Sunday, May 16, 2004
Where's Bert?
Oh Wayne. You and I both know that Bert should be on Team Canada. It's okay though. I have a feeling he'll make it on that team, through injury or what have you. Nonis better get on the whole getting Todd reinstated thing. But oh hey, in case no one noticed, Jovo made the team!! Everyone is making such a big deal about Bert not making it that they're ignoring Jovo. Sigh. The most surprising addition to the team was definitely Robyn Regehr. He has earned it though with his play these playoffs. I also like the addition of Redden. And aren't we lucky that Dany Heatley is Canadian? That boy is bloody amazing. Interesting that they left off Kariya. I am still mad at him for running off to the Avalanche, but come on, he was made for these tournaments. *grumble* In all though, it was a tough job to pick this team, I guess they did a pretty good job. I say we should be allowed two teams...
Calgary! Stop this madness. This is the first time they've lost two games in a row this playoffs, I believe. If they're not careful they're going to break the aura. I still think they're gonna win though. Hopefully Kiprusoff gets it back together, or they'll have to put The Worst Goalie in the NHL (aka Roman Turek) in net and they will suck again. I said all along, if Calgary had a competent goalie, they'd be good, and I was right...so no more Kiprusoff meltdowns allowed. Meanwhile, Tampa is putting up a better fight than expected. I'm impressed. Keep it up and they might even win this series (gasp). Probably not though. I think my bitterness over my hockey pool fiasco is making me very cynical...
Memorial Cup started yesterday. I'm not as excited as in previous years! That upsets me. :( I wish I could've gone. Crazy Kelowna fans...I haven't even decided who to cheer for. Sure, Oh Wayne. You and I both know that Bert should be on Team Canada. It's okay though. I have a feeling he'll make it on that team, through injury or what have you. Nonis better get on the whole getting Todd reinstated thing. But oh hey, in case no one noticed, Jovo made the team!! Everyone is making such a big deal about Bert not making it that they're ignoring Jovo. Sigh. The most surprising addition to the team was definitely Robyn Regehr. He has earned it though with his play these playoffs. I also like the addition of Redden. And aren't we lucky that Dany Heatley is Canadian? That boy is bloody amazing. Interesting that they left off Kariya. I am still mad at him for running off to the Avalanche, but come one, he was made for these tournaments. *grumble* In all though, it was a tough job to pick this team, I guess they did a pretty good job. I say we should be allowed two teams...
Calgary! Stop this madness. This is the first time they've lost two games in a row this playoffs, I believe. If they're not careful they're going to break the aura. I still think they're gonna win though. Hopefully Kiprusoff gets it back together, or they'll have to put The Worst Goalie in the NHL (aka Roman Turek) in net and they will suck again. I said all along, if Calgary had a competent goalie, they'd be good, and I was right...so no more Kiprusoff meltdowns allowed. Meanwhile, Tampa is putting up a better fight than expected. I'm impressed. Keep it up and they might even win this series (gasp). Probably not though. I think my bitterness over my hockey pool fiasco is making me very cynical...
Memorial Cup started yesterday. I'm as excited as in previous years! That upsets me. :( I wish I could've gone. Crazy Kelowna fans...I haven't even decided who to cheer for. Sure, I know the Rockets the best, but I don't really like them. Too defensive. I like Danny Paillé on Guelph and Maxime Talbot on Gatineau...And I like the Tigers for "historical" reasons...I suppose I'll go for Medicine Hat for the Western factor (plus Kevin Nastiuk has the coolest name!...along with Kelly Guard I suppose) and Gatineau because the Q rocks. Tough call though.
Ooh so I checked out the big Authentix sale yesterday...I scored myself a free Sedins poster and bought a t-shirt for my friend. My friend bought one those hideous orange/yellow 'V' sweaters and an inflatable Stanley Cup, hahaha. Good times. I'm looking forward to the equipment sale in June when I can get new game-worn socks, because my "Trevor Letowski" ones are getting seriously worn out.
So yes I did see Troy. It was entertaining, although it was pretty much an excuse to show off Brad Pitt's profile every 5 seconds. Not that I'm complaining...Orlando Bloom was too girly, and I didn't believe the love story between him and the German model. Eric Bana on the other hand did a great job! Much hotter than in the Hulk too. Still in the movie department, I watched Harry Potter on TV last night...the new one's out in June, I'm so excited!
