AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2007 > April > 11 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USPlayoffs a breath of fresh air for Philips
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jeff Schultz
Thursday night we begin the purification. Thursday night we leave behind winless streaks and losing streaks and second-rate goalies with third-rate groins and plus-minus statistics that defy logic (Yannick Tremblay: minus-42?).
A playoff game.
By the hockey team.
In Philips Arena.
“I’m getting nervous,” said the general manager, Don Waddell, who is experiencing this for his first time in nine years (seven seasons) of employment. “It feels like opening night in first season.”
Remember that night? Patrik Stefan, the franchise’s first draft pick, sets up Kelly Buchberger, the team’s first captain, for the team’s first goal. New Jersey scored four (the game-winner: by Bobby Holik).
First game. First loss. Sixty would follow.
Breathe in.
Light a candle.
Open the chakras
They are here. The Thrashers played 82 games this season and, finally, their next appearance isn’t the front row of the draft. Thursday night, they play an 83rd game. They have won a division title. They don’t necessarily need a playoff series win over the New York Rangers to validate that. But why stop now?
This city hasn’t had any pro team in the postseason since the Braves lost the divisional playoffs to Houston in October of 2005. It has been 18 months. Last year, the Braves lost the division. The Falcons lost their heads. The Hawks just continued to lose.
The Thrashers suddenly are our crowning jewel. Who knew?
Thursday night, we cleanse, in the most unlikely of venues. Philips Arena has never hosted a playoff game, unless you count Arena League football, which we don’t. Can we assume the ghosts are gone? Does negative energy just dissipate like that?
“It can linger,” Diane Garner said.
She is an ordained minister, an “energy facilitator” and store manager of “Synchronicity” in Roswell, a sort of metaphysical boutique of books and incense.
“I’ve actually been to a few hockey games,” Garner said. “I went to a couple of Thrashers games, and once I was at a minor-league game in Omaha, Nebraska. I almost got hit by a puck. But it hit the guy behind me.”
Good karma.
So there must be something to this. Diane does cleansings. For $125 (plus mileage), she offered to drive down to Philips Arena to, as she said, “help get rid of that negative energy and allow the positive energy to enter the room.”
It should be noted that $125 was actually quite a deal, considering that’s usually the cost for a house, not a sports arena. Unfortunately, I could not get my editors or Waddell to pick up the cost.
“We’ll skip that,” Waddell said. “I believe we’ve already started our cleansing this year and it will continue with the first playoff game. There’ll will be many more to come for both franchises.” (He was alluding to also the Hawks. Either he was being a good Atlanta Spirit team player or he needs more than just a cleansing - he needs oxygen.)
Nonetheless, Carner was ready to go to work. The healing process would involve a “saging.” She would burn white sage to “cleanse the area.” Doorways are particularly important. Goal creases couldn’t hurt, either.
“You invite the positive energy to come in and remain,” she said. “You send the negative energy up to the light.”
The light?
“It’s what we call the universal source. We send the negative energy to the light and then call in all of the archangels.”
Archangels?
“Yeah. It’s sort of like that movie. You know, the baseball movie.”
Angels in the Outfield?
“That’s the one. That’s one my favorites.”
I spent $3 on some sage. For the record, I waved it in front of TurboTax Tuesday night and it didn’t help.
The Thrashers are on their own. But they are here, finally. They are here, after so many draft picks and expansion picks and free agents that nobody else really wanted.
Breathe out: eight goalies in the first three seasons. Breathe in: Kari Lehtonen and Johan Hedberg.
Breathe out: Martin Prochazka, Kamil Piros, Ed Ward. Breathe in: Marian Hossa, Ilya Kovalchuk, Slava Kozlov.
At last, a trade deadline wasn’t used to help stock another playoff team. Prospects left but Alexei Zhitinik and Keith Tkachuk arrived.
Nobody has waited longer or endured more than Waddell.
“I’m a big believer that things happen for a reason,” he said. “Some things you just can’t explain. But this is what we had in mind, to be here from day one and have this dream and be able to live it out.”
A playoff game, by this team, in this arena. Let the cleansing begin.
Permalink | Comments (118) | Post your comment | Categories: Jeff Schultz, Thrashers / NHL
Comments
By Mean & Rude People Stink
April 11, 2007 5:40 PM | Link to this
Aside from the rude, self-centered, small-minded, selfish knuckleheads who like to use their (very) limited vocabularies to yell out crude and foul language at the other team in front of families and young children at Philips, making Atlanta fans collectively look like ignorant goofballs with no manners, there is NOTHING better than a Thrashers game.
By PBThrasher
April 11, 2007 5:45 PM | Link to this
Love the Ink! It’s time everyone in Atlanta recognizes, and believes in this team. The Thrashers are finally in the postseason and I hope this city embraces them. So either get to Phillips, or set that dial to SportSouth tommorow. Playoff Hockey is back in Atlanta!
STAND UP & CHEER ATLANTA!
GO THRASHERS!!!
By A-town As$clown .....formerly caveman22
April 11, 2007 6:00 PM | Link to this
Absolutely “mean & rude” There ain’t nothin worse than some suburban as$munch who brings his young sons and daughters to a game and knowingly exposes them to the type of language,behavior,and alcoholic frenzy that a hockey game environment is so vilified and worshiped for.
Right about the time I’m chuggin my 4th beer in the first period and getting some really good BASS in my belching, I got cut myself off in midsentence of my comments questioning the heritage and morals of the opposing team cuz the 2 little who’s from whoville are wanting the Grinch to grow a heart.
Stay home or by a private suite.
The world doesn’t answer to your wants and needs just because “YOUR” precious children heard a Wirty Dord at the game. Yeah , stay home and let’em watch cable cuz that’s so freakin wholsome!!!!!!!!!!!
Go Thrashers and KICK SOME F**KIN AS$!!!
By Give Me A Break
April 11, 2007 6:02 PM | Link to this
Mean and Rude,
Give me a break, that kind of behavior goes on at all sporting events in every city in America. That’s exactly why so many opposing fans love to watch their Sabres, Rangers, and Penguins at Phillips, because they know they are going to receive that Southern hospitality. We have got to make opposing fans feel a little uncomfortable, otherwise you will continue to hear the “Let’s go Sabres” chants just as loud as the “Let’s go Thrashers” chants.
