Can I Get Some Cesare on the Side?

The only person happier to hear about the Great Expansion of the NHL in ’67, other than the owners who knew they would get a couple million dollars thrown their way, was Cesare Maniago.

Cesare could not get a break early in his career playing behind Jacques Plante on the Habs and Johnny Bower on the Leafs. Maniago started off playing without a mask, but not long after being claimed by the North Stars, he began sporting the mask. There’s nothing cooler than the goalies of the 60s and 70s when they wore the Jason Voorhees looking masks.

Before Maniago donned the mask, he and Gump Worsley had the best kept hair in the league. But as soon as he put that mask on he looked like a completely different person. He looked more like Doug Jones in Hocus Pocus with a goalie mask on. Maybe he just liked drive to the game with his head out the car window like a shaggy dog, looking all disheveled during the game.

His stature at 6’3” made him look even cooler and popular with the fans as they would chant “Hail Cesare” every time he made a save. These two attributes make Maniago one of the coolest old school hockey cards you can find. You just can't help but ask, “who is that?” when you pull him out of a pack of Parkhursts.

Cesare ended up playing nine seasons with the North Stars before he was traded to Vancouver. Two years later he hung the mask up and retired. Today Cesare owns a sporting good store in British Columbia.

The Roenick/Brenner Hybrid

If Jeremy Roenick and comedian David Brenner had a baby...

-- TGOJ

Fuhr Facts #2

Grant Fuhr was asked why he played 36 holes of golf on an off day during the 1987 Stanley Cup Finals. His reply was, "Because there wasn't enough time to play 54".

The man was as cool as the other side of the pillow. The Flyers never had a chance.

Hockey Night In Canada on Hockey Bloggers

The use of new media, specifically blogging, has been embraced by the NHL, perhaps more than any other professional sports league.

In fact, Washington Capitals owner, Ted Leonsis predicts that hockey blogs (or even an individual blog) have potential to capture more readership than a hockey publication authority such as The Hockey News.

Here is a video of the Hockey Bloggers segment featured on Hockey Night In Canada prior to the Leafs/Penguins game tonight, December 1st...



--TGOJ

Jason Smith Will Thud You

Some would say Jason Smith is one of the most underrated players in the NHL. The reason is mostly because he doesn’t show up on the score sheet too often, but the guy they call “Gator” makes up for this lack of scoring in other various ways.

He is a proven leader as he has shown over the years. In the AHL he led the Albany River Rats as their captain to a Calder Cup. He then went to Toronto after his stint with New Jersey where he wore an “A”. Smith then went to Edmonton where he wore the “C” longer than any other player in Edmonton history. He now graces the “C” for Philadelphia and is leading them out of the worst season in Flyers history.

He has also always been known for blocking shots, and this year is no different as he is third in the league with 70 blocks. Smith is a hardworking and physical defenseman that will stand up and fight for his teammates even in preseason, as he showed when he fought Brendan Shanahan.

His first goal as a Flyer could not have been more appropriate as he dropped to block a shot and then dove from his knees to swat the puck into the opposing team’s empty net. There’s nothing like watching the grizzly Gator stand forwards up as they cross the blue line, and as captain Jason Smith continues his blue collar style of play he will continue to be a fan favorite.

Hansons Come Home

There is no doubt that the Hanson Brothers are the greatest trio in the greatest hockey movie ever.

We all still find ourselves repeating those same lines from the movie that was made 30 years ago and we all wish could go back to the War Memorial and just watch the Hansons and the rest of the Chiefs terrorize the federal league with their antics.

Well, December 22 is the closet that anyone is going to get to that when the Hansons return to the Cambria County War Memorial to sign autographs when the Johnstown Chiefs take on the Cincinnati Cyclones.

This is the actual arena that the movie was shot in. This legendary arena is a hike from the east coast, about 6 hours from Philadelphia. But just think about it... you could say you met the Hansons at the War Memorial during a Chiefs game. Not many people will be able to say that.

