The Who 10-24-08

Well, I watched the game tonight against the Thrashers from the comfort of my living room considering the horrendous weather outside.

But.... I won't discuss the game... for now. Instead, let me tell you about the great night I had at the Who concert. ('cause seriously... we've got plenty of time to discuss the game, the system, DiPietro's healthy and the myriad of other topics that we discuss over and over again.)

We had amazing seats for the concert. I could have hit Pete with a spitball if I wanted to. We were just that close. The guys sitting (or actually standing through the entire concert) somehow had seen the play list and were telling us what song was coming up before it started. Big Angry Man found that to be a pretty neat trick.

As we had taken the train in from Woburn we had the luxury of being able to have a drink or two without having to worry about driving. The concourse at the TD Banknorth has a bar about ever 30 feet and they pour high end liquor as well as wine. But that's not the story, the story was the music. The music that is still relevant today. The amazing thing was that there were a large number of young kids in the audience. This is the third time I've seen the Who, and as my husband pointed out, when they play on Long Island, it's their 'older' fans in the audience. Not here. This was a mixed group with 50 year-olds and 15 year-olds all wearing "wholigan" shirts.

The Who are historians who have never forgotten from where they came. The videos they show behind them on the big screens are history lessons, and you can't have two better professors than Pete and Roger.

But the most important thing they teach us is.... you're only as old as you feel. They've had AARP cards for years now, but they still rock. Yes, the front row that used to be crowded with girls throwing themselves at the stage is now crowded with middle age men screaming "PEEEETTTTTEEEEEEE." But hell... they can still rock.

If you ever get a chance. Go see them. But I doubt you'll get better seats than these!

Nite all.

Hockey talk tomorrow.

The Definition of "Irony" -- 10/23/08

So, I travel 5 1/2 hours to Boston to take in a Bruins/Leafs game the day before my husband gets his wish of seeing The Who one more time. And WHAT THE HELL HAPPENS???

Well, I get a phone call from IslanderQueen just as I sit down to lunch in a Woburn Mass Pizzaria UNO.

"Do you want me to give you the bad news or do you want to find out for yourself?" she said.


First, let me say my heart sunk as I thought she was going to tell me something a little more ominous. I'm picturing car accidents, heart attacks and Kurt Cobain episodes.

"Blake is a healthy scratch. Steve Depot just posted it on the board."

"WHAT? He's toying with me. I know it." I said in disbelief. But this was not Steve doing his typical "let me screw with Dee routine." This was true. Jason Blake was a healthy scratch for the Maple Leafs after I travelled 350 miles.

I still wore my Team USA Blake Jersey, I still put my Islander necklace with the "55" dangling from it back on. (Yes, Corey. I still have it. I just happen to have TWO of them.) And lastly, I still had a good time at the game.

TD BankNorth is an amazing arena at the top of a train station. Boston is not as frightening as New York, even with it's traffic. The concourse has so many things in it that we don't have that I couldn't even stop to count them all. It did have a wine kiosk that I would like to petition for, but it also has a Dunkin Donuts that doesn't sell donuts. Who would think.

I had amazing seats directly behind Pierre Maguire doing commentary and also behind that nutcase Hollweg. I took every opportunity to stare him down until Big Angry Man asked me to please stop. Although, he did get into the act and yelled at him "Hey Hollweg! Simon says 'hello!'"

Islesblogger.com Mike kept me posted about the Isles game and even had a bet going with Danno. No one one, but Danno did come pretty close. Mike gets to keep his bourbon.

IslandQueen let me know that she could see me on TV in my Jersey behind Maguire. I'm glad I wasn't shoving food in my face at the time. (And of course, being my closest friend, she taped the game for me too!)

The TSN suite was directly infront of me but high in the rafters. That's where Blake was watching his team mates WIN. That's where I was strainng to see if I could see him sitting up there. I think I did, but then again, it could have been any albino up there.

Tomorrow The Who play in the same building, and I've got great seats for that too. Hopefully, Roger Daltry isn't a healthy scratch and replaced by Robert Plant. Then Danno will be just as upset as I was tonight.

Yep. That's the way things go.

Someone please tell me what the hell they use the mallet for behind the bench...

Back On The Bus Mark

As if by wizardry, Point Blank announced the signing of Mark Parrish to a 25 game P.T.O. with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers even before the Bridgeport Sound Tigers knew about it.

That's how these things go nowadays. The news hits the Internet first and spreads faster than ants on a pic-nic.

Within a matter of seconds, just about every website and message board had something to say about it, both good and bad. Hell, even NHL Live gave it a quick announce as a breaking story courtesy of ... yep... Chris Botta.

I took a different approach. I emailed the powers that be with my usual "You forgot to yell Surprise!!" Luckily, he still laughs when he gets it.

Parrish is a great guy. He did a lot of good things when he was on the Island. But he could be yet another poster boy for what may be wrong with the business.

He received a very large contract. It didn't work out. He was bought out. He got paid to stay home. This is what happens when owners over pay and realize their roster doesn't quite fit the salary cap, or what's expected of that player. Ouch. But Mark is a hockey player. Too young to retire, he waited but nothing happened. Hopefully, he's not too old to remember what it's like to play for the AHL. Things are different there. He will have to adjust. I wish him luck.

In other bloggerdom news today, XM's Home Ice covered the story of the Ottawa blogger who was tossed from the press room on just about every show they had on. Even Puck Daddy weighed in on it, very eloquently I might add.

This whole thing has me worried. Actually, the entire way Bloggers are being handled right now by the NHL has me worried. There are those out there that may be saying "Hey!!! I want in! What about me??" And there are those that are saying "No! Keep them out! They don't belong."

