Everything Else

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

By Sam Fels 1168 0

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.

Everything Else

Ask Sam Anything

By Sam Fels 1280 0

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.

Everything Else

Wednesday Grabass

By Sam Fels 1181 0

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.

Everything Else

To All Those Kids Looking In The Night….Hey Kids

By Sam Fels 1082 0

Time for our weekly round up of what the kids outside the system have gotten up to this past weekend. Seems like all we do our roundups now. Pretty soon I’m just going to steal a fuckload of drugs and document my descent down the rabbit hole for you. Maybe that’ll be more entertaining. I don’t know. If you have things you’d like us to write about that we can, say so in the comments or email me or something. I’ll be practicing my coat change like Daryl Zero in the meantime. Objectivity and observation, the two obs, people.

Anyway…

Everything Else

Here Comes That Vomit Again

By Sam Fels 1370 0

Before I get to the meat of the post, an apology on the spam taking over our forums. We’ve addressed it, we think we’ve taken the steps to prevent it from happening again. Stick with us, we’ll get it right.

Ok, usually we like to run pictures with every post. Looks nice and all. But I just couldn’t bring myself to look at Gary Bettman right now. It’s been mentioned a little last night and some today, but the Commish’s appearance at the Hall of Fame Ceremony was nothing short of sickening.

I know, it would have looked awkward for the commissioner to not be at his league’s Hall induction. But that absence would have been washed over by the occasion. No one would worry about Gary being absent while Joe Sakic or Adam Oates or Mats Sundin were giving their speeches. It would have passed seamlessly.

But Gary couldn’t have that.

Everything Else

Dear Rockwell

By Sam Fels 1659 0

You mind if I call you Rockwell? Would you prefer Rocky? Either or. Sir, I come to you today not in a bid to end this madness, because we really don’t know how you feel about it. You’re not allowed to say. Even if you could, it’s hard to gauge how much sway you have over your fellow owners. You’ve only been one for five years now, and there are some entrenched members in your little club there. Secondly, maybe some owners are going to be envious or jealous or suspicious of you as you have the biggest building in the league and you sell it out every game. Perhaps they feel your interests don’t match theirs, and that could very well be correct.

But sir, you have a chance to save yourself and your fanbase here. Not by ending this lockout. Your Napoleon-complex ridden leader will assure that one voice cannot crack his posse’s militant desire to break the union, the league, the sport, and every fans’ heart irrevocably.

But you can survive more easily than almost any other owner in the sport, at least one below the 49th.

Everything Else

Up To The Hips In It

By Sam Fels 1182 0

Well, that was all a big mess, wasn’t it?

As you’ve probably followed on Twitter, the NHL and PA ended a week of negotiations by going back to posturing and attacking each other. I don’t remember if straight-out lies were a part of it, but they kind of are now. I’ll do my best to try and wade through all the shit both sides have just thrown us into and see just what the hell is going on.

It started when the NHL (I think) leaked their perplexion (is that a word? It is now) at the fact that in that NHLPA memo that leaked this morning (enough leaks here to be quite the golden shower, no?) there was no mention of their make-whole proposal. That proposal called for all the salary lost in the drop from 57% to 50% to be re-paid in payments in the second year and third year.

Everything Else

Your NHL-less Weekend Viewing Guide

By Sam Fels 1279 0

Before we go through all the stuff you probably don’t want to watch anyway, I feel like I should warn you that at some point today it’s likely you’re going to get bad news about the CBA negotiations. The leaks are increasing, more reports of no progress, and it’s starting to feel like this was all part of the show instead of actual work. For a second there it felt like everyone became interested in saving a season with integrity — after all, 70-75 games really would not have been much of a loss and in fact may even be better than the slog that 82 can feel like. Now it just feels like they’ll do just enough just in time just toss out something, regardless if it is a true farce of a season or not. It’s games, it’s a schedule, and that’s all they care. Whether you do or not, I leave to you.

Anyway, how to fill the time if you are either uninterested or unable to fill the time with constructive activities.

Everything Else

Thursday Grabass

By Sam Fels 1322 0

I couldn’t think of a theme for today’s post, so I’m just going to spray to all fields because I’m bored.

– Sadly, found myself watching the second game of the Subway SuperSeries last night between Team QMJHL and Russia. But I was rewarded when Phillip Danault had a much improved game. He was vaulted up to the team’s top line with Jonathan Huberdeau — who will probably be a Panther in about a month. So he wasn’t on straight defensive duty, and his puck-pursuit was on much more on display. He didn’t scratch a point but definitely opened up space for everyone else. Feel like we’ll get a much better read on him when and if he makes the World Juniors for Canada, though I don’t think he’ll be left out. Fournier was eh. Shalunov looked good again but not as good as Monday.

Everything Else

Try Try Try To Understand

By Sam Fels 1378 0

Ugh, a Heart reference. You can tell that I’m at the end of my rope.

With the NHL and NHLPA heading into a second consecutive day of negotiating, which breaks the record of this lockout by at least 100%, and on pretty much a media blackout (though you’ll get leaks here and there), it’s a little hard to know what to think and what is actually going on. I’ll do my best to pass along how I’m seeing things, and you can tell me I’m totally wrong in the comments.

First things first, one aspect I’ve been getting slightly wrong is how the “make-whole” provision would work, why it’s necessary, why they’re arguing about it, and how it’s different from normal escrow. Yep, I’m going to admit I’m wrong. You’d think this would happen more considering how often I am wrong. But yeah, totally admitting a degree of wrong-ness. My girlfriend will be so thrilled.