copy and paste

I wish I could just post this same picture after every game and just adjust the sweater in front. Not a likely scenario, but I'm very proud of our boys in blue this week. I would love nothing more than another win tonight, but the pesky Devils may prove to be tougher than last night's 6-1 rout from the Sabres would suggest. For once I'd like to cash in on their locker room turmoil and give them a solid beatdown, but you know it won't play out like that. Kovalchuk and Mar-tan are both likely to play all 60 and every Ranger will have to contribute their best to get the win, but I know they can do it. Here's to sticks raised and the red and black bowed in shame!

onward and upward

I keep forgetting that we've played a lot less than some other teams. While .500 is not ideal, 5 games in I'll take it. I had the misfortune of attending Monday's tilt against Colorado, although it was still fun. I just hate that a loss no matter how poorly played ultimately lands on the shoulders of our King. In the end if I had to pick two points against the Avs or Leaves, I'd take spilling blood on the blue and white every time. Hopefully we can just repeat the win a few more times this week. I've been lovin' the play of Artem Anisomov lately. He's scored a couple of goals and was seen mixing it up a bit at MSG. I think it must be his new English skills, " You are SUCK. You play female-like!" I'd like to see any interviews with him. Q: What do you think of the team? A: "Well I used to like Avery but now I know what he speaks, I think not so much!"

Here's to four more points this weekend.

Can the third line just play every shift?

I have to admit that although I have a lot more faith in this team after preseason I didn't have high expectations for this particular game because traditionally we haven't fared so well in Buffalo (a certain Game 5 comes to mind). But thankfully I was proved wrong to the tune of 6-3. I knew this kid Stepan was a treasure last January when he Captained the gold medal Juniors' team, but I had no notion of his contributing this early (1st game!) and this often (hat trick!).
Is 21 his official number now because I need to order that jersey pronto? This 21 already has half the goal count of his predecessor Chris Higgins. UPGRADE! Stepan was not only the number one star of our game but of the whole NHL! Even so the rest of the team played really well too, so yay Rangers. Let's just work on Henrik's GAA.

Also I cannot get enough of Avery's glasses, nothing new, but these new specs he's been sporting since training camp are spectacular (haha). Watching the pregame last night I discovered what is so perfect about these frames are that the tops are traditional hornrims, but the bottoms are clear. Plus I love the slightly lilac tint to the lenses. They suit Mr. Avery better than the traditional nerd fames, although my man Justin Timberlake has been rocking that look to great effect throughout this lengthy promotional tour for The Social Network. Here JT, Jesse Eisenberg and the fabulous Andrew Garfield experience something magical on a Madrid TV show. Can' tell you what it is, but just go see the movie.

my stick is in the air

I'm loving this team already! Just got my tix for the season and maybe I'm looking through the rose-colored glasses that come free with 3 pre-season wins, but I've got hopes for 2010-11. First off I don't know why I was hankering after all the World Junior players when we already have Derek Stepan. I love this kid. Plus he's been playing terrific. As has Sean Avery. Thank you #16, because I was tied up thinking there wouldn't be a spot for my favorite horn-rimmed blueshirt. The only drawback to this training camp has been the unfortunate demotion of the Hobbit, Mats Zuccarello-Aasen. Turns out he jinxed himself by dropping the awesome from his name. Even so I was all ready to buy my #36 Frodo jersey, but I don't own any Wolfpack jerseys and I'm not about to start now. Maybe he'll be called up and he had better be sporting a hyphen when he does. Now it's just a matter of finalizing that fourth line, then the cup is ours! C'mon, you gotta want it to win it.

With one day to go I have to say September has been very good to me and I can only hope October will be as memorable. Sure the US Open could have gone a bit better, but I had a very fun and fulfilling trip home, plus I had the great pleasure of meeting actor Andrew Garfield, star of this week's The Social Network (he's the one in argyle!). I feel a little in love with him in the Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus because he was so sweet, funny and heartsick, and he's even better in person: enthusiastic, generous and a complete delight. Go see his movies. Plus he's gonna be the new Peter Parker. Watch out Avery, there's a new bespecticalled man on the loose.

it's cooling down (or is it wishful thinking?)

Hockey season must be getting close because Rangers have started suiting up. I need this sweater like an emergency. I hope Mr. Awesome makes the team, however he likes. At least he's a right wing, because the glut of left wings just got deeper with the addition of Kennedy. I hope Avery doesn't jerk himself out of a spot on the lineup. I don't have heavy expectations for this season, so I need all the entertainment I can squeeze out of that locker room. And I have a feeling Frolov isn't a jokester. In other Ranger news Henrik hosted a busride around NYC, an opportunity I missed because my phone was conveniently dead all day Monday. I had to live it vicariously here, and now you can too.

