- 08:32 PM
- 12/21/24
I was looking for an X years ago I said this, and came across this shitshow of a thread.
posted by alex_reno at 12:35 AM on July 22, 2015
I agree with tommytrump. What a lazy list.
Selecting Pocklington for the Oilers? Sure, the guy's scum - in fact, a short article like that can only skim the surface - but we have actual players here. Some of them were even cheap.
Consider Craig Muni, the skating knee injury. He'd be suspended all the time if he played now. I was glad to see him go.
Mark Messier could be a real cheap shot artiste when he wanted; just ask Joel Otto. McSorley's spear of Gilmour in the playoffs was so subtle, no one saw it until the third replay.
posted by alex_reno at 08:43 PM on September 16, 2009
At first I had the feeling this was more of a move sideways than forward, but Quinn's record looks pretty good.
The Oil's biggest priority has to be developing the kids. Neither Gagner nor Cogliano really made much progress, Nilsson was mostly terrible apart from a late hot streak, and Hemsky seems to have settled in at a lower level than I think he's capable of. So I certainly hope Quinn's success with the juniors was no fluke.
I see Ken Hitchcock had some nice things to say about Quinn and Renney. I guess I'll believe him.
Ok, I've talked myself into it. Yay! Pat Quinn!
posted by alex_reno at 11:30 PM on May 28, 2009
He's killed my Oilers often enough, but discussing him with my friends, we had nothing bad to say about him other than he's on the wrong team. Classy player, incredibly skilled, exciting to watch. What more do you want?
posted by alex_reno at 01:21 AM on November 10, 2007
Welcome to Edmonton. We have lots of jobs, but nowhere to live. It's funny how booms always catch us unprepared. On the plus side, minimum wage has gone away. Even convenience stores are offering bonuses. On the minus side, rents have almost doubled.
posted by alex_reno at 03:40 AM on June 26, 2007
You will have to pry the Oilers from Edmonton's cold dead hands. We ain't dead yet and it's not even that cold here.
posted by alex_reno at 01:52 PM on December 23, 2006
Stan Fischler had a series of books in the late 80s where he tried to do some of this sort of analysis. As an example, he broke power plays and penalty killing down exactly as Howard_T suggests, into PP time required to score. If you haven't seen them, they're well worth checking out. About the only thing I remember now is the nicknames, though. The Brantford Biped? I still use that. Oh, and plus-minus is a useful stat if you compare it to the rest of the team and adjust based on team goal differential. My Stratomatic card generator did this and its rankings were fairly good.
posted by alex_reno at 05:22 PM on November 30, 2006
11) Jeffrey Loria, MLB and the theft of the Expos. Very much so.
posted by alex_reno at 03:41 AM on August 03, 2006
Your post will be deleted. Unfortunately, you will not be deleted. Pantheon?
posted by alex_reno at 06:15 AM on July 23, 2006
If the Oilers pull it out tonight, this town (Edmonton) will explode. Completely fucking explode. Old, young, men, women, I have not met a single person here who doesn't care. OILERS!!!!
posted by alex_reno at 06:01 PM on June 19, 2006
I think you just have to chalk this sort of thing up to having a series. In seven games, anything can happen, and occasionally does. I think that the skills necessary to win a playoff game are the same as those that win regular season games, give or take a Claude Lemieux. Legace wasn't good. Get an a-list goalie, and I think Detroit is fine. Certainly the youth movement there, your Zetterbergs and Datsyuks, looks pretty good. And Stevie Y. is one of the greatest players ever to lace on skates. Ultimately, one has to accept that even the best team cannot win all the time. You have to settle for maximizing your chances. Oh, and you mention Detroit's defensemen. that was the one area I think the Oilers had you beat. I'd take the Oilers' defensemen over the Red Wings'. Am I saying the Oil got lucky? Pretty much.
