oh Yeah, my excuses

I mentioned that I would have excuses ready as to why I don't post very often:

1- I'm not a "blogger" - I do this just in case I feel like posting something. It's fun.
2- Started a new job. Actually, I've started three new jobs in the past six months or so. I like the newest one the most, luckily.
3- Have you ever played internet Scrabble? Everytime I sit at the computer, that's all I want to do - not posting on the blob.
4- Others do this better. Being lazy, I'd rather occassionally post, have a few laughs and let the really good blobbers cover the Oilers.

Hockey Tradition Abandoned!

First of all, I haven't posted in quite a while and the dozens (at best) of people who would stop in on the blob have probably abandoned this little site by now.

Excuses to follow after this little tidbit.

I haven't been able to attend as many games (see why when you read my excuses for not contributing the odd bit to the site) as I used to and I have missed all the home games that made it to overtime (I believe there have been five - either way, I was not at any of them).

A good friend pointed out to me that this season the Oilers have abandoned what used to be one of those hockey staples (not David) as tried and true as the Smooch Cam, the Hockey Song and beer.

I heard that the Oilers are no longer playing TNT just before OT.

THE OILERS ARE NO LONGER PLAYING T-FRIGGIN-N-FRIGGIN-T BEFORE O-FRIGGIN-T!

Normally I don't really care what music the Rexall/Northlands/Skyreach guy plays. I don't go to hockey games for music. I don't go to movie theatres for food. I don't go to pubs for martinis.
Frankly the music is incidental to the entertainment package on the ice. Trooper songs are strangely entertaining at a hockey game and nowhere else.

But AC/DC's TNT is SUPPOSED to be played just before the puck drops at overtime. It is also supposed to be played loudly.

I WILL get to the bottom of this.

Are there any fans who have noticed this? Am I the only one who finds this irritating?

Good News/ Bad News

Bad News:
Did you watch the game tonight?
Good News:
I got this in the mail today.
Cool mug, eh?

Monitor Your Children's TV Viewing

This afternoon, the baby (OK, as she reminds me, "not baby, Pepper" - so toddler) and I were sitting on the couch watching some TV.
We're both a bit under the weather so it hasn't been a fun couple of days for us.
Poor kid looked up at me today and threw up all over herself and the couch.
I should have been more careful as this was on the TV.
No wonder she threw up.

NOTE: The game is about to start. For good measure, I put her in bed.
Hopefully tonight's result doesn't have a similar effect on me.

Another week of crapola

It's funny how only a few games can change the mood of Oiler fans. I've been listening to Stauffer's show (TEAM 1260) on the way from work to pick up the baby at daycare and Coach MacT is already on the firing line from the callers.
I personally like the job Craig MacTavish has done, I really liked him as a player. He was one of those players people respect who worked harder than the others and overachieved. A blue collar player.
That said, sometimes a coaching change for the sake of change isn't a bad thing. The team has to think differently and new ideas come in. Stauffer threw out the concept that players can "tune out" a longtime coach who expects players to be defensively responsible and to overachieve - not unlike MacT's own career.
The same thing happened in Calgary and, while I don't recommend looking south for inspiration, Sutter pulled himself out.
I think MacT's job is safe for now. A few wins in the next four or five games will help keep the dogs away - for now.

Here's this week's In The Box

In The Box is back!

Check out the latest issue.
Also read this one which is probably the best Haiku music review column ever. Hats off to TB for this batch of Haikus. Especially the Loverboy review.

ANAGRAM PRE-SEASON PREDICTIONS

It's not original or really ground-breaking, but I enjoyed the angriest man on the computer's Five Word Previews for the upcoming season.
Some great stuff and not nearly as full of acid as this or this classic.
This guy is angry but very sharp. One of those people who says what is on his mind. Lucky he uses a great pseudonym.
Anyway...

I thought I'd take some teams into one of the many Internet Anagram Generators and see what wisdom spews forth.
OUR DIVISION
(In order of finish)
Colorado Avalanche
COACH ANAL OVERLOAD
Calgary Flames
CAGY MARE FALLS
Vancouver Canucks
VANE VAN OCCUR SUCK
Edmonton Oilers
REMODEL NOTIONS
Minnesota Wild
STOLEN A DIM WIN

CALI DIVISION
Anaheim Ducks
IDEA SANK CHUM
San Jose Sharks
SHAKES JAR SONS
Dallas Stars
SAD ALL STARS
Los Angeles Kings
ENGAGES NO SKILLS


Phoenix Coyotes
PHONY SEX, ICE TOO

Detroit Division
Detroit Red Wings
GRIT WORST DENIED
St. Louis Blues
OUSTS BULLIES
Chicago Blackhawks
GOAL BACKWASH CHICK
Nashville Predators
AHA! SELL DRIVEN SPORT
Columbus Bluejackets
JUST MOCK USEABLE CLUB

Atlantic Div
Pittsburgh Penguins
BRIGHTEST PINUP GUNS
New York Rangers
GREYER RANKS NOW
New Jersey Devils
WEILDS JEERS, ENVY
Philadelphia Flyers
HELLISHLY AFRAID PEP
New York Islanders
SNOW NEARLY RISKED

Centre of the Universe Div
Ottawa Senators
ARENA TOASTS WOT?
Buffalo Sabres
AFFABLE BROS, US
Boston Bruins
STUBBORN IS ON
Montreal Canadiens
RANCID TEAM "EN SALON"
Toronto Maple Leafs
NAMEPLATE FOR TOOLS

Apathy Division
Tampa Bay Lightning
GAMBLING ANTIPATHY
Carolina Hurricanes
AIL, SCORCH, RUIN ARENA
Atlanta Thrashers
AHA! SLATTERN TRASH
Washington Capitals
GIANT CLAW HAS POINTS
Florida Panthers
ARENA DROPS FILTH


Holy crap, that was a lot of work for little reward. Reading lists and lists of anagrams really gets tiring.
Thank God nothing really good was on TV. But Arrested Development is on now.
I'm done.