By moo
April 11, 2007 6:11 PM | Link to this
I bet Boom Boom Geoffrion is smiling in heaven tonight!
And saying, “Shoot da puck!”
GO THRASHERS!!
By Sportsmanship equals class
April 11, 2007 6:14 PM | Link to this
I’m with mean and rude. I’ve been going to the games since the inaugural season, and I love every minute of it except when someone gives the finger to the opposing team or screams profanity. It’s simply about respect for other people. Buying a ticket lets you see the game, but it doesn’t give you a license to be a jerk. Have some class, and GO THRASHERS!
By Iceman
April 11, 2007 6:28 PM | Link to this
Gooooooo THRASHERS!!!!!
By Bob
April 11, 2007 6:37 PM | Link to this
Alright, it’s about 24 hours from Go Time.
We need to get serious here.
Everyone, and I mean Everyone needs their game face and voice on tomorrow night. We need to yell, scream, cheer, Rag the Rags, from the moment our boys hit the ice. I don’t care if the BlueJerks score twice early, you each will yell, cheer, scream until you can speak no more. NO sitting on hands, no standard Atlanta b/s. Anyone that goes home with a working voice, is just not cheering loud enough. You got all day Friday to recover in time for Sat. afternoon.
This is Our Town. This is Our House. This is Our Time.
Unleash the Fury
By Matt
April 11, 2007 6:46 PM | Link to this
I got my tickets, SO ready for Game 1. There are a few left in the Lower Level, get em’ fast!!!
By dogelthorpe
April 11, 2007 6:53 PM | Link to this
This article seems very poorly written to me. I guess he wasn’t around to see us make a run last year or to realize we would have made it last year if it was not for the injuries in the beginning. He makes it sound like this is so far off from what we expected. I went into this year expecting playoffs, we have a playoff team. I didn’t expect a division title, but we got it. Now we go after more. I would prefer this author to stay home, I am confident we have 18000 true thrashers fans to fill the arena. GO THRASH! And watch out, cause I’ll be yelling anything and everything and those Yanks!
By Sean
April 11, 2007 7:04 PM | Link to this
Hey, Schultzie!! Good piece. I enjoyed it. While I don’t think things have been THAT bad in recent memory (last 3 seasons played), I appreciate your humor. I like the white sage part. :)
GO THRASH GO!!!!!! This is awesome! I’m so excited!
By Matthew At The SLC
April 11, 2007 7:28 PM | Link to this
To the two feminized men who enjoy giving the other team an advantage in our house because they, like everyone in Atlanta, refuse to act like fans…
STAY HOME!!!
A true home ice, or home field advantage is created by loud, crass, and RUDE fans. Your retarded attitudes are why no Atlanta team has ever had a homefield advantage at anything. You must be cheese & wine UGA alumni, because I hate you people with a passion. I hate the way our idiot President caters to you at the expense of the students, shrinking our section a while back to give y’all more seats, further reducing the pitiful homefield advantage at Sanford Stadium.
So you know what, you two neutered former men, keep the little kids at home, watch the game on the TV, and stay away. The team needs some actual support now from the fans. Not you suburban idiots chatting away, not even paying attention to the game.
By roh
April 11, 2007 7:33 PM | Link to this
I am so [expletive] excited!! I can’t wait to get to the bulb tomorrow! Let’s go Thrashers!
Mean & Rude…you can stay home and watch on TV.
BTW, I’m sure you could have finagled enough Blueland fans to cover the cleansing!!!!
By CaptWDee
April 11, 2007 7:45 PM | Link to this
Go Thrashers.
Don Waddell is the man.
By Rawhide
April 11, 2007 7:59 PM | Link to this
Hey guys,….I’ve been taking it easy on y voice since Saturday night. I didn’t sing a church Sunday,…I haven’t yelled at the boys all week,..could have, but didn’t!
Saving it up for tomorrow night!
(ahem),…..it should go something like:
Go to Hell, Rangers - GO TO HELL!! (clap clap)
Go to Hell, Rangers - GO TO HELL!! (clap clap)
Go to He——————(cough, cough, choke,…hack)
Ugh,…hope I didn’t hurt myself….
By EL GUAPO
April 11, 2007 8:28 PM | Link to this
GO BLUE!!
By FYHC#1
April 11, 2007 8:43 PM | Link to this
To all those…”oh those people are so rude” posters…………….YOU SUCK!
From your friends in the Nasty Nest
By brad
April 11, 2007 8:59 PM | Link to this
I look forward to the day when rude people have kids and bring them to the game so we can tell them to $*#@ off.
Thrashers have improved their record every year they have been in existence which is a credit to Waddell. Last year with the goalie injuries was a fluke.
Belanger and Dupuis were under rated pickups that have been a huge plus for the team.
Go Thrashers
By ThrasherSis
April 11, 2007 9:02 PM | Link to this
To all you prim and proper folks, go sit in the “tea and crumpets section” tomorrow night, please! Or if that is too rude and crude for you and your kiddies, then stay home and watch the game on TV. We totally plan to be as loud and rowdy as possible in the Nasty Nest and that includes quite a few “Lundquist, Lundquist, Lundquist…. YOU SUCK!!!” chants. After all it IS a hockey game… if you didn’t want to be participate in the customary fashion, you should have bought tickets to the opera!
By Chris
April 11, 2007 9:11 PM | Link to this
I’ve been going to hockey games since I was about 22, when Atlanta got the Knights. While I started out as one of the rude idiots I quickly learned that there are certain things you just don’t do in front on 12 000 people, some of whom may be children. To the crass rude guys: when you you use that garbage with my six-year-old daughter there, I’ll only ask you once to clean it up. Then, the security guards will escort us both to the hospital so the doctors get my foot from down your throat. You don’t have to curse to support your team. Be loud and be creative. My best friend’s dad went with us to the first game and he’s a Boston native who saw many a Bruins game in the Garden. He had everyone around us in stiches as he razzed the opposing team and the refs. But he didn’t curse once. I learned a lot from him. Thank you, Chuck.
By Bob
April 11, 2007 9:20 PM | Link to this
Nasty Nesters, do me a favor and wait until after we score a goal to do the chant. It kind of loses it’s effect if you do it too early or too often, wait till he screws up, no? But by all means, you are on the right path, don’t be quiet, go home hoarse, just wait on the goalie taunt till the right time.
