Faxes from Uncle Dale

Recent Posts

  • Monday Night Silliness Thread

    We haven’t opened a thread in a while. Though to be fair there hasn’t been a lot for you to open a discussion on.

    But tonight, it feels like there’s some stuff. First, you have what is shaping up to be a pretty awful football game. Two backup QBs against two very stout defenses, all with John Gruden yelling at you as he slobbers over himself about every player while he’s quite possibly stark naked in the booth. The absurdity of it is delicious.

    Second, you have the resumption of “meetings” in New York between The Children and The Thumb Dicks. If common sense could crack the door and get on either negotiating committee, there might have been a chance for progress. Because the margin of victory either can achieve now is really quite miniscule from where they are now, and the answers are pretty much staring them in the face.

    But are you counting on that? Yeah, me neither. All their dastardly tricks and antics have pretty much fallen flat, at least on the owners side. But that probably won’t stop them from trying and forcing themselves to the brink of the abyss. If they haven’t run right over that like an escalator to nowhere.

    Discuss all the goings-on right here.

  • Tonight's Committed Idonije – Bears v. 49ers Is Now Out!

    Tonight's Committed Idonije – Bears v. 49ers Is Now Out!

    We’ve got a new guest columnist, as HockeeNight’s Andrew Cieslak joins the family to make you feel better about life. There’s the secret concussion test given to Jay Cutler, as well as a couple jokes about stabby Niners fans! You know you want this inside….your computer!

    Hit the button to get it!

  • Tonight’s Committed Idonije – Bears v. 49ers Is Now Out!

    Tonight’s Committed Idonije – Bears v. 49ers Is Now Out!

    We’ve got a new guest columnist, as HockeeNight’s Andrew Cieslak joins the family to make you feel better about life. There’s the secret concussion test given to Jay Cutler, as well as a couple jokes about stabby Niners fans! You know you want this inside….your computer!

    Hit the button to get it!

  • Morning Links 11/19

    Morning Links 11/19

    Stals leaves Frolunda for the KHL: CSNChi

    How can this entire article (and the comments) fail to contain a 5-hole joke?: PD

    Speaking of dildos: Grantland

    Really the whole situation is fucked: SN

    Over the weekend Ed went both ways: TSN

    Lastly the NHLPA won’t try to backdoor these negotiations: PHT

  • Your NHL-Less Weekend Viewing Guide & Discussion Of Utter Stupidity

    Your NHL-Less Weekend Viewing Guide & Discussion Of Utter Stupidity

    Before we get to what you can watch this weekend that isn’t what you’d rather be watching, a couple thoughts:

    -You know it’s bad when I read the Twitter updates and instead of throwing something in anger or kicking a live animal, I just stare at the ceiling in utter disbelief — trying to wrap my head around something so bathed in stupidity that I’m not even sure I recognize the language or am totally confident I haven’t switched planets.

    So it was when I saw this “moratorium” vaudevillian routine. Yes, I know it’s been suggested that’s exactly what a mediator would do if one were involved. But the complete lack of urgency or sense of what’s going on in the world outside of this thing…you’ll have to find a more talented writer than me to describe it accurately.

    (more…)

  • Your NHL-Less Weekend Viewing Guide & Discussion Of Utter Stupidity

    Your NHL-Less Weekend Viewing Guide & Discussion Of Utter Stupidity

    Before we get to what you can watch this weekend that isn’t what you’d rather be watching, a couple thoughts:

    -You know it’s bad when I read the Twitter updates and instead of throwing something in anger or kicking a live animal, I just stare at the ceiling in utter disbelief — trying to wrap my head around something so bathed in stupidity that I’m not even sure I recognize the language or am totally confident I haven’t switched planets.

    So it was when I saw this “moratorium” vaudevillian routine. Yes, I know it’s been suggested that’s exactly what a mediator would do if one were involved. But the complete lack of urgency or sense of what’s going on in the world outside of this thing…you’ll have to find a more talented writer than me to describe it accurately.

    (more…)

  • Morning Links 11/16

    Morning Links 11/16

    I’ve always found ignoring the problem makes it go away: PD

    To almost quote Big Tom Callahan, quit playing if your dinghy: PHT

    As previously hinted at these may be offensive: NBCLatino

    If the lockout ever ends we may see some of these guys: HF

    I wonder once the lockout is over, will Simmonds not play when PHI goes to BOS?: SN

  • Ask Sam Anything

    Ask Sam Anything

    I’m bored, depressed, and about to dive headfirst into watching the Coach’s Film for the 49ers last game. There’s absolutely nothing to talk about, and whatever there might be to talk about will only enrage us further. So I’m going back to what we did in August at the old site, with a new wrinkle. This one will be somewhat live. Ask your questions in the comments, and I’ll answer them as promptly as I can in them as well. And if none of you ask anything, then this’ll be more depressing than it already was.

    I’m going to get lunch, and when I come back I’ll be at the ready.

    Ok….go.

  • Morning Links 11/15

    Growing the game:(Blackhawks)

    Communication Breakdown:(TSN)

    Great One still sees a deal: (Toronto Sun)

    “Putty” responds to JR:(Sportsnet)

    Brad Richards is good guy: (Puck Daddy)

    The preacher with no pulpit: (Globe and Mail)

  • Wednesday Grabass

    Wednesday Grabass

    I got nothing today. There’s a picture of Geezer Butler because why not? I guess I’m just going to go through whatever strands I’m trying to keep straight in Ol’ Duder’s head.

    -Obviously, the frustration level right now for everyone is past boiling point. It’s probably volcanic. It hurts even more when the sides aren’t even talking. How can anyone have no urgency? The only thing left to create that urgency is losing the season, and that’s probably three to four weeks away from being a threat. And by that point, will anyone care?

    Bettman and the owners’ inflexibility, lies, tactics, and smugness makes you choke on the air. I can imagine that any player would be absolutely sickened at the thought of bending on anything to them. If I were a player, I bet I’d probably be as militant as they are.

    But with that kind of emotion, your logical side gets blinded. And what’s behind the curtain here is that almost half of the members of the union don’t have contracts past next season. And at some point, the union has to ask itself how much of those future contracts that haven’t even been signed do they want to limit with what they’re trying to save now. (more…)