Thrashers

By fanofthrashers

March 21, 2007 3:38 PM | Link to this

Craig, do you know if Hartley’s contract is going to be renewed? It’s up after this year and I haven’t heard a thing.

By Bob

March 21, 2007 3:51 PM | Link to this

Mabye Tkachuk found the Cheetah during his days off? Sick as dog today but playing tomorrow? Sounds like a hangover. Good for him, like him all the better.

Why Boulton out and Slater in? That’s like Rawhide changing his sweater up for tomorrow night, why jinx it, they’re on a roll.

By Tom

March 21, 2007 4:01 PM | Link to this

I think it is a big mistake not getting McCarthy any work. He needs to be part of the team and his play on the ice did not warrant being benched while others have…

By Brian

March 21, 2007 4:15 PM | Link to this

Bob - you posed the question of start times by seedings on the other blog and here is my best answer posted here as well…

The playoff schedule is extremely flexible. We only know that playoffs begin on Wed 11 Apr 07. They have to wait until seedings and matchups are set because if Toronto, Ottawa & or Montreal are are in it, you can bet that their series will start on Thu so they can come back on Sat for Hockey Night in Canada.

But if you have no idea who is going to be what seed, the NHL doesn’t want to commit the #4/#5 matchup to Thu now because it might have Ottawa. Ditto for the Campbell, uh, Western Conference. And you can bet their beloved Leafs will get first priority…

By Craig Custance

March 21, 2007 4:17 PM | Link to this

fanofthrashers - They’re pretty mum on the subject, but Waddell did recently tell me that Hartley has a clause in his contract that automatically extends it based on success. Pretty soon here, we’ll be addressing that issue.

By caveman22

March 21, 2007 4:27 PM | Link to this

GO Thrashers !!

Later Schaub !!

Terence Moore SUX !!!!!!!!!!!!!

By Buzilla Baby Blues

March 21, 2007 4:28 PM | Link to this

So the next possible time that McCarthy can play is March 24th against the Penguins…that’s a month. I really think that is crap.

I do like the fact that Slater is getting in. Not that Boulton wasn’t playing well. I just think a healthy rotation would be better since John Sim seems to think we are in….

I still don’t share your relaxed state of mind or think it is a foregone conclusion that we have made the playoffs. That is a dangerous mindset.

By Brendan

March 21, 2007 4:37 PM | Link to this

This is a “sensitive” topic. But on the other blog entry, we’ve been discussing salaries and cap management. So, what the hey, I’ll just throw it out there.

Do you think that McCarthy’s not playing has anything to do with how much it will, or might, cost to re-sign him this Summer? He’s an RFA in June. Less playing time could drive down the cost of his contract. The Thrashers could argue that his role was less critical/essential. And that he should be paid less than whatever he’ll be asking for.

At $775,000, I think McCarthy is a steal. Hockey Night in Canada analyst Ron McLean said he was surprized that Philly asked for Braydon Coburn instead of Steve McCarthy in the trade for Zhitnik. McLean then went on to suggest that Hartley must not like him to be sitting him.

I don’t know what to think, honestly. I don’t know if it’s something deliberate and calculated. Or if it’s really a case of Hartley trusts DeVries and Sutton to do the job more than McCarthy. I’d be interested to hear what others think.

By Mac

March 21, 2007 4:39 PM | Link to this

Hey Craig - do you think you could link to the Dave Caruso article somewhere on the sports page? It’s definitely worth reading, but I never would have known it was there except for Ben posting it on the Blueland Blog. It’s buried in the Metro/Gwinnett section.

By LAC

March 21, 2007 4:48 PM | Link to this

I agree Brenden, sutton NEEDS to sit the rest of the season, playoffs and go away, he has COST us games since he returned.

We need a mobile defenseman who can join the play, force the play in the corners and not get LOST and OUT OF POSITION on a regular basis… sutton is just that, he is a spare wheel at best now and should go play at Gwinnett not at the Philips.

But WHY… Hartley keeps playing him is driving me NUTS… I know hockey and see mistake after mistake and a guy who is TIMID and SLOOOOW… poor passer and seems not commited to winning, but playing out the string, does Hartley/waddell NOT see this ?

We havetwo VERY tough games coming up, San Jose is a VERY TOUGH team and Pitt will be tough at their place.

Thankfully TB plays NJ/Ott thuradsy/Saturday… We will see, If we win these two GAME OVER… We lose… Lights out… Our lights!

