Game 63: Hawks 5, Oilers 2 - Mel gives you the hand

The subject is in reference to the "talk to the hand" sign I gave to some woman who wanted to get to her seat while the play was still going on. I would have given her the finger as well, but was worried her bf/husband/douche behind her might have broken it.

Apologies for the last game recap. Honestly, I'm already two games behind and the game sucked shit so why waste my time? Sadly, I had a feeling the Hawks were going to come out flat like that right after the break. I hate it when I'm right!

Back to Reality

You know, I have about five billion things I'd like to post here (some even non-sports related - bonus!), but I never seem to have the time and energy. During the week, I'm out of the house from about 6.30 to 6pm, and by the time I settle in after dinner, it's almost time to go to bed. Or I have nights like tonight where I *have* to do two loads of laundry or I have to delve into the "bad bra" part of my dresser (ladies, you know what I'm talking about). Which reminds me, I think I have to go downstairs and get the clothes out of the dryer shortly. Shit.

Anyway.

To Get In the Mood....

If Kaner could repeat this today, it would be the single greatest birthday present a girl could have. I was at this game and it was the greatest sporting event I have ever been in attendance for - even beating the Zambrano no-hitter in Milwaukee.

I'll post more later, including about last night's trip to Rockford. In the meantime...

USAUSAUSA!

The Calm Before the Storm

This should be an interesting weekend. But first, some business:

I'm pissed because the only men's hockey games I've been able to watch in its entirety in the medal round are the two Canada blowouts. The 2pm games are over before I get home from work. And since I get up at 5:30 (and at this point in my life I am worthless at work if I don't get at least 5 hours of sleep) I can see maybe the first two periods of the first late game if I have the energy. So all of the exciting games the past several days? Haven't seen them - I mean I missed Kopecky getting the GWG last night - that'll probably be the only worthwhile thing he does all year! And tomorrow *again* the US game is at 2pm. I'd stream it online, but they've been Big Brothering the internets at work lately, plus I have a 3:30 weekly meeting with the brain trust of the organization. Why do you hate me scheduling gods??

I am saddened that the US women lost to the Canadians today. You can't fault them for lack of effort - honestly if the Canadian goalie hadn't stood on her head and the D hadn't been blocking shots like their life depended on it, I think they would have won easy. I didn't watch the medal ceremony - I don't think I could have stood listening to all of those hosers singing. Hopefully. we'll get payback this weekend - I'm sure the men's team losing would hurt the Canadian psyche more anyway. The only good thing about DVRing the game was fast forwarding through Pierre "I stand on a stool so you can see my head over the boards" McGuire. How does that man have a job - he's more annoying that the bitch in front of you in the 10 items or less line with 22 items who thinks we're all dumb and can't count. Oh and the Canadian coach - she looks very scary and mean. Maybe that's why they win because she'll kick your ass if you don't.

So anyway this weekend...

I don't have anything really planned tomorrow except work and more hockey. It'd be nice if I could cut out early and see part of the US game, but that 3:30 meeting fucks me over every Friday. I love the fact that the folks who *don't* start work at 7 am every morning decided that was a great time for a meeting at the end of the week. I'm usually comatose and useless by 10. That's all I say about that because I like to keep work off the blog since you never know who reads this (I love my job! Seriously!)

Unfortunately my Saturday is going to get off to a crappy start because I have to go to the DMV to renew my driver's license. It expires on Sunday - I could have renewed it online but I have my old address on it and I have to get a new picture. Seriously. The last time I went I thought that they would use my previous photo on file and went unshowered and dressed like a hobo. Therefore I look like a serial killer on my license. So I will get up early on weekend to shower and look presentable (for me anyway) in order to make it to the DMV before 8am. After that task is completed, we'll be leaving for Rockford for the Ice Hogs game and Blackhawks autographs. I hope there's not a bazillion people in line. I also hope the US wins tomorrow because it's going to suck if they play for the bronze medal since I'll be missing it. Oops, I guess I should have thought of that before I decided to go to this game. I'll DVR the game regardless of who plays and try to sequester myself from the results the best I can.

Sunday is my birthday and I plan on doing nothing except watching the gold medal game. And maybe get dinner at a restaurant of my choosing. I used to try to get some folks together on my bday for drinks and other assorted fun, but I've lost interest in that since I've turned 30. Birthdays aren't a really big deal for me anymore - although I'll probably change my mind about that as I creep ever so closer to 40 (eek!). Does this make me a loser? Perhaps. But you totally get shit on with a winter birthday because your options are limited. I'm not going to have a pool party, thanks.