It's great that the trio embrace their role as hockey legends and make public appearances in character. Now if we can only get Paul Newman to stop making salad dressing and salsa and come out to the War Memorial as Reg Dunlop.

I think a train ticket to Johnstown would be the perfect gift for any die hard hockey fan.

Bobby Orr TV

Bobby Orr, the greatest defenseman who over lived, is featured in this YouTube video. For those who never had the benefit of seeing the great Bobby Orr play, enjoy this footage. I'm calling it Bobby Orr TV...





-- TGOJ

Al MacInnis On Life After Hockey

Al MacInnis was recently inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame and was asked by a reporter, what's in-store for him, now that he has accomplished everything as a hockey player...

His response, "I'm the Green Lantern you crazy beotch!"

-- TGOJ

Will There Be Another Scott Stevens?

On Monday, when I watched Scott Stevens get inducted to the Hockey Hall of Fame, I couldn't help but wonder if we'll ever see another one just like him.

Bobby Orr is the greatest defenseman in hockey history and Paul Coffey was the slickest. Ray Bourque, Nicklas Lidstrom, Denis Potvin and Viacheslav Fetisov were four of the most complete defenders I've ever seen. Great hockey historians will sing the praise of a couple of classic fellows named Doug Harvey and Eddie Shore. And we cannot forget greats like Larry Robinson, Tim Horton, Chris Chelios, Brian Leetch, Borje Salming, Brad Park, and Al MacInnis. In fact, there are many rearguards who deserve all sorts of accolades and praise, but will there be another Scott Stevens?

In a game where there is a fine line between violence and elegance, few players have been able to combine the two and excel at the highest level. Gordie Howe, the legendary Mr. Hockey himself, was able to. So was Mark Messier, Denis Potvin and Larry Robinson, to name a few others.

But did any of these elite players do it with the same fervor as Scott Stevens? Some say yes, but I would imagine Eric Lindros and Paul Kariya may beg to differ. After all, it was Stevens who earned his stripes by bringing the pain when money was on the line. And the more at stake; the more pain Stevens dished out.

Who could forget the hit Stevens laid on Lindros during the 2000 Eastern Conference Finals, other than Lindros himself? I remember watching that game on television and wondering aloud if Lindros would ever hop over the boards and take another shift in the National Hockey League. And Lindros wasn't the only opponent to make the Scott Stevens hit list in Stanley Cup play; Slava Kozlov, Paul Kariya, Daymond Langkow, Shane Willis, Ron Francis and Kevyn Adams all felt the wrath of Stevens and have the CT and MRI scans to prove it.

Stevens primarily used brutality and intimidation to capture three Stanley Cups in his career (1995, 2000 and 2003), but he contributed in the skill department as well, registering an impressive 118 points in 233 career post-season games. An underrated puck mover and passer; Stevens was also blessed with a heavy shot from the point. But it was the hard-nosed approach he employed at his position that made him special, and Stevens received his just due and recognition in 2000, when he was awarded the Conn Smythe trophy as playoff MVP.

For more than two decades, Stevens terrorized opponents, and the punishment Stevens often dished out, yet seldom received, finally took its toll. In 2005, Stevens was forced to hang up the blades, ironically due to post-concussion syndrome.

Not only did Stevens' retirement leave a void on the Devils blue line, it also presented a league-wide question that has remained unanswered: Who is the next Scott Stevens? (Or shall I say, the closest thing to him?)

This is not an easy question to answer. Hell, in case you haven't noticed, times have changed. Bodychecking in the NHL is now being scrutinized more than ever. No longer are mercenary crease-clearers and rugged defenders as coveted as decent goal scorers. This makes it quite difficult for a player in the Stevens-mold to rule by intimidation. In the current NHL climate, blueliners being groomed need to be mobile, swift and posses a keen hockey sense.

That being said, there are a handful of young generals on defense who can attempt to fill the void left by Scott Stevens. They are:

1. Dion Phaneuf, Calgary Flames. This 6'3", 210 pounds of beef is the top candidate to replace Stevens as the premiere physical defensive package in the game.