By Matt H

March 21, 2007 4:53 PM | Link to this

CC, so I guess DeVries is okay then?

Yeah, other than “keeping it going”, I’m not getting this Steve McCarthy thing at all. Brendan mighta hit it, though.

Also, I think Boulton’s been great lately. It’s been good to see him get rewarded with more ice time. Obviously, you want everyone firing on all cylinders going into the playoffs. But Boulton’s the type of player you need to be able to just nod towards and get smart minutes from in certain key situations.

The fourth line can be just as important as the first in winning a playoff series.

By Bob

March 21, 2007 4:55 PM | Link to this

Thanks for the info, Brian. I figured they can’t set the dates until they know the matchups since they have to also check arena schedules, but I figured I’d ask as I have a trip to book and I am NOT missing any of our home playoff games.

Brendan, I can’t see them sitting McCarthy for that reason. Coach just has his favorites and he calls em like he sees them.

By Rodey

March 21, 2007 4:59 PM | Link to this

This is completely unrelated to anything you are talking about but would someone explain to the web designer that “Toyota running on 4 cylinders” has NOTHING to do with The THRASHERS!!

By bo

March 21, 2007 5:03 PM | Link to this

Atlanta has a good chance to advance far into the playoffs, and in fact, is among a half-dozen teams with a good shot at the Stanley Cup. The latest trades were very costly, but the players obtained were All-Star calibre and combined with those they already had- watch out. I’m a Buffalo fan who believes the Sabres may be a little deeper, but there is not a team in the league with as many top tier players as Atlanta. Supporting cast is solid, and coach is among the best. Atlanta still emerging as a Hockey town, but watch the excitement build in the coming weeks!

By Brian

March 21, 2007 5:03 PM | Link to this

LAC - I think there are only 1 or 2 people on this blog that don’t agree with you on Pucks n Snutton sitting the rest of the season…

By Chris

March 21, 2007 5:06 PM | Link to this

Boulton has really made the most of his ice time lately and it is unfortunate he’ll be the odd man out; however it is important for Slater to stay sharp. Down Rucchin (remember those good oled days?) and with Belanger filling a top 6 spot at even strength, Slater could be a big defensive cog in the playoffs depending on Holik’s matchup.

On McCarthy, I think it is clear that Hartley doesn’t have much appreciation for anything but the offensive part of his game. Since the top 2 pairs are cast in stone, he may feel that even 10-12 minutes of a Sutton/Mac duo is not something he wants to subject the good people of Blueland to.

By Brian

March 21, 2007 5:13 PM | Link to this

Bob - this is not proven theory, but if I were a gamblin’ man I would say we start on Wed. That would give the #4/#5 of Ottawa the Thu/Sat schedule. As well, if Tor or Mtl gets in, it will be as a #7 or a #8 which means they get the other Thu/Sat schedule. Neither of those involve a #3 or #6 which is where we most likely will be.

As well, if Ottawa is a lock for the #4/#5 series and Tor & Mtl both miss the playoffs, they might take Buffalo for the Sat night game which is the more favored night. That means we would have to be a #8 to get in that schedule.

Again, this is all theory on my part, they might do just the opposite to give the Canadien teams the Sat night matchups the following weekend if they go 7 games?

Bob - that makes me think of something else. How can we predict if the series are going to be 4, 5, 6 or 7 games? That’s a huge monkey wrench in your travel plans. Can’t you go before Wed?

By kracker

March 21, 2007 5:17 PM | Link to this

Thrashers radio said Vinnie may have an injured shoulder? Can anyone confirm either way?

By Craig Custance

March 21, 2007 5:26 PM | Link to this

Mac — Here’s a link to John’s story on Caruso. Thanks for pointing that out Mac, John did a nice job on it.

By Craig Custance

March 21, 2007 5:29 PM | Link to this

Matt H - de Vries is fine, he was cut up pretty good. I forget how many stitches he said he had, but it was a lot. But he’ll be in there against San Jose.

By Russian

March 21, 2007 5:32 PM | Link to this

I read all your Blogs. It is interesting. Now I will say something also. We have very good and strong team right now. They are going to right direction and I hope we will see Play Offs games in Atlanta. But one thing we forgot!!! Thrasher has only 88 points for today. It is absolutly not enough to get in even on 8 position. My point is it is too early to talk about Play Offs. We have to wait until our team will get at least 92 points. We remember what happend on Last year. We lost Capitals game and said Good Bye for 8 place. I am waiting to PO since 1999, but I knock on the wood and do not want to talk about PO schedule yet. Let’s wait until we get 92 points.