Only a few more weeks to go until some real action happens on the ice and I've been passing the time by watching a lot of TV. There's the US Open during the next two of course. Here's hoping Roger Federer hoists his 6th trophy. Between matches I'll be watching two British shows that I'm crazy about ( courtesy of J, thank you lady!).

First up is The IT Crowd, a superb traditional sitcom about the IT department in a large company. Roy and Moss are two of my favorite characters of all time. I love 'em. You can watch new episodes on IFC Tuesday nights at 10:30. (also a good place to catch Freaks and Geeks every weekend)

Next is The Mighty Boosh. It took me a little longer to love the Boosh, but now I'm addicted. A bit more surreal and cerebral than the IT Crowd it also features two spectacular male leads, Howard Moon and Vince Noir. I cannot even describe them so just watch this clip. They can be seen sporadically on Adult Swim, but just buy the box set.

That should get you through to training camp at least!

what's going on?

What are the chances the NHL will nullify Wade Redden's contract? Wouldn't that be a dream, especially after Larry Brooks laid out a worst-case Rangers scenario this past weekend. Not that I wasn't trying to find a spot for Avery on my lineup sheet as well, but I'd rather just ignore that possibility as long as possible. All in all I think the Rangers have had a fair free agency. I love Biron, ok with Frolov, preferred Shelley, but will give Boogey a chance. I'm pleased we didn't go all in for Kovalchuk. I kinda figured the arbitration would be more tasty, but Lamoriello V. Bettman is kinda a lose-lose for me. Personally I'd like to see Kovy land in LA. Devils will probably still win the division, those assholes!

So my two sports worlds collided this past weekend when Roger Federer, that extremely cool and handsome guy in white celebrated his birthday with none other than Sidney Crosby! What kinda of demented nightmare was this? Although Crosby looks more like a creepy delivery boy in this pic. Hey Rogers Cup, next time get some Shanny up in there, or anyone but Sid. Federer is currently in Toronto for the main warmup to the US Open. I've been mentally spending a lot of time there because due to the tournament and a screening of Scott Pilgrim V. The World I had the great fortune to see this week. It's excellent and can't be missed. No hockey action for a film set in Canada, still I cannot recommend it enough. Eagle-eyed Sloan fans may recognize a certain bass guitar in battle 3, not too surprising given that Chris Murphy taught the cast how to rock, or at least fake it.

Here's to Roger and his run for a 17th slam at Flushing Meadows. Here's to Scott Pilgrim, may you reign at number 1. Here's to a great training camp (Please sign Marc Staal!). Here's to a great rest of the summer. Enjoy it y'all!

Is it July 1st already?

So heavens, what has happened since I last checked in? Blackhawks pulled it out, no not that way, but the 16 wins needed to lift the Stanley Cup. Congratulations Chicago. I for one am so glad they did, although I had my doubts when Hartnell tied it up off of Hossa's skate, would the curse continue? I wanted the Flyers to lose so badly except for my beloved Blair Betts and who does NBC randomly pick to show all dejected and deflated? My sorely missed Betts. This is the one time I'd like to look at Peter Laviolette - when he's all resentful and unfulfilled. You know who I cannot look at enough? That right, Patrick Sharp! Playoff beard, clean shaven, this guy is eye candy. Why couldn't he be trade bait? I love Byfuglien but I'd much rather have Sharpy in my conference.

Which brings me to the 2010 draft. Everybody knows since the Barely Legal competition in January I've been pulling for the Rangers to draft any of the USA team that's available. Slotted at 10 I thought we were a lock for clutch goalie Jack Campbell, but my heart was kinda set on defensive dynamo Cam Fowler. Projected to go 3rd-5th I thought we may even trade up for him. Then by some miracle (or perhaps the Ducks handed out some "koolaid") he falls past the 9th pick. But does Sather and the Rangers' organization pick him up? Maybe we don't want to draft anymore defensemen. Ok, but then why did we pick one anyway?! Now, Dylan McIlrath seems like a delight. He's nicknamed "The Undertaker" which you gotta love and he's projected to be a stay at home bruiser in the mold of Jeff Beukeboom. Now if McIlrath becomes the next Beukeboom, I'll be ecstatic, but right now I envy Dallas and the Ducks for scoring my two guys at 11 and 12. It just hurts.
In good news we did officially sign the Hobbit. Our new Norwegian will be arriving for training camp in early September. I for one am pumped. I hope some little kids sport his jersey because I'd like to see Zuccarello-Aasen emblazoned on their little backs! I kinda want a Norge jersey myself, except I might look more like a fridge than a cute hockey fan. Now I just hope Sather will resign all my boys who bleed blue, starting with the best Staal, my boy Marc, hopefully Ozone Ken (aka Prospal) and most definitely Jody Shelley. Just give them what they want, Glen. Don't dick around with us or the team. Here's to a great free agency. No big contracts!

