The Bluejackets have a ticket layaway going on….Pay $10 for 15 weeks and get two tickets for three games in the new year. (cheap really)
I have also heard that Red Wings tix can be had for 9$.
1. In your day to day life, are you seeing first hand any signs of a recession? Has it affected you?
2. Is Columbus in trouble? Only 13,000+ fans per game with some good prices and this is WITH layaway plans, they seem to have remained out of the relocation talk like Nashville……will they soon join that chatter? (just did I suppose)
3. Did anyone hear Yvon Cournoyer’s stories last night? I enjoyed the one where he and Jacques LeMaire were on their way to a game at the Forum in a major snowstorm and traffic was not moving it was so bad so they turned around and went home, hopped on their snowmobiles and started off to the Forum (20 miles) and half way there, Yvon’s snowmobile broke down and so he hopped on with Jacques and they get to the Forum and knock on the garage door and go play……classic "Roadrunner" story I thought!
4. Mats Sundin is said to be a great captain………do you think that Roberto Luongo should offer the captaincy to Sundin? Do you think he will? Do you think Sundin should accept?
5. Have you heard some of the Winter Classic Promos? Showing practice? Pre-game interviews? REPORTERS on skates? Extra cameras?
6. Apparently Michigan State is in the Capital One Bowl at te same time. If you are from Michigan, are you all hockey, all football or channel surfing??
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cxr9lXCfVHk
BTW….what jerseys will the players wear? Throwbacks? Probably.
7. What do you think of the Olympic mumbo jumbo that has been going on where Team Canada cannot wear their familiar Maple Leaf on their jerseys? Apparently an IOC rule now being enforced that you can’t display logos…………Nitpicking and a blow to Canadian tradition or rules are rules?
8. With the year winding down………please give one THUMBS UP to something in the 2008 hockey year and one THUMBS DOWN to something in the 2008 hockey season.
Thumbs Up……..Detroit Red Wings (Cup) and the Pittsburgh Penguins on their respective Conference championships! (Lame I know)
Thumbs Down….the abundance of bandwagoning fans who like to hop aboard when things are rosy but are nowhere to be found when things are not so rosy…the Fairweather Fan! Blah!
9. For regulars……..on this site, two years ago it was the Sabres, last year it was the Pens (Wings too) so this season……….who gets the crown for having fans come out of the woodwork to join their team’s success and brag about their players and tell you how they have no weaknesses and are bound for the cup?
IMO…..Boston Bruins
Charliman……In Philly you can pay 10$ a week for 15 weeks for a parking layaway.
JOE….I like your Thumbs up/down…..good ones!
Have a good Holiday Cdn.
Carrado’s nephew…..whatever, I’ll give ya a thumbs up anyway.
Lubers …not if it were the big PSU/ USC game? Rose Bowl is pretty big. Can you believe it THREE more years for JoePa……..will his contract expire before he does?
Leafsfan……..I said that he "is said to be have been a great captain" and by saying that, I meant in the opinion of his past teammates…..in fact Gary Valk was just saying last night how Mats and Joe Sakic were by far the two best leaders he ever played with…….he went on to give countless examples as to why.
1.Yes..and Yes big time.
2.I was told Columbus is a good hockey town because they are the only professional team in town.
3.That is a funny story and I’m sorry I missed it..I like hearing those types of stories from old timers.
4.I don’t think he should..Same reason for Forsberg or Selanne.Waiting till the md year point to sign with a team doesn’t sound like leadership qualities to me.
5.I have not….Hopefully it will have even more viewership then last years game.
6.I am not from Michigan but my friend played at MSU the last two years and I have seen first hand that it isn’t even a blip on the college football radar.Some might tune in to see Javon Ringers last game but I doubt it.
I’m thinkin throwbacks as well.
7.I guess rules are rules.
8.Thumbs up to the Young players of this league.Thumbs down to the NHL for the outlandish suspensions that have been handed out.
9.I think the Sharks fans were bad last year..I would still say the Sharks.You see some bandwagon Wings fans on here as well now.
*Bob and Lubers-With Paterno,I was at Happy Valley a few years back and they have a bronze statue of JoePa because they were hoping he’d retire.Ironic that he sticks around after a Rose Bowl bid.I REALLY hope he sticks around for many years but I don’t think he will.He is my favorite football coach ever.