By kevin

March 21, 2007 5:52 PM | Link to this

Hard to argue with the results that Hartley’s been getting but Boulton has played well the last few weeks and deserves to stay in the lineup. If your going to play Slater, Vigier should sit, we have plenty of penalty killers and that’s Vigier’s main role. McCarthy should have been in for Sutton a few games ago. Again, it’s hard to argue with 8-2. We need a big win tomorrow night.

By Ryan

March 21, 2007 5:57 PM | Link to this

Great post folks, nice analysis on the playoff schedules.

Brendan I think you’re on to something with McCarthy. Could it be calculated? It is very possible, but then again, you’re right as usual, that it may be Hartley. I really don’t see what BH can see in Sutton (maybe blocking shots is something that BH thinks is needed in there) versus an all around good D-man. I just see Sutton missing his guy time and time again. I also agree that McCarthy is a steal at the going salary. It could go also be that DW and gang are trying to get as much as they can for Sutton, and keep McCarthy on the back burner for now. Any way you look at it, it’s wierd to me.

By ranallo10

March 21, 2007 6:31 PM | Link to this

Brendan — I don’t agree with your theory on McCarthy (note: I loosely say “theory” because you admitted to the idea that it is unfounded and pure speculation or “what-if” dribble). I find it hard to believe that the type of “game” that professional sports has created between agents and general managers could create such a beast. If I were an agent and my player was INVOLUNTARILY sat out of games based on style of play, not level of play, I would have plenty to bargain with. An agent would then take the body of work produced by the player when he actually was in the lineup, and project how he would’ve played throughout the season. Obviously there is a more scientific way than saying “one point per game over 20 missed games”, but I’m just giving you an example.

Think of McCarthy’s leverage in bargaining during his RFA year as when a player returns from injury. A body of work MUST be used to produce a market standard from which to find a price range for the player involved, so you need to look further back and adjust based on the variables unique to said player.

For McCarthy, the variables are playing time.

SO (I’m long winded today, I apologize), I would argue that McCarthy does not LOSE by not being played, Waddell loses because his head coach is outcasting a player who doesn’t play the preferred “style” of hockey the system mandates.

Basically, I don’t think McCarthy will be back next season, but I’d love to see him playing before the playoffs hit. I’d also LIKE to see him back next season.

By polskidawg

March 21, 2007 7:22 PM | Link to this

Insightful comments as usual from those you know and love on the board. I hate to do it, but I have to disagree with Brendan on the “At $775,000, I think McCarthy is a steal.” angle.

I think he is valued correctly at that salary – his career has been mediocre at best at CHI, VAN and ATL. His strengths are being a smooth skater with above-average offensive skills, but his positioning is lackluster and he appears to lack strength in front of the net and on the boards.

I must also agree that he has been a descent player for the Thrashers. That being the case, I would second others’ (Matt H, etc) thoughts that BH is more comfortable with Sutton, but I don’t think either will wear blue next year.

By Rawhide

March 21, 2007 9:43 PM | Link to this

BOB - “Why Boulton out and Slater in? That’s like Rawhide changing his sweater up for tomorrow night, why jinx it, they’re on a roll”.

**WHATZA MATTER WITH YA??? YOU CRAZY OR SUMPTHIN’???$$

God-almight, the jersey is hanging in the other room, for crying out loud,….don’t be saying these things,….you wanna give it a complex???

JEEZE!!! You give me the schplikiz, boy!

By Brendan

March 21, 2007 10:35 PM | Link to this

I wish I could say that I understood Bob Hartley’s “plan” for defensemen. I don’t. Do you? If so, please explain it to me. In my mind, if McCarthy were playing, he’d be producing with points and contributing well on our power play. When Atlanta started the year, it was McCarthy quarterbacking the PP unit, and it was doing very well. (Think October. Not Christmas time.) But there must be something about McCarthy’s game Hartley doesn’t like. Polskidawg points out a few of McCarthy’s flaws.