the nightmare continues

I cannot believe that nearly two months after Jokinen missed the net on the shootout, those same stinkin' Flyers are headed to the Stanley Cup finals. What a bunch of suck. In fact these whole playoffs have been miserable. One of the only upsides of missing the postseason this year was the feeling I had that I could just sit back and enjoy the games with nothing invested. But that was a crock. I had plenty invested. First off was $20 for a playoff pool of which I'm currently in last place. Next I was nearly certain it was the Capitals year. Not so much. I was also rooting for Boston, but thank God only marginally. Can you imagine being a Bruins fan this season? I'd much rather go out with a whimper during the regular season than hand away a 3 game, 3 goal lead. What a heartbreaker! And what to I get from rooting for Montreal 2 rounds in a row? Nada. Although I did get to hear the name Hamrlik every other day and it always made me giggle. As much as I love Blair Betts I just cannot champion the orange and black.

I fared a little better in the west, after all I like Chicago and now I want them to hoist the cup. I was hoping the Cinderella story would belong to Phoenix, but they had the misfortune of drawing Detroit in the first round. Otherwise it was fairly painless. Even Joe Thorton didn't disgust me the way he normally does. Hopefully the finals will go my way and maybe somethign fun will happen, like Hartnell's hair getting stuck in Toews' sideburns! Only potential problem - the Hossa curse! He's been on the wrong handshake line two years running. Not my favorite guy but please do not let it be the third year!

The World Championships weren't much better, except for the Gold medal game. I though USA had it in the bag once they invited Ranger prospect wunderkind Chris Kreider, after all he's 2-2 in championships this season, but instead USA struggled to even be included in next year's tournament. The only good news in this is that Dubinsky played great in the later stages. Hopefully he steps up like that for us next year or it raises his market value. Either way I'm happy. To be honest I only half followed the World's but I was excited that Russia was so dominent until the Czechs made the final. Love the underdog, especially when that team is headed up by Jaromir Jagr and his beautiful baby face. Congratulations #68! I miss you and love ya. Also Roszy continued his solid play for the CR. I'm pretty sure he'll be in Blue, Red and White next year, so I'm happy to see him pick up his game and sustain it through another tournament. Hopefully he'll bring that confidence back to the Garden next year.

Luckily I have the French Open to distract me. Roger Federer rolled through his first round this morning. I most want his semi-final streak to continue but I'd be ecstatic if Rog defended his title. Go Roger!

Then we'll kick it!

We signed Norway dynamo Mats Zuccarello Aasen this weekend. I'm super thrilled. I think I neglected to mention him during my coverage of the Olympics, but every time I watched Norway he was making plays. The announcers, probably Doc, kept saying his name but I heard it as Tootirello Awesome. It wasn't until about the 3rd game when I saw the back of his jersey that I realized that I had it all wrong. A very Khabibulin moment for me like when I thought his Nickolai's name was Habi Bulin. It's not entirely my fault because for some unknown reason announcers always say, "Danius Zubrus" in its entirety every time although to my knowledge there's not a single other Zubrus in the league.

It's funny that Mr. Awesome (that's what I'll call him) shares a number with Danny Briere because he's short like that. Like remarkably short. Now I was happy to unload diminutive Gomez, but he didn't have a spectacular name. I've been waiting many seasons to zero in on the right player jersey for me, but I may have finally found it. Hopefully the stitching is in font size 2 like the one Mr. Awesome sported during the Olympic fortnight. Definitely a better option than having your name curl all down your back. Look his feet don't remotely touch the floor. It's like me at the park! I need to hug this guy like an emergency. Forget the playoffs, now I'm excited for the new season.

I have been enjoying the playoffs though, Particularly the Caps finally showing the Canadiens what they're made of. Now if the Coyotes can keep up their exceptional play against the Wings my pool picks will be looking pretty strong. Loved Prucha's goal the other day. Let's hope he has plenty more in him.

What strange forces are at work?

Weird things are happening in my brain. The other day I hooted with glee when Jarkko Ruutu scored. You heard me right, that Ruutu. The only explanation I can give is that it was against Marc-Andre Fleury, but really is there any exceptable reason to root for Chris Neil? No, but my mind isn't listening to reason right now.

This problem is at its most disconcerting during Devils' games. It dates back to before the playoffs. Sometime over the two-week Olympic break I developed a type of love for Zach Parise. It's very troubling. I used to give the teeth to his finely formed rough trade face, but now I give fist pumps when he pots a goal. It's just plain wrong, but again it is against the Flyers. I I did remember to grimace at Brodeur last night. Maybe the Devils can win the rest of the games 6-5, that way Marty can suck it all night long and Parise can still score the game-winner. Keep this gal from losing all her Ranger credibility.

For the record I'm rooting for a Caps/Yotes final. Backstrom for Conn Smythe. Hear that Caps, better not let Gomez get any more by you!