Blogs Outside the Box

Prompted by stumbling upon a very interesting blog by Anaheim’s Director of Media and Publications, Adam Brady, I decided to spend my sick day going through all the NHL.com team sites to see what sort of blogs the other teams have. It was a very interesting assignment for me. My husband calls this sort of thing for me “home work,” which is nicer than what he says about my actual work that I bring home to do on the couch. That he has deemed “monkey work” because “….any monkey could probably do it.” Nice….
So what did my ill-spent time uncover?
Anaheim: What a trip! Adam Brady not only writes, he takes photos, does audio interviews and live blogs. Something tells me his job is not that difficult if he has all the time to do this. However, it definitely brings the game to the fans in a way unlike everyone else. Interesting -- for a guy in a suit.
Atlanta: Their blog page says it is under construction.
Boston: Nada
Buffalo: “Beyond the Boards” by Brian Wheeler, Website guy. No live game blog
Calgary: There is a group of blogs on there. One from their “Content Manager” Mike Board, one from their radio guy, one from Heather Mullen, moderator of their fan forum, and 3 from what looks like fans.
Carolina: Has three blogs set up by staff members, and it doesn’t look like they update them that much. The “Guy Behind the Guy”, their media director Mike Sundheim keeps his blog pretty much up-to-date, but it is bland.
Chicago: Nothing in the regular section, but there was a blog menu in the message board section. It said that menu is disabled though. (Hey! Get a web designer!)
Colorado: I don’t see any on any of the menus.
Columbus: Broadcaster blogs, and one is Jeff Rimer. So I guess they’re getting more out of their employees.
Dallas: “Razor with an Edge,” I have no idea who this guy is or if he works for the Stars or not. It’s like walking into someone’s therapy session. I was so confused, but so drawn in… it was frightening.
Detroit: Blogs are part of the message board only
Edmonton: Has some sort of photo blog thing from a camera phone. I don’t know if it’s one phone, or if they are asking for submissions.
Florida: Looks like they had something called “Goldie’s Blog” last season, and it’s still up on the web with an entry from 4/7/07. Who is in charge of your website?
Los Angeles: Has a blog that is very short and “mysterious.” I found it more like “confusing” to me.
Minnesota: Has a live game blog by Jamie MacDonald Web Content employee.
Montreal: If they have one, I can’t find it. And Yes!!! I went in under the ENGLISH portion of their site!
Nashville: There is a Blog forum on their message board, but it doesn’t look like it’s been used in awhile.
New Jersey: Nope, not a chance. However, there is a fan mail section. Oh wait; they all have fan mail sections.
Rangers: Well, we know there a 1000 blogs out there, but none is linked to their site. Probably so they have more room for Avery‘s head and Jagr‘s butt.
Islanders: You can’t swing a graphite stick without hitting one of our blogs. And I couldn’t be happier!
Ottawa: There are player blogs, a blog by Gord Wilson, their radio guy, and one from “The Front Office.” Because it IS the “FRONT” office, it’s not updated often. I guess they have a few other things to do first.
Philadelphia: “On the Fly” their PR blog,
Phoenix: Darren Pang has his own blog on their site. How many hours DOES this man find in a day?
Pittsburgh: Not that I can see, but what the heck do they need? They have Sidney and a sold out arena. No one needs to read anything; they’re already at the damn games!
San Jose: They have two. One is from their broadcasters and one weekly blog is by player Macel Goc. Their PR guy, Tom Holy doesn’t seem to have a blog. However, he does have a bobble head. Seems like a neat idea…. If you like bobble heads that look like insurance sales men.
St. Louis: For some reason, they gave their Mascot Louie a blog page. Uh… ok. I wonder how many hits THAT gets.
Tampa Bay: Oh my god! They have five. I don’t even want to go through them to find out what they are… I’m still staring at a photo of Vinny. Focus… focus…
Toronto: Of course, they have three blogs from WELL KNOWN names, Mike Ulmer, John Bartlett and Joe Bowen. Wait, do I know these names because I listened to Canadian radio for three years?
Vancouver: They have two player blogs and five fan blogs.

Ok… that is what is out there. Therefore, as you can see, the blogs have it. Some of them seem interesting reads and some of them are just articles without the use of proofreaders. Good thing that the NHL mandated cookie cuter website designs so they are so easy to navigate. It would have taken me more like six hours instead of two if they weren’t. And I would have. You know I would have… All in the name of research.
Hey… I told you… I WAS SICK!!!!

I thought I was better....

I wasn't.
I went to the game last night because I thought I was sufficiently over whatever superbug I contracted. That was a mistake, and I'm paying for it now. I had no voice, but there was nothing to scream or cheer about, so it didn't matter. I wanted to go because it was an important game. It's not often you see a major star make his return along with the NHLs most controversial player. I should have stayed home and taken care of myself.

I'm going to make this short because I can hardly keep my head up, and also because in a rush to leave work as my fever climbed today, I left my notebook on my desk, so I don't have my notes.

1) How can JS Giguere, such a big man, make himself so small in the net?

2) I loved DiPietro whacking Bertuzzi in the helmet when he was crowding the crease. That was the only thing I loved about last night's game.

3) Selanne looked good.

4) Why was Kip Brennan sent to go put his suit on when he could have been a force on the ice?

5) Why does Bergenheim keep getting so few minutes, but praised in the press room?

6) There was only one scuffle. One of the Niedermayer's and Gervais exchanged slaps. It was like watching an accountant and the pizza delivery boy have a slap fest. It was pointless.