posted by alex_reno at 12:42 AM on May 03, 2006
Hey, Sammy, may I say your namesake is a great player. Just the sort of guy the Oil have needed for quite some time. Offensively creative, good instincts around the net. He and Hemsky seem very dangerous together. I sure hope we can keep him. Did you catch that, Mr. Lowe? Keep Samsonov!
posted by alex_reno at 07:22 PM on May 02, 2006
Am I the only one happy the Oilers won? Heh. After two periods, I thought the Oil were dead. I was getting ready to jump on Calgary's bandwagon. But Pisani! Hemsky! Clutch! (/me swoons) I'm somewhat surprised to see complaints about the referees from the Detroit side, as I thought games 3 and 4 were very poorly officiated, and mostly in the Wings' favour. Last night, in contrast, was a breath of fresh air. The non-calls weren't egregious, and the calls were for the most part actual penalties. Joannette needs a new job, and soon. Oh, and MeatSaber, I think it's as simple as the fact that Chelios is a punk. Cheap, dirty, and a whiner. That sort of thing looks ok when it's your guy, (we miss you, Esa) but is less than satisfying when he's wearing the wrong colours.
posted by alex_reno at 06:59 PM on May 02, 2006
Here in Edmonton pretty much everyone I know was hoping for CuJo. He's remembered fondly. We miss you CuJo, come finish your career here! Roloson is definitely a big upgrade over the other guys. Jussi started the season strong but started to look more and more like Tommy Salo as the season wore on. Conklin has been occasionally decent, but mostly bad, and sometimes brutal. He was pretty angry last night, and I can't say as I blame him. He didn't exactly have a great game, but he hung in there and gave the Oil a chance to win. Still, throwing your helmet is bush league, and it might have affected Morrison's performance in the shootout. I saw Morrison give him a little "don't look at me, I didn't do it" shrug as he was getting ready. Morrison getting waived surprised me. He was the one out of the three who actually looked like he knew how to stop most of the soft goals. It seemed to me that the team trusted him more than the other guys. I'm finding I'm fairly excited about Roloson, actually. That .910 save percentage looks very nice indeed compared to the .860ish (ouch!) we've been getting from the three stooges.
posted by alex_reno at 09:05 PM on March 08, 2006
Amateur, you beat me by one minute. So now, all I'm left with is: what Amateur said.
posted by alex_reno at 08:31 PM on February 14, 2006
The issue, though, is that if Rose bets his team to win 5 games straight, and then doesn't bet on the sixth, what does that tell his bookie? Betting on your own team is just plain wrong.
posted by alex_reno at 05:14 AM on December 19, 2005
I dunno, Pound never seemed like a rash guy to me. Has he explained where that number came from, or did he just pull it out of thin air?
posted by alex_reno at 11:31 PM on November 25, 2005
It's always a bad idea to get into a fight with Brashear. Period. Not if your name is Georges Laraque.
posted by alex_reno at 02:13 PM on November 08, 2005
I was thinking I'd boycott hockey, but I found myself getting hockey fever as the season approached. Despite my disgust that the players caved, I think the new system with the cap and minimum will be good for hockey. And the Oilers won, so I'm happy so far. The league adopting the shootout surprised me, as it is universally detested by Canadians. I have no problem with it myself, and vastly prefer it to the 3 point games. Still, I think going back to the old system of allowing ties would have been more popular with the average fan. Should be an exciting year. Anyone who thinks they know what's going to happen is talking out the side of their neck.
posted by alex_reno at 11:58 AM on October 07, 2005
It could be argued that the best thing for Moore right now is for Bertuzzi to play and be paid. More money to squeeze in the civil suit...
posted by alex_reno at 01:55 PM on August 16, 2005
Get a job, Rodman Even has-beens need gas for Their Lamborghinis
posted by alex_reno at 03:10 PM on August 15, 2005
I can almost hear the "old ballplayers" now: "Sorry, we'd like to let you into the club of pure hitters, but you hit too many home runs. And you have to do something about all those walks."
posted by alex_reno at 10:15 AM on August 03, 2005
the use of the word hitter wish i can only guess isnt being grasped by all of you . Now you're just being obtuse. Part of hitting is knowing when not to swing. a matter of proper english Oh, stop, you're killing me.