Sigh... Many points were brought up during today's broadcasts. The idea of the sheer number of those out there who are deemed bloggers is frightening. It's obvious there needs to be some way to "separate the wheat from the chaff."

It's true. I hate to say it, but it may be time for the NHL to take a real stand and come up with guidelines for the teams that aren't basically "Okay, do whatever you want."

In our little corner of the hockey universe we've been wildly... lucky. Of the original panel chosen, the team, the players, the media and the league itself has not had a problem with any of us. It could have been far different. Suppose one member was less than sane and it showed during a press conference or a player interview. Suppose a member truly hated one of the paid media and decided to use it as a means to attack that reporter. So much could have gone wrong.

Instead, somehow each of us took this experiment as an honor and a privilege. We all work very hard at what we do and are incredibly respectful of everyone involved. But who can guarantee each team will be as lucky as the Islanders have been? No one.

That one little incident in Ottawa is going to have a huge impact on what we do. There is talk of whether or not Live Blogging infringes on broadcast rights. There is talk of instituting "rights fees."

Yes, blogging has changed the industry, and now the industry itself will change blogging.

God help us.

Not enough SPIN for DeadSpin

I'm lucky enough to be on a panel of 37 female bloggers whom each week are given a topic to write about for DeadSpin. Then on Friday morning, they choose the lucky few entries that are published under their Wax Off feature. (Okay, if there are those who find this really surprising that I'd be willing to do this for this website... take a number. I'm pretty surprised myself. And you can blame NYIC member ACARDS for it!)

It's actually been a lot of fun to try to be outlandish enough to get chosen. I've been picked 2 of 4 weeks so far. So... I'm at .500. Not bad for someone who doesn't get paid for this.

This week's topic was on what people do to show their team spirit. Here's the entry that didn't make the cut. Those who know me best already know the story. Those who don't, may get a kick out of it.

Check back tomorrow for a one on one with Islander Arena Hostess Dina.... complete with photos of course.

I’m no Face-Painter!
Oh, I do a LOT to support my team. My wardrobe is seasonally configured to blue, orange and white. I have searched endlessly to find the perfect bright orange high-heeled sneakers, purchased enough orange nail polish at Halloween to last the entire hockey season, driven from store to store to find deep blue mascara and mail ordered to Europe for an orange linen suit when a PR guy bet me I couldn’t come to a game completely in orange. It was a piece of cake. The kid did have to take my word for it on my underwear. My wardrobe is an announcement. As soon as I walk into work, I don’t have to say a word. I’m greeted with, “Game day, Dee?” Game Day people -- Game Day.
I drive an orange Dodge that replaced my Islanders blue Escape. I’ve got custom license plates that get me honked at on the highway. (Someday I’ll remember that and not jump out of my skin spilling my Starbucks.)
If the Islanders ever revive a tradition from the 90s where every time they won a playoff game (anyone remember what those were?), one of the non-blond players went blond -- well HELL!!! I’m in for that too!! (PS. John Vanbiesbrouk looked awesome as a blond.)
I’ve toyed with the idea of a tattoo, but the question is always… WHERE? Seen? Unseen? Decisions, decisions.
I’ve got Islanders silk P.J.s to sleep in and matching silk undies. They don’t seem to be that lucky though. Well, they’re lucky for ME when my husband sees them, but they don’t seem to do Squanto for the team. I wore them Columbus day and they lost 7 -1.
So, do I wear my team pride proudly? Damn straight I do! Would I fall victim to a custom bikini wax if it was requested of me? Sure! I’m a team player. I’ll suck it up. This is hockey baby. I can take it!
But face painting? Please! I DO have SOME dignity!

Panthers bite Rick -- twice - 10-18-08

Sigh... Wow. The Islanders made it to the cover of the Sunday sports section today. Luckily it's a photo of Rick making one of his 34 saves from last night's game in Sunrise FLA. The Getty photographer probably didn't have his camera ready for the first goal of the evening that came only 24 seconds into the first period.

It set the tone for the entire game. Was the 2 - 0 loss a rusty DiPietro's fault? Hardly. Especially considering no one could keep the action out of DiPietro's side of the ice. If DiPietro was not in game shape, the score could easily have been 20 - 0. But it remained a Panthers shut out as shot after shot by the Islanders men and boys were turned away by Vokoun.

Okay then. What positive points can we take away from this game before we throw it in the trash with yesterday's Taco Bell?

1) No one is on the super-sally-secret injury list this morning.

2) No one is being reviewed by the NHL for suspension.

3) Kyle Okposo, who was told to "SHOOT MORE!" registered 4 shots. Bill Guerin registered 6, and still can't find the back of the net.

4) uhhhh.... I'm thinking.....

5) Gordon's head didn't explode behind the bench.

6) I drank wine and ate chocolate with my friends which made the game more palatable, but leaves me fat and headach-y this morning.

7) Neil Best has a wonderful article today in the sports section regarding the Islanders treatment by MSG. Any time Chris Botta is quoted or the Blog Box is lauded in print, to me...it's a "wonderful article."

8) Their plane didn't go down.

9) One more! CJ Papa did a good job filling Deb Placey's (high heel) shoes.

10) There is no 10, but lists go to 10. So I just put the number there for consistencey.

Okay. So there are a few good things about last night's game.

I can't believe I rushed like hell, bucked traffic for an hour and a half and left a wonderful lunch hosted by my friends from the NY Times, just to watch that game.

Okay. Back to the softball fields of Lido Beach for me to watch 14 year olds freeze their butts off and parents huddle on the bleachers craddling coffe cups.