Damn Bob, thats 37 questions. Tickets are far from cheap here in Philadelphia. It cost almost as much to park as it does to get in also. I love Sundin however I think he needs to earn the C for the team before it is just handed to him. I was always watching Columbus last year when LeClair was in net and shutting teams out by the dozen, but this year hasn’t been too exciting to watch them.
As many goals as Thomas was letting go by him last night, either he has to get back to form or Fernandez might take the job over. I think once again, the playoffs will be decided by which goaltender is hot come March/April
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1.Yes..and Yes big time.
2.I was told Columbus is a good hockey town because they are the only professional team in town.
3.That is a funny story and I’m sorry I missed it..I like hearing those types of stories from old timers.
4.I don’t think he should..Same reason for Forsberg or Selanne.Waiting till the md year point to sign with a team doesn’t sound like leadership qualities to me.
5.I have not….Hopefully it will have even more viewership then last years game.
6.I am not from Michigan but my friend played at MSU the last two years and I have seen first hand that it isn’t even a blip on the college football radar.Some might tune in to see Javon Ringers last game but I doubt it.
I’m thinkin throwbacks as well.
7.I guess rules are rules.
8.Thumbs up to the Young players of this league.Thumbs down to the NHL for the outlandish suspensions that have been handed out.
9.I think the Sharks fans were bad last year..I would still say the Sharks.You see some bandwagon Wings fans on here as well now.
*Bob and Lubers-With Paterno,I was at Happy Valley a few years back and they have a bronze statue of JoePa because they were hoping he’d retire.Ironic that he sticks around after a Rose Bowl bid.I REALLY hope he sticks around for many years but I don’t think he will.He is my favorite football coach ever.
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1. Not so much. I hate paying so much for groceries….but whatever…it is more of a pet-peeve than anything.
2. Well, look at last year’s averages….only the suck butt Islanders averaged around 13,000. Nobody is going to games. Last year they did pretty good in attendance compared to 2007′s season when they were dead last amongst the league.
3. That’s a cute story. Did not hear about it, so thanks for sharing.
4. No, Luongo will stay Captain. I know Sundin is a great captain, but he will also be a good alternate captain. Let Luongo have his spotlight.
5. I haven’t been keeping tabs on it. It is my New Years hangover game plan…..and that is about it. Last year I fell asleep during the Winter Classic.
6. I don’t watch college ball……that’s my dad’s territory. From his mouth, "I hope to god the Bulldog’s lose."
7. I think it is stupid. How does a patch on a jersey change the game?
8. Thumbs up – The Lightning fired Tortorella
Thumbs down – The Lightning fired Tortorella
9. I think the Pens are still holding strong for 1st place. I would put Boston at 3rd. It is funny how the Sabres fans disappeared.
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1) No big effect on my daily life yet. Clients seem to be a little slower to pay and collections have slowed down. have not been burn’t yet though. And there are no $9 tickets available, heck there are no tickets available.
2) yeah no chatter on them, is ownership solid I wonder? Deep pockets?
3) Did not see much of the game, it was our X-mas party. We played the Flyers last year also the day of the party. I had heard the story before, it was a major snow storm and streets weren’t plowed so the game by snowmobile. Seems like the players were more down to earth and accessable in those days. In those days they were not making much more than the fans. I had a conversation with Dollard St Laurant last year where he told me he made more money in appearance fees for old-timers games etc than he did playing professionally.
4) New guy should not be offerred nor accept the captaincy.
5)Not really
6) I will watch the game but I’m sure it will affect ratings in that market.
It is a throwback jersey, I’ve seen the det one. Red and white no winged wheel, I thing it says something- maybe Det on the front.
7) Foolishness, yes hockey canada is a corporation and the logo is corporate but its not f’n Coca cola. A case of the letter of the law getting in the way of the spirit of the law. I heard a good suggestion for an alternate logo to piss off the IOC. Something truly canadian like a Quebec stripper dressed in gloves and skates only or my favorite…. The North end of a southbound moose.
Thumbs up: Stars mgmt for doing what the players wanted on the Avery issue. The team came first.
thumbs down: Sundin and the toronto media for a 12 month circus since before last years trade deadline. he’s not the second coming of mark (mesaih) Messier and does not guarentee a cup win.