Friday, May 14, 2004
Nabokoved
So the Sharks decided to make a series of it, eh? And it's not like the Flames do anything the easy way. 'Twill likely be a long series yet, but we all know who's gonna win. It was actually a pretty good game last night, even though goalie's duels are usually boring. Lots of great chances and physical play. I thought maybe Iginla was going to get into his token fight of the series at the end there, but it wasn't meant to be.
I certainly enjoyed Gary Mason's column in the Sun this morning. He sure got worked up about LaToya London getting voted off AI, lol. Actually the column was about that hockey reality TV series Making The Cut (Bahaha the music on the webpage is Big League by Tom Cochrane...ooh I bet that's the show's theme song, hahaha). But he spent half the time ranting about how Jasmine should be gone instead of LaToya. I feel weird that I'm actually "in the know" for this Idol talk now. It's not necessarily a good thing...But anyway, about this whole "Making The Cut" deal, I'm not really sure what to think. The concept of the camp is great. No one doubts that there's some major talent out there waiting to be discovered. But must they make the camp into a reality TV series? At least if they said they were making a "documentary" out of it it wouldn't sound so contrived. Reality TV = made-for-TV garbage; Documentary = dramatized chronicle of real events. I can already imagine the types of situations that are going to arise from this show: feel-good stories about guys who've fought through against all odds; rivalries and tension spilling into on-ice fights; maybe even some "what's that CHICK doing here" fodder if a chick even makes it onto the show, because oh yes, women are allowed to apply as well. I presume that they mostly had goalies in mind, but I wouldn't be surprised if some really good forwards and D show up. I wonder if any of my teammates will apply (probably not). For the record, I'm a year too young, but I still wouldn't apply if I was eligible! I have no desire to be humiliated, not to mention crushed by people 3 times my size.
But I digress. The point is, the show is going to be very dumb and melodramatic, as they try to show a more or less family-friendly version of what a tough hockey training camp is like. But the show will all be an over-dramatized bunch of nonsense. That being said, there will probably be a lockout and no hockey on, so I'll probably end up watching it and scoffing at the stupidity of it all. The camp itself is a great idea though! I wonder who will end up at Canucks camp...Anyway back to Gary Mason, I think it's hilarious how worked up he was about Jasmine still being on AI. Speaking of Jasmine, my friend ironed my hair last night, and I put a flower in my hair and I was so her. LOL. Maybe I should go on Canadian Idol and croak out an awful performance then cry and have everyone vote for me out of sympathy...worth a try. Aw look at that, seems like I've missed auditions. *Tear*. Ah well. I'll just have to watch and know that could very well be in the Top 3. Bahaha. Okay that's enough, I'm out. (Oh yeah, might going to see Troy tonight avec some peoples, should be good...Orlando and Brad...yes...)
Thursday, May 13, 2004
American Idol is a piece of crap
No hockey last night so...I was going to come on here and say that American Idol is the most unfortunate load of contrived bullshit on television, but I know that sadly, that's not true at all. Sadly, American Idol is on the "high" end of the reality TV dump. I was right to be wary of watching the show...clearly Clay is the only good thing ever to come off that show. Where to start about last night? I thought I was going to die of boredom until Clay came on. What was with the psychic? How lame is this show? Way too much crap and not enough quality (Clay). I liked Clay's performance. The song wasn't really his style, but as always, his voice and general sparkle on stage made up for that. I don't really like his hair like that though, it's too spiky, and too long in the back and sort of mullet-ish. I actually liked how they did it for AI last year. I do like it red though. Anyway even though he was the only good part of that otherwise completely wasted hour, he is way too good for that crappy show. It was funny that the girls were singing backup because it seemed so fitting of where they belong.
As for the results...I was going to say that the voters are obviously stupid, but that's not completely true. It's the show that's stupid. Everyone knows that LaToya was the best singer. But she didn't connect with the audience because she was "too good". There was no underdog story, no girl-next-door appeal. She was a perfectly manicured, primed-for-stardom diva. She lacked the human interest element. Meanwhile, Jasmine is young and cute and Hawaiian and she did the whole crying bit and people felt sorry for her and voted for her, especially because they figured everyone was voting for LaToya. But this is where crap like Britney Spears is born...go for the cute girl who can't really sing but looks good on TV. No wonder pop music sucks so much. Well now that the show has been exposed in my eyes as the low-level crap it really is, I should stop watching it. But I'll probably just end up watching to see what happens (which I'm guessing is where they get a lot of their ratings...not because it's actually a good show because it's quite awful). So yes, Clay is far too classy to be associated with this campy trash and hopefully he will be able to get away from the show's shadow and become respected as a singer in his own right. But probably not, because the media is cruel. Oh well. Enough space-wasting AI talk. Flames play tonight to either speed up or delay the inevitable, which would be their Cup win. Hooray for the team of innumerable redheads.
