So whats up?

Well - its been quite some time since I posted my rantings and musing. Lets see... what has happened since then:
+ Ive moved - thank the lord for no more bus routes, trunk bass tubes and random crazy people on our front lawn. Will post pics soon - and the housewarming is right around the corner
+ Random deaths after George Carlin has proven a huge loss to the world. Issac Hayes and Bernie Mac both passed. R.I.P. gentleman.
+ The hockey off season proved to be an interesting one. I can make a whole post about it, and probably will at some point. The short of it is - Jarg / Straka / Avery out and Naslund / Redden / Zherdev in. Lots will need to be proven before I am sold on the moves.
+ Def Leppard is alive and well - as a road trip to B'ham Alabama proved to be a wicked good time. Great to see sold out shows and a bunch of young people supporting them these days.

I guess that's about it. Ill try and post more - for the three people who may read this - or at least for my own good so I can look back and laugh at myself.
Cheers!

George Carlin Passes Away

Sad day today. Words can't express how much George will be missed. I just saw him last weekend in Vegas. It was his last show. Ill never forget it. We will miss you George!

Tiger, Tiger, Tiger...

... what did a little bit of ice do to you? Is it the fact that it's white? I mean seriously.. for a public sports figure to make such an ignorant comment is just ridiculous. If you don't know what Im talking about, you can peep this. Last Monday, Tiger was asked who he thought would win the Stanley Cup... his response : "I don't really care. I don't think anyone watches hockey anymore, do they?"

First off, Hockey may not be as popular in the U.S. as other sports like football or baseball, but this years Stanley Cup ratings show that many people indeed still do watch hockey. NBC had the highest ratings since 2003 for the cup finals this year.

Second, take that sport you call golf and take it to Canada, Europe or Asia and see how many people care. Bet more care about hockey in those places than they do about people hitting a ball with a crooked stick.

Third, as a public sports figure and someone who makes their living off sports, don't you think you should pick your words a little more carefully? No matter if the statement is true or false, you have an image to uphold. And if you don't try to maintain that image by silencing your run-on-mouth, then you are basically giving the sports world a big old middle figure, while patting yourself on the back with the other hand.

Its ok Tiger, the laugh will come when the NHL invited you to a game next year, and you make a public comment apologizing for your remarks.

Great Opening Week

Not bad for an aging rock band in their mid- late 40's.
Def Leppard's new Songs From The Sparkle Lounge has debuted at No. 5 on the Top 200 Billboard Album Charts for May 17, 2008. As Billboard points out it is the 11th straight Top 20 album for Def Leppard and the highest charting album since 1992's Adrenalize album which debuted at No. 1.

TOP ROCK ALBUMS
#1 Songs from the Sparkle Lounge - Def Leppard

TOP HARD ROCK ALBUMS
#1 Songs from the Sparkle Lounge - Def Leppard

Billboard top 200
#5 Songs from the Sparkle Lounge - Def Leppard

And thats a wrap!

Well, Im a little late on this one so I apologize for that. As expected, the Rangers were disposed of by the Penguins over the weekend. As disappointing as that was, it capped a good season for the Bullshirts who continue to evolve and improve as a contender in the NHL.

Now, the off season awaits. Which for a hockey fan, can be fairly interesting.

+ First up - Re-signing potential free agents that could become available July 1st during free agent month. Biggest unanswered questions; Jagr, Shanny and Avery. Jagr said he wants to come back.. if he comes back to the NHL. ie- He will test the open market, but probably sign with the Rangers. If thats the case, I expect them to part with Shanny although Im not sure I would endorse that. He may not be a 1st line winger anymore, but a 4th line winger, he could do nicely. And Avery.. goes like this. He is asking too much.. and he needs NYR just as much as they need him. He will not find such success elsewhere. So he will lower is price and re-sign. Now, that leaves a handful of D-men which for sure, some won't be back. But who? Backman, Rosival, Malik and Mara all are up in the air.

+ Then, in the midst of that, there is the Draft on June 20th that, while not as interesting or impactful as the NFL draft, still is worth keeping up with. Lots of young kids could make an impact. Rangers pick 20th.

+ Then there is Free Agent month which spans all of July, starting (obviously) July 1st. Last year, the Rangers added Gomez and Drury and made a huge splash. Look this year for them to make a move for either A- A winger for Gomez. Hossa anyone? B- A power D-man, potentially Brian Campbell. Both could be a stretch, but also could be in the realm of possibility. If the cap exceeds 55Mil, then we have a lot of room to make moves, especially if Jarg or Shanny walk freeing up at least 2-4 mil, and Mara and Malik walk.. freeing up an extra 5 mil of cap space. Should be a fun fun weak, as the first weak is always the best. Hell, the first DAY is the best.

+ Then there is training camp, which doesn't start till Sept, but news of who is invited from the younger group of kids on the Wolfpack will gear up at the end of August. Training camp goes thru Sept, with cuts being made along the way for the final square to begin the season in Oct.

So as you can see, there really is no true long off season in Hockey. And thank god for that. What else do I have to do besides follow this shit :)

End of an Era?

Would be a shame if tonight was the last game for Jagr and Shannahan, although it seems very likely, if not tonight, sometime in the next week unless a comeback of monumental proportions happen. Truth is, they are being beaten by a better team, but don't deserve to go out like this. They played a great Game 3 and the series should be 2-1. But its not, and tonight may be the end of the Rangers season. Put your rally caps on, tonight will be a hot one.