Unleash the Fury
By Paul
April 11, 2007 9:24 PM | Link to this
Lousy subject for an article. Geezus, here we are about to start the Stanley Cup playoffs and this tripe? And whats all the comments about cursing and how good or bad it is??? This town truly sucks the big one re hockey. Weak.
By Brian
April 11, 2007 9:28 PM | Link to this
Can someone please tell me……..how are there still tickets remaining for games 1 and 2? Do we really want that many ugly New Yorkers in Blueland? Come on Thrashers fans……if you haven’t, get your tickets!!
By Matthew At The SLC
April 11, 2007 9:37 PM | Link to this
THIS IS FOR ALL THE IDIOT HOCKEY FANS IN ATLANTA
Do NOT scream KNIGHTS at all during the playoffs.
DON’T DO IT!!!
You make us intelligent hockey fans who love NHL hockey look like a bunch of backwoods hicks when you do that.
SO DON’T DO IT!!!
This is the NHL, not some two-bit minor league.
Okay, I’m not usually one for bolding everything I have to say, and I hate it when others do it, but this needed to be said. For once and for all, drop the “Knights” cheer. It’s retarded, it’s stupid, and it shows your @$$ to the REAL home team.
By nssl97
April 11, 2007 9:51 PM | Link to this
How is sucks bad? Do you cover your kids ears during vacuum cleaner commericals? Suck is a word that you can hear at anytime during a Bugs Bunny cartoon. Remember when he used to hold up a sign that said sucker on it? Just like the word wicked or bad can be a word used to compliment. Suck is a word that comes across as an insult. It is not like we are in NY where they * hole chant started when they don’t like a ref. ANd if your kid asks why they use the word sucks, tell him they think he still sucks his thumb, or like we used to call people when we ran cross country, suckin’ air(someone who could not keep up or in bad shape and breathing hard)
By Peter
April 11, 2007 10:03 PM | Link to this
AWESOME STUFF THRASHERS
By Thrash Fan
April 11, 2007 10:34 PM | Link to this
Let’s Focus on The Real Issue - The THRASHERS - We need and WILL HAVE LOUD FANS - There are still a few seats available (as of 10:30 pm WED), so take some action and come see the best live sporting event in Atlanta GO THRASHERS
By Billy
April 11, 2007 11:19 PM | Link to this
It’s hilarious to see people who expect to take their children to sports events want to see “decorum”. If you want that, please go to the symphony (and that’s not a slam on the symphony… The ASO is great). If you don’t want your precious children to hear rude words, then don’t go to the games, but also don’t let them watch t.v. Come to think of it, you might want to just put them in a bubble. People are always going to be offended by something. Get used to it.
By UNSANITARY NEST = Ignorant, Obnoxious Gutter Trash
April 12, 2007 12:22 AM | Link to this
Dear A-town As$clown …..formerly caveman22, Give Me a Break, FYHC#1 Matthew at the SLC, roh, ThrasherSis, Paul, nssl97 and Billy :
Please kill yourselves.
You selfish dumb@$$es are too stupid to live.
!
I don’t care about the language and complete lack of consideration it sounds like you losers have for your fellow fans, either way. It doesn’t bother me. My old lady doesn’t care, either.
However, you simpletons WILLINGLY engage in behavior that you clearly KNOW divides the ‘Thrasher Nation,’ indicating you care a whole lot more about yourselves than you do about the team and its ability to build and sustain a firm fan base from the largest possible number and range of people.
People pay good money to come to Philips Arena for H-O-C-K-E-Y , not to have to listen to a bunch of Atlanta-area, intoxicated high school dropouts make Buffalo fans look intelligent by comparison.
What type of “fan” can ANY of you be when you put your own egos AHEAD OF the Collective Thrashers Family and the UNITY of every Blueland citizen behind a common (no pun intended) goal ?
Dumb@$$es.
By JSS
April 12, 2007 1:27 AM | Link to this
Hey Billy, Perfect post!
Go Blueworld!!!
Oh, for those of you who thought I forgot: JEFF SCHULTZ IS STILL A NO TALENT HACK!!! He’s no Joe Falls!!!
By ATLsportsFAN
April 12, 2007 2:19 AM | Link to this
I can’t wait for tomorrow night.
RANGERS SUCK RANGERS SUCK RANGERS SUCK RANGERS SUCK
LET’S GO THRASHERS LET’S GO THRASHERS LET’S GO THRASHERS
By Chris
April 12, 2007 7:56 AM | Link to this
Let’s put the nasty nest debates aside for today and just enjoy playoff hockey. It’s about time. Let’s Go Thrashers!
By Richard Kraus
April 12, 2007 7:59 AM | Link to this
On the first day after the Playoffs have started, there is no mention of the games played last night. Does this strike anyone else as odd?
By Typical Sewage Nester
April 12, 2007 8:27 AM | Link to this
“All of you TRUE BLUE Thrashers fans who are here for the hockey need to just stay home. The only thing that matters is ME and my drunken loudness and profanity.
I am bigger than ANY of you. I am bigger than the Thrashers. I am bigger than hockey.
If you ever come to Philips Arena, you need to realize it is all about me! ME ! ME !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By Bob
April 12, 2007 8:56 AM | Link to this
Jeebus, I’m no big Nasty Nest supporter and I really wish they’d wait and taunt the goalie after he lets in a goal, but I respect them for being the loudest section in the house, and being passionate fanatics for their team. We need more Thrasher fans like them, be fruitful and multiply, Nesters.
Whoever the goof is that showed up making fun of them though, looks just like a petty child, get a life, you sound like a jealous schoolgirl. It’s like high school and the nerds are battling the geeks who are battling the jocks.
We are all Thrasher fans. If the Nasty Nesters get on your nerves, sit in a different section. But direct your anger towards those that deserve it, the Rangers on the ice, and their Guido Faux Rolex wearin marble mouthed gutter trash fans in the stands.
We are all Thrashers’ fans. Support your team, get over your pettiness, and Bring the Noise, tonight, and every playoff game.
Unleash the Fury!!!!