posted by alex_reno at 09:21 AM on August 03, 2005
I disagree , the phrase pure hitter indeed has the word HITTER in it , a form of the word HIT meaning to strike something . We are not talking On Base Percentage which would include walks , we are talking about hitting . Three words: Ted Fucking Williams. By most accounts the greatest pure hitter who ever lived. Aw hell, here's a few more for you: Babe Ruth. Lou Gehrig. Mickey Mantle. Hank Aaron. Take a look at their stats. Notice anything? Like that they all took a LOT of walks?
posted by alex_reno at 08:46 AM on August 03, 2005
Hey, evil empire, have you considered that knowing when not to take the bat off your shoulder is a tool in the pure hitter's toolbox? If you ask me, walks are one of the main signs of a pure hitter. Also, if you have to take away 2 of the 6 (1B, 2B, 2B, HR, BB, HPB) beneficial results a batter can create before other batters start measuring up to Bonds, doesn't that tell you something? I am reminded of the famous story, "Son, if Mr. Williams didn't think that was a strike, it wasn't a strike."
posted by alex_reno at 07:57 AM on August 03, 2005
Isn't her first name Jennie, not Jeannie?
posted by alex_reno at 12:58 AM on July 09, 2005
As the Meatmen put it so poignantly, how I long to frost your face with my manhood. Not that there's anything wrong with that. I guess.
posted by alex_reno at 01:40 AM on March 05, 2005
Agreed, Hal. Kent's a perfect example. Reputed to be a clubhouse cancer on the Mets, he comes to the Giants and suddenly he's the good guy? I recall some announcer (McCarvely?) bloviating a few years back about how Kent had reacted to the Bonds-antipathy situation like a man, when in fact Kent was slagging Bonds in the press and Bonds wasn't talking to them. That's reacting like a man?
posted by alex_reno at 10:14 PM on November 16, 2004
Most musicians know that a few drinks can have a very beneficial effect on performance anxiety. I think it's like they say in baseball: "No brain, no problem."
posted by alex_reno at 05:19 PM on November 05, 2004
Void! I used to really like Void, but completely forgot about them. Thanks for the reminder NoMich, hope I can find some on P2P. FWIW, I think they should use Senators. Washington: first in war, first in peace, last in the American National League.
posted by alex_reno at 02:18 PM on October 08, 2004
Yeah, I must admit I see no reason to pump money into the Olympics. Healthcare sucks in Canada these days, so does the military; there are a lot of higher priority things to spend on. And, you know, national pride is not exactly what we're all about. Except hockey. How's the Aussie World Cup of Hockey team doing, anyway? One of my friends said that he'd heard an idea to take a lot of the money used for anti-tobacco programs and spend them on athletes & fitness-related things. I would be ok with that.
posted by alex_reno at 01:43 AM on August 31, 2004
Sweden brought Salo? Tommy "6-Hole" Salo? Well, if they play him they will lose, and they will deserve it. I am cheering for Canada, of course, but I am not especially hopeful, given their performance in the exhibition games. They looked pretty flat against Slovakia, although they did wake up somewhat in the third.
posted by alex_reno at 04:24 PM on August 30, 2004
If you can't whup 'em, go down.
posted by alex_reno at 03:18 PM on August 26, 2004
don't forget the Maple Leafs will always be there to crush their playoff hopes And promptly thereafter the Maple Leafs will crush the playoff hopes of Leaf fans. /I live in the West...
posted by alex_reno at 03:20 PM on June 08, 2004
Well, I was pulling for the Flames. They needed to come out firing for game 7 but didn't really get it together until the third. Alas, too late. Congratulations to both teams for a hard-fought and entertaining series. I agree with Sutter (and DrJohnEvans) that the refereeing was crap. Utter crap. And the League is fucked as long as Bettman's in charge. Isn't there an ambulance he could be chasing or something? As far as labour relations go, I think it's likely that the players will cave early. Goodenough (sp?) is no Marvin Miller.