Only 22 years of age, Phaneuf has already cemented a reputation as both a headhunter and goal scorer. And like Stevens early on in his career, Phaneuf must learn how to control his emotions and pick his spots selectively, in order to help his team. Plain and simple, Phaneuf is more valuable when he's punishing opponents on the ice and not cooling off in the sin bin after taking undisciplined penalties. Now in his third season, Phaneuf often plays with the poise of a veteran rearguard; logging tons of minutes in all game situations. If the Flames can build around him and Kiprusoff the way the Devils built around Stevens and Brodeur, Phaneuf could one day be mentioned in terms of the great defensemen of his era.

2. Erik Johnson, St. Louis Blues. The top choice in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft was the the number one rated hockey prospect in the world before making the leap to the NHL this season with the Blues.

Johnson is a solid 6'4", 225 pound blueliner who is equally skilled at both ends of the ice. While he does not currently warrant the reputation as a punishing intimidator like Stevens or Phaneuf, Johnson will take the body and occasionally leave opponents in a world of hurt. He has big-game defenseman written all over him and has the tools and frame to dominate physically. He may end up electing to take a path similar to Rob Blake - earning a lucrative living by playing physical while putting up excellent numbers - but his game will be well-rounded, nonetheless. The St. Louis Blues once made the mistake of losing Scott Stevens, and for their sake, one would hope they don't make the same mistake twice.

3. Shea Weber, Nashville Predators. Paired with Dion Phaneuf, Weber was key in Canada capturing the gold medal at the World Juniors in 2005. A 2nd round pick of the Nashville Predators in 2003, Weber is an opposing defenseman with a large frame and powerful shot.

At 6'3", 220 pounds, Weber has been known to dish it out and play a physical brand of hockey. Weber is a rough customer but doesn't necessarily play on the edge the way Stevens did when he was 22 years old, although he was suspended last April for three games at the IIHF World Championships for knocking out the German Yannic Seidenberg with a nasty elbow [WATCH VIDEO]. Weber played more of a reckless style for Kelowna of the WHL, while racking up 167 and 126 PIMS in 70 and 60 games respectively. So far in the NHL, Weber has focused more on rounding out the offensive part of his game, netting 17 goals and 40 points in 79 games for the Predators in 2006-07. He may not posses the day-to-day nastiness of Scott Stevens, but Weber is a nice package who will eventually be counted on to lead his team from the blue line.

4. Jack Johnson, Los Angeles Kings. Johnson is projected as a number one defenseman, capable of playing extensive minutes in all game situations.

He is a mentally strong-willed competitor who decided to stay in college even though the NHL was calling, and the team that owned his rights (the Carolina Hurricanes) tried to seduce him with a large pay day. Ultimately, the Hurricanes lost their patience with Johnson and shipped the budding star to Los Angeles in a deal they will soon regret. He's not as big as the some of the other upper echelon two-way defenders in the NHL (6'1", 215 pounds), but J.J. has showed early on in his career that he can compete physically against all opponents. In a game late last season, Johnson dropped the gloves with Daniel Carcillo of the Phoenix Coyotes, letting it be known he will answer the call if challenged. This season, his first full one in the NHL, Johnson has played extremely solid hockey for a 20-year old. If his offensive production improves over time, Johnson will be a great all-around defender for the next decade-plus.

5. Anton Volchenkov, Ottawa Senators. Known as the Russian Bear, Volchenkov has a penchant for blocking shots and clearing the crease by any means necessary.

He's been among the best defensive defensmen in the biz and this year was voted the 5th best defensive defenseman by The Hockey News. Volchenkov is 6'2", 235 pounds and plays the game with reckless abandon; patterning his game after past European roughnecks such as Ulf Samuelsson, Vladimir Konstantinov and Darius Kasparaitis. In the physical department, Volchenkov can go head-to-head with any of the league's best open-ice hitters, and defensively, the Bear is sound if not spectacular. Putting the puck in the net is where Volchenkov has trouble matching up against the others in this group. Even though Volchenkov boasts an impressive shot from the point, he rarely has the chance to unload it. Unfortunately for the Bear, he is, more often than not, limited to defensive responsibilities since the Senators have too many triggermen eating up power play time. If Volchenkov had the opportunity to put up better numbers, he would be the East's version of Dion Phaneuf.