7) Miro hit the boards hard, left being helped and then came back when he shouldn't have. Bad move on everyone's part.

8) Three words I have yet to hear from an Islanders Commentator: "Great positioning by......"

9) Steve Mears was entertaining a group of kids. He looked like a student teacher.

10) Shakey hates Islesblogger.com Mike (he kept hitting him witht he gear bags getting by)

11) It's Ash Wednesday, I think Ted should opt for an exorcism, or at least get a medicine man or something that can help this team.

12) There are no excuses, but we heard plenty of them in the press room. They should be on a tape loop.

There are no only 13 home games left before the end of the regular season. I have a feeling we are not going to be seeing a post season this year. If I can get better, I have intention of seeing as many games as possible, even if they are painful. I'm not jumping ship or threatening bodily harm. I've come to accept whatever is... is. I'll follow the Stanley Cup race no matter who ends up contending. The season will end way too fast for me, and I'll muddle through July and August counting the days till the season starts again.

We may have a few more memorable games, and we may not. But I'll be there for them.

As an aside, how many people know that CJ Papa works for TV55? So after he does his in arena interviews and special features during Islander games, he heads to the TV55 studios to do the 11 pm news. I had no idea, but at least now I know where to turn for better sports coverage of the team, even if they don't deserve it. Of course he covers the other major sports too, but I'm in hockey mode, so.

As the Season seems to slip away...

I’m sick as a dog this weekend, so I’ve been occupying my suffering-on-the-couch time by watching hockey games. Sadly none of the games I’ve watched have turned out the way I’d like them to.
Friday night, the Devils failed to beat the Rangers and “Moonlight” (my new favorite NON-hockey show!) was a repeat. These facts just compounded the cold that was swiftly taking hold of me. I went to bed early but couldn’t sleep well because I was coughing so hard. Thankfully, I didn’t have much to do on Saturday anyway, and I knew the Islander game was airing early. I could lounge around and nap till 2 pm, and I did.
By 3 pm, I knew we were in trouble and I felt like someone had beaten my head with a brick. The NYIC message board was buzzing with others watching the very dull and life-less game. The disappointment was widespread as we watched the Islanders get crushed 4 - 1. I went back to bed for a little while and woke up in time for the Devils game.
I asked Big Angry Man to order Chinese food and wrapped myself in a blanket on the couch. I watched the Devils beat the Kings 6 - 3 in a far more exciting game than the one I had witnessed in the afternoon. I watched six goals scored by SIX different players and of course, some excellent goal tending by the always amazing Marty Brodeur. Six goals? How many times have the Islanders scored six goals in one game this season?
Another sleepless night and a low grade fever when I get out of bed at 6:30 am. What the heck do I have??? I NEVER get sick! EVER. Ok, that’s an exaggeration. But it IS exceptionally rare. This Super Bowl Sunday will be a bust for our house as I can’t even think of going anywhere or doing anything more than throwing some snacks in the oven. But there is one more hockey game on before the hype that is the Super Bowl: Rangers vs. the Canadians on NBC.
For the most part, I enjoy the NBC telecasts, although I seriously miss Ray Ferraro. Why didn’t they renew him? But having Eddie O and Mike Milbury doing between period commentaries does lend some sparkle to their typically Vanilla coverage. So what happens this afternoon? Well, the Rangers some how score 5 unanswered goals and beat the Habs 5 - 3. Even if I was feeling better, which I wasn’t, I would have gotten sick again with that score. Another two points for the Rangers, that’s a 4 point weekend. I could just scream.
There are only 29 more games total, and 14 home games. Four of those games are afternoon games, so that almost definitely means those will be losses. The Islanders currently have 54 points, the Rangers have 60. Every time the Islanders lose, they slip further into the abyss.
The season started with such high hopes which were quickly dashed by injury. Jon Sim’s season ended with him only playing two games. Radek Martinek didn’t escape his injury black cloud this year as he missed 13 games. Actually, that is pretty good for him. Newcomer Aaron Johnson lost 35 games this season to injury and NINE as a healthy scratch. I think our greatest loss is Chris Campoli. When the news that his season was over broke, it was just devastating.
All these unfortunate turns of events don’t explain the lack of scoring by healthy players. Mike Comrie has been a disappointment since his stellar pre-season game performance. Bill Guerin, while a much better Captain than they’ve had in years, is still not the dependable savior they need. And while Satan should be making a case for himself in the last year of his $4.25 mil contract, he has only 11 goals and 18 assists in 52 games. Not exactly a “stellar” season.
Speaking of “stellar,” this team has only one true “star,” and he’s in net. I don’t know what to tell Charles and company about the balance of the season and what they should do at the trade deadline. They already tried the “mortgage everything and get a star” plan last season, and it didn’t get them far. Maybe they are better off not making any huge splash and letting the chips fall where they may. If the Islanders fall short of the playoffs, than they have to do better at draft day. If they can’t attract a pure hockey talent, then they have to GROW one of their own. (‘Hello Kyle? You’ve just become the number one son.’)
Some of my fellow bloggers are so upset with this weekend’s events; they talk of throwing in the towel. I know that is only their passion speaking, and they don’t truly mean it. Or at least I hope they don’t really mean it. I can only give my fellow fans this piece of advice from a Toad the Wet Sprocket song -- “If you don’t expect too much of me, you might not be let down.” Let’s keep the expectations reasonable but our support ever present. Ok ok… let’s TRY for God’s sake.
It’s Super Bowl Sunday. What are we eating? Did I win any money?