Captain C

The Oilers are set to name their new Captain/Post-game Defeat Apologist tomorrow afternoon.

Jason Smith was just named Philly's new captain and goes from following in the footsteps of Mark Messier, Doug Weight, Kevin Lowe and (snicker) Shayne Corson to following in the footsteps of Peter Forsberg, Keith Primeau, Rick Tocchet and Bobby Clarke.
They made the right choice. He's a natural leader and seems to have that "guy in charge" vibe down pat. He's like Andy Travis on WKRP. A grassroots, blue collar, no-nonsense leader.

Who should be the Oilers' captain?
Let's go through the options:

ETHAN MOREAU
Tough despite a very not-tough first name.
Injures himself in a fight with one swing; misses 75 games. That's tough.
Gets his brother (Chad and Ethan - sounds like two Yale grads on a yacht) to come in and make other players tougher by making them work out and learn Ultimate Fighting.
Tends to be the best player on the ice when the rest of the team plays worse. This year he will likely play better quite a bit.
Bad part of naming him captain: He's not on the ice as often as other forwards or defencemen. And he may hit a teammate like Moose (reportedly) did.
Odds of getting the C. 70%

STEVE STAIOS
Has been a forward (for a few moments) and a defender. Sees both sides equally.
Is involved in charities and seems to be genuinely interested in being a community-minded hockey player. With Smytty, Gator and Georges Laraque (all mainstays of Oilers charity and personal appearance work) gone, someone has to care about us lowly real people and not just how much to pay the nanny and dentist.
Was a captain. But that was in Atlanta.
Has a website.
Odds of putting the C back into Macedonia - 20%

JARRET STOLL
Touted to be a future captain since he learned to skate in Yorkton.
Wore the GOOD KIND OF C for the Kootenay Ice and a World Junior team.
Almost wore the BAD KIND OF C despite being drafted by Calgary. He refused to sign, showing taste and judgment - definite leadership qualities.
In last year of contract; making him Captain would not only help sway him to sign a deal but could also raise the price.
Still too young.
Odds of Captaincy: 4%

SHAWN HORCOFF
Is the NHLPA rep. His loyalty is to the Union. Can't make your Union Guy Captain. His heart may be Oil, but he is conspiring against The Man behind closed doors.
Is on the ice quite often. Powerplay, possible first line shifts, penalty kill.
Odds: 3%

ALES HEMSKY
Most talented player.
That's about the only reason to consider Ales. Maybe an "A" could happen.
The C may stand for Czech but not Captain - 1%

ALBERT DWAYNE ROLOSON
He's a veteran, a leader and is almost always on the ice. Yells and winges to refs anyway.
But Rule 6.1 of the Rulebook states "no playing Coach or playing Manager or goalkeeper shall be permitted to act as Captain or Alternate Captain."
NOTE: Stop calling them ASSISTANT CAPTAINS. They are ALTERNATE CAPTAINS.
That's what the "A" stands for - except in the case of Steve Downie, Todd Bertuzzi or Sean Avery where it could be interpreted to mean another A word should they ever wear one.
Odds: 0% - Stupid Rulebook

Sheldon Souray gets 1% of the remaining 2%.
The rest of the team (except for that Dick Tarnstrom) share the remaining 1%.

We'll find out tomorrow.
I want Chopper to be Captain.
C for Chopper.

Good luck to Buffalo

The Buffalo Sabres and the NHL have announced they are holding their own Outdoor Hockey Game on January 1, 2008.

Good for them. Loved the game but the aura surrounding seeing Gretz, Mess and the older Habs stars stole the show. I wonder if they'll trot out old Mario.

TRIVIA TIME:

Name the current Oilers who suited up for the Heritage Classic in Edmonton.

Hint: There are nine.
Other hint: Screw you, no more hints.

Prize: you look smarter than others and it's right there in the comments for all to see. Priceless.

Just like an asshole...everyone has an....

OPINION.

IN THE BOX would love some quick opinions on how you feel about this year's Oiler squad and some predictions from an Oiler-centric POV. Some of them could be included in this year's first In The Box for the 07-08 season.

Send your diatribe. Try to keep it short so we can fit it in. Three to five sentences should encapsule your own version of the truth.

We'd love to hear from some real Oiler fans who read Vue regularly.

Email to inthebox@vueweekly.com and send some good stuff. From your asshole to ours? Man, I hope The Boy doesn't read this.

Since everyone else has an opinion

Don't get the partial armband.
Looks slick but a bit too much like a practice jersey.
The colours are OK. I hope that's orange and not the copper.
Isn't better than best jersey re-tools (Boston, Nashville) or as ugly as the worst (Vancouver, Long Island).
Too bad the code RBK inserted on the NHL 08 vids was cracked. I was anticipating seeing the new kit in full, live colour on Sunday.