AJC > Sports Thrashers > Blog > Archives > 2008 > November > 16 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.US“The Streak”…shhh, Whisper When You Say It
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Before we even get started… let me just say that I fully recognize that even having this discussion may be viewed as running afoul of all hockey etiquette. Under normal circumstances, speaking of the Thrashers current win streak, (yes, whisper when you say it), can bring about a jinxification of maximum proportions. However, I have consulted with the hockey gods and have received a complete dispensation in regards to this matter for the purpose of education and communication as it relates to the current Thrashers win streak and those that will follow. Thus, I have been absolved of any responsibility in regards to the possible demise of the streak.
Hey…being der Blogmeister does have its perks and privileges.
See…win streaks create confidence in players and are a strong force that can propel average teams into good teams…good teams into contending teams. But they are also very, very fragile and should be guarded and cared for by all.
I can remember back to the 1982 Atlanta Braves season…that was the team that won the first 13 games of the schedule. Game number 14 was a loss to the Cincinnati Reds and it began a five-game losing streak. The Braves needed every one of those 13 wins as they edged out the division rival L.A. Dodgers by a single game.
Then there are the 1998 Falcons. After a 28-3 loss to the New York Jets they won the remaining nine games to finish the season at 14-2. They then won both playoff games…including a 30-27 overtime classic in Min-EE-Sooo-TAH…that sent them to Super Bowl XXXIII.
In both cases, the team’s successful season contained their own versions of “The Streak”.
Tonight in Philly our own Atlanta Thrashers will be gunning for a franchise record sixth straight win. To be sure, players have their own rituals, superstitions and “quirks” to keep winning streaks and 7 wins in 8 games type of runs alive…but what of the fans?
To begin with, there is the matter of your team jerseys. Make garshed-derned sure these treasured garments are dealt with properly. Do not…repeat…do NOT wash these jerseys during any successful span of games. Don’t even THINK about it. In fact, do not even spot clean any mustard or beer stains that may have soiled them while being worn at Philips. These are sacred artifacts and remains that must not be tampered with.
Also…make sure that they are stored or hung in the same manner since the streak began. If that’s in a certain particular place in the closet, make sure it remains there…but remember, no wire coat hangers! If that is folded up and put in a drawer, so be it. If you’re one to toss it on the floor and push it to a particular corner of the bedroom…fine. The wife may not like this…but we’re talking about hockey karma here and it simply cannot be messed with.
Me? Mine hangs in the walk-in closet off the master bath…front of the row…crest facing north toward the hockey Mecca that is the NHL Hall Of Fame in downtown Toronto. The scarf obtained in the first ever playoff game back in April 2007 hangs around it’s collar. I’ve even made sure that the same wrinkle in the left shoulder area which is caused by the way it hangs has been present for the past two weeks.
Next…don’t change a thing. I penned an entry last week to this regard, but that had to do with the Thrashers’ lineup. What I’m referring to here is YOU don’t change a thing. Don’t change the route you take to the office or school. Do not change your diet, your TV viewing habits, your sleeping habits…don’t change your routine at all.
Some may even go as far with their “streak etiquette” to believe that shaving, showering as well as the changing of socks and underwear…all are quite taboo. For those of you who take to heart this fundamentalist interpretation of the hockey gospel… again, I’ve consulted with the hockey gods about this. They’ve directed me to tell you that… in the case of those of the married persuasion or those who have chosen “live-in” or “domestic partnership” status… showering is permitted as long as the same bar of soap is used, so use it sparingly. The same is true in regards to shampooing. Laundering of socks and underwear is permissible only during the day of a game, but must be put back on immediately after coming out of the dryer or off of the line.
Those of you choosing line drying…the next couple of cold months could prove to be somewhat treacherous. And please, so I do not receive letters of complaints from your neighbors, wear a robe when placing them out and taking them down. We all thank you in advance for your cooperation in this area.
Lastly, all winning streaks have something that is unique…something that separates them from other runs of success. To that point, I must take note that this current Thrashers winning streak began two Sundays ago with a 5-3 win over the Florida Panthers at Philips Arena. During that game, two frequenters of this blog were seen on the Kiss Cam for the very first time in their many games attended…”Former Islanders Fan” and “Lilibeter”. As you may remember, the two were also engaged at the time and even chained themselves together in holy matrimony this past Friday night.
So if things start to get a little hairy for the Thrashers, we may need to recreate this environment buy recruiting a pair of you out there… those who are a part of the great un-wed…and have you agree to attend an upcoming game together, be on the Kiss Cam then… well… get married a few days later.
Obviously, those in our number who are already in the throws of marital bliss are disqualified for this line of duty…but certainly there are two of you that are willing to, shall we say, take one for the team.