Ok, maybe this weekend isn't that exciting. But I hibernate in the winter and I'm a nerd so it's thrilling enough for me. So there :P

Olympic Memories

As the Winter Olympics near its end (not too soon for some) and with all the comparisons of Sunday's US/Canada game to the 1980 Miracle, I thought this might be a good time to share some of my Olympic memories of years past. For the record, I am a little sad the games will be over this weekend - it seems like a nice two week break where everyone is tuned into sports in some way or another. I also think the Miracle on Ice comparisons are way overblown - it was an upset, yes, but no more so than any other game this tournament. Now if Germany beats Canada tonight, that would be an appropriate comparison.

Without further ado, here are my memories of every Winter Olympics in my lifetime:

Obligatory Jingoistic Olympic Hockey Post

Before I get started, let me just say I don't have a "These Colors Don't Run" bumper sticker on my car (I have a peace sign and a Yoda Fish on my back bumper). I generally eschew 4th of July celebrations and have participated in more Anti-War marches than Memorial Day parades. I have been to Canada twice (Toronto & Vancouver - I'm not counting the across the border gambling in Windsor) and greatly enjoyed myself - I would much like to visit again soon. That is if they'll stamp my passport after this post.

Yesterday though, I wore my 1998 USA Hockey jersey with pride and yelled at the TV like it was the Americans vs the Ruskies again - for the record it was a week before my fourth birthday when the Miracle On Ice happened so I don't remember it. Amy wasn't born yet. Hmph.

I started out the day after a late breakfast with some of my friends from high school (I do keep in touch with *some* people), watching the Russia/Czech Republic game. I'll just say this once: why was this game on NBC in glorious HD when the most important game in US Hockey in 30 years was relegated to the "Place for Politics" in non-HD. AnyWAY, I half paid attention to the game as Russia pretty much dominated it, and without any Hawks to root for, I didn't care too much who won. When Ovechkin unloaded on Jagr in the third period which set Malkin up nicely for his second goal, I had to think it was karma for the 1992 Cup Finals (yes I am still bitter). What I DID NOT enjoy was the ten minutes that followed of Penis-Head McGuire, Doc and Edzo all fighting to lick Ovie's boots, err skates. Hello, he's from Russia - in the Olympics he's the enemy! It finally got so nauseating I changed the channel to curling. I was that annoyed.

In my head I knew that it was likely that Canada was going to beat us. But I felt in my heart that this game was going to be special and for once, I was right. When Rafalski scored less than a minute in on Brodeur, it seemed to prove to the US that not only that they deserved to be there, that they deserved to win. I won't rehash the game, but it was excitement I have not felt since last year's playoffs (oh and maybe the 5 goal comeback versus Calgary early this season). The last half of the third period had me on the edge of my seat, wishing I had a paper bag to breathe in. When Kesler scored that amazing empty netter to seal it, I had to thank the gods for the win, at the same time cursing them for making me root and cheer for a member of the Red Wings and the Canucks. I guess I can go back to hating them next week.

I won't lie and say I did not experience schadenfreude at the expense of the Canadian hockey fans looking like they were just told there wouldn't be any more Christmases. I do feel somewhat bad for Toews, Kane & Seabrook as they all played good games - Toews had 2 assists and both Dunc and Seabs had one apiece. Watching Toews during the Olympics makes me marvel even more at how he plays the game and makes me even more thankful that he's a Hawk. Sure, he doesn't have the stats and the name recognition of Crosby, but if I had to choose between one of them to wear the Captain's "C" it would be Toews hands down. I hope Team Canada takes note of his play and in four years in Sochi (if Bettman doesn't screw things up) he at least gets an "A" on his jersey.

I watched part of the Sweden/Finland game, if only to assure myself that the US would get the #1 seed in the medal rounds. Eventually I got tired and went to bed. I did watch the expected 9-1 thrashing courtesy of the American women versus the Swedes this afternoon after I came home from the doctor (I finally got the damn stitches out of my leg!). Not a surprise, but after Torino you could tell the team was a bit cautious in the first period until they scored their first goal. Later tonight is the Canada/Finland match which should set up the USA/Canada gold medal game on Thursday. Unless of course Canada still has some bad karma coming. Maybe it's punishment for Celine Dion.