Wednesday, May 12, 2004
Might as well give the Cup out now
Like I keep saying, I think it's clear that the Flames are gonna win the Cup this year. No one can beat them. They don't give up. They have an aura. It's quite frightening actually. I do think the Sharks will win a game or two before this is done, and I wouldn't be too surprised if it was a long series. But the Flames will prevail, like they always seem to do (stupid round one...).
Okay now to comment on something that probably isn't even worth commenting on, but I've become roped in and feel the need to put in my 2 cents...Well, as it turns out, I was right the first time. American Idol does in fact actually suck. Because of Clay, I thought maybe I'm missing out, that I should be watching this show. After all, the actual concept of the show did intrigue me from the beginning. Alas, Clay is an exception to the rule: American Idol is pretty much a glorified karaoke competition. A (generally) entertaining one, at that, but when most of the appeal of the show comes from an acid-tongued judge cutting down the competitors, you know something is wrong. I've only been watching American Idol 3 since last week but I can tell it's been a debacle. No wonder they have to rely on getting Clay to perform (today!!) to make it more interesting...I know this sounds corny, but watching this year's American Idol makes me really appreciate what a great and talented singer Clay is.
Anyway, now that I've trashed the show I will do a detailed analysis on last night's show, lol. First off, Jasmine...aiyee. During Everlasting Love I was thinking "Oh...please just let it end." It was just brutal. It was completely unsuited to her voice and it just sounded terrible. I mean, disco music doesn't suit Clay's voice either but he pulled Everlasting Love off because he's an amazing singer. Jasmine just didn't have the voice for it, sadly. It seems like no one on this competition is a good enough singer to pull off anything (like Clay...I know I keep bringing him up but damn it he's a great singer!) Anyway Jasmine did a little better with It's Raining Men but it was still pretty awful. I did feel bad for her though, especially when she cried. If that was me, I would bawl. That being said, last week I thought Jasmine wasn't bad. She has a nice, pleasant voice. If she does make an album, I hope it's moody, bluesy-pop, kind of like a toned-down Christina Aguilera crossed with Norah Jones with a little Diana Krall thrown in there. But that's just wishful thinking, maybe she doesn't even have the talent for that...they'll probably give her a less-sugary Jessica Simpson-type album of crappy mid-tempo fluff pop to sing. But I still want her impossibly shiny hair (minus that horrid crimping thing she had going on yesterday!).
LaToya is the best singer left but she's already so good it's almost boring. It's like she already is a professional singer. She should probably win, even though she seems to have no personality. Not much to say, besides...could that pink dress get any tighter? Fantasia has a funky-cool voice, and she was dynamic, exciting and fun to watch yesterday. But last week I didn't like her. Her voice is cool, but sometimes it sounds like cats wailing as they scratch a chalkboard...but not yesterday! Diana is bubbly and fun, I liked her both this week and last. However, I can't stand her too-blond hair, and she wears way too much makeup and looks 35. Okay, and the supposed disco theme didn't exactly carry out into their clothes! The most disco-y outfits were Jasmine and Diana's 2nd ones. That pink dress Diana wore was cute but about as far away from disco as you could possibly get! Clay wore that dorky satin shirt, so I wish the girls had a little spirit for the theme, lol. Anyway, LaToya should win but she might not, which is why this a TV star competition, not a best-singer competition! (Even though Clay is both a great singer and a charismatic personality)
Anyway, loved Clay's performance of Solitaire on Leno. He's singing on American Idol tonight, on the results show where Jasmine will be voted off (unless the States is truly on crack!!)...hope he sings something that does justice to his voice...
Tuesday, May 11, 2004
Withdrawal :(
Okay, now I have to face the fact that there is absoltely no more Canuck-related action for at LEAST four months. But with that lockout looming, probably more...Sigh. Such depression. Now I have to content myself with cheering for the Flames. If they lose I don't know what I'll do! Oh wait, yes I do, I'll grumble and whine about how much I hate the two teams in the Cup final, which I seem to be doing far too often recently...