By billsen
April 12, 2007 9:01 AM | Link to this
Why do we heckle? To give our team an advantage. Do we use profanity? NEVER in a chant or heckle. Do we use the word “Suck”? Absolutely. Is “suck” profane? Nope. Just ask Bart Simpson.
Billsen www.nastynest.net
By SlimG
April 12, 2007 9:12 AM | Link to this
The “Bulb”. Now thats cool. Hey about all the rude fans. People it’s a game. Just because fans support their teams in different ways does not make them. Well u know what I mean. Children at sporting events where beer is served, come on man get a grip. People have certain freedoms and rights up to a legal limit. Tell ur kids beforehand that it’s an adult event and they may hear a few things that are bad. People say stupid stuff thats life.Should be a great opportunity to teach. Go Birds!
By T-Bone
April 12, 2007 9:13 AM | Link to this
Schultz, man what a weak effort on the column today. The whole cleansing thing, your idea? Looks like a rush job to me and you knew for how long the Thrashers were in the playoffs and this is what you come with? Not your best effort.
By Sara
April 12, 2007 9:15 AM | Link to this
When the rest of the Arena can get off their bums and make some noise, then maybe you can start criticizing the Nest. But too many times, it is sections 316-320 who are making the noise … and no one else. We are usually the ones who start all the chants, including just the “Let’s Go Thrashers.”
I’m not condoning the widespread use of profanity (of which I do not consider the goalie chant to be). However, you go out in public to a sporting event that typically draws blue-collar crowds that consume alcohol, you are going to get some cussing. That will exist at any type of game in any city. If it is that big a problem for you, then leave the kids at home. You can’t control other people - that’s why parental controls exist. I’m not being rude, I’m making a point about the reality of life. As a parent, you have to objectively look at the reality of the situation and make decisions based on what you feel is in your child’s best interest. (And for the record, many Nesters are parents and do bring their kids to the games - try reading the AJC article about the group - maybe you’ll learn something.)
Besides, you can’t honestly tell me you’ve never wanted to let one fly when Sutton made a beautiful outlet pass right to an opposing player. ;)
By Eileen
April 12, 2007 10:05 AM | Link to this
I am with Rude and Mean on the “you suck” chant. Think of something else. Not only is it offensive for those of us at the game with our children, but it is worn out!
By Moore Cowbell
April 12, 2007 10:16 AM | Link to this
Hey “Family Guy”, I bring my kids to the game and while we don’t use curse words, I encourage them to yell and stomp and have a good time. That is what its all about. If you think you are going to go to a sporting event— AN EXCITING— sporting event and not hear coarse language you are fooling yourself. If you’re kids can’t handle the launguage (trust me they’re hearing it everywhere else) or that language is going to turn them into a guttersnipe, you “Family Guy” are the one that F’d up, not some drunk guy in section 312. BE A PARENT AND QUIT BLAMING EVERYONE ELSE FOR THE FACT YOU CAN’T CONTROL YOUR KIDS.
And BTW…All of you transplants to Atlanta, suck, Suck, SUCK! Here the Thrashers, WHICH WERE BROUGHT HERE FOR YOU, are having their 1st Playoff game and the game isn’t even sold out. I am a native and am embarrassed to live here. The contempt in which I hold transplants when it comes to supporting the teams of the city is unmeasurable. And you even have the gall to ask me to be quiet at the games. Un-f’n-believable.
By Bob
April 12, 2007 10:31 AM | Link to this
Alright, we definitely need Moore Cowbell (freakin bring those tonight if ya got em), but Jeebus! The Thrashers wouldn’t have 1/2 the stands full if those of us transplantsthat love hockey hadn’t moved down here, most of us have abandoned our loyalty to their former teams and we’re Thrasher fans now, but understand that it takes time.
Look at it this way, if you moved to Nashville tomorrow, are you all of a sudden a Preds fan? If the Thrash and Preds wind up in the finals, are you cheering for the Preds or Thrash? It takes time.
Now do NOT make me come down there and smack each one of you upside the head, I will do it!
Unleash the Fury on the Rangers and their Guido polyester suit wearin, gold chain hangin, marble mouthed trash talkin fans at the game tonight, not each other. Save your ire for tonight. It’s good you’re worked up, save it, relish it, bottle it inside, and let it freakin out when our boys hit the ice and Unleash the Fury
Are you with me?
By Chris
April 12, 2007 10:40 AM | Link to this
I’m not asking anybody to be quiet at the games and have no problem with the “you suck” rant, except that it’s a little tired. I don’t consider “suck” profanity. I’m talking about the drunk idiot dropping f-bombs three rows up. If you want to act like that go to Philly.
By Moore Cowbell
April 12, 2007 10:40 AM | Link to this
Oh and another thing. For TRUE fans of the Braves, Thrashers, Hawks, Falcons, Bulldogs and Yellow Jackets, games are not a diversion or just something to do on a Thursday night. THEY ARE EVENTS and an opportunity to embrace and support your community. HAVE FUN, YELL AND STOMP AND CHEER! Heckle the opposing team! As long as its somehwhat clever and pertinent to the game, the opposing players actually like the passion shown by real fans. Other cities and teams have no respect for us because none of our fans have PASSION for our teams. And they are right not to respect us until we show them we do have that Passion. Go sit in the last row at the top of the Nassau Civic Center for a preseason game and listen to some 12 yr old kids next to you scream “LETS GO EYE-UN-DURS” for 3 periods and you will know what passion means. Atlanta ain’t got it and aside from college football never will.
By Voloric
April 12, 2007 10:41 AM | Link to this
Wow Chris…So basicly what your saying is your going to teach your child to try and beat someone up if they say something you don’t like.
Wow…why don’t you stay home and polish your Father of the year statue.
To anyone else that doesn’t like the cheering,razzing or heckling that goes on. Please remove yourself to Turner field where you can be safe,secure and comatose in your blankie.
By Moore Cowbell
April 12, 2007 10:46 AM | Link to this
I’m with you Bob. I’m just PO’d that Atlanta can’t get behind its teams, and when it gets exciting the bedwetters want you to sit down and be quiet. IT DRIVES ME ABSOLUTELY INSANE!!I will never understand people who want to go to games just to “hang out” and talk. I guess you can blame the corp ticekets for that.