If any of these guys hope to fill the empty skates of Scott Stevens, they have their work cut out for them. Stevens was a rare breed; one of the greats who played the game the way it should be played.

I'm a Flyers fan who bleeds orange and black; I've lived through every one the many wars against Stevens and his Devils; I'm also a fan of the game and can respect, and now honor, all that Ronald Scott Stevens brought to it each time he stepped on the ice.

-- TGOJ

Super Seven - Shoulder Patches

7. Pittsburgh Pirates
Yes, there was once a hockey team in the NHL called the Pittsburgh Pirates. They joined the league in 1925, and they were only in the league for 5 years. When the Great Depression hit they moved to Philadelphia to become the Quakers. Their patch is a replica of what used to be worn by Pittsburgh’s finest.

6. Quebec Nordiques
In many people’s opinion the Nords have one of the nicest jerseys ever in the NHL, in part because Quebec decided to put the fleur-de-lis on the shoulders and and along the bottom of their jersey. Hockey die-hards would like nothing better than to see those baby blue uniforms in full flight once again.

5. Toronto Maple Leafs
In 1992 the Leafs changed from their clean cut maple leaf patch to the older more rustic style one that the boys in blue used to wear as their crest in the early days of the NHL.

4. Boston Bruins
The Bruins decided to go old school when the new Reebok jerseys came out as they put the Bruins logo from the 1920’s on their shoulders.

3. Hartford Whalers
When the Whalers broke onto the scene in 1979, Gordie Howe was not only rocking his full name on the back of his jersey, but a cartoon whale on his shoulders. The Whale unfortunately abandoned the patch in 1985.

2. Vancouver Canucks
In 2003, the Canucks just like the Bruins and the Leafs went old school and put the simple, but ever popular stick logo on their shoulders. This patch was such a hit they decided to make it their third jersey before switching over to the new style Reeboks.

1. Chicago Blackhawks
It doesn’t get much better than the crossed Tomahawks over the “C” on the Blackhawks jersey. The hawks started wearing it in 1955 and has continued to do so for over 50 years.

The Kovalchuk/Torres Hybrid

If Ilya Kovalchuk and Raffi Torres had a baby...

Going to a Flyers Game? Leave Your Wallet at the Turnstile

We have all heard the joke a million times, "I had to mortgage my house for a beer at the Flyers game". Over the years I have become ambivalent to the fact that it cost a lot of money to take in a professional sporting event. But I love the sport, I love the team, so I suck it up and do it.

However, I have noticed this year, that the gouging of fans has just reached an all new despicable low.

A friend of mine who lives 2 hours away from Philly, and for some strange reason decides to keep Flyers season tickets, called me to invite me to tomorrow nights game vs. the New York Rangers. Face value of the ticket in the middle of the upper level is $58.00 and he only charges me what the season ticket holders pay. So the first time we went to a game together this year he was a tad late and I had to sit outside and wait; no big deal as the weather was nice.

To avoid this issue for tomorrow, he tells me that he can e-mail me the ticket. What a GREAT service for the Flyers to offer to the fans. So he e-mails it to me, and I go to print it. Much to my surprise, before I could get the ticket, I had to register an account with the Flyers and then pay them $2.50 to print up the ticket on my own PC, with my own toner, on my own paper. Are you kidding me? You guys have already been paid for these tickets, well in advance, and now you are going to charge me $2.50 for what? Hitting your web site and generating a new bar code?

