Pens End Rangers Hopes

Well the Pens beat the Rangers in OT this afternoon, ending the Rangers’ hopes of winning the Cup.  1994 will have to continue to stand as our bellweather event.  The other question is, what will the Rangers look like next year?  Jagr has said that he wants to play for four more years and that the Rangers are his first choice.  That being said, the team and Avery are likely far apart on money and Shanahan is done.  Straka is also likely to go from what I’ve been reading.

The Rangers did give away game 1, and they made a few bad plays that caused goals, but overall the officiating was some of the worst I have seen in a Stanley Cup playoff series.  Today was no exception with Chris Drury catching a high-stick that drew blood but no penalty was called.  At the end of the game the refs called a four minute on Drury.  I hope the Pens don’t make it solely because I’m sick and tired of hearing about Crosby. 

So now I have to pull for the team that wins the West.  I hate both the Flyers and the Pens and am cheering for injury in that season.  Now begins the long summer with only baseball to keep me happy.  Sigh.  Go Yankees.

North Carolina Cult = Awesome Opportunity to Mock

So apparently if I want to go to Carrboro, there is another menace besides the SUV driving environmentalists, judgemental hipster hippies, creepy dancing convicts, and the stupid rules of conduct at the Weave:  namely the idiotic Hooping Cult. Yes I said cult, and I’m not the originator of this idea (though the more I read and think about it, the more I agree with it). Shannon sent me a story regarding the hoopers and some anti-hoop posters up around the town. My favorite part is that the Carrboro police were discussing that posters were put up around town, like this is something new. Every single telephone pole, light pole, etc is awash in posters for shitty bands, ganga fests, love ins, etc. However, should one start to have a little satire or criticism, it’s a job for the police because someone’s feelings might be hurt. The posters are “hateful.” How about this? Toughen up and get a sense of fucking humor!

Wait wait loyal readers, it gets better! The guy that put up the posters, wrote the paper in response! It’s nice to see sarcasm and angst fight back in a town full of too many good fucking vibes! When everyone is engaged in behavior that is awesome or cool or right, doesn’t that create a horrible paradox that leads to some sort of common sense anarchy? Carrboro could use a bit of levity from its over oppressive liberal guilt and sense of community. I’m a fucking liberal Democrat and a lot of days I wish most of the people in town would leave or at least shut the hell up.

As a new father I’m looking forward to the day when my son looks at a group of people hula hooping (or engaging in some other idiotic behavior) in a public place and asks me “Daddy, what’s going on over there?” and I can respond with, “Son, those are what you call idiots. They’re to be laughed at and deserve your scorn and sarcasm.” What a father/son bonding moment that will be!

And a final note on the cult bit (as the boy is starting to already rant in his own way), one of the Carrboro hoopers had this quote on their website. It’s hard to believe that a 1950’s era fad brought to us by the Whamo! corporation could do all this. Cult? Take a look and tell me how it’s not a cult:

“The hoop has to do with hearing the beat, getting with the rhythm, feeling the music of what is, and skillfully entering in with just the right amount of effort…All of us yearn to feel related and accepted, to be in harmony, to feel ourselves at home in the universe and with each other. And this is our birthright, for we are all part of the Hoop. We have only to stop, perceive, and be. If you allow yourself to connect with the Hoop, you are home.”

~Christ Hoffman
The Hoop and the Tree

Miley Cyrus: Shitty Role Model Part Deux

Again, I have to ask what America is thinking considering this creature from the 1980s child to be a role model?? Does seriously believe that Miley Cyrus, inbred creature from the Black Lagoon, is going to be anything but an overly-sexed teenager? Her father’s mullet along should tell you all you need to know.

Get over it people, she’s a white trash teenager who is bound to make poor decisions. If you don’t explain that to your kids and they follow her like the second coming of Jim Jones you’re getting what you deserve. Maybe you shouldn’t have allowed this cult in your house in the first place.   These two should have never made it past Celebrity Fit Club 12.

Refs Steal Game 2 from the Rangers

It’s obvious to me who te NHL wants to win the series between the Rangers and the Penguins. The poor officiating is so biased to help the Pens. While they call the obvious penalties in favor of the Rangers, they keep calling weak penalties on the Rangers. The NHL wants Crosby to hoist the Cup, it’s so damn obvious. The worst call was the quick whistle on Straka’s goal in the third period. That goal should have tied the game, instead it saves the Pens from shifting momentum.

Let’s hope the officiating looks better when the series shifts to MSG.

Big Sports Day

The Rangers lace the skates back up and take on the Penguins in game two of their series today. After blowing a three goal lead on Friday night and then getting screwed by the refs on a bad late penalty, Tom Renney is shuffling his lineup a bit today, playing Petr Prucha in an attempt to add some speed to his fourth line. I’m also hoping to see Sean Avery drive the Pens crazy. While the league may want Sidney Crosby to win a Cup, I’d much rather see the Rangers win it. What Gary Bettman never seems to get is that when the Rangers win, the NHL becomes relevant.

The Yankees are playing in Cleveland today, they need a win to help ensure they’ll have a .500 April. Another slow start leaves me wondering why Jason Giambi hasn’t been cut outright. The Yankees have some trouble spots this year, though I think Cano will play better and Morgan Ensberg will eventually win the 1st basemen’s job. They need to start hitting with runners in scoring position.

The NFL is holding its annual draft this weekend. It reminds me that football is not too far off. So far the family teams (Cowboys, Giants, Jets) seem to be doing alright. Let’s hope the Eagles and Redskins stumble.

Sean and I will be on the couch experiencing sports overload today.

Rangers vs. Penguins Starts Tonight

So finally the NHL’s obsession with Sidney Crosby will get the Rangers on television more and more. While he’s a great player, I have a feeling that this series is not going to go more than 5 games. The Rangers seem to be pulling together at just the right time, getting scoring from key players, great defense, and great goaltending. Plus I think Avery will drive them nuts.

Once again, I’m heading to the New York Times Hockey Blog for all my coverage. Though I’ll check out the backpages of the NY tabloids online too. Let’s Go Rangers.

On to Round Two

So the Rangers have beaten Fatso and the Devils to win the series five four games to one (sorry, lack of sleep=bad math skills). While Versus continues it’s poor, limited coverage of the NHL playoffs, the Times’ hockey blog has been one of the best media outlets. It covered Sean Avery calling Brodeur “Fatso,” and posted a number of videos questioning the fatherhood of the Boston Bruins’ captain and equating Alex Kovalev to Sampson. Check out the videos in this post, they’re fantastic.