posted by alex_reno at 11:01 PM on June 07, 2004
So they'll be playing for the World Vase? Oy.
posted by alex_reno at 02:25 PM on May 12, 2004
Is the US the only country that predominantly uses imperial measurements, such as mile, foot, yard, etc. rather than the metric system? I think Liberia and Myanmar are the only other ones left. Soon you too will succumb to the metric pod-people!
posted by alex_reno at 12:44 AM on May 07, 2004
Oh, and Salo to the Avs? Get ready for Salo's extra-spiffy .896 save percentage! Of course, I guess the Oil are now relying on Jussi to keep our oh-so-faint playoff hopes alive. Yikes.
posted by alex_reno at 04:37 PM on March 09, 2004
when injury results from a deliberate hit in hockey, is it extremely rare that criminal charges result? And if so, is this not...well, awfully damn dumb? Not really. Playing hockey implies consent to be assaulted in the ways that are legal in the sport. Many hockey plays would be assault with a deadly weapon on the street. As a random example, if by some miracle I end up playing for the Oilers, and let's say Zdeno Chara legally checks me into the boards and snaps my scrawny computer-programmer body in half, he shouldn't need a lawyer. It sounds like Bertuzzi will be prosecuted, and he should be. He hurt the guy, he meant to hurt him, and the way he did it wasn't legal within the game.
posted by alex_reno at 04:17 PM on March 09, 2004
I'm willing to put up $100 of my own damned money I'd want odds. But I have some concerns about who damned your money.
posted by alex_reno at 02:10 AM on February 26, 2004
cold weather sites You got me thinking. What if Canadians had all their home qualifiers in Winnipeg or Edmonton? In January? If it was a bad day (let's say -35, snow, a strong wind) all we'd have to do is take the field. The (to pick an example out of nowhere) Hondurans wouldn't leave their dressing room. It's known as Winterpeg for a reason, right? Why not play to our strengths? There's probably a rule about inclement conditions. Rain on my parade, damn FIFA...
posted by alex_reno at 02:12 AM on February 12, 2004
Not so bad for Burke, though. Just win, baby. If he does, he'll have his pick of jobs, including his current one. If he doesn't, he'll have a nice career somewhere in sunny USA. i thought billionaires did business differently. Anyone hear from Ted Nolan recently?
posted by alex_reno at 11:53 PM on February 10, 2004
Oh, ok, I get it, I'd just never heard it called that. Re dogs, I remember vividly an Eskimos game I saw with a friend at Commonwealth Stadium about 1987. The half time show had some dogs herding some sheep around the track, as some sort of demonstration of New Zealand sheepherding prowess. Eventually the sheep started attacking the dogs, and then the marching band blew up in a puff of smoke. We were thinking it was drugs that made us see this, until we realized we hadn't had any. Very strange. Apropos of nothing, I saw the Grey Cup a couple of days ago. The 630 CHED guys were on location at my local watering hole, and had it along for no particular reason. Eh. It wasn't that thrilling.
posted by alex_reno at 12:15 AM on February 08, 2004
What is "the halo rule?"
posted by alex_reno at 05:27 PM on February 07, 2004
No Oilers? That sucks. Agreed, mkn, every team should have a representative. If nothing else, there's humour value for fans of the other teams when they see the boneheads who play out of the spotlight on the weaker teams. Like Edmonton. Howver, an argument for Jason Smith going could be made. He's tied for eigth in plus/minus among defencemen. Of course, his style isn't really suited for the all-star game.
posted by alex_reno at 05:22 AM on January 25, 2004
What I want to know is why didn't Ms. Kolber call up to the booth: "Um, Houston, we have a problem. Joe's shit-faced." (ha, I initially was going to bleep part of that, then I realized StarFucker posted. Thanks, SF!
