Are Goalies Really Nuts?

People always ask me why I play net (some would say i play a little more than just the net). I never understood why anyone would play anything else. I have a great view of the ice and you guys are killin' each other out there. It happens from time to time that a large body will fall on me and I have been given the nominal check into the boards but, for the most part, all I worry about is the puck. Since I have the best Kevlar and nylon and leather facade I can afford for that, no worries.

I have played "out" 1 1/2 times. Everything hurts after a game when you're out in the middle of that fracas. With humanity zipping all around me and lumber flying like an f5 tornado. And get this, as a regular player, you may go an entire game without even touching the puck! I know, it's shocking. Sure you guys have your rewards, goals, assists, plus/minus, or whatever... I just don't see how it's worth it. I need no more.

But nothing can beat the feeling of watching the play develop from the opposite end with great, defense breaking passes, and deft puck handling, culminating in an awesome shot... right into my glove, well any part of me actually. Or when everyone's heads are spinning and you singlehandedly stop the shot, the rebound, another rebound, and the next rebound until you finally calm it down with a whistle. I'm not saying it happens every time but when it does it more than makes up for the lower moments.

Alright, go ahead and bombard me on the comment board, ya' jerks.



For anyone who doesn't know it, the crossbar is a pretty copacetic place to be after a game. Lots of teammates, enemies, crazy girls (occasionally), and alcohol (some of it free*).

*the term free implies that no monetary exchange is made at the time of consumption but payment is often received with league fees, favors to friends, stupid dares, bodily harm, and excruciating hangovers.



P.S. I got this in the mail from McSweeney's:

This made me chuckle, but not quite enough to win me over completely, I'm afraid. Thanks for the look.
Best,Chris

On Wed , sent:
five most erotic fruits
dates
navel oranges
coconuts
prickly pears
passion fruit

five least erotic fruits
granny smith apples
blood oranges
figs
prunes
dingle berries

...sounds like a form letter rejection to me, ya' think?

bcIII

Hockey Lesson

Here's your weekly lesson, on D-to-D passes.

You need Windows Media Player. Enjoy.


BC

Whither the Stars' 'Herd Upgrade'?

We now interrupt your I-league news for Stars talk ...

Still no idea what Razor meant when he said, very cryptically, on The Ticket last week that the Stars were about to "upgrade the herd." But the website www.rumormethis.com on Thursday cited a Florida newspaper as saying The Ambassador of Fun may be scouting the Lightning. Could it be there was something to the rumors about Martin St. Louis? Vaclav Prospal wouldn't be a bad addition, either, depending what we had to give up.

Here's what the blog reported:

"Carter Gaddis and Erik Erlendsson of The Tampa Tribune report that Dallas Stars and the Chicago Blackhawks have been scouting the Tampa Bay Lightning recently.

Stars co-GM Brett Hull and director of player personnel Dave Taylor attended Tuesday’s Lightning home game versus the Edmonton Oilers, though it is unclear which team they were there to scout.

A few months, talk was that the Stars and Lightning were discussing a Martin St. Louis for Marty Turco swap. However, Erlendsson speculates that the Stars might be looking at forwards Vaclav Prospal, Chris Gratton, and Andreas Karlsson.

Erlendsson also reported that while the Stars were scouting the Lightning, there were no Lightning scouts in attendance at Tuesday’s game in Dallas.

Blackhawks scout Marc Bergevin also took in the game, and according to both Gaddis and Erlendsson, he was at the game to keep a close eye on the Lightning.

Blackhawks assistant GM Rick Dudley and “at least one other Blackhawks scout or executive” were also present at the Lightning’s previous home game. Word is that Chicago is interested in forward Prospal, and are believed to be shopping forward Tuomo Ruutu."