Monday, May 31, 2010

Stanley Cup Finals Game One: Hawks 6, Flyers 5 - Mel needs a Zoloft

Wow, what a game!

Both goalies made some incredible saves. The top lines for both teams were unstoppable. Such great defense! And the ice at the UC - top notch!

Wait, what?

Post 100: Back in Time When the Floor Shook

To my amazement, this post marks the 100th entry on my blog since I started it at the beginning of the year. I'm shocked to an extent that I've maintained it for this long, as I've never kept anything like this running for more than a couple of weeks. This has evolved into a hockey/sports blog, which wasn't really my intention. No worries, as soon as the NHL playoffs end, I'm sure this blog will become more of my original vision - a home for my snark, random links and stuff I find interesting. I bet you can't wait!

In "celebration" of this occasion, I got the new scanner humming and present you with the following - pictures I took of the Chicago Stadium - the home of the Blackhawks, Bulls, circus, ice capades and random bad concerts prior to the United Center. I don't remember exactly when I took these photographs - it was somewhere between 1988 - 1990 as I did a history fair project on the Wirtz family. Don't ask me why - I guess it was a little more respectable than just a project on the Blackhawks. Of course I no longer have the actual report I wrote as it was done on a typewriter. In any case, one day my dad drove me down to the Stadium to take pictures for the posterboard. I just remember my dad attempting to nervously rush me as back in those days the neighborhood was pretty bad and there was CHA housing close by. Looking back, it's rather comical to think someone was going to shoot us as we took a few pictures, but my dad was being parental I suppose.


Seeing these photographs again bring back so many memories: the anticipation of seeing a Hawks game, feeling the floor shake when the crowd roared, the way your feet would stick to the floor, the swear words I learned at a young age. There will never be another place like it. Le sigh.

A post about the shitstorm that was Game One of the SCF later - I'm going to run across the street now and see if I can still get breakfast at McDonald's!

Saturday, May 29, 2010

Make Me Party Like '61 Boys - Hawks vs. Flyers for the Whole Enchilada

Of course, I wasn't alive in 1961 (I'm not that old - yet) and the big shiny thing looks more like something you'd put your guacamole in (wonder if anyone's ever done that) than an enchilada. But it's finally here - Game One of the Stanley Cup Finals! Thanks Bettman for making us all wait a fucking week - kiss my fat ass!

Of course, I'd be remiss if I never mentioned my MVPs and such from the WCF. Yeah, I know it's*really* late but I've done it for every series now and I'm at the height of superstition at the moment. So bear with me here...

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Belated WCF Game Four (Hawks Win Series!) Wrapup

[blogger's note: please excuse the probable crapiness and nonsensical ramblings of this post. I am sick, on cold medicine and my nose is more chapped than a infant who has diaper rash's ass. Whee!]

Well we all know how this ended up - Blackhawks swept the Sharks in four. I don't think anyone (including myself) expected that. Sure, a lot of folks say all four games were hard-fought (which they were) but sweeping a team out of the NHL playoffs is difficult - case in point: this is the only sweep in the playoffs this year at this point.

A few thoughts on Game Four from the standpoint of someone in attendance - with pictures!

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Jesus saves....at Wal-Mart

Really am behind on posting here but I have an excuse - I'm sick. I really don't know how I made it through eight hours of work today without passing out or biting people's heads off. Ok, I did a little of the latter.

In any case - enjoy the photo below from a local church. I did not take the picture - I just found it on the twitter-sphere.


Three more days - thank god. Watching the Cubs is giving me the twitches.

Monday, May 24, 2010

Funny, I used to like the color orange

Not really much of a post here, as I'm focusing on putting my pictures of Game Four on flickr, and all I have is a ceiling fan in our office. I'll let you know if Mac Minis have a melting point.

Anyway, Flyers vs. Hawks for the big shiny thing. Not much of a recent history between these two teams. Seeing as Philly fans infamously threw snowballs at Santa Claus (ok it was the NFL, but still), I don't need much reason to hate them. How am I going to make it until Saturday without passing a stone? I guess it gives me plenty of time to wax poetic on here.