I’ll allow for volunteers…but if none are forthcoming, we may have to resort to a draft. This is for the good of the collective and, as such, the good of the many outweigh the needs of the few.
Of course, your sacrifice will go down in the annals of Thrashers history and your names will live on forever…maybe even have a middle school named in your honor.
OK, now that we are clear about the rules of the winning streak…I trust you will all govern yourselves accordingly.
GO THRASHERS… Streak on!
I mean…streak on.
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Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By kracker
November 16, 2008 12:25 PM | Link to this
WOW What a huge entry today, RH! You are really putting in the work. I nominate you for “Best Thrashers Fan Blogger on the AJC” award….wait, you’re the only one? Ok, well that makes it, umm, unanimous!
Good thing the Falcons are at 4 today so I will have time to read this before the game.
By Rawhide
November 16, 2008 12:37 PM | Link to this
Thanks, kracker…I accept your nomination, LOL!!!
However, you had better hurry up and read because the Falcons host Denver at 1:00 today.
Also, tonight’s Thrashers game will be on Center Ice…game #5 on Comcast channel 775.
By Tony C.
November 16, 2008 12:41 PM | Link to this
uhhhh kracker- The Dirty Birds are on @ 1.
What I want to know is: Does Coach start Pavelec or Moose???
Great post Mr. T.
By kracker
November 16, 2008 12:48 PM | Link to this
acck, yall are right. Next week is the 4:15 game. Thanks, guys.
By Joshgekko
November 16, 2008 12:50 PM | Link to this
Which bars intown have centerice? Id love to watch the game today!
By Rawhide
November 16, 2008 12:55 PM | Link to this
Joshgekko - According to Stan on Mike Knobler’s blog…The Midway Bar in east Atlanta will be hosting a Thrashers viewing tonight.
Plus…any Taco Mac I’ve been to shows Thrashers games. Maybe the one at CNN Center will fit the bill for you?
Tont C. - Thank you!
Lastly…Moose will start again tonight!
By kracker
November 16, 2008 1:05 PM | Link to this
OK, done reading! Great blog, as per usual, Rawhide. Your pipeline to the Hockey Gods is an invaluable, secret-weapon type of thingy. However, let it be known that you will have do do the draft to get me on kiss cam. Even then the other draftee will insist on me wearing a bag, most likely. Maybe the volunteers will step up and that won’t be necesary. But t-e-a-m does come before all, if it comes to that.
By Joshgekko
November 16, 2008 1:16 PM | Link to this
Thanks! Ill just have to find the one tv in the corner at tacomac that has it on, with it being sunday and all lol.
By kracker
November 16, 2008 1:30 PM | Link to this
If it’s Saturday, the Taco Mac near me is ALL college football. Maybe Sunday, with less games, they will do hockey, too.
Falcons answer Broncos TD with a FG. Come on, other Birds.
By Scotty
November 16, 2008 1:54 PM | Link to this
I’ll allow for volunteers…but if none are forthcoming, we may have to resort to a draft.
If that is the case then I’m burning my draft card!
By JLH
November 16, 2008 2:00 PM | Link to this
The game is on Center Ice at 7:00 tonight
By waffleboy
November 16, 2008 4:33 PM | Link to this
Your best post of the year RH. I appreciate your putting things like laundry and personal hygiene into perspective so that my wife understands.
Huge game tonight. The monkey that could disgorge itself from the Thrashers’ back tonight is huge. The mental edge that the Flyers hold over us is incomprehensible and needs to be destroyed.
By Alan
November 16, 2008 7:52 PM | Link to this
Well, for Philly, nothing says “rebuild our confidence” like playing Atlanta. Shots are currently 14-4 in favor of the home team, with a score of 2-0 at the end of the first.
I was hopeful, but after suffering through that first period, I think waking up from my nap for the game was a bad idea.
… not that I shouldn’t watch the game simply due to a crappy first period, mind you, just that I have it in my head that I jinxed the team by waking up for the game.
Anderson is right in that the team has grasped some fundamentals of his system … but he’s also right in that this team has a lot to learn still. Hopefully we can pull it together and win this thing as the game goes on.
By JLH
November 16, 2008 7:55 PM | Link to this
Is anybody having problems with their feed from Center Ice?
By BG33Brown
November 16, 2008 7:59 PM | Link to this
JLH, i wish i was b/c that period stunk.
By Steely Dan
November 16, 2008 8:00 PM | Link to this
It’s worse than that, Alan. Phily is outshooting us 18-4. Shades of last season.
But there is still 40 minutes of hockey to play. Let’s hope they can kill off that penalty to begin the second have get some pressure on the Flyers net!
By Rawhide
November 16, 2008 8:06 PM | Link to this
Well, it took the Philly announcers a little over one period before getting in the “Coburn for Zhitnik” trade jab.