9) I think it is the Bruins and a bit of the sharks. The sharks bandwagoners may be reevaluating this morning though.
Happy Holidays- I’m off to the land of no cell and no internet next week
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1. I work in finance.. i have been "job displaced" 2 times in 3 years
2. They might as well.. funny side note lastnight my friend who fallows all sports some what but is luke warm on hockey asked me if the blue jackets were new this year….
3.No but that is an awesome story
4.I think after they test his metal a bit that Rubertoe should totaly give up his "c" i put it in lower case b/c come on a goalie CANT be captain.. its against the rules.. and how dumb would it be if it wasnt and they have him out there in full pads taking a promo puck drop….
5 I heard extra cameras like that blimp one.. and how awesome would it be if they gave camereas to first time skaters…to record the reporters nothing is funnier than the cuncsion you can see coming…
6 n/a
7. Nitpick why did it fly before?
8. /\ Stars knocked out the sharks in the semi finals and hasick retired
\/ The whole first 2 months of stars hockey
9.Im going with the bandwagon awnser and saying boston bruins
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1. Yes, will be out of a job next year.
2. I don’t know how Columbus got a franchise in the first place.
3. Didn’t hear Cournoyer’s story last night but sounds like something that would happen back then.
4. Luongo should remain Captain, giving the C to Sundin might cause a few ripples with the other players.
5. Haven’t really seen much of the promos.
6. Would think the Wings game would take precedence over one of the lesser Bowl Games.
7. Stupid-ass new rule.
8. Thumbs up – Leafs rebuilding around youth. Thumbs down – Goal horns (guess that’s just not 08.). And the same jerks who just come in and give thumbs down to any answer against their team – let’s see how many I get for this, lmfao.
9. Blackhawk fans.
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1.) Not me personally, or my parents, but my brother has been. He’s going to graduate from college this year, and it was pretty hard for him to find a good job (go figure, he majored in finance). He worked for Goldman Sachs over the summer, but because of the economy he wasn’t hired back. But lucky he got a job at Morgan Stanley, because he was offered a job at Citi and we know what kind of bozos work there…
2.) They might be. Looking at their attendance records, they averaged around 18,000 fans in 2002, but their attendance has been going down every year after that. Now in the 2009 season, they’ve only averaged around 13,800 fans. They might be in trouble if this trend keeps up.
3.) I didn’t hear that one! That’s such a funny story, thank you for sharing!
4.) I think Luongo should offer Sundin the captaincy, and Sundin should accept, but I don’t think either will happen. So far, Sundin’s only going to be on the team for one year. But I think Luongo should give it up because a captain is supposed to lead a team, talk to the refs, etc. which is kind of hard when you’re stuck in your crease. Sundin WAS the Leafs – he led them through their good times, and was the only bright light in their bad times. He’s a great leader, and I think he should be the captain of the Canucks. The question is whether or not Luongo is going to willingly give up the captaincy, and if Sundin will accept and I think the answer is no.
5.) I haven’t heard about any, but I like the commercial with the guys like Kane, Toews, Lidstrom, and Zetterberg, with Take me Out to the Ball Game playing.
6.) Hockey! It’s pretty much the only sport I watch.
7.) It’s both. They’re being picky, and it’s definitely a stab at Canada. Hockey is so popular in Canada, and the logo is such an old tradition. I don’t care if rules are rules it’s not fair. Imagine if the Yankees couldn’t use their logo anymore for one reason or another. Americans would be pissed.
8.) Thumbs up to the Sharks being first in the league and having a good run to win their first ever Stanley Cup. Thumbs down to the league for giving out unnecessarily long suspensions, and bad penalties left and right.
9.) I think we’re starting to see an emergence of Bruins fans, but they’re not as bad as the Pens fans last season. They don’t brag as much, and they definitely don’t have any OMG SIDNEY CROSBY IS AMAZING, SCREW OVECHKIN comments, but there are definitely a lot of bandwagoners.
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enjoying my snow day
1. Being a senior citizen and on fixed income I haven’t seen a personal affect yet but I was Christmas shopping at the local mall yesterday and there was none of the usual Christmas rush. We are about an hour’s drive from Oshawa Ontario. Many of the locals work at GM. It seems that it will be a bleak season in QW.