The Lightning sure sucked last night, if they go on like this I won't be happy. I just can't stand the Flyers. Although the Lightning sucked they don't suck as much as my hockey pools have. In one I lost all my players before the 2nd round even ended and in another I'm in dead last place. I think I am actually doing okay in the Sportsnet.ca pool though. I beat all the analysts in round two. Figures that that's the one pool that doesn't involve money. Grr. I have never done this badly in a hockey pool in my life. >:(
Ooh, American Idol tonight...Look what I've become! Watching the hated reality television! Nooo...Oh well. It's not like I watch The Bachelor or Survivor or something...*shudder* Last night I tried to tape Simon, Paula and Randy on Leno but forgot to set the cable box to channel 12 so I ended up taping Sportsnet News. Oops. Oh well. I better not make that mistake tonight because Clay is on. I could just watch it when it's on but I am severely sleep deprived...
Monday, May 10, 2004
Red, White, and Gold
Back-to-back golds for Canada at the Worlds! Do you realize that Canada holds the mens' and women's Olympic and World Championships? And we're the 8-time defending womens' champs and 2-time defending mens' champs. Now all we have to do is snatch the World Cup away from the Yanks in August and get back the World Junior gold. Yup we sure are back on top.
Man, what can you say about Dany Heatley? The guy is a machine. What a superstar. He was named tournament MVP, not like there was any doubt whatsoever. If I could play like any player in the NHL, it would be him.
It was great to see the Nuckers contributing for Canada :D I thought Cookie played great throughout. I was happy to see him score in the gold medal game (super-nice feed by Robbie Niedermayer). Mo drew an assist on Smyth's goal. It was too bad Mo didn't stand out as much, even though he did play really well. He didn't put up the offensive numbers because he didn't click with his linemates evry well (and Glen Murray couldn't finish to save his life!!). Babcock should've kept Mo and Cookie together, they played really well and put up points when they were on the same line (like I kept saying!) So big congrats go out to the Nucker boys!
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I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the Niedermayer boys, Rob and Scott, and how cool it is that both played. Scott is now a true champion: he's won the Memorial Cup, World Juniors, Stanley Cup, Olympics, and World Championships. He's definitely the only player to have done that. Also, the lucky loonie was at it again: this time they hid the two loonies they used for the womens' worlds behind both nets. :D Love it.
Yay Clay Aiken is on Leno tomorrow, and on American Idol on Wednesday...Am I a dork? Yessss. Anyhoo the Lightning are sucking right now (4-0 Philly in the 2nd) and the Flames are gonna win the Cup this year.
Thursday, May 06, 2004
It's all set...
So the Leafs suck. That damn team always wins when I want them to lose, and loses when I want them to win. Thanks to them, now the hated Flyers are through to the Conference finals. I don't want to think this way, but I have a feeling Philly will steamroll Tampa. I just get this impression of The Broad Street Bullies vs...Martin St. Louis? It just doesn't work. That's just my gut feeling, but hey this is the playoffs, anything can happen (see: everything the Wild did last year, Carolina making the Cup finals in '02, and countless other examples). It's not that the 'Ning are huge underdogs or anything, they did have more points and won the season series 4-0. Plus they have Khabibulin. Maybe I'm just being overly pessimistic because I'm mad at the Leafs! Yes, hopefully.
The West final is another one that I have a bad feeling about. Of all the teams that could stop Calgary's momentum, San Jose (who I love for knocking out the Avs) is at the top of my list. But once again I'm probably just cynical because it seems like every time I pick two teams I want in the final, they both lose. I think Calgary's got the heart, the grit, the work ethic, the clutch scoring and the goaltending to at least get to the Cup finals. What a great story that would be, despite their highly aggravating win over the Canucks.
Today at 7am is the Worlds q-final, Canada vs Finland. I hate quarterfinals, it's the most evil because if you lose it erases everything you've done up to this point and you get nothing. Case in point: The Czechs. The Czechs are not my favourite hockey team in the world, but I had to admit they were pretty impressive in their 6-2 win over Canada. But then they go out and lose 3-2 in a shootout to the US. The US is not a good Worlds team, and they just knocked the hosts/favourites (?) out of medal contention. So it should be nerve-wracking...I think we have a good chance. 'Twill be cool to see Salo et Ruutu. But we gotta crush them :)
And yes I'm still seething over Brian Burke. They keep saying Nonis will be the GM. I suppose I can handle that. He is an experienced contract negotiator. I'm a little worried about his lack experience in trades/talent assessment. Hopefully he learned a lot from Burkie (except for the part where he makes bad draft picks and doesn't sign Trent Klatt).