By tim
April 12, 2007 10:47 AM | Link to this
Whatever you say….JUST BE LOUD. I am excited about the playoffs meaning something to me. We need to have home ice advantage. LOUD!!! Unleash the Fury
By ice-sensei
April 12, 2007 10:52 AM | Link to this
Repeat after me: “I will not boo the home team…..I will not boo the home team….”
I am a part-season ticket holder and get disgusted by the hacks who boo our power play. It ain’t great, but you obviously don’t know the game….
By Mark
April 12, 2007 10:54 AM | Link to this
I’m with Matthew. Please, for the love of God, stop chanting Knights during the national anthem. It makes us look like a bunch of idiots. In case you haven’t noticed, the Knights are long gone. If you really have to say something, come up with something clever that supports the Thrashers.
By JT
April 12, 2007 11:04 AM | Link to this
Ok whinny a* people. Enough bickering. Let’s get the basics understood first. The Atlanta Knight were not a two bit minor league team. They were equavilent to a AAA Braves farm team. They were my hockey fix after Tom Cousin’s bit off more than he could chew with the Atlana Flames. Most of you folks are sooo out of touch. I can remember the Ole Rebel waving a Conferderate battle flag after every Flames goal. Folks, yeah swearing and carrying on can be pushed to far, but this is not a crouquet match or polo event or that p** poor game called baseball. This is hockey. Where else can you see guys on thin sharp blades chasing a frozen hard rubber disc swinging a deadly weapon made from wood or a composite material in an enclosed area in a semi-controlled environment. Yeah, I am a fan who enjoys hockey and wishes more transplants would leave their home town sweaters at home. Thats why native Atlantan’s who enjoyed the Flames and the Knights are the fan base for the current Thrashers. The rest of you get over it. Oh by the way, really the first championship this city saw by any professional or semi-professional team was the Atlanta Crackers, then the Atlanta Chiefs, then the Atlant Knights, then those precious under-achieving Braves. I say it is finally time to get some press from the paper. I usually wrap fish with it. All fans need to to show up early and support this team in its first playoff series. I know I will. I have missed this NHL experience for over 27 years. Thers is nothing else like it. So enough of the whining. Yell and scream and be thankful that we have hockey and can enjoy it. You can always move to Hartford if you want total peace and quiet. Go Thrashers!
By Ilya k
April 12, 2007 11:05 AM | Link to this
ANYONE PLEASE…..what channel is the game on tonight? Comcast channel #???
I am feelin CUP CRAZY!!!!!!!!!!!
By Jay
April 12, 2007 11:15 AM | Link to this
To all you sissies afraid of what your kids and their virgin ears might hear at the hockey game: give me a break. I have to say, hockey is a rather violent sport to bring such delicate children to in the first place. There is fighting and hitting in hockey. Perhaps you should stick with more “PG” sports like tennis and swimming.
By Lauren
April 12, 2007 11:32 AM | Link to this
Hahaha, I just looove how you people think that ALL Rangers fans are cliché guidos. I guess we could make the same assumption about Thrashers fans and how they are all moonshine drinking hicks. Way to generalize about an entire group of people.
Instead of arguing amongst yourselves about cursing in an arena, why not just celebrate and support your team? And JT, that is a good suggestion about moving to Hartford, this way hockey fans can come support the Rangers Wolfpack, but then again, we wouldn’t want all that moonshine in a classy place like Hartford.
GO RANGERS!!
By THE NASTY NEST
April 12, 2007 11:32 AM | Link to this
Hockey is NOT for everyone !!!!!!!!!!
If you hockey fans who actually care about the THRASHERS and the game don’t like our classless behavior, drunken stupidity, foul language, low IQs, UNintelligent & UNoriginal yelling, generally bad manners, poor etiquette and “US First” philosophy, then you all need to stay home and have tea and cookies. We come to ruin your evenings and show our a**es, not unite with you folks. Sissies !!!
UNLEASH THE FOUL-MOUTHED, CLASSLESS, DRUNKEN STUPIDITY !!!!!!!!!
By Short Flight
April 12, 2007 11:48 AM | Link to this
All Thrashers Fans - Start Chanting Potvin Beats his wife. Ranger fans hate that.
By short flight
April 12, 2007 11:56 AM | Link to this
Have any of you ever been to Hartford? Socially dead for sure. Quiet? Yes I still remember the soothing sounds of gun shots from my condo on Fales street.
By tim
April 12, 2007 11:58 AM | Link to this
suburbanites are not the enemy…drunks are not the enemy…rednecks are not the enemy….the rangers are the enemy…get loud…get nasty…kick a$$ and take names…GO THRASH
By VICKLOVER
April 12, 2007 11:59 AM | Link to this
N E 1 THING THE TRASHERS SHOULD LET VICK TRY OUT 4 THE TEEM? I NO HE CAN PALY CUZ I SAW A COMERCAL ON TV AND HE WAS PLAYIN HOCKEY U NO HE WOOD B GOOD
By Matthew At The SLC
April 12, 2007 12:05 PM | Link to this
Once again, to all you “cheese & wine” neutered males out there and your little, politically correct out of the womb fetuses… grow some huevos, inject some testosterone, and remember what it was like to be a guy oh so long ago.
Remember that SUCK is not a curse word.
Remember that you’re supposed to be LOUD during sports, not talking to your ugly wives and snot-filled kids.
Remember that home-ice or home-field advantage is created by the FANS.
And for the love of God, remember that the Knights moved awa TEN FREAKING YEARS AGO!!!
By tim
April 12, 2007 12:11 PM | Link to this
I have tickets to Saturday but I don’t have tickets for tonights game. I would like to get the playoff atmosphere. What bar is a good one to check out the Thrashers game tonight??
By JT
April 12, 2007 12:16 PM | Link to this
UNLEASH THE FURY
By Buzilla Baby Blues
April 12, 2007 12:17 PM | Link to this
It’s on channel 53. Comcast just hasn’t updated the listing on that blue screen when you bring up the menu
By Buzilla Baby Blues
April 12, 2007 12:19 PM | Link to this
Sidebar off of Lucky St in Downtown
By chris
April 12, 2007 12:20 PM | Link to this
that commcercial you sall was a nike ad of athletes with similar names of other superstars playing other sports. that was another mike vick who played in minor league hockey (or whatever its called) vicks scrawny a** would be killed out there.