2. Columbus’ owners have deeper pockets then Nashville’s. At least that is the impression Mac gives on RSO and the Fan with his daily reports.
3. And Emery got cut for the same thing. Kind of makes one wonder.
4. No this is Luongo’s team and if Mats tried that Bobby’s father-in-law would come and "Bite his nose off."
5. Not interested yet in a hockey game in a baseball park on football day. Kind of a sacrilegious event.
6. I’ll flip around as I usually do on New Years Day. The Classic only draws my attention if the wind is high or a blizzard is on or the temperature is minus 40. I’ve played far too many games outside in the wind and snow to be intrigued by another one.
7. While I don’t see a problem with the Hockey Canada design. I can see the IOC concern. The Spengler Cup is on next week. I would hate it if the 2010 Olympics sweaters looked like that.
8. Thumbs up – Mats has finally chosen a team.
Thumbs down – the media drone regarding this process. None of this came from Mats. It was all speculation by the "ink stained wretches".
9. Without a doubt the Canadiens fans are mesmerized by the banners and numbers hanging in the Bell Centre. The entire Montreal success has been based on one Sam Pollock take away his dozen or so cups and Montreal’s record is pretty pedestrian.
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In Toronto you pay $10 a week for 15 weeks to get on the Christmas Card list from MLS&E. It costs your first born and more to get on the waiting list for tickets.
1) Directly affected-recently laid off, hence more time online!
2) Columbus is in trouble, IMO,and only a few people know this (circa 70′s Barons) Ohio State football is king in those parts period. The BJ’s have had a couple of near sell-outs, just not enough. the fans fell slighted thinking they should have made the playoffs already.
3) Never heard it-very interesting! I’m sure there are hundreds of similar stories floating around Canada.
4) Sundin is not ready if at all ever nor deserving of the captaincy for the Nucks.
5)Yes- NHL is really hyping it. Web Cam at Wrigley, mention something everyday on NHL Live.
6)All hockey, c’mon….MSU football? I’d like to see the winter classic on another day other than Jan 1. Hockey competing against America’s love for football w/ 5 or 6 games going on that day? I just don’t see too many football fans abandoning their bowl games of hockey.
7) So much for heritage and tradition-definitely nitpicking. if it were a 3rd word country or Eastern European etc, it would have been ok IMO.
T……..down…The Avery saga, from coverage to over zealous suspension.
9) AM I a reg? Probably not in most eyes, it’ ok. For the answer to the question, I will say Sharks and Boston fans. Boston especially because the fans seem to be taking on the attitude of NY fans where their teams are in leagues of their own.
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1.) Well as a high school senior my only thing is that i can’t seem to get a job anywhere.
2.) I think they’ll be alright
3.) Hadn’t heard about it
4.) Yes and Yes
5.) I know preparations have started but nothing more
6.) Not in Michigan
7.) Nitpicking. Its on the flag for pete’s sake.
8.) Thumbs up to the Penguins making the Cup Finals for the first time i can remember (I wasn’t around for the first cup and wasn’t even one for the second) and putting up a good show in Games 5 & 6. Thumbs down to losing Ryan Malone and Marian Hossa
9.) Am I a regular? I think i used to be. In any case I haven’t been around enough so eh.
How’s life been for ya Bobby Lobby?
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1) I have seen signs especially at the wings games with the tickets being cheap but yet not many people being there
2) Yea i see them being in some serious trouble they may be moved
3)yea that is def a great story
4) I dont think Luongo will give him the captaincy and he shouldnt hands down
5)yea and im seriously wanting this game so baad.. GO WINGS!!!
6)its all about the wings baby..
7) Def a blow but then again rules are rules
8)Thumbs up all the close games and thumbs down bettman is still commissioner
9)With out a doubt the San Jose sharks and there is no room for them to brag. they arent going to do anything in the playoffs just like usual
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Aside for the bad economy, hockey has a very small following in general.
It’s a sport that can ill afford to lose any money so teams are doing just about whatever it takes to get fans through the doors.
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1) I work as a programmer doing mostly contract work. I have actually been contacted more by people looking for better pricing than they are currently getting. Some have unrealistic expectations about the prices they are going to get but despite the economy, people still need to get things done. This is sort of a mixed bag for me at the moment. Do I discount the work to get my foot in the door?