posted by alex_reno at 03:31 AM on January 23, 2004
I voted Barry Bonds as number one. Admittedly, I give him extra points because he so angers all the sportswriters. John Kruk's jokes notwithstanding, even a tubby baseball player is an athlete. This body type is also seen in American football, and I don't think anyone would deny that an offensive lineman is an athlete. Going somewhat off-topic, but as far as athletes who aren't in a sport, how about Mikhail Baryshnikov? Any guys here think you could take him?
posted by alex_reno at 12:45 AM on January 17, 2004
At least it's not the [expletive] Yankees.
posted by alex_reno at 03:49 PM on January 11, 2004
This just goes to support my theory that around 1990 or so, we were all somehow moved from Earth to Earth-2. My suspicions were raised when Nike got William S. Burroughs to hawk their shoes. Then the Butthole Surfers ("I smoke Elvis Presley's toenails when I want to get high!") were used to flog Nintendo. I want to go home.
posted by alex_reno at 06:08 PM on January 07, 2004
Baseball, I shudder to say this, needs another Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis. Bud must go.
posted by alex_reno at 10:21 PM on January 05, 2004
Illegal substances? They reinstated Steve Howe 9 times, didn't they? Oh, you mean performance-enhancing drugs like steroids. Are they even against the rules?
posted by alex_reno at 03:05 PM on January 02, 2004
Pete Rose should not be allowed into the hall of fame. He bet on his own team. I'm not kidding when I say that if they let him in, I will never watch another MLB game. And Grum, we disagreed on this before, but I never explained myself. If they let Rose in, they should also let Shoeless Joe in. Sure, the Shoeless one took the money, but he didn't throw the series. When we start casting our net for reasons to let Rose in, we don't have to widen the net much to include Shoeless Joe. I agree on the basic point, though, that neither should be in. Of course, Charlie Comiskey's in, isn't he?
posted by alex_reno at 11:05 PM on January 01, 2004
Hey, I'm just playing the traditional western Canadian game of 'Pin the blame on Toronto.' Nice thing about Sportsnet is its regional networks. It's nice to have Sportsnet West, which actually pays attention to the Alberta teams. This is something TSN has never done. FWIW, I like Kypreos. I think he's pretty funny, actually. Hazel Mae is still on SNW, as is the lovely and talented Jody Vance.
posted by alex_reno at 05:23 PM on December 19, 2003
TSN has been awful for a few years now. When it started it got knocked for being the Toronto Sports Network, but that's much more true now than it was then. Sportsnet eats TSN's lunch. What is the championship trophy called? it better be the Lady Bong trophy, that's all I'm saying...
posted by alex_reno at 02:56 PM on December 19, 2003
The scuttlebutt I'm hearing is that this is Lowe's revenge on Comrie. This info is third-hand at best, (a friend knows someone who does some work for the team) but I am informed that Lowe has been heard to say something to the effect of "that (bleep) is never playing for my (bleep) team again." The first bleep rhymes with a popular Leaf. Public opinion in Edmonton is pretty firmly behind Lowe, FWIW. I know I haven't seen a player with as little concern for the defensive aspect of the game since, say, Joe Mullen or Kent Nilsson.
posted by alex_reno at 03:45 PM on December 12, 2003
I dunno, Weedy, there's a lot to be said for awards that are awarded on purely statistical bases. I think it's better to reward the guy who actually scored the most goals in a year, not the guy the sportswriters thought should have. (Also, I think they should give out a Lady Bong award for most unsportsmanlike, but I digress.) I should say though, I don't have a big problem with voted awards, they certainly give us more to talk about.
posted by alex_reno at 02:10 AM on December 02, 2003
I lost a lot of respect for Easterbrook when he made some poorly-researched claims about a 'cover-up' by the Canadian government of the torture death of a Somalian by members of the airborne. See Flit for more details. (Scroll down to September 3, or search for Easterbrook.)
posted by alex_reno at 01:12 PM on November 25, 2003
The Justice Department has ended its criminal case against Barry Bonds.
Yeah, Bonds certainly brings out the best in people.
I'd have to say my favorite was "Bonds hates white people."