Hump Day Olympic Roundup

I’m beginning to understand why my mom used to take time off during the Olympics. It’s nearly impossible to watch what you want if you work 8 hour days (or in my case 11-12 hour days if you count travel and unpaid OT – I’m salaried). Then, when you are able to watch, they put hockey on the backburner. I can’t believe they started the Canada/Norway game late on CNBC due to a preliminary Curling match running late (mind you, I do find Curling amusing). They aired the women’s game on MSNBC which I don’t get in HD. I noticed they aired the men’s games without commercials as obviously they have no TV timeouts in International play, but in the women’s games they insist on trying to squeeze commercials during breaks in play. They missed the first minute of the China/Finland game last nite and consistently come back from play well after the faceoff. Which just goes to show you how highly NBC thinks of the sport (to which I say a hearty FUCK YOU). And don’t get me started on the time delay – hello, Vancouver is in the Pacific Time Zone – this isn’t Beijing! In any case, I should be thankful I own a DVR and can even watch the damn games because NBC is being all Gestapo on online feeds and all they’re showing on the main network is clips of events that happened six hours previous, Figure Skating and Bob Costas’s bad dye job. 

Game 61: Hawks 5, Blue Jackets 4 (SO) - Mel is not going to Cozumel for the break

Although I may go to Columbus for my "spring break" to see the Hawks play the Blue Jackets (I think this is a dumb name for a sports team) on March 25th. I haven't worked out the logistics yet, and I also have to figure out if we can afford it (small detail). Additionally, I'll just have to get over my extreme dislike of Ohio - that wedding several years ago while staying at the Youngstown Days Inn scarred me for life. You try to enjoy your stay when there's mold in the bathroom, hairs on your pillow, no internet and the guys a couple rooms down are mixing Meth in their bathtub. Last spring's trip to Cincinnati made me feel a little better about the Buckeye State, so I'm willing to give it another chance.

Anyway, back to the task on hand, I have only three words: Lather, Rinse, Repeat. Honestly if you switched the first and second periods from Saturday's game, Sunday was almost identical. I'm baffled why Q played Niemi for the fourth game in a row, and on the end of a back-to-back. He said he was playing the "hot hand." Uh, if Niemi's got a hot hand Whitney Houston, we have a problem. He hasn't been terrible - just average (read: Huet-like). I don't see the logic in sitting your supposed #1 Huet for a month - he last played on the 5th versus the 'Yotes and at best he'll play on 3/2 versus the Isle. Are they trying to shop Niemi? Is Huet hurt? Has Q been smoking something? I don't know but they've got two weeks to figure this out.

With Hossa, Sopel & Eager scratched and Madden on IR (insert wife & limo pictures joke here) our boys from Rockford - Bickell & Dowell - each had a goal, with Dowell getting the #3 star (he also had an assist on Bickell's tally). Makes me excited to see them on the 27th - note to self: buy tickets. The other highlights (lowlights?) was Kane getting Ovechkin'ed by Stralman and the resulting beat down by Brouwer:



My god, could the BJ announcers be any more whiney? Later in the period, Torres went inexplicably apeshit and tackled Sharp. Hey Banana-Phone - you might not want to forget what Sharp did to Lidstrom in last year's WCF. So of course, we went to OT and the Shootout (Booooo) and in a case of poetic justice, Kane and Brouwer scored, with Troy's goal being the winner. Enjoy the break boys - and those of you playing for medals, please come home intact.

Oh one last thing, only watched the first period really of yesterday's women's game between the US and China (I had to do laundry and token housework to avoid the wrath of my gf), but for every person who mocks women in sport, watch this:

Damn you NBC for not letting me embed this!

Holy. Shit.

Blogging the Opening Ceremonies: the Mel Way

Before I get into the snark and mockery, I would like to take a moment to mourn the loss of Georgian Luger Nodar Kumaritashvili. This is a sad and shocking way to begin what is supposed to be a happy and enjoyable two weeks. IMHO they should cancel the Luge competition to prevent further tragedy - we'll see what the IOC decides. In the meantime, thoughts and good karma with Nodar's family and the Georgian people.

Ok...let's begin the show:

We Interupt This Program to Bring You the Olympics

[Disclaimer: I really didn't intend this to be a sports blog when I started it. But hey, it's winter in Chicago and I hibernate. What the hell else am I supposed to watch and talk about? I cannot help that my father is a man whose favorite book is the sports section of the newspaper and my mom used to take two weeks off of work just to watch the Olympics. See, it's genetic!]

As we approach the 2010 Winter Olympics, I am not ashamed to say I look forward to them every four (two if you count that the Summer & Winter games alternate) years. I know it's commercial as hell, and US media coverage sucks and is highly jingoistic (ice dancing instead of the US/Canada game - are you fucking kidding me?) but I'm suckered into it every time. This will be the first games that I own a DVR for, so I'll be able to watch what I want when I want and fast forward through Bob Costas and those touching tear jerky stories about the athletes they show instead of actual sport.