2) I think the troubles of a team like Nashville are over shadowing some of the other teams troubles. I think their problems could be solved to a degree by putting a winner on the ice for a couple of years. 13K is not a horrible number, how high would it jump if they were a contender?
3) They left out the part about the ACME anvil and the canyon. IMO, that is another example of the differences between hockey players and other athletes. Do you think an athlete from another sport would have done that?
4) Good question. That was an aspect of the signing I hadn’t considered. I will go on record and say that Luongo will offer him the C, but Sundin will decline. I am still undecided about whether he SHOULD be the captain though. A one year deal automatically flags rent a player in my mind.
5) I think this whole thing is a bit over hyped. Last year, all the elements (literally) fell into place to make the perfect event. I don’t need to see reporters on ice skates, regardless of whether they know how or not. Let them stand on the sidelines and have the players come to them. I will say that the television spots for the game have been very well done. Despite seeing that "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" commercial repeatedly, it has not started to wear on me yet.
6) Obviously not from Michigan, but if it were the Flyers plus Penn State in a bowl game I would be tuned to the hockey. The only condition to that would be if they were in the BCS Championship game. I would probably do some flipping to keep track of the score in that circumstance. The rest of the bowl games are just games.
BTW) I expect a special jersey for the game, in a throwback theme.
7) That’s a load of crap. Self-important bureaucrats have noting more serious than that to concern themselves with? If it was a commercial logo, I would feel differently. Undoubtedly the Nike or RBK logo will be on every sweater from every country, why not allow a country to wear the logo that represents their country’s team?
9) I still think the Penguins fans are leading in that race for a second consecutive year although I think they were knocked down a peg by the Stanley Cup finals loss. Yes, the Bruins fan base has grown here and they are still growing but I still see them being dwarfed by the Penguins fans at this point. I could see that changing as the end draws near if they continue to play like they have.
EDIT: The expiration date stamped on Joe Paterno is long past expired. He has apparently made some a deal with the devil. I was blown away that they extended him through 2011. I really believe they want him to go but don’t have the heart to fire a living legend. I cannot blame them really, he has been the face of that school since before either of us was born. 42 years with one school and he is still in single digits in the number of years he has NOT gotten to a bowl game.
With the way the BCS works now, I kind of look at the Rose Bowl as the equivalent of having the two 3rd place teams in the NHL getting together to play an exhibition series after they get eliminated. I am not the biggest football fan in the world but I would rather watch something that actually counts for something. Maybe I take them for granted a little bit at this point since Penn State is there almost every year anyway.
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I applaud what the Blue Jacket are trying to do, but even $10 a week is tough. Hell that’s gas money for some people and even when you get the tix in the end, do they have a beer coupon book???
1. How about having $0.84 in my bank account until I got payed today? Does that qualify?
2. See my opening statement and I think we may be hearing more subtracting of teams in the next few years instead of relocation.
3. Never heard that story, but it sounds like the good ole days of hockey, without huge contracts and pamper players.
4. Luongo needs to stay the Captain. Sundin just got there and hasn’t "earned" the respect of his teammates yet. It’s like working your job and and your awesome boss loses his job to some hot shot from some other company. Would you respect the guy, considering you don’t know him?
5. I’m sick of the commercials with Harry Carey singing take me out to the ball game, is all I know. Just noticed last night when he sings Root Root Root for the Cubbies, its all garbled out and sounds like he just took a drink of Whiskey.
6. Don’t really care about college football until they get a real playoff system. More waiting for spring training than caring about football.
From watching the commercials it looks like the Throwback jerseys that were worn by the Original 6 during the 75th Anniversary of the NHL. I’ve still got my Bruins one, Andy Moog to be exact.
7. I had not heard about that, but it seems a bit rediculous. Must be a Bettman idea.
8. Thumbs up: Fighting is making a comeback from the dead
Thumbs down: Bettman is still the Commish.
9. I plead the 5th, but I’m a Bruins fan and I’m new here, but I don’t come on here tooting my horn about the B’s. They still have a long way to go and I’ve seen them be good before. This team does seem different, but they are still young and there are a lot of talented teams in the east.
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Hi
I will deal with everything else when I get back, just wanted in on one aspect first.