By Matt at www.getitnext.com
April 12, 2007 12:21 PM | Link to this
Congrats thrashers fans on sticking with your team and enjoying your first playoffs. You have a dangerous and talented group down there. Rangers in 7.
Be one of the first to get it. www.getitnext.com
By Matt H
April 12, 2007 12:21 PM | Link to this
Man, I guess the we really haven’t recovered from the Civil War yet… :)
Remember, there are all types of fans. In every sport. Some more obnoxious than others. Be supportive of your brother fans, or at least tolerant, don’t spill beer on anyone or hurt people, and everything will go dandily.
Cheer LOUD. Get into it. It becomes spiritual. Why do you think sports are so popular? Or movies? It’s transubstantiation. It’s Church. It’s when a bunch of us get together and emote and cool things happen. It’s not a Barney video, nor is it a trip to the Cheetah.
It’s hockey. Playoff hockey. And there’s nothing better.
GO THRASHERS BEAT THE CRAP OUTTA THOSE OVERRATED, UNDERACHIEVING RANJERKS!!!
By Bob
April 12, 2007 12:24 PM | Link to this
Unleash the Fury
By t.l. davis
April 12, 2007 12:32 PM | Link to this
if philips arena actually enforced its own policy and “code of conduct” regarding language and behavior, the arena would be a much nicer place for everyone to go and loudly cheer for the thrash.
if philips keeps refusing to enforce its own policies, the thrashers could triple or quadruple their ticket prices to keep this white trash from being able to afford to go to games and ruin the events for other thrashers fans in the first place.
atlanta spirit can kiss my rear end if they think i am going to pony up for season tickets to listen to that nonsense all season long. i love hockey but i ain’t paying to hear that bile spewed.
if these ‘bottom feeders’ had their way, they might’ve kept willie o’ree out of hockey just like they keep posting on here that all children who are thrashers fans should stay away from the arena too so they can say all the bad words they wish. disgraceful.
By joe
April 12, 2007 12:34 PM | Link to this
Finally blueland will earn its name
UNLEASH THE FURY Go thrashers rip the rangers
By joe
April 12, 2007 12:43 PM | Link to this
UNLEASH THE FURY
By short flight
April 12, 2007 12:45 PM | Link to this
Unleash The Fury!
Don’t Forget: Potvin Beats His Wife. Potvin Beats His Wife. Potvin Beats His Wife.
By GaTech Faithful
April 12, 2007 12:48 PM | Link to this
UNLEASH THE FURY! PLAYOFF HOCKEY COMES BACK TO ATLANTA 2NIGHT!! STAND UP AND SHOW YOUR APPRECIATION!! Go Thrashers!
By Bob
April 12, 2007 12:57 PM | Link to this
Pump up the volume folks, all game long, loud, louder, loudest. Even if the Ranjerks score, just cheer louder.
Will you ever quit?
NO!!!
Unleash the Fury
By Rawhide
April 12, 2007 1:07 PM | Link to this
Ladies and gentlemen,….General George S. Patton:
Men, this stuff that some sources sling around about Blueland not wanting to fight, is a crock of BS. Bluelanders love to fight, traditionally. All real Bluelanders love the sting and clash of battle.
You are here today for three reasons. First, because you are here to defend Blueland and your Thrashers. Second, you are here for your own self respect, because you would not want to be anywhere else. Third, you are here because you are real men and all real men like to fight.
When you, here, every one of you, were kids, you all admired the champion marble player, the fastest runner, the toughest boxer, the big league ball players, and the All-American football players. Blueland love a winner. Blueland will not tolerate a loser. Blueland despise cowards. Blueland play to win all of the time.
I wouldn’t give a hoot in hell for a man who lost and laughed. That’s why Blueland have never lost nor will ever lose a war; for the very idea of losing is hateful to an American.
The Stanley Cup Playoffs is the most magnificent competition in which a human being can indulge. It brings out all that is best and it removes all that is base. Bluelanders pride themselves on being He Men and they ARE He Men.
Hockey is a team sport. It lives, sleeps, eats, and fights as a team. This individual heroic stuff is pure horse crap. The bilious bastards who write that kind of stuff for the Saturday Evening Post don’t know any more about real fighting under fire than they know about f#cking! We have the finest food, the finest equipment, the best spirit, and the best men in the world.
Why, by God, I actually pity those poor sons-of-b*** we’re going up against. By God, I do!
I don’t want to get any messages saying, ‘I am holding my position.’ We are not holding a G******* thing. Let the Rangers do that. We are advancing constantly and we are not interested in holding onto anything, except the enemy’s balls. We are going to twist his balls and kick the living crap out of him all of the time.
Our basic plan of operation is to advance and to keep on advancing regardless of whether we have to go over, under, or through the enemy. We are going to go through him like crap through a goose!
You may be thankful that twenty years from now when you are sitting by the fireplace with your grandson on your knee and he asks you what you did during the first ever Stanley Cup run in Thrasher’s history, you WON’T have to cough, shift him to the other knee and say, ‘Well, your Granddaddy shoveled crap in Madison Square Gardens.’ No, Sir, you can look him straight in the eye and say, ‘Son, your Granddaddy rode with the Great Band of Brothers of Blueland!’
That is all.
By Brendan
April 12, 2007 1:16 PM | Link to this
Unleash the Fury! This OUR house.
By Brendan
April 12, 2007 1:22 PM | Link to this
Rawhide, and when you look over at the fan sitting next to you, his face now covered in goo, (hurled by a Ranger fan,) you’ll know what to do!
By God, I actually feel sorry for those Rangers fans for what we’re gonna put them through tonight. No Thrasher fan ever won a war by absorbing insults for his team. He makes the other, poor dumb b*stard absorb insults for HIS team.
Now UNLEASH THE FURY!!
By short flight
April 12, 2007 1:34 PM | Link to this
Potvin Beats His Wife!
Potvin Beats His Wife!
Unleash the Fury!
By The Nameless One
April 12, 2007 1:45 PM | Link to this
Short Flight:
You really need to get your facts straight. Ranger fans hate Potvin so chanting that will not phase us one bit. Potvin was an Islander.
ATL fans congrats on making the playoffs and best of luck, but LETS GO RANGERS!