“I wonder if Waddell wakes up in the middle of the night saying ‘Oh my goodness did I really make that trade’”, was the line.
By Nikita
November 16, 2008 8:48 PM | Link to this
Eh, so far. The good news is that a 2-point deficit isn’t insurmountable.
I just signed up from Centre Ice, and it’s working ok.
By Nikita
November 16, 2008 9:40 PM | Link to this
Still eh. losing by one point isn’t the worst thing in the world, but I’m really disappointed in shot production in the 1st and 2nd period. Overall, decent game.
By Tom
November 16, 2008 9:41 PM | Link to this
Good effort but kissing your sister. Do you think that is the Thrashers offered a million bucks to the Flyers to trade Nittamaki to the west coast?
Nittimaki was an asshat in the interview in the postgame interview with Philadelphia tv. He said in response to the question how have you done 11 in a row, and he said because maybe we are the better team.
That should be locker room material and maybe crash the net extra hard next time.
By Rawhide
November 16, 2008 9:57 PM | Link to this
Just…DAMN!
By Jason
November 16, 2008 10:08 PM | Link to this
Yep….they’ve got our number I’d say.
By Brendan
November 16, 2008 10:12 PM | Link to this
Pretty good comeback, though ….
By JLH
November 16, 2008 10:33 PM | Link to this
Rawhide You said it all!
By Alan
November 16, 2008 10:50 PM | Link to this
Yep….they’ve got our number I’d say.
I’m wondering if that’s the attitude the players have coming into these games against Philly.
We’ve got to play better. Hopefully, coach has some sort of plan for these next three days to help the team not lose confidence, because that’s ultimately how losing streaks get started.
By Rawhide
November 16, 2008 10:59 PM | Link to this
JLH - I was going to title my next entry that…but I don’t think the nice man downtown that let’s me host this forum would have cared much for that.
By R. Stroz
November 17, 2008 12:24 AM | Link to this
Knobler jinxed us before the game with this article. Now, if had posted this entry first, we would have won six straight
Rawhide - You need to explain these things to our new beat writer.
By LL
November 17, 2008 12:30 AM | Link to this
Damnit Tiller you spoke to loud!!!!
By Sara
November 17, 2008 7:02 AM | Link to this
Ahem, I think what happened last night was my fault. I had been wearing my Thrasher/All-Star sweatshirt yesterday, until about 6:30 PM … when I took a shower and changed into my jammies. ducks while Rawhide throws something I’m sorry. In my own defense, I had been doing housework all day and smelled a bit on the ripe side. Even my cats wouldn’t come near me.
hangs head in shame I promise not to do that again, sir.
By ranallo10 (in AT)
November 17, 2008 7:12 AM | Link to this
For shame.
By five_hole
November 17, 2008 8:17 AM | Link to this
You just had to say it in your title, didn’t you Rawhide. You just had to write the words, especially against Philly, didn’t you? C’mon, admit it; you washed the jersey, didn’t you?
At least Christensen got off the schnide.
By ranallo10 (in AT)
November 17, 2008 8:20 AM | Link to this
Russ — I’m disappointed, I expected at least two posts from you about Havelid being schooled by Lupul for the game winner.
By Nikita
November 17, 2008 9:21 AM | Link to this
Nittimaki was an asshat in the interview in the postgame interview with Philadelphia tv.
Yep. TOTAL asshat. And awfully bold for someone whose team only won by one goal, and was saved by the clock.
Here’s what I saw while watching:
Philly’s coverage was ridiculously one-sided. They didn’t even bother posting lines for Atlanta.
The Thrash are lucky they only lost by one, because they appeared to be asleep in the 1st and 2nd periods. Shots against vs. SOG in those periods were OBSCENE. Basically, defense and checking were on for the whole game, but offense only showed up in the 3rd.
Nice net crashing. I’d like to see more of it, especially if a good “oops, sorry I knocked your haughty a* down” could be arranged for Niitty. Actually, was it Perrin who skidded in early? Somebody knocked Niitty down early on — it was Reasoner, Armstrong, or Perrin.
About half the shots came from the blueline, and the shot leader is Hainsey. He and Oystrick looked very good last night. Exelby looked o.k. as well.
Checking lines looked great. Their stats are fairly good, as well. Some very nice hits out of Wonder Midget (who is like a bowling ball — he manages to evade a lot of hits while throwing fairly good ones for his size), Slates, Army, and Toucan Sam.
Mysteries of the Thrashers I’d like to see explained, from various sources:
Do the Thrash have their own plane, or do they charter them, or what? From the Colby Armstrong featurette, that’s clearly a private plane. Or a public plane dressed up for purposes of product placement.
