Ice Man

By Sage of Bluesland

January 1, 2009 12:34 PM | Link to this

The sheep will continue subsidizing the incompetence…That’s a given.

Disgustingly emotional arguments will spew forth from those who either work for ASG or are Donny’s friends or family about what a ‘nice’ guy he is—and how he would ‘care’ for a random fan the way he does his family, as some silly person mentioned recently.

Asinine. It would be funny if it weren’t so ridiculous.

Funny, if Don is such a ‘nice’ guy, why wouldn’t he respond to any of my emails—which WERE cordial (well, at first they were)…My first question from circa 2002 was very simple: Why aren’t there more Thrashers prospects playing in the annual YoungStars game? Is there something wrong with our minors? Is there something wrong with our drafting?

You better believe it. I suspected it then—the world knows it now.

Yet the pitiful sheep still obfuscate like their boss/friend/daddy…

FIRE DON WADDELL…STOP PUTTING MONEY INTO THESE OWNERS’ POCKETS…THEY ARE NOT ABOUT WINNING ANYTHING…

Wake the f)(* up, Atlanta.

By Alan

January 1, 2009 12:36 PM | Link to this

I’ve already attended more in 2008 than I did in 2007. Something about cheap/free tickets and having a good friend in the right place at the right time. It’s quite appreciated, and I would like to issue my sincerest thanks. :)

I think I would be more eager to attend if the Blue Crew were playing, and not simply shaking pom-poms and shoveling ice chips. I’ve got my eyes on other prizes right now, so I can’t let myself become distracted by what amounts to as professional cheerleaders. I outgrew that fascination in high school.

Thanks for the thought, though, Rawhide.

By the way, today is Winter Classic day. I’m wrapped in red and am cheering for my boys in the west. Let’s Go Red Wings!

By HookyBob

January 1, 2009 3:30 PM | Link to this

Rawhide: Let me start by wishing you a happy, and prosperous, 2009. Also prayers for the health of you and yours have been lifted up. May your father recover fully and ahead of schedule.

I agree with your prediction that the Thrashers will win more games in 2009. I can’t pinpoint why though. Perhaps I’m thinking they have bottomed out. Perhaps coach’s system will kick in more effectively. Perhaps change will come to the franchise.

My optimistic side is thinking the last option is most likely the reason. Change for this franchise, can’t come fast or hard enough,..give it to us like drinking out of a fire hose. More of the same simply won’t do it.

Am thoroughly enjoying watching the Wings and Hawks outdoor game. What memories this holds for anyone who shoveled snow off the ice (so they could play), used boots for goalposts, looked for the puck in the snowbank, triped on a stick frozen in the ice, or felt a tingling in the toes as they warmed up afterwards. Even the Honda advertisement with the wipers pushing snow on the windshield brings back memories.

When the time is right I’ll tell you sometime about taking the Zamboni out on streets near the rink,…talk about slick roads. (And, hence, my blogging handle.)

Truly, hockey fans aren’t like other sports fans.

I love this game man.

By HookyBob

January 1, 2009 3:58 PM | Link to this

Oh man In my list of outdoor hockey memories I neglected to mention the fantasy of scoring the winning goal (or save) in game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals.

By Nikita

January 1, 2009 4:06 PM | Link to this

Heh. Yes, you will see me in a toga. February 8th against Philly, most likely. And I will happily buy anyone who wants to join me a beer, because it’ll be the game closest to my birthday. Go Thrashers!

Listen carefully, everyone…toga = beer or food item. Any children in togas count as one beer/item for the parent.

If things continue the way they’re going, I may make an appearance as the Goal Fairy between now and then.

Happy New Year, everybody!

Go, Blackhawks! (Though, um, I like them equally. I just like rooting for underdogs.) For that matter, go Dogs!

About last night’s game…I’m fairly certain the next meeting will involve a fight off the initial faceoff. Oh, and those new combos TOTALLY worked. Right.

I predict that if we don’t start winning we will wave goodbye to Erik Christensen by the trade deadline. We also will not allow Schneider the opportunity of resigning.

By Algonquin J. Calhoun

January 1, 2009 4:28 PM | Link to this

Are the Trashers not doing well? I haven’t kept up with them but i’m looking forward to going down to Boohoo Land to watch some first-class ice puckey.

By Jameson

January 1, 2009 6:47 PM | Link to this

Rawhide- If Detroit wins the cup, count me in on the TP party, too.

By five_hole

January 1, 2009 9:49 PM | Link to this

I’d like to know how the Blue Crew uniforms could become “skimpier”. In fact, I’ll probably spend a considerable amount of time this weekend speculating on just that subject.

I was happy to see Ilya finally get on the scoreboard last night. Wish someone else could have joined him.

Finally, best wishes to all in ‘09.

By Ilya's Dad

January 1, 2009 9:59 PM | Link to this

I’m gonna go out on a limb, but I predict stendec’s blogs will not get intelligent.