By Sisu
April 12, 2007 1:52 PM | Link to this
Hey Thrasher fans, let’s focus all this energy on the Rags!
By short flight
April 12, 2007 1:59 PM | Link to this
Nameless - you are brilliant. Thought maybe you would get “short flight” As in Short Flight from NYC. Wouldn’t it have been fun being “insulted” with Potvin Beats his wife? All you have done proven that there will be 1 dumb Ranger fan in the Building tonight.
By brett weir
April 12, 2007 2:02 PM | Link to this
why would ranger fans hate “potvin beats his wife”? first off we chant “beat your wife potvin beat your wife” secondly it will only make us happy. since i see you dont know hockey history you should read this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NationalHockeyLeaguerivalries#Islanders-RangersRivalry
its a reference to a former NY islander defensemen who us ranger fans hate…..
By sol rosenberg
April 12, 2007 2:04 PM | Link to this
denis potvin was an islander. ranger fans chant about him beating his wife….
get your facts straight
By short flight
April 12, 2007 2:08 PM | Link to this
Oh thanks, I thought he was a lifelong Ranger? Thanks for the Wikipedia reference to affirm who he was. I hear the CIA has openings. You would be a natural.
By Lauren
April 12, 2007 2:10 PM | Link to this
I still don’t see how “Potvin beats his wife” is an insult to us…
Go True Blue Rangers!
By frank rizzo
April 12, 2007 2:12 PM | Link to this
hey short bus!!!
you are making ATL hockey fans look like idiots. why would “potvin beats his wife” bother ranger fans?? he was the enemey of the rangers. oh and its beat your wife potvin beat your wife…..we chant it every home game. you guys are more then welcome to chant it. the more people that hate potvin the better!!!
By Marian Hossa
April 12, 2007 2:16 PM | Link to this
we dont stand a chance tonight im sorry. im conceeding defeat now. i apologize to our fans in advance. our fans are so dumb they dont know who denis potvin is…… and just like the Braves we arent going to sellout one playoff game.
By short flight
April 12, 2007 2:19 PM | Link to this
Even if I was wrong and Thought Potvin was a Ranger - Why would you correct me when I am convincing this board to use a Ranger cheer? Again, Cheers and nice work. If you are reading this I even gave a clue earlier with Hartford. Oh well. I will come up with another clever idea.
By short flight
April 12, 2007 2:20 PM | Link to this
To prove my point - The insult began when he ruined Anders Hedberg’s career with a cheap shot.
By Have class and brains
April 12, 2007 2:20 PM | Link to this
You Thrasher fans sound demented; I guess that’s what happens when your mother is married to her brother and you’re the progeny.
Ugh…..
By shortflight
April 12, 2007 2:22 PM | Link to this
Hossa - You have seen more posts before. I am the reviled WH
By brett weir
April 12, 2007 2:29 PM | Link to this
the hit was on ulf nilsson. try again short bus.
By EJ
April 12, 2007 2:32 PM | Link to this
Potvin Beats His Wife! Thrashers will beat the rangers. GO THRASHERS.
By Ilya Kovalchuk
April 12, 2007 2:33 PM | Link to this
i cant wait to become a free agent. all these smelly white trash hicks in this town make me sick!! 2 weeks ago it was bring your pig to the arena night. most people just brought their wives/sisters.vvthey didnt get that they were allowed to bring their real pigs.
By short flight
April 12, 2007 2:35 PM | Link to this
B Weir - Sorry after 30 years I mistook which of the dually acquired swedes it was.
I’m short bus - yet you are to stupid to see subterfuge when it happens OR You find it necessary to correct something that would have been enjoyed by all Ranger Fans at tonight’s game even if I h I thought Potvin was a Ranger? Right on. Off to Phillips
By EJ
April 12, 2007 2:36 PM | Link to this
im a moron i thought potvin was a ranger too! i dont know hockey lol!
By Bob
April 12, 2007 2:47 PM | Link to this
4 hours and 15 minutes until the beatdown of the New York Rump Rangers begins.
Sure, we want to win. We want this war over with. The quickest way to get it over with is to go get the bastard Rangers who started it. The quicker they are whipped, the quicker we can go on to the next round. The shortest way home is through New York and New Jersey. And when we get to Buffalo, I am personally going to shoot that paper hanging son-of-a-b*** Briere. Just like I’d shoot a snake!
General Marian S. Hossa circa 2:45 EST 4/12/07
Unleash the Fury
By Bob
April 12, 2007 2:50 PM | Link to this
Pump up the volume folks, all game long, loud, louder, loudest Even if the Ranjerks score, just cheer louder.
Will you ever quit?
NO!!!
Unleash the Fury!
By brett weir
April 12, 2007 2:50 PM | Link to this
it wasnt subterfuge…you genuinly didnt know. dont try to hide behind your wit because real hockey fans can see through your lack of knowledge. you, like all other southern fans are novices. the only chance you have at learning the game is when us new yorkers invade your arena and teach you about hockey. i like how they have to announce to the crowd that a play is offsides! hahaha
By Don Waddell
April 12, 2007 2:51 PM | Link to this
What is the matter with you yokels? I stopped by to read Schultzie’s post, and what do I see? Ill-informed messages and infighting. Just wonderful.
My executives, coaches and I finally manage to put together a playoff-bound team, and you dopes clearly can’t appreciate - and don’t deserve - these guys play. Just stay home, all of you. You make me sick.
By Rawhide
April 12, 2007 2:56 PM | Link to this
There you go, BOB,…now your getting it!!!
GO THRASHERS - CRUSH THE RUMP-RANGERS!!
By red light
April 12, 2007 2:58 PM | Link to this
4 hours and 15 minutes until the beatdown of the Atlanta White Trashers begins.
“No one there can shut me down. I will run over them better then i do at the craps tables in atlantic city”
-Il Duche, Jaromir Jagr
“Im going to run lehtonen because i can and they cant do anything about it” -PFC Sean Avery
By Unleash this!
April 12, 2007 3:02 PM | Link to this
what a stupidly hyped phrase “unleash the fury” what a joke!!! your team couldnt come up with a better catch phrase? had to copy tom green from road trip? what does that even mean anyway?? “unleash the fury” lol lol lol!!!! i mean it sounds vikingish? shouldnt your phrase be “unleash the white trash”?
