Dear Ron MacLean, I wouldn’t bother with these questions
if I didn’t sense some spiritual connection.
We may not be the same, but it’s not like we’re from different planets.
We both love this game so much we can hardly fucking stand it.
Alberta-born, and Prairie-raised.
It seems like there ain’t a sheet of ice north of Fargo I ain’t played.
From Penhold to the Gatinaeu, every fond memory of childhood
that I know is somehow connected to the culture of this game.
I just can’t let it go.
Specifically the function the ritual serves
in conjunction with what everybody knows is,
in the end, a kid’s game.
I’m just appealing to your sense of fair play
when I say she’s puzzled by this incessant pressure
for her to not defy collective will and yellow ribboned lapels,
as the soldiers inexplicably repel down from the arena rafters.
Which, if it not so insane,
they’ll be grounds for screaming laughter.
Dear Ron MacLean. Dear Coach’s Corner.
I’m writing in order for someone to explain
to my niece the distinction between
these mandatory pre-game group rites of submission
and the rallies at Nuremberg.
vs. 
FACEOFF: 6pm Central
TV/RADIO: WGN for 606, CBC for the hosers
THE COLD AND DESPERATE: Pension Plan Puppets
The Hawks continue this five-in-eight stretch with a trip to Toronto for an appearance on Hockey Night In Canada. And if you read around, most of the Leafs blogosphere and media is already hiding behind the couch for this one, out of fear of what the Hawks might do to the free-falling Leafs.
As you know, we’ve promoted a “lively” lifestyle on this blog for our entire six years. Well, now we’re actually going to help you with that (more than just Killion giving you free beer at his events, anyway. Or is that just me?). Our store has some new items as you can see, perfect for this holiday season where it’s so fucking cold you wouldn’t dare go outside and you need to do all your drinking in your own home. Let us help. We want to be there for you. No, really, we want to be there because we can’t afford our own because this fucking weather is destroying our sales and WHY THE FUCK DID I GET INTO…. sorry, that got away from me there.
Anyway, new times in the store. You should get them. All the t-shirts are available too. We’ve got new ones on the way as well. Keep your eyes peeled.
Great thing about this kind of blowout is that I can start sketching out the wrap throughout the 3rd to have it ready so early. Also tomorrow’s my first day off in forever and I want to make tonight count. Anyway, I know what you all come for but let me actually attempt something of a real wrap before we get to it. Don’t want to deprive you of my genius two nights in a row, obviously.
Antoine Roussel will probably learn that when you’re a team like Dallas, it’s better to stay under the Hawks’ radar than to do anything to get them excited to play you.
Oh, and screw Killion.
From my editorial in last night’s Committed Indian.
I would really prefer it if this game I love being a fan of could like, go a whole week without embarrassing itself.
You’ve probably seen it by now, the travesty that took place last night in Boston. Hey Bruins, maybe you’d like to play a game in which a player doesn’t get taken off on a stretcher? Try it sometime.
The idiocy started when Brooks Orpik crushed Loui Eriksson with what looked to be a legal hit. As it always seems to these days, this caused Boston chapter thug Shawn Thornton to try and fight Orpik, which Orpik justifiably declined.
This is where the idiocy starts, and I’m sick of it. No player should feel like he has to fight after a clean check. There’s nothing wrong with it. But the amount of voices that will come out and blame Orpik for not following the bullshit “code” because he declined a fight is what keeps things like what followed a part of the game. And it shouldn’t be.
And by that I sort of mean that Scott Clemmensen happened. Not that he was truly awful, though I’m sure he’d like goals #3 and #4 back. But we all knew that with the Panthers coming in after playing last night and rolling out their backup, journeyman goalie that the Hawks would only have to be locked in for so long to build a lead they couldn’t possibly punt. They kind of tried to, but only half-assed their cough-up effort (in the same way they half-assed some of their breakouts) and when bothered were able to slip away again.
The night was overshadowed by Corey Crawford’s injury, and then the Vaudevillian display that would have come if Antti Raanta hadn’t gotten up from being run by Jimmy Hayes (marking the first time that Hayes aggressively went to the net at the United Center). Whether it ends up being long-term or not, we’ll just have to wait. But we better hope not.
First, let me apologize for the delayed wrap. There was a miscommunication between us, and the wrap fell in between like a pop fly between White Sox outfielders and infielders (cue Sox fan insecurity in 3…2…1… ). But I’m here now, and that’s what’s important, to see me.
Here’s a nugget for you: thanks to the lockout, Hawks fans have had to deal with exactly three two-game losing streaks in 20 months. You can make it five if you include combining the three games in a row to Detroit, and the two in a row to Boston in the playoffs. That’s five two-game losing streaks in 102 regular season and playoff games, with none exceeding three. Ok, we’re spoiled.
Not to mean last night’s loss was good.