I shouldn't be surprised though, each year the Flyers come up with an idea that sounds great, and then the do an awful job of implementing the idea. Ever hear of the family section? EXCELLENT IDEA. I could take my 4 year old daughter to a game for $10. I can create a new fan for the Flyers that someday will spend as much money as I do on the team. Ever try to get those family section tickets? Good Luck! But you will find them on StubHub 5 minutes after they were supposed to go on sale at 3 times the price.

How about those new Reebok Edge jerseys? I go to the 2nd home game and check them out to add one to my collection. $149.99 at the Wachovia Center for a blank jersey. I go to the mall the next day and get the same exact jersey for $109.99. Complete and total gouging.

I really want to throw my full and total support behind this team but damn do they try their best to make it hard. Nickel-and-diming the fans to death is not the way to build the next generation of hockey fans. But hey, they removed "Thank you fans!" from the ice, perhaps it should have been replaced with a collection plate...

A Good Whine Goes with Crosby Cheese

Oh, before I forget... what's up with Sid the Little Kid's antics after Jason Smith's love tap the other day?

I mean, watching Sidney throw a temper tantrum in the corner of Wachovia Center ice, was like seeing a 7-year old ball his eyes out because there's no lime green popsicles left in the box.

After embarrassing himself with the flagrant embellishment, Crosby was almost given something to cry about when he got up in Mike Richards' grill to debate the non-liberties.

The Little Kid has more talent than Michael Jackson before the Liz Taylor makeover, but if he wants to be taken seriously on all fronts, he needs to stop the unnecessary whining.

Methinks Sid should subscribe to Kimberly L. Keith's "How to Stop Whining in 4 Easy Steps" and start molding his own Hall of Fame career after recent Hall inductees Mark Messier and Ron Francis as opposed to Alexei Kovalev.

In the meantime, have fun [WATCHING THE INFAMOUS SLASH VIDEO] and rate Sidney's dramatic improv...

-- TGOJ

NHL Draft Spotlight - 1986

The 1986 NHL Entry Draft was, in many ways, a typical entry draft...

One future Hall of Famer, Brian Leetch was selected at #9 by the New York Rangers.

Some mild controversy arose when the Detroit Red Wings selected Joe Murphy over native son Jimmy Carson. This was rectified when Edmonton dealt Carson to Detroit for Murphy in a multi-player trade when retooling for their fifth Cup run several years later.

Solid, if unspectacular, NHL regulars in the first round highlighted by Vincent Damphousse and included Zarley Zalapski, Craig Janney, Tom Fitzgerald, Pat Elynuik, Jocelyn Lemieux, and Kerry Huffman.

Steady D-men Teppo Numminen at 29 in the 2nd round and Jyrki Lumme at 57 in the 3rd round.

Vancouver thinking ahead of the time and out of the box by selecting Vladimir Krutov in the 12th and final round.

Lost amongst all of this DRAFT HISTORY was a player that would never play a minute in the NHL but would play 15 years across Europe with teams like the HUSKIES and MOSQUITOES, making stops in his native Finland, as well as, Germany, Italy and The Czech Republic.

The IMMORTAL and LEGENDARY: JUKKA-PEKKA SEPPO

Jukka caught the eyes of the Philadelphia Flyers Brass with his performance at the Under-18 European Junior Championships in 1986 where he posted 3 goals and 8 points in 5 games. He was selected 23rd overall by the Flyers with the 2nd pick of the 2nd round right after Adam Graves was drafted. He won an U20 WJC Gold medal in 86/87 with 3 goals and 12 points in 7 games and won a Bronze in 87/88. He appeared in 39 games with Tappera Tampere in Finland in 1986-87 notching 11 goals and 27 points.

For whatever reasons, he never landed in North America, instead spending 15 seasons in Europe. He played 571 career games, recording 196 goals and 478 points. If he was so highly rated, one has to wonder the impact he could have had in the league here. Maybe he could have developed into a Selanne-lite, the "Finnish Flash" himself was drafted 10th overall only 2 years later. Who knows? But is fun to look back at the woulda couldas in any past draft.

Till next time...