I praised Waddell for the $775,000 price tag on McCarthy. I haven’t done the studies and analysis of blueliners making this amount. But if said d-men are putting up better numbers than McCarthy for points-per-game, and minutes played-per-game on average, home and on the road, then I need to issue a retraction. My gut feeling is … that other GM’s around the league might have paid McCarthy $900K or higher. There’s bound to be a few who might have topped the million dollar mark. Not necessarily “prudently.”

If defensemen making LESS than $775K are doing better than McCarthy, en masse, then I suppose I have erred in my assessment. Which again, wasn’t formed in any scientific approach. I based it on how he came on down the stretch last year, with something like seven goals and 12 points. LEt’s put it this way, he was a good trade deadline pickup last season.

I also know this. He cannot help this team from the press box. I’m sure Hartley has his reasons for benching him. But it’s been nearly a month since he’s played. I hope McCarthy gets some ice time before the playoffs start.

By Brendan

March 21, 2007 10:48 PM | Link to this

I want to add that I do hope McCarthy is back next season. He is still young, fast and improving. Blueliners with offensive skills are still very much desired in the NHL. I’m not saying McCarthy is flawless here. He’s got weaknesses, too. I don’t anticipate McCarthy’s cost next season to be prohibitive to his potential re-signing.

Andy Sutton, I would think, will be priced out of Atlanta’s budget. If he’s back next season, I will be very surprised.

By Tim

March 21, 2007 10:58 PM | Link to this

Defence have been a weakness for the Thrashers this season (pre-trade deadline). Now that everyone is clicking together and we not actually lose by a large margin in those 2 loses, I think that’s why BH don;t want to change something and affect the chemistry. So unless we lose by a large margin and where one dmen can be pinpointed for that loses, I doubt we gonna see McCarthy anytime soon.

By thrashersfan

March 21, 2007 11:36 PM | Link to this

McCarthy has been one of our best defensemen since he came here. I would love to hear Hartley’s reasons for sitting him.

Now about all of this playoff talk, or more specifically, matchups. I don’t like it. Maybe it’s stupidsticious of me, but I don’t like it, even if the players are talking about it. Speaking of that , I don’t like that either!

Yea, we’re close, 8 pts from being “out”, but as I’ve said in previous posts, we ain’t in yet. Let the season play itself out and let’s not worry about who the matchups might be. Let’s just make the damn playoffs, “for the first time ever”, perhaps clinch the division, have a quick little celebration, then get serious and discuss matchups.

The only thing I like right now is the fact that this team is 8-2 in it’s last 10 and the confidence the have and should have. Oh, and I love Rawhide’s jersey/sweater rotation too. Keep it going!

BTW, any of you season ticket holders who re-upped or bought playoff tickets look at your acct online lately? Talk about worrisome superstition, they’ve already posted the four “finals” game tickets!

By Hanson Brothers

March 21, 2007 11:38 PM | Link to this

Anyone check out the playoff matchups if things ended where they are now. Buffalo-Montreal, Atlanta- Tampa, New Jersey - Rangers. Wow, you could not ask for better matchups from a geographic rivalry standpoint. And the other series Ottawa-Pittsburgh would be awesome. I would be very happy to see things stay right where they are.

By ranallo10

March 22, 2007 12:48 AM | Link to this

Watch Colton Orr demolish Todd Fedoruk

Maybe we should give more credit to Boulton for staying in the fight against Orr (on Friday).

McCarthy is not physically imposing, Sutton is. I personally believe that is why Hartley relies on Sutton/de Vries through thick and thin.

McCarthy seems to have defensive lapses just like everyone else on our team, and his biggest asset is his offensive skill. He’s fast with the puck, has the ability to start a rush from behind our net, and can put a shot in from anywhere inside the blue line. However, he gets beaten on the boards, does not seem to get big in the passing lanes (meaning blocking passes, clogging up the shooting lanes, etc), and just doesn’t seem strong enough to hold his own against a power forward.

I like McCarthy, and would rather see him play than some of the slower and less offensive d-men on the roster, but I don’t think Hartley agrees.

And Tim, I think most people would point out the Philadelphia game as the most recent evidence for why McCarthy should be replacing somebody on the active roster (Sutton).

By Tony C.