Oh, and just so you don't think I don't love you all, here's a gem from before warmups:


Hee hee hee!

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Onto the Finals! Game Four in Four Pictures

BONUS PICTURE!
[there's a story behind this one, but you'll have to wait]

Much, much more about this game & series in the coming days, but I am emotionally scrambled and I have to get my wired ass off to bed for a full week of work ahead. Why can't the Stanley Cup Finals be a two week long holiday?

"Don't Accept Plastic Imitations!"

Just a bit of Saturday night (or is it Sunday morning?) silliness:



I don't know what's worse: the name "Disco Body Shaper" or the jump suits. And who the hell wears a belt when working out?

I got this off the Museum of Classic Chicago Television - a site I have wasted countless hours on. If you're looking for the old Empire commercials, Son of Svengoolie or any other TV staples from the 70s and 80s, make a visit!

Western Conference Finals Game Three: Hawks 3, Patrick Marleau 2 (OT) - Mel is deliriously antsy

I should have written this earlier, but I decided to do laundry/watch the Flyers/Habs game/lie around like a sloth this morning & afternoon. This evening Amy & I went out for tapas to celebrate our sixth anniversary. Actually our anniversary was on Wednesday but both of us forgot. Oops. I mean how could I forget - we celebrated our first anniversary on the release date of Revenge of the Sith. Which we ended up seeing on opening night even though I was visiting her while she was studying in England and she doesn't particularly care for Star Wars. That's true love folks.

This will be a briefer recap, as I am as wired as a kid on Christmas Eve. Not only are we on the brink of our first Finals appearance since my sophomore year of high school (*sigh old*), I will be in attendance tomorrow afternoon. I keep thinking of all of the glorious things that I may witness in person, and then I yell at my brain to stop it because I'm sure the Hockey Gods are tapping into it.


Thursday, May 20, 2010

Western Conference Finals Game Two: Hawks 4, Sharks 2 - Mel is confused

"What is this feeling..."

I'm scratching my head because it's been awhile since I've experienced this. The Blackhawks are up 2-0 in a playoff series. And with playing both games on the road? I'm not quite sure I should be ecstatic or freaking out. I'll take the former for now, because with every subsequent win I'm going to have to start to look for tranquilizers.

So I'll admit - I was fully expecting the Hawks to shit the bed in Game Two as has been the norm in these playoffs. They've consistently followed up a strong performance with one that looked like they just got out of bed 10 minutes prior to hitting the ice. Lo and behold - that was not the case. It looks like the Hawks get that this is "for reals" now and are playing their best hockey since the playoffs started.


Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Western Conference Finals Game One: Hawks 2, Sharks 1 - Mel listens intently

So, I can’t add too much personal observation of this game, as about the first 45 minutes of it was listened to on the radio. Thankfully, the radio station came in pretty good – we were around Madison when the game finally started. I was rather perturbed as the station it was broadcast on is normally conservative talk radio crap (they sponsored Sarah Palin’s appearance here last week *violentretching*). The pregame didn’t start until about five to 2pm, so I had to keep flipping back and forth from my iPod as I didn’t want to listen to the blathering about Arizona’s “protection of America” laws that would have caused my poor head to explode from rage. Anyway.

Saturday, May 15, 2010

NHL Playoffs: Conference Finals

This post will not be nearly as long nor as in depth as I'd like as I've spent the weekend with a 2 and a 3 year old and am utterly pooped. Additionally I have to get up way too early in the morning to participate in family pictures and will undoubtedly be awaken at some god awful hour by one of the munchkins bouncing on my air mattress. I love these kids, but it makes me appreciate my hamster more. Anyway...


