AJC > Sports Thrashers > Blog > Archives > 2007 > November > 25 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USWarning: Contains Un-Good Language
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
%$#@!…Just %$#@!
For three weeks or so, the Thrashers were cruising. They were scoring, performing thrilling comebacks, rising in the standings, skating hard and passing well, playing good defense. They were playing great hockey. Then…well, %$#@!
Not just %$#@!, but $%@#! too. I would say &@#&#!, but I promised my wife I’d never to use that word in the house ever again!
Now, in case your wondering, I am NOT whining. I’m cursing. There’s a difference. Whining is just annoying and obnoxious. Cursing, well you can make a point with it. Whining is “Oh, the team just stinks. Don can’t coach or run a front office”. Cursing is, “%$#@!-it”! It’s simple, to the point and concise.
Whining presents a problem, expresses doubt that it can be overcome and, more times then not, assigns blame, (normally in a high-pitched, grating voice). My cursing however stems from the premise that the team is good enough to do well but for some inexplicable reason looked like the %$#@! Disney’s Key-Stone Cops On Ice twice in a 24-hour span.
Friday night’s loss, after four straight wins, could be explained away as just that, a loss after a nice win streak. The Devils took advantage of their chances, limited ours and relied on their great goalie the few times he needed to come up big. They won, we lost, it is what it is, it happens, right?
%$#&!-NO!
Saturday’s stink bomb on the heals of the previous night’s resembled the stench of early October. Packed with half-hearted skating, lack-luster offense, poor team defense, soft goals, powerless power plays, etc.
@#$&%!!!
See, this team is good enough to go up against a goalie with a 3.47 GAA and a .891 SV% and recover from being shut out the night before. This team is too good to go 130:12 without a goal, (last score coming at 9:48 in the third Wednesday in Washington). It might not be the class of the NHL just yet, but is sure isn’t this @#$&%-ing bad. … It just isn’t that @#$&%-ing weak on defense. It’s not that @#$&%-ing soft on offense. It’s just @#$&%-ing NOT!
There, now I feel a little bit better. Now you try it…go ahead. (That is unless, of course, you didn’t spend the whole game saying it as well as other colorful metaphors). It has a certain soothing effect to it. Go on, you know you wanna. Remember, it’s not whining if you keep your voice at a low pitch and you scowl.
See there? Good.
Anyway, I have to go to church now.
I think I might just be a while.
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By Ron
November 25, 2007 8:36 AM | Link to this
They have a few days off. They’ll get it together.
By Javier
November 25, 2007 9:34 AM | Link to this
@#$&%!!! You’re @#$&%-ing right, man!!! :D
By rj
November 25, 2007 10:07 AM | Link to this
I think the Thrashers have played all star hockey the last 2 games, ie no hitting.
Just like last Jan and Feb the other teams have figured out how to neutralize the Thrashers system. The only solution is a new system.
EVERYONE has to throw punishing hits at every chance; dump and chase through the neutral zone trap; fight hard for pucks in the corners; and most importantly [ imho ] the forwards have to be given the green light to attack the puck carrier in our defensive zone.
Everytime I see a Thrasher forward just stand and watch our D-man fight a losing battle the puck carrier who is only one or two strides away I want to puke. Go knock that guy on his a$$ and our team will end up with the puck the majority of the time.
By Brendan
November 25, 2007 11:12 AM | Link to this
Being shutout five (5) times on the year is troubling. But it can’t be changed. The goal, here, is to keeping moving forward. With that in mind, the Toronto Maple Leafs are a team in disarray. Their GM singled out Raycroft, then realized what he’d done, and said he might as well be talking about the whole rest of the team. Nice save, of sorts, John Ferguson, Jr. Then, the scene shifts to Paul Maurice, who has this “I’ve think I’ve just coached my last game with the Leafs” look on his face.
With that in mind, the Thrashers got Hanloan fired. With a win over Toronto, it might just be enough to get Head Coach Paul Maurice fired. Maybe GM Ferguson, Jr., as well. I cannot recall a season where the Leafs got booed out of their own building so many times, so early in a season.
By the way, since the Coyotes claimed Bryzgalov off waivers, they’re 4-0-0, and I think they’ve reached .500. Wayne Gretzky must be smiling. He’s on the hotseat, too. Sooner or later, things have to turn around for Phoenix. “Did you know?” that the Coyotes have missed the playoffs for five of the past six seasons? You did! Well, did you know that the Phoenix/Winnipeg franchise hasn’t won a playoff series since 1987? “Pants on fire!,” you did not. Okay, who’d they beat in ‘87?
Still thinking? It was Calgary, 4-2. The last appearance in the playoffs for Phoenix was 2002, a 4-1 series loss to San Jose.
Guess how many playoff series wins Phoenix/Winnipeg has? Did you say, “one?” Well, that would have been a very good guess. But the correct answer is two. Both times, it was against Calgary (‘85 & ‘87). Since Winnipeg relocated to Phoenix, they’ve yet to win a playoff series. The Coyotes/Jets are in their 28th season.