March 22, 2007 4:51 AM | Link to this

Here’s my $0.02 on the McCarthy deal-While he is a smooth skater with a good shot and abov-average O-ffensive instincts, how many times have you seen somebody get “jacked up” by McCarthy? Hnidy has shown some flashes of ability in the O-ffensive zone, and yes, we’ve seen him clear the crease, DeVo, has had some hits on occasion. Certainly once Sutton does lower the boom the other guy feels it…I can understand why Coach goes with Hnidy over McCarthy in this portion of the season, the last thing we need is fr other teams to get the impression that they will not be hit hard in the corners….that being said, I would think that you play McCarthy at least once before the “second season” so as to make sure there is some familiarity with real-game speed.

Ugh-on a sidenote is anyone else getting wracked with the pollen???

LET’S GO BLUE !!!

By Tony C.

March 22, 2007 5:15 AM | Link to this

Also what’s your all time favorite Thrashers fight???

By Thrashers27

March 22, 2007 7:04 AM | Link to this

Best Thrashers fight ever was against Edmonton with Aubin pounding on Mike Bishai who somehow ended up in the Thrashers bench and Pasi squaring off with Ty Conklin.

GET TWO, BLUE!!!

By danlmac

March 22, 2007 7:08 AM | Link to this

I have two favorite fights. Think way back to Exelby’s first or second game. He laid a hard check on a Montreal star and their enforcer came calling. X, I’m told (I was listening on the radio), put the guy’s lights out with one well placed punch. Not a bad way to introduce yourself to the NHL.

The other has to be Montreal on March 8th with Tachuk stepping in as our enforcer. An earlier blogger put it best..”it was then that Atlanta became a true cup contender.” Almost brings tears to my eyes. :)

The Edmonton fight has to be up there as well.

By Andrew

March 22, 2007 7:27 AM | Link to this

danlmac, that fight was against Gordie Dwyer. It was most definitely a KO and a cool way for X to start his career.

By Joey

March 22, 2007 7:43 AM | Link to this

Best fight? How about funniest fight? Remember Kovy’s rookie season when he fought Mike Comrie when he was with the Oilers? That had to be the funniest fight I’ve ever seen. Neither of them had a clue as to what they were really doing, but Kovy ended up with the takedown.

By Bob

March 22, 2007 9:16 AM | Link to this

You give me the schplikiz, boy!

lol

Best fight had to be Odgers jackin a rookie Fedoruk up with about 389 left/right/left/rights to the head in 60 seconds.

any of you season ticket holders who re-upped or bought playoff tickets look at your acct online lately? Talk about worrisome superstition, they’ve already posted the four “finals” game tickets!

last time I looked those were the only ones on there too, weird.

By Andrew

March 22, 2007 9:54 AM | Link to this

for those wishing to see Kovy and Comrie ice dance, the fight can be found at broadstreetbully.com or on youtube. classic stuff!

By Brian

March 22, 2007 9:58 AM | Link to this

Bob - I am not a season ticket holder but I do get the packages so I had some of the priveleges to get my tix in advance. I am curious though, (as a season ticket holder) did you buy the whole “strip” or just 1 round at a time?

By Bob

March 22, 2007 10:10 AM | Link to this

The deal was you get all games if you re-upped for next year, but they don’t bill you until after the playoffs are over.

By ranallo10

March 22, 2007 10:43 AM | Link to this

Brian — my tickets was a reservation of the “strip” (two seats, all the way through the playoffs), but I only had to pay the first two rounds immediately. Any left over money (if 8 games aren’t played) is pushed to the following rounds, or towards the deposit for season tickets (first time season ticket purchase will be next year, had previously been doing the 6 game package and freelancing the other 20 odd games).

By ranallo10

March 22, 2007 11:08 AM | Link to this

Me fail English? That’s unpossible.

By Brian

March 22, 2007 11:20 AM | Link to this

Bob & Ranollo - thanks for the info. I was offered the strip too but I didn’t get it for the whole 4 rounds. I just do the 10 game packs during the season and I also freelance to other games as you say. I was lucky because I still was able to secure tix before they went on sale to the public. Now that we are a playoff caliber team you can definitely see the advantage of being a season ticket holder. Plus as the fever catches on it won’t be so easy to get tix in the future. I am thinking of splitting seats with a friend of mine next year but he is holding out on me right now.

By ranallo10

March 22, 2007 11:43 AM | Link to this

Cheap friends definitely ruin the longer packages. I’d say stick to the freelance, start a good rapport with a ticket agent, and purchase individual tickets for regular season games you don’t have in your 4-12 game plan.

By Tony C.