By EJ
April 12, 2007 3:05 PM | Link to this
You are a moron EJ post at 2:36pm. I am the real EJ. I don’t care who Potvin play or played for or if he beat his wife. Thrashers will beat rangers. GO THRASHERS.
By ATO
April 12, 2007 3:09 PM | Link to this
To all you people who think hockey fans are harming your children with their crassness:
Take em to church instead. Them hearing a dirty word coming out of my mouth is not going to do near the damage that being raised by a kneejerk pud will do.
I dont care about your kids. I care about the Thrashers. I care about home ice advantage. I care about banging on the glass and talking bad about Sean Avery’s mother. I care about getting ridiculously drunk letting the New York Rangers know EXACTLY how much they suck. I care about screaming at the refs and the opposing team until I get hauled off on a gurney or in a straitjacket, whichever one comes first.
Stay home and keep your stupid kids there with you. Nobody forced you to have them. People like you bore the crap out of everyone anyway.
GO THRASHERS!!!
By shortflight
April 12, 2007 3:14 PM | Link to this
B Weir - You’re a bridge and tunnel wannabe, probably from New Rochelle. Your knowledge of NYC comes from your 6th grade field trip to the Statue of Liberty and the 3 beers you had at McSorleys one night. Wear your pinky ring and horn tonight to prove your from the outerbouroughs and beyond. Unfortunately noone will see them in your living room (somewhere in the outer reaches of Cumming) because your sorry a* can’t even get tickets to game thats not sold out much less a Ranger home game. You DB.
By Mike
April 12, 2007 3:14 PM | Link to this
Will Jeff have the courage to address his attack on the Duke women’s lacrosse team:
“I wasn’t in the room. I don’t know what happened any more than you do, any more than the Duke women’s lacrosse team does. But unless they’re in possession of some secret video tape, the Duke women shouldn’t proclaim it’s going to write, “Innocent!” on its wristbands for an NCAA tournament game any more than I should write a story about rape allegations with a headline that screams, “Guilty!”
I wasn’t there. You weren’t there. They weren’t there.
If you missed it, the Duke women’s lacrosse players stretched the bounds of free speech past the stupidity dividing line. They said they would wear sweatbands with the word, “innocent,” on their arms and legs for Friday night’s national semifinal against Northwestern. It would be a show of support for the men’s lacrosse team, specifically the three players who have been indicted for rape.”
http://www.ajc.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/ajc/sportscolumns/entries/2006/05/26/dukewomenshow.html
By Bob
April 12, 2007 3:22 PM | Link to this
That’s it folks, I’m out. Headed to the game, just remember, loud, louder, loudest
Unleash the Fury
The troops will reconvene here tomorrow at 0800 to review our success and plan for the next battle on Saturday.
By Tom
April 12, 2007 3:36 PM | Link to this
Rangers in 5.
GO SABRES!!
The Sabres WILL drink from the Stanley Cup this year.
By sodapants
April 12, 2007 4:08 PM | Link to this
The big error in this article is that Jeff uses the word “we.”
You aint part of “we”, Jeff.
By Thrashers Fans are jokes
April 12, 2007 4:36 PM | Link to this
Population of metro ATL roughly 5,000,000. Amount of Thrashers fans that attend a game on any given night 10-12 thousand. .2% of Atlanta cares about the Thrashers, this is not a hockey city, never will be. Biggest joke of a hockey fans, even if they go deep into the playoffs this city won’t care.
By tim
April 12, 2007 6:33 PM | Link to this
If you take any big city and divide it by the number of people at the local teams hockey game it will be low. For example, if you take the number of people in new york about 5-10 million and divide it by the 1 a*******hole posting above it equals the dumbest statistic ever invented. GO THRASHERS
By brett weir
April 12, 2007 6:43 PM | Link to this
short flight: bridge and tunnel wannabe. thats funny. i work and live in manhattan. ill be at MSG for the sold out game 1 at MSG. and mcsorleys is local pal, you damn tourists just ruin it. have fun in ratlanta. they are showing the arena on TV now……. not even half sold out, sad….. oh and go kill yourself f*. white trash loser.
By mike scott
April 12, 2007 9:36 PM | Link to this
1 down 3 to go. completley out classed the entire game. you losers were lucky to get 3 fluky goals.
By shortflight
April 12, 2007 10:24 PM | Link to this
B Weir - I’m sure I’ll see you in the Garden for game 3. You live in Manhattan like I have 3 arms
Your yet another overmatched troglodyte. The closest you have come to hearing the garden crowd chant “beat your wife Potvin beat your wife” - Is your sister finishing you off to the sound of Beat your D* B Weir Beat your D*!
By shortflight
April 12, 2007 10:31 PM | Link to this
1-0 Rangers - I couldn’t wait till 8am - Rangers took early 1-0 lead and never looked back. Make sure you don’t forget that Home Ice is gone and you are staring at anf 0-2 Disaster.
Please Include pertinent info like “NY sucks” and “you are a F*”
Sit, Spin and Discuss. Oh yeah “unleash the fury”
PS - B Weir - Lets hook up at the Garden so I can beat you like you beat your D* “Mcsorleys is in Manhattan and is for tourists” - You F’in Tool that was part of the insult to your waste of DNA. I’m sure that even with rent control you couldn’t afford a closet you piece of S*
By Me
April 12, 2007 10:33 PM | Link to this
What ever happened to conducting yourself with class no matter the situation? Go Thrashers.
By shortflight
April 12, 2007 10:35 PM | Link to this
B Weir - Lets hook up in NYC. I hate to break a moral code and beat a girl - but I can make an exception for a piece of trash like you. Pick a time. Lets do it in front of the Penn Office buildings across from the garden. I look forward to giving a grown man/girl a wedgie in front of 20,000 + people
By short flight
April 12, 2007 10:41 PM | Link to this
B weir - Lets hook up at Penn Plaza so I can tear your black little heart out and feed it to you. name the time. I’ll have plenty of time prior to game 3. You are such a P* you wouldnt have the balls (or the $) to get from whatever outer hole you live in. “I live in Manhattan and I’m a big P*” If penn plaza doesnt work name your place mr. big time. You Tool.
PS. 1-0 Rangers