Someone who was paying attention last night, and possibly listening to Kamal…what was happening with the lines? The first rotation was 1,4,2,3,4 — but did they rotate normally otherwise?
By Tommy
November 17, 2008 9:59 AM | Link to this
but remember, no wire coat hangers!
I don’t know what’s more lame - the fact that you used that reference or the fact that I got it.
Philly’s coverage was ridiculously one-sided. They didn’t even bother posting lines for Atlanta.
It it Philly’s coverage, it is supposed to be one-sided towards the team they are covering. That is like someone from Philly complaining that the WAGA 6 o’clock news only gave the weather forecast for North Georgia and not Southeast Pennsylvania. Kamal, Elliot, McConnell, Rawhide, Knobler etc. and all of SportSouth are just as one-sided towards Atlanta.
By BG33Brown
November 17, 2008 11:05 AM | Link to this
I am worried about what I saw last night for two reasons.
1st-we went back to the homerun passes out of our zone. During our winning streak and during the 3rd period we would pass Dman to Forward and then move through the zone toward the blue line.
2nd-Last year we seemed work very hard as a team to get to a .500 winning percentage. Then we would take off the next 2-3 games and then have to do it all over again.
I trust JA to not allow this to happen but…. it needs to be address asap.
By Nikita
November 17, 2008 11:18 AM | Link to this
That is like someone from Philly complaining that the WAGA 6 o’clock news only gave the weather forecast for North Georgia and not Southeast Pennsylvania. Kamal, Elliot, McConnell, Rawhide, Knobler etc. and all of SportSouth are just as one-sided towards Atlanta.
Maybe I’m spoiled because I watch a lot of SEC games on network television. But it would be completely ludicrous for the Alabama-Georgia game not to include Alabama’s starting lineup, or any stats on Alabama’s players.
SPSO usually runs stats on opposing players. I saw more or less none on the Philly station for Atlanta, other than a quick overview during one of the breaks on three ATL players.
By The Joker
November 17, 2008 11:26 AM | Link to this
All Philly residents are asshats. It is a requirement to meet residency requirements.
Philly, the city of brotherless love.
By Alan
November 17, 2008 12:58 PM | Link to this
If Nitty really said what you all say he did, and I’m not doubting anyone here, then the Thrashers’ players should really take it to heart and give him a taste of his own medicine the next time these two teams meet.
But I really have to wonder what was going on in their minds throughout the first and second periods last night. Seriously, how could we let them build an apartment complex, then move into it, in our own zone during those two periods? While I wasn’t watching the game, I was keeping up with the stats on the ESPN page. It was nice to see us score a few goals, and even tie it up in the third… but we all know what happened next.
Still, I wish we could put relentless pressure on them in the first two periods like we did last night in the third. Maybe next time, eh?
By NASCAR Dave
November 17, 2008 1:03 PM | Link to this
I was at the game against CAR… My thoughts - The new jerseys did not look as bad in person. It took awhile to get used to, but I think I actually like them… The line of ARMSTRONG-REASONER-THORBURN played extremely well, IMO… I was disappointed in a few things Coach did yesterday, including changing up the aforementioned line by adding PERRIN to it, and by starting HEDBERG in that game… That was a no brainer PAVELEC start… Coach screwed up with that one… I blame that loss on COACH…
My trade list still stands… I am ready and willing to move the following players who have NOT contributed to their potential:
SLATER/CHRISTEN/PERRIN/HEDBERG or LEHTS(we don’t need both no more !)
We know what we have here. It’s time for DONNIE to do what’s right and move these players out of here…
By Steely Dan
November 17, 2008 1:13 PM | Link to this
Darn I hated losing that game but I loved the thrid period comeback effort! I hope that carries through to Thursday night against Crosby & Company.
By Tommy
November 17, 2008 2:53 PM | Link to this
Maybe I’m spoiled because I watch a lot of SEC games on network television. But it would be completely ludicrous for the Alabama-Georgia game not to include Alabama’s starting lineup, or any stats on Alabama’s players.
I haven’t seen a single starting lineup of the opposing team during any SportSouth Thrashers telecast this entire season. Golly gee how one-sided they are.
By R. Stroz
November 17, 2008 4:16 PM | Link to this
Bob - How did it feel to hang out in the investor section of Philips on Friday?
Hopefully, you invested less in your seats than bob(other). Then again, he was probably out of town on business.
By Bob
November 17, 2008 8:28 PM | Link to this
stroz, I had picked up 2 in Section 116 for $25 for the pair. lol. It was quite the bit of poetic justice, eh?
However, I was pretty impressed by the crowd, was that the biggest one of the year so far? All sections had people in them anyway.
I too thought the new sweaters were ok, I was expecting something just awful, but they looked pretty good. More importantly, the club looked pretty good and we all thought the team was starting the play the system and it showed. Very nice.