Da H8R

Fuhr Facts - #1

Grant Fuhr had an assist on Wayne Gretzky's 50th goal of 1981-82 season on Dec. 30, 1981, vs. Philadelphia, as Gretzky reached 50 goals in a record 39 games.

Introducing the Great Vachons

Other than the Stastnys, or Wilson Phillips after the weight loss, I cannot, for the life of me, think of a better trio than the Great Vachons.

Brothers Paul and Maurice (aka Mad Dog) were pro wrestling standouts, and the gem of the trio, the almighty Rogie Vachon, was a hockey legend.

Suffice to say I don't have any kind of direct evidence proving the bone-crushing Vachon duo and the diminutive netminder were related, but they were all from Canada and look like shady offspring, so...

Truth be told, Rogie was a superb goalie for the Canadiens, Red Wings, Kings and Bruins, and sported a porn stache that rivals Brian Fantana in Anchorman. In fact, it was in Hollywood were Vachon gained legendary status, sporting the Kings purple and gold crown.

After hanging up the pads, Rogie worked as the Kings GM for more than a decade, and was even an interim coach for the club on three separate occasions. As for Mad Dog, last I heard he was a restaurant critic for a television station in Quebec City.

Ahhh, the simple joys of being a hockey fan are appreciated over a 20 oz. WaWa coffee and Lifesavers Fruit Tarts... as that's when you have the chance to reflect on ex-greats named Rogie.

--TGOJ

Mike Liut Was My Mailman

... And my mailman looked like Rocky Dennis. It's all about the mask.

Back in 1930, my dawg Howie Morenz used goalie Clint Benedict's bare face as a shooter target. Benedict suffered major facial injuries, including a smashed nose and cheekbone, and was forced to semi-protect a busted face that resembled Sly Stallone in Rocky II.

Enter the mask. A crappy, leather-type, tailor made for WWF's Mankind, Mick Foley, not a puck stopper in the National Hockey League. And though Benedict donned the shabby face guard for mere self-preservation, the experiment was short-lived. The mask was dissed after the next game; a 2-1 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks.

Many years later, in 1959, the heralded Jacques Plante was officially credited with pioneering the mask, after taking some vulcanized rubber to the face, courtesy of the Rangers' Andy Bathgate. And as legend turns to folklore, and folklore turns to gospel, Plante gets to ride off into the sunset forever known as the Don Corleone of hockey masks.

Phooey, I say. The hockey mask was put on the map in 1979, and my mailman Michael Dennis Liut better start getting some props. Not props for the BEST hockey mask of all-time; those honors go to my favorite goalie ever, Gerry Cheevers and his famed stitches.

The mailman deserves props because his mask is a freak of sports nature.

In a recent poll, a panel of 1,238,896 drunken sports fans were asked to rate the top-3 disturbing things in sports history. The results were:

1. Mike Liut's mask
2. Mike Tyson
3. The size of Barry Bond's head

Not only is Liut's mask synonymous with names like Tyson and Bonds; the mailman has also inspired film culture. His mask has been used to mold the face of Rocky Dennis and the Snowtrooper.

Jacques Plante may be in the Hall of Fame and rank higher than Vladislav Tretiak on some all-time great goalie lists, but his shiznit didn't shape a high-selling Kenner action figure.

The mailman delivered between the pipes as well. He was drafted by the St. Louis Blues in the 5th round (56th overall) in the 1976 NHL Amateur Draft, and after a brief stint with the WHA's Cincinnati Stingers, Liut was reclaimed by the Blue Notes.

Liut played a solid 13 seasons in the NHL, with stops in St. Louis, Hartford and Washington. He was a lanky, intimidating netminder, and is the cousin of the ex-NHLer Ron Francis. In 1980-81 he was a 1st team all-star and finished runner-up to Wayne Gretzky for the Hart trophy.

Some suggest it all went downhill for the mailman when the Whale sent his ass packing to Washington in exchange for plugger Yvon Corriveau in 1990. Personally, I think his illustrious career took a turn for the worse when he discarded THE MASK in favor of a more traditional, wire/facemask-combo.

