AJC > Sports Thrashers > Blog > Archives > 2008 > September > 12
Friday, September 12, 2008
If I May Say This About That
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Indulge me, please, as I say this about…
About Waddell On A Short Leash
In this recent article, Allan Muir of SI.com reviews the changes in the Southeast Division. Regarding the Thrashers, he seems to conclude that Don Waddell is on a short leash.
Sure, logic would dictate that someone who has been the sole general manager of a franchise that over 8 seasons has made the playoffs but one time…has yet to win a playoff game…has had to fire two coaches that he has hired…who just last season watched five years of measurable progress wipe away…who watched prolific scorer Marian Hossa refuse to re-sign because he was convinced the team was not heading in the right direction…who was unable to lure in the talent of Brian Campbell even though he offered more money than the team which did sign him…who’s franchise that was built primarily on his decisions was pretty much b-slapped by Dan Boyle when he capitulated and waived the No Trade Clause of his contract for fear he could be waived and picked up by that team…yes, logic would dictate that such a GM would indeed be on a short leash.
However, logic and Thrashers’ ownership, at least in regards to hockey, do not always dance cheek to cheek. The only real logic that applies here states that if there hasn’t been a move made regarding the Thrashers general manager position after a decade’s worth of “success” experienced by this organ-I-zation capped off by last season’s “steps in the right direction”…surely a slow start out of the gate next month will not be what it takes to get ownership to consider that maybe…just maybe…something needs to be addressed regarding the one main aspect of the team that has remained consistent throughout the decade-long existence of the franchise.
Besides, the Atlanta Spirit, L.L.C. seemingly have a self-imposed limit of one GM firing every three years…and they used that up last spring on Billy Knight after his Hawks team actually won 3 playoff games against the eventual NBA champions.
So, regardless of what type of start the Thrashers get off to, Waddell…for better or worse… is on no shorter leash then he was last spring. In fact, I’m not convinced he is on any leash at all.
About Hockey Moms In The Spotlight
Unless you’ve been living in a cave on a remote island somewhere in the South Pacific Ocean, you know that Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin could become the first female Vice-President of the United States. If successful, she would shatter the second highest glass ceiling in our society.
Regardless of your feeling toward Palin, your political bent or interest in the subject at all, I think you’ll agree that one positives here is the fact that some well-deserved light is being shone upon the fantastic hockey moms out there…given that she is one herself.
Maybe your mother falls into this category…maybe you know one personally…maybe you are a one yourself.
Me? I’m married to one.
The moms that I know from the rink are wonderful people. When they speak of the schedule they keep, it’s not done so with slumping shoulders or “pity me” attitudes. Quite the opposite, in fact. Their faces light up as they happily discuss their children and the game that they love. These moms are among the most organized, bright, energetic, lovely ladies that can be found. They get their tax-exemptions to the rink for practice and games throughout the season, keeping them well fed and making sure their grades are maintained in school.
The best example of why I hold these people in such high regard is the fine sons and daughters that I have observed over the years. They are receiving the greatest benefit from their hockey moms by way they are being raised. I’ve almost always been greeted with “Good morning, sir” in the locker room hallways from the kids who played with my boys and the team we were opposing that day…they are great kids, indeed. Hockey moms, (and dads for that matter), are among those who perform the most important job I know of…raising our society’s future. And the quality of their work is on display both on the ice and off.
Regardless of what happens this November, enjoy your time in the spotlight, hockey moms…no one deserves it more than you do.
About A 57 Save Performance Lost
By now, you’ve all probably heard of the Bulgarian Women’s hockey team that was outscored by a total of 192-1 in four games during their 2010 Winter Olympic qualifying matches played recently.
In case you’re wondering…no, they didn’t qualify.
The Bulgarian women’s team lost by scores of 41-0 to Italy, 39-0 to Latvia, 82-0 to Slovakia and, in their lone “nail-biter” game, 30-1 to Croatia, (and how much grief do you think the Croatian keeper is getting)?
There is no word yet whether the Bulgarian team’s general manager will be holding a town hall meeting to promise the fans that a top-line center and two quality defenders are on the top of his to-do list during their offseason.
Now, I know this performance has originated a good deal of jokes and jeers directed at these young ladies. But let’s be honest with each other…it takes a great deal of intestinal fortitude and character to continue lacing up the skates and going out on the ice to compete given the fact that there was little-to-no chance that they even had a prayer.
Lost in the 82-0 defeat… the 57 save performance by goalie Liubomira Shosheva. Of course, she faced 134 shots in 54 minutes of play, but compare that with her backup who played the last few minutes and allowed five goals on… well… five shots during a span of a minute and twenty-five seconds.
I guess after that, Slovakia decided to pull back the attack comfortable in the notion that their defense just might be able to hold an 82-goal lead with about 90 seconds left on the clock.
So, even though it would probably come as little…if any…consolation to the Bulgarian ladies, I think there at least should be a tip of the hat given to Shosheva’s performance in the face of such an onslaught and to rest of her teammates who seem to play this game simply because they love it and for the pride of being able to represent their country.
Some might say that can be the only explanation for why they were out there…but maybe that’s reason enough.