March 22, 2007 12:50 PM | Link to this

Yes! I couldn’t remember who X fought in his first fight Dwyer….good work there! That one is my particuar favorite, because (whether purposefully b/c he was a rookie or not) X took like 2-3 punches from Dwyer, then laid him out in one shot (I believe it was with the left)! It was at that point I became a fan of the X-Man…I figured “hey he showed respect, and he cleaned house-hopefully we got more of these guys in the minors”..still waiting on the second part of that, but his improvement over the seasons has been pleasent to watch.

Also, after that Fedoruk K.O. I think you have to definitely give Boults a lot more credit for hanging tough with Orr.

ranallo is on-point about cheap/slow-moving friends ruining longer packs. The people @ empire take care of regular customers from what I hear. I dunno-if you sign up for the email newsletter you basically get “2nd dibs” after season ticket holders but before general public.

LET’S GO BLUE !!!

By Rawhide

March 22, 2007 12:51 PM | Link to this

OK, here is me venting just a bit….

We have a HUGE game coming up tonight. Great team coming in to play the SE division LEADING Thrashers. If all goes well, a win plus a TB loss puts us at 6 point up with 7 games left to play.

But what do we see on the front of the ajc.com sports page?

Some Schmo flapping his yam trying out to be the Turner Field announcer for the Braves. Sheeze!

Ya know,…much of the hype with the Braves of ‘91, (remember that)??,…..was waking up and reading about ‘em in the daily fish wrapper.

The only team this town has that’s a winner RIGHT NOW is the Thrashers. So,…guys,…..wanna get on board here????

Don’t even GET me started on 680’s pathetic coverage. 10 minutes here, maybe 15 minutes there????

Oh,…and I thought I was gonna hurl driving home last night withh all this Matt Schaub trade thing. Godalmighty!!!

OK,..we get it! White people wanted Schaub to start, black wanted him outa town on a rail! JEEZUS! - Can we all just get along!

Alright, I’m in a particularly vile mood! But, I’m ready to go down to Da-Big Screen and take it out on the Sharks!!!

Who wants to tag along and join me?????

By Tony C.

March 22, 2007 1:09 PM | Link to this

Rawhide-you bringing the tax exemptions?

By JayBird

March 22, 2007 1:13 PM | Link to this

Rawhide, you are exactly right, the newspaper coverage here is a joke. The lame a$$ Hawks get front page coverage while the Thrashers are stuck on page 5. I know Atlanta is a ghetto for the most part but damn, give at least equal coverage. What this town needs is another major newspaper. Look at every other major city in this country and there are at least 2 big newspapers. The AJC is king here and can do whatever they want, unfortunately. If they had some competition, maybe coverage would improve. Of course this isn’t an indictment on Craig because he does a very good job.

By Tony C.

March 22, 2007 1:28 PM | Link to this

Ok upon further video review, I remembered it wrong, except that X is left-handed

Also, here’s Odgers vs. Fedoruk Fights

to borrow from Iceman: Good talk, Rusty

By stevo

March 22, 2007 1:35 PM | Link to this

Jaybird and Rawhide I agree completely. The Hawks are a bust every year but get so much coverage. Meanwhile they cannot even give away tickets to the Hawks game. They don’t even have a headline column for the Thrash on the Sports section on this site. Can we get some real sports writers to work for us or at least someone who knows all 4 sports teams in ATL. Don’t get me wrong I love the 4 teams here in Atlanta but this is something BIG were working on here and the AJC is not even willing to acknowledge the Thrahers success the way they should. Were working on 3 strait sellouts and a front page spot will help but like Rawhide said…..some stupid contest or tryout for the Braves announcer takes the spot. Shame on the AJC execs for allowing our winning team to fall through the cracks. Lets take the Sharks out tonight and make it 8 strait in Blue Land! Maybe that will get us the headlines we deserve.

By Rawhide

March 22, 2007 1:42 PM | Link to this

Tony,….Tax exemptions will be in tow, both boys.

JAYBIRD….I too would echo the work CC does here. I like Ice man, too. I hope no one took that last rant as a negetive to them.

I can see it now, though,…sometime 3 month from now,…the ajc sports page headlines “BRAVES BLOW 9TH INNING LEAD - LOSE 9-6” with a picture of Chipper tossing his batting helmet,…..Just underneath will be some update on the rap at Patrick Kirney’s house,…..next page some stories about Matt Schaubb fitting in well with the Texas - good ‘ol boys in Houston,……..page three will be devoted to some NASCAR fluff peice, (it’s ok to read what the drivers say,….it’s trying to LISTEN to ‘em that is so GD annoying),….and then, page 4 or so,…somewhere in the middle of the page, “Thrashers Defeat Calgary 4-2: Win Stanley Cup in Seven Games”…..