Thursday, May 13, 2010

NHL Playoff Tidbits: Hawks win WCSF 4-2, Series Wrapup

I'm gonna jam a ton of crap in this post as we're leaving tomorrow morning for a weekend trip up to Minnesota for Amy's niece's 2nd birthday. Which is cool, but doesn't leave much time for internetting and hockey obsessing. I'm hoping I'll get to watch the Bruins/Flyers game tomorrow night, but considering Amy's family only really cares about the Cubs, Vikings (*vomit*), hunting and NASCAR, we'll see how far I get with that.


Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Even more quickly

GOOOOOOOO HAWKS!

BOOOOOOOOO SHARKS!

MISSING PART ONE:
Has anyone seen two creepy ass Swedish twins - last seen about two weeks ago in LA?

Is something burning in my oven? Oh wait, it's just Montreal.

MISSING PART TWO:
Has anyone seen that guy that scored the gold medal winning goal for Canada? You know the one who's "beard" is almost as bad as Kane's.

Who knew the Bruins were playing the role of the Yankees in their reenactment of the 2004 ALCS?

So that guy the Flyers pulled out of the stands to be their 65th goalie this year is pretty good, no?

[Note: A more serious post tomorrow. I gotta start getting more than six hours of sleep. Good night my friends!]

Monday, May 10, 2010

Quickly

Really wanted to do an angsty Game Five post tonight, but work kicked my ass today and I vegged much longer than I should have. I also needed to balance my checking account which took *forever* since I hadn't done it since March. Eep. Thank god I use autopay for almost all of my bills.

In any case, I'll try to post something before Game Six (by writing it at work....shhhh) but needless to say last night sucked. But hey....

...we could have been up 3-0 and are going on the road hanging by a thread at 3-2 with zero momentum (hello, Bruins).

...we could be the defending Stanley Cup Champions going to a Game Seven against a team that no one thought deserved making the playoffs, much less possibly knocking off the game's two poster children (hello, Penguins).

...we could be the Sharks. Teal is ugly.

Adios!

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Western Conference Semifinals Game Four: Hawks 7, Nucks 4 - Mel spins a tale.

Let me tell you a story of two Captains:

The first will never be the league's flashiest player. He truly leads by example. He is a quiet leader - doesn't need histrionics and would never throw a team member under the bus. He does all the things that doesn't often get noticed - works hard for the puck along the boards, excels on the penalty kill, is a calming presence on the team. Most importantly - when it matters most, he shows up.

The second Captain will take credit when he plays well, but when he sucks, it's the other players' fault. Or the refs. Or the Prime Minister. He overacts and whines whenever he feels he was wronged to the point it's pathetic. Most importantly - when it matters most, he folds like a tent.

If you haven't guessed yet...

Captain #1:
Captain #2:

I won't say too much further as I waited until the last minute to write this up - only due to weekend laziness. This game was very enjoyable to watch - especially at a bar w/fellow Hawks fans and the flowing of beverages of the alcoholic type. The Canucks have completely lost their shit which is a joy to behold. I hope the Hawks don't lay off of them tonight and feed off the insane crowd and finish them ala Mortal Kombat.

Pretty please - I have tickets to the Conference Finals and would hate to have to eat the TicketBastard service charges!

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Western Conference Semifinals Game Three: Hawks 5, Nucks 2 - Mel wants McNuggets

image courtesy of Second City Hockey

Well that was fun wasn't it? Unless of course you're a Nucks fan - then I just pity you and your trash throwing brethren.

Even before the series started, all the media wanted to talk about was Dustin Byfuglien and Roberto Luongo. Unfortunately, Buff was useless as a forward in Game One - well in all fairness, most of the Hawks were. He was shuttled between D and Forward in Game Two depending on what Q's magic eight ball told him. Finally by scratching Troy Brouwer in Game Three (which I hope is a wake up call and we see him tearing things up tomorrow), Hendry was brought back to pair up with Sopel (which makes me twitchy every time they have a shift) and Buff was moved to the top line with Toews and Kane.

