To the court system we go: EDM Journal
Which means everybody could become UFAs: Deadspin
So this is the guy who decides: ESPN
At least someone thinks there will be a season: PHT
These guys are even more important if a new CBA eliminates middle class players: HF
This week we’ve got Lovie Smith and Brian Urlacher channeling Hemingway, with many BJ Rajie jokes.
Also, we’ve dropped the price of a full-season subscription to just $40. If you sign up and the NHL season is eventually canceled, that subscription will carry to the following season (if they actually play hockey then, that is). So it’s a real savings. Get yours today!
Isn’t so much me as it is Roenick: (Fox Chicago)
This isn’t fair!!!!!!(NHL)
The Waiting Game Sucks: (TSN)
Now what?? (Sportsnet)
The Owners already won:(CBC)
Twinky Winky plead guilty: (Toronto Sun)
The Simple Things: (Styrofoam Playground)
It’s the same call I made in October. I return to you, players, to do so once again.
I ask this of you not because I’m not sympathetic to your cause. From the word go I have found what the owners are doing to you disgusting, obstinate, and absurd. The thought of Gary Bettman smiling, having a cigar and a brandy while slapping the back of Jeremy Jacobs and Murray Edwards over a job well done makes me want to vomit up lunch from two days ago, then eat it up just so I can vomit it up again. I know it makes you feel that way.
But sometimes doing the honorable thing is one that is odorous to every sense. And this is starting to feel like one of those times.
Don’t have much today, so I’ll try and quickly sum up whatever went on today with the CBA and then get on to opening a thread for you guys.
I don’t think it’s all that odd that the players and owners didn’t do any face-time today. This isn’t two sided on opposite sides of the table and the mediator sitting at the head. They go back and forth between rooms. The fact that it sounds so bleak definitely drops your heart, but this process hasn’t played out really. The mediators will either wave the white flag or come up with some ideas for both sides, and we’ll just have to see where that goes.
It feels like the owners are going to try and run out the clock (which only has a couple weeks left) with this offer and push the players to the wall. Hopefully some moderate voices on either side gets heard, because at this point I don’t know what either side thinks they’re going to “win” now. Contract length would seem to be a non-issue if the variance in salary is controlled. I think it’s just a false term, really.
Anyway, on to more fun stuff to discuss. This week I’ve been pumping Wild Flag’s self-titled debut. If you don’t know, Wild Flag is essentially the remains of Sleater Kinney without Corin Tucker. Which is good, because every time I see Carrie Brownstein on Portlandia or as a guest star on the Simpsons last week, I think it’s funny but I’d rather just be listening to Sleater Kinney or Wild Flag anyway.
But to the point, the Wild Flag album is the balls. The last two tracks, Racehorse and Black Tiles, actually have some pretty intense instrumental interludes, which you wouldn’t see coming out of this punky background.
What are you spinning this week?
Gary at 20: (TSN)
Actually he isn’t doing a bad job: (The Province)
Call the NBA for help: (CBC)
But talks will resume: (Winnipeg Free Press)
Young Man’s Game: (Edmonton Journal)
It’s a big week for Phillip Danault and Mark McNeill, as they are both currently in Calgary for Canada’s World Junior Training Camp. They will find out Thursday if they’ve made the team, and they could be fighting for the same spot.
Both went into it on a roll as well. Danault especially went bonkers in two games this weekend, with one goal and seven assists! That gives Phillip 44 points in 29 games, though that hasn’t kept Victoriaville from being pretty ho-hum this year.
McNeill had a goal and two assists in three games before heading to Calgary.
The Hogs embarked on their first three-in-three stretch this past weekend. And it didn’t go so well. One win, two losses, and out of first place to Grand Rapids. You would have wanted more.
It started out ok. Friday night saw the return of Yippy Carter Hutton, who three second period goals on six shots from Milwaukee in the second period. That canceled out a pretty Rob Flick opener, where he came down the right wing – his off-wing – cut to the middle and blistered one past Jeremy Smith.
And then it went nuts in the 3rd period. The Hogs exploded for four goals, two of them Ben Smith deflections on the power play. Brandon Pirri added another one, and Marty St. Pierre finished it off with an empty-netter before raising his long stick in the air and knocking out a couple light bulbs.
Then it went pear-shaped.