Well Mask, here's to you... pioneer, legend and mailman. Prost! Somewhere Eric Stoltz is tipping his glass...

-- TGOJ

Sins of the Father?

On February 2 of this year, I was blessed by becoming a daddy for the first time.

When my little boy was born, I was faced with a most interesting dilemma. No, name was already picked out. Yes, he already had a place to live. Yes, we were already married.

What truly plagued me, was this: what hockey team should my new baby root for?

Normally, not a big issue, you might think: let the little bugger root for whomever he chooses. Ahhhh, herein lies the rub.

I have been, and unfortunately for me likely always will be, a Philadelphia Flyers fan.

Ok, you say, get on with it, why doesn't he root for the Flyers? Well, I am 36 years years old and have reflections of a wonderful childhood. One of my earliest memories of the Flyers is swearing I heard my own father's distinctive whistling on the radio as the Flyers won their first Cup in '74, although everyone says I'm nuts that there is no way I could remember that from when I was 4 - I swear I heard it.

I also remember the parades in '74 and '75, followed by the Phillies parade in '80 and the Sixers parade in '83.

For the 1st 12 years of my life I was proud to be a Philly fan.

Then, the suffering began.

Finally, in 2004, I got married and moved to Florida, just south of Tampa. Horrible baseball team, but the Lightning and Bucs each won championships within the decade, whereas my Philly teams languished from being annual bridesmaids, to being invited to the wedding, to being left off the guest list entirely, to being wedding crashers, to just deciding to not even show up, drunken bastards.

So, do I deprive my child of the happy memories that I had growing up by having a WINNING team to root for? The innocence of youth is so wonderful and the new baby has truly changed my life. Being an accomplished attorney, husband, son, businessman, all pales in comparison to just being a good dad.

When I watched the Red Sox win the World Series for the first time in a zillion years, I saw fans literally crying their eyes out and I imagined sons looking at their fathers in tears, the fathers in turn looking at their fathers in tears, and maybe even the grandfather looking at the great-grandfather in tears as well. I couldn't help but think, did the decades long suffering actually become so ingrained in these people's actual personas that they wouldn't actually be who they were without the suffering and losing, year after year, after bloody stinking year? Then I said to myself, "Is that suffering now a part of who I am?"

Then another part of me, said "Get back to work and stop putting so much weight on a damned sports team!"

So, I did get back to work and I came to a decision:

The son should not be cursed for the sins of the father.

No, it isn't his fault that I bleed orange and black and that my team manages to disappoint me time and time again. He should have the opportunity to have his childhood magical, with sweet memories and even sweeter victory parades. So, little Tre man, choose your teams wisely and enjoy the youth that ends up being all too short. Daddy loves you no matter who you choose to root for.

Do what you want with the personalized Flyers jersey Daddy bought you for Christmas, tuck it away with your little Philadelphia Flyers pillow and your little Flyers hockey stick that the team sent you for your birth, pet your dogs when they wear their little Flyer pet jerseys that Daddy spent $29.99 each for on shop.nhl.com, hug Daddy in his own Flyers team jersey from each of the four decades that he owns, sit with me as we watch the Flyers away feed that we paid $140.00 for on the Center Ice Package, and look into my eyes and tell me who your favorite team is.

If your blood just so happens to bleed orange and black too, well, what else could we expect? My blood runs through you literally and when the suffering finally ends, we'll fly up for the parade together with Grandpop too. It is after all, who we are.

(Please, oh please God, just don't let him root for the Devils or the Rangers...)


(c) 2007 - "Oh snap! You've just been sued by The Legal Beagle!"

Oh Snap! Wolski Again

The Polish Power, Wojtek Wolski scored a beauty tonight against the Oilers' Dwayne Rolson in the tomato shootout. This is the second time this season I've seen Wolski work his magic in a shootout.

I'm hoping the clip will make it to YouTube by morning... if so, hook a brother up!

In the meantime, [ENJOY THIS VIDEO]

--TGOJ