If you are shorthanded, you cannot just ice the puck without the play being called dead and a faceoff in your zone.
I hate the trapezoid. Some goalies are good puck handlers. Can you imagine Rick DiPietro (for those who were at the All Star skill competition will remember) hitting a player in stride on a long breakout now that the red line is out of play? I hate any rule that limits the athletic abilities of the player.
As for playing the full two minutes shorthanded…think of how many of the players will think twice before taking a dumb penalty. The team is at much more risk, and what player wants to be the subject of the ire of their teammates / fans should they give up multiple PP goals? Way fewer Pronger jabs in the lower back, or silly offensive zone interference penalties.
Sara, please do the spreadsheet Sage has asked for. Please add another column in if for how many times he has said the EXACT same thing on this blog. Break it down by season and month…and yearly too while you are at it. Also add a column for the total number of times he has called each indiviual poster a sheep…tally the total on that too. One last column for the number of times her has referred to the spreadsheet that you posted some 3 years ago. Thanks. ‘Pre-sheee-yate it!
Joe Friday
August 18th, 2010
4:23 pm
Come on, guys. Goodness. There were several of you guys that guessed we would sign Ramsay, several of us that guessed Torchetti, and most of us who knew that Dudley would go after former Hawks.
But I’l play along. Email addys don’t mean dick, Viv only has to look at the IP address anyone of us post from and he can tell where we work.
So, now that Flames posted on Rawhide’s blog and Rawhide can see his IP, Rawhide knows the answer. Is he posting “down the hall” and in the Spirit’s offices, or is this Eklund Jr? I’d actually like to know because if a Spirit employee just called out his boss who is the Club President as this “I personally think DW is jealous” I’d like to buy Flames a beer or three . . .
World Be Free
August 18th, 2010
4:27 pm
Very entertaining reading this afternoon-I think everyone is ready for a transaction of some sort, something concrete to talk about.
schroeder
August 18th, 2010
4:27 pm
GEEZ, How pathetic. Am I the only one that pictures SAGE being able to play the lead for RAINMAN 2. “I’m a very good driver….yeah………..K-mart sucks……..15 minutes to Wapner” Same thing over and over and over. Better yet I picture him as Milton ” I believe you have my stapler” Flames;thank you for all your insight,please don’t get in any trouble but anything you can find out is most appreciated by this blog,any news is good news.
rob
August 18th, 2010
4:33 pm
no SH icing?!?!? c’mon guys. All this rule tweaking is silly. If it ain’t broke…… As a goalie I know why GS doesn’t like the trapazoid, but that was a good rule change, as was the 2 line pass. Both made the game faster and brought more offensive minded play to the game which was good.
Flames, I think the doubters just don’t like not being the lead on the blog here. It is comical watching who wants to participate and who wants to be Rawhide Jr. LOL The dog days of summer have descended and everyone is frustrated by the lack of action or the perceived lack thereof. I wish we could get some info from Duds/Ramsey on what they think about the pieces we have and if they think that will be enough for now. We have a TON of new pieces and they need to be sorted and evaluated IMO before we keep making moves just to make moves. Unless something comes up we just CAN’T pass up.
glovesave29
August 18th, 2010
4:40 pm
But Rob, you are giving a team a DISTINCT advantage by allowing icing. Why? You were penalized for breaking the rules, then given an advantage for the very same reason. It just makes no sense.
As a goalie, I am a bit biased, that is true. But the two line pass is damaging to goalies and I like that rule. I make long passes out all the time, in fact I use a reverse curve and low lie like Jon Casey of the Stars used to do. I can easily flip the puck the length of the ice. When the other team goes for a change, I have the winger go to the opposite side of the rink and hit him with a long outlet pass. Again – don’t like any rule that limits a players athletic talents.
What’s wrong with a bit of tweaking now and again? They have installed touch up offsides, sure as hell beats the old way of the puck having to clear the zone…that slowed everything down.
GaVaHokie
August 18th, 2010
4:46 pm
Schroeder… actually, It’s more like this for me re: Sage…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yFSpml8oSw
Badger Bob
August 18th, 2010
4:46 pm
Best entertainment on the web, this blog is. A living soap opera, with good guys and bad guys and evil villains, secret identities and a healthy sprinkling of humor. And a bit of hockey, too. Rock on, Rawhide!
Zombie Steve
August 18th, 2010
4:51 pm
Speaking of Rawhide, where is he?! I’m starting to twitch and need a blog fix. Damn you, August!
Darkhorse
August 18th, 2010
4:55 pm
Badger Bob-It’s kinda like the Justice League vs the Legion of Doom around here sometimes. I think the roster needs one more legit Superman, Flash or Green Lantern to round us out and be ready for battle. Pipe dream is Sharp or Iginla.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MCrnKZ3yf0
schroeder
August 18th, 2010
4:59 pm
rob,to a degree I think your arguments in regard to the roster are valid. Most on this blog are basing their opinions on past performances in other systems on other teams.we can only speculate how they will perform together here. I personally would like to see Stempniak here based on his post trade performance.That being said,who’s to say that Ladd and Buff both turn out to be 35 goal apiece players.Nobody knows until they hit the ice together.I would sure like a little insurance. If someone would have told me that Prado would make the all-star team this year,I would have told them to “STEP AWAY FROM THE BONG!!!!” What if Bergfors pots 40 this year,who knows. I believe that you will see that some of these guys that we got fron Chi. will be more productive here than there,more ice time,less pressure etc. Roster tweaking is an inexact science and I trust DUDS to put together a good team,but we all have had enough of the status quo for 10 years. That is why we are looking for more scoring.