Brendan, umm, are you trying to make us feel better about the Thrashers? “No comment.” :)
By Brendan
November 25, 2007 12:38 PM | Link to this
Okay, one last thing. True or False, the Phoenix/Winnipeg franchise has never, even won a division title?
By ranallo10
November 25, 2007 6:56 PM | Link to this
True, the Phoenix Formerly Known as The Jets is a Western Conference team that I care little about unless they’re beating the Oh-So-Mighty Ducks.
Oops, I’m sorry Brendan, I think I answered the wrong question…
I’ve been gone for a few days, and I come back to Rawhide throwing tantrums and the Thrashers losing in embarrassing fashion. But I have faith that things will go back to normal, and Pucks-N-Sage will be around soon to rub this all in.
I agree with Ron, they’ll get it together.
By Brian
November 25, 2007 8:27 PM | Link to this
I said the same thing Ron did when I was holding my head down on Sat night. 1. This will show us that DW can or cannot get the team out of a rut, which EVERY team is going to hit in an 82 game season. 2. It came at the right time, we have 4 days off to think about things and rest a bit. Let’s come out firing on all cylinders against the Leafs.
By Brendan
November 25, 2007 10:56 PM | Link to this
Bizarre, tragic news for a fan who was collecting a Nintendo Wii prize. This happened at the Dunkin Donuts Arena in Providence, RI.
By Brendan
November 25, 2007 11:21 PM | Link to this
Don Waddell ALWAYS finds a way out. Nothing ever sticks to him. That’s why he’s “the Teflon Don.” No matter how bad it might look, from time to time, I know one thing: Don finds a way out. There’s always an escape, for him. And before you know it, this two-game losing streak will simply be a “hiccup” in his tenure as Coach. Honestly, two losses isn’t something to be worked up about. Five losses? Yeah, that’s as many as 10 missed points, and basically puts us back to where we were with Hartley. That won’t happen. For starters, we’ll beat the Leafs. That franchise has taken on so much water, pretty soon someone will be spitting up a flounder.
If Sage of Blueland were here, he’d say, “The threat is real.” What he means by that, (a ‘holdover’ catch-phrase from the Curt Fraser years) is that if Atlanta beats another team, they fire their coach, as a result of it. He had a T-shirt made with the Thrashers logo, and underneath it said, “Coach killers.” On the back it read, “The Threat is real.” Then it listed all the names of the coaches who were fired after losing to the Thrashers. If he still has that shirt, he’s got to add Glen Hanlon to the list of names. Or, at least hold out ‘til we beat the Leafs, to add Paul Maurice’s name.
By Capt. Caveman
November 26, 2007 5:19 AM | Link to this
Your blog #@$%!-ing SUX!!!
By AL
November 26, 2007 9:17 AM | Link to this
Capt. Caveman is #@$%!-ing GAY!
By AL
November 26, 2007 9:18 AM | Link to this
Capt. Caveman is #@$%!-ing GAY! Go someplace where you’re wanted… like an abortion clinic. I’m sure it’s not too late!
By AL
November 26, 2007 10:20 AM | Link to this
Let’s look at the bright side for a split second. We’re only 7 points behind Crapolina AND we have a game in hand. This thing can be turned around very easily Thursday night against the Crapoleafs.
By Talon
November 26, 2007 11:10 AM | Link to this
Seems if Kovy or even Hossa are not in sync then the whole team stinks…I’m worried about the scoring depth..
By ranallo10
November 26, 2007 11:14 AM | Link to this
AL, I thought Capt. Caveman was joking…
Brian — That’s sucks, I’m curious what they did with the Wii. Poor kid and his family.
Everyone — Happy late Thanksgiving.
Manley — Keep up the good work.
By ranallo10
November 26, 2007 11:22 AM | Link to this
Hokie — Any predictions for this weekend? Part two of BC vs VT will be exciting, and I have a feeling the Hokies can actually hold the lead this time around. Let’s just hope that Ryan doesn’t get the ability to run the BC offense this time around.
By AL
November 26, 2007 12:15 PM | Link to this
ranallo10 Sorry if he was, not sorry if he wasn’t. (I couldn’t tell.) Muh bad. Just stickin’ up for the good ol’ boys (and girls).
By Thrasher Ryan
November 26, 2007 12:31 PM | Link to this
Rawhide—Lighten up, buddy. We’ll be ok. Lusty Tlusty will be in town on Thursday. I apologize for Thrashers dismal performances in last 2 games. I was out of town, could not predict for you. I am back now so all is good. True story, I picked up entire NJ/ Atlanta game on 680 AM while traveling through Northern Virginia. Sounded like Slater had easy scoring chance and could not finish the drill. What else is new??? Stupid penalties galore. This was not the Thrashers I saw kick the snot out of Crapitals on Wed night. I said Thrash win 5-3, they win 5-1. Sometimes I might give other team too much credit—I gave them 2 goals just for going back to their old 1980’s uniforms—much better than what they have had in past few years. Keep up good work, Rawhide.