By Brendan

January 1, 2009 10:19 PM | Link to this

I wish I could corner Darren Eliot, and ask him, “What do you think the Spirit’s plan is for the Thrashers?” Ooooh. Unfair question? Way outta bounds?

If YOU were like Darren Eliot, that is, an EMPLOYEE of the company, what would you say? Okay, forget that. Pretend that I gave him/you a heavy dose of sodium pentathol, first. (Truth serum.) Well, after the truth serum kicked in, Eliot might say, “Well, right now, the company has to focus on its money maker, the arena, and its sports franchise most likely to a produce revenue. And that means focusing any spending increases or player retention costs on the Atlanta Hawks.” Well Darren, that’s an honest answer. While you’re being so truthful, may I ask again, if it’s “unfair” to say the Spirit doesn’t care about the Thrashers? Eliot would respond, “I would say that they don’t care as much as they do for the Hawks.” Permit me one more question Darren, “If you were a hockey fan living in Atlanta, what’s the difference between saying the ownership doesn’t care vs. the ownership doesn’t care as much as they do for the Hawks?” In shame, Darren Eliot turns away, remembering his litany against a phone in caller on the post game show who alleged that the Spirit doesn’t care about hockey, which Eliot then rigorously rebutted as a complete falsehood.

By ben

January 1, 2009 10:32 PM | Link to this

Waddell will be here as long as there’s a lawsuit.

ASG will sale the team.

Lehts will be gone by next October

Pavs is a better goalie than Lehts

As a last ditch effort to keep his job, Waddell will throw gobs of money @ 17 who will take it. He has his family’s future to think about.

17 will win a stanley cup before heater.

Waddell will go down, whether he deserves this or not, as the worst GM in pro sports.

A writer will write a book detailing this mess. Locally it will be a best seller.

The Isles, Devils, and Panthers will move before Thrashers move.

Those are my predictions.

By LAC

January 2, 2009 5:09 AM | Link to this

Predictions….

Will finish above NYI as next to last in NHL this season…

Tavares will be here next season.

We aquire Gaborik and Hossa signs here… How about THAT one.

Enstrom will be traded, Kluda will be here next season.

Nucklin stil AOL…

waddell forced out in a very hush-hush move.

rutherford snydel arrested for some weird act… Stay tuned…

Lastly… Sprit group loses to Bilkin, He keeps Hawks, sells Thrashers… Arthur Blank steps in and buys team and Off We Go !

Also Rawhide, remember Chris Kuntz, the one game wonder who played here for ONE Game and has his name on the CUP !

Lastly when IS RAWHIDE Night, now talk about something to bring OUT the crowd… There it is, and make home boy Eliot walk around all game long with a RAWHIDE Mask on !!!!

By ranallo10 (in AT)

January 2, 2009 5:58 AM | Link to this

For those who haven’t noticed, Frantisek Kaberle was recently waived and subsequently cleared them without a claim filed.

By ranallo10 (in AT)

January 2, 2009 7:41 AM | Link to this

Also, Jason LaBarbera was traded to Vancouver for a seventh round pick.

That should serve as some more evidence that the market for capable NHL goalies is horrible.

By Mark

January 2, 2009 7:43 AM | Link to this

im guessing the trashers will continue being losers i think anlanta and ice just dont work..in the future where will trashers end up maybe canada

By Sara

January 2, 2009 8:27 AM | Link to this

Hey now - how come Alan’s yard won’t get TP-ed?? That’s hardly fair. Besides, if the Wings do win back-to-back Cups, I vote you go TP Hossa’s yard. :P

By Stan Drulia

January 2, 2009 9:24 AM | Link to this

I woulld like to wish everyone a Happy New Year!!! Everyone except for Sage of course because he is a miserable human being that sounds like a broken record.

For all the other ‘sheep’ subsidizing the ‘incompetence’…. Happy New Year real fans! Hope 2009 is wayyyy better to us than 2008!

By sisu

January 2, 2009 11:19 AM | Link to this

ASGF will be driven out of town faster than the a blink of the eye. The whole staff at the bulb will be replaced right away and a public apology to the Thrasher fans will be made.

Off topic, for all the discussions on the cap here is a good source to check out the current cap hits @ nhlcap.com

By ben

January 2, 2009 11:19 AM | Link to this

LAC @ 5:09

I wholly agree.

By ranallo10 (in AT)

January 2, 2009 11:32 AM | Link to this

sisu — I assume you meant nhlscap.com. I personally prefer nhlnumbers because it’s a well done site with more information, and because it’s not degraded itself by associating with a hockey rumor site with ~1% credibility.

But, to each his/her own really, both are fine for getting raw team and player salary data.

By Jim

January 2, 2009 12:40 PM | Link to this

Sven Stadlittlehoffen is actually a Norwegian and does not have a military obligation. Unfortunately, he lost a foot in a farm accident and plays with an artificial foot that limits his lateral movement to that side. Don, however, feels that it is going to be difficult to get shots by him since he weighs over 500 lbs. Until he gets here, I hear that Don is considering persuading Byron Dafoe to come out of retirement to man the net.