Ahh help me I'm becoming addicted to American Idol...I held out for almost 3 seasons...Stupid reality TV. Oh well, this is probably the best of a crappy lot. At least this is (somewhat) about talent, and not just random stupid people bickering (ie Survivor, The Bachelor). And I can not stop listening to Clay! Love the voice, it's so great. Damn I wish he was coming to Canada...sigh.
Edit The amazing Dany Heatley does it again! :D I just wish the tape didn't cut out 1 minute 30 before he scored the OT winner, grr. Oh well, we won, that's what matters.
Monday, May 03, 2004
This is an outrage!
As you may have heard, Brian Burke's contract isn't being renewed...I'm so angry!! He doesn't deserve this, this is crap. He's done an amazing job turning the Canucks around. He's made some excellent trades, and he's kept all the fan favourites in Vancouver at a reasonable salary. The Canucks have developed into a competitive, elite (not to mention division champion) team that's exciting to watch. AND he's allowed John McCaw to finally turn a profit. And he's rewarded by getting fired?! This is crap I say! To blame Burke for the playoff losses the last two years is completely ludicrous. Especially this year, with all the Bertuzzi madness. Burke somehow pulled off 5 trades at the deadline, the day after the Bertuzzi incident! I mean, everyone and their sister was calling for him to get Rucinsky, and he did. So Rucinsky didn't perform up to expectations. Is that Burke's fault? No! The reason he was fired is clearly not because of the team's performance, it's because of some stupid petty rift between Burke and McCaw and his prick of an assistant, Stan McCammon. Okay, maybe I'm being unfair here, but I think Burke's being shafted and he doesn't deserve this kind of crappy treatment. Well, regardless of what just happened, I still totally admire Brian Burke and the way he always sticks to his guns and is loyal to his team. I love the way he spoke out against the salary madness and kept the Canucks' payroll at a reasonable level. He's the best damn GM in the league and whoever gets him is frickin lucky. All that's gonna happen is that he'll go to another team and win the Cup. What idiocy. In the meantime, I think we should hire either Tambellini or Nonis to be GM. And hopefully this doesn't mean the end of Cloutier, but it probably does. Sigh. This is crap.
Edit Yaaaaaa Calgary! Wow did I just say that? Blasphemy...! But seriously, I got really excited when Gelinas scored. Even though the bastards beat the Canucks, I just can't help but be impressed by the Flames' relentless work ethic and belief in each other. It's admirable, and I just can't hate them the way I've hated the Avs, Wings, and Wild when they beat the Canucks. And you gotta love Marty Gelinas. I definetely want the Flames to win the Cup now, although I've probably jinxed them now...
Sunday, May 02, 2004
O Joe Sakic, why must you be so amazing?
Not again! Joe Sakic is saving the Avs' season...what would they do without him? The Sharks are now on shaky ground, if they lose Game 6, I think they're done because the Avs will have all the momentum. You can't let a team like Colorado hang in there like this! The Sharks might pay the price for this...I can only hope that they will wake up and win Game 6...
It's official, the Flames are unstoppable. That team just does not give up. It would not surprise if they win the Stanley Cup. Okay, well now that I've said that they'll lose to the Wings, haha. But seriously, they just have so much confidence and belief in themselves, they're like a more talented (and not as boring) version of last year's Wild. I think the series might actually go to 7, but I still think the Flames will win. How about a Flames-Leafs final? The Leafs are back on track, it could happen! Yay for Canada.
Speaking of Canada, somehow Canada is undefeated at the Worlds still, despite not playing extremely well in any of the games. But I said all along that Mo and Cookie should be playing on the same line, and the second that Babcock made the switch they clicked. I like Canada's lines much better now, Morrow just didn't fit well with Mo. I'm sure he's thrilled to be playing with a sniper like Heatley now anyway. I'm loving Luongo, he's just standing on his head. Maybe this is his ticket to the World Cup?...In other tidbits, Nolan Baumgartner signed with Frankfurt for next season! :( That means no more Baumer for the Canucks...I'm so sad. I hope one day he comes back to NA, maybe he will after the lockout (because who are we kidding, there will be a lockout). Hey, and guess what today is? Sunday...=Alias!!! :D
