Faxes from Uncle Dale

Recent Posts

  • I Hope It’s Worth All The Noise

    I Hope It’s Worth All The Noise

    Not only did that picture fit with the title, but this is the level of intelligence I think the leaders that be are at.

    Maybe it wasn’t the worst, but this was one of the worst weekends to go through as an NHL fan. Not only was the gaping hole where our Black Friday game impossible to ignore as I attempted to watch LSU-Arkansas or something just as non-sensical, but the amount of noise, bullshit, and downright stupidity ramped up even more in the past few days. Add to that the frustration we are feeling has piled up to the point where we are fighting with each other at a moment’s notice, and frankly I’m exasperated as to where to go from here.

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  • Morning Links 11/26

    Morning Links 11/26

    Bolland took to twitter and oh The Outrage: ESPN

    Fehr uses Bettman’s own words against him to wonder Where the Money Is: PD

    NHL acting like one tough Hombre: ESPN

    Will we see someone lift The Silver Chalice: SN

  • Morning Links 11/23

    Alfred Hitchcock Hockey Goalie

    The Union might be about to get a bit Psycho: (Globe and Mail)

    Hopefully the season isn’t lost in the Rear Window: (Sportsnet)

    Gary clearly doesn’t have Vertigo: (CBC)

    One Owner is optimistic that this season hasnt gone to the Birds: (Montreal Gazette)

    These jerseys may leave other teams Spellbound: (Puck Daddy)

  • Morning Links 11/22

    Morning Links 11/22

    PHT brings you each sides reaction to the latest game of Hardball: Fehr Bettman

    A fan crashes the pressers and plays The Devil’s Advocate: PD

    Lebrun thinks the offer is a solid step and that Something’s Gotta Give: ESPN

    Roman Hamrlik spoke out and Erik Cole Freaked: TSN

    Another outlet reporting Pirri may be the most ready of the Hawks Youngblood: CSN

    Considering the Thing 1 and Thing 2’s age this may be Much Ado About Nothing: PHT

    The Yotes staying in Glendale is picking up Speed: Sporting News

  • Gong Show

    Well, if you were hoping that the NHL and PA would provide a bounce to your holiday weekend, you can forget it.

    While the initial buzz about only being $182 million apart after this latest offer made it seem like things could change, it was what was burning under that smoke that should have led us all to believe this wasn’t going anywhere.

    Because the PA still is getting to 50-50 far too slowly, no matter how they dress it up. Asking the owners to bare all the risk for down-turning revenues after his mess is a non-starter. These two things may be totally fair when viewed through logic, but fair and logic were never part of this negotiation and are never going to be. The PA would do well to finally recognize that, no matter how well they’re organized or transparent this time.

    No contract limits? We went over this yesterday. If you’re brethren in the NBA have ’em, and they’re by far the more popular league with far more marketable stars, then you better get on the train that you’re going to have contract limits. Again, it’s almost certainly not fair. But fair and reality are often not drinking buddies.

    Quite simply, the union has to decide which one it really wants to hold onto. Does it want to fight over the revenue structure or contracting rights? Because now they’re doing both, and that’s just not going to fly.

    On the other side, it’s dispiriting and disrespectful to everyone who has any interest in the game for the owners to not even begin to try and talk off this proposal. Yes, we’re quite aware that they’re beyond pissed the Fehr wouldn’t negotiate off theirs, even though they gave him no reason to do so. It’s clear it’s about winning, not getting a deal. But this is going to be a pyrric victory, and there has to be some moderates on that side who recognize that. But they’ve been marginalized.

    There’s a deal here. People with a clue could find it. But not when everyone hasn’t got the necessary plate of glass over the belly-button so they can see while having their head up their ass. And that’s the end of it.

  • Thanksgiving, NHL-less Viewing Guide

    Thanksgiving, NHL-less Viewing Guide

    Whenever the NHL gets back to the PA on their offer today and it’s in anyway worth our time to talk about, I’ll return this afternoon to do so. But until then, what’s on offer for you to watch this holiday weekend?

    Wednesday Night

    Bulls v. Rockets – If you really need to see Omer Asik turn into the player he couldn’t here and sweat a lot, and how much Jeremy Lin actually sucks. Because he does.