I think Booby Lu and the Nucks must have thought the hot tub in their locker room was actually a time machine and it was 2009 again. Wow. Buff is maddening because he only seems to play when he feels like it. Imagine if he could put this kind of effort and consistency in a game on a regular basis. He'd be unstoppable. Here's what's scary: with last night, Buff now has two career hat tricks. Kane and Toews? One apiece.

Of course the Nucks and their fans have spent the last 24 hours wearing the tin foil hats and complaining about Buff's third goal and our running into Lu. Hey, you guys brought all of this up before Game One. How about instead of whining, your goalie not look like his pads are made of trampoline and your asshats stop going after noted tough guys Brian Campbell, Dave Bolland and Marian Hossa. I don't know what Bolland did to one of the creepy ginger twins (I'm not going to bother to find out which one it was), but he looked like a guy who was just told there's no Santa Claus. Here's a thought: maybe if you stop bitching to the refs and the press about everything and just play hockey, the calls will come your way. Because I'm sure this is how the refs see you:




Back to the Hawks' play: Without Nemo in the first, this would have been a completely different game. He made some incredible saves and I am in awe of his splits. One day some woman's going to have a very flexible husband there. The Hawks power play finally came to life - thanks for the opportunities Vancouver! Bolland must have finally heard the Hawks' faithful bitching about him lately because this was his best game in the playoffs by far. I thought Toews didn't have one of his better games, but he still managed to get three helpers. That's how good he is.

We'll see if the bloodbath continues in Game Four. I fully expect the Hawks to get called for at least one goaltender interference against them, as to just shut up Lu for five minutes. It'll be interesting to see if the Nucks continue to try to goad us, or just play hockey. In any case, the worst we can do is split the two games in BC, which is what I wanted anyway. I hope the Hawks decide not to let up, and head back to the UC with the opportunity to shut the door before the weekend's over.

Oh and if you're wondering about the McNuggets reference:
I couldn't find a better picture of this, but this was Buff at some McDonalds shin-dig a few months back. Thus the moniker, BUFF MCNUGGETS!

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Western Conference Semifinals Game Two: Hawks 4, Nucks 2 - Mel would like a CVS Gift Card

Seriously guys. I'm already on anti-depressants. This year's playoffs is totally making me bi-polar. Drugs are expensive, stop it!

Case in point: Kris Versteeg. It's a well known fact the boy will not dump the puck in the zone. He thinks he's Kaner, but no - he's not. Between that, a dumb penalty, and two breakaways that he really should scored on at least *one* of them, I was conspiring to find my brother's #32 jersey and burn it in effigy. Then with 90 seconds left in a tie game, he pots one past Lu (resulting in Bobby doing a face plant afterward - delicious). I swear, I wanted to kiss and smack him at the same time.

So a "must win" game in the NHL playoffs really are only reserved for Game Sevens and elimination games. But I think last night was pretty close to a must win for the Hawks. Going into Vancouver down 2-0 would be a steep hill to climb. Not an impossible task, but the mental challenge alone would be pretty daunting. After the Nucks put 2 in the first five minutes of this game, I was getting close to Netflix territory again. Honestly, how can you come out so flat right off the bat in your own building? If not for Nemo and some missed shots by the Nucks, it could have easily been a 3 or 4 goal lead after a couple of dumb bench penalties. I don't know what exactly triggered it (and I don't care at this point), but the Hawks finally realized they weren't playing NHL10 on their PS3's and pretty much dictated the play the rest of the game. Luongo was the only reason the Hawks didn't take the lead in the second, and Sharpie tied it with a shortie midway through the third, followed by Versteeg with the aforementioned winner, and the deal was sealed by an empty net by Kane.

Um, I had more coherent thoughts, but I'm tired (I was supposed to go to bed right after *that*? No.) and my stomach hurts. Perhaps I'll throw another post up here before the game since it is SO DAMN LATE (productivity at work right out the window), but perhaps not. Regardless, it should be a fun game tomorrow.

Oh, one more thing:

LOLOLOLOLOLOL AT RED WINGS!

Sunday, May 2, 2010