By GaVaHokie
November 26, 2007 12:36 PM | Link to this
Ranallo… hard to say. The first game was in rainy conditions. I’m hoping drier conditions will help our defensive ends get around the corner a little faster. Should also allow Adibi and Vince Hall to run better… not to mention Tyrod Taylor.
By GaVaHokie
November 26, 2007 12:39 PM | Link to this
Since I was in VA last week (hockey dead zone), I missed seeing both shutout losses. So, I can’t really comment on what happened.
I do know, that when I saw the scores, I assumed Lehtonen had returned to the net and was rusty. :)
By ranallo10
November 26, 2007 12:51 PM | Link to this
Hokie — I’m just hoping the coverage improves, as they got torched in that last 3 minutes. The dryness however will help BC as well, the ground game will be improved and the passing routes will be much crisper (hard to imagine after those last 3 minutes).
VT 20 — BC 17
By Jim
November 26, 2007 1:15 PM | Link to this
We played hard against the Devils and were just outplayed by a team that can throw up a defensive shell like no one else. But the Pens game was a half hearted, mail it in effort. Hopefully the team got the message that without a supreme, team effort we are less than an average hockey team.
By Rawhide
November 26, 2007 4:12 PM | Link to this
ThrasherRyan - Thanks….feeling better now…
As so many have stated here…I, too, think the team will be OK, but boy Saturday night was frustrating. Hard to believe we went through 2 weeks of that to begin the season… I think the 4 days rest prior to Thursday’s game is just what the doctor ordered for the team.
Winning Tuesday would give the Thrashers a 8-4 month. I’ll take that anytime!
For those of you who traveled, welcome back!!!
“Lusty Tlusty”, in town, eh?…that ought to make Puckjunque smile!
By ranallo10
November 26, 2007 4:18 PM | Link to this
I believe that was a quote from Bob, if I’m not mistaken. We must give credit where it is due.
By Thrasher Ryan
November 26, 2007 4:42 PM | Link to this
Ranallo—Yeah I think it was Bob who thought of it. It’s good though. Hehe, we gotta give him hell on Thursday. So, do you think Mats Sundin still thinks the SE is soft? Sounds like he has some softies in his own locker room…
By Thrasher Ryan
November 26, 2007 4:46 PM | Link to this
Rawhide—Yeah, you can’t pick up 680 in Acworth but you can in Blacksburg, VA. Go figure…
By ranallo10
November 26, 2007 5:11 PM | Link to this
Thrasher Ryan — Nor can you get it clearly in Marietta, Roswell, etc. Obviously Virginia has more Atlanta sports fans than the Atlanta Suburbs…and I wouldn’t be surprised if that were true.
By Brendan
November 26, 2007 6:24 PM | Link to this
As the Summer closed out, we speculated about un-signed Free Agents. The Isles snatched up Joe Vasicek and Ruslan Fedotenko. Both are quietly doing very well out on the Island. Fedotenko is presently their #2 scorer. And Vasicek, I believe, it their Plus-minus leader.
Well, what do you think? Mandy, by the way, is a -3.
By Rawhide
November 26, 2007 6:28 PM | Link to this
Ranallo, ThrasherRyan - Although I think I’ve mentioned this before….I used to be able to pick it up on an FM station out of Jasper…..(93.5 I think)……although it is still listed on the Thrashers web site, I’ve had no luck this year picking it up here in these parts, (Kennesaw/Acworth)….
I listen to the post game shows on the way home….until 285…then……zap! Almost like there is a jamming device…
It’s something I hope the organ-I-zation will address soon.
By puckjunque
November 26, 2007 7:52 PM | Link to this
Rawhide For the record and to those who have not seen the picture of Tlusky, which I just so happen to have come accross and did not intentionally seek out I may add, looks like a couple frat boys goofing off on a Saturday night. It did not look like “the throws of passion.” They were outdoors and vertical, for crying out loud, nuff said! Keep it up Rawhide and you’re going to tarnish my reputation!!
By puckjunque
November 26, 2007 8:00 PM | Link to this
Rawhide And while we’re on the subject………. Hedberg WILL be in net Thurs. right???
By Rawhide
November 26, 2007 8:09 PM | Link to this
PJ - I would assume Moose starts Thursday.
As far as your “reputation” and “Lusty Tlusty”…..well, alls I’m saying is the thought of him in town was gonna make you smile…
I make no judgements….
By Matt H
November 27, 2007 11:51 AM | Link to this
All I can think of to say is, “Big game Thursday night…”
By Bill
December 2, 2007 7:35 AM | Link to this
$%*&^@!!!!The Thrashers blow the Isles out of the water, and the front page of the Sports section has COLLEGE football on it?…from some other town…WTF!
Crazy game last evening, let’s hope the momentum will continue. Ahem!