    Thanksgiving Day

    NFL Tripleheader – I mean, it’s part of the tradition now. You avoid talking to the members of your family you don’t like (i.e. all of them) by watching football. And for once, the NFL has tossed three at-least-decently-interesting games at you, with Texans-Lions, Skins-Boys, and Pats-Jets at night on NBC. We’re working on getting a webcam installed at Chez Killion back East so we can see how the balance between watching RGIII and having dinner as a family gets sorted out. We’re guessing a lot of thrown objects.

    Friday

    Sorry, not much here. Some college football, some non-Bulls NBA. Maybe you should go see your friends or something?

    Saturday

    College Football – Rivalry weekend. Michigan-Ohio State is the only college game I ever make time to watch. Auburn-Alabama could be a thing and important. Notre Dame giving the golden shower to USC is on at night. But really, whatever.

    College Hockey – Only Michigan v. Cornell as MSG is available for you this weekend. Sorry. Well, that and if you have the dish you can get Minnesota v. Vermont as well and watch Justin Holl thrash about on the fourth line.

    Bulls v. Bucks – Zzzzzzzz….

    Sunday

    Bears v. Vikings – At least they return to Sunday afternoons again after two weeks away. But after Monday….duck.

    Ok, that’s it for me. If nothing breaks, you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving and we’ll reconvene here when it’s necessary. Could be Monday, could be later this afternoon.

  • Morning Links 11/21

    It may take a Miracle: (TSN)

    They must be prepared for a Backdraft:(CBC)

    Somebody better make an Executive Decision: (Globe and Mail)

    Hawks brass are good Winter People: (Comcast Sportsnet)

    A new date for many Tequila Sunrises(Puck Daddy)

  • Hey Kids, Where Are You?

    Hey Kids, Where Are You?

    Time for our spin around the Canadian backwaters and American college towns to find out what’s up with the Hawks kids this past weekend. Are you ready to fly? Let’s go!

    Let’s do the normal snake pattern from the Quebecois to the cowboys and then back down through the US. That means the QMJHL to kick it off. Phillip Danault had two assists in tw games for Victoriaville against Chicoutimi and Quebec. I think I had some Chicoutimi on my burger last week, utterly delicious. Danualt now has 33 points in 22 games, both equally divisible by 11 which is awesome. Something great about the multiples of 11. I think it’s the symmetry. His teammate Brandon Whitney continues to see pucks whiz by him a little too consistently. He gave up five goals on 19 Chimchurri shots. But he backed that up with a 31-save performance on 33 shots against Quebec. Victoriaville is 4th in their division.

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  • Fiscal Cliff

    Fiscal Cliff

    You’ll hear a lot about cliffs and brinks and the abyss in the coming days and weeks, both with the federal government and with the NHL. I won’t get into the federal budget fiscal cliff, and that might actually be messier than the NHL and with even bigger idiots. But we can stick with what we kind of know.

    As we sit here and await whatever bouquet of flowers and candies the NHLPA cooks up in its offer tomorrow, you’ve already heard and will hear a lot about these contract issues. The union has made a big stink about how much they won’t budge on them just as the owners have. You have to wonder if it’s worth it. That’s if they can get to them, which they’d have to agree on revenue splits to do. No guarantees there.

    I’m not sure some of it should really be that big of a deal. (more…)

  • Morning Links 11/20

    Morning Links 11/20

    Possible upgrades to the Bears’ o-line?

    PHT brings the blah-blah-blah from the from The Usual Suspects: Daly Fehr

    Perhaps the negotiations will be calmed by A Few Good Men: SN

    To me the NHL saying they haven’t received a full proposal sounds like a Cop Out: ESPN

    I can’t imagine losing the Columbus ASG is much of a Deterrence: PD

    Emery has a new mask, I just hope we get to see it in action before Our Time is Up: CSN

    Former Hawk Spacek says his career has reached the End of Days: PHT

    Pirri is Coming of Age: Blackhawks

    You probably can’t bet on this in a Casino: Twitter

    Ken Campbell argues that it may be time to start with a Clean Slate: THN

    Spector tells the NHL its time to do That Thing You Do: Sporting News