Now, ask yourself,…are ya chuckling because that was funny,…or because it wouldn’t surprise you????

By Let's Hunt Some Sharks Tonight

March 22, 2007 2:01 PM | Link to this

This is a huge game tonight. We gotta win. 90 Points, 40 Wins, 8 Straight At BLUELAND… Come on boys, get ‘er done! Hey CC, what’s the latest on Rucchin? Will we see him at all the rest of the season? I’m sayin 4-3 Thrashers in overtime.

By Brian

March 22, 2007 2:03 PM | Link to this

Rawhide - you forgot to add the headline about the 2nd string punter going back on his letter of intent to play at UGA…

Ranollo - thanks for the advice about friends ruining longer running packages.

Tony C. - thanks too for the advice about friends ruining longer running packages. Tell me more about Empire though, could you? I have never used them. What are the advantages versus just going to Ticketmaster?

Both you guys are right though about friends not being of the same mindset as you and having to work with them. This blog isn’t big enough to tell you about 2 experiences I had this year with a friend I went to games with. Thanks for pointing that out.

By Bob

March 22, 2007 2:07 PM | Link to this

Rawhide, the AJC on my driveway this a.m. had Craig’s story on page 1, slightly above the fold, on the left hand side. It wasn’t the lead story, but I was pleasantly suprised to find it on Page 1, above the fold.

The Sharks played last night, the Hawks played them tough into the 3rd, so here’s hoping they’re a little worn out having to fly east after the game.

Boltz are hosting the Devils tonight and the Devils have been struggling, but they are trying to hold off the Pens for their Division lead, so they’re properly motivated. Could be another big swing night tonight.

By Tony C.

March 22, 2007 2:36 PM | Link to this

Brian Empire is basically a legal scalper-I think they call it “ticket broker” but they have large blocks of tickets to shows/sports events/arts events/etc.

I used to know a friend of a friend who’s roommate worked there (how’s that for convoluted), basically would always make sure to take care of this person because chances are they would have tickets (and good ones!) to whatever you were trying to catch. Ex: Sold out concert-hey call and see if they have tickets..they do? and they’re front row? and it’s 10-15% more than face value? Hell yeah, we’ll take 4!

Anyway, I just found that thy offered similar deals to the multi-game packs withut that weekend/weekday only crap, as well as more flexibility on seat location (like say get the good seats to see Sid & Co. but middle-of-the road for FL Panthers). I was given the impression that becuse you deal with a particular person, you can build a rapport where they may get to know your “style” so to speak and maybe turn you onto shows etc. Definitely though if the seats you want are sold out they (Empire) probably has sme seats in the same section.

They do charge 10% or more over face value for sld-out/high demand events. I just mentioned them because they offer a lot of flexibility and also some cool packages, like they did a home-and-home deal (including airfare & hotel) with the Penguins in December last year I believe - anyway it’s an option.

Rawhide The Jersey is in effect?

By Brian

March 22, 2007 3:49 PM | Link to this

Tony C. - thanks man, that is nice to know. Personally, I don’t think 10% is that much high if it is ONLY the sold out events. A $50 ticket for $55? Or a $100 ticket for $110? That’s not much more when you think about it. And I hate dealing with scalpers, this seems like it takes a lot of the street hassling out of it. This was the first year in forever that I bought from scalpers. I never even thought of doing away games like that but that sounds nice too.

The only thing I question is how badly do you need a ticket broker in a city like Atlanta? This is not a pro-sports town (read what all our previous blogs say about that). Great story, a friend from work, he was in the Chicago office, he flew down for an “office visit” when the Cubs where back in the playoffs and the 1st round was against the Braves (this was the Bartman year). Don’t even think about going to Wrigley so he came down here. Gotta love the Chicago fans. He paid about $500 for the tix from a Chicago broker. I didn’t know he had tix yet so I just went online and got the same tix for $80. Unfortunately he already bought them, I didn’t have the heart to tell him I could’ve gotten the exact sames ones at $80.

By the way, funny comment you made about Rawhide, I just posted something on the current blog about that.