Before we had letters and numbers symbols were how we communicated. The Maple Leaf is not a logo in my mind but symbol for Canada. Just as if u where to put Statue of Liberty on the front of team USA or the Hammer and Sickle on the front of the old Soviet Unions. Olympics is about uniting nations in a common game, should not the common language also be spoke.
Thank You
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1. Since August aboot half of the people in our manufacturing facility have been let go, either through attrition or firings. Last week we heard that one of our wealthiest customers laid off 500. Right now I’m hanging in.
2. The recent passing of John H McConnell makes the possibility more likely but as the Arena District is such a large part of the state capital’s revitalization plans, I’d expect a huge fight from lawmakers…except of course if OSU agrees to step into the properties.
3. I didn’t hear the story. My favorite stories stem from the early days of the NHL when the teams would travel from venue to venue via train.
4. I could see an honorary gesture being made towards Sundin but I think Luongo will and should retain the captaincy.
5. I’ve only seen one Winter Classic promo and it was pretty generic
6. No bowl game for me, thank you
7. Ridiculous nitpicking. It’s not like it’s an emblem of corporate sponsorship
8. Up- we really don’t hear of the NHL having characters like Michael Vick, Pacman Jones or Chris Henry.
Down- the ridiculous suspensions
9. Bruins and Penguins
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1) If Toronto can’t fill its barn, then that, friends, is the proverbial canary in the coalmine. I had to furlough some people last week, and am paying for it through a steady diet of Maalox and Tums in my scotch. I have yet to hear plans for Richard Peddie Bobblehead night though.
Thumbs up: Chicago and Boston. Nice early season performances by original six markets. Overall this is a boon to the league when you have strong hockey markets that have been dormant alive and thriving.
2) I cannot figure that situation out in Columbus. The only thing I can come up with is that with it being a college town, people care only about the university’s teams, and none other.
3) Great story…I had not heard that until now.
4) Why is Sundin a great captain? Based on what criteria? He was a nice enough player in Toronto (consistent performer), but great captain? I dunno on that one.
5) I saw an online video of the one ad; it’s not bad.
6) not from Michigan
7) It’s a giant load of bollocks. So apparently, it was okay for Team Canada to wear this logo in 1998, 2002, 2006. Seems it should be grandfathered in or something. The whole "no logo" thing is complete bulls**t; we can stop with the "oh, this is about the sanctity of sport" crap; how much money do the sponsors have to pay the IOC to be part of their little party? I don’t want this to look like the Spengler Cup sweaters, but good lord…
Thumbs down: The litany of ill-informed opinion about the Dallas #16, and ESPN. ESPN because, during a recent trip to the US, while working out in a hotel gym for an hour, they did not run one hockey highlight. I got an in-depth profile of how the 4th-string longsnapper some NFL team overcame a hangnail and an addiction to watching reruns of "What’s Happening" to prosper. Meanwhile, bupkis about hockey.
9) I’m waiting for more Chicago folks to come out of the woodwork; right now the Sharks contingent are feeling a bit stronger than they ought to. Last time I checked, it’s still 16 playoff wins to win the Stanley Cup.
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1) Yes. I have been looking for and not finding work since March , when I was downsized by the company I worked for . It is beyond rediculous out there . I get so tired of hearing too over qualified or too under qualified. All for jobs I can do and want to do .
2)Columbus may be in a tiny bit of trouble , but then again so are many teams right now
3) No I missed it I was watching a few games , but mainly the Panthers game . But those kind of stories are always cool to hear
4)No Mats is the new guy They are Roberto’s team
5)No I have not really paid all that much attention to commercials of any kind right now. I have only seen the one anyway . It was OK
6)If Iam from Michigan Idealy I have two tvs one with each one it .
7)I personally think it is stupid. Those jersey were pefrectly fine for how many other Olympics? Just some other country found the loophole and decided to bring it up to hopefully throw off the host country . Very stupid
8)Thumbs up the early play of Boston , the Rangers and the Sharks
Thumbs down , Avery for showing his a## to the world and making hockey look bad
9)Boston is coming up , but I think the Pens still have them beat in that department for right now
Also just a note . The cheapest Panther ticket are 17 bucks and that includes parking . Not to mention if you are a first time visitor you can get a free ticket to some games in the first timers club. They then put your name on file so you can’t cheat about it .
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