Alan R.
August 18th, 2010
5:00 pm
Viv only has to look at the IP address anyone of us post from and he can tell where we work.
By that logic, I work for Nuvox. As someone who works in the technology sector, I can tell you with certainty that it goes far beyond simply looking at the IP address.
Badger Bob
August 18th, 2010
5:03 pm
Dallas Stars plus 50% of American Airlines Arena = almost $300 million. Forbes had them worth $246M last year, but I can’t tell if that includes the arena or not.
Badger Bob
August 18th, 2010
5:08 pm
And Alan, I work for Google. Darkhorse, I’m thinking we need Robin or another trusty side-kick. Like RL posted, a serious set up man would be good on a team that’s looking like it has speed and net presence. That’s one way to get our 15 goal guys to 25, and our 25 goal guys to 35.
Still looking for a move with the Roons for that additional legit top-6 forward we need…
Jack
August 18th, 2010
5:15 pm
We now have a new sponsor. this Blog is provided by Nuvox. Nuvox providing Blogs to Bloggers 50 miliion strong.
Sara
August 18th, 2010
5:20 pm
Glovesave – I luvs ya and all but I learned my lesson already that some people aren’t even worth the 30 seconds it would take to read their comments. However it is nice to know Sage still thinks of me now and again.
Badger Bob
August 18th, 2010
5:43 pm
Dallas Stars (Forbes value $246M) plus 50% of American Airlines Arena ($420 M new in 2001) is way more than what Mr. Hicks reportedly just sold the two of them for. He is desperate for cash, so perhaps this isn’t a good indicator of NHL team and arena values. Having Mark Cuban in the owners circle would sure liven things up!
lemon drop the gloves
August 18th, 2010
6:05 pm
i have watched big buff since he came to chicago and started as a d-man. he is a liability on d and hawks were down in series against nashville in first round until campbell returned from ovechkin hit and replaced buff on backline. he is not a strong backwards skater. trust me – i have seen him play over 200 games and he is no better on d than what you have already including the likes of kulda who should make team. buff is no doubt a forward with great wheels and more than a player who stands in front screening the goalie. also, don’t understand all the cormier hype as he has minimal minor league experience (0 points in 9 games in 2010 playoffs with wolves after suspension). machacek is ready now as i stated before with two full consistent pro-seasons under his belt. well-liked in the room from what i can gather. duds watched similar type players (brouwer, versteeg, bickell, dowell, and skille) take time to develop with rockford (hawks ahl affiliate) and contribute with hawks enroute to cup. cormier is not the guy to rush to the show – especially with his lack of experience. derek lee is a huge addition to your braves. consumate team guy who still has gas in the tank and is a gold glover.
Flames
August 18th, 2010
6:58 pm
I have never said I am down the hall from Duds office. Smoothie started that about a month ago. I work in the mail room ; )
Jack
August 18th, 2010
7:07 pm
How about Wad’s office?
Afterall he is use to being in the basement
Flames
August 18th, 2010
7:28 pm
Joe Friday- Three beers sounds about right. Sage- Thanks for being a good sport. On a serious note I could get some people in trouble. Guys I am a fan just like you. Who I really am doesn’t matter. If my information is bad then throw me under the bus. If it is good then be happy. Like Smoothie has always said” take it with a grain of salt”. Go Thrashers. Now I have to go sort the mail
kracker
August 18th, 2010
7:47 pm
If the proposal is to disallow icing by the SH team, I am definitely against that. Disallowing line changes at ES can be problematic, it could be disastrous for a defending team on the PK and much worse yet on double minors or 5 minute majors. I think this would overly-tire certain players, hampering line changes going forward. Goalies would face more rubber.
I suppose allowing line changes by the PK team would alleviate excessive player fatigue but then what have we accomplished? After a stoppage in play and player changes, the puck will be played in the attacking zone where it usually end up anyway following icing and player changes. Moreover, assuring the attacking team a free ride into the zone will penalize the short-handed team twice. Make that three times if they can’t change players.
Alan R.
August 18th, 2010
7:53 pm
Badger Bob – OSHI– GET OUT! Google?! Can you put in a good word for me?
Nate
August 18th, 2010
8:41 pm
lmao Who is the man behind the curtain??? ooooooh. This blog is entertaining to say the least.
World Be Free
August 18th, 2010
9:06 pm
No icing while shorthanded? Sweet, just like the WHA rules in the 70’s. Does put more power in the refs’ hands, which is scary since most of those clowns can’t read or write.
World Be Free
August 18th, 2010
9:09 pm
Stepniak won’t becoming here. He wants too much money, based on the way he played in the 2nd half of last season. we cannot forget the 2 seasons he basically figure skated in Tronna, having played his way out of St. Louis.
Rawhide
August 18th, 2010
10:21 pm
Zombie Steve – Ask, and ye shall receive.