By stendec

January 2, 2009 12:42 PM | Link to this

Rawhide. I was alerted by a friend that I was mentioned on your site (see above). Oh well. At least their wrath was on me instead of someone else. First, you and your family have my continued prayers and thoughts. Tell your Dad I wish him well and God speed on his recovery. I have lived in this state all my life. I have followed all Georgia sports teams. Losing has become accepted way of life. Not winning is not a major issue. Quitting is! Professional athletes are paid generously to compete every second in their chosen sport. That is why they are not paid minimum wage rates! Losing brings out rage in me becauase I care. Quitting triggers outrage! I see in these Thrashers the same attitude of the handful of pre-Ryan Falcon seasons. It was obvious to everyone with eyes to see those teams quit. It has been obvious to me that the Thrashers quit last season and have shown no indications of reversing that trend this one. Fans who make excuses for quitters are not true fans. I have truly hated only a few professional Atlanta athletes over the years. Ones that come to mind are Mike Vick, Jeff George, Chris Miller, DeAngelo Hall, Kari Lehtonen and, if he keeps up his uncaring Maryann Hossa-like ways, Ilya Kovalchuk. No, I do not hate Keith Brooking although I understand why many think I do. I understand John Anderson was provided with a spoon by his bosses then told to go drain the Flint River. Not going to happen. I have a deep love for ice hockey. Wonderful game! My first live game was a loss by Flames at Onmi. Yes, apologists, it was close. Will last appearance in Atlanta area be loss by Thrashers? It is sad that it has reached point that I want Thrashers out of town. It has reached that point. Losing I can take. Accustomed to losing. The lack of effort and uncaring attitude I cannot, nor will I ever, accept, embrace or condone! Again, best always. May this new year be a fantastic one for you and yours. A last sad note. I had never before wanted an Atlanta team to lose no matter how angry I was at the time. I now cheer for other team when Kari Lehtonen is in net. Do now. Always will. Guess he is back between pipes tonight. Thanks for listening friend. Later posts on other site will probably not be this coherent or nice. Unless Thrashers do the unthinkable and win.

By ranallo10 (in AT)

January 2, 2009 12:59 PM | Link to this

You’re going to trigger someone’s epileptic seizures one day.

By Sara

January 2, 2009 1:21 PM | Link to this

You’re going to trigger someone’s epileptic seizures one day.

snicker that’s funny - especially because I always imagine that one day Kari Lehtonen’s goaltending is going to do the same thing to stendec. For an older dude, the man is way too excitable.

By Alan

January 2, 2009 2:12 PM | Link to this

Sara - I live too far away. No one here wants to drive to the south side.

By Thrashy Thrashy

January 2, 2009 3:37 PM | Link to this

Maybe Waddell can give Norm Maracle a call between buffet runs?

Norm “All I Need Is A” Maracle “To Squeeze My Lard A* Into This Equipment”

Quite possibly my favorite Chris Berman-style nickname of all-time.

By Sage of Bluesland

January 2, 2009 3:54 PM | Link to this

Norm Maracle?! There’s a blast from the past…Another one of Donny’s brilliant ‘steals’ (from his former club, too); this right after inking Damian Rhodes to very nice money as our “foundation” in net…

See, folks, the problems started literally on day-one.

Only a joke of an organization would keep a buffoonish clown like Don Waddell employed…That’s why they need their funds from ‘real’ fans cut—and cut now…

By jason

January 2, 2009 5:04 PM | Link to this

The AS are now too cheap to send out media guides to STHs. Now, we get a DVD of the media guide instead of an actual, tangible, physical book I can hold in my hands. Oh well, I guess I can print out all 252 pages.

On the bright(?) side, the DVD came with every team’s media guide, so now I can study up on other teams and find out why they’re so much better than we are.

By glovesave29

January 2, 2009 6:49 PM | Link to this

Marian Gaborik just opted for surgery on his hip, so he is out for the next 10 weeks - meaning we no longer have to hear the Kovy for Marian trade rumors.

We are accused of not knowing hockey down here…so get a load of this trade a Leafs fan proposed on one of their blogs…Kovy AND our 09 1st rounder for Kaberle, Ponikarovsky, Tlusty and their 3rd rounder. Must be some really good crack being sold up there in GTO.

By Alan

January 2, 2009 8:24 PM | Link to this

glovesave - Toronto fans always overvalue their players. Kovalchuk alone isn’t worth that. And Waddell would be a (SE) idiot if he gave away our ‘09 first rounder. Really, I don’t think he’s that dumb.

By Smoothie

January 2, 2009 11:10 PM | Link to this

Does anyone on here know where I can procure a foam puckhead hat on-line? My GF and I have been scouring the internet, but the only site we found with foam hats requires you to buy 100 or more at a time. I figured one of you real die-hard rabid hockey fans would know where to go or shop for something like that other than Philips Arena. Thanks!

And Go Thrashers!!