Interesting. Why would he take that job over the one with the Leafs?
Because he hasn't retired yet, still wants to play and apparently did have some interest from a couple teams during the off-season.
It's a volunteer position as assistant coach with UML, pending the resolution to the lockout. This is just something for him to do while the lockout is going on, similar to RJ Umberger who is a volunteer coach with Ohio State during the lockout.
Smart decision though - gives him a taste of coaching before he officially retires, keeps his options open in case he does get a playing contract, benefits his alma mater since he's not doing it for the money and it's something he mentioned wanting to do a couple years ago when the coach for UML (Norm Bazin, former teammate of Roli's when they played at UML) was hired.
Before the visiting team can get on the ice, they have to wait, packed tightly(like a Tokyo subway car) inside a fenced off area in the tunnel immediately before the rink.
It's locked behind the last player to go in, and they have to wait for the light to come on, and the gates to swing open before they can move on.
elsewhere...
Last edited by Felonious Python: 10-24-2012 at 09:43 AM.
It seems almost hypocritical that they leave the only home they've ever known, as decrepit as they might think it is, just to sign a lease with an arena, that in 25 years, who knows how crappy it'll be.
Good point. But then again, what was their alternative? This way they move into a bigger market while still staying on the island and being able to keep their name, logo, tradition and history.
Good point. But then again, what was their alternative? This way they move into a bigger market while still staying on the island and being able to keep their name, logo, tradition and history.
Not signing a 25-year lease would be a start. The turnover in sports ownership is too rapid to feel for sure that a quarter century from now, they won't be dying to get out of Barclays the way they are now with the Colosseum.
Especially now that the tolerance for aging arenas is so low, that less than 30 years after they're constructed, teams harrumph about new buildings.
Oddly, the exception is the crosstown Rangers.
MSG hasn't been rebuilt simply because of the logistics involved for building a new arena in Manhattan are tremendous. Either they'd need to knock down and rebuild on the same spot, like they've done before, or someone needs to buy up a few blocks of Manhattan real estate, knock whatever **** that's currently there down, and build the new MSG on that.
You have to figure that the $800 million that will go towards the Garden's next renovation is more cost effective than just building a new one.
Got off on bit of a tangent there.
The Islanders Movember staches will be glorious. Or maybe they won't grow them at all, since it sold out and went mainstream.
Last edited by Felonious Python: 10-24-2012 at 05:52 PM.
Latvian defenseman Kaspars Astashenko has passed, according to a Latvian news report. He was 37.
Quote:
Astashenko played only 23 games with the Tampa Bay Lightning, between 1999 and 2001, his only play at the NHL level. Kaspars also played for the Latvian National Team in the 2002 Winter Olympics.
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"It's still All In to me dammit." - Felonious Python
On Saturday, Richards and several other NHL players, including Tampa Bay's Steven Stamkos, will take part in Operation Hat Trick in Atlantic City, N.J., a charity game to raise money to benefit the American Red Cross, Empire Relief Fund and New Jersey Hurricane Relief Fund.
Quote:
...Operation Hat Trick, which also includes NHL stars Martin Brodeur, Scott Hartnell, Bobby Ryan and Henrik Lundqvist, plus former Tampa Bay head coach Rick Tocchet.
While former Lightning forward Todd Fedoruk did most of the ground work putting the event together, Richards came on board and proved to be a key recruiter to bring in other players. Richards also used his Twitter account, which has more than 132,000 followers, to promote the event, which is expected to attract a sold-out crowd of up to 10,000.
Richards and Hartnell will captain the opposing teams.
"Obviously, with what has going on in the area, it's just a no-brainer,'' Richards said. "Everybody is on board. It's three great charities and the players – not just me – players coming from different areas, it's really great to see.''
Bruce Arthur, National Post: My thumb is down to the outgoing city council in Glendale, Arizona, many of whom are outgoing for a reason. Last week, they city voted for a 20-year, $308 million arena management fee for the future owner of the Phoenix Coyotes, assuming that particular unicorn ever turns out to be real. It's a municipality blackmailing itself on sunk money, and it's incredible. The city has already made cuts to services; it may make more. The deal is contingent on the team being bought by January 31, so the lockout could scuttle it, but if it goes through, your worst-case scenario is this: Phoenix makes the Stanley Cup final, attracts fans, loses, and doesn't have police or fireman when the riots begin.
No, a worse case scenario is that all of the above happens, but the rioting crowd is then hit by a meteor carrying an alien parasite that turns the dead rioters into zombies, beginning the uprising.
Former Lightning player, Sheldon Keefe has been hired as the head coach of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.
Last edited by Felonious Python: 12-03-2012 at 08:47 AM.
We have to talk about the new low bush league hockey has found itself in bringing dogs to games. I love the minor leagues and the novel ideas they do to get attendance, but bringing dogs to games crosses the line into ****ing stupid.
The Solar Bears don't have any such event planned, but if people in Orlando want to see dog ****, they can buy tickets to the Magic.
Last edited by Felonious Python: 12-10-2012 at 10:29 AM.
Reason: insurance
We have to talk about the new low bush league hockey has found itself in bringing dogs to games. I love the minor leagues and the novel ideas they do to get attendance, but bringing dogs to games crosses the line into ****ing stupid.
The Solar Bears don't have any such event planned, but if people in Orlando want to see dog ****, they can buy tickets to the Magic.
Isn't it that an MLB thing anyway? I seem to remember the Rays having a "Bring your dog" event.
And on the Magic... I